USA > Idaho > Owyhee County > A historical, descriptive and commercial directory of Owyhee County, Idaho, January 1898 > Part 12
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JOHNSON, MR. RICHARD Z., was born at Akron, O., May 21, 1837, and removed with his parents to Ashland, in that state, where his youth was passed. Studied law with his father, and in New York, and took the degree of LL. B. at Yale. Was first admitted to the bar at St. Paul, Minn. Came to Owyhee county from Virginia City, Nev., in the spring of 1865, and continued to reside there in the practice of his profession until December, 1878, when he removed to Boise City, which has since been his residence.
Was a member of the council of the eleventh session of the territorial legislature, and chairman of the judiciary committee, and jointly with the late John S. Gray prepared and introduced the code of civil procedure at that session. Also drew the bill creating the independent school district of Boise City, and was for fifteen years one of the board of directors of the school. Was one of the commissioners who compiled the revised statutes of 1887; attorney general for two terms, and for several years a regent of the state university, which position he resigned, as he felt that his frequent absence in Europe prevented him from properly discharging the duties of the position. In recognition of his services the board of regents afterwards conferred upon him the degree of LL. D.
Mr. Johnson is now engaged in the practice of his profession with his son, Richard H. Johnson, who was born in Silver City.
JORDAN, MR. MICHAEL, now a resident of Reynolds, this county, came to Owyhee in May, 1864, and mined on Jordan creek for three years.
WIELLAMSON HARTHEM. DENEEN
Gilbert Mikkelson.
Ezra MIlis.
John Mitchell.
John Noble, Sr.
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For the next five years he followed the wood business, and afterwards had a toll road at South mountain, which he held about eighteen months. Then returned to Silver City, and kept a boarding house on War Eagle mountain for several years, and had various contracts during that time. Moved to Reynolds creek in 1884 to take charge of a toll road, and has since followed that business.
JOYCE, MR. MATTHEW, was born in Ireland on New Year's eve, 1830. He emigrated at an early age to America, and located at Keokuk, Illinois, where he subsequently, in 1856, was married to Mary Fahy. In 1864, with his family, he crossed the plains, and arrived at Ruby City May 20, 1865. Since that time was engaged in various enterprises, but for a number of years past was engaged in ranching and stockraising. On June 26, 1893, he met with an accident which resulted in the amputation of his leg, from the effects of which he never recovered, and his death took place September 5, 1893. Mr. Joyce was kindhearted, honest, and generous to a fault, and numbered many friends.
KELLY, MR. JAMES PATRICK, was born in the Province of Quebec, near Montreal, May 6, 1836, and was engaged in farming pursuits up to 1870, when he left there and came direct to. Silver City, arriving there in the fall of 1870. Was engaged in mining there. until 1875, when he participated in the "Bodie" excitement, and was engaged in engineering in the "Bodie mill" for over five years. He then returned to Owyhee county, and has since perma- nently resided here, engaged in farming. At present he is the manager of the "Bruce ranch," located at the upper end of "Castle creek. He is the father of the Kelly Bros., proprietors of the Long Gulch stables at Silver City.
LAMBERT, MR. QUIZNEE FRANCE, was born in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, on April 22, 1835. Was educated for the ministry, attending a Presbyterian theological school for nine years; but at the age of nineteen he concluded that the ministry was not to his liking, and ran away from home, going to Iowa. Later he joined a party headed toward the Golden Gate, and crossed the plains, arriving in California in 1856. Mined for a few years in San Joaquin and El Dorado counties, and then took up ranch- ing and stockraising, at which he made a considerable fortune. Came to Silver City on June 30, 1870, via Mountain City, Nevada. He discovered the rich placer ground at Island mountain, but during a temporary absence the ground was jumped and he lost it. During his residence in Owyhee county, Mr. Lambert has been engaged in various enterprises, and has a small but well-kept ranch on Sinker creek. Was married in Silver City on June 25. 1893, to Miss Alice Colburn, of Chicago, but the alliance proved to be very disagreeable, and a divorce was obtained in 1895.
LEONARD, ROBERT H., SR., was born in Bowdin. Maine, in June. 1832. At the age of twenty years (1852) he went to California via the Nic- aragua route at Panama, where he followed mining and lumbering until 1861. On March 4 of that year (Lincoln's inauguration), he started with a big saw mill, teams and logging outfit for Aurora, Nevada. In the spring of 1862 he outfitted a party for a prospecting tour into Idaho.
