Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1883-03-30
"REMINISCENCES
Of the first settlement Of Boise Ceun-
ty, Idaho Territory, and more par
ticularly of Boise Basin.
BY FRANK MILLER .
CHATTER III.

the etfotts OF Fathers Mesplle and
Pouin, very fine Catholic Church
was put mp on East Hill, just above
HAMMOCK BAR" by public subscription.
Every man, woman and child, almost,
in and around "BANNocK,D ,r IDAHO
City, contributed. more than willingly,
more or less toward this sacred object.
Early in the winter of 1864, Rev
G. S. Kingsley, formerly of Portland,
Oregon, and at one time the editor in
chief Of the Pacific Christian Adro-
cate, gentleman of rare literary at
tanments and Of great mental culture
and intellectual powers, came into
"Bannock," or Idaho City, with bis
family, and immediately after his ar
rival, took the necessary initiatory
steps to purchase ground, and have a
Methodist Episcopal Church erected
10y public subscription. This gentle
man labored unweariedly during al
most the entire winter, Ia very severe
one in intensity of cold), to accom-
plish this sacred object, and chopped
down the first tree for timber for the
edihce, with his own hands; freezi ng
both hands and both feet severely sew
eral times during the winter. The
result, however, was the erection Of a
very handsome and substantial, as well
as a commodious and roomy church
bnilding, which was put up with the
express prOrlso that it should be free
for the use Of all Protestant churci
denominations, when not in use by The
Methodist Episcopal Church. The
God of Mammon,n and cxigencies o
the situation, were such, however
that in short time, the building was
purchased by the then County Com
uissioners Of Boise county, for ;
Court House, in which the Audito
and Recorders Office, Sheriff 5 Office
and county Clerks office could be 10
Gated and kept The consideration
, paid by the county for the building
: was $4,000 in good, clean, merchant
: able B Use Basin gold dust. EXPIRES
reservation was made in its sale, tina
r the Court, or main room in the build
ing should be free for religious, polit
ical, educational and theatrical pur
4 poses when not in use during terms &
2 court. The building still stands in
good state of preservation, and almos
as good as new, aud it is still in US
n for the above objects and purposes.
f During 1864 handsome fran
Catholic Church ediGee was built a
Centervillc, one at Pioneerville, an
another at Granite Creek, in BOISE b
a ISM"
It Cemetery grounds were also lai
ont, early in 1868 in all Of these pls
!, ces, and very appropriate hil'-sid
e cemetery site was given by Messr'
+ w. B. Noble & Company. of Buen
'. Vista Bar, adjoining "BANNoCK" {
II IDAHO Cry, early in 1868. Thes
: grounds were handsomely fenced il
n adorned with shrubbery, laid out
/ lots and blocks, as THE CITY OF TIE
: SILENT DEAD of Idaho City, and viciI
h ity, early in 1868. During the latte
e part of the same year, a portion OF II
+, same grounds were set apart by Il
!, Masonic and Odd Fellows societies, {
d consecrated ground, for the burial
J. THEIR dead. Before the first of Jam
: AIRY, y, D. 1864, many had been lai
n away in their last place Of eepultnl
in tins cemetery.