USA > Idaho > An illustrated history of the state of Idaho, containing a history of the state of Idaho from the earliest period of its discovery to the present time, together with glimpses of its auspicious future; illustrations and biographical mention of many pioneers and prominent citizens of to-day > Part 64
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129
Nampa is surrounded by an extensive tract of rich land, on which fruit, grass and grain grow profusely. It is particularly well adapted to fruit culture. The Boise & Nampa Irrigation Company have constructed a large canal to the city, from which a district twenty-seven miles long and six miles wide is amply supplied with water. Besides the operation of the railroads already mentioned, the building of others is con- templated, and it is believed that Nampa is des- tined to become a large railroad center and a city of considerable importance.
GENESEE,
The following interesting account of the city of Genesee and its attractions is an extract front a most attractive souvenir and finely illustrated edition of the Genesee News, issued in February, 1898:
Genesee is situated at the terminus of the Spokane & Palouse branch of the Northern Pacific Railway. and its history dates from the advent of the iron horse in May, 1888. It is therefore but little more than a decade since the "first house" was erected, by J. S. Larabee. The growth of the town has been truly remarkable during this brief period of time. Its rapid growth was due to the richness of the country tributary. A town cannot advance in substantial growth ahead of the life sources which nourish it. It is the design of this edition to substantiate our claim that Genesee is not a mushroom growth but a substantial town re- flecting in its schools, churches, handsome residences and large business blocks, the wealth of the country tributary thereto. The same appearance of thrift and prosperity which characterizes the town is apparent in a marked degree in the country. Nice farm houses and good outbuildings are the rule rather than the exception.
With eastern people contemplating a change of resi- dence, other things being equal, good school and church privileges are prime factors in deciding their choice of a locationt. In these matters Genesee meets the require- ments. Our public schools are graded and thoroughly systematized and efficient teachers are employed. A private school is also conducted by the Sisters of the Catholic church. Of churches there are five. School, church and social privileges, both in city and country, are good, although, of course, the country being new the rural districts have their limitations. For the pur- suit of knowledge, our young people who desire a higher education are highly favored, having almost at
354
HISTORY OF IDAHO.
their very door the University of Idaho, at Moscow, and State Normal School at Lewiston. Thus those who bring their sons and daughters among us are not depriving them of any educational privileges and may even be bringing them in closer touch with educational work. Our teachers are required to have a high stand- ard of attainments and show their qualifications for the work by rigid examinations.
Genesee is essentially a social and fraternal town, having lodges of the Masonic order, Odd Fellows, with camp, Knights of Pythias, Woodmen of the World. Young Men's Institute. Ancient Order of Pyramids, G. A. R. and W. R. C., Rathbone Sisters, Rebekah, besides an athletic association and a company of militia.
In population the city numbers about 1,200. It is beautifully situated. The residence portion is largely built on several large hills, at the foot of which lies the main street and business part of the town. The location is not only sightly but hygienic, having a good natural drainage, which, while it does not remove, reduces the liability of sickness.
The city's finances are in excellent shape, its only obligation being in the form of bonds for one thousand dollars for the purchase and improvement of a public park. This indebtedness could be obliterated and add but little to the rate of taxation. No town in the west can make a better showing in financial affairs, and few are as free from debt. Not only is the city free from debt but there is plenty of money in the several funds for all the requirements of city government. The gov- ernment of the city is in the hands of capable men of affairs.
KETCHUM.
The town of Ketchum is located upon a beau- tiful site at the terminus of the branch of the Oregon Short Line Railroad, twelve miles north of Hailey. The nucleus of the town was started in 1880, and for several years it was a flourishing mining town; but the great decline in silver has worked adversely and the place now comprises only about two hundred and fifty inhabitants, who, however, are as intelligent and hospitable as any community in the United States.
There are in the town a fine large brick school- house, several good brick stores and the large plant of the Philadelphia Mining & Smelting Company, which cost nearly one million dollars. To this point is a daily train service from the Oregon Short Line Railroad; Wood river flows majestically by, a delightful mountain stream containing an abundance of trout; and there are in the vicinity many rich silver and lead mines. Being surrounded by high mountains, the scen- ery in every direction is decidedly picturesque. Deer and other large game abound in the wilds.
