Christopher S. Brakke Biography


	This biography appears on pages 419-420 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

	This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit 
	organizations for their private use. 

	Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval 
	system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other 
	means requires the written approval of the file's author.

	This file is part of the SDGENWEB Archives. If you arrived here inside
	a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at

	http://usgwarchives.org/sd/sdfiles.htm


				CHRISTOPHER S. BRAKKE.  

	Christopher S. Brakke, president of the Farmers State Bank at 
Flandreau, belongs to that class of self-educated and self-made men to 
whom opportunity has constituted the threshold of the door through 
which they have passed to success. It is true that his opportunities 
were only such as come to every individual, but he had the persistency 
of purpose to utilize them to the best advantage. His difficulties and 
obstacles seemed to serve rather as an impetus than a bar to 
prosperity, calling forth his latent energies, his determination and 
his ambition. Like many another now prominent citizen of South Dakota, 
Mr. Brakke claims Norway as the land of his nativity. He was born 
September 12, 1865, a son of Severt and Martha (Hopperstad) Brakke, who 
came to the United States in 1878, making their way direct to South 
Dakota, with Moody county as their destination. There the father 
secured a homestead, on which he resided to the time of the death of 
his wife in 1902, and since then he has lived with a daughter in 
Minnesota.

	Christopher S. Brakke was a lad of thirteen years when the family 
came to the United States. Previously he had attended the public 
schools of his native country, but after reaching the new world it was 
necessary that he give his services to his father in the development of 
the farm, as did hundreds of other Norwegian boys. The family was in 
limited financial circumstances and it was incumbent that all the 
members of the household should put forth their best efforts toward the 
rapid development of a farm which would meet their needs. At a later 
date, however, Mr. Brakke was able to pursue a three months' course of 
study in the Sioux Falls (S. D.) Business College. He early became a 
wage earner, working for neighboring farmers when any employment could 
be secured. He continued at farm work until 1884 and then secured a 
position in a general store in Flandreau The following ten years were 
devoted alternately to clerking, to grain buying and to farming. In the 
meantime his worth and ability were recognized by his fellow townsmen 
and appreciation on their part was indicated in their generous support 
of him when he became a candidate for the office of county treasurer of 
Moody county in 1894. He was elected and by reelection served for 
almost three terms. Subsequently he established himself in the 
mercantile business in the small town of Airlie, just over the 
Minnesota state line, and there remained for five years in active 
connection with commercial pursuits. On the expiration of that period 
he was offered and accepted the position of cashier of the Farmers 
Exchange Bank at Toronto, South Dakota, with which he was thus 
connected for three years. 

	In 1909 Mr. Brakke came to Flandreau and that year was one of the 
active spirits in the organization of the Flandreau Elevator Company, 
of which he was made manager. He wisely directed the interests of the 
new undertaking and continued in that capacity until 1911, when he 
organized the Farmers State Bank of Flandreau and was made its 
president. He then resigned the management of the elevator company to 
give his undivided attention to the newly organized financial 
institution. His efforts in this direction have been a most effective 
force in promoting its rapid growth. He is familiar with every phase of 
the banking business and is now in control of an institution which is 
of notable worth to the community. In addition to his bank stock and 
financial interests Mr. Brakke owns two hundred acres of the original 
homestead of the family, situated seven miles northeast of Flandreau. 

	On the 25th of October, 1892, Mr. Brakke was married to Miss 
Minnie Berge, of Flandreau, a native of Iowa, and to this marriage 
three daughters have been born, Esther L., Gladys V. and Ruby M. They 
are giving their children excellent educational opportunities and the 
first two are graduates of the Flandreau high school and are now 
attending Wesleyan College at Mitchell, South Dakota. 

	Politically Mr. Brakke is a democrat and his opinions carry 
weight in the local councils of his party, as is indicated in the fact 
that he is now secretary and treasurer of the democratic county central 
committee. He belongs to Flandreau Lodge, No. 11, F. & A. M.; to Orient 
Chapter, No. 19, R. A. M.; to the Modern Woodmen of America; and the 
Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is not only well known, but is 
favorably known and wherever he has gone he has made friends. The 
substantial traits of his character are many and he possesses in large 
measure those  qualities which are most admired and commended in every 
land and clime.