Albert C. Biernatzki Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1096-1097 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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	ALBERT C. BIERNATZKI, a prominent and successful member of the 
bar of McCook county being actively engaged in the practice of his 
profession in Salem, was born in Webster City, Iowa, on the 3d of 
December, 1860, being a son of Charles and Margaret (Noland) Biernatzki, 
the former of whom was born in Poland and the latter in Ireland. The 
father of our subject was reared to maturity in his native land, and 
secured his educational training in the military academy in St. 
Petersburg. He was thereafter commissioned a colonel in the Russian 
army, but as his mother was strenuously opposed to his continuing in the 
military service he resigned his office and was appointed a member of 
the government engineering corps, with the rank of colonel. He became 
involved in the revolution of 1847, manifesting that distinctive loyalty 
which was one of his dominating characteristics, and his patriotism 
placed his life in jeopardy, so that in that year he left his native 
land and came to America, locating in Oswego, New York, where he became 
identified with the shipping trade, owning and operating two or more 
vessels. In 1857 he removed to Webster City, Iowa, where he engaged in 
farming and live-stock enterprises, becoming one of the prominent and 
influential citizens of that section and being signally prospered in his 
business operations. He died in 1899, at the venerable age of eighty-two 
years, honored by all who knew him and recognized as a man of fine 
intellectuality and sterling character. He was a stanch Republican, and 
while never ambitious for office he was an influential factor in the 
councils of his party. His wife is still living.  

	Albert C. Biernatzki secured his early educational discipline in 
the public schools of his native place and then entered the University 
of Des Moines, Iowa, where he continued his studies for two years, while 
in 1881, he was matriculated in the Iowa State University, at Iowa City, 
where he had simultaneously prosecuted a technical course in the law 
department of the university, in which he was graduated in 1884, with 
the degree of Bachelor of Laws. In March of the following year he took 
up his residence in Salem, South Dakota, being one of the early members 
of the bar of the county, and here he has ever since been established in 
the active practice of his profession, having built up an excellent 
business and retaining a representative clientage, while he has high 
standing at the bar of the state. He continued to be a close and 
appreciative student, and is considered one of the best read lawyers in 
this section. He is a stalwart advocate of the principles and policies 
of the Republican party, in whose cause he has been an effective worker, 
and he served as county judge from 1889 until 1903, with the exception 
of one term, his rulings being signally impartial, indicating not only 
the possession of an intrinsically judicial mind but also a wide and 
intimate knowledge of the science of jurisprudence. The Judge is a 
member of Fortitude Lodge, No. 72, Free and Accepted Masons; Salem 
Chapter, No. 34, Royal Arch Masons; Constantine Commandery, No. 17, 
Knights Templar, and El Riad Temple of the Ancient Arabic Order of the 
Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Sioux Falls.  

	On the 7th of June, 1887, was solemnized the marriage of Judge 
Biernatzki to Miss Emma Sibley, of State Center, Iowa, and they are the 
parents of one son and two daughters, Charles, Margaret and Helen.