Minnehaha County - South Dakota Genealogy

Biography of Thomas Bell McMartin

Thomas B. McMartin, a distinguished lawyer in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was born in Fairfield, Iowa, on October 30, 1857, to Finlay and Martha McMartin. After moving to Dixon, Illinois, in 1865, he completed his education and began studying law under Eugene Pinckney, being admitted to the bar on March 18, 1879. McMartin moved to Sioux Falls in 1880, where he quickly advanced in his legal career. He formed partnerships with Eugene Coughran and later Judge John E. Garland before establishing his own practice in 1893. Known for his tenacity and skill, McMartin successfully handled significant cases, including one that reached the U.S. Supreme Court. He married Jennie M. Bowen in 1888, and they had one child, Thomas Bowen.

Biography of William J. Sheppard

History of South Dakota vol 1 title page

William J. Sheppard, born on July 24, 1862, in Quebec, Canada, was the president of the Mutual Cash Guaranty Fire Insurance Company of Sioux Falls. Son of Percival Edward and Ellen (Lloyd) Sheppard, he received a collegiate education in Ottawa and worked at the Second National Bank of Detroit until his father’s death in 1883. Afterward, he held various positions, including serving in the Riel Rebellion with the Winnipeg Field Battery. Sheppard moved to Sioux Falls in 1896, where he co-founded the Mutual Cash Guaranty Fire Insurance Company in 1903 and served as its president. He married Caroline Mary Harder in 1887, and they had two children, Stuart Harder and William Percival.

Biography of Charles H. Ross

Charles H. Ross, born August 23, 1870, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was a prominent lumberman and secretary of the H. W. Ross Lumber Company. Moving to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in 1879, Ross pursued a thorough education, graduating from Sioux Falls High School in 1888 and the University of South Dakota in 1890. He began his career in manual labor within the lumber industry, rising to a leadership role in the family business. Ross also served as a member of the Sioux Falls board of education, held numerous affiliations, including with the Masons and Knights of Pythias, and was an active Congregational church trustee. He married Ellen May Goodrich in 1900, and they had one son, Hiram Earl.

Biography of Thomas H. Brown

Thomas H. Brown, born on August 17, 1837, in Portobello, England, emigrated to Wisconsin in 1848 with his family. He served in the Union Army during the Civil War from 1861 to 1865. Post-war, he briefly mined gold in Montana before returning to Wisconsin. In 1872, Brown settled in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and became a prominent businessman, co-founding the successful Brown & Saenger printing and bookbinding firm. He was also instrumental in local Masonic activities, served on the school board, and played a key role in bringing the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway to Sioux Falls. Brown married Mary Morse in 1867, and they had three sons.

Biography of John T. Lee

John T. Lee, born February 11, 1855, in Christiania, Norway, is the treasurer of Minnehaha County, South Dakota. Emigrating to America in 1867, he settled with his family in Iowa before moving to Dakota Territory in 1869. Lee successfully farmed and managed stock in Minnehaha County before transitioning to manage the Farmers’ Association grain business in Brandon in 1891. In 1902, he was elected county treasurer, known for his effective administration. A dedicated Republican, Lee has held various local offices. He was married twice, first to Christina Nelson in 1876, and later to Mary Holm in 1903.

Biography of William Henry James

William Henry James, born on December 25, 1858, in Dodgeville, Wisconsin, is a prominent grain and coal dealer in Valley Springs, South Dakota, and secretary of the Valley Springs Telephone Company. After purchasing an interest in his father’s mill at twenty-one, he transitioned to butter-making and operated a creamery in Winthrop, Minnesota. Moving to Valley Springs in 1887, he managed the Hubbard & Palmer Elevator Company. James was instrumental in founding the Valley Springs Telephone Company and remains its secretary. He also runs a successful local insurance agency and has been active in public affairs, serving as town clerk for ten years. He married Carrie Hendrickson in 1900, and they have five children.

Biography of Edwin A. Sherman

Edwin A. Sherman, born on June 19, 1844, in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, graduated from Wayland High School at sixteen. He initially pursued agriculture before moving to Boston, where he became a partner in Capen, Sherman & Company. Health issues led him to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in 1873. There, Sherman became a key figure in the city’s development, notably contributing to education, business, and infrastructure. He built the first brick building in Sioux Falls and helped establish the Cascade Milling Company and local banking institutions. He married Florence L. Cowdrey in 1873, and after her death, married Catherine Elwell in 1901.

