Biography of Thomas S. Wangsness

	This biography appears on pages 964-965 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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THOMAS S. WANGSNESS, one of the enterprising and progressive 
business men of South Dakota, having official connection with 
the leading monetary institutions of Minnehaha county, was born 
in Calmer, Winneshiek county, Iowa on the 31st day of January, 
1860, the son of Herman and Bertha (Tviedt) Wangsness, both 
parents, as the names indicate, being natives of Norway. The 
father, a farmer by occupation, is still living, the mother 
having departed this life in Worth county, Iowa, about the year 
1900.

The subject of this review was a lad of twelve years when his 
parents moved from Winneshiek to the county of Worth, and he 
grew to young manhood in the latter county, his early life 
including the experiences common to the majority of boys born 
and reared amid the stirring and invigorating discipline of the 
farm. At intervals, during his minority, he attended the public 
schools near his home, and in the summer seasons assisted in 
cultivating the fields, harvesting the crops and looking after 
the other interests of agriculture with which country lads early 
become familiar. At the age of nineteen he severed home ties 
and, going to Winnebago county, engaged in general 
merchandising, to which line of business he devoted his 
attention during the ensuing twelve years, meeting with well-
merited success the meanwhile. Disposing of his stock at the 
expiration of the period noted, Mr. Wangsness accepted the 
position of traveling salesman with a harvester company, which 
he represented on the road about three years, during which time 
he traversed a large area of territory, built up an extensive 
trade, and established an enviable reputation as a capable, far-
seeing and thoroughly reliable business man. Severing his 
connections with the above concern, Mr. Wangsness, in 1893, came 
to Minnehaha county, South Dakota, locating at Garretson, where 
he invested some of his means very judiciously, erecting in due 
time the beautiful and imposing business house now occupied by 
the State Bank, of which he has been president ever since the 
organization of the institution, the year following his arrival. 
He was the leading spirit in establishing this bank and, under 
his executive management, it rapidly grew in public favor, in 
the course of a few years becoming not only the leading 
establishment of the kind in Minnehaha county, but, as already 
stated, one of the most successful and popular monetary 
institutions in the eastern part of the state.

	The Garretson State Bank, which is backed by men of high 
character and large experience, has a paid-up capital of ten 
thousand dollars, with deposits many fold that amount, and in 
addition to general banking does a large and growing business in 
the matter of farm loans, also gives especial attention to 
collections, besides representing a number of the leading 
insurance companies of the United States and acting as an agency 
for various steamship lines. Its patronage in the various 
departments is large and far-reaching and its influence upon the 
material interest of Garretson has done more than any other 
agency to give the city the high reputation it has long enjoyed 
as an important commercial and business center.

In addition to his connection with the bank, Mr. Wangsness has 
been called at different times to assume other responsible 
trusts, among which was that of treasurer of the Garretson 
school board, which position he held a number of years, and he 
has also served several terms in the city council. He has a 
beautiful home in Garretson, over which a lady of refined tastes 
and varied culture presides with gentle grace and womanly 
dignity. Her name prior to her marriage was Miss Belle Aker, a 
native of Norway, and she is now the happy mother of two 
children, who answer to the names of Paul and Benjamin.