The Teton peak-chronicle. [volume] (St. Anthony, Idaho) 1904-1952, 1904-12-22
OLD TIMER TALKS OF EARLY DAY.
Judge Coxson Among the First
to Settle on E9in Bench.

Some exception is taken to w.
H. Homer's statement in the last
issue of The Peak Chronicle, re-
garding the early settlers or Egin
Bench. Mr.. Homer said in his
interview, that he was on Egin
Bench when Bishop Parker, his
son Wyman and one of the Vinegar
boys were the only settlers.
Judge Coxson takes exception
to this as being incorrect, and gave
the following account of the first
settlers on the now famous Egin
Bench. The Judge and his family
and Solomon and Hyrum Lapham
and their wives landed on the
Bench on the 29th day of June,
1881, about two hours after the ar
rival of Bishop Parker and his son
Wyman and at that time there were
located on the Bench, Dick Broad
hurst, Robt. Greenwood and fani-
ly, Geo. w. Wood and fam and
John Powell and family, tue latter
being the very first settler. There
were some other familie, there at
that time the names of whom have
slipped from the Judges mind.
Those mentioned had located claims
before the arrival of Bp. Parker
and son, Judge Coxson and family
and the Laphams.
The Judge narrates very inter-
esting story of how he came to stay
here. Said the Judge: eve came
up the Snake to the falls below st.
Anthony and camped for three
days, and not being favorably I'M
pressed started back down the river
with the intention of going on
down to Donaldsons Springs about
80 miles below Blackfoot and going
back we stopped at Bishop Parker's
camp and had pleasant chat, re-
e ceiving some encouragement to
r locate. This being in the forenoon,
: we drove OH down the river until
e time to camp for dinner, and while
e waiting for our lunch l lay down
by the road to rest and while lying
there I picked up handful of sand
and holding it up about couple
of feet from the ground let it sift
through my fingers. The wind
blew much of it away, which at
tracted my attention more closely.
l tried it again and thought to my
self that there must be great deal
of soil in the sand, SO got up and
got the spade out of the wagon and
began prospecting the soil which
appeared to me to be nothing but
sand. Upon digging little I was
much surprised to find the sand to
be very rich sandy loam. | call
ed the Lapham boys and told them
was satisfied that there was
enough soil in the sand to raise q
good crop, and that intended to
go no further but locate right here
on this sandy desert.
after dinner we hooked up and
drove back up the river about
twelve miles and camped ovel
night. The next day, which was
about the 4th of July, 1881, meet
ing was called to give us an idea o
what the settlers intended to de
about getting out ditch. Every
thing explained was perfectly salts
factory to us and we located ou
claims. | came back a little furth
er and set stakes on my presen
farm, which at that time appeared
to be nothing but a sandy desert
The other boys selected their place
sc and drove stakes.
GA short time after that the frs
ditch company on the Bench wa
Is. organized and named the Egil
Canal COMPANY. The Egin cana
is now one of the largest canal sys
Sc TENS in eastern Idaho, deliverin,
ay over 10000 inches of water at
h. distance of thirteen miles and irri
ev gates over 10000 acres of tn
in richest land in the state.
According to Judge Coxson'
story there was quite settlemen
,er on the Bench when Mr.. Home
ty visited Bishop Parker in the earl
1T, days.
EST