Eastern Pennington County Memories  -- Pedro and Creighton


	This information is from "Eastern Pennington County Memories", 
	published by The American Legion Auxilliary, Carrol McDonald Unit, 
	Wall, South Dakota and is uploaded with their kind permission. 
	Pages 395-416

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net, 1999. 

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Birdie Weston Conway

	It all started in 1908, when my cousin, Vida Cadwell took her vacation 
from her work in a bank at Logan, Iowa and spent it traveling by covered wagon 
from Renolds, Neb. with her uncle, Charlie Lewis and family, who were on their 
way to settle in the town of Wall, S.D.

	The railroad had just come through, and a land office opened there, and 
people from all walks of life were filing on the land, at a fast rate.

	She so enjoyed the trip, and the thought of a life on the prairie, that 
she decided to file a claim, and took a section six miles south of Pedro, on 
what was known as Dutch Flat. Returning to Logan, Iowa, she soon persuaded me to 
join her, as I too, liked the thought of life in the West. She left in February 
but I was not able to join her until March, 1909. She remained in Wall until I 
arrived, and was lucky enough to find an adjoining section of land. Soon we had 
our shacks built, and only a few rods apart. Our shacks were furnished with the 
steel couches, which made up into a double bed, small table and a chair, and a 
nail keg or two for extra seats, a small wood-burning stove, with oven attached 
to the chimney, in which we baked many tasty pans of biscuits or loaf of bread.

	The aroma of the tar-paper with which our shacks were lined, sometimes 
gave our food a strange taste. But that was taken in stride, along with the 
drinking water, which was hauled in a barrel from a neighbor's dam, and required 
boiling and sometimes straining, if it stood too long.

	Prairie fires often occurred in early spring, and we had only been settled 
a few weeks, when we saw smoke to the northwest. Being rather frightened, we 
asked a passing freighter what we should do. His reply was "Set a backfire. "We 
fixed a tub of water and sacks, with which to fight the fire, and cautiously set 
fire to the northwest, but also set it all around the shacks, thinking we must 
protect them. Soon we had a real fire, that we couldn't control, but neighbors 
came to the rescue, and it was wiped out only after a furrow was plowed, after 
burning over quite a large territory, as the buffalo grass was very dry at that 
time of year.

	Uncle Charlie had found us two trusty broncos for transportation, which we 
purchased along with proper western attire, a felt hat, gloves, riding skirt, 
etc. I was really a little skittish about riding, having had no experience, but 
we soon grew very fond of our mounts, which we had named Monty and Bluffer. 
Bluffer was mine, and having one partly blind eye, often jumped side-ways, 
unexpectedly dumping me in the bushes.

	One snowy evening, as I was returning to the claim from my school, he 
stepped in a prairie-dog hole and threw me over his head, landing me in the deep 
snow, unhurt, while he stood dejectedly, head hanging, waiting for me to mount.

	Sometimes we young folks would gather for a ride through the brakes, led 
by the native boys, who took us over the roughest trails possible, enjoying the 
reaction of the "Tenderfeet", as we were called.

	Some of our neighbors were the Fellers, Cowan boys, Poppes, Keiser, 
Donner, Shields, and an old German named Gus, who lived in a dugout and was away 
when we moved in, but soon became a rather persistent visitor, who liked to talk 
to the "school-marms". After being kept up late several evenings, and not 
wanting to offend a good neighbor, we decided to leave only a small amount of 
kerosene in our lamp so it would go out, Sure enough, it worked! They tell this 
tale of his gallantry; seeing a lady home from a neighbor's, one dark night, 
they had to pass his home on the way. It seems that when they arrived at his 
place he handed her the lantern, said "Good-night", and left her to find her way 
home.

	As spring came on, the meadowlarks appeared, and the prairies were dotted 
with the beautiful spring flowers; gumbo lilies, grass flowers, and wild 
geranium, and a plant supposed to be used to cure snakebites.

	Soon we had rains which brought up the mushrooms, which we gathered, being 
careful to select those with the pink underlining, so different from the Iowa 
mushrooms we found around stumps or dead wood, but just as tasty. Later we 
discovered a patch of bushes bearing tiny red berries, which we gathered and 
found delicious, and later learned they were June berries.

	As we both expected to teach, we spent many hours brushing up for the 
exams - especially on South Dakota History. My Iowa certificate was a renewal, 
so not accepted in South Dakota. In July, Vida and a Mrs. Fish and I went by 
stage to Wall, then taking the train to Rapid City for the two weeks of 
Institute. While there, the teachers were given a ride through the Hills on the 
old Crouch line. It was a moonlight night and the shadows cast seemed to make it 
one of the most beautiful scenes I had ever enjoyed.

	September came, and I started my term of school at Pedro, a very old 
trading post, consisting of a log general store with dwelling attached, and a 
more modern hotel, with the upper floor a hall, in which dances were frequently 
held, and greatly enjoyed by young and old. They usually started in early 
evening, and as folks came from long distances, the dancing went on until day 
break, with a hearty lunch, served at midnight. Those were the days of the 
waltz, two-step, three-step, polka, and square dance.

	Pedro was really a one-man town, as Elmer Hawks owned the buildings and 
employed many people, some who carried freight to his store, and also across the 
river to the settlements of Tivis, Marcus, and Plainview. Others were the hay 
hands and cowboys. The mail and passengers were brought from Wall by stage, and 
a trip was made three times a week; to Wall one day and back the next. So Pedro 
was a very busy place. The schoolhouse stood in an open pasture, some distance 
from the store, and was a log building, formerly a dwelling. The children's 
play-ground was any place not out of sight of the teacher. They often went to a 
hill where there had been an Indian encampment, bringing back arrow-heads and 
other relics to show the teacher. One day they managed to catch a prairie dog 
and kept it in the ash basket, until they were told to release it. They were 
cute little animals, and very agile, darting into their holes on being 
approached - but considered destructive to pasture land.

	Vida was hired to teach the children of a family who had driven from New 
York State in a covered wagon. She held school in her shack until they decided 
to move on, then went to the Bowen school, and later to the store at Marcus as 
bookkeeper. She proved up in May and left for Philip, and later was married 
there.

	Many left their claims, after obtaining title, and the land was purchased 
by those of us who remained. The old timers who had settled along the river - 
McKays, Newcombs, Trasks, Dalzells, and many others, mostly cattlemen, and the 
"Honyockers" who tried farming, had many happy times together.

	Schools were built, also churches, and the country developed, with a few 
hopes destroyed; when the railroad laid out, connecting Marcus and Philip was 
never built. The bridge which was so needed at the Pedro crossing was built out 
of reach without a long drive.

	But there were the gatherings at Christmas-time in the Pedro hall, with 
the turkey dinners provided by all, also the school elections, with the rivalry, 
and sometimes very funny speeches, as they decided who should be elected, 
furnish the fuel, etc. Surprise parties were organized, and celebrations were 
held on July 4th. Then when cars came into use, there were trips to the Black 
Hills at 15 miles per hour, by family groups, where we picked the wild 
raspberries and canned them. In winter the cars were stored in the garage and we 
went by bob-sled. One Christmas, Sam Johnsons, and we, the Frank Conways, were 
invited to Christmas dinner at the Packmans near Creighton. A big snow-storm 
came a few days before, but being determined to go, we left early on Christmas 
day in a bob-sled and took a shortcut down Deep Creek. By the time we reached 
the Crouch ranch we had to borrow another team to pull us through, and arrived 
in the afternoon, giving them a big surprise, as they hadn't expected us. But we 
were put up for the night and Mrs. Packman prepared a real feast the next day.

	Those days are gone, as are many of the old timers, and at present I 
understand Pedro post office is to be closed, and a bridge built at the Pedro 
crossing. Thus the country changes, as it must to be progressive.

[Photo - Homesteaders on the trail]

[Photo - Pedro School 1909-1910. Eva and Walter Hawks, Gladys, Lee, Juanita and 
Morrell Wilsey, Laura Hicks and a brother, Ted Hamley. Birdie Conway was the 
teacher.]

[Photo - People pictured include Vida Cadwell, John Bringoff, Birdie Weston and 
Karen Ellefson.]




Louis K. Freiberg

	Louis K. Freiberg, born at Wall, South Dakota on October 13, 1925 and was 
reared on a farm and ranch in eastern Meade County, 5 miles north of Pedro. He 
attended rural schools in Meade County and graduated from the South Dakota 
School of Agriculture at State College, Brookings, South Dakota in 1942. He 
received a LL. B degree from Creighton, University in 1952 and is a partner in 
the law firm of Whiting, Lynn, Freiberg & Shultz in Rapid City and has practiced 
law there since 1952. During World War II he served in the Army Air Corps as a 
Navigator and was discharged in 1946 as a 1st Lieutenant. Freiberg was 
Pennington County Republican Chairman in the 1956 and 1958 Campaigns, Co. 
Chairman of the Pennington County Mundt for Senate Club in l960 and a precinct 
committeeman for six years. He was a member and SecretaryTreasurer of the South 
Dakota Cement Commission 1958-59, Secretary-Treasurer of the South Dakota 
Reclamation Association 1952-54. He is Knights of Columbus, Elks, American 
Legion and South Dakota and American Bar Associations. His wife Lucille, was a 
Rapid City high school teacher and they have one son, Kevin. Elected to the 
House in 1962 and 1964.




