"FALK'S FEED STORE"

Original oil: 24 x 30

My inspiration for this painting came from old Idaho historical photographs. (Gem County Museum and Ron Marlow's recollections of Falk's Store) The store was located along the Payette River in Payette County, near the Gem County boundary on the west. A bridge spanned the river, and the site was thus accessible for miles around. Built in 1865 by Nathan and David Falk, the store operated until 1910, serving as a post office and a stage station. The area of Falk soon became a bustling town and major trading center between Baker, Oregon and Boise City. Today, there is no sign of its existence.

Indian Jake is portrayed in my "picture story" as the short and stocky buckaroo with the big hat. He was raised by James and Louisa Bennett. When the Bennetts left California in 1849 they found three Indian children in the midst of two tribes that had been massacred. The Bennetts raised them like siblings; but Jake could not initially understand the Indian girl, Enis, and boy, John, who were rescued from another tribe. The Bennetts settled in Idaho near the Falk Store and raised horses.

Jake's link with the Falk Store: Jake and John received their last names at Falk's Store. A few settlers had gathered there to vote on an issue but didn't have enough men for a quorum. They saw Jake and John coming down the road. One of the voters said, "Let's call them in and give them last names so we can have an election." The voters gave Jake the name Woods and John the name Mahaferty, thinking it was quite a joke to give an Indian an Irish name.

The Indian children as adults: Enis became a first class cook and stayed with the Bennetts for twenty years. She married a white man and moved to Boise. When the boys were grown, they left the Bennett ranch and took up land on the north side of Squaw Butte. John was a restless person who grew tired of ranching; he soon left to roam as he pleased. Jake remained to live a solitary life close to nature, sharing space with such animals as his hogs, purebred horses, and a pet bull snake. It was many years later that John finally came back to live out his remaining life with his adopted brother.

About every three months Jake rode to either Emmettsville or Falk, leading a pack horse and buying supplies. He had a high stepping brown mare who always pulled his spring seated two wheeled cart. Whether he followed Jake's Creek to Big Willow Creek, ending up in Falk or skirted Squaw Creek to Sweet and traveled on to Emmettsville, it was a long journey.

Both the Swander and Klingback families have recalled stories of Indian Jake's solitary life on the Butte. He became best known for his riding abilities and outstanding purebred horses he raised. My childhood ranch was close enough that my father and brothers would trek over the hillsides and visit the homestead. Presently it is now under BLM ownership. His cabin was still there until a few years ago when there was a fire on the Butte. In 1918, at the age of 65, he died and is buried in the Emmett cemetery. Walter Knox took charge of the funeral services and had a tombstone made in the shape of a tree stump with the name "Jake Wood" engraved. Although he was a simple man living off the land, he left a big imprint upon the lives of many

$900