Person:James McTucker (4)

LIST of LETTERS -- Remaining in the Stockton Post Office on the 1st day of January, 1859. Persons asking for these letters will please say "Advertised January 1st, 1859"...James McTucker http://newsarch.rootsweb.com/th/read/CASANJOA/2006-03/1143565203

Stockton Daily Independent, Stockton, San Joaquin Co., CA Saturday 1 Dec. 1866 LAND PATENTS -- Patents from the General Land-office at Washington have been received at the United States Land-office in Stockton for the following named persons, who, upon the surrender of their certificates to S.T. NYE, Register, will receive the same: ...James McTucker http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/CASANJOA/2008-06/1214239053

Name Index, California GLO/BLM Land Patents http://vredenburgh.org/capatents/79.htm MCTUCKER JAMES ;San Joaquin; Sacramento ;CACAAA 045133

10 July 1866 James McTucker surrendered to the General Land Office of the US in Stockton, CA, a certificate of the Register of the Land Office

James McTucker and T. J. Beebe were opposing parties in a debt case in Weber County, Utah on 1 OCtober 1867: Reel 2, box 2, folder 101, Series #1593

California Voter Registers 1867-1879, Sacramento County (on Ancestry.com) image 142 of 482 Voter number 5759, James McTucker, age 37, born Pennsylvania, resides Alabama Township, registered 27 July 1866 image 208 of 482 Voter number 6045, James McTucker, age 37, born Pennsylvania, resides Alabama Township, registered 27 July 1866

1870 US Census, Oneida County, Idaho, page 5, line 7, james McTucker

Fenn vs. Bennett. Papers in the case of S.S. Fenn vs. T.W. Bennett, delegate from the Territory of Idaho. Date: 1876-01-01; Publication: Serial Set Vol. No. 1699, Session Vol. No.2; Report: H.Misc.Doc. 82 page 54 - (Summary) Two witnesses identify James McTucker as someone he knew to have been residents of Oneida County prior to November 3, 1874, and his name is included on the list of Poll-book, Blackfoot Precinct, Oneida County, Idaho as of 14 February 1875. page 69 -

“Journal of S. G. Fisher, Chief of Scouts to General O. O. Howard During the Campaign Against the Nez Perce Indians, 1877”, included in “Contributions to the Historical Society of Montana, Vol 2:, : published by the State Publishing Co., Helena, Montana 1896, and available on googlebooks “Sunday, August 19, 1877...McTucker has been helping us for two days to get the thing started.” Evidently the author was responsible for gathering supplies and recruiting Indian scouts for the war with the Nez Perce.

Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 27 December 1878 page 4 Central ferry The New Route to the Salmon River Mines Eds. Tribune: I noticed an article in THE TRIBUNE asserting that T. T. Danielson had made a new road to the Salmon river mines, free of lava, with plenty of water, etc. Now Mr. Danielson runs a ferry at this place for trains to the Salmon mines, and it is not his intention to have anything published in connection with the ferry that will tend to deceive the public. The article above mentioned is only partially correct. It was not his intention to advertise the new route until it was open for travel, but since THE TRIBUNE Got ahead of him I will give you the particulars. The line of the new road was made by Mr. James McTucker, our newly elected assessor for this county - for many years a resident of Snake river - who went out in the interest of the ferry, with water, men and provisions. McTucker found a good road across the country from Snake to Lost river, where it intersects the Boise road, the route being free from lava, and in a straight line across the country from the ferry. It is from twenty-five to thirty miles shorter than the old road, which went around by the Lower Butte. This party spent four days looking for water, without success. But it is the opinion of McTucker that water can be got at now great depth by sinking wells, as the country looks favorable for it in several places. If water can be had about midway, this will be the shortest and best road that can e ver be made to the Salmon River mines. As it is now, the drive from river to river would be forty miles without water. The Utah Northern Railroad is completed to the new town, which was laid off about half a mile from the ferry, and if water is found on the new wagon road, this will be the shipping point for the Boise freight, as it is fifty miles nearer from the track of the Utah Northern at this point than by any other route they can take. Perhaps there is no better opening to be had just now than for one or two enterprising men to start a ranch on this new route and dig a well. This ferry has now an established reputation, and in ordeer to accomodate the increasing travel the boat will be enlarged during the winter, and be ready for the spring trade. A. Z., Central Ferry, Oneida County, Dec. 23rd, 1878

