John O. Aaseth was born on July 3, 1850, in Norway to Ole Rise and Kare (Hestehagen) Aaseth. He emigrated to the United States in 1872, settling in Yankton County, South Dakota. Aaseth initially worked in various labor roles, eventually becoming a partner in the Bagstad & Aaseth Company, a prominent local mercantile business. In 1879, he married Christina Welson, and they had eight children. Aaseth served in South Dakota’s first state legislature and held several local positions, including postmaster of Gayville. He was a dedicated member of the Lutheran Church and active in public service.
John O. Aaseth comes of sturdy Norseland lineage, and was born in Norway, on the 3d of July, 1850, being a son of Ole Rise and Kare (Hestehagen) Aaseth, of whose seven children he is the youngest of the three survivors, the other two being Anna, who is the wife of Lars Hanson, of Yankton county, and Agnethe, who is the wife of Ole Gulbranson, who still resides in Norway. Both parents are now deceased, the father having been engaged in agricultural pursuits in his native land, where he passed his entire life. The subject of this sketch was reared on the homestead farm and his early educational discipline was such as was afforded in the schools of his native land, where he remained until he had attained the age of nearly twenty-two years. In the spring of 1872, he severed the home ties and set forth to seek his fortunes in America, whither he came as a stranger in a strange land and dependent upon his own exertions for a livelihood, since he had no capital as a basis of operations and was further handicapped in that he was not familiar with the language of the country. After landing in New York City, Mr. Aaseth came forthwith to South Dakota, whose development was at that time in the initial stages and located in Yankton County. His first employment was in rafting ties down the Missouri River for use by the Dakota Southern Railroad, which was then in process of construction. He was thus engaged during the first summer and upon demanding his salary, amounting to about one hundred and twenty dollars, he was unable to collect the same, having never yet received payment for his arduous labors in the connection. During the ensuing winter he found employment in cutting wood and during the summer of 1873 he was an employee on the steamboat “Western” plying between Yankton and Fort Benton, Montana, while during the harvest season he worked in the wheat fields. In the autumn of that year he secured a position as clerk in a general store in the village of Gayville, the enterprise being conducted by Iver Bagstad, and in due time he became thoroughly familiar with all details of the business, gaining the implicit confidence of his employer, as is evident when we revert to the fact that at the expiration of about five years he was admitted to partnership, while he has ever since been identified with the enterprise, which has grown from one of most modest order until it now represents one of the largest and most important mercantile concerns in Yankton county. In 1892 the business was incorporated under the laws of the state and at this time the title of the company was changed to its present form, that of Bagstad & Aaseth Company, while Mr. Aaseth was made treasurer of the concern, in which executive position he has since continued. The building utilized has received additions at various times, as the demands of the business required more ample accommodations, and an extensive space is now used for the accommodation of the large and varied stock, the trade of the company extending over a wide radius of country.
In politics Mr. Aaseth is staunchly arrayed in support of the Republican party and has been an active and effective worker in its cause. He was for several years a member of the board of county commissioners, and in 1889 he was elected a member of the first legislature of the state of South Dakota, in which capacity he rendered efficient service to the state and was an able representative of the interests of his constituency. He takes an active interest in educational matters and for the past ten years has been a valued member of the school board of Gayville. He and his wife are prominent members of the Lutheran church, in whose work they take an active part. Mr. Aaseth received the appointment of postmaster of Gayville in 1902, and is still incumbent of this position, in which he is giving a capable and acceptable administration. He is well known throughout the county and is honored as one of its representative citizens and businessmen.
On the 14th of March 1879, Mr. Aaseth was united in marriage to Miss Christina Welson, of Gayville, she likewise being a native of Norway, and of this union have been born eight children, all of whom still remain at the parental home, their names being here entered in order of birth: Oliver, Elmer, Carl, Julian, Lewis, Alma, Clara and Myrtle. The two next eldest sons are employed in the store with which their father has so long been identified and the family home is a center of hospitality and refinement.
Source: Robinson, Doane, History of South Dakota: together with mention of Citizens of South Dakota, [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen, 1904.