USA > Idaho > Owyhee County > A historical, descriptive and commercial directory of Owyhee County, Idaho, January 1898 > Part 1
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wyhee Historical IXM
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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATION
Sinker Canyon.
A HISTORICAL, DESCRIPTIVE
AND
COMMERCIAL DIRECTORY
OF
Owyhee County, Idaho.
JANUARY, 1898.
.
SILVER CITY, IDAHO : PRESS OF THE OWYHEE AVALANCHE. MDCCCXCVIII.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 317462A ASTOR, LENOX A!' ') TILDEN FOUNDA .... . R 1927 L
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DEDICATION.
Dedicated to those Pioneers who pinned their faith to the ultimate prosperity of Owybee County, and erpended their "bottom dollar" to achieve that result.
IDAHO.
HISTORICAL.
The state of Idaho is a portion of that vast territory lying west of the Mississippi river which was acquired by purchase from France, during the administration of President Jefferson, in 1803. In the spring of 1804 an expedi- tion in charge of Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark was organ- ized under the auspices of the United States government, for the purpose of exploring the newly-acquired territory. The expedition started in May, 1804. and wintered on the Missouri river in what is now Montana. On September 11, 1805, they crossed the Bitter Root mountains, and nine days later reached a settlement of the Nez Perce Indians, on Clearwater river. After many days of severe privations and hardships they succeeded in reaching the mouth of the Columbia river on November 14, 1805, where they wintered, and left the fol- lowing spring for St. Louis, which they reached in safety September, 1806. It is an undisputed fact that the first white man who trod the soil of Idaho was Captain William Clark. The territory being at that time only considered valuable for furs, several fur companies were organized, the first on the field being the Missouri Fur Company, who built Fort Henry, at the headwaters of the Snake river, but shortly afterwards abandoned it. In October, 1811, the Pacific Fur Company sent an expedition in charge of Wilson P. Hunt, who made their way to the coast, along the Snake river, and after considerable suf- fering reached Fort Astoria, at the mouth of the Columbia river, February 15,
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HISTORICAL DIRECTORY OF
1812. Several other expeditions followed, the principal one being that in charge of Captain B. L. E. Bonneville. In 1835, Nathaniel J. Wyeth, of Bos- ton, crossed the Rocky mountains with sixty men and established Fort Hall. a well-known landmark to the cmigrants of the "forties," it being undoubtedly the first permanent white settlement in Idaho. In the same year, Fort Boise was established by the Hudson's Bay Company, who eventually absorbed the property of the American companies whose ventures had not proved a success financially.
Following in the footsteps of the trappers were the missionaries, who established themselves among the Indians in various parts of the territory, the first Protestant mission in Idaho being located in Lapwai valley. They also paved the way for the immense immigration to Oregon which took place in the early "forties."
Prior to the organic act constituting the territory of Idaho, aside from the inissions there were only a few French Canadians engaged in farming in the Coeur d'Alene country. In 1854, a colony of Mormons settled on Salmon river, in the locality now called Lemhi county. They erected a fort which they named Fort Lemhi, but were driven out by the Nez Perce Indians in 1858.
But the solitudes of the canyons and mountain fastnesses of Idaho were soon to be broken by the tread of thousands of adventurers in their mad rush for the precious metal. The first authenticated discovery of gold in Idaho was on the banks of the Pend d'Oreille river, by a French Canadian. Then followed the finding of the richer and more extensive diggings at Oro Fino, in the summer of 1860, by a party of eleven men who wintered there without intercourse with the outside world. Subsequent discoveries were made at Elk City, Rhodes creek and Canal gulch, where Pierce City was established in 1861. During the fall of 1861 discoveries were made at Salmon river which created considerable excitement, and the town of Florence was established. The next important discovery was made by a party of twelve men from Walla Walla, at Boise basin, in August, 1862. On their first entry into the basin, one of the party, named Grimes, was killed by Indians, and the balance returned to Walla Walla, where they succeeded in raising a party of fifty-five men, and returned to Boise basin in October, 1862.
The news of this new discovery spread quickly, and by the first of Jan- uary over 3,000 miners were camped in Boise basin. The following summer found over 10,000 miners at work at the different diggings. Towns sprang up like mushrooms, Idaho City, with a population of 6,000, boasting, aside from its complement of stores, saloons and hotels, two churches, four theaters, three newspapers and a well-equipped fire department. In close proximity were the towns of Placerville with a population of 5,000, Centerville with a popula- tion of 3,000, and Pioneer City with a population of 2,000. Communications with the outer world were difficult; supplies were hard to obtain and prices ruled high, but the diggings were rich, wages being ordinarily $18.00 a day, and the honest miner paid, with good grace, $12.00 for shovels, $10.00 for cats and $5.00 for chickens.
