Eastern Pennington County Memories  -- Scenic

	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 191-225

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

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SCENIC

The History of Scenic

by Goldie B. Jurisch

	It would be difficult for me to write part of the history of the town of 
Scenic, unless I gave the history of the real early settlers who came here 
before the battle of Wounded Knee and the names that were given to the various 
tables whose names have carried on.

	I will start with Herman Kube and family as they were the grandparents of 
my husband Clarence Jurisch and his brothers Ernest and Gustave. While they were 
going along, suddenly, without warning, a small band of Indians, on horseback, 
clad only in loin cloths, appeared and started riding direct for the Kube wagon. 
Herman Kube made his family lie down in the wagon, picked up his whip in one 
hand, pistol in the other. He cracked his whip and started his wagon right 
through the oncoming Indians. Firing his pistol and yelling at the top of his 
lungs, he headed his wagon towards one of the tables. He drove to the top of 
this table and settled there. This table which is located 2 miles north of 
Scenic, is named after him, and is still known to this day as Kube Table.

	Hart Table was named after Frank and Tenny Hart whose homestead was on the 
north part of the land near the railroad when it came in. Then there was Quinn 
Table named for the Quinns. 71 Table was taken from the August Balman horse 
brand.

	There was the Pap Tompsons who filed on the Cheyenne River. The Nyes who, 
as I understand, became the second owners of the Creston store and Post office 
which later was sold to Bob Lees. There were the Coles and the Nyes, the only 
two white families to stay on through the Indian outbreak of 1899. The rest were 
all taken to Fort Meade. When the war was finished and the settlers came back, 
they found that they had nothing left and had to make another start. Many of 
these early settlers came as cattle and sheep hands, some as teachers and other 
professions.

	A man by the name of Ab Jefferson who with his wife and three daughters 
lived on a homestead (filed in 1900), just off the northwest side of sheep Mt. 
He saw with the coming of the railroad the possibilities of a better way of life 
for himself and the many other settlers in the surrounding area. So he built the 
1st building which was a tar paper shack located on the south side of the 
railroad track in 1907, this was the first townsite of Scenic. This building was 
the 1st grocery store and became a place where all could get together at the end 
of the day.

	Scenic was so named by the track laying crew because of the many beautiful 
views that it commanded from this one spot.

	In the latter part of 1907 a grocery store was erected by Len Anderson. In 
a few months, a mercantile store, 2 restaurants, and a pool hall was started. 
More business places were built, one being used for Post Office, printing office 
and drugstore. In 1908 the building which was later to become Scenic Post Office 
was erected. In 1946 this building burned to the ground but was erected again 
soon after.

	In the early "20's", Scenic had a population of nearly 250 people. Scenic 
was due to an oil boom. It has now dwindled down to about 50 people. The grain 
elevator and the depot are both gone.

	The first postmaster in 1907 was a man by the name of Loyd (he was also a 
druggist) and his assistant was a Miss Bailery. About 1917 the second postmaster 
was Fred Bartlett, who had his post office in connection with the hardware and 
lumberyard. In 1928 my father Harry D. Crosmer became the third postmaster, and 
had his office in which is now the official Post Office of Scenic. He was 
postmaster until 1947, when a stroke confined him to his bed.

	In 1947 my mother, Maude E. Crosmer, then became postmaster of Scenic. 
Upon my mother being hospitalized in 1961, I became Acting postmaster until 
1962, when I received my commission as Postmaster of Scenic, South Dakota.

	The Milwaukee railroad made its first trip in August of 1907 into Rapid 
City. It was a great step towards progress. This meant a shipping point for a 
great surrounding country. The little town of Scenic grew like a mining town, a 
school providing four years of high school, two churches, the Protestant and 
Catholic, more stores, a printer by the name of Palmer, who printed the Scenic 
Observer. Also livery barns, the second one being built by Henry Snyder, which 
later served as dance hall and theater. The hotel and blacksmith shops and 
restaurants.

	We also had the depot whose first agent was Wayne Hunt which in a short 
time was taken over by his brother, the late Roy Hunt. His wife was Carry Stone, 
a sister of Andrew, Jessie, Minnie, and Roy Stone who settled near the base 
line. Roy and Carrie had one daughter, Erma and they made their home in part of 
the depot until they moved into the house south of the depot across from the 
railroad track, now owned by Alex and Doris Shellito. After Carrie's death, Roy 
stayed in Scenic until his retirement.

	Our town also had an elevator built by H. O. Malby in 1908. He also -ran 
the elevator and built a machine shop and sold machinery. The first elevator 
burned in 1922, and was rebuilt east of where the first building stood. The town 
also had an icehouse back of the grocery store that Florence and Hank Ackerman 
own.

	The town of Scenic had much to offer in the line of entertainment and 
sports. There was a well maintained ball diamond, a race track, and a complete 
Rodeo Arena. These attractions brought many people to our town. We were never 
without a place for shows. There are many names and stories that could be 
related, but time does not permit my doing so. As I think back over the years 
and recall my experiences and sit down and visit with those who are left, my 
husband and I are very grateful to have been friends, neighbors, and have now as 
my patrons, those who made the town of Scenic.


Catholic Church of Scenic

by Mrs. Frank Stangle, Sr.

	As I remember, the first masses in Scenic were held in private homes. The 
priest was Rev. Thomas McNaboe from Kadoka, he came by train to Scenic, said 
mass and then returned to Kadoka. This was rather difficult so Matt Jobgen Sr. 
and Johnny Mulloy went from place to place asking for donations until they 
finally collected $200. The men in the parish built Scenic's first Catholic 
Church. As time went on, this became too small and we built a larger church.

	In 1919 still another church was built because of the larger congregation. 
We had Rev. Edward McGonigal as pastor so also built the parish house at that 
time.

[Photo - First Confirmation and Communion class at Scenic Catholic Church July 
7, 1913.]

[Photo - Scenic Catholic Church now (1965)]


Congregational Church

by Maude Crosmer and Goldie Jurisch

	In the early nineteen hundreds, the word was passed along that the 
government had land open for filing; so it was that our forefathers saw an 
opportunity for building homes in a new territory. In 19061907 there was quite a 
group of homesteaders who, with faith in God, our country, and themselves, 
started this community. As they built their homes, they gathered on Sunday in 
various houses to worship. In 1908 plans were put forth for the first Church 
building. Everyone worked together and realized their dream in 1909.

	This church, called the Congregational Church, was located 7 1/2 miles 
from Scenic on Kube Table. On the 8th day of July 1911, the church was recorded 
in the corporate name of the Congregational Church of Scenic. By March 24, 1911, 
there were 19 members. The first minister listed was Joabez Spitteli, who was 
called in 1909. There were twelve families in the church. In 1912, 15 members 
were listed, with D. J. Gillanders the minister, and Mrs. G. B. Skinner the 
church clerk. Mr. Gillanders also served the church in Keystone. In 1913 the 
church had 15 members and was served by J. McLearie, a Presbyterian, who was a 
professor at the School of Mines, and not an ordained minister.

	In 1914 the little church on Kube Table was moved to town and used for 
protestant services.

	In 1919 the town had grown, and again we were making plans for a new 
church building. It was decided that the small building could be used for a 
parsonage, however, unfortunate circumstances have never allowed us to have a 
full time minister. Any ordained ministers who have served here have also served 
at Hermosa, New Underwood, Keystone or Rapid City. When we were unable to have 
an ordained minister, we have been served by student ministers or teachers, who 
were able to come for less pay, as they received a portion of their income from 
other sources.

	In 1920 our fondest hopes were realized when the cornerstone of the 
present church was laid. Much time, labor, donations and church funds have gone 
into its erection. The greatest tribute must be paid to the Congregational 
Ladies Aid, always the strongest organization in the church. For 20 years, the 
late Mrs. George Skinner was President of the Ladies Aid, and was one of the 
most untiring workers and finest leaders of our time. All who worked with her 
had nothing but praise for her, and of these there were many who also gave years 
of service. The records of the Secretary books show how hard everyone had 
endeavored to make our Church a, success, and to this day, every effort is being 
made to build a stronger and better church for our youth.

	In 1922 a noteworthy event took place. The church was the scene of one of 
the largest conferences ever held. Fifty-four delegates and visitors attended 
for two days, and accomplished many things.

	Our first Bible was donated by the Wm. Conklin family in memory of their 
daughter. Both communion sets were donations from the church in Huron, and the 
beautiful candle holders made of myrtle wood were given by Rev. and Mrs. Hicks 
in memory of their son, Dorrin.

[Photo - Congregational Church Scenic, So. Dak.]


Scenic School

	As the town of Scenic grew and more settlers arrived, the need for 
elementary and high schools was a dream fulfilled. From a four year high school, 
there were many young people who went on to college. They had been given the 
opportunities to go out and make good in all walks of life. Some who were raised 
and educated in this town became very important and passed along much of their 
talents to others.

[Photo - Old school house of Scenic burned in 1919]

[Photo - Scenic elementary and High School erected in 1919]

[Photo - Scenic School Grades 1 thru 8 Built in 1961]

[Photo - Scenic Basketball team 1938  Coach - Owen T. Jones
         #12 Tomas Dexhimer              #10 Eldon Levy
         #14 Pete McNiel                 #11 Lamont Cook
         #17 Jim Jensen                  #15 Walter Bessette
         #16 Gene Slater]

[Photo - Scenic, High School 1936-1937
1st row: Pete McNeil, Bob Edwards, Jimmy Jensen, Walter Bessette, Eldon Levy  
2nd row: Tom Sexhimer, Walter Clifford, Harry Richards, Gene Slater  3rd row: 
Ruth Strom, Esther White, Daphana Larsen, Anitta Minor.  4th row: Clara Talty, 
Ed Swindler, Larry McNiel, Lamont Cook, Mary Jane Edwards.]


[Photo - Scenic, So. Dak. In the early days]

[Photo - This is the main street of Scenic probably about 1910. You can clearly 
see sigh of Len Anderson store on right front, and hotel in background. The 
Alamo Pool Hall is in left foreground, bank building next, livery stable is in 
left rear with a buggy in front and a rider coming into view.]

[Photo - First train penetrating S. D. Badlands]

[Photo - This is Scenic depot when Milwaukee train had a passenger train through 
twice a day. Going to Rapid City in Morning and coming back at night which made 
it convenient for city shoppers.]

[Photo Cub Erickson, Wayne Hunt, Lawrence Wyant, Ernie Young, standing - Emery 
Fisk, man seated - unknown  At the Scenic depot]

[Photo - Scenic, So. Dak., the day after the storm March 13, 1918]

[Photo - Snow in the railroad track near Scenic So. Dak. March 13, 1913]

[Photo - Smoky Williams on "Cox"]

[Photo - Cheyenne Kaiser dancing to "Strangers" music]

[Photo - West side of Main street]

[Photo - East side of Main street]

[Photo - Scenic Jail on the rt. Erected by WPA. Old firehouse to the lt.]

[Photo - Tom Freit's agate shop]

[Photo - Scenic Hotel]

[Photo - Scenic Park]

[Photo - Scenic, So. Dak. Post Office burned in 1946]

[Photo - Scenic Community Hall erected by Coots Higgins]

[Photo - Standard oil bulk plant - Scenic So. Dak.]

[Photo - Scenic Depot]

[Photo - Children belonging to Lewis Young, Owen Larsen and Lawrence Larsen 
eating melons raised on the Lewis Young ranch.]

[Photo - Will Koch (known as Shorty Hitchcock) and William Levy]

[Photo - Fat Stangle and (unknown)]

[Photo - Creston, So. Dak. 1910]

[Photo - General store & Post office, Pool Hall, Dance Hall, Imlay South Dakota 
- dated May, 1920]



Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hart

by Jessie Hart

	Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hart were married in 1895 and settled on land which 
later became known as Hart Table which is about three miles west of Scenic.

	Mrs. Hart was the daughter of Hugh Jones who was the first Methodist 
minister in Rapid City.

	Frank Hart was the son of John Hart a very old time cattle rancher on 
Spring Creek. Frank won fame as a real cowpuncher and bronco rider. He won many 
covetous prizes as he rode the rodeo circuits among which were two world 
championship awards.

