Edward Stenger Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1726-1727 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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	EDWARD STENGER was born June 5, 1858, in Douglas county, Oregon, 
and there spent his childhood and early youth, beginning life for 
himself when but sixteen years of age. Leaving the parental roof in the 
spring of 1874, he began trailing cattle through eastern Oregon, and 
after two years at that kind of work settled in Grant county, where he 
engaged in stock raising upon his own responsibility, in addition to 
which he also bought and shipped cattle and in due time built up a large 
and flourishing business. In 1882 he disposed of his interests in Oregon 
and trailed horses into Montana, going as far as Bozeman, where he 
located, later turning his attention to horses and sheep, in the raising 
of which his efforts were crowned with a large measure of success. 

Mr. Stenger, in the early part of 1884, started for the Black 
Hills, arriving at Spearfish on the 3d day of July following, but not 
being able to find a favorable location on Battle Creek, he took up a 
pre-emption about eighteen miles from Rapid City, to which he brought a 
large number of horses the same year. The following spring he bought a 
ranch on Battle creek and for two years thereafter raised horses on 
quite an extensive scale, adding cattle in 1886, both of which lines of 
industry he still pursues. In 1887 he began sheep raising in connection 
with his other business and with characteristic energy has gradually 
extended the scope of his operations until he is now regarded the 
leading livestock man in his part of the country. He purchased from time 
to time extensive tracts of land adjoining his ranch, and at this 
writing owns on Battle creek about seven thousand acres, two thousand of 
which are irrigated, a large part of the latter being in cultivation. In 
addition to his live-stock interests, he devotes considerable attention 
to farming, raising large crops of grain and hay which he feeds to his 
cattle, besides marketing each year the vegetable crops which his land 
produces in abundance. Mr. Stenger's ranch is not only the largest on 
Battle creek, but is also one of the best improved and most valuable; he 
spends the summer months on the place, giving personal attention to its 
management, but of winter seasons lives in Hermosa, where he owns a 
beautiful and well-appointed residence, one of the finest homes in the 
city. 

	In 1886 Mr. Stenger, at the urgent solicitation of many of his 
friends, erected a hotel in Hermosa, which he ran for some time, under 
the name of the Battle River House, but which is now known as the 
Glendale Hotel. After acting for some time in the capacity of "mine 
host," he retired from the hotel business and rented the property, later 
disposing of it at a liberal margin off the investment. Since then he 
has given all of his time and attention to his live-stock business. In 
matters of business, Mr. Stenger is energetic, wide-awake and 
progressive, and he occupies no small place in public esteem. He holds 
membership with the Masonic fraternity, Modern Woodmen of America and 
Ancient Order of United Workmen, and in politics supports thc Democratic 
party. 

	Mr. Stenger, on April 17, 1887, contracted a matrimonial alliance 
with Miss Amanda Thomas, of Missouri, the marriage being blessed with 
two daughters, Eva and Edna.