Moody County - South Dakota Genealogy

Biography of John Q. Adams

History of South Dakota vol 1 title page

John Q. Adams, born November 8, 1867, in Lafayette County, Wisconsin, was a prominent attorney in Flandreau, Moody County, South Dakota. His parents, William T. and Clara (Blackstone) Adams, were of English descent, with roots in America since the colonial era. Raised in Franklin County, Iowa, Adams attended Iowa State Agricultural College and later graduated with a law degree from Iowa State University in 1893. He practiced law in Flandreau, served as Moody County state’s attorney, and held federal positions. In 1896, he married Cecilia F. Pallansch, and they had one daughter, Lillian Frances, born in 1900.

Biography of George D. Rockwell

George D. Rockwell (b. 1828, West Milton, New York) was a pioneering figure in Rockwell, Iowa, which was named in his honor. Descended from colonial English Puritans, he moved west in 1853, first settling in Kane County, Illinois, before relocating to Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, in 1864. Rockwell played a key role in extending the Iowa Central Railroad and founding the town of Rockwell. He was active in farming, raising shorthorn cattle, and later investing in South Dakota, where he owned 1,400 acres in Moody County. A dedicated Prohibitionist and Congregational deacon, he married Elizabeth P. Jackson in 1853, and they raised three daughters: Mary, Julia, and Grace.

Biography of John Barron

John Barron, born May 26, 1869, in Banffshire, Scotland, was a prominent farmer and stock raiser in Moody County, South Dakota. His family immigrated to the U.S. in 1880, settling in Ward Township, where his father, John Barron, Sr., developed a 1,760-acre farm that specialized in draft and coach horses, including imported Clydesdales, as well as Shorthorn cattle and Poland-China hogs. After his father’s passing in 1903, John Barron continued managing the family farm. A dedicated Democrat and active community member, he married Maud Estella Peart in 1891. The couple were members of the Presbyterian Church and were involved in various Masonic organizations.

Biography of John Duncan

John Duncan, born on May 23, 1851, in Banffshire, Scotland, immigrated to the United States in 1883, settling in Moody County, South Dakota. Initially purchasing a farm in Elkton Township with minimal funds, he later acquired a well-improved 160-acre farm in Ward Township in 1890. Duncan was engaged in diversified farming and specialized in breeding Shorthorn cattle and Clydesdale horses. A dedicated Republican, he held various township offices and served as a county commissioner from 1902. He and his wife, Mary Jane Minty, were active members of the Presbyterian church and the Modern Woodmen of America. They had five children: James Morris, Harry, Alfred, Marjory, and Leslie.

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 Richard Francis Robinson

Dr. Richard Francis Robinson, born January 2, 1868, in Boston, Massachusetts, pursued a medical career after relocating to South Dakota in 1879. His father, Richard Tremaine Robinson, was a Civil War veteran and businessman, while his grandfather, William Day Robinson, emigrated from Nova Scotia in 1852. Dr. Robinson attended medical school in Boston, graduating in 1893, and later practiced in South Dakota. In 1897, he married Jennie Brennan in Egan, where he was active in community and professional organizations, including the South Dakota National Guard and local education and health boards. They had three children: Richard Tracy, Ada Frances, and Roger Chesley.

Biography of George William Cook

George William Cook, born on September 10, 1850, in Elkader, Clayton County, Iowa, is a prominent farmer in Grovena Township, Moody County, South Dakota. The son of Henry and Mary (Beckman) Cook, he received a common-school education and worked on the family farm until 28. In 1878, he moved to Moody County, where he established and improved a 160-acre homestead. Cook is also involved with the Egan Elevator Company and the Egan Lumber Company. A supporter of the People’s Party, he served as the first treasurer of Grovena Township and as a board member. Cook is affiliated with the Modern Brotherhood of America and attends the Methodist Episcopal Church. Though a bachelor, he is known for his hospitality and has many friends.

Biography of S. P. Waxdahl

S. P. Waxdahl, born in Norway in 1847, emigrated to America in 1869. He initially settled in Wisconsin, working on farms and as a sailor on Lake Michigan. After a stint in California from 1875 to 1878, he moved to Moody County, South Dakota, in 1877, where he homesteaded a tract of wild prairie land near Flandreau. Waxdahl transformed this land into a productive farm, engaging in diversified farming and stock raising. A committed Republican and active community member, he has served as a school director. On January 31, 1880, he married Regina Anderson, and they have six children: Regina, Bertina, Albert, Edward P., Ingyald, and Sophia.

Biography of Henry H. Platts

Henry H. Platts was born in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, on December 25, 1829, to Harvey and Harriett (Davis) Platts. He moved west in 1852, settling first in Jones County, Iowa, and later in Worth County. Platts served in the Civil War, enlisting in 1861 and remaining in service until 1866. Post-war, he farmed in Iowa before relocating to Moody County, South Dakota, in 1876, where he developed a successful ranch. He later moved to Egan, SD, engaging in mercantile business until his death on February 23, 1904. Platts was married twice and had eight children.

Biography of George R. Sagar

George R. Sagar, a successful young businessman in Colman, Moody County, is engaged in the drug and jewelry business as a partner in Sagar & Stetzel. With a strong educational foundation and experience working in his brother’s drug store, he pursued further studies at the New York School of Pharmacy. After gaining valuable knowledge, he traveled as a salesman before settling in Colman, where he established a thriving drug business. In 1902, he formed a partnership with jeweler Roy L. Stetzel. A Republican and member of the Modern Woodmen of America, Sagar has been an active member of the Presbyterian church since 1891.