Ezekiel Taylor Efner

Ezekiel Taylor Efner, ca. 1864-1868

I was working on a photo identification problem and became curious about the photographer's attribution on this one: H.C. Tandy's Gallery, opposite War Eagle Hotel, Washington St., Silver City, I.T.

The photo was among the possessions of my grandfather, Rosmer Kerr. Penciled on the back in handwriting that looks like my grandmother's, it says "Grandpa Efner." That would be Ezekiel Taylor Efner, Rosmer's great-grandfather. Ezekiel was born in New York and later moved to Wisconsin.

So, Silver City? There's no Silver City in New York or Wisconsin. And what does I.T. stand for? A minute with Google was all it took to find the answer. Silver City was in Idaho Territory. You gotta love the internet.

In 1863, silver deposits were discovered at War Eagle Mountain in the Owyhee range, located in the southwest corner of what is now the state of Idaho. Silver City was founded in 1864 when thousands came to seek their fortunes. The population peaked at about 2,500 in the 1880s, and began to decline around 1890 when the mines were played out.

I don't recall ever hearing any stories about Grandpa Efner going off to do any silver mining, and yet here is the proof. This photo must have been taken between 1864 and Ezekiel's death in 1868.

Ezekiel was married to Eliza Ann Davis at that time, and their son Billy was in his early teens. I don't know whether they accompanied Ezekiel on the trip. There is no photo of either of them with the H.C. Tandy attribution. We do know that Billy moved to Union, Oregon, 175 miles further along the Oregon Trail, in the early to mid-1870s, and that he may have done some gold-mining in Jackson, Oregon, around 1890. Maybe Ezekiel's trip stirred Billy's interest in that part of the country, whether he went along or not.

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EZEKIEL TAYLOR EFNER'S SECOND MARRIAGE

Husband: Ezekiel Taylor EFNER
Born: 24 March 1801 in Middleburgh, Schoharie County, New York
Father: Valentine EFNER
Mother: Elizabeth MARTIN
Married: 29 December 1852 in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Died: 12 March 1868 in Lyndon, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin
Burial: Mitchell, Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Other Spouses: Salina BOUCK/BURCH

Wife: Eliza Ann DAVIS
Born: About 1824 in Gustavus, Ohio
Father: Gardner DAVIS
Mother: Prudence MARKHAM
Died: 27 February 1879 in Lyndon, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin
Burial: Mitchell, Sheboygan, Wisconsin

CHILDREN
Name: William A. EFNER
Born: 21 November 1853 in Wisconsin
Died: 1 December 1903 in Union, Union County, Oregon
Burial: 2 December 1903 in Union, Union County, Oregon