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GENEALOGY COLLECTION
3 1833 01149 7689
AN ILLUSTRATED
HISTORY
NORTH IDAHO
EMBRACING
WL PERCES, IDAHO, LATAH, KOOTENAI » SHOSHONE
COUNTIES
STATE OF IDAHO
v^
Western Historical Publishing Company
1G03
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1139138
DEDICATED
TO THE
PIONEERS OF NORTH IDAHO
THE BRAVE MEN AND DEVOTED WOMEN
THOSE WHO HAVE GONE AND
THOSE WHO REMAIN
PREFATORY.
ije=3jj N offering this volume to the public, its publishers can hardly hope that it will in all respects meet
H H the approval of those whose golden opinions are so ardently desired. The accuracy and com-
Efela pleteness of such a work depend not alone on the conscientiousness and care of the compilers,
but more especially upon the amount and quality of the materials which happen to have been pre-
served. For months the editorial force of the company has been searching with zeal and avidity for
everything which could possibly throw light upon the past and present of Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah,
Kootenai and Shoshone counties. Their search has not been as successful as they could wish, but they
have done the best they could under the circumstances. It is thought that practically all printed matter
which directly or indirectly related to the subject has been examined. Where no contemporaneous
printed accounts could be found, the editors have been compelled to rely upon the testimony of pioneer
settlers who took part in the events which they relate. In such cases they have, when possible, verified
the statements of one man by those of another, knowing how treacherous and deceptive the memory
frequently proves. But, with all vigilance, we can not feel sure that erroneous statements have not crept
into the volume, and we feel constrained to invoke the kind charity of the reader to the faults he may
discover.
The special histories of Latah and Kootenai counties were prepared by John M. Henderson alone;
the general chapters on North Idaho and the special histories of Nez Perces, Idaho and Shoshone coun-
ties by William S. Shiach, assisted by Harry B. Averill.
The compilers have almost invariably been received with courtesy by those whom they have had
occasion to approach, and to all who have in any way assisted, their sincere gratitude is hereby cordially
extended. To make specific acknowledgements to everyone to whom they are due is impossible, but we
must in a special way bear testimony to the kindly assistance rendered by the committees who have
perused the manuscript histories of the different counties, giving us the benefit of their ripe knowledge
and experience.
Special acknowledgements are due the Lewiston Teller, the Lewiston Tribune, the Nez Perce
News, the Idaho County Free Press, the Grangeville Standard, the Spokesman-Review, of Spokane, the
Coeur d'Alene Sun, the Wallace Press, the North Idaho Star, the Moscow Mirror, the Rathdrum Tribune,
and to the various other newspapers whose names are to be found in the chapter on the press, for the use
of valuable files, without which a work of this character would be impossible. The congressional re-
ports have given us valuable assistance, as have also the works of the various geologists who, under the
direction of the department of the interior, have made geological and topographical surveys of various
portions of north Idaho. Works in the Lewiston, Spokesman-Review and Wallace libraries have been
pressed into service, and to the librarians of these libraries the thanks of the publishers is extended.
They are also grateful to various state and county officials for courtesies cheerfully accorded in directing
the compilers to sources of official information and in some instances making investigations for them.
ENDORSEMENTS.
We, the undersigned, pioneer citizens of Nez Perces County, Idaho, hereby certify that we have read the manuscript his-
tory of said county to be published by the Western Historical Publishing Company with histories of the other counties of north
Idaho; that we have called the attention of its author to such errors and oversights as our knowledge of events, gained by personal
participation, has enabled us to detect, and that we have found it an accurate, impartial and comprehensive history, evidently the
result of careful and extended research.
Signed— James W. Poe,
John P. Vollmer,
Charles G. Kress.
Lewiston, Idaho, June 1, 1903.
We, the undersigned, pioneer citizens of Idaho County, hereby certify that we have read the manuscript history of said
county to be published by the Western Historical Publishing Company, together with histories of the other counties of north
Idaho, and that we have called the attention of its author to such slight errors as our knowledge of events has enabled us to
detect. We bear testimony that the said history gives evidence of being the result of extensive and careful research. We have
found it an authentic, impartial and comprehensive treatise upon the subject and as such we accord it our unreserved com-
mendation.
Signed — James Witt,
Charles P. Cone,
A. F. Parker.
Grangeville, Idaho, May 4, 1903.
The undersigned, pioneer settlers of Shoshone County, Idaho, hereby certify that they have read the history of said county
to be published with that of other counties of north Idaho by the Western Historical Publishing Company and have called atten-
tion of its compilers to such slight errors as they noticed. They cheerfully testify that the work is, to the best of their knowledge
accurate and comprehensive and that it is free from partiality and sectional or class bias.
Signed— Edward H. Moffitt,
Charles Manley,
A. D. McKinlay,
For the Coeur d'Alenes.
I. B. Cowen (County Commissioner),
For southern Shoshone County.
Wallace, Idaho, July 25, 1903.
We, the undersigned, pioneer citizens of Kootenai County, Idaho, have read the manuscript history of said county, to be
published by the Western Historical Publishing Company. Long residence in the county, deep interest in its progress and active
participation in many of the events which constitute the record of its development, enable us to judge fairly the merits of the work.
From a literary standpoint, it is a most interesting narrative; in our judgment, also, it is accurate, impartial, and reliable, and
as a standard history of the county we give it our unqualified endorsement.
Signed— M. D. Wright,
J. G. Brophy,
A. W. Post.
Rathdrum, Idaho, June 2, 1903.
We, the undersigned, citizens of Latah County, Idaho, having been selected as a committee to pass judgment on the merits
of the history of said county to be published by the Western Historical Publishing Company do hereby certify as follows:
We are pioneer residents of the county, have always taken especial interest in its development, and have been active par-
ticipants in all events, the record of which constitutes its history. We have read the manuscript narrative of these events and it
has our unqualified endorsement as a literary work of real merit. In the treatment of the subject it is impartial, accurate and re-
liable, and is a standard history of Latah County from the date of its settlement to the present time.
Signed— J. L. Naylor,
Robert H. Barton,
Samuel J. Langdon.
Moscow, Idaho, July 27, 1903.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTORY.
Retrospective— Sixteenth Century Explorations in the Northwest— Eighteenth Century Discoveries— Early Commercial En-
terprises— Astoria a British Possession— Repossessed by the United States— Superlative Absolutism of the Hudson Bay
Company — Advent of Methodist Missionaries in the Northwest — The Oregon Controversy— Joint Occupancy Treaty Con-
tinued— " Fifty-Four Forty or Fight" — Sacrifices of United States for Sake of Peace — Imminent Danger of War with
Great Britain — Emperor William of Germany Arbitrates the Dispute 1
GENERAL NORTH IDAHO HISTORY.
CHAPTER I.
Period of Placer Mining.
Intangible Reeords of Early Gold Discoveries— Indian Legends Concerning Mysterious Treasure— Colonel E. D. Price Finds
Gold on Clearwater River — Indian Opposition Prevents His Prosecution of Mining— Deluge of Humanity into Nez
Perces Country— Indians Unwillingly Sign a Treaty— Steamboat Explorations in 1861 — Opening of Oro Fino and Oro
Grande Mining Regions — Average Earnings of Placer Miners — Description of Salmon River Mines — Stampede to
Pioneer Gulch — Indians Save Life of G. A. Noble — The Dalles Subjected to Mob Rule — The Two Mining Camps of
Washington and Richmond — Social Conditions— Lawlessness Punished by Judge Lynch
CHAPTER II.
Political Organization and Passing Events.
Portion of Nez Perce Reservation Laid Out as a Townsite in 1861— Rapid Settlement of the Country Brings Miners' Laws to
the Front — Territorial Government of Washington Organizes Shoshone County— Political Agitation for New Territorial
Boundaries— Lewiston the First Capitol of Idaho — Details of an Historic Crime— Desperado Lower Demolishes a Camera
— Prompt and Effectual Action of Courts Disbands Vigilance Committees — Unpopularity of Union Sentiment in Southern
Idaho — First Territorial Legislature of Idaho Convenes at Lewiston December 7, 1863 — Legality Denied and Case taken
to the Supreme Court of the United States— Stampede from Southern Idaho to the Coeur d'Alenes— Early Railroad
History — Earthquakes
CHAPTER 111.
Nez Perce Indian War.
Savages Face to Face with Law of the Survival of the Fittest— Scare in Indian Valley— Council of August 14, 1872— De-
partment of Interior Prohibits White Settlement by Order Dated April 30, 1873— Local Effects of the Order— Dilemma
of the Interior Department— Letter of Governor Grover— The Wallowa Reopened to Settlement— General O. O. How-
ard's Order— Cattle King Crooks Sounds an Alarm— The Norton Massacre— The Salmon River Murders— Interviews with
Those Who Had Lived in the Storm Center of the War— Indians Rout Perry's Cavalry— Death of Lieutenant Theller—
Last Stand of Lieutenant Theller— Forty Per Cent of Perry's Command Left Dead on the Field— Lewiston Calls for Aid
—Massacre on Camas Prairie— Criticism on Generalship Displayed in the Nez Perce War— Chief Joseph Complimented
on His Leadership— Looking Glass and Chief Joseph Plan a New Campaign— Captain Perry Given Chief Command at
Cottonwood — Trend of the War Decidedly in Favor of the Indians — Joseph Finally Driven Toward the Buffalo Country
—General Gibbon Leaves Helena for the Front — Engages the Indians and Is Wounded— Discovery of Treachery on
the Part of the Bannocks— General Miles Ordered to Pursue Joseph Toward Bear Paw Mountain— Surrender of Chief
Joseph
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER IV.
Annexation — Statehood — Railroad Projects.
Growth and Development of Social Order— Idaho Legislature Memorializes Congress — Efforts to Annex Northern Idaho to
Washington Territory— Stout Opposition of Residents of the Southern Portion of the Territory— Pailure of Congress in
1886 to Admit Idaho to the Union — Annexation Movement on the Wane — Passage of the Omnibus Bill — Draft of New
Constitution Prohibits Bigamy and Polygamy — Mormons Claim That Test Oath Is in Violation of United States Consti-
tution— Question Taken to Federal Supreme Court — Transportation Problem — Construction of Northern Pacific Rail-
way— Activity of the Oregon Railroad & Navigation Company — Mysterious Pass in the Bitter Root Range of Mountains
— Exploitations of the Oregon Short Line — Union Pacific Railroad Company in the Field — Clearwater Controversy — The
LewistonRiparia Road
PART II.
■ HISTORY OF NEZ PERCES COUNTY.
CHAPTER I.
Current History.
Boundaries of the County — Tax Payers of the Early 'Seventies— Hard Times and Lack of Markets — Presence of Troops In-
spires Feeling of Confidence— Year of 1879 One of Progress and Prosperity — Development of the County Under Trying
Conditions — Summary of the Year 1881 — Murder of Chinamen in 1882 — General Miles Expresses Faith in the Nez Perce
Indians— Efforts to Secure Removal of County Seat from Lewiston to Moscow — Establishment of State Normal School
at Lewiston — Opening of the Nez Perce Indian Reservation— Explosion of the Steamer Annie Faxon — Memorable Mur-
der Trial— Increase of Over Four Thousand in Population — Northern Pacific Railroad Company Extends Spokane and
Palouse Branch to Lewiston — Nez Perces County Sends Troops to the Philippines — Gold Excitement of 1877— Roster of
Pioneer Association — New County Destroyed Through a Clerical Error— Segregation .• 83
CHAPTER 11.
Political.
Organic Act Creating Nez Perces County— Illegal Appointment of County Officials— Magruder Murder Trial— Democrats
Capture All the Offices But One in 1868— Clash Between Parties on Question of Annexation— Vote on State Constitution
—Republicans Memorialize Congress— Official Canvass of the Vote in 1888— Advent of Statehood— National Policies the
Issue in Campaign of 1890— Organization of the People's Party in 1892— Brilliant Campaign in 1896— State Carried by
the Fusionists— Official Vote 97
CHAPTER 111.
Lities and Towns.
Lewiston— Blossoms From a Canvas Town— Once a Portion of the Nez Perce Reservation— Incorporators are Hampered in
Their Efforts— Indian Situation in 1877— High Water— Real Estate Rapidly Changes Hands— Irrigation Projects Com-
municate an Impetus to Growth and Development— Sale of Street Improvement Bonds— Educational Facilities— Nez
Perce— Morrow— Lenore— Fletcher— Mohler— Ho— Culdesac— Kamiah— Other Towns 107
CHAPTER IV.
The Nez Perce Indians.
Traditional and Shadowy History— Indians Secure Horses from New Mexico and California — Expedition of Lewis and Clark
— Story of Wat-ku-ese — Advent of Fur Traders into the Northwest — Civilizing Force of the American Missionary-
Adoption of Laws for Government of Indians in 1842— Schools and Religious Congregations— Moral Character of the
People— Disregard for the Rights of White Men — Commanding Influence of Head Chief Halhaltlossot — Nez Perce In-
dians Swindled by Representatives of the Government — Fort Lapwai Indian Training School — A Word Concerning the
Later Missions 122
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER V.
Descriptive.
Topography— Picturesque Scenes Which Greet the Eye — Nez Perce Uplands Especially Adapted to Agriculture — Net Profits
from One Acre Exceed $700 — Rev. H. H. Spalding Plants the Vine and Fig Tree of Civilization — The Lapwai Basin —
Culdesac — Craig's Mountain — Nez Perce Prairie — Statistics — Shipments of Vegetables Amount to Thousands of Pack-
ages— Undeveloped Resources— Considered a Fruit Section — Grape Culture — The Idaho Pear — Climate — Stock Rais-
ing—Educational Advantages 130
HISTORY OF IDAHO COUNTY.
CHAPTER 1.
Current History, i86i — 1879.
Placer Mining — Captain Francois, Pioneer of Camas Prairie — Exploitations of Seth Jones — Early Experiments in Agricul-
ture and High Prices Realized for Products — Inception of the Cattle Industry— First Location of County Seat at Flor-
ence— People Administer Summary Punishment to Shumway Jim — Lynching of Peter Walters — Decline of Output of
Placer Mining — Rise of the Patrons of Husbandry — Territorial Legislature Awards Camas Prairie to Idaho County —
Mount Idaho Chosen as the County Seat— Beneficent Influence of Charity Grange — Inauguration of the Nez Perce Indian
War— Roster of Idaho County Volunteers — The Sheep-Eaters' Country — Murder of Peter Dorsey — Lieutenant Catley
Proceeds Against the Sheep-Eaters — Ignominious Retreat — Death of Lieutenant Rains — End of the Sheep-Eater War.... 387
CHAPTER 11.
Current History, 1879 — 1903.
Local Money Stringency— Raid on Cattle Thieves— Citizens Protest Against Return of Chief Joseph to Nez Perce Reserva-
tion— Legislature Prescribes New County Boundaries — First Legal Execution in Idaho County — Mining Conditions —
Year of 1887 a Prosperous One for Farmer and Stock Raiser — Great Depression Among the White and Chinese Miners
in 1889— Organization of Company C, First Idaho National Guards — Heavy Snowfall in 1891 — Boundaries of the County
Again Changed by the Legislature — County Seat Contest in 1892 — Abundant Harvest Ruined by Heavy Rains — Hard
Times of 1893 Strike Camas Prairie— High, Hot Winds in 1894— Capture, Trial and Sentence of Highwaymen in 1897
—Idaho County Sends Troops to the Spanish War— Discovery of the Buffalo Hump Mines in 1898— General Prosperity
in 1901 398
CHAPTER 111.
Political.
Earlier Records Lost in Scramble for Gold— Unconcern of Miners in Upbuilding a Stable Government— First District Court
Opened in Florence in 1862— Earliest Claims for Water Rights— Official Vote of 1872— Campaign of 1878— Annexation
Question Comes to the Front in 1888- County Seat Contest Enlivens Campaign of 1892— Populists Enter the Field the
Same Year— Free Silver Platform Adopted by All Three Parties— Strenuous Campaign in 1896— Grangeville Chosen as
the County Seat — Idaho a Doubtful County 410
CHAPTER IV.
Cities and Towns.
Grangeville— Origin and Organization— Early Educational Matters— Conflagration in 1895— Industrial Development— Pres-
ent Status of Business— Cottonwood— Stites— Kooskia— Harpster— Whitebird— Mount Idaho— Elk City— Clearwater-
Dixie— Forest— Keuterville— West Lake and Slate Creek— Other Towns 418
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER V.
Descriptive.
Ideal Field for the Geologist — The Seven Devils — The Bitter Root Forest Reserve — Extensive Bodies of Agricultural Land
in Idaho County — The Beautiful Camas Prairie — Scenery in the Salmon River Canyon— Indian Outbreak of 1877 —
Explorations in the Black Canyon— The Mining District — Lindgren's Geological Report — The Goodenough Vein —
Marshall Lake District — Perpetual Snow on Summit of Lake Creek Divide— Many Slightly Developed
Claims — Thunder Mountain Region — Description of the Mineralization of This Section — The Bars of
Salmon River — Copper Properties— Quartz Mining in the Elk District — Ancient Mining Section of Dixie — The
Evergreen Group — The Buffalo Hump Syndicate— Stock Raising, Agriculture and Lumber Industries— Fruit Growing —
Idaho County Possibilities for Manufacturing
PART IV.
HISTORY OF LATAH COUNTY.
CHAPTER I.
Settlement.
Formation of Territorial Government in 1863— Pioneer Settlements — Difficulties in Crossing the Clearwater — Early Remin-
iscences of Hon. Willis Sweet — Danger from the Coeur d'Alene Indians— Bannock Indian War of 1878— Rapid Settle-
ment of the Palouse Country— Fourth Session of the Territorial Legislature— O. R. & N. Railroad Reaches Moscow —
Grand Celebration on Arrival of First Train — Quest of the Argonauts for Golden Treasure— The Hoodoo Mines — At-
tempt to Remove County Seat — Question of Annexation — Scheme to Elect Two Sets of County Officials 581
Organization and Subsequent Events.
Latah County Organized by Congress— The Only Instance on Record — Text of the Act — Appointment of County Officers —
Official Report of Initial Election— Population in 1890 — Political Campaign of That Year — Pioneers of Latah County —
People's Party Enters the Political Arena — Financial Troubles — Changes for the Better— Political Campaign of 1894 —
Educational Matters— Latah County in the National Campaign of 1896 — Patriotism of Latah County in the Spanish War
—Prohibition Party Enters the Field in 1898— Tragedy of August 4, 1901— Prosperous Conditions 587
CHAPTER III.
Cities and Towns.
Moscow — The Pioneer of the Valley — Energy of Man Overcomes Obstacles— Paradise Valley — Indian Troubles of 1877 —
State University — Annexation Excitement Responsible for its Location — Curriculum — Faculty of the Institution — Ken-
drick — Foundation of the Town -Conflagration of 1893 — Present Business Development — Genesee — Conditions Which
Have Brought It From a Small Village to a Thriving Town — Troy — Serious Fire of 1893 — Juliaetta 606
CHAPTER IV.
Descriptive.
The Hills of the Palouse— Soil and Climate— Character of the Country— Seasons Conducive to Good Health— Principal
Agricultural Industry— The "Big Red Apple of the Palouse" — Moscow Country — Wheat Industry — Abundant Yield of
Vegetables — Tramways of the Potlatch Country — The Genesee Valley— Productiveness of Soil — Cattle Raising — "The
Great American Hog" — Hay — Cereals 622
CONTENTS.
PART V.
KOOTENAI COUNTY.
CHAPTER I.
Early Events.
County Records— No Old Settlers' Organization— First Voyageurs— Aboriginal Tribes— Jesuit Missionaries— Father De Smet
and Associates— Site of First Mission— Old Mission— The CoeurdAlene Indians— De Smet Mission— Expedition of Isaac
I. Stevens — Survey of International Boundary — The Old Mullan Road — Old Trails and Ferries — Pioneers of the Early
'Sixties— Old Mail Routes— Fort CoeurdAlene 753
CHAPTER 11.
As a Political Division of the Territory.
Early Political Affiliations— Creative Act of 1884 — Amendment of 1867 — County Organization and First Officers — Election of
1882 — Financial Conditions — Northern Pacific Railroad— Discovery of Coeur d'Alene Mines — Early Courts — Early
Steamers — Election 1884 — County Seat Contest 1885 — Erection of Court House — Short Crops — Property Valuation — U.
S. Land Office— Annexation— Coeur d'Alene Branch N. P. R. R — Election 1886— Winter 1886-7— Population— Schools
and Newspapers— Accident on Coeur d'Alene River 1887— Election 1888 768
CHAPTER 111.
As a Political Division of the State.
General Prosperity — Census of County — Great Northern Railroad — O. R. & N. R. R. — Lumber Industry — Political Campaign
of 1892— Financial Panic 1893— High Water 1894— Election 1894— Valuation of Property— Populism— Priest River For-
est Reserve — Spirit of Loyalty Displayed, 1898 — Company B, Idaho Volunteers — Clash Between Idaho and Washington
Authorities — Total Assessment — Campaign 1898 — Kootenai Valley Railroad — Collection of Custom Duties at Porthill
and Bonners Ferry — Salaries of County Officers — Discovery of Tyson Mines — Bonded Indebtedness— Census by Pre-
cincts— Campaign 1900 — Construction of Bridges— Corporations — Assassination of Judge John C. Brady — Political Cam-
paign 1902 — The Alberta and British Columbia Reclamation Company — Property Valuation 1902 — Miles of Railroad in
County — Progress and Prospects — The Pioneers 771
CHAPTER IV.
Rathdrum— Coeur d'Alene — Sandpoint— Harrison — Bonner's Ferry — Priest River — Post Falls — St. Maries— St. Joe — FerreJl —
Hope — Clark's Fork — Porthill — Lakeview — Athol— Hauser— Camas Cove — Tyson — Santa — Fernwood— Emida — Clarkia —
Granite— Ramsey— Cocolalla— Algoma— Sagle^ Panhandle— Kootenai— Oden— Pack River— Black Tail— Thornton-
Cabinet — Leonia— Katka — Crossport— Moravia — Naples — Elmira — Colburn — Urencoe — LaClede — Albany Falls — New- .
port — Coeland — Cataldo — Mission — Dudley — Lane — Medimont — Anderson — Lacon — Watts — Steamboat Landing —
Squaw Bay — Idlewild — Weber — Mica — Len Landing — Bellgrove — Williams — Seneaquoteen 780
CHAPTER V.
Educational.
Value of Education— Mission School in 1842— Pioneer Schools and Teachers of the County— But Few Log School Houses-
County at First Contained But Two Districts— Sandpoint No. 3— Early Superintendents— Offices of Probate Judge and
School Superintendent at First Combined, Later Separated— First Teachers" Association— First Institute— Early School
Records— Statistics 1893— Effects of the Financial Panic— Independent Districts, Seven— Six Districts in the County
—Statistics 1902— Districts Benefited by Railroads— Institute of 1902— Higher Education— Schools a Credit to the
County 815
CHAPTER VI.
Descriptive.
Area — The Boundary Line — Elevations — Idaho-Montana Boundary — International Boundary — Geological Facts — Kootenai
County Once On the Shores of the Sea— The Paths of Glaciers— Helps and Hindrances to Settlement and Development
—Agriculture— Soil— Climate— Pioneer Farmers— Prices, 1880— Values— Live Stock— Patented Lands— Grain Output,
CONTENTS.
1902— Horticulture— Orchards— Market Fair at Coeur d'Alene, 1895— Dairying— Flour Mills— Irrigation of Rathdrum
Prairie— Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation— Indian Population— Agriculture and Stock Raising on the Reservation-
Government Mills-Recommendation of U. S. Agent, Albert M. Anderson-Lumber Industry— Timbered Areas— Saw
Mills and Lumber Companies— First Discovery of Gold— Letter from Captain John Mullan— Mining Sections of Koot-
enai County-Railroad Mileage— New Roads-Scenic Superiority— Water Courses and Lakes-The St. Joe River— St.
Maries— Coeur d'Aiene— Lake Coeur d'Alene— Spokane River— Rathdrum Prairie— Central Lake Region— Fish Lake
Tsemini or Spirit Lake— Heyden Lake-Sullivan Lake-Hoodoo Lake— Cocalalla Lake— Mud Lake— Clark's Fork—
Pend Oreille Lake and River— Kootenai River— Priest River Forest Reserve— Priest Lake and River— Sportsman's
Paradise— Rare Opportunities for Investors and Home Builders 818
PART VI.
HISTORY OF SHOSHONE COUNTY.
CHAPTER I.
Current History, i860— 1886.
First County in Mineral Wealth— Discovery of Gold in Vicinity of Pierce City— The Moose Creek Mines— People of South-
ern Shoshone County Disturbed by Indian Troubles— Home of Francis Carle is Fortified— Talk of County Disorganiza-
tion in 1881— Letter of Lieutenant John Mullan— Who Discovered Gold on the North Fork of the Coeur d'Alene?— Let-
ter from John P. Vollmer— Spontaneous Growth of Eagle City— Stampede to Canyon Creek and Nine Mile Gulches-
Rich Silver Lead Properties— Location of Many Groups on Canyon Creek— A Pierce City Tragedy
CHAPTER 11.
Current History, 1886 — 1892.
First Fatal Snowstorm and Avalanche in the Region — Railroad Projects — Construction of Telephone Lines — Increased
Mining Activity — Tragedy in Government Gulch— Large Sums Expended in Construction of Roads — Important Sales of
Mining Property — Phenomenal Growth of Wardner — Progress and Prosperity in 1889 — Railroad Right of Way Becomes
Disputed Territory — Agitation for Removal of County Seat from Murray — Fatal Disaster at the Custer Mine Boarding
House — Jail Delivery at Murray— Organization of the Mine Owners' Protective Association — Four Men Killed in the
Black Bear Mine— Express Messenger Held Up and Robbed— Differences Between Miners and Mine Owners Over a
Hospital 995
CHAPTER 111.
Current History, 1892— 1903.
Two Official Statements Concerning Troubles Between Mine Owners and Miners — Proposition Rejected by Unions — Armed
Detectives Appear on the Scene — Mines Closed Down or Run Short-Handed — Encounter On June 11, 1892, Between
Union Men and Guards of the Frisco Mill— Strikers Withdraw— Trouble Spreads to the Gem Mine— Miners Go to Ward-
ner and Attempt to Blow Up a Concentrator — Martial Law Declared — Those Active in Uprising Compelled to Flee the
Country — Cases Go to Federal Court — Hard Times and Panics of 1893 — Industrial Conditions Improve — More Fatal
Snowslides — Canyon Creek Mines Resume Operations — Low Price of Lead and Silver in 1895 — Labor TrouDles on the
Horizon— High Water at Murray— Agitation for a Division of the County — Masked Men Appropriate Rifles Belonging
to the Local Militia Company of Mullan— Murder of Foreman Fred D. Whitney— Gold Belt Not Behind in the March of
Progress — The Year 1898 One of Uninterrupted Prosperity — Outbreak of Spanish War Awakens Patriotism of Shoshone
County People — Generous Offer of Bunker Hill and Sullivan Mine Owners — Roster of Company F — Demand of Miners'
Union for Higher Wages— Destruction, in 1899, of the Bunker Hill & Sullivan Concentrator— Martial Law Declared and
General Merriam Appears On the Scene— Paul Corcoran Convicted of Murder in the Second Degree— Issuing of Per-
mits to Work— Extracts From Report of Congressional Committee— Political Interest Centers in Southern Portion of the
County — Murder of Eugene Klein — Highway Robbery on Murray Road— President Roosevelt Visits Wallace 1001
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER IV.
Political.
Organization of County Government — First Board of County Commissioners — Creation of Florence Precinct — Many Office
Holders Resign and go to the Mines in 1862— Election of 1864— Decrease of County's Voting Strength in 1874 — Election
of 1880— Discovery of Coeur d'Alene Mines Transfers Political Power to North Shoshone County — Creation of Three
New Precincts in 1884 — Mormon Question the Issue of 1886 — County Seat Contest in 1888 — Triumph of People's Party
in 1894— Republican Party Goes to Pieces in Shoshone County in 1896 — Close Vote Between Republicans and Demo-
crats in 1900— Republicans Carry Shoshone County 1016
CHAPTER V.
Cities and Towns.
"Placer Center" the First Name of Wallace— Colonel W. R.Wallace the Founder of the City That Bears His Name— Suffers
Defeat in the Office of the Department of the Interior — His Statement Concerning the Matter — Lot Jumping — Report
of Governor Stevenson — Alexander D. McKinlay the Earliest Pioneer of Wallace — History of the County Seat — De-
struction of Wallace by Fire — Banking History — County Seat Contest — Sketch of Wardner — Discovery of the Bunker
Hill & Sullivan Mines — Rapid Growth of the Town — Present Status — Story of Pierce City— Orofino— Mullan— Murray
— Kellogg — Burke — Gem— Kingston — Weippe— Delta — Thiard — Greer — Ahsahka — Lenore 1026
CHAPTER VI.
Descriptive.
Boundaries of Shoshone County — General Contour — Climatic Conditions — Conditions and Possibilities of the Coeur d'Alenes
—List of Minerals Found in the County— " Tailings " or "Concretes"— Geological Formation— The North Fork Region
—Beautiful Weippe Prairie— Discovery of the Pierce City Mines— Outlook for Lumbering— Eastern Canyon of the Clear-
water— Mines and Mining— Testimony of W. H. Ross — Output of Coeur d'Alene Silver-Lead Mines — Original Discov-
ery of Mineral— Wonderful Canyon Creek District— Nine Mile District— Bunker Hill & Sullivan Mine— Senator Hey-
burn Explodes a Myth — The Tiger-Poorman Mine — Mines of Mullan — Copper Properties — The Paragon Group — The
Standard — Mammoth Mining Company — The Empire State — Hecla and Hercules — Pierce City Mining District —
Crescent and Santiago Properties— Oro Fino, Oro Grande and French Creek — The Murray Gold Belt — Eagle City — Dis-
covery of the Mother Lode— How They Watched the Golden Slab— The Golden Chest— All Along Prichard and Beaver
Creeks — Advent of Gold Dredges — Educational Interests of Shoshone County 104S
ADDENDA.
CHAPTER I.
The Press of North Idaho.
Pioneer Journalism— The Golden Age— Editor Favourite Establishes the Radiator— Alonzo B. Leland— The Idaho Signal—
Lewiston Teller— Destroyed by Fire— Nez Perce News— Aaron F. Parker— Lewiston Tribune— Idaho Free Press— The
Camas Prairie Chronicle— The Grangeville Standard— Newspaper Changes — "Dead Papers" — Cceur d'Alene Nugget —
Editor Adam Aulbach, the Veteran Journalist of the Cceur d'Alenes— Wallace Free Press— The Dunn Brothers—
The Wallace Democrat— Editor J, R. Sovereign and the Idaho State Tribune— Cceur d'Alene Mining Record— Orofino
Papers— Pierce City Miner and Wardner News— Mullan Tribune— Journalism in Kootenai County— Latah County Press
—Moscow Mirror— North Idaho Star— Times-Democrat— Other Papers L205
CHAPTER II.
Reminiscent.
A North Idaho Indian Massacre— Early Days of Florence— Reminiscent— 1877— Mooney's Adventure— Death of "Stumpy
Wicks"— A Shoshone County Bear Story— Pioneer Baby of Florence— Early Days In Idaho— A Touching Incident—
Cceur d'Alene's Pioneer Children — Indian Eloquence— Pioneer Yuletide — "Nigger Prairie" — Expensive Terpsichorean
Sport— Robinson's Lost Mines — Moonlight on Lake Cceur d'Alene— A Christmas Carol — The Magic of Placer Gold —
Salmon River — Idaho— Pioneer Bar of the Cceur d'Alenes — Early Days in Moscow 1220
GENERAL ILLUSTRATIONS.
A Glimpse of the Kootenai near Bonners Ferry 392
A Portion of Lake Pend Oreille 427
A View of Lake Coeur dAlene 796
Benedict Ranch at the mouth of Whitebird, the scene of Indian atrocities in 1877 107
Buildings of the Idaho University at Moscow 610
Catholic church built on Coeur dAllene river at Old Mission in 1853 by the Indians and
Jeusit Missionaries. Wooden pegs were used instead of nails to put it together. . . 64
Chief Joseph 70
East View of Clearwater Battle Ground, where thirteen United States soldiers and twenty-
three Indians were killed on July 11, 1877 754
Farm of David R. Davis 720
Foster Monument commemorating a scene in the Nez Pesces war of 1877 64
Hieroglyphics on the shores of lake Pend Oreille. Scientists have not yet deciphered their
meaning . . . , 754
International Boundary Stone near Porthill. David McLaughlin, one of the first settlers
in the valley, and son of Dr. John M. McLaughlin, governor of the Hudson's Bay
Company 796
Luna House of Lewiston. Taken about 1868 107
Original cabin of Richard Divine, the first victim of the Indians, killed June 13, 1877 48
Residence of Homer A. Thomas 700
Residence of Washington Wolheter 696
Soldiers' Lookouts overlooking Whitebird canyon in the war of 1877 392
The buildings used as Governor's headquarters and Capitol of the territory of Idaho in
1863, still standing in Lewiston 33
The ranch where H. Elfers, Henry Beckroge and R. S. Bland were killed by the Indians,
June 13, 1877 52
Too-Lah, the friendly Nez Perces squaw, who rode to Florence from the Salmon river,
warned the whites of the hostile outbreak of the Indians, and brought twenty-six
miners to the rescue 60
Mew on the Snake near Lewiston 33
Whitebird Battle Ground where thirty-six United States soldiers were killed on June 17,
1877 427
INDEX,
NEZ PERCES COUNTY BIOGRAPHICAL.
PAGE
Abel, William H 156
Adams, Milo H 208
Adams, Schuyler J 157
Addington, Oscar 195
Altmillar, Jacob 359
Anderson, Edward F 324
A.ytch, Benjamin F 307
Babcock, Ross S 153
Bacon, Charles A 260
Baird, Fzra 261
Baker, Andrew 164
Baker, Daniel 329
Banks, Absalom B 302
Banks, James W ■ 154
Bashor, Benjamin F 261
Bashor, George W 345
Beall, Thomas B 382
Bean, Esli W 297
Beeman, Ruf us H 256
Beloit, George W 361
Benson, Charles D 305
Berry, John C 163
Berry, Lowry L 258
Berry, Thomas H 256
Bielby, John 251
Billow, Isaac S 234
Billups, John W 160
Black, David 348
Black, Henry F 352
Black, John H 251
Blackinton, William M 337
Blair, William M 373
Blewett, John L 184
Bliesner, Charles 223
Blume, Jacob 162
Bofferding, Renny J 378
Bollinger, William 246
Book, Peter 187
Bounds, James L 142
Bowlby, Wilson 233
Bowman, James D 151
Boyd, James W 185
Boyer, Alva 180
Boyer, Calvin 237
Bradbury, Aaron 357
Brammer, George W 216
Brammer, John Henry 374
Brammer, William 369
Brasch, John 334
Briggs, Edson D 153
Brocke, Charles H 308
Broncho, Frank 141
PAGE
Brooks. Seneber S 307
Brower, Len L 190
Buechler, Mathias 154
Bunnell, Charles C 282
Buove, William 146
Burns, Thomas J 381
Butler, Thomas M 283
Butler, William C 177
Caldwell. William A 140
Chambers, Ulvssis S 215
Chandler, Frank 205
Chapman, Charles E 304
Chapman, Clyde D 281
Chapman, David L 215
Chapman, E. Clay 221
Chapman, George A 170
Chase; Elgee C 245
Chasteen, James M 207
Chesley, Oscar B 270
Christenson, Andrew 0 167
Church, David B 149
Church. Hiram E 148
Clark, Louis 200
Clark, Philander H 362
Clayton, William S 364
Cleveland, Ben D 349
Cleveland, Presley P 362
Cleveland. Robert M 358
Click, Orie W 320
Clugston, Warren 375
Colby, Cassius W 217
Cole, Benjamin L 278
Cole. Cassius M 305
Cooley, Henry D 301
Cordiner, Arthur S 289
Craig, Joseph L 160
Crawford, Jervis R 319
Crawford, Samuel M . 155
Crews, Bryant M 309
Crow, William 194
Crumpacker, William E 335
Cunningham, William 147
Curry, ' Theodore 369
Curtis, Julius E 23S
Daggett, Frank S 163
Daggett, Walter E 340
Dale, Charles H 166
Dale, George P 166
Daniels. Edward 212
Davis, Granville 0 290
Davis. John B 190
PAGE
Davison, William 11 278
Day, Joseph H 201
Decker, Frank J 291
Delsol, Louis 203
De Moude, Martin D 330
Dennis, James 175
Deschamps, William 318
Devlin. Owen 254
Dickinson, Joackiam L 194
Dickinson, Oren L 224
Dieterle, Fred 347
Dill, Benjamin 154
Dill, George W 292
Dill, John 154
Dixon. William R I9S
Doggett, Sidney J 295
Dowd, Charles 221
Dowd, Douglas V 210
Dowd. Matthew 221
Dunwell, Dennis W. C 144
Durette, Frank 217
Easter, Levi C 179
Eastman, William A 231
Eby, Samuel M 293
Edwards, Toseph F 276
Ellis, Pitts 342
Erickson, Andrew J 320
Frickson. Erick 320
Evans, Tames II 338
Evans, Orin 34S
Evans, William M 272
Everts, Charles W 202
Fairley, Earl E 247
Fairley, Oliver L 3°°
Fanning, Sherman W 252
Fansler, Jesse H 273
Farmer, Alanson 3!°
Faunce, Charles E 330
Ferrall, Garret H 13S
Ferry, Charles E 310
Fike; Christian J 294
Fish, David 355
Flaig. Christian 298
Ford. William 3S0
Fountain, Henry K 241
Freeburn, Jacob E 301
Fritz, James A 210
Frost, Electus M 171
Frye, Charles M 206
Gage, William H 3<>5
INDEX.
PAGE
Garner, William P 237
Gaylord, A. C -44
Gertie, Henry J 197
Gertje, Tohn H 385
Gibbs. William R 168
Gifford, Seth 363
Gifford, Wilfred L 340
Giles, Charles 335
Gil'and. George 174
Gillmore, Simeon J 269
Gilmore, George W 164
Glass', Thomas C 235
Goffinet, Eugene F 373
Goldsmith, Martin L 192
Graham, John D 324
Granz, John C 164
Green, Charles W T«5
Green, William J 156
Gregory, Austin D 3&7
Grinstead, Charles W 302
Gritman, Fred 254
Grostein, Louis 255
Gwin, Jacob N 274
Hadford. Gust 376
Hadford, John 242
Hadford, Louis 220
Haeberle, Jacob 187
Hall, George S..-. 198
Hamilton, Charles L 144
Hanlon, Thomas 0 352
Hardman, Albert C 370
Hardwick, William D 336
Harr, Joseph 355
Harrington. Jason M 145
Harris, Frank E 170
Harris Edison E 245
Hawthorn, John W 371
Haynes, Loren L 206
Heberly, Charles W 205
Hegel, Edward S 297
Heitfeld, Anton 151
Helt, John W 381
. Henderson, George M 367
Hendren. Jefferson D 204
Hendrickson, Erick 323
Henry, Noble 1S2
Herres, Louie J 241
Hilton. Frank W 226
Hobart, James L 146
Hobson, John W 188
Hoffman. Charles 165
Hogue, J. Shannon 189
Holliday, George T 216
Holliday, William P 327
Holt. Samuel 2/9
Hosley, Herbert T 302
Huber. Andrew 209
Huckabav, Robert E. L 19S
Hunt, Warren P 37°
Inghram, John F 240
Inghram, Robert L -. 240
Ingle, Charles S 156
Ingle, William A 171
Isaman, Samuel G 353
Jacks. Benjamin F 264
Jacks, James S 350
Jackson, John C 315
Jacques, Stephen 140
Jarbo, Godfrey 326
John, David E 151
Johnson, Adams G 2X7
Johnson, Andrew C 238
PAGE
Johnson. Andrew M 149
1, Henry 341
Johnson, Miles S 266
Johnson, Oliver : 143
Johnson. Philip 241
Johnson, Silas 225
Johnson, Stephen 332
Johnson, William F 161
Johnson, Wyley T 259
Johnson, Zephaniah A 224
Johnston. Thomas G 231
Julian. Frank W 196
June, Peter 306
Kachelmeir, Alois .225
Kammers, Adam 286
Keenev. Elijah X 1S4
Keith, Hollis W 372
Keller. Frank 198
Kelly, M. A 204
Kemper, Frank A 298
Kern, Willie E 141
Killinger, John W 255
King, Thomas D 143
King, William H 349
Kinsman, Harrv D 230
Kirby Philip R 183
Kn-liN . Thomas 344
Knowlton, Lafayette 197
Kouni, Michael 383
Kroutinger, Alfred W 271
Lacey, Pearl C 359
LaDow, Thomas H 298
Lambert, James 239
Larkee, John C 158
Larson, August 223
Larson, Charles 295
Leach, Eli A 318
Leachman, John F 21S
LeBaron, William 337
Lee, Harold L 303
Leeper, Charles A 257
Leeper, Clarence E 354
Leggett. Oaky W 374
Lenz, John G 325
Lewis. Tohn H 259
Little. Charles W 363
I.ivengood, John 169
Lockridge, Samuel 149
Lough, Isaac N 343
Lough, John T 355
Lowary, Samuel E 361
Lowry, David FI 292
Lucas, Ezekiel 213
Lucas, Lee 236
Lydon, James R 269
Mabbott, Ernest C wo
Mabbott, Thomas J. S 288
Mael, Amos .' 351
Malmoe, Martin B 234
Manning, Fred M 214
Manning. George A 262
Markwell, Charles A 291
Mathison, Chris 159
Marker, James 243
Markham, Samuel J 339
Marshall, Abraham J 331
Marshall. Samuel W 2J3
Martin, Joel D 191
Martin. William B 193
Maynard, Frank, Jr 342
Maynard, Thaddeus T 177
Mays, Lee 253
PA' . E
McCarty, Alva T 220
McCoy, Mason S 196
McCutehen, Alexander 316
McFadden, James W 276
McGee, John M 383
Mclntyre, Thomas C 180
McKenna, Tohn 17S
McWillis, Lonzo 226
Meek, Courtney W 322
Meek, Joseph L 168
Meek, Joseph L., Jr 155
Menges, Charles A 242
Merritt. Dexter D ' 357
Mervvn, William T 161
Miles. Charles C 283
Miller, Alexander 293
Miller, Alfred E 201
Miller, Christopher C 315
Miller. Curtis 320
Miller, Norton B 330
Miller. Perry E 317
Miller. Rufus B 277
Miller. Samuel K 179
Mills, Arthur J 176
M inert, Frederick M 37S
Misner, Arthur E 214
Mockler, Thomas M 233
Morgan Henry A 167
Morris, Charles E 173
Morris, John B 257
Morris, Mason l8r
Morse, Samuel S 303
Moser, Robert E 35S
Mote. Charles W 299
Mounce, Eben 265
Mounce, Jasper N 346
Mounce, J. Smith 152
Mowry, Jacob H 290
Moxley, Thomas C 207
Mucken, George 172
Mustoe, Albert 3S3
Mustoe, Henry 385
Mustoe, Lewis W 281
Mustoe, William 189
Nellsen, John 150
Nellsen, Simon 155
Nelson, Commodore B 267
Nelson, Frank 222
Nelson, Horace W 265
Nelsi 'ii. John M 347
Nelson. Oscar 378
Newdiard, Charles C 159
Newhard, Charles C Jr 162
Nichols, Elmer D 209
Northeutt, Edward J 176
Norton; Cyrus 157
Nosbisch, Jacob 358
Nugent, Owen 376
Nye, Michael N 307
Oderkirk. Albert 2ir
Olsen, Ole 343
Olson, Erlan 210
Orbison, J. Telford 213
Pahl, George 235
Palmer, Benoni 386
Parker. Ernest L 218
Patterson. Samuel 139
Peden. William M 27S
Pelton, Oscar 211
Pennell. Robert L 247
Peterson, I. C 147
Philipi, John J 252
INDEX.
PAGE
Phinney, Samuel 332
Picart, Alexis 380
Pliter. George W 227
Pollock, Alaxander 319
Pomeroy, Francis F 325
Pomeroy, John F 327
Pool, Solomon J 370
Porter, Hugh 341
Porter, Samuel 364
Potter, David W 260
Potter, Lattin L 178
Powell, John H 312
Powers, John F 271
Preisinger, Ferdinand B 235
Pribhle, G. E 279
Princ, F. B 169
Puntenney, Charles S 322
Rainville, Joseph 229
Ramev. William J 285
Ratcliffe, I. N 147
Ratcliffe, William E 250
Rawnsley, Joseph 310
Reese, William B 275
Reeves, Enoch S 365
Renshaw, Robert H 326
Reynold, Thomas F 386
Richardson, Aaron J 222
Richardson, Amos K 158
Richardson, Caleb W 219
Richardson, George L 223
Riggers, Henry 373
Riley, William J 166
Robbins, Andrew E 169
Roberts, George A 367
Robnett, Jennie INI 262
Rogers, Alvah T > 359
Rogers, Frederic S 179
Rogers, Henry J 306
Rogers, Reuben 384
Root. Emerson T 199
Rosse, Theophilus F 204
Rowe, Lee J 334
Ruchert, Fred 274
Ruddell, George H 230
Ruddell, William L 228
Rupe, Smith 377
Sampson, Charles C 330
Sanders, Lewis 263
Sanford, John L 317
Saunders, Charles C 202
Schaefer, Jacob 244
Schattner, Louis D 270
Schildman, Henry H 141
Schluetcr, Theodore 17^
Schnebly, William E 268
Schultz, Joseph A 232
Schwartz, Charles 158
Scott, Tsaac 215
Scott, James R 190
Sears, Fred B 249
Setlow, Andrew 3S2
Shaffer, Joseph E 313
Sharp, Manley 1 186
Shaw, James 188
Shawley, William F 313
Shelburrt, Hardy W 252
Sheppard, Charles J 329
Shortlidge, Allen J 375
Simmons, John B 310
Simmons, Joseph S 300
Simmons, Lewis A 314
Simmons, William H 369
Skelton, Arthur 275
Skinner, William II 266
Skow, Nels P : 282
Small, Ira [89
Smith, George A 200
Smith, Hilbert B 2S0
Smith, Phillip S 139
Smith. Robert Til-
Smith, William A [86
Snyder, Mi irtimer A 263
South wick, Stephen R 227
Spekker, Staas 379
Soensley, Victor 281
Spivy, Elra L 181
Spivy, Minor 182
Springston, John T 219
Squier, Hazen 368
Stach, Joseph 300
Stacy, Arthur S 243
Staley, Abraham L 328
Stanley, Horace 269
Starcher, Lafayette 331
Starner, Daniel S 333
Stearns, Clay M 311
Steel, Wesley 308
Steele, Major J 3S0
Steele, Robert H 360
Stellmon, Charles F 332
Stellmon, George W 191
Stellmon, John F 237
Stellmon, Melvin S 218
Stephenson, Thomas 230
Stevens, DeWitt 321
Stevens, George G 321
Stevens, George W 339
Stevens, John D 341
Stevens, Lewis D 296
Stevenson, William 250
Stoddard, William E 174
Stoneburner, Joseph W 172
Stranahan, Clinton T 142
Strouse, Jay W 344
Sullivan, Thomas 234
Summers, Henry T 206
Swenson, Swen 1 3§4
Taber, James M 377
Tannahill. George W 246
Tatko, George E 303
Tavis, William 148
Tefft. Bertram W 273
Tellier, Isaac 287
Testerman, William A 248
Thain, John 183
Thatcher, William 368
Thomas, Charles D 294
Thomas, John W 370
Thompson, Clara J 346
Thompson, Joseph A 229
Thompson, S. Leslie...: 152
Thompson, Thomas H 304
Thompson, William L 172
Thomson, David 146
Thornton, Leon M 338
Thornton, Orville G 239
Tiede, Charles R 366
Tiede, Herman L 372
Timberlake, William E 267
Timmons, William 177
Trimble, Hank 25S
PAGE
Triplett, Jefferson D 2S4
Tumelson, Albert E 350
Tumelson, Jesse E 351
Tumelson, William O : . . 34S
Turner. James 326
Tyler, James S 32S
Underwood, George W 249
Unzicker, John S 190
Utt, John H 234
Utt, Rufus W 354
Vadney, Emanuel 197
Vaver, Alexander H 2no
Vollmer, John P 137
Waide, William C 27r
Walker, Charles 1 2S6
Waim. Charles A 371
Wann, James H ' 272
Warlick, Lawson W ;66
Warren, Felix I50
Waters, Eddv H 19,
Watts, Edward F. 3Sg
Wayne, George \Y 1 59
Webber, Jerry Ksr
Weeks, Elmer ,2,
W •:!!■- Richard ~S
Whaley, Albert D 351
Wheat, Tames M 202
Whitcomb, Tames W 248
White, George W. S ui
White, J,,hn W xSa
White. William «?
Whitson, William N 186
\\ [ggin, Edward L 202
Wtldenthaler, Seraphin 26S
Wilks, John V 299
Williams, Albert 204
Williams, Charles E 314
Williams, David S 345
Williams, Edward G 277
Williams, resse I' 173
Willis. Frank B 247
Willows, James F -. 162
Wilson, Beniamin E 14=;
Wilson, Edward B 2S9
Wilson, Nathaniel 323
Wilson, William J 309
Wimpy. Thomas J 212
Wing. Daniel M 196
Wisner, Albert (i 288
Wissink. John 231
Wolfe, John R 253
Wood, Joseph P 228
Woodin, Frank W 356
Wortman, Charles B 203
Wright, Charles W 273
Wright, Davis S 296
Wright, John G 236
Wright, Nahaniel T 333
Wright. Robert M 284
Wright, William A 166
Wright, William T 165
Wright, William W 175
Wyman, George II 285
Wyman, Philip 194
Yager, Walter E 379
York. Daniel W 295
Young. William H 2S0
Ziver, Joseph 309
INDEX.
NEZ PERCES COUNTY PORTRAITS.
Beeman, Rufus II 256
Benson, Charles D 304
Benson, Mrs. Charles D 304
Bielby, Tohn 248
Billups, "John W 160
Billups, Mrs. Tohn W 160
Black, Henry F 352
Black, Mrs. Henry F 352
Black, John H 248
Blewett, John L 184
Blewett, Mrs. Lily M 184
Bowlby, Wilson 2V
Boyd, James W 184
Chapman, Charles E 304
Chapman, Mrs. Charles E 304
Clark, Louis 200
Click, Orie W 3^0
Dunwell, Dennis W. C 144
Erickson, Andrew J 320
Ericksoti. Erick 320
Evans. William M 272
Evans. Mrs. William M 272
Fansler, Jesse H 272
Faunce, Chales E 336
Gage, William II 304
Gage, Mrs William H 304
Goldsmith, .Martin L 191
Goldsmith, Mrs. Martin L 191
PAGE
Green, Charles W 184
Green, Mrs. Charles W 184
Hanlon, Thomas 0 35-2
Hendrickson, Erick 320
Holhdav, George T 216
Hunt, Warren P 3/6
Inghram, John F 240
Inghram, Robert L 240
Isaman, S. G 35-
Jacks, Benjamin F 264
Johnson, William F 160
Johnson, Mrs. William F 160
Johnson, Zephaniah A 224
Jutte, Peter 3°4
Keeney. Elijah N 184
Keeney, Mrs. Elijah X 184
Leeper, Charles A 257
Malmoe, Martin B 232
Martin, Joel D 191
Martin, William B 791
Meek, Courtney W 320
Meek, Joseph L 168
Mockler, Thomas M 232
Mounce, J. Smith 152
Mounce, Mrs. J. Smith 152
Xorthcutt, Edward J 176
PAGE
Powell, John LI 312
Puntenney, Charles S 320
Ratcliffe, William E 24S
Schultz, Joseph A 232
Sears, Fred B 248
Squier, Hazen 368
Stellmon, George W 191
Stevens, DeWitt 320
Stevens, George G 320
Stevenson, William 24S
Tefft, Bertram W 272
Tefft, Mrs. Bertram W 272
Testerman, William A 248
Thompson, Thomas H 304
Underwood, George W 248
Vollmer, John P 137
Wann. James H 272
Wells. Richard 208
Wells. Mrs. Richard 208
Whitcomb, James W 248
Whitcomb, Mrs. James W 248
White, John W 184
Wisner, Albert G 288
Wright, Charles W 272
Wright. Mrs. Charles W 272
Young. William II 2S0
IDAHO COUNTY BIOGRAPHICAL.
Adkison, John R 507
Adsley, Elijah 557
Ailshe, James F 550
Alkire, George S 538
Aram, Tames H . 483
Arbogast, H. S 539
Aschenbrenner. Peter 505
Austin, Jesse G 468
Bales, Thomas XV 494
Hartley, A. D 455
Beede, John E 536
Bentley. Orren 518
Bernthal, Frederic 503
Bernthal, John M 503
Bibb, Robert M 544
Bishop, Alfred II 570
Bowman, William W 529
Brackett, Charles D 466
Brady, Hugh 501
Briggs, Phcenix R 571
Brockenour, Peter 538
Brown, Benjamin P 463
Brown, Charles F 563
Brown, Charles F 504
Brown, Frank 579
Brown, Loval P S74
Brown, Rollin C 560
Brown, Walter L 4/5
PAGE
Brown, William G .• 543
Bruner, Lewis A 531
Buchannon, James si/
Burgdorf, Fred C 575
Butcher, Eben W 540
Calder, Henry R 472
Campbell. Charles M 464
Canfield, Oscar F 486
Carlson, Andrew J 525
Carothers, Thomas II 556
Carver, Amos 552
Casady, William H 516
CastL. Levi 560
Chadwick, Lawrence C 489
Chamberlain, J. B 542
Chase, Edwin 1 507
Clarke. Wellington M 477
Clay, Hershel H 554
Cone, Charles P 549
Conklin, George N 457
Coon, Abram ;;_'
Cooper, Richard P 546
Coram, William 493
Corbett, Paul F 481
Cowgill. George A 49S
Craig, Stonewall J 470
Cramiilit, John T 466
Cramer, Silas M 487
Crea, John W 497
Crosby, Burt L 5^0
Curtis, A. Fred 5^>
Dallas, Green W 462
Davis, Fred A 323
Davis. Theodore E. . . . : 470
Deardorff, Everett G 470
Deasy, John 535
DeHaven, James 502
DePartee, Roy 55S
Dillinger, Samson 550
Dixon, Jesse M 488
Doss, John C 490
Doumecq, John 524
Duncan. George W 466
Dunham. Charles W 480
Dunn, Joseph W 545
Durant, Magnus J 497
Eckert, Tacob L 552
Eckland. Telon E 518
Lifers, Henry J 451
Filers, Henry J., Jr 535
Eller, Joseph M 482
Evans, Oscar M 461
Farmer. Jesse 530
Fenn, Frank A 457
INDEX.
PAGE
Ferree, James E 490
Fitzgerald, Edmond 547
Flynn, Charles 471
Fockler, Joshua S 527
Forsmann, John B 531
Foster, Albert D 579
Gage, Marcus E 555
Callaway, Albert 469
Callaway, George M 510
Gallaway, Sherman S 472
Gal la way, Thomas B 544
Garber, Jacob C 510
Gee, Everett 509
Getty, George R 541
Gill, Toseph G 515
Girton, T. W 509
Goldstone, Samuel 52S
Gould, Norman 478
Gregory, Charles S 516
Greving, Henry A 484
Guseman, James S 464
Hadorn, John 560
Hale, John T 486
Hall, John C 579
Hall, William A 511
Hansen, Andrew 571
Hanson, John A 519
Harris William H 532
Hartman, Richard H 57G
Hattabaugh, Isaac C 525
Hawk, Frank M 451
Hawley, George V 483
Haydiii, Patrick E 485
Henley, Richard B 475
Hickerson, Walter 504
Himmelspak, Joseph 453
Hoffman, Loran D 468
Hogan, Frank 526
Hogan, William 562
1 [olbrook, Jacob E 467
HolJenbeak, John T 559
Holt, Charles E 553
Howe, Mark 508
Irwin. Isaac M 546
Irwin, Richard L 554
Jarrett, Mark V 544
Johnson, Ed 496
Johnson, Hannibal F 566
Johnson, John T 548
Jones, Robert H 494
Jones, Seth 546
Keefer, Christopher F 501
Keith. John W 453
Kiiicaul, Alvis A 577
King, Amandus P 489
King, Peter 510
Knorr, Benjamin D 54S
Lamb, Ellsworth D 537
Lamore, Gilbert N 472
Lanningham, Albert C 495
Large, Sam 574
Leach, Patrick H 541
Lee, Cyrus M 514
Levander, Edgar W 569
Levander, John 0 567
Libbey, Samuel R 48r
Lynn, Ivan D 568
PAGE
Lyon, John 454
Mackie, John 57S
Magee, Levi 506
Mahuriri, Stephen K 469
Markham, Harry V 500
Martin, Morgan L 534
Martin, Mortimer S 508
Mattox, William W 471
McConnell, James R 517
McDermid, Hugh M 510
McFadden. Henry J 452
McGuire, P"erry A 473
McKinney, Joseph A 477
McKinzie, Caswell T 511
McMillen, Francis E 580
McNamee, Clay 532
McNutt, William C 521
Mever, Henrv 492
Miller, James L 487
Mills, David T 539
Moberg, Olof P 5-22
Moore, Andrew W 578
Morns. Manuel C 459
Morrison, Joseph T 49 1
Morton, Lucius L 549
Moughmer, George W 484
Kevin, John '. . 573
Nickel. Thomas W 534
Nugent, Robert 476
Nurss, Albert F 5°9
Odle, George R 573
Oliver, Erastus W 537
Oliver, James N 563
Olson, John 481
Ott, Lawrence 5T3
Overman, Cyrus 551
Overman, John 1 553
Parker, Aaron F 562
Paul!. William 536
Pearson; Frank R 514
Pearson, William C 478
Pell. Richard E 577
Perkins, James E 563
Person. Nils 483
Persson, Andrew 456
Peterson. Swen J 482
Pettibone, Nathaniel B 565
Pfeufer, Joseph 565
Phillips. Lincoln- L 565
Poe, George C 462
Powers, Frank M 456
Poyneer, Harrv D 554
Price, Edson G 532
Prichard, Philip S 548
Pulse. John J 557
Putnam, George E 470
Ready, Peter H 564
Remington. James J 479
Reynolds. Wintield S 576
Rhett, Walter S 573
Rhoades, Alonzo Z 49?
Rhoades, Jay 0 567
Rice, Charles L 476
Rice, John B 462
Rice, John N 528
Rice, Moses H 495
Rice, Riley ^ ? 5
Rice. Russell II 558
Richardson. Foster 484
Richards, William H. V 577
PAGE
Riggins, Richard L 569
Riggle, Allen L 558
Robie, Edward W 464
Robbins, Hiram 523
Rogers, Barney R 465
Rossiter, _ George 468
Schneider, David 501
Sewell, Addison D 547
Sharp, Levi 543
Sheer, George 527
Shervvin, Perry E 515
Shissler, Franklin 461
Shissler, John M 456
Short. William H 568
Simpson, Lewis M 538
Slayton, George W 541
Smith, Edward C 469
Smith, George D 499
Smith, Henry T 500
Smith, Peter 575
Sorrow, Joseph 535
Southard, Harry 542
Springer, Francis D 486
Stevenson. Hiram W 540
Stewart, Charles W 516
Stites, Jacob 455
Stockton, George S 524
Stokes, Murat W 559
Stuart, James 459
Surridge. James 480
Surridge, Thomas 474
Swanson, Nels 522
Swarts, John A 502
Swarts, Theodore D 474
Sweet, Edward S 572
Tautfest, Fred 503
Taylor, Andrew J 512
Taylor, Frank L 575
Taylor, Frank Z 520
Taylor, John 467
Telcher, Didriech H 507
Ternan, Henry 533
Thompson, James F 473
Thompson, Jessv B 500
Truitt,' Russell 526
Truscott, Matthew H 545
Turmes, Lucien 467
Turner, Franklin P 460
Turner, John W 496
VanBuren, D. C 561
Vandeburgh, Edwin C 460
Vansise, Frank D 505
Vicory, Joseph H 561
Vincent, Joseph K 570
Vincent, Joseph S 492
Vineyard, Lycurgus 55S
von Bargen, Herman 494
von Bargen. John H 493
Von Berge, William 566"
Wagner, Martin 550
Walker, Robert X 499
Wassem, George F 556
\\ n "ii. Alexander 1 454
Watson, Robert 524
Webber, Albert 495
Weber, Alexander A 555
Weber, Jacob 1 521
Weddle, David 474
Whiting. Silas 0 572
Wickam, Holsey 498
INDEX.
Williams, Andrew J 458
Williams, William S M 49'
Wilson, Samuel A 400
Wilson, William 4^3
Wilson, William J 47 I
Wiltse, Bion C 5-'-'
PAGE
Witt, James 5'3
Wolbert, Joseph M 488
Wolfe, George M 528
Wood, John A 519
Wooden, John D 555
Woodward, James 53°
PAGE
Yates, David 4S5
Young, Almon L 405
Young, John C 551
Zehner, Benjamin F 504.
Zehner, Isaac 564
IDAHO COUNTY PORTRAITS.
Beede. John E 536
Benedict, Samuel 464
Bibb, Robert M 544
Bibb, Mrs. Robert M 544
Carothers, Thomas H 556
Cleary, Mrs. Catherine M. Elfers. . 451
Davis, Theodore E 4/S
Dunn. Joseph W 544
Eckert, Jacob L 552
Elfers, Henry J 45 I
Galloway, Thomas B 544
Goldstone, Samuel 528
Gould, Norman 47§
PAGE
Gould, Mrs. Norman 478
Hadorn, John 560
Irwin, Isaac M 544
Jarrett, Mark V 544
Jarrett, Mrs. Mark V 544
King, Peter 512
Lyon, Ivan D 568
Ott, Lawrence 512
Pettibone, Nathaniel B 564
Pfeufer, Joseph 564
PAGE
Pulse, John J 556
■Ready, Peter H 564
Remington, James J 478
Robie, Edward W ' (64
Robie, Isabella 464
Sweet, Edward S 572
Taylor, Andrew J 5 1 2
Triiscott, Matthew H 5+4
Turner, John W 496
Wassem, George F 556
Wassem, Mrs. George F 556
Witt, James 512
Zehner, Isaac 564.
LATAH COUNTY BIOGRAPHICAL.
PAGE
Aldrich, Benjamin F 701
Anderson. Almarine A 7'4
Anderson, George W 699
Anderson, John A 694
Anderson, John 1 711
Anderson, Martin 682
Anderson, Thorn 676
Atchison, Edward P 72S
Barton, Robert H 636
Bartroft". William 708
Bean, Walter W 653
Beardslev, O 747
Beardsley. Orton W 639
Beasley, Richard 654
Bechtel, Martin 662
Beckman. August 710
Bell, Robert J 640
Belvail, William R 690
Berry, Franklin M 70S
Berry, James D 686
Biddison, Anion K 7°i
Biram, William L 657
Booth, George M 744
Bottjer, John 724
Bowers, Stephen A 7*5
Bowles, Rufus M 7^3
Bowman, Charles E 672
Brillhart, George H 7!6
Broemmling, Barnev 708
Buchanan, William A 737
Bundy, Harvev T 633
Burdic, Fredric F 680
Burger, Christ 735
Burke, Edward L 746
Burr, I Tomer E 735
Byrns, Bayard T 746
Callison, Samuel P 714
Cameron, Daniel 633
Cameron, Murdock 650
Campbell, Frank 709
Canfield, Homer W 675
Carter. William 639
Chambers, Samuel T 671
Chandler, Charles 700
Chanev, Livev J 700
1 Chapman, David 742
Charles, Alexander II 667
I Christie, Thomas H 665
Clark, James W 654
Clark, Theodore 638
Clyde, Peter 695
Cobbs, Hartzell 669
1 Colburn, Alfred 696
Cole, Ezra L 734
, Collins, James H 034
I Collins, Joseph R 648
Comer, William A 660
Cone, Benjamin F 690
Copeland, Lloyd D 684
Crocker, John S 730
! Crooks, Birt 706
Crowley, Thomas 744
Dailey, James E 668
Dale, William P 653
Danielson, Gustav 687
Davidson, Joseph 710
Davis David R 720
Davis. William W 670 -
DePartee. Joseph C 727
Dobson, Arthur A 732
Doughartv, George H 723
Driskel, Daniel W 737
Dygert, Albert 637
Ebel, Charley 740
Ely, Wellington L 034
Emerson, James M 719
Erichson, Henry 645
E^te<. Archie B 644
Evits, Michael 724
Flomer, Henry 733
Frazier, William M 713
Freeze, John 714
Freeze, John P 692
Freeze, Michael C 693
Gale, George W 641
Gamble, Daniel 742
Geiger, Joseph 666-
Gilbert, Horace E 712
Gower, Charles H . . .' 642
Grant, James 697
Green, Albert J 643
Green, Joseph M 657
Griner, George W 666
Griner, John E 651
Gummere, Currency A 726-
Hadley, George W 737
Hafer, John J 691
1 [alliday, Andrew E 643.
PAGE
Halverson, John 703
Hanson, Christian 698
Hanson, Henry 691
Haon. John B 676
Harreld, John H 700
Harrison. Jacob L 658
Hart, Nelson 729
Hasfurdher, J. Nicholas 657
Hawkins, Herbert L 677
Hawley, N. iM 728
Headington, William M 656
Heick, John J 647
Heinrich. Xavier 659
Hill, George W. P 733
Hjelm, John 692
Hobart, Charles 738
Holbrook, Noyes B 702
Holt. Charles B .' 748
Hopkins. Liles A 715
Horton, John H 704
Howell, Albert 698
Howell, Henry 649
Hunt. Daniel 725
Hutchison, James 664
Hutchison, John H 665
Irvine, Landon C 638
Johann, Peter 065
Johns, hi, August 695
Johnson, Casper 682
Johnson, Eli M 687
Johnston. John D 733
Johnston, Joseph C 732
Jones, Benjamin J 649
Jones, Fred W 674
Kambitch, Jacob 731
Kincaid, James M 717
Kinm in. Cyrus L 673
Klu--. Theodor 664
Knowles, Oliver W 686
Kresselt, Frederick P 660
Kunes, James D 651
Lackner. Daniel 670
. Lang-don, George 6^7
Langdon, Samuel J 751
Larson, Oscar 649
Lauder, William C 746
Lazelle. Isaac W 699
Lazelle, Sumner C 718
Leasure. William H 64.S
Leonard, Frank L 646
Lestoe, Hans J 634
Lieuallen, Almon A 635
Long. Napoleon B 668
Lynd, Andrew 678
Madison, Canud 739
Madsen, Niels ." 740
Maguire, William S...... 726
Mallery, I lerman W 734
Man waring, John 654
May, Frank 709
McBane, Gillis J 681
McCann, Charles W 641
McClellan, Joseph L 722
McCown, L"in, B 683
McCoy,' Hamlin 677
McKen i . \ igus 688
McKenzie. Donald 740
Michael. George W 085
Michelson, Lewis 711
Miller, Isaac S 663
Miller, Jacob H 688
Miller, James L 647
Miller. John C 672
Mochel, Benjamin F 662
Mochel, George L 659
Moore, Charles 750
Morey, Oscar V 698
Muncey, Marion F 658
Munson, Charles J 713
\'.i\ li H-. John L 75r
Nelson, August 702
Nelson, Christian 702
Normoyle, Michael C 731
Notman, David, Jr 694
Oderlin, Charles II 721
Olson, Nicholas 678
Olson, Olof 671
Otness, Ole 691
Owen, John J 741
Palmer, Charles W 74S
Palmer, Elmer P 722
Pauls, Peter 705
Paulson, Jennie 646
Persen, Nils P 68}
Peterson, Oliver S 686
Pickering, Rees 655
Pierce. George W 7^2
Piatt. Edward T 669
Pledger, John W 679
Poindexter, Thomas S 635
Randall. Virgil 721
Randolph. Tohn S 745
Ray. Charles E 730
Ravburn. Frank 740
Ream. Tohn 684
Rekdahl, Benedick B 681
Richardson, Richard F 694
Rielly, Joseph 743
Rietman, Ulrich C 661
Riley, Theadore ,. . 697
Roberts, A. Henry 707
Roberts, John 730
Rogers, Henry M 655
Ross, James W 679
Rudd, Bryant M 718
Sardam, Porter D 705
Sawyer, George H 703
Scharbach, Paul 707
PAGE
Scharnhorst, Charley J 712
Scbarnhorst, Christian 720
Scharnhorst, Fred 717
Schuh, Louis P 747
Sharp, Jasper P 704
Shields, Charles W 642
Shields, M. J 652
Sievers, George 734
Sievert, Goswin 6S2
Silvey, Samuel T ~2^
Sisk, Lewis 710
Smith, Andrew J 688
Smith, Charles F 674
Smith, Henry C 652
Smith, Hezekiah M 701
Smith. Marques L 650
Smith, Thomas A 738
Sprenger, Joseph 725
Stanford, Norman A 645
Starner, John A 693
Stinson, Thomas 671
Strong, James R 648
Sullivan, John 719-
Sullivan, John S 680
Swenson, Engel C 675
Tharp, William W 689
Tegland, George 659
Thomas, Homer A 700
Thomas, Martin V 711
Thompson, William N 667
Tierney, Thomas 727
Towne, Charles B 651
Tucker, George W 743
Tuckey, Elias 741
Tritt, Samuel H 739
Tweedt, Hans C. J 663
Urquhart, David 749
Vandevanter, Moses 736
Vandewalker, C. V 744
Vassar, James R 676
Visby, Niels J 640
Wahl, Christian 673
Walker, George W 736
Wi ber, Gottfried 750
Webster, Frank W 6S9
Welch, William M 656
Whetstine. Robert S 70S
Willcox, David J 716
Williams, Andrew D 685
Wilson, James T 647
Wolfe, George W 749
Wolfenberger, James A 736
Wolheter. Washington 696
Woodworth, Ray 745
Varbrough, John B 661
Yi ickey, Charles W 641
Voung. George E 729
Young, William W 64+
INDEX.
LATAH COUNTY PORTRAITS.
PAGE
680
Headington, William M
Horton, John H
Hutchison, James
Hutchison, John H
Johnson, Casper
Jones, Benjamin J
Kluss, Theodore and family. . .
Larson, Oscar
McBane. Gillis J
McKenzie, Angus
Miller, John C
PAGE
. . . 656
... 704
... 664
... 664
...680
... 648
...664
... 648
... 680
... 688
... 672
Miller, Mrs John C
Munson, Charles J
PAGE
... 672
.... 712
680
Cameron, Daniel
Collins, Joseph R
633
648
720
712
712
64S
72S
648
Rekdahl, Martha B
.... 680
Davis, David R
Frazier, William M
Freeze, John
Fry, Elmina E
Gilbert, Horace E
Hawley, N. M
Headington, Mrs. Mattie
680
Strong, James R
Sullivan, John S
Visby, Niels J and family....
Wolheter, Washington
Wolheter, Mrs. Washington....
. ... 648
. ... 680
. . . . 64O
.... 696
.... 696
KOOTENAI COUNTY BIOGRAPHICAL.
PAGE
Allbaugh, William F 978
Allen, Albert B *. 967
Amerman, Louis 855
Anderson, Joseph 844
Andrews, George E 839
Andrus, William H 879
Antelope, Morris 972
Arrapa, Stanislaus 973
Baeck, Carl 921
Baldwin, Harry L 932
Baldwin, Mrs. James T 854
Barnes, Joseph 1 849
Barza. Beer 972
Baslington, William 874
Batters. George 922
Bauer, Joseph A : 875
Beck, Simon 869
Bennett, Percy J 865
Bentley, Delbert H 926
Bentley, Edmond J 927
Benton, Thomas 834
Bigelow, David E 832
Bjornson, Edward 925
Blessing, Titus 957
Borthvvick. Robert C 870
Bowman, John C 966
Boyer, Alfred 873
Boyker, Louis E 859
Bradley, James M 892
Bragaw, Robert S 862
Brant, Irven J 932
Brengman, John P 884
Brophy, Joseph G 881
Brophv, Thomas 899
Brown, David 952
Brown, William H 855
Bruce, Malcolm 913
Bunting, Arthur E 838
Bunting, Robert 842
Burke, Richard W 848
Burnham. H. E 976
Cubic-, William H 900
Caldwell. John 839
Camell, Barney 973
Campbell. Thomas S 939
PAGE
Carr, Carey 936
Carroll, John D 909
Carter. Willis 907
Case, Albert R 928
Casey, James P 937
Causton, Isaiah 858
Chambard, Louis . : 836
Chambers, Clarence 965
Chisholm, Donald H 846
Christensen, Rasmos 857
Christenson, Andrew 938
Cisco, William E 916
Cleland, William H 866
Coleman, George E 890
Cole, William S 969
Colman, Brice 886
Colman, Tames A 884
Cook, Willis H 951
Cooper, George 902
Cooper, Jasper 901
Corzine, Lorenzo D 830
Crandall, Elisha A 931
Crenshaw, John 867
Crow, Levi 964
Culp, Charles W 977
Curtis, Abner 927
Dahlgren, Frank 937
Danner, Tohn H 837
Darknell, Arthur A 885
Davis, Frank A 854
Davis, Walker R 952
Dawson, William 964
Deitrick, Isaac N 930
I lenison, Jesse 883
Desgranges, Peter, Jr 963
Dighton. Edward 968
Dingman, Ross 886
Dittemore, Louis T. 881
Dobson. Tohn H 853
Dolan, James E 859
Doust, Edwin 8=;6
Draves, Rudolph 843
Dugan, Joseph T 961
Duncan, John H 902
Dunlap, Tohn 876
Dunn, John P 847
Dwyer, William P 954
East. Hughes 964
Eaton, Albert D 928
Eaton, William 910
Eckert, James R 845
Edwards, Henry R 841
Egbers, Robert C 946
Ege, George L 903
Ehlert. William 873
Eilert, Louis E 868
Elderton, William 916
Elsasser, John T 861
Elsasser, William R 86 r
Emerson, R. King 958
Erlenwein, Barbara 844
Erlenwein. Louis W 84;
Esch, Daniel 877
Esch, Levi 898
P'eely, Charles W 976
Feely, Clarence H 977
Feely, Irvan E 977
Feely, James J 893
Feely, Thomas N 837
Fenn, Thomas H 965
Ferbrache, James G 851
Ferbrache, Peter A 850
Ferguson. James C 950
Fenian, John 866
Ferrell, William W 920
Finnev, David F 877
Finney. Ezekiel M S78
Fischer, Ernest F 927
Fisher, Fred G 974
Fisher, James A 895
Fisher. Joseph 970
Flemming. George W 947
Frederic, John W 896
Frost, Arthur E 955
Fry, George 855
Fry, Richard A 860
Geek, Henry 949
Gerrard, William 904
Gertum, Charles 942
Gillis, Malcolm 840
INDEX.
PAGE
PAGE
PAGE
Girard, Peter
973
Martin, Emory B
904
Richmond. Jerry
951
Mashburn, Pink C
Masterson, O. B....
McCarter. William M
963
S96
904
934
846
Rilev, John W
Grace, Benjamin F
Rinehart. William D
871
868
842
McCarthy, Timothy
McCune, Tohn
953
853
Ritchey, Samuel B
Graham, James A
Robacher, William H
903
950
9/6
McDonald, Tames
McGuire, Annie
947
892
Graves, H L
Rochat, Henri
966
865
Graves, Rufus r!
938
Mcllhargev, Tohn
948
Ross, Branson M
Greaves, Tohn W
948
McKenzie, Duncan S
949
Roth, Victor W
Green, Alphonzo A
874
McKinnon, Norman
917
Russell, Frank
895
926
McLean, John
McLellan, Robert
McLennan, Louis
Melder, Henry
961
948
851
860
891
Rvan, William .
Griftus, Henry R
960
Gunn, Francis M
963
Merritt, Andrew A
942
Sage, Anthony A
Guthrie, Chancey E
838
Merritt, Donald 0
941
Sage, Reuben J
841
841
Merritt, Tav K
Miller, Adolph
943
939
Guthrie, Marion
Sanburn, Jay R
896
871
863
876
967
<po
906
Miller, Gustav
919
883
Sander, V. W
Hager, John
Schroeder, John F
. S91
.Mills, Thomas W
Moc-Til-Ma, Peter
Montgomery, Thomas E
Montgomery, Zachariah
Murray, Robert
851
971
912
912
931
nrn
Hawthorne, Adam
Scott, Thomas H
QIO
Settle, Tohn W
Henry, Samuel E
Herring, Hiram
Sharai, Wellington F. . . .
88S
Hickev. Michael A
90S
Nelson, Christ
Nelson, James
Nelson, John
875
940
832
Sharplev, Richard
ncfi
Hoar, William R
942
Shear, Edward A
940
859
830
969
958
849
873
Holm, Thomas —
894
Nelson, Nels
879
Sinclair. Tanet R
Holton, George
934
Newcomb, George 0
968
Sisson. William E
Hooker- Gabe H
853
Nicolai, Gustave W
877
Skelton. Tohn W
Horn. Charles
90S
Nilson, Carl
884
Slayter, Tames W
878
Noble, Albert H
943
Sloop, Tacob A
Sluyter, Westol H
Howes, Stephen B
930
... 883
Oakland, August
O'Brien, John J
O'Callaghan, Charles
Ohogge, John
908
928
916
858
...... 936
925
833
Tackson, Charles
Smith, Joseph
843
Jeannot, Joseph M
979
Olds, Charles
845
Smith, Samuel L. . . .
836
Jensen, Christen
874
O'Neal, William
968
Smith, Ulvssis G
944
Johnson, Peter G
952
857
834
Osier, Gilbert F
Owen, Calvin
Owen, Frederick M...T
915
930
..... 930
QJJ
Tones, Mahlon P
Stockwell, Benjamin F
880
Jones, Thomas J
857
Owen, Payton \\
852
Stone. Tames M
Jorgensen, Hans L
941
Stone, William T
978
954
898
Palmer, Aaron W
Parent, Joseph C
Pearce, Daniel W
831
915
875
Kamlin, Charles E
07
Kenedy, James H
Sullivan. Weslev
Kent, Andrew J
914
Pearson, Jonas P
Swofford, Harvey J
Keyser. Henry
835
Peterson, B. Nels . :
847
King, Clement E
Peterson, Tonas G
923
1 ank, Henry
852
Knudson, Herman
894
Peterson, Martin
847
1 autenhahn, Richard
Kramer Kreszenz
835
Phifer, David
911
Therleen, John
Piatt, Abram M
831
Thompson, Ruth A
848
Pagers. James T
886
Piatt, Martin L
830
Thompson, Robert C
Lancaster, William S
. . . 880
Plonske, August
912
Thorp, Elbridge W
920
Larson, John
864
Plonske, William F
911
Titus, George S
907
LaVergne, Louis
9Si
Poirier, Joseph
867
Towle, Walter R
872
Leaf, Andrew
935
Post, Frederick
829
Travis, Albert E
878
LeHuquet, John
850
Price. William C. T
890
Triplet:, William L
956
Lemly, William H
833
Provost, Joseph
923
Tyson, Tames
900
Lemon, Thomas J
872
Tyson, John Q
962
Libbv, William E
891
Quarles, Jesse P
957
Lindstrom, Peter
935
Quirie, Alexander
978
Ulbnght, Amel
870
Lyon, I.everitt V
912
Quinn, Frank H
955
Ulbnght, Ernest P
876
Lyon. William H
909
885
Ramev, Svlvester
970
Van Cleve, Ernest
Ray, Edward C
956
Vaughan, Mead
929
Macha. Bona
972
Reinhart, Ernest E
838
VanOrsdal, Amos D
962
Manning. Harlan P
933
Reinhart, William E
836
Vesscr, Samuel
864
Mark-ham, Francis M
9"
Reiniger, Henry
924
V iebrock, Henry
871
Markham, Lvman F
868
959
887
Martin, Alfred
947
Rhodes, Samuel F
Waggoner, Charles
922^
INDEX.
Waggoner, Francis M 913
Wandel, Henry 842
Ware, James L 918
Warner, Orson 935
Warren, Otis F 975
Washburn. Volney W S44
Watkins, Samuel H 945
Whalen, Patrick J 955
White, A. K 832
Whitney, Eugene L 914
PAGE
Whitney, George B 839
Wicks, Alexander 933
Wicks, Charles G 934
Wike. Flovd V 885
Williams, Harry 918
Williamson, Charles B 840
Williamson, Thomas F 840
Willis. John W 907
Wilson, Flisha J 060
Wilson, Robert 918
PAGE
Wood, Charles W. . .' 869
Woolery, John S 863
Worley, Charles 0 974
Wright, Marcus D 862
Wright, Mary A 882
Yates, Hirem 917
Y others. Levi 899
Young, Ira L 945
Zimmerman, Paul L 958
KOOTENAI COUNTY PORTRAITS.
PAGE
Baldwin, Mrs. J. T 854
Barnes, Joseph 1 848
Bennett, Percy J 864
Bennett, Mrs. Percy J 864
Boyer, Alfred 872
Boyer, Mrs. Alfred 872
Bradley, James M 892
Brcngman, John P 884
Brophy, Thomas 896
Carroll, John D 90S
Casey. James P. 936
Chambard, Louis 836
Chambard, Mrs. Louis 836
Dahlgren, Frank 936
Danner, John H 836
Darknell, Arthur A 884
Eaton, William 908
Ehlert, William 872
Ehlert, Mrs. William 872
Esch, Levi 896
Feelev, Thomas N 836
Feely, Mrs. Thomas N 836
Fernan, John 864
Ferrell, William W 920
Frederic, John vv S96
PAGE
Fry, Richard A S60
Green, Alphonzo A 872
Hager, John 896
Hawthorne Adam 876
Henry, Samuel E 960
Horn, Charles 908
Kenedy, James H 896
Kenedy, Mrs. James H 896
Lancaster, William S 880
Larson, John 864
Larson, Mrs. John 864
LeHuquet, John S4S
Lemon, Thomas J 872
Lyon, William H 908
Lyons, William 884
Markham, Francis M 908
Markham, Lyman F 868
McCarter, William M 904
Montgomery, Zachariah 912
Oakland, August 908
O'Brien, John J 928
Phifer, David 908
Pc st, Frederick 829
PAGE
Ray, Edward C 956
Reinhart, Ernest E 836
Reinhart, William E 836
Ross, Branson M 864
Ross, Mrs. Branson M 864
Russell, James E 896
Sharai, Wellington F 888
Sloop, Jacob A 848
Sluyter, Westol H 872
Smith, Charles 936
Smith, David K 856
Smith, Samuel L 836
Smith, Mrs. Samuel L 836
Sorensen, Peter C 944
Thompson, Mrs. Ruth A 848
T< iwle, Walter R .' 872
'Tyson, James 900
Vesser, Samuel 864
Washburn, Volney W 844
White, A. K S32
Wike, Flovd V 884
\\ illiamson, Charles B 840
Williamson, Thomas 1'" 840
Yothers, Levi 896
SHOSHONE COUNTY BIOGRAPHICAL.
PAGE
Addle, James M 1202
Amonson. Carl 1 152
Andersen, Christen 1 105
Anderson, Ole A 1128
Auld. John 1 171
Aulbach, Adam 1 133
Bacon, Richard P 1140
Balch, Albert S 10S3
Ball, George F 1182
Barnard, Thomas N 1068
Barrow, George C 1 124
Bauman, Phillip 1 160
Bayne. John L 1091
Beams, Eugene P 1192
Bechtel, Louis F 1 192
Beck, Joseph E 1 1 12
Bellmer, Charles H 1106
Belville, Martin 1093
Bennett, Charles E 1114
PAGE
Billberg, Henry 1 123
Bitner, George F 1160
Blake, Edwin W 1102
Bole, Henry II 1169
Bond, James 1 106
Book waiter, Albert E 1 109
Boyce, Eleanor 1086
Boyden, Chester B 1 107
Brady, J. A 1072
Braham, Charles O 11 57
Brand, William J 1069
Brass, Julius 1087
Brown, Emil E 1177
Brown, Homer G 1 104
Brown, John C T071
Brown, Theodore 1 162
Bryant, Hiram 1 191
Campbell, Joseph A. R 1 189
Canman, Sim 1 167
PAGE
Cardoner, Damian 1 136
Carlson, August 1124
Carlson. John 1083
Chandler, William M mo
( laget, W- H 1066
Clark, John W 1148
Cleek, Isaac D 116S
Cogswell, Arthur C 1082
Cole, Cyrus J ioqt
< 1 Jeman, George W 1184
Coller, Harry 1 102
Coumerilh, William 1 144
Cowen, Israel B 1065
Crawford. Al C lo6g
Darenport, Joel 1195
Davis, Warren N 1196
1 'axon. Richard 1201
[lav, Ilenrv L 1080
I lav. Harry L 1189
INDEX
PAGE
Dickinson, Charles F 1140
Donnelly, Thomas H 1132
Drew, John T 1 175
Dnlmage, E Howard 1130
Dunavan. Chastine 1 1S4
Eby, Charles L 1121
F.by, John W 1 119
Eccles, Joseph G 1 162
Eddy, John C 1200
Edmonson, Frank M 1 1 13
Edwards, Frank J 1138
F.hrenberg, Charles 1084
Ehrenberg, Gus 10S1
Ehrenberg, J. Walter 1085
Elben, Samuel 1148
Elliott, Tohn M 1164
Ellis, Marion A 1138
Erb, George E 1132
Evirs, John W 1075
Fairweather, Stanley P 1155
Falconer, William M 1171
Farrar, William H 1118
Farrell, William H 1072
Featherstone, Albert H 1070
Feehan, John C 1148
Ferguson, Columbus B 1154
P'inlayson, Donald A 1182
Flaig, B 1193
Flink, John W 1113
Ford. Barnet 11 15
Foreman, Frank L 1 167
Fort, Charles E 11 10
Portia Joseph E 1196
Foss, John H 1143
Foster, Milton P 1154
Frazer, William F 1070
Freeman, Jesse 1065
1 reeman, Otto 1080
1' ridstrand, Charles 10S7
friend, Eugene S 1 155
Fuller, Clifford C 11 10
Fuller. Steward 1 129
Fuller, William D 1186
Furst, John C 1121
Gaffney, Bridget 1146
Gaffney, Frank 1098
Gaffney, John T 1098
Gaffney, William 1171
Gay, Lodowick W 1 176
1 leorge, Milo L 1150
Gilbert, Henrv T 1180
Filbert. Thomas 1181
( iillice, Francis E 1110
Gilpatrick, George E 1134
Gisel, Jacob 1164
(do we, John A 11 39
Goddard. William F 1197
Goodman, David F 1150
Gray, Horatio 1 1099
Greenwald, Fred C 1109
Greer, John : 1096
Griffith, Thbmas 0 1078
Groves, Henry 1 103
Hale, Ellis L 1076
Hales, William T 1126
1 lammitt, Benjamin C 1 174
1 lammond. Edward 1097
Hansen, John H 1 1 14
Harbin, Daniel E 1181
Mare, Maurice H iroi
Harris, George W 1194
I [arris, George W 1197
PAGE
Hartman, Charles W 1143
Hartmus, Edwin M 11 18
Heard. R. P 1103
Heller, Eliza 1 120
Herrick, William H, Jr 1172
Heyburn, Weldon B 1094
Hill, Josiah 1 190
Holmberg, Axel E 1116
Hoover, William H 1074
Horn, Robert T 1147
Horst, Elias E 1120
Horton, Abraham P 1202
Hovey, George E 1069
H uckelberry, Charles 1 149
Hunt, Robert W 1163
Hunt, Charles D 1166
Hunt, Thomas W 1 166
Ihrig, Henry C 1131
Jacobs, Jerome F 1075
Jameson, Ralph R 1122
Jameson, Theodore F 1202
Jenkins, Benjamin E 1177
Johnson, Charles M 1 127
Johnson, Frank F 1201
Johnson, John B 1089
Jones, Charles H 1 105
Jones, Christian D 1100
Jones, Henry A 1 199
Jones, O. D 1082
Jones, Walter A 1077
Keane, Patrick t 1 35
Kelly. Fred. H 1068
Fell}-, Robert S ' 1193
Kendall, Joseph P. 1172
Kingsbury, Roy U 10S4
Lafavre, Charles A 1159
Landes. Clarence C 1 135
Landon, Wellington 1126
Larson, Joseph N 1 127
Lehman. Abraham L 10S4
Leonard. James 7 104
Lesher, George S 1144
Lmn.OleH „,]
Linn. Samuel H 1169
Lockman, Jacob 10S6
Lyle, James 1 1 17
Maher, Michael 10S6
Maitland, George A 1153
Mallon, Carl II 1071
Mauley, Charles n 53
Markwell, Frank P 1090
Markwell, J. Fred 1090
Markwell, Sylvester 10X9
Marshall, Angus D 1071
Massing, E. Albert 1 129
Matchette. Franklin P 1194
Matthew, Edward R 115S
Mays, C. W 1199
McDougall, William 1185
McEachern, Daniel 1168
McG.llivray. Ally H13
McKinnis, George 1178
McKissick, David C 10S7
McLeod. Roderick J 1100
Melrov. Charles 1137
Metz, John F !I0s
Miller. William R 1076
Moe, William K 1090
Moftitt. Edward FI 1093
Molloy, John T 1151
PAGE
A loore. F. Cushing jogs
Morgan, Benjamin F 1151
Moritz, Jacob nog
Myers, William H 1 168
Newbury, John H U45
Mistier, Ludwig 117 1
VT1, H,„:, R .„£
Noonan, Martin 1176
Nordquist, John Fi 1073
Norman, Samuel 1067
Northrup, William P 1134
Noyes, Louis A 1139
Nuckols, Anderson W 1122
Nuss, Calvin n88
Oliii, John S 1131
Olson, Edward 1079
0 Neil. Laurence nw
1 >sburn, Stephen V mi
Otto, Albert II47
Page, Alfred 1131
I'annebaker, Joshua 1104
Parker, Clyde S 1187
Pascoe, Richard H 1121
Paulsen, August 1098
Peeples, Drew W 1195
Pelkes, John 1 :8o
Penney, Norton R 1 108
Perkins, Clinton E 1123
Perrin, Charles S 1 170
Peterson, Gus 1 1 14
Peterson, Peter E 1 144
Porter. David A 1085
Porter, Frederick P ino
Pott, Burd P r.I4I
Potter, Grant S 1091
Price, Daniel W 1 i,s 5
Prichard, Floyd M 1123
Read, Flarold J 10S9
Reed, Thomas B 1 146
Reeves, Charles H 108S
Rennick, Miles 1189
Richardson, Harry X m5
Riddie, Thad C 1149
Riggs, William M ,i77
Roberts, Andrew M 1179
Roberts, Louis C.....' 1165
Robirts, Josiah J 119^
Robirts, Merrel R 1198
Roby, Elbert C 1 158
Rogers, Heenen J 1200
Roof, Oliver S 11 17
Roos, Ferd, Jr 1 163
Rose, Francis M 1 129
Rossi, Herman J 1092
Rothrock, Frank M 1094
Safford, James L 1186
Saling, Francis M 1072
Samuels, Henry F 1079
Savage, Jeremiah M 1 178
Schill, Charles 1 152
Schlesinger, Louis A 1145
Schmidt. Anna n 57
Sehue, Feter nu
Shamberger, William D 1172
Sheehv, William I 1,7,
Shuster, Thomas' 1179
Simmonds, Thomas H n86
Simmons, Moses S 1142
Skonnord, Bernt O 1 152
Small, Ellis 1105
Smith, Abraham L 1157
Smith, Andrew T 115°
Smith, Clarence P H/6
Smith, Edwin 1156
Smith, Frank 1165
Smith, Frank S "64
Smith, Paul F 1083
Smith, William H 1076
Snyder, Samson, Jr 1161
Squance, Annie 1099
Stedman, Louie W 1 160
Stenzel, Charles H33
Stevens, Fred A 1 173
Stevens, Joseph F 1 190
St. Germain, Israel 1 1 16
St. Jean, Joseph E 1092
St. Jean, Leopold J 1095
Stonebreaker, Edward G 1163
Stringam, Benjamin F 1077
Strode, Amos M 1136
Stuart, Robert C 1069
Swails, Ethelbert W 114^
Swan, Axel 1073
Sweet, Lewis L 1067
Swicegood, William R 1075
Swinerton, William P 1 1 73
PAGE
Tabor, Jesse W 1203
Talbot, Charles H 1140
Taylor, James H 1081
Taylor, Marshall M 1077
Teats. Mrs. Mary E 1195
Thomas, Thomas C 1166
Thomas, James O 1 185
Thorkelson, Gilbert 1 1 17
Thvne, John 1183
libbals, Frank M 1154
Tilsiey, John H - 1 120
Toner, John J 1 199
Toner, Richard T 1200
Tucker, Leroy 1163
1 upper. Howard T 1 142
Turk, Engelbert 1093
Turner, William R 1100
Van Allen. John F 11SS
Vance, Charles W 1183
Van Der werken, Emmet L 1 1 70
Wadsworth, William B 1161
Walton. Fred W 1095
Ward. Andrew B 1 175
PAGE
Ward, Harry P 1074
Warren, Aaron S 1 1S0
Watkins, Amos 1 135
Weber, Philip P 1198
Wentz, Charles II 1 165
White, John P 1175
White. Michael 1 156
Wilkinson, William P 1158
Wilkinson, Winfield S 1159
Williams, Charles H 1125
Wilmot, Andrew 1078
Wilson. Thomas 1128
Wilson, William P 1125
Wimer, John W 1080
Wittner, Nathan 1074
Wood, George A 1 1 77
Wood, John C 1108
Wood, Lyman 1 107
Wright, Edward H 1101
Wright, Jesse T 1096
Wright, Thomas 1 188
Young, Peter 1 1 24
Zeitfuchs, Emil 1088
SHOSHONE COUNTY PORTRAITS.
Amonson, Carl 1152
Anderson, Ole A 1128
Bennett. Charles E III2
Brady. J. A 1072
Cardoner, Daniian 1 136
Cowen, Israel B 1065
Day, Henry L 1080
Edmonson, Frank M 1112
Flink. John W u 12
burst, John C 1120
Gaffney, Frank
Gaffney, John J. . . .
Greer, John
Hammond, Edward
1 lansen, lohn H. . .
Heller. Mrs. Eliza..
Horst, Elias E
Leonard. James....
Linn, Ole II
McGillivray. Ally . .
Maitland, George A
.Myers, William H..
Xordquist, John H 1072
Pascoe, Richard H 1 120
Peterson, Gus 1 1 12
Reed, Thomas B 1 146
Reeves, Charles H 1088
Richardson, Harry M 1 1 12
Saling, Francis M 1072
Saling, Mrs. Francis M 1072
Schill, Charles 1152
Schue, Peter 1 1 12
Skonnord, Bernt O 1152
Steadman. Louie W 1 160
Til-ley, John H 1 120
INTRODUCTORY
The opening of a new century is a fitting time to
cast a backward glance in our local history, reconstruct
to the eye of the present the interesting and heroic
events of the past and by comparison between past and
present forecast something of the future.
Hardly could our task be accomplished without
some reference, even though it must be brief and frag-
mentary, to the old Oregon territory, of which the
counties of northern Idaho were once parts. It had a
strange history. It was the ignis fatuus of successive
generations of explorers, luring thern on with that in-
describable fascination which seemed always to drawn
men to the ever receding circle of the "westmost
west." and yet for years and years veiling itself in the
mists of uncertainty and misapprehension.
We do not usually realize how soon after the time
of Columbus there began to be attempts to reach the
western ocean and solve the mystery of the various
passages, northwest, southwest, and west, which were
supposed to lead through the Americas to Asia. The
old navigators had little conception of the breadth of
this continent. They thought it to be but a few
leagues across, and took for granted that some of the
many arms of the sea would lead them through to
another ocean that would wash the Asiatic shores.
In 1500, only eight years after Columbus, Gasper
Cortereal.the Portuguese, conceived the idea of entering
what afterward became known as Hudson's Bay and
proceeding thence westward through what he called
the strait of Anian.
That mythical strait of Anian seems to have had a
strange charm for the old navigators. One of them,
Maldonado, a good many years later, gave a very con-
nected and apparently veracious account of his journey
through that strait, averring that through it he reached
another ocean in latitude seventy-five degrees. But by
means of Magellan's straits and the doubling of stormy
Cape Horn, a connection between the two oceans was
actually discovered in 15 19.
In 1543 Ferrelo.a Spaniard, coasted along the shores
of California, and was doubtless the first white man to
gaze on the coast of Oregon, probably somewhere in
the vicinity of the mouth of the Umpqua river.
In 1577 that boldest and most picturesque of all
English sailors and freebooters, Francis Drake, started
on the marvelous voyage by which he plundered the
treasures of the Spanish main, cut the golden girdle of
Manila, Queen of the treasures of the Spanish orient,
skirted the coast of California and Oregon, and at last
circumnavigated the globe.
But in 1592, just one hundred years after Colum-
bus, comes the most picturesque of all these misty
stories which enwrap the early history of Oregon. This
is the story of Jaun de Fuca, whose name is now pre-
served in our northwest boundary strait. According
to this romantic tale of the seas, Jaun de Fuca was a
Greek of Cephalonia, whose real name was Apostolos
Yalerianos, and under commission of the king of Spain
he sailed to find the strait of Anian, whose entrance
the Spaniards wanted to fortify and guard so as to pre-
vent ingress or egress by the English freebooters who
were preying upon their commerce. According to the
account given by Michael Lo*k, "he followed his
course, in that voyage, west and northwest in the South
sea, all along the coast of Nova Spania and California
and the Indies, now called North America (all of which
voyage he signified to me in a great map, and a sea-
card of my own, which I laid before him), until he
came to the latitude of forty-seven degrees ; and that
there finding that the land trended north and north-
west, with a broad inlet of sea, between forty-seven and
fortv-eight degrees of latitude, he entered thereinto,
sailing more than twenty days, and found that land
still trending northwest, and northeast and north, and
also east and southeastward, and very much broader
sea than it was at the said entrance, and that he passed
by divers islands in that sailing : and that, at the en-
trance of the said strait, there is, on the northwest coast
thereof, a great headland or island, with an exceeding
high pinnacle of spired rock, like a pillar, thereupon.
Also he said that he went on land in divers places,
and that he saw some people on the land clad in beasts'
skins ; and that the land was very fruitful and rich of
gold, silver and pearls and other things, like Nova
Spania. Also he said that he being entered thus far
into the said strait, and being come into the North sea
already, and finding the sea wide enough everywhere,
and to be about thirty or forty leagues wide in the
mouth of the straits where he entered, he thought he
had now well discharged his office : and that not being
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
armed to resist the force of savage people that might
happen, lie therefore set sail and turned homeward
again toward Nova Spania, where he arrived in Aca-
pulco, anno 1 592. hoping to be rewarded by the viceroy
for this service done in the said voyage."
This curious bit of past record has been interpreted
by some as pure myth, and by others as veritable his-
tory. It is at any rate a generally accurate outline de-
scriptive of the straits of Fuca, the gulf of Georgia and
the shores of Vancouver Island and the mainland ad-
joining. And whether or not the old Greek pilot did
actually exist and first look on our "Mediterranean of
the Pacific," it is pleasant to imagine that he did and
that his name fittingly preserves the memory of the
grand old myth of Anian and the northwest pasage.
There is one other more obviously mythical tale
concerning our frontier coast. It is said that in the
year 1640 Admiral Pedro de Fonte, of the Spanish ma-
rine, made the journey from the Atlantic to the Pacific
and return through a system of rivers and straits, en-
tering the coast at about latitude fifty-three degrees.
Coming from Callao in April. 1640, and after having
sailed for a long distance through an archipelago, he
entered the mouth of a vast river, which he named Rio
de Los Reyes. Ascending this for a long distance north-
easterly he reached an immense lake, on whose shores
he found a wealthy civilized nation, who had a capital
city of great splendor called Conasset, and who wel-
comed the strangers with lavish hospitality. From this
lake flowed another river easterly, and down this Fonte
descended until he reached another great lake, from
which a narrow strait led into the Atlantic ocean.
There is one curious thing about these legendary
voyages and that is the general accuracy of their de-
scription of the oast. Although these accounts are
unquestionably mythical, it is not impossible that their
authors had actually visited the coast or had seen those
■who had, and thus gathered the material from which
they fabricated, with such an appearance of plausi-
bility, their Munchausen tales.
We are briefly referring to these fascinating old
legends, not for the purpose of discussing them here
at anv length, but rather to remind the reader of the
long period of romance and myth which enveloped the
early history of the northwest of which out state forms
a part. Many years passed after the age of myth be-
fore there were authentic voages. During the seven-
teenth century practically nothing was done i|t the way
of Pacific coast exploration. But in the eighteenth, as
1>\ common consent, all the nations of Europe became
suddenly infatuate.! again with the thought that on the
western shores of America might be found the gold and
silver and gems and furs and precious woods for which
thev had been striving so desperately upon the eastern
coast. English, French. Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch.
Russian and Americans entered their bold and hardy
sailors into the race for the possession of the land of
the Occident. The Russians were the first in the field.
That gigantic power which the genius of Peter the
Great, like one of the fabled genii, had suddenly trans-
formed from the proportions of a grain of sand to a
figure overtopping the whole earth, had stretched its
arm? from the Baltic to the Aleutian archepelago, and
had iooked southward acress the frozen seas of Siberia
to the open Pacific as offering them another opportunity
of expansion. Many years passed, however, before
Peter's designs could be executed. It was 1728 when
Vitus Behring entered upon his marvelous life of ex-
ploration. Not until 1741, however, did he thread the
thousand islands of Alaska and gaze upon the glaciated
summit of Mt. Elias. And it was not until thirty years
later that it was known that the Bay of Avatscha in
Siberia was connected by open sea with China. In
1 77 1 the first cargo of furs was taken directly from
Avatscha, the chief port of eastern Siberia, to Canton.
Then first Europe realized the vastness of the Pacific
ocean. Then it understood that the same waters which
frowned against the frozen bulwarks of Kamtchatka
washed the tropic islands of the South seas and foamed
against the storm-swept rocks of Cape Horn.
Meantime, while Russia was thus becoming estab-
lished upon the shores of Alaska, Spain was getting
entire pi issessii m of California. These two great nations
began to overlap each other. Russians became estab-
lished near San Francisco. To offset this movement of
Russia, a group of Spanish explorers, Perez,. Mar-
tinez. Heceta, Bodega and Maurella, swarmed up the
coast beyond the present site of Sitka.
England, in alarm at the progress made by Spain
and Russia, sent out the Columbus of the eighteenth
century, in the person of Captain James Cook, and he
sailed up and down the coast of Alaska and of Wash-
ington, but failed to discover either the Columbia river
or the straits of Fuca. His labors, however, did more
to establish true geographical notions than had the
combined efforts of all the Spanish navigators who had
preceded him. His voyages materially strengthened
England's claim to Oregon, and added greatly to the
luster of her name. The great captain, while tempo-
rarily on shore, was killed bylndians, in 1778, and the
command devolved upon Captain Clark, who sailed
northward, passing through Behring strait to the Arctic
ocean. The new commander died before the expedition
had proceeded far on its return journey; Lieutenant
Gore, a Virginian, assumed control and sailed to Canton,
China, ariving late in the year.
The main purposes of this expedition had been the
discovery of a northern waterway between the two
oceans and the extending of British territory, but, as is
so often the case in human affairs, one of the most
important results of the voyage was entirely unsus-
pected by the navigators and practically the outcome of
an accident. It so happened that the two vessels of the
expedition, the Revolution and the Discovery, took
with them to China a small collection of furs from the
northwest coast of America. These were purchased by
the Chinese with great avidity, the people exhibiting
a willingness to barter commodities of much value for
them and endeavoring to secure them at almost any
sacrifice. The sailors were not backward in communi-
cating their discovery of a new and promising market
for peltries, and the impetus imparted to the fur trade
was almost immeasurable in its ultimate effects. An
entirely new regime was inaugurated in Chinese and
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
East India commerce. The northwest coast of Amer-
ica assumed a new importance in the eyes of Europeans,
and especially of the British. The "struggle for pos-
session" soon began to be foreshadowed.
One of the pmicipal harbors resorted to by the
fur-trading vessels was Xootka, used as a rendezvous
and principal port of departure. This port became the
scene of a clash between Spanish authorities and cer-
tain British vessels which greatly strained the friendly
relations existing between the two governments repre-
sented. In 1779 the viceroy of Mexico sent two ships,
the Princess and San Carlos, to convey Martinez and
De Haro to the vicinity for the purpose of anticipating
and preventing the occupancy of Xootka sound by fur
traders of other nations and that the Spanish title to
the territorv might be maintained and confirmed. Mar-
tinez was to base his claim upon the discovery by
Perez in 1774. Courtesy was to be extended to foreign
vessels, but the establishment of any claim prejudicial
to the right of the Spanish crown was to be vigorously
resisted.
Upon the arrival of Martinez in the harbor, it was
discovered that the American vessel Columbia, and the
Iphigenia, a British vessel, under a Portuguese flag,
were lying in the harbor. Martinez at once demanded
the papers of both vessels and an explanation of their
piesence, vigorously asserting the claim of Spain that
the port and contiguous territory were hers. The Cap-
tain of the Iphigenia pleaded stress of weather. On
finding that the vessel's papers commanded the cap-
ture, under certain conditions, of Russian, Spanish or
English vessels. Martinez seized the ship, but on being
advised that the orders relating to captures were in-
tended only to applv to the defense of the vessel, the
Spaniard released the Iphigenia and her cargo. The
Northwest America, another vessel of the same expedi-
tion, was, however, seized by Martinez a little later.
It should be remembered that these British vessels
had in the inception of the enterprise divested them-
selves of their true national character and donned the
insignia of Portugal, their reasons being: First, to de-
fratid the Chinese government, which made special
harbor rates to the Portuguese, and, second, to defraud
tin- East India Company, to whom had been granted
the right of trading in furs in Northwest America to
the exclusion of all other British subjects, except such
as should obtain the permission of the company. To
maintain their Portuguese nationality thev had placed
the expedition nominally under the control of Jaun
Cavalho, a Portuguese trader. Prior to the time of the
trouble in Nootka. however, Cavalho had become a
bankrupt and new arrangements had become necessary.
The English traders were compelled to unite their in-
terests with those of King George's Sound Company,
a mercantile association operating under license from
the South Sea and East India Companies, the Portu-
guese colors had been laid aside and the true national
character of the expedition assumed. Captain Colnutt
was placed in command of the enterprise as constituted
under the new regime, with instructions, among other
things, "to establish a factory to be called Fort Pitt, for
the purpose of permanent settlement, and as a center of
trade around which other stations may be established."
One vessel of the expedition, the Princess Royal,
entered Nootka harbor without molestation, but when
the Argonaut, under command of Captain Colnutt, ar-
rived, it was thought best by the master not to attempt
an entrance to the bay lest his vessel should meet the
same fate which had befallen the Iphigenia and the
Northwest America. Later Colnutt called on Mar-
tinez and informed the Spanish governor of his inten-
tion to take possession of the country in the name of
Great Britain ami to erect a fort. The governor re-
plied that possession had already been taken in the
name of his Catholic Majesty and that such acts as he
(Colnutt) contemplated could not be allowed. An
altercation followed and tin- next day the Argonaut
was seized and her captain and crew placed under ar-
rest. The Princess Royal was also seized, though the
American vessels in the harbor were in no way mo-
lested.
After an extended and at times heated controversy
between Spain and Great Britain touching these seiz-
ures, the former government consented to make repar-
ation and offered a suitable apology for the indignity
to the honor of the flag. The feature of this corres-
pondence of greatest import in the future history of
the territory affected is that throughout the entire con-
troversy in all the messages and debates of parliament,
no w ird was spoken asserting a claim of Great Britain
to any territorial rights or denying the claim of sov-
ereignty so positively and persistently avowed by Spain,
neither was Spanish sovereignty denied or in any way
alienated by the treaty which followed. Certain real
property was restored to British subjects, but a trans-
fer of realty is not a transfer of sovereignty.
We pass over the voyage of the illustrious French
navigator, La Perouse. as of more importance from a
scientific than a political standpoint; neither can we
dwell upon the explorations of Captain Berkley, to
whom belongs the honor of having ascertained the
existence of the strait afterward denominated Jaun de
Fuca. ( >i somewhat greater moment in the later history
of the northwest are the voyages of Meares. who entered
and described the above mentioned strait, and win 1, in
1788, explored the coast at the point where the great
Columbia mingles its crystal current with the waters of
the sea. In the diplomatic battle of later days it was
even claimed by some that he was the discover of that
great "River of the West." Howbeit, nothing can be
surer than that the existence of such a river was
utterly unknown to him at the time. Indeed his con-
viction of its non-existence was thus stated in his own
account of the voyage : "We can now with safety assert
that there is no such river as the St. Roc (of the Span-
iard. Heceta 1 exists, as laid down in the Spanish
charts," and he gave a further unequivocal expression
of his opinion by naming the bay in that vicinity De-
ception Bay and the promontory north of it Cape Dis-
appointment. "Disappointed and deceived," remarks
Evans facetiously, "he continued his cruise southward
to latitude forty-five degrees north."
It is not without sentiments of patriotic pride that
we now turn our attention to a period of discovery in
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
which the vessels of our own nation played a prominent
part. The northern mystery, which had been partially
resolved by the Spanish, English, French and Portu-
guese explorations, was now to be completely robbed of
its mystic charm, speculation and myth must now give
place to exact knowledge, the game of discovery must
hereafter be played principally between the two
branches of the Anglo-Saxon race, and Anglo-Saxon
energy, thoroughness and zeal are henceforth to char-
acterize operations on the shores of the Pacific north-
west. The United States had but recently won their
independence from the British crown and their ener-
gies were finding a fit field of activity in the titanic
task of national organization. Before the constitution
had become the supreme law of the land, however, the
alert mind of the American had begun projecting voy-
ages of discovery and trade to the northwest, and
in September, 1788, two vessels with the stars and
stripes at their mastheads arrived at Nootka sound.
Their presence in the harbor while the events cul-
minating in the Nootka treaty were transpiring
has already been alluded to. The vessels were the
ship Columbia, Captain John Kendrick, and the
sloop Washington. Captain Robert Gray, and the
honor of having sent them to our shores belongs
to one Joseph Barrel, a prominent merchant of
Boston, and a man of high social standing and great
influence. While one of the impelling motives of his
enterprise had been the desire of commercial profit, the
element of patriotism was not wholly lacking, and the
vessels were instructed to make what explorations and
discoveries they might.
After remaining a time on the coast, Captain Ken-
drick transferred his ship's property to the Washing-
ton, with the intention of taking a cruise in that vessel.
