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 95
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Bigamy and polygamy are crimes by the laws of all civilized and Christian countries. They are crimes by
the laws of the United States, and they are crimes by the laws of Idaho. The term "religion" has reference to one's views of his relations to his Creator and to the obligations they impose and reverence for His being and character, and of obedience to His will. It is often confounded with the cultus or form of worship of a particular sect, but is distinguished from the latter. The first amendment to the constitution, in declaring > that "congress shall make no law respecting the estab- lishment of religion or prohibit the free exercise thereof," was intended to allow every one under the jurisdiction of the United States to entertain such notions respecting his relations to his Maker and the duties they impose as may be approved by his judgment and conscience, and to exhibit his sentiments in such form of worship as he may think proper not injurious to the equal rights of others, and to prohibit legislation for the support of any religious tenets or the modes of worship of any religious sect. The oppressive measures adopted, and the cruelties and punishments inflicted by the governments of Europe for many ages, to com- pel parties to conform in their religious beliefs and modes of worship to the views of the most numerous sect, and the folly of attempting in that way to control the mental operation of persons and enforce an outward conformity to a prescribed standard, led to the adop- tion of the amendment in question. It was never in- tended or supposed that the amendment could be in- voked as a protection against legislation for the pun- ishment of acts inimical to the peace, good order and morals of society. However free the exercise of re- ligion may be, it must be subordinate to the criminal laws of the country passed with reference to actions regarded by general consent as properly the subjects of punitive legislation. Probably never before in the history of this country has it been seriously contended that the whole punitive power of the government, for acts recognized by the general consent of the Christian world in modern times as proper matters for prohib- itory legislation, must be suspended in order that the tenets of a religious sect encouraging crime may be carried out without hindrance.
It was further decided that the legislation in question was entirely within the powers granted by congress to the territorial legislature.
ADMISSION TO THE UNION.
The passage of the Idaho admission bill through congress was virtually assured by the above decision. Until it was made certain that
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HISTORY OF IDAHO.
the new state, if admitted, could lawfully control and exclude from power its polygamous popula- tion, no one cared to hasten its admission; and the bill slumbered in the house committee at Washington. After this decision the bill was reported to the house, and passed, April 3. It received the approval of the senate July I, and was signed by the president on July 3, and at that moment Idaho became a state. Its constitu- tion had been framed in July, 1889, and adopted by the people in November of that year.
The boundaries of the new state were defined as follows: Beginning at the inter- section of the thirty-ninth meridian with the boundary line between the United States and the British possessions, then following said meridian south until it reaches the summit of the Bitter Root mountains, then southeast along the crest of the Bitter Root range and the continental divide until it inter- sects the meridian of thirty-four degrees of longi- tude, thence southward on this meridian to the forty-second parallel of latitude, thence west on this parallel of latitude to its intersection with the meridian drawn through the mouth of the Owyhee river, thence north on this merid- ian to the mouth of the Owyhee river, thence down the mid-channel of the Snake river to the mouth of the Clearwater river, and north on the meridian which passes through the mouth of the Clearwater to the boundary line between the United States and the British possessions, and east on said boundary line to the place of beginning.
On the admission of Idaho into the Union, it was assigned one representative in congress, be- sides the two senators. It was provided that in the first election held for state officers the terri- torial laws for registration, including the test-oatlı law, should apply. The sixteenth and thirty-sixth sections of the public lands in each township, or sections in lieu thereof, were granted to the state for the support of common schools, the proceeds from the sale of such lands to be preserved as a permanent school fund. This fund was entitled also to receive five per cent. of the net proceeds accruing to the United States from the sale of public lands in the state. Fifty sections of the public lands were granted in aid of the erection of public buildings at the capital, and ninety
thousand acres were granted for the establislı- ment and maintenance of an agricultural college. In lieu of the general grant of lands for internal improvements usually made to new states, the following special grants were made: For the establishment and maintenance of a scientific school, 100,000 acres; for state normal schools, 90,000 acres; for the maintenance of the insane asylum at Blackfoot, 50,000 acres; for the main- tenance of the state university at Moscow, 50,000 acres ; for the penitentiary at Boise, 50,000 acres; and for other state charitable, educational, penal and reformatory institutions, 150,000 acres. None of the lands granted was to be sold for less than ten dollars an acre.
