Early settlers of Lewiston, Idaho

The following data is extracted from Bancroft Works, Volume 31, History Of Washington, Idaho, and Montana, 1845-1889, Hubert H. Bancroft, 1890. The History Company, Publishers, San Francisco..

Ezra Bird, born in Schoharie County, N. Y., in 1839, came to California by sea in 1861, remaining in S. F. one year, when he removed to Idaho and engaged mining, express-carrying, and cattle raising. He was elected sheriff of Nez Percé County in 1873, serving 3 terms. He married Alice Odle in 1873.

J. Clindinning, born in St Stephen's, New Brunswick, in 1831, came to California overland in 1851, with a horse team, in company with H. H. Sloan, arriving at American Valley, Plumas County, in July. He mined in different localities for 3 years, when he settled at Crescent City until 1862, at which time he went to the Nez Percé mines, remaining in Elk City 5 years. Subsequently he traded in the mines of Kootenai and Warren, Idaho, and also in the Montana mines, having his headquarters at Lewiston, where he still resides. He married H. E. Martin in 1881.

S. C. Hale, born in Gardiner, Me, in 1829, arrived in California by sailing vessel in 1850, and after a yearns residence at Napa, returned home as he came. The following year he came out to Oregon and resided there 4 years, when he again went home, and married Fidelia Matthews, by whom he has 1 child, a daughter. In 1858 he came out a 3d time, to Olympia, Washington Territory, where he had a brother, C. H. Hale. In 1862 he went to Idaho and settled at Lewiston.

John B. Menomy, born in New York City in 1828, came to California by sea in 1849, remaining in San Francisco until 1856, when he went to Monterey, and thence to the Pajaro Valley. In 1866 he went to the Boise mines, and from there to Lewiston the following year, where he remained. He married in 1864 Mary E. Gloyed, who died. He married a second time, Emma R. Lent, by whom he had 1 child, which died. The mother followed in 1881. He has a brother, Edward T. Menomy, in San Francisco.

Edmund Pearcy, born in Bedford County, Virginia, in 1832, came overland to California, via Sonora, with a drove of cattle, in 1853. Leaving the cattle in the San Joaquin Valley, he went to Oregon, settling in Multnomah County, where he had 3 brothers. In 1856 he went to Scott Valley, California, to mine, with his brother James. On their return his brother was killed by Indians at Grave Creek Hill. In 1850 he went with the Mullan expedition as far as the Bitter Root Mountains, returning to winter at Walla Walla, where he remained 2 years, when he went to Lewiston. He married Mrs Jennie Davis in 1881. His brother, Nathan Pearcy, resided at Portland.

Source: Bancroft Works, Volume 31, History Of Washington, Idaho, and Montana, 1845-1889, Hubert H. Bancroft, 1890. The History Company, Publishers, San Francisco.

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