Ephraim Westburg Biography


	This biography appears on pages 782-785 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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				EPHRAIM WESTBURG.  

	Ephraim Westburg, a farmer and stockman residing on section 7, 
Garfield township, Clay county, was born upon that farm in 1870. His 
parents, Olaf W. and Anna Westburg, were born, reared and married in 
Sweden and came to America in 1868. They first settled in Moline, 
Illinois, but a year later removed to Sioux City, Iowa. The father was 
for a time employed on a steamboat on the Missouri river, but in 1869 
he took up a homestead in Clay county, Dakota, and made settlement upon 
the same in 1870. He operated his farm until his retirement and brought 
it to a high state of cultivation. His demise occurred on the homestead 
in 1905 and his wife died in 1900. He divided his land between his two 
sons, John E., of El Campo, Texas, and Ephraim, of this review. A third 
son died in infancy and Vesta died at Moline, Illinois.  

	Ephraim Westburg received his education in his native county and 
after leaving school worked for three years in the employ of others at 
the cabinetmaker's trade and at carpentering. During the same time he 
was employed in a furniture store and also attended night school. When 
he had attained his majority he came into possession of forty acres of 
the homestead and some time later began farming for himself. He at 
length purchased his brother's interest in the farm and thus became the 
owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he has operated 
ever since. He has made a number of improvements upon his place, which 
is now one of the valuable properties of the county and which is in a 
high state of cultivation. He also owns forty acres in Pleasant Valley 
township. which he also farms. He is a stockholder in the A. B. & E. 
Telephone Company and is a well-to-do resident of his locality.  

	On the 24th of December, 1904, Mr. Westburg was married to Miss 
Emma Johnson, who was born in Ottumwa, Iowa, a daughter of Swen and 
Bertha Johnson, both natives of Sweden. They emigrated to the United 
States when young people and were married in Ottumwa. Mr. Johnson was 
engaged in railroad work until his removal to South Dakota in 1881, 
when he bought land, to the cultivation of which he has devoted his 
time ever since. His wife died in 1890. Seven of their ten children 
survive, as follows: Mrs. I. J. Lohre, of Clay county; Alfred, of Clay 
county; Mrs. Westburg; Carl E., of Clay county; Oscar and Albert, also 
residing in that county; and Mabel, at home. Mrs. Westburg received her 
education in the Clay county public schools. By her marriage she has 
become the mother of a son, Orvin S., who was born in 1907.  

	Mr. Westburg is a republican and has served acceptably as justice 
of the peace. He and his family belong to the Lutheran church and can 
always be counted upon to advance the moral welfare of their community.