THE FIRST STATE OFFICERS.
Pursuant to the provisions of the admission act and of the new constitution, Territorial Gov- ernor Shoup issued a proclamation, July 18, 1890, directing a special election to be held on October I to choose a full corps of state and county. officers and a representative to the fifty-first and fifty-second congresses. Nominating conventions were at once called by the Republican and Demo- cratic state committees.
The Republican state convention met at Boise August 20 and nominated the following ticket : For governor, George L. Shoup; for lieutenant governor, Norman B. Willey; secretary of state. A. J. Pinkham ; auditor, George Robethan ; treas- urer, Frank R. Coffin; attorney general, George H. Roberts; superintendent of public instruction. J. E. Harroun; justices of the supreme court. Joseph W. Huston,. John T. Morgan and Isaac N. Sullivan; and member of congress for both terms, Willis Sweet. In their platform, besides the customary declarations, the Republicans de- manded a repeal of the national law which placed the public domain of the state of Idaho within the arid region and reserved the same from settle- ment, which law "retarded the growth of the state and worked a great injustice to the people."
The Democratic state convention also met at Boise, August 26, and nominated Benjamin Wil- son for governor, Samuel F. Taylor for lieutenant governor, E. A. Sherwin for secretary of state, James H. Wickersham for auditor, T. A. Regan for treasurer, Richard Z. Johnson for attorney general, Milton A. Kelly for superintendent of
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HISTORY OF IDAHO.
public instruction, I. N. Maxwell, F. H. Ensign and Hugh W. Weir for justices of the supreme court, and Alexander E. Mayhew for member of congress. In their platform they declared for the free and unlimited coinage of silver, for an eight- hour system of labor, for laws restricting Chinese immigration and prohibiting their employment, and even favored the deportation of the Chinese that may be found already in the state; and they also favored the principle of electing United States senators by a popular vote.
During the ensuing canvass the name of Silas W. Moody was substituted on the Republican ticket for that of George Robethan. The election resulted in a victory for the Republican ticket, as follows: For George L. Shoup, Republican candidate for governor, 10,262; for Benjamin Wilson, the Democratic candidate for that office, 7,948; for Willis Sweet, Republican candidate for member of congress, 10,150; for Alex. E. May- hew, for the same office, 8,026; and the other candidates received majorities varying from 1,500 to 2,200.
The state legislature was composed of fourteen Republicans and four Democrats in the senate, and thirty Republicans and six Democrats in the house. On November 3, soon after assuming office, Governor Shoup issued his proclamation convening the new legislature for its first session at Boise on December 8. This body accordingly met on that date, and completed its session on March 14 following. Almost immediately after assembling, the legislature proceeded to the elec- tion of United States senators. On December 18 it chose Governor Shoup for the term ending March 4, 1897, and William J. McConnell for the term ending March 4, 1893. At the same time this legislature elected ex-Delegate Fred- erick T. Dubois to succeed Governor Shoup at the end of his term. The ballot for Dubois was taken in joint session, without having first, 011 the day previous, taken a ballot separately in each house, according to the statute. His Re- publican opponents took advantage of this, and, combining with the Democrats, protested against the election as illegal. They passed through both houses a resolution under which, on February 10, each house separately voted for a senator in place of Dubois. This resolution declared that great doubt of the validity of the former election ex-
isted, because it took place in advance of the time fixed by law, and without a separate ballot in each house. On February II both houses in joint session, finding that no choice had been made on the preceding day on the separate ballot in each house, proceeded by joint ballot to elect William H. Clagett to the United States senate, by a vote of twenty-eight, to four for all other candidates. Seventeen Republican members were present and refused to vote, and four were ab- sent; but the Republican minority and the Demo- crats (who voted for Clagett) formed a majority of both houses. Subsequently acting Governor Willey signed the certificate of Clagett's election ; but Secretary of State Pinkham refused to coun- tersign it or affix the state seal. Dubois had previously obtained a certificate of election signed by the governor and the secretary of state and duly sealed. It then became the duty of the United States senate to pass upon the validity of both these certificates.
