“Joseph [William Lincoln] Parmley [1861-1940] wore many hats during his career – homesteader, stockman, publisher, real-estate agent, politician, promoter of Missouri River development, and advocate of world peace. He is best remembered, however, for his work for good roads in South Dakota and his role in creating the Yellowstone Trail (United State Highway 12).”
The J.W. Parmley papers at the Archives and Special Collections is a small collection consisting mostly of photographs showing Edmunds County agriculture. The collection does contain one folder labeled Edmunds County Pioneer Tells His Story.
Quote from Dakota Images, South Dakota History, Winter 1999, 39:4, 364. This article also contains Parmley’s biography and his portrait.
Image from the J.W. Parmley papers.
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