American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1916-01-06
ONE OF THE FIRST IDAHO FARMERS
TELLS ABOUT HI FIRST IDAHO FARMS
(By William ]. McConnell.)

(By William j. McConnell)
AS the time is near at hand when you will issue your
annual edition, presenting to your readers the marvellous
growth of every industry within the borders of Idaho, but
more especially the development of agriculture under the
extensive irrigation systems made possible by a generous
government, it might be of interest to your readers of the
present generation to have placed in comparison with the
story of today a brief sketch of the crude efforts of the
early arrivals in Boise and Payette valleys Of those who
adopted farming or gardening as a means of making a
livelihood.
AS is generally known, the primary cause of the rapid
settlement of the valleys named and the country adjacent
was the discovery of placer gold in Boise Basin late in the
summer of 1862. During the following winter and early
spring of 1863 many ranches were located in both valleys,
although but few of those who located them did so with
the intent of cultivating any part of the land. The keep
ing of road houses, horse ranches, or cutting hay along the
river bottoms were the usual objects. In fact, most of
those who located ranches could not have titled the soil
if they had desired to do so, there being no agricultural
implements or seeds of any kind to be purchased at any
price.
across the plains with teams and wagons, arrived at OF
near the present site of Boise, where, hearing of the dis
covery of gold in the Basin, they resolved to discontinue
their journey and locate as near the new Eldorado as they
could find land susceptible of being easily irrigated. For
tunately they had foresight enough to bring with them
across the plains, one pillow in each outfit and a small guam
tty of garden seeds, and from one of the first pack trains
arriving with supplies for the mines they were able to
purchase a few potatoes, which they carefully boarded
for seed the following spring.
for a suitable location they determined that the latter at
forded a better opportunity to secure water for irrigation
They accordingly moved their camp and outfit to that dis
trict above Horseshoe Bend, since known as Jerusalem
One party, consisting of John Nicholson and j. G. Afford
located on a tract of land lying along the Payette river i'm
mediately below the mouth of what is now known as Brain
ard creek, from which water was easily and cheaply di
verted for irrigation and domestic use. Nicholson and AL
ford were both bachelors, Industrious, good citizens. They
constructed a dugout in which they lived for three years
The other party, consisting of Camel and Hogan and Ho
gan's wife, located a tract of land on the creek named
there being plenty of water for both farms, or, more prop
erly speaking, gardens. They too, were desirable citizens
Both claims were fortunately located. The soil was a rich
sandy loan, easily irrigated, and Placeryille, which furn
ished an ample market, was only approximately thirteen
miles distant over a mountain trail, there being no wagon
road into the Basin during the spring and early summer OF
1868, all supplies were packed in on horses and mules.
I and my then partner, John H. Porter, arrived at Horse
shoe Bend, on the Payette river, the both day of April, IS
SO, having started from Yamhin, Oregon, on the first day
of that month. We came to Idaho for the purpose of gar
dening, bringing with us six pack animals loaded with
our little garden outfit. Portland, at that time, as now
to be able to purchase a supply Of garden seeds, but we
were disappointed in one particular. 1t was our intention
to plant a quantity Of onion sets, but there were none in
the Portland market. Fortunately, however, | had Sc
cured a small lot in the country before we started. We
shipped our horses and supplies, including a plow, a pair
of collars and names, intending to use rope harness, to the
Dalles, and there on the sand bar behind the old Umatila
House, we packed all our six horses and walked to Idaho
arriving as stated on April 80. We located on a tributary
of the Payette, now known as Porter Creek, and the next
day, May ], 1868, broke the first ground with a spade and
planted a few onion sets we had brought from Yamhill.
Lived in q Tent
With a ditch to bring water out Of the creek and fences
to build, we had no time to build a house so we lived in q
small tent for two seasons. In our efforts to garden, we
did as our neighbors-limite our efforts to what we could
accomplish without hiring help. Consequently our gar