Civil War - South Dakota Genealogy

Biography of Henry F. Livingston. M. D.

History of South Dakota vol 1 title page

Henry F. Livingston, M.D., born in Quebec, Canada, in 1843, moved to Iowa in 1858. He earned his medical degree from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1865, having also attended Rush Medical College and gained practical experience in a government hospital during the Civil War. In 1865, he relocated to Yankton, South Dakota, where he practiced medicine before serving as a physician and later as an Indian agent for the U.S. government. Returning to Yankton after twelve years of service, he resumed private practice and worked at the State Hospital for the Insane. Dr. Livingston married Anna E. Hoyt in 1871, and they had three sons. He was an active Republican and a member of the Episcopal Church.

Biography of George A. Johnston

George A. Johnston, born on August 14, 1847, in Guernsey County, Ohio, was a notable resident of Mitchell, South Dakota. The son of George and Margaret (Simpson) Johnston, he moved from Ohio to Iowa in 1856, and later to South Dakota in 1876. A Civil War veteran, he served in the Seventh Iowa Cavalry. Johnston pursued a career in law, real estate, and politics, including terms as a state senator and mayor of Mitchell. He married Clara R. Hallowell in 1882, and they had two children, one of whom survived infancy. Johnston was also a prominent Freemason and community leader.

Biography of DeWitt Clinton Fowler, M. D.

Dr. DeWitt Clinton Fowler, born November 6, 1841, in Delphi, Madison County, New York, pursued his medical education at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City, graduating in 1863. He served as an assistant surgeon during the Civil War, enduring capture and imprisonment. Post-war, Dr. Fowler practiced homeopathic medicine in New York before moving to Aberdeen, South Dakota, in 1882 due to health concerns. He became a prominent physician and successful businessman, owning valuable properties and mining interests. A dedicated Mason and Episcopalian, Dr. Fowler significantly contributed to Aberdeen’s medical and religious communities.

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 William M. Powers

William M. Powers, born in Culpeper County, Virginia, in 1845, was a pioneer citizen of Yankton and a Civil War veteran. Orphaned early, he grew up in Shellsburg, Wisconsin. In 1861, he joined the 7th Wisconsin Infantry, serving valiantly in numerous battles until his discharge in 1864. Powers then entered the harness-making trade before relocating to Yankton in 1873. There, he successfully ran a livery and transfer business, later investing in real estate. A dedicated public servant, he held several political positions, including mayor of Yankton. Powers married twice, first to Hattie Ury and later to Mrs. L. M. Purdy.

Biography of Edward Parker Wilcox

Edward Parker Wilcox was born on December 17, 1837, in Victor, New York, to Jairus and Mary E. Wilcox. He moved to Chicago with his family, where his father, a Yale graduate and Presbyterian minister, succumbed to cholera in 1851. Edward began his career in the lumber business and served with distinction in the Civil War, achieving the rank of captain. Post-war, he established successful lumber and grain businesses in Chicago and later Yankton, South Dakota. In 1887, he founded the American Mortgage Company. Married to Fannie S. Hurlbut in 1867, they had two children, Jessie and Dudley.

Biography of Major Robert Bollard

Major Robert Dollard, born on March 14, 1842, in Fall River, Massachusetts, was a prominent lawyer and public figure in South Dakota. He served with distinction in the Civil War, advancing to the rank of Major. After the war, he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1870. In 1879, he became the first settler in Douglas County, Dakota Territory, and played a key role in fighting corruption there. Dollard served as South Dakota’s first Attorney General and held various legislative positions. He married Carrie E. Dunn in 1875. His contributions to public service and law left a lasting legacy in South Dakota.

