William H. Olds 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 641-642

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

	This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit 
	organizations for their private use. 

	Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval 
	system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other 
	means requires the written approval of the file's author.

	This file is part of the SDGENWEB Archives. If you arrived here inside
	a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at

	http://usgwarchives.org/sd/sdfiles.htm


WILLIAM H. OLDS, the efficient and popular postmaster of Tulare, South 
Dakota, and one of the substantial business men of Spink county, is one 
of the early settlers of this locality, and has been a respected 
citizen from its pioneer days, having been closely connected with the 
development of the county and the upbuilding of its better interests. 
Our subject was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, February 27, 
1853, and was the third of eight children born to Gersham and Ellen 
(English) Olds. At the age of thirteen years he removed with his 
parents to Wisconsin, and settled in the city of Neenah, in Winnebago 
county, where his father manufactured carriages, making a specialty of 
stage coaches and omnibuses. Our subject became interested in this line 
of work and continued employed until 1879, when he went to Chicago and 
engaged in elevator work. He went to his present location in 1883, 
erected a store building, and soon afterward filed claim on a 
homestead, on which land he lived for some time. He engaged with 
Whallon & Co. as grain buyer, after which he dealt in grain for 
himself, and has continued to increase his business, extending it to 
coal and general merchandise. He has also established warehouses at 
Bonilla, Wolsey and Redfield. Prosperity has attended him, and he is 
considered one of the best business men in his locality. 

Our subject was married in 1876 to Miss Fannie Hanley, a native of 
Wisconsin' who was born October 12, 1854. Mrs. Olds died in 1895, 
leaving a family of three children, namely: Francis, a student of St. 
Thomas College, St. Paul, Minnesota; Lollie and Fannie, the last two 
named attending the academy at Aberdeen, South Dakota. The family have 
a host of friends and are held in the highest esteem by all. Mr. Olds 
is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and is a 
communicant of the Catholic church. In political views he is a 
Democrat, favors high license and -equal suffrage. He stands firmly for 
the principles of his party, and the people of Spink county are proud 
to enroll his name as an influential citizen.