The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1923-09-27
WILLIAM NJ. BUM, FIRST
OF IDAHO'S GOVERNORS
HIS RECENT DEATH IN PHlLA-
DELPHIA RECALLS INTEREST
ING PERSONAL SKETCH.

The announcement of the death of
William NJ. Bum in Philadelphia last
week. who had the distinction of being
the first governor of Idaho territory.
recalls the following story of his APP
pointment and personal characteristics
written several years ago by c. j.
Brosnan. professor of American history
in the university of Idaho;
Early Idaho History.
1.-THE years that lay between 1868
and 1890 were as dashing and tumul-
mous in their onward course as the
waters of one of our mountain
streams As one turns the pages Of
that stirring drama. he feels as though
he were reading the conquest of an
empire instead of the settlement of Il
little mountain state. These q mem
orable years comprise our territorial
period
During the romantic epoch, 16 ter
ritorial governors were appointed for
Idaho territory. Four of these failed
10 qualify and one remained with as
only a week; so in reality we have
had II territorial chief executives. OF
this number nine were non resident or
carpet bag" governors; only two
stephenson and Shoup-were Ida
hoans" A few were men of com
handing abiities-almost wore upon
their brows the signet of genius; sew
eral were substantial, devoted officials;
one or two We're eccentric geniuses;
nearly all were likable souls.
Towering white shafts mark the
resting places Of a few of these pio-
necrs who appeared in the gray of the
morning of our history; many, unhap-
PLY. sleep in forgotten graves. Only
one of the little column is still i'm the
flesh and that is Governor William NJ
Bum. now a resident of Philadelphia.
when Beauregard "sprinkled blood
on the faces of the northern people
by firing on Fort Sumpter. William
Bum was a beardless Philadelphia
boy Shortly after Father Abraham
however, had issued his call for vol
lnteers. we find Bum in blue uni
ARi III Ills '-ANAA NttA NNtf'.i tNtiNN N'tf'
no dress parade, half holiday affair
At Savage Station. Virginia. ne was
almost fatally wounded; was taken
prisoner: and got acquainted with the
interior of a Richmond rebel prison
Served in Civil War;
Returning to his native city after
the war he became. in rapid success
sion register of wells, guardian of the
poor. and member of the state legs-
lature. In 1884 Mr. Bum was appointed
governor of Idaho territory by his life
long personal and political friend
President Chester A. Arthur. The
memorable events of his administra-
ton are described elsewhere by his
own facile pen.
Immediately following his retire
ment as governor. Mr.. Bum became
editor and publisher of one of the lead
ing Philadelphia papers. on Febru-
airy of this year. a brilliant article
on Charles Dickens from his pen was
featured in the newspapers of his
home city He is at present "a member
of the Republican, Glover and Law
yer's clubs of Philadelphia, and
member Of the Lotus ehsh 90 Kew
York City. His present home is at
the Bellevue Stratford hotel, Phla-
delphia's finest hosiery In "a sketch
called Who's Who in Philadelphia"
we find: 1T is hard to conceive what
could add to his popularity as a Phila-
delphian. and few men, perhaps, in the
whole country. have warmer and firm
err friends
"The writer recently received from
Governor Bum faded old literary
relic 1t is manuscript of an adj
dress delivered at HALEY. July 1, 1884.
He generously sent, also a copy OF
1.-THE Crazy Quilt a lecture delivered
IN Boise City for the benefit of the
public school library fund; and an eX-
pensive. beautiful souvenir volume of
the Glover club. He is a delightful
and ohliging correspondent; his letters
are models of felicitous Inference; and
he confers a favor as though he We're
indebted to YOU for permitting him
TO bestow it,
In some future time Idaho will pro-
duce her real historian. No Idaho
Parkman has yet appeared; but he
will appear We have been SO busy
acting our Iliald, we have not had time
10 write it, This future historian will
rate the achievements and merits of
AN our public servants. 1t is quite
probable that Governor Bunn's title to
remembrances viii be as the author of
our best written territorial message;
as the handsomest man who figured In
our early annals-as our Territorial
Chesterfield