Rasmus Pederson

	This biography appears on pages 1039-1040 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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	RASMUS PEDERSON was born in Norway on the 26th of August, 1861, 
being a son of Jorgen and Christence Pederson, who emigrated from the 
fair Norseland to America in 1867, locating first in Wisconsin, where 
they remained until the following year, when they came to the wilds of 
the great territory of Dakota and cast in their lot with the pioneers of 
Yankton county. The father of the subject took up a homestead claim 
eight miles northeast of the city of Yankton, on the James river, and 
here passed the remainder of his long and useful life. He developed a 
fine farm and the place is now one of the best improved and most 
productive in this section, its area being now three hundred and twenty 
acres. He continued to reside on the homestead until his death, which 
occurred in June, 1900, and his widow is still living on the old farm, 
which has been her home for more than thirty-five years, her son Rasmus, 
subject of this sketch, having had charge of the farm since the death of 
his father. In the family of this worthy couple were four children, of 
whom two are living, Rasmus and Ole. 

	Rasmus Pederson grew up under the sturdy discipline of the 
homestead farm and under the influences of the pioneer epoch in a 
section which he has seen develop into one of the most attractive in the 
great state of South Dakota. His educational advantages were such as 
were afforded in the district schools, and he has lived on the home farm 
consecutively except for a period of about five years,—from 1883 to 
1888, —during which he was engaged in business in the city of Yankton. 
He is an energetic and progressive farmer and has been successful in his 
efforts, while he holds the esteem of the community in which he has 
passed nearly his entire life. He gives his support to the Republican 
party and he and his wife are members of the Lutheran church, while 
fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows 
and the Modern Woodmen of America.  

	On the 23d of October, 1888, Mr. Pederson was united in marriage 
to Miss Amanda Jane Emerson, who was born in Fayette county, 
Pennsylvania, on the 23d of March, 1866, being a daughter of Aquila and 
Ellen Emerson, who came to Dakota in 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Pederson have 
three children, namely: Rena E. Christina, Amanda Johanna and Ralph 
Emory.