We again express our gratitude to Ray and Darlene Telkamp for audio recording the April 7, 2009 program: Seth Bullock: Part II presented by Professor David Wolff of Black Hills University.

Like Wolff's Bullock presentation last year, snow dogged the Spearfish area, but -- just like last year -- there was still a great turnout for the meeting at the Spearfish Senior Citizen's Center.

Attendees were certainly not disappointed, as Dr. Wolff gave a sneak preview of his latest book, Seth Bullock: Black Hills Lawman.

Much of the April presentation focused upon the many and varied entreprenurial activities pursued by Bullock, along with his partner, Solomon "Sol" Star.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER:

David Wolff transitioned from being a pharmacist to becoming a well-known historian throughout the region.

An Associate Professor at Black Hills State University, he's been at Spearfish since 1998. He earned his Master's degree from the University of Wyoming and has his doctorate in History from Arizona State University.

Last fall, professor Wolff was elected to a three-year term as Vice-President of the South Dakota State Historical Society. He has served on the 12-member board since 2000.

By the late 1870s, Bullock and Star purchased a ranch where Redwater Creek met the Belle Fourche River and started the S&B Ranch Company. Bullock raised horses for harness racing and was credited with introducing alfalfa to the territory in 1881.

Bullock somehow acquired some 2,000 acres and seemed bent on getting even more and building a community. Alas, he was upstaged by entrepreneurs who created the town of Minnesela at a site just south of present day Belle Fourche. With creation of the new Butte County, they even won an election to be the county seat. Bullock lured the Fremont, Elkhorn, and Missouri Valley Railroad to build farther north, which they did in 1890 some three miles northwest of Minnesela. Bullock was credited with essentially founding the town of Belle Fourche.

He then offered Minnesela businesses free lots in Belle Fourche, and the county seat was subsequently moved there. Belle became the largest railhead for livestock in the United States.
Bullock had evened the score with Minnesela.

One of the earlier business ventures undertaken by Bullock and Star was a hardware store in downtown Deadwood.

Perhaps reflecting who had the money in this partnership, notice that the building sign lists Star's name first. Professor Wolff's research determined that Star was the "majority partner."

By the early 1880s, Star and Bullock had stores in Billings, Miles, City, Sundance, Sturgis,and Carbonate.

Bullock had tired of the business and was out of it by 1900.

Bullock's partner for nearly 20 years was Solomon "Sol" Star.

Born in Bavaria, his family moved to Ohio when he was about 10 years old. As an adult, he moved to Helena, Montana where he became territorial auditor and personal secretary to the governor.

After the hardware store burned down in 1894, Bullock put together a scheme to build a new hotel in Deadwood. Using land that he and Star had owned, he brought together some well-known and successful investors to fund the project.

W. W. Marsh and Fred Evans (whose wealthy family had hotels in Hot Springs and Omaha) led the initiative and funded construction of the building.

Ironically, although Bullock had little to do with the project, it carried his name.

The Bullock Hotel was a three story, 64-room luxury hotel with steam heat and indoor bathrooms on each floor. It continues to operate to this day.

Professor David Wolff (left) visiting with some of the audience following his March 2008 presentation on Seth Bullock.

Wolff believes the popular HBO television series Deadwood created a broader public awareness of Deadwood than it had previously enjoyed.

"While much of the story line was historical fiction, I think the town was portrayed fairly...the show did use a lot of foul language, and I don't believe that the people talked that way."

For all of his many endeavors, Seth Bullock identified himself as a "Miner" in the 1890 Deadwood City Directory.

He and Star had invested in several mining ventures, particularly the Iron Hill Mine. He had been a director since 1883 and was listed as its President by 1885. During a seven-year period, the mine reportedly produced $725,000 in silver bullion. Nonetheless, steep expenses left Bullock netting only about $600 during that entire time. As characterized by Woll in his presentation, Bullock "lost his shirt on the Iron Hill Mine."

The 20th century held new directions for Bullock, as he entered what Wolff calls his "public service era." Bullock's long-standing friendship with President Theodore Roosevelt resulted in -- among other things -- Bullock's appointment as supervisor of the Black Hills Reserve, a Colonel with TR's "Rough Riders," and an appointment as U. S. Marshall for South Dakota.

Thanks to the Adams Museum and House for use of this photo.

Seth Bullock died September 23, 1919, in the Bullock Hotel. He was 70 years old. Bullock's tombstone is on ground high above all others in Mount Moriah Cemetery in Deadwood. Both he and his wife, Martha, are buried here.

Folks trekking to White Rocks above Deadwood will likely pass the grave, which faces Mount Roosevelt.

To return to other recent Spearfish Area Historical Society topics, simply click Black Hills Journal History Section, or you can continue to scroll down through gallery photographs from previous presentations.

Unless otherwise advertised, regular meeting of the Spearfish Area Historical Society (SAHS) are held at 7:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month, September through May at the Spearfish Senior Citizens Center. It is located at 1306 Tenth Street.

Persons desiring more information may contact Laurie Williams-Hayes at 642-9620 in Spearfish.

We try to post a few photographs from each monthly meeting, along with a bit of information. You can scroll down to see photos from the most recent presentation. Photographs from earlier society meetings can be found by clicking on other "Gallery Pages" listed at the top and bottom of each page.