Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1892-02-05
In Memoriam-John Jacob Gaunt.


Further particulars are to hand con-
cerning the death of ]. ]. Gaunt, who
was found dead in his cabin near Elk
City recently. The cabin in which he
died is situated about one mile north Of
the Cleveland cabin on Relief creek, on
the trail to Elk. The last white men to
see him alive were Smith, Thomas and
Parker, who we're doing assessment
work OH the Cleveland group in Decem-
ber last, and on December 27 they saw
him alive for the last time. On JANUARY
II John II. Boyer left Elk City to visit
him for few days, only to find him
dead in his chair sitting in his UNDER
clothes before the fire place. Boyer be-
Ing unable to return to Elk sent word
by Chinaman, and all the men in the
camp started out to the scene and held
an inquest. 1t was at first decided to
bury him in his blankets in the brush
at the rear of the cabin, and the grave
was partly dug for that purpose, when
the boys concluded to take the body to
town and bury it there, where all visi-
tors could visit the grave. Accordingly
the body was rolled in blankets and a
toboggan made out of the old mans
snow shoes, and was hauled 10 Elk,
which was reached at nine o'clock at
night. Here the body was dressed and
laid out in the best clothes the camp
afforded. A good cabin was made from
two-inch planed red pine plank, and
the body was finally laid to rest on Jam
uary l6. Mr.. b. b. Stuart read the SOL
emn burial service of the Episcopal
church over the remains, and Mrs. Stu
art and Mrs. Mclean sung an appropri-
ate hymn. 1t was not decided until the
last minute that the ladies would tie
able TO attend on account of the deep
snow, so only Mrs. Young, Mrs. Stuart
and Mrs. Mclean were present. Mrs.
Rice furnished handsome wreath of
flowers, Mrs. Ltchfield an anchor work.
ed out Of pine leaves. and Mrs. Young
some flowers. Amid such surroundings
was laid away one of the very best citi-
zens of Idaho, and the respect in which
he was held by his neighbors and
friends in the camp is made manifest by
such funeral. He always acted as the
governor of the district, and represent
ed law and order at all times. The at
tachment of his old dog was something
pitiful to behold. He whined and howl
ed, and refused to leave the body until
he was dragged away by rope. After
the funeral he was given to Smith, with
whom he now seems contented.
John Jacob Gaunt las a native of the
Shenandoah valley. Virginia, and was
GA years of age. The late war ruined
his parents. and soured him more or
less on civilization. He fought all
through the civil war, and the Nez
Perce Indian war. He was as brave as
lion. and yet, witnal, his heart had the
sympathy of a child. He had the
brightest and keenest eyes of any man
of his age we ever saw, and with his
| tall and angular figure he looked what
he was--a typical frontiersman. For
several years he owned and work ed the
Cleveland mine, on Relief creek, but
realising his declining health he finally
sold this valuable property to a local
| syndicate, the proceeds of which
| Strengthened his affairs and relieved
| him of much anxiety. Some $400 IN
money was found among his effects. He
had been invited by Jas. Witt to spend
the winter at his ranch, but the old man
did not care to leave his. mountain
home, and he now sleeps in the farthest
outpost of civilization. May the snow rest
| lightly on his grave and the pines
breathe over it their gentle murlnurs to
which, when in life, he loved to listen.