H. A. Stanley 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 803-804

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

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H. A. STANLEY, who is now living on section 18, Northville township, 
Spink county, is recognized as one of the most energetic and skillful 
farmers of his community, who, in connection with the raising of grain, 
has also given considerable attention to stock. He is pursuing the even 
tenor of his way as an honest man and a good citizen, furthering the 
welfare of the community as he finds opportunity, and enjoying the 
respect of his neighbors and friends. 

Mr. Stanley was born May 2, 1848, in Trinidad, West Indies, where his 
father was engaged in business as a merchant, having gone there from 
England to engage in the coffee and sugar trade. Before our subject was 
two years old he had crossed the Atlantic five times, and at the age of 
four he was placed in a boarding school in England, where he remained 
until fourteen, when he was apprenticed to a linen draper for five 
years. At the age of sixteen he had his indentures cancelled and went 
to London, where he worked for a wholesale pickle firm for eight 
months. 

Mr. Stanley then took steerage passage and paid not only his own way 
but that of a chum, both of whom started out in search of fortune in 
the golden sunset. They landed in New York June 20, 1865, and soon 
found work on a farm near Poughkeepsie, New York, where they remained 
three months, after which they returned to New York City and started in 
as cordwainers. On the 22d of January, 1866, Mr. Stanley enlisted in 
Company C, Sixth Regiment United States Infantry, and from Governors 
Island was sent to Charleston, South Carolina, where he remained for a 
year. The following six months were spent at Columbia, and from there 
he was ordered to Fort Gibson, Indian Territory, where he remained 
until honorably discharged, January 22, 1869, as quartermaster 
sergeant. For three years he then engaged in teaching school at Creek 
Agency, Creek Nation, and from there went to Chetopa, Kansas, and later 
to Saint Louis, where he tried to obtain a position in a wholesale dry 
goods house. After six months of fruitless search, during which time he 
sunk his clothes and books in the attempt, he finally took a position 
as carpenter, which he held for the following six months. He was next 
employed in painting the new iron bridge across the Mississippi at that 
place. On leaving St. Louis he went to Springfield, Illinois, in search 
of work, and after spending all his money with the exception of fifty 
cents he obtained a place on a farm husking corn. He worked in the 
vicinity of Springfield for about eleven years. 

On the 30th of March, 1883, Mr. Stanley came to Spink county, South 
Dakota, and homesteaded the northwest quarter of section 19, township 
119, range 65. The first year he broke about sixteen acres, seven of 
which he planted in oats, the remainder in corn. His entire possessions 
on locating here consisted of three horses and twenty three dollars in 
money, but his unflagging industry, good management and perseverance 
have brought him a comfortable property. Besides the two quarter-
sections of land which he owns, he operates a rented tract and now sows 
three hundred and forty acres to wheat, thirty to barley, fifteen to 
corn and six to sod flax. while he has about one hundred and fifty 
acres of fenced pasture. He winters about twenty-one head of cattle 
upon his place and keeps nine horses for use upon his farm. 

On the 15th of April, 1878, Mr. Stanley married Miss Jane McGeachin, a 
native of Scotland, who came to this country at the age of seventeen 
years, and they have become the parents of four children, namely: Mary, 
who died at the age of three years; William, John and Marion, all at 
home. In his political views Mr. Stanley has always been a stanch 
Democrat, and he believes in the state control of liquor. He is widely 
and favorably known and has made many warm friends since taking up his 
residence in Spink county.