Irving Sayles 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 849-850

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

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IRVING SAYLES, one of the prosperous agriculturists of Spink county, is 
one of the rising men of that section of the state. He is not one of 
the first settlers, but has been a resident of the country from the 
time when it was sparsely settled and has had the experiences of a 
pioneer life. He is now the possessor of a fine estate of two hundred 
and forty acres, the land lying on either side of the James river. He 
is surrounded by unusual comforts in his home on the northeast quarter 
of section 20, in Jefferson township. 

Our subject is a native of LaSalle county, Illinois, and was born March 
16, 1857. He was the sixth in a family of seven children born to James 
H. and Sophia (Avery) Sayles. His mother is at present a resident of 
Spink county, South Dakota. Our subject was reared on a farm, and in 
1879 he went on an extended trip through the western territory, working 
at odd jobs, railroading, freighting, etc., in Iowa, Nebraska and 
Colorado. He went to Dakota in the spring of 1883, with three horses, a 
plow and wagon and about one hundred dollars in money. He pre-empted in 
Hand county, residing there two years, then homesteaded land in Sully 
county, where he lived until 1893. He then sold his farm and purchased 
his present property. He is gradually extending his stock interests and 
his farm is rapidly assuming an appearance of prosperity. He is a 
thorough workman, and well understands his calling and has excellent 
crops. About one hundred and eighty acres are under plow, and an eighty 
acre tract, recently purchased in section 17, is river bottom land, is 
fenced for stock, the James river affording an excellent water supply. 
Natural shelter is afforded by a fine grove of willow and ash in the 
pasture, and the whole farm is well adapted to the diversified farming. 

Our subject was married in 1897, Miss Lillie Sparling becoming his 
wife. A review of the lives of Mrs. Sayles' parents is given elsewhere 
in this volume. 
Mr. Sayles is a Republican, favors high license and opposes equal 
suffrage. He is well versed on the topics of the day, and is ready to 
support by his vote and earnest work any measure looking to the better 
interests of all. He is accorded the highest respect in his community, 
and well merits his success.