Charles C. Stoddard Biography


	This biography appears on pages 632-635 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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				CHARLES C. STODDARD

	Charles C. Stoddard is one of the most extensive landowners of 
Spink county, holding title to twelve hundred and eighty acres of land 
situated in Beotia and Benton townships. He raises grain chiefly but 
also raises a little stock. He has resided in this state since 1881 and 
in the intervening thirty-four years has witnessed much of the 
development that has transformed South Dakota from a desolate 
wilderness to a thriving farming section. 

	Mr. Stoddard was born in West Woodstock, Windham county, 
Connecticut, on the 8th of February, 1854, his parents being Ebenezer 
and Charlotte (Pendleton) Stoddard, the former of whom died in 1855 
when but thirty years of age and is buried in West Woodstock, 
Connecticut. The mother survived until 1909, when she, too, passed 
away, having reached the ripe old age of eighty years. Her remains are 
interred in Conde, this state. The Stoddard family is of French origin 
and originally the name was spelled Stouduard and meant beaver. The 
mother was a descendant of Major Bryan Pendleton, who in 1642 came to 
this country from England. Ancestors of our subject on both sides 
appear to have served in the Revolutionary war. The maternal great-
grandfather, Jesse Pendleton, was a member of the Massachusetts 
legislature and the paternal grandfather, Ebenezer Stoddard, was a 
member of congress from 1822 to 1824. 

	Charles C. Stoddard began his education in the schools of 
Norwich, Connecticut, which he attended until ten years of age, when he 
accompanied his mother and stepfather on their removal to Minnesota. In 
the latter state he continued his education in the common schools until 
he attained the age of seventeen years and then started out in life for 
himself. He worked upon various farms until he reached the age of 
twenty one years, when a farm near Forestville, Fillmore county, which 
had previously belonged to his mother, was deeded to him, but he traded 
it for a farm in Waseca county, Minnesota. He subsequently came to this 
state and filed upon a preemption and also upon a tree claim. Some 
years later he disposed of his land in Minnesota and settled 
permanently in South Dakota in 1881. He improved his claims and also 
purchased other land. He bought and sold other property but still 
retains twelve hundred and eighty acres which he has improved and 
developed, building residences, barns and other needed structures upon 
his various farms and maintaining the land at a high state of 
cultivation. Most of his land is devoted to the raising of grain and, 
as his wheat is always of a high quality, he secures high prices on the 
market for it and realizes a considerable sum of money each year over 
and above the cost of operation. He also raises some stock, keeping 
about eighty hogs, forty head of cattle and fifteen horses. He uses 
improved machinery in his farming and does what he can to conserve the 
fertility of his soil and as he follows scientific methods in its 
cultivation he is recognized as one of the progressive and successful 
farmers of Spink county. 

	Mr. Stoddard was married on Christmas day, 1904, to Miss 
Christine Hanson, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hans Hanson, formerly 
residents of South Dakota but now living in Arkansas. Mr. and Mrs. 
Stoddard have two children who are living, Lucy and Charles C., and 
lost a son, George H., who is buried in Conde. 

	Mr. Stoddard was formerly a republican but has recently supported 
the democratic ticket, by which it is seen he reserves the right to 
vote independently if he thinks that the interests of good government 
can best be served by so doing. He was the first treasurer of Beotia 
township. Although he has won a success greater than that of the 
average man, it is due entirely to his hard work, excellent judgment 
and thrift, qualities which may be successfully emulated and which will 
invariably lead to prosperity.