American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1914-12-17
PIONEER HISTORY
OF AMERICAN FALLS
JUDGE OLIVER, FIRST SETTLER
NEAR AMERICAN FALLS, RE-
COUNTS STIRRING INCIDENTS
OF THE EARLY DAYS.
Run Out BY the Indians On Christ.
mas Day, 1877, He Passes the Win
ter Near Albion, Where First White
Baby in What is Now Power Coun-
ty, Was Born.
(RecoIlections of w. T. OIiyer.)

(Rec0llectiOns of w. 7. Oliver.)
Il arrived at what is now known as
the White place, about three miles
up the river from American Falls,
on September ~, 1877. William Ar
guile, an old miner and trapper, was
living there, putting up hay to win
ter the stock of freighting outfits en-
gagged in freighting from Corrinne,
Utah, to Montana. / left Laveta, Col
orado, in June, in company with an
old man named Mcconnell his four
sons and families. There were about
twelve Children in the outfit. Besides
the McConnells Mrs. Oliver and my
self made up the party. We ar
rived at Ross Fork, then a govern
meDt trading post, where l first met
W. N. Schilling. now of Rupert, who
was the trader there. We took on
supplies enough there to last us to
the next point where supplies could
be had. Supply points were very far
apart. There was no Blackfoot, no
Pocatello or Idaho Falls, and no Sho-
shone. There was nothing but sage
brush, Indians and few scattered
cattlemen anywhere in southeastern
Idaho.
I'VE crossed the Blackfoot river
at or near old Fort Hall, about two
miles below where the Oregon Short
Line now crosses the river. Old Fort
Hall was located between Snake river
and Yogo slough, now called Spring
creek, near where Bannock Jim now
lives. The old fort has long since dis
appeared and there are only few OF
the hrst settlers who can locate its
former site. I have been asked by Ma
jor Reed, state immigration commits
sioner, to do so and have promised
to accompany him for that purpose
whenever he gets ready to make the
trip.
There was toll bridge across the
Blackfoot river at this point, kept by
Joe Warren. Fred S. Stevens, father
OF Judge j. NJ. Stevens of Blackfoot,
lived just across the road from War
rem. Mr. Stevens a few years later
started the first store in American
Falls, mention of which will be made
later. From old Fort Hall we fol-
lowed the Oregon trail then the only
road leading toward the west and
arrived at Arguiles, then known as
Quimby's place because a man named
Quimby had formerly had squatters
right covering the land. II was in
haying time, and Arguile wanted me
to stay and help him with the haying,
Having more time than money. and
with no time schedule to bother me,
i decided to do so. Little did I think
when ] threw my bedding out of the
wagon there that this was to be my
home from then on. The McConnell's
kept on, their objective point being
the Grand Ronde valley. in Oregon.
the same as mine. learned since
that they settled near Walla Walla.
Wash, but I never have heard direct
from them from that time to this
After we got through haying Ar
guile wanted me to stay through the
winter with him. to help care for the
stock. He had about IS mules and
sixty head of cattle at that time. The
weather was fine, the country looked
pleasant, and decided to stay Had
I known what was in store for the
near future I would have been trav-
cling toward the setting sun very fast
First Ranch In the Valley.
Where was staying is a local
historic spot II was the first place
settled upon in this part of Snake
river valley. and believe the first
land for which patent was received
from the government, 4 man named
Quimby settled on the place in 1873
At the time of my arrival his rights
had been purchased by a man named
McCrea. and Arguile was working for
him. McCrea gave a quitclaim deed
to Sparks & Hermann. cattlemen. in
OF about 1887. and they perfected III
tie to the place. Hermann later sold
TO man named Tinnon. II was a great
place for immigrants TO stop. The
feed was fine and nearly every out
fit that came along would stay a day
or two. We were as glad to see them
as they were to stop. When they did
not stop I would get on horse and
ride few miles with them. talking
to them in order to get the news. In
those days news sources were not
very plentiful About the only peo-