South Dakota Genealogy - South Dakota Genealogy

Biography of Frederick J. Bullis

History of South Dakota vol 1 title page

Frederick J. Bullis, born July 22, 1841, in Schuyler’s Falls, New York, was a pioneering figure in Brookings County, South Dakota. He moved to Minnesota in 1866, married Mary A. Morton in 1870, and relocated to Brookings County in 1882. Establishing a prosperous farm, he became a respected citizen, known for his integrity and community involvement. A devoted Methodist and Republican, Bullis passed away on April 20, 1903. He left behind his widow Mary and their children: A. Leroy, Fred, Ira, Nellie, Bessie, Lucy, and Grace, who continued to uphold the family’s legacy on the homestead.

Biography of Peter Oscar Olson

Peter Oscar Olson, born February 1, 1874, on his family’s homestead in Yankton County, South Dakota, is a dedicated farmer. His father, Christian Olson, emigrated from Norway in 1866, settling in Yankton County the following year. Peter was educated locally and at Yankton College. He worked alongside his father and brothers, expanding their farm by 640 acres despite various hardships. A staunch Republican and Lutheran, Peter married Bergine Marie Olson on October 24, 1901. They have a daughter, Laura Caroline, born August 6, 1902. Peter values hard work, timely effort, and eschews vices for success in agriculture.

Biography of Alois Jezewski

Alois Jezewski, born November 24, 1880, in Winona, Minnesota, is the manager of the lumber yards for J. H. Queal & Company in Tabor, Bon Homme County, South Dakota. A son of Polish immigrants Andrew and Pauline Jezewski, Alois grew up in Winona and served in the Spanish-American War. His career includes roles with the Winona Lumber Company, Herman Dahl, the Lunds Land Agency, and C. M. Anderson, among others. Jezewski is an accomplished musician and has completed a course in architecture. He married Stella Hakl on June 3, 1902. Alois Jezewski is one of the progressive young business men … Read more

Biography of Charles Frederick Halbkat

Charles F. Halbkat, born June 20, 1870, in Fillmore County, Minnesota, is a prominent jewelry businessman in Watertown, South Dakota. He acquired the oldest jewelry business in Watertown from W.T. Keating in 1898, succeeding the establishment originally founded by pioneer W.R. Arnold. Halbkat’s store, located in the Granite block, offers a wide range of jewelry, watches, silverware, and features a well-equipped optical department. An official watch inspector for three railroads, Halbkat is esteemed in both commercial and social circles. Married to Georgia Wert in 1899, they have one son, Charles Angus.

Biography of George P. Winston

George P. Winston, born June 29, 1857, in Evansville, Rock County, Wisconsin, is a prominent rancher and stock grower in Brown County, South Dakota. Son of Nelson and Eliza A. Winston, he moved to Frederick, South Dakota, in 1881, establishing a significant farming and livestock business. In 1900, he acquired a 1,560-acre ranch known for its high-quality Aberdeen Angus cattle. Winston married Florence E. Yager in 1877, and they have three sons: Roy, Earl, and Paul. He is also active in the Masonic fraternity, attaining the thirtieth degree of the Scottish Rite.

Biography of Myron D. Thompson

Myron D. Thompson, born on January 13, 1847, in Saratoga County, New York, was the son of Orville W. and Fidelia P. (Ingalsbee) Thompson. He was educated in Washington County public schools and graduated from Fort Edward Institute in 1864. Moving to Columbus, Wisconsin, at nineteen, he later settled in Vermillion, Dakota Territory, in 1867. Thompson co-founded the Thompson-Lewis Company, a significant business in the region. A Republican and active community member, he helped establish the Bank of Vermillion. He married Anna E. Lewis on January 6, 1870, and they had two sons, Orville W. and Martin L.

Biography of Fred LaPlant

Fred LaPlant, born in 1861 in Deer’s Ear, North Dakota, is a prominent stock grower in South Dakota. His father, Louis LaPlant, was among the first white settlers in Dakota, significantly contributing to its early history. Fred was raised on the frontier, gaining firsthand experience in livestock raising alongside his father. In 1888, he began raising cattle independently with his brother George, and since 1896, he has utilized the Cheyenne Indian reservation’s range for his cattle operations. Fred typically manages five to six thousand head of cattle and has expanded into the general merchandise business at the Cheyenne agency. A staunch Republican and a 32nd-degree Mason, he is married to Virginia Travesty of Sioux City, Iowa. They have four children: Maud D., Lucille, Fred Ellsworth, and Irene.

