Anton A. Henden 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, 1898. Pages 472-473

	Scan, OCR and editing by Joy Fisher, jfisher@sdgenweb.com, 1999.

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ANTHON A. HENDEN, who resides on section 7, Henden township, is one of the best 
known Norwegian farmers in Miner county, and a leader among his country-men 
there. Mr. Henden, who is the oldest settler in Henden township, and after whom 
it was named, was born October 22, 1850, in Norway, and is a son of Anthon and 
Oline Henden. He came to this country in 1869, settling in Crawford county, 
Wisconsin, where for some years he worked upon different farms in that section, 
and for a term of two years was employed in store business at Rising Sun, 
Crawford county, Wisconsin. In 1880 he removed to Miner county, South Dakota, 
and on the 12th of April filed upon his present farm.  At that time there was 
not another soul living within eighteen miles of his place, and the wild, dreary 
stretches of territory upon all sides made his habitation anything but a 
cheerful one.  Mr. Henden went to work, nevertheless, and set about improving 
his farm and making himself a permanent home.  He succeeded admirably, though 
not without having to endure many hardships and overcome numerous obstacles in 
the meantime. During one season he went to Minnehaha county and found work as a 
harvester, returning in the fall with a sufficient amount of money to keep him 
in food, etc., through the coming winter - the terrible winter of 1880-1881.  
His family then came from Wisconsin and brought a carload of provisions with 
them, besides horses, cattle, etc., which of course, set things right once more.  
Mr. Henden now owns one hundred and sixty acres of land, all of which is under 
cultivation. He recently sold two quarter sections, having had at one time a 
farm of three hundred and twenty acres. probably the best in the township.  On 
the 1st of July, 1897, he established a general merchandise store on section i8, 
Henden township, which he has since carried on very successfully. He is also 
interested in the creamery at Nanson  Postoffice.  Politically, Mr. Henden is a 
free-silver Populist.  He is chairman of the township board of supervisors.  He 
has been justice of the peace for eight years and school clerk for nine years.

In 1875 Mr. Henden married Miss Maria Peterson, a native of Copper Creek, 
Wisconsin, and a daughter of Ingebriget and Maria Peterson.  Mr. and Mrs. Henden 
are the parents of fifteen children, nine of whom have died of diphtheria. Those 
now living are: Anthony, Lena, Iver, Rebecca4 Benjamin and Adolph.  Mr. Henden 
and family are members of the old synod, Norwegian Lutheran church.