He placed Captain Gray in command of the Columbia
with instructions to return to Boston by way of the
Sandwich Islands and China. This commission was
successfully carried out. The vessel arrived in Boston
in September, 1790, was received with great eclat, re-
fitted by her owners and again dispatched to the shores
of the Pacific with Captain Gray in command. In
July, 1 79 1, the Columbia, from Boston, and the Wash-
ington, from China, met not far from the spot where
they had separated nearly two years before. They
were not ft < remain long in company, however, for Cap-
tain Gray soon started on a cruise southward. On April
29, 1792, Gray met Vancouver just below Cape Flat-
tery and an interesting colloquy took place. Van-
couver communicated to the American skipper the
fact that he had not vet made any important discover-
eries, and Gray, with equal frankness, gave the emi-
nent British explorer an account of his past discover-
ies, "including," says Bancroft, "the fact that he had
not sailed through Fuca straight in the Lady Washing-
ton, as had been supposed from Meares' narrative and
map." He also informed Captain Vancouver that he
had been "off the mouth of a river in latitude forty-
six degrees, ten minutes, where the outset, or reflux,
was so strong as to prevent his entering for nine days."
The important information conveyed by Gray seems
to have greatly disturbed the equipoise of Vancouver's
mind. The enteries in his log show that he did not en-
tirely credit the statement of the American, but that
he was considerably perturbed is evinced by the fact
that he tries to convince himself by argument that
Gray's statement could not have been correct. The
latitude assigned by the American was that of Cape
Disappointment, and the existence of a river mouth
there, although affirmed by Heceta, had been denied
by Meares ; Captain Cook also had failed to find it ; be-
sides, had he not himself passed that point two days be-
fore and had he not observed that "if any inlet or river
should be found it must be a very intricate one, and
inaccessible to vessels of our burden, owing to the reefs
and broken water which then appeared in its neighbor-
hood." With such reasoning, he dismissed the matter
from his mind for the time being. He continued his
journey northward, passed through the straight of
Fuca. and engaged in a thorough and minute explora-
tion of that mighty inland sea, to a portion of which he
gave the name Puget Sound.
Meanwhile Gray was proceeding southward "in
the track of destiny and glory." On May 7th he en-
tered the harbor which now bears his name and four
days later passed through the breakers over the bar,
and his vessel's prow plowed the waters of that fa-
mous "River of the West." whose existence had been
so long suspected. The storied "Oregon" for the first
time heard other sound than "its own dashing."
Shortly afterward Vancouver came to Cape Disap-
pointment to explore the Columbia, of which he had
heard indirectly from Captain Gray. Lieutenant
Broughton, of Vancouver's expedition, sailed over the
bar, ascended the river a distance of more than one
hundred miles to the site of the present Vancouver, and
with a modesty truly remarkable, "takes possession of
the river and the country in its vicinity in his Britannic
Majesty's name, having every reason to believe that
the subjects of no other civilized nation or state had
ever entered it before." This, too, though he had re-
ceived a salute of one gun from an American vessel,
the Jennie, on his entrance to the bay. The lieutenant's
claim was not to remain forever unchallenged , as will
appear presently.
With the exploration of Puget sound and the dis-
covery of the Columbia, history-making maritime ad-
venture practically ceased. But as the fabled straic
of Anian had drawn explorers to the Pacific shores in
quest of the mythical passage to the treasurers of Ind,
so likewise did the fairy tales of La Hontan and others
stimulate inland exploration. Furthermore, the mys-
tic charm possessed by a terra incognita was becoming
irresistible to adventurous spirits, and the possibilities
of discovering untold wealth in the vaults of its "shin-
ing mountains" and in the sands of its crystal rivers
were exceedingly fascinating to the lover of gain.
The honor of pioneership in overland exploration
belongs to one Verendrye. who, under authority of the
governor-general of New France, in 1773 set out on an
expedition to the Rocky mountains from Canada. This
explorer and his brother and sons made many im-
portant explorations, but as they failed to find a pass
through the Rocky mountains by which thev could
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
come to the Pacific side, their adventures do not fall
within the purview of our volume. They are said to
have reached the vicinity of the present city of Helena.
If, as seems highly probable, the events chronicled
by La Page in his charming "Histoire de la Louisi-
ane," published in 1758, should be taken as authentic.
the first man to scale the Rocky mountains from the
east and to make his way overland to the shores of the
Pacific was a Yazoo Indian, Moncacht-ape or Mont-
cachabe by name. But "the first traveler to lead a
partv of civilized men through the territory of the
Stony mountains to the South sea" was Alexander
Mackenzie, who, in 1793. reached the coast at fifty-
two degrees, twenty-four minutes, forty-eight sec-
onds north, leaving as a memorial of his visit, inscribed
on a rock with vermillion and grease the words "Alex-
andar .Mackenzie, from Canada by land, July 22, 1793."
But western exploration by land had elicited the in-
terest of one whose energy and force were sufficient to
bring to a successful issue almost any undertaking
worth the effort. While the other statesmen and leg-
islators of his time were fully engaged with the prob-
lems of the moment, the great mind of Thomas Jef-
ferson, endowed as it was with a wider range of vision
and more comprehensive grasp of the true situation
was projecting exploring expeditions into the north-
west. In 1786, while serving as minister to Paris, he
had fallen in with the ardent Ledyard, who was on
fire with the idea of opening a large and profitable
fur trade in the north Pacific region. To this young
man he had suggested the idea of journeying to Kam-
tchatka, then in a Russian vessel to Nootka sound,
from which, as a starting point, he should make an
exploring expedition easterly to the United States.
Ledyard acted on the suggestion, but was arrested as
a spy in the spring of 1787 by Russian officials and so
severely treated as to cause a failure of his health and
a consequent failure of his enterprise.
The next effort of Jefferson was made in 1792,
when he proposed to the American Philosophical Soci-
ety that it should engage a competent scientist "to ex-
plore northwest America from the eastward by ascend-
ing the Missouri, crossing the Rocky mountains and de-
scending the nearest river to the Pacific ocean." The
idea was favorably received. Captain Meriwether
Lewis, who afterward distinguished himself as one of
the leaders of the Lewis and Clark expedition, of-
fered his services, but for some reason Andre Mich-
aux, a French botanist, was given the preference. Mich-
aux proceeded as far as Kentucky, but there received
an order from the French minister, to whom, it seems,
he also owed obedience, that he should relinquish
his appointment and engage upon the duties of another
commission.
It was not until after the opening of the new cen-
tury that another opportunity for furthering his fa-
vorite project presented itself to Jefferson. An act of
congress, under which trading nouses had been es-
tablished for facilitating commerce with the Indians,
was about to expire by limitation, and President Jef-
ferson, in recommending its continuance, seized the
opportunity to urge upon congress the advisability of
fitting out an expedition, the object of which should
be "to explore the Missouri river and such principal
streams of it as, by its course of communication with
the waters of the Pacific ocean, whether the Columbia,
Oregon, Colorado or any other river, may offer the
most direct and practical water communication across
the continent, for the purpose of commerce."
Congress voted an appropriation for the purpose,
and the expedition was placed in charge of Captains
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. President Jef-
ferson gave the explorers minute and particular in-
structions as to investigations to be made by them.
They were to inform themselves, should they reach
the Pacific ocean, "of the circumstances which' may
decide whether the furs of those parts may be col-
lected as advantageously at the head of the Missouri
(convenient as is supposed to the Colorado and Ore-
gon or Columbia) as at Nootka sound or any other
part of the coast ; and the trade be constantly con-
ducted through the Missouri and United States more
beneficially than by the circumnavigation now prac-
ticed." In addition to the instructions already quoted,
these explorers were directed to ascertain if possible
on arriving at the seaboard if there were any ports
within their reach frequented by the sea vessels of any
nation, and to send, if practicable, two of their most
trusted people back by sea with copies of their notes.
They were also, if they deemed a return by the way
they had come imminently hazardous, to ship the en-
tire party and return via Good Hope or Cape Horn,
as they might be able.
A few days before the initial steps were taken in
discharge of the instructions of President Jefferson,
news reached the seat of government of a transaction
which added materially to the significance of the en-
terprise. Negotiations had been successfully consum-
mated for the purchase of Louisiana on April 30, 1803,
but the authorities a'. Washington did not hear of the
important transfer until the 1st of July. Of such trans-
cendant import to the future of our country was this
transaction and of such vital moment to the
section with which our volume is primarily
concerned, that we must here interrupt the trend
of our narrative to give the reader an idea
of the extent of territory involved and, if pos-
sible, to enable him to appreciate the influence of the
purchase. France, by her land explorations and the
establishment of trading posts and forts, first acquired
title to the territory west of the Mississippi and east of
the Rocky mountains, though Great Britain claimed
the territory in accordance with her doctrine of con-
tinuity and contiguity, most of her colonial grants
extending in express terms to the Pacific ocean. Spain
also claimed the country by grant of Pope Alexander
VI. A constant warfare had been waged between
France and Great Britain for supremacy in America.
The latter was the winner in the contest, and in 1762,
France, apparently discouraged, ceded to Spain the
province of Louisiana. By the treaty of February 10,
1763, which gave Great Britain the Canadas, it was
agreed that the western boundary between English and
Spanish possessions in America should be the Missis-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
sippi river, Great Britain renouncing all claim to the
territory west of that boundary. In 1800 Spain retro-
ceded Louisiana to France "with the same extent it
has now in the hands of Spain, and which it had when
France possessed it. and such as it should be according
to the treaties subsequently made betwen Spain and
other states."
The order for the formal delivery of the province
to France was issued by the Spanish king on October
15, 1802, and, as above stated, the United States suc-
ceeded to the title by treaty of April 30, 1803.
Of the long, weary land marches which brought
the daughtv explorers, Captains Meriwether Lewis and
William Clark, to the pure currents of the Clearwater,
space forbids narration. It is pleasant to record that
the travel-worn expedition received hospitable treat-
ment upon reaching the spot where Lewiston now
stands. The Nez Perces were friendly, gave the ex-
plorers what information they could about the remain-
der of their journey and readily traded them such food
supplies as they were able. While details of this his-
tory-making expedition to the mouth of the Columbia
and back again to the eastern states must be sought
elsewhere, we shall here quote a summary of the jour-
ney given by Captain Lewis himself, which will convey
some idea of the momentous task successfully accom-
plished by these giants of the wilderness :
"The road by which we went out by the way of the
Missouri to its head is 3,096 miles ; thence by land by
way of Lewis river over to Clark's river and down
that to the entrance of Traverse's Rest creek, where
all the roads from different routes meet ; thence across
the rugged part of the Rocky mountains to the naviga-
ble waters of the Columbia, 398 miles ; thence down
the river 640 miles to the Pacific ocean — making a
total distance of 4.134 miles. On our return in 1806
we came from Traveler's Rest directly to the falls of
the Missouri river, which shortens the distance about
579 miles and is a much better route, reducing the
distance from the Mississippi to the Pacific ocean to
3,555 miles. Of this journey 2,575 miles is up the
Missouri to the falls of that river; thence passing
through the plains and across the Rocky mountains
to the navigable waters of the Kooskooskia river, a
branch of the Columbia, 340 miles, two hundred of
which is good road, 140 over a tremendous mountain,
steep and broken, 60 miles of which is covered several
feet deep with snow, on which we passed on the last
of June; from the navigable part of the Kooskooskia
we descended that rapid river 73 miles to its enterance
into Lewis river, and down that river 154 miles to the
Columbia, and thence 413 miles to its entrance into
the Pacific ocean. About 180 miles of this distance
is tide water. We passed several bad rapids and nar-
rows and one considerable fall, 268 miles above the
entrance of this river. 37 feet, eight inches ; the total
distance descending the Columbia waters, 640 miles,
making a total of 3.555 miles, on the most direct route
from the Mississippi at the mouth of the Missouri to
the Pacific ocean."
The safe return of the explorers to their homes in
the United States naturally created a sensation through-
out that country and the world. Leaders and men
were suitably rewarded, and the fame of the former
will live while the rivers to which their names have
been given, continue to pour their waters into the sea.
President Jefferson, the great patron of the expedition,
paying a tribute to Captain Lewis in 1813, said : "Nev-
er did a similar event create more joy throughout the
Unite'd States. The humblest of its citizens have taken
a lively interest in the issue of this journey, and looked
with impatience for the information it would furnish.
Nothing short of the official journals of this extraor-
dinary and interesting journey will exhibit the import-
ance of the service, the courage, devotion, zeal and per-
severance under circumstances calculated to discourage,
which animated this little band of heroes, throughout
the long, dangerous and tedious travel."
The knowledge of the Columbia basin, resulting
from the extensive exploration of Lewis and Clark,
soon bore fruit in a number of commercial enterprises,
the first of which was the Astor expedition. It was so
called from John Jacob Astor, a native of Heidelburg,
who had come to America poor and had amassed a
large fortune in commercial transactions. In 1800
there was conceived in the brain of this great captain
of industry a scheme which for magnitude of design
and careful arrangement of detail was truly master-
ful. It contemplated the prosecution of the fur trade
in every unsettled territory of America claimed by the
United States, the trade with China and the supply of
the Russian settlements with trading stock and pro-
visions, the s:oods to be paid for in peltry. A vessel
was to be dispatched at regular intervals from New
York, bearing supplies and goods to be traded to the
Indians. This was to discharge her cargo at a depot
of trade to be established at the mouth oAhe Columbia
river, then trade along the coast with Indians and at
the Russian settlements until another cargo had been
in part secured, return to the mouth of the river, com-
plete her lading there, sail thence to China, receive a
return cargo of Canton silks, nankeen and tea, and
back to New York. Two years would pass in com-
pleting this vast "commercial rounding-up." An im-
portant part of this plan was the supply of the Russian
posts at New Archangel, the object being two fold, —
first to secure the profits accruing therefrom, and sec-
ondly, to shut off competition in Mr. Astor's own ter-
ritory, through the semi-partnership with the Russians
in furnishing them supplies. Careful arrangements
had been made with the Russian government to pre-
vent any possible clash between the vessels of the two
companies which should be engaged in the coast trade.
"It was," says Brewerton, "a collossal scheme, and
deserved to succeed: had it done so it would have ad-
vanced American settlement and actual occupancy on
the Northwest coast by at least a quarter of a century,
giving employment to thousands, and transferred the
enormous profits of the Hudson's Bay and Northwest
British fur companies from English to American cof-
fers."
Notwithstanding the opposition of the Northwest
Fur Company, a powerful British corporation. As-
tor's sea expedition reached the mouth of the Columbia
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
before the territory had been pre-empted by any other
fur traders. His overland company arrived later, after
having suffered terrible hardships, being well nigh
overcome by the fatigues of their journey, the rigors
of the inhospitable mountain ranges and lack of food.
Astoria was founded and named. The little colony
of traders set vigorously about the task of carrying
into execution Astor's comprehensive plan. There
were many difficulties to be overcome and one serious
disaster, the massacre of the Tonquin's crew and the
subsequent destruction of that vessel, had its decidedly
depressing effect. Nevertheless, the Astor expedi-
tion would have doubtless proved a success were it not
for two unfortunate circumstances. In the choice of his
partners in the Pacific Fur Company, Mr. Astor had
made a serious mistake. Broad minded and liberal
himself, he did not appreciate the danger of entrusting
his undertaking to the hands of men whose national
prejudices were bitterly anti-American and whose pre-
vious connection with a rival company might affect
their loyalty to this one. He associated with himself
as partners in the enterprise Donald Mackenzie, Alex-
ander Mackay, who had accompanied Alexandar Mac-
kenzie on his voyage of discovery, hence possessed in-
valuable experience, and Duncan Macdougal, all late
of the Northwest Company, and though men of great
skill and experience, schooled in the prejudices of the
association with which they had so long maintained
connection, and able to see only through British eyes.
To the partners already enumerated were subsequently
added Wilson P. Hunt and Robert Maclellan, Ameri-
cans, John Clarke, a Canadian, David and Robert Stu-
art and Ramsey Crooks, Scotchmen, and others.
The second unfortunate circumstance and the one
which gave perfidity a chance to perform its perfect
work was the outbreak of the war of 1812. The dan-
ger that Astoria might be captured by the British (for
the United States had neglected to furnish suitable
protection to this most remote outpost of its domin-
ion) gave the traitorous Macdougal a colorable ex-
cuse to betray into the hands of the Northwest Com-
pany Mr. Astor's interests on the Pacific coast. The
denouement of the plot was in this wise. On the 8th
of October, 1813, Macdougal, by way of preparation
for his final coupe, read a letter announcing the sailing
of two British armed vessels, the Phoebe "and the Is-
aac Todd, with orders "to take and destroy everything
American on the Northwest coast."
"This dramatic scene," says Evans, "was followed
by a proposition of MacTavish (of the Northwest Fur
Company) to purchase the interests, stocks, establish-
ments, etc. of the Pacific Fur Company. Macdougal
then assumed sole control and agency because of the
non-arrival of Hunt, and after repeated conference with
MacTavish in which the presence of the other part-
ners was ignored, the sale was concluded at certain
rates. A few davs later J. Stuart arrived with the re-
mainder of the Northwest party. He objected to Mac-
Tavish's prices and lowered the rates materially. Mr.
Stuart's offer was accepted by Macdougal and the
agreement of transfer was signed October 16th. By it
Duncan Macdougal, for and on behalf of himself, Don-
ald .Mackenzie, David Stuart and John Clarke, part-
ners of the Pacific Fur Company, dissolved July 1st,
pretended to sell to his British conferes and co-con-
spirators of the Xorthwest Company 'the whole of the
establishments, furs and present stock on hand, of
the Columbia and Thompson's rivers.' "
It is needless to add that on the arrival of the Brit-
ish vessels Astoria became a British possession. The
formal change of sovereignty and raising of the Union
Jack took place on December 12th, and as if to oblit-
erate all trace of Mr. Astor's operations, the name of
Astoria was changed to Fort George. The arrival of
Isaac Todd the following spring with a cargo of trad-
ing goods and supplies enabled the Northwest Com-
pany to enter vigorously into the prosecution of their
trade in the territory of their wronged and outraged
rival. "Thus disgracefully failed," says Evans, "a
magnificent enterprise, which merited success fi r sa-
gacity displayed in its conception, its details, its ob-
jects; for the liberality and munificence of its projec-
tor in furnishing means adequate for its thorough exe-
cution; for the results it had aimed to produce. It was
inaugurated purely for commercial purposes. Had it
not been transferred to its enemies, it would have pi' n-
eered the colonization of the northwest coast by citi-
zens of the United States; it would have furnished the
natural and peaceful solution of the question of the
right to the territory drained by the Columbia and its
tributaries.
"The scheme was grand in its aim, magnificent in
its breadth of purpose and area of operation. Its re-
sults were naturally feasible, not over-anticipated.
They were but the logical and necessary sequences of
the pursuit of the plan. Mr. Astor made no miscal-
culation, no omission ; neither did he permit a sanguine
hope to lead him into any wild or imaginary venture.
He was practical, generous, broad. He executed what
Sir Alexander Mackenzie urged should be adopted as
the policy of British capital and enterprise. That one
American citizen should have individually undertaken
what two mammoth British companies had not the
courage to try was but an additional cause which had
intensified national prejudice into embittered jealousy
on the part of the British rivals, the Northwest Com-
pany."
By the first article of the treaty of Ghent entered
into between Great Britain and the United States. De-
cember 14, 1814, it was agreed "that all territory,
places and possessions whatsoever taken by either
party from the other, during or after the war, should
be restored." Astoria, therefore, again became the
possession of the United States, and in September,
1 817, the government sent the sloop-of-war Ontario
"to assert the claim of the United States to the sover-
eignty of the adjacent country, and especially to re-
occupy Astoria or Fort George." The formal surren-
der of the fort is dated October 6, 1818.
Mr. Astor had urged the United States to repos-
sess Astoria, and intended fully to resume operations
in the basin of the Columbia, but the Pacific Fur Com-
pany was never reorganized, and never again did the
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
great captain of industry engage in trade on the shores
of the Pacific.
Brief and general though this introductory sketch
must be we cannot omit mention of the two British fur
companies who played such a prominent part in the
early history of the section to which the five northern
counties of Idaho belong. Although organized in 1774,
the Northwest Company, successor in interest of the
Pacific Fur Company, did not attain to high prestige
until the dawn of the nineteenth century. Then, how-
ever, it seemed to take on new life, and before the first
half decade was passed it had become the successful
rival of the Hudson's Bay Company for the fur trade
of the interior of North America. The Hudson's Bay
Company when originally chartered in 1670 was
granted in a general way the right to traffic in Hud-
son's Bay and the territory contiguous thereto, and the
Northwest Company began to insist that the grant
should be more strictly construed. The boundaries of
Prince Rupert's land, as the Hudson's Bay territory
was named, had never been definitely determined and
there had long been contention in those regions which
were claimed by that company but denied to it by the
other fur traders. Beyond the recognized area of the
Hudson's Bay territory, the old Northwest Company ( a
French company which had fallen, at the time of the
fall of Canada into the possession of the British) had
been a competitor of the Hudson's Bay Company. When
this French association went out of existence the con-
test was kept up by private merchants, but without
lasting success. The new Northwest Company, of
Montreal, united and cemented into one organization
all these individuals for the better discharge of the
common purpose. It is interesting to note the theory
of trade of this association as contrasted with that of
the Hudson's Bay Company.
From established posts as centers of operations,
the Montreal association dispatched parties in all di-
rections to visit the villages and haunts of the natives
and secure furs from every source possible. It went
to the natives for their goods, while the rival company
so arranged its posts that these were convenient to the
whole Indian population, then depended upon the abor-
igines to bring in their peltries and exchange the same
for such articles as might supply their wants or gratify
their fancies. Consequently the one company required
many employees, the other comparatively few. The
clerks or traders of the Montreal association were re-
quired to serve an apprenticeship of seven years at
small wages. That term successfully completed, the
stipend was doubled. Skill and special aptitude in trad-
ing brought speedy promotions, and the chance to be-
come a partner in the business was an unfailing incent-
ive to strenuous effort. The Hudson's Bay Company,
on the other hand, had established fixed grades of com-
pensation. Promotion was slow, coming periodically
rather than as a reward for specially meritorious serv-
ice, and though faithfulness to duty was required, no
incentive was offered for special endeavor. The Hud-
son's Bay Company based its territorial title upon a
specific grant from the crown, while the rival associa-
tion sought no other title than such as priority of oc-
cupancy and pre-emption afforded. It claimed as its
field of operation all unoccupied territory wherever lo-
cated.
The Northwest Company showed also its animus
to confirm and strengthen British title to all territories
adversely claimed, and wherever a post was estab-
lished the territory contiguous thereto was ceremoni-
ously taken possession of "in the name of the king of
Great Britain, for the Northwest Company." Its es-
tablishments and possessions afterward constituted
the substantial basis of Great Britain's claim to the
territory.
Rivalry between these two companies was carried
to such an extent that both were brought to the
verge of bankruptcy. British interests were being en-
dangered through this trade war and something had to
be done. The governor general of Canada appointed
a commission to investigate conditions, and that com-
mission recommended a union of the two companies.
Nothing, however, of material benefit resulted. Event-
ually, in the winter of 1819-20, Lord Bathurst, Brit-
ish secretary of state for the colonies, took up the
matter and through his meditation a union was finally
effected. On March 20, 1821, it was mutually agreed
that both companies should operate under the charter
of the Hudson's Bay Company, furnishing equal
amounts of capital and sharing equally the profits, the
arrangement to continue in force for twenty-one years.
By 1824 all the rights and interests of the stock-
holders late of the Northwest Company had passed into
the hands of the Hudson's Bay Company. The absorb-
tion of the one corporation by the other was com-
plete. The treacherous and perfidious treatment of Mr.
Astor and the demoralization of his partners availed
the greedy Northwesters but little, for they were soon
after conquered and subdued and forever deprived of
their identity as a company by their powerful rival and
enemy.
The Hudson's Bay Company now became the sole
owner and proprietor of the trade west of the Rocky
mountains, and of all the rights accruing under the
license of trade issued to it and the Northwest Com-
pany by the British parliament. An "imperium in im-
perio" Evans characterized this company and such it
was for it was in possession of well-nigh absolute
power over its employes and the native races with
whom it traded. It was constituted "The true and ab-
solute lords and proprietors of the territories, limits
and places, save always the faith, allegiance and sov-
ereign dominion due to us (the crown), our heirs and
successors, for the same, to hold as tenants in fee and
common socage, and not bv knight's service, reserving
as a yearly rent, two elks and two black beavers."
Power was granted, should occasion arise, to "send
ships of war, men or ammunition to any fort, post or
place for defense thereof; to raise military companies
and to appoint their officers ; to make war or conclude
peace with any people (not Christian), in any of their
territories," also "to seize the goods, estates or people
of those countries for damage to the company's inter-
est, or for the interruption of trade; to erect and build
forts, garrisons, towns, villages ; to establish colonies
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
and to support such establishments by expeditions fit-
ted out in Great Britain ; to seize all British subjects
not connected with the company, or employed by them,
or in such territory by their license, and send them
to England." Should one of its factors, traders or
other employees "contemn or disobey an order, he was
liable to be punished by the president or council, who
were authorized to prescribe the manner and measure
of punishment. The offender had the right to appeal
to the company in England, or he might be turned over
for trial by the courts. For the better discovery of
abuses and injuries by the servants, the governor and
company, and their respective president, chief agent
or governor in any of the territories,- were authorized
to examine on oath all factors, masters, pursers, super-
cargoes, commanders of castles, forts, fortifications,
plantations, or colonies, or other persons, touching or
concerning any matter or thing sought to be investi-
gated.'* To further strengthen the hands of the com-
pany, the charter concludes with a royal mandate to
all "admirals, vice-admirals, justices, mayors, sheriffs,
constables, bailiffs, and all and singular other our of-
ficers, ministers, liegemen, subjects whatsoever, to aid,
favor, help and assist the said governor and company
to enjoy, as weli on land as on the seas, all the prem-
ises in said charter contained, whensoever required."
Something of the modus operandi of the company
must now be given. The chief factors and chief trad-
ers were paid no salaries, but in lieu thereof were given
forty per cent, of the profits, divided among them on
some basis deemed equitable by the company. The
clerks received salaries varying from twenty to one
hundred pounds per annum. Below these again were
the servants, whose term of enlistment (for such in
effect it was) was for five years, and whose pay was
seventeen pounds per annum without clothing. The
servant was bound by indentures to devote his whole
time and labor to the company's interests ; to yield obe-
dience to sprerior officers ;to defend the company's
property ; to faithfully obey the laws, orders,
etc ; to defend officers and agents of the com-
pany to the extent of his ability ; to serve
in the capacity of a soldier whenever called upon
so to do : to attend military drill ; and never to engage
or be interested in any trade or occupation except in
accordance with the company's orders and for its bene-
fit. In addition to the pittance paid him, the servant
was entitled, should he desire to remain in the country
after the expiration of his term of enlistment, to fifty
acres of land, for which he was to render twenty-eight
days' service per annum for seven years. If dismissed
before the expiration of his term, the servant, it was
agreed, should be transported to his European home
free of charge. Desertion or neglect might be punished
by the forfeiture of even the wretched pittance he was
to receive. It was, furthermore, the policv of the com-
pany to encourage marriage with the Indian women,
their purpose being to create family ties which should
bind the poor slave to the soil. By the time the serv-
ant's term of enlistment had expired, there was, there-
fore, usually no choice left him but to re-enlist or ac-
cept the grant of land. "In times of peace, laborers
and operatives were ever on hand at mere nominal
wages ; in times of outbreak they were at once trans-
formed into soldiers amenable to military usage and
discipline."
The system was certainly a fine one, viewed from
the standpoint of the company, but while it may com-
mand admiration for its ingenuity, it is certainly not
to be commended for magnanimity. Its design and
purpose was to turn the wealth of the country into the
coffers of the English noblemen who owned Hudson's
Bay stock, even though this should be done at the ex-
pense of the manhood, the self-respect and the inde-
pendence of the poor sons of toil who foolishly or from
necessity bound themselves to its service.
The Indian policv of the company was no less politic
than its treatment of its employees, but it had much
more in it that was truly commendable. Its purpose
did not bring its employees into conflict with the Indian,
nor require his expulsion, neither was there danger of
the lands of the savages being appropriated or the
graves of their people disturbed. The sale of intoxi-
cants was positively and successfully prohibited. Con-
ciliation was the wisest policy for the company, and it
governed itself accordingly ; but when punishment was
merited, it was administered with promptness and se-
verity. When depreciations were committed the tribe
to which the malefactor belonged was pursued by an
armed force and compelled to deliver up the guilty
to his fate. A certain amount of civilization was in-
troduced, and with it came an increase of wants, which
wants could only be supplied at the company's forts.
Indians were sent on hunting and trapping expedi-
tions in all directions, so that concentration of tribes
became difficult, and if attempted, easily perceived in
time to circumvent it and prevent trouble. Thus the
company secured an influence over the savage and a
place in his affections, from which it could not easily
be dislodged.
In its treatment of missionaries, civil and military
officers and others from the United States, the com-
pany's factors and agents were uniformly courteous
and kind. Their hospitality was in the highest degree
commendable, meriting the gratitude of the earliest
visitors and settlers. The poor and unfortunate never
asked assistance in vain. But woe to the American who
attempted to trade with the Indian, to trap, hunt or do
anything which brought him into competition with the
British corporation. All the resources of a company
supplied with an abundance of cheap labor, supported
by the friendship and affection of the aboriginal peo-
ples, backed by an almost unlimited capital, and forti-
fied by the favor of one of the wealthiest and most
powerful nations of the earth, were at once turned to
c-ush him. Counter establishments were formed in
his vicinity, and he was hampered in every way possible
and pursued with the relentlessness of an evil fate until
compelled to retire from the field.
Such being the condition, there was not much en-
couragement for American enterprise in the basin of
the Columbia. It is not, however, in the American
character to yield a promising prospect without a strug-
gle and many times efforts were made at competition in
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
the Oregon territory. William H. Ashley. Jedediah S.
Smith, Captain Nathaniel J. Wyeth and others tried
their hands but all were compelled to give up in de-
spair.
More important perhaps than the loss of profits
which might accrue to America from the successful
prosecution of the fur trade was the weakening of
America's title to the country, through the establish-
ment of British trading posts, the colonization of re-
tired officers and servants as cultivators of the public
domain, etc. It is true that the joint occupancy con-
ventions of 1818 and 1827, by which British and Ameri-
cans alike were allowed to occupy the country, ex-
pressly stipulated that no advantage should inure to
either of the high contracting parties by virtue of any
acts performed subsequent to the date of the first con-
vention. However clear and explicit the language
of the treaty, no observer could fail to note that the
establishment of trading enterprises was giving Great
Britain a decided advantage in the struggle for title
to the Oregon country. The Hundson's Bay Company
had a political mission and was piaying a prominent
part in inter-national affairs. This it openly avowed
in 1S37 in its application to the home government for a
new license granting enlarged privileges. It pointed
boastfully to its efficient services in successfully crush-
ing out American enterprise, and in strengthening the
British title to the territory, contrary to the spirit and
letter of the joint occupancy treaties.
In presenting the petition, the company's chief rep-
resentative in England, Sir John Henry Pelly, called
the attention of the lords to the service rendered in
securing to the mother country a branch of trade,
wrested from subjects of Russia and the United States
of America; to the six permanent establishments it had
on the coast, and the sixteen in the interior, besides
the migratory and hunting parties ; to its marine of six
armed vessels; to its large pasture and grain farms,
affording every species of agricultural produce and
maintaining large herds of stock. He further averred
that it was the intention of the company to still further
extend and increase its farms, and to establish an ex-
port trade in wool, hides, tallow and other produce of
the herd and the cultivated field, also to encourage the
settlement of its retired servants and other emigrants
under its protection. Referring to the soil, climate and
other circumstances of the country, he said they were
such as to make it "as much adapted to agricultural
pursuits as any other spot in America; and," said he,
"with care and protection the British dominion may
not only be preserved in this country, which it has been
so much the wish of Russia and America to occupy to
the exclusion of British subjects, but British interest
and British influence may be maintained as paramount
in this interesting part of the coast of the Pacific."
Sir George Simpson, who was in charge of the Hud-
son's Bay Company's affairs in America, in making
his plea for the renewal of the license, referred to the
international import of the company's operations in this
language : "The possession of that country to Great
Britain may be an object of very great importance ;
and we are strengthening that claim to it (independent
of the claims of prior discovery and occupation for the
purpose of Indian trade) by forming the nucleus of a
colony through the establishment of farms, and the set-
tlement of some of our retired officers and servants as
agriculturists."
One might almost expect that Great Britain would
offer some word of reproof to a company which could
have the audacity to boast of violating her treaty com-
pacts with a friendly power. Not so, however. She
was a party to the breach of faith. Instead of admin-
istering reproof, she rewards the wrong-doers by the
promptly issuing of a new license to extend and be in
force for a period of twenty-one years. This renewed
license, the date of which is May 31, 1838, granted to
the company "the exclusive privilege of trading with
the Indians in all such parts of North America, to the
northward and westward of the islands and territories
belonging to the United States of America, as shall not
form part of any of our (British) provinces in North
America, or of any lands or territories belonging to the
said United States of America, or to any European
government, state, or power. Without rent for the first
five vears. and afterward the yearly rent of five shill-
ings, payable on the 1st of June." The company was
again required to furnish a bond conditioned on then-
executing by their authority over the persons in their
employ, "all civil and criminal process by the officers or
persons legally empowered to execute such process
within all territories included in the grant, and for the
producing or delivering into custody, for the purpose
of trial, all persons in their employ or acting under their
authority within the said territories, who shall be
charged with any criminal offenses." The license, how-
ever, prohibited the company "from claiming or exer-
cising any trade with the Indians on the "northwest
coast of America westward of the Rocky mountains to
the prejudice or exclusion of any of the "subjects of any
foreign state, who, under or by any force of any con-
vention for the time being between Great Britain and
such foreign states, may be entitled to and shall be en-
gaged in such trade." But no provision could be
framed, nor was it the wish of the grantors to frame-
any, which should prevent the Hudson's Bay Company
from driving out by harassing tactics and fierce compe-
tition, anv American who might enter the Oregon ter-
ritory as a trader.
Though the citizens of the United States failed to
compete with the powerful British company for the
profits of the fur trade, neither they nor their govern-
ment viewed the aggressiveness of the British with any-
thing like apathy. The value of the countrv earlv be-
came appreciated by a determined little band in' con-
gress. The debates in that body, as well as the numer-
ous publications sent out among the people, stimulated
a few daring spirits to brave the dangers of Rocky
mountain travel and to see for themselves the truth
with regard to Oregon. Reports from these reacted
upon congress, enabling it to reason and judge from
premises more nearly in accordance with fact. Grad-
ually interest in Oregon became intensified, and the
determination to hold it for. the United States deep-
ened. While the country never receded from its con-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
viction of the existence of an absolute right of sover-
eignty in itself, the people resolved to establish a title
which even the British could not question, to win
Oregon from Great Britain even in accordonce with
the tenets of her own theory. They determined to
settle and Americanize the territory. In 1834 an ele-
ment of civilization was introduced of a vastly higher
nature than any which accompanied the inroad of the
Hudson's Bay Company's employees and of trappers
and traders ; an element more potent also in its politi-
cal effect as the event proved. We refer to the en-
trance into the country of a party of Methodist mis-
sionaries, which accompanied Wyeth's overland expe-
dition. The party consisted of Rev. Jason Lee and
his nephew. Rev. Daniel Lee, Cyrus Shepherd, Court-
ney M. Walker and P. L. Edwards. These settled
near the site of the present city of Salem, forming the
nucleus of a thrifty American colony, for the party
was perforce increased by the marriage of some of its
members and by additions to its numbers as the neces-
sities 01 the mission and the progress of its work de-
manded. Not only that but the adventurous Rocky
mountain men and other whites who became weary
of their nomadic habits when they determined to set-
tle down naturally sought its vicinity for the sake of
its helpful society and influence.
Two years later came another missionary party,
sent out bv the American Board of Commissioners for
Foreign Missions, an organization then supported by
the Congregational, Presbyterian and Dutch Reformed
churches. The members of this party were Dr. Mar-
cus Whitman and wife, Rev. H. H. Spalding and
wife and W. H. Gray. We must pass over for the
present the work of these men and those who later
became their associates, but their political influence
was not less potent than that of the Methodist mis-
sionaries and it is certain that Whitman's famous mid-
winter ride overland to the east had for one of its
momentous results the stimulating of immigration into
Oregon. Undoubtedly a large proportion of the near-
ly nine hundred who were piloted over the Rockies
by Whitman in 1843, were induced to come through
the representations and efforts of that great mission-
ary patriot.
But besides the missions, several other forces were
at work to populate the Northwest with an American
people which must be passed over here. The inde-
pendent population of the country in 1S41 was per-
haps 253 ; in 1842 came an immigration of 1 1 1 per-
sons: in 1843 came the immigration of 875 persons
referred to above; the next year brought 800 more;
1846 added another thousand according to estimate,
and so the population continued to grow by annual
accretions. America had determined to oppose her
citizens, as settlers and home builders, against the
British fur traders, thus introducing into the Oregon
question a feature, the vital force and import of which
could not be denied by the adverse claimant.
But the transcendant importance of this great con-
troversy demands that we trace briefly the history of
diplomatic negotiations by which was effected a peace-
ful adjustment of international interests so diametri-
cally opposed to each other as to twice all but occa-
sion actual conflict of arms.
We need not attempt to trace all the conflicting
claims which were at any time set up by different na-
tions to parts or the whole of the old Oregon territory,
nor to go into the controversy in all its multiform
complications, but will confine our inquiry mainly to
the negotiations after Great Britain and the United
States became the sole claimants. France early estab-
lished some right to what denominated "the western
part of Louisiana," which, in 1762, she conveved to
Spain. This was retroceded to France some thirty-
eight years later, and in 1803 was by that nation con-
veyed with the rest of Louisiana to the United States.
So France was left out of the contest. In 1819, by
the treaty of Florida, Spain ceded to the United States
all right and title whatsoever which she might have to
the territory on the Pacific, north of the forty-second
parallel.
What then were the claims of the United States to
this vast domain? Naturally they were of a three-fold
character. Our government claimed first in its own
right. The Columbia river was discovered by a citi-
zen of the United States and named by him. The river
had been subsequently explored from its sources to its
mouth by a government expedition under Lewis and
Clark. This had been followed and its effect strength-
ened by American settlements upon the banks of the
river. While Astoria, the American settlement, had
been captured in the war of 1812-15, it: llad been re-
stored in accordance with the treaty of Ghent, one pro-
vision of which was that "all territory, places and pos-
sessions whatsoever, taken by either party from the
other during the war, or which may be taken after the
signing of this treaty, shall be restored without de-
lay."
It was a well established and universally recog-
nized principle of international law that the discovery
of a river, followed within a reasonable time by acts
of occupancy, conveyed the right to the territory
drained by the river and its tributary streams. This,
it was contended, would make the territory between
forty-two degrees and fifty-one degrees north latitude
the rightful possession of the United States.
The Americans claimed secondly as the successors
of France. By the treaty of Utrecht, the date whereof
was 1713, the north line of the Louisiana territory was
established as a dividing line between the Hudson's
Bay territory and the French provinces in Canada.
For centuries it had been a well recognized principle
of international law that "continuity" w
as a strong
element of territorial claim. All European powers
when colonizing the Atlantic seaboard, construed their
colonial grants to extend, whether expressly so stated
or otherwise, entirely across the continent to the Pa-
cific ocean, and most of these grants conveyed in ex-
press terms a strip of territory bounded north and
south by stated parallels of latitude and east and west
by the oceans. Great Britain herself had stoutlv main-
tained this principle, even going so far as to wage
with France for its integrity, the war which was ended
by the treaty of 1763. By that England acquired
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Canada and renounced to France all territory west of
the Mississippi river. It was therefore contended on
the part of the United States that England's claim by
continuity passed to France and from France by as-
signment to this nation. This claim, of course, was
subject to any rights which might prove to belong to
Spain.
Thirdly, the United States claimed as the succes-
sor of Spain, all the rights that nation might have ac-
quired by prior discoverv or otherwise having accrued
to the United States by the treaty of Florida.
In the negotiations between Great Britain and the
United States, which terminated in the Joint-Occu-
pancy treaty of 1818, the latter nation pressed the
former for a final quit claim of all territory west of the
Rocky mountains. In so doing it asserted its inten-
tion "to be without reference or prejudice to the
claims of any other power," but it was contended on
the part of the American negotiations, Gallitin and
Rush, that the discovery of the Columbia by Gray,
its exploration by Lewis and Clark, and the American
settlement at Astoria rendered the claim of the United
States "at least good against Great Britain to the
country through which such river flowed, though they
did not assert that the United States had a perfect right
to the country."
When, however, the United States succeeded to
Spain, it was thought that all clouds upon its title
were completely dispelled, and thereafter it was the
contention of this government that its right to sole
occupancy was perfect and indisputable. Great Brit-
ain, however, did not claim that her title amounted to
one of sovereign or exclusive possession, but simply
that it was at least as good as any other. Her theory
was that she had a right to occupancy in conjunction
with other claimants, which by settlement and other-
wise might be so strengthened in a part or the whole
of the territory as to ultimately secure for her the
right to be clothed with sovereignty.
In the discussion of the issue, the earliest explora-
tions had to be largely left out of the case, as they
were attended by too much vagueness and uncertainty
to bear any great weight. The second epoch of ex-
ploration was, therefore, lifted to a position of promin-
ence it could not otherwise have enjoyed. Perez and
Heceta, for the Spainards, the former in 1774, and the
latter a year later, had explored the northwest coast
to the fifty-fifth parallel and beyond, Heceta dis-
covering the mouth of the Columbia river. To offset
whatever rights might accrue from these explorations,
England had only the more thorough but less exten-
sive survey of Captain James Cook, made in 1778.
The advantage in point of prior discovery would,
therefore, seem to be with the United States as assignee
of Spain.
After the Joint-Occupancy treaty of 1818 had been
signed, negotiations on the subject were not re-
opened until 1824. In that year, obedient to the mas-
terly instructions addressed to him on July 22, 1823,
by John Quincy Adams, secretary of state, Richard
Rush, minister to England, entered into negotiations
with the British ministers Canning and Huskisson
for the adjustment of the boundary. Mr. Rush was
instructed to offer the forty-ninth parallel to the sea,
"should it be earnestly insisted upon by Great Britain."
He endeavored with great persistency to fulfill his mis-
sion, but his propositions were rejected. The British
negotiators offered the forty-ninth parallel to the Co-
lumbia, then the middle of that river to the sea, with
perpetual rights to both nations of navigating the har-
bor at the mouth of the river. This proposal Mr. Rush
rejected, so nothing was accomplished. By treaty
concluded in February, 1825, an agreement was en-
tered into between Great Britain and Russia, whereby
the line of fifty-four degrees, forty minutes, was fixed
as the boundary between the territorial claims of the
two nations, a fact which explains the cry of "Fifty-
four, forty or fight" that in later days became the
slogan of the Democratic party.
In 1826-7 another attempt was made to settle the
question at issue between Great Britain and the United
States. Albert Gallatin then represented this country,
receiving his instructions from Henry Clay, secretary
of state, who said : "It is not thought necessary to
add much to the argument advanced on this point in
the instructions given to Mr. Rush, and that which was
employed by him in the course of the negotiations to
support our title as derived from prior discovery and
settlement at the mouth of the Columbia river, and
from the treaty which Spain concluded on the 22d of
February, 1819. That argument is believed to have
conclusively established our title on both grounds.
Nor is it conceived that Great Britain has or can make
out even a colorless title to any portion of the north-
ern coast." Referring to the offer of the forty-ninth
parallel in a dispatch dated February 24, 1827, Mr.
Clay said : "It is conceived in a genuine spirit of con-
cession and concilliation, and it is our ultimatum
and you may so announce it." In order to
save the case of his country from being
prejudiced in future negotiations by the liberality
of offers made and rejected. Mr. Clay instructed Galla-
tin to declare : "That the American government does
not hold itself bound hereafter, in consequence of any
proposal which it has heretofore made, to agree to a
line which has been so proposed and rejected, but will
consider itself at liberty to contend for the full measure
of our just claims: which declaration you must have
recorded in the protocol of one of your conferences;
and to give it more weight, have it stated that it has
been done by the express direction of the president."
Mr. Gallatin sustained the claim of the United
States in this negotiation so powerfully that the Brit-
ish plenipotentiaries, Huskisson, Grant and Adding-
ton, were forced to the position that Great Britian did
not assert any title to the country. They contented
themselves with the contention that her claim was
sufficiently well founded as to give her the right to
occupy the country in common with other nations,
such concessions having been made to her by the
Nootka treaty. The British negotiators complained
of the recommendation of President Monroe in his
message of December 7, 1824, to establish a military
post at the mouth of Columbia river and of the passage
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
of the bill in the House providing for the occupancy of
the Oregon river. To this the Americans replied by call-
ing attention to the act of the British parliament of
182 1, entitled "An act for regulating the fur trade and
establishing a criminal and civil jurisdiction in cer-
tain parts of North America." He contended with
great ability and force that the recommendation and
bill complained of did not interfere with the treaty of
1818, and that neither a territorial government nor a
fort at the mouth of the river could rightly be com-
plained of by a government which had granted such
wide privileges and comprehensive powers to the Hud-
son's Bay Company.
Before the conclusion of these negotiations, Mr.
Gallatin had offered not alone the forty-ninth parallel
but that "the navigation of the Columbia river shall
be perpetually free to subjects of Great Britain in com-
mon with citizens of the United States, provided that
the said line should strike the northeastermost or any
other branch of that river at a point at which it was
navigable for boats." The British, on their part, again
offered the Columbia river, together with a large tract
of land between Admiralty Inlet and the coast, protest-
ing that this concession was made in the spirit of sacri-
fice for conciliation and not as one of right. The
proposition was rejected and the negotiations ended in
the treaty of August 6, 1827, which continued the
Joint-Occupancy treaty of 1818 indefinitely, with the
proviso that it might be abrogated by either party
on giving the other a year's notice.
"There can be no doubt," says Evans, "that, during
the continuance of these two treaties, British foothold
was strengthened and the difficulty of the adjustment
of boundaries materially enhanced. Xor does this re-
flect in the slighest degree upon those great publicists
who managed the claim of the United States in those
negotiations. Matchless ability and earnest patriot-
ism, firm defense of the United States' claim, and
withal a disposition to compromise to avoid rupture
with any other nation, mark these negotiations in every
line. The language and intention of these treaties are
clear and unmistakable. Neither government was to
attempt any act in the derogation of the other's claim ;
nor could any advantage inure to either ; during their
continuance the territory should be free and open to
citizens and subjects of both nations. Such is their
plain purport ; such the only construction which their
language will warrant. Yet it cannot be controverted
that the United States had thereby precluded itself
from the sole enjoyment of the territory which it
claimed in sovereignty; nor that Great Britain ac-
quired a peaceable, recognized and uninterrupted ten-
ancy-in-common in regions where her title was so im-
perfect that she herself admitted that she could not
successfully maintain, nor did she even assert it. She
could well afford to wait. Hers was indeed the policy
later in the controversy styled masterly inactivity :
'Leave the title in abeyance, the settlement of the coun-
try will ultimately settle the sovereignty.' In no event
could her colorless title lose color ; while an immediate
adjustment of the boundary would have abridged the
area of territory in which, through her subjects, she
already exercised exclusive possession, and had se-
cured the entire enjoyment of its wealth and resources.
The Hudson's Bay Company, by virtue of its license
of trade excluding all other British subjects from the
territory, was Great Britain's trustee in possession —
an empire company, omnipotent to supplant enterprises
projected by citizens of the United States. Indeed,
the territory had been appropriated by a wealthy, all-
powerful monopoly, with whom it was runious to at-
tempt to compete. Such is a true exhibit of the then
condition of Oregon, produced by causes extrinsic to
the treaty, which the United States government could
neither counteract nor avoid. The L^nited States had
saved the right for its citizens to enter the territory,
had protested likewise that no act or omission on the
part of the government or its citizens, or any act of
commission or omission by the British government or
her subjects during such joint-occupancy treaties,
should affect in any way the United States' claim to
the territory.
"The treaties of 1818 and 1827 have passed into his-
tory as conventions for joint occupancy. Practically
they operated as grants of possession to Great Britain,
or rather to her representative, the Hudson's Bay
Company, who, after the merger with the Northwest
Company, had become sole occupant of the territory.
The situation may be briefly summed up : The United
States claimed title to the territory. Great Britain,
through its empire-trading company, occupied it, — en-
joyed all the wealth and resources derivable from it."
But while joint occupancy was in realty non-oc-
cupation by any but the British, it must not be sup-
posed that the case of the United States was allowed to
go entirely by default during the regime of so-called
joint occupancy. In congress the advisability of occu-
pying Oregon was frequently and vehemently dis-
cussed. Ignorance and misconception with regard to
the real nature of Oregon, its climate, soil, products,
and healthfulness, were being dispelled. The repre-
sentations of the Hudson's Bay Company that it was
a "miasmatic wilderness, uninhabitable except by wild
beasts and more savage men," were found to be false.
In 1821 Dr. John Floyd, a representative in congress
from Virginia, and Senator Thomas H. Benton, of
Missouri, had interviews at Washington with Ramsey
Crooks and Russel Farnham, who had belonged to
Astor's party. From these gentlemen they learned
something of the value of Oregon, its features of in-
terest, and its commercial and strategic importance.
This information Dr. Floyd made public in 1822, in a
speech in support of a bill "to authorize the occupa-
tion of the Columbia river, and to regulate trade and
intercourse with the Indians thereon." On December
29, 1823, a committee was appointed to inquire as to
the wisdom of occupying the mouth of the Columbia
and the committee's report, submitted on April 15th
of the following year, embodied a communication from
General Thomas S. Jesup, which asserted that the mili-
tary occupancy of the Columbia was a necessity for
M
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
protecting trade and securing the frontier. It recom-
mended :'the dispatch of a force of two hundred men
across the continent to establish a fort at the mouth of
the Columbia river ; that at the same time two vessels,
with arms, ordnance and supplies, be sent thither by
sea. He further proposed the establishment of a line
of posts across the continent to afford protection to
our traders; and on the expiration of the privilege
granted to British subjects to trade on the waters of
the Columbia, to enable us to remove them from our
territory, and secure the whole to our citizens. Those
posts could also secure the preservation of peace among
the Indians in the event of a foreign war and command
their neutrality or assistance as we might think most
advisable." The 'letter exposed Great Britian's rea-
sons for her policy of masterly inactivity, and urged
that some action be taken by the United States to off-
set the accretion of British title and for preserving
and perfecting its own. "History," says Evans, "will
generously award credit to the sagacious Jesup for
indicating' in 1823 the unerring way to preserve the
American title to Oregon territory. Nor will it fail
to command the earnest devotion of that little Oregon
party in congress for placing on record why the gov-
ernment should assert exclusive jurisdiction within its
own territory." In the next congress the subject was
again discussed with energy and ability. In 183 1 for-
mal negotiations with Great Britain were resumed.
All this discussion had a tendency to dispel the
idea, promulgated, as we have seen, by the Hudson's
Bay Company, that the territory was worthless and
uninhabitable," also to excite interest in the mystic re-
gion bevond the mountains.
The United States claimed theoretically that it was
the possessor of a vested right to absolute sovereignty
over the entire Oregon territory, and in all the nego-
tiations, after the signing of the treaty of Florida, its
ambassadors claimed that the title of their country was
clearlv established. The fact, however, that joint occu-
pancv was agreed to at all after 1828 could hardly be
construed in any other light than as a confession of
weakness in our' title, notwithstanding the unequivocal
stipulations that neither party should attempt anything
in derogation of the other's claims, and that the con-
troversy should be determined on its merits as they
existed" prior to 1818. If the United States came into
possession of an absolute title in 18 19, why should it
afterward permit occupation by British subjects and
the enforcement of British law in its domain ?
The United States' title, as before stated, rested
upon three foundation stones, — its own discoveries
and explorations, the discoveries and explorations of
the Spaniards, and the purchase of Louisiana. While
it was not contended that any one of these conveyed
exclusive right, the position of our country was that
each supplemented the other ; that, though while vested
in different nations they were antagonistic when held
by the same nation, they, taken together, amounted to
a' complete title. The title was, therefore, cumulative
in its nature and had in it the weakness which is in-
herent under such conditions. It was impossible to
determine with definiteness how many partial titles,
the value of each being a matter of uncertainty, would
cumulatively amount to one complete title. And, how-
ever clear the right of the United States might seem
to its own statesmen, it is evident that conviction must
be produced in the minds of the British also if war was
to be avoided.
In 1831 when Martin Van Buren was our minister
at London he received instructions relative to the con-
troversy from Edward Livingston, secretary of state,
the tenor of which indicated that the United States
was not averse to the presence of the British in the
territory. While they asserted confidence in the
American title to the entire Oregon territory, they
said: "This subject, then, is open for discussion, and
until the rights of the parties can be settled by nego-
tiations, ours can suffer nothing by delay." Under
these rather lukewarm instructions, naturally nothing
was accomplished.
In 1842 efforts to adjust the boundary west of the
Rocky mountains were again resumed, this time on
motion of Great Britain. That power requested on
October x8th of the year mentioned that the United
States minister at London should be furnished with
instructions and authority to renew negotiations, giv-
ing assurance of its willingness to proceed to the con-
sideration of the boundary subject "in a perfect spirit
of fairness, and to adjust it on a basis of equitable
compromise." On November 25th, Daniel Webster,
then secretary of state, replied: "That the president
concurred entirely in the expediency of making the
qiiestion respecting the Oregon territory a subject of
immediate attention and negotiation between the two
governments. He had already formed the purpose of
expressing this opinion in his message to congress,
and at no distant day, a communication will be made to
the minister of the United States in London."
Negotiations were nut, however, renewed until Oc-
tober, 1843. when Secretary Upshur sent instructions
to Edward Everett, American minister to London,
again offering the forty-ninth parallel, together with
the right of navigating the Columbia river upon equit-
able terms. In February of the ensuing year, Hon.
Richard Packenham, British plenipotentiary, came to
the American capital with instructions to negotiate
concerning the Oregon territory. No sooner had dis-
cussion fairly begun than a melancholy event hap-
pened, Secretary Upshur being killed on the United
States vessel Princeton by the explosion of a gun. A
few months later his successor, John C. Calhoun, con-
tinued the negotiations. The arguments were in a
large measure a repetition of these already advanced
but a greater aggressiveness on the part of the British
ami persistency in denying the claims of the United
States were noticeable. As in former negotiations, the
privileges accorded by the Nootka convention were
Q-reatly relied upon by Great Britain as proving that
no absolute title was retained by Spain after the sign-
ing of that treaty, hence none could be assigned. One
striking statement in Lord Packenham's correspond-
ence was to the effect that "he did not feel authorized
to enter into discussion respecting the territory north
of the forty-ninth parallel of latitude, which was under-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
.stood by the British government to form the basis of
negotiations on the side of the United States, as the
line of the Columbia formed that of Great Britain."
Me thus showed all too plainly the animus of his gov-
ernment to take advantage of the spirit of compromise
which prompted the offer of that line and to construe
such offer as the abandonment of the United States,
claim to an absolute title to all the Oregon territory. It
is hard to harmonize her action in this matter with the
"perfect spirit of fairness" professed in the note of
Lord Aberdeen to Mr. Webster asking for a renewal of
negotiations. No agreement was reached.
During the sessions of congress of 1843-4 memor-
ials, resolutions and petitions from all parts of the
union came in a perfect flood. The people were thor-
oughly aroused. In the presidential election which oc-
curred at that time the Oregon question was a leading
issue. "Fifty-four Forty or Fight" became the rally-
ing cry of the Democratic party. The platform
framed in the Democratic national convention de-
clared : "Our title to the whole of Oregon is clear
and unquestionable. No portion of the same ought
to be ceded to England or any other power ; and by
the reoccupation of Oregon at the earliest practical
period is a great American measure." The position
of the Whig- party was milder and less arrogant, but
equally emphatic in its assertion of belief in the valid-
ity of the United States' title. The fact that the Demo-
crats carried in the election, despite the warlike tone
of their platform and campaign, is conclusive evidence
that the people were determined to hold their terri-
tory on the Pacific regardless of cost. "Never was a
government more signally advised by the voice of a
united people. The popular pulse had been felt, and
it beat strongly in favor of prompt and decisive meas-
uies to secure the immediate reoccupation of Oregon.
It equally proclaimed that 'no portion thereof ought
to be ceded to Great Britain.' " In January, 1845, Sir
Richard Packenham, the British minister, proposed
that the matter in dispute be left to arbitration, which
proposal was respectfully declined. So the adminis-
tration of President Tyler terminated without adjust-
ment of the Oregon difficulty.
Notwithstanding the unequivocal voice of the peo-
ple in demand of the whole of Oregon, James Buch-
anan, secretary of state under President Polk, in a
communication to Sir Richard Packenham, dated July
12, 1845, again offered the forty-ninth parallel, explain-
ing at the same time that he could not have consented
to do so had he not found himself embarassed if not
committed by the acts of his predecessors. Packen-
ham rejected the offer. Buchanan informed him that
he was "instructed by the president to say that he owes
it to his country, and a just appreciation of her title to
the Oregon territory, to withdraw the proposition to
the British government which has been made under
his direction ; and it is hereby accordingly withdrawn."
This formal withdrawal of previous offers of com-
promise on the forty-ninth parallel, justified as it was
In- Great Britain's repeated rejections, left the Polk
administration free and untrammeled. Appearances
indicated that it was now ready to give execution to
the popular verdict of 1844. The message of the presi-
dent recommended that the year's notice, required by
the treaty of 1827, be immediately given, that measures
be adopted for maintaining the rights of the United
States to the whole of Oregon, and that such legisla-
tion be enacted as would afford security and protection
to American settlers.
In harmony with these recommendations, a resolu-
tion was adopted April 27, 1846, authorizing the presi-
dent "at his discretion to give to the government of
Great Britain the notice required by the second article
of the said convention of the sixth of August, eighteen
hundred and twenty-seven, for the abrogation of the
same."
Acting in accordance with the resolution. Presi-
dent Polk the next day sent notice of the determination
of the United States "that, at the end of twelve months
from and after the deliver\- of these presents by the
envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of
the United States at London, to her Britannic Ma-
jesty, or to her majesty's principal secretary of state for
foreign affairs, the said convention shall be entirely
annulled and abrogated."
On the 27th of December, 1845, Sir Richard Pack-
enham had submitted another proposal to arbitrate the
matter at issue between the two governments. The
proposal was declined on the ground that to submit the
proposition in the form stated would preclude the
United States from making a claim to the whole of the
territory. On January 17th of the following year, a
modified proposal was made to refer "the question of
title in either government to the whole territory to be
decided ; and if neither were found to possess a com-
plete title to the whole, it was to be divided between
them according to a just appreciation of the claims of
each." The answer of Mr. Buchanan was clear and
its language calculated to preclude any more arbitra-
tion proposals. He said : "if the governments should
consent to an arbitration upon such terms, this would
he construed into an intimation, of not a direct invita-
tion to the arbitrator to divide the territory between
the two parties. Were it possible for this government,
under any circumstances, to refer the question to arbi-
tration, the title and the title alone, detached from every
other consideration, ought to be the only question sub-
mitted. The title of the United States, which the
president regards clear and unquestionable, can never
be placed in jeopardy by referring it to the decision of
any individual, whether sovereign, citizen or subject.
Nor does he believe the territorial rights of this nation
are a proper subject of arbitration."
But the British government seems now to have be-
come determined that the question should be settled
without further delay. The rejected arbitration pro-
posal was followed on the 6th of June, 1846, by a draft
of the proposed treaty submitted by Sir Richard Pack-
enham to Secretary of .State Buchanan. The provision
of this were to the effect that the boundary should be
continued along the forty-ninth parallel "to the middle
of the channel which separates the continent from
Vancouver Island: and thence southerly through the
middle of said channel and of Fuca's strait to the
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Pacific ocean." It stipulated that the navigation of
the Columbia river should remain free and open to the
Hudson's Bay Company and to all British subjects
trading with the same ; that the possessory right of
that company and of all British subjects south of the
forty-ninth parallel should be respected, and that "the
farms, lands and other property of every description
belonging to the Puget Sound Agricultural Company
shall be confirmed to said company. In case, however,
the situation of these farms and lands should be con-
sidered by the United States to be of public import-
ance, and the United States government should signify
a desire to obtain possession of the whole, or any part
thereof, the property so required shall be transferred
to the said government at a proper valuation, to be
agreed between the parties."
Upon the receipt of the important communication
embodying this draft, the president asked in advance
the advice of the senate, a very unusual, though not
unprecedented procedure. Though the request of the
president was dated June ioth and the consideration
of the resolution to accept the British proposal was not
begun until June 12th, on June 13th it was "resolved
(two-thirds of the senators present consenting), that
the president of the United States be, and he is hereby,
advised to accept the proposal of the British govern-
ment, accompanying his message to the senate, dated
June io, 1846, for a convention to settle the boundar-
ies, etc., between the United States and Great Britain,
west of the Rocky or Stony mountains." The advice
was, however, "given under the conviction that, by the
true construction of the second article of the project,
the right of the Hudson's Bay Company to navigate
the Columbia would expire with the termination of
their present license of trade with the Indians, etc., on
the northwest coast of America, on the 30th of May,
1859."
The wonderful alacrity with which this advice was
given and with which five degrees and forty minutes
of territory were surrendered to Great Britain, is ac-
counted for by some historians (and no doubt they
are correct) by supposing that the "cession" was made
in the interests of slavery. The friends of that insti-
tution were unwilling to risk a war with Great Brit-
ain which would interfere with the war with Mexico
and the annexation of Texas. Their plan was to ac-
quire as much territory from which slave states could
be formed as possible, and they were not over scrupu-
lous about sacrificing territory which must ultimately
develop into free states. But for unfortunate diplo-
macy, "it is quite probable that British Columbia would
be to-day, what many would deem desirable in view of
its growing importance, a part of the United States."
Notwithstanding the great sacrifice made by the
United States for the sake of peace, it was not long
until war clouds were again darkening our national
skies. The determining of the line after it reached the
Pacific ocean soon became a matter of dispute. Hard-
ly had the ratifications been exchanged when Captain
Prevost, for the British government, set up the claim
that Rosario was the channel intended by the treaty.
The claim was, of course, denied by Mr. Campbell,
who was representing the United States in making the
survey line. It was contended by him that the Canal
de Haro was the channel mentioned in the treaty. Lord
Russell, conscious, no doubt, of the weakness of his
case, proposed as a compromise President's channel,
between Rosario and de Haro straits. The generosity
of this proposal is obvious when we remember that San
Juan island, the principal bone of contention, would
be on the British side of the line. Indeed Lord Lyons,
the British diplomatic representative in the United
States, was expressly instructed that no line would be
accepted which did not give San Juan to the British.
The position of the United States was stated by Secre-
tary of State Lewis Cass, with equal clearness and de-
cisiveness. Efforts to settle the matter geographically
proved unavailing and diplomacy again had to undergo,
a severe test.
For a number of years the matter remained in
abeyance. Then the pioneer resolved to try the plan,
he had before resorted to in the settlement of the main
question. He pushed into the country with wife and
family. The Hudson's Bay Company's representa-
tives were already there and the danger of a clash of
arms between the subjects of the queen and the citizens
of the United States, resident in the disputed terri-
tory, soon became imminent. Such a collision would
undoubtedly involve the two countries in war.
In the session of the Oregon territorial legislature
of 1852-53, the archipelago to which San Juan island
belongs was organized into a county. Taxes were in
due time imposed on Hudson's Bay Company prop-
erty, and when payment was refused, the sheriff
promptly sold sheep enough to satisfy the levy. Gen-
eral Harney, commander of the Department of the Pa-
cific, inaugurated somewhat ' summary proceedings.
He landed over four hundred and fifty troops on the
island, and instructed Captain Pickett to protect Amer-
ican citizens there at all costs. English naval forces
of considerable power gathered about the island. Their
commander protested against military occupancy.
Pickett replied that he could not, under his orders, per-
mit any joint occupancy. General Harney, however,,
had acted without instructions from the seat of govern-
ment, and the president did not approve his measures
officially, though it was plainly evident that the admin-
istration was not averse to having the matter forced
to an issue.
At this juncture, the noted General Scott was sent
to the scene of the difficulty, under instructions to per-
mit joint occupancy until the matter in dispute could
be settled. Harney was withdrawn from command en-
tirely. Finally an agreement was reached between
General Scott and the British governor at Vancouver
that each party should police the territory with one
hundred armed men.
Diplomacy was again tried. Great Britain pro-
posed that the question at issue be submitted to arbi-
tration and she suggested as arbiter the president of
the Swiss council or the King of Sweden and Norway
or the King of the Netherlands. The proposition was
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
declined by the United States. For ten years the dis-
pute remained unsettled. Eventually on May 8, 187 1,
it was mutually agreed to submit the question, without
appeal, to the arbitrament of Emperor William of
Germany. George Bancroft, the well-known historian,
was chosen to present the case of the United States,
and it is said that "his memorial of one hundred and
twenty octavo pages is one of the most finished and un-
answerable diplomatic arguments ever produced." The
British also presented a memorial. These were inter-
changed and replies were prepared by each contestant.
The emperor gave the matter careful and deliberate at-
tention, calling to his assistance three eminent jurists.
His award was as follows : "Most in accordance with
the true interpretation of the treaty concluded on the
15th of June, 1846, between the governments of her
Britanic Majesty and the United States of America, is
the claim of the Government of the United States
that the boundry line between the territories
of her Britannic Majesty and the United States
should be drawn through the Haro channel. Authen-
ticated bv our autograph signature and the impression
of the Imperial Great Seal. Given at Berlin, October
21, 1872." This brief and unequivocal decree ended
forever the vexatious controversy which for so many
years had disturbed friendly feelings and endangered
the peace of the two great Anglo-Saxon peoples. No
shot was fired ; no blood was shed ; diplomacy had
triumphed.
In this cursory review of early Northwest history,
the events transpiring between the signing of the treaty
of 1846 and the organization of Idaho territory can-
not be incorporated in any fulness. Another struggle
for possession followed hard upon that with ( ireat
Britain, the final struggle in the great race war as a
result of which our national domain was wrested from
the hands of its aboriginal inhabitants. This struggle
could have but one termination. The inferior race
must yield to the superior. The Cayuse war, growing
out of the Whitman massacre at Waiilatpu in 1847,
and the Indian wars of the 'fifties resulted favorably
to the whites and though the red man was a power in
the land for many years, he could not withstand the
steady oncoming tide of thrifty gold hunters and
homeseekers. The Northwest pioneers being lovers
of law and order, governments were instituted as a
matter of course, first, the provisional government for
the I (regon territory; then territorial government un-
der the laws of congress, then separate territorial gov-
ernment for the country north of the Columbia river
and eventually on March 3, 1863, separate territorial
government for Idaho, with the northern counties of
which our history must concern itself in future chap-
ters.
PART I.
GENERAL NORTH IDAHO HISTORY
CHAPTER I.
PERIOD OF PLACER MINING.
Just when the existence of gold in the country north
and east of the big bend in the Snake river became
known it is impossible to state with any certainty.
Bancroft says that in 1854 a man named Robbins, a
resident of Portland, had purchased some gold of the
Spokane Indians, and that the Catholic missionary,
De Smet. had known of its existence in what is now
north Idaho even prior to that date. E. D. Pierce is
also credited with an early knowledge of the aurifer-
ous character of the country, and the reason given for
his not having prospected it long before he did is the
hostility of the Indian tribes. The reason is indeed a
plausible one, for it is difficult to see how any man or
set of men could carry on such operations during the
era of Indian wars.
Many writers have assigned a different reason for
Pierce's manifest interest in the prospecting of the
Nez Perce country. They state that some time in the
earlv 'fifties an Indian of one of the northern tribes
visited the locality in California where Pierce was then
mining ; that the Indian told a strange story of an ap-
parition seen by himself and two traveling companions
in the rugged cliffs of his Idaho home ; that the ap-
parition was in the shape of a great, blazing ball of
light which the superstitious red men believed to be
the eye of the Great Spirit. The Indians were too awe-
striken and fearful to venture any explorations until
daylight, when diligent search revealed a large, glitter-
ing ball that resembled glass, embedded in the country
rock. Believing their discovery to be "great medicine."
they endeavored with all their might and skill to dis-
lodge and appropriate the treasure but were unable to
do so, and the great ball was still in situ. This story,
says the writers referred to, so fired the imagination
of the visionary Pierce that he at once formed the de-
sign of going in search of the wonderful ball, believ-
ing it to be a huge diamond.
Whether the story is veritable fact or pure myth or
partly the former and partly the latter, the writer is
unable to state. George W. Pierce who knew E. D.
Pierce in Siskiyou countv and mined with him there
says there is no truth in the legend. It sounds very
much as though it might be one of the fictions so cur-
rent among mining men and prospectors of the early
days, which, however, generally take the form of lost
cabins, lost diggings, fabulous wealth discovered by
lost miners and hunters, etc. But whatever may have
fired the enthusiasm of Col. E. D. Pierce, certain it
is that the Nez Perce country had a gren.t fascination
for him and that his assiduity and zeal have had a
marvelous ultimate effect upon the history and de-
velopment of the country.
In 1858 Pierce made a visit to the land of the Nez
Perces, but does not seem to have found any oppor-
tunity for prospecting, owing to the unsettled condi-
tion of Indian affairs and the opposition to his pro-
jects of the conservative red men. Undaunted, how-
ever, he renewed his efforts at the first opportunity and
his zeal was rewarded in the spring of i860 by a dis-
covery of gold on the Clearwater river. An account
of this important find gained currency in Walla Walla
during April and some mention is made of it in the
Oregon Argus of the 30th of that month, but the state-
ments of Pierce seem to have been doubted by many
and no special excitement was created. Pierce's im-
mediate return to his discovery was prevented by In-
dian opposition and that of the military authorities, for
those whose dutv it was to conserve for the Indians
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
their rights under the treaty of 1855 foresaw the trouble
which a discovery of gold and consequent rush would
cause them. In August, however, Pierce and ten
others, of whom William Bassett was one, made an-
other trip into the Clearwater country and examined
the region with considerable thoroughness. Returning
in November, they freely communicated the result of
their investigations. Mr. Bassett sent a letter to the
Portland Times, then edited by Alonzo Leland, in
which he gave a brief account of the trip and the pros-
pects found by members of the party. His representa-
tions then and in interviews at a later date had the
effect of thoroughly converting Mr. Leland to a belief
in the great importance as a field for the prospector
of the entire region between the Snake and the Bitter
Roots. Throughout the winter of 1860-61, the news-
paper man kept on publishing articles in his paper, the
Daily Times, his authority being Mr. Bassett's account.
So great was his enthusiasm that he did not escape
the charge of fanaticism and the graver one of being
in the pay of the Oregon Steam Navigation Company,
doing this writing and publishing for the purpose of
building up their business.
Immediately upon his return to Walla Walla,
Pierce began organizing a party to return with him and
spend the winter in the Oro Fino basin. Some diffi-
culty was encountered in making up this company,
owing to the fear of trouble with the Indians and the
efforts of those who dreaded another Indian war. but
at last he succeeded in enlisting the interests of thirty-
three stout-hearted men. An effort was made to pre-
vent by military force this party from carrying out its
designs. A detachment of dragoons was sent after the
men. and pursued them as far as the Snake river, but
failed to overtake them. The men had hardly reached
Pierce's old camp before they received a visit from
the Nez Perce Indian agent, A. J. Cain, who, however,
did not attempt to interfere with their operations but
on the contrary expressed his satisfaction with their
good behavior.
All winter long the party wrought diligently build-
ing cabins, whipsawing lumber for sluice boxes, pros-
pecting and the like. The result of the prospecting was
very satisfactory, though Pierce himself does not seem
to have been unduly sanguine, being fully aware of the
difficulties. He believed the discovered gold district
was on the outskirts of a mining country of great rich-
ness and large extent.
The first intelligence received by the outside world
concerning the welfare and doings of these men came
in March.. 1861, when four of the miners arrived in
Walla Walla. After a tramp on snow shoes to the
mouth of Oro Fino creek, they had reached, in a half
starved condition, an Indian camp, whence they pro-
ceeded with more expedition and better fortunes,
bringing to Walla Walla a considerable sum of money
in gold dust. The news was sent by special express to
the Portland Daily Times. It was especially pleasing
to the editor of that paper, whose sentiments and pre-
dictions were thereby confirmed, and naturally the news
was given due prominence. The effect among the
business men. merchants, and in fact all classes was
magical. Newspapers sent special reporters into the
country and the result was an inception of interest in
the wild, weird terra incognita of eastern Washington.
It needed now but some confirmation of these accounts
to stimulate a stampede into the country, of a magni-
tude unprecedented in the northwest.
No one foresaw the coming deluge of humanity
into the Nez Perce countrv with greater clearness than
the officers of the government, civil and military, whose
duty it was to protect the rights of the Indians.
Though the Nez Perces had offered no resistence to
Pierce and his men. they strenuously objected to fur-
ther encroachments upon their reservation privileges.
Nothing was more certain than that the whites would
violate without scruple these rights when once the
passion for gold had fired their imaginations and when
the hope of securing it began producing its pleasant in-
toxication. What was to be done to prevent trouble?
In the hope of finding a satisfactory solution of
this problem. Superintendent E. R. Geary held a con-
cultation with Colonel Wright and the result of their
deliberations was that the former repaired forthwith
to the Indian countn . called a council of the tribe, and
succeeded in negotiating a treaty permitting the white
men to enter the country for mining purposes on the
promise of military protection and the enforcement of
United States laws. The consent of the Indians was
given wholly against their will, but they saw no way
by which they could defend themselves against the in-
coming tide, and being of a pacific disposition, thought
it better to surrender gracefully than to do so under
compulsion. They had abundant proof that the deluge
of whites was coming for. for weeks before the treaty
could be negotiated, merchants had been taking goods
to Pierce City from Walla Walla and the van of the
advancing army of miners was already arriving from
that city and Portland. Bancroft says that at the time
of the signing of the treaty there were three hundred
men in the Oro Fino district and that a month later
there were one thousand.
Fortunately the Oregon Steam Navigation Com-
pany was enabled to do something for the accommo-
dation of the incoming hordes daily arriving from
various points in the northwest, California and else-
where during the spring of 1861. Previously that,
company had sent Ephraim Eaughman ( who at pres-
ent commands the Steamer Lewiston, plying between
Lewiston and Riparia, in company with Captain Leo-
nard White, to Colville on the upper Columbia with
instructions to build a small boat there and explore the
river down to The Dalles. Their object was to deter-
mine whether or not navigation was practicable. They
set out sometime in March, made the exploration, and
were hack in Portland in the early part of May.
Meanwhile the events were happening in the Nez
Perce country which have just been narrated. The
company was as anxious to get as much patronage out
of the rush as possible, so it ordered White, as cap-
tain, and Baughman, as mate and pilot, to take the
Steamer Colonel Wright up the Columbia to Snake
river, thence up that river as far toward the newly dis-
covered mines as possible. The Colonel Wright was
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
a vessel of some fifty tons burden, about 125 feet in
length, fitted up with good machinery and well
supplied with necessary equipments. Her engineer
on this first trip on Snake river waters was John
Gurty, her purser, Frank Coe, and besides she was
manned by two fireman, a steward and assistant, an
assistant engineer, a cook and six deck hands. Sev-
eral business men came as passengers and one, Seth
S. Slater, was so confident of the success of the enter-
prise that he brought with him between ten and fifteen
tons of freight, expecting to get with it to some point
within easy reach of the mines.
"We cleared," says Captain Baughman, '"about the
1 oth of May. With all of us it was a voyage of dis-
covery after we steamed into the broad mouth of the
Snake river as none of us had ever before ridden upon
its swift, turbid waters. As pilot, I directed that we
travel very slowly and only during the day time, for
rocky reefs and shoals were numerous and the waters
were not deep. Each stream which we thought had
not theretofore been named, we took it upon ourselves
to christen ; likewise every other natural feature, and
even to-day many of the landmarks and creeks bear
the names which we gave them. In due time, we
swept around the big bend in the Snake just below
where Lewiston now stands and were met by the rush-
ing waters of a stream clear as crystal and broad
enough to be classed as a river. Before us spread out
a beautiful bunchgrass valley, or rather a series of
plateaus, reaching away to a high prairie to the south-
ward : This Indian paradise was occupied here and
there by a tepee. Several Nez Perce Indians loitered
about and a few bands of ponies grazed contentedly
upon the luxuriant grass. The picture was indeed a
pretty one.
"The sound of the steam whistle and the pounding
of the engines naturally attracted the attention of the
Indians, who flocked to the water's edge to gaze on
the wonderful fire boat.
"I turned the vessel's prow into the water of
this new river. Slowly the little steamer propelled
itself onward in the direction of the Oro Fino mines.
We had to line the vessel over the Lawyer and several
other rapids and about thirty miles up the Clearwater
we found an obstruction which we could not pass. This
was what has since come to be named Big Eddy.
Throughout our entire journey on the Clearwater thus
far we were accompanied by Indians riding along the
shore on horseback. By many little acts and signs did
these children of nature manifest their friendliness, no
one of their number, so far as I can now remember,
giving the slightest evidence of other than kindly
sentiments.
"At the Big Eddy we were forced to land as the
little . steamer could not make headway in the rapids.
Twice we lined her and moved slowly up stream, but
the vessel did not have power enough to keep herself
in the channel, so finally we gave it up for the time
being, came on shore and began making explorations.
The result was not favorable. There was therefore
nothing to do but to unload the freight. Slater
thought the site a good one as it was the apparent head
of navigation so he and a few others remained there
establishing Slaterville."
The Colonel Wright went back to Celilo at once.
On the return trip she stopped at the mouth of Lapwai
creek and most of her crew went to visit Chief Lawyer,
whose home was on a tract of bench land overlooking
the Clearwater. "From the river," says Captain
Baughman, "we could see his tepee and before it a tall
pole from whose top the Stars and Stripes floated in
the breeze. This display of patriotism by the brave
and friendly old chief touched a responsive chord in
our hearts and we never forgot it. Lawyer, who had
been educated in the east and could talk good Eng-
lish, received us most cordially and we chatted with
him a long time. His hospitality was especially praise-
worthy when it is remembered that we were invading
his territory and opening the way for thousands to
follow. The Indians may have protested mildly
against the establishment of a settlement at the mouth
of the Clearwater, but their remonstrances were never
very strong, and finding these unavailing they ac-
quiesced with remarkable grace."
Having loaded again with a few passengers and
some freight, the Colonel Wright made a second trip
to the mouth of the Clearwater. Here she was met
by a messenger from Slater requesting her to proceed
up the river and get his outfit as he had decided to es-
tablish his store at the confluence of the Snake and
Clearwater that he might be on the trails leading in-
land. The vessel steamed up to the eddy, got Slater
and his goods, and brought them safely to the shores
of the Snake, where Slater again pitched his tent.
Soon he had opened near the confluence of the rivers
the first store in what is now Lewiston and perhaps
the first in the Clearwater country.
Immediately after the second trip of the Colonel
Wright, the company placed another new steamer in
service, the Okanogan, which was much larger and
better equipped than the former. Captain White was
placed in command, and the Colonel Wright was en-
trusted to the care of Captain Baughman. A month
later, the Tenino, still larger than the Okanogan, was
placed in service and to the command of this vessel
Captain Baughman was transferred. Steamboat ser-
vice was discontinued entirely in July, owing to the
lowness of the water.
In July of the following year, Levi Ankeny. Dor-
sey S. Baker, Captain Baughman and several others
placed an opposition boat, the Spray, upon the river,
between Celilo and Lewiston. The Spray was a small
vessel, built especially for shallow water, so it was
able to continue its trips uninterruptedly until No-
vember. During the following winter it was sold to
the O. S. N. Company for nearly double its cost.
In the spring of 1863 the People's Trasportation
Company was organized in Portland for the purpose
of establishing an opposition line of steamers to Lewis-
ton. The E. D. Baker was placed on the Columbia
between Portland and the Cascades, the Iris between
that and the Dalles and the Cayuse Chief, under Cap-
tain Leonard White, between Celilo and Lewiston.
After a successful career of six or seven vears' dura-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
tion, this company sold out to the O. S. N. Company,
leaving that corporation again the autocrat of the
Columbia and its tributaries.
But to return to the history of the mines — rapidly
the Oro Fino district was populated with gold seekers.
Discovered in the fall of i860, it was occupied that
autumn and winter by Pierce's party. In February
merchants and miners from Walla Walla began to
work their way in, so that by April the population was
perhaps 300. A month later it was more than three
times that many and when Judge James W. Poe en-
tered in July he found the creeks and gulches swarm-
ing with people. He estimates their number at 2,000.
Some claims were yielding fabulous returns and wages
ranged from five to eight dollars a day, the common
stipend being a half ounce of dust.
Oro Fino gold was very fine, as one familiar with
the Spanish language would have surmised from the
name of the diggings, which signifies fine gold. Sub-
sequently coarse gold was discovered by William F.
Bassett across the divide to the eastward of Oro Fino
creek, and from the character of the metal the dig-
gings were named Oro Grande. It is related that
Mr. Bassett saw the country in which this discovery
was made from the top of a tree on the divide be-
tween Oro Fino and Rhodes creeks. The general ap-
pearance of the country induced him to prospect it
with the result above stated. The tree was ever after-
wards known as Bassett's tree. The Oro Grande dis-
trict never proved especially rich.
The richest claims in the Oro Fino district were
on Rhodes and Canal gulches, though there were many
claims of merit on Barclay, Blacksmith, French and
Moore's gulches as well as on Oro Fino creek itself.
Early in the history of the camp a miners' meeting had
been held and the California mining laws adopted, by
which code three kinds of claims were recognized,
namely, creek and gulch claims, extending two hundred
feet along the creek or gulch and of the width of one
hundred and fifty feet ; also hill claims which were last
extended from the rim rock to the summit of the hills,
with two hundred feet frontage. The miners were in
the habit of holding a meeting on Sunday, whenever
there was any occasion for such, and at these popular
assemblages the laws were amended to suit new con-
ditions as they might arise, disputes about claims were
settled and plans for the promotion of the general wel-
fare of the camp were weighed and discussed. For-
tunately there was little lawlessness during the earliest
days of the Oro Fino diggings.
Two towns sprang up in the district about the
same time, namely, Oro Fino and Pierce City. The
former was built on placer ground, a fact which fur-
nishes the probable reason for its short life. At any
rate, its business men moved to its sister town in
course of a few years, making permanent the com-
munity bearing trie name of him who pioneered the
way for the mining population, while the old Oro Fino
City gradually decayed and eventually became a
memory. It is a rather strange fact that, though the
two towns were very near together, there never was the
bitter rivalrv between them which has usually char-
acterized communities so situated. Pierce City later
became the county seat of Shoshone county, retaining
the dignity and prestige incident thereto until the dis-
covery of the Coeur d'Alene mines. In June a road
was built along the Clearwater from the mouth of that
river to Pierce City and by July so many merchants
had endeavored to better their fortunes by furnishing
the new district with goods that the market was over-
supplied, notwithstanding the thousands of men who
were seeking gold in all the neighboring gulches and
on all the surrounding hills. Two saw-mills were in
process of erection to supply the miners with lumber
for sluice boxes, etc. But little household furniture
was needed as there were only three families in the
community.
In an article in the Portland Oregonian of August
31, 1 86 1, G. C. Robbins made the statement that dur-
ing that month twenty-five hundred practical miners
were at work on Rhodes creek, Oro Fino creek, Canal
gulch, and French creek and that four or five thousand
men were making a living in other ways. His report
on the earnings of the miners was as follows : Jarvis
& Company,, four men, $10 per diem to the man;
James & Company, 5 men, $10; McCarty & Company,
4 men, Sio ; Vesay & Company, 8 men, $7 to $8 ; Hook
& Company, 6 men, $10 to $12; Jones & Company, 4
men, $10 to $12 ; Dunbar & Asar, $10 to $12 ; Shaffer
& Company, 14 men, $60; Paine & Company, 20 men,
$70 ; Mortimer &■ Company, 24 men, $70 to $80 ; Hatch
& Company, 5 men, $16 to $20; Thomas & Campany,
14 men, $18 to $20; Rillery & Company, 17 men, $16
to $20; Smalley & Company, 10 men, $16; Boone &
Company, 8 men, $16; California Company, 9 men,
$16: Xewland & Company, 6 men, $16; Hickox &
Company, 5 men. $16 to $20; Let 'Er Rip Company,
11 men, S16 to $20; Hoyt & Company, 8 men, $12;
Felton & Company, $16; Sparks & Company, $15;
Rossi & Company, $15; Rhodes & Company, 11 men,
300 ounces per diem to the company. On French
creek. Antoine Pillir, T. Lapoint, M. Guinon, John
Lesot, and Harkum & Quick were making $10 to $12
a day to the man.
It is not in the nature of mining men that they
should confine themselves to one mining district, how-
ever rich. Pierce himself was of the opinion that his
discovery was on the outer edge of an extensive gold-
bearing country and there were plenty of others who
held like views and were willing to give time and effort
to the testing of their theory. In May, 1861, a com-
pany of fifty-two such men set out from Oro Fino
to explore and prospect the south fork of the Clear-
water and tributary streams. The locality was almost
as little known as any on the American continent or
in the heart of darkest Africa. Remote from the or-
dinary routes of travel, it was also distant from the
trails of the fur hunter so that probably no white foot
had ever before pressed its soil. The gold seekers fol-
lowed the north side of their stream for several miles,
then crossed over to the south side, proceeding thence
to the mouth of the south fork, up which branch they
traveled until they reached the Indian village of Chief
Coolcoolsneenee. Here their progress was stayed for a
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
23
time by the strenuous opposition of the chieftain, who
emphatically informed them that they were violating
the treaty in carrying on their operations south of the
Clearwater. Persuasion and argument proving of no
avail in pacifying the chief, more than half the party
turned back. The remainder crossed to the north side
of the stream and continued on east by one of the Nez
Perce trails to the point where the three branches of
the south fork, American and Red rivers and Elk
creek, form a junction. Prospecting in this vicinity re-
sulted in the discovery of earths yielding from twelve
to twenty-five cents to the pan. The first gold is said
to have been found at the bottom of Ternan hill at the
mouth of Glass gulch, close to the present bridge over
the American river on the road to Dixie.
Prominent members of this party of discovery
were Captain L. B. Monson, Moses Milner, Charles B.
Hand and Charles Painter. The return of a third of
the men to Oro Fino for supplies caused the news of
the find to become spread abroad, precipitating a rush.
We are informed that three days after the first dis-
covery Philip S. Pritchard, with Samuel Warfield and
his son, William, Charles Bogart, Horace Myrtle, Will-
iam Kay, John Gamboel and Felix G. Berger, reaching
the spot, staked out two claims above Buffalo gulch
and eight below it on the American river. They be-
gan working together forthwith.
A mining recorder's office was established at once,
with Captain L. B. Monson as the first recorder. The
first record was dated June 14, 1861, and described
placer ground on the American river to be worked by
the following men : Moses Wright, Charles Silver-
man, Charles Gwin, John Gordon, George Robertson,
Mat. Craft, N. Harris, John McKray. G. N. Stubbs
and Frank Presley.
Shortly after the discovery two brothers, James and
William Galbraith, started an express. Inside of ten
days more than three hundred people were en route to
or already at the South Fork diggings, but the popu-
lation of the new eldorado was kept down considerably
by the righteous opposition of the Indians to the
presence of white men in their reserved territory.
Good reports, however, continued to come in and the
passion for gold soon overcame any scruples about
trespassing, so that by fall a town became a necessity.
Elk City was accordingly laid out, its location being
between Elk and American rivers, about a mile from
the lower end of a small prairie, perhaps five or six
miles long by a mile wide.
"On every side of this locality," says Bancroft,
rose ledges of pale red or rose quartz. Between the
mountains were intervals of beautiful, grassv prairies ;
on the mountains heavy forests of pine. Game
abounded, the principal being elk, of which there were
large bands. The country was, in fact, very different
from the California miners' preconceived notion of a
gold country: but experience had proved that gold
might exist under barren sands, rich alluvium, or the
the frozen mosses of a caribou. The objection to the
country was that the mining season, so far up in the
mountains, must be comparatively short, and in order
to make up for the expense of a long idle winter, it
was important to secure a considerable sum during the
summer. It was also necessary to lay in a stock of
provisions to last while the heavy snows suspended
travel.''
Joe! D. Martin tells us that when he came to the
town in the early summer of 1862, he found mercan-
tile establishments belonging to Clindinning, Magruder
& Wickersham. Straven & Company, Creighton &
Company, a man named Claflin and others, besides
five saloons and two principal hotels, Ralph's and the
Marsten house. The camp's prosperity was at its
height during the mining season of 1862, for that fall
discoveries in what is now Montana made wholesale
drafts upon the population of this and other mining
communities in north Idaho. But the years 1864 and
1865 nevertheless witnessed a greater production of
gold, as hydraulics were placed in operation during the
former twelvemonth, displacing the primeval rocker.
The Elk City mining district was distinguished
above all others by the extent of its ditch contraction.
The largest of these acqueducts was the American
river ditch, which took its waters out of the stream of'
that name at a point about nine miles above the camp.
Mr. Martin tells us that it was dug with pick and
shovel at a cost of between thirty thousand and forty
thousand dollars and that between two hundred thou-
sand and three hundred thousand feet of lumber were
used in the construction of its flumes. For the pro-
duction of this lumber a saw-mill was built, operated
bv a turbine water wheel. The originators of the
scheme were E. W., W. P. and Doctor Bell and Ross-
well Hewett. Its construction was commenced in 1863
and during the mining season following it was pouring
its water upon the placer grounds of American hill.
Xext in size was the Elk creek ditch, the waters of
which were used in the Buffalo hill mines, valuable
placer deposits taken up in 186 1-2 by Jake Hoffman, S.
S. Shaun, Joseph Nelson, Chatham W. Ewing, John
and Abe Champion, Horatio Phinney, Mon-
tague and others, and first worked by a ditch from Buf-
falo creek, three miles from the hill. The Elk creek
ditch was ten and a half miles long, three feet wide on
the bottom and thirty inches deep. The company or-
ganized for its construction was capitalized at eleven
thousand dollars, but it soon became so embarrassed by
lack of funds that its project was all but abandoned.
At this juncture Caleb Witt came to the rescue, fur-
nishing enough money to start the ball rolling again
and to establish confidence and credit. The company
was by this means enabled to push the ditch to com-
pletion, and by the spring of 1863 it was available for
use. For many years Buffalo hill was very profitably
worked and thousands of dollars' worth of dust have
been taken out of it. In 1872 the Witts secured con-
trol of both ditches and claims, retaining them until
1880, when they were transferred by lease to China-
men.
Besides these was the Little Elk creek ditch with
a capacitv of three hundred or four hundred inches,
promoted by Dan Waldo and Bart Whittier ; also a
short ditch of three hundred inches capacity, the water
of which was taken out of Kirk's fork of the American
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
river and carried upon Nez Perce hill, there to be
used in operating the Hairland mine. This property
had been discovered by the man whose name it bore
in 1861 and purchased in 1862 by Magruder, Martin
and Kirkpatrick. by which triumvirate the ditch was
constructed.
The same causes that impelled the discoverers of
the Elk City placer deposits to their successful quest
were operative to keep other parties scouring the coun-
try in all directions throughout the whole of the sum-
mer of 1861. The theory that the Clearwater mines
were on the outskirts of some auriferous region, the
center of which would be found wonderfully rich,
seems to have taken firm hold on the minds of the
prospectors and man}- were the attemps to verify it.
One of the parties engaged in this task succeeded in
discovering a gold deposit which far surpassed in
richness all former finds, and caused a rush the fol-
lowing spring of unprecedented magnitude. One
story of this discovery was told in the Oregonian, of
October 26, 1861, by a correspondent who signed him-
self "T. H. M." Though the account is discredited
in some of its deatils by men having good opportunity
to know the truth, it is thought advisable to repro-
duce it here :
MlLLERSBURG, W. T., Oct. 5, l86l.
Editor Oregonian: —
The Salmon River mines, which are now attracting the
the attention of miners, traders, and business men generally
in this upper country, are located on some small streams
and gulches, coming out of a western spur of the Bitter Root
mountains, and running into the main stream, distant from
fifteen to twenty miles. They are about seventy-five miles
from Lewiston, in a southeastern course about one hundred
and twenty-five miles south from Oro Fino, and nearly
seventy-five miles from Elk City.
The discovery of those mines was first made by a pros-
pecting party of twenty-three men, who left Oro Fino in the
early p:irt of July last, for a tour up Salmon river. They
prospected on the bars of this river for a distance of perhaps
one hundred miles, with flattering results. When satisfied
that good paying mines had been found, they followed the
river down, and when opposite this, they were determined
on finding a near route to Elk City, for the purpose of ob-
taining provisions, which by this time had become a scarce
article with them. When they reached this place, the party
separated, nine of them remaining behind to hunt and to
find an easy route through the almost impassible masses of
dead timber, which lay in the way. Two of the company,
while lying in camp, made a wager between them that the
'color' could not be 'raised' in the miserable looking country.
The wager was won by the prospector obtaining from a pan
of dirt, taken from beneath the roots of an upturned tree, the
sum of five cents. The party then prospected several creeks
and gluches in the immediate vicinity, obtaining five, ten,
twenty-five and even seventy-five cents to the pan of dirt.
Satisfied even better with this than with the diggings on the
main river, they followed the other party out. After re-
cruiting a short time, they purchased a supply of tools, pro-
visions, etc , necessary for four weeks' stay, and returned
closely followed by some six or seven others to this land
of golden promise.
After their return, prospecting was resumed in real
earnest, and all here are now satisfied that these will prove
the richest and most extensive mines yet found north of
California. All claim that the center of the vast gold field
has at last been found, and this it is, while the Oro Fino and
South Fork diggings are on the outer edge.
Only a radius of about four miles has yet been pros-
pected, yet all the gulches, ravines and creeks inside of this
will pay well for working. Miller's creek is perhaps the
richest. From the first pan of dirt taken out of the first
hole sunk in this creek, twenty-five dollars was obtained.
Miller washed out with the pan that afternoon $100. Claims
were immediately staked off on this creek and the party went
to work. Each claim has since averaged with the rocker
from seventy-five dollars to one hundred dollars to the hand.
Babboon gulch i- next in richness. I have seen seventy-five
dollars washed out in ten hours by one man using the pan
alone. Nasan's gulch pays well. Five men have just cleaned
up seven hundred dollars, the result of ten hours work with
the rocker in this gulch. Hall's gulch, Smith's gulch, Pio-
neer gulch and Healey's creek will pay each at least three
ounces to the hand.
There are at the present time about fifty men here. Pro-
visions are not to be had at any price. Parties are now fitting
up pack trains and sending out for such articles as are needed.
It will require about three hundred weight of flour for each
man this winter. The route here is good over fifty miles of
an Indian trail ; the remaining portion of the trail is now be-
ing made. Pack trains can get in here until the 20th of No-
vember easily.
We expect a large acceleration to our numbers from
Elk City and Oro Fino soon. A town has been laid out the
name of which heads this letter.
To find the truth concerning this famous discovery
and be sure one has it is not an easy task. The differ-
ent stories are so hopelessly at variance that they can
never be harmonized, but one apparently worthy of
credence was published in the Free Press of July 5,
1889, on the authority of Nathan Smith, who claimed
to have led the party which made the discovery.
"Mr. Smith and a partner named Jack Reynolds,"
savs the paper referred to, "Left Oro Fino on a pros-
pecting trip towards the little north fork of the Clear-
water and found prospects, but as the water was too
high for them to continue farther thev returned to
Pierce City for supplies, intending to return to their
prospects later. Arriving at Pierce City they found
a company organizing for an extended exploring and
prospecting trip toward the Salmon river country, and
as they were afraid of the Indians who had driven
back several small parties, they were waiting for re-
inforcements, and Mr. Smith was considered such an
admirable recruit that he was elected to command the
expedition. They pulled out of Pierce City, twenty-
three in number, crossed the Clearwater at the mouth 1 if
the Lolo and went on across Camas prairie to the Sal-
mon. They continued up the Salmon to the mouth of
Slate cieek, where Mr. Smith found a good prospect
of shot gold, but as it was intolerably hot in the can-
yon he decided on taking the party into the mountains
and prospecting for gold on the headwaters of Slate
creek. Here dissensions arose, as the majority of the
company wanted to keep to the river and prospect for
bar claims. The outfit hung together, however, and
continued up the Salmon to the mouth of Meadow
creek, and there thev climbed the ridge to the summit,
pretty much as the Warren trail runs today, and made
their first camp on Sand creek, then a marsh. The
next morning the majority of the party under the lead
of a Frenchman had decided to return to the river, de-
claring there was no gold in the basin. This was
August 20th and they were going to break camp and
take the back track at noon. Smith and a few others
decided to remain and prospect further. That same
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
morning Joe Richardson got a four-bit prospect on
Pioneer gulch and Smith also panned out six bits in
another gulch. Upon returning to camp at noon the
other party were speedily convinced that there was
gold in the basin, and that same afternoon, George
Grigsby, the biggest kicker in the outfit, saw some
fine looking gravel at the roots of a fallen tree in
Bashaw gulch from which he washed four bits to the
pan, and on the strength thereof has claimed for him-
self the title of the discoverer of Florence, which
rightfully belongs to Mr. Smith. Enough was now
known to convince them that they had struck it big
and after staking claims enough to go around they
started for Elk City for supplies."
loshua Fockler, who was one of the earliest set-
tlers in Florence, discredits both these accounts. He
says he remembers distinctly the story told him by
several reliable men shortly after the find and that it
was to this effect : Florence was discovered in August,
1 86 1, by a party of five persons, three of whom were
John Healey, James Avers and a man named Grigsby.
They were a detachment of a party of nineteen which
started from Elk City and the Clearwater to prospect
the Salmon river country, traveling via Camas prairie
and White Bird creek. When they reached a point
six miles above the mouth of Little Salmon river
where August Berg now lives they undertook to cut
across and reach Elk City again. They found the
country too rough, so returned to the Salmon, which
they ascended to Kelley's creek, going thence up that
stream. On Little Slate creek the party disagreed
and divided. The five referred to above continued to
prospect the region. When they reached what after-
ward became known as Pioneer gulch, John Healey
saw a tree that had been uprooted by the wind. He
noticed that the gravel exposed showed good indica-
tions, so he tried a panful and found it very rich.
After testing the ground in numerous places, the party
started back to Elk City. At what is now known as
Buffalo Hump they fell in with the fourteen who had
separated from them and told these of their good for-
tune. All went to Elk together, agreeing among them-
selves to tell nobody of the discovery until spring,
when they would return and locate the best ground
for themselves. But none of them lived up to this
agreement and soon all started back with their friends.
In September of the same year Nathan Smith, Miller,
Graham and others from Oro Fino made a discovery
on Miller's creek, in the Florence country, but they
were a month later than the Pioneer gulch dis-
coverers.
The news is said to have reached Oro Fino in
September. Soon that town and Elk City were almost
deserted. By the ist of November, the creeks and
gulches of the new district were swarming with men.
The merchants, in accordance with the usual custom,
had begun hurrying in supplies, but the impossibility
of getting enough into camp to feed the multitudes
before the snowfall had stopped the passage of trains
was plainly apparent, and by the middle of November
many perceived the necessity of returning to Oro Fino
to winter. The snow was even then two feet deep
and the cold so severe that travelers were frequently
frostbitten seriously.
Soon after the inception of the camp a miners'
meeting was held at which it was decided to lay out a
town on Summit flat at the head of Babboon gulch.
Among those present was Dr. Ferber, one of the oldest
men and first arrivals in the camp, and he was called
upon to suggest a name for the town to be. He sug-
gested Florence, the name of his adopted daughter,
then in California. The word seemed to have a pleas-
ing sound to the ears of the miners. It was adopted
forthwith and from the richness of the ground around
it soon became a household word in Washington,
Oregon, California and many parts of the east. John
Creighton, Ralph Bledsoe, and S. S. or Three-Fingered
Smith were among the earliest merchants in the camp.
The number coming into camp was far in excess
of those departing, far in excess of the number that
could be well fed, and the result was great suffering
and hardship. The prices prevailing for all kinds of
provisions were enormous. Mr. Pierce says the prices
of commodities were $75 for a fifty-pound sack of
flour: gum boots, $50; camp kettles, $30; bacon, $3
a pound ; ordinary tin cups, $3 each ; frying pans, $10
to $12; sugar, $3 a pound; beans, $3 a pound, and all
other provisions and supplies in proportion. Vegetables
were not to be obtained at any price. Many were with-
out other means of support than the gold obtained
from their mines, so that notwithstanding ten feet of
snow, they must dig down to pay dirt and wash out
enough of the precious metal to purchase at enormous
prices the means of subsistance. Sometimes boiling
water was used to soften the frozen earth, as has been
done in Alaska during recent years. The exposure
and hardship resulted in rheumatism, throat, bronchial
and lung diseases, which caused a high mortality
There was a large representation of the ruffian ele-
ment in Florence during the winter. Plummer, Stand-
ifer, Mat Bledsoe, Cherokee Bob and others of like
character were there, demeaning themselves accord-
ing to the dictations of their own unrestrained wills.
The sufferings were enough to drive even good men
to acts of desperation and it was stated that the store-
houses of the merchants were more than once in danger
of mob violence.
By great effort men forced their way into Florence
until February ; then the trails became so badly oblit-
erated or blocked with snow that the feat of reach-
ing the mines was no longer possible and the Florence
community was completely isolated from the rest of
the world. But long before this the entrance of pack
trains was all but an impossibility. It is related that
G. A. Noble started late in December on a trip from
Oro Fino to Florence with a small pack train. For
ten days he toiled through snow drifts before reaching
his destination, being indebted for his life to assistance
rendered by the Indians.
Even before communication was completely barred,
the only article of food that could be purchased was
flour at $2 a pound, and as time proved there was no
hope of a change in conditions until May. By the
first of that month, however, pack trains managed to
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
force their way to within ten miles or so of Florence,
and the starving miners were glad to transport the
goods the rest of the way on snow shoes for the price
offered, forty cents a pound.
But no tales of hardship could deter the hosts of
eager wealth seekers in all parts of the Northwest
and in California and Nevada from flocking by the
thousands to this new land of gold. Little they thought
of the harships endured already by men in the Flor-
ence basin, or of those which they themselves might
be called upon to endure in the pursuit of mammon.
Their imaginations were fired by the stories of for-
tunes made in a day. And indeed the success achieved
by miners was such as might well appeal to the avarice
of men. A correspondent of the Portland Times
stated through the columns of that paper that while he
was at the Salmon river mines in October, 1861, he
had known of his own knowledge that some claims
yielded thirty to eighty dollars to the pan. It was
stated that a man named Weiser, after whom the town
of Weiser in Washington county was named, took out
one thousand eighteen hundred dollars from his claim
in three hours, with a rocker, two men operating it ; also
that a single panful of dirt from Babboon gulch was
found to contain one hundred and fifty-one dollars and
fifty cents. George W. Pierce told the writer that Three-
Fingered Smith, who owned about the richest claim in
the camp, kept three rockers at work all winter and
that each of the rockers averaged a thousand dollars
a day. "It was no uncommon thing," says Bancroft,
"to see, on entering a miner's cabin, a gold washing
pan measuring eight quarts, full to the brim or half
filled with gold dust washed out in one or two weeks.
All manner of vessels, such as oyster cans and yeast
powder boxes or pickle bottles, were in demand in
which to store the precious dust. A claim was held in
small esteem that yielded only twelve dollars per day,
as some claims did. while hundreds of others yielded
from one to four ounces for a day's labor." Many
of the stories which gained currency at the time seemed
like veritable fairy tales, but men who were in Flor-
ence during the fall and winter seem to have no hesi-
tancy in fully crediting them. The gold deposits were
so very rich that the would-be boomer, if any such
there was, was outdone by the simple truth itself.
With such stories on the lips of miners returned
to spend the winter in Walla Walla or Portland and
such accounts in the columns of the newspaper, what
wonder that the fortune hunting public could not
brook a wait until spring, before starting to the land
of gold ! In vain did the newspapers endeavor to per-
suade the people into a reasonable state of mind ; in
vain did they protest that roads in the upper country
were impassable; in vain did the Portland Advertiser
call attention to the fact that snow at The Dalles was
still (on March 14th) two feet deep and from one to
four between that and Lewiston, with proportionately
greater depths in the mountains; that provisions along
the whole distance were exhausted : that riding or pack
animals fit for service could not be obtained as all
such were either dead or so reduced in strength and
flesh bv the severe winter as to be useless ; and that a
supply of fuel could not be obtained along the road
except at long intervals. Men crowded into the in-
terior as far as they could get notwithstanding these
warnings, and it is said that so many men unable to
pay the high prices of living crowded into The Dalles
that that town was at one time temporarily subjected
to the rule of a mob, the members of which proceeded
to help themselves to such things as they needed. In-
deed the severity of the winter in one way augmented
the rush, as it made many Oregon farmers who had
suffered severe losses by the floods of December es-
pecially anxious to retrieve their fortunes. Merchants
were in haste to be first in with their goods. Miners,
who had left their claims in the fall, were anxious to
return to them, lest they should be taken possession of
by others.
Regular communication between The Dalles and
Walla Walla had ceased in January after a disastrous
trip of the stage, in which Johnson Mulkey, father-in-
law of Senator Dolph. and a prominent Lewiston mer-
chant named Jaggers had lost their lives. But about
the middle of Alarch a saddle train, with passengers,
arrived from Walla Walla and that was the signal for
a forward movement on the part of many who had
crowded into The Dalles. A sudden thaw on the 22A
made the roads almost impassable and swelled the
streams so that fording was out of the question, but
at this juncture the steamboat Colonel Wright suc-
ceeded in making a trip from Celilo to Wallula, en-
abling those who had not already started to secure
easy transportation that far on their journey. But
more than a month mustyet elapse before the anxious
fortune hunters could force their way to the land of
promise. As before related, the first pack trains to
arrive failed to get nearer Florence than ten or twelve
miles and the goods were packed the rest of the way on
the backs of starving men.
Though the richness of the discoveries already
made was quite widely known, the extent of the au-
riferous sands was a matter of uncertainty. The late-
ness in the season of the discovery and the opposition
of Indians had prevented thorough prospecting that
fall, the severity of the cold and depth of snow made
it impossible during the winter and early spring, so it
was not until June that much could be done. The
general appearance of the country for many miles
around was similar to that in which the gold was being
obtained, an encouraging, but, as it afterwards proved,
delusive circumstance. The Florence country con-
sists of an extensive basin surrounded by lofty moun-
tains. Extended around its outer edge and snug up
against the base of its rugged natural wall is a deep
canyon, while in the center are numerous pine and
tamarack-clad elevations. Evidences of fire were
visible in many places and there were other extensive
areas in which the trees were dead, but did not bear
any marks of fire. Judge Poe thinks that the most
probably theory to account for these dead forests is
that at some time a season of unusual severity had
killed the tree roots.
It was in the gulches between these elevations that
the gold was found. On the surface was a turf of six
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
27
inches to a foot in thickness, beneath which was a
loam varying in depth from one to six feet. Beneath
this again was a bed of gravel, then another layer of
earth and then a red gravel, said to be peculiar to the
Florence and Warren regions, bearing gold. The sand
possessed no magnetic qualities and resembled gold
dust so closely that it might easily be mistaken therefor.
Humorous stories are told of its being passed upon un-
suspecting tenderfeet for the much-prized, much-
sought yellow metal. The sand was, however, of a
greatly lower specific gravity, hence could be separated
from the gold by blowing. The bedrock is granite.
Some of the gulches were dry, but water could
generally be secured by digging and the method em-
ployed by those not so fortunate as to possess streams
or ditches was to make an excavation, allow it to fill
with water, use this over and over again in the rockers
until it became too thick, then dip the well dry and
wait for it to fill again from the water-soaked gravels
around.
Such was the country to be prospected during the
summer of 1862 by the motley crowds that had flocked
to it. Thousands explored it in all directions, testing
every creek and guich. This thorough exploration
proved that outside of an area perhaps five miles square
no pay dirt could be found, and the number of disap-
pointments may be imagined. A relatively small number
found the wealth thev had come so far to seek, but the
vast majority learned that the sacrifices of their toil-
some journey in the spring of 1862 would remain for-
ever unrewarded. The hunger and fatigue, the cold
and exposure, the dreary journevings over muddy
roads, through flood-swollen streams and by snow-
filled, mountain trails were to win no smile from fickle
Fortuna, who bestows her favors with an arbitrary,
whimsical hand. Some cursed their ill luck ; some gave
away to despondency ; some with apparent jollity and
abandon laughed the laugh which told too plainly de-
spite its apparent meriment, that penury had always
been their lot ; that nothing better was expected in the
future and that they had determined to defy evil fate
by seeming indifference to its persistent lashings.
Prospecting parties did not confine their operations,
during 1862, to the Florence basin, although that was
the principal scene of operations. Many small com-
panies scoured the hills and mountains in all directions
and one of these made a discovery, which, had not its
importance been magnified many diameters by false
reports, would have long since been forgotten. The
discovery in question was made in the vicinity of Buf-
falo Hump, a mountain some twenty miles northeast
of Florence. It was not of sufficient importance to hold
people enough to found a new camp, but a rush was
occasioned of no small magnitude. Rumor said that
the miners there were taking out dust by the teacupful
and that even gum boots were being called into requi-
sition as receptacles in which to store the dust. Ex-
citement ran high. Rich claims in Florence were tem-
porarily abandoned by men anxious to join the stam-
pede. The falsity of the report was, however, soon
discovered, though not until some of the merchants
had pofited by it, as the circulators of the false re-
ports doubtless intended they should.
But one new discovery of real merit was made dur-
ing the year. In July, 1862, James Warren, Matt
Bledsoe and a few others set out on an exploring and
prospecting tour of the Salmon river country. War-
ren, the leader, was a college man, generally liked, but
like most men of the region, he had drifted into bad
habits and bad company. After prospecting all along
Salmon river, the party at length decided to try the
high mountain country to the southward. Crossing
Salmon river at a point nearly due south of Florence
they continued their journey to a small stream, which
coursed seven or eight miles through a beautiful
meadow, perhaps a mile wide in places. Near the head
of this little mountain torrent the party camped and,
according to the usual custom, some of their number
busied themselves with the gold pan. Better prospects
were discovered than had before rewarded their efforts
on the trip and a number of claims were staked out.
The credit of this find was given to Warren, after
whom the entire camp was subsequently named. The
gold was fine and did not exist in such large quanti-
ties as in the other camps, though Judge Poe tells us
that as high as sixty ounces per diem to the rocker were
taken out. The rich find at the head of the creek led
to the settlement of the district, but it was subsequent
discoveries that gave the camp permanence.
Of course the usual rush followed as soon as the
facts became known. The news reached Florence
first, causing a commotion in that camp. Judge J. W.
Poe, who at the time was engaged in the mercantile
business in Florence with Joseph Haines and S. S.
Smith, under the firm name of Smith & Company, told
the writer the story of the early days of Warren as
follows :
"The news reached me early. Smith was in Oregon.
Haines was then at Lewiston and just preparing to
start for Fleronce with a pack train of forty animals.
I immediately sent a mesenger to him, telling him of
the new discovery across the Salmon and asking him
to come at once as I was unable to leave the store.
