L. E. Amerpohl Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Pages 558-559

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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L. E. AMERPOHL is a leading citizen and representative business man of 
Bowdle, South Dakota, with mercantile interests of which he has been 
prominently identified since the town was started. He is a man of keen 
perception, good business ability and unbounded enterprise and to these 
may be attributed his success. He stands deservedly high in business 
circles and in all his undertakings has been uniformly successful. 

Mr. Amerpohl was born in Merrimac, Sauk county, Wisconsin, April 15, 
1863, a son of Christian and Elizabeth (Hellerunk) Amerpohl, who came 
to the new world from Germany about 1850. The father was a baker by 
trade, but in this country he followed farming to some extent, that 
being his occupation coring his residence in Sauk county, Wisconsin, 
where he first located. Later he removed to Brodhead, Wisconsin, and 
there worked at his trade. 

Our subject, who is fifth in order of birth in a family of eight 
children, was reared at Brodhead and was educated in its common 
schools. At the age of thirteen years he began earning his own 
livelihood as a clerk in a general store at that place, and in 1 884 
embarked in merchandising there on his own account as a member of the 
firm of Kildow & Amerpohl. After carrying on business at that place for 
two years, he came to Bowdle, South Dakota, in 1886, and established a 
general store in partnership with G. C. Aurand, under the firm style of 
Aurand & Amerpohl, theirs being the second store started in the place. 
Their first building was 22 x 40 feet, situated at the upper end of 
Main street, but in 1892 they removed to their present location, where 
they occupy a building 46x 96 feet, with a basement 24x 60 feet. They 
carry a large and well assorted stock of general merchandise,including 
hardware, boots and shoes, and their patronage comes from a territory 
many miles in extent. 

In 1893, Mr. Amerpohl was united in marriage with Miss Mattie Blancher, 
a daughter of Chancey Blancher, a farmer and laborer by occupation. She 
was born and reared in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, where for four 
years she successfully engaged in teaching, and later was principal of 
the schools of Bowdle, South Dakota, for two years. Her father was one 
of the early settlers of this state, locating near Watertown. Our 
subject and his wife have two children: Doris, aged five years, and 
Grace, aged a year and a half. 

Mr. Amerpohl is independent in politics, and has filled town offices, 
including that of councilman. Socially he is a member of the Masonic 
fraternity and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He has not confined 
his attention to one line of business, but is one of the five owners of 
the Bowdle creamery, and is also interested in general farming, owning 
a fine farm of four hundred and eighty acres in Edmunds county. The 
business policy which he has maintained has brought him prosperity. He 
is methodical and systematic, and the plans which he has pursued 
commend themselves to the judgment and respect of all.