Mellette, Arthur C
governor, was born June 23, 1842, in Henry county, Ind. In 1864 he graduated from the Indiana university, and immediately entered the northern army, serving as a private in company H, ninth regiment Indiana volunteer infantry, until the close of the war. He was subsequently admitted to the bar; was prosecuting attorney of Muncie in 1868; served as a member of the Indiana house of representatives in 1871; and was the author of the Indiana school law which laid the foundation of the present excellent public school system of that state. In 1878 he moved to Springfield, Dakota territory; was appointed register of the general land office; and two years later moved to Watertown.
In 1889 he was appointed governor of the territory; and in 1889 was elected governor of South Dakota. He was the last governor of the territory of Dakota, and the first governor of the state of South Dakota.