USA > Idaho > History of Idaho, the gem of the mountains, Volume I > Part 22
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The eastern boundary of the territory, as originally created, was the main line of the Rocky Mountains, thus making a large part of Montana and most of Wyoming part of Idaho. John M. Cannady was named by the democrats for delegate in Congress.
The election returns came in and showed Cannady's election by a few hun- dred majority. But in the course of a couple of weeks what purported to be returns from Fort Laramie were received. While there was a Government post at that place, situated at the foot of the western slope of the Rocky Monn- tains, there was not a real settler within 500 miles, but still the returns showed a majority of over 600 in favor of Wallace, being just enough to defeat Can- nady's election.
Wallace took his seat as delegate in Congress, and, although there was con- sidable talk of a contest, it was not commenced and he retained his place, being succeeded as governor by Caleb Lyon. Another election under terms of the organic act was provided for in 1864. Mr. Wallace returned to the territory with the hopes of securing a renomination, but the former election was such a transparent swindle that he received little support, and in the succeeding election Edward H. Holbrook of Boise County, the democratic candidate, was selected. Mr. Wallace continued to act as representative of Idaho in the Na- tional Congress until March 4, 1865, but never again honored Idaho with his presence.
CALEB LYON
"Caleb Lyon of Lyonsdale," as he always signed himself, was the most pic- turesque figure in Idaho's early history. Appointed governor of the territory in February, 1864, he remained in office until April, 1866. The most notable event of his administration was the removal of the territorial records from
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Lewiston and the establishment of the capital at Boise City. The people of the northern part of the territory generally referred to this change as a larcenous proposition and charged that Governor Lyon "stole the capital."
The various messages and proclamations of Governor Lyon are worthy of study by anyone interested in novel forms of gubernatorial enlightenment. Never did an official weave into his official utterances so many weird and fan- tastic sentences, although occasionally those utterances bordered on true elo- quence. I have never forgotten an expression once used by him in a state paper, wherein referring to Idaho's climate he spoke of "our Siberian summers and Italian winters."
The office of governor in those days carried with it the control of Indian affairs within the territory and Governor Lyon, in 1866, was charged with dereliction of official duty in handling funds of the Nez Perce Indians. and made the subject of an official investigation in Washington, pending which he died.
Despite his idiosyncracies, Governor Lyon had many good qualities and con- siderable ability. The people of the territory were rather fond of him, although they laughed at his messages and were generally more amused than instructed by his ideas. His was certainly a strange figure to be interjected into the official life of a community consisting of an aggregation of mining camps in our moun- tains and a very few half cultivated ranches in our valleys.
DR. DAVID W. BALLARD
Dr. D. W. Ballard was appointed from Oregon in 1866 and served until 1869. A good-natured sort of a fellow, he drew his salary with commendable regularity and did little else to inform the people that he held high office or was alive at all. One distinguishing characteristic singling him out from the rest of the "carpet-bag" governors was the fact that he actually stayed in Idaho during his term. He wasted no time here, however, upon its expiration, but immediately departed, and from that time never reappeared within the boun- daries of the territory he once governed. If he did no particular good for Idaho, it is to his credit that he did but little harm.
EDWARD J. CURTIS
Reference to our territorial governors would be incomplete without men- tion of "Ned" Curtis who, although never actually appointed, acted as governor for a longer period than any of them by virtue of his being secretary of the territory and the fact that under the organic act the secretary was acting gov- ernor whenever a vacancy existed in the latter office, or the incumbent was absent. Curtis was appointed in 1869.
One Gilman Marston, unknown, was named for the position in June, 1870, but became strayed or stolen and failed to show up.
Alexander H. Conner, from the Lord only knows where, was the next ven- ture of the President, who named him as governor in January, 1871, but for some unknown reason he, too, failed to appear.
President Grant must have grown desperate by this time over the inability of those selected to reach the scene, and insisted on the next appointee at least seeing the territory, as Thomas M. Bowen, appointed in April, 1871, actually
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came to Idaho, but after staying less than a week, shook the dust of the ter- ritory from his feet and, greatly to the satisfaction of our people, left, never to return.
