Oliver O. Stokes Biography


	This biography appears on pages 178-181 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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				OLIVER O. STOKES.  

	Oliver O. Stokes is now living retired at Belle Fourche but has 
led a most active, useful and busy life in connection with commercial, 
agricultural and stock-raising interests and still has important 
investments along those lines. He was born in Van Buren county, Iowa, 
August 27, 1845, a son of Jose N. and Mary D. (Walker) Stokes. The 
father's birth occurred in Virginia on the 22d of July, 1822, and the 
mother was born in Maryland on the 6th of June, 1822. Jose N. Stokes 
always followed the occupation of farming. He was reared on an old 
southern plantation, his parents being slave owners, as were the 
maternal grandparents of Oliver O. Stokes. It was in Iowa territory, in 
1843, that he wedded Mary D. Walker. He had gone to Iowa in 1842 and he 
became a landowner there, where he continued active in business 
throughout his entire life, his labors being ended by death on the 21st 
of April, 1895. For only eleven days he survived his wife, with whom he 
had so long traveled life's journey. He held various county offices and 
was a prominent and influential citizen of the community in which he 
made his home.  

	Oliver O. Stokes is the eldest in a family of five children. 
Reared under the parental roof in Iowa, he attended the common schools 
of that state and later continued his education in the Bentonsport high 
school and in Birmingham College at Bentonsport, Iowa. He has ever 
placed high value upon intellectual progress and has therefore made 
good use of his opportunities to extend his knowledge along all lines 
that are of worth to the individual. He was a youth of but sixteen 
years when, aroused by the spirit of patriotism, he enlisted on the 7th 
of May, 1862, as a member of Company K, Forty-fifth Iowa Regiment, in 
which he became a corporal. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant and 
was on active duty until September 28, 1864. While at the front he sent 
his money home and his wise economy in this connection was an 
indication of the elemental strength of his character. After his return 
to Iowa he again attended school and also engaged in teaching. He 
earned his own way through college and by teaching made his start in 
life. He followed that profession for thirteen terms in his home 
district and resided with his parents during that period. Carefully 
saving his earnings, he became the owner of one hundred and sixty acres 
of valuable land and when he put aside the work of the school-room he 
turned his attention to farming, in which he continued actively in Iowa 
until 1886.  

	In that year he disposed of his property there and removed to 
South Dakota, settling in what is now Harding county. He took up his 
abode upon a ranch and there engaged in the stock business for a time, 
but his health became impaired and he gave less attention to his stock. 
He then opened a store on his ranch and continued in general 
merchandising there for sixteen years. Since starting his mercantile 
venture the Harding postoffice has been established. He carried a 
complete line of general merchandise and successfully managed the 
business until the 1st of August, 1914, when he turned the management 
of the store over to a son-in-law, Henry G. McCord, and removed to 
Belle Fourche. He still retains his financial interest ill the store, 
however, is the owner of seven hundred and forty acres of excellent 
ranch land in South Dakota and is also interested in a large sheep 
ranch in Montana, ninety miles from Belle Fourche, which is under the 
management of another son-in-law, Charles Shipley. In his business 
affairs he has carefully directed his interests, carrying forward to 
successful completion whatever he has undertaken, his record proving 
the value and worth of intelligently directed industry and keen 
sagacity.  

	On the 27th of August, 1868, Mr. Stokes was united in marriage to 
Miss Anna C. Gilbert, who was born in Van Buren county, Iowa, and who 
had formerly been his schoolmate. She is a daughter of Riley and 
Margaret (Jensen) Gilbert, the former a native of Vermont and the 
latter of Ohio. They became residents of Iowa when that state was still 
under territorial rule and they were married in Van Buren county. For a 
considerable period the father followed the occupation of farming there 
and then removed to Harding county, South Dakota, where both he and his 
wife spent their remaining days. In addition to tilling the soil he 
became an active church worker as a local preacher. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Stokes have been born six children:. Florence E., who resides with her 
sister on the old home ranch and is acting as postmistress of the 
Harding postoffice; Mrs. Mary D. McCord, who conducts the store upon 
the ranch; Maud Evelyn, who became the wife of Charles Shipley and 
passed away on the 28th of March, 1915; and three who died in 
childhood.  

	Mr. and Mrs. Stokes hold membership in the Congregational church 
and adhere closely to its teachings. He is a member of the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows, has passed through the chairs of the local lodge, 
has been a member of the grand lodge and was deputy grand master of 
Iowa. He also belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic and proudly 
wears the little bronze button which indicates his valiant service as a 
soldier of the Civil war. He was vice president of the Commercial Club 
at Belle Fourche and recently was elected president of that 
organization, which does splendid work for the city of Belle Fourche 
and the surrounding county. In politics he has ever been an earnest 
republican, giving inflexible support to party principles. He served as 
commissioner of Butte county before the division of the county and from 
1905 until 190, represented his district in the lower house of the 
state legislature. In 1909 he was chosen state senator from a district 
which then comprised five counties. After the division he was in the 
house from Harding county, having been elected in 1913, his fellow 
townsmen prevailing upon him to become their first representative. He 
has done active work as a member of the state legislature, thus leaving 
the impress of his individuality upon the laws of the commonwealth, his 
course being characterized by the utmost devotion to duty, combined 
with a recognition of the needs and possibilities of the state. He has 
proven a broad-minded legislator, looking beyond the exigencies of the 
moment to the opportunities of the future and working ever for the 
welfare of the public rather than for self-aggrandizement.