American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1915-05-06

In 1878, my brother-In-iaw Richard
Driscoll, came with a herC Of cattle
from Promontory, Utah, and settled on
the Snake river bottoms abort twelve
miles north Of American Falls. buying
out Mr.. Dagert who was a neishtor
10 w. T. Oliver. Richari Driscoli and
his brother, Martin used all their right
and took up about 1900 acres Of land.
In the summer OF 1880 my brother.
Survivor Hickman. who vas riding for
Mr.. Driscoll, was thrown from a b-oD-
cho and had his leg broken. Word
came TO my mother at Ogden OF the
accident and she Immediately prepared
to start. She arrived on the train at
Ross Fork, the nearest stopping place
but could find ne conveyance to take
her to her destination so she inquired
about the road and started TO walk.
She walked to Bannock where a lot OF
Indians we're camped and paid two
sauaws eight dollars to take her the
remaining distance.
The walking, and riding a squaw
saddle for forty miles was moi a very
pleasant thing for a woman fifty-one
years old. but mother had endured the
hardships OF early pioneer life, having
left New York in 1910. She was one
Of the first women to settle In the west
and nothing could turn her from her
duty.
Just at shutdown she arrived at my
sisters cabin on the banks OF the river.
When my brother saw her. he said.
"why did you come. mother?" ITO
take care OF you. my boy" she an
swered. He was too weak even to
fight away the mosquitoes that we're
swarming about like bees and she no
doubt saved his life by her care for
she was a first class nurse. A Mr..
Sparks, who had lived a short time at
Ogden. had settled at Fall Creek. A
great deal Of placer mining was being
done there then. When Mr.. Sparks
heard Of my mothers presence in
these parts he FASTENED to engage her
services for she had previously given
great satisfaction as doctor and nurse
In his family. AS soon as my brother
was able to be left mother went to
Bonanza Bar. which is now called
Fall Creek. She remained there for
two months and then went to Mccain
mon to visit another of my sisters,
Mrs. Frances.
In the meantime Mrs. Driscoll had
gone to Ogden to get fruit and supplies
and TO meet her husband who had been
sick for some time I'm n Salt Lake hos
pital. ] returned with them by team
and had my first breath OF the en-
chanted Snake river.
After ] had been on Snake river a
couple OF weeks mother decided we
would return home. Remembering the
hard time she had had getting down
from Ross Fork she decided to ride
from McCammon III horseback after
me. Again she arrived at sunset af-
ter a forty mile ride. | can see her
yet as she rode into the cotton wood
. on the old gray mare. exhausted
as she had been many times before,
looking after the welfare OF her chill
dren. for she had been n widow since
! was fifteen months old.
] had been busy making wax flowers
as well M horseback riding and hav-
Ing a good time In general. / had
sold a boquet OF wax flowers % Mrs.
Cook. who lived across Bannock creek
on the ranch now owned by l.. l..
Evans, Having to leave sooner than
I expected my sister said we would
go over to Cooks's and make n short
visit and get the pay for my flowers.
My brother had given me what he
thought to be a gentle Indian pony
which ] named Gray Cloud. was de-
lighted TO ride II although II jumped
sidewise ut the least thing when I was
unaware and often left me standing
by the road while II trotted off to nib
Bile the grass. ] had not learned OF
fts tricks when We went 20 Cocks. We
made u call and started home Just
after dark. Bannock creek was quite
near the house and when In the middle
OF II Gray Cloud laid down and rolled
over with me. ! thought ! would be
drowned, but | got loose from the
horse somehow and stood up In the
stream while Gray Clod troted off on