PREFACE

When one casually picks a book of history from the brary and hurries through its many pages of interesting and valuable reading it does not occur to him that it took very much effort to collect the data which is included there. The book is viewed as something which has always been.

History is not like fiction which is the creation of the imagination; it must deal with facts as they are and the closer one can keep to the truth the better will be the history. Facts of actual experience are plentiful enough, but which ones are worthy to be recorded and how they shall be thoroughly established as true, are questions which need a good deal of careful attention. This, therefore, requires someone who either knows these facts first hand, or knows how they can be obtained.

Mr. L. G. Ochsenreiter, one of the very first of the pioneers to come to Day county, has always been deeply interested in its progress and has played a very active part in its making. His intimacy with actual happenings and his personal interest make him far more qualified than if he should make an impersonal collection of facts in which he had known no vital part.

Mr. Ochsenreiter was born in Bradford, Harrison county, Indiana, February 17, 1857. Both of his parents were German, having come to this country from Wurtenburg in 1848. The family moved to Jordan, Minnesota April, 1865 and here Louis received his early education, which never included high school, but was later supplemented in the great school of experience. It was his father's intention that he should learn the trade of tin and copper smith. When Louis was but eleven his father died, however, and he was hired out for a year in order to help with the support of the family.

In 1871 he was again hired out to a firm in St. Paul; this time it was for the purpose of learning the hardware trade. The first year he served as handy boy about the store and with the chores which he did before and after hours these were long days; but he earned his board. He continued working in St. Paul until 1877, having raised his wages to thirty-five dollars per month. He then returned to Jordan where he engaged in the sale of nursery stock and farm implements.

In 1880 he became quite venturous and feeling confident that he could go into business for himself, he heeded the suggestion of a friend, Mr. McClelland and came to Dakota Territory. He landed at what is now Webster, filed a homestead and tree claim and returned to Jordan for the winter. In the following spring he, with a number of others, came to the county with the intention of establishing a town.

Mr. Ochsenreiter built the first store on the townsite in which he set up a hardware business in partnership with Andrew Smail. This firm continued successfully for twenty years when Mr. Ochsenreiter, taking the implement business, moved to a building across the street. He continued in this business for fifteen years and then sold out and entered the automobile business for another five years. With this he concluded his business career.

Mr. Ochsenreiter was not too busy, however, to give a good deal of his time to the affairs of county and of state. He bent his efforts toward securing for Webster the county seat and to make it the best town in the state. In May, 1892, when others had failed, he assumed the leadership of the South Dakota World's Fair commission and did much to bring about its splendid success. From 1903-07 he served the nation in the capacity of Examiner in the Department of Justice, rendering efficient service.

After retiring from active business Mr. Ochsenreiter again feels that he must render further service and so engages himself in the difficult task of collecting material for the history of his county. He is anxious that these facts of interest and experience shall not be lost to posterity and that those who read about the success of the early pioneers will take pride in those early achievements to the extent that they will continue them with their very best ability. We can show our appreciation of this splendid service only by doing our utmost toward fulfilling the dreams of Mr. Ochsenreiter and the other old Pioneers of the county.

Harry C. Ernst.