John T. Appleby, the subject of this narrative is one of the representative and highly respected citizens of 

Parker township.  He was born in London, England, October 26, 1847 and nine months after his birth , his parents, 

Thomas W. and Phoebe Davis Appleby, and located on a farm in Elgin, Illinois, where he was reared until a good 

sized boy.   He, then, removed with his parents to Cherry Valley, Illinois, remaining there two years and then 

locating in Janesville, Wisconsin. Mr. Appleby remained with his parents until he attained the age of eighteen 

years, that was in 1865, when he enlisted in Company F; Forty-sixth Wisconsin Regiment, Infantry, as a private.  

He served until the close of hostilities and returned to Rock County, Wisconsin, where he worked on a farm by 

the month until he attained his majority.  April 4, 1868, he was united in matrimony to Miss Eudora Chase, a 

native of Rock County, Wisconsin, born October 13, 1847, and the immediately located on a farm there, 

which he rented for a year and then bought forty acres.  This latter property, after improving with a house, etc., he 

sold and came to Turner County, Dakota Territory in 1887, purchasing the farm where he now lives.  The property 

contained no improvements whatever at that time, but under his able management it has changed and its present 

resemblance to its former condition is about as different as night is from day.

   He improved the farm by erecting a nice home, which cost him One Hundred Dollar, and a barn and granary worth 

at least that much more, and besides has a fine grove of six acres, and an orchard of fifty trees, plums and small fruit.  

He is engaged in general farming.

     Mr. and Mrs. Appleby are the parents of four children, three sons and one daughter:  Nellie I., who has been a 

teacher since sixteen years of age, and now connected with the Parker Public Schools;  H. Eugene, married to 

Miss Alice Macy of Beloit, Wisconsin, resided in Parker Township; and Ernest, at home.  Mr. Appleby, like his

father, is a Republican, and is now chairman of the board of supervisors of the township.  

He was candidate for the legislature at one time, but what in known in political circles as a "split in the party", caused 

his defeat.  He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge, No. 47 at Parker.

Resources:

Reminiscences Of Pioneer Life, published in 1897, in Memorial and Biographical  Record of Turner, Lincoln, Union and 

Clay Counties, South Dakota.  From the same publication, a biographical sketch of Alfred W. Appleby, brother of John T.

 Appleby.  Articles sent to Appleby Heritage courtesy of Wilma Lea.