Arthur and Frances Bourne

by Marjorie Willuweit

	Frances Crowser was born in Iowa and came to South Dakota when she about 
four. The family settled near Dalzall where her father had previously found a 
place. Before the mother and family could come the father had died. Three years 
later the mother married George White and they moved to Viewfield north of 
Underwood. Frances had a step sister her age and the two of them had many merry 
times. When the homesteader came in, after the railroad, the Whites moved to Ash 
Creek. Here Frances met Art Bourne. Mr. Bourne was born in Iowa, lived in 
Wisconsin for a time and then came to South Dakota with Ed Peacock. The two men 
homesteaded near Pedro. Frances was married when she was quite young and she 
says she would do the same thing again, if she were to have it to do over. 
Although she thinks it is a foolish thing for girls nowadays to throw away an 
education and get married so young. Art and Frances lived on the same place for 
almost fifty years, lacking a few months. They had good years with plenty of 
rain, good crops, then those of drought and grasshoppers, low prices, etc. The 
house that they started housekeeping is still there. Mrs. Bourne goes out in the 
summer with a few grandchildren and stays a few weeks. The grandchildren enjoy 
the ranch life.

	The Bournes have four children. The oldest is Lloyd who lives on the place 
with his family. Lloyd married Evelyn Sherrill from Creighton and they have six 
children who are pretty well scattered too.

	Maurice is the younger of the Bourne boys. He lives in Rapid City where he 
is a watch repairman and does other odd jobs. Maurice had quite an ear for music 
and plays the piano, Vivian is a registered nurse and works in the hospital in 
Rapid.

	The older daughter Myrtle lives in Hot Springs. Her son Tommy was raised 
by the Bournes. Tom now lives in Wall and works for the State Highway 
Department.

	The younger girl Alma worked in Lead where she met Ernest Fosness. She now 
lives in Wall and runs the Star Cafe-Ernest died in 1961.

	The Bournes raised cattle, sheep, and horses on the ranch. They farmed 
some too. Mrs. Bournes spends most of her time in Rapid City in an apartment 
with her son Maurice and with Alma in Wall. She enjoys her grandchildren. She 
keeps busy with her housekeeping and baby sitting.

[Photo - The Wilson place which joins the Bourne Ranch.]

[Photo - Rattlesnakes in the homestead days.]

[Photo - Arthur and Frances Bourne]



The George Grover Story

by Al Strandell

	George Grover came to South Dakota in July of 1888 with his parents. They 
came by covered wagon and he lived with his parents on Elk Creek for some time. 
In 1902 he field on a homestead on Deep Creek about ten miles south of Pedro.

	He lived on the homestead until about 1915 and then he sold out and moved 
to Mitchell. About a year later he and his wife parted and he moved back to 
Rapid City. While in Rapid he was married again and his wife passed away about 
1925. He made his home in Rapid until his death and he was laid to rest in the 
Mountain View Cemetery there.

[Photo - The George Grover Homestead]



Bernice Plassehart

by Mary Sorensen

	Bernice Plasschart is a native South Dakotan. She was born near Elk Creek, 
S.D. on Jan. 16, 1895 and lived there until she was eight years old, when in 
1903 she moved with her parents to Pedro where they took up a homestead on Deep 
Creek.

	One of the first things Bernice remembers about the early life there was a 
rampaging flood on Deep Creek. Their home was on its banks and a neighbor George 
Bennett was visiting them. Her father became alarmed at the deluge of water 
coming down and when he looked out the water rushed in. He and her mother and 
the neighbor grabbed the five children and managed to get them out. Bernice said 
she remembers wading along through waist deep water. Just as they got to high 
ground, they looked back and saw the house collapse. The roof just caved in, 
Bernice said.

	At the same time the Pedro store and all the buildings in the community 
were flooded and all moved to higher ground in the vicinity where Viola Wilsey 
lived and later moved the post office. The flood on Deep Creek was bad at Pedro 
for the Cheyenne also overflowed its banks.

	Bernice recalls they later rebuilt on higher ground in the same vicinity, 
and years later she and her sister and brothers would be digging in the mud and 
find utensils, dishes, etc. that had been buried in the flood.

	Her mother died when she was but twelve years old and she was only a year 
younger than the eldest so she helped to raise the family. She later went to 
Sturgis and stayed with an aunt for a short time, but then came back to Pedro 
and stayed with the Bournes and helped raise their family.

	She says her life was nothing spectacular, but everyone knows in those 
times it was a busy and hard time for all those who helped with raising a family 
and. the work involved.

	She later moved to the Hills and was married there to Dick Plassehart. 
They moved back to Pedro and lived there for a time then moved to Dowling and 
later to Creighton. They bought the Charley McDonald place on Bull Creek between 
Wall and Wasta. They lived there until Mr. Plesschart passed away several years 
ago, when she moved to Wall.

	Mrs. Plassehart has been known for her pleasant helpful way and always 
seems to be happiest doing what she can to help others.



Mr. and Mrs. Christian Bauer Sr.

by Mrs. Bud Paulsen

	Mr. and Mrs. Christian Bauer, Sr. were amongst the early day settlers who 
came to the northeastern most corner of Pennington County. They emigrated to the 
U.S. from Karsh, Russia by way of Liverpool, England to Halifax, Canada in Nov. 
1907, thence to Yankton and then to western S. Dak. in 1908. They started their 
Declaration of Intention in Yankton in 1908 and became U.S. Citizens in 1913 in 
Rapid City with Michael Dowling and Philip Corey as witnesses.

	A sod house was the home for many years until they built a new frame 
house. They planted one of the first apple orchards in that area but dry years 
soon caused the trees to die out.

	Mrs. Bauer served as a midwife for many babies born in that area, many 
times walking across the prairies.

	In 1936 they sold their home and moved to Lead, South Dakota. Thirteen 
children were born to them, three dying in infancy.

	Mr. Bauer died in 1942 and his wife in 1946.




Mary T. Beeson

by Mary T. Danley

	I came to South Dakota on October 5, 1908 at the time the Rosebud was open 
for lottery. The day I left Sioux City, Iowa, the train was so crowded there was 
no standing room. My sister Helen and brother Maurice, came into Wall to meet 
me. The country was all new to me. We took off on the prairie the way the crow 
flies. This was the first time I ever saw a prairie dog. I helped my father 
build a sod barn and hen house that fall.

	We would go into Cedar Canyon and cut cedar posts and take them into Wall 
and sell them for ten cents each. It was hard times coming from a state that 
grew everything that was put in the ground. We had many hard times and a lot of 
fond memories. We had no worries of atomic bombs. We were all equals, teachers, 
lawyers, doctors, everyone in all walks of life.

	In 1910 I filed on a homestead but due to poor health I had to relinquish 
it back to the government.

	On July, 16, 1916 I married Willard Danley of Saskatoon, Canada at Huron, 
South Dakota.

	My husband has passed away and I am living in Edgmont.


[Photo - Pictured is Monroe Ferguson with his gas engine after building a dam. 
On the left is Ethel and Wesley Ferguson, Alice, Paul, Frank, Everett and George 
Ferguson.]



James McFarland and Family

by Ada Ferguson Hockett

	Monroe Ferguson and his wife's people came through from Illinois with a 
covered wagon about 1875. They had few encounters with the Indians but nothing 
serious happened. The Indians came into their camp one night and ordered them to 
give them food. My grandmother was going to give it to them but her sixteen year 
old daughter spoke up and said, "they can't have it". Grandmother thought they 
would all be scalped on the spot but they left peaceably. So the family went on 
to the Black Hills area where they lived a few years. My mother came through to 
Sydney, Nebr. and from there she came on stage coach to just east of Tilford. My 
brothers, Charlie and Wesley, were real small when they left Ill. Brother Walter 
and Guy were born at Tilford. Then they moved to Ash Creek where I was born. My 
mother had another encounter with Indians there. Four of them came one day and 
wanted food. All she' had to give them was dry beans and salt pork. They threw 
the salt pork on the floor. One of the Indians sat and sharpened a knife and 
talked to the others in Indian. They would look at Mother and laugh and talk 
and, of course, she thought they were planning to kill her, my brother and me. 
But they finally left. We moved to Squaw Creek about 1903. My father and three 
brothers, Charlie, Wesley and Walter, filed on a homestead in the Squaw Creek 
area. When the homesteaders started to come in, Father raised horses and sold 
them to the homesteaders. We also raised cattle. My mother and Wesley and 
Walter's wives churned butter and delivered butter and eggs to the railroad 
camp, when the railroad was going in from Pierre to Rapid City. They would keep 
the butter as cool as they could by dipping a clean cloth in the river water and 
covering that with a blanket. It was about seventy miles round trip. It would 
take them from early morning until late in the evening to make the trip with a 
team and buggy.

	Father filed on a desert claim of 160 acres. He built a dam across the 
creek with a little two horse slip. He tried to put in an irrigation system but 
failed to succeed. The dam was the first one to be built in that area. When the 
high waters came it would wash out. After he passed on my mother filed a 
homestead on it and made proof on the land.

	Father played the music for dances therefor years. He played the violin 
and Wesley or Walter's wife played the organ. We had quite a good sized log 
house where they danced sometimes. People would come for miles. Get there in 
time for supper and have breakfast before they left.

	The three older boys rode the round-up for years. Charlie rode for L-7 on 
the Moreau River. Wesley and Walter rode for C. K. Howard and Jim Cox whose 
ranches were on the Cheyenne River.