Biography of Henry H. Farrington

Henry H. Farrington, born February 10, 1841, in Lake County, Indiana, is the son of Dr. John and Emily Farrington. He enlisted in the 73rd Indiana Volunteer Infantry in 1862, serving in the Civil War and participating in significant battles such as Stone River. After the war, Farrington farmed in Illinois before moving to South Dakota in 1883, where he acquired government land in Hand County. He later relocated to Wessington, Beadle County, engaging in grain and livestock trading, and eventually the hardware business. A dedicated Republican and Mason, Farrington married Lodema Pulver in 1860, with whom he had five children.

Biography of Harry D. James

Harry D. James, a prominent young lawyer in Wagner, South Dakota, was born in Ogle County, Illinois, on October 14, 1869. His father, Amos C. James, a Civil War veteran, relocated the family to Bon Homme County, South Dakota. Harry attended Yankton College and the agricultural school in Brookings before studying law in Sioux Falls. Admitted to the bar, he practiced in Flandreau, serving two terms as state’s attorney. Known for his vigorous prosecution style, he moved to Wagner about a year ago, combining legal work with stock raising. He married Emeline Seaman in 1895, and they have one daughter, Lucile.

Biography of Jopin H. McLaughlin

Jopin H. McLaughlin, known as “Major” McLaughlin, was born on June 22, 1826, in Limerick, Ireland. After completing his education in a classical school, he sailed the seas for seven years, facing numerous adventures and perils, including shipwrecks. In 1850, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving in the Third and Sixth Cavalry, and participated in many campaigns against Native American tribes. During the Civil War, he served on the U.S. steamship “Virginia” and later the “Ida,” taking part in the capture of Mobile and its forts. Post-war, he re-enlisted and served under General Miles. From 1877, he resided at Fort Randall, South Dakota, where he held various positions, including custodian of the fort. McLaughlin, a Republican, was active in the Grand Army of the Republic, Odd Fellows, and the Masons. In 1883, he married Margaret Moran, and they had four children.

Biography of Levi M. Wood

Levi M. Wood, a prominent pioneer of LaValley Township in Lincoln County, South Dakota, was born on January 27, 1842, in Ohio. The son of Morris and Abashaba (Sudnutt) Wood, he moved with his parents to Iowa, where he grew up. He served in the Civil War with the Second Iowa Cavalry. In 1866, he married Virbett (Bent) Lippincott and, in 1872, they settled in South Dakota, where Wood developed a successful 240-acre farm. He was active in local politics, held various township offices, and contributed to the community’s development. He passed away on August 27, 1901, leaving a legacy of public service and agricultural success.

Biography of Richard Francis Robinson

Dr. Richard Francis Robinson, born January 2, 1868, in Boston, Massachusetts, pursued a medical career after relocating to South Dakota in 1879. His father, Richard Tremaine Robinson, was a Civil War veteran and businessman, while his grandfather, William Day Robinson, emigrated from Nova Scotia in 1852. Dr. Robinson attended medical school in Boston, graduating in 1893, and later practiced in South Dakota. In 1897, he married Jennie Brennan in Egan, where he was active in community and professional organizations, including the South Dakota National Guard and local education and health boards. They had three children: Richard Tracy, Ada Frances, and Roger Chesley.

Biography of Cincinatus C. Wiley

Cincinnatus C. Wiley, born October 8, 1842, in Franklin County, Massachusetts, was a successful businessman and Civil War veteran. The son of Dr. Hazare Wiley and Mary Pierce, he enlisted in the Tenth Massachusetts Infantry in 1861, participating in key battles such as Gettysburg and Spotsylvania. Post-war, Wiley pursued the lumber business in Vermont before moving to South Dakota in 1876. He engaged in mining and real estate, co-founding the successful firm Wiley, Allen & Company in Watertown. Wiley also served as county and municipal treasurer. Married to Harriett P. Sprague in 1865, he had five children. Wiley was active in the Grand Army of the Republic, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Harriett passed away on December 4, 1902.

