Biography of Manson Rexford

	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 311.

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


HON. MANSON REXFORD, owner and manager of the M. Rexford bank, of 
Waubay, is one of Day county's prominent financiers and business men. 
Mr. Rexford is a native of Orleans county, Vermont, where he was born on 
the 15th of June, 1849.  His parents, Samuel and Johanna (Taplin) 
Rexford, were natives of Maine and Canada, respectively. Samuel Rexford 
moved to Canada when a young man, and cultivated a farm there for some 
years. He was also active in politics, and practiced law to some extent. 
He died in the Dominion, April 12, 1883. Johanna Rexford died in South 
Dakota, February 4, 1894. Our subject was educated in Canada, and until 
his twenty-fourth year worked upon a farm. In 1873 he went to Cowley 
county, Kansas, and engaged in the contracting business and the hardware 
trade. Nine years later he went to Litchfield, Minnesota, and in 1882 
removed to Groton, South Dakota, soon after going to Waubay, in Day 
county. In 1883 he formed a partnership with Mr. E. Thompson, and put up 
the first business building in the place. He soon afterward sold his 
interest to Mr. Thompson, and for two years carried on a farm. In 1886 
he established a collection and money-lending business at Waubay, and 
three years later added the banking feature, which has since grown to be 
such a pronounced success. Mr. Rexford is an influential and public-
spirited citizen, and has gained not only popularity, but the entire 
confidence of the people of Day county. Politically he is a Republican, 
and in 1 889 was elected to the legislature. serving one term. He has 
also been a member of the Waubay town council, and for the past twelve 
years treasurer of the school board. He is a member of the M. W. A.

	On the 15th of September, 1865, Mr. Rexford married Miss Hannorah 
E. Turner, a native of Canada, and a daughter of Jesse and Mary Turner. 
She bore her husband three children, Lillie, Manson and Lorena, all of 
whom are now deceased. Mrs. Rexford died November 11, 1888. Mr. Rexford 
remarried May 21, 1890, his second wife being Mrs. Blair, a widow, whose 
maiden name was Allie Arne.