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At that time they had to blaze their own trails. They came up the Humboldt river, crossed to the headwaters of the Owyhee, and descended that river to its junction with Snake river. The latter stream was swollen, bank-full, by the spring floods, and the party was compelled to follow its windings to Lewiston before securing ferriage. Mr. Leonard's party wintered in the Salmon river country. From that point he returned to Nevada, via Portland, staging from the latter city to Aurora, a distance of nearly 1000 miles. In May, 1865, Mr. Leonard came to Silver City, having been employed by the Ainsworth Milling Company to take charge of its reduction plant on Sinker creek, on the east side of War Eagle mountain. During that summer Mr. Leonard crushed the first rock mined in the Poorman property, one hundred tons producing $90,000.00 in bullion. In the spring of 1867 he was employed to take charge of the New York mill (20 stamps) for the Eastern owners. Subsequently he had the management of the Ida Elmore (Lincoln) mill, and afterwards leased the Minear and Cosmos mills for a term of years. In 1874 he pur- chased the Minear mill, and in 1875 erected a new mill adjoining. This prop- eity he sold to the Poorman company in 1894. He was married in the state of Maine, in March, 1867, to Adelaide V. Durgin. Mr. Leonard is a promi- nent member of the Masonic and I. O. O. F. societies.
LEONARD, MRS. ADELAIDE VICTORIA, was born in Exeter, Maine, in 1840. Was married on March 26, 1867, to Mr. R. H. Leonard, Sr., leaving the following day for the groom's home in Idaho, via the Isthmus of Panama, arriving in San Francisco on April 24. From this point to Cisco, on the summit of the Sierra Nevada mountains, the trip was made by rail, but from Cisco to Silver City, a distance of over four hundred miles, the journey was by stage, they arriving at Ruby City on May II. A royal reception greeted the bridal couple upon their arrival, the band being out in force, fol- lowed by a sumptuous banquet. During her long residence in Silver City, Mrs. Leonard has always been prominent in social affairs, and in works of charity. She is a member of the Rebekah branch of Odd Fellowship, and was the second president of the Rebekah state assembly. She is also a leader of Episcopal church work and a member of St. James' Guild. Three children blessed their married life. Lewis, the eldest, died at the age of 20 (1887), from accidental shooting; Robert H. Leonard, Jr., resides in Silver City, and was district clerk for the term 1890-94: the daughter, Mrs. Adelaide E. Ryan, resides at Boise, Idaho.
LEWIS, CAPTAIN JOHN S., was born in West Virginia, November 19, 1827. His parents emigrated to Missouri when he was a year old. At an early age he engaged in farming, and in 1846 enlisted as a private in the Mexican war, serving one year, and participating in several engagements. Returned home in 1847, and in 1848 went to West Virginia. From there he went to California, via Texas. arriving in California in the spring of 1850. In 1862 he went to Boise basin, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits. In 1863 he accompanied Stanford's party, who were in quest of Indians, and arrived at Ruby City that year. In 1864 he took up a ranch on the Payette river, and also engaged in mercantile business at that point. During the same year he went to the Eagle creek mines in Oregon, and remained there until
WILLIAMSON MAJKNEM DENVER
Robert Noble.
Harry Olsen.
Capt. George W. Paul and Wife.
Arthur Pence.
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1869. He then engaged in freighting between Silver City and Winnemucca, Nevada, and subsequently at Mound valley, Eureka, Tuscarora and other points in Nevada, and in 1880 returned to Owyhee county, and has since resided here up to the present date. Was engaged in mercantile business on Three creek from 1887 to 1891, and held the position of postmaster there. In 1&)1 moved to Hot Spring, Bruneau valley, and engaged in hotel business there in partnership with Chris Olsen, and in 1892 was appointed postmaster.
During the fall of 1884 he was a member of the fourteenth territorial legis- lature, representing Owyhee county.
