History Corner

By early July of 1877 the Army had lost track of the fleeing Nez Perce. Settlers along the Weiser and Payette Rivers were spending much of their time behind the walls of forts, expecting attack at any moment. Meanwhile, the Tri-Weekly Statesman continued to cover other news.

The July 7, 1877 issue described the mail route from Boise to the Grangeville area: Boise to Indian Valley (75 miles by wagon road) - horseback to Mount Idaho via Warren and Florence by going up the Weiser River, Little Salmon (45 miles) “From the point where the Little Salmon trail leaves the mail route to the Main Salmon river at the mouth of the Little Salmon, the distance is 50 miles. Between the last named points the route is difficult, passing over a high and rugged mountain to avoid the deep canyons on the Little Salmon River. From the mouth of the Little Salmon to Slate Creek, the distance is twenty-five miles; and from there to where the Indians were camped at Horseshoe Bend, ten miles.” (This “Horseshoe Bend” is on the Salmon River, north of Slate Creek.)

These approximate distances were cited: Boise to Warren via Indian Valley = 175 miles. (Remember Edgar Hall covered this in 24 hours!) Warrens to Florence = 50 miles Florence to Mount Idaho = 50 miles.

The July 26 Tri-Weekly Statesman outlined the route between Boise and Indian Valley: Boise to Dry Creek to Bascom’s hotel on the Payette River, then, “From Payette to Little Willow creek, a distance of twenty-five miles, over a parched and desert-like country.” Willow Creek to Indian Valley: “The distance is twenty-five miles over a rocky and rough trail.”

That August, tragedy struck the Hall family. Solon and his sons, Abner and Edgar, were often gone on mail carrying journeys, leaving Mrs. Hall – Margaret – alone. She was especially afraid of Indians, and the summer of 1877 was the second time Margaret had to face months of constant, intense dread of being murdered, too often alone. According to Indian Valley lore, she reached the point on August 18 at which taking her own life to end this situation seemed like the best option to end this torture. She was not quite 37 years old.

The Tri-Weekly Statesman said: “Mrs. Solon Hall, whose sad death was announced last Saturday, leaves two sons, aged respectively, about 22 and 18. Mrs. Hall lived many years in northern Idaho where she will be remembered as a kind, generous and intelligent woman. Mr. Hall is the mail carrier between Indian Valley and Warrens, where he has resided on Southfork of Salmon river and kept a station at the crossing. What an awful change has come to sadden the hearts of these brave pioneers.”

All during this era, prospecting for gold, silver, copper or even coal was common among many Idaho settlers. But organized mining was pretty much limited to places such as Florence, Warren and the Boise Basin. Levi Allen’s 1862 discovery of copper near Hells Canyon had received little attention. Allen had moved from Helena, Montana to Boise in 1864 and had kept up the annual “assessment” work that was required to maintain ownership of his remote claim.

By the summer of 1877 Allen had mostly been living back in Montana, but returned for his annual claim work. He found Hornet Creek and Council Valley homesteads deserted, as the settlers holed up in the Indian Valley or Salubria forts. He evidently left the area out of concern for his safety, but returned that fall to complete his assessment work. On his way home Allen stopped in at the Tri-Weekly Statesman office in Boise.

The October 27 Tri-Weekly Statesman reported:

“On Mr. Allen’s representations, several wealthy gentlemen of Helena made propositions to buy this mine, but Prof. Isaac Lewis, superintendent of several mining companies in that territory, came out with Mr. Allen to examine the mine and report, and they are now on their return home.

“There are over 500 tons of ore that will yield 50% that could be picked up and sacked without any labor in extracting the ore. Prof. Lewis is well pleased with the mine, and says it is better than Mr. Allen represented it. If it is not sold on their return he will take an interest in the spring and work from 75 to 100 men on the mine.

“They expect the outlet will be down Snake River; pack or haul the ore to Pittsburg Landing, and then send it by boats down the Snake and Columbia Rivers to Portland. Mr. Allen and Lewis located another copper lode will 3 miles from the Peacock, which they think will prove rich, and have named it the White Monument.”

I will be giving a major presentation about the Seven Devils Mining District on October 22 at the New Meadows Depot at 7:00 p.m..