Burre H. Lien Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1818-1819 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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	BURRE H. LIEN merits consideration in this history by reason of 
his standing as one of the most progressive and public-spirited 
citizens of Sioux Falls and as one who has been prominent in the public 
and civic affairs of the state. Mr. Lien was born near Spirit Lake, 
Iowa, on the 21st of December, 1859, being a son of Hans and Gertrude 
(Burreson) Lien, both of whom were born in Norway. An uprising of the 
Indians in the vicinity caused the parents to leave their home in 
Jackson, Minnesota, in 1863, and they removed to Decorah, Iowa, where 
they remained until 1873, when they removed to Faribault county, 
Minnesota, where the father continued to be identified with farming 
until the time of his death.

	The subject of this review received his rudimentary education in 
the public schools of Iowa and Minnesota, and supplemented the same by 
a course in the normal school at Mankato, Minnesota. In 1879 he came to 
Brookings county, South Dakota, where he engaged, in teaching school, 
becoming one of the pioneer educators In that section, where he also 
took up government land and engaged in farming, continuing to follow 
the two vocations until 1883, and thereafter serving two years as 
deputy register of deeds of that county. In November, 1885, he was 
elected judge of probate and at the next general election was chosen 
register of deeds of the county, in which capacity he served two terms, 
or four consecutive years, while for three years he was a valued member 
of the city council of Brookings. In June, 1891, Mr. Lien took up his 
residence in the city of Sioux Falls.

	In politics Mr. Lien gives an uncompromising allegiance to the 
Democratic party, in whose councils he has been an important factor in 
the state. In 1894 he was elected to represent the third ward of city 
of Sioux Falls in the municipal board of aldermen, while in 1898 he was 
elected mayor of the city, giving a business-like and able 
administration and accomplishing much in improving and extending the 
public utilities. In March, 1899, he was appointed a member of the 
state board of charities and corrections, of which he was chosen 
chairman, and he continued to be a member of this important board until 
1901. In 1900 he was made the candidate of his party for the office of 
governor of the state, and while he gained that endorsement at the 
polls which indicated his personal popularity, he met the defeat which 
attended the party ticket in general throughout the state in that year. 
Mr. Lien has ever shown a deep interest in the welfare and advancement 
of his home city, and his civic pride prompted him to a most valuable 
and timely donation to the city in April, 1903, when he presented to 
the municipality nine acres of land for a city park, the same being 
most eligibly and attractively located and being the first and only 
land provided for park purposes in the city. Fraternally he is 
identified with the following named Masonic bodies: Minnehaha Lodge, 
No. 5, Free and Accepted Masons; Sioux Falls Chapter, No. 2, Royal Arch 
Masons; Cyrene Commandery, No. 2, Knights Templar; Oriental Consistory, 
No. 1, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, in which he has attained the 
thirty-second degree; and El Riad Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the 
Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He also holds membership in the 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Benevolent and Protective 
Order of Elks.

	On the 15th of May, 1881, Mr. Lien wedded Miss Anne Udseth, of 
Brookings county, this state, and they have six children, namely: Henry 
L., George O., Florence, Agnes, Harold and Eva.