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OWYHEE COUNTY, IDAIIO.
Other valuable discoveries followed, prominent among which were those of Owyhee, Alturas and Wood river. In 1883-4 occurred the Coeur d'Alene stampede, when 5,000 gold hunters crossed the terrible snows of the mountains, and met with bitter disappointment.
DESCRIPTIVE.
Idaho was originally a part of the vast territory called the "Oregon country" and the "Louisiana purchase." The territory of Idaho was formed by act of congress, March 3, 1863, from portions of what was then known as Washington, Dakota and Nebraska, and embraced the present Idaho, Montana, and a greater portion of Wyoming. It then contained an area of 326,373 square miles lying between the 104th and 117th meridians of longitude, and the 42d and 49th parallels of latitude. By act of congress passed May 25, 1868, creating the territories of Montana and Wyoming, Idaho was reduced to its present limits. The name Idaho is of Indian origin, signifying "Gem of the Mountains." Among the legends of the Shoshones is one of "a shining gem forever resting on a mountain, and forever inaccessible." How the name was applied to this state is a matter of great dispute, but the most reasonable solution is that it was chosen in congress as the appellation of the territory through the insistence of George B. Walker, of Idaho, and Senator Wilson, of Massachusetts. The conformation of Idaho is that of a large chair, and it ranks as the twelfth American commonwealth, its area amounting to 84,800 square miles, being larger than the New England states combined, and equal to Pennsylvania and Ohio united.
Its formation is peculiar, consisting of a vast wedge-shaped table land, rising gradually from a height of 4,000 to 10,000 feet, and, as Professor Hayden remarks, "Literally crumpled or rolled up, in one continuous series of moun- tain ranges, fold after fold."
The principal mountain ranges are the Coeur d'Alene and Bitter Root in the north, and the Rocky and Wahsatch in the southeast; in the central portion of the state the Boise, Wood River, Salmon River and Sawtooth, and prominent in the southwest the Owyhee.
The prominent rivers are the Snake, Clearwater, Spokane and Pend d'Oreille, all of which empty into the Columbia. The principal river is the Snake, in its erratic course in places turbulent and swift, and again sluggish: and deceitful. Twenty-five miles below Fort Hall, at an altitude of 4,240 feet, it takes its first plunge at American falls, then, swiftly coursing through canyons of several miles in length, reaches the Twin falls, four miles below which are the Great Shoshone falls, which have been aptly termed the "Niagara of the West," having a fall of fully 210 feet. Forty miles below this
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HISTORICAL DIRECTORY OF
the river makes its final plunge at Salmon falls, and then winds its treacherous and tortuous course onward to the Columbia river, making a descent of 2,110 feet in a distance of 250 miles. The principal lakes are the Coeur d'Alene, Pend d'Oreille, Bear, Kaniksu and Payette. Of these the only one navigable is the Coeur d'Alene, a line of steamers plying between Coeur d'Alene City and the old mission, the lake being thirty miles in length, with a varying width from two to four miles.
The number of acres of land in the state is approximately 55,000,000, classified and roughly estimated as follows: Suitable for agricultural purposes by means of irrigation, 15,000,000 acres; grazing lands, 17,000,000 acres; timber lands, 10,000,000 acres; mineral lands, 8,000,000 acres; desert lands, 5,000,000 acres.
The climate varies greatly; the plains, while having cold and bracing winters, make a happy medium between the severe climate of the mountains and the mildness of the valleys, the summers being, generally throughout the state, cool and pleasant. United States census reports and statistics of the United States army prove beyond doubt that Idaho is the most healthy state in the Union.
The agricultural lands in the northern part of the state are well watered by natural sources, but farming in Southern Idaho depends more or less upon irrigation. Large crops of cereals, vegetables, hay and fruits are raised annually, and the same find ready markets at good prices throughout the mining camps generally. The grazing of horses, cattle and sheep is also largely carried on, the stock wintering in the open air on the plains, which abound in bunch grass and white sage, whose fattening qualities are well known. during the summer months seeking the nutritious grasses of the mountain ranges.
By proclamation of President Harrison, Idaho was declared a state, July 3, 1890, the government of which is in the hands of a governor, executive officers and a biennial legislature. The capitol, erected in 1885-7, is at Boise City. The state institutions comprise the state university at Moscow, insane asylum at Blackfoot, state normal schools at Lewiston and Albion, and peni- tentiary near Boise City. The United States government has experimental stations in agriculture at Idaho Falls and Grangeville.
