John F. Just 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 947-948

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

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JOHN F. JUST. Among the leading and representative agriculturists of 
Washington township, Aurora county, South Dakota, stalwart and sturdy 
tillers of the soil, there is none who stands a more prominent figure 
than the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. His residence, 
which stands upon section 9, is pleasant and substantial, and is known 
far and wide for the open hospitality and geniality of its inmates. 

The father of our subject, John Just, was a native of Prussia, Germany, 
and a miller and distiller by trade. On coming to America in 1838 he 
operated a distillery in Ohio, and later removed to Milwaukee, 
Wisconsin. It was in that city that John F. Just was born in 1845 and 
there he was reared until sixteen years of age. He was educated in a 
parochial school of the Lutheran church, and being a bright, studious 
boy, well advanced in his studies, he was confirmed at the age of 
thirteen. After leaving school he started to learn the shoemaker's 
trade, but as his brother-in-law needed his help upon a farm in 
Illinois, he went to that state, where he remained one year. At the end 
of that time he returned to Milwaukee and completed his apprenticeship, 
after which he spent six years on the farm in Illinois, as he much 
preferred the life of an agriculturist. During the Civil war he wished 
to enlist in the Union service, but as he was not of age and could not 
get his parents' consent, he was obliged to remain at home. 

In 1867 Mr. Just married Miss Catherine Hotzell, a daughter of John and 
Sophia (Andermann) Hotzell, natives of Germany. Her father came to 
America in 1842 and was married in Lee Centre, Lee county, Illinois. 
Six children have been born to our subject and his wife, but one is now 
deceased. Those living are Mary L., the wife of Edward F. Mitchell, now 
residing in Plankinton, the marriage ceremony taking place June 1, 
1899; George, who is in the creamery business in Iowa; Manuel, who was 
married December 15, 1898, and is living in South Dakota; Charlie; and 
Ernest. 

For two years after his marriage Mr. Just continued to engage in 
farming in Illinois, where he owned a farm of eighty acres, of which 
sixty-five acres were under cultivation. Upon the place was a good 
orchard of apple and cherry trees and plenty of currants. In 1869 he 
moved to Ashton, that state, where he was' engaged in the boot and shoe 
business for some time and worked at his trade. He met with success, 
but owing to ill health he was obliged to change his business, and in 
1876 he sold his boot and shoe store 'end embarked in the furniture 
business, which he followed until coming to Dakota in the spring of 
1883. The year previous he had visited this state and filed a claim on 
the southeast quarter of section 9, Washington township, and another on 
the northeast quarter of the same section. For a year he lived there 
alone, being joined by his family in the spring of 1884. His first home 
here was a shanty, 12 x 16 feet, made of a very poor grade of flooring, 
but he paid for this lumber twenty dollars per thousand feet. To keep 
the house from being blown away he banked it high with earth and stone, 
and until he constructed a sod stable, 8 x 12 feet, west of his shanty 
in the fall of 1884, his horses were staked near the house. The 
property brought with him to Dakota consisted of one cow, nine horses, 
some chickens, a reaper, a second-hand plow, a set of harness, a wagon 
and also a hearse, which he had used when engaged in the undertaking 
business in connection with the furniture trade. This hearse is still 
in use in White Lake. Renting his farms here Mr. Just and his family 
returned to Illinois in the fall of 1885 and remained there until 1887, 
since which time they have permanently resided here. They now have a 
comfortable home, 24 x 24 feet, with a basement, also a large barn, 34 
x 64 feet, and good granary, corn cribs, cattle and sheep sheds. Mr. 
Just has added to his farm by the purchase of the north half of section 
10, Washington township, and now has one hundred and seventy-five acres 
under a high state of cultivation. 

Mr. Just is one of the prominent and influential members of the 
Republican party in his community, and in 1896 he was their candidate 
[or the state legislature. He has held numerous township offices with 
credit to himself and to the satisfaction of all concerned, is now a 
member of the Republican central committee and postmaster of Robey. 
Religiously, he and his wife are consistent members of the Presbyterian 
church and they have the respect and esteem of all who know them.