HomeMy Public PortalAboutMcRae, Dan, Grace, Bob F.A.Nethkln.
Warren Idaho.
• Dear Friend ,
We arrived in Seattle in :due time but was very tired.. we never stop
ped from the time we left you untill we reached Seattle/it sure was
a hard trip.
I got out the tests and assays,they show up very good , the one out
of the tunnel , $2,60- Plus 20 on the black sand , making 42,80
the oneout of the open cut on the main river run , $3,60 --Plus I8si
on the sand, making $378 a cubic; yard.
I have been very busy getting quotations on saw mills and tractors.
I wrote to Gus asking him to send me thafi catalogue he has on small
mills as soon as he can. I have an offer on a mill and cat, that is
in on Moores Creek, but they are asking a little to much for them.
Every thing looks very favorable so far for an early start.and I am
very anxious to get going, and at least get the mill in there before
the rains set in,which I know will be soon. I am figuring on running
one mile of flum starting opposit Rains Creek , then drop down with
a pipe and start an pperation at that point. then continue on with the
rest of the flumeto the lower end of the claims, that way we will
have something coming out of the ground while we finish the high ditch,
I will have more definite news for You in a 'few days. where in the
best plac e to buy supplies? I figure on getting some supplies at
Boise.When1I come in.
I will write you in a few days and let You know just how things a
are going/ Give the Folk My best regards.
hoping to hear fix You:
:soon
• Respectfully Yours. `-
)471. 0(0/1
. I ..
P
I was born in Mallory, Minn., in 1876. My father, James McRae
and 3 brothers moved to Wisconsin from Canada and started the first saw-
mill in that state. There my father married Miss Eliza Fletcher, my
mother. They moved to Minnesota where my father took up a homestead.
My mother passed away when I was three years old and Father then put me
and my sister in the Sister's school at Grand. Forks, N. Dakota, and
himself took up his logging and sawmill business.
From the Convent, Sister and I were sent to my Grandmother
Fletcher' s, who ran a boarding house in Moorehead, Minn. There we
went to school for a year of so. ' I was then passed around to my Uncles,
who had farms, until I was old enough to rustle for myself.
I worked in the harvest fields in summer and in the lumber woods
in winter until I was 16 years old. I then started West. I had no money
so I took a job'with a contractor who was on his way from St. Cloud,
Minn., to grade a railroad from Minot, N. Dakota, to the Canadian
border. He had a bunch of work mules, and I was to drive one wagon
and team_ across the country to Minot where our part of the grading was to
begin. I drove a span of mules hitched to a scraper until I could have
a chance to go West. The great Northern Railroad was then completed
from St. Paul to the West Coast. They had trouble keeping section men
along that lonely stretch through Montana, and any one could hire out to
go to a section where men were needed;so by getting a job I could ride .
to a section a few miles west of the place I was working. In this way,
y-N
and by riding the blind baggage and in box cars, I made my way to
Spokane, Wash, a small city in 1893. At that time one could find vacant
"o estead I squated on a piece of land and put in
land and take up a m q p
a garden, raising vegetables which I sold in Spokane. I worked in the
harvest fields and invested in a few horses. One could buy a horse for
5 or 10 dollars. Times were not very good for farmers in those days.
Wheat was selling for 15¢ a bushel. I had to take wheat for wages, but
couldn't sell it for cash, so I traded it for flour which was selling at
that time for one sollar a hundred. I had a team and wagon, so I loaded
the flour on the wagon and moved on up into the Methow Valley near Winthrop,
Wash, At that time there was a boom on in mining in the Slate Creek
Country, and the mining company were building a road up the Methow River
to a new camp near the head of this river. I took up a place near Win-
throp, and put in a garden. I sold vegetables to the read crew and miners
until the road was completed.
Soon after the road was completed to this mine, the camp closed
down for lack of ore, so I again Bold my wagon, put packs and saddles
on my horses, and hit for the Vest Coast. I took a trail up the
Twisp and over the Cascade Mountains., and dorm to Marblemount on the
Skagit.River. I drove my pack horses down the river to Hamilton, a
town at the end of navigation. There I loaded my horses and outfit on
a boat which took me to Seattle. I camped a few days near Kent, Wash.,
then started for the South. Layed off and picked Hops near Fuyallup.
I arrived in Vancouver, Walsh. during the potato harvest, so took a contract
to harvest some 16 A. for a fellow. I drove on down and wintered near
Salem, Oregon. There I pulled hop poles and other jobs for a farmer and he
gave me a pig and vegetables as wages, so I irintered in good shape.
(1895) .
As soon as spring came I took my horses and headed for the mines
on the Santiam River. I spent the summer and next w rater around the mines
and made a little money with rocker and gold pan- pockethunting. These
mines cloded down. At this mine, which was known as the Lawler mine,
I met Mr. Albeit Burch, who had been looking over the' mine for a English
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company. He had come, down from Idaho aned told me about the Seven Devils
Camp and how good it seemed to be. So I sold my horses and took
the R.R. for Weiser. (This man Burch had been a partner of Fred Bradley,
and they had, at a later date, worked and paid for the Buster Mine at
Elk City) . _
I arrived in Weiser in Aug, 1896, and got a chance to ride
with the Walker brothers, who had two 4 horse teams hauling from Weiser to
Warren. We were a week on the road and a nice trip. When I landed in
Warren, I got a job stripping ground for Ira McGarey and Jim Long,
who were placering on Slaughter Creek near the mouth. I located some
quartz claims near the forks of Slaughter Creek and built a cabin.
The next 5 or 6 years I spent in Warren and Big Creek, where I had the
Independence Claims. Also in Thunder Mtn. where I had located near
the Caswells. In the spring of 1901 I took a contract sinking a shaft
1 near the Peacock mine in the Seven Devils. Also I did some surveying
for the Peacock Co.
The Thunder Mtn. boom started in the fall of 1901, so I went
back to Warren, Big Creek, and T. Mtn.
I sold the Big Creek claims in 1902- but took contract
to run tunnel and worked fof the co. When I got the last payment
on the mine I bought the old Cal White place in Old Meadows, where I
fixed up the Livery Barn, and put my father to looking after it. I stayed
there a part of the time and some of the time in Seattle,
some of it in Boise and in Goldfield.
My sister lived in Seattle at that time is the reason I went
there.
In 1905 I owned some stock in the original Bullfrog gnig3,
, �..
Bu .1: rog
Yi
claim near Death Valley, but sold it to help finance a man who was the
inventor of a voting machine, Captain Amos Springs of Boise, and we had it ready for the market in
\
1906 just as the San Francisco earthquake and fire destroyed the
Daniel C. McRae: A deal was made in Boise yesterday which seems to presage
much for the country to be penetrated by the P&IN extension.
Dan C. McRae came to the capitol to close up the deal for the
sale of the townsite of Meadows, together with his ranch of about 400
acres.
The purchaser of Charles Barringer, formerly of Thunder City, but it is
understood that he is acting for other parties.
The consideration for the deal, while not made public, is understood to be in the
neighborhood of $25,000.00
The McRae family originally resided in Scotland and migrated
Ontario Canada. James McRae was born in Glengary, Ontario in
February 1839 and died January 5, 1916 in Clarks, Nebraska.
He had seven brothers, Rorie, Alexander.Duncan, John, Hugh,
Alex and Archie. They were all lumbermen. James and three
brothers moved to Wisconson. James married Eliza Fletcher.
He established the first sawmill in Wisconson.
James and Eliza McRae had 2 children. A daughter Christine and
a son Daniel . Daniel was born February 16, 1876 in Mallory
Minnesota/ His mother passed away when Dan was three years
of age/ Their father placed the two children in the Sisters
school at Grand Forks N. Dakota. James continued his sawmill
and logging business. Following is an account of his life
written by Dan in 1945.
Frm the Convent Christine and I were sent to my Grandmother
Fletchers,who ran a boaarding house in Moorehead, Minn. There
we went to school for a few years. I was then passed around
to my Uncles farms, until I was old enough to shift for myself.
I worked in the harvest fields in summer and in the lumber
woods in the winter until I was sixteen years old. I then
started West. I had no money so I took a job with a contractor
who was on his way from St. Cloud, Minn. to grade a railroad
from Minot, N. Dakota, to the Canadian border. He had a bunch
of work mules, and I was to drive one wagon and team across
the country to Minot where our part of the grading was to begin.
I then drove a span of mules hitched to a scraper until I could
have a chance to go West. The Great Northern Railroad was then
completed from St. Paul to the West Coast. They had trouble
keeping section men along that lonely stretch through Montana,
and anyone could hire out to go to asection where men were
needed; so by getting a job I could ride to a section a few
miles west of the place I was working. In this way. , and by
riding the blind baggage and in box cars, I made my way to
Spokane,Washington, a small city in 1893 . At that time a person
could find vacant land and take up a homestead. I squatted
on a piece of land and put in a garden, raising vegetables which
I sold in Spokane. I worked in the harvest fields and invested
in a few horses. One could buy a horse for 5 or 10 dollars. Times
were not very good for farmessin those days . Wheat was selling
for 15 cents a bushel. I had to take wheat for wages, but could
not sell it for cash, so I traded it for flour which was selling
for one dollar a hundred. I had a team and wagon so I loaded
the flour on the wagon and moved on up into the Methow Valley
near Winthrop, Wash. At that time there was a boom on in
the mining in Slate Creek County. The mining company was building
a road up the Methow River to a new camp near the head of this
river. I cook up a place near Winthrop and put in a garden.
I sold vegetables to the road crew and miners until the road
was completed.
1894=
Soon after the road was completed to this mine, the camp closed
down for lack of ore, so I again sold my wagon, put packs and
saddles on my horses and hit for the West Coast. I took a trail
up the Twisp and over the Cascade Mountains and down to
Marblemount on the Skagit River. I drove my pack horses down
the river to Hamilton, a town at the end of the navigation.
There I loaded my horses and outfit on a boat which took me
to Seattle. I camped a few days near Kent, Wash. , then I strted
for the South. I stopped near Puyallup and picked hops. I
arrived in Vancouver, Wash. during the potato harvest, so I
took a contract to harvest some 16 acres for a farmer. I drove
on down and wintered near Salem, Ore. There I pulled hop poles
and other jobs for a farmer and he gave me a pig and vegetables
as wages, so I wintered in good shape.
