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Local History – Twenty Years

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THE SIGNAL
B. K. LOCKWOOD. Editor.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
  • One copy 1 month, in advance: $0.25
  • One copy one year, in advance: $8.00
  • Saturday or Wednesday issue alone: $1.75
Entered April 16, 1902, as second-class matter, Post Office at Weiser, Idaho. Act of Congress of March 3, 1897.
There is talk of a railroad from Coos Bay to Salt Lake. Nothing said in the report about Weiser so we don’t look for it to amount to much.
Peter Hernia was hanged in New Jersey last week for killing Barney Kanter, a butcher. From a medical standpoint this is a clear case of strangulated hernia.
It is stated the national administration is diligently looking for an opening in the coal strike matter through which it may intervene.—Statesman.
When wasn’t a republican administration found watching for an opening to settle a strike and the president is probably no exception. As soon as the opening is found, troops will be sent to put down the strike, as usual.
In Idaho, the Republicans have such a ticket and such a platform that no combination the Democrats can arrange can possibly defeat them.—Statesman.
The fact that they have stolen a considerable chunk of the democratic platform is certainly excellent ground for Idaho republicans to deceive themselves upon with ideas of victory—except for the fact that the people know the republican party hiding under democratic planks as quickly as they do a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Schwab, president of the steel trust, salary one million dollars a year. Suppose he were to receive a proper salary—yes, make it larger than a proper salary—make him as big a man as the president of the United States and give him $50,000 a year—over $136 a day—and it is very plain that the steel trust must rob the public of $950,000 a year over and above its enormous profits in order to meet one lone trust magnate’s salary.
TWENTY YEARS
Twenty years is a short time to look back upon and see the remarkable advancement made in Weiser’s Pat Land. It is a long time to look ahead and dream of wonders that will be accomplished—an increase of a thousand a year in the town alone will not begin to tell the tale if political conditions permit natural resources to have sway. There are many delightful incidents and amusing reminiscences ornamenting the past twenty years and old timers can enjoy the story of old days. There are some sorrows—enough to make us feel human and not become to feel that we are near akin to the angels in possessing this delightful, happy land.
Twenty years is long enough for the church bell to peal across the half-wild valley that an infant is born; to ring to the ears of God’s growing army that a fair-haired girl has taken the vows of true faith; to gladly send circling rings of sound across a teeming land of orchards, twittering birds and waving crops that a beautiful young woman stands veiled at the altar beside a native son; to again peal that another child is born and that the first child is a mother. It is time enough for such a picture, but it is short enough when we see the sturdy form of the pioneer Indian fighter shrink from its good proportions, the eagle eye grow feeble and the raven locks turn white.
Twenty years are not much in the passage of time sometimes, but may be much in events accomplished; it may be much in time and little in accomplishment, as the golden hours are taken advantage of or the gifts God gave are used. If this paper, too, has been of any real account in twenty years of human life, sorrow and progress in this good valley, it is a happy compensation for any hours of darkness, or financial struggle, or almost despairing hardships which it has had to endure in common with other pioneers. Whether Weiser and Washington county would have been the same as it is today if it had not had any paper during these twenty years is a matter that might be speculated upon but possibly admit of no definite assertion.
 
LOCAL HISTORY
TWENTY YEARS
As Gleaned from the Files of this Paper.

1882

August – First issue of the Weiser City Leader, first paper ever printed in Washington County, Idaho territory, appeared. J. Harry Stein and A.C. Mitchell, editors and publishers. Stein was murdered by tramps in Oregon a few years ago. Mitchell’s advertisement as a dispenser of lacteal fluid appears in today’s paper.
T.C. Galloway nominated joint councilman for Washington and Ada counties. Work started on the Galloway ditch. In 1879 the taxable property amounted to $101,945; 1880, $180,043; 1881, $200,093; 1882, $202,000.
September – Big prairie fire called out Indian Valley’s population to save their homes. G.M. Moser chewed by a bear near Council.
October – Kaufman retires from firm of Kaufman, Haas, and Durkheimer. J.W. Haworth bought A.C. Mitchell’s interest in the Weiser Leader. Weiser’s population 200. Holdrider started barber shop.
November – Rattlesnake Jack killed by O.W. Porter. Stein retires from Leader and W.C. McFadden associates with Haworth as editor. O.M. Harvey arrived in Weiser and went into the carpenter business.
December – Bamberger & Frank opened general merchandise business. C.M. Hixon teaching school on Mann creek. W.D. Shaw at Indian Valley, and C.S. Hale at Weiser. Isaac Spoor died at Indian Valley. Peters & Ghrbb started saloon in Weiser. Christmas ball at court house. Floor manager, Frank Harris. Herman Haas, O.M. Harvey, and T.C. Galloway, member territorial council.
 

