M. Harry O'Brien Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1246-1247 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				M. HARRY O'BRIEN. 

	M. Harry O'Brien, engaged in the practice of law at Highmore, was 
born at La Sueur Center, Minnesota, February 19, 1877, a son of Martin 
and Johannah Lucy O'Brien, natives of Tipperary, Ireland, and of 
Kentucky respectively. When a lad of ten years the father accompanied 
his parents to Canada and in the early '60s he made his way across the 
border into the United States, settling at La Sueur Center, Minnesota. 
Throughout his entire business life he carried on agricultural pursuits 
but at length retired and removed to Mankato and afterward to St. Paul, 
where he is now living, enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and 
well deserves. 

	M. Harry O'Brien pursued his early education in the public 
schools of his native county and afterward became a student in the 
State Normal School at Mankato. He began studying law in the office of 
Judge Andrews of that place and in the meantime had provided for his 
own support, starting out in life to earn his own living when but 
seventeen years of age. He worked for others and at intervals attended 
school until twenty-seven years of age, when he was admitted to 
practice before the bar of South Dakota. Removing to this state in 
1903, he opened a law office at Highmore, where he has since 
continuously followed his profession, being now accorded a good general 
practice. He also engaged in making farm loans and in stock-raising and 
his interests along those lines are capably and wisely conducted, 
bringing him substantial success. At the same time he enjoys a growing 
law practice that has connected him with much important litigation 
tried in the courts of the district. 

	On the 25th of July, 1906, Mr. O'Brien was married to Miss 
Margaret Davis, who was born at Sioux Falls, South Dakota, a daughter 
of Tom and Mary (Chelius) Davis, the former a native of Wisconsin and 
the latter of Germany. They became early residents of South Dakota, and 
for a period the father engaged in farming, but afterward took up his 
abode in Sioux Falls, where he lived retired until called to his final 
rest about 1907. His widow still survives and is now living in 
Highmore. Mr. and Mrs. O'Brien have become the parents of three 
children, Beverly Rose, Gerald D. and Muriel Elaine 

	Mr. O'Brien served as states attorney of Hyde county for four 
years, from 1911 to 1914 inclusively, and at the same time he also 
acted as assistant attorney general for the state, serving under Royal 
C. Johnson. He holds membership with the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows, has passed through all of the chairs of the local lodge and 
has acted as representative to tile grand lodge. He also has membership 
with the Elks lodge at Huron; belongs to the United Workmen lodge at 
Highmore, of which he is the present presiding officer; the Modern 
Woodmen camp; and the Maccabee tent. He is in hearty sympathy with the 
principles and purposes of these organizations and exemplifies in his 
life the teachings concerning the brotherhood of man. He has many 
substantial qualities which have won him high regard, while his ability 
has gained for him professional success.