Blackfoot Register 16 October 1880 page 1 Pre-emption Notice ...witnesses...James McTucker...all of Blackfoot, Oneida County, ID

Blackfoot Register, 1 January 1881 page 1 Hotel Arrivals The following are among the arrivals at the Keeney House this week: Jas McTucker,...Snake river...

Owyhee Avalanche, 2 April 1881 page 3 List of Letters Remaining in the Post Office at Silver City, I.T., April 1, 1881: McTucker, J.

Salt Lake Daily Tribune 2 July 1882 page 1 Blackfoot Description of One of Idaho’s Chief Shipping Points (Correspondince Trubune) Blackfoot Idaho, 20 June, 1880 (Note: This article is a descripton of the town and its inhabitants) ...James McTucker as his meat market supplies the people of Blackfoot and Fort Hall with meats....

Blackfoot Register 4 August 1883 page 3 (Note: this is a summary of the advertisement expressing Leon Missien’s intention to make final proof in support of his claim)...James McTucker..., all of Oneida County, Idaho.

Blackfoot Register, 25 July, 1885 page 5 Incorporated The Idaho Reporter Publishing Co. organized as a corporation under the Territorial laws on the 16th day of July with a capital stock of two thousand dollars. The following persons were elected directors:...James McTucker...

Blackfoot Register, 9 May 1885 page 5 The Juries The following is a list of the names of the Territorial or Trial Juries for the coming term of court.... Trial Jury....James McTucker

Idaho Register, 20 October 1893 page 4 Proceedings of the Board of County Commissioners at the October Session, 1893 The following bills were allowed on the general fund and clerk directed to draw warrants for the several amounts as follows:... James McTucker, junior certificates $3.00

Idaho Register, 19 January 1894 page 4 Proceedings of the Board of County Commissioners of Bingham County, Idaho, at their January Session, 1894.... It is ordered that the sum of $100 be and the same is hereby appropriated for the purpose of purchasing a ditch right and water for the court house grounds, to be applied as follows: The sum of $50 to be paid to James McTucker for one half share of water stock in the Eastern Idaho Water Co. and a right of way to run the water through a ditch already constructed and owned by said James McTucker and J. A. Bierly....and that said McTucker and Bierly execute a deed and make proper conveyance of said water stock.

Idaho Falls Times 30 January 1896, page 12 Commissioners’ Proceedings...Jury List...James McTucker...

Idaho Falls Times, 19 May 1898 page 8 (Note: List of delinquent taxpayers) McTucker, Jas, 16 ft off 10 on Main st. (Note: legal description illegible) Blackfoot. $92.85

1900 US Census, Blackfoot Precinct, Bingham County, Idaho Enumeration District 43, sheet 15, household 291, 29 June 1900 James McTucker, head, white, male, born Aug 1829, single, born in Pennsylvania, father born in Ireland, mother born in Pennsylvania, proprietor meat market, can read write and speak English, owns mortgaged home

Idaho Register 7 March 1902 page 2 Delinquent Tax Notice...Office of Assessor and Tax Collector of Bingham County, Idaho. Blackfoot, Idaho Feb 20, 1902 Notice is hereby given that on Monday, April 11, 1902, the Assessor and Tac Collector of Bingham county, Idaho, will sell at public auction... McTucker, Jas., 25 feet between bks 28 and 29, lot 10 bk 28, Blackfoot $50.25

Idaho Register 31 July 1903 page 2 Commissioners’ Proceedings, County of Bingham, Idaho (Note: in the list of appropriations to be paid)... James McTucker, mdse pest house $6.10

Idaho Register, 1 September 1905, page 11 Old Resident Called Home The Blackfoot Democrat says: As we go to press we learn that Mr. James McTucker, one of Blackfoot’s oldest and most respected citizens, died this (Friday) morning. Death was caused from erysipelas from which he had been suffering for about ten days. His remains are now at Brown * Eldredge’s undertaking parlors.