At this session of the legislature the Australian ballot system was adopted, applying to all elections in the state excepting school-district elections. Under its provisions candidates may be nomi- nated by the convention or primary meeting of a political party, or by certificates of nomination signed by electors residing within the political division for which the nomination is made to the number at least of three hundred if for a state office, at least one hundred and fifty if for an office representing two or more counties, and so on down in a corresponding ratio. In connec- tion with elections a registration law was adopted, and the usual restrictions placed upon qualifica- tions of voters.
In order to fund the bonded and floating debts of the state, an act was passed authorizing the issue of six-per-cent. state bonds, redeemable on December 1, 1911, or at any time after Deceni- ber 1, 1900, at the option of the state. At the time of the adoption of this law the bonded debt of the state to be refunded amounted to $51,715.06, with accrued interest, while the float- ing debt was about $76,000, with accrued interest. The ad-valorem state tax to be levied annually for general purposes was fixed at eight and a half mills on the dollar, and a further annual tax of three-fourths of a mill was levied in aid of the state university building fund. The
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HISTORY OF IDAHO.
legislature also passed a law changing the school system in conformity with the requirements of the state constitution and provided for an annual tax levy in each county, for the support of schools, of not less than five nor more than ten mills on the dollar. The liquor-license law enacted at this session fixed the annual license fee at five hundred dollars in all places where the total vote for governor at the preceding election exceeded one hundred and fifty ; three hundred dollars in other places; but a tavern where liquor was sold three miles or more from avillage should pay only one hundred dollars annually. The sell- ing or giving of liquors to minors was forbidden. The sum of thirty-five thousand dollars was ap- propriated for restoring the buildings of the insane asylum at Blackfoot, which had been burned. For the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago twenty thousand dollars was appro- priated. Aliens were forbidden to acquire or hold any real estate in the state except mining lands,
unless such real estate be acquired by inheritance or by the enforcement of a lien or judgment for debt. Resolutions were adopted urging an amendment to the federal constitution permitting the election of United States senators by a direct vote of the people. The county of Canyon was created out of a portion of Ada county. A state penitentiary was established at Boise in the build- ings already in use by the territory, two miles east of the city. The killing of moose was pro- hibited for six entire years. Three-fourths of a jury in civil cases were allowed to render a ver- dict. Eight hours was made a "day's" work. A county horticultural commissioner was provided for in certain cases. A great seal for the state was adopted. Three thousand dollars was appro- priated annually for the education of the deaf, dumb and blind of the state at institutions in adjoining states or territories; and many other important acts were passed.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
IDAHO IN 1890.
T HE officers for the territory and state of Idaho for the year 1890 were: Governor, George L. Shoup, Republican; secretary of state, Edward J. Curtis; treasurer, Charles Himrod; comptroller, James H. Wickersham; attorney general, Richard Z. Johnson; superin - tendent of public instruction, Charles C. Steven- son; chief justice of the supreme court, James H. Beatty; associate justices, Willis Sweet and Charles H. Berry.
November 1, 1890, the following state officers were declared elected by the state board of can- vassers and soon thereafter assumed office: Gov- ernor, George L. Shoup; lieutenant governor, Norman B. Willey; secretary of state, A. J. Pink- ham; auditor, Silas W. Moody; treasurer, Frank R. Coffin; attorney general, George H. Roberts; superintendent of public instruction, J. E. Har- roun; justices of the supreme court, Isaac N. Sullivan, Joseph W. Huston and John T. Mor- gan. Justice Sullivan drew by lot the shortest term and thereby became the chief justice.
The population of Idaho in 1890 by counties was:
Ada 8,368
Alturas
2,629 . Bear Lake.
6,057
Bingham
13,575
Boise
3,342
Cassia
3,143
Custer
2.176
Elmore 1,870
Idaho
2,955
Kootenai 4.108
Latah
9,173
Lemhi
1,915
Logan
4,169
Nez Perces 2,847
Oneida 6,819
Owyhee
2,021
Shoshone 5.382
Washington
3,836
Total for the state. .84.385
Increase since 1880
.51,775
The total indebtedness of the counties in 1890, when Idaho became a state, was $1,320,795, of which $858,700 was bonded. The state debt October 1, 1890, was: Bonds of 1877, due De- cember 1, 1891, $46,715.06; capitol-building bonds of 1885, $80,000; insane-asylum bonds of 1885, $20,000; outstanding warrants unpaid, $92,552.89; total debt, $239,267.95. The large amount of outstanding warrants was due to ap- propriations made by the preceding legislature for improvements upon the capitol grounds, the insane asylum and the university lands, and to unusual expenditures caused by the destruction of the insane asylum at Blackfoot by fire on No- vember 24, 1889. Before the end of December the wagon road bonds, amounting to $50,000, authorized by the preceding legislature, were sold at a premium, to be delivered as fast as money for the road should be needed.
