ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/sd/biography/doane2/sedgwick.txt


                John W. Sedgwick Biography


        This biography appears on pages 1711-1712 in "History of South 
        Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
        OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

        This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit 
        organizations for their private use. 

        Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval 
        system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other 
        means requires the written approval of the file's author.


        JOHN W. SEDGWICK, of Alcester, Union county, is a native of 
Wisconsin, born near the town of New Diggings, that state, on the 28th 
of January, 1853. His father was Joseph Sedgwick, a well-to-do farmer of 
Wisconsin. and his mother, whose maiden name was Hannah Peacock, also 
spent the greater part of her life in that state, both being of English 
descent. John W. was reared on a farm, early became familiar with its 
rugged, toilsome duties, and while still a mere youth was obliged to 
take his place in the fields and contribute to the support of the 
family. By reason of his services being required at home, his 
educational advantages were somewhat meager, being confined to a few 
months' attendance of winter seasons at thc country schools of his 
neighborhood. He remained with his parents, cultivating the farm and 
otherwise looking after their interests, until twenty-four years old, at 
which time, 1877, he 
left home and went to Portlandville, now Akron, Iowa, where he engaged 
with his brother in buying and shipping grain and live stock, which line 
of business occupied his attention during the greater part of the 
ensuing ten years. In 1883 Mr. Sedgwick came to South Dakota and on 
March 19th of that same year was united in marriage, at Elk Point, with 
Miss Minnie Trader, after which he moved to a farm near Alcester, Union 
county, and engaged in agricultural pursuits and stock raising. After 
spending ten years on his farm, and bringing it to a high state of 
cultivation, also greatly enlarging its area, he built a fine residence 
in Alcester and moved to the same, in order to give his children better 
educational advantages than were afforded by the country schools. Since 
coming to South Dakota Mr. Sedgwick's business affairs have continually 
prospered, and he is now numbered with the energetic and well-to-do men 
of Union county, owning in addition to his fine and highly improved farm 
of four hundred acres near the county seat, worth at a conservative 
estimate sixty dollars per acre, an eight-hundred-acre tract in the 
county of Buffalo, also fifteen lots and three valuable residence 
properties in Alcester, his belongings at this time representing a 
capital of fifty thousand dollars, every dollar of which is the result 
of his own labor and unaided endeavor. Mr. Sedgwick's early home 
training, under the direction of plain, industrious, pious parents, was 
all that any one could desire, and it had great influence in forming his 
character and shaping his destiny. He was reared according to the rather 
strict discipline of the Methodist church and still adheres to that 
faith, belonging with his family to the congregation worshiping in 
Alcester, to which he is a constant and liberal contributor. He served 
as school clerk for a period of nine years, and for the last four years 
has held the office of city trustee, a part of which time he was 
chairman of the board. 

        Mr. and Mrs. Sedgwick's beautiful and attractive home in Alcester 
is noted for the spirit of generous hospitality that reigns therein, and 
it is a popular resort for the best social circles of the city. In 
addition to the father and mother, its happy domestic circle at this 
time includes three children, whose names are Lillian, Levi S. and 
Walter W.