Hosmer H. Keith Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1109-1110 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


				HOSMER H. KEITH. 

	Hosmer H. Keith, lawyer, judge and legislator, engraved his name 
high on the keystone of the legal arch of South Dakota. He made iris 
home in Sioux Falls and was one of its most valued citizens. Born in 
the state of New York, July 12, 1846, he came of Scotch ancestry, his 
parents being David and Fanny (Wilbur) Keith, the former a farmer near 
North Brookfield, New York. Upon the home farm Hosmer H. Keith spent 
his youthful days and his early education, acquired in the common 
schools, was supplemented by a thorough academic course, after which he 
took up the profession of teaching. He finally entered a law school at 
Albany, New York, from which he was graduated with the chess of 1870. 
He w as then admitted to practice at the bar of the state and remained 
a representative of the legal profession of New York for about thirteen 
years, gaining broad and valuable experience during his practice there. 

	In the spring of 1883 Judge Keith came to Sioux Falls, South 
Dakota, where he continued to make his home until called to his final 
rest. He was classed, not only among the leading lawyers of the city 
and county, but of the state as well. His ability in the line of his 
profession was pronounced and was manifest in the care and precision 
with which he prepared his cases and the clear and cogent reasoning 
which he displayed in the presentation of his cause before the court. 
His understanding and interpretation of the law naturally led to his 
selection for the office of lawmaker. At the election of officers for 
the proposed state of South Dakota under the first Sioux Falls 
constitution he was elected judge of the second circuit and in the fall 
of 1888 he was elected to the legislature of the territory from the 
district comprising the counties of Minnehaha, Hanson and McCook. He 
was elected speaker of the house and presided with distinction and 
honor over its deliberations, proving himself an excellent 
parliamentarian and one who frustrated plans of filibustering in favor 
of vise and just legislation. In 1900 his son, Albert, became 
associated with him in the practice of law, in which he continued 
active to the time of his death For a period he served as city attorney 
and in private practice he figured in many important cases. 

	In Hamilton, New York, in 1870, Judge Keith was united in 
marriage to Miss Mary Spear, and they became the parents of three 
children: Flora; Albert J., a practicing attorney of Sioux Falls; and 
Edwin S., who is living in Bremerton, Washington. 

	Judge Keith was a thirty-second degree Mason and past exalted 
ruler and district deputy of the Elks. He was also an active member of 
the Baptist church, and gave willing and valuable assistance to the 
pastor and to the building committee at the time of the construction of 
the new house of worship. He held the position of trustee of the 
Colgate University of New York and for a number of years was a member 
of the board of trustees of the Sioux Falls College. His death occurred 
July 22, 1910. His residence in Sioux Falls had covered the period of 
its greatest growth and most substantial development. He was much 
interested in all that affected its welfare and upbuilding and ofttimes 
his example was a guiding spirit for others in relation to public 
affairs. He belonged to that class of men who have come from the east 
to the northwest and have been prominent in the upbuilding of a great 
empire in this section of the country, bringing with them the 
experience of the east, its knowledge and its culture and adding 
thereto the indomitable energy and enterprise which have led to the 
rapid and substantial development of this section.