Otto Henry Gerdes, M. D. Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1664-1665 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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	A photo of Dr. O. H. Gerdes faces page 1664


	OTTO HENRY GERDES, M. D., an able representative of the medical 
profession in Eureka, McPherson county, is a native of Hanover, Germany, 
where he was born on the 25th of January, 1868, coming of sterling old 
German lineage and being a son of Henry and Margaret (Heiken) Gerdes, 
who were likewise born in Hanover, in which province the former was 
identified with agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in 
1873. In the family were five children, and in 1885 the widowed mother 
with two of her sons came to America and located in Manson, Iowa, where 
another of the sons had taken up his residence two years previously. 
Mrs. Gerdes returned to Germany in 1895, and still remains there, while 
the three sons continue to reside in America. Dr. Gerdes secured his 
early educational discipline in the excellent national schools of the 
fatherland, completing a course in the gymnasium, which is analogous in 
its provisions and functions to the high school of the United States. A 
few months after coming to America with his mother. being seventeen 
years of age at the time, he secured a position in the drug store of 
Foley Brothers, at Manson, Calhoun county, Iowa, and was thus employed 
until 1888, when he began reading medicine under the efficient direction 
of Dr. D. T. Martin, of the town mentioned, continuing his technical 
studies under this preceptor until the autumn of 1889, when he was 
matriculated in the celebrated Rush Medical College, in the city of 
Chicago, Illinois, where he completed the prescribed course and was 
graduated as a member of the class of 1892, receiving his coveted degree 
on the 28th of March of that year. A few months later he came to 
Hutchinson county, South Dakota, and in March, 1893, established himself 
in the practice of his profession in Eureka, McPherson county, where he 
has since remained and where he has been most successful in the work of 
his profession, having gained distinctive prestige as a physician and 
surgeon and being known as a close student and one who keeps in close 
touch with the advances made in both sciences involved, while his 
personality is such that he has gained the high esteem of the people of 
the community. He is a member of the American Medical Association and 
the South Dakota State Medical Society. The Doctor is a member of the 
Ancient Order of United Workmen., and is local medical examiner for the 
same, as well as for several of the leading life insurance companies 
having agencies here, notably the New York Mutual Life. He is also a 
thirty-second-degree Mason. Religiously he is a Lutheran and politically 
a Republican. 

	On the 22d of October, 1894, the Doctor was united in marriage to 
Miss Bertha Bryan, who was born and reared in Woodstock, Illinois, being 
a daughter of Thomas and Susan Bryan. Dr. and Mrs. Gerdes have three 
daughters,—Irene, Lillian and Maude. 

	In a supplemental way it may be stated that the Doctor's 
grandfather. Henry H. Gerdes, was the owner of three excellent farms in 
Hanover, Germany, where he died in 1888, at the venerable age of ninety-
three years. He left a large and valuable estate, and the properties 
mentioned still remain in the possession of his descendants. He was a 
soldier under the renowned General Blucher, and was in that officer's 
command at the memorable battle of Waterloo.