Daniel S. White was born in Reading, Vermont, March 24, 1837. The earliest information available states that Mr. White served as Captain in the Second Vermont Volunteers in the Civil War.

After being Honorably Discharged from the Army Mr. White married Maria E. Howe of Ludlow, Vermont. Mr. White was born February 26th, 1848.

Sometime in the late 1870’s the couple came to Flandreau, South Dakota, where Mr. White conducted a drug store for many years and in 1886 was elected first President of the South Dakota State Pharmacists Association then known as the Dakota Pharmaceutical Association Southern District.

In the late 1890’s, after the death of Mrs. White in 1888, Mr. White moved to Chicago and engaged in the manufacturing business.

Daniel S. White died in Chicago in June 1912.

To one who has been connected with this Association since its first organization, there is much pleasure in reviewing the historical and social events of the Association for the last twenty-one years. The organizers were nearly all young men who had but recently established themselves in the drug business in the then Territory of Dakota, and in keeping with the spirit of other states, were imbued with a zeal for a territorial organization of pharmacists.

Nearly all were absolute strangers to each other, and it might not seem an easy matter to perfect an organization. However, pursuant to a call issued by some of the older druggists in the southern portion of the territory, a meeting for organization assembled on October 20, 1886, at the Alex Mitchell Hotel in the city of Mitchell. Temporary organization was effected by the selection of D. S. White of Flandreau as temporary chairman, and W. S. Branch of Parker as temporary secretary. A constitution, by-laws and code of ethics were adopted, and the following named gentlemen enrolled as charter members of the Southern District Pharmaceutical Association of the Territory of Dakota:

• A. Sampson, Woonsocket
• I.A. Keith, Lake Preston
• E.M. Smith, Woonsocket
• L.T. Dunning, Sioux Falls
• D.S. White, Flandreau
• H.P. Pettigrew, Sioux Falls
• V.B. Diehl, Scotland
• S.W. Cleave, Bridgewater
• L.O. Gale, Mitchell
• W.H. Pierce, Iroquois
• F.M. Hammer, Mitchell
• J.L. Kreychie, Iroquois
• Hy L. Warne, Mitchell
• L.M. Purdy, Yankton
• J.W. Powers, Mitchell
• E. Webber, Yankton
• C.M. Wilcox, Mitchell
• C.C. Maxwell, Arlington
• Chas.O. Hatch, Raymond
• J.E. Kendall, Parker
• Chas.H. Jacquot, Milbank
• W.S. Branch, Parker
• N.J. Bleser, Milbank
• L.S. Phillips, Mt. Vernon
• W.W. Bowers, Milbank
• E.D. Packer, Gettysburg
• C.M. Series, Salem
• C.M. Hollis, Gettysburg
• S.L. Barr, M. D., Cavour
• E.N. Rice, Mellette
• J.F. Heetland, Marion
• R. Sturgeon, Chamberlain
• S.G. Boyce, Kimball
• R.T. Hill, Twin Brooks
• H.P. Fahnestock, Watertown
• A.H. Osborne, Flandreau
• W.J. Hull, Alexandria
• John Williams, Tyndall

Out of this list of charter members who were then engaged in the drug business in the territory of Dakota, but seven of the number are still engaged in the retail drug trade in South Dakota, and but seven can be regarded as active members of the Association at this time. Twenty of this number has moved to other states, and four are known to have passed to that bourne where all good druggists expect to go.

The second annual meeting convened in Sioux Falls, September 6, 1887, with President D.S. White presiding, and W.S. Branch secretary. Hon. D. R. Bailey delivered the address of welcome, to which Dr. RM. Cotton responded on behalf of the Association. The secretary reported that the executive committee met at Parker, March 30, 1887, at which time the following were recommended to Governor Church for appointment as members of the Board of Pharmacy of the southern district of the territory of Dakota, viz: J. L. Kreychie, Iroquois; H.L. Warne, Mitchell; D. S. White, Flandreau; L. M. Purdy, Yankton, and I.A. Keith Lake Preston. Governor Church appointed the three former gentlemen to constitute the first territorial Board of Pharmacy. The first pharmacy law was enacted by the legislature at its session in 1887, and the Association was duly incorporated during this year.

