The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1892-09-03
Captain James Gum.

It is with great pleasure we pub
lish this week the promised bio
graphical sketch Of Captain james
Gum, the peoples party candidate
for congress from Idaho. It will bt
seen that the gentleman's war record
and his personal and business his
tory is sterling one, straightfor-
ward and honorable, such as the
manner and character of the man
would lead one to expect to find
a record Of patriotic service in his
country's cause in her time Of peril,
and of honorable work and honest
dealing in private life of the best
American type. To call man OF
such character into the peoples
legislative service in the new and
greater war of white emancipation
now on the boards, is a delight and
an honor to the people, of whose
new political party he is legiti-
mate heir and leader by the mat
ural selection" and logical trend OF
his whole life. All honor and sue
cess to Captain Gums candida
ture, in the campaign of education
throughout the state upon which
he is about to start; himself and
Mr.. Crook opening the canvass at
Pocatello September 9Th.
James Gum, the nominee of the peo-
pies party for congress, volunteered as y
private soldier in the 27th Wisconsin In
tantry, and served with his regiment to
the close Of tho war. He participated in
the siege of Vlcksburg, and in the opera
tions that resulted in the capture of Little
Rock. in what was known as the co OPP
Grating column to Banks Red River ex.
petition; in the siege Of Mobile, the last
stronghold to resist the Union armies,
and finally in the army that Sheridan
massed on the banks of the Rio Grande
tor the purpose of overawing Napoleon
III, who was supporting Macmillan in
Mexico. He was mustered out Captain
at Brownsville, Texas, August 30, 1865,
by reason of the expiration Of the war.
On his return home he engaged in the
mercantile business, but not finding this
employment suited to his tastes and in
clination, sold out in the spring of 1856
aud removed to Colorado, in which state
he lived until 1875. During his residence
in Colorado he engaged in the real estate
business and numbering, and was elected
mayor of Georgetown three terms, during
which time the high school building,
which cost the town $50, 900, was erected,
and VIXEN he retired from Office the school
house W; paid for and the municipality
out of debt.
After several years spent in Nevada
and California, Captain Gum removed to
Idaho, and came to Wood River with the
rush Of prcspectors in the early spring of
1881. That summer he located a group
Of mines on what is now known as the
Gold Belt. During the fall of that year
he went to Idaho Falls, at that time
Eagle Rock, and worked in the car shops
If the Utah and Northern Railway. The
summer of 1882 he spent in prospecting
the headwaters Of Snake, Big Horn aud
Green rivers, having been lured into that
country with the hope that he could find
the source of the Snake river fine gold
?
pectors into that region.
He returned to Wood River in 1888, |
where he has since lived, aud when not
engaged in developing his Gold Belt
has followed the occupation of
! miner, and as such has worked in the 7
Bullion, Idahoan, Red Elephant, Oriental
md other mines. !
T. Two years ago Captain Gum was NOM
mated for the State Senate, and ut that
ine he stumped the state for the Repub-
lean party, which he claims to have been
. labor of love. When he consented to
inter the campaign silver was $1.21 an
'unce, having been raised from 01H
;ents an ounce under Cleveland's admin
stration. 1t seemed as though Harrison
vas going to carry out the pledge he
rave to the people when he accepted the
on platform which declared
or gold and silver coin. Afterwards.
however, when Harrison showed his hand
nd finally shaped the policy of his ad-
in favor Of the money power,
e lost confidence, not only in the chief
xecutive, but also in the party that in
orsed hlm. He was 10th to part with
lis old political associates, because of
Citations which had been so pleasant, and
OEcluded to await the action of the Min
esota convention. When that conven-
ion refused to lndorse Tree coinage reso-
atiOns, he lost no time in renouncing
is allegiance, and declared himself COM
litted to the peoples party. |,
During the last three months Captain
fuun has had editorial charge of the
'ellevue Herald, and through its col
INNS, and from the stump. he has both
dvOcated and defended the principles
nunciated in the Omaha platform. 7,