Black Hills Gold Discovery Put Sidney On The Map
The Black Hills gold boom turned Sidney into a bustling frontier hub by 1876, swelling from 300 to 3,500 residents by 1879 as miners and travelers arrived via the Union Pacific and stage routes. The Telegraph and Joseph B. Gossage promoted the Sidney Short Route, detailing mileage vs Cheyenne trails amid reports of hardships on the Cheyenne path. Distances show Sidney to Water Hole at 12 miles and total 160 miles to Custer City, with onward links to Cheyenne totaling 236 miles, while travel and freight rates, horse and tool prices, and outfitting costs are itemized for prospective emigrants.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Black Hills
South Dakota
Sidney
Union Pacific Railroad
Cheyenne
Wyoming
Cus:er
Cheyenne Trail
Telegraph
Joseph B. Gossage
The
Deadwood
White Wood
Custer City
Water Hole
Green Wood
Courthouse Rock
Platte Crossing
Red Willow
Snake River
Antelope Creek
White River
Tenbutes
Beaver Creek
Spring Creek
Camp Creek
Rapid Creek
Box Elder
Cheyenne Cheyenne
Ft. Laramie
Old Camp Fork
Cheyenne River
Ridge Road
Ruby Springs
Red Cloud
Routes to Dakota Hills and Clarke's Pony Express
Robert J. Casey recounts Henry T. Clark’s Sidney Short Route to the Black Hills, built to move mail and riders into Indian country. He details bridge-building across the North Platte, a ten cent mail fee via an envelope, and Clark’s maneuvering to outpace Cheyenne stages and securePost Office contracts, with notes on Deadwood, Custer City, and early spring treks.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Clarke
Black Hills
Post Office Department
Washington
Army
Fort Sidney
Fort Clarke
Platte
Red Cloud
Chadron
Fort Robinson
Fort Laramie
U. S. Post Office Department
Union Pacific
Sidney
Nebraska
Custer City
Deadwood
Dakota Territory
Union Pacific Railroad
H. T. Clarke
Sidney grows as Black Hills route shifts toward centennial start
May 6 1876 report from Cheyenne notes dull village with only two gold hunters amid UPRR line shifts. Sidney has outfitted over a hundred since last Saturday. May 13 1876 Rothrock and Gallant's Black Hills party arrived in five days. Sidney now claims best starting point for the Centennial as Chicago parties govern themselves.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cheyenne
UPRR
Black Hills
Sidney
Sidney Barracks
Rothrock
Gallant
Chicago
Masons Receive Charter In Sidney In August 79
Sidney Masonry party celebrates by surrendering dispensation from Frank Welch Lodge and receiving a full charter at a grand ceremony. Rollin Oakley and other dignitaries arrive to install officers, followed by a lavish supper and superb band in a notable community event.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sidney Sons of Masonry
Frank Welch Lodge
Rollin P. Oakley
Jas. A. Tulleys
F. E. Bullard
Herman C. Rider
John B. Dinsmore
Evening Star Lodge
Sutton
Clay County
H. Snyder
E. S. Ebbs
A. Johnson
D. Carrigan
G. W Russell
J. W. Griffin
Metropolitan Hotel
John A. Carly
W. M
P. Smith
S. W
Julius Neubauer
J. W
R. C. Howard
Jr. D
Frank Welch
Second and
Chestnut Streets
Passenger and troop movements to the Black Hills
On April 29 1876 Dear's stage carried six passengers last Monday and five on Tuesday. A party of 53 men with 17 wagons departed for the Hills via the Sidney route. Pratt Ferris bull train with 16 teams left for the Indian agency. Distances: Grand Island to the Black Hills 356 miles, Sidney to Custer City 169 miles. The remains of H E Brown killed by Indians at Red Canyon on the Cheyenne route passed through en route to Omaha. A Black Hill party of 800 men from Montgomery Alabama and New Orleans will arrive May 27 armed with 300 rounds each.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Dear’s
Hills
Sidney
Pratt & Ferris
Indian Agency
Grand Island
Black Hills
Also Mentioned on This Page
Dakota
I A
Robert Casey
Dakota Hills
Robert J. Casey
U. S
Pony Express
Henry T.clark
Jenney
Harney Peak
Red Canyon
Custer
Rapid City
Red Cloud Agency
Hot Springs
North Platte River
North Platte
Omaha
Sitting Bull
Old Bungtown
Anthony
Camp Robinson
Larrens
Giobrar
Slim Butte
Dancer’s Hill
Camp Sheridan
Sidney Telegraph
Central City Courier
10Th Avenue
Masons
Masonic Lodge
U. P
Ebbs & Smith
Prince of Cooks
John Simpson
Sidney Brass and Cornet Band
Masonic Fraternity
Moore Hotel
Dick Mango
Hahler
Featuring
Annie Maloney
Leo Farrell
Ree
Leo Farrell & His
Wilbur Clemons
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!