USA > Idaho > Lemhi County > Early history of the Upper Lemhi Valley > Part 3
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Wifet
11 > enday. Lemh, kadian-
dian Wet Khifs, Salpin, Idthe
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Blackfoot Indians came through Railroad Canyon. Uncle John Yearian, Kenneth's father, and Charlie Lee, Oran's father, were scouts camped in a swamp south of Jake's Ranch. They had used cardboard to represent a man, covered with red spots, holding a white flag. This apparently frightened the Indians who left, going over the Spring Creek Mountains and they were never heard from again.
"Our Indian Brothers" Written and Contributed by Dorothy Pyeatt Baker
The Lemhi Reservation was abandoned in July 1907 by the last of Bannock and Shoshone Indians, when they were moved to Ft. Hall. They enumerated at 474 sad and distrustful souls.
Not finding conditions any better in their new government home, many of the families started drifting back to their ancestral valley. They depended on the pioneer families for friendship and protection. Many of them worked in the hayfields, bringing their families, horses and household goods with them every summer. The Edmos, Nappo Brothers, Arrowites and Backles, were among those who never gave up their "home" .-- Some descendants, to this day, live in the Indian Camp at Salmon.
While the men worked for the ranchers, the squaws made buckskin gloves and moccasins, which they sold or traded for supplies or more deer hides. They and their children, gathered sarvisberries, chokecherries, and any tame berries growing on the ranches. They, then, appeared at the housewife's door, wanting to trade her own gooseberries or raspberries back to her, for sugar or flour.
The arrival of "our" Indians in the spring was a highlight in the life of the author. I was always fascinated to learn that a camp could be erected in a very short time from the travaile, and packs from backs of horses. My nearest neighbor playmate was two and a half miles away, and it was a great occasion when I had a companion. I often slipped away to the Indian Camp in the grove, in the horse pasture, to play. I well remember "heading home" in front of a willow switch. I probably set a record for that quarter of a mile, at least, twice a day. My mother was always relieved when school started in the fall, and the Indian children moved on.
Another chore, done by the children and squaws, was to cut and haul greasewood and sagebrush for their cooking fires, to smoke meat and the preparation of deer hides to be made into buckskin. They loaded both the horses and travailes, hauling wood each day. The smoldering campfires gave off an acrid smoke which will never be forgotten by anyone who was ever "downwind" from it.
There seemed to be a great affinity between chickens and the Indian Camps on the ranches. Somehow, quite a few old hens, young fryers and apparently healthy roosters seemed to wind up in the camp just before they suffered the fatal heart attack.
The men also fished in the Lemhi River and its "cricks" -- much of their catch was dried on racks in the sun for winter use -- making "char-qui" or "jerky".
T. J. and Sarah Stroud on their 50th Wedding Anniversary
The 4 Sharkey sisters, Olive, Helen, Adele, and Claire taken at a reunion in Twin Peaks Park, the first time together in 16 years.
Annie and Will Vreeland
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SPOST OFFICE
TAGE OFFICE.
Post Office and Stage Office at Lemhi. (?)
John A. "Buck" Reddington & Peggy
The High House in Junction, Roxie, and Ray Tingley, the visitors.
Joe Murphy and Don Pyeatt
Last freight wagon near Lemhi in 1910.
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In the 1920's, when the government had a fish hatchery on the Lemhi River, just above the Lemhi Store, the Indians camped there. As the Salmon spawned and died, they were retrieved by the squaws and children to be dried. Present day ecologists would not have approved of this practice, as the odor was orrendous, and it seemed that every fly in the state was attracted there.
Jenny Napo, widow of Joe Nappo died during the 1960's in the camp at Salmon, and was buried according to tribal rites. From her calculations of the "snows", she had seen, she was well over one hundred years of age. She was very crippled and blind, but told those whom she trusted enough, to talk to her in her "own tongue", that she must die in her "home". The young in her family, venerating their matriarch, made it possible for her to have her wish.
