Henry Haskar Biography This biography appears on pages 1052-1053 in "History of South Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. HENRY HASKAR, one of the representative men of Yankton county, was born in the fatherland in 1836 and the schools of Germany afforded him his educational privileges. He was a young man when he resolved to seek a home in the new world and after living in Tennessee for a time he removed to Ohio and twenty-seven years ago came to South Dakota. Under the homestead act he secured a quarter section of land in Yankton county across Beaver creek. He afterward purchased two hundred and eighty acres near Utica and now owns four hundred acres of rich land which is cultivated by his sons. For many years Mr. Haskar was actively connected with its improvement and development, but now he is living retired. He and his wife occupy a pleasant home in Yankton. In 1864 Mr. Haskar was united in marriage to Miss Mary Heine and unto them have been born nine children: Annie, the eldest, is now deceased; Kate, the next in the family, is the wife of Henry Houker, a farmer residing in Irene, South Dakota, and they have five children; Mary has also passed away; Henry and Peter are both enterprising young farmers who are operating their father's land. The latter was married April 22, 1903, to Miss Katie Wagner, who was born in Yankton county and is a daughter of George C. and Anna ( Kramer) Wagner, prominent farming people of this locality. Maggie is the wife of John Rankin, a prosperous farmer of South Dakota; Lena is the wife of Albert Wagner, who also follows farming in this state; Hattie is the wife of Norman Lest, and Tesse is with her parents in Yankton and both are graduates of the public school of Yankton county and are popular in social circles there. Mr. Haskar has served as school director for the past twenty years. In the early days he made his own home to be used as a schoolroom for the people were then too poor to build a schoolhouse. He has always taken a deep interest in the cause of education, putting forth every effort in his power to advance its interests and his efforts have been far- reaching and helpful in this direction. In his political views Mr. Haskar was formerly a Democrat, but now votes independently, supporting the men and measures of no particular party, but casting his ballot as he thinks will do the most good in promoting general progress. He formerly belonged to the Farmers' Alliance and he and his wife are members of the Catholic church and attend the services in Yankton. They occupy an attractive and comfortable home at No. 701 Broadway and a cordial hospitality is extended to their many friends. Mr. Haskar has ever been known as a courteous, genial gentleman who while firmly upholding his own opinions has always manifested due deference for the opinions of others. His work in the county has been of a helpful and beneficial nature and this section of the state has profited by his residence here.