William Henry James, born on December 25, 1858, in Dodgeville, Wisconsin, is a prominent grain and coal dealer in Valley Springs, South Dakota, and secretary of the Valley Springs Telephone Company. After purchasing an interest in his father’s mill at twenty-one, he transitioned to butter-making and operated a creamery in Winthrop, Minnesota. Moving to Valley Springs in 1887, he managed the Hubbard & Palmer Elevator Company. James was instrumental in founding the Valley Springs Telephone Company and remains its secretary. He also runs a successful local insurance agency and has been active in public affairs, serving as town clerk for ten years. He married Carrie Hendrickson in 1900, and they have five children.
William Henry James, grain and coal dealer in Valley Springs and also secretary of the Valley Springs Telephone Company, was born December 25, 1858, in Dodgeville, Wisconsin. He is the son of Cornelius and Mary Ann (Hambly) James. He was reared in his native town, attended the public schools of the same at intervals during his minority, and at the age of twenty-one purchased an interest in his father’s mill at Dodgeville, having become familiar with the business in the meantime. Mr. James continued the manufacture of flour during the ensuing four years, at the expiration of which time he turned his attention to butter-making and later, in 1885, started a creamery at Winthrop, Minnesota, which he operated for a period of one year. Disposing of the business at the end of that time, he spent the following year running an engine in the town of Adrian, and in 1887 came to Valley Springs, South Dakota, to take charge of the Hubbard & Palmer Elevator Company at this place, which position he still holds, and in the management of which he has achieved worthy prestige as an able, discreet, and far-seeing businessman. In connection with buying and shipping grain, in which the company he represents commands the bulk of the trade in Minnehaha County, Mr. James deals quite extensively in coal, his patronage in this, as in his other line of business, being larger than that of any other man or firm in Valley Springs similarly engaged.
Mr. James was one of the originators of the Valley Springs Telephone Company, took a leading part in its organization, and in many ways has contributed to the success of the enterprise, much of its prosperity being directly attributed to the interest he has manifested in its behalf. He has been a member of the board of directors ever since the company went into effect, and as secretary has been untiring in his efforts to promote its efficiency and make it one of the best local systems in the state, which reputation it has always sustained. This company, which was incorporated with a capital of ten thousand dollars, is composed of business and professional men of high standing and unimpeachable integrity, Dr. George W. Bliss being president, L. S. Hetland vice-president, W. H. James secretary, and P. E. Howe treasurer, the same gentlemen, with J. Dunham, a well-known capitalist, constituting the board of directors.
In addition to his business interests and in connection with the telephone company, Mr. James conducts a local insurance agency, in which a number of the leading companies of the United States are represented, and does a flourishing business in Valley Springs and throughout the county of Minnehaha. He has long been influential in public affairs, has served as town clerk for a period of ten years, and his activity as a politician has gained him favor and high standing in the Republican party, of which he is an earnest advocate and a zealous supporter. His fraternal relations include membership with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias, in addition to which he encourages benevolent enterprises under whatever name they may appear, being charitable and ready at all times to extend help to the needy and minister to the comfort of those in sickness or distress.
On the 1st day of January 1900, Mr. James entered the marriage relation, choosing for his life companion Miss Carrie Hendrickson, who was born in Postville, Allamakee County, Iowa, but at the date mentioned was living in South Dakota. In addition to himself and wife, his home circle at this time includes five children, whose names in order of birth are Wilmer, Cora, Neal, Harrold, and Byrle. Mr. James’ life has been an exceedingly busy one and his record in all of his undertakings is without stain. As a businessman he ranks with the most successful of his contemporaries and by reason of a long and active experience his opinions carry weight and his ideas receive due consideration. He is regarded as safe and reliable in matters involving large and important interests, careful in the management of affairs entrusted to him, and he lays his plans with wise forethought and forms his opinions only after mature reflection.
Source: Robinson, Doane, History of South Dakota: together with mention of Citizens of South Dakota, [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen, 1904.