Fred S. Pew Biography

This biography appears on page 661 in "History of South Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. I (1904) and was scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

Individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use may freely copy this file. 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 https://sdgenweb.atwebpages.com/

FRED S. PEW admirably typifies the progressive spirit and conservative business judgment which have made the young men of the great west so important factors in all branches of industrial activity and civic advancement. He is vice-president of the Citizens' State Bank, of Andover; president of the Day County Land Company and president of the Andover Hotel Company, while he has other important capitalistic interests.

Mr. Pew was born in Madrid, St. Lawrence county, New York, August 19, 1861, being a son of George W. and Nancy A. Pew, both of whom were likewise born in the old Empire state, being of Irish lineage. The subject received his early educational training in the public schools of his native town, and there remained until he had attained the age of twenty years, when, in the spring of 1881, he accompanied his parents on their removal to the territory of Dakota. In the spring of 1883 he located in Andover, Day county, and here he was actively and successfully engaged in the livery business until 1890, while from that time forward to 1898 he was engaged in the real estate and loan business. He was one of the organizers of the Day County Land Company in 1898, and when the same was incorporated under the laws of the state, in 1902, he was made president of the company, which position he still retains, the company being capitalized for one hundred thousand dollars and controlling an extensive and profitable business in the handling of lands in South Dakota and the extending of first-mortgage loans. Mr. Pew has also held the office of vice-president of the Citizens' State Bank of Andover from the time of its organization, in July, 1902, the institution being incorporated with fifteen thousand dollars capital and being one of the solid banks of the state. Mr. Pew was the prime factor in the organization of the Andover Hotel Company, which erected the fine modern hotel known as the Waldorf, in Andover, in 1903, and of this company he is president, while he is a member of the directorate of other important corporations in the town.

In politics Mr. Pew is a staunch advocate of the principles of the Republican party, and he takes an active interest in public affairs, being at the time of this writing mayor of Andover and also secretary of the board of education, while he commands the unequivocal confidence and esteem of the community to whose advancement and prosperity he has so materially contributed through the various enterprises with which he is identified. He is a communicant of the Roman Catholic church, and fraternally he holds membership in the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Knights of the Maccabees and the Degree of Honor.

On the 2d of July, 1884, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Pew to Miss Jennie M. Miller, who was born in Decatur, Illinois, on the 28th of December, 1858, being a- daughter of Joseph S. and Mary Miller. Of this union have been born two sons, Frank M. and Fred E.