USA > Idaho > The history of Idaho > Part 25
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There are many of the good old pioneers who took part in this war, some of them are still living, but most of them have passed to their rest. We would like to mention them all, but we cannot at this late date remember them all.
About the horses we captured, we put them in pasture and ad- vertised them. The owners came and got all but a few Indian ponies. These we had sold later on and divided the proceeds of the sale among the men who went out with us. This was the closing scene of our Bannock war expedition. The old boys had a jolly blow-out with the money.
CHAPTER XLV.
FARMING, MINING, STOCK RAISING AND TRANSPORTATION IN 1877 AND 1878.
On account of the Indian wars during 1877 and 1878, but lit- tle progress was made in the development of the country. Not- withstanding this great disturbance, there were some improve- ments made, especially in the farming districts which were not raided by the Indians. Many farms were enlarged and an in- creased amount of hay, grain and vegetables were raised.
Unfortunately the mining industry had quite a set-back. It was not safe for small parties to prospect in the mountains dur- ing the Indian trouble, nor to locate at any place remote from set- tlements unless in large parties, and then with a guard constantly on the lookout for Indians.
Stock raisers also suffered in both the northern and southern parts of Idaho. Many animals were stolen by the Indians and the stock raisers were prevented from herding their stock on the best ranges, through fear of being raided by the Indians.
Transportation, both by means of stage and freight teams was seriously inturrupted by the Indians. Quite a number of the stage horses were stolen, two stage drivers killed and a few sta- tions and stage wagons burned. This trouble with the Indians necessitated having guards at many of the stage stations and es- corts for the stages over some of the dangerous routes. Freighters lost many of their animals and several wagons with their loads of merchandise were burned. In order to protect themselves, the freighters were compelled to travel in large trains together, well armed.
It was, generally speaking, two hard years in Idaho in every way, but the people were loyal and undaunted and determined to succeed in spite of obstacles.
CHAPTER XLVI.
THE TENTH SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE CONVENED AT BOISE CITY JANUARY 13, 1879; ADJOURNED FEBRUARY 21, 1879.
The names of the members were as follows:
COUNCIL.
J. B. Pierce Ada County
M. R. Jenkins Ada County
Geo. M. Parsons Alturas County
James H. Hart.
Joseph Travis Bear Lake County
Boise County
Geo. Pettingill
Boise County
N. B. Willey
Idaho County
Geo. L. Shoup.
Lemhi County
Geo. A. Manning Nez Perce County
J. N. High Oneida County
B. J. Nordyke Owyhee County
P. A. Regan . Owyhee County
W. B. Yantis Shoshone County
President, N. B. Willey.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Wm. Allison Ada County
A. E. Calloway Ada County
H. J. G. Maxon Ada County
Thos. Gray Ada County
C. B. Humphrey Ada County
W. H. Butler Alturas County
A. L. Meyer
Alturas County
J. C. Rich.
Bear Lake County
J. W. White.
Boise County
Robt. Spencer
Boise County
M. G. Harden.
Boise County
G. B. Baldwin
Boise County
R. H. Robb Idaho County Wm. C. Pearson Boise County
D. B. Varney Lemhi County J. W. Birdseye Lemhi County Wm. King. . Nez Perce County
J. J. Bonner Nez Perce County
Alex. Stalker Oneida County
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TENTH SESSION OF LEGISLATURE
D. R. Jones . Oneida County
G. W. Newsom . Owyhee County
P. Weatherman . Owyhee County
Wm. Cooper Owyhee County
Geo. Chapin Owyhee County
Wm. Nichols Owyhee County
R. T. Yantis Shoshone County
Speaker, J. W. Birdseye.
The members elected were quite equally divided between the two political parties and a great part of their legislative term was lost before they could effect a permanent organization. The Council, however, having a majority of Republicans, were able to effect an organization on the afternoon of the third day, but the House of Representatives did not organize permanently until the afternoon of the twenty-fourth day. This delay caused a great deal of talk and some friction, but after organization, all was serene.
One rather amusing incident occurred during this delay. The Governor's message was printed in full in the Idaho Statesman the second or third day after these unorganized houses met, and was read by the people of the Territory about twenty-one days before it was officially delivered. The Governor, however, was not to blame for this mistake. He very naturally supposed an or- ganization would be effected by the second or third day and his message delivered before the copy he gave the Idaho Statesman could be printed.
This legislature having spent twenty-four days of the forty allowed them for legislation in effecting a permanent organiza- tion of the house, they had only sixteen days in which to legislate. On the twenty-fifth day, both houses began work in earnest.