George S. Poste

	George S. Poste came from Canton, N. Y., to western South Dakota when it 
was still a territory in 1889. He first came as a surveyor with a crew on the 
Belle Fourche River and later settled with his family on Elk Creek, then on 
Ashcreek, about 15 miles southeast of Pedro This land is still owned by the 
Poste families.

	Mr. Poste was a very early cow rancher and also owned about 300 head of 
horses that were wrangled by sons, Herman, Brainerd and Alison.

	Their early neighbors were Frank Rood, Arthur Finnegan, Monroe Ferguson, 
the McFarland Brothers, LaBreque, Borst on the T6 Ranch, Alex Webb, Foleys, John 
0. Peterson who was an Indian Scout, Tom Thorson, Mexican Ed and Alex Shoemaker.

	Freight and mail were hauled between Ashcreek and Pedro. M. B. Poste was 
in Pedro the day word was received from the government that the post office was 
to be named Pedro. "Pedro" at that time was the name of a popular card game.

	Early day dances were held in the Ashcreek store which Brainerd managed 
for many years and the young folks came for many miles on horseback and danced 
all night to music provided by a player piano. The store also housed a post 
office with Miss Theresa Poste as postmistress.

	Brainerd's wife, Lena, whose maiden name was Bauers, worked for Mrs. Elmer 
Hawks helping her serve the large dance crowds that gathered there too.

	The Poste family never had an unpleasant encounter with the Indians, even 
as early settlers during the Indian uprisings. In fact, they had many, many 
Indian friends and highly respected them.

	Mrs. Lena Poste's family, the Christian Bauers, were early day emigrants 
from Russia. They came to the most northeastern corner of Pennington County. 
Their home was built of sod and they lived in it until the thirties when they 
built a frame home. The stone barn still stands on their homestead.


[Photo - Poste Claim Shack]

[Photo - Brainerd and Alison Poste and Joe Fennell]

[Photo - Ashcreek Store and postoffice in 1910, owned and operated by Geo. Poste 
and sons.]

[Photo - Mr. and Mrs. Frank Rood and Mrs. Jennie M. Poste.]

[Photo - Herman Poste]



[Photo - Mamie Erickson, Ora Paulsen, and Viola Wilsey at Wall's 50th 
Anniversary Celebration.]



"The O'Connells"

	The story of the Jim O'Connell family will have to be condensed, or we 
might require too many pages! It all began about 1910 when a young, wild, curly-
haired cow-poke stopped at the John Castello ranch near Plum Creek. Mrs. 
Castello's sister, Doris Daly, was visiting at the ranch at the time. When the 
Cow-poke rode away, Doris said to her sister, "Who was that wild, funny looking, 
cowboy?", never dreaming that three years later she would be his bride--Mrs. 
James L. O'Connell.

	Homesteading and living in a sod house near Pedro proved to be quite an 
adjustment for Doris, as she had tasted the life of the city, having lived in 
Rapid City for several years and attending business college there and working at 
the court house.

	Jim thoroughly appreciated the sod house, his charming wife and that 
settled feeling, as he had spent many years working for various cow outfits, 
including Billy Borsts' and Frank Rood's.

	The little homestead grew into quite a fine ranch with additional land 
being acquired year after year. Not only did the acreage and herd of cattle 
grow, but so did the family. By 1920, when the fourth baby was due, the sod 
house was no longer adequate, so a new and most comfortable five bedroom home 
was built to house the growing family. And a good thing, because number four was 
twins, much to the surprise of everyone including the beloved midwife, Mrs. 
Burgess, who delivered most of us. in 1925, when the second set of twins 
arrived, making an even eight, four boys and four girls, Jim and Doris decided 
this was enough! The years of raising and educating eight proved to be a 
struggle through the thirties, but with hard work and good management they 
survived in fine shape.

	Late in the thirties Jim and Doris acquired several lots in Rapid City, 
where they eventually built a "tourist camp". By 1940 the family was living in 
Rapid, leaving the eldest son Jim to run the ranch. When war was declared three 
of the boys immediately went into service leaving one son to take care of the 
ranch. During the war years both Jim and Doris aged tremendously and I'm sure 
both yearned for the good old days at Pedro before war worries and Iowa 
tourists. It was a most glorious day when their three sons returned and the war 
was over.

	By now it was time to consider retirement and Jim purchased a lovely brick 
home away from the tourist business for this purpose. They enjoyed that home 
only one year when Doris was stricken with a heart attack. Lost, lonely and 
aging, Jim sold the tourist camp, but didn't live long enough to see it develop 
into what is now-- the Tip Top Motel. But, they both lived long enough to have 
the greatest satisfaction in the world 1 They gave eight children the most 
wonderful life and the most love any two people could give. I know, because I'm 
one of the eight. Their son Dan owns the home ranch at Pedro. Jim ranches near 
Ismay, Mont. Jiggs ranches in North Dakota. Warren is a realtor in Rapid City. 
Bonnie is Mrs. Buck Bloom of Miles City, Mont. Winnie is Mrs. Mark Trask of Elm 
Springs. Mary is Mrs. Stan Neil of Rapid City and Merle is Mrs. Bud Johnson also 
of Rapid City.

[Photo - Jim and Doris O'Connell and friends.]

[Photo - Doris, Grandma, Merle, unknown. 1910]


[Photo - Pedro - 1906]



Elmer and Ruby Monson

by Al Strandell

	In June, 1906, I, with my mother and sister, Mrs. John Hawkins and her 
three small boys, arrived in the vicinity of Ash Creek, Stanley County, where we 
homesteaded north of Ash Creek about 3 1/2 miles. We came from Ft. Pierre in a 
wagon. That fall I taught school in Pedro.

	The following spring Elmer Manson came out and we were married July 3, 
1907. Mr. Monson published the Pedro Bugle and Ash Creek Pilot. He later sold 
the Bugle to E. L. Senn who owned 35 final proof papers.

	We then moved to our homestead and he continued to publish the Ash Creek 
Pilot for a time. In 1909 we sold out to our brother-in-law, John Hawkins and 
moved back to Pierpont where Elmer went into the mercantile business.

[Photo - Elmer Monson at pedro, 1907]

[Photo - Ruby Monson, 1907]

[Photo - Frank Rood ranch and post office]

[Photo - Marvin and Ruby Monson, July, 1908]

[Photo - Taken at Pedro in 1907]



Wesley and Ethel Ferguson

by Paul Ferguson

	Due to the fact that my parents are both gone I will write what I can from 
facts and memories.

	Wesley Ferguson came from Rockford, Ill., with his parents, as a small 
child and they settled in the Black Hills at Pleasant Valley.

	As a young man he rode on the roundup and was one of the cowboys that rode 
on the roundup of 1902. He and my uncle Walter Ferguson freighted with four 
horse teams across country from Pierre to Pedro for Elmer Hawks.

	My mother was Ethel Harwood. She came to South Dakota from Hawarden, Iowa 
as a small girl and her folks settled at Black Hawk. Later they moved to Elm 
Springs where she grew up, met and married my father in 1904. They made their 
home around Elm Springs for a few years and in 1908 filed on a homestead on 
Squaw Creek, twenty-eight miles north of Wall.

	Their family consisted of four boys, Frank and Earl of Sturgis, Glen of 
Elm Springs and Paul (myself) of Enning.

	The first school on Squaw Creek was in one room of my folk's homestead 
shack which was a log house made of cedar logs cut and hewed by hand. Later they 
built a new schoolhouse about a mile from the homestead, the land being donated 
by my father. The schoolhouse is still there and they are still having school 
there.

	We had many good neighbors including Cap Clarks, Albert Pierce, Jacobsons, 
Harvey Spetz, Mortensons, Harry Beckmans, Frank Madisons, Henry Sallees and 
Bests. My grandparents, Monroe Fergusons, and Uncle Walter and Charlie Fergusons 
had homesteads close to ours too.

	Living was much different then than it is today but everyone was happy and 
get togethers and picnics were very common.

	In 1911 due to drouth and hardships my father and Uncle Walter herded 
sheep on Cow Creek. There I saw my first car. It had tried to get up a hill 
forward and couldn't make it so it backed up the hill. My opinion of a car 
wasn't much.

	When the flue epidemic swept the country in 1918 my father was one of the 
victims. Hard times followed for my mother left with four children to raise, 
with me being the oldest-at twelve years of age.

	We sold our belongings and moved to Sheridan, Wyo. where my mother, Frank 
and I found work. After four years we returned to our place on Squaw Creek and 
tried our hand at farming and ranching again. Drouth and depression came again 
so we moved to Enning where I still live with my family.

	My mother passed away in 1945.

[Photo - Walter and Mary Ferguson in back and Guy Ferguson in front.]

[Photo - Squaw Creek School - 1919]

[Photo - Old Settlers' Picnic on Squaw Creek]

[Photo - Walter and Wesley Ferguson and children on the homestead on Squaw 
Creek.]




The Birdie McDonald Story

by Birdie McDonald

	I came to live in eastern Pennington County in the winter of 1903. We had 
a tiny baby girl and lived in a 121 x 141 log cabin. Our place was about 12 
miles south of Pedro, which was our post office at that time. Elmer and Jenny 
Hawkes kept the post office and ran a general store.

