William H. Jorgensen 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 537 Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the SDGENWEB Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://usgwarchives.org/sd/sdfiles.htm WILLIAM H. JORGENSEN. The farming interests of Baker township, Davison county, have a worthy exponent in the person of the gentleman above named, whose home is situated in section 33. The entire tract of three hundred and twenty acres is improved and tillable, and altogether makes up an estate whereon a remunerative business may well be done by a man who devotes himself closely and intelligently to his work. In the way of buildings every arrangement is being made for the economical conduct of the farm, and for the comfort of the family a nice residence has been constructed. Mr. Jurgensen is of German birth, born in Schleswig, December 22, 1854, a son of Fred and Kate (Ewis) Jurgensen. The father was a plasterer and mason by trade. They reared a family of nine children, of whom the subject of our sketch is the fourth in the order of birth. In 1880, he migrated from the land of his nativity to America, landing in New York, and at once made his way to Iowa, where his brother was working. Here he was employed as a farm laborer for four years, and in 1884 he moved to South Dakota, where he bought contested land, improved it and has since made that his home. He is now adding to the line of improvements a barn, 50 x 50 feet, with sheds. Our subject possesses many estimable traits of character, is endowed with activity, persistence and a good capacity for well directed labor, which have placed him in the forefront among the farmers in the vicinity. He is keenly interested in the welfare of the community, and dyes all in his power to push all schemes forward that will in any way enhance its growth or elevate its status. He is at present performing the duties of the office of township treasurer. Politically, he is a Populist but is not a strong partisan. In religious affairs, he is identified with the German Lutheran church. The estimable lady who presides over the household affairs of the subject of our sketch, and who has for many years been his companion and helpmate alike in loss and gain, bore the maiden name of Miss Rosa Sperlech. Their wedded life has been blessed by the presence of a bright, interesting family of five children, whose names in the order of their birth are as follows: Matha, Minnie, Annie, William and John.