Pioneer Days in the Black Hills

by McClintock, John

• ISBN13: 9780806131917
• ISBN10: 0806131918
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-05-01
• Publisher: Univ of Oklahoma Pr

Summary

Pioneer Days in the Black Hills is a rough-and-tumble account of the early days of Deadwood, Dakota Territory. In 1874, after leading an expedition into the Black Hills, George Armstrong Custer announced that he had found gold "among the roots of the grass." Almost overnight a number of settlements sprang into existence. Among them was Deadwood. In April 1876, John S. McClintock arrived in search of gold. Entering a series of speculations and employments that won him moderate prosperity, he made Deadwood his home. During his later years, he wrote his memoirs, presented here for the first time in half a century.

Table of Contents

Foreword	vii
Wayne R. Kime
Editor's Preface	xiii
Author's Preface	xv
Introductory	1	(5)
The Black Hills	6	(2)
The Thoen Stone---First Discovery of Gold	8	(4)
Early-Day Gold Seekers	12	(5)
Exploring Expeditions	17	(2)
The Custer Expedition---Discovery of Gold	19	(4)
The Gordon Expedition of 1874	23	(6)
Hide and Seek with the Soldiers	29	(2)
Trail Blazers of 1875	31	(9)
Alleged Prehistoric Mining Operations	40	(2)
My First Trip to the Hills---Captain C.V.Gardner	42	(3)
My Arrival in the Black Hills	45	(10)
Gold Seekers of '76 from Montana	55	(2)
The First Newspaper	57	(1)
The Metz Family Murder	58	(3)
The Tragedy of Pino Springs	61	(2)
The Bullwhackers	63	(2)
Early Day Attractions and Business	65	(11)
The First Sawmills	76	(1)
Beef Cattle for Black Hills Markets	77	(3)
Potato Creek Rush	80	(3)
Killing of Jimmy Iron by Indians	83	(2)
Death of Charles Nolin, Mail Carrier	85	(4)
The Rise and Fall of Galena Mining Camp	89	(6)
First Fourth of July Celebration in Deadwood	95	(1)
Murder of Jack Hinch	96	(2)
Placer Mining in Deadwood Gulch	98	(7)
``Wild Bill''	105	(10)
``Calamity Jane''	115	(5)
The Murder of ``Preacher Smith''	120	(9)
``Deadwood Dick''	129	(6)
Two Killed by an Indian in Centennial Valley	135	(3)
The White Rocks Tragedy	138	(2)
Deadwood's First City Administration	140	(6)
The Second Known Preacher in the Black Hills	146	(2)
The Wolf Mountain Stampede	148	(10)
First Church Organization in the Black Hills	158	(4)
Organization of Lawrence County	162	(4)
Seth Bullock---First Sheriff	166	(2)
Accidental Tragedies	168	(2)
Bill Gay, the Gayville Murderer	170	(5)
Hanging of an Innocent Boy at Rapid City	175	(3)
Murder of the Wagner Family	178	(2)
Vigilantes Take Action	180	(2)
A Fatal Quarrel	182	(2)
Murder of Hoffmann by ed Durham	184	(2)
A Father and Two Sons	186	(3)
The Big Horn Expedition of 1877	189	(3)
The Murder of Cephus Tuttle	192	(2)
A Robber Ruse Which Failed	194	(2)
The Fate of Ben Fiddler	196	(3)
Battle at the Rifle Pits	199	(3)
First Directory of Deadwood	202	(5)
Overland Stage Business and Holdups	207	(16)
Road Agents of Pioneer Days	223	(3)
Freighting to the Black Hills	226	(2)
The Deadwood Water Question	228	(7)
The Homestake Mine	235	(4)
Early Day Graves	239	(2)
Black Hills Scenery---State Park	241	(3)
Pioneer Cities	244	(8)
Ghost Towns	252	(1)
The Gold Rush Pioneers	253	(4)
Deadwood Destroyed by Fire	257	(3)
Conflict Between Mineral Locations and Town Lots	260	(3)
Deadwood Swept by Flood	263	(3)
The Stoneville Battle	266	(3)
Summary of Early Day Fatalities	269	(6)
The Society of Black Hills Pioneers	275	(4)
Surviving Pioneers of '76	279	(1)
Biographical Sketches	280