The leading religious denominations are Episcopalian. Methodist, Presby- terian, Baptist and Roman Catholic, all of whom are owners of fine and sub- stantial church buildings, in all settlements of any magnitude. The Church of the Latter Day Saints has also a large following in the southeastern part of the state.
The educational facilities of the state rank with those of any of the Western states, and are evinced by the many fine school buildings which have been erected in the large towns. The public schools are supported by public taxation and endowed with two sections of land in cach township. There are several sectarian schools in the state, prominent among which are Wilbur col- lege (Methodist), Lewiston; St. Teresa's academy (Catholic), Boise, and St.
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OWYHEE COUNTY, IDAHO.
Margaret's school (Episcopal), Boise. The interests of popular education are being continually furthered by the liberal and progressive spirit of the people and the legislature of the state.
There are about 4,000 Indians, mainly Shoshones and Nez Perces, attached to reservations and under the jurisdiction of United States troops, of which an eight-company post is located at Fort Sherman, and a two-company post at Boise barracks.
Newspapers are numerous, every town or hamlet of any consequence hay- ing its representative weekly. The first printing press west of the Rocky mountains and north of California was presented to the Lapwai mission by the Protestant native church of the Sandwich islands, and was used in 1836 for printing books in the Nez Perce language.
The great seal of the state of Idaho bears a shield with a view of the Snake river, with the Owyhee mountains on the left and Bannock mountains on the right, and a rising sun in the background. The crest is a full antlered elk's head; beneath the shield, a sheaf of grain, with two cornucopias of plenty. The supporters are Liberty and a miner. The motto is "Esto Perpetua" (May it last forever).
Bancroft, in his "History of the Pacific States," speaks of Idaho as follows:
"It was the common judgment of the first explorers that there was more of strange and awful in the scenery and topography of Idaho than of the pleas- ing and attractive. A more intimate acquaintance with the less conspicuous features of the country revealed many beauties. The climate of the valleys was found to be far milder than from their elevation could have been expected. Picturesque lakes were discovered nestled among the mountains, or furnishing in some instances navigable waters. Fish and game abounded. Fine forests of pine and fir covered the mountain slopes, except in the lava region; and nature, even in this phenomenal part of her domain, had not forgotten to prepare the earth for the occupation of man, nor neglected to give him a wondrously warm and fertile soil to compensate for the labor of subduing the savagery of her apparently waste places."
OWYHEE COUNTY.
In 1862 the present county of Owyhee was a part of Boise county, which comprised all of the western portion of Washington territory lying south of what was then called Idaho county, its area being nearly equal to that of Pennsylvania. When Idaho was created a territory by act of congress, March 3. 1863, Boise county became part and parcel of the territory of Idaho, and at the first session of the territorial legislature, held at Lewiston, Idaho, Owyhee county was
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HISTORICAL DIRECTORY OF
created, December 31, 1863, out of all territory south of Snake river and west of the Rocky mountains.
In 1864 Oneida county, and in 1879 Cassia county, were cut off of Owyhee county, reducing it to its present limits. Its northern boundary line is the Snake river, Cassia county on the east, state of Oregon west, and the state of Nevada forms its southern boundary. Its area is 8,130 square miles, being somewhat larger than the state of Massachusetts. Its name, "Owyhee," is believed to have been borrowed from the Hawaiian language, and to have been given to the Owyhee river by two Kanakas in the employ of the Hudson's Bay Company.
Prior to the spring of 1863, Owyhee county was an unexplored country, habited only by bands of hostile Indians, while at that time the diggings of Boise basin and Oro Fino boasted of a population of over 10,000 miners. A legend of the carly immigrants to Oregon of the "Blue Bucket diggings," in the vicinity of the Owyhee mountains, wherein they used sinkers of gold for fishing purposes, led several adventurous spirits to organize a party of dis- covery at Placerville, in May, 1863. The party consisted of the following: Michael Jordan, A. J. Miner, J. C. Boone, P. H. Gordan, L. C. Gehr, G. W. Chadwick, Cy Iba, William Phipps, Joseph Dorsey, Jerome Francisco, John Moore, J. R. Cain, W. Churchill, H. R. Wade, A. J. Reynolds, James Carroll, William Duncan, Dr. A. F. Rudd. F. Height, W. L. Wade, John Cannon, M. Conner, C. Ward, R. W. Prindall, D. P. Barnes, W. T. Carson, J. Johnson, A. Eddington and O. H. Purdy, in all numbering twenty-nine.
