Anfin J. Berdahl Biography

	This biography appears on page 972 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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	ANFIN J. BERDAHL was born in Norway, December 12, 1852, 
and when about four years old was brought by his parents to the 
United States, from which time until 1860 he lived at the family 
home in Winneshiek county, Iowa. In the latter year he was taken 
to Houston county, Minnesota, thence six years later to Fillmore 
county, that state, where he remained until 1873, the meantime 
receiving his education in the common schools and his more 
practical training as an assistant on his father's farm. Leaving 
the parental roof in 1873, he came to South Dakota and the 
following year took up a homestead in Edison township, Minnehaha 
county, which he at once proceeded to improve and reduce to 
cultivation, and upon which he continued to reside until the 
fall of 1887, when he rented his farm and, returning to 
Minnesota, engaged in the mercantile business at the town of 
Pipestone One year later Mr. Berdahl moved his stock to Jasper, 
in the same state, where he conducted a successful trade until 
the spring of 1890, at which time he returned to his Dakota farm 
and during the ensuing two years devoted his attention to 
agriculture and stock raising. Renting his land at the 
expiration of the time noted, he established a general 
mercantile business in Garretson, where he has since lived and 
prospered, building up a large and lucrative trade the meanwhile 
and taking distinctive precedence among the leading merchants of 
the city.
  
	Mr. Berdahl's domestic experience dates from 1878, on 
March 10th of which year he entered the marriage relation with 
Miss Caroline Christianson, a native of Fillmore county, 
Minnesota, where her parents, both born in Norway, settled in an 
early day. To Mr. and Mrs. Berdahl five children have been born, 
one of whom, a daughter by the name of Christiana, died at the 
early age of four years; those living are Christian, Alfred, 
Clara and Elmer, who with their parents constitute a family of 
eminent respectability and high social standing.  

	Mr. Berdahl at different times has been called upon to 
assume responsible official status, having served as treasurer 
of Edison township, being the second man elected to the office 
in that jurisdiction, and he has also been identified for a 
number of years with the educational interests of Garretson, 
being at this time president of the city school board, besides 
holding the position of alderman. In the conduct of his business 
affairs Mr. Berdahl is prompt and methodical, not given to 
speculation, being satisfied with gradual advancement and sure 
gains. As a citizen he is enterprising to the extent of 
encouraging every laudable movement for the general good, and 
his deep and abiding interest in the social, educational and 
moral welfare of the community has resulted in substantial 
advancement along these various lines.