Wilson S. Lenhart 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 619-620

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

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WILSON S. LENHART, a prosperous agriculturist of Clark county, is one 
of the pioneer settlers of that region whose efforts have made for them 
a home which they can enjoy with justifiable pride. The subject of this 
review went to the new home with nothing on which to depend except his 
labor for a livelihood, and amid the struggles of that early day he 
succeeded in getting a start toward his present comfortable position. 
The present generation knows only through descriptions the trials and 
sufferings of that day, and as compared with the present high state of 
thrift and civilization it is almost beyond comprehension. Our subject 
makes section 35 in Thorp township his base of operations, and here he 
is passing his declining years amid the comforts of a rural home. 

Our subject is a native of Ohio and was born January 20, 1839. He was 
the oldest son and second child born to Jeremiah M. and Rebecah 
(Breece) Lenhart. At the age of eight years he accompanied his parents 
to Illinois and settled in Whiteside county, and was there reared on a 
farm and afterward for eight years was employed at odd jobs and 
elevator and railroad work. He enlisted in Company E, Forty-sixth 
Illinois Volunteer Infantry, October 1, 1861. He was in the battle of 
Shiloh, and afterward in the hospital at Donelson, at Corinth, Hatchie 
River and the second battle of Vicksburg, and was mustered out of the 
service in December, 1864. He engaged in farming, and in the spring of 
1883 went to Dakota and took land. He had but a few household goods and 
not enough money to file on the land. He worked for his father-in-law 
for two years and erected a shanty and purchased a yoke of oxen. He now 
owns a quarter-section of land and winters about twenty head of cattle, 
and is a patron of the Garden City creamery. 

Our subject was married in 1865 to Miss Esther E. Edwards. Five 
children were born to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Lenhart, named in 
order of birth as follows: Addie R.; Samuel J., deceased; Katie M., 
deceased; John W.; and Maude E. 

Our subject is non-partisan in politics, preferring to cast his ballot 
for the candidate who in his judgment is best fitted to serve the 
people and do the most efficient work for the welfare of the community. 
He favors state control of the liquor traffic, and is an advocate of 
equal suffrage. He is a man of enlightened ideas, whose convictions 
prompt him in every act, and whose influence is for good. His record as 
a public-spirited citizen, friend and neighbor is of the highest order, 
and he is one of the loyal men who braved the terrors of war for the 
cause of his country. He is now in -the decline of life, but it is with 
a sense of pleasure that he can review a life fraught with good deeds 
and spent for the good of his fellow man.