Yankton County - South Dakota Genealogy

Biography of Nels C. Andrews

History of South Dakota vol 1 title page

Nels C. Andrews, born August 14, 1868, in Racine, Wisconsin, became a prominent figure in Irene, South Dakota, where he managed J. H. Queal & Company. His parents, Christ and Marie Christensen, emigrated from Denmark in 1868, settling in Wisconsin before moving to Turner County, South Dakota, in 1877. Nels attended Sioux Falls College, graduating in 1899, and spent a decade teaching in Turner County. He married Christine Olson in 1895, and they had four children: Rubie, Una, Pearl, and Newell. Active in local politics and civic organizations, Andrews served as mayor and held various public offices in Irene.

Biography of Henry O. Anderson

Henry O. Anderson, born November 15, 1842, in Sweden, emigrated to the United States in 1866 after completing a cabinetmaking apprenticeship in Norway. He initially settled in Wisconsin, later moving to Yankton, South Dakota, in 1870, where he became involved in public affairs and served in the state legislature. After various ventures, including a successful planing mill, Anderson moved to Sturgis in 1884. There, he established a flourishing hardware and furniture business, H. O. Anderson & Son, with his son Albert. Anderson was active in local politics and community organizations. He married Inga M. Nordgran in 1867.

Biography of Alfred Alder

Alfred Alder, born August 29, 1846, in Buffalo, New York, became a prominent businessman in Volin, Yankton County, South Dakota. Son of John and Mary A. (Rosenbach) Alder, he learned the millwright trade from his father and operated a flour mill in Eastman, Wisconsin, before relocating to Nebraska and South Dakota. After establishing a successful mercantile business, he built the Volin flouring mill in 1892, significantly benefiting the community. A Union Army veteran, Alder enlisted in 1864 and served in the First Illinois Light Artillery. He married Mary A. Finney in 1873, and they had ten children.

Biography of John O. Aaseth

John O. Aaseth was born on July 3, 1850, in Norway to Ole Rise and Kare (Hestehagen) Aaseth. He emigrated to the United States in 1872, settling in Yankton County, South Dakota. Aaseth initially worked in various labor roles, eventually becoming a partner in the Bagstad & Aaseth Company, a prominent local mercantile business. In 1879, he married Christina Welson, and they had eight children. Aaseth served in South Dakota’s first state legislature and held several local positions, including postmaster of Gayville. He was a dedicated member of the Lutheran Church and active in public service.

Biography of Gilmore Fry

Gilmore Fry, born in June 1863 in Freeport, Illinois, moved with his family to Yankton County, South Dakota, in 1869. His father, Joel Fry, pre-empted land and became a successful farmer, landowner, and community leader. Raised amid the pioneer environment, Gilmore witnessed significant regional changes. In 1899, he married Nettie Lawrence, with whom he had three children: Agnes, Alice, and Willard. Gilmore later managed a lumber yard and elevator for the Atlas Elevator Company in Mission Hill while also owning 500 acres of land. Active in his community, he aligned with the Republican Party and the Congregational church.

Biography of Ellef Solem

Ellef Solem (b. 1852, Norway) was a pioneering farmer and stock raiser in Yankton County, South Dakota. After immigrating in 1874, he worked for others before homesteading 160 acres, where he and his wife, Mary Anderson, built a sod house. Despite early challenges like crop destruction by grasshoppers, Solem steadily expanded his operations, now owning 320 acres with modern improvements. He diversified into dairy farming and livestock, raising shorthorn cattle and hogs. Solem also serves as treasurer for the local creamery and township. An independent voter, he is active in the Lutheran church and respected for his business acumen.

Biography of Downer T. Bramble

Downer T. Bramble, born February 28, 1831, near Montpelier, Vermont, was a pioneering businessman in Yankton, Dakota Territory. After working in the drug trade in Tennessee, Bramble moved to the Midwest, eventually establishing Yankton’s first frame building and general store in 1858. Known as the “big trader” by local Native Americans, he was integral to early trade and transportation, including founding a ferry and flour mill. He also co-founded the First National Bank of Yankton. Bramble held various civic roles and served as a federal land office receiver until his death in 1887.

