Silas E. Blauvelt Biography

	This biography appears on pages 448-451 in "History of Minnehaha 
	County, South Dakota" by Dana R. Bailey and was scanned, OCRed 
	and edited by Joy Fisher, http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00001.html#0000031
.

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BLAUVELT, SILAS E., is a native of Wisconsin, having been born at Fox 
Lake in that state October 26, 1851.  He received his education in the 
common schools, supplemented by a few terms at an academy, and when 
nineteen years of age, went to Cherokee, Iowa, and began business life 
for himself.  He remained there until September, 1871, when he removed 
to Sioux Falls, where he has since resided.  He has always been an 
active, but conservative business man, and has accumulated quite a 
large property.  In 1891, he was elected alderman from the Second ward, 
and served two years.  He was a charter member of Granite Lodge No. 18, 
Knights of Pythias, Sioux Falls, and is a past chancellor of that 
order.  He has held the office of grand patriarch of the Grand 
Encampment of Odd Fellows of Dakota, and represented that body in the 
Sovereign Grand Lodge as grand representative at Denver, Colorado, in 
1887, and also attended the Sovereign Grand Lodge at Los Angeles in 
1888.  He is member of the Patriarchs Militant, and received at Los 
Angeles the "Decoration of Chivalry." He takes an active interest in 
political matters.  While alderman, he was prompt in the faithful 
discharge of the duties of the office.  It is never a difficult matter 
to find where he stands upon any question of public interest in Sioux 
Falls, and usually the public is aware of his position without making 
any attempt to ascertain what it is.  The block at the corner of Main 
avenue and Fifth street in Sioux Falls, testifies to his loyalty to the 
city and his confidence in its future prosperity.  Nothing needs to be 
added to establish his high social and business standing in the 
community.