History of South Dakota - South Dakota Genealogy

Biography of Frank Bowen

Frank Bowen, born February 7, 1865, in Benton County, Iowa, was a respected grain dealer and businessman in Benclare, South Dakota. After working in various agricultural and business endeavors across Iowa, he settled in Benclare in 1890, where he established a successful general merchandise business and became a prominent figure in the local grain and stock trade. Bowen was known for his integrity and dedication to his community. His life was tragically cut short on February 27, 1904, when he was shot by a railroad station agent following a dispute over demurrage fees. Bowen left behind his wife, Kate E. Smith, and their six surviving children. The agent was later declared insane and committed to the asylum at Yankton.

Biography of Alfred Reid

History of South Dakota vol 1 title page

Alfred Reid is a native of Aberdeen, Scotland, where he was born on the 16th of January, 1870, being a son of Alexander and Sarah Reid, both representatives of staunch and honored Scottish ancestry. The father of the subject is a stone contractor by vocation; both he and his wife are now residents of Aberdeen, Scotland. They became the parents of ten children, of whom nine are living. The subject was reared in his native city, in whose public schools he received his preliminary educational discipline, after which he was for two years a student in Gordon’s College, a prominent … Read more

Biography of Frederick C. Whitehouse

Frederick C. Whitehouse, born on March 18, 1870, in Boone, Iowa, was a prominent real estate and loan businessman in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Raised in Cherokee, Iowa, Whitehouse began his career in the loan and abstract business and served as deputy auditor of O’Brien County before becoming the cashier of the Primghar State Bank. After relocating to Sioux Falls in 1896, he co-founded the firm F. C. Whitehouse & Company, which played a significant role in developing eastern South Dakota. A dedicated community leader, Whitehouse was active in various fraternal organizations and politically aligned with the Republican Party. He married Abigail C. Blake in 1889, and they had three children: R. Harold, Leland B., and Marie A.

Biography of Orville Clyde Cadwell

Orville Clyde Cadwell, born on August 20, 1861, in Fayette, Ohio, was a prominent music businessman in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. After losing his sight at age five due to a fever, he received his education at the School for the Blind in Faribault, Minnesota, and the Perkins Institute in South Boston, Massachusetts, where he graduated in 1881. Cadwell developed strong musical skills and became proficient in piano tuning. In 1889, he moved to Sioux Falls and established a successful music business, eventually becoming the sole owner. Active in his community, Cadwell served on the Sioux Falls Board of Education and was involved with the Unitarian Church and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He married Minnie A. Burdick in 1885, and they had three children: Grace B., Muriel C., and Ralph K. Cadwell.

Biography of Charles P. Bates

Charles P. Bates, born December 4, 1859, in Oneida County, New York, was a prominent lawyer in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The son of Rev. Laban E. and Caroline Bates, he was raised on a farm and pursued education at Genesee Wesleyan Seminary in New York. After teaching and studying law, Bates moved to South Dakota in 1883, initially engaging in the hardware business in Ipswich. He resumed his legal studies in Sioux Falls and was admitted to the bar in 1887. Bates formed several legal partnerships, most notably with H. H. Keith and later with Ralph W. Parliman. Active in politics, Bates served as Sioux Falls city attorney and as state’s attorney, aligning with the Fusion party before returning to the Republican fold in 1902. He was also deeply involved in fraternal organizations, including the Knights of Pythias and the Elks. Bates married Grace Chester in 1891, and they had two sons, Chester Bronson and Lawrence Russell.

Biography of John Schamber

John Schamber, born on March 6, 1856, in the Crimean district of southern Russia, was a significant figure in South Dakota’s public and business sectors. After emigrating to the U.S. in 1874, he settled in Yankton County, where he and his family became early pioneers. Schamber initially worked on a farm before moving into the business sector, establishing himself as a leading merchant in Freeman. He later became involved in banking, founding the Exchange State Bank of Menno. A committed Republican, Schamber served as Hutchinson County Treasurer, a state senator, and ultimately, South Dakota State Treasurer. He was also active in his community and the Lutheran church. Schamber married Maria Kayser in 1881, and they had ten children.

