Near Hill City in Pennington County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Sheridan

1875–1942

Photographed by William J. Toman, August 8, 2010

1. Sheridan Marker

The marker is topped by the Dakota Territorial Seal: "Liberty and Union, One and Inseparable Now and Forever"

Inscription. Sheridan, located 1/2 mile NE, now 30 feet under water, was named for General Philip Sheridan and founded in 1875 on Cheyenne-Deadwood Trail, as Golden, in the belief that fabulous placer gold existed here. Still Indian Country and everybody a trespasser until 1877 Sheridan was named county seat of Pennington County on April 19 and in October of that year Judge Granville G. Bennett held first term of Court in Black Hills there. The first gold seekers here came in early July 1875 and were Andre J. Williams, Ernest Barthold, John W. Allen, J. Carlin, Ed Flaherty, Frank Bethune, William Nasten, Ezekial Brown and Deacon Dillard. Williams got $2.00 in gold in first pan on July 18 and hastened to Custer to apprize his partners and on return found his own claim jumped.

Up the creek a short distance was the intake of a 17 mile flume, built of lumber milled on the job from the adjacent forest. It went down Spring Creek and took water to the Rockerville placer operations 10 miles away, from 1881 to 1884, where over half a million in gold was recovered. James Redpath was first postmaster on October 22, 1877 and Ernest Barthold,

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the last, on June 13, 1913.

The dam creating Sheridan Lake submerged its remains in 1942.

Erected 1958 by William & Clara Williamson and State Highway Commission. (Marker Number 255.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Man-Made Features • 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 1875.

Location. 43° 58.075′ N, 103° 29.092′ W. Marker is near Hill City, South Dakota, in Pennington County. It is on U.S. 385 0.3 miles north of Calumet Road, on the left when traveling south. The marker is at a Highway 385 pull-off next to Sheridan Lake. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Hill City SD 57745, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South Dakota’s West River,

in the Badlands,

and in Greater Rapid City.

It is also in the American Black Hills,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

on the prairies,

and on the Northern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the

Photographed by William J. Toman, August 8, 2010

2. Sheridan Marker

With Sheridan Lake in the background.

Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Civilian Conservation Corps Camp (approx. 2.4 miles away); "Work Call" (approx. 4.3 miles away); Black Hills Central Railroad's Famous Engine #7 (approx. 5 miles away); The Steam Locomotive (approx. 5 miles away); Water Tank (approx. 5 miles away); The Black Hills Central Railroad (approx. 5 miles away); Hill City Depot (approx. 5.1 miles away); Semaphore & Telegraph (approx. 5.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hill City.

Sheridan Marker and Lake image. Click for full size.

October 17, 2021

3. Sheridan Marker and Lake

Credits. This page was last revised on October 28, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 10, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,815 times since then and 50 times this year. Last updated on October 22, 2021. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 10, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. 3. submitted on October 28, 2021. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.