Donate

19th century Valley County

A Rich History

What was life like in the early days of Valley County? Relish in the history of Idaho, Witness the ways people traveled, recreated, worked, and lived in this photo essay of 19th century Idaho.

Photographs used by permission from the following Valley County pioneer women:

  • Marilyn Kerby Callendar Whitson
  • Frances Kerby Coski
  • Eileen Scott Evans
  • Eleanor Morgan Manning
  • Donna Morgan Peterson

 

Settlements
and Homesteading

Rural Communities

Each was a center of local commerce, a source of community pride, and each provided a network of social and familial relationships.

A number of local mills supplied lumber for the growing communities. Land, water and timber from the wilderness provided the raw materials needed for these rural communities. Here are several Settlements that were present in the early 19th century.

These settlements were:

 

Transportation
Methods

Daily Commute

Prior to 1905, the majority of people travelled by wagon. They would travel East along the Payette River, North through Sweet and Ola, up through High Valley, Cross the Payette River at Smith’s Ferry, and over the hill to round valley or further north to Long valley on the east of the river. As the Pacific and Idaho Northern tracks worked their way up the Payette River Canyon in 1913 and 1914, businesses in Thunder City, Crawford, Van Wyck and Roseberry moved to the new towns of Cascade and Donnelly which were located on the rail line. 

Timber and
Mining

A Growing Industry

The timber and logging industry played a crucial role in the development and growth of Cascade, Idaho in the early 20th century. Located in the heart of the Idaho panhandle, Cascade was surrounded by vast forests of pine, fir, and larch trees, which were in high demand for use in construction, furniture-making, and paper production. The logging industry provided jobs and economic opportunities for many residents of Cascade and the surrounding area, and the town became a hub for logging-related activities. The timber and logging industry was not without its challenges, however. Loggers faced dangerous working conditions, and the clearcutting of trees had a significant impact on the local environment. Despite these challenges, the industry remained a vital part of the Cascade economy for many years.

Eureka!

The mining industry played a significant role in the development and growth of Cascade, Idaho in the early 20th century. The area surrounding Cascade was rich in minerals, including gold, silver, copper, and lead, and the mining industry provided jobs and economic opportunities for many residents of the town and the surrounding area. The mining industry was a key contributor to the local economy, and many of the town’s early settlers were attracted to the area by the prospect of striking it rich in the mines. The mining industry was not without its challenges, however. Miners faced difficult and dangerous working conditions, and the environmental impact of mining was a concern for many people. Despite these challenges, the industry remained an important part of the Cascade economy for many years.

Indigenous
People

The Native Inhabitants

Centuries before Lewis and Clark crossed northern Idaho, what we know as Long Valley was once the summer home of several tribal groups. Long Valley was a point of overlap for the traditional territories of the Nez Perce to the north, the Shoshone to the Southeast and the Paiute to the southwest.

Recreational
Activities

Recreation