John J. Chamberlain 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. Page 813

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

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JOHN J. CHAMBERLAIN. Among those who went to Dakota as young men 
determined to place themselves in the list of prosperous merchants, and 
artisans, and agriculturists, stands the gentleman above named, who is 
now a representative merchant of Frederick, Brown county. He has 
engaged successfully in the hardware business in that town, and is also 
one of the land owners and stock raisers of that vicinity, whose 
pleasant farm marks the good management of its affairs. 

Mr. Chamberlain was born in Waterloo, New York, June 5, 1854. His 
father, Charles D. Chamberlain, was also a native of the Empire state. 
He enlisted in Pennsylvania at the outbreak of the Civil war, and 
served in the cavalry arm of the service, and for many years after the 
close of hostilities was engaged as clerk in the treasury department at 
Washington, D. C. The mother of our subject, who bore the maiden name 
of Caroline Keistler, was a native of Pennsylvania, and is now a 
resident of Waterloo, New York. 

Our subject completed his schooling in his native village, and 
afterward concluded to learn the tinner's trade, and accordingly 
entered a shop as apprentice in Waterloo. He turned his way westward in 
1872 and located in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he remained two years 
working at his trade, and then removed to Michigan and again took up 
his work. He went -to Toledo, Ohio, in the spring of 1875, and from 
thence to La Fayette, Indiana, remaining there until 1880, and then 
returned to Kentland, and resided there until 1882, in which year he 
went to Frederick, Brown county, South Dakota, then a territory. His 
first position after his arrival in Frederick was with George Drum, for 
whom he worked one year, and then accepted a position with Hoarze and 
Dam, with whom he continued for five years, leaving their employ in 
1888. He then engaged in business on his own account, and has met with 
marked success during the many years which he has been identified with 
the business interests of the village, as an individual merchant. He 
conducts a large hardware trade, and has also invested in cattle and 
land, and now owns three quarter-sections of land near the village, 
which is well stocked and which has proven a good investment. 

Our subject was married in Lafayette, Indiana, in 1877, to Miss Mary 
Brady, a native of that city, who was born in 1859. Two children have 
been born to Mr. and. Mrs. Chamberlain, as follows: Julia, born in 
Lafayette; and Florence, born in Frederick, South Dakota. Mr. 
Chamberlain is prominent in secret society circles, and holds 
membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Modern Woodmen of 
America, Ancient Order of United Workmen, and the Rebekah degree of Odd 
Fellows. In political faith he is a Democrat, and stands firmly for the 
principles of his party. He is well read, broad-minded and 
enterprising, and his career has been marked throughout with a 
persistent effort to advance the interests of those for whom he worked 
as well as for his personal welfare. He is honest in his dealings, and 
popular in his community.