Beadle County - South Dakota Genealogy

Biography of Gabriel W. Abell

History of South Dakota vol 1 title page

Gabriel W. Abell, born June 7, 1844, in Hardin County, Kentucky, became the South Dakota representative of Trevett, Mattis & Abell, an established investment and real-estate firm. Moving to Huron, South Dakota, in 1882, Abell expanded the firm’s operations across South Dakota, North Dakota, and Nebraska. With extensive expertise in real estate and land values, he played a key role in the firm’s success during economic downturns. Politically active, Abell was nominated for governor in 1902 but declined. He married Louisa Hughey in 1868, and they had two daughters, Clara and Pearl.

Biography of Charles N. Curtiss

Charles N. Curtiss, a prominent businessman in Wessington, Beadle County, was born on August 7, 1858, in Port Washington, Ozaukee County, Wisconsin. He received his early education in Wisconsin’s public schools, attended the University of Notre Dame for two years, and graduated from the University of Chicago in 1878. After working in a wholesale house in Chicago, he moved to South Dakota in 1882, where he established a successful lumber and general merchandise business in Wessington. Curtiss, a dedicated Republican, was involved in the Masonic fraternity and the Modern Woodmen of America. On April 14, 1892, he married Clara L. Ahlers of Dubuque, Iowa, and they had two children, Adele and Charles A.

Biography of Asa E. Curtiss

Asa E. Curtiss served as the postmaster of Wessington, Beadle County, from 1897, earning respect as a prominent citizen. Born on January 21, 1832, in Derby, Connecticut, he was the son of sea captain Joseph Curtiss and Mary (Hart) Curtiss. Moving to New York at age eight, Curtiss pursued education in common schools and later became a master of the steamer “Allegheny” on the Great Lakes by age 21. He married Sarah A. Davison in 1855, who died in 1894, leaving one son, Charles N. Curtiss. In 1898, he married Mary B. Spiller. Curtiss settled in Beadle County in 1882, developing government land claims and actively supporting the Republican Party.

Biography of George P. Scotchbrook

George P. Scotchbrook, a prominent businessman in Wessington, Beadle County, South Dakota, was born on August 25, 1857, in Whiteside County, Illinois. The son of Edward and Mary A. (Pope) Scotchbrook, he was educated in public schools and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from the State University of Illinois in 1883. Scotchbrook initially worked as a civil engineer on the Mississippi River survey before moving to Wessington in 1884. There, he operated a grain elevator and built a successful grain business. A committed Republican and member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, he and his wife, Nettie Barden, whom he married on June 9, 1887, were active in the Presbyterian Church. They had two children, Francis Willard and Carl Edward.

Biography of Henry H. Farrington

Henry H. Farrington, born February 10, 1841, in Lake County, Indiana, is the son of Dr. John and Emily Farrington. He enlisted in the 73rd Indiana Volunteer Infantry in 1862, serving in the Civil War and participating in significant battles such as Stone River. After the war, Farrington farmed in Illinois before moving to South Dakota in 1883, where he acquired government land in Hand County. He later relocated to Wessington, Beadle County, engaging in grain and livestock trading, and eventually the hardware business. A dedicated Republican and Mason, Farrington married Lodema Pulver in 1860, with whom he had five children.

Biography of William S. Major

William S. Major, born on January 23, 1851, in Clinton County, Indiana, was a key pioneer in Hand County, South Dakota. Major, who owned 1,500 acres of land, played a significant role in the county’s organization and development. He moved to South Dakota in 1882, claiming government land and establishing a successful farm. A prominent figure in local politics, Major served three terms in the state senate. Known for his contributions to both agriculture and civic affairs, he was also an active member of the Presbyterian Church in Wessington, Beadle County.