Thomas H. Pritchard, born July 31, 1857, in Wales, was the founder of Watertown Marble and Granite Works in South Dakota. After immigrating to the U.S. in 1872, Pritchard apprenticed as a marble cutter in Wisconsin before starting his own marble business in 1877. In 1882, he moved to Watertown, establishing the town’s first marble and granite shop, which grew into one of the state’s leading businesses. A pioneer of South Dakota, Pritchard was also active in local fraternal organizations. He married Blanche Lovejoy in 1878, and they had four children: Ethel, Lyle, Winifred, and Sybil.
Thomas H. Pritchard, proprietor of the Watertown Marble and Granite Works, is a native of Wales, having been born on the 31st of July, 1857, and being a son of Hugh and Ellen (Barnette) Pritchard, the former of whom was born in Wales and the latter in France. The father of the subject was a farmer by vocation and both he and his wife continued to reside in Wales until their death.
The subject secured his educational training in the excellent schools of his native land, and after leaving school, in 1872, he came to the United States, locating in the state of Wisconsin, where he was variously employed for the first two years, at the expiration of which, in 1874, he entered upon an apprenticeship at the trade of marble cutting, in Evansville, Wisconsin, while he was thereafter employed at his trade in that town and also in the city of Chicago. In 1877 he engaged in the marble business in Evansville, on his own responsibility, and there continued operations in the line until 1882, when he disposed of the business and came to Watertown, South Dakota, arriving in the spring of that year and establishing the first marble and granite shop in the town, and one of the first in the state, it being now the oldest in the state. He began business upon a modest scale, but by perseverance, energy and good management, as combined with his distinctive skill in the work of his trade, he has built up a large and flourishing business, securing his patronage from a wide radius of territory, while his well-equipped establishment is located on the corner of Dakota Avenue and Elm Street. He keeps a corps of experienced workmen employed throughout the year, and the work turned out is of the highest grade of excellence, the business reputation of our subject being unassailable. He ships work into the most diverse sections of North and South Dakota, as well as into Minnesota and Iowa, and his business is constantly expanding in scope and importance. It should be noted that Mr. Pritchard is one of the pioneers of the state, since he came here as early as 1878 and took up government land in Codington County, eventually perfecting his title to the same and passing a considerable portion of his time here prior to taking up his permanent residence in Watertown, in 1882. In politics he is arrayed as a supporter of the Republican party, and both he and his wife are members of the Episcopal church. Fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has passed the various official chairs in his lodge, while he was a delegate to the grand lodge of the state in 1902 and 1903, and he is also affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and the Modern Woodmen of America.
In Evansville, Wisconsin, on the 28th of September, 1878, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Pritchard to Miss Blanche Lovejoy, who was born and reared in Wisconsin, being a daughter of Captain William C. and Harriet M. Lovejoy, both of whom are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Pritchard have four children: Ethel E., who has an art studio in Watertown, and Lyle H., Winifred M., and Sybil L., who remain at the attractive family home, which is located on the corner of Oak Street and Washington Avenue.
Source: Robinson, Doane, History of South Dakota: together with mention of Citizens of South Dakota, [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen, 1904.