John Welch, always known as Packer John, hauled supplies from Lewiston to Idaho City during the major Boise Basin gold rush of 1863-1864. He built a cabin one-quarter mile north of here that immediately became a historic Idaho landmark. Territorial political conventions, Republican in 1863 and Democratic in 1864, used his facility as a point where North Idaho leaders could meet with southern representatives to choose congressional candidates. This site now is a state park.