Joseph Shebal Biography This biography appears on pages 659-660 in "History of Dakota Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the SDGENWEB Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://usgwarchives.org/sd/sdfiles.htm JOSEPH SHEBAL. No record given in this history illustrates more clearly than does that of Joseph Shebal the opportunities which are open to young men in the new world if they have the ability to recognize them and the determination to utilize them. Coming to this country a poor boy, Joseph Shebal arrived at Western Union Junction, Wisconsin, with but eight cents in his pocket and he spent five cents of that amount for postage on a letter to his mother. As a result of his own exertions, intelligently directed, he is today one of the most substantial farmers of Lincoln county, having gained marked success through close application and indefatigable industry. He is very progressive and he may well be called the corn king of his section. Much credit must also be given his young sons, for through several years past three of his sons have won first prize for the best corn grown by boys in South Dakota, a prize given annually by the State Agricultural College. They have also won numerous second and third prizes, never having contested without receiving one of the prizes. With this premium corn much of the country throughout the surrounding districts has been seeded in the past few years. While Joseph Shebal is widely recognized as one of the leading farmers of Lincoln county, he has also made a most creditable record as county commissioner. He makes his home one and a half miles west of Harrisburg and Lincoln county numbers him among her representative men. He was born in Germany on the 28th of November, 1858, and during his boyhood his parents removed with their family to Austria and it was in the latter country that Joseph Shebal was reared. His family were in limited financial circumstances, so that his educational opportunities were somewhat limited, being only such as the country schools of Austria afforded. He was but eighteen years of age when he left home and came to the United States, making his first location at Western Union Junction, Wisconsin, where he remained from December, 1876, until the following March, when he went to Delavan, Wisconsin. In that region he found work as a farm hand and was thus employed in that locality until the fall of 1882, when he arrived at Sioux Falls, South Dakota. There he found employment as night clerk in a hotel and remained there for a little more than three years. He afterward accepted a clerkship in a general store, where he remained for one year, and in the spring of 1886 he began farming on his own account, settling upon the tract of land which he now owns and cultivates. It was on the 9th of March, 1882, that he purchased the property, paying five dollars per acre for land for which he would now refuse one hundred and fifty dollars. The farm today comprises six. hundred acres lying in one body and is one of the finest farms in Lincoln county, supplied with all modern equipment, accessories and conveniences. He is now making a specialty of the raising of thoroughbred Red Polled cattle, and his live-stock interests are an important feature of his business, bringing to him a gratifying annual income. On the 7th of January, 1901, Mr. Shebal was united in marriage to Miss Annie Moscrip, a native of Wisconsin, and to them have been born six children, five of whom are living: Edward, William, Robert, Arthur and May. When age conferred upon Mr. Shebal the right of franchise he endorsed the principles of the republican party and has never failed in his allegiance thereto. On the contrary he has given active support to the party in a way that has advanced its success and in all matters of citizenship he stands for progress and improvement. He has served continuously on the school board of his district for twenty-seven years and for nine years he was a member of the La Valley township board. In 1911 he was nominated and elected at member of the board of county commissioners of Lincoln county, in which capacity he served four years. Mr. Shebal is a member of Harrisburg Lodge, No. 160, I. O. O. F., and is loyal to its teachings. His efforts are largely concentrated, however, upon his public duties as well as upon his private business affairs. He deserves much credit for what he has accomplished, for he started out empty-handed and has worked his way upward step by step. Obstacles and difficulties have seemed to serve as an impetus for renewed effort on his part.