Joseph Hejl

	This biography appears on pages 1029-1030 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.



	JOSEPH HEJL is a native of Bohemia, born in the year 1847. He 
spent his youth in that country and then sought a home in America, 
believing that he might find better opportunities in this country. 
Accordingly, he left his native land in 1868 and when the ocean voyage 
was completed he proceeded across the country to Ohio, where he spent 
one year. He then went to Iowa, where he engaged in farming for a year. 

	In 1873 Mr. Hejl was united in marriage to Miss Katherine Petrick 
and unto them have been horn nine children, six daughters and three 
sons: Mary, Annie, Frances, Josephine, Katie, Stella, Joe, Frank and 
Mattie. The family circle yet remains unbroken by the hand of death and 
the children are still with their parents. They have been educated in 
the English schools and have thus been well equipped for meeting the 
responsible duties of life. 

	In 1871 Mr. Hejl arrived in Yankton county and has since carried on 
general farming here. He not only cultivates his fields, but also is 
engaged in the raising of cattle of good grades. As the years have gone 
by he has prospered in his work because he has labored earnestly from 
early morning until evening, throughout the busy season of the year. He 
has also manifested sound judgment in the control of his business 
affairs and because of his industry and perseverance he has won success, 
being today the owner of six hundred acres of very valuable land. He has 
set up all of the trees upon his place and in fact has made all of the 
improvements. He lived here during the time of the grasshopper scourge, 
when the insects descended in such numbers upon his farm that they ate 
every particle of vegetation there. Other discouragements have had to be 
met and difficulties have had to be borne, but with characteristic 
energy Mr. Hejl has worked on year after year and is now one of the 
prosperous farmers of this community. In 1890 he erected a good brick 
residence upon his place and has made other substantial and modern 
improvements,—in fact, his fine farm is a monument to his life of 
industry and thrift. He deserves great credit for what he has 
accomplished and his life should inspire and encourage others who have 
to begin as he did, without capital.