Masons - South Dakota Genealogy

Biography of Downer T. Bramble

History of South Dakota vol 1 title page

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 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 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 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 W. E. Tipton

W. E. Tipton, born June 10, 1854, in Schuyler County, Missouri, was a prominent figure in education and law. Son of Jabez B. and Isabel (Wright) Tipton, he descended from early American settlers. Tipton graduated with honors from the state normal school in Kirksville, Missouri, and served as superintendent in various schools. In 1883, he moved to South Dakota for health reasons, establishing himself in Douglas County’s legal community. Tipton contributed significantly to Armour’s development and held various public offices, including district attorney and county judge. He married twice, first to Myra Amsden and later to Emily Rogers, fathering five children.

Biography of James E. Wells

James E. Wells, born May 23, 1858, in Cambria, Wisconsin, was a prominent alderman representing the fourth ward in Mitchell, South Dakota. He was the son of Ora B. and Sarah T. (Campbell) Wells and moved to South Dakota in 1873. After working various jobs in Wisconsin and Minnesota, he settled in Mitchell in 1880. Wells built a career in the lumber industry and later served as Davison County’s register of deeds for six years. He then established a successful business in abstracts, insurance, and real estate. A dedicated Republican, he also held multiple public offices, including clerk of the board of education and alderman. Wells was an active member of the Masonic order and other fraternal organizations. He married Fanny Wedehase in 1883, and they had three children: Ora B., Frederick A., and James Earl.

Biography of John Pusey

John Pusey, a prominent lawyer and public servant in Hand County, South Dakota, was born on May 8, 1860, in Champaign County, Illinois. He is the son of William R. and Margaret (White) Pusey. After studying law in Illinois and teaching intermittently, he moved to Miller, South Dakota, in 1882. Pusey was admitted to the Dakota Territory bar and established a law practice. He founded the Miller Gazette in 1883, a Democratic newspaper, and served in various public roles, including county judge, state legislator, and postmaster of Miller. A leader in the Democratic Party, he actively opposed a state dispensary system for liquor sales and held numerous fraternal affiliations.

Biography of Philip A. Zollman

Philip A. Zollman, a distinguished lawyer in Alexandria, Hanson County, was born on October 14, 1866, in Charlestown, Indiana, to Philip and Catherine (Schaid) Zollman. After studying at Drake University and Iowa State University, he was admitted to the Iowa bar in 1893. Zollman moved to Alexandria later that year, establishing a successful law practice. He served as state’s attorney from 1894 to 1898 and was active in both Democratic and Republican politics. A dedicated Mason, Zollman attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite and was involved in several fraternal organizations.

Biography of C. Loran Robertson, M. D.

Dr. C. Loran Robertson, born on April 11, 1867, in Zaleski, Ohio, is a respected physician practicing in Delmont, Douglas County, South Dakota. Son of Henry and Avaline (Smith) Robertson, he grew up in Ohio, where his father was a notable carpenter, contractor, and Civil War veteran. Dr. Robertson financed his medical education by teaching and graduated from the American Medical College in St. Louis in 1899. He established his practice in Delmont and has since gained recognition in the medical community. In 1897, he married Edith W. Vaughn of Olivet, South Dakota.

Biography of Charles N. Curtiss

Charles N. Curtiss, a prominent businessman in Wessington, Beadle County, was born on August 7, 1858, in Port Washington, Ozaukee County, Wisconsin. He received his early education in Wisconsin’s public schools, attended the University of Notre Dame for two years, and graduated from the University of Chicago in 1878. After working in a wholesale house in Chicago, he moved to South Dakota in 1882, where he established a successful lumber and general merchandise business in Wessington. Curtiss, a dedicated Republican, was involved in the Masonic fraternity and the Modern Woodmen of America. On April 14, 1892, he married Clara L. Ahlers of Dubuque, Iowa, and they had two children, Adele and Charles A.

Biography of Hon. Edwin Terry White

Hon. Edwin Terry White, a distinguished figure in Yankton, South Dakota, was born on June 6, 1847, in Woodstock, Vermont. He descended from early New England settlers, with his lineage tracing back to the seventeenth century. His father, Samuel White, a noted wood carver from New Hampshire, married Elizabeth Elliott. Edwin White’s career spanned various vocations before he studied law and moved to Yankton in 1870. Serving as a judge and in multiple public offices, White also engaged in business and civic activities, significantly impacting the community. He married Mary L. Bagley in 1874, and they actively contributed to local charitable endeavors.

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 Samuel H. Bakewell

Samuel H. Bakewell, a distinguished lawyer in Aurora County, was born on April 4, 1855, near Lansing, Allamakee County, Iowa. He was one of nine children of John and Sarah Ann (Hunt) Bakewell, of English descent. After completing his early education in public schools and a seminary in Waukon, Iowa, he taught school before studying law at the State University of Iowa, graduating in 1879. Bakewell moved to Dakota Territory in 1881, settling in Plankinton. He became a key figure in local public affairs, serving as probate judge, county court judge, and state’s attorney. An influential Republican, he also amassed significant property holdings. He was an active Freemason and a member of the Congregational Church. On April 17, 1884, he married Martha A. Cawley, an educator from Wisconsin. They had two sons, Robert C. and George S.

Biography of William F. Bancroft

William F. Bancroft, born October 21, 1868, in Monmouth, Illinois, relocated to Yankton, Dakota Territory, with his parents at age two. Educated in Yankton, he pursued a printing career before moving to Wessington Springs in 1893. Two years later, he acquired and became editor of the True Republican, a prominent Republican-aligned newspaper. Appointed postmaster in 1898 under President McKinley, Bancroft also served as city clerk and held various fraternal memberships. He married Maud S. Spears on July 3, 1894, and they had four children: Merrill, Lowell, Darrell, and Melba. William F. Bancroft, postmaster at Wessington Springs and editor and publisher … Read more

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 Howard W. Cole

Howard W. Cole, a key figure in Brown County’s agricultural and stock-growing sectors, was born on March 29, 1857, in Eureka, Montcalm County, Michigan. The son of Leander T. and Sarah Jane (Stout) Cole, he moved to South Dakota in 1881. Cole established a successful farming partnership and was elected sheriff of Brown County in 1902. He served in various civic roles, including postmaster and township board member, and was active in several fraternal organizations. He married Theresa M. Howell in 1880, and they had five children.

Biography of Edward Teare Taubman

Edward Teare Taubman, born December 18, 1853, near Cleveland, Ohio, moved to Iowa with his family in the year of his birth. Growing up near Maquoketa, he received his education at local public schools and Clinton Commercial College. Initially a teacher, Taubman studied law under Cotton & Wolfe in DeWitt, Iowa, and was admitted to the Clinton County bar in 1878. After practicing in Delmar and Spencer, he relocated to Aberdeen, South Dakota, in 1883, becoming a prominent attorney. Elected prosecuting attorney in 1889, he served both before and after South Dakota’s statehood. Taubman was a staunch Republican, advocating for the gold standard. A distinguished Mason, he achieved the thirty-third degree. He married Margaret Kennedy in 1879, and they had three children: Genevieve, Olive T., and Morton McKinley.

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.