Ernest A. Moosdorf Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1814-1815 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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	ERNEST A. MOOSDORF is known as one of the most enterprising and 
successful business men of the thriving village of Tulare, Spink county, 
where he began operations on a most modest scale and has pushed steadily 
forward until he has interests of distinctive importance in a commercial 
and industrial way and stands as one of the honored and representative 
citizens of the community.

	Mr. Moosdorf was born in the province of Saxony, Prussia, on the 
23d of March, 1862, and is a son of Traugott and Rosina Moosdorf, both 
of whom were born in the same province, where they passed their entire 
lives, the former having been a miller and farmer by vocation. He died 
in 1871 and his wife passed away in 1886. They became the parents of 
twelve children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the youngest and 
the only one who came from the fatherland to America. His eldest brother 
took charge of the mill after the death of their father, and a son of 
this brother now operates the same. Mr. Moosdorf secured his early 
educational discipline in the excellent national schools of Germany and 
thereafter served a four-years apprenticeship at the tinner's trade. In 
1879 he enlisted in the Seventy-second Infantry Regiment in the Prussian 
army, and served three years, at the close of which he received his 
honorable discharge. He thereafter followed the work of his trade until 
1883 when he came to America and joined his cousin in Wisconsin, whence, 
two months later, he accompanied said cousin and his family on their 
removal to Texas. He located in Marlin county, and there was engaged in 
farming, the major portion of the time on his own responsibility, until 
1886, when he returned to Wisconsin, arriving in the month of January 
and being there married in the following March, while he continued his 
residence in the Badger state until March, 1887, when he came to South 
Dakota and located in Spink county. After being identified with farming 
a few months he secured a position in a tin shop in Redfield, where he 
remained until 1889, when he came to Tulare, where he purchased a small 
store, his cash capital at the time being represented in the sum of 
sixty-two dollars, while he also owned a pony. In his store he engaged 
in the hardware business on a small scale, and in the same fall added a 
stock of groceries, while in the following year he still further 
augmented the facilities of his establishment by the installing of a 
small stock of dry goods. His success continued to be cumulative, and in 
1891 he purchased his present well-appointed store, which is forty-four 
by fifty feet in dimensions, and equipped with a large and select stock 
of general merchandise. In 1896 Mr. Moosdorf erected a grain elevator in 
the town, and has since devoted his attention each season to the buying 
and shipping of grain. In 1900 he added a lumber yard to his business 
enterprises in the village, and still conducts the same, while since 
1897 he has been associated in his efforts with C. H. Petersmeyer, whom 
he admitted to partnership in that year, under the firm name of Moosdorf 
& Company, the junior member being of American birth and German 
parentage. In politics the subject gives his support to the Republican 
party, and he has filled various town and school offices, while he has 
been postmaster of Tulare since 1900. He and his wife are members of the 
German Methodist Episcopal church. He and his partner own a well-
improved farm in Crandon township, and lease the property to a good 
tenant.

	On the 23d of March, 1886, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. 
Moosdorf to Miss Minnie Wieting, who was born and reared in Wisconsin, 
being a daughter of John Wieting. The subject and his wife have five 
children, the eldest of whom is attending college at the time of this 
writing, while the names, in order of birth, are as follows: Albert, 
Clarence, Viola, Harvey and Milton.