The balances in the various funds of the state treasury were: General, $799.39; capitol build- ing, $20,774.95; library, $198.89; university, $78.32; common school, $758.60; insane, $334.57; general school fund, $10,919.40; total, $33,- 864.12.
The governor estimated the necessary expenses of the first year of statehood at $177.535, to meet which a tax levy, for 1891, of six and a half mills, would be necessary, exclusive of the half-mill levy for the state university and the one-fifth-mill levy for the wagon roads.
The state university was established at Moscow by an act of the fifteenth legislature, and the sum of fifteen thousand dollars appropriated for the purchase of a site and for procuring plans and specifications for a building.
The growth of the public schools during the two years ending August 31, 1890, was indicated by the following figures: The number of school districts increased from 337 to 410; school-houses from 269 to 315; schools from 376 to 497; chil- dren of school age (between five and twenty-one)
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HISTORY OF IDAHO.
from 20,433 to 25,471; the amount received for school purposes from $158,512 to $202,235.
The assessed valuation of property for the year 1890 was: Real estate and improvements, $II, 173,5II; railroad property, $5,358,338; live stock, $4,744,276; goods, wares and merchandise, $1,612,615; money, bank shares and other secur- ities, $763,284; other personal property, $1,929,- 281; total, $25,581,305. The rate of taxation, upon this valuation was four mills,-three and a half milis being for general purposes, and half a mill for the university.
The mineral production for the year 1890 by counties, was:
Gold.
Silver, at $1 per ounce.
Lead, at 4 cts. a pound.
Ada
$
16,000
$ 500
$
Alturas
140,000
360,000
240,000
Bingham
66,000
Boise
410,000
125,000
Cassia
45,000
Custer
260,000
893,000
145,000
Elmore
200,000
18,000
Idaho
485,000
37,000
Kootenai
166,500
325,000
I10,000
Lemhi
725,500
150,000
.....
Logan
75,000
550,000
125,000
Owyhee.
651,000
325,000
Shoshone
340,000
2,750,000
3,890,000
Washington
15,000
60,000
Total
$3,595,000
$5,594,000
$4,510,000
Besides, Custer county produced $75,000 worth of copper, and Washington county $50,000 worth, mak- ing the grand total $13,824,500.
During the year ending March 31, 1890, crops were raised in the state by irrigation on 217,005 acres of land, or 339.07 square miles,-about · four-tenths of one per cent of the area of the state. The number of farms on May 31, 1890, was 6,654, of which 4,323, or about two-thirds, irrigated areas, the remaining third being farmis
in the northern counties or stock ranges requir- ing no irrigation. The average first cost of water right was $4.74 an acre, and the average cost of preparing the soil for cultivation, including the purchase price. of the land but excluding the cost of water right, was $10.56 an acre. The average annual cost of water is eighty cents an acre. The average value of the irrigated land was $45.50 an acre.
On August 1, 1890, there were seventy-five prisoners in the state penitentiary, which is lo- cated two miles east of Boise, on a tract of one hundred and sixty acres. Of these six were United States prisoners. There is no employ- ment for the inmates of this institution, but occa- sionally some were employed in a quarry near by. During the year 1889 congress made an appro- priation of twenty-five thousand dollars for the support of this prison, consisting of an addition to the building, on which work was begun in March, 1890, and completed before the close of the year. In 1893 it was reported by the officer in charge that the cost of keeping each prisoner was about seventy-three cents a day, the convicts not being employed at profitable labor. Indeed, nearly all of them had never learned a trade. On December 1, this year, there were one hundred and thirty-two prisoners. The cost of their food per diem was fifteen cents per capita.
The Idaho national guard, in 1890, consisted of six companies, aggregating about three hun- dred and fifty men, supplied with uniforms by the national government.