	The Harts were well established when the Milwaukee Railroad was built near 
there., The railroad workers were camped at the ranch. They remembered with 
great pleasure the excitement and confusion in such a large camp of men and the 
enormous herd of horses at that time. In the years that followed the train would 
stop at the Hart ranch to let passengers off. The ranch was a great place for 
picnics and crowds came from far and near to attend. Many 4th of July 
celebrations were held there. One year a Rapid City band came and supplied the 
entertainment for the day. The train stopped as it came down from Rapid City and 
let the crowd off. It stopped again on the return trip and picked up the 
passengers.

	The Frank Harts had two children, a son Clayton and a daughter Iva.

	Clayton and Jessie Stone were married in Scenic in 1925. Since that time 
they lived in the Scenic Community where they ranched and farmed. He served as a 
member of the Scenic School board for many years. They also operated the Hart 
Mercantile Store in Scenic and weathered the depression days. Their son James 
still lives there. Their daughter Nadene Ludlow lives in California. Iva married 
V. Young, had three children and lived near Interior.

[Photo - Clayton Hart at the ranch.]

[Photo - Frank Hart in white shirt ready to mount a bucking horse in Rapid 
City.]

[Photo - Frank Hart riding horse named Too Little.]

[Photo - Will Spindler, left, with Frank Hart, typical of open range days 
cowboy.]



James and Daisy Bump

by Mrs. Loyd Holm

	James Gay Bump was born in Columbus, Nebraska in 1876, and came to Rapid 
City when his father had come to prospect for gold. Daisy Lake Bump was born in 
Georgetown, Colorado and came to Rapid City in 1886. Her Uncle, Richard Lake, 
was the president of the First National Bank.

	Gay Bump and Daisy Lake were married on June 19, 1900. There were five 
children born to this happy union. Almyr L. Bump now lives in Guatemala City, 
Guatemala; James D. Bump passed away in 1959; (Bernice) Mrs. Ernest Kellett 
lives at Kennebunkport, Maine; (Margaret) Mrs. John Wilson, Gladwyne, 
Pennsylvania; (Eva) Mrs. Loyd Holm, Rapid City, South Dakota.

	Mr. and Mrs. Bump lived in Nemo for a short time and then moved to Rapid 
City where Dad worked for the Rapid City Journal.

	In 1906 they filed on some land on Kube Table. We had a very nice sod 
house- a little chilly when the winters were coldest. My Mom told about chickens 
with frozen feet being brought into the house and being placed near the kitchen 
range to try and thaw them out. Our best crops seemed to be prairie dogs, rattle 
snakes and always the Russian thistle being blown by the prairie winds.

	In 1916 we moved to Scenic where Dad had the Land and Abstract Office. He 
passed away September 20, 1931 (age 55) and Mom in 1959 (age 83).

[Photo - Almyr, James, Bernice, Margaret and Eva Bump.]

[Photo - Gay Bump and Daisy in 1900.]

[Photo - The sod house and Shep.]



Charles and Carlean Knapp

	Charles and Carlean Knapp filed on their homestead on Kube Table in the 
fall of 1906 and lived in a basement house that winter.

	The next summer they built a frame house and covered it with sod and they 
lived in it until they moved away in 1908, going back to their old home at 
Hartford, South Dakota.

	There were four boys in their family: Valdamar, Darrel, Delmar and Clyo. 
On February 4, 1907 Dora Ann was born in the basement which was house and barn 
combined. The three older boys went to school at Mr. Lee's on Kube Table.

	Charles helped build the railroad grade for the Milwaukee railroad near 
Scenic. In 1910 they again moved, this time to Judson, North Dakota, there 
another daughter Flossie was born April 27, 1911.

	They moved back to western South Dakota on March 19, 1922 to live at 
Owanka until 1932, they moved to Rapid City where they remained until their 
death. Mr. Knapp passed away in 1957 and Mrs. Knapp in 1961. The rest of the 
family except Darrel live in or near Rapid City.

	Darrel was married to Mary Greenwalt on March 8, 1922 on the way out here. 
They have nine children and live at Ontario, Oregon. He works as a carpenter.

	Delmar was married to Mildred Hughes on October 18, 1928. They have four 
children. He has been a Civil Service worker for 20 years at the Ellsworth Air 
Force Base in Rapid City, South Dakota.

	Clyo was married to Margaret Mann on August 20, 1931, they have five 
children. He is a lumber salesman for Myron's Cashway in Rapid City.

	Dora was married to Carl Newman on September 5, 1946 and they have one 
daughter, Ina. She is now living on a farm north of Caputa, South Dakota.

	Flossie was married to Carl Newman on September 5, 1946 and they have one 
boy, Charles. Her husband passed away on January 28, 1953. She teaches at the 
Garfield School and has taught for 25 years.


Mr. and Mrs. George Knapp

by Mrs. Roland Larsen

	Mr. and Mrs. George Knapp came to western South Dakota from Colton in 
1906. They came with household goods, horses and cattle in the fall to Rapid 
City. This was taken by team and wagon to Kube Table where the family had filed 
on a homestead.

	At that time the Cheyenne River had to be forded or crossed on the ice. 
The place of crossing was south of the mouth of Rapid Creek which was also 
forded by emigrants.

	The eldest son, Arthur, came with his father and filed on 160 acres 
adjoining his father's land.

	In December Mrs. Knapp and two daughters came by train to Rapid City on a 
wintry, snowy day. Mr. Knapp met them, making the trip by team and buggy. By 
night they had gone only as far as Caputa and the Barber family took them in for 
the night. The next night was spent at Creston where Mr. and Mrs. Lees operated 
a store and was kind to newcomers. The following day the Knapp family was united 
with relatives on Kube Table.

	The first home was a dug-out built on the southwest corner of the 
homestead overlooking Spring Draw. On Christmas Day the Knapps moved into the 
new home, though it was not complete. Blankets covered the windows and the door. 
The days were like spring and soon the house was inclosed.

	Coyotes often howled on moonlight nights from a mound only a few feet from 
the door. Grey wolves prowled around the brakes. It seemed better when a wooden 
house was built on the land back from the draw. Later a sod kitchen was added to 
give more room for the family.

	The Milwaukee Railroad was built about this time. Mr. Knapp and his son 
were hired to help build the tracks and the bridge across the Cheyenne River. 
Indians from the reservation often followed the railroad track to Rapid City and 
seeing the home on the hillside would stop and ask for food.

	The settlers were concerned about the education of the children, so a 
school was established and held in a tar-papered shack on the western side of 
Kube Table about two miles from the Knapp home. Elbert Lee, a young homesteader, 
was the teacher. Florence, the youngest of the family, attended this school. 
About two years later a new school was built one mile east on the homestead 
where Miss Mabel Young was hired to teach.

	In 1911, Edith, the eldest daughter was married to Roland Larsen and moved 
to his homestead on 71 Table.

	In 1911 Mr. Knapp and his son traded their homesteads on land in eastern 
part of the state. In March the family moved to the new home at Colton, South 
Dakota.

	Mr. and Mrs. Knapp are deceased. Arthur now lives at Redwood City, 
California. Florence-is Mrs. Glen Steadman of Beresford, South Dakota.


Roland Larsen

by Mrs. Roland Larsen

	In 1906 Roland Larsen came by covered wagon from Humboldt, South Dakota 
and homesteaded on a quarter-section four miles north and one and a half miles 
east of Scenic. On his way he ferried across the Missouri River at Chamberlain.

	During the first two years he freighted lumber from Rapid City for other 
homesteaders to build houses. With his team of horses and a breaking plow he 
broke the sod for many of his neighbors, a requirement for proving up on a 
homestead.

	March 11, 1911 Mr. Larsen was united in marriage to Edith Knapp of Scenic. 
They made their home on Mr. Larsen's homestead for forty-two years. During these 
years they improved their ranch by plowing, fencing and building of corrals. 
More land was bought until the ranch included 2,280 acres.

	Mr. Larsen raised stock and grain. He enjoyed breaking horses to ride and 
drive. For many years he operated his threshing machine on the different tables 
around Scenic.

	Western life and sports always appealed to Mr. Larsen. He played with 
several baseball teams around Scenic and Creston. In most rodeos he took an 
active part. Deer hunting was one of his favorite sports.

	In 1921 a nephew and a niece of Mr. Larsen came to live in the Larsen 
home. Kenneth Larsen was 11 years and Frances 9 at the time. Kenneth was married 
to Alice Van Meter in 1936 and has two sons and two daughters. He now resides at 
Guthrie Center, Iowa where he owns and operates a Coast-to-Coast Store. Frances 
is now Mrs. Cliff Ward of Rapid City and is a teacher in the city schools. She 
and Mr. Ward have two sons.

	In the fall of 1952 Mr. and Mrs. Larsen built a home in Rapid City and 
moved from the ranch at that time. They continued to operate the ranch with 
hired help. In 1955 the ranch was sold to Mr. Larsen's nephew, Keith Larsen.

	Mr. Larsen passed away September 16, 1963 and is buried in Mountain View 
Cemetery. Mrs. Larsen continues to maintain her home at 402 E. Watertown in 
Rapid City.

[Photo - Roland Larsen]

[Photo - Creston Baseball Team - 1910  Pete Lemley, Al Wentz, Tom Dunn, Robert 
Lees, Johnny Roberts, Roland Larsen, Owen Larsen, Arthur Lees, Orval Browne, 
Everett Lane, Unknown, Frank Eberle.]

[Photo - Mr. and Mrs. Roland Larsen]


Mr. and Mrs. Josef Kudrna Sr.

	About the latter part of April in 1910, Mr. Josef Kudrna came by train to 
Imlay, South Dakota from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. There he had been employed as a 
carpenter in the Main Shop of the Milwaukee Railroad. He homesteaded about three 
and one-half miles northwest of Imlay in Miller Basin.

	There he built a home of sod walls and a board roof which he had completed 
in June when his wife, Marie and three children (Joseph Jr., Anna and Helen) 
joined him. They walked from Imlay to their new home.

	He walked down near White River and purchased his first livestock, a cow 
and calf from Billy Palmer, soon after his family joined him. Later that year he 
purchased a team from someone on the Reservation. During a severe blizzard that 
winter the horses left and drifted south. He was following them on foot when 
darkness set in. He found protection from the bitter cold in an abandoned shack, 
but without any means of heat it was necessary for him to walk the floor all 
night to keep from freezing. The next day he found his team and returned home.

	In the summer of 1911 he and another homesteader took their teams and went 
back east to get a job on the harvest run. They had to return empty-handed as 
the drought beat them out of a job. In order to buy groceries they picked up 
bones and hauled them to town and sold them. Money and jobs were scarce so Mr. 
Kudrna walked to Rapid City looking for work but found none.

	The first few years he worked as a section-hand for the Milwaukee Railroad 
whenever possible. He also hired out to build fences for Mr. Morris, a cattle 
rancher.

	The two eldest children attended school the first year in a homestead 
shack owned by Mr. George Wadsworth. Their teacher was Madge Scott. After the 
first year the children walked to Imlay to school.

	The first crop of corn was all harvested by hand. The first threshing was 
done by Chris Heuther Sr., of Conata, who owned a steam powered rig.

	In 1916 another son, Anthony was born to them. Mr. Kudrna started 
acquiring more land in Miller Basin from homesteaders who were leaving. Only two 
remained-- the other one was Mr. Frank Olic.

	The first tractor was purchased in 1926. Since then more machinery - new 
buildings, and other improvements have been added.

	Mr. Kudrna passed away in 1945. Marie, his wife still lives on their ranch 
which is operated today by their two sons. One daughter lives in Rapid City, the 
other lives in Texas. Mrs. Kudrna has two grandsons and four granddaughters and 
five great-grandchildren.

[Photo - Mr. and Mrs. Kudrna]


Otto and Elizabeth Schroeder

by Alton Schroeder

	On April 9, 1909, the train stopped at Conata to let us off, just as the 
sun was rising, and I thought this was the most beautiful sight I had ever seen 
- "us" being my father, Otto Schroeder, my mother, Elizabeth Schroeder and 
myself, Alton.

	We had left Des Moines, Iowa, at the recommendation of Mr. Beaman, who 
lived just south of Conata a short distance, and with whom my father had become 
acquainted in Iowa. He had offered to "locate" my father on a good piece of land 
in western South Dakota.

	After we arrived in Conata, Mr. Beaman soon came to meet us, and took us 
to his home where we stayed for several days while making arrangements to have a 
load of lumber and other materials delivered to our land which was about eight 
miles west of Conata, and about three miles east of the 6L ranch, then owned by 
Corb Morse.

