In the Black Hills, gold may have been discovered in 1834 by Ezra Kind and his fellow miners. The Thoen Stone authored by Ezra Kind and found in 1887 by Louis Thoen details that gold, horses, gun and food was lost due to Indian attack. In the 1860’s Father DeSmet reported Sioux Indians carrying gold from the Black Hills.
The Black Hills Gold Rush began in 1874 after the Custer Expedition reported finding first gold in French Creek near Custer, SD. First gold was discovered byHoratio Ross and William McKay who traveled with the Custer expedition.
Decimal Degrees: 43.773008,-103.540849