John Biegger, Jr. Biography This biography appears on pages 1194-1197 in "History of Dakota Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the SDGENWEB Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://usgwarchives.org/sd/sdfiles.htm JOHN BIEGGER, JR. The value of ambition, courage and determination, guided by sound judgment and a resolute will, is excellently illustrated in the career of John Biegger, Jr., who has risen by his own efforts and without any outside aid or influence from a humble position in life to be one of the leading business men of Sioux Falls. He has engaged in various enterprises during the course of his career and has constantly extended the scope of his activities, seeking success along lines of advancement and progress and by honorable and straightforward business methods. He is the owner of the Majestic Theatre in Sioux Falls and is identified with the theatre business in Sioux City, Iowa, where he has valuable interests. Mr. Biegger was born on a farm in Clayton county, Iowa, October 14, 1873, and is a son of John and Mary (Nienau) Biegger. He acquired his education in the country schools of Clayton and Humboldt counties, Iowa, and attended only four terms during his entire life. Before completing his education he went to Luverne, Iowa, and applied at the office of the little local paper for a chance to learn the printer's trade. He was accepted as a beginner without wages and every morning got to the office at five o'clock, swept out, started the fire and then applied himself to learning to set type until nine, when he started for school. He made his home with his uncle, who furnished his meals. After school hours he would return to the printing office and work until eleven or twelve o'clock at night with the exception of Thursdays, when he was obliged to be ok duty the entire night running off the issue of the paper. After three months of this strenuous work the regular compositor left town and Mr. Biegger was placed in charge, setting up the type and printing the entire weekly issue, for which work he received a salary of four dollars a week. Some time later he asked for an increase to six dollars a week but was offered only five. He then resigned his position and went to Sioux City, Iowa, where he became connected with a newspaper at a salary of eight dollars a week. In 1893 he removed to Bode, Iowa, and upon his arrival found that his capital consisted of fifty cents. The local weekly paper, which had twice failed under different managers, was at that time for sale and Mr. Biegger obtained his father's endorsement to a note in the bank of Luverne, Iowa, for one hundred dollars. With this money he made the first payment on the plant and at once started the struggle to revive the journal. He succeeded where all others had failed and in the six years during which he ran the paper he bought and paid for his home in Bode and put six thousand dollars in the bank. In 1900 he disposed of his interests there and removed to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he conducted the Queen City Flouring Mill for two years. He lost seven thousand dollars in this venture but with undaunted energy removed to Humboldt, this state, and, with others whom he interested in the enterprise, he organized the State Bank of Humboldt, with a capital stock of five thousand dollars. Mr. Biegger was made cashier of the bank, holding this responsible position for two years. At the end of that time he disposed of his interests and removed to Winfred, South Dakota, where he bought a controlling interest in the State Bank of Winfred, of which he was made president. In 1897 he again came to Sioux Falls and here established the Sioux Falls Auto & Supply Company, with which he remained connected for two years. Following this he bought an interest in the Sioux Falls Daily Argus-Leader, acting as business manager of the paper for about a year. He was then for two years in business as manager and part owner of the Sioux Falls Electric Light & Power Company and while he still held that position he bought the Majestic Theatre, in July, 1908. In 1911 he sold his stock in the light and power company and has since devoted his entire time to the management of the Majestic, which he has made one of the most attractive and profitable theaters in the state. Prior to his management it had been a conspicuous failure, but Mr. Biegger has improved the character of the bookings and the house is now in a most flourishing condition. Some idea as to the class of attractions now available for the Sioux Falls house may be gained from the fact that the circuit is so extensive that it takes three years for an act to cover it entirely. Mr. Biegger also owns the Colonial Theatre in Sioux City, Iowa, and is now planning the erection of a new one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollar theatre there. He owns a half interest in the Reliance Film Service Company, with headquarters at Sioux Falls and branches at Davenport, Iowa, and La Crosse, Wisconsin. Mr. Biegger has also valuable property holdings, owning a profitable and well improved farm in Minnehaha county. On the 10th of August, 1895, at St. Joseph, Iowa, Mr. Biegger was united in marriage to Miss Margaret V. Hoganson, and they have become the parents of three children, Leo John, Kenneth J. and Thelma M. Mr. Biegger is a member of the Catholic church and belongs to the Elks and Country Clubs and to the Knights of Columbus. His career speaks for itself. He is a self-made man, possessed of courage, resolution and well timed aggressiveness — qualities which have formed the foundation of his present success.