Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1888-07-27
PIONEER ADDRESS.
Bothered by Hon. L. Il. BrOsCn
at the First Reunion of the
Idaho County Pioneer ascot
alton, June f3, 1883.

WteVSt, 1NftC ID, Il
Mr.. President, Ladies and Gentlemen, and
Pioneers Of Idaho County:
We are here to-day for the purpose of
celebrating the reunion of Idaho coun-
ty pioneers. The foundation of this as
sociation was laid by few old settlers
less than year ago, an organization was
perfected and finally a constitution and
bylaws were adopted. BY these rules,
the 18th day of June of each year has
been chosen as the day for us to meet,
renew and cement the ties of old-time
friendship, and to recount the days of
trial and dangers that surrounded the
early settlers on Camas prairie. 1t
seems well. and / think it is pleasure
for people at times to assemble together,
exchange thoughts, and recount the
bright hopes and anticipations of the
early pioneers in making homes in a
new and unsettled country. We are
here to speak of pioneer life on the Pa
cific coast. and more particularly of the
last twenty-five years in Idaho.
Forty years ago there came across the
sea from the Pacific by every white
winged ship that reached the Atlantic.
news of the rich discovery of gold in
California. In short time the news
was waited from state to state, from city
to towns, and from towns to country.
The glad tiding created the greatest ex-
element all through the Atlantic states.
and the spring of 1949 saw large emf
grafton from all sections of the country.
hurrying forward to the gold fields of
California. The merchant packed his
goods ready for shipment and left the
shop closed; the clerk laid aside his
yard stick and donned the miners garb;
the lawyer took down his sign and with
copy OF Blackstone in his hayersack
was ready for the Pacific; the doctor
with full supply of pills and powders
was prepared to sailj the mechanic, with
hammer, saw and Ratchet, considered a
flne set OF tools, was off towards the set
ting sun; the farmer left the plow stand
ing in the field. They came by sea.
they came by lanJ-all intent upon one
purpose and all governed by a common
1mpulse-all eager to reach the gold
field first,
Such another gathering as was wit
messed in California in 1919 our country
had never seen. There were men from
every state and town of the Union, and
q good representation from foreign
LANDS. IL IS true that few emigrants
settled in California and Oregon prior
to the discovery of gold, but they were
few and far between, and many of these
eventually drifted into the ranks of the
great army of argonauts who invaded
california in the memorable year of
!o49. Little did these early emigrants
dream that they were paving the wav
for, or laying the foundation of an en-
pire on the Pacific Coast! No, they
came to dig gold, and with the intention
OF returning to home and friends in a
few years-but some of US are here yet!
The pioneer miner in those DAYS
tramped through the mountains of Cali
fornia prospecting for the precious met
ais. They it We're who made the trails
and built the bridges that others might
follow. On nearly every riverand creek
could be found the miner searching for
the shining dust and it can be truth
fully said that the mines of California
responded literally to the labors of
those hardy pioneers. The gold thus
obtained aided in building the cities and
towns of the Pacific coast; it stimulated
trade and commerce and helped to
swell the circulating medium of the
world, Yes, those were exciting times,
but with willing hands work seemed a
pleasure; many dangers had to be en-
countered and many fell by the wayside
in the struggle whose graves are I'M
marked and unknown.
Now let us follow little further the
pioneer miner. They prospected the
streams and mountains, from Southern
California to Oregon, and it was not
long before they crossed the SisSyou
mountains and made the discovery OF
gold i'll Rogue River Valley near the
town of Jacksonville; that was in the
year of 1851 or 1852. 1t was here that a
halt was had, and for several years but
little prospecting was done towards the
north. La 1860 Capt. Pierce, from Yre-
ka. California, with a few companions
fitted out and came to Washington Ter
ritory; they made their way to what is
known as Pierce City. Shashone Coun-
ty, There they made the first discovery
of gold in Idaho. This led other pros
pectors to follow, and the camp of Elk
City was found in the spring of 1861, in
the fall Of the same year Florence
camp was discovered and du,ing the
spring and summer the camp of War
yens was struck. In the years of 1861
and 1862 it was estimated that fifteen
thousand men were mining and pros
pecting in these camps; soon after dis
coveries of gold were made in the Boise
basin, and following in the wake of
those miners came the settlement of
our country. At this time there was no
Idaho; the whole country was known as
Washington Territory and extended
east, including all Of Montana. Follow
ing the miner came the packers and
traders with others to engage in what
ever occupation opportunity might af-
ford.
The first trading town established was
Lewiston, junction of Snake and Clear
water rivers, Small steamers brought
goods from Portland, Oregon, and the
supplies for our mining camps were
backed from there Ii was along the