Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1915-10-21
DEATH OF LARRY OFT.

DEATH Of 'LARRY'' OFT.
Lawrence OFT, better known as
Larry and for nearly half cen
fury a settled resident of Salmon river
country is dead. Death came to the
aged man Wednesday night due to
paralytic stroke which attacked him
two weeks previous. Larry is said
to have relatives somewhere in the east,
but owning to the dead mans reticence
little is known of his family connec-
tions. His release from this life it is
felt here was somewhat Providential
to himself, as he lived solidarity and re-
fused all proffered assistance from
friends. Owning to his advanced years
his mind was somewhat affected, and
he was at times melancholy.
He is said to have embraced the
Catholic religion IN his early youth.
Funeral services were held from the OFT
residence Friday at 10 O'Clock, Father
zuur of Grangeville officiating and +.
s. Hancock having charge of the re-
mains. The exercises were attended by
a large concourse of friends. Judge F.
z. Taylor has applied to the courts for
appointment as administrator of the
OFT estate and will doubtless be &C.
cepted.
Following is summary of the de-
ceased man s life which we borrow for
the occasion. Lawrence OFT was born
February 10, 1886 in Blair county Penn.
Died October Is, 1915, age 70 years. In
| 1865 Mr.. OFT travelled via New York
and the lsthmus to San Francisco. He
mined at Marysville, prospected in diff
ferent sections and in 1859 went to
Virginia City, Nevada. At the time
of the Piute war he enlisted to fight
the Indians under Meredith and on one
occasion half of the little band of $50
whites was killed, the Indians ten to
one In 1862 he started to Warren with
la posse of men and on the head of the
Owyhee river they rescued a man and
his wife from band of Indians by kill,
ing the Indians. Then he came to AL
bany, Oregon later to Walla Walla,
back to Canyon City with supplies, in
"a he went to the Boise basin and in
81 came to Warren. He has visited
most of the camps in Idaho and in 1872
located in White Bird. Since then
White Bird has been his head quarters.
He has followed farming, stock raising
nd mi, ,xy;fh Ha
has 800 acres but has retired from ac-
tive business and is living upon his in
come. When the war broke out in 1877
he was in Florence. Being sick he gave
fhis gun and ammunition to another but
DIS soon as he was able, he joined Cap
lfain Trimbie's, company, ~ He guided
Fgimble over the. mountains and when
they reached Howard they were, to do
/ guard duty at Slate Creek He guarded
some wounded soldiers at Lapwai and
did some scouting. Much of his stock
was killed at the time Of the war. When
on the south fork of the John Day in
Oregon, five miners were attacked by
4 the Indians and two were killed. He
was one Of the II who thrashed the In
dams who troubled the miners. In
dians threatened to kill him if he did
not leave. In the encounter which fol
flowed he was knocked down by stone
but owing to his having a revolver he
had the better of the struggle and after
1 that he was left alone. He has been one
4 of the active larborers to build up his
country and is good honest substan'
tial man.
4 After the war Mr.. OFT did special
scouting duty under Captain Lew Will
mott to see that none of the red men
were lurking in the hills, finding and
destroying many of the caches, until
assured that all the Indians had fled
to the reservation (Taken from the
History of Idaho.)