1883

January – Thomas Kanahan made a trip to Boise. County commissioners are M. Everett, John Cuddy, and S.M. Taylor; I.M. Hart, clerk. S.B. Cope rebuilds blacksmith shop. J.O. Peters and Conrad Grabb dissolve partnership.
February – Thos. Shannon builds residence near court house. Railroad engineers at work at Weiser. Pennington & Stockton dissolve. T.J. Stephens shot a famished cougar in Bacon valley.
March – J.P. Gray having retired from office, moved to his ranch two miles out. James S. Shaw rented his corral to C.H. Hull. David Gorrie, teacher at Monroe Creek. Wm. Stacey and wife came down from Boise to engage in sawmill business. Bernard Haas arrived in Weiser from Germany. J.M. Canary, postmaster at Middle Valley.
April – A. Sears received large undertaking stock. Peter Pence of Falk, Store, visited his brother, Thos. Pence. John Sater, postmaster at Mann Creek. Hans Madson and James Shaw landed 12,000 feet of lumber for W.P. Eshom from Payette mills. Morehead’s flouring mill in operation.
May – O.T. Williams is postmaster. Sylvester Haworth and Susie Lindsly married in valley by H.P. Linder, J.P. Thomas Kanahan built first boat for Weiser ferry. Frank Hubbard has bad sickness. C.R. White of Salmon Meadows, visits Moss. George Ebert started ranch.
June – Judge J.O. Ivory down from Winnemucca, Nev. David Allison of Salubria, reports bears destroying many hogs. William Edward Harper drowned at Old’s Perry. S.M. Jeffreys plats Jeffrey’s addition to Weiser. Walker Bros. have 250,000 bricks at their yards. John McRoberts reports big crops in Middle Valley. Judge Utley buys Johnamer’s ranch on Mann creek for $2,000.
July – M.S. Dickerson engaged in heading grain. Frank S. Holdrider and Nora B. Womack married. McCully & Towsley built Middle Valley bridge for $3,000. William R. Shaw and Hans Madson prove up on their claims. 128 children of school age in Weiser.
August – W.F. Masters qualified as postmaster at Boomerang, which was then named Payette. A.C. Mitchell is prosecuting attorney. Gilbert Tracy went to Chicago on business trip.
September – Tracy succeeded Dr. Reynolds as publisher of the Leader. Simondi and Tracy built a furniture store. A. Landton erected a shingle mill just above Saler’s. There was feverish anxiety over the certainty of the depot location and the building of the big ditch. The Post Office name changed from Weiser Bridge to Weiser.
October — Dennis Dyer of the Willow Creek country visited Weiser. J.O. Peters, proprietor of the brewery, put a branch house at Huntington. Work commenced on the Farmer’s ditch.
November — Weiser Literary Association organized and debated “Will the Railroad be a benefit to this country?” James Rhea and Mahala McCloud married at Middle Valley.
December — Dr. C.T. Williams, Wm. Allison, and I.N. Hart (the Weiser Water Company) completed two miles of the ditch eastward from Monroe Creek. Henry B. Riggs (after whose daughter Ada, Ada County was named) was in Weiser from Payette Valley. Norval Gorrie received a first-grade teacher’s certificate.
 
 
 
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Morris Sommer, Weiser, Idaho.

