Asher K. Pay Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1230-1233 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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				ASHER K. PAY. 

	The value of industry, enterprise and ability is well illustrated 
in the career of Asher K. Pay, who, starting in business with a capital 
of ninety-six dollars, has so intelligently and capably managed his 
interests that he is today the proprietor of the finest art store in 
Sioux Falls and the builder, owner and manager of the Colonial Theater, 
which is the finest and most modern house of entertainment in the 
state. He was born in Washington, Iowa, November 13, 1866, and is a son 
of Thomas L. and Jennie (Wagner) Pay. The father was born in Dover, 
England, and was twelve years of age when he accompanied his parents on 
their removal to America. After coming to South Dakota he took up a 
homestead in Brookings county, in 1881, and there lived for many years. 

	Asher K. Pay spent his early life upon the home farm in Brookings 
county and acquired only a limited common-school education. For some 
time he spent his summers learning the trade of a painter and paper 
hanger and attended school during the winter months. In 1888 he came to 
Sioux Falls and after working for one year at his trade determined to 
engage in business on his own account. With a capital of only ninety-
six dollars he established a small art store and from this humble 
beginning has developed his present large and profitable enterprise. He 
understands the business in principle and detail, is industrious, 
ambitious and energetic and has therefore met with excellent success, 
controlling today a large and representative patronage. On the 13th of 
June, 1914, he opened the Colonial Theater to the public. A fire had 
swept away the wholesale drug house that stood on the site where the 
theater is now located and Mr. Pay purchased the ruins and erected 
there the finest moving picture house in the state. 
On the 3d of June, 1891, at Sioux Falls, Mr. Pay was united in marriage 
to Miss Dora Gremmels, and they have three children, Howard H., Milton 
A. and Clifford T. They have a beautiful summer home on Lake Okoboji, 
Iowa. It is equipped with waterworks and all modern conveniences and 
here the family spend the summer months each year. 

	Mr. Pay belongs to the Elks Club and is a York Rite Mason, 
holding membership in the Shrine. His political support is given the 
men and measures of the republican party, He has an extensive circle of 
friends in Sioux Falls, where he has resided for over a quarter of a 
century, and he merits the confidence and trust which are uniformly 
accorded him.