Watertown - South Dakota Genealogy

Biography of John Carlyle Southwick

History of South Dakota vol 1 title page

John Carlyle Southwick (b. 1866, Waukegan, Illinois) was a prominent abstract business owner in Watertown, South Dakota. A key figure in local real estate, Southwick compiled a comprehensive set of title abstracts for Codington County, using a system he developed, which became widely adopted in the Northwest. He moved to Dakota Territory in 1883 and gained experience in Kingsbury County before establishing his business in Watertown in 1889. Elected register of deeds in 1893, Southwick held various public offices and was highly active in the Knights of Pythias, serving in multiple leadership roles. He also owned significant real estate, including his office building.

Biography of Edward C. Adams, M. D.

Dr. Edward C. Adams (b. 1855, Hudson, New Jersey) was a prominent physician in Watertown, South Dakota. A descendant of the distinguished Adams family, he pursued higher education at Northwestern University and earned medical degrees from Jefferson Medical College and Hahnemann Medical College. After honing his skills through hospital work and private practice, Dr. Adams moved to Watertown in 1886, where he built a successful practice and became a respected figure in the community. He was active in civic affairs, serving in various local offices and the state militia. In 1892, he married Marion Flint, and they had two children.

Biography of William W. Waddell

William W. Waddell (b. 1844, Freeport, Illinois) served as the sheriff of Codington County, South Dakota, after a long and distinguished career. A Civil War veteran, Waddell enlisted in the 46th Illinois Volunteer Infantry in 1861 and served until 1866, participating in key battles such as Fort Donelson, Vicksburg, and Shiloh. After the war, he worked as a bookkeeper before settling in Codington County in 1883. Waddell served as deputy sheriff for nine years before being elected sheriff in 1902. He was known for his effectiveness and courage in law enforcement. Waddell married Mittie Whitford in 1899, and they had two children.

Biography of Col. Lee Stover

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 Wilbur S. Glass

Wilbur S. Glass (b. 1852, Genesee County, New York) was a distinguished attorney in Watertown, South Dakota. Raised in Illinois, he pursued higher education at Illinois State University and the University of Michigan, where he graduated from the law department in 1876. Admitted to the Illinois bar in 1878, Glass relocated to Watertown in 1880, where he established a successful law practice. A committed Republican, Glass served three terms in the South Dakota legislature (1894–1898) and briefly as U.S. Consul in Kiehl, Germany. In 1899, he married Kathryn Garner, with whom he had two children.

Biography of Hiram A. Park

Hiram A. Park, born March 28, 1838, in Montrose, Pennsylvania, was a prominent wholesale grocer in Watertown, South Dakota. After moving west in 1858, Park served in the Civil War with the First Iowa Volunteer Cavalry, rising to the rank of first lieutenant. Following the war, he established a grocery business in Red Wing, Minnesota, before relocating to Watertown in 1886 to open a successful wholesale operation. He later co-founded Park, Grant & Morris, a major grocery house in Fargo, North Dakota. Park was married twice and had four sons, two of whom predeceased him. He was active in the Episcopal church and Masonic order.

Biography of Walter D. Morris

Walter D. Morris, born April 12, 1856, in Fredonia, New York, was a key figure in the banking industry in Watertown, South Dakota. After beginning his banking career in Minnesota, he co-founded the Citizens’ National Bank in Watertown in 1885, serving as its cashier and later as president from 1898 onward. Under his leadership, the bank became a stable and well-regarded institution. Morris was known for his business acumen and civic involvement, though he avoided political office. He married Mary A. Archibald in 1880, and they had four children: Archibald, Lorenzo, Walter Jr., and Fannie.

Biography of Thomas H. Pritchard

Thomas H. Pritchard, born July 31, 1857, in Wales, was the founder of Watertown Marble and Granite Works in South Dakota. After immigrating to the U.S. in 1872, Pritchard apprenticed as a marble cutter in Wisconsin before starting his own marble business in 1877. In 1882, he moved to Watertown, establishing the town’s first marble and granite shop, which grew into one of the state’s leading businesses. A pioneer of South Dakota, Pritchard was also active in local fraternal organizations. He married Blanche Lovejoy in 1878, and they had four children: Ethel, Lyle, Winifred, and Sybil.

Biography of Arthur Calvin Mellette

Arthur Calvin Mellette, born in 1842 in Henry County, Indiana, was the last governor of Dakota Territory and the first governor of South Dakota. Of French Huguenot descent, Mellette graduated from Bloomington University in 1863 and served in the Civil War as a substitute for his drafted brother. After the war, he practiced law, published the *Muncie Times*, and served in the Indiana legislature. Moving to Dakota in 1878, he became a key advocate for statehood, culminating in his appointment as territorial governor in 1889. Mellette was later elected South Dakota’s first governor and served until 1893. He passed away in 1895.

