My name is Jasper and I came to this territory because Elias D. Pierce found gold while trespassing on the tribal reservation in 1860, creating a gold rush (and some hostilities with the Nez Perce but that's another story).  Boomtowns mushroomed at Pierce, Florence, Lewiston, and Elk City. Florence became the county seat of Idaho County in the Washington Territory and had ten butcher shops, seven bakeries, and eight lawyers!
My lunch box is packed with it's little spout on top so I can take a drink when needed. I have good steel bottomed boots, some picks and shovels, and a sturdy lantern. I’ve already found a little color by panning in streams as you can see from the nuggets in my gold pan.
Panning for gold has been lucrative, but I am also working underground.  My mule, Ruby, packs my supplies and accompanies me into the mine.  She’s sure-footed, good company, and navigates well in the dark. If needed, I can also use her to pull a loaded mining car to the surface.
I hope to have more luck that Mr. Elias Pierce did.  He died penniless but his Clearwater discovery was the beginning of Idaho. Prospectors, far removed from Washington’s territorial capital at Olympia, lobbied Congress for a new territory with government closer to the mines. In 1863, Congress established Idaho Territory and Lewiston became its capital.
**Thanks to Jasper & Ruby and their parents, Jerry &Rosalie Jessup for this living history presentation.  Thanks also to BLM for the loan of the mining cart.