The Indians instinctively feared having their picures taken -- the belief being that their spirits or souls would be stolen from them, by the "little black box." After being exposed to Christian Missionaries, their attitude changed somewhat. They soon learned that they could ask for, and receive "napias" (money), by posing for the shutter bugs. Their price soared as they had more knowledge of the "white man's" economy, and tourists have been charged quite heavily for being allowed to pose with a " real live Indian". The tourists were also "built in" customers for their beaded moccasins, gloves and other handicrafts.
In the winter of 1898, white men brought smallpox to the reservation and school at Lemhi, and the Indians having no natural immunity to the disease, died in great numbers. Their dead were buried in the cliffs, above the Lemhi River, with full regalia and ceremonial trappings. In a few years, the white souvenir hunters, not fearing the disease, dug up and removed most of the pipes, burial headdresses, and other tribal symbols that had been placed there at burial. The Indians never returned to these graves, as they feared the " great sickness" still lived there.
Events and Incidents Which May Cause Laughter or Tears
No history is complete without relating some of the incidents, both funny and sad, that were either experienced, or were related by those having the privilege of knowing the characters. Such have been passed down from the older family members to those of the first, second or perhaps third generation.
One records these as they come to mind, thus they may not be in exact sequence as to date, place, or time. And in relating these bits, no offense is meant either to the living or the dead.
Junction's first Minister was Rev. Dell, who also had the distinction of being the first minister in Lemhi County.
Dr. Mattaw was the first doctor.
While more is to be related about the schools, Vern Tingley, as well as Sam Williamson taught in the first schools. Vern, later became the first school superintendent of Lemhi County.
Joe Murphy, Alex Cruikshank, and Ankar Amonson in the center.
Maemie and Ollie Reddington
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Cora Reddington, John A. Reddington, and Elsa Reddington Chandler.
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Ladies to the right, gents to the left . . . .
John and Maemie Ellis at the Lee Creek School
Cheryl Chandler, Cora Reddington, and Steven Chandler, two of her great-grand children.
The following is written as it was related to me:
About 1910, Ray Tingley, 15 year old son of Abbie and Vern Tingley was on vacation at the John Reddington ranch. In the fall, he wished to go back to Boise where he was attending high school. "Grandma" Reddington suggested he catch a ride to Red Rock, where he was to board the train, with Uncle Zeph Yearian who was going there the following day. His mode of travel was with a one horse cart.
When they arrived at Horse Prairie, Uncle Zeph announced he was going to fish a few days. There was nothing for Ray to do, but to trudge on, carrying his two suitcases. Finally a rancher came along on his way to town for machinery repairs, and offered Ray a ride.
His only money was a check which Uncle John Reddington had given for helping with the haying. He tried unsuccessfully to cash it. The telegraph operator allowed to send a message to the folks in Boise who wired money back. He tried to get a room at the hotel but it was full up, but gave him a bed in a tent.
In the middle of the night two officers of the law came in the tent, jerked him out of bed, and accused him of stealing from a farmer nearby. It seems a circus had gone through the day before, and one of the circus followers had robbed the farmer. Ray, being a stranger and a young boy, was the one accused. He finally convinced them that he was not guilty.
The next day he proceeded on his journey, with a somewhat bitter feeling toward Uncle Zeph, who without notice had dumped him off in that out of the way place.
One of the saddest incidents occurred in 1883 which affected the lives of some of Junction's best citizens. The story follows:
In the winter of 1883, Rock Vezina and his wife, Eliza, with three small children moved from Bannock to the Horseshoe Mine on Spring Mountain, near Gilmore.
At the mine, three men worked the day shift, and three worked the night shift, while Eliza cooked for them. The Vezinas lived in the "cook house" which was built of logs, twelve inches in thickness.
