The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1915-08-13
rIoNEER CALLED TO REST
Captain S. G. Fisher of Scouts With
General Howard and Active IL H.
dian Affairs.


away at the home of his daughter
Mrs. Fred White, at the age of Il
years, and was laid to rest in Norma
Hill cemetery, Lewiston, Idaho, las
Saturday afternoon, the pail bearer
being James Conley, James Lydon
Harry Lydon and w. B. Stanton o.
Lewiston, and Thomas Barton an(
VIM. Henderson of Lapwai. selected
from the hosts who. pioneered witt
the deceased. In speaking of the de
mise of Captain Fisher, the Lewiston
Tribune of last Saturday gives the
follow ing account of his life, and his
varied and useful career:
I'm the death of Captain Fisher the
west has lost typical pioneer-a
strong man, who by virtue of sterling
Qualities of heart and mind, attracted
Ito him the friendship and confidence
of all who were favored by his ac-
quaintance. In the course of an ac-
tive career marked by courage that
gave him distinction even in times
when this quality was making the
west, he held as his watchword
respect for the law and the rights of
the individual, and so on his death
bed he could look to the past without
a single regret 1t will be comfort
ing to his friends to also know that
his last hours were marked by tran
guilty of the sleep of child.
Captain Fisher was born in Jeffer-
son county, near Lind, New York, on
July 10, 1910. With his parents ne
moved to Dodge county, Wisconsin, in
1850. In 1850 he went to San Fran
cisco, engaging in mining, which oc-
cupation he followed at periods in
practically all the far west states
During the construction of the Union
Pacific in the Ogden section he held
contracts for supplies for time, and
in 1868 located at Fort Hall, south
ern Idaho, as post trader. Four years
later he retired from that field to en-
gage in ranching. 1876 he was
united in marriage to Sarah A. Peck.
After brief residence in California, in
1882, he returned to Fort Hall and
in 1888 again assumed charge of the
trading post Again selling the bust
ness, he became Indian agent there,
serving four years, and later was
with the sheriff's office of Bingham
Icounty. During the years up to this
time Mr.. Fisher had lived in the full
ness of pioneer life, meeting it's dam
gers and responsibilities with spirit
that made him prominent factor in
every community in which he resided.
In the Nez Perez Indian war in 1877,
he was chief of scouts for Genera,
Howard in the Montana and Yellow
stone park campaign against the not
ed Chief Joseph, remaining in the SER
vice until the surrender was made to
General Miles. 1t was his knowledge
of Indian character and his high pur-
pose as man and citizen that result
ed in 1895 in his removal to this part
of the state. 1t was in that year the
plans were completed under the
terms of the treaty for disbursing
$1,500,000 to the Nez Perez Indians
in payment for their lands. To be
agent of this tribe was a responsible
ity fully understood by the federal
authorities; in fact, so important was
the charge considered that President
Cleveland asked Secretary of the In
terror Hoke Smith to recommend to
him man for the place, regardless
of the politics of the person chosen
Secretary Smith made investigation
of the records of western men with
the result that the position was tend
cred to Captain Fisher. That no mis-
take was made was evidenced by the
marked success of his administration,
which resulted in giving to the In
dams a discipline long needed, while
at the same time throwing a safe
guard about them never before ex-
tended despite the paternal interest
of the government. Both Indians
and whites soon learned to respect
and honor him, and reservation af-
fairs during their most trying period
were carried out with credit. An
incident of Captain FISHERS method
of dealing with situation when less
severe methods failed, is recalled,
where a colony of roughs when the
first payment of 81 ,000, 900 was made
to the Indians established themselves
below Lapwai and opened number
of gambling games. The agent sent
word to the men to vacate, and later
come form of legal notice was served
on them, but without the desired re-
suits. This latter information Cap
tain Fisher received without COM
ment, went quietly to the agency
stables, saddled his horse, placed a