Brown County - South Dakota Genealogy

Biography of Henry Clay Andrus

History of South Dakota vol 1 title page

Henry Clay Andrus, born September 26, 1844, in Highland Township, Michigan, was a Civil War veteran and early settler in South Dakota. After serving in the First Michigan Light Artillery, he relocated to Brown County in 1883, establishing a successful homestead in Highland Township, which he named after his birthplace. Active in local public service, he was township treasurer and a member of Aberdeen’s board of education. A dedicated Baptist, Andrus organized a Sunday school and helped establish a church in the community. He married Amelia Curdy in 1867, and they had two sons, Ernest and Homer.

Biography of Charles H. Allen

Charles H. Allen was born on March 17, 1857, in Osage, Iowa, to Joseph and Abigail Allen. He was the fifteenth of sixteen children, and his father served as a Civil War surgeon. Charles left home at age 13, traveling and learning stone cutting before returning to Iowa in 1881. He moved to Aberdeen, South Dakota, in 1882, establishing a successful draying business and later transitioning to wood and coal distribution. In 1882, he married Ida M. Owen, with whom he had two children: C. Lewis and M. Estelle. Allen was also active in local politics and several fraternal organizations.

Biography of Alva N. Aldrich

Alva N. Aldrich, born August 29, 1866, in Ionia, Michigan, became the mayor of Aberdeen, South Dakota, and the proprietor of the Wisconsin House hotel. After relocating to South Dakota in 1887 and facing hardships with his homestead in Brown County, Aldrich moved to Aberdeen, where he transitioned into the hotel business in 1896. His leadership in the city was marked by reforms, including stricter enforcement of alcohol and gambling laws. Elected mayor in 1904, he previously served on the city council. In 1895, Aldrich married Louise Wylie, and they had one son, Louis Wylie Aldrich.

Biography of John E. Adams

John E. Adams, a prominent lawyer and early member of the Brown County bar in South Dakota, was born in Paterson, New Jersey, in 1857. After moving with his family to Pennsylvania, he attended Allegheny College and was admitted to the Pennsylvania bar in 1880. In 1883, Adams moved to Dakota Territory, establishing his practice in Columbia before relocating to Aberdeen when it became the county seat. He served as mayor of Columbia in 1887, as county judge from 1890, and as mayor of Aberdeen in 1900. Adams was also active in Scottish Rite Masonry and various fraternal organizations. He married Martha E. Wilkinson in 1888, and they had five children.

Biography of Francis D. Adams

Francis D. Adams was born in Waterbury, Vermont, in 1838 and later moved to Michigan, where he worked in manufacturing before serving in the Civil War as a lieutenant in the First Michigan Engineers and Mechanics. In 1880, he relocated to Groton, South Dakota, where he co-founded the Farmers’ Bank and became a prominent civic leader. Adams served in the South Dakota State Senate and was appointed to the state board of regents of education. He passed away in 1899, survived by his wife, Jane (Ashley) Adams, and their four children: Persis, George, John, and Charles.

Biography of Alfred Abraham

Alfred Abraham was born on September 14, 1856, in Chisago County, Minnesota, to Swedish immigrants Charles and Beata Abrahamson. After teaching and farming in Minnesota, he moved to South Dakota in 1882, claiming a homestead in Brown County. Abraham later transitioned to business, operating a general merchandise store and a lumber yard in Claremont, South Dakota. He served as Marshall County treasurer from 1892 to 1896. In 1900, he married Maude E. Griffith, and they had one son, Arden Louellwyn, born in 1901. Abraham was a dedicated Republican and community leader.

Biography of John H. Gaskin

John H. Gaskin, a prominent merchant in Columbia, Brown County, South Dakota, was born in Dane County, Wisconsin, where he was raised on a farm and educated in district schools and an academy. In 1882, he moved to South Dakota and established a successful general merchandise business that grew to become one of the largest in the county. His store offered a wide range of products, from dry goods and groceries to hardware, with annual sales reaching $35,000. Gaskin was well-respected for his business acumen and integrity. A Democrat and active Mason, he married Louise J. Martin in Wisconsin, and they had two children, Effie Jean and Frank Jay.

