Speaker of the House -- South Dakota State Legislature
1905, 1907, 1909

Biography:
M.J. CHANEY.

M.J. Chaney is one of the leading citizens of Vermillion and has been connected with the development of his city and section along a number of lines of activity. He is president of the Citizens Bank & Trust Company of Vermillion and also of the Bank of Wakonda, and is the
owner of much South Dakota land. He has taken active part in public
affairs, having represented his district in the state legislature for a number of terms and serving as speaker of the house during two terms.
Mr. Chaney was born in Ogle county, Illinois, October 1, 1858, a son of Osborn and Amanda (Rice) Chaney, the former a native of Virginia. In 1836, the parents traveled overland to Ogle county, Illinois, and there the father followed agricultural pursuits for a number of years although he at length turned his attention to the lumber business. Both he and his wife are deceased.

M.J. Chaney attended the public schools of Rockford, Illinois and thus acquired a good education. In 1880, he went to Newell, Buena Vista county, Iowa, and there purchased a farm, upon which he remained for thirteen years. In 1893, he sold that place and came to South Dakota, locating at Wakonda, Clay county. He soon became identified with the banking interests of that place, as cashier and later president of the Bank of Wakonda, and in 1914 he organized the Citizens Bank & Trust Company of Vermillion, which opened its doors for business on the 1st of September, 1914. Mr. Chaney has been president of the institution since its establishment and is also still president of the Bank of Wakonda. He is highly respected in financial circles and his knowledge of the banking business, acumen and sound judgment are generally recognized. He has unbounded faith in the future of South Dakota and owns about thirteen hundred acres of fine farm land in Clay county, ten hundred and thirty-five acres thereof being the old Tee &
Prentiss ranch.

Mr. Chaney was married in 1886 to Miss Helen McFarline, a daughter of Alexander and Cynthia McFarline, both natives of New York.
To Mr. and Mrs. Chaney have been born three children, Florence, Dorothy and Morris.

Mr. Chaney is a prominent republican and from 1903 to 1909 represented his district in the state legislature and during his last two terms was made speaker of the house. As a legislator he proved efficient and public spirited and as speaker he gained the commendation of men of both parties for his capable and impartial discharge of his duties. He is a Knight Templar Mason, belonging to the commandery at Vermillion. His religious faith is that of the Congregational church and he is one of the active members of the local organization. He has not used his ability and knowledge for his own advancement alone but has always given freely of his time and thought as well as his means to movements which have as their object the betterment of his city, county or state. The high respect in which he is generally held is richly deserved and the warm personal regard entertained for him by many is a just tribute to the worth of his character.
Source- History of Dakota Territory IV, By George W. Kingbury, 1915]

MORRIS J. CHANEY, who, since 1893, has. been engaged in banking at Wakonda, South Dakota, was born in Ogle county, Illinois, October 1, 1858, the son of Osborn and Amanda (Rice) Chaney, the father for many years a successful lumber merchant of the county noted. The subject spent his youthful years under the parental roof and after obtaining his preliminary education in the public schools of his native place entered the East high school in the city of Rockford, from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1878. Following his graduation, Mr. Chaney devoted two years to teaching and at the expiration of that time went to Iowa, locating in 1880 at Newell, Beuna Vista, where for a period of thirteen years he was engaged in farming and stock raising, making a specialty of fine cattle. He met with most encouraging success as an agriculturist and stock man, and during the time mentioned succeeded by close attention and good management in accumulating a handsome capital, with which, in 1893, he established a bank in Wakonda, South Dakota, where he has since lived and prospered.

Mr. Chaney is essentially a self-made man, and his career since beginning life upon his own responsibility has been creditable in every respect. The bank of which he is now proprietor and executive head is one of the popular and successful financial institutions, not only of Clay county, but in the southeastern part of the state, being liberally patronized by the leading business men of Wakonda, and proving a great stimulus to the industrial and commercial interests of a large section of the surrounding country. Since locating at Wakonda he has manifested a lively interest in the growth and prosperity of the place, giving his encouragement and material aid to enterprises making for the common good and using his influence to further all laudable measures tending to the moral, as well as the material welfare of his fellow men. His fraternal relations are represented by the Modern Woodmen of America and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and for the past twenty years he has been a regular attendant of the Congregational church, though originally a Baptist in belief. By reason of there being no church of the latter denomination where he has spent the last twenty-three years of his life, he has given a generous support to other religious bodies, being a devout believer in Christianity and always endeavoring to exemplify its beauty and great value in his daily walk and conversation.

On the 18th day of November, 1886, at Portageville, New York, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Chaney with Miss Helen McFarline, of that place, the union being blessed with three children, namely: Florence C., Dorothy L. and Morris A. Mr. and Mrs. Chaney, with their children, constitute a happy household and the family is one of the most highly respected in Wakonda. Politically Mr. Chaney votes the Republican ticket and while deeply interested in the welfare and success of his party and widely informed relative to the leading questions and issues of the day, he is too much immersed in business to become a politician or to seek the honors and emoluments of office.
Source--"History of South Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904), p 1381-1382.