The legislature of 1889 appropriated fifty thousand dollars for the construction of a wagon road from Mount Idaho to Little Salmon Meadows. This section of the public highway, after it was completed, for a long time was the only means of communication within the state between the northern and southern counties.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
INDIVIDUAL RECORDS.
ROBERT NOBLE.
T HIS well known citizen of Reynolds, Owy- hee county, is one of the largest sheep- raisers in Idaho and has been largely instrumental in improving the grade of stock raised in the state. His efforts have therefore been of public benefit, for the improvement of stock adds to its market value, and the wealtlı of the agricultural class is thereby augmented. The rich pasture lands of the northwest provide excellent opportunities to the stock-raiser, and this industry has become a most important one in the commercial interests of Idaho.
Mr. Noble, one of its leading representatives, is of English birth,-a native of Cumberland county, England, born October 19, 1844. His father, John Noble, was born in the same county, and wedded Miss Mary Mossop. In 1854 they came to Canada with their family of eight children, crossing the Atlantic in a sailing vessel which, after a voyage of eight weeks, reached the harbor of Quebec. At Kingston, Canada, the wife and mother died, being then forty-four years of age. In 1857 the family came to the United States and settled in New York state. All of the children are yet living, and three of the number are residents of Idaho. The father died in Owyhee county, in March, 1899, his birth having occurred August 13, 1800. He resided in Tonawanda, New York, for twenty years, and afterward resided successively in Illi- nois, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska, while since May, 1895, he made his home with his son Robert in Reynolds until the time of his death. He was the father of thirteen children, the grandfather of thirty-nine and the great-grandfather of sixteen.
Robert Noble attended school for a short time in Canada and continued his education in the state of New York. Upon the breaking out of the great civil war he volunteered in the Union army, and served in the quartermaster's depart- ment in Missouri and Tennessee until honorably
discharged at Springfield, Tennessee, in April, 1865. He then engaged in farming in Illinois until 1870, when he canie to Idaho, making the journey westward by way of California. He has resided upon his sheep ranch at Reynolds since 1874, and has valuable ranches aggregating in area twenty-two hundred acres. In the year 1898 he had seventy thousand sheep and two seasons' clip of wool on hand, and is regarded as one of the most successful as well as one of the most extensive sheep-raisers of the state. He is also engaged in raising horses, of which he has quite a band, and is also the owner of a valuable Eng- lish shire horse which weighs eighteen hundred pounds, and is one of the finest horses to be found in Idaho.
In 1877 Mr. Noble was united in marriage to Miss Anna Peters, a native of Missouri, and of German descent. They have seven children, all born in Reynolds, namely: Nellie, Robert, Frank C., Ernest, May, James Blaine and Rosella. The older children are attending school in San Rafael, California, and Boise. Mr. Noble and his family are Episcopalians, and he is a Knight Templar Mason. He also belongs to the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and in politics is a Republican. In all his business dealings he is straightforward and commands the confidence and good will of those with whom he is brought in contact. His prosperity is therefore well de- served, as it comes in return for effort, both honorable and consecutive.
PETER S. BECK, M. D.
The physician wields an influence in any com- munity which is peculiarly strong, because it is based on relations with the general public more intimate than those of almost any one else, and any good physician who is at the same time a good man may continue to broaden and deepen this influence to the end of his days. These re- flections have been suggested by the success of
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HISTORY OF IDAHO.
Dr. Peter S. Beck, ex-mayor of Genesee, Idalio. Dr. Beck is a Homeopathic physician, and Home- opathy is gaining in popularity, but that does not fully account for his success, for he has car- ried the banner of his chosen school of medicine to victory against prejudice and opposition, which he could not have done had he not pos- sessed a personality and a character which would have made him popular and successful in about any other field of endeavor.
Doctor Beck is a native of Pennsylvania, hav- ing been born in Armstrong county, March 28, 1852, of German ancestors, who were early set- tlers in that commonwealth. Jacob Beck, his father, was born in the same county, in 1820, and his mother, Sophia (Soxman) Beck, was born there one year earlier. She also was de- scended from a German family, representatives of which were early settlers in Pennsylvania. Jacob Beck is a Dunkard, his wife a Methodist. He is seventy-nine years old, and she is eighty years of age. They had six sons and a daughter, five of whom are living.
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