As soon as spring of 1895 came I took my horses and headed
for the mines on the Santiam River. I spent the summer and
the next winter around the mines and made a little money with
a rocker and gold pan - pockethunting. These mines closed down.
At one mine which was known as the Lawler mine, I met Mr. Albert
Burch, who had been looking over the mine for an English company.
He had come down from Idaho and told me about the Seven Devil
area, and how good it seemed to be. I sold my horses and took
the Railroad for Weiser, Idaho. This man Burch had been a
partnerof Fred Bradley and they had, at a later date, worked
and paid for the Buster Mine at Elk City, Idaho.
I arrived in Weiser in August 1896, amd got a chance to
ride with the Walker brothers, who had two four horse teams
hauling from Weiser to Warrens, Idaho. We were a week on the
road and had a nice trip. In Warrens I took a job stripping
ground for Ira McGarey and Jim Long who were placering on
Slaughter Creek, near the mouth of the creek. I located some
quartz claims near the forks of Slalughter Creek and built a
cabin.
the next 5 opr 6 years I spent in Warraes and Big Creek, where
I located the Independance claims. I went to Thunder Mountain
and located claims near the Caswells. In the spring of 1901
I took a contrct, sinking a shaft near the Peacock mine in the
Seven Drvils. I did some surveying for the Peacock company.
The Thunder Mountain boom started in 1901 so I spent some time
there/
I sold the claims in Big Creek in 1902, but took a contract
to run tunnel and worked for the company. When I got the last
payment for the claims I bought the old Cal White place in Old
Meadows. I fixed up the livery barn and put my father to work
looking after it. I stayed there part of the time and some
time in Seattle with my sister. In 1905 I owned some stock
in the Original Bullfrog claim near Death Valley, but I sold
it to help finance Captain Amos Springer of Boise, who had
invented a voting machine. We had it ready to market in 1906
just as the San Francisco Earthquake occurred. Fire destroyed
the building in which it was storedt. It was a total loss/
I took passage on the Steamer Queen for Seattle on my way
back to Old Meadows to marry the teacher there. This ship
caught fire and burned at sea the first night out of S.F. I
nearly lost my life.
From Dan's Writings
1914 Wintered at the Dewey Mine
1915 Wintered at the Dewey Mine
1916 Wintered at the Dewey Mine and in Boise. I worked at the King with Cal
Hubbard.
1917 Wintered at Gold King
1918 Kellog and I placered. Winter in McCall,and I took tie contract for Brown Tie.
1919 Kellog and I placered in the Spring. Grace wintered in McCall. Jim Daly and I worked
at the King.
1920 Daly and I placered at Dewey. Grace came in with Julius and Johns. I worked at
Sunnyside and went to California.
1921 We all went in via Warrens and Big Creek. Placered with Roy Elliot. Grace taught
school in McCall and George Short and I worked at King. Wintered horses at Kirt
Matson's in Long Valley.
1922 We all came in with George Short via Cascade and Yellow Pine. Placered at the Dewey.
Grace taught school.
1923 We all came in via Cascade with horses. Camped at Sunnyside a while. Went down to
Billy Mitchel's on Marble Creek. Grace taught in McCall and Daly and I worked at
Meadow Creek. Wintered horses at Mitchel's.
1924 Robert went in via Lick Creek to Mitchel's. Marjorie and I with Potter and his team.
Met Bob and horses at Penn Basin. Grace caught us at Johnson Creek and we went in
via Meadow Creek. Worked the road. Bob Davis and Lee Karstetter came. Wintered at
Sunnyside and drove tunnel. Stayed all winter.
1925 Put up mill and finished tunnel. All at Sunnyside.
1926 Ran the mill all year. Grace and children went to Lewiston to school.
a
150 HISTORY OF IDAHO
the basketball team. From 1924 to 1927, he served as super- ipal band. Glen R. Terry is married to the former Miss
intendent of schools of the Nez Perce area, and in the Leila Howell of Newport, North Carolina. She was born
latter year he moved to Twin Falls, serving as principal of in that city on May 3, 1921, and graduated from Newport
the high school there until 1934. At that time, he left the High School in 1939. The couple have two children: i.
teaching profession to sell insurance, and in 1946 was ap- Cynthia Noella, born December 25, 1954. ii. Sandra Mau-
pointed manager of the Equitable Life Assurance Society of rine,born December 31, 1955.
"° ,, the United States in the Twin Falls area He has built up
,,, a prosperous agency, with both Mrs. Terry and their son DANIEL CARRUS 1l3cRAfi, who came to Idaho prior to
assisting in its management. The business address is the
Twin Falls Trust Bank Building. the turn of the century, was an active figure in the develop-
Mr. Terry has served as president of both the South ment of its mining resources.
Idaho Life Underwriters Association and the Twin Falls A native of Devil's Lake, North Dakota, he was born on
Underwriters Association. Following World War II, he February 16, 1876, son of James and Eliza (Fletcher)
served as a member of the Housing Administration in Twin. McRae. His formal schooling consisted of a few terms in
Falls. He has found a profitable avocation in farming,hay- the rural elementary school. Yet through his own initiative,
ing several farms with irrigated acreage south of Kimberly. as his life progressed, he became awell-read man, taking
A member of the American Legion, Mr. Terry served as advantage of each opportunity to further his education.
commander of Post No 7 in 1946. He is a past president This included study with a college professor who was one
of his Kiwanis Club, and has also served as lieutenant goy- of his outdoor companions. At the time of his death he was
ernor of the district of Kiwanis International. He is a recognized as an authority on mining.
member of the Chamber of Commerce and of the Blue As a boy, he moved with his parents from Devil's Lake,
Lakes Country Club. In politics he is a Democrat and in North Dakota, to Minnesota. Early in life, he came to
religious faith a Christian. Idaho, and turned his attention first to mining in Valley
At Pullman, Washington, on August 25, 1920, Ulmer N. County, becoming a mine operator. His first experience
Terry married Maurine Reynolds. She was born at Toulon, was at Warren, Idaho, where he engaged in placer mining
Illinois, on July 8, 1899, daughter of Harvey Judson and in 1895. He later took part in the Thunder Mountain gold
Grace Frances (James) Reynolds. Her father, who was rush.
born at Knoxville, Illinois, on October 23, 1870, was a It was in 1897 that Daniel McRae first saw Thunder
minister of the Christian Church for over fifty years,being Mountain. He drove a wagon train from Weiser to War-
a graduate of Eureka College of Ministry in his home state. ren, then took a pack string to the mountain. From that
He came to Boise in 1916, served the church there until time on his life was identified with the development of the
1920, and was then pastor at Pullman, Washington, until area, and the mountain seemed by turns to be his friend
1923. After several years in Montana, he returned to the and his enemy. On his first trip there, he went from War-
Magic Valley in Idaho, where he served successively as ren to Yellow Pine over Profile Gap, and down Big
pastor at Buhl, Gooding, Kimberly and Jerome. After his Creek to Lick Creek; over Lick Creek and down the west
retirement, he assisted at the Reynolds Funeral Home until fork of Monumental Mountain, and finally up Monumental
his death, which occurred on October 27, 1948. Grace to Mule Creek, which bounds Thunder Mountain. The
Frances James, whom he married, was born in Nebraska trip took seven days. While at the mountain he located
on May 6, 1876. Mrs. Terry graduated from Boise High claims adjoining what is now known as Dewey, but was
School in 1917, and she met Mr. Terry while both were then the Caswell property. On his return trip to Warren,
students at the University of Spokane. She has been active he located the Independence Group Claims near Elk Creek.
in the Soroptomist Club, formerly holding office as vice In 1902 he sold these claims to a group of Kansas people.
president, and being recording secretary at the present time. A cut wrist caused him to miss the Klondike gold rush, and
She also takes a full part in the program of the Federated instead he webbed from Council to Buffalo Hump, "getting
Music Clubs of Twin Falls, and sings in her church choir. nothing but the trip:" Later, in the course of a steamer
,o!, She is a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, and 'trip from San Francisco to Seattle, The Queen," on which j
received its Woman of the Year award in 1947. he was traveling, caught fire off Columbia Bar. Sixteen
ill The couple are the parents of two children: 1. Hazel lives were lost, but Mr. McRae escaped with injuries.
Maurine, born at Pullman, Washington, on May 8, 1922. He had met and knew all the men who made Thunder
She graduated from Twin Falls High School in 1940, Mountain history, and was familiar with all the roads and
attended Washington State College for one year, then trails into the mountains in that area. He was still active at
transferred to Compton Junior College in California, where the age of seventy-five. In fact, he became interested in
' '• she was a student for two years. During the World War II tungsten production at Big Creek in 1950, and this phase of
period, she worked in a Kaiser plant. Later returning to mining held his attention until his death in June, 1954.
Twin Falls, she gained experience in the employ of a On May 24, 1906, at Meadows, Idaho, Daniel Carrus
florist, after which she established her own business as a McRae married Grace Carrie Turner. She was born at
floral designer. She now works in that capacity with the Hailey on November 8, 1886. Her father was one of the
Randall Floral Company. She is a member of the Kennel discoverers of the mineral resourceso f the Halley area,and
Club, and is fond o bowling and fishing. 2. Glen Reynolds, was a pioneer, settler there. He was Alonzo P. Turner.
who was born on August 31, 1924, at Pullman. He gradu- From about 1875 to about 1885, he owned and operated the
ated from Twin Falls High School in 1942. After attending Idahoan Mine near Hailey. He later became probate judge,
Idaho State College for one year, he left his studies to and held office until his death, about 1903. Grace Turner I
enter the United States Marine Corps, serving until 1952. graduated from Lewiston Normal College, and attended the
°P Attaining the rank of master sergeant, he served as an University of Idaho. She taught school for many years at
instructor in electronics. He received the U.N. Ribbon, the Meadows, McCall, and Stibnite. In 1950 she was voted
Korean Service Medal, and a Presidential Unit Citation, mother of the year. The couple were the parents of two
and a campaign ribbon with several battle stars. On his children: 1. Robert James, whose biography also appears
i return to peacetime pursuits and to Twin Falls, he joined in this history. 2. Marjorie Grace, who was born February
his father in the insurance business. He is currently serving 27, 1912. She attended the College of Idaho and graduated
as secretary and treasurer of the Southern Idaho Life from Links Business College. She married James Elton
Underwriters Association; is a member of the Chamber of Collord, a native of Idaho who is active in the mining in-
Commerce; and has held office as president and district dustry. They have two children: i. Grace Kay, born Oc-
governor of the Eastern Idaho Exchange Club. He is also tober 9, 1938. ii,James Elton, Jr., born on May 8, 1946.
a member of the American Legion and the Benevolent and The death of the pioneer Thunder Mountain settler oc-
. Protective Order of Elks. He formerly played in the munic- curred on June 2, 1954.