During all this time Secretary Curtis acted as governor and filled the office so acceptably that everyone wished he could have the title and draw the salary as well as do the work. Governor Bennett came late in the fall of 1871 and for the next three and one-half years Mr. Curtis simply ran the secretary's office.
D. P. Thompson supposedly took the office of governor in March, 1875, and drew the attendant salary until Governor Brayman came in July or August, 1876, but after qualifying spent practically none of his time here, and again did Mr. Curtis act as chief executive.
In August, 1878, John P. Hoyt, another name entirely unknown to fame in Idaho, was appointed as Governor's Brayman's successor, but he, like so many of his illustrious predecessors, also failed to put in his appearance, but Mr. Curtis, whose second term had expired, had been succeeded by Secretary R. A. Sidebotham, who, of course, acted as governor in place of the delinquent Hoyt.
Edward L. Curtis, son of Governor Curtis, was appointed secretary in the early spring of 1883 and served until the summer of 1884, giving way to D. P. B. Pride, "Alphabetical" Pride as he was often called, who filled the office until February, 1885, when Governor Curtis came into his own and was again ap- pointed and remained territorial secretary until statehood came in 1891, serving as governor much of the time by reason of the continued absence of those appointed to the position. His fitness for the position is shown by the fact that he served throughout Mr. Cleveland's first administration, Congressman Hailey insisting that such course would be more agreeable to the people of Idaho than would the appointment of an eastern democrat who had been promised the position whenever a change was made.
"Governor" Curtis, as we always called him, was an able lawyer and made a magnificent officer. An old-timer of the Pacific Coast, he was known in every part of it and universally liked. He was jovial and good-natured, with a pleasant greeting for all, and I don't believe he had an enemy. The world is better and brighter because of men like him having lived in it. The whole state mourned when he died shortly after statehood.
"Governor Curtis had all the virtues and but few of the besetting vices of the pioneers. Of one thing only did I ever hear complaint made in reference to his acts. His memory was extremely uncertain with reference to current events or even promises made. The whole territory, all of us knowing his peculiarity, laughed over an incident occurring during the winter of '70 or '71 while Curtis was acting as governor. Some of the Boise ladies were preparing a set of tableaux as an incident of a church festival. Among other things it was intended to represent a scene from the career of George Washington, and the question was whom to select to represent the central figure. One of the ladies suggested Governor Curtis by reason of his strong resemblance to the Father of His Country, but little Mrs. H .-. immediately spoke up and said: "Oh, no, that will never do; George Washington never told a lie, you know."
Governor Curtis was not only a most lovable man in every respect and extremely popular wherever he went, but was an orator of no mean ability
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as was well illustrated in his Oregon career. Coming up from California, in- tending to go to the Willamette Valley in 1856, he stopped over at Jacksonville in Southern Oregon for a day. A democratic convention was being held there and Curtis dropped into the hall where someone, with whom he had become acquainted, called upon him for a speech. Nothing loth, he complied and so electrified the convention that although a non-resident, and really a republican in politics, he was nominated for the Legislature, stopped over and made the campaign, was elected and served the term.
But enough in this recollection of governors of a man who, never in theory holding the position, actually served as such longer than any one before or since, and who throughout retained the loving regard of all who knew him, regardless of sect or party.
THOMAS W. BENNETT
The most jovially reckless gentleman who ever sat in a gubernatorial chair was, I believe, Governor Bennett. From the day he landed in Boise in the Fall of 1871 until he left, nearly four years later, there was always something doing. He had been a gallant soldier in the Civil war, attaining upon merit the rank of brigadier-general, and was as careless of public opinion in civil life as he was of rebel bullets in war times.
His first appearance in Boise was the keynote of his actions during his entire stay. Alighting from the stage coach, dusty and travel stained, no one having the least suspicion as to his identity, he immediately walked down to Oldham & Taylor's saloon, a half a block above the old Overland hotel, and stepping to the bar turned around to those present and said: "Is there a s- of a here who will take a drink with the Governor of Idaho?"
