Joseph Kubler Biography This biography appears on pages 123-124 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 JOSEPH KUBLER. Joseph Kubler, the founder and editor of the Custer Chronicle, a paper which is well known in the Black Hills district and which is in its thirty-sixth volume, was born in Alsace, Germany, on the 23d of August, 1854, a son of Joseph and Louise (Weyer) Kubler, both also natives of that province. Mr. Kubler of this review was left an orphan when but fifteen years of age, his mother passing away at that time while his father died when the son was but an infant. His education was acquired in his native country and when he was about seventeen years of age he left the fatherland and emigrated to America, locating first in Jackson, Mississippi, where he found employment with a street car company as a conductor. After working in that capacity for three years he went to Denver, Colorado, where he was engaged in the confectionery business for about eighteen months. Upon selling out he entered the office of a printing firm and there learned the printer's trade. In 1876 he arrived in the Black Hills, reaching Custer on the 4th of April, 1876. He with others intended to start a newspaper there but finding the conditions unfavorable, removed to Deadwood and Mr. Kubler worked upon the first issue of The Pioneer, which name was given to the new paper started there. He continued to reside in that city until 1880 and then returned to Custer and in connection with A. D. Clark established the Custer Chronicle, which has had a continuous existence since that time. In 1885 Mr. Kubler bought out his partner's interest and for the intervening thirty years has been sole owner of the paper. As Custer and the district surrounding it have grown in population and in wealth the circulation of the paper has increased and its conduct has proved a profitable as well as a congenial business. Mr. Kubler is also a stockholder in the First National Bank of Custer and owns both residence and business property in that city, where he is recognized as a substantial citizen. In June, 1881, Mr. Kubler was united in marriage with Miss Louise Kapp, a native of Germany, whose parents remained lifelong residents of the fatherland. Mr. and Mrs. Kubler have seven children: Joseph W., who is assisting his father; William L., of Deadwood, who is manager for the Cudahy Packing Company at that place; Carl H., who is employed in the post office at Deadwood; Eva E`, the wife of Joseph S. Baker, assistant postmaster of Deadwood; Frank, who is helping his father in the printing office; and Grace D. and Louise, at home. Mr. Kubler is a republican in his political belief and has held a number of offices of responsibility. For thirteen years, from 1900 to July, 1913, he was postmaster of Custer and has been a member of the town board and of the board of education, of which he was chairman in 1914. He is quite well known fraternally. In the Masonic lodge he has held all of the chairs and for three successive terms was master. He has attained the thirty second degree in the Scottish Rite and is also a Mystic Shriner. He is identified with the Knights of Pythias and has served in all of the offices of the local lodge of that order. He is connected with public utilities at Custer as president of the Electric Light, Heat & Power Company and in that capacity keeps ever in mind the intimate relation between the welfare of the people and the service given by such companies as the one of which he is the executive head. He has demonstrated his power to direct and control extensive interests and has also proven his loyalty to the general good. As editor of the Custer Chronicle he has been responsible in no small measure for many movements that have resulted greatly to the benefit of the community and his name is justly honored in his part of the state.