Gregory Smithberger Biography


	This biography appears on pages 523-524 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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				GREGORY SMITHBERGER. 

	Gregory Smithberger, assistant cashier of The Bank of Bowdle, was 
born in Noble county, Ohio, on the 17th of November, 1867. His father, 
William Smithberger, was born in the Rhine province of Prussia and with 
his parents came to America in his childhood days. In Pennsylvania he 
met and married Miss Theresa Fauth, who was a native of Baden, Baden, 
Germany, and was brought to the new world in her early girlhood by her 
parents. Following their marriage they removed from Pennsylvania to 
Noble county, Ohio, where the grandfather, John Smithberger, had 
homesteaded land. William Smithberger afterward purchased that place 
and in addition to its cultivation and improvement also engaged in 
merchandising at Harrietsville, a small village to the corporation 
limits of which his farm adjoined. He and his wife both died on the old 
homestead property in Ohio and were buried on the same day in the same 
grave. 

	Gregory Smithberger spent his youthful days under the parental 
roof and his education was acquired in the common schools. When 
eighteen years of age he secured employment in a mercantile 
establishment in an adjoining town and the following twelve years were 
divided between clerking and working upon his father's farm. His entire 
life has been one of intense and well directed activity and whatever 
success he has enjoyed has been the direct outcome of his labors. 

	In 1892 Mr. Smithberger was united in marriage to Miss Caroline 
Groeschner, of Noble county, Ohio, by whom he has three children, 
namely: Ruth, who is the wife of Leo E. Auchampach, an agriculturist of 
Edmunds county, South Dakota; Grace, who lives with her sister Ruth; 
and Ralph, a resident of Jamestown, North Dakota. 

	In March, 1898, Mr. Smithberger left Ohio and came west to 
Bowdle, South Dakota, where he accepted a clerkship in the store of 
Aurand &; Amerpohl, with which firm he was associated for four years. 
In 1902 he was offered and accepted the position of assistant cashier 
of The Bank of Bowdle and continued in that responsible position until 
his election to the office of county treasurer of Edmunds county in the 
fall of 1908, assuming the duties of the position on the 1st of 
January, 1909. He remained in the office for two terms or four years, 
having been reelected in 1910, and on the expiration of his second term 
he returned to Bowdle and resumed the duties of his former position as 
assistant cashier of the bank, in which connection he still continues, 
his efforts being an important element in the continued success and 
growth of the institution. He has made judicious investment in property 
and is now the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land in 
Cleveland township, Edmunds county, his farm returning to him a 
substantial annual income. 

	Fraternally Mr. Smithberger is identified with the following 
organizations: Hiddenwood Lodge, No. 117, A. F. & A. M.; the Order of 
the Eastern Star; the Ancient Order of United Workmen; and the Knights 
of the Maccabees. He is a stanch republican but not a politician in the 
sense of office seeking. He is officially connected with the schools, 
however, as a member of the present board and is a stanch champion of 
the cause of higher education. His efforts have been effective in 
raising the standards of instruction in Bowdle and in introducing 
substantial improvements in connection with the schools. He recognizes 
the broad opportunities of the west and believes in building this great 
western empire upon a safe and sure foundation, having as its basic 
elements enterprise, progress and reliability.