Robert F. McAdam Biography


	This biography appears on pages 360-361 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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				ROBERT F. McADAM. 

	Robert E. McAdam, of Custer, has many business interests in the 
state but probably the greater part of his attention is given to the 
conduct of his general store, which is one of the leading 
establishments of its kind in Custer county. He was born in. Snyder 
county, Pennsylvania, on the 15th of January, 1874, the fifth child in 
a family of ten born to William F. and Mary C. (Darkes) McAdam, both 
natives of the Keystone state. On the 9th of October, 1847, the birth 
of the father occurred and the mother's natal day was the 27th of June, 
1850. In early life the father was a shoemaker but later turned his 
attention to farming and after his removal to Trego county, Kansas, 
near the famous Castle Rock, William F. McAdam turned his attention to 
stock-raising. He resided there for seven years but in 1885 removed to 
Chadron, Nebraska, and engaged in stock raising there until 1890. He 
then settled near Wind Cave, in Custer county, South Dakota, and is now 
engaged in the stock business there. During the Civil war he served for 
three years and eleven months as a member of Company H, Fiftieth 
Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and has a medal given him for being 
the first Union soldier to carry the stars and stripes over the rebel 
breastworks at Petersburg. His regiment opened the battle at Gettysburg 
and in view of that fact it was chosen to represent the infantry at the 
dedication of the Gettysburg monument. His brigade made the famous 
charge at Petersburg when the fort was blown up and he was many times 
in the thick of the fight but escaped being wounded nor was he ever 
confined in a hospital through illness. His father, Thomas McAdam, was 
born at Londonderry, Ireland, on the 27th of August, 1791, and his 
uncle, Samuel T. McAdam, was born in Philadelphia on the 27th of 
August, 1797. When the American progenitor of the family emigrated to 
this country from Ireland he brought with him the old family Bible, 
which is now in the possession of R. F. McAdam and which contains a 
record of the family history. 

	When about eleven years of age Robert F. McAdam began working for 
others, riding the range, and so continued for about fifteen years in 
Nebraska, Wyoming, South Dakota and Montana and in that time became 
acquainted with practically all of the western plains country. At the 
end of that time he engaged in ranching for himself in Custer county, 
South Dakota, and continued to devote his energies to looking after his 
interests in that connection for about eight years. He then came to 
Custer and established a general store, which he still conducts. He is 
also engaged in the tie and lumber business and has a contract with the 
Burlington Railroad Company, which buys his entire product. He operates 
a sawmill twelve miles southeast of Custer and finds that business a 
profitable side line. He still owns his ranch in Custer county, which 
is located near Wind Cave, and owns stock in the Custer Electric Light, 
Heat & Power Company. 

	Mr. McAdam is a democrat and is at present representing Custer 
county on the state central committee of that party. Fraternally he 
belongs to the Masonic lodge of Custer, of which he is a past master, 
and the Modern Woodmen Camp. He is popular in these organizations and 
is loyal to their teachings and best interests, doing all in his power 
to promote their welfare and exemplifying in his life the spirit of 
fraternity that underlies them. In his business affairs he has met with 
well deserved and gratifying success and since establishing his store 
has built up an extensive trade.