The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-03-14
Historical Notes
Pioneer Days i'm Gilmore.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS


somewhat unknown region-a sort of no
mans land-a strip of territory claimed by both
Oregon and Washington
The rush to the new land became so great that
on July 10, 1863 President Lincoln issued proc1a-
nation declaring that the great, wide track1ess will
derness to be organized the Territory of Idaho
with Lewiston as the capital
In 1864 the territorial Legislature removed the
capital to Boise City. This proceeding in
dignantly opposed by the Lewiston people, who ap-
piled to the District Court and obtained injunc-
ton against the removal of the territorial records
and archives from Lewiston.
An appeal was taken to the Supreme Court of the
territory, which the laws prescribed, should hold
its sessions at the capital city, the judges shifted
the matter of the appeal by holding session in
either one of the places.
During these proceedings the Governor Caleb
Lyon, revolving light the coast of scamp
DOM" abandoned his post in disgrace and flew
with large sums of the public money to China,
leaving the territory in the hands of Secretary c.
Dewitt Smith. In the midst of the controversy,
Smith died.
So, for time there was neither capital, Governor
or Secretary All was anarchy. Then United
States Marshal A1vord was sent from Washington,
D. c. with orders to establish the seat of govern
ment at Boise and he at once removed the archives
from Lewiston.
In 1864 among other acts of the territorial Leg
slature the creation of Alturas County, with
Esmera1da as the county seat The site OF Esmer-
aida was somewhere in the upper levels OF the pres
ent Elmore County Some of the old-timers assert
that it was about mile down stream from Junction
Bar on the South Boise River. Others say that it
was placer camp on the Feather River, and again
it is said that the place known as Happy Camp
is the original Esmeralda. Its exact location the
writer is unable to define.
Between the fall of 1868 and the spring of 1864
thirty-eight quartz mining claims had been located
on the South Boise River in the vicinity of Rocky
Bar, all of which showed rich assays
The first location was the famous Ida Elmore lode,
at the head of Bear Greek, which made in June.
In narasta it yielded $27O free gold to the ton
From this famous mine Emore County subsequent
" received her
In the same period, 1S63-64, located the Oph1r
Idaho Vishnu, Barker, independence General Lane
Lincoln Alturas Wide West Esmeralda, Star of the
West Emmett Golden STAR Hibernia, and Mendo-
cno In the meantime an immense deposit of rich
gravel was found in the Red Warrior creek.
A town called Fredericksburg laid out in 1868
close to the site of the Ida Elmore. In 1864 Rocky
Bar was laid out and became the new county seat
of Alturas county.
Another town called Clifton started near by
but was soon merged with Rocky Bar.
Fredericksburg Feather City, Red Warrior, Brock
enrdge Yuba City and other towns that existed in
the gold days. in Northern Elmore of today have
passed away, but Rocky Bar remains, and with re-
newed energy and further developments, her pros
poets are as good as in the golden days of the Co.'s
AT that time the old camp had population OF 1000,
and in August, 1864, the Rocky Bar and Boise wagon
road was completed connecting the two most 1mpor-