Abram E. Van Camp Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1229-1230 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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				ABRAM E. VAN CAMP. 

	Abram E. Van Camp has devoted his life to various business 
interests, most of which have brought him substantial success. He is 
now giving his attention almost exclusively to the selling of farm 
implements and machinery in Highmore and to the insurance business, but 
in previous years was active in real-estate dealing and also owned and 
conducted a farm located within the city limits, devoted principally to 
stock-raising. 

	Mr. Van Camp was born in Muscatine county, Iowa, September 29, 
1852, a son of Kiple and Ann Maria (Little) Van Camp, who were natives 
of Sussex county, New Jersey. The father, who always followed farming 
as a life work, removed to Iowa in 1850, securing a farm, upon which he 
continued to reside until his death. He held various local offices, 
making a creditable record in such connections, and his sterling worth 
won for him the high regard of all with whom he came in contact. His 
widow still spends the summer months at the old home, which is yet a 
part of the estate, and passes the winter months with a son in western 
Iowa. 

	Abram E. Van Camp was the second in order of birth in a family of 
ten children, eight of whom are living. He supplemented his public-
school education by a term of three months in an academy at Iowa City 
and through the period of his boyhood and youth aided more and more 
largely in the work of the home farm as his age and strength increased. 
He remained at home until about twenty-two and then began farming on 
his own account in Iowa, where he remained for seven years. In June, 
1882, he came to South Dakota and took up his abode on a quarter 
section of land, on which a part of the town of Highmore now stands. In 
that year he platted the town and began selling lots. In fact he 
conducted a general real-estate business for some time. In the spring 
of 1884 he shipped the first carload of farm machinery to the town and 
with the exception of a few years has been continuously engaged in that 
business to the present time. He also carried on general farming and 
stock-raising for a number of years and to some extent he still engages 
in raising the crops best adapted to soil and climate. He has one 
hundred acres within the corporation limits of the town but at the 
present time he devotes the major part of his attention to the 
implement trade and to the insurance business. 

	On the 5th of May, 1874, Mr. Van Camp was married to Miss Louisa 
C. Sherfey, a native of Muscatine county; Iowa, and a daughter of John 
and Patience A. Sherfey. Her grandparents were natives of Germany and 
the grandfather on coming to America was bound out so that his wages 
might pay his fare. Her father was a farmer by occupation and in 1837 
removed westward to Iowa, settling in Muscatine county, where he 
secured land and developed a homestead farm, upon which he and his wife 
spent their remaining days. Their family numbered six children, of whom 
Mrs. Van Camp was the fifth. She died on the 19th of October, 1899, 
leaving one son, Shreve, who was born June 1, 1875, and is now 
associated with his father in business. He married Emma Bottcher, of 
Highmore, who was born in New York state and came with her parents to 
South Dakota in 1883. After the death of his first wife Mr. Van Campp 
of this review married Miss Florence E. Walker, a native of Illinois, 
who-was brought by her parents to South Dakota in 1883, the family 
locating in Sully county, seven miles north of Harrold. 

	In his political views Mr. Van Camp has always been a stalwart 
republican since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He 
served as one of the first county commissioners of Hyde county and was 
postmaster of Highmore under appointment of President Harrison for four 
and a half years and again under appointment of President Roosevelt for 
seven and a half years. He is a prominent Mason, belonging to the Ree 
Valley Lodge, No. 70, A. F. & A. M., at Highmore, of which he served as 
master for six years; to the chapter at Miller; to the council at 
Salem; to the Capital City Commandery, No. 21, K. T., at Pierre; and to 
the Mystic Shrine at Sioux Falls. He is an ax-president of the Masonic 
Veterans Association of South Dakota and is a charter member of the 
Eastern Star chapter at Highmore. He is likewise a charter member of 
the Ancient Order United Workmen, and of the Degree of Honor at 
Highmore. The city in which he lives is largely a monument to his 
enterprise and progressive spirit. Laying out the town, he has 
cooperated in every movement and measure for its upbuilding and 
development, and his work has brought excellent results, largely 
promoting the public welfare and at the same time advancing his 
individual interests. He planted a whole block of trees and also many 
others.