Samuel V. Ghrist Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Pages 760-761 

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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SAMUEL V. GHRIST. Rising above the head of the mass are many men of 
sterling worth and value, who by sheer perseverance and pluck have 
conquered fortune, and by their own unaided efforts have risen from the 
ranks of the commonplace to eminence and positions of respect and 
trust; but the brilliant qualities of mind and brain which mark the 
successful lawyer are to a certain extent God-given. Nature richly 
endowed the subject of this sketch with these brilliant attributes, but 
sterling worth and honest manliness, and a strong, resolute character, 
are the qualities which enable him to put his talents to the best 
possible use. He is today a prominent lawyer of Miller, South Dakota, 
and is serving as state's attorney of Hand county. 

Mr. Ghrist was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, June 10, 1848, 
a son of Samuel J. and Elizabeth (Stevenson) Ghrist, natives of 
Maryland and Pennsylvania, respectively. The father was a farmer and 
followed that occupation in Pennsylvania until called from this life in 
October, 1897, at the age of eighty years. The mother died over forty 
years ago. Her grandfather served in the Pennsylvania legislature, then 
known as the colonial assembly, and died of smallpox while in office. 

The subject of this sketch is indebted to the common schools of his 
native state for his educational advantages. On leaving Pennsylvania, 
at the age of twenty-one years, he went to Ford county, Illinois, where 
he: engaged in teaching school for two years, and then removed to 
Topeka, Kansas, where he commenced the study of law with G. C. Clemins. 
He was admitted to the: bar in that state in 1874, and for one year 
engaged in practice in Kirwin, Kansas. He then returned to Illinois, 
and for a year and a half edited the "Milford Herald." After that he 
engaged in the practice of law in Gibson City, Illinois, for some years 
or until coming to Dakota, in 1882. He first settled in Ree Heights, 
where he was engaged in the lumber trade for a year, and was editor of 
the "Ree Valley Freepress" for two years at Ree Heights. He then again 
took up his profession in connection with the real estate and loan 
business. In 1888 he was elected district attorney for Hand county, 
served one term, during which he removed to Miller, where he has since 
made his home, his time being given to the practice law. He was elected 
state's attorney in 1 896, and re-elected two years later, so that he 
is now serving in that office. His official duties have always been 
discharged in a most creditable and acceptable manner. 

Mr. Ghrist was married in 1883, to Miss May Putnam, a native of 
Michigan, who taught the first public school in Hand county, in 1882, 
and holds the first teacher's license. To them have been born two 
children: Bessie V. and Bayard S. Socially, Mr. Ghrist affiliates with 
the Masonic order, the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of 
America and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and politically is 
identified with the Populist party, in the work of which he takes an 
active part, especially as a campaign speaker.