They gave us about sixty-two pages of laws and several pages of memorials. Among the acts passed was one creating the coun- ty of Washington out of territory taken from Ada and Idaho counties; also an act creating and organizing Cassia County out of territory taken from Owyhee and Oneida Counties.
This legislature was economical and did not make any unneces- sary appropriations.
The legislators appeared to be quite liberal in granting divorces to those who were dissatisfied with the marriage relation. Some power seems to have brought to bear on one of these cases about the thirty-sixth day, so it passed, and on the fortieth day, five divorce cases were put through in short order.
The reader is, of course, aware that all accounts against the Territory had to be presented to the Comptroller and when ap- His-17
258
THE HISTORY OF IDAHO
proved by him, warrants were issued by him on the Territorial Treasurer for the amount against the proper fund. These war- rants were usually presented to the Treasurer soon after they were issued and registered by him, and drew interest from their date of registry until paid. The Territory got away behind in the payment of these warrants during the early days when our legis- lators allowed themselves and the federal officers such large, ex- tra compensations, and they funded a lot of these Territorial war- rants into semi-annual interest bearing bonds.
The Territorial Comptroller's and Treasurer's reports for 1877 and 1878 show that receipts for these two years were:
$78,925.81
Oct. 31, 1876, to balance on hand
15,854.75
Dec. 20, 1878, total receipts. $94,780.56
Disbursements :
General fund warrants redeemed. $44,479.90
Prison fund warrants redeemed. 22,869.71
Sinking fund (interest on bonds) 20,042.70
Library fund warrants paid 118.18
Total disbursements $87,510.49
Dec. 20, 1878, to cash on hand. . 7,270.07
$94,780.07
Territorial indebtedness, taken from Treasurer's report, Dec. 20, 1878.
Bonded debt:
Ten-year bonds, act 1875. $22,533.54
Fifteen-year bonds, act 1877. 46,715.06
Coupons, interest to December
896.32
$70,144.92
General fund:
Registered warrants, unredeemed. $19,742.00
Accrued interest 2,322.00
$22,064.00
Prison fund:
Registered warrants, unredeemed. $30,466.89
Accrued interest 6,534.00
$ 37,000.89
Total indebtedness $129,209.81 Less cash on hand. 7,270.07
Dec. 1878, total indebtedness $121,939.74
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TENTH SESSION OF LEGISLATURE
This shows that the public debt had been decreased about $9,000.00 in the last two years, and it is to be hoped that it will continue to decrease. This was the beginning of the reduction of the Territorial debt.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
A report taken from the county superintendents to the Territo- rial Superintendent for the year 1877, shows the following:
Number of children in the Territory between the ages of 5 and 18 years, 4028; number of school districts, 96.
Balance of cash on hand at beginning of year $ 4,297.60
Received from county taxes. 17,223.68
Received from miscellaneous sources 1,844.89
Total. .$23,366.17
Expended for teachers' salaries $18,764.46
Report for 1878:
Number of children from 5 to 18 years, 4942; number of school districts, 160.
Cash on hand at beginning of school year $6,599.65
From county taxes . 22,779.65
Miscellaneous sources 3,967.79
Total. $33,347.13 Expended for teachers' salaries. $23,082.65
It may readily be seen that the number of schools and the annual amount of money received for maintaining schools were increasing.
CHAPTER XLVII.
WAR WITH THE RENEGADE MIXED BANNOCKS AND SHOSHONES, CALLED SHEEP-EATER INDIANS-1879.
Roaming around the Salmon River Mountains and about the head of the Weiser River and on Big Creek and Loon Creek, there was a small band of Indians at this time. These Indians were a mixture between the Bannock and Shoshone Indians, and were so mean and trifling that neither tribe would allow them to remain in their camp. They lived mostly by killing mountain sheep, catching fish, robbing prospectors' camps and stealing stock. They were called the Rene- gade Sheep-Eater Indians, and numbered about one hundred,
About the 22nd of May, 1879, a party of these Indians made a raid on Mr. Hugh Johnson's ranch, situated on the south fork of the Salmon river, fourteen miles from the town of Warrens. They killed Johnson and P. Dawson, burnt the house and the haystack, and drove away a number of good horses from the ranch.
