Charles J. Gunderson Biography

	This biography appears on page 723 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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	CHARLES J. GUNDERSON, who is a representative of one of the 
sterling pioneer families of South Dakota, is a resident of Vermillion, 
Clay county, where he has passed practically his entire life, and is 
numbered among the able members of the bar of the state. Mr. Gunderson 
was born in Fillmore county, Minnesota, on the 13th of October, 1868, a 
son of Harvey and Anna (Thompson) Gunderson,both of whom were born in 
Norway, while both still reside in Clay county,South Dakota, whither 
they came in 1869, the father being one of the early settlers here, 
where he secured a relinquishment claim, upon which he proved, becoming 
one of the successful farmers of the locality. 

	The subject was not one year of age at the time of his parents' 
removal to what is now the state of South Dakota, and his early years 
were passed on the homestead farm. After availing himself of the 
privileges of the public schools he was enabled to continue his 
educational training in the University of South Dakota, in which he was 
graduated as a member of the class of 1893, receiving the degree of 
Bachelor of Science. He thereafter entered the law department of the 
University of Minnesota, where he completed the prescribed course and-
was graduated in 1896, In the autumn of the same year he established 
himself in the practice of his profession at Vermillion, where he has 
secured an excellent clientage and gained marked success in his chosen 
field of endeavor. From the time of attaining his majority until 1896 
he exercised his franchise in support of the Republican party, and then 
transferred his allegiance to the Democracy, voting for William J. 
Bryan for president. He has since been an advocate of the principles 
for which this leader stands sponsor and has been an active worker in 
the party cause. Fraternally he holds membership in the Masonic order, 
in which he has taken the Knights Templar degrees, and is a Shriner of 
Sioux Falls, and also is in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His 
religious faith is that of the Lutheran church, in which he was reared. 

	On the 27th of August, 1902, Mr. Gunderson was united in marriage 
to Miss Mamie L. Weeks, daughter of Canute and Carrie (Nelson) Weeks, 
honored pioneers of Clay county; where they still maintain their home.