George E. Countryman, M. D. Biography


	This biography appears on pages 843-844 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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	GEORGE E. COUNTRYMAN, M. D., is one of the successful physicians 
and surgeons of the state, being established in the practice of his 
profession in the city of Aberdeen, where he has maintained his home 
since 1888, having the confidence and esteem of his professional 
confreres and of the community at large. George Edwin Countryman is a 
native of Hastings, Dakota county, Minnesota, where he was born on the 
31st of July, 1865, being a son of Peter F. and Elizabeth (Gleason) 
Countryman, respectively of Holland Dutch and English ancestry, while 
both were born in the state of New York, whence they removed to 
Minnesota in 1851. The mother died in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1900, 
the father now resides in Hastings, Minnesota. The Doctor is a direct 
descendant of Baron Johana Von Konderman, who was exiled from Holland 
in 1608 and who came to New England with the earliest Puritan settlers, 
while he rendered distinguished service for the colonies in their 
conflicts with the Indians, participating in the protracted wars with 
the aborigines, and in recognition of his long and valiant service he 
was given a grant of land in the Mohawk valley, in the state of New 
York, and the same has been largely in the possession of his 
descendants through all the succeeding generations. The name, through 
years of careless and indifferent pronunciation and spelling, has 
assumed divers forms, notably Konderman and Countryman. Baron Von 
Konderman's descendants have settled in many different states of the 
Union, but the major portion have undoubtedly remained in New York, 
where the name is found spelled in both forms just mentioned.  

	Mr. Countryman completed a course in the high school of his 
native town and then continued his studies in Washington University, in 
St. Louis, Missouri. In 1885 he was matriculated in the Missouri 
Medical University, in that city, in which institution he was graduated 
in 1888, receiving his degree of Doctor of Medicine. He instituted the 
active practice of his profession by opening an office in Mellette, 
South Dakota, in June, 1888, and in 1894 he took up his residence in 
Aberdeen, where he now has a large and representative practice. He 
served as coroner of Brown county for two terms of four years each, and 
for five years he acted as librarian of the Alexander Mitchell Free 
Library. He is a member of the South Dakota State Medical Society; is a 
stuanch Republican in politics, fraternally is identified with the 
Masonic order and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and both he and 
his wife hold membership in the First Presbyterian church of Aberdeen, 
being prominent in the social life of the city.  

	On the 15th of November, 1888, Dr. Countryman was united in 
marriage to Miss Kate A. Van Auken who was born in Hannibal, Missouri, 
January 30, 1865, being a daughter of William A. and Maria Van Auken. 
Dr. and Mrs. Countryman have one child, Marguerite, who was born August 
27, 1890.