Biography of Hon. Alfred B. Kittredge

Alfred B. Kittredge, born March 28, 1861, in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, was educated at Yale, graduating in 1882. He moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in 1885 to practice law, representing major railroads before entering politics. Kittredge served in the South Dakota legislature and was the Republican national committeeman. In 1901, he was appointed to the U.S. Senate, where he played a significant role in advocating for the Panama Canal route. Known for his judiciousness and persuasive speaking, Kittredge remained an influential political figure until his death. He was also active in social circles, despite being unmarried.

Biography of William R. Borst

William R. Borst, born on January 15, 1860, in Marquette County, Wisconsin, was a prominent rancher and businessman in South Dakota. Son of Daniel and Emma (Kelly) Borst, he moved to South Dakota in 1869. William engaged in freighting to the Black Hills and later established a successful cattle ranch. In 1903, he expanded into the hardware business in Pierre, where he resided from 1896. Active in the Republican Party, Borst was also a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He married Matilda A. Mason in 1889, and they had three children: Olney H., Margaret, and Jessie.

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 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 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 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.

Biography of Leroy D. Miller

Leroy D. Miller, a native of St. Joseph, Missouri, was born on February 24, 1869. After his father’s passing, his mother remarried and the family relocated to South Dakota. Miller received his education in the local public schools before embarking on a career in the grain industry. Eventually, he ventured into the livery business and established a successful enterprise in Sioux Falls. With top-notch equipment and a dedicated work ethic, Miller built a thriving business with a wide range of services, including livery, hack and transfer, and even an undertaking department. He is a staunch supporter of the Republican Party and actively involved in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

Biography of John W. Tuthill

John W. Tuthill, a leading businessman and president of the John W. Tuthill Lumber Company, has achieved remarkable success through his own efforts. Born in Greene, New York, in 1846, he established a lumber yard in State Center, Iowa, which served as the foundation for his thriving business. In 1884, he incorporated the John W. Tuthill Lumber Company, which now controls numerous yards across South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa. Tuthill’s dedication to his business has made him a respected figure in Sioux Falls. Despite his focus on entrepreneurship, he has shown civic-mindedness, contributing to the public library and engaging in community affairs.

Biography of John F. Strass

John F. Strass, a Norwegian-born journalist, editor, and publisher, established the influential Fremad newspaper in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. With its extensive readership and support, the Fremad became one of the most prominent and influential Scandinavian papers in the region. Strass also operated a successful printing establishment and dealt in Norwegian literature. He was highly respected as a business leader, a political influencer, and a public-spirited citizen. His integrity, forward-thinking approach, and dedication to the welfare of his community earned him esteem among his fellow countrymen and the general public alike.

Biography of Mark D. Scott

Mark D. Scott, a highly skilled and astute newspaper man, has made his mark in South Dakota as the editor and publisher of the influential Sioux Falls Journal. Born in Wisconsin in 1866, Scott’s early immersion in the printing industry set the stage for his successful career. From humble beginnings as a newspaper carrier in Deadwood, he steadily rose through the ranks, eventually founding and managing several newspapers across different states. His journalistic prowess and dedication to delivering timely and relevant news have earned him a respected reputation. Scott’s commitment to the newspaper business and his advocacy for fiscal responsibility in public affairs are notable aspects of his professional endeavors.

Biography of Holden D. Kinyon

Holden D. Kinyon, the popular postmaster of Valley Springs, South Dakota, was born in Lomira, Wisconsin, in 1854. After receiving his education, he moved to South Dakota and purchased land near Valley Springs. In 1890, he was appointed postmaster and has served in that position for four administrations. Mr. Kinyon’s business as a dealer in books, stationery, and school supplies has flourished, and he is known for his courteous and obliging nature. He is highly respected in the community, both for his public service and his dedication to the Republican Party. Married to Jennie F. Palmer, he and his wife are valued members of Valley Springs society.

Biography of Henry G. Solem

Henry G. Solem, a Norwegian immigrant, epitomizes the power of practical industry and perseverance. Arriving in the United States with minimal resources, he embarked on a remarkable journey of success. Starting at the bottom, Solem steadily climbed the ladder, acquiring land, becoming a prominent farmer and stock raiser, and venturing into business and finance. His influence extended beyond personal pursuits as he actively contributed to the community, holding township offices and spearheading public enterprises. From a poor laborer, Solem’s rise exemplifies extraordinary determination, mental acumen, and moral character, establishing him as a leading citizen in Minnehaha County, South Dakota.