A quest for Silver Valley treasures
As the editor and publisher of the Spokane Falls Review in 1886, Frank M. Dallam, was invited to take a guided tour of the Coeur d’Alene mining region by Nelson Martin, the owner of the stage lines which ran from then Spokane Falls to Ft. Sherman in Coeur d’Alene. Mr. Dallam kept a journal of his personal observations of the Coeur d’Alene mining camps, which was published in his newspaper Saturday, March 20, 1886.
After arriving at the military post in Coeur d’Alene, the stage coach passengers boarded the steamboat “Coeur d’Alene” and enjoyed first-class accommodations across Coeur d’Alene Lake to the landing at the Cataldo Mission on the Coeur d’Alene River. From the Mission, Martin’s stage line was used to continue the 5 miles up the river to Kingston. Prior to the completion of the railroads, it was then necessary to continue the journey on horseback from Kingston to the mining camps along the South Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River, following the old “Mullan Road.” Mr. Dallam observed that the road, completed by Capt. John Mullan about 25 years earlier, was barely a recognizable trail in 1886.
Nelson Martin’s Stage Line Advertisement, Spokane Evening Review, Oct. 7, 1885The next day, Dallam and Martin reached the camp of “Milo” (now known as “Kellogg”) and less than a mile farther up the gulch, was the town of “Kentucky," familiarly known as “Kentuck," which is now known as “Wardner.”
Dallam added color to prominent citizens of Wardner, such as Noah Kellogg and his mule; Jim Wardner and Con Sullivan of the Bunker Hill & Sullivan Mines; and developer Tony Tubbs. He described Tubbs as “the once-landed prince of Coeur d’Alene City” until “riches took wings and Tubbs was stood on his bottom.” Dallam discovered Tubbs assisting Tom Irwin in running the only eating house in Kentuck (Wardner).
Continuing the treacherous journey by horseback and following the Two-mile Trail, Dallam and Martin crossed over the ridge, arriving at Beaver Creek and the town of Delta.
Dallam described the placer as well as quartz mining operations, and the extensive flume constructed by John Hermann. In his journal, Dallam reminisced about Andrew J. Prichard and his original discovery of gold on Prichard Creek. The important mines visited in the Murray district were the Golden Chest, the Vanderbilt, Frank Reed’s Dream Gulch mine and the famed Mother Lode Mine in Littlefield, co-owned by William King. King was affectionately known locally as “Uncle Billy” and had previously been Shoshone County’s representative to the Idaho Territorial legislature.
There were extensive descriptions of the prominent settlers of Murray, such as newspaper men Adam Aulbach of the Sun and O. H. Culver of the Record, merchants Walter Blossom, Jack Covillaud, W. T. Stoll and banker Warren Hussey of the Bank of Murray.
Although Mr. Dallam’s motivation in accepting Nelson Martin’s invitation for a guided tour from Spokane was to enhance his own knowledge of the mining communities in the Idaho Panhandle, he additionally hoped to use his own newspaper to promote Spokane as the commercial center for supplies and travel from the west to the mines. Dallam’s “travelogue” contains colorful characterizations of the early pioneers and settlements and is a treasure for Silver Valley history buffs.
The Library and Archives at the Museum of North Idaho are available for researchers with an appointment. The Exhibit Hall is closed for the winter. Call 208-664-3448 for more information or visit Museumni.org.