J. Eugene McKoane 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 353-354

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

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J. EUGENE McKOANE. To a student of human nature there is nothing of 
greater interest than to examine into the life of a self-made man and 
analyze the principles that he has followed, the methods he has 
pursued; to know what means he has employed for advancement and to 
study the plans which have given him prominence, enabling him to pass 
on the highway of life many who had a more advantageous. start. In the 
history of Mr. McKoane, the the present county superintendent of 
schools of Edmunds county, South Dakota, there is much food for thought 
and if one so desires he may profit by the obvious lessons therein 
contained. 

Professor McKoane was born in Livingston county, Illinois, April 1, 
1862, and is the oldest in a family of nine children, whose parents 
were natives of Ireland and. came to America when young, locating upon 
a farm in Livingston county; Illinois, after their marriage in 
Philadelphia When the father entered the Union army in 1863, the family 
were living in Odell, Illinois, but after the war they returned to the 
farm, where our subject practically spent his entire boyhood and youth. 
At the age of nineteen he entered Dixon College at Dixon Illinois, 
where he pursued both a normal and business course and received a 
diploma for each on his graduation at the end of three years spent in 
that institution. 

During 1883 Professor McKoane taught school in Livingston county, 
Illinois, and in the spring of 1884 came to Edmunds county, South 
Dakota, where he took up a preemption and tree claim. The first summer 
spent here he lived alone, engaged in farming and proved up his pre-
emption which land is now the town-site of Hosmer. He also secured a 
homestead in McPherson county, and is now the owner of one thousand 
acres of valuable farming land in the vicinity of Hosmer, which is now 
devoted entirely to the raising of grain, but while operating his land 
in person, Professor McKoane also raised horses, cattle and sheep. He 
spent the winter of 1884-5 in a bank at Arlington, South Dakota, and in 
the spring of 1887 established a general store at Hosmer, the railroad 
having just been built through that place. He was the first and only 
merchant at that place until he disposed of his store in 1893 and 
embarked in the grain business, in which he is still engaged. He came 
to this state in limited circumstances, but through his own well-
directed efforts has become one of the most substantial and prosperous 
men of his community. 

On the 15th of June, 1887, Prof. McKoane was united in marriage with 
Miss Metta A. Babcock, of Roscoe, South Dakota, who was born in 
Lanesboro, Minnesota, where her father, George Babcock, resided while 
serving as sheriff of Fillmore county. Later he came to Dakota and was 
among the first settlers of Codington county. 

In political sentiment, Prof. McKoane is a stanch Democrat, and he 
takes quite an active and prominent part in local politics, having 
served as a delegate to both county and state conventions. In 1 896 he 
was elected county superintendent of schools in Edmunds county, on the 
Fusion ticket, and so creditably and acceptably did he fill the office 
that he was re-elected on the same ticket in 1898 for another term of 
two years. In June, 1898, he moved his family to Bowdle, where he has 
since made his home, and the same year bought a grain elevator at that 
place, which he carries on in connection with his official duties. He 
is a most progressive and public-spirited citizen, who takes a deep 
interest in the welfare of his adopted county and state and has done 
all in his power to aid in their advancement. Fraternally he is an 
honored member of the Camp of Modern Woodmen and the Ancient Order of 
United Workmen at Ipswich, and religiously he and his family are 
communicants of the Catholic church.