Our immediate families were pioneer homesteaders in old South Dakota.  These  are Vandervelde, Porter/Bates, Davison from Big Stone SD, Manbeck and Chambers  from Armour, SD who are the ancestors of Vance, and Hilgendorf/Reichert,  Martell/Woodward from Davison and Hutchinson Counties in South Dakota.  The long and involved early New England families of Bates, Porter, as well as  the Manbeck,Winter/Pfrimmer lines show thousands of those very old lines.  The  Hilgendorfs, Martells and Reicherts are much newer, German and French families  coming into the nation for land.  Their lines in America are much shorter but  not always easier to find. But we are equally proud of everyone, and welcome  all of you who are seeking your ancestors and some bits of historic tales.