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 66
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HISTORY OF IDAHO.
The two large school buildings have been crowded to their utmost, as well as a smaller building occu- pied exclusively by primary pupils.
The schools are divided into eleven grades, each in charge of an experienced and competent teacher. The greatest care is exercised by our trustees in select- ing teachers, and none but those who show a mas- tery of the subjects essential to a sound education, and also an adaptation to teach, find a place in our public schools.
The University of Idaho is located in Moscow and is an institution which is a credit to the state. It is fully described on other pages of this work.
The Presbyterian church of Moscow was organized January 25, 1880, by the Rev. Daniel Gamble, who served the church only about a year. The society is in most excellent working condition and has taken a place as one of the leading churches of Moscow.
The First Baptist church of Moscow was organized August 6, 1876, at Paradise Valley school-house by Rev. S. E. Stearns, who supplied the church once a month as the pastor for about two years. The old church, built in 1878, was for some years the only house of worship in the town. In 1897, feeling the need of more room, the old building was torn down and a handsome edifice erected in its place.
The Christian church was organized in the old Maguire school-house "by Elder D. B. Matheny and in this vicinity he was the first to preach the gospel as taught by the people known as the Disciples of Christ. Fifteen years ago Elder C. J. Wright reor -. ganized the work in Moscow and built up a member- ship of over two hundred. After his departure the work ceased and the church practically disbanded till the winter of 1888, when Elder William McDonald again reorganized, and continued to preach till the following June. In the spring of 1890 Elder William F. Caroden took charge and perfected the organiza- tion. In 1891 a church edifice was erected and serv- ices were first held in it on February 14 of that year by Elder L. Rogers assisted by James Sargent, since which time there has been a constant growth in mem- bership.
The Methodist Episcopal church of Moscow was organized August 8, 1881, by Rev. Calvin M. Bryan, with a membership of about twenty. After a two-years pastorship he was succeeded by Rev. Theodore Hoag- land, by whom their first church was built, in 1883-4, on a tract of land donated by Henry McGregor. The society has an excellent edifice and also a par- sonage.
The Episcopal church was established by the Rev. Mr. Gill in 1888. Previous to this time, however, Rev. J. D. McConkey, who was located at Lewiston, made a number of visits to Moscow and preached here in the interest of this church. The present church was built about the year 1892.
The Swedish Lutheran church was organized about 1886 by Rev., P. J. Carlson, who had charge of this
work till 1891. During this time the present church was erected.
The Norwegian Methodist church was established in 1886 by the Rev. Carl Erickson, and the present place of worship was built about 1888.
The Catholic church of Moscow was organized in 1882 by Father Teomitie. Their present building was erected in 1886 by Father Hartleib.
The Dunkards have an organization here and a house of worship, but we have been unable to secure the data in regard to its early history.
The Seventh Day Adventist's church was organized in 1890 and a building erected by Rev. Scoles.
RESOURCES OF LATAH COUNTY.
In writing a history of the thriving city of Moscow, it is necessary to speak of the varied resources of the surrounding country, of which it is the principal re- ceiving and distributing center. Latah county con- tains within its limits the most favored section of what is known as the famous Palouse country, widely known for its genial climate, picturesque scenery and wonder- ful productiveness of soil. The western and southern portions of the county are a rolling prairie under thor- ough cultivation. The products are wheat, flax, bar- ley, oats, beans, hay, fruit and vegetables. At the present time the cereals are the principal crops. although the other products are encroaching each year upon the grain acreage and gradually reducing it. The fruit industry is yet in its infancy, but is growing with great rapidity. In the southern portion of the county, where the altitude is the lowest, the orchards are more advanced, having been planted earlier, but in the remote northern part peaches have been raised very successfully and the yield of apples, pears, prunes, peaches, plums, apricots, cherries and the smaller fruits is certain and simply enormous. The trees, unless securely propped, break down almost every year with the weight of their yield. All this part of Latah county, contiguous to Moscow is an empire within itself and constitutes one of the rich- est agricultural countries in the world. Wheat aver- ages thirty-five bushels per acre, barley and oats forty to fifty, and flax fifteen to twenty bushels. By care- ful cultivation there are many who produce greater yields than the average. In this section no irrigation whatever is required, the natural rainfall being always sufficient to insure bounteous crops without the ex- pense of establishing an artificial water system.
