James O. Berdahl Biography


	This biography appears on page 1053 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				JAMES O. BERDAHL.  

	James O. Berdahl is a successful and well known young legal 
practitioner of Lake Preston, where he has followed his profession 
since 1909 and is also recognized as a leading worker in the interests 
of moral and educational uplift. His birth occurred in Minnehaha 
county, South Dakota, on the 23d of April, 1881, his parents being 
Andrew J. and Karen (Otterness) Berdahl, who came to South Dakota in 
1872, locating in Minnehaha county. The mother died May 12, 1915. The 
father was a member of the constitutional convention from 1885 until 
1889 and is widely recognized as one of the influential and respected 
citizens of the community which has now been his home for more than 
four decades.  

	James O. Berdahl acquired his early education in the district 
schools and later attended the schools at Baltic and Garretson, while 
subsequently he pursued a course of study in Augustana College of 
Canton. He then followed the profession of teaching for three years, 
and on the expiration of that period, in 1906, entered the School of 
Law of the University of South Dakota at Vermillion, being graduated 
therefrom in 1909. The same year he opened an office at Lake Preston, 
where he has since remained and has built up an extensive and lucrative 
clientage and won an enviable reputation. He is felicitous and clear in 
argument, but is never abusive of his adversaries and is a foe worthy 
of the steel of the most able opponent.  

	In politics Mr. Berdahl is a democrat and in 1914 was honored by 
his party with the nomination for state's attorney. He is a Lutheran in 
religious faith, is now serving as a member of the board of trustees of 
the local church and is also a member of the board of Augustana 
College. His influence is ever given on the side of right, progress, 
reform and improvement, as is further indicated in the fact that he is 
a member of the South Dakota Anti-Saloon League and is now serving for 
the fifth year as president of the South Dakota Luther League In 
hunting and fishing he finds needed recreation as well as pleasure. His 
entire life has been spent in South Dakota and his record is that of 
one of its worthy and valued native sons.