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' ter`1
HISTORY OF IDAHO
Sandchildren:
----------
DANIEL CARRUS McRAE, who came to Idaho prior to
he business address is the the turn of the century, was an active figure in the develop
ment of its mining resources.
A native of Devil's Lake, North Dakota, he was born on
February 16, 1876, son of James and Eliza (Fletcher)
McRae. His formal schooling consisted of a few terms in
the rural elementary school. Yet through his own initiative,
as his life progressed, he became a well-read man, taking
advantage of each opportunity to further his education.
this included study with a college professor who was one
of his outdoor companions. At the time of his death he was
recognized as an authority on mining.
As a boy, he moved with his parents from Devil's Lake,
Dakota, to Minnesota. Early in Iife, he came to
Idaho, and turned his attention first to mining in Valley
County, becoming a mine operator. His first experience
was at Warren, Idaho, where he engaged in placer mining
in 1895. He later took part in the Thunder Mountain gold
rush.
It was in 1897 that Daniel McRae first saw Thunder
Mountain. He drove a wagon train from Weiser to War- I
ren, then took a pack string to the mountain. From that
time on his life was identified with the development of the
area, and the mountain seemed by turns to be his friend and his enemy.
On his first trip there he went from Warren to Yellow Pine
over Profile Gap. down Big Creek to Lick Creek; over
Lick Creek; over Lick Creek and down the west fork of ty
Monumental Creek and finally up Monumental to Mule
Creek, which bounds Thunder Mountain. The
trip took seven days. While at the mountain he located
claims adjoining what is now known as Dewey, but was
then the Caswell property. On.his return trip to Warren,
he located the Independence Group Claims near Elk Creek.
In 1902 he sold these claims to a group of Kansas people.
A cut wrist caused him to miss the Klondike gold rush, and
instead he webbed from Council to Buffalo Hump, "getting
nothing but the trip." Later, in the course of a steamer
trip from San Francisco to Seattle, "The Queen," on which
he was traveling, caught fire off Columbia Bar. Sixteen
lives were lost, but Mr. McRae escaped with injuries.
He had met and knew all the men who made Thunder
Mountain history, and was familiar with all the roads and
trails into the mountains of the area. He was still active at came role acted at
the age of seventy-five. In fact, he became interested in
tungsten production at Big Creek in 1950, and this phase of
mining held his attention until his death in June, 1954.
On May 24, 1906, at Meadows, Idaho, Daniel Carrus
McRae married Grace Carrie Turner. She was born at
Hailey on November 8, 1886. Her father was one of the
discoverers of the mineral resources of the Halley area,and
was a pioneer settler there. He was Alonzo P. Turner.
From about 1875 to about 1885, he owned and operated the
Idahoan Mine near Bailey. He later became probate judge,
and held office until his death, about 1903. Grace Turner
graduated from Lewiston Normal College, and attended the
University of Idaho. She taught school for many years at
Meadows, McCall, and Stibnite. In 1950 she was voted
mother of the year. The couple were the parents of two
children: 1. Robert James, whose biography also appears
in this history. 2. Marjorie Grace, who was born February
27, 1912. She attended the College of Idaho and graduated
from Links Business College. She married James Elton
Collard, a native of Idaho who is active in the mining in-
dustry. They have two children: i. Grace Kay, born Oc-
tober 9, 1938. ii. James Elton, Jr., born on May 8, 1946.
The death of the pioneer Thunder Mountain settler oc-
curred on June 2, 1954.
DAN McRAE: One of the Real Thunder Mountain Pioneers
(The following article was taken from the Stibnite Miner and is a biography of Dr. Robin McRae's grandfather.)
It was back in 1897, more than half a century ago, plain bums -- Dan knew 'em all. At Goldfield, Nevada, he
that Dan McRae first saw Thunder Mountain. During that teamed up with Diamond Field Jack. At Warren he had a
summer Dan journeyed from Weiser to Warren with a no-good partner who was shot by the village marshal
wagon train, and then went in to Thunder Mountain from Dan knows the roads and trails. He knows the long
Warren with a pack string. monotony of webs, with a heavy pack cutting into his
Dan has been entangled with Thunder Mountain shoulders. He knows what it's like to get up in the
ever since. The Mountain has sometimes been good to morning, shake the snow off his tarp, and cook breakfast on
Dan, and sometimes she's been a little rough. There have an open campfire while his fingers froze. He knows what
been years when months of hard work returned a scant it means to hammer, month after month, against a face of
grubstake; there have been other years when the Mountain solid, stubborn rock. He knows the joys of discovery, the
paid off and Dan came out with enough gold to take it easy despair of disillusionment, and the quiet content that comes
for a while. to a man with a well-stocked cabin when he watches the
On Dan's first trip to Thunder Mountain he went from snowflakes come. Dan knows the whole story -- summer's
Warren to Yellow Pine, over Profile Gap, and down Big heat and winter's cold, the peacefulness of the mountain
Creek to Lick Creek, over Lick Creek and down the West ridges, the glory that can be seen in an ancient tree that
Fork of Monumental, and finally up Monumental to Mule stood as a young, vigorous sapling when Columbus sailed
Creek which heads on Thunder Mountain. The trip took 7 from Italy, the eternity of time to be sensed in an ancient,
days. While in at Thunder Mountain he located claims weather-worn boulder. The mountains belong to Dan as
adjoining what is now known as the Dewey, but was then much as they can belong to any man.
called the Caswell Property, and during the return trip to Dan took money out of the ground, and put it back in.
Warren he located the Independence group of claims near He made fortunes, which turned out to be paper when
the Elk Creek summit. In 1902 he sold the Independence payments fell through. But come good fortune or bad
to Kansas people. fortune, Dan was always the same. His house was open to
A cut wrist, which nearly cost him his arm, caused Dan all and all men were good men in Dan;s book, until they
to miss the Klondike rush. Instead, he webbed from tried to deal one from the bottom of the deck. Perhaps the
Council to Buffalo Hump, and got nothing for his trouble greatest measure of Dan's success is the number of friends,
except the trip. Later, on a trip from San Francisco to as distinguished from acquaintances, that he has.
Seattle, the steamer "Queen" caught fire off Columbia bar, In closing, we might say that Dan made several strikes
and though 16 lives were lost Dan came through without during his life, but his best was made in May, 1906, when
any damage. he married Grace, the present Mrs. McRae. And if Dan
To write of Dan's adventures in the mining game would had his life to live over again, we're sure he'd do it the
be to write a book. He met and knew all the men who same way. He'd turn to Grace and say, "Come on, let's go
made Thunder Mountain history -- Colonel Dewey and in to Thunder Mountain." Grace might demur a little, but
Sheepherder Bill, Shorty Yardly and Con Murphy, the finally she'd nod, and the next day they'd be packed and
Caswell boys and mining promoters from Pittsburgh, on their way to Thunder Mountain, and the rich,full,useful
teamsters, packers, prospectors, miners, cooks and just life awaiting them.
uetober, T1965 ton
Subject: McRae, Grace (Turner)
Address:
Date: •
Pace
Born in '80's at Hailey, Idaho
Year at University of Idaho
Taught school in Meadows, 4th, 5th, and 6th.
Married Daniel McRae-1906
Taught 11 years in McCall
Taught 10 years in Stibnite
Mining at Thunder Mountain in the Big Creek Section
Grace Turner McRae
(Absent member)
"With every impulse,deed or word Grace Turner•McRae
Wherein love blends with duty,
A message speeds along the chord
That gives the earth more beauty"
Ella Wheeler Wilcox.
This is dedicated to one in whose life and personality were so int-
egratedf the high qualities of teacher, gentle-woman, and Christian--that
it would be impossible to separate these in evaluating the measure of her
influence upon the lives of those who were so fortunate as to known her--
To teacher extraordinary--Grace Turner McRaeL
She was born November 8, 1885 in Hailey-a little back-woods mining
town of Blaine County, Idaho. Her mother had come from Illinois to teach
in the West. Her father (Alonzo P. Turner--long citizen of Alturas and
Blaine Counties) had been a Scout for General Howard during Indian troubles.
Later, he became owner of the Idahoan Mine; also Probate Judge and Justice
of the Peace in Blaine County.
Grace's only sibling is her brother, Elmer S. Turner, who resides in
Seattle.
After graduation from High School, Grace attended the University of
Idaho for one year. It was pre-requisite that teachers take examinations
at that time, which certified them for teaching. These she took under
Miss Permeal French and then taught her first term in a little country
school out of Hailey.
At teachers' Institute she met a Mr. Keyser, who asked her to fill a
vacancy at Meadows. The teacher, Miss Hazeltine, had resigned to go to
Boise. So Grace finished the term (Ig year) ,and taught grades 4, 5 & 6
the following year. So began her teaching career.
t-
(2.)
Now romance entered her life. While teaching at Meadows she met
Daniel McRae, and fates seemed to decree that they were meant for each
other. An account of their wedding (about 1906) from the Meadows Eagle
reads--in part:
"At the home of the brides' mother, Mrs. Louisa Turner, at nine
o'clock Tuesday morning, Miss Grace Carrie Turner and Mr. Daniel McRae
were united in marriage by the beautiful Episcopal ceremony, performed by
the Reverend Stover of Council. The bride was given away by her brother,
Elmer, and attended by Miss Lapp. Mr. W. B. Hart was best man. The bride
was simply but elegantly gowned in white organdy, trimmed with lace, and
carried a bouquet of brides' roses and ferns.
