A Trappers Story...

Credit: By E.N. Wilson (Nicked-named "the white Indian boy")

It was during the winter of 1866-67 [when] Hogitsi, a Shoshone Indian friend, proposed that we go up to the Portneuf area and spend the winter trapping. He said he know of a stream full of Beaver, Mink and other fur animals. As we were in destitute circumstances, I agreed.

After asking for credit, (from) Joseph Rich, who had a store in Paris, Idaho, he let us have three horses and enough provisions to last us the winter.

About a week after New Years we struck out. The snow got deeper and deeper through the Soda Springs area, but we pushed on until we reached the Dempsey Creek. {Note: The distance from the Soda Springs area to "Dempsey" was roughly 24 miles.}

Here we made camp next to Cliff of Rocks, near where the Dempsey Creek empties into the Portneuf River (named Tobitapa by the Indians). {Note: it has been stated they camped on the "Old Mac Quinn (McGuinn) Ranch, which was still the home of Mary McGuinn in 1986, when she died.

We built a camp by building up one side of the cliff with a fire place and chimney. Around this we made our shack of quaking aspen poles and willows and long grass to thatch it. And a door stretched over with deer hides. Within the cedars we found plenty of deer for food.

When we started trapping we found beaver, mink, and otter so thick that it was no trick to trap them. I did the traps and the cooking, Hogitsi did the skinning and the stretching. I brought the animals in so fast that I sometimes had to stay in camp and help him get caught up.

When springtime came we had about seven hundred pounds of fur. The mink and beaver sold at two dollars a pound. Otter was worth one dollar a foot.

We turned our pack over to Mr Rich and found we had $900.00 due us after our expenses. He paid us in gold, silver, and greenbacks. Hogitsi was scared when he saw the pile [of money] and when it was divided, he would not take his share. He insisted that it make him too rich..."