Alexander Greenman 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 384-385

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

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ALEXANDER GREENMAN, the first merchant of Redfield, Spink county, and a 
man of more than usual business ability, is one of the substantial 
citizens of the county, and his losses and discouragements have been 
but stepping stones to final success and prosperity. His personal 
interests have not been the only ones to which he has given his 
attention, but every enterprise for the welfare of his community has 
ever found him a ready support and aid. 

Our subject was born in Fulton county, New York, March 31, 1842, the 
seventh of a family of eight children born to James and Mary (White) 
Greenman. He was educated in the schools of his native village, 
Northampton, and at the age of sixteen years took a position as head 
clerk in a clothing establishment at Amsterdam, New York, afterward 
clerking in Broadalbin, New York. He returned to his native town in 
1858, and clerked in a general merchandise store, and upon the death of 
the proprietor of the store the business was disposed of by the widow, 
and passed to our subject on very easy terms, thus affording him a 
start in business for himself. After the close of the war he engaged in 
business at Boston Springs, and from there went to Wisconsin, and 
started the town of Windsor, and his brother and himself formed a 
partnership and kept the first store in the village. In 1880 the 
brother returning from a trip to Dakota, gave a glowing account of the 
prospects of the newly settled country, and in 1882 they removed their 
stock of merchandise to Redfield and were the first merchants in the 
village, and now enjoy an excellent business, although prosperity has 
not come without intermediate reverses. The first partnership was 
formed with Mr. Bogge, and was located at the corner of Humboldt avenue 
and Holmes street. Our subject established in the Spink County Bank 
building in 1885, owning an interest in the building. Prosperity 
attended him and he removed to the Anderson block in 1892 and carried a 
heavy stock, which was destroyed by fire in 1897, resulting in a loss 
of about three fourths of the value. He resumed business on Franklin 
avenue, where he remained for one year, when his stock was again 
visited by fire and much damage done. He is at present on Humboldt 
street, and his business is again well established, and he is enjoying 
the success he so well merits. He is also proprietor of an extensive 
stock farm, comprising eleven hundred and twenty acres of land, and 
located about two miles south of Redfield, on which he has about one 
hundred and fifty head of stock. The farm is under the management of 
his son, and is a fine property, yielding a handsome income. His son is 
a wide awake young business man, and is also interested with his father 
in business in the city of Redfield. 

Our subject was married in 1875 to Miss Charlotte Plackett, a daughter 
of William and Ann (Davis) Plackett, both of English birth. Six 
children have blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Greenman, upon whom they 
bestowed the names of William L., interested in business with his 
father; Walter E., a student of the South Dakota Agricultural College; 
Burton V., attending Redfield College, and a student of music; Robert 
F., Leonard R. and Richard L. Our subject is a prominent member of the 
Masonic fraternity, and is respected by all who know him. In political 
sentiment he is a Republican, and favors prohibition and equal 
suffrage.