	The land was already fenced on the south by the Reservation fence, it 
being the only one visible, and the prairie was dotted with cattle.

	The reason for choosing this particular location was because of the 
abundance of good spring water that rose on the east side of Bouquet Table, and 
here we built our house.

	"Our house" was far from being spacious, as houses of today, but we were 
mighty pleased with our 12xl2 foot structure which was our very own, the very 
first house we had ever owned, and, too, the results of our own labor. Because 
of our limited funds, we had had a choice of a larger house, or a field plow, 
and we had chosen the field. The picture shows my mother sitting proudly by the 
house with the Dalmatian we had brought from Iowa.

	Our only means of transportation was horseback, so our next project was to 
buy saddle horses for each of us - to visit the neighbors, to get the mail and 
to bring home the groceries from the town of Conata. To make our ponies 
comfortable, and with no other material available, we built a "dugout" barn.

	We soon had friends and neighbors on both sides of the Reservation fence. 
Our neighbors were not many, but some of the best people on earth.

	We hired some plowing done, and planted a large variety of garden and 
melons, and corn for the horses. Everything grew real well, it was good sandy 
loam and plenty of rainfall that year. When the melons ripened, we had the 
neighbors in for watermelon feeds, and they would take some home with them.

	This land has since been classified as submarginal, and bought back by the 
Government.

	After "proving up" on the homestead, my mother and I rode our ponies to a 
place just east of Deadwood to join my father who was employed there at the 
time. It took several days to make the trip, and when we got close to Piedmont, 
we met a large band of Crow Indians, many wagons and a rotunda of loose horses 
headed south. We visited with them, and they gave us a drink of cold Water from 
a wooden barrel in one of the wagons, and we rode on refreshed. They would liked 
to have traded horses with my mother her horse was a prettily marked red and 
white pinto.

	I now live eight miles west of Rapid City, with my wife, Emma, where we 
raised our family of three daughters, Helen Ehlers of Rapid City, Corinne 
Kleespie of Tucson, Ariz. and Lois Vogele of Glendive, Mont.

	In 1962, while Corinne and her family were visiting here, we drove down to 
the old homestead. This was fifty-three years after I first saw it and 
everything looked exactly as it had then - no fences (except the Reservation 
fence), no buildings, and the area again dotted with cattle, which is as it 
should be, according to my way of thinking.

[Photo Elizabeth Schroeder and dog]


Ted Mathis

by Mrs. R. M. Knutson

	Ted Mattis came to the Scenic area in about 1917 and homesteaded on the 
place where Larry Larsen now lives. He was married to the former Mary Hernett 
and they lived on the same place until 1948, when they moved to Rapid City. They 
were always hard working people who made a great asset to their community. Mrs. 
Mattis's grandson, Robert Knutson, was left in their care as an infant when his 
mother died, so he was raised by them with all the love and care that could have 
been given their own son.

[Photo - Ted and Mary Mattis]

[Photo - Ted and Mary Mattis and Bob Knutson]


Mr. and Mrs.Russell Fierstine

by Mrs. Robert M. Knutson

	Mr. and Mrs. Russell J. Fierstine and family of six children (four boys 
and two girls) were among the early day settlers of western South Dakota. They 
came from near Colton, South Dakota, a small town in eastern South Dakota, in 
1906.

	Mr. Fierstine and son, Gage, came by rail to Murdo. That was as far west 
as the railroad went then. They made the rest of the trip with horses and wagon. 
Mr. Fierstine worked on the railroad through Scenic, South Dakota and on west.

	The Fierstines homesteaded on Hart Table, then moved to 71 Table on a 
farm. owned by Mrs. Fierstines' father. They lived there until 1936.

[Photo - Gage Fierstine]

[Photo - Front to back on horse: Warren, Raymond, Wesley, Leila and Gladys 
Fierstine.]

[Photo - Robert Knutson]

[Photo - Mrs. Gay Gage Fierstine and Russell Fierstine.]



F. F. Batchhelder Family

	I came from Yankton to Faith by emigrant railroad car in 1910. There we 
emigrants unloaded our belongings and by wagon traveled on to White Owl where I 
filed on my homestead.

	In the spring of 1911 I married Alice McLinn from Yankton, who also came 
out on the emigrant train with her relatives. We were married by J. C Baker at 
Bonita Springs.

	We lived on the homestead until 1915. There the three oldest children, 
Robert, John & Bernice were born. I sold the homestead and moved to a place on 
the Cheyenne River southeast of Owanka. There Forrest Jr. was born.

	On this place we experienced the hard winter of 1919 and in the spring 
flood of 1920 we lost everything but the sewing machine. The water rushed so 
rapidly through the house that it moved flat irons out of one room and into 
another and the cat and chickens resorted to the top of the house roof. We never 
could understand why the house didn't move on down the river.

	After the flood I moved my family to the Al Kimball place on Dry Creek and 
in 1922 I leased the Mabel Hubbell place on Sage Creek and there we lived until 
1925.

	On Sage Creek the children drove to school by horse and buggy six miles 
one way. While we lived here Jessie Stone (Mrs. Clayton Hart), Cynthia Harris 
(Mrs. Pete Peterson), Edythe McNeil (Mrs. Lewis Young) and Opal Shellito (Mrs. 
Mike Miles) taught the Quinn Table School.

	After a number of years painting along with ranching the lead in the paint 
caused a lung condition which forced me to quit and move to Scenic in 1925. 
There I took over the Standard Oil Agency and at the same time ran a general 
store and bought and sold livestock and grain. In 1929 our youngest son, George, 
was born.

	After the dust cleared away in the "Thirties" it was necessary for me to 
go back to raising livestock and ranching until 1959 when we moved to Rapid 
City. We now live on Orchard Lane, Rapid Valley. All our children are living - 
Robert, Bernice (Mrs. L. W. Ball) and George are in Rapid City, Forrest lives in 
New Underwood and john is in Seattle, Washington.

[Photo Robert, John, Bernice and Forrest Jr. Batchelder children taken in 1918.]

[Photo - Ray McLinn, Owanka]

[Photo - Forrest Batchelder with Jumbo Ox and Top Horse.]

[Photo Forrest and Alice Batchelder Jack and Joco]



Mr. and Mrs. Peter Strom

by Mrs. C. F. Batchelder

	If my parents were still living they could tell many happenings of the 
good old days but since they are no longer with us I will try to relate in this 
story what I can remember them telling me.

	My parents were born in Norway. Mother came over to America at the age of 
21 and worked in New York City five years as a maid. Unsatisfied here and still 
having that desire to "pioneer" westward she came as far west as Chicago. It was 
there, a few years later, she met my father who had been in America since he was 
9 years old.

	Dad's father died at an early age and since he was the oldest of four 
children he had to quit school in the sixth grade and go to work to support the 
family. He had several jobs but his last job in Chicago was with the Chicago 
Northwestern Railroad, a job he talked about frequently. Even though he enjoyed 
this work he became restless and the old Viking spirit struck so he and his 
brother, Alexander, decided to go West. They came to Rapid City by railroad in 
the spring of 1906. Both registered at the land office. There they met Joe 
Stoeckel, a homesteader on Quinn Table, who took them out to their claim on 71 
Table and 7 miles north of Scenic. There they stayed with the Walton family 
while building their separate shacks. One shack was used for sleeping and the 
other was used for eating and entertaining.

	Within a few weeks Dad returned to Chicago to check on his family and 
Alexander remained as he was anxious to try the sunkist prairies of South Dakota 
for his health. He did regain his health so he feels that he owes a great lot to 
South Dakota. He is now 86 years old, in good health, still active in his law 
practice and grandfather of six children. He and his family live near Chicago.

	While Dad was in Chicago Uncle Alexander and William (Wild Bill) Bessette 
went to the government forest and cut cedar trees for fence posts. With these 
posts they fenced their land and also the Kennedy's as Mr. Kennedy furnished the 
wagon, horses and harness. Mr. Kennedy came from Omaha, Nebraska with Mr. Osborn 
and after a few crop failures Uncle Alex bought the Osborn place which is now 
owned by Robert Habink.

	In 1907 Dad returned to the homestead. He moved his little shack to the 
south end of his land and made, it into a chicken house. He and Uncle Alex 
became good neighbors to the large, hard-working Walton family. I remember Dad 
telling about their house, with no floors in it! Mr. Walton was a good farmer 
and in those years was a lot of help to Dad in farming. Uncle Alexander returned 
to Chicago but Dad remained. His mother and sister, Hilda Strom, came out for a 
visit. The mother took up a claim of 160 acres south of the Kennedy place but 
later sold it. Aunt Hilda stayed one winter and taught school. Lee Bessette and 
Maurice Higgins were a couple of her pupils.

	Now Dad was frequently making trips to the Windy City and always of course 
on business but few were "in" on the real reason. In the spring of 1916 he 
pursuaded Hilda J. Anderson to venture out to the homestead. To come from an old 
country to a new country such as America and then yet farther into an unsettled 
country was quite an adventure.

	On March 21, 1916 Peter Strom and Hilda J. Anderson were married in Rapid 
City and were attended by Mr. and Mrs. Connie Hanifan.

	I was born in Rapid City December 1917. In November 1922 my sister, Ruth, 
was born. While Mother was awaiting her arrival in Rapid City I stayed with Mrs. 
Tina Olson and son Jess. They lived on the south end of 71 Table.

	In 1923 the folks built two rooms on to the old homestead shack. This 
house is still on the place-even the old store room which was originally the 
kitchen is still standing. Every summer we'd run for the cellar during one of 
those black dusty wind storms and each time we came out of that cellar we would 
expect to see that shack flattened!

	Ruth and I attended the new school which was built in 1922 just 1/2 mile 
north of our place. I started my first grade in this new school and Miss 
Florence Knapp was my teacher. She stayed at Roland Larsens and every morning 
she, Kenneth and Francis Larsen would stop and take me to school in the buggy.

	One summer during the depression I remember the most horrible experience. 
Anthrax hit our small herd of cattle and the neighbors and Dad worked night and 
day covering the critters with straw and burning them. At night I helped Dad 
keep watch over the burning critters so that the fires would not spread.

	Mother and Dad retired from the farm to a new three bedroom home in Rapid 
City in October 1952. In May 1953 they took a trip by boat to Norway and were 
gone all summer. That fall Mother suffered a heart attack, 2 years later on 
August 4, 1955 at the age of 72 she was laid to rest in the Mountain View 
Cemetery in Rapid City. My sister Ruth (Mrs. Bernnie Roose) passed away January 
1, 1960 at the early age of 37 and Dad left us at the age of 84 on August 21, 
1962.

	When the folks retired they rented the farm to Robert Habink and shortly 
before Dad passed away the place was sold to Mr. and Mrs. Habink who reside 
there at the present time.

	Our family was blessed with good health. We rejoiced over good times and 
worried over not-sogood. There was drought, the depression, winter blizzards, 
dry parching summer winds and prairie fires but each spring we'd forget the past 
year and hope the next year would be better.

	Such was life and we had to take the bitter with the sweet. Yet with all 
its unforgetable difficulties and experiences my folks wouldn't have given any 
of it up and it has given me a better appreciation of life. I, Helen Strom 
Batchelder, am happy that I am the daughter of a pioneer Family on 71 Table in 
eastern Pennington County.

[Photo - Mr. and Mrs. Peter Strom March 21, 1919]

[Photo - Mr. Jarish, Peter Strom, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Browning and family and 
Grandma Jarish.]

[Photo - Blaine Strom, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Strom and Helen with Model T Ford of 
1919.]

[Photo - Peter Strom, Helen and Ruth]



Adelbert Baker Larsen

by Marian Aune

	Mr. & Mrs. Adelbert Baker Larsen accompanied by his brother Roland, left 
Humboldt, South Dakota in October 1906 arriving in Pennington County in 
November. They traveled overland following the established freight trails in two 
covered wagons. Upon reaching the Missouri River, they ferried across and when 
they reached the Badlands, it was necessary to roughlock the wheels of the 
wagons to descend into the Badland Basin.

	After building claim shacks on adjoining quarters on 71 Table near Scenic, 
they spent the first winter freighting lumber from Rapid City. Delbert was a 
carpenter and helped many of the homesteaders build their claim shacks. While 
the men were gone freighting, Mrs. Larsen spent most of her time at the Lemley 
ranch near the Cheyenne River. Later on, Delbert helped build the Lemley ranch 
home that still stands today. The two brothers had many experiences during their 
freighting days and one memorable one was fording the usually docile Cheyenne 
River, to look up stream and see a wall of water rushing toward them. They 
whipped their horses and barely made it to the other side before the wall of 
water reached them. Later they learned that there had been a flash flood in the 
Black Hills, sending the Cheyenne over its banks.

