Ralph Winfield Parliman Biography


	This biography appears on pages 218-220 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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				RALPH WINFIELD PARLIMAN.  

	The name of Parliman has figured prominently in connection with 
the history of the legal profession in South Dakota for many years and 
has always been a synonym for professional honor, enterprise and 
progress. He whose name introduces this review is now successfully 
practicing in Sioux Falls in partnership with his son and namesake, and 
the firm is regarded as one of the strongest at the bar of South 
Dakota. He was born at Newton Falls, Ohio, January 25, 1860, a son of 
Edwin and Jerusha Isabel (North) Parliman, who became residents of 
Sioux Falls in the summer of 1877. The paternal grandfather, Dr. 
William Parliman, was also a native of Ohio and for sixty years 
practiced medicine in Decorah, Iowa, where he passed away. He came of 
Holland Dutch ancestry.  

	Edwin Parliman, the father, was born in Stark county, Ohio, 
December 12, 1832, and completed his education in Allegheny College at 
Meadville, Pennsylvania, where he was graduated with the class of 1850, 
when he was eighteen years of age. He was twenty-one years of age when 
he removed to Decorah, Iowa, where he learned the watchmaker's trade, 
and in 1857 he became a resident of Austin, Minnesota, where he 
continued until his removal to Hastings in the same state. Wishing to 
turn from commercial to professional pursuits, he took up the study of 
law and in 1860 was admitted to the bar, entering upon active practice 
in Hastings, where he remained until 1862. Being unable to longer 
content himself to remain at home while the preservation of the Union 
was at stake, he offered his services to the government and was 
instrumental in raising Company F of the Second Minnesota Cavalry in 
1862. On the 31st of December, 1863, he was commissioned first 
lieutenant of his company and on the 15th of May, 1865, was promoted to 
the rank of captain, with which he served until mustered out on the 2d 
of December, 1865, when he was brevetted major. His was a most 
creditable military record, involving active duty against the Indians 
in the west - a most arduous warfare because of the spirit and military 
methods of his wily foes.  

	After the close of the war Edwin Parliman resumed the practice of 
law in Hastings and for four years he served as county attorney of 
Dakota county, Minnesota. He remained in active practice in Hastings 
until 1877, when he came to Sioux Falls, opened an office and prepared 
a home for his family who followed in March, 1878. There he was 
appointed county attorney for Minnehaha county by the county board and 
served for three years. He likewise was made city attorney of Sioux 
Falls, and was the first incumbent in that office. He continued in the 
active practice of his profession until 1890, when he was elected 
county judge of Minnehaha county and remained upon the bench until 
January 1 1898, baying been elected upon the republican ticker at each 
election after the creation of South Dakota as a state until 1896, when 
he was defeated. He then resumed the practice of law in partnership 
with Harry R. Carleton but later was alone in his profession. When the 
new bankruptcy law went into effect he was appointed referee in 
bankruptcy, which position he held until a short time prior to his 
death, when the condition of his health forced him to resign and he was 
succeeded by his son, Ralph W. Parliman, through appointment of Judge 
Carland of the federal court. On the 1st of March, 1899, he had been 
joined in a law partnership by his son, Ralph, under the firm style of 
Parliman & Parliman. He was the first chief of the fire department of 
Sioux Falls and on the occasion of his death the firemen of the city, 
as well as the members of the bar, attended his funeral in a body. He 
passed away June 5, 1890, and his wife died June 3, 1905.  

	In 1852 Judge Parliman was united in marriage to Miss Jerusha 
Isabel North and they became parents of four children: Mrs. Emma 
Donaldson, of Lakeville, Minnesota; R. W., of this review; Mrs. Percy 
Scofield, of Lakeville, Minnesota; and Mrs. Mate Brickner, of West St. 
Paul.  

	Ralph W. Parliman acquired his education in the public schools of 
Hastings, Minnesota, being graduated with the class of 1877. In that 
year he went with his parents to Lincoln county, South Dakota, and for 
five years was upon a farm In 1884 he entered his father's law office 
at Egan, South Dakota, where he continued his studies until June, 1887. 
At that time he opened a hew office in Britton, South Dakota, and the 
following year was elected district attorney of Marshall county, in 
which position he served until January 1, 1890. He then removed to 
Webster, South Dakota, where he continued in active practice until 
March 1, 1899, when he returned to Sioux Falls and joined his father in 
a partnership that continued until the latter's death on the 5th of 
June of that year. R. W. Parliman afterward practiced alone until 
October 4, 1905, when he admitted his son, Ralph W. Jr., to a 
partnership that still continues. The offices be has held have been 
largely in the strict path of his profession. He was district attorney 
of Marshall county and in June, 1899, was made United States referee in 
bankruptcy, in which position ho served for two years. He was also a 
member of the school board at Webster, South Dakota, for some years and 
in 1894 was appointed postmaster at that place by President Cleveland, 
continuing in the office until July, 1898. His military record is that 
of quartermaster of Colonel Grigsby's Cowboy Regiment, the Third United 
States Volunteer Cavalry, with which he served until the command was 
mustered out at the close of the Spanish-American war. In politics he 
has always been a republican, earnest and stalwart in support of the 
party.  

	At Claremont, South Dakota, on the 16th of March, 1888, Mr. 
Parliman was united in marriage to Miss Mattie A. Chamberlain and they 
have become the parents of six children: Ralph W.; Marie L.; James C.; 
John E.; Beatrice I.; Joseph W.; and Mercedes, who died when one year 
old. James and John are students in the law department of the 
University of South Dakota and the oldest son, Ralph Winfield, Jr., is 
one of the younger representatives of the South Dakota bar. He was born 
in Britton, this state, September 20, 1889. In his early youth the 
family removed to Sioux Falls and he continued his education in the 
public schools until graduated from the high school. He later had the 
advantage of two years, instruction in the University of South Dakota 
at Vermilion, where he Pursued the law course. He was then admitted to 
the bar and joined his father in practice, being now a member of the 
law firm of Parliman & Parliman and representing the third generation 
of the law firm founded by his grandfather in 1877.  

	The Parliman family attend the Congregational church and Mr. 
Parliman is well known in fraternal and social circles. He belongs to 
the Masons and also holds membership with the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Modern Woodmen of 
America, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Dacotah Club. 
His interest in all is sincere and abiding and his loyalty to their 
principles is marked. The greater part of his life has been spent in 
this state and he has a wide acquaintance, warm friendship being 
accorded him in recognition of his sterling professional and personal 
worth.