Charles L. Folkstad Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1130-1131 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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	CHARLES L. FOLKSTAD, a prominent merchant of Sisseton and 
proprietor of one of the largest and finest general stores in the 
eastern part of South Dakota, is a native of Minnesota and the son of 
Levi Folkstad, who came to the United States from Norway sometime in the 
'forties. Charles L. Folkstad was born on June 1, 1863, spent his early 
life in Dodge county, Minnesota, and enjoyed the advantages of a common-
school education. When a young man he turned his attention to well 
digging, which arduous business he followed for three years in his 
native state and in 1891 came to South Dakota and, entering a tract of 
land in the southern part of Roberts county, lived on the same until 
receiving a patent from the government, when he returned to Minnesota. 
During the ensuing three years Mr. Folkstad clerked in a mercantile 
house, but at the expiration of that time resigned his position and in 
1895 again came to Dakota and opened a gents' furnishing store in 
Sisseton. His business career since the above date presents a series of 
successes perhaps without parallel in this state, as his progress from a 
comparatively modest beginning to his present commanding position among 
the leading merchants of Dakota has been little less than phenomenal. 
Starting with a small stock of goods, in an indifferent building, 
fourteen by twenty feet in size, he soon secured a lucrative patronage 
and as the business continued to grow in magnitude more commodious 
quarters became necessary. In 1897 he took in a partner, but in January 
following purchased the latter's interest and has since been sole 
proprietor, the business meanwhile increasing to such an extent as to 
make his store the leading establishment of the kind in the city. Mr. 
Folkstad, in 1900, erected the fine brick building which he now 
occupies, the structure being twenty-four by one hundred and twenty feet 
in size, handsomely finished with pressed brick front and large plate 
glass windows, the interior a model of beauty and convenience and 
perfectly adapted to the purposes for which intended. This store is 
packed to repletion with full lines of clothing, gents' furnishings, and 
a first-class tailoring department. Mr. Folkstad has a well-established 
reputation for selling goods at low prices and for square and honorable 
dealing with his patrons. Mr. Folkstad has been remarkably fortunate in 
all of his business affairs and now possesses a fortune of considerable 
magnitude, owning in addition to his large mercantile house and other 
city property, an extensive tract of fine farm land, besides 
considerable stock in a number of local enterprises. He is a man of 
sterling worth, enjoys the confidence of the public and is held in high 
esteem by his fellow men of Sisseton and Roberts county. He holds 
membership with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Knights of 
Pythias, and in politics supports the Republican party. 

	Mr. Folkstad's wife, formerly Miss Anna Pederson, was born in 
Dodge county, Minnesota, but since five years of age has lived in South 
Dakota, where her marriage was solemnized on September 26, 1893. The 
following are the names of their children: Lloyd, Gordon, Alton, Anna 
Bernice and Charles Walter, a twin of the first born dying in infancy.