The Running Water Ferry

This historical site was once the docking location for the Running Water ferry, a river boat which carried passengers across the Missouri River from Running Water, South Dakota, to Niobrara, Nebraska, and vice versa. The Running Water ferry dates back to the early 1870's, and operated until the summer of 1984; during this period, the ferry changed names, and ownership, numerous times. For over a hundred years, everyday people used the Running Water ferry to get to work, to go to school, to see family, and to visit friends; the Running Water ferry was a mechanism which bridged the gap between communities.

In 1870, a member of the Dakota territorial legislature, Henry Brooks, established a homestead in what is now Running Water, South Dakota. Shortly after Brooks settled, a railroad line to the Black Hills was built through the Running Water area. The rail road quickly drew settlers, and businesses to Running Water. Brooks was involved in several business practices in the area which included a livestock feed operation, cattle ranching, and a general store. In his work with cattle ranching, Brooks oversaw the transportation of cattle from Nebraska to South Dakota. He used his wealth, and land on the shores of Running Water to build a ferry operation. The operation which began in the early 1870’s was used during the transportation of thousands of cattle from Niobrara, Nebraska to Running Water, South Dakota. During the ferry’s opening years, it became very popular as it was the only method of crossing the Missouri River between Knox County, Nebraska, and Bon Homme County, South Dakota (within 40 miles).

In 1874, Brook’s ferry operation was bought out by another politically involved businessman named Joseph Leach. Leach was noted for his promotion of Running Water as a port town during the late 19^th century. Leach’s ferry was named The Josephine, and operated until 1899. The Josephine was replaced by The Little Pearl ferry which was owned and run by David Billick. David Billick paid close attention to the craftsmanship of The Little Pearl, hiring a skilled carpenter named John Stout to build the boat. Stout, and his team of workers built The Little Pearl as a sturdy boat capable of carrying four horse teams with wagons. The Little Pearl was powered by four horses located in the boat’s hull; the horses moved in a circle, rotating a rod that connected to a series of mechanisms which turned the paddle, and propelled the boat.

The Little Pearl was such a success that a farmer named Elmer Stumbo offered his entire 160-acre farm to Billick in exchange for the ferry operation; Billick agreed to the offer. Stumbo operated the ferry for only a year, and then sold it to two men named Ben Gross, and Joe Rudloff. Gross and Rudloff converted the The Little Pearl to run on a gasoline powered engine, and changed the boat’s name to Little Ann. However, in 1906, the sons of David Billick (Arb and Dorr), bought Little Ann, and changed the boat’s name back to The Little Pearl. 

In 1915, a businessman named John Fitch bought The Little Pearl, and added two more ferries to the operation: the Falls City, and the L.S. Robert. John Fitch operated the ferries until 1940, when Henry Olsen, and his son, George Olsen took ownership. The Olsen family operated one ferry under the name Bertha, until 1954, when the operation was purchased by a married couple: Kathryn Ann Gretschman, and John Gretschman. Kathryn Ann Gretschman, who captained Bertha from 1958, to 1960, was the first woman to hold a license to operate passenger carrying vessels on the Missouri River.

The Bertha eventually sank during the winter of 1960, and was replaced by a ferry boat named Sally Ann. Sally Ann was owned, and run by Otis Cogdill, and his daughter, Anita Cogdill. Otis Cogdill named Sally Ann, after his eldest daughter, Sally Ann Cogdill. When Otis Cogdill retired, he passed Sally Ann on to Sally Ann Cogdill’s husband, Paul Henrickson. In 1974, a businessman named Mickey May took over the operation, and replaced the Sally Ann, with a ferry boat named Running Water. May operated the ferry until 1984, when he suffered a back injury. For a few months, the ferry was commandeered by a man named Chad Wilson, until Running Water ended operations in the summer of 1984. The Running Water ferry was the last ferry to operate between Running Water, South Dakota, and Niobrara, Nebraska.

In 1998, the Chief Standing Bear Memorial Bridge was built to replace the function of the Running Water ferry. The bridge was built across the Missouri River, connecting Running Water, South Dakota and Niobrara, Nebraska.  

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