HDS EYE VIEW OF LEADORE IDAHO
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It was seven o'clock in the morning, two days before Christmas. Eliza placed the year old David in his high chair and sat down at the table to eat her breakfast. The other children, William, aged five, and Jennie, aged three, were playing in one corner of the cabin.
Rock was at work when the boss came running to report that a big snowslide had occurred. The men dropped their tools, and ran to find Willie and Jennie, in their nightclothes, barefooted, outside shivering with cold, but unhurt. Willie said:
had been buried, and crushed to death, by the force of the slide. The men, asleep in the bunkhouse were rescued uninjured.
Jennie grew to womanhood, marrying Ed Denny, Willie married Amanda Carlson. Mrs. Vezina and little David were buried at Spring Mountain. Later, the father, Rock remarried.
"Bannister Cemetery Restored by Leadore Grange"
Restoration of the Bannister Cemetery, one of the oldest in Lemhi County, is being restored by the Leadore Grange, assisted by the Bureau of Land Management, the County Commissioners and Mr. Bud Bartlett County Maintenance Foreman. The program of restoration and renovation includes construction of a steel post and wire fence and the clearance of sagebrush from the cemetery area.
The Bannister Cemetery is located ten miles east of Leadore, near Highway 28, also near the old Bannister Townsite. Bannister, was a stage station on the road from Junction to Nicholia and Spring Mountain, both thriving mining towns during the 1870's and 1880's."
"Granny" Vreeland was most colorful, not only a very kind lady, but one with a bubbling sense of humor. When a friend or a neighbor needed help, she was always there. She made gallons of mince meat which she gave to residents of Junction and neighboring communities. Large delicious loaves of bread were baked by her, and offered for sale at 10 cents per loaf. Two stories which point up her wit and humor are recalled for you to share.
On one occasion, she observed that one of her neighbors was dressed in such a manner that there was some transparency. Another neighbor being present, Granny could not resist calling the view to his attention. So, she requested the lady to bring her a book from the book shelves, saying that the title had slipped her mind, but if she would step to the bookcase, perhaps it might be recalled. As the unsuspecting lady stood there, Granny said "I know now, it is 'I See Clear Through'." Much merriment must have resulted, even tho the lady with the transparent skirt was unaware.
The other time, she had watched Jack Decker, Junction's grocer, bury his "moonshine". She dug it up, holding the cache high for him to see. He had a habit of grunting, perhaps stammering, so while she laughed in glee, he went into his customary grunting knowing well that she had won the day.
Hattie Grooms came west by train, with her parents at the age of three. In 1888, with her parents she went to Nicholia,
Wilda Vreeland Fayle
Lester Allred and John Benedict.
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4 generations, Vern, Jerry, Lois, and Etna Chandler.
Joe Barrows, Joe Bush to most of us.
Four generations, Tom Chandler, Elsa Chandler, Cora Reddington, and Cheryl Chandler.
and there later they settled on the head waters of the Lemhi River. In 1891, she married Thomas Grooms and lived at Gibbonsville and in 1896 they moved to Bannister where they worked side by side on their mining claims. In 1935 they moved to Leadore. While working on the claims, she carried the mail from Gilmore to Bannister for a period of fourteen months, using snowshoes in the winter. She walked the four miles from Gilmore to Bannister twice each week, rain or shine. At Leadore, she walked to town each day. She was a member of the First Methodist Church at Junction, and of the Susan Clark Circle at Leadore. She was 92 when she passed away and is buried in the McRea Cemetery.
During World War I, patriotism was very strong. Communication was not as it is today so when any outstanding news did arrive, sentiment ran high and was expressed. Came the day of the Armistice, one of the lady residents rushed out of the house, shouting "War is Over", and waving a flag. She was met in the yard by her husband who in similar excitement, whipped out his gun, and fired it, the bullet piercing the flag. Since it was an act of expressing joy at the war's end, no issue was made of it.
The following is an excerpt from a letter written by Hazel Ecker (now Mrs. Hazel Hine in April, 1956.)