	Their first daughter, Helen was born at the homestead September 24, 1908; 
she is now Mrs. Helen Larson of Fremont, Nebraska.

	A third brother Owen Larsen and a sister Mrs. Bertha Dustman and families 
joined them, establishing homesteads also.

	Delbert and family along with the Dustman family left 71 Table in 1911 for 
Idaho. Four other children were born to them, Kenneth Larsen now of Gutherie 
Center, Iowa; Mrs. Frances Ward, Mrs. Marian Aune both of Rapid City and Ralph 
who died in childhood. Mrs. Larsen died of the flu in 1920. Later on Delbert 
returned to Pennington County where he lived until his death at Rapid City in 
1959.



Anna T. Kutilek

	Anna T. Kutilek was born February 17, 1875 at Muscody, Wisconsin.

	She says, "Everybody told such grand stories of settling on 160 acres in 
Dakota for three years and getting the land for nothing." Hearing these stories 
her parents headed west with Anna and her two sisters. They rode to Mitchell in 
a boxcar with a cow, horses, chickens and furniture. They continued by wagon 
until a sod house was constructed.

	At 19 she married Bennett Thompson and in 1910 they cut down a hill (one-
half mile south of Scenic) on two sides, boarded up the other two sides and 
called it home. The area was full of rattlesnakes and someone told' Anna when a 
dug-out got warm, in the bitter winter, snakes crawled out of the walls. She 
immediately had her husband plaster them up.

	They had five children, two boys and three girls.

	The family later lived near Hermosa, where Anna supplied the whole town 
with homemade butter. They moved to a farm east of Rockerville where Bennett 
passed away in 1933. Anna remarried in 1939, to John T. Morris. He is now 
deceased.

	She is now 90 years old and resides at 330 St. Anne Street, Rapid City, 
South Dakota.



The Bessettes

(Three Generations)

by Mrs. Lee Bessette

	Timothey and Ida Bessette were married in Concord, Kansas, and lived there 
for some years. Later they moved to Oklahoma Territory, Oklahoma, and from there 
came to Rapid City in the winter of 1905. The next spring they hauled lumber 
with a team and wagon from Rapid City to build their homestead house. They had 
some trouble crossing the Cheyenne River bed with the loads. While they were 
building their home, they lived in Pete Lemley's old homestead house on the 
Cheyenne River three miles north of the Bessette homestead.

	Lee Bessette was just a boy when his folks came to Rapid City, but begot a 
job driving a team of horses to grade the Milwaukee Railroad. When he was 21 he 
homesteaded on land adjoining his father's homestead. As soon as his father 
retired, Lee took over the Bessette ranch. There he met and married Victoria 
Kimball, on this same ranch we raised our family of six children.

	During these years a 71 Table Club was started. The club was for the whole 
family to gather at whoever's home was entertaining. The entertaining was a full 
meal with all the trimmings. The men played cards and swapped yarns. The ladies 
helped serve the meal, swapped recipes and patterns, also helped one another in 
any way they could. The Club bought a five gallon hand ice cream freezer and 
some times we had ice cream and cake feeds. We had an Ice house and hauled ice 
from the river each winter. In those days it was love thy neighbor as thyself 
and I believe it was mostly that way.

	One time the Farmers Union decided to have an oyster feed so we were 
having it at our house. Everyone was invited to come that could. The house was 
so full that night, the ladies wondered how they would ever serve oysters in a 
crowded room like that. Then someone said, "Let them line up and come from the 
front door around to the kitchen and take their oysters and find a place to sit 
and eat them." Of course, we also had sandwiches, cake and coffee passed around.

	As time went on, Lee Bessette came to the retirement stage and his son 
Ernest Bessette took over the ranch and raised his five children there. Ernest 
Bessette still resides on the ranch.

	Many a good story could be told of the happenings on that homestead from 
1905 to 1965, but that is another story.

[Photo - Timothy and Lee Bessette and Wes Fremel.]

[Photo - Old Bessette home which is still standing.]

[Photo - Branding at Bessettes]



Thomas Dunn Family

by Mrs. Leo Flynn

	My father, Thomas B. Dunn and a friend, Charles Richards, drove a covered 
wagon from Montrose, South Dakota to Kube Table, about twelve miles north of 
Scenic during the fall (approximately) of 1907. They filed on adjoining claims 
and my father built a one room tar paper covered shack while Charlie Richards 
built a sod house.

	That first winter, my father and Charles Richards, batched together in the 
sod shanty. They lived through one blizzard which lasted for days; if they left 
the shack to get fuel or tend to the stock, they tied a rope around their belt 
so they could find their way back to the shack. One night when they had been 
without fresh meat for days (generally they depended on shooting game for meat), 
there was a crash at the door and upon opening it a two year old steer fell into 
the shack. He was butchered without ceremony and without any great determination 
as to the brand on the animal. Such was the law of the plains.

	In the spring my mother and myself (Anna), and brothers Bernard and Tom 
came out by train. We were routed through Nebraska and came to Rapid City and 
then to Owanka where my father met us. We drove across the prairie to Kube Table 
in open wagons. I was around four and remember that the wind blew so hard going 
home that the blankets we had over our knees blew out on the ground.

	We all lived together in the one room shack. The springs on which we slept 
were put against the wall during the daytime. In this same shack neighbors used 
to gather for parties. Sometimes there would be only standing room. However, I 
have often heard my mother say that those were the happiest years of her life. 
They didn't have much but, no one else did either.

	Later Bessie Dunn, my father's sister, came out from Sioux Falls and filed 
on a nearby claim. She later married Charles Richards and they had two sons, 
Johnny and Harry. Johnny died of appendicitis when three. His mother never 
completely recovered from this loss and died a few years later. Harry was raised 
by his aunt, Mrs. Henry Schnieder. He now lives in Ohio and with his family 
visit in Sioux Falls at times with relatives.

	Some close neighbors were George Knapps, Lew Young, Henry Schneider, Lee 
Kennedys, Gay Bumps, Jim Francis Malloy Family, Robert Robertsons, and Ed 
Swinehart. Later Jim Dunn's moved out from Sioux Falls and filed on a claim just 
west of ours.

	One memory that stands out in my mind is going home with Florence Knapp 
after school and enjoying her mother's home made cookies; I also ran over to 
their place one morning when I looked up and saw a wolf trotting along on the 
path ahead of me.

	Lew Young's sister, Mabel Young, later Mrs. Owen Larsen, was my beloved 
"first" grade teacher. A very good rural school was built in our district. My 
mother was a former school teacher and quite progressive as far as education was 
concerned and served on the school board. She was also President of the Ladies 
Mutual Improvement Society for some time. This was an organization which she 
helped found and every man, woman and child in the neighborhood attended these 
meetings.

	One time my father promised them a "fish" dinner when they came to our 
place. Luck was with him and the day before the club met he and my two brothers 
happened on a cloudy day when the fish were really biting in Rapid Creek and 
caught catfish by the dozens with a hook and line. They were all dressed that 
night and fried the next day with the help of others including Mrs. Pete Lemley. 
Lemleys were neighbors and close friends.

	Clarence Dunn was born on the claim on Kube Table with Mrs. Lee Kennedy in 
attendance in 1910.

	One incident that stands out clearly in my life on the ranch was the 
morning my dad went out looking for his cows and found ten of them lying dead in 
a row along the fence. Lightning had struck the barbed wire against which they 
were huddled together for protection against the storm.

	Another incident recalled is a Fourth of July celebration at Owanka. 
Everyone brought their children and in the evening had bedded them down in the 
wagons. The horses had not been unhitched from these wagons, but were simply 
tied to a long hitching post. Late in the evening some fireworks were set off, 
terrifying the horses and causing them to break loose and run off with the 
wagons where all the children were bedded down. Pete Lemley, then a young 
cowboy, jumped on his horse and rounded up the running teams without losing a 
child. My mother often said that the movies never improvised a suspense chase 
scene as vivid as this one with parents frantically watching this lone rider 
bring the various teams of horses under control.

	Bands of Indians stopped quite often on the way to and from Rapid City and 
the Reservation south of Scenic. They would beg for hay or water or chickens. 
Sometimes they gave us a tomahawk or some Indian trinket In exchange. As a small 
child who had heard many gruesome tales about Indians, I was always relieved 
when they left. 

	We moved about 1910 to the Captain Taylor Ranch north of Creston where we 
lived for a few years and where my youngest brother Francis was born in 1913 
with a Mrs. Gaul (midwife) in attendance.

	I have many vivid memories of this huge 10 bedroom house built by the 
English born Captain Taylor. It was a hazardous place for small children as the 
railroad track with several trains a day ran on one side of the house, a deep 
irrigation ditch flowed on another side and swift flowing Rapid Creek a few 
steps beyond. In between were many rattlesnakes. While there the little Sam 
Barber baby drowned in Rapid Creek just above us and Arthur Dahlgren, one of the 
Ballman Ranch cowboys drowned in a flash flood and was found and brought to our 
house.

	However, our family all survived and moved back to our ranch when the huge 
1,000 acre ranch was sold.

	About 1918 my folks moved to Woonsocket, and bought a farm. The claim was 
sold to Jim Dunn and wife Nettie. They later moved to Rapid City where Jim Dunn 
later died and Nettie is still living with daughter Agnes and family.

	My folks farmed at Woonsocket until 1943 when my father passed away. My 
mother who had become a victim of arthritis, lived with one of her five children 
until her death four years ago.

	I am married to Leo B. Flynn, Attorney in Sioux Falls, formerly of 
Montrose. We have six children, Mrs. Michael Rost of Phoenix, Arizona; Barbara, 
Teacher in Phoenix; Jeanne, Teacher in Sacramento, California; Mary Fruley of 
San Diego, California; Diane, married to student at the University of South 
Dakota; and Leo J. high school sophomore.

	Francis Dunn, Circuit Court Judge, lives with his family in Sioux Falls. 
David, University of South Dakota Graduate; Becky, University of South Dakota 
Student; and Tommy and Carol at home.

	Clarence and wife live in Ponca, Nebraska. They have one son, Jimmy, 
Graduate of the University of Iowa who lives with his wife and family in 
Wisconsin.

	Bernard and family live in Gregory, South Dakota. Daughter Patty, graduate 
nurse, married and her husband is in Armed Forces; Dorothy also a nurse works in 
O'Neil, Nebraska; Maureen is a student at the University of South Dakota; and 
Judy and Tommy at home.

	Tom and family live in Mitchell. Daughter, Mrs. Jerry Ballinger, lives in 
Woonsocket; Robert, a Federal Bank Examiner, lives with his wife and child in 
Fargo; and Jimmy at home.

[Photo - Thomas, Bernard, Anna Mayme, Thomas M., Francis and Clarence Dunn in 
front of Charles Richard's sod house.]

[Photo - Kube Table School - 1913 
Left to right: Bernard Dunn, Elizabeth Kennedy, Mariette Kennedy, Leona Maooly, 
Grace Malloy, Teacher, Eva Gillen, Rosalee Kennedy, Anna Dunn, Tom Dunn.]



Mr. and Mrs. George Skinner

by LaVona Skinner

	Byron Skinner and his wife Ella Margret Skinner were born in Michigan. 
They have two sons: Caleb Sheldon Skinner, born October 19, 1883 and George Lee 
Skinner born August 6, 1896.

	They moved to Beresford in 1880, also living in Sioux City for some time.

	Hannah Arseth came from Oslo, Norway at the age of 17 and worked for the 
Skinner family 40 years.

	The Skinners homesteaded on the Kube Table North of Scenic in 1906. Mr. 
Skinner paid extra to have the railroad extended to Scenic to unload the 
emigrant car of their belongings. A saloon was the first building built in 
Scenic.

	C. Shell Skinner married Iva Bell in 1907 and to them were born three 
children; Clarence Lee (Jim), Ella Margret, and George Andrew.

	G. Lee Skinner married Joanna Mulloy in 1918 and five sons were born to 
them, George Francis, Leo Sheldon, Claude James, Merton Vincent, and Robert 
Marvin.

