Wealth Returns to Lyman County

The prior post on wealth leaving the Counties in S. Dak. has been countered by adjoining County of Lyman. A recent edition of the Lyman County Herald relates the return of wealth by a former resident.

Dakota (Mullen) Sturges was born to Judge Frank and Anna Mullen on a homestead southwest of Presho.Graduated from University of S. Dakota she returned to teach in Lyman County and in Tripp County in Winner. She married Fred Sturgis in Winner after returning from work at U. S. News and World Report Washington, D. C

Fred and "Kota" moved to Omaha, Nebraska and operated the W. H. Sturgis Company with Kota the business manager. The W. H. Sturgis Company's business was wool, hides, iron and metals, jack and jill rabbits(mink meat), wild animal furs, and prairie bones from past cattle and buffalo herds. Offices from Belle Fourche, Winner, Sioux City to Omaha retrieved and profited from the Western South Dakota used and unused material of the land.

Kota passed on several years ago and in her estate specified that three entities in Presho will each recieve $50,000 for three years. Returned wealth to Lyman county is $450,000.

Ripley's "Believe it or Not" carried a story on the W.H. Sturgis Company on collecting bones of the prairie.

Fred's brother, Charley operated the Winner branch andwas Winner's mayor. I have sold skunk and weasel furs and zinc lids from green mason jars to the business located on the corner west of main Winner.