Charles M. Rohde Biography


	This biography appears on pages 945-946 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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				CHARLES M. ROHDE. 

	Prominent among the energetic, farsighted and successful business 
men of Sioux Falls is Charles M. Rohde, president of the Bee Hive 
Company, which owns and controls the largest and most progressive 
department store of the city. No matter in how much fantastic 
theorizing one may indulge as to the cause of success, careful 
consideration of the lives of the prosperous men of the country will 
show that their advancement has been gained through close application, 
indefatigable energy and firm purpose. This is manifest in the career 
of Mr. Rohde, who has eagerly embraced every opportunity leading to 
honorable success and is now one of the foremost merchants in his part 
of the state. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, August 17, 1868, his 
parents being Charles and Caroline (Miller) Rohde. His father, a native 
of Germany, was born in 1843 and was a young man of about nineteen 
years when, in 1862, he came to the new world, settling in Chicago, 
where he engaged in business as a carpenter and contractor. He died in 
that city in 1907, after forty-five years' residence there, and his 
wife survived him until 1909. Charles M. Rohde was an only son but had 
four sisters, two of whom are yet living. 

	In the western metropolis Charles M. Rohde spent the days of his 
boyhood, youth and early manhood. It was in 1890 that he left his 
native city and removed to Paw Paw, Michigan, where he opened a general 
store in connection with H. C. Freese under the firm style of Freese &; 
Rohde. They closed out their business in 1893 and removed to Sioux 
Falls where in the month of April they opened a store, which they 
called the Bee Hive. From the beginning the enterprise proved 
profitable and the business steadily grew. In 1905 it was incorporated 
under the name of The Bee Hive Company, with Mr. Rohde as president. He 
and his partner are men of enterprise, diligence and determination and 
the progressive business methods which they have followed have brought 
to them a gratifying measure of prosperity. At all times they have 
conformed their interests to the highest standards of commercial ethics 
and thus they enjoy the unlimited confidence of the general public. 

	On the 20th of January, 1893, at Paw Paw, Michigan, Mr. Rohde was 
united in marriage to Miss Lizzie Parker, and they have a son, Harold 
Parker. They attend the Presbyterian church and are well known in 
social circles Mr. Rohde,s military history covers service as private 
and corporal in Company B, Second Regiment State Guard, for several 
years. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he 
is prominent in Masonry, in which he has taken the degrees of the York 
and Scottish Rites. He is also a member of the Mystic Shrine and 
belongs to the Knights of Pythias, to the Benevolent Protective Order 
of Elks and to the Country and Dacotah Clubs. Added to his business 
ability and keen discernment are the attractive social qualities which 
everywhere win friends The sterling traits of his character are many 
and genuine worth has gained for him the high position which he 
occupies in the regard of those who know him.