Clarence C. Tritle 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 1099

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

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CLARENCE C. TRITLE, possessor of the northeast quarter of section 33, 
in Willow Lakes township, Brule county, has engaged in diversified 
farming with marked success. He was born in Franklin county, 
Pennsylvania, in 1848, the third in a family of ten children born to 
George and Amanda E. (Snyder) Tritle, both of whom are deceased. 

Our subject passed his early boyhood without any exciting events, and 
in 1863 enlisted in Company L, Twenty-first Pennsylvania Mounted 
Rifles, a regiment of state troops. In February they volunteered for 
active service, and were engaged at the battle of Cold Harbor and many 
of the engagements which followed soon after, including Dinwiddie Court 
House and Five Forks. At Amelia Springs our subject was captured and 
remained a prisoner in the Confederate lines four days, and until the 
surrender at Appomattox Court House. Soon after he was mustered out at 
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the United States army in 
July, 1867, and was soon sent to Leavenworth, Kansas, and, with Company 
G, Thirty-seventh Infantry, guarded a wagon train through the hostile 
Indian country to Pike's Peak. While stationed in Colorado he was 
detailed as messenger on the Wells-Fargo stage route, and became 
personally acquainted with many of the renowned plainsmen. He was 
placed under Nelson A. Miles in 1869, and was engaged in several Indian 
skirmishes in Arkansas. 

Returning from the army service he entered DePauw University, in 
Indiana, where he completed the freshman year, and then taught school 
in Grundy county, Iowa, and worked at carpenter work until 1880, when 
he began farming. He went to Dakota in 1882, and the following year 
took up his residence in Brule county, where he has since resided. He 
has made a success of farming. 

Our subject was married in 1880 to Miss Lena Ahlers, a native of 
Germany. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Tritle, as 
follows: Amanda H., a teacher; Frederick A., George S., Cora S., Grace 
D., Edward, Clara . and Francis. Mr. Tritle has served as assessor two 
terms, treasurer of the school board and county commissioner from 1895-
98. Politically he is a Republican.