Frank E. Van De Mark Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1674-1675 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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	FRANK E. VAN DE MARK, who is the owner of a fine landed estate of 
six hundred and forty acres, in Hartford and Grand Meadow townships, 
Minnehaha county, was born in Lake county, Illinois, on the 8th of 
October, 1851 being a son of Henry A. and Mary (Adams) Van De Mark, who 
came to the territory of Dakota in 1877, the father dying here in 1887, 
at the age of sixty-six years, while his wife passed away in 1902, at 
the venerable age of ninety years. The subject of this sketch secured 
his early education in the public schools of Illinois and Iowa, to which 
latter state his parents removed when he was twelve years old, and after 
coming to South Dakota he supplemented the discipline by a course of 
study in a business college in Sioux Falls. In 1872, when twenty-one 
years of age, he left his home in Iowa and started for Dakota, making 
the trip principally on foot and driving a yoke of oxen, which 
represented his worldly possessions, since he did not have even a wagon. 
He took up the southeast quarter of section 29, Grand Meadow township, 
as a pre-emption, proving up on it and developing the property into a 
good farm, of which he disposed in 1876. He is thus one of the pioneers 
of Minnehaha county. Part of his present fine estate lies in sections 3, 
4 and 10, Hartford township, and comprises six hundred and forty acres, 
as before noted, while it is one of the best stock farms in this 
section. The place on which he resides comprises seventy-three and a 
half acres and lies in section 22, Hartford township, just east of the 
city limits. and contains his fine home and buildings. He also plotted 
and owns the Van De Mark addition to Hartford. In addition to raising 
the various cereals best adapted to the soil and climate, he gives 
special attention to the raising of the finest grade of live stock, 
including registered shorthorn cattle, Poland-China swine and Shropshire 
sheep, and at the present time he is devoting practically his entire 
attention to the fancy stock business, of which he has developed more 
than any other breeder in the state. Of his place and its attractions a 
leading stock journal has spoken as follows: 

	We feel compelled, through the merits of the case, to direct the 
attention of our stockmen to what is being done in their line by F. E. 
Van De Mark, of Hartford, South Dakota. Located in the immediate 
vicinity of a town, with splendid natural conditions and excellent 
accommodations for all kinds of stock, his farm furnishes most that 
could be desired for the successful breeding of pure-bred stock. While 
short-horn cattle; Shropshire sheep and Barred Plymouth Rock chickens 
are respectively represented by a number of the very best specimens, we 
wish to make particular mention of the Poland-China herd, having at its 
head Van Dee 69449, sired by the sweepstakes hog at the state fair of 
1902. Viola Over 160780, who won sweepstakes at Yankton, is a sow of 
splendid proportions and her points of excellence are away in the 
majority. Paulina 174762, bred by Rockwell Brothers, of Iowa, is also a 
nicely turned and vigorous-looking animal Other young sows, as Dakota 
and Iowa, show clearly that Mr. Van De Mark is on the right track and is 
more than an amateur in the business. The close proximity to the depot 
and town and the quality and variety of stock kept, should induce any 
lover of good stock to stop off at Hartford and give Mr. Van De Mark a 
call. 

	In politics Mr. Van De Mark is a staunch Republican, and he is now 
serving as justice of the peace and also as treasurer of the Hartford 
school fund, while in 1898 he received the nomination for representative 
in the state legislature, but met defeat with the rest of the party 
ticket in the state. He and his wife are prominent and valued members of 
the Methodist Episcopal church in Hartford, and fraternally he is 
identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. 

	On the 1st of March, 1878, in Fayette county, Iowa, Mr. Van De 
Mark was united in marriage to Miss Amelia E. Hunt, who was born in 
England, whence she came with her parents to America in her childhood. 
The subject and his wife are the parents of seven children, namely: Guy 
E., who is attending the Northwestern Medical College, in Chicago; 
Walter E., who is a graduate of the university at Mitchell and who was 
principal of the East Sioux Falls public schools in 1902; and Blanch E., 
Frank E., Jr., Henry E., Martin E., and Ruth E., who remain at the 
parental home.