The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1914-06-12

planted by Riley Cox. The first
gram and fruit were planted in the
lowlands and along the river, no sage
brush land being cultivated This
land was irrigated by natural springs,
or little bitches run out from the river
The hrst railroad went through the
country in 1873. In the fall OF that
year the first passenger train went
through. The people all took a ride,
and nearly froze before it was over
with, for there was no way of heating
the train.
In 1882 Caldwell was founded, when
railroad camp was started. Saloons
were the chief buildings, as the chief
industry of the place was freighting
from the railroad to the mines. Dell
Huntington was the first child born
in the city.
started in lSoo-70. 1t was organized
and named the Good Hope Baptist
Church, 1t did not last long however,
but 1t was again organized in 1876
with B. F. Morrow as pastor When
Caldwell was built the church was
moved from the Dixie Valley, where
it was standing, to Caldwell, with Mr..
Morrow still pastor Mrs. Mary
Potts and Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Cox
and Archie Newells were among the
charter members. The Methodist
church was the second one organized
The first house built in Caldwell
was built by Mr.. Young. This house
was burned not long ago. Sarah
Cox and John Levander were the first
couple married in Canyon county.
Monte B. Gwinn started the first mer-
camille establishment in Caldwell. Mr..
Dorman was his clerk.
The first mill in the country was
saw mill, two miles from Emmett,
built by Mr.. Witt. Mr.. Bowman and
Mr.. Mcconnell had the first lumber
yards. They got their lumber from
Wits mill, Dry Creek, near Boise,
and from the Payette Mills. Lumber
was worth fifty dollars thousand.
The first Touring mill was built by
Mr.. Foote at Middleton. The first
in Caldwell was built by Stevenson
and Packard in 1871 The first cream
cry was built in 1893 by R. w. Sweet
of California.
The first school was started in the
Dixie Valley, with D. J. Richardson
as teacher. 1t was carried on with |
private funds until there were ten
children, then the district could draw
money. When this money gave out,
the parents paid a certain amount, &C
cording to the number of pupils they
had in the school. The first school
in Caldwell was started in the spring
of 1884, in the first ward, on Chicago
Street. 1t was kept up by private
collection. In the fall, public school
was started, with Mrs. Blatchley as
teacher. There were from eighty to
ninety pupils. Some of the students
who are still living in Caldwell are
7. P. Johnson, Mrs. Isham, Mrs.
Mrs. Edward Hedden and
Mrs. Ida Frost Dorman. The second
year, Mrs. Blatchley was assisted by
Miss Leach, who taught the primary
grades. Home desks were used by
the older pupils, but the younger
had to sit on benches with
out backs. The blackboards were
only sheet iron. The school building
was one long room, heated by stove.
The weather was so cold that the
first winter the pupils had to march
up around the stove in relays in order
to keep warm.
Canyon County was founded in the
early nineties, from Ada county of
which it had formerly been a part
The citizens had a pretty hard fight
10 get the legislature to form the
county When they did grant it, the
different cities had another quarrel
over which was to be the county seat
Nampa and Payette both wanted it.
Caldwell said little, but while the
other were quarreling she gave to the
county a temporary courthouse, to
-emain one year. When the year was
Up it was decided that Caldwell should
oe the county seat, permanently.