Mr. and Mrs. McRae have the sincere and earnest well-wishes of every
body in the Valley! (Meadows Eagle.)
(Note: It should be mentioned here that prior to the wedding Graces'
father had passed away. Hence, her brother officiated at the ceremony.)
I (the writer) was not very old at this time, but vivid in memory is
the visit paid my family at Weiser by the "Honey--Mooners=t(Dan & Grace)
and how beautiful was the bride! ll
Dan McRae's consuming interest was in mining. His life work included
promoting, selling, and operating of mines. With his wide experience,
certainly he possessed the knowledge of an engineer without formal schooling.
The development and eventual selling of the Independence Mine was a
sizable project. Later on, the McRaes developed several Thunder Mount-
ain projects--The Dewey, The Sunnyside and others in that region. They
were active, also, in the Logan Creek area.
The McRaes raised two children: Robert and Marjorie. Robert grad-
uated from the University of Idaho with a degree in mining engineering.
•
(3.)
I've heard it said that he amazed his professors with his knowledge of
mining, which, no doubt, his father had taught him. For years Bob was
chief engineer for the Bunker Hill&Sullivan mine in North Idaho.
(Note: Dan passed away in 1954, Bob in 1969.)
Marjorie attended the College of Idaho for three years, then married
James Collord--a mining engineer. Presently they reside in Cambria, Calif.)
where Jim carries on in mining interests and Mara►--with a group of helpers
supervises-the care of the many rooms of the famous Hearst Castle--one of
Americas' Tourist Attractions.
During the war (W. W. I) Grace taught one year then decided that she
must have more training. While Dan operated the Sunnyside mine she took the
children and moved to Lewiston where she enrolled in the Normal School.
During summer vacation she helped at the mine then returned to Lewiston for
the ' 26-'27 term. In the Spring of 1927 she graduated from the Lewiston
Normal with the life diploma.
A quarterly report card shows all A' s in her Normal subjects. Early
teachers' contracts show $100 per month paid a teacher in 1903, with a
raise to $335 per month in the 1940's.
In those days teachers' applications for a teaching position must
contain recommendation from Superintendents or other important person.
Here is an excerpt from one as typical:
"It is a sincere pleasure for me to testify to the high character and
splendid ability of Mrs. Grace
McRae, and to her efficiency as a teacher. I have watched with deep interest
her work in the schools. Her zeal; her industry; her wonderful tact with
children; her exceptional faculty for imparting instruction; her potential
influence on pupils; and her charming personality, made her a successful and
popular teacher."
---A. B. Lucas
•
(a.)
In all Grace taught eleven years at McCall, but they were not
sequential years. Time was interspersed by sojourns at isolated mines
where she cooked for mining crews, and we might mention that the cuisine
was "fit for a king,'" Good cooking was another of her attributes!
During these times of isolation, Grace taught her children--not for-
getting the reading of the Bible and playing phonograph recordings of
Hymns on Sunday.
Now came: W.W. II and changes were wrought; not only in the lives of
the McRae family, but in all our lives.
At Stibnite, near Yellowpine, Idaho, crews worked around the clock to
get out the precious antimony, a metal sorely needed in our war effort.
(Prior to this time, we had imported the little antimony we used from China.)
Stibnite,the main discovery in the U.S., became the Major producer and
some 6000 tons of it were out-put here. I have read that trucks ran night
and day , out of this camp over treacherous mountain roads carrying the
precious cargo.
Teachers were much needed, so at the request of Doris Squires (The
County Superintendent of Schools) Grace McRae went to this booming,
"roaring" mining camp to teach.
: Note: In fact, nearly all the McRae family answered their country's
call. Dan was in Stibnite working for the Bradley Mining Company, and
Bob had moved there with his family. He (Bob) was Superintendent of the
Smelter. His children attended the Stibnite school.
The Collards lived at McCall and/or Whitebird during the War period.
Here, Grace taught for ten years in the Intermediate grades. There
were 130 pupils and four teachers in the Stibnite School which was quite
up to the minute. Hot lunches were served; physical ed. classes were held
for all grades in the huge recreation hall.
-=5 (5.)
From clippings, I have gleaned that something other than plain
curricula was always brewing in Grace's room. A fifth grade wrote and
presented a historical play--Our Sacajawea; another grade (the lath)
wrote and presented a patriotic pageant--The Birth of Olde Glory; the
study of Washington and Lincoln, and the condition of our country when
they lived and served its was another "live" history lesson.
A project relating to their own environment in which the pupils created
a Book - Composite of the school life, the mines, recreation, and all stu-
dent activities of Stibnite, with illustrations, became a priceless mem-
ento.
Needless to say that during these busy, bustling years Grace McRae
was an integral part of the civic, social, and cultural aspects of life in
this remote mining town.
So in 1950, it came as no surprise, that our subject should be nomin-
ated in Valley County for Mother of the Year. The fine letters of commen-
dation from many, many sources well illustrated the esteem in which she was
held by those who knew her.
From the Bradley Mining Company Personnel Department we find this letter:
"Mrs. Grace Turner McRae is one of the few cultured women who pioneered
the mining industry of the state of Idaho. We know her as a woman who has
experienced the real trials and hard-ships of life and at all times has
come through with a smile and courageous spirit. She is one who is keen to
sense the trials and troubles of others, and to lend a helping hand of
friendship,words of wisdom, and bolstering cheer."
From one of her old McCall friends come these beautiful lines--in part:
"I have known Mrs. Grace McRae for a period of 40 years. Her beautiful,
optimistic character had had a great uplifting influence on the lives of all
of us with whom she came in contact.
67 (6.)
Though she gratefully accepted the present modern way of living, for
a great many of her earlier, younger years, she lived the life of the early
Pioneer. Always during her married life, there have been mines located in
the wilderness over the high mountains in Idaho. She has ridden horseback,
snow-shoed, ridden dog sled, trekked, and flown to get to their mining
properties.
For the many students who have been privileged to come under her
teaching guidance, she had added love, courage, ambition, and inspiration
to their scholastic attainments.
In her friends she has looked only for good--and her friends are leg-
ion.
An excellent wife; a loving mother; and an outstanding cook and home-
maker; an inspiring teacher; a priceless friend; a patriotic peace-loving
citizen of whom all Idaho should be proudi"
---Helga Cook
From a Pastor:
"I am glad to support Mrs. Grace McRae for this honor. She is an out-
standing women.
She is a lady, a very gracious one--at ease in the most polished of
society or in a mining camp.
She is a woman of high moral standards. But more than that, she has
Christian convictions that have given her a strong interest in others and in
their welfare."
Grace did become Mother of Valley County:
In all her books, diaries, and even address books one can find poetic
treasures she has copied as keep sakes. This one is a favorite and how
well it reflects her own philosophy and personality:
21 p
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PROGRESSIVE MEN
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SOUTHERN IDAHO - --- - i1 i:• •
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Alonzo P. Turner (Grace McRae's father)
PROGRESSIVE MEN OF SOUTHERN IDAHO.
ALONZO P. TURNER
Passing the evening of his life in peace and prosperity at Hailey, in this state,
where he has resided nearly a quarter of a century, and entitled to find
great satisfaction in the retrospect of a life of extensive and decided usefulness
with a long record of fidelity to duty in public and private relations among
his fellow men, in which valor in war, industry in peace,
{
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i 3i
PROGRESSIVE MEN OF SOUTHERN IDAHO. 949 ""i
. i a
devoted service in official stations and a con- ters with the hostile Indians. In one of these
tinual and generous consideration for the Mr. Turner was wounded in the leg by an ar- I•
rights and feelings of those around him in the row, and still bears the scar of the wound. s
various places of his residence, have been con- This incident did not, however, deter him from i' , -
spicous features, Alonzo P. Turner is well de- continuing the contest for the supremacy of •N1
serving of the public esteem and private re- the white race. i
gard in which he is held on all sides. He was a member and captain of the home ..
He was born on August 5, 1824, at North guard, and during a portion of the time be- • >"
Hampton, Ohio, where his parents, Alexander longed to the Oregon militia. He also served
and Betsey (French) Turner, the former a na- his section faithfully and with high approval --i•1'
tive of Connecticut and the latter of Boston, as clerk of the district court, and remained in '- ti t
were among the early pioneers and first set- the territory from 1845, until 1855, engaged •4 --,:',-.1!-I:,
tlers, having emigrated from their native New in placer mining and in ranching, being the ' ;':=t; : �
England to that portion of the then far West first man to locate a ranch in the southern part 1, 64.:•-w-tr--t.
in 1815. The family was of English ancestry of the territory. In 1855 he joined the United 1 1 V
on both sides, and came to America before the States cavalry for the purpose of punishing
Revolution. The father's family consisted of hostile Indians who, during his absence from
himself, eleven brothers and four sisters, and home with a pack train, had burned his prop `,.
of this number every one took active part in erty, killed his clerk and driven away 100 of ■of this number every one took active part in erty, killed his clerk and driven away too ni '..4i-4-
the struggle for American independence, even his beef cattle. The military company was I. k0 '...:1-4?..-7, ;r.
some women shouldering muskets at critical known as the Oregon Mounted Volunteers and he {=►°.i :pr
times and bearing themselves valiantly in the served until the close of the Indian war, in 1856. ,� i. Tn _".
contest.