[Photo - George B. Skinner]

[Photo - Skinner claim shack. Rube and Loyal Conklin.]

[Photo Mr. and Mrs. George Skinner and Hanna Arseth.]


Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hill

by Florence Ackerman

	My dad, Frank Hill, was born in Knox County in Iowa around 1876. As a 
young man he moved with his mother to Lyndal, South Dakota. He had a sister 
living there. Later on he homesteaded near Kadoka. After selling his homestead 
he moved back to Lyndal. He worked at odd jobs for farmers, mostly shelling 
corn.

	My mother, Sarah Alsager was born near Gayville, South Dakota. At one time 
she worked in the kitchen at the Highland Hotel at Mission Hill. The building is 
still standing and at the present, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Inch live in the cafe part. 
While she was working there she met my dad.

	In 1907, on May 7, my mother and her friend, Mrs. Whetland, came to Rapid 
City on the train. Mother had a small dog of which she was very fond. As dogs 
were not allowed on the train, she wrapped him in a baby blanket so she would be 
allowed on the train. I remember her telling me how guilty she felt when an 
elderly man insisted she take his seat on the train because she was holding a 
baby. They were met in Rapid City by my father. On May 9, they were married. The 
following day they left Rapid City in a wagon carrying lumber for their new 
home. The first night they slept in a brick house somewhere along Spring Creek. 
The next day they put up a one-room shack and slept in their own new home. It 
didn't have a floor in it until later. Their home was situated on Hart Table 
where my mother had homesteaded. Her friend had homesteaded near her. Later on 
Mom's brother, John Alsager, lived with my parents while he built his house on a 
homestead farther west. Both places were staked out by Mr. Osburn.

	Frank Hart was the first person to homestead on the Table that later took 
his name. He and his family were good friends of my parents. Many times they 
went together with team and wagon to Creston after groceries. At that time 
Creston was located east and north across Rapid Creek from where it is now. They 
had to ford the river. Many times they had to tie the wagon box to the bolsters 
so that it wouldn't float away while the team had to swim. Frank Hart would hold 
the groceries on his shoulders so they wouldn't get wet, while Dad drove the 
team. One time Dad was alone coming back from Creston. He was late getting home 
and as it was cloudy it was real dark. Dad got on Hart Table and then became 
lost. At last he found a wagon rut that he knew would lead him home. One horse 
was good at following a furrow so he started him on the rut. Meanwhile Mother 
had become frightened and put out all the lights. Dad didn't know he was home 
until the team stopped in front of the house.

	Dad owned the first steam engine and the first threshing machine around 
Scenic. I think they were both "Cases". He hired out to the other farmers around 
Scenic.

	My parents had five children and none of them in a hospital. Mother had a 
doctor for one. One boy died at birth. The rest of us are all living. Both my 
parents were buried at the Scenic Cemetery as was my dad's Mother, Mrs. Nelson 
Hill and my brother Clifton.



Mr. and Mrs. John Bauder

by Mrs. Joseph Kudrna

	Mr. and Mrs. John Bauder with four children (three boys and a baby girl) 
came from Bridgewater, South Dakota and homesteaded about seven miles northwest 
of Conata in the fall of 1911. They were not among the earliest settlers,, as a 
number of people had been there for several years. They bought three small 
homesteader's shacks and moved them together for a house in which they lived the 
first winter. In the spring they added a room made of sod which was their 
kitchen. They also built a sod barn that same spring.

	They had twelve milk cows and they farmed a few acres, raising millet, 
corn and winter wheat. For a few years as soon as the crop was planted Mr. 
Bauder went back to Bridgewater and worked until after corn picking. Mrs. Bauder 
and the boys took care of the cattle and the crops. They had only two horses, 
and cultivated the corn with a one horse cultivator. They cut the grain with a 
mower and piled it up for feed; cut corn fodder by hand and stacked it.

	Another daughter was born in 1915.

	By hard work and careful spending they were able to acquire more livestock 
and machinery and go into farming on a larger scale. In 1917 they built a large 
barn and in 1923 a nice house. They farmed with horses until 1927 when a tractor 
was purchased.

	In 1937 Mr. Bauder sold his land to the government and moved back to the 
eastern part of South Dakota, near Huron where they remained until they passed 
away, Mrs. Bauder in 1949 and Mr. Bauder in 1961. Most of their children also 
moved away, but one daughter, Mrs. Joseph Kudrna still lives on a ranch near 
Scenic.

[Photo - Original Bauder homestead house, white part is sod kitchen.]



Carl Bohling

by Carl Bohling

	My brother Bill wrote me at Illinois, where we were raised, and asked me 
to come to South Dakota as he had a piece of land picked out that he thought 
that I would like to homestead on, at Big Corral Draw. I arrived in Scenic some 
time about the first of September, 1915. He told me to contact Len Anderson's 
Grocery Store for information. I got to talking to Len Anderson and told him 
that I thought Scenic was the land that God Forgot. He said it was land of "Milk 
and Honey". He asked me if I could ride a horse if so he would loan me one to 
ride out to Bills. Just then a man came in and I was introduced to him, his name 
was Adolph Fiesler and he lived out about ten or twelve miles, at the mouth of 
Indian Creek, so I rode out with him. Adolph Fiesler was putting up hay and had 
two young fellows working for him about my age (I was 22 at that time), one was 
Bob Thorson and the other Lee Skinner whom I got to know real well later on. 
From there I walked to Bill's, which was about four miles. When I got to Bill's, 
he also was putting up hay and a neighbor by the name of Arthur Bail was helping 
him with the hay.

	I didn't homestead on this piece of land that Bill picked out for me. That 
following spring I homesteaded in Quinn's Draw and I inherited about one million 
prairie dogs along with rattlesnakes, badgers, bobcats, skunks and pack rats. I 
lived at Quinn's Draw for about ten years, However in the fall of October 1915 
Bill and I went to Fulton, South Dakota to husk corn and were gone about two 
months. Next fall we did the same thing, when we got back to the Cheyenne River, 
Bill's shack had burned up during the night and burned all my gear that I had 
accumulated to go on my homesteading with, plus also all of Bill's gear.

	While in Scenic, from 1915 to 1924 1 never game so near to starving to 
death in all my life. I left there in 1924 and went back in 1933 and worked a 
year for Frank Mills. Scenic is the only place you can stand knee deep in mud 
and have the dust blow In your face. All in all there is still something 
fascinating about Scenic.

	After leaving Scenic in 1933 I went to California and have been in 
California ever since. When I first came out here I picked oranges the first 
winter for a nickel a box, they are now getting 50 to 60 cents. Then I got a job 
working in an apple orchard at 25 cents an hour, nine hours a day. I worked 
there three years. Then I came down to National City and started building a 
motel and I still have it.

[Photo - Archie and Charlie Leiby in Car; Earl Leiby and Mr. Morman, standing; 
Mr. Bauder, Mr. Leiby and Gid Engstrom, on running board.]


Mr. and Mrs. Ben Jost

by Agnes Timmons

	Ben Jost homesteaded on 71 Table in 1906, and built his first cabin there 
in 1907. Also, that same year, he worked for the CMSTP&P Railroad, laying grade. 
The railroad crew followed the grade crew laying the tracks. They were hurrying 
this job, trying to beat the C&NW to Rapid City. However, the C&NW reached Rapid 
City first. It's not just clear what the reason was for this race, but there was 
something involved.

	In 1907, Mr. and Mrs. Jost walked six miles to visit a neighbor, Delbert 
Larson who had also homesteaded. While there, they met Frank Williams for the 
first time, he was driving a team and wagon, and leading a horse and buggy, so 
he gave them to the Jost's for their transportation.

	Mail at that time was delivered from Interior to Creston, and had to be 
taken across the Cheyenne River at Creston. Mr. Jost used a boat belonging to a 
Mr. Thompson at Creston, to take the mailman across the river on his regular 
deliveries.

	Scenic at one time also boasted a newspaper the "Scenic Observer" 
published by Gay Bump and L. W. Young.

	The people living on 71 Table came to Scenic by way of Bear Creek. This 
was a long trip, so a man named McCurdy, and known as "Windy Bill" rode 
horseback to try to locate a shorter route to town. He located and planned the 
road, since known as "High Dive". This proved to be a much shorter route than 
going by way of Bear Creek.

	Mr. Jost purchased his first car - a Model T - in 1914. There were less 
than a half dozen cars in that particular area at that time.

	In 1921 a barnstormer landed a plane at the School Section west of Scenic 
- believe it was the first plane to land there. He spent the rest of the day 
taking passengers for rides on the plane, which at that time was quite a 
novelty, charging $10.00 a trip. The plane was a bi-plane, two seater, open of 
course.

[Photo - Ted Jost, Baby Junior, Christena Jost, Annie Swartz (Edith Jost), Mrs. 
Matt Clausman, Mr. and Mrs. Matt Jobgen. Children in back on ledge.]


Mr. and Mrs. Mau Jobgen, Sr.

by Mrs. Frank Stangle, Sr.

	My father Matt Jobgen came to South Dakota from Caroll, Illinois in the 
fall of 1907 and he filed on a homestead on 71 Table. After he got his homestead 
he went back to Illinois to get the family. There was my mother and four 
children, ranging in age from five years to six months.

	We came out here on the Milwaukee passenger train and we stayed our first 
night at the Scenic Hotel, it was operated by Abb Jefferson. This hotel is the 
same one that stands in Scenic now. The next morning we had the man at the 
livery stable take us out to the homestead. The road we took to get out on the 
Table went  north and east from Scenic and they called the road the Snake Trail. 
So the first glimpse my mother had of her new home to be was in April 1908.

	We stayed a few days with some of our relatives, then we went to live in a 
homestead shack that belonged to Chester Larsen. His place joined my father's 
"Matt Jobgen" place. This was handy to our place while my dad and neighbors 
built some buildings on our homestead. This shack of Chester Larsens was so 
small we stayed outside most of the time and did our cooking out doors too. We 
had very little household goods with us at that time and Dad made forks and 
knives also dishes from shingles. At night we made our beds on the floor of this 
shack and closed the door tight when we went to bed because we all were afraid 
of rattlesnakes and coyotes.

	The barn was built first and then we moved into the barn. The family lived 
in one end of the barn and the livestock was in the other end. After the barn 
was finished the house was built. It was quite a large house compared to most 
houses in those days. It was 12 by 24 with an upstairs. So we thought we had 
quite a house.

	We had a well, we dug it by hand and hauled the rocks to curb it. We used 
large white flat rocks, some were quite large and they had to be broken with a 
maul so they would fit into the well curbing, but in 1911 when it was so dry the 
well went dry and we had to haul our water in a large wooden barrel. Dad fixed 
something like a big sled to mount the barrel on. The sled had runners made from 
cedar logs about eight inches in diameter. We would hitch a team of horses to 
this to haul our water. This was called a Stone-boat.

	Matt Jobgen Jr. is still living on my father's place, but it looks much 
different now than it did in 1908. (He died suddenly while working in the field 
on June 21, 1965.)

[Photo - Matt Jobgen mowing sudan grass. Boys, l. to r., Len, Al and Matt, taken 
about 1915.]

[Photo - Mat Jobgen hauling wool, 1915.]



Talty Family

by Mrs. Dean Talty

	Ester Oppliger Talty came to South Dakota in 1906, arriving in Rapid City 
from Switzerland. Her brothers, Julius and John Oppliger and a step-brother 
Albert Kocher had arrived in the United States a few years before and had sent 
for Ester. She worked for Albert Mallow for sometime but because she couldn't 
understand or speak much English she underwent much embarrassment. After a few 
years of study she went to work at the Patton Hotel in Rapid City and worked 
there four years.

	In 1912 Ester Oppliger and Francis Talty were married in Scenic in the 
Catholic Church. They lived on the homestead on Quinn Table all of their married 
lives. Because of her lack of knowledge of the English language, Ester had a 
terrible time learning all the things a new bride must learn in order to keep 
house out on the prairie. She was one of the best bread bakers in the county, 
but like all new brides she had to learn these things. And who was her teacher? 
That is right-one of the roughest and toughest cowboys of the times. He couldn't 
tell her, of course, because she had a hard time understanding, so he put on an 
apron and showed her.

	Eight children were born to Esther, all without the aid of a doctor. Three 
died in infancy, three boys and two girls are living.

	Francis William Talty was born in Dixon, Illinois, on February 7, 1879. He 
came to South Dakota in 1907. He shipped his cows and horses to South Dakota by 
rail, riding with them in the boxcar all the way.

