The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1917-01-12
PIONEER SECTION OF THE RECORDER
EARLY DAY HISTORY COMPILED BY JOHN E. REEFS
THE MoRMoNs.

were those of the Lewis and Clark ex-
pedition of 1905. This was the sec.
ond overland journey across the
Rocky mountains to the Pacific ocean.
Capt. Lewis was the first white man
70 cast his eye upon Idaho territory,
doing so on August IL, 1905, in com
memoration of which event, August
II has been designated Pioneer Day"
by the Lemhi Historical society.
Among the instructions given to these
captains by President Jefferson was
one ito acquire what knowledge YOU
can OF the state of morality, religion
ana information among them" mean
ing the Indian tribes In making this
inquiry they impaired some know.
ledge OF the Bible, and spread, more
or less, ideas of the white mans lellg.
ION IL 1892 four Indian chiefs from
the Columbia river regions Journey.
ed TO st. Louis. Mo-. to meet Capt.
! Clark. who was at that time u. s. In
dian agent They informed him that
they had heard through their fathers
as told them by Lewis 4 Clark, Of
mo white mans God and Book"
and asked that white men be sent
among them To teach these things.
| The report of this incident spread
|
lated interest in mission work, which
resulted in many missionaries coming
west shortly after this episode. The
Methodist, under Jason Lee, went to
Willamette valley. Ore, in 1884; the
Presbyterians under DIR. Whitman to
Walla Walla, Wash. and Rev. Henry
Spaulding to Lapwai. Idaho, in 1896,
| the Jesuits under DeSmet to Occur
d Alene, Idaho. in 1858; and the Nor.
mons TO Fort Lemhi, Idaho in 1856,
The Mormons were the first peo-
pie TO attempt TO found a permanent
| agricultural settlement in Idaho.
| Previous to them, none but temporary
ventures had been made by trappers
and stragglers within her territory.
Utah being an arid country, the Nor.
mons were familiar with the artificial
use of water for the growing CROPS
| and We're perhaps the first white peo.
pie to apply irrigation to lands In the
west AT any rae they constructed
the first irrigation bitches for the re.
claiming of land in Idaho and by
means of them they became the first
cultivators of the soil.
Among the Mormon missionaries
was George w. Hill, the Indian inter.
| prefer of the colony, who spent most
of his life in efforts to improve the
| red man. He was noted as a famous
Indian interpreter. He, among many
/ of the rest, has passed away, leAv.
/ ing still living Shurtleff, Taylor and
| Watts. In the efforts of the Lemhi
! Historical society to get copy of the
| splendid vocabulary of the Shoshone
| Indian language published by Mr.
| Hill, we came in contact with one OF
/ hn
kindly furnished us with a COPY of his
| fathers book. He has also written us
| recollections. as a boy, OF the events
| that transpired in the founding OF
Fort Lehi over sixty years ago, and
| The following letter is his contribu-
| ton 10 our society. The Lemhi bard
was singing his praises Ave years be-
fore the California poet. Joaquin Nil.
| Ter, was riding pony express TO the
Salmon river mines.
In early Mormon history the Neph.
/ ties were the beloved of the lord
| whilst the Lamanites, founded by La.
man, were people who had lapsed in
10 barbarism and were the progeni-
| tors of the American Indian. f. r.
Springville, Utah. October 2, 1915
| Mr.. John L. Rees, Salmon, Idaho
My Dear Sir:
In complying with your request
will have TO deal a little with the af.
fairs of Utah to make myself under
stood
came to Utah with my parents as
q child in 1S47 and the chances for
an education were very limited in my
childhood and early manhood In
lS49 We moved on TO the Weber
where Ogden is now located and in
1853 were advised to move into the
| city proper for protection against the
! Indians
Father commenced the erection OF
home in 1854. had the roof on and
floor laid, when called TO take a mis-
Ision with the Northern Indians In
the spring of 1856 he, in company
with number OF others prepared
themselves with ox.teams, wagons,
etc. for their mission, leaving IN
April of that year under the direction
Of Thomas Smith OF Pennington who
had been appointed by President Brig.
ham Young TO preside over the mis-
sion.
Their instructions were TO 20 north
until they found suitable place 10
locate, build a fort, erect homes, and
FlfpaIF ~ ttdGN NNE tuQlduB LUe AFis
af civilization, to mingle with them.
nd show them how TO do farm work
instruct them in gospel plans and
teach them TO become citizens like
their white brothers They organiz-
ID themselves with president, secre-
iary. chaplain. etc. On starting out
( hey knew not where they would 10
I cate but being jealous for the cause
/ they represented, they went IN faith
Z believing they could do good among
| ne Red Men I viii give one verse
| of one OF the songs he composed ss
I IL will show The object OF their going
Wake. awake the camp from sleep
ing
Waterman watchman. what's the
hour7
Rise up. camp. and say your prayers
For We are going 10 the land Of La
man
I To plant the gospel standard there
I To bring them out from degradation
To a people white and fair"