1884

January – the first Oregon Short Line locomotive arrived. There was a reception ball and supper for the railway officials. Charles Dielerlie was lynched for the murder of Nathaniel Basil. Joseph Perrault came down from Boise to look after the firm’s store.
February – the only pensioners in the county were Edward Fletcher of Middle Valley, Henry West of Salubria, and Conrad Grab of Salubria. Qagan and Hoyt started a bank.
March – James Ruth of Ruthburg reported 23 men at work mining there. A big ice gorge formed in Snake River. Bernard Snow was postmaster at Indian Valley, and W. P. Glenn purchased the Leader.
April – James Jeffreys reported finding the skeleton of an Indian on his place. R.P. White wrote of his visit from Council to Meadows. Nelson Buhl broke his leg while racing, and Henry Leaper was killed at North Powder.
May – W.D. Shaw reported 40 inches of snow in Indian and Salubria Valleys the preceding winter. Mr. Bigelow was postmaster at the depot, and B.R. Jones, F. A. Westervelt, and J.W. Kelley were appointed as school trustees for Crystal District No. 16. New Weiser post office was discontinued. Peter Pence had his ditch completed as far as Sand Hollow on Crystal Bottom.
June – Morehead brothers brought down a drive of 500 cords of wood and 8,000 eight-foot logs from the Weiser River. G.W. Adams’ law office was turned upside down. Jim Gray bought a thresher. Pence visited Wood Creek, and the ditch was completed to Monroe Creek. Weiser sawmill shipped five carloads of lumber.
July – Judge Ivory advertised cooling drinks. A.C. Mitchell sold self-binders. Louis Sommers visited Seven Devils.
August – Probate Judge Utley declined re-nomination. A.F. Hitt brought in wheat averaging 120 grains per head. Col. W.H. Dewey was killed by a man named King, at Silver City. Prices were as follows: Wheat 70 cents, barley 1 cent per pound, oats 1.5 cents per pound. Henry Haas returned from Germany. Taylor & Maxwell’s thresher burned on Mann Creek.
September – two silver bricks were brought in from the Black Maria at Mineral. Simondi and Tracy, furniture dealers, dissolved their partnership. M.L. Hoyt bought considerable placer gold dust. Sidney Dedman opened his store in a new building, and Hans Madsen resigned as night watchman.
October – 216 names were registered in Weiser precinct. Wm. Marksbury, an Indian Valley merchant, was in town. Postmaster C.T. Williams moved into his new building.
November – James S. Shaw killed a large bear on Mann Creek. York and Gray threshed 40,000 bushels during the season. The town of Coopersville was established in the Seven Devils. The Western Idaho Wool Growers’ Association was organized by John McCullough, H.F. Randall, Scott Shaw, Peter Pence, and Adolph Jacobson. J.B. Beardsley started a bakery and restaurant. Sam Williams’ horse Clabber beat Sam Brassfield’s Twig.
December – S.M. Jeffreys and David Allison served on the U.S. grand jury at Boise. F.C. Wilkie of Council Valley brought his son Freddie to work in the Leader office. Fred Brockman opened a blacksmith shop, and G.D. Gray and Maggie Johnston got married
 

1885

January — J.B. Utley and Nellie R. Shannon married. Baptist church built. E.S. Jewell brought down a 4-horse load of hams, shoulders, and bacon from Salubria. F.M. Hubbard came down from Crane Creek. F.W. Strobel reported many range animals starving due to heavy snow.
February — D.J. Richardson was a teacher in the public schools. O.M. Harvey & Co bought the drug stores of T.M. Jeffreys and J.W. Haworth. AOUW lodge organized.
March — A meeting at Lemmon Hall was held to arrange for establishing an Episcopal church. Rev. Shearer became Baptist pastor. Herman Haas bought the business of Heilner, Ottenheimer & Co.
April — P.P. Dawson, B.R. Jones, and John Irons were appointed viewers of a road near Buttermilk Hill to intercept an Ada County road. W.P. Eshom returned from a trip to the eastern states.
May — Miss Fannie Mitchell was chosen Queen of May at the May Day celebration at John Jeffreys’ farm. Yardly Brothers of Monroe Creek sold 40 horses at $75.50 each. H. Smith and brothers, and Hemenway brothers visited Harney County. Charles Morse completed a hotel at Morse’s ranch in Seven Devils. Rev. D. P. Maryaut died.
June — Master Walter Sebree took a position in the store of Howard Sebree Co. Ward & Tracy were given a contract for the Salubrian bridge for $1990.
July — Judge Ivory advertised cooling drinks. A.C. Mitchell sold self-binders. Louis Sommers visited Seven Devils.
August — John Robinson Circus exhibited. C. Wilkie bought A.P. Hill’s sawmill on Mann Creek. Judge Henry Martin drowned accidentally. Mr. and Mrs. John McCullough located here. W.F. Stroble and T.P. Maryatt killed two bears. Dave Jones captured a small bear at Parks’ place on Monroe Creek.
September — Peter Roberts visited his old home in Kansas. Bain & Townley dissolved their partnership in the meat market. J.L.B. Vial, jeweler, moved to Baker City.
October — J.M. Canary was county assessor. Wm. M. Freeman was down from the Meadows. T.M. Jeffreys appointed postmaster. S.M. Jeffreys & Co. built a large addition to the grist mill.
November — D.W. Webb and S.M. Taylor visited their old home in southern Illinois. John McGlinchey came down from Salmon Meadows. VanDyke Hannah made final proof.
December — A. Sears advertised undertaking services. Harrison Jones and George Hull ran a blacksmith shop at Salubria. John Dannett, one of the discoverers of Mineral, was in Weiser. Gorge Bros. & Cobb bought 320 acres one mile east of Weiser from Frank Hubbard for $5000 cash.
 

