Robert Henry Driscoll (Lead, SD)

Robert Henry Driscoll

Robert Henry Driscoll (July 1, 1857 – May 25, 1932) was a pioneer settler and banker in the Black Hills of Dakota Territory. After graduating from Harvard in 1881, he taught school for a couple of years. While visiting the Black Hills in the summer of 1883, he was asked by the head of the Homestake (Gold) Mining Company in Lead to become the supervisor of schools there. He accepted the position and settled in Lead, spending the rest of his life there. In 1894 he accepted the Cashiership of the First National Bank of Lead, and began his 37 year banking career.

During his nearly 50 years in the Black Hills he kept a detailed diary of his life, friends, business, and community. A Black Hills historian & author once wrote "Robert Henry Driscoll came to Lead in 1883 and kept a meticulous diary for about 50 years. It is thanks to him that we know something about the people who kept out of jail and out of the newspapers during the years when the Black Hills country was growing up."

Biography

Early life and family

Robert Henry Driscoll was born at Lowell, Massachusetts, on July 1, 1857, the son of Dennis and Mary (Collins) Driscoll. Although little is known about Dennis, Mary was born in County Cork, Ireland in 1820 and died in Peabody, Massachusetts in 1900. The family moved to Salem while Robert was still a young boy and he grew to manhood there, being graduated from the Salem high school. In 1881 he was graduated from Harvard University. Following his graduation he tutored at William College at Williamsport, Massachusetts, and later taught Latin and Greek at Pittsfield Academy, at Pittsfield, Massachusetts. In the fall of 1882, he accepted the superintendency of schools at Spencer, Iowa. Later he came to the Dakotas with the Hughitt family, then identified with the Milwaukee railroad, as their guest for a summer vacation. The lure of the Black Hills brought him to Lead, where, in the fall of 1883, he was asked by the head of the Homestake (Gold) Mining Company in Lead to take the position of superintendent of schools. He resigned this position in 1885 to accept the position of county auditor for Lawrence County, then an appointive office under territorial laws. After reorganizing the office of county auditor, he was appointed Clerk of Courts and when the state of South Dakota was formed in 1889, he was elected to that position. He later resigned that position to become cashier of the First National bank of Lead.

In 1886, he married Miss Catherine Barry.

Banking and other career highlights

On Wednesday, January 15, 1925, the directors of the First National Bank of Lead met following the adjournment of the stockholders' meeting and elected Robert H. Driscoll, president; J.W. Freeman and P.A. Gushurst, vice presidents; and R.E. Driscoll, cashier. The long years of service as cashier by R.H. Driscoll and his election to the presidency as well as the election of his son, R.E. Driscoll, as cashier, marked an epoch in the bank's history.

His life for over 37 years was dedicated to this financial institution, which due to his extremely high integrity and sound judgment was always recognized as one of the strong, outstanding banks of the northwest. Mr. Driscoll was the recipient of many honors in his profession. He was one of the organizers of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. During his career he declined many times to accept positions in large city banking institutions, preferring to remain in the Black Hills.

He was also identified with many successful mining interests in the Black Hills country among which were the Wasp No. 2 and the Golden Reward mines. He had always been identified with the Republican party and was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in Chicago in 1904 that nominated Theodore Roosevelt for president. He was admitted to the Lawrence County Bar Association in 1892.

Later life and death

On May 25, 1932, Robert H. Driscoll, veteran educator and banker, and resident of Lead since 1883, died at his home on Mill street about 8:30 o'clock in the morning, the result of an illness of many months. He had been in a critical condition for the last few weeks. Mr. Driscoll was well-loved by all who knew him intimately, and few have commanded the respect of countless friends as he did.

Mr. Driscoll was survived by his widow; two sons, Robert E. of Lead, well-known banker and past president of the South Dakota Bankers’ association, and J. Lowell of Minneapolis; and two daughters-in-law, Mrs. R.E. Driscoll of Lead, and Mrs. J. Lowell Driscoll of Minneapolis; and five grandchildren. Another son, Allan, died some years ago, and a daughter, Catherine, passed away in infancy. All immediate members of his family were present when the end came. Active all his life, Mr. Driscoll was president of the Lead First National Bank at the time of his death.

Bank Officer Summary

During his banking career, R. H. Driscoll was involved with the following bank:

• First National Bank of Lead, SD (Charter 4631): Cashier 1894 - 1924; President 1925 - 1931

$10 Series 1902 Plain Back bank note signed by R.H. Driscoll, Cashier and P.A. Gushurst, President.

$10 Series 1929 Type 1 Serial Number 1 bank note with printed signatures of R.E. Driscoll, Cashier and R.H. Driscoll, President.

References

• Robert Henry Driscoll on Findagrave
• The Black Hills Weekly, Deadwood, SD, Thu., Jan. 15, 1925.
• Lead Daily Call, Lead, SD, xxx., May 26, 1932