William Henry McMaster Biography


	This biography appears on pages 964-965 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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				WILLIAM HENRY McMASTER.  

	William Henry McMaster, prominent in political and banking 
circles and widely known as one of the leading financiers of the state, 
makes his home in Yankton and from that city controls his various 
interests and investments. He was born in Ticonic, Iowa, May 10, 1877, 
his parents being Samuel and Sarah J. (Woodson) McMaster, both of whom 
were natives of Maine and became pioneer settlers of Iowa. They went to 
California by way of the Panama route in 1849, attracted by the 
discovery of gold on the Pacific slope, but returned to Maine and in 
1870 established their home in Iowa. Both are now deceased.  

	William H. McMaster, the youngest in a family of six children, 
pursued his education in the public schools of Sioux City, Iowa, 
passing through consecutive grades until graduated from the high school 
with the class of 1895. He entered Beloit College of Wisconsin and was 
graduated in 1899 with the Bachelor of Arts degree. In 1901 he became 
connected with the banking business at Gayville, establishing the 
Security State Bank, of which he is the present cashier. He is also 
interested in several other South Dakota banks and has made extensive 
investments in farm lands, from which he derives a substantial annual 
income. His judgment in business matters is sound, his discrimination 
keen and his enterprise unfaltering.  

	On the 16th of April, 1902, Mr. McMaster was united in marriage 
to Miss Harriet R. Russell, a daughter of Frederick J. and Harriet 
(Eggleston) Russell, of Cooperstown, New York. They have two children, 
William Henry, Jr., and Dorothy. Mr. McMaster belongs to Beta Theta Psi 
and the T. N. E., both college fraternities. He also has membership 
with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows and in Masonry has attained the thirty-second degree of the 
Scottish Rite. In politics he is a republican-progressive and has long 
been a recognized leader in political circles in South Dakota. He 
served for a term in the house of representatives and later was elected 
to represent his district in the state senate. He was urged to become a 
candidate for governor on the progressive ticket in the campaign of 
1914 but declined. He is frequently heard upon the campaign platform 
and in fact his services as a political speaker are often sought. In 
the midst of his many activities he does not neglect his moral 
obligations and is a member of the Congregational church. He finds 
recreation in motoring, tennis and all out-of-door sports, and in his 
college days was a member of the college baseball and football teams. 
Residing in Yankton, he is by the consensus of public opinion one of 
its most prosperous and prominent citizens, of widely recognized 
business ability and of marked force of character. Although 
difficulties and obstacles have at times seemed to bar his path, he has 
overcome these by determined effort, and tireless energy, keen 
perception and the ability to plan and devise the right thing at the 
right time have been salient features in his life work.