Fred. S. Pruyn 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 899-900

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

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FRED. S. PRUYN. Clark City, Clark county, South Dakota, is well 
represented in the newspaper field. Journalism has few abler exponents 
in the west than those whose experience, adaptability and genius have 
helped so materially to mold public opinion of Clark county through the 
medium of the public press. Whatever may be said in derogation of the 
secular newspaper, certain it is that the time has come when civilized 
man cannot get on without it, and no less certain is it that the press 
is the teacher and expounder of a broader philosophy in all departments 
of life,— material as well as moral and mental. Through its agency 
scholasticism, sectarianism, as well as atheism, have been forced to 
abandon one stronghold after another and constantly to take new and 
more defensible positions. The dense walls that narrowed the path of 
education, morals, religion and politics, have been shattered by the 
low but unceasing thunders of secular journalism, and over their ruins 
have climbed the friendly vines of liberty, charity and truth. Among 
those who have contributed liberally to the good effects of journalism 
may be named the gentlemen whose name heads this brief article. Mr. 
Pruyn is manager of the Clark "Pilot-Review," and no more effective 
agency for good to the whole people of Clark county can be named than 
this journal. 

Mr. Pruyn was born in Albany, New York, April 9, 1856. His parents, 
Samuel and Mary (Sears) Pruyn, reared a family of eight children, of 
whom our subject was the youngest. In his early childhood the family 
came west and located at Grinnell, Iowa, where the father was engaged 
in the merchandising business. At the age of sixteen years our subject 
entered the office of the Spencer "News," and later worked on the 
Marshalltown "Times - Republican." April 1, 1883, marked his arrival in 
Clark City, and he secured a position on the "Review" as printer. This 
paper was purchased by himself and a partner, and in 1886 was 
consolidated with the "Pilot." A stock company was formed to carry on 
the enterprise, as it now exists, and the name of the paper became the 
"Clark Pilot-Review." It advocates the principles and policies of the 
Republican party and ably voices its sentiments without fear or 
equivocation. It has a wide circulation and an increasing patronage, 
and wields a significant influence throughout the county. 

Mr. Pruyn was married in 1884 to Miss Dorothea Rhodes, and their union 
has been blessed by the birth of one child, Ralph. Their home is a 
pleasant one, and marked by a genuine hospitality and refined taste 
that leave an impress upon all who have the pleasure of their personal 
acquaintance. Mr. Pruyn is a man of great business tact and ability, 
and has proved himself well fitted to discharge the duties of the 
responsible position to which he has devoted so much energy and careful 
attention. He is well known throughout the county and respected and 
esteemed wherever known.