William McGaan 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 249

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

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JUDGE WILLIAM McGAAN. Among the professional men of Clark, Clark 
county, while it would be difficult to determine who stands in the 
front rank in all respects, it is yet easy to point out the prominent 
members of the legal fraternity. Among this number is the gentleman 
above named. who has been in practice for many years, and is well known 
not only as a man well versed in law, but courteous, gifted mentally, 
and a potent factor in the life and welfare of his county and state. 
Aside from the practice of his profession he is engaged in the handling 
of real estate, and in a financial point of view is one of the thorough 
men of his community.  

Judge McGaan is a native of Ayrshire, Scotland, and was born October 1, 
1853. He was the third in a family of eleven children, four of whom are 
now living, born to William and Agnes (Andrews) McGaan. The family came 
to America in 1857, and the father engaged in farming in Knox county, 
Illinois, where he still resides, the mother having passed away some 
time since.  

Our subject was accorded a liberal education, completing a high-school 
course in Altona, and taking four years in Lombard University, in 
Galesburg, Illinois. At the age of twenty years he had worked at 
farming, and after leaving the university he began reading law with 
Davis & Thompson, of Galesburg. He was admitted to practice at the bar 
of the supreme court of Illinois in 1880, and became the junior member 
of the firm of Davis, Thompson & McGaan. He went to Dakota in the fall 
of 1882 and located a farm in Clark county, near Raymond, and in the 
spring of 1884 opened a law office in that city. He was elected state's 
attorney of Clark county in 1886, and removed to the county seat, after 
which the firm of McGaan & Hague was formed. Our subject has attended 
to his practice alone since 1892.  

Judge McGaan was married, in 1889, to Mrs. Emma L. Dice, nee Coates, a 
native of Michigan. Mrs. McGaan was the mother of two children by a 
former marriage, La Verne B., a teacher, and Vera M. No children have 
been born to Judge and Mrs. McGaan.  

Our subject is an old settler in his locality, and, having always taken 
a prominent part in public matters, he has attained a reputation which 
extends over a good share of the state. A strong and active Republican. 
his name is associated with the history of his party, and he has served 
as delegate to the state conventions, and is at present secretary of 
the county Republican central committee. He was elected county judge of 
Clark county in 1894 and served one term, and was again elected in the 
fall of 1898 to that important position. He faithfully discharges his 
duties, and his name stands with the people of his locality for equity 
and truth, and his rule is one of faultless judgment governed by an 
unbiased mind. He is prominent in secret society circles, and holds 
membership in the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Modern 
Woodmen of America.