was born in Dairy, New Hampshire, August 6, 1823. He received a common school education, and, after leaving school, learned the trade of carpentering. In 1842 he left home, at the age of nineteen, and visited different parts of the South, working at his trade. In 1846 he joined the St. Louis legion, and under General Taylor participated in the engagement at Monterey. He then returned to St. Louisand organized a company, of which he became lieutenant, and served on the frontier, becoming also regimental quartermaster.
At the close of the Mexican war he went to Washington, and from there struck out for California, arriving at San FranciscoJuly 16, 1849. Engaged in mining and stock raising at the mines, and, in 1856, for about a year ran a stage line from Los Angeles to San Diego. He then engaged in cattle trading between California and British Columbia, and in 1861 went to Hong Kong, China, where he engaged in flour speculations, and on his return from there, in 1864, was shipwrecked at Cape Flattery, he and three sailors being the only ones who reached the shore, by making a raft and suffering intense privations for three days.
From 1866 to 1870 he was engaged incattle trading between Boise City and Silver City,locating at Silver City in 1867. In 1870 helocated a ranch at Castle creek, being the first settler in that section, andhas since permanently resided there, engaged in ranching and fruit raising.
was born in Des Moinescounty, Iowa, February 10, 1847.Schooled there, and was brought up on the farm. In 1864 he crossed the plains with an ox team, and spent the winter in Idaho City,the following spring engaging in mining. In 1866-7 was engaged in freighting between Umatilla and Boise; in 1868 ranched near Caldwell, and in 1869 located in Bruneau valley, where he has since permanently resided, engaged in ranching and stock raising.
Is a member of the I.0. 0. F. and K. of P. fraternities, and has never aspired to any political office.
The twin brothers, Andrew Jackson Palmer and George Washington Palmer, were born in Somerset county, Maine, November 10, 1833. At the age of seventeen theyleft home for Boston, where they obtained employment and remained until 1854, when they struck out for California by way of the Isthmus, reaching San Francisco in June, 1854.
They then engaged in placer—mining and hotel—keeping, in Trinity county, California, until 1864, when Andrew left for Walla Walla, leaving his brother George in Trinity county. Andrew then engaged in packing between Walla Walla and Owyhee and the (Boise) Basin, making several trips to Silver City. In 1869 he was joined by George, and they located in Jordan valley, engaged in ranching. In 1875, during the South Mountain excitement, they joined the crowd and went broke.
For a couple of years they mined on Florida hill, and in 1880 located at Pleasant Valley and engaged instockraising. They gave up their ranch in 1892, but still continued in the stockraising business. Are the owners of good mining property on Florida Mountain, and are also engagedin wood—contracting.
was born in Shelby County, Indiana, January 22, 1833, and left there at the age of sixteen, with his parents, and moved to Fulton County, Illinois. He went to Iowain 1855, and remained there until 1857, when he crossed the plains for California, and was engaged in mining for several years in Shasta, Trinity and Siskiyou counties. In 1862 he made a prospecting tour to Idaho,and located at Boise basin, where he mined until 1866, when he came to Owyhee county, and was engaged in mining on the War Eagle until 1882, when he located in Bruneau valley and engaged in wool growing and farming.
He owns two ranches in Bruneau valley,consisting of 360 acres, fenced, partly cultivated, but mostly pasture lands.
Mr. Portlock is a member of Silver Citylodge, A. F. & A, M., but has never sought office at the hands of his neighbors.
His son, H. S. Portlock, who resides in the valley, is a native son of Idaho, and was born at Payette, Ada County.
was born in Bradford, New Hampshire, May 19, 1821. Received a common school education, and followed the farm until he reached the age of nineteen, when he went to Boston and clerked there until 1849, when he left for California, arriving there January 20, 1850. Was custom-house inspector for a short time at San Francisco, and then struck out for the mines. After farming and mining in various parts of California and Nevada, he arrived at Ruby City, July 4, 1865, and engaged in the dairy business at Silver City, his dairy being located at Avondale, two miles from Silver City. Did a lucrative business there, and in March, 1870, located at Castle Creek, where he was engaged in ranching up to the time of his death, which occurred April 24, 1895.
Mr. Presby was postmaster as Castle Creek thirteen years, and held the office of justice of peace in that precinct over eighteen years, He was held in high esteem by all who knew him.
was born in Barre, Orleans County, N.Y.,September 12, 1824. He crossed the plains in ‘49, and was for several years engaged in mining atthe various diggings in California. Subsequently he taught school in Oregon, and when the Boise basin excitement broke out was one of the first to reach that locality.
He was a member of the “twenty—nine" party who on May 18, 1863, discovered the Owyhee mines, and was engaged inmining at Silver City until 1870, when he went to Utah; but returned in 1874 to Silver City, where he resided up to the time of his decease.
When the safety of Silver City was threatened by the Bannock Indians, in June, 1878, he was one of the first to enlist in the volunteer company organized for the defense of the settlements, and lost his life in the engagement with the Indians that took place at South Mountain on June 8, 1878. He was deputy auditor and recorder of Owyhee County for several years, and on the death of County Treasurer Henry Hyman, in 1875, was appointed to fill his place. He was also principal of the public school at Silver City for a good many years, was a member of the Masonic fraternity, for several years secretary of the grand lodge of Idaho, and was a prominent Odd Fellow; was buried in the Masonic cemetery at Silver City.