Alonzo P. Turner was the first born of his ; ...VCp' L•Alonzo P. Turner was the first born of his Mr. Turner then removed to Idaho City pp`` e 1.'
parents, the other children being James. Ma-
Mr. Turner then removed to Idaho City to make
ria, Wesley, Quincy Adams and Jasper, and a fresh start in life, and discovered
the militia of the Boise Basin, building the first ' z v fir-
the first three of these are now deceased. residence in this region, which was erected at "�''' C� -3:
t�ti�.3,,J.t
Alonzo attended the schools of his native place what is now Idaho City. Here again his su- 462Z44
at intervals until hie reached the age of nine- perior education and fitness for official duties 1'9z;' ::
teen, in the meantime working on his father's made him a miners' recorder for a time; and tt .w;,`,
farm, having practical charge of it as soon as later still a justice of the peace and the pro- -. '
j ° - ,L.F
he was competent to attend to its duties, while bate judge of the district court, he holding the I . , ...
the father attended to his official duties as last position for a period of four years. He ,'\ s:b1. ,^ __
judge of the circuit court. At the age of was prominent and active in all the public af- '4 d.rf?A
twenty-one he followed his father's example fairs of the neighborhood, was an eye witness 4;::1,p
and, removing to Oregon, took up his resi- to the killing of Holbrook by Charles Douglas, 1' _.
dence on the frontier, where he engaged in and twice lost all his property to fire. In 1867 ;l '�
mining and merchandising on the line between he moved to Silver City, Idaho, and at once be- R t :'` =
that territory and California. That country came a prominent factor in the development , ;i411.1..4.'; `
was then almost beyond the verge of civiliza- and progress of the region. Having lost his ••
tion, and its few inhabitants had many thrill- property he was obliged to work for others . , + -,-
y., •off, ':-11-
ing adventures and many sanguinary encoun- for a time and was made superintendent of Via.,,, R
"Sc X '4"`,•. ti. '
• , r '':
i
95o PROGRESSIVE MEN OF SOUTHERN IDAHO.
mines. He remained there and filled this place Mr. Turner (lid not realize much out of it
for about a year, erecting a number of build- having disposed of three-fourths of his inter-
ings and other improvements. est. He has since resided at Halley, serving
About this time the mining excitement two terms as a justice of the peace and later
broke out at Boise, and with many other seek- as probate judge of Blaine county.
ers of fortune he went thither, and found his Mr. Turner was first married in Ohio to •
services in demand in a public way. first as Miss Clarissa Beckwith. who died in 1854,
clerk in segregating taxes and after the next leaving three children. Clarissa, Helen and
election as probate judge, being chosen to this Zachary. In May, 1858. he was married at
office on the Democratic ticket. In 1877 he Eugene, Ore., to his second wife, Miss Matilda
became the private secretary of Governor Bra- Stafford, by whom he had two children, Philo
nian, serving as such for a year. He was then and Clara. She died in 1879, and on April 17,
commissioned by the Governor report corre- 18Sr. Mr. Turner contracted a third marriage.
spondence clerk in the war with the Nez Perces this time with Miss Sarah L. Smith. a native
Indians with headquarters with Gen. O. O. of Danville, Ill., where she was reared and ed-
Howard. remaining in the position until the ucated. After teaching four terms of school
close of the war by the capture of Chief Jo- in Illinois she came to Salt Lake, where she
sLl,l;, whii.h ended the war. He was then sent was the principal of the Methodist Institute un-
with reports of the close of the war to Colonel til her marriage. Two children have blessed
Sumner at Elk City, and on the Lemhi trail to their union. Grace C. and Elmer Smith. In
.
• to Boise discovered the mineral district near the spring of 1896 Mr. Turner was injured in
Hailey, having been turned from the trail by a runaway. breaking a rib which punctured
Indians. He soon regained back on the trail, one of his lungs, and since then he has been
however. and. proceeding without further ad- in enfeebled health. Among the cherished rcl
venture to Boise, there made his report to the ics of the past belonging to his people. he has .
Governor. a cane which has been in the family for over
While on this journey, at the head of Warm, 22o years and is a cherished heirloom.
Spring Creek. in October, 1877, he discov- .
ered mineral. and took samples with him to FRANCES E, ENSIGN.
Boise, which proved to he very rich in lead '
and silver. Keeping the matter to himself, A fter an early life of struggle and sue-
he made an effort to return to that neighbor- cessive hardships: failing health on land, which
hood in 1878, but the country being disturbed curtailed his educational opportunities; thrill-
by a new Indian outbreak, he .vas obliged to ing adventures at sea. which in large measure
again take up arms and enter the conflict. At restored his health. but often put his life in
its close, the commissioners of Alturas county jeopardy: hard labor on a farm; gratifying
elected him county assessor, and he held the success, followed by disastrous loss in mining.
office until 1879, when he resigned. In April, and various other experiences which forcibly
1880, he took a party and went in search of illustrate the uncertainties of life in the great
section in which he bad previously found West of our ountry. Francis E. Ensign, of
the rich float and after four days of prospect- Hailey, became firmly established in business
ing, they located what is known as the Idaho, prosperity and public esteem. with a high pro-
which proved a very valuable property, but fessional rank as a lawyer, for which he pre-
Z
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{
ri();‘)/1--7*t- 11-41 /
Dan McRae in McCall with one of his famous "webs".
THUNDER MOUNTIAN.
Thunder Mountain, the center of the great boom dIstrict of central Idaho, is
situated in the ruggedest, most Anaccessible part of the state. It lies between
the head waters of Monumental and Marble creeks, both tributaries of the Middle Fork
of the Salmon River.
The history of the mining in the Thunder Mountain district dates from 1896, when
the twin brothers, Lou and Ben Caswell came to the district from the Seven Devils
area where they had been prospectinq for four years, with little success.
They moved into the Thunder mountain country and settled at the mouth of Mule Creek, on
Monumental creek. Here they placered for gold and built the first cabin in that
area.
The story of their discovery of gold on the mountain was that Ben was searching for
the straying mules, when he picked up a rock bearing visible gold on the head of
Mule creek, near the location of the Dewey Mine.
The brothers staked claims and prospected the area. Finding good gold bearing
sands and gravel , they built sluice boxes and marked the claims for 3 years.
Ben Caswell gave this statement to the Statesman Newspaper " The best sluicing
we did in Thunder Mtn, was $135.00 in two hours. But last summer we beat that to
pieces panning. One pan we took out had $150.00 in it. That, I believe, is the
record, $150/00 in 20 minutes.
One report stated that the Caswells took 22 lbs of virgin gold from a small pocket.
In 1900, E. H. Dewey, representing his father, Col. W.H. Dewey, drew a check for
$100,000.00 on the First National bank and handed it over in payment for the claims.
The ceremonies attending the great transfer were very simple. The vendors, with
Mr Dewey and W. E. Borah, Mr. Dewey's attorney, went over to the bank. There the
check was passed over and honored by the bank, whereupon the deeds were delivered
to Mr. Dewey. The proceeds of the check were deposited according to the directions
of the recipients of the money. The property transferred consisted of 11 quartz
claims and three placer claims. (for Statesman paper 40 year ago column printed
.in1941).
Colonel William H. Dewey formed a company in Pittsburg, incorporated under the
name of Thunder Mt. Gold Mining and Milling Co. with capital stock of $5,000,000.00
and officers were W. H. Dewey, President. W. E. Gibson, Vice presitent, J J. Walsh
Sect.. A. W. Lewis, Treas. William H. Dewey, Gen Mngr. and T. M. Barnsdall, a Multi
Millionaire as 1 of the directors.
During the year 1901, a ten stamp mill was moved to the property which was given
the name of Dewey Mine for it owner,. The mill was moved entirely by pack horses.
Development of the mine was started by underground tunnelling.
The news of the Caswell boys good luck in mining and selling of the propety, a real
gold rush was started into the area.
Thunder City was the nearest supply point by wagon road.
It became a bustling burg with hopes of becoming a great mining city. Roosevelt, on
Monumental creek near the mouth of Mule creek, where the Caswell brothers had built their
first cabin. All supplies and materials were packed into Roosevelt when the camp
first started, but a wagon road, of sorts was constructed later. The village became
c_ a city, a newspaper, the Thunder Mountain News, was eytablished and the town was pictured
as having a rosy future. The editor, E. C Eddy, was a poeticntture and many of the
headings were written in rhyme. In the first issue of the paper, " Peerless Thunder
Mountain, Enthroned among the thousand peaks, snow-crowned and sylvan clad it stands
alone and thundering bespeaks it monarch of the Thunder Land."
To indicate the extent of the gold rush to Roosevelt, the News tells of the town Being
deluged by 10,000 tenderfeet, and that 160 saloon licenses had been applied for. "Bug
juice," six guns and ammunition appeared to be the town's chief stock of merchandixe
judging from the advertisements. The saloon advertisements also were writted in rhyme,
and presented an appeal that parched throats likely found hard to resist. " Tis here the
lusty hosts of life-may find a respite from the strife- With song and music, mirth and
wine. And all the fun of '49/
epezk of ati ics Dept
the boys driving to ,work all hud-
The Statistics Department is died up in their heavy coats, t•
very thoroughly snowed in below their windshields covered with
Bear Valley, and therefore has frost, provided they were able to
plenty of time to make certain start their cold stiff cars at all. `,
' investigations. The'webbing hat. This so arouses our sympathy
been tough this winter, and w, that we get up and make a pot
recently made the sensationa of coffee to drown our sorrows
• discovery that webs were invent- in. Or we think that possibly Har-
ed by Dan MacRae so he could old Bailey, Ben Mahoney and Bob
get into Thunder Mountain dur ,McRae have skidded into the
ing the winters. This places Dan ditch due .to failure of their de-
high up on the list of public ene-. frosters, which causes our heart •
mies because this invention has to .-bleed to such an extent that
caused a lot of suffering to trap- only 20 hotcakes floating in syrup
,pers and others of like ilk. If Dan will cure it.
