Home > United States of America > South Dakota > Hamlin County > Castlewood > Castlewood Cemetery > William Benjamin “Ben” Boswell

William Benjamin “Ben” Boswell

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Birth	:	16 Apr 1864 Menominee County, Michigan, USA
Death	:	20 Oct 1928 Minnehaha County, South Dakota, USA
Burial	:	Castlewood Cemetery, Castlewood, Hamlin County, USA
Coordinate	:	44.7183200, -97.0264800
Description	:	"Ben" Boswell is the editor and proprietor of the Hamlin County Republican of Castlewood and he has long been a leading factor in molding public thought and opinion in connection with affairs of vital significance in his part of the state. He was born in Menominee,Michigan, April 16, 1864, and is a son of Albert W. and Ellen (Hannan) Boswell, the former a native of New Hampshire and a representative of one of the old New England families, tracing his ancestry back to the Mayflower Pilgrims. The mother was born in Peterboro, Canada, and her parents were from Ulster, Ireland. Albert... Read More	"Ben" Boswell is the editor and proprietor of the Hamlin County Republican of Castlewood and he has long been a leading factor in molding public thought and opinion in connection with affairs of vital significance in his part of the state. He was born in Menominee,Michigan, April 16, 1864, and is a son of Albert W. and Ellen (Hannan) Boswell, the former a native of New Hampshire and a representative of one of the old New England families, tracing his ancestry back to the Mayflower Pilgrims. The mother was born in Peterboro, Canada, and her parents were from Ulster, Ireland. Albert W. Boswell and Ellen Hannan were married in De Pere, Wisconsin, and settled in Menominee, Michigan, where the father was identified with the lumber industry for many years. In September, 1880, he came west to South Dakota on a tour of inspection and when on that trip took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in Estelline township, Hamlin county. On his return to Michigan for his family he stopped off at Marshall, Minnesota, to buy one hundred and sixty acres of railroad land adjoining his homestead. The father and his son Ben took up their abode on the homestead in the spring of 1881 and kept bachelor's hall until the fall of 1882, when they were joined by the others of the family. Upon the farm which he there developed Mr. Boswell still remains and own his original holdings of three hundred and twenty acres. Ben Boswell was reared under the parental roof and was a youth of seventeen years when he accompanied his father to South Dakota. He acquired his education in the high school of Menominee, Michigan, in the South Dakota State College at Brookings and in the Curtiss Business College at Minneapolis, Minnesota, and was thus well qualified for life's practical and responsible duties. He accompanied his father to this state on his trip of inspection in 1880 and again in the spring of 1881 returned with him and aided in making the initial improvements upon the home farm. He continued under the parental roof until 1893 but during that period, or in 1884, took up the vocation of teaching and for seven years was identified with educational work. He was the first teacher of the Bryant schools, which he helped to organize, continuing as an instructor there for three years, during which time he built up the school system to a high state of efficiency. In 1892 he was elected auditor of the county and served for two terms, retiring from the position as he had entered it—with the confidence and goodwill of all concerned. On the expiration of his second term in that office, in 1897, he purchased the Hamlin County Republican of Castlewood, which he has since published, and he is today a well known figure in journalistic circles in his part of the state. The paper which he publishes is thoroughly up-to-date in its methods of securing and handling news and in its workmanship. In 1885 Mr. Boswell purchased a quarter section of land in Estelline township, which he still owns. He has been active in the public life of the community along many lines. In 1890 he was a candidate for county superintendent of schools but owing to the populist landslide of that year he was defeated by nine votes. In 1900 he was elected county treasurer of Hamlin county, serving in that position for two terms, and in the fall of 1912 he was elected a member of the board of county commissioners, in which position he is now serving. There is perhaps no resident of the county to whom the public owes a greater debt of gratitude for efforts to promote the interests and improve the conditions of the schools. He has served for seventeen years as secretary of the board of education in Castlewood and has recently been elected for another three years, term. During these years he has worked indefatigably for higher education and better schools and has lived to see the fruition of his hopes and his aims. Today Castlewood has a twenty-five thousand dollar school building, with an approved full four years, high school course, which includes manual training and domestic science, each department being fully equipped, seven teachers being employed to care for the high- school work. Mr. Boswell was also president of the board of trustees of the town of Castlewood from 1901 until 1905 and again from 1909 until 1914. On the 22d of June, 1892, Mr. Boswell was united in marriage to Miss Minnie E. Shepherd, of Brantford township, Hamlin county, South Dakota. To them have been born seven children, six of whom survive, namely: Edith Pearl, Ellen Mildred, Benjamin George, Theodore Roosevelt, Catherine Louise and Paul. In addition to his home property in Castlewood, Mr. Boswell is the owner of a fruit ranch in the Bitter Root valley of Montana. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church and he is identified with the Masonic fraternity as a member of Sioux Valley Lodge, No. 125, A. F. & A. M., and of Watertown Chapter, No. 12, R. A. M. His life has indeed been a potent force for good in his section of the state. He has worked diligently and persistently to advance the public welfare and has ever used the columns of his paper to further the interests of the community wherein are involved the questions of civic advancement. While his ideals have been high, his methods have been practical and he never gives up until his aim is accomplished.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is William Benjamin “Ben” Boswell's memorial?
William Benjamin “Ben” Boswell's memorial is located at: Castlewood Cemetery, Castlewood, Hamlin County, USA.
When did William Benjamin “Ben” Boswell death?
William Benjamin “Ben” Boswell death on 20 Oct 1928 in Minnehaha County, South Dakota, USA
Where are the coordinates of the William Benjamin “Ben” Boswell's memorial?
Latitude: 44.7183200
Longitude: -97.0264800

