THE ANNUAL BURKE MEN’S ASSOCIATION 2018 ice fishing tournament is in the books, and it was a record year as far as number of fish being caught. All the participants caught plenty of fish, and Mother Nature did her part as we got a bit of respite from the cold temperatures of late. We are thankful that the wind and temperature wasn’t what it is today(Monday) as the temperature is struggling to hit the zero mark and the wind is howling. The Men’s Association is near its goal of providing enough fish for its annual fish fry in March. The annual fry is scheduled for March 16th.
THIS CORNER WAS SADDENED BY THE PASSING OF GERHARDT BARTING. Gerhardt was one of those good souls whose positive attitude, smile and happy manner always brightened one’s day. He will be sorely missed by his family and many friends.
THE GREGORY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY’S JANUARY MEETING WAS CANCELLED LAST WEEK DUE TO WEATHER The program on Bert Hall’s “Round-up Years: Old Muddy to the Black Hills” will be presented at the February 7th Historical Society meeting.
While doing a bit of reading of Hall’s book, I came across an article in the book on Lucas pioneer, John Jergins. There are undoubtably a few folks yet around who remember Mr. Jergins. He had a very interesting life. He was born in Denmark, and when a boy of seven his five brothers and sisters all died of diphtheria. Jergins’ uncle was a freighter captain and took his young nephew under his wing. While living with his uncle on the freighter he crossed and re-crossed the Atlantic a number of times. He never attended school but was educated by seamen on his uncle’s freighter. He was said to be excellent reader and mathematician. In his upper teens he made his way to South Dakota and on to the West River country settling in the Sully Flats area.
One of the first folks he met after crossing the Missouri was Jack Sully and was well acquainted with him until Sully’s untimely death. Jergins mentioned in the article that Sully related to him that he would not steal from his poor neighbors, but only from the rich easterners who ran their cattle on the reservation grasslands. Jergins related of several instances of how Sully avoided capture by the authorities including dressing as a woman on one occasion. It is interesting to this writer that Jergins’ relationship and attitude towards the legendary Sully pretty much holds true with all the folks who Hall interviewed regarding Sully when compiling his book. The interview took place in the 1940’s and Jergins stated, ‘The good old days are gone when a stranger was never refused board and lodging and was made welcome with no questions asked.” See you next week!
Author: Jack Broome
A historical group of men: these are WWI soldiers at the Lucas Store