Fred Hepperle Biography


	This biography appears on pages 727-728 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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				FRED HEPPERLE. 

	Fred Hepperle, commissioner of school and public lands at Pierre, 
was born in Gueldendorf, a German colony in South Russia, on the 2d of 
February, 1863. He pursued his education in the public schools of his 
native land, and in 1885, when a young man of twenty two years, left 
that country for the new world. Arriving on American shores, he at once 
proceeded to Dakota territory and settled on a farm in Campbell county. 
In 1888 he removed to Eureka, where he engaged in the mercantile 
business, and in the intervening years he has developed and built up 
one of the city's largest mercantile establishments. He carries an 
extensive and well selected line of goods and follows well mapped out 
plans in the conduct of his undertaking. His insight is keen, his 
discrimination enables him readily to separate the essential from the 
nonessential, and in the conduct of his business he closely studies the 
wishes and needs of the public and is ready to meet the demands for the 
latest merchandise of standard quality. 

	Business, however, indicates but one phase of his activities. He 
has long been a republican and is recognized as one of the leaders of 
the party in his state. In 1894 he was elected treasurer of McPherson 
county and made so creditable a record during his first term that he 
was reelected. He also served as mayor of Eureka from 1902 until 1906, 
and during the four years of his incumbency in that office gave to the 
city a businesslike administration and one characterized by many needed 
reforms and effective improvements. In 1907 further official honors 
came to him in his election to the state senate, and while in that 
office he carefully considered the interests not only of his 
constituents but of the state at large and worked for the benefit of 
the commonwealth. On March 1, 1913, he was appointed by Governor Byrne 
to his present position of commissioner of school and public lands, for 
which his long business training and official experience have 
peculiarly fitted him, so that he has made a most excellent record in 
that position. In November, 1914, at the general election he was his 
party's candidate to succeed himself and was elected by a handsome 
majority for a two-year term, beginning January 1, 1915. 

	On the 6th of August, 1893, Mr. Hepperle was married to Miss 
Mathilda Weber, a native of Austria, and this union has been blessed 
with four children, Bruno E., Herbert O., Carl J. and Werner H. The 
family attend the Lutheran church, in which the parents hold 
membership, and Mr. Hepperle also belongs to the Woodmen of the World. 
He is one of the solid citizens who have been valuable factors in the 
state's development. He has won success through persistent and 
intelligent labor, and he has ever been optimistic regarding the state 
and its future possibilities. He realizes that there is an opportunity 
for the building of an empire in the northwest and his efforts have 
aided in securing continuous progress along lines beneficial to the 
commonwealth.