J. O. Langness Biography


	This biography appears on pages 615-616 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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        HON. J. O. LANGNESS.-This enterprising citizen and public-
spirited man of affairs is an American by adoption, having been born 
near the city of Thronghgen, Norway, on October 22, 1839. He was reared 
and educated in the romantic land of his nativity, and grew to 
manhood's estate as a tiller of the soil, which honorable calling he 
prosecuted at the place of his birth until 1866. His early home 
training, under the tutelage of industrious, pious parents, was such as 
to foster habits of industry and arouse a laudable ambition to be of 
some use in the world. Accordingly, while still young, he matured plans 
for his future course of action, and by following the same became in 
due time a symmetrically developed man of noble aims, generous impulses 
and high ideals. On May 1, 1866, he was united in marriage with Miss 
Anna Kringen, a native of Norway, whose birth occurred May 16, 1842, 
and the same spring he started with his young wife for America, taking 
passage on a sailing vessel which was seven weeks at sea before 
reaching its destination. Immediately after landing, Mr. Langness 
proceeded direct to Minnesota, where he remained until 1868, in the 
spring of which year, in company with three others, he started out to 
select a favorable location for a colony of his countrymen, desirous of 
settling in some part of the northwest. In the prosecution of his 
mission, he traveled over the northwestern part of Minnesota, covering 
about thirty counties, and from Minnesota came to the county of 
Minnehaha, in Dakota, as the section of country best suited to meet the 
conditions required by the colony. Satisfied with the location, he at 
once took up a homestead in section 5, of what is now Sverdrup 
township, and in due time was joined by others, who laid claims to 
adjacent lands, and it was not long until the township was settled by 
an intelligent, thrifty class of people who more than any others have 
contributed to the development and material prosperity of this part of 
the state. Mr. Langness began life in the new country in a modest way, 
but in the course of a few years he was able to replace his pioneer 
dwelling with a larger and more comfortable modern structure and to add 
other improvements from time to time until he now has a beautiful farm 
of about four hundred acres, which is not only one of the most 
beautiful and attractive places in the township of Sverdrup, but also 
one of the best cultivated and most valuable in the county. As an 
agriculturist Mr. Langness is enterprising, progressive and keeps fully 
abreast the times, and in addition to tilling the soil, he derives no 
small income from stock raising, which industry he has prosecuted of 
recent years with a large measure of financial success. 

        Mr. Langness platted and laid out the town of Baltic, Minnehaha 
county, a thriving village and important commercial center of much 
promise, the growth of which is almost entirely attributable to the 
interest he has manifested in its behalf. Since coming to South Dakota 
he has been active and influential in the public affairs of his 
township and county, having filled nearly every position within the 
gift of the former, besides holding two important offices in the 
latter. He served two terms as county surveyor and in 1896 was elected 
treasurer of the county, the duties of which responsible trust he 
discharged in an able and satisfactory manner, proving a popular as 
well as a safe custodian of the public funds. Additional to the 
position noted, he represented Minnehaha county one term in the state 
legislature and as a member of that body served his constituents 
faithfully and well, never losing sight of their interests, and at the 
same time using his best endeavors to further the welfare of the state. 
Mr. Langness easily ranks with the most energetic, public-spirited men 
of the county in which he resides, and has done as much as any of his 
contemporaries to promote its development. His influence is always on 
the right side of every moral question, and he discharges the duties of 
citizenship with the object in view of benefiting the body politic and 
advancing the varied interests of the commonwealth. Inheriting the 
sturdy character and sterling qualities of head and heart for which his 
nationality is noted, he has used the same to excellent advantage since 
becoming a citizen of the United States and, although retaining warm 
feelings and tender recollections of the land of his forefathers, he is 
now a true American citizen, loyal to the laws of his adopted country 
and earnest in his efforts to uphold and maintain its institutions. In 
politics he affiliated with the Republican party and as such has become 
a leader of his party in Minnehaha county, being active and influential 
in its councils and a zealous worker for its success during the 
progress of campaigns. In 1892 he cast in his lot with the Populist 
party, and has held their views ever since, having taken the stump for 
General Weaver. 
        
        Personally Mr. Langness is universally esteemed, as his 
friendships are strong and lasting, his relations with his fellow men 
honorable, his integrity above suspicion, and his private life and 
character such as to commend him to the confidence of all with whom he 
is brought into contact. Religiously he is a member of the Norwegian 
Lutheran church, in which faith he was born and reared and to the 
teachings of which he has always remained loyal. Mrs. Langness is also 
a Lutheran and, with her husband, is interested in all the religious 
and benevolent work of the local organization to which she belongs. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Langness have been born eight children, four of whom died 
young, the following being the names of the living members of the 
family: Erik J., Julia J., Maria J. and Oline J.