Myron J. Smiley Biography


	This biography appears on pages 941-942 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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				MYRON J. SMILEY. 

	Myron J. Smiley, of Belle Fourche, is identified with several 
different enterprises. He is connected in an official capacity with the 
Butte County Bank, owns a hardware store and is also extensively 
engaged in the raising of sheep. He was born at Ithaca, New York, 
December 17, 1872, a son of John G. and Addie (Weed) Smiley, both of 
whom were born at that place. The father in early life followed general 
agricultural pursuits but after his removal from New York to Wyoming he 
engaged in the stock business. He subsequently removed to Omaha, 
Nebraska, where he entered the mercantile field but several years later 
went to the southern part of that state and again became a stock-
raiser. He died in Aurora, Nebraska, in 1894, having survived his wife 
since 1886, her death occurring in Omaha. 

	Myron J. Smiley was educated in the public schools of New York 
state, the schools of Omaha and a business college at Stromsburg, 
Nebraska. Upon attaining his majority he started in the sheep business 
in Wyoming, whither he had gone in 1893, being in the employ of others 
for about a year. He continued to raise sheep in Wyoming until 1904, in 
which year he removed to Belle Fourche, South Dakota, and is still 
interested in that business, conducting his operations on a more 
extensive scale than ever before, and his income from that source is 
gratifying. He is also connected with the leading hardware 
establishment in Belle Fourche and is interested in a number of banks, 
being vice president of the Butte County Bank of Belle Fourche, of the 
Reclamation State Bank of Newell and the Irrigators State Bank at 
Nisland. He owns a large ranch east of Belle Fourche, on which he is 
engaged in general stock-raising and leased a large tract of land in 
the same locality. which is also devoted to the same business. A third 
ranch somewhat farther east and near Nisland is also given over to 
stock. Mr. Smiley is interested in a number of local enterprises and is 
an important factor in the business and commercial life of Belle 
Fourche and that locality. He is at present erecting in the city a fine 
residence in which he expects to make his home. 

	Mr. Smiley was married in August, 1898, to Miss Katie Ling, a 
native of Aurora, Nebraska. Her parents, Christian and Margaret (Baker) 
Ling, were natives of Illinois and Pennsylvania respectively. Her 
father devoted his life to agricultural pursuits and was one of the 
pioneer settlers of Hamilton county, Nebraska, where he lived until his 
death, which occurred in 1901. His widow survives and still resides in 
that county. He proved his patriotism in the troublous days of the 
'60s, as he served in the Union army. Mr. and Mrs. Smiley have three 
children, Florence A., John C. and Robert A., all of whom are attending 
school. 

	Mr. Smiley is independent in politics and has never felt inclined 
to hold public office. Fraternally he is a Mason, belonging to the blue 
lodge, chapter, consistory and Shrine. He is also affiliated with the 
Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He is a man of seemingly 
inexhaustible energy and as he has a commendable public spirit his 
enterprise makes for the good of his community as well as for his own 
material prosperity.