Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1910-09-17

ld6c puy5iSioh, Ia. hdlC, co shHe hS
was able to earn teachers certifi- |
cate of the highest grade, and to
command better salary.
The survey of the Baltimore &
Ohio r. r. in that section formed
the turning point in his career, by
rousing his desire to become a civil
engineer. With the money saved
while teaching, he entered in 1866
small denominational school at
Pruntytown, w. Va, called Rector's
College, and took the course in civil
engineering. His proficiency in math-
ematics won him the friendship of
his teachers. He was graduated in
1868, and had his first engineering
experience as rodman with a rail-
road surveying party at Chillicothe,
Massachusetts. He was quickly ad-
vanced to transit-man, and after six
weeks became chief of the party.
But being attacked by malarial few
er. he returned in 1869 to West Vir-
ginia, and became Assistant Geolog-
ist in the State engineer corps. His
early experience in laying out rail-
roads doubtless developed the char
acteristic Typographical instinct In
geological field work which enabled
him to locate quickly the critical
points for observation.
In 1872 he invested his savings in
his first financial enterprise, by bond
ing timber and coal lands in West
Virginia; but, like most first vent
ures, this one came to naught; and
he was obliged to betake himself to
school teaching-this time at Fet-
terman, w. Va. His engagement in
1873 to Miss Annette Howe, Of Ath-
ems, Ohio, became the incentive to
another westward journey in search
of better fortune. He went to Kan
sas and later to Denver, Colo, to
make a new start in railroad work.
But the panic of 1873 paralyzed all
such enterprise, and the young ad-
venturer was reduced to the earn
ing of a. bare living by washing gold
on Spanish Bar, at Idaho Springs
Colo. There, his character and abil.
ity were soon recognized; and he was
elected mayor and police Judge, and
afterwards taught school until the
fall Of 1874, when he removed tC
Georgetown, where, receiving thu
mark of 100 in a competitive exam
ination, he obtained the office o.
Principal of Schools. On the strength
of this achievement he was married
Dec. 23, 1874. In 1876 he wai
elected County superintendent o
Schools, and retained this position
until 1873, when he opened il
Georgstown an office, and rapid!
built up good practice as U. S. dep
uty surveyor and civil engineer. TIVE
pieces of his engineering work ar,
worthy of record. In 1881 he mad,
for Captain Berthoud the first sur
vey of the loop" above George
town; and in 1882 he located tn
Loveland Pass tunnel and startet
work at both portals. In 1882, h
took a lease on the Cory City min
? with the intention of driving a cross
cut tunnel to tap the lode; but hi
financial backing gave out, and tn
scheme had to be abandoned to 9th
ers. who brought it afterwards to
successful issue.
For while he returned to his ma
tive, state, West Virginia. But hav
ing tasted western freedom and en-
terprise, he could not be held lon
in the east In 1885 he started TO
British Columbia, but was taken il
in Minnesota and forced to return
In 1886, however, attracted by tn
, new tin deposits of the Black Hills
he went to Rapid City, S. D. Hi
leading work that year was the loca
ton, through the western part of tn
Black Hills, of railroad line, whic,
is now occupied by a part of the Bur
lington & Missouri r. r. At III
, same time, he made geological Gb
servations which were helpful to hi1
later.
> In December of the same year h
q was elected Dean Of the new Terri
torial School of Mines, which he open
= ed in 1887, occupying the chair O
= geology and mining. The Burling
5 ton & Missouri r. r. Co. recogni2
ed his ability, and made him it's min
ing engineer-a position which h
r held until his death. In June, 1887
: O,'io University conferred upon hiI
he degree Of Master of Arts, and il
: 1858 that Of Doctor Of Philosophy
In 1889 he became Fellow of tn
Geological Society of America, an
later Fellow of the American Assc
citation for the Advancement of Sc
ence. His early reconnaissance @
the geology of the Black Hill
: prompted the Territorial government
to make an appropriation for a gee
logical survey, which was started il
1887, and finished in 1888.
In 1887 l Was called to the Da
kota School of Mines as Proresso
Of Metallurgy and Assaying, an
there made the acquaintance oc tn
. | inAn who WAS To hecnme my he's