Joseph Brunschmid Biography


	This biography appears on pages 696-697 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				JOSEPH BRUNSCHMID. 

	Joseph Brunschlnid, who is conducting a hotel in Buffalo Gap, was 
born in Tyrol, Austria, on the 5th of February, 1841, of the marriage 
of Nicholas and Anna (Kolhofer) Brunschmid, likewise natives of that 
mountain province, where both passed away. He attended school in 
Withering, Austria, but at the age of twelve years was compelled to 
earn his own living. He worked for others, taking care of cattle and 
milking cows among other things. but when about seventeen years of age 
began learning the miller,s trade. At the time of the war between 
Austria and Italy he was sent to the front as a sharpshooter, as he was 
past e eighteen years of age and liable to military service. After 
three months, or at the close of the war, he returned home and 
continued to follow his trade there until 1869. 

	Mr. Brunschmid then emigrated to the United States and located 
first at South Haven, Michigan, where he engaged in the butcher 
business until 1873, when he started for the Black Hills. He went by 
railroad to Sioux City, Iowa, and thence made his way to Yankton, where 
he opened a butcher shop in 1874, which he continued to conduct until 
the spring of the following year. He then sold out. In company with two 
other men, he hired a man to haul their six months, supply of 
provisions and the party started for the Black Hills. His partners were 
Joseph Walter and Michael Seelig, both of whom are deceased. The train 
with which the party traveled was just behind Gordon & Witcher's train, 
which was captured by the soldiers, who were endeavoring to keep 
settlers out of that region. The wagons of their train were burned and 
the men taken prisoners. Mr. Brunschmid's party had lowered their 
wagons by rope from a steep hill to the valley below before they 
discovered the situation, but upon realizing the condition of things 
they took the wagons apart and carried them up the hill and retreated 
about six miles to a watering place, where they remained in camp for 
about six weeks, having escaped the notice of the soldiers. At the end 
of that time they went on to the Indian Reservation and found that 
there had been. no treaty made as yet throwing the land open to white 
settlement. They then continued on their way to Spotted Tail agency, 
where the train was broken up. Mr. Brunschmid and his party went to the 
North Platte river, crossing the stream in a skiff and taking with them 
what few provisions they had left. They entered the employ of a man who 
had located there and who had the contract for supplying wood for the 
government fort at Red Cloud agency. The party engaged in chopping wood 
throughout the season and when there was no more work of that kind to 
be had Mr. Brunschmid found a position in a store. On the 6th of 
December, 1875, he again started for the Black Hills as a member of a 
party of nine and on the 12th of December, of that year, he arrived at 
Custer, which at that time was just a fort. He spent part of the winter 
hunting and in the spring of the following year he went to Castle Creek 
and devoted the summer to prospecting. The following winter he hunted 
again, but in the spring of 1877 he went to Heyworth, where he assisted 
in drilling a well for Sears & Peterson, who were erecting a stamp 
mill. However, the venture did not prove a paying one and the mill was 
abandoned. In the spring of 1878 Mr. Brunschmid went to Lead and worked 
in the mines for a time. He and Mr. Walter and Mr. Seelig, together 
with John Long, then built the Western Star Brewery, which was the 
first in the Hills. About the time the brewery was finished he sold his 
interest therein and returned to the mines. During all of this time he 
continued to prospect upon his own account and became quite familiar 
with the region. After leaving the May Booth mine he entered the employ 
of Jack Fossil, who was also engaged in mining. 

	In the fall of 1879 Mr. Brunschmid arrived in Fall River, now 
known as Hot Springs, and began working for Thomas Turner, who built 
the first cabin on the site of Hot Springs, although at that time it 
was a part of a cattle ranch. Mr. Brunschmid continued upon the ranch 
until the fall of 1881 and then took up a homestead near Buffalo Gap. 
He had previously settled on land near Hot Springs by squatter's right 
and erected a cabin where the Evans Plunge now stands. His claim was 
jumped by Joseph Beattie after the land was surveyed. Mr. Beattie, 
feeling that he had done wrong, gave Mr. Brunschmid a horse worth 
thirty-five dollars for the claim and Mr. Brunschmid always felt that 
he had made a good deal. His second claim lay adjoining what is now the 
town of Buffalo Gap and he proved up thereon and received a patent from 
the United States government. He continued to reside upon the place 
until 1907 and was very successful in its operation. In that year he 
removed to Buffalo Gap and established a hotel which he has since 
conducted. He takes careful thought for the comfort of his guests and 
his hostelry is favorably known by the traveling public. He has great 
faith in the future of Custer county and as his resources have 
increased he has invested in a number of residence properties in 
Buffalo Gap. 

	In February, 1884, Mr. Brunschmid married Miss Anna Grunnig, a 
native of Switzerland, who accompanied her parents upon their removal 
to the United States, the family home being established in Highland, 
Illinois, where both the father and mother passed away. Mr. and Mrs. 
Brunschmid have four daughters: Hattie and Lucinda, at home; Nannie, 
the wife of Andrew Seeright, a fruit grower residing at Buffalo Gap; 
and Ella,the wife of Floyd Haley, who lives upon the old Bond ranch 
near Buffalo Gap. 

	Mr Brunschmid is a republican and although he has always taken a 
keen interest in the public welfare he has never been active in 
politics. Fraternally he is connected with the Masonic blue lodge. He 
assisted in laying out the town of Custer in 1876 and at the time that 
General Custer was massacred on Little Big Horn river in Montana, Mr. 
Brunschmid was prospecting on Castle creek, South Dakota. Although he 
was comparatively close to the scene of the massacre, he heard nothing 
of it until three weeks after it had occurred. Although he saw many 
Indians and had many dealings with them, he never met one who was 
hostile or unfriendly. He has known intimately the life of the western 
frontier and has performed well his part in the work of development and 
is now a factor in the business life of Buffalo Gap, having adapted 
himself admirably to the change in conditions that the advance of 
civilization has brought about. He commands the respect of all who know 
him, as fearlessness, determination and energy are numbered among his 
characteristics-qualities that are admired everywhere but especially in 
the northwest, where they seem characteristic of the people in general.