John Heckenlaible Biography


	This biography appears on page 529 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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				JOHN HECKENLAIBLE. 

	John Heckenlaible, president of the Hosmer State Bank and a 
representative business man and citizen of Hosmer, was born in 
Hutchinson county, South Dakota, August 30, 1878, a son of Christoph 
and Christina Heckenlaible, both of whom were natives of southern 
Russia. They came to America in early life, settling in South Dakota, 
and in 1899 established their home in Edmunds county, this state, 
taking up their abode at Hosmer, where they are now living. The father 
has retired from active business cares. 

	John Heckenlaible is one of the three survivors of a family of 
five children. He remained at home until he attained his majority and 
supplemented a public-school education by study in the State 
University. He afterward established a general store at Hosmer, which 
he conducted until 1905, when he turned his attention from commercial 
to financial interests. In 1901 his father was one of the organizers of 
the Hosmer State Bank and four years later the son became its president 
and has since filled that position. The institution entered upon an era 
of growth and prosperity, its annual statement showing a steady and 
healthful growth. The bank is capitalized for ten thousand dollars, has 
a surplus and undivided profits of seven thousand six hundred and 
forty-eight dollars and the deposits amount to eighty-one thousand two 
hundred and sixty-six dollars. In addition to his banking interests Mr. 
Heckenlaible is one of the most extensive landowners of his part of the 
state, having four thousand acres, the greater part of which is under 
cultivation and splendidly equipped with modern improvements in the way 
of buildings and machinery. 

	In 1903 occurred the marriage of Mr. Heckenlaible and Miss Cora 
Knodel, a native of Bon Homme county, this state, and a daughter of 
Bernhard and Christina Knodel, both deceased. The children born of this 
marriage were five in number but four have passed away, the surviving 
daughter being Olivia Ramona, whose birth occurred on the 31st of 
December, 1908. 

	Mr. and Mrs. Heckenlaible are members of the German Lutheran 
church and guide their lives according to its teachings. In politics 
Mr. Heckenlaible is a republican and has served on the town board, 
while at the present time he is one of the county commissioners of 
Edmunds county. He has also been treasurer of the school board and is 
actively interested in various movements relating to the welfare of his 
town and county. Liberal educational advantages qualified him for 
life,s practical and responsible duties, but he had no financial 
assistance at the outset of his career and that he is now one of the 
prosperous business men of Edmunds county is attributable to his 
determination. enterprise and ability.