Sumner Pinkham – Dead at the Hands of a Gunfighter
The tale of Sumner Pinkham is etched into the vibrant, often violent, tapestry of the American West. Born in 1820, his life, though not extensively documented in its early years, culminated in a dramatic confrontation in the burgeoning Idaho Territory. His story is a microcosm of the era, reflecting the fervent political divisions, the allure of gold, and the ever-present threat of frontier justice.
Pinkham’s roots lay in the eastern United States, specifically Maine. However, he spent his formative years growing up in Wisconsin. Details regarding his upbringing remain scarce, shrouded in the mists of time. We do know that he married Laurinda Maria Atwood on November 4, 1842, in Nebraska, marking the beginning of his documented adult life.
The allure of the California Gold Rush in 1849 proved irresistible, drawing Pinkham westward. He spent time in Oregon before eventually arriving in Idaho City in 1862, a boomtown fueled by the insatiable hunger for gold. It was here, in the heart of the Boise Basin, that Sumner Pinkham would make his mark, and ultimately, meet his demise.
Sumner Pinkham was a man of considerable physical presence. Standing tall at six feet two inches, with a barrel chest, he commanded attention. His prematurely white hair, a stark contrast to his relatively young age, added to his imposing demeanor. But it wasn’t just his physical attributes that defined him; Pinkham was also a man of strong convictions. A radical Republican, a staunch Unionist, and an ardent abolitionist, his political beliefs clashed sharply with the predominantly Democratic sentiments prevalent in the Boise Basin mining camps.
At the time of Pinkham’s arrival, Idaho was still under the jurisdiction of Washington Territory. The Boise Basin, a region teeming with new settlements, fell under the administrative umbrella of Idaho County, with Florence as its county seat. Recognizing the logistical challenges of governing such a remote and rapidly growing area, the Washington Legislature established Boise County on January 29, 1863.
The Governor of Washington appointed various commissioners and officers to oversee the newly formed county, and among them was Sumner Pinkham, who was appointed County Sheriff. This appointment placed him at the center of law enforcement in a volatile environment, where tensions ran high and disputes were often settled with violence. When Congress established Idaho Territory on March 4, 1863, Boise County surpassed all others in both area and population. Those holding office in Boise County, including Sumner Pinkham, continued in their roles until the territorial government was officially organized. In August 1863, Pinkham appointed Orlando "Rube" Robbins, a man who shared his political views, as his deputy. Robbins would later establish himself as one of Idaho’s most respected lawmen.
The Civil War raging back East cast a long shadow over the Idaho Territory, further exacerbating political divisions. Miners fiercely aligned themselves with either the Union or the Confederate cause. Fueled by alcohol, heated arguments between Northern and Southern sympathizers often escalated into physical altercations involving fists, knives, and even firearms. Sumner Pinkham and his deputy, Rube Robbins, frequently found themselves tasked with arresting drunken individuals who threatened violence against those holding opposing political views.
Given his unwavering Unionist stance, Republican affiliations, and stringent approach to law enforcement, Sumner Pinkham inevitably made enemies in the predominantly Democratic Boise County. However, even his detractors acknowledged that he was a force to be reckoned with when it came to upholding the law, enforcing it with an iron fist.
One of Pinkham’s most vocal adversaries was Ferdinand "Ferd" Patterson, a Southern gunfighter with a reputation for being crooked. An incident involving Patterson and his friends unlawfully seizing a brewery in Idaho City brought the two men into direct conflict. The brewery owner sought Pinkham’s intervention, and when the sheriff arrived, he was met with resistance. Patterson and Pinkham immediately recognized each other as embodying everything they despised. Patterson, a Southerner with a questionable character, clashed with Pinkham, a Northerner perceived as self-righteous. Ultimately, Pinkham prevailed, and Patterson was arrested.
In October 1864, Pinkham sought re-election as Boise County Sheriff. The election was a fiercely contested battle between Democratic secessionists and Republican candidates. Pinkham was defeated by A.O. Bowen by a considerable margin.
As the election results were finalized, Patterson, emboldened by Pinkham’s defeat, confronted his former adversary. Pinkham, enraged by the outcome, struck Patterson, knocking him into the gutter. While onlookers anticipated immediate retaliation from Patterson, none materialized at that moment.
Following his election loss, Sumner Pinkham traveled to Illinois to visit his ailing mother. Upon his return to Idaho City in 1865, speculation immediately arose regarding a potential showdown between Pinkham and Patterson.