Meanwhile the rush to the new district began and thou-
sands deserted Florence in search of a fortune in the
new mines. The trail led from Florence down the
Salmon river, across this stream and several miles up
a mountain, past Marshall lake and over a divide onto
Warren creek. The Indian trails usually followed the
summits of mountain ranges, that the red men might
be the better able to keep their bearings, and it was on
this account that mineral deposits happened to be dis-
covered in such elevated places.
"Among the first who went to Warren was my
partner, Joseph Haines, who had returned in haste from
Lewiston on receipt of my message. He and a man
named White met the returning crowds at Salmon
river, and heard their discouraging reports, but never-
theless, determined to push on. They camped near the
mouth of a little stream afterward called Slaughter
creek because the cattle brought into camp were killed
there, a stream which empties into Warren's creek,
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
two or three miles above the canyon. In this locality
they noticed a deep washout, left by the flood of spring-
time, and repairing thither, they quickly washed from
a pan of the dirt about one dollar and seventy-five
cents in gold. The party staked out claims for them-
selves and one each for Smith and myself and one dis-
covery claim, thus inaugurating the real Warren camp.
Others took claims along the creek bed and soon sev-
eral hundred men were at work. Returning to Flor-
ence for his packtrain, Haines took it through to the
new camp, gaining the distinction of being the first
to enter with a mercantile train. The date of his sec-
ond arrival was September 8, 1862. The miners as-
sisted in building a rude house and before night the
first store in the new district was standing at the mouth
of Slaughter creek. The settlement which sprang up
around it was named Richmond, after the confederate
capital, a circumstance which soon gave it a rival, for
the Unionists, not to be outdone, established another
settlement a mile below, to which they gave the name
Washington. Richmond did not long survive the con-
federate cause, for by 1866 it was abandoned by nearly
all its inhabitants. The reason of its decay was not
political, however, but rather that it had the misfor-
tune to be built on rich placer ground, which in time
had to be surrendered to claim owners. Washington's
site was just off the pay streak, and its growth was
augmented by the decline of its rival. It became the
county seat of Idaho county in 1869, succeeding Flor-
ence in the enjoyment of that distinction.
"Early in the fall of 1862 a miners' meting was held
at Richmond at which I was elected by acclamation to
the office of district recorder. For recording a claim
I received a fee of one dollar and fifty cents, and some-
times I recorded as many as one hundred a day. When
the law reduced this fee to one dollar. I resigned, not
caring to bother with such work, and believing that I
could make more in the mines."
The rush to the Warren mines never seems to have
gained the magnitude of that incited by the Florence
discovery, probably because the former deposits were
not anything like as rich as the latter; that is, they
never yielded such enormous per diem returns, though
they proved of much greater permanence. The num-
ber who joined the stampede to the new diggings is
perhaps impossible to estimate, but the population of
the camp simmered down to about a thousand during
the lalK including those at Summit, Richmond and
Washington. By 1863 the population had increased to
fully fifteen hundred and the population four years
later was not less than twelve hundred. The discovery
of quartz in 1868 brought in a few more men, though
no great influx resulted from this cause owing to the
fact that gold bearing quartz so far inland cannot be
profitably worked. As the placers began to show signs
of exhaustion they were turned over to Chinamen,
several hundred of whom found employment in the
abandoned placers for many years. In 1872 the white
population of the camp had declined to between three
and four hundred.
As before stated, the original trail to Warren led
over an exceeding high mountain, necessitating a climb
of some twelve miles. The difficulties and rigors of
this road led to efforts for another and better one, and
eventually a new trail was made crossing Salmon river
ten miles below the original crossing. This road as-
cended Elk crek four miles, then turned southeasterly
across the summit of the divide and proceeded to Lake
creek, which it pursued for twelve miles or until the
Warm Springs were reached. From this point it fol-
lowed Secesh creek ten miles, then crossed the divide
to Steamboat creek, then down that to Warren creek
and up the last named stream to the camp. It was ten
miles longer than the former route of travel, but on
account of its easier grade it nevertheless soon became
the principal thoroughfare to the mines.
One peculiarity of the Warren district was that
though the man credited with its discovery was of loose
morals, showing a decided predilection for the com-
pany of the rougher classes of society, and though at
least one of the men with him at the time of the dis-
covery was an out and out desperado, yet the camp
never became the prey of ruffians, never was placed
under the necessity of organizing a vigilance committee
for its own defense and never witnessed a popular
execution.
"The most serious difficulty which I remember."
says Judge Poe. "grew out of a robbery which took
place during the winter following the opening of the
mines. While Mike Reynolds, one of the miners,
was at work near the creek, someone went into his
cabin and carried off $400 or $500 worth of gold
dust. Two men whose names I cannot now recall,
were suspected and arrested. I was appointed to
defend one and Charles McKay the other. The
trial was set for the next day.
"That evening while I was sleeping Three-
Fingered Smith, my partner, came to the room and
aroused me, telling me that the miners' meeting, in
which I should be interested, was in progress across
the street in a saloon. I hurriedly dressed and hastened
to the place indicated. I found it crowded with men,
eagerly discussing the question of hanging my client.
Strangely enough, McKay was one of the ardent sup-
porters of this extreme measure. His client was not
present, nor was there any talk of punishing him,
but when I arrived preparations had already begun
for the summary execution of my man. I straightway
mounted a counter and began an impassioned plea
for the poor fellow's life, the result of which was that
either on my own personal account or through com-
passion for the accused, incited by my words, the rope
was laid aside and the man held for civil trial. He
was afterwards convicted and sentenced to a short
term in the penitentiary."
In this manner was averted an unfortunate event
which came near staining the fair name of the War-
ren mining district. That a resort to extreme meas-
ures was never here necessary is due to the fact that
the discovery of mines in what is now Montana had
drawn away the rough element before the importance
of the Warren district had been established.
Having now outlined in a general way the events
culminating in the discovery and first development of
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
29
the early mining camps, we must essay to give some
insight into the social conditions of the times. The
task is a difficult one and adaquately to discharge it
is impossible under the limitations imposed by the
plan of this volume, but from the testimony of those
who were in north Idaho during the earliest days,
we may. perhaps, be able to draw an outline picture.
The summer months are utilized by the miner to the
best possible advantage in separating, by the different
processes known to practical mineralogy, the precious
yellow metal from the sand and gravel in which it
lies. There is enough of excitement about the search to
keep every man doing his utmost during the long
hours of labor, and by the time the miner has repaired
in the evening to his rude cabin, cooked and eaten
his supper of bread, pork and beans and coffee, and
enjoyed his evening smoke, he is ready to retire, for
he must be at his task again at an early hour. When
Sunday comes it does not always bring repose or even
a change of task, but generally the pick and shovel
are laid aside and the miner busies himself in washing
his soiled shirts, darning his socks, mending clothes,
chopping firewood for the week, baking bread and the
like. There is little time for drinking, gambling or
dissipation, though the miner may occasionally in-
dulge in the pleasures of the appetite, even during
this busy season. His main pleasure is, however,
the gratification of his master passion, the pursuit
of wealth. The reputation of the mining town for
immorality and vice must be kept up during the
summer months, if it is maintained at all, by the
gambling and carousing class, the enemy of all
morality, canker worms on the body politic.
But when winter's snows and surly blasts put an
end to the pursuit of gold, then it is that the man-
hood of the miner is severely tested. Nothing but
gold can induce him to overcome the gregarious in-
stincts of his nature. When that pursuit is no longer
possible he must repair to the town, there to run the
gauntlet of ten thousand dangers ; to avoid the traps
and pitfalls set to capture his money and his man-
hood, or falling into them, to part with both. The
conflict which rages within his breast is nine times
out of ten an unequal one. The kindly influences of
home and church and pure, enobling society are all
wanting. External restraints upon him there are none.
Pure amusements, refined society he cannot have.
Fortunate indeed is lie, if his morality and his prin-
ciples are so firmly set in the unyielding granite of
his nature, that he can pass the several months of
enforced idleness without a lapse or a plunge into
impurity, licentiousness and debauchery.
If it were possible for the miner to keep busy dur-
ing the winter, he could easily withstand the blandish-
ments of vice. But the ennui of protracted idleness,
who can indure? To pass the time pleasantly, all
the books and papers of the camp are read and re-
read. The social card game is restored to. It is kept
up until all interest in it cloys. The passion for
novelty and excitement becomes well nigh uncontroll-
able. It drives its poor victim at first to the more
nearly respectable places of resort. Ah, now he is
treading on the dangerous ground ! The convivial in-
stincts of his own nature, the examples of men still
held in high esteem in this frontier community, with
its lowered social standards, the allurements of
abandoned Delilahs, the persuasions of some fallen
men, the ridicule of others, all tend to lead or to drive
him deeper into the mirey slough of dissipation. The
punishment swift, and condign which in an older
community would be visited upon the man who openly
takes his first plunge into license is not here meted
out and the poor victim does not always realize that
nature has provided her own punishment for the
violation of her moral and physical laws ; a punish-
ment which though slower in its visitations is sure
never to miscarry as that of society often does.
Without uplifting influences, without the usual re-
straints, without danger of social ostracism, without
even civil law, with the higher cravings of nature
unsatisfied, in the midst of all the temptations which
a society composed largely of gamblers, vagabonds,
fallen women and even thieves, desperadoes and
murderers can furnish, is it to be wondered that so
many well meaning men fell by the wayside? Yet
out of this heterogeneous society have come unseared
many of the noblest and brightest of the leaders and
builders of our western institutions.
When the miners first invaded north Idaho there
was practically no law for their government. The
region was a part of the territory of Washington,
but from the nature of the case it could not be
efficiently governed from Olympia. There were no
county organizations ; no local officers of the law ;
no courts. In fact the country was a veritable haven
for escaped convicts, desperadoes, thugs and thieves
and abandoned characters of every variety. Let the
reader picture in his imagination a society so con-
stituted, made up so largely of a desperate criminal
class, without restraint of any kind, and he will have
a picture of north Idaho as it was in 1861 and 1862.
In forming this mental picture he should give due
weight also to the fact that the Civil war was then
in progress, that it drove to the west many from both
north and south who were unwilling to bear the re-
sponsibilities it imposed upon them ; that these brought
with them all the bitterness and prejudice engendered
by that strife, and that the violent expression of this
prejudice was the occasion of many a personal en-
counter. Truly the conditions obtaining were such
as can never again exist upon the American conti-
nent.
As might be expected the catalogue of crime was
a long one. The insecurity of life and property upon
the highways may easily be imagined. The well dis-
posed citizens were so greatly in the minority that they
dared not offer resistance to the reign of crime, and red
handed, blazen eyed murder stalked unmasked at mid-
day through the streets of the towns. A full history
of this carnival of crime cannot here be attempted ;
would not add to the value of the work if presented
in detail, but as affording some idea of this modern
reign of terror we quote the following from Ban-
croft's summary, gleaned from the journals of the
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
times : "Robert Upcreek, shot at Oro Fino by a
Frenchman in September, 1861 ; Hypolite, owner of
a large packtrain and $500 in gold, murdered on the
road in October, 1861 : Ned Meany, killed in a quarrel
at Jackson's ferry, near Lewiston, November, 1861 ;
two masked men entered a house in Lewiston in
December and in spite of resistance carried off $500,
shooting fatallv one of the inmates ; Matt. Bledsoe
killed James H. Harmon at Slate creek, Salmon river,
in a quarrel over cards. December, 1861 ; four
murders were committed in two weeks at Lewiston
in the fall of 1861 : three in March, 1862, at Florence;
William Kirbv killed John Maples in July, 1863:
William H. Tower, while threatening others, was shot
and killed at Florence, February 23, 1863 ; Morrissy,
a desperado, was killed at Elk City about the same
time : George Reed was shot by Isaac Warwick in a
quarrel about a claim in April, 1863; Frank Gallag-
her was murdered by one Berryman, with whom he
was traveling ; at a ball at Florence on New Year's
eve, a cvprian was ejected from the dancing room,
whereupon Henry J. Talbotte (better known as Chero-
kee Bob) and William Willoughby armed them-
selves and prepared for vengance ; later they were
both killed in an attempt to get it; one Bull, living
near Elk City, kindly entertained over night two men
who asked for shelter, in the morning the men and
five horses were missing. Bull followed them for
twenty days, coming up with them at a camp on
Gold creek, 265 miles from home, on seeing him one
of the men sprang on a horse and fled, the other,
William Afnett, was shot; a party pursuing the flee-
ing robber brought him back and hanged him. Enoch
Fruit was a chief of road agents ; James Robinson, a
mere boy, was one of his assistants ; in the autumn of
1862 they were prominent among the knights of the
road between Florence and Lewiston ; both met
violent deaths; James Crow, Michael Mulkie and Jack
McCoy robbed three travelers between Oro Fino and
Lewiston : William Rowland and George Law were
a couple of horse thieves operating on Camas Prairie ;
George A. Xoble of Oregon City, was robbed of 100
pounds ot gold dust between Florence and Oro Fino
in December, 1862 ; two horsethieves, for stealing from
a government train, were shot dead." Besides the
homocides and robberies above noted and scores of
others which came to the knowledge of the people
at the time, there were perhaps hundreds of which
nothing was ever known: at least it was judged so
from the number of inquiries which kept coming in
for years afterward from persons in the east, whose
relatives were lost track of.
Early in the history of the north Idaho mining
region, there seems to have been formed organizations
of thugs for the systematic prosecution of their
nefarious vocation. The most notorious of these, it
is said, had two strongholds or points of rendezvous,
known in the vernacular of the times as "shebangs."
The leadership of this band is accredited by some to
Henry Plummer, though there are many in Lewiston
who. having known this man in no other capacity
than that of a gambler, are doubtful of his having
had anything to do with greater crimes while here.
But if the pictures of Plummer's character, furnished
by those who professed to know his record quite
intimately, are not colored to his disadvantage, he
was hypocritical enough to keep the baser side of his
nature in the background when it suited him, by his
urbanity, polish and personal magnetism, winning
the confidence of such as he wished to impress favor-
ably. From the previous record accorded to Plummer
in California and his subsequent career in Montana
it is not hard to believe him guilty of having acted
a double part in Lewiston.
However this may be the robbers of the country
became organized during his stay there and by means
of intelligent co-operation were enabled to defy law,
moral and civil, commit the coldest blooded murders
with impunity, and approuriate to themselves the
valuables of travelers, packers, miners returning from
a successful summer's work, anybody who might be
caught unprotected with gold on his person.
Patiently for many months the good people bore
these multiplied wrongs. If any inquiry was made into
the question of who was responsible for a given crime,
such inquiry was turned into a farce, for the friends
of law and order were in the minority and dared not
assert themselves. The few who defied the roughs
and openly opposed them were marked for early
slaughter. The customary method of disposal of all
such was to embroil them in a quarrel and under
color of self-defense to inflict a death wound with the
ever ready pistol or bowie knife.
But this rule of the roughs could not last always.
Justice may be outraged for a time, but like Truth,
when crushed to earth it will rise again. Villainy
soon over-reached itself and brought destruction up-
on its own head. The first determined resistance to
crime on the part of a united people, of which we have
any knowledge, was made at Elk City in the summer
of 1862. An account of it was kindly furnished us
by Joel D. Martin and James Witt, both of whom
were eye witnesses. From their statements, it ap-
pears that early in the spring James Maguire and
one Finnigan became entangled in a quarrel which
led to blows. After fighting several rounds they finally
agreed to settle their difficulties amicably and let by-
gones be bygones. As was customary in those days,
the bargain was sealed over the bar. Between drinks
protestations of friendship were made again and again,
but one party to the compact of amity was a traitor.
In keeping with the unenviable reputation for treach-
ery he sustained in California, the detestable Maguire
broke in upon the expressions of good will, by
stealthily seizing the handle of Finnigan's knife and
unsheathing the weapon with intent to bury its blade
in its owner's bosom. But the bystanders saw the
movement, threw themselves upon the aggressor and
prevented the consummation of the atrocious deed.
Later the two men again met. Finnigan fired five
shots, wounding Maguire in the leg and in the neck.
Friends carried the injured man to a room over
Maltby's saloon and there left him, expecting to re-
turn in the morning. During the night Finnigan re-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
3i
turned and slipping up stairs, killed his foe in a most
atrocious manner, leaving the cruel bowie knife in
Maguire's throat. Had Finnigan occasioned Ma-
guire's death in a fair fight, the spirit of the times
would have condoned him ; but cowardice and treach-
ery were unpardonable. Finnigan was arrested and
put on trial before a popular tribunal. He admitted
the crime but claimed in extenuation, what was no
doubt true, that he had to kill Maguire in order to
save his own life. A newly elected justice of the
peace presided as judge, and one Colonel Johnson,
a lawyer recently from California but originally from
the Middle West, acted as defendant's council. The
testimony elicited some expressions of sympathy for
the prisoner, but the jury nevertheless rendered a ver-
dict of guilty. The following afternoon, a man named
Powers, who was acting as sheriff, led Finnigan to
the gallows. Brackett, a shoemaker, tied the hang-
man's knot and when all was ready the Irishman was
launched into space. Then occurred one of those
incidents which are said to have taken place not in-
frequently in the hasty popular executions of early-
days and to have resulted occasionally in the saving
of a life. The knot, having probably been tampered
with by the sympathetic sheriff, failed to hold, and
Finnigan fell to terra firma. He soon recovered from
the shock, gained his feet and, accompanied by Moses
Hart and Joseph Ritchie, two of his friends, started
to run away from the scene. The crowd was so
dumbfounded that for a short time not a man moved.
Then Josh. Phipps started in pursuit and soon over-
taking the fugitives, instantly covered them with his
rule and demanded that they halt. Phipps expected
that others would come to his assistance but none
came, so he lowered his gun and told Finnigan to
go, a command which the latter was quick to obey.
It is said that he was later seen in San Francisco by
one who knew him in Idaho and that the tell tale
mark of the rope was still on his neck.
The next assumption of judicial functions on the
part of the populace was in Lewiston in the fall of
1862. The occasion was the robbery of the Berry
brothers, while 011 their way from Florence to Lewis-
ton with a pack train. When near what is known as
Rocky canyon, each of the men was confronted by
a masked highwayman armed with a shot gun and
ordered to throw up his hands. Compliance under
such circumstances was a matter of necessity and the
men were relieved of between $1,100 and $1,400 in
gold dust. They were then commanded to camp at
Rocky canyon under pain of death, but when the
dangerous looking shot gun was no longer pointed their
way, they did not choose to render further obedience
to the commands of the robbers. No sooner had the
highwaymen passed out of sight than William Berry
mounted the best mule in the train and started in
pursuit. The robbers were riding the best running
horses, and in the race easily outstripped the big man
on the mule.
When Berry arrived in Lewiston he found that
the robbers had gone on to Walla Walla. Then
commenced the pursuit. The Berrys had one ad-
vantage in that they recognized the voices of the two
men, Bill Peoples and Dave English, who held them
up (for both were well known to them personally.)
They later ascertained that one Charley Scott was also
in the infamous plot.
In company with Gus Meamber, a Frenchman,
and others who joined him at Lewiston, the outraged
merchant proceeded post haste to Walla Walla, travel-
ing with a four horse team and breaking the record
for fast time. They arrived just behind the highway-
men. Berry met Peoples in a saloon, disarmed him,
and took him into custody. Meamber found and
arrested Scott. Dave English had not stopped in
Walla Walla but had gone on to Wallula. His arrest
was effected by Sheriff James Buckley, his deputy and
a saloon keeper named Vancise. It is said that an at-
tempt was made to secure for the prisoner a civil trial
in the Walla Walla courts, which failed ; also that the
roughs of that city attempted the rescue of their
captured confreres. But the capturers escaped with
their prisoners to Lewiston. Here the outlaws were
confined in a little log building. Had they known of
the doom awaiting them, they would doubtless have
made a more determined effort to escape, but they
trusted to the rough element for their rescue, and
were not greatly alarmed.
The people of Lewiston were more thoroughly
aroused over this crime than they had been over any
other. The victims of the robbery were well known
and well liked ; furthermore there was a general feel-
ing that the time had arrived when the rule of the
roughs must be brought to its termination, and accord-
ingly efficient means were provided for the safe guard-
ing of the prisoners. The men were confined in a
little building situated on the point formed by the
confluence of the Clearwater and Snake rivers. Two
men, thoroughly armed, guarded them day and night
and these were to bring to their assistance the entire
populace in case of an attempted rescue, by ringing a
large triangle near at hand. It is said that the roughs
from other parts did begin gathering with intent to
rally to the support of their doomed comrades. One
plot for their release was led by an uncle of Peoples
named Marshall, but the raid was defeated by Jonas
Whaley. of the guard, a shot from whose Kentucky
squirrel rifle served the double purpose of temporarily
disabling Marshall and alarming the populace.
Eventually a trial was given the accused men in
George H. Sandv's store, at the corner of D and
Second streets, which trial ended in their conviction.
That night the guards were notified that their services
were no longer needed. The next morning those who
went over to the jail to see about the prisoners found
the earthly remains of the three men hanging by their
necks from the rafters, and their cold rigid bodies,
drawn, bloodless faces and glassy eyes told that life
had been extinct for several hours. The date of this
summary execution, according to a notation in the old
Luna hotel register, now in the possession of Charles
F. Leland, was November 9, 1862. It marked the
decline of lawlessness in the vicinity of Clearwater,
for the villainous element departed one by one and
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
in small squads to points in the interior and in Mon-
tana, where most of them ended their careers as such
men usually do, either at the hands of their kind dur-
ing quarrels or by the merciless ropes of vigilance
committees. Among those to depart this life by the
latter route was Henry Plummer himself, the reputed
leader of the largest band, and the known author of
many murders, homicides and robberies.
Lewiston first, then Oro Fino and finally Florence
had been centers of operation for these bands of
criminals. In the last mentioned town a species of
vigilance committee had been formed. Its members
met after the death of Cherokee Bob and Willonghby
and instructed their executive committee to warn all
suspicious characters to leave the town forthwith.
The most notorious characters had, however, taken
refuge in flight, fearing lest a more condign punish-
ment should be meted out to them at the hands of
the thoroughly aroused people, and the committee
had no other task to perform than the expulsion of a
minor criminal
But the most terrible deed in the history of north
Idaho was committed after the reign of the desperadoes
in the towns was practically over, though there was
yet a considerable element of these villains in this
mining region and their supremacy in what is now
Montana was still maintained. We refer to the murder
of Lloyd Magruder and companions in the Bitter
Root mountains, an account of which will be presented
in its proper chronological place.
CHAPTER II.
POLITICAL ORGANIZATION AND PASSING EVENTS.
Naturally the influx of miners and fortune-hunters
into north Idaho had many results incidental to the
great purpose. The country was settled and developed
during the first two or three years in a way that it could
hardly have been in as many decades had its sands been
without gold or had their wealth remained hidden.
While there was some complaint on the part of the nar-
rower-visioned Willamette valley papers that the Idaho
mines had caused a costly drain upon the resources of
that section, others saw that in their ultimate and even
in man)- of their promixate results they were a blessing.
In speaking of the effect upon the metropolis of Ore-
gon. Judge Deady in his manuscript history said: "The
Colville and Oro Fino mines helped Portland greatly,
and in 1861 built up the Oregon Steam Navigation
Company. Loaded drays used to stand in lines half a
mile long, unloading at night freight to go in the morn-
ing that involved a fortune." The more liberal newspa-
pers also stated that, contrary to preconceived opinions
of what was possible, persons who had engaged in ag-
riculture on the route between The Dalles and Lewis-
ton were raising excellent crops, a statement going to
show that the agricultural possibilities of the east side
were even then beginning to be surmised. The discov-
ery of the Idaho mines was certainly a boon t<> Walla
Walla. It was the direct cause of the unearthing of
vast mineral wealth in the John Day country and in
the Boise basin, which discoveries, with that of the
Auburn mines in Baker county, encouraged the agri-
cultural development of eastern Oregon. From this
source Portland has drawn millions of dollars and con-
tinues to draw millions, yet its citizens for many years
seemed to fail to realize that its chief hope of greatness
lay in the development of its whole tributary country.
They used every means to encourage immigration from
the east to continue on through to the Willamette val-
ley, and not a few efforts were made to decry the inland
empire in the columns of the public press. Such a pol-
icy seems indeep a narrow one when viewed in retro-
spect.
Mention has been previously made of the settlement
of Seth S. Slater and others at the confluence of the
Snake and Clearwater rivers in May, 1861. The land
upon which these men pitched their tents was then a
part of the Nez Perce reservation, but necessity knew
no law, and in June the merchants and miners deter-
mined that a town must be laid out, notwithstanding
the opposition of the Indians and United States author-
ities. Nevertheless the town builders were notified by
the latter that they must not erect any permanent build-
ings. Partly as a result of this prohibition, but more
especially from the haste with which the town was
called into existence, it was at first a very frail little
city. Almost all its buildings, business places and resi-
dences alike consisted of a light framework of wood,
covered with canvas, roof and sides. From the dis-
tant hill tops the town in the day time had the appear-
ance of having been built of marble, and at night, when
lights were burning within the canvas walls, it had a
decidedly holiday look. From its very inception it was
an important business point. Being most favorably sit-
uated at the head, of navigation on the Snake river, it
The Buildings used as Governor's Headquarters and Capitol of the Territory
of Idaho in 1863, still standing in Lewiston.
VIEW ON THE SNAKE, NEAR LEWISTON.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
3?
was the natural outfitting place for parties going into
the mines of the interior, and long, heavily loaded trains
left it daily.
The causes which necessitated the building of the
temparary town, despite the fact that it was a violation
of treaty rights, were seen to be permanent in their
nature. Remonstrances from Indians or military men
were unavailing, when the exigencies of the case were
impelling the steamboat company and the miners to
oppose their wishes, and in October, 1861, the town-
site of Lewiston was laid off. To pacify Lawyer and
other head men of his tribe some compensation was
given them for the privilege. The Nez Perces were
not very determined in their opposition to white occu-
pancy, and danger of a general war was never a deter-
rent force in the settlement and development of the
country.
The erection of permanent buildings was not ac-
complished in time to prevent great suffering from cold
in Lewiston. During the severe winter of 1861-2 its
inhabitants were almost solelv dependent for shelter
upon the canvas walls and roofs put up during the first
rush, and the suffering was further augmented by the
scarcity of fuel. To add to the people's multiplied dis-
comfitures the rivers rose during the spring of 1862
to an unwonted height, inundating their town, as well
as The Dalles and part of Portland. But all these
drawbacks were as impotent to stay the progress of
Lewiston as to quiet the mining excitement which
called it into being. Its growth was exceedingly rapid
the first few years, and only after the removal of the
superfluous mining population tributray to it and the
consequent loss of its political honors did it cease to
march forward at a double quick.
The rapid settlement of the countrv was not with-
out its political effects, though, as before related, it
out ran the forms of government and made it necces-
sary that the miners should become a law unto them-
selves, not alone in civil matters, but in criminal pro-
cedure as well. That it was possible for communities
of frontiersmen, brought together and animated by a
thirst for gold, to calmly frame and adopt laws for
their own government, to enforce compliance with
these laws among their own number and in general to
discharge all necessary functions, legislative, judicial
and executive, is a favorable portent for the future of
the civil institutions of America. The pioneers of
north Idaho were also surprisingly temperate and self-
contained in their popular criminal proceedings. No
such thing as a vigilance committee was organized un-
til patience had ceased to be a virtue, and then due care
was taken that none but the guilty should suffer. But
a regularly constituted government is alwavs welcomed
by order-loving and law-abiding Americans, and the
establishment of such in what is now north Idaho was
eagerly sought for from the first.
The territorial government of Washington had or-
ganized Shoshone county in January, 1858, comprising
all of the country north of the Snake river and be-
tween the Columbia river and the Rocky mountains,
with the county seat on the land claim of Angus Mc-
Donald. In 1861 it established the official boundaries
of this political entity as follows :
'"Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the legislative assembly of the
territory of Washington. That the boundaries of Shoshone
county shall be as follows, to- wit : Beginning at the mouth
of the South Fork of the Clearwater ; thence south with said
river to the Lolo Fork of the same ; thence east with said
Lolo stream in an easterly direction to the summit of the
Bitter Root mountains : thence north to the main divide be-
tween the Palouse river and the North Fork of the Clear-
water ; thence in a westerly direction with said main divide
to a point from which running due south would strike the
mouth of the South Fork of the Clearwater to the place of
beginning. Passed December 21, 1S61.
James Leo Furguson,
Speaker, House of Representatives.
A. R. Bukbank, President of the Council."
The day previous another act had been passed creating
and organizing the county of Nez Perce, the language of
which was as follows :
"Section 1. Be it enacted by the legislative assembly of
the Territory of Washington. That all that part of Washing-
ton Territory lying within the following boundaries, be or-
ganized into a county called Nez Perce, to-wit: Beginning
at the mouth of the Clearwater; thence up same to the South
Fork of the Clea-water ; thence with the South Fork to the
Lolo creek; thence with the southern boundary of Shoshone
county to the summit of the Bitter Root mountains : thence
south to the main divide between the waters of the Salmon
River and the South Fork of the Clearwater to the Snake
River ; thence with the Snake River west to the mouth of the
Clearwater to the place of beginning.
"Sec. 2. Be it further enacted. That J. M. Van Valsah
be appointed county auditor; A Creacy, Whitfield Kirtly and
be appointed county commissioners ; Sanford Owens,
sheriff; and Justice of the Peace for said county until
the next general election.
"Passed December 20, 1861.
James Leo Furguson,
Speaker, House of Representatives.
A. R. Burbank. President of the Council."
On this day, too, an act was passed creating and organ-
izing Idaho county, the language of which, title omitted, is
as follows :
"Section I. Be it enacted by the legislative assembly of
the Territory of Washington, That all that part of Wash-
ington Territory south of Nez Perce county and east of Snake
river, be organized into a county called Idaho.
"Sec. 2. Be it further enacted. That L. Lindsey be and
is hereby, appointed county auditor ; Robert Gray, Robert
Burns, and Sanburn be appointed county commission-
ers ; Joseph Standifer, sheriff ; Parker, Justice of the
Peace for said county until the next general election.
"Passed December 20, 1861.
James Leo Furgusox.
Speaker. House of Representatives.
A. R. Burrank. President of the Council."
The formation of these political divisions gave the
people some kind of a home government other than a
strictly popular one without sanction of law, but the
judicial function, except in probate and minor matters,
was with the three federal judges. The hands of these
had been full enough when thev had no duties outside
of the coast counties, and now that the population east
of the Cascades was sufficiently large to more than
double their work, a problem was presented not easy
to solve. Certainly a country into which vagabonds,
desperadoes and abandoned characters had flocked from
34
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
all parts of the west was very badly in need of courts,
if the peace and dignity of the territory was to be main-
tained there at all. The solution finally adopted was
the passage of acts authorizing the holding of district
courts at" different county seats having concurrent
jurisdiction with the regular federal district courts,
except in cases where the United States was a party,
with right of appeal to the supreme court of federal
judges. The expenses of each special district court
were to be paid by the county in which it was held.
No more eloquent commentary upon the rapid rate
at which the country now constituting north Idaho
developed during 1861-2 need be sought than the notice
it demanded from the Washington Legislature, by
which, as compiled from the statute books by Bancroft,
the right to keep ferries was granted as follows : "To
D. W. Lichtenthaler and John C. Smith, across Snake
river opposite Powder river ; to Green White and C. R.
Driggs, across Snake river at mouth of Grande Ronde
river; to John Messenger and Walter H. Manly, across
Salmon river on the Xez Perce trail to Fort Boise;
to Gilmore Hays, across Snake river within one mile
from the junction of the Clearwater; to E. H. Lewis
and Egbert French, across the Columbia, near The
Dalles; to J. T. Hicklin. across the Yakima between
the mouths "of the Ahtanaham and Xachess: to W. D.
Bigelow, across Snake river on the territorial road from
Walla Walla to Colville : to Lyman Shaffer and W. F.
Bassett, across the south branch of the Clearwater on
the main wagon road from Lewiston to Oro Fino ; to
Orrington Cashman on the same stream at or near the
camp of Lawyer ; to W. W. DeLacy and Jared S. Hurd.
on Snake river at some point between Grande Ronde
and Powder rivers, to be selected by them ; W. W. I >e-
Lacv and associates on Salmon river; to George A.
Tyk'el, to grade a bluff of Snake river in constructing
a wagon road and establishing a ferry over the same
near "the mouth ot Powder river: to Richard Holmes
and lames Clinton, across Salmon river on the Indian
trail from Lapwai to Grande Ronde valley; to John
Drumhaller, on the main Clearwater, two miles above
Lewiston; to W. Greenville, at or near the mouth of
Slat- creek on Salmon river: to Sanford Owens, to
build a bridge across the south branch of the Clear-
water on the road from Lewiston to Elk City. The
rates for foot passengers on these ferries were gener-
allv so cents: loose cattle, 50 cents; two-horse wagon,
$2^56: four-horse wagon. $4.50; horse and buggy,
$2.25 : pack animal, 75 cents."
The men who had wrought this development, being
ambitions to become the founder? and builders of a
new state, carlv began to point out the inconvenience to
themselves of'Olympia as a capital, the diversity of
interest between them and the Puget Sound people and
the adaptability of their region to autonomy. They in-
structed their representatives in the territorial legis-
lature to advocate the sending of a memorial to Con-
gress asking that the eastern portion of the territory be
set off and organized into a new territory. However,
the legislators in general thought that the interior had
need of the sound as a seaboard, and that no benefit
could result to it from political segregation ; on the
other hand such would prove a decided detriment to the
sound. The memorial, therefore, was not sanctioned
by the majority, and the movement failed. Neverthe-
less discontent still continued, and on March 3, 1863,
the territory of Idaho was organized by act of Congress.
The origin of the euphonious name aoplied to the new
political entity is a matter of dispute, but it is generally
supposed to be a corruption of an Indian word signify-
ing gem or diadem of the mountains, referring to the
lustrous rim of the crests of the north Idaho uplands
at sunrise on a fair day. The name was applied to one
of the counties organized by the Washington legisla-
ture in 1861, which county formed part of the new
territory. But whatever the origin of the word or its
exact English signification, the people of this rich and
prosperous state have reason to be highly pleased with
the poetic name chosen for it by the United States
Congress.
The creating act was exceedingly liberal in the
extent of territory it bestowed upon the new political
entity, the official boundaries of which were described
as follows :
"All that part of the territory of the United States
included within the following limits, to-wit : Begin-
ning at a point in the middle channel of the Snake river,
where the north boundary of Oregon intersects the
same ; then following down the said channel of Snake
river to a point opposite the mouth of the Kooskoospier
( Kooskooskie) or Clearwater river, thence due north
to the fiirty-ninth parallel of latitude, thence east along
said parallel to the twenty-seventh degree of longitude
west of Washington ; thence south along said degree of
longitude to the northern boundary of Colorado terri-
tory ; thence west along said boundary to the thirty-
third degree of longitude west of Washington, thence
north along said degree to the forty-second parallel
of latitude : thence west along said parallel to
the eastern boundary of the state of Oregon."
From this it will be seen that the original
original Idaho extended over thirteen degrees of longi-
tude and seven of latitude. Its area was given as
326,373 square miles, which was greater than that pos-
sessed by any other state or territorv in the Union. "It
was not,'' says Bancroft, "regarded with favor by any
class of men, not even the most earth-hungry. Over
its arid plains and among its fantastic upheavals of
volcanic rocks roamed savage tribes. Of the climate
little was known, and that little was unfavorable, from
the circumstance that the fur companies, who spent
the winters in certain localities in the mountains, re-
garded all others as inhospitable, and the immigrants
judged of it by the heat and drought of midsummer."
The initial winter spent by miners in the northern part
was one of great severity, the temperature being un-
comfortably low, the snows deep and the floods de-
structive. Even the scenery was so wild, weird and
rugged as to seem unattractive to persons habituated
to more delicate environs, and the conditions on the
whole were such as to create an unpleasant impression
in the public mind.
Of this vast country, imperial in its extent, gigantic
in its mold and possessed of a wealth of undeveloped
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1132
35
resources but dimly surmised at the time, Lewiston was
made the capital To this infant town of two years,
a town of canvas walls and rude primitive structures,
of dens of unbridled vice and iniquity, a town which
just before had had to resort to a vigilance committee
in order to cow the rough element, to such a town was
given the honor of posing as the seat of government of
a region more than twice as large as California and
seven times the size of the Empire state, and, "taken
altogether, the most grand, wonderful, romantic and
mysterious part of the domain enclosed within the
Federal Union."
More than six months elapsed between the passage
of the organic act and the issuance of the proclamation
carrying its provisions into effect. But on September
22, 1863, William H. Wallace, who had been appointed
governor of the territory by President Lincoln, formally
organized the new government by proclamation. Pre-
viously, however, political conventions had been called,
resulting in the nomination of Governor Wallace for
delegate to Congress on the Republican ticket, and
J. M. Cannady on the Democratic. Wallace received
in the election ensuing a majority of about 500 votes, a
result which caused the promotion of Secretary of State
W. B. Daniels, of Yamhill county. Oregon, to the post
of acting governor.
The first session of the Idaho territorial legislature
was not distinguished for brilliance. The laws enacted
by it were of the regular routine kind, not specially
original in character, but such as any newly organized
territory must adopt to set the machinery of govern-
ment in motion. A movement for the sequestration of
the territory east of the mountains into a separate or-
ganization was begun, likewise one to move the capital
to some point more nearly central to the west side resi-
dents. The new territory was created in 1864. and an
act was passed late that same year removing the capital
to Boise. But of this latter, more anon.
According to the usual custom the territory was,
granted three federal judges, each presiding over a dis-
trict. Idaho, Nez Perces and Shoshone counties con-
' stituted district No. 1, of which Justice A. C. Smith was
in charge. One of the first acts the court was called
upon to perform was to try for their lives three men ac-
cused of a foul and desperately wicked crime, which
on account of its historic interest must now be described
in some detail.
From the mystery and heroism of the discovery of
the crime and the pursuit and capture of its perpe-
trators and from the fiendish atrocity which character-
ized the enactment of the tragedy, this Magruder mur-
der forms at once the strangest and darkest chapter
in north Idaho's criminal annals. On these accounts,
doubtless, and from the fact that the principal victim
of the awful outrage was a man of such prominence in
northwest history, the affair is well remembered by all
old pioneers, its details having impressed themselves
so deeply upon their minds that the lapse of nearly
four decades has not sufficed to erase them. The horri-
ble deed and its sequel bring into bold relief the dark
depths into which abandoned humanity sometimes falls,
and the courage, tenacity and ingenuity of the best de-
veloped representatives of the pioneer, when, animated
by pure motives, he sets out to accomplish a desperate
object. All the leading characters in this tragedy were
men of unusual prominence in their way. Lloyd Ma-
gruder, the victim, was credited by practically all the
early miners with the honor of having been the first
trail-maker into Canyon creek and the leader of the
part)- which discovered the immensely rich John Day
mines. Coming to north Idaho in the spring of 1862,
he became a merchant of prominence and a packer of
intrepedity. To the perpetrators of the crime, the
devils of the tragedy, no one will deny the right to a
bad eminence among those of their character. Hill
Beachy, the avenger of the terrible deed, proved himself
not only a man endowed with all the noblest qualities
of manhood, but one with a mysterious development of
the intuitive faculties and a rare genius for detective
work. The ingenuity and courage displayed in bring-
ing the Magruder murderers to justice shows that had
circumstances led him into the secret service he might
have performed feats rivaling those attributed to the
heroes of romance.
In the summer of 1863 Magruder set out for the
Bannock mines with a pack train of fifty animals laden
with miner's supplies. A long, hard journey brought
him safely to his destination, but disappointment met
him there. True to their nomadic habits, the miners
had gone to the latest center of interest, the Alder
gulch placers at Yirginia Citv, almost completely de-
serting Bannock. Thither Magruder followed them.
He found a prosperous camp of several thousand in-
habitants, ready to purchase his wares as soon as these
were exposed for sale. Soon he found himself in pos-
session of several thousand dollars in gold dust and
about seventy-five mules. When ready to start upon
the home journey he was joined by Charles Allen,
William Phillips and two young men, who were after-
ward referred to in the indictment as unknown, but
who proved to be Horace and Robert Chalmers, recent
arrivals from Booneville, Missouri. Besides those men-
tioned there were in rhe company Daniel Howard,
familiarly known as "Doc." whose real name was
Renton, Christopher Lower (or Lowry), James Ro-
maine and William Page. Page had met Magruder at
Bannock about the middle of September, and five or
six days later at Virginia City, where he had assisted
the merchant in stocking his store. His testimony is
the only account we have of the awful tragedy en-
acted in the Bitter Root mountains and the events lead-
ing up to it. The story told by him was complete and
circumstantial, bearing the stamp of truthfulness upon
its face, and proving its narrator a man of remarkable
memory. The transcript of it. taken in court, is. how-
ever, very brief and not at all clear on some points.
Page states that Renton. Lower and Romaine were
in Virginia Citv during the latter part of the summer,
and that they stayed around Magruder's store at least
a portion of the time. There is reason to believe that
they left Lewiston with no other intent than to murder
Magruder and take his money. Their presence about
his store was probably due to their desire to ingratiate
themselves into his confidence that they might the bet-
36
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ter accomplish their designs. If this was their object
they certainly succeeded well, for Magruder seems to
have never suspected them in the slightest, though it
is said that he was warned by a man named Baker
against traveling with them, as they were tough men.
Magruder heard that Page was going to Lewiston,
and employed him to assist in driving through the
horses and mules.
There was nothing untoward in their start for home
and friends nor hint of approaching tragedy in the face
of laughing nature as they set out from Virginia City
on that bright autumn morning. No intuitive sense
of danger, no dark forebodings of any kind disturbed
the equipoise of Magruder's mind. The exhilaration
of the crisp air and bright sunshine was no doubt felt
bv him and his companions, though there were those
among the latter into the blackness of whose dark souls
no beams of light could ever penetrate.
Those who started with Magruder on October 3d
were Page, Renton, Romaine, William Phillips and
the two brothers. At Beaverhead, where they camped
the first night, they were joined by Charles Allen, and
the next day at Rattlesnake they met Christopher
Lower. The party proceeded that day to the vicinity
of Bannock, where they remained two or three days
while Magruder was buying mules and attending to
other business. About the 8th they resumed their jour-
ney. "There were nine of us," said Page, "Lower,
Renton, Romaine, Phillips, Allen, Magruder, the two
brothers and myself." For three days they traveled
without casualty, meeting travelers and conversing
with them occasionally. During the fourth Lower
asked Page to drop behind, as Renton and Romaine
wished to speak to him. Page did so, and was greatly
startled by the nature of their communications. Ren-
ton stated that Magruder had a great deal of money,
that they purposed to have it, and that he wished
Page to sleep with Phillips. He admonished his
auditor not to be frightened, as he, Lower and Ro-
maine would do all the "dirty work." told him that he
must take no notice of any noise he might hear in the
night, but if it became necessarv he was to shoot
Phillips in the abdomen. Several times during the
day the conspirators told Page not to be frightened.
That night, however, nothing unusual transpired. Next
day the conspirators again declared their determina-
tion to have Magruder's money and renewed their ad-
monitions to Page against being frightened. After a
journey of about thirty miles they camped in a lonely
spot in the Bitter Root mountains within a short dis-
tance of the point where a view of the north Idaho
country first greets the eye of the traveler. This spot
has been rendered memorable by the commission upon
it of a deed seldom equaled or surpassed for cold-
blooded atrocitv.
The transcript of Page's testimony is so incoherent,
indefinite and confused that it is impossible to gain
from it a clear and detailed idea of what transpired
during that dreadful night. It appears, however, that
it was the turn of Magruder and Lower to guard the
animals throughout the first watch. Page said he saw
the two start up the hill. Lower ahead with an axe.
The latter had given as an excuse for taking the
weapon along that he wished to fence the trail so as
to prevent the escape of the mules and to build a fire.
The other travelers went to bed as usual. About mid-
night, as he thought, Page heard somebody coming
down the hill, and on investigation found that it was
Renton and Lower. Renton lay down upon the blan-
kets with Romaine, but soon both got up and passed
by Page with axes in their hands. They went in the
direction of the two brothers, and forthwith Page
heard blows and mournful groans. After a few mo-
ments they returned and lay down upon Page's bed.
They arose again shortly. Renton shot Allen and Ro-
maine struck Phillips with an axe. Allen seems to
have been killed instantly. Phillips, however, made
an outcry of murder after being hit, but the repeated
blows of the heartless assassin speedily silenced him.
Page says that as Romaine struck the first blow he
said to his victim: "You fool, I told you at
Virginia City not to come. You had no business to
come. I wish that Jim Rhodes had come, for I have
wanted to kill him a long time."
The assassins then directed Page, who had arisen
and dressed, to get ready such things as they wished
to take along with them. When this was done he
was next sent up the hill to look after the animals.
Lower told him that if he would go a long way up he
would see a fire to the right hand of the trail, but that
this marked the spot where Magruder was killed. On
his return they asked him if he had seen the fire. He
replied : "Yes ; it had got to running about among
the leaves and dry logs, and I put it out." "That's
where the job was done for Magruder," said Lower.
"I kicked it about to burn the blood up." The assas-
sins told Page they had searched the bodies during his
absence and had failed to find as much money as they
expected. They had tied Phillips and Allen up in a
tent cloth with picket ropes. "I helped," said Page,
"to tie the two brothers up — helped Lower and Ro-
maine. They carried them on a stick — I had hold of
the stick — to a large, fiat rock, whence they were to be
rolled down the hill."
Throughout a great part of the night the four men
busied themselves in destroying evidences of their
crime. All the equipage not needed was burned and
the ashes searched for rings and buckles, which, with
the excess tinware and other incombustibles, were put
into a sack, taken down the hill and hidden behind a
log. Renton and Lower disposed of Magruder's body,
while Romaine and Page rolled the other bodies down
the canyon. "I rolled Phillips and Allen down," said
Page, "Romaine, the two brothers." As we were going
to roll them down he gave me a pair of moccasins to
put on, so that if anybody saw traces they would think
it the work of Indians."
At last these grewsome tasks were all successfully
accomplished. Lower and Renton returned from dis-
posing cf Magruder's remains, bringing some of the
mules. About twelve or fourteen were missing, one
in particular that they wanted, and they spent some
time in an unsuccessful search for him. Soon after
they started they began shooting the mules, which
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
37
were following the big sorrel lead horse that Page
was riding. Several were killed before they got up
the Clearwater hill and the remainder were led onto a
little prairie to one side of the trail, where all were
despatched except eight and one horse. The things
were overhauled thoroughly on this prairie and the
money estimated. It amounted to eleven or twelve
thousand dollars, Page understood. Here also the
handle was burned out of Lower's axe and a new. one
put in.
The miscreants went straight to Lewiston, travel-
ing with about average speed and consuming several
days in making the trip from the scene of the murder.
It was nine o'clock when they came into town. Renton
and Romaine looked for a boat in which to go down
the Snake river but failed to find any. Page busied
himself in hunting for a farmer named Goodman (or
Goodrich), wishing to leave the animals with him. He
eventually found the ranchman and bargained for the
keep of the mules and horse until spring. Everything
was left in Goodman's care, saddles and blankets,
bridles, shot gun. leggings, spurs, etc. All four slept
at the Hotel de France that night, and the following
morning took the stage for Walla Walla. One of their
number had secured the seats the evening previous,
having himself and his companions waybilled under
assumed names. The escape from the dangerous town
of Lewiston, where they were well known and their
presence was likely to excite suspicion, was successfully
effected. They were now to enjoy in peace, as they
supposed, the fruits of their dastardly deed.
How sadly were these miscreants to be undeceived.
Their presence in Lewiston had become known, and
the avenger was already on their track. Hill Beachy
was in the stage office when the murderer stalked in
with an assumed swagger, walked up to the clerk's
desk, threw down three twenties and asked that he and
his companions be waybilled to Walla Walla. Beachy
scrutinized him carefully from behind the stove and
recognized him. He examined the waybill as soon
as the man had departed. He then proceeded to the
Luna house stables, which were in charge of Chester
P. Coburn, from whom we obtained this part of our
story. "Coburn," said Beachv, "you must persuade
your friends (for he had some intending to take the
stage) not to go on the stage in the morning."
"Why?" asked the man addressed with eager inter-
est.
"Because there is danger in the air." Beachy then
communicated his discoveries and suspicions. The
two men together visited the other stables of the town,
but no trace of the animals the men had ridden could
be found. Neither had the ferryman brought them
across the river.
"Well," said Beachv finally, "trv to keen your
friends here until the next stage. Have thev any
money ?"
"Yes, one of them has $2,500 I know of and the
other may have some ; but they won't stav, because the
boat leaves Portland for 'Frisco only every two weeks,
and if they miss this stage they will have to lay over."
"Well, then, tell them our suspicions and warn
them to be sure to take the back seat and keep their
guns handy; also let the others get in the coach first.
Tell them to keep a close watch all the time."
So, when Mr. Coburn awoke his friends the next
morning a little after one o'clock, he communicated to
them his fears. They got into the stage at the stables,
taking the back seat. Beachv and Coburn rode the
brake blocks to the hotel. There the four strangers,
closely muffled, took their places, the horses were given
the reins and the sextette and driver were speedily
borne out into the night. As the coach rolled away
Beachy remarked to his companion that he thought
there was no danger'of a robbery, as the men seemed
to have considerable gold with them. But Beachy felt
instinctively that something was wrong, and very soon
a suspicion took hold of him that cither Magruder or
Ankeny was murdered and that these men were the
murderers. All night he and Mr. Coburn continued
their investigations. At daybreak Mose Druilard was
despatched over the trail to seek tidings of Captain
Ankeny, an Oro Fino merchant, and another messen-
ger, named Schull, was sent toward Elk City in search
of news about Magruder.
Later in the day in which the suspicious characters
left by stage the continued investigation of Beachy
and Coburn resulted in the discovery that the men had
left their horses in charge of Mr. Goodman and that
Goodman had just moved the animals and trappings
out to his place in Tammany hollow, a short distance
south of Lewiston. The horses and accoutrements
were soon brought into town, where one of the animals
was identied as having been Magruder's property. A
saddle also was thought to be his. This. was enough for
Beachy. He swore out warrants for the four men,
obtained requisition papers from Governor Wallace at
the Capitol and set out in pursuit, determined to fol-
low the quartette until he" had effected their arrest.
He was accompanied as far as Portland by Thomas
Pike. By everv possible means he accelerated his
speed. At The Dalles he arrived just in time to miss
the steamer, though he learned that his men had passed
that way and knew that he was on the right track.
When he reached Portland he found on inquiry that
the miscreants had left on the steamer, which had de-
parted for San Francisco just two hours before his
arrival. Meanwhile he had been joined bv Captain
A. P. Ankenv. who had reached Lewiston in safety
the day of Beachy's departure, and together they con-
sulted hastily and decided upon a plan of action. It
was determined that Captain Ankeny should attempt
in a tug boat to intercept the ocean steamer at the bar
in case adverse winds had detained her, while Beachy
made preparations for the overland trip to San Fran-
cisco in case of Ankeny's failure. Ankeny 's tug arrived
too late, as the steamer had gone out to sea without de-
lay. Accordingly Beachy started. There was no tele-
graph nearer than Yreka, California, and consequently
no rest for the grim pursuer until that point was
reached. Arrived at last, he wired descriptions of the
men to the San Francisco police. The telegrams did
not arrive until after the boat had landed, but the de-
scriptions were such as to enable the police to identify
3«
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
their men with ease, and soon the culprits were behind
prison bars. Beachy got custody of the men after some
delay and started back to Lewiston with them. At
Walla Walla an escort of soldiers was furnished him.
The party reached Lewiston during the early days of
December and was met by the vigilantes of that town,
but Beachy stoutly defended his prisoners, telling the
people he had promised the men a regular trial. The
vigilantes eventually decided to withdraw and trust
the courts to administer justice. The prisoners were
confined in upstairs rooms of the Luna house, Page by
himself. The last mentioned turned state's evidence,
and it was essential that no opportunity be allowed his
partners in guilt to intimidate him, as he was the main
reliance of the prosecution. Renton, Lower and Ro-
maine maintained an attitude of sullen indifference
throughout their incarceration, declining to affirm or
deny the grave charges against them. Romaine was a
schoolmate of Mrs. Beachy and hoped for some clem-
ency on this account.
The following incident is related as throwing light
on the character of Lower. The officers had one day
conceived the idea of securing photographs of the pris-
oners. The subject was broached to the men, who
listened intently and then announced that they would
not consent to give the photographer a sitting. Several
efforts were made to secure their acquiescense, but
each failed, until finally one day Lower said he would
sit, so word was sent to the photographer at Walla
Walla, who arrived in a short time with his outfit.
Lower was sent to a tent near the Luna house. The
photographer set up his machine and prepared to take
the picture. Lower posed willingly. When all was
in readiness the artist stepped into the dark room to
fill the plate-holder. Suddenly Lower jumped from
his chair, rushed over to the camera, and, picking it
up, dashed it to pieces.
The sheriff and the photographer rushed over to
the man, and the former inquired : "Why did you do
that, Lower?" With a demoniacal grin Lower replied:
"I thought it was loaded." No further attempts were
made to photograph the murderer or his comrades.
In due course the case against the three accused
men came on for adjudication. The grand jury had
no difficulty in returning an indictment, as the evidence
of Page was direct and satisfactory. In the trial fol-
lowing Samuel C. Parks, the judge of the Second
judicial district, presided in place of A. C. Smith, of
the First district, who was absent. J. W. Anderson
and W. W. Thayer appeared as attorneys. for the de-
fendants— Renton, alias Howard, Lower and Romaine.
Prosecutor Gray was assisted by Attorneys Rheems
and Kelly. The jury finally selected to try the case
was composed of George H. Sandy, foreman; Henry
Hershell. Francis Gabe, Joseph Wagner, Michael
Leitch, Samuel Ramsey, Nathan W. Earl, J. P. Shock-
ly, John Mooney. Ezekiel Beam, Henry Myers and W.
B. Holbrook. On the evening of January 23d the case
was given to the jury, which, after a short absence from
the trial room, returned a verdict of "guilty of murder
in the first degree, as charged in the indictment, and
that the punishment therefor shall be death." Three
days later the convicted men were sentenced to be
hanged on the 4th of the following March, on which
date they were led to a scaffold erected near the spot
on which Judge Poe's residence now stands, on ground
now owned by John P. Vollmer. Several hundred citi-
zens had gathered to witness the vindication of justice
and a company of soldiers from Fort Lapwai was pres-
ent, also a number of Indians from the reservation..
Before the trap was sprung the condemned men were
asked if they had anything to saw Lower with charac-
teristic bravado replied : "Launch your old boat ; it's
nothing but an old mud scow anyhow." This mis-
creant also left a letter to be opened after his death,
which was found to be extremely obscene and insult-
ing in its language. Page, who escaped the scaffold by
betraying his companions in guilt, was foully mur-
dered by a man named Albert Igo, with whom he
had quarreled previously, and such was the prejudice
against the murdered man that no very energetic ef-
forts were made to apprehend his slaver, notwithstand-
ing the cowardlv manner in which the crime had been,
committed. The vigilance committee, seeing by the
result of the trial of Magruder's murderers that the
courts were disposed to mete out justice, disbanded
soon after the execution, and though there have been
lynchings since, the days of popular tribunals in north
Idaho were over.
The following May Sheriff James H. Fisk and Hill
Beachy took Page to the scene of the tragedy. The
remains of the victims were found in the places indi-
cated by the testimony. The entire locality tallied with
Page's descriptions ; the sack of rings, buckles and tin-
ware was discovered under the log as he had said ; in
fact the story was corroborated in every detail by mute
but truthful witnesses. It was by a notebook found on
the person of one of the Chalmers brothers that the
identity of these unfortunate young men was estab-
lished.
It is pleasing to add that the efficient services of the
brave Beachy did not go unrewarded. Five weeks of
unremitting effort had been expended by him. as well
as considerable sums of money, in the capture of the
murderous quartette. For his reimbursement and com-
pensation there was appropriated out of the territorial
treasury, by an act approved February 2, 1864, $6,244.
The population of southern Idaho, induced thither
in flocks by the discovery and development of the
mines of Boise basin and other districts, was greatly
swelled during the early part of 1864 by immense im-
migrations from the southern states. The results of
this infusion of secession sentiment may be easily im-
agined. The political complexion of the entire state
was changed and a disturbing element introduced into
society in general, making good government for the
time an impossibility. It is stated that in southern
Idaho it was all a man's life was worth to exoress
Union sentiments in a demonstrative way, and the
number of homicides in Boise county alone during 1864
is said by Bancroft to have exceeded twenty, "with
assaults and robberies a long list." To combat this dis-
loyal sentiment as much as lay in its power the district
court held in that county exacted of persons applying
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
to practice in it as attorneys that they subscribe to the
following oath : "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that
I will support and defend the constitution and govern-
ment of the United States against all enemies, whether
domestic or foreign ; that I will bear true faith, alle-
giance and loyalty to the same, any ordinance, resolu-
tion or law of any state or convention or legislature
to the contrary notwithstanding; and further that I
do this with a full determination, pledge and purpose,
without any mental reservation or evasion whatever;
and further, that I will well and truly perform all du-
ties which may be required of me by law, so help me
God."
But no oath could be required which would deprive
the citizens, however disloyal or unworthy, of political
rights. Just one Union man was elected to the legis-
lative assembly in the election of 1864. Soon the gov-
erning body of Idaho, being composed largely of men
at variance with the general government, and careless
of the responsibilities of their positions, entered upon
a career of infamy comparable only to the carpet-bag
governments which shortly afterward came into power
in the south. "The third session." a writer is quoted
as having said, "was by all good men, irrespective of
party, pronounced infamous, but this one (the fourth)
is satanic." The governors, acting under federal ap-
pointment, were, of course, loyal men, thoueh some of
them had nothing else to their credit. They could
and did veto bills at open variance with the constitu-
tion, the organic act or the plain interests of the people.
These were in general passed without the governor's
signature, but fortunately ran up against an insur-
mountable barrier in the United States Congress, which
had the power to nullify such acts of territorial legisla-
tures as failed to meet its approval.
Happily north Idaho was not distracted and torn
in any such manner by the inroads of an army of dis-
loyal people. That part of the territory had had its
era of bloodshed and anarchy. Now, however, the
ruffian elements had gone to the Boise basin, Montana
and elsewhere, stable local governments were being es-
tablished, the miners were busily engaged in garnering
the wealth of their claims and the entire community
was settling down to an era of quiet progress and the
evolution of a law-abiding, social esprit de corps. But
north Idaho was far from pleased with the doings of
its legislature. The act which most deeply incensed
the people of this section was that depriving Lewiston
of its proud prestige as the seat of government, which
act, approved December 7, 1864, title omitted, was
indited thus :
Be it enacted by the legislative assembly of
the territory of Idaho, as follows : That the capitol
of the territory of Idaho be and the same is hereby
permanently located at Boise City, in the county of
Boise and said territory of Idaho.
"Section 2. The capitol buildings are hereby lo-
cated on the grounds known in and described on the
plot of said Boise City, as the Capitol Square, and the
Honorables Caleb Lyon, C. B. White and J. M. Ken-
edy are hereby appointed as commissioners to receive
a deed to said Capitol Square, and such other grounds
as may be deemed necessary to hold in trust for the
Territory, for the purpose of erecting the capitol build-
ings aforesaid.
"Section 3. The Secretary of said Territory is
hereby authorized to immediately draw a warrant upon
the treasurer of the territory for such sum, not exceed-
ing the sum of two thousand dollars, as shall be neces-
sary to remove the papers, books, documents and other
property belonging to his office to said Boise City.
"Section 4. This Act shall take effect from and
after the twenty-fourth clay of December, A. D., 1864."
Naturally the measure above quoted was received
with great disfavor by the citizens of north Idaho in
general and those of Lewiston in particular. As is
customary in such cases the parties aggrieved by the
act of the legislature resorted to the courts, hoping
thereby to win their point. Referring to this litiga-
tion some years later, Alonzo Leland, through the col-
umns of his paper, The Teller, reviewed the case as
follows :
"The last part of the nth section of the organic
act of Idaho reads thus: 'And no expenditure shall
be made by said legislative assembly for objects in it
specially authorized by the acts of congress making the
appropriations nor beyond the sums thus appropriated
for such objects'. The whole of said section makes
provision for the expenses of our territorial govern-
ment, including the governor, secretary, judges, leg-
islative members, clerks and other officers, and all con-
tingent expenses including rents of buildings for the
meeting of the legislature and offices for other officers
of the United States, and these appropriations are
made upon estimates made by the secretary of the
treasury annually, and the legislative assembly cannot,
in the language of the act, expend money 'for objects
not speciallv authorized by acts of congress nor can
that body go beyond the sums thus appropriated for
such objects.'
"The organic act says that 'the legislative assembly
of the territory shall hold its first session at such time
and place in said territory as the governor shall ap-
point and direct.' Governor Wallace, by proclamation,
duly ordered that the first legislature convene at Lew-
iston, on the 7th day of December, 1863. They so con-
vened and held their session 60 days, and passed an act
providing that their next legislature should convene
on the second Monday in November, 1864. The or-
ganic act further savs 'and at said first session or as
soon thereafter as they deem expedient, the governor
and legislative assembly shall proceed to locate and es-
tablish the seat of government for said territory at
such place as they may deem eligible: provided, that
the seat of government fixed by the governor and leg-
islative assembly shall not he at any time changed ex-
cept by an act of the said assembly duly passed, and
which shall be approved after due notice, at the first
general election thereafter, by a majority of the legal
votes cast on that question.'
"At the first session an attempt was made to pass
an act to remove the seat of government, but the at-
tempt failed and the second legislature met at Lewis-
ton in November, 1864. During that session they es-
40
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
saved to pass an act permanently locating the capi-
tol of Idaho Territory at Boise City, and the governor
signed the bill, without making any provision for
submitting the question to the people for ratification,
and attempted to move the seal and archives, where-
upon a suit to enjoin the removal was brought on the
part of the people of the United States to restrain
them, and was heard in the district court, at the April
term of the court in 1865.
"Following is the bill of complaint filed in the
court :
The people of the United States of the Territory of
Idaho, per T. M. Pomeroy, relator, plaintiff, vs Caleb Lyon,
of Lyonsdale, governor of Idaho Territory, and S. D. Coch-
ran, acting secretary of Idaho Territory, or any person acting
in said capacity, defendants.
. In the District Court of the First Judicial District. Terri-
tory of Idaho, county of Nez Perce, A. C. Smith, presiding.
Complaint for injunction. Thomas M. Pomeroy. district at-
torney for the First Judicial District, of the Territory of
Idaho, having been duly sworn, in behalf of the people of said
territory, would respectfully show to the court:
That on the third day of March, A. D., 1863, the Con-
gress of the United States passed an act creating the terri-
tory of Idaho; subsequent to which creation said territory
was duly organized by the appointment of a governor, secre-
tary and other officers and on or about the 10th day of July,
A. D., 1863, said governor and secretary' arrived at Lewis-
ton in Raid territory and there temporarily located the seat
of government cf said territory, from which place the said
governor issued his proclamation for an election of members
of the Council and House of Representatives to convene at
said Lewiston on the 7th day of December, A. D., 1863, and
qualify and organize as the Legislative Assembly of said
territory.
In pursuance of said proclamation said election was held
and said legislators convened at Lewiston on the 7th day of
December aforesaid, and qualified as members of said as-
sembly and proceeded to the business of legislation for the
people of said territory. By the provisions of said act creat-
ing said territory of Idaho, the term of service of each mem-
ber of the legislative council was to continue two years, and
the term of service of each member of the House of Repre-
sentatives was to continue one year.
The said legislative assembly at said first session passed
an act in conformity with said organic act, creating sundry
offices for said territory among which were the offices of
councilmen and members of the House of Representatives
and limiting their term of service respectively to two and one
years. Said assembly further passed an act relative to elec-
tions providing lor the election of councilmen and members
of the House or Representatives on the first Monday in Sep-
tember annually, which act provides as follows:
"The term ot office of all officers elected shall begin on
the first Monday in January next ensuing, unless some other
express provision is made by law," Said assembly also passed
an act providing, as follows : "Hereafter the legislative as-
sembly of the territory shall convene on the second Monday
of November 01 each year, at the territorial capital, at the
hour of twelve o'clock M."
Congress during its session in 1863-64, passed an act
amendatory to the organic act creating Idaho territory, which
deferred the time of the annual election for the year 1864,
from the first Monday in September to the second Monday in
Octobei, without chancing the time at which the officers
elected should begin their term of office.
On said second Monday in November, the time fixed
for the meeting of the legislative assembly, sundry persons
claiming to have been elected as members of the House of
Representatives at the October election aforesaid, assembled
at Lewiston, aforesaid, and assumed to proceed to organize
as a House of Representatives for the territory of Idaho,
contrary to law and the statutes, and also to the rights of the
people of said territory.
Said House of Representatives further assumed to enact
laws to be in force and to govern the people of said terri-
tory, among which was an act purporting to permanently
locate and establish the seat of government at Boise City and
to appoint Caleb Lyon, a federal officer, a commissioner for
receiving and holding of deeds to grounds upon which the
capitol buildings are to be erected; authorizing the secretary
of the territory to draw a warrant upon the territorial treas-
urer for moneys to defray the expenses of the removal of the
territorial archives from Lewiston, aforesaid, to said Boise
City. Ail of which provisions are contrary to law and against
the rights and interests of the people of said territory.
This affiant is informed that the bill for said act of re-
moval has passed this illegal House of Representatives and
also the legislative council, and received the signature of
Caleb Lyon, of Lyonsdale, who claimed to act as the governor
of said territory.
This affiant is not informed that said Caleb Lyon, of
Lyonsdale, has ever filed his official oath in manner provided
by law, and further believes that no such oath has ever been
legally filed 01 recorded, so as to duly qualify him to approve
acts passed by the legislative assembly of said territory. This
affiant is informed and verily believes that Silas D. Cochran,
the acting secretary of said territory, or some person acting
in said capacity in conjunction with the said Caleb Lyon of
Lyonsdale, acting as governor, are about to remove the seal,
laws and archives of said territory; from Lewiston, the legal
place for their deposit, to said Boise City, contrary to law
and greatly to the damage of the people of said territory, and
this affiant further believes that said governor and secretary
will proceed to cause a great expenditure of the money of
the people of the territory of Idaho, consequent upon such
removal and location at Boise City, and the erection of capitol
buildings, greatly to the damage of said people, if not re-
strained by the interference of the courts.
This affiant is apprised of no other relief for the people
than to petition the court to issue a writ to restrain them,
the said governor and secretary, from the performance of
these illegal acts. .Therefore this affiant prays the court to
issue such writ forthwith and as in duty bound will ever
pray.
Thomas M. Pomeroy,
District Attorney 1st Judicial District, I. T.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 22d day of De-
cember, A. D., 1864.
John G. Berry.
Probate Judge.
"Upon the above complaint the court issued a tem-
porary injunction which was served upon Lyon and
Cochran, December 29, 1864. The defendants filed
what they claimed to be an answer, denying merely the
legal conclusions of the complaint without denying
any of the facts, except that which charged that the
governor assumed to exercise the functions of the
governor in singing the capital bill without having
taken and filed his oath as required by law. Mean-
time the governor fled from this part of the territory
in a small boat down the Snake river, under the pre-
tense of going duck hunting, and never since then has
he made his appearance in northern Idaho. Soon af-
terwards a new secretary was appointed from Wash-
ington and came to Lewiston. named C. DeWitt Smith,
upon whom the order of injunction was duly served.
He remained here some davs and after a while it be-
came known that he contemplated a violation of the
injunction, and upon affidavit showing these facts,
the court issued an order direct to the officer, command-
ing him to summon such force of citizens as he deemed
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
necessary to assist him in enforcing the order. Mean-
time, Smith, unbeknown to the officer, had proceeded
to the military garrison at Lapwai, and procured a de-
tachment of U. S. troops, armed under command of
Lieutenant S. R. Hammer, and with them approached
the town stealthily, via a dry slough of the river, and
not via the public road to the ferry, and when the civil
officer and his men approached to prevent Smith from
removing the seal, this military force with arms rushed
forward and prevented the civil officer from executing
the order and Smith, with the seal, laws and archives,
went upon the ferry boat, under the escort of this mil-
itary force, who continued their escort until they had
preceded into Washington Territory beyond the juris-
diction of the civil officer and thus Smith escaped.
The civil officer's return on the order was in the fol-
lowing language •
"Not served on account of defendants being es-
corted by an armed body of soldiers, commanded by
Lieutenant S. R. Hammer, who resisted the service.
J. K. Vincent.
Special Deputy U. S. Marshall.'
"It was afterwards teamed that Smith made his
appearance at Boise City with the seal, laws and arc-
hives of the territory, and there the territorial property
has remained ever since. At the April term of the
court, 1865, the case was heard at Lewiston, able coun-
sel appearing on both sides, and on the 17th of April
the temporary order of injunction was made perpetual.
"Judgment was entered as follows :
Lewiston, Monday, April 17, 1865.
"Court convened at 10 a. m., pursuant to adjourn-
ment. Present, Hon. A. C. Smith, presiding and E.
C. Mayhew, clerk ; proceedings of the previous day
read and approved.
"People of the United States of Territory of Idaho.
T. M. Pomeroy, relator, plaintiff, vs. Caleb Lyon and
S. D. Cochran, defendants. An action to restrain the
defendants from removing the seal and archives of the
Territory.
"T. M. Pomeroy, assisted by Anderson, Trayer and
Leland of counsel for the plaintiff, and T. M. Reed,
assisted by Samuel E. Darnes of counsel for defend-
ants.
"It is the decision of the court that the act perma-
nently locating the capitol of Idaho Territory at Boise
City is invalid, having been passed by an illegal and
unauthorized body. Therefore let judgment be entered
in accordance with the prayer of the complaint.
Alleck C. Smith,
Judge 1st Judicial District, Idaho Territory.'
"A similar judgment was entered against the ter-
ritorial treasurer from moving his office to Boise City,
and there both of these judgments stand on the rec-
ords to this day, unreversed by the supreme court of
the territory nor any other court having jurisdiction. In
defiance of this they moved the seal and archives by a
military fprce away from this part of the territory,
beyond the reach of the people of Lewiston and north
Idaho.
******
"From this decision the defendants filed a notice
of appeal on the 20th day of April to the supreme court
of the territory. That appeal was never heard and
determined in the supreme court, and we do not know
that the appeal was ever perfected, although we were
an attorney for the plaintiff in the case. We find no
report of the case in the supreme court reports. Where
is the capital by law ? Surely not at Boise City."
But whether the territorial capital was legally re-
moved to Boise City or not, the case has now been put
at rest forever by provision of the Enabling Act by
which the territory became a state. However, the
breach caused by this act of the legislature was many
years in healing, if, indeed, it has ever been fully healed.
It and the fact that natural barriers cut the territory into
two distinct divisions having little of common inter-
est to bind them together have resulted in the north
Idaho people's having striven for a full quarter of a
century with singular unanimity for political segrega-
tion from Idaho and union to Washington. The strug-
gle toward that end, taken up shortly after the removal
of the capital from Lewiston, was not given up until
Washington Territory's admission to statehood made
success hopeless and further effort useless.
The establishment of routes of travel incident to
the discovery of the mines continued almost without
abatement, judging by the number of licenses granted
during the legislative session of 1864. Charles W.
Frush and associates were licensed to establish a ferry
across the Pend Oreille or Clark's fork of the Co-
lumbia river at or near the point where the military
commission road crosses said river, but as far as we
know nothing was done under this franchise. John
Silcott was granted the right to establish a ferry across
the St. Joseph river, at or near the point where the
direct or main trail leading to the Coeur d'Alene mis-
sion crosses said river. S. A. Woodward and L. P.
Brown were licensed to construct and maintain a toll
road from Brown's Mountain House (where Mt. Idaho
now stands) in Nez Perces county, along the most di-
rect and practicable route to Florence, in Idaho county,
for a period of ten years. Charles Addis was granted
a ferry right across the Coeur d'Alene river at or near
the point where the trail to Coeur d'Alene mission
crossed said river. Thomas Kirkpatrick, George
Sears, A. P. Ankney, Alonzo Leland, James Tufts, S.
S. Slater, John Creighton, and George Zeigle were
granted the exclusive right and privilege of establish-
ing and maintaining a toll road from Elk City, Nez
Perces countv. along the most practicable route east-
ward to the western line of Montana Territory, the
grant to extend twenty years on certain fixed condi-
tions. This road never was anything but a trail. T.
B. Roberts, A. E. Ridles and J. T. Galbraith were li-
censed to operate a ferry on Kootenai river at a point
fifteen miles below Linklighter's station. Charles H.
Canfield was granted the right to operate a ferry across
the Pend Oreille or Clarke's Fork of the Columbia,
at a point about twelve miles above where military or
boundary commission road crossed said river. John
W. Hillin was licensed to operate a ferry across the
Spokane river at or near Indian crossing, and both
former and subsequent ligislatures were many times
42
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
called upon for similar franchises and privileges, show-
ing the rapidity with which the country was becoming
networked with routes of commerce and general trans-
portation.
Much of this, however, was stimulated by the dis-
covery in 1863 and 1864 of mines in the Kootenai
country of British Columbia, which drew away from
the mining districts of north Idaho a considerable por-
tion of this population. Indeed the miners were in
great readiness for some new excitment, for even then
some of the richest placer fields, especially in the Flor-
ence district, were giving premonitions of coming ex-
haustion. The mining rules prohibiting persons of
the Mongolian race from operating in the different
districts were beginnine to be but laxly enforced and
gradually the less valuable claims passed into the
hands of Chinamen. These conservative, patient op-
eratives were eventually, by an act of the legislature
approved January 11. 1866. permitted to work the
mines on payment of a license of five dollars per month
for the entire time they remained in the territory. Later
still other licenses were exacted.
The interest and excitment of the earliest mining
days were temporarily reviewed late in the summer of
1865 by the circulation in Lewiston and Walla Walla
of a rather strange report. It was stated that a man
named Wilson had discovered a new gold district in
northern Idaho, which promised to rival the cele-
brated Florence and Boise discoveries. While on a
wandering prospecting tour, so Dame Rumor stated,
he had stumbled into three auriferous basins in the
Coeur d'Alene region, each one equaling the Boise
district in extent. A stampede ensued forthwith.
Thousands hurried to the scene. Charles G. Kress, of
Lewiston, estimates that the number from Boise that
passed through that town must have aggregated be-
tween three and four thousand and that perhaps as
many more went into the region by other routes.
The gold seeking hordes made the Coeur d'Alene
mission their objective point, expecting to be led with-
out delay to the discovery. Wilson was hunted up.
He proved reticent at first and finally claimed that he
had forgotten the location of the diggings and was un-
able to find them. The disappointment and consterna-
tion of the expectant miners may well be imagined.
Chagrin soon gave place to anger, and Wilson's life was
threatened. He was eventually compelled to appeal to
the priest at the mission for protection and it was
through the intercession of the clergyman that he es-
caped lynching.
Meanwhile prospecting parties threaded the valleys
and canvons and climbed the impending hills, hoping
to find some return for their outlay and trouble. They
spread out widely over northern Idaho and into west-
ern Montana, in the latter of which regions rich dig-
gings were eventually struck. This induced much
travel through Lewiston, causing a decided improve-
ment in financial conditions for a time. The boom
lasted all that fall. Mr. Kress tells us incidentally of
a train of six camels which passed through town during
the excitement, enroute for Montana, certainly a novel
trading outfit in this part of terra firma.
During all these early years no attempt was made
at agriculture in the mining sections and no domestic
animals disputed with the elk and the deer for the
pasturage upon a thousand hills, except the herds of
Indian ponies on the reservation, the pack mules of
the trader and the few head of horses and mules need-
ful to the miner, the prospector and the primitive saw-
mill man. Occasionally, too, a herd of mutton sheep
or a band of beef cattle might be driven into the mines
on foot, designed for immediate slaughter upon arrival,
and these of course found sustenance while enroute on
the gratutious bounties of generous nature. In 1865
however, the Rice Brothers brought in a band of stock
sheep, and about the same time C. P. Coburn imported
one hundred and fifty head of cattle into northern Nez
Perces county. These he took out southeast of Lewis-
ton to what is known as the Junction House ranch.
A little later Captain Ankeny and his sons brought
in 500 neat cattle from Oregon.
About this time, also, Thomas Moore took up what
is now known as the Dowd ranch in Tammany hol-
low, but for years he used it to pasture horses, with-
out any attempt at cultivation. Another horse ranch
was taken possession of probably as early as 1865 by
Schissler & Siers, from whose brand the place came
to be named the "21" ranch. At the numerous sta-
tions along the route to the Kootenai mines there were
small settlements and portions of the land adjacent
were cultivated to furnish garden supplies. There
were doubtless other small attempts at agriculture
in different parts of north Idaho, but the industry was
slow in becoming established and when it was at last
found that farm products could be successfully raised,
progress was still slow for a time owing to the lack
of transportation, the danger of trouble with Indians
and other causes. Mr. Coburn thinks that Caldwell
& Hall, who took a farm at the top of the high Clear-
water bluff above Lewiston about, the year 1869, were
probablv the earliest wheat farmers in the Idaho part
of that great stretch of country now so famous for its
production of cereals.
But throughout the first decade at least the main
industry of the country was mining. After the richest
product of the placers had been exhausted with rocker
and sluice box. the hydraulic was brought into opera-
tion wherever possible, thus keeping up the annual out-
put to nearly its old proportions, though with a smaller
population and less excitement. No statistics of output
are vailable for the counties of northern Idaho, but the
estimates for the entire territory show an annual in-
crease until 1865, when the mines yielded nearly $13,-
000,000, then a decrease till 1869, which year is
credited with a production of $1,600,000. Thereafter
the mineral output increased slowly, reaching $3,600,-
000 in 1873. It dropped to about two millions in 1875,
then increased and decreased alternately until 1881,
when it jumped to nearly $5,000,000. The existence
of gold-bearing quartz in north Idaho was known to
the earliest miners and prospectors, but they paid no
attention to it, being without means to purchase ma-
chinery for its reduction or ways of transporting it to
the mines if thev had it. In 1868, however. Rescue
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
4 3
ledge on Warren creek and another just above it on
Slaughter creek were discovered. Judge Poe, Alonzo.
Leland and others became interested in the former
property. They built a small mill on it, while an east-
ern mining expert named Isenbeck, in company with
Godfrey Gamble, erected one on the Slaughter creek
ledge. Litigation soon took the Rescue property tem-
porarily out of the hands of its owners, and while thus
alienated it yielded considerable gold. Upon its re-
ei ivery by Poe, Leland and their partners, these men
succeeded in interesting eastern capital by which
means they were enabled to take the initial steps to-
ward installing a large stamp mill. Some of the ma-
chinery reached Mount Idaho, where it still remains
as a relic of an abandoned enterprise and a monument
to the inaccessibility of the Warren region.
The Isenbeck-Gamble Company eventually removed
its stamp mill to what was known as the W. B. Knott
mine, on Steamboat creek, but the mine failing to
yield as expected, the company was forced into bank-
ruptcy. Leland and Starr also had a small mill on a
branch of Steamboat creek, at the Hie Jacket mine,
which, however, never proved a property of any great
merit. The mill was afterward operated on the Res-
cue ledge. Another unsuccessful quartz mill was
erected on the Charity mine, four miles south of the
W. B. Knott ledge. But the richest quartz mine in the
Warren district was the Little Giant, on Smith's gulch,
about a mile from the town of Washington. It be-
longed to a man named George Riebold, who erected
a ten stamp mill on it, the product of which is supposed
to have aggregated fully $500,000. Quartz ledges
were known to exist also in almost all the old placer
camps, but their development was never undertaken
with energy until comparatively recent years.
Comparison between a census of Idaho Territory
taken in 1864 and the United States census of 1870
shows that the population of north Idaho counties
neither increased nor diminished materially during
the six years. The population of north Idaho accord-
ing to the former census was 2,634, but the enumera-
tion was no doubt very carelessly made.
"In 1870," says C. P. Coburn, who took the census
of Nez Perces county that year, "there were at Pal-
ouse bridge, about three miles east of the state line,
Frank and William Points, John Buchanan, and one
or two others. They had in a small crop when I passed
through. At the California ranch, east of Spokane,
and at the Spokane bridge, on the state line, I found
a few settlers farming in a small way. There were
probably a dozen men at the bridge settlement. On
Camas prairie were perhaps twenty-five or thirty set-
tlers besides those in Mount Idaho, which then con-
sisted of the hotel of Loyal P. Brown, Rudolph's gen-
eral store, a blacksmith shop and a few houses. It had
been founded by one Moses Milner, who in 1862, when
the Florence rush was at its height, conceived the
idea of establishing a station at the foot of the moun-
tain. Accordingly he cut a trail through from this
point to Florence, built a cabin and began advertis-
ing the route."
The year 1871 may be considered as the date of the
first decided advance in the agricultural development
of north Idaho. During the fall of that year the coun-
try around Moscow, the Paradise valley region, re-
ceived its first influx of settlers, and the remarkable
success which attended their efforts in all forms of ag-
riculture was a stimulus to further settlement. Almost
incredible are the stories told of the enormous size
of vegetable products and the yields per acre. Another
stimulus in the same direction was the rapid decline
of the placer output and still another the hope of rail-
road transportation for products in the near future, as
the Northern Pacific was known to be pushing west-
ward to the coast and was supposed to be about ready
to build across Idaho The northern counties in com-
mon with other parts of the great inland empire were
passing through a transition period, the middle ages of
the country, during which mining as the main pur-
suit was gjving place to agriculture. The period was
not without its manifold discouragements. Agricul-
tural products could not be packed out on the" backs
of mules, as was the gold dust of the 'sixties, and ade-
quate means of transportation were not at hand, neither
were they to arrive as soon as expected, for the slow-
ness of the Northern Pacific became proverbial. •
At this time it was fully believed by the residents
of north Idaho that the Northern Pacific Company
would build through the Lolo pass and down the Clear-
water to Lewiston, thence into the territory of Wash-
ington and beyond. It was pointed out by the news-
papers that the route was many miles shorter than that
via Pend Oreille lake and in the absence of surveys,
the pass was supposed to be lower than the alternative
pass, the Coeur d'Alene. Doubtless many people set-
tled in Nez Perces and Idaho counties in full confi-
dence that they would soon have a railroad, but in this
they were doomed to disappointment, for the road,
when at last it did come, chose the Pend Oreille
route.
An incident of the year 1872. well remembered by
old settlers throughout the entire inland empire, was
the earthquake shock of December 14th. The seismic
disturbance was very general, being felt at least over
all of eastern Oregon and Washington as well as in
north Idaho. The story of the shock as experienced
in Lewiston and vicinity was described by the Signal
as follows :
"On Saturday evening last, at twenty minutes past
ten o'clock, this region of country was visited by a
series of earthquake shocks. The first oscillation ap-
peared to be from west to east and was of about eight
seconds' duration. The first shock was followed by
a second, ten minutes later, but of much less force.
The violence of the first shock created considerable
alarm among those who had never experienced such a
thing before. Persons who were up at the time ran
into the streets, while those who had retired supposed
that a fierce and sudden gust of wind caused their
buildings to swav and rock. Clocks were stopped and
crockery and glassware caused to jingle. Frightened
chickens flew about as though possessed of the devil.
Dogs howled, cattle lowed, and all nature, animate and
inanimate, was much disturbed. From all we can
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
learn the greatest force of the shock followed the
streams, as those residing on the uplands felt it but
slightly. To the westward from here the vibration
seems to have been more severe than east of Camas
prairie. To the east of here, as far as Elk City, it was
felt very plainly — at Camas prairie more particularly
than elsewhere except at Reed's ferry, northeast of the
latter place, where the shock lasted two minutes and was
followed by two others of less duration and violence.
North of here, in the vicinity of Paradise valley, the
shock was so severe as to make everything fairly dance.
In this place and the immediate vicinity the force of
the shock was greater along the margins of the streams
than elsewhere. Along the water front of the town on
the Clearwater it was more severe than back near the
bluff."
Among the improvements of the year 1872 were
several in the mail service which had developed by
this time so as to be fairly adequate to the country's
needs. A daily mail was established between Lewiston
and Walla Walla and a contract was let to C. C. Huntly
to carry mail from the former town to Spokane Bridge.
Mail was also carried by the O. S. N. steamers be-
tween Lewiston and Snake river points. The Baird
Brothers were operating between Lewiston and Elk
City and the Capps Brothers ran a stage, express and
mail line from the former point to Pierce. The post-
offices established in Nez Perces, Idaho and Shoshone
counties at this time, with postmasters so far as known
were: In Nez Perces county — Lewiston, C. A.
Thatcher: Fort Lapwai, D. C. Kelly; Mount Idaho,
L. P. Brown ; Elk City, C. Collins ; in Idaho county —
White, Bird, ; Slate Creek (Freedom post of-
fice), Barman; John Day creek, ; Florence,
W. H. Rhett ; Washington, C. A. Sears ; in Shoshone
county ; Pierce City, I. B. Cowen.
The vear 1873 was a rather unpropitious one in
north Idaho as elsewhere in the northwest. This, it
will be remembered, was a year of panic and distress
the United States over and besides the general causes
of stringency there were special causes in this portion
of Idaho Territory. The decline of the mines had de-
prived the country not alone of its abundant supply of
money but of its excellent local market for farm pro-
ducts ; the means of transportation at hand were in-
adequate and unbearably expensive, and the' excellent
crops harvested in the fall of 1872, the normal increase
of cattle, sheep and horses and the many other favor-
able conditions were unavailing when a market for
produce was not to be had. Nevertheless the acreage
cultivated during this year was estimated as being six
times as great as that of the preceding twelvemonth.
The number of bushels garnered from each acre was
prodigious, and the singular anomaly was presented of
the occurrence together of abundant harvests and hard
times.
The year 1874 brought no amelioration of condi-
tions, but rather an augmentation of the distress, and
during the following twelvemonth affairs in north
Idaho reached a very low ebb. In 1876, notwithstand-
ing the fact that the Northern Pacific railroad was
still many miles away and the transportation problem
was in statu quo, there was some improvement in the
outlook. Three small mining camps came into exis-
tence during the year, all of which were very prosper-
.ous and thriving when winter came. Two of these
were on the north fork of the Clearwater and the third
at Marshall lake. Crops still continued abundant, and
the enormous yield of wheat and other grains proved
what the country might become if it were only sup-
plied with means of transportating its products to the
markets of the world.
The winter of 1874-5 was so severe that thousands
of head of cattle perished, bankrupting several
stockmen.
Hardly had the sky begun to clear of financial
clouds than it was suddenly overcast with the shad-
ows of approaching conflict, and before north Idaho
was to emerge from the darkness of its medieval days,
it was fated to be baptized with a baptism of fire.
CHAPTER III.
THE NEZ PERCE INDIAN WAR.
When the indomitable Anglo-Saxon race began
following the course of destiny to the westward the
doom of the thriftless aboriginal peoples was sealed.
The time had arrived in the progress of the world
when the dusky, nomadic savage had become a cum-
berer of the soil. The day of a grander development
for this vast, prodigious west, teeming with the crude
elements of wealth production, had at last dawned.
The night of savagery was over. The red man must
himself become a factor in pushing forward the car
of progress or be crushed beneath its wheels. Poor
child of the darkness and the night! Without know-
ing it he was face to face with the harshest, most in-
excrable law of life, the law of the survival of the fif-
test. No longer could he worship the Great Spirit in
his own blind way; no longer could he roam at will
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
45
over the bosom of his much loved mother earth; he
must lay aside at once his ancestral habits and adopt
those of another and superior race or he must perish
and perish miserably.
Had the Indians tried the plan of adopting the
white man's customs hardly would it have been pos-
sible for them to effect with sufficient alacrity a change
so radical, to measure up to the required standard in
time to save themselves from destruction in accord-
ance with the mandates of natural law, but they did
not try. They chose rather to set themselves in oppo-
sition to manifest destiny and the result is that their
race is hopelessly doomed. This contest with fate
furnishes many of the saddest chapters in the history
of our country. It could have but one issue. Even
the Indian could hardly fail to foresee its outcome,
but it is not in human nature to yield the field with-
out a struggle. The red men fought valiantly and long.
They fought with a bitterness almost amounting to
frenzy, and with the courage of despair, but they
fought in a hopeless conflict and the heel of the con-
queror is upon their necks.
It is the purpose of this chapter to chronicle one of
the last, fierce struggles in that long continued race
war by which the soil of the new world was wrested
from the hands of its aboriginal possessors. The ani-
mosities growing out of former contests furnished the
venom with which to poison the shaft of both whites
and reds, but the causes of the war of 1877 have their
roots deep in the incapacity of our government officials
to understand Indian character and to deal with it in
a sensible business like manner. When in 1855 Gov-
ernor I. I. Stevens for Washington and Joel Palmer
for Oregon negotiated their treaty with the Indians
by which the latter disposed of a vast area of land to
the United States, making certain reservations as
homes for themselves, old Chief Joseph insisted that
Wallowa valley should form a part of the reservation
for the Nez Perces tribe. This beautiful valley had been
used by him and his followers for years as a species of
summer resort. On account of its beauty, grass, fish,
game, various roots, camas, etc., or for some other
causes, it occupied a warm place in the savage heart
of this old veteran brave and had not the white nego-
tiators agreed that it should form a part of the reserve
their efforts to treat with the Indians would undoubt-
edly have ended in failure and the great benefits ac-
cruing to the whites from the treaty would have been
lost, at least for the time being. As a matter of fact,
Joseph, Three-Feathers, White Bird, Big Thunder,
Looking Glass and others of the Nez Perces chiefs
signed the treaty without being fully aware just what
lands they were resigning their claim to, so the Indians
aver, and when it was found that the Wallowa country
was included in these lands an outbreak was imminent
forthwith. However, the Indians were pacified by
Stevens and Palmer, who promised that the Wallowa
country should be reserved and the matter was set-
tled for the time being.
While the Wallowa valley was, therefore, through
the importunity of Joseph, made a part of the Nez
Perces reservation and consequently the property of the
whole tribe, it was understood both by the Indians and
the white representatives of the government to belong
especially to Joseph and his band. Legally the Wal-
lowa was undoubtedly the property of the Nez Perces ;
equitably it was Joseph's. Herein lay the cause of the
whole difficulty.
In 1863 an amendatory treaty was negotiated with
the Nez Perces by which the Wallowa valley, with
other territory, was surrendered to the United States
government. Joseph was present at the council in
which this action was taken, but he positively refused
to sign the treaty and never acknowledged its valid-
ity. He continued his annual visits to the Wallowa
until his death, impressing upon the mind of his sons
and his followers that the valley was theirs and that they
should hold it at all costs as a home for themselves and
their children. The grave of old Joseph is in this val-
ley, a circumstance which renders the spot hallowed in
the minds of those allied to him by kinship or other
ties. Meanwhile the United States government con-
firmed the treaty negotiated by its commissioners and
naturally assumed that the valley was a part of the
public domain. The seeds of trouble were sown but
they did not bear fruit until some years later.
In due time the Wallowa valley was thrown open
to settlement. In 1871 James Tulley entered it in
search of range for stock. The next year he and his
brother drove in a herd of three hundred head. James
A. Masterson came also, and these three pioneers
formed the entering wedge of white occupancy of the
Wallowa. They saw Indians occasionally during the
summer, but beyond making signs of displeasure at the
presence of the whites, the Indians offered no resist-
ance to their operations. Early that fall, however, the
red men unequivocally expressed their displeasure at
the encroachment of the whites in a council between
themselves, numbering forty or fifty, and as many
settlers. The council convened August 14th pursuant
to a written call emanating from Indian sources. It
seems to have been conducted in a friendlv spirit,
nevertheless the Indians were imperative in their as-
sertions of right to the Wallowa valley and the whites
were equally positive in refusing to withdraw from
lands on which they had settled by permission of their
government. The council broke up with nothing defi-
nite accomplished save that the whites sent two men
to consult the Tndian agent at Lapwai regarding the
matter, who were to report at a future council.
In the spring of 1875 the ' residents, not alone of
the Wallowa country but of the Grande Ronde valley
and of eastern Oregon generally, were greatly incensed
by an order of the department of the interior looking
toward the removal of the whites from the disputed
territory and the establishment of the Indians therein.
The substance of this obnoxious order is contained in
a letter to superintendent Odeneal, which we reproduce
as follows :
Department of the Interior,
Office Indian Affairs,
April 30. 1873.
Sir : — Your communication of the 7th inst., and the re-
port dated the 4th inst. of yourself and Agent Monteith re-
46
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
lative to the band of Indians in the Wallowa valley, Oregon,
were submitted to the Honorable Secretary of the Interior
on the 25th inst.
Under date of the 28th inst, the Honorable Secretary
returned the same and adopted without modification the sug-
gestions and recommendation? of this office, viz :
"That the band of Indians referred to be permitted to
remain in said valley and occupy it during the summer and
autumn or for such time as the weather is suitable according
to a previous custom and that assurance be given them that
it is not the intention of the department to disturb them so
long as they remain quiet and permit no depredations upon
white settlers."
The Hon. Secretary therefore directs that a proper des-
scription 01 the said valley be obtained for the purpose of an
executive order setting apart this valley for the use of the
said Indians and that white settlers be advised that they are
prohibited from entering or settling in said valley.
He also authorizes an appraisement to be made of the
value of the improvements of said settlers in the Wallowa
valley in ordci that Congress may be asked at its session for
an appropriation sufficient to pay for said improvements at
their appraised value in order that the claims of the settlers
may be extinguished.
You will therefore proceed to carry out the instructions
of the Hon. Secretary of the Interior as above indicated, and
for this purpose you will cause an appraisement of the im-
provements referred to to be made by two or more disinter-
ested and competent persons, whose report shall be prepared
in tabular form and submitted to you through this office.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
H. R. Clum, Act. Comm.
To T. B. Odeneal,
Sup't Indian Affairs,
Salem, Oregon.
To further enforce the order, letters were sent out
to the surveyor general and to the register and receiver
of the United States land office at La Grande.
Some of the comments upon this action of the inte-
rior department were revolutionary in the extreme, and
go to prove that the sentiment of patriotism is not so
deeplv seated in most men's minds but that it may be
quickly crushed out when the power of the government
seems to have been turned against their individual inter-
est. There was much excuse for chagrin and disap-
pointment among the pioneer settlers of the Wallowa
valley. Many of them had made considerable sacrifices
in locating within its borders, not supposing that there
would be any danger incurred in so doing, as they were
under the protection of a wise and just government.
They felt that to be compelled to sell their homes for a
sum fixed by appraisers, relinquish their prospects of
future gain, pull up stakes and set out again in search
of the natural means of winning a livelihood, all for the
sake of a few shiftless, nomadic Indians, was an almost
unendurable wrong. Some of them boldly declared that
they would defend their rights in the Wallowa ^valley
"against the savages or any other corrupt power."
The interior department was clearly in a dilemma.
It could not denv the justice of Joseph's contention, for
his right to the Wallowa certainly had never been ex-
tinguished in fairness and equity, though it had legally
passed to the United States. On the other hand the de-
partment could not return the land to the Indians with-
out doing a palpable injustice to white settlers who had
invaded the valley and built homes there, planting the
seed of civilization and progress, and all by invitation
of the government. The horn which it chose at first is
indicated by the department instructions in the letter
above quoted.
The immediate settlers in the Wallowa valley and
even their neighbors in other parts of eastern Oregon
were not the only ones who took an interest in the \\ al-
lowa matter. The people of western Oregon watched
its development with interest, and the governor of the
state went so far as to address a letter to the secretary
of the interior, which is so clear an exposition of the
whole subject from the settlers' standpoint that we feel
constrained to quote it. It reads :
State of Oregon, Executive Office,
Salem. July 21, 1873-
Hon. Columbus Delano,
Secretary of the Interior.
Sir : — I beg leave to call your attention to a very grave
and important question now pending before your department
touching the subject of vacating the Wallowa valley in Union
county, Oregon, for the purpose of securing the same to
Joseph's band of Nez Perces Indians and to submit the follow-
ing views thereon for your consideration :
On and prior to the nth day of June 1855, the Nez Ferces
tribe of Indians occupied lands lying partly in Oregon and
partly in Washington territory between the Cascade and Bit-
ter Root mountains. On said nth day of June. 1855, the said
tribe by their chief, head men and delegates, numbering fifty-
eight officials, made and concluded a treaty of peace and
boundaries with the United States. Isaac 1. Stevens acting
on behalf of the United States for Washington territory and
Joel Palmer for Oregon. By said treaty the Nez Perces
ceded and relinquished to the United States all their rights,
title and interest in and to all territory before that time
claimed and occupied by them except a certain tract de-
scribed therein, specifically reserved from the ceded lands,
as a general reservation, for the use and occupancy of said
tribe, and for friendly tribes and bands of Indians in Wash-
ington territory. 1 his general reservation embraced lands
lying in part in Oregon, including Wallowa (Woll-low-how)
valley.
On the qth day of June. 1863, a supplementary and
amendatory treaty was concluded between the said Nez
Perces tribe and the United States, the former being repre-
sented by fifty-one chiefs, head men and delegates, and the
latter by Calvin H. Hale. Charles Hutcbins and S. D. Howe
as commissioners specifically delegated.
By the latter treaty the Nez Perces tribe agreed to re-
linquish and did relinquish to the United States all the lands
reserved by the treaty of 1855 excepting a certain specified;
tract designated as a "home and for the sole use and occu-
pancy of said tribe." By this amendatory treaty the Nez
Perces tribe relinquished to the United States all the territory
embraced in the reservation created by the treaty of 1855,
which iay within the boundaries of the state of Oregon, in-
cluding the said Wallowa valley; so that on and after said
9th of June, 1863, the Nez Perces* tribe did not lawfully hold or
occupy any land within the state of Oregon. Joseph's band of
Nez Perces Indians were in the treaty council of 1855 and
Joseph signed the treaty. Their action recognized the tribal
resolutions of their band and bound all the persons and terri-
tory described therein. The reservation named became the
common property of the whole tribe. Joseph and his band
acknowledged these conclusions also by accepting the benefits
of the treaty of 1855. But Joseph refused to acknowledge the
treaty of 186^ while a large majority of the chiefs and head
men of the Nez Perce* tribe signed the same Joseph died
in 1871 and In- sons claim the land which was relinquished
to the United States mi 1863. including Wallowa valley. This
claim is based on the idea tint the band which they represent
were not bound by the treaty of 1863.
The United States had established the policy of treating
with the Indians as tribes and nations. This policy was
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
47
based on the necessary' fact that organized action by the tribe
or nation binds the whole body .mil all of its members. The
treaty of 186.5 is the organized action of the Nez Perce tribe,
in relation to land in which the whol; tribe had a common
interest. If the government
out of more than fifty joined
signature or absenting himsi
treaty, the policy of making
but few treaties would be hi
ill adm
i.-it
sub-chief,
fusing his
defeat the operation of the
:ies would be valueless and
g. For there exists hardly
a treaty with Indians west of the Rocky mountains 111 which
all of the sub-chiefs and head men joined, and against which
they have not positively protested. If we draw our con-
clusions from the former practice of the government or from
assimilated cases of foreign treaties, it must be admitted that
the treaty of 1863 bound all the Nez Perces and extinguished
the Indian title to all lands previously occupied by that tribe
lying within the state of Oregon.
Acting upon this conclusion by order of the general land
office, bearing date May 28. 1867, the public lands in Wallowa
valley and vicinity were directed to be surveyed and opened
for settlement. The surveys mad- under this order amounted
to eleven townships, which were approved May 9, 1868. From
time to time since that period, citizens of this state have be-
come settlers upon these lands to such an extent, as I am
informed, 'hat eighty-seven farms have been located and pre-
emption and homestead claims have been filed thereto in the
United States land office at La Grande.
Upon this statement of facts, I urge that the Indian title
to the land occupied by these settlers has been doubly ex-
tinguished: first by treaty and second by force of law. As
the Indians have only a right of occupancy and the United
States have the legal title, subject to occupancy, and an abso-
lute and exclusive right to extinguish the Indian title of
occupancy, either by purchase, conquest, or by legal enact-
ment, it would follow that it the treaty of 1863 did not com-
pletely extinguish the Indian title to the lands in question the
acts of the government in surveying the Wallowa valley and
opening the same for settlement and the consequent occu-
pancy of the same by settlers under the provisions of the
several acts of congress affecting such lands, and the recogni-
tion of these claims by the local land office of the United
States, would work a complete extinguishment of the Indian
title by operation of law. as far as the occupied lands are con-
cerned.
There are other chiefs and head men of the Nez Perces
who did not sign the treaty of 186,3 and who have refused
and still do refuse to acknowledge its binding force.. If the
government shall in this instance accede to the demand of
Joseph's band and create a new reservation for them, or
shall admit in their favor the nullity of the treaty of 1863,
as far as they are concerned, a score of like demands from
other discontented bands connected with other neighboring
tribes raider treaties negotiated in a similar way,, will be
immediately pressed upon the attention of the Indian bureau.
I am thoroughly persuaded that if the proposed surrender
of the Wallowa valley and the adjacent region to these In-
dians be now consummated as now demanded, the measure,
if it works as a special pacification in this instance, will
cause a general dissatisfaction, not only with the Nez Perces,
but with all neighboring tribes living under treaty relations,
and this character of work will have to be entered upon and
carried out as to all.
The declaration as made by congress March 3, 1871, that
"hereafter no Indian nation or tribe within the territory of
the United States shall be acknowdedged or recognized as
an independent nation, tribe, or power, with whom the United
States may contract by treaty," appears to me to relieve the
department from entangling itself with an effort to reform
past treaties, as such, and to leave the Indian office unembar-
rassed to adopt such policy as will subserve the best interests
of both whites and Indians, without submitting its judgment
to the caprices of untutored savages.
In addition to wdiat I have urged against re-establishing
any part of the Nez Perces Indians in Oregon on grounds
growing out of this particular case, I would respectfully press
upon vonr consideration the general policy of the govern-
ment heretofore steadily pursued, of removing, as expedi-
tiously as circumstances would permit of, all Indians from
the confiines of the new states in order to give them the
opportunity of early settlement and development and to make
way for civilization. This state has already much of its best
soil withheld from being occupied by an industrial population
in favor of Indians.
The region of country in eastern Oregon not now settled,
and to which the Wallowa valley is the key, is greater in area
than the state of Massachusetts. If this section of our state,
which is now occupied by enterprising white families, should
be remanded to its aboriginal character, and the families
should be removed to make roaming ground for nomadic
savages, a very serious check will have been given to the
growth of our frontier settlements, and to the spirit of our
frontier people in their effort to redeem the wilderness and
make it fruitful of civilized life.
There is abundant room for Joseph's band on the present
Nez Perces reservation and the tribe desires to have this band
observe the treaty of 1863. I learn that young Joseph does
not object to going on the reservation at this time, but that
certain leading spirits of his band do object, for the reason
that by so doing they would have to abandon some of their
nomadic habits and haunts. The very objection which they
make is a strong reason why they should be required to do
so; for no beneficial influence can be exerted by agents and
missionaries among the Indians while thev maintain their
aboriginal habits. JOSEPH'S BAND DO" NOT DESIRE
WALLOWA VALLEY FOR A RESERVATION AND
FOR A HOME. 1 understand that they will not accept it
on condition that they shall occupy it as such. The reason
of this is obvious: they can have better land and a more con-
genial climate at a location winch ha- been tendered them
upon the Nez Perces reservation Ibis small band wish the
possession of this large section of Oregon simply for room
to gratify a wild, roaming disposition and not for a home.
There are but seventy-two warriors in this band. The
wdiite settlers in the Wallowa country number eighty-seven.
There are also in the Wallowa valley two incorporated com-
panies, the Wallowa Road and Bridge Company and the
Prairie Creek Ditch Company. The improvements of these
settlers and companies have been assessed, as I am informed,
by commissioners appointed under direction of your depart-
ment, to amount to sixty-seven thousand, eight hundred and
sixty dollars.
Considering that the demand of Joseph's band was made
during the period of the apparently successful resistance of
the Modoc outlaws against the treaty stipulation with the
Klamaths, and that now the Modocs are subdued, it will
doubtless be much less expensive to the government, and
much more consistent with its general Indian policy, to in-
duce Joseph's band by peaceful means to make their homes
on the Nez Perces reservation, than to purchase the right of
white citizens now in the Wallowa valley. The people of this
state have uniformly recognized the boundaries of legally
defined Indian reservations, and have abstained from attempt-
ing fo establish settlements thereon. In all instances of
various difficulties between settlers and Indians on our
frontier since the reservation system has been extended to
Oregon, hostilities have resulted rather from the Indians re-
fusing to confine themselves to their treaty limits than from
any attempt of the settlers to encroach upon reservations.
This was the case with the Yakimas in 1855. who killed three
miners outside of their treaty limits, and then murdered
Indian Agent Bolon, who visited them to remonstrate against
their perfidy. This was the case last autumn with the Modocs
and is now the case with Joseph's band in the light in which
the treaty of 1863 has heretofore been held by the general
government and by the people of Oregon.
I believe that facts will sustain me in saying that at all
times and under all circumstances our frontier settlers have
been as well disposed toward the Indians, and as moderate
and forbearing as those of any other frontier and as much
so as the people of any other state would have been under
the circumstances.
Urgently pressing upon your careful consideration the
4S
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
peculiar features of this subject and on behalf of the interests
of this state and of the settlers in the Wallowa valley and
the vicinity asking that the preliminary steps taken for the
vacation of said valley for the purpose of creating a reser-
vation for Indians may be rescinded, I have the honor to be
Your obedient servant,
L. F. Grover,
Governor of Oregon.
The reasoning of Governor Grover in the above
communication is certainly sound in everything ex-
cept that it seems to overlook what we believe to be
a fact of history that, in the treaty of 1855 the Wallowa
valley was understood by both Indians and whites to
be reserved especially for the use of old Joseph and
his band. Joseph's assent to the treaty was certainly
given with that understanding, and while technically
and as a matter of strict legal construction, the Wal-
lowa was, under the treaty of 1855, the property of
the whole Nez Perces tribe, the other chiefs of the
Nez Perces seem to have taken no real interest in it.
When the opportunity presented itself to sell to the
United States what had never really been claimed by
them why should they not embrace it? They would
have given it up without protest in 1855 anyway.
Why not sell Joseph's property when they had a
chance to do so and receive a full portion of the price
to themselves? Even white men are not always above
taking advantage of their legal rights and privileges,
though the letter of the law may chance to give them
what equity and abstract justice would deny. From
Joseph's point of view the chiefs sold to the United
States what was his and not theirs, and we can hardly
blame him if his untutored mind failed to grasp all
the legal aspects of the case, and he saw only through
the eye of his innate sense of right.
It should be emphasized, however, that the pioneer
settlers of the Wallowa were in no wise to blame in
this matter. Attempts on the part of United States
officers to make them responsible in any measure for
the troubles which arose are utterly indefensible, as
were also those made at a later date to throw the
blame for the outbreak of the Nez Perces war upon
certain citizens of north Idaho. When lands were
surveyed and offered for homestead and preemption
location, the would-be settler is not supposed to go
back to history in order to determine whether the
government has a right to do as it has done. He
should and does trust to the integrity and honor of his
country for that. The first settlers of the Wallowa de-
serve the same credit which is usually accorded to
those who in spite of danger and hardships carry the
seeds of civilization into the heart of the wilderness,
there to plant and nurture them until they grow to
full maturity.
Influenced no doubt by some such consideration as
those we have been alluding to, the department of the
interior made an abortive attempt to secure the vacation
of the Wallowa on the part of the whites and the re-
instating of Joseph. It was a serious blunder. If a
wrong was done to Joseph in the negotiations of 1863
it could not be remedied without an equally great, per-
haps a greater, wrong to the white settlers, in 1873.
The attempt to do so was fortunately not carried to
completion.
In the spring of 1874 the Indian bureau determined
to abandon its plan of attempting to establish an
Indian reservation in northeastern Oregon. The
letter which conveyed definite information of this
change of policy to the people of the west was indited
as follows :
U. S. Senate Chamber,
Washington, May iS, 1874.
Hon. James H. Slater.
Dear Sir : I have recently received letters from our cit-
izens of Union county inquiring what the Indian department
was going to do in regard to the reservation of the Wallowa
valley for Joseph's band of Nez Perces Indians ; and whether
the sums of money awarded to settlers in that valley for
their improvements there would be paid. I have answered
these letters, but as the subject is one of general interest to
the whole people of eastern Oregon, I deem it proper to write
you, so that you may give publicity to the views of the In-
dian department on the subject.
Some time ago I had a conversation with lion. E. P.
Smith, the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, on this matter
and urged upon him the propriety of rescinding his order
setting apart Wallowa valley as an Indian reservation for
Joseph's band of Nez Perces. He then said that probably this
would be done, and the matter might remain there until
further notice. On Saturday last I again had an interview
and explained how important it was for those in the valley
and others who intended going there that it be determined
at once either to rescind the order establishing this reserva-
tion or make it known that it would be adhered to, so that
that the settlers might govern their movements accordingly.
The commissioner then assured me that nothing more would'
be done toward establishing a reservation there, and that
the settlers in the Wallowa valley would not be molested in
any way by the Indian department. Of course the whole
valley is now open to settlement by the whole people. In the
conversation referred to, the commissioner said that having
come to the conclusion to amend the order establishing the
leservation. he would not ask Congress to make an appro-
priation to pay the sums of money awarded to the settlers
some two years ago for their improvements made on lands
within the 'boundaries of the intended reservation.
I congratulate the people of Union county on the settle-
ment of this perplexing controversy and hope no disturbance
will hereafter take place with the roving bands of Indians
who caused all the trouble and annoyance which have taken
place in regard to that vallev.
Very truly yours,
James K. Kelly.
Important as this determination of the matter was
to the whites, it wrought no radical change in the
attitude of the Indians. Indeed, as General Howard
unequivocally states, the real contention of Joseph and
other malcontents, the prime cause of all the difficulty,
was rebellion against submission to the United States
government or any of its officers. It was summed up
laconically in Toohulhulsote's insolent query, "Who
gave Washington rule over me ?" Denying as they did
the jurisdiction of the United States, the Indians were
not likely to pay any great heed to the order opening
again to settlement the Wallawo valley. They con-
tinued their summer wanderings over its broad acres
and exercised freely the prerogative claimed by them
of going when and where they pleased. But aside
from bickerings and threat and pow wows, creating
«&3fefl
Original Cabin of Richard Divine, the First Victim of the Indians, Killed June 13, 1877.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
49
uncertainty and dread in the minds of all white resi-
dents in and contiguous to Wallowa valley, no hostile
movements were made by the Indians until the sum-
mer of 1876. The immediate cause of this disturbance
was a personal conflict between two white men, A.
