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 251-252.

	Scan and OCR by Joy Fisher, 1997. This file may be copied for non-profit 
	purposes. All other rights reserved.




HON. JOHN HENRY MICHAELS, a member of the state legislature and a 
prominent citizen of Codington county, was formerly one of its most 
enterprising farmers, but now makes his home in a cosy residence in the 
city of Watertown. He was born in Germany, March 29, 1843, a son of 
John and Minnie (Schroeder) Michaels, both natives of Germany. The 
father was a laboring man in his native place and died there when our 
subject was seven years of age. His mother died in Germany in February, 
1866.

	Our subject came to America in 1866 and located in Dodge county, 
Wisconsin, where he was employed as a farm laborer for three years, and 
then rented a farm for four years. He next bought a farm of one hundred 
acres, which he improved, and three years later he increased his farm 
by purchasing another tract of eighty acres. After cultivating this 
farm five years he had the misfortune to lose his entire property 
except a few personal effects. He then went to Codington county, South 
Dakota, and bought railroad lands twelve miles north of Watertown on 
yearly payments and began farming there. After paying for the original 
farm, he began to make additions to it from time to time until at one 
time he owned 720 acres, but a short time ago he gave 160 acres to his 
oldest son, and recently he gave another quarter to the second son. In 
the spring of 1897, Mr. Michaels moved to Watertown and retired from 
active work.

	In political views Mr. Michaels has always been a stanch 
Republican, and on that ticket has been elected to several important 
offices. He was first elected county commissioner in 1888, and was 
chairman of the county board for several years, being reelected in 
1891. In 1894 he was elected to the legislature of South Dakota, and 
re- elected in T896. He is a man of strict integrity, and is widely 
known and respected for his honorable, just and straightforward 
methods.

	In 1866 Mr. Michaels was married in Germany to Miss Lina Dahl, a 
native of that country, and for a wedding tour they emigrated to 
America, embarking in July and landing in the following September. To 
this union have been born five children, of whom we have the following 
record: Herman, a prominent farmer of Roweville township, who, in 
addition to the 160 acres presented him by his father, has purchased a 
quarter section for himself and is doing an extensive farming and 
stock-raising business; Anna, wife of Henry Stien, who is also a farmer 
in the same township and owns 320 acres; John, a farmer of Germantown 
township, Codington county, who owns a farm of 320 acres Max, a student 
for the Lutheran ministry, who has spent three years as a student at 
New Ulm, Minnesota, and is now at the Watertown university, Watertown, 
Wisconsin, and Frank, who still resides at home and is working on the 
old homestead. The family are members of the Lutheran church, of which 
Mr. Michaels has been deacon for fourteen years. He is a well-informed 
man, being well versed on topics of education and economy, and is 
widely and favorably known as a citizen, devoted to his country's best 
interests. He is chairman of the board of elevator commissioners of the 
Farmers' association of Codington county, and has always taken an 
active part in educational and public matters.