John A. Fylpaa Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1770-1771 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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	JOHN A. FYLPAA, a prominent merchant and valued citizen of Frederick, 
Brown county, was born in Norway, on the 5th of January, 1860, and there 
his parents maintained their home until their deaths. The father died in 
1901, aged eighty-eight years, while the mother passed away in 1902, 
aged eighty years. He was reared and educated in his native land, where 
he remained until 1878, when he came to America and settled in St. Croix 
county, Wisconsin, where he continued to reside until 1882, having been 
for an interval engaged in the mercantile business at Deer Park, that 
state, in company with his brother Carl. In the year mentioned he 
disposed of his interests there and came to South Dakota, arriving in 
Frederick in September of that year. Here he opened a general store, 
beginning operations on a modest scale. By careful management and 
scrupulous attention to the demands of his patrons, he soon found his 
business increasing in scope and importance, and in 1884 his brother, 
Thomas H. Fylpaa, bought a one-half interest in the store, and they 
found it expedient to secure larger quarters and augment the stock of 
goods. In this second store they continued to do a successful business 
until November, 1894, when the establishment was destroyed by fire. The 
subject shortly afterward opened business in another store, which 
continued to be his headquarters until 1899, when he took possession of 
his present well-equipped store, which is twenty-six by seventy feet in 
dimensions, with excellent appointments and large and select stock in 
each of the several departments. He also has a commodious warehouse in 
connection. In 1901 Mr. Fylpaa also engaged in the real-estate business, 
in which he is associated with his brother, Thomas H., and they have 
built up an excellent enterprise in the line, having controlled a large 
amount of valuable farming land in the county, while at the present time 
they own or control about seventy-five quarter sections, all of which 
represent desirable investments.

	In politics Mr. Fylpaa is a stanch Populist and the high confidence 
and esteem in which he is held has been signally manifested in the offi-
cial preferment which has been accorded him. In 1890 he was elected 
county treasurer, and in 1896 he was again called to this office, while 
in 1898 he was chosen as his own successor, being elected on the 
independent or Alliance ticket. He is absolutely independent in voting, 
and will vote for the best man, regardless of party. He was elected the 
first city clerk of Frederick, at the time of its incorporation, and 
held this office two years, and he is at present time president of the 
board of education. Fraternally he is identified with the Ancient Order 
of United Workmen and its auxiliary, the Degree of Honor, and also with 
the Modern Brotherhood of America. Mr. Fylpaa was married in 1892 and is 
the father of three children.