Genial Joe Oldham, who was present, immediately responded: "Yes, there is one that will," and they imbibed.
In three days he knew everyone in Boise and in three weeks was equally well acquainted with every one in Southern Idaho. He readily took to the conviviality then characteristic of the extreme West and added a few features from the East theretofore unknown. There was a continuous scene of hilarity wherever he was present.
But while always a "jolly good fellow," Governor Bennett was besides a man of acute intelligence, with broad ideas, and respected even by those who deplored some of his actions. His popularity was unbounded and in the Fall of 1872 he ran as an independent candidate for Congress against Stephen A. Fenn, the democratic nominee, and made a remarkably close race in our, at that time, strongly democratic territory. His campaign was unique in many ways, especially in regard to his oratory, and as part of his policy he dealt considerably in ridicule of his opponent, who was an old pioneer of the Pacific coast, absolutely untainted with the habits and customs of the effete East, but a man of strong convictions, excellent judgment and undoubted courage.
I came down to Boise City shortly after the campaign committee started to arrange for Mr. Fenn's campaign in Boise County, where I was chairman of the Democratic Committee, and called of course on Governor Bennett, with whom I was personally very friendly.
"Say, Jim," said the governor after exchanging greetings, "you were chief
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clerk in Boise last season when old Fenn was speaker, and I want to know what sort of a man he is anyway?" I inquired what the matter was. "Look there," said the governor, handing me a letter, "just because I made a little . amusement in my speech at Silver City as to the effect it would have on society in Washington if the old man was elected, he sends me a challenge to fight a duel ; do you think he means it?"
"Sure he does," said I, "and the worst of it is he is a dead shot and will shoot you full of holes if you accept."
"Well," said the governor, "I wouldn't mind being shot at, but all the fun would be taken out of the election if one of us got hurt, so I guess I'll square it." It was fixed up amicably and they got to be good friends afterwards.
It would fill a volume to tell all the funny happenings during Governor Bennett's term in office. When he finally left us, all were sorry. He returned to his old home in Richmond, Indiana, and his popularity there caused him to be elected almost continuously as mayor of that city until his death many years afterwards. I believe no old-timer in Idaho, in thinking of Tom Bennett, does so with any but the pleasantest recollections.
DAVID P. THOMPSON
This gentleman succeeded Governor Bennett, his appointment being made in March, 1875. A resident of Oregon, he differed from his predecessors in that he was not an entire stranger to all the people of Idaho when named for the position, as he had been here several times in connection with government surveys in which he was interested.
John Hailey was serving his first term in Congress at this time, and it being useless to attempt to secure the appointment of a real Idaho man, he thought the next best thing was to have a governor from an adjacent state, and uniting his influence with that of Senator Mitchell, of Oregon, had Thompson named.
He duly qualified, and that was about the only official duty he performed, as outside of two or three short visits, his time was spent in Oregon and Wash- ington City during his entire incumbency of the office.
President Grant became dissatisfied with his methods, and especially with the generally accepted rumor that he had retained his interests in the United States surveys, and in July, 1876, requested his resignation, which was promptly forthcoming and for a few days the people of Idaho were content, being without an outsider as their chief officer. Their good fortune did not continue long, as Governor Brayman soon appeared upon the scene and their troubles commenced anew.
MASON BRAYMAN
An old man when appointed governor of the territory in the Summer of 1876, Governor Brayman, during his two years' incumbency of the position, never seemed able to rid himself of the ideas he had brought with him from the East and adopt our western methods, and, therefore, was unpopular with the people.
