Andy Gerup 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 720-723

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

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ANDY GERUP. In the respect that is accorded to men who have fought 
their way to success through unfavorable environments we find an 
unconscious recognition of the intrinsic worth of a character which 
cannot only endure so rough a test, but gain new strength through the 
discipline. The following history sets forth briefly the steps by which 
our subject, now one of the substantial business men of Bowdle, South 
Dakota, overcame the disadvantages of his early life. 

Mr. Gerup is a native of Sweden, born December 30, 1848, and is the 
ninth child in a family of twelve of Andrew Gerup, a farmer of that 
country, and the only one of the family that came to America. There our 
subject was reared upon a farm and attended an agricultural institute. 
He was then appointed superintendent of a large farm of two thousand 
acres, where he was employed several years. While holding that position 
he was induced to invest his money in a patent for the manufacture of 
nails, to which he later devoted his time, resigning his position. It 
was not long before all of his money was gone. He finally succeeded in 
selling the patent right for three thousand dollars, but allowed his 
partner to draw the money and the latter was never heard from again. 

Mr. Gerup was then forced to begin life anew as a day laborer, but soon 
obtained a position under the Swedish government to travel in England 
to observe the mode of farming there and report the same, which he did 
for one year. In 1879 he sailed for America and first located in 
Chicago, where he did office work for the Lake Shore & Michigan 
Southern railroad for three years. Coming to South Dakota in 1882 he 
took up a tree claim and pre-emption in Walworth county, erected a 
shanty thereon, 10 x 12 feet, and turned his attention to farming. 
There he lived alone for one year, during which time he spent all that 
he had previously saved on improvements and machinery. All supplies had 
to be hauled from Ipswich, a distance of sixty miles, and he 
experienced all the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life. 

On the 1st of June, 1886, Mr. Gerup came to Bowdle when only a tent 
marked the site of that now thriving town. He brought with him an ox 
team, a wagon and twenty-five cents in money, and at first worked at 
anything which he could find to do, principally hauling lumber and 
supplies from Ipswich. On his first trip to that place from Bowdle he 
met a man with a team of mules, and, although both were perfect 
strangers to each other, he traded his oxen for the mules, giving his 
note for forty dollars to boot. The other party was assured by the 
honest face of Mr. Gerup that the note would be paid when due. These 
mules are still in his possession and he would not part with them for 
any sum. After teaming' all summer, in the fall of 1886 Mr. Gerup built 
a barn, which he conducted as a feed stable, and also engaged in the 
draying business. He put beds in his barn, and as he would keep a man 
and his team over night for forty cents, he secured most of the 
business of the place. 

In 1887 he also started a feed store in a building which he moved near 
his barn and soon built up a fine business along that line. He was 
forced, however, to borrow money on his barn and lots from the Union 
Debenture Company, of Boston, Massachusetts, and though he negotiated 
for a loan of four hundred dollars he only received three hundred and 
fifty dollars in cash, and as he had to pay sixty-two dollars interest 
on that amount yearly, at the end of four years he had paid seven 
hundred and ten dollars for the three hundred and fifty dollars 
received. In 1887 he bought a resident lot across the street from his 
barn, and erected a house thereon at a cost of eight hundred dollars. 
In 1890 he embarked in the machinery business, first buying a carload 
of wagons, and was interested in that line of trade for three years, 
after which he engaged in grain buying for a time. In 1894 he bought a 
corner lot, on which, in 1897, he built his present store, which is 30 
x 80 feet in dimensions, and two stories high with a basement. It is 
the best looking building in Bowdle and cost four thousand dollars. The 
first floor is stocked with hardware and furniture, the second with 
furniture, while in the basement is the surplus stock and tin shop. His 
property, including his residence and the improvements around it; the 
feed stable, feed store, general store and grain warehouse, is now 
valued at about ten thousand dollars, all of which has been acquired 
through his industry, perseverance, economy and good management. His 
life record is one well worthy of emulation and contains many valuable 
lessons of incentive, showing the possibilities that are open to young 
men who wish to improve every opportunity for advancement. 

In the fall of 1897 Mr. Gerup was united in marriage with Miss Lena 
Neustrum, a native of Sweden and a daughter of Nels Neustrum, a 
carpenter and gardener by occupation. She came to America in 1894 in 
company with her sister, and, like her husband, is held in high regard 
by all who know her. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Gerup will be found on 
another page of this volume.