The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1921-12-02
five PIONEERS
OF HALF CENTURY
ONLY REMAINING SETTLERS OF
II, DINE TOGETHER AS GUESTS
OF JOHN L. NAYLOR.

III, DINE TOGETHER AS GUESTS
OF JOHN L. NAYLOR.
There are five men now living in
Latah county, who have lived here for
SO years and, so far as The Star
Mirror is able to learn, only five men
These men were together Thursday
in Moscow the dinner guests Of J. L.
Naylor, tenderfoot Of only As years
residence in the county, at the Mos
cow hotel. The guests of Mr.. Nay
lor were Thomas Tierney, Murdock
Cameron, William Frazier, William
Toner and George w. Toner. Four
of these men located in what is now
Latah county in 1871. The fifth,
Thomas Tierney, located here in 1870.
They came here when the Palouse
country was covered with bunch
grass, wild sunflowers and camas,
giving the face of the country the ap-
pearance of a vast flower garden
At that time, according to the story
told by these pioneers, there were
few roads in the Palouse country, the
few settlers travelling for the most
part over trails made by the Indians
They followed the most direct course
and the easiest grades. There was
no postoffice here, or anywhere near.
The first postoffice was established
one mile off what is now Moscow's
Main street, March 19, 1878. The
place was known as Paradise Valley
and the postoffice bore that name.
VanisOn Craig was postmaster The
mail was then carried from Lewiston
to Lone Pine on horse back and the
settler paid 25 cents for the privilege
of receiving letter. They received
very few, however, and the mail sack
was easily carried behind a man on
the hurricane deck of cayuse.
These five men are the only men now
alive in Latah county who have lived
in the county continuously for so
years. Mr.. Naylor, who has lived
here As years, states to The Star
Mirror that he feels like a tenderfoot
among these real pioneers; these
men who engaged in farming, as they
were, contributed so largely to the
early development of the Palouse
country
A little something regarding these
five pioneers as told by Mr.. Naylor,
will be of interest to Latah county
people.
A HOspitable Man
Thomas Tierney located on Thorn
Creek, about half way between Mos
COW and Lewiston, when he came to
the Palouse country. He is typical
western man, with a heart as big as
a mountain. The latch string to his
home always hung on the outside and
there is hardly an old-timer but
whom has partaken of his hospitality
at one time or another. He still owns !
his old homestead of many broad |
acres, but has retired from active
life and is now enjoying the fruits
Of his labors.
A Progressive Farmer q
Murdoch Cameron has lived con-
tinuously on the homestead which he l
took up SO years ago, supervising his Z
,wn farming operations. He has ad +
led many acres to his original hold a
ngs and is known as one of the pro- t.
yressive stock raisers and farmers of n
he county. He has demonstrated II
what man can do in the Palouse is
country if he has the staying quail s
les He is one of the most sub II
tantial farmers of the Palouse coun- a
ry. II
Active in Civic Affairs
riginal homestead While he has
etired from active life and is now
making his home in Moscow, he still
as keen interest in the farmers and h
be development of the country, which te
Le has seen pass from the bunch ia
rass stage into one of the prosperous CT
nd well developed farming districts d;
( the northwest. He has been active il
4 the civic affairs Of the county, al ct
rays standing on the side Of right and
1stice He, in company with w. W. is
angdon and Mr. Naylor comprised in
lie first board of county commission pl
RS in Latah county. fl
Packed the Dirt to Build Butte m
Big hearted Billy Toner lived con-
nuously on his farm until the death III
his father, the late Hon. George
7. Toner, year ago. 1t is saying
nong his friends that he packed the
rt to build Toner butte, east of M
oscow. He was always ready to do Sc
Is part and the night was never too in
ark or theroad too long for him to an
nd helping hand to anyone in dis tic
ess or trouble. si(
Nearly Native Son tn
George W. Toner, a younger broth da
of Billy Toner, came near being a
ative son of the Palouse country, he bo
ing but two years old when his re
lrents arrived in the country He Les
as also engaged in farming with his Me
other and their father until the of
ather of the latter. He, too, is a W;