Civil War Veterans of Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Sioux Falls

Dr. Josiah L. Phillips, Civil War physician

Physician, Civil War surgeon, and early town founder, Josiah L. Phillips helped shape Sioux Falls from a remote frontier settlement into a growing city. From amputating limbs on the battlefield to platting the town’s streets and building his home at Fort Dakota, Phillips’ life traces the city’s earliest struggles and successes.
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The Death of First Lieutenant Jonas H. Lien

First Resident of Sioux Falls Killed in a Foreign War

First Lieutenant Jonas H. Lien became the first soldier from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to be killed in action in a foreign war on March 27, 1899. The people of Sioux Falls did not mourn Lien’s death alone, communities across the state paid homage to the fallen soldier.
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Erhardt J. Fleitz: One of "Sioux Falls Oldest Residents"

Erhardt Fleitz, honored as one of Sioux Falls oldest residents, was a Civil War veteran and a prominent figure in the city’s early history. After serving his country, Fleitz dedicated an impressive 42 years to the Sioux Falls Brewery as a brewery master. Not only beloved by locals, but he also represented the experience of the veteran community in the growing frontier.
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John McClellan: Irish Immigrant, Civil War Cavalryman & Sioux Falls Pioneer

The Civil War in Dakota Territory

The story of John McClellan is that of one of Sioux Falls's first residents, arriving at the Falls of the Big Sioux River with the Western Town Company in August 1857. McClellan’s story is that of a pioneer whose quest for a better life was interrupted by the American Civil War (1861-1865).
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Joseph Dickson

Soldier and Sheriff

Joseph Dickson was one of the early settlers of Minnehaha County in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. His efforts in law enforcement helped make him a distinguished member of the Sioux Falls community.
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Early Sioux Falls Community Leader Nye E. Phillips

After what was meant to be a short visit, Nye E. Phillips instead helped in shaping Sioux Falls as it is today. Phillips, once a leader on the battlefield, goes on to become a prominent leader in the Sioux Falls community.
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John Coswallon Morgan: From Civil War soldier to Sioux Falls doctor

John Coswallon Morgan went from being born on Valentines Day to being apart of one of the most important brigades in the Civil War. His life illustrates a broader story of Western expansion in the late 1800s.
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Melvin Grigsby: From Young Civil War Veteran to Roosevelt's Rough Rider

Originally from Wisconsin, Melvin Grigsby joined the Union Army in 1861 via the 2nd Wisconsin Cavalry Unit, at the age of 16; he did so with his father’s permission. In 1861, he was captured by the Confederates and held at Andersonville prison camp. Escaping in January 1865, he rejoined the Union forces until being discharged a few months later. After the war, he moved to Sioux Falls in 1872 to…
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