LEWIS, JUDGE ELISHA, was born in Claylick, Franklin county. Pennsylvania, May 24, 1834. At the age of seventeen he left home for Ohio. where he clerked until the spring of 1853, when, in a company of ten, he crossed the plains for California, arriving there September 25, 1853. He engaged in placer mining, principally at Jackson and Indian diggings, and in the spring of 1858 joined the crowd for Fraser river, and was one of the first discoverers of the celebrated Cariboo mines. Bad health compelled him to leave British Columbia, and he settled at .Dayton, Oregon. In August, 1861, he joined a company of sixty-one volunteers. for the purpose of exploring the Blue mountains. They discovered good: prospects at John Day river, and returned to The Dalles and reported same in October. One Bud Woodward. a well-to-do merchant of Portland', became interested, and they organized a party of thirty-one and returned to the. John. Day country, but, the winter proving severe. they concluded to send their animals to The Dalles; but the party escorting them, numbering twelve, were all but one killed by the Indians, besides losing their outfits and sixty head of horses, worth, all told about $12,000.00. The survivors of the party, upon hearing the sad news, organized a company, elected Lewis as captain, and, after a severe and perilous trip of over 200 miles, reached The Dalles on the first of March, where they were hospitably received by the inhabitants. In August, 1862, he secured an interest in a placer claim, in partnership with one L. W. Getchell, at Mormon basin, and by June. 1865, secured a homestake of $10,000.00. With this he returned East and engaged in farming in Michigan, and on October 3, 1866. was married to Charlotte E. Colt. of Suspension Bridge, Niagara county, New York.
He continued farming at various points in the East until 1873, when he sold out and returned to the Pacific coast. During the autumn of 1864, while at Portland, he purchased from one P. M. Coffin an interest in the Crane & Dreggs mine (now Cumberland), and in July, 1865, made a visit to Owyhee for the purpose of inspecting this property, stopping at the Miners' hotel, Ruby City, and this led him to return to Silver City, where he arrived and stopped at the Idaho hotel, May 14, 1873. A month later he engaged in the general merchandise business, which he continued for over three years, and in the meantime, in 1874, purchased the Leviathan (now the Alpine) for $4.000.00. He worked this property until he had exhausted his resources and had involved himself, but took to his old pursuit of placer mining, and on one claim in Long gulch, running from the Blaine tunnel to the mill, he took out $6,000.00; and
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in the summer of 1884 he took out of another claim, near the old Morning Star millsite, over $2,000.00.
For two years prior to July, 1889, he served as road overseer, and was then appointed probate judge, to fill the vacancy of J. B. Coakley, and was subse- quently elected to that position for three terms, his last term expiring January, 1897. He also for over twenty-one years held the position of superintendent of Sabbath schools at Silver City.
LINEHAN, MR. PATRICK, was born in the County Cork, Ireland, in March, 1841. His parents emigrated to New York city in 1851, and in 1858 he left home for New Mexico. Was engaged in stock raising there until 1861, when he went to California and mined at Shasta until 1866. From 1866 to 1870 was teaming between Boise and Silver City, Idaho, and then located on Pickett creek, where he has since permanently resided, engaged in ranching and fruit raising.
LYNAM, JUDGE JAMES, was born in New York city in 1820, afterward removing to Louisiana. In 1846 he enlisted and served as a private in the Mexican war, participating in the battle of Buena Vista. After his discharge, he joined the rush to the California gold fields, arriving there when the excitement was at its highest pitch. From Shasta, California, he visited the Florence diggings, in Idaho, and came to Owyhee in October, 1863. His trade was that of a carpenter, but during his career on this coast he devoted most of his time to mining and law. He served several terms as justice of the peace in the early history of Silver City, and also held the position of probate judge. For sixteen years he was the auditor and recorder of the county. He was an old and respected member of the I. O. O. F. fraternity. He departed this life January 20, 1893.
MCCABE, MR. PATRICK, was born in Canada in 1834. In the spring of 1857 he went to California, where he remained about one year, going to the Cariboo country in British Columbia in 1858. Came to Owyhee county in 1866, where he has since resided. Mr. McCabe is an engineer by trade, and has operated many of the largest hoists in the Owyhee mines. He was mar- ried in 1874 to Miss Ellen Sullivan. He was made a Mason in 1872, and is a prominent member of that fraternity.
McDONALD, MR. DOUGALD, was born near Montreal, Canada, May 10, 1849. His schooling was limited, and he left home at the age of sixteen, and went to California and Nevada, where he engaged in ranching and team- ing. He arrived in Silver City in the early part of 1871, and has been perma- nently engaged in teaming and ranching in this county since that date.
He located at Democrat September, 1895, where, aside from his freighting business, he carries on a hotel, saloon, blacksmith shop, feed stables, etc. He also owns a well-cultivated ranch of about 160 acres, located at Reynolds creek.
Mr. McDonald is well known along the line among the shippers of freight, and better known by the sobriquet of "Little Mac."
A. J. Palmer.
George W. Palmer.
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John Portlock.
ILLANSNAFINE, DENVER
Milton H. Presby.
