John Eli Perrett (February 9, 1866 or 1868 – February 26, 1943), better known as Potato Creek Johnny,[a] was an American frontiersman and gold miner, best known for having discovered one of the largest gold nuggets ever discovered in the Black Hills in 1929. From then until the end of his life, Potato Creek Johnny became a local celebrity and promoted tourism to the Black Hills.
Potato Creek Johnny | |
|---|---|
| Born | John Eli Perrett February 9, 1866 or 1868 Abergavenny, Wales |
| Died | February 26, 1943 Deadwood, South Dakota, U.S. |
| Resting place | Mount Moriah Cemetery, Deadwood |
| Occupation | Gold miner |
| Known for | Discovery of one of the largest gold nuggets in the Black Hills |
Early life
editJohn Eli Perrett[1] was born in Abergavenny, Wales.[2] Accounts disagree whether the year of his birth was 1866 or 1868, but his birthday was reported as February 9.[1] His family immigrated to the United States in 1883, seeking fortune in the Black Hills gold rush.[3] The Perrett family arrived in New York City, took a train to Sidney, Nebraska, and then joined took a stagecoach to Central City, South Dakota.[1]
Although he initially worked various jobs in the area, including as a wrangler at Dorsett Ranch,[4] he started panning for gold with other prospectors in streams and rivers. He settled a claim on Potato Creek, a tributary of Spearfish Creek, from which he gained his nickname.[3] Potato Creek Johnny later began working in the pumphouse of the local tin mine but became unemployed after the mine closed in January 1929; following this, he resumed prospecting in Potato Creek.[1]
Gold nugget
editWhile panning on May 27, 1929, Potato Creek Johnny uncovered a 7.346 ozt (228.5 g) gold nugget, one of the largest ever discovered in the Black Hills.[5] In 1934, local businessman W.E. Adams bought the nugget from Johnny for $250 ($5,694 in 2023) and put it on display in the Adams Museum.[5] The same year, the original nugget was moved to a safe deposit box over theft concerns and a replica was put on display in its place.[6] In 2014, a secure case was installed in the museum so the original could be placed on permanent display.[5][7]
The authenticity of Potato Creek Johnny's gold nugget has been the subject of debate. Several local residents suspected that Johnny had created the nugget by melting down smaller quantities of gold into one piece; some accused him of having stolen the gold to do so.[3][8] Analysis of the nugget by various gold experts have determined the nugget is likely to be authentic, due to the presence of natural quartz crystals inside.[1]
Despite the controversy, Johnny's find made him a local folk hero. He grew out his hair and beard and dressed in old clothing, leaning into the stereotypical appearance of a 19th-century placer miner.[8] He participated in tourism efforts, being made an ambassador by the Deadwood Chamber of Commerce,[6] and became a feature of Deadwood's Days of '76 celebrations in subsequent years.[2] In 1939, he was pictured in Life magazine.[6]
Personal life
editOn March 13, 1907, Johnny married Molly Hamilton of Belle Fourche, South Dakota. They had no children and divorced in September 1928.[3]
Death and legacy
edit
Potato Creek Johnny died on February 26, 1943,[9] at the age of about 77,[10] after a two-week illness. His funeral procession on March 3 passed by the Adams Museum, and a bell tolled 77 years, once for each year of his life.[1] He is buried next to Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane in Mount Moriah Cemetery in Deadwood.[9][11]
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h Fine, John Christopher (October 9, 2014). "Biggest Nugget in the Black Hills". True West Magazine. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Fielder, Mildred (June 1, 1963). "Potato Creek Johnny". Wi-Iyohi. 17 (3). South Dakota State Historical Society. Retrieved August 29, 2024 – via South Dakota Digital Archives.
- ^ a b c d "Potato Creek Johnny". Black Hills Visitor Magazine. October 16, 2015. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
- ^ Pechan, Beverly; Groethe, Bill (2005). Deadwood: 1876–1976. Arcadia Publishing. p. 107. ISBN 9780738539799.
- ^ a b c "Potato Creek Johnny gold nugget to go on display". Rapid City Journal. May 7, 2014. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
- ^ a b c Ledbetter, George (October 6, 1995). "Adams Museum ready to show famed gold nugget". Rapid City Journal. p. C1. Retrieved August 29, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Historic SD gold nugget on permanent display". Argus Leader. Associated Press. June 30, 2014. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
- ^ a b Michak, Jessica (December 4, 2015). "Potato Creek Johnny & The PCJ Gold Nugget". South Dakota Public Broadcasting. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
- ^ a b "'Potato Creek Johnny' Joins Famed Pioneers Who Opened Up The West's Last Frontier". The Weekly Pioneer-Times. March 4, 1943. p. 1. Retrieved August 29, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Infamous Deadwood: Potato Creek Johnny". Deadwood. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
- ^ McDaniel, Randy (February 16, 2017). "A South Dakota Legend: Potato Creek Johnny". KXRB. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
Further reading
edit- Fielder, Mildred (1979). Potato Creek Johnny. Deadwood: Centennial Distributors.
- Morgan-Richards, Lorin (2015). Welsh In The Old West. A Raven Above Press. ISBN 9780983002093.