Battle of Bonesteel

The town was named for H.E. Bonesteel, early day freighter. Its first postmaster was Francis M. Safeser, 1 August 1892. By 1905 it had 754 people and had made the Big Time Headlines. It came about his way. In 1902 the railroad reached Bonesteel and in 1904 the eastern part of the Rosebud Reservation, the west part of Gregory County, 385,817 acres, enough land for 2,412 one hundred and sixty acre homesteads was opened to filing.

Registrations for the drawing were held at Yankton, 57,432 filings; Fairfax, 8,700; Chamberlain, 6,100 and BONESTEEL, 35,176. Chances on the drawing were 1 to 46. It was a royal holiday, trains running night and day; everything ‘wide open’ and the gamblers, confidence men and underworld of 1904 flocked to Bonesteel for a change to mulch the gullible who came to file.

One July 18th, 4,000 plus registered at Bonesteel. Jim Nelon, the police chief, retired and then as one newspaper states: ‘until the citizens organized and with the aid of Patsy Magner, Stanton, Bob Calahan and other sporting men of the better class drove the gang out of town after a sharp fight the town was practically in the hands of thugs.

’ Magner said there were 200 of them and their slogan was ‘stand for no pinch.’ Under the headlines ‘BONESTEEL HAS HOT EVENING’ it was said ‘the bad men simply mobbed the officers, took their clubs and guns, pounded them up and took their stars.’ One tough was killed, two wounded and two ‘fly cops’ Harrison and Stambaugh wounded.

Sheriff Taylor asked for troops but things quieted down. That was the ‘Battle of Bonesteel.’