Franklin G. Floete Biography


	This biography appears on pages 595-596 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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				FRANKLIN G. FLOETE. 

	Franklin G. Floete is a prominent figure in the financial circles 
of Armour and Douglas county and as president of the Armour State Bank 
is largely responsible for the management of that institution. He is a 
native son of Armour, born on the 30th of May, 1887, of the marriage of 
Charles E. and Caroline (Grotewohl) Floete. The father yeas born in 
Guttenberg, Iowa. He and his wife removed from Elkader, Iowa to South 
Dakota in 1885, locating first in Mitchell but subsequently removing to 
Armour, where he engaged in the lumber business. In connection with his 
brother Franklin he organized the Floete Lumber Company, which operated 
in that part of the state for a quarter of a century and which also did 
an extensive business in Iowa. Franklin Floete was very active in the 
development of the lumber business, while Charles E. Floete gave the 
greater part of his time to the development of his landed and financial 
interests. He held title to large tracts of land in this state and in 
1894 became the owner of the Armour State Bank, of which he server as 
president until his death on September 4, 1912. During that time the 
business of the bank was materially increased and it became more firmly 
established in the confidence of the general public. He was a graduate 
of the law school of the State University of Iowa, and, although he 
never practiced, he found his legal knowledge of much value to him in 
his business career. He was one of the leading men of his section and 
was not only respected for his ability but was esteemed for his 
sterling worth of character. His wife passed away August 1, 1901. 

	Franklin G. Floete received his early education in the public 
schools and later attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison, 
which conferred upon him the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1908. Four 
years later he received the degree of LL. B. from Harvard. He has never 
practiced law, however, as his father died in the year of his 
graduation from Harvard and it was necessary for him to give his 
undivided attention to the administration of the large estate. He is 
vice president of the Floete Lumber Company, which owns a large number 
of lumberyards in this state and in Iowa and which is widely known in 
lumber circles. He is also president of the Armour State Bank and is at 
the head of the Floete Land & Loan Company, which holds title to a 
large amount of land throughout the state. He has proved more than 
equal to the responsibilities devolving upon him through his important 
business connections, and his ability has gained him the respect of all 
with whom he has had dealings. 

	Mr. Floete is a Protestant in religion and fraternally is a 
thirty-second degree Mason, a Knight of Pythias and an Elk. He belongs 
to the Commercial Club and is one of the leaders in all movements to 
promote the development of his section along civic, agricultural and 
commercial lines. He possesses excellent judgment and is also very 
enterprising and energetic, and is justly considered one of the 
foremost business men of his locality.