Jacob Rathgeber Biography


	This biography appears on pages 995-996 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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				JACOB RATHGEBER. 

	Jacob Rathgeber is now serving his fifth term as sheriff of 
Yankton county and has also been successfully engaged in business as a 
retail hardware merchant of Yankton for more than two decades. His 
birth occurred in Germany on the 6th of June, 1863, his parents being 
Christian and Barbara (Slier) Rathgeber, who emigrated to the United 
States in 1873 and established their home on a farm in Yankton county, 
Dakota territory. Here he was reared to manhood and in the acquirement 
of an education attended the country schools. When about twenty-two 
years of age he started out as an agriculturist on his own account and 
in the fall of 1885 was appointed deputy sheriff of Yankton county, 
serving in that position for about four and a half years. On the 
expiration of that period he went to Washington territory and embarked 
in the retail hardware business. He returned to Yankton, however, in 
December, 1891, and in the spring of the following year became 
associated with his brother-in-law, Bruno Strube, in the conduct of a 
retail hardware establishment which he has carried on continuously and 
successfully to the present time. An extensive and well merited 
patronage is accorded him and he enjoys an enviable reputation as a 
mere chant of enterprise, integrity and ability. Since his return to 
this state Mr. Rathgeber has been five times elected to the position of 
sheriff of Yankton county-a feet which stands in incontrovertible 
evidence of his faithfulness and fitness. He enjoys the confidence and 
support of all law-abiding citizens and in the able discharge of his 
duties has promoted the peace and prosperity of the district. 

	On the 8th of October, 1899, at Scotland, South Dakota, Mr. 
Rathgeber was united in marriage to Miss Emelia Neiland, her parents 
being Henry and Henrietta Neiland of Yankton county, the former an 
agriculturist by occupation. She was born in Yankton, this state, and 
is of German parentage. Mr. and Mrs. Rathgeber have two children: 
Harold, who is thirteen years of age; and Odin, five years old. Mr. 
Rathgeber gives his political allegiance to the republican party and 
fraternally is identified with Phoenix Lodge, No. 37, K. P., and 
Yankton Lodge, No 994, B. P. O. E. The period of his residence in this 
state covers about four decades and he is well entitled to 
representation among its substantial, esteemed and valued citizens.