James Johnson McIntire Biography


	This biography appears on pages 588-589 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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				JAMES JOHNSON McINTIRE. 

	James Johnson McIntire, now deceased, devoted many years to 
educational work both in the schoolroom and in the pulpit and his life 
was one of far-reaching influence and benefit. He was born in Franklin, 
New York, September 22, 1827, and died at Sioux Falls, South Dakota, 
December 20, 1902, after an illness of three mouths resulting from 
injuries sustained while serving in the Union army. He was a son of 
Nathaniel and Miranda (Goodrich) McIntyre, the former a native of 
Massachusetts and of Scotch descent, representing an ancestry connected 
with the early history of this country. The mother was born in Walton, 
Delaware county, New York, and came of a family of notable social 
prominence and culture. 

	The father died when James J. McIntire was a small boy, after 
which he earned his own living. Thrown upon his own resources when less 
than ten years of age, he one day sat upon a doorstep and watched a man 
pass by who was under the influence of liquor. He said to himself: "No 
one respects that man, and why? Who decides one's position in life?" He 
followed out his line of thought and then and there pledged his life to 
the upbuilding of things pure and right, not only setting a standard 
for himself but resolving to influence as far as possible the lives of 
those around him. To this resolution he faithfully adhered to his dying 
day. Through his own efforts he obtained a common-school education and 
in 1847 entered Colgate University, where he remained as a student for 
three years. He then pursued a three years, course at Rochester 
University, from which he was graduated in 1853 with the degree of 
Bachelor of Arts. He later pursued a year's work in the theological 
department of the seminary at Rochester. In his boyhood he served as a 
blacksmith's apprentice and thoroughly learned the business, the 
knowledge of which served him many a good turn during pioneer times. He 
was licensed to preach by the Olean (N. Y.) Baptist church in 1847 and 
while continuing his university work spent many of his Sundays and his 
vacation periods in preaching. He left the university for a year in 
order to teach a school "that no one could manage" and after conquering 
the situation he resumed his studies. In 1852 he was commissioned by 
the Erie Canal Bethel Society for missionary work along the canal, west 
of Rochester, and in 1854 he was ordained a minister of the gospel by 
the Pembroke (N. Y.) Baptist church, where he remained as pastor for 
two years. He then accepted a pastorate in Berlin, Wisconsin, where he 
also occupied the position of principal of the public schools. In 1860 
he removed to Watertown, Wisconsin, where he was pastor for two years. 
He then went to Waterloo, Wisconsin, where he led in the building of a 
church, in which he conducted a school for five years. This school was 
called the Waterloo Institute. Still later he was principal of the 
academy at Marshall' Wisconsin, for three years and through the 
following years was principal of the Walworth Academy, after which he 
severed his connections with Wisconsin to become a resident of Dakota 
territory. 

	In the fall of 1871 Mr. McIntire secured a homestead in what is 
now Turner county, South Dakota, and did pioneer missionary work there 
for five years. Subsequently he went to Iowa and for a year had charge 
of the public schools in Floyd and for two years continued as principal 
of the schools at Janesville, Iowa. In 1882 he became pastor of the 
Baptist church at Shell Rock, where he remained for several years, 
after which he returned to South Dakota and for five years was 
principal of the Hurley public schools. He next accepted the pastorate 
of the Baptist church at Spencer, where he remained until 1899, when he 
retired and took up his abode in East Sioux Falls. 

	The Rev. McIntire was twice married. On the 26th of December, 
1850, at Ellicottville, New York, he wedded Miss Sarah Swartz, a 
daughter of George and Margaret (Berry) Swartz. To them were born seven 
children, as follows: Edgar James, who married Miss Ella Hart; Charles 
and Alva, who died in infancy; Mary Elizabeth, who gave her hand in 
marriage to Oscar Elce; Nettie Irene, the wife of David High; Carrie 
Morean, who became the wife of Charles F. Hackett; and Daniel W., who 
married Miss Julia Olsen. The wife and mother passed away in 1877 and 
the following year Rev. McIntire was again married, his second union 
being with Miss Mina G. Vandemark, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, a 
daughter of Henry and Mary Vandemark. They became the parents of two 
children: Hazel, who became the wife of John Moses; and Lewis. 

	In politics Mr. McIntire was a republican, voting with the party. 
In matters of citizenship he stood for all that was progressive and 
right. He was a strong advocate of the temperance cause and at the time 
of the Civil war he gave indisputable evidence of his loyalty to his 
country by raising a company of which he was appointed captain. Soon 
afterward, however, he was commissioned superintendent of refugees and 
chaplain of the Forty ninth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, in which 
connections he continued until the close of the war. The public offices 
that he has filled have been in the educational field. He was county 
superintendent of schools in Turner county in 1873-4 and in the 
following year was chosen superintendent of public instruction for the 
territory of Dakota, filling that position for two years and doing much 
to shape the educational development of the state during its formative 
period. He became a charter member of Hurley Lodge, No. 75, I. O. O. 
F., at Hurley, South Dakota, and in 1894 was appointed grand chaplain 
of that order, which position he filled continuously to the time of his 
demise. He was also chaplain of the South Dakota Department of the 
Grand Army of the Republic. The little bronze button which he wore was 
not only indicative of his service in defense of the Union during the 
Civil war but was also an evidence of a patriotic citizenship that 
manifested itself in continuous effort to aid in the material, 
political, intellectual and moral progress of the individual and of the 
commonwealth at large.