Henry Langford Loucks

 Henry Langford Loucks was born in Hull, Ontario, Canada on May 24, 1846.  He ran mercantile businesses in Michigan and Missouri before claiming a homestead in Deuel County, Dakota Territory.  Loucks arrived in 1884, at the beginning of an economic depression.  The Farmers’ Alliance (which eventually became the Populist Party) grew out of the economic depression and Loucks became its president.  Loucks was a natural leader and took great interest in agrarian politics.  He established and edited the Dakota Ruralist, a newspaper that promoted the agrarian opinion.  Loucks was the Populist candidate for South Dakota Governor in 1890 and also for United States Senator in 1891.

Loucks was married to Florence McCraney on May 2, 1878.  They had seven children.  Loucks died December 29, 1928.