Tuesday, July 22, 2014

LCHS loses long-time supporter Milton Mitchell

We are sorry to report that  one  of our long-time historical society members,  Milton Mitchell,  died earlier this week (7/21/14) in Rapid City. He was 84 years old.  

A native of Lawrence County, Milton continued a family tradition of ranching in our county.  He was named "Outstanding Young Farmer" in 1959. 

He is survived by his wife, Jacke Mitchell; children Len (Darcy) Mitchell, Le Anna (Dave) Nielsen, Toby Harley and Roxanne Harley; eight grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; two sisters:  Cheri Miller and Rev. Bee (Quentin) Neufeld and numerous nieces and nephews.  

Milton's wife, Jacke, has been the long-time Treasurer for the Lawrence County Historical Society.  He was on hand at our LCHS Spring Meeting in late March when Jacke was presented with an award for her long service to LCHS.

Funeral services for Milton were held Thursday, July 24, at the St. Onge United Church of Christ.  Our condolences go out to Jacke and all members of the Mitchell family.

A memorial has been established with the United Church of Christ in St. Onge.

Read the entire Milton Mitchell obituary from Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapel.

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Map of the Deadwood region before statehood


This is an enlarged section of an 1884 Lawrence County map, showing a few of the mills and mines around the Lead, Central, and Deadwood area.  Toward the upper right of the map (just south of the old Centennial Park Hotel and Post Office) is Cliff House.  We're wondering if that might be the site of what later became known as the Half-Way House between Spearfish and Deadwood.  The map is included in the 1884 Andrea's Historical Atlas of Dakota Territory. (Thanks to the Case Library at Black Hills State University)