The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1905-03-04
ACROSS THE PLAINS IN 1883.
james Cooper Tells some of the Incidents
of the Trip.


OF the Trip.
March l, 1852, or SO years ago,
James Cooper, his wife and one son,
together with a number of neighbors,
left their home In Iowa ON the long
and tedious journey by OK team for
the land of the Oregons. Wednesday
being the anniversary of that i'm
portant event In the life of the then
young and venturesome Cooper, a
Press representative found him in a
meditative mood and obtained brief
story of the eventful trip across the
plains in those early days. MIR.
Cooper and his friends left their
Iowa home and proceeded to the
western part of the state, where they
found cheap feed for their stock, and
camped until the snow had disap-
peared. On May Z, when they
crossed the Missouri river at the
point where Omaha now stands their
long western journey began in
earnest. There we're then thirteen
wagons in their train composed OF
men and women Injured to the hard !
ships Of pioneer life by their resi-
denee on the frontier Of Iowa. A
drawer, more determined band OF
people never took up the march from
civilization to face the we'll known
dangers of hostile Indians and priva
tions incident to such a trip.
Ten days out from the Missouri,
on May II, the hardy band had its
first taste of real Indian fighting. A
band Of Pawnees attempted to stay
their progress into the Indian
country and a hard. but decisive
battle ensued in which the great war
chief Of the tribe lost his life. This
fight resulted in a victory for the
whites and gave them taste Of what
might follow as they wendell their
way toward the land OF the setting
sun. This battle was followed by a
few days later by another skirmlsh
with the same tribe in which the
Indians were again driven off. The
journey continued, following the
old Platt river trail into Wyoming
and across the Rocky mountains with
out unusual incident of any kind "a .
cept the routine Of everyday life.
To the Coopers, however, there oo-
CURED while camped on the banks Of
the Green river up In the mountains,
an event that marked an epoch In the
family history son was born, and
his parents named him George. lie
Is now an houored and respected cltI.
zen OF this city. The immigrants ar
rived at old Fort Hall, Idaho. then
In Oregon, July >, and the com.
mander at that post tried 10 persuade
them TO stop for a few weeks "A the
members of DIR. Blacks party, a few
days ahead, had been surrounded by
Digger Indians and were all killed.
Mr.. Cooper and his associates we're
anxious to proceed and against the
earnest protests Of the commander,
resumed their journey. A week later
they came onto the hostiles and
fierce battle ensued, resulting ia the
killing Of at least FIVE Indians and
their utter route by the crack shots
Of the whites. At Salmon Falls an.
other skirmish with the same Indians
took place. They had to try their
mettls once more with the same tribe
at Burnt river. BY the middle Of
August they were In the Blue mount
aims and enjoyed the most pleasant
and picturesque part Of their Jour
uey.
Their trip until they reached the
Cascades was again free from unusual
incident. Here Mr.. Cooper says no
learned something Of high prices,
paying sl4 for a sack Of -four, which
helped them ont until they reached
Oregon City, where they laid In
good supply of provisions. A few
days later they reached their destina.
ton Il miles west Of Salem, In
Marion county.
They were elk months and seven
days on the road.
The Coopgrs remained In Oregon
until February, 1871, when they
came to Whitman county, Washing
ton. Mr. Cooper was the promoter
Of the first Touring mill in Colfax.
Hs came here with his wife ii years
ago and Is one Of our we'll known
citizens.