	He homesteaded on Quinn Table in the same year. He built a little one room 
shack and set about ranching and farming. The first year the grass was lush on 
Quinn Table. One afternoon he came from the shack after eating his noon lunch 
and looking behind him he saw a terrific fire raging. The sparks from the stove 
pipe flew up and started the fire. Of course all the neighbors were summoned but 
it burned many, many acres of prairie grass.

	After he met Esther Oppliger, who homesteaded about three miles north of 
him, he built a bigger house and asked her to share it with him. Many hardships 
were yet to come. Many snow storms came in the winter but never dimmed their 
happy times with their neighbors. The Talty's would hitch up a team to a bobsled 
and bundle up the children and go visiting. The snow would crack from the cold 
but everyone was cozy under the big robe.

	Francis raised hogs for many years hiring a brother just to take care of 
them. He had 160 acres fenced off in pens and lanes just for the hogs. His 
brother Simon who was a Watkins dealer for many years always insisted Francis 
feed these hogs Watkins mineral and feed. One year the hogs were doing fine and 
all ready for market so Francis decided to take them to market the next day. No, 
Simon, thought they should have a little more mineral so Francis held them over 
one more week. Then one morning when he went out, there were 20 hogs dead - then 
within the next two days all of the 92 head of hogs were dead. Yes, cholera had 
hit the whole herd. A pit had to be dug and hogs thrown in and burned. 

	Francis raised a big garden, including trees of every kind, cherry, apple, 
plum and even peanut bushes. But because of the dry years everything dried up 
and we might say "blew away".

	Francis was a religious man and very faithful about going to church. Every 
Sunday, regardless of the weather he would dress the children and go to the 
Catholic Church in Scenic. That was what he missed the most when in 1933 he was 
stricken with hardening of the arteries.

	The sons had to takeover the ranching and farming operations. Raymond the 
oldest did the farming while Frank and Dean shared the chores and ranching work. 
In 1940 Dean, the youngest son went in the C.C.C. Camp for two years. After he 
came back Frank went into the army. Francis never was able to work again and was 
confined to his bed for many years. Esther did the business with her sons help. 
But the ranch was too small to support so many families so, Raymond bought a 
farm two miles east of home and when Frank came home from the army he also 
bought a farm east and south of the home place. Dean stayed at home helping his 
mother and father.

	Frank Talty met Edith Furry while he was in the Air Force and she was a 
1st Lt. in the Nurses Corp. They were married February 4, 1947 and moved to 
their own farm as soon as they were discharged from service. One son James L. 
was born in 1949. They still live on the farm and send Jim to school in Wall.

	Dean met Donna Belle Habink while they were going to grade school in the 
little schoolhouse on Quinn Table. Dean worked for Donna Belle's parents while 
they lived on the Clark Ranch. After he came home from the C.C.C. Camp he had a 
lot of work to do right at home. Dean and Donna Belle were married in Klamath 
Falls, Oregon in 1948. On their way home they stopped in Rapid City and bought a 
trailer house. That fall Donna Belle went to Conata to teach school. Dean would 
take her down on Monday morning and then on Friday night he would go to Scenic 
and meet her at the train. But January 1949 another story. Monday morning a 
blizzard was raging and it was six weeks later before Donna could get back to 
her teaching job. During the weeks of blizzards many hardships were endured. 
Dean would take the tractor and hay rack to haul feed to the cows and Donna 
would follow on the horse. We visited the neighbors once in a while. In August, 
a daughter, Deana was born. Debra was born in 1952, Darla in 1955 and Diana in 
1958. Deana is now in high school. Debra, Darla and Diana still go to the same 
grade school that their parents did.

	Francis and Esther's daughter Clara married Virgil Thompson from Egan, 
South Dakota. She met him while he was stationed in the C.C.C. Camp in the 
Badlands. They live in Rapid City and have two daughters that are married. 
Kathrine and Carla were both a great joy to Francis whenever they could come and 
visit at the ranch.

	Emma, the youngest, married Wm. A. McClain of Walthill, Nebraska. After 
they were married they moved to South Dakota. They worked for Raymond for a few 
years. Then when their family started arriving they moved to Gordon, Nebraska 
where Bill is still engaged as a carpenter. They have one son, William and four 
daughters, Linda, Sherry, Brenda and Gloria.

	In 1952, Francis passed away peacefully in his sleep. Esther now lives in 
Gordon, Nebraska with her daughter Emma. She visits the old farm and old timers 
about once every month.

[Photo - Esther Talty, her brother and friends.]

[Photo - Simon Talty, the Watkins Dealer.]



[Photo - Abbie Kocher, wife of Albert. She enjoyed playing the piano and 
singing. The Kochers settled on Quinn Table in 1913 and he was county 
commissioner for many years. Albert died in 1935 and Abbie in 1954.]



Mr. and Mrs. Christian Heinrich

by Mrs. Larry Larsen

	My grandmother, Lena Pieth, was born in Switzerland, April 14, 1885. She 
married and had five children in that country. My father, Christian Heinrich, 
the oldest of the family was born March 5, 1905. Christina was born July 1, 
1906, Larry, October 10, 1907; Lena, February 28, 1909 and Rudolph, April 26, 
1910.

	Grandmother came to this country in May of 1920 with four of her children, 
leaving her "baby boy", Rudolph, behind.

	The family was employed by her uncle in Kimble, Nebr. for one year. Christ 
and Christina went to school in Nebr. to learn the English language. In 1922, 
the family moved to Sage Creek about where Jim Kalkbrenner now lives.

	Larry attended school at Quinn Table School that year. Lena suffered from 
Rheumatic Fever and did not go.

	In January 1923, the family moved to the Charros house on 71 Table.

	Christ worked out to help support the family and send them to school. He 
worked for Jack Higgins, Albert Mallow, Albert Kocher and Roland Larsen. He 
found jobs here and there.

	Christ married Ethel Speck and Larry married Pearl Speck. The girls were 
sisters. Christ had two girls and Larry had a boy and two girls. Christina 
married John Beaird, they had seven children, five of whom are still living. 
Lena married Ed Scott and they had five children.

	William Gantenbein sent a sewing machine as a gift, from Nebraska to 
Scenic to my grandmother. It lay in the depot for two weeks before the agent 
found who the owner was. Later, on February 20,1925 William Gantenbein and Lena 
Pieth were married. They lived in Hay Draw about ten miles northeast of Scenic. 
They moved their house, in 1930, up on the hill on Quinn Table, where it still 
stands.

	Grandmother always had the Thanksgiving Dinner. We had goose or turkey and 
trimmings. There were about twenty-five of us altogether.

	When I was a little girl, mother and we girls walked to Grandmother's 
house. In summer, the vines grew over the windows and her house always seemed so 
cool and fresh. I remember, too, how the shiny linoleum squeaked when the 
rocking chair rocked. She always had pretty flowers and the garden seemed to 
grow at the touch of her hand.

	Grandpa had a mysterious black bag upstairs. It was a medicine kit. He was 
very good to us. Once he brought my sister and I each a little car that had real 
lights.

	Mr. and Mrs. Gantenbein planted and harvested crops. They saw hail storms 
and drought ruin them. They raised turkeys, chickens, geese, and pigs. (Once 
Grandpa received fifty cents apiece for his pigs.) Their cattle ran in the Sage 
Creek Basin. Grandpa became ill and they had a sale in April of 1945. They sold 
the place to Audrey Shaffer and moved to 2820 West Main in Rapid City. Grandpa 
died of cancer in December of 1946. Grandma still lives there and has her own 
garden and takes care of her yard. She had her eightieth birthday in April.

[Photo - Bill and Lena Gantenbein and grandson.]

[Photo - Left to right: Christian Heinrich, Lena Heinrich Scott, Lena 
Gantenbein, Rudolph Heinrich, Christina Heinrich Beaird, Larry Heinrich. Taken 
in Switzerland shortly before their journey to America.]



The Story of Jess Harris Family and Ranch

by daughter Nellie Nugget Harris Paulson

	My father, Jess Amos Harris, was born January 26, 1865 at Water Valley, 
near Columbia, Tennessee. His mother died when he was about a month and a half 
old. When he was about two years of age his father remarried so the three 
children had a mother. After his stepmother died, he was around 12, he was 
restless. At the age of 14, he went to Texas to work. There he contracted 
typhoid fever, so my grandfather went there and brought him back to the 
plantation in Tennessee. When 16, my dad left home again to seek his fortune. He 
worked his way on the railroad to Fort Kearney, Nebraska. After working there 
awhile he setoff for the Black Hills where he helped locate some of the most 
famous gold mines around Keystone. He spent many years following the lure of 
gold, and some farming in that area.

	On May 21, 1899, he was married to Nellie Nuggett Bobier at her home near 
Hayward, a former mining town that disappeared from the scene, near Spokane west 
of Hermosa. My mother, was born in this same home, daughter of pioneer parents 
who came to the Spokane area seeking gold, and looking for a homestead. Her 
father and oldest brother came in 1877, filed on a homestead, then went back to 
Nebraska where the rest of the family had remained, and brought them to the 
Black Hills. They came by wagon train with their oxen, cattle, mules, household 
goods, machinery, etc., in 18 79 and my grandfather Bobier was wagon boss.

	My mother was born in the first log cabin built on the Bobier homestead on 
August 31, 1882. She was the daughter of pioneers and a member of Territorial 
Pioneers of South Dakota.

	My parents first home was a log cabin built at the base of Iron Mountain. 
Their first son Miciah Monroe was born there. Then they bought a small farm 
adjoining my grandfather Bobier's homestead. All their belongings were destroyed 
by fire on a cold winter's night. Then they moved into a cabin across the road 
from grandfather Bobiers. In 1901, twin boys were born but passed away shortly 
after. In 1902 their first daughter Cynthia Ann was born. In the meantime, my 
dad and Joe Miner had gone down to the Badlands and filed on homesteads on Sage 
Creek. My dad filed on land that lay between the two branches of the creek, 
mostly on the right fork, further up. Joe Miner filed on land about three miles 
down the creek, each a section. Then my dad hauled logs and some lumber from the 
Black Hills to build his homestead log cabin, a barn, and chicken coop. When 
finished he brought my mother, Monroe and Cynthia, the herd of cattle, horses, 
chickens, some ducks, a pair of geese and turkeys, two large dogs and a little 
white spitz named Trixie, and cats, plus the household goods, farm machinery and 
tools, all by team and wagon. I believe the folks I cattle were the first herd 
on Sage Creek. My dad and Joe Miner had the first homesteads there. Later, my 
mother filed on a section of land out further in the Badlands.

	The folks planted large gardens, a corn field and had hay to put up for 
the livestock. In 1904, another son, Sampson was born, in 1906 1, Nellie N., was 
born; in 1908 Ben came, then in 1910 Aubrey was born. Each time a child was born 
at home on Sage Creek, Ethel Overton came to stay with us. Ethel and her mother 
had a homestead further up the creek from ours. Later her brother, Ed Overton 
worked for my dad and still later homesteaded a place near Wyants.

	Shortly after my parents moved to Sage Creek my mother's brother John H. 
Bobier filed a homestead on the left fork of Sage Creek, and his son Gilbert 
filed on one down the creek a mile or so. Then we had relatives for neighbors. 
What fun it was to visit back and forth. Gilbert Bobier built his house in a cut 
bank, the first house I had seen of this type. Later, Richard Bobier and wife 
Anna lived on my Uncle's place, and then moved to Wall for some time. They live 
in Rapid City now.

	Later neighbors were Kimballs, Clarence Pyles, and Batchelders. Wyants 
lived south on the left fork of Sage. Jim Woods family, Robinsons, Abbie Faeger, 
Mrs. Kocher, Pipals and many more came to Quinn Table.

	Watermelons and roasting ear time were times for gathering of neighbors at 
the old cabin those early days.

	There were lots of snakes on our place when we were small. In the hay 
fields, many were killed each day. It was quite common to turn over a mound of 
hay and find one or more rattlers underneath, and the men, a number of times, 
picked up a snake with the hay. There were so many different kinds of snakes in 
the early days; prairie rattlers, diamond backs, bull snakes, garter, king, blue 
racers, and yes, we killed out two dens of copper heads that I read were not in 
the Badlands. I am afraid the old timers would scoff at this for we had 'em, and 
puff adders lived right near our house. Also Mr. McGee, who came from the State 
Soldiers home each summer and spent weeks there, found a coral snake in the 
badlands one day. Where it came from or how it got there no one knows, but he 
was plenty frightened by it; skinned it and hung it in our living room for all 
to see as long as he was there. Later he sent it to the University to be 
identified for sure and it was the deadly coral snake supposedly belonging in 
other climates.