B. Findley and Wells McNall, on the one side, and
non-treaty Indians on the other. The white men were
hunting some lost horses which they believed the
Indians had stolen. Locating an Indian camp they
proceeded to search the vicinity for the horses. The
Indians became angered ; an altercation arose, and one
Indian engaged in a hand-to-hand encounter with Mc-
Nall, attempting to take his gun from him. McNall
called to Findlev to shoot the Indian, which was done,
the redskin being killed instantly. Both white men
submitted to trial at Union and were acquitted, but
the Indians were not satisfied and demanded their sur-
render that they might be tried by Indian law. This
was denied of course and Joseph ordered the whites
to leave the valley within a specified time, upon pain
of being driven out in case they failed to go peacefully.
The whites appealed to their neighbors for help.
Citizens of Union and other towns responded promptly
and arrived at the McNall ranch in middle Wallowa
vallev at three o'clock in the afternoon of the day
preceding that upon which Joseph was to begin
operations in case the valley should not be vacated by
the whites.
Inasmuch .as the volunteers numbered only about
forty it was determined to make no attack upon the
Indians, but simply to prepare for defense. Lieu-
tenant Henry Rinehart was, however, ordered to
march with fifteen men to the upper valley fur the
purpose of assisting the settlers there in case of attack.
Rinehart and his command, escorting a number of set-
tlers and their families returned about twelve o'clock
that night and about two o'clock next morning. Lieu-
tenant Forse from Walla Walla arrived with forty-
eight regulars, having made a forced march to reach
the scene in time to avert or participate in the expected
hostilities. Next day the soldiers and volunteers were
marched to the upper valley. Forse found the Indians
on the summit of a hill near the Wallowa lake, all of
them divested of superfluous clothing, decked in war
paint, well armed and mounted, drawn up in battle
array and prepared generally for warfare. Forse
made certain demands upon them, chiefly to the effect
that they should remain on the opposite side of Hurri-
cane creek from the whites and abstain from depre-
dations. Joseph yielded a ready compliance ; his fol-
lowers washed off their paint and sweet peace con-
tinued to reign in the beautiful Wallowa valley.
In November, 1876. in accordance with the recom-
mendations of General Howard, a commision was sent
to Lapwai for the purpose of endeavoring to adjust
matters with Joseph, his brother Ollicut, and all other
disaffected non-treaty Indians. The arguments of the
commissioners in their endeavor to induce the Indians
to settle permanently upon some reservation were met
by the old superstitious doctrines of the Dreamers, who
taught "that the earth being created by God complete,
should not be disturbed by man, and that any culti-
vation of the soil, or other improvements, to interfere
with its natural production, — any improvements in the
way of schools, churches, etc. — are crimes from which
they shrink."
"This fanaticism," continued Howard, "is kept up
by the superstition of these 'dreamers', who industri-
ously teach that if they continue steadfast in their
present belief a leader will be raised up in the east
who will restore all the dead Indians to life, who will
unite with them in expelling the whites from their
country, when they will again enter upon and repossess
the lands of their ancestors.
"Influenced by such a belief, Joseph and his band
firmly declined to enter into any negotiations, or make
any arrangements that looked to a final settlement of
the questions pending between them and the govern-
ment. While the commission gave all due respect to
the precedents and authorities in the government deal-
ings with the Indians, and to the decisions of the
supreme court of the United States, which recognizes
an undefined right of occupancy by Indians to large
sections of the country, yet in view of the fact that these
Indians do not claim simply this, but set up an absolute
title to the land, an absolute and independent sover-
eignty, and refuse even to be limited in their claim
and control, necessity, humanity and good sense con-
strain the government to set metes and bound'-, and
give regulations to these non-treaty Indians. *
And if the principle usually applied by the govern-
ment, of holding that the Indians with whom they have
treaties are bound by the majority, is here applied,
Joseph should be required to live within the limits of
the present reservation. * * *
"If these Indians overrun lands belonging to the
whites, and commit depredations on their property,
disturb the peace by threats or otherwise, or commit
any other overt acts of hostility, we recommend the
employment of sufficient force to bring them into sub-
jection, and to place them upon the Nez Perces reser-
vation. The Indian agent at Lapwai should be fully
instructed to carry into execution these suggestions,
relying at all times upon the department commander
for aid when necessary."
With unusual promptness the government early in
January, 1877, issued orders to Indian Agent J. B.
Monteith to carry out the recommendations of the
commission. Howard was directed to occupy the
Wallowa valley and co-operate with the agent. That
officer was sending friendly Nez Perces to Joseph,
striving vainly to induce him to do what he had plainly
told the commission he would not do, come upon the
Xez Perce reservation. Joseph was interpreting all
his friendly overtures as signs of weakness, and
seemingly was becoming more and more established
in his determination to yield no whit of his freedom
but strengthening his own hands by effecting under-
standings with other disaffected Indians.
In a conference with General Howard at Walla
Walla, April 20, 1877, Ollicut arranged a council to
meet at Lapwai in twelve days, in which the demands
of the government and the position of the Indians were
to be fullv set forth. Howard was there per appoint-
5»
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
merit. On the 3d of May the first talk was held at
Fort Lapwai, Agent Monteith, P. B. Whitman, official
interpreter, Joseph, Ollicut and about fifty of Joseph's
band being present. Two days of council, during
which the demand of the government that the Indians
go upon some reservation was unequivocally and em-
phatically made, then a recess until May 7th. Mean-
while there are many accessions to the numbers of the
red men from all directions. On the 7th a somewhat
stormy council is held in which Toohulhulsote be-
comes insolent, refuses to go upon the reservation and
is arrested by Howard. "My conduct," says the gen-
eral, "was summary, it is true, but I knew it was
hopeless to get the Indians to agree to anything so
long as they could keep this old dreamer on the lead
and defy the agents of the government, and I believe
that the Modoc massacre would very soon be repeated
if I gave time for concert of action. In fact, in deal-
ing with Indians, my conviction is strong that the
true policy is to demand obedience to the requirements
of the government of the United States. The crisis
had come, when either this demand must be made, or
these wild Indians be allowed all the latitude and
leisure that their hearts desired."
When Toohulhulsote's evil influence was gone the
Indians readily agreed to go next day to examine the
Lapwai valley, and later the Clearwater country to
see how they would like them for homes. They did so,
giving all the time evidences of benevolent intentions.
Soon word came that they had determined to go upon
the reserve, they even designating what parts each band
desired. On May 14th all came together again at Lap-
wai for a final conference. At this it was agreed that
the Indians should be upon the reservation in one
month, or by June 14th. except Hushhushcute, who was
given thirty-five days: the object of the council seemed
to have been satisfactorily accomplished and there was
rejoicing in consequence.
All the traditions and history of the Nez Perces tribe
favi red the assumption that the non-treaties would do
just as they agreed and that there would be no more
trouble. The agents of the government occupied the
intervening thirty days in gathering in other bands to
the Yakima reservation, so as to weaken the power of
Joseph in case he should meditate treachery, though
this was considered a very remote possibility. To one
looking backward it would seem that the wiser course
would have been to put in practice the European max-
im, "In time of peace prepare for war." Had a suffi-
cient force been concentrated in the storm center, it
it 1 in ibable that the malcontent Indians would have gone
on the reserve without resistance, but in endeavoring
to win the Indians bv smiles, rather than subdue them
by a show of force, che agents of the government were
acting in consistency with the general peace policy of
the government, — the policy which has resulted in
much unnecessary bloodshed. That policy has been
fostered by many eastern would-be philanthropists,
whose knowledge of Indian character comes from the
imaginings of the romance writer, and to whose super-
fine sensibilities a vigorous demand of the government
that the Indians obev its laws as white men have to,
:t determined purpose to compel them to do so at what-
ever cost, is an unthinkable cruelty. But the conduct
of the various malcontent bands during the thirty days
of grace certainly looked much like peace ; the gather-
ing of Indians on the borders of the Nez Perces reserva-
tion was naturally interpreted as a step in compliance
with their agreement of May 14, and the burst of war
came, therefore, as a thunderbolt out of a clear sky.
Even the settlers in the immediate vicinity of the reserve
were deceived, though there were some signs of the ap-
proaching storm had they been interpreted aright.
There were four distinct bands of non-treaty In-
dians . Joseph's, who made their home in the Wallowa
and Imnaha valleys j White Bird's, or the Salmon river
Indians; Looking Glass's, whose home was on Clear
creek, a branch of the Middle Fork of the Clearwater:
and a small band under Toohulhulsote, the "Dreamer."
who remained on the Snake river most of the year.
( )f the friendly chiefs who were in close proximity to
Camas prairie we may mention Kooskoos-Xela, Cap-
tain John, Eagle-of-the-Light and Blacktail. ( If course
there was more or less intercourse continually among
these Indians and between the Indians and the settlers
around them. For years the whites on Camas prairie
and their dark skinned neighbors had lived at peace
with each other, save that now and then some alter-
cation of minor importance might occur. They had
traded together, herded stock together and been very
neighborly. Xo serious animosities existed between
them.
Down on the Salmon, however, the feeling between
the two races was not as fraternal as it should have
been. There, many serious quarrels had arisen over
the possession of land and over other important mat-
ters. Many of the whites had settled upon choice
tracts of land, which, although not included in the
reservation, the Indians considered as still theirs by
reason of the fact that they had never relinquished their
title to it to the United States. The case was parallel
to that existing in the Wallowa valley. The whites
considered that the land was public domain and acted
accordingly without consulting the desires of the In-
dians. Then, too, two or three traders on the Salmon
frequently supplied the redskins with liquor and in one
instance this practice led to an open fight between the
proprietor of the establishment and the Indians, in
the course of which one of the Indians was seriously
wounded. This white, too, w-as remembered by the
revengeful hostiles and when war broke out he lost
his life among the very first. Some of the settlers here
considered these and all other Indians as wholly bad
and treated them accordingly, all of which fostered the
enmity slowly rising. The. remainder of the settlers,
those who were on friendly terms with the Indians,
were generally well treated by the latter until hostili-
ties had commenced when the universal Indian trait
of indiscrimination asserted itself.
This was the status of affairs when, a short time
before the council, a petition was circulated among the
residents of Idaho county praying the government to
remove the non-treaty Indians onto the reservation.
Some signed the petition ; some refused, in the belief
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
that ili-:' Indians could be more easily handled by
not confining them too closely. This latter class were
also wise enough to see that the enforcement of this
order would lead to immediate trouble, which they
wished to avoid as long as possible. The crisis came
as soon as the government attempted to carry out the
wish of these petitioners and it is worth noting that the
blow fell most heavily on those whom the Indians
found had signed the document.
Sometime in April, 1877, friendly Salmon River
Indians came to the house of Charles Cone on the Sal-
mon and told him that the Indians were surely going to
fight ; that they would never go on the reservation;
and that the Indians expected to settle some old scores,
naming their intended victims. They warned the set-
tlers of what was coming, but few believed that the
Indians were really in earnest. The Cones, Woods,
and Joshua Fockler, however, organized for protection,
preparing their weapons and replenishing their supply
of ammunition and for one night, stood guard.
On Camas prairie the Indians were slowly gather-
ing all through the month of May and preparing for
the conflict. From time to time they warned their
white friends that trouble was coming and to them
they reiterated their intention of refusing to go upon
the reservation. The redskins visited Grangeville and
Mount Idaho in large numbers and purchased all the
ammunition and weapons they could secure, conceal-
ing their hostile motives of course. They gathered
their hundreds of ponies, bought cattle or obtained
them by trade, purchased and by other means secured
al! the provisions and supplies possible, and in differ-
ent ways prepared for the coming conflict. From out-
side appearances they might have been preparing to
go on the reservation and in fact this was the inter-
pretation placed upon their actions by a majority of
the settlers on the prairie.
The Indians' rendezvous was at the head of Rocky
canyon, one of the eastern arms of the Salmon river
canyon, lying eight miles west of Grangeville. The
smaller canyon derives its name from its rocky appear-
ance. It cuts a furrow hundreds of feet deep and four
miles in length through basalt, forming a region un-
excelled for the Indians' purposes. Here they herded
their stock, killed beef cattle and "jerked'' the meat,
stored their supplies in a wonderful cave, and pre-
pared to sell their lives as dearly as possible in defense
of their liberty. At the head of the south fork of this
canyon were two beautiful, crystal lakes whose waters
came from the timbered mountain a few miles south-
ward and filially found their way through the narrow
canyon to the rushing river hundreds of feet below.
Around these lakes the Indians erected their tepees.
During the early days of June the non-treaties, with
the exception of Looking-glass's band, assembled in
larger numbers than ever at this delightful camping
ground, holding councils and drills during the day
time and dances at night. Regular picket lines were
established wdfich apprised the plotting redskins of
the approach of whites and in some cases warned them
off the grounds. Here they argued for and against
war, a large number protesting against such a radical
step. Subsequently it was learned that the Indians
were about evenly divided on the question of submit-
ting peaceably to the inevitable or going to war.
Hon. Frank A. Fenn says that word was sent to
the commander at Fort Lapwai by L. P. Brown nearly
ten days previous to the outbreak, notifying that officer
of the alarming condition of affairs on the prairie and
suggesting that it would be well to watch them closely.
On the 13th, Mr. Fenn says Tucallacasena, a brother
of Looking-glass, notified Ad. Chapman and M. H.
Rice that the Indians were practically on the war path
and warned the whites that they 'must be on their
guard.
General Howard says that the first slight inkling
of something wrong came to Fort Lapwai in the shape
of a letter, bearing date of June 14th, from L. P.
Brown, of Mount Idaho, stating that Mr. Overman
from the head of Rocky canyon had come in with his
friend-, very much alarmed at the actions of the In-
dians, who, they said, were insolent, taciturn in their
communications with the whites, and hostile in their
general demeanor. "Yesterday," continues the letter,
"they had a grand parade. About a hundred were
mounted, and well armed and went through the man-
euvers of a fight — were thus engaged for about two
hours. They say, openly, that they are going to fight
the soldiers when they come to put them on the reser-
vation, and I understand that they expect them up on
Friday next. A good many were in town today,
and were trying to obtain powder and other
ammunition. * ;;; * I do not feel any alarm, but
thought it well to inform you of what was going on
among them. ::: ;- I believe it would be well fur
you to send up, as soon as you can, a sufficient force to
handle them without gloves, should they be disposed to
resist. Sharp and prompt action will bring them to
understand that they must comply with the orders of
the government. We trust such action will be taken by
you, so as to remove them from the neighborhood and
quiet the feelings of the people."
This was followed up next day by two communi-
cations of a much more startling nature which follow :
Mount Idaho, 7A. M.. Friday, June 15, '77.
Commanding Officer Fort Lapwai.
Last night we started a messenger to you, who reached
Cottonwood House, where he was wounded and driven back
by the Indians. The people of Cottonwood undertook to
come here during the night ; were interrupted, all wounded
or killed. Parties this morning found some of them on the
prairie. The wounded will be here shortly, when we will
get full particulars. The whites are engaged, about forty of
them, in getting in the wounded. One thing is certain ; we
are in the midst of an Indian war. Every family is here, and
we have taken all the precautions we can. but are poorly
armed. We want arms and ammunition and help at once.
Don't delay a moment. We have a report that some whites
were killed yesterday on the Salmon river. No later word
from them; fear that the people are all killed, as a party of
Indians were seen going that way last night. Send to Lewis-
ton, and hasten up. You cannot imagine the people in a
wor.e condition than they are here. Mr. West has volun-
teered to go to Lapwai ; rely on his statements.
Yours truly,
L. P. Brown.
52
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Mount Idaho, 8 A. M., June 15/77.
Commanding Officer Fort Lapwai.
I have just sent a dispatch by Mr. West, half-breed. Since
that was written the wounded have come in— Mr. Day, mor-
tally; Mrs. Norton with both legs broken; Moore shot
through the hip; Norton killed and left in the road, six
miles "from here. Teams were attacked on the road and
abandoned. The Indians have possession of the prairie, and
threaten Mount Idaho. All the people are here, and we will
do the best we can. Lose no time in getting up with a force.
Stop the stage and all "through travelers." Give us relief,
arms and ammunition. Chapman has got this Indian, Look-
ing-glass's brother, (Tucullacasena) hoping he may get
through 1 feai the people on Salmon have all been killed,
as a party was seen going that way last night. We had a
report last night that seven whites had been killed on Sal-
mon. Notify the people of Lewiston. Hurry up ; hurry !
Rely on this Indian's statements; I have known him for a
long time; he is with us. L. P. Brown.
P. S.— Send a despatch to town for the express not to
start up unless heavily escorted. Give the bearer a fresh
horse, and send him back. Chapman.
Howard sent a brief reply to Mr. Brown, announc-
ing the despatch of two companies of cavalry and en-
joining upon him to "cheer the people." Meanwhile
all was bustle at Fort Lapwai. Colonel Perry was
despatched forthwith to the scene of the trouble with
ninety men, all that could be spared from the fort.
Captain Wilkinson and Lieutenant Bomus were sent
post haste to Walla Walla with messages for more
troops from Wallowa, Walla Walla and Portland, with
a request for supplies from the last named point, also
for twenty-five scouts from General McDowell at San
Francisco.
But before proceeding further in the account of the
military operations, we must turn back to the evening
of June 13th in order to find out more definitely the
cause of all this bustle and excitement. During the day
several Indians came down from the prairie to the
Manuel ranch on White Bird creek, where they utilized
Mr. Manuel's grindstone in sharpening their knives
and other edged weapons. They acted very friendly
and aroused no suspicions in the minds of the doomed
family who watched the operations. Farther up the
Salmon at early dusk three young Indians drew up
their ponies at the Cone ranch and dismounting, en-
tered the house. None of them was over twenty-one
years old and two of them, Tipulahna-Caps-Caps
(Strong Eagle) and Sopsis-Ilp-Ilp (Red Leggins),
Salmon Rivers, were old friends of the Cone family.
The other Indian was a member of Joseph's band.
They asked for bread for themselves and bullets for
their weapon, a 44-calibre Colt's cap and ball revolver.
The Indians were given the bread, and Charles, one
of the sons, would have supplied the ammunition asked
for as he and the Indians were good friends and had
often hunted together, but for the fact that the amount
he had on hand was very limited. The Indians ex-
plained that they were on a hunting expedition and
after exchanging a few more words again mounted
their animals and pushed on up the river. That night
they camped as is supposed in the brush near Richard
Divine's place.
Richard Divine was an old, retired English sailor
living alone on his ranch on the Salmon six miles above
John Day creek. So far as known he had never
wronged the Indians nor had he ever had any trouble
with them. But he did possess a new, improved rifle,
fitted with hair sights, and reputed to be one of the
finest in this section. The possession of this weapon
proved the cause of his death. As the old man came
out of the house some time that night or the next
morning, a pistol shot rang out and he fell. Whether
his \\< nin< 1 was instantly fatal or not is unknown, but
he was dead when found, though his body was -till
warm.
Securing the coveted rifle the three young murder-
ers took the trail down the river. Arriving at the
Elfers ranch at the mouth of John Day creek, they be-
came the chief actors in another tragedy. Mrs. Elfers,
now Mrs. C. M. Geary, is our authority for the story
of this terrible event. She says she saw the Indians
pass her home on their way up to Divine's place on the
evening of June 13th, and that they stopped at the
stock corral to talk with Mr. Elfers and the other men.
On the morning of the 14th, (she is positive as to the
datej her husband, Robert Bland and "Harry" Beck-
roge were killed by them. The real name of the last
mentioned individual was Burn Beckroge, but he was
universally named Harry after a brother of his who
had been a resident of the Salmon river and had died
previous to Burn's coming. On the morning of the
fatal day Beckroge and Bland went up to the bench
land south of and above the house to get the horses.
The men were engaged in hay making at the time.
Mr. Elfers remained at the house, attending to the
cows. He had just gone into a room of the house and
was putting on a pair of moccasins, when two of the In-
dians came up and entered the office, apparently look-
ing for him. Mrs. Elfers came out of the milk house
just in time to see them and one of them spoke to her.
She passed around the further end of the house to
enter the kitchen by the back door. The Indian was
standing at the entrance of the office when he spoke.
Soon the Indians disappeared and Mrs. Elfers believed
they had left the place entirely. When Mr. Elfers
finished putting on his moccasins, he started up the
hill to the field, and his wife followed him with her eyes
some distance. That was the last time she saw him
alive. The Indians shot him immediately after he
reached the edge of the plateau above. It appears that
they had already killed Bland and Beckroge and that
one of their number had been left on guard in the field
while the two others came to the house to look for
Elfers. Mrs. Elfers did not hear the shots, the noise
of the guns having been drowned by that of the stream,
but Victor, a Frenchman living further down John
Day creek', saw the smoke of the guns and became sus-
picious that something was wrong. He communicated
his fears to some of the other miners, who came up to
investigate. An invalid named Whitfield, who had
been out hunting mountain sheep, had returned and
discovered the remains of Elfers, Bland and Beckroge.
He notified Norman Gould and his hired man at the
saw mill and the two accompanied him to the scene of
the murder, bringing their guns. Mrs. Elfers saw the
Indians return to the house after they had killed the
The Ranch where H. Elfers. Henry Beckroge and R. S. Bland were Killed by the Indians, June 13, 1877.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
53
three men. They entered the office, but soon came out
again passed by her at the milk house, mounted the
horses and rode away. Mrs. Elfers did not notice that
they were riding her husband's animals, though it was
later ascertained that they had exchanged their ponies
for three of their victim's horses. They also secured
Mr. Elfers' rifle without her knowing of it. The
horses stolen were considered very fine animals, one
being a trained race horse. The Indians did not tarry
long at the Elfers place, fearing the return of Whit-
field, who they knew was armed and out hunting
mountain sheep.
Having departed from the Elfers ranch, the three
Indians passed on down the river avoiding the Cone
house by leaving the trail. A mile and a half below
the Cone ranch, Charles Cone, Sr., was at his placer
mine. When the redskins came in sight of him they
rushed down upon him in a threatening manner and
demanded if he knew their horses. Cone had of course
immediately recognized the horses and detected that
something was wrong, but with admirable presence of
mind he answered in the negative. The Indians told
him to go home and stay there ; that they were very
mad and would fight. Glad of the change to escape so
easily. Mr. Cone obeyed their command.
Not far below the mine, on the opposite side of the
river, Joe Amera, a friendly California Indian lived.
Opposite his place the three hostiles stopped and
sought to entice him across the river. Whether they
wished to kill him or simply wanted him to join their
crowd is not known, but at all events Joe simply par-
leyed with them without yielding to their wishes and
at last they retired.
Probably being well aware that Harry Mason and
William Osborne were well armed and the former was
an experienced Indian fighter, the Indians avoided an
encounter at the Mason place. Near the mouth of
White Bird they met Samuel Benedict, who was out
looking after stock, and wounded him, the bullet taking
effect in his legs. Although seriously injured he man-
aged to make his way home, where he gave his wife his
valuable papers and some gold dust and urged her to
flee to the woods. This the brave woman refused to
do, preferring to remain with and care for her wounded
husband. A number of Indians had a quarrel with
Benedict shortly before the outbreak of the war, dur-
ing which one named Nosenocope had received a
charge of fine shot, and the shooting of Benedict is
thought by some to have been in revenge for this in-
jur v.
After the attack on Benedict the voung warriors
turned their horses up White Bird creek and during
the afternoon rejoined their fellows at the head of
Rocky canyon. On arriving here they announced,
"Now you have to fight." and appeared 'to be in high
glee over the part they had taken. It was true that the
Rubicon had been crossed ; the war party was so strong
that it would never permit the murderers to be arrested
and now that the breach had been opened, the In-
dians voted to commence general hostilities. Here the
three secured about fifteen recruits and under the
leadership of Mox Mox (Yellow Bull) immediately
returned to the Salmon river.
Meanwhile, James Baker, a man seventy-four
years old living on White Bird creek, and Patrick
Price (or Brice) had become aware of the attack on
Benedict and had warned the Mauuels of their danger.
They decided to seek a place of greater safety at once.
Mrs. Manuel and her bain were placed on one horse.
Mr. Manuel and his seven year old daughter Maggie
mounted another and Mr. Baker rode a third. Mrs.
Manuel's father, George Popham, and Pat Price re-
mained in the brush near the house to await develop-
ments. The Manuels and Baker started for the latter's
stone cellar, where they purposed to defend themselves.
Hardly had they started, however, before Mox Mox
and his band were upon them. Manuel and his daugh-
ter were wounded and fell from the horse they were
riding. Mrs. Manuel and her baby were thrown from
their horse, and Baker fell to the ground, pierced by
arrows. Manuel, wounded, ultimately escaped to the
settlements after wandering in the brush and woods
for thirteen days, while Maggie was carried to the fort
at Mount Idaho by Pat Price. The Indians carried
Mrs. Manuel and her baby back to the house and
forced her to give up the ammunition left there. After
securing this they again took the trail down the creek,
passing the Masons and Osbornes and William
George, but this party kept in the brush and the In-
dians appear to have been afraid to go in after them.
In the exchange of shots which followed the meeting
George wras wounded in the thumb. That night he
left the rest of the party and proceeded to Mount Idaho,
where he gave the first authentic news of the Salmon
river murders.
At the mouth of White Bird creek the Indians
found Benedict in his store and saloon and killed him.
A Frenchman named August Bacon who was with
Benedict was also killed here. Indians state that they
offered Bacon his life of he would come out, leaving
Benedict, but he refused to desert his wounded com-
panion.
From the mouth of the creek the Indians went down
the river a mile to H. C. Brown's store. Brown saw
them coming and together with his wife and brother-
in-law, Andrew Bensching, escaped across the Sal-
mon in a boat, though Brown was slightly wounded.
All took refuge in the woods. Several days later
Bensching came to Mount Idaho and subsequently
Brown and his wife were rescued near Cottonwood by
a party under Henry C. Johnson. The night of the
14th the Indians spent in debauchery at Brown's store,
which they looted, helping themselves freely to the
goods and liquors on the shelves. They remained un-
til morning, when they started for the Mason ranch.
During the previous night the Masons and Os-
bornes had decided to return to their homes. They
proceeded to the Mason ranch, where they concealed
themselves in a nearby gluch. Here they remained
for some time, but eventually, as the story is told, the
children became hungry and the party was forced to
do something for them. They accordingly went to
54
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
the house of Osborne to procure something edible, and
while they were there the Indians attacked them. As
afterwards told the Cone brothers by Yellow Bull, the
redskins offered to allow the rest of the party to go
unmolested if they would deliver Mason. It seems
that Mason had had difficulty with an Indian early in
the spring and moreover he was a thorough Indian
hater. Of course the whites refused to deliver him
and the redskins attacked the little party. Osborne,
Francois Chodozo and Mason were killed, after which
the women, Mrs. Mason, Mrs. Osborne and Mrs.
Walsh, a sister of Mason, fell into the hands of the
savages and were shamefully treated. Subsequently
the Indians allowed them to proceed to Slate creek
where the first news of this last of the Salmon river
outrages was reported. A Frenchman known as
"Shoemake." who had escaped the Indians, joined the
women a short distance from the scene of the attack
and accompanied them to the fort. After the battle
of White Bird the Indians returned to Mason's store
and spent a night in carousing and general debauchery,
ending their merry making by burning the buildings.
In fact nearly all of the buildings destroyed along the
Salmon were burned after this Indian victory.
But we must return to the home of John J. Manuel
whose wife and baby were left unharmed by Mox
Mox's band after these Indians had secured the cov-
eted ammunition. There has been much discussion
relative to the murder of Mrs. Manuel and her little
son and some difference of opinion exists as to whether
or not Chief Joseph was a participant in it.
It is generally believed by Salmon river residents
that the famous chieftain was guilty of participation
in the dastardly affair, and that he killed Mrs. Manuel
with his own hand. The following is the story of Mrs.
Maggie Bowman, nee Manuel, the only white eye-
witness, who was but seven vears old at the time:
"Our family consisted of my father and mother,
sister Julia (now Mrs. W. K. Knox, of Grangeville ) ,
a baby brother eleven months old, grandfather and
myself. With the exception of my sister Julia, who
was in school at Mount Idaho, we were all at home
when James Baker and Patrick Price came to the
house and told us that the Indians had wounded Mr.
Benedict and that we had better flee for our lives.
They suggested that we go to Mr. Baker's stone cellar,
about a mile down the creek, and there leave the
women while the men defended the place.
"We started immediately. I mounted father's
horse behind him, while mother and the baby took an-
other animal. Grandfather (George Popham). and
Patrick Price remained at the house. We had pro-
ceeded about half a mile on our journey when, looking
to a hill we had descended, I saw several Indians com-
ing toward us on a run. yelling and whooping at the
top of their voices. 'The Indians are coming,' I said
to father. Just as the Indians appeared, the horses
we rode became frightened at the noise and stam-
peded, separating father from mother. The Indians
opened fire on us with arrows, the first arrow striking
my left arm near the shoulder. An arrow struck me
in the back of the head and glanced and pierced my
father's neck. An Indian, who had only two cart-
ridges as we afterward learned, fired at father at the
same time and shot him through the hips. A second
bullet burned one of his ears. Father was also wounded
between the shoulders by an arrow. The wound
through the hips caused him to fall from the horse,
dragging me with him. Our horse had taken us to
the top of the hill before we fell from the saddle.
"Father saw that our only chance was to roll down
the hillside into the brush and this we did, meanwhile
undergoing the rock throwing of the Indians. One
rock broke father's little finger and another struck me
on the forehead. The redskins were afraid to follow
us, doubtless thinking that father still had his pistols.
Yery foolishly we had left all weapons and ammuni-
tion at the house with the idea of showing any In-
dians we might meet that we were peaceable.
"Meanwhile, Mr. Baker had fallen from his horse
at the first flight of arrows. The redskins surrounded
him and one of them pointed an arrow into the old
man's face. He courageously thrust it away, but was
unable to maintain the unequal contest and the next
instant fell lifeless, being riddled with arrows.
"Mother's horse threw her and the baby and in the
fall one of her knee caps was broken* and the baby
injured. Afterwards she said that two or three of the
Indians took her to the house and promised not to in-
jure her if she would give up the ammunition and a
fine rifle that father had. She did this and was un-
injured by her captors.
"As soon as the Indians left the place, grand-
father and Air. Price came into the house. Mother
told them where we had crawled and grandfather came
to us. He brought me to the house about dark and
left blankets, food and water for father.
"That night mother, the baby, myself, Mrs. Bene-
dict and children (who had come over to the house
after Mr. Benedict's death) and the men stayed in
the brush. The next morning Mrs. Benedict tried to
persuade us to go up the creek and escape to the
prairie, but mother and grandfather decided to return"
to the house, thinking that the danger was oast. Then,
too, mother refused to leave father alone in the brush,
wounded and without aid. So we returned to the
house, except Mrs. Benedict who took her children and
started up the creek where she was subsequently
rescued.
"Mother and I went to bed while Mr. Popham and
Mr. Price stood guard. Along in the forenoon, Mox
Mox and a band of White Bird Indians, nearly all of
whom we knew very well as their camping ground
was on a part of our place, came to the house. They
ransacked it. but did not offer to molest us. They
finally told us that Chief Joseph's Indians were fol-
lowing them, advising Mr. Popham and Air. Price to
go to the brush and promised to protect us.
*Mrs. Robie (formerly Mrs. Benedict) told the writer
that the Indians made two knife cuts over each of Mrs.
Manuel's knees, one lengthwise and the other crosswise,
their object being to prevent her getting away. Mrs. Robie
says she knows this because the wounds were shown her
by Airs. Manuel.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
"Early in the afternoon Joseph and his band came
up, Joseph was dressed as a chief and told us that he
was Chief Joseph. The Indians called him Joseph
and I am positive that it was he. Mox Mox and
White Bird were also there. .Mox Mox had promised
to keep the hostile Indians out of the house but had
failed to keep his word.
"Joseph had not been in the house over an hour
before he took a seat on a trunk in the room where
mother, baby and I were. Mother sat on a trundle
bed and was nursing the baby when Joseph addressed
her with some remark. They were only a few feet
apart. Joseph reached over and without any prelimi-
naries, plunged a knife into her heart. Mother fell
back on the bed and the only words she jaid were:
'Don't kill my children." She repeated these words
three times. The redskins dragged her to the floor
and stripped off her clothing. All this I saw from
my bed in the same room and just across from
mother's.
"After this the Indians took me to an adjoining
room and shut me in. Of course I cried and I remem-
ber that one of the White Bird Indians slapped me.
Being sick and exhausted, I fell asleep and didn't
wake up until nearly dark. Then I went into the
other room where mother had been killed. I was
barefooted and even now I can recall the horrible feel-
ing that came over me as the blood oozed between my
toes. The body was naked and lying in a pool of
her life's blood. At her head lay baby Johnnie, also
dead.
"My first impulse was to find grandfather and I
started in search of him. Instead of him, however, I
found Pat Price with whom I stayed in the brush that
night. In the morning the Indians attacked Mr. Price
and me in the brush. He determined to go straight
to them and try a ruse, so he went up to Chief White
Bird. To him Mr. Price showed the cross tattooed on
his breast with India ink. He proposed to the Indians
that if they would allow him to take me to Mount
Idaho he would return and surrender himself to them.
This the chief agreed to and after we had gone into
the house and seen mother's and baby's bodies, we left
for the prairie. I was barefooted and in my night
clothes. We traveled all day, Mr. Price carrying me
a portion of the way, and stayed that night at Harris's
place near the head of Rocky canyon. There, Mr.
Price fixed me a chair, fashioning it out of a dry goods
box. With a rope he fastened it on his back. At this
place lie found an old white shirt and put it on me.
During all this time and until I reached Mount Idaho,
my left arm, which had been broken in the fall from
the horse, hung limp by my side, the older people in
the excitement not even fixing me a sling. In this box
chair I rode into Mount Idaho, reaching there about
noon. Mr. Price risked his life to carry me through
to the settlement and of course I never forgot this
kindness and devotion.
"The same day we left the house the Indians
burned it, together with the bodies of mother and baby.
Subsequently their charred bones and mother's ear
rings were found in the ruins. One ear ring was par-
tially melted, the other was in its natural state, except
for being blackened by the fire. The house was built
of logs and lined with lumber and must have made a
very hot fire. From his place of concealment in the
brush, grandfather witnessed the destruction of the
buildings.
"Father remained in the brush and small outbuild-
ings on the ranch for thirteen days, living upon berries
and vegetables that he was able to secure from the lit-
tle garden. After suffering for five days from the
arrow in his neck, he cut it out with his knife and
dresseil the wound, using horseradish leaves and cold
water from the creek. His hip wounds had crippled
him so seriously that he was unable to travel. The
soldiers found him and brought him to Mount Idaho,
where he eventually recovered.
"Grandfather came into Mount Idaho several days
after Air. Price and I arrived.
"This is the story as 1 now remember it and the
recollection of it all comes to me very vividly despite
the long years that have rolled by.
"The above facts are given from personal knowl-
edge and not from hearsav.
Signed:— MAGGIE BOWMAN.
"Grangevillc, Idaho,
April i, 1903."
Meanwhile events of considerable 'importance were
transpiring on the prairie. As early as June 9th the
situation had become alarming and some of the set-
tlers felt that the Indians were about to carry out
their threat of commencing war although the settlers
generally seemed disposed to discredit these rumors.
Previous to the 14th Cyrus Overman and M. V. Jar-
rett, who lived near the lakes, brought their families
in nearer to Grangevil'.e and Mount Idaho and left
them with friends, in order to assure their safety in
case of trouble.
Considerable activity was manifested by the In-
dians on the 13th. Sometime during the day Seth
Jones and Charles Horton passed two bands attired
in full war dress. The white men were unmolested,
however.
Along in the afternoon of the 14th ( Mr. Johnson
says 13th) Henry C. Johnson and Cyrus Overman
noticed, from the Johnson place which overlooked the
Indian camp, that the Indians were acting very rest-
lessly. They saw several of them leave in small bands
of from two to four each toward the Salmon.
About three o'clock, Mr. Overman told Mr. John-
son that he had concluded to go over to his farm,
sack up a little wheat and proceed to town. Upon
reaching home, he saw Mr. and Mrs. Watson driving
rapidly across the prairie toward Mount Idaho. He
also saw a band of seven Indians coming awav from
Watson's place. Quickly saddling and mounting his
horse, he set out to overtake the Watsons, which he
succeeded in doing after a rifle of three miles. From
them he learned that Crooks had been driven out of an
Indian camp that afternoon and that the settlers had
been warned by messenger to come into Mount Idaho.
The courier had turned back before reaching the
Johnson place. Mr. Overman continued his journey
56
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
to Mount Idaho, arriving about eleven o'clock that
night.
Later in the day, Mr. Johnson, whom Mr. Overman
had been assisting until three o'clock, saw the In-
dians tearing down their tepees and concentrating
their vast herd of horses, of which they had, accord-
ing to his estimate, fully ten thousand. He says it
was fascinating to watch the agile Indians slowly
moving the seething bands across the prairie toward
Craig's Mountain.
Mr. Johnson decided to remain at his ranch that
night, thcugh he took the precaution to sleep out of
doors in one of his fields. The last he saw of the In-
dians before darkness cut off his view, they were still
engaged in moving their ponies toward Craig's moun-
tain and only five or six tepees were still standing at
their old camping ground. He believed that at last
the red men were moving upon the reservation and his
apprehension of danger, if any he had, were at least
partially removed.
Next morning he was unable to see any sign of
Indians so he decided to drive over to the settlement
and inquire for news concerning them. Arriving at
the saw-mill on Three Mile creek, he there learned
that the Norton party had been attacked the night be-
fore, so of course gave up all thought of returning
to his home.
On the afternoon of the 14th (or according to
some the 13th) John M. Crooks, the cattle king of the
county at that time and a friend of the Indians, volun-
teered to ride out to their camp from Grangeville and
learn what he could regarding their intentions. He did
not believe that the Indians meant to go on the war-
path, but undertook the journey for the purpose of
reassuring himself and his neighbors. Mr. Crooks
reached the Indian camp in safety. There, however,
he was greeted with hostile demonstrations and warn-
ings to leave immediately, so he wheeled his horse and
started on his return to Grangeville. One Indian pur-
sued him nearly to town, once riding up close to him
and flourishing a revolver in his face.
Upon arriving at Grangeville, Mr. Crooks turned
in a general alarm. Mounted men were at once sent
to all residing outside of Mount Idaho and Grange-
ville and families came rushing in from every direc-
tion.
By nightfall nearly all of the inhabitants of Camas
prairie had gathered at Mount Idaho. There they
prepared for defense as best they could. They were
unusually poorly armed for a pioneer people and had
the Indians attacked them a general massacre would
surely have followed. But, as stated elsewhere, the
Indians were well disposed toward the settlers of the
prairie and treated them far more generously than is
usually the case in an Indian war. In fact they told
the settlers to leave them alone and not take sides in
the trouble and they would not injure them.
Early in the morning L. P. Brown had sent a mes-
sage, the "Overman" letter, to Fort Lapwai apprising
the commandant there of the critical situation on the
prairie. Late in the afternoon Arthur Chapman, who
lived several miles northwest of Grangeville. received
definite information from an Indian boy of the up-
rising on the Salmon. In a short time he was in the
saddle and speeding toward Mount Idaho, where he
announced what he had heard. The citizens decided
to send information to Lapwai at once with a request
for troops. Lew Day volunteered to carry this mes-
sage and set out quite late in the afternoon.
Day had proceeded about twenty-five miles on his
journey when he was joined by two Indians. They
inquired where he was going. He replied that he was
on his way to Lewiston for a doctor. The red men
dropped behind the messenger and fired at him,
wounding him in the shoulder. After returning the
fire, Day proceeded on his way, but his wound re-
sulted in a great loss of blood and he was finally
obliged to turn back. He returned via Cottonwood
house, of which B. B. Norton was the proprietor.
There he found Air. Norton, his wife and son, Hill,
Miss Linn Bowers, John Chamberlain, wife and two
children, and Joseph Moore. All immediately began
preparations for the journey to Mount Idaho. About
ten o'clock p. m., they started, Norton and Moore
mounted on saddle horses, the others in a wagon. For
ten miles they traveled without casualty; then com-
menced the most horrible performance of the war.
The Indians rode upon them in the rear and com-
menced firing and yelling like mad men. Soon the
horses of Norton and Moore had been shot. The men
got into the wagon and the race for life was continued
but before long the team was shot down and men,
women and children were left apparently to the mercy
of the savage demons. Miss Bowers and little Hill
Norton, however, stole away in the darkness and es-
caped unharmed to Mount Idaho. Mr. Chamberlain,
his wife and two children attempted to do likewise,
but were discovered. Chamberlain and the boy were
killed, the latter, so his mother said, by having his
head crushed beneath the knees of a powerful Indian.
The other child was snatched from the arms of its
mother and a piece of its tongue was cut off; it was
wounded with a knife, so many testify, in its neck and
in this pitiable plight it was left alone on the prairie.
The poor heartsick and sorrow crazed mother, after
being subjected to outrages more horrible than death,
had her flesh torn and lacerated by the nails and fingers
of the incarnate fiends. Norton, Day, Moore and
Mrs. Norton had remained near the wagon. Norton
was shot just after he sprang from the wagon and
Mrs. Norton as she stood on the wheel, but she crawled
out and sought refuge behind the dead horses. The
bullet which struck Norton severed an artery and re-
sulted in his death fifteen minutes later. Moore was
shot through both hips; Day received two bullets in
the shoulders and one through the leg; and Mrs.
Norton was wounded in both lower limbs. At day-
light, for some unaccountable reason, the Indians with-
drew.
Meanwhile Miss Bowers and little Hill Norton had
become separated in their flight for life, but both
managed to keep on the right course. Hill was picked
up about daylight four miles northwest of Mount
Idaho bv F. A. Fenn, who was scouting. Mr. Fenn
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
57
took the boy on his horse to Crooks's ranch, where a
general alarm was given. Miss bowers was found
about nine o'clock by J. A. Swarts, about two
miles north of Mount Idaho, and was taken to
that town.
At the Crooks's ranch or Grangeville, a party con-
sisting of Frank A. Fenn, C. L. Rice and James At-
kison set out for the scene of the encounter. About
three miles northwest of Grangeville they found the
wagon and to it Rice and Fenn hitched their saddle
horses, taking harness from the slain animals. Mrs.
Norton was placed in the wagon and one of the sad-
dles had been thrown into the box when the redskins
suddenly appeared on a nearby hill. At once Fenn and
Rice mounted the horses, not having any reins, for
these had been used to splice the tugs, and the party
commenced another race for life.. Fortunately, a sec-
ond and larger party came out to their relief and the
Indians drew off. Peter Ready, Lew Wilmot, E. W.
Robie, Mac Williams and others went out later the
same day and picked up Mrs. Chamberlain and others,
living and dead. Mr. Chamberlain's body was found
about a quarter of a mile from the wagon. His two
children, one of whom was also dead, were lying in his
arms. Half a mile farther away Mrs. Chamberlain
was picked up. All were placed in the wagon and
brought to Mount Idaho where every attention was
given them. Day died the following afternoon from
the effects of his terrible wounds and six weeks later
Moore succumbed, but Mrs. Norton, Mrs. Chamber-
lain and the child eventually recovered. Dr. J. B. Mor-
ris, the prairie's physician, was in Lewiston when news
of the outbreak reached him. He immediately set out
to return, courageously riding through the lines of the
hostiles to Mount Idaho, where he remained throughout
the conflict.
On the night of the Norton masacre, Peter H.
Ready and Lew Wilmot had camped on Shebang
creek (near the present site of Denver) with their
freighting outfits. Each had a four horse load con-
sisting of dry goods, clothing, groceries, hardware and
salt, and an empty hack trailed behind Wilmot's wagon.
Just before nightfall Lew Day pased them on his way
to Fort Lapwai and informed them of their peril, but
they decided to remain in camp until morning. About
eleven o'clock they were awakened by the Cottonwood
party passing them. Day told them the cause of the
abandoment of his trip to Lapwai and again advised
them to move forward to Mount Idaho. This time
they heeded the warning to the extent of harnessing
their horses and otherwise preparing to move at an
instant's notice. The Cottonwood party had been gone
but a short time before Ready and Wilmot heard firing
in the direction of Grangeville. They did not pay any
serious attention to it, but remained at their camping
place until daybreak when they commenced their jour-
ney toward Mount Idaho. Soon they saw Indians ap-
proaching them. Cutting loose their lead horses, each
mounted one and began an exciting race. Fortunate-
ly they outran the Indians and escaped to their homes.
They then got their guns and joined the party going
out to bring in the Chamberlains, for these had been
missed by Fenn, Rice and Atkison when they brought
in Mrs. Norton.
The Indians who had been pursuing Ready and
Wilmot returned to the wagons and looted them,
packing some of their spoils on the wheel horses which
had remained near the wagons. Before they had
finished their work the band of redskins that was pur-
suing the first rescuing party turned from their chase
and joined the pillaging crowd at the wagon, evidently
fearing they would lose their portion if they did not
go after it immediately.
Mr. Ready thinks that the hostiles attacked the
Cottonwood party in the belief that they were attack-
ing the freighting outfit. Indeed he was so informed
by Indians after the war. The blood-thirsty set soon
discovered their mistake of course but when the ex-
citement of the slaughter had taken possession of them
they cared little who their victims might be, or
whether or not their dastardly deeds would be re-
warded by material gain. Just what band of redmen
were the chief actors in this murderous assault has
never been determined.
There has been much discussion over the date of
the attack upon the Nortons and Chamberlains, many
who had good means of knowing contending that it
took place some time during the night of the 13th of
June, while others are just as positive that it took
place twenty-four hours later. The preponderance of
evidence seems to us to be that the attack was made
upon the night of the 14th. Some who thought that
the 13th was the correct date were also certain that the
day of the week was Thursday, and Thursday is
shown in the almanac to have fallen on the 14th, in the
year 1877. The letters from L. P. Brown to the com-
mandant at Fort Lapwai, quoted on former pages,
bear the date of June 15th. The one dated 7 a. m.
speaks of the attack on the Cottonwood party ; says
they were all wounded or killed and that "the wounded
will be here shortly, when we will get more particulars."
The letter dated 8 a. m. says: "I have just sent a
dispatch by Mr. West, half breed. Since that was
written the wounded have come in." etc., showing
that unless Mr. Brown made a mistake in dating his
letter, the unfortunate event transpired on the night of
the 14th. Gen. Howard tells us in his book that
Brown's messenger arrived toward evening and he
wrote his reply at once. His reply is dated June 15th.
If Mr. Brown was mistaken in his dates either the
messenger must have consumed from 7 o'clock in the
morning of one day to evening of the day following
in going from Mount Idaho to Fort Lapwai or General
Howard must have made a mistake in dating his note
exactly corresponding to that made by Mr. Brown.
Both these contingencies are certainly very unlikely.
Those on the Salmon river whom it was the writer's
privilege to interview are practically a unit in their
statement that the Salmon river murders, except that
of Divine, were committed on the 14th. It has been
generally understood that the Indians camped near
Rocky canyon on Camas prairie did not commence
their depredations until incited to them by the exciting
recitals of the Salmon river horrors. Those who take
58
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
the ground that the massacre of the Nortons and
Chamberlains occurred on the 13th must assume that
the Salmon river people are mistaken about the date
of the murders there or that the outbreak on Camas
prairie antedated the Salmon river outrages. The first
assumption can hardly be true. Mrs. Cleary certainly
is not mistaken as to the date of her husband's death,
neither can other persons be mistaken as to when the
most terrible events in their experience transpired. The
other assumption has probably never been entertained
by anyone.
The author is convinced that Elfers, Bland and
Beckroge were killed on the morning of the 14th,
that their murderers proceeded to the Indian camp at
Rocky canyon the same day, wounding Benedict en
route ; that they related their experiences to the other
Indians, who forthwith decided to* commence hostili-
ties ; thai seventeen or eighteen Indians went that night
back to the Salmon river country to engage in further
depredations, while the others, or some of them, began
hostile movements on Camas prairie, one of which
movements was the attack on the Cottonwood party.
He is constrained to believe that this is the correct date
and this the correct sequence of events. He admits
that many who hold a contrary opinion are able to pro-
duce convincing arguments in favor of their views, but
is inclined to agree with the many others who are equal-
ly insistent that the event in question happened between
eleven o'clock on the night of June 14th and daybreak
the following morning.
The foregoing statements concerning the outrages
during the earliest days of the Nez Perces Indian war
have been verified by exhaustive investigation into all
printed accounts that could be secured, and by inter-
views with very many of those living in the storm
center at the time. Unusual pains were taken by citi-
zens during and after the war to ascertain exact facts,
owing to the attempts of some to throw the blame for
the outbreak of the war upon the settlers. The re-
sults of this investigation have been perused in the
preparation of this work. It is therefore believed that
these statements are as near the truth as it is possible for
historic records to approach. The assertion of Indian
Inspector Watkins that up to June 22d no houses had
been burned or other depredations committed by
Joseph's band, drew forth an indignant protest from
the citizens. A positive counter statement was made
that on the evening of June 18th, ten dwellings, three
stores, seven barns and one shop had been burned,
besides a large number of miners' buildings ; that be-
fore the 16th, large numbers of abandoned dwellings
had been plundered and some thousands of cattle and
horses stolen and driven off by the Indians. "Resides
this," said a citizens' letter to the Boston Sunday
Herald, after referring to some of the murders here-
tofore spoken of, "five worthy women and mothers
suffered, from the brutal fiends, outrages worse than
death, part of them being stripped of their clothing
and dragged about naked by the heels, others wounded,
and all of them, after defending: themselves to the last
extremitv, made the victims of the lust of the hell
hounds." The statements of the letter were vouched
for by George M. Shearer, major of volunteers. 1!. F.
Morris, county recorder of Idaho county, and C. W.
Case, sheriff of Idaho count}'.
But what of the movements by which these terrible
outrages were to be checked and avenged? Colonel
Perry, as we have said, set out from Lapwai on the
night of the 15th. All night long his column toiled
on over Craig's mountain and across Lawyer's can-
yon ; all next day they continued their march, reaching
Grangeville toward evening. Here they paused to
listen to the reports of citizens and take in the situa-
tion as best they could. They were joined by eleven
volunteers, who guided them over the sixteen miles
to White Bird creek still to be traversed by the weary
marchers and their jaded animals. Reaching the top
of the canyon about an hour before dawn, they halted
to await the daylight and take much needed rest. Day-
light came soon enough, revealing a deep short canyon
with precipitous sides and a smooth looking bottom,
which was in reality a rolling prairie sloping toward
the creek. From the head of this canyon to the creek
the distance is probably five miles. Just before reach-
ing the creek the trail turned abruptly to the west,
passed through a small canyon or ravine between two
low hills and then gradually approached the creek,
reaching its banks about a mile and a quarter farther
along, just above the Manuel place. At this point the
brush and trees which fringe the creek were unusually
dense and the trail was bounded on the north by a low
bluff. A rail fence stood just south of the highway
and altogether die location was an ideal one for an
Indian ambuscade.
Behind this fence and in the bushes lining the trail.
the main body of Indians was posted, while a small
force was deployed a mile and a quarter farther up the
trail to lure the soldiers onward.
Where the trail ran through the ravine heretofore
mentioned the ragged basaltic rocks along the summits
of the hills afforded an excellent barricade, while to
the left of the trail the heavy spring floods had washed
out a deep gulch which ran through the bottom of the
ravine and then south and emptied into the creek. Be-
hind these rocks but principally down in the bottom
of this deep, dark gulch the Indians concealed them-
selves in large numbers. As soon as the skirmishers
had drawn the troops through this canyon these Indians
were to leap from their hiding places and open the
attack. Should Perry go onward toward the Salmon
he would rush into the main ambuscade and hi? case
would be without hope. The plan was skillfully laid
out ami illustrative of the military genius of Joseph
and White Bird. How nearly successful it was we
shall see.
Perry led his command, now numbering a little
over a hundred men. over the crest of the first slope
of the canyon and down the narrow pass. With him
and in advance were several Indian scouts, recruited
from the friendly Nez Perces. When the troops had
advanced about five miles from the top of the bluff
and had practically reached the foot of the mountain,
not over a quarter of a mile from White Bird creek,
and about where the trail turns to the west, the scouts
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
59
reported hostiies some distance ahead. It is said that
they refused to go through the narrow and ugly look-
ing ravine which now confronted the command, fear-
ing that the hostiies were lying in wait.
Perry halted and dismounted his command at this
point, one man out of every four being left with the
horses as is customary. The remainder of the troops
were then ordered forward, a portion of them deploy-
ing along the crest of one of the ridges. Suddenly the
Indians appeared stretched out in a long irregular line
ahead of the troops. Before these had advanced very
far down the ravine an excited Indian lying in the deep
gulch fired off his gun and in an instant the battle was
on. Perry was not trapped, neither was he absolutely
surprised as has often been intimated, and had his men
been seasoned troops instead of recruits who had as
yet scarcely smeiled gunpowder, he might have held
his own creditably or have withdrawn with honors.
Upon the opening of the engagement the redskins
fired from several directions and it required all the
skill at the officers' command to hold the troops in g 1
order. Soon occurred an event, says Major Fenn,
which decided to whom should belong the victory.
How it happened or just why it happened can only be
surmised, as the terrible calamity which followed
swept away many who could have told and those who
survived have left it indefinitely recorded. Certain it is
that the partially demoralized troops on the line de-
tected a retreating movement in their rear. They saw
the men, who had been left with the horses, falling
back up the hillside and probably thought this move-
ment was incited by a flank movement on part of the
Indians. This suspected retreat may have been only
the efforts of those in charge of the horses to get on to
higher ground, but being cavalrymen it was quite
natural that those on the line should rely almost entire-
ly upon their horses and that when they saw these
moving farther and farther away, they should become
disconcerted. The lines wavered and broke, and soon
became thoroughly demoralized. The wily redskins
were quick to follow up the advantage and attacked the
troops more fiercely than ever. These became panic
stricken and, throwing away guns, ammunition, cloth-
ing and accoutrements, fled indiscriminately. Contrary
to all military usage, the saddle girths on the horses had
been left loose while the men went into action and as a
result some of the excited troopers slipped off the
backs of their steeds. These stampeded, leaving the
footmen at the mercy of their savage foes.
Upon going into action the ten volunteers under
Major_ Shearer were assigned to the extreme left and
accordingly took a position between what is known as
the old Indian burying ground and the creek. Here
they found some shelter in the rough surface of the
ground. Hardly had thev taken their position be-
fore the Indians under White Bird began a flanking
movement through the brush on the opposite side of the
creek ; two of the volunteers, H. A. Faxon and T. D,
Swarts, had been wounded, and all became aware that
the troops were retreating. Under these circumstances
the volunteers deemed it best to retreat also.
By this time the whole force was in headlong
flight and the number of hostiies was constantly in-
creasing by arrivals from the lower camp mounted on
fresh horses. In vain Perry and his officers tried to
rally their men. The bugler, who would have sounded
the calls, had been killed at the first fire, so Perry and
his officers were obliged to personally appeal to the
troops. But the cavalrymen would not halt ; they
were completely demoralized and no power could pre-
vail upon them to stand and face their tormentors who
poured an incessant, withering fire upon them. Just
below the steep canyon leading to the prairie above,
and at the mouth of a blind canyon, the gallant Thel-
ler gathered a small body of men behind some natural
breastworks and attempted to stem the tide. For a
short time it seemed as if he might succeed, but the
Indians finally concentrated their fire and overwhelmed
the little band of brave men. The stalwart, lion-
hearted, young lieutenant became the target fi ir a
score of rifles, and he soon fell, pierced through the
head. This was the last stand made by the troops in
White Bird canyon. The men who were still uninjured
rushed up the long, steep trail, fully exposed at every
step to the withering fire from above them, to the can-
yon's rim, where they were arranged by Perry and Par-
nell into a better order of retreat. Before this narrow-
canyon was entered, however, the volunteers had left
the troops and reached the prairie by means of an old
cow trail up Chapman creek. Thence they escaped un-
harmed to Mount Idaho, where they organized a party
of citizens to go out and meet the troops. Together the
troops and volunteers fought their way across the
prairie and finally, exhausted, dispirited and with gap-
ing ranks, the little command entered Grangeville.
"The Indians fought us." wrote Perry that evening,
"to within four miles of Mount Idaho, and only gave it
up on seeing that we would not be driven any farther,
except at our own gait." This was a disastrous defeat.
Nearly forty per cent, of Perry's command were left
dead on the field. The chagrin of failure was the por-
tion of the trained United States troops, while the exhil-
aration of victory sent its pleasing thrills through the
pulses of the savage warriors. This victorv supplied
arms to the Indians. They secured at least fifty car-
bines and much ammunition, thrown away by the sol-
diers Colonel Perrv collected his discomfited troops at
Grangeville, reorganized them there and put them in as
good condition for future operations as possible.
Howard had remained at Fort Lapwai to await the
arrival of reinforcements. Wilkinson, as we have said,
had gone to Walla Walla, where he started the tele-
graph into activity with messages for aid. A courier
is sent to summon Colonel Whipple from Indian valley
with his two companies of cavalrv. and immediately
upon receipt of the message that officer is ready for the
march. The soldiers at Fort Walla Walla, those near
Wallula, all that can be spared from Forts Vancouver.
Harnev, Klamath, Stevens. Canby and Townsend are
in motion as soon after despatches reach them as they
can be mobilized, and most of them are headed toward
Lapwai. The artillerymen, coming down from Alaska.
6o
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
are also directed to the front, and the call for help in
time reaches to troops in California, Arizona and even
to Georgia.
Citizens also are doing what they can to place the
threatened country and the storm centers on a war foot-
ing, but there is great dearth of arms and ammunition,
there being only seven repeating rifles on Camas prairie
at this time. At Mount Idaho, as we have seen, the citi-
zens gather for defensive purposes on the evening of
the 14th. Many decide to return to their homes the
following morning, believing that the scare is ill-found-
ed, when news of the attack on the Norton and Cham-
berlain party reaches the town. This, of course, dispels
all idea of a return to the country, and steps are imme-
diately taken to form a military company, erect a fort
and otherwise place the little community on a war foot-
ing. Every able-bodied man and boy is enlisted in the
volunteer company of which Arthur Chapman is chosen
captain. A retired English naval officer, H. E. Croas-
dale, who had recently engaged in the stock business on
the prairie, is placed in charge of the defenses. On this
same day, June 15th, work is commenced on the stone
fort which three days later is finished. At Grangeville
another military company is organized by Captain
Bloomer, and Grange hall is soon fortified.
Slate creek, in the very heart of the savage-scourged
country, soon has its fort, consisting of a high stockade
built around Wood's hotel, in which the settlers of that
section gather. Here are Mrs. Walsh and her two
children, Mrs. Osborne and her four children, Mr. and
Mrs. Tittman and two children, William Rhett and
family, Mr. and Mrs. David Baldwin and girl, Mrs.
Henry Elfers and her three children, E. R. Sherwin
and family, the Woods, the Cones, John Gibbons,
Joshua Fockler and others. Realizing their desperate
straits, those in the fort decide to send to Florence for
assistance. The mission is a dangerous one, and none
can be spared from the garrison to undertake it, but
finally Tolo, a friendly Nez Perce squaw, is prevailed
upon to carry the message for aid. Faithfully does she
serve her white friends, making the hard trip of twenty-
five miles in safety and bringing back twelve men.
With the addition of these the force numbers about six-
ty-eight capable of bearing arms, but there are few
arms to bear and little ammunition.
Warren is fortified so as to defy a force of 500 In-
dians : Elk City has plenty of men, but only a few old-
fashioned guns and a limited supply of ammunition.
Lewiston has caught the alarm at the first outbreak,
and its call for aid takes the form of such dispatches as
the following:
Lewiston, I. T., June 17th.
To the Mayor of Portland :
For humanity's sake send up 50 or 100 stand of arms with
ammunition. The Indians have broken out on Salmon river
and Camas prairie. They have massacred 30 or 40 men,
women and children, and the work is still going on. We
have men hut few arms. We will be alright as far as this
citv is concerned. The city assumes responsibility for their
safe return. The arms, etc., guaranteed by the merchants.
Subscribed. D. J. Warner, city recorder, by the order of
the Common Council of the city of Lewiston, and N. B. Hol-
brook, mayor; John P. Vollmer, merchant; Loewenberg
Bros., merchants : Grostein & Binnard. merchants ; A. Damas,
merchant.
P. S. — June 18th. Settlers on Palouse and Paradise val-
leys, and from all the country north, of us, are fleeing in
here for protection. Farmers are all abandoning their farms,
stock and everything.
(Signed) J. P. Vollmer.
Lewiston, I. T., June 17, 1877.
To the President O. S. & N. Company:
We have appealed to the Mayor of Portland, and aid
us in this without delay. We are sadly in need of arms.
Unless the country is relieved merchants must close busi-
ness, farmers must flee from their crops, and this country
will become depopulated. You will see our interests are
identical. We want arms., soldiers and volunteers to pre-
vent the slaughter of whites. Down with the peace policy.
By order of the city council.
(Signed) N. B. Holbrook, Mayor.
D. J. Warner, City Auditor.
A subscription paper is circulated also among the
leading merchants and business men of Portland by
H. D. Sanborn, of Lewiston, and the sum of $2,365 is
quickly subscribed for the purpose of furnishing the
citizens of Lewiston, Idaho Territory, with arms and
ammunition for their defense. By this means a volun-
teer company of sixty men under Ed McConville, which
had been speedily raised for the defense of the town,
is fully equipped for action, rendering this important
base of supplies comparatively safe.
The excitement prevailing all over the country is
intense. No one knows how many of the Coeur d'Al-
enes, Umatillas, Spokanes, apparently friendly Nez
Perces and other northern Indians can be relied on ; no
one can certainly predict ho'v many will be encouraged
to join Joseph by Perry's defeat, and every one is be-
coming painfully cognizant of the utter unpreparedness
of the military for the crisis now presented. "Al-
though it has been held out to settlers," complains the
Teller, "that ample military force should be on the
ground to enforce the orders to remove Joseph upon
the reservation, six months have elapsed since the issu-
ance of the order from Washington, and today there
are not soldiers enough here to hold in check the single
force of Joseph's 200 warriors, and, with the advantage
of position Joseph has, he will continue to make his
sallies upon the unprotected settlers and small detach-
ments of troops and cut off scores of men from the
living and continue that state of things for months to
come. Every success he wins strengthens his cause
among the other Indians who are professedly friendly,
and may involve us in a long and bloody war which may-
lead to the extermination of the tribes in this whole
northern country. Had the force been here at the time
appointed for Joseph to come upon the reserve and
properly stationed Perry would not have been defeated
and Joseph's power would easily have been subdued.
But it was planned that the Bible, and not the sword,
should subdue him, and that this missionary peace pol-
icy should have the credit of his subjection. The plan
has failed."
Howard in his history of the war frankly admits
the utter inadequacy of his force for the work in hand,
but does not vouchsafe any explanation of the fact that
the military was caught napping when it knew that
TOO-LAH,
The Friendly Nez Prece Squaw who rode to Florence from the Salmon River, warned the
Whites of the Hostile Outbreak of the Indians, and brought Twenty-six Miners to the Rescue.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
force might become necessary to comply with the in-
structions of the Indian bureau, neither does he attempt
to fix responsibility for the unfortunate condition of af-
fairs. So sure were the Indian agents and military
men that Joseph would comply with his agreement to
go peacably upon the reservation that they trusted al-
most implicitly to that promise, though they knew that
treachery on his part meant death and outrage to inno-
cent and unarmed citizens.
General Howard gives some graphic accounts of
life and activities at Fort Lapwai during the few days
succeeding the outbreak. "Mule trains," says he, "were
hired, supplies of all kinds put in motion, couriers were
coming and going ; Indian messengers and escaping sol-
diers with their mouths full of exciting rumors and
bad tidings were arriving from the field seventy miles
awav. By the 21st of June eight new companies of reg-
ular troops — little companies they were, for the whole
made up but a few over 200 souls — were on the green
plat near the Lapwai post. A small organization of
volunteers under Captain Paige joined themselves to
Whipple, who was in command of the cavalry, and were
on hand for Indian fighting.
"The time from the first news of the terrible disaster
at Whitebird canyon till the morning of the 22d of
June seemed long indeed. It appears long even in
retrospect. Still it was only four days. Our effective
men for the front now at Lapwai numbered but few
more than two hundred.
"Captains Whipple and Winters had arrived from
their circuitous and tedious march from Wallowa. Cap-
tains Miller and Miles had reached Lewiston by steam-
boat and marched to Lapwai with several companies of
the Fourth Artillery and the Twenty-first Infantry
under their charge. The volunteers before mentioned,
a little more than twenty strong, under Paige, of Walla
Walla, had also joined us. Lieutenant Bomus, the
quartermaster of the post, had improvised a supply
train. The numerous miners, employed in different
directions about Lewiston, had been thrown out of em-
ployment by the Indian outbreak, so that their means
of transportation, 'the mule pack train,' and their pack-
ers became available for our use."
By the 22d of June Howard was ready to move.
His force was. still smaller than that opposed to him, but
with such as he had to set out from Lapwai at 12 o'clock
noon. Camped next day at Norton's ranch, his descrip-
tion of which, as affording a glimpse of the "abomina-
tion of desolation," we quote at length :
"Mr. Norton, the late owner," says Howard, "was
the man who was trying to get to Mount Idaho with
his family when he and others were killed and his wife
sadly wounded. We came to his house about half past
one o'clock, having marched nineteen miles. Mr. Nor-
ton had kept a sort of hotel. His house was now de-
serted. The Indians had rummaged everything; what
the family had left here was found in complete disorder.
Who can realize what it is to have savage warfare break
upon a family with little or no warning — to kill, wound
and scatter like this ? It was worse than the desolation
spoken of in the scriptures, where one shall be taken
and another left. None were left! There were the
clothes, cut and torn and strewn about, the broken
chairs, the open drawers, a mixture of flour, sugar, salt
and rubbish, the evidences indeed of riot run mad. Do
we wonder that those who have passed through such
experiences have been slow to forget and forgive 'mad
Indians' ?"
At this desolated ranch the force was ordered to
encamp, and there they remained over Sunday. Critics
of the generalship of the Nez Perces campaign have
complained much of this delay, some of them asserting
that Howard stopped tor the purpose of giving religious
instruction to his command and distributing Bibles
among the soldiers. Howard says he paused because
he wished to ascertain certainly the whereabouts of the
Indians, because he wished to give Captain Trimble
time to get beyond the hostiles to Slate creek, so that
the Indians might not be pressed back upon the little
band of citizens "forted up" there, and thirdly, because
he hoped that additional forces might join him from
Lewiston.
On Monday the troops moved forward, the infantry
going to Johnson's ranch, the cavalry, with Howard,
to Grangeville, where Perry's command was. After
visiting Grangeville and Mount Idaho the cavalry re-
joined the remainder of the command at Johnson's
ranch, whence, at 6:30 next morning, the column pro-
ceeded to the scene of Perry's defeat at White Bird
canyon, for the double purpose of reconnoitering the
enemy and hurrying the soldiers who had fallen there
more than a week previous. Approaching with ex-
treme caution, not to be caught a second time in the
same way, they reverently buried the dead. Mean-
while Paige of Walla Walla with his gallant volun-
teer company, guided by Arthur Chapman, had been
searching for signs of the enemy, whom they eventually
succeeded in locating on the safe side of the Salmon
river. The general also learned from a wounded citi-
zen that it was Joseph's intention to draw the whites
into the vicinity of the Seven Devils, to get them the
farther from a base of supplies.
To the military genius of the wild, savage chief,
who had never seen the inside of a military college,
had had no military training, had never read a work
on tactics, in short was without other guidance than his
own innate militarv judgment, the trained and ex-
perienced general pays the following compliment :
"The leadership of Joseph was indeed remarkable.
No general could have chosen a safer position or one
that would be more likely to puzzle and obstruct a pur-
suing foe. If we present a weak force he can turn upon
us. If we make direct pursuit he can go southward
toward Boise for at least thirty miles, and then turn
our left. He can go straight to his rear and cross the
Snake at Pittsburg landing. He can go down the Sal-
mon and cross at one of several places, and then turn
either to the left to his old haunts in the Wallowa val-
ley or to the right and pass our flank, threatening our
line of supplies, while he has at the same time a won-
derful natural barrier between him and us in the Sal-
mon, a river that delights itself in its furious flow."
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Such was the problem presented to General Howard
for solution. He had not with him a sufficient force
so that he could send a part of it across the Salmon
river to bring on an action with Joseph, while a por-
tion remained to meet the enemy and protect the citi-
zens, should the wily chieftain recross onto Camas
prairie. He could not well retain his whole command
on the east side of the river, for Joseph might remain
in his position of safety indefinitely, and the entire
country was clamoring for aggressive action.
It was over the correct procedure at this time that
Howard and the volunteers had their first little tilt.
"While Howard was concentrating," says F. A. Fenn,
"the Idaho volunteers appointed a committee consisting
of Joseph Peaseley, John McPherson and myself to go to
the general and explain to him a means of escape which
was open to the Indians, viz : via the Billy, or Craig,
crossing, down the Salmon several miles. This cross-
ing was the only one this side of the mouth of the Sal-
mon, and should Joseph attempt to escape northward
he would be compelled to cross here. At that time the
Indians numbered not over one hundred and fifty war-
riors, and these were encumbered with their squaws,
children and camp equipage and about 1,500 head of
horses. \Ye called upon General Howard and suggest-
ed our plan to him, viz : to send a small detachment
north by the prairie to the Billy crossing, where a
score of men could hold four or five times their num-
ber at bay in the rocky defile leading north from the
river, while he himself should cross at White Bird
and attack Joseph's rear. By so doing he would have
Joseph entrapped. General Howard politely listened
to our suggestions and then bowed us out with the
remark that he believed himself fully competent to
manage his own campaign. After events proved con-
clusively that we understood the country and the In-
dians far better than the general, for Joseph crossed
his entire force at the Billy crossing and, coming up
on the prairie, attacked and massacred Lieutenant
Rains and party."
Howard decided to cross the Salmon with all his
force, leaving only Captain Whipple's cavalry, which
were sent back to arrest Looking-glass and his entire
following and turn them over to the keeping of the
volunteers at Mount Id;>ho. He had some skirmishing,
but sustained no loss and probably inflicted no injuries
upon the red skins, who soon disappeared. "I pressed
this column/' says Howard, "after the Indians to
Craig's Ferry (ford). Lost our raft in attempting to
cross. Too much of a torrent to cross troops and sup-
plies without it. James Reuben, the scout, had brought
clear accounts that Joseph had not turned south toward
his old haunts in the Wallowa, but northward and east-
ward, to gather up Looking-glass and reinforcements,
catch small parties like Rains's detachment and do what
mischief he could.* Therefore, by turning straight
*This report as given was mere surmise as to intentions
of Joseph, for the first definite information Howard had that
the hostiles had escaped him via the Craig or Billy crossing
was conveyed to him by Peter H. Ready, a courier sent
to him by Pern- with news of the destruction of Lieutenant
Rains and his party.— F. A. Fenn.
back, recrossing the Salmon at Rocky canyon, or White
Bird, where there were boats, and going via Grange-
ville. where I could bring the Cottonwood force to me,
I had a short line and hoped to get a decisive battle
from our doughty chief." The Teller, a severe critic
of Howard, says of this short campaign : "Nature
made a trap between Salmon and Snake rivers ; Joseph
baited it by shaking a red blanket at Howard defiantly
across the river. Howard followed the bait and con-
sumed three days in crossing his five hundred men
over the stream. When over Joseph runs back on this
side and returns to Camas prairie. Howard stays in
his trap two weeks before he finds he is in a trap."
While the supreme in command was engaged in
this bootless expedition between the Salmon and the
Snake, events of considerably moment were transpiring
on Camas prairie. Captain Whipple had gone to fulfill
as best he could his instructions to arrest Looking-
glass, who, the friendly Indians said, was awaiting a
favorable opportunity to join Joseph.
Thus far Lookingglass had maintained, as some
of the whites aver, a perfectly neutral attitude, if any-
thing leaning toward the cause of the whites, although
there were doubtless many would-be hostiles among
the younger element. He was camped on Clear creek,
a few miles east of the present town of Kooskia, which
was considered his home. Captain Whipple was joined
at Mount Idaho by about twenty volunteers under Cap-
tain D. B. Randall and a night ride was made to Clear
creek. The utmost caution was taken by Captain
Whipple to prevent the Indians from hearing of the ap-
proach of the troops. Great was the astonishment of
the former when, just as the soldiers reached Clear
creek, the shrill notes of the bugle rang out across the
canyon and were caught and echoed back by the sur-
rounding hills and bluffs. In an instant the camp was
astir, and by the hazy light of approaching dawn the
Indians could be seen running back and forth. The
red skins knew what a bugle call meant.
Immediately a parley was arranged, and Captain
Whipple and his escort went forth to meet Looking-
glass. While this parley was progressing Washington
Holmes, who had a half-breed wife, took it upon him-
self to commence the engagement bv firing into the
camp. This statement is made upon the positive asser-
tions of two reputable men who were present — F. A.
Fenn and C. M. Day — and upon the admission of Air.
Holmes himself. Of course this act of hostility caused
the immediate breaking off of negotiations between
Whipple and Lookingglass, and a general engagement
opened. The Indians soon fled eastward into the moun-
tains, leaving their tepees, nearly all their camp equip-
age and over seven hundred ponies. Some of the
horses were captured by the troops and the tepees and
equipage were burned. One Indian child was killed
in the exchange of shots, but the whites escaped un-
scathed. Lookingglass soon joined Joseph and ren-
dered that chieftain invaluable assistance in planning
and executing the campaign. He appeared as spokes-
man in negotiations and parleys with the whites, won
renown by his diplomacy and shrewdness and impressed
many with the belief that to him of right belonged
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
63
much of the credit for military skill which has been
given to Joseph.
Whipple marched next day to the Norton ranch
(Cottonwood) in obedience to Howard's command
that he should form a junction with Perry there. Upon
his arrival he sent two scouts, William Foster and
Charles Blewett, towards Howard's position at Craig's
crossing to learn the whereabouts of the Indians. Hav-
ing proceeded to Lawyer's canyon thev were ascending
it when they saw an Indian with a band of horses, also
three other Indians in another direction. They put
their horses to full speed in retreat, Foster leading.
When Foster found time to cast a backward glance he
saw that his companion was unhorsed and separated
from him. "Take to the brush," was his advice as he
made an effort to capture the frightened animal. But
the horse could not be caught, and Foster was com-
pelled to leave Blewett to his own resources and con-
tinue his retreat. He reached Whipple's command in
safety and reported what he had learned as to the
whereabouts of the Indians.
Whipple immediately prepared to take up the line
of march, sending Second Lieutenant Rains with ten
picked men and the scout Foster to reconnoiter in ad-
vance of the main command, and aid Blewett if he
could. "I particularly cautioned Rains," says Whip-
ple's report, "not to precede the command too far, to
keep on high ground and report the first sign of In-
dians." Rains and his men rode over the first rise
from Cottonwood and down into the shallow ravine
to the left of the present road leading to Craig's moun-
tain from the prairie. Here they were attacked by
what proved to be a large force of Indians. Whipple,
who heard the firing, came up as fast as possible, but
he saw that the Indians were in such numbers and so
well intrenched that he could do nothing to help except
at a loss of a greater number of men, so he was com-
pelled to watch the doomed detachment as one by one
its members fell. Some sought such shelter as they
could find, some attempted to retreat back to Whipple's
command, but not one escaped the bullets of the In-
dian sharpshooters. Whipple's command formed in
line on one side of the ravine while the Indians did like-
wise on the other, but they were too far apart for ef-
fective action, and neither combatant cared to give the
other advantage by descending to lower ground. They
stood menacing each other until nightfall, when Whip-
ple returned to Cottonwood and the Indians retired
toward Craig's crossing. During the night couriers
arrived from Perry, who was en route to Cottonwood
with a pack train from Fort Lapwai. This was sup-
posed to be in imminent danger of attack by hostiles,
therefore WTipple set out next morning, July 4th, to
reinforce the escorting detachment. He met the pack
train eight miles out and brought it to. its destination
in safety. "About midday," says Whipple, "Indians
began to gather, and but a short time elapsed before
the camp (Cottonwood) was surrounded by them, and
for hours they made the most frantic efforts to dislodge
us. Every man of the command was kept on the
lines this afternoon (rifle pits having been dug at a
little distance from the Cottonwood house) until about
sundown, when the enemy withdrew for the night."
Perry was now chief in command at Cottonwood.
On the morning of July 5th an event transpired which
drew down upon him a storm of criticism, while it
earned for Lieutenant D. B. Randall, before mentioned,
and sixteen volunteers under his command a place
among the world's heroes. The famous seventeen were
seen approaching from the direction of Mount Idaho
and w;ere recognized to be volunteers. The Indians at
the time were moving their stock toward Clear-
water. As soon as thev saw the volunteers about one
hundred and fifty of them returned to intercept the
doughty little squad and prevent their reaching Whip-
ple. The Indians succeeded in getting between the
volunteers and the regulars, taking a position on an
elevation of ground near the intersection of the Elk
City trail with the stage road. Perry was now urged
to go with troops to the rescue, but lie refused, saying
that the volunteers were already beyond hope. No
doubt the captain honestly thought that an effort to
save the volunteers would be bootless, vet the sang
froid of a refusal to try is hard to understand.*
Had Randall ordered a retreat it is probable that
the Indians, on their fleet ponies, would have run down
his men and killed most if not all of them, but Randall
was not a retreating man. He continued on his course
and the Indians soon had him surrounded. He ordered
a fierce charge ahead, broke through their lines, se-
cured a favorable position between the Indians and Cot-
tonwood, ordered his men to dismount and shoot
down horses, and he and they again faced the Indians,
intending to hold their position until help should arrive
from Cottonwood. In this charge, which differs from
that of the Light Brigade in that the men did not "ride
back," Randall was mortally wounded, B. F. Evans
was killed and three others received injuries more or
less serious. Randall was paralyzed by his wound,
which was in the backbone, and died a few minutes
after dismounting.
Mr. F. A. Fenn tells us that on the eminence just
back of the old Cottonwood hotel, where Perry's force
was stationed, a small body of troopers and citizens
was engaged in throwing up breastworks when the In-
dians attacked the seventeen. They saw the charge of
the volunteers, watched them take a more sheltered
position a little over a mile from the fort at Cottonwood
and w-aited in vain for the order to mount and go to
the rescue. They saw F. D. Yansise ride in for rein-
forcements. They also saw the appeal pass unheeded
by Colonel Perry. Then they ceased watching and
acted. Sergeant Simpson sprang to the front and
cried : "If your officers won't lead you I will." He
was ioined bv twenty-five others, all of whom made
*"Especially so." says F. A. Fenn, "as the seventeen went
there at the urgent request of Perry for reinforcements,
which request he sent by a courier named Crooks the night
before to Mount Idaho." F. D. Vansise is, however, of the
opinion that Crooks came for volunteer reinforcements on
his onn account, and without the knowledge of Perry.
64
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
their way toward the horses. Perry, seeing that his
men were determined to go anyway, directed Captain
Whipple to take charge of the company, and under him
reinforcements went to the seventeen and brought
them safely in. Sergeant Simpson was arrested on the
charge of insubordination, but afterwards participated
in the Clearwater fight, where he was seriously wound-
ed. Subsequently the charge against him was with-
drawn.
When the reinforcements arrived they found the
men still holding their ground, having withstood nearly
ten times their number for about an hour. Many are
of the opinion that had the soldiers come speedily to
the fray and followed up the advantage with vigor a
severe whipping might have been administered to the
red skins. The regular officers, however, were exon-
erated by a court of inquiry. Fortunately the names
of the celebrated seventeen have been preserved for us.
They are as follows : D. B. Randall and B. F. Evans,
killed ; A. B. Leland, D. H. Howser and Charles John-
son, wounded, Mr. Howser mortally; L. P. Wilmot,
J. L. Cearley, James Buchanan, William B. Beemer,
Charles W. Case. E. J. Bunker, Frank D. Vansise, C.
M. Day, George Riggins, A. D. Bartly, H. C. Johnson
and F. A. Fenn.
The war thus far had been decidedly in the Indians'
favor. They had administered a disastrous defeat to
Perry at White Bird ; they had successfully eluded
Howard at the Salmon river, causing his entire force
to consume much valuable time in accomplishing noth-
ing ; they had massacreed Rains and party ; they had
escaped from Whipple and Perry at Cottonwood ; they
had effected a junction of the forces under Looking-
glass with those of Joseph, despite the efforts of Whip-
ple's cavalry and Randall's volunteers, sent to effect
the arrest of the former chieftain, and the only check
they had as yet received, that administered by Ran-
dall's seventeen, had inflicted slight damage.* These
successes, however, had inspired Joseph with the pride
which precedes a fall. Whether he thought it was im-
possible for the whites to concentrate, or that he dare
risk a battle with Howard's entire command, is not
definitely known, but at any rate he allowed himself to
be brought to a decisive engagement, as a result of
which he was forced to yield the struggle on Idaho
soil and begin his famous retreat over the Bitter Roots
and the tortuous trail beyond.
Failing to effect a crossing at Craig's ford, Howard
took the backward track, recrossing the Salmon, and
July 9th found him again at Grangeville. His force
was weakened by the withdrawal of Hunter's Dayton
volunteers, McConville's Lewiston volunteers and Cap-
tain Cearley's company, who, Howard says, "had be-
come a little disgusted with the slowness of regulars
and angry at their own fearful discomfiture near Cot-
*Sorne of the volunteers state that nine new made graves
were found where the Indians camped after the fight with
the seventeen. One warrior was seen to fall and the Indians
acknowledged that he was so badly wounded that he died
a week or so later.
tonwood ;" hence started on an independent movement.*
They began reconnoitering for the enemy, soon struck
their trail, following which they succeeded in locating
the Indians near the junction of the south and middle
forks of the Clearwater. Captain Cearley and L. P.
Wilmot were sent out to discover their exact position,
and did so. Though they saw no warriors, they judged
from the number of lodges and horses that the Indians
were in too great force to be successfully attacked by
the small force of volunteers, and so reported. Ac-
cordingly no aggressive movement was made, but the
volunteers busied themselves in throwing up fortifica-
tions and strengthening their position against a possi-
ble assault. They had a race with the Indians about
two o'clock that day, when the approach of Major
Shearer with fourteen men was the signal for an In-
dian attempt to head him off. They succeeded in
bringing Shearer in safely. Upon his arrival it was
determined to send a massage to Howard, twelve miles
distant, apprising him of the whereabouts of the In-
dians and asking that he march next day to co-operate
with them in an attack upon the hostiles. Howard was
waiting for reinforcements, and did not do so. Mean-
while the Indians made a night attack upon the vol-
unteers, killing and driving away forty-three of their
horses. The volunteers waited for another day and
night, but their messenger failed to return, on account
of sickness, and, not seeing any sign of Howard and
being short of provisions and horses, they withdrew
toward Mount Idaho. McConville was criticised for
yielding this position, which Howard wished him to
hold as a part of the enveloping force, "but," says Ban-
croft, who seems to get his information largely from
Sutherland's history of Howard's campaign, "being
separated from Howard by the river, and having lost
a large number of the horses, it was prudent and good
tacti.cs to retire and let the Indians fall into the trap
Howard had set for them near their own camp and to
place himself between the settlements and the Indians."
The "trap" consisted in Howard's attacking Joseph on
the opposite side from the volunteers' abandoned posi-
tion, in which direction the Indians had thrown up
*"This statement," says Major Fenn, "is as base and ma-
licious a libel as was ever published. The action of the
seventeen volunteers near Cottonwood was a victory. They
held almost ten times their number at bay in pitched battle
for an hour and a half and finally drove them off out of
range. Casualties to the Indians were nine killed, as evi-
denced by the graves thev left: the whites had two killed
and three wounded. This was the first real reverse inflicted
upon the hostiles and Howard's statement passes understand-
ing. When informed of the fight of the seventeen. -Mc-
Conville, who was at the time with Howard, at once set out
with the citizen soldiers, including Hunter's men under his
command, numbering about one jmndred men, to reinforce
their fellows — and Perry, wdio was so anxiously calling fur
help. McConville made a forced march from* White Bird
and reached Cottonwood the evening of the 5th. The next
morning all of the volunteers made a forced march to
Mount Idaho, in the direction of which the Indians had
moved. It has always been understood that Howard de-
sired and consented to McConville's movement to reinforce
Perry."
Catholic Church built on Coeur d'Alene River at Old Mission in 1853 by the Indians and Jesuit Missionaries.
Wooden Pegs were used instead of Nails to put it together.
Foster Monument Commemorating a Scene in the Nez Perces War ot 1877.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
65
breastworks. Joseph's camp lay not far from the
mouth of Cottonwood creek, in a deep defile among
the high hills. On the nth of July Howard approached
it with his entire force. Captain Trimble from Slate
creek, Perry, Whipple and all. About noon Lieutenant
Fletcher discovered the Indians, and by one o'clock a
howitzer and two gatling guns were throwing leaden
missiles at the Indians below. These were getting their
horses out of range as rapidly as possible. The contour
of the country favored them, and soon they were safe.
Howard ordered a change of position to a bluff toward
the left, which could only be reached by a trip of more
than a mile around the head of a ravine. Upon reach-
ing this position with the howitzer and gatlings they
found Joseph already in line of battle and saw a number
of mounted Indians attempting their flanking move-
ment to the left. Winters with his cavalry met these
flankers and foiled them in their purpose. Soon the
battle began in good earnest. "My line," says Howard,
"I extended to the left by the cavalry and to the right
by the infantry and artillery battalions, gradually re-
fusing my flanks, until the whole bluff was enveloped.
Four hundred men, necessarily much spread out, held
a line two and a half miles in extent. Our main pack
train had passed by this position. Another small train
with a few supplies was on the road near us. The In-
dian flankers by their rapid movement struck the rear
of the small train, killed two of the packers and dis-
abled a couple of mules, loaded with howitzer ammu-
nition. The prompt fire from Perry's and Whipple's
cavalry saved the attendant ammunition from capture,
luckily. The main supply train was saved only by the
quick work of a messenger, guiding it within the
lines."
Charges and counter charges were made during
the day, in one of which, led by Captain Miles, Cap-
tain Bancroft and Lieutenant Williams were seriously
injured and a number of the enemy were killed and
wounded. A charge near the center by Miller gave
the whites a disputed ravine, but the repeated charges
of the enemy were successfully repelled. The whites,
however, were not in the best position at nightfall, as
their water supply, a spring, was commanded by the
Indian sharpshooters, so that it was only by running
the gauntlet of a dangerous fire that the officers ob-
tained during the night sufficient water to slake the
thirst of their men. Throughout most of the hours of
darkness the combatants on both sides worked hard
constructing stone barricades and rifle pits.
"At daylight on the 12th," says Howard, "every
available man was on the line. I directed that food
should be cooked and coffee made at the center and
carried to the front. This was not easy to do, for we
had first to get complete possession of the spring, as
sufficient water was not secured in the night. This
feat was executed with great spirit by Miller and
Perry, using Otis's battery and Rodney's company on
foot. As soon as the battery had made a rapid firing
it ceased and a prompt charge at a run with shouting
was undertaken by the men in support. The Indian
sharpshooters were thus driven from their hiding
places and the spring secured by our riflemen against
recapture.
"As soon as every man had been provided with
food I directed that the artillery battalion be withdrawn
from the lines, thin though they were already, and that
the whole stretch be held by the infantry and cavalry.
This gave a reserve force to employ in an offensive
movement. It should lie remembered that the number
of our men on the line and the number of Indian war-
riors that Joseph marshaled were about equal. Miller
withdrew "his battalion and at 2:30 p. m.. the time I
had selected, was preparing to execute a peculiar move-
ment, viz : to push out by the west flank, pierce the
enemy's line just west of the center, cross his barri-
caded ravine, then face suddenly to the right and
charge so as to strike the Indian position in reverse, as-
sisting himself meanwhile bv a howitzer.
"Miller was fully ready and about to move when
beyond the Indian position toward the south a dust ap-
peared in the distance. Our glasses, quickly catching
every new appearance, revealed it as the expected sup-
ply train, escorted by Jackson's cavalry. Immediately
the artillerv battalion, which was waiting for the either
work, was sent out to meet the newcomers. This oc-
casioned considerable skirmishing and a delay of an
hour, when the train was brought in in safety. To
our joy Major Keeler of General McDowell's staff ac-
companied the escort and brought us cheering words
from his general at San Francisco as well as welcome
reinforcements. At the time of these arrivals I had
ridden out a few yards to secure a fair view of the
field. Upon my invitation Major Keeler came for-
ward to see the battle and took a place by my side.
"Captain Miller, instead of returning with the train,
was marching slowly in column by the right flank to-
ward us, when, as he crossed the enemy's line, just
at the right point, he faced to the left, moved quickly
in line for nearly a mile across our front and repeatedly
charged the enemy's positions. This manner of strik-
ing at an angle and following up the break is called
'rolling up die enemy's line.' This Miller accomplished
most effectually. The usual attempt to double his left
was made bv the Indians, when a reserved company,
Rodney's, in Miller's rear deployed, flanked the flank-
ers and drove them back.
"For a few minutes there was a stubborn resistance
at Joseph's barricades ; then his whole line gave way.
Immediately the pursuit was taken up by the whole
force, infantry and artillerv. Winter's troops, dismount-
ed, and the remaining cavalry, as soon as they could
saddle and mount. This movement was decisive. The
Indians are completely routed and flying over the
rugged banks, through the ravines, swimming and
wading the river and our forces are in close pursuit."
Jackson's cavalry had failed to reach the scene in
time to participate in the battle, but it was on hand
for the pursuit. It, with the force in charge of the
gatling gun, quickly moved to a point overlooking the
Clearwater. The howitzers also were brought to this
position and a fusillade was poured into the retreating
Indians and their ponies. Meanwhile other troops
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
pressed down the ravines and steep hillsides to the
river's edge, but further they could not go, owing to
the depth of the water. Soon Perry's cavalry came
to the canyon's bottom and across the river, but for
some reason Perry did not press the pursuit up the
opposite bank, contenting himself rather with taking
a position near the deserted Indian lodges. Howard,
scanning the field with his glass, noticed a movement
of Indians which indicated to him a possible intention
on their part to return to the conflict. He warned
Perry of the danger to his cavalry and ordered him to
ferry the infantry across so as to present a sufficient
force in opposition should the red men evince a taste
for further battle. The whites could not effect a
crossing of the stream as expeditiously as did their
dusky foe ; the time consumed gave the Indians oppor-
tunity of escape to a point so far remote as to make
their overhauling before dark an impossibility; the
troops, therefore, concluded to camp for the night, and
the battle of the Clearwater was over. The Indian
loss was twenty-three killed, perhaps forty wounded
and as many more captured, besides the stores of
blankets, buffalo robes, provisions and promiscuous
equipage they were compelled to abandon at their
camp. Howard reports his loss as thirteen killed and
twenty-two wounded.
The most severe criticism made against Howard
in the Clearwater battle is that he failed to follow up
the advantage which Miller's successful charge gave
him. McConville's volunteers had returned during the
last day of the fight and were stationed on the west
bank of the Clearwater several miles from the battle-
field. They were holding themselves in readiness to at-
tack the Indians in front whenever the troops gave evi-
dence that they would support the attack from the rear.
Had the troops crossed behind the Indians and hung
on Joseph's flanks and the volunteers under Major Mc-
Conville attacked them in front the war, so many crit-
ics aver, might have been ended then and there. In-
stead, however, the Indians were allowed to proceed
leisurelv to Kamiah, where they crossed the river and
commenced their retreat.
Next morning Howard reached Kamiah in time to
see the last of Joseph's band crossing the Clearwater.
When the river was reached the last Indian was across,
and, though the gatling guns were put into operation,
they inflicted little damage. Joseph took a position at
the' beginning of the Lolo trail, where, by sending
scouts in all directions, he could keep close watch upon
the movements of the soldiers and learn the outlines of
Howard's plans.
That general had it in mind to reach, if he could,
a position some fifteen or twenty miles beyond Joseph,
where there was a junction of trails, thus cutting off
his escape, but Joseph's scouts were too vigilant ; the
plan was surmised and the Indians hastily set out to
anticipate him.
In pursuit of this plan Howard started on the 15th
of July, ostensibly for Lapwai, but intending to go
down the river to Dunwell's ferry, thence to a position
in foseph's rear. When he discovered that his inten-
tions were surmised he went back to Kamiah, leaving
Jackson and some volunteers who had just rejoined the
regulars to guard against a possible return by the In-
dians across the river at Dunwell's. He was met by a
messenger from Joseph asking upon what terms the
chief might surrender. While the conference was in
progress a shot, fired by the Indians, struck near the
consulting party, a circumstance which certainly looked
like bad faith on the part of the Indians, though Suth-
erland, author of "Howard's Nez Perces Campaign,"
thinks Joseph really intended to surrender and was only
deterred by Howard's reply that he and his men would
be tried before a court-martial of regular officers. How-
ard considered the proposal a ruse to delay his move-
ments. At any rate Joseph did not surrender, though
the messenger, his family and some other Indians
afterward did.
Meanwhile the cavalry, scouts and volunteers had
been ferried across the river, and these Howard sent
under Colonel Mason to pursue the enemy, to learn his
intentions and engage him in battle if such could be
done with fair prospect of success. The scouts ran into
Joseph's rear guard near Oro Fino creek and had a
brush with it, in which one scout was killed and one
wounded. One of the enemy was also killed. Believ-
ing it unsafe to attempt to use cavalry in a country so
favorable for ambuscades, Mason returned and the
campaign in Idaho was ended. Howard summarizes
the war thus far in this language:
"The Indians had been well led and well fought.
They had defeated two companies in a pitched battle.
They had eluded pursuit and crossed the Salmon. They
had turned back and crossed our communications, had
kept our cavalry on the defensive and defeated a
company of volunteers* They had finally been forced
to concentrate, it is true, and had been brought to bat-
tle. But, in battle with regular troops, they had held
out for nearly two days before they were beaten, and
after that were still able to keep together, cross a river
to deep to be forded and then check our pursuing cav-
alry and make off to other parts beyond Idaho. The
result would necessitate a long and tedious chase.
"Still, on our side, the Indians had been stopped in
their murders, had been resolutely met everywhere and
driven into position and beaten ; and by subsequent pur-
suit the vast country was freed from their terrible
presence."
It is practically impossible at this late date to so
come into possession of the details of the war as to
enable one to express a definite opinion about the
merits of the dispute between the regulars and volun-
teers, even if a historian were justified in usurping the
function of a judge or jury and dealing in generaliza-
tions and deductions from facts rather than in the
facts themselves. Many severe criticisms have been
made upon Howard's slowness of movement, and it is
the general opinion of volunteers and others that,
while he proved himself a gentleman of many virtues,
he failed to adapted himself to the condition presented
*Tlie volunteers are unable to understand why their gal-
lant charge at Cottonwood should be repeatedly classed as
a deteat.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
67
by the known methods of Indian warfare ; that he was
not aggressive and vigorous enough to be called a "good
Indian fighter." Howard, in his valuable work enti-
tled "Nez Perces Joseph." has attempted an answer to
these objections, mainly by pointing out the difficulties
which surrounded him and contending that greater
expedition was impossible under the circumstances.
Severe strictures were made by citizens upon some
of the inferior officers, particularly Captain Perry,
whose military movements were made the occasion
for the sessions of two courts of inquiry. Charges of
lack of discipline and incompetence were brought by
some officers of the regular army against the volun-
teers also, the most bitter being by Major Keeler, of
General McDowell's staff, who had the least oppor-
tunity to know whereof he spoke. Howard, be it said
to his credit, frankly commended the volunteers, more
than once publicly, thanking them for valuable assist-
ance rendered him.
After the return of Mason with the report that
Joseph had certainly gone toward the buffalo coun-
try, Howard naturally began revolving in his mind
plans for future operations. He thought at first of
leaving a small garrison at Kamiah and going to Mis-
soula at once, trusting Colonel Green, who was bring-
ing a force from Fort Boise, and General Wheaton,
coming to Lewiston from Georgia as fast as steam
could carry him, with the task of protecting Camas
prairie and the rest of north Idaho. This plan had to
be abandoned on account of the alarm lest Joseph
should suddenly return and swoop down again upon
the temporarily unprotected settlements. So Howard
himself awaited the arrival of Green's advance guard,
thus giving the hostiles a splendid lead in the race and
occasioning a loud clamor from the impatient journ-
alists and people. The plan evolved during the per-
iod of waiting was to form two columns and a reserve,
the right column to be led by Howard in person, the
left by Wheaton, and the reserve to stay with Green
at Camas prairie. Howard's force was to take the
Lolo trail; Wheaton's the Mullan road and the re-
serve to "watch all trails, keep inter-communication,
be ready for hostile Indians, should they double back,
and give heart to all neighboring farmers, miners,
prospectors, and friendly Indians by the show of pro-
tection at hand."
Howard with his right column took the trail on the
26th of July, 1877. His journeyings from that time
until the capture of Joseph are replete with adventures
and incidents, but all this is extra-territorial to the his-
torian of north Idaho and though completeness de-
mands a brief narration of the long chase, yet it must
be brief. Day after day the column toiled on, slipping,
sliding, up the steep acclivities, down the precipitous
mountain sides, following the windings of the inter-
minable "hogs-backs," as connecting ridges between
two mountain uplifts are called, vigilant always to
keep out of traps the wily red skins may set, the com-
manding general not alone burdened with the respon-
sibility of a campaign, presenting at times grave dan-
ger of ambush and surprise, but smarting under the
lash that is being applied by numerous newspapers the
whole country over. The Indians, familiar with the
country by frequent former trips to the buffalo
grounds, possessing an ability to get work out of a
horse such as no white man can, and led by one whom
Miles has characterized the greatest military genius
of the Indian race, are making one of the most
brilliant retreats in the annals of Indian warfare.
Once they might have been stopped and held for
Howard. A small force of regulars under Cap-
tain Rawn and a considerable number of citizen
soldiers had built a fort at the enterance of the
Lolo trail into the Lolo valley. The pass was
narrow, the walls high and precipitous. The fort,
though a hastily constructed affair, was so favorably
situated that it commanded the situation completely.
When the Indians arrived they quickly saw their dis-
advantage. Being diplomats as well as warriors, they
determined to try the effect of a parley where bullets
would be plainly ineffective. They promised to do no
damage to the citizens of the valley if only they should
be allowed to proceed. Why should they not make
such a promise ? They not only hoped to gain a pres-
ent advantage but to placate the people and perhaps
get them in the notion of trade, for they were sorely
in need of fresh horses, and fresh supplies of ammuni-
tion and provisions. Looking-glass's diplomacy tri-
umphed. The soldiers and citizens withdrew, allow-
ing the red men to pass without opposition through a
trail they had been busily preparing during the four
days of parley to the left of the fort. An unpatriotic
act, certainly, but Howard did not blame them and
surely we can afford to be no less charitable. Hardly,
however, can we imagine Randall or McConville or
Paige or Cearley doing such a thing.
Space forbids narration of the day and night rid-
ing of messengers between Howard's advance col-
umn and the United States forces to the eastward who
were now becoming interested in the campaign. Even
a war of small magnitude develops numerous heroes,
for the world is full of heroism, so full that it cannot
pay its meed of hero-worship to each. If it could the
despatch-bearers who rode furiously and without rest
day or night over the danger-beset, roadless, rough
and rugged country between Howard and the Indian
rear guard, would come in for a full share.
One of these messengers reached Howard on the
6th of August, announced his name as Pardee and
brought the news that General Gibbon had left his
headquarters at Helena; had hastened to Missoula, ar-
riving just after the Indians had passed Rawn's fort,
was pushing forward on Joseph's trail with less than
two hundred men and wanted reinforcements. An-
other, named Sutherland, left the same evening with
Howard's reply which was that "General Howard is
coming on. as fast as possible, by forced marches with
two hundred cavalrymen, to give the needed reinforce-
ments."
In compliance with this promise, Howard quick-
ened his pace, but the horses were weary with long
marches, weakened by insufficient nutrition and un-
able to satisfy with their speed the eagerness of the
commander. On the 10th of August, therefore, How-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ard determined to take twenty-five picked horses and
men and seventeen scouts, with whom to ride as fast
and as tar as possible in quest of Gibbon, leaving the
remaining cavalry to pursue as quickly as they could.
At dusk' this advance guard encountered seven citi-
zens, from whom they learned that Gibbon had had
a fight the day before. ' The citizens gave a gloomy ac-
count and, though little credit was accorded it as it
seemed like the semi-imaginative report of men who
run as soon as a battle commences, a messenger is
sent forward that night to apprise Gibbon of the help
coming. Gibbon's messenger missed Howard's small
force but delivered the message to Mason, in the rear,
with whom were the much needed medical officers.
By 10 a. M. on the morning of August nth, How-
ard came up to Gibbon's fortified camp, where the
train and a small guard of soldiers and volunteers had
been left. Hastening onward he soon reached Gib-
bon's position, and found him, as his message would
have told had it been received, near the mouth of Big
Hole pass in rather sorry plight. The camp looked
very much like a hospital from the number lying help-
less and the profusion of bandages.
Gibbon had arrived at a point within six miles
of the Indians' camp on the 7th of August. On the
8th a party under Lieutenant Bradley managed to steal
up close enough to observe the Indians, and in the mid-
dle of the night Gibbon's main force secured a posi-
tion within a mile or so of their camp. Reconnoisance
proved the central Indian position to be across a bend
on the north fork of the Big Hole river and that the
lodges numbered eighty nine. Before daylight Gib-
bon's forces were very close to the enemy and still
unobserved. Dawn brought the attack. Bradley was
killed at the willows which lined the stream. Before
the Indians could get out of their lodges, the whites
were across the stream and upon them. A stubborn
hand to hand fight ensued, Indian boys and squaws
taking part and fighting with desperation. Eventu-
ally the Indians fed back to the brush and high points
commanding their camp, whence they poured a melt-
ing fire upon the troops, busily engaged in destroying
the camp. As the Indians outnumbered the whites
two to one the latter were at a disadvantage as soon
as their antagonists recovered from their surprise. The
soldiers were therefore compelled to withdraw from
the open to a wooded point near the canyon by which
the troops had effected their approach. In so doing
they had a fierce fight with the Indians. Gibbon ex-
pected his howitzer to be brought to this position,
but it was captured, one of its six defenders being
killed and one wounded. White Bird was heard and
seen endeavoring to inspire the Indians with courage
to attack Gibbon's position. In this, however, he failed.
One attempt was made to capture Gibbon's supply
train, but it was so valiantlv defended by Kirkendall's
little squad, that the small force of Indians sent against
it dared not attack it and a larger force could not be
spared from the main engagement. This surprise
would have been fraught with grave consequences
to the Indians had they been led with less consummate
ability, but thanks to the generalship of their com-
mander, they were effectually rallied and inflicted up-
on the attacking column a loss of twenty-nine killed
and thirty or more wounded. During the night the
Indians moved away. Gibbon was in no condition to
follow, himself having been wounded in the engage-
ment and many of his small command disabled. Look-
ing-glass, the Indian diplomat, was killed at the last
battle on Milk river.
Howard remained near Gibbon's battlefield during
the 1 2th of August awaiting for the rest of his force
to come up, and on the 13th again took the pursuit.
At his encampment that night, he learned from two
excited messengers that eight citizens had been mur-
dered by Joseph on Horse prairie, and that two hun-
dred and fifty fine horses had been secured by the hos-
tiles.
On the evening of the 15th. word was sent that
the Indians had turned back into Idaho and surrounded
temporary fortifications at a junction of two cross-
roads in Lemhi valley. "Push straight for Fort Lemhi
and you will have the Indians" was the message of
Colonel Shoup. in command of sixty Idaho volunteers.
Howard did decide to turn to his right into Lemhi
valley and was making preparations for doing so when
after midnight, another messenger arrived, reporting
that the Indians had broken camp, rushed past the
temporary fort doing it no harm and gone eastward,
so Howard pushed on as at first intended.
August 17th found him at Junction station. Here
he was met by stage men, who persuaded him to aban-
don his purpose of proceeding straight to what was
known as Tacher's Pass, going rather by the road via
Dry creek. Lieutenant Bacon, with forty picked men,
and Robbins. with the Indian scouts, were, however,
sent direct to the coveted pass and Henry Lake. On
the 18th the camp of the Indians was discovered by
Buffalo Horn about eighteen miles from Dry creek
station in Camas meadows, and Howard was appraised
of the whereabouts of his wily foe.
"How confident I then felt !" says the General. "Ba-
con and Robbins ahead of Joseph and my cavalry only
eighteen miles behind on the direct trail! If it were
possible. I would reinforce Bacon ; but he is seventy
miles off! 'He can annoy and stop them, if he can-
not do more.' I exclaim."
The general condition of things was far from fa-
vorable however. The cavalry horses were so jaded
and slow that eighteen miles was a considerable trip
for them ; the Montana volunteers were still farther be-
hind and the infantry at least a day's march behind
them. But on the night of August 19th, Howard with
the cavalry. Callowav's volunteers and fifty infantry-
were in camp together in Camas meadows, where Buf-
falo Horn had seen Joseph's band the day before. The
trail of the hostiles was distinctly visible. They were
supposed to be in a camp some fifteen miles beyond.
Suddenly in the middle of the night, the multitudinous
noises of battle and the wild Indian war whoop burst
upon the ears of the sleepers.
Joseph has determined to double back and, with a
few of his men. distract the attention of the soldiers,
while some of his skilled horse thieves are cutting the
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
69
hobbles on the mules and making away with these ani-
mals. Howard saw the herd in full stampede. He sent
Major Sanford after them with the cavalry and soon
that officer sent word that he had recovered between
fifty and seventy-five head of the lost stock. A second
messenger brought less pleasing tidings. He informed
Howard that the Indians were returning in force and
turning Sanford's left. The remainder of the force
was quickly ordered to the rescue. It met Sanford re-
turning and inquired for Norwood, but no one knew
definitely where that officer was. The advance was
continued and eventually the missing cavalry officer
and his force were discovered. He had had quite a
skirmish, one which cost him the loss of one man killed
and six wounded. This surprise of Howard and the
capture of some of his mules was the theme of much
fun-making among eastern journalists.
The march was not resumed until the 21st. On the
22d some scouts joined the pursuing party from Fort
Hall, also Captain Bainbridge with more scouts and a
small guard of soldiers. The night of the 23d there
must have been little sleeping, for the Bannock scouts
had a dance and council ; then some of their number
came to Howard with a request for permission to kill
three professedly friendly Indians, claiming they were
traitors, which request was denied : then to make mat-
ters worse at two o'clock reveille was sounded. Day-
light revealed Tacher's gap and the Indian camp near
it. A rapid advance was made and the gap soon
reached but the birds had again flown. How discour-
aged and disgusted the soldiers must have been ! Ba-
con and his party not seeing any Indians had left Henry
lake, in plain sight of the pass, turning back and by this
unfortunate move coming out far in the rear of the
main column. Howard's messengers to him had failed
in duty and as a consequence this splendid chance of
cutting off the retreat of the foe and terminating the
war was lost.
For many weary miles the soldiers had striven to
overtake the Indians and now that they were on the
heels of the redskins, they must again allow the latter
to get a lead of several days. Howard's order to fol-
low Fisher's scouts on through the pass was met by
the protest of the physician, the quarter-master, the
inspector and other officers. "We cannot, we cannot,
general !," said they. "Come look at your soldiers ;
look at their clothing, ragged already and tied with
strings ; look at their feet, some barefooted and the
most with shoes so badly worn that in one or two days
they will b; gone. The ice froze an inch in our basins
last night, and we have no overcoats, nothing but thin
blankets, now falling to pieces. You can go no far-
ther."
The was no gainsaying this reasoning. The com-
mand was allowed to rest four days on the banks of
Henry lake while the commander, the quarter-master,
and Lieutenant Howard set out by wagon to Virginia
City for supplies, dishing and Norwood were di-
rected to proceed to Fort Ellis for supplies, joining the
main body two hundred miles farther on. Blankets,
provisions, fresh horses, everything needful were pro-
curer! ; the general and those accompanying him re-
turned and on the 27th of August, the march was re-
sumed under more favorable conditions. The famed
National Park was soon entered, and some members
of the ill-starred Geyser party encountered, which,
while on a pleasure trip had the misfortune to fall into
the hands of the hostile Indians. The first man re-
ported his comrades all dead, but two others, wounded,
were afterward met. The women were spared by Jos-
eph and eventually rescued.
In the park Howard received news of Joseph's
whereabouts from a man who had been captured by
the Indians and recaptured by Fisher's scouts,
which information saved the command nearly
one hundred miles of marching. About the
same time evidences were discovered of Bannack
treachery. Ten of these Indians were arrested, dis-
armed and held as prisoners until their comrades, by
bringing in the horses which the Bannocks were ac-
cused of having stolen, earned the liberty of all ex-
cept one, the leader, who was sent under guard to
Fort Ellis.
Under the guidance of the rescued prisoner the
soldiers proceeded to the Yellowstone river at Baron-
et's bridge and across it, the scouts finding "too abund-
ant evidence of their (the Indian's) usual murder and
rapine for twenty miles down the river to the Mam-
moth Falls, where a raiding party from Chief Joseph
had met and robbed some wagons and burned a store."
The scouts found evidences that Gilbert's calvary had
been there, but through want of knowledge as to How-
ard's whereabouts their commander had swung off.
coming upon the trail of the pursuing party one hun-
dred miles in the rear. He tried to overtake Howard,
but failed and finally returned to Fort Ellis. Unfor-
tunately the cavalry of Cushing, who left the main
column, as we have said, at Henry lake, had been taken
to reinforce Gilbert, but with the remnant Cushing
made a race for the valley of Clark's Fork to head off
loseph, when he should come down from the moun-
tains. He failed to anticipate the swift-footed chief-
tain, but effected a junction with Howard, turning
over to that general the supplies he had been sent for.
Arriving at the Soda Butte silver mine, the command
came upon about twenty armed miners, all of whom
were employed as guides. These led the main column
by a short route, while the scouts on fresh horses fol-
lowed the trail of the hostiles, and learned of the out-
rages committed by Joseph in his march. Three min-
ers were robbed of everything, then killed in spite of
earnest begging for mercy. A fourth, robbed and
dreadfully wounded, made his escape to the soldiers.
On the march from Soda Butte mountains. Howard
was met by three messengers, who brought the news
that General Sturgis, with several cavalry companies,
was within fifty miles and was moving to Hart's moun-
tains to cut the Indians off from their only practicable
route to the mouth of Clark's fork. Had he only done
so the war might have been speedily terminated, but
he allowed himself to be deceived, probably by treach-
erous Crow Indians, and sent on a wild goose chase
to the right. This and the audacity of Joseph in strik-
ing into an apparently impenetrable forest and through
7°
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
a narrow canyon opening into Clark's valley again
saved the fortunate Indians.
Sturgis discovered his mistake, returned, was re-
inforced by Howard with a few picked horses and
men and sent ahead in the chase. He overtook the
enemy and had a battle with them on the heights be-
yond the Yellowstone, capturing hundreds of ponies.
A running fight was kept up with the retreating red-
skins all the wav to the Musselshell river. Howard,
however, despairing of Sturgis' or his own ability to
overtake the Indians, who were going night and day,
sent a message by boat down the Yellowstone, also
by a horseman, to General Miles at Tongue river, ask-
ing that officer to strike northwestward to the Missouri,
intercepting the hostiles if possible.