	Some of the old timers living in that end of the county were the Hawks, 
Flanagans, Huss Is, LaBreeque, Braddocks, Alex Webb, Guy Davis, Charles Haxby, 
Lawrence Wilsons, Frank Roods, George Postes, Win. Borsts, Ray Paulsens, John 
Strandell, Matt Smith, Ely Ollette, Ebees, Charley Price and Jim O'Connell. No 
farming was done at that time, except for a patch of potatoes and a small 
garden.

	In 1907 the railroad was built into Philip. With it came the homesteaders. 
We called them "soddies", no offense meant, some made sod houses and began 
turning the sod over for farming. A family, bachelor or bachelor woman on every 
quarter section, except the land that had been set aside by the State for school 
lands, which the old timers who had cattle, immediately leased from the State 
for pasture.

	The homesteaders milked cows, sold cream, sold eggs, raised turkeys and 
pigs, and in so doing, with plenty of work, made a good living for themselves. 
In fact when this cream, egg, turkey and pigs industry was at its best, more 
money was realized for this end of the county than ever had been before by the 
smaller ranchers. The ranchers, in general ran from about 150 to 300 head of 
cattle, with no side lines.

	1911 with its total drought came along. Some of the weaker hearted 
homesteaders gave up and moved out. This gave the ones who stayed a chance to 
buy or 'lease more land. Some of the old timers took up the cream and egg 
business to help out with their own income. They found that being confined to a 
smaller number of acres, it paid to turn over a few acres of sod to produce 
alfalfa, cane, sudan grass and such feed crops. Some of the older old timers 
slightly resented giving up the free range to the homesteaders. One old 
bachelor, Arthur Finnegan, went so far as to hang himself, thinking life was 
over for him without free range. I don't think many of us felt that way. We got 
more schools, churches, post office, mail routes and roads, more social life and 
better living brought by the railroads, and more homesteaders.

	Our nine year drought started in 1929 and held on until 1937, when most 
everyone who had cattle had to move them out to where grass grew, or buy 
shipped-in hay. Those were hard times for all of us, old timers and new timers 
too.

	I guess it took that to even us all up, and make old timers out of all of 
us. When hard times hit us in those days we cut down expenses, worked a little 
harder, and paid our own bills. We were just as healthy and happy then as now. 
"What is now", and what is next?




Mr. and Mrs. Abel Doughty

	Mr. and Mrs. Abel Doughty came by covered wagon from Iowa to live in South 
Dakota. They ranched near Sturgis until 1899, then moved to Deep Creek and 
homesteaded there in 1905.

	Mrs. Doughty was born and raised at Loon Lake, Iowa and Mr. Abel Doughty 
was born and raised at Spirit Lake, Iowa. They lived part of the time in Wyoming 
near where the town of Hardin, Montana is. He helped build Fort Custer, where 
Abel's brother, Frank Doughty, was with Reno Regiment. There were nine children-
-Philip, Olive, Frank, Florence, Charles, George, Lydia, Evelyn, and Otis.



The Doughty Family

by Gertrude Mc Griff

	So goes my history, my ancestors extend from Maine to Region (that is the 
ones on the Doughty side) I really don't know why (drifters as they seemed to 
be) would choose to settle for awhile in what is now Eastern Pennington County.

	My Dad (Philip Doughty) said he was about six years old when he could 
remember being here and he was born April 8, 1887. My grandfather, Abel Doughty, 
was born December 1860 and died in 1927, was a homesteader on the upper end of 
Deep Creek which became a part of the Platt place and now belongs to the Adolph 
Eisenbrauns. I remember the log cabin that the Doughty's lived in there but 
wouldn't know if it could still be there (standing anyway).

	As soon as Dad became of age he took up a homestead for himself a few 
miles north or farther down on Deep Creek. It is now part of the George Crouch 
land.

	Uncle Frank Doughty's homestead was still farther north and near or a part 
of the present Charlie Standell place.

	My Mother's (then Clara Evenson) homestead was on the east prong of Deep 
Creek or the southeast branch of Deep Creek.

	Dad and Mother were married in April of 1916 and I was born in 1917 the 
year the United States declared war on Germany. My Dad was helping build on a 
new barn on the Evenson place which was nine miles west of Rapid City at the 
time so with three new events the date was placed on the barn.

	The first home I remember was a box car near the section house at Wasta. 
Dad was working on the section there. I must have been four years old. I 
remember the little bed Dad made of boards in one corner of the box car. My 
sister and I used to play there and it was there one day that I gave my sister 
her first hair cut so from then on she didn't need to have long white curls as I 
did. Of course, the consequences for me weren't so good.

	I was probably between four and five when the folks made their move to 
Mother's homestead on the east prong of Deep Creek. I remember all our worldly 
possessions being loaded in the hay rack and Prince and Molley giving us a long, 
long ride to our new home. It must have been one big day as I don't remember 
staying over night anywhere.

	The old Margalian (a Jew) house had been moved to the homestead so we had 
a one room house to live in and what a wonderful place to play in the shade of 
the trees and along the Creek.

	Our neighbors the Warden's lived one half mile north of us on the other 
side of the Creek, (It later became the Whitcher place) I don't know if that was 
Warden's homestead or not but they moved away before long and the place was 
empty.

	Mother told the story, that one day when she was home alone with my sister 
and me a tramp came along and wanted something to eat so she fed him and he 
left. The next day or so when Dad went to the Warden house to get drinking water 
he thought he heard a noise when he went in the kitchen to pump the water but 
thought no more of it. The next time he went back for water he knew he heard a 
noise up in the attic of the log part and it was someone.

	They decided it was that tramp so next time Dad went for water he took a 
bottle of formaldehyde and sprinkled it in the kitchen. The next day the window 
in the attic was broken out. The tramp had evidently moved on.

	Time marched on and I got to be six years old. Schools were far apart and 
few between so the folks thought they had to get me schooled. They finally 
parted with their little one by leaving her in Wall to stay with Grandma and 
Grandpa Doughty. I had some little black button shoes, and black stockings and a 
new pair of black bloomers Mama made for me. She didn't get the elastic sewed 
enough so when we were out playing at recess, the elastic let go and down came 
the bloomers (what a fix I was in). The High School boys were out playing ball, 
Oh, well, one of the older girls Gertrude Vanzant came to my rescue. Three 
months (I think it was) for a lonely, unhappy little girl. It was all we could 
stand so I got to go back home and was I happy to leave Wall.

	The next year it was the same story over only the folks had two little 
girls that needed to go to school instead of one. Dad took us with the team and 
buggy to the Matt Smith School for six weeks and then gave that up.

	The next year Dad was going to winter some cattle for a nice old bachelor 
who lived farther down on Deep Creek next to what is now the Carl Erickson 
place. The John Edward's place was just around the hill south of Erioksons. John 
had a nice big log cabin and you could fill the wood box from outdoors.

	The school problem still wasn't solved but a deal was made with a teacher 
(Mrs. Earl Liby) that she would keep Esther and me through the week and Dad 
would bring us on Monday morning and take us home on Friday night. It was the 
Pleasant View School up by Ray Paulson's. There wasn't much of a road up there 
so it was shorter to go horseback. Dad put me up behind him on Molley and Esther  
up on old Prince and led him. One morning it was awfully cold and Dad noticed 
Sister's face getting white so he got down and took Esther and me off the 
horses. He took her by the hand and led the horses the rest of the way to 
school. Six miles was a long ride for us and we didn't like to stay with the 
teacher so after six months of that we just stayed home.

	The next year it was that school problem all over again but Dad and Mom 
decided to take us up in the Black Hills and we could stay with Grandpa and 
Grandma Evenson. Aunt Emma was teaching the home school so we could make the two 
mile walk with her and two other cousins whom Grandma and Grandpa were caring 
for because their mother had died.

	We were older now and more used to being away from home. Everything went 
fine until one day while we were having the measles the school house burned 
down. Aunt Emma and the other children rescued all the books and furniture they 
could. We finished a whole eight month term anyway by having school upstairs at 
Grandma's house. Aunt Emma had promised Esther and me each a new pair of shoes 
and a dress if we would work hard and pass the third and fourth grades in those 
eight months. We got our new shoes and the dresses she made for us so we were 
really happy.

	During these years the Whitchers had moved to the Warden place and the 
Alfred Strandells on the place south of us where the Brooks and Raffertys had 
lived.

	With more children ready for school it was decided we could have a school 
on Deep Creek. Our first schoolhouse was the log cabin with an additional frame 
part. It had been the home of the Crouches. We had school in the frame part and 
put our wraps, lunches etc. in the log part. While we were busy packing away 
knowledge the pack rats were busy packing our mittens, cap tassels, lunches and 
whatever suited their fancy.

	The next year a new little frame schoolhouse was built for us. It was on 
the east bank of Deep Creek.

	How nice it was to stay home and have our school problems settled.

	The thirties were memorable years especially the first five. In those 
years we had a siege of worms that ate all the leaves off nearly all the ash 
trees so that between them and the drought most of the ash trees died. The 
drought years were the "hungry years" when the dust blizzards came. The dirt 
drifts covered the fences like snow banks. It was so hot and dry one of those 
years that nothing grew but Russian thistles. We cut the thistles and put them 
in piles but they weren't very good stock feed. There wasn't a very big supply 
of them. People had to sell their livestock. I remember selling my two year old 
cow for $17.00. We kept a yearling that did survive on the thistles. She got 
very thin but she did have a calf and was allowed to keep it. The next year she 
was milked on a partnership basis which was completely against her wishes. My 
sister milked her, Finally it was necessary to tie both ends securely, the horns 
to the manger and both legs to the post because she aimed to get more than just 
the milk bucket.

