Remains of early SD native to be laid to rest

DEADWOOD, S.D. (AP) – The remains of an early Deadwood resident, who was either of Native Indian or Asian descent, are back from anthropological examination and will be laid to rest on the afternoon of July 28 outside Mt. Moriah cemetery.
The bones of the “unknown pioneer,” as described by city officials, were discovered during construction of a retaining wall in April 2007 at 66 Taylor Ave., and appear to date from 1876-1879.
After being exhumed, they were sent to the State Archaeological Research Center for examination. According to the report, Dr. Susan M. Thurston Myster of Hamline University discovered the following:
– The remains are of an adult man between 25-34 years old.
– He was of Mongoloid ancestry, meaning he could be either American Indian, or of Asian descent.
– He was between 5-foot-4 and 5-foot-8 inches in height.
– At the time of death, the man had one tooth missing, and his body showed no sign of skeletal disease.
The disturbance of the unknown pioneer's eternal resting place has been a long time coming – his companions were disturbed 130 years ago.
Before Mt. Moriah was established in 1878, there was Ingleside cemetery, where the man was found at 66 Taylor Ave.
A June 18, 1877 edition of the Deadwood Pioneer reads, “There are 80 graves in the cemetery on the hill,” in reference to the Ingleside cemetery.
Soon after Lawrence County's incorporation in 1877, housing demands in the Deadwood area required more level ground, and as a result many of the interred bodies had to be moved up to Mt Moriah in 1878, said City Historic Officer Kevin Kuchenbecker.
The final resting place will be outside of the Mt. Moriah cemetery, not far from Seth Bullock's gravesite, said Deadwood Mayor Francis Toscana.
A site inside Mt. Moriah was not chosen, he said, because the city doesn't wish to cause “any more trouble” inside a cemetery known to have numerous unmarked gravesites.
Because of the unknown pioneer's ancestry, Toscana said that a Pine Ridge contingent would be present at the ceremony, as well as a number of members from the Wong family, an Asian bloodline who have a long history in Deadwood.
The ceremony will be open to the public.
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Information from: Black Hills Pioneer, http://www.bhpioneer.com