From stagecoach operator to politician, early Idaho’s John Hailey wound up in Congress

Young John Hailey and his partner, William Ish, operated one of the longest stagecoach routes in the West in 1864. Equipped with Concord coaches, the finest available at the time, the company’s line ran from Walla Walla, Washington, to Kelton, Utah.

Ish & Hailey’s 1865 ad in the Daily Mountaineer of The Dalles, Oregon, noted that their line connected with Oregon Steam Navigation Company steamboats on the Columbia River, which then took passengers on to Portland.

In February 1868, the Idaho Tri-weekly Statesman reported that “JOHN HAILEY, owner of the Pioneer stage line, is in town, just arrived from the Dalles, where he spent most of the winter. He intends moving his family here shortly.” Hailey and his wife, Louisa, would eventually become parents of six children.

On Dec, 17, 1868, the paper noted (referring to his generosity, not his politics): “John Hailey, the liberal stagist, donated this office a box full of webfoot (Oregon) apples last night. John has them for sale at his office at a price which families can afford to pay.”

“JOHN HAILEY,” noted the Statesman on Feb. 11, 1869, arrived here from Salt Lake yesterday, having been over his stage route and perfected arrangements for more speedy and comfortable passages of travelers eastward. The road is still in good condition. Many friends of Mr. Hailey will be pleased to know that he intends to bring up his family from the Dalles, and will hereafter reside at Boise City.”

On April 1, 1869: “John Hailey takes his stages between the Dalles and Umatilla, since the O.S.N. Co. is again running mail boats up the river.”

On July 22, 1869: “John Hailey has a way of doing the elegant that few men possess. One is to transport Oregon fruit to this barren clime and then dispense it with a liberal hand just as though it didn’t cost anything. He hands out a box of apples, or inquires ‘where will you have ‘em’ with as much evident pleasure as if he would stuff a stage with Chinamen at forty dollars a head. Long live Hailey. We acknowledge favors.”

In August 1869, the Statesman reported that “John Hailey is going to have all his coaches newly painted, and the workmen have arrived at LaGrande to do it.”

In July 1871, Hailey was elected mayor of Boise as a Democrat, defeating Republican H.E. Prickett by five votes, 145 to 140, but he never took office, probably because his stage line and other business interests kept him too busy. On Nov. 7, 1871, the Statesman reported: “John Hailey will have his soap and candle manufactory in running order in about two weeks. This will no doubt prove a profitable investment, and of great benefit to the community, as the price of the articles in question will no doubt be materially reduced.”

Three weeks later: “John Hailey has been making considerable improvements at his slaughter house in the lower end of town. His pork-packing establishment and soap factory are nearly completed and will soon be in full operation.”

In January 1872, “Two immense vats, to be used in Hailey’s candle manufactory, arrived from the railroad on Wednesday,” and in August “John Hailey keeps as good, if not the best hams in town.”

In November 1872, John Hailey was elected a delegate to the 43rd U.S. Congress, but declined to run again in 1874. He won election to the 49th Congress in 1884.

This story was originally published July 18, 2020 at 8:00 PM.