John N. Ellerman Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1239-1240 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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				JOHN N. ELLERMAN. 

	John N. Ellerman is vice president of the First National Bank of 
Fairfax and is one of the prominent factors in financial circles in 
Gregory county and that part of the state. He has the love of a native 
son for South Dakota, his birth having occurred in Jamesville, Yankton 
county, his parents being Herman and Emilie (Rudolph) Ellerman, who 
came to Dakota territory in the early '70s. The father homesteaded hand 
and was actively identified with the pioneer development of Yankton 
county, where he was called to public office, serving as county 
treasurer and as county assessor. He is still living at Yankton but his 
wife has passed away. 

	John N. Ellerman early became a public-schoo1 pupil and continued 
his studies in successive grades until he was graduated from the high 
school. He afterward spent two years as a student in the University of 
Michigan at Ann Arbor and then accepted a position in the office of the 
county treasurer at Yankton, serving in that capacity for two years. He 
next became manager of the advertising department of the Dakota Free 
Press and when two years had passed he severed that connection and came 
to Gregory county, settling at Fairfax, where he engaged in the real-
estate business. His capability and public spirit won him recognition 
in an election to the office of county treasurer, which position he 
filled for four years. Still higher honors awaited him, however, for in 
1907 he was chosen to represent his district in the state legislature 
and again was called to that office by popular suffrage in 1909. 

	After retiring from office Mr. Ellerman went to California for 
the benefit of his health, spending five years on the Pacific coast. He 
afterward returned to his old position and in 1904 entered the bank as 
vice president, since which time he has bent his energies toward the 
upbuilding of the business and has been all effective force in 
increasing its clientage. He is likewise the secretary of the Johnson 
Farm Loan Company, which is a big institution, controlling an extensive 
business of that character. 

	On the 10th of June, 1908, Mr. Ellerman was united in marriage to 
Miss Lena M. Garrett, a daughter of James M. Garrett, of Caldwell, 
Idaho. They now have one child, Garrett Herman. The religious faith of 
the family is that of the Congregational church, while in his political 
belief Mr. Ellerman is a republican. He belongs to the Masonic 
fraternity, his membership being at Yankton, where he has attained the 
thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite and has crossed the sands of 
the desert with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He also belongs to the 
Odd Fellows lodge at Fairfax. He is interested in gardening, in 
fishing, hunting and motoring and along those lines finds his 
recreation. Opportunity has with him ever been a call to action and, 
utilizing the advantages which have come to him, he has not only 
steadily progressed in the business world in gaining substantial 
rewards for his labor but has also won the regard of his fellow men by 
an active and well spent life.