Speaker of the House -- South Dakota State Legislature
1905, 1907, 1909

Biography:
M.J. CHANEY.

M.J. Chaney is one of the leading citizens of Vermillion and has been connected with the development of his city and section along a number of lines of activity. He is president of the Citizens Bank & Trust Company of Vermillion and also of the Bank of Wakonda, and is the
owner of much South Dakota land. He has taken active part in public
affairs, having represented his district in the state legislature for a number of terms and serving as speaker of the house during two terms.
Mr. Chaney was born in Ogle county, Illinois, October 1, 1858, a son of Osborn and Amanda (Rice) Chaney, the former a native of Virginia. In 1836, the parents traveled overland to Ogle county, Illinois, and there the father followed agricultural pursuits for a number of years although he at length turned his attention to the lumber business. Both he and his wife are deceased.

M.J. Chaney attended the public schools of Rockford, Illinois and thus acquired a good education. In 1880, he went to Newell, Buena Vista county, Iowa, and there purchased a farm, upon which he remained for thirteen years. In 1893, he sold that place and came to South Dakota, locating at Wakonda, Clay county. He soon became identified with the banking interests of that place, as cashier and later president of the Bank of Wakonda, and in 1914 he organized the Citizens Bank & Trust Company of Vermillion, which opened its doors for business on the 1st of September, 1914. Mr. Chaney has been president of the institution since its establishment and is also still president of the Bank of Wakonda. He is highly respected in financial circles and his knowledge of the banking business, acumen and sound judgment are generally recognized. He has unbounded faith in the future of South Dakota and owns about thirteen hundred acres of fine farm land in Clay county, ten hundred and thirty-five acres thereof being the old Tee &
Prentiss ranch.

Mr. Chaney was married in 1886 to Miss Helen McFarline, a daughter of Alexander and Cynthia McFarline, both natives of New York.
To Mr. and Mrs. Chaney have been born three children, Florence, Dorothy and Morris.

Mr. Chaney is a prominent republican and from 1903 to 1909 represented his district in the state legislature and during his last two terms was made speaker of the house. As a legislator he proved efficient and public spirited and as speaker he gained the commendation of men of both parties for his capable and impartial discharge of his duties. He is a Knight Templar Mason, belonging to the commandery at Vermillion. His religious faith is that of the Congregational church and he is one of the active members of the local organization. He has not used his ability and knowledge for his own advancement alone but has always given freely of his time and thought as well as his means to movements which have as their object the betterment of his city, county or state. The high respect in which he is generally held is richly deserved and the warm personal regard entertained for him by many is a just tribute to the worth of his character.
Source- History of Dakota Territory IV, By George W. Kingbury, 1915]

MORRIS J. CHANEY, who, since 1893, has. been engaged in banking at Wakonda, South Dakota, was born in Ogle county, Illinois, October 1, 1858, the son of Osborn and Amanda (Rice) Chaney, the father for many years a successful lumber merchant of the county noted. The subject spent his youthful years under the parental roof and after obtaining his preliminary education in the public schools of his native place entered the East high school in the city of Rockford, from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1878. Following his graduation, Mr. Chaney devoted two years to teaching and at the expiration of that time went to Iowa, locating in 1880 at Newell, Beuna Vista, where for a period of thirteen years he was engaged in farming and stock raising, making a specialty of fine cattle. He met with most encouraging success as an agriculturist and stock man, and during the time mentioned succeeded by close attention and good management in accumulating a handsome capital, with which, in 1893, he established a bank in Wakonda, South Dakota, where he has since lived and prospered.

Mr. Chaney is essentially a self-made man, and his career since beginning life upon his own responsibility has been creditable in every respect. The bank of which he is now proprietor and executive head is one of the popular and successful financial institutions, not only of Clay county, but in the southeastern part of the state, being liberally patronized by the leading business men of Wakonda, and proving a great stimulus to the industrial and commercial interests of a large section of the surrounding country. Since locating at Wakonda he has manifested a lively interest in the growth and prosperity of the place, giving his encouragement and material aid to enterprises making for the common good and using his influence to further all laudable measures tending to the moral, as well as the material welfare of his fellow men. His fraternal relations are represented by the Modern Woodmen of America and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and for the past twenty years he has been a regular attendant of the Congregational church, though originally a Baptist in belief. By reason of there being no church of the latter denomination where he has spent the last twenty-three years of his life, he has given a generous support to other religious bodies, being a devout believer in Christianity and always endeavoring to exemplify its beauty and great value in his daily walk and conversation.

On the 18th day of November, 1886, at Portageville, New York, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Chaney with Miss Helen McFarline, of that place, the union being blessed with three children, namely: Florence C., Dorothy L. and Morris A. Mr. and Mrs. Chaney, with their children, constitute a happy household and the family is one of the most highly respected in Wakonda. Politically Mr. Chaney votes the Republican ticket and while deeply interested in the welfare and success of his party and widely informed relative to the leading questions and issues of the day, he is too much immersed in business to become a politician or to seek the honors and emoluments of office.
Source--"History of South Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904), p 1381-1382.