Amund O. Ringsrud Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1691-1692 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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	AMUND O. RINGSRUD, a successful business man of Elk Point, Union 
county, is a native of Norway, where he was born September 13, 1854, 
being a son of Ole O. and Carrie Ringsrud, who emigrated thence to the 
United States in 1867, when he was a lad of thirteen years, locating in 
Union county, South Dakota, the father engaging in agricultural pursuits 
and being known as an honest, industrious and worthy citizen of his 
adopted country. Our subject secured his rudimentary education in his 
native land and after coming to America he continued his studies in the 
public schools. He gave his attention to farm work in Union county until 
the year 1870, when, at the age of sixteen years, he came to Elk Point 
and being there employed as clerk in a general store until 1879. In 1878 
Mr. Ringsrud was elected to the office of register of deeds of Union 
county, in which capacity he served six consecutive years, while in 1885 
he was elected county treasurer, being chosen as his own successor in 
1887 and thus ably administering the fiscal affairs of the county for 
four years. Still further honors were in store for him through the 
appreciative recognition of the people of the state, for in 1889 he was 
elected to the office of secretary of state, of which he continued 
incumbent four years, proving himself a capable and discriminating 
official and by his course fully justifying the popular choice. In 1885 
he engaged in the mercantile business here on his own responsibility, 
beginning operations on a modest scale, and from this nucleus he has 
built up a most excellent trade, having now one of the largest general 
stores in this section of the state and being known as a reliable and 
honorable business man, whose word is as good as his bond. The subject 
was a member of the state constitutional convention of 1889, and proved 
anew his loyal interest in the welfare of the new commonwealth. In 
politics he accords an uncompromising support to the Republican party, 
in whose cause he has been a most active and efficient worker, and in 
1896 he was the candidate of his party for the office of governor of the 
state, being defeated by only a few hundred votes and running ahead of 
his ticket. Fraternally Mr. Ringsrud is a Mason, belonging to the 
commandery and consistory, and also belongs to the Ancient Order of 
United Workmen and the Modern Woodmen of America. 

	On the 23d of March, 1876, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. 
Ringsrud to Miss Emma F. Snyder, of Lawler, Iowa, and they are the 
parents of three children, Grace E., now Mrs. F. W. Ford, of Elk Point; 
Stella May, at home, and Alfred, at St. John's Military Academy, 
Delafield, Wisconsin.