Arthur Rolland Schlosser Biography This biography appears on pages 335-336 in "History of Dakota Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the SDGENWEB Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://usgwarchives.org/sd/sdfiles.htm ARTHUR ROLLAND SCHLOSSER. The South Dakota Training School takes high rank among the state institutions for the education and moral development of delinquent children and much of the credit for its standing is due to the efficient superintendent, Arthur Rolland Schlosser, who was born in Lodi, Wisconsin, on the 20th of June, 1880, a son of George and Helen (Chandler) Schlosser. In 1881 the family removed to this state, locating at Blunt, Hughes county, where the father conducted the Blunt Advocate until 1889. In that year he removed with his family to Aberdeen, which remained his place of residence until 1896, when the family went to Sioux Falls. There he again engaged in newspaper work. Arthur Rolland Schlosser received a high school education and at the time of the Spanish-American war enlisted in the First South Dakota Volunteer Infantry and for a year and a half followed the colors in the Philippines, assisting in putting down the insurrection of the natives. He held the rank of first sergeant of Company B and proved a valiant soldier. Upon his return to the States he worked at various things until 1901, when he came to the South Dakota Training School in the capacity of assistant superintendent. He applied himself diligently mastering the duties of his new position and proved so efficient that in April, 1911, he was elected superintendent, succeeding Mr. Young. He has a good intellectual grasp of the problems that confront the school and is expert in devising methods to meet its particular needs, while his understanding of the children for whom the school is conducted is a large factor in his success as superintendent. However, the discipline of the school is excellent and does much toward developing a real respect for law and order. Mr. Schlosser has the sincere regard and hearty cooperation of the other officials of the institution who number twenty-one. There are five teachers in the school of letters and music alone. The children are required to attend school as long as they are in the institution and are given the benefits of an excellent common and high school course. The girls, of whom there are thirty-two, are also taught vocal and instrumental music, are trained in every phase of housekeeping and are likewise taught sewing. It is hoped that a vocational department can soon be provided, in which they can also learn a trade. There are ninety-two boys and they are employed in operating the eight hundred acre farm and in raising live stock. As soon as possible trade departments will be established and the boys given an opportunity to learn another occupation as well as farming. The school supports a first class band, has a moving picture machine and provides other amusements for the children, realizing the value of wholesome recreation in their development. The boys and girls are committed to the care of the institution by the courts of the state and remain in the school until twenty-one years of age unless sooner discharged by proper authority. By a ruling of the Board of Charities and Corrections they are required to remain at the institution for one year before an application for a parole or release will be passed upon, and then it is necessary that their conduct while in the institution should have been satisfactory and that proper arrangements be made for their future care, training and employment. The children leaving the institution before twenty-one are under the care of the state parole officer until given their final discharge. The institution has fully justified itself by its results and there are many men and women in all walks of life who are useful and honored citizens of their communities who have succeeded primarily because of the training that they received at the school of which Mr. Schlosser is now superintendent. It is located on eight hundred acres of the best Aurora county land and was established by the territorial legislature of 1885. The first building was completed in 1887 and on the 10th of November, 1888, the first child was admitted. In 1899 the girls, building was erected. Since its etablishment the institution has cared for seven hundred and seventy boys and two hundred and two girls and its present enrollment of ninety boys and thirty-two girls is the largest in its history. Mr. Schlosser was married on the 3d of March, 1902, to Miss Edna McGarraugh, a daughter of J. T. and Nancy (Howard) McGarraugh. To Mr. and Mrs. Schlosser have been born a son and daughter, George and Margaret. Mr. Schlosser is a republican in politics, in religion is a member of the Congregational church and fraternally is identified with the Masonic order, being a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine at Sioux Falls. He takes the greatest interest in his duties as superintendent of the South Dakota Training School, is always seeking to make its work more effective along some line and at all times places the welfare of the school above all other interests