	There was a grasshopper epidemic too. They came in droves. They ate 
everything eatable that they came to. In the heat of the day they crawled into 
the shade where ever they could find it. They ate up shoe strings and into the 
leather on our shoes when we forgot and left our shoes outdoors. They moved with 
the shade and even ate on the shady side of the posts.

	Those were the days of homemade bread. A slice of bread with lard and 
sugar on it surely was a treat.

	Dad worked around where ever and whenever anyone could use him for one 
dollar a day. Finally the United States government set up the W.P.A. It was a 
means of relief for the drought stricken people. The government paid people to 
build dams, roads, etc. That way there was an income for those in need, 
especially those that had families. It certainly was a great help for many.

	The Model T fords were also popular at this time and in the late twenties. 
Dad got Mom to try her luck at driving but the old Model T went off to one side 
of the road and into the fence two wires on one side of it and one wire on the 
other. Up the fence line we went with about four posts just moving out of the 
way before we could get stopped. That was Mothers first and last lesson at 
driving. Kids are more anxious to do things like that so I got my turn and had 
pretty good luck.

	With the tribulations of the thirty's most of our neighbors and friends of 
the Deep Creek area moved away. My folks gave up in 1943 and moved to Devils 
Tower, Wyoming.

	The whole of the middle section of Deep Creek is now a vast area of 
desolation as far as people living there is concerned.

	After twelve years railroading Lars E. Peterson decided to try his luck on 
the South Dakota prairies. In the Spring of 1911 at the age of 30 he filed a 
claim twenty-four miles North and three miles East of Quinn, South Dakota. On 
this claim he built a 161 by 201 sod house with plastered walls and a wood 
floor. In August, 1911, his wife Elida, daughter Luella, and son Ernest joined 
him to make their home. A daughter Theresa and a son Edward were born in the sod 
house.

	In 1918 they bought a house that was located two miles from the claim and 
it was moved to that location and set on a rocked up basement. A son James and 
daughter Helen were born after this move. They missed the sod house as it 
protected them better than the frame house from heat and cold.

	South Dakota was kind to the Peterson family, their children were healthy, 
and they were surrounded by many good neighbors. They were quite well 
established in the cattle business, and had accumulated more land until they 
owned 1600 acres of deeded land and some leased land. After 38 years of 
experience they were convinced that there was no better place to be in the 
cattle business.

	They sold the ranch and moved to Rapid City, South Dakota, in 1949. Elida 
Peterson passed away November 5, 1957 and Lars Peterson now spends his time in 
Missouri and South Dakota.

[Photo - Typical sod house in the early days.]



Mr. & Mrs. John Strandell

by Al Strandell

	Mother and Dad were married at Spirit Lake, Iowa, October 26, 1885. In 
1888 they started out for western South Dakota in a covered wagon. They took 
along their few belongings and one small daughter, Ora Strandell Paulsen. There 
were eight covered wagons in the train. They crossed the Cheyenne River on the 
4th. of July, and settled east of Fort Meade on Antelope Creek. While living 
there, brother Charlie was born October 25, 1888. Some time later they started 
east again and settled at Jackson, Minnesota. In 1893 Alfred or Al Strandell was 
born. About 1895 the folks started West again. This trip was also made by 
covered wagon. They settled on Alkali Creek and while living there brother 
George was born. George was killed at a sawmill camp West of Keystone in 1925.

	From Alkali the folks moved to the East fork of Deep Creek and while 
living there sister Pearl was born in 1898. Pearl lives at 1516 W. Omaha Street, 
Rapid City, now. By the way, Dad had squatters rights on the East fork of Deep 
Creek and from there they homesteaded ten miles South of Pedro on Deep Creek. 
From there they moved to Brook Park, Minnesota by covered wagon. While living at 
Brook Park there were two more sisters born, May Strandell Kidder of Butte, 
Montana and Allie Strandell Feeley, Butte, Montana.

	In 1904 the folks moved back to the old homestead on Deep Creek. While 
they were gone a big flood washed all their buildings away, so Dad had to build 
over again. This time they looked for a new building site, where the water would 
not wash the buildings away again. Dad found some chips that did not wash away 
from the first log house so that's where he built the second log house. This log 
house was one of the best in the neighborhood and is still standing and in use. 
In 1908 they moved to Isanti, Minnesota. No more kids were born. They lived 
there for eight years and in 1916 settled on a place east of Quinn. Later they 
moved to the Black Hills, West of Keystone. In 1918 Mother passed away, and Dad 
passed away in 1932. So you see, we got around quite a bit in those days too.

[Photo - Mr. and Mrs. John Strandell 1908]

[Photo - Three Strandell sisters: Pearl, May and Allie - 1908.]



Charley Strandell

	About seventeen miles north of Rapid City on Elk Creek on October 25, 
1888, I was born to John and Mary (nee Grover) Strandell.

	In the spring of 1898 we settled on Deep Creek, better known now as the 
Carl Erickson place. The house that is there today, and still lived in, I helped 
my father build. The first white man who came to our place was Cy Wilsey. There 
were always many Indians going by our house.

	One time several Indians came, and my sister, Ora, and I were alone as our 
folks had gone to get water. We were afraid, so we hid from them and they went 
into the house. Ora thought we should go to see what they wanted, we went into 
the house. All they wanted was coffee--they wanted to trade two woolen shirts 
for one pound of Lionshead coffee. We made the trade and they left.

	My parents moved to Minnesota in 1900 and stayed four years. On our way 
back to Deep Creek, Ora and I had to drive Dad's cattle on foot, so we would 
take turns walking. It took about six weeks to make the trip.

	When I was about sixteen years old, I rode in the roundup that went to 
Pierre. This I will never forget. Cattle came from all over the country. 
Sometimes we would travel day and night, so we wouldn't have to stand night 
watch. The next year I rode for the UT Ranch, of which Billy Brown was foreman.

	1907 was one of the best years for putting up hay. I know we cut and 
stacked tons and tons of hay. This same year I made my first trip to Wall. I 
remember that there were no fences anywhere, and the depot was in a boxcar.

	In 1909 I was old enough to make a land claim, so I filed on Deep Creek, 
south of the Erickson place. From then on I worked for John Edwards for $13.00 a 
month. I worked for Ray Paulsen until I got married to Evelyn Venell on Nov. 11, 
1917. 1 had four sisters and two brothers.

[Photo - Mrs. Charley Strandell]

[Photo - Mr. Charley Strandell]



Evelyn Strandell

	In the city of Coal Hill, Pa., on October 22, 1898, I was born to John G. 
and Sophia (nee Peterson) Venell.

	My father worked very hard trying to get enough money so we could move out 
west. We lived in Indiana and West Virginia and from there went to Illinois. It 
was in Illinois that we stayed while my father went west to make a claim and 
build a claim shack.

	After my father had made his claim, west of Ash Creek, in Haakon County 
now, and built the claim shack, he wrote mother that we could now come west. 
Mother got my two brothers and myself ready, and packed a few things. People 
didn't have much to take along in those days. She bought train tickets and we 
boarded the train for South Dakota.

	On July 3, 1908 we arrived at Philip, where my father was waiting for us 
with a team and lumber wagon. The train ride was great but to me this was the 
loneliest and bleakest place my father could bring us to live, until one day at 
a picnic on Ash Creek, I met Charley Strandell.

	We were married in 1917 and lived on his new claim, which was just on the 
east edge of Deep Creek. For 24 years we lived on this same place. The times 
were hard; many times we thought we couldn't make it and would like to have 
left, but where could we have gone as this was our home. We moved to Wall in 
1941, when World War II started, and we have been here ever since.

	We were blessed with one boy and three girls.



Horseback Across So. Dakota

by Carl Erickson

	I was born  in Day County S. Dak. in 1884. I came on the train to Pierre 
to file on my homestead in February 1906.

	The next June John Longager and I started out horseback for Ash Creek. We 
caught up with John Hawkins at Pierre. He had shipped an emigrant car so he had 
some supplies. We stayed with him and helped him out to Ash Creek. We ferried 
across the Missouri River. We had to drink out of water holes along the way.

	I went back in the fall by stage to Pierre and then on the train back to 
my home in Day County. I shipped an emigrant car out. I brought a team of 
horses, cows and a dog.

	I can remember my first calf crop. All of the calves sold for $12.50, 
regardless of their size.

	The Pedro Freight road went through my place. I got the lumber for my 
house from Pedro and I built most of my own furniture of used boxes.


[Photo - Quinn - 1907  First cattle shipped out of T6 ranch. L to R: Lew Sofken, 
Marion Bennett, Lawrence Wilson, Jim O'Connell, Ralph Wilsey, Ohney Borst, Bill 
Borst]



[Photo - 1907 - First car in Pedro  L to R: Mrs. Alice Chatman, Mrs. Ralph 
Wilsey, Mrs. Will Carr, Bertha Chatman, Mrs. Gayner]


Homesteading on Ash Creek

by Mamie Erickson

	I had always wanted to take a homestead so when I had a chance to come to 
Pierre to file on a homestead on Ash Creek, I did it.

