Big Dave Updyke – Crooked Sheriff of Ada County, Idaho
The annals of the American West are filled with tales of fortune, frontier justice, and individuals who straddled the line between lawman and outlaw. Among these figures is David C. "Big Dave" Updyke, whose story in Ada County, Idaho, serves as a stark reminder of the corruption that could fester even within the structures of authority. His life, a complex tapestry woven with ambition, criminality, and ultimately, vigilante justice, paints a vivid picture of a bygone era.
Born around 1830 near the serene shores of Cayuga Lake, New York, David C. Updyke’s early life offered little indication of the path he would eventually tread. Hailing from a respected family, one boasting prominent citizens of the state, Updyke was often considered the "black sheep," seemingly destined for a life outside the conventional expectations of his upbringing. This sense of restlessness and perhaps a yearning for something more would propel him westward, setting the stage for his transformation into a controversial figure.
In 1855, Updyke ventured to the burgeoning state of California, where he found employment with the California Stage Company. For two years, he navigated the dusty trails and treacherous terrain as a stage driver, a role that demanded both skill and resilience. These early experiences undoubtedly shaped his understanding of the West, exposing him to the vast distances, the constant threat of danger, and the lure of quick riches that defined the era. After his stint as a stage driver, Updyke’s journey continued, leading him to British Columbia in search of new opportunities. However, finding nothing to his liking, he returned to California, spending time in Yuba County and later in the bustling mining town of Virginia City, Nevada.
The discovery of gold in Idaho in 1862 drew Updyke eastward once more. He initially tried his luck in Florence and Warren before settling in Boise County, where he worked a lucrative claim on Ophir Mountain. By 1864, he had amassed a considerable sum of over $1,500, a testament to his hard work and perhaps a hint of the shrewdness that would later define his character. With this newfound wealth, he relocated to Boise City and purchased a livery stable in the heart of town. This seemingly innocuous business venture would soon become the epicenter of his illicit activities. Though Big Dave Updyke had not been linked to any crimes previously, he began associating with known criminals, turning his livery stable into a gathering place for robbers and road agents.
This association with the criminal underworld did not prevent Big Dave Updyke from seeking public office. In March 1864, he ran for and was elected Sheriff of Ada County. Despite his questionable associations, he was a powerful figure in the Democratic Party, securing a narrow victory. It wasn’t long before suspicions arose that Updyke was involved in circulating stolen gold dust and participating in a stage robbery near Boise City. The constant presence of unsavory characters at his stable led to them being dubbed "Updyke’s Gang" by the local populace. Despite these accusations, Updyke and his associates were adept at concealing their tracks, making it difficult to gather concrete evidence against them.
One of Updyke’s first actions as sheriff was to vow to dismantle a vigilante organization of about 30 men operating in the Payette River settlement, roughly 30 miles from Boise City. This decision infuriated many law-abiding citizens who viewed the vigilantes as their only protection against the rampant thievery and violence perpetrated by road agents. Updyke, however, seemed unconcerned with public opinion. He managed to obtain the names of the vigilantes and secure warrants for their arrest. The plan, as it was rumored, was far more sinister than a simple arrest. Updyke and his posse allegedly intended to kill the vigilante leaders, claiming they had resisted arrest.
The plan involved a group of 15 to 20 armed men leaving Boise City, meeting up with additional road agents at Horse Shoe Bend, and then proceeding to the Payette River settlement to execute the warrants. However, news of Updyke’s scheme reached the citizens of Boise City, who secretly sent a messenger to warn the Payette vigilantes. As Updyke’s posse departed Boise City, the vigilantes were already assembling to defend themselves. Upon reaching Horse Shoe Bend, Updyke’s group failed to meet up with the expected reinforcements and continued on their way.
Arriving at Payette River, Updyke and his men were surprised to find themselves outnumbered two to one. Forced into negotiations, Updyke was compelled to comply with the vigilantes’ demands. The vigilantes agreed to go to Boise City to answer the warrants, but they refused to be disarmed by Updyke or his men. Upon arriving in Boise City and consulting with an attorney, the charges against the vigilantes were dismissed, and they were released. This humiliation fueled the vigilantes’ resentment toward Updyke, leading them to closely monitor his activities. The public increasingly believed that the "Updyke Gang" was behind nearly every crime in the area.
The next major crime attributed to the "Updyke Gang" was the stage robbery in Portneuf Canyon, where four passengers were killed. On July 26, 1865, Updyke and three other outlaws robbed a stagecoach carrying approximately $86,000 in gold. Four passengers were killed in the ensuing chaos, and the stage driver and another passenger were wounded. While the vigilante committee immediately pursued the other three outlaws, they approached the case of Big Dave Updyke with more caution. As the duly elected Sheriff of Ada County, they waited for the right opportunity to punish him for his alleged crimes.
That opportunity came on September 28, 1865, when the Payette River Vigilance Committee arrested him for defrauding the revenue and failing to arrest a notorious outlaw named West Jenkins. Aware of the Vigilance Committee’s reputation, Updyke immediately fled to Boise City after posting bail, hoping to leverage his influence there. However, the citizens of Boise City were also growing weary of the criminal element and began forming their own groups to restore order. By the following spring, Updyke feared for his safety. On April 12, 1866, accompanied by another outlaw named John Dixon, he left Boise on the Rocky Bar Road, unaware that a vigilante party was tracking them.
During the night, the vigilantes captured the unsuspecting pair at an abandoned cabin about thirty miles from town. The next day, they led them ten miles further down the road to Sirup Creek. As the vigilantes prepared to hang the men, they interrogated Updyke about the location of the stolen gold. Updyke, however, remained defiant, refusing to answer. The vigilantes then hanged both men under a shed between two vacant cabins. At the time of his death, Updyke had only $50.00 on his person.
On April 14, the bodies were discovered with a note pinned to Updyke’s chest, accusing him of being "an aider of murderers and thieves." The next day, an anonymous note appeared in Boise, further justifying the committee’s actions. The note accused Big Dave Updyke of being an accessory to the Portneuf stage robbery, an accomplice to the stage robbery near Boise City in 1864, a conspirator in burning property on the overland stage line, guilty of aiding the escape of West Jenkins, and responsible for the murder of others while sheriff, threatening the lives and property of the community.
The gold stolen in the July 1865 robbery has never been recovered, and many believe it is buried somewhere in the City of Rocks, a geological wonderland of towering granite formations. This enduring mystery adds another layer to the legend of Big Dave Updyke, the crooked sheriff of Ada County, a figure whose life and death continue to fascinate those interested in the turbulent history of the American West. The tale of Big Dave Updyke serves as a cautionary narrative of power corrupted and justice sought outside the bounds of the law, a potent reminder of the complexities of frontier life.