Julius Engel Biography


	This biography appears on pages 646-647 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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				JULIUS ENGEL.  

	Yankton county has been signally favored in the class of men who 
have occupied her public offices, for on the whole they have been loyal 
to duty, fully recognizing the obligations that devolve upon them and 
the opportunity afforded them for valuable public service. Such a one 
is Julius Engel, who in 1911 was elected county auditor for a four 
years' term. He is also identified with the Yankton Realty Company, 
Inc., as its secretary and treasurer.  

	Mr. Engel was born November 19, 1887, in the county which is 
still his home. The family is of German origin and his great-
grandfather was among the number of German people who were invited by 
the Russian government to settle in southern Russia, many concessions 
being offered them to induce them to colonize that section of the 
country, such as release from military duty. They and their descendants 
became a wealthy, prosperous colony, but when the Russians sought to 
rescind the original agreement they left that country and after some 
investigation as to opportunities offered in the new world they settled 
in South Dakota about 1873. They have rapidly adapted themselves to the 
conditions of the country and have become splendid citizens. John G. 
Engel, father of Julius Engel, was among the number of the descendants 
of the German colony that went to Russia who left that country in 1873 
and became residents of Yankton county, South Dakota. He still resides 
within the borders of the county, but after about twenty years' active 
connection with agricultural pursuits retired from his farm in 1893. 
Soon afterward he became postmaster at Lesterville, filling that office 
until 1911. He then removed to Scotland, Bon Homme county, South 
Dakota, where he is engaged in the real-estate business. He married 
Rosina Sayler, who was also born in southern Russia and in 1873 made 
the voyage across the Atlantic to the new world. They became the 
parents of thirteen children, of whom eight are yet living.   

	Julius Engel, who is the fifth in order of birth, was a little 
lad of about six years when his parents removed to Lesterville, where 
he spent his youthful days and there largely pursued his education in 
the public schools. Later, however, he attended the commercial college 
at Sioux City, Iowa, from which he was graduated. At the age of 
seventeen he became connected with the office of county clerk of 
Yankton county and has been continuously connected with county offices 
since 1905. His long experience has made him thoroughly familiar with 
the duties of the position of auditor and thus he was well qualified to 
take the management and control of the office when, in 1911, he was 
elected county auditor for a four years' term, and he is now 
discharging the duties devolving upon him in a manner most creditable 
to himself and satisfactory to his constituents. The only business in 
which he has been engaged outside of his official duties is that of 
insurance and real estate, being now secretary and treasurer of the 
Yankton Realty Company, which was incorporated in May, 1914.  

	On the 17th of June, 1908, at Wausau, Wisconsin, Mr. Engel was 
united in marriage to Miss Violet E. Benedict. In social circles of the 
city they are well known and have many warm friends. In polities Mr. 
Engel has always been a stalwart republican, working earnestly for the 
party. He belongs to St. John's Lodge, No. 1, A. F. & A. M., of 
Yankton, and has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite 
in Oriental Consistory. He also has membership with the Elks lodge No. 
994 and is true to the teachings of these organizations, exemplifying 
in his life their beneficent spirit.