Emil Kreber Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1243-1244 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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	EMIL KREBER, a leading farmer and representative citizen of Bon 
Homme county, is a native of Alsace-Loraine, Germany, and was born on 
November 21, 1869, being one of twelve children, whose parents were John 
and Magdalene (Schindele) Kreber. These parents immigrated to the United 
States in 1878 and settled in Iowa, where the father purchased land and 
engaged in agriculture in connection with which he also carried on 
blacksmithing, having learned the trade in his native country. Mr. 
Kreber did not live long to enjoy the advantages and privileges he found 
in the new world, as he died about three and a half years after moving 
to Iowa. His widow survives and at this time makes her home in Plymouth 
county, Iowa, in which city she is well known and has a large circle of 
friends. 

	Emil Kreber was about nine years old when he came to America and 
until the age of twenty-one he lived at home, assisting with the work of 
the farm and at intervals attending the public schools. In 1891 he came 
to Bon Homme county, South Dakota, and, purchasing one hundred and sixty 
acres of land in section 12, Springfield township, addressed himself to 
the task of developing a farm and establishing a home, in both of which 
respects he has been remarkably successful, as is attested by his 
present high standing as an agriculturist and stock raiser and the 
commanding position he occupies in business circles and in the domain of 
citizenship. In the summer of 1899 Mr. Kreber purchased an additional 
quarter section of land in Springfield township, which he has since 
developed and otherwise improved, and his farm of three hundred and 
twenty acres is now considered one of the finest and most attractive 
country homes in the county of Bon Homme. He raises all the grain crops 
grown in this part of the state, but makes hay a specialty, devoting a 
great deal of attention to timothy and clover, besides curing every year 
many tons of native grass, which he puts up for his live stock. As a 
raiser of fine cattle and hogs he has achieved enviable repute and he 
stands today among the leaders of the industry in Bon Homme county, his 
domestic animals of all kinds being of superior breeds and of as high 
grades as any in the southeastern part of the state. In addition to 
agriculture and stock raising Mr. Kreber was engaged for some time in 
the mercantile business at Tyndall and Springfield. He conducted his 
stores from the farm, however, in order to give personal attention to 
all of his affairs, but after a few years disposed of his mercantile 
establishments, the better to look after the large and steadily growing 
agricultural and livestock interests which he now commands. 

	Mr. Kreber takes a keen and intelligent interest in politics and 
public affairs and for a number of years he has been considered one of 
the Democratic leaders in Bon Homme county, being a judicious adviser in 
the councils of his party, an influential worker and a successful 
campaigner. While ready at all times to work for the success of the 
party and its candidates, he is not an aspirant for office, preferring 
to labor for others rather than accept public honors at thc hands of his 
fellow citizens. He is well informed on the leading questions of the 
day, his opinions have weight among his friends and associates and in 
many respects he may be considered a leader of thought in his community. 

	Mr. Kreber was married in Bon Homme county, in 1896, to Miss Mary 
Guckeisen, who has borne him four children, Carrie, George Julia and 
Napoleon. Mr. and Mrs. Kreber are Catholics in religion and staunch and 
loyal supporters of the Holy Mother church. They enjoy high social 
position, are popular with a large number of friends and give their 
influence to all good work and charitable enterprises and to whatever 
makes for the material and moral welfare of the neighborhood in which 
they live.