Col. Boyd Wales Biography


	This biography appears on pages 533-534 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


				COLONEL BOYD WALES.  

	Colonel Boyd Wales has a military record of which any one might 
well be proud, as he saw a great deal of active service in the 
Philippine Islands during the Spanish-American war, proving himself a 
soldier of unusual bravery and ability. He is now a prominent member of 
the state militia and holds the rank of colonel in that organization. 
He is one of the wide-awake and alert business men of Howard and is 
proprietor of two moving picture theaters, which provide wholesome, 
popular entertainment. He was born on the 10th of August, 1872, in 
Brownsville, Nebraska, a son of Prescott and Phoebe (Cunningham) Wales, 
natives of Lansing, Michigan, and of Indiana respectively. The father 
was a traveling salesman and was also an inventor of considerable 
ability. One of his inventions was a safety appliance for a mine shaft, 
which, when installed, did much to prevent accidents. The family came 
to Miner county, South Dakota, in 1882 and homesteaded land.  

	Colonel Boyd Wales attended the common schools of Miner county 
and worked upon the farm until he was eighteen years of age. He then 
entered the State Agricultural College at Brookings, where he spent a 
year as a student. He subsequently taught a district school in Miner 
county for eleven terms, proving very successful as a teacher. In 1898 
he enlisted in Company I, First South Dakota Regiment, for service in 
the Spanish-American war. He entered the army as a corporal, but some 
time later was made quartermaster sergeant of his company. His regiment 
proceeded to San Francisco, where they remained one month, after which 
they went directly to Manila, Philippine Islands. While there Mr. Wales 
was promoted to battalion sergeant major, his bravery and his keen 
military sense winning him this recognition. He took part in fifteen 
engagements during the year that he was in active service in the 
Philippines, and when the troops left for the United States he was made 
color sergeant. He was mustered out at San Francisco, October 5, 1899, 
receiving his honorable discharge. From 1899 to 1903 he was 
successfully engaged in the real-estate business, but on the 8th of 
March, of the latter year, received an appointment as postmaster of 
Howard. He held that important office until December 31, 1913, the 
length of his incumbency being the best proof of satisfactory service. 
He is now engaged in the moving picture business, owning two theaters 
in Howard, which are widely patronized and which maintain a high 
standard in the character of the films shown. He also owns valuable 
real estate, which he manages himself.  

	Colonel Wales was married on the 31st of December, 1902, to Miss 
May Furman, a daughter of Lamson and Fannie Furman, of Anita, Iowa. 
Three children have been born to this marriage as follows: Robert F., 
whose birth occurred January 15, 1904; Dorothy, born July 28, 1907; and 
Maxwell, the date of whose birth was September 14, 1909. The family 
belong to the Episcopal church and Colonel Wales is a member of the 
Masonic fraternity. His political allegiance is given to the republican 
party and he is stanch in his support of its policies and candidates. 
His experience in the Spanish-American war has convinced him of the 
necessity of a body of men trained for military duty and he has 
identified himself with the state troops, holding the rank of colonel. 
He is one of the most valued citizens of Howard and can always be 
relied Upon to do his part in securing the advancement and welfare of 
the city.