"I often think of Idaho and the Lemhi Valley, having first heard of them from my grandfather Stone (Elijah A. Stone) who was U.S. Indian Agent at Fort Lemhi in the 'airly' days, so that it did not seem entirely strange when Lenore (my mother) and I visited Uncle Wilbur Stone in Leadore the summer of 1917. My brother, Horace, had spent most of a year before that on Uncle Wilbur's ranch and my sister, Marge, was later to teach in the Leadore High School.
I remember our overnight stop at the Armstead (Montana) Inn, the Sacajawea Monument there, and the announcement of Andy Burnham (conductor of the Gilmore & Pittsburgh Railroad), 'We are now crossing the Continental Divide'.
Altogether it was an idyllic summer, with Lenore and Uncle Wilbur happy at being together after so many years, and I am just happy with the exuberance of youth before life became a serious matter. We fished at Hawley Creek Canyon, picnicked with Irene Yearian and family, were dinner guests of Uncle Wilbur's friends at Fort Lemhi and Gilmore, went dashing about on canyon roads in the Model T, and one day I even rode the range to the sheep camp. I had a standing invitation to drop in at Dr. Hart's drugstore for ice cream (though conscience prevented me from going too often because it was always "on the house".) I remember the Saturday night movies with dance following, and a young rancher named Lawrence McFarland who kindly offered to see me home -- but Uncle Wilbur dragged me away with him and Lenore on the stroke of eleven.
Lenore and I loved the mountains around Leadore especially when they loomed purple in the twilight.
Boys and girls of those days were not so very different than the youngsters now.
There probably isn't a girl of any of the families mentioned who did not hate long underwear, ugly brown or black cotton stockings, and black sateen bloomers. High button shoes were 31
"something else". Too what girl did not show delight at her first pair of slippers, and when high heels were allowed, the world was her "oyster".
Boys indulged in smoking even as they do now. What boy, or even a girl or two, did not puff away on driftwood, or roll his own using leaves or even barnyard dust.
An incident is recalled in the boyhood of John Reddington, now familiarly known as "Buck". He, with Jim Stroud, had had a busy day at play, and some exploration of Junction. Buck arrived home very pale and very sick. He sought refuge by lying down on the floor, back of the stove. After a miserable time, his worry overcame his better judgment, so he pitifully inquired of his mother (Cora) -- "Does any body ever die from chewing tobacco?"
On an occasion when my brother John was needed at home, his daughter Olive was sent to find him. After inquiries at several places, she stopped in front of the saloon, asking Joe Bush, standing near by, if he knew where her papa might be. He told her that he was in the "Dew Drop Inn", and Olive promptly remarked: "You tell him to do drop out."
Some of the great cattle herds in Idaho were found in Lemhi County. Today's finest registered herds were begun by the early settlers, and these herds fed on the lush ranges of the upper valley.
Among those who "rode the range", "bulldogged the doggies", and really lived such as portrayed by the TV Westerns were: Mike Myers, Newt Cooper, Alec Cruikshank, Don, Leo, and Mac Pyeatt, Will Reese, Joe Murphy, Dolph Tillotson, Oscar Amonson and George Barrows.
The Myers cabin and "Cruikies" place up Railroad Canyon were their headquarters. Sour dough, salt back, coffee and cold soda biscuits were their fare. Through sun and rain, these men cared for their cattle from Queenie Lane to Yearian Creek.
The first cattle were driven into the valley from Montana, or Corinne, Utah and were a bunch of tough brackle-faced longhorns. After 1910, the government started allocating range rights, and most of the ranchers decided to up grade the quality of their cattle, and to sacrifice quantity.
Marketable cattle had been trailed to Red Rock, Montana, to be loaded into freight cars for shipment to Eastern markets.
Pasture land was bought, fences were built and the day of the cowboy was over. The range cow gave way to the purebred dam, and fine blooded breeding bulls. Most of them were now kept on the home places. Rivalry grew between the "white face" people and the "shorthorn" producers.