Biography of D. Grant Stewart

D. Grant Stewart, born November 2, 1845, in York Center, Livingston County, New York, was a pioneering settler in South Dakota. After beginning his career in merchandising in Minnesota, he moved to Brown County, South Dakota, in 1879, where he established a successful farm from government land claims in Rondell Township. Stewart married twice, first to Emma F. Doten in 1881, who passed away the following year, and later to Celia Hanson in 1885. A prominent local figure, Stewart was known for his independent political views and active involvement in community affairs. He and his wife had six children.

Biography of Charles Wesley Atkins

Charles Wesley Atkins, born on July 1, 1844, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, moved to Illinois as a youth and attended Wesleyan University at Bloomington. He studied law under Hon. Walter Reeves in Streator, Illinois, and built a successful law practice before relocating to Columbia, South Dakota, in 1882. In South Dakota, Atkins practiced law, became a prominent figure in Brown County, and later pursued farming and stock raising. He owned a 480-acre farm near Columbia and was noted for his contributions to agriculture and livestock. Married to Emma L. Burgess in 1879, Atkins had four children and was active in the Methodist Episcopal church.

Biography of DeWitt Clinton Fowler, M. D.

Dr. DeWitt Clinton Fowler, born November 6, 1841, in Delphi, Madison County, New York, pursued his medical education at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City, graduating in 1863. He served as an assistant surgeon during the Civil War, enduring capture and imprisonment. Post-war, Dr. Fowler practiced homeopathic medicine in New York before moving to Aberdeen, South Dakota, in 1882 due to health concerns. He became a prominent physician and successful businessman, owning valuable properties and mining interests. A dedicated Mason and Episcopalian, Dr. Fowler significantly contributed to Aberdeen’s medical and religious communities.

Biography of Howard W. Cole

Howard W. Cole, a key figure in Brown County’s agricultural and stock-growing sectors, was born on March 29, 1857, in Eureka, Montcalm County, Michigan. The son of Leander T. and Sarah Jane (Stout) Cole, he moved to South Dakota in 1881. Cole established a successful farming partnership and was elected sheriff of Brown County in 1902. He served in various civic roles, including postmaster and township board member, and was active in several fraternal organizations. He married Theresa M. Howell in 1880, and they had five children.

Biography of George E. Countryman, M. D.

George E. Countryman, M.D., was a respected physician and surgeon in Aberdeen, South Dakota. He was born on July 31, 1865, in Hastings, Minnesota, to Peter F. and Elizabeth (Gleason) Countryman, who were of Holland Dutch and English ancestry, respectively. Dr. Countryman, a descendant of Baron Johana Von Konderman, completed high school in Hastings and continued his studies at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. He graduated from Missouri Medical University in 1888 and began practicing in Mellette, South Dakota. He moved to Aberdeen in 1894, where he built a significant practice. He served as coroner of Brown County for eight years and as librarian of the Alexander Mitchell Free Library for five years. A member of the South Dakota State Medical Society, he was active in the Masons and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. On November 15, 1888, he married Kate A. Van Auken. They had a daughter, Marguerite, born August 27, 1890.

Biography of Edward Teare Taubman

Edward Teare Taubman, born December 18, 1853, near Cleveland, Ohio, moved to Iowa with his family in the year of his birth. Growing up near Maquoketa, he received his education at local public schools and Clinton Commercial College. Initially a teacher, Taubman studied law under Cotton & Wolfe in DeWitt, Iowa, and was admitted to the Clinton County bar in 1878. After practicing in Delmar and Spencer, he relocated to Aberdeen, South Dakota, in 1883, becoming a prominent attorney. Elected prosecuting attorney in 1889, he served both before and after South Dakota’s statehood. Taubman was a staunch Republican, advocating for the gold standard. A distinguished Mason, he achieved the thirty-third degree. He married Margaret Kennedy in 1879, and they had three children: Genevieve, Olive T., and Morton McKinley.