The secretary reported 127 members of the Association, all but five or six of whom were actual proprietors of drug stores. At this session Dr. Cotton is reported to have spoken upon two important subjects connected with the drug business, one of which was "Mutual Fire Insurance," hence it will be seen that he blazed the way as a pioneer in this business. At that time he was regarded as slightly flighty in his imagination, but the doctor kept at his agitation of this subject until 1895, eight years later, when the Druggists' Mutual Fire Insurance Company was organized, and you who have been policy holders in this company for the past twelve years can judge whether the doctor was flighty on that subject or not.

At this early session papers were presented, read and discussed a follows: "Our Pharmacy Law," by H. L. Warne; "Weights and Measure Used in Pharmacy," by S. W. Cleave, Bridgewater; "To What Extent Shall We Recommend and Sell Patent Medicines," by W. S. Branch "Should the Retail Druggist Make Use of His Facilities for Manufacturing," by J.C. Dolandson, Huron.

The third annual meeting convened in Huron, August 21, 1888. In our files of published proceedings the one for this meeting is missing, but no one who was present at that meeting will forget the enjoyment of the occasion. With our old time friend, Local Secretary J.C. Donaldson, at the head of affairs, everything went just like machinery. If any member here was present you remember the moonlight ride on the Jim in the staunch little craft The City of Huron, and the banquet that followed, with rare menu of garlic, skunk cabbage, cuttlefish and other delicacies of the then wild and woolly west.

The fourth annual meeting convened at the opera house, Aberdeen August 20, 1889. At this meeting President Branch in his annual address proposed a reorganization of the Association, that is, the Association be made statutory, each registered pharmacist becoming a member by reason of his registration, and the secretary and treasurer of the Board and Association becoming identical. This suggestion was enacted into law at the next session of the legislature.

The fifth meeting was held at Watertown, beginning at 10 a.m., August 19, 1890. At this meeting the Association was reorganized as required by law, and each registered pharmacist in the state became a member of the Association by virtue of his registration. A new constitution and by-laws were adopted, and we then became the South Dakota State Pharmaceutical Association.

The officers of the reorganized Association were: President, W. A. Burnham, Groton; first vice president, Geo. C. Bradley, DeSmet; second vice president, Chas. O. Hatch, Willow Lakes; secretary, I. A. Keith, Lake Preston; treasurer, Geo. W. Lowery, Sioux Falls. Nominees for appointment on the new State Board of Pharmacy were: First district-A. H. Stites, Sioux Falls; H. A. Cadd, Dell Rapids; W. S. Branch, Parker. Second district-C. D. Matteson, Rapid City; D. K. Bryant, Huron; M. J. Schuhert, Pierre. Third district-O. H. Tarbell, Watertown; C. O. Hatch, Willow Lakes; F. W. A. Poppe, Milbank. The governor later appointed Messrs. Stites, Tarbell and Bryant to constitute the new State Board of Pharmacy, who organized and commenced business on October 1, 1890.

The greeting song, written by W. S. Branch and sung by every pill roller present, was one of the pleasant remembrances. This song was sung to the tune of "John Brown's Body," as follows:

• First verse-

Come, South Dakota pharmacists,

And join our happy throng;

Raise high your tuneful voices

In a loud dispensing song;

And let good cheer and fellowship

The happy hours prolong,

As time goes marching on.

• Chorus-

Glory, glory, hallelujah, etc.

The sixth meeting convened at Madison, August 18, 1891, and was opened with a song by the Three Graces, a trio of Madison singers. This song was written for the occasion by Mr. A. A. Bartlett, and entitled "Druggists' Song of Welcome," and ran thus:

• First verse-

O'er Dakota's wide domain, with her boundless fields of grain,

And kine in thousands roaming wide and free,

Dotted over here and there, lively towns and cities rare,

Where shops and trades of every kind you see-

With signs in letters bold, in blue and green and gold,

And windows filled with bottles, toys and mugs;

As through the streets you loiter, beneath a pestle and mortar

You'll spell the word D-R-U-G-S, drugs.

• Chorus-

We welcome to this session each one in this profession,

A calling which is high in honor's van-

To freedom of our town, our lakes and shady ground,

With right good will we hail the druggist man.

