John Stoller Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1812-1813 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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	JOHN STOLLER, one of the leading representatives of the Russo-
German families early settled in McPherson county, was born near Odessa, 
Russia, on the 24th of June, 1862, and is a son of Dominick Stoller, who 
was born and reared in that same locality. In 1872 the Stollers, in 
company with about forty other families from the same district, came to 
America, proceeded west from New York to Sandusky, Ohio, where they 
temporarily located, until such time as a selection of a place of 
permanent abode could be determined upon. Dominick Stoller and three 
other men of the company of sturdy and worthy immigrant party set forth 
in search of a location, making an investigating tour through Missouri, 
Nebraska, Kansas and other states, and they finally decided to colonize 
in what is now the state of South Dakota. The entire company came 
forward to the new home on the frontier, arriving in Yankton on the ~d 
of April. Previously to coming to America the father of the subject had 
been engaged in farming and sheep growing, and he continued in the same 
lines of industry after coming to South Dakota. He and his elder sons 
took up land about eighteen miles north of Yankton, and there the 
honored father died on the 11th of January, 1876, leaving seven 
children, of whom the subject of this review was the fourth in order of 
birth.

	John Stoller received his rudimentary education in the schools of 
his native land and was a lad of about ten years at the time of the 
immigration to America. He assisted in the improvement and cultivation 
of the homestead farm in Yankton county, and in the meanwhile availed 
himself of such educational advantages as were offered in the public 
schools of the locality. He remained on the old homestead until 1884, 
and in the spring of the following year came to McPherson county, taking 
up a quarter section of land in the center of the county, and there 
remaining for two years, engaged in farming and stock raising. He then 
removed to the embryonic village of Eureka, being one of the first 
settlers in the town, and here for three years and seven months 
thereafter he was employed on salary in a local mercantile 
establishment. He then engaged in the hardware business in Eureka, 
forming at the time a partnership with C. J. Hazel manager of the Golden 
Rule mercantile house in Aberdeen, and this association continued until 
1893, when Frederick Heppler, now mayor of Eureka, purchased Mr. Hazel's 
interest in the enterprise, and the firm of Stoller & Heppler has ever 
since continued, while its interests have greatly expanded in scope and 
importance through wise management and fair dealing. In 1896 the firm 
added dry goods and other lines of general merchandise to their stock, 
and they have at the present time a large and well-appointed store, in 
which is carried a comprehensive and select stock. In 1900 they 
established a branch store in Artis, and in 1902 they opened a second 
store in Eureka. the same being located one and one-half blocks south of 
their original and still retained quarters, and in this second 
establishment they also carry a full line of general merchandise, 
running the two stores in conjunction. Mr. Stoller is a staunch 
Republican, and besides having held various village offices, he has also 
served as school commissioner and justice of the peace, while in 1902 he 
was elected to represent his district in the state senate. In this 
dignified body his course was such as to amply justify the popular 
confidence and esteem which led to his being chosen for the important 
office. He and his wife are consistent members of the Lutheran church. 
It should be said that the father of the subject was of German lineage, 
being a scion of one of the numerous German families which went into 
Russia during the reign of Czarina Catherine, who was herself a German 
and who accorded special governmental provisions for the continuous 
protection of her countrymen for a period of one hundred years. This 
limitation expired some few years ago, and the oppressive measures then 
adopted led to the emigration of many of the leading Russo-German 
families to America, the colony mentioned in this article having been 
among the first to thus leave the fatherland, and it is pleasing to note 
that South Dakota thus gained a valuable element of citizenship.

	On the 9th of January, 1883, Mr. Stoller was united in marriage to 
Miss Elizabeth Kost, who was born in Odessa, Russia, and who accompanied 
her parents on their immigration to Amierica when a child, the family 
coming to South Dakota in the autumn of 1874, thus being numbered among 
the early pioneers of the present state. Mr. and Mrs. Stoller have five 
children, namely: Emilia, Margaretta M., John F. W., Rosetta K., and 
Hildegard M.