Dakota Midday: Images Of The Past Thoen Stone

In our Images of the Past segment we learn about the Thoen Stone – many miners were lured to the Black Hills of Dakota Territory in search of gold. In 1887 Louis Thoen and his younger brother Ivan came across a small stone that had writing on it and proof there were gold prospectors in 1834. On one side of the tablet “Came to these hills in 1833 seven of us, (lists) all ded but me Ezra Kind, killed by Ind beyond the high hill got our gold June 1834” On the reverse it says “Got all the gold we could carry our ponys all got by the Indians I hav lost my gun and nothing to eat and Indians hunting me”  Joining us is Jessica Michak, Archivist with the Homestake Adams Research and Cultural Center.