Brisbine/Washabaugh Collection

Content Description

The collection consists of various items pertaining to Dawes E Brisbine, Margaret Edmunds Washabaugh and her father Frank Washabaugh. The Dawes E. Brisbine materials include a school autograph album for his seventh-grade class in Yankton for the 1899-1900 school year. Also included are various legal documents in which Dawes was the attorney, Brisbine family genealogy and Certificates of Election for the State Railroad Commission. Dawes Ellsworth Brisbine was born on November 4, 1886 in Yankton to Hiram E. and Margaret (Cowdin) Brisbine. He was a lawyer by profession, Veteran of both World War I and II, and a State Railroad Commissioner from 1918 to 1935. He died January 14, 1973 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. According to the donor, Margaret Washabaugh was Dawes’ second wife. The collection also contains a baby book for Margaret Edmunds Washabaugh, daughter of Frank and Lilla (Edmunds) Washabaugh. Margaret was born in Deadwood on October 10, 1887. The booklet has information on Margaret’s date of birth, gifts received, baptism and other notes. Also include are one baby picture (in the book) and a cabinet card of Margaret at the age of 17 months taken by Janousek photo studio of Yankton (S.D.). Lilla Edmunds was the daughter of Governor Newton and Margaret (Heartt) Edmunds. Another item consists of a diary written by Frank Washabaugh of Deadwood for the years 1898 and 1899. Frank Washabaugh was an eminent jurist of South Dakota, who served on the circuit court of the eighth judicial district in Deadwood. Frank was born in Pennsylvania on July 2, 1849, studied law, and made his way to Yankton during the Territorial days, later moving to Rapid City in 1877. He was a member of the State Senate, a law partner of Judge Gideon C. Moody and later elected a county judge for Lawrence County. He married Lilla Edmunds on May 27, 1880. He died May 29, 1902. Finally, the collection features two photographs of South Dakota Governor’s inaugural balls. Both images are in the old Pierre auditorium and were taken by Miller Studio of Pierre. The first was taken December 3, 1938 and is the inaugural grand march for Governor Leslie Jenson. The second image was taken January 3, 1939 during the grand march for Governor Harlan Bushfield.

Acquisition Type

Gift

Restrictions Apply

No