The seventh annual meeting was held in Sioux Falls, beginning August 16, 1892. Dr. Rosa Upson of Marshalltown, Iowa, who was at that time secretary of the Iowa association, was our guest and delivered an address on "Good of the Order," which was much appreciated, and the lady proved to be very popular among our members; we note especially so with our fellow member "Eazy Bent," who was in attendance at this meeting for the first time.

The eighth meeting was held in Yankton, beginning August 2, 1893. Dr. Cotton, the president, in his annual address, which was full of good recommendations, among other things, said: "I would recommend to your serious consideration the adoption of some form of mutual fire insurance." You see he was persistent upon this subject in season and out.

Among the papers presented at this meeting we find one by our fellow member, James Lewis, on "One Feature of the Pharmacy Law," in which he says: "I have examined the pharmacy laws of many of the states and have found them identical in that they all require an annual registration fee; thus the expense of the pharmacy board is borne by the registered pharmacists. In this particular I think the pharmacal legislation of the country all wrong, the primary object of such legislation being the protection of the people and to guard the public health, and not for the protection of the druggist." His whole argument was good and could not be successfully contested, but later Brother Lewis became a member of the South Dakota Board, and we do not find any record of his continuance of the argument. A different focus upon the subject may have convinced him that discretion is the better part of valor in this matter.

After the business sessions of this meeting, the visiting druggists and their ladies were all taken to the hospital for the insane. There is nothing in the record to indicate that they were badly demented, but our recollection of the occasion is that the people of Yankton may have thought they were.

The ninth annual meeting was called to order at 10 a. m., August 8, 1894, in the Y. M. C. A. rooms, Huron, by President John McClain. The well known religious proclivities of the president we presume influenced the local secretary, Mr. D. K. Bryant, in his selection of a place for meeting. Among other good things in the president's address we note this: "Several times during the year that vexed problem, prohibition, that will continue to afflict man until the end of time, and the question asked, what will I do in certain cases. I can make only one reply to you all. We have a law; obey it, and you have nothing to fear." (Moral reflection.) This is just as pertinent and applicable under a license law. Interesting and valuable papers were presented at this meeting by Nettie C. Hall, Wessington Springs; D. F. Jones, Watertown; James Lewis, Canton; J. F. Coulson, Hartford; Herman Bouman, Webster; C. F. Ayer, Howard; J. H. Ferris, Carthage.

Entertainment-After the Wednesday evening session the Association indulged in a banquet, at which J. C. Donaldson presided as toastmaster, and toasts were responded to as follows: "The Ladies of Huron," by C. H. Jacquot, St. Paul, Minn.; "The Ladies of the South Dakota Pharmaceutical Association," by John McClain, Tripp; "The Physicians," by Nettie C. Hall, Wessington Springs; "The Press and Pharmacists," by John Longstaff, Huron; "Huron Druggists," by J. A. Bower, Iroquois; "Prohibition and Pharmacy," by C. E. Blount, Huron; "The South Dakota Pharmaceutical Association," by I. A. Keith. [Side remark-You see what was then the hobby of Brothers Jacquot, McClain and Keith.]

The tenth annual meeting convened in a tent on the Chautauqua grounds at Lake Madison, July 17, 1895, President James Lewis presiding. E. C. Bent, Emil Hargens of Hot Springs, and J. B. Fairchild of Castlewood, were among the number of those who presented valuable papers, but time forbids any special mention.

The eleventh annual meeting met in Odd Fellows' hall, Madison, July 8,1896. The president announced a song by "Nordac Society," the Scandinavian glee club of Madison, the rendition of which elicited an enthusiastic encore. Then followed words of greeting by Hon. Henry Neill, and an address of welcome by Dr. A. E. Clough. Valuable papers were presented by D. F. Jones, J. C. Schutz, Madison, and C. E. Blount, Huron.

