Daniel York 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 933-934

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

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DANIEL YORK. There is no class of biographies which is more interesting 
to read than that of the industrious and enterprising farmer's boy who 
has risen from a humble position to one of affluence and comfort. 
Prominent among the men of Beadle county who have thus laboriously 
toiled onward and upward is the gentleman whose name introduces this 
sketch. He is now a well-to-do farmer and stock raiser residing on 
section 1 8, Milford township. Mr. York was born in Randolph county, 
North Carolina, October 21, 1846, and is the seventh child in the 
family of John W. and Malinda (York) York, who were distant relatives 
prior to their marriage. Death claimed the mother when our subject was 
in his thirteenth year, and all of his brothers and sisters with the 
exception of three. Soon afterward, the father, with the remaining four 
children, removed to Edgar county, IIlinois, and located on a farm, 
where our subject continued to reside until eighteen years of age, when 
the father married again. The son then left home and commenced working 
as a farm hand, which service he continued to perform even after his 
marriage. 

It was on the 23d of December, 1873, that Mr. York led to the marriage 
altar Miss Mary Collins, who was born January 30, 1854, and is a 
daughter of Edward and Evaline (Kocher) Collins, of Fairfield county, 
Ohio, who at an early day removed to Shelby county, Illinois, where 
Mrs. York made her home until her marriage. To our subject and his wife 
have been born eight children, namely: John A., Oliver E., Raymond H., 
Bertia A., Herman E., D. Milton, Troyet W. and J. Clifford, who 
constitutes most interesting family, in which the parents take a just 
pride. 

Mr. York continued his farming operations in Illinois until 1883, when 
he came to South Dakota, and settled on the northeast quarter of 
section 18, Milford township, Beadle county. He also took up the 
southeast quarter of the same section as the tree claim, and has since 
purchased the northwest quarter of section 8, Milford township. He has 
transformed the entire tract into one of the most attractive and 
desirable farms of the township, and in his farming operations has met 
with well-merited success. He relates that he came to Dakota with 
nothing but a growing family and the first season was completely hailed 
out, so that in the fall of 1883 matters looked very blue, and he now 
wonders how they managed to live. Few today, however, are more 
prosperous and the success that he has achieved is due entirely to his 
energy, perseverance and industry. Wheat has to him proved a profitable 
crop usually, and he now gives considerable attention to stock raising, 
keeping a large herd of cattle and selling thirty-five head last 
season. Upon his place he has erected a good residence and fair 
outbuildings, and expects in the summer of 1899 to build a fine barn. 

Politically, Mr. York has been a life-long Democrat, and has been 
prominently identified with township affairs ever since its 
organization, serving as chairman of the township board of supervisors 
each year and is still a member of the board. He is a member of the 
school board, and also a central committeeman of his party. In all the 
relations of life he has been found true to every trust reposed in him, 
and his official duties have always been most capably and 
satisfactorily discharged.