History of South Dakota - South Dakota Genealogy

Biography of William J. Sheppard

History of South Dakota vol 1 title page

William J. Sheppard, born on July 24, 1862, in Quebec, Canada, was the president of the Mutual Cash Guaranty Fire Insurance Company of Sioux Falls. Son of Percival Edward and Ellen (Lloyd) Sheppard, he received a collegiate education in Ottawa and worked at the Second National Bank of Detroit until his father’s death in 1883. Afterward, he held various positions, including serving in the Riel Rebellion with the Winnipeg Field Battery. Sheppard moved to Sioux Falls in 1896, where he co-founded the Mutual Cash Guaranty Fire Insurance Company in 1903 and served as its president. He married Caroline Mary Harder in 1887, and they had two children, Stuart Harder and William Percival.

Biography of Charles H. Ross

Charles H. Ross, born August 23, 1870, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was a prominent lumberman and secretary of the H. W. Ross Lumber Company. Moving to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in 1879, Ross pursued a thorough education, graduating from Sioux Falls High School in 1888 and the University of South Dakota in 1890. He began his career in manual labor within the lumber industry, rising to a leadership role in the family business. Ross also served as a member of the Sioux Falls board of education, held numerous affiliations, including with the Masons and Knights of Pythias, and was an active Congregational church trustee. He married Ellen May Goodrich in 1900, and they had one son, Hiram Earl.

Biography of Thomas H. Brown

Thomas H. Brown, born on August 17, 1837, in Portobello, England, emigrated to Wisconsin in 1848 with his family. He served in the Union Army during the Civil War from 1861 to 1865. Post-war, he briefly mined gold in Montana before returning to Wisconsin. In 1872, Brown settled in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and became a prominent businessman, co-founding the successful Brown & Saenger printing and bookbinding firm. He was also instrumental in local Masonic activities, served on the school board, and played a key role in bringing the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway to Sioux Falls. Brown married Mary Morse in 1867, and they had three sons.

Biography of John T. Lee

John T. Lee, born February 11, 1855, in Christiania, Norway, is the treasurer of Minnehaha County, South Dakota. Emigrating to America in 1867, he settled with his family in Iowa before moving to Dakota Territory in 1869. Lee successfully farmed and managed stock in Minnehaha County before transitioning to manage the Farmers’ Association grain business in Brandon in 1891. In 1902, he was elected county treasurer, known for his effective administration. A dedicated Republican, Lee has held various local offices. He was married twice, first to Christina Nelson in 1876, and later to Mary Holm in 1903.

Biography of William Henry James

William Henry James, born on December 25, 1858, in Dodgeville, Wisconsin, is a prominent grain and coal dealer in Valley Springs, South Dakota, and secretary of the Valley Springs Telephone Company. After purchasing an interest in his father’s mill at twenty-one, he transitioned to butter-making and operated a creamery in Winthrop, Minnesota. Moving to Valley Springs in 1887, he managed the Hubbard & Palmer Elevator Company. James was instrumental in founding the Valley Springs Telephone Company and remains its secretary. He also runs a successful local insurance agency and has been active in public affairs, serving as town clerk for ten years. He married Carrie Hendrickson in 1900, and they have five children.

Biography of Edwin A. Sherman

Edwin A. Sherman, born on June 19, 1844, in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, graduated from Wayland High School at sixteen. He initially pursued agriculture before moving to Boston, where he became a partner in Capen, Sherman & Company. Health issues led him to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in 1873. There, Sherman became a key figure in the city’s development, notably contributing to education, business, and infrastructure. He built the first brick building in Sioux Falls and helped establish the Cascade Milling Company and local banking institutions. He married Florence L. Cowdrey in 1873, and after her death, married Catherine Elwell in 1901.