• hadn't invented webs people Sometime during the day we
would stay home where they ,be- happen to think of poor'Si DoFoo,
long instead of wandering around Harry Sargent, Harry McFarlane
through,the mountains in the win- and Bob Baker, all of whom have
ter time. Many broken homes and to make the long journey from
I marriages can be traced to the the assay lab to the mill office at ?
fact that one of the parties per- least once a day. We 'console our-
sisted in ramming around `on a selves with the thought, however, -,
• pair of webs, maybe even wear-„ that the trip teaches them the
nag them around the house and difference between a plane sar- d
to parties nd dan es. We hope face and a 1
_ _ solid. In that they
�D•an is proud of the sufferir his walk on the former and stumble a
webs have brought to a misguid- over the_latter. Or we picture
a ed humanity. Russ Woad and ` Charley Clark
It's a.lot of fun to be snowed cress-sectioning the pit in snow
in, but we are allowing our warm hip-deep (.call it that, anyway)
hearted concern for the welfare to a tall Indian, and our heart
of- others to interfere with our nearly breaks.
enjoyment of the winter. For in- However, we have a cure for
stance, we'll wake up in the mid- all heartache. Whenever we feel
dle of the night and think that low we Beach through our sup-
maybe maybe Joe Zarybnisky was called plies which we purchased from
from his warm bed to fix up a the ,Stibnite Mere hunting for an
house for some new arrivals, or item which we can return and
possibly Emmons Coleman- is possibly get a refund on. We
webbing along the power line in know that nothing .pleases our
the storm and dark looking for a friend, `Howard `Evans, better
break. This makes us fell very known as "Refund" Evans, more
bad indeed—so bad that we roll than making a refund, plus
over and fall asleep again. About freight charges, on an item. Thus,
7:20 in the morning. we think of if we can find an item we can
Homer Shaw, Iom Flemming,Bob return we knew we're going to
Clarkson, Blackie Silva, Chris Lee gladden Yo.vard's day, and our
1 and Russ Land and the rest of, own spirits are lifted ac ordinghY,
•
-
1916 Dewey mine with Grace McRae and children
with Billy Mitchell
1922 Dan McRae and George Short carrying 90 pounds
Dan McRae at the Dewey Mine
Dan McRae at the Gold KIng Mine
Mr. & Mrs. John Routson at their Werdenhoff Mine
McCall ski scene 1923 or 4 or 5
From the right: Bob McRae, Marj McRae, Grace McRae,
Larry Roberts (Edith Kasper's brother), Elva Sauer (back
with dark hat with Robert Kasper in light hat), Virginia
Kasper (forefront), Josie Kasper (behind), Joe Kasper
(behind), Elsie Starr in dark hat to left of Joe Kasper,
Lee Karstetter (millwright at the Sunnyside Mine and
Robin McRae's godfather), Dolly Roberts Stover (Edith
Kasper's sister
McCall ski scene 1924-5 . -
Alva Sauer in right front
Joe Kasper on right
Josie Kasper at center back
Virginia Kasper to her left
Marj McRae on left (11 years old)
,
Dewey Mine
Out house built in 1914
In 1980 part of house may still be standing.
They stored dynamite in this privy in winter.
The boys set off 2 sticks for 4th of July when unloading
dynamite for the summer.
•
C.'
U
•
.
t
Sunnyside Mine Mill in the Thunder Mountain District.
�� sn i nu-s.;
McCall 1928-30 7 d1 G/l.. / A/dcJ
Wte_ 3,LAALL ocutt4_9(exia
Dan McRae on Carl Brown's front porch with Marj
McRae and the three Brown daughters...all school
chums. ♦ Cs
Cover of The Thunder Mountain Story for the
Idaho Territorial Centennial 1963
Head of Thunder Mountain earth slide that cre- • SCADr
ated the lake that inundated the entire mining camp
of Roosevelt. Arrow indicates point where the slide
broke off. It was 90 feet deep and 500 feet wide. !
el
(photo) r
-i- * -, -,'- 11 - 1 4, A kti 40.
Roosevelt under construction, 1902. Note the ""
Mining Recorders office in the right foreground. , ,: .a� -,. , -
(photo)
Roosevelt Lake, a monument to former President
Theodore R. 3
.
First cabin to be built at Thunder Mountain was
erected at Mule Creek by the Caswell Brothers in
(photo)
Photo of "Bill" Timm, prospector and assayer during
the Thunder Mtn. Gold Rush at his cabin in Thunder Mtn.
Poem of old prospector's home.
Dan McRae on horse Tony, Grace on Prince,
Aunty Harland on Queenie, Ruth McRae on Billy,
Mrs. Frenette with baby, starting out from in front
of cabins and cook house at the Sunnyside Mine
and going to Roosevelt Lake for 4th of July annual
fishing trip 1933 or 4 ‘
. 1 - "*..
- ,.
Bob McRae and Marj McRae on Hughes burro
(from Hughes Ranch on Monumental Creek) at the
Dewey Mine 1917 f , (
ii
1
Photo taken at Bob McRae's Stibnite home
for a Christmas card: Grace, Dan with Robin (Sandy)
and Lori (Bob's children standing) and Jim and Kay
sitting on floor (Marj's children). ll
�� x a I
b a 0 ; t 11 I,,„ ,,,i,;‘,,,..,...m ,.-,,, ,,,,, ',., ...,..., . ,%
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'3. i i �y
♦ ;:f::II t f;S 2�` k i dl` !d° 1,,i,,,,,.,:,1 -N .::�
}(`> § gyp` '`-_'
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f ! '
s
"Or „Ag.-„,,,p11###,4 il ,,, N
-- .Y.x.,14,--, .1_ •
..
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,‘, ‘, „,,,
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Stibnite u =
Grand March at the L.D.S. Green and Gold Ball.
Mr. and Mrs. William Jensen leading the opening
Grand March, held Friday evening April 4, 1952.
The second and third couples are Mr. and Mrs. Wm.
Perkins and Mr. and Mrs. Dan McRae.
A good crowd attended this semi formal which was
one of the outstanding dances of the year.
• the outst ri
Dan McRae house in McCall, built about 1927
Roosevelt Lake at Thunder Mountain
41*.
1
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•
- •
•
■•-3
,. • :4:4!, s? t
( - )
..
Christmas card of Bob McRae's house in
Stibnite built in 1942 for the first Doctor in
Stibnite, Dr. Halladay and his family. It was
built by Hubert Martin from lumber cut and
milled at Stibnite. When Dr. Halliday left in
1945 ir 1946, the house went, by seniority,
to Bob McRae, the Chief Metelurgis. That
family lived in it until 1952, when the mine
closed. It was cut in half and moved to Lick
Creek Road in McCall and sold. . t? a
I•
____ ,, -
I
---"1-"\ :
,jam
j`vrry 0,04A ye
e•
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Photos of the former Dr. Halliday house at its new
Lick Creek Road location in McCall.
MRS. D. C. McRAE ,
Mother and teacher.
Grace Turner McRae is the. wife
of Daniel C. McRae, Valley .coon-
ty miner and operator, and the
mother of Robert J. ,McRae, en-
gineer and smelter superintendent,
of the Bradley Mining company
and of Marjorie McRae Collard,
homemaker.
She also has a professional ca -!
reer— teacher in the Stibnite
school.
During her younger life, before
modern conveniences were made,
she lived the life of an early Ida-
ho pioneer. She accepted wilder-
ness trails, horses, dog sleds, snow
shoes, cooking for a mining crew,
and teaching her two children'
when winter snows kept them !
home from a faraway school.
Wrote her friends in nominat-
'ing her: "Mrs. McRae is an excel
lent wife, a loving mother, an out
jstanding cook and homemaker,. an
,inspiring teacher, a. priceless?
friend, a much -loved - mother -in-
ilaw, a patriotic peace - loving citi-
{zen, of whom all Idaho should -bed,
proud."
A MARKER• to commemorate those who died during the Thunder ivnot
1903 will be placed at the Old Roosevelt cemetery Past of. Stibnite Sel
morialize the 13 persons known to rest in the cemetery. Shown with ti
McRae, right, Thunder Mountain pioneer: his son Robert, left, and grai
na, At of Stibnite.
VAe, i've,
Stibnite Dinner Party 8/20/1941
This week's front page stories Page 1 of 1
A can of pepper bested the beasts in dog brawl
BY SANDY hh'RAE
for The Star-News
In the summer of 1949,our family had acquired'Chummy,'a 160-pound Great Dane,and trips to
McCall from Stibnite were made with the dog in tow.
Carl Brown,the owner of the McCall sawmill on Payette Lake,would kid my
father that he was the only man he knew who bought a car to fit a dog!
On one visit we stayed at Helga Cook's Edgewood Apartment,and my mother,
myself,and the dog(on leash,of course),walked into town to shop at the Merc
Department Store,where Moxie Java now prepares its delights.
I'hammy the I;reat
As we rounded the corner,there was Zoe Numbers and her dog,Turk-off f twe
leash!Turk,a black 160-pound Mastiff-St.Bernard mix,trotted ahead when he
saw my Great Dane.The hair on the backs of both dogs rose.
Zoe suddenly yelled loudly,-Run for your fives!They will kill each other.'My dog pulled the leash out
of my hand and the dogs began to spar.
The canine titans were growling and circling,snapping their teeth at each other.My mother instructed
me to stand back and not try to separate the two.
Mom was always prepared for possible dog fights.She carried cayenne pepper in a can or ammonia
solution in a squirt gun in her purse.This time she had the pepper.
As she fumbled in her purse for the can,the dogs had each other by the necks.A couple of
bystanders ran to us,wanting to help.
At this moment,mom got the can of pepper,opened it and began to swing the can over the dogs.
Some of the pepper was also delivered to the Good Samaritans who wanted to aid the situation.
Soon both dogs were kneeling on the sidewalk pawing at their eyes,and the human-folk were also
rubbing eyes and sneezing.I was able to leash the Dane and pull hm away,Zoe came back and took
charge of Turk,and the situation ended with all of the folks involved having a good laugh about the dogs
and the cayenne pepper.
(Sandy McRae lives in Boise.If you have a favorite story about McCall or the surrounding area,send it
to stamews @fiontiercom.)
http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 5/31/2012
iteaniel C. McRae, 7
i Pion€r Miner,•
Obituary of Dan McRae ., Succumbs in Boise
Daniel C. McRae, 78, of Stib- j
nite, a'pioneer Idaho miner, died
Wednesday morning in a Boise
hospital of heart disease.
• Mr. McRae was born Feb. 16,
1876, at Grand Forks; N. D., and
I came to Idaho when he was 18
1 years of age. Ile mined at War-
' ren, Big Creek and Thunder
mountain and operated the Sun-
nyside and : Dewey: mines on
Thunder .nountain for 25 years. N
He had lived at Stibnite for the <
T1st nine years and,had been em- 1
oyed by. the Bradley Mining
company. •
He had:been a member of %
Poise lodge No. 310, BPOE, since i
1906 and was the fifth oldest liv- v
ing' member at the time of his g
death. - f
I Surviving are his wife, Mrs. v
Grace McRae of Stibnite; one
Y son,Robert J:McRae of Stibnite; P
e one daughter, Mrs. Marjorie,Col- I
lard of Stibnite; 'a sister, Mrs. C. t
C. Meysenburg of Santa Clara,'
s.cal., and four grandchildren. li
M-#$ Services will be' conducted at e
cBratrley-Alden chapel Friday
:at 2 p.m.';The Boise'Elks lodge
'will officiate and interment will
be at Morris Hill.
