John P. Sittig Biography


	This biography appears on page 733 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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				JOHN P. SITTIG. 

	John P. Sittig, residing on section 13, Mapleton township, is the 
owner of four hundred and eighty acres of rich and productive land in 
Minnehaha county, and is widely recognized as one of the substantial 
and representative agriculturists of South Dakota. His birth occurred 
in Germany on the 3d of October, 1866, his parents being Wilhelm and 
Osanne (Folk) Sittig, who crossed the Atlantic to the United States in 
1891. The father now makes his home with his children in Iowa, the 
demise of the mother having occurred in June, 1904. 

	John P. Sittig was reared in his parents' home and attended the 
common schools of the fatherland in the acquirement of an education In 
1884, when a youth of eighteen, he emigrated to the new world, being 
desirous of testing the truth of the many favorable reports which had 
reached him concerning the advantages and opportunities to be enjoyed 
in the United States. He took up his abode in McLean county, Illinois, 
and there worked as a farm hand for wages during a period of seven 
years. On the expiration of that time he returned to Germany, and after 
a short visit came back to this country, bringing his parents with him. 
Soon afterward he was married to Miss Minna Peter, a native of Germany, 
and subsequently spent two years in the cultivation of rented land in 
McLean county, Illinois. He then removed to Cherokee county, Iowa, and 
there rented a farm which he operated for eight years. In March, 1902, 
he came to Minnehaha county, South Dakota, and purchased the quarter 
section on which he now resides in Mapleton township, paying thirty 
five dollars an acre for the land. Six months later he purchased an 
adjoining quarter section for twenty-eight dollars per acre, and in 
1910 bought one hundred and sixty acres more, so that his holdings now 
embrace four hundred and eighty acres. Success has attended his 
undertakings as an agriculturist, and he is well entitled to a foremost 
place among the prosperous and enterprising citizens of his community. 

	To Mr. and Mrs. Sittig have been born twelve children, ten of 
whom survive, as follows: August, Emma, Lena, Albert, Ida, Edward, 
Rosa, Clarence, Elsie and Ernest. In his political views Mr. Sittig is 
independent, supporting men and measures rather than party. He and his 
family attend and support the Lutheran church. John P. Sittig well 
deserves the proud American title of a self-made man, for he came to 
this country as a poor boy, and by industry, determination and energy 
worked his way steadily upward until he is now one of the substantial 
and esteemed citizens of South Dakota.