Biography of Edward G. Kennedy

Edward G. Kennedy, born December 17, 1844, in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, was a distinguished citizen of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, serving as the U.S. Marshal for the district. A Civil War veteran, Kennedy enlisted in the Union Army in 1862, participating in significant battles, including Antietam, and served until the war’s end in 1865. After the war, he worked in Pittsburgh before moving to Dakota Territory in 1889, where he engaged in the cattle and grain business. Appointed U.S. Marshal by President McKinley in 1897, Kennedy was reappointed by President Roosevelt in 1902, serving with distinction. He married Mary B. Brundage in 1891, with whom he had two children. Mary passed away in 1900.

Biography of Frank R. Aikens

Frank R. Aikens, born on December 14, 1855, in New York City, was a distinguished lawyer and judge in South Dakota. Educated initially in Rome, New York, Aikens began studying law at a young age and was admitted to the New York bar in January 1877. He moved to Canton, South Dakota, in 1880, where he quickly established a successful law practice and became deeply involved in politics. Aikens served in the territorial assemblies and was appointed associate justice of the territorial supreme court in 1889. Later, he relocated to Sioux Falls, where he formed prominent legal partnerships. Known for his sharp legal mind and effective trial skills, Aikens earned a reputation as a leading figure in South Dakota’s legal community.

Biography of Hon. Leonard Renner

Leonard Renner, born June 9, 1840, in Baden, Germany, was a respected farmer and politician in Minnehaha County, South Dakota. After emigrating to the U.S. in 1848, his family settled in Racine County, Wisconsin, where he grew up and received his education. Renner served honorably in the Union Army during the Civil War, participating in numerous key battles. In 1878, he relocated to South Dakota, where he developed a successful 960-acre farm in Mapleton Township. Renner was active in local politics, serving on the town board and in the state legislature, and was a dedicated supporter of education and community development. He was married to Catherine Kaiser, and they had four surviving children.

Biography of Edward W. Schmidt

Edward W. Schmidt, born on October 28, 1862, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was a prominent businessman in Valley Springs, Minnehaha County, South Dakota. A member of a pioneering family, Schmidt moved to South Dakota in 1872 with his parents, Frederick W. and Augusta Schmidt, who settled in Lincoln County. After spending his youth working on the family farm, Schmidt returned to Wisconsin to learn the tinners’ trade. He later established a successful hardware and harness business in Valley Springs, eventually running it independently. A dedicated community leader, Schmidt served as village president and treasurer and was active in the Congregational church. He married twice, first to Emma Zick, with whom he had three sons, and later to Mabel Cassidy, with whom he had two daughters.

Biography of Alpha F. Orr

Alpha F. Orr, born April 28, 1860, in Jersey City, New Jersey, was a distinguished attorney based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Raised in Florence, New York, and educated at Whitestown Seminary and Hamilton College, Orr pursued law, being admitted to the bar in 1882. He initially practiced in Rome and Camden, New York, before relocating to Sioux Falls in 1889, where he quickly became a prominent legal figure. A committed Republican, Orr was active in politics, though he primarily focused on his legal practice. He married Eva E. Green and was involved in the Elks and Knights of Pythias.

Biography of Wollert Hildahl

Wollert Hildahl, born August 26, 1875, in Odda, Hardanger, Norway, was a prominent figure in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, after emigrating to the United States in 1893. Educated in Bergen, Norway, Hildahl became a well-respected writer and editor, deeply involved in the Scandinavian community. He led the Minnehaha Mandskor, a key Scandinavian musical organization, and edited the *Syd Dakota Ekko*, a newspaper serving the region’s Scandinavian population. Hildahl married Emma Julia Lien in 1902, and they had one son, Jonas Lien. His contributions to cultural and civic life earned him widespread recognition.

Biography of Rollin J. Wells

Rollin J. Wells, born June 24, 1848, in Moline, Illinois, was a distinguished lawyer and literary figure in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. After studying at the University of Michigan and teaching in Illinois, he pursued law, being admitted to the bar in 1878. Moving to Sioux Falls, Wells established a successful legal practice, eventually partnering with George T. Blackman. Wells was also known for his literary work, notably the dramatic poem “Hagar.” Married to Susan L. Little in 1870, Wells had five children. He was a respected public figure, noted for his contributions to law, literature, and civic life.

