Henry Stoller Biogrphy This biography appears on pages 734-737 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 HENRY STOLLER. One of Scotland's most substantial citizens is Henry Stoller, president of the Bon Homme County Bank of Scotland. He comes of German ancestry and has manifested the reliability and thoroughness characteristic of his race. The Stohler family, previous to emigrating to America, had lived for several generations in the Russian dominions, as the great-grandfather of Mr. Stoller removed from Strasburg, Alsace, to Russia over a century ago. The Russian Czarina, Catherine, had offered special privileges to thrifty German farmers who would settle in the waste places of that vast country, promising them immunity from military service and granting them the privilege of retaining their own language and the Lutheran faith. In the early '70s the century-old promises were broken and thousands of long established families emigrated to the new world rather than remain in Russia. Dominic Stoller was one of the first to realize the trend of affairs and acted promptly, selling his land, which comprised some two hundred and forty acres by our measurement, and receiving therefore a much better price than those who sold later. Some who were tardy in disposing of their property received but a few dollars per acre. The Stoller family sailed in October, 1873, from Hamburg for New York on the Selesia and after a stormy voyage of twenty-one days landed on the shores of the new world. The first winter was spent in Sandusky, Ohio, at the home of a friend who had preceded the family to the United States by several years. Leaving his wife and children in Sandusky, the father traversed the states of Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nevada, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas and the Dakotas, before deciding upon a permanent location. The opportunities offered in South Dakota however, proved the strongest inducements and in April, 1873, he settled four miles northeast of the present town of Lesterville, Yankton county, on three hundred and twenty acres which he secured under preemption and homestead rights. He continued to reside upon his farm until his death, which occurred in 1876 as a result of injuries received in a runaway. Aside from the subject of this review, there are two sons and two daughters of Dominic Stoller residing in this state. The mother, who was in her maidenhood Margaret Kost, was also of German descent. She passed to her reward November 1, 1900, at the age of seventy-three years. Henry Stoller was born May 8, 1858, in the rural village of Rohrbach, near Odessa, Russia. He accompanied his parents to the new world and to the home in Yankton county, remaining with them until December 9, 1879, when he was married. He then filed on a homestead in Odessa township, Yankton county, and resided there until moving to Scotland in March, 1913. He was a successful agriculturist, as he used progressive methods and was energetic and industrious. In 1909 he purchased his first interest in the Bon Homme County Bank and four years later he was elected president of the institution, which its one of the strongest and most conservative banks in this section of South Dakota. As executive heath of the institution he has manifested sound business judgment and wide knowledge of financial conditions. He has followed the difficult course of sane progressiveness, avoiding alike hasty and ill considered advance. He has great faith in Dakota farm land and has invested much capital therein, being now the owner of eight hundred acres in Bon Homme and Yankton counties. Mr. Stoller married Miss Christina Muehlbier, also a native of Russia and a daughter of David and Barbara (Kost) Muehlbier, who were German residents of that country. Upon the refusal of the Russian government to longer grant the promised privileges and immunities, they too emigrated to the new world and reached the Dakotas in August, 1873. Fourteen children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Stoller, of whom eight survive as follows: Sophia, the wife of Gustav Mutschelknaus, a resident of Scotland; Kate, now Mrs. August Mettler, residing on a farm near Freeman; Helena, who married George Schamber, of Odessa township; David J., of Odessa township; Beatha, the wife of A. A. Bertsh, of Freeman; Eva, who married Leonard Ulmer, of Menno; George F., who is living on the old farm; and Henrietta, now Mrs. Emanuel Bertsh living near Freeman. The mother of these children having passed away, Mr. Stoller was married the second time December 14, 1902, Mrs. Katherine (Reich) Herr becoming his wife. They are the parents of four children: William Henry, Emil Gustav, Albert Edwin and Benjamin. Mr. Stoller is a member of the Lutheran church under the jurisdiction of the lowa synod, and exemplifies in his life the high moral teachings of the faith of his fathers. He has found in this country freedom and excellent business opportunities and has made the best use of all the advantages afforded him As agriculturist and banker he has won success and has also contributed largely to the prosperity of this county, where he is recognized as a man of proven integrity and commendable public spirit. The republican party finds in him a stanch supporter of its principles and his fellow citizens, recognizing his worth and ability, have called him to public office. He served as county commissioner from 1907 to 1911 and was for two terms a representative in the lower house of the state legislature from Yankton county, serving in 1901 and 1903.