Biography of Doane Robinson

Doane Robinson, born on October 19, 1856, in Sparta, Wisconsin, was the son of George McCook and Rhozina (Grow) Robinson, both from Revolutionary War lineage. He began his career as a country schoolteacher before moving to Lyon County, Minnesota, where he studied law. After relocating to Watertown, South Dakota, in 1883, Robinson became active in publishing, editing the *Yankton Gazette* and founding the *Monthly South Dakotan*. He also played a key role in establishing the South Dakota State Historical Society in 1901. Robinson authored several works, including a history textbook and a poetry collection. He married Jennie Austin in 1884, with whom he had two sons.

Biography of William T. Van Osdel

William T. Van Osdel, born in 1847 in Madison County, Indiana, moved with his family to Minnesota, where he attended school until joining the Union army at 16. Serving in the South Dakota Volunteers during the Civil War, he was honorably discharged at age 20. Van Osdel then farmed and engaged in freighting before acquiring government land claims. He later became a prominent stock-raiser and landowner in South Dakota, known for his expertise in livestock. In 1871, he married Permelia Morey, with whom he had two daughters, Cora and Lura, who both settled in Yankton County.

Biography of Richard Lucid

Richard Lucid, born in County Kerry, Ireland, in 1843, immigrated to the United States at age 18. After brief stays in Ohio and Michigan, he settled in Iowa, where he farmed for 22 years. In 1884, Lucid moved to Yankton County, South Dakota, where he established a 200-acre farm. He married Hannah Hart in 1879, and the couple had 11 children, though five died young. Lucid became known for his successful stock raising and commitment to his community. The family remained active in the Roman Catholic Church in Yankton, where they were respected for their contributions and industrious spirit.

Biography of John Owens

John Owens, born in North Wales in 1839, immigrated to the United States around 1859. He initially worked in Illinois and Minnesota before settling in Yankton County, South Dakota, in 1884. In the same year, he married Henrietta Kuhler, whose parents were German immigrants. The couple had one son, William. Over time, Owens acquired 340 acres of farmland, focusing on grain and livestock. He was a respected community member, active in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Owens’s life reflects the perseverance typical of 19th-century immigrants seeking better opportunities in America.

Biography of M. E. Johnson

M. E. Johnson, born in Norway in 1842, immigrated to the United States after a career as a sailor. Following his arrival in 1871, he briefly lived on the East Coast before settling in Michigan, where he married Malvina Antone Johnson, a Danish immigrant, in 1873. The couple moved to Yankton, South Dakota, in 1874, where Johnson established a successful express business. He later invested in a 160-acre farm. Johnson passed away in 1885, leaving behind his wife and three surviving children. He was a respected member of the Odd Fellows society and the Congregational church.

Biography of H. A. Dunham

H. A. Dunham was born on September 18, 1846, in Newark, New Jersey, to S. H. and Dianthe (Alden) Dunham. After his family relocated to Indiana and later Illinois, Dunham left home at fourteen to become a sailor, visiting various foreign ports. He later worked as a cooper in Yankton, South Dakota, before marrying Jane Grant in 1867. The couple settled on a homestead in Yankton County, where Dunham focused on agriculture and livestock farming. They had five children. Dunham’s wife passed away in 1893, leaving a significant impact on their family and community.

Biography of John Schamber

John Schamber, born on March 6, 1856, in the Crimean district of southern Russia, was a significant figure in South Dakota’s public and business sectors. After emigrating to the U.S. in 1874, he settled in Yankton County, where he and his family became early pioneers. Schamber initially worked on a farm before moving into the business sector, establishing himself as a leading merchant in Freeman. He later became involved in banking, founding the Exchange State Bank of Menno. A committed Republican, Schamber served as Hutchinson County Treasurer, a state senator, and ultimately, South Dakota State Treasurer. He was also active in his community and the Lutheran church. Schamber married Maria Kayser in 1881, and they had ten children.

Biography of Hon. Edwin Terry White

Hon. Edwin Terry White, a distinguished figure in Yankton, South Dakota, was born on June 6, 1847, in Woodstock, Vermont. He descended from early New England settlers, with his lineage tracing back to the seventeenth century. His father, Samuel White, a noted wood carver from New Hampshire, married Elizabeth Elliott. Edwin White’s career spanned various vocations before he studied law and moved to Yankton in 1870. Serving as a judge and in multiple public offices, White also engaged in business and civic activities, significantly impacting the community. He married Mary L. Bagley in 1874, and they actively contributed to local charitable endeavors.

