William Whited 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 753-754

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

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WILLIAM WHITED, an honored and highly esteemed citizen of Spink county, 
South Dakota, who is engaged in general farming and stock raising in 
Spring township, was born in New York in 1841, and is the youngest in a 
family of three children. The father was a native of the same state and 
was of English descent, but the mother's birth occurred in one of the 
New England states. The former, who followed the cabinet-maker's trade 
throughout life, died when our subject was only three years old. 

William Whited was reared by his grandparents in the Empire state, but 
received very limited educational advantages. At the age of fifteen 
years he went to Illinois, where he started in life for himself as a 
farmer. He was twenty years old when the Civil war broke out, and he 
enlisted in Company A, Thirty-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, known 
as the Normal School Regiment, which was sent to the southwest and was 
first in camp at Arcadia, Missouri. They took part in the battle of 
Jamestown, Missouri, and in many skirmishes in that state and in 
Arkansas, and were finally sent to Mississippi, where they picked up a 
lot of cotton. Here twenty-eight of the regiment were surrounded by one 
thousand of Morgan's men, but fortunately managed to escape. While in 
Mississippi Mr. Whited was taken ill with typhoid fever and was unable 
to engage in active service again. He was first sent to St. Louis, 
where he was in the Sisters' hospital two months and was in the Marine 
hospital at Chicago for eighteen months, and from there was sent home 
at the expiration of his three years' service. 

On the 1st of February, 1862, Mr. Whited married Miss May A. Maxfield, 
who was born and reared in Bristol, Rhode Island, where her father 
worked at his trade of carpentering. Her great-grandfather, Benjamin 
Brown, Jr., was a soldier of the Revolutionary war. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Whited have been born eight children, two sons and six daughters, 
namely: Mrs. Susie B. Warring: Mrs. Sadie C. Hansen, whose husband is a 
preacher; Edna M., wife of Senator DuBois; Mrs. Jessie M. Nelson; Mrs. 
Lella W. Innes, whose husband is a bookkeeper in Chicago, Illinois; 
Freeman F., who is blind and at home; and Alice E. and Maxie A., also 
at home. After the war, Mr. Whited continued to engage in farming in 
Illinois until 1871, when. he removed to Morrison, Whiteside county, 
that state, for the purpose of educating his children, all of whom have 
been given good school privileges, and with the exception of the three 
now at home, all have been successful teachers. During his residence in 
Whiteside county, Illinois, our subject served as road commissioner, 
and was engaged in putting up iron bridges in different parts of Mount 
Pleasant township for six or seven years. 

On the 22nd of May, 1882, Mr. Whited landed in Spink county, South 
Dakota, and entered the northeast quarter of section 10, Spring 
township, which locality was principally settled by people from 
Whiteside county, Illinois. In 1883 he built upon his place a house, 10 
x 14 feet, and a part of his family spent each summer with him here 
while he broke his land. After a time all came with the exception of 
the two oldest children. In 1884 there were more people in Spring 
township than at the present time. It was through the efforts of our 
subject that the first school was established in the neighborhood, and 
he has borne a very active and prominent part in the upbuilding and 
development of this region. His farm is now under a high state of 
cultivation, improved with a good set of farm buildings, and he has 
principally engaged in the raising of grain, and cattle to a limited 
extent. 

Politically, Mr. Whited is identified with the Republican party, and 
takes an active part in its work, generally serving as a delegate to 
both state and county conventions. He has had many official positions 
offered him, but prefers to give his attention to his business 
interests. Socially, he is an honored member of the Independent Order 
of Odd Fellows, and the Grand Army of the Republic. Most of his family 
are connected with some church, and they are held in high regard by all 
who know them.