Aurora County - South Dakota Genealogy

Biography of C. J. Anderson

History of South Dakota vol 1 title page

C. J. Anderson, born in Zanesville, Ohio, pursued his education at the Ohio State Normal School before enlisting in the Nineteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry in 1861. He served for over four years during the Civil War. Afterward, he settled in Delavan, Illinois, where he worked in the hardware business. Anderson later moved to Aurora County, South Dakota, becoming one of the founders of Plankinton and establishing its first mercantile business. He held various public offices, including register of deeds, and was active in the Republican Party. He married Elizabeth Gates, and they had three children.

Biography of James T. Jacobson

James T. Jacobson, born September 25, 1854, in Norway, immigrated to the United States in 1865. After initially settling in LaSalle County, Illinois, he moved to Livingston County. In 1882, he relocated to Aurora County, South Dakota, where he acquired and developed 1,280 acres of land in Palatine Township. Jacobson focused on agriculture, cultivating 400 acres and raising Shorthorn and Hereford cattle, as well as swine. A dedicated public servant and Republican, he served on the township board and school district. Married to Isabelle Johnson on January 14, 1885, the couple had five children: Grace O., Clara J., Jessie E., Martha T., and James E.

Biography of Samuel H. Bakewell

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.

Biography of E. M. Cramer

E. M. Cramer, born May 10, 1849, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, moved with his family to Sterling, Illinois, in 1866. After working in Clinton, Iowa, he settled in Plankinton, South Dakota, in 1882, where he claimed a homestead and later established a successful general merchandise business. Cramer’s store, a significant local enterprise, grew alongside the town’s development. A committed Republican, Cramer also actively participated in the Methodist Episcopal Church and several fraternal organizations. He married Anna Heckerman on October 21, 1875, and they had two children: Mabel, who married G. H. Bryan, and Noble, who died young.

Biography of Harry A. Holmes

Harry A. Holmes, an influential citizen of Oacoma, South Dakota, has played a vital role in the growth and development of Lyman County. Born in Wisconsin in 1860, Holmes became a skilled blacksmith and ventured to Dakota in 1883. Settling in Oacoma, he established the town’s first blacksmith shop, which flourished over the years. Holmes actively participated in public affairs, serving as deputy sheriff and making significant contributions to the town’s prosperity. He was a dedicated Republican and a respected member of various secret and benevolent organizations. Holmes, a cherished family man, married Lizzie E. Elliott, and together they raised their children in a loving home.