FindAGrave.com Grove City Cemetery, Blackfoot, Bingham County, Idaho, USA http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=McTucker&GScid=80494&GRid=8629679& Inscription: James McTucker Born Aug. 15, 1829 Died Aug 25, 1906 Photo of tombstone confirms transcribed inscription. Why is the year of death wrong?

The Daily Bulletin, Blackfoot, Idaho, Thursday 6 December 1928 The Story of Idaho The history of Blackfoot is the History of Idaho. The story of the founding of the town fifty years ago this month would be flat and meaningless unless one understood the environment. To understand the founding of the town one must know the circumstances that brought it about, to get a proper picture of this important event and of its unimportance now, on has to know what existed in those localities that are now spoken of as other communities. To get that setting and understand the background, let us go back to the summer before it was founded and to get a proper setting of what was doing then, let us have a look at Idaho marveled at each others talent and the summer before that, namely the summer of 1876. James McTucker, Pioneer James McTucker was one of the men who settled in the Ft. Hall country in the sixties, and was Indian farmer at the ross Fork Agency until the railroad was built. He opened a butcher shop in Blackfoot, was active in starting the first school, furnished the first well for the town, and in many ways was the guardian of the town. He was a member of the school the rest of his life, and for many years was the whole board. He always gave the kiddies a treat of fruits or nuts and candies at Christmas time until the school became large enough to receive the attention of a full fledged board and a large student body. For about twenty years Mr. McTucker ws the chamber of commerce, the Red Cross, the associated charities and Santa Claus, and when the town became very much civilized, some of the citizens, mostly new-comers, learned that he was not a member of any church, and maintained a great silence regarding churches, they nominated a man to take his place on the school board. On the day of election they went out and worked with much vigor condemning McTucker, the unbeliever, and said he was not a suitable person to serve on the school board. He went on about his work, accepted defeat without comment, and died about the year 1905, alone and neglected during the major part of his illness. When his condition became known it was too late to restore him. McTucker Springs near the original site of the Tilden bridge bore his name and with the filling of the big reservoir they were submerged. Mr. McTucker was noted for never speaking ill of people, never talking about those who harmed him, and never saying a word about his many charities adn helpful things he did for those who needed something he could supply. The monument to his memory is in the hearts of men and women he aided. If you want to see a landmark that bears his imprint, look along the center of his pavement on West Pacific street between Main and Broadway and note a sink in the pavement in front of The Blue Bucket about six feet across. That marks the site of the McTucker well where everybody went for water for the first few years. He supplied the rope and pulley and the two buckets, and whenever it got out of order by somebody throwing a bucket in after he got his, McTucker would send a man to repair the damage and get “The Town Pump: again into action.

“Bingham County History”, Written and Compiled by The People of Bingham County, published by Bingham County Historical Society Book Committee, Blackfoot, Idaho, 1990. page 409 James McTucker James McTucker settled in the Fort Hall Country in the 1860s. He farmed near the Ross Fork Agency until the Utah and Northern Railroad reached Blackfoot in 1878. He moved to Blackfoot in 1878. James was concerned that the children of Blackfoot have educational opportunities. He helped start the first school. for almost the rest of his life he was a member of the school board. In fact, for many years, he was the school board. In the early years of the school he saw to it that each child received a treat of fruit, nuts and candy at Christmas. He was noted for never speaking ill of people and never talked about those who harmed him. for close to 20 years James was the Chamber of Comerce, the Red Cross, the associated charities and Santa Claus. He quietly helped those in need, never asking or expecting anything in return. James dug the first well in Blackfoot and equipped it. For the first few years it was the only well, and everyone used it. When the equipment broke down, James repaired it or hired someone to repair it. On May 25, 1901, James resigned from the school board because of the defeat of a special school tax. James wanted the tax money to improve the schools. On June 5, 1901, all the rest of the school trustees resigned for the same reason. James became ill in 1905. Unfortunately, those whom he had served for so many years seemed to neglect him, perhaps not realizing the gravity of his illness. Upon his death one man captured the sentiment of the people who had known him for many years. “The monument to James’ memory is in the heart of men and women he aided.” James, never married, died August 25, 1905. - Permission from David L. Crowder.