Meanwhile the forces with Howard concentrated
on the Yellowstone below Clark's fork, pushed down
the river to Baker's battlefield and turned thence north-
ward with intent to rejoin Sturgis at the Musselshell.
By September 20th they were on that river, and there
they received a message from General Miles, who
promised to move at once. The march of the pur-
suers was continued with somewhat less haste than
theretofore, the generals, Sturgis and Howard, not
wishing to press the hostiles too hard, lest they should
not give Miles time to come up before them. This
continued until a messenger arrived stating that Miles
had crossed the Missouri and was in pursuit, then the
command quickened its march until it reached Car-
roll, where Howard, leaving his main command with
Sturgis, took passage with an artillery battalion, two
aides and a few scouts, on a steamer for Cow Island.
Disembarking there, he pushed on northward with an
escort of seventeen armed men, to the Bear Paw moun-
tains. On the 4th of October, after dark, the party
came to a point whence numerous small fires could be
seen and the firing of musketry heard. It was the
Indian warriors doing what damage they could to the
forces around them. Soon Howard joined Miles and
learned of the situation from him.
General Miles had made a rapid march to the Mis-
souri, crossed that river, gone to Bear Paw mountain,
making the long journey without any knowledge of his
movements reaching the hostiles, had come upon Joseph
in a ravine, had surprised him completely and by a
bold charge had defeated him badly, capturing his herd
of ponies. The Indians were forced to take refuge
in the deep ravines, where they fortified and heH out
as long as they could. On the 5th of October, the day
after Howard's arrival, firing was kept up by the
troops, with an occasional reply from the enemy, until
11 o'clock, when two of Howard's Indian scouts were
sent into the camp of the chief with a flag of truce.
After some lively negotiating Joseph finally, at 2 P. M.,
agreed to surrender. He handed his rifle to General
Howard, who directed that it should be given to Col-
onel Miles, and the remainder of the day was spent by
the Indians in coming into camp with their arms.
White Bird slipped out through the lines and escaped
with a considerable following, Indians say about forty,
to the British possessions. Ollicut, Joseph's brother,
was killed in the four days' battle with Miles. The
Nez Perces were promised that they should be returned
to the reservation in Idaho, but General Sheridan, in
whose department they were, directed that they should
be sent to the Indian territory. Years afterward they
were brought back to the west and settled partly on
the Nez Perces and partly on the Colville reservation.
The fame of Joseph became widespread on account
of his military prowess, and no doubt the glory ac-
corded him was a potent factor in inciting the Bannock
and Piute war of the following year. Buffalo Horn,
who had seen the entire campaign, became ambitious to
emulate Joseph's career, but fortunately for the whites
did not possess the generalship with which to do so.
Joseph was indeed a military leader of extraordinary
ability. With less than four hundred fighting men
and encumbered with large numbers of women and
children, he had succeeded in leading Howard a chase
that exhausted his mules and horses and wore out his
men, reducing them to a condition in which they were
truly objects of commiseration. How he could, with
weak women and helpless children, keep ahead of sol-
diers not thus encumbered, and having the support of
the government, is a mystery. It shows how marvel-
ous is the energy that lies latent within the Indian race,
inspiring the wish that by some means this force might
be called into activity in a nobler cause than contend-
ing against manifest destiny in warfare fraught with
horrors indescribable. Those who, admiring Joseph's
admitted abilities, claim that he carried on his campaign
in accordance with the laws of civilized warfare, are
evidently not cognizant of the facts, for the number of
persons killed by his forces outside of battle must
have been nearly fifty. In the several engagements
thirteen volunteers were killed, according to Bancroft's
account, and 105 officers and men of the regular army.
Not less than 120 were wounded.
CHIEF JOSEPH.
CHAPTER^IV.
ANNEXATION— STATEHOOD— RAILROAD PRO.J ECTS.
The progress of our narative has brought us
through the era of Indian difficulties and at the same
time by the romantic early epoch of north Idaho history
and quite well past that secondary or transition period,
during which the more stable industries were slowly-
supplanting the semi-nomadic mining of the earlier
days. Hereafter the germ of social order, always ex-
isting in the country, though at times obscured under
a superficial overflow of sin and folly, is to have full
opportunity to grow and develop, bringing not alone
the comforts and luxuries of physical life, but the re-
finements of education, religion and the fine arts. Soon
must we address ourselves to the individual counties,
with whose history our volume purposes to deal, but
before doing so we must give attention to two or
three other matters of general concern.
Mention has already been made of a certain lack of
community of interest between the residents of north-
ern and those of southern Idaho. The territory was
cut into two by the Salmon river range of mountains,
making it impossible for the Panhandle residents to
reach their capital without a long trip through Oregon
and Washington. The folly of this arrangement soon
attracted attention after the removal of the capital from
Lewiston, and the press and the people of north Idaho
as well as those of Washington territory, began advo-
cating the re-annexation of Nez Perces, Idaho and
Shoshone counties to the latter commonwealth, or as an
alternative measure, the establishment of a new terri-
tory out of northern Idaho, western Montana and east-
ern Washington. During its session of 1865-6, the
legislature of Idaho passed the following memorial to
To the Honorable, the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States, in Congress Assembled :
Your memorialists, the Legislative Assembly of the terri-
tory of Idaho, would most respectfully represent that, Where-
as the northern and southern portions of our territory are
divided by a high mountain range, known as the Blue moun-
tain, or Salmon river range, rendering communication al-
most impossible for one-half the year, unless by a circuitous
route, of five or six hundred miles, passing through the
state of Oregon and Washington territory ; and that unless
mineral discoveries are hereafter made, a tract of country
one hundred miles in width, between the two, will forever
remain almost uninhabitable ; and whereas there is no com-
munity of interest between the two sections, the interests of
the northern portion being identified with those of the upper
Columbia and Missouri rivers, and the territory of Montana;
while the interests of the southern portion of our territory
are identified with those of the states of Nevada and Cali-
fornia, the territory of Utah, and Lower Columbia river; and
whereas the material interests of both sections would be
advanced by dissolving the present territorial relations be-
tween them, and by having territorial governments so estab-
lished as to unite all the people within their limits by com-
munity of interest, thereby increasing our present rapidly
growing population, and developing the immense mineral
and agricultural resources of both portions of the territory,
and which your memorialists believe to be unsurpassed west
of the Rocky mountains ; Your memorialists would therefore
most respectfully request of your honorable body the passage
of an act by which all that portion of the territory of Utah
lying north of forty-one degrees and thirty minutes of north
latitude be annexed to the territory of Idaho, and a new
territory be established out of the northern portion of the
territory of Idaho, the western portion of the territory of
Montana and the eastern portion of the territory of Wash-
ington, to be called the territory of Columbia, with the fol-
lowing boundaries : Commencing in the middle of the chan-
nel of Snake river, where the parallel of forty-four de-
grees and forty-live minutes north latitude crosses said river ;
thence east on said parallel to the western line of the terri-
tory of Montana; thence westerly on the summit of the
Wind River mountains, to a point where the meridian of
thirty-five degrees and thirty minutes longitude west from
Washington crosses said summit ; thence north, on said
meridian of longitude until the same reaches the summit of
the Rocky mountains; thence northerly following the summit
of the Rocky mountains to the forty-ninth parallel of north
latitude ; thence west along said parallel to the forty-second
meridian ot longitude west from Washington; thence south
to the fortv-sixth parallel of north latitude; thence east on
said parallel of latitude to the middle of the channel of Snake
river; thence up the middle of the channel of said Snake river
to the place of beginning. And your memorialists, as in
duty bound, will ever pray.
Approved, January 10th, A. D.. 1866.
The movement for this territory of Columbia be-
came strong during 1866 and 1867, meetings being
held and memorials adopted not alone in Lewiston, but
in Walla 'Walla also, for the latter town was likewise
dissatisfied with the existing condition of things. But
Montana wished to retain the Bitter Root valley and
southern Idaho was fearful lest its burden of taxation
might become unbearably heavy if it lost any more pop-
ulation, for already many were departing on account
72
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
of the exhaustion of the placer mines. It was found
impossible to carry the measure.
In 1869 Nevada came forth with a proposition to
annex to itself all of Idaho"s territory south of the
Snake river and between the Oregon boundary line
and an extension of the eastern boundary of Nevada,
an important mining section known as the Owyhee
country. To this neither Idaho nor congress would
agree. The Idaho legislature memorialized congress
again in 1S70 for a change in territorial metes and
bounds, "but none that would leave the territory less
able to maintain the burden of government, interfere
with the congressional ratio of representation, or de-
crease the prospect of arriving at the dignity of state-
hood." These were obviously rather hard conditions
with which to comply. Meanwhile the newspapers
were still advocating the formation of the territory of
Columbia, with boundaries as described in the memo-
rial to congress above quoted.
Prior to the convening of congress in December,
1873, the old project of annexing northern Idaho to
Washington was revived with great earnestness. Meet-
ings were held in the territory directly affected ; resolu-
tions were adopted and committees were appointed to
press the matter. On November 13th, the house of
representatives of Washington territory passed a
memorial praying congress for the annexation of Nez
Perces, Shoshone and Idaho counties to their common-
wealth. Southern Idaho supported the measure in
part and the sentiment of the Panhandle was practic-
ally unanimous in its favor. Rarely indeed is there
such ananimitv in any political matter of major im-
port. The Panhandle counties undertook to do a little
memorializing on their own account, sending to con-
gress the following self-explanatory document :
To the Honorable, the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States, in Congress Assembled:
Your memorialists, an executive committee appointed by
the citizens of the counties of Nez Perces, Shoshone and
Idaho, of Idaho territory, at a mass meeting held at Lewis-
ton, October. 30. 1873, to properly represent the views of the
people of said counties on the question of annextion to
Washington territory, would respectfully represent to your
honorable bodv :
First, That the counties of Nez Perces, Shoshone and Ida-
ho, in Idaho territory, embrace that part of the present ter-
ritory of Idaho north of the great chain of the Salmon river
range of mountains, which extend nearly on a line with the
45th parallel north latitude, easterly from Snake river, through
the entire territory; that this ranee is covered with snow to
a great depth annually from the first of December to the
first <1av of June, thus rendering communication between the
two sections known as north and south Idaho almost impos-
sible during said period, save by a circuitous route of five or
six hundred miles to Boi*e City, the capital of Idaho; that
one hundred miles of this circuitous route lies in the terri-
tory of Washington, and about two hundred of it lies in
the state of Oregon.
Second. That along in the vicinity of this high range of
mountains is a section of country varying from fifty to one
hundred miles in width, so elevated and so destitute of in-
ducements for settlement that unless rich mineral discoveries
are hereafter made in this mountain region it will remain
uninhabited In civilized man for centuries.
Third. That the entire white population of our territory
is about twenty thousand souls.
Fourth, That said counties of Xez Perces. Shoshone and
Idaho contain only about one-fifth of said white population
of the territory, which is organized into well regulated, in-
dustrious, thriving and established communities, engaged in
agricultural, mining and mercantile pursuits.
Fifth, That the interests of the people of the two sec-
tions, north and south Idaho, are diverse in almost every
particular, those of the former being allied to those of Wash-
ington territory and the valley of the main Columbia river,
while those of the latter are in identity with those of the
states of Nevada and California and the territory of Utah.
Sixth, That the said Salmon range of mountains divides
north from south Idaho as completely as nature ever makes
such divisions
Seventh, That the boundary between north Idaho and
Washington territory is for the most part wholly imaginary
and artificial.
Eighth, That there exists now no social or commercial
bond between the people of north Idaho and those of south
Idaho, nor can there become such with the existing im-
passable natural barrier between them.
Ninth That both commercially and socially the bond of
union between the people of north Idaho and those of eastern
Washington, including those of Walla Walla, Whitman and
Stevens counties, is as complete as identity of social and
commercial interests ever make the union of a people.
Tenth, That the people of north Idaho are seriously in-
convenienced by their present territorial government rela-
tions with south Idaho; that their want of interest in com-
mon with the body politic of which they now form a part,
tends greatly to retard the development of their natural re-
sources, as well as retard their increase of population and
general prosperity.
Eleventh, That to maintain their political relations with
south Idaho imposes upon the people of north Idaho a
serious burden of annual expenditure, such that a large class
of the people are compelled to forego the attempt to secure
their proper legai political rights, obtainable only at the capi-
tal of the territory.
Twelfth. That the commercial and social intercourse of
the people of the said Nez Perces, Shoshone and Idaho coun-
ties is now mainly with Walla Walla county, Washington
territory, and the counties west of Walla Walla along the
Columbia river, and the roads and other channels of com-
munication leading thither are always open and easy of
access, — all the business of north Idaho is done by and
through these channels, no one of which leads to or near
south Idaho.
Thirteenth. That the union of north Idaho and Wash-
ington territory will hasten the period when said Washing-
ton territory will possess the requisites for admission into
the Union, clothed in the habiliments of one of the sovereign-
ties of the Republic.
Fourteenth. 1 hat the commercial men of the country,
who have inaugurated and have now in process of construc-
tion the great northern trans-continental railway, have sig-
nificantly pointed to the proper union of north Idaho and
Washington in the plan of their road and a western branch
which is to have its junction in north Idaho west of the
Bitter Root mountains and near the present eastern boundary
of said Washington territory, and that no part of south
Idaho gives prospect of ever becoming tributary to said rail-
way or its western branch.
Wherefore, your memorialists pray that, at the coming
session of your honorable body, all that part of Idaho ter-
ritory lying north of the forty-fifth parallel be annexed to
Washington territory as organized with her present bound-
aries, and your memorialists will ever pray.
Done at Lewiston. Idaho territory, this 22d day of No-
vember. A. D. 1873.
M. A. Kelly, Alonzo Leland,
John Clark, Jasper Rand,
L. P. Brown, B. F. Morris,
J. H. Evans, R. L. Yantis.
Committee.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
7i
The question was up before congress again in 1875
and yet again in 1877. The petitions in the latter year
were filed by Delegate Fenn. They differed from for-
mer documents in describing the territory to be trans-
ferred as Nez Perces county and all the teritory at-
tached to it for judicial purposes, rather than desig-
nating the southern boundary by a fixed parallel. Or-
ange Jacobs, delegate from Washington territory, was
pledged to the support of the measure. The sentiment
of southern Idaho was probably correctly expressed
by the following language in the Boise Statesman :
"Any proposition, coming from whatever quarter,
which looks to the dismemberment of the territory,
will always be opposed by the people of Idaho taken as
a whole, even if what might be considered as compen-
sating advantages are offered in return."
In 1878 the governor of Washington territory is-
sued a proclamation for a convention of delegates at
Walla Walla on June 1 rth for the purpose of framing
a constitution, preparatory to statehood. The plan was
to include in the limits of the territory, in which it was
expected the constitution would some day be in force,
the then territory of Washington and the Panhandle
of Idaho. Accordingly an invitation was extended to
Nez Perces. Idaho and Shoshone counties to send a
delegate to the convention, who, however, was to be
denied the privilege of a vote, though he might freely
participate in all debates. For the purpose of electing
this delegate a general convention was called at Lew-
iston, April 9th, on which date sixty delegates and
proxies were present at the court house. They adopted
certain resolutions, framed by J. W. Poe, Ezra Baird and
M. Storm, the purport of which was that the conven-
tion concurred gladly in the aims and purposes of the
Walla Walla convention ; that they would send a dele-
gate in whose intelligence, honesty, energy and ability
to fairly and truly represent them they had unbounded
confidence, and that the delegate would be fully justi-
fied in representing to the convention that more than
nineteen-twentieths of all the people of Nez Perces,
Idaho and Shoshone counties were earnestly in favor
of uniting their political fortunes with the people of
Washington territorv.
The choice of the Lewiston convention was Alonzo
Leland. He experienced some difficulty in gaining a
seat in the Walla Walla convention as the delegates
from western Washington were opposed to him, and
not much in favor of the annexation movement, for
they feared annexation would transfer the balance of
political power from the western to the eastern side of
the Cascade range. But Mr. Leland secured his right
to a voice. He not only represented north Idaho with
great ability, but by the wisdom of his counsels, added
much to the excellence of the constitution of 1878,
which is admittedly an able state paper.
In the November election, northern Idaho voted on
the question of adopting the Washington constitution.
The vote was lighter than that for candidates, chiefly
on account of misunderstandings, but those who ex-
pressed themselves were almost unanimous in its sup-
port. The official figures were as follows : Nez
Perces county, 485 votes for and 13 against; Idaho
county, 221 votes for and 14 against; Shoshone county,
36 for and 1 against.
From this time forth the memorials to congress
took a different tone. Instead of asking for immediate
segregation from Idaho and annexation to the territory
of Washington, they asked that they should be ad-
mitted as a part of the state, when that commonwealth
was clothed in the habiliments of statehood. The vote
on the question in 1880 was more nearly unanimous
than ever before, but two ballots being cast against
the proposition in Nez Perces county, and not one in
Shoshone. So determined were the people of the Pan-
handle in this matter that they freely cast aside for the
time being their political affiliations, when these were
in conflict with their great project, and supported an-
nexationists regardless of party. It was thought that
congress could not turn a deaf ear to the plain voice of
the people, expressed so unequivocally in their memo-
rials, conventions and elections, but the ways of poli-
ticians are devious and the real motives for their acts
sometimes hard to discover. Petition after petition was
slighted, and now that north Idaho had united its for-
tunes with Washington in its efforts for admission to
the Union, there was an additional cause for procras-
tination in the settlement of the annexation question.
Then there was besides the open opposition of southern
Idaho, whose representatives claimed that the proposed
change would despoil, disintegrate and tend to Mor-
monize Idaho; occasion a readjustment of territorial
districts, disarrange the courts, legislature and other
internal machinery ; make unequal division of terri-
tory ; be unjust to the citizens of south Idaho and un-
safe at present and finally that Washington would be
too large and unstately. The bill for the admission of
Washington with north Idaho was, however, reported
favorably by the house committee in 1882, but though
it elicited a vigorous debate, no definite and final action
was taken.
In the teritorial legislative session of 1884-5, an
annexation memorial to congress passed the Idaho
council by a vote of nine to three and the house by a
vote of twenty to four. In January, 1886, the move-
ment was again brought up in congress and pushed
with vigor. The bill as presented by Delegate Hailey
provided that the northern counties should not be re-
leased from their just share of Idaho's bonded indebt-
edness and that the southern boundary of the trans-
ferred territory should "commence at a point in the mid-
dle of the main channel of Snake river due west of the
head waters of Rabbit creek ; thence due east to the
head waters of Rabbit creek; thence down the middle
of said Rabbit creek to its junction with the Salmon
river : thence up the middle of said Salmon river to
the junction of Horse creek: thence up the middle of
said Horse creek to the junction of the east fork of
said creek: thence up the middle of said east fork of
Horse creek to the crest of the Bitter Root range of
mountains."
The committee on territories recommended the pass-
age 1 if the hill and the house passed it February 24th.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
The senate, however, refused to consider the measure
until that creating the state of Washoington had been
put upon its passage.
Meanwhile southern Idaho was all activity in its
opposition to the movement. So long had agitation
proved of no avail that the people south of the Salmon
river had become somewhat apathetic, but now that
they seemed in actual danger of losing their territory,
they awoke to a realization of the momentous conse-
quences to them which must result from its loss. Mass
meetings were held ; protests were framed and sent to
congress, and all the leading newspapers took up the
fight with vehemence. Some opposition was expressed
by residents south of the Salmon river, and two of the
commissioners of Idaho county protested against the
spoliation of the county's territory and petitioned that
if annexation carried, the county should go as a whole.
Opposition was also brought forward by Montana's
delegate in congress, who claimed that all of Idaho
north of the forty-seventh parallel, including the Couer
d'Alene mining district, of right ought to be given to
Montana. A petition signed by citizens in and con-
tiguous to the town of Murray urged that the Pan-
handle be annexed to Montana, for the reason that that
commonwealth, being a mining territory, could better
take care of the district's interests than could Wash-
ington, which was not a mining region.
On the other hand, the annexationists were not
idle. March 19th, the citizens of Kootenai county met
at Rathdrum and passed resolutions strongly favoring
the union with Washington and urging the senate to
pass the bill. Resolutions of similar import were like-
wise adopted by mass meetings at Mount Idaho,
Grangeville and elsewhere, and indeed friends and
foes of the measure were intensely in earnest, both par-
ties deeming success of vital importance.
On April 10th, the United States senate passed a
bill by a vote of thirty to thirteen admitting to state-
hood Washington territory with north Idaho attached.
Both houses of congress had now expressed them-
selves in favor of annexation, and it needed but their
formal consent to the same bill and the signature of
the president to enact the eagerly sought and bitterly
fought law. But the desired concurrence was not ob-
tained at the 1886 session, and delay in this instance
proved fatal.
As the reader has no doubt already perceived
unanimity on the annexation question no longer pre-
vailed in north Idaho. The discovery of the Coeur
d'Alene mines had caused an influx of Montana miners
into the country, who brought with them a bias in favor
of their own commonwealth. These began to advo-
cate annexation of the Panhandle to Montana. Fur-
thermore the desire to be identified with Washington
had been fostered by the fact that that territory was
striding forward at a rapid rate, owing to the impetus
given it by the building of the Northern Pacific. Now,
however, Idaho was itself enjoying a period of pros-
perity, and its development was encouraging the hope
that it might soon, if it could escape dismemberment,
gain the dignity and prestige of statehood. But the
sentiment was still strong as shown by the fact that in
November, 1886, Kootenai county gave one hundred
and sixtv-five votes for union with Washington as
against twenty-six for annexation to Montana and
fourteen for the maintenance of the existing order of
things. Murray and Delta favored remaining with
Idaho, and though Wardner gave Montana over two
hundred votes, the rest of the county more than coun-
teracted them. Nez Perces and Idaho counties were
still strong in their advocacy of union with Washing-
ton, but the case in 1887 certainly seemed less hopeful
than it had previously. Nevertheless, on March _'d,
the senate took up and passed the annexation bill which
we have referred to as having been passed by the house
of representatives at its previous session, and all that
was now needful was the signature of the president.
The people of north Idaho felt sure that this would not
be withheld, as Cleveland was thought to be favorably
disposed toward the measure, so the friends of an-
nexation, those who had labored so zealously for it
during so many years, gave themselves up to unstinted
rejoicing. But the jubilation was premature, for,
though Delegate Hailey, Oregon's representation, Ne-
vado's delegate, Washington's delegate, and others im-
portuned Cleveland for his signature, Governor Stev-
enson, of Idaho, seemed to have more weight with him
than their united importunities, and the bill was
"pocket vetoed."
The annexation movement was now on the wane,,
though its friends were still legion and much enthusi-
asm in its favor was later manifested. Petitions and
counter petitions were signed and forwarded to con-
gress. Southern Idaho feared that if the northern
counties were cut off the southern portion would be
unable to support a government of any kind and would
be attached to Nevada. Delegate Dubois therefore
fought with vehemence against the measure, as if the
life of his territory depended on its defeat. Delegate
Voorhees, of Washington, aided by his illustrious fa-
ther, also Oregon's and Nevada's senators, were in the
fight in behalf of the project. In north Idaho senti-
ment was divided, the mining region opposing annexa-
tion. Both the political conventions in Nez Perces
county passed resolutions favoring the union of the
northern counties with Washington, and repudiating
the acts of Delegate Dubois, the Republicans criticising
him in scathing language. On October 15th the an-
nexationists of north Idaho held at Cove, Latah coun-
ty, what was said to be one of the largest ma>> meet-
ings that ever convened in this entire section. H. E.
Hall presided. Letters were read from persons in the
southern portion of the state recognizing the justice of
the north's position. Judge Norman Buck accepted
the invitation of this mass meeting to become an in-
dependent annexation candidate for delegate to coiit
gress. and though his candidacy was announced but a
few days before the election, he received a very con-
siderable vote in the counties north of the Salmon
rivr, now increased to five in number by the organiza-
tion of Latah county.
But the annexation movement was somewhat em-
barrassed in December, 1888, by the introduction into
the house of representatives of a very popular bill, that
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
for the admission of Idaho, including the northern
section, to statehood. This placed the people of north
Idaho in the dilemma of giving up their annexation
scheme or opposing what under ordinary circumstances
they would very much desire, the admission of_ their
territory to the Union. There were also other forces
in the northwest generally which were militating
against the annexation movement. The Republican
victories of November assured the admission of Mon-
tana, Washington and the Dakotas at the next session
of congress, and it was believed that Idaho, if united,
would be admitted also. The political power which
Idaho's two senators and congressman would give to
the northwest was very much to be desired. If north
Idaho should be segregated the southern portion could
not maintain a state government and the whole north-
west would be so much the loser. Furthermore, the
Mormon question and Nevada's ambition for more
territory would probably result in the swallowing up
of southern Idaho and the permanent loss of a western
state. These considerations induced Senator Mitchell
of Oregon, hitherto an ardent annexationist, to publicly
renounce his former position and to remove his stand-
ards to the opposition camp.
The Idaho legislature did much also to mollify the
people of the north by granting them many liberal con-
cessions, principal among which were the state uni-
versity and a large appropriation for a wagon road
from Camas prairie to Warm Springs, via Florence,
uniting more closely the two sections of the territory.
These concessions seem to have had the desired effect,
for on the 22d of January, 1889, a significant event
transpired. This was four days after the passage in
the federal house of representatives of the Omnibus
bill, providing for the admission to the Union of North
and South Dakota, Montana and Washington, the last
without the counties of north Idaho. The date re-
ferred to witnessed a meeting in Grostein & Binnard's
hall, Lewiston, for the purpose of exchanging views
upon the subject of ways and means of securing state-
hood for Idaho. Hon. James W. Poe was made chair-
man of the meeting, and a committee on resolutions
was appointed which in due time reported the follow-
ing for adoption as the sense of the assembly :
"Whereas the territory of Idaho is possessed of
sufficient area, resources, intelligence and population
to maintain a state government and to authorize and
require its admission into the Union, therefore be it
"Resolved, That we insist upon and respectfully
demand of congress admission as a state into the fed-
eral Union.
"Resolved, That we endorse the efforts of our dele-
gate in congress, Hon. Fred T. Dubois, Senator J. H.
Mitchell and Hon. William H. Springer to secure state-
hood for Idaho, and to this end we earnestly petition
that congress pass an enabling act at its present
session.
"Resolved, That we call upon our territorial legis-
lature, and our sister towns and counties in Idaho, to
unite with us, by resolution and memorial, in urging
upon congress immediate action in the premises."
The debate on the resolutions waxed warm and
finally ended in a division of the assembly, those op-
posing statehood on account of their wish for annexa-
tion adjourning to Grostein & Binnard's new hall.
The number in attendance before the split was perhaps
125, and of these all but fifty withdrew. By those
remaining the resolutions were adopted as a matter of
course.
The opposition meeting likewise expressed itself
most emphatically by resolutions, but no language it
might use could be strong enough to counteract the
effect of the original meeting. An anti-annexation
assembly had convened in the city that had always
been considered the very heart and center of the an-
nexation movement. The announcement of this fact
was hailed with delight by the people of south Idaho
as indicating that the north had receded far from the
position it had held with such singular unanimity for
so many years. This action meant not only that the
danger of a loss of territory was past, but that the
commonwealth could hope for assistance from its every
quarter in the effort to secure entrance into the federal
sisterhood.
The Omnibus bill passed the senate as it had passed
the house, without making provision for the annexa-
tion of north Idaho to Washington. Cleveland signed
it during the closing days of his administration. Wash-
ington complied with its conditions and achieved the
boon of statehood and the annexation question was
settled at last.
There was now but one thing within the territory
militating against a united campaign for admission, and
that was the Mormon question. Of a population of
113,777, according to Governor Shoup's estimate,
twenty-five thousand were Mormons. To the crushing
out of the objectionable features in their religion the
territory had set its face like flint from the earliest
times. The legislature of 1884-5 passed a registry
law requiring voters to take the following rigid oath :
"I do solemnly swear, (or affirm) that I am a male
citizen of the United States of the age of twenty-one
(21) years, (or will be the day of ,
18 — , (naming date of next succeeding election), that
I have (or will have) actually resided in this territory
for four (4) months, and in this county for thirty (30)
days next preceding the clay of the next ensuing elec-
tion ; (in case of any election requiring a different time
of residence, so make it) that I have never been con-
victed of treason, felony or bribery ; that I am not
now registered, or entitled to vote, at any other place
in this territory ; and I do further swear that I am not
a bigamist or polygamist ; that T am not a member of
any order, organization or association which teaches,
advises, counsels or encourages its members, devotees
or any other person to commit the crime of bigamy or
polygamy, or any other crime defined by law, as a duty
arising or resulting from membership in such order,
organization or association, or which practices bigamy
or polygamy, or plural or celestial marriage, as a doc-
trinal rite of such organization ; that I do not, and will
not. oublicly or privately, or in any manner whatever,
teach, advise, counsel or encourage any person to com-
mit the crime of bigamy or polygamy, or any other
-6
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
crime defined by law, either as a religious duty or
otherwise : that I do regard the constitution of the
United States, and the laws thereof, and of this terri-
tory, as interpreted by the courts, as the supreme law
of the land, the teachings of any order, organization or
association to the contrary notwithstanding; (when
made before a judge of election, add 'and I have not
previously voted at this election') so help me God."
Much depended upon whether this "test oath" or
one similar to it could be maintained in the courts.
Pursuant to a proclamation issued April 2, 1889, h>
Governor E. A. Stevenson and supplemented May
nth by his successor, Governor George L. Shoup, a
convention of seventy-two delegates met in session at
Boise on July 4th for the purpose of framing a state
constitution. Upon the instrument framed by them it
is needless to comment here, further than to state that
one of its clauses forever prohibited bigamy and po-
lygamy. The Mormons claimed that this provision
and the test oath were both in violation of the United
States constitution which, by its first amendment, pro-
hibits the passage of any law "respecting the establish-
ment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise there-
of." As it was a matter of great importance to determ-
ine whether the distinctive provision of the constitution
of Idaho would be maintained in the courts or not, a
Mormon voter was arrested on a charge of conspiracy.
The case was taken to the supreme court of the United
States, which held : "that the term 'religion' has refer-
ence to one's views of his relations to his Creator and
to the obligations they impose and reverence for His
being and character, and of obedience to His will.
It is often confounded with the cultus or form of
worship of a particular sect, but is distinguished from
the latter. The first amendment to the constitution,
in declaring that 'congress shall make no law respect-
ing the establishment of religion or prohibit the free
exercise thereof.' was intended to allow everyone un-
der the jurisdiction of the United States to entertain
such notions respecting his relations to his Maker and
the duties they impose as may be approved by his
judgment and conscience, and to exhibit his sentiments
in such form of worship as he may think proper not
injurious to the equal rights of others, and to prohibit
legislation for the support of any religious tenets or
the modes of worship of any religious sect. It was
never intended or supposed that the amendment could
be invoked as a protection against legislation for the
punishment of acts inimical to the peace, good order
and morals of society. However free the exercise of
religion may be, it must be subordinate to the criminal
laws of the country passed with reference to actions re-
garded by general consent as properly the subjects of
punitive legislation. Probably never before in the
history of this countrv has it been seriously contended
that the whole punitive power of the government, for
acts recognized by the general consent of the Christian
world in modern times as proper matters for prohibi-
tory legislation, must be suspended in order that the
tenets of a religious sect encouraging crime may be car-
ried out without hindrance."
This decision removed the last internal stumbling
block in the way of Idaho's admission to the Union.
However, there were difficulties to be overcome in
congress. Delegate Dubois's bill was vigorously op-
posed by the Democrats, who refused to support meas-
ures for the admission of Idaho or Wyoming unless
Arizona and New Mexico were also admitted so as to
keep political powers more nearly balanced. When
the admission bill came before the house of representa-
tives April 3, 1890, the Democrats abstained from
voting or answering to the roll call and raised the point
of no quorum. Speaker Reed refused to sustain them ;
the vote was taken and resulted in the passage of the
bill with but one dissenting voice. The act passed
the senate on July 1st. was signed by the president
July 3d and Idaho, her people having adopted at the
November election the constitution signed at Boise
August 7th, was ready to enter forthwith upon her
career as a sovereign state.
Though it is not expedient or consistent with the
plan of this work that a detailed account of all railway
projects to be incorporated, yet a faithful portraiture of
the life and commercial activity of north Idaho's popu-
lation is not possible without reference to a few of the
efforts which have been made to solve the transporta-
tion problem. While the Pacific Northwest was in
the hands of the Hudson's Bay Company, it was con-
tended by the members and employees of that corpora-
tion that even a wagon road over the Rocky mountains
was an impossibility. It fell to the lot of an American
missionary. Dr. Marcus Whitman, to disprove this
assertion. That was in 1843. Less than a decade
later men of prominence in the west and railroad build-
ers in the east began asking themselves whether the
construction of a Pacific railroad might not prove feasi-
ble. Soon after the title to Oregon territory was set-
tled between the United States and the British crown.
in 1846, all exploring parties under the direction of the
government were charged with the task of taking in-
cidental observations and securing data which might
help settle this question of feasibility. In time die
conviction that a road was possible became fixed ; in-
deed the question became rather which of several routes
was the most practicable.
Before the end of the 'fifties Governor Isaac I.
Stevens, of Washington territory, advanced the theory
that at least three transcontinental railways would
ultimately prove necessary, in the same report advocat-
ing that the northern route was the one which should
first be utilized. During the 'sixties active work in the
construction of the Northern Pacific railroad was be-
gun, and by the dawn of the 'seventies it was so far
along that the west generally was feeling the benign
effects of the anticipated railway connections.
The question most intimately affecting north Idaho
was "where will the line cross the territory?" There
appeared to be three routes open to the company, each
of which had its special advantages, one through the
Coeur d'Alene pass, thence via Lake Pend Oreille;
one through the Bitter Roots, by the Lolo pass, down
the Clearwater and Snake rivers and by the Columbia
to the sea : and one down Salmon river. A survey of
this last was completed by Colonel DeLacy in the fall
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
of 1S72. Several advantages were presented by it,
among them that it was one hundred and fifty miles
shorter than via Pend Oreille lake ; that it would
always be below the snow line ; that it would render
possible a dry and permanent road bed ; that its grade
would be less and more uniform than any other ; ihat it
would be more nearly in the latitude of Bozeman pass ;
that it would draw some support from sources that
would otherwise send their trade to the Union and
Central Pacific or The Dalles and Salt Lake road,; that
it would open a promising mineral country. On the
other hand a road following this course would take
longer to construct than one on the more northerly
route; its cost per mile would be much greater and for
two hundred miles of the distance it woul pass
through land of slight agricultural value.
The Pend Oreille route was objectionable, or
supposed to be, on account of the low marshy ground
over which the road must of necessity pass and on ac-
count of its length. The Lolo and Clearwater route
was admittedly the best, provided the pass was prac-
ticable, a question which nothing but a survey could
definitely answer. Several engineer corps were kept
busy during the year 1872 endeavoring to solve the
route problem, but before the company had made a
decision the panic of 1873 came, effectually putting an
end to all railway construction for the time being.
Northern Pacific stock fell until it was regarded as
next to worthless, and the road went into the hands of
a receiver. Gradually, however, the company recov-
ered itself, and by 1878 it was able to resume the work
of constructing a road to the coast.
The failure of the Northern Pacific to build west
in the early 'seventies had a very depressing effect upon
the Northwest generally, and various were the reasons
advanced for this failure by the discouraged and dis-
heartened settlers. All sorts of evil motives were
ascribed to the corporation, but the more intelligent,
those who studied the financial situation and compre-
hended the magnitude of the work to be accomplished,
were disposed to view the matter in a kindlier light and
to consider the company not responsible for the incon-
veniences incident to the delay. Congress dealt patient-
ly and generously with the corporation throughout its
trials, passing in 1878 a bill renewing the land grants,
which had expired by limitation. By the provisions
of this act the company was to commence the con-
struction of the road at or near the mouth of Snake
river within nine months from the passage of the act
and twenty-five miles were to be constructed eastward-
ly within one year thereafter and forty miles each
succeeding year, and, including the extension west-
ward, one hundred miles per annum were to be con-
structed somewhere on the line, after the first year ;
a line was to be built around the dalles of the Columbia
within two and one half years and around the Cas-
cades within two years ; and the company was to take
all freights from above or below without discrimi-
nation in rates, giving an equal chance to all freighters.
In case it failed to construct a road around these
barriers within the time limit, the company was to
forfeit its grant down the Columbia from Umatilla.
Subsequently the law was changed so as to allow the
Northern Pacific to build north to the sound.
With the rejuvenation of the Northern Pacific in
1878 the people of north Idaho again became hopeful,
believing that at last the darkness surrounding them
was about to be disseminated and that the sun which
would pierce the gloom and again brighten the land was
the Ni irthern Pacific. They also had hopes that the line
would cross the Bitter Root range and conic down
the Clearwater, through Lewiston, thence along the
Snake river to its mouth. The Lewiston Teller was
the exponent of the opinion that this was a feasible
route and through its columns its public-spirited and
indefatigable editor, Alonzo Leland, renewed the agi-
tation of the railway question. Mr. Leland was not
alone in favoring a proposition to extend to the
Northern Pacific an earnest petition to again explore
the Bitter Roots with a view to utilizing if possible the
Clearwater route. This request was formerly presented
in 1879 by the people of Lewiston and vicinity, and
despite the fact that the company had made several
unsuccessful explorations in search of a feasible route,
the wishes of the people were complied with, the
company detailing H. M. McCartney to make the sur-
veys from the western slope. The expenses of this
expedition were paid by several prominent citizens of
Lewiston, chief among whom was John P. Vollmer,
who furnished three-fourths of the sum necessary.
The exploring party, accompanied by guides, spent
several weeks in the mountains making observations.
The perseverance and public spirit of the men who
placed the expedition in the field were partially re-
warded for McCartney found that the construction of
a line through the Lolo pass was not an impractic-
ability, though it would require much more time than
was possible to give it under the time limit placed upon
the company by congress for the completion of the
line. This was the substance of his report and very
naturally the company announced that under these cir-
cumstances it would have to abandon the Clearwater
route. It therefore immediately commenced the final
survey of the route from the mouth of Snake river
northward through the Pend Oreille pass, J. P. Voll-
mer, of Lewiston, receiving the contract for furnish-
ing the survey stakes.
" But the people of Lewiston and many other points
in north Idaho had not been convinced of the imprac-
ticability of building a railroad across the Bitter Root
mountains, holding that McCartney had not found the
lowest pass in that range, and the activity displayed
by the Oregon Railroad & Navigation Company only
urged them the more in their efforts to secure a rail-
road. The outcome of this feeling was the organi-
zation, at Lewiston, of the Idaho, Clearwater & Mon-
tana Transportation Company, composed of Alonzo
Leland, Tasper Rand, I. N. Maxwell, C. A. Thatcher,
C. C. Bunnell, John Brearley. A. McGregor, L. P.
Brown, B. F. Morris, J. M. Crooks, W. C. Pearson,
Charles E. Monteith, Joseph Alexander, Hazen
Squier, William F. Kettenbach, Jerry Dorman and S.
C. Hale, all residents of Nez Perces and Idaho counties.
The organizers of this company freely admitted that
7*
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
they did not possess the capital to carry out their pro-
jects, the main one of which was the construction of
a railroad across the Bitter Roots. They announced
that their purpose was to make several surveys and if
they found a feasible route to attempt to interest capital
in the enterprise. And now we come to the most
interesting feature of the whole Clearwater railway
question.
There seems to have been a widespread impression
among the inhabitants of north Idaho that a very low-
pass, whose existence was known only to the Indians
and a few fortunate trappers, existed in the Bitter
Root range. This was called the Skakaho pass and ac-
cording to the meagre information passessed regarding
it, was south of the Lolo. Its entrance from the Mon-
tana side was impossible to distinguish and its entrance
on the western slope was so hidden from man's view-
that only a minute examination could result in its dis-
covery. As the story went, the location of this pass
was a secret possessed by few but through those it
had been learned that the pass was easily approached
from both east and west and was perfectly feasible
for railroad purposes. The Indians were said to have
used it as a winter route through the mountains. All
agreed that nature had succeeded well in her efforts
to thoroughly hide it from the curious world.
To discover and explore this mysterious pass was
the task the Idaho, Clearwater & Mantana Transpor-
tation Company proposed to itself. Accordingly late
in the summer or 1881, the company sent an exploring
party under Alfred J. Beall in search of the hidden pass
and a feasible route to and through it. On September
22d, after an absence of six weeks, Beall returned with
the information that he had found the Skakaho pass,
that it was only 4,550 feet above the sea and that the
gradients to it from the west were very easy, the maxi-
mum being only 48 feet and the minimum 13 feet to
the mile. Mr. Beal! describes this route as "up the
Clearwater to the Selway fork ; up the Selway fork
to Fast creek ; up Fast creek to Loyal creek, and thence
through the canyon." The pass was taken possession
of in the name of the Idaho, Clearwater & Montana
Transportation Company. He reported an excellent
route through the pass and into Montana.
It is needless to say that this report created no
little excitement for if the purported discovery proved
genuine it would probably result in the Northern
Pacific's changing its route. That it did receive the
serious notice of that company is evidenced by the fact
that Major Truax, an O. R. & N. engineer but really
in the employ of the Northern Pacific also, as at that
time these two corporations were under the same
control, was sent to the Bitter Root mountains to make
an exploration. The Beall report was placed in his
hands and he was urged to make an examination of
the Skakaho pass. Major Truax reported a total
failure to find the Beall pass, as it now came to be
named, after a careful examination of the mountain
range. He also reported that the Lolo pass was less
than 5,000 feet high, in opposition to the statements
of McCartney that it was 7,500 feet. Traux said that
there was a practicable railroad grade through the
pass. He found that the maximum grade was less
than 100 feet to the mile and that the maximum grade
from the mouth of the middle fork of the Clearwater
to where the road would leave Lolo creek was less
than fifty feet. To construct a road over such a route
would require an enormous amount of work, however,
and much time, so that he believed it would be im-
practicable for the Northern Pacific to utilize the route
then, as congress was insisting upon the company's
living up to its contract to push the road to a rapid
completion. The richest and most fertile part of north
Idaho was, therefore, left as much isolated as ever
and not until recent years did the northern part of the
state really receive any great direct benefit from the
building of the Northern Pacific railroad. The con-
troversy over the Beall pass continued for many years
after Truax made his report and not a few refused
to believe in its non-existance. John P. Vollmer, an
official of the Northern Pacific Railway Company since
1879, to whom we are indebted for access to many
papers and considerable correspondence in the prepar-
ation of this chapter, gives it as his belief that the
Skakaho pass does not exist and that the report of
Beall was not based on work actually and honestly
performed. Many attempts have been made to re-
discover the famous pass, one by Mr. Beall himself,
but so far all have ended in failure. From personal
letters writted to Mr. Vollmer by the president of the
Northern Pacific in the early 'eighties, the author is
convinced that the Northern Pacific was desirous of
adopting the Clearwater route to the Columbia and
that if it had been practicable to build through the
Lolo or any other pass within the time limit this route
would have been chosen in preference to the northern.
It is a noteworthy fact that in recent years the
company has built a line up the Clearwater to Stites,
encouraging the hope that some day, when money may
be obtained at a much lower rate of interest than it
now commands, it will extend this Clearwater Short
Line over the Bitter Roots to a connection with its
main line and down the Snake to the Columbia, giving
Xez Perces and Idaho counties the benefit of direct
trans-continental communication.
Hardly had hope of relief from the Northern
Pacific failed before the residents of north Idaho were
encouraged to look in another direction for aid. The
Oregon Short Line was building westward through
the southern part of the territory at this time. It de-
sired very much to reach the ocean, while the O. R.
& N., building through eastern Oregon and over the
Rlue mountains, was very desirous of getting into
southern Idaho. The Burnt river canyon was the
only practicable route for the O. R. & N. It was
likewise the only route for the Oregon Short Line to
reach the sea, except by Snake river canyon to the
mouth of that stream, thence down the Columbia. The
Burnt river pass was of such contour that both rail-
ways could not well occupy it : and it was not definitely
known that the Snake river route was not preferable
anyway. Early in 1883 a survey was undertaken to
determine the feasibility of the latter course. Engineer
Moscript was entrusted to make the survey in a
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
79
southerly direction, while Chief Engineer Llark, start-
ing at the mouth of Burnt river, should survey north-
ward to meet him. After completing their task the
two parties came to Lewiston, where they reported that
the distance between that town and Burnt river was
187 miles, that the maximum grade of any one mile
in the survey was less than twenty feet, the average
being not more than six of seven, but there were no
curves to exceed six degrees, and that the surveying
parties saw no sign of snow slides. Mr. Clark was
highly pleased with the route. He said a road could
be built, he estimated for one-third less than the cost
of construction through Burnt river canyon and over
the Blue mountains. An approximate location sur-
vey was completed in September of that year confirm-
ing Clark's report and the residents of Xez Perces and
Idaho counties entertained not unreasonable hopes that
they might have a railroad in the near future.
But they were doomed to disappointment. Arrange-
ments were effected between the 0. R. & N. Company
and the Oregon Short Line, by which both roads were
to build to Huntington and join each other, dividing
the profits on an agreed basis. The fact that north
Idaho need not hope for any immediate relief from
the Oregon Short Line was officially communicated in
July, 1884, by a letter from a Union Pacific officer to
Alonzo Leland. from which some extracts are here
given as follows:
Dear Sir: Yours of the 21st Lilt, was found here
on my return from a two weeks' absence in the east.
I can well understand the interest your people feel re-
garding the extension of the Oregon Short Line down
Snake river and I wish I could speak more encourag-
ingly to you on the subject; but the fact is that the
present demoralized market for railroad securities
makes it impossible to raise money for any extended
new constructions, and the attempt to do so would
be simply suicidal. Our companv will not engage in
any new work at this time but merely complete works
already begun to redeem its obligations in that be-
half jo far as it is committed. The Oregon Short Line
track is at the mouth of Burnt river. As soon as the
Snake river falls sufficiently we will complete the
bridge at that place and lay the rails the remaining
three and a half miles to Huntington, completing our
part of the work, which we expect to accomplish about
the last of September."
The joint traffic agreement and the depressed con-
dition of railway stocks obtaining at the time were
fesponsible for this disappointment, as the Union
Pacific undoubtedly intended to build down the Snake
and Columbia rivers to tidewater.
In 1886 the Union Pacific R. R. Companv was
again in the field with surveyors, this time to determine
the distance and grades to be overcome by a railroad
from Lewiston to some point on the Utah Northern,
also the character of the country tributary to such road.
'I he next spring a corps of engineers from Omaha
started at the Lewiston end of the old Clark Snake
river survey and proceeded to run a line down the
north side of the Snake to the Columbia. Another
party in the employ of the O. R. & N. took the field
at Pomeroy, Washington, surveying towards Lewis-
ton. A survey was also made from the Short Line
road up the Weiser river, over the divide and down the
Little and main Salmon rivers to connect with other
surveys from Clearwater. There is little doubt but
that the Union Pacific really intended undertaking
some operations by which north Idaho would greatly
profit, but its energies were again paralyzed in the
fall of 1887 by an agreement entered into in New
York city between its directors and those of the North-
ern Pacific Company, whereby the northwest was di-
vided between the two corporations, all north of an
east and west line passing through the mouth of Snake
river, being given to the Northern Pacific. This
arrangement effectually shut off during its continuance
Lewiston and vicinity from hope centering in the Union
Pacific, dashing to the ground the expectations en-
gendered by the numerous surveys.
Still the Spokane and Palouse branch was being
built at this time and but little doubt was entertained
that it would be extended to Lewiston and beyond.
The O. R. & N. also gave evidence, by its activity
in surveying routes, of an intent to build into the
Clearwater and Camas prairie countries ; so the hopes
of our citizenship were continually receiving tresh
inspiration. But the Spokane and Palouse branch
stopped at Genesee ; the O. R. & X. came no nearer
than Moscow; and the people of Nez Perces and
Idaho counties were left to their isolation for more
than a decade longer. The discovery of mineral wealth
in northern Shoshone county had led to the building
of railways into that section, however.
Another railway enterprise which promised partial
relief to the southern portion of the Panhandle, but
which failed to bring it was the Idaho Transit
Companv, organized in 1887 by J. P. Vollmer and
others in Lewiston and Asotin. This company sur-
veyed a line from Lewiston to Camas prairie, via Tam-
many hollow and Lake YYaha, intending to connect
that rich section by rail with the boat lines on the
Snake river. Financial arrangements were made
whereby the companv might build the first twenty
miles immediately and in fact, $50,000 were spent in
grading the roadbed in Tammany hollow and in con-
struction work. Mr. Vollmer tells us that the Northern
Pacific Company was behind this movement from the
first. He was the leader and main stockholder in
the Transit company and he undertook the work with
the understanding that the road, when completed, was
to be sold to the Northern Pacific. The other stock-
holders were not aware of this, and of course the
people generally were not. The Northern Pacific's
idea in these negotiations was to get the road con-
structed and in its hands without inciting the rivalry
of the < >. R. & N. For some reason the Northern
Pacific changed its plan, bought the Tammanv hollow
road before much work had been done on it. and
abandoned the enterprise entirely.
During the latter 'eighties and the early 'nineties
no little interest centered in the projects of the Midland
Pacific Railway Company. The organizers of this
corporation were Hon. R. F. Pettigrew, president;
So
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
William N. Coler, vice-president ; S. L. Tate, second
vice-president; J. A. Gargiulo, treasurer; and H. M.
.McDonald, secretary; and its capital stock was $15,-
000,000 preferred and $65,000,000 common. Its pur-
pose was to build a road from Sioux Falls to the coast,
which road was to find an outlet through the Illinois
Central, Chicago & Northwestern and other lines to
the east. The route outlined by the company for its
own road was through northern Wyoming, skirting
Yellowstone park on the south ; down the Salmon river
to White Bird ; thence across through Camas prairie
and on to Lewiston, thence to an easy grade into the
Palouse country, which it was to cross in a north-
westerly direction going to Seattle. Mr. Vollmer tells
us that though the fact is not generally known a sur-
vey of this route was made and plans were matured
for financing the enterprise. The crisis of 1893 and
subsequent depression caused operations for the time
being to be suspended, but it is possible that the scheme
may yet materialize and shortly. Another survey
which excited little comment at the time and of which
few people have any knowledge, Mr. Vollmer tells
us, was made by the Illinois Central Railway
Company, also ambitious to reach the coast. This
survey likewise passed through parts of Idaho and
Xez Perces counties. It is surely significant that so
many railway companies seeking a route to the sea-
board, have looked toward the Snake river and its
tributaries as most likely to furnish the route desired,
and there certainly is much foundation for the hope
that this rich portion of north Idaho may yet lie-
traversed by a trans-continental line.
The chief sensation in Nez Perces county during
1898, aside from the war, was the building of the ex-
tension of the Spokane & Palouse branch of the North-
ern Pacific Railroad to Lewiston and the railroad war
which grew out of this activity. Strange it seems
to those on the outside that railway companies so often
neglect the numerous calls to them for aid from com-
munities suffering for lack of transportation and con-
tinue to turn a deaf ear to all proposals for years, then
suddenly become so anxious for the advantages they
have before seemed to spurn that they struggle ami
contend with each other to secure them. For thirty
years the Clearwater country had been agonizing for
a railroad. Its crv was unanswered. Then, when at
last the Northern Pacific determined to do something
for it, the jealousy of the Oregon Railway and Navi-
gation Company is aroused, and a war is the result.
In this case, however, it is evident that both corpora-
tions had been fully aware of the prize that lay un-
grasped before them, but for one reason or another
neither was before able to make the effort necessary to
appropriate it. Prior to 1895 the reservation exerted
a deterrent influence and when that was no more the
financial stringency was in the way. But the return
of good times brought a renewal of activity in railway
circles ; the Northern Pacific's operations directed at-
tention again to the rich field yet unentered in north
Idaho, and the commencement of condemnation pro-
ceedings against all the Indian land owners on the
north bank of the Clearwater between Potlatch creek
and the reservation line precipitated hostilities between
the rival corporations.
It is difficult to write of such matters with histori-
cal accuracy, for men who are able to speak with
authority are generally believers in the adage that
"Speech is silver but silence gold," and the outside
world has to do considerable guessing and reasoning
from appearances in attempting to arrive at conclusions
as to what transpires in the conferences of railway
magnates. However, President Mellen of the Northern
Pacific, in an interview, gave his side of the case with
considerable freedom. Among other things, he said
that : "There are contracts which have been in ex-
istence since 1880. signed by the presidents of the two
companies and ratified by both boards of directors, spe-
cifically assigning the Clearwater and much other ter-
ritory in that region to the \orthern Pacific." Upon
these he relied as a basis upon which an agreement was
to be affected, amicably settling the differences be-
tween the two roads. Portland, of course, favored the
O. R. & N. In commenting on the situation the Ore-
gonian said :
"Perhaps the most important territory in the Co-
lumbia basin, still unoccupied by railways, is the Clear-
water valley. Here is a territory in extent equal or
nearly equal to the Palouse country, — the subject here-
tofore and still the subject of so much railwa) con-
tention. It is a territory of enormous agricultural
capabilities and may easily ship ten million bushels of
wheat a year. It is also a great stock country, for the
grazing lands in and about it are to pfodigiou ■ ent,
and it lies in the vicinity of great timber and great min-
ing regions. The traffic of that country it would not
be easy to overestimate, and, like that of other locali-
ties in the great basin of the Columbia, it will come
down to Portland by the gradients on which the water
flows.
"It is of the highest importance to that country, to
the O. R. & N. as a property, to the city of Portland as
the commercial entrepot and shipping port of the Co-
lumbia basin, that this territory be furnished with rail-
way transportation through the O. R. & N. system.
This will require the construction of perhaps one hun-
dred miles of road east of Lewiston, and with it an
extension of the Snake river line from Riparia to Lew-
iston. about seventy miles. It is all practicable, all
easy."
To succinctly convey an idea of the controversy be-
tween the two railroad's we cannot do better than to
quote an interview given in July, 1899, by a high
official of the Oregon Railroad & Navigation Company
to the New York correspondent of the Spokesman-Re-
view. It reads as follows:
"It is difficult to appreciate the merits of th
water controversy without studying the ma]
Clearwater country. There is a great deal of misap-
prehension regarding the points of contention between
the Oregon Railwav & Navigation Company and the
Northern Pacific. The former has now a line from
Wallula to Riparia through the Palouse country. This
line is not satisfactory, and so the compan]
iected a line between the points mentioned following
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
81
the Snake river. The water course gives easy grades
and a better route. At Alto on the present line, there
is a three per cent, grade, so that practically all trains
from Spokane and the north have to be broken up
there. This will be avoided by die new line. The old
line will then become merely a feeder for the Palouse
country. Now there is no dispute, as generally sup-
posed, over this new line along the Snake river, the
Northern Pacific rather favoring its construction. This
line the Oregon Railway & Navigation Company has
about completed. What the Northern Pacific objects
to is a continuation of this line, as projected, along the
Snake river from Riparia to Lewiston, where the Ore-
gon Navigation now operates a line of steamers.
"The Northern Pacific has a line from Moscow to
Lewiston, to which the Oregon Railway & Navigation
Company has no objection, but is building lines east
of Lewiston in the Nez Perces and Camas prairie dis-
tricts, to which the O. R. & N. seriously objects, be-
cause the Northern Pacific has made no arrangements
with it for hauling traffic from this rich country.
"The O. R. & N. will not only build the surveyed
line, from Riparia to Lewiston, but will also build east
of Lewiston and fight the Northern Pacific in the Nez
Perces and Camas prairie districts. It believes that
the Northern Pacific has not been fortunate in the se-
lection of its routes and discounts its threats to subse-
quently parallel the Riparia-Lewiston line. One who
knows the value of the Nez Perces and Camas prairie
territory can easily understand how the two companies
have got into such a dispute over it, for it promises
to rank with the Walla Walla and Palouse sections in
the richness and abundance of its wheat fields and other
agricultural resources.
"For the present there can be no open collision be-
cause the Northern Pacific has its iines east of Lewis-
ton to complete and the O. R. & N. has its Riparia-
Lewiston line to build. When these are constructed,
unless by that time a traffic arrangement has been
agreed upon, the fight between the two companies will
begin in earnest, and a fight of no mean proportions it
will be.
"The O. R. & N. is so situated geographically that
it cannot abandon the rich opportunities offered by the
Clearwater country. Its line for the most part runs
south of the Columbia river, and it cannot get a very
valuable traffic from the countrv north of it. Its ter-
minus is Portland, where it has large interests, and
Portland's prosperity depends considerably upon its
keeping open the channel from the richest wheat fields
of the Pacific northwest.
"It has offered the Northern Pacific a short route
via Connel. but the Northern Pacific wants more liberal
considerations than the O. R. & N. deems reasonable
or than are usually recognized. The Northern Pacific
now has to take its freight to near Spokane and down
again, and of course if it built right through west of
Lewiston to its coast line it would have as short a route,
or even shorter, than the O. R. & N. could offer it."
The controversy occasioned much activity on the
part of both corporations in surveying for routes and
negotiating for rights of way. The Northern Pacific
sought to bring its adversary to terms by threatening
not only to parallel its proposed line up Snake river
to Lewiston, but if necessary to do likewise with the
road down the Columbia to Portland. The O. R. & N.
by purchasing as much of the right of way up the north
side of Clearwater as it could and instituting condem-
nation proceedings for yard and depot grounds on the
Silcott farm, opposite Lewiston, gave evidence of its
intention to push into the Clearwater country. Both
companies were active in surveying east of Lewiston,
and both were searching for passes through the Bitter
Roots and examining those already found. The
Northern Pacific was pushing with great energy its
construction work on the Cleawater Shirt Line exten-
sion, and it was reported that in April, 1899, the road
practically completed as far as the Big Eddy, where a
a cut had to be made. Work was also being pushed
vigorously on the Lapwai spur, which it was at first
intended to extend into Camas prairie, — a scheme after-
ward abandoned on account of the high divide to the
northward from Cottonwood.
In Portland, early in August, 1899, a conference
took place between President C. S. Mellen, of the
Northern Pacific, and E. H. Harriman, chairman of
the Union Pacific board of directors, President A. L.
Mohler of the O. R. & N. being also present. It was
understood that the main question up for consideration
was the Northern Pacific's ultimatum to the < I. R. &
N. that it should promise to keep out of the Xez Perces
country and give the Northern Pacific full trackage
rights down the Columbia from Lewiston to Portland,
or have its line paralleled down the Columbia. What
transpired at the conference was a secret ; we do not
know that its results have ever become fully known to
the public, but it is certain that some kind of a truce
was arranged whereby the O. R. & N. suspended oper-
ations in the Nez Perces country.
In the efforts of the press and people to gain as
much information as possible about the railway situa-
tion, not a little weight was given to the utterances of
the Orgonian, which was known to be in close touch
with the O. R. & N. That journal in an issue appearing
shortly after the conference used this language :
"There is at present a truce, for a given or termin-
able period, between the Union Pacific and Northern
Pacific, as to territory in the Columbia basin, and con-
struction on both sides is for the present suspended.
But it will be resumed within a short time, either
through rivalry or through agreement. The road along
Snake river from Riparia to Lewiston will be built next
year, either by the O. R. & N. alone, or by combination
between the O. R. & N. and the Northern Pacific. The
railroad problems of the Northwest are simply in abey-
ance for the present, but the inaction will not last long.
Agreement is possible, in order to avoid the duplication
of lines ; and yet the nature of the rivalry is such that
no basis on which agreement may be reached is ap-
parent."
But subsequent events have gone to show that if
not at this conference, then at some later one an adjust-
ment of differences much more favorable to the North-
ern Pacific than the above would indicate was agreed
82
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
upon. There was doubtless not a little truth in the
Minneapolis Journal's statement based on the best in-
formation then obtainable and published early in 1900,
averring that "when President Mellen was looking
about for some feature that would encourage an arbi-
tration of the difficulty he sought E. H. Harriman,
chairman of the Union Pacific board of directors. Mr.
Harriman never approved of the policy of the Oregon
Railway & Navigation Company that sought to invade
the Clearwater country and obtain territory by con-
quest. In Mr. Harriman's opinion the Oregon road
was going out of its way to continue a quarrel. But
the man with the hoe was James J. Hill, and both Mel-
len and Harriman knew this fact only too well. As
soon as Hill was left out of the calculation a settlement
was speedily brought about. It was Harriman who
proposed that the Oregon road abandon the Clearwater
country. But he also decided that the Northern Pa-
cific should pay its competitor for all the expenses in-
curred in making surveys and buying a right of way.
This bill of expense was only a trifling sum of $50,000,
and by its payment the Northern Pacific succeeds to the
complete title to a right of way through the very center
of Camas prairie, which will become more valuable
every day. Thus did President Mellen make a conces-
sion that redounds to the everlasting benefit of the
Northern Pacific."
It has been stated also that an important factor in
effecting this truce between the rival companies was
their common transportation enemy, the Chicago, Bur-
lington & Quincy. That road was seeking a Pacific
coast connection through the Lewiston valley and was
so well fortified in its demands as to be able to force
from the Northern Pacific verv valuable concessions in
the Northwest. The C. B. & 0. had surveying parties
in north Idaho during the summer and fall of 1900,
giving color to the belief that it would build through to
the coast, most likely by the Salmon river route. It is
understood, however, that this road is now under the
control of the Northern Pacific, so that that company
is apparently absolute master of the situation in the
Clearwater country at present. Further activity in
railway construction in that section has been confidently
looked for ever since the completion of the road to
Stites and is still expected. There can be little doubt
but that the Northern Pacific Company will push its
lines farther into that section in the near future.
But the first railway construction to effect the sec-
tion of which we are treating will be the Lewiston-
Riparia road. A dispatch from Portland bearing date
of August 2, 1902, announced that the contract for the
building of this road had been that day awarded by
the O R. & N. to Wren & Greenough. contractors, the
agreement being that work should begin at once and be
completed by April 15, 1903, including a steel bridge
across the Clearwater at Lewiston to cost $350,000.
The truth of the dispatch was vouched for a few days
later by President Mohler of the O. R. & N., also by
President Mellen of the Northern Pacific Company,
who also gave the information that the road would be
operated jointly by the corporations they represent.
Construction work was, however, delayed by a con-
troversy between the two interests over the right of
way, also, it is said, by the fear that legislation might
be enacted seriously affecting the capitalization of the
venture, but it is now claimed that all these difficulties
are out of the way and that work will be resumed in
the near future.
PART
HISTORY OF NEZ PERCES COUNTY
CHAPTER I
CURRENT HISTORY.
In previous chapters have been detailed the causes
which led to the settlement of Nez Perces county, the
inception of that settlement, the founding of Lewiston
and much of the earliest history of this important
political entity. Its creation by legislative enactment
has also been referred to and its earliest boundary
lines described. It remains now to take up the thread
of its history and as far as possible to trace the various
events which have transpired among its people, the
growth of its wealth and industries and the divers
forces which have contributed to its social and in-
dustrial evolution.
The original boundaries of the county as given it
by act of the Washington legislature in December,
1861, were modified by the Idaho legislature in 1867,
which enacted that they should be as follows : "Begin-
ning at the middle channel of Snake river, opposite
the mouth of Clearwater river ; and thence due north
along the west line of Idaho Territory to the main di-
vide between the waters of the Palouse river and
Lahtoh or Hangeman's creek; thence easterly to the
westerly line of Shoshone county; thence southerly
along said line to the Clearwater river ; thence up the
south fork of Clearwater river to Lolo creek ; thence
with Lolo creek in an easterly direction to the sum-
mit of the Bitter Root mountains ; thence southerly along
the summit of said mountains to the junction of
Salmon river and Bitter Root mountains ; thence in a
westerly direction along the summit of Salmon river
and Clearwater mountains to a prominent landmark
known as 'Buffalo Hump' ; thence westerly along said
divide between the waters of White Bird creek and
Camas prairie, to a point where the road leading from
Lewiston to Slate creek crosses said divide ; thence in
a direct line to the foot of Ponto bar on Salmon river ;
thence in a direct line to a point on Snake river
known as Pittsburg landing ; thence down the channel
of Snake river to the place of beginning." This ex-
tensive area in 1870 contained a white population of
1,588. which, however, increased during the next de-
cade to 4,583.
During the late 'sixties and early 'seventies Nez
Perces county was sharing in that transition from
mining to agriculture and stockraising which we have
before mentioned in connection with north Idaho in
general and this portion of the inland empire. It
shared also in the relative depression which visited the
country when the golden days were over, yet consider-
ing its' youth it had a goodly number of wealthy and
well-to-do men within its limits as shown by the
Signal's list of persons paying taxes on property valued
at one thousand dollars or over in 1872, which list, for
the sake of preserving as far as possible the names of
those who at the time occupied positions of promi-
nence in industrial circles, and were thechief wealth
holders of the county, we reproduce as follows :
Levi Ankenv, $23,200; L. B. Boise, $1,500; John
Brearlev, $4,100; Bunker & Squier, $2,850; J. J. Bon-
ner, $1,600; C. C. Bunnell, $5,000: A. Benson, $4,510;
Crites & Currv, $1,650; C. P. Coburn, $5,585; Curry
& Holbrook, $'1,375 ; Cook & Shultz, $1.240 ; H. Crites,
$1,200; C. Cooper, $2,635; Cummings & Company,
$2,000: Grostein Binnard, $20,000; A. Gilman,
$1,500: lames Gage, $3,160; Hung Wan Chung,
$2,500; Hexter & Brother. $9,000; Harris & Story,
$1,550: McGregor. $1,677: George Mitchell. Si. 140:
MA Kellv. S8.^to: I. Karnev, $1,590; Leland &
Rowley. $1,400: C. Le Francois, $9,565; Loewenberg
Brothers. $17,400- Wesley Mulkey. $6,555; R. J.Mon-
roe, $4,800; McElwee, $1,000; John Proctor, $2,720;
»4
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
J. Perrault, $3,640; Rowley & Leach, $1,550; H. W.
Stainton, $1,450; P. Sholl, $4,300; S. S. Slater, $1,666;
T. Schenck, $1,188; John Silcott, $1,490; A. W. Shum-
way, $1,080; Tremble & Company, $1,600; C. A.
Thatcher, $9,165; S. C. Thompson, $4,300; T- P.
Vollmer, $2,542; S. W. Whitfield, $1,100; E. Weis-
gerber, $2,150; C. Walker, $1,125 ; C. Wintsch, $3,000;
T. H. Worden, $3,645 : P. B. Whitman, $1,800.
In January, 1873. a bill was introduced into the
Idaho legislature cutting off a portion of Nez Perces
and adding it to Idaho county. Already Idaho county
had seven thousand square miles of territory or ap-
proximately that, and it was proposed to give it over
four thousand more, leaving to Nez Perces county only
fifteen hundred square miles, exclusive of the Indian
reservation. As the territory proposed to be trans-
ferred contained several old farming settlements, four
prominent mining camps, 450 inhabitants and about
$185,000 worth of taxable property, it was but natural
that the citizens of the county from which the terri-
tory was 'to be taken should offer vigorous opposition.
But the friends of Idaho county colluded with the
representatives from Lemhi, Boise and Ada counties,
giving them each a small slice from the eastern and
southern portion of its original domain. It was a
shrewd move and so adroitly managed that Idaho
county succeeded in securing the passage in both
branches of the legislature of a bill by which it ex-
changed twelve hundred square miles of territory of
no special value to itself for about 4,500 square miles
from Nez Perces county. Fortunately, however, for
the taxpayers of the latter political division, the bill
was vetoed by Governor Bennett.
Many causes of discouragement were operative
among the people of Nez Perces county during the year
1873. Hard times and lack of a market for products
were exerting their baneful influence upon the farming
communities, where, however, abundant crops were
being garnered. To add to the general discomfiture,
the Indians, who afterward took the war path under
Joseph, were showing signs of hostility, going so far,
it was said, as to debate among themselves, when in-
toxicated, the chances of success in committing depre-
dations upon the whites. To their boldness not a little
was contributed by the removal of the mounted troops
from the garrison at Lapwai. The newspapers called
attention to the danger and the men of Lewiston re-
sponded by organizing on the evening of March 29th
a military company of 107 members, with Hazen
Squier as captain, John M. Dormer, first lieutenant,
Isaac Kipp. second lieutenant, George Young, orderly
sergeant, and a full quota of minor officers.
The ensuing two or three years brought little
amelioration in conditions. The financial stringency
continued and the uncertainty and apprehension incident
to the Indian difficulties were still exerting their de-
pressing influence, nevertheless throughout this seem-
ingly unprogressive period, the foundations of future
development were being laid, and the country was get-
ting ready for the dawn of a brighter day, when the
incubus of doubt and dread should be removed.
Notwithstanding the various discouragements and
the danger of an Indian outbreak, which, strange to
say, did not lead to adequate preparation for defense
on the part of either the citizens or the military, while
it had its injurious effect upon industry, the country
made rapid strides forward in 1876, especially that part
north of the Snake river, or what is now embraced in
Latah county. A correspondent of the Oregonian,
writing in the spring of 1877, stated that after an ex-
tensive tour of eastern Oregon, eastern Washington
and north Idaho, he had found the prospects in Nez
Perces county, and in Whitman county, Wyoming
Territory, contiguous to it. especially bright.
Their population was rapidly increasing, and
they were being encouraged to engage in
wheat raising by the fact that the soil was
especially suited to that industry, and that the Ore-
gon Steam Navigation Company had made a liberal
reduction in the charges for transporting the product.
The same writer also refers to the rapid growth of the
sheep industry and states that the amount of flax seed
shipped from Nez Perces and Whitman counties indi-
cates that that product will become one of the sources
of wealth of that section. "It is observable also," he
continues, "that among the people settling there the
regard for schools, churches and all facilities for gen-
eral intelligence and improvement is as high as that
which characterizes the American people everywhere."
Of course the Indian war paralyzed industry in
this and Idaho counties during its continuance, greath
retarding all industrial operations, also in contiguous
counties of the territory and of Washington. Farmers
were obliged to take their families to places of security
in the towns, and those on the frontier, miners and
stockmen alike, in many instances left their work en-
tirely, remaining away during what would otherwise
have been the busiest season. Even where there was
no real danger, rumors and false reports kept the set-
tlers continually on the qui live, and an occasional
panic would send them pell mell to the nearest port of
safety, leaving their places to take care of themselves.
Unfenced grain fields were destroyed and all growing
products which required cultivation after seeding were
neglected. The presence of the troops, however, set-
tled the market problem for the time being.
The presence of the troops had another good effect
also in that it gave the people a feeling of confidence
during the Bannock and Piute war of 1878, in eastern
Oregon. The baptism of fire the citizens of north
Idaho bad just passed through resulted in their being
quite well supplied with arms and ammunition ; the
companies of volunteers formed during the Nez Perces
outbreak were another safeguard, and these, together
with the martial spirit of the people, were suffi-
cient to check any turbulent spirit among the reserva-
tion Indians.
The effect of the war is plainly shown in the as-
sessor's census for 1878, which shows that out of a
population of 2,793, the number of voters was 859,
making the ratio between total population and voters
entirely too small. The women and children had
moved to other communities and others who would
have settled in the county were deterred from so doing,
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ss
making the number of adult males disproportionately
large. Thorn creek precinct had 413 inhabitants and
141 voters; Paradise, 691 and 203; Palouse' Bridge,
419 and 142; Pine creek, 117 and 37; Camas creek, 61
and 26 ; Lake, 98 and 45 : Lewiston, 994 and 265. The
number of horses was shown to be 3,672 ; of cattle,
3,925 ; of mules, 276; of hogs, 2,785 ; of sheep, 14,960.
The valuation of real estate was $180,138; of personal
property, $327,504; the total valuation $507,642, and
the number of taxpayers, 577. The increase in the
property valuation over that of the preceding year was
nearly $200,000.
During the winter of 1879 a slight misfortune be-
fell the county, which was described by The Teller
in the following language :
"On Saturday last (February 23d) a regular
chinook visited us at this place. One had visited the
foothills south and west of us a day or two previously
and caused much of the snow to melt and run off
into the gulches and valleys. On Monday the Clear-
water was full from bank to bank with floating ice.
and this continued, except at intervals, until late on
Tuesday, and even on Wednesday much ice went down
the river. The Lapwai, Sweetwater, Hatwai and
Potlach creeks were much swollen, also the Asotin
and Alpowa creeks on the Washington side. Small
gulches and ravines discharged vast quantities of water
and some of them much debris and small rocks. Roads
were in many places rendered entirely impassable by
reason of the road beds being washed out in many
places. Small bridges were washed away. The mails
on the different routes leading to Lewiston failed of
reaching here on time, save the Mount Idaho, and the
northern mail did not depart until Wednesday noon
owing to ice in the Clearwater.
"At 3 o'clock P. M. on Monday the saw and grist
mill at the Lapwai agency with a considerable quan-
tity of wheat were undermined and swept away into
and down the Clearwater. Two men, Nicholson and
Toombs, being in the mill at the time it was swept
away, were carried out into the river and down it about
a mile and a half before they could be rescued, and
their ultimate escape from death was almost miracu-
lous. Much other damage was done along the Lapwai
creek. The Soldier canyon road was badly washed for
about two miles and it will require the labor of forty
men several days to repair it and make it as good as
before. The flume of the Lewiston ditch above Linds-
ley's orchard was washed away and the ditch in many
places filled with debris from the side gulches. The
boom at the saw mill was broken and about 100,000
feet of logs were carried away ; also the wood boom
above the mill, and about 125 cords of wood were lost.
The stage which left here for Walla Walla on Mon-
day with mails, express and one passenger was upset
at the third crossing of the Alpowa. The driver and
passenger were swept down the stream about 150
yards before they could get out. The two lead horses
became detached and got out of the stream while the
wheel horses, stage, mails and express were carried
six hundred yards and were rescued by the Indians.
The express, box with about $2,000 in it drifted to
within twenty feet of the Snake river, where it be-
came lodged against some willows and. was found on
Tuesday. The whole section was damaged consider-
ably and the loss will amount to many thousands of
dollars."
Yet it is certain that the year 1879 was on the
whole one of progress and prosperity. Considerable
government money was expended in improving the
Clearwater and Snake rivers, congesting temporarily
in some measure the local circulating medium. The
Sheepeater disturbances in Idaho county had been
quieted by the defeat and capture of the hostiles, per-
mitting the vanguard of the homeseeking army to ad-
vance farther inland. The Lewiston land office, re-
cently established, reported in June that since March
1st preceding, there had been filed in the district em-
bracing all Idaho north of the Salmon River range
854 pre-emptions, 437 homesteads and 300 timber
claim entries, an aggregate of 1,597 filings, each em-
bracing a quarter section. Those already established
in the business of agriculture and cattle raising were
meeting with splendid success, and the numbers of
those seeking to obtain homesteads and join their ranks
continued undiminished — were increasing rather.
But the opening of the year 1880 was a somewhat
unpropitious one. The spring was cold, rainy and
disagreeable in the valleys, while in the hills and
mountains the snow lay deep until far into the summer,
being over four feet in depth on the Warren trail as
late as the 15th of June. Neither did the middle life
of the year bring any special encouragement to the
agriculturist but rather the opposite, for the kindly
warmth of the summer sun proved congenial not alone
to man and his domestic friends but likewise to his
loathsome and detested enemy, the grasshopper.
Thousands of these voracious winged pests visited the
country, harvesting the grain crops at an untimely
season and desolating flower gardens, orchards, etc.
Fortunately the omnivorous insects were not as thor-
ough in their work of destruction as they sometimes
are and only certain localities were visited by them.
But the agricultural development of the country had
begun in earnest and not the presence of a temporary
plague nor the absence of speedy transportation nor
the scarcity of money nor any other obstacle which la-
bor and patience could surmount was potent to stay
the onward movement. No observing person could ride
out through the country at intervals without noticing
the signs of progress on every hand. In 1879 tne
Waha prairie was almost unoccupied, the only indi-
cation of its being the dwelling place of man being a
cabin here and there contiguous to or surrounded by
a small patch of enclosed land. Before 1880 had passed
into history the old trails and roads were rendered no
longer passable on account of the fences of the ranch-
men and the traveler must perforce traverse the long
lanes leading across the valley.
It must be remembered that all this development
was wrought in spite of many trying conditions.
While the mining wealth of the country was by no
means exhausted, that which could be garnered by the
poor man had long since found its way into the pocket
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
of the miner and thence into the world's marts of
trade. Capital is never a pioneer. However heroic
a man may be he needs the spur of necessity to force
him into the loneliness and uncertainty and danger
and privation to be met in the van of civilization's
march. Without the capital to develop them, the
deep lying wealth materials must remain unutilized;
without cheap transportation the markets of the world
are closed to the isolated community. Speaking of
the conditions obtaining during the winter of 1881 the
Teller says:
"Probably at no time for ten years past has the
first of January found the great mass of the farmers
so destitute of money as during the present month —
at least such is the burden of their song, and there
are reasons for this. They strained every nerve the
past season to raise a good surplus of wheat and flax
in the confident hope that they could get it shipped to
a paying market and get good returns before January
arrived. But with few exceptions, the people of this
section have not been able to get their wheat and flax
off to a market, and while a few have sold to the
agents of buyers who were sent out into the country
and received a small payment to bind the sales, yet
the great bulk of the value of their products has not
yet been realized. They have grain in abundance but
no money. This scarcity is seriously felt by the mer-
chants, mechanics and laborers whom they owe. Pa-
tience and forbearance becomes necessary in such a
crisis. These producers will work themselves out
of the dilemma as soon as they have a fair show.
The Walla Walla and Touchet valleys had a much
better show, and money is reported to be plentiful
among the farmers of those valleys. Our turn will
come after a while, if we can hold fast and not be too
exacting upon each other."
From the foregoing it will be seen that the fields
of Clearwater country did their best for the farmer
during the year 1881, even if the opportunity to turn
their products into cash was tardy in coming and the
ready liquidation of debts was for that reason rendered
impossible. The only climatic drawback to agricul-
ture this year of which we have found record was a
very heavy hail storm, the severest ever experienced
in this part of the country up to that time. It oc-
curred on the 3d of June and though its duration was
not greater than ten minutes, it lasted long enough
to cut down fields of grain in places, to destroy gar-
dens and to kill scores of domestic animals. Paradise
valley, the Potlach creek country and other farming
communities suffered damage aggregating hundreds
of dollars, while at Elk City a Chinaman lost his life,
being struck by a limb blown from a tree under which
he was seeking shelter.
Comparatively insignificant though the industrial
activities of the Nez Perces Indians were yet in our
summary of the year 1881 we must give them credit
for having added at least slightly to the wealth pro-
duction of the county. The number of the tribe at
this time seems to have been 2,036, of whom 257 were
farmers. The Indian dwelling places consisted of
fortv-eigfht frame houses, one hundred and twenty-
eight log houses, seventy-two cloth, eighteen skin and
twelve bark lodges. Four thousand, seven hundred
and thirteen acres of their reserve were in cultivation.
The red men were the possessors of 12,696 horses,
870 cows, ten oxen, 1,500 other cattle, 675 swine and
1,200 domestic fowls. The sole product of their man-
ufacturing skill consisted of about three hundred yards
of matting.
Up to this time the legislative and judicial business
of Nez Perces county had been transacted in a one-
story frame building, back of the site which Alexan-
der's general store now occupies, but the building had
long been felt to be inadequate for the purpose and in
January, 1882, the county commissioners purchased
the old Luna property from Conrad Wintsch, design-
ing to repair the building and fit it up to conserve the
purpose of a county court house.
The annals of 1882 were darkened by the com-
mission on Camas creek of a crime which for atrocity
deserves rank with the murder of Magruder in 1863.
The victims of this dastardly act were three Chinese
miners who were delving for the precious metal on
the creek at a point about seventeen miles above
Palouse bridge. The perpetrator or perpetrators of
the terrible crime burned the Chinese cabin and with
it two of the bodies. The remains of the third vic-
tim, who is said to have been a highly educated, intel-
ligent representative of his race, were found buried
in the snow. They were in a state of perfect preser-
vation, owing to the cold, which was sufficient to
freeze them. A bullet hole in the back, another in the
left side of the head and a gash across the throat
showed at once the manner of the Mongolian's taking
off and the extreme atrocity of his murderer. The
only incentive to the enactment of this terrible tragedy
seems to have been robbery, for the Chinamen were
supposed to have several hundred dollars in gold dust
at the time of their demise, no trace of which was dis-
ci iverable around their burned and despoiled place of
abode. Abe Galloway, who discovered the charred re-
mains of the burned cabin, was given an examination
which resulted in his being completely exonerated
from any complicity in the crime. Although Governor
Xeil on behalf of the territory offered a reward of
$500 each for the arrest and conviction of the guilty-
parties and although a determined effort was made
to solve the mystery, the murderer or murderers have
never been brought to justice.
During the fall of 1882 and the winter following
a determined effort was made by the people north of
the Clearwater to effect segregation from Nez Perces
county and the formation of a new political division.
As is usual in such movements the leading agitators
were men who hoped to gain some financial benefit by
the establishment of a new county seat. The ambi-
tious town in this instance was Moscow, in the rich
and prosperous Paradise valley. Petitions were cir-
culated and numerously signed, praying for the erec-
tion of the proposed new county and these called forth
counter petitions among the south side residents, who
admitted that county division at some time was in-
evitable, but considered this movement premature.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
8'7
Then, too, it was urged that as soon as northern Idaho
should be attached to Washington a readjustment of
county lines would become necessary, therefore the
people desiring to be clothed with the authority to
organize a separate local government ought to await
incorporation into the territory of Washington before
pressing forward their schemes. So numerous were
the remonstrators and so strong their opposition that
the bill for the new county could not be carried in the
legislature.
Disappointed in this project the friends of the
movement, through Councilman Taylor, introduced a
bill providing for a special election to be held on the
first Monday in June in Nez Perces county at which
the advisability of relocating the county seat should
be submitted to a vote of the people. The bill was,
of course, introduced in the interest of Moscow. One
of its provisions was that if the electors decided to re-
move the county seat from Lewiston, the place selected
should deposit with the treasurer a sum sufficient to
erect new county buildings and pay all the expenses
of removing the records, etc., to the new seat of gov-
ernment. The bill passed both houses. A lively cam-
paign followed, both parties to the contest making a
thorough canvass and arguing the question in all its
phases with spirit. The result on election day was in
favor of Lewiston, that town receiving 922 votes
whereas its rival, Moscow, received only 642 votes.
Lewiston had a majority in ten out of the thirteen
princincts of the county.
The year 1884 seems to have been a rather quiet
one in Nez Perces county, the Coeur d'Alene country
being the chief center of attraction in north Idaho at
that time. Autumn, however, brought an abundant
yield of wheat not alone in Idaho but in the cereal belt
of the neighboring territory of Washington also. The
crop was sufficiently large to have enabled the farmers
to liquidate practically all their debts had the prices
been good. The great bane of pioneer communities,
lack of adequate transportation facilities, was militat-
ing against these, however, and many ranchmen began
discussing the advisability of turning their farms into
stock ranches
During this year General Miles testified his faith
in the good intentions of the Nez Perces Indians by or-
dering that thereafter Fort Lapwai be treated as an
outpost of Walla Walla and garrisoned by a lieutenant
and only twelve men of the second cavalry. The re-
mainder of that company he sent to Fort Boise, mak-
ing that a four company post. The faith of General
Miles was not shared by the settlers in the vicinity of
of the reservation, who remonstrated earnestly, point-
ing out that the Nez Perces were still a strong tribe
and that there were many among them who could be
easily incited to acts of hostility. But the subsequent
good conduct of the Nez Perces has justified the faith
of Miles.
As illustrating the rapidity with which Nez Perces
county was growing at this period of its history we
have taken a few figures from the tax roll summaries,
according to which the total taxable property, real and
personal, in the year 1882 was $1,327,516; in 1883,
$1,817,229; in 1884, $2,050,546; the number of tax-
payers in 1882 was 1,560; in 1883, 1,832; in 1S84,
2,080.
The year 1885 was one of uninterrupted tranquil-
ity but 1886 brought a movement for the formation of
a new county with, no doubt, some of the intense in-
terest and bitterness usually attending such efforts.
The proposition was to take for the new political
division the southern portion of Shoshone county and
that part of the Nez Perces lying between the Lolo
and the south middle forks of the Clearwater. As
an alternative in case this movement did not meet with
favor it was suggested that the settlers in southern
Shoshone might seek annexation to either Nez Perces
or Idaho counties. The reason of their discontent with
their existing political affinities was the distance to
Murray, their county seat. The proposal seems not to
have been carried into a definite effort before the legis-
lature, but agitation for redress of grievances has never
solely died out and at this writing the erection of a
new county to embrace the inhabitants of southern
Shoshone is a living issue.
The next few years in Nez Perces county were
years of quiet and steady advancement along ail lines,
very little transpiring which has a sensational flavor
when reduced to narrative. The two questions most
deeply agitating the public mind during this period, the
problem of securing railroad communication with
neighboring states and the world and the annexation
movement, have been discussed at some length in pre-
vious chapters. It is needless to state that citizens of
Nez Perces county were equally with other citizens of
the territory of Idaho solicitous for the early admis-
sion of their commonwealth to statehood, taking their
full part in the initiatory steps in that direction. This
also has been treated in its proper place. In the general
prosperity obtaining throughout Idaho during the few
years preceding its admission to statehood Nez Perces
county had its full share. Crops were good, the out-
look in the spring of 1888 being especially faorable.
As the Teller informs us reports of great promise of
good and large yields of grain came in from every
section of the Clearwater country, from Lapwai,
Sweetwater, Tammany, Asotin, Camas Prairie,
Weipe, etc.
Aside from the larger questions above mentioned
the one political movement to agitate the general pub-
lic was a renewed effort to secure the removal of the
county seat from Lewiston to Moscow. The course
pursued by the friends of Paradise prairie's ambitious
business center was the same as that formerly taken.
namely the circulation of petitions, agitation through
the local press, etc. The friends of Lewiston again
took up the gauntlet and so effective was their oppo-
sition that a change of tactics bv the Moscow people
became necessary" Through Delegate Dubois and
Senator Mitchell', of Oregon, they secured the intro-
duction into both houses of congress of a bill creating
Latah county out of the northern portion of Nez Perces
county. The measure carried despite the protests and
efforts of its opponents in the southern part, becoming
a law May 14, 1888.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
In June. 1889, Miss Alice C. Fletcher arrived at
the Lapwai agency to take charge of the work of
allotment of lands to the Indians in accordance with
the provisions of the Severalty act of February 8.
1887, which provided that each head of a family on
the reservation should receive a quarter section of
land: each single person over eighteen, one-eighth
section : each single person under eighteen then living
or who might be born before the president's order
directing the allotment, one-sixteenth of a section. Her
arrival and the inception of this work was a favora-
ble sign as it proved the animus of the government
to open the reserve as soon as possible. The people
of the surrounding country looked upon the movement
with much favor, hoping that the incubus upon prog-
ress arising out of the ownership of large tracts of
valuable agricultural land by an unprogressive and
comparatively degenerate people would soon be re-
moved, but it was full half a decade before the work
of opening the reserve was accomplished.
With the opening of the prosperous year 1890
began a determined effort to secure transportation
facilities for the Clearwater country. In February
the citizens of Lewiston held a mass meeting in the
Yollmer block at which the railroad question was thor-
oughly discussed and a committee appointed to formu-
late a plan of action. A meeting was also held at
Nelson's schoolhouse, at which the citizens manifested
their willingness to raise a bonus of $25,000 in their
neighborhood to help bring a railroad to the country.
By April a bonus of $50,000 had been subscribed,
which, with the right of way from Lewiston to the
reservation line, a distance of seven miles, was offered
the Northern Pacific Company to extend their Spokane
and Palouse branch to Lewiston. Later the subsidy
was increased to $65,000 and still later to over $100,-
000. The railroad officials promised to build the ex-
tension during 1890. and gave earnest of their bona
fide intentions by investing quite heavily in Lewiston
real estate, but for some reason the road was not built
as agreed, so the company lost this magnificent sub-
sidy and the people the benefit of the road for several
years more.
The good year 1892 was darkened in Nez Perces
county during its final month by the enactment of a
tragedy which led to another, leaving a still darker
stain upon the county's annals. The facts as we have
been able to glean them from the rather meager rec-
ords at hand "are as follows: Albert B. Roberts, the
author of the first homicide and the victim of the sec-
ond, had been working for several months in the
employ of one John Sutherland and his brother,
residence in the vicinity of Leland. When the
Sutherlands discharged Roberts they held back five
dollars of his pay, alleging that he had stolen twenty
dollars from them. A quarrel ensued, of course.
Roberts went to Leland and when John Sutherland
visited that town a few days later the trouble
was renewed. Roberts demanded the five dollars
he claimed was due him: his late employer
refused; angrv words followed which soon led
to blows. During the melee Roberts threw his
right arm about Sutherland's neck and while he had
his adversary thus held in a comparatively helpless
position, drew a revolver and discharged it three times
into Sutherland's abdomen, killing him almost in-
stantly. Roberts was arrested and brought to Lewis-
ton.
The sequel proves that the Clearwater country had
not yet progressed so far in its development of civil
institutions and orderly society but that there was dan-
ger of a temporary lapse, when the occasion seemed
to warrant it, into the well known practices of the
vigilantes of its early history. On the 2d of January,
1893, a masked mob visited the jail in which Roberts
was confined and compelled Deputy Sheriff W. W.
Wright to open the doors. Proceeding to the cell of
their intended victim, they gagged him so that he
could make no outcry, then took him into the office
and bound him securely hands and feet, meanwhile
keeping strict guard over the deputy sheriff and one
Timothy Ryan, who happened to be his bedfellow on
this particular night. After giving their companions
time to get a safe distance away, the guard thrust
Wright and Ryan into a room, closed the door and
hastily retreated into the open. The deputy and His
companion ran to their rooms, secured their revolvers
and fired several shots in succession to alarm the
sheriff. That officer, together with Sheriff-elect
Mounce soon joined in the chase. The mob, however,
made good their escape and the identity of none of
them was ever discovered. In due time the body of
their victim was found in Mulkey's mill, still warm
but lifeless.
The year 1893 was an important one in the history
of Nez Perces county, and notwithstanding the fact
that the sun of financial prosperity throughout the
United States began to be eclipsed during the twelve-
month, several events transpired looking toward the
general progress of this section. Not the least among
these was the passage in the Idaho legislature of a
bill establishing a state normal school at Lewiston
and appropriating for its use fifty thousand acres of
the one hundred thousand given to the state by the
Lnited States government for the purpose of aiding
in the establishment of such institutions.
A matter of even greater moment to the industrial
development of the county was the successful negotia-
tion of a treaty with the Nez Perces Indians whereby
their reservation was to be opened for settlement. In
December, 1892, a commission appointed by the presi-
dent, which commission consisted of Robert Schleich-
er of Lewiston. chairman, Cyrus Heede, of Iowa, and
James Allen, of Washington, D. C, convened at
Lewiston with authority to offer to the Indians for
their lands as liberal prices as ever were offered to any
tribe by the LTnited States. For more than two months
the commission labored strenuously to secure the open-
ing of the reserve, but they were opposed in their
efforts by certain outsiders who hoped to gain per-
sonal benefits through maintaining the existing con-
ditions of things and by wealthy Indians who wished
the ranges for the pasturing of their herds of ponies.
On February 19th, the commission adjourned sine
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
89
die. They had succeeded in securing the signatures
to the treaty of only 1 18 adult males, out of a total
of 407. Negotiations were resumed shortly, however,
and in April the commission authorized the statement
that enough signatures had been secured to confirm
the treaty.
But the work of the commissioners was of no prac-
tical avail until the treaty negotiated by them should
be ratified by congress. A bill for that purpose was
introduced into the house by Representative Sweet in
June, 1894. The measure was referred to the com-
mittee on Indian affairs and though it was reported
back favorably by the majority, a minority report was
also submitted by Representative Holman, the "Great
Objector," making it uncertain whether the bill could
be reached that session. Senator Shoup saved the day
bv a shrewd parliamentary move. He succeeded in
tacking onto the general Indian appropriation measure
an amendment providing for the ratification of the
treaty and the appropriation of the necessary funds.
Objector Holman waged aggressive warfare against
the amendment but was unsuccessful in defeating it,
and it was enacted :
"That the said agreement (referring to the treaty)
be and the same is accepted, ratified and confirmed.
"That for the purpose of carrying the provisions of
this act into effect there is hereby appropriated the
sum of $1,668,622, of which amount the sum of
$1,000,000 shall be placed to the credit of the Nez
Perces Indians of Idaho in the territory of the United
States and shall bear interest at the rate of five per
•centum per annum. Said sum of $1,668,622, to-
gether with the interest on said sum of one million
dollars shall be paid to the Indians or expended for
their benefit, as provided in articles two. three, four
and eight of said agreement, out of which sum the
secretary of the interior shall pay to the heirs, ad-
ministrators or legal representatives of William C.
Langford, deceased, the sum of $20,000, upon a re-
lease and relinquishment to the United States by said
heirs, administrators or legal representatives of all
right, titles and interest in or claim either legal or
equitable, in and to the tract of land described in arti-
cle two of said agreement as therein provided. Pro-
vided that none of the money paid said Indians, nor
any of the interest thereon, shall be or become liable
to the payment of any judgment or claim for depre-
dations committed bv said tribe or any member thereof
before the date of said agreement.
"That immediately after the issuance and receipt
by the Indians of trust patents for the allotted lands,
as provided for in said agreement, the lands so ceded,
sold, relinquished and conveyed to the United States
shall be opened to settlement by proclamation of the
president and shall be subject to disposal only under
the homestead, townsite, stone and timber and min-
ing laws of the United States, excepting the sixteenth
and thirty-sixth sections in each congressional town-
ship, which shall be reserved for common school pur-
poses and be subject to the laws of Idaho : Pro-
vided, That each settler on said lands, shall before
making proof and receiving a certificate of entry, pay
to the United States for the lands so taken by him, in
addition to the fees provided by law, the sum of $3.75
per acre for agriculture lands, half of which shall be
paid within three years from the date of the original
entry; and the sum of $5.00 per acre for stone, tim-
ber and mineral lands, subject to the regulations pre-
scribed by existing laws ; but the rights of honorably
discharged Union soldiers and sailors, as defined and
described in sections 2304 and 2305 of the revised
statutes of the United States, shairnot be abridged
except as to the sum to be paid as aforesaid.
"That the commissioner of Indian affairs be, and
is hereby, authorized to employ a competent surveyor
for a period not exceeding two years, at a compensa-
tion not exceeding $1,200 per annum for the pur-
poses stipulated in article four of said agreement, and
he is also authorized to purchase two portable saw
mills, as provided in article four.
"That the secretary of the interior is hereby
authorized to examine the claim of those Indians who
served the United States under General O. O. Howard
in the late war with Joseph's band of said tribe, as
scouts, couriers and messengers, referred to in article
ten of said agreement, and also as to the claim of
Abraham Brooks, mentioned in said article, and re-
port his findings and recommendations to congress.''
In 1900 an act was passed amendatory to the bill
just quoted repealing the proviso that homesteaders
should be required to pay for their lands the sum of
$3-75 per acre and allowing all bona fide entrymen
under the homestead laws to obtain title upon pay-
ment of only such fees as were required of all home-
steaders.
It is needless to state that the opening of the
reservation was hailed with delight and enthusiasm
by the citizens of Lewiston and Nez Perces county.
Coming, as it did, at a time when financial darkness
overshadowed the land, the distribution of over six
hundred thousand dollars in cash among the Indians,
much of which speedily made its way into the hands
of the merchants, was an important factor in keep-
ing the wheels of industry oiled. But of vastly great-
er moment to the present and prospective develop-
ment of the county was the fact that the power of a
lethargic, nonproducing and conservative people to
hinder progressive movements was broken forever,
and in the room of the shiftless, nomadic red man
must soon come the thrifty homebuilder to garner the
rich treasurers of the fertile reservation soil. The
land passed rapidly into hands of men whose interests
led them to favor instead of retard the construction of
railroads and the inauguration of commercial enter-
prises. The wealth of agriculture, of pasturage, of
timber and of minerals, in which the reservation acres
were known to abound, would be developed to the full-
est and brought forth to assist in the upbuilding of
commerce, educational establishments, the arts and
refinements of civilization and in the working out of
the Clearwater country's highest destiny.
The effect of the opening upon the Indians probably
received little attention from settlers in their vicinity.
The price paid them for the lands was sufficient to
90
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
keep them all in luxury for the rest of their days, and
if carefully conserved and bequeathed to their pos-
terity to provide against want during at least the next
generation of time. That the money will be so hus-
banded is doubtful and the destiny of the tribe when
their resources are gone and they are no longer the
wards of the government is for the anthropologist to
foresee if he can and for the philanthropist to help
determine as far as he may be able. Certain it is
that the red man cannot always live on the bounty of
the government or the funds arising from the sale of
his possessory rights in the soil of his forefathers.
The day must come when he must live by his own
unaided" efforts or perish and perhaps the present is as
good a time as any in which to throw him upon his
own resources, teaching him by bitter experiences, if
need be, what he will not learn in any other way,,
that if he would enjoy the fruits of industry he must
endure its pains and sacrifices.
But we must return to our current review of events
in Nez Perces county taking up the thread where we
left it in 1893. The county did not fail to provide for
its proper representation at the Columbian exposition
in Chicago, but while enroute the car containing the
soil, grass and grain exhibits of this and several
other counties of Idaho was burned and its contents
destroyed. The fruits, however, arrived safely.
One event causing a great shock to the residents of
the county transpired during the fall of this year,
namely, the explosion in the steamer Annie Faxon,
of which Harry Baughman was captain, causing the
death of eight' persons and the wounding of nearly
every member of the crew. The vessel at the time of
the accident was making a landing at a point below
Almota and fifty miles down the river from Lewiston.
So violent was the explosion that the vessel was
practically blown to pieces, nothing being left above
the hull but splinters. The cause of the accident
probably was that the boiler was allowed to become
dry.
In 1895 occurred what was perhaps the most ter-
rible tragedy that has shadowed the fair name of Nez
Perces county since the davs of Plummer's gang.
Waha lake was the scene and Sunday, May 19th, the
date. One of the central figures in the tragedy was
John Siers, a pioneer of that section and a successful
stockman. In the early sixties he had entered into
partnership with Joseph Shissler ; fortune had smiled
benignly on the partners and by industry and econo-
my they became the owners of a large tract of
land, one of the finest farms in the Clearwater country,
also of extensive herds of cattle. As time passed other
settlers were attracted to the favored region, among
them Mrs. Mary E. Goddard. who settled on land ad-
joining Siers and Shissler's place, in 1884. Naturally
the large stock interests of these pioneer cattlemen in-
volved them in numerous neighborhood disputes,
among them one of great bitterness with Mrs. God-
dard.
The accidental death of Mr. Shissler in 1886 neces-
sitated division of the estate, and Mr. Siers took the
stock interests of the firm, leaving the realty to the
Shissler heirs. He then leased the land, associating
with him in this venture his former foreman, Frank
Ward, who later became a son-in-law of Mrs. God-
dard. Siers went east and remained until 1894, on
which date he returned, dispossessed Ward and took
possession of the property himself. He took up his
abode in the old house, allowing Mrs. Goddard, who
had resided with her daughter and son-in-law in a
new house erected by the latter, to remain in posses-
sion of the same. About the middle of April Ward
brought suit against Siers to recover $1,000 claimed
to be due him, and the Shissler heirs also went into
court to compel Siers to comply with the terms of the
lease. While the suit was pending the property was
placed in the hands of a receiver, who leased the place
to Mrs. Goddard. Siers acquiesced, only asking for
sufficient time to collect his personal effects, but when
he attempted to do this he found that many of them
were held by Mrs. Goddard as part of the estate. He
appealed to the receiver, who sent Mrs. Goddard an
order to turn over the property, which order was dis-
obeyed by her. Siers again went to the receiver, and
it was agreed that the difficulty should be adjusted the
following Sunday in the presence of that officer, at the
residence of Mrs. Goddard. On that Sunday the fatal
affray took place. The tragedy and events leading
up to it are described by one of the Lewiston news-
papers of the time:
"Sunday morning about six o'clock, Siers, in com-
pany with his employes, Elmer Shorthill, Frank Kin-
caid, J. Manee and William Fay, departed from their
temporary quarters at the Monroe farm for Lambert's
place, about four miles distant, to secure some horses
which were pastured there. Upon reaching the Shissler
ranch the party stopped in front of the old house and
Siers entered, returning shortly. At the barn yard
the party again stopped to allow Mr. Siers to visit a
man named Mott, who was sick and quartered in the
granary. Siers said he wished to see about removing
Mott to the Monroe place, and as he would probably
need their assistance he asked his men to wait. Mott
was a brother of Mrs. Goddard. He then passed
through the gateway opening into the barn yard, leav-
ing a rifle leaning against the fence, and proceeded
onward. Siers had nearly reached the door when he
was confronted by Ward, who held a pistol. A few
words passed between them, and almost immediately
Mrs. Goddard appeared, and, after engaging in a heat-
ed conversation with Siers, passed on toward the gate
where the men were. She stopped about forty feet
from Siers, who was between her and Ward, and ad-
dressed Siers. The latter turned toward her, and as
he did so Ward fired two shots at him. Siers reached
for his revolver and succeeded in returning the fire.
Mrs. Goddard now rushad up, and. taking a revolver
from her waist, placed the muzzle near Siers' back and
fired several times in rapid succession. Siers fell for-
ward, and as he did so Ward struck him over the head
with his revolver. Siers expired instantly.
"At the commencement of the fight Fred Goddard,
the thirteen-year-old son, appeared in the doorway and
' ordered the men at the gate to remain where they were,
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
emphasizing this command with a rifle shot over their
heads. Shorthill picked up Siers' rifle and. with the
intention of assisting his fallen comrade, snapped the
hammer at the combatants in the barnyard. The cap
refused to explode, however. He then loaded the gun
and again pulled the trigger, this time with more suc-
cess, though the testimony exonerated him from any
blame attaching to the death of the murderer, as it w ap-
proved that the bullet flew wide of the mark.
"Ward sank upon the floor upon reaching the
house, and in falling discharged his pistol, the bullet
from which grazed the limbs of Mrs. Boyer, who was
standing in the doorway. Forty-eight hours later he
died in excruiating agony. Mrs/Goddard was wound-
ed, a pistol ball lacerating her right arm.
"Hundreds of neighbors and Lewiston people con-
gregated at the scene of the terrible tragedy during
the day, and excitement over the affair overshadowed
all other interests. Coroner Strong impaneled a jury
and on Monday a verdict was rendered, holding Ward,
Mrs. Goddard and Fred Goddard responsible for Siers'
death. Later Shorthill was arrested for murder and
then for assault with intent to kill. At a fair trial he
was completely exonerated and acquitted."
When the Goddard case came on for trial in the
superior court there was begun one of the most mem-
orable legal contests in the history of the county. At-
torneys McXamee and Clagget conducted the case for
the state, while Reid and Griffits appeared for the
defense. Forty days were consumed in the taking of
testimony and the making of arguments, etc., entail-
ing upon the taxpayers an expense of many thousands
of dollars. The defendants were acquitted, to the in-
dignant surprise of hundreds who followed the testi-
mony carefully.
On Monday, August 26, 1895, the first payment to
Indians of moneys due them in accordance with the
treaty began at the agency. The Lewiston banks es-
tablished temporary quarters on the reservation for
the purpose of cashing the checks, and it is stated that
the Indians deposited with these institutions about one-
third of their newly-acquired wealth, also that they
acted honestly in liquidating their outstanding debts.
Speaking editorially of the events on this mem-
orable time, the Teller in its issue of August 29th
said :
"The past week has been one of active life in a com-
mercial sense. Every channel of trade has been
swelled to its flood tide. The impulse derived from the
disbursement of Indian money has not yet subsided.
Coming, as the revival did, at the beginnig of a sea-
son of general prosperity, Lewiston may reason-
ably expect a rapid development of neglected resources.
One thing noticeable is the fact that the Indians use
good judgment in making their purchases. Indian
goods have always been shoddy goods in trade circles,
but the Nez Perces have been selecting the best of
everything this week. 1 They have purchased largely of
spring wagons, but they have avoided the cheaper
goods, preferring to hay good prices for substantial
family carriages. Thfe payment of the Indian money
proceeded very quietH all week at the agency. The
red men were more indifferent than white men would
have been had such a prize been ready for the latter
for the simple asking. The sum of two hundred thou-
sand dollars awaited the Kamiahs for a week while
they deliberated over the preliminaries. At first they
seemed nonplused by the final awakening to the fact
that they would soon be surrounded by the whites and
have to shoulder the responsibilities of the white men,
and sent word that they had deeded no land and would%
therefore receipt for no money. Thev finally took a*
philosophic view of the matter, however, and' decided
to acquiesce.
"The Indians as a class have contemplated, secured
and utilized this money with better judgment and more
in accordance with true business principles than a
chance selection of an equal number of white men
would have done. This speaks well for their future.
The foundation of civilization is true business thrift
of the individuals of anv community, and commercial
prosperity is a natural trait of first importance in
political economy."
When the news of the opening of the reservation
spread abroad scores of prospective homesteaders
flocked into the country, camping where they might
and doing what they could to earn a subsistence. Only
the better class came, as the fact that the land was ex-
pected to cost $3.75 per acre deterred the rougher and
less thrifty element.
On November 18th, at 12 o'clock noon, the firing
of a cannon at the local land office gave warning of the
official opening of the reserve. As usual in such cases
there was a great rush for choice locations, but the
ruffianism so generally characteristic of these races for
homes was conspicuous for its absence. The first
claims were filed by Stephen Haaser for Colonel Ham-
mel, Captin Tamblin and W. O. Human, old soldiers.
A noteworthy event of the first day was the race for
the quartz ledges on Eckert's butte, which for many
years was supposed to be a veritable bonanza. J. L.
Eckert and C. E. Holt were the winners, the latter se-
curing first choice. Nezperce City, the new govern-
ment townsite, was likewise the center of considerable
interest. Great confusion obtained there for a while in
the matter of selecting lots, but the friends of order
finally effected an organization, and. on the suggestion
of Dr. Morris, adopted a species of lot drawing to de-
termine the distribution of prizes. .
The settlement of the reservation enabled Nez
Perces county to advance by a single leap to a place
among the wealthiest and most populous counties of the
state. Of the reservation lands. 533.500 acres were in
Nez Perces, much of this domain being exceedingly-
rich agricultural land, and its settlement by a thrifty,
homebuilding population was fraught with momentous
consequences for the future greatness of the county.
No new movements characterized the year 1896,
but it was nevertheless a busy one. It witnessed an in-
crease of over 4,000 in the population of Nez Perces
countv and the settlement of practically all the reserva-
tion not taken in the first grand rush. Thousands of
acres of virgin soil were broken, hundreds of homes
were built, several towns were started and signs of
9-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
healthy development were apparent on every hand.
During the year the Clearwater was opened to naviga-
tion as far as Kamiah by the utilization of twenty-five
thousand dollars provided for the purpose by appro-
priation, and thus the final year of the financial strin-
gencv, the year in which so little was accomplished in
many other parts of the west, was made fruitful of
much progress in Nez Perces county.
In February, 1897, Representative Fuller, of Sho-
Ihone county, introduced into the legislature a bill to
create Clearwater county out of the southern portion of
Shoshone, the northern portion of Idaho and the east-
ern portion of Nez Perces county, the seat of govern-
ment of the new political division to be Pierce City.
Some of the boundaries were unnatural, and most of
the section embraced was unpatented homestead land,
not taxable. The number of votes cast at the previous
election by residents in the section seeking segregation
numbered barely three hundred. Opponents of the
measure within and without the proposed new subdi-
vision of the state called attention to these facts ; the
hopelessness of the task they had undertaken soon be-
came apparent to its friends and the bill was allowed
to drop.
It will be remembered that in 1897 there was a re-
vival of business throughout the entire northwest.
Naturally Nez Perces county, which had not suffered
by the hard times as did other parts of the country,
was prepared to keep step in this renewed forward
march, and the year was fruitful of many improve-
ments and some departures in industrial circles.
Thousands of dollars were invested in reviving some
of the old mining camps of north Idaho, erecting
stamp mills, opening roads, etc. The reorganization of
the Northern Pacific Company after its lines had been
in the receiver's hands for five years was an event
of no little promise to a region which must look to that
corporation for the transportation facilities it so much
needed and so ardently desired. Lastly, and in time
to give the homebuilders on the newly-opened Nez
Perces reservation the encouragement so necessary and
so helpful under those circumstances, came the abun-
dant harvests and excellent prices which have made
1897 a memorable year in the history of the inland
empire generally. Prosperity among the farmers
meant prosperity among the merchants, laborers me-
chanics and all other classes, and every one felt that the
night of financial distress had given place to a more
glorious day than had ever before broken upon the hills
and valleys of the Clearwater country.
It was no doubt their perception of this golden
future that impelled the Northern Pacific Railroad
Company to commence in December, 1897, the exten-
sion of their Spokane and Palouse branch to Lewis-
ton, taking up in good earnest a project which it had
long been contemplating but for various reasons had
never carried into effect. At any rate, the company
notified the people, through its agent, J. P. Vollmer,
that it would commence work immediately provided
the right of way and depot grounds in Lewiston were
donated. The proposal drew forth an immediate re-
sponse ; the bonus asked for was speedily granted, also
the necessary franchise. The company proved true to
its promise. Work was pushed speedily and steadily
and on September 8, 1898, the first passenger train
entered Lewiston. That it received a hearty welcome
need not be stated when it is remembered that the
town had begun agitation for a railroad as early as
1872 — perhaps earlier — and had wrought assiduously
during all the intervening years to the end that its in-
dustrial development might receive the impetus which
nothing but speedy transportation could give, at times
offering enormous bonuses and ever standing ready
to offer the company which should build to them all
the encouragement in their power.
The activity of the Northern Pacific seemed to
stimulate other transpartation companies, and in
.March, 1898, articles of incorporation of the Snake
River Vailey Railroad Company were filed in
the county clerk's office. The object of this company
was to build a line from Umatilla, Oregon, to a point
in the state of Washington contiguous to the mouth
of Snake river, thence along the valley of that stream
via Riparia, Washington, and Lewiston, Idaho, to the
vicinity of Huntington. The proposed road would
be of great benefit to the Clearwater section, and the
people thereof are ever alert for the good of their
part of the state, so considerable attention was paid to
this new project. However, the people were too well
used to the ways of railway projectors to be greatly
disappointed when the road did not materialize.
The winter of 1897-8 was a mild one, and, as is
usual under those circumstances, the fall of snow was
correspondingly heavy. The precipitation during Jan-
uary was very great, and conditions were right for an
era of floods as soon as a warm wind should begin
blowing. On the 14th of February the balmy "Chi-
nook" came with its furnace breath, the snow was
speedily converted into torrents of water, the streams
were swelled to their utmost, the former high-water
records of the Potlatch, especially, being badly broken.
Much damage resulted to the railroad bed; the new
construction work was injured and its progress de-
layed; travel was rendered impossible for three days
and the entire Potlatch country was cut off from mail
communication with the outside world. The Clear-
water at Lewiston rose six feet in one day and the cur-
rent in it became so swift as to stop the ferries : but
inconvenience from high water was of short dura-
tion.
