Hans Peter Rasmussen Biography


	This biography appears on pages 864-865 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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				HANS PETER RASMUSSEN. 

	Hans Peter Rasmussen, who is engaged in business in Wakonda as a 
dealer in automobiles, implements and hardware, was born in Denmark in 
1864, a son of Rasmus and Stina (Peterson) Rasmussen. The father is now 
living retired at the age of seventy-six years and the mother has 
reached the age of seventy-seven. Both are still residents of Denmark. 
They are the parents of seven children, of whom the following emigrated 
to the United States: Chris, a resident of Denver, Colorado; Hannah, 
the deceased wife of Chris N. Peterson, of Clay county; and Amelia, who 
married Joseph Johnson, a farmer of Colorado. 

	Hans P. Rasmussen grew to manhood in his native town—the village 
of Nakskov, in the county of Lolland, Denmark, and attended its public 
schools. Upon putting aside his textbooks he learned the blacksmith,s 
trade and in 1883, when in his twentieth year, emigrated to the United 
States, making his way direct to Yankton, South Dakota, where he 
arrived in April of that year. For about seven months he was in the 
employ of others and then went to Centerville, at which time there was 
no railroad in that section He worked for a blacksmith of Centerville 
for three years and then removed to Wakonda, where he opened a 
blacksmith shop upon his own account, the building standing on the same 
corner that is now occupied by his store. By means of close application 
to business and good management he built up a large business and after 
four years took in as a partner Julius Lokke and they continued to 
conduct a blacksmith shop for some time. At length they rented the shop 
and engaged in the implement and hardware business. The firm now deals 
in automobiles in addition to all kinds of light and heavy farm 
machinery; shelf and heavy hardware; and they also carry a large stock 
of harness. Their trade has grown steadily and as they spare no pains 
in satisfying the demands of their customers there is every indication 
that their prosperity will continue. Mr. Rasmussen was one of the 
organizers and is a stockholder in the Wakonda Telephone Company, was 
an organizer and still owns stock in the Wakonda Light, Power & Heating 
Company and is a-director therein. 

	Mr. Rasmussen was married in August, 1890, to Miss Christina 
Jacobson, a native of Clay county, South Dakota, and a daughter of Hans 
and Anna (Anderson) Jacobson, both of whom were natives of Denmark. The 
father, who was a farmer, passed away in 1900, and the mother was 
called to her reward in 1913. To Mr. and Mrs. Rasmussen have been born 
three children. Freda, twenty-two years of age, is a graduate of the 
Centerville high school. She attended the public schools of Sioux Falls 
and is now teaching in the district schools of Clay county. Raymond, 
aged twenty-one, is an alumnus of the local high school. He took a 
commercial course in the University of South Dakota and is now employed 
in his father,s store. Blanche, fifteen years of age, is attending the 
Wakonda high school. 

	Mr. Rasmussen is a republican and has been a member of the town 
board for several terms, always giving his influence to measures that 
promise to benefit the municipality. He is a Lutheran and his wife is a 
member of the Baptist church. He assisted in organizing the Commercial 
Club and for three years has been president of that body, which kinder 
his administration has accomplished much in furthering the commercial 
growth of Wakonda. He is one of the well-to-do citizens of that town 
and lives in one of the best residences there. He ranks as one of the 
most able business men of his city and is also considered one of the 
most public-spirited citizens in Wakonda, while his agreeable traits of 
character have won him the sincere friendship of many.