The news of this massacre was sent to Lapwai, Vancouver and Fort Boise. A few troops were stationed at each of these military posts. Lieutenant Catlin started out from Fort Lapwai with about forty soldiers. On May 31st, Colonel Bernard, with sixty soldiers and Colonel Robbins for scout, started out from Boise. About the same time Lieutenant Farrow started from Walla Walla with a few soldiers and twenty Umatilla Indian scouts. The Salmon river country, through which they were to search for these Indians, was very rough with steep mountains, and rugged with rocks and tim- ber. About July 28th Lieutenant Catlin found the Indians at or near what is known as Big Creek, and had an engagement with them. The Indians had the advantage of the ground for fighting, as they were concealed from sight or danger, so the Lieutenant very wisely withdrew his men. In this engagement he is said to have lost one man and some supplies.
Colonel Bernard marched his men to a point on Loon Creek, about one hundred miles north of Idaho City, where several China- men had been engaged in mining. From the appearance of things at this place, the Indians had undoubtedly murdered all the China- men, and destroyed their houses and sluice boxes.
There was also another small company out, under the command of Captain A. J. Force. Three scouts were also with Captain Force's company, George Sherrer, Barney McVoce and Mr. Haines.
261
SHEEP-EATER INDIAN WAR
These scouts under the command of Colonel Robbins, and the troops under the command of Colonel Bernard scoured the rough country searching for the Indians. They could make only a few miles each day, owing to the roughness of the country, and they lost several of their pack mules. The Indians, however, were well acquainted with the country, and could easily dodge from one place to another and keep out of the way of the troops. Colonel Robbins and the other scouts several times got so close to them that they had to abandon their fish traps, which they had placed in the water, and they were so closely pursued that they discarded some of their supplies and camp outfit.
About August 20th, Captain Farrow with his Umatilla scouts ran these Indians into a cleft of rocks on a steep mountainside and captured their horses and mules, about thirty-one head, and also their supplies. It was impossible to dislodge the Indians from the rocks, as they were completely hidden.
Colonel Bernard's command was now about out of supplies, and as Lieutenant Patten was expected to arrive at Loon Creek with supplies, Colonel Bernard turned his command toward Loon Creek to meet the supply train.
On August 15th a small party of these hostile Indians had sur- prised a Mr. Raines at his ranch on the south fork of the Salmon river. They killed him, plundered and burned his house, and stole his horses.
Colonel Bernard's command was now greatly in need of supplies. Colonel Robbins with a few men was sent on ahead to see what had become of Lieutenant Patten and the supply train. They searched several days, living mostly on bread and fish, but could not find the train. Finally Colonel Bernard decided he would have to send to Boise. Colonel Robbins was selected for the hard trip. He was sick at the time, but in spite of suffering he made the trip to Boise in three and a half days, a distance of one hundred and sixty miles.
A few days after Robbins left for Boise, Lieutenant Patten and the supply train were found by some of Colonel Bernard's com- mand and piloted to the camp. The Lieutenant had lost the trail in the rough mountains, hence the delay in reaching the command.
In the meantime Lieutenant Farrow had talked with the hostile Indians at long range, and they said that if all the troops would withdraw except Lieutenant Farrow with his few soldiers and In- dian scouts, they would surrender to him. They insisted, however, that they must go further west to a place near Snake River known as the Seven Devils' country. The Lieutenant knew the Indians were almost out of supplies and were tired of being chased so closely, so he agreed with Colonel Bernard that they should go to
262
THE HISTORY OF IDAHO
the place on Snake river. They came out of their hiding places, and were closely followed by the Lieutenant and his command. They went on to the Seven Devils' country, where they surrendered. There were only about sixty in the band, and they were taken by Lieutenant Farrow to Vancouver. This ended the war with the Renegade Sheep-Eaters.
Colonel Bernard and his command arrived in Boise September 5th. Colonel Robbins had arrived a few days before. This was a long and hard campaign. The country was so rough that it made it very hard for both men and animals. It has been rather difficult to get definite details of this Indian trouble, but this account gives the main features of the campaign.
This was the last of the Indian wars in Idaho.
CHAPTER XLVIII.
FARMING, TRANSPORTATION, STOCK RAISING AND MINING IN IDAHO IN 1879 AND 1880.
About this time the farming industry began to increase very rapidly. William B. Morris had a canal constructed at a very great expense to carry water and irrigate the table sagebrush land south of Boise. He solved the question as to whether the high sagebrush land was worth the expense of reclaiming by irrigation, and proved that this land was as good as any in Idaho. To him the people of Idaho owe a debt of gratitude. After this first canal, called the Morris, later the Ridenbaugh, was built, the bench land was rapidly taken up as farming land. Orchards and grain fields soon covered the once barren sagebrush plains.
