John F. Sophy Biography


	This biography appears on page 952 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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	HON. JOHN F. SOPHY, one of the leading business men and popular citizens 
of the thriving city of Garretson, is a native of Ontario, Canada, born December 
13, 1846, near the town of Prescott. His early life on his father's farm was 
devoid of any particular interest, having been spent after the usual manner of 
country lads, working in the fields in the summer time and of winter seasons 
attending the public schools. When about eight years old he was taken by his 
parents to Clinton county, Iowa, where the family settled in the fall of 1854, 
and from that time until 1869 he devoted his attention to agriculture and grew 
to manhood well qualified to cope with the varied problems which the future 
might present. Subsequently, in the fall of 1871, he took up a homestead in 
Plymouth county, Iowa, and, addressing himself to the task of improvement, soon 
had a goodly portion of the land under cultivation and well stocked with cattle. 
Mr. Sophy continued to live in Plymouth and Woodbury counties until 1889, at 
which time he disposed of his interest in the above state and came to Garretson, 
South Dakota, where he found a favorable opening for a lumber and coal yard. 
After devoting his attention for one year to these lines of business, he added 
grain and live stock and in due time built up a large and lucrative patronage, 
supplying the local market with lumber and coal, and shipping vast quantities of 
grain and a great many cattle to various eastern points. Later he disposed of 
his lumber and coal interests and since 1896 has given his attention exclusively 
to the handling of grain and live stock, in the buying and selling of which he 
has a large and far-reaching business. In addition to his regular business in 
Garretson Mr. Sophy owns and personally manages a valuable farm of two hundred 
and eighty acres a short distance from the town, in which he pastures many fine 
cattle and from which he derives no small part of his income. In many respects, 
he is a typical western man, in that he is energetic, wide-awake and fully 
abreast the times, taking broad views of men and things, and manifesting a 
lively concern in whatever makes for the material prosperity of his city, county 
and state. In 1899 he was elected on the Democratic ticket to the state 
legislature, where he achieved honorable distinction as a lawmaker, and he has 
also served several terms as mayor of Garretson, during which he administered 
the municipal government in a straightforward, business-like manner that won the 
confidence of the people of all parties and shades of political opinion. His 
personal relations are of the most pleasant and agreeable character, he being 
sociable and companionable to an eminent degree, and few men in the city of his 
residence enjoy to as marked degree the esteem and confidence of the community.  

	Miss Anna O. Meara, who, on November 24, 1869, became the wife of Mr. 
Sophy, was born August 17, 1851; she has presented him with two sons, whose 
names are John F. and Myron J.