As the year advanced it brought with it blessings
and a substantial increase of wealth to the citizens
of Nez Perces county and vicinity. Copious rains in
June insured excellent crops. Much of the land of the
region was new, so that the enormous crop of 1897
did not render another large crop in 1898 a practical
impossibility, and it is stated that the wheat yield of
that year was the greatest known up to the time.
The acreage devoted to the different cereal products
during the year, as compiled by Assessor Cantril,
were as follows- Wheat, 44,507 acres; barley, 4,131
acres; flax, 2,924 acres: oats, 1,572 acres; corn. 275
acres. The number of acres devoted to hay was
2,344-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
93
The outbreak of the Spanish-American war was
in Nez Perces county, as in other parts of Idaho and
the west, the occasion of a great outburst of patriotic
ferver. This ebullition of the martial spirit found ex-
pression at a public meeting held at the court house
Saturday, April 23d, 1898, at which the militia, mem-
bers of the Grand Army of the Republic, several
Confederate veterans, many students and a representa-
tion of the citizenship of Lewiston — far beyond the
capacity of the audience room to accommodate — were
present. Judge J. W. Poe presided. Speeches were
made by Supreme Judges Sullivan and Ouarles,
Colonels Lane and Danford, J. N. Stacy and James
W. Reid, and these, with the martial music, stirred all
hearts to their profoundest depths.
Shortly after the issuance of the call of President
McKinley for one hundred and twenty-five thousand
volunteers, Company B received orders to hold itself
in readiness to furnish thirty-five of its best men to fill
up the state quota, and the boys had been drilling as-
siduously in anticipation of the opportunity to partici-
pate for the first time in active warfare. On Monday,
May 2d. they received the anticipated marching or-
ders, commanding them to repair at once to the ren-
dezvous at Boise, but on account of some difficulty
about transportation they were delayed in their com-
pliance until Thursday. At noon on Monday Com-
pany C, of Grangeville. Captain Murphy commanding,
arrived in Lewiston. They and the home boys were
tendered a reception by the ladies of the Women's
Relief Corps on Tuesday evening, at which they en-
joyed not only the usual bounties of good things, but
heart-felt words of welcome and farewell expressed in
glowing language by eloquent speakers. A flag was
presented to the soldiers by C. P. Coburn, accom-
panied by words well-calculated to inspire in the
breasts of its recipients a determination to carry it
on to victory and to never disgrace it by any act of
cowardice or dishonor.
The interest of the residents of Lewiston in their
chosen sons was further manifested on the morning
of their departure, when a concourse of between 2,500
and 3,000 people assembled at the boat landing to give
them a parting hand-shake. The public schools were
closed, also the Normal ; stores and public offices were
deserted, and men, women and children gathered to
see the start for war. More speeches were indulged
in ; another flag was given the company by the Grand
Army of the Republic, much hand-shaking, some
caressing, no doubt, a little of that overflow of feeling
which the soldier dreads worse than the battle's front,
and the boys were off to meet the uncertainties which
beset the soldier in fighting the battles of the repub-
lic. Two weeks were spent in camp at Boise ; then the
Idaho volunteers were ordered to join General Mer-
ritt at the Presidio, San Francisco.
From the records of Company B, First Regiment,
Idaho Volunteer Infantry, the same being the Nez
Perces county company, we learn that the officers were
Lieutenant Colonel Daniel M. Figgins, commanding;
Captain Edward O. Martinson, First Lieutenant Rob-
ert D. Stainton, Second Lieutenant Chipear Wilcut;
and that the privates were Charles W. Alkire, Robert
L. Baldwin, Herbert M. Caswell, James Cleary, David
D. Crites, John O. Derr, Frank C. Duncan, Fred Fol-
som, Harry B. Ford, William H. Frederick, Frank B.
Gorman, George H. Hammersly, Herbert Hennes,
Isaac Hutcheson, Hyrum Jenson, James Jenson, Oli-
ver B. Jones, Richard B. Jones (wounded February
5, 1899), Adam Kobel, Stanley C. Lebrook, John
Lucey, Dennis Likens, John H. Little, Donald O.
Merntt, Joseph Oswald, Richard D. Pelkey, Louis
Peterson, William M. Pipkin, Walter W. Rhoades,
Alfred E. Riter, William X. Robinson, Robert Ross,
Guy Simpson, Frank Stark, Bert Weeks, James Wes-
ton and William C. Woodside. Privates discharged
from the company before the register was made were :
John \V. Frederick, James C. Henderson, Theodore
Link, William A. Bicknell, Darius P. Gray, William
Hall, Caleb P. Hahn, Charles F. Krise, John N. Luit-
jens (wounded February 5, 1899), Harry McConville,
J. C. McFadden, Frederick B. McKee, Charles C.
Miles, G. E. Overstreet, Lewis A. Powless, William
B. Rea, Joseph Rustmeyer, Frederick W. Soule,
Martin Starling, William B. Strong, Horace
D. Van Alstine. Officers resigned : Captain L.
D. Schattner, April 25, 1899; Second Lieu-
tenant John O. Barbour, March 17, 1899. Discharged
to accept commisions : First Sergeant, Robert D.
Stainton, Private Frank A, McCall (wounded Feb-
ruary 5, 1899), Chipear Wilcut. Those who served
as sergeants were: Joseph Strobel, Ernest Scott
(wounded February 5, 1899), John Wiggins, William
M. Keller (wounded February 5, 1899), Charles Gor-
don, Fred S. Beckwith. As corporals : Samuel W.
Blue, Alois Kalous, Charles W. Byers, Frank Cer-
veny, Frank B. Flora, Len Koen, Thomas Martin.
As musicians : William H. Ritzheimer and William
E. Merriam. As artificer, Thomas Nance. As wag-
oner, Herman Wilde. Those transferred were: Mack
K. Cunningham, Fred Farr, Joseph A. Gill, Elmore
A. McKenna and Amos A. Smith, all privates. Those
killed in action were: Corporal Frank R. Caldwell,
Privates James R. Fraser and George W. Hall.
The company's record of events reads as follows :
"Left Boise, May 19, 1898; arrived at San Francisco,
California, May 22d and went into Camp Merntt.
Embarked on Steamship 'Morgan City' June 26th ;
left San Francisco bay en route for Manila June 27th.
Arrived at Honolulu July 6th, leaving July 9th; ar-
rived at Manila bay July 31. Landed August 6th at
Paranaque and went into camp at Camp Dewey. In
trenches August 8th and 9th. In barracks at Malate
August 13th to October nth. In barracks, Exposi-
tion building, Manila, to January 2d. In barracks at
Aco, Manila, to February 4th. On guard and outpost
duty until February 4, 1899. In trenches and on fir-
ing'line from February 4th to July 12th. Embarked
on United States Army Transport Grant, en route
for San Francisco via Magaski, Island Sea and Yoko-
hama July 31st ; arrived August 29th. Went into camp
at Presidio August 31st."
The company took part in one engagement with
Spanish forces — the assault and capture of Manila,
94
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
August 13th, 1898, and battled against Philippino in-
surgents at Santa Ana on February 4th and 5th at
Calcoocan, February 10th and nth, 1899. Detach-
ments of the company were in the Laguna bay expedi-
tion, April 7th to 17th ; at Santa Cruz, April 9th and
10th; at Pagsanjan, April nth; at Lumban, April
nth, and at Paete, April 13th.
Besides the volunteers above mentioned, Harry
Matheson, Ed Sutherland, James Jacks, Ed Sears,
John Neal, Harry Lee, Bob Winger and Moxie Alex-
ander, all Lewiston boys, took part in the war, having
enlisted in Company C, First Battalion, Second Regi-
ment, Washington Volunteers.
The Second Battalion, Idaho Volunteers, including
all the north Idaho companies, was commanded by
Major Ed McConville (the Colonel McConville of Nez
Perces Indian war fame), a man of splendid military
ability. Brave, determined, heroic, possessing the gift
of inspiring others with the enthusiasm and ardor
which fired his own patriotic heart, he kept adding
laurels to his wreath of fame until he met at last a
soldier's fate. Brigadier General Charles King, who
was in command of the brigade in the battle of Santa
Ana, in which the Idaho regiment covered itself with
glory, refers to the Idaho volunteers and to Major
McConville in this language :
"Just as the center of the Idahos reached a little
clump of trees and shrubbery half way across the
plain they were greeted by a sudden and furious vol-
ley, which staggered them. In an instant McConville
leaped to the front, shouting to his men: 'Come on!
Come on, Idaho!' and then, as he turned and led the
rush into the shrubbery a shot struck him square in
the breast and down he went. Even then, they told
me, he strove to crawl forward, but the wound was
mortal, and presently the brave old fellow realized that
he had but an hour or two to live. I never saw him
again. The order he received from my lips on the
Santa Ana road was his last, and to the letter had he
striven to obey it.
"Five insurgents lay dead about the Krupps in the
middle of the redoubt, where, side by side, California
and Idaho leaped in to the capture, and a dozen lay
strewn over the field in front of where the honored old
major fell. The big redoubt on the mound to his left
was littered with the bodies of insurgents. Hemmed
in between McConville, Fortson and the river and un-
able to beat back the dashing charge of the 'Ameri-
canos,' they raised the white flag and then shot dead
the first soldier to reach the work. The roar of mus-
ketry was resumed for three minutes and was followed
by scattering shots as the fugitives ran for the stream,
but there was a smile on McConville's grizzled face
as they bore him off the field."
The remains of the heroic McConville were brought
home lor interment. On April 12th the steamer
Spokane, with its flag at half-mast, steamed into port
bearing the body, and during the afternoon of the
next day all that was mortal of the courageous patriot
was laid to rest. The funeral was attended by hun-
dreds of people, among them the state officials, "led by
Governor Steunberg, the University of Idaho Cadets
and members of the faculty and delegations from other
cities of Idaho and Washington.
The members of Company B arrived at Lewiston
on the afternoon of October 2, 1899, and were greeted
in a manner which proved that the people fully appre-
ciated their gallant services and the honor they reflect-
ed upon the city and county that sent them forth. The
boat was met by members of fraternal orders, by
fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and sweethearts,
by young and old and middle aged, all in gala attire
and striving to outdo one another in the warmth of
their welcome and the heartiness of their tributes of
honor.
But we must take up again the current of events
in Nez Perces county. The year 1899 was a very
lively one. The railroad activity of which we have
spoken in a previous chapter contributed not a little
to this prosperity and there were other causes also
operative in the same direction. True the winter had
been a severe one occasioning heavy losses of cattle
and horses, the heaviest, however, being outside of
Nez Perces county, but the effect was scarcely felt,
being so completely neutralized by the operation of
other forces. By May, according to the Teller's state-
ment, the entire country was on the boom. New
towns and new additions to old towns were coming
to the front and the price of real estate was leaping
forward. "Every house of every description," says
the paper referred to, "is occupied to its fullest ca-
pacity and large numbers of new ones are under con-
struction, while many vacant lots serve as tenting
ground for people who cannot otherwise get housed.
The transient traveler who gets a room to himself is
fortunate and still more so is he if he is not compelled
to sleep at some barracks of a lodging house utilized
in connection with the hotel where he may have reg-
istered." The Buffalo Hump excitement, caused by
the discovery of rich gold deposits in the vicinity of
that old landmark, was responsible for much of the
travel through the country and the general boom con-
ditions, but there was also a mining excitement in
Nez Perces county itself. A number of locations
were made near Greer's ferry on the Clearwater river,
a region blest with traditions of a lost mine. "During
the Nez Perces war," so the story goes, "a party of
prospectors were run to cover in the canyon of the Lo-
lo and while in hiding they found a very rich ledge.
The prospectors were badly scared, did not expect
to save even their scalps, but they chipped off chunks
of gold bearing quartz and carried them to their
homes. The confused state of their minds at the
time left them with only vague recollections of the
location of the ledge which they concealed with brush
and dirt. Years later members of that party secretly
returned to the vicinity of Greer's ferry and tramped
all summer up and down the country in search of
this rich ledge, which they have never found. All
of these old prospectors have died. The last to visit
the scene of this exciting experience came in 1896."
Whether the gold find of 1877, if such was in truth
made, would, if discovered, prove as rich as the old
prospectors believed is of course unknown but Greer's
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
9$
ferry is known to be in a promising mineral belt and
it is possible that a ledge of great richness may have
been discovered and lost again as alleged. At any
rate it is not unlikely that some of the prospects in
the vicinity will develop into paying properties.
During the year the value of property in the county
according to the assessor's appraisement nearly doub-
led, giving it fifth place among the political divisions
of the state. As the valuation of railroad property in
the county was only one-sixteenth of the whole, leav-
ing such property out of the calculation, Nez Per-
ces would rank third.
The opening of the year 1900 was a very propiti-
ous one in the county. The mild winter left the cat-
tlemen's stacks of hay scarcely touched while the cat-
tle, feeding along the breaks of the rivers, were fatter
than if they had been compelled by severe weather to
consume all the fodder provided for their use in case
of emergency. The year throughout was one of sub-
stantial progress and universal prosperity, though it
was not characterized by the excitement and rush
which distinguished its predecessor. When fall came
it brought the largest harvests ever known in Nez
Perces county with a consequent stimulus to business
of all kinds. The only disaster of the year was for-
tunately not serious. It consisted of the wreck on the
Clearwater Short Line, on June 27th, of a mixed
train consisting of four carloads of hogs, two box
cars, three hat cars, a steam shovel, one passenger
coach and the express car. The train had just rounded
a curve about two miles east of Contact and was com-
ing onto straight road again when one of the trucks
under the steam shovel left the track. The engineer
saw the shovel flying up in the air and immediately
applied the brakes, but the king bolt under the shovel
had been broken ; the trucks were pulled out from un-
der it ; the flat car behind struck it throwing it into
the river and the car itself was thrown crosswise of the
track. The other freight cars were badly wrecked,
but fortunately the passenger coach, in which were
fifteen or twenty people, was not injured, and besides
being badly shaken up no one was hurt.
An event of the year 1900 which must not be over-
looked was the organization on February 19th of the
Nez Perces County Pioneer Association, of which all
persons might become members who settled in the
county prior to or during 1877. The first officers
were C. G. Kress, president : C. P. Coburn, vice-pres-
ident; Wallace B. Stainton, secretary; John N. Lind-
say, treasurer ; Edmund Pearcy, Robert Grostein, Joel
Martin and M. A. Kelly, trustees. For the purpose
of preserving as many as possible of the names of
those who have toiled so long in the development of
the county and done so much for its material and so-
cial upbuilding, we give the membership roll of the
societv as follows:
W. P. Bell, 1859; John M. Silcott, Thomas B.
Beall, i860; G. W. Underwood, A. R. Trimble, Thom-
as F. Reynolds, 1861 ; C. C. Bunnell, Fdmund Pear-
cy, Chester P. Coburn, Augustus C. Sweet, Ezra
Baird, W. S. Dyer, G. A. Frost, M. A. Kelly, Joel
D. Martin, S. Wildenthaler, R. Grostein, C. E. Faunce,
T. C. Moxley, August Meilk, W. P. Hunt, William
LeBaron, N. B. Holbrook, E. Tixier, L. G. Maguire,
John Denny, J. O. Maxon, Sarah G. Thompson, D.
VV. C. Dunwell, 1862; Eva K. Mounce, Mrs. C. F.
Grostein, Elizabeth Barnett, Eliza W. Thatcher, Em-
ma J. Chapman, J. Alexander, John W. Denney, W.
W. Leeper, Sophia Whitman, Mallery, Mrs. Martha
Coburn, P. B. Whitman, Samuel W. Childs, 1863;
Mrs. Rosa Grostein, M. H. Sprague, Olive C. Hunt,
C. A. McCabe, John O. Barbour, S. E. Vollmer, Ben-
jamin F. Morris, 1864; Alma Havenick, Lucinda J.
Breanley, Charles G. Kress, 1865 ; William Stevenson,
T. S. Billings, William Baird, C. E. Bradish, Anna
M. Clark, 1866; Rachael Binnard, A. C. Coburn, Mrs.
Mary W. Smith, Nellie W. Leeper, Joseph Dubuc,
Harry Dowd, James Conlev, L. Grostein, 1867; C.
A. Elmer, Mrs. W. E. Erb, Mrs. F. Roos, John P.
Vollmer, Mrs. Alida G. Faunce, 1868; Mrs. Annie
Krautinger, Frank B. Willis, Mrs. losephine Boise,
Christ Weirgerder, 1869; H. R. Grostein, Fred M.
Manning, Ferdinand Roos, Amy D. Kettenbach,
Charles Dowd, John L. Chapman, James Haves, Perry
Thomas, G. A. Manning, Mrs. Laura B. Morris, Su-
san E. Manning, H. Penault, 1870; H. A. Trimble,
G. M. Smith, P. M. Davis, H. K. Barnett, 1871 ;
Harry Lydon, Mrs. Clifford Riggs, J. R. Lydon,
Robert Schleicher5, Matt Dowd, Mrs. J. E. Akins,
Wallace B. Stainton, 1872; Mrs. Sarah A. Roxley,
L. Rowley, J. Q. Moxley, E. A. Rowley, 1873 ; Louis
N. Roos S. E. Arant, William L. Hoise, E. H. Wig-
gin, Mrs. Ella Rowley, Mrs. Mary R. Denny, Anna
Binnard, 1874; A. G. Wisner, Curtis Thatcher, F.
Oliver, Edna M. Baird, Mrs. Marv C. Moxley, J.
B. Morris, John M. Fix, W. R. Dixon, 1875; J- -N.
Lindsay, L. Stannus, Mrs. Mollie Armstrong, Mrs.
W. B. Cooper, Miss Bessie Vollmer, Elizabeth M.
Beeson, Mary A. Butler, Ferdinand Roos, Jr., George
C. Leland, George H. Storer, J. D. C. Thiessen, Re-
becca Lindsay, C. A. Leeper, Rosa Ponting, Mrs.
Lillie Wisner, W. H. Leland, J. H. Frost, Mrs. L.
K. Stirling, Mrs. Hattie Wildenthaler, Louis D.
Schattner, 1876; John Weiss, Thomas Kittsmiller,
Wilbur Wardwell, J. C. Kincaid, John Ponting, John
Speck, W. A. Smith, Catherine Metcalf, Margaret
A. Goldsmith, Frances M. Moxley, Mrs. Viola C.
McConville, Martin L. Goldsmith, Newton Hibbs,
J. E. Kincaid, John H. McCalli, William Wright,
J. R. Wolfe, A. W. Krautinger, Fred S. Kling, F.
J. Edwards, Maud Wildenthaler, Clara P. Phillips,
Mrs. Mary White Kettenback, W. F. Kettenbach,
Mrs. Emma M. Edwards, Henry Harsell, W. Haver-
nick, 1877.
On January 22, 1901, Representative Oxley, of
Shoshone county, introduced into the legislature a bill
providing for the creation of Clearwater county out of
territory belonging to Nez Perces, Idaho and Shoshone
counties. It was later amended to take in the Potlatch
country, its first draft having taken no part of Nez
Perces county except that east of the Boise meridian.
The result of the change was a vigorous protest from
the residents of the section affected. The bill was de-
feated bv a vote of 22 to 21 in the house, but in the
96
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
evening that body reconvened and determined by a vote
of 31 to 11 to reconsider the measure. This was on
March 6th. Later in the same month a substitute bill
was passed, the boundaries being so defined as to take
from Nez Perces county about three townships in the
Potlatch and three in the reservation. The bill was
promptly signed by the governor, who appointed for
the new county of Clearwater the following officers :
Commissioners, P. H. Blake, William LeBaron and
John T. Mallory ; sheriff, Frank Gaffney ; assessor, J.
L. Harris ; treasurer. A. E. Holmberg ; superintendent
of schools, Mrs. Fannie Roberts; probate judge, J. S.
Hogue; county attorney, J. A. Brown; surveyor, D.
H. Guilland, coroner, Henry Merchant.
But the new county was not organized as speedily
as at first intended, owing to several difficulties, and
when at last it was ready to take its place among the
legal subdivisions of the state, the state auditor refused
to furnish blank licenses such as the law required him
to furnish to the treasurers of the different counties,
alleging that Clearwater county had not been legally
created. The case was taken into court by the county
treasurer of the new political division, who applied for
a writ of mandate compelling the state auditor to com-
ply with the law in this respect. The defendant, in
his answer, filed in response to an, order by the court
to appear and show cause why the writ should not issue,
set up that the county did not contain taxable prop-
erty to the value of one million dollars as required by
section 4, article 18 of the constitution, and further
that the act creating or purporting to create it was
fatally defective in its language, therefore the county
of Cleawater has no legal existence. Attorneys for
the county of Cleawater thought the second objection
would not be seriously considered by the court and
contended that the amendment upon which the first was
based was unconstitutional for the reason that it was
not passed by a two-thirds vote of the house. The su-
preme court did not pass upon the constitutionality of
the amendment, but held the creating act void for the
reason that it did not state specifically that the territory
within the defined boundaries "shall constitute the coun-
ty of Clcanvatcr." The section at fault read : "That
all portions of the state of Idaho included within the
following boundaries, to wit : Beginning at the south-
east corner of Kootenai county on the water shed
separating the waters of the St. Mary and Clearwater
rivers : thence in an easterly direction to the
•place of beginning." The sentence contained no verb
and was obviously meaningless. Thus through a
clerical mistake or literary error the hopes of the
friends of Clearwater county were dashed to the
ground.
This year witnessed in Whitman county and other
parts of Washington a very considerable excitement
over the discovery of indications of oil and natural
gas, an excitement which extended to Nez Perces
county also. It is stated that after two days of careful
examination of the Isaman farm and adjoining lands.
Prof. Aughey. an expert, concluded that Lewiston
was in the gas belt and that the Lewiston valley was
underlaid, at a depth of between six hundred and a
thousand feet, with formations containing oil and gas.
Those who were with Professor Aughey stated that
from holes made in the soil at various points a gas
flow was obtained. The exudations burned with a
yellow flame, leading to the conclusion that they were
petrolium gas. Many claims were taken in the vicin-
ity and considerable excitement was engendered by
the find and by Aughey's very conservative report.
The spring of 1902 brought another rush of gold
seekers through the county, Thunder mountain being
the mecca of the wealth hunting hordes this time. Some
few of the travelers stopped at Lewiston to secure
their outfits, but for the most part that city was left
out of their calculations after the Northern Pacific
time schedule was changed so as to permit passengers
to proceed direct to Stites, the Clearwater terminal
of the road. From that point two routes were open
to the pilgrims, one via Dixie, the other via Grange-
ville and Warrens. The rush had a stimulating effect
upon business all along the route, as all such must
have.
One of the principal progressive movements of the
year was that which resulted in the construction of a
tramway at a site between Kamiah and Greer for the
purpose of facilitating the marketing of wheat and
other cereals raised on the heights far above the rail-
road track. The farmers of Nez Perces prairie
banded themselves together for the purpose of con-
structing this much needed improvement, formed a
stock company, looked up a suitable site, let the con-
tract for furnishing a cable, buckets and other ap-
paratus to a San Francisco firm and set vigorously
about the work of installing the somewhat expensive
plant. They had, in their efforts, the encouragement
of both the grain handling firms of Lewiston, which
took large blocks of the stock, while the railway com-
pany put in a side track for their accommodation.
The cable used is an endless coil of steel wires 13,200
feet long, suspended on rollers and carrying a thou-
sand steel cages or buckets. The power is furnished
by a large stationary engine upon the heights above.
During the closing month of the year agitation
for the formation of Clearwater county was revived.
Orofino gave inception to the struggle by circulating
a petition for the formation of a new county with
such boundaries that it would be the logical county
seat. Nez Perces at once took up the gauntlet by cir-
culating a petition praying for a new county to include
all of southern Shoshone county, part of the Potlatch
and a strip off Nez Perces prairie. This action was
taken not so much that the people desired a change of
county affiliations as that they desired above all things
to defeat the Orofino measure. Representative-elect
C. D. Thomas, of Nezperce, stated the position of
his home town in the following language :
"The people of Nezperce are perfectly satisfied
with their present county affiliations but if a division
is inevitable, they believe in dividing the county in
the right way. The petition we have prepared and
which is being circulated, has now been signed by
every man save one in Nezperce city, and by every-
one in the adjacent country to whom it has been pre-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
97
sented. We have no intention of establishing a new
county on the lines mentioned in the petition, but
the people of Nezperce have discovered that Lewis-
ton had concluded to permit the organization of
Clearwater county without opposition so long as only
a small strip of Nez Perces county was taken, and
we have concluded to give them the alternative of
either fighting against the taking of any of the old
county to create Clearwater county or to submit to
the dismemberment of the county on rational line*.
In preparing our petition we endeavored to arrange
for a county with boundaries drawn on geographical
lines, following the water courses wherever possi-
ble, and in our petition we make no attempt to decide
the matter of the location of a county seat."'
The matter was brought up in the legislature by
the introduction, by Representative Greer, of Sho-
shone county, of a bill creating Clearwater county out
of Shoshone and Nez Perces counties with Orofino
as county seat until the general election of 1904, when
the voters were to select the permanent county seat.
The technical description of the boundaries of the
new political division was as follows :
"Beginning at the intersection of the northern
boundary line of township 41, range 1 east, of the
Boise meridian, with the western boundary line of
Shoshone county ; thence due east along the northern
boundary line of said township 41 and continuing
due east to the boundary line between the states of
Idaho and Montana; thence in a southeasterly direc-
tion along the boundary line between the states of
Idaho and Montana to its intersection with the pres-
ent southern boundary line of Shoshone county ;
thence in a westerly direction along the present south-
ern boundary line of Shoshone county to where the
same intersects with the center of the channel of the
Clearwater river; thence up the center of the main
channel of the Clearwater river to the mouth of Law-
yer's creek, being the present boundary line between
the counties of Nez Perces and Idaho; thence in a
westerly direction up the center of the main channel
of Lawyer's creek, being the present northern bound-
ary line of Idaho county, to its intersection with the
Boise meridian ; thence north along the Boise merid-
ian to its intersection with the southern boundary
line of township 35, range 1 west, of Boise meridian ;
thence west along the southern boundary line of said
township to the southwest corner thereof ; thence
north along the western boundary line of townships
35> 36, 37. 38 to the present southern boundary line
of Latah county ; thence east along the present south-
ern boundary line of Latah county to the southeast
corner of said county; thence north along the present
boundary line between the counties of Shoshone and
Latah and Shoshone and Kootenai to the place of
beginning."
February 9th of the current year, while this bill
was yet in the hands of the committee, its author,
Greer of Shoshone, asked the unanimous consent of
the house to withdraw it, stating that he desired to
press the measure in the future. The consent asked
for was given, but a storm was raised later when an-
other bill was introduced providing that the people
residing within the proposed new county should have
the right to vote on the question as to whether or not
they desired political segregation, in the election of
1904. The boundaries prescribed by this measure
included a portion of Idaho county also. The new
act, known as house bill No. 115, was referred to trie
appropriate committee, which returned a majority
report against the measure and a minority report
favoring it. February 17th, on motion of Moore of
Idaho county, action on the bill was indefinitely post-
poned by a vote of 30 to 16, effectually putting at rest
all danger of loss of territory by any of the existing
counties at this session of the legislature.
CHAPTER II.
POLITICAL.
Section 2 of the organic act creating Nez Perces
county, passed by the legislative assembly of Wash-
ington territory December 20, 1861, enacted "That
J. M. Van Valsah be appointed County Auditor; A.
Creacy, Whitfield Kirtly and be ap-
pointed County Commissioners ; Sanford Owens,
Sheriff; and Justice of the Peace for said
county, until the next general election." As is well
known, however, the year 1862 witnessed a stampede
of tens of thousands to north Idaho, and it was quite
natural that there should be among this vast horde of
gold seekers hundreds of desperadoes and lawless
men — men who cared not whether there was a court-
house within a thousand miles of their camps and
against whom it would have been a very dangerous
proceeding to enforce the laws. In the mad struggle
for the possession of gold the slow machinery of
the law was seldom, if ever, invoked. Civil govern-
ment occupied no place in these miners' thoughts.
The reign of gold was supreme. Under such condi-
98
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
tions county offices were not sought by men, but on
the contrary were shunned and if, perchance, the of-
fices were filled by appointment, the appointees eluded
duty by failing to qualify.
For these reasons it is highly improbable that the
above named officers ever served and we are strength-
ened in the belief that they did not by failing to find,
by inquiries among those who were here at the time,
any account of such service. Then during the win-
ter of 1862-3 the agitation in favor of creating out
of this region a new territory resulted favorably, a
territorial government was organized, and this change
naturally disturbed local affairs.
Thus it is not until the summer of 1863 that we
find a local system of government in actual operation.
Immediately after Governor Wallace arrived here, in
July, 1863, he proceeded to appoint the following of-
ficers to serve in Ncz Perces county : Sheriff, John
Cassidy ; county clerk. E. C. Mayhew ; assistant clerk,
S. Alexander; treasurer, Cris. Taylor; commission-
ers, B. C. Stevens, A. B. Brower, of Lewiston, and
David Reese, of Elk City ; prosecuting attorney, E.
F. Gray; surveyor, J. B. Buker; probate judge, D.
J. Warner; justices of the peace, E. S. Sprague and
Silas B. Cochran, Lewiston, Thomas M. Pomeroy,
Elk City. The offices of probate judge and surveyor
were purely honorary for some time. Who the first
county assessor was cannot be learned. A majority
of these men were Republicans. In response to the
proclamation of Governor Wallace calling for an elec-
tion to be held October 31st, at which representatives
to the first legislature should be elected, Nez Perces
county elected E. B. Waterbury to the council and L.
Bacon as its representative in the house. The rec-
ords show that at this election Nez Perces county
cast 208 votes for William H. Wallace for delegate
to congress and 159 votes for his Democratic op-
ponent, John M. Cannady. The story is told that
when the early returns of this election came in Gov-
ernor Wallace's friends saw that he was sure to be
defeated by a large majority, and in order to save the
territory to Republicanism, United States Marshal
Payne was sent to bring in the books from the out-
lying precincts. Wyoming and Montana were then
a portion of Idaho. Payne crossed the Clearwater
river at Lewiston and started on his mission. He
was gone several days and when he returned he
brought back votes enough for Wallace to elect him.
The boundaries of Idaho were not very clearly defined
in those days, and whether the election returns
brought in by Payne were bona fide or not is ques-
tionable. At the time this was regarded as a shrewd
maneuver and the story treated as a huge joke, but
now the legality of Wallace's election is questioned by
not a few.
When Governor Wallace deputized Hill Beachey
to pursue the murderers of Lloyd Magruder and
party, late in the fall of 1863. it is said that Sheriff
Cassidy resigned because he considered the act as a
slight upon his official prestige. At any rate, he re-
signed and Governor Wallace appointed James H.
Fisk in his stead.
Pursuant to a notice of a special meeting, the
board of county commissioners assembled at Lewis-
ton, the county seat of Nez Perces county, on the 5th
day of October, 1863. Commissioners B. C. Stevens
and A. B. Brower were present, as also Clerk May-
hew. The first business to come before the board was
the appointment of a county treasurer to fill the va-
cancy then existing. F. H. Simmons was appointed
and gave bonds in the sum of §5,000. At the meeting
of the board on the 7th a petition signed by thirty-
four citizens, asking for the erection of a county jail.
was received. The board decided to submit, at the
election to be held on October 31st, a proposition to
the voters calling for the levy of a special $3,000 tax
for the purpose of building a courthouse and jail.
At this meeting the assessment roll was presented and
showed that there were $248,303.75 worth of taxable
property in the county. On this basis a tax of one
mill was levied for territorial purposes, two mills for
school purposes and four mills for county purposes.
The ex-county treasurer presented his report also at
this meeting. The receipts up to October 5th amount-
ed to $1,466, Si. 200 of which was from 600 polls, and
the county's indebtedness was nearly $1,700.
The vote on the question of erecting county build-
ings having been in the affirmative, on November 18th
the board ordered that a suitable house be procured
for use as a temporary jail until the new building
could be erected. A prize of ten dollars was offered
to the person suggesting the best plan of construction.
The new courthouse was never built, however, differ-
ent buildings being rented from time to time until the
purchase of the old Jaggers cabin on Front street.
The board held its first regular meeting April 4,
1864, in compliance with the laws enacted by the first
legislative assembly, the same officers as formerly be-
ing present. It appearing that all of the county of-
ficers, with the exception of the county commission-
ers, had been illegally appointed, the offices were de-
clared vacant and the following appointments made:
Probate judge. John G. Berry; clerk, E. C. Mayhew;
sheriff, James H. Fisk ; assessor, S. R. Howlett ; re-
corder, E. C. Mayhew ; surveyor, E. F. Gray ; super-
intendent of schools, L. C. Fitch; justices of the
peace, Lewiston precinct, S. E. Darnes, Elk City pre-
cinct, Thomas M. Pomeroy ; constables, Lewiston
precinct, Thomas J. Patterson, Elk City precinct,
Robert Hunt.
As is usually the case in communities which derive
their support almost entirely from the mining indus-
try, Nez Perces's population was constantly shifting
from one place to another and was very unstable.
From time to time county officers resigned, and
changes were going on constantly. Thus we see
that in June the commissioners were A. B. Brower,
W. Leonard and A. B. Downer, the last two being
recent appointees ; that C. C. Chamberlain has become
sheriff; that Warren A. Belcher has tendered his
resignation as treasurer and that W. W. Thompson
is appointed in his place. Later, in July, S. R. How-
lett resigned as assessor and at this same session Dr.
Robert Newell was appointed school superintendent.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Air. Newell declined the position and S. M. "Wait was
appointed to serve until the newly elected corps of
officers took their places the first of the year.
Preparatory to the county's first election, at the
July term, the board established the following pre-
cincts: Lewiston, Elk City, Clearwater Station,
Newsome Creek, Taylor's Bridge, Long Bar, W'a^-
shilla Creek and Wixson's. At this term also B. F.
Lamkin was authorized to construct, at a cost not to
exceed $600, two cells for jail purposes in the old
vegetable market on First street. The first action
taken toward the establishment of county roads was
taken at this term also, when the road between Her-
sey's mountain house and Elk City was declared a
public highway and Samuel Gilman was appointed
road supervisor. At the same time S. M. Wait was
appointed road supervisor of the Lewiston district.
From time to time the board granted ferry and toll
road licenses, but as the establishment of these differ-
ent enterprises has been fully dealt with in another
chapter we will not stop to enumerate them here.
From the court records we see that at the election
held in the fall of 1864 the following were the first reg-
ularly elected officers of Nez Perces county : A. B.
Brower, Loyal P. Brown and P. W. Bell, commis-
sioners; E. S. Sprague, probate judge; W. W.
Thompson, treasurer ; S. S. Stiles, clerk and record-
er ; James Fisk, sheriff ; L. W. Bacon, assessor ; rep-
resentative to the legislative assembly, George
Zeigle, Republican, and T. M. Reed, Democrat; mem-
ber of the legislative council, E. B. Waterbury, Dem-
ocrat. The report of the teritorial canvassing board
shows that Nez Perces county cast t,t,~ votes for
Samuel E. Parks, Republican, and 2$y votes for E.
D. Holbrook, Democrat, candidates for the honor of
representing Idaho in congress. The honors were
divided about equally between Democrats and Re-
publicans. Subsequently J. K. Vincent succeeded
Fisk as sheriff, the latter failing to file his bond, I.
C. Purcell became probate judge, and Phillip Streeter
was appointed assessor.
Pursuant to law the district court for the first
district of Idaho territory convened at Lewiston on
January 4, 1864. Alleck C. Smith, the regularly ap-
pointed judge of this district, was unable to be pres-
ent, and at the request of Acting Governor Daniels,
Samuel C. Parks, of the second district, presided dur-
ing the term. The Magruder murder case was the
first and only case of importance to come before the
first session of court in north Idaho, and as this case
has been fully dealt with elsewhere we will pass im-
mediately to the election of 1866.
The election of 1866 was a spirited one and re-
sulted in a slight Democratic victory. During the
'sixties the tendency of the people was to spend the
easily acquired gold lavishly, and this tendency ob-
tained even among office holders. Consequently the
party in power was usually open to the charge of ex-
travagance, and anti-extravagance became the slogan
of both parties. For this reason the Republicans and
Democrats for many years held power alternately.
J. W. Eastman, Republican, James Hays, Democrat,
and Aurora Shumway. Democrat, were elected com-
missioners in 1866; John G. Berry, Democrat, de-
feated James H. Fisk for the shrievalty, this contest
being the leading one of the campaign ; S. S. Stiles,
Republican, was elected clerk and recorder for a sec-
ond term ; H. O. Adams, Republican, was elected pro-
bate judge; W. W. Thayer, Democrat (later gov-
ernor of Oregon), was the choice of the majority for
prosecuting attorney ; James Henderson, Democrat,
received a majority of the votes cast for the office of
treasurer; and P. Streeter, Republican, was chosen
county assessor. Henderson served only a short time
and was succeeded by M. A. Kelly. The following
June, John Clark took up the duties of assessor, vice
P. Streeter. In 1865 tne law relative to the election
of members of the legislative assembly was changed
and an election was held. In Nez Perces county the
election resulted in the choice of L. P. Brown, Repub-
lican, as a member of the council, and Joseph Mor-
ris and James Hays, Democrats, as members of the
house. The election of 1866 returned Councilman
Brown and resulted in the choice of J. S. Taylor,
Democrat, as Nez Perces' member of the house.
For delegate to congress J. M. Kirkpatrick, Repub-
lican, received 230 votes and E. D. Holbrook, Demo-
crat, 155 votes in Nez Perces county.
The Democrats succeeded in capturing every office
but one in 1868, James Crooks, county commissioner,
being the only Republican elected. The officers
elected were: Councilman, J. S. Taylor; members
house of representatives, E. W. Pell ami J. G. Zeigle;
sheriff, John G. Berry; probate judge, Alonzo Gil-
man; clerk, James Witt; recorder, Robert McPher-
son, succeeded shortly afterwards by C. G. Kress ;
treasurer, M. A. Kelly : commissioners, James Crooks,
Aurora Shumway. J. T. Schissler ; prosecuting at-
torney, S. S. Fenn; assessor, D. H. Howser. The
vote for delegate was : James K. Shafer, Democrat,
106, Thomas J. Butler, Republican. 161.
In 1870 T. J. Bunker, Republican, was elected
sheriff ; T. H. Worden, Republican, treasurer ; John
Brearley, Republican, recorder and auditor ; F. B.
King, Republican, assessor ; C. A. Thatcher, Republi-
can, clerk ; H. O. Adams, probate judge ; J. M. Crooks,
J. T. Silverwood, Republican, Joseph Schissler, Dem-
ocrat, commissioners; John Clark, Republican, district
attorney; C. C. Call, Democrat, councilman, and J. 1'.
Silverwood, and H. H. Wheeler, Republicans, mem-
bers of the house. In this county S. A. Merritt, Dem-
ocrat, received 166 votes and T. J. Butler, Republican,
[50 votes for delegate to congress.
The following campaign witnessed the first clash
between those who favored the annexation of north
Idaho to Washington and those who were opposed.
For some time past the segregation sentiment had
been gaining strength in this portion of the territory,
and in 1872 it became, for the first time, a strong
factor in the politics of this region. The spark
formerly kindled spread so rapidly that ere many years
the whole of north Idaho was ablaze with the idea
and all opposition was completely consumed. The
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Democratic county convention met in March and the
Republicans the month following and placed their
respective tickets in the field. The Republicans were
victorious except where offices directly affecting the
annexation proposition were concerned, and here the
opposition, the Democrats, won the victory. The
official result of this election is given below :
For delegate to congress, John Hailey, Democrat,
241 votes, J. W. Huston, Republican, 234 votes ; for
councilman, R. E. Miller, Anti-Division Democrat,
301, Colby Collins, Division Republican, 154; for rep-
resentatives, G. W. Tomer, Anti-Division Democrat,
357, S. S. Fenn, Division Democrat, 230, J. F. Bush,
Division Republican, 67, Hazen Squier, Anti-Divis-
ion Republican, 152, George A. Manning, Independ-
ent, 70: for district attorney, John Clark, Republi-
can, 352, James W. Poe, Democrat, 121 ; for probate
judge, H. O. Adams, Republican, 243, Alexander
Damas, Democrat, 216; for sheriff, D. B. Baldwin,
Republican, 292, D. H. Howser, Democrat, 171 ; for
auditor, Warren P. Hunt, Republican, 2S4, Frank
Points, Democrat, 179; for treasurer, T. H. Worden,
Republican. 294, J. W. Denny, Democrat, 156; for as-
sessor, F. B. King, Republican, 293, L. E. Harris,
Democrat, 168: for superintendent of schools, T. S.
Billings, Republican, 352, J. P. Vollmer, Democrat,
195 ; for commissioner, W. A. Vandervort, Demo-
crat, 44; J. T. Silverwood, Republican, 16, W. O.
Pearson, Republican, 67. J. Anderson, Democrat, 10;
for coroner, W. S. Dyer, Republican, 250, R. J. De-
vine, Democrat, 205 ; for surveyor, Charles Le Fran-
cois. Democrat, 218.
The official vote at the election of 1874 is missing,
so that we are unable to present anything except a
roll of the officers elected, which follows : Commis-
sioners, D. H. Howser, George Dempster, M. M. Will-
iams, Democrats; sheriff, Ezra Baird, Democrat;
clerk, "Warren P. Hunt, Republican ; assessor, W. C.
Pearson, Republican ; treasurer, H. W. Stainton,
Democrat; probate judge, John G. Berry, Democrat;
superintendent of schools. T. S. Billings. Republi-
can ; surveyor, Edward Hannegan, Democrat ; o mn-
cilman, L. P. Brown, Republican; representatives,
William Groat and J. C. Waldrip, Republicans. John
Clark, Republican, was elected district attorney. For
delegate to congress, S. S. Fenn, Democrat, received
423 votes and his opponent, T. W. Bennett, Repub-
lican, 87.
The year 1876 witnessed another Democratic vic-
tory, only one Republican being elected. D. J. Warner
as probate judge. W. G. Langford was elected as
Nez Perces' representative to the legislative council
and Fred Points and S. B. Edwards as this county's
representatives in the house. Ezra Baird was re-
elected sheriff, Thomas Hudson became the county's
auditor and recorder, A. Binnard was elected treas-
urer, J. W. Northrup was victorious in the contest
for assessor and William Ewing, J. M. Curry and
N. B. Holbrook were chosen county commissioners.
Nez Perces county cast 176 votes for S. S. Fenn, who
was again the Democratic party's nominee for dele-
gate, and 115 votes for the Republican nominee, John
Clark.
An interesting feature of the campaign of 1878
was the vote taken in northern Idaho on the state
constitution adopted by the territory of Washington
in anticipation of early statehood. North Idaho,
which had now become so thoroughly imbued with
the idea of being annexed to Washington as to almost
consider itself a part of that territory, sent a delegate
to this constitutional convention in the person of
Alonzo Leland, the acknowledged head of the annex-
ation movement in Idaho. This constitution was sub-
mitted to the voters of the northern counties at the
election in the fall of 1878, and in Nez Perces county
only 13 votes were cast against it, 485 voting for it.
Political honors were about equally shared by the
Democrats and Republicans, as will be seen from the
following official canvass of the vote :
For delegate, George Ainslee, Democrat, 312,
Jonas W. Brown, Republican, 306; district attorney,
James W. Poe, Democrat, 369; councilman. Frank
Points, Democrat, 283, G. A. Manning, Republican,
327; representatives, J. J. Bonner and A. A. Lieual-
len, Democrats, 358 and 204 votes, respectively, Will-
iam King and H. McGregor, Republicans, 306 and
232 votes, respectively: probate judge, D. J. Warner.
Republican, 364, Thomas Hudson, Democrat, 262 ;
commissioners, William Ewing, N. B. Holbrook, O.
H. P. Beagle, Democrats, 365, 368 and 266 votes, re-
spectively, S. C. Hale, J. M. Greenstreet, E. Fix, Re-
publicans, 335, 267 and 276 votes, respectively ; sheriff,
Ezra Baird, Democrat, 381, L. B. Boise, Republican.
249 ; auditor and recorder, D. W. C. Dunwell, Demo-
crat, 191, J. H. Evans, Republican, 417, J. K. Vin-
cent, Independent, 19 ; treasurer, Abraham Binnard,
Democrat, 274, Hazen Spuier, Republican, 352; as-
sessor. J. H. Irvine, Democrat, 317, H. W. Howard,
Republican, 315; surveyor, Bart. Nymeyer, Democrat,
361, Alfred Colburn, Republican, 266; coroner, Rob-
ert Grostein, Democrat, 13, C. P. Howell, Independ-
ent. 7, J. Sullivan, Republican. 3.
Southern Idaho controlled the territorial conven-
tion held in 1880, and as that section was decidedly
opposed to the segregation of the north, anti-annexa-
tion planks were inserted in both the Democratic and
Republican platforms. The north was so heartily in
favor of annexation that it disregarded party affilia-
tions and joined the extreme southeastern part of the
territory in nominating Ex-Governor Brayman for
delegate. Brayman had openly announced his en-
dorsement of the scheme to annex northern Idaho to
Washington, and it was on this platform that he was
nominated. He received the almost solid vote of the
north, the vote in Nez Perces county being. Brayman.
568, Ainslie, Democrat, 129, and Smith. Republican.
5. The complete official vote for the other officers in
this county was as follows :
For district attorney, Ouakenbush, . Republican,
390, Maxwell, Democrat, 301 ; councilman. James W.
Foe. Democrat. 682; joint councilman, I. B. Cowen, of
Shoshone, Republican, 698; assemblymen, William
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
King, I. N. Hibbs, J. M. Hedrick, Republicans, 212,
358 and 410 votes respectively, S. J. Langdon, J. H.
Irvine, W. C. Cooper, Democrats, 398, 354 and 326
votes, respectively; probate judge, P. Grigsby, Dem-
ocrat, 354, D. J. Warner, Republican, 347; sheriff,
N. B. Holbrook, Democrat, 365, L. B. Boise, Repub-
lican, 334: treasurer, N. Hale, Democrat, 352, C. E.
Monteith, Republican, 351; auditor and recorder, J.
H. Evans, Republican, 420, H. Payne, Democrat, 286 ;
assessor, H. W. Howard, Republican, 409, J. W.
Northrup, Democrat, 290; commissioners, S. C. Hale,
William Evans, Frank McCarrick, Republicans, 429,
354 and 281 votes, respectively, D. Spurbeck, G. B.
Christie. J. N. Lindsay, Democrats, 312, 308 and 406
votes, respectively : surveyor, William Bell, Republi-
can. 314, B. Nymeyer, Democrat, 385, Ainslie was
elected delegate. The defeat of Brayman, though not
unexpected, greatly chagrined the north. Neverthe-
less, it showed the annexationists their true strength.
Late in the summer of 1882 a call was issued for
an independent north Idaho convention to be held at
Lewiston October nth for the purpose of nominating
an independent candidate for congress as against
either of the regular party nominees, Ainslie, Demo-
crat, and Theodore F. Singiser, Republican, both of
whom were supposed to be inimical to annexation.
However, before the convention assembled, Singiser
announced that he would support annexation and
made a campaign in northern Idaho on that platform.
This course, a shrewd political move, resulted in the
independents giving him their endorsement. .When
the votes were counted it was found that Singiser had
received 1,060 of the 1,100 votes cast in Nez Perces
county, an overwhelming expression of the people's
desire for annexation. Singiser was victorious in the
contest. The vote for county officers follows :
For councilman, W. S. Taylor, Republican, 541,
D. W. C. Dunwell, Democrat, 517; joint councilman,
I. B. Cowen, Republican, 621, B. D. Donaldson, Dem-
ocrat, 493 ; assemblymen, A. Buchanan, Wallis Fee
and K. Larson, Republicans. 620, 424 and 664 votes,
respectively, J. H. Irvine, Phillip Grigsby and G. W.
Tomer, Democrats, 484, 540 and 602 votes, respect-
ively; sheriff, W. D. Robbins, Republican, 499, Ezra
Baird, Democrat, 627; auditor and recorder, J. H.
Evans, Republican, 599, B. A. Nymeyer, Democrat,
531 ; assessor, L. F. Herbert, Republican, 618, W. A.
Calbrcath, Democrat, 516 treasurer, George Glass,
Republican. 610, P. M. Davis, Democrat. 520; pro-
bate judge, William Wing, Republican, 560, I. N.
Maxwell. Democrat, 553 ; county attorney, A. Quack-
enbush. Republican, 604, J. C. Elder, Democrat, 502;
commissioners. E. W. Cameron, David Nottman and
J. A. Lathrop. Republicans, 665, 734 and 466 votes,
respectively ; J. B. Menomy, Virgil Randall and D.
Spurbeck. Democrats, 378, 510 and 586, respectively;
surveyor, A. Colburn, Republican, 569, A. T. Beall,
Democrat, 562. Thus it will be seen that the Repub-
licans won an overwhelming victory in 1882.
So rapidly had the country north of the Clear-
water settled since the first influx of settlers to that
region in 1872 that in 1883 the northern portion of
Nez Perces county demanded the county seat. An
enabling act was passed and in June, 1883, a special
election was held to decide the permanent location of
Nez Perces' county seat. There were only two can-
didates, Lewiston and Moscow, and the former won by
a majority of 280, the vote in favor of retaining the
county seat at Lewiston being 922, that favoring its
removal to Moscow , 642.
The all-absorbing issue of the campaign of 1884
was, like that of 1882, the annexation problem. John
Hailey was nominated as delegate by the Democrats
and T. F. Singiser received renomination at the
hands of the Republicans. Hailey was understood to
represent the anti-annexation faction and Singiser the
annexation party. Both territorial conventions
adopted resolutions favoring the segregation of north
Idaho, but it was generally understood that south
Idaho opposed it so that the fact that Hailey was an
anti-annexationist and the further fact that the policy
of the Democratic party in southern Idaho had always
been opposed to annexation, led to the belief that the
party was not sincere in its promises. The result
was that Singiser again swept the north by over 700
majority, notwithstanding the great popularity of
Hailey. He was, however, defeated in the territory
at large. The detailed vote in Nez Perces county as
gleaned from the official records we give below :
For delegate, Theodore F. Singiser, Republican,
799, John Hailey. Democrat, 471, William S. Taylor,
27; assemblymen, S. A. Moon, J. P. Quarles, L. P.
Wilmot, Republicans, 675, 802 and 684 votes, respect-
ively, W. T. McKern, N. Brocke and G. W. Tomer,
Democrats. 690, 485 and 540 votes, respectively;
councilman, S. G. lsaman. Republican. 800, R. L.
Yantis, Democrat, 478: joint councilman. S. W.
Moody, Republican, 840, D. W. C. Dunwell, Demo-
crat, 445; district attorney, J. W. Parker, Democrat,
771, E. O'Neil, Republican, 526; probate judge, Will-
iam Wing, Republican, 775, H. B. Blake, Democrat,
487; sheriff, E. W. Cameron, Republican, 597, Ezra
Baird, Democrat, 550, R. H. Beeman, Independent,
131 ; auditor and recorder, Isaac C. Hattabaugh, Dem-
ocrat, 767, George M. Wilson, Republican, 529; treas-
urer,'George Glass, Republican, 624, P. M. Davis,
Democrat, 675 ; assessor, Albert Fansler, Republican,
631, S. J. Langdon, Democrat, 668; commissioners,
D. Nottman, Jr., J. M. McGregor, H. L. Coates. Re-
publicans, ygy. 720 and 550 votes, respectively, Will-
iam Ewing, J. B. Menomy, D. Spurbeck. Democrats,
570, 489 and 687 votes, respectively; surveyor, A.
Colburn. Republican, 613, Alfred Beall, Democrat,
681 ; coroner. E. A. Sanders, Republican. j}i. W . B,
Cooper, Democrat, 547.
The annexation question was again the main issue
in 1886, and both county conventions passed resolu-
tions designating it such. The Mormon question first
came into prominence during this campaign, the Re-
publicans taking an aggressive stand for the disfran-
chisement of all polygamists. Fred T. Dubois was
nominated by the Republicans for delegate and was
opposed on the Democratic ticket by John Hailey.
Hailey's failure to make clearly known his position
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
on these two leading questions is thought by many
to have been mainly responsible for his defeat. Nez
Perces county's political character seems to have un-
dergone a radical change between the campaigns of
1884 and 1886. as the Democrats secured a majority
of the offices at this election and returned a majority
for Hailey. with the understanding that he repre-
sented the annexationists. The question of annexa-
tion itself was submitted to the people of north Idaho
and in Nez Perces county received 1,675 affirmative
and only 28 negative votes. The official vote :
Delegate, John Hailey, Democrat, 985, Fred T.
Dubois. "Republican, 681; prosecuting attorney, W. T.
McKern, Democrat, 810, A. Ouackenbush, Republi-
can, 884: councilman, Charles Watson, Democrat,
954, J. M. Howe, Republican, 740; assemblymen, A.
S. Chaney, D. F. Mahana, James Dellaven, Demo-
crats, 922, 820 and 908 votes, respectively, W. A.
Elyea, C. L. Kir.man, J. I. Mitcham, Republicans,
897, 734 and 753 votes, respectively; probate judge,
W. M. Rice, Democrat, 893, William' Wing, Republi-
can, 803; sheriff, S. J. Langdon, Democrat, 855; L.
Stannus, Republican, 839; auditor and recorder, I.
C. Hattabaugh, Democrat, 1,157, Robert Bruce, Re-
publican, 543 ; treasurer, P. M. Davis, Democrat,
920, Richard J. Monroe, Republican, 785 ; assessor,
James Keane, Democrat, 798, F. E. Mix, Republican,
900; superintendent of schools, J. W. Lieuallen, Re-
publican, 743, T. N. Creekmur, Democrat, 577; sur-
veyor, S. L. Campbell, Republican, 1,008, A. T. Beall,
Democrat, 687 ; commissioners, C. A. Leeper, Demo-
crat, 271, Robert Ingraham, Republican, 146, H. J.
Bundy, Democrat, 338, H. H. Bangs, Republican, 269,
William Ewing, Democrat, 276, J. L. Naylor, Repub-
lican, 367; coroner, W. A. Simpson, Democrat, 851,
H. V. Grubbe, Republican, 829.
In 1888, for the last time, annexation was the
principal issue before the people of this territory, for
in 1890 Idaho, including the panhandle, became a
state. In the north Dubois was denounced in no
uncertain terms, for his bitter opposition in congress
to the annexation movement. In Nez Perces county
both the Republican and Democratic conventions
passed strong resolutions reiterating their belief in an-
nexation. The Republicans drew up a memorial to
congress giving a history of the annexation move-
ment and its advantages and characterizing Dubois's
course as '"unworthy of a statesman and an honora-
ble man." The Democrats, however, in the resolu-
tion next following one favoring annexation endorsed
James H. Hawley. the Democratic nominee and an
avowed anti-annexationist. Just why they did this is
not apparent. Perhaps Hawley had made promises of
remaining neutral on the annexation question should
he be elected. At all events the people of the north
were dissatisfied with both candidates and at a general
convention held at Moscow Judge Norman Buck, of
Le\viston: was nominated as the annexationists' can-
didate for delegate. Judge Buck accepted the nomi-
nation a few days before the election took place and in
Latah and Nez Perces counties received more votes
than did Dubois and Hawlev together. Kootenai, Idaho
and Shoshone gave him a small vote. Dubois cap-
tured the southern vote, however, and was re-elected
to congress.
The names of the victorious candidates in Nez
Perces county may be gleaned from the official can-
vass below •
For delegate, Norman Buck. Annexationist. 431,
James H. Hawley, Democrat. 155. Fred T. Dubois,
Republican 49. councilman. C. A. Leeper, Democrat,
522, J. YV .Brigham, Rep. 81 ; assemblymen, J. I. Mitch-
am, Rep., 588, James DeHaven, Rep., 595. W. L.
Thompson, Democrat, 591, J. H. Irvine, 23 ; district
attorney, I. N. Maxwell, Democrat, 325, J. M. Howe,
Republican, 294; probate judge, W. M. Rice, Demo-
crat. 334. William Wing, Republican, 291 : auditor
and recorder, R. P. Mudge, Republican, 353. A. W.
Kroutinger, Jr., Democrat, 253 ; treasurer, George
Glass. Republican, 382, P. M. Davis, Democrat. 241 ;
sheriff. L. Stannus, Republican, 313, John Bymaster,
Democrat, 304; assessor, J. Englis, Republican, 361,
William Sigler, Democrat, 266; superintendent of
schools, S. G. Isaman, Republican, 316, J. 0. Mox-
ley, Democrat, 310; commissioners, Jasper Rand,
Democrat, 159, D. M. White, Republican, 154. W. J.
Eakin. Democrat, 53. J. L. Goodnight, Republican,
4Q, M. S. Freeman, Republican, 142, M. L. Ward,
Democrat, 57; surveyor, W. P. Bell. Republican, 381,
S. R. Southwick, Democrat 2 ; coroner, G. H. Lake,
Republican, 332, C. H. Payne, Democrat, 284.
The act creating Latah county provided that that
county was to remain in the same district as Nez Per-
ces county for judicial and legislative purposes until
the legislature should direct otherwise. As the elec-
tion took place before the next meeting of the legis-
lative assembly, the citizens of Latah and Nez Perces
counties were left in a quandary as to how to pro-
ceed. They could not agree and so four legislative
tickets were placed in the field, two by each county.
After the election took place the question of who were
and who were not entitled to seats arose. The Latah
nominees received a majority of the votes cast : a few
votes were cast in Latah county for Nez Perces nomi-
nees and vice versa. The auditor of Latah county de-
manded that the recorder of Nez Perces county issue
a certificate of election to the successful candidate
for councilman in Latah county. This request was
refused, whereupon the applicant applied to the
courts for a writ of mandamus. The court granted
an alternative writ for the defendant to appear and
show cause why a writ should not be issued. After
several brief discussions a compromise was agreed
upon on December 1st and accepted by both parties.
By the terms of this compromise J. W. Brigham. of
Latah county, was given a certificate of election as
councilman and certificates were issued to A. S.
Chaney, of Latah, and to James DeHaven and J. I.
Mitcham. of Nez Perces, as representatives.
With the advent of statehood in 1890 the long
and bitter contest between the north and south over
the annexation question came to an end and with it
the issue which had for more than two decades rent
each political party asunder and caused no end of fac-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
"•'3
tional fights. With statehood came a closer bond be-
tween the two sections. The first state election was
simply a contest for supremacy between the two great
parties and national policies were the issue. The Re-
publicans were victorious, the state majority being
between 2,000 and 2,500.
A feature of the campaign in Nez Perces county
was the deadlock which occurred in the Democratic
district convention, composed of delegates from Lat-
ah, Idaho and Nez Perces counties. The delegates
were unable to agree upon the nominations for dis-
trict attorney and the district judgeship. Finally, af-
ter sixty-eight ballots had been taken without a nom-
ination, a compromise was effected and J. H. For-
ney, of Idaho county, was awarded the nomination for
district attorney, J. W. Poe, of Nez Perces, the nom-
ination for district judge and the legislative offices
were diveded between the three counties. The elec-
tion in this county was a closely contested on as will
be seen from the appended official vote :
For congressman, Willis Sweet, Republican, 367,
Alexander E. Mayhew, Democrat, 330; governor,
George L. Shoup, Republican, 370. Benjamin Wilson,
Democrat, 327 ; lieutenant governor, Norman B.
Willey, Republican, 378, Samuel F. Taylor, Demo-
crat, 322 ; secretary of state, A. J. Pinkham, Repub-
lican, 378, A. E. Sherwin, Democrat, 331 ; auditor,
Silas Moody, Republican, 367, James H. Wickersham,
Democrat, 331 ; treasurer, Frank R. Coffin, Republi-
can, 372, Timothy Regan, Democrat, 326; attorney
general, George H. Roberts, Republican, 362, Rich-
ard Z. Johnson, Democrat, 335 ; superintendent of
public instruction, J. E. Harroun, Republican, 343,
Madison A. Kelly, Democrat, 349; justices supreme
court, J. W. Huston, John T. Morgan, J. M. Sullivan,
Republicans. 373, 367 and 339 votes respectively,
Henry W. Weir, Frank E. Ensign, Isaac N. Max-
well, Democrats, 324, 329 "and 347 votes respectively;
judge, second district, W. G. Piper, Republican, 286,
James \Y. Poe, Democrat, 409 ; district attorney, E.
O'Neill, Republican, 350, J. H. Forney, Democrat,
343 ; senator, third district, I. S. Weiler, Republi-
can, 381, C. W. Case, Democrat, 310; senator, fourth
district, William Wing, Republican, 374, Barney Ro-
hen Kohl, Democrat, 320; representative, I. S.
Sperry, Republican, 351. j. B. Morris, Democrat, 335;
joint representative with Idaho county, J. L. Good-
night, Republican, 369, Ezra Baird, Democrat, 321 ;
county clerk, H. K. Barnett, Republican, 376, W. M.
Rice, Democrat, 314; sheriff, M. S. Freeman, Re-
publican, 317, Joseph Eakin, Democrat, 363; treas-
urer, George Glass, Republican, 313, D. S. Dent, Dem-
ocrat, 377; probate judge, S. G. Isman, Republican,
348, M. E. Shepler, Democrat, 339 ; assessor, Josiah
Inglis, Republican, 374, W. G. Anthony, Democrat,
316; commissioners, George Walker, Republican, 140,
Andrew Schultheiss, Democrat, 138, J. A. Lathrop,
Republican, 62, J. A. Wilkinson, Democrat, 79, D.
M. White, Republican, 166, W. W. Brown, Demo-
crat, 97; surveyor. W. P. Bell, Republican, elected;
coroner, George H. Lake, Republican, 365, W. A.
Simpson, Democrat, 336.
The year 1892 is distinguished in political history
as marking the date of the entrance of the People's
party upon the stage of politics. This party had been
in process of organization for years past, but not un-
til 1892 did the different societies and organizations
having Populistic principles associate themselves and
form one national party for the purpose of taking an
active part in national affairs. Throughout the
northwest the People's party organized, nominated
state, district and county tickets and otherwise made
its influence felt. Idaho and the county of which we
are writing were no exceptions. The silver question
also came into prominence for the first time this year
and it is interesting to note that, as in Montana, Colo-
rado and other western mining states, Idaho Repub-
licans at first announced themselves in favor of the
free coinage of this metal. The silver question tore
the Republican party in this state into two factions.
The Democratic party was also divided on this issue.
While the People's party showed considerable
strength in 1892, they did not succeed in capturing
any offices in Nez Perces county, the Democrats win-
ning a great victory. The official vote is given below :
For president, Benjamin Harrison, Republican,
345, Grover Cleveland, Democrat, 428 ; congressman,
Willis Sweet, Republican, 357, E. B. True, Democrat,
328, James Gunn, Populist, 101 ; governor, W. J. Mc-
Connell, Republican, 337, John M. Burke, Democrat,
358, A. J. Crook, Populist, 98 ; lieutenant governor,
Frank B. Willis, Republican, 331, George V. Bryan,
Democrat, 347, J. B. Wright, Populist, 88 ; supreme
judge, J. N. Sullivan, Republican, 368, F. E. Ensign,
Democrat, 366; secretary of state, James F. Curtis,
Republican, 337, J. H. Wickersham, Democrat, 353,
Benjamin F. Cheney, Populist, 91 ; attorney general,
George M. Parsons, Republican, 342, W. T. Reaves,
Democrat, 349, J. R. Webster, Populist, 87; treasurer,
W. C. Hill, Republican, 344, Phillip Regan, Demo-
crat, 351, H. J. Sutton, Populist, 82; superintendent
of schools, B. B. Lower, Republican, 344, J. W. Far-
ris, Democrat, 348, L. L. Shearer, Populist, 78;
auditor, Frank Ramsey, Republican, 340, J. W. Mc-
Clure, Democrat, 350, J. H. Andrews, Populist, 84,
joint senator, third district, J. F. Ailshie, Republican,
329, J. B. Morris, Democrat, 387, James H. Robinson,
Populist, 75 ; joint senator, fourth district, J. M.
Howe, Republican, 347, Thomas F. Nelson, Demo-
crat, 351, John Chenoweth, Populist, 90; joint repre-
sentative with Idaho county, W. L. Thompson, Re-
publican, 350, David C. Stephens, Democrat. 346,
William Craig, Populist, 74: representative, Ira S.
Sperrv, Republican, 350, D. F. Mahana, Democrat,
379, O. D. Lovelace, Populist. 52 ; sheriff, J. B. Coop-
er, Republican, 346, Eben Mounce, Democrat, 375,
W. S. Rice, Populist, 78; treasurer. Josiah Englis,
Republican, 300, David S. Dent, Democrat, 453; as-
sessor, George A. Smith, Republican, 290, S. O. Tan-
ahill, Democrat, t,~~. D. Kemp. Populist, 127; pro-
bate judge. Prince E. Stookey, Republican, 348,
George Erb, Democrat, 416; surveyor, J. O. Maxson,
Republican. 353, H. M. Stalnaker, Democrat, 327;
coroner. J. H. Howe, Republican, 335. K. L. Thomp-
104
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
son. Democrat, 397 ; commissioners, D. M. White,
Republican, 395, M. A. Kelly, Democrat, 344. W. A.
Nixon, Republican, 332, C. A. Leeper, Democrat, 373,
James A. Ray, Populist, 50; John W. Brown, Repub-
lican, 331 ; O. L. Phillips, Democrat, 330, Felix Mc-
Minime, Populist, 57. The state went Republican.
In the following campaign, that of 1894, the Popu-
lists displayed considerable strength. At the Popu-
list convention held in Lewiston July 20th, the follow-
ing platform was adopted, which, because it is typical
of most Populist platforms, we reproduce here :
"First — We endorse the Omaha platform.
"Second — We demand that the laws known as the
initiative and referendum be enacted and made part of
the state constitution.
"Third — We demand that all property be assessed
at its cash value and that all indebtedness shall be
exempt from taxation. All mortgages to be assessed
at their face value in the county where the indebted-
ness exists.
"Fourth — We demand the enactment of a law for-
bidding the sale of property on execution unless the
amount of the sale equals eighty per cent, of the ap-
praised value.
"Fifth — We demand that all laborers shall have a
first lien on the property.
"Sixth— We demand that there shall be a reduc-
tion in the salaries of the state and county officers, till
the amount paid shall be a fair compensation only for
the work done, and further that salaries be paid and
all fees go to the county treasury.
"Seventh — We demand that taxes be made delin-
quent in March instead of the second Monday in De-
cember.
"Eighth — We demand a revision of the school law
so that the state furnish text books to the pupils at
actual cost.
"Ninth — We demand a county attorney instead of
a district attorney."
The election resulted favorably to the Republicans,
though the Democrats secured a few offices. The Pop-
ulists did not develop enough strength to secure any
offices in this county: From the official vote the names
of the victorious candidates in this county will be
seen :
For congressman, Edgar Wilson, Republican, 505,
James M. Ballentine, Democrat, 336, James Gunn,
Populist, 222; governor, William J. McConnell, Re-
publican, 487, Edward A. Stevenson, Democrat, 371,
James W. Ballentine. Populist, 228; lieutenant gov-
ernor, Frederick J. Mills, Republican, 510, James B.
Thatcher, Democrat, 342, John J. Chambers, Populist,
211; secretary of state, Isaac W. Garrett, Republican,
509, James R. Hall, Democrat, 344. Frank M. Tibbals,
Populist, 216: attorney general, George M. Parsons,
Republican. 513. William T. Reeves, Democrat, 341,
Robert S. Speiice, Populist, 220 ; state auditor, Frank
C. Ramsev. Republican, 507, James Stoddard, Demo-
crat, 338.' Frank Walton, Populist, 221 ; treasurer,
Charles Bunting. Republican, 509, James H. Bush,
Democrat, 341, Callistus W. Cooper, Populist, 212;
superintendent of public instruction, Charles A. Fores-
man [editor Lewiston Teller], Republican, 533, John
W. Faris, Democrat, 331, Major J. Steele, Populist,
212; supreme judge, Joseph W. Huston, Republican,
513, John C. Elder, Democrat, 361, Texas Angel,
Populist, 216; joint senator with Latah, Daniel C.
Mitchell, Republican, 515, Henry Heitfeld, Fusionist,
561 ; joint senator with Idaho county, Cassius M. Day,
Republican, 519. Aaron F. Parker, Democrat, 342,
George W. Hinkle, Fusionist, 210; joint representative
with Idaho county, William L. Thompson, Republican,
543, Keith W. White, Democrat, 377, Silas D. Strong,
Populist, 136; representative, Richard J. Monroe, Re-
publican, 513, James W. Poe, Democrat, 342, J. H.
Morrison, Populist, 237; district judge, William G.
Piper, Republican, 545, Stewart S. Denning, Fusionist,
440; district attorney, James E. Babb, Republican,
529, Clay McNamee, Fusionist, 546; clerk, Robert
Schleicher, Republican, 449, Samuel O. Tanahill, Dem-
ocrat, 465, R. P. Mudge, Populist, 186; sheriff, Will-
iam H. Denny, Republican, 450, Hary Lydon, Dem-
ocrat, 474, C. W. McFadden, Populist, 177; treasurer,
Francis J. Edwards, Republican, 398, John B. Morris,
Democrat, 486, J. N. Lindsay, Populist, 190; probate
judge, Prince E. Stookey, Republican, 478, George
E. Erb, Democrat, 429, S. G. Hayes, Populist, 176;
assessor. Nelson J. Wing, Republican, 465, George H.
Ruddell, Democrat, 408, W. T. Wright, Populist, 208 ;
commissioners, D. M. White, Republican, 450, N. B.
Holbrook, Democrat, 404, A. Shiebe, Populist, 192,
Albert G. Wisner, Republican, 475, Ferdinand B.
Lang. Democrat, 355, William J. Eakin, Populist, 205,
George A. Welker, Republican, 460, William Le Baron,
Democrat, 385, Chambers Muston, Populist, 193 ; sur-
veyor, Jordan O. Maxon, Republican, 506, Stephen
Southwick, Fusionist, 251 ; coroner, Leroy L. Strong,
Republican, 508. Madison A. Kelley, Democrat, 348,
L. C. Neal, Populist, 202. A small Prohibition vote
was cast.
The campaign of 1896, the most brilliant and re-
markable political contest in the latter annals of our
country's history, witnessed the dissolution and division
of two national parties in Idaho. The rock upon which
they split was was the silver issue. The Silver Repub-
licans organized under Senator Dubois, who walked out
of the national convention at St. Louis, while the Dem-
ocrats either fused with the Populists or joined the
gold standard forces. Some Democrats joined Dubois's
new party. In Nez Perces county the Democrats and
the Populists fused. The Silver Republicans and Dem-
ocrats who did not care to fuse with the Populists
also placed a ticket in the field for a few offices. The
Fusionists carried the state and every office in Nez
Perces county except one. that of probate judge. Du-
Imis's Silver party elected twenty-five representatives
to tiie legislature.
The vote in Nez Perces county follows :
For President of the United States, William Mc-
Kinley, Republican, 675, William Jennings Bryan,
Democrat, 1089, Weaver, Populist, 22 ; congressman,
James Gunn, Fusionist, 918, John T. Morrison, Re-
publican, 678, W. E. Borah, Silver Republican, 122;
governor. Frank Steunenberg, Fusionist, 1064, D. H.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
105
Hudlong, Republican, 674 ; lieutenant governor, G. F.
Moore. Fusionist, 948, Vincent Bierbower, Republican.
602, E. B. True. Silver Republican, 106; secretary of
state, G. J. Lewis. Fusionist, 934, I. W. Garrett, Re-
publican, 670, Charles Durrand, Silver Republican,
103; state auditor. J. H. Anderson, Fusionist, 921, E.
A. McKenna, Republican, 679, Bartlett Sinclair, Silver
Republican, 98 : treasurer, G. H. Storer, Democrat,
034. F. C. Ramsey, Republican, 668. Timothy Regan,
Silver Republican, 100; attorney general, R. E. Mc-
Farland, Fusionist, 911, J. A. Bagley. Republican,
658, G. M. Parsons, Silver Republican, 125 ; superin-
tendent public instruction, L. N. B. Anderson, Fusion-
ist. 925, C. A. Foresman, Republican, 690, M. F.
Cowlev, Silver Republican, 8q : mine inspector, B. F.
Hastings, Fusionist. 1.038, Theodore Brown, Republi-
can. 658 : justice supreme court, R. P. Quarles, Fusion-
ist. 925, D. W. Standroad. Republican, 663, Edgar
Wilson, Silver Republican, in: senator, Henry Heit-
feld. Fusionist, 665. Charles E. Monteith, Republican,
413, George W. Morrison, Silver Republican, 109:
representatives, A. H. Alford, Fusionist, 673, I. S.
Sperrv. Fusionist, 627. N. J. Wing. Republican, 450,
W. A. Nixon, Republican, 439, J. D. Graham, Silver
Republican. 66; sheriff, G. Barton, Fusionist, 941,
W. S. Dyer, Republican, 768 ; assessor, D. Cantrill,
Fusionist, 93c. J. M. Williams, Republican, 758 ;
treasurer, J. B. Morris, Fusionist, 946. Hazen Squier,
Republican, 775 ; probate judge. Prince E. Stookey,
Republican, 933, S. G. Hayes. Fusionist. 766; com-
missioners, T. L. Armstrong. Fusionist, 959, A. G. Wis-
ner, Republican, 670, J. P.- Parker, Fusionist, 966, W.
R. Dixon. Republican, 651. Z. McCall. Fusionist. 919,
J. C. Larkee. Republican, 664 ; surveyor, G. Moragne,
Fusionist, 860, T- O. Maxon, Republican, 816; coroner,
L. L. Strong, Fusionist, 962, S. Leslie Thompson, Re-
publican, 706.
The next campaign was one of bitter factional
strife amongst all the parties. Late in August the
Democrats, the Populists and the Silver Republicans
met at Boise. An energetic attempt was made to con-
centrate the silver forces into one party, but most of
the Populists resisted the offer of fusion, believeing
they were now strong enough to stand alone. Finally
the Democrats and Silver Republicans nominated a
fusion ticket and the Populist party broke up into two
factions, the Blake and the Taylor factions, both of
which claimed to be the regular party organization.
Subsequently, however, the courts decided favorably
to the Blake faction, whereupon those of the Populit
party who had not cast their lot with the Democrats,
came together and nominated another Populist ticket —
a-middie-of-the-road ticket The Democrats and Popu-
lists again fused in this county and the Silver Repub-
licans joined with the regular Republican party. From
the official vote given below, the result of the contest
in this countv mav easily be seen :
For congressman. W. B. Heyburn. Republican.
1,238, Edgar Wilson, Fusionist, 069, James Gunn,
Populist. 385 : governor. A. B. Moss. Republican,
1,324. Frank Steuenbcrg, Fusionist. 942, James H. An-
derson. Populist, 207; lieutenant governor, J. F.
Hunt, Republican 1.279, J- H. Hutchinson, Fusionist,
929, T. E. Miller, Populist, 310; secretary of state, R.
S. Bragaw. Republican, 1,268, Martin Patrie, Fusion-
ist, 912, J. S. Bonham, Populist, 30; attorney gen-
eral, F. J. Wvman. Republican, 1.267, S. H. Hayes,
Fusionist, 932, T. L. Glenn. Populist. 311 ; justice su-
preme court, D. W. Standrod, Republican, 1,308, J. N.
Sullivan. Fusionist, 1,072; district judge, E. C. Steele,
Republican, 1.253, Moore, Fusionist, 869, Willis
Sweet, Silver Republican, 341 ; auditor, J. H. Van-
camp. Republican, 1,260, Bartlett Sinclair, Fusionist,
917, A. G. Whittier. Populist. 308 ; state treasurer, G.
W. Fletcher, Republican, 1,265, L. C. Rice, Fusionist,
1226: inspector of mines, J. W. Stoddard, Republican,
1,253. J- A- Czizek. Fusionist. 910. David Farmer,
Populist, 448 ; superintendent of public instruction,
Miss Dean, Republican, 1.300, Miss French, Fusionist.
1,229; state senator, J. N. Stacy, Republican, 1,299,
L. C. Clark, Fusionist, 1,071, G. A. Manning, Silver
Republican, 115; representatives, O. T. Hanlon, Re-
publican, T.256, W. D. Hardwick, Republican, 1,179,
Wallace B. Stainton. Fusionist, 1,181, S. Ogden, Fu-
sionist, 946. D. H. Haner, Silver Republican. 188;
auditor. P. E. Stookey. Republican, 1,496, R. R. Steen,
Fusionist. 1,190; sheriff, J. W. Rozen, Republican,
1,475, F. L. Parker, Fusionist, 1,116; assessor, Stass
Spekker, Republican, 1,388. George Ruddell, Fusionist,
i,22j ; treasurer. C. A. Hastings. Republican, 1,357,
T. S. Cantril, Fusionist, 1,158; county attorney, F.
Danford. Silver Republican, 1,375. John Green, Fu-
sionist, 1.226: probate judge, R. A. Langford, Repub-
lican, T.372, William Kauffman, Fusionist, 1,118; su-
perintendent of schools, Jennie Harrington, Republican,
1,488, Mary Kroh. Fusionist, 1,018: surveyor, Edson
Briggs, Republican. 1,412, J. H. Day, Fusionist, 1.073;
coroner. S. L. Thompson, Silver Republican, 1.279, L.
C. Neal, Fusionist, 1,010, S. S. Strong, Independent,
i/T : commissioners. S. G. Isaman, Silver Republican.
1,319. John Wilkinson. Fusionist. 1,122. A. G. John-
son. Republican, 1,333. W. B. Martin. Fusionist, 1,089.
William Black. Republican, 1,388, Ed. Vandyke, Fu-
sionist, 1.078.
The state was carried by the Fusionists. their ma-
jorities ranging from 3,000 to 6,000. Nez Perces
county gave the Republicans majorities averaging 300.
From the fact that the Silver Republicans were al-
lowed to affiliate with the regular Republican party it
will be seen that the gold standard advocates in Idaho
at this time were not verv strong and probably for
this reason not very aggresive.
Fusion again prevailed in 1900. both in state and
county, the Populists. Democrats and Silver Republi-
cans associating. There was also, however, a middle-
of- the-road Populist ticket. The Fusionists carried the
state, while in this county, honors were about equally
divided between the Republicans and the Fusionists.
It is worth noticing that the Prohibition party polled
a considerable number of votes this vear. The official
vote of Nez Perces countv was as follows :
For President of the United States. William Mc-
Kinley, Republican. 2.152. William J. Bryan. Fusion-
ist, 2.134, Populist, 22. Probititionist, 169; justice su-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
preme court Edgar C. Steele, Rep., 2,158, Charles D.
Stockslayer, Fusionist, 2,067, William Perkins, Populist
40; congressman, John T. Morrison, Republican, 2,137,
Thomas L. Glenn, Fusionist, 2,092, John F. Stark,
Populist, 25. Amanda M. Way, Prohibitionist, 165;
governor, D. W. Standrod, Republican, 2,136, Frank
W. Hunt, Fusionist, 2,117, John S. Randall, Populist,
27, William J. Boone, Prohibitionist, 171 ; lieutenant
governor, Addison A. Crane, Republican, 2,100,
Thomas F. Terrell, Fusionist, 2,081, Johannes Henson,
Populist, 172; secretary of state, Martin Patrie, Re-
publican, 2,105, Charles J. Bussett, Fusionist, 2,066,
Melancthon F. Ely, Populist, 47, Mrs. Neal B. Inman,
Prohibitionist, 183 ; state auditor, Henry J. Syms, Re-
publican, 2,096, Egbert W. Jones, Fusionist, 2,094,
William W. Tharp, Populist, 29; treasurer, George
H. Kester, Republican, 2,138, John J. Plumber, Fusion-
ist, 2,033, Augustus M. Slater, Populist, 61, James Bal-
lentine, Prohibitionist, 170; attorney general, George
E. Gray, Republican, 2,105, Frank Martin, Fusionist,
2,083, Clay McNamee, Populist, 36, William A. Hall,
Prohibitionist, 166; superintendent of public instruc-
tion, Jessie Riley, Republican, 2,099, Parmeal French,
Fusionist, 2,095, James T. Smith, Prohibitionist, 160;
inspector of mines, Robert D. Bell, Republican, 2,084,
Martin H. Jacobs, Fusionist, 2,071, Edward Kimber-
ley, Populist, 30, George Black, Prohibitionist, 159;
senator, Frank D. Hasbrouck, Republican, 2,053, Louis
Clark, Fusionist, 2,135, Michael C. Pearsons, Prohi-
bitionist, 160; representatives, Caleb W. Richardson,
Republican, 2,045, Albert W. Lee, Republican, 2,048,
Peter Triesch, Fusionist, 2,122, Eben Mounce, Fusion-
ist, 2,107, Joseph A. Pine, Prohibitionist, 165, Will-
iam E. Schuehly, Prohibitionist, 157; sheriff, John T.
Leachman, Republican, 1,946, Alfred Kroutinger, Fu-
sionist, 2,311, William C. Bird, Prohibitionist, 155;
treasurer, Viola C. McConville, Republican, 1,981,
James R. Lydon. Fusionist, 2, 270 ; assessor, Benjamin
F. Bashor, Republican, 2,160, William E. Stoddard,
Fusionist, 2,050, Edward Darby, Prohibitionist, 128;
judge of probate, Robert A. Langford, Republican,
2,004, William B. Reese, Fusionist, 2,250, William
Scott, Prohibitionist, 120; superintendent of schools,
Jennie M. Harrington, Republican, 2,161, Eula Ward,
Fusicnist, 2,118, Ollie R. Ellis, Prohibitionist, 119:
county attorney, Miles S. Johnson, Republican, 2,173,
Carl A. Davis, Fusionist, 2,139 ; commissioners, Samuel
G. Isaman, Republican, 1,991, Charles A. Leeper, Fu-
sionist, 2,194, J. Smith Mounce, Prohibitionist, 155, S.
S. Brooks, Republican, 1,935, Perry E. Miller, Fusion-
ist, 2,258, N. C. Busby, PVohibitionist, 126, William
A. Black, Republican, 2,079, George W. Brammet,
Fusionist, 2,094, Charles A. Parrott, Prohibitionist,
124: surveyor, Edson Briggs, Republican, 2,264, Ben-
jamin F. Chanev, Fusionist, 1,959, George Hogue, Pro-
hibitionist, 146; coroner, Lemuel C. Neal, Republican,
2,079, Jesse Watson, Fusionist, 2,092, John Black, Pro-
hibitionist, 125.
The last campaign is too recent to require a dis-
cussion of the policies of the different parties. Suffice
it to say that the Populist party as a party is now a
memory, though many of its principles have been ab-
sorbed by the two historic parties, and that the silver
question is not what might be termed a living issue.
Those who were former adherents of the Populist faith
are now numbered among either the Democrats, the
Republicans or are members of one of the minor par-
ties. With the removal of the silver question as a
factor in Idaho politics and the substitution therefor,
as the main issue, of the administration's foreign policy
and the well known Republican doctrines of a pro-
tective tariff and conservatism in all financial and
economic matters in general, the Republicans have once
again assumed the reins of government in Idaho. Nez
Perces county went overwhelmingly Republican at the
last election, only two Democrats being elected.
The official vote :
For congressman, Burton L. French, Republican,
2,451, Joseph H. Hutchinson, Democrat, 1,807, John
A. Davis, Socialist, 234, Herbert A. Lee, Prohibition-
ist, 115 : governor, John T. Morison, Republican, 2,495,
Frank W. Hunt, Democrat, 1,758, Augustus M.
Slatery. Socialist, 220, Albert E. Gipson, Prohibition-
ist, 121 ; lieutenant governor, James M. Stevens, Re-
publican, 2.397, William E. Adams, Democrat, 1,801,
Louis N. B. Anderson, Socialist, 230, Simon E. Hunt,
Prohibitionist, 125; secretary of state, Wilmot H. Gib-
son, Republican, 2,372, C. J. Bassett, Democrat, 1,809,
W. H. Candee, Socialist, 220, W. E. Schuebley, Pro-
hibitionist, iiq: state auditor, Theodore Turner, Re-
publican, 2,359, J- C. Callahan, Democrat, 1,810,
George W. Harrington, Socialist, 228, Thomas D.
Hodgson, Prohibitionist, 129; state treasurer, Henry
N. Coffin, Republican, 2,366, E. P. Coltman, Democrat,
1,786, James E. Miller, Socialist, 218, Mrs. Jennie G.
Headlev, Prohibitionist, 146; attorney general, John
A. Bagley, Republican, 2,334, Frederick D. Culver,
Democrat, 1,879, David W. Smith, Socialist, 227; su-
perintendent of public instruction, May L. Scott, Re-
publican, 2,339, Permeal French, Democrat, 1,003,
Mrs. Ollie E. Ellis, Prohibitionist, 130: inspector of
mines, Robert Bell, Republican, 2,339, Jonn H. Nord-
quest, Democrat, 1,796, O. Chalmus Smith, Socialist,
229, George Klock, Prohibitionist, 123; justice of the
supreme court,- James F. Ailshire, Republican, 2,361,
Frank E. Fog?. Democrat, 1.792. John C. Elder, So-
cialist, 227, William A. Hall, Prohibitionist, 125; sen-
ator, Seventeenth district, George E. Crum. Republi-
can. 2.2S6. Louis Clark, Democrat, 1,841, William H.
Thompson, Socialist, 230, James E. Pearson, Prohibi-
tionist, 121 ; state representatives, Charles D. Thomas,
William A. Black, Garrett H. Farrel, Republicans,
2.287, 2,191, and 2,174 votes respectively, John W.
Graham, Eben Mounce, Charles Hutchins, Democrats,
1,968, 1,924 and 1,852 votes respectively, Erick S. Lee,
William Fenderson, Henry Wilson, Socialists, 202,
197 and 103 votes respectively, G. W. Beloit, G. B.
Banta, J. R. Hobkins. Prohibitiomists, 109, 107 and 115
votes respectively: district judge, Edgar C. Steele, Re-
publican, 2.356, Wallace N. Scales, Democrat, 1,882;
county auditor and recorder, John T. Orbison, Repub-
lican, 2,007, James R. Lydon, Democrat, 2,226, Duncan
Gaven, Socialist, 190, W. E. Curtis, Prohibitionist,
113: county commissioners, First district, George A.
LUNA HOUSE
/
iiimiiijiiiiiii.'i iiiir...!;.! -if 'inMiiiiiiii
LUNA HOUSE OF LEWISTON. TAKEN ABOUT
Benedict Ranch, at the Mouth of Whitebird, the Scene of Indian Atrocities in 1877.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Smith, Republican, 2,184, C. A. Leeper, Democrat,
1,990, John A. Miller, Socialist, 198, J. Smith Mounce,
Prohibitionist, 118; Second district, Samuel Hollen-
beck, Republican, 2,201, Nathaniel Wilson, Democrat,
1,884, Renny J. Bofferding, Socialist, 199, Elmer Rob-
ertson, Prohibitionist, 122; Third district, George W.
Welker, Republican, 2,217, George W. Brammer, Dem-
ocrat, 1,907, Thomas F. Jacobs, Socialist, 203, J. H.
Lewis, Prohibitionist, 123 ; sheriff, William Schuldt,
Republican, 2.396, William R. Gibbs, Democrat, 1,892,
William Bozarth, Socialist, 199, U. E. Reeves, Prohi-
bitionist, 97 : prosecuting attorney, Miles S. Johnson,
Republican, 2,349, Charles L. McDonald,. Democrat,
1,961 ; treasurer, Charles A. Hastings, Republican,
2,205, Alfred W. Kroutinger, Democrat, 1,970, John
N. Lindsay, Socialist, 223, William S. Clayton, Prohi-
bitionist, 111 ; probate judge, Oscar B. Chesley, Repub-
lican, 2,072, William B. Reese, Democrat, 2,116, Stan-
ton T. McGrath, Socialist, 189, A. J. Pine, Prohibit
tionist, in; superintendent of public schools, Bernice
McCoy, Republican, 2,272, Eula C. Ward, Democrat,
1,994, Mrs. Laura Boyd, Prohibitionist, 117; assessor,
Wilfred L. Gifford, Republican, 2,312, Major J. Steele,
Democrat, 1,851, Adolph E. Fieser, Socialist, 198,
Henry Rickle, Prohibitionist, 109 ; surveyor, Edson D.
Briggs, Republican, 2,348, Frank Doughty, Democrat,
1.803, Charles Simmons, Socialist, 197, Gilbert Hogue,
Prohibitionist, 115 ; Clyde J. V'assar, Republican, 2,218,
William B. Cooper, Democrat, 1,870, Dr. W. F. Shaw-
ley, Socialist, 229, S. A. Roe, Prohibitionist, 114. A
very small Populist vote was also cast.
CHAPTER III.
CITIES AND TOWNS.
LEWISTON.
From the nature of things the early history of
north Idaho could not well be traced without, in part at
least, presenting also the early annals of the pioneer
city of the region. We have already referred to the
fact that the first attempt to establish a trading point
was made at the Big Eddy of the Clearwater, but
abandoned at once on account of the impracticability
of navigating that stream. We have likewise spoken
of the difficulty in the way of building a town at the
confluence of the Clearwater and the Snake rivers,
on territory then a part of the Nez Perces Indian
reservation, and of how circumstances compelled the
whites to assume the aggressive in trenching upon
the rights of the Indians and the latter race to yield
an unwilling compliance. The town of Canvas has
been adverted to; the unfortunate social conditions
obtaining therein ; and the sufferings occasioned by
the frailty of protecting walls and the severity of
the winter of 1861-2. Mention has been made also
of the platting of the townsite in October, 1861 ; of
the town's early political sta^s and its career as the
capital of the territory. The circumstances of its
loss of political prestige and the seat of government
have likewise engaged our attention and many inci-
dental references to the town of later days have
necessarily found place in former chapters. It is now
our task to trace the development of Lewiston some-
what more comprehensively and to gather up the
fragments of its still unrelated history.
The circumstances which caused the founding of
Lewiston were favorable to its rapid early growth.
The steamers which brought to the country hundreds
of miners brought also latge cargoes of goods to the
merchants which were speedily retailed at enormous
profits. Money was plentiful among all classes and
prosperity abounded on every hand. But these con-
dition.- were of short duration. The discovery of the
Boise mines in August, 1862, turned the current of
trade in that direction, and it became apparent' to the
leading business men of Lewiston that if their town
was to continue its rapid development, it must secure
a share of the trade. They were also ambitious to
establish commercial relations with Salt Lake City.
In furtherance of these two objects, or rather to de-
termine in a measure whether or not they were prac-
ticable, A. P. Ankeny sent a party consisting of Charles
Clifford, Washington Murray and Joseph Denver to
the site of old Fort Boise to report upon the navi-
gability of the Snake river between that point and
Lewiston. The party waited for lowest water, then
descended the river to Lewiston, making part of the
trip, it is thought, in a raft. They gave it as their
opinion that the Snake river could be navigated by
steamboats and that same fall, the Spray, of which
mention has been heretofore made, ascended the river
to a point fifteen miles above Lewiston, where it had
to turn back. This was unfortunate, for it went to
prove the impracticability of a far reaching scheme.
: Lewiston's business men." says Bancroft, "contem-
plated placing a line of boats on Snake river to be
run as far as navigable. The first important land-
ing was to be at the mouth of Salmon river, forty
io8
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
miles above Lewiston. The design was to make a
road direct to the mines, whereas the travel had there-
tofore been by the trails through the Nez Perces
country. The' distance from the mouth of Salmon
river by water to Fort Boise was 95 miles, thence
to Fishing Falls on Salmon river, 90 miles: thence
to Salt Lake City, 250 miles, total 475 miles, nearly
half of which, it was hoped, could be traveled by
boats. Such a line would have been of great service
to the military department, about to establish a post
on Boise river, and to immigration, saving a long
stretch of road. But the Salmon river mountains
proved impassible, and the snake river unnavigable, al-
though in the autumn of 1863 a second party of five
men, with Molthrop at the lead, descended the stream
in a boat built at Buena Vista bar, and a company
was formed in Portland for constructing a portage
through a canyon of that river, considered impractic-
able for steamers. It was soon made apparent, how-
ever, that Lewiston was hopelessly cut off from Salt
Lake, and even from Boise basin, by craggy mountains,
impassable river canyons and falls."
The failure of this Salt Lake project made it
impossible for Lewiston to maintain the rate of de-
velopment established during its earliest years, but
its monopoly on the distributing business of the Salmon
l'iver mining country continued, giving it ample means
for substantial growth.
It must be remembered that at this time the land
upon which the town was built was still a part of the
Nez Perces Indian reservation, and that no title to
property could be secured, a fact which must have
exerted a deterrent influence upon those who would
otherwise be inclined to erect substantial and perma-
nent buildings. But in due time negotiations were
entered into between the United States government
and the Indians looking toward the cession on the
part of the latter of one mile square of their territory
to be used for townsite purposes. Before these
negotiations were fully concluded the town was in-
corporated by an act of the territorial legislature ap-
proved December 27, 1866. The first section of the
incorporation bill read as follows: "Section 1. The
town of Lewiston, including the following territory,
to-wit : Bounded north and west by the waters of the
Clearwater and Snake rivers at their confluence, and
extending sufficiently far southerly and easterly there-
from to constitute in a square form, as near as prac-
ticable, according to government survey, one square
mile, intended to include the square mile of land
stipulated for in favor of said town in the treaty
between the United States and the Nez Perces tribe
of Indians now pending, is hereby organized into a
municipal corporation under the name of 'The City of
Lewiston.' Providing that the jurisdiction of said
city hereby conferred shall extend to the middle
channel of said rivers at the points oposite the terri-
tory included within said limits."
One provison of the bill was that the first election
of city officers should be held on the second Monday
in .A I arch of the year 1867 at the court house in Lewis-
ton. The election was held at the appointed time and
resulted as follows : mayor, W. W. Wright ; treas-
urer, H. W. Stainton ; marshal, Daniel McElwee ;
councilmen, Godfrey Gamble, George Scranton and
Julius Loewenberg. The charter had been secured
despite some opposition in the town itself to the move-
ment for incorporation, and the opposition did not
cease when officers were chosen. Indeed the forces
adverse to the city government, led by Richard Hur-
ley, were so nearly equal in numbers and influence to
those of a contrary mind that little could be ac-
complished in the way of progress during the first few
years, and nothing was attempted beyond such im-
provements as were deemed absolutely necessary.
It was during the year 1867, according to the
statement of Charles G. Kress, one of the pioneer
business men of Lewiston, that the first experiments
were made in tree planting in the streets of the town
and inception was given to a movement which later
gained for it the soubriquet of "the City of Poplars."
"One hot May afternoon," says Mr. Kress, "dur-
ing a lull in business, Seth Slater, John Clark, Dick
Monroe and myself were sitting in front of Monroe's
drug store on Main street at the head of what is
now known as First street. The conversation turned
to the extreme heat which was prevailing and Monroe
suggested that shade trees should be planted. At that
time our streets were entirely barren of trees and there
was no vegetation at all in the business section. The
suggestion appealed strongly to us and we held an
informal meeting to discuss ways and means of secur-
ing and caring for the trees. We were not at all
sure whether trees would grow here and the water
problem was a serious one.
"Finally we decided to try the experiment any-
how. Our plan contemplated the digging of a well
in front of Monroe's store, a favorite lounging place
then, and the planting there of one poplar and two
locust trees. The hat was passed around ami >ng the
citizens and in a short time $210 were subscribed.
The well was sunk at a point very nearly in the mid-
dle of the street, and cost $210, the amount of the
subscription. Over the well a neat frame covering
was placed and around it seats were constructed to
accommodate those who cared to while away an hour
or so near its cooling waters and beneath the luxuriant
shade of the trees that were to be. The walls of the
well were boarded up. The chain and bucket system
delivered the water. Wesley Mulkey, whose place
was near the city, donated to the enterprise the de-
sired trees, which were planted as soon as the well
was finished.
"The trees seemed inspired with a due sense of
the importance of their mission, for they throve wonder-
fully from the first. The enterprise was a popular
one and elicited the interest of everybody. The follow-
ing year C. C. Bunnell. Dr. Stainton and others set
out trees, and in 1870 a still larger number were
planted, until in a comparatively short time the town
was fairly embowered in luxuriant foliage. Main
street was lined on both sides with poplars, but few
of which now remain."
An issue of the Lewiston Signal bearing date
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
tog
September 12, 1867, has fallen into our hands and from
it we learn that the following market prices prevailed
at that time: apples, peaches, pears, 25 cents a pound;
flour, $5.50 a barrel : butter, fresh, 75 cents, Isthmus,
50 cents ; eggs, 75 cents ; cheese, 50 cents ; bacon, 22
cents; sugar, brown, 25 cents, crushed, 28 cents;
coffee, 38 cents; tea, $1.25. From its advertising
patronage we have compiled the following business
directory : Luna Feed and Livery stable, Jack Curry ;
Pioneer stables, J. B. Rowley ; general stores, Grostein
& Binnard, Baldwin Brothers, James Flanagan &
Company, J. Loewenberg, Ankeny & Sons, Bacon &
Thompson ; general commission merchants, J. Vilott
& Company ; drug stores, H. W. Stainton, M. A. Kelly ;
the Luna hotel, L. H. Thompson ; Hotel De France,
Madame Le Francois ; Globe hotel, August Bittner ;
wood, timber and shingles, Charles Carleton &
Company ; hardware, Bunnell Brothers ; California
bakery, C. Baker, proprietor; flour and liquor store,
Vilott & Company : Challenge saloon, Norton & Bun-
ker ; J. Denny'? saloon ; James Hays's saloon, also the
saloons of Vincent & Dyer and A. Gilman ; the Asotin
Mill Company; harness store, Gill & Warden; jew:eler,
Charles G. Kress : brewery, Gamble & Weisgerber ;
assay office, Richard Hurley; gunsmith, M. H.
Sprague; the Oro Fino & Pierce City express, M.
Fettis ; the Warren's Diggings express, just estab-
lished, W. P. Hunt and F. G. Hart ; H. W. Stainton,
physician ; W. W. Thayer and Alonzo Leland, at-
torneys ; H. O. Adams, justice of the peace.
The progressive forces, as those who had favored
incorporation were styled, continued to be hampered
in their efforts by a practically equally opposing force
until November 6, 1871, when Levi Ankeny, a pioneer
merchant, was elected mayor on a ticket pledged to
progress. The first matter to elicit the attention of
the new government was the securing of a title to the
townsite. Under the act of congress approved in the
spring of 1867, the government had granted the city
a tract of land one square mile in extent at the junction
of the Clearwater and Snake rivers, but the land office
had as yet failed to act in granting a patent and the
matter was held in abeyance. Mayor Ankeny was
authorized to cause entry to be made in his name
as trustee in behalf of the city and to take such further
action as was necessary to secure title to the land. As
a result a United States patent was in due course of
time secured, though not without litigation. It appears
that one Alonzo Gilman had filed a few months before
Mr. Ankeny on several lots of land included in the
townsite of Lewiston. Under permission of the agent
to occupy a part of these tracts for trade purposes,
Gilman had, in 1862, settled upon a small portion of
the land claimed by him, but the department held that
no acts of his either previous or subsequent to the
ratification of the treaty could secure for him a valid
claim to the land or any part of it and his claim
was therefore rejected.
In 1871 was begun a project favoring the further
extension of the tree planting and beautifying of
Lewiston, referred to above. Wesley Mulkey was the
moving spirit in the enterprise. He organized a joint
stock company with a capital stock of $10,000 for the
purpose of digging an irrigating ditch through the
town. The plan was scouted by many, who offered to
wager that all the water which would pass through the
ditch could be caught in a hat, but the more enterpris-
ing citizens subscribed the stock at $25 per share and
the project was carried to a successful issue. An
ordinance granting the Lewiston Water Ditch and
Mill Company, as the corporation styled itself, the
right of way through the city was passed February
2, 1874, and the ditch was completed some time that
year. It was intended at first for irrigation purposes
only, but later S. C. Hale and John Brearley planned
and built a flouring mill at its terminus, which re-
suited not alone in the inauguration of a valuable new
enterprise but the deepening and widening of the ditch.
After passing through the hands of several different
owners, the part of this property running through the
city was amicably transferred in 1900 to the city of
Lewiston, which abandoned it as an aqueduct, thus
removing one of the ancient landmarks of the town
and an improvement which had done its part in build-
ing the picturesque Lewiston of the past and establish-
ing the "olden, golden glory of the days gone by."
The half decade following the financial crash of
1873 was a period of quiet times in Lewiston, though
commercial stagnation was never experienced and the
town never ceased to grow slowly. The first thing
to thoroughly arouse the people was the outbreak of
the Nez Perces war, which occasioned a meeting of
the citizens and the organization of the Home Guards,
of which company, Ed. McConville, who later won
so much fame in the Nez Perces and Spanish-American
wars, was elected captain. Hazen Squier was first lieu-
tenant, George Young, second lieutenant, and Charles
G. Kress, orderly sergeant. The muster roll of the
privates was a follows : Alexander , Anderson
William, Billings , Brearley John, Baird Ezra,
Baird William, Binnard A., Boise L. B., Boise William,
Benson A., Berry J. G., Boise F., Bunnell C. C, Cox
William, Clark John, Coburn C. P., Collins, M., Con-
nely James, Denny William, Damas A., Dunwell L.,
Davis P. M., Denny J. W., Frost G., Faunce C. E.,
Forster William. Forster Alexander, Fix John, Gros-
tein R., Gale H, Gilman A., Glass George, Griffith
Hale N., Hale L. C, Holbrook N. B.. Hud-
son Thomas, Hunt W. P.. Igo William, Jain Joe,
Johnson Dave, Krep C. G., Knaggs . Kelly M.
A., Kearny J., Knifong J., Loewenberg B., Leland A.,
Leland Charles, Minnomv J. B., McGrave James, Mc-
Conville E., Monroe R.'j", Mulkey W., Manning G.
A.. Manning Fred, McCormick J., Monroe Dave,
Moxlev J. O., Noah George, Nollan M., Penny
George, Rowley L., Rowlev E. A., Rand J., Roberts
John, Stainton' H., Squier 'H, Schleicher R., Shank
Theodore, Saux Ravmond, Underwood George, Voll-
mer J. P., Wiggin L., Weisgerber J.. Weisgerber C,
Williams M. M., Warner J. D., Wardwell Dan.,
Wildenthaler S., Worden Thomas, Young George,
Yane Joe, bugler.
Shortly after the organization of the Home Guards,
Governor Bravman authorized the formation of the
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
First Regiment . Idaho National Guards, commission-
ing Captain Ed. McConville colonel of the same.
Company A was immediately organized in Lewiston,
with officers and membership as follows:
Colonel Ed McConville, Randolph Kean, Henry
Archer, John Bruce, Elmer Colwell, W. S. Stafford,
William Ritchey, John Woosherd, Charles Warnstoff,
George Pitt, Henry Pohlson, Albert Wisner, Thomas
Norman, George Gaunt, Charles Adams, James Salie,
J. S. Pintter.
June 17, 1877, the city council held a special meet-
ing to consider the Indian situation. The mayor was
authorized to send a telegram to Portland asking for
arms and ammunition from the citizens of that city
and to the O. S. N. Company, which brought a quick
response in the form of forty York rifles and a sup-
ply of ammunition. The council also authorized the
construction of rifle pits and other means of defense,
and accordingly, eight or ten outposts were established
on the high plateau south of the city. One was near
the top of the present grade from Snake river avenue,
another stood between that and what is now Fifth
street, another to the east of the present Fifth street
grade, one in front of the site of H. K. Barnett's
residence and the remainder between that and the
old road leading from Lewiston to Mount Idaho. At
each of these outposts a semi-circular trench two or
three feet deep and thirty-five or forty feet long was
dug. Behind the embankment thus formed four or
five men were stationed each night. Camp fires were
forbidden and strict military discipline was enforced.
This nightly guard was maintained until Joseph's band
had been driven into Montana, though the danger of
an attack was considered slight on account of the
fact that it is not in accordance with Indian methods
of warfare to attack large towns or cities. But it
was thought that many of the reservation Indians
were really in sympathy with their red brethren among
the hostile?, and as a revolt among them would be
indeed serious, it was best to be vigilant.
Grostein & Binnard's stone store was the strongest
structure in the city and the best adapted for use
as a fortress should the necessity for such arise. It
was therefore arranged that in case of attack the
women and children should gather in this building
while the men manned the entrenchments above town.
Fortunately no attack was ever made, though there
were the usual number of panics among the people
caused by the unfounded stories of highly imaginative
persons or the fabrications of Madam Rumor.
While the war damaged Lewiston in a number of
ways, as it damaged the whole of the north Idaho
country, it brought a measure of compensation for
the harm it did by turning the attention of the world
in this direction. Then, too, Lewiston naturally be-
came the headquarters for a number of army
officers and one of the principal bases of supplies.
At one time, it is said, every vacant business house
in the city, at all suited to the purpose, was rented
and used as a department office. The various corps
of cierks and helpers, the camp followers and the
strangers attracted to the place gave Lewiston a lively
appearance. Some of the army men suggested that
the town was a capital place for the establishment of
a permanent military post, and the citizens, ever ready
to push any movement for the good of their town,
sent numerously signed petitions to Washington ask-
ing that a post be stationed here, but the department
did not see its way clear to grant the request.
The year after the war, Lewiston began planning
for a more substantial growth, and not a few of its
leading business men commenced making arrange-
ments for the erection of fire proof, brick and stone
buildings. The merchants, who had theretofore catered
almost entirely to the miners' trade, were asking them-
selves if it would not be better to seek to build up
a trade with the farming districts to the north, and
the press was calling attention to the fact that if more
effort had been made to satisfy the farmers' necessi-
ties, the occasion for several rival towns in Washing-
ton territory would not have arisen. In short, Lewis-
ton was casting about for something to take the
place, in furnishing support, of the declining placer
mines, and its people clearly saw that their hope for
the future lay in the development of quartz mining
and the agricultural resources of the tributary country.
As the transition from one industry to another is
necessanlv slow in any community, so must be the
growth of towns depending upon regions in which one
source of revenue becomes exhausted before others can
be built up to take its place.
During the summer of 1879, the first long distance
telegraph line, that precursor of the railroad, was
constructed into Nez Perces county and north Idaho.
It was a branch of the main military line, built to con-
nect Dayton with Fort Lapwai, and the citizens of
Lewiston subsidized the enterprise with a free office in
the town and several hundred poles, with the under-
standing that they might use the line when not in the
service of the military. The following is the first
telegram sent from Lewiston over the wire :
Lewiston, I. T., June 17, 1879, 5 p- M-
To the Mayor and Citizens of Dayton, IV. T., Greet-
ings
The people of Lewiston are happy to announce to
you by way of first telegram over the first U. S.
Government line yet established north of San Diego,
California, that they hold sacred in this manner this
the anniversary of the struggle of our forefathers on
Bunker Hill.
A. Leland, H. Snuier, T. P. Vollmer, D. J. Warner,
C. C. Bunnell, N. W. Brearley, W. F. Kettenbach,
C. G. Kress, A. Gilman, E. A. McAllister, Ed. Pearcy,
Loewenberg Bros., C. B. Reynolds, G. A. Manning,
C. F. Leland, T. Alexander, E. J. Bonhore, Eph.
Bunker, Grostein & Binnard, I. C. Baldwin, M. M.
Williams, J. M. Silcott, and others.
Lewiston claims the honor of having had the first
local telephone system in the northwest. It was put
in by John P. Vollmer in 1878 and consisted of an
exchange of three phones.
The decade between 1880 and 1890 does not seem
to have brought any great good fortune or any serious
disaster to Lewiston, and while the period was an
HISTORY' OF NORTH IDAHO.
important one and witnessed a slow, substantial
growth, it is not crowded with events such as would be
read about with interest if presented in full detail.
The former year brought a great reduction in ferry
rates across the Snake and Clearwater rivers, — an
important concesion from a commercial point of view
as it encouraged trade to come this way. During the
fall of 1 88 1, the city paid its tribute of respect to
the memory of the martyred President Garfield. An
event of unusual importance in 1883 was the 4th of
July celebration, attended by large crowds from Union-
town, Genessee, Asotin. Pomeroy, Pataha, Alpowai,
Waha, Lapwai and many other points in Idaho and
Washington ; two hundred Indians from the reser-
vation, and last but not least Governor J. B. Neil,
said to be the first chief executive of the territory to
visit north Idaho since 1864. In 1883 the town ex-
perienced a fire of considerable magnitude, though
fortunately very little damage was inflicted upon the
white population. About half past four o'clock on
the morning of November 19th, the flames burst forth
in the Chinese section, and before their progress could
be stayed, the entire block was in ashes. Thirteen
buildings were destroyed, all of them occupied by
Chinamen except a wagon shop in which Lot Wiggin's
tools and equipment were, and the dwelling of J. E.
Sheppard. Both the white men succeeded in saving
most of their valuables, and the fire was not greatly
deplored as it removed a block which had been an eye-
sore in the city for a long time.
On May 31, 1887, the water in the rivers rose to
a height unprecedented in the experience of white nun.
Pioneers of 1862, who had marked the highest water
of that flood year, stated that their marks were fully
eighteen inches below the surface of the highest water
of 1887. The greater portion of the town north of
B street became seriously inundated. Fences were
washed away, cellars and houses were flooded, build-
ings were moved from their foundations and carried
down Main street in spite of the exertions of their
owners and such others as could lend a hand. Dykes
built for the protection of property proved inadequate
and many of those who relied upon them were flooded
so suddenly that they could not even save their furni-
ture and household goods. The steamboat wharf and
warehouse were washed away and much other dam-
age done, the principal sufferers being poor people
who could ill afford what they lost. No high water
disaster previously experienced by the town could
compare with this one in magnitude.
Lewi -ton's first fire of any consequence occurred in
the fall of 1890, when a conflagration thought to have
been of incendiary origin, took place in the shingle
yard of W. S. Wyncoop. Eighteen thousand dollars'
worth of bolting timber, cedar posts, shingles and other
property was destroyed, also S. L. Thompson's resi-
dence. The mill and all other surrounding buildings
were, however, fortunately saved, not through the
efforts of the fire department, which was in a state
of disintegration at the time, but by the populace with
buckets of all descriptions. "Many held the opinion,"
says the Teller, "that the fire in the upper town was
only a decoy to lure the citizens there while another
fire would be started in the business portion. An
additional force was, therefore, added to the night
patrol, but nothing transpired to justify the suspicions
held. The property loss was covered by $12,000 in-
surance on the mill yard ; the residence was uninsured.
The fire demonstrated very forcibly the need of a
thoroughly organized fire department."
But the year 1890 was not one of disaster through-
out.— the contrary rather, for the Northern Pacific
Railroad Company had promised to build a railway
extension into the city and the hope of an immediate
solution of the transportation problem was stimulat-
ing activity in many lines. It is stated that during the
first week in May $50,000 worth of Lewiston real
estate changed hands. During this year, also, the first
determined effort was made to supply the town with
water and electric lights. The Lewiston Water &
Light Company, in which several Portland capitalists
were interested, was organized with a capital stock
of $100,000 and by July enough of this had been sub-
scribed and paid up to justify the commencement of
the construction work. Engineer Bloomfield, who had
charge of the enterprise, is quoted as having referred
to it in the following language:
"After a careful examination, the Clearwater river
at a point about two and a half miles above the town,
lias been selected as the source of supply. That this
stream is not misnamed can be seen at its confluence
with the Snake river. The latter river is charged with
sedimentary matter and is highly alkaline, while Clear-
water is soft, clear and free from impurities, and as
they meet, the two waters are as distinct as a blue
and a brown ribbon, side by side.
