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Polly Bemis (1853-1933) was sold by her father to Chinese brigands who, in turn, sold her to a group that shipped women slaves to the United States. She was purchased for $2,500 and was brought to the mining camp of Warren, Idaho. Her story after arriving in Idaho is a story of tragedy, endurance, and love. The museum houses most of Polly’s personal items as well as interprets her story to the public. Idaho County’s Most Romantic Character: Polly Bemis and Idaho Chinese Lore, both written by Sr. Alfreda Elsensohn, chronicle Polly's life. |
Frances Wisner (1913-1986) arrived in Idaho in 1940. Through a marriage, she lived and worked at Campbell’s Ferry. In 1945 she contacted the editor of the Idaho County Free Press in Grangeville who agreed to give her a weekly column through which she was able to share her daily experiences and observations along the river. She continued to write her column for some 40 years. She used the column to advocate for issues which she believed in, including prohibiting air spotting and radio detected hunting as well as promoting the eventual placement of the Campbell’s Ferry Bridge. She was a true pioneer ecologist who composted garden waste, hiked miles of remote trails, protected wildlife, and tread lightly on the soil long before these ideas were popular. Her book, My Mountains, details her life on the Salmon River. The book, Haven in the Wilderness by Carol Furey- Werhan, tells Frances’s life story. |
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Sylvan “Buckskin Bill” Hart (1906-1980) was a “modern-day mountain man”. He arrived on the Salmon River in 1932 during the Depression and remained until his death. His story is one of survival in the harsh environment of the Salmon River canyon. He raised his own food, built his own home, and created unique items to survive in the wilderness. The museum has a large collection of Buckskin Bill’s handmade artifacts including utensils, rifles, knives, and buckskin bags. Two books, A River Went Out of Eden by Chana Cox and The Last of the Mountain Men by Harold Peterson, tell the story of this Idaho loner. |