George A. Stombaugh Biography


	This biography appears on pages 636-639 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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				GEORGE A. STOMBAUGH.  

	George A. Stombaugh, who has been a resident of South Dakota for 
the past thirty-five years and is one of the foremost citizens of his 
section, is an agriculturist residing in Egan, where he has made his 
home since 1902. His landed holdings were formerly quite extensive, and 
he still owns a seventy-five acre tract near Egan and a quarter section 
in Hand county. His birth occurred in Seneca county, Ohio, on the 15th 
of June, 1845, his father being John Stombaugh. The mother passed away 
when our subject was but two years of age, and he therefore has no 
recollection of her. John Stombaugh was a native of Pennsylvania and 
subsequently removed with his father to Ohio. When his son George was 
foul years of age he took up his abode in Dane county, Wisconsin, and 
later established his home in Sauk county, that state, where he spent 
the remainder of his life.  

	George A. Stombaugh was reared in Wisconsin and acquired his 
education in the common schools. On the 15th of August, 1862, when 
seventeen years of age, he enlisted ill the Union army as a member of 
Company K, Thirty-third Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, serving for three 
years and being discharged at Vicksburg, Mississippi, on the 9th of 
August, 1865. He participated in eighteen engagements, was in the ride 
pits at the siege of Vicksburg for forty-six days and fought in the 
battles of Tupelo, Coldwater, Nashville and Red River, and in the siege 
of Spanish Fort at Mobile, Alabama.  

	After being honorably discharged from the army Mr. Stombaugh 
returned to Wisconsin, but remained in that state for only about twenty 
days and then made his way to Hancock county, Iowa. He was there 
married on the 19th of August, 1866, to Miss Amelia Knadler, who was 
born in Germany and was brought to this country when but four years of 
age Mr. Stombaugh devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits in 
Hancock county for about thirteen years and in 1879 came to South 
Dakota, preempting one hundred and sixty acres of land. About a year 
later he bought a relinquishment on another quarter section which he 
filed on as a homestead. Subsequently he purchased about two hundred 
acres additional, but all of this land was later sold. He now owns 
seventy-five acres near Egan and a tract of one hundred and sixty acres 
in Hand county. It was in 1902 that he took up his abode in Egan, which 
has since remained his home. In the conduct of his farming interests he 
has won a highly gratifying and well deserved measure of prosperity and 
has long been numbered among the substantial and representative 
citizens of his community.  

	To Mr. and Mrs. Stombaugh have been born six children, but two 
are deceased, one of whom, Mary Alice, born in October, 1869, was 
married November 15, 1887, to James Madison of Egan township, and died 
in October, 1901. Irving owns and operates a farm of two hundred and 
fifty-seven acres adjoining Egan; Joseph A. owns and operates a farm of 
three hundred and twenty acres in Moody county; Lottie is the wife of 
John Hay, an agriculturist who owns a farm of three hundred and sixty 
acres in Egan township, Moody county; and Millie May is the wife of 
Earl Henry Sherburne, of Egan.  

	Mr. Stombaugh gives his political allegiance to the republican 
party and during the years 1905 and 1906 served as mayor of Egan, 
giving the town a progressive and businesslike administration 
productive of much good. He was also a member of the school board for 
some years and the cause of education has ever found in him a stanch 
champion. He still maintains pleasant relations with his odd army 
comrades through his membership in C. C. Washburn Post, No. 15, G. A. 
R., of Egan, and also belongs to Egan Lodge, No. 71, I. O. O. F. His 
religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Baptist church, 
to which his wife likewise belongs. Mr. Stombaugh enjoys an extensive 
acquaintance throughout the community which has so long been his home, 
and in all of his dealings with his fellowmen has demonstrated his 
right to their regard and confidence.