Biography of Henry H. Platts

Henry H. Platts was born in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, on December 25, 1829, to Harvey and Harriett (Davis) Platts. He moved west in 1852, settling first in Jones County, Iowa, and later in Worth County. Platts served in the Civil War, enlisting in 1861 and remaining in service until 1866. Post-war, he farmed in Iowa before relocating to Moody County, South Dakota, in 1876, where he developed a successful ranch. He later moved to Egan, SD, engaging in mercantile business until his death on February 23, 1904. Platts was married twice and had eight children.

Biography of Soren Mortensen

Soren Mortensen, born April 21, 1846, in Denmark, became one of the wealthiest farmers in Yankton County, South Dakota. After emigrating to the United States in 1869, he worked on a farm in Long Island for seven and a half years before moving to South Dakota in 1876. Mortensen initially focused on wheat farming but shifted to livestock after several crop failures. He built a successful operation handling cattle and Chester White hogs, amassing 1,500 acres of farmland. Mortensen married Meatha Amelia Larson in 1874, with whom he had nine children. After her death in 1896, he married Nora Grant in 1900. A dedicated Republican and respected community member, Mortensen’s achievements reflect his perseverance and effective management.

Biography of Peter K. Slear

Peter K. Slear, born January 28, 1838, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, was a distinguished farmer in Yankton County, South Dakota. Descended from German immigrants, the Slear family has a long history of military service, participating in every American war from the Revolution to the Spanish-American War. Slear served as a sergeant in the Civil War. In 1870, he married Mary J. Babb and they had seven children, four surviving into adulthood. In 1869, Slear homesteaded in Yankton County, where he focused on farming. Known for his integrity and community involvement, he was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and served on the school board.

Biography of Samuel Livingston Tate

Samuel Livingston Tate, born in Leeds, England in 1839, was a man of remarkable achievements. Despite limited means, he pursued education, graduating from Albion College and the University of Chicago. He practiced law before venturing into real estate, where he made significant contributions to the development of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Tate’s entrepreneurial endeavors included promoting railroads, constructing street-car lines, and establishing manufacturing plants. He actively served in the war, held various public offices, and espoused progressive ideals. Married to Frances Belle Wilcox, he raised a family and left an indelible mark on the industrial and civic history of South Dakota.

Biography of Lonson Seeley

Lonson Seeley, an industrious and successful farmer, was born in Monroe County, New York, in 1844. After serving in the Union army during the Civil War, he returned to Wisconsin where he pursued a career in agriculture. In 1868, he settled in South Dakota and focused on raising hogs and cattle, which proved more profitable than cultivating crops. Known for his diligence and perseverance, Seeley also contributed to the progress of his community, serving on the school board for over two decades. A devoted Republican and esteemed member of the Grand Army of the Republic, he and his family were valued members of the Methodist church.

Biography of Lyman Turner

Lyman Turner is a renowned farmer and stock raiser in Brown County, South Dakota. With a history of agricultural success and dedication, he has become a respected figure in his community. Born in Maine in 1842, Turner grew up in Wisconsin, honing his skills in farming and carpentry. He selflessly served in the Civil War, participating in numerous battles without sustaining any injuries. After the war, he ventured into various occupations before settling in South Dakota. Turner’s commitment to agriculture and stock raising has earned him a prominent position among farmers and cattle breeders. His sturdy character, industry, and foresight have contributed to his thriving business and his standing as a public-spirited citizen.

Biography of Martin V. Redding

Martin V. Redding, a native of Luxembourg, Germany, served as a devoted soldier in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Wounded in battle, he displayed unwavering loyalty to his regiment and maintained strong ties with his fellow veterans through the Grand Army of the Republic. After the war, he settled in Verona, Wisconsin, before becoming a pioneer in Brown County, South Dakota. Engaged in farming and community development, Redding contributed significantly to the region’s progress. He also served as a respected member of the state legislature, advocating for the state militia and championing educational initiatives. His family, deeply rooted in education and community service, added to his esteemed reputation.