With the advent of the railroad, the cattle business went through another transition. Three times a week, the G and P made its run from Salmon to Armstead, Montana, hauling cattle out coal in, all needed supplies, and there was a passenger car. Each rancher who wanted to mail a letter, send out a can of cream, or to send a list of needed parts to the merchants in Salmon, waited by the tracks.
Ed Hines, Andy Burnham, Ed Lambert, Kenneth Yearian, or whomever might be at the controls, would stop the train.
visit a little while, take the merchandise or list. In crossing the pass to Horse Prarie, the little train traversed next to the last "Y" switchback in the United States. In the winter, the crew and passengers all fell to and shoveled the G and P three drifts over the Y.
The railroad was owned by the Northern Pacific, and although it was named the Gilmore and Pittsburgh, it was soon affectionately known as the "Get Out and Push."
The train hauled the cattle from the Lemhi Valley to the railhead in Armstead, where connections were made to the market in Ogden, Denver, St. Louis, Kansas City, and Chicago.
George Shoup, Charles Norton, Walter Brown, Don Pyeatt and Morris Cottom were among those who built nationally known herds of fine breeding stock.
LEADORE, IDAHO
The Gateway to the Great Salmon River Country
LEADORE is the trading center of 30 miles east and west and a shipping center for cream, potatoes, sheep, heet, hogs and minerals-lead, silver, copper and gold.
Lendere is the metropolis of the upper Lemhi valley, located on a broad level plateau al an elevation of 4,000 feet.
Business Houses include: ? stores, carry general merchandise; ? Restaurants; ? Hotels; I Rooming House; 1 Barber Shop: 2 Ment Markets; 1 Theatre; 2 Pool Halle; 1 Drug Store; 1 Garage; Post Office and Newsstand; 1 Blackanith; bil- more & Pittsburg Railroad Ce Shops; 1 Oll Station; Telephone Exchange.
Lesdere has a rural high mhool, with an enrollment of 200 pupils. There are faut teschere in the griden and three in the high school, which Is on the accredited list of the state. School wagons are operated and extend fur into the rural district.
Aboot 12,000 pounds of cream are handled each month in Leadore and approximately $2,000 a month is paid out to the farmers for this product. There are approximately 400 dairy cows in the vicinity of Leadore, and this number la being sogmented nach month.
Mining in the vicinity of Lendere has excellent prospects, Those who are familiar with this industry may thet the showinga herr are deeper than in the great Corur d'Alene section The principal ores mined are lead, Aver, gold, cop- per, and there In near at hand great anmined bodies of gyprom
Leadore Soft Drinks Parlor Soft Drinks, Cigars, Tobaccon, Candies, etc.
T. D. ELLIS, Prop.
SERVICE WITH A SMILE LEADORE GARAGE General Repair Work on all makes of cara. Tires Tubes and Accessories. R. N. DAVIDSON. Prop
Leadore Cash Grocery GENERAL MERCHANDISE Geo. Johnston, Prop
DISTANCES FROM LEADORE
COUNTY OFFICIALS
Miles
Tomma
Gilmore
Tendey
Armsteod
Fred L. Viel
Ist. Dist. Com
W H Fayle
End. Dist. Com.
J D Brown
ard, Dut. Com.
W W Simmonds
Clerk, Aud,, Rec.
Earl R. Gilbreath
Treas. Tax Col
W C. White
Azsesser
Donald E Martin
Sheriff
John Webb, [Salmen)
Dep Sheriff
North Yellowstone
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A Widdowwon (Lendore) Dep Sher G. W Crunkrite
Probate Judge
Isabelle R. Martin Supt. of Pub Inx
Fred Crandall
Surveper
W C. Doesler
Coroner
F R Hall, Je.
