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 81
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Dollar Company, so that it is possible to go from the Black Jack mill to the Trade Dollar by an underground route, the distance being seven thousand and five hundred fect,-two thou- sand feet of which being a cross-cut and the re- mainder a drift on the ledge.
The mill is a Frazier & Chalmers ten-stamp combination, equipped with frew vanners. There are four six-foot vanners, over which the pulp passes before going to the pans. In the latter the material is treated by regular amalgamation, eight pans and four settlers being required. The engine is a C. & G. Cooper Corliss single-cylin- der structure of a hundred-horse power. Two seventy-five-horse-power boilers generate the steam required for the plant. An Ingersoll-Sar- gent air-compressor, located in the mill. furnishes the power for the underground hoist previously referred to.
The ore occurs in a medium-hard quartz; the silver in the form of an argentite carries about two-thirds of the values, and gold one-third. Gold assays can be obtained from picked speci- mens that will run enormously rich,-as high as a thousand ounces; but the average value of the ore is between thirty and forty ounces of silver and ten dollars in gold to the ton.
Eighty men are employed at the mine and twelve at the mill. The mine and mill are run continuously, with two shifts of men, every day and night in the year excepting two days at Christmas, two at the Fourth of July and one Labor Day. About seventy per cent. of the values are obtained by concentration and about twenty per cent. in bullion, making a total of ninety per cent. saving. The concentrates are shipped to Denver for final treatment. The of- ficers of the company are John Irwin, Jr., presi- dent; Edward Bindley, vice-president; James Mckay, treasurer; and Lloyd L. Little, secre- tary, residing at Pittsburg. The local officers are Frederic Irwin, superintendent; J. B. Mattenson, mine foreman; James Ingals, mill foreman; and Bert Haug, assayer and accountant. The com- pany are the owners of the following mines: Black Jack, Empire State, Phillips, Sullivan, Bel- fast and Independence,-all of which are pat- ented; while the unpatented claims are the Vir- ginia, Bay State, Industry, Economy and Sun- flower.
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HISTORY OF IDAHO.
THE ONTARIO GROUP OF MINES.
These mines, which are now owned by Michael Carey, state senator, are located on Warm Spring creek, twelve miles west of Ketchum, in Blaine county, Idaho. They yield galena ore-silver and lead-and the veins extend east and west, dipping toward the south, and average from three to three and a half feet in width. The ore has an average yield of forty per cent. lead, eighty ounces of silver and three dollars in gold to the ton. These mines are worked by tunnels, which thus afford drainage and permit the ore to be run out on tracks. They were first discovered by John Boyle in 1880, were purchased by the Warm Springs Consolidated Company, and, as stated, are now the property of Senator Carey. The group consists of the following mines: On- tario, Hub No. 2, Niagara, Hathaway, Sunday, Gopher, Kalemet Fraction, Log Cabin, Michigan Fraction and the North Star. Half a million of dollars have been taken from the Ontario. The Star has been a good producer, also the Sunday, and the others have not as yet been worked so extensively. There is a good concentrating mill, costing twenty thousand dollars, on the prop- erty, and quite a number of tunnels have been made, the longest being three hundred feet. All the mines in this vicinity produce rich ore, and there is no doubt but that the Ontario will yield to its owner valuable ores for many years to come.
THE ALTURAS SENATOR MINING COMPANY.
The mines of this company are situated at Ga- lena, Blaine county, Idaho, comprising ten claims, the most promising of which are the Sen- ate and Gladwater. At one time these mines were yielding well, but, because of the decline in silver, operations were discontinued and the smelter dismantled. Some development is con- templated in this year, 1899. The company is composed of wealthy men in New York. Lewis Edwards, the president, and Dr. Barron, the president of the Carpenter Steel Works of New York, are the principal factors.
The Ashland Group Mining Company have four silver-lead claims at Muldoon and two silver- lead claims on Boyle mountain. Nothing has been done with these claims for the past twelve years.
The Cansada-Ledlie Company own two claims, the Cansada and the Ledlie, on Trail creek about six miles from Ketchum. George Yount, of Ketchum, and a Philadelphia party are conduct- ing some development work on the Cansada un- . der the management of Knox Taylor.
THE SILVER KING MINING COMPANY.