His term of office was characterized by the most stirring events in the History of Idaho, as at that time the Nez Perce Indian war was carried on and was
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followed by the Bannock war. Governor Brayman had been, I understand, in the army. Whether true or not, he was inclined to military methods, and was a veritable martinet in military affairs. In fact his position as commander-in- chief of the Idaho militia overshadowed, in his estimation, all other duties of the governor's office. As it was probable for a time that the scene of the Nez Perce war would include other sections of the state besides the northern counties, his suggestions for the organization of voluntary military companies were adopted in many places. Amongst others we organized a military company at Placer- ville, of which J. R. Witt was captain and Fred Campbell, now of Boise, and myself were lieutenants.
The governor busied himself with frequent orders and proclamations as to our duties and movements, of which, I regret to say, we took slight notice. As a result the company practically dissolved after the conclusion of the Nez Perce trouble.
The peculiar characteristics of Governor Brayman and his extreme views of his authority as commander-in-chief were displayed the next year. In 1878, shortly after the breaking out of the Bannock war, the Indians cut off all communications to the East and South, killed several drivers of stages and teamsters and terrorized the entire section.
The governor continued to send out his military orders, but no attention was paid to them by anybody. Thinking Boise itself was in danger and that our services would be needed, forty or fifty of us who had belonged to the Placerville and Idaho City companies got together and rode down to Boise. Reaching there we found the threatened danger had passed, and desiring to be of some use, we called upon Major General Howard, who was in command of the troops engaged in the Bannock war and had reached Boise, and tendered our services to go out with an expedition he was about dispatching, without pay and under his orders.
I was spokesman for the officers of the company and while I was speaking, Governor Brayman came in and seemed greatly agitated as I proceeded, and upon my concluding, rose to his feet and said to General Howard :
"General, these men are here under my orders, armed with my guns and clothed with my commissions, and still they report to you instead of to me as commander-in-chief. Such conduct, sir, is reprehensible, and in time of war like this it is treasonable."
I immediately responded : "Governor Brayman, we want nothing to do with you or your orders, so you had better start your court martial going if you think we are guilty of treason."
This rather set the old gentleman aback and he turned upon Judge Milton Kelly, who had accompanied us to General Howard's headquarters and intro- duced us, and charged him with being responsible for our alleged derelictions.
Judge Kelly hotly retorted and it looked for a few moments as if there was going to be a pretty little scrap with Howard as umpire. The general called me into his back room while it was going on, laughed heartily over the incident and made me a flattering offer to accompany the expedition, which I declined unless the company went.
While Governor Brayman was heartily disliked by most of our people, I now believe it was mainly because he was not better understood. His finely
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marked features indicated a man who might be too zealous in what he under- took to do, but whose honesty of purpose could not be doubted.
JOHN B. NEIL
The territory, having been relieved of Brayman's presence in the Summer of 1878, we wondered for nearly two years with whom it would be next afflicted. One John B. Hoyt from somewhere, no one in Idaho seemed to know the place, was named for governor upon Brayman's departure, but with a consideration for the feelings of our people, as rare as it was commendable, failed to make an appearance.
John B. Neil, of Iowa, was nominated for the place in July, 1880, and imme- diately came to Boise. He was a distinct improvement on his predecessors, with the sole exception of General Bennett. If, however, the possession of brains had been a crime, Neil, even if convicted, never would have served more than a jail sentence.
Still, he was a good fellow in many ways and was seemingly actuated by a desire to do right in his official actions, and, I believe, made an honest effort to do right in accord with the people of the territory. He was somewhat inclined to be theatrical in his methods and, had he been an actor, would have insisted on occupying the center of the stage whenever the spotlight was turned on.
The Ridgeway case was a good illustration of this. As district attorney of the second district in 1881, I convicted Sam Ridgeway of murder in the first degree, in old Alturas County, and he was sentenced to be hanged. The governor at that time had the entire pardoning power.
Two weeks before the day of execution I became satisfied the extreme penalty should not be inflicted and promptly wrote the governor to that effect and asked him to commute the sentence to imprisonment for life. As the governor generally . acted on the advice of the district attorney in such matters, I had no fear but what my request would be promptly complied with, and took my departure from Hailey to attend court in Lemhi County. I returned the evening of the day set for the execution and found the community had experienced an un- usual sensation.
