Andrew Boller 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 688-691

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

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ANDREW BOLLER. Everywhere in our land are found men who have worked 
their own way from humble beginnings to leadership in commerce, the 
great productive industries, the management of financial affairs, and 
in controlling the veins and arteries of traffic and exchanges of the 
country. It is one of the glories of our nation that it is so, and it 
should be the strongest incentive and encouragement to the youth of the 
country. Prominent among the self-made men of Faulkton is the subject 
of this sketch, a well-known undertaker and furniture dealer. A 
portrait of Mr. Boller appears on another page. 

He was born in the town of Hohenthengen, Baden, Germany, November 28, 
1856, and on both sides is descended from highly respected old German 
families. His father, Andreas Boller, was a farmer and cattle dealer by 
occupation. Our subject, who is the fourth in order of birth in a 
family of six children, attended the schools of his native town until 
twelve years of age, and completed his education by a four years course 
in a high school in Switzerland. At the age of sixteen he entered a 
store to learn the mercantile business, for which privilege he had to 
pay two hundred dollars, and the only compensation he received during 
his three years' apprenticeship was his board. For five years 
thereafter he engaged in clerking in his native land, and in the fall 
of 1880 sailed for America. On landing in New York he proceeded at once 
to Iowa, but not finding employment during the month spent in that 
state, he came to Yankton, South Dakota, in December, 1880, though he 
had to pawn his watch to get the money to bring him here. He made his 
home in that city for four years, working in a soda water factory most 
of the time, and in a furniture store for nine months. 

In 1884, Mr. Boller married Miss Carrie Klimisch, who was born in 
Germany but was reared in this country. Her father, Anthony Klimisch, 
was a farmer in Yankton county. The children born to our subject and 
his wife are Fred, now fourteen years of age; Andy; Carrie; May; and 
Bertha. 

Soon after his marriage in 1884, Mr. Boller went to. Highmore, South 
Dakota, where for a year and a half he conducted the National Hotel. At 
the end of that time he returned to Yankton, where he remained during 
the winter of 1885-6, and the following spring went to Redfield to take 
charge of a hotel, to which he gave the name of National. After six 
months spent at that place he came to Faulkton in the fall of 1886 and 
established a furniture store in a building 24 x 40 feet. He has had to 
enlarge his stock to meet the demands of his growing trade and has also 
added to his building, making it 24 x 60 feet. He also rents another, 
22 x 50 feet, and has many modern improvements in his store, including 
a Kimball elevator. When he makes the contemplated repairs, he will 
have the largest and finest store in the town. He does purely a 
furniture and undertaking business and receives a liberal share of the 
public patronage. Besides his business property he owns a quarter of a 
block in the residence portion of the place. 

Mr. Boller is an ardent Republican in politics, and has taken an active 
and prominent part in municipal and county affairs, serving as mayor of 
Faulkton one term and as alderman for ten years with credit to himself 
and to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. Socially, he is a 
member of the Knights of Pythias, the Ancient Order of United Workmen 
and the Modern Woodman of America.