Charles N. Herreid 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. Page 230

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

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HON. CHARLES N. HERREID, of Eureka, is one of the most prominent and 
distinguished citizens, as well as one of the leading attorneys of 
McPherson county. He is a lawyer of the highest rank. In his public 
life he has been honored with high positions, which he has filled with 
distinguished ability and always to the credit of his state. The 
success which he has attained is due to his own efforts and merit. The 
possession of advantage is no guaranty whatever of professional 
success. This comes not of itself, nor can it be secured without 
integrity, ability and industry. These qualities he possesses in an 
eminent degree, and he has been faithful to every interest committed to 
his charge. 

Mr. Herreid was born in Dane county, Wisconsin, October 20, 1857, and 
is the oldest of five children, whose parents were Nelson and Mary 
(Kitle) Herreid, pioneers of that state and farming people. Our subject 
passed his boyhood and youth amid rural scenes, and completed his 
literary education by a three years' course at Galesville University, 
in Wisconsin, and a two years' course in the law department of the 
State University of Wisconsin, and was graduated from that institution 
in 1882. 

The following year Mr. Herreid came to McPherson county, South Dakota, 
and took up a pre-emption and tree claim near Leola, upon which he and 
his wife began housekeeping in a rude frontier shanty in the spring of 
1883. He had married, in 1882, Miss Jeannette Slye, a native of 
Wisconsin, whose ancestors have been residents of this country for at 
least two centuries and served in the war of the Revolution and 
subsequent wars. Her father, Henry Harrison Slye, a native of the state 
of New York, was a pioneer of Wisconsin and a farmer and miller by 
occupation. Our subject and his wife have two children: Grace May, now 
fourteen years of age; and Roscoe Conkling, eleven. 

In 1884 Mr. Herreid established a law office in Leola, where he engaged 
in active practice until 1893, when he came to Eureka. In 1898 he 
engaged in practice with G. N. Williamson, the firm name being Herreid 
& Williamson, and is meeting with most excellent success in his chosen 
calling. He has steadily prospered since coming to this state, and is 
now the owner of a number of farms in McPherson county. 

Mr. Herreid is a prominent member of the Republican party and has been 
honored with several important official positions. He has served his 
county as state's attorney and judge of the county court, and his state 
as trustee of the State University and a member of the state board of 
regents of education. In 1892 he was elected lieutenant-governor of 
South Dakota, as a Republican, to which office he was re-elected in 
1894, serving in all four years. During his entire term of office there 
never was an appeal taken from his decisions or rulings as president of 
the senate, a record said never to have been made by any other 
lieutenant-governor in the United States. He is now chairman of the 
state central committee of the Republican party, and also the acting 
member of the Republican national committee for South Dakota, and takes 
a very active and prominent part in public affairs. Socially he is also 
quite prominent and belongs to numerous civic societies. He is a 
thirty-second-degree Mason; has been Grand Chancellor of the order of 
the Knights of Pythias for the domain of South Dakota; chairman of the 
judiciary committee in the grand lodge of the Ancient Order of United 
Workmen, and also chairman of the finance committee one year. It is but 
just and merited praise to say of him that as a lawyer he ranks among 
the ablest in the state, and as a citizen he is honorable, prompt and 
true to every engagement. He is deservedly popular, as he is affable 
and courteous in manner, and wherever he goes he wins friends and has 
the happy faculty of being able to retain them.