History of South Dakota - South Dakota Genealogy

Biography of Oren Strevel

History of South Dakota vol 1 title page

Oren Strevel, born October 9, 1858, near Port Huron, Michigan, became a successful farmer and stock raiser in Faulk County, South Dakota. After moving to the area in 1883, he established a homestead and expanded his operations to include a 320-acre ranch and 1,500 acres of leased grazing land. Strevel specialized in high-grade Durham cattle and operated a profitable dairy business. A dedicated community member and staunch Democrat, he also served in the First South Dakota Cavalry during the Spanish-American War. Strevel’s contributions reflect his pioneering spirit and commitment to agricultural progress in the region.

Biography of Thomas Cawood

Thomas Cawood, born March 1, 1838, in Daviess County, Indiana, was a distinguished farmer in Hand County, South Dakota. Raised in Missouri after his father’s early death, he enlisted in the Union Army in 1861, serving until the Civil War’s end in 1865, participating in key battles such as Shiloh and Bentonville. After returning to farming in Missouri, Cawood moved to South Dakota in 1883, establishing an 800-acre farm. Active in public service, he served in the state legislature in 1894 and was a committed Republican. He married twice, first to Ellen Starr, and later to Elmira McAtee, raising several children.

Biography of Nils B. Nilson

Nils B. Nilson, born October 11, 1837, in Norway, became a pioneering farmer in Lincoln County, South Dakota. After emigrating to the U.S. in 1867, Nilson initially settled in Fayette County, Iowa, before moving to Canton Township in 1869, where he began farming with limited resources. Despite hardships like living in a wagon and enduring grasshopper plagues, he established a successful 210-acre farm. A dedicated Republican and Lutheran, Nilson married Carrie Anderson in 1863, and they raised nine children. His farm’s success, built from humble beginnings, stands as a testament to his perseverance and hard work.

Biography of Garrett Droppers

Garrett Droppers, born April 12, 1860, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was a distinguished academic who became president of South Dakota State University in Vermillion in 1898. A graduate of Harvard College, class of 1886, with a focus on economics, Droppers furthered his studies in Germany and later taught at the University of Tokyo, Japan. His contributions to economics and cultural understanding, including reports on Japan for the U.S. government, earned him wide recognition. After returning to the U.S., he took leadership of the university, advancing its academic standing. Droppers married twice and had three children with his second wife, Jean Tewkesbury Rand.

Biography of Robert M. Hutchinson

Robert M. Hutchinson, born September 8, 1858, in Henderson County, Illinois, became a prominent figure in South Dakota’s business and political landscape. After moving to Douglas County in 1882, he established a successful farming operation before transitioning to business in Delmont, dealing in grain, livestock, and agricultural supplies. A dedicated Democrat, Hutchinson served in the South Dakota legislature, first elected in 1898 and re-elected in 1902. He also held local roles, including on the village council and school board. In 1896, he married Etta M. Culler, and they had two sons, Earl and Ray.

Biography of Hiram A. Park

Hiram A. Park, born March 28, 1838, in Montrose, Pennsylvania, was a prominent wholesale grocer in Watertown, South Dakota. After moving west in 1858, Park served in the Civil War with the First Iowa Volunteer Cavalry, rising to the rank of first lieutenant. Following the war, he established a grocery business in Red Wing, Minnesota, before relocating to Watertown in 1886 to open a successful wholesale operation. He later co-founded Park, Grant & Morris, a major grocery house in Fargo, North Dakota. Park was married twice and had four sons, two of whom predeceased him. He was active in the Episcopal church and Masonic order.

Biography of Walter D. Morris

Walter D. Morris, born April 12, 1856, in Fredonia, New York, was a key figure in the banking industry in Watertown, South Dakota. After beginning his banking career in Minnesota, he co-founded the Citizens’ National Bank in Watertown in 1885, serving as its cashier and later as president from 1898 onward. Under his leadership, the bank became a stable and well-regarded institution. Morris was known for his business acumen and civic involvement, though he avoided political office. He married Mary A. Archibald in 1880, and they had four children: Archibald, Lorenzo, Walter Jr., and Fannie.

Biography of Thomas H. Pritchard

Thomas H. Pritchard, born July 31, 1857, in Wales, was the founder of Watertown Marble and Granite Works in South Dakota. After immigrating to the U.S. in 1872, Pritchard apprenticed as a marble cutter in Wisconsin before starting his own marble business in 1877. In 1882, he moved to Watertown, establishing the town’s first marble and granite shop, which grew into one of the state’s leading businesses. A pioneer of South Dakota, Pritchard was also active in local fraternal organizations. He married Blanche Lovejoy in 1878, and they had four children: Ethel, Lyle, Winifred, and Sybil.

Biography of Arthur Calvin Mellette

Arthur Calvin Mellette, born in 1842 in Henry County, Indiana, was the last governor of Dakota Territory and the first governor of South Dakota. Of French Huguenot descent, Mellette graduated from Bloomington University in 1863 and served in the Civil War as a substitute for his drafted brother. After the war, he practiced law, published the *Muncie Times*, and served in the Indiana legislature. Moving to Dakota in 1878, he became a key advocate for statehood, culminating in his appointment as territorial governor in 1889. Mellette was later elected South Dakota’s first governor and served until 1893. He passed away in 1895.

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 Arne Zetlitz, M. D.

Dr. Arne Zetlitz, born June 16, 1864, in Stavanger, Norway, was a prominent physician in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. After studying pharmacy and attending medical school at Toledo Medical College, where he graduated in 1891, Zetlitz moved to Sioux Falls in 1894. Known for his dedication to medical practice, he played a key role in establishing the Sioux Falls Hospital and its nurse training school. He also pursued livestock breeding on his farm near Sioux Falls. In 1895, Zetlitz married Pauline Dahl, with whom he had two children, Hazel R. and T. Caroline D.

Biography of Edgar S. Knowles

Edgar S. Knowles, born February 24, 1861, near Riga, Monroe County, New York, was a prominent fire insurance underwriter in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Son of James P. and Cornelia L. (Harmon) Knowles, he moved to Illinois in 1878, graduating from Danville High School in 1881. In 1882, Knowles relocated to Sioux Falls, engaging in various businesses before co-founding the insurance firm Morcom & Knowles in 1896. A committed Republican and active Mason, Knowles married May L. Davis in 1891, with whom he had two daughters, Helen D. (b. 1899) and Alice M. (b. 1901).

Biography of Porter Pascal Peck

Porter Pascal Peck, born April 16, 1843, in Caledonia Springs, Canada, moved with his family to Wisconsin in the 1850s. After his father’s death in 1855, Peck pursued various jobs and, at 18, enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil War, serving in the Wisconsin Cavalry. Following his military service, Peck relocated to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in 1873, where he became a prominent businessman and community leader. He was instrumental in local development, establishing a bank and serving as mayor. Peck married twice and had five children. He was also active in Masonic and veterans’ organizations.

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 William Handley

William Handley, born on October 27, 1853, in Dumfriesshire, Scotland, was the son of James and Mary (Barrett) Handley. Trained as a stone cutter, he served his apprenticeship in Shapfell, England, before immigrating to the United States in 1875. Handley worked across various states, including Maine, Rhode Island, and Minnesota, before settling in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in 1883. He managed and eventually co-owned the East Sioux Falls Granite Company. On October 27, 1901, Handley married Frances Ann Jones of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The couple resided in East Sioux Falls.