Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1885-01-03
Samuel McMaster.
fDeadwoOd Times, 30.l


Grier at the Homestake Office, Lead
City, Sunday, one dated San Francisco
| Dec. Odd, the other San Francisco Dec.
2Ith, announcing the death Mt that place
"last night" of Samuel McMaster. No
particulars whatever were given.
The intelligence was not altogether
unexpected by the community at large,
while intimate friends Of deceased, and
officials of the several "Homestake"
companies, apprised by recent telegrams
of his rapidly failing condition, were not
in the least startled by the sad an
nouncement Mr.. McMaster was more
or less an invalid during the last three
years Of his life, and although the
efficacy Of foreign climes, and the most
skillfnl medical attendance were tested
no permanent relief was obtained.
Reference to deceased, to his expert
ences and to his individuality is attend
cd with great difficulty inasmuch as
reserve WAS his great distinguishing
trait. Intimate friends were few in
number, while no one. not excepting
relatives, enjoyed the distinction of
being a confidante.
Mr.. McNlaster was born in County
Down. North of Ireland, June -, 1910,
being the Youngest of twelve children
lie cmigrated to America in 1854, with
his brother Thomas, present superin-
tcn9ent Of the Iron Hill, and since that
time has been engaged in precious
metal mining in nearly all important
districts and countries on or near the
western continent, including Sonora,
South America and Australia, for the
last ten years in the employ of lIaggn
< Tevis. He was identified with the
purchase and development of the
American Flag, Pioche, Monitor, Bel
mont, Nevada, Modoc, Southern Cali
fornia and others. He came TO the
Hills in 1877, and at once began the
establishment of an industry second to
none in the world, and that stands to-
day as it will for years, monument to
his sagacity and extraordinary ability.
He was large stockholder in the
Homestake, Dcadwood- Terra, DeSmet
and other companies, and principal
stocl holder in the Black Hills and Fort
Pierre railroad, and Black Hills water
companies, and individually the owner
of much valuable mining property, his
entire possessions having an estimated,
assessible value OF quarter of a mil
lion, but il is doubtful that it could have
been purchased while Mr. McMaster
was in his vigor, fer four times that
amount. His annual revenue from all
sources was upwards Of $l00,0G0
During the last four years he figured
conspicuonsly with the republicans in
cou"ty and Territorial politics, leading
DELEGATION to Grand Forks i'm 1882, |
where probably tie most exciting con-
vcntion known to the territory was
he'd. His name was presented to the |
Pierre convention last september as a
candidate for nomination as delegate to |
congress, but unsuccessfu,ly.
OF the large family Of which he was
the youngest, a sister we believe lives in |
Australia and the brothers Thomas and |
William are residents Of the Hills; the |
latter a wcll-to-do ranchman on the |
Belle Fourche Thomas was summon
ed by telegraph, on the Goth 10 hasten |
10 San Francisco, and at once departed !
but was unable to reach the coast ere |
death had claimed its own.
AS recently said by this paper in re-
fcrring to Mr.. Master: "The Times has |
occasionally criticised the man and his
operations in political and other fields, |
but at no time has it dsparaged his ab-
iity as an organizer and talent as an ex-
ecutive officer in mining matters, for
which he was so peculiarly adapted" |
He established in our midst the most |
extensive gold mining operations in the !
world, and in so doing materially as
sisted in developing the Hills and in |
bettering the condition of the commun-
ity. For this, and for his large hearted |
generosity whenever appealed to, the |
name of Samuel McMaster will ever be |
kindly remembered by the people of the
Black Hills.