Thomas H. Bickel 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 404-405

	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


THOMAS H. BICKEL, general farmer of Eden township, is one of Clark 
county's most widely known and highly respected citizens. He has been 
closely connected with the business interests of that region from the 
days of the early settlement of the state, and commands a reputation 
undisputed in its cleanness. His endeavors for the welfare of his 
locality have been prompted by loyal motives, and he is one of the men 
in whose coming to the country the interests of Clark county gained a 
stanch friend. His home is one of comfort and is located on section 
thirty-four in Eden township. 

Our subject is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born August 13, 1859. 
He was the third in a family of eight children born to Franklin and 
Rebecca (Davis) Bickel, both of whom are now residents of Minnesota. 
When four years of age he removed with his parents to St. Joseph 
county, Michigan, where they remained until he reached his ninth year, 
and then went to Minnesota, where the family settled in Martin county, 
the father following the occupation of a farmer, to which work our 
subject was reared. He went to Dakota in 1887, and in partnership with 
F. L. Stone erected the first store of Elrod, and engaged in a general 
merchandise business, also purchasing grain for Hodges & Hyde. He sold 
his interest in the store about 1890, and purchased a relinquishment of 
the farm in section thirty-four, and at once began gathering stock to 
the extent of fifty head, and soon took up general farming. He 
purchased a Buffalo Pitt's steam threshing outfit in 1892, and has been 
busied in that work each fall since. He is the possessor of three 
hundred and twenty acres of land, and has about two hundred and fifty 
of his acres under cultivation. Good management and strict attention to 
business has placed him above want, and his success is assured. 

Our subject was married in 1889 to Miss Myra Waterman, a native of Nova 
Scotia. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Bickel has been blessed by the birth 
of four children, named as follows: Gladys F., Eva, Franklin and Perie 
L. Mr. Bickel is a prominent member of the Ancient Order of United 
Workmen, the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Knights of Pythias. He 
has been called upon to serve in various local offices, including 
school treasurer and member of the board of supervisors. He is a 
Republican in political sentiment and an ardent worker for his party. 
He favors high license, and is strong in his convictions for right. He 
has served as delegate to the county and state conventions, and has a 
name among his associates for his clear judgment and patriotic 
principles. He is a man of the very best character, thorough and 
systematic as a farmer, pleasant to meet, and is held in high esteem by 
all with whom he comes in contact.