The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1917-03-02
PIONEER SECTION OF THE RECORDER
EARLY DAY. HISTORY coMeu Ep ay Ioun arss


1857 and IS when the camp settled
down TO steady work and producing
large amount of gold for q good
many years, furnishing a good mar
ket for ranch men who began 10
raise vegetables and make butter II
prices that outclassed the present
high cost of living Twenty-fiyc
cents pound was asked for potA.
toes. cabbages. turnips, and onions:
one dollar and a half for butter but
beef was very cheap. The range was
nne and cattle gept fat on this range
all winter. All this portion OF the
country was In Idaho county. We had
men even in those times who were
Wiling TO give their services To help
the dear people and a man by the
name OF Palmer and a lawyer by the
name OF Thurman started to induce
the miners TO join them in an en-
deaFof TO organize new county
They failed 10 interest the people In
their enterprise. This man Thurman.
aiteF attempting TO defend some
road agents In Aulder Gulch, Mon
tana, was given iifteen minutes TO
leave the camp by the vigilance com,
mittee. He replied that he didn't
want but fiye minutes II his mule did
not buck.
In those days when a camp was
discovered, a miners meeting was
called and laws were made and
adopted, defining the size OF claims,
privileges. date representing in the
water rights. dumping and drainage
spring when water started. and a
nxed date to lay over claims for the
winter season, electing a Recorder,
liking his fees for the recording OF
claims, transfers and all matters OF
record and to issue and post notices
OF miners meetings when necessary
for the adjusting of any conflict OF
rights or Misunderstanding between
minera- Those miners lava were
made and aimed to secure equal Jus.
tice TO all alike and were accepted
by the United States court as gov
erntng in the trials Of all mining liz.
igatlon when not in conflict with the
laws of the United States. This goes
Tar TO show the intelligent character
OF the men who formed the early pI
oneers OF the west. They came from
every station and profession, college
students, lawyers, engineers, me
chananicso of all trades, and all
prompted by the spirit OF adventure
I'd the seafcn OF gold.
Early in the summer OF 1867
number OF the newcomers asked to
have a miners meeting called TO
amend the laws thinking 10 make
the laws more favorable for their
purpose. that OF jumping the ground
The meeting was called and they
were defeated and gave no further
trouble
In the winters OF 67 and '6s we en-
joyed a good many dances. though
short Of ladies as we could muster
only four at our Christmas, New
Years. Washington's Birthday and
St Patrick's day dances We Ger.
tainly had . good time Frank Hag.
enbrath was the first child born In
Leesburg, and some OF the boys
would be quite envious of the one
that was fortunate enough to hold |
the baby while the mother was dane |
ing. On the Fourth of July some |
thirty or forty OF US would 90 out TO |
Salmon and attend the dance there |
Our tickets used 10 cost one half |
ounce in gold dust We had no coin |
or currency in those days During /
the day we would have horse races |
and ! have seen as much as five or
six hundred dollars exchange hands /
on races by boys not over twelve or
thirteen years Of age.
Virginia City was our nearest
town of any importance. and there 4
was a good deal of business done
here by Leesburg business men
When one was going over il was Gus,
-omary to carry gold dust out for
lne another. In talking with my
friend Sharkey one day I told him
hat on the following Monday / in
ended TO go over to Virginia City
As it was reported that a band OF
noad agents were In the valley at
some point, I cautioned him TO keep
he matter quiet He told me thar
he would exchange a straight lot Of
lust out Of his claim for my dust
hat was taken in trade. He
'2me down Monday morning and
made the exchange with me. ! was
aking out some for two OF my neigh
1ors and reported that I was going
Iut 10 the river There were several
boys In the store at the time my |
lorse was brought 20 the front and I
oOk my cantinas and a. | Was step
'ing out Of the door. ShaFkey drop
bed something In my pocket and
AAtAs AAAN AHAH Win you " AeM
rot out Of sight ! felt in my pocket
md found a derrinEeT pistol. what
> called a British bulldog This
alarmed me. thinking that Sharkey !
lad some Information about the
pad agents being on the trail
Arriving at Salmon had my
lorss saddled and started for a ride
ID the road and kept on until got
o Fort Lemhi A man By the name /
4 Hail was keeping a stopping place
here. and IL was supposed TO b. a
endeEyous for road agents went
o bed bpt not to sleep. with a pis
OF and derrinEer By me under the
he blankets. At different times dur
ng the night ! heard horsemen stop
'ing or riding by and expected every
minute TO BE- called for but nothing
In the morning my
riend. Mr.. Cook. came and knew al
nee that ] was going TO virginia
,ity by way Of Bannack and was full
, determined 10 escort me. He sent
N Indian out 10 get a horse and
tayed night by me.
IL was eleven O'Clock when the In I