GEORGE H. GRACE

A "GRACE"-FUL MAN

The apostles repeatedly referred to the "grace of God." Throughout the union, except where there is a special statute or agreement providing otherwise, three days of "grace" are given on promissory notes. However, it is not either of these kinds of "grace" that we are going to write about; but just simply Professor Grace, Editor Grace, Postmaster Grace—plain George Grace, if you please.

In years gone by we have worked with Grace and worked for him, stood with him and stood for him, taught with him and taught for him; therefore, if perchance this article should at certain angles take on a little unintentional personal coloring, we ask for liberty of judgment, and invite our possible critics' attention to the fact that the associations of school days and during the years of young manhood or womanhood, are the most lasting in life, and that from them spring friendships that are as enduring as the hills. Few men, in their quiet, unpretentious, humble way, have done more for South Dakota and for building up strong, rugged, genuine character and manhood throughout the state than George Grace. We knew him as a boy on the farm; We were one of his institute instructors when he was superintendent of Buffalo county; we were intimately associated with him while he was principal of the Mitchell high school; we were in close touch with him while he had charge of the Miller schools; we articulated with him while he was superintendent of Hand county; we have played ball with him, fished with him, swam with him; heard him teach, preach, lecture and joke; and yet, in all these intimate and cherished associations, we never knew him to do an unmanly thing. Hence, it will be readily seen, that to us he becomes a congenial theme.

NATIVITY

In preparing our articles on "Who's Who in South Dakota," we have been agreeably surprised to find that so many men who have exerted an influence in this state, came from Wisconsin. Just so with Grace, he was born and raised, until he was twelve years of age, at Monroe, Wisconsin.

PARENTAGE

George Grace came from good, patriotic stock,—a mixture of "Yank" and "Brit." His father, John Grace, served with distinction in the Union army. He was a member of the 3rd Wisconsin Infantry, and as such he was in the hardest fighting of the war, including the Battle of Gettysburg. He was wounded in the stubborn fight at Chancellorsville Court House. George's mother is an English lady—she having come to America but a short time before her marriage to John Grace. Her maiden name was Harriet Thorpe. She is a dear old lady, with one of the most fascinating English brogues to which we have ever listened. Personally, we should like very much to yield to temptation and stop right here and pay her a just tribute for the many kindnesses we have received at her hands, but she is not our theme and we dare not digress too far. The old couple still reside at Mitchell, South Dakota, where they are universally loved and revered, and where they are esteemed as types of that town's best citizenship.

MIGRATION

When George was twelve years of age, in 1883, his parents brought their family westward and settled on a farm in Lincoln county, this state, near the present town of Hudson. In 1885 they again pushed westward and settled in Buffalo county. Here is where Grace spent his 'teens and grew to manhood.

A SELF-MADE MAN

Young Grace wes a studious chap, by nature. He longed for an education. Finally, in the fall of 1889, an opportunity came. He got a chance at Wessington Springs to pay for his board by doing chores, and he was enabled thereby to attend the Free Methodist Seminary, located at that place.

By leaving school occasionally to teach and earn a little money, he finally succeeded, as a result of this alternating arrangement, in graduating with honor in the summer of 1894.

Later he did post graduate work at some school in Iowa.

HIS RISE

Wacth his rise and progress! The same year that he graduated at Wessington Springs he was elected clerk of courts in Buffalo county. The next year he was appointed county superintendent of schools in that county, and he did the work of both offices. The next year he was elected county superintendent without any opposition, and the very next year he resigned and accepted the principalship of the Mitchell high school, which position he held for three years. Then he jumped over to Miller to become city superintendent of their schools. He served them for three years, and then quit to become a candidate for superintendent of the Hand county schools. He was elected; served one term; declined to accept a second term, owing to ill health; removed to Lead, at the doctor's instigation, so as to be in a higher altitude; bought a half interest in the "Lead Daily Tribune," in 1905; later bought the "Lead Daily Call" and consolidated it with the Tribune; got into the political game again, played it successfully, and was nominated for postmaster at Lead on January 20, 1910; was confirmed in April and took charge of the office on May 1. Such is the record of the man who has enjoyed public confidence in this state to an extent seldom, if ever, surpassed. "America is only another name for opportunity," said a wise, old sage long ago.

GEORGE H. GRACE

Yes! and South Dakota is the choicest spot in America for the development of that opportunity. Here every young man is part of the great common herd of humanity. If he fails, he has himself to blame; if he wins, it is merely because he embraced his opportunities. Grace took advantage of his, and he won.

HANDICAPPED

But Grace has always been handicapped. He contracted asthma in a very malignant form while yet a lad eight years of age at Monroe, Wisconsin. It has always stuck to him. As a result of the exposure during his long drives while superintendent of Hand county, his asthma got so bad that he had to give up his work and seek an elevation where the air is lighter. Lead is 6,000 feet above sea level. The change to this place has benefitted him wonderfully. It was this malady that prevented him from completing his college education. Yet he won in spite of it.

MARRIAGES

The greatest loss and the most severe setback that any man can recieve between the cradle and the grave is the loss, during middle life, of his chosen companion. Grace's first wife was Miss Minnie Waterbury, of Jerauld county. She graduated from the normal department of Dakota Wesleyan University at Mitchell with the class of '93, and shortly thereafter was united in marriage to George Grace. Universally beloved by all who knew her, Grace was not alone in his grief. She was the pier of any student in school at the university at that time; yet in her quiet, unassuming, lovable way, she could excell all others without exciting envy or ill-will.

On the arch over the gateway at the eastern entrance to the old site of Andersonville prison, in Georgia, are these words,

"The noblest place for man to die
Is where he dies for man."

This glorifies the noble sacrifice made by the Union soldier to free his colored brother. It deifies the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. Yes, it does more; it includes those members of the female sex who go down into the valley of the shadow of death; and there, in that awful agony known only to a mother, offer themselves up a living sacrifice upon the alter of motherhood to bring another life into being. Such was the fate of Mrs. Grace; and then, a few days later, that unforseen Force that shapes the destiny of man, snatched from the grief-stricken father the girl babe for whom the sacrifice had been made, and left him alone in an apparently cruel world, wrapped in solitude.

On June 26, 1900, Mr. Grace was married to Miss Belle Leffingwell, of Exira, Iowa. Here again he showed his appreciation of educational training, for the present Mrs. Grace is a graduate of Drake University. Keen, logical, brilliant—her work on the editorial page of the "Lead Daily Call" is exciting interest and commanding admiration. Standing shoulder to shoulder with her distinguished husband in his strenuous double duties, she has proven herself an indispensable helpmeet; and she is gradually weaving herself into the home life of Lead and into the commercial life of the Black Hills, where the future alone will be able to give her just reward.

CONCLUSION

Such has been the self-development of George Grace for twenty-nine years in South Dakota. Always possessed of confidence in his own ability, be has never been afraid to plunge in debt, but has always felt himself able to overcome any obligation. During the past year be has added over $6,000 worth of new machinery to his already well-equipped newspaper plant, so that today he has one of the very best printing establishments in the west.

Grace is yet a comparatively young man. The western part of the state is already throbbing in response to his ideas and leadership. No doubt the future holds still greater reward for him than the past; therefore, may we conclude by saying, there's nothing too good for Grace.