Alden Sampson 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 701-702

	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


ALDEN SAMPSON. Success is determined by one's ability to recognize 
opportunity, and to pursue this with a resolute and unflagging energy. 
It results from continued labor, and the man who thus accomplishes his 
purpose usually becomes an important factor in the business circles of 
the community with which he is connected. Mr. Sampson, through such 
means, has attained a leading place among the representative men of 
Woonsocket, South Dakota, and his well-spent and honorable life 
commands the respect of all who know him. 

He was born in Maine in September, 1847, and on both the paternal and 
maternal sides is of English descent. By occupation his father was a 
farmer and manufacturer of oil cloth, and religiously was a member of 
the Society of Friends, while the mother held membership in the Baptist 
church. Our subject grew to manhood upon a farm in Somerset county, 
Maine, attending the common schools of the locality and aiding in the 
work of the fields until eighteen years of age. Then, notwithstanding 
the fact that two brothers of his had died of disease in the army, and 
a third was killed in battle, he enlisted in 1865 in the nineteenth 
unassigned company of the Fifteenth Maine Regiment, but as hostilities 
ceased soon afterward they were never sent south. His brothers, 
however, saw plenty of service under Colonel O. O. Howard, now general. 

On his return home Mr. Sampson attended a normal school for a time, and 
then successfully engaged in teaching for five years. He next studied 
pharmacy in Portland, Maine, and in 1872 embarked in the drug business 
on his own account at Hartland, that state. There he took quite an 
active part in political affairs and during President Hayes 
administration was appointed postmaster of that place by the rebel 
general, D. M. Keyes, serving as such for seven years. While in 
Hartland he was also elected county . superintendent of schools on the 
Republican ticket and was one of the most prominent and influential 
citizens of that place. Selling his drug store there in 1885, Mr. 
Sampson came to Woonsocket, South Dakota, and in February of the 
following year embarked in the same business here. Besides a full line 
of drugs he carries stationery, paints, wall paper and other goods 
usually found in a western drug store. Since coming to this state he 
has purchased land and now has a large and well-improved farm. He is 
also interested in buying and selling town property and deals in horses 
and cattle to some extent. 

In 1878, Mr. Sampson married Miss Sara L. Leathers, who died soon 
afterward, and in 1884 he was again married, his second union being 
with Miss Nellie G. Lancey. As a Republican, he still takes an active 
and prominent part in political affairs and can always be depended upon 
by his party. Although there were thirteen candidates for the office, 
he was appointed postmaster of Woonsocket in 1890, under President 
Harrison, and most acceptably served in that position for four years 
and a half. He is very popular with all classes and has made a host of 
warm friends in his adopted county.