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McELMEEL, MR. STEPHEN, was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, November 28, 1848. In 1855 his parents moved to near Dubuque, Iowa, where he received a limited schooling, and at an early age engaged in farming. Left home in 1869, and was for about five years engaged in engineering along the line of the Union Pacific railroad. Arrived at Silver City in 1874, and since then has been engaged in engineering, mining and prospecting up to present date. He took a prominent part in the Indian fight of 1878, and during that summer was one of the principal scouts of the Purdy party.
McMAHON, MR. JOHN, was born in Sydney Mines, Cape Breton island, Nova Scotia, in 1840. With his family, at the age of nine, he went to the Pennsylvania coal mines, and when thirteen years and six months old to California.
In March, 1864, in company with Con Shea, he came to Owyhee county, and followed mining until 1868, when he built the first foundry in Idaho at Silver City. In partnership with Con Shea, he engaged in teaming and cattle business for several years, and had some early-day experience with Indians. In 1871 he went to San Francisco, and was captain of guard in the United States mint for twenty-six months. He then resigned, and worked on the "Comstock" from 1876 to .1880, having' previously worked there in 1862. While there, ran as state senator from Storey county, Nevada. In 1880 went to Arizona, where he erected a, mill for a New York company. Returned to Silver City in 1882, and since then, has Been engaged in wool growing and mining, latterly mining. "Isaac -L ... Requa, a capitalist well known in Cal- ifornia and on the "Comstock," and McMahon together put in the first pump in the Burke and Hamilton, of Gold Hill, Nevada, in 1862.
McVANN. MR. JOHN, was born in County Sligo, Province of Con- naught, Ireland, in 1847, and came to the United States in 1870. In 1875 he came to Silver City, via Winnemucca, Nevada, residing since in Owyhee County. Followed mining and milling until 1882, and at the time of the organization of the Miners' Union in 1879 he was elected its first president. Took up ranching and stock raising in 1883; his ranch, located at the mouth of the Bruneau river, being well improved. He was deputy assessor under S. J. Pritchard in 1890, and also served a term as constable of Grandview precinct. Was twice elected justice of the peace, but never qualified.
MIKKELSON, MR. GILBERT, was born in Norway, and came to Placerville, Boise county, in 1870, coming to Owyhee county in 1872, where he has since resided. Mr. Mikkelson has followed prospecting and mining during his long residence in this county, and recently sold the "South Central" and "Christiania" mines on War Eagle mountain (which he owned jointly with his mining partner, Steve McElmeel), to an English company, known as the South Central & Christiania Syndicate, Ltd. The property is valuable, being a south extension of the old "Illinois Central," and, while not prospected to any great extent, has thus far more than paid all expenditures made for develop- ment. Mr. Mikkelson also owns various claims in different sections of this district, prominent among which are those of Cow creek.
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MILLS, MR. EZRA, was born in New Jersey in 1840, and died at his home in Wagontown on November 4, 1896, of heart failure. Mr. Mills was the first assessor of Owyhee county, and always took an active interest in the political affairs of the state and nation. He was married in Silver City on July 29, 1867, to Miss Catherine Boehmer, and nine children, all living, blessed the union, as follows: Mrs. Ida Fry, Mrs. Mary Coburn, Mrs. Rose Bowen, Mrs. Grace Sommerville, Miss Dora, and Messrs. Alonzo, Benjamin, Timothy and James Mills. Mr. Mills was a man of humorous temperament, and a fluent writer; and, under the nom de plume of "Malheur," published many inter- esting narratives. He located upon a ranch at Trout creek in 1880, but in the early 'gos purchased the old stage station at Wagontown, where the widow and younger children still reside.
MITCHELL, MR. JOHN, was born in Truro, Cornwall, England, March 9, 1847, but emig.ated from there, with his parents, a baby in arms, to America, locating at Chicago, Illinois, and subsequently at Milwaukee, Wis- consin.
In 1864, at the age of seventeen, he struck out for Owyhee county, and arrived at Silver City in August of that year. He mined at Fairview, War Eagle mountain, until 1870, when he engaged in stockraising and farming, and also was in the livery-stable business at Silver City in 1880. In 1881 he located at Bruneau valley, and from 1887 to 1893 was in the livery business at Mountain Home. In 1893 he returned to Bruneau vallley, and again engaged in ranching and general merchandising, and is now of the well-known firm of Mitchell & Baltzer, of that place.
Mr. Mitchell is a member of the A. F. & A. M., and was county com- missioner in 1882-4.
