Henry C. Cordes Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1639-1640 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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	HENRY C. CORDES, of Pennington county, was born in Germany, on 
February 15, 1847. After getting a good ordinary education at the state 
schools and reaching maturity, he served several years in the German 
army, and went with it through the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71 from 
the opening battle at Weissenburg to the crowning triumph of its arms at 
Sedan. Soon after the close of this momentous contest, in 1874, he came 
to the United States and located in Chicago, where he remained two 
years. From there he went to Taylor county, Iowa, and purchased land 
which he farmed until 1881, when he came to South Dakota, arriving at 
Rapid City in July. Here he went to work on the place which he afterward 
bought, and was busily employed for six months. At the end of that 
period he returned to Taylor county, Iowa, and on April 27, 1882, 
consummated the purpose for which he made the trip by uniting in 
marriage with Miss Emma Weber, a native of the state. Returning to this 
state with his bride, he resumed his work in agricultural pursuits, but 
on a different basis. Taking up a pre-emption claim two miles west of 
the ranch on which he now lives, he engaged in raising stock and farming 
on his own account. In 1890 he began buying and selling horses, and 
since that time he has conducted an extensive business in this line. The 
next year he moved his family to their present home, and there they have 
since resided. Prior to this, however, in 1892, he bought a number of 
Shetland ponies and began breeding them, and he now has a fine herd of 
this diminutive but interesting stock. He has steadily increased his 
operations in this line, finding a ready sale for his product in all 
parts of the state by keeping up the standard and maintaining the stock 
in good condition. The American life of Mr. Cordes has been a continuous 
success, and his prosperity has increased from the beginning with an 
accelerating progress. In addition to the business which he conducts at 
home, he has large interests in the cattle industry elsewhere and owns a 
considerable body of ranch land besides his home place. He is one of the 
progressive and representative men of the county, active in every good 
enterprise for its advancement and giving intelligent and serviceable 
attention to every phase of its public life. He is energetic in 
political affairs, but has declined all overtures to accept public 
office, and has had many opportunities. His business occupies his time 
and faculties, and satisfies his ambitions. His family numbers ten 
healthy and promising children, Herman, Milton, Charlie, Edna, May, 
Henry, Ellsworth, Richard, Catherine and Theresa.