Breeding livestock, especially cattle, quickly took hold in Idaho Territory

“Stock raising is destined to become one of the leading industries of this Territory,” observed the Idaho World of Idaho City on July 29, 1879. “Twenty-five thousand head of cattle crossed the bridge at Eagle Rock last week. They are being driven east.”

On Oct. 31 that year the Idaho Tri-weekly Statesman of Boise City reported that “Mr. Solomon Jeffries of Weiser City arrived here on the Overland stage yesterday from Cheyenne, where he had driven 800 head of beef cattle, which he sold at fair prices. He says dealers who buy stock in Idaho make a big profit by driving them to market. Idaho ranchers should drive their own.”

A local trade that relied on the cattle industry was described in the Statesman in April 1881: “The handsomest and best stock saddle that has ever been turned out of any shop in Idaho has just been finished in Mr. Perrault’s saddle, harness and hardware establishment in this city, by Mr. T.T. Kelly. It is what is called a basket stamped saddle, and a perfect beauty, and stout enough to pull a bull by the horns.”

In March 1884 the company advertised, “Chaparajoes: Calf, Kip, Bear, Angora, Llama, and Sealskin.” A few months later the ad included “buggy whips, riatas, braided bridles, and silver-inlaid spurs.”

That fall, “C. Derby & Co. have purchased 500 fat steers of J.O. Powers, Superintendent of the Owyhee Land Co. The cattle are to be slaughtered at Winnemucca, and the beef is to be shipped to San Francisco.”

In August 1882, cattle were driven across the Snake River, almost surely with some loss by drowning, although on this occasion the numbers were not reported in the Statesman. It could have been the property of Messrs. Ryan and Lang, described at the time as “the great cattle drovers of this country.”

An ad in the paper printed on Jan. 17, 1884, read: “Thoroughbred Stock, at Payne’s ranch, one and a half miles south of Boise City. Holstein, Jersey cattle. Jersey Red hogs, plus English Berkshire, Poland China, Chester Whites. M.E. Payne.”

That spring: “Seeding down a fine tract of land. Banker C.W. Moore has purchased of John Hailey land on Dry Creek for $7000. He will make it a stock farm as soon as practicable.”

In February 1885: “Ift Kelly has gone out to Snake River, Idaho, to receive the cattle recently purchased from Rand & Steadman. The band numbers in the neighborhood of 6,000 head, the price not being made public but said to be about $200,000.”

That month an ad appeared in the Statesman: “Central Idaho Stock Growers Association. The regular semi-monthly meetings of the Association are held in Boise City every two weeks on Saturday at the City Hall. A cordial invitation is extended to stock growers to join this association.”

In April: “In addition to those already on the ranges 200 fine head of bulls have been brought from the East this spring by cattle growers in southwestern Idaho and turned out on the ranges. In a little while the cattle raised in Idaho will equal in grade and quality the cattle of any state or territory.”