Biography of Frank W. Fanslow

Frank W. Fanslow, born on October 6, 1862, in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, is a notable figure in Yankton, South Dakota. Son of German immigrants Michael and Bridget (Kuich) Fanslow, he moved to South Dakota in 1877. In 1882, he and his brother John established a blacksmith and wagon-making business in Milltown, later relocating to Yankton. They expanded into agricultural implements and hardware under the firm Fanslow Brothers. Frank served as Yankton’s mayor from 1902 to 1903, advocating for municipal ownership of utilities. He married Eunice E. Gray in 1886, and they had six children, five of whom survived infancy.

Biography of George C. Wagner

George C. Wagner, born on December 30, 1855, in Clayton County, Iowa, was the son of German immigrants Constant and Caroline (Helfesrider) Wagner. Following his father’s early death, George worked on the family farm until moving to South Dakota in 1876. There, he acquired and developed 285 acres in Yankton County. In October 1880, he married Annie Kramer, and they had nine children. An independent politician and German Catholic, George was active in local education and community improvements, earning respect through his industrious and progressive spirit.

Biography of William L. Nieland

William L. Nieland was born on October 17, 1867, in Yankton County, South Dakota, to German immigrants Henry and Henrietta (Zeanter) Nieland. Henry, a homesteader since 1865, secured 160 acres for farming. William pursued farming as well, becoming a prosperous landowner with over 700 acres. He married Anna Madsen on December 14, 1891, and they had four children: Clara, Henrietta, Arthur, and Harry. A community-oriented individual, William served on the school board and was active in the Lutheran church and Woodmen of the World.

Biography of Henry F. Livingston. M. D.

Henry F. Livingston, M.D., born in Quebec, Canada, in 1843, moved to Iowa in 1858. He earned his medical degree from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1865, having also attended Rush Medical College and gained practical experience in a government hospital during the Civil War. In 1865, he relocated to Yankton, South Dakota, where he practiced medicine before serving as a physician and later as an Indian agent for the U.S. government. Returning to Yankton after twelve years of service, he resumed private practice and worked at the State Hospital for the Insane. Dr. Livingston married Anna E. Hoyt in 1871, and they had three sons. He was an active Republican and a member of the Episcopal Church.

Biography of Charles Cook

Charles Cook is a representative citizen of Yankton County, of foreign birth, having first opened his eyes to the light of day in Germany in December, 1845. His parents were Henry and Elizabeth (Hyland) Cook. He was educated in the schools of his native country and when twenty-two years of age crossed the Atlantic to the United States, settling in Missouri, where he remained for two years, following blacksmithing. He then went to California, walking most of the way and carrying his provisions on his back. He suffered many hardships and trials during that long journey, but ultimately reached his destination and remained in the Golden State for five years, working at the blacksmith’s trade. At that time wages were high on the coast and ordinary workmen often made as much as twenty dollars per day. About 1872 Mr. Cook left California for New York, making the journey by way of the Panama route. For a short period he lived in the metropolis of the east and then paid a visit to his friends in Germany, remaining for six months in the fatherland. His interest, however, centered in the new world, for he believed that its privileges and advantages were far superior to those of his native country. Accordingly, he returned to this country, and, making his way to Missouri, he was there united in marriage to Miss Catherine Hoffman, of Canton, Missouri, the wedding taking place on the 3rd of June, 1877. Her parents were Michael and Marguerite (Buchner) Hoffman, both of whom were natives of Germany and, coming to this country, established their home in Missouri.

After his marriage Mr. Cook remained in Missouri for three years and then removed to Illinois, where he spent one year. In 1882 he came to Yankton County, South Dakota, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he has since owned and operated, having now a well-developed farm. As the years have passed he has extended the boundaries of his property by additional purchases until he now owns about four hundred acres of land in this county. His business affairs are capably conducted and his energy, diligence, and strong determination have formed the foundation upon which he has built his success.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cook have been born nine children, but four of the number have passed away. Those still living are George, now seventeen years of age; Mary, sixteen years of age; Clara, a maiden of fourteen; Charlie, a youth of ten; and Willie, who completes the family and is seven years of age. All are still under the parental roof and are attending school. The parents and family are members of the Lutheran church of Yankton and Mr. Cook is an active Republican but has never sought or desired office, preferring to give his time and attention to his business affairs, in which he has met with creditable success. His wife has been to him an able assistant on the journey of life and is a most estimable lady. Both enjoy the warm regard of many friends and the life record of Mr. Cook stands an exemplification of what may be attained through industry if one has the perseverance to continue in a given course and guides his efforts by sound judgment and integrity.