The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1911-11-14

Slowly they move with balting tread,
These heroes of vanished day,
To join the nations honored dead.
And pass from racking pain away.
James Harding VanCamp, of
Challis, Idaho, died at his resi-
dence in this village, on Wednes-
day morning, Nov. 6th. 1911, at
: o'clock, from pneumonia. He
had been sick only since last
Sunday. The funeral was held
Thursday afternoon and was
largely attended. the services
being conducted by the local
members of the G.. A. r. and the
Rev. Wm. Burnett.
Mr.. VanCanp was one of the
earliest pioneers in Challis. He
was a kind father and husband
and is we'll known in Idaho and
Utah. He leaves a widow, two
sons and one daughter; two bro
theirs and one sister, besides
many friends to mourn his loss.
Taps have been sounded and
the old soldier is at rest.
James Harding VanCamp was
born at Kingston, Penn, July 1,
1874. When he was 5 years of
age his parents moved to Illinois.
At the age Is Mr.. VanCamp en-
listed as private in Company l.
95th Reg. III. Vol, and served
in the war over three years; was
mustered out at Springfield, H..
as corporal and regimental ccl-
or bearer. He was wounded at
the battle of Oxford, near Holly
Springs, Miss. also wounded at
the battle of Gnntown; he was
also at the siege of Vicksburg;
was with the Banks Red River
expedition in its defeat at Pleas
ant Hill, La, and he was in the
last battle of Nashville and the
battles Of Forts Spanish and
Blakely, near Mobile. He was
in about 20 battles.
After the war. Mr.. VanCamp
went to Omaha and engaged in
construction work on the Union
Pacific railroad. Then he went
placer mining in the CarribOo
district. From there he went to
the Ross Fork Agency and in
1871 had charge of the govern
ment sawmill under Major Dan
ilson. He then went to Utah
and Nevada. He was a member
of the grand jury that indicted
John d. Lee and others connect
ed with the Mountain Meadows
massacre. He was q. S. Depty.
| Marshal of Utah, and participat
ed in the capture and execution
of John D. Lee.
Mr.. VanCalnp came to what is
now Challis, December ID, 1877,
and helped to build the first log
cabin here the latter part of Dec
1877. The cabin stood where
now stands the rock store.
In July, 1878, Buffalo Horn
with a band of Indians, raideC
this section and killed Jesse Nc
Caleb at what is now Battle
, Ground. on Big Lost River. The
settlers at Challis got together
and built a fort for their pro
lection from the Indians, and
which Mr.. VanCamp had charge
of during the Indian trouble.
Mr.. VanCamp was the frs
Justice of the Peace Of Challis
the town recorder. notary pub
lie, and clerk of the court, ant
served in these different capacit
les until 1884. when resigned ant
moved with his family to hi.
farm on Warm Springs Creek, II
miles east of Challis. He servet
one term chairman of th'
board of county commissioner.
of Custer county, from 1884 t,
1886. He was chairman of the
, Republican county central ant
state committee for many years
was commander of Lincoln Pos
No. Is, G. A. r., for eight con
a secutive terms. A few year
ago he was admitted as an at
tOrney at law
Above we have endeavored t,
briefly outline sketch of ou
old pioneer. citizen and soldier
James n. VanCamp, whom w
all have known so long. He wa
a good and charitable citizen an(
will be greatly missed.
Rest in Peace, Old Pioneer