Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1919-06-28

,
and Sheriff Cessna Of Pennington coun-
ty held an investigation. On Thursday
afternoon Mr. Doll was taken to Rapid
City where he vii nave a preliminary
examination today. The funeral OF Mr.
Fox was held from the Congregational
Church at ? p. M. Friday. Deceased is
survived by his wife and six children.
JOS. Il. REYNOLDS, OLD
TIMER, PASSES AWAY.
Joseph I. Reg ynolds was born January
80, lS43 at Sulphur Springs, Ky When
four years Of age the family removed to
Jefferson county, Iowa, where he grew
to young manhood When II years OF
age he left home for the West, first GO
ing to Colorado where he followed min
ing and prospecting for fifteen years.
Denver was then a small mining town.
In 1878 he and partner came TO the
Black Hills, having heard Of the discoy-
cry of gold on French creek the year
before, but having no know ledge of the
exact location, went too far and made
their first camp in the Hills on the pres
ent site Of Spearfsh. After trp of
thirty days they reached the diggings
on French creek, just below Custer,
about the first of June. They were the
first to reach the diggings bat the next
day met three white men coming in from
the east they being the first they had
seen since leaving TT. Laramie. Three
others had travelled from Colorado with
them and remained at Ft. Laramie, so
after being satisfied that there was gold
to be found they returned to Laramie
for the rest of the party. There they
outftted for an extended camping trip
and returned in a few days, being short
II followed by large company of gold
seekers.
The Government was endeavoring to
make a treaty with the Sioux Indians,
this being part of their reservation, so
the soldiers were ordered to remove all
white men until such treaty was signed.
In August the gold seekers lett the
Hills, the majority going to Cheyenne,
Mr.. Reynolds leaving there soon after
for his old home in Iowa. Since leav-
ing his home in 1860, he had made two
trips back, one in 1861 and the other in
1866. On this visit he became acquant.
ed with Miss Emma Owen and on his
next trip home they were married, Octo-
Der 5, 1875. The next morning they
started for the Black Hills, remaining in
Cheyenne that winter, arriving in Gus
ter the following spring. Here they re-
sided nearly year, and in the meantime
he located his ranch on Reynolds
prairie, six miles west of Rockford and
prepared the home. Here they lived
until five years ago when Custer again
became their home.
Mr.. Reynolds experienced all the pri-
vations and hardships of the pioneer,
aud could tell many interesting stories
Of his life in the west. lie "was one of
the company who held the first miners
meeting in the Black Hills, the meeting
being held just at the lower edge Of
tIwn, on the point of rocks near the
railroad bend. This meeting was held
in August, 1875, just prior to their being
compelled to leave the Hills and was for
the purpose of establishing rules and by
laws whereby they might hold their
claims during their absence. lie has
also been member of the Black Hills
Pioneers Association since its organiza-
tion.
Mr.. Reynolds was the fourth in a fam
lily of twelve children, two sisters and
four brothers still surviving, one broth
er, James, living near Custer. Two
years ago last January he suffered a
light stroke of paralysis aud more Sc
we're one in March from which he never
fully recovered At several different
times it seemed as if he could not sur.
vive, but would rally and seem as though
he might recover, but was finally forced
to succumb, passing away June 23rd, at
tne age VI ~ yeaiSi HloutllS anu ~
days. He leaves his wife and five chi
dren TO mourn his loss, two sons, Willis
and Fred, residing near the old home,
and three daughters, Emma L. and Mrs.
Elsie Harrison of this city and Mrs.
Nellie Nixon, of Pickford, Michigan.
Mr.. Reynolds parents were members
of the NJ. +. church and he was reared
in that faith in Christian home, but
owing to bis life on the frontier, was
away from church privileges the major
ity of the time.
| Funeral services were held from the