Samuel H. Bakewell, a distinguished lawyer in Aurora County, was born on April 4, 1855, near Lansing, Allamakee County, Iowa. He was one of nine children of John and Sarah Ann (Hunt) Bakewell, of English descent. After completing his early education in public schools and a seminary in Waukon, Iowa, he taught school before studying law at the State University of Iowa, graduating in 1879. Bakewell moved to Dakota Territory in 1881, settling in Plankinton. He became a key figure in local public affairs, serving as probate judge, county court judge, and state’s attorney. An influential Republican, he also amassed significant property holdings. He was an active Freemason and a member of the Congregational Church. On April 17, 1884, he married Martha A. Cawley, an educator from Wisconsin. They had two sons, Robert C. and George S.
Samuel H. Bakewell.— No member of the bar of Aurora County has attained more distinctive prestige and honor than has Judge Bakewell, who has been for many years engaged in the practice of his profession in Plankinton and who has been a prominent figure in public and civic affairs in this section of the state.
Judge Bakewell was born on a farm near Lansing, Allamakee County, Iowa, on the 4th of April, 1855, being one of the nine children of John and Sarah Ann (Hunt) Bakewell. He is of English descent. He received his early education in the public schools and in the seminary at Waukon, Iowa. He taught school several winters. He continued his studies in the State University of Iowa, at Iowa City, in the law department of which he graduated as a member of the class of 1879. Soon after his graduation he came to the territory of Dakota and located at Plankinton, Aurora County, in 1881, being one of the pioneers of his profession in the county. During the first few years he was largely engaged in locating homeseekers on the public lands of his county and representing them professionally before the local land office at Mitchell and the general land office at Washington, D.C. He became prominent in the public affairs of the county in the territorial days and has continued since South Dakota was admitted to the Union to hold many positions of honor and trust. In 1884 he was elected to the office of probate judge of the county and was re-elected in 1886. After the admission of South Dakota as a state, he was elected judge of the county court and twice elected state’s attorney of his county. His self-poise and his thorough knowledge of the science of jurisprudence have won him a large and remunerative practice in his profession. He has taken advantage of the opportunities of a new country and has acquired large and valuable property interests. The Judge is one of the old-time Republicans and is one of the leaders of that party in his county. Fraternally, he is identified with the time-honored order of Freemasonry, and his religious faith is that of the Congregational Church, of which he and his family are members.
On the 17th of April, 1884, was solemnized the marriage of Judge Bakewell to Miss Martha A. Cawley, who was born and educated in Wisconsin, having graduated from the Oshkosh Normal School in 1879, and who was principal of the Plankinton public schools the year previous to her marriage. They are the parents of two sons, Robert C. and George S., aged seventeen and fifteen years respectively.
Source: Robinson, Doane, History of South Dakota: together with mention of Citizens of South Dakota, [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen, 1904.