The Man Who Brought the Ferry — and the Town

Edwin Bonner didn’t mean to found a town — he just wanted to help folks get across the Kootenai River without drowning. Back in 1864, he set up a little ferry crossing where the river met the old Wild Horse Trail. Gold rushers, traders, and hopeful settlers all lined up to cross, tossing a coin or two his way. Before long, there were tents, then cabins, then a store or two… and eventually, folks just started calling the place “Bonner’s Ferry.” He might’ve just been trying to make a living, but old Edwin ended up on every road sign from here to the border. Not bad for a guy with a boat.