J. Elden Beckler Biography


	This biography appears on page 964 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				PROFESSOR J. ELDEN BECKLER.  

	Professor J. Elden Beckler is identified with educational 
interests of South Dakota as superintendent of the Fort Pierre public 
schools, in which capacity he has ably served during the past seven 
years. His birth occurred in Albany, Maine, on the 23d of July, 1864, 
his parents being Isaac P. and Sarah C. (Frye) Beckler, both 
descendants of early New England families. William Beckler, the great-
grandfather of our subject, was a native of Germany, emigrated to the 
United States about 1760 and participated in the Revolutionary war.  

	J. Elden Beckler, the sixth in order of birth in a family of 
seven children, began his education in the public schools of his native 
town and subsequently attended the graded and high schools of Sparta, 
Wisconsin, where his parents had established their home. Following his 
graduation from the Sparta high school he entered the State Normal 
School at Oshkosh and was graduated from that institution in 1891. The 
succeeding fifteen years were devoted to teaching in various public 
schools of Wisconsin, and he won a merited reputation as a successful 
and efficient instructor. In 1907 he came to South Dakota to take the 
position of principal of the schools of Blunt, acting in that capacity 
for one year, at the end of which time he was appointed superintendent 
of schools at Fort Pierre. In this connection he has remained 
continuously since and under his able supervision the schools have made 
rapid strides in the scope and thoroughness of their work.  

	Mr. Beckler exercises his right of franchise in support of the 
men and measures of the republican party but otherwise takes no active 
part in politics. He is interested in outdoor sports and athletics and 
thus finds needed recreation.