Within the confines of Latah county is the greater part of the largest body of white pine now standing in the United States. So far as the examinations have gone it is estimated that this body of timber contains the enormous amount of two billion feet of white pine and five billion feet of other timber con- sisting of yellow pine, tamarack, red and white fir. and cedar. The title of the greater portion of these timber lands is vested in the state for the benefit of educational and charitable institutions. On some of
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HISTORY OF IDAHO.
it claims have been located and the rest is subject to homestead and timber entry. If this body of timber stood in any state east of the Mississippi river there would not be a quarter-section left vacant, but here all is different. Well worn trails traverse this dense forest in every direction but their only travelers are the restless prospectors with their outfits seeking a phantom Klondyke and passing carelessly by the sure fortune that capital will in the near future glean from this valuable tract. The importance and necessity of opening up this vast timber region to the manufac- turer, and the great advantages and benefits that would necessarily accrue to this city have of late be- come so apparent to the business men of Moscow and vicinity that steps have been taken for the early con- struction of a railroad to and through this forest of untold valne, upon no tree of which the lumberman's ax has yet fallen. A company has been incorporated under the name of the Moscow & Eastern Railway Company and a survey made from our city to the timber belt. This proposed road when completed will traverse the forest for a distance of thirty miles, thus affording good mill-sites along any portion of this distance. Ten sawmills can be located along this line, with an annual output of lumber that could be safely reckoned at fifty million feet. In addition to this there would be a large amount of wood, ties, shingles, etc., prepared for market.
Long before this county was considered adapted, to the pursuit of agriculture, successful mining was car- ried on within its confines. As far back as the '60s we have record of placer claims having been worked along our different water courses. Besides rich de- posits of gold and silver, there are also valuable mica and opal mines within its limits. It may not be known to all that the Idaho exhibit of opals, that attracted such widespread attention at the World's Fair, came from Latah county.
In 1881 a mine of mica was discovered about thirty miles from Moscow by J. T. Woody, and in a short time a number of other locations were made in the same vicinity. The principal placer mines in the county are situated in the Hoodoo district, which has been worked for the last thirty-five years. Other mines be- ing worked successfully are on Jerome creek, Swamp creek, Gold creek and many others and in Howard gulch, Garden gulch, Crumrine gulch and others on Moscow mountain. The first quartz mill in the county was operated on a ledge on Moscow mountain and owned by Dr. Worthington and D. C. Mitchell. In 1896 a mill was started in the Daisy mine on Jerome creek, which is now on a paying basis. On Ruby creek is a most valuable gold and silver mine called the Silver King. For years gold has been taken from the ledges of Moscow mountain by the arastra pro- cess, and if this mountain of wealth was situated in some remote locality, difficult of access it would be considered a veritable Klondyke. The Gold Bug, Gol- den Gate and the Big Ledge are the principal mines now being worked there.
MALAD CITY.
Oneida county was organized August 2, 1865, and then embraced all of southeastern Idaho from Utah to Montana, and contained, in whole or in part, the counties of Cassia, Bear Lake, Bingham, Bannock and Fremont. In 1884 the present county of Oneida was organized, and it contains thirty-two hundred and seventy-six square miles, two-fifths of it being adapted to farming purpose, while the remainder is used for grazing or is mountainous land. Malad City, now the county-seat, was incorporated in 1896 and now has an excellent mayor and board of trustees. It was settled in 1864 by Henry Peck, Louis Gaulter, William H. Thomas and Benja- min Thomas, who came here with their families, but all have now passed away. There are now about eighteen hundred people in Malad, two- thirds of the population being representatives of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They have a large and costly tabernacle, and the Presbyterians also have a church and school. The Josephites, or reorganized church of Latter Day Saints, likewise have a chapel. An inde- pendent school district has been formed in the city and a large and commodious school-house is now in course of erection. There are six gen- eral mercantile stores, two drug stores, two meat markets, a bank, two blacksmith shops and a large roller-process, water-power flouring mill, with a daily capacity of fifty barrels. There is also a large new creamery for the manufacture of butter and cheese, and a rag-carpet weaving fac- tory completes the list of the business industries. The court-house is a frame building, well adapted to the purposes for which it is intended, and the city also supports a good weekly newspaper, the Enterprise. Collingsworth, the nearest railway station, is thirty-five miles distant, and Malad City is situated in a beautiful valley which is about ten by fifteen miles in extent, containing one hundred thousand acres of rich farming land. well watered. Grain and hay are raised in abundance, and cattle and sheep raising are lead- ing industries among the inhabitants.