•
, o
F
km_
Photo of Helga Cook (Mrs. Warren Cook)
and her sister-in-law, Grace McRae,
taken at Grace's house in Boise after Dan's death.. (L)L4-
1955 „ Ell
Ja.
fir.
Steam stamp from the Sunday Mine in Big
Creek with Marj and Jim Collard. Stamp
was moved to McCall for Warren Brown.
Marj was Dan and Grace McRae's daughter.
The McRae's ran this mill during 1939-40; the
Sunday Mine was started by the Edwards
family and is one of the first mines in the
Big Creek History.
\�- INTERVIEW WITH JIM AND MARGE COLLORD, OCTOBER 14-15, 1998
by Steven E. Stoddard \ j 1 '` C t � riff- �, _
NW' i qh5-
On October 14 and 15, 1998,Jim and Marge Collord were interviewed by the author about their
experiences in the central Idaho mountains. Mrs. Collord is the daughter of Dan McRae, an early settler
ci and miner in the Thunder Mountain-Big Creek area who took her to the mountains in 1917 when she
was two years old. Mr. Collord was born in 1911 and spent the early part of his life working at the
Stibnite, Wolf Fang(McRae), and other mines in the eastern half of Valley County,Idaho. They met
when he was working as a busboy at the Pa____yeakes Inn in 1930; after she graduated from McCall
High School that year(an event Jim attended)they were married and moved to the back country. By
1939, Mr. Collord was driving trucks for the Brown Tie and Lumber Company in McCall. In 1948 he I
ost a portion of his left leg in an explosion while constructing the Brundage Mountain road; one man
died and another was hurt besides Jim, who was later credited with heroism in saving the other man's
life. In 1960 they moved to Cambria, California,where Mrs. Collord worked for fifteen years at the
Hearst Castle National Monument as head of housekeeping.
In addition to their own experiences,the Collords have an extensive collection of records and photos of
people and events in the Big Creek-Thunder Mountain area. They still own a cabin at Edwardsburg.
They graciously offered to allow the author to reproduce their copy of C.W.Neffs 1941 autobiogray
of his days as the county recorder in Roosevelt and Thunder Mountain in 1902. Mrs. Collord's mother,
Grace McRae, cooked at several of the mines in the area, later taught at the Stibnite school for ten years,
and kept a diary of her activities from 1917 to 1965 which Mrs. Collord still has. The Collords have
photographs of the Sunnyside mine in operation, Stibnite school and recreation hall,Napier Edwards
and other personalities, and also newpaper clippings and articles from the 1950's through the present
relating to the area:
Among the many historic aspects of the area recollected by the Collords was a knowledge of the eh
trails such as the trail from Knox(near Warm Lake) over Trout Creek to Cabin Creek and then to
Johnson Creek, and also a nearly encyclopedic knowledge of the trails, creeks and mountains from the
Middle Fork of the Salmon up Marble Creek to Thunder Mountain, then down Monumental Creek to
Big Creek. Despite their venerable age, Jim and Marge never needed to refer to a map or look up a
reference. They knew the name of every mine operator and the location of any mine mentioned. One of
the most illuminating facets of the interview was the personal details they could supply about several
early settlers: the Routsons, the Edwards,the early Forest Service personnel, and especially the Carl_
Brown family. The Browns were friends from the Big Creek area, and later when Jim started to work
for ar Brown he was chosen for several trips which have become historic. These include hauling half
of the flywheel for the Murray-Corliss engine when it was purchased in IraGrande, Oregon in 1939, and
G also Carl Brown's attempt to purchase an elephant in Spokane for logging in central Idaho.
2 The Collords allowed the author to record two hours of oral interviews with them for use by the Forest
t Service,the Central Idaho Cultural Center Museum, and the Idaho Historical Society to document some
of the early history of the region. In the course of this interview, they offer opinions relating to the early
Neff account of where Marble City was located in relation to the recorded site of Bellcoe, details of the
operations and men involvedin mining at Stibnite, the Dewey,the Wolf Fang(McRae), Golden Cup,
Sunnyside, and various other mines and placer operations. The specific locations and construction dates
of roads and cabins are invaluable. Even when it seems they are digressing from the primary focus of 1
the converstion, they are relating historical insights about such items as fishing techniques or telephone
line maintenance. All of these anecdotes help to give a fuller understanding of what life was like in the
backcountry in the early days of this century.
Understandably, the Collords do not wish to relinquish personal heirlooms. They are committed,
however, to helping disseminate historical facts about the area, and will help with any specific questions
about the history of the area which either their memories or their records can answer.
�(Y1 o-ir i 130,.:W4{ -
Photo of Robert McRae, son of Dan and Grace.
•
• HISTORY OF IDAHO 151
ROBERT JAMES McRAE—With long experience in the c. ,er to the insurance business, beading his own organiza-
mining industry to his credit, Robert James McRae is now tion der the name of the Fred Mitchell Agency. He was
project manager with the Camagra Mineral Exploration, a relia 1 - worker for the Republican party, was active in
a division of Grace and Company, C. A., and the Bunker church, ternal and club groups, and as a citizen, con-
Hill and Sullivan Mineral Company, of Kellogg, Idaho, on tributed muc to the life of his community.
a joint project. Of late he has also been active in the A native o' Parma, Idaho, Mr. Mitchell was born on
development of tungsten properties. He has had long ex- October 16, 188 son of Alfred Jackson and Sarah Ann
perience in mining in Idaho, which is his native state. (Aldrich) Mitchel, .nd grandson of Robert Benson and
He was born at Meadows on August 11, 1908, son of Elizabeth (Phelps) chell and of Samuel and Altha A.
Daniel Carrus and Grace Carrie (Turner) McRae. His Aldrich. He was descen.•. from Robert Mitchell, who was
father, a pioneer settler in the Thunder Mountain region born in Ireland in 1747, of .,coth-Irish parentage, and came
and a miner there, is the subject of a separate biographical to America in 1765. In Marc , 777, he enlisted for military
sketch. Robert J. McRae attended the public elementary service with the colonial fore- and served in Captain
schools of McCall, and the high schools there and at Edward Garland's Company, 14th !iment Virginia Troops.
Lewiston, graduating from the latter in 1927. In 1929 he In 1788 he married Letitia Ren, a 4 they had a large
entered the University of Idaho, where he took his degree • family, of whom one son, John, was ii n in Virginia on
of Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering in 1933. January 11, 1790. He was married, in Ken cky, on August
In that year he began his career operating the Sunnyside 26, 1813, to Rosean Benson, and in 1823 -y moved to
Mine, a gold-mining operation in Valley County, a venture Washington County, Indiana. They had seven .tildren, of
ill which he was associated with his father. In the course of whom the second in order of birth was Robe Benson
the years 1939-1941, he worked part-time for Laurance Mitchell, grandfather of Fred Irvin Mitchell. He w. born
Requa and Herbert Hoover, Jr., as field engineer for their in Shelby County, Kentucky, on November 24, 1815, .nd
world-wide mining interests. In 1942 he joined the Bradley died at Parma, Idaho, November 6, 1898. He spent •-
Mining Company at Stibnite, Idaho, in the capacity of mill later years there with his son, Alfred Jackson Mitchell
superintendent, and held that position until 1948, when he who was a pioneer settler in the Parma area. A veteran
took on additional duties as smelting superintendent. From of service,in the Union cause in the Civil War, he set
1950 until 1957 he was chief metallurgist with the firm at out with h7s,,wife and five children for the West in the
Boise. He has also been retained as a consulting metal- spring of 1877. "Colonial and Revolutionary Lineages of
lurgist by the Utah Construction Company, and in this America" thus relates of the family's journey to the state:
capacity spent some time rehabilitating the largest tungsten This trip was fult of hazardous adventures, which were hard-
mme in the world, located in South Korea. He was also ships to Mrs. Mitchell, the es etaker of five children of whom the
consultant for Molybdenum Corporation of America. In eldest was nine and the youn�+sst, William, a babe of about six
addition, he has been developing his own tungsten proper- months, but to the older children it was a most thrilling journey.
ties since 1951, these holdings being located at Big Creek. They traveled by emigrant train as fa as Kelton, Utah, which was
In 1957 he became project manager on a joint project as far west as the railroad was built al ghat time. At many places
g I g 1 P J along the way soldiers were guarding the track against Indian
undertaken by Camagra Mineral Exploration, a division of attacks. But this meant only an added threat,,to the children. At
Grace and Company, Ltd., and The Bunker Hill Company Kelton they were met by a team and covered Wagon, sent by Mrs.
of Kellogg. This project has its headquarters in Guatemala Mitchell's brother-in-law, Brice Shipley, and started'on the ten days'
journey for Lower Boise, Idaho, which is now Par,ga. This was
City, Guatemala, and Mr. McRae is currently spending a another new and fascinating adventure for the chit n, for it
good deal of time there. necessitated camping along the trail, sleeping in the wagbn nights,
He is a member of the American Institute of Mining and all the hardships of those days before the luxuries o4 f,,,rapid
and Metallurgical Engineers, Mining feat En ineers, the Idaho Minin Associa- communication facilities. Finally arriving at Lower Boise, the family
settled on the Shipley's ranch while that family moved to the Lower,
tion, Sigma Gamma Epsilon honorary mining and geologi- Boise home for the winters. These days were full of new adventures.'w
cal fraternity, and Sigma Tau. He is also a member of the made difficult with the lack of any comforts and often tense from fear
American Club in Guatemala City, Guatemala. He takes of unfriendliness of the Indians. A kerosene lamp brought west by the
Mitchells was the first one used in Lower Boise, and some of their
little interest in organizations of a civic or purely social friends and"saeighbors thought it very dangerous. Mr. Mitchell at
nature,but is active in the First Methodist Church of Boise. once organizedN.. Sunday school and immediately became active in
At McCall, on December 25, 1934, Robert James McRae all religious and e munity gatherings. . .
