Lou Mabbott 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 855-856

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

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LOU MABBOTT, who is one of the successful general farmers of Hopper 
township and a respected citizen of his county, is of English and 
French descent. He was born in Iowa county, Wisconsin, in October, 
1859, the son of John R. and Mary C. (Villemonte) Mabbott. His 
education, until he entered the village school at the age of fourteen, 
was received in a log school house, which was about two miles from his 
home. He worked on a farm and afterward rented land for himself, and in 
the fall of 1882 filed on the northwest quarter of section 26, in 
Hopper township. The following year he built a sod barn for his stock 
and a 14 x 18 shanty for a home, and a month after the completion of 
the shanty removed his family from Wisconsin. He had but twelve dollars 
and a half in money, a dozen head of cattle, a pitchfork and a hoe and 
borrowed enough money to buy shingles for the shanty. He now owns his 
quarter-section claim and one hundred and sixty acres, which he 
purchased since, and cultivates about one hundred and twenty five 
acres; has one hundred and sixty acres fenced and five acres in apple 
and plum trees and small fruits and has the remainder of his land in 
meadow. He has enlarged his dwelling and now has a comfortable home, 
surrounded by more than usual comforts, and his barn, 40 x 46 feet, and 
other outbuildings evidence his thrift. A flowing well furnishes good 
water for his stock and an ample supply for the irrigation of his 
garden and a soft water well furnishes water for domestic purposes. 

Mr. Mabbott has had many exciting exciting experiences in Dakota, and 
among them may be mentioned his struggle during the blizzard of 
January, 1888, when he withstood the storm for three hours to drive his 
stock under shelter. His efforts met with success and all the stock 
except one head was safely housed, a straw pile serving as a place of 
refuge for the stray one, enabling it to survive the storm. Mr. Mabbott 
married Miss Frankie Holly, an American by birth, and of Dutch and 
American descent. Five children have blessed their home: Addie, aged 
thirteen; Leo, aged eleven; Wilder, aged eight; Josie, aged five; and 
an infant unnamed. 

Mr. Mabbott is a Republican and adheres strongly to the principles of 
his party. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and is 
held in the highest esteem throughout his county. His systematic 
methods and untiring energy have placed him among the most prosperous 
of the community.