Ernest Mason Sedgwick Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1066-1067 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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				ERNEST MASON SEDGWICK. 

	Ernest Mason Sedgwick, a well known resident of Presho and Lyman 
county, is not only cashier of the Presho State Bank, which is one of 
the most important banks of that section of South Dakota, but is also 
the owner of a great deal of valuable land in this state. His birth 
occurred in West Liberty, Iowa, on the 29th of October, 1865, and he is 
a son of Lieutenant Samuel W. and Christina (Givans) Sedgwick, natives 
respectively of Vermont and Ohio. The father was a pioneer lumberman of 
Iowa but is now living retired at the age of eighty years at Pukwana, 
South Dakota. He has resided in this state since 1883, in which year he 
located in Kimball, where he engaged in the lumber business until he 
went to Pukwana. He fought in the Civil war, remaining in the military 
service for five years, during which period he was for some time a 
member of the Eleventh Iowa Volunteer Infantry and for some time was in 
an Iowa battery of artillery. He left the service with the rank of 
lieutenant and his military record is one of which he has cause to be 
proud. His wife is also living and they are the parents of five 
children, of whom Ernest M. is the eldest. 

	The last named attended school in Davenport, Iowa, but when 
fifteen years of age wells to Wyoming, where he remained with a big 
cattle company for four years. During this time he also helped to make 
the first survey of the Big Horn country and had many interesting 
experiences typical of life on the frontier. In 1884 he removed to 
Kimball, South Dakota, and was associated with his father in the lumber 
business there for one year but in 1885 located in Chamberlain, where 
he engaged in the cattle business. Five years later he took up his 
residence in Lyman county and engaged in the cattle business on his own 
account, owning at times herds numbering fifteen hundred head. In 1905 
he founded the Presho State Bank, of which he has been cashier since 
its organization and of which he is the majority stockholder. He 
directs the policy of the institution, which is the most important bank 
between Chamberlain and Rapid City on the Milwaukee road, and the rapid 
and steady growth of its business has been due to the wise policy of 
progressiveness tempered with conservatism which Mr. Sedgwick has 
followed. It is recognized that he possesses excellent judgment and his 
advice is often sought on matters of investment. He still owns his 
original ranch of four thousand, four hundred acres and also holds 
title to several smaller tracts of land. On his home ranch he has three 
thousand sheep and three hundred and fifty cattle and his stock raising 
interests return him a handsome income. 

	Mr. Sedgwick was married in 1889 to Miss Harriet E. Minar, of 
Chamberlain, and to them were born three children: Vera, the wife of 
Albert Henneman, of Meriden, Idaho; Edna M., who married M. C. Hight, 
of Presho; and Kenneth O., of Meriden, Idaho. In July, 1914, Mr. 
Sedgwick was again married, his second union being with Miss Alys B. 
Callanan, a daughter of James and Catherine (McNichols) Callanan, of 
Chamberlain. A son, James Ernest, has been born to this union. 

	Mr. Sedgwick is a republican and has served on the school board 
but has refused to accept any other office. He is a Knight Templar 
Mason and an Elk and is well known in local fraternal circles. Outdoor 
life has always afforded him great pleasure and he spends considerable 
time on his ranch, while his favorite forms of recreation are hunting 
and fishing. He is a great lover of blooded dogs and owns a number of 
fine ones. He has achieved an unusual measure of success but none 
begrudges him his prosperity as it is the direct reward of his sound 
judgment, enterprise and determination. He has been quick to recognize 
and take advantage of the opportunities offered by this rapidly 
developing state and his activities have not only led to his individual 
success but have also promoted the advancement of his section.