Salomon Isaak Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1782-1783 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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	SALOMON ISAAK, one of the leading business men of Eureka, being the 
senior member of the well-known firm of Isaak & Keim Brothers, was born 
near Odessa, Russia, in the year 1865, and is a son of Gottlieb Isaak, 
who was born one hundred miles west of the city mentioned, his father 
having there taken up his abode upon his immigration from Germany. In 
1878 Gottlieb Isaak came with his family to America and located in what 
is now South Dakota. He took up government land ten miles east of the 
present town of Parkston, Hutchinson county, becoming one of the first 
settlers in the county and there continuing his residence for a period 
of eight years. He then removed with his family to Mercer county, North 
Dakota, where he continued to be engaged in farming and stock growing 
during the ensuing seven years, at the expiration of which he and his 
family returned to South Dakota and located in Eureka, where the honored 
father and mother of our subject now maintain their home, the former 
being practically retired from business.

	The subject of this sketch secured his elementary education in his 
native land and supplemented this by attending school as opportunity 
afforded after the family came to the territory of Dakota, while it 
should be said that he has broadened his education through the asso-
ciations and experiences of a signally active and successful business 
career. In 1888 Mr. Isaak initiated his independent career by engaging 
in farming in Mercer county, North Dakota, where he remained seven 
years. His place was fifty miles from the railroad and he preferred not 
to be thus isolated from civilization for a longer period, and he 
accordingly disposed of his live stock, rented his farm and then came to 
South Dakota, once more and took up his abode in Eureka. Here he was for 
four years engaged in clerking in a mercantile establishment, and he 
then began buying and shipping live stock on his own account, continuing 
operations two years and meeting with success, while he also began 
buying grain. In 1900 he entered into partnership with John and Jacob 
Keim, under the firm name of Isaak & Keim Brothers, which has since 
continued, and at that time they purchased a grain elevator in Eureka, 
while they have since acquired two others, located at eligible points, 
so that they control a large business in the buying and shipping of 
grain. In 1902 the firm also purchased the feed store of William Robb, 
in Eureka, and have since continued the enterprise, which has increased 
in scope and in profits, the store being fifty by seventy-five feet in 
dimensions, and eligibly located on Main street. Mr. Isaak exchanged his 
land in North Dakota for land in Franklin county, Washington, where he 
now owns a half section. He is progressive in his methods and is held in 
high regard as a citizen and business man. His political adherency is 
with the Republican party, but he has never aspired to public office.

	On the 23d of December, 1889, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. 
Isaak to Miss Mary Muller, who was likewise born in Russia, whence she 
came with her parents to America when a child. Of this union have been 
born eight children, all of whom are living except one: Paulina 
(deceased), Henry, Walter, Edwin, Otto, Lydia, Matilda and Anna.