History Corner

The following was transcribed from a hand-written account given to me a long time ago by the late Galen York (1934 - 2000). It was written by his grandfather, Sherman York (1869 - 1945). Sherman and his wife, Georgia (1886–1972) lived near the Adams / Washington County line. My comments are within parentheses.

The Weiser River country and surrounding territory offers a good opportunity for a good history writer of pioneer life. Many events of importance have taken place since I came here. I, with my parents and five brothers, landed here in the summer of 1880, and I have resided here ever since. While I cannot be considered a real pioneer, still I would hardly be classed as a Johnny-come-lately. In fact the real pioneers are almost all gone, and are spoken of as residents of the past. There are a few still here who were here when I came, such as some, of the Winklers, the Anderson boys, Jeff and Fred, Tom Buhl and J.L. Starr.

It was in July 1880 that C.R. (Calvin) White in Boise City when we were on our way to western Washington from Kansas. I told my parents of the beautiful Meadows Valley, so ourselves and horses being worn out, we went with him from there to get us a home.

(Calvin White is considered the father of Meadows Valley. His was the first family in the valley in 1878, and he established the first store and post office.)

We of course went thru the Salubria Valley, which at that time was covered with a dense growth of sagebrush. From where the town of Salubria stood, in an easterly direction it didn’t look good to us, as we were sickened with the look of sage brush, and it all looked alike to us. We traveled thru Indian Valley on the day Mrs. Cal Underwood was buried: a woman who had committed suicide, as some of the old timers will remember.

After passing thru Council Valley there was no beaten road from there on, and at times someone had to go ahead of the wagons and view out the road. When got to what is known as Fort Hall Hill, White played a funny little joke on us kids that I have never forgotten. It came about this way. There was a large pitch pine stump standing by the road with lots of pitch standing out all Over it and quite soft. We had never seen pine pitch before, so White pointed it out to us and said, “Boys, there is the place for you to get your gum, and it’s good too.” So we of course ran to the stump and proceeded to help ourselves. We all filled our mouths with the white, soft pitch, and say but if you have never tasted the stuff then you cannot appreciate this joke as well as one who has. Oh, such a bitter taste in our mouths, and I think it remained in my mouth for three days after.

When we got to the top of Fort Hall Hill, we went down a rocky hill to the river and forded it. Yes, forded it endways. We had to cross it 37 times between there and Price Valley, and as there had never been a rock taken out of any of the fords, you can imagine how it was: lots of rocks as large as a kitchen range that we had to pass over. So you see it was some rough going.

We finally arrived in Meadows Valley on the 29th day of July, pretty well worn out and I wish to state that my mother and Mrs. Smith who had come with us were the first white women to live in Meadows Valley, except Mrs. C.R. White.

Shortly after that, Clays moved in and Mrs. R. G. Steward. Charles and William Campbell came the same fall, also R.H. Martin. Well do I remember the winter of ‘80 and ‘81. At one time there was five feet of snow on the level, but very little effort was made to keep the roads open.

John Steward who now lives on Crane Creek was born there that winter. There were no roads broke to their place, and as there was no doctor there then, it depended on my mother and Mrs. White to go on snowshoes 3/4 of a mile to take care of them, and as my mother had never been on snowshoes before, it sure was some undertaking for her. But with true western spirit she made it fine.