Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1922-03-17
BY JOHN P. HARLAN

On March 9Th, 1922, there passed
from earthly existence at the ripe
age of SO years and more, a highly
respected citizen of Clearwater
County, typical old-timer and Cal
ifornia "Forty-niner," a pioneer of
Pierce City and the State of Idaho.
1t is only given to a few old-tim-
ers. now living, whose span of life
can reach back into such early
events in the history of the West.
But Israel Burr Cowen's span OF
life, and advent into the west, ex-
tended back to the early discovery
of gold in California; and was con-
temporaneous. with all subsequent
mining discoveries and development
from this early inception to the
present time.
He stood as an eyewitness, and
in his humble capacity participated
in many of the stirring scenes that
brought order out of chaos and
helped to redeem the primeval wild
ernes5 to civilization. He saw the
rise and decline of the mining In
dustry; and the passing Of those
sturdy old characters known as
prospectors-those typical old "sour
doughs' who played their part, full
well, in the making and settlement
of the west.
The exhaustion of the placer
mines, the passing Of their lode
finds into the hands Of capital, the
rapid exploitation and development
Of the mineral resources of the west
and the swift transition from min
ing to other industries, left them
without vocation. The epoch OF
their activities has almost closed, as
far as the real west is concerned.
They no more fit in in the scheme
of things extant about them. Many
of the few remaining find them
selves at the end of life's journey
without the means of adequate self
support. But 1t will not be for long
For their numbers are fast dwind-
ling, their campfires are Pickering,
they are rolling their blankets and
hitting the trail'' over the Great
Divide. They have left their deeds
to the ages.
In reviewing the life of Israel b.
Cowen we also get glimpse of the
vicissitudes that many of these old
sour doughs' went through before
they reached their final reward.
Israel b. Cowen was born OF
Scotch parents. on the 22nd of Aug
ust. 1928, In the little town of Bun
comhe. Iowa County. now Lafayette
County. Wisconsin. His ancestry
dates back to the beginning of the
eighteenth century. In the regions
of Vermont His grandfather fought
in the Revolution, his father in tht
War of 1872. His brothers were IN
the Rebellion. One was killed in ac
ton,
His father was educated for anc
ordained as q presbyterian minister
But his broad and liberal interpre
tation of predestination brough
him into controversy with the stric
orthodox element of his denomina
ton. In consequence he wa
ehurched He gave up the ministr.
and betook himself to farming anC
lead mining in the lead regions o
| Wisconsin and Northwest Illinois
! finally settling near Galena.
The early life of our subject wa
| spent in assisting his father in botl
| farming, and mining about thes
lead mines. He was able to avail
himself of what schooling the com
munity afforded at that time; hi
! devotion to reading made we'll
posted and intelligent man.
1t Is thus seen that he early ac
auired a knowledge of lode mining
He also spoke of assisting a MI
Drummond. who introduced and i'm
provised the first improved lea
smelter into the locality.
The first lead smelling wa
known as the roasting and reaction
process, or air reduction. which con
sisted In roasting lead ores at a 10y
temperature and Transforming
large part Of the sulphides into sui
pilates and oxides. BY raising tn
heat these compounds act upon on
another yielding molten lead whic
! separates from the charge formin