Spanish-American War - South Dakota Genealogy

Biography of Col. Lee Stover

History of South Dakota vol 1 title page

Col. Lee Stover (b. 1867, Iowa County, Iowa) was a prominent land and corporation attorney in Watertown, South Dakota, and served as the register of the U.S. Land Office there. After earning degrees in science and law from Iowa State University, Stover began his legal practice in Watertown in 1889. In 1898, he was appointed register of the land office but resigned to serve as lieutenant colonel of the First South Dakota Volunteer Infantry during the Philippine-American War. Returning in 1899, he resumed his legal career and was reappointed as land office register. Stover was also active in various fraternal organizations and served as a state attorney for Codington County. He married Maude Newell Gipson in 1890, and they had two children.

Biography of Lewis A. Fox

Lewis A. Fox (b. 1874, Faribault County, Minnesota) was the editor and proprietor of the *Tripp Ledger* in Tripp, South Dakota. After learning the printing trade in Lake Preston, South Dakota, Fox acquired the *Tripp Ledger* in 1893, transforming it into a respected local newspaper. Active in Republican politics and a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, he also served as justice of the peace for seven years. In 1898, he married Elsie E. Morris, with whom he had a daughter, Ruth. Fox’s family history includes deep military ties, with ancestors serving in conflicts from the War of 1812 to the Spanish-American War.

Biography of Oren Strevel

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 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 Vaclav Novak

Vaclav Novak was born in Bohemia in March 1832 and became a notable violinist and music teacher in his homeland. After the death of his first wife and subsequent remarriage to Barbara Hurkova in 1861, Novak emigrated to the United States in 1870, settling in Yankton County, South Dakota. He purchased and cultivated 320 acres of farmland. Novak had a total of eleven children, four born in Bohemia and seven in the United States. He passed away on September 22, 1899, leaving a legacy of integrity and community respect.

Biography of James W. Cone

James W. Cone was born on December 4, 1850, in Conesville, Coshocton County, Ohio, to Beebe S. and Lucinda D. (Davison) Cone. His lineage traces back to Daniel Cone of Edinburgh, Scotland, who settled in Haddam, Connecticut, in 1660. The family moved to Muscatine County, Iowa, in 1854, where Cone later attended Iowa State University, earning a law degree in 1873. He practiced law in Iowa before moving to Brule County, South Dakota, in 1883. In Sioux Falls, he compiled abstracts of titles for Minnehaha County. Politically active, Cone served in various legislative and political roles, including chief clerk of the South Dakota House.