We take the following from the narration of O. H. Purdy, a member of the party, a well-known citizen of Silver City, who was killed in the skirmish with the Bannock Indians at South mountain, in June, 1878:
"We crossed Snake river at the mouth of Boise river, traveling in a southwesterly direction, until we came to, at that time, quite a large stream, which we named, in honor of the laziest man in the company, 'Reynolds creek.' We camped here one day. During the day, two of the party, Wade and Miner, ascended the divide westerly from camp, on a tour of observation, and discovered still farther south and west what appeared to be a large stream, judging from the topographical formation of the mountains, which were well timbered. This was reported to the balance in camp.
"The next morning (May 18, 1863), our party of twenty-nine. men and about sixty horses and mules was headed in the direction of the supposed water- course, which we reached about 4:00 o'clock p. m., at a point we named 'Discovery Bar,' about six miles below where Booneville now is. The locality presenting a favorable place for camping, it was so agreed. Dr. Rudd, a verdant emigrant, not waiting to unpack his mule, took his shovel, and, scoop- ing up some of the loose gravel on the bank of the creek, 'panned it out' and obtained about a hundred 'colors.' The excitement and amazement which followed this 'discovery' can better be imagined than described. In ten min- utes, every man, with pan and shovel (except the lazy man), was busy digging and panning, and upon their return about an hour after each man had favorable prospects to exhibit.
Natural Arch in Bruneau Canyon.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATION
11
OWYHEE COUNTY, IDAHO.
"The prospecting continued up the creek for ten or twelve days, when, at 'Happy Camp,' the laws of the district were made and adopted, the creek and district named, and claims located-the creek and district taking the names of two of our company, Michael Jordan and W. T. Carson."
It may be interesting to know the future of this party of twenty-nine, but a great many of them have unfortunately passed into obscurity. Michael Jordan and James Carroll fell victims to Indians in 1864. H. R. Wade was the first county treasurer-elect, and he and W. T. Carson died at Silver City in 1865. William Duncan died in 1873, in Nevada. J. R. Cain moved to Boise valley. Height and Iba emigrated to Southeastern Idaho, and Height recently sold the Hailey hot springs, of which he was the proprietor. Purdy, as stated before, met his fate by Indians in 1878. The return of the party to Boisc basin with the news of the discovery at once created a "stampede" for Owyhec, and the mining towns of Booneville and Ruby City were speedily in course of erection, and gold hunters busily engaged in changing the formation of Florida and War Eagle mountains. In July, 1863, the first quartz ledge was discovered and located, in Whiskey gulch, by R. H. Wade & Co. A few days after, the Oro Fino quartz ledge was discovered and located by A. J. Sands and Svale Neilson, who a month later also located the "Morning Star." The first quartz mill, called the "Morning Star," with an equipment of eight stamps, was erected by More; Fogus &. Co. In May, 1864, the Oro Fino Gold & Silver Tunnel Company was incorporated in Carson district, to run a tunnel through Oro Fino mountain, on which were at that time thirty loca- tions, one of which was the "War Eagle," which gave its name subsequently to the mountain. The tunnel company; however, never materialized, though the project has again been agitated in the later days.
The great discovery of 1865 was the celebrated Poorman minc. According to Professor Gilbert Butler, it was discovered by O'Brien, Holt, Zerr, Ebner. Stevens and Ray, and was first called the "Hays & Ray." Some say it was dis- covered by D. C. O'Byrne, and others mention Charles S. Peck. It is said that it was first discovered by Peck, about 1,000 feet from the present discovery shaft. in which he (Peck) uncovered a rich chimney, but concealed his discovery, and. finding that it lay within the boundaries of the Hays & Ray claim, endeavored to purchase the mine from the owners, but was unsuccessful. The chimney, how- ever, was uncovered by another company of prospectors, and the mine was then named the "Poorman," on account of the discoverers being without capital to work it. Peck was subsequently given an interest in the mine by the owners, but in the meanwhile a fight for possession was imminent, the owners barricading the entrance of the mine and mounting a couple of pieces of ordnance, naming the fortifications "Fort Baker." The ore taken from the Poorman was a silver chloride, richly impregnated with gold, easily worked. and soft as lead, which it resembled, tinted crimson, which gave it its name of uby silver. As it came from the mine it readily sold for $4.00 an ounce, which was said to be much below its real value.
