Frederick Camp Biography


	This biography appears on pages 938-939 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. I (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	FREDERICK CAMP, one of the influential and popular citizens of 
Twin Brooks, Grant county, is a native of the Badger state, having been 
born in Waukesha county, Wisconsin, on the 31st of July, 1845, and 
being a son of Thomas and Mary (Haylett) Camp, both of whom were born 
and reared in England. The name was originally spelled Kemp, but as the 
father of the subject received no educational advantages in his youth 
and was unable to read or write, the name was changed to its present 
form after he had located in Wisconsin. The descendants of his brother 
retain the original orthography. Thomas Camp became a well-to-do farmer 
of Wisconsin, having settled in Waukesha county in 1842, while both he 
and his wife there passed the remainder of their lives, being persons 
of sterling character and commanding the high regard of all who knew 
them. They became the parents of two sons and four daughters, all of 
whom are living excepting the younger sister, who died about 1877.  

	Frederick Camp was reared to the sturdy discipline of the home 
farm, while his educational advantages were such as were afforded in 
the district schools of his native county. He continued to be 
associated with the work and management of the farm until he had 
attained the age of twenty-two years, when he went to Missouri and 
located in Andrew county, where he was engaged in farming for four 
years, at the expiration of which he returned to Wisconsin and 
established his home in Milwaukee, where he initiated his career as a 
railroad man, having served three years as brakeman, while for the 
following seven years he held charge of trains, in the capacity of 
conductor, making a record as a faithful and discriminating official. 
In September, 1882, Mr. Camp came to South Dakota, and with 
headquarters in Milbank, was conductor of a train on the Chicago, 
Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad for the ensuing three years. He then, in 
July, 1885, came to what is now the thriving and attractive village of 
Twin Brooks, where he assisted in the erection of the first grain 
elevator, which is owned and conducted by the Strong & Miller Company. 
He had charge of the building of the elevator, and has been in charge 
of its operation from the time of its completion, in 1886, since which 
time he has never lost a day from business, a record which stands to 
his credit and which indicates that he has enjoyed the boon of good 
health. Upon coming here Mr. Camp purchased the quarter section of land 
on which the town is located, including the vacant lots in the town 
site, while he has since platted a considerable portion of his land, 
which virtually surrounds the village. In 1887 he built a substantial 
and commodious residence, upon which he has since made various 
improvements, making it one of the attractive homes of the village. Mr. 
Camp has ever manifested a deep interest in all that has touched the 
upbuilding and advancement of his home town, and his influence has been 
cast on the side of progress, while he has been a prominent figure in 
local affairs of a public nature. He is a stalwart advocate of the 
principles and policies of the Republican party, and while he has 
served as delegate to various state and county conventions he has never 
been ambitious for personal preferment in an official way, finding that 
his business interests placed too exigent demands on his time and 
attention to render it consonant for him to accept office. He was one 
of the very active members of Order of Railroad Conductors and was a 
charter member of the organization of the order on the Milwaukee 
division, while he assisted in the organization of the order in South 
Dakota and was thus one of the first members in the state, holding the 
office of deputy organizer for three years. During the memorable 
snowstorm of the winter of 1884 Mr. Camp started from Milbank with a 
gang of men to open the road through to Aberdeen and twenty-five days 
were consumed in making the round trip, covering an aggregate of two 
hundred miles. From one hundred and fifty to two hundred men were 
engaged in shoveling snow all the time, and three engines were also 
utilized in clearing the track. Associated with several other of the 
progressive and public spirited citizens of Twin Brooks, Mr. Camp was 
instrumental in the establishing here of the Grant County News, in 
1903, and all other worthy enterprises tending to advance the interests 
of the community have received his unqualified support.  

	In Menomonee, Wisconsin, on the 30th of December, 1867, was 
solemnized the marriage of Mr. Camp to Miss Mary A. Wildish, who was 
born and reared in that state. She entered into eternal rest in 1873, 
and is survived by two children, Hattie, who is the wife of Harry 
Steeres, of Oconto county, Wisconsin, and Elmer C., who married and who 
is engaged in business in the city of Milwaukee. On the 2d of August, 
1878, Mr. Camp consummated a second marriage, being then united to Miss 
Mary Barker, who was born in Hastings, New York, and who was a resident 
of Wisconsin at the time of her marriage. They have no children.