Horace G. Clason Biography


	This biography appears on pages 971-972 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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				HORACE G. CLASON. 

	Horace G. Clason is operating a stock ranch of one thousand acres 
in Custer county and is also the vice president of the Ranchmen's Bank 
at Fairburn. He was born near Rochester, Minnesota, November 22, 1857, 
and has always been a western man, possessed of the independent spirit, 
the alertness and the enterprise common to this section of the country. 
His parents, H. H. and Kate (Swarthout) Clason, were both natives of 
Steuben county, New York, and the father devoted his entire life to the 
occupation of farming. About 1855 he removed westward with his family 
to Minnesota, settling near Rochester, where he resided for about 
twelve years. He then went to Freeborn county, where he remained until 
1876, when he removed to Furnas county, Nebraska, there engaging in 
farming and the live-stock business. He resided at that place until 
about 1904, when he removed to Bridgeport, Oklahoma, where he is now 
living retired. His wife, however, passed away in September, 1913. 

	Horace G. Clason, who is the eldest of nine children, attended 
school at Oronoco and at Freeborn, Minnesota, and at nineteen years of 
age began earning his own living in the employ of others. He spent one 
or two years in that way in Minnesota and then engaged in farming on 
his own account. About the time he attained his majority he removed to 
Nebraska, where he resided for a year and a half, and then returned to 
his native state, where he carried on general agricultural pursuits for 
three years. In 1883 he once more went to Nebraska, where he engaged in 
the live-stock business, feeding and raising cattle. There he remained 
until 1890, when he removed to Custer county, South Dakota, settling on 
a farm about seven miles from Fairburn. In addition to his agricultural 
interests he conducted a sawmill business for a number of years, but 
now devotes his attention exclusively to his stock business and is 
operating one thousand acres as a stock ranch. He is one of the 
foremost stockmen of his part of the state, his business having reached 
large and important proportions. He is also the vice president of the 
Ranchmen's Bank at Fairburn and is a stockholder in the Hermosa Bank. 
In addition he owns property in Arkansas, including both farms and 
timber land. 

	On the 1st of January, 1880, Mr. Clason was united in marriage to 
Miss Alice M. Fay, who was born in Wisconsin near Fox Lake, a daughter 
of Albert and Cynthia (Wilson) Fay, who were natives of Canada, born 
near Montreal. Her father, who was a farmer and rancher, came to Custer 
county in 1886, settling near Fairburn, where he engaged in the 
livestock business until his death, which occurred July 4, 1898. His 
widow survived him for about nine years and passed away in Fairburn in 
1907. To Mr. and Mrs. Clason have been born eight children. Elisha B., 
residing fifteen miles northwest of Fairburn, where he is engaged in 
the sawmill business, married Miss Julia Springer. Kate is the wife of 
Jess Vanourkirk, an engineer living near her father's home. John, who 
married Nettie Westover, is a contractor of Montana. Ollie is the wife 
of Earl Brown, a ranchman residing near Custer. William is upon his 
father's ranch. Raymond, who married Miss Josie Hazen, operates a ranch 
near Alberta, Canada. Earl and Harold are both at home. 

	In politics Mr. Clason is independent, voting for men and 
measures rather than party. He has served as county commissioner of 
Custer county for two terms and has filled various offices in the 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows lodge of which he is a member while 
twice he has represented the local organization in the grand lodge. He 
is also connected with the Modern Woodmen of America. A self-made man, 
he started out in the business world unaided and whatever success he 
has achieved is the direct reward of his own labor. He has worked 
persistently and energetically as the years have gone on, making good 
use of his time and opportunities, and is now the owner of valuable 
property interests.