married Ruth Carolyn Cook. Born at McCall on February
27, 1913, she is a daughter of Warren Edgar and Helga Alfred Jackson and h Ann (Aldrich) Mitchell be-
,
Marie (Peterson) Cook. Her father was born at Dayton, came the parents of eleven children in all. Two died when
Washington, on February 26, 1876, descendant of a family the family at Knoxville, 'h a. The four youngest,
which had been among the pioneer Idaho settlers. They Charles Norwood, Clarence Edwin, red Irvin, and Ray
located in the Grangeville—Camas Prairie region. Warren Burton, were all born at Parma. Bo about four years
E. Cook served with the First Idaho Volunteers in the i
Philippines during the Spanish-American War, and after-
after his'parents moved to Idaho, Fred n Mitchell at-
wards mined and ranched in central Idaho until about tended the public elementary and high schools of Parma, a
1908. He then settled in McCall, where he continued his and„later attended the College of Idaho, where he graduated
agricultural and mining activities. His wife, the former in i After graduation he spent a year in Salt Lake 1
Helga Marie Peterson, was postmaster at McCall for City, wdrking as a coppersmith. In 1907 he returned to i
twenty-one years. She was a native of Whitehall, Michigan, Canyon County, and served as its deputy sheriff through i
and was born on November 1, 1883. She died in 1955, 1909. Front 190 to 1916, he was deputy county clerk of 1
surviving her husband l;, five Canyon 1916, Mr.g ty years. Mrs. McRae gradu- In 1916, Mr. Mitchell purchased an established business,
ated from the University of Idaho with.the degree of the Caldwell Insurance Agency, and this he operated there-
Bachelor of Arts in 1934. She was a member of Delta after as the Fred Mitchell,Agency. It was known as the !'
Delta Delta sorority. Mitchell-Graves Agency for n any years but is now known
Mr. and Mrs. McRae are the parents of two children: as Graves Holden Agency. was also very active in 1
1. Robin Stuart, who was born on December 4, 1939. 2. public and political life. A Repu can, he served on his
Lorie Jeanne, born June 16, 1944. Mr. McRae's business '`s
party's Canyon County Central Comm' ee as chairman for
address is 1704 Gourley Street, Boise. i
two years. For two terms he held office a councilman at
Caldwell, and played a valuable part in the romotion of P
FRED IRVIN M LL—After holding public office an. adequate school system for his city. '•...,
for some years, as deputy s i • and deputy county clerk, Mr. Mitchell was one of the founders of the Caldwell 1
Fred Irvin Mitchell devoted the i > mg years of his Kiwanis Club, and he was a member of the Blue Lodge
I.
LOCAL NEWS Statesman
October 24, 2008 S 10.--1--+A----
FRIDAY,OCTOBER 24,2008 • MAIN 3
Conservationists, Forest Service buy up min.es
Acquire mining claims can ,:il, where visitors who today make
stop further mining or « . i` the 160-mile, six-hour drive
; .
development in wild places. x _ i , s i from Boise can still see tram
' p ( towers that brought ore from
the mines along a 1.5 mile cable-
BY JOHN MILLER �" ,� � , g
THE B ASSOCIATED PRESS way to mills in the valley below.
BOISE, Idaho— Hundreds There's also the underwater
sub-
of mining claims deep in
ilk �° 0 ghost town of Roosevelt, sub-
Idaho's Frank Church-River in of t merged after a 1909 landslide.
+� *' " !� Jim Collord,McRae's grand
No Return Wilderness are now son and president of Thunder
in public hands,a move officials r+r i-
say will protect drainages where salmon ' Mountain Gold,preserves fad-
l
return annually in drainages ." fii' ing family photos of the area on
while keeping a winding dirt his computer at offices in Boise.
'
road open for the curious to ex- ., . .. The retired superintendent
` from large gold Nevada mines
plore ramshackle cabins and Provided by the Collard family including
other mining artifacts brought This 1914 photo shows members of the McRae family at Thunder ed out during an inteo point-
ninterview in
in by prospectors a century ago. Mountain's Dewey Mill area.The Trust for Public Land bought the early October that Coeur
Thunder Mountain, as the property deep in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness d'Alene Mines extracted more
area is known,is the latest ex- from the Thunder Mountain Gold Co.in 2005. than 100,000 ounces of gold be-
ample of private property own tween 1986 and 1990 from
ers, conservation groups and tions for McMansions." tually transfer them to the For- Thunder Mountain, worth
the U.S.Forest Service in Idaho, The 36-year-old San Francis- est Service,effectively ending a some $90 million at today's i
Colorado and Montana inking co-based group buys land with decades-old fight over the New prices.
million-dollar compacts to pre- money from supporters and World Mining District near Discussions between Col-
serve Rocky Mountain back- holds it until agencies such as Cooke City lord,the Payette National For-
country the Forest Service can secure On Idaho's Thunder Moun- est and the Trust for Public
Sometimes,the transactions funding elsewhere, including tain,the group paid$5.5 million Land began in the 1990s over
halt further mining, as with offshore oil and natural gas roy- in 2005 for mining claims re- eventually shifting the property
Thunder Mountain;elsewhere, alties from the federal Land and sembling a cherry on stem road to public control.An appraisal
they keep developers from Water Conservation Fund. So piercing deep into the Frank of claims controlled by the fam-
turning old claims into moun- far, the group has helped on Church.On Sept.ll,the Forest ily valued the deal at$13 million,
taintop trophy homes. 3,500 projects, protecting 2.5 Service made the last of four in- but he agreed to sell for$5.5 mil-
"There are all these mining million acres in 47 states. stallments to Trust for Public lion, a price that promised
communities that came and In March,it engineered an$8 Land on nearly eight square enough seed money for explo-
went," said Alan Front, senior million deal to buy nearly 1,500 miles of backcountry that previ- ration work he's doing else-
vice president for the Trust For acres of private mining claims ously belonged to one of where in Idaho and Nevada.
Public Lands,which helped ne- outside Yellowstone National Idaho's oldest mining families. "My family legacy is a lot bet-
gotiate the Thunder Mountain Park's northeast gate some Back in 1910, Daniel C. ter off than being stuck with an
deal."Now,they're only digging feared would become back- McRae staked his first claims in environmental issue," Collord
deep enough to put in founda- country cabins.It plans to even- the Thunder Mountain area, said.
` rww.�rrrhUlr- w i
1,, FLI,NttIAL. O IUDGE TURNER
#{�
a rge Number -of =ii is Pioneer - Friend&
Frt .
� .t � �r � en
. . �y �.�st �� �t� � T • �
Y.. r that a mortal. of Judge Alonzo
P. )' 'urner, •"one of Idaho's .pianE,ers,. was'
to- rest yesterday, afternoon in the •
: a onlc cemetery. The funeral serves
wer6 on ducted by r. I, F. Roach
Methodist .c r , who deliver~
a of but iTTipressive address.
•
`4dge Jonas. W. ,Brown, who -knew
th° : deceased ' ' intimately, in the - early
d y _ in ' ttiTiasin, sang "Thy. , Will Be
4-
1e -» It was a beautiful tribute to
time friend , and g,s the tender
t QP 4S fell . tram Ifs lips, all :eyes were.
itened with tears :a
?: . e pxa.11beer * were mein prorrnent
e. pion.eer_-hi tory of the state, John
.400y, .`George .i s e, ' J. A.
G± ss, . George Gumbert .and
t I ► 1 'a t r o acting fp' that-, capa.city,
: *ge n r r .or. fits- former filendA
flowed the a.lns to the cemetery,
Idaho Daily Statesman, Nov. 28, 1904
Grace Turner McRae's Father
JUDGE ALONZO P. TURNER EXPIRES AT HIS HOME.
corns West in 1862, Living in. Oregon
'
-and Idaho Since Then — Served as
Tr`aibata Judge in Boise and Blaine 1
•0 pi unties.
t;- Aionzo 3'. f'urner, an old tim-
'E..:di hat hip-TOftuce at too O'i ar-
'+'. heots 3�efet a�, norm ig at 9
f "eIoclt; Mid 8' Msa : well known
,. bit -MW:9 attd Uabo.
• . �# 3tfs; i�t�rei
,: �'d` ..�••.�iae�1: fin•
mom
b ' r
i
ems. #fit t
' t iF,eifte.,_�.�s. attrvives her
":By 1. 'v►►'1ro� ihirV'tirt
:id Q a •!rt1e, be heal . two
Von. >�irt4r.' Tke foi•:
taller• ts. tea !p SO -nW i Ntlevae.
and the .Y$ C 11 reatditt . v ntti ttft'
mother. '
. Judge T%tIOG saftod a term as pro -
bJte jvQ&* of A.18 m county, from Is"
to toot, in . 4dolk1b to Ma aenlee in
Doug eotil!'ly,
'.bbr the last feW TSM..ber had been an
I Gild 4*6.- VIpi.; nd 'over and,
meted ft, Iw bit• :l�ti ul . wile. ode
UrOuOt him Iky _ fit Ust September
NOBS. the . a Rate bore. 7 41glrt prove
'I rtlniui: Rrit''hN*6 rP.o k :tom
'has 4e. itlore"ji �00AunbW by Mug
ab rn it'o ati; '. bi*eaw4`ff his
: auRB'Q �grner wss;•a. T+t�x at. at�ong.
r ihlpiieot; A %!Aepd. a good
'' . S inv�4tg�i�d ` and �tttter.
c @t�I� 11M1!
the flewft, no-
`� 1 p�
Idaho Daily Statesman, Nov 27, 1904, pg3
Alonzo Turner
and wife
Matilda Stafford
&
Daughter CLara
later married
Benjamin Burroughs
and lived in Pendleton, OR
o
r
.
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,_,....:'.Z..1.;7-v..".::,":',....;;..�..tgR9_^.sr '' 4g'_' Rbia"4�_ ..ev1, fb ,?;,;:3 Yl t....
Alonzo Turner
and wife
Matilda Stafford
&
Daughter CLara
later married
Benjamin Burroughs
and lived in Pendleton, OR
Clare Turner Burroughs
dut2. / -
Clare Turner Burroughs
Jo Lane Turner
Jo Lane Turner