Anton Morgen Biography


	This biography appears on pages 214-215 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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				ANTON MORGEN. 

	Wisconsin has furnished to South Dakota a large percentage of her 
citizens of worth - men who have come from families that display energy 
and enterprise among their chief characteristics. Of this class Anton 
Morgen is a worthy representative and Spink county numbers him among 
her wide-awake and progressive farmers. He owns an excellent tract of 
land of three hundred and twenty acres in Mellette township, upon which 
he has resided for a considerable period. He dates his residence in 
this state from 1884, at which time his parents removed with their 
family from Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, to South Dakota. His father, 
Nicholas Morgen, was a native of Germany and in his boyhood crossed the 
Atlantic to the new world with his parents. He made farming his life 
work, carrying on general agricultural pursuits in Wisconsin until 
1884, when he brought his family to Spink county and proved up upon a 
claim northeast from Mellette. In early manhood he had wedded Margaret 
Gau, also a native of Germany, whence she came to the new world in her 
girlhood days. For a considerable period they traveled life's journey 
together, but were separated by the death of the wife on the 18th of 
June, 1903, her remains being interred in the Aberdeen Cemetery. Mr. 
Morgen survives and is now living in Warner, South Dakota, at the ripe 
old age of eighty years. 

	Their son, Anton Morgen, was born March 28, 1877, in Fond du Lac 
county, Wisconsin, and was therefore but seven years of age when 
brought by his parents to this state. He became a pupil in the district 
school near the old home, devoting the major part of his time there to 
the mastery of the common branches of learning until he reached the age 
of fourteen years. He afterward assisted his father in farm work until 
twenty years of age and later he rented a farm for two years. He next 
purchased one hundred and sixty acres and, extending its boundaries, 
has become owner of three hundred and twenty acres in Mellette 
township, Spink county. He has also bought one hundred and sixty acres 
in Brown county and is devoting his attention to general agricultural 
pursuits. The work which he does is fraught with good results, both in 
the cultivation of his crops and in the raising of stock. He keeps upon 
his place about eighteen head of horses, thirty head of cattle and 
other stock and his farm is well equipped in every particular. He is 
also a stockholder in tile elevator at Mellette. 

	In Redfield, on the 22d of October, 1901, Mr. Morgen was united 
in marriage to Miss Emma Wheelock, a daughter of Everett and Agnes 
Wheelock, the former a pioneer miller who built the mill in Kampeska 
and also the mill in Watertown. After running the latter for some time 
he returned to Kampeska, where both he and his wife are now residing. 
Mr. and Mrs. Morgen have five children: Wallace, Frederick and Harold, 
all of whom are attending school; and Paul and Grace, at home. 

	In his political views Mr. Morgen is a republican and his 
religious faith is that of the Catholic church. A life of unremitting 
toil has brought to Mr. Morgen the substantial measure of success which 
he now enjoys and which is the fitting reward and logical outcome of 
his capable business management. He has made improvements on two 
different farms, erecting good buildings, setting out trees and 
cultivating the fields. Thus he has contributed to the general 
development of Spink county, which numbers him among her worthy pioneer 
settlers. Here he has lived from the age of seven years to the present 
time and his substantial qualities have gained for him the friendship 
and high regard of those whom he has met all along the way.