Biography of George J. Jarvis

	From: History of Dakota Territory  by George W. Kingsbury (1915), vol. V, p. 740-744
	
	Transcribed by Judy Huber, huberj@btigate.com

JUDGE GEORGE J. JARVIS

     Judge George J. Jarvis, who since the 1st of January, 1897, has occupied 
the bench of the county court of Faulk county and makes his home in Faulkton, 
is numbered among the pioneer settlers of his section of the state and has not 
only been an interested witness of the changes which have occurred but also an 
active participant in those movements which have led to the material, 
intellectual, political, social and moral progress of the community. His rulings 
on the bench are fair and impartial and he is an honored representative of that 
profession which has ever been regarded as the conservator of property, life and 
liberty. In another capacity he was active in defending the interests of liberty, 
for he served throughout the entire period of the Civil war, wearing the nation's 
blue uniform.
     Judge Jarvis was born at Columbus, Ohio, March 26, 1843, a son of George and 
Sarah (Brocklehurst) Jarvis, who were natives of England, the former born in 
Staffordshire and the latter in Sheffield. His paternal ancestors lived in Staffordshire, 
famous for its potteries. They were in limited financial circumstance and it was this 
that induced them to try their fortune in the new world. Here the paternal grandfather, 
William B. Jarvis, prospered and eventually established his home in Ohio. the maternal 
grandfather, John Brocklehurst, was a manufacturer of silk thread at Sheffield, England. 
Trouble with employees, who resented the introduction of improved machinery to do the 
work that had formerly been done by hand. led to the destruction of the mill and 
machinery by the employees and it was then Mr. Brocklehurst sought a home in the 
United States, 	"to enjoy the blessings of religious and personal liberty," as he 
said. He lived to be more than ninety years of age and never regretted his 
determination to seek a home on this side the Atlantic. 
      George Jarvis, Sr., came to America with the family when about seventeen 
years old. He was a natural mechanic and devoted much attention to the builder's 
trade, becoming an extensive and expert contractor. For some time he resided in 
Columbus, Ohio, where he engaged in the contracting business, and in 1849 he 
removed to Wisconsin, this being before the building of railroads into Chicago. 
He settled at Baraboo, Wisconsin, but afterward returned to Ohio. Still later 
he became a resident of Dane county, Wisconsin, and in 1883 removed to South 
Dakota, settling in the vicinity of Faulkton, although the county was not organized 
at that time. In 1886 he went to Iowa and thence to the state of  Washington, where 
he died at the advanced age of ninety-four years and six months. He held various 
local offices in the different localities in which he lived and in politics was a 
strong prohibitionist. His wife passed away in Redfield, South Dakota, when 
sixty-eight years old.
      Judge Jarvis is the eldest of their six children. He vividly relates many 
interesting incidents and occurrences of the early days. The family lived in 
Wisconsin in pioneer times, when land could be purchased from the government 
at a dollar and a quarter per acre. They were there during the financial panic 
of 1857, when money was issued by banks and there was such fluctuation in it 
that daily there were bulletins issued, giving values. The money was known by 
such names as wild cat, red dog, red back and state bank bills. Living upon the 
frontier, Judge Jarvis had no opportunity to attend school. His youth was a period 
of earnest and unremitting labor. He recalls driving twelve and one-half miles to 
a town where he sold a cord of hard wood for two dollars and a quarter and then 
running the horses through the streets for the purpose of getting to the bank so 
as to make a deposit before the bank should close. All was not hard work, however, 
for he tells that during the winter of 1860-1 he expended fifteen dollars, which he 
had earned by cutting and selling cord wood, in Madison, in attendance at a ball given 
by the Dane county cavalry.
     Following the outbreak of the Civil war Judge Jarvis made several attempts to 
enlist and on the 1st of October, 1861, entered the United States service and became 
a member of the Third Battery of Wisconsin Light Artillery, with which he served for 
three years, two months and twenty-two days. He was never wounded nor confined in the 
hospital, although often in the thickest of the fight. All of the experiences and 
hardships of army life in camp and field are familiar to him. After spending some 
time in camp, the order came on the 20th of January, 1862, to proceed to Louisville, 
Kentucky, and on the 23d, marching thorough deep snow in the face of a ranging blizzard, 
the troops started on their way to the south. The history of his army life is the 
record of the experiences of the battery to which he belonged. He was always on 
active duty and participated in many of the most hotly contested engagements of 
the war. He was in the siege of Corinth and from that time was actively engaged in 
duty until the close of the war, being numbered among those who fought in many of 
the most hotly contested engagements which led up to the final victory that crowned 
the Union arms.
     Following the war George Jarvis was associated with his father and brother in 
the operation of a sawmill in Richland county, Wisconsin, until 1875, when he sold 
his interest to his brothers, having in the meantime studied law, so that in that 
year he passed the required examination for the bar. He continued in active practice 
in Wisconsin until 1883, when he came to South Dakota, establishing his home upon a 
farm near Faulkton, where he remained until elected county judge in 1896, since which 
time he has made his home in Faulkton. He still owns the original homestead, however, 
and it is now a valuable and well improved property. Practically his entire attention, 
however, is devoted to the practice of law, his efforts being now concentrated upon the 
prompt and faithful discharge of his duties on the bench.
     On the 3d of July, 1865, Judge Jarvis was married to Miss Diantha M. Nichols, a 
native of Richland county, Ohio, and to them were born six children: Nellie, the wife 
of W. R. Hathaway, a druggist of Minneapolis; George L., who is connected with mining 
interests at  Globe, Arizona; Harry J., living at  Winnemucca, Nevada, where he is 
engaged in clerical work; Frank A. deceased; Fred W., who is conducting a barber shop 
and pool and billiard room at Faulkton; and S. Belle, at home. The younger daughter 
taught school in Faulk county for thirteen years and also held the office of deputy 
county auditor for two terms. The other daughter, Nellie, was deputy county register 
of deeds for two terms. Judge and Mrs. Jarvis celebrated their golden wedding July 3, 1915.
     Judge Jarvis has passed through the various departments of Odd Fellowship, 
belonging to the Faulkton Lodge, No. 169; to Jarvis Encampment, No. 45, named in 
his honor; and Canton Success, No. 3, at Mitchell, South Dakota. He also has 
membership in Phil H. Sheridan Post, No. 72, G.A.R., of which he has served as 
commander. In politics he has always been a stalwart republican and held various 
local offices previous to being called to the bench. Reelection has returned him 
to the position and he is making a splendid officer. One of his pronounced 
characteristics has always been his fidelity to duty, whether it be the duty of 
military service, of public office or the obligations that the individual owes 
to his fellowmen. He has held to high ideals, has looked at life from a broad 
viewpoint and has made his efforts count for good in the world's work.