JULIAETTA.
The attractive village of Juliaetta is located in Latah county, on the Potlatch river, and its rail- road facilities are those afforded by the Moscow-
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HISTORY OF IDAHO.
Lewiston branch of the Northern Pacific Rail- road. The town was founded and platted by Robert Schupfer, who had entered from the gov- ernment, in 1878, the quarter-section of land upon which the village is located. He had im- proved his farm, having built thereon a house, located within one-fourth of a mile from the pres- ent business section of the town. The first house in Juliaetta was built by Perry Thomas, and the place now has a population of five hundred. It has a fine large public-school building, while the Roman Catholic and Presbyterian churches have attractive edifices. The German Lutherans also hold services in the village. Industrially the place has four well stocked general merchandise stores, a furniture store, a bank, a brewery, a bakery, two livery stables and a good roller- process flouring mill. This mill is operated by water power, which is supplied by the Potlatch river, which here flows swiftly in a narrow chan- nel, affording a fine power, adequate for all de- mands which may be placed upon it by future industrial enterprises. The town has a well managed hotel, owned and conducted by Charles Snyder, who had the honor of naming the village. He had a ranch near by, and there he succeeded in having a post-office established, naming the same after his two pretty daughters, Julia and Etta,-hence the name of the town, Juliaetta, since he eventually removed the post- office to the town, where he opened a store, and the little village naturally assumed the cogno- men of the post-office. The place is beautifully situated on the banks of the river, amid the hills, which add to its healthfulness and picturesque appearance. It receives its support from a wide range of excellent agricultural lands, on which large crops of wheat, oats, flax, hay and fine fruits are raised each year. The town was in- corporated in 1892, its first board of trustees hav- ing the following personnel: Robert Shupfer, J. E. Halleck, F. P. Seigler, T. H. Carither and Charles Snyder. The present board is com- posed of Messrs. J. R. Collins, F. Earnest, J. L. Whettid, D. H. Sutherland and M. P. Stevens, the last mentioned being the clerk of the board as well as editor of the Juliaetta Register, to which due reference is made in the chapter on the press of the state. Of the fraternal organi- zations the Independent Order of Odd Fellows
is represented here by a lodge and an adjunct of Daughters of Rebekah, while there are also lodges of Knights of Pythias and Star of Bethle- hem.
SODĄ SPRINGS.
The town in Idaho known by this name is situated on the Oregon Short Line Railroad, in Bannock county, deriving its name from a large number of mineral springs in the place and in the vicinity, in most of which soda is present in a large proportion. The medicinal properties of these springs have been found of great value in the treatment of many of the diseases from which humanity suffers.
The first settlement of the place, in 1863, was made by a small colony of dissenters from the Brigham Young Church of Jesus Christ of Lat- ter Day Saints. The devout people who were the first settlers of Soda Springs were followers of young Joseph Smith and differed materially in their religious ideas from the main body of the church, and because of their alleged disbelief were driven out of Utah. They appealed to General Conners, at Fort Douglas, for assistance, and he with a military guard conveyed them to "Old Town" Soda Springs, supplied them with rations, and left Captain Black with a small de- tachment of soldiers to protect them. A treaty was effected with the Indians, who agreed not to molest them. They were very destitute and undoubtedly would have perished had it not been for the rations given them by the soldiers. Gen- eral Conners had the land surveyed and allotted to about fifty families who had located here at this time, but later most of the families went away, one by one, and became scattered, and of that band of pioneer settlers there now remain in the town only Nels Anderson and his wife, William Bowman and Mrs. C. Eliason.