This company was organized under the laws of New Jersey, by Philadelphia parties, with Henry Tevis as president. They have two groups of mines. The Davitt, a silver-lead prop- erty, is located on Deer creek, a tributary of Wood river. The ore occurs in a granite forma- tion. A large and continuous seam has pro- duced a great deal of silver and lead. It was operated with a shaft; but a snow-slide ruined the hoist and operations were abandoned.
The company also owns the Silver King, a group of four claims located four miles above Sawtooth on the Salmon river, in a granite forma- tion and quartz, being very rich in silver, with sulphur, antimony, a sulphide of iron and zinc. Gold has been found in the iron to the amount of twenty-four dollars. The silver values have been very high, averaging at times three hundred ounces, with sometimes as high as fifteen hun- dred ounces, and many shipments running to four, five and even six hundred ounces.
Major Hyndman had a lease of the property for three years and paid the company in one of the years ten thousand dollars on a fifteen per cent. royalty; but little other work has been done on it. At length he acquired an interest in the enterprise and finally became half-owner, and was leasing the property in 1892 when the saw- dust covering of the boiler at the hoist caught fire and the hoist was burned; and the apparatus has not since been repaired, and after Major Hyndman's death disagreements with his widow have prevented work. The improvements of the property consist of mill, rolls and two frew run- ners.
PIERCE CITY GOLD CAMP.
This camp is now attracting considerable at- tention from capitalists. Ohio parties have pur- chased an interest in the Golden Gate Mining Company's property, and are now carrying on work there. . The Milling & Mining Company also have a five-stamp mill on their property three
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miles from Pierce City, have begun the milling of ore, and good results have been obtained. Some sixty thousand dollars in gold has been extracted by a three-stamp mill owned by the Dunn Broth- ers on adjoining property. The character of the ore in this camp is mostly free-milling gold quartz. The Chapman group of gold-quartz claims on the Oro Grande creek, fifteen miles northeast of Pierce City will be worked in 1899. The showing is one hundred thousand tons of ore in sight, free-milling, with assays, from seven dollars and forty-five cents to fifty-six dollars per ton. A contemporary publication in an article headed "The Free Milling Gold Belt of Idaho," gives the following: "The Western Mining World's correspondents in Idaho exhibit a well founded enthusiasm over the mineral outlook in that state. In writing from Pierce City one gen- tleman refers to the fact that mining men seeking investment have a natural preference for free- milling propositions, the great advantage being that the ore requires no shipment from the mine, but is milled on the ground by stamp mills. An- other advantage is that the machinery required is not ponderous and can be transported to the mine by wagon or pack train, and a mill can be erected at a cost of from two to five thousand dollars that will turn out from eight to fifteen tons of ore per day at an expense of from four to five dollars per ton. Then again, after the ore is extracted and put on the dump, four men are sufficient to operate a stamp mill with an ex- pense-including labor, fuel and repairs-not exceeding twenty-five dollars per day to mill twelve tons. The expense of taking ore from the mine might be estimated at two dollars, and the milling two dollars per ton. As no shipment of ore is required, free-milling camps are free from the exactions and high tariffs of transportation companies. The fact that Pierce City is a free- milling gold-quartz camp perhaps has more to do with the rapid growth now in progress than any other one thing.
"The Idaho free-milling gold belt embraces thousands of square miles of territory lying in Shoshone county and running southeasterly to Pierce City, between the forks of Clearwater river and including the headwaters of the Oro Fino, Oro Grande, French, Lo-Lo and Mussel Shell creeks, and continuing on to Dixie, Elk
City, Florence and Warrens, comprising the southeastern slope of the Bitter Root mountain. The streams above mentioned empty into the Clearwater, Salmon and Snake rivers. Other minerals than gold are found in the territory, and some gold quartz has been found that is not free · milling, but the main feature of the important properties so far developed has been free-milling gold. This vast mineral district is largely tribu- tary to Spokane, and mining men of that city are becoming interested in some of the best proper- ties, and are sending forward machinery and sup- plies to aid in rapid development."