Idaho State Journal, Pocatello, Idaho, 2 March 1950 page 10 Indians Called Him “Bald Head,” But He Was Diamond In The Rough By T. G. Bond BLACKFOOT - His name was James McTucker. The Indians called him “Patsegora” or Bald Head.” McTucker was one of the greatest characters produced by the State of Idaho; an orphan at eight years. At ten years he walked twelve miles to hear Douglas and Lincoln debate. As a boy I used to sit in McTucker’s room back of the butcher shop and listen to his storiesof the gold days, the scouts and Indian fighters. He always tried to impress upon me the sacred principles of our country’s government. Ofttimes he’d stand by his little table and deliver Doughas’s flowery speech in his debate with Lincoln, then sit down and scratch his chin and fix his beady eyes on every movement, every word, as Lincoln would rise in rebuttal. Then McTucker would deliver Linconln’s speech in all its majesty and simplicity with his long forefinger pointing out the everlasting rruths of our government - “a house divided against itself cannot stand” - the only gesture Lincoln ever used. Went West As a young boy he went West with the gold rush to California. For a number of years he ran a dairy, supplying milk to the miners. Later, moving to Idaho, re ran a ferry boat at the Ferry Butte. His ranch was near. We called the spring on his ranch “McTucker’s spring.” He laid out the wagon road from Blackfoot to Lost River. He founded the Blackfoot school, and was president of the school board for many years. Having no family, he adopted all the children in town. Times were hard, but no child missed his chance to go to school because of lack of books, shoes or clothes. No man or animal left his door without being fed. He had a horse and cart for use in his shop. For twenty-five years he carried all who died, rich or poor, in the cemetery in his cart, never charging a penny, always sitting outside in the cart. He never entered a church, yet he lived between two saloons and never entered a saloon. He kept a little room back of his shop, with chairs and papers and a barrel of water, always full, and a cup hanging near. Always said “drink it while you are young.” His knowledge of history and the country’s government was profound. His opinion on a political issue was the last word. McTucker’s butcher shop and its credit was the rock upon which the early settlers leaned. The Indians were never denied credit, and a word from Mack settled disputes between Whites and Indians. We had peace at all times. The sorrel horse that pulled the cart on its daily rounds was like its master, getting old. One morning it wouldn’t eat; by noon it couldn’t rise to its feet; beat its head on the ground. For McTucker the sun seemed to set. They had grown old together. Sitting in his chair, never eating or sleeping, McTucker waited and hoped. Two men were hired at three dollars a day, when a dollar was hard to get. For three days they stood at the horse’s side, night and day, doing all in their power to make the passing of the horse as easy as possible. When the end came, a grave was properly dug, the horse placed carefully in it, then McTucker sent everyone away. McTucker was left alone with his friend in its last rites. After this, the old man seemed to fade. His spirit wandered far away. I held his hand in the early evening one day as the sun was setting. He roused from a little sleep, and said, “read me the headlines in the paper.” I did. He wished me goodnight, and said, “the teams and wagon are ready, we’ll start on a long trip early in the morning, and camp on the first feed and water.” The teams and wagons were ready. But Mac didn’t make the trip he planned. Instead, we gave him his last ride. But all of us have missed him throughout the years.