Governor Neil had reached Bellevue, five miles below Hailey, the county seat, the night before and going to bed slept late. The execution was set for ten o'clock in one of the small gulches back of Hailey. About nine o'clock the governor appeared upon the street and was asked if he had come up to attend the hanging. He apparently became excited and stated that he had sent a reprieve several days before. His informer told him none had been received, as he had just come from Hailey and he knew the execution was about to proceed.
Neil jumped into one of the hacks plying between Hailey and Bellevue and immediately drove to the jail. There he found that Ridgeway had made and signed his last statement to be delivered after his death, that the conveyance was awaiting at the jail to take him to the place of execution, and in less than half an hour the extreme penalty of the law would have been visited upon him.
The governor hurriedly stopped the execution by reprieving the condemned man for two weeks. Upon reaching Hailey and ascertaining these facts, I immediately asked the governor to commute the sentence to imprisonment for
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life, which he did. As I was going to Boise in two or three days, I brought Ridgeway over with me at the request of the sheriff and consigned him to the warden.
It was charged afterwards that governor Neil was simply playing to the gallery in this matter and that he had purposely come to the Wood River country to deliver the reprieve in person and make a sensational episode of an affair that otherwise would have been commonplace. I do not know whether this was true or not, as he insisted to me that he had sent the reprieve by mail and also stated sometime after that it had been returned to him, after being sent to Ogden.
Personally, I always had the kindliest feeling toward Governor Neil and believe he would have made a valued citizen of Idaho had he taken up his residence here after the expiration of his term of office. There were no scandals of any kind connected with his administration and I never heard his honesty questioned.
JOHN R. IRWIN
John R. Irwin, also a resident of Iowa, was appointed as the successor of Governor Neil. Mr. Irwin gave somewhat more attention to this appointment than did some of the gentlemen who had been similarly honored, as he came to Idaho and actually qualified. After so doing he spent about thirty days traveling in different parts of the territory, visiting Owyhee, Wood River and other points, but seemingly was impressed after this tour either with the fact that Idaho had no use for him or that he had no use for Idaho, for he imme- diately took his departure and the territory knew him no more.
Our citizens who met Governor Irwin were generally well impressed with his personality and, in common with others who made his acquaintance, I rather hoped that he would stay with us. What the real inducements for his departure were I never heard. That he was honest in his dealings was shown by the fact that upon his leaving the territory he had a leave of absence, but never presented a bill for his salary. This is worthy of record in view of the inordinate desire on the part of some of the territorial governors to take everything they could lay their hands on in the shape of either salary or perquisites.
WILLIAM M. BUNN
Many of his predecessors had been called harsher names, but before Mr. Bunn came to Idaho none of our governors had been correctly styled a "dude." He deserved the title. An extraordinarily handsome man, his faultlessly neat attire was in marked contrast with the costume of the average man of the territory. A newspaper man of experience, popular in his native City of Philadelphia, a writer of reputation, I often wondered what inducement had prompted him to take an office in the far West, when much more desirable posi- tions were certainly within his reach in the East. I rather imagine it was the title which he coveted, rather than the hope of future preferment.
Governor Bunn was very much in evidence during his term. There never was any doubt as to who was governor while he filled the position. He was not, however, satisfied with marching in the lead, but wanted to be the whole
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procession. It followed almost of course that while he had a few fast friends, he made many bitter enemies.
His arrogant way of treating all but his few intimates was well displayed in his treatment of several of us in the Ridgeway case. I have already in writing of Governor Neil spoken of Sam Ridgeway's close escape from the gallows. After he had served in the penitentiary nearly two years, I ascer- tained beyond a doubt that I had unwittingly used perjured evidence in securing his conviction. As was my duty, I immediately informed H. E. Prickett, the judge before whom Ridgeway had been tried, of the facts as they had developed.
John Hailey, then our congressman, had taken, after the conviction, con- siderable interest in Ridgeway, upon ascertaining that the latter had formerly been in the employ of the stage company of which Mr. Hailey was the head.
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