	On Feb. 14, 1906, I arrived in Pierre. There was a terrible blizzard that 
day. All the people I could see were cowboys and Indians. I felt a little bit 
discouraged but I couldn't go back now. I came out again on the 4th of July to 
go on to my homestead.

	John Haugen, a friend of mine from Pierpont, and I went from Pierre over 
to Ft. Pierre. A rancher from Top Bar had brought wool to Pierre. He took a load 
of lumber for me to build my shack. I bought a stove, couch, rocking chair and 
put them on the wagon with the lumber. Oh yes, I had four canvas chairs too. My 
little terrier Billy rode with me on the load of lumber one hundred miles.

	When I got to Top Bar, I expected to find my box of dishes and bedding 
which had been shipped earlier, but it had been taken on to Harding Grove by 
mistake. From Top Bar I went to Rood's on Ash Creek.

	John Haugen, John Longager and Carl built my shack for me. I had to go to 
Pedro and buy some dishes because I didn't get my box until Christmas.

	One day we drove to Pedro for supplies and of course I had my little dog 
Billy with me. There were some Indians standing around in the store. One squaw 
had her eye on my dog. He would sit up and beg for candy. Jim O'Connell thought 
it would be funny to sell my dog to the squaw. He told her it was his dog and 
she paid him some money for it. I didn't know anything about this deal, so when 
I got ready to go home I picked up my dog. The squaw grabbed one part of the dog 
and said, "My dog, my dog !"

	I said, "This is my dog." We had quite a tussle. The dog tried to bite the 
squaw and Jim O'Connell had a good laugh. He had to give her money back and a 
sack of candy besides.

	I proved up on my homestead in eight months. I went back home and taught 
school and cooked in a cafe.

	Two years later I came back out and married Carl Erickson at Pierre. We 
came to Philip by train and drove out to the homestead with a team.

	We lived on Carl's homestead until 1913 when we moved to Deep Creek. We 
moved to Wall in 1956.

	Our son Clark was 21 when he was killed in Washington. Our daughter, 
Delores, lives in Buckhannon, West Virginia with her husband and two sons. Mr. 
Wilson is the manager of the Moore's Business Forms at Buckhannon.




Mrs. Ora Paulsen

by Mrs. Ora Paulsen

	I was born in Minnesota and came to South Dakota when I was one year old 
in 1887. My father built a log house on Deep Creek but a flood washed it away so 
Dad worked on a ranch for Mr. Shampane. We went back to Minnesota in the year 
1900 because it was so extremely dry here. We, of course, travelled in a covered 
wagon. In 1904 we again made our way to South Dakota and I drove one of the 
wagons. We stopped at my grandmother's place over on Dirty Woman Creek and then 
to my uncle George Grover's place until we built another log house.

	In September, 1904, I met my husband and in January we were married. We 
drove a team arid buggy to Rapid City. My husband took up a homestead and we 
lived there two years and then bought a place on Deep Creek where we lived for 
four years before we moved to the old Banderot place which was our home until 
1917 when we built a new house which is still on the ranch. This belonged to the 
family until 1959 when the ranch was sold to Floyd Gabriel.

	We had, four children- -two sons and two daughters. Harry lived on the 
home place until it was sold. Due to my husband's poor health we moved to Rapid 
City where he lived until 1950 when my husband passed away. I eventually sold 
the apartment house and moved back to Wall which is my present home.

	My husband, Ray Paulsen, came over from Norway when he was 11 years old in 
1888 with his family who settled at Chadron, Nebr. When he was 18 years old he 
came to South Dakota and started to work for the U Cross Cattle Company. He 
worked for them until 1906 and then filed on a homesite on East Fork near Deep 
Creek. The following is quoted from Ray Paulsen:

	"The summer of 1900 was very dry up in this country. The U Cross and 73 
and several smaller stockmen moved their stock down on the Rosebud at Pine Ridge 
and even into the Nebraska Sand Hills.

	"There were five of us U Cross boys in line camp that winter. Carl Price 
and Clint Locket stayed over on White River and Tim Hallisay stayed at Oliver 
Tamoreaux. The next spring we rounded up but made arrangements to leave the 
cattle on the Rosebud. That fall we worked that, country and sorted out the beef 
cattle and shipped them from Valentine, Nebr. What cattle were left we took back 
to the headquarters for winter. During the winter of 1901 and 1902 many cattle 
drifted back on the reservation. In the spring many wagons pulled in down there. 
That roundup was a whopper. For three years I was sent back there to look for 
strays. Most of that time I was with the Bar X which was run by Olaf Nelson. I 
helped trail back some of the northern herds. When the reservation roundup was 
over we were married on Jan 11, 1905." 

	Ray also worked for the C. K. Howard ranch which was located on the 
Cheyenne River north of the mouth of Elk Creek. Smithville was at the mouth of 
Elk Creek. Frank Cottle established the post office and store there. Wm. Borst 
was first foreman for the C. K. Howard outfit.

[Photo - Christmas at Ray Paulsens in 1915.]

[Photo - Carl and Mamie Erickson on their 50th wedding anniversary.]

[Photo - Ray Paulsen home purchased in 1914  Built new home on this site in 
1917]

[Photo - Charles and Alfred Strandell, Brainard Post and Carl Erickson.]

[Photo - Early homesteaders whose homestead was part of the Ray Paulsen ranch. 
The first man is unknown, others are Mr. and Mrs. Bandrob.]




Ray Paulsen

	Ray Paulsen was one of the last cowboys of the 1902 roundup. He was born 
in Larvik, Norway, June 7, 1877. When he was 11 years old, he came to Chadron, 
Nebr., where he resided on a ranch northwest of there with his family. In 1898, 
when Ray was 21 years old, he came to western South Dakota. He worked for C. K. 
Howard and was with the U Cross Ranch until 1906.

	On January 11, 1905 he was married to Ora Strandell in Rapid City. They 
stayed with the U Cross until they moved to a ranch ten miles south of Pedro, 
where they lived until 1943. At that time they moved to Rapid City where they 
operated an apartment house. The ranch was still owned by the family.

	During the years Mr. Paulsen lived in the Pedro community, the family 
endured many hardships. But both he and Mrs. Paulsen came of sturdy pioneer 
stock and came through the difficult periods with a smile. Mr. Paulsen had the 
kind of disposition that always led him to make the best of everything.

[Photo - Ray Paulsen home purchased from George Grover in 1908, Edna and Bud 
Paulsen were born in this home. On Deep Creek.]


[Photo - St. Paul's Vacation Bible School - 1936]

[Photo - The boys had come back from the war - 1919.]

[Photo - Ray Paulsen]




Creighton

Creighton Lutheran Church

	Emigrants of German ethnic origin from the Crimea were among the first 
settlers at Creighton. Under the dominion of the Russian Czar, pressure was 
being put upon these people to relinquish some of their former political and 
religious liberties which they had enjoyed in the Crimea for about a hundred 
years. They then left their beautiful and productive farms in the Crimea, a 
peninisula in the Black Sea, and came to Tripp, South Dakota in 1907 most of 
this group homesteaded in the Creighton area.

	These and other homesteaders of Lutheran Faith soon realized their need 
for spiritual leadership and contacts were then made with Missionary A. Helscher 
of Philip and from 1907 to 1908 services were held in their homes about once a 
month.

	In 1909 Pastor Shamber filed on an eighty acre homestead and began serving 
the group of settlers in this area. It was when death came to a child of Mr. and 
Mrs. Christian Hahn and the problem confronted them as to where the child should 
be buried that Pastor Shamber advised the organization of a congregation and 
erection of a church building.

	Moved by the Holy Spirit a meeting was called on January 7, 1910 at the 
home of Henry Hirsch. The Emmanuel Congregation was organized. The building 
committee was elected consisting of three members, Henry Eisenbraun, Alex Jans, 
and Henry Hirsch. A site for the new church and cemetery was chosen. The Hahn 
child was laid to rest in this cemetery.

	With God's blessings the Emmanuel Congregation of the Lutheran Church 
Missouri Synod continued to grow through the years and to ease crowded 
conditions it was decided to remodel the first church building. The members 
elected for the building committee were Robert Denke, chairman, Gustav 
Eisenbraun, and Leo Eisenbraun.

	In the fall of 1940 additions and improvements on the original small 
church building were begun. The former parsonage, which was purchased in the 
middle twenties, was joined to the rear of the original building, the ceiling 
lowered and the building widened.

	On April 20, 1941 the remodeled House of Worship was rededicated. Pastor 
J. E. Schwarting was the speaker.

	Although the membership was small in 1910 compared with that in 1941 many 
of the same names still remained on the membership roll.

	The parsonage added to the rear of the original building furnished space 
for Sunday School and meetings.

	By the Grace of God the membership of Emmanuel Congregation continued to 
grow. God blessed the church with new members and the homes with -children. The 
church was getting crowded and Sunday School facilities for the 45 children 
enrolled in Sunday School were insufficient. It became apparent that something 
definite had to be done.

	The Voters Assembly in 1953 launched a building campaign. It grew but 
progress was slow - in four years approximately $4,000 went into the building 
fund. At the annual January meeting in 1957 a Building Committee was elected. 
Those elected were - Edmund Eisenbraun, chairman, Reinhold Eisenbraun, 
secretary, G. W. Eisenbraun, Leo Eisenbraun, George Eisenbraun, Adolph Geigle 
and Roy Hamann.

