George E. Countryman, M.D., was a respected physician and surgeon in Aberdeen, South Dakota. He was born on July 31, 1865, in Hastings, Minnesota, to Peter F. and Elizabeth (Gleason) Countryman, who were of Holland Dutch and English ancestry, respectively. Dr. Countryman, a descendant of Baron Johana Von Konderman, completed high school in Hastings and continued his studies at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. He graduated from Missouri Medical University in 1888 and began practicing in Mellette, South Dakota. He moved to Aberdeen in 1894, where he built a significant practice. He served as coroner of Brown County for eight years and as librarian of the Alexander Mitchell Free Library for five years. A member of the South Dakota State Medical Society, he was active in the Masons and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. On November 15, 1888, he married Kate A. Van Auken. They had a daughter, Marguerite, born August 27, 1890.
George E. Countryman, M.D., is one of the successful physicians and surgeons of the state, being established in the practice of his profession in the city of Aberdeen, where he has maintained his home since 1888, having the confidence and esteem of his professional confreres and of the community at large. George Edwin Countryman is a native of Hastings, Dakota County, Minnesota, where he was born on the 31st of July, 1865, being a son of Peter F. and Elizabeth (Gleason) Countryman, respectively of Holland Dutch and English ancestry, while both were born in the state of New York, whence they removed to Minnesota in 1851. The mother died in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1900; the father now resides in Hastings, Minnesota.
The Doctor is a direct descendant of Baron Johana Von Konderman, who was exiled from Holland in 1608 and who came to New England with the earliest Puritan settlers, while he rendered distinguished service for the colonies in their conflicts with the Indians, participating in the protracted wars with the aborigines, and in recognition of his long and valiant service he was given a grant of land in the Mohawk Valley, in the state of New York, and the same has been largely in the possession of his descendants through all the succeeding generations. The name, through years of careless and indifferent pronunciation and spelling, has assumed divers forms, notably Konderman and Countryman. Baron Von Konderman’s descendants have settled in many different states of the Union, but the major portion have undoubtedly remained in New York, where the name is found spelled in both forms just mentioned.
Dr. Countryman completed a course in the high school of his native town and then continued his studies in Washington University, in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1885 he was matriculated in the Missouri Medical University, in that city, in which institution he was graduated in 1888, receiving his degree of Doctor of Medicine. He instituted the active practice of his profession by opening an office in Mellette, South Dakota, in June, 1888, and in 1894 he took up his residence in Aberdeen, where he now has a large and representative practice. He served as coroner of Brown County for two terms of four years each, and for five years he acted as librarian of the Alexander Mitchell Free Library. He is a member of the South Dakota State Medical Society; is a staunch Republican in politics, fraternally is identified with the Masonic order and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and both he and his wife hold membership in the First Presbyterian church of Aberdeen, being prominent in the social life of the city.
On the 15th of November, 1888, Dr. Countryman was united in marriage to Miss Kate A. Van Auken, who was born in Hannibal, Missouri, January 30, 1865, being a daughter of William A. and Maria Van Auken. Dr. and Mrs. Countryman have one child, Marguerite, who was born August 27, 1890.
Source: Robinson, Doane, History of South Dakota: together with mention of Citizens of South Dakota, [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen, 1904.