West - South Dakota Genealogy

Biography of Thomas Inch

History of South Dakota vol 1 title page

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 Episcopal church.

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 married Elizabeth Van Osdel in 1863, and they have two sons, A. Louis and Jesse C.

History of Weston Township

History of Marshall County Dakota title page

Weston township is settled mostly by Brown county settlers from Columbia and Groton, who came in early in the spring of 1883. The surface is somewhat undulating. There are two large depressions in southeast part, of about 500 acres, which yield an abundance of good hay. Originally included the south half of Stena township, and was known as Norwich. In the spring of ’85 was reorganized and named Weston. Now has three fine school-houses built last year. About October 1, 1882, H. H. Snow, from Clear Lake, Minn., settled on sec. 17. He was the first settler in the township … Read more

Organization of Marshall County

Marshall County was originally a part of Day County. In March, 1885, the legislature passed a bill to divide Day County and create Marshall County north of the township line of 124, and to be divided by a vote of the people, May 2d, 1885. Division was carried by a large majority, although there was bitter opposition in the southern part f what is now Marshall County. The bill provided that Marshal county shall assume the Day county indebtedness in proportion to the assessed valuation of the new county in 1884, which was one-third, and in the final adjustment of … Read more

South Dakota Biographies

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 A. Anderson G. W. Anderson Oliver E. Anderson William Anderson James Oliver Andrews James J. Aplin Giles A. Baker Thomas Bandy Julian Bennett Dr. William S. Bentley Dr. S. N. Blair Joseph F. Bockler H. A. Booth George C. Bradley Christopher Brakke George Nelson Breed … Read more