The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-06-01
NAMED THE STATE OF IDAHO,
At A CONFERENCE OF POLITICIANS
IN 1861 on THE FRONTIER.
Who Died Monday In West Se-
attle-His body to he Sent to

The body Of Hon. George b. Walker, the
pioneer who was found dead IN bed at Yves,
Seattle Monday evening. Will be sent 70
Oakland Cal. this afternoon 10 be buried
In Mount View cemetery. There his wife
was laid TO rest several years ago.
II would be difficult matter for any one
of the Western mining states to maintain
the exclusive right of calling Mr.. Walker
one of its pioEeers. As Ellis Morrison, one
OF his intimate friends. said yesterday aft
ernoor, he was born at Russia Corners.
Herkimer county. N. Y. March s. 1881, and
went Yves; with the advance of civil "a
ton until he finally reached the Pacific
ocean.
He was one of the best mining exports
In the country and was known by the pio-
neers of nearly all the grea, mining camps
of the West. Among his personal friends
was the late United States senator, Leland
Stanford, of California.
The state Of Idaho was named by Walker
1T consultation In 1861 with w Fl. Wal
lace, Salucius Garfield and Judge Lander.
whose names are intimately connected
with the early political history OF the Pa
cific Northwest. The name was suggested
10 Mr.. Walker by the steamer Idaho which
is running on Puget sound
When idaho became state there was
considerable discussion as to how il re-
published at Silver City. Investigated the
matter and came to the conclusion that
the honor belonged to Alr. Walker. Among
other documents supporting Mr.. Walker 5
claim was one written by himself 20 Hon
c. NJ. Hays. OF Idaho. Il reads as follows:
In the fall of 1860 the gold placer mines
were discovered in what IS now known as
Shoshone county, Idaho-then a portion OF
Washington. A man by the name of
Pierce was with the first party. and I
think the captain OF Il. Pierce City was
FOCUS. Sargent Smith. David II. Anderson
and many others. of whom ! have forgot :
ten ten the na ar,s were among the nrst "a
number ana built comfortable quarters in
Pierce City.
I'm 81 three candidates were nominated
for congre~s-W. II. Wallace by the Repua
licans. Salucius Garfield by the Douglas
Democrats and Judge Lander tbrothcr OF
the generaD by the Breckinrdge wing OF
that party. They travelled over the then
known eastern part CT the territory. in
company with Your father. Hon. Gilmore
Hays making speeches whenever they
could get a crowd together.
When they arrived In Pierce City l in
vitei them TO camp at my pace (every one
carried their own blankets In those days..
being personally acquainted with Wallace
end Garfield. They accepted the invita-
of the territory. as I thought we were a
long distance from Olympia. They agreed
that whichever one was elected he would
favor . division.
Then the question OF name came UP
and suggested the name OF Idaho. | had
seen the meme on a steamer built by Col.
j. s. Ruckefi. 10 run on the Coiumb a
river between the Cascades and The Da.ses
In connection with the steamer Mountain
Buck. which ran from Portland 10 the
Cascades before the formation of what was
known as the Oregon Steam Navigation
Company.
The old Idaho Is new on Puget sound
and In owned by Capt. Brownhe'd, and
st!ll makes a good appearance. All the
above named gentlemen said that was the
name. w. II. Wallace was elected voted
FOR Garfield On March 3 1863, the new ter
ritory was created and named Idaho. Lin
coin appointed Wallace the first governor.
and ne was elected the frs. delegate 10
congress.
"So believe that If there is any crgdi.
due for naming the state | am entitled I"
IL. 4 controversy came up In ists AMI |
caused an article 70 he put In the Owyhee
Avalanche which was corrohorated by
your father. hear that Judge Lander is
still living, and II | knew where letter
would reach him. I would write as |
imagine tina. he might remernbsr this at
fair on the frontier thirty-two years age"