Sheldon S. Jarrett 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 470-471

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

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SHELDON S. JARRETT, a prosperous farmer of La Prairie township, where 
his home is located on the southwest quarter of section 25, is one of 
the progressive men of that region. He is one of the pioneer settlers 
of Spink county, and has been an active member of the farming community 
since he first began the development of his fine farm. He has been 
honest in his dealings, industrious in his habits, and withal one of 
the substantial citizens of South Dakota and is widely known and highly 
esteemed. 

Our subject was born in Wabasha county, Minnesota, May 19, 1855, and is 
the third in a family of seven children born to Henry and Frances 
(Paine) Jarrett. The mother is at present a resident of Minnesota. The 
father of our subject was born in France, although the family is of 
Irish origin. 

Our subject was educated in the common schools of his native state and 
then learned the trade of carpenter, which he followed for two years. 
He drove to Dakota with a partner, David Kidder, arriving in La Prairie 
township, June 19, 1881. He took as a pre-emption the northeast quarter 
of section 35, and Mr. Kidder took a quarter section immediately south 
of the land of our subject. They built a sod shanty on the dividing 
line and there lived together for three years. In driving to his land 
there were no roads and only one habitation in sight, and that a tent 
three miles distant. Upon arriving at his new home he had no property, 
and but three dollars and a half in money. He worked at odd jobs, soon 
purchased a team, and gradually began the cultivation of his land. He 
purchased additional land in 1885, and the following year found himself 
five thousand, five hundred dollars in debt. He reduced this to two 
thousand five hundred the next year, and has since cleared himself 
entirely of the indebtedness. He is now the possessor of one section 
located on Dry Run. He has six hundred acres under plow and his farm is 
unexcelled by any in the country. The buildings are of recent erection 
and are models of convenience and comfort. He lived in a small shanty 
for many years, but his present home is thirty-two by thirty-two feet, 
with eighteen-foot posts, is well finished, and has one of the finest 
stoned up basement cellars to be found throughout that locality. His 
barn is twenty-eight by sixty-four feet with a sixteen-foot shed on 
either side. He owns a steam threshing outfit, and finds plenty of work 
in his community. 

Mr. Jarrett was married in 1894 to. Mrs. Theodora Kidder nee Parr, a 
native of Minnesota. 'Mrs. Jarrett was the mother of four children by 
her first marriage, and to Mr. and Mrs. Jarrett have been born three 
children. Claude L., Lulu, Olive and Bessie are the children of the 
first union and Robert, Bernice and Victor L. D. are the children of 
the present union. 

Our subject is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and a 
prominent citizen of his community. In political faith he is a 
Democrat, favors high license, and opposes equal suffrage. He is well 
posted on the matters under public discussion, favors right and 
justice, is strong in his convictions, and adheres to the principles of 
his party. He has many friends and well merits the high position he 
holds in the minds of all.