NOBLE, MR. JOHN, SR., whom we can safely say is the oldest inhabi- tant of Owyhee .. unty, is the father of Robert Noble, the well-known wool- grower of Owyhee county. Mr. Noble was born in Kirklinton parish, county Cumberland, England, August 13, 1800. In 1854 he emigrated to Canada, and from there moved to Tonawanda, New York. Resided there over twenty years, and since then has resided successively in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska, and has made his home in Idaho with his son, Robert Noble, since May, 1895.
He is the father of thirteen children, grandfather to thirty-nine, and great- grandfather to sixteen. Ilis ninety-fifth birthday was celebrated with great eclat at his son's residence, on August 13, 1895, and he anticipates another joyful gathering upon reaching his century mark, on which occasion we fervently trust we may all be there to see.
NOBLE, MR. ROBERT, was born in county Cumberland, England, October 19, 1844. In 1854 his parents emigrated to Canada, and from there in 1857 to Tonawanda, New York state. At the outbreak of the Rebellion, he enlisted in the United States army, serving in the quartermaster's department, armies of the Northwest and Cumberland, until the close of the war, and, after his discharge, engaged in farming in Illinois, until 1870, when he came
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Oliver H. Purdy.
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Abram Roberson.
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Stephen A. Roberson and wife.
J. H. Rowzee.
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to Idaho and engaged in sheepraising, in which he has since continued with marked success, and has been located in Owyhee county since 1874 Is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Boise commandery, and I. O. O. F. fraternities
OLSEN, MR. HARRY, was born in Nikjoping, Falster island, Denmark, September 2, 1841. At an early age, followed the sea and visited all portions of the globe, finally settling in California in the spring of 1862. From Cali- fornia he went to Virginia City, Nevada, and from there came to Silver City. Idaho, April 7, 1865. Was steward for More & Fogus for about a year, and then started a poultry ranch, and operated in mines with good success. In 1873 he made a trip to Europe, married there and returned to Silver City. In 1882 he purchased the Owyhee Exchange building at Silver City, moved it to Oreana, and opened it there as the Oreana hotel, which he continued until June, 1896, when he closed it up and engaged in ranching, poultry-raising and beekeeping.
Is a member of the A. F. & A. M., and has never sought any political favors.
PAUL, CAPTAIN GEORGE WASHINGTON, was born in Dairy. New Hampshire, August 6, 1823. He received a common school education, and, after leaving school, learned the trade of carpentering. In 1842 he left home, at the age of nineteen, and visited .different parts of the South, work- ing at his trade. In 1846 he joined the St. Louis legion, and under General Taylor participated in the engagement at Monterey. He then returned to St. Louis and organized a company, of which he became lieutenant, and served on the frontier, becoming also regimental quartermaster.
At the close of the Mexican war he went to Washington, and from there struck out for California, arriving at San Francisco July 16, 1849. Engaged in mining and stockraising at the mines, and, in 1856, for about a year ran a stage line from Los Angeles to San Diego. He then engaged in cattle trading between California and British Columbia, and in 1861 went to Hong Kong. China, where he engaged in flour speculations, and on his return from there. in 1864, was shipwrecked at Cape Flattery, he and three sailors being the only ones who reached the shore, by making a raft and suffering intense privations for three days.
From 1866 to 1870 he was engaged in cattle trading between Boise City and Silver City, locating at Silver City in 1867. In 1870 he located a ranch at Castle creek, being the first settler in that section, and has since permanently resided there, engaged in ranching and fruitraising.
PENCE, MR. ARTHUR, was born in Des Moines county, Iowa, February 10, 1847. Schooled there, and was brought up on the farm. In 1864 he crossed the plains with an ox team, and spent the winter in Idaho City, the following spring engaging in mining. In 1866-7 was engaged in freighting between Umatilla and Boise: in 1868 ranched near Caldwell, and in 1869 located in Bruneau valley, where he has since permanently resided, engaged in ranching and stockraising.
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Is a member of the I. O. O. F. and K. of P. fraternities, and has never aspired to any political office.
PALMER BROTHERS, THE, twin brothers, Andrew Jackson Palmer and George Washington Palmer, were born in Somerset county, Maine, November 10, 1833. At the age of seventeen they left home for Boston, where they obtained employment and remained until 1854, whn they struck out for California by way of the isthmus, reaching San Francisco in June, 1854.
They then engaged in placer-mining and hotel-keeping, in Trinity county. California, until 1864, when Andrew left for Walla Walla, leaving his brother George in Trinity county. Andrew then engaged in packing between Walla Walla and Owyhee and the basin, making several trips to Silver City. In 186g lie was joined by George, and they located in Jordan valley, engaged in ranching. In 1875, during the South Mountain excitement, they joined the crowd and went broke.
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