Biography of Albert Wheelon

Albert Wheelon, born on March 14, 1844, in Elizabethtown, Ontario, Canada, was a Civil War veteran and the register of the U.S. Land Office in Pierre, South Dakota. He moved to McHenry County, Illinois, in 1857 and enlisted in the Ninety-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry in 1862. After the war, he farmed in Iowa and held public office as sheriff of Clay County. He later engaged in mining in the Black Hills and Colorado before settling in Pierre in 1889, where he entered the real estate business. Wheelon held various public offices and remained active in the Republican party and several fraternal organizations. He married three times and had several children.

Biography of Hiram E. McNutt

Dr. Hiram E. McNutt, born on September 21, 1848, in Warren County, New York, is a distinguished physician based in Aberdeen, South Dakota. A Dartmouth graduate, he initially practiced with his father before moving to Ohio and then Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1883, he relocated to Aberdeen, becoming a leading medical professional. McNutt played a crucial role in forming the State Medical Society and the State Board of Medical Examiners, significantly impacting medical practice regulations in South Dakota. A dedicated Republican and active in fraternal organizations, he is also a prominent Mason. McNutt married Delia L. Snow in 1874, and they have a daughter, Fanny.

Biography of Hon. Alfred B. Kittredge

Alfred B. Kittredge, born March 28, 1861, in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, was educated at Yale, graduating in 1882. He moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in 1885 to practice law, representing major railroads before entering politics. Kittredge served in the South Dakota legislature and was the Republican national committeeman. In 1901, he was appointed to the U.S. Senate, where he played a significant role in advocating for the Panama Canal route. Known for his judiciousness and persuasive speaking, Kittredge remained an influential political figure until his death. He was also active in social circles, despite being unmarried.

Biography of Charles L. Hyde

Charles L. Hyde, born on June 23, 1861, in Pike County, Illinois, is the son of James F. and Hattie (Blake) Hyde. After attending Cumberland Presbyterian College, he moved to Colorado at 17, working as a cowboy. Later, he became a commercial traveler in the hardware trade. Hyde transitioned into real estate, moving to Pierre, South Dakota, in 1889, where he amassed extensive land holdings. He owns significant properties across multiple states and is considered one of South Dakota’s wealthiest citizens. Hyde, an independent in politics, is actively involved in several fraternal organizations and is a member of the Congregational church.

Biography of Henry Eugene Cutting

Henry Eugene Cutting, born on May 26, 1851, in Woodstock, Illinois, was the son of Henry P. and Laurensy E. (Newell) Cutting. After graduating from Presbyterian College in 1869, he moved to Sioux City, Iowa, and later worked in various roles, including the grocery business and on Missouri River steamboats. In 1875, he relocated to Yankton, Dakota Territory, and later to Pierre in 1880. Cutting held numerous positions, including city treasurer of Pierre, treasurer of Hughes County, and receiver of the U.S. Land Office in Pierre. He married Josephine A. Dawson in 1878, and they had three children.

Biography of Burton A. Cummins

Burton A. Cummins, born on April 3, 1869, in Montpelier, Vermont, is a prominent figure in Pierre, South Dakota. Son of Albert Oren and Mary (Frances) Cummins, he graduated as valedictorian from Washington County Grammar School in 1887. Cummins began his banking career at Sioux National Bank in Iowa, later becoming the youngest national bank cashier at age 21 with First National Bank in Pierre. Politically active, he served as colonel on Governor Herreid’s staff and held numerous leadership roles in banking and civic organizations. He married Clara Belle Merrick in 1890, with whom he had two children by 1904.

Biography of John L. Lockhart of Pierre

John L. Lockhart, born on April 17, 1856, near Portage City, Wisconsin, was the son of Scottish immigrants John and Agnes (Gray) Lockhart. After working in the Wisconsin lumber industry, he moved to Clark County, Dakota in 1882, then to Milbank, Grant County, where he engaged in the hardware business. Elected commissioner of school and public lands for South Dakota in 1894, Lockhart relocated to Pierre. He later entered the general merchandise business and held several public offices, including mayor of Milbank and clerk of the courts of Grant County. He married Delilah C. Burman in 1885, and they had four children.

