Jean F. Sargent Biography


	This biography appears on pages 397-398 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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				JEAN F. SARGENT. 

	Jean F. Sargent is an able and successful representative of the 
legal fraternity in South Dakota, being actively engaged in the general 
practice of law at Gettysburg. His birth occurred in Turner county, 
this state, on the 23d of December, 1879, his parents being Junia and 
Ida M. (Dack) Sargent, the former a native of Union City, Pennsylvania, 
and the latter of Rock Island, Illinois. Junia Sargent came to South 
Dakota in 1872, was married in this state and for a period of nineteen 
years was successfully engaged in the mercantile business at Hurley. He 
then devoted his attention to farming for six or seven years but in 
October, 1908, retired and took up his abode in Los Angeles, 
California. At the end of four years he removed to a fruit ranch near 
Riverside, California, on which he and his wife have since made their 
home. He still owns land near Hurley, this state, and always took an 
active interest in politics, ably serving as county commissioner for 
thirteen consecutive years and also acting as a member of the school 
board and as justice of the peace. 

	Jean F. Sargent, the second in order of birth in a family of nine 
children, acquired his early education in country schools and at Hurley 
and subsequently spent three years in the University of South Dakota at 
Vermillion, while his professional training was received curing three 
years' study in the Northwestern University Law School, which 
institution conferred upon him the degree of LL. B. in 1905. He spent 
the period of his minority under the parental roof and then engaged in 
farming near Hurley for two years. It was on the expiration of that 
period that he pursued his law course, being admitted to the bar in 
October, 1905. For two and one-half years he practiced his profession 
in Parker, South Dakota, and then removed to Gettysburg, where he has 
remained continuously to the present time, having built up an extensive 
and lucrative clientage. He is felicitous and clear in argument, 
thoroughly in earnest, a foe worthy of the steel of the most able 
opponent, and yet is never abusive of his adversaries but is imbued 
with highest courtesy. He still owns farm lands in the state which he 
leases and is widely recognized as one of the substantial citizens and 
successful attorneys of Potter county and South Dakota. 

	On the 24th of June, 1908, Mr. Sargent was united in marriage to 
Miss Matie Spotts, a native of Cerro Gordo county, Iowa, and a daughter 
of A. L. and Emma (Heinselman) Spotts, both of whom were born in Ohio. 
The father has devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits 
throughout his active business career and he and his wife still reside 
in Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Sargent have three sons, namely: Carroll V., who 
was born April 15, 1909; William Boyd, whose natal day was May 24, 
1911; and Robert Lynn, whose birth occurred on the 13th of February, 
1913. 

	Politically Mr. Sargent is a stanch republican who has done able 
public service in the line of his profession. He served as state's 
attorney for Potter county for four years and likewise held the office 
of city attorney for three years, making a most commendable and 
creditable record in both connections. He was also made the first chief 
of the volunteer fire company, serving in that capacity for two years, 
while during the year 1912 he acted as president of the Commercial 
Club. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the 
Methodist Episcopal church and fraternally he is identified with the 
Masons, belonging to Ionic Lodge, No. 83, A. F. & A. M., at Gettysburg. 
He has many friends in his part of the state and is always seen in 
those social circles where the intelligent men of the community are to 
be found discussing questions of vital importance.