The first point and oldest known grave site in the Black Hills of South Dakota is located at N44º 08.317´ W103º 23.481´ This grave takes you back in history to when George A. Custer with his 1200 troops and some 200 wagons first explored this area during the summer of 1874. It was one of Custer’s men- Private James King that died of dysentery in August of 1874, creating the oldest gravesite in The Black Hills of South Dakota. The Gravesite is located just west of Rapid City along Nemo Road.

(See Photos below of Pvt. James King’s Gravesite)

Note-During Custer’s trip he did loose 2 other men during that 1874 summer trip from Fort Abraham Lincoln in the Northern Dakota Territory, through the Black Hills and back. One died of Dysentery and the other from a gunshot wound to the stomach during an argument. They are buried outside the Black Hills in Wyoming near Inya Cara.

To find the second point of this multipoint cache you must search for the clue containing the coordinates. The clue is located less than a 7th Calvary rifle’s length away from Private King's Headstone. This information will lead you to the second oldest known gravesite dated May 1876. It is located on what was then the open plains leading into the Black Hills (on the eastern edge of Rapid City) and is the grave of the first known white man (William Cogan) who was killed by Indians. Several days later his body was found at this location and was buried by the men of the newly established (2 months old) town of Rapid City, Dakota Territory. William Cogan died while on his way to fame and fortune, as the word was just out - there was gold in the Black Hills.

The roadway sign at the site is missing but it used to read:

In Memory of William Cogan

Watertown, Wisconsin

Killed by Indians May 4, 1876

He was enroute to the new gold discoveries in the Black Hills when surprised and killed by a band of Sioux warriors as part of their last stand against encroachment of their sacred land by the white man. He was buried on this spot by the citizens of the new village of Rapid City.

(See the photos below of the missing sign and William Cogan's Grave)

Now that you are at the final location here are some Cache Hunting Clues:

• Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust and Rocks to Rocks.
• Rock hard objects have historically been used to mark a great many things.
• If a Rock the size of a Headstone was used to mark a grave what would you use to mark a cache?

Please be sure to enter your thoughts and ideas about this cache in the log book, take and leave a souvenir and please make sure you leave the cache container very well hidden so it won’t accidentally be discovered.

We hope you enjoyed this historical cache as much as we did creating it!

-Team Family Affair