Idaho state Journal, Pocatello, Idaho 7 January 1966 page 4 A letter from Dick W. Stevens, Blackfoot, Idaho ...on April 4th, 1866, my mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. Frederick S. Stevens, accompanied by a large party including such well known Blackfooters as the late James McTucker and the late Albert Lyon, established the first stage station in this vicinity about 4 1/2 miles from what later became the village of Blackfoot. For many years, this place was known as the Stevens Ranch and ws the “Sunday Rendezvous” for hundreds of prominent people from senators to school teachers. At this date, the log house in which all of the F. S. Stevens children were born in a complete ruin and the brick house in which I spent my boyhood and young manhood, is in a sad state of decay.

Trail Dust, Idaho Chapter, Oregon-California Trails Association XiX Issue 8 September 2006 http://www.idahoocta.org/TD_September_2006.pdf ...The plan and intent included getting to the most northern route from Blackfoot to Big Butte - once designated as a variant of Goodale’s Cutoff - to add new decals to the existing posts. These indicate more accurately that this was “McTucker’s Road.” Opened in the late 1880’s by a man of that name, this was firstly a road for a stage route from Blackfoot to connect to the Cutoff near Big Butte. Some emigrants did follow that trail in the 1890’s and after the turn of the century according to diaries and other accounts by the James C. Murray family of the Big Butte Station, operator during that time.

Trail Dust, Idaho Chapter, Oregon-California Trails Association XiX Issue 9 October 2006 http://www.idahoocta.org/TD_October_2006.pdf MCTUCKER DESIGNATION FINISHED Dick Hill, BLM Archaeologist from Idaho Falls, made possible the accurate historical re-marking of the trail that connected with and supplemented the Jeffrey-Goodale Cutoff on the eastern end. The accounts of the travelers that passed through Big Butte State Station , about 35 miles NW of Blackfoot, ID, inform us that some emigrants used that road. However, the route was not opened for passage through the Cerro Grande lava flow until the late 1880’s, when the road was finished by James McTucker. His crew blasted the basalt and opened at least part of the total road to Big Southern Butte. The satellite photo above shows the old road, double-swales on the left and the cut through the unpassable volcanic rock. No one had any more fun than Fred Dykes, the early research who published all the information which led to the designation of the McTucker. his good-by at the end of the day included the fact that “he learned and saw some things he had not known before.” Fred is now a rider with others who get to see everything, having before made many trips to the area but always driving for others so they could enjoy the sights and scenes. Thanks Lyle Lambert for giving Fred this consideration. And thanks Fred for all your work, research, publications and time for others that you have given OCTA and I-OCTA over many years. (Lyle Lambert suggested to the group that probably in 50 years the McTucker route will be renamed again. “Fred Dykes Road!”) During the September 9, 2006, visit to the big Butte area and the trail travel and burned-area marking the Jeffrey-Goodale Cutoff, time ran out before the McTucker Road marking could be done. This was in its own way fortunate, for the second trip still took a long day to cover the complete route. The adding of 21 new posts and renewing of decals on 41 more prior markers along the nearly 18 miles of trail remnants that remain took a full-day of travel, discovering some new swales, and sharing in the trail=time pleasures. The historic importance of this road was not a bit diminished by the accurate re-designation.

Miscellaneous Documents of the House of Representatives for the First Session of the Forty-Fourth Congress. FENN vs. BENNETT page Deposition of Morgan Morgan Int. 11 Look now, at Exhibit F and indicate the names of the persons therein contained whom you know to have been residents of Oneida County prior to November 3, 1874. Ans. ...James McTucker... page 69. Deposition of Francis Levan, Tuesday February 23, 1875, Int. 21. Look now at Exhibit F and indicate the names of the persons therein contained whom you know to have resided in Idaho Territory four months, and in Oneida County thirty days, prior to November 3, 1874. A(nswer) - ...James McTucker... Int. 22. Who of these persons you have named are freighters or teamsters? A. None that I can name. page 81 Exhibit F. Poll-book Blackfoot precinct, Oneida County, Idaho. ...5. James McTucker...

1. ↑ 1900 United States Federal Census
   Blackfoot Precinct, Bingham County, Idaho Enumeration District 43, sheet 15, household 291, 29 June 1900.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} James McTucker Gravesite.
3. ↑ James McTucker Obituary.