Andrew J. Wharton 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. Page 292

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

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ANDREW J. WHARTON, a wealthy farmer and stock raiser of Hand county, 
and one of the first settlers in that section, is one of the respected 
citizens of Riverside township, where his farm is located on section 2, 
near the town of Ree Heights. He was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, 
December 31, 1830, and was one of seven sons born to John and Mary A. 
(Smith) Wharton, both natives of Washington county, Pennsylvania. The 
father was born in 1797, and engaged in farming in Ohio, locating in 
Guernsey county, in 1817, afterward moving to Delaware county, Indiana, 
in 1836, and still later going to Mahaska county, Iowa, in 1859. His 
death occurred in that county, August 6, 1878, and our subject's mother 
died in April of the same year. Of their four sons who are now living, 
James and our subject are the only ones residing in Dakota. 

After completing his education in Delaware county, Indiana, our subject 
engaged in buying and selling horses, driving them to Chicago and 
Michigan markets, following this occupation until he was twenty-nine 
years of age. He moved to Mahaska county, Iowa, in 1860, and engaged in 
breaking out a new farm, also bought and sold stock. He purchased his 
present farm and located in Hand county, in 1883, since which time he 
has been engaged in diversified farming and stock raising. He handles 
about six hundred head of sheep and some cattle annually, and has a 
well improved farm, well adapted to his line. He is the possessor of a 
section of fine land, well supplied with water from Wolf creek. 

Our subject was married June 10, 1858, to Leah Lettler, a native of 
Indiana. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wharton, as 
follows: John T.; Susan E., now Mrs. John Stoker; Elmira A., now Mrs. 
Kitterman; Seth W.; Cora M., now Mrs. Charles Shoemaker; Annie, now 
Mrs. William Gardner; Robert E. and William E., the last two named 
being twins. Mr. Wharton is a prominent member of the township board, 
in which capacity he has served for several years, being chosen 
chairman of the same. In political sentiment he is a Democrat. He and 
his family are well known and are held in the highest esteem by all.