Gotleb Labisky 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 1092-1093

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

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GOTLEB LABISKY. Among the sons of the German empire who have won an 
enviable reputation as substantial citizens of Edmunds county this 
gentleman is entitled to a foremost rank. His life in his adopted state 
has been filled with many struggles for existence, but his honest 
efforts and good management have brought him success, and he is now 
proprietor of a fine estate, and worthy the name accorded him by his 
fellow men. He is one of the pioneer settlers of Dakota, and his home 
on section 9, in Richland township, is one of comfort, and in striking 
contrast to the first days of his life in the western land. 

Our subject was born in Germany, September 9, 1815, and was the fourth 
in a family of ten children. His parents were natives of Germany and 
emigrated to America about 1856, and the father, David Labisky, died in 
Wisconsin in 1890. He was a farmer by occupation in his native land, 
and settled in Sheboygan county, Wisconsin, where he engaged in the 
same vocation. 

At the age of twelve years our subject began working on a farm, and 
continued thus engaged until he reached his majority, giving the wages 
he earned toward the support of the family. After about seven years' 
employment in Wisconsin, he went to Dakota in 1883 and took the 
southeast quarter of section 9, in Richland township, which is his 
present location, and erected a frame shanty, sodded outside. This 
dwelling was but 12 x 16 feet, and they had but few household goods, 
and ten dollars in money represented their capital, but our subject 
possessed the vigor of young manhood and went to work with a 
determination which never wavered. The first summer he worked for 
others to earn enough to hire a team and plow with which to break five 
or six acres of land, and in 1884 raised a crop and succeeded in 
breaking about five more acres. 

The following year he raised two hundred and sixty bushels of wheat, 
and with a portion of the money thus earned purchased a team and not 
having sufficient to buy a plow and wagon for cash, purchased them on 
time. For the first few years in Dakota he worked at well digging, his 
only implements for the work being a shovel and pick. Sixteen hundred 
feet have been excavated by him in this manner in his neighborhood. He 
has a well-improved farm, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, 
one hundred of which is under cultivation, and a stream running through 
the land makes the farm admirably adapted to the raising of stock. He 
has about thirty-three head of cattle and engages in mixed farming. In 
1892 his crop promised a yield of eighteen bushels of wheat per acre 
but hail partially destroyed it and seven bushels was the average. In 
1896 a cyclone visited his property, tearing his barn in two and 
carrying it one hundred and fifty feet, and the cattle shed was also 
taken away, but his horses, eight in number, and the cattle were 
unhurt. A new barn, 24 x 28 feet, was erected in June of that year, and 
the farm is now in excellent condition and bears evidence of thrift and 
good management. Mr. Labisky's health is not good at present, but the 
income from his property places him in a position to rest from his hard 
labors, and he is now enjoying the comforts afforded by rural life. 

Our subject was married in 1881 to Miss Mary Cramer, a native of 
Minnesota and the daughter of Fred Cramer, a farmer of that state. 
Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Labisky, namely: Rosa, 
Eddie and Frank. The children are given the best of school advantages, 
and our subject is particularly interested in educational matters, 
lending his influence toward the upbuilding of the best systems. He is 
prominent in local affairs and has served as a member of the town board 
and road overseer. He holds membership in the Ancient Order of United 
Workmen. In political sentiment he is a Democrat.