Synopsis
• The first white men to enter the Caribou area that takes in parts of western Wyoming, northern Utah, and southeastern Idaho, were likely members of the overland party of W. P. Hunt. Many tribes of Indians hunted here as did the fur traders. One of these traders was Robert Stuart who left a detailed record. • This document contains dates beginning with 1812 and geographical descriptions that can be associated with early sites. • The beaver pelts from the Caribou area were highly prized. Game was drastically reduced before 1850. Antelope, buffalo, and mountain sheep were completely eliminated. • Fort Hall was established in 1834 by Nathaniel Wyeth. The westward movement of pioneers and the gold rush to California were discussed. The Lander Trail was important. The Davis Road connected Montpelier, ID to southwest Wyoming. • A “List of Topographic Names” of streams, mountains and geographic features compiled by F.W. Lander is included. • Varying accounts of the graves on Lane’s Creek are given. There has been some mining in the Caribou area: placer gold, salt, copper, silver and phosphate. Grazing by cattle and sheep changed the quality of the range. Statements of old-timers are presented: L.S. Smart, Eph Ricks, H, H. Thomsen, and A.J. Knollin. • First permanent settlement of Soda Springs was in 1863. Pocatello was originally a town site within the Fort Hall Indian Reservation. When part of the reservation was opened for settlement, there was a “land rush". Some mention is made of the early Star Valley settlements. *This appears to have been copied from a book, but the name of the book is not given nor is the author. The name of Forrest Kennington is handwritten on the first page. There are no pictures. Handwritten notes are on some pages.
Author
Forrest Kennington
Subject
Caribou
Keywords
Caribou, Snake River, Northwest Fur Company, Hudson Bay Company, beaver trapping, Portneuf River, Bear River, Fort Hall, Oregon Trail, Lander Trail, Davis Road, Cariboo City, pioneer graves (Lane’s Creek), Soda Springs, Land Rush 1902, Pocatello
Included Names
Robert Stuart, Peter Skene Ogden, Osborne Russell, Frederick W. Lander, J.C. Fremont, Nathaniel Wyeth, Kit Carson, Jim Bridger, A.J. Knollin, L.S. Smart, Eph Ricks, H.H. Thomsen
Item Location
Building:
SVHS Barn