John Scanlan 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 461-462

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

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JOHN SCANLAN, president of the State Bank of Bradley, is one of the 
leading business men of Clark county. He is an old settler of that 
locality, and has for many years been identified with the business 
interests of that region. He has also taken an active interest in all 
matters of a public nature, and has filled various official positions. 
With no resources except those with which he was endowed by nature, 
ability, industry, and good honest ideas, he went to Dakota in an early 
day, and at the present time is recognized as one of the first men of 
his community. A man of means, liberal and public-spirited, he has 
never let an opportunity pass in which to aid the advancement of his 
county and state. In the accumulation of his property, and his life 
work he has been ably assisted by Mrs. Scanlan, and much credit is due 
her for the share she has borne in the good management which has 
resulted in prosperity. 

Mr. Scanlan was born in Clayton county, Iowa, June 24, 1863. He was the 
fifth in a family of eight children born to Patrick and Johannah 
(Mulvihill) Scanlan, both residents of Winnebago county, Iowa, whither 
the family removed when our subject was a boy about twelve years of 
age. Completing a common-school education while working on his father's 
farm, at the age of nineteen he entered the school room as instructor, 
and for five years was engaged in training the young minds of Winnebago 
county. He went to Bradley, Dakota, as grain buyer for Strong & Miller, 
September 12, 1887, and in this manner was employed for nine years, 
during which time he and Mrs. Scanlan and Mr. and Mrs. P. N. McAllen 
established the State Bank of Bradley. This was in the year 1891, and 
until 1896 the bank continued as established, at which time our subject 
and wife became sole owners. The same year our subject began dealing in 
farm machinery, and in 1898 he took as a partner in the machine 
business, J. D. McKenney, and. in March, 1899, a lumber company was 
formed under the firm name of Scanlan, McKenney & Perry. 

Our subject was married in 1886 to Miss Emma J. Perry. Three children 
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Scanlan as follows: Hugh, Thomas, and 
Fern, deceased. 

Mr. Scanlan is a man who keeps abreast of the times and, is thoroughly 
conversant with the topics of the day. He is an advocate of prohibition 
and equal suffrage, and is strong in his convictions, and adheres to 
the principles of the Republican party. He is a communicant of the 
Catholic church, and is prominent in secret society circles, holding 
membership in the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and the Modern 
Woodmen of America. He takes an active part in public affairs, and is a 
member of the county central committee. His life and labors in South 
Dakota extend over more than a decade, and during this time he has been 
found standing on the side of truth and justice, and manifesting the 
true spirit of American progress in his business affairs and his 
connection with the advance of civilization. The leading business 
interests of Bradley which he controls are but the outcome of his 
natural ability and integrity.