Jacob Assmus 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 697-698

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

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JACOB ASSMUS. Among the progressive and enterprising farmers and. stock 
raisers of Aurora county there are very few who are the peer of the 
subject of this biographical notice. He owns the northeast quarter of 
section 2, Truro township, and is meeting with most excellent success 
in its operation. Mr. Assmus is a native of Germany, born in 1847, and 
was reared upon the home farm of his parents in that country. At the 
age of fourteen he commenced learning the weaver's trade, at which he 
worked for eleven years. 

At the age of twenty-four Mr. Assmus crossed the broad Atlantic, and on 
reaching the shores of this country proceeded at once to Ohio, where he 
worked for an uncle for a time, and also engaged in carpentering. 
Learning the butcher's trade, he successfully conducted a meat market 
at Independence, Iowa, for twelve years, but two attacks of typhoid 
fever broke down his health and he was forced to retire from that 
business. 

During his residence there he was married, in 1879, to Miss Minnie 
Tielebeine, who was born in Iowa, of French and German ancestry, and 
was reared in that state. They have become the parents of five 
children, the oldest of whom is now eighteen years of age. 

In 1883 Mr. Assmus and his brother came to Aurora county, South Dakota, 
and in Truro township the former secured the northeast quarter of 
section 2, the latter the northwest quarter of section 1. In the spring 
of the following year they located here, and in a rude shanty, fourteen 
by thirty-two feet, three families made their home until better 
quarters could be provided. It often rained and at such times the leaky 
shanty proved but little protection, as bed clothes and everything were 
soon soaked through and the fire in the stove was put out. At one time 
the entire party crowded into a straw pile and slept there as it was 
much dryer than their house. It was not long, however, before better 
houses were built for the accommodations of all three families. Having 
no money to pay for coal, they at first burned flax straw. During the 
first two years spent in Aurora county, Mr. Assmus harvested large 
crops and since then he has steadily prospered. though success has come 
slower. On locating here his property consisted of two cows, a calf, 
three horses and a wagon, but he is now the owner of a valuable and 
well-stocked farm of one hundred and sixty acres, of which one hundred 
and twelve acres are under a high state of cultivation and improved 
with a good residence, barn, corn cribs, etc. He has upon his place 
fifty five head of cattle and a few hogs, and he now makes a specialty 
of the raising of the former. He never lets an animal die on his hands, 
but always sells the old stock and keeps the young to feed. Around his 
home he has planted a dozen plum trees, some apple trees and plenty of 
currant and gooseberry bushes, which add greatly to the attractive 
appearance of the place besides furnishing the table with luscious 
fruits in season. Upon the farm is a good well two hundred and seventy-
eight feet deep and a windmill which pumps the water and also grinds 
feed. Mr. Assmus also has a cream separator and makes his own butter. 
Although he has never regained his former health and strength, he has 
met with most excellent success in his farming operations here, owing 
to his perseverance, enterprise and good management. 

Mr. Assmus favors the Populist party in all things but free silver, 
believing that a gold standard is for the best interests of the 
country. He takes an active part in campaign work, has served as judge 
of election at different times, and has held the office of school 
treasurer. Religiously, he is a Presbyterian, but as there is no church 
of that denomination in his neighborhood, he attends the Lutheran 
church. He is widely and favorably known and justly deserves the high 
regard in which he is held.