At Ketchum is a good hotel, owned and con- ducted by Paul P. Baxter, and after him is called the Baxter Hotel. This host and his good wife spare no pains in their efforts to give a cozy and comfortable home to all their guests.
HAILEY.
This ambitious and prosperous town is the county-seat of Blaine county. It is located in the Wood river valley, sixty miles north of Sho- shone, five thousand, two hundred and fifty feet above the level of the sea, and on a branch of the Oregon Short Line Railroad. The site is on a plain almost level, a mile and a half wide and thirty miles long, beautifully nestling among the mountains. Only a mile from Hailey are the celebrated Hailey hot springs, the resort of in- valids afflicted with mineral poisons or rheumatic troubles.
The 'Hailey land district of the United States originally comprised about nineteen million acres, of which less than half had been surveyed in 1888, seven years after the founding of the town. Nearly all this land is in Blaine and Cas- sia counties, and is specially rich in qualities re- quired by horticulture, agriculture and live stock. Sixty bushels of wheat to the acre have been raised without irrigation, and other cereals, fruits and vegetables in the same proportion. The greater part of the land, however, requires irri- gation; but the creeks are plentiful, and a large river present, so that irrigation and the watering of the live stock are very practicable. When sufficiently watered, the soil produces crops threefold larger than those of the eastern states. To farmers seeking homes in the west, no por- tion of Idaho presents more natural advantages or promises more substantial benefits than this part of the state. In recent years the sheep in- dustry has wonderfully developed in this vicin- ity. Hailey is therefore a great wool-shipping point, and from seven hundred and fifty to one thousand cars of lambs and sheep are shipped annually.
But the "backbone" of industrial prosperity here is the mining interest, which seems literally infinite, the operation of the mines varying, how- ever, with the varying prices of the respective minerals. Among the principal mines in this lo- cality we may mention the Tiptop, Crœsus, Min-
The City of Hailey.
355
HISTORY OF IDAHO.
nie Moore, Camas No. 2, Queen of the Hills, Idahoan, Mayflower, Bullion, Parker, Triumph, Jay Gould, Eureka, Red Cloud, Bay State, Pass, Red Elephant, Idaho Democrat, War Dance, Elkhorn, Carrie Leonard, Stormy Galore, North Star, Silver Star, Ophir, Relief, Climax, Nay Aug, Pride of Idaho, Dollarhide, Jumbo, King of the West, Montana, Vienna, Silver King, Ty- rannis, etc. These and other productive proper- ties of the valley and hills around are capable of sustaining a population of hundreds of thou- sands.
The forests are "alive" with game, both large and small, from the ferocious grizzly bear and majestic mountain lion down to the ground squir- rel and innumerable grouse, quail and other birds, while the streams abound in the delicious speckled beauties which the eastern disciples of Izaak Walton are compelled at the present day to travel hundreds of miles to see in their native element. Trout weighing eleven and a half pounds have been caught here.
Wood river affords about two millions min- ers' inches of water, yielding an immense power for factory purposes, a large portion of which is utilized.
The climate of this valley is notoriously de- lightful. Jay Gould, the great capitalist and traveler, who was in a position to select the best climate in the world for his own comfort, spent his last summers on earth at this point; Horace K. Thurber's home is here; and other wealthy men, with their families, from the east, have en- joyed their sojourns here. It is really a favorite summer resort.
