Charles Simeon Blodgett Biography This biography appears on pages 838-841 in "History of Dakota Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the SDGENWEB Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://usgwarchives.org/sd/sdfiles.htm CHARLES SIMEON BLODGETT. Charles Simeon Blodgett, for over three decades a resident of South Dakota and one of the substantial and highly honored citizens and retired business men of Rapid City, is a native of New Hampshire. He was born in the town of Fitzwilliam, that state, on the 9th of December, 1842, a son of Joseph Blodgett, a native of Northfield, Massachusetts, and a direct descendant of Thomas Blodgett, who came from England on the ship Increase and settled in Massachusetts in 1635. Joseph Blodgett was born October 28, 1796, and removed from the old Bay state to New Hampshire in early manhood. There he married Hannah Chase, of Jaffrey, New Hampshire, and they became the parents of nine children, of whom Charles S. Blodgett of this review is the youngest and the only survivor of the family. Charles Simeon Blodgett had but limited educational advantages in the public schools of his native town, but reading and study in later years have made him well informed. On the 13th of April, 1861, soon after Fort Sumter was fired upon he enlisted for three months, service in response to the president's call for troops and later he reenlisted as a member of the Second New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry for three years. He was mustered into the United States service at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, May 26, 1861. The regiment proceeded to Washington and served under General McDowell, participating in the first battle of Bull Run. Mr. Blodgett was afterward under the command of General Joe Hooker and participated in the Peninsular campaign under General McClellan and the seven days' fighting around Richmond. On account of serious disability he was discharged September 13, 1862, at Newark, New Jersey, and returned home, but he felt that his place was at the front and as soon as he had somewhat recovered he again enlisted in November, 1862, joining the Sixteenth New Hampshire Volunteer Regiment. His regiment was sent to New Orleans under the command of General Banks and was at Port Hudson during the fighting and at the sure render of that place in 1863. Mr. Blodgett was honorably discharged from the service August 20, 1863, and spent the following year in the oil regions of Titusville, Pennsylvania. He afterward went to Boston, where he spent the succeeding three years in the provision business. In 1867 he came to the west, establishing his home at Waterloo, Iowa, where he remained through the following seventeen years, successfully engaged in the grain business. In 1883 he came to Dakota territory, settling at Kimball, where he embarked in the grain, coal and live-stock business and also entered and proved up a homestead claim. In 1906 he removed to Hermosa, South Dakota, where for four years he operated a stock ranch of two thousand acres with his son, Arthur B. In 1910 he took up his abode in Rapid City, since which time, except for the attention required by his private interests, he has lived retired from active business. However, he still retains some holdings in lands and is financially interested in banks at Cottonwood and Hermosa, South Dakota. On the 17th of February, 1876, Mr. Blodgett was married to Miss Sarah L. Flint, a daughter of Ezekiel and Fannie (Willard) Flint. They became the parents of a daughter, Hattie L., who resides with and cares for her father, and a son, Arthur B., who is now at Brawley, California. The wife and mother passed away July 24, 1914. She was born at Winchester, New Hampshire, November 9, 1848, and in the early '50s accompanied her parents on their removal to Bowen Prairie, Iowa, where both her father and mother passed away when she was but six years of age. Mrs. Blodgett was reared by New Hampshire friends and remained with them until her marriage at Bowen Prairie, in 1876. She was the ideal exemplification of the devoted wife and mother and her helpful, generous nature was always finding expression in many kindnesses bestowed upon others. Hospitable and gracious, she was never happier than when entertaining those for whom she cared in her own home. Her death came with tragic suddenness a few hours after her return from Rochester, Minnesota, where she had gone to consult with physicians regarding her condition, for her health had for some time been indifferent. Her passing brought a distinct shock not only to her many friends in Rapid City but to those of Kimball and Waterloo who had loved her for her true and genuine womanliness. The funeral was very impressive and was attended by many friends from distant places. The Kimball Graphic said: "The news of Mrs. Blodgett's death comes with extreme sorrow to all, and her husband, son and daughter have the sincere sympathy of all Kimball in the affliction which has come to them. Mrs. Blodgett was a most estimable woman in every way and of that type whose death is a distinct loss to any community." In politics Mr. Blodgett is a republican and for many years has been prominent in the party activities in the state. While residing at Kimball he served in various official capacities and his record was at all times characterized by the utmost fidelity to duty. In Masonry he has attained the thirty-second degree. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and has served as commander of the posts at Kimball, Hermosa and Rapid City. He was elected department commander of the Grand Army of the Republic for one year at the last state encampment held at Rapid City in May, 1915. Mr. Blodgett's long residence in South Dakota might aptly be characterized as more than thirty years of good citizenship. He has been a potent factor in the development of the state and its transformation from a wild frontier to the prosperous commonwealth of today with its advanced civilization. In the work of improvement he is most deeply interested and he has left the impress of his individuality upon many lines of improvement.