	Life was hard those early days, water for the house had to be hauled by 
team and wagon, or stone boat, or caught in rain barrels during the summer. In 
winter the boiler always stood on the cook stove and we had to keep bringing in 
dishpans of snow no matter how cold it was, to replenish the supply of water. In 
the summertime, my mother gathered up her dirty clothes, piled the wash boiler 
and tubs, pails, soap, lye, matches and the young ones into the wagon, hitched 
up the horses and away to the creek we went. Then to unload, unhitch the team 
and let them graze while we built a circle of rocks, gathered twigs and branches 
for a fire, set the wash boiler on and packed water to fill it and the tubs. 
Each child had pails to fit his size. Many little arms ached before the washing 
was done, but mother's were worse. Then to load wet clothes. Today I thank the 
inventors for modern machines and running water.

	In those early years the Mormon missionaries came through each spring. 
They were always welcome, this was my first formal look at church members.

	Wildlife was abundant those early years. Grey wolves and coyotes came 
right into the yard, wolves killed a steer about a hundred yards from our front 
door. But men soon thinned them out, I saw my last four grey wolves when I was 
about fourteen. The boys trapped a great deal. There were badgers, fox, skunk, 
lynx, bobcats, coyotes and wolves. We had four grey wolf pups for pets one time 
but they were rather vicious, so Monroe sold them to a zoo. Weasels got into the 
chicken coop on occasion.

	Flowers were thick on the prairie nearly all summer. Blue bells, wild 
peas, buffalo or yellow sweet peas, sage lilies, wild geraniums, creeping phlox, 
star lilies, gumbo lilies, cactus, harebells, daisies, spiderwart, wild poppies, 
yucca or soapweed, cone flowers, sunflowers, and asters. Along the creek, 
goldenrod, wild artichoke and many other flowers grew abundantly. Beautiful 
trumpet flower bushes grew on the edge of Quinn Table.

	For fruit there were many thickets of wild plums, choke cherries, red 
haws, wild currents, both yellow and red, and wild grapes galore. How we enjoyed 
gathering these fruits, and what delicious jellies and James we had, also such 
wonderful pies and sauce. I can taste them yet. We also managed to gather a good 
case of chiggers each time we went picking fruit, so had quite a few scratching 
good times. Today when I go back to the old haunts it saddens me to see how much 
of the fruit was destroyed in the drouth of the 30's. It was so plentiful, and 
with all the trees it was so beautiful in that area when I was growing up. We 
children knew every hillock and glen and bank where the largest and sweetest 
fruit grew.

	There were so many varieties of wild birds on the ranch; larks, bluebirds, 
magpies, blackbirds, orioles, wild canaries, cedar waxwings and others. We 
always loved to watch the birds build their nests, hunt for food, and listen to 
their wonderful songs. In the evenings we watched the night hawks swoop and 
swirl in the air catching insects, and the bats flying about. We listened to the 
lonesome call of the whip-poor-wills and imitated the calls of the mourning 
doves. The magpies would sass up when we imitated their raucous call. We were 
never bored, we had so many interesting things to do.

	When I was about twelve years of age my dad tore down the old log cabin 
and moved it to the south side of the creek. This was a much larger home with a 
large living room, a large kitchen and dining area and an upstairs. They lived 
here until the early 30's when bad times and drouths, hail and such caused them 
to give up. They moved back to the Black Hills where my dad went back to his 
beloved mining, and later to Custer where he and his partner opened the Wild 
Rose Mine.

	We had many happy experiences on the ranch growing up, some rather hair-
raising. The folks taught us the names of the flowers, birds, grasses, trees and 
animals, also many bugs and insects. They also taught how to watch for snakes 
and such, and in general take care of ourselves in the badlands. They kept many 
papers and magazines for us to read. We had water colors and crayons to paint 
with, a Jack knife each to whittle with. My mother showed us how to make dishes 
and toy fruits and vegetables from the badlands clay. We baked them in the fire 
in the kitchen range. We girls used these mediums all our lives. There were 
beautiful sand banks along the creek to play in trees were thickly scattered, 
and large. Many hours we spent climbing and swinging like monkeys from tree to 
tree. We had tall cedar trees back of our house, different types than the ones 
growing in the breaks.

	Mr. McGee, from the State Soldiers home in Hot Springs, came out for the 
summer each year for quite a few years. He came to hunt fossil specimens that 
were plentiful along Sage Creek. Many ancient sea life forms are in boulders, 
and buried in the shale banks. The folks were avid fossil collectors, therefore 
we children grew up hunting fossils and rocks. Mr. McGee took the specimens to 
the State School of Mines.

	We spent quite a bit of time riding horseback, we had to ride after 
horses, cattle and later, hogs. But many times we rode the badlands looking for 
adventure, such as climbing up the badland wall and then shaking in our boots 
when going down again.

	In summer we had our swimming holes for hot days. In winter we had ice 
skating, sledding, building snowhouses and caves, snowmen, etc. We were never 
bored, there were too many interesting things to do. We could sit on the creek 
bank and shout and hear our echo come back. We hiked all over the area, out into 
the White Badlands, over the hills and up the creek, always searching for 
agates, or other finds, always looking to see what was on the other side of a 
knoll. We watched the busy ants on the large anthills, got bit on occasions, 
collected Indian beads from the mounds. Then the insects and bugs often held our 
interest. We peeked into the tiny screech owls burrows, pulled the young ones 
out, but never injured any bird or animal except cowbird eggs and magpie nests. 
We had pet prairie dogs that slept in the woodbox by the kitchen range, would go 
to the dog town but come running back when called. We had pet pigs, one I raised 
by hand, a runt I called Pesky for reasons you will see. I trained her to sit 
down, open her mouth so I could milk the cow and shoot the milk stream into her 
mouth. She would get angry and squeal every time the milk stopped. She followed 
us all over the place like our dog, and came running to us if we called. We 
enjoyed riding up over the edge of a ravine and flushing out prairie chicken and 
grouse, sometimes bobwhites, wild ducks swam in the creek in the large holes.

	Schooling for the family was quite a problem those days. We lived In an 
unorganized school district so when Monroe and Cynthia reached school age, my 
dad hauled them by wagon up to a school on the west side of Quinn Table, but 
when snow grew deep in the breaks, this was impossible. A Mrs. Olson taught this 
school, also gave Cynthia her first music lessons on an organ. Since it was too 
far, and snow got too deep to take children eight or nine miles to that school, 
they sent Monroe and Cynthia to Wall to board with Mrs. Miller and go to school. 
Two or three years of this, then Sampson was old enough for school, so my dad 
rented the Doolittle place, on Crooked Creek Table. There Monroe, Cynthia and 
Sampson attended school with the older Roberts children, Borseths, and other 
early settlers families. When I was six years old in 1912, we were moved into 
Wall, living in what I call the Resenbrook house, later Harndens bought it. We 
lived there two winters and when I was in the third grade, my dad rented the Joe 
Pierce house. We always moved back to the ranch each spring. What a chore it 
must have been moving twice a year, and expensive. Some folks still do this in 
order to educate their children. From 1915 through the spring of 1919, we had 
private school in our ranch home. Miss Hopkins, our first teacher at home, 
taught me to crochet, and to knit, also to tat. Mrs. Gorham was our next home 
teacher. Then the last one we had there on the ranch was Bonnie Graham. The fall 
of 1919 Cynthia was sent to Ward Academy for her first year of high school as 
were several young girls we knew. Again my dad rented a house on the north edge 
of Wall from Mrs. Miller, moved the family into town, there I went through 7th 
grade, and have many happy memories. 

	The fall of 1920 my dad bought a house in Rapid City, moved the family 
there. Cynthia graduated from Rapid City High School in 1923. The following fall 
she started her career of teaching at the Jim O'Connell school. Two years later 
I graduated from Rapid City High School and went teaching. Quite a few girls 
from Wall and vicinity attended school there with us. In November of 1925, my 
dad had had so many set backs in ranching, loss of cattle, hailed out crops and 
many things, he was forced to give up the home in Rapid City, take the boys out 
of school and stay only at the ranch. I marvel at how well he did, and how he 
made the tremendous effort always to try to educate a family and keep them from 
want. 

	There were the years when a Wyoming cattle company had 2000 head of their 
cattle at the ranch, with around 30 cowboys and the cook, with their roundup 
wagons, horses and regalia. We had two ranch houses then, the old Jim Woods, 
later Clarence Pyle place on the edge of Quinn Table, and the folks homesteaded 
on the creek. Many homesteads had been purchased by my dad so we had a deal of 
land. We had around 500 head of cattle of our own, and at times about the same 
of horses. For a few years my dad raised hogs. We had a large barn, built in a 
cut bank, about 50x4O ft. in size, with the building on top used for hay, corn, 
etc. The hogs often spooked at night, stampeded, hit the double doors and 
"whoosh" away they scattered. Never at a decent hour, always around three in the 
morning, so out of bed we older children were routed, got the saddle horses, 
saddled up and went to round up those darn pigs, We usually found about half of 
them two or three miles down the creek in the neighbors alfalfa field. Why they 
couldn't stop in our field is a mystery.

	My Uncle Jack came to live with us before the first World War. He filed on 
a homestead up the creek from us. Later he lived on Quinn Table. When he moved 
from there, he returned to the southland and now lives near Branson, Missouri. 
Many people around Wall, on to Scenic will remember him, A. J. Harris. We 
children all loved him.

	The first Sunday School on Quinn Table was started by Abbie Kocher, our 
first Sunday School attendance in that area. Mrs. Brennan was my first Sunday 
School teacher in Wall.

	An oil well was drilled in the Badlands a few miles south of our ranch 
house but nothing came of It, part of the oil rig fell into the hole they were 
drilling, so they quit.

	Some of my fondest memories of Wall were the old 10th of July 
celebrations. There were balloons sailing overhead, ball games, horse races, 
dances, carnivals, etc. We children enjoyed it more as we had a chance to visit 
and play with all the children from miles around. In winter there were snowbound 
trains, Dick Scheer and his beautiful black team with a big sled to take all of 
us kids to school, the Christmas tinsel and lovely ornaments twinkling through 
frozen panes in the stores, the old church Christmas trees and programs, the old 
Babcock hotel with its marvelous dining room circled with plates, cups and 
saucers of fine china.  Then there were all the friendly people gathering from, 
miles around, in the stores, streets and homes, exchanging friendly gossip and 
news. There will always be a warm place inside me for those days, and folks I 
keep in my heart.

	When Judge Coniff and wife sold out and moved away from Wall, my mother 
bought an antique black walnut sideboard from them. It had beautiful carved 
doors, and back, also lamp shelves on the side with peaks and curlicues. I loved 
it, but I don It know where it went. She also bought many of their books, of 
which I have one or two.

	Monroe bought me a beautiful fragile china tea cup and saucer for my 
second birthday, from the collection Mrs. Babcock had in her hotel dining room. 
So I have a replica from the old hotel, Wall's first. It is one of my most 
cherished possessions. I am an avid collector of antiques anyway and love the 
interesting old things, especially when there is history of family or places 
connected with the article.

	We had teams run away with us; almost jumped onto a porcupine; Ben nearly 
jumped on top of a huge rattler about four and one half foot long one day while 
we were playing. Our cautionary training stopped him about a foot from the 
snake. He ran to my dad who came and killed it. So many experiences such as this 
would fill a book.

	There were many busy times during the ranch year. There came planting time 
and new calves to check on, baby horses to find, hens setting, all the new life 
starting. Later the rush time of haying usually with one or more hired men to 
cook for. Then the grain harvesting with the threshing crews to feed. Later in 
the fall there was corn to husk, butchering to do, etc.

	The holidays were always happy times, seems folks always enjoy preparing 
the Thanksgiving feast, and decorate Christmas trees. We went out into the 
breaks to find our tree. We popped corn and strung cranberries in long strings, 
our decorations much simpler than now, were so lovely. We made long paper chains 
and baskets for more color.

