John A. Egge Biography


	This biography appears on pages 803-804 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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				HON. JOHN A. EGGE.  

	Hon. John A. Egge may well be mentioned in this volume as a 
leading representative of agricultural interests, but is furthermore 
entitled to recognition as a representative citizen through his public 
service, which has made him a notable figure in both the lower and 
upper houses of the general assembly. He now makes his home on section 
11, Brandon township, Minnehaha county, where he owns and cultivates a 
large tract of land, the thrifty appearance of which indicates the 
supervision of a practical and progressive owner.  

	Mr. Egge was born in Norway on the 22d of April, 1855, and is a 
son of Andrew J. and Martha (Kjos) Egge. The mother died in Norway when 
her son was a little lad of eight years and the father, acompanied by 
three sons and a daughter, came to the United States in 1869, settling 
in Green county, Wisconsin, where he resided for two years. In 1871 he 
arrived in South Dakota and for a year afterward he and his children 
lived with a family in Lincoln county whom he had known in Norway. In 
1872, however, he removed to a homestead in Brandon township —the farm 
upon which Hon. John A. Egge now resides. The father had filed upon his 
claim the previous fall and after taking up his abode there he began to 
break the sod and till the fields with the energy characteristic of his 
race. He was thus engaged until the fall of 1877, when death claimed 
him and he passed to the home beyond at the age of seventy years.  

	John A. Egge spent his youthful days in his father's home and 
acquired the greater part of his education in the common schools of his 
native country, only attending school for about six weeks after coming 
to the United States. As he was the last son left at home, he 
practically took charge of the farm when eighteen years of age and 
thereafter developed and cultivated it, transforming wild land into 
highly productive fields. The result of his labors was soon manifest 
and he has continued his farm work with unremitting energy to the 
present time. Not long before his father's death the homestead was 
deeded to John A. Egge and in subsequent years he has added to his 
holdings until he now owns an entire section of six hundred and forty 
acres, a valuable property, which presents a most attractive 
appearance. Aside from his farming property he owns considerable stock 
in the First National Bank of Garretson and is a member of its board of 
directors.  

	In 1877 Mr. Egge was married to Miss Bertha Risty, of Lincoln 
county, South Dakota, who was born in Norway and in her girlhood days 
came to this country with her parents in 1865. Seven children have been 
born to this union, of whom six are yet living: Adolph, who is now 
cultivating a quarter section of his father's land; Oscar and Gust, 
both at home; Sophia, the wife of Edward Lee, of Canton, South Dakota; 
Josephine, the wife of Iver Henjum, of Edison township, Minnehaha 
county; and Ella, at home. Mr. Egge's success —the result of his well 
directed efforts and business ability —has enabled him to provide 
liberally for his family.  

	Politically Mr. Egge is a republican and has been a dominant 
factor in the councils of his party in his county for a number of years 
past. He has held all the township offices at different times for a 
quarter of a century and in 1895 was honored with election to the 
office of representative from his district in the state legislature. 
Again he was called to that position in 1901 and was reelected in 1903. 
He made a most creditable record in his endorsement of measures 
calculated to uphold the integrity of the state and advance its 
progress along all desirable lines. In 1907 he was elected to the state 
senate and again he gave careful consideration to each question which 
came up for settlement and left the impress of his individuality upon 
the legislative history of the commonwealth. He and his family are 
devoted and consistent members of the Lutheran church and Mr. Egge is 
justly accounted one of the foremost men of Minnehaha county.