Thomas J. Dalton Biography


	This biography appears on pages 786-787 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


				THOMAS J. DALTON.  

	Thomas J. Dalton, president of the Sully County State Bank, gives 
the greater part of his time to its management, but is also interested 
in a large stock ranch, which he and his brother own jointly and which 
they devote chiefly to the breeding of thoroughbred Hereford cattle. 
His birth occurred in Mauston, Wisconsin, on the 25th of March, 1885, 
and he is a son of John W. and Mary E. (Comer) Dalton, born 
respectively in New York state and in Wisconsin. The father went to 
Wisconsin when about fifteen years of age and there grew to manhood. He 
followed the occupation of farming and became a landowner in that 
state, where he was killed in a cyclone on the 7th of June, 1908. In 
1911 his widow came to South Dakota and is now living with a daughter 
at Hecla. He was quite prominent in local public affairs, serving for 
about twenty years on the board of county commissioners and also being 
a member of the board of education for some time.  

	Thomas J. Dalton, who is the fifth in order of birth in a family 
of ten children, was graduated from the high school at Mauston, 
Wisconsin, in 1904. When twenty years old he took up the profession of 
teaching, which he followed for a year. He thus earned money which 
enabled him to attend the State University of Wisconsin at Madison for 
one year and during that time he took quite a prominent part in 
athletics, being a member of the freshman football squad. Upon leaving 
school he became assistant cashier in the State Bank at Mauston and two 
years later was made cashier of that institution, his attention to his 
work and his ability winning him rapid promotion.  

	In 1910 Mr. Dalton disposed of his holdings in the Badger state 
and came to South Dakota, locating at Onida. In connection with his 
brother he established the Sully County State Bank and became the 
cashier of that institution. In 1913 he was made president, a position 
which he still holds. His experience in banking has made him thoroughly 
familiar with all details of routine work and he also understands the 
larger aspects of banking. The continued growth of the business of the 
institution and the high place which it occupies in the confidence of 
the people of Sully county is due in no small measure to his wise 
management and to the careful attention which he gives to all phases of 
the work. His brother Charles is cashier and R. J. Dougherty is vice 
president. In connection with his brother Charles, our subject operates 
a ranch near Onida and they have gained an enviable reputation as 
breeders of full blooded Hereford cattle. At the present time they have 
from one hundred to one hundred and twenty-five head of pure bred 
animals. Charles A. Dalton practically has charge of the ranch, as our 
subject finds his time taken up with his duties as president of the 
bank.  

	Mr. Dalton was married on the 30th of March, 1910, to Miss Ellen 
Bradley, also a native of Mauston, Wisconsin. Her parents, Edward W. 
and Emma (Anderson) Bradley, are natives respectively of Indiana and of 
Nevada and are still residing in Mauston, Wisconsin, where the father 
is engaged in merchandising. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Dalton 
served in the Union army and died while incarcerated in Libby prison.  

	Mr. Dalton is independent in politics, voting for the man whom he 
deems best fitted for the office in question without regard to his 
party affiliation. His religious faith is that of the Roman Catholic 
church, of which he is a devout communicant, and fraternally he is 
identified with the Knights of Columbus. He is still a young. man but 
has gained a success that many who are his seniors might well envy. He 
has not only won a high standing in business and financial circles of 
Sully county because of his business ability and energy, but he has 
also gained the esteem of all who have come in contact with him, as he 
possesses many admirable traits of character.