	We had a piano that my dad won at Pete Sweeney's in Rapid City in a 
contest. It certainly was a wonderful surprise when he won and we had many years 
of enjoyment from this Instrument.

	There were the exciting excursions we went on to the Cheyenne River 
fishing. Our cousins, my folks and all the children were piled into wagons 
containing barrels, tubs, camping equipment, kettles, pails, frying pans, 
everything needed for an overnight stay. At that time the men used long fish 
nets they stretched across the river, such fish as they caught; huge cats, 
sturgeon and others. We children and the women bathed in the edge of the water, 
children played, everyone had a marvelous time.

	Our family scattered as most families do. Cynthia married Gib Peterson and 
settled at Grindstone, South Dakota. She spent her life teaching, many a child 
was trained in her schools.

	Monroe married Mary Swanzey of Keystone also a daughter of pioneers. They 
lived in the vicinity of Wall and Scenic for years, part of the time on the old 
ranch. Then they moved to the Black Hills. Mary still lives at Hill City. They 
have eleven living children. Monroe died September 30, 1964. Their children are 
following many walks in life: Margaret Eleanor - Insurance Consultant, Gotschalk 
Insurance Agency; Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Jack a Seventh Day Adventist minister 
and Secretary to Eastern Seaboard General Conference of SDA, was in World War H 
Army, was in battle of the Bulge and now lives in Liverpool, suburb of Syracuse, 
New York. He also spent three years as missionary in Rio De Janiero, South 
America. Dick (Buz) lives in Oswego, Oregon. He is a landscaper. He served in 
the Navy during World War II on an LST. Was in battle of Okinawa, Saipan and 
Ainian. Was member of Wall American Legion. Gordon served in Coast Guard during 
second World War, mostly in Iceland. Was member of American Legion, Rapid City. 
He is a linotype operator and machinist working for "The Idaho Statesman" in 
Boise, Idaho. Don served in Navy during Korean War as underwater demolition 
technician. He attended Brookings State College and is a landscape designer and 
architect in Minneapolis. Betty, Mrs. Jack Haskel works at Bennett Clarkson 
hospital in Rapid City, admittance and desk clerk. Martha Jean (Suzie) is 
married to an air force staff sergeant so gets transferred around from base to 
base. Madeline, Mrs. Robert. Tuning now lives in Espanola, New Mexico where Bob 
has taken over the management of a small airport. Helen, a psychiatric 
technician working in Sonome St. Hospital, Eldridge, California. Rodger in the 
navy, serving on USS Constellation as operating room technician.

	I, Nellie, married Ole Paulson of Hilland, South Dakota. Attended Black 
Hills Teachers College two years, taught two years in South Dakota. We have two 
children. My son Kenneth is a Supervisor for Western Electric Company at Eugene, 
Oregon. Western Electric are the manufacturers and installers of the Bell 
Telephone Company. My daughter Marjorie is married to a brick and building 
contractor. She has four children.

	I live in Portland, Oregon and have since February of 19 42. 1 welded at 
Oregon Shipyards in Portland. I am also an artist. Aubrey moved to Portland the 
fall of 1941, He married Opal Stone of Rapid City. They have seven children. 
Donovan is with the Adon Telephone Co. in Portland, Oregon, Dixie, Mrs. Dexter 
Duehn is a school teacher in Miranda, California, has two sons. William is with 
the power company in Redding, California. Ivan is with Western Electric 
Portland, Oregon. Philip is with Stromberg Carlson in Arizona. Audrey is present 
working at a hospital in Redding, California. Linda, sophomore in high school, 
home in Weaverville, California.

	Aubrey for a number of years was the millwright in a large redwood sawmill 
on Bull Creek near Weott, California. He went through the experience of the Big 
Eel River flood a few years back. Now he is with the Forest Service at 
Weaverville, California. He is a guide at the Joss House, an old Chinese Temple. 
Stop there and you will receive a warm welcome from Bill.



Christian Heinrich

by Jean Larsen

	Christian Heinrich and Ethel Speck were married March 22, 1930, in Rapid 
City, South Dakota. They lived on the Jess Speck (her fatherls) ranch for three 
years. While there a daughter Jean was born to them March 22, 1932. In 1933, 
they moved to the Julius Opliger place on Quinn Table. Times were very hard. We 
had milk from a borrowed milk cow and lived on macaroni and beans. Mom made a 
table and we had two chairs. Our house had been formerly used as a granary, 
consequently it was not in very good shape. Mom made a home, raised a garden and 
raised chickens and turkeys. We had a good well. She looked after the few head 
of stock we had while Dad worked on the W.P.A. He worked on "the tunnel" at the 
Pinnacles, Sheep Mountain, and the 71 Table dam.

	One night my mother rocked my sister and me. She sang songs to pass the 
time as we waited for Dad to come home. He brought home a Model A Ford.

	My folks had a hard time of it during the dirty thirties. Neighbors were 
neighbors then and they had surprise "birthday-get-togethers" on the folks, the 
Ernest Pipalls, Bob Habinck's, and Jack Close's. They had an ice cream feed 
every winter.

	In 1941, my dad bought a Farmall tractor. We moved to the Albert Kocher 
place in 1942. Widowed Abbie Kocher, then owner, lived in Rapid City. The folks 
farmed there during the war years. They came through the 1949 blizzard there. In 
1950, they moved to Custer, South Dakota where they still reside on a farmranch 
operation.

	They visit their daughter Ramona, who lives in Kalispell, Montana. She 
married Bill Morrison of Custer. They have three children, Donnie, Sherry and 
Sandra. They also visit their daughter, Jean, who lives at Scenic and married a 
local man, Larry Larsen. They have six children- -David, Carol, Wayne, Lena, 
Mark and Larry Lee.

[Photo - Christian Heinrich, age 15.]

[Photo - Ethel Speck, age 18, now Mrs. Christ Heinrich.]

[Photo Bill and Ramona Morrison, married 1951.]



The Hoe Ranch

	In 1906, Frank J. Pipal, Ed Overton, and Joe Svoboda came by covered wagon 
from Kimball, South Dakota to Quinn Table, southwest of Wall, where they 
homesteaded. Frank built a 12x12 claim shack.

	In March of 1909, Frank married Marie (Lizzie) Bell who had moved here 
from Ayrshire, Iowa the previous year. The John Bell family homesteaded 160 
acres, the place now owned by Walter Whitcher, Jr., the former Dr. Clark ranch.

	While Lizzy was still living at home, she remembers coming in after 
daylight from a dance and being met at the door by her dad, who scolded her for 
being out so late. While living in Iowa, she had to be in by midnight. How 
different it was, living in the wide open spaces of South Dakota. Beings there 
were no roads or fence-lines to follow, the custom was to stay until daylight. 
It was at this dance that she met Frank. About a year later they were married 
and moved into Franks claim shack.

	They farmed when they could raise anything. In 1911, they had only 
thistles to feed to the stock, but they stuck it out.

	When their son, Ernest was born in January 1910, there was 2 feet of snow 
on the level. Her sister-in-law went after her mother in the night. It took a 
long time for her mother to come eight miles in the snow.

	They had Sunday school at different homes every Sunday afternoon. The 
people came in wagons, on stoneboats, horseback and some walked. Mrs. Treat and 
Mrs. Kocher were the leaders. Lizzy often times played the organ while they sang 
hymns.

	They also organized a club called the Mutual Help Club, where the ladies 
brought their sewing, knitting, crocheting, or mending. They would have a 
regular dinner before starting their work in the afternoon. The men and children 
also attended, Everybody went home happy.

	Frank was a happy-go-lucky man who loved excitement and wanted to be 
wherever there was something going on. He liked to tease and was always in on 
all the sports. He especially liked to be in a horse race. He and Ed Overton had 
a horse race and Frank's horse ran into a woven wire fence and threw him over 
it.

	In the fall of 1932, Frank and Lizzie moved to 1430 Lakeview Drive in 
Rapid City from their ranch on Quinn Table. Their son, Ernest stayed on the 
ranch. In Dec. of 1933, Ernest married Marcella Shull. To them were born three 
children, Betty is married to Glenn Alishouse and they had three children. 
Kevin, Ginger and Lori reside near Wall. Gloria married Don Kelly and they have 
four children, Pat, Kim, Jim and Kirsty and they live in Quinn. Butch is a 
graduate of Nebraska State Teachers College.

	In October 1960, Frank passed away and Lizzie still resides at her home in 
Rapid City. Ernest and Marcella remain on the ranch.

[Photo - Frank's claim shack, 1906. Ed Overton and Frank Pipal.]

[Photo - Frank, Lizzie and Ernest.]

[Photo - Quinn Table Mutual Help Club. Frank Pipal, Mrs. John Bourquin and son, 
George, Mrs. Kocher, Henry Bell, John Bourquin, Forrest Batchelder, Monroe 
Harris, Mrs. John Bell, Mrs. Frank Pipal, Mary Harris, Mrs. Batchelder's sister, 
May, John McCreig and John Bell.]

[Photo - Quinn Table School - 1912 Teacher, Mamie Miller Close; Mattie Bell, 
Fern Bennett, and Mary Stoy.]

[Photo - Lizzie Pipal, Joe Beley, Henry Bell, Ernest Pipal, Frank Pipal and 
Mattie Bell.]



Albert E. Young

by Mrs. Cliff Hill

	Albert E. Young, my father, was born in Ohio in 1847. In his twenties, he 
married Elizabeth Ann Ware.

	They lived in Iowa and Nebraska before moving to Rapid City, So. Dak. in 
1885. They had three children, Lewis, Mabel and Helen. The latter (myself) was 
born in Rapid City, So. Dakota.

	My father was a carpenter. He built many lovely homes in Rapid City and in 
Wayne, Nebraska where he moved in 1899, he lived in Wayne eight years. Work 
became quite slack so he came back to Rapid City leaving his wife and two 
daughters there until he was sure of work in South Dakota.

	While working in Rapid City, he visited his son, Lewis, on his ranch near 
Scenic.

	His son, Lewis, had a load of lumber to be hauled to 71 Table for the 
erection of a homesteaders shack. The next morning my father and brother left to 
deliver the lumber. They had crossed Bear Creek, which ordinarily was a narrow, 
shallow creek, unloaded the lumber and were returning home, when suddenly a 
flash rain storm hit the area. Bear Creek was bank full but they drove into it 
anyway. The wagon box lifted and went sailing down the stream with my father in 
it.

	Not far from the crossing a tree appeared in the middle of the stream, and 
in the direct path of the wagon box. Fearing if the box hit the tree, the 
outcome might not be just what was wanted, my father jumped. He was a good 
swimmer but the water was rushing madly along. He had on a light weight overcoat 
which made swimming difficult, not only that but the pockets and between the 
lining became filled with sand, his coat became a weight.

	He, fortunately landed on the opposite bank of the creek, Lewis, the 
horses and the rest of the wagon, had crossed. Lewis was frantically trying to 
reach his father, once again, altogether, they proceeded on their way home.

	This experience didn't leave any lasting dislike of the country for my 
father as he bought a relinquishment on Kube Table, where Larry Heinrich now 
lives. He built a two story house, a barn and chicken house prior to his wife 
and daughter coming to South Dakota.

	Mother and I came to Rapid City by train. My father met us there and we 
came onto Creston by train on January 1, 1908. My brother met us there with a 
team and wagon. We crossed the Cheyenne River on the ice. We stayed with my 
brother a few days and then moved to our new home.

	The first or second summer a severe wind hit and demolished the barn and 
chicken house. He then made quite a large barn and chicken house of sod. About a 
year later another bad storm struck and turned a new granary and corn crib 
around. He then fastened the building to the sod barn.

	He put in quite a large garden, a nice grove and some crops. The grove did 
the best of all but my father spent a lot of time caring for it. It was 
discouraging trying to raise things and no rain. We lived there five years but 
my father left the ranch and did carpenter work. He worked in Caputa, 
Farmingdale, and in Scenic. He built several country schoolhouses and the Kube 
Table schoolhouse was one of them.

	His wife passed away in 1914. His youngest daughter went to live with her 
married sister who lived near Montrose, South Dakota.

	My father bought a Model T Ford so that he could go where-ever he wished. 
The picture is of he and a grandson, Robert Young. He passed away in 1924.

[Photo - Albert Young and Grandson Robert.]

[Photo - Albert Young Homestead and Helen.]

[Photo - Albert Young, Lewis and daughters, Mrs. Helen Larsen and Mrs. Owen 
Larsen.]