Crist Grue Biography

This biography appears on pages 1788-1789 in "History of South Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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CRIST GRUE, the able and popular register of deeds of Day County, was born not far from the picturesque old city of Christiania, Norway, on the 19th of September, 1863, and is a son of Andreas Grue, who was born in the same place and who passed his entire life in his native land. Our subject was reared in his native city, where he duly availed himself of the advantages of the excellent national schools, and he there continued to reside until 1881, when, in company with his four brothers, he immigrated to the United States.

They came at once to South Dakota, and located near Canton, Lincoln County. There the subject continued to be engaged in farming and stock growing until 1890, when he removed to Day County and purchased a quarter section of land four miles west of Bristol, and here he continued in the same line of industry, conserving his resources and working with indefatigable energy, so that he was prospered and enabled to add to the area of his landed estate. He now has a finely improved farm of four hundred acres, of which his original quarter section is an integral part, and about one-half of the tract is under a high state of cultivation, the remainder being utilized for grazing purposes.

Upon coming to America, Mr. Grue soon realized the necessity of gaining a more adequate knowledge of the language of the country than could be attained by absorption, and he continued his studies in the public schools for some time, making rapid progress in English and in the other branches of the curriculum. He is a staunch Republican in politics and has taken a lively interest in public affairs of a local interest, while he has held various township offices. In the autumn of 1902 he was elected register of deeds of the county and thereupon took up his residence in Webster, and his re-election to the office is assured in the fall of the present year, 1904, since he has given a most able administration and even more firmly cemented his hold upon popular esteem and approval. He is identified with the Improved Order of Red Men and the Brotherhood of American Yeomen.

On the 31st of March, 1890, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Grue to Miss Julia Sogn, of Lincoln county. They have no children.