Edward L. De Melt Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1013-1014 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


				EDWARD L. DE MELT. 

	Edward L. De Melt, who is engaged in the transfer business in 
Springfield, was born in the village of South Westerlo, Albany county, 
New York, August 20, 1872, a son of John De Melt, who was also a native 
of the Empire state and in all probability a descendant of the French 
Huguenots who settled in the American colonies in the latter part of 
the seventeenth century, having been driven out of their native land by 
religious persecution. The mother, who bore the maiden name of Emma 
Lake, was born in Pennsylvania and removed with her parents to New York 
when but a child. 

	Edward L. De Melt resided in New York until he was fifteen years 
of age and then in 1887 accompanied his parents on their removal to Bon 
Homme county, South Dakota. The father rented land in the vicinity of 
Springfield for a number of years but in 1902 filed on a homestead 
claim in Charles Mix county, where he and his wife have since resided. 

	Their son. Edward L. De Melt. remained at home until his marriage 
and then began farming on his own account. In 1900 he removed to 
Springfield and established a transfer business which he is still 
conducting and which has proven very lucrative. He possesses sound 
practical judgment and as he is also a man of energy and integrity his 
business has grown steadily and promises to further increase in volume. 

	Mr. De Melt was married December 12, 1894, at Springfield, to 
Miss Rose Stanley, a native of Iowa and a daughter of Elwood and Sarah 
(Stowe) Stanley, who arrived with their family in Bon Homme county in 
1875. They suffered from the depredations of the grasshoppers, saw the 
flood after the winter of the deep snow and experienced a number of the 
worst blizzards in the history of the state. In those early days most 
of the inhabitants of the state lived in sod houses and families living 
at a considerable distance from the groves along the rivers and small 
streams were compelled to use hay for fuel. Added to these trials was 
the constant menace during the late summer from prairie fires. Four 
children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. De Melt, Blanche and Carlton, 
both of whom are attending the state normal school at Springfield; and 
Grace and Calvin, who died in infancy. 

	Mr. De Melt is a republican and takes a citizen's interest in 
public affairs. He holds membership in the blue lodge of the Masonic 
order at Springfield and belongs to the various bodies of the Scottish 
Rite, including the consistory at Yankton, having attained the thirty 
second degree therein. He is also a Noble of the Mystic Shrine, holding 
membership in El Riad Temple at Sioux Falls. In 1913 he purchased one 
of the finest residence properties in Springfield and his home is the 
meeting-place of the many friends of the family. His sterling traits of 
character are recognized by all and he is spoken of in terms of high 
regard.