At a depth of 100 feet a body of native ore was uncovered weighing about 500 pounds, which was one solid mass of ruby silver crystals, specimens of which were exhibited at the Paris exposition of 1866 and were awarded a gold
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HISTORICAL DIRECTORY OF
medal. Two thousand tons of second and third-class rock yielded $546,691.59, and tailings went over $70.00 to the ton, first-class rock ranging from $4,000.00 to $5,000.00 per ton. Other mines of note were discovered in Carson, Mam- moth and Flint districts, and between 1863 and 1865 250 mining locations were recorded, the principal ones, aside from those previously mentioned, being the Golden Chariot, War Eagle, Ida Elmore, Whiskey Gulch, Minnesota, Silver Bullion, Hidden Treasure, Noonday, Centurion, Golden Eagle, Allison, Blazing Star, Montana, Home Ticket, Floreta, Silver Legion, Eureka, Calaveras, Cale- donian, Empire, Dashaway, Red Jacket, Mahogany, Stormy Hill, South Chariot, Illinois Central, Belle Peck, North Extension Poorman, South Poor- man, Lucky Poorman, Big Fish, Boycott, Glenbrook, Clearbrook, Idlewild, North Empire, South Empire, San Juan, Dubuque, Silver Cloud, Louisiana, Ruby Jackson, Silver City, Ruth, Sinker, By Chance, Potosi, Rattling Jack. St. James, Northern Light, Crook & Jennings, Brannan, Home Resort. Savage, Piute, Miami, Lone Tree, Home Stake, Little Fish, Silver Cord, Golden Cord, Standard, Philox, Webfoot, Wilson, Idaho, Gentle Emma, Stoddard, Ohio, Henrietta, Tremont, Crown Point, Redemption, Booneville, Empire State, Florida Hill, Seventy-Nine, Paymaster, Cumberland, Black Jack, Leviathan, Sierra Nevada, Yreka, Owyhee Treasury, Avenue, Rose, Hudson, Phoenix, and Carson Chief, all in Carson district, besides the Webfoot and Garfield in Wagontown district, and Rising Star, Astor and Twilight in Flint district.
The Owyhee mines, up to 1881, were worked to a depth which varied from 150 to 1,500 feet. The Owyhee Treasury, at a depth of one hundred feet down, yielded ore worth seventy-five cents per pound. A "stringer" in the mine, worked in a common mortar, yielded $46.00 to a pound of ore.
The mining camps for several years flourished and enjoyed a continuous run of unparalleled prosperity until the year of 1875, when the suspension of the Bank of California and other causes for a while paralyzed the mining industries of the county, and resulted in the withdrawal from the field of a number of large companies who had been in active operation here.
While it was considered somewhat hazardous in the early history of this county to follow the pursuit of what might be termed "experimental farming" in a country which was generally regarded as the home of the miner, and a locality where the sage brush blossomed as the rose, nevertheless a few hardy pioneers of agricultural proclivities, like their worthy congeners, the honest miners, prospected the soil with good results; others followed in their foot- steps, and today, where formerly the hardy sage brush flourished and the wary coyote trod, we find thousands of acres covered with thrifty farms and orchards, yielding annually almost fabulous quantities of cereals and esculents. The valleys of the Bruneau, Reynolds creek. Castle creek, Catherine creek and Sinker creek are unsurpassed for fertility and productiveness of soil, and the mountain slopes in season are luxuriant with the most nutritious grasses, affording the best of ranges for stock raising. With irrigation scientifically applied, Owyhee farmers have succeeded in transforming what was termed in immigration days the "God-forsaken country" to an earthly paradise. Wheat is always a sure crop, and great success has been met with with barley and
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OWYHEE COUNTY, IDAHO.
oats. Hay of all descriptions, mostly alfalfa, is produced in large quantities ; and potatoes, cabbages and all the smaller garden vegetables grown in great profusion. Fruits, vines and shrubs, wherever planted, have turned out thrifty and produced largely.
To the weary traveler crossing the dreary, monotonous and arid plains of Owyhee, the emerald and picturesque ranches, sequestered in the deep canyons of the creeks, are a source of joy and beauty.
It was early discovered that cattle that were fed on the nutritious bunch grass and white sage that abounded on the plains and mountain slopes of Owyhee county attained a perfection of bone, muscle and flesh not equaled by any other locality, and this led to a rapid settling of the ranges of Bruneau, Reynolds, Castle, Catherine, Sinker, Cow and Sucker creeks, which were speedily covered with immense herds of hardy cattle.
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