Quartz mining in this locality can be carried on twelve months in the year, and the large tract of agricultural land in the Nez Perces reservation now being cultivated makes living as cheap in Pierce City as in almost any farming community. Fairly good wagon roads from Lewiston and Kendrick are traveled daily with freight, camp supplies, stage and express. The distance is eighty miles from Lewiston and sixty-five miles from Kendrick. Steamboats from Lewiston make trips in the spring within twenty-five miles of Golden Gate, and merchandise for Pierce City is landed at the mouth of Oro Fino creek, forty miles away. The government is now working a force of men, improving the navigation as far up as Chamois, which will probably make it naviga- ble for steamers six months in the year. Work on the free-milling gold-quartz mines of French, Oro Fino, Rhodes and Mussel Shell creeks is being pushed, and some new developments are reported. The Klondyke has widened into a twelve-foot vein of solid ore. The manager of the Gold Bar reports sixty feet depth in shaft No. I, with a twenty-eight-inch vein of ore that assays one hundred and twelve dollars and twenty-seven cents a ton. It is proposed to go down seventy- five feet and then run in a tunnel, tapping the main body of ore at a depth of one hundred and fifty feet. The Golden Gate will go down two hundred feet on one ore vein of three feet in width and a parallel vein of eighteen inches. The veins are seven feet apart. These properties are attracting a great deal of attention and the invest- ment of capital in the operation of the mines will make this one of the richest mining districts of the country, and will thereby contribute to the growth and material advancement of the state.
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HISTORY OF IDAHO.
THE TIP-TOP MINE.
This is a gold property. It is situated twelve miles west of Hailey, Blaine county, in the center of what is known as the gold belt. The mine is thoroughly developed by an inclined shaft three hundred feet in depth, passing through three levels, from which project several wings. The ore is obtained to the extent of five hundred feet, with an average width of the tunnel from five to six feet. The ore consists of gold in iron and copper pyrites. The value of the gold is one ounce to the ton. A twenty-stamp mill is in process of construction at the mine, which will probably be completed and running before the publication of this volume. A four-inch water pipe two miles in length supplies the mill with water, which has to be raised nine hundred feet. The ore is treated by running it from the battery over copper-silver plates, where one-half is amal- gamated. The remaining gold is concentrated by twelve frew runners and other concentrating machinery, which work can be effected with the result of a high percentage.
The outlay in developing the mine to its present stage and in erecting the mill is about one hun- dred thousand dollars. The plant is owned by John Q. Packard, of Salt Lake City, and H. E.
Miller, of Bellevue, a thoroughly practical mining expert. The work is under the direct superin- tendency of Captain James A. Lusk, a prominent mining man from Utah. Mr. Miller came to Wood river in 1881 and has assisted in the devel- opment of various mines, among which may be mentioned the Minnie Moore, which eventually proved to be the largest producer of all the mines in the Wood river country, yielding nearly as much as any four of the best mines in that section of the state. The amount of ore, con- sisting of galena carrying ninety ounces of silver, which has been shipped from this mine, is esti- , mated at three or four million dollars, shipping value.
In 1883 this mine was purchased by an English company, who for a time afterward continued its operation; but at present no work is being done. They paid half a million dollars for the plant. It has an inclined shaft nine hundred feet in extent, with levels of one hundred feet each. Professor Blake, a distinguished metallurgist, said that this mine contained the largest body of galena ore he had ever seen in America. The ore is clear galena, carrying one hundred and twelve ounces of silver. For a length of three hundred feet the tunnel has an average width of eighteen feet.
CHAPTER XXX.
INDIVIDUAL RECORDS.
HORACE E. NEAL.
F OR the past six years this enterprising young business man has occupied the responsible position of cashier of the Cap- ital State Bank, of Idaho, and is rapidly acquiring the reputation of being one of the ablest financiers in the state. Prior to his connection with this well known banking institution, now regarded as one of the best in the great northwest, he had had experience in the handling of finances, having for several years been engaged in the loan business in this state and in Colorado, and having served as the first county treasurer of Kit Carson county, Colorado, after its organization by act of the state legislature, his appointment coming from Governor J. A. Cooper.
