John Haerter Biography


	This biography appears on pages 659-660 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 HAERTER.  

	Since the spring of 1898 John Haerter has resided in Hosmer, 
where he has been identified with mercantile interests, the grain trade 
and with the lumber business, his activity and enterprise contributing 
in large measure to the business development of the town. He was born 
in southern Russia, September 4, 1871, a son of Lawrence and Mina 
Haerter, who were also natives of that country, in which they spent 
their entire lives.  

	John Haerter was reared and educated in Russia and in 1892, when 
twenty-one years of age, came to the new world, first settling at 
Menno, South Dakota, where he remained until the spring of 1898, when 
he removed to Hosmer, Edmunds county. There he established a general 
mercantile and implement business, which he conducted with success. One 
year later he built an elevator and has since been buying grain, also 
handling farm implements, in which connections he has developed an 
extensive trade. He also joined with others in organizing the Hosmer 
Lumber Company, carrying an extensive line of lumber, building material 
and coal. He is the president of this company, with Martin Pressler as 
vice president; John Heckenlaible as secretary; Jacob Heckenlaible as 
treasurer, and Adam Herrboldt as active manager. All of these various 
business enterprises are in a prosperous condition and the energy and 
sagacity of Mr. Haerter are an impetus in their successful conduct. In 
addition to the interests already mentioned he has invested largely in 
land, being now the owner of more than five thousand acres, all of 
which is improved, returning to him a gratifying annual income.  

	In 1894 Mr. Haerter wedded Miss Christina Heckenlaible and they 
have become the parents of five children, but lost their firstborn. The 
others are Arthur J., Albert J., Helen and Irwin S.  

	The parents are members of the German Lutheran church and in his 
political views Mr. Haerter is a republican. He served as county 
commissioner in Edmunds county for eight years, making a most 
commendable record by the prompt and faithful discharge of his duties. 
He is now chairman of the town board and he has also served on the 
school board. His life record is an indication of what may be 
accomplished when the individual does not fear to follow where favoring 
opportunity points out the way. In his business career he has never 
been actuated by the spirit of vaulting ambition but has steadily 
progressed along well defined lines of labor, and his strong purpose 
and unabating industry have brought him to a prominent and creditable 
position among the successful residents of Hosmer.