Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1904-07-23
DEATH or A PIONEER.
Samuel Il. Shankland, One OF the Pic
peers of Custer Passes Away.

Samuel r. shankland. One OF the Pic
neers of Custer Passes Away.
Died, at his home in Custer on the
morning of July 18th, 1904. Mr. Samuel
Rownd Shankland, aged SO years.
Mr. Shankland was born in Summer
field, Noble county, Ohio, on September
10th, 1885. He was married in 1882 in
Custer City to Dora NJ. Pierce, since
which time Custer has been his constant
abiding place. Mr.. Shankland had no
children of his own and of his family he
is survived by three sisters and three
brothers still residing in Ohio. There
were no members of his family who had
ever resided in South Dakota except one
brother, Charles Shankland, who lived
several years in the Black Hills, and was
well and favorsbly known by the people
of Custer.
Mr.. Shankland came into the Hills in
1875 in company with DR.. ID. w. Flick
Of Rapid City, and is therefore number
ed among the oldest of old timers. He
was the first recorder of mining district
when his Office was installed in a cave
half mile west of the present city linn
its. He held in his time many positions
of trust in the county, which he filled
with fidelity and marked degree of in
teligence. For many years he occupied
the editorial chair of the CUSTER CHRoN-
IcLE where he gained reputation for
ability as a writer second to none in the
Hills. His early education had not been
neglected, and he was a scholar with a
depth of learning but slightly under
stood by the many and only appreciated
by few of his more ultimate com-
panions.
Sam was always lover and a strong
defender of Custer. and he strove TO
promote its best interests with a zeal
that never tagged In his earlier years
he had been an extensive traveller, and
in his voyages by sea had visited nearly
every large city of note on our globe
He was one of the early pioneers of
California and spent many years in San
Francisco. He was an old soldier as
well as sailor and had recently been
allowed an increased pension for dis
abilities acquired in the service of his
country.
1t was known perhaps by only few
that Sam possessed among his varied
accomplishments that OF music, and
sang in the opera IN Australia as tenor
OF note. He was not at the time of bis
death member of any church, but hav-
ing been reared by Methodist parents
me had leaning, and perhaps an affec-
tion for that denomination. While all
this might be true, yet it is but fair to
say that he did not, because he could not
conscientiously accept its dogmas and
its creeds. Still it cannot be said
there was strong religious feeling in
his nature, and be doye deep in his
studies of theology and tried to ascertain
bis relation to nature and to the Creator
of the universe. In regard to his being
prepared for the change, We can say
that we never saw one who, knowing
that he was approaching dissolution, did
SO more fesrlessly or who was more
calmly resigned. A few hours before he
passed away he spoke to his wife and
said: Don't cry, don't worry about me,
it is nothing to die. III want to l can
come back and see you, and will"
In the passing away of Mr.. Shankland
Custer has lost an old and useful citizen
Being one of its first settlers he might
fittingly be called the Father of the
town, and his departure is an event Of
more than common importance in the
history of this, the pioneer city OF tho
Black Hills.
The funeral took place at the Metho-
dist church where the pastor, Reverend
Titmarsh delivered an able sermon from
the Methodist point Of view. There
was a large concourse of mourning
friends assembled at the church and fol-
lowed the remains to their last resting
place in the Custer cemetery. There on
the summit Of the hill his body slum-
bers in peace, surrounded by the famal-
lar scenes he loyed so we'll.