, 1889-12-26
IDAHO'S EARLY DAYS.
The Story of a Man Who Married
the Daughter of
Chief.
A Newly Married Couple Who
Paid the Justice Fee in
Fruit.

Boise City Statesman: Mr.. Samuel
Phinncy Of Nez Perce county was In the
city yesterday and left ON the evening
train for Lewiston. The presence Of this
brave old pioneer Idahoan here in Boise
revives the memory Of former years.
Mr.. Phinney Is son-in-law of Colonel
Craig, the man whose name Joaquin
Miller used SO freely in his pretended in
vention sof finding the origin Of the
word Idaho" Long before the advent
of white settlers into any part Of the
region west of the Rocky mountains,
Colonel Craig, who had then been many
years in the country, engaged In
hunting and trapping in the en-
plov of the American Fur Company,
married daughter Of q Nez Perce
chief and settled among the tribe
In the beautiful and romantic valley of
the Lapwai, on charming and fertile
spot, distant about tifteun miles from
the site now occupied by the city OF
lewiston. When Rev. Spalding, the
Presbyterian missionary arrived In the
Lapwai valley In 1886, he found Colonel
Craig comfortably domicied there and
living in perfect harmony with the
brave and hospitable abort ginal owners
of the soil-the Nez Perce Indians
hHlon6 Niioii huti tdob MS NV. " iNh
the early forties came the first white
immigrants seeking homes in the far OIL
Willamette valley. At that time the
entire region bounded by the Rocky
mountains on the east and the Pacific
ocean on the west, and extending from
the Mexican boundary on the south to
the British possessions on the north
was vast unorganiZed country known
as Oregon.
Soon after this region was organized
into the territory of Oregon congress
passed law known as the Donation
Act" which secured to every white set
tier within the area named, and who had
been married previous to a given date,
$40 acres ofland, to include the prem
himself OF the benefits of this law, and
proceeded to take tho legal steps to Sc
cure and perfect title to the tract of land
upon which he had settled. Not to be
outdone In generosity, the Nez Perce In
dians confirmed by special clause In a
treaty made by them with the United
States government the same tract oil
land to their old and tried friend, whom
| they had known and esteemed for 30
many years.
Among his numerous family of chill
dren, Colonel Craig had several daugh-
ters, one of whom married Mr.. Phinney,
while another married Hon. A. ii.
| Robte, VINO Afterwards reinoNcu Win
his family TO the Boise valley, where he
was for many years previous to his
death prominent and highly esteemed
citizen OF Ada county. Mr.. Phinncy
made his home in the fapwai valley on
u portion of the tract of land coy
cred by the original Craig dona.
tion. After the death of Colonel
Craig, upon the settlement oi
the estate, Mr.. Phinney, who was one oi
the heirs became the sole proprietor oi
the large and valuable tract of land,
donated by the government and con
firmed to Colonel Craig by the Nez
Perce Indians. HerelMr. Phinney has
since resided, cultivating the land, rails
ing fine stock and engaging In whatever
other enterprises that promised success
He is now well along in years, but still
hale and hearty, though he has passec
through many trying scenes and hal
had his full share in the misfortunes
almost inseparable from pioneer liie