Early Settlers in Idaho

What might be called the first permanent settlement, made in what is now Idaho, was made by the Rev. Henry Spaulding at what is known as the Lapwai Agency on the Clearwater river, twelve miles above where Lewiston now stands, in the year 1836. True, a few Catholic priests had passed through the country but none made settlement. Old Fort Hall was built in 1834 by Capt. Nathalin Weyth, and old Fort Boise was built by the Hudson Bay Trapping Company in 1835. But neither of these could be regarded as permanent settlements as they were built solely for trading and trapping stations. Mr. Spaulding, with his wife and a few other Americans, built this Lapwai station in 1836 for a permanent settlement for the purpose of civilizing, educating, and christianizing the Nez Perce Indians. Mr. Spaulding succeeded so well in his undertaking that this tribe of Indians gave but little trouble other than the Joseph band which was in the northeastern portion of Oregon.

Mr. Spaulding succeeded in getting a small printing press at his station from Honolulu, the first that we have any account of ever having been brought to the northwest Pacific coast. He had school books printed, also a part of the New Testament—the Gospel of St. Matthew—printed in the Nez Perce Indian language, and some books in the jargon language. This was soon learned by both Indians and whites. They could talk understandingly on almost any subject. This language was almost universally used in conversation between the whites and the Indians in Oregon and Washington Territory for many years. Thousands of Indians who could not speak or understand any of our English language soon learned to speak the jargon fluently, so that they could talk with the whites understandingly. For the great sacrifice made and the noble work done by the Rev. Spaulding and his wife, their memory should be revered by all the people of Idaho. These good missionaries had to leave their home mission in 1847 on account of the war waged by the Cay-use Indians. They were escorted by Peter Ogden's men of the Hudson Bay Company safely to old Fort Wallula, at which place they joined other white people and went down safely to Oregon City. But the good work they did among the Nez Perce Indians had the effect of keeping them at peace with the whites ever after.

The next permanent white American settler was Wm. Craig, who appears to have come into the Nez Perce country from one of the western states with his wife (who was a half-breed Indian woman) in about the year 1842, and settled on a tract of land which was later within the boundaries of the Nez Perce Indian reservation. Mr. Craig seemed to understand how to get along peacefully with the Indians. He lived there for many years and until he died, often rendered valuable service to the whites in the settlement and development of that portion of the country in the early sixties.

The next attempted settlement was made by a small party of Mormons in what is now a portion of Lemhi county in the eastern portion of Idaho, in 1855. They built what was called old Fort Lemhi and began the cultivation of some of the agricultural land with the view of making permanent homes, but after some two years stay, the Indians became so troublesome they were forced to leave and return to Utah territory from whence they had come.

The next permanent settlement made in what is now Idaho appears to have been in and around where Lewiston now stands at the junction of the Clearwater river with the Snake in 1860, and also a few prospectors for gold mines in the southern portion of Shoshone county at the small mining camps later called Pierce City, Orofino and Elk City. Placer gold having been discovered in these small camps, quite a number came in 1860, and more in 1861. In 1861, more extensive and richer placer mines were discovered further east in the mountains at a place called Florence, a few miles from the Salmon river, now in Idaho county. There was a great rush for these mines, several thousand people went in. A few did well, while many were losers. This rush of people to the mining camps gave the people and town of Lewiston quite a boost as Lewiston was situated at the head of steamboat navigation on the Snake river. There were quite a number of business houses erected there in 1862. The material consisted principally of board sidings and canvas roofs. In the summer of 1862, another placer mining camp was discovered south of the Salmon river called Warrens which was not very rich nor extensive. Late in the fall of 1862, more extensive and much richer placer mines were discovered in what is known as Boise Basin in Boise county which attracted people from all over this coast.

The reader must bear in mind that when all these mines were discovered and towns and settlements made, in what is now Idaho, up to March 3, 1863, Idaho was a portion of Washington territory, and the Territorial laws of Washington territory extended over us. A few locations of farming land were made in the Boise and Payette valleys prior to the year 1863.

Source:  The History of Idaho by John Hailey
Published by Press of Syms-York Co., 1910
Submitted by Kim Torp