Nelson - South Dakota Genealogy

Biography of Chris Callesen

July 16, 2024 by South Dakota Genealogy

History of South Dakota vol 1 title page

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 church.

Biography of Torge Thompson

July 15, 2024June 21, 2024 by South Dakota Genealogy

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 as a school officer and was a committed Lutheran and Republican.

History of Newport Township

July 9, 2023July 7, 2023 by South Dakota Genealogy

History of Marshall County Dakota title page

The surface of Newport township is level and has a large slough extending from north to south through its center. This slough has the appearance of having been a lake, perhaps centuries ago; the bottom is level and makes a good meadow. East of the slough, on sec. 16, the old earthworks of a fort … Read more

History of Waverly Township

July 9, 2023August 15, 2022 by South Dakota Genealogy

Waverly township, with the exception of the northwestern part, lies on a gradual elevation which finally terminates in the hills. Two-thirds of this township is fine tillable land, the remainder good grazing land, being well supplied with, water. In the eastern part of the township there are two deep gulches or coulees about one mile … Read more

History of Dayton Township

July 9, 2023August 13, 2022 by South Dakota Genealogy

Dayton township lies in the northwest corner of the county, and the surface is quite rolling with the exception of an apparent depression or valley, or more properly, there is a low range of hills extending from the southeast corner of the township along the town line, west and then north, with a turn to … Read more

History of Victor Township

July 9, 2023August 12, 2022 by South Dakota Genealogy

Victor Township lies in the northeast corner of the county, west of the Sisseton reservation and north of the military reservation and at present includes a strip three miles wide lying between it and the military reservation. The western part is quite level, while the eastern part extends up into the Coteaus. The principal part … Read more

South Dakota Biographies

July 9, 2023August 10, 2022 by South Dakota Genealogy

Marthy Jane Cannary Biographies from the Memorial and Biographical Record These biographies are from “Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography, including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and representative citizens of South Dakota…” W. G. Ackerman Ell Nathan Aldrich Irwin D. Aldrich M. D. Alexander Andrew … Read more