Fred Heglin Biography


	This biography appears on pages 76-79 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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				FRED HEGLIN.  

	Many of the well-to-do and progressive farmers of South Dakota 
are natives of Sweden and to this class belongs Fred Heglin, of Clay 
county, a member of the state legislature, who was born in Sweden in 
1859 of the marriage of Hans and Brita (Anderson) Hoglund. Both parents 
were born in that country and the father followed farming there. Upon 
his emigration to America he went to Council Bluffs, Iowa, where he 
resided for a year, after which he came to South Dakota, taking up as a 
homestead the farm which is now in possession of his son Fred. The 
claim comprised one hundred and sixty acres, but Mr. Heglin added four 
hundred acres to it and became recognized as one of the energetic and 
successful farmers of the county. When he first came to the state, 
however, he was in straightened circunstances and after filing upon his 
homestead left his family thereon and walked to Omaha, a distance of 
some two hundred miles, in search of work, as there was at that time no 
opportunity to make a living for his family in this state, which was a 
wild and unsettled region. He left home with but fifty cents in his 
pocket and the long journey which he made on foot is an indication of 
his determination and strength of will. He is still living at the 
advanced age of eighty-nine years and is in excellent health. His wife 
died in 1913. To them were born three sons: John and Peter H., who are 
farming in Canada; and Fred, of this review.  

	The last named was nine years of age when he accompanied his 
parents to this country and had attended school in his native land. He 
continued his education in the public schools of Council Bluffs, Iowa, 
and although quite naturally he knew no English upon entering school 
there, in three months he was far ahead of some in his classes. When 
eighteen years of age he entered the high school at Yankton, South 
Dakota, where he was a student until he was twenty-two years old. He 
then returned home and in connection with his brothers operated the 
farm. However, as his brothers were working for others, the greater 
part of the responsibility of the work of the homestead devolved upon 
him. In 1890 his father retired from active life and he assumed entire 
charge of the place. In 1894 he was elected county auditor and held 
that office for two terms. During that time he rented his farm and 
after the expiration of his second term accepted a position in the Clay 
County Bank, where he remained for one year. He then returned to the 
farm and resumed its operation. In 1912 he was elected a member of the 
state legislature and is at present serving his second term. He had the 
honor of delivering the speech nominating for United States senator 
Dean Sterling, who was later elected.  

	Mr. Heglin was married August 17, 1889, to Miss Elizabeth 
Ostlund, a native of Sweden, who accompanied her parents to the United 
States in 1868. Her father took up a homestead in Clay county but 
subsequently returned to Sweden, where he is now living retired. His 
wife died in 1890. To Mr. and Mrs. Heglin have been born the following 
children: Edna, who is now at home but was formerly a student in the 
University of South Dakota, making a special study of music; Judith, a 
graduate of the high school of Vermillion, who is fitting herself for a 
teacher; Herbert, who is a high-school student; and Wallace, who is 
attending the district school.  

	Mr. Heglin was formerly a populist but now gives his political 
allegiance to the republican party. He has held various local offices 
and has always taken an active interest in township and school affairs. 
His religious faith is that of the Lutheran church and he is a deacon 
in the local organization of that denomination. He has added one 
hundred acres to the two hundred acres of land owned by his father and 
the farm is one of the best developed in the county, yielding a good 
financial return annually. In early manhood Mr. Heglin took up the 
study of music and organized the Dalesburg Band, which played at a 
number of state fairs. He was the leader of this band from its 
organization in 1887 until 1903 and under his direction it became a 
musical organization of merit. For thirty years he has been the choir 
leader in the Lutheran church and in many ways has contributed to the 
musical development of his locality. He is a man of broad views and of 
well balanced personality and gives his support to all movements that 
have as their object the material, moral or intellectual development of 
his part of the state.