Jason F. Haskell 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 943-944

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

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	http://usgwarchives.org/sd/sdfiles.htm


JASON F. HASKELL. In reviewing the lives of the pioneer settlers of 
South Dakota, many interesting facts concerning the country at the time 
when they first began the tilling of the soil are brought to the minds 
of the readers of a volume of this nature. The subject of this personal 
history settled in that region when he was the only settler within many 
miles of any other and his present fine estate is so different in its 
every detail from that pioneer home that it is almost impossible for 
the present generation to trace any semblance to the wild lands of the 
early days. He is surrounded by commodious buildings and modern 
improvements of every nature and is enjoying success well earned and 
well merits the esteem accorded him by the citizens who have known him 
and been closely connected with him in business and social life. His 
home is on the land which he took when he first went to Dakota and he 
is now the possessor of six hundred and forty acres in Beotia township, 
his dwelling being located on section 22. 

Our subject was born in Maine in 1844. His father is a native of Maine 
and his mother of New Hampshire, and they were married in Maine, where 
the father engaged in farming the greater part of his life, ending his 
days in his native state, where also the mother died. They were of 
English descent and the family emigrated to America during 
Revolutionary times. 

Our subject was reared and educated in his native state, although his 
education was of a limited character, having been thrown upon his own 
resources and worked for his board and clothes, most of the early years 
being spent in working for strangers. He was the third in a family of 
children and they were all compelled to assist in caring for themselves 
while yet young. At the age of seventeen years our subject enlisted in 
Company H, Twenty-second Infantry, and was sent immediately to New 
Orleans. He was engaged at Port Hudson, Mobile, Shiloh, Vicksburg and 
the Red River expedition, and was up and down the Mississippi river and 
also in Florida. He enlisted in September, 1863, in Company I, Second 
Maine Cavalry, and served two years. He was not wounded during service, 
but while on detached duty near Greenville, near New Orleans, he was 
injured by being thrown from a baggage wagon. After serving four years 
he returned to his home in 1865 and engaged in running stage, teaming, 
etc., and afterward went into the pineries in Wisconsin, remaining 
there for two years. He went to Iowa and engaged in farming for 
fourteen years and from there went to Dakota in September, 1882, and 
located on a homestead. He returned to Iowa several times an l for one 
summer was his own housekeeper in his western home. He erected a claim 
shanty, barn and made other improvements, including a good well, and, 
in 1883, his family went to the homestead Our subject took with him two 
horses, two pigs, two cows and found himself without provisions and but 
ten dollars in money in his possession. There were but few settlers and 
money was scarce and he borrowed provisions for the first winter. He 
raised a good crop of wheat on about forty acres in 1885 and thus 
started toward success. His crops have been many times injured by 
drouth and hail has visited them, doing great damage, but he has always 
managed to save seed and has never met total loss. He has five hundred 
acres under cultivation and has engaged principally in raising small 
grain, but is interested to some extent in stock raising. His dwelling, 
erected in 1891, is 24 x 24 feet, with eighteen-foot posts, and a 
complete set of farm buildings adds to the value of the property. 

Mr. Haskell was married in Wisconsin in 1869 to Miss Dora Persons, a 
native of Warren, Vermont. Mrs. Haskell is the daughter of a carpenter 
and was reared in Wisconsin, and was given the advantages of excellent 
educational training, and for some time was a teacher previous to her 
marriage. Nine children, four of whom have reached maturity, three 
smaller at home, and two are deceased, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Haskell. Those living are George, Frances, Charles, Herman, Ella, 
Clifford and Clair. 

Our subject is one of the loyal citizens. Of his country, and is 
thoroughly interested in the welfare of his community. and has watched 
the growth of that region from its early days. He has been active in 
matters pertaining to the advancement of the county, but takes no 
offices, preferring to aid otherwise in the work of progression. In 
political sentiment he is a Republican, and adheres strongly to the 
party principles.