Fred Rilling Biography

	This biography appears on pages 731-733 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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	FRED RILLING is known as one of the prominent and progressive 
farmers and stock growers of Brookings county and is one of its honored 
and influential citizens, his success standing in evidence of his 
energy and ability. He was born in West Bend, Washington county, 
Wisconsin, on the 20th of March, 1859, being a son of George and 
Elizabeth (Sibert) Rilling, both of whom were born in Germany. As a boy 
George Rilling accompanied his parents on their emigration to America, 
the family locating in the state of New York, where he was reared to 
maturity, becoming a successful farmer and contractor. His wife 
likewise came with her parents to America when she was a child, and in 
the Empire state of the Union her marriage was solemnized. Within a few 
years after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Rilling removed to Wisconsin, 
locating in West Bend, where they resided for five years, at the 
expiration of which they took up their residence on a farm of one 
hundred and forty-five acres, in Barton township, Washington county, 
that state, where Mr. Rilling was engaged in agricultural pursuits 
until 1895, when they removed to Naperville, Illinois, where they still 
maintain their home. Of their children we record that George, Jr., is a 
resident of New Albany, Indiana, being a carpenter by vocation; Albert 
and Charles died in early childhood; Fred is the immediate subject of 
this sketch; Edward died in 1895; James, who is a clergyman of the 
Evangelical church, is located at Wabash, Indiana, at the time of this 
writing; William is pastor of the Evangelical church at Naperville, 
Illinois; Caroline is the wife of Rev. Louis Siewert, Seymour, 
Wisconsin; Emma is the wife of Louis Heidner, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 
and John is likewise a resident of that city.  

	Fred Rilling, whose name introduces this sketch, was reared on 
the homestead farm, near Barton, Wisconsin, and there attended the 
public schools until he had reached the age of twenty years. Upon 
attaining his legal majority he left the homestead farm, in 1879, and 
came as a pioneer to South Dakota, imbued with the enthusiasm and 
characteristic energy which have so signally conserved the development 
of our great commonwealth. He entered claim to a quarter section of 
land in Brookings county, the same being a portion of his present fine 
landed estate, and he forthwith instituted such improvements as to 
enable him to hold the claim. Within the first two years he broke ten 
acres of ground and placed it under cultivation, while the first 
residence he erected on the farm was a sod: house of the primitive type 
so familiar to the early settlers. When he left home his cash capital 
was but twenty dollars, and he borrowed the money with which to file 
claim to his land. During the first year of his residence in South 
Dakota he worked at Big Stone, while the second year he worked by the 
day at such employment as came to hand. His wages for the first summer 
he found it impossible to collect, but he was not disheartened and ever 
held the goal of success and prosperity in view, having faith in the 
future of the state with whose interests he had thus identified 
himself. The third year Mr. Rilling purchased a yoke of oxen, paying 
one half in cash and assuming an indebtedness for the balance. He then 
turned his attention to the cultivation of his own farm, in the 
meanwhile keeping "bachelor's hall" in his little cabin. The fourth 
year he bought another yoke of oxen, on credit, and with the added 
facilities thus afforded he succeeded in putting in thirty-five acres 
of grain. That his struggle was a somewhat strenuous one in the early 
days is evident when we recall further that in purchasing his first 
breaking plow he was compelled to mortgage his yoke of oxen to secure 
the same. By the end of six years he had accumulated three horses, a 
cow, a wagon and other requisite farming implements. In 1883 he was 
married, bringing his wife to the farm and turning with renewed fervor 
and diligence to the work of improving his place and causing the earth 
to bring forth its increase. Prosperity attended his efforts and in the 
valuable farm of three hundred and twenty acres which is now his there 
is little trace of the untrammeled tract upon which his efforts were 
inaugurated in the pioneer days. The farm is all in one body and is in 
a good state of cultivation and improved with substantial and 
attractive buildings, good fences, etc. In addition to this home place 
Mr. Rilling owns a section of land near Clear Lake, Deuel county, the 
same being well fenced and devoted principally to the raising of live 
stock, in which department of his enterprise our subject has met with 
gratifying success. Of the homestead place two hundred and forty acres 
are given over to the cultivation of grain, and in addition to this Mr. 
Rilling also rents a quarter section of land which is mainly devoted to 
grain. His stock of cattle had its nucleus in the one cow to which 
reference has been made, and at the present time he has a fine herd of 
about seventy cattle, while it is his aim to breed at least a carload 
of hogs each year, and his average number of horses is about twenty 
head. His present commodious and attractive residence was erected in 
the summer of 1883, and on the home farm he has constructed one of the 
best barns to be found in the county, the same having been erected in 
1896. It is pleasing to note the prosperity which has come to our 
subject as the result of his good judgment and indefatigable 
application, and he has at all times so ordered his course as to retain 
the confidence and esteem of all who know him, being one of the popular 
and honored citizens of the county. . He has done no little to improve 
the grade of cattle raised in this section, breeding the full-blood 
shorthorn type and having for sale at all times excellent specimens at 
reasonable prices, so that recourse is had to his stock by those who 
wish to improve the grade of their cattle. In politics Mr. Rilling is 
found staunchly arrayed as a supporter of the principles and policies 
of the Republican party and while he takes a proper and helpful 
interest in public affairs of a local nature he has never been a seeker 
of political office. Fraternally he holds membership in the Ancient 
Order of United Workmen, being affiliated with the lodge at White, and 
he is also a member of the lodge of Yeoman at Brookings. He and his 
family are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in 
whose work he and his wife take an active part. They are members of the 
church at Prairie Home, of which the subject is a trustee and steward, 
while he is also superintendent or its Sunday school. His wife is a 
teacher in the Sunday school, having taught the same class for the past 
ten years and being known for her gentle and noble character, while she 
has proved a true wife and helpmeet and has ably assisted her husband 
in his earnest efforts to attain a position of independence and 
definite prosperity through honest and earnest endeavor.  

	In conclusion we will revert somewhat in detail to the domestic 
chapter in the life history of the subject. On the 3d of October, 1883, 
Mr. Rilling was united in marriage to Miss Hannah Smith, who was born 
in Belmont, Wisconsin, on the 4th of March, 1865, a daughter of Stephen 
and Martha (Lincoln) Smith, both of whom were born in the province of 
New Brunswick, Canada, whence they removed to Wisconsin in the pioneer 
epoch, the father being there engaged in farming until his death, which 
occurred in 1869. His widow is still living and resides in Stevens 
Point, Wisconsin. This worthy couple became the parents of twelve 
children, of whom eight are still living. Mary is the wife of Sardis 
Turner, of Willow Springs, Missouri; Thomas is deceased; John is a 
resident of Stevens Point, Wisconsin; Theodore is located in the city 
of Chicago; Dorinda is the wife of Robert Sutherland, of Mapleton, 
Minnesota; Anna is deceased: Anjarona and Annetta were twins, the 
latter being now deceased, while the former is the wife of William 
Plank, of Almond, Wisconsin; Cordelia is the wife of Joseph McKnight, 
of White, South Dakota; Washington resides in Duluth, Minnesota; Amanda 
is the wife of William Soule, a clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal 
church, and they reside in Wisconsin; and Hannah is the wife of the 
subject of this review. Of the six children born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Rilling four are living at the present time. Benjamin was born on the 
27th of August, 1884; Earl was born on the 27th of May, 1886; Harry was 
born on the 21st of January, 1891: Laura died at the age of one month; 
Elsie was born on the 4th of February, 1894; and Everett died at birth.