The town was founded by Hon. John Hailey, J. H. Boomer, now of Oakland, California; W. T. Riley, and then United States Marshal Chase. These gentlemen began improvements in 1880, and settlers began to locate here during the en- suing spring, first occupying tents; even the merchants had their stores in tents; and the place has ever since had a steady growth, varying but little with the times. The population has grown to fifteen hundred. The city has a complete sys- tem of water-works, which furnish an ample sup- ply of pure mountain water, under a pressure of one hundred and twenty feet; electric light for the whole city, of the Brush-Swan system; a telephone system, radiating from Hailey to all
the mines, smelters and mills within a radius of twenty miles, and furnished by the Rocky Moun- tain Bell Telephone Company; several fine lio- tels, of which the Alturas is the principal one, costing sixty-five thousand dollars and supplied with every modern improvement; several sub- stantial brick stores; beautiful drives and bicycle roads, mostly natural, leading in every direction to the very ridges of the mountain chains and through scenery which for picturesqueness, rug- gedness and grandeur cannot be excelled; sam- pling works, having a daily capacity of two hun- dred tons, where cash is paid for the ore; two newspapers, the Wood River Times and the News-Miner, both daily and weekly, live papers which are effecting much good for the commu- nity; a court-house, costing sixty thousand dol- lars, which is a three-story fire-proof brick and stone structure and very commodious in all re- spects; one of the best appointed school-houses in the state, where the teachers, also, are the best paid of all in the west; three church organiza- tions,-Catholic, Methodist and Protestant Epis- copal,-each of which has a fine house of wor- ship; and the most popular fraternal organiza- tions are represented here by the Freemasons, Odd Fellows, United Workmen, Modern Wood- men of America, Good Templars and the Grand Army of the Republic. ' The Masons have a chapter here, the Odd Fellows an encampment and a lodge of the Rebekah degree, and the Workmen a lodge of the Degree of Honor.
The intelligence and moral character of the people at Hailey and in the vicinity are conspicu- ously above the average, as many of the immi- grants here are wealthy and cultured people from the east.
In conclusion we quote a paragraph from a local historian: "Who has not felt the surprise akin to wonder at the almost marvelous growth of whole regions in Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska and Colorado? The lesson taught by the past will help the prudent man or woman to build for the future, and a moment's thought will teach that there is no magic at work in the growth and de- velopment referred to, only the relentless march of empire into the west. The leviathans of old ocean deposit upon our eastern shores a larger number of immigrants each year, a great major- ity of whom seek the western states, and, as the
356
HISTORY OF IDAHO.
advantages offered them in the newer sections are known, overflow into them. Far out, al- most beyond civilization, in. 1881, the present site of the prosperous city of Hailey was dotted here and there with a few tents, and the writer was hailed on his arrival as from 'God's coun- try,' that is, the United States. To-day it enjoys the reputation of being itself the best part of God's country!"
FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF HAILEY.
This bank was founded in July, 1888, with a capital stock of one hundred thousand dollars, by W. B. Farr, of St. Louis, Missouri, and he was made its first president. A private bank had been previously established, in 1883, by T. R. Jones & Company, who the next year sold to McCormick & Company, of Salt Lake City, and they sold to Mr. Farr, who organized the National Bank, as already stated. Mr. Farr con- tinued to act as the president until October 15, 1890, when R. F. Buller purchased his interest, and M. B. Loy was elected president. He served until January, 1892, at which time Mr. Buller was elected to the office, he being the largest stockholder. Since he has had the management of the concern it has paid good dividends and it now has a surplus of twelve thousand dollars. F. H. Parsons is its present cashier, and the di- rectors are J. C. Fox, F. H. Parsons, M. · Mc- Cormick and R. H. Plughoff. They do a gen- eral commercial banking business.
BLISS.
Application has recently been made by the Mullins Canal & Reservoir Company for segre- gation, under the Carey law, of several thousand acres of choice land near the new town of Bliss, on the main line of the Oregon Short Line Rail- way. Under the wise provisions of this modern land law it is possible for everyone to secure one hundred and sixty acres of land, including a per- petual water right and a proportional interest in the canal system by which it is watered, at the price fixed by the state for the same. This law also protects the settler in all his water rights and relieves him from the perpetual payment of water rent except what is actually necessary for the keeping up of repairs and improvements on the canal system.
The deeded lands belonging to this company,
and such lands as are held under the Carey act, are all near the town of Bliss, about one hundred miles east of the state capital, at an altitude of three thousand feet, and having the great ad- vantage of being the most eastern lands in the state within the fruit belt, having an abundance of water for irrigation, with a climate less op- pressive and hot in summer than that farther west in lower altitudes, and of more even temperature and less extreme cold in winter than is found farther east and north.
Land and perpetual water rights, including proportional interest in the canal, may now be obtained under contracts with the Mullins Canal & Reservoir Company and the state of Idaho, at not to exceed twenty dollars per acre, the price varying according to distance from railroad sta- tion, improvements, etc. The terms of payment are easy and on long time, at six per cent inter- est.
