The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1907-10-25
Old PIONEER GONE
LAST LINK SEVERED IN CHAIN
BINDING TWO GENERATIONS
ONE BY ONE THEY PASS OVER
THE DIVIDE.

j. j. Williams, one of the best
known residents of Deadwood, died
at st. Joseph's hospital Thursday
morning.
The deceased, who was the last
survivor of the Gordon party, or this
Collins and Russell party, was a pi-
oneer who enjoyed the respect OF
the whole community. By his de-
mise the last link is severed in the
chain that bound the present gener-
alton with the first party of white
men to enter the Black Hills.
Mr. Williams was born in Vernon
N. j., in 1910, and came west when
young man. On October 6, 1874
he left Sioux City, the scene of the
first movement for the. invasion OF
the Sioux domain, as member OF
the memorable party of twenty-eight
that was organized to seek gold in
the Black Hills.
The expedition in its entirity was
composed of twenty-six men, one wo-
an and boy, six canvass covered
wagons, each drawn by two pairs OF
oxen, and five saddle horses. The ex-
pedition. was splendidly equipped
with munitions for its defense, each
man having provided himself with
the most improved Winchester rifle
besides small arms and sufficient am
unition, to last by economy for a
period of eight months.
The members of the expedition
pooled their resources for the pur-
chase of supplies and other property
with the understanding that at dis
solution the assets be equally divid-
ed among the partners.
AS the United States had given ex-
press orders that no expeditions be
permitted to enter the Black Hills
the movements of the party in or
ganizing the group were necessarily
secret. The members Of the eXpe-
ditions were strangers to eaghothel
for the most part. They had gather
ed in Sioux City from widely separ-
ated localities having been drawn
together by the current rumors of the
great finds of gold made by the In
dians in the Hills.
In 1875 the party was discovered
by the United States soldiers and TAX
en- back to Sioux City and in the fol-
lowing year Mr.. Williams came back
to the Hills. He was one of the first
to enter Deadwood and Kramer Lee
and himself laid out the town. Will
liams and Lee streets received their
names from these two pioneers.
& lie owned the placer claims on
Main street from Russell's saloon to
Sidney Jacobs store, and took out
much money.
He was an unassuming man who
had host of friends and from 1876
until 1880 he. was about the most
prominent figure in eDadwood.
Mr.. Williams went to st. Joseph's
hospital three months ago, suffering
from cancer of the stomach and his
death was expected by his friends
The body was taken from Booths
undertaking parlors at o'clock and
placed in state in the city hall, where
many old acquaintances came to pay
their last respects
At two O'Clock the burial service
was begun with Rev. Andrew, pas
tor Of the Methodist church in
charge. The pioneer society ther
conducted its ritual and John Hebron
on behalf of the fremen, in which he
spoke Of the work of the deceased
as a pioneer fireman.
The funeral cortege consisted oi
a fourteen piece band which played
the dead march. the hearse, the Pho.
neer society, the fremen and the
citizens in carriages.
There was a large turnout. The
/ body was inferred in Mount Morial
cemstery Telegram.