	At another meeting of the voters it was. decided to build the new House of 
Worship one mile north of Creighton which is just off the main road passing 
through the vicinity. It was also voted to conduct an extensive campaign for 
funds in the fall of 1957. This drive netted an additional $6,000 for the 
building program.

	A loan was secured from the South Dakota District, thus making available 
sufficient funds to build.

	On October 6, 1957, a Ground Breaking Ceremony was held, and construction 
began immediately. The program was delayed for several weeks waiting for 
laminated arches to arrive. These came the day after Christmas and then the men 
of the congregation under the leadership of Mr. Clarence Eberline, carpenter, 
worked diligently and faithfully. The weather was ideal during the entire period 
of construction. The men of the congregation donated as much of their services 
as possible in order to cut the high cost-of building. It was estimated that 
donated labor was a savings of $10,000. The new church is valued at $35,000.

	The furniture was purchased from Prairie States Wood Arts of Redfield, 
South Dakota. It is Ozark Oak with cathedral rose finish.

	The decking is Western Red Cedar, double tongue and groove V joint. The 
laminated arches are made from red fir.

	On April 27, 1958 our present House of Worship was dedicated. Pastor T. C. 
Predoehl and Pastor R. H. Marquardt of Rapid City were the speakers at the 
dedication service.

	Today the congregation numbers 139 souls, and 103 communicants.

	BY FAITH we shall build for the future.

	Like the children of Israel Emmanuel Lutheran Congregation has good reason 
to give thanks to God for His help and protection in the fifty-five years of 
blessings upon the people of our church. We have nothing to boast of. Our 
glorying must be in Christ Who blessed and strengthened. How wonderfully he 
"found us when we sought Him not". He preserves us in the wonderful faith which 
knows Jesus as our Savior. He will bless and keep His people to the end. And so 
the future of our church lies with Him Who founded and nourished it for these 
years.


PASTORS THROUGH THE YEARS

	A. Helscher, 1907--1909; 
	R. Shamber, 1909--1910; 
	J. Schwarting, 1911--1916; 
	G. Schaeffer, 1917--1920; 
	T. Kleinhans, 1921--1923; 
	F. Eggert, 1923--1925; 
	A. Oesch, 1925-1927; 
	O. Schoech, 1928--1930; 
	A. Kraft, 1930--1943; 
	H. Dubbe, 1944--1948; 
	T. Predoehl, 1949--1955; 
	A. Kieschnick, 1956-1959; 
	E. Klatt, 1960--1965.

	The history of love and sacrifice of these Pastors who have faithfully 
served Emmanuel Congregation, with endurance during hard times, with devotion to 
duty, and with undaunted courage will long be cherished by the members of this 
congregation.

[Photo - 1910  The Emmanuel Lutheran Church]

[Photo - New Creighton Church - 1957]

[Photo - Rev. H. Dubbe, Mr. and Mrs. Erwin Eisenbraun's wedding day.]

[Photo - Rev. Alton Kieschnick]


[Photo Creighton Post Office]


The Goettsch Family

	Henry and Mary Goettsch were both born in Germany, and shortly after their 
marriage moved to Creighton, Nebraska. They heard a great deal about the opening 
of homestead lands in western South Dakota. In the summer of 1905. Henry made a 
trip and decided on a homestead in Pennington County, about 17 north of Wall. 
Mr. Goettsch went back to Creighton, Nebraska for the winter.

	In the spring of 1906, he loaded his personal belongings, including cows, 
horses, buggy, machinery, chickens and a Great Dane dog into box cars and 
prepared to move. One older son, John traveled in the box car and took care of 
the animals and watched over the belongings. He almost lost the dog, who was 
quite unhappy about being tied up and attempted to jump out of the box car. 
Someone noticed him hanging by the rope and John rescued him in time. The dog 
had been given to the family by a Creighton banker who had used the dog as guard 
in his bank.

	The Goettsch family and eight children arrived in Rapid City about the 
first of April, 1906. They camped there about 2 weeks until the railroad was 
built on into Wasta. Other purchases were made in Rapid City, and more horses 
were bought. They then went on to Wasta and had to camp there about 2 weeks as 
the river was out of its banks and they could not cross. They put up a tent and 
lived in it. They had the chickens and horses where they could take care of 
them. An old bachelor who was living nearby stole the eggs regularly, and 
occasionally took a chicken. Mrs. Goettsch had brought in large grey Plymouth 
Rocks and she raised this breed all her life.

	After the river went down, they hauled lumber and their belongings to 
their homestead. The locator, John Grandon, helped them locate the corners of 
their place. While moving from Wasta to their homestead, one of the horses 
dropped dead half way up Reed Hill. It was believed that he had been poisoned by 
someone who had been trying to trade for him. At that time there was nothing at 
the site where Wall was later located.

	After reaching the homestead, Mr. Goettsch and the boys put up a big tent, 
and built a barn next to it. The family lived in both the barn and the tent that 
summer. There was no well and "water witches" attempted to find a good vein, but 
the place never did have a good supply of water. The families living there in 
1906 when Goettschs moved there were the Estes, O'Neills, Pourier, Grovers and 
John Edwards. Many more started coming in 1907 and by 1908 the land was pretty 
well taken.

	In the summer and fall of 1906, they built a house with a basement. The 
family received mail at first by going across the river to Smithville. This new 
home had space for a post office, and Mr. Goettsch wrote to Washington and 
requested a post office. He had selected 2 names for it but the one chosen was 
Creighton, after Creighton, Nebraska, his former home. Mr. Goettsch also 
petitioned for the first mail route from Wall to Pedro and drove it for a short 
time. Before the establishment of the mail route, mail was carried by stage 
which went from Wall to Pedro. Ollie Marshall carried mail and passengers from 
Wall to Pedro. Later it was carried by Sam Jones who drove a four horse team, 
and changed horses half way.

	The first school the Goettsch children attended in that area was at the 
Johnson place. Johnson's had been early homesteaders but had moved on. One of 
their first teachers was a deaf lady, and the students had a gay old time, 
holding up their books in front of their faces and talking aloud. Violet 
McDonald taught in one of those early years.

	Henry Goettsch was very interested in plants and seeds and experimented 
with them. He had one of the first alfalfa fields in the area. He also raised 
sugar beets the first year or two he farmed. The main living came from farming 
and milking. There was no market for cream, but the family made butter which 
they sold in Wall. In 1908 four of the big steers they had raised were driven 
off and were never located.

	The older members of the family worked out. Carl worked in a lumber yard 
in Wasta, and later in a warehouse in Wall, and then on threshing crews in the 
northern part of the state. He homesteaded near his folks, as did his sister 
Carrie. The family purchased the first binder in the area and did work for 
neighboring families.

	The years were hard, the family suffered many near disasters, but there 
was time for fun. At one time, Julius fell off a wooden stock tank that was 
being soaked up so it would hold water, and almost drowned in the dam before he 
could reach shore. Regular dances were held at the homestead shacks. Rachel and 
Mary O'Neill played the guitar and mandolin and later when the Rotters moved in, 
the fiddle and organ made dance music.

	The years were good until 1911 and there was no rain at all. Late in the 
fall, rains came and it greened up. The family survived the winter mainly on 
beans, and most members felt they could never eat another bean. In 1915 
conditions were almost the reverse-it rained almost every day.

	Mr. Goettsch passed away in May 13, 1913. Mrs. Goettsch lived at the farm 
for several years, later moving to Rapid City and Fairburn and she passed away 
in 1948.

	Of the 8 children who came to Wall in 1906 with their parents Henry and 
Mary Goettsch, seven still survive. Fred passed away in 1919 shortly after being 
discharged from the army in World War 1. Carl and Henry Goettsch live in Rapid 
City, George lives in Portland, Oregon, Julius lives in Seattle, Washington, 
Carrie Goettsch Bigelow lives in Portland, Oregon, John lives in Davis, 
California and Nellie Jones lives in Custer, South Dakota.

[Photo - The Goettsch Family]

[Photo - Goettsch Homestead near Creighton]


[Photo - This picture was taken by the old Creighton Post Office and store, 
owned by R. F. Lewis, father of Fred Lewis who still lives in the community. R. 
F. passed away several years ago. This picture was taken in 1914. In the picture 
from left ot right are Jake Denke, Clyde Graham, Bonnie Graham, and Maude 
Graham.]



The John Clarins

by their children

	Was it adventure or possibility of new fortunes? What was it that enticed 
so many people to leave their home land and friends in the 'old country' and 
immigrate to America? Our ancestors were among these, with the Clarins coming 
from Sweden, and the Fishers from Germany.

	John Clarin was born in Emetlof, Sweden May 17, 1877. At the age of 17 he 
came to New York City on the Scandinavian Line, Nov. 20, 1894. The ship was in a 
storm and drifted for three days before it could resume its course, and they 
were running low on food by the time it arrived in New York. He came on west to 
join his father and make his living in the Kansas and Wisconsin areas. Later he 
came to Yankton, S. Dak. and worked for the Gurney Seed Co. He met Amanda Fisher 
at her uncle's ranch, and they were married in Yankton, August 16, 1900.

	Amanda Fisher was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. E. Fisher. She was born 
in St. Clare, Minn. Sept. 22, 1881. F. E. Fisher was the manager of a 
Donaldson's ranch near Yankton and also worked at the cement plant in Yankton 
before the cement plant was moved to Rapid City. Amanda worked for Carney's, who 
had a grocery store there. During their courting days, Sarah Davison, Amanda's 
sister, can remember John singing "Just One Girl" to her.