Biography of Charles J. Gunderson

Charles J. Gunderson, born October 13, 1868, in Fillmore County, Minnesota, is a prominent lawyer in Vermillion, South Dakota. His parents, Harvey and Anna (Thompson) Gunderson, emigrated from Norway and settled in Clay County, South Dakota, in 1869. Charles grew up on the family homestead, attended local public schools, and graduated from the University of South Dakota with a Bachelor of Science in 1893. He earned his law degree from the University of Minnesota in 1896 and began practicing law in Vermillion. Originally a Republican, he switched to the Democratic Party in 1896. Charles is active in the Masonic order and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he is a member of the Lutheran church. He married Mamie L. Weeks on August 27, 1902.

Biography of James Alfred Copeland

James Alfred Copeland was born on September 21, 1852, in Fountaindale, Illinois. He was the son of Alfred Williams Copeland, born June 18, 1809, in Massachusetts, and Hannah Brewster, a Pennsylvania native and descendant of Elder Brewster from the Mayflower. James received his education in Illinois and attended Wheaton College. In 1879, he began studying law in Nebraska and was admitted to the South Dakota bar in 1890. He served as clerk of courts, justice of the peace, and county judge in Vermillion, South Dakota. Copeland was active in the Republican Party and various fraternal organizations. He married Estella E. Hayes in 1880, and they had eight children, though three died young.

Biography of Charles F. Lotze

Charles F. Lotze was born on February 22, 1857, in Vienna, Trumbull County, Ohio, to George and Catherine Lotze. His father, a German immigrant, was a merchant in Ohio. At age four, Charles moved with his family to Girard, Ohio, where he completed his public school education. In 1875, he moved to Berrien Springs, Michigan, and started a jewelry business. In 1879, he relocated to Vermillion, South Dakota, where he expanded his business to include books and music. A successful entrepreneur, Lotze also participated in the Masonic order. He married Martha C. Hurd in 1885, and they had three daughters: Hazel C., Marie L., and Laura B.

Biography of Hon. Jason E. Payne

Hon. Jason E. Payne, born January 22, 1874, in Clay County, South Dakota, was a prominent lawyer in Vermillion and a faculty member at the University of South Dakota’s College of Law. Son of early pioneers Byron S. and Charlotte E. (Woodworth) Payne, he graduated from the State University of South Dakota in 1894 and studied law under notable mentors. Admitted to the bar in 1898, Payne began practicing law in Vermillion in 1901 and was appointed assistant professor of law in 1903. A dedicated Republican, he served in the state senate from 1902 to 1904. Despite losing an arm in an 1893 accident, Payne remained active professionally and socially.

Biography of Michael Gerin

Michael Gerin, born September 19, 1848, in County Limerick, Ireland, emigrated to Ontario, Canada, with his parents, Michael and Julia (Fitzgerald) Gerin, at age three. In 1877, he moved to South Dakota, settling in Sioux Falls in 1878, where he opened a grocery and crockery store. His business thrived until he sold it in 1902. Gerin then focused on breeding shorthorn cattle, owning over three sections of prime land. He played a pivotal role in founding the Minnehaha County Agricultural Society, serving as its president. Gerin, a devout Catholic, is also active in the Knights of Columbus. He remained a … Read more

Biography of John P. Wolf

John P. Wolf, born December 9, 1854, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, was a notable pioneer of Spink County, South Dakota. He was the son of Henry G. and Margaret F. Wolf, with his father serving as justice of the peace and clerk of courts in Gettysburg. John initially worked in paper manufacturing in Pennsylvania, then farmed in Minnesota before homesteading in Spink County in 1881. Wolf held various public offices, including deputy county auditor and treasurer, and managed a real estate business. He was active in several fraternal organizations, including the Masonic order and the Knights of Pythias.

