Pierre in Hughes County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Alexander McDonald Putello

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 19, 2016

1. Alexander McDonald Putello Marker

Inscription. Alexander McDonald Putello
alias “Arkansaw”
killed here by
Vigilantes
November 18, 1880

Erected 1950 by L.B.
Albright & Co. Pierre

Erected 1950 by L. B. Albright & Company.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Law Enforcement • Notable Events. A significant historical date for this entry is November 18, 1880.

Location. 44° 21.835′ N, 100° 21.414′ W. Marker is in Pierre, South Dakota, in Hughes County. Marker is at the intersection of South Pierre Street and Island View Drive when traveling south on South Pierre Street. Marker is located beside the sidewalk, directly in front of the American Legion Pierre, Post No. 8, near the flagpole. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 520 South Pierre Street, Pierre SD 57501, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Walter H. Burke (here, next to this marker); Pierre Was A Cowtown / Reading Brands (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Tichicala Cabin (approx. 0.2 miles away); Welcome to Steamboat Park! (approx. 0.3 miles away); Charles Hyde's Legacy (approx. 0.4 miles away); Exploring the Lewis & Clark Trail (approx.

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0.4 miles away); Steamboats on the Missouri (approx. 0.4 miles away); John Sutherland and the Capital Fights (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pierre.

Also see . . . John N. Hilger vs. Arkansaw Joe: Cleaning up Pierre in the city’s early days. In 1880, Pierre was just a few ranchers and a few log houses. Across the river, Fort Pierre — bolstered by the gold rush in the Black Hills in 1876 — consisted of about 300 people. Some of these were traders, while the rest were “drifters, criminals, ne’er-do-wells and lowlifes. One of these undesirables was Arkansaw Joe. He got that name because “Wisconsin Alexander” didn’t have the same feel. His real name was Alexander McDonald Putello. Not much was known about this outlaw, other than the fact that he and his friends would rob people in broad daylight. He came from Wisconsin. John N. Hilger arrived in South Dakota in the spring of 1880, and with his brother, John D. Hilger, founded the city of Pierre. Hilger and his brother formed a committee to deal with the outlaws. Eventually, these vigilantes encountered Arkansaw Joe and bettered him in a gunfight. The American Legion now stands in the place where Arkansas Joe died. He was buried “20 rods from where the Capitol of South Dakota now stands.” One

Alexander McDonald Putello Marker (<i>tall view</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 19, 2016

2. Alexander McDonald Putello Marker (tall view)

rod — a common measurement at the time — equals 16½ feet, so that means he was about 330 feet away from the building. When the foundation for the Capitol was dug, Arkansaw Joe’s body was unearthed. For a long time, up until the early 1970s, his skull was on display in the state history museum. (Submitted on October 9, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

American Legion Post No. 8, Pierre, South Dakota (<i>marker at far left</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 19, 2016

3. American Legion Post No. 8, Pierre, South Dakota (marker at far left)

Credits. This page was last revised on October 9, 2018. It was originally submitted on October 5, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 603 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 8, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.