Willis E. Benedict Biography


	This biography appears on pages 746-749 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				WILLIS E. BENEDICT.  

	Willis E. Benedict, engaged in the practice of law in Belle 
Fourche and financially interested in other business affairs and 
property in Butte county, was born in Lafayette county, Wisconsin, near 
Belmont, July 16, 1858, a son of Hiram F. and Lydia A. (Thompson) 
Benedict, who were natives of New York, born December 26, 1830, and 
September 26, 1832, respectively. The father learned the carpenter's 
trade in early life and in 1871 came to South Dakota, settling in 
Lincoln county, near Canton, where he homesteaded. In connection with 
the development of his land he worked at his trade in that county up to 
tile time of his death, which occurred in 1901. He proved a worthy and 
influential citizen and held various offices in connection with the 
schools, the cause of education finding in him a stalwart champion.  

	In a family of four children Willis E. Benedict was the eldest 
and his education was acquired through attendance at the schools of 
Darlington, Wisconsin, and of Lincoln county, this state, attending the 
latter through the winter terms. That district was then a frontier 
settlement and the schools of the county had not attained their present 
condition of excellence, but he made good use of his opportunities and 
throughout his life has embraced every chance to further his knowledge. 
When sixteen years of age he taught ill the rural schools of Lincoln 
county but continued to reside at home until he attained his majority. 
He was then a reporter and assistant on the Sioux Valley News at Canton 
until he was elected county superintendent in 1884. He occupied that 
position acceptably for two terms, bringing about various needed 
improvements in connection with the schools, and on retiring from the 
position he went upon the road for a year, representing the Sioux Falls 
Daily, a paper owned and edited by the firm of Caldwell & Bliss. In the 
spring of 1889 he made his way west of the river, having purchased an 
interest in the Hot Springs Star. He afterward became sole owner of 
that paper, which he conducted for three years, and in the meantime he 
took up the study of law, which he carefully and thoroughly pursued 
until admitted to the bar on the 30th of March, 1887. He practiced hew 
at Hot Springs for a time in connection with the publication of the 
newspaper but in 1892 disposed of his interest in the Star and removed 
to Custer, South Dakota, where he engaged in law practice for twelve or 
thirteen years. He then came to Belle Fourche, where he has practiced 
continuously since, and is now accorded a good clientage, which is an 
indication of the ability which he displays in handling the work of the 
courts. He owns land in South Dakota, including both ranch and 
irrigated farm property, and he also has farm lands in the eastern part 
of the state, but he devotes the greater part of his time and attention 
to his law practice, which is constantly growing in volume and 
importance.  

	Mr. Benedict has always been very active in political circles. He 
votes with the republican party and has done much to further its 
interests and win success for its candidates. Aside from serving as 
county superintendent of schools in Lincoln county he filled the office 
of states attorney of Custer county in 1895 and 1896 and was elected to 
the state senate from the district comprising Custer and Fall River 
counties, serving during the session of 1899. He was afterward elected 
from Custer county as its representative in the lower house of the 
general assembly, serving during the session of 1901. He has been a 
member of school boards and acted as city police justice under the 
first city election of Hot Springs. No one has ever questioned his 
fidelity to a public office-which he has ever regarded as a public 
trust-and it is a well known fact that no trust reposed in Mr. Benedict 
has ever been betrayed.  

	On the 12th of August, 1889, occurred the marriage of Willis E. 
Benedict and Miss Maude Ionia Druse, a native of McHenry county, 
Illinois, in which state her father passed away, while her mother 
afterward removed to the vicinity of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and is 
now living with a son in Oregon. Mr. and Mrs. Benedict have one child, 
Marjorie Alice, who is a teacher. She was educated in the public 
schools of Custer and Belle Fourche, in All Saints College at Sioux 
Falls and in Oberlin College at Oberlin, Ohio. 

	The family hold membership in the Congregational church and Mr. 
Benedict likewise has membership relations with the Independent Order 
of Odd Fellows. He is past grand master of the state, having been 
elected in 1895, and for five years he was a representative in the 
Sovereign Grand Lodge. He has also been chairman of the judiciary 
committee in the Grand Lodge. He likewise belongs to the blue lodge 
Masons, the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. 
Benedict is today one of the pioneer residents of South Dakota, his 
father having reached Lincoln county in 1871, while he came to this 
state in the spring of 1872. Forty-three years have since passed, years 
in which time and man have wrought wonderful changes, developing the 
district from a wild and sparsely settled frontier region into one of 
the populous and prosperous commonwealth of the Union.