South Dakota Genealogy is a genealogical and historical resource for your personal use. It contains information and records for South Dakota ancestry, family history, and genealogy. Specifically, it provides sources for birth records, death records, marriage records, census records, tax records, court records, and military records. It also provides some historical details about different times and people in South Dakota history.
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South Dakota Genealogy
- South Dakota Archives and Libraries
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What’s New at South Dakota Genealogy
The following 20 biographies have been transcribed from the History of South Dakota by Doane Robinson. Added to the other 149 that brings the total to 169 biographies from this four volume set. You can access all of them here: Biographies from the History of South Dakota
- Bollard, Major Robert
- Borst, William R.
- Clow, Lester H.
- Dunmire, J. M.
- Elliott, James D,
- Fales, Charles H.
- Grebe, Henry
- Hill, Charles
- Lacy, Ernest Jasper
- Lavery, Charles J., M. D.
- Lawrence, Charles L.
- Lumley, George W.
- Morehouse, Eli M., M. D.
- Powers, William M.
- Smith, Hon. Ellison Griffith
- Sutherland, John
- Van Tassel, Frank L.
- Wagner, Joseph A.
- Whiting, Joseph Williams
- Wilcox, Edward Parker
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:…
Biography of Chris Callesen
Chris Callesen, born on June 18, 1854, in Schleswig Holstein, Germany, was a respected farmer in Yankton County, South Dakota. Emigrating to the U.S. at seventeen, he initially settled in Yankton County and, upon reaching adulthood, acquired land from the government. In 1880, he married Christina Nelson, a Danish immigrant. Although they had no biological children, they adopted and raised a son, Nels Anderson. Callesen experienced both challenges, like the 1881 flood that destroyed his home, and successes, eventually owning a prosperous 160-acre farm. Active in his community, he was affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Lutheran…
Biography of Charles Thomson
Charles Thomson, born on October 12, 1855, in Monroe County, Wisconsin, was a prominent businessman and city treasurer of Miller, Hand County, South Dakota. He moved to Hand County in 1883, claimed a homestead, and worked as a farmer and teacher. Thomson held various public offices, including county commissioner, county auditor, and presidential elector in 1900. A dedicated Republican, he was active in the party’s central committee. In 1895, he married Minnie Duthie, and in 1904 they had one child, Merle C., born in 1899. Thomson was involved in the grain and coal business.
Biography of August King
August King, born on December 15, 1863, in Saxony, Germany, is a respected citizen and legislative representative of Brookings County, South Dakota. Emigrating to the U.S. in 1880, King initially worked on farms in Minnesota before moving to South Dakota in 1886. He married Pauline Schulz in 1890 and eventually purchased a 280-acre farm in Brookings County. King, a successful farmer and stock grower, also contributes to the community through his political service as a Republican and involvement in local organizations. He and his wife are active in the Methodist Episcopal Church and have six children.
Biography of William S. Major
William S. Major, born on January 23, 1851, in Clinton County, Indiana, was a key pioneer in Hand County, South Dakota. Major, who owned 1,500 acres of land, played a significant role in the county’s organization and development. He moved to South Dakota in 1882, claiming government land and establishing a successful farm. A prominent figure in local politics, Major served three terms in the state senate. Known for his contributions to both agriculture and civic affairs, he was also an active member of the Presbyterian Church in Wessington, Beadle County.
Biography of Frank Nedved
Frank Nedved, born in Bohemia on August 18, 1828, played a pivotal role in establishing the Bohemian settlement in South Dakota. Emigrating to the U.S. in 1867, he initially settled in Ohio before leading a group to Dakota in 1869, where he secured land in Yankton County. Nedved’s efforts attracted many Bohemian families to the area. He lived on his homestead with his son Charles until his death. Nedved’s contributions to the community included establishing the first Catholic church and cemetery in Yankton County. His wife, Veronica Stadnik, and their eleven children shared in his pioneering legacy.
Biography of Mike Cwach
Mike Cwach, born in Bohemia in 1851, was a prominent landowner in Yankton County, owning 1,160 acres. Emigrating to the U.S. at seventeen, he initially settled in Missouri before moving to Yankton County in 1872, where he began a successful career in agriculture and stock raising. In 1878, he married Josie Beachan, whose father, Joseph Beachan, led a Bohemian colony to South Dakota in 1869. Together, Mike and Josie had ten children, eight of whom survived into adulthood. Mike Cwach was known for his agricultural contributions and commitment to his Roman Catholic faith.
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…
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,…
Biography of Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson, a notable farmer, dairyman, and stock grower in Douglas County, South Dakota, was born and educated in Denmark before emigrating to America in 1873. Initially settling in Hartford, Connecticut, he moved to Iowa in 1877, where he farmed until 1900. Johnson then acquired a half section of land in Douglas County, cultivating 220 acres into a valuable homestead. He focused on general farming, dairy farming, and raising Shorthorn and Jersey cattle. A committed Republican and Presbyterian, he and his wife, Hannah Sorenson, had one daughter, Meta C., who married Henry Singleman.