The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-03-15


fore He is survived by one son.
Charles II. Calkins, of Weiser, and
four daughter, Mrs. Alma Coates
bingham of Ontario, Ore; Mrs. Lille
Cossi of Boise; Mrs. Ruby Smith OF
0al,dale. Neb, and Mrs. Agnes Hahn
of Council ~,
Since 1900 Mr.. Calkins has lived
in Caldwell. where his wife died In
1908, spending his summers IN tne
mountains and his winters with his
children. But his early efforts were
in Custer county, where the imprint
of his labors is still to be seen.
Came from Pioneer Stock
Mr.. Calkins came from long line
of pioneers ,u,
was the first of the family to come to
America. A radical in religion, he,
with his wife and son, John, Joined
body of emgrants called the
"Welsh company came to America
md settled first at Green's HarbOr,
NOW Marshfield), in New Plymouth
colony.
He was an active worker in all
,hings for the public good and served
% terms as deputy to the general
court Qegislature.)
Hugh and his son, John. were
mong the IS original pOprietors OF
, tract of land nine miles square a.
ound the town of Norwich.
This pioneer, patriot blood shows
throughout the long line Of Calklnses.
Zach generation doing their part IN
subduing the wilderness and serving
their country Stephen Crawford Cal
'.ins. true to these traits, was piOn-
,er in three states. Born in Illinois,
he moved while boy, with his parents
O an unsettled part Of Wisconsin.
Ills father, who had been admitted to
bar. could not resist the call of the
land and with his sons took up large
tract of land near Arena.
Soon the Civil war broke out and
Stephen enlisted in company C.
ELEVENTH Wisconsin volunteers. He re
enlisted at the expiration of his term
md served until the close of the
var. being wounded at Fort Blateley
nd mustered out June go, 1865
Marries ard Moves to Iowa
August % 1865, he wns married to
Trancena Wells at Ma7omanie, Wis
few weeks later. in company with
lis brother Johns family they started
for northwestern Iowa making the
| trip overland with OK teams On the
way they were Joined by the I.amber
IN and Hough families. The frs'
winter was srent on the Muddy: the
following spring thew all took ur
homesteads where the civ of Spen
Ger, Clay county now stands these
original homesteads now being in
cluded in the CITY limits.
Here thew lived for IA years
forming a nucleus around which oth"~
homesteaders gathered. Soon a school
was started in the log cabin home Of
. neighbor. church organized. Of
r-hich he was member, a postoffice
| established and a town started.
All supplies were hauled from Fort
Dodge, a distance of 80 miles.
One winter when the snow was IN
| usually deep and the cold severe and
rrotracted the little community faced
starvation. Stephen with two other
volunteered to make the trip over tho
trackless prairie for supplies. The
people at home became alarmed at
their long absence and started re
lief party to meet them. Less thar
=. days travel they found them, the
men sncwblind, one yoke of oxen ex
hausted.
Starts for Far West
AS the country settled UP Stephen
again felt the call of his pioneer blood
and in 70, with his wife and four
children started for the far west in
company with several other families
On this trip they drove cows. milk
ing them at night, setting the milk "
pans on board laid on the houndr
1f the wagon under the box. In the
morning the milk was skinned
churned at noon and traded to settler
along the way for vegetables, eggs
etc.
While his wife drove the six COW
team Stephen, with his gun, circled
away from the wagon train to shoot
game to provide the caravan with
fresh meat.
For miles the road lay along the
newly built railroad track.
The cows never became accustomed
to the trains, but ran away every time
they met one. Very few of the rivers
had ferries so most of them had to be
forded. the men wading through first
20 md a safe crossing.
Settles in Idaho
Coming to the Lost river country,
they wintered there. then settled in
custer county at Bay Horse, then a
thriving mining camp.
Mr.. Calkins built the first toll bridge
across the Salmon river. This bridge
sun stands, near the mouth of Bay
Horse creek, though new steel
bridge serves the public.
Many of the roads and bitches of
that section were built by him, sur
veyed with a triangle. Those travel.
ing the Salmon river route to the
Yellowstone park will pass over miles
" road of his building.