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.
The search on the right side will search all of the South Dakota Genealogy website but will not search the data linked to from our offsite data pages.
South Dakota Genealogy
- South Dakota Archives and Libraries
- South Dakota Biographies
- South Dakota Cemeteries
- South Dakota Census Records
- South Dakota Church Records
- South Dakota Indian Tribes
- South Dakota Newspapers and Obituaries
- South Dakota Historical and Genealogical Societies
South Dakota County Genealogy
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 Thomas Inch
Thomas Inch, born in County Derry, Ireland, on August 12, 1888, emigrated to the United States, first settling in Connecticut before moving to Yankton County, South Dakota, in 1868. Initially securing 160 acres of government land, Inch expanded his holdings to 720 acres, developing a prosperous farm known for its modern equipment and well-tended fields. He specialized in general farming and livestock raising, including Durham cattle and Poland-China hogs. Although never married, he lived with his brother Major Inch and his family. Thomas served as a county commissioner from 1891 to 1897 and was active in school work and the…
Biography of Torge Thompson
Torge Thompson, born in Norway on February 27, 1863, emigrated to the United States with his family in 1869, settling in Clay County, South Dakota. His father, Thomas A. Thompson, secured a 160-acre homestead and developed it into a prosperous farm despite setbacks like the 1881 flood. Torge, educated in local schools and at the University of South Dakota, took over the farm at age 20. In 1900, he acquired 640 acres in Yankton County, where he established a successful mixed farming operation. Torge married Bertha Brake in 1889, and they had five children. Active in community affairs, he served…
Biography of George Madsen
George Madsen was born on October 21, 1839, in Denmark. He farmed in his native land until age 40 before emigrating to the United States, settling in Yankton County, South Dakota. He married Elsie Larsen, and they had six children: Annie, Conrad, Marie, Johanna, Louisa, and Eleanor. Madsen purchased 220 acres in Yankton County, where he engaged in stock raising and cereal cultivation. He later moved to Yankton, where he resides. A devout Lutheran and respected community member, Madsen exemplified success through hard work and dedication.
Biography of Robert Thogersen
Robert Thogersen, born in Denmark on July 28, 1841, emigrated to the United States at age 28. He settled in Turner County, South Dakota, where he secured a homestead and married fellow Dane Marie Madsen in Yankton. They had six children: Arthur, Henry, Charlie, Mary, Grant, and William. Thogersen farmed 160 acres near Yankton until his death on February 24, 1903, making significant improvements and utilizing modern machinery. A respected Lutheran, his successful and principled life exemplified the opportunities available in America. Marie Thogersen continues to manage the family farm with notable business acumen.
Biography of John M. Larson
John M. Larson, born near Throndhjem, Norway, on April 17, 1862, emigrated to the United States in 1881. Settling in Yankton, South Dakota, he married Guri J. Rye in 1884 and managed a successful farming enterprise, expanding his land holdings to 360 acres. A dedicated Lutheran and Republican, Larson actively participated in local politics, serving as a deputy assessor and state legislator from 1900. He was known for his legislative contributions, including reducing school fund interest rates. Larson’s life exemplified industriousness and community service until his death.
Biography of Vaclav Novak
Vaclav Novak was born in Bohemia in March 1832 and became a notable violinist and music teacher in his homeland. After the death of his first wife and subsequent remarriage to Barbara Hurkova in 1861, Novak emigrated to the United States in 1870, settling in Yankton County, South Dakota. He purchased and cultivated 320 acres of farmland. Novak had a total of eleven children, four born in Bohemia and seven in the United States. He passed away on September 22, 1899, leaving a legacy of integrity and community respect.
Biography of James W. Parker
James W. Parker, born November 24, 1855, in Warren, Illinois, is a prominent businessman in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He moved to Hillsboro, Wisconsin, at age thirteen and later attended Hillsdale College in Michigan. Parker began his career in his father’s general store in Wisconsin and co-founded the Sioux Falls Lumber Company in 1881. He has managed the company since its incorporation, growing it into a leading enterprise. A dedicated Republican, Parker is also involved in educational work, serving on the board of education. He married Nellie Thompson on May 19, 1892, and they have two children, James Thompson Parker…
Biography of Theodore Rix
Theodore Rix, a notable agriculturist in Yankton County, South Dakota, was born in Denmark on January 11, 1845. After losing his mother at birth and his father in 1864, Rix emigrated to the United States in 1870. He worked in various trades, including carpentry and farming, across Michigan, Indiana, and Iowa. In 1878, he settled in Yankton County, purchasing 160 acres of government land and expanding his holdings to 400 acres. Rix married Katherina Jensen on December 19, 1883, and they have nine children. Active in the community, Rix is involved with the Farmers’ Mutual Insurance Company and the Irene…
Biography of Clark S. West
Clark S. West, born May 9, 1841, in Chautauqua County, New York, is a respected farmer and former state senator in Yankton County, South Dakota. The son of Louis and Amanda West, he relocated to Iowa in 1834, where his father farmed and worked as a machinist. Clark moved to Yankton County with $75 and a team of horses, acquiring 160 acres of government land. Despite early hardships, including a devastating flood in 1881, he expanded his holdings to around 1,100 acres. A dedicated Republican and active Mason, Clark served as a justice of the peace and state senator. He…
Biography of C. Frank Collins
C. Frank Collins, born September 7, 1863, in Jo Daviess County, Illinois, is a prominent farmer and stock raiser in Yankton County, South Dakota. The son of G. W. and Anna Collins, he moved with his family to Nebraska in 1879 and later to Yankton County. Frank started his own farm with minimal resources but gradually expanded his holdings and improved his property. He married Delight Post on January 21, 1884, and they have built a successful farming enterprise with significant livestock operations. A dedicated Republican, Collins remains active in public affairs and community development.