Stock raising also increased during these years. Many horses were raised in southern Idaho, and there was an excellent market for them in some of the eastern states. The cattle business was also profitable and many were engaged in this business, and some en- gaged in raising sheep.
The transportation was still carried on by the stage lines and freight trains.
The mining business had improved somewhat. Some prospecting had been done in the Wood River country, and very good discoveries made of galena ore carrying lead and silver in paying quantities. Work was still continued in the quartz mines near Silver City. Placer mining was carried on quite extensively in Boise County for a few months each Spring, while the water lasted. There was also some quartz mining in Boise County, and quartz mining at Rocky Bar and Atlanta. Some placer and quartz mining was carried on at Elk and Pierce Cities, Orofino, Florence and Warrens. At Custer and Bayhorse, and on Salmon river in Lemhi County a good deal of quartz mining was done, and some placer mining on the Salmon river and its tributaries in Lemhi County.
CHAPTER XLIX.
THE ELEVENTH SESSION OF THE TERRITORY OF IDAHO-CONVENED AT BOISE DECEMBER 13, 1880 AND ADJOURNED FEBRUARY 10, 1881 The names of the members were as follows: COUNCIL.
R. Z. Johnson . Ada County
John Hailey . . Ada and Washington Counties
William Budge. Bear Lake County
James Murray. . Boise County
S. B. Dilley Boise and Alturas Counties
Charles Cobb Cassia and Owyhee Counties L. P. Willmot. Idaho County
W. F. Anderson
Lemhi County
J. W. Poe.
Nez Perce County
I. B. Cowen Nez Perce, Ssoshone and Latah County
H. Peck.
Oneida County
L. C. Morrison Oneida County
President-John Hailey.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The names of the members of the House were as follows: A. E. Callaway. Ada County
J. S. Gray . Ada County
P. J. Pefley Ada County
J. Brumback. Ada County
I. W. Garrett. Alturas County
James H. Hart. Bear Lake County
J. C. Rich Bear Lake County
Stephen Demsey Boise County
Fred Campbell Boise County
R. L. Wood. Cassia County
E. B. True. Idaho County
J. W. Girton Idaho County
I. L. Underdont Lemhi County
J. J. Gilson Lemhi County I. N. Hibbs Nez Perce County S. S. Langdon. Nez Perce County
J. M. Hedrick. Nez Perce County
W. B. Webster Oneida County
Joseph Dudley
Oneida County
265
ELEVENTH SESSION OF LEGISLATURE
Alex Stalker Oneida County
D. R. Jones. Oneida County
J. W. Cummings . Owyhee County
Wm. Nichols Shoshone County
T. M. Jeffries Washington County
Speaker-E. B. True.
This session of the Legislature continued for sixty days, an act of Congress having extended the time from forty to sixty days. The Council organized on the first day, and the House on the second day. They worked faithfully and passed some good laws. Among these was a complete revision of our Code of Civil Procedure. The work of compiling this Code was due almost wholly to the Hon. R. Z. Johnson and Judge John S. Gray. Mr. Johnson was a member of the Council, and Mr. Gray a member of the House. They had done the greater portion of compiling these laws before the Legis- lature met, and the members had such confidence in their ability and integrity that their work of compilation was accepted and enacted into law by the Legislature with but very few amendments.
It was discovered at this session that our Territorial tax levy of seventyfive cents on the hundred dollars of taxable property was bringing in more money than was necessary to meet current ex- penses and to pay interest on the bonded debt, the principal of which would not become due for several years. So the Legislature passed an act amending our revenue laws by reducing the ad valorem Territorial tax on property from seventy-five cents to forty cents on each hundred dollars of assessable property.
A bill was also passed of great importance to Boise City creating the Boise City Independent School District. The bill provided for a board of trustees, also named the trustees and made provisions for them to have what is now called the Old Central School House built and to establish a graded school. Several accounts of the origin of this graded school have been given in the Boise papers during the last few years, none of which are correct. At this time, Hon. R. Z. Johnson was a member of the Council from Ada County, and the writer of this was also a member of the same legislative body. We both resided in the small capital city of Boise, and both had chil- dren attending school in Boise.
