Alfred Abraham Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1453-1454 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	ALFRED ABRAHAM was born in Chisago county, Minnesota, on the 14th 
of September, 1856, and is a son of Charles and Beata Abrahamson, both 
of whom were born and reared in Sweden, where their marriage was 
solemnized and where two of their children were born. One of the 
children died on the voyage to America and another shortly afterward, 
one son died in 1885, while those who survive are four sons and two 
daughters. In 1853 Charles Abrahamson immigrated with his family to the 
United States, first locating in La Salle, Illinois, where he remained 
until the spring of the following year, when he removed to Minnesota and 
settled in Chisago county, being one of its pioneers and there 
developing a valuable farm. His wife died in 1886, while he still 
resides in Chisago county, having attained the venerable age of eighty-
four years. While he has retired from active labor he is. blessed with 
excellent health and is enjoying the rewards of his former toil and 
endeavor, being a man of sterling character and one who has ever 
commanded the high regard of his fellow men. 

	The subject of this review was reared on the homestead farm and 
secured his early educational training in the public schools of his 
native county. He continued to be identified with the work on the home 
farm and teaching school until 1882, when he came to the present state 
of South Dakota. On the 16th of February of that year he took up a 
homestead claim in Riverside township, Brown county, where he improved a 
valuable farm, the property now being owned by his brother, John A., who 
there maintains his home, at the same time being engaged in business and 
becoming identified with the early history of Groton, South Dakota. Mr. 
Abraham continued to devote his attention to farming and stock growing 
until 1889, when he located in Langford, Marshall county, where he 
engaged in the clothing and men's furnishing-goods business, continuing 
operations until 1894, when he closed the business. One year later he 
opened his present store at Claremont, where he handles general 
merchandise, and here he controls a large and representative business 
and has a finely equipped and appointed establishment. His brother, John 
A., was associated with him in the business and in 1899 they opened a 
lumber yard in connection with their mercantile enterprise, continuing 
to be associated in the carrying on of both until 1902, when the 
partnership was dissolved, on the 1st of January, the subject retaining 
the mercantile and lumber business while his brother assumed the farm 
previously mentioned as his share, the original claim having in the 
meanwhile been materially augmented in area. The subject is the owner of 
a section of well-improved land in the county, renting the same, while 
in addition to this he has equity in six other quarter sections in the 
county. Through his energy and good management he has gained noteworthy 
success since coming to South Dakota, and he is duly appreciative of the 
advantages which have been here afforded him and takes a deep interest 
in all that concerns the welfare and advancement of his home town, 
county and state. In politics Mr. Abraham is a staunch adherent of the 
Republican party. In 1892 he was elected county treasurer, and was 
chosen as his own successor two years later, thus serving four 
consecutive years and giving a most able administration of the fiscal 
affairs of the county. 

	On the 11th of November, 1900, Mr. Abraham was united in marriage 
to Miss Maude E. Griffith, who was born in Lakeview, Michigan, and 
reared in South Dakota, being a daughter of E. E. Griffith, one of the 
honored pioneers of the state. They have one son, Arden Louellwyn, who 
was born on the 13th of October, 1901.