Philip Pfatlzgraff Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1181-1183 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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	PHILIP PFATLZGRAFF.—The name of the subject of this review indicates his 
foreign birth, also the part of the old world from which he came. Philip 
Pfatlzgraff was born November 28, 1852, in Alsace Loraine, at that time 
under the dominion of France, but now a part of the German empire, being 
the son of Frederick and Magdalena (Schnaberger) Pfatlzgraff, both 
parents natives of the same province. By occupation the father was a 
farmer, which trade he followed the greater part of his life, both in 
Germany and the United States. When a young man he entered the French 
army an`1 devoted sixteen years to the military service, spending a part 
of the time as a member of the band, having been an accomplished 
musician, especially on his favorite instrument, the clarionet. Leaving 
the army, he resumed his trade and continued to work at the same in his 
native land until 1854. when he came to the United States and located in 
Rochester, New York. After spending two years at nursery work in that 
city, he removed to Cook county, Illinois, where he purchased land and 
devoted the ensuing fifteen years to agricultural pursuits, changing his 
abode at the expiration of that time to Butler county, Iowa, where he 
also developed a farm and continued to live the life of a contented and 
prosperous tiller of the soil for a period of eighteen years, dying in 
the town of Dumont on the 6th day of March, 1898. Mrs. Pfatlzgraff, who 
is still living at Dumont, Iowa, bore her husband seven children, the 
subject of this sketch being the oldest of the number. The others are 
George, a farmer of Butler county, Iowa; Fred, a hardware merchant in 
the town of Dumont; Jacob, who is engaged with his brother in the 
hardware business; Mrs. Elizabeth Schmitz, of Dumont; Lena, whose 
husband, Ernest Schmitz, is a general merchant in the above town, and 
Charlotte, who married William Ahrens, a grain dealer of the same place. 

	Philip Pfatlzgraff was but two years old when his parents came to 
this country, consequently he has no recollection of the land of his 
birth, being to all intents and purposes as much a citizen of the United 
States as if he had been born on American soil. During his youthful 
years he attended the district schools of Butler county and having been 
reared to agricultural pursuits he early became familiar with the rugged 
duties of the farm and grew up strong of body and with a well-defined 
purpose to make the most of his opportunities. Being the oldest of the 
family much of the labor of the homestead fell to him and he discharged 
the duty faithfully and well, working early and late in the fields and 
taking from his father's shoulders a great deal of the work and 
responsibility of running the farm. After remaining with his parents and 
looking after their interests until twenty-five years of age, he left 
home to make his own way in the world and in February, 1877, came to Bon 
Homme county. South Dakota, locating at the town of Loretta, where in 
due time he engaged in general merchandising. 

	Mr. Pfatlzgraff's business proved prosperous from the beginning 
and at this time he is proprietor of one of the largest and most 
successful mercantile establishments in the town, carrying a full stock 
of all articles demanded by the general trade, in addition to which he 
also handles all kinds of produce, which he ships in large quantities to 
the leading markets of the country. He has an extensive patronage, which 
is becoming larger every year and at this time the magnitude of his 
trade will compare favorably with that of any other merchant in the 
county outside the more populous centers. 

	Mr. Pfatlzgraff possesses supreme financial ability and has seldom 
if ever made any but fortunate investments. He owns fine town property, 
improved and well cared for, and in addition thereto has purchased from 
time to time valuable farm lands in different parts of the county, 
including the Henry Tjark place of eighty acres and a quarter section in 
Jefferson township, half of which is in cultivation. He leases the 
latter tract, but cultivates his eighty-acre farm, raising large crops 
of wheat, oats and corn, besides devoting considerable attention to live 
stock, specially to a fine grade of hogs, in the raising of which he has 
been quite successful and the proceeds from which add very materially to 
his income. Mr. Pfatlzgraff has been postmaster at Loretta for over 
twelve years and manages the office with the same care and consideration 
manifested in his individual business affairs. He maintains an abiding 
interest in the growth and development of the town, encouraging all 
measures for the general good of the community and welfare of the 
people. 

	Politically he wields a potent influence for the Republican party, 
the principles of which he has advocated ever since old enough to 
exercise the right of ballot, and fraternally holds membership with the 
Odd Fellows lodge in Dumont, Iowa. He has profound religious convictions 
and is a firm believer in the truths of the German Lutheran church, with 
which he has been identified since childhood. 

	The married life of Mr. Pfatlzgraff dates from 1870, in September 
of which year he was wedded to Miss Anna Miller, of Dumont, Iowa, who 
has borne him two children, a daughter by the name of Dora M. and a son, 
George W., both of whom reside under the parental roof.