Charles H. McGilvray Biography


	This biography appears on pages 989-990 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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				CHARLES H. McGILVRAY. 

	Charles H. McGilvray, one of the progressive and enterprising 
agriculturists of Split Rock township, Minnehaha county, cultivates 
three hundred and twenty acres of the home place on section 12, 
devoting his attention to diversified farming. His birth occurred in 
Iroquois county, Illinois, on the 14th of March, 1883, his parents 
being Hugh and Mary M. (Height) McGilvray, the former a native of 
Canada and the latter of New York. Their marriage was celebrated at 
Ashkum, Illinois, and Hugh McGilvray followed farming in Iroquois 
county, that state, until 1882, when he removed to Virginia, taking up 
his abode twelve miles from Richmond and purchasing over three hundred 
acres of land. At the end of three years, however, he disposed of the 
property and came to South Dakota in 1885, buying four hundred and 
eighty acres of land in Split Rock township, Minnehaha county. The 
operation of that place claimed his time and energies until 1911, when 
he put aside the active work of the fields and took up his abode in 
Valley Springs. where he has since lived in honorable retirement. The 
period of his residence in Minnehaha county covers three decades and he 
enjoys an extensive acquaintance as one of its prosperous and esteemed 
citizens. 

	Charles H. McGilvray, who was but two years old when brought to 
this state by his parents, was reared at home and acquired his early 
education in the common schools. Subsequently he pursued a course of 
study in the Sioux Falls Business College and later attended Parker 
College of Winnebago, Minnesota. In 1908 he started out as an 
agriculturist on his own account, remaining at home, however, and 
renting adjacent land. In 1911, at the time of his father's retirement, 
he took charge of three hundred and twenty acres of the home farm and 
has since operated the tract very successfully. He raises shorthorn 
cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs, and this branch of his business also 
yields a gratifying annual income. 

	On the 28th of December, 1911, Mr. McGilvray was united in 
marriage to Miss Alma Torkelson, a native of Split Rock township, 
Minnehaha county, by whom he has two children, Howard and Lester. His 
political allegiance is given to the republican party, while 
fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 
belonging to Valley Springs Lodge, No. 143. A young man of energy, 
enterprise and ambition, he has already won recognition among the 
substantial and representative citizens of Minnehaha county and South 
Dakota.