Nerve and perseverance are critical qualities in folks who ranch or farm for a living. No rancher or farmer ever had more nerve and perseverance than those who came to the western plains of South Dakota and made a life before roads, towns and other conveniences were commonplace. C. Henry Wendt was born in 1866 in Laemforde, Germany and came to the United States at the age of 15 in 1881. Henry lived in the St. Louis, Missouri area for several years before moving to the Black Hills where he became a naturalized citizen in 1890. He worked construction in the Deadwood area for Abe Jones before joining his Uncle, William Wendt, on his ranch near present day Nisland, SD on the Belle Fourche River. During the winter of 1888-89, he rode 90 head of Flying V saddle horses at Abe Jones’ Castle Rock camp. Henry must have liked the