Family Members:

Parent

Albert Woodbury Boswell

(1834 - 1919)

Ellen Matilda Hannan Boswell

(1837 - 1924)

Spouse

Minnie Etta Shepherd Boswell

(1868 - 1928)

Siblings

George G Boswell

(1866 - 1957)

Children

Edith Pearl Boswell Wright

(1894 - 1971)

Paul H Boswell

(1910 - 1979)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Saint Johns Catholic Cemetery
Castlewood, Hamlin County, USA
Coordinate: 44.7176575, -97.0239113

2. Hamlin Reformed Cemetery
Castlewood, Hamlin County, USA
Coordinate: 44.6895200, -96.9262200

3. Dempster Cemetery
Dempster, Hamlin County, USA
Coordinate: 44.6303800, -96.9417400

4. Christian Reformed Cemetery
Bemis, Deuel County, USA
Coordinate: 44.7757000, -96.8751000

5. Evergreen Presbyterian Cemetery
Deuel County, USA
Coordinate: 44.7747002, -96.8657990

6. Pleasant View Cemetery
Hayti, Hamlin County, USA
Coordinate: 44.6560040, -97.1883680

7. East Norden Cemetery
Lake Norden, Hamlin County, USA
Coordinate: 44.6074110, -97.1284100

8. Bakke Cemetery
Estelline, Hamlin County, USA
Coordinate: 44.5804400, -97.0446900

9. Oxford Cemetery
Thomas, Hamlin County, USA
Coordinate: 44.7607900, -97.2134400

10. Havana Lutheran Cemetery
Deuel County, USA
Coordinate: 44.7771590, -96.8423800

11. Tabor Cemetery
Deuel County, USA
Coordinate: 44.7468987, -96.8230972

12. West Norden Cemetery
Hayti, Hamlin County, USA
Coordinate: 44.6296997, -97.2093964

13. Hillcrest Cemetery
Estelline, Hamlin County, USA
Coordinate: 44.5810860, -96.9035940

14. Saint Francis de Sales Catholic Cemetery
Estelline, Hamlin County, USA
Coordinate: 44.5810860, -96.9035940

15. Mother of God Monastery Cemetery
Watertown, Codington County, USA
Coordinate: 44.8678000, -97.1181000

16. Trinity Lutheran Cemetery
Lake Norden, Hamlin County, USA
Coordinate: 44.5863300, -97.1661200

17. Hidewood Zion Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
Deuel County, USA
Coordinate: 44.6597610, -96.8049050

18. Lake Norden Baptist Cemetery
Lake Norden, Hamlin County, USA
Coordinate: 44.5883500, -97.1801400

19. Schneiders Grove Cemetery
Kranzburg Township, Codington County, USA
Coordinate: 44.8786968, -96.9435766

20. Spooner Children Graves
Kranzburg Township, Codington County, USA
Coordinate: 44.8786968, -96.9435766

21. Saint Marys Cemetery
Watertown, Codington County, USA
Coordinate: 44.8908005, -97.0836029

22. Bemis Cemetery
Deuel County, USA
Coordinate: 44.8333015, -96.8343964

23. New Hope Cemetery
Hayti, Hamlin County, USA
Coordinate: 44.6951800, -97.2888100

24. Poinsett Cemetery
Kingsbury County, USA
Coordinate: 44.5428009, -97.1286011