J. J. Mendel Biography


	This biography appears on pages 611-612 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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				J. J. MENDEL. 

	J. J. Mendel is proprietor of the Freeman Courier, published at 
Freeman, and is also the owner of the Freeman Telephone Exchange. His 
business activities have brought him a wide acquaintance and the 
methods which he has followed have made him favorably known. He was 
born in South Russia on the 7th of March, 1875, and is a son of Jacob 
and Sarah (Tschetter) Mendel. The family came to the United States when 
J. J. Mendel was but three months old and, making their way to Dakota 
territory, secured a homestead claim seven miles northwest of Menno. 
There the father remained until about four years ago and in the 
meantime converted a tract of wild land into productive fields. 
Eventually he sold the property and went to Bridgewater, where both he 
and his wife now reside. 
	J. J. Mendel of this review began his education in the public 
schools and afterward attended private schools at Mountain Lake 
Minnesota, at Newton, Kansas, and Des Moines, Iowa. He was likewise a 
student in the Sioux Falls Normal School and after his textbooks were 
put aside he engaged in farming on his own account, following that 
pursuit for about seven years near Freeman. It was while he was 
actively engaged in tilling the soil that he became interested in 
journalism through the purchase of the freeman Courier in 1902. He 
conducted the paper in addition to the management and development of 
his farm and in 1907 he still further extended the scope of his 
activities by purchasing the Telephone Exchange. In 1910 he rented his 
farm and took up his abode in Freeman in order to give his undivided 
attention to the publication of the paper and the management of the 
telephone system. He is prospering in both undertakings and his 
capability in business control is indicated in the success which is 
attending his efforts. His paper is published in the interests of the 
republican party, of which he is a stalwart advocate. His editorials 
are clear and convincing and he has made the Courier both the mirror 
and the molder of public opinion in this district. In addition to his 
other interests he is president of the Freeman Electric Company. He 
makes a close study of every phase of his business and carries forward 
to successful completion whatever he undertakes. 

	Mr. Mendel has been married twice. In 1898 he wedded Miss Mary 
Kleinsasser, who died eight years later, passing away in 1906 They had 
two children, a son and daughter, Jacob and Mary. Having lost his first 
wife, he wedded Miss Mary Mandel, a daughter of Paul Mandel, on the 
15th of December, 1907. In religious faith he is a Mennonite. He is 
fond of motoring and outdoor life and in that way obtains his 
recreation. He has ever been a busy, energetic man, and his carefully 
defined plans have been so directed that he is numbered among the men 
of affluence of his community and as one who wields a wide influence in 
public affairs.