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Idaho County Free Press
Thursday, January 28, 1954
Long Time County Resident Oscar Maxwell Succumbs
Oscar Maxwell, 84, a resident of Idaho County since 1892, died at General
hospital Wednesday morning. Although he had been a patient in the hospital since
January 5, 1953, he always remained alert and bright, glad to visit and up in a
chair daily and his sudden passing came as a surprise to the hospital staff.
He was born in Clinton, Iowa coming to Idaho County as a young man, where he
raised livestock, spending time at Elk City, Salmon River and other places in
the area.
Only survivor is his daughter, Gertrude Maxwell of Elk City who was coming to
Grangeville Wednesday afternoon to make funeral and burial arrangements. The
body is resting at Ailor Mortuary.
Idaho County Free Press
Thursday, February 4, 1954
Rites Held Saturday For Oscar Maxwell
Elk City (Special)---Funeral services for Oscar Maxwell, who died at Grangeville
January 27, were held last Saturday morning at the Ailor chapel with Rev. John
W. Briggs officiating. Interment was in Prairie View Cemetery.
Mrs. Helen Brieze sang hymns with Mrs. Bob Box presiding at the organ.
Pallbearers were John D. Spencer, M.H. Williams, George Anderson, Geo. J. Smith,
Hugh Arnold and Idaho Litchfield.
Oscar was born near Clinton, Missouri December 11, 1869, the second of a family
of nine. Three of the family survive: Charley Maxwell and Carrie Owens, Collins,
Iowa, and Bert Maxwell, Mingo, Iowa.
Oscar left home in 1887 and for five years cowboyed in Wyoming and Montana. He
came to Idaho in 1892 over the old Nez Perce Indian trail, traveling with Ed
Brown, Al Stanley, and Frank Housel.
That winter the men and their 18 head of pack and saddle stock wintered on the
Salmon River at the present site of the Allison ranch.
He trapped for the next two winters in the same vicinity before moving to the
early mining town on Elk City where he established a saloon and livery stable.
On Sept 3, 1899, he was married to Rachel N. Garner of Melrose Idaho. Their
first home was Dixie, Idaho where Mr. Maxwell hauled cordwood to the Ajax mine.
The next year he operated a sawmill on American River. In 1901 he bought out Sam
Myers' homestead right in the Big Elk Creek Valley, where he and his family
resided until he moved to Stites in the 1920's, where he was associated with the
operation of the old stage line from there to Elk City.
His wife died in 1933.
Mr. Maxwell farmed in the Stites and Kooskia areas until stricken by paralysis,
and also had the misfortune of several broken bones.
He had been a patient at General hospital since January 5, 1953. His demise came
suddenly and quietly at the hospital Wednesday morning of last week.
His daughter, Gertrude Maxwell of Elk City, is his only survivor here in the
west
Submitted by Chris Cornett
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