There is little difference in the fertility of the soil, which is very rich and susceptible of a high state of cultivation during the first season; the sage-brush, which has little root, being easily re- moved, after which the land is as easily plowed as old land under cultivation.
A large number of ten-acre fruit tracts adjoin- ing the town plat of Bliss are being planted, while the purchaser takes his choice of several varieties of fruit selected by the company, or chooses his own land and varieties. Unless oth- erwise directed they plant about one-half in ap- ples and balance in prunes, peaches, pears, apri- cots and cherries. Five acres of each tract are set out with not less than one hundred thrifty trees to the acre. The company levels the ground, sets out, cultivates and irrigates the trees , sprays and replaces all that die, and pays taxes, charges and expenses of all kinds from the time of planting until delivered to the purchaser. The company requires a payment of one hundred dollars at the time the contract is made, and fifteen dollars per month for seventy- two months, with interest at six per cent per an- num.
Idaho not only received the World's Fair gold- en medal for apples, but at the Trans-Mississippi Exposition in 1898 was awarded more gold, sil- ver and bronze medals than any other state, for fruit display.
357
HISTORY OF IDAHO.
The great Snake river, which is only one and one-half miles from the new town of Bliss, abounds with fish, including the sturgeon, which usually weigh from one to five hundred pounds, and the salmon, from one to ten pounds each, while the smaller streams and rivers are full of all kinds of mountain trout. It is considerably lower than the table-land on either side, and wherever it has been possible to irrigate the nar- row fields along its banks there are now thrifty orchards and farms which have been tilled for many years.
The land which lies on both sides of the Ore- gon Short Line Railway at Bliss station, gradu- ally rises to the north in a gentle, undulating slope for a distance of twenty miles to the low foothills which form the border line of the cele- brated Camas prairies, a veritable paradise for the stock-raiser. These prairies vary in width from five to twenty-five miles, and extend along the foothills of the Sawtooth mountain range for a distance of sixty miles, the average width being about fifteen miles.
A luxuriant growth of nutritious native grass is found upon these prairies, the blue-joint and red-top in many places producing an excellent crop of wild hay without irrigation, while the large and small bunch grass which grows upon the adjoining foothills cannot be excelled for sheep pasture.
Responsible parties are now herding the small bunches of cattle belonging to farmers in this vicinity at one dollar per head for the season, taking them in April and returning them in De- cember, the feeding months in this locality being January, February and March. This is an ex- ceptional opportunity for the man who wishes to build up a large stock business with little trouble and at the same time use his farm for winter feed- ing. Lucern from ten acres will produce suf- ficient hay for the wintering of forty head of cat- tle; and this plan will not interfere with the rais- ing of all kinds of fruit in their season.
Because corn is not considered a profitable crop in this state, it has been generally sup- posed until recently that hogs could not be raised here at a profit; but this is now conceded to have been an error; and those who are experi- menting in this direction find that alfalfa or lu- cern pastures for summer, and field peas with
steamed potatoes and barley for winter feed and fattening, will give most excellent results.
For the purpose of irrigating the large body of choice land in the vicinity of Bliss, the Mullins Canal & Reservoir Company has already com- pleted a canal nearly fifteen miles in length from the Malad river, about five miles from where it empties into the Snake river above the town of Bliss. This canal is connected with a system of reservoirs of sufficient size and capacity to irri- gate fully ten thousand acres of land. With such a reservoir system the main canal is always readily supplied with an even flow of clear water which is not subject to the rise and fall of a tur- bulent stream, and by keeping the reservoirs well filled the farmers will always be sure of a full supply.
Within a distance of twenty miles from Bliss station, up and down the Snake river, the banks on either side are rich in gold. Scores of loca- tions having recently been made, many of which are now being profitably worked where water can be obtained from springs and streams which empty into the river, and other rich placer ground is still open for entry. A few miners are now using pumping plants or current motors to raise water from the river to wash gold out of the gravelly banks, many feet above the river's chan- nel.
All the water from the Mullins canal and reser- voir system can be used (when not needed for irrigation) for mining purposes on the placer claims down the river below Bliss for a distance of ten or more miles, by an extension of the main canal.