"The works will be a pumping system having a
capacity of two million gallons, raised to an elevation
of 225 feet, giving a pressure of 97 pounds per square
inch in the lower and business portion of the town,
and will give the beautiful plateau above the bluff
ample pressure for all purposes.
"The plant will consist of a brick engine and boiler
house, forty by forty feet, on a concrete foundation
fourteen feet high along the river front, into which
is built the heavy wrought iron inlet pipe and pump
well, with their attached gate and foot valve. The
inlet pipe will be five feet below extreme low water.
The engine will be of the modern type of double
compound condensing engines. The boiler will be
of steel, 85 horse power, with a steam pressure of
120 pounds. The reservoir will be cement lined and
of a capacity of 1,500.000 gallons. The mains will
be 8 66-100 miles long, consisting of 12, 10, 8. 5 and
4 inch pipe."
Another enterprise projected this year, which would
have proved of immeasurable benefit had it been car-
ried to a successful consummation, was that of the
Sweetwater Irrigation Company, organized to con-
struct a ditch seventeen miles in length to convey the
waters of Sweetwater creek to Lewiston. It was in-
tended to store the water in reservoirs on the flat
above town, to be distributed whenever and wherever
needed.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
During the spring of 1891, the Lewiston Chamber
of Commerce was organized with T. B. Cooper as
president, and W. S. Buck, corresponding secretary.
Committees were appointed to perfect the organi-
zation and attend to its detail work. The old Board
of Trade had lost its vitality and a new organization
was necessary that the best interests of the city should
be conserved. Company I. of the Idaho National
Guards, was likewise organized in Lewiston, on March
13th, Fred Kroutinger being chosen captain, C. A.
Forseman and J. H. Robinson lieutenants.
The water system, begun during the previous
twelvemonth, was completed this year giving the city-
one of the finest plants of its kind in the northwest,
outside the large cities. The engine was said to have
a capacity of 700,000 gallons per day of ten hours,
and the reservoir, situated half a mile south of the
pump house, a capacity of one million gallons.
Residents of Portland and The Dalles will re-
member that the year 1894 was one of grave disasters
by the flood of those cities and other Columbia river
towns. Naturally the same conditions obtained in
Lewiston. We have spoken of the record breaking
high water of 1887, but the flood of this year left the
highest mark of that fully thirty inches under water.
For two weeks during the last of May and first
of June, citizens held back the raging torrent by means
of dykes constructed of sacks of sand and loose dirt,
but on the third of the latter month the force of the
waters could no longer be resisted and about 2 130
o'clock the bell gave warning that the flood had gained
the victory. Persons living in the lower portion of
the city had moved out in anticipation of this, there-
by reducing the damage to a minumum. The Main
street business men had moved everything out of their
basements. They were not looking for water six
inches over their floors, however, but that is just
what came, catching them unprepared and greatly
damaging their goods. The people on the low ground
in the vicinity of the courthouse were also taken by
surprise, their dyke having betrayed the trust they
had reposed in it. Sidewalks, fences and other movable
objects were carried away and deposited around some
obstruction and the irrepressible small boy found much
sport in navigating the center of the street on a piece
of drift. Fortunately these conditions were of short
duration and in a few days the city had a force of
men at work removing the debris and replacing the
sidewalks. It is said that $700 was expended by the
council in this manner.
It might be supposed that the flood and the financial
depression would have a very deleterious effect upon
the prosperity and development of the town, but we
are assured that there were no hard times in Lewiston
such as were experienced in other points in the north-
west and that a steady forward movement was main-
tained, though of course the pace of the progressive
march was of necessity reduced somewhat. In 1895
came the opening of the reservation, causing an influx
of home seekers and the distribution of hundreds, nay
thousands, of dollars of Indian money among the
Lewiston merchants. These causes were efficient to
overcome the depressing influence of outside conditions
and to produce a period of prosperity which lasted
until the clouds had cleared from the country's financial
sky. When good times came Lewiston had no
despondency to rally from and it was ready to enter
upon a career of rapid advancement which has con-
tinued to this day.
The spring of 1896 saw the commencement of
work, by the Lewiston Water & Power Company, on
an irrigation ditch from Asotin creek to Lewiston
flats, just across Snake river in the state of Washing-
ton. In January, 1897, the work was completed. It
gave a wonderful impetus to settlement and develop-
ment in that section of the country and to the up-
building of Clarkston, Lewiston's sister city, which
is so closely connected with the Idaho town by the
bridge across Snake river as to make the two practic-
ally one city.
In 1897, the year of railway construction into
Lewiston, and the year of' unprecedented advancement
in the history of the town, was marred by a rather
serious fire which occurred on the evening of the 8th
of August. The cause of the conflagration, was the
explosion of a lantern in the hay mow of Collins's
livery barn, which was consumed with the outbuildings
belonging thereto. The entire block was wiped out of
existence, the buildings destroyed being J. B. Mun-
shaw's house, the residence of N. B. Holbrook, that
occupied by J. O. Barbour and a log building owned
by Martin Collins. Mr. Munshaw, who was operating
the stables under lease at the time, lost but $600, most
of his property being covered by insurance, but Col-
lins' loss was in the neighborhood of four thousand
dollars and Holbrook's two thousand. Only the
fortunate presence of plenty of water and the efficient
work of firemen and citizens saved the lower end of
the town from destruction.
No general disaster of any kind detracted from the
blessings of the prosperous year 1898 in Lewiston.
Five substantial brick blocks added to the solidity of
the town, while numerous residences of a good class
improved its appearance and added to its size. The
Lewiston Commercial Club was organized this year,
former institutions of the kind having apparently fallen
into "innocuous desuetude." Its officers elected Sep-
tember 5th, were : President, B. F. Morris : vice-
presidents, J. P. Vollmer and Robert Schleicher ; treas-
urer, George H. Kester ; trustees, J. Alexander, W.
A. Austin, A. H. Alford, E. H. Libbv, T. B. Morris,
C. Weisgerber, J. E. Babb, C. C. Bunnell. J. W. Reid
and O. A. Kjos. The advent of the railroad and the
general prosperity were celebrated by a harvest carni-
val, attended by hundreds from the surrounding coun-
try and hundreds more who came in from points be-
tween Spokane and Lewiston on two special railway
trains.
The causes which produced the good times of
1898, viz. : the interest in the section of transconti-
nental railway companies, the presence of transpor-
tation facilities, the increased knowledge of tributary
resources, and the development of various Salmon
river mining districts, continued operative during the
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ensuing twelvemonth and the year 1900 opened with
bright prospects for a continuous growth and develop-
ment of the town. One question of importance which
arose during this year was the securing of a better
and more satisfactory water supply. Those residing
upon the hill complained that the provision for their
necessities was insufficient and as scores of new
houses were being erected and scores more were in
contemplation, the need of solving the water problem
was rapidly becoming more urgent. Accordingly the
city council made overtures to the Lewiston Water
& Light Company for the purchase of their plant,
and the company expressing a willingness to sell, T.
B. Cooper, an expert, was employed to estimate the
value of the system. He reported its worth $54,-
934.36. The company asked a much larger sum.
Though the council expressed its willingness to accept
the terms of the owners of the system, the transaction
hung fire until the fall of 1901, when a newly elected
council brought matters to a crisis by reducing the
water rates more than twenty-five per cent. The
company refused to accept the reduction and took the
case into court where a decision was rendered against
them.
Meanwhile a special election was decided upon, to
vote upon the issuance of $80,000 in bonds for the
purpose of enabling the city to own its water and
light plant. The election was held November 19th.
The bonding proposition carried by a large majority,
over 90 per cent of the votes being in its favor.
The Lewiston Water & Light Company again went
into court asking that the city be restrained from
opening bids submitted for the purchase of the bonds,
alleging that the election was irregular and that the
Company's franchise was exclusive. The court re-
fused the injunction. The bids were opened and that
of Teasongood & Mayer, bankers of Cincinnati, ac-
cepted. These gentlemen offered a premium of
$68.80 per thousand, bonds to bear interest at the
rate of 5 per cent. The city went ahead with its
plans to construct a new water system and the Lewis-
ton Water & Light Company proceeded with its suit
in the courts of the state. Meanwhile, however, nego-
tiations were continued for the purchase of the sys-
tem already constructed and after several conferences
between committees representing the two interests,
it was finally agreed that the city should take the
company's plant for a cash price of $70,000, all suits
by the latter to be held in abeyance until the contract
for purchase should be signed, then dismissed without
prejudice, each party paying its own costs. The
terms of agreement were accepted by the council on
the evening of March 10, 1902, and confirmed by the
voters at an election held April 24th of the same
year.
August 28, 1902, the city voted to authorize the
sale of ten thousand dollars street improvement
bonds, the proceeds to be used in grading Main street
between Fifth street and the courthouse, the gravel
to be taken from the Fifth street cut. Work upon
this much needed improvement is still in progress at
this writing, and the great good accruing from it in
giving the city a clean and solid business street, and
the people of Normal hill the benefit of an easy grade
to their elevated homes is abundantly justifying the
vote of 108 to 53 by which the bond issue was
authorized.
Perhaps the developments that have taken place
between the time when Lewiston was a town of tents
encroaching upon an Indian reservation and the pres-
ent cannot be better summarized than by enumerating
the various business enterprises which are being sus-
tained within its limits to-day and the men at their
heads. It is difficult to be sure that some of these
have not been omitted, but practically all are in-
cluded in the following: The dry goods and furnish-
ing stores of John P. Vollmer & Company, O. A.
Kjos and John M. Fix, also the Grand Leader and the
Bee Hive; the grocery stores of E. L. Russell, Reed
& Brashears, W. R. Wyatt, Merriam Brothers, C. A.
Phelps, the Lewiston Grocery & Bakery Company,
the Golden Rule and the Normal Hill Grocery-
Company ; the art store of Fair & Thompson ; White
Brothers and A. S. Burnett, wholesale dealers in
fruits and vegetables ; the music store and supply
house of W. H. Young; Charles Hahn, Naylor &
Norlind, plumbing ; Lewiston Trading Company,
dealers in agricultural implements, carriages, etc. ; the
drug stores of J. Q. Moxley, Ray & Osmer, Dent &
Butler, the Lewiston Drug Company ; the shoe store
of C. A. Hastings ; the hardware stores of G. W.
Fletcher, Myers & Neyland, and the Cash Hardware
Company ; the clothing stores of Meuli & Lomax and
H. A. Nixon; D. J. McGilvery, L. C. Neal and the
Lewiston Furniture & Undertaking Company, deal-
ers in furniture and house furnishings ; the harness
and saddle store of R. M. Coburn ; the J. S. Cox and
R. L. Pennewell Outfitting Companies; the jewelry-
stores of Charles G. Kress, George H. Lake, J. H.
Bethel and H. Haines; L. Diebek. manufacturing
jeweler; the Idaho National Bank, W. P. Hurlburt,
president, C. D. Thomas, cashier; the Lewiston
National, W. F. Kettenbach, president, G. H. Kester,
cashier; the First National, J. P. Vollmer, president.
E. W. Eaves, cashier; (this last is the strongest bank
in the state and among the national banks of the
American Union, it was officially ranked in 1901 the
fifty-seventh) ; the stationery and news depot of
Thatcher & Kling ; the Idaho Tea Company ; the
galleries of E. G. Cummings, J. W. Gomond, and
E. Fortin, photographers : the Boss Meat Market, also
the meat markets of Ehrman & Company, Dill
Brothers, A. M. Cherier, F. M. Long & Sons ; the
Mark Means Company, distributors and manufac-
turers' agents; Pring Candy Company, manufacturers
of confectionery; the Arcade, the Boss, Shafer &
Heller, Mallory & Lydon, the White Front. Idaho
and Farmers' livery and feed stables; the fruit, cigar
and confectionerv ' stores of M. N. Farmer, S. A.
Coppinger, and George F. Loeb : E. L. Wiggin, H.
R. Miller and Louis Grostein. dealers in cigars and
tobacco; W. T. Carpenter, dealer in curio-; A. J.
Kraudelt, confectionery; Theodore Hartman, John
C. Manson, F. Hacker & Company, Aurelio Farren
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
and J. J. Philippi. tailors; Ora L. Kennedy, Mrs.
Elaine Ritchie, milliners; M. H. Sprague, bicycles;
H. T. Madgwick, dealer in shingles, lime and brick;
A. Sempert, store and office fixtures; A. C. Coburn,
sign painter; the Lewiston Junk Shop, Shank &
Calvert, proprietors ; Idaho Steam Laundry Comp-
any; H. K. Harnett and the Nez Perces County Ab-
stract Company, abstracters ; K. Wong Yick & O >m-
pany, general merchandise ; Trader & Bartlett, manu-
facturers of H. & K. cigars ; the Nez Perces Machine
Works : C. F. Grimm. C. B. Nelson, William Wright,
R. W. Carter, blacksmiths; the White Labor, the
Woman's Exchange and the Boston lunch counters ;
Imperial, John Long and O. K. barber shops; the
Lewiston Bottling Works ; the brewery of Christ
Weisgerber ; the planing mill of E. A. Rowley ; H. T.
Best, machinist; William Agnew, gunsmith; J.
Schwert, shoemaker; Huber & Frazier. F. R. Seidel,
builders and contractors ; the Vollmer Clearwater
Company and Kettenbach Grain Company, exporters
of grain and flax ; F. W. Kettenbach, insurance agent ;
Collins' feed store ; the Standard and Idaho dairy
companies; T. S. Williams, upholstering; the Lewis-
ton Business and Shorthand College, Margaret Slat-
tery, proprietor ; Skinner & Mounce, Potvin & Howe,
Kroutinger & Cox, Wade R. Parks, J. W. Willison
& Company ; F. W. Godard & Company, S. S. Rogers
& Company and J. M. Edwards & Company, real es-
tate agents ; the Raymond House, the Grand, the Bol-
linger. Hotel De France., the Scully, the White House,
the ( Irand Central, the Thatcher, the Spokane and the
Columbia, hotels; the Lewiston Mercantile Company,
a wholesale house ; the Lewiston Milling Company,
capacity 200 barrels of flour per day ; Ernest McCul-
lough, Frank Doughty and I. L. Galbraith, civil engi-
neers and architects ; M. E. Adams, mining engineer ;
Charles W. Shaft. 1. B. Morris, John F. Hurlbut, F.
L. Hinklev, F. S. Stirling, J. Marion Smith, C. C.
Phillips, S, A. Roe, I. S. Collins, S. Salzburg, physi-
cians and surgeons; R. Victor Kuhn. J. J. Randall, J.
F. Atkinson, dentist ; Hattie Lorton and j. H. Watson,
osteopaths; E. O'Neil,' James W. Foe, McFarland &
McFarland, J. N. Smith. Johnson & Halsey, Price E.
Stookev. G. W. Tannahill, John B. Anderson, R. S.
Anderson, James E. Babb,, Crow & Williams, John E.
Nickerson, Ray Walker, Thomas Mullen, Wade R.
Parks, Bender & Alley, D. W. Bailey, Frederick D.
Culver, lawyers ; Adrai'n D. Sweet, A. G. Glidden and
M. L. Stowe, stenographers.
While Lewiston has suffered greatly in times past
for lack of transportation facilities and is still look-
nig forward to the advantages which an open rivet
to the sea and one or more transcontinental railways
will give, the town has no great reason for complaint
on this score at the present time. The Northern Pa-
cific Railroad maintains a daily passenger service be-
tween the city and Spokane ; the Clearwater passen-
ger leaves Lewiston each afternoon for interior points,
returning the following morning ; while accommoda-
tion trains are run over the Lapwai branch to Culde-
sac three times weekly and oftener during the shipping
season. The Oregon Railway & Navigation Company-
operates a fine line of passenger and freight boats be-
tween Lewiston and Riparia. At present the Spok-
ane, the Lewiston and the Norma, each of 250 tons
burden, are in use, the first two alternating with each
other so as to give a daily service, the last running
only when business demands. Captain E. W. Baugh-
man, the pioneer navigator and one of the first crew
to bring a steamer up the Snake river to its conflu-
ence with the Clearwater, is in charge of the Spokane,
Captain E. H. Works, of the Lewiston and Captain
Ralph Baughman of the Norma. A fifty ton boat, the
Imnaha, is being built by local capitalists to run on the
upper Snake river. During the wheat shipping sea-
son, the Northern Pacific operates the steamer J. M.
Hannaforcl between Lewiston and points on the Co-
lumbia.
The Pacific States Telephone Company and the
Western Union Telegraph Company furnish to Lewis-
ton wire connection with all the important towns and
cities of the northwest, while the Lookout Telephone
Company, a local corporation, has erected a network
of lines connecting various towns and stations in the
country surrounding Lewiston. Stage lines radiate in
several directions giving communication and close
connection with numerous towns and villages not
reached by the railroads. One of the finest steel
bridges in" the northwest, erected in 1898-9 by the
promoters of Vineland, in Asotin county, Washington,
spans the Snake river between Lewiston and Clarks-
ton, making the relationship between the two towns
very intimate.
The fraternal spirit is strong in Lewiston, as in
most other towns of the west and many fraternities
are represented. The Masons have recently sub-
scribed $50,000 for the erection of a Masonic temple,
a fact which shows the strength of that society among
our people. The different Masonic bodies maintained
in the city are the Knights of Rose Croix, No. 1,.
the Knights of Kadosh, No. 1, Lewiston Consistory
\'o. 1. the Scottish Rite, Lewiston Chapter No. 4,
Royal Arch. York Rite, Lewiston Commanderv No.
2. Knights Templar, Nez Perces Lodge No. 10, A. F.
& A. M.. and Lewiston Lodge of Perfection, No. 1.
The Odd Fellows, who own a handsome brick hall
in Lewiston, are represented by Clearwater Encamp-
ment No. 7, and Lewiston Lodge No. 8. Among the
other fraternal orders of the town are: Excelsior
Lodge No. 2, Knights of Pythias, Poplar Camp No.
205. Woodmen of the World, Tsceminicum Tribe No.
8, Improved Order of Red Men. Clearwater Lodge
No. 11, A. O. U. W., Lewiston Council of the Royal
Arcanum and a camp of Modern Woodmen, many of
which have their various ladies' auxiliaries.
Two important literary clubs are maintained in the
town, both women's societies. The older, organized
in the fall of 1899, is known as the Tsceminicum
club, deriving its name from the Nez Perces words
signifying "at the forks of the river." It meets fort-
nightly at the homes of its members for the render-
ing of literary programs. This club is to be credited
almost entirely with the founding, in September,
1900, of what is now the city library. The conditions
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
upon which the ladies donated their collection of
books to the city was that it should be furnished at
public expense with a library home and that its use
should be free to all residents of Lewiston. From
time to time since, the Tsceminicum club has, by
giving library benefits in the form of public entertain-
ments, sales, lectures, etc., secured the money with
which to purchase additional books. The library has
also been the beneficiary of the benevolence of Charles
F. Adams, the Boston philanthropist, and is indebted
to Senator Heitfelt for securing it hundreds of docu-
ments and government reports. The collection con-
sists now of 2,837 volumes, to which, according to
the card issue, 1,479 persons have had access. Mar-
garet G. Guyer has been librarian since the inception of
the enterprise and to her is due the credit for the
library's skillful management and its careful classi-
fication and arrangement.
The other library society, known as the Twentieth
Century Club, is very similar to the Tsceminicum in
its objects and organization, but it is a somewhat
younger society. Besides these, there is what is
known as the Cecilian society, maintained, as its name
implies, for the purpose of cultivating the musical
faculties of its members.
Six church societies have been organized in Lewis-
ton, the Catholic, the Presbyterian, the Methodist,
the Episcopal, the Christian and the' Baptist, of which
the presiding pastors are respectively, Revs. Hubert
A. Post, S. J., E. P. Giboney, John R. Gregory, Ever-
ett Smith, J. A. Pine and R. T. Guernsey. All of
these denominations are comfortably and satisfactorily
housed except the Baptist, which intends building a
new church edifice in the near future. These church
societies are all vital and active, contributing im-
measurably to the moral and spiritual life of the com-
munity. The Catholics are projecting a new hospital,
to be under the charge of the sisters of St. Joseph, and
to be known as St. Joseph's hospital. It will cost
$25,000.
A historical review of the county's public school
system is a practical impossibility owing to the com-
plete lack of statistical or other records in the county
superintendent's office, but some reminiscences of
Lewiston's schools may be of interest and not inap-
propriate in this chapter. C. P. Coburn says that he
has a very distinct recollection of the first teacher to
pursue his profession in Nez Perces county. Late
in the fall of 1863, according to Mr. Coburn, a middle
aged man of professional appearance and quiet de-
meanor appeared in Lewiston and proceeded to or-
ganize a small school. He wore a tall silk hat, a suit
of the blackest broadcloth and a white tie, all bearing
unmistakeable signs of long usage and giving the im-
pression that their proprietor was a broken down
sport. They did not belie him, as later events proved,
but for the time being the teaching ability of the man
was all that was inquired into. After diligent can-
vassing he secured a few pupils and opened his school.
Everything progressed satisfactorily until the teacher
drew his first month's pay, whereupon the sporting
proclivities of the pedagogue manifested themselves.
He set out to double his money at the gambling table,
but unfortunately for him, the fickle dame played him
false at this most critical juncture and his' wages
passed into other hands. Not desiring to remain
longer in Lewiston in the face of his ignominious
downfall, he' quietly departed whence he came and
the school was left teacherless.
Lewiston continued without educational facilities
for nearly a year thereafter, or until the fall of 1864,
when one P. H. Howe arrived and opened a subscrip-
tion school in a small frame building on Fourth street.
It is said that Schoolmaster Howe, who taught three
months, was a very ardent Unionist, so ardent indeed
that he was subject to frequent fits of patriotism, when
he would have his little band of scholars sing "John
Brown's Body Lies A-mouldering in the Grave,"
when they should be engaged in more arduous mental
exercises. To him, however, is due considerable
credit for placing the school in Lewiston in some kind
of a working condition and awakening a slight educa-
tional spirit in the town, which, for the first few years
was populated by a migratory, gold-seeking class who
paid but little attention to the refinements of life.
With the organization of the territory county af-
fairs became better adjusted and the little school held
at Lewiston was given support by the levying of a
small tax. For some time this was the only district
to derive benefit from the tax, as no other had been
organized. Mount Idaho district was the next to gain
an existence.
During the winter of 1865-6 the Lewiston school
was taught by William Ferrell, and under his tutelage
fifteen or twenty pupils were instructed in the rudi-
ments of education. The school prospered. Xext
vear it was placed in charge of Professor Eckels, a
very popular and erudite Irishman, and the first
teacher to really give the Lewiston school his serious
attention. At this time Lewiston was incorporated
and granted the privilege of maintaining an inde-
pendent school district, such as only Boise had en-
joyed theretofore. In accordance with the provisions
of this law. the Lewiston independent school district
was organized and a special tax levied. The school
was removed to a small frame building on the corner
of what are now Third and C streets, just south of the
old territorial capitol and across the street from the
Florence saloon. This building, erected in 1862, nad
been occupied for some time by Dr. Macinteney as a
drug store, and later the first territorial council had
met within its walls. Under Professor Eckels' super-
vision seats and blackboards were placed in the room
and books and manv other necessities procured for
the children. This energetic teacher remained only
one term, however. He was succeeded by Miss Ellen
Rellv. a daughter of Milton Kelly, the first judge of
the first judicial district of Idaho and later the founder
of the Boise Statesman. Miss Kelly taught two terms
and was succeeded by W. A. Goulder.
By 1871 the increased demands made upon the
school showed the urgent necessity for_ additional
room, and an agitation was commenced in favor of
erecting a new "school house instead of renting a
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
larger building. The times, however, were stringent,
and the problem of securing the money wherewith to
buy land and put up this new building was not an
easy one to solve ; nevertheless, at a meeting called to
consider the matter it was definitely decided to proceed
with the work. Some time previously a game of
poker had been played in Lewiston, the outcome of
which, as it happened, had an important bearing on
the school question. A certain man had squatted on
a large tract of land on Main street and as the town-
site still belonged to the government, his right to the
property when the land became patented was as gen-
erally acknowledged as would have been a deed on
record. Unfortunately for this property holder,
however, cards possessed a fatal fascination for him,
and on the night in question he was reduced to the ex-
tremity of placing his title to the lot against its value
in money, wagered bv his opponents. Fortune failed
him and' the result was that right to the land became
vested in three persons, James W. Hays, Albert Rip-
son and L. W. Bacon. Later C. P. Coburn, as presi-
dent of the school board, approached these men for
the purpose of securing the land for a school site.
Mr. Coburn's efforts were not in vain. Albert Rip-
son, who claimed the major share of the land, finally
agreed to donate his interest to the city, which he did,
quit-claiming, also, bv consent, the interests of his
partners. Subsequently title was perfected through
the courts.
On this property the trustees decided to erect a
small frame schoolbouse and a special tax was levied
to raise part of the funds. To further aid the enter-
prise the trustees of the school, Charles G. Kress, R.
J. Monroe and J. B. Rowley, also certain ladies of the
city, especially prominent among whom were Mrs.
John P. Yollmer, Miss Olive Martin (now Mrs. W.
P. Hunt), Mrs. Robert Grostein and Mrs. T. S.
Billings, gave a ball in the old Florence saloon build-
ing, which had been converted into a public hall. The
ball was a most gratifying success, financially as well
as socially, adding several hundred dollars to the
school fund. By such means the friends of education
secured a considerable portion of the money required
for the construction of the new school.
As soon as title to the land above mentioned had
been secured, the board of trustees let the contract for
building the school tc a builder named Mann, the
amount agreed upon being $1.-150. Mann's bid was
very low. The building erected really cost in the
vicinity of $2,000, the bondsmen furnishing the re-
mainder of the money. The building was completed
for occupancy in the fall of 1872 and to Miss Nancy
Simons belongs the distinction of first teaching within
its walls. She taught two terms. So rapidly did
the attendance increase that two years later the town
was compelled to add an annex to the building. Thus
enlarged, it sufficed for several years.
December 30. 1880, in response to the request of
the people of Lewiston, the territorial legislature
passed an act providing for the establishment and
maintenance of a system of graded schools in the
Lewiston independent district, a bill rendered neces-
sary by the rapid growth of the city after the Nez
Per'ces'war.
A special election was called soon after this act
went into effect, at which the tax payers of the district
voted to issue $10,000 bonds for the construction of
a new and much larger building than was then in
use. Under this authority the school board entered
into a contract with Hale & Cooper, July 6, 1882, for
the construction of the present frame school bouse on
the site of the old building. Subsequently the bond
issue was increased to $11,000, bearing eight per
cent, interest. The building was erected and at the
time was considered one of the finest schoolhouses
in this section of the west. But the steady increase of
population eventually made even this too small and
again the district had to provide larger quarters and
a larger corps of teachers. The last building was
erected in 1897-8 at a cost of approximately $16,000,.
to raise which $15,000 worth of bonds had to be is-
sued. The building is a handsome two-story, brick
and stone structure, provided with all the usual con-
veniences and school equipment, the pride of the city.
In anticipation of the removal of the frame building
at no distant day, the brick school house was erected
just back of the wooden one.
The rapid growth of the town during the past few
years has rendered the school facilities again inade-
quate, and to meet the exigencies of the situation the
board of trustees has decided to begin, this spring, the
construction of a twelve-room school house on Nor-
mal hill, it being the intention to have the building
ready for occupancy by the opening of the fall term in
September. It will be two stories high and will cost
about $25,000.
But Lewiston is not dependent upon its public
school alone for the maintenance of an educational
esprit de corps among its people and the education of
its juvenile inhabitants. By dint of much effort on
the part of its citizens and friends it secured in 1898
the establishment of a state normal school within its
limits. The school occupies a beautiful brick build-
ing on a sightly campus on Normal hill, overlooking
the business part of Lewiston and the scenic poem
presented by the two rivers just beyond and their
rugged farther banks. The school has enjoyed a ca-
reer of uninterrupted harmony since its inception, its
only drawback being insufficient funds to procure a"
needed equipment and enable it to rapidly expand.
It offers a flexible course of study, giving the student
wide latitude for selection, but requiring all to do a
stated amount of professional study and to take part
in the work of the literary societies. Diplomas are
granted to those only who complete a four years'
course, and the holders of these have all the rights and
privileges attaching to state certificates for life.
Another important institution having for its ob-
ject the educational advancement of the youth of
Lewiston and vicinity is St. Joseph's Academy, erect-
ed in 1898 and conducted by the Sisters of
the Visitation, a cloistered order. The school is ex-
clusively for girls, but is open to all who are respect-
ful obedient and docile, without reference to religious-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
belief. All the common and many of the higher
branches of learning are taught, including music,
languages and the arts. The present enrollment
numbers sixty. Thirty pupils board at the school
and those whose names are enrolled in the musical de-
partment number thirty. The academy building oc-
cupies a pleasant site on Normal hill. There is also
a Catholic school for boys under the immediate di-
rection of Father Post, the head of the church in Nez
Perces county. It occupies the quarters of the old
Sisters' academy, abandoned upon the establishment
of the school of the Sisters of Visitation in 1898. At
present twenty-four boys are receiving instruction
there from Father Post and his two associate in-
structors.
Such is, in a brief and no doubt incomplete out-
line, the past and present of the city of Lewiston.
One acquainted with the many advantages of cli-
mate, location and resources enjoyed by the town may-
be inclined to wonder why its growth has not been
more rapid. The reasons are not far to seek. Until
a very few years ago it was on the edge of an Indian
reservation, the immense wealth of which was lying
almost wholly undeveloped on account of the shiftless
character of the aboriginal population. Until a still
more recent date it was without railroad facilities,
while its rival towns in Washington and Idaho had
been enjoying these for years. Its tributary country
was also without railroads and is still insufficiently
supplied, but notwithstanding the immense amount
of work yet to be accomplished before the great
wealth tributary to Lewiston shall have been fully
appropriated, the town has been forging ahead with
wonderful rapidity in the past half decade, and no
doubt it will continue indefinitely its rapid advance.
Recently the legislature has passed an act appropriat-
ing eighteen thousand dollars of the state's money
to construct a supreme court library building in the
town. A great effort is being made to secure the pass-
age by the same assembly of a bill having for its direct
object the upbuilding of a large lumber manufactur-
ing industry in Lewiston. It may be unsafe to at-
tempt to forecast, but the conviction is almost forced
upon one that a city situated at the point where it will be
most benefited when the agitation in congress for an
open river to the sea shall have crystalized into accom-
plished results, at a point that must be touched by any
railroad from the east seeking to reach the ocean by
a water grade and at the very gateway to incalcula-
ble riches of agriculture, of timber and of minerals,
the county seat of a great and rapidly developing
county, the center of a" wonderful fruit "growing re-
gion, must some day take rank with the largest and
wealthiest cities of the Inland Empire.
The government townsite of Nezperce, on the
reservation, was thrown open to settlement Novem-
ber 18. 1805. George \Y. Tamblin was the survevor
in charge, and he selected the townsite. Probate
Judge P. E. Stookey filed on the quarter section of
land in behalf of the people, and the lots were dis-
tributed by lot, each applicant being allowed two tick-
ets. Tamblin's office, a box building, was the first
edifice in Nezperce. Ex-County Commissioner E. L.
Parker erected a building for use for general store
purposes, which he subsequently disposed of to Mr.
Orbison. The first goods sold on the ground of the
new town were those of Paul Johnson, and he built
the second business house in the place, now owned
by Steven Badger. Originally the postoffice was in
the Wayland hotel, Airs. L. A. Wayland, postmistress.
The first house on the reservation was erected by Col.
W. W. Hammell, and the first restaurant was started
by E. C. Cassens. Mr. Orbison possessed the first
home residence on the townsite, although a few years
previous to this there had been a shack erected. As
with all new western locations, the people who first
came to the town of Nezperce lived mainly in tents.
Col. Hammell was the first one to prove up under the
free homestead law, and his ranch adjoins the town of
Nezperce. He was closely followed by W. B.
Ramsey. Along about this time A. Coles started a
store in a tent, a racket store, and the first church,
Presbvterian, held its initial services under canvas,
M. G. Mann officiating. S. Markwell opened a store
in a new building, and the first drug store was erected
by A. Eitzen and a man named Towell, in the summer
of 1896. This building and business passed into
the hands of Wilson and Bert Bowlby, and Wilson
Bowlby was the first dentist, and Drs. Howard, father
and son, the first practicing physicians. Judge J.
R. Crawford was elected justice of the peace, al-
though T. O. Hanlon had been appointed to try a case
previous to that time.
During the summer of 1898 a man named Orr
opened a bank, and the first hotel of any consequence
was built and conducted by A. McLeod, and the sec-
ond bv J. D. Graham. The same year a butcher shop
was built by R. C. Bywaters. The town of Nezperce
has never suffered from a general fire, but in 1902 a
$3,500 residence owned by Z. A. Johnson was burned.
The original printing establishment, the Nezperce
News, was established in 1896. by Harper & Ander-
son. The second newspaper was the Record, by G.
S. Martin. Among the pioneers of Nezperce may be
mentioned Col. W. W. Hammell, G. W. Wilshire,
J. T. Orbison, E. L. Parker, John D. Graham, Paul
Johnson, E. G. Cassens, George W. Tamblin, A. Mc-
Leod, L. A. Wayland, Captain Human. W. D. Hard-
wick. An addition of twenty acres was made to
Nezperce bv Tacob Mowrv.
The present business houses of Nezperce com-
prise- General merchandise, J. A. Schultz & Co.;
Felt Mercantile Co. ; Bargain store, Graman &
Schultz, proprietors; Nezperce Cash Store, J. R.
Crawford, manager ; Old Store, J. T. Orbison ; Badg-
er Store, Steven Badger, proprietor; Idaho Store,
Coffin Bros. Hotels— Nezperce Hotel, Charles Holm,
Hotel Scofield. Williams Bros. Restaurants— Home,
Kimerv & Mead: .Mrs. Bob Warnacut's : and L. P.
Jacobson's. Livery stables— Boss. J. W. Gams, Nez-
perce, Miller & Miller. Grain dealers— \ ollmer-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Clearwater Company, D. W. Eaves, manager; Farm-
ers' Grain Company: Kerr, Giftord & Company; Ka-
miah Trading- Company. Drug stores — Bowlby's
City Drug Store; DeMonde's; The Kimball Drug
Company," Taylor & Moraseck, proprietors. Black-
smith shops— S. J. Doggett; E. B. Wilson and Thom-
as Barth. Soft drinks and Confectionery — The Der-
by, Black & Allison : R. W. Adams and Thomas Mar-
tin. Gents' Furnishing Goods— T. J. Hardwick &
Companv. Furniture— Mockler, Miller & Mockler;
S. N. Berry. Hardware— Mockler, Miller & Mock-
ler; Kantian Trading Company (Spiker & Salladay).
Millinen — Mrs. Anderson and Mrs. St. Helms and
Mrs. Sutton and Mrs. Hunt : Mrs. S. Badger. Banks
— First National, T. M. Mockler, president, J. A.
Schultz, cashier; Farmers and Merchants Bank, T. J.
Dyer, of Spokane, president : Kettenbach & Company,
limited, C. W. Nelson, cashier. Newspapers — Nez-
perce Herald, W. C. Foresman, editor and proprietor.
Nezperce Roller Mill, Z. A. Johnson : Chop Mill,
Lanby Bros., proprietors. Jewelry — B. F. Richard-
son. Harness shops — M. R. Bowman, J. F. Strick-
fadess. Meat markets — YVarrell Bros., John M.
Medved. Nezperce Brick & Lime Company, \Y. R.
Crim. president ; Heitzen & Mitchell. Draving —
City Dray, C. J. Hancock, proprietor ; Nezperce De-
livery, A. Fuller, proprietor. Barber — A. A. Bard-
well. United States Commissioner and Notary Pub-
lic—W. W. Hammell. Contractor — P. Fairweather.
Real Estate— B. J. McRae; Stearns & Thomas; W.
E. Larson. Attorneys — Stearns & Thomas ; R. H.
Wallace. Physicians — John Coburn ; E. Taylor; A.
J. Cooper; E. L. Powell. Dentists — Dr. J. W. Lewis.
Photography — Fink Bros. Contractor and Builder —
E. L. Tupper & Company ; Thomas Devine, Roach &
Johnson.
The churches of Nezperce comprise the Presby-
terians, Methodist, Christian, German Baptist, Cath-
olic and Baptist. The graded public schools are
housed in two buildings, one of four rooms and one of
two, the former steam heated. The fraternal soci-
eties are the I. O. O. F.. M. W. A.. A. F. & A. M.,
Yeomen, Maccabees. L. O. T. M., Royal Neighbors,
Women of Woodcraft, Rebekahs.
Nezperce is incorporated. The councilmen are
W. C. Foresman. C. W. Felt, C. H. Thomas, Dr. J.
H. Lewis and W. J. Ramsey. The town was bonded
April 21, 1903, for $6,750. to furnish water for fire
protection. There are two wells and a gasoline en-
gine for this purpose. The water right of Lolo Creek
belongs to Z. A. Johnson, who is now putting in a
plant to cost $35,000 which will provide electricity
for his mill and lights, water, etc., for the town. The
present population of Nezperce is between 400 and
500.
MORROW.
This town is situated just on the west side of the
boundary line between Nez ferces and Idaho coun-
ties. The township was laid out in 1896, a pre-emp-
tion claim of M. B. Morrow, a sheep raiser. The town
was first exploited by W. L. Thompson, trustee for
Mr. Morrow. In 1896 he op'ened a general store, the
first one in the village, and this was followed by the
Hotel Morrow, by D. 1. Slavens. About the same
period \V. S. Green established a feed barn, and Harry
Steel started a blacksmith shop. During the winter of
1896-7, Gibbs & Lemmons put up a butcher shop. A
saw mill was built in 1896 by J. G. Downs. The post-
office is on Willow Creek, at the home of W. R. Dixon,
established about 1888. The elevation of Morrow is
3,250 feet. The present business enterprises are rep-
resented'by the general store of Mons Hansen, black-
smith shop and chop mill, T. M. Davis, postoffice,
confectionery, etc., W. R. Dixon ; hotel and saloon,
Babcock & Horseman; feed stable, owned by George
Wayne, leased by Ed. Ausburg. There is a four
months' term of school taught by M. M. Belknap.
The attendance is an average of fifty-four. The
Methodist and Christian denominations hold services
occasionally, presided over by visiting clergymen, in
the Union building. There is a lodge of 1. O. O. F.
Sixteen miles below (Jrofino and the first impor-
tant station after leaving Potlatch junction is Lenore,
still another small trading and shipping center along
the Clearwater Short Line railway. There is already
one tramway terminus here and another tramway is
about to be constructed. The Lenore Trading Com-
pany has here a general store, J. B. McGuire conducts
the only hotel and Charles Green is the postmaster.
The Kettenbach Grain Company has a warehouse at
this point. Basalt and Agatha are two other unim-
portant stations along the railroad, established princi-
pally to accommodate grain shipping.
The townsite of Fletcher was surveyed by the
government in May, 1896, and opened for filing so
soon as the survey was completed. The ground was
donated by Simon L. Finney, who had homesteaded
the same on the opening of the reservation. The first
house, a store building, was opened for business in
November, and this was followed by a blacksmith
shop and saw mill. The following spring a hotel was
erected by John Bielby, and that summer Naffziger
& Honeyman opened a general merchandise store
(1897). A grist mill was started by Wright & Ellis
in 1898, and Robinson & Haynes established a drug
store in 1899. The grist mill business was incorpor-
ated as a stock company March 4, 1899, and subse-
quently the property was destroyed by fire. Wright
removed to Dublin and Ellis to Summit. The present
business houses comprise the drug store of Robinson
& Eckersley, general merchandise by L. E. Marchand,
hardware, by Peter Klaus, and hotel by the same. The
present population of the town is 200. Dublin, situ-
ated three and a quarter miles south of Fletcher, dates
from the summer of 1901. The pioneer spirit in the
enterprise was David Lowry. There are a few resi-
dences, a blacksmith shop and other business houses.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
19
Eight miles northwest of JMez Perces, in the south-
eastern part of the county, is the town of Mohler. The
land on which it stands was homesteaded by T. O.
Hanlon and J. B. Davis at the opening of the reserva-
tion. The town is platted but not yet incorporated.
The first edifice, a store building, was erected by T.
0. Hanlon in 1889. The postofhce, first known as
Howard, was established four years ago at the old
Howard townsite, one and a half miles southeast of
Mohler. Three years ago it was removed from How-
ard to Mohler. "The next building, a hardware store,
was put up by Boozer & Giles, and this was succeeded
by a creamery built in 1900. During the spring of
the same year a butcher shop, erected by H. D. Haines,
was established, and the succeeding building, owned
by P. E. Dean, was built two years since. This was
followed by a hotel by J. B. Davis. The spring of
1902 witnessed the erection of a budding occupied
by the Mohler Implement Company, the school house
and the Methodist Church. Three years ago a black-
smith shop was built by John Howard and another
in the spring of 1903 by John Collins and John John-'
son.
The present business houses are: Drug store, O.
DeMonde and John McGee; real estate, James So-
renson and J . H. Wann ; hotel, J ohn Biggart, proprie-
tor; blacksmith shops, Emery and Collins & Johnson;
general stores, P. E. Dean and G. S. Martin : hard-
ware, F. A. Boozer and Charles Giles ; A. G. Gross
and N. F. Wright ; furniture, T. O. Hanlon ; barn, in
connection with hotel, John Biggart; butcher shop
in summer time, J. B. Davis and T. S. Belts ; barber
shop, Charles and A. J. Johnson. The business of
Mohler is supported by the general farming in the
surrounding country. A number of new buildings
are projected, including a barber shop, two livery
barns, three dwellings, etc.
Church services are conducted every two weeks ;
Sunday school each Sabbath. The officiating minister
is Rev. John Taylor. Fraternal societies include the
1. O. O. F., Rebekahs, Encampment, W. of \\ .. and
Women of Woodcraft. The medical practitioner is
Dr. J. T. Price.
This little town is named in honor of ilo Leggett,
who has, also, contributed a portion of his name to
the Ilo Hardware & Implement Company, of this place.
The first store was erected in the spring of 1898,
but was closed out the same fall. W. F. Stinson was
the succeeding merchant, who, however, continued in
business but six months, and in the spring of 1899
(June), O. W. Leggett opened a general merchandise
store. This was, at that period, the only business
house in the place. During the succeeding fall or win-
ter a blacksmith shop was started by James Breeding,
and in the winter of 1900-1 there was opposition in
the shape of another blacksmith, Andrew Anderson.
In the spring of 1901 Charles Larson opened a wagon
repair shop. The same spring a small hotel was built
by VV. D. Simmons, and during the succeeding sum-
mer a general merchandise store was erected by O.
VV. Leggett. The drug store of Mrs. Cynthia A.Tat-
ko was built in the spring of 1902, and Dr. J. G.
Lenz dispensed the drugs. He had begun practice in
ilo in the spring of 1901. A harness shop was opened
by E. C. Kness in the spring of 1902, the Kamiah
Trading Company having commenced business the
previous fall. This enterprise was recently sold to
the ilo Hardware and implement Company. The
Idaho Supply Company, comprising local capitalists,
began business in the spring of 1902, and the Smith
hotel building was erected the same period. The Bank
of Ilo is a recent financial enterprise, of which J. J.
Woods is cashier.
During the winter of 190 1-2 William Blair opened
a livery barn, and recently another was started by
Simmons & Nichols. Mrs. J. C. Pearsall conducts
a millinery store; A. Gardner a butcher shop, and
there are two confectionery and "soft drink" stores.
An ungraded school is conducted six months of the
year with an attendance of fifty pupils. The Presby-
terians and Christians have church organizations and
buildings, erected during the summer of 1902, Revs.
McLain and John McDonald pastors, respectively.
The Modern Woodmen of America and the I. O. (J.
F. represent the fraternal societies of Ilo.
At the terminus of the Lapwai spur of the North-
ern Pacific railroad and snugly nestled against the
base of Craig's mountain, lies Culdesac, a prosperous,
thriving town of probably four hundred people. This
terminal town is one of the newest and one of the most
prosperous on the reservation. None has a brighter
future and none can boast of a more rapid and at the
same time substantial growth. Situated at the geo-
graphical center of the county, in the very heart of the
grain producing section, Culdesac is fortunate in being
the shipping and receiving point for a scope of coun-
try fifteen miles square and including a portion of Nez
Perces prairie. It has been conservatively estimated
that over one-half a million bushels of wheat, flax,
barley and oats were shipped from this place last
year and during the shipping season in the fall it is
not uncommon for 150 four-horse teams to unload at
the warehouses in a single day.
The town lies only about four hundred feet above
the Clearwater valley and consequently possesses a
warm climate tempered by cool breezes from the
mountain and encircling hills. The valley at this point
is not over half a mile wide and the town lies on a
narrow flat and several slightly higher plateaus. The
creek rushes angrily along the northern boundary of
the place. At one time it undoubtedly occupied the
whole canyon as the gravelly formation of the ground
and the plentitude of rocks testify. The citizens take
the greatest pride in their abundant and pure water
supply. The water is obtained from a large spring
on Leonard Henry's ranch, half a mile up the creek,
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
where it is stored in a reservoir holding 11,000 cubic
feet. From here it is brought to the town through a
four-inch main and conveyed to the different consum-
ers by two-inch pipes. The water has a fall of nine-
ty feet, enough to secure an excellent fire pressure.
This water system, which has been recently com-
pleted, is owned bv Wilbur A. Cochran, T. W. Shref-
fler and W. H. Shields.
It is said that President Mellen personally be-
stowed the name Cul-de-sac upon the settlement at
the terminus of this branch line. He was driving
along the proposed route with a companion at the time
and when they reached the end of the practicable
route, the president remarked "This is indeed a cul-
de-sac."
When the railroad was built, in the summer of
1899, John McKenzie was induced to relinquish his
homestead right to a forty-acre tract which made an
"L" of his farm and included the present townsite.
Then J. G. and C. A. Wright purchased thirty acres
of this tract with government script and subsequently
W. S. Adron filed a timber and stone claim upon the
remaining ten acres. Meanwhile, however, Sogart
& Green, E. T. Brandon & Frank Edwards, McGraf
Brothers (James, William and Thomas), T. W. Shref-
fler, E. J. Northcutt and several others had settled on
the ten-acre tract and decided to contest the Adron
claim on the ground that the land was more valuable
for townsite purposes. To that end a public meeting
was held of which Mr. Northcutt was chosen chair-
man, and a committee, consisting of James McGraf,
Frank O'Mallory, Jesse Beans and Link Meadows,
was appointed to take charge of the matter. Ninety-
two location claims were sold at one dollar each to
provide funds with which to carry on the contest and
in September, 189Q, the papers were bled. This con-
test was carried up to the secretary of the interior,
who, in 1902, decided in favor of the citizens, grant-
ing their application for a townsite. A trust patent
was issued to Probate Judge Stookey, who issued title
to the land to those possessing squatter's rights. This
tract now constitutes the main portion of the town.
The thirty-acre tract was platted in the fall of 1899,
but, owing to the fact that it was individual property,
was not occupied as rapidly as the government town-
site. The first house was built on it by Albert Wat-
kins, a Northern Pacific employee, in December, 1899.
Mr. Watkins was followed the next year by a man
named Martin who erected a lodging house, by S. E.
Bemis, who built a hall, and by C. B. Wright, who op-
ened a store. King & Wright erected a store and ho-
tel, the Triangle House, and warehouses were con-
structed along the railroad track. Both towns grew
rapidly and prospered.
The owners of this townsite originally christened
the place Mellen. The citizens of both towns early
applied for a postoffice and suggested to the depart-
ment the name given the station by the railroad com-
pany, viz : Cul-de-sac, spelling it as a compound word.
The postoffice was granted but the department re-
fused to adopt the name suggested and instead be-
stowed the name Magnolia. Thus matters stood until
last July (1902) when a citizens' petition that the
postoffice be named Culdesac, writing it as one word,
was granted.
The two towns were consolidated in January, 1903,
when the board of county commissioners gave them
the boon of corporate existence. C. B. Uptograf,
Thomas Culnan, W. A. Cochran, F. M. Remington
and Albert Sogard were named trustees and will soon
organize and elect officers.
The citizens have from the first taken an active in-
terest in their educational matters and three years ago,
they built a handsome school house in the town, cost-
ing $1,000, to take the place of the old district school.
A portion of this amount was raised by private sub-
scriptions. In these quarters and an additional rented
room, 150 pupils properly graded, are cared for by
Professor Case, Miss Lillian Schoot and Mrs. Charles
J. Miller.
A fine church is also being erected by the Chris-
tian society, under the pastorate of Rev. L. F. Steph-
ens. The Presbyterians have a society and have re-
cently secured a pastor, Rev. John Wooliver.
Among the most important enterprises in Culdesac
is a new flouring mill now being built by Alt & Cross-
man. The mill will have a capacity of 50 barrels a
day. Power is furnished by a ditch taken out of Lap-
wai creek at a distance above town. To secure this
mill Culdesac subscribed a bonus of $1,300, E. J.
Northcutt alone raising three-fourths of the amount.
Culdesac also possesses a local telephone system,
owned by Keller & Bell, and is connected with the out-
side world by the Pacific States and Lookout systems.
The Register, a weekly newspaper established in 1899
by W. L. Stephens, is another important factor in the
town's welfare and under the ownership of John J.
Schick is a neatly printed journal well filled with
local news.
Culdesac's other business houses may be grouped
as follows: General stores, F. M. Remington, Ed-
ward P. Brandon, Albert Sogard, J. G. Wright &
Company, Thomas Purhum ; hardware, Wilbur A.
Cochran, Farr, Lewis & Farr; groceries, Chris Norbo;
furniture, George Henderson, Frank Zenzengher;
drugs, W. D. Keller; hotels, Walla Walla, T. W.
Shreffler. proprietor ; Commercial. Henry Zvrbell,
proprietor, Clear, J. H. Clear, proprietor ; livery sta-
bles, Walla Walla, T. W. Shreffler, proprietor, Star,
Clyde Chapman, proprietor, Midway, Frank Gasa-
way, proprietor, West End, John Whalen, proprietor;
meat markets, Joseph Ziver (J. H. McDevitt, man-
ager). McGratb Brothers; banks, Vollmer-Clearwater
Company, Bank of Culdesac; feed mill, J. G. Wright;
blacksmith shops, W. J. Departee, J. S. Mack, Charles
Benson; jewelry, R. J. Watkins; confectionery and
notions, Thomas Culnan, Brown & Stuart ; Dr. E.
L. Burke is the town's physician, Dr. B. L. Cole is its
dentist, while G. K. Tiffany and John Green look after
the legal business of its inhabitants.
Real estate in Culdesac commands a high price at
present and values are steadily increasing, a sure sign
of prosperity. The business men contemplate improv-
ing the streets, the installation of a system of fire pro-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
tection, police protection and many other improve-
ments rendered necessary by the growing importance
of the town. Although not yet four years old, Cul-
desac has attained to the position of the third town in
size and importance in the county and its inhabitants
firmly believe that it will eventually gain a still higher
rank.
Unfortunately, it was not the writer's privilege
to visit the prosperous town of Feck, and as the letter
requesting information regarding it remains unan-
swered, it is not possible to go into the details of its
history and present business houses. It is known,
however, to be a substantial little city, with a splen-
did farming country contiguous to it. The town lies
nearly two miles south of its railway station, Con-
tract. Writing of it in 1899 the Lewiston Teller said:
"Feck is more than its name implies. Its light
cannot be hidden under a bushel, for more bushels of
wheat, flax and barley will be marketed there than
at any other two points combined on the Clearwater
Short Line. John Herres operates the ferry.
"Peck, being removed from the railroad, escaped
the boom and is consequently sound to the core. It is
not overdone. There is not a shanty nor tent in the
place. The buildings are large and substantial. Peck
is a cozy, cheerful hamlet, and differs from some towns
as a genuine home differs from a hotel. A nucleus of
cultured society is here. The early inhabitants give
character to the village. The Methodists, United
Brethren and Dunkards have church organizations.
A new schoolhouse will be erected this fall. The trade
territory of Peck extends to Lawyer's canyon on the
south. There is but one small area of waste land
in this section, as the Big and Little canyons are so
shaped as to be in the main tillable.
"The Peck Industrial Pair was held September
28th, 29th, and 30th. Its succe.ss was such that ar-
rangements are already being made for repeating it
next year. 1. S. Sperry acted as president and Thomas
Kirby as secretary."
These annual fairs give an excellent idea of the
-wealth of the country tributary to Peck. In October
of last year one was held, attended by nearly ten thous-
and people. It was a display of fruits, vegetables,
grasses and grains. It is stated that Mr. Dean, of
Mohler, exhibited oats that were a part of a yield of
101 bushels, 8 pounds to the acre, and another yield
of 103 bushels an acre was represented.
With the opening of the reservation in 1895, the
present town of Spalding came into existence. At
that time a company was formed, known as the Spald-
ing Townsite Company, which proceeded to lay out a
town and name it Spalding. A great rush of business
men followed and within a very short time Spalding
was enjoying all of the life and feverish activity of a
boom. A score of frame business houses were erected,
another score of canvas structures, and many resi-
dences and the town grew and throve wonderfully.
However, in 1899 the Northern Pacific, which had
built a line down the Clearwater to Lewiston the year
previous, decided to build a spur up Lapwai creek to
the foot of Craig's mountain, and the construction of
this line proved a death blow to Spalding. This spur
leaves the main line at the creek and follows closely
up this little mountain stream for twelve miles. Pre-
vious to this Spalding had been the shipping point for
the whole interior country, but now this immense
business was transferred to points farther inland. At
present only a few stores, two hotels, a butcher shop,
blacksmith shop and several residences constitute the
white settlement of the town and the Indians furnish
most of the business support. The railroad station
is at North Lapwai, about a mile west of Spalding on
land condemned by the government for station and
yard purposes. It is interesting to note that most of
the townsite of Spalding is on Indian land and leased
from individuals.
About the center of a valley formed by the widen-
ing of the Lapwai basin is situated the few buildings
forming the town of Lapwai, while at the extreme
southwestern end at the base of the hills is the site of
old Fort Lapwai, where are located the present Indian
agency and school. Lapwai creek flows through the
eastern border of the valley. Along the railroad are
the grain warehouses of the Vollmer-Clearwater Com-
pany and the Kettenbach Grain Company, while the
general stores of Thomas Martin and Coffin Brothers,
Prine & Lucas's blacksmith shop and a hotel compose
the business section of the trading center. Lapwai,
being the home of the agency and school, draws an
extensive Indian trade which is the main support of the
town, although a rich, wheat-growing section sur-
rounds this valley. The townsite is owned by the In-
dians. The Presbyterian mission is located here and
is under the supervision of Miss Kate Macbeth.
This pretty little town lies in the beautiful Kamiah
basin on the south fork of the Clearwater river, at the
mouth of Kamiah creek. It is on Indian land at pres-
ent, though steps are being taken by the citizens to-
ward the purchase of enough of this land to form a
townsite. Kamiah is the trading and shipping center
of a considerable section of country and a large business
is transacted in consequence. A stage line connects it
with Nezperce City and nearly all of the grain raised
in the country tributary to Kamaih creek, or Lawyer's
canyon, is shipped out over the Clearwater Short Line
from the Kamiah warehouses. There are probably
150 people residing in the town and they have every
reason to be hopeful of the future of their home. In-
ception was given to the place by the building of the
railroad through the valley in 1899.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
OTHER TOWNS.
Besides the towns described in the foregoing pages
there are several of considerable importance, though
smah. The other towns and points at which post
offices were established prior to January, 1903, are:
Cameron, population in 1900, 68; Cavendish, Chesley,
population 30: Dublin, Fairburn, Forest, population
35; Gifford, Kippen, Leland. population 150; Lookout,
Melrose, population 52 ; Myrtle, population 43 ; Por-
ters, Rosetta, population. 20 ; Russel, population 50 ;
Slickpoo, population 20 ; Southwick, population 50 ;
Steele, population 20 ; Summit, Tekean, population 25 ;
Waha, population 24 ; Webb, Willola, population 78 ;
Winchester, population 50.
CHAPTER IV.
THE NEZ PERCE INDIANS.
No history of Nez Perces county can lay claim to
completeness which overlooks the aboriginal inhabi-
tants of the soil. A history of these people is an im-
possibility, for they have preserved no written records
of their past, and. being possessed of little architect-
ural skill, have erected no monuments of a permanent
nature to their memories. Traditions they have, to
be sure, and a mythology of their own, but their char-
acter is such that only the few who have lived in inti-
mate association with them have been instructed in
their peculiar beliefs relative to their origin, past his-
tory and relations to the future life. For one who has
lived apart from the Indians to attempt to treat of
their traditions, mythology and original religious
views would be presumptuous indeed. We are in-
formed that a work of a historical character concern-
ing them by an educated member of their own tribe
is now in course of preparation. It is to be hoped
that the project will not miscarry and that the work
will be found to contain a comprehensive and exact
treatment of the interesting subject with which it
purposes to deal.
Prior to the advent of the horse among the Xez
Perces, they must have had a miserable existence.
Their only foods must have been the roots and vege-
tables indigenous to their native heath, such deer,
elk and smaller game as they were able to take with
their primitive weapons, and such species of fish as
made their way into the seething waters of their swift-
flowing rivers and mountain streams. But even at this
time they must have been a vastly superior race to the
Indians west of the Cascade mountains, who were dron-
ing away their listless lives in "a region of large, deep
rivers ; of numerous bays and inlets from the ocean
extending far inland, all filled with fish of the finest and
richest quality, easily taken, and hence inviting to a
life of effortless indolence and ease. Hence these
aborigines were short of stature, heavy and broad and
fat of body : without alertness or perception of mind ;
indolent and inactive in all their habits ; sleeping away
nearlv all but the little time that was requisite for them
to throw their barbed harpoons into the shinning sides
the salmon that swam in the shoals of the rivers and
bays, and the few additional moments required to roast
or boil the fish sufficient to gratify their uncultured
tastes."
Even during the earliest times, the Nez Perces
profited by the rigors of their elevated home, for though
their food must have been scantv and insufficient, the
battle for existence developed in them a sturdiness of
manhood such as was unknown among the coast tribes.
Their experience proved that a people can bear insuffi-
cient nourishment with activity far better than abund-
ance with idleness.
The Nez Perces lived in a country covered with an
abundant growth of nutritious grasses, making it a
paradise for a pastoral people. They were therefore
in a splendid condition to raise large bands of horses
and the advent among them of these animals marked
the most important epoch in their history. About the
middle of the eighteenth century, horses were obtained
from the Spaniards of New Mexico or California.
The Indians preserve the tradition of their first ac-
quisition of this form of live stock, and well they may
for they were therebv furnished means whereby to ad-
vance by long strides toward greater comforts of life
and the blessings of civilization. "There is no more
instructing example of the amelioration of a savage
tribe by the introduction of domestic animals and its
steariy growth from abject barbarism," says Hazard
Stevens, "than that afforded by the Nez Perces. But
little mere than a century ago they were a tribe of
naked savages, engaged in a perpetual struggle against
starvation. Their country afforded but little game,
and thev subsisted almost exclusively on salmon, ber-
res and roots. The introduction of the horse enabled
them to make long journeys to the buffalo plains east
of the Rocky mountains, where they could lay in great
abundance of meat and furs : furnished them with a
valuable animal for trading with other less favored
tribes : soon raised them to comparative affluence, and
developed in their hunting and trading expeditions a
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
123
manly enterprising, shrewd and intelligent character."
The first white men to visit their country from the
east overland were the famous Meriwether Lewis and
William Clark, whose expedition into the country in
1805 is to be celebrated by a grand exposition in Port-
land on its centennial. Of the experiences of this
party among the Nez Perces the gifted Eva Emery
Dye has written in the following animated language :
Lame and weary, straight across Idaho they struggled,
over seams and streaks of precious metal that the saw
not, the gold of Ophir concealed in the rocky chambers of
the Idaho Alps, — struggled into the Lolo trail used by the In-
dians for ages before any whites ever came into the country.
Over the Lolo trail went the Nez Perces to battle and to
hunt buffalo in the Montana country. Down over this trail
once came a war party and captured Wat-ku-ese, a Nez Perce
girl, and carried her away to a distant land of white men, —
So-yap-po, "the crowned ones," she called them, because they
wore hats
Still ever Wat-ku-ese dreamed of her Nez Perce home,
and one day escaped with her infant on her back. Along
the way white traders were kind to her. On and on, foot-
sore and weary, she journeyed alone. In the Flathead coun-
try her baby died and was buried there. One dav some Nez
Perce came over the Lolo trail bringing home Wat-ku-ese,
weak, sick and dying.
She was with her people at their camas ground, Weippe,
when Lewis and Clark came down over the Lolo trail.
"Let us kill them." whispered the frightened Nez Perces.
Wat-ku-ese lay dying in her tent when she heard it.
"White men, did you say? No, no, do not harm them.
They are the crowned ones who were so good to me. Do
not be afraid oi them. Go near to them."
Cautiously the Nez Perces approached. The explorers
shook their hands. This was to the Indians a new form of
greeting
Everywhere Indian women were digging the camas root,
round like an onion, and little heaps lay piled here and there.
They paused in their work to watch the strangers. Some
screamed and ran and hid Little girls hid their baby broth-
ers in the brush. Others brought food.
So starved and famished were the men that they ate
inordinately of the sweet camas and the kouse, the biscuit
root. The sudden change to a warmer climate and laxative
roots resulted in sickness, when the expedition might have
been easily attacked but for those words of Wat-ku-ese, who
now lav dead in her tent.
To this day the Xez Perces rehearse the story of Wat-
ku-ese. It was the beginning of a life long friendship with
the whites, broken only when Chief Joseph fled over the
Lolo trail. But even Chief Joseph found he must give up
the vast areas over which he was wont to roam, and come
under the laws of civilized life.
As fast as their weakness permitted councils were held,
when the Captains told the Nez Perces of the Great Father
at Washington, who had sent them to visit his children.
Twisted Hair, the Nez Perce Tewat, a great medicine
man. dreamer and wizard and wise one, drew on a white
elkskin a chart of the rivers. Admiring redmen put their
hands over their mouths in amazement.
No one but Twisted Hair could do such things. He was
a learned Indian, knew all the trails, even to the Falls of the
Columbia.
"White men." said he, "live at the Tim-tim (falls)."
Thus into Idaho had penetrated the story of Ko-nap-pe,
the wrecked Spaniard, who with his son Soto had set out up
the great river to find white people and tarried there until he
died. Seven years later Astor's people met Soto, an old
man dark as his Indian mother, but still the Indians called
him white Twenty years later Soto's daughter was still
living on the Columbia in the days of the Hudson's Bay
Company.
To save time and trouble, canoes were burnt out of logs.
Leaving their horses with the Nez Perces, on October 4th
the explorers were glad to get into their boats with their
baggage and float down the clear Kooskooske, into the yel-
low green Snake, and on into the blue Columbia.
At the confluence of the rivers medals were given and
councils held on the present site of Lewiston. Day by day,
through wild, romantic scenes where white man's foot had
never trod, the exultant young men were gliding to the sea.
Ahead of the boats, on horseback, galloped We-ark-
koompt, an Indian express. Word flew. The tribes were
watching. At the dinner camp, October 16th, five Indians
came up the river on foot in great haste, took a look and
started back, running as fast as they could.
That night Lewis and Clark were met at the Columbia
by a procession of two hundred Indians with drums, sing-
ing, 'Ke-hai, ke-hai," the redmen's signal of friendship.
Speaking of their experiences among the Nez
Perces, the explorers themselves used this language:
As we approached the village most of the women, though
apprised of our being expected, fled with their children into
the neighboring woods. The men, however, received us
without any apprehension, and gave us a plentiful supply of
provisions. The plains were now crowded with Indians who
came to see the persons of the whites and the strange things
they brought with them ; but as our guide was a perfect
stranger to the language we could converse by signs only.
Monday, 23d (September, 1805).— The chiefs and war-
riors were all assembled this morning and we explained to
them where we came from, the objects of our visiting them,
and our pacific intentions toward all the Indians. This, be-
ing conveyed by signs, might not have been perfectly com-
prehended, but appeared to give perfect satisfaction. We
now gave a medal to two of the chiefs, a shirt in addition
to the medal already received by Twisted Hair, and deliv-
ered a flag and a handkerchief for the grand chief on his re-
turn. To these were added a knife, a handkerchief, and
a small piece of tobacco for each chief. The inhabitants
did not give us any provisions gratuitously. * * * The
men exchanged a few old canisters for dressed elk skins, of
which they made shirts. Great crowds of natives were
around us all night, but we have not yet missed anything
except a knife and a few other articles stolen yesterday
from a shot pouch.
It is worthy of record that the horses entrusted to
the care of Twisted Hair were kept faithfully and
honestly returned to Lewis and Clark when they came
back to the Nez Perce country on their homeward
journey.
The next intercourse between whites and Nez
Perces began with the advent of fur traders into the
Northwest. First came Astor's party, then the North
West Company and finally the Hudson's Bay Com-
pany, besides several American expeditions sent out
to compete with the British corporations for the profits
of the fur trade. In all their relations with the white
men. the Nez Perces of early days maintained a uni-
form altitude of friendliness, and the fur trader who
stopped to rest and refresh himself at a Nez Perce
lodge was sure to receive kindly and hospitable treat-
ment. Undoubtedly the Indians profited by the pres-
ence among them of the merchants, from whom they
obtained, besides an abundance of trinkets and tinsels,
much that added greatly to their comfort. It was by
the British fur traders that they were taught the use of
blankets both as wearing apparel and bedding. But
the Hudson's Bay men were in the country for other
purposes than the amelioration of conditions among
the Indians. It were unfair to assert that they were
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
entirely without benevolent disposition toward their
red-skinned brethren, for they enforced the law pro-
hibiting the sale of intoxicants to Indians and were
reasonably careful that nothing should be done to de-
bauch these children of nature, but it is an undoubted
fact that they not only neglected to sow the seeds of
a higher civilization themselves, but were opposed to
any others who might attempt to teach the Indian
useful arts or do anything to render him less absolutely
dependent upon the' Hudson's Bay Company, the great
autocratic power of the Columbia basin.
A civilizing force of a vastly higher character en-
tered the Indian country, when the American mission-
ary came, actuated by no other motive than the good
ol the red men, hoping for no other reward than a noble
work well performed, an approving conscience and a
final abundant entrance into a heavenly home. The
honor of pioneership in missionary work belongs to
Rev. Jason Lee, of the Methodist Episcopal church,
who came with a party of assistants and teachers and
settled in the Willamette valley in 1834. Two years
later came Dr. Marcus Whitman and wife and Rev.
H. H. Spalding and wife, the ladies being the first of
their race and sex to venture across plain and mountain
to the distant Pacific. Dr. Whitman established his
mission at Waiilatpu, not far from where Walla Walla
now is, while Spalding cast his lot with the Nez Perces.
This devoted missionary was a native of Bath, New
York, born in 1804. He graduated at Western Re-
serve College at the age of twenty-nine and later en-
tered Lane Theological Seminary, the course in which
he did not remain to complete. In 1836 he began his
missionary labors among the Nez Perces and to his
unremitting toil, and that of his efficient helpmate, for
the temporal, intellectual and spiritual welfare of these
Indians much credit is due for their marked superior-
ity over surrounding tribes. Perhaps descriptions of
these two people by W. H. Gray of the Whitman mis-
sion, who was associated with them in their trip across
the plains, may not be uninteresting to the reader.
"The first impression of a stranger on seeing H.
H. Spalding," says Gray, "is that he has before him
an unusual countenance. He begins to examine and
finds a man with sharp features, large, brown eyes,
dark hair, high, projecting forehead, with many
wrinkles, and a head nearly bald. He is of medium
size, stoop-shouldered, with a voice that can assume a
mild, sharp or boisterous key at the will of the owner ;
quite impulsive and bitter in denunciation of a real or
supposed enemy ; inclined in the early part of his mis-
sionary labors to accumulate property for the especial
benefit of his family, though the practice was disap-
proved of and forbidden by the regulations of the
American Board. In his professional character he
was below mediocrity. As a writer or correspondent
he was bold, and rather eloquent, giving overdrawn
life sketches of passing events. His moral influence
was injured by strong symptoms of passion when pro-
voked or excited. In his labors for the Indians he was
zealous and persevering, and in his instructions wholly
practical. For instance to induce the natives to work
and cultivate their lands, he had Mrs. Spalding paint
a representation of Adam and Eve, as being driven
from the Garden of Eden by an angel, — Adam with
a hoe on his shoulder and Eve with a spinning wheel.
He taught the natives that God commanded them to
work as well as pray. Had he been allowed to con-
tinue his labors with the tribe, undisturbed by sec-
tarian and anti-religious influences, he would have
effected great good, and the tribe been now admitted
as citizens of the United States. As a citizen and a
neighbor he was kind and obliging; to his family he
was kind, yet severe in his religious observances. He
was unquestionably a sincere, though not always hum-
ble Christian. The loss of his wife and the excit-
ing and savage massacre of his asociates produced
their effects upon him. Charity will find a substan-
tial excuse for most of his faults, while virtue and
truth, civilization and religion will award him a place
as a faithful, zealous and comparatively successful
missionary.
"Mrs. Spalding was the daughter of a plain, sub-
stantial farmer, by the name of Hart, of Oneida coun-
ty, New York. She was above the medium height,
slender in form, with coarse features, dark brown hair,
blue eyes, rather dark complexion, coarse voice, of a
serious turn of mind, and quick in understanding lan-
guages. In fact she was remarkable in acquiring the
Nez Perce language so as to understand and con-
verse with the natives quite easily by the time they
reached their station at Lapwai. She could paint in-
differently in water colors, and had been taught while
a child all the useful branches of domestic life ; could
spin, weave, and sew, etc., could prepare an excellent
meal at short notice; was generally sociable, but not
forward in conversation with or attentions to men. In
this particular she was the opposite of Mrs. Whit-
man. With the native women Mrs. Spalding always
appeared cheerful and easy and had their unbounded
confidence and respect. She wras remarkable for her
firmness and decision of character in whatever she or
her husband undertook. She never appeared to be
alarmed or excited at any difficulty, dispute or alarm
common to the Indian life around her. She was con-
sidered by the Indian men as a brave, fearless woman
and was respected and esteemed by all. Though she
was frequently left for days alone, her husband be-
ing absent on business, but a single insult was ever
offered her. Understanding their language, her cool,
quick perception of the design enabled her to give so
complete and thorough a rebuff to the attempted in-
sult that, to hide his disgrace, the Indian offering it
fled from the tribe, not venturing to remain among
them. In fact a majority of the tribe were in favor
of hanging the Indian who offered the insult, but Mrs.
Spalding requested that they should allow him to
live, that he might repent of his evil designs and do
better in the future. Mrs. Spalding is buried near
the Callapooya, in the Willamette valley."
Of the reception given by the Nez Perces to
Mr. and Mrs. Spalding when they first came among
them, Mr. Gray says:
"It is due to those Indians to say that they labored
freely and faithfully and showed the best of feeling
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
125
toward Mr. and Mrs. Spalding, paying good attention
to instructions given them, and appeared quite anxious
to learn all they could of their teachers. It is also
due to truth to state that Mr. Spalding paid them
liberally for their services when compared with the
amount paid them by the Hudson's Bay Company for
the same services ; say, for bringing a pine log ten
feet long and one foot in diameter from the Clearwater
river to the station, it usually took about twelve In-
dians ; for this service Mr. Spalding paid them about
six inches of trail-rope tobacco each. This was about
four times as much as the Hudson's Bay Company
paid. This fact soon created a feeling of unfriendli-
ness toward Mr. Spalding. Dr. Whitman managed
to get along with less Indian labor and was able, from
his location, to procure stragglers or casual men to
work for him for a time, to get supplies and clothing
to help them on their way down to the Willamet set-
tlement."
A full review of Mr. Spalding's labors, his suc-
cesses, his trials and discouragements need not be at-
tempted here. He was not long to work among the
red men in peace for in accordance with the sec-
tarian views of those days, the Catholic missionaries
considered it their duty to counteract as far as lay in
their power the heretical teachings of the Protestants.
The task of instructing the Indians in the arts of
civilization and the mysteries of Christianity was cer-
tainly difficult enough at best; with the opposition of
other white men endeavoring to inculcate a belief
that the teachings of the first missionaries were wholly
false and certainly leading to ultimate damnation, it
was practically impossible to perform. There can be
no doubt but that the sectarian disputes between
Protestants and Catholics nulified the influence of
both, but especially the former, reduced greatly the
respect of Indians for their teachers and for all re-
ligion, and helped sow the seeds which bore fruit in
the Whitman massacre, and the consequent abandon-
ment for a number of years of Mr. Spalding's mis-
sion.
But notwithstanding these overwhelming difficul-
ties, Mr. Spalding and his noble wife accomplished
much for the benefit of the Indians among whom they
labored during the early years of their ministry. When
Dr. Elijah White, sub-agent of Indian affairs, visited
them, he found their little plantations "rude to be
sure," as he wrote under date, April 1, 1843, "but
successfully carried on so far as raising the neces-
saries of life are concerned." "It was most grati-
fying," said he, "to witness their fondness and care
for their little herds, pigs, poultry, etc. We visited
and prescribed for their sick, made a short call at
each of the chief's lodges, spent a season in school,
hearing them read, spell and sing; at the same time
examined their printing and writing, and can hardly
avoid here saying I was happily surprised and greatly
interested at seeing such numbers so far advanced
and so eagerly pursuing after knowledge. * * *."
During this visit Dr. White succeeded in per-
suading the Indians, in general council assembled, to
adopt, during the final month of the year 1842, the
following laws for their government:
LAWS OF THE NEZ PERCES.
Article I. Whoever wilfully takes life shall be
hung.
Article II. Whoever burns a dwelling house shall
be hung.
Article III. Whoever burns an outbuilding shall
be imprisoned six months, receive fifty lashes and pay
all damages.
Article IV. Whoever carelessly burns a house, or
any property, shall pay damages.
Article V. If anyone enter a dwelling without
permission of the occupant the chiefs shall punish as
they think proper. Public rooms are excepted.
Article VI. If anyone steal he shall pay back two-
fold; and if it be the value of a beaver skin or less,
he shall receive twenty-five lashes ; and if the value
is over a beaver skin, he shall pay back two fold, and
receive fifty lashes.
Article Vi.1. If anyone take a horse and ride it
without permission, or take any article and use it
without liberty, he shall pay for the use of it, and re-
ceive from twenty to fifty lashes, as the chief shall
direct.
Article VIII. If anyone enter a field and injure
the crops, or throw down the fence, so that cattle or
horses go in and do damage, he shall pay all damages
and receive twenty-five lashes for every offense.
Article IX. Those only may keep dogs who travel
or live among the game ; if a dog kill a lamb, calf or
any domestic animal, the owner shall pay the damages
and kill the dog.
Article X. If any Indian raises a gun or any
other weapon against a white man, it shall be re-
ported to the chiefs, and they shall punish him. If a
white do the same to an Indian, it shall be reported
to Dr. White, and he shall punish or redress it.
Article XI. If an Indian break these laws, he
shall be punished by his chief; if a white man break
them, he shall be reported to the agent, and punished
at his instance.
These laws, as also certain books of the New Testa-
ment translated into Nez Perce by Mr. Spalding, were
printed on a press donated to the mission by the
mission of the American Board in the Sandwich Is-
lands. It was the first press in the Oregon territory
and in the hands of the missionaries proved a potent
factor in the elevation of the Indian.
But an idea of the work of Mr. Spalding during
the earliest years of his labors among the Nez Perces,
and his impressions of the Indians is best conveyed
by incorporating a portion of a letter on the subject
written to Dr. Elijah White about the year 1843. It
reads :
My Dear Brother.— The kind letter which our mission
had the honor of receiving from yourself, making inquiries
relative to its numbers, the character of the Indian tribes
among whom its several stations are located, the country,
etc., is now before me.
126
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
The questions referring to Indian character are very
important, and to answer them demands a more extended
knowledge of character and habits, from personal daily ob-
servation, than the short residence of six years can afford,
and more time and attention than I can possibly command,
amidst the numerous cares and labors of the station. I less
regret this, as the latter will receive the attention of my
better informed and worthy associates of the other stations.
Concerning many of the questions, I can only give my
own half-formed opinions, from limited observations which
have not extended far beyond the people of my immediate
charge.
Our mission is under the patronage of the American
Board, and was commanded in the fall of 1836 by Marcus
Whitman, M. D„ and myself, with our wives and Mr. Gray.
Dr. Whitman was located at Wailatpu. among the Cayuse
Indians, twenty-five miles east of Fort Wallawalla, a trading
post of the Hudson's Bay Company, which stands nine miles
below the junction of Lewis and Clark rivers, three hundred
from the Pacific and about two hundred from Fort Van-
couver. I was located at this place, on the Clearwater, or
Koos-koos-ky river, twelve miles from its junction with the
Lewi:, river, one hundred and twenty miles east of Wailatpu.
Mr. Gray left the same winter, and returned to the States.
In the fall of 1838 Mr. Gray returned to this country, ac-
companied by Mrs. Gray, Messrs. Walker, Eells and Smith,
and their wives, and Mr. Rogers. The next season two
new stations were commenced, one by Messrs. Walker and
Eells, at Cimakain, near Spokan river, among the Spokan
Indians, one hundred and thirty-five miles northwest of this
station, and sixty-five miles south of Fort Colville, on the
Columbia river, three hundred miles above Fort Wallawalla ;
the second by Mr. Smith, among the Nez Perces, sixty miles
above this station. There are now connected with this
mission the Rev. Messrs. Walker and Eells, Mrs. Walker and
Mrs. Eells, at Cimakain ; myself and Mrs. Spalding at this
station. Dr. Whitman is now on a visit to the States, and
Mrs. Whitman on a visit to the Dalles, a station of our Meth-
odist brethren. But two natives have as yet been admitted
into the church. Some ten or twelve others give pleasing
' evidence of having been born again.
Concerning the schools and congregations on the Sab-
bath, I will speak only of this station. The congregation
on the Sabbath varies at different seasons of the year, and
must continue to do so until the people find a substitute in
the fruits of the earth and herds for their roots, game and
fish, which necessarily require much wandering. I am happy
to say that this people are very generally turning their atten-
tion, with much apparent eagerness, to cultivating the soil,
and raising hogs, cattle and sheep, and find a much more
abundant and agreeable source of subsistence in the hoe than
in their bows and sticks for digging roots.
For a few weeks in the fall, after the people return from
their buffalo hunt, and then again in the spring, the con-
gregation numbers from one to two thousand. Through
the winter it numbers from two to eight hundred. From
July 1st to the 1st of October, it varies from two to five
hundred. The congregation, as also the school, increases
every winter, as the quantity of provision raised in this vi-
cinity is increased.
Preparatory to schools and a permanent congregation, my
earliest attention, on arriving in this country, was turned
toward schools, as promising the most permanent good to
the nation, in connection with the written word of God and
the preached Gospel. But to speak of schools then was like
speaking of the church bell, when as yet the helve is not put
in the first ax by which the timber is to be felled, or the first
stone laid in the dam which is to collect the water from
whence the lumber in the edifice in which the bell is to give
forth its sounds. Suffice it to say. through the blessings of
God we have had an increasingly large school, for two
winters past, with comparatively favorable means of instruc-
tion.
But the steps by which we have been brought to the
present elevation, if I may so speak, though we are yet ex-
ceedingly low. begin far, far back among the days of nothing,
and little to do with.
Besides eating my own bread, won by the sweat of my
brow, there were the wandering children of a necessarily
wandering people to collect and bring permanently within the
reach of the school. Over this department of labor hung
the darkest cloud, as the Indian is noted for despising manual
laoor; hut I wou'd acknowledge, with humble gratitude, the
interposition of that hand which holds the hearts of all
men. The hoe soon brought hope, light and satisfaction, the
fruits of which are yearly becoming much more than a sub-
stitute for their former precarious game and roots, and are
much preferred by the people, who are coming in from the
mountains and plains, and calling for hoes, plows and seeds
much faster than they can be furnished, and collecting
around the station in increasing numbers, to cultivate their
little farms : so furnishing a permanent school and congre-
gation on the Sabbath, from four to eight months, and, as
the farms are enlarged, giving food and employment for
the year. I trust the school and congregation will be per-
manent through the year. It was no small tax on my time
to give the first lessons in agriculture. That the men of the
nation (the first chiefs not excepted) rose up to labor when
a few hoes and seeds were offered them, I can attribute to
nothing but the unseen hand of the God of missions. That
their habits are really changed is acknowledged by themselves.
The men say, whereas, then once did not labor with their
hands, now they do ; and often tell me in jesting that I have
converted them into a nation of women. They are a very'
industrious people, and, from very small beginnings, they now
cultivate their lands with much skill, and to good advantage.
Doubtless many more would cultivate, but for the want of
means. Your kind donation of fifty h'oes, in behalf of the
government, will be most timely; and should you he able to
send up the plows you kindly proposed they will, without
doubt, be purchased immediately and put to the best use.
But to return to the school. It now numbers two hun-
dred and twenty-five in daily attendance, half of which are
adults. Nearly all the principal men and chiefs in this
vicinity, with one chief from a neighboring tribe, are members
of the school. A new impulse was given to the school by
the warm interest yourself and Mr. McKay took in it while
you were here. They are as industrious in school as they
the on their farms. Their improvement is astonishing, con-
sidering their crowded condition, and only Mrs. Spalding,
with her delicate constitution and her family cares, for their
teacher.
About one hundred are printing their own books with
a pen. This keeps up a deep interest, as they daily have new
lessons to print, and what they print must be committed
to memory as soon as possible.
A good number are now so far advanced in reading and
printing as to render much assistance in teaching. Their
books are taken home at night ; and every lodge becomes a
schoolroom.
Their lessons are scripture lessons; no others (except
the law-i seem to interest them. I send you a specimen of
the books they print in school. It was printed by ten select
adults, yet it is a fair specimen of a great number in the
school.
The laws which you so happily prepared, and which
were unanimously adopted by the people, I have printed in
the form of a small schoolbook. A great number of the school
now read them fluently. I send you a few copies of the
laws with no apologies for the imperfect manner in which
they are executed. Without doubt, a school of nearly the
same number could be collected at Kimiah, the station above
this, vacated by Mr. Smith, the present residence of Ellis, the
principal chief.
Number who cultivate. — Last season about one hundred
and forty cultivated from one-fourth of an acre to four or
five acres each. About half this number cultivate in the
valley. One chief raised one hundred and seventy-six bushels
of peas last season, one hundred of corn, and four hundred
of potatoes Another, one hundred and fifty acres of peas,
one hundred and sixty of corn, a large quantity of potatoes,
vegetables, etc. Ellis, I believe, raised more than either of
the above-mentioned. Some forty other individuals raised
from twenty to one hundred bushels of grain. Eight indi-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
viduals are now furnished with plows. Thirty-two head
of cattle are possessed by thirteen individuals ; ten sheep by
four; some forty hogs.
Arts and sciences. — Mrs. Spalding has instructed ten fe-
males in knitting, a majority of the female department in
the schools in sewing, six in carding and spinning, and three
in weaving. Should our worthy brother and sister, Mr. and
Mrs. Littlejohn, join us soon, as is now expected, I trust,
by the blessing of God, we shall see greater things than we
ha\ e yet seen. From what I have seen in the field, the school,
the spinning and weaving room, in the prayer-room, and
Sabbath congregation, I am fully of the opinion that this
people are susceptible of high moral and civil improvement.
Moral character of the people. — On this subject there is
a great diversity of opinion. One writer styles them more
a nation of saints than of savages; and if their refusal to
move camp for game, at his suggestion, on a certain day,
reminded him that the Sabbath extended as far west as the
Rocky Mountains, he might well consider them such. An-
other styles them supremely selfish, which is nearer the
truth: i'>r, without doubt, they are the descendants of Adam.
What I ha-.-e above stated is evidently a part of the bright
side of their character. But there is also a dark side, in
which I have sometimes taken a part. I must, however,
confess That when I attempt to name it, and hold it up as
a marked exception to a nation in similar circumstances,
without the restraint of wholesome laws, and strangers to
the heaven-born fruits of enlightened and well-regulated
society, I am not able to do it. Faults they have, and very
great ones, yet few of them seemed disposed to break the
Sabbath by traveling and other secular business. A very
few indulge in something like profane swearing. Very few
are superstiliously attached to their medicine men, who are,
without doubt, sorcerers, and are supposed to be leagued with
a supernatural being (Waikin), who shows himself some-
times in the gray bear, the wolf, the swan, goose, wind,
clouds, etc.
Lying is very common ; thieving comparatively rare ;
polygamy formerly common, but now rare ; much gambling
among the young men; quarreling and fighting quite rare;
habit of taking back property after it is sold is a practice
quite common, and very evil in its tendency. All these
evils, I conceive, can be traced to the want of wholesome
laws and well-regulated society. There are two traits in
the character of this people I wish to notice. One I think
I can account for ; the other I cannot. It is often said the
Indian is a noble-minded being, never forgetting a kindness.
So far as my experience has gone with this people, the above
is most emphatically true, but in quite a different sense from
the idea there conveyed. It is true they never forget a kind-
ness, but after make it the occasion to ask another ; and if
refused, return insults according to the favors received. My
experience has taught me that, if I would keep the friendship
of an Indian, and do him good. I must show him no more
favor in the way of property than what he returns some
kind of an equivalent for; most of our trials have arisen
from this source. I am, however, happy to feel that there is
a manifest improvement as the people become more in-
structed, and we become more acquainted with their habits.
This offensive trait in the Indian character I believe in
part should be charged to white men. It has been the uni-
versal practice of all white men to give tobacco, to name no
other article, to Indians when they ask for it. Hence two
very natural ideas ; one is. that the white man is in debt to
them: the other is. that in proportion as a white man is a
good man he will discharge this debt by giving bountifully
of his provisions and goods. This trait in Indian character
is capable of being turned to the disadvantage of traders,
travelers and missionaries, by prejudiced white men.
The last trait, which, i cannot account for, is an apparent
disreffard for the rights of white men. Although their eager-
ness to receive instruction in school on the Sabbath and on
the farm is without a parallel in my knowledge, still, should
a reckless fellow from their own number, or even a stranger,
make an attack on my life and property, I have no evidence
to suppose but a vast majority of them would look on with
indifference and see our dwelling burnt to the ground and
our heads severed from our bodies. I can not reconcile this
seeming want of gratitude with their many encouraging
characteristics. But to conclude this subject, should our
unprofitable lives, through a kind Providence, be spared a
few years, by the blessings of the God of missions, we expect
to see this people christianized to a great extent, civilized,
and happy, with much of science and the word of God, and
many ot the comforts of life; but not without many days
of hard labor, and sore trials, of disappointed hopes, and
nameless perplexities.
The number of this people is variously estimated from
two tousand to four thousand. I can not give a correct
estimate.
At this station there is a dweling house, a school house,
storehouse, flour and saw mills (all of a rough kind),
fifteen acres of land under improvement, twenty-four head
of cattle, thirty-six horses, sixty-seven sheep. Rev. Messrs.
Walker and F.ells. I hope, will report to Wailatpu ; but
should they fail, I will say, as near as I can recollect, about
fifty acres of land are cultivated by some seventy individuals ;
a much greater number of cattle and hogs than among
this* people. Belonging to the station are thirty-four head
of cattle, eleven horses, some forty hogs ; one dwelling house
of adobes (well finished), a blacksmith's shop, flour mill
(lately destroyed by fire), and some forty acres of land
cultivated.
Arable land — The arable land in this upper country is
confined almost entirely to the small streams, although
further observation may prove that many of the extensive
rolling praries are capable of producing wheat. They can
become inhabited only by cultivating timber; but the rich
growth of buffalo grass upon them will ever furnish an inex-
haustible supply for innumerable herds of cattle and sheep. I
know of ii" country in the world so well adopted to the
herding system. Cattle, sheep and horses are invariably
healthy, and produce rapidly; sheep usually twice a year.
The herding system adopted, the country at first put under
regulations adopted to the scarcity of habitable places (say
that no settlers shall be allowed to take up over twenty acres
of land on the streams), and the country without doubt will
sustain a great population. I am happy to feel assured that
the United States •government has no' other thoughts than
to regard the rights and wants of the Indian tribes in this
country.
And while the agency of Indian affairs in this country
remains in the hands of the present agent, I have the fullest
confidence to believe that the reasonable expectations in
reference to the intercourse between whites and Indians will
be fully realized by every philanthropist and every Christian.
But as the Indian population is sparse, after they are
abundantly supplied, there will be remaining country suf-
ficient for an extensive white population.
The thought of removing these tribes that the country
may come wholly in the possession of the whites, can never
for a moment enter the mind of a friend of the red men,
for two reasons, to name no other: First, there are but two
countries to which they can be removed, the grave and the
Blackfoot, between which there is no choice; second, the
countless millions of salmon which swarm the Columbia and
its tributaries, and furnish a very great proportion of the
sustenai.ee of the tribes who dwell upon these numerous
waters, and a substitute for which can nowhere be found
east or west of the Rocky mountains, but in herds or
cultivating their own land. * *
Your humble servant,
H. H. Spalding.
Dr. White,
Ag't for Indian Affairs West of the Rocky Mts.
While Mr Spalding wisely determined not to re-
main at his mission after the Whitman massacre of
1847, his influence continued to exert its power over
the minds of the red men throughout all the stirring
period which followed. During the Cayuse war not
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
a Nez Perce gun was turned against the whites and
at the council of Walla Walla in 1855, the United
States commissioners noted that the tribesmen had not
forgotten the religious instructions Spalding had im-
parted to them, but on Sundays held preaching ser-
vices and engaged in the visible forms of worship.
Another force in strengthening the friendship be-
tween Americans and Nez Perces was the command-
ing influence and rare ability of Head Chief Hal-
haltlosot. known among the whites as Lawyer on ac-
count of his ready wit and repartee. "Wise, en-
lightened and magnanimous, the head chief, yet one
of the poorest of his tribe, he stood head and shoulders
above the other chiefs, whether in intellect, nobility
of soul or influence." His force of character and in-
nate ability enabled him to overcome poverty and low-
liness of birth and to achieve, while yet in middle life,
the first place among his people. He used his in-
fluence for the amelioration of the tribe, directing his
initial efforts against the two chief vices then obtain-
ing— gambling and polygamy. He has the distinc-
tion of having been the only western Indian possessed
of sufficient statesmanship to discern that no resis-
tance to the power of the whites could avail any-
thing, and that the wise course for his race to pursue
was to adopt the white man's mode of life and live in
amity with him. This view of the case gave shape
to his policy and he cultivated the friendship of his
white brethern with unfailing assiduity. He and his
people were shrewd enough to turn friendship to their
own advantage in trade, but the policy of Lawyer was
undoubtedlv dictated by higher motives than mere
temporary gain. He had at heart the highest good
of his race and wisdom enough to see clearly the way
to secure it, and he earned for himself a right to the
everlasting gratitude of whites and Indians alike.
At the "council of Walla Walla he not only
wielded a tremendous influence in securing the adop-
tion of the treaties proposed by Stevens and Palmer,
but he placed the commissioners under obligations to
him for the preservation of their lives and those of
their party. "He disclosed," writes Hazard Stevens,
"a conspiracy on the part of the Cayuses to suddenly
rise up and massacre all the whites on the council
ground, — that this measure, deliberated in nightly
conferences for some time, had at length been determ-
ined upon in full council of the tribe the day before,
which the Young Chief had requested for a holiday;
they were now only awaiting the assent of the Yakimas
and Walla Wallas to strike the blow ; and that these
latter had actually joined, or were on the point of
joining, the Cayuses in a war of extermination
against all the whites, for which the massacre of the
governor ("Stevens) and his party was to be the signal.
They had conducted these plottings with the greatest
secrecy, not trusting the Nez Perces ; and the Lawyer,
suspecting that all was not right, had discovered the
plot by means of a spy with the greatest difficulty and
only just in time to avert the catastrophe."
To frustrate these hostile designs the Lawyer
pitched his lodge in the center of the white camp,
thereby conveying to the other Indians the intelli-
gence that the commissioners and party were under
his protection. So numerous and powerful were the
Nez Perces that even a combination of the other
tribes dare not risk a collision with them, so the foul
plot had to be abandoned. It is the opinion of some
writers, from the circumstances attending the sign-
ing of the treaties by other Indians than the Nez
Perces, and the war which followed so hard upon it,
that they or some of them appended their names as a
deliberate act of treachery, hoping to lull the whites
into a feeling of security, then fall upon them totally
unprepared for defense. But whether this be true or
not, certain it is that the Nez Perces were acting in
good faith, for they testified their sincerity by remain-
ing true to their bargain and to their white friends
during the storm of war which ensued.
When, in i860 and subsequent years, the gold ex-
citement drew thousands of miners into the Nez Perce
country, the ancient friendliness was found so deep
rooted as to stand the strain naturally put upon it.
It must be admitted that no white community would
quietly permit such an invasion. While it is true that
the Indians were powerless to prevent permanently the
appropriation of mining property, they could, had
they been so disposed, have fallen upon the whites
and massacred them in great numbers, and many other
tribes would have done so. Even in the one instance
where representatives of the Nez Perce tribe took arms
against the whites, the majority remained steadfast in
their friendship and while some of those obstensibly
friendly may have rendered assistance to their red
brethren in arms, many gave much help to the whites
by warning them of approaching danger, carrying
messages and the like.
Everything considered, no tribe of Indians de-
serves better treatment at the hands of the whites than
the Nez Perces, and while it is claimed and no doubt
with truth that they have been shamefully swindled
by representatives of the government, it is likewise
certain that not a little effort has been made for the
amelioration of their conditions. They are fortunate in
possessing the old Fort Lapwai Indian Training school,
established by the government nearly two decades ago ;
the successor of a much older institution. As a re-
sult of its establishment and maintenance the Nez
Perces are among the best educated Indians in the
west. When Captain Pratt, superintendent of the
Carlisle Indian school in Pennsylvania, the highest
school of its kind in the United States, recently said
that the Nez Perces who came to him were the bright-
est of any Indians with whom he had to deal, he paid
a high compliment to the intellectual ability of this
tribe and also to the efficiency of the reservation train-
ing school at Lapwai. With bright minds to in-
struct, plenty of equipment and highly capable corps
of teachers, the school has been able to maintain a
high standard of efficiency.
As its name implies, this institution is situated at
old Fort Lapwai in Nez Perces county. The old fort has
long since been abandoned, but its site is still reserved
by the government and many of the old post build-
ings are still utilized by the "school. The location is
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
-9
in the picturesque Lapwai valley, six miles from the
mouth of the creek and Spalding the nearest railroad
point. Here in this circular depression the land lies
nearly level, furnishing an unexcelled building site.
Sheltered from the bleak winds which occasionally
sweep the higher region above and yet low enough
to profit by the warmer currents of air which temper
the climate of the Clearwater valley in winter, well
watered by Lapwai creek and numerous springs, fav-
ored with fertile soil, surrounded by the hills and
prairies so dear to the hearts of the race and so near
to the scenes famous in their history, the spot is cer-
tainly ideal for the purposes of an Indian school ;
while the busy farmers at work in the neighboring
hills and vales give the young Indians a constant ob-
ject lesson in industry and its rewards.
Commencing in the old quarters abandoned by the
soldiers in the latter 'seventies, one by one the Fort
Lapwai Indian Training School has added buildings
until at present it occupies fourteen besides the stables
and smaller outbuildings. The four largest of these
are a handsome, two-story brick structure used as a
boys' dormitory, a large, two-story, frame dormi-
tory for the girls, a spacious dining hall, kitchen and
lodging house and a fine, modern frame schoolhouse.
Then there are the superintendent's office, the doctor's
office, the drug store, the laundry, the gymnasium and
the industrial work room and lastly the quarters of
the employes, most of whom reside in the old officers
building. The newest of these structures was erected
in 1896, though all have been remodeled, painted and
arranged and this work of improvement and equip-
ping is constantly going forward. All of these build-
ings are located on a fine, level campus of several
acres, enclosed by a sightly picket fence. The grounds
are well kept, the different buildings are arranged
along regularly laid out streets bordering the campus
proper and the whole presents an orderly appearance
pleasing to the eye. North and west of the campus
are the orchard and garden of the institution, cover-
ing several acres. In all there are between fifteen
and twenty acres in campus, garden and orchard.
Then there is a large farm attached to the establish-
ment on which all of the vegetables, cereals and hay
used at the school and agency are raised. It was not
possible to obtain from those in charge an accurate es-
timate of the value of the property, but it must with all
equipments have cost $50,000.
Accommodations are provided for eighty-five
boys and sixty-five girls and at the present time the
capacity of the school is taxed. The school is open to
all Nez Perce Indians between the ages of five and
eighteen years. Formerly attendance was optional,
but at present a law is in force compelling all Indians
of school age to attend school at least nine months in
the year. Under the present regulations of the Lap-
wai school, a ten months' term is maintained. Dur-
ing the past winter diphtheria made its appearance
among the pupils and as a result the attendance was
considerably decreased for a few weeks.
While in school the boys and girls wear uniforms.
The boys' suits are of a dark steel color, and the cadet
pattern, trimmed with red stripes and brass buttons.
The girls wear a gray uniform with black trimmings,
or a blue uniform with red trimmings. The
boys are divided into two military companies and
have a drill each morning in their drill room and
battalion drill occasionally.
The routine of school life is interesting. At six
o'clock the rising bell rings. An hour later all, except
those who are sick, must breakfast, the Indians in
their hall and the officers and instructors in theirs.
At 7 :30 the pupils fall into line and details are made.
The disciplinarian selects squads to take care of the
stock, cut wood and carry it in, milk the cows, build
fires, work in the garden and do other minor chores.
The matron assigns a division of the girls to sweep,
dust and to attend the living rooms, assist in the
kitchen and dining room, etc. While one division is
in school, another works under the supervision of the
industrial departments; the boys under the farmer,
carpenter or industrial teacher; the girls under the
matron, cook, laundress, seamstress or baker. The
literary department holds its sessions from 9 a. m. to
11 =30 a. m., and from 1 p. m. to 4 p. m. The literary
work is elementary, sixth grade work being the highest.
Of course the work of all departments is so arranged
that a thorough elementary school education and in-
dustrial training is given each pupil during the year.
At 5 :30 p. m. the supper bell rings and after the eve-
ning meal an hour must be devoted to study. The day
is finally closed by the summons to retire, which comes
at 9 130 o'clock. On Sunday a non-sectarian Sunday
school is held, attended by all the pupils and whenever
the school is favored by the visit of a clergyman, he
is invited to preach to them. Once a week the steady
routine of school life is laid aside for a social function
— a concert, a drill, a lecture or an amateur play. The
school possesses a creditable cornet band of sixteen
pieces which plays on all important occasions and at
the weekly entertainments. In fact everything which
would contribute to the physical and mental better-
ment and upbuilding of these boys and girls has been
done by the government at this school and the results
show that the work has not been in vain.
The corps of instructors at the school includes the
following, nearly all of whom have had previous ex-
perience in Indian work: Literary teachers, Alice B.
Preuss, Mrs. Hallie M. Alley, Jennie Smith; indus-
trial teacher, Fletcher Cox ; farmer, Alvan Shinn ; car-
penter, T. C. Glenn; girls' matron, Emma Trout-
man; boys' matron, Laura Mahin; cook, Lizzie Pike;
laundress, Clara L. Stuve; seamstress, Alice Sim-
mons; disciplinarian, Corbett Lawyer (Indian);
baker, Mrs. Mary Osborn ; policeman, Frank Hoosis-
kopsis (Indian) ; interpreter, Edward Raboin (In-
dian ) .
The superintendent of the Indian school and also
the Indian agent for the tribe is Earl T. MacArthur,
who succeeded Agent T. C. Stranahan in July, 190J.
At that time the two offices were combined and the
agency removed from Spalding to Lapwai. Mr. Mac-
Arthur is an energetic young man, thoroughly equipped
for his work. He is a native of Iowa, a gradu-
C30
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ate of Cornell University and since 1891 has been en-
gaged in Indian work under the direction of the In-
terior department. Previous to his transfer to the
Fort Lapwai school, he was in charge of the Lewiston
agency in South Dakota.
The agency is situated at the school and occupies
a commodious office by itself. Here Mr. MacArthur
is assisted in the management of affairs by three
clerks, J. S. Martin, A. J. Montgomery and J. N.
Alley. The latter is also attached to the school and
agency in the capacity of physician. About $50,000
a year are required to maintain the school and agency
and fully $60,000 lease money passed through the
agency last year, the office conducting all transac-
tions of this nature between the Indians and whites.
Aside from the leasing of lands there is very little
else done by the agent nowadays as the lands have
all been allotted and the red men given full citizen-
ship.
Just a word about the later missions. In 1847
Rev. H. H. Spalding retired to the Willamette val-
ley. He returned to Lapwai as superintendent of
schools in 1864, which position he occupied two or i
three years, when the office was abolished. In the
fall of 1 87 1, he again took up his abode among the
Nez Perces as a missionary, and he continued to re-
side at Spalding and Lapwai until his death in 1874.
His mantle fell upon the worthy shoulders of
Miss Susan Law Mcbeth, who had come as mission-
ary teacher in 1873 from the Choctaw mission in !
Indian Territory. She was a graduate of the Uni-
versity of Iowa and to her belonged the distinction
of having been the first lady to serve as a delegate
to the Christian Commission, at work among the
soldiers of the Union army.
Miss Mcbeth taugh school a year after coming to
the land of the Nez Perces, then succeeded to Mr.
Spalding's Bible class at Kamiah, later taking up
his entire missionary work over the whole reservation.
She remained at Kamiah until 1877, when she fled
to Lapwai to escape the hostiles. Two years later
she returned to Kamiah. She remained until 1885,
in which year she removed to Mount Idaho. There
she died in 1893. She has been described as a wo-
man of high mental attainments, untiring energy and
fervid religious faith.
Her sister, Miss Kate C. Mcbeth, succeeded to
the work and is still the representative among the
Nez Perces of the American Board. She came in
1879 to assist her sister and taught the women while
her sister labored for the spiritual and moral better-
ment of the men. She spent her time in Kamiah,
Mount Idaho and Spalding until 1885, when she be-
came a resident of Lapwai. At present she has
charge of a commodious and well furnished mission
house opposite the Indian school, and is instructing
a large class of Bible students. She also makes oc-
casional journeys over the reservation. Miss Mc-
beth has compiled and is still endeavoring to per-
fect a dictionary of the Nez Perce language and her
studies in this direction have made her perhaps the
greatest living authority on the subject. She is also
considered an authority on the history and traditions
of the tribe. Her assistant in the work is Miss Mazie
Crawford.
There is a Catholic mission at Slickpoo, on Mis-
sion creek, northwest of Lapwai. It is under the pa-
tronage of St. Joseph and is the center of several
outlying missions. The fathers of the Society of Jesus
conduct the work. A small school was in the course
of construction at the time of the writer's visit to
the reservation.
CHAPTER V.
DESCRIPTIVE.
In many respects Nez Perces differs widely in
topography and productions from its larger neighbor
on the south, the county to which it is the gateway
and with which it is quite intimately associated. Yet
it mav be said with truth that the people of Nez Perces
and Idaho counties are so closely bound together by
the ties of commercial relationship as to form practic-
ally one community. This relationship, however, arises
rather out of diversity of industries than similarity of
pursuits. The presence of mineral wealth in Idaho
county, the relatively small amount of agricultural
land, the elevation of much of its surface, the rugged-
ness of its topography have determined the leading
pursuits of its people, making them a mining and stock
raising rather than an agricultural class. The same
great law of nature has made agriculture the principal
industry of Nez Perces county and the natural inter-
dependence of these industries has bound the people
together in a close commercial bond.
But Nez Perces county, though less wild and strik-
ing in its physical features than its neighbor on the
south is not lacking in the ruggedness of aspect which
forms the most striking characteristic of the great state
of which it is a part. The writer well remembers the
wild, grand scene that greets the eye of the traveler
as he winds his way down the side of Craig's mountain
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
into the sheltered town of Culdesac, a scene wonderful
in its combination of beauty and strength, magnifi-
cence and sublimity. And there are many such scenes
within the limits of Nez Perces county.
Yet the county differs from many other parts of
Idaho in that very little of its surface is incapable of
cultivation. Even the uplands of Nez Perces are es-
pecially suited to agriculture, while the sheltered val-
leys of river and creek furnish ideal homes for the
fruit raiser and the market gardener. The result is
that the county, though relatively small in area, is yet
one of the leaders among its sister counties of the state
in population and wealth production.
The Snake and Clearwater rivers unite their turbid
and crvstal waters in the northwestern part of the
county. The valley of the former is narrow and that
of the latter not very wide, yet in the Clearwater basin
and on its bars are numerous beautiful and well kept
orchards, vineyards and gardens, rendered overwhelm-
inglv productive by the combined efforts of nature and
art, nature in furnishing a rich, prolific soil and art in
turning the waters of the river onto the land, that they
may do their part in furnishing fruits and vegetables
for the tables of man. The contour of the river bot-
tom is such as to render very large orchards impos-
sible, but so great is the productiveness of the land
that an extensive tract to any one grower is not neces-
sary. The writer remembers having read years ago
of a man who testified on oath in a court of justice
that his net profits from a single acre for a single year
had exceeded seven hundred dollars. And indeed the
man who could cultivate and irrigate a large tract in
the thorough manner in which these orchards appear
to be cultivated and irrigated to one who in springtime
surveys from the wayside their luxuriousness and
beauty, would need the assistance of a large number of
a large number of employees.
Some ten miles above Lewiston, the Clearwater
valley, which has been gradually narrowing as you
ascend the stream, widens again to the southward,
and into it flow the sparkling waters of Lapwai creek.
On the north side of the river, the elevated plateau
country of which Genesse is the principal town breaks
abruptly to the stream, and with the lofty hills to the
southward form a striking contrast to the peaceful and
gentiy beautiful Lapwai valley, extending away to-
ward the base of Craig's mountain, whose timbered
summit projected against the sky beyond, forms your
southern horizon. The ruggedness of the bluffs, the
bold contour of the lofty hills and uplands deep fur-
rowed with coules and ravines, dotted with farm build-
ings, stacks of hay and bands of grazing stock, the
swift river, the turbulent, restless creek, and at their
confluence the little village of Spalding, all unite to
form a picture magnificent and fascinating, especially
when summer's warmth has touched it with its own
rich, beautiful hues. At the time of the writer's visit
the work of the sunshine had not yet been fully accom-
plished, but it had already begun its wondrous resur-
rection in the Clearwater valley, while a few miles dis-
tant in either a southerly or a northerly direction, win-
ter still held the country in its snowy embrace.
The thoughts of the beholder of retrospective
habit will have a tendency to revert back to the time
when, sixty-seven years ago, the Rev. H. H. Spalding
began planting here at the mouth of the Lapwai creek,
the vine and fig tree of civilization, the fruits of which
are so plainly visible on every hand. He will not won-
der that the pioneer missionary chose this spot as the
scene of his labors, for the place has a charm for the
red man as for the white and from time immemorial
this bad been one of the favorite abiding places of the
Nez Perces. The missionary has made the spot hal-
lowed by his unselfish effort's for the good of the red
race.
The Lapwai basin, varying in width from a quarter
to half a mile, extends in a southerly direction and
about four miles from the mouth, the stream widens
into a truly magnificent little valley, perhaps two miles
long by a mile in width, elliptical in shape, the hills
i'ii the west rising from the level of the plain by much
easier grades and presenting longer and more gentle
inclines than do those in any other direction. About
the center of this depression are the cluster of build-
ings which constitute the town of Lapwai, while at
the extreme southwestern end, snug up against the base
of the hills, are the present Indian agency and school
occupying the site where once was the historic Fort
Lapwai. On the railroad are the grain warehouses of
the Yollmer-Clearwater Company and the Kettenbach
Grain Company, giving a hint of the principal indus-
try of the people.
A mile above Lapwai the Sweetwater, a creek
larger than the Lapwai and really the main stream,
empties into the latter. Here has been established a
small trading point. Three miles farther up the valley
Mission creek enters the Lapwai. This stream takes
its name from the Catholic mission school at Slickpoo,
established, it is said, in the early 'sixties by Father
Cataldo and still maintained.
At Culdesac, the terminal town of the Northern
Pacific's Lapwai branch, the traveler journeying south-
ward soon begins his ascent of Craig's mountain. This
is not really a mountain but a high plateau, many
miles long and in places many miles wide on top,
comparatively level when you once get up there. It
was fomerly the sheep man's paradise, being elevated
sufficiently to furnish excellent summer range, but the
advance of civilization has injured it for this industry
somewhat. The leading pursuit of its enterprising in-
habitants at present is lumbering, and the traveler over
the mountain will notice a saw-mill at least every few
miles. However, on each side of the mountain are
quite extensive glades or prairie arms extending into
the timber, and these are closely settled by energetic
farming communities. Not a few also are establishing
homes for themselves where the timber once stood.
There can be little doubt that the mountain will be all
settled up as soon as the timber is removed, but so ex-
tensive are the forests and so dense in places that it
will take a long time to fell them and convert their
timber into boards. There are several towns and post-
offices on the mountain for the convenience of and sup-
ported bv the lumbermen or agriculturists or both.
132
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Most of the maps show Craig's mountain as occupying
comparatively small space and situated just north of
the great bend of the Salmon and between that river
and the Snake, but in reality it is an extensive plateau,
bearing upon its sides or broad top several widely sep-
arated towns, principal among them Forest, Morrow,
Westlake, Keuterville and Winchester. Near the top
of this mountain and west of the reservation line is
Waha lake, twenty-one or twenty-two miles southeast
from Lewiston. It is described as a beautiful little
sheet, elliptical in shape and a half mile long, sur-
rounded on all sides by a pine forest. The old stage
road passes around its eastern margin. It has long
been and still is a favorite summer resort. At one
time an attempt was made to stock it with fish, but the
plan did not prove a success. There is a well appointed
hotel on its banks, the Lake House, kept by Mr.
Faunce, who also has an abundance of row and sail
boats and such other equipments as will augment the
convenience and comfort of recreation seekers. To reach
it from Lewiston you take the old stage road which
passes through Tammany hollow, Lewiston prairie
and Waha prairie, all rich farming and stock raising
sections, though the last named is more elevated and
consequently colder than the other valleys. The soil
of these prairie sections is very productive and har-
vests usually bountiful. Many of the farmers have
excellent orchards. In Tammany hallow, on the old
Dowd ranch, artesian water has been struck in several
places, and many attempts will be made to find it else-
where in the valley, that orchards and gardens may be
irrigated.
