Lew E. Foss Biography


	This biography appears on pages 336-337 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


				LEW E. FOSS. 

	L. E. Foss, cashier of the Citizens State Bank at Henry, is one 
of the prosperous business men of the town. He was born in Sogndal, 
Sogn, Norway, September 23,.1872, a son of Erick and Mary Foss, both of 
whom passed away in the land of the midnight sun. He was reared at 
home, attended the public schools in his pursuit of an education, and 
was also a student in a college located in his home town. When not 
attending to school duties, he was working for his father on the farm 
so that he early learned the duties and tasks of the farmer. In 1890, 
when but eighteen years of age, he left Norway and come to the United 
States, joining his brother who was living at Vienna, Clark county, 
South Dakota. He went to work on the section, being so engaged in the 
summer and attending school during the winter months. In this way he 
learned the English language and so fitted himself for a successful 
career in this country. Subsequently he attended business college in 
Watertown, as he wished to familiarize himself with business procedure 
here, and after completing the course he secured a position as clerk in 
a store in Vienna. Subsequently he worked in his brother's store in 
Clark, but about 1899 left there and went to Henry, South Dakota, in 
order to learn the lumber business. For the next five years he was 
employed in yards of the Hays-Lucas Lumber Company, but in 1905, seeing 
that another bank was needed in Henry, he organized the Citizens State 
Bank and on the 12th of September of that year the new institution 
opened its doors to the public. He was made cashier of the bank and has 
since continued in that capacity, proving an able financier and 
displaying excellent judgment in the investment of the bank's funds and 
in the placing of credit. 

	Mr. Foss was married to Miss Gertrude Kvam, a native of Norway, 
and to this union two children have been born, of whom one, Noel, whose 
natal day was September 14, 1905, survives. The father is a republican 
in politics and fraternally is a member of the Odd Fellows, Knights of 
Pythias, and of the Modern Woodmen of America. He and his wife are both 
members of the Lutheran church and exemplify in their lives the 
teachings of that historic faith. Mr. Foss has thoroughly identified 
himself with the institutions of his adopted country and has proven 
himself a valuable citizen of South Dakota. He is very appreciative of 
the opportunities in America and thinks that what he has done can be 
duplicated by any one if he is determined to succeed. He has many 
friends in Codington and Clark counties, where he is recognized not 
only as an efficient business man, but as a man of attractive 
personality and sterling qualities of character.