Charles A. Heckmaster Biography


	This biography appears on pages 871-872 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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				CHARLES A. HECKMASTER. 

	Charles A. Heckmaster is conducting a wholesale produce and 
creamery business at Canton, where he has made his home continuously 
since 1890. He has not always been, however, the successful merchant 
which he is today, for he has attained this position through untiring 
effort and energy, having started out in business life in a humble 
capacity. He was born in Madison, Wisconsin, on the 13th of November, 
1864, and is a son of Henry and Wilhelmina (Schmidt) Heckmaster, both 
of whom have passed away. The father was a stonemason and plasterer. 
The son pursued his education in the public schools of Iowa and after 
his textbooks were put aside engaged in the creamery business, having 
learned the trade of butter making in 1881. In 1883 he returned to his 
native state, where he engaged in business until 1890. That year 
witnessed his arrival in South Dakota, at which time he took up his 
abode in Canton. When he first came he worked with threshers and 
afterward bought out the retail oil business in Canton, which he 
conducted in connection with the street lighting of the city until 
1904. He and Charles A. Reynolds then purchased the old bottling plant 
from the Northwest Land Company and after continuing successfully in 
that line in connection with the produce business for several years 
they extended the scope of their activities by adding the creamery 
business in 1908. Their trade in that line has increased rapidly and 
substantially until they now employ fifteen men and do a volume of 
business amounting to about seventy-five thousand dollars annually. The 
firm erected a new concrete plant in 1914, sixty-six by one hundred 
feet, with all modern improvements for the most sanitary care of 
produce and creamery supplies. Familiar with every phase of the 
business and holding to high standards in the character of service 
rendered their patrons, they have built up a splendid trade and are 
today at the head of one of the important commercial enterprises of the 
city. 

	On the 12th of February, 1889, Mr. Heckmaster was united in 
marriage to Miss Nora Alice Engle, a daughter of Charles and Jemima 
Engle. To them has been born a daughter, Edith, who acts as her 
father,s bookkeeper and who is quite talented in music. The family hold 
membership in the Congregational church and their influence is always 
on the side of right, truth and progress. 

	In politics Mr. Heckmaster is a democrat and fraternally he is 
connected with Silver Star Lodge, No. 4, F. & A. M. He holds membership 
in the Canton Commercial Club and is now president of that body which 
is a potent force in promoting the advancement of the city. He has 
served on the school board, as city commissioner and as commissioner of 
waterworks and sewers and is interested in the public welfare of his 
community, giving active and earnest support to various projects which 
have been instituted for the benefit and upbuilding of Canton. However, 
he is not particularly ambitious along the line of office holding, for 
he is devoted to business and his chose application and well formulated 
plans constitute the foundation upon which he has builded his success.