T. N. Kirkpatrick, M. D. 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 861-862

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

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T. N. KIRKPATRICK, M. D., the well known and popular postmaster of 
Letcher, South Dakota, has for fourteen years successfully conducted a 
drug store at that place and also engaged in the practice of medicine. 
He is an important factor in business circles, and his popularity is 
well deserved, as in him are embraced characteristics of unbending 
integrity, unabated energy and industry. 

The Doctor was born in Illinois, in 1849, his parents being natives of 
Kentucky. In Illinois the father engaged in merchandising, but 
previously had given his time and attention to agricultural pursuits. 
Our subject, who is the youngest in a family of five children, was 
reared upon a farm near Fulton, Illinois, and his early education, 
acquired in the country schools, was supplemented by a course at 
Abingdon College, Abingdon, Illinois. Later he entered a medical 
college at Keokuk, Iowa, where he was graduated in 1872, and then 
engaged in practice at his old home in Bryant, Illinois. In 1876, he 
removed to Iowa, where he prosecuted his chosen calling until coming to 
South Dakota in 1882. 

Dr. Kirkpatrick has been twice married, first in Illinois. His first 
wife died in 1873, and in 1877 he wedded Miss Alva S. Darmuth, who was 
born in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, and for eight years successfully 
engaged in teaching school in Montgomery county, Iowa. He now has three 
children living, two sons and one daughter. 

Dr. Kirkpatrick located in Letcher, South Dakota, in 1883, when it was 
a mere hamlet as it was just started in July, 1882. He took up 
government land on the southwest quarter of section 14, Logan township, 
and gave his attention to agricultural pursuits for a time. In 1885 he 
established the first and only drug store in Letcher, and besides drugs 
he carries a well-selected stock of everything generally found in drug 
stores in small towns. He is also engaged in the practice of medicine. 
After taking up his land from the government, he erected thereon a 10 x 
12 foot shanty, and lived there long enough to prove up his claim, 
experiencing all the hardships of frontier life. 

Socially, the Doctor is an honored member of the Masonic fraternity, 
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. 
Since casting his first presidential vote he has been a stanch 
supporter of the Republican party and its principles, and is now 
serving as state committeeman for his party in Sanborn county. He was 
pension examiner on the Mitchell board for six years; was postmaster of 
Letcher during President Harrison's administration; and was again 
appointed to that office under President McKinley. He has always 
discharged his official duties in a prompt and able manner and gained 
the confidence and respect of all with whom he has come in contact.