As to entertainment, it was at this session that it became a law that at least one day of the meeting it should be unlawful to transact any business, and this rule has been rigidly adhered to since. The entertainment embraced outdoor and indoor sports, bicycle races, foot races and other athletic sports at the Madison Driving Park on Thursday afternoon, followed by a social dance and supper at the Madison Opera House in the evening. We note that event 1 was a grand opening hen race, which was won by S. R. Montague, Madison; event 17, bean bag contest for ladies only, won by Mrs. H. C. Bockoven, Clark. Each lady contestant in these contests was presented with a can of L. T. Dunning's baking powder, so all went home happy.

The twelfth annual meeting was called to order by President Dunning, in Germania hall, Sioux Falls, July 21, 1897. Dr. Oscar Oldberg of Chicago, Ill., was the Association's guest at this meeting, who delivered a most interesting address on Wednesday afternoon. At this session our present worthy secretary was first elected secretary, and has served you most faithfully since that time.

And now, fellow members, time forbids my continuance of this retrospect through the ten years that have intervened since that date. I will simply note the following for the past ten years, which have been replete with interesting, enjoyable and profitable events:

Thirteenth session, Mitchell, August 10, 1898, President Lohr presiding; S. H. Scallin, local secretary. Essays by John McClain, H. P. Pettigrew, D. F. Jones, J. H. Pettibone, James Lewis, N. J. Bleser. Recreation and sports complete and hilarious as usual.

Fourteenth session, Watertown, August 10, 1899; C. H. Lohr, president; August Duffner, local secretary. Address of welcome by Judge Julian Bennett. Professor Jones made a special plea for the presence of the ladies, and it was voted to fine each member who failed to have his wife or sweetheart with him at the next meeting. Program of outdoor sports at Lake Kampeska.

Fifteenth session, Brookings. August 7, 1900; D. F. Jones, president; E.N. Aldrich, local secretary. Distinguished gentlemen in attendance, Professor F. J. Wulling, dean of College of pharmacy, Minnesota University; Dr. Oscar Oldberg of Chicago; Dr. Heston, president State Agricultural College, and Professor Shepard of the same institution. W. S. Branch again came forward with a song written to the tune of "Solomon Levi," which ran thus:

They call us busy pharmacists, our den is on the street;

'Tis there you find your fine perfumes and everything so sweet.

'Tis there you find your paints and oils, your telephone and gum-

'Tis there you find the best cigars and fine New England rum.

Chorus-

Seventeenth session, Flandreau, August 5, 1902, G. F. Parker, Centervile, vice president, presiding. Association guest, Dr.H. M. Whelpley, St. Louis, Mo. You all remember with pleasure his address, the interest taken by him in the lady students in the Indian school at Flandreau, and the numerous relics which he took home with him on his departure. None will forget the splendid musical program given under supervision of Mrs. W. A. Simpson. And the musical romance contest, won by Mrs. Gunkle of Sioux Falls and Mrs. Jones of Watertown. [At this meeting the Ladies' Auxiliary was organized, assisted by I. A. Keith of Lake Preston. --Added by secretary E. C. Bent.]

Eighteenth session, Canton, August 11, 1903; president, C. W. Peasley; local secretary, I. M. Helmey. Association guest, Professor Wulling, dean Minnesota College or Pharmacy. Address of welcome by his honor, James Lewis. The Ladies' Auxiliary, which had been organized at the Flandreau session, was in evidence at this meeting in considerable numbers; Mrs. W. A. Simpson of Flandreau, president, and Mrs. W. F. Michel of Willow Lakes, secretary. You all remember the fact that Brother Lohr was sent over to the hotel to invite the Ladles' Auxiliary to our meeting, and it became necessary to send delegates after him, which delegation soon reported, bringing the Ladies' Auxiliary and Brother Lohr with them.

The result of all these meetings and activity on the part of some of our members has been that we have today an Association and Board not excelled by any in the United States. This may sound like egotism, but I assure you I make this statement after three years' acquaintance with board members and association officers of many of the states, and I verily believe the statement to be true. To those who have come into the Association in more recent years, let me urge you to continue your activities already begun, that the light of this organization may never grow less, but brighter and brighter until the perfect pharmacal millennium is reached, when every pharmacist will have acquired such a notoriety for honesty, good citizenship, intelligence and patriotism, that his connection with the profession will at once place him in the front rank in any city or town in which he may chance to dwell.

-I. A. Keith