Charles Mix County - South Dakota Genealogy

Biography of Pierre Romeo Pinard, M. D.

History of South Dakota vol 1 title page

Dr. Pierre Romeo Pinard, born in Batiscan, Quebec, in 1870, overcame early hardships to establish a successful medical career in South Dakota. Orphaned young, he worked while pursuing education and eventually graduated from the St. Louis College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1893. After brief practices in Michigan and Wisconsin, Dr. Pinard settled in Geddes, South Dakota, where he became a respected physician and community leader. Active in local healthcare governance, he served as vice-president of the county health board and was involved in professional associations. He married Susie Lawrence in 1896, and they had two children, Noel and Kenneth.

Biography of W. S. L. Henley

W. S. L. Henley, a resident of Geddes, South Dakota, pursued a diverse career, transitioning from farming to real estate, finance, and retail. Born in 1853 in Scott County, Iowa, Henley farmed for many years before moving to Dakota, where he homesteaded and expanded his landholdings. In 1900, he relocated to Geddes, shifting his focus to real estate and machinery sales while also investing in town properties. A committed Republican, Henley served as city treasurer and held various local positions. He was active in fraternal organizations, including the Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen of America.

Biography of Harry A. Simons

Harry A. Simons, a successful hardware merchant in Platte, South Dakota, was born in Wisconsin in 1866. His father, Calvart Simons, originally from New York, moved westward, farming in Wisconsin before settling in South Dakota. Harry spent his early years on the farm before learning engineering and working in that field for six years. After a stint in blacksmithing, he transitioned to the hardware business, first in Castalia, South Dakota, and later in Platte, where he built a thriving enterprise. A committed Republican and member of the Christian church, he married Delia Holden in 1890, and they had five children: Blanche, Raymond, Ernest, Ronald, and Mildred.

Biography of Damose Raymond

Damose Raymond, born in 1857 in St. Michel, Canada, was a successful farmer and stock grower in Charles Mix County, South Dakota. After early work in Canada and four years in Michigan’s lumber industry, he returned to Canada before settling in the U.S. He operated a meat market in St. Philippe for five years, then farmed in Nebraska before homesteading in Jackson Township, South Dakota. Starting with a sod house, Raymond built a thriving ranch focusing on red polled cattle and Poland China hogs. Widowed after the death of his first wife, Olivine Brindamour, in 1899, he remarried Zelia Cote in 1900.

Biography of Mazar Jandreau

Mazar Jandreau, born on July 4, 1853, in Canada, descended from French lineage. His parents, Ferdinand and Estracia (Igout) Jandreau, moved to Sioux City, Iowa, when he was two, and then to Nebraska, where they became pioneers. Jandreau moved to Dakota Territory in 1871, working as a stage-driver between Fort Randall and Fort Thompson. In 1875, he married Louise Redfield, a quarter-blood Yankton Sioux. They had twelve children, seven surviving. The Jandreau family owned 508 acres of land primarily for grazing. A member of the Modern Woodmen of America, Jandreau and his family were also active in the Catholic Church.

Biography of Benjamin F. Reynolds

Benjamin F. Reynolds, a successful farmer and stock grower in Charles Mix County, South Dakota, was born on December 19, 1853, in Van Buren County, Michigan. His parents, Benjamin F. and Drusilla Reynolds, were Ohio natives and early settlers in Michigan. Benjamin moved to Minnesota at seventeen, worked in Wisconsin’s pine forests, and later relocated to South Dakota in 1876. He claimed a homestead near Wheeler, expanding his holdings to 500 acres. In 1888, he established a profitable ferry across the Missouri River, which he operated until 1902. Married to Martha Ecker Hill, Reynolds was a dedicated Republican and supported the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Biography of Harry D. James

Harry D. James, a prominent young lawyer in Wagner, South Dakota, was born in Ogle County, Illinois, on October 14, 1869. His father, Amos C. James, a Civil War veteran, relocated the family to Bon Homme County, South Dakota. Harry attended Yankton College and the agricultural school in Brookings before studying law in Sioux Falls. Admitted to the bar, he practiced in Flandreau, serving two terms as state’s attorney. Known for his vigorous prosecution style, he moved to Wagner about a year ago, combining legal work with stock raising. He married Emeline Seaman in 1895, and they have one daughter, Lucile.

Biography of Willard A. Lathrop

Willard A. Lathrop is a successful farmer and stock grower in Charles Mix County, South Dakota. Born in Iowa in 1848, he inherited his father’s passion for agriculture and dedicated himself to farming and stock raising. Lathrop acquired a well-improved ranch of four hundred and eighty acres, cultivating one hundred and sixty acres while utilizing the rest for grazing and hay production. Known for his expertise in breeding Shorthorn cattle and Poland-China swine, he ships a significant amount of stock annually. Lathrop is an esteemed citizen, actively involved in public service, and affiliated with various organizations, including Geddes Lodge.

Biography of Vincent Kaberna

Vincent Kaberna, a prominent figure in farming and stock-raising, has left a lasting impact in Wagner, Charles Mix County. Born in Bohemia, Austria, in 1849, he immigrated to the United States with his parents in 1856. After years of honing his skills as a tinner in Chicago, he settled in Tyndall, South Dakota, in 1883. Kaberna served as mayor, county treasurer, and held other positions of public trust. In 1895, he relocated to Charles Mix County, where he established a successful ranch and engaged in livestock trading. Highly regarded for his business acumen and community involvement, Kaberna’s story is one of personal achievement and dedication.

Biography of Ole Anderson

Ole Anderson, born in Norway in 1850, migrated to the United States in 1880, joining the influx of Scandinavian immigrants to the Northwest. Settling in South Dakota, he established himself as a respected farmer in Charles Mix County. Through diligent cultivation and the application of modern farming methods, Anderson transformed his raw land into a thriving estate. He raised livestock, including Poland China hogs and Durham cattle, and cultivated various crops. Anderson’s success exemplified the contribution of hardworking immigrants from northern Europe to the rapid development of the Northwest. He was regarded as a model farmer and a commendable citizen in his community.

Biography of Hemming Anderson

Hemming Anderson, a Swedish native, embarked on a journey to America in 1882, seeking better opportunities. After landing in New York, he made his way to South Dakota and settled in Vermillion. With determination, he improved his land, starting from a humble tent and later upgrading to a sod house. Anderson’s hard work paid off as he transformed his farm into a prosperous enterprise, cultivating acres of land and raising livestock. He actively supported education and the Republican Party, while he and his wife remained dedicated members of the Lutheran Church. Despite the loss of two sons, their daughter thrived and became a respected member of the community.