William E. Raymond, born on August 19, 1857, near Ripon, Wisconsin, is a descendant of the fourth count of Toulouse, France. His parents, Ezra and Armine (Monette) Raymond were early Wisconsin pioneers. Educated in public schools and Ripon College, William initially pursued law but turned to teaching and carpentry due to financial constraints. In 1886, he moved to South Dakota, founding the village of Twin Brooks and its first general store. Later, he shifted to farming, amassing a substantial property and raising high-quality livestock. A dedicated Republican and justice of the peace for 12 years, he contributed to the Northwestern Agriculturist and married Mina B. Stymiest in 1880, with whom he had nine children.
William E. Raymond is a native of the state of Wisconsin, having been born on the homestead farm, near Ripon, on the 19th of August, 1857. He is a son of Ezra and Armine (Monette) Raymond, the former of whom was born in Vermont and the latter in the state of New York. In the agnatic line, the genealogy is traced back to distinguished French stock, the subject of this review being a direct descendant of the fourth count of Toulouse, France, while the name figures prominently in the early annals of French history. Ezra Raymond was numbered among the pioneers of Wisconsin and was there engaged in farming, though now residing in Morrison County, Minnesota. Three brothers were active participants in the war of the Rebellion, and the name is one which has ever stood for loyalty and patriotism as well as for a high order of citizenship.
The subject of this review was the second in order of birth in a family of five children, all of whom are yet living. He received his early educational training in the public schools of his native county and supplemented the same by attending Ripon College, in the meanwhile having materially assisted in the work and management of the home farm. He finally began reading law, with a view to preparing himself for the practice of the same, but his financial resources were limited, and he was compelled to abandon his technical studies in order to earn a livelihood. He thus engaged in teaching school, having been successful in his pedagogic work and having been employed in various schools in Wisconsin and southern Minnesota, while later he was for three years engaged in the photographic business in Wisconsin. Thereafter he devoted his attention to teaching during the winter terms, while he worked at the carpenter trade during the summer seasons, thus continuing until 1886, when he left Wisconsin to cast in his lot with the coming state of South Dakota. In that year he established himself in the general merchandise business in the embryonic village of Twin Brooks, being the pioneer merchant of the town and one of its founders, as is evident when we revert to the fact that when he located here the village was represented by but one building, and that not completed. Within six months the town had gained as large a population as it now boasts, but its fortunes waned during the hard times, and the population dwindled. It is gratifying to note that the era of prosperity and substantial progress has come once more to the village, which cannot fail to hold its own owing to the magnificent resources of the country in which it is placed. Mr. Raymond continued in the mercantile trade here until 1889, after which he conducted a general repair shop for five years, also teaching at intervals, in Twin Brooks township. In 1893 he entered claim to one hundred and sixty acres of his present farm, which now comprises an entire section, and upon his place he has made the best of permanent improvements, having a nice residence and other good buildings, while the entire farm gives evidence of thrift, excellent management, and prosperity. In addition to the agricultural feature of his enterprise Mr. Raymond gives special attention to the raising of livestock, having some fine specimens of full-blooded Durham cattle and having his entire herd well graded up, while the same is true in connection with his swine, in which line he gives preference to the Poland-China type.
Mr. Raymond is a man of strong intellectuality and liberal ideas, and his public spirit is exemplified in the support which he lends to all worthy measures and enterprises tending to enhance the general welfare and material progress of his county and state. In politics, he accords an uncompromising allegiance to the Republican party and served in the office of justice of the peace of his township for twelve years, showing marked discrimination and good judgment in the discharge of his official duties, while his advice is often sought by his neighbors, who have confidence in his ability and integrity. Fraternally, he is identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen at Twin Brooks. Mr. Raymond is a man of broad information and is a vigorous and able writer upon subjects of various orders, being a frequent contributor to leading newspapers, while he gives particular attention to the consideration of topics of interest to farmers and stock growers. He is one of the associate editors of the Northwestern Agriculturist, published in the city of Minneapolis, contributing to its various departments, and having charge of the department devoted to sheep breeding.
On the 11th of November, 1880, Mr. Raymond was united in marriage to Miss Mina B. Stymiest, who was born in the province of New Brunswick, Canada. Of the nine children of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond, we incorporate the following brief record in conclusion of this sketch: Jessie M., who was a successful and popular teacher in the schools of Grant County for several years, is now the wife of S. W. Burdine, a prosperous farmer of Assiniboine; and the other children all remain at the parental home, their names, in order of birth, being as follows: Frances M., Charlotte A., Ernest A., Ethel I., Phoebe E., Gladys B., Benjamin G., and Layton L. The family is one of prominence in the community, and the pleasant home is a center of gracious hospitality.
Source: Robinson, Doane, History of South Dakota: together with mention of Citizens of South Dakota, [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen, 1904.