William S. Logan 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 336-339

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

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HON. WILLIAM S. LOGAN. Among the citizens of Hanson county who have won 
for themselves honorable names, none are better deserving of the title 
than is the gentleman whose name heads this article. He is a farmer by 
occupation, and devotes himself closely to the care of his farm, which 
is situated in Plano township, but he is not unmindful of the interests 
of the community and the zeal and ability he has proved himself to 
possess as a political leader won him a seat in the last territorial 
legislature of the territory of Dakota. A portrait of Mr. Logan is a 
valuable addition to this volume. 

Mr. Logan was born August 10, 1832, in Kalamazoo county, Michigan, and 
was the first white boy born in the county. His only playmates were 
Indians; he grew up among the Red Men and learned their language as 
well as the English. His father was of Scotch and English descent, 
while his mother came from French stock, and with this mixture our 
subject had to demonstrated his Americanism, although he has always 
been a true American through and through. The only schooling that he 
has received is such as the county afforded at that early period, the 
sessions being held at the different dwelling houses during only a 
short part of the year. When Mr. Logan was but fourteen years of age, 
his mother died, and from that time he has fought the battle of life 
alone. He started to learn the carpenter's and joiner's trade, but for 
some reason never finished his apprenticeship, but mastered the trade 
sufficiently to do his own building whenever he had any to do. 

On the 17th of November, 1855, our subject was united in marriage to 
Miss Lora Matilda Woodward, a native of New York state, her parents 
being of English and Welsh descent. Soon after the breaking out of the 
Civil war, our subject enlisted as a private, but his promotions came 
very fast. He was soon commissioned second lieutenant, and in February, 
1863, promoted to first lieutenant, and September 19, of the same year, 
he was appointed to the office of captain. The first engagement in 
which his regiment took part was at South Mountain, Maryland, and after 
subsequently participating in the battles of Antietam and 
Fredericksburg, he went to Newport News and then into Kentucky. Then 
followed the battles of Knoxville, the siege and fall of Vicksburg and 
Jackson. The army was then moved to Annapolis, in eastern Tennessee, 
where the regiment was recruited, and from there the regiment in which 
our subject's lot was cast was sent with Grant's army and participated 
in the battles of the Wilderness, Nye River, Spottsylvania, and at the 
last named place our subject was captured on May 12, 1864, and the 
rebels carried hi m to Lynchburg, Virginia, and to Danville, Virginia, 
and on the trip from there to Macon, Georgia, he escaped and was not 
recaptured for ten days, and during this time he nearly reached 
Sherman's lines. With about two hundred of his comrades he was ordered 
to Charleston, South Carolina, to be placed under fire, but escaped 
again into the swamp, where he was poisoned and to this day he carries 
the effects of this poisoning in the shape of scars and sores. He was 
soon recaptured, however, and placed under fire at Charleston. On 
account of sickness and need of medical treatment he was forced to take 
hospital parole and sent to the marine hospital for treatment. Yellow 
fever soon broke out among the patients and he was taken to Columbus, 
South Carolina, and turned into the woods to get a living. From here he 
escaped three times, but failed each time to reach the Union lines. In 
December, 1864, Mr. Logan was paroled and sent home, but later was 
exchanged and rejoined his regiment at the evacuation of Petersburg, 
and followed it from this time until the close of the war. Then, after 
taking part in the parade at Washington, he was sent to Detroit and 
discharged in 1865, having served three years to a day. 

After the close of hostilities, until he came west, Mr. Logan made his 
living by following various lines of work and at different times he 
served in the capacity of town clerk, justice of the peace, assessor 
and township trustee. In April, 1882, he moved to Dakota, filed a 
homestead and a tree claim near Mitchell, and started farming with a 
cash capital of only six hundred dollars, but has built for himself a 
comfortable home, improved his claims and has now two fine farms 
practically free from debt. In these matters he has been cordially and 
ably assisted by his excellent wife. Politically he formerly supported 
the Republican party, but since the Populist party was formed he has 
identified himself with that organization, and on that ticket has, at 
different times, been elected to the offices of chairman of the board 
of township supervisors in Plano township, justice of the peace and for 
three years was county commissioner, and has, as before stated, served 
in the territorial legislature of 1889. Our subject and Mrs. Logan are 
the parents of a family of two sons, upon whom they have seen fit to 
bestow the names of Flavel and Walt S.