township 1

Black Hills, Jones County, Township 1S, Range 27E, Section 27

Original Plat for Township 1, Range 27. Mary Turgeon made her claim in Section 27. click to enlarge.

1911 - By 1911, much of the land had been sold to farmers who staked their claim in 1907, as well as the next wave of settlers. Only one original homesteader remained in Section 27, Henry Pike, and Mary Turgeon sold her stake to E. Hayden.

Click to Enlarge. Grandma's land grant making her eligible to own 160 acres. For the sturdier homesteaders, they were also entitled to request additional lands to homestead once their original time requirement was met.

Mary Turgeon (circa 1908)

Click to enlarge.

1907 = Land was allocated to each homesteader of 1/4 section of land, or 160 acreas each. In this year, Mary Turgeon established her claim a few miles south of Okaton, South Dakota. Okaton is now a ghost town in Jones County.

Cowgirl Mary Turgeon.

I remember our father, John Smith, describing his mother's life on the prairie as a "cowgirl." In one of our visits to Stickney, he pointed to a framed picture of his mother riding a horse. In those days, women rode side saddle, but dad said that his mother could ride side saddle as fast as any man who sat on the horse in a normal fashion. He also said she was an excellent marksman, and knew how to use a gun. This was to let us know that she could take care of herself. I think she went to homestead with another woman from the area, but

There was a frame picture of grandma Mary Smith (Turgeon) on a horse, but am not certain what happened to it over the years.

1911 Plat (Township 1 South). Click to enlarge. Mary Turgeon homesteaded in the SE portion of Section 27 (now owned by E. Hayden).

Because many of the women claimed a homestead prior to getting married, much like our grandmother Mary Turgeon who married in 1908, it appears that their motivation was building a dowry. As you will see in the section, a number of single women remained in their home for the prescribed timeline, and shortly after meeting the time targets, got "hitched."

THE NEIGHBORHOOD

The KOPACS

This was a postcard entitled “Noontide”, which was attributed to the Kopac brothers Ed and Emil. The card was sent from Ed to his brothers in Clarkson, Nebraska. It’s an invitation for them to travel to Tripp county and look over the area before filing a claim.

In the Colfax County Press, Colfax County, Nebraska, a note about the Kopacs appears:

Feb. 22, 1910

“Ed, Emil and Jim Kopac have proved up on their homesteads near Okaton, South Dakota. Emil and Jim are making arrangements to return to Clarkson within the next few weeks, while Ed will go to Montana to have a look at the country.”

Do we know what happened to Mary Turgeon’s neighbors?

.Bridget Baldwin Enright, Okaton, SD.

bridget baldwinenright1878.jpg

Edward Yager. Before living in Jones County, we see him listed in the 1900 census living in Butte County. Later we find him in 1920 settling in Lake County with his wife, Minnie.

John Richey died in 1956 at Lincoln County. His father may have been Zina Richey, a prominent businessman in early Yankton, South Dakota.

Grace Hogan lived on the quarter section south of Mary Turgeon. She was born in 1885 in Turner County, and married George La voy in 1906 in her home County. Before she homesteaded, she was living in Hurly, SD with her grandparents.

Harry Culbertson was born in 1880 in Wisconsin. His father was born in Wisconsin and his mother was born in Ireland. In the 1920 census he is still living on the farm north of Okaton (census called the area “Scovil”. He is single and head of household. His sister Anna K is now living with him.

Anna K, was also one of the original settlers of this township. Her 160 acres was next to her brother Harry's farm.

John DeBois left Okaton and in the 1910 and 1920 census he is living in Murdo, SD, with his wife Maggie. He was born in Iowa, but was among the earliest settlers in Dakota territory. He is shown living in Fort Union in 1860.

It appears that George Lee moved to nearby Lyman County. He married Caroline Fosterman, July 1909 .

Anton Hansen and his sister, Rajna. Both were born in Norway. Rajna also had a homestead near her brother Anton.

So Who is still living near Okaton in 1911?

M.J. Enright,

Peter Dahl,

Thomas Enright,

Mike Miller

Levie Mace

Harry Culbertson

Clarence Fay

Michael Touissant was born in 1880 in Luxembourg. He and his wife Lucretia remained on the homestead. We see him in both the 1910 (Scovil) and 1930 census (Okaton).

Emil Kopac was still referenced in the 1910 census.

Leo Mullen. In 1945 we see him farming near Aberdeen.

Arthur Foster came from Hanson County, Dakota Territory. As his name is somewhat common, I can’t say exactly what happened to him.

Charles Gould left Jones County before 1911. We see him living in Custer, SD, with his wife Maggie. Of interest, he was living in Brown County in 1900 with his

brother before homesteading near Okaton, SD.

(RIGHT) Okaton, SD. Ghost town along Interstate 90. Current census suggests that it has 47 residents, although many of these are farmers and their families who live nearby.

Home in Okaton. It was home to Crazy Bear.