The town has now about six hundred and fifty inhabitants. It is surrounded by a wide extent of farming and grazing lands, and is a point where extensive shipping of sheep and cattle is done. It has a mineral-water bottling works, the water shipped from this place being consid- ered equal in medicinal effectiveness to any min- eral water in the world. There are two church edifices in the town, one owned by the Latter Day Saints and the other by the Presbyterians, -- the latter a very cosy stone edifice, surrounded
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HISTORY OF IDAHO.
by shade trees. There are six general merchan- dise stores in the town, all doing a good busi- ness, and those that have been there the longest have met with excellent success. There is a water-power saw and planing mill there, as one of the leading industries. The town has four hotels,-one of which is large and pretentious, -two drug stores and two physicians.
Mrs. C. Eliason, one of the few remaining first settlers of Idaho Springs, gives this account of the manner in which the town came to be settled: A number of Latter Day Saints at Salt Lake City refused to obey the mandates of President Brig- ham Young, and formed what is called the Re- organized Church of the Latter Day Saints. They planned and founded the church after the teaching of the junior Joseph Smith, the son of the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The leader of the new or- ganization was Joseph Morris, and its councilor was a Mr. Banks. They, with about three hun- dred men, women and children, left Salt Lake City, determined to worship God after their own hearts. Going into camp at South Weberg, a short distance from Ogden, they were attacked by seven to eight hundred men from Salt Lake City. They defended themselves until six of their number were killed and many wounded, and their ammunition expended. They sent out a flag of truce, and the attacking party came to the camp, led by Mr. Burton, who asked Mr. Morris whether he would give up his opposition to the authority of Young. Mr. Morris an- swered, "Never!" "Then," Mr. Burton replied, "we will try your God." Mr. Morris asked to be allowed to speak, and, the permission granted, he said: "I have taught only the truth, whether you will receive it or not." Without further words Burton shot him! A lady who stood by Mr. Morris and who tried to take his part was also shot; and they also shot Mr. Banks, the councilor. Mrs. Bowman had said, "Why did you kill that man? you bloodthirsty hound!" Burton replied, "No woman can call me that and live," and he shot and killed her also. They then took the rest of the men prisoners to Salt Lake City, kept them a day and then released them, and they returned to their camp. "They were ordered off from there," continues Mrs. Eliason, "and they were a poor, outcast people."
After the fight everything they had was taken and confiscated, and they could not maintain their organization against such disadvantages; and the men scattered and sought work wherever they could get anything to do. The following spring General Conners came to Fort Douglas, and to him they went for help; and he furnished teams and moved them to what is now called Old Town Soda Springs. There he had a survey made and gave small allotments of land, and they dug holes in the ground and covered them with brush, and lived in them, in great destitu- tion. A small detachment of soldiers under Cap- tain Black was left to protect them, and their captain made a treaty with the Bannack Indians to let them live there in peace. Had it not been for rations supplied by the soldiers many of them must have starved.
This little company of soldiers staid with the colony for about two years. After a time the colony broke up, some members going to Car- son valley, some to Washington territory, or Montana, and some back to Salt Lake City. Those who remained built log houses and began to live in comparative comfort. Mrs. Eliason's husband, Arick Eliason, raised a few cattle. With a scythe he cut a quantity of wild hay and sold it for four hundred dollars, and that gave them their first little start. From emigrants who passed that way to Montana or to Boise basin, they bought a pair of oxen, for one hundred and sixty dollars, and a wagon, for one hundred dol- lars. After this Mr. Eliason cut tar-wood in the mountains and made tar, which he took to Cache valley and exchanged for provisions and other necessaries; and from this time his fortunes im- proved, and by hard work and indefatigable in- dustry he became comparatively well off. He died in 1893, aged seventy-six years.
