Otto L. Kaas Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1108-1109 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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				OTTO L. KAAS. 

	Otto L. Kaas, actively engaged in the practice of law at Britton, 
his ability having gained for him a large and distinctively 
representative clientage, was born at Grand Meadow, in Mower county, 
Minnesota, February 14, 1877, a son of Johannes J. and Christine 
(Lundberg) Kaas. The father was born near Christiania, Norway, in 1835, 
and in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1864, was married, the lady of his choice 
being a native of that city, born in 1844 Six years after their 
marriage, or in 1870, they came to the United States, settling at Grand 
Meadow, Minnesota, where Mr. Kaas was employed as a clerk and 
bookkeeper. In his native country he had been an army officer. In 1883 
he removed to Dakota territory and secured a homestead claim in 
Marshall county in 1884, after which he gave his attention to general 
agricultural pursuits for a number of years but retired from that life 
twenty two years ago. In politics he was always a republican until 
1892, when he was elected county auditor of Marshall county on the 
populist ticket. He belonged to the Lutheran church and in that faith 
passed away in 1904. To him and his wife, who is still living, were 
born sixteen children, of whom four survive, as follows: Otto L., of 
this review; Therese, who gave her hand in marriage to Ole J. Johnson, 
a farmer residing at Staples, Minnesota; Elmer who was the first white 
child born in Marshall county, this state, and is employed in a bank in 
Stanley county; and Emily, who is employed as clerk in a store at 
Veblen, South Dakota. 

	After acquiring a common-school education Otto L. Kaas became a 
student in the St. Paul College of Law. He was elected register of 
deeds of Marshall county in 1898, serving for four years, and while 
acting in that capacity he devoted the hours which are usually termed 
leisure to preparation for the bar, being admitted to practice in 1905, 
in which year he immediately entered upon the active work of the 
profession. In 1906 he was elected states attorney and filled that 
position for four years. In 1910 still higher political honors came to 
him in his election as representative to the state legislature, in 
which he served for one term. Upon his retirement from that office he 
resumed the practice of law, in which he has since continued actively, 
and his ability to handle intricate legal problems has brought to him a 
large and growing clientage. He also has extensive landed interests, 
having made judicious investments in property which now return to him a 
gratifying annual income. 

	On the 13th of June, 1900, Mr. Kaas was united in marriage to 
Miss Mildred E. Miller, her father being James E. Miller, a retired 
agriculturist. To them has been born a son, Durward O., whose natal day 
was June 11, 1907. 
Mr. Kaas has always been a republican in his political views and has 
taken an active interest in political work throughout his entire life. 
As a Mason he is connected with the blue lodge, the chapter, the 
consistory and with the Mystic Shrine at Aberdeen, and he is now 
serving for the second term as master of the lodge at Britton. He also 
belongs to the Elks Lodge No. 1046 at Aberdeen. His religious belief is 
that of the Lutheran church, while his wife holds membership in the 
Presbyterian church. They are highly esteemed as people of sterling 
worth, their many good traits of heart and mind establishing them in a 
high position in social circles where character and intelligence 
constitute the passports to good society.