A. 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. Page 384

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

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A. MABBOTT, known in his community as a prosperous farmer and one of 
Aurora county's best citizens is an American by birth, having been born 
in Wisconsin in 1856, the son of John R. and Mary C. (Villemonte) 
Mabbott, of English and French descent respectively. His present home 
is on the northeast quarter of section thirty-five in Hopper township. 

Our subject when about fourteen years of age, located with his parents 
in Helena, Wisconsin, and learned the trade of shoemaker, which trade 
he followed in Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota for about seven years, 
after which he worked for the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway, 
constructing bridges in Dakota. In the fall of 1882 he located in 
Aurora county, on the land which now comprises his farm. The first 
building erected was a shanty, nine by fourteen feet in measurement, 
and in February, 1883, he established his family in the new home. He 
had a cow and calf and but one dollar and eighty-five cents in cash, 
but after disposing of a lot in Mt. Vernon for one hundred and fifty 
dollars, he purchased a yoke of oxen, and began the cultivation of his 
land. The first year he cultivated twenty acres and now has one hundred 
and ten acres under plow. He has devoted his labors to general farming 
and has a finely arranged farm, and is now starting the raising of 
dairy stock. He has fruit and forest trees, small fruits, and garden, 
and all out-buildings and other conveniences, including soft water and 
flowing water wells, the latter furnishing from a depth of five hundred 
feet the best of water for his stock and the irrigation of his garden. 
He has enlarged his dwelling and is supplied with every comfort and his 
farm is nicely fenced with four miles of- fencing and presents a 
pleasing picture. He and his brothers have constructed a telegraph line 
from his residence to his father's home, thence to the homes of Charles 
and Lou Mabbott, and into Mt. Vernon, and most of the families thus 
connected have learned to engage in telegraphic communication. In 1895 
Mr. Mabbott disposed of his personal property and removed to Minnesota, 
engaging for two years in the grocery business, but hard competition 
ruled against him and he did not succeed in his undertaking and in 1898 
he returned to his farm in Hopper township. Mr. Mabbott was married to 
Della Holly, in 1880, whose father was a blacks~nith by occupation, but 
farmed to some extent. Six children have been born to bless the home of 
Mr. and Mrs. Mabbott, the eldest son being sixteen years of age. They 
are named in order of birth as follows: Miles V., Lola L., Bessie M., 
Harry B., Anna L. and Alta. 

Mr. Mabbott is a Republican and a member of the Ancient Order of United 
Workmen. He is strong in his convictions for right, and is ever ready 
to give his firm support for the good of his locality.