Mr. and Mrs. Eliason were natives of Sweden and were converted there to the faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They arrived at Salt Lake on the 5th of October, 1860. Mr. Eliason took up a ground ranch near Soda Springs and bought land in Montana, and in 1898 his widow built a nice little cottage in Soda Springs, where she now resides in peace and comfort. She has had six children, namely : Caroline, who became the wife of Ed. Culvert; Annie, now Mrs. Henry Smith; Joseph, John,
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HISTORY OF IDAHO.
Isaac and Jacob. Most of these sons are now well-to-do farmers. Mrs. Eliason is seventy years of age.
FRANKLIN.
Franklin is the oldest town in Idaho. It is located in Oneida county in the beautiful Cache valley, about one mile north of the Utah state line, and on a branch of the Oregon Short Line Railroad about one hundred miles north of Salt Lake City. When this great state was unpeo- pled save by the wild sons of the forest a com- pany of brave and faithful members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints made their way to the "Gem of the Mountains," arriving at the present site of Franklin, April 14, 1860. Around them spread the lovely valley, and nature seemed to have provided all that man deems necessary to livelihood. The honored patriarchs, Samuel Rose Parkinson and Thomas Smart, both still residing in the town, together with a Mr. Anderson, were appointed to survey the town, and having no compasses they took God's sure guide, the north star, whereby they laid out the lines of the village. About fifty families took up their residence here in 1860, and the distribution of land was by lot, five acres of meadow, ten acres of upland and an acre and a quarter in the village were given to each man, whose ground was assigned to him by lot, and the greatest harmony prevailed throughout the distribution. The band of pioneers built modest little log houses in the form of a hollow square, the backs forming part of the walls of the fort. For some time a guard was kept, for fear of In- dian attack. The days brought privations and hardships, but the little colony had the most im- plicit faith in God, and with great energy they began the task of earning a living and making homes in the wild region. They made ditches to convey the water to their lands, and not for- getful of the intellectual needs, in the fall of 1860, they built a little log school-house,-the first in- stitution of learning in this great commonwealth. There they also held their religious services, and prayers and songs of praise arose to the God they worshiped. Those pioneer days, however, have long since passed, and the Latter Day Saints have erected a large and well furnished tabernacle, which is surrounded by a grove of beautiful trees, and the Presbyterians have also
built a nice little church. The school district is now erecting a large brick school-house; a beau- tiful square has been set aside to serve as a park, and progress and beauty are seen on every hand. Fine shade trees abound, and almost every home is surrounded by some beautiful specimens of these monarchs of the forest.
In 1874 the railroad was built, the church urg- ing. the settlers along the line to aid in making the grade, so that they contributed materially to the success of the enterprise which has thus brought Franklin into close connection with the outside world. A large shipping business is now carried on, sheep, cattle and produce being exported in large quantities. Most of the citi- zens are farmers, having their homes in the vil- lage, with farms near the corporation. The town has a fine large stone roller-process mill, with a capacity of one hundred and twenty-five barrels; an excellent butter and cheese factory ; an exten- sive union store and several smaller ones, and is enjoying a prosperous existence. The people have remained true to the faith of their fathers, almost ninety per cent of the six or seven hun- . dred inhabitants being members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
PRESTON.
Preston is an enterprising business center, with a population of fifteen hundred, and is lo- cated at the upper end of the beautiful and fer- tile Cache valley, one hundred and ten miles north of Salt Lake City. Railroad communication is obtained through a branch of the Oregon Short Line Railroad. The town was platted in 1885 by William Parkinson, John Larson and Augus- tus Canfield, and the post-office was established about the same time. The growth of the place has been continuous and healthy, and Preston is now the best business center of Oneida county, having many excellent enterprises and commer- cial establishments. There is a large wagon, carriage and farm implement store, three exten- sive and prosperous general mercantile stores, a clothing store, a harness shop and store, two hotels and other places of business usually found in a progressive town of the west. There are also two good newspapers. The town is sur- rounded by a broad and rich farming country, peopled by a thrifty, intelligent and successful
1
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HISTORY OF IDAHO.
class of agriculturists, who do business in Pres- ton, both as purchasers and shippers. The at- tractive residences of the town are surrounded by lovely shade trees and Preston is justly celebrated for its beauty.
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