Arthur L. Freelove Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1049-1050 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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				ARTHUR L. FREELOVE. 

	In any community there are a few men who are generally recognized 
as leaders and among that number in Lyman county is Arthur L. Freelove, 
of Kennebec, who has played an important part in the financial 
development of the county and also in the advancement of dairying and 
farming interests. A native of Iowa, he was born in Arcadia, on the 
24th of November, 1876, a son of Madison B. and Mary (Gaundry) 
Freelove. The father was horn in Vermont, but in his early manhood 
removed to Iowa, where he engaged in farming until his demise in 1896, 
at the age of fifty-six years. He was one of the pioneer settlers of 
Manning, Iowa, and was highly esteemed by all who knew him. The mother 
is of English and Dutch parentage. She is still living at Manning and 
has reached the age of sixty six years, while her mother, who also 
resides at that place, is eighty-six years of age. 

	Arthur L. Freelove, who is the second in order of birth in a 
family of five children, attended the graded and high schools of 
Manning and subsequently entered the College of Law of Valparaiso 
University at Valparaiso, Indiana, from which he was graduated with the 
class of 1897. The business ability and energy which have enabled him 
to gain a foremost place in financial and business circles of his 
county were demonstrated during his student days as he worked his way 
through college. He first located for practice at Britt, Iowa, where he 
remained for a year and a half, after which he removed to Sioux Rapids, 
Iowa, practicing there until 1908. While residing in that city he also 
became connected with banking and with the real-estate business and 
proved successful in those lines. In 1910 he located in Kennebec, Lyman 
county, South Dakota, where he has since remained, and purchased the 
controlling interest in the Security State Bank, which he converted by 
charter into the First National Bank of Kennebec in 1911. This 
institution is the largest bank and the only national bank in Lyman 
county and the excellent condition of its affairs is chiefly due to the 
wise management of its president, Mr. Freelove. He is also president of 
the First National Bank of Oldham, which he purchased in 1911 as the 
State Bank of Oldham, and of the Reliance Savings Bank of Reliance, 
South Dakota. His high standing among bankers is indicated by the fact 
that he has served as vice president of the State Bankers Association. 
His activity, however, is not confined to banking, as he is a member of 
the Freelove & Coster Land Company, who own extensive tracts of land 
and operate the largest ranch in the county devoted to stock-raising 
and alfalfa growing. They breed shorthorn and Hereford cattle and have 
played an important part in the development of the stock-raising 
interests of the county. It is acknowledged that no other man in the 
county has done so much to further the stock-raising and dairy 
development of the county as Mr. Freelove, as he is not only one of the 
county's largest stock-raisers, but has also assisted many others to 
get a start in stock-raising and especially in dairying through the 
giving of advice and of financial assistance He is also president of 
the Lyman Agricultural Extension Association, which promotes 
cooperation in the purchase and 'distribution of seeds and in the 
breeding and exchange of registered stock and disseminates information 
as to the scientific methods of farming, dairying and stock-raising. 

	On the 11th of January, 1898, Mr. Freelove was married at 
Manning, Iowa, to Miss Alma D. Franke, a daughter of Gustav and Dorothy 
Franke To this union two children have been born, Arthur Franke and 
Dorothy Louisa. Mrs. Freelove is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
church and takes an active part in the work of the church and of the 
Ladies Aid Society. 

	Mr. Freelove also attends the Methodist Episcopal church and 
contributes liberally to its support. In his political belief he is a 
stalwart republican and while living in Sioux Rapids, Iowa, took a 
leading part in politics and served for one term as mayor. He has 
always greatly enjoyed outdoor life and sports and while in college was 
class representative on the running track and also played on the class 
baseball team. He is characterized by untiring energy and his 
enterprise and resourcefulness have enabled him to accomplish much for 
his town and county at the same time that he has achieved individual 
success. He is quick to recognize opportunities, uses sound judgment in 
formulating his plans and is prompt in carrying them out. It is to such 
men as he that the prosperity and development of the county are due.