Fred S. Pew, a prime example of progressive spirit and conservative business judgment, has played a significant role in the industrial and civic advancement of the West. As vice-president of the Citizens’ State Bank and president of the Day County Land Company and Andover Hotel Company, Pew’s influence extends across various capitalistic interests. Born in New York in 1861, he ventured to Dakota in 1881 and settled in Andover in 1883. With a successful background in livery and real estate, Pew became instrumental in organizing the Day County Land Company and played a key role in the establishment of the Waldorf Hotel. Highly regarded in the community, Pew serves as mayor, secretary of the board of education, and holds memberships in several fraternal organizations.
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 remained there 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 there 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, a position he still retains. The company is capitalized for one hundred thousand dollars and controls 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 since its organization in July 1902. The institution was incorporated with fifteen thousand dollars capital and is 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. He is currently the president of this company, and he is also 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. At the time of this writing, he is the mayor of Andover and also the secretary of the board of education. 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 associated. 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 2nd of July, 1884, the marriage of Mr. Pew to Miss Jennie M. Miller was solemnized. She was born in Decatur, Illinois, on the 29th of December, 1858, and is a daughter of Joseph S. and Mary Miller. This union has been blessed with two sons, Frank M. and Fred E.