	The Clarins, Fishers and Donahues all took up homesteads in the Capa area 
in 1909. John built a house in the hillside, one side of the house being level 
with the hill. While living in this area they told of a blizzard, when they had 
to tie ropes from the house to the barn to find their way. After it quit snowing 
and drifting, they followed the rope with a tunnel which lasted several weeks.

	A tornado went through the country and everyone took refuge in a root 
cellar. During the storm the hay rack was blown down the hill and the tongue of 
the wagon was pushed through the door of the root cellar, but no one was 
injured. One of the family said if we had waited we could have had a ride!

	Another incident they told of during this time concerned a mother of 
several small children. Her husband had left early in the morning to be gone for 
several days. She went to feed the chickens and was bit by a rattlesnake. Her 
husband had just disappeared over the ridge with the only team of horses they 
had, so she had no means of transportation and the neighbors were too far away. 
She knew there wasn't enough food to last the children until their father got 
home, so she mixed bread and made biscuits and carried in water so they would 
have enough to last when she was no longer able to do it. However she recovered, 
and they thought perhaps the snake didn't have as much venom as it might have 
had earlier in the year, as this occurred in the fall.

	After proving up on the homestead at Capa, the Clarins sold out and moved 
to Pennington County. They took the train to Wall where they were met by Ed 
Sullivan. He took them to his place about 12 miles northwest of Creighton where 
we were to live for the next few years. Our dad run the cattle and hog ranch on 
shares with S. S. Stark. There were eight members in the family now. They left 
Wall in the morning and arrived at their new home about 6 o'clock that evening. 
It was 32 miles from the railroad station. Good roads were almost nonexistent in 
those days. They had to go up and down so many hills and around the worst ones. 
The last three miles from the Cheyenne River the hills were so steep, they had 
to put a chain around the rear wheel and fasten it to the front axle to make the 
wheel dig into the ground so the heavy load wouldn't be pushing against the 
horses.

	At this time Creighton Post Office was located 4 miles south on a place 
owned by Jack Geokche. He had come to S. Dak. from Creighton, Neb. and named the 
one in S. Dak. for his home town in Neb. Later it was moved to a homestead owned 
by R. J. Haddocks.

	Otto and Victor Clarin, John's half-brothers, came to S. Dak. in about 
1915. They worked for their brother and other ranchers at different times. Otto 
filed on a homestead 9 miles west of Creighton where he worked his place and run 
cattle. Onetime when he was driving a team with a wagon across the Cheyenne 
River, a wall of water came down and caught his wagon in the middle of the 
crossing. The water picked up the wagon box with Otto in it, and drifted about 
half a mile downstream. When he got ashore he went back to the team and what was 
left of the wagon. Another time when he was leading a team, lightning struck and 
killed the horses, knocking Otto to the ground, but he was not hurt. Victor 
didn't live in the area as long as Otto and John. He has lived in Minneapolis 
for many years and is still there. Otto lived alone on his ranch until he sold 
out in the forties and moved to Minneapolis, Minn., where he lived near his 
sisters and brothers until his death about 1950.

	There must have been many exciting happenings while the John Clarin family 
lived along the Cheyenne River. They had a large herd of cattle that came to the 
river for water and would cross over to the other side for better pasture, the 
white clover was more thrifty there. Anyone that ever lived near the river will 
remember how fast it can change. Henry remembers one time the river went to 
flood stage so fast his dad had to go over after the cattle with a saddle horse, 
and when he came back to the river it was so high the cattle and the horse had 
to swim. All that could be seen of them were their heads and the rider on the 
horse. In the spring of the year the ice breaking up sounded like thunder. The 
ice would pile up 20 feet high and about 20 rods wide. Some nights our dad 
stayed up all night to keep watch so they would know if they had to go to higher 
ground when it flooded. The water came up to the log house once and he put 
boards around the house to help keep the water away. The river kept washing and 
changing the channel through the years, so eventually all of those buildings 
were washed away except a granary.

	Besides cattle, they also raised hogs. There was no place nearby to sell 
them, so when market time rolled around the hogs were driven in a herd about 
five miles out of the hills, then loaded in wagons with boxes 3 6 inches high or 
higher. Sometimes there would be 80 head to market at one time and this called 
for neighbors I help with teams and wagons. There would be as many as 9 and 10 
teams going together. When they reached Wall the hogs were sent on by railroad. 
Some of the drivers were John and Otto Clarin, Henry and Gus Salee, Guy, Walt, 
and Weslie Ferguson, John Barton and Harvey Spitz. One time Sigrid Clarin and 
Sadie Salee each drove a team too.

	The children attended school five miles away on the flat at Squaw Creek, 
driving a team and buggy. Two of the teachers were Will Jones and Rilla Spencer. 
Later a school was established closer with Helen Marrow of Indiana as the 
teacher.

	When Dad built a new house, we had dances before the partitions were put 
in. Ben Rotter would load the organ in his wagon and haul it down to play for 
the dance for $5.00. He played the violin and his daughter, Elsie, played the 
organ. They lived about 16 miles away, so they would start out about 3:30 in the 
afternoon, the dance would start about 8:30 and last most of the night. Harvey 
Spitz would bring some gum and tobacco to sell, as he had a little store where 
he lived. Other dances were held too. Julius especially enjoyed the dances and 
called the neighbors and friends. Chris Hamann furnished music for some of the 
dances on an accordion.

	In the fall of 1918 they had a sale and sold everything but 6 head of 
horses. Henry and Sigrid each rode a horse and lead the rest from the ranch to 
Rapid City. It took two days to make the trip. The first night they stayed at a 
ranch east of Underwood, arriving in Rapid City about 8:00 the next night. It 
was the day World War I was over and the city was celebrating. Among the noise-
makers were fire crackers, causing a little difficulty in getting the frightened 
horses to the livery stable.

	While we lived in Rapid City, Dad worked for the Warren Lamb Lumber Co. In 
1920 we moved back to the Creighton area. He bought the Creighton Store from 
Martin Overholt. There was a post office and a cream station with the store. The 
cream was tested for the farmers twice a week. Sometimes a can of cream 
exploded, blowing the lid off and cream all over the ceiling! There was no 
refrigeration in those days, unless someone was lucky enough to get some ice put 
in an ice house in the winter. Usually the women tried to store the cream in a 
basement, or a cave (root cellar), or hang the containers in the well. Then the 
ride in a rough lumber wagon or buggy over rough roads didn't help the cream 
any. After the cream was tested, it was then hauled 20 miles farther to the 
railroad station at Wall to be sent to the Handford Co. at Huron, S. Dak. On the 
return trip they took back freight and groceries. The mail came three times a 
week by car or pickup. The route was 40 miles. When the roads were muddy in the 
spring or winter, the mail was hauled by horses and a buggy. They would change 
horses at Creighton and go on to Pedro, stay overnight there and go back to Wall 
the next day.

	They later sold the store to H. Mortenson, keeping the ranch where they 
built a new house and lived there for a few years. Then another move took them 
back to the Rapid City area and then on to Minneapolis, Minn where they lived 
the rest of their lives. Our parents celebrated their golden wedding anniversary 
in 1950. Dad passed away in March of 1956 and Mother on June 1, 1964. Dad had 
many occupations and was good at all of them. He enjoyed working with plants and 
they always raised big gardens and flowers. He did quite a little carpenter work 
all his life. He was a finish carpenter at the Charles Hotel in Pierre, S. Dak. 
when it was built. Our mother was always a hard worker too, and was kept busy 
with the household chores and raising the children.

	There were 15 children born in the family with 10 still living. Some very 
tragic accidents took the lives of three of the boys. Julius was 17 when he was 
watering horses at a dam and was kicked by one of the horses. When found, he had 
either drowned or had died of the injury. Another son, Frans, was lost when he 
and Oliver were skating and broke through the ice. Oliver was 13, and got out, 
but Frans, who was 17, was in deeper water and couldn't get out. Harry was 15 
when he was doing chores at a neighbors home when it was struck by lightning and 
lost his life when the house burned. Two little girls died when they were quite 
small. This is more sorrow than many families experience, but there were many 
happy times and these memories are all cherished.

	Sigrid the oldest, is Mrs. John Koopman and lives near Rockerville, S. 
Dak. Henry married Edna Hook  also from the Creighton area and they live at 
Menahga, Minn. Ellen is Mrs. Ralph Overholt and they manage the Arneson Motel in 
Rapid City, S. Dak. Agnes was married to Stanley Beck of Wall, but he passed 
away in 1945 and she is now Mrs. Marious Lamoreaux living in Salt Lake City, 
Utah. Ernest, Nels, Tennie and Hilbert all live in Minneapolis, Minn. Fred lives 
at Piedmont, S. Dak., and Oliver at Stoneville, S. Dak.

[Photo - Mr. and Mrs. John Clarin's wedding picture, August 16, 1900]

[Photo - Wagonlaods of hogs on the way to market from the Clarin place.]

[Photo - Clarin Family  Henry, Sigrid, Mrs. J. Clarin and baby, Frans, Ellen, 
Neis, Agnes, John, Juluis by the log house they lived in by the Cheyenne River.]

[Photo - A group at Creighton]

[Photo - John Clarins on their Golden Wedding Anniversary.]

[Photo - Clarin Home at Creighton]