Near Bruce in Brookings County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
'Ol Spot Mortimer's Cabin
August 15, 2021
1. 'Ol Spot Mortimer's Cabin Marker
Mortimer, a shoemaker from New York, came to Dakota Territory after hearing stories of the rich fur trade in the Big Sioux Valley. In 1869, he found his way to Oakwood Lakes and discovered a trapper's paradise. Otter, beaver, mink, muskrat and fox were abundant. Mortimer built this cabin and lived here for the next five years.
By 1874, Mortimer experienced declining harvests from his traplines. Turning his attention to the area's valuable timber, he built a sawmill and played an important role in providing the lumber for building houses and area businesses.
After the death of his wife, Mortimer left Oakwood Lakes and moved to Yankton, Dakota Territory. It was there he re-married, and soon returned to the cabin with his new wife and her children. They later made plans to sell the land. A warranty deed, dated October 20, 1886, records the sale of 1,200 acres of Mortimer land for $1,800 to Solomon Walters.
Today, Mortimer's Oakwood Lakes homestead site stands as a reminder of the early settlers who ventured bravely into the new Dakota frontier.
Erected to honor area Scandinavian immigrant families Hansen, Larsen, and Rasmussen by descendants of L.K. Larsen.
Erected
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the South Dakota State Historical Society Markers series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1869.
Location. 44° 27.301′ N, 96° 59.419′ W. Marker is near Bruce, South Dakota, in Brookings County. Marker is on 202nd Street, 1.2 miles west of 462nd Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Located in Oakwood Lakes State Park, by Ol' Spot Mortimer Cabin. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Bruce SD 57220, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Praise in the Park (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Cottonwood (approx. ¼ mile away); Hackberry (approx. ¼ mile away); Muskrat (approx. ¼ mile away); Buckthorn, Catnip (approx. ¼ mile away); Significant Site (approx. ¼ mile away); Gooseberries, Stinging Nettles (approx. 0.3 miles away); a different marker also named Cottonwood (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bruce.
August 15, 2021
2. 'Ol Spot Mortimer's Cabin & Marker
August 15, 2021
3. Oakwood Lakes Mortimer Cabin Marker located inside Mortimer Cabin
"Welcome to this historic site at Oakwood Lakes State Park. This cabin stands on the original site where it was constructed by Samuel Mortimer. Mortimer was born in New York state and became a shoemaker by trade. Tiring of this life, he left the city and began trapping for furs on the Missouri River in the present day Yankton, South Dakota area. While in this vicinity, he heard stories of the fur rich Big Sioux River Valley.
The apprehension and terror of the Minnesota Uprising in 1862 had made the Big Sioux Valley virtually a no man's land. The state of Minnesota offered a bounty for scalps of renegade Indians. and prospective white settlers feared another uprising. For 8 years, settlers and Indians alike shunned the area to avoid another conflict.
In 1869, Sam Mortimer arrived at Oakwood Lakes and found a trapper's paradise. Otter, beaver, mink, muskrat, and fox could be taken in great numbers. Mortimer, his friends called him 'Ol Spot, built this cabin and lived here for the next five years.
After 1869, white settlers began to arrive in ever increasing numbers. Trapping was of great value to these settlers for the furs and provided a source of income until the first crops could be harvested. 1871 proved to be the peak year for trappers in this area.
In 1874, Mortimer found that he could no longer depend on a profitable harvest from his traplines. He sold 100 acres of timber from his land, for $100.00 per acre, to new settlers who were hard pressed to find logs for fuel and buildings. A pioneer reported that some of the oak trees on Mortimer's land were over 3 feet in diameter. In September of '74, Sam sold his claim, abandoned his Indian woman, and returned to Vermillion, Dakota Territory, where he married a white widow with several children.
In 1877, Sam and his new family returned to Oakwood Lakes where he purchased his original claim. Sam tried farming but soon discovered he was more adept at trapping. Another pioneer wrote of the growing population in the Oakwood vicinity. He noted that in 1876, at the first 4th of July celebration at Oakwood Lakes, about 20 people attended; two years later, in 1878, about 400 participated.
On can imagine, that for an 'ol trapper like Mortimer, this population explosion was not to his liking, at any rate the last information we have notes that in 1886 Soloman Walters of Bruce, Dakota Territory, paid $1800.00 to Catherine and Samuel Mortimer for their Oakwood property and the Mortimers moved from the area. Some claim that Sam moved his family out West where the frontier was still unsettled.
Today, his Oakwood Lakes homestead site stands as a reminder of the early settlers, when this area was also a wilderness frontier."
The apprehension and terror of the Minnesota Uprising in 1862 had made the Big Sioux Valley virtually a no man's land. The state of Minnesota offered a bounty for scalps of renegade Indians. and prospective white settlers feared another uprising. For 8 years, settlers and Indians alike shunned the area to avoid another conflict.
In 1869, Sam Mortimer arrived at Oakwood Lakes and found a trapper's paradise. Otter, beaver, mink, muskrat, and fox could be taken in great numbers. Mortimer, his friends called him 'Ol Spot, built this cabin and lived here for the next five years.
After 1869, white settlers began to arrive in ever increasing numbers. Trapping was of great value to these settlers for the furs and provided a source of income until the first crops could be harvested. 1871 proved to be the peak year for trappers in this area.
In 1874, Mortimer found that he could no longer depend on a profitable harvest from his traplines. He sold 100 acres of timber from his land, for $100.00 per acre, to new settlers who were hard pressed to find logs for fuel and buildings. A pioneer reported that some of the oak trees on Mortimer's land were over 3 feet in diameter. In September of '74, Sam sold his claim, abandoned his Indian woman, and returned to Vermillion, Dakota Territory, where he married a white widow with several children.
In 1877, Sam and his new family returned to Oakwood Lakes where he purchased his original claim. Sam tried farming but soon discovered he was more adept at trapping. Another pioneer wrote of the growing population in the Oakwood vicinity. He noted that in 1876, at the first 4th of July celebration at Oakwood Lakes, about 20 people attended; two years later, in 1878, about 400 participated.
On can imagine, that for an 'ol trapper like Mortimer, this population explosion was not to his liking, at any rate the last information we have notes that in 1886 Soloman Walters of Bruce, Dakota Territory, paid $1800.00 to Catherine and Samuel Mortimer for their Oakwood property and the Mortimers moved from the area. Some claim that Sam moved his family out West where the frontier was still unsettled.
Today, his Oakwood Lakes homestead site stands as a reminder of the early settlers, when this area was also a wilderness frontier."
August 15, 2021
4. Inside 'Ol Spot Mortimer's Cabin
August 15, 2021
5. Inside 'Ol Spot Mortimer's Cabin
August 15, 2021
6. Ol' Spot Mortimer Cabin 1869
Credits. This page was last revised on May 9, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 18, 2021. This page has been viewed 305 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 18, 2021. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