Soon after the session commenced, we met together to talk over needed legislation for the Territory. Very naturally the question of schools came up, and we came to the conclusion that it would be well to have a graded school in the Capital City. We discussed the matter of consolidating the different schools, the cost and manner of issuing bonds to pay for the building, and many other matters connected with the school. In order to find out if the people, the taxpayers,
266
THE HISTORY OF IDAHO
would approve of this plan we thought it well to have a meeting of the people before preparing a bill and presenting it to the Legis- lature. For this purpose we got out posters and had them put up all over the town, inviting the taxpayers to come to the Council hall in the evening and talk over legislation in reference to school matters.
The night of the meeting the hall was crowded with people and the writer addressed them on the subject, giving them the proposed plan and stating in conclusion that we did not want an opinion from them that night, as the question was new to them, but would like for them to consider it for three days and come back the third evening to the hall and be prepared to give a definite answer.
On the third evening the house was crowded, many more than on the first night. I went over the proposed plan once more very carefully, and the question was discussed thoroughly. It was then put to a vote as to whether we should have this desired change made and enacted into law. The vote was unanimous in favor of the change and the proposed law. The bill was drawn by Mr. Johnson that night, and passed the Council on the 26th of January, 1881. The names of the trustees were as follows: Christopher W. Moore, Hosea B. Eastman, John Lemp, Peter J. Pefly, Charles Himrod and Richard Z. Johnson. This bill was approved by the Governor February 4, 1881.
The next act of importance to the people of Ada County passed by this Legislature provided for the erection of a county court house and jail at Boise City. An act was also passed to amend the city charter of Lewiston, and an act for an independent graded school at Lewiston, in Nez Perce County. The following acts were also passed:
Appointing the Governor of Idaho and one citizen as Commis- sioner to contract for the maintenance and care of the insane people in Idaho, and an act imposing a license on insurance companies for school purposes.
An act to regulate the distributing of water for irrigation pur- poses.
An act to regulate the sale and prevent the smoking of opium.
Many other important laws were enacted.
At this time a report, made by a committee of the Council to investigate the treasurer's accounts, shows that on February 21, 1881, after all outstanding warrants were paid, there remained in the Territorial treasury eighteen thousand nine hundred and fifteen ($18,915) dollars. This did not include the bonded debt, which amounted to sixty-nine thousand two hundred and forty-eight ($69,248) dollars. This would not become due for several years.
267
ELEVENTH SESSION OF LEGISLATURE
SCHOOLS.
In the year 1879 there were 4,885 school children in Idaho, and 114 school districts. In 1880, the number of school districts had increased to 149, and the school children to 6,698. In 1879, the amount raised for school purposes was $34,255, and in 1880 the amount raised from the same sources and for the same purposes was $48,016.89. This shows that the number of children had in- creased about 37 per cent in one year, and the means to pay for their education had increased correspondingly.
CHAPTER L.
THE WOOD RIVER MINING DISTRICT IN 1880 AND 1881.
During the years 1880 and 1881 the mining industry very ma- terially increased. This was caused principally by the discovery of a new mining country in the Wood River district, Alturas County.
There was a rush of people into that locality and a large amount of development work done on the mining locations. The ore was principally galena, carrying lead and silver in paying quantities. This ore had to be smelted and, as there was no smelter on Wood river at this time, it was taken by freight teams to the railroad at Kelton, a distance of one hundred and seventy miles, and shipped from there to Salt Lake or Denver to be smelted. This was very expensive, but most of it shipped in this way netted the owners a fair return.
Several small towns were quickly built in this mining locality, the most prominent of which were Bellevue, Hailey and Ketchum. A little later a small smelter was erected near Hailey.
Some farming land was located along the river and on Silver creek. The people were prosperous, and the new mining camp very thriving for a few years.
There were but few changes in any of the other mining or agri- cultural districts during the years 1880 and 1881. Everything seemed to run along slowly, easily ai .?! smoothly. Stock raising and transportation were about the same as last reported.
CHAPTER LI.
TWELFTH SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE OF THE TERRITORY OF IDAHO- CONVENED AT BOISE DEC. 11, 1882-ADJOURNED FEB. 8, 1883.
The names of the members of the Twelfth session are as follows: COUNCIL.
J. V. R. Witt. . Ada County
Thos C. Galloway. Ada and Washington Counties
C. E. Robinson Bear Lake County
James Travis. Boise County
E. A. Wall Alturas and Boise Counties
E. P. Johnson
Custer and Lemhi Counties
P. A. Regan
Owyhee and Cassia Counties
James Odle. Idaho County
W. L. Webster Oneida County Henry Peck. Oneida County
Wm. S. Taylor Nez Perce and Latah Counties
I. B. Cowen Nez Perce, Shoshone and Kootenai Counties President-E. A. Wall.
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