Biography of William R. Borst

William R. Borst, born on January 15, 1860, in Marquette County, Wisconsin, was a prominent rancher and businessman in South Dakota. Son of Daniel and Emma (Kelly) Borst, he moved to South Dakota in 1869. William engaged in freighting to the Black Hills and later established a successful cattle ranch. In 1903, he expanded into the hardware business in Pierre, where he resided from 1896. Active in the Republican Party, Borst was also a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He married Matilda A. Mason in 1889, and they had three children: Olney H., Margaret, and Jessie.

Biography of John Sutherland

John Sutherland, born on February 18, 1858, in Charlotte County, New Brunswick, Canada, is a prominent lawyer in Pierre, South Dakota. After moving to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, around 1860, Sutherland attended the University of Chicago and graduated from Brown University in 1880 with a Bachelor of Laws degree. He taught Greek and Latin before relocating to Pierre in 1884. Sutherland has played a significant role in Pierre’s legal and real estate sectors, served as president of the board of education and board of trade, and was active in the Republican Party. He married Laura Paulina Aiken in 1881, and they had two children.

Biography of Lester H. Clow

Lester H. Clow, born on November 2, 1843, in Highgate, Vermont, served on the Pierre city council and managed the Rust-Owen Lumber Company’s local interests. After moving to Chicago in 1857 and graduating from Bryant & Stratton Business College in 1862, Clow pursued a career in the lumber industry across several states before settling in Pierre in 1895. A dedicated Republican, he cast his first presidential vote for Lincoln and held significant roles in Freemasonry. Clow married twice, first to Adella J. Taft, with whom he had two children, and later to Delia Franck, with whom he had five children.

Biography of Charles H. Fales

Charles H. Fales, born on November 16, 1868, in St. Joseph, Missouri, served as postmaster of Fort Pierre, South Dakota. His parents, Richard P. and Mary F. Fales, relocated to Fort Pierre in 1881, where his father worked as a blacksmith until his death in 1898. Charles worked for stock growers before opening his store in 1894, remaining involved in the cattle industry. A dedicated Republican, he became postmaster in 1897. He was active in the Masons, attaining Scottish Rite degrees, and was a member of the Knights of Pythias.

Biography of Charles J. Lavery, M. D.

Dr. Charles J. Lavery, born on February 5, 1867, in Clinton, New York, was a prominent physician in Fort Pierre, South Dakota. He began his medical studies in 1885 and pursued advanced training in Ohio, Chicago, Toronto, and Montreal. Dr. Lavery served as county coroner, county physician, and was the first superintendent of Stanley County’s Board of Health. He was also involved in various professional and fraternal organizations. Dr. Lavery married Matilda I. Widmeyer in 1895, who passed away in 1896, and later married Margaret Ethel Whitney in 1897, with whom he had one child.

Biography of George W. Lumley

George W. Lumley, born January 9, 1851, on the Isle of Wight, England, is a prominent figure in Pierre, South Dakota. He is the son of Major James R. Lumley and Clara Faithfull Lumley. Educated in France, Belgium, and England, Lumley moved to the United States in 1871. He initially worked in London and later in Nebraska, where he was involved in the banking and newspaper industries. Relocating to South Dakota in 1883, Lumley founded several banks and engaged in large-scale cattle and horse ranching. He is president of the Pierre Ranch and Cattle Company. Lumley married Anne Amelia Rudderham in 1871, and they have four sons. He is active in the Episcopal Church and the Freemasons.

Biography of Ernest Jasper Lacy

Ernest Jasper Lacy, born on November 2, 1873, in Austin, Minnesota, is the official surveyor of Stanley County, South Dakota. He moved to South Dakota in 1881, where his father built the first hotel in Roscoe. Following his father’s financial struggles, Lacy began working to support his family at age 12. Initially joining a surveying party, he shifted his focus from law to civil engineering, eventually overseeing significant government land surveys. Lacy owns a successful sheep ranch and is vice-president of the South Dakota Horticultural Society. A dedicated Methodist, he is active in local church and charitable activities. He married Estelle Mae Lyman in 1900.