David D. Wipf Biography


	This biography appears on pages 497-498 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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				DAVID D. WIPF. 

	David D. Wipf is president of the First National Bank of Parkston 
and is one of the extensive landowners of his section of the state and 
has not only been active along business lines but has also left the 
impress of his individuality upon the political history of the state. 
He was born at Hutterthal, South Russia, August 4, 1872, his parents 
being David and Katharina (Stahl) Wipf, the former born February 5, 
1846, and the latter January 21, 1854. They were reared and married in 
their native land and left Hutterthal for the United States on the 19th 
of June, 1879. They arrived in Yankton on the 8th of July of that year 
and the father filed on a homestead, securing the southeast quarter of 
section 12, township 99, range 57, in what was then Armstrong county, 
Dakota territory, but is now Hutchinson county. He established his 
residence upon the homestead and there remained until March 31, 1909, 
when he removed to Wells county, North Dakota, and again settled upon a 
farm. There his wife passed away on the 19th of May, 1911. The father 
has been successful in his business affairs and has given to each of 
his children a good start. He was, however, practically empty handed 
when he came from Russia, possessing at that time a capital of only six 
hundred and ten dollars. He possessed resolute energy, determination 
and ability, however, and these proved the capital upon which he has 
builded his prosperity, coming in time to rank with the men of 
affluence in his community. 

	David D. Wipf acquired a common-school education and in early 
life devoted his attention to farming, school-teaching and grain 
buying. Gradually in his business career he has worked his way upward 
and now has important commercial, financial and agricultural interests. 
On the 12th of January, 1909, he was elected a member of the board of 
directors of the First National Bank of Parkston and on the same day 
was selected as cashier of that institution, occupying that position 
until the 8th of September, 1910, on which day the board of directors 
reorganized and selected Mr. Wipf as president. He still occupies that 
office and bends his energies to the further development and upbuilding 
of the bank and the extension of its patronage and connections. Besides 
being a heavy stockholder therein, he is also a stockholder in the 
Menno Lumber Company and is an extensive landowner, having twenty-four 
quarter sections of land, four in Sully county and one in Butte county, 
South Dakota, two in Crook county, Wyoming, and seventeen in Duchesne 
county, Utah. 

	While Mr. Wipf's business interests have made constant demand 
upon his time and energies, he has yet found opportunity to cooperate 
in many measures for the general good and his fellow townsmen, 
appreciative of his worth and ability, have again and again called him 
to public office. He served as deputy county assessor under C. P. 
Hirsch in 1893, under Samuel Klaudt in 1895 and 1896, and under Jacob 
Haisch in 1897. He was deputy county treasurer under Christian Buechler 
from March 1, 1897, until January 1, 1901, and under J. M. Schaefer 
from the latter date until the 1st of March, 1901. In the November 
election of 1900 he was chosen county auditor and assumed the duties of 
that position on the 1st of March, 1901, serving in that capacity until 
the 28th of December, 1904, when he resigned. He was chosen secretary 
of state at the November election of 1904 and took office on the 3d of 
January following, remaining as the incumbent until the 5th of January, 
1909. He was appointed supervisor of census for the first supervisors' 
district of South Dakota by President Taft on the 8th of September, 
1909, and supervised the taking of the census by four hundred and fifty 
enumerators in as many districts between the 15th day of April, 1910, 
and the 15th day of June, of the same year. Preparations for the 
thirteenth census were begun in September, 1909, and the work was 
completed on December 21, 1910, that being the date of an honorable 
discharge signed by Hon. E. Dana Durand, director of the census. 
Supervisors' district No. 1 consisted of all of the state lying east of 
the Missouri river and had a population of four hundred and forty-three 
thousand, two hundred and seventy-two. In politics Mr. Wipf has always 
been a republican, favoring progressive policies and principles, and 
his influence has been a potent force in shaping the policy of his 
party and advancing its welfare on many occasions. 

	On the 1st of June, 1891, at Freeman, South Dakota, Mr. Wipf was 
married to Miss Katharina Wipf, a daughter of Joseph and Katharina 
Wipf. She was born in Johannesruh, South Russia, December 31. 1870. Her 
mother died in that place in 1871, after which her father married again 
and came with his family to what was then Armstrong county, Dakota 
territory, and is now Hutchinson county. Later he removed with his 
family to Spink county, South Dakota, where he now resides upon a farm. 
To Mr. and Mrs. David D. Wipf has been born a son, John D., whose birth 
occurred July 19, 1895, and who was graduated from the commercial 
department of Redfield College at Redfield, South Dakota, in June, 
1912. He is now attending Yankton College. 

	Mr. Wipf is a Mennonite in religious faith. Fraternally he is 
connected with Scotland Lodge. No. 52, A. F. d: A. M.; Scotland 
Chapter, No. 31, R. A. M.: Oriental Consistory, No. 1, Valley of 
Yankton, in which he has attained the thirty-second degree; and Menno 
Camp, No. 3071, M. W. A. His activities have largely touched the 
general interests of society and his efforts have been a potent force 
in advancing the welfare and upbuilding of his portion of the state. He 
has largely been dependent upon his resources since starting out in 
life and has so directed his energies and controlled his affairs that 
he is a prosperous citizen and one who wields a wide influence.