The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1914-06-19

col school building was erected.
A union Sunday school was organ
lied by Mr.. Greer and Mr.. Wardell,
Canadian carpenters, who lived here.
Later, Mr.. Morrow conducted Unto"
services and still later became the
minister of the First Baptist church.
This building has been lately sold and
torn down but was situated at 9Th and
Albany Streets. In the first year,
when the danger from the Indians was
great, a guard was placed out every
night during church services. The
women and children did not know
about the guard because they might
have become too much excited. Mr..
Morrow also conducted services
above Weiser, where he had to ride
seventy-hve miles on horeback.
The first ranchers in this vicinity
were Mr. Simms and Mr.. Anderson.
They built two small houses, and left
10 feet between them for a dance hall.
This hall was used alternately as a
dance hall and church, although the
minister did not believe in dancing.
Plenty of grain was raised and
everybody raised garden truck. But
the principal industry was that of
raising horses and cattle.
The first orchard was planted here
in 1871, by Hamilton Davis, and was
situated south of Middleton. Other
early o 'hards were Slater's at Boise,
and John Thomas at Caldwell. The
trees were brought from Rich's COM
pany at Walla Walla, Washington. =.
Orchards were set out as fast as
they could be, considering the cost
incurred. There were no wealthy men
in the vicinity except the stockmen
and they did not plant orchards APP
pies were the principal kind of fruit
raised at first. Peaches and plums
were also raised good deal. Prunes
were taken up later Now most every
kind of fruit can be raised here.
The first flour mill was at Boise,
and was built in 1867 This mill was
called Jacobs Flour Mill. Later ano-
Their mill was built there by Mr.. Isaac
In 1875 -four mill was established
at Middleton by Stephenson & Pack
ard. No creameries were established
until about 10 or IS years ago.
The main ferry was built at Hun
tington on the Snake river and was
called Old's Ferry, but more familarly
known as Farewell Bend Others
were Weiser Ferry, Walters Ferry
and Lewis Ferry over the Snake river.
The earliest machinery was freight
ed from the west Much of the pro-
duce came from the Grand Round val
ley, which was OF less distance. The
trip was very tedious and in the win
ter the road was built on from to
IL feet of snow. First farming ma
chinery consisted of plows and fur
rows. During the first two years hay
was cut with sythes. There was one
moving machine, which cost $4,000,
used in the vicinity but it could do
only small share of the work. Hand
rakes and reapers were used)
During the year of 1865 deer were
as thick as blackbirds in Deer Flat,
but they were SO poor that the peo-
pie couldn't get one dinner from
them. They were driven up into the
mountains. Mr.. Morrow says that
everybody was healthy but awfully
hungry during those days.
The first death in this vicinity
happened on the night before Christ
mas, 1864. Two stockmen came here
rom California. They decided to sell
their cattle and go back to California,
so a sale was soon arranged. The
night after the sale they were discus
sing the sale and the younger man,
man with a wife and three children,
asked what the other, an old man,
had done with $l4 received for a
yearling steer. The old man said he
had put it with the company's money.
A dispute arose and soon a fight be-
gan. The old man drew out his
knife "a butcher knife which he car
ried TO mark cattle) and in the fight
stabbed the other He did not realize
what he had done and said: Have
hur' your" The other said you
hav~ killed me-" and fell down dead.