Barton County KS Archives Biographies.....Soderstrom, J. W. 1859 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@gmail.com November 13, 2005, 12:40 pm

Author: Great Bend Tribune

J. W. SODERSTROM

[photo] J. W. Soderstrom

OF the men who came to Barton County in the early days, at a time when Indians
and buffaloes disputed the encroachment of the white man, on what they
considered their sole territory, none is better or more favorably known than J.
W. Soderstrom. He was born in Altoona, Knox County, Illinois, in 1859, and came
to Kansas with his parenats—John Olaf, and Mrs. Louisa Soderstrom, in 1878, when
he was eighteen years of age. The elder Soderstrom purchased land in Osage
County, just west of the Osage Indian reservation and J. W. remained there for
ten years, spending part of the time en the farm and the remainder of the time
he was following his trade of carpenter in different parts of that section of
the state. He came to Barton County in 1887, and bought land one and a half
miles north of Hoisington. He remained on this farm for eight years and then
moved to the town of Hoisington and in the fall of 1902 was elected to the
office of county treasurer. He came to Great Bend in 1903 to assume the duties
of this office and has remained here since that time. He served this term and
gave way to Frank Millard who served two terms and he in turn retired in in 1908
in favor of Mr. Soderstrom who was again elected in 1907. He was re-elected in
1910 and is now finishing his second successive term. Mr. Soderstrom has always
taken an active part in public affairs and in addition to the office he now
holds he has been a member of the school board at district No. 97, a member of
the council in Hoisington and in 1908 was deputy assessor in Great Bend. Mr.
Soderstrom is the father of three children: Frank A., twenty-six years old,
assistant cashier of the Peoples State Bank of Hoisingtcn: Elma B, who graduated
from the State University in 1905 and is now teaching in the schools of
Hoisington; Winnie, fifteen years of age, a pupil in the Great Bend High school.
Mr. Soderstrom is a member of the Great Bend lodge of Elks, the A. 0. U. W. and
wears a "25" year emblem of the Odd Fellows, having been a member of this order
for twenty-seven years. In all his work for the public Mr. Soderstrom has always
given his best efforts from the time he was township clerk and trustee, to his
present position as one of the most important officers of the county. His
recollections of the early days would make a volume inasmuch as he was here at a
time when the development of the county was just beginning and he has seen it
grow from almost a barren waste to its present high state of cultivation and
standing among the counties of the state. During all this time he has always
been found with the progressive and public spirited element and has been a
sound, substantial citizen.


Additional Comments:
From:

Biographical History Of Barton County

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