Herman Bischoff Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1359-1360 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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	HERMAN BISCHOFF, city treasurer of Deadwood, was born in 
Wittenberg, Prussia, on the 29th of May, 1849, being a son of Herman and 
Marie (Schuz) Bischoff, who were likewise native of the same place, the 
former dying when the subject was a child of about one year, while the 
latter passed away in 1897. Mr. Bischoff received his early educational 
training in the excellent schools of his fatherland, and thereafter uas 
employed in mercantile houses in the city of Wittenberg, until 1868, 
when he decided to seek his fortune in America. He arrived in due course 
of time in the port of New York city and thence came westward to 
Chicago, where he secured a position in a grocery in the Haymarket 
Square, later made notable by the riot in which a number of brave 
policemen met their death. He continued to reside in the western 
metropolis until after the ever memorable fire of 1871, and followed up 
the course of the Union Pacific Railroad, which was then in course of 
construction toward the Pacific coast. He located in Laramie, Wyoming, 
where he followed various occupations until 1877, the well-known 
humorist, "Bill" Nye, having at that time been incumbent of the office 
of justice of the peace in the town. In March, 1877, Mr. Bischoff 
arrived in what is now the attractive city of Deadwood, South Dakota, 
the place at the time having been a ragged but stirring mining camp. 
From this point he made two freighting trips to Cheyenne, and then, in 
August, 1877, he joined a party of one hundred and fifty men who started 
forth with teams on the great stampede to the Big Horn district of 
Wyoming, where gold had been discovered but a short time previously. The 
subject took out supplies with which to open a general merchandise store 
in the new mining camp, hut the alluring tales of the gold to be secured 
proved to have the most meager foundation, as has often been the case, 
and but few of the adventurous gold seekers met with appreciable 
success. After prospecting in the mountains for three or four months Mr. 
Bischoff returned to Cheyenne, Wyoming, from which point he engaged in 
freighting to Deadwood, while in 1877 he established his permanent 
residence in the latter place. In 1879 he here engaged in the machinery 
and farming implement business, in company with John Farley, the firm 
being pioneers in this line of enterprise. Their establishment was 
destroyed in the great fire which practically wiped out the town in 
1879, but they resumed business and successfully continued the same 
until 1883, when disaster again overtook them, when they lost 
practically their entire stock in the flood which swept part of the 
city. This second misfortune practically reduced the financial resources 
of Mr. Bischoff to the lowest ebb, and he thus accepted the position of 
bookkeeper at the D. & D. smelter, and the Homestake store at Lead City 
and in 1890 was made deputy county treasurer, under Kirk G. Phillips, 
retaining this incumbency for a period of four years, at the expiration 
of which, in 1898, he was elected city treasurer, of which office he has 
ever since remained in tenure, by successive re-elections, while on two 
occasions no opposing candidate was entered for the office, and he has 
been re-elected without opposition for the fourth term. 

	Mr. Bischoff has been to a considerable extent engaged in the 
promoting of mining interests in this section, and has recently effected 
the organization of the Lexington Hill Gold Mining Company and the Gold 
and Copper Mining and Development Company, of which he is secretary, 
being a stockholder in each and assistant secretary of the former. He 
owns valuable real estate in the city, including his attractive modern 
residence. In politics he gives an unqualified allegiance to the 
Republican party, and fraternally he is identified with Eureka Lodge, 
No. 13, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is secretary at 
the time of this writing, and with Deadwood Lodge, No. 51, Ancient Order 
of United Workmen, and Dakota Lodge, No. 1, Improved Order of Red Men. 
He is also a valued member of the Black Hills Mining Men's Association 
and the Business Men's Club of Deadwood. He became an active member of 
the South Deadwood Hose Company, a volunteer fire company, in 1879, and 
is still a member, being one of the oldest in organization. During his 
long and faithful service he was foreman four years, secretary for six 
years, besides other offices, and at present he is the chairman of the 
board of trustees. 

	On the 29th of March, 1888, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. 
Bischoff to Miss Alice Baker, a native of Missouri and a daughter of 
John Baker. who was postmaster of Deadwood from 1898 until 1903. Mr. and 
Mrs. Bischoff have four children, namely: Eugene, Madge, Ivan and Alice.