After the Civil War’s conclusion, Sumner Pinkham organized a grand Fourth of July celebration. The atmosphere was largely festive, with fireworks illuminating the sky and alcohol flowing freely. The event featured a brass band, speeches, patriotic songs, a picnic, and a parade led by Sumner Pinkham himself. For the victorious Union supporters, it was a day of immense pride. However, for the Confederate sympathizers, it was a bitter reminder of their defeat, and they openly heckled the Unionists throughout the day. For Patterson, witnessing Pinkham leading the parade was a further affront to his Southern loyalties.
Pinkham was singing, "Oh, we’ll hang Jeff Davis to a sour apple tree!" when Ferd Patterson shouted at the ex-sheriff, threatening to silence him if he didn’t stop. Pinkham dared him to try, and a brief scuffle ensued, resulting in the American flag falling to the dusty street. Some witnesses claimed to have seen Patterson spit on the flag, while others reported hearing Pinkham vow to kill Patterson for the perceived desecration.
Several weeks later, on Sunday, July 23, Sumner Pinkham hired a carriage from Idaho City to the Warm Springs Resort, located approximately two miles west of town. Upon arriving, Pinkham joined a group of his Unionist friends in the saloon, where they engaged in singing patriotic and anti-Confederate songs.
Later that day, Ferd Patterson entered the resort while Pinkham was settling his bill. Initially, Patterson appeared to ignore Pinkham. However, as the former sheriff exited the resort, Patterson was waiting for him outside. Witnesses reported hearing Patterson utter the word "draw" and then taunt Pinkham, calling him an "Abolitionist son-of-a-bitch." Accounts differ as to who drew their weapon first, but the outcome was tragically clear: Sumner Pinkham lay dead.
Patterson immediately fled the scene, pursued by several lawmen. Rube Robbins, now a civilian, was the first to intercept the fleeing Patterson on the road to Boise, about 14 miles from Idaho City. Patterson surrendered to Robbins, who then handed him over to Sheriff A.O. Bowen, who arrived shortly after. Bowen and his men took custody of Patterson and escorted him back to Idaho City.
Upon their arrival, the lawmen were confronted by a mob intent on lynching Patterson. However, the lawmen managed to outmaneuver the crowd and safely secure Patterson in the town jail, the first in the Idaho region, situated on an acre of land surrounded by a stockade. The mob remained outside the stockade, continuing to threaten Patterson, but the lawmen defended the jail, positioning a cannon in the portholes of the protective fence.
Meanwhile, Sumner Pinkham’s funeral was held, described as the largest and most impressive ever witnessed in the mining camp. It was reported that over 1,500 mourners followed his hearse to the graveyard, a testament to the impact he had made on the community.
William J. McConnell, who would later organize the Payette Valley Vigilantes and become a senator and governor of Idaho, described former Sheriff Sumner Pinkham as "one of Nature’s noblemen, six feet two inches tall, with the frame of an athlete… not only physically but mentally he was a leader among men… marked from the first for the bullet of an assassin."
The sheer number of mourners inspired previously hesitant individuals to consider taking the law into their own hands. While no formal vigilante committee existed in the Boise Basin at the time, prominent citizens began openly advocating for an organization of the righteous as the only means of restoring order to the region.
Ferd Patterson was tried for Pinkham’s murder in early November 1865. During the six-day trial, defense attorney Frank Ganahl argued that his client acted in self-defense, claiming that Pinkham had been lying in wait for him. In contrast, Pinkham’s friends testified that he had attempted to avoid a confrontation and that Patterson had traveled to Warm Springs with the express intention of murdering Pinkham.
The jury deliberated for only an hour and a half before acquitting Patterson.
On November 16, the Oregon newspaper reported:
"This ruffian has gone through the farce of a trial by a jury of fellow ‘Democrats’ at Idaho City and of course, has been acquitted. No other verdict was anticipated by those who know the character of Patterson and his associates in Idaho."
The Idaho Statesman wrote:
"Ferd Patterson has been acquitted, as expected. Idaho juries do not inquire whether a crime has been committed. All they ask is: ‘Was it a fair fight?’ If so, they cry: ‘Not guilty!’"
Knowing that he was in grave danger, Ferd Patterson quickly fled Idaho City following his acquittal. He was killed in Walla Walla, Washington, the following year, meeting a violent end not unlike the one he inflicted upon Sumner Pinkham.