The next was the establishment of Fort Robinson, and then the Black Hills discovery of gold. In the late seventies the ranchmen came. It is difficult to call a restless mortal like Edgar Beecher Bronson a ranchman because he tarried on Soldier creek for a few weeks or months, or on the Niobrara river a similar length of time. There were many flyby-nights that came and tarried, then went on into oblivion, or distinction as the case may be, that are as entitled to be called ranchmen as is Bronson.

First Ranches

Emmons & Brewster built the first ranch in Sioux county about twelve or fifteen miles northwest of the present site of Harrison. The surveyors of 1878 place this ranch upon the map, and while several others were located at or near the same time, they were not in evidence when the surveyor's parties ran the meridians and parallels. Newman's ranch and Hunter & Evans' ranch were in the east portion, now Sheridan and Cherry counties, and Col. Charles Coffee came to Hat creek about that time. Down on the Niobrara river Doctor Graham was building the Agate ranch, which has become historic.

As distinguished from ranchmen the first real# settlers arrived about eighteen eightyone* They settled in the vicinity of the fort for the protection it gave them. L. E. Belden was the first. John Foxwell came, but did not stay long. Daniel Klein arrived soon after. The Rigdons arrived the same year, or eighteen eighty-two. Then came Henry Kreman, who now has the old Foxwell place.