When Benjamin and Elizabeth settled on this site in 1869 the area was already known as the "Lower Boise." The actual Lower Boise post office was established in September 1869 by James Tucker, some seven miles downstream. The Oregon Trail ran along the north bank of the river. Emigrants continued to use the trail after the completion of the transcontinental railroad and the route was also used as a stage and freight route for another twenty years. At the time of the 1870 census, older brother David was listed as head of household, with Benjamin, Elizabeth, one-year old son William, and brother John W. also in the household. The household reported the production of 2500 pounds of butter. Possibly some of the butter was sold to emigrants, as well as being packed to Boise City, or possibly even Silver City.
John's romance with neighbor Hester Bowman as told by his granddaughter, Lorena Estlow Hyde:
John's first marriage to Hester Bowman in 1875 was an elopement. Ellen McConnel, a daughter-in-law of Dave McConnel, gives the following description:
One day, in the spring of 1875 a party of neighbors living in the vicinity of Caldwell were gathering wild geese eggs on the Dixie slough about three miles west of Caldwell. Among the party was Capt. Bowman, a Confederate officer, and John W. McConnel, a fiery Republican, whose elder brother fought for the Union, and who was in love with Hester, the fifteen year old daughter of Capt. Bowman.
Realizing that her father's consent could never be obtained, the young couple decided to take advantage of the opportunity to elope which the day's sport afforded. With the knowledge of the girl's mother and an uncle plans were made very carefully. Two fast saddle horses were in readiness, the side saddle of one being camouflaged with a pack. When the time for the departure arrived the girl slipped into her riding skirt, the pack removed quickly from the side saddle, and they were off. Capt. Bowman and his sons ran for their guns, which Mrs. Bowman and the uncle had taken the precaution to hide, and by the time pursuit was organized the young couple had too long a start to make capture possible.
There were no bridges crossing the Boise at the time, but the ferry which was near the present highway bridge was operated by Mr. Fouch, a minister, who married the couple as they crossed the river on the ferry boat. . . Mr. and Mrs. McConnel went immediately to the Shaffer Creek Ranch (east of Horseshoe Bend, Boise County) owned by the McConnel brothers, where they established their home. Their romance, however, was of short duration, for the following November the girl-bride died of what was then termed quick consumption.
At the time of the census, June 1880, David and his family were living next door to Benjamin and his family. Brother George and his family were living two doors past Bowmans and John W., his second wife Sarah and their young son Charles were in the following dwelling. (see 1880 census at Idaho State University)
Notus, to the northwest, was established as an Oregon Shortline Railroad water tank in 1883. Caldwell was established upstream some six miles the same year. By that time Benjamin had moved further down the river, having sold to James Nicholes in December of 1882.
Cultivators of the earth are the most valuable citizens. - Thomas Jefferson
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