Biography of William H. H. Beadle

William H. H. Beadle, born on January 1, 1838, in Liberty Township, Parke County, Indiana, had a distinguished career as a scholar, educator, legislator, soldier, and lawyer. A graduate of the University of Michigan, he served as a Union officer in the Civil War, earning several promotions and honors. After the war, he practiced law and was appointed surveyor general of Dakota Territory by President Grant in 1869. As president of the State Normal School in Madison, South Dakota, from 1889, Beadle played a crucial role in shaping the state’s educational system, particularly in preserving school lands. A dedicated public servant, he was instrumental in drafting Dakota’s legal codes and championing education throughout his career. Married to Ellen S. Chapman in 1863, Beadle had one daughter, Mae Beadle Frink. He was a member of the Loyal Legion and a 33rd-degree Mason. His contributions to education and public service were recognized with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from his alma mater in 1902.

Biography of Rev. Edward Ashley

Rev. Edward Ashley, a prominent Protestant Episcopal clergyman in South Dakota, was born on December 12, 1854, in Road Hill, Wiltshire, England. He emigrated to the United States in 1873, settling in Muskegon, Michigan. Initially working as a carpenter, he later became a missionary teacher among the Sioux Indians in Dakota Territory, and was ordained a deacon in 1877 and a priest in 1881. Ashley served on various Indian reservations and became rural dean and examining chaplain for the state. He married Elizabeth Ann Martin in 1877, and they have five children. Ashley is also active in Masonic and fraternal organizations.

Biography of Ambrose B. Robinson

Ambrose B. Robinson, born on July 18, 1857, in Broome County, New York, is the mayor of Frankfort, Spink County, South Dakota. Son of Edward and Eunice Robinson, he moved with his family to Iowa in the early 1860s and later to Wisconsin. Robinson engaged in lumbering before relocating to Frankfort in 1885, where he achieved success in various business ventures. A dedicated Republican, he was elected mayor in 1902. Robinson is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He married Alma Jane Ellis on March 27, 1881, and they have five children: Bessie M., Grace D., Clark A., Clare, and Zedna.

Biography of Ole H. Smith

Ole H. Smith, born on May 11, 1846, near Christiania, Norway, moved to America in 1869. Initially settling in Rushford, Minnesota, he later moved to Dell Rapids, South Dakota, in 1876, where he became a pioneer merchant and eventually president of the Granite City Bank. Smith also excelled in the livestock industry, raising Hereford cattle and Poland-China hogs on a 900-acre farm. A staunch Republican, he served as mayor of Dell Rapids from 1896 to 1898. Smith was married three times, first to Albertha Olson, then to her sister Jacobina Olson, and finally to Anna Strom, with whom he had a child, Bergliot M.

Biography of Gustaf A. Uline

Gustaf A. Uline, born on October 12, 1849, in Wermland, Sweden, emigrated to America at nearly eighteen. After stints in Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota, he settled in Dell Rapids, South Dakota, in 1874. Uline opened one of the first general stores in the town, eventually establishing the Dell Rapids State Bank in 1892, where he served as president. A Republican, Uline was Dell Rapids’ mayor and a member of the state board of charities and corrections. Married to Minnie Friborg since 1877, they have five children. Uline is active in the Baptist church and the Masonic order. Gustaf A. … Read more

Biography of James W. Cone

James W. Cone was born on December 4, 1850, in Conesville, Coshocton County, Ohio, to Beebe S. and Lucinda D. (Davison) Cone. His lineage traces back to Daniel Cone of Edinburgh, Scotland, who settled in Haddam, Connecticut, in 1660. The family moved to Muscatine County, Iowa, in 1854, where Cone later attended Iowa State University, earning a law degree in 1873. He practiced law in Iowa before moving to Brule County, South Dakota, in 1883. In Sioux Falls, he compiled abstracts of titles for Minnehaha County. Politically active, Cone served in various legislative and political roles, including chief clerk of the South Dakota House.

Biography of George W. Abbott

George W. Abbott, born on October 10, 1858, in Sandwich, Carroll County, New Hampshire, was the son of Lyman and Shuah W. Abbott. He pursued his education at Phillips Academy in Exeter, New Hampshire. At twenty, Abbott moved to Colorado as a secretary for a mining expert before relocating to McIntosh County, North Dakota, in 1882, where he was the first superintendent of schools and postmaster. In 1887, he moved to Minneapolis and later to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he became general manager of the Union Savings Association. Abbott married Mary G. Quinlan in 1896, and they had four children.