The ancestors of Horace E. Neal were Scotch, as his name indicates, and for several generations the family has lived in New Jersey and Ohio. James E. Neal, the father of our subject, was one of the early settlers of Ohio, and was a farmer by occupation. In politics he has been a Republican from the time that the party was organized. For his wife he chose Miss Mary A. Nincehelser, a lady of German extraction, whose family had long resided in Pennsylvania; and unto James E. and Mary A. Neal were born seven sons and two daughters, and three of the sons are numbered among the successful business men of Boise. The birth of Horace E. Neal occurred in Van Buren county, Iowa, September 7, 1859, and when a child he removed with his parents to Peru, Nebraska, where he was reared on a farm. He received a common-school train- ing, and later pursued his studies in the State Normal at Peru, Nebraska, and at Tabor College, Tabor, Iowa, and completed his education in the Methodist University, then located at York, Nebraska. For three years he engaged in teach- ing in the common and graded schools of Nemaha county, Nebraska; afterward he went to western Kansas; thence to Burlington, Colo-
rado, and during his residence in those cities was engaged in the lumber, real-estate and loan business. He then served in the capacity of treasurer of Kit Carson county, Colorado, for two years, and in November, 1890, came to Boise, where, in partnership with his brother, W. Scott, he engaged in the insurance and loan business.
In July, 1891, Horace E. Neal became inter- ested in the organization of the Capital State Bank of Idaho, and for the first two years of its existence he was its assistant cashier. In Febru- ary, 1893, he was elected to the position of cashier, and has since served as such. Much of the prosperity which this institution enjoys is- directly traceable to the energy, good judgment and keen foresight of Mr. Neal in the manage- ment of its affairs. The bank was organized with fifty thousand dollars of paid-up stock, and an authorized capital of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and it now has a surplus of fourteen thousand dollars. Among the gentlemen who were concerned in the establishment of the bank were George D. Eliis; J. S. Fordyce ; James H. Bush; B. Lombard, Jr., of Boston; H. E. Neal; H. H. Wheeler, of Lincoln, Nebraska; Edward Shainwald; and Frank A. Nourse. The first officers were J. S. Fordyce, president ; J. H. Bush, vice-president; W. E. Mitchell, cashier: and H. E. Neal, assistant cashier. The present officers are George D. Ellis, president: J. C. Pence, vice-president; Horace E. Neal, cashier : and F. D. Young, assistant cashier. The bank now numbers among its patrons the leading mer- chants, cattle, sheep and mining men of the northwest.
In 1893 H. E. Neal was honored by an appoint- ment to the office of city treasurer of Boise, and in July, 1895, was elected to the position which he still retains. He takes a deep interest in educational matters, and in 1896 was elected as a member of the board of trustees of the inde- pendent school district of Boise. In the Masonic
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HISTORY OF IDAHO.
fraternity he ranks deservedly high. In 1891 he was made a Master Mason of Boise Lodge, No. 2, A. F. & A. M., and is a member of the chapter, commandery and shrine, being past master of Boise Lodge. In his political views he is an uncompromising Republican.
On the 24th of May, 1893, Mr. Neal was united in marriage to Miss Mary Wallace, dauglı- ter of John N. Wallace, of Boise City. They have one child, a little son, W. Edwin. Mr. and Mrs. Neal are valued workers and members of the Methodist church here, the former being the popular superintendent of the Sunday school. Mr. Neal takes a lively interest in all public matters, and takes a firm stand on the side of right at all times. He is president of the State Sunday School Association, and as such officer has been the means of building up the work throughout the state.
AUREN G. REDWAY.
For thirty-six years Auren G. Redway has been a resident of Boise, and for many years was prominently connected with her banking inter- ests, but is now living retired, enjoying that well earned rest which is the fitting reward of an honorable and active business career. He comes from the far-off east and is a representative of a family that was established in America in colonial days. His grandfather, Preserved Redway, served his country throughout the war of the Revolution, was one of General Washington's body guard, and had the honor of being a corporal of the guard at the time of the surrender of General Burgoyne. He lost one of his limbs in that great struggle for independence, but it was a willing sacrifice for the great cause of American liberty. By occupation he was a farmer, making that pursuit his life work. In religious belief he was a Presbyterian, and his death occurred April 28, 1837, when he had attained an advanced age. His wife, Azuba Redway, survived him a number of years, and passed away January 1, 1853.
Their son, Abel Redway, father of our subject, was born in Adams, Jefferson county, New York, February 8, 1805, and married Sally Charlotte Grinnell, a representative of the prominent Grin- nell family of the Empire state. She was born at Galway, on the 19th of May, 1810, and at the time of her marriage went to her husband's
home, on one of the farms of Jefferson county. They were also members of the Presbyterian church, and by their union were born six children, four of whom are still living.
