Vale P. Thielman Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1573-1574 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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	VALE P. THIELMAN, who, though now a resident of Iowa, still 
retains large capitalistic and real-estate interests in South Dakota, is 
a native of Prussia, where he was born on the 10th of October, 1843. 
being a son of Peter and Margaret Thielman, who emigrated thence to 
America in 1846, so that he has passed essentially his entire life in 
the United States. His parents located in Erie county, New York, where 
the father turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, and there both 
passed the remainder of their lives. Peter Thielman passed away at the 
age of sixty-five years, while his devoted wife lived to attain the age 
of seventy-three years. The early educational advantages of the subject 
were limited in scope to six months and he early learned to know what is 
implied in the term hard work. He attended the common schools of his 
home county as opportunity offered and has effectually supplemented this 
meager discipline by that gained in in the practical school of a busy 
and useful life. In 1861, at the age of seventeen years, Mr. Thielman 
tendered his services in defense of the Union, enlisting as a private in 
Company H, Third New York Volunteer Infantry, and with this command he 
participated in many hotly contested battles. He received a wound in the 
second battle of Bull Run and also in the memorable battle of 
Gettysburg. At the expiration of his three years term of enlistment he 
received an honorable discharge, and in November, 1864, re-enlisted, 
becoming a member of Company D, One Hundred and Forty-seventh Illinois 
Infantry, with which he served until the close of the war, being first 
lieutenant of his company at the time of receiving his discharge, while 
his record was that of a valiant and loyal son of the republic. 

	After the close of the war Mr. Thielman located in Crawford 
county, Wisconsin, in which state he continued to be identified with 
agricultural pursuits until the first of June, 1867, when he took up his 
residence in what is now the state of South Dakota, residing in Todd 
county until 1869, when he came to what is now Turner county, being one 
of its earliest settlers and having been intimately concerned in its 
development and upbuilding, and also with the founding of the town of 
Parker, the thriving county seat. In 1870 he started the first set of 
abstracts of titles in this county and in connection with his abstract 
business also began dealing in real estate and extended financial loans. 
In these lines of enterprise he successfully continued until 1895, when 
he disposed of his interests to the firm of W. R. Wood & Company, who 
still continue the business, having at the present time the only 
complete set of abstracts in the county. Mr. Thielman has ever been 
arrayed as an uncompromising advocate of the principles and policies of 
the Republican party and has been active in the promotion of its cause, 
both under the territorial and state regimes. The confidence and esteem 
reposed in him by the people of Turner county has been manifested in no 
uncertain way, as is evident when we advert to the various official 
positions in which he has been called upon to serve. He was the second 
register of deeds of the county, served as county clerk for a period of 
eight years; was clerk of the district court for fifteen and one-half 
years; and has also held the offices of secretary of the board of 
immigration, chairman of the first board of county commissioners, deputy 
county treasurer, member of the legislature, postmaster at Swan Lake, 
mayor of Parker, etc., while further distinction came to him in being 
chosen as the first state senator from Turner county. He has maintained 
his home in LeMars, Iowa, since 1899, but passes a considerable portion 
of his time in travel. He has not lost interest in Turner county and its 
people and still retains large real-estate interests here. Fraternally 
Mr. Thielman is identified with the Grand Army of the Republic, the 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Ancient 
Order of United Workmen. He has a host of friends in Turner county and 
all will read with satisfaction this brief review of his career. On the 
11th of October, 1873, Mr. Thielman was united in marriage to Miss Sarah 
J. Black, who was born and reared in Jo Daviess county, Illinois, being 
a daughter of Daniel and Maria Black. Of this union no children have 
been born, but Mr. and Mrs. Thielman adopted a daughter, Nora M., whom 
they reared from infancy, and who is now the wife of Professor Morris H. 
Leitner, principal of the Morningside schools of Sioux City, Iowa.