Pros. Attorney
HOTEL KEATING STEAM HEAT IN EVERY ROOM Spacious Dining Roomgem Connectson Terms Reasonable
Complimrais of Bavisecs Men
MRS. ROLL DENNY POST DFFICE NEWS-STAND
Leadore Barber Shop First-Class Workmanship T. R. DENNY
Compliments of W. F. STONE'S Old Rebable MERCANTILE HOUSE Established In 1891
Baker
Dubois
106
Salmon
Lima
Challis
110
Dillon
71
Mackay
130
Sutte
145
00
Roberts
100
Blackfoot
146
Idaho Falls
Pecatelle
170
Rigby
152
Bals Laka
358
SL Anthony
166
House
Ashton
101
Booster Guide of LEADORE IDAHO
Ogden
318
Rexburg
"THE GATE CITY"
TowMe Lemhi
1926 Pocket Directory and
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Reddington Roundup at Trail Creek
G & P engine arriving at the station.
DILNONE A PITTSBURGH
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Nostalgia for the old days on the range went to the grave with the cowboys. His rope, saddle, rifle, chaps and his horse were his most prized possessions. Many hours were passed, remembering "this old cutting horse" or " that old roping horse". Most of the stories told of the cowboy days, lose too much by editing the vernacular, to be repeated here.
A way of life, a breed of men, and a phase of history, passed into memory, with the advent of the Iron Horse, government control and restriction. But from this early beginning came a large portion of Idaho's wealth and industry.
In addition to the cowboys mentioned by Mrs. Baker, there were Ike and Bronco Bill Williams, Sam Shelley, George Shelley and Joe Barrows.
The Williams girls, Nettie, Dolly and Grace were fine horsewomen, and rated nearly as "good as a man" breaking horses or "bronc busters".
The following letter, received by me, when I sought information on the Upper Valley schools, speaks for itself:
"Dear Friend:
Am enclosing four pictures, the one of Herb Hays and wife, please return. The other three, you may keep, if you choose. The one of my father and mother, is in front of the first house they had on the ranch, with dirt floor. The other one was their home all their lives. It was first just logs, then they put on siding, and plastered inside. The other is Georgia holding our boy, which we lost at two and one half years of age.
I feel at a disadvantage writing to you, since you are such a good penman, Clair. In school, they made me write with my right hand, but I was naturally left handed and I was taught vertical, backhand, and Spencerian, the latter I never could get the swing of. Even though, I took penmanship at Commercial College, and when I studied pharmacy, too.
Just to pass the time, I am going to tell you, Clair, of early day schools in our District. The school house was a log cabin, located a short distance from our house, near the river bank.
There was plenty of brush along the river, and they had no outhouses, so it was girls to the right, and boys to the left. Imagine that. "In later years, my dad a trustee, and some of the teachers put up a howl the way things were, and my dad said -- 'It was good enough for my Nelie (Neler) so it's good enough for you' Oh, Boy! Ha!
I used to go and build the fires for the teacher, two fires for a nickel. Well, by golly, it kept me in chewing tobacco in good shape.
Now, then, I'll tell you just how hard it was for me to get what education I have. First, my dad kept me out of school to help feed the cattle. I drove the team and load the hay, which he pitched in, on and off. They had only from three to six month terms, so my being out, I had to bring my books home to study. I was eighteen before I finished the eighth grade, and that was the year they graded the schools in the County, and I was studying from about third grade to high school subjects. I was
bad in spelling and grammar. The teacher stayed at our house, so they taught me high school work, and gave me examinations in the various subjects.
So I kept my exam papers, and went to commercial school in San Jose, California the year 1906, completed the course there, and the following year, I went to Valparaiso, Indiana, to study pharmacy. Now they required two years high school to enter. When I showed the Professor my high school test and commercial diploma, he looked me over and said: 'Anybody who wants an education as bad as you, I'm giving you a chance'. So I got my Pharmacy Diploma in two school terms. Clair, isn't that a fabulous old time story.
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