Biography of Ed D. Lewis

Ed D. Lewis, born in 1856 in Virginia, was a successful businessman and prominent citizen of Worthing, South Dakota. Raised in Virginia, Ohio, and Wisconsin, Lewis moved to Dakota Territory in 1882, where he established a general merchandise business in Worthing before relocating to Sioux Falls to run a retail shoe business. Returning to Worthing in 1891, he became postmaster and later acquired the Farmers and Merchants’ Bank in 1894. He was married to Mary Morgan, with whom he had one son, Evan Elias Lewis, a West Point cadet. Lewis passed away on January 21, 1904.

Biography of D. Grant Stewart

D. Grant Stewart, born November 2, 1845, in York Center, Livingston County, New York, was a pioneering settler in South Dakota. After beginning his career in merchandising in Minnesota, he moved to Brown County, South Dakota, in 1879, where he established a successful farm from government land claims in Rondell Township. Stewart married twice, first to Emma F. Doten in 1881, who passed away the following year, and later to Celia Hanson in 1885. A prominent local figure, Stewart was known for his independent political views and active involvement in community affairs. He and his wife had six children.

Biography of Martin Emory Hitt

Martin Emory Hitt, born April 27, 1836, in Urbana, Ohio, was a prominent figure in Bon Homme County, South Dakota. The son of Rev. Thomas Hitt and Emily John, he hailed from a distinguished family with deep roots in American history. After receiving his education in Illinois, Hitt moved to Bon Homme County in 1874, where he established a successful 640-acre farm. Known for his intellectual pursuits and political involvement, Hitt was a dedicated supporter of the Populist Party. Though unmarried, he shared his home with his sister and was widely respected as a community leader and a man of integrity.

Biography of Peter Schenck

Peter Schenck, born August 9, 1845, in Elmira, New York, was a prominent pioneer in Faulk County, South Dakota. A descendant of Dutch settlers, Schenck moved to Jefferson County, Wisconsin, in his youth. He served in the Union Army during the Civil War with the 29th Wisconsin Infantry. In 1883, Schenck relocated to Faulk County, establishing a 640-acre homestead. He passed away on February 19, 1887, leaving behind a legacy of hard work and community involvement. Schenck was married to Elizabeth Henderson, with whom he had ten children, six of whom survived into adulthood.

Biography of David M. Powell

David M. Powell, born April 13, 1836, in Roxbury, Delaware County, New York, was a pioneering farmer and stock grower in Davison County, South Dakota. He served in the Methodist Episcopal church ministry before moving to South Dakota in 1883. Powell was a member of both the last territorial legislature and the first state legislature of South Dakota. A dedicated Republican, he voted in every presidential election from Lincoln onwards. Powell married four times, with children from each marriage, and remained active in church work throughout his life. He made significant contributions to both his community and state legislature.

Biography of Mazar Jandreau

Mazar Jandreau, born on July 4, 1853, in Canada, descended from French lineage. His parents, Ferdinand and Estracia (Igout) Jandreau, moved to Sioux City, Iowa, when he was two, and then to Nebraska, where they became pioneers. Jandreau moved to Dakota Territory in 1871, working as a stage-driver between Fort Randall and Fort Thompson. In 1875, he married Louise Redfield, a quarter-blood Yankton Sioux. They had twelve children, seven surviving. The Jandreau family owned 508 acres of land primarily for grazing. A member of the Modern Woodmen of America, Jandreau and his family were also active in the Catholic Church.

Biography of John Doering

John Doering, born February 2, 1868, in southern Russia, became a prominent businessman in Parkston, Hutchinson County. Son of Gottlieb and Juliana (Lempke) Doering, he emigrated to America at age twelve. The family settled near Parkston after a year in Menno. Educated briefly in South Dakota, Doering married Louisa Eberhard in 1892 and established a grist mill in Parkston. He later transitioned to the grain business and agricultural implements. In 1897, he co-founded the South Dakota Grain Company, managing multiple grain elevators. A respected Republican and community leader, Doering owned significant land and served on Parkston’s city council.