Biography of Doane Robinson

Doane Robinson, born on October 19, 1856, in Sparta, Wisconsin, was the son of George McCook and Rhozina (Grow) Robinson, both from Revolutionary War lineage. He began his career as a country schoolteacher before moving to Lyon County, Minnesota, where he studied law. After relocating to Watertown, South Dakota, in 1883, Robinson became active in publishing, editing the *Yankton Gazette* and founding the *Monthly South Dakotan*. He also played a key role in establishing the South Dakota State Historical Society in 1901. Robinson authored several works, including a history textbook and a poetry collection. He married Jennie Austin in 1884, with whom he had two sons.

Biography of Hervey A. Tarbell. M. D.

Dr. Hervey A. Tarbell, born on November 16, 1854, in Windsor County, Vermont, was a prominent physician and surgeon in Watertown, Codington County, South Dakota. A descendant of New England settlers, Tarbell graduated from Dartmouth College in 1878 and the University of New York’s medical department in 1883. He initially practiced in Plankinton, Aurora County, before moving to Watertown in 1890, where he significantly contributed to the local medical community, including establishing the Watertown hospital. Married to Anna M. Gleason in 1884, they had three children. Dr. Tarbell was also involved in various civic and professional organizations.

Biography of George W. Case

George W. Case, born on March 3, 1861, in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, was a distinguished lawyer and influential citizen of Watertown, South Dakota. Moving to Mason City, Illinois, in 1868, he later relocated to South Dakota in 1883, where he pursued law and was admitted to the bar in 1891. Case built a successful legal career, initially with Mellette & Mellette, and later succeeded their practice. A prominent Republican, he served in the state senate and held the position of receiver of the U.S. land office. Married to Capitola Pierce in 1882, they had six children. Case was active in various fraternal organizations and community affairs.

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 Charles Frederick Halbkat

Charles F. Halbkat, born June 20, 1870, in Fillmore County, Minnesota, is a prominent jewelry businessman in Watertown, South Dakota. He acquired the oldest jewelry business in Watertown from W.T. Keating in 1898, succeeding the establishment originally founded by pioneer W.R. Arnold. Halbkat’s store, located in the Granite block, offers a wide range of jewelry, watches, silverware, and features a well-equipped optical department. An official watch inspector for three railroads, Halbkat is esteemed in both commercial and social circles. Married to Georgia Wert in 1899, they have one son, Charles Angus.

Biography of J. O. Melham

J. O. Melham, a prominent businessman from Minnesota, was born on a farm in Fillmore County in 1866. He grew up in a family of Norwegian heritage, and his father was a teacher before immigrating to America. J. O. Melham excelled in his education, attending schools in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and South Dakota. After leaving school, he worked on the family farm before embarking on an independent career in the agricultural industry. Eventually, he found success in the lumber and hardware business, establishing the Melham Brothers Lumber Company. Mr. Melham is also involved in banking and holds significant land holdings in South Dakota and British Columbia.

Biography of George H. Baxter

George H. Baxter is a prominent business figure in Watertown, South Dakota. Born in Illinois in 1860, he grew up on a farm and later ventured into agriculture and livestock in South Dakota. In 1893, he shifted his focus to the milling industry and became the sole stockholder of the Kampeska Milling Company, which he expanded into a highly efficient and modern facility. Baxter’s astute business acumen, integrity, and involvement in various organizations earned him widespread respect. He married Hattie M. Stone in 1900, and both actively participated in the Methodist Church and held esteemed positions in the community.

Biography of David F. Jones

David F. Jones, a prominent figure in the drug business in Watertown, is renowned as one of the leading representatives in the state. Born in Wisconsin in 1869, he pursued a career in pharmacy, graduating from Northwestern University in 1894. Jones established his own drug store in Watertown and gained recognition for his expertise and dedication to the field. Not only has he served as the president of the State Pharmaceutical Association and the state board of pharmacy, but he is also highly regarded as one of the most knowledgeable pharmacists and chemists in the region. In addition, Jones actively participates in local public affairs and holds a position on the board of aldermen.

Personal Narrative by Samuel Denton

Looking for a Home in DakotaA Night in the Coteaus During a Terrible Snow Storm The following particulars were recently related to the writer by Mr. Samuel Denton “In June, 1882, Josiah True, Robert Lemmon and myself, rigged a boat on the running gear of a buckboard and with a good team left Avoca, Iowa, to hunt for a home in Dakota. We entered the territory at Sioux Falls and traveled north by the way of Watertown, Clark, Groton, Grand Rapids, Jamestown and Ft. Totten. Not finding a suitable location, we turned back at Ft. Totten and traveled in a … Read more