Auren G. Redway, the second child, was born in Adams, Jefferson county, New York, on the 5th of March, 1835, and was reared and educated in his native town. On the 20th of December, 1859, when a young man of twenty-four years, he sailed from New York to San Francisco, by way of the isthmus of Panama, and arrived at his destination on the 10th of January, 1859, making the voyage in twenty days and six hours. For a time he was engaged in the nursery business in San Jose, California, and in 1862 he went to Van- couver, Washington, where he was employed as clerk in a sutler's store until his removal to Boise, on the 10th of July, 1863. He was then com- missioned to act as sutler to the fort which had recently been established at Boise, and bought goods, selling to the soldiers. He continued in that business for five years, or until 1868, when he turned his attention to speculating in loans, buying obligations, etc. In 1872 he entered the First National Bank, of Boise, as bookkeeper, and was connected with that institution for twenty- four years. He served for fourteen years as bookkeeper, four years as assistant cashier and six years as cashier, and in 1896 retired to private life. During all that time he was never absent from the bank with the exception of two weeks, and his fidelity, trustworthiness and ability, mani- fested in the discharge of his duties, contributed not a little to the success of the institution.
On the 30th of August, 1856, Mr. Redway was happily married to Miss Mary Ann Outterson, d native of Dublin, Ireland, who at the age of four years was brought to the United States by her father, Andrew Outterson, a paper manufacturer, who made for the government the first paper on which greenbacks were issued. Mr. and Mrs. Redway have three children. William Harvey is now a prosperous and popular merchant of Cald- well, Idaho. George Francis has for seventeen years been connected with the First National Bank of Boise, in which he is now serving as assistant cashier. The daughter, Elizabeth Char- lotte, is an accomplisned and successful teacher in St. Margaret's school, an Episcopal boarding and day school for girls and young ladies. The
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family have a pleasant and hospitable home in Boise, and the members of the household occupy a very enviable position in social circles. Mr. Redway is a member of the Pioneer Society of Idaho and of the State Historical Society, and of the latter is now serving as treasurer.
JAMES A. GERWICK.
Of the commercial interests of Weiser James A. Gerwick is a leading representative. He is now engaged in the harness and saddlery busi- ness, and enjoys a liberal patronage which comes to him from all sections of Washington county. His conformity to high business principles and honorable methods, combined with energy and enterprise, have gained him a foremost place in mercantile circles, and a well merited success rewards his efforts.
Mr. Gerwick came to the west from far-off Pennsylvania. He is a native of Butler county, that state, and is of German lineage. His parents are Fred and Lovina (Winters) Gerwick, natives of Germany, in which land their ancestors had resided for many generations. The father of our subject came to the United States with his parents, the family locating in Pennsylvania. He was married in Pittsburg, and is now a merchant in McKeen county, of the Keystone state. In the family were eleven children, ten of whom are living.
Of these James A. Gerwick is the ninth in order of birth. He was educated in Pennsylvania and during his residence in the east carried on agricultural pursuits. In 1887 he came to Idaho and engaged in raising sheep, in which industry he continued successfully for about thirteen years, when he sold his sheep for thirteen thousand and seven hundred dollars. He had at times owned as high as five thousand head, and was very prosperous in that business. He disposed of his ranch, however, in order to engage in the harness and saddlery business, which he finds a more congenial occupation. He has erected a sub- stantial brick store, which is filled with a large
line of every class of goods of the kind, and in the fall of 1898 he added a complete line of boots and shoes. His straightforward dealing, his earnest desire to please his customers and his moderate prices have secured to him a liberal patronage.
In 1888 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Gerwick and Miss Laura Monroe, and their union has been blessed with two sons and a daughter,-Guy Albert, Roy Leslie and Edith Luvena. Their home, erected by Mr. Gerwick, is one of the finest residences in the city, and its air of culture and good cheer renders it a favorite resort with their many friends. Socially Mr. Ger - wick is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in his political affiliations is a Republican. Coming to the west with the hope of bettering his financial condition, he has neve: had occasion to regret the step thus taken, for prosperity has attended his efforts and due recognition has been accorded his sterling qual- ities of character, such as command respect in every land and clime.
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