A. W. Voedisch Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1203-1204 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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				A. W. VOEDISCH. 

	A W. Voedisch, the only manufacturing jeweler in South Dakota, is 
prominently connected with business interests of Aberdeen as proprietor 
of the business controlled by the Voedisch Jewelry Company, which he 
organized in 1894. He is also well known among the music lovers in the 
city and highly esteemed as the originator of the Aberdeen May Musical 
Festival which under his direction has become one of the important 
annual events in musical circles of the state. Mr. Voedisch was born in 
Watertown, Wisconsin, in 1872 and is a son of Frederick and Catherine 
Voedisch, who removed to Minnesota in 1882, taking up government land 
near the South Dakota line. One year and a half later they removed to 
North Dakota, where the father died. 

	A. W. Voedisch acquired a grammar and high school education and 
following the completion of his studies became connected with the 
jewelry business, in which he has since continued. In 1894, when he was 
twenty-two years of age, he came to Aberdeen and established the 
Voedisch Jewelry Company, locating his enterprise in the building now 
occupied by the Firey drug store. He later established himself in the 
Bowles building and in 1905 removed to his present location, where he 
has a fine store twenty-five by seventy feet in dimensions. Mr. 
Voedisch is the only manufacturing jeweler in South Dakota and he 
manufactures all kinds of solid gold goods and fills a number of 
special orders, doing the manufacturing for over one hundred and twenty 
jewelers in various parts of the northwest. He employs ten men in his 
manufacturing department and he has besides, a modern retail store 
which his able management has made a profitable business institution. 

	In 1899 Mr. Voedisch was united in marriage to Miss Ethel Kelly 
of Aberdeen and they have become the parents of two sons. Mr. Voedisch 
is a thirty-second degree Mason, holding membership ill the lodge, 
chapter, commandery and Shrine, and he belongs also to the Knights of 
Pythias, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Ancient Order 
of United Workmen. His political allegiance is given to the republican 
party. 

	Mr. Voedisch is well known as the founder of the Aberdeen May 
Musical Festival, of which he has been director since its organization 
in 1901. This festival is held for three days every May and is 
supported by the best musical talent in the country, attracting music 
lovers from all parts of the northwest. Mr. Voedisch as a leading 
spirit in the promotion of this enterprise has been warmly commended by 
those of Aberdeen for the service which he has rendered the city in 
bringing into it each year about five thousand people of the finest 
type of citizenship. He is prominent ill both business and musical 
circles and his sterling worth is manifest in the appreciation of a 
large circle of friends.