Biography of Hiram E. McNutt

Dr. Hiram E. McNutt, born on September 21, 1848, in Warren County, New York, is a distinguished physician based in Aberdeen, South Dakota. A Dartmouth graduate, he initially practiced with his father before moving to Ohio and then Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1883, he relocated to Aberdeen, becoming a leading medical professional. McNutt played a crucial role in forming the State Medical Society and the State Board of Medical Examiners, significantly impacting medical practice regulations in South Dakota. A dedicated Republican and active in fraternal organizations, he is also a prominent Mason. McNutt married Delia L. Snow in 1874, and they have a daughter, Fanny.

Biography of Andrew Melgaard

Andrew Melgaard, born in Norway on September 15, 1842, was a significant figure in Brown County, South Dakota. Educated in Norway, he served five years as a sergeant in the Norwegian army before emigrating to the United States in 1869. Settling first in Litchfield, Minnesota, Melgaard worked for the Minneapolis Harvester Works before moving to Brown County in 1880. There, he homesteaded a half section of land near Aberdeen, transforming it into a prosperous farm and modern residence. He was instrumental in establishing the Northern Normal and Industrial School on his property. Active in community and church affairs, Melgaard was known for his public spirit and commitment to education. He and his wife, G. Marie Hoel, whom he married in 1867, raised six children.

Biography of William W. Rounds

William W. Rounds, born on June 1, 1857, in Monkton, Addison County, Vermont, was the youngest of six children. Leaving home at age twelve, he worked various jobs before moving to Chicago in 1877 and then to Spink County, South Dakota, in 1882. There, he initially took up a pre-emption claim, later establishing a homestead in what became Conde. Transitioning from farming to business, he developed a successful hardware store and held several public service roles, including deputy sheriff. Rounds married Margaret Park in 1884, and they had a daughter, Hazel. William W. Rounds hails from the old Green Mountain … Read more

Biography of William C. Lampson

William C. Lampson, born July 17, 1831, in Medina County, Ohio, was a pioneering farmer in Moody County, South Dakota. He was the son of Riley and Betsy (Gilford) Lampson, both of New England descent. After teaching and farming in Illinois, Lampson moved to South Dakota in 1884, transforming 320 acres of wild land in Fremont Township into a productive 690-acre ranch known for its Galloway cattle and Shropshire sheep. A dedicated Republican and community servant, he was deeply involved in local education and Masonic activities. Lampson married Harriet A. Dean in 1855, and they had five children, with three surviving to adulthood: George R., Albert, and Frank E.

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 George S. Adams, M.D.

George S. Adams, M.D., is a highly regarded and accomplished member of the medical profession in Yankton, South Dakota. Born in Michigan, he grew up in South Dakota and pursued his education at State Agricultural College and Rush Medical College. Graduating with a degree in Medicine, Dr. Adams began his career as an assistant physician at the state hospital for the insane in Yankton, where he continues to serve with great dedication. He is esteemed for his abilities and discernment in his profession. As a Republican, Dr. Adams is also affiliated with St. John’s Lodge, No. 1, Free and Accepted Masons.

Biography of Martin V. Redding

Martin V. Redding, a native of Luxembourg, Germany, served as a devoted soldier in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Wounded in battle, he displayed unwavering loyalty to his regiment and maintained strong ties with his fellow veterans through the Grand Army of the Republic. After the war, he settled in Verona, Wisconsin, before becoming a pioneer in Brown County, South Dakota. Engaged in farming and community development, Redding contributed significantly to the region’s progress. He also served as a respected member of the state legislature, advocating for the state militia and championing educational initiatives. His family, deeply rooted in education and community service, added to his esteemed reputation.