1886

January — N.G. Newman and Miss Sarah McCulley married, as well as C.W. Ross and Miss Rosa A. McCulley. Monroe York’s team ran away, resulting in one horse being killed. A big ice gorge covered the island with water and ice.
February — Mark Parker made final proof. S. Werneth bought the brewery from Conrad Grab. H.C. Newman left for Omaha. At a citizen’s meeting, the Chinese were ordered to leave Weiser. The committee consisted of D.P. Maryatt, Frank Harris, Edward Darby, J. O. Ivory, and L. L. Shearer. A.O. Mitchell and Miss Lotta Dickerson married. Mr. and Mrs. McGregor of Silver City visited Picto, Nova Scotia, McGregor’s old home.
March — Francis J. Galloway died. Frank Holrider’s pet bear, which went to sleep on Nov. 9, hadn’t wakened yet.
April — G.B. Barton arrived from Missouri. B.W. Watlington moved to Boise. D.P. Maryatt and Cora Dickerson married. The depot was moved to its present location. Barnard Haas bought a tin and stove store from J.H. Hanthorn.
May — The Weiser & Indian Valley stage line operated by Wm. Allison. O.M. Harvey and Miss Carrie Mitchell married. Dr. G.M. Waterhouse of Eau Claire, Wis., located here. Mrs. Jas Coakley came from Silver City to visit her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Stacy. Alfred Eoff visited Weiser and established a bank, with B.W. Watlington as cashier.
June — Steps were taken to organize an Odd Fellows’ lodge. Truman Surdam was accidentally killed in Middle Valley. A.F. Parker was to start the Grangeville Free Press. B.M. Jenney opened a jewelry store.
July — The whistle of Norcross & Chowin’s sawmill near the railroad bridge was a welcome sound. T.P. Maryatt came from Salubria to do photographic work. A.G. Butterfield and others visited Payette Lakes.
August — C.T. Williams established a grocery business. E.C. Helfrich purchased the store from Howard Sebree Co. An incendiary set fire to and destroyed Mose Hart’s grain field. The railroad company moved the depot and built a sidetrack. Frank Jeffreys drowned in the Snake River.
September — A 61-pound watermelon sold for 25 cents. Louis Sommer became a junior member of the firm Bramberger & Frank. The seventh annual meeting of the Idaho Baptist Association met at Middle Valley. The mail route from Indian Valley to Warren was discontinued. The dead body of B. Gladheart’s father was found in Hog Creek after several days of disappearance.
October — Dr. Waterhouse became the leader of the cornet band. Frank Harris was admitted to the bar. John O. Peters opened a store in Haworth’s old drugstore building. Mrs. M.E. Walker was appointed postmistress to succeed Wm. P. Glenn, who resigned. Prof. Frank Jenney was in charge of public schools.
November — John Nevins came up from Olds Ferry. C.N. Greenwood went to California for his health and died there in January. Seligmann Sommer opened a cigar, tobacco, and notion store. Miss Theresa Pefferle opened a skating rink at Hull Hall. James G. Bartley and Miss Nettie Banks married.
December — Ed Fletcher became postmaster at Middle Valley. Union Pacific Surveyors were at work between Weiser and Salmon Meadows. Albert Kleinschmidt bought the Peacock, White Monument, and Helena mines in Seven Devils for $80,000.
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