The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1921-12-06
CAPT. E. ". BAUGHMAN, PIONEER
STEAMBOAT CAPTAIN, dies HERE

Captain Ephriam w. Baughman, for
many years captain of the steamer
Spokane" on the Columbia river, and
one OF the first steamboat captains
on the river, died at the home OF his
daughter, Mrs. Harry Thatcher, in
this city at 6 o'clock Monday evening,
aged S6 years. Death was due to old
age, his health having failed steadily
for the past year.
Sixteen years ago Captain Baugh-
man, then having reached his 10th
year, was retired from the service of
the 0. r. q N. Railway company on
company pay, under the age limit
provision. AT that time he had been
in the employ of the 0. r. & N. and
its predecessors for 40 years, having
refused, at the expiration of 20 years,
to accept retirement with pension, as
provided by the company The entire
40 years had been spent in navi-
eating the waters of the northwest,
much of the time being spent on the
waters of the upper Columbia and
Snake rivers.
e Mr.. Baughman had the honor of re-
celving the first captains license is
sued on the Pacific coast, the license
being for service on the Columbia
For the eleven years prior to his re-
tirement he was on the Snake river
between Lewiston and Riparia, in
command of the steamers Lewiston
and Spokane. On his retirement he
was succeeded in command by his
son, Captain Ralph Baughman. Fol-
lowing his retirement, Captain Baugh-
man spent some years in Lewiston,
where his home had been for many
years previous, but seven years ago,
owing to his advanced age, came to
Moscow, to spend his declining years
in the home of his daughter, Mrs.
Harry Thatcher. Until the past year
his health was fairly good and he was
able to walk down town, where he
was a familiar figure, and was well
come visitor everywhere, with his
fund of stories of early days steam
boating in the northwest. During the
past year he had been confined to his
home the greater part of the time.
Born in Fulton county, Illinois, in
1885, young Baughman, before he had
attained his majority, became inter-
ested in the northwest, through hear
ing Stephen A. Douglas tell in a
Fourth of July address at Fulton,
Illinois, in 1850, of the opportunities
which he believed existed in the north
west for the young man. This so
deeply impressed the young man that
he decided that he would come west
and at once commenced to tell his
plans to others of the more adventur-
Gus spirits in the neighborhood. He
and two other boys, Abel Smith and
John Mackenzie, decided to seek their
fortunes in the west. In the spring
of 1851, with $91 which young Baugh-
man had saved up, they bought a
team of oxen and on May Is, of that
year, commenced their journey to the
west, arriving at San Francisco in SO
days. There the boys separated,
companions going to the
mines, while he came north to Ore
gon and secured a position on a
steamboat running up the Columbia.
This was in 1856 and he had been
running a steamboat since until pen
stoned by the o. R. & NJ in 1903. He
was present when the name was given
TO Lewiston in 1861 and to Charleston
in 1891.
In 1862 Captain Baughman was IN
charge of the steamer Spray, whlch
piled between Cello and Lewiston.
The purser of this boat was the late
Levi AnheIy, VI w dlid Nolic, ie''>A
United States senator from Washing
ton. The Spray brought the largest
cargo of flour ever brought into Lew
iston, and sold it at the highest price
ever received for flour, $50 per bar
rel. On one trip, according to the
history of the boat, the Spray netted
500. 900, S13 900 for freight and $4,000
for passengers.
Captain Baughman was familiar
with the Indians of the northwest ana
MANY times had skirmishes with them
At the time of his retirement the oc-
,asion was celebrated in Lewiston
with a banquet at which he was the
guest of honor.
In 1864 Captain Baughman was
1nited in marriage with Miss Lizzie
Thomas, a native of ST. Louis. Four
children were born, two of whom,
Mrs. Harry Thatcher of Moscow and
Harry C. Baughman of Lewiston, sur
rive. Captain Baughman was mem
Ter of the Masonic fraternity, having
attained the 14th degree of the Scot
ish rite. He was man of sterling
integrity and a personality which en-
Ieared him to all who knew him. The
,ody will be shipped to Lewiston,
which was his headquarters for so
many years, tonight, and the funeral
will be held at 2:30 Wednesday after
Ioon from the undertaking parlors at
hat place, at which time the Impress
We Episcopal burial service will be
cad. Interment will be in the Lew