Sufficient electricity can easily be manufactured from the immense water power on the Snake river near Bliss, for all kinds of manufacturing industries.
Within six miles of this new town are the great Salmon Falls, where the entire Snake river drops about twenty-five feet, while nearer by are springs of enormous size, with at least four thou- sand second-feet flow, which by being piped one thousand feet will give a fall of over fifty feet, and one large spring within two miles of Bliss will furnish electricity for two hundred horse power.
Within ten miles of Bliss on the north are the famous Idaho Hot Springs, similar to those at Hailey and Boise. These springs are still in
358
HISTORY OF IDAHO.
their natural state, without improvement, but as they are nearer the main line of the Oregon Short Line Railway than any other similar springs in the state, and can easily be connected therewith by an electric line, it is reasonable to suppose that they will soon be improved. The temperature of the water from these springs as it comes to the surface is sufficiently hot to boil an egg, and its curative properties are manifold, being especially beneficial for rheumatism and all diseases of the skin.
To those familiar with the local conditions sur- rounding Bliss, it is apparent that it has all the requisites for the making of a prosperous town of no mean proportions. Situated twenty-nine miles west of Shoshone, the county seat of Lin- coln county, and twenty-three miles east of Glenn's Ferry, the nearest towns of any import- ance on either side; on the main line of the Ore- gon Short Line Railway; surrounded by a large and extremely fertile agricultural district, with the finest stock range in the state; silver and copper mines, and thermal springs, on the north, and the Snake river, with its placer gold mines, great water power and fish industry, on the south; the nearest railroad station to the great Shoshone Falls; the center of supplies for a large number of settlements off the railway,- with all these and many minor advantages, it offers unmistakable inducements to home-seek- ers. Already the railroad station, with express and telegraph office, has been opened, and stock- yards are built: a postoffice, one general mer- chandise store, and a good school, add much to the convenience and comfort of the incoming set- tlers.
MOSCOW.
The following history of Moscow was written by W. G. Emery in the year 1897, and was orig- inally published in the Moscow Mirror. It is reproduced, but with slight change, as a worthy supplement to the history of the state:
Standing on the steps of Idaho's university and looking eastward across the beautiful town-site of Mos- cow. with its substantial business bricks and neat brown and white cottages and elegant residences thickly clustered along the western slope of a low, rolling hill, a spectator can hardly realize how it ap- peared to the early settlers as they first saw it over twenty-six years ago.
It was as attractive probably then as now but its beauty was wild and untrammeled and the undulating hills were covered with luxuriant grasses. No roads traversed the rolling prairies, save an occasional Indian trail and lying serene, and undisturbed beneath the shadow of Moscow mountain, no wonder it secured its first name, Paradise Valley. One evening early in March, 1871, one of our oldest settlers, Asbury Lien- allen. "struck camp" at a spot not far from where the Imbler house now stands. He found here an abandoned shanty which had been put up by a couple of immigrants named Haskins and Trimbell, and im- pressed alike by the picturesqueness of the scenery and the richness of the soil, as evidenced by the abun- dance of forage, he determined to locate here a claim and build for himself a home that would insure him a prosperous old age. The nearest house was at Lew- iston, in those days a little settlement, about thirty miles southward. Eastward from Moscow mountain lay a wild and unbroken timber country where virgin forests extended to and beyond the grim and tower- ing crests of the unexplored Bitter Root range. To the north was an almost equally unsettled country, there being but two houses between Paradise Valley and Spokane Falls. To the west, one hundred miles away, was Walla Walla, at that time the principal supply post of this sparsely settled inland empire and the site of the only flouring mill between Portland and St. Paul.
The homestead located by Mr. Lieuallen is situated about three miles east of Moscow and here he farmed till the early part of the year 1875. In the mean time a number of other settlers had located claims in his vicinity whose names as taken from the records of the Pioneer Association of Latah County were William Ewing, John Russell, James Deakin, George W. Tomer, Henry McGregor, Thomas Tierney, William Taylor, William Calbreath, John and Bart Niemyer, John Neff, James and Al Howard, Reuben Cox, O. H. P. Beagle, James Montgomery and probably a few oth- ers, whose names have been lost in the lapse of years.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.