Roy B. Rockwell Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1216-1217 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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				ROY B. ROCKWELL. 

	An excellent record of public service is that which Roy B. 
Rockwell has made in the position of clerk of the courts of Hyde 
county, in which capacity he is now serving for the fifth term. He was 
born at Morris, Illinois, March 4, 1876, a son of Eugene and Sarah 
(Sawyer) Rockwell. The father's birth occurred in Cortland county, New 
York, while the mother was born in Putnam, Connecticut. In early life 
Eugene Rockwell engaged in merchandising, removing from Wisconsin to 
Morris, Illinois, and his wife there conducted a millinery business for 
a number of years. They were married in Morris and Mr. Rockwell carried 
on merchandising there for some time and also in other Illinois towns. 
His wife died in 1883, while his death occurred in 1885. In the family 
were three sons: Curtis E., who is engaged in ranching near Highmore; 
Roy B.; and Frank C., who was born but a short time before his mother,s 
death and was adopted by a Mr. and Mrs. Palmer. He is now a farmer and 
resides at Brookings, South Dakota. 

	Roy B. Rockwell pursued his education in the public schools of 
Chebanse and Maroa, Illinois, and in the district schools of Nebraska, 
to which state he removed when about ten years of age. He worked as a 
ranch boy near Alliance for about four years, after which he returned 
to Chicago, Illinois, where he attended school for a year and a half, 
at the same time taking treatment for defective hearing. He then went 
to Chebanse, Illinois, where he learned the printing trade, after which 
he removed to Maroa, Illinois, where he worked for the Illinois Central 
for a number of months. He next went to Onarga, Illinois, where he 
attended Grand Prairie Seminary for about two years, pursuing a 
commercial course. He has always been ambitious to advance his 
education and broad reading and a retentive memory have made him a well 
informed man. He has also learned many lessons in the school of 
experience. When he had completed his commercial course he secured a 
position as a bookkeeper in Chicago, where he remained for about two 
years, when he returned to Chebanse, there working at the printer's 
trade for three years. In the meantime he had spent about six months in 
traveling through the west on a bicycle. After abandoning the printer's 
trade he engaged in selling machinery and in bookkeeping for about six 
months and in August, 1900, be went to Rock Rapids, Iowa, where he met 
his brother, Curtis F,. Rockwell. Together they came to South Dakota 
and filed on a claim in Hyde county, since which time they have been 
residents of the county. Roy Rockwell took charge of the Highmore 
Herald, managing the paper for about three years, and during that time 
he also proved up on his claim. He afterward took up his abode on the 
claim where he engaged in raising stock and also cultivated some crops, 
remaining upon that place until January, 1907, when he assumed the 
duties of clerk of the courts in Hyde county. In May, 1912, he 
purchased the Hyde County Bulletin from H. C. Shober, who had 
established the paper in 1885. This he issues weekly and does all the 
writing for the paper, employing two people to attend to the mechanical 
part of the business, while he has entire charge of the office work. He 
is still connected with Curtis Rockwell under the style of Rockwell 
Brothers. They are operating a ranch of six hundred and forty acres, 
raising both grain and stock. 

	In his political views Mr. Rockwell has always been an earnest 
republican and since called to the office of county clerk in 1907 he 
has continuously filled the position, being now the incumbent for the 
fifth term, his reelections being incontrovertible proof of the 
confidence reposed in him by his fellow townsmen and of the efficiency 
with which he has discharged his duties. He has also held some township 
offices. Fraternally he is connected with Ree Valley Lodge, No. 70, F. 
& A. M., and with the Elks lodge at Huron and is loyal to the teachings 
and purposes of those organizations, which are based upon a recognition 
of the brotherhood of mankind. From the age of ten years Roy B. 
Rockwell has largely depended upon his own resources and has been both 
the architect and the builder of his own fortunes. He has overcome 
obstacles and difficulties which would have utterly discouraged others, 
but by determined effort he has worked his way upward, constantly 
learning new and valuable lessons from experience and gaining a place 
among those who are recognized as forceful factors in advancing the 
welfare of the community in which they live.