William Thomas Roush Biography


	This biography appears on pages 413 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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				WILLIAM THOMAS ROUSH.  

	As the president of the Black Hills Wholesale Grocery Company, 
William Thomas Roush is an important factor in commercial circles of 
Rapid City, where he is well known and highly esteemed for his business 
ability and personal worth. He was born in Eldon, Iowa, on the 9th of 
February, 1872, the third in order of birth in a family of seven 
children, whose parents were Louis and Louisa (McCormick) Roush. The 
father was a native of Pennsylvania, whence he removed to Iowa. He was 
a millwright by trade and in 1902 came to Rapid City, where he resided 
for a decade, passing away in August, 1912. The mother has also passed 
to her reward.

	William Thomas Roush utilized the opportunities that were given 
him for securing an education, but conditions were such that he was 
compelled to leave school when eleven years of age. While still a youth 
he removed to Dakota territory and located west of Pierre, where he was 
for a time a cowboy on the range. When twenty years of age he engaged 
in the cattle business and was so occupied until 1906, in which year he 
located in Rapid City. Two years later he engaged in the teaming and 
coal business, with which he has been since connected, and he now has 
the largest business of the kind in Rapid City. He was one of the 
organizers of the Black Hills Wholesale Grocery Company, of which he is 
president, and the continued success of that concern is in no small 
degree due to his connection with it and his business knowledge and 
indefatigable energy.

	In 1898 Mr. Roush was united in marriage to Miss Lula Pratt, a 
daughter of F. P. Pratt, of St. Joseph, Missouri. Mr. Roush casts his 
vote in support of the candidates and measures of the republican party 
when national issues are concerned but at local elections is 
independent. Fraternally he is a member of the Benevolent Protective 
Order of Elks. His chief recreation is the hunting of big game and he 
is a lover of the out of doors Whether in the private relations of 
life, as a business man or as a citizen, he has always lived up to high 
standards, and the regard of his fellowmen is the reward of his upright 
conduct.