Biography of Elon G. Pettigrew

	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, 1898. Page 261.

	Scan and OCR by Joy Fisher, 1997. This file may be copied for non-profit 
	purposes. All other rights reserved. 


HON. ELON G. PETTIGREW, one of the most prominent men of Flandreau, 
near where he is carrying on an extensive farming and stock business, 
is one of the wide-awake and wealthy citizens of Moody county. He is a 
fine type of our self-made man, having begun with absolutely nothing 
except the tools which nature gave him. From his first employment, 
working, on a farm by the month, he has steadily risen by his own 
efforts on the ladder of fortune and is now possessed of a very 
comfortable competence.

	Mr. Pettigrew is a son of Parker Pettigrew and was born December 
8, 1831, at Ludlow, Vermont. He grew to manhood in his native home and 
was educated in the public schools of the district. At the age of 
twenty-one years he began for himself by working for a neighboring 
farmer by the month, and after following this line of work three years, 
he spent nearly three years driving a team in the wholesale peddling 
business. He then, in partnership with his brother, J. W. Pettigrew, 
opened a general merchandise business at Ludlow, dealing in flour, 
grain and groceries. In 1878 they sold out this business and came west, 
reaching Dakota March 5, 1879, and located at Flandreau, where they 
lived about six months in a small shanty and carried on farming 
operations with oxen. Our subject then secured an unimproved farm and 
the same year built an elegant residence, the material alone costing 
$700.00. He bought the doors, windows and blinds in Boston and the hard 
wood casings came from Vermont, and the structure altogether is 
composed of the finest material that could be obtained. The farm also 
now contains 240 acres, all improved, and 160 acres under the plow, is 
fenced and crossed fenced, and furnished with a good barn and 
outbuildings and about twelve acres of fine grove in which are 200 
black walnut trees, all bearing. Mr. Pettigrew is also extensively 
engaged in stock raising. He began with half a dozen head of cattle and 
soon had a fine herd of seventy-five head; then he sold them and began 
raising sheep, and now has a flock of 300, 100 of which are 
thoroughbred Hampshire Downs.

	The lady who has presided over the household affairs of our 
subject for many years, and who shared alike with her husband the 
hardships and privations and later his success and prosperity, became 
his wife August 3, 1871. She bore the name of Mary Jane Maynard nee 
Rice, and is a native of North Whitecreek, Washington county, New York. 
She is a daughter of Hiram A. and Betsy (Boyce) Rice, both natives of 
New York state, the former born in 1807, and died in November, 1869, 
the latter born in 1806 and died in 1882. They were the parents of five 
children, three of which are now living: Charles, John and Mrs. 
Pettigrew. One son, Robert A., was a lieutenant, serving in the Civil 
war. Mrs. Pettigrew was born August 27, 1839, and was educated in the 
academy at Cambridge, Washington county, New York. She and her husband 
were both previously married, by which unions Mrs. Pettigrew has no 
children, but Mr. Pettigrew has one daughter, Jennie S., wife of F. W. 
Pettigrew, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The latter are the parents of a 
family of five children, viz.: Etta Salome, Bessie, Nina, Paul 
Frederick and Sidney Elon.

	Our subject is a member of the Baptist Church, and treasurer of 
the same. He is also a member of the Masonic order, blue lodge at 
Flandreau, and a member of the chapter of the same. He and his 
estimable wife are both members of the Eastern Star, of which he is 
past patron and she is past matron. Politically, Mr. Pettigrew is

a stanch Republican, and, especially in his younger days, was actively 
interested in local political matters. He was the first man elected to 
the office of marshal of Flandreau, and for two years was a member of 
the council. He has filled the office of justice of the peace, and for 
two years was township supervisor. While a resident of Vermont he 
served as president of the town board of Ludlow two years, was director 
of the state prison of Vermont four years and represented his county in 
the state legislature two years.