But it is to the country to the eastward of that just
described that we must look for the finest and most
extensive agricultural region of Nez Perces. Extend-
ing practicallv the entire length of the county is the
beautiful, rolling Nez Perces prairie, justly celebrated
for its rich, black soil and its wonderful capacity for
producing wheat, flax and other cereals. Until 1895
this prairie was in the hands of the Indians and its
productive power was consequently undeveloped.
Then, however, it was thrown open to settlement, by
act of congress, which provided that homesteaders
should be required not only to use their rights on the
land but pay for it as well. Fortunately the provision
that the land must be purchased was later repealed,
but it is also fortunate that the proviso was there at
first, as it resulted in keeping out of the country all
but thrifty, energetic people who meant business.
It happened that two years before the opening of
the reserve, an unusually wet harvest season caused
many of the farmers of the Palouse country, in Wash-
ington, almost all of them indeed, to lose their crops.
Much of the destroyed grain had already been har-
vested and some of it was threshed and lying in sacks
in the field. The farmer, therefore, was obligated to
pay harvesting and sometimes threshing bills, whereas
the grain to which he must look for reimbursement
was worthless. The next year the price of wheat
dropped to fifteen cents a bushel. The result of the
two bad years in succession was that not a few of these
ranchmen were rendered homeless. The opening of
the reservation in 1895 gave them the opportunity they
were seeking of starting again in life, so securing a
hundred and sixty acres apiece they began anew the
struggle for a home and competency. They have
brought to the cultivation of the rich virgin soil of Nez
Perces prairie the experience gained on their Palouse
farms and, avoiding the errors which caused them to
fail in the past, they have made for themselves happy
and comfortable homes. No better illustration can be
found of what an industrious, thrifty and skillful peo-
ple can accomplish when they have to start with a
goodly portion of rich, fertile soil and enjoy favorable
conditions otherwise.
In a recent interview in a Spokane paper, James-
Marker, of Nezperce City, said :
"Nez Perces prairie, Idaho, is in a most flourishing
condition, and the farmers of that district are rapidly
gaining wealth. The flax and hog industries are the
mainstays of the district, although cattle raising is
carried on extensively. The farmers' tramway that
extends from the prairie to the railroad has five and a
half months' work ahead in bringing down the flax
for shipment. The yield in flax varies from nine to
twenty-two bushels an acre, the average being about
sixteen. I know of one man who. when he came into
the country about six years ago, had nothing except
four broken down cayuses, but who last fall sold fifteen
thousand bushels of flax from his different ranches,
for which he obtained ninety-eight cents a bushel.
When I first arrived in the country I had only suf-
ficient money to build a house costing four hundred
and seventy-five dollars. I now have a standing offer
of six thousand dollars for the farm.
"Most of our shipments are made from Kamiah,
on the Clearwater Short Line, about sixty miles from
Lewiston, Idaho. Nezperce City is twelve miles from
the railroad. On one day last fall there were nine car-
loads of hogs shipped from the station, while the total
shipments in this line for the past three months have
been thirty car loads.
"I have just disposed of four car loads on the
Sound. T here were three hundred and sixty-two head,
weighing eighty-two thousand pounds, for which I
received six dollars and sixty cents per hundred
pounds."
Before discussing the productive capacity of Nez
Perces county as a whole, it is well to give some sta-
tistics regarding its size, population, etc. In super-
ficial area the county is one of the smallest in the
state, onlv two being smaller, namely, Latah and Bear
Lake. These have 1,100 and 1,080 square miles re-
spectively, while Nez Perces has 1,610. Though rel-
latively so small, the last mentioned is, however, the
most populous county of Idaho, being credited by the
latest census with 13,748 persons, while Latah, its near-
est competitor, has 13,451. It is claimed that Nez
Perces leads in the number of farms, having 2,144,
containing 400,510 acres, while Latah, the next in rank,
has only 1,821 farms containing 353,700 acres. In the
production of flax, Nez Perces county far outranks all
others, yielding 91 per cent, of that arised in the entire
state.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Official statistics of productions for the year 1902
are not available, but those furnished the Spokesman
Review bv its Lewiston correspondent at the close of
that year are doubtless close enough approximations to
furnish a clear idea of the producing power of the
county. They divide the wheat shipments among the
different stations as follows: Lewiston, 175,000
bushels; Waha and points on the river, 45>00°; LaP"
wai, 150,000; Agatha, 75.000; Peck, 125,000; Greer,
40,000; Kamiah, 125,000; Stites, 50,000; Culdesac,
450,000; Sweetwater, 225,000; Basalt, 59,000; Lenore,
225,000; Orofino, 35,000; Nez Perces tramway, 550,-
000; Kooskia, 75,000. Idaho county is credited with
the shipments from Kooskia and Stites, 125,000 bush-
els in all. Of the 2,404,000 bushels shipped from the
stations named approximately 650,000 bushels were
flax, which sold at average price of $1 a bushel ; while
1,500,000 bushels were wheat, vauled at 60 cents a
bushel, the remainder being oats and barley of the
estimated value of Si 1.250. The same authority
places the corn crop of the county at 10,000 bushels,
worth $5,000. "Of beans, there were raised 250.000
pounds. 'which found ready sale at 3 cents a pound,
or $7,500. Sales of hay by the farmers were about
10,000 tons, of the average value of $8 a ton or $80,-
000. This would indicate a total value of $1,653,250
for the grain and hay crop of the county."
From the railroad and commission men it was
learned that the shipments of vegetables aggregated
ten thousand packages, of the value of $15,000 ap-
proximately. Of the live stock industry it was not
possible to obtain as accurate and definite data, the
• shipments of cattle, hogs, sheep and horses not being
separated either as to variety or the county from which
they came, but it was thought that the value of the
stock exports from Idaho and Nez Perces counties
would not varv much from $1,000,000, half of which
might be credited justly to the latter county. Poul-
try and dairy products for the year were of the esti-
mated value of $10,000.
"It is estimated," continues the correspondent,
"that the wool crop of the county slightly exceeds
1,500,000 pounds, which, at an average selling price
of 11 cents a pound, adds $165,000 to the total of the
present year values.
"The industry, not so much of the present as of
the immediate future in this county, is lumbering.
There are now eighteen sawmills in the county, having
an average capacity of 25,000 feet each, a day. It
it estimated that these mills cut an aggregate of 2,-
000,000 feet, which has nearly all been sold to people
within this county and which had an average value of
$9 a thousand and an aggregate value of $324,000."
The receipts from fruit shipments are placed at
$80,000. Recapitulating we have the value of differ-
ent products as follows: grain and hay, $1,653,250;
vegetables, $15,000: fruit. $80,000; live stock, $500.-
000; wool, $165,000: dairy products, $10,000: "lum-
ber $324,000; total, $2,747,250.
Naturally one studying the development and pro-
ductive power of a county is impelled to inquire
what are some of its still undeveloped resources that
he may correctly estimate the possibilities of its fu-
ture. Though Nez Perces county is one of the oldest
settled in the state, it has many resources undeveloped.
One of these is fruit raising! Should the time ever
come when the county will be called upon to support a
population many times more numerous than it now
has, this industry will become one of the mainstays of
the people, and as the arid lands of the section are re-
deemed by irrigation, the acreage devoted to fruit will
be greatly increased. The advantages possessed by
Nez Perces county as a fruit section were thus com-
prehensively set forth, some years ago, in the Lewis-
ton Teller :
The conditions which the experiences of all countries
has shown to be the most favorable for the perfect develop-
ment and ripening of fruits are: freedom from extremes
of low temperature and early and late frosts; necessity of
adequate summer heat with abundance of sunshine and an
atmosphere with a low percentage of humidity. These con-
ditions exist in the Snake and Clearwater valleys in a degree
equalled in no portion of the United States, with the ex-
ceotion of the interior valleys of California. A careful
examination of the records of the signal office will show
that during the growing season, from April to November,
observations taken at Lewiston will compare favorably with
those taken in the favored valleys of California, with the
number of sunshiny days in Lewiston's favor.
These favoring climatic conditions find their fitting
complement in the peculiar adoption of our soil to the
perfect development of fruit bearing tree or vine. This
soil varying from light and sandy loam in the river bottoms
to heavy, clayey, black loam on the table lands, all contains
in a high degree the very elements that have to be supplied
artificially in other countries, viz: the salts of soda and
potash. These are the results of thousands of years of
disintegration of the basalt formation underlying the whole
country and form such a large component part of the soil
that fertilization for fruit growing need not be a consider-
ation for years to come.
While fruit growing is vet in its infancy, when the
acreage and number of persons engaged in the business are
considered, it has years ago ceased to be an experiment.
A few orchards were planted near Lewiston during the early
days in the settlement of the country, some thirty years ago,
and yielded so abundantly every season since they arrived
at bearing age that the supply was more than the small
population of the country could then consume. The excess
of production over consumption, with no transportation
facilities to reach distant markets, prevented the planting of
orchards on a more extensive scale. This condition of
affairs has undergone a great change during the last few
years.
The rapid increase of population in the surrounding
country, causing an unlimited demand for fruit, and the
building of the railroad, about to be finished, gives assurance
of a possibility of supplying the demand. That this changed
condition is appreciated by our land owners is evidenced by
the fact that numerous orchards have been planted within
a few years, in extent surpassing those in bearing now, and
that manv more are being planted this spring.
Besides producing apples, pears, cherries, plums, prunes,
in such quantities and of such high quality as to astonish
visitors when thev first behold them, these valleys are emi-
nently fitted for crowing the tender fruits, such as peaches,
almonds, nectarines and apricots. It is true that an occasional
hard winter destrovs tins latter crop, but this occurs less
frequentlv even than in those portions of the eastern and
middle states, which have become justly celebrated for their
abilitv to produce these crops.
But the one fruit which surpasses all others in excel-
lence and seems to find here the very conditions essential
to its best development, is the grape, nor is its cultivation
[34
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
restricted to the hardy varieties such as are grown on the
Atlantic seaboard and in the Mississippi valley, but includes
the very finest varieties of the European grape of the Vinis
Viniflora family, whose successful growth in America has
ever been believed to be restricted to California. As grown
here this grape not only rivals the California product but in
quality is even pronounced by connoisseurs as excelling it,
and this has again been demonstrated by the verdict of the
jury experts at the Portland Mechanics Fair last fall (1890),
who pronounced Clearwater valley grapes as of higher quality
than the same variety grown in California, both being
exhibited side by side. As yet only a limited number of
varieties of the grapes have been planted extensively, and
their success has induced the planting, in an experimental
way, of nearly the whole list of the finer grapes grown in
California and the chances are that some of them will show
still better results in this climate.
The unexcelled combination of conditions favorable to
fruit tree growth is, however, proven in the most forcible
manner by the high quality present in seedling fruits
originating here, there being a number of apple and pear
seedlings growing now, bearing better fruit than many of
the well known older varieties. The most remarkable case
in point is the "Idaho Pear" originating on the outskirts
of Lewiston from seed sown by Mrs. Mulkey some twenty
years ago. Samples of the fruit have been sent to the
leading authorities in the United States. They pronounced
it an entirely distinct and new variety, worthy of a place
among the very best pears for size and quality and ranking
the best ever known for vigor and hardiness. A few gentle-
men, engaged in fruit growing here, organized the Idaho
Pear Company lor the purpose of propagating and intro-
ducing this valuable new variety and by their efforts have
succeeded in making it widely known all over the world and
creating a demand for these trees grown here, not only from
all parts of the Union, but from Europe and Australia as
well. It is stated that this is the most valuable new fruit
introduced in half a century, and being hardier than any
variety of the same quality, it will greatly enlarge the terri-
tory where pear growing may be successfully engaged in.
The introduction of this pear has, more than all other causes
combined, called the attention of the horticultural world to
the resources of our climate and the gentlemen of the Idaho
Pear Company are entitled to all the credit for their enter-
prise.
This climate also offers unexcelled advantages for raising
all varieties of berries, melons and vegetables.
The territory in Nez Perce county which can grow fruit
successfully is now limited to the valleys of the great rivers
but embraces the arable land of nearly the whole county ;
and, while the higher altitudes may not grow the tender
fruits, they rival, if they do not surpass, the valleys in the
production of the hardier kinds and especially the apple.
This latter fruit as shown by specimens grown on young
trees just coming into bearing at different points, notably
the prairie lands on the P.ig Potlatch to the east of Lewiston
and Waha. to the south both at an increased altitude of some
1,300 feet, possesses fine flavor combined with keeping
qualities which are not attained in the hotter atmosphere of
the valleys.
With the large belt of the country to the north of
Lewiston, which, owing to the high altitude, can but raise
the verv hardiest of fruits but whose wheat product sus-
tains a large population : with the Coeur d'Alene mines
still further north ; and the prosperous states of Montana and
Dakota in the east, all non-producers of fruit and easy of
access by rail to all those points; there is not another fruit
raising country in existence possessing such an unlimited
market for its product.
White Brothers, wholesale fruit shippers, estimate
the value of Nez Perces' exported product at $43,000
for 1902, and certainly not over half the crop was
shipped out through channels that preserve records,
the remainder being either consumed at home or taken
in wagons to a market. In variety and quantity the
shipments were as follows ; pears, 2,000 boxes ;
peaches, 9,000 boxes ; apples, 10,000 boxes ; strawber-
ries, 1.000 crates; grapes, 4.000 crates; black ber-
ries, 2,000 crates ; raspberries, 1,000 crates.
As to the number of head of cattle now in the
county, the assessor's roll furnished the best basis,
perhaps, of estimate. It should give the exact num-
ber at the time it was made but unfortunately for
human weakness it falls far below the actual. How-
ever, the numbers of the different varieties upon
which taxes were paid are as follows : cattle, common,
3,351 head; cattle, beef, 156; cows, milch, 2,964;
horses, graded, 1,256; horses, stock, 1,256; colts, 590;
mules, 40; sheep, 25,251; swine, 9,019. The valua-
tion of all these animals aggregated $449,098. From
the above figures it will be seen that stock raising
is an important industry of the county yet, notwith-
standing it is more thickly populated than most other
parts of the state and devotes much attention to the
various forms of extensive and intensive agriculture.
In estimating the future possibilities of Nez Per-
ces county due weight should be given to the fact
that it is located so as to enjoy a central position
in that wonderful area known as the Lewiston or
Clearwater country, embracing an extent of perhaps
15,000,000 acres, and including the northeastern cor-
ner of Oregon, Asotin county, Washington ; Nez Per-
ces, Latah and Idaho counties and a part of Sho-
shone county, Idaho. This vast region is drained by
the Snake, Clearwater and Salmon rivers, with their
tributaries. Should the Columbia be opened to the
sea, as it some day will, this great empire must be-
come many more times more populous than it now is,
and the importance of the little county so near its
center and holding .a key position to so much of it
must experience as great and as yet scarcely dreamed
of augmentation. From the nature of the case much
of the wealth of this tributary country must go to
assist in the upbuilding of Nez Perces county's indus-
tries and the increase of its wealth.
The people whose lot is cast in this happily favored
section are fully aware of the opportunities which are
theirs, and manifest a deep interest in every move-
ment which has for its object the development of any
of their country's resources or those of neighboring
sections. They are not, however, so wrapped up in
industrial pursuits as to neglect the civilities and re-
finements of life. The education of the young receives
due attention. Public schools have been established
all over the county, even on the reservation so recently
settled, and diligence is given to the improvement
of the system. The county sends its share of students
to the state normal school in its own county seat,
to the state university at Moscow, just outside its
own borders, and to other schools of higher learning
and technical instruction east and west Churches,
fraternal organizations, and institutions for the bet-
terment of mankind are widespread in their distribu-
tion, and everything which is at once the outcome and
the promoter of refinement and intelligence finds here
a welcome and a home. With a wealth of resources
HISTORY OF NORTH- IDAHO.
developed and a still greater wealth undeveloped
within the county and in tributary territory, and a
climate mild at all seasons, with a bright, intelligent
class of people ambitious for the blessings of wealth
*35
and the promotion of culture, Nez Perces county cer-
tainly takes rank among the most favored sections of
the northweet and those with the brightest, most hope-
nil outlook. r
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
NEZ PERCES COUNTY
JOHN P. VOLLMER was born in Wurtemberg,
Germany, on January 25, 1847. Still he is an Ameri-
can citizen, since his father, Otto P. Vollmer, Jr., was
a naturalized American citizen at the time of the son's
birth. His father was a chemist of note and a man
of fine literary attainments, having added to the know-
ledge gained by study and diversified reading, that
of extensive travel and close observation. The grand-
father of our subject, Otto Phillip Vollmer, was a
surgeon of high standing and extensive practice in
Baden, Germany. Being in sympathy with the revolu-
tionary element of that realm in the middle of the
last century, in consequence whereof he had to pay
the penalty of the independent stand he took, by ac-
cepting voluntary exile, and came to America in 1849
accompanied by Hon. Carl Schurz, and other men of
national reputation in Germany. The family followed
the elder Vollmer in a very' short period, but the
father of our subject returned to Germany, after
becoming a naturalized citizen of the United States,
and was then united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth
Fix, his fiancee, a native of the old home place, Wurt-
temberg. In 185 1, the father and mother set sail for
America, bringing their young son. They settled in
Indianapolis and there, in a private German school,
young Vollmer received his elementary education.
It was in 1861, that he entered the Northwestern
Christian College of Indianapolis, where he received
a thorough English education. About this time, Mr.
Vollmer associated himself with the firm of Merrill
& Company, now Bowen, Merrill & Company, a large
book concern of Indianapolis, where he remained for
several years. He also engaged in the manufacture of
ink and was for a time connected with his father in
business, in all of which places he made money and
saved it. In his early teens, he enlisted to fight for the
Union and he assisted to repel the rebel raider Mor-
gan and his riders. In 1863, the mother died at the
home in Indianapolis, leaving the youth at the age
of sixteen without that sweetest of all earthly love,
a mother's. It was a sad blow, but he stood bravely
beneath it and continued his business. His business
success, his graduation with high honors from the
university, where he had made many warm friends,
buoyed up his native courage, and desiring to try his
fortunes in the undeveloped far west, where merit
and ability win, he accordingly came, via New York
and the isthmus, to the Pacific and in 1868, we find
him in Walla Walla with a few thousand dollars in
his pockets, saved from his own earnings, and a let-
ter of recommendation from General Harrison, after-
wards President of the United States. He was soon
engaged with a company manufacturing high wines.
His former thorough education and consequent know-
ledge of the new modes of distilling made him in-
valuable to the house and he was soon installed man-
ager of the concern, although he was but twenty years
of age. He continued in this until 1870, then left for
Lewiston. Here he formed a partnership with Wallace
Scott in the wholesale liquor and grocery business.
Later he abandoned the liquor business, on account of
conscientious scruples, although it had been profitable.
Mr. Vollmer began private operations outside of the
firm with a capital he had reserved. From the outset he
was remarkably successful as he has since been in all
of his large and varied business relations. Doubt-
les no man of the Inland Empire has ever had more
diversified interests and more varied experience in
business lines with an equal number of successes at
the end of each new venture. Many superficial
observers attribute it to "luck." But business men of
experience know that it is due to consummate breadth
of comprehension, keen discrimination and foresight,
coupled with practical knowledge and a will that
brooks no defeat.
To the original business established by John P.
Vollmer and Company at Lewiston, have been added
branch houses at Grangeville, Mt. Idaho, and Genesee,
in Idaho, and Uniontown and Asotin in Washington.
The Vollmer Clearwater Company, a creation of our
subject, operates at eighteen different points, named
as follows: Lewiston, Sweetwater, Bosalt, Lenore,
W'eippe, Stuart, Lapwai, Culdesac, Agatha, Peck, Ka-
miah, Stites, Genesee, Kendrick, Clyde, Spar, Nez-
perce and Asotin.
Among the earlier business movements of Mr.
38
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Vollmer, was the organization by him of the First
National Bank of Lewiston, the first house of its kind
in northern Idaho. The National Bank of Genesee
and the bank at Grangeville, followed in regular order.
Mr. Vollmer pays taxes on over fifty sections of agri-
cultural land, which requires about three hundred miles
of fence to divide it into quarter sections. He is
president of and owns the controlling interest in the
Lewiston Water and Light Company. He is also presi-
dent of the board of trustees for the State Normal
School.
Mr. Vollmer has also been interested in and identi-
fied with several transportation companies. He was
connected with the Walla Walla & Columbia River
R. R. Company and in 1877, was made agent for
the Oregon Steam Navigation Company. He then
acted for Henry Villard in the deal by which the
last named company was absorbed by the O. R. & N.
Co., which latter company Mr. Vollmer represented
until 1883, when he became financially interested in
the Northern Pacific and was one of the leading pro-
moters of that line which is now extended to Lewiston.
Since that time, he has been the representative of
that line for the state of Idaho.
In addition to all the above named enterprises,
with which Mr. Vollmer has been connected for the
improvement and betterment of the country, he was
also the one to construct the first telegraph line in
northern Idaho, in 1874. Four years later, he es-
tablished the first Bell telephone exchange on the
Pacific coast. He was also prominent in the organ-
ization of the Sweetwater Irrigation & Canal Company,
with which he is still connected.
It is interesting to further note, as testimony to
Mr. Vollmers high standing in financial circles, that
in "American Successful Men," of New York city,
which contains a history of the most prominent citi-
zens of America, he is given a prominent place, be-
ing the only banker mentioned in Idaho. Such is the
brief outline of the financial history of this in no
wise common or ordinary career.
In political matters, Mr. Vollmer is a stanch Repub-
lican, but has never been an aspirant for office, pre-
ferring to promote the political interests of his friends.
In fact, he has repeatedly declined preferment at the
hands of his friends even when the tempting offer
of the highest political office in the state was the
reward of his acceptance.
In his home life Mr. Vollmer has been as greatly
blessed as he has in his masterful business career. His
well appointed home is a model of family felicity and
home attachments. This is largely due, as are many of
the pleasant phases of his life, 'to the wisdom and
painstaking care of Mrs. Vollmer, who has the happy
faculty of making a home in the true sense of the
word.
Mrs. Sallie E. Vollmer, nee Barber, a native of
the state of Kentucky, is a true southern lady and a
granddaughter of Judge Duvall. They were united
in marriage at Walla Walla, September 27, 1870, and
to them have been born seven children, five of whom
are still living, namely; Ralston, now in charge of
the bank at Genesee ; Bessie, who was married Sep-
tember 4, 1901, to Arthur E. Clarke of the New York
Life Insurance Company, and now residing in New
York ; Genevieve, who is attending school ; Norman
and Norma, twins, at school in Lewiston.
Notwithstanding the fact that Mr. Vollmer is one
of the very busiest of men, he is of a pronounced
literary turn, as is also his wife; and their home is
supplied with a first-class library and all the leading
magazines and periodicals of the day, which they find
time to read and enjoy. He is a thirty-second de-
gree Mason.
Mr. Vollmer is an enterprising, public spirited
citizen, and takes great interest in the affairs of the
county and state and especially in the advancement of
the community where he lives. He is at the front and
promoting all enterprises that are for the general bene-
fit. His career is marked by display of energy and
profound ability and insight into matters that have
to do with the business and social world. He is
known as a stanch friend and has as few enemies,
probably, as any man living, of his active, agressive
temperament and extensive business interests.
GARRET H. FERRALL, M. D. Among the
leading citizens of Nez Perces county the name of Dr.
Ferrall is surely to be placed. In business ventures,
he has been signally successful. As a professional
man. he has manifested skill and talent that have
given him the reward due to the true and eminent
physician. As to his personal qualifications, Dr. Fer-
rall is a loyal friend, an affable and genial man, a true
and faithful member of society and a patriotic and
influential citizen.
G. H. Ferrall was born in Columbiana county,
Ohio, on November 11, 1844, being the son of Elihu
and Varv A. (Hart) Ferrall. The father was born in
Ohio, in 18 14, was a pioneer of Columbiana county
and also in Hinsdale county, Michigan, and is now liv-
ing in Michigan. The mother was born in Ohio, in
1814, and is still living in Michigan. Her father was
a pioneer of Columbiana county, Ohio, and was a sol-
dier of the war of 1812. Our subject remained at
home until nineteen years of age, gaining his educa-
tion from the schools of his place. Then he was
stirred by the spirit of patriotism and enlisted in Com-
pany G. Fourteenth Michigan, under General Sher-
man. He participated in the battles of Goldsborough,
Lookout Mountain. Chattanooga, Atlanta and many
other engagements. He transported seventeen hun-
dred troops from New York to Morehead, South Caro-
lina, and then rejoined his command under Sherman
and was in the famous march to the sea. When the
time came to lay down the arms of warfare, Mr. Fer-
rall returned to his home and went to the study of
medicine in Cleveland, and in 1870 he graduated with
distinction. Then he repaired to Fayette, Ohio, and
there practiced for five years. Then a move was made
to Ransom, Michigan, where he practiced for seven
years. He followed his profession in Ithica, Michi-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
39
gan, for several years. Then he came to Coeur
d'Alene. Idaho, and practiced there and handled a ranch
for ten years. Between the oversight of the farm
property and his profession the Doctor was a very
busy man and reaped the reward of his industry in
that he gained a good financial success. Then he
went to Walla Walla and engaged in the manufactur-
ing business for a couple of years; in 1898 he took
up the place where he now lives, two miles north
from Winchester. He has a fine body of land and
some excellent timber. The Doctor is one of the in-
fluential men of the county, is on its school board, has
promoted the telephone system from Culdesac to Nez-
perce City, also the mail line from Culdesac to Dublin.
He is justice of the peace and is looked up to by all as
especially deserving.
On February 12, 1873, in Fayette, Ohio, Dr. Fer-
rall married Miss Orcelia, daughter of Truman L. and
Harriett (Van Branken) Scofield. natives of New-
York. The father was born in 1821 and died in 1900.
The mother was born in 1820 and died in 1875. Mrs.
Ferrell was born in Williams county, Ohio, in 1845.
Her parents were pioneers of that county and Fulton
county. Ohio. She has one brother and one sister,
Edwin and Ellen Sails. Dr. Ferrall has the following
named brothers and sisters : Barzillai F., Elizabeth,
Oliver P., Jennie E., John W.. James E.. Taylor S.
and Lucy I. To Dr. Ferrall and his wife there have
been born three children, Harriett E., wife of Charles
R. Howard, a telegraph operator for the Western
Union; Ellen M., wife of Homer King, in Coeur
d'Alene ; Lee E., in the fire department in Spokane. Dr.
Ferrall is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and his
wife affiliates with the Presbyterian church. Dr. Fer-
rall is a stanch Republican and active in this realm.
Mrs. Ferrall was married first to Morris J. Dodd. who
lived but fifteen months after his marriage. One son,
Fred N., was born to this union. He is passenger con-
ductor on the Spokane and Northern Railroad, which
runs from Spokane to Rossland. Dr. Ferrall is a
warm advocate of good schools and is doing much for
the cause of education in his communis.
SAMUEL PATTERSON. It is fitting that es-
pecial mention should be granted to this estimable
gentleman, for he is one of the industrious workers
who are building up the county and he is doing his
share in a commendable manner. His family home
is about two miles northeast from Slickpoo, where he
owns a quarter section, which is devoted to all the
various grains indigenous to this latitude. He has an
orchard and also raises stock to consume his farm
produce. He is an energetic man and operates a
threshing machine in addition to the other emplov-
ments of his land. Mr. Patterson is well liked and is
an influential and respected member of the community.
Taking an account of the details of his earlier life,
we note that he was born in Marion county, Oregon,
on January 1, i860, being the son of John and Sarah
A. (Stout) Patterson. The father was a farmer, born
in Pennsylvania and died in 1867. He came to Cali-
fornia in 1847 and was an early pioneer of Oregon,
taking a donation claim there. The mother died in
1865. Being thus left an orphan at a tender age, our
subject was taken into the family of F. M. Thompson,
where he received good treatment and remained until
fourteen years old. He then went to work for him-
self and at twenty he went to farming in Wasco
county. He took a pre-emption there and tilled it for
twelve years. In 1890 he sold that property and re-
moved to Latah county and farmed for six years.
Then a move was made to the reservation and he
took his present claim. Since that date he has be-
stowed his labors here continuously. He is being pros-
pered and is one of the leading citizens of his section.
On July 4, 1880, he was married to Miss Henri-
etta, daughter of George W. and Martha A. (Threld-
keld) Wayne. The father is a farmer and lives on the
reservation. He was born in 1837 and the mother
was born in Missouri, and died in 1862. Mrs. Pat-
terson is an only child and was born in Calloway
county, Missouri, in 1862. Mr. Patterson has one
brother and one sister, Elizabeth Down, in Silverton,
Oregon; Richard, also in Oregon. To Mr. and Mrs.
Patterson there have been born eight children, named
as follows: George W., Martha A., John, Ernest,
Frank, Charles, Daniel B. and Minnie L. Mr. Patter-
son is not bound by partisan ties in political matters
but votes for the man. He is a warm advocate of good
schools and labors for their establishment. He is edu-
cating his children in the state normal at Lewiston.
PHILLIP S. SMITH. This pioneer and sub-
stantial stockman and farmer of Nez Perces county is
deserving of mention in this history since he has
labored here for the advancement of the interests of
the county and has done a good work in development
since residing here. He was born in Cedar county.
Iowa, on February 17, 1838, being the son of George
S. and Clarissa (Stockton) Smith. The father was
a carpenter and millwright, born in Tennessee, in 1802.
He went to California in 1849 and died there in 1852.
He was a captain of the militia in Iowa. The mother
was born in Indiana in 1812. Her father, William
Stockton, was a pioneer of that country and an Indian
trader, and she was raised among the Delaware In-
dians until she was ten. Our subject came to Oregon
with his mother in 1853. settling in Linn county. She
died the next year, leaving him an orphan. He went
then to California and mined in Siskiyou county for
three years. Next we see him in Oregon learning the
saddler's trade in Santiam, Marion county. Four
years later, he came to Washington and thence to
Idaho. In 1862, he was in Pierce City mining and in
Florence, Warren and other camps he delved for the
treasures of earth for a time and then went
ing. In 1867 he secured a pack outfit for himself
and operated it from Lewiston to Warren and ad-
jacent camps until 1871. Then he sold the outfit and
operated land, since which time he has largely de-
voted himself to agriculture and stock raising. In
1896 he took up a claim on the Nez Perces reservation.
140
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
He was in the country during the Indian war in 1877.
In 1864 a band of renegade Indians went on the war-
path and he was one of a company of citizens that
formed to resist them. They were received as United
States soldiers and served until the savages were re-
pelled. He carried the mail from Lapwai to Magnolia
for two Years and from Lapwai to Slickpoo for three
years, up to July, 1902.
In 1872 Mr. Smith married Susan, a Nez Perces
woman, who was raised by Mrs. Craig, being a niece
of that lady. To this marriage there have been born
four children, William, in this county ; an infant, de-
ceased; Jackson, deceased; Lydia, wife of Paul Cor-
bett, living in Kamiah. Mr. Smith is a Democrat but
not partisan. He has brothers and sisters as follows :
Mary A. Wood, Samuel, Nancy Crank and Rebecca
Barton.
STEPHEN JACQUES. From the sunny land of
France comes the enterprising and capable gentleman
whose name initiates this paragraph, and what was
the misfortune of that land is the good fortune of this,
for Mr. Jacques has been a first-class citizen of the
United States for a number of years and has wrought
for the advancement of Nez Perces county in various
ways for a long time. His native spot is La Ca-
nourgue, near Bordeaux, in southern France, and the
date of his birth, January 1, 1854. His parents were
Stephen and Rose (Vieillevigne) Jacques. The
father was born near La Canourgue in 1825 and died
in 1885 there. The mother was born in the same
vicinity and died in 1897. Our subject worked with his
father, who was a wealthy man of his section, and
there gained his education, finishing the same- by a
course in college. After the days of schooling were
over, he went to farming for himself and did well.
He had a fine piece of land and could have sold it for a
large amount as it was well set to choice vines, but
later an insect destroyed the vines, and Mr. Jacques
became discouraged. He then determined to try his
fortune in the United States and accordingly came
hither, landing in New York, having left his family in
France. He labored for a time and then came to Lew-
iston, where he worked for Louis Delsol. He went
to Spokane in 1889, the year after the fire. He started
a restaurant and did well. Four years were spent
there and then Mr. Jacques came back to Lewiston,
going thence to Camas prairie, near Grangeville. Re-
turning to Lewiston, he remained there a few years
to educate his children, and then came to Lapwai and
started a general merchandise establishment. For
three years he did well and then, the reservation open-
ing, he located the land where he now lives, six miles
east from South Lapwai. He moved his store to the
land, erected all needed buildings and has continued
in the mercantile business since that time. He handles
stock in addition to the store and also does a general
farming business. Mrs. Jacques made a visit to France
and visited the native places.
On May 28, 1880, in France. Mr. Jacques married
Miss Flavie, daughter of Francois Jarrousse. She
was born in 1858. To them have been born the fol-
lowing children: Noeme, wife of Harry Walruth, in
Pierce City; Maria, Emile, Eugene, at home. Mr.
Jacques has four sisters in France and one brother in
South Africa. He and his family are adherents of
the Catholic church.
WILLIAM A. CALDWELL is one of the prom-
inent men among the old pioneers of this country. He
has been essentially a pioneer in many lines, having
done all the arduous duties that fall to the lot of that
worthy class and also has opened up many lines of
industry in this section, and is to be credited with ex-
cellent ability and perseverance and keen foresight in
these lines.
William A. Caldwell was born in Tompkins
county, New York, on December 10, 1832, being the
son of Gabrial and Maria (Anderson) Caldwell. The
father was a farmer, born in Orange county, New
York, and died in 1891. He was a soldier in the war
of 1812 and held the rank of lieutenant. The mother
was born in Orange county, New York, and died
several years since. William was educated and at the
age of eighteen was ready to start in life for himself.
He shipped to Panama and assisted to survey the
Panama railroad. Seven months later he returned to
New York and then came to Minnesota, entering the
employ of a packet company. He went to St. Paul,
where his brother was sheriff of the county, and there
he remained for five years. He built a saw-mill and
did well in the venture. Later he sold and engaged as
wagon master for Colonel Noble to make a wagon road
on the big bend of the Missouri. They made a trip to
the Pacific coast country and visited Walla Walla, the
Fraser river country, and the next spring after gold
was discovered Mr. Caldwell went to Oro Fino. He
mined at Oro Fino, Florence, Warren, Pierce City
and all the camps of that section and also at Boise
basin and then he returned to Lewiston. He took a
government wood contract and then operated a pack
train to Pierce City. He then bought the Cul De Sac
stage station, now known as the Caldwell stage station,
and erected a six-thousand dollar hotel, where he did
business for twenty years. He was the first man to
try wheat in the vicinity north of Lewiston. People
laughed at him when he broke the first one hundred
acres, but his wheat did well, and thus he opened a
great source of wealth for the country. In 1883 Mr.
Caldwell built a palatial home in Lewiston and later
he acquired title to the Colonel Craig donation claim
and also to the other half of the section, but he was
obliged to carry it to the courts of last resort. Mr.
Caldwell, in addition to his other activities, has al-
ways been a large operator in stock. He handled
about ten thousand stock sheep and vast herds of cattle
and horses.
On July 5. 1871, in Lewiston, Mr. Caldwell mar-
ried Miss Maria, daughter of Michael and Elizabeth
(O'Neil) Reddy. natives of Ireland. The father came
to Canada when a large boy and the mother came
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
141
when young. Airs. Caldwell was born in Ontario, in
1849, and remained there until twenty and was edu-
cated in the world famous schools of that province.
Then she came with her parents to California and
later to Idaho, where they died. She has two brothers
and five sisters, Richard, Catherine Worden, Elizabeth
White, MargaYet Vennigerholz, Sarah Elliott, Jennie
Parker and Owen. Mr. Caldwell has the following
named brothers and sisters : Thomas, James, Isabelle,
Nancy, all deceased, and Helen, Julia Mallory and Fan-
ny Thorp. To Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell there have been
born four children, William A., in Montana ; Solomon
S., in Nez Perces county; Frederick G. and Moses, at
home. Mr. Caldwell is a member of the Masonic or-
der. He is a Democrat in politics and active, as also
are his boys. He owns a section of land where he now
lives, four miles southeast from Lapwai, and raises
wheat, barley, corn and handles stock to consume the
products of the farm. Mr. Caldwell is a strong ad-
vocate of fine schools and is a supporter of the
churches.
HEXRY H. SCHILDMAX. There are few men
in the entire state, if any, who have won as brilliant a
success in the business world by reason of meritorious
work and real ability as has the subject of this brief
article. He is at the present time one of the proprietors
of the large mercantile establishments in Lapwai,
Kamiah, Nezperce and Forest, operated by Lester Cof-
fin & Schildman. They have an extensive trade at all
these establishments. He has put his whole life and
spirit into the mercantile world and being admirably
fitted with natural talent, he has made a success that
would be a crowning effort to a full life in this im-
portant line and is still numbered with the young men
of the county.
\\ e will note the details of his career, as they will
be interesting in the history of the county where he
has wrought with such excellent wisdom. Henry H.
was born in Warsaw, Illinois, on November 20, 1871,
being the son of Henry and Josephine Schildman.
The father was a farmer, born in Ohio, in 1838, and
now lives in Warsaw. The mother was born in War-
saw, her parents having come as early pioneers to
that country. They both died when she was an infant
and she was reared by her grandparents, who were
pioneers of Illinois. Our subject worked at home, at-
tended school in Warsaw, and later attended college
two years. He remained with his parents until the
time of his majority. In 1895 he longed for the west
and accordingly came to Spokane. Six months were
spent there, after which he repaired to Lewiston, ac-
cepting a position in the mercantile establishment of
Coffin Brothers, leading merchants of Lewiston. Dur-
ing his stav with them, which was two years, they
had opened a store at Lapwai when the reservation
was thrown open for settlement. Mr. Schildman was
installed as manager and soon his real worth and
ability led the proprietors to take him as a partner.
He has picked up the Nez Perces language and does
a large business with the Indians.
Mr. Schildman is a thirty-second degree Mason.
He is also a member of the I. O. O. F. Politically,
he is a Republican and active in good government,
but will never have his name placed for office, as he
is occupied with business. Mr. Schildman is a firm
believer in broad education and thus is sure that the
general morals of the people will be bettered, and he
iabors for good schools.
WILLIE E. KERN. This enterprising farmer re-
sides twenty-one miles southeast from Lewiston and
is one of the substantial stockmen and farmers of his
section, having a nice place well improved and pro-
ductive of good returns annually. W. E. Kern was
born in Richardson county, Nebraska, in 1866, being
the son of William C. andRoda R. (Cox) Kern. The
father is a stockman and farmer, born in Indiana in
1810, and now lives in Oregon. He crossed the plains
in 1845, l&52, and in 1866, and mined in California.
He was county treasurer of Umatilla county, at Pendle-
ton, for eight years and was sheriff in Iowa for two
terms. The mother was born in Indiana in 1827, came
west in 1878 and is still living. Willie E. was reared
in Nebraska until thirteen years old and then came
west with his parents in 1878, completing his educa-
tion in Pendleton. At fifteen he started for himself
and worked three years in Umatilla county at black-
smithing. Then he went to the sound and labored in
the timber. Four years later he went to Butte. Mon-
tana, and opened a restaurant, where he did well for
two and one-half years. He also spent some time in
the Big Bend countrv in Washington in the stock
business and in 1899 he came to his present place.
January was the month and he has labored since with
excellent success, being now one of the prosperous
men of the county. He owns a half section, well im-
proved.
On April 18, 1900, Mr. Kern married Miss Nancy,
daughter of Dr. Richardson, of the Willamette valley,
Oregon. He was a leading man of Eugene, and had
a fine farm and property there. He and his wife are
Until deceased. Mrs. Kern has four brothers and
three sisters, named below: Minerva, Paris. Sarah,
Laura. Mitchell, Clinton and James. Mr. Kern is an
active Republican and is much interested in good
schools. His father was a veteran of the Civil war.
Mr. Kern is a man of good qualities and sound prin-
ciples and stands well in the community and deserves
the confidence and esteem that he generously receives
from his acquaintances.
FRANK BRONCHO. Seven milei northeast of
Lapwai is the tine home of the subject of this article.
He has an elegant residence costing three thousand
dollars and an estate of five hundred and twenty acres.
This is well improved with buildings and orchard,
and is handled skillfully.
Frank Broncho was born in Fort Hall, Utah, in
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
i860, being the son of Thomas and Angeline Broncho.
The father was born in Canada, of French extraction,
and died in 1885. The mother was of the Nez Perces,
born on the reservation. The father was in the em-
ploy of the Hudson Bay Company at Fort Hall for
many years. He met Angeline, who had been edu-
cated by Dr. Whitman, in Walla Walla, and there
he married her. When Frank was a babe, his parents
came to Walla Walla and farmed, and there our sub-
ject received his education. When he was seventeen,
the family came to Asotin county, remaining three
years, and then they went to the Nez Perces reserva-
tion, where they farmed and raised stock. At the
time of the Nez Perces war the father moved his family
to the fort at Lapwai but took no active part in the war.
He carried the mails for years from Walla Walla to
the fort. He was an old trapper and scout and served
the United States in the latter capacity for many years.
He was with Captain Stevens when he made the treaty
with the Umatilla Indians. Our subject remained with
his parents until the time of their death and then went
to farming and raising stock for himself. At the time
of the allotment of land on the reservation he received
the estate where he now lives. He formerly owned
land in Asotin county and did well there with stock.
In 1885 Mr. Broncho married Miss Marion, daugh-
ter of Nobe Henry, of American and Dutch descent.
He is a farmer and stockman in Garden gulch
on the reservation. To Mr. and Mrs. Broncho
there have been born eight children, Edward, An-
geline, Bessie, David, James, Anna, Clara and Ben.
Mr. Broncho has three brothers. Thomas. Antonio,
Edward, all in this county. Mr. Broncho has been a
scout and interpreter for the government for many
year.;. He was a body guard of Agent Monteith dur-
ing the war. He is a man of intelligence and integrity
and stands well with all who know him.
JAMES L. BOUNDS. About one-half mile from
North Lapwai is the elegant home of the subject of
this article. It is large and tasty and has land there
which is handled to general farming. Mr. Bounds is
one of the earliest pioneers in many sections of the
west and he played a very prominent part in the early
times when gold was discovered in California. He
came from the fields there and through his report there
were hundreds of men who resorted thither.
James L. was born in Lafayette county, Missouri,
on February 12, 1830. being the son of Obediah and
Nancy (Lovelady) Bounds. The father was a farmer,
born in Virginia in 1789 and died in 1844. He was a
pioneer to Missouri in 1818 and settled in Lafayette
county in 1820. He participated in the Black Hawk
war, and the Osage Indian campaign. The mother
of our subject was born in White county, Tennessee,
and died in 1846. James received his education in his
native place and remained with his mother until her
death ; then spent some time with his brother-in-law,
but not agreeing with him, he ran away to join the
amiv 111 the Mexican war. He went to Fort Leaven-
worth but changed his mind and came to Oregon
City instead. He drove an ox team all the way and
consumed six months in the trip. October 30, 1847,
was the date of his landing there and as times were
hard he labored at what he could get until 1848 and
then heard of the gold find in California. With two
lads who had accompanied him across" the plains, he
went thither on horseback, being the first party that
went there across the mountains. They were at Clear
creek in Shasta county, above Sacramento, on Ameri-
can river, and later at Placerville. He there met Dr
McBride, the grandfather of the present governor ot
Washington. He accompanied the Doctor to Ford's
bar on the middle fork of the American river and
there made nine hundred dollars the first month. In
the fall he went back to Oregon in company with O.
C. Pratt, one of the early governors of Oregon. In
the spring of 1849, with a large company who were
induced by his reports to join the exodus, he returned
to California. They fought the Indians and soon were
in the mines where young Bounds made fourteen hun-
dred dollars in five weeks. He bought and sold horses
and did well ; later he went to Feather river and bought
claims and made thirty-three hundred dollars. Being
taken sick, he went to Sacramento and was doctored.
He then returned to Oregon and later went back to
California. Again we find him in Oregon working on
his donation claim, and in 1857 he went again to Cali-
fornia and remained seven years. In 1863 he came to
Walla \\ alia and went into stock business. He re-
turned to California in 1882 for his health and re-
mained until 1890. In 1895 he came to Idaho and
here he has been since.
On December 8, 1853. Mr. Bounds married Mis-;
Rachel, daughter of Thomas and Eliza Linville, and a
native of Lafayette county, Missouri. She crossed the
plains in 1853. Mr. Bounds has one sister living.
Amanda Stark, in Missouri. Mrs. Bounds has the fol-
lowing brothers and sisters: Thomas, W. C. Hum-
phrey, James B. and Eliza Hardesty. To Mr. and
Airs. Bounds there have been born seven children, as
follows : Nancy King, in Nez Perces county ; Homer,
at Cape Nome ; William, in Asotin. Washington ;
Jennie Sumpter; Anna Gilchrist, in California: Bertha
Adron. in Nez Perces county ; Sallie Harrison, in
Seattle. Mr. Bounds was deputy sheriff in Siskiyou
county, California, for many vears. He is a Democrat
in politics ami active in the welfare of the county.
CLINTON T. STRANAHAN. At the present
time Mr. Stranahan is holding the responsible position
of superintendent of Indian schools and agent of the
Nez Perces, with headquarters at Spalding, Idaho. In
1899 he received the appointment of agent at the hands
of President McKinley, and in April, 1902, he was in-
vested with the authority of superintendent of the
schools, as those two offices had been merged under
the civil service. Mr. Stranahan has been a very
active and potent factor in the political realm of the
state and has always heartily supported the Republican
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
'43
principles. For sixteen years, with one exception, he
has been regularly chosen to represent his district at
the state convention and his influence has always been
for good men and right principles. He was deputy
assessor of Nez Perces county under L. F. Herbert,
was also deputy auditor and deputy sheriff and in
1889 he was appointed deputy United States marshal
under Joseph Pinkham and served through the trying
times of the strike in the Coeur d' Alenes. He also
was deputy assessor in Nez Perces county for one
term. In all this long service, Mr. Stranahan has
manifested marked efficiency and his sterling faithful-
ness and integrity were qualities which ever com-
mended him to the hearty esteem of his fellows.
It will be interesting to note a part of his career
in detail, and first we see that he was born in Contra
Costa county California, near San Francisco, on
March 17, 1S59, being the son of Ebenezer and Ellen
(Terry) Stranahan. The father was born in Herkimer
county, New York, in 1829, and died in 1873. He
was of Irish extraction and was a pioneer to Califor-
nia in 1852 and held a prominent place in the state
as a leading miner. The mother was born in New
York and still lives in California. Clinton T. was edu-
cated in Oakland and when eighteen years of age
started out for himself. Idaho was the objective point
of his travels and he located a claim on American
Ridge, having landed in Moscow in 1878. He gave
his attention to farming for six years and then en-
tered upon the public service as mentioned above.
After his labors in the marshal's office were ended he
took a farm adjoining Lewiston, on the Clearwater,
and demonstrated that excellent fruit can be raised
here. His fruit farm of forty acres is doubtless one
of the very best in the northwest, having been brought
to this excellence by his skill and careful oversight.
In 1884 Mr. Stranahan married Miss May L.,
daughter of Samuel L. Bostwick, deceased, a native
of Iowa, and a pioneer to Montana, settling there in
1865. ^rs- Stranahan was born in Montana, being
the first white girl born in Gallatin valley, now Boze-
man. Air. Stranahan has three brothers and two
sisters, Farrand E., Willoughby F. and Cady R. ; Cora
Hosom and Esther. To Mr. and Mrs. Stranahan
there have been born three children, Clyde, Glenthora
and Everett. Clyde is attending the high school in
Lewiston. Mr. Stranahan is a member of the W. of
W. Mrs. Stranahan is a communicant of the Episco-
palian church.
THOMAS D. KING. It is pleasant to see this
gentleman, who operated in the vigorous labors of the
pioneer in many places on this coast, now enjoying the
land that he helped to develop with his sturdy labors
and being one of the prominent and influential citizens.
Mr. King was born in Logan county, Ohio, in.Jan-
uarv. 1834, being the son of Thomas D. and Susan
(Berrv) King. The father was a hatter, born in Vir-
ginia in 1779. and died in Burlington, Iowa, in 1872.
He was a pioneer in Ohio, Indiana and Iowa. The
mother of our subject was born in Pennsylvania in
1789 and died in 1857. The family came to Indiana
when Thomas D. was young and thence they removed
to [owa, where he was educated and grew to' manhood.
Arriving at majority's estate, he farmed for himself
and :n 1857 he went via Panama to California. From
San Francisco, he went direct to Marvsville and
worked for his brother-in-law. Nelson Westcott. He and
his brother William raised a crop of corn as an experi-
ment and cleared nearly five thousand dollars from it.
Some years Liter they bought a hotel in the mountains
on Rabbit creek road and did well there. In 1862 he
sold out and came to Idaho and joined the forces at
Florence who were digging for gold. Later he went
to Walla Walla and farmed for a year and then went
to Oregon. Returning to Boise, he took mining claims
and later he secured the contract to carry the mail
from Walla Walla to Colville. Later he took another
contract from Walla Walla to Lewiston, and here he
did a general express and passenger traffic. Seven
years were spent at this and then he went to Califor-
nia, settling in San Luis Obispo county, where he
went into the stock and dairy business. Here he con-
tinued unutl 1897, then sold out his stock, of which he
had a considerable, also sold his land, nine hundred and
sixty acres, and came to Idaho and settled on his pres-
ent place on the reservation. He is one mile east from
Lapwai and has a good farm, and his sons, George and
Ira, also have nice farms here.
On December 25, 1872, Mr. King married Miss
Nancy, daughter of James L. and Rachel (Linville)
Bownds, natives of Missouri. Mrs. King has the fol-
lowing named brothers and sisters : Homer, Willard,
Jennie Sumpter, Anna Gilchrist, Birdie Adron, Sallie
Harrison, and the following who are deceased. Eliza
Hawcroft, Martha and Ruth, who both died at the
same time with diphtheria, Abie, Manda. Mr. King
has brothers and sisters as follows, William B., Felix,
Samuel. John, George, Sallie, Harriett, Hannah, Jane,
Ruth, Kate Louise, Julia Carroll and Mattie Morton,
all deceased but the first one and the last two. To
Air. and Mrs. King have been born seven children,
James, Minnie, Thomas, all deceased, George W., Ira
F., Kate, deceased, Rachel. Air. King is a member of
the I. O. O. F., and he and his wife belong to the
Christian church. In political matters, Air. King is a
Republican and always active in that realm, but he has
many times refused office himself. He was a member
of the school board in California for twelve years.
Airs. King's uncles were in the Civil war. Air. King
is expecting to handle stock on his farm altogether and
will increase his holdings in this line.
OLIVER JOHNSON is one of the industrious
agriculturists' of Nez Perces and his home place con-
sists of one hundred and twenty acres of good soil,
nine miles east of Lewiston. He does a general farm-
ing business and is prosperous and progressive.
Oliver was born in Dallas, Polk county. Oregon,
on July 10. 1863, being the son of Newton C. and
Louise A. 1 Bverly) Johnson. The father was a farmer,
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
born in Missouri in 1839, and died in 1901. He was a
pioneer to Oregon, crossing the plains with teams in
1846 and the train had a number of battles with the
Indians. The mother of our subject was born in Iowa,
on January 29, 1844. Oliver remained at home until
of age, receiving a good education from the common
schools. In 1881 the parents removed to Walla Walla,
Washington. Our subject remained there for a few
years and then returned to Oregon. While the father
was near Walla Walla the Snake Indians broke out
and caused trouble but he did not leave his farm.
Oliver farmed in Oregon until 1894, then came to
Whitman county, Washington, and tilled the soil for
a year and removed to the Potlatch country, where he
farmed for one year. Then he came to the vicinity
of Lewiston and when the reservation opened up he
took his present place, as mentioned above. Mr. John-
son has labored faithfully in the good work of devel-
oping the country and has so conducted himself that
he has won the respect and esteem of all who know
him.
On October 28, 1886, Mr. Johnson married Miss
Abbie, daughter of Jack and Mary (Duncan) De
Lashmutt. The father was a farmer and merchant, a
native of Pennsylvania and died in 1883. The mother
was born in Missouri and died in 1885. Mrs. Johnson
was born in Yamhill county, Oregon, on July 29, 1867.
She had one sister, Jennie, now deceased. She has
half brothers and sisters as follows : Isabelle, Sarah,
Van Buren, Butler, Lindsay, Fillmore, Elsworth,
Douglas, Josephine, Kate, Jennie, Mattie, Reuben,
James and Samuel. Mr. Johnson has one sister, Addie
McDaniel. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson two children
have been born, Jessie M. and Erne. Mr. Johnson is
a member of the M. W. A. In political matters, he is
a Democrat but never aspires for office. Mr. Johnson
takes a warm interest in bettering the schools and does
intelligent labor in all the affairs of politics and local
concern His uncle, Abraham Byerley, was in the
Indian war.
HON. DENNIS VV. C. DUN WELL is one of the
venerable and highly respected citizens of the county,
is one of the prominent men and is also numbered
with the earliest pioneers. He has done a giant's part
in developing the country, and while the wheel of
fortune has several times badly turned him down,
still after each backset, he showed the ability, the
pluck, and the energy to rise and overcome the very
things that brought disaster, and so obtained a good
success out of his defeat.
He was born in Pleasant Valley, New York, on
August 13, 1817, being the son of George and Orailia
(Conklin) Dun well. The father was a tailor, born
in Massachusetts, in 1780, and died in 1836. The
mother was born in Connecticut in 1782 and died in
1872. The parents went to Connecticut when our
subject was an infant, settling in Salisbury. They
remained there about twenty years. Then Dennis
went to Michigan and sold stock and later taught
school in New York, in Pennsylvania, and in Ohio.
In 1850, he came to St. Paul, Minnesota, and there
did contracting and building. He formed a com-
pany, known as the Dunwell, Harthorn & Coul-
ter Company, which dealt in grain and handled stock
and did exceedingly well. During the crash of 1857,
the company went down, Mr. Dunwell losing as much
as two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Mr. Dun-
well then came to Walla Walla, in 1862, with a mule
team and later he was in Boise and other mining towns.
He packed from Lewiston to Pierce City and Florence.
In 1867 he bought a ranch in the Sweetwater coun-
try. Through dishonesty of his partner, he was again
stripped of his holdings, and his exepriences about
Ibis time were exceedingly discouraging. His family
came to him when he was thus depleted in finances.
He took a position as secretary of Agent O'Neal, at
Lapwai, then was elected assessor of Shoshone county
in 1 87 1 and was soon on his feet again. He then bought
a farm on five mile prairie, returned to Lewiston to
school his children, held the mail route from Lewiston
to Pierce City for four years and bought the old
Greer ferry. In 1876-7, he was the representative of
Shoshone county in the territorial legislature at Boise.
In the spring of 1877, the Indians broke out, burned
his property, including the ferry, house and goods and
so forth, and again, Mr. Dunwell was called to meet
misfortune. He finally gathered the remnants of what
was left, sold it, and later bought a ranch five miles
east from Lewiston, which is still known as the Dun-
well ranch, which he has deeded to his daughter.
He is making his home now with his son-in-law,
Walter A. Smith. Mr. Dunwell was also in the Min-
nesota legislature and was sheriff of Ramsey county.
He owned two hundred and fifty acres where the fifth
ward of St. Paul now is. Mr. Dunwell was a prom-
inent man in St. Paul as he has been in this country
and he has always manifested worthy ability and dis-
cretion while his integrity has never been questioned.
In 1853, Mr. Dunwell married Miss Mary B.,
daughter of Patrick Brennan, a wealthy man of De-
troit, Michigan, where the wedding occurred. Mrs.
Dunwell was born in Canada, on May 12, 1831. Mr.
Dunweil has one sister, Mrs. Sarah Shears, in Mas-
sachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Dunwell have two children,
Dan, in Oro Fino ; Mary W. Smith, at Lewiston.
Our subject is a member of the Masons and has been
for fifty-two years. He is the oldest member of the
county and was granted an honorary membership in
the St. Paul lodge without dues. He is also the oldest
member of the Pioneer Association. Mr. Dunwell has
a claim pending against the government for five thou-
sand dollars for damages the Indians did in the war of
1877. He is a Democrat in political matters and has
always manifested an intelligent interest in the affairs
of government as well as in business.
CHARLES L. HAMILTON. Not only is the
subject of this article well known as a thrifty and
up-to-date farmer and orchardist but also in the in-
dustrial world, he has gained distinction, being a.<
HON. DENNIS W. C. DUNWELL
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
•45
pioneer in the blacksmith business in at least three
different locations in Latah county, and he is withal,
a man of ability and substantiality, and possessed of
integrity and uprightness, which have won for him the
esteem of his fellows.
Mr. Hamilton was born in Macon county, Missouri,
on September 2, 1857, being the son of Samuel C.
and Sarah A. (Blackwell) Hamilton, the father
being a fruit grower and blacksmith of his section.
Our subject was educated in Missouri, and also learned
from his father the art of blacksmithing, remaining
there until he had arrived at the age of twenty. He-
then came west to Whitman county, Washington,
crossing the plains with mule teams. He took a
preemption in Whitman county and for nine years
was numbered with the leading tillers of the soil there.
It was in 1887 when he came to Latah county, and
here he homesteaded the place where he now lives,
three miles south from Kendrick. He has an eighty-
acre farm embellished with comfortable improvements,
and an orchard of five acres. He operated a black-
smith shop here and when Leland started, he opened
a shop there where he beat the anvil to the time of
honest industry until Kendrick was located, when he
put up the first shop there as he had been first in both
the other locations. He did a good business in Kend-
rick until recently, when he sold the entire property
and devoted himself entirely to his farming and fruit
growing interests. Mr. Hamilton is affiliated with
the W. of W. Lodge No. 327, being council com-
mander, which office he has held for five terms, he
also belongs to the circle. No. 217. He is a director in
the Methodist church at Leland and at the present
time he is a member of the Democratic county central
committee.
The marriage of Mr. Hamilton and Miss Addie,
daughter of Jacob and Catherine A. Van Tine, early
pioneers of Whitman county, was solemnized at Col-
fax, Whitman county, Washington, on January 14,
1879, ar>d tney became the parents of eight children,
Leona, wife of B. P. Parks ; the rest all being at home,
Florence, Ellen Nora, Jessie, Dela, Carver, Ruth and
Hazel.
BENJAMIN E. WILSON. The subject of this
sketch was born in Barbour county, West Virginia,
on July 18. 1853, being the son of David and Amanda
(Carter) Wilson, natives of West Virginia and Vir-
ginia, respectively. The father was born in Barbour
county in 1822, and his father was born there also.
The mother of our subject was born in 1821 and died
in 1886. In 1866 the family removed to Clay county,
Indiana, where the father bought land and farmed.
Benjamin here grew to manhood and received his
education in the public schools. He took up farming
for himself at the age of twenty and when he was
thirty-two he went to Adair county, Missouri, and
there tilled for five years. It was in 1890 that Mr.
Wilson determined to try the west for himself and
accordingly migrated to Tekoa, Washington, and there
farmed until the reservation opened. His success was
excellent and when the reservation was ready for
settlers he came to the vicinity of Lapwai and secured
a claim which he sold in 1901 and bought his present
place, two miles west and two south from Melrose.
He has a good orchard and is putting out more. Mr.
Wilson has a nice bunch of stock and is breeding
them up to fine specimens.
While in Missouri, in 1886, Mr. Wilson married
Miss Dora B., daughter of Henry and Martha
(Heuitt) Mustoe, natives of Virginia. They were
pioneers in Missouri. Mrs. Wilson was born in
Missouri, in 1863 and has two brothers and one sister,
William, Albert and Loretta Page. Mr. Wdson has
two brothers and one sister, Robert, James B., Hellen
Riley. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs.
Wilson, Ethel and Blanch, both at home. Mr. Wilson
is a Mason : has been school trustee and in politics is
an active Democrat of the Jeffersonian type. He is
a man of good qualities, has done a good work in
this county and elsewhere, maintains a first class repu-
tation, has the confidence of his fellows and is a genial,
pleasant gentleman of intelligence and worth.
JASON M. HARRINGTON. Few, if any, have
done more for the industrial advancement of the county
during the time in which he has operated here, than
the subject of this sketch. Mr. Harrington is a mill-
man, owning and operating a fine saw-mill and manu-
facturing all kinds of lumber products. He is a man
of fine ability and is possessed of worth and integrity.
J. M. Harrington was born in Lewis county, New
York, on August 16, 1843, being the son of Jeremiah
and Elizabeth (Hulburt) Harrington. The father was
a lumberman, born in New York in 1823 and died
in 1899. His father, Capt. John T. Harrington
was a prominent lawyer and lumberman and a captain
in the war of 18 12. He was a partner in a law office
with President Van Buren 'and married Kate Van
Buren, a cousin of the president. He lived to be one
hundred and cne years of age and died in 1884. He
was a pioneer in the Black river region in New York
and there did an extensive lumber business. His son,
the father of our subject, was also a successful operator
there and a prominent lumberman of the state. The
mother of our subject was born in Lewis county,
New York. Her mother was a native of Pennsylvania
and her father of Rhode Island. The subject of this
sketch came with his parents to Wisconsin when he
was eleven years of age and the home was there for
twelve years. Then they removed to Scott county,
Minnesota, where the father continued in the lumber
business. Jason M. received a common school edu-
cation and when the war broke out, he enlisted in the
quartermaster's department under Captain Haskell and
did duty until the close of the war. He was at Mem-
phis, Little Rock, DuVall's bluff and other places,
serving faithfully until the close of the conflict and
then went home. He continued in business in Minne-
sota until the timber began to be scarce and then, in
189T, he came west, looking for a location. Finding
I40
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
the surroundings of Lewiston favorable, he secured
a site and removed his mammoth establishment there.
He did a fine business, but in 1897, the fire fiend des-
troyed his entire plant, entailing a loss of twenty-two
thousand dollars besides ten thousand dollars worth
of logs. Phoenix-like, however, Air. Harrington
would not brook defeat and at once built another
mill. This plant is now being handled by his sons
and thev do a good business.
On August 5, 1868, Mr. Harrington married Miss
Lavina, daughter of George W. and Elizabeth (Cava-
nah) Sykes, natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania, re-
spectively. Mrs. Harrington has the following-
brothers' and sisters, George, Mary, David, Lewis,
Ezra, Henry and Hattie. Mr. Harrington has the
following named brothers and sisters, Vincent K.,
Curtis, Betty A.. Martha Allen and John. To Mr.
and Airs. Harrington have been born children
named as follows : Ellsworth : Lafayette, in Lewiston ;
Jennie Robnett, county superintendent ; Minnie,
teacher in the Lewiston public schools ; Jeremiah and
Nettie Knight, in Lewiston ; Nellie, George, Jason M.,
Lewis and Gladys, at home. Mr. Harrington is a
member of the A. ( >. U. W. He has always refused
all nominations, but is a stanch Republican and takes
an intelligent part in political matters and is a pro-
gressive and capable citizen.
WILLIAM BUOYE is one of the first settlers
in that portion of Nez Perces county where he now
resides, "having come here in 1878, taking a home-
stead four miles west from where Leland is located
to-day. Mr. Buoye built the first cabin in the big
Potlatch prairie and was the second one taking land
north of the Clearwater and east from the Potlatch.
Our subject was born in Dodge county, Wiscon-
sin, near Fcx lake, on March 7, 1848, being the son
of Frank and Elizabeth (Cardwell) Buoye. The
father was one of the early settlers in that vicinity
and was occupied in tilling the soil. It was 1868 when
the family came to Blue Earth county, Minnesota,
making settlement near Garden City. There the
parents died. Our subject remained until 1877, in
which year he determined to try his fortunes in the
west, and so came to Puget Sound, where he spent
one year and then in 1878, came to the territory now
embraced in Nez Perces county. He devoted him-
self to the culture of his homestead and it has been
the family home since, with the exception of the years
from 1883 to 1888, when he was in Lapwai working
for the government as a carpenter. He now has one
half section of fine farm land well improved, good
buildings, choice orchard, and is one of the prominent
men of his section.
The marriage of Mr. Buoye and Miss Esther,
daughter of James and Rose (McDonald) Davis, was
solemnized in Mankato, Minnesota, on February 14,
1883, and they have become the parents of three chil-
dren. William M., eight years of age, and Edna D.
and Everd D, twins. Airs. Buoye is a native of Dodge
county, Wisconsin, when she was taken while young
by her parents to Blue Earth county, Minnesota. Her
father died there, but her mother is still living. Mr.
Buoye is one of the leading citizens of his vicinity
and stands well, being a man of integrity and sound
principles. In addition to general farming and fruit
raising, he raises cattle, sheep and hogs.
DAVID THOMSON is an enterprising, energetic,
and thrifty farmer, a public minded citizen, a man
of integrity and uprightness, and it is fitting that a
review of his career be placed in the history of Nez
Perces county.
David Thomson was born in Ontario, Canada,
on December 1 a. 1851. being the son of Joseph and
Guira (Maria) Thomson. The father was born in
Scotland in 1832 and came to Canada when a boy.
The mother was born in Canada. Our subject re-
ceived his education in the splendid and world famous
schools in Ontario, and remained with his father until
he had reached the age of nineteen. Then he came
to the lumber regions of Michigan, where he operated
for four years. It was 1874 when he left for Still-
water, in Minnesota, and lumbered until 1878, when he
went to Montana and freighted for twelve years. In
1890, Mr. Thompson moved to Coulee City, Washing-
ton and freighted to Wenatchee and the Cascades for
three years. Then he removed to Umatilla county and
in 1893, came thence to Nez Perces county, where he
farmed for two years and then on November 18, 1895,
he took his present place, five miles north from Mor-
row. It is a good quarter section and is well handled.
Air. Thomson raises cattie and does general farming.
He has two brothers and one sister, John, Elizabeth
Bean, Thomas. He is a stanch Democrat, active and
influential in local politics while he is always deeply
interested in the national issues and intelligent in
the questions of the day.
JAMES L. HOBART. Among the young and
enterprising agriculturists of the reservation is to be
classed the subject of this sketch and the industry,
thrift, uprightness and good achievements of Air.
Hobert are evidence of his worth and integrity.
James L. Hobart was born in Buchanan county,
Iowa, on Alay 20, 1870, being the son of Charles and
Lavina (Lenington) Hobart. The father enlisted in
the Ninth Iowa Infantry and served for over four
years in the cause of his country. He was wounded
at the battle of Gettysburg and participated in the
march to the sea and many other great conflicts and
arduous undertakings. He was honorably discharged
and is now a member of the G. A. R. at AIoscow,
where he and his wife reside. When James was eight
the family removed to northern Iowa and thence to
Graham county, Kansas. In the fall of 1881, they
all come to the vicinity of Moscow and there James
remained on his father's farm until he was married.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
That happy event took place on September 7, 1890,
and the lady of his choice was Mrs. Elizabeth (Crum-
packer) Decker, the daughter of Henry and Rachel
(Frazier) Crumpacker. Her parents crossed the
plains with ox teams in 1864 from Missouri to Boise ;
in 1865 they came to the Walla Walla valley, settling
on Dry creek. They were among the first settlers
there and when the reservation opened they came
thither. Here Mrs. Crumpacker died in 1896 and the
bereaved father is now making his home with the sub-
ject of this sketch. Mrs. Hobart's first husband only
lived fourteen months after his marriage. One child
was born to them, Faye Decker. Four children have
been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hobart, Winnie A.,
Beatrice, deceased, Doyle D., Naomi R. Mr. Hobart
was here at- the time of the rush in the fall of 1895
and was fortunate in securing a good place. He has
it all fenced and under tribute of cultivation and is
making one of the good and valuable farms of the
country. He came with four horses, one cow and
one wagon. All his holdings now have been gained
since that time. Mr. Hobart is a member of the W.
of W. and is in good standing in the community.
I. N. RATCLIFFE, the son of W. E. Ratcliffe,
of whom special mention is made in this work, was
born in Douglas county, Oregon, on July 4, 1870.
The first eleven years of his life were spent in that
place and then he went with his parents to southern
California, where they remained two years. Return-
ing to Douglas county, our subject spent but a short
time then journeyed to Davenport, Lincoln county,
Washington. With the exception of one year which
was spent in Utah, Mr. Ratcliffe was for thirteen
years a leading resident of Davenport. Again we see
him in Oregon and at the time of the opening of the
Xez Perces reservation he, accompanied by his brother,
came hither and took a homestead where the town of
Peck now stands. He gave his attention to improving
the farm and was instrumental in starting the bright
town of Peck. Since that time he has devoted himself
to the real estate business also to handling a livery and
feed stable. In political matters, Mr. Ratcliffe is a
Jeffersonian Democrat and well posted in the questions
of the day. He is a progressive man, of broad mind
and public spirit and is a leading spirit in any move-
ment for general advancement and building up the
town and country adjacent.
J. C. PETERSON. The devotees of the news-
paper fraternity have ever been a power in the de-
velopment and progress of the country since the time
when the first papers rolled from the early presses.
Men of talent and enterprise have fought out the bat-
tles of thought and settled right the questions which
have been agitated and been brought up in the pro-
gress which the same papers had fostered and made
possible. As a representative of the fraternity, a man
of ability and sound principles, the subject of this
article, who is owner and editor of the Peck Press, a
paper of vitality and merit, is justly represented in the
history of northern Idaho and it is w'm pleasure that
we grant him space here.
J. C. Peterson was born in Tippecanoe county,
Indiana, on F)ecember 22, 1868, the son of Martin B.
and Margaret A. ( Bowers) Peterson, born in Ohio,
in 1844 and 1846, respectively. The father came from
Xenia. The mother is a daughter of a noted Dunkard
minister. Martin Bowers. The parents both live in
Latah county now. Our subject was well educated in
his native country and in 1889, came with his parents
to Washington and settled on Union flats, Whitman
county. They farmed there one year and in 1890 they
settled in the vicinity of Vollmer, Idaho, where he
farmed for some time. In 1S95, our subject married
Miss Rosa M. Hatter, of Vollmer, after which he
removed into the town of Vollmer and learned the
printer's art. He engaged in the publication of the
Vollmer News, succeeding C. S. Moody, and continued
the sheet until 1898, when he sold out, his partner,
John E. Hoffman, purchasing it. Then Mr. Peter-
son removed to Oro Fino, and there was connected
with the Oro Fino Courier until November, 1900,
when he bought the Peck Press and since that time
Mr. Peterson has devoted himself to that paper. He
has made the paper popular and it is a bright newsy
sheet of good appearance and taste and is one of the
lively and sound Republican papers of the northern
part of the state.
Mr. Peterson has two brothers. Homar L. and
Sam B., and six sisters, Laura Booth, Mary Kenny,
Maggie Rundle, Lulu Minehead, Angre, Edith Brown,
deceased.
Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs.
Peterson, Beatrice and Lois. Mr. Peterson takes an
active part in political matters and is one of the solid
Republicans who stand on their platform from
principle. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and
the M. W. A. Mr. Peterson has a farm adjoining Peck
in addition to his paper and other property. He is
a man whose uprightness and integrity have made him
popular and of excellent standing among all who have
the pleasure of his acquaintance.
WILLIAM CUNNINGHAM. This venerable
gentleman is one of the leading stockmen and farmers
in the reservation portion of Nez Perces county, be-
ing at the present time not only doing a general farm-
ing business on his estate one half mile east of Kip-
pen, but also breeding some excellent specimens of
Percheron and Clyde horses.
William Cunningham was born in Bradford
county, Pennsylvania in 1S34, being the son of Jacob
and Emily (Nichols) Cunningham. The father was
born in New Jersey in 1821 and died in 1804. His
people were pioneers in Pennsylvania and he was a
soldier in the Civil war, being in Company I, Tenth
Illinois under Generals Halleck and Curtis. The mother
148
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
of our subject was born in Pennsylvania, in 1809 and
died in 1899, aged ninety-one. The family removed
to New York, and thence to Ohio and when William
was eleven they went to Michigan. There he grew to
manhood and received his education. When he was
twenty-six, he went to Champaign county, Illinois,
the family all going, and there he enlisted in Company
I, Tenth Illinois Cavalry, in September, 1861, his
father also enlisting at about the same date. Our
subject served two years under General Halleck and
was taken with measles which settled on his lungs
and so dreadful was the effect of this disease that he
was unable to speak above a whisper for three years.
At the close of the war he returned to Illinois and re-
mained on the farm until 1866, then went to Indiana
and railroaded for a number of years and then came
west to Portland and followed the same business for
some time. He spent three years in the Yakima
country in Washington, and then went to the reser-
vation and secured his present place, which he has
cultivated and improved in a becoming manner.
March, 1896, was the date of his settlement here and
he has always been known as one of the substantial
and progressive men of the community.
In 1862. in Illinois, Mr. Cunningham married Miss
Ann, daughter of Barnabas Howe, a farmer and
pioneer in Indiana. Mrs. Cunningham was born in
Indiana, in 1838 and has one brother, Ira, at Lapwai,
Idaho. Mr. Cunningham has two sisters, Ellen
Knap]) and Ida Donaldson, both in Iowa. Six chil-
dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham,
Emma and William, deceased ; Cora Smith, Pearl
Parkin, and Esther Tipton, in Xez Perces county;
Earl, at home. Mr. Cunningham is a member of the
G. A. R.; and is an active Republican. He is a man
who has achieved success in his labors, has sustained
an unsullied reputation, has always been a stanch and
upright man and is now enjoying the golden days of
his life in plenty.
HIRAM E. CHURCH. It is with pleasure that
we are enabled to accord the representative and promi-
nent farmer and stockman, whose name is at the
head of this article, a review in the history of his
county, since he is one of the most prosperous men
of the county, being a heavy property owner and a
skillful handler of stock, having one of the most pro-
ductive farms in the county, while in his private walk
he is a man who has won the esteem and confidence
of all, being of sound principles, and faithful.
Mr. Church was born in Walworth county, Wis-
consin, on October 6. 1847, being the son of Cyrus
and Emeline (Russell) Church. The father was a
prominent farmer of that county, and there the mother
died in 1854, but the father married again and lived
there until January 7, 1900, being at that time in his
eighty-third year, and they both rest in the cemetery
at the home place. The children of the family were
six boys and two girls. Our subject was educated
at the schools in his native place, and for twenty-two
years remained with his father, then started in the
battle of life for himself. He went to southwestern
Missouri, purchased a farm and wrought there for
a decade and then came west to Genesee. He
purchased land where he now lives, three miles
south of Genesee, having now about four hun-
dred acres of fine, rich land. His brother,
who is mentioned in this work, owns about the
same amount adjoining and they operate this large
amount of land in partnership, handling as high as
twelve thousand bushels as one year's crop. Our sub-
ject has his farm well improved and good, substantial
and commodious buildings erected, while also they to-
gether own a large herd of stock. Mr. Church has
an orchard of twelve acres, and he raises abundant
returns of fruits of all kinds. Mr. Church states that
this is the most productive country that he has ever
seen, and feels assured that one would have to search
long and far before another as good section could be
found. Mr. Church is a man of good ability, has made
a fine success in his business affairs, has maintained
an unsullied reputation, and is one of the wise, sub-
stantial, and leading citizens of Nez Perces county.
WILLIAM TAVIS. Perhaps the success that the
subject of this sketch has achieved and wrought out
here in the reservation country is equal to that of any
resident. He came here with no means and located
on a quarter three miles north from Nezperce and he
now owns this all free from debt; has purchased an-
other quarter of even finer land and has good improve-
ments and buildings necessary to handle the entire
amount in fine shape. Mr. Tavis has good stock and
implements and is in excellent circumstances. This
has been no chance luck, for he and his estimable
wife have labored hard and long to accomplish this
excellent result. Mrs. Tavis assisted her husband with
the work of the farm, even driving the five horse
team to the binder and some of the time carrying her
three children with her on the machine. It is grati-
fying to see such arduous labor handled with wisdom
and resulting in the good property holding that they
are now blessed with.
William Tavis was born in Macoupin county,
Illinois, on September ir, 1862, being the son of Isaac
and Minerva (Potts) Tavis, who were natives of and
were married in Macoupin county. In 1870, they all
came to Jasper county, Missouri. The father served
eleven months in the war and was honorably dis-
charged at the close. They now live near Marshall,
Spokane county, Washington. Our subject remained
with his parents until 1887 then came to Spokane, on
April 17. of that year. On December 24, 1889, he
married Miss Mina, daughter of W. G. and Mary M.
(Jessup) Addington, natives respectively of Indiana
and Lee county, Iowa, in which county they were mar-
ried. Then they removed to Cherokee county, Kansas,
where Mrs. Tavis was born on May 19, 1871. The
family then came, via San Francisco, to Dayton,
Washington, in 1879, and in 1888 they went to Spo-
kane county. Mr. Addington was four years in the
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Civil war. In 1891, Mr. Tavis went to Wilbur, Wash-
ington and in 1894 he came to the reservation and
worked for a man who had Indian land leased. Thus
he was here to select good land when the reservation
opened, which he did, gaining his present home. Mr.
Tavis had to go out to harvest for the purpose of
gaining provisions and he started with abundant hard-
ships. His first grist, being sixteen sacks, he hauled
to Lewiston, the trip consuming eight days. Five
children have been born to this couple, Roy E., Lora
E., deceased, Goldie P., Tina M., Warren W.
SAMUEL LOCKRIDGE. As a representative
farmer of the reservation country, a man of intelligence
and worth a'nd a loyal and patriotic citizen of our
commonwealth, we chronicle the subject of this article.
Samuel Lockridge was born in Warren county,
Iowa, on November 9, 1863, being the son of William
and Elizabeth J. (Simmons) Lockridge. The father
was born on February 6, 1834, in Augusta county,
Virginia, and came with his parents when a small
child to Indiana, where he grew to young manhood
and was educated in the schools of that day. In 1853
he went to Iowa and there remained until 1893, living
a time, however, in Oklahoma. He is a man of promi-
nence and worth and has often times been chosen for
offices of trust in the county and has ever discharged
his duties with efficiency and faithfulness. His grand-
father, William, was one of the patriots who fought
for our independence and the fruits of those praise-
worthy labors are ours to enjoy to this day. He used
a flintlock rifle in the war under Morgan which an
uncle in the family, Jacob Daggy, used in tbe war of
1812. and which is now a prized heirloom of the
family.
William Lockridge was married in Iowa to Eliza-
beth Simmons, who was a native of Iowa and died
in Oklahoma in 1895. Our subject was brought up in
Iowa and there received his education. He remained
with his father until of age and then farmed in Iowa
some time longer. In 1893 he journeyed to Okla-
homa and later bought a relinquishment to a pre-
emption. This was his family home until 1899, the
same being in Lincoln county, near Chandler, which
he sold and took a trip back 'to Ohio, after which he
came and bought his present place in 1900, which has
been the borne since. He does general farming, has
a good place and devotes some attention to stock. Mr.
Lockridge is a Democrat and is active in the cam-
paigns.
On December 9, 1891, Mr. Lockridge married
Miss Eliza C, daughter of Joseph S. and Cynthia
(Ellen wood) Dilley. The father who was born June
II, 1828, in Virginia, was a pioneer in Washington
county, Ohio, where he still lives. The mother was
born March 9, 1826, in Virginia, where she was
brought up and died in Ohio, on August 22, 1887.
Mrs. Lockridge has the following named brothers and
sisters: Joseph R.. John W., Nahen S., Suzie M.
Mr. Lockridge has six brothers and sisters : Leander
J., Mrs. Mary Wheat, John W., Robert A., Sarah Fol-
lett, and Savannah C. Mr. and Mrs. Lockridge have
two children, Mabel D. and Clara V.
DAVID P.. CHURCH. One of the early pioneers
of this section, and to-day one of the most substantial,
energetic and progressive agriculturists of the county,
the subject of this sketch is eminently fitted to be
represented in the history of Nez Perces county, be-
ing a man of strong personal character, and withal
of integrity, ability and executive force. The birth-
place of Mr. Church is in Walworth county. Wiscon-
sin, his birth occurring on February 25. 1852; his
parents were Cyrus and Emeline (Russell) Church,
natives respectively of Connecticut and Ohio. The
father came to that section in 1836, being a pioneer
and there farmed all his life, his death occurring while
he was on a visit to Chicago in 1899. Our subject
was educated in the schools of his native place and he
remained with his father until he had arrived at the
age of twenty-three years. In the year 1875, he came
to California and one year later went thence to Salem,
Oregon, and six months later came to this country.
In June, 1877, he removed to the place adjoining the
one where he now lives and the next year moved onto
his present place, which is six and one half miles
southwest from Genesee. He gained title to this land
by the homestead right and has since that time given
his time and attention to farming, stock-raising and
raising fruits. He and his brother, Hiram E., are in
partnership, owning about eight hundred acres of land,
mostly rented and since the orchards have come to
bearing they occupy the time and attention of the
owners. The brother came here in 1884. Our subject
has his land well improved, is a skillful farmer, and
has taken the part of the intelligent and loyal citizen
in the affairs of the country. He is highly esteemed
and commands the respect of all.
ANDREW M. JOHNSON is a sawmill man and
a machinist, dwelling about four miles southwest from
Ilo. where he owns a fine quarter section" of good pine
timber land and operats a sawmill. He has a good
plant and does a thriving business, being a man of
practical qualities and able to adapt himself to any
portion of the work of the mill.
Andrew M. Johnson was born in Dallas county,
Texas, on May 29. i86q. being the son of Andrew and
Elna (Martinson) Johnson, natives of Sweden. The
father was born January 10, 1837, came to this country
and did contracting on the Texas Pacific, was one of
the pioneer settlers in the Big Bend country and died
in October, 1806. In addition to our subject there
were born to this couple the following named children :
Nels T., born in Sweden, on April 2. 1867, being now
a mining man ; Mauritz C. born in Texas, on January
is,, 1879; Amos E., born in Denton county, Texas,
in 1881. Our subject started out for himself when
ISO
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
seventeen, prospected and worked in the Okanogan
country and two years later he went to Colfax and
there farmed until the spring of 1896, when he came to
the Nez Perces reservation and filed a homestead.
He relinquished in 1899 and filed another homestead
where he now lives. After he sold his first place,
Mr. Johnson bought an interest in the Fletcher roller
flour mills but sold that property six months later.
Then he established his present sawmill plant and
to the prosecution of this business he has devoted his
time and energies since. Mr. Johnson is one of the
substantial and capable men of this section and is
numbered with the progressive and industrious citi-
zens of the county.
On October 12, 1902, Mr. Johnson married Miss
Lillie Wright, whose parents are mentioned elsewhere
in this volume. The wedding occurred in Nez Perces
county. In politics, Mr. Johnson is a Republican and
is well posted on the questions of the day.
FELIX WARREN. The engineer is fast taking
the place of the stage driver and the flying pony ex-
pressman, but occasionally we find one of the old
timers, whose eye will flash with the same fire of
adventure and uncurbed spirit as characterized the
early men who drove the dangerous routes of the west
in days of savage wars and wild scenes. Among the
very best stage drivers that ever drew reins west of
the Rockies and as a veritable leader of them all in
the northwest, we mention the well known gentleman
whose name stands at the head of this article. Felix
Warren is one of the genuine old time stage men,
who scorned the savages, weathered the fiercest storms
and passed through the trying scenes and dangers
incident to stage life of the west. He has never been
beaten in a contest and has drawn reins with the best
men the country could produce. Keen, brave, kind,
and genia', he has commanded the respect, and won
the esteem and confidence of all, while steadily from
the pioneer days until the present he has followed his
line of business and is now handling the stage from
Lewiston to Cottonwood, w^here he has driven for six-
teen years, twelve consecutively.
A detailed account of the career of Mr. Warren
will be hailed with keen delight by all old timers and
with pleasure we append the same. He was born in
Sullivan county, Missouri, on July 15, 1852, being the
son of Hugh and Esther (Sturgill) Warren. The
father was born in North Carolina in 1821 and died in
1880. He was a pioneer of Missouri and a fifty-niner
in California, where he remained until 1865, when he
returned to the states and came with his family to
WTalla Walla and bought a farm engaging in stock-
raising until his death. He was captain of the train
of one hundred and thirty-six wagons which he piloted
over in safety. The mother of our subject was born
in Virginia and died in 1884. Felix was twelve years
of age when he came with his parents to this country
and he remained with his father until eighteen and
then went to packing to the Kootenai country, British
Columbia. He did this on account of his health and
as the outdoor exercise was bracing and improving
him, he continued until he was twenty-three. Then he
began staging from Almota to Colfax and in 1875 took
up the business on his own account. He operated
from Dayton to Walla Walla and about that time
bought the entire holdings of the Northwestern Stage
Company, which included many lines in this country,
among which were those from Dayton to Colfax, thence
to Sprague, Cclfax to Lewiston, Lewiston to Spokane
Falls, and others. These Mr. Warren operated for
fifteen years and also from Dayton to Lewiston for
six years. He had as partner, A. A. Newberry, well
known in the northwest and they operated from Lewis-
ton to Mt. Idaho. It is thus seen that Mr. Warren is
the oldest and most extensive stage and mail operator
in the entire country. He was special messenger for
the government in the Bannock war and at one time
he drove from Mt. Idaho to Lewiston in less than ten
hours, hauling fourteen passengers, among whom were
Sam Silverman (a noted mining man) and Spud
Howard, a famous California driver. Mr. Warren
drove six horses and had four relays in this trip. Bell
Foster, a noted scout and an intimate friend of Mr.
Warren, was killed at Cottonwood by the savages dur-
ing ihe Xez Perces war.
On March 3, 1873, Mr. Warren married Miss
Janetta Smails, at Walla Walla. She has three broth-
ers, John, Harvey and Robert. She was born in
Iowa in i860. Mr. Warren has the following brothers
and sisters, Solomon S., a miner at Nome; Joseph F.,
chief of police in Spokane for years, now in Nome ;
Robert S., in Nome; Mrs. H. "W. Spalding, at Al-
mota, whose husband was a son of the noted mission-
ary Spalding ; Inez Dawson, in Yakima, whose hus-
band is a stockman. Mr. Warren is an active Demo-
crat and has been honored by his party with a number
of nominations for office. Mr. Warren was well
acquainted with the noted Joe Meek. He is a member
of the Pioneer Association and one of the best known
and highly esteemed men of the entire northern part
of the state.
JOHN NELLSEN. It is with pleasure that we
are enabled to grant space in the history of northern
Idaho to the young and enterprising agriculturist
whose name is at the head of this article as he has
done excellent work here in the development of the
resources of the country, has wrought with a hand of
industry in improving "his homestead and has so con-
ducted himself that he has won and retains the good
will and esteem of all who know him.
John Nellsen was born in Calumet county, Wiscon-
sin, on January 26, 1870, being the son of John and
Elizabeth (Hammer) Nellsen, who are mentioned in
another portion of this work. Our subject remained
under the parental roof until he had attained the age of
twenty and then went out to encounter the storms
of life alone. He came to Walla Walla about that
time and went to work hauling hay and straw. This
was in the winter and during the summer he wrought
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
in the harvest field. When the reservation opened he
came to Craig mountain and took his present place of
cne hundred and twenty acres of fine pine timber land,
which lies about four miles northwest from Morrow.
Air. Nellsen has some extra fine springs on his land
and by his own efforts he has cleared sixteen acres.
The first two years here, he and his brother worked
out most of the time to get a start, but since then they
have rented land and have done well, threshing this last
year five thousand bushels of grain. They have their
own machinery, horses, and are numbered with the
prosperous men of this section. Much credit is due
this worthy young man in his efforts to build up the
country and make a good home ; just such sturdy toil-
ers as he are the ones who have made this country
prosperous and the richest in the world.
ANTON HEITFELD. It is gratifying to us
that we are enabled to chronicle the outline of the
interesting career of the estimable gentleman whose
name is at the head of this article, since he has done
much for the building up of Nez Perces county, is
one of its well-to-do and substantial citizens to-day
and is a man of sterling qualities of worth and princi-
ple, always being allied on the side of right and wis-
dom. Mr. Heitfeld was born in St. Louis, Missouri,
on February 24, 1804. being the son of Henry and
Theresa (Winkelman) Heitfeld. natives of Germany,
but immigrants to America in the 'fifties. They lo-
cated in St. Louis and engaged in a shoe store, where
the father continued until his death in 1868. In 1870,
the mother with her children went to Kansas, where
for thirteen years they farmed. In 1882, they removed
to Nez Perces county where she died in 1892, being
buried in the Catholic cemetery in Genesee. At
Seneca, Kansas, our subject received his first school-
ing and always remained with his mother until the
time of her death. He formed a partnership with his
brother Henry and together they own one entire sec-
tion of land, all under cultivation and producing as
high as twelve thousand bushels of grain in one season.
They have also an orchard of ten acres, about the
largest and finest in the entire locality. Mr. Heitfeld
is one of the most enterprising agriculturists of Nez
Perces county, is a man of broad experience and ex-
ceptional talent, and has always been dominated by
keen foresight, acute discrimination and good wisdom,
which account for the brilliant success" that he has
had in the realm of agriculture and fruit raising.
The marriage of Mr. Heitfeld and Miss Frances
A., daughter of Edward and Barbara (Henzel)
Kempt", occurred in 1897, and they have been blessed
with the advent of two children. Edward H. and Jose-
phine J. Mr. Heitfeld is a member of the W. of W.,
Cniontown Camp, No. 207. He and his wife are de-
vout members of the Roman Catholic church. It is
of note that the subject of this sketch is a brother
of Henrv Heitfeld. his partner in the estate, who is
also Umited States senator from the state of Idaho.
Henry Heitfeld, now United States senator, was
prominent in the political realm for his sagacity, sound
principles, who in 1894 was nominated by the
Peoples party, endorsed by the Democrats and elected
to the position uf state senator at Boise, by a handsome
majority. In 1896, he was nominated again, and again
promptly elected by an appreciative people and during
that term he was proposed for the United States
senate against F. Duboise, silver Republican, and Heit-
feld was elected, and in the capacity of senator from
the state of Idaho he is doing faithful and capable
work in Washington, D. C. More specific mention of
him will be made in another portion of the work.
JAMES D. BOWMAN, a farmer and stockman
of excellent standing and blessed with good success
in his labors, and one of the builders of the reser-
vation country where he has wisely bestowed
his labors since it opened for settlement, was born in
Salem, Oregon, on August 19, 1852, being a son of
Joshua and Emmeline (Loveland) Bowman, natives
respectively of Ohio and New York. The father was
born in 1808 and died in 1877. He came to Salem in
185 1, and then moved to Clackamas county, where he
took a half section of land. Our subject was brought
up and educated in Oregon City and remained there
until he was twenty-one. At that time he came to
eastern Oregon and engaged in the cattle business.
He made several trips back and forth across the
mountains, and in 1877 came to the Palouse country
near Genesee. There he farmed and freighted until
1895, when he came to the opening reservation and
took his present place, a little southeast from Dublin,
where he does general farming and raises hogs and
cattle.
On Februarv 28, 1883, Mr. Bowman married Miss
Nettie, daughter of John A. and Harriet (Mosier)
Stanton. The father was born January 17, 1823,
farmed in Missouri and came as a pioneer to Oregon
in the early 'fifties. He settled to farming on a do-
nation claim near Silverton, Oregon, and was promi-
nent in political matters, holding the county offices
frequently. Mrs. Bowman was born in Marion
county, Oregon, on May 23. 1866. and has the follow-
ing brothers and sisters: Isabella Murray, Josephine
Thomas, Jennie, deceased, Frank, Jasper X.. Benjamin.
John. Willard, Amanda Woodcock. Blufford, Mary
Allen, deceased. Mr. Bowman has brothers and sis-
ters named as follows: Joseph, Charles, Mary Smith,
Ann Markham. Margaret Jones. Seven children have
been born to this household. Pearl, Clyde. Herman,
Charles W., Tohn E., Mamie E., Nellie M.
DAVID E. JOHN. About one mile north from
Nezperce is the home place of the enterprising young-
man whose name appears above and he is to be classed
as one of the most thrifty, industrious and wise agri-
culturists of this section, as everything about his
premises testifies.
5 2
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
David E. John was born in Greene county, Penn-
sylvania, on May 16, 1875, being the son of David and
Mary E. ( Edgar) John, natives also of Greene county.
When our subject was two years old, the family went
to Washington county, where his mother died on
January 17, 1894. The father, who is still living there,
aged eighty-six, is a prominent and wealthy farmer
of that section. The parents, as also our subject and
his wife, are all members of the German Baptist
Brethren. David E. attended school in his native
place and on December 25, 1896, he married Miss Alice
C., daughter of Silas and Nannie (Rodabaugh)
Johnson. In March, 1897, they came to the reservation
country with his father-in-law, the party consisting
of thirteen. This was simply for a trip but when they
arrived here the country was so favorabe and pleasing
that Mr. John secured the relinquishment of the farm
where he now resides and he at once went to improv-
ing. He has a good six-room house, large barn and
outbuildings, with many other good improvements.
Mr. John has fenced his entire farm with hog tight
fencing and is intending to raise hogs extensively. He
is blessed with a goodly holding of property and is one
of the substantial men of the section. Two children
have been born to them. Volley Clifford, born July 6,
1897, and died at the age of fifteen months; David
Bernard, born August 8, 1902.
S. LESLIE THOMPSON, one of the old time
business operators in Lewiston, where for fifteen years
he was in one establishment, a genial and capable
business man, is now one of the firm of Fair & Thomp-
son, art dealers in Lewiston. Mr. Thompson is also
city treasurer and is one of the substantial and highly
esteemed men of the city.
S. Leslie Thompson was born in Proctorsville, Ver-
mont, on October 1, 1863, being the son of Samuel
L. and Alsada E. (Flint) Thompson. The father was
born in New Braintree, Massachusetts, in 1843, en-
listed in the Fourth Vermont Infantry, on September
17, 1861, and was discharged on May 1, 1862, on ac-
count of disability. Mr. Thompson came west and is
now justice of the peace in Lewiston. The mother of
our subject was born in Oakham, Massachusetts, and
died in i8qo. The father's people are Scotch and
English and the mother's ancestors were Scotch. Our,
subject grew to young manhood in Massachusetts and
there received his education. When twenty, he came
to Lewiston, and in 1886 engaged with the firm of
Vent & Butler, remaining in their drug store for fifteen
years. This excellent service demonstrates the stability
and good business qualities of Mr. Thompson and he
has won a position in the business and social realm
of Lewiston that is highly enviable. In 1901. Mr.
Thompson formed a partnership with Mr. Fair and
opened his present business, where he is having a
thriving patronage and is being prospered. He
handles all lines of art goods and artists' materials and
supplies and is also doing a good trade in Indian
curios and selected goods.
On November 16, 1892, Mr. Thompson married
Ida Bunnell Walker, daughter of D. L. Bunnell, a
well known hardware merchant of Lewiston. Mr.
Bunnell was born in New York and died in 1888. He
was a pioneer of Oregon. Mrs. Thompson was born
in Oregon in 1863 and has one brother, Oscar C.
Mr. Thompson has two brothers and two sisters,
Moses W., William H., Hattie Mudge, Ella M. Sneli.
William H. is a member of the New Hampshire
legislature. Two children have been born to Mr. and
Mrs. Thompson, Waldo B., aged eight, and Edith,
aged six. Mr. Thompson is fraternally allied with
the K. P. and the W. W. He is a Republican and
active in the campaigns.
J. SMITH MOUNCE, one of the heavy real
estate owners in Nez Perces county, has shown him-
self to be one of the substantial and capable men of
the entire county and is respected and esteemed by
all. His estate of nine hundred and sixty acres lies
four miles southeast of Lewiston, and is well improved
and handled to the best advantage to bring fine re-
turns to its proprietor. The nucleus of this fine do-
main was a pre-emption that Mr. Mounce took in 1886.
He now devotes the large tracts to wheat, barley and
other crops and raises fine Jersey cattle, having also
operated a dairy for many years. He has made a
praiseworthy success of his endeavors in the line of
the business world and is deserving of credit not only
in this particular field but also for the manly way in
which he has conducted himself, and the integrity he
has shown, always having the courage of his con-
victions and not being afraid to show his principles.
Reverting to the details of his life, we note that
Mr.' Mounce was born in Linn county, Iowa, on April
22, 1854, being the son of Isaac and Priscilla Mounce,
natives of Indiana and Ohio, respectively. The father
was born on April 23, 1824, and was a stockman
and farmer. His parents. Smith and Elizabeth
.Mounce, were early pioneers of Iowa. The mother
of our subject was born on February 27, 1831, and
died in April, 1899. J. Smith remained at home and
received his education from the country schools ; when
he became of age took charge of the farm until he was
twenty-five. Then he married and started for him-
self. Rented a farm for a time and in the fall of 1879,
he came to Clark county. Washington, where he bought
land and tilled it for two years or more, then sold it
and worked in a shingle mill and then came to Nez
Perces county. It was March, 1882, that he landed
here and with his brother, Eben, he farmed for three
years. He took up a preemption in the second year,
which is a part of the home place now, as mentioned
above. It was in 1886 that he removed to this place
to remain and he has been here ever since.
On March 20, 1879, Mr. Mounce married Miss
Mollie, daughter of George O., born on January 28,
i8iq, and Harriet (Wyckoff) Smith, born February
1, 1825, natives of Kentucky and Illinois, respectively.
Mrs. Mounce was born in Benton countv, Iowa, in
J. SMITH MOUNCE.
;mith muunce.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
153
1861 and has the following brothers and sisters, Sam-
uel S. and Hugh M., Nancy, Ellen Harris, Lida
Ward. Mr. Mounce has brothers and sisters as
follows : Isora, Eben, Ida, Clara Goodnight, Lafay-
ette, Harriett Ruddell, Edith Ruddell, Erne May and
Eva Gay, twins, who died in infancy. To Mr. and
Mrs. Mounce there have been born the following
children : Guy C, Beatrice, Carl R., and Virna Mil-
dred. The two older children are attending the state
normal at Lewiston. Mr. Mounce is a member of
the M. W. A. and the R. N. of A. Mrs. Mounce also
belongs to the last named order. He and his estim-
able wife are members of the Christian church and
they are devout supporters of the faith. In 1900 and
1902 Mr. Mounce was nominated for county commis-
sioner bv the Prohibition party. He is an advocate
of good schools and always takes an active part in the
advancement of the interests of his county. Mr.
Mounce had three uncles on his mother's side and
two on his father's who fought for the Union in the
Civil war.
Mrs. Mounce's mother, who died on May 1, 1895,
and her father, whose death occurred in 1897, came
to Clark county, Washington, in 1879.
ROSS S. BABCOCK. This well known young
business man has formed a partnership with George
Horseman and they handle the Morrow hotel and bar,
where they do a prosperous business and operate a
house that furnishes good accommodations for the
public.
Ross S. Babcock was born in Broadhead, Wiscon-
sin, on September 27, 1876, being the son of George
S. B. and Elmina (Mattock) Babcock. The father,
a farmer and cooper, resides near Forest. He was
born in Courtland count}', New York, on August 20,
1834. He was a pioneer in Green county, Wisconsin,
and his father, Reuben Babcock, a farmer in New
York, was a captain and drill master in the war of
18 1 2. Our subject's father was a soldier in the Civil
war for four years and received an honorable dis-
charge. The mother of our subject was born in Penn-
sylvania ; her parents were Daniel and Elizabeth
(Hayes) Mattock, natives all of Pennsylvania. Our
subject grew to the age of twelve in Wisconsin and
then the father sold out and came to Walla Walla,
whence he came by team to Nez Perces county and on
April 7, 1889, settled on his present place near
Forest. Ross S., was reared and attended the com-
mon schools here, after which he took a three years'
course in the Adventist college of Walla Walla. In
1892, he came from the college and went to riding the
range w ith stock. He also prospected and mined in the
Deer creek camp and other places and still has
properties here. Air. Babcock also farmed and later
formed the partnership mentioned above and is now
operating the hotel and bar. He has two sisters and
two brothers, George I., Charles R., Esther V. Olson,
Florence Rice. Mr. Babcock is allied with the Re-
publican party but is an independent thinker and
selects the man rather than the party. He is a warm
advocate of good schools and all public enterprises
that are calculated to bring prosperity and advance-
ment.
EDSON D. BRIGGS, the big hearted, sociable and
popular county surveyor of Nez Perces county and city
engineer of Lewiston, is kept constantly in office on
account of his excellent work, his fine ability, his com-
prehensive and thorough knowledge and his efficiency
and faithfulness in discharging any duty that is incum-
bent upon him. These combined qualities, together
with his integrity, sound principles, and clean walk
have made him one of the leading men of the county
and on account of his extensive work in the northwest,
he is well known and prominent over a large field.
Edson D. Briggs was born in Franklin, Vermont,
on March S, 185 T, being the son of Erasmus D. and
Paulina (Truex) Briggs. The father was born in
Franklin. Vermont, in 1812 and died in 1882, being
from an old and prominent Vermont family. The
mother was born in lower Canada in 1828 and died in
1 86 1. Our subject was educated in the Vermont Uni-
versity, paying especial attention to surveying and civil
engineering. When twenty, his stirring spirit led
him to the west ami he was soon in government work
in Washington. He surveyed all of Whitman, Asotin,
and Adams counties, also much other lands. In 1882
he went to Garfield county and was promptly elected
county surveyor on the Republican ticket, and he re-
mained there in office until 1889. In that year he
came to Lewiston and took a position on the govern-
ment survey of the reservation, where he was engaged
for four years. He also surveyed the battle grounds
of the Nez Perces war on the Whitebird and other
places. In 1898, he was nominated as county surveyor
and was elected on the Republican ticket, although the
ticket was turned down in many respects. At the close
of that term, he was promptly elected and is still hold-
ing that important position as also that of city en-
gineer.
On March 20, 1880, at Lewiston, Mr. Briggs mar-
ried Mrs. Georgia Carter, widow of Lewis M. Carter,
whose father Mr. Benton is a Methodist preacher.
Mrs. Briggs was born in Indiana, as were her parents.
and she has the following brothers and sisters, Helen
Johnson. Mary Johnson, Joel H.. Mrs. W. F. Kitten-
baugh. Mr. Briggs has one brother and one sister,
Sewall, Bertha Anderson. ( >ne child has been born to
this union, Grace Maurice Briggs, who graduated from
the state normal school in Lewiston, Idaho, in June,
1903. Mr. Briggs is a thirty-second degree Mason and
the youngest ever made, it being done by special dis-
pensation when he was twenty-two, while the required
age is thirty-five. Mrs. Briggs is a member of the
Methodist church.
Mr. Briggs had two uncles and cousins killed in
the Civil war. His great-grandfather. Elias Tinexst,
was born in 1772 and died one hundred and three years
later. He read the declaration of independence on the
fourth when he was one hundred years old. It was
154
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
his desire to live to celebrate the one hundredth anni-
versary of inpedendence but he died a little too soon,
but being an aged and stanch patriot.
JAMES W. BANKS. A true exemplification of
that thrift and industry that gives as its meed the grat-
ifying success so prized by all, a man of energy and
sound principles, a citizen of worth and patriotism, it
is fitting to grant a review of the career of the esteemed
gentleman whose name appears above.
James W. Banks was born in Kansas City, Mis-
souri, on February 21, 1861, being the son of Absalom
and Susan (Little) Banks. The father was born in
North Carolina in 1826, farmed in Iowa and Missouri
and settled in Nez Perces county in the fall of 1901.
The mother was born in Henry county, Kentucky. Our
subject was reared in Iowa and there received his edu-
cation. His parents were his companions until he was
twenty and then he began to step forth into the world
for himself. He farmed in Iowa for a time and in
1895, removed to Missouri and farmed until October
26, 1 901, when he settled on his present place about
three miles southeast from Ho. He has a quarter sec-
tion of good land, has devoted himself to its improve-
ment and takes great pride in having everything thrifty
and in order.
On September 25, 1881, Mr. Banks married Miss
Milley N., daughter of Warren and Evelyn (Boulds)
Phillips, natives of Greene county, Kentucky, on Feb-
ruary 14, 1823, and May 11, 1831, respectively. Mrs.
Banks has the following brothers and sisters, Dabney
A., Ermine Myres, James, Richard, Lou, Mary E.
Mr. Banks has the following named brothers and
sisters : George W., Andrew, Isabelle Egerton, Man-
Simmons, Cora J. Miller. To Mr. and Mrs. Banks
have been born eight children, Carrie Cox, Warren
A., Myrtle E., deceased, Edith, Ethel, Albert, Lenore,
Elias M. Mr. and Mrs. Banks are adherents of the Ad-
ventist church and he is a Democrat in political alli-
ances.
MATHIAS BUECHLER. This well-to-do and
representative farmer of Nez Perces county is also
one of the stanch and unswerving supporters of our
free institutions, having demonstrated on the field of
blood his love for the land of freedom which he has
chosen as his own. Mr. Buechler was born in Luxem-
burg, Germany, on January 2, 1832, being the son of
Peter and Katherine (Stein) Buechler, also natives of
Germany, where they repose in the cemetery in Lux-
emburg. Our subject was educated in his native vil-
lage and at the age of fifteen years started in life for
himself, working for the farmers of the vicinity. He
afterwards learned the cooper trade and also became a
wagon maker and pump maker. At the age of nineteen
years, he was ready for the new world, and according-
ly came hither, locating first in St. Louis, where he
turned his hand to various occupations for a time and
then learned the machinist trade and worked for two
years in the shops, also ran an engine until 1884, in
which year he came west to Nez Perces county and
bought the quarter section where he now lives, five
miles south from Genesee. He has given his attention
to farming here for the intervening time, achieving
good success. He has his farm well improved with
fine house, barn, out buildings, orchard, etc.
The marriage of Mr. Buechler and Miss Gesine,
daughter of Gearhard and Sophie (Hemi) Easan, was
celebrated in 1863 and they have been blessed by the
advent of the following children, Henry C, married to
Minnie Quade, and living in St. Louis, Missouri;
George H., married to Cora McNare and living in Den-
ver, Colorado; August \Y.. Robert H., Sophie, the last
three being at home with the parents. Mrs. Buechler's
parents were natives of North Germany and came to
America, locating in St. Louis, where their death oc-
curred. Mr. Buechler is a member of the order, known
as the Sons of Herman, Lodge No. 15, in St. Louis.
He and his family affiliate with the Lutheran church.
In September, 1861, Mr. Buechler enlisted in Com-
pany E, First Missouri Light Artillery, under Captain
Charles Mann. His company was kept in Missouri un-
til February, 1862, when he was sent to Fort Donel-
son, thence to Fort Henry and to Pittsburg Landing;
at the battle of Shiloh he was severely wounded and
was kept on the field for eleven days, being unconscious
the entire time. When he could be moved, he was
taken to St. Louis and there under a private surgeon,
he recovered and again joined his company, but after
one week was sent to the hospital and then received
an honorable discharge September 18, 1862. His
military career displays great courage and bravery on
his part and is one of credit to him and his family.
BENJAMIN & JOHN DILL, who compose the
firm of Dill Brothers, operating a prosperous and
popular meat market in Lewiston, are well known and
thorough business men and are among the leaders,
being of excellent standing both in the social and busi-
ness world.
They are both natives of Ireland, Benjamin being
born in i860. John came to this country with his
father and Benjamin with his mother a year later, he
being then eighteen. The parents are John and Anne
(Forrest) Dill, also natives of Cork, Ireland. The
father came to the United States in 1877, took a home-
stead in Asotin county, being one of the few first
settlers who dared to face the Indians and settle. Dur-
ing the war of 1877, he remained on his ranch. A
facetious scout put war paint and arrows on Mr.
Dill's door in his absence, but he broke the arrows and
showed his defiance. He died in 1884. The mother
now dwells with her sons. As soon as Benjamin
came here he at once went to work for the Clendening
and Dubuc meat market, known as the old Boss mar-
ket, and there he remained for twelve years, or until
1897. Then came a trip to Europe and upon his re-
turn he took the Klonclyke fever seriously and the only
cure seemed to be a trip to that section. He went,
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
55
wrought in the mines faithfully and came away with
fifty thousand dollars worth of fine experience but
with no augmentation as to his finances. Returning to
Lewiston, he bought his present place of business and
settled down to "it. His tact, his affability and his
thorough knowledge of the business soon brought him
a large patronage and he took in his brother, John, as
partner. John Dill had been deputy postmaster for five
years, being under both Democratic and Republican
regimes. He was clerk of the court in Asotin county
and is' an active Republican. Benjamin is not so active
in political matters, but is always in favor of the best
men and sound principles. They are both experienced
business men, of excellent capabilities, are favored
with a thriving patronage and stand among the most
prosperous and leading business men of the city.
Benjamin Dill is a thirty-second degree Mason and
has taken all the degrees in' the I. O. O. F. They own
property outside of their meat business.
The other children of the family are mentioned as
follows, Mary Dubuc, in Lewiston ; Maggie Dunn, in
Portland : Sallie Campbell, Asotin, Washington ;
Bryan, in San Francisco ; Daniel J., on the coast.
It is of note that Judge D. J. Murphy, who tried
the famous Durant murder case, is a cousin of our sub-
ject's father. Now Judge Murphy is one of the prom-
inent men of the Pacific coast.
JOSEPH L. MEEK, Jr., the son of the historical
character, Hon. Joseph Meek, whose life's history is
mentioned in this volume, a farmer two miles west
from Fletcher, a man of integrity and sound principles,
and withal a patriotic and enterprising citizen, it is
fitting that we should accord this gentleman representa-
tion in the volume of his county's history.
Joseph L. Meek was born four miles north from
Hillsboro, Washington county, Oregon, on October 6,
1855. His father, Hon. Joseph L. Meek and his mother
Virginia, are well known and will be specifically men-
tioned elsewhere. Our subject was brought up in his
native place, gained a good country schooling and re-
mained there until 1890. Then he removed to Glen-
coe and in 1895 came to the Nez Perces country. His
family came on to the allotment in the spring of 1896
and this has been the home since that time.
On June 26, 1895, in Glencoe, Washington county,
Oregon, Mr. Meeks married Miss Catherine, daughter
of John F. and Rachel (Robison) Anderson. The fa-
ther was born in Yorkshire, England, on December
23, 1850, came to New York when a child, and was
raised in New York. Ten years were spent in Iowa,
nine years in Nebraska and in 189 1 he came to Oregon.
Since 1898, he has lived in the vicinity of Fletcher.
The mother of Mrs. Meek was born in Iowa, on Sep-
tember 21, 1850. Mrs. Meek has brothers and sisters,
named as follows, Uriah, Joseph S., Norah J. Shinn,
Clark \Y., deceased, Grover F., Clyde R., Arthur. Mr.
Meek has a good house and outbuildings, a nice home
orchard, farms two hundred and forty acres of land
and is one of the well-to-do men of the country. He is
affiliated with the W. W. and in political relations is
a Republican.
To Mr. and Mrs. Meeks have been born the follow-
ing children: Martin F., born September 17, 1897;
Virginia M., born August 12, 1899, died January 1,
1901 ; Joseph L., born October 16, 1901.
SAMUEL M. CRAWFORD, a farmer and stock
raiser, who lives three miles north from Morrow, is
one of the substantial men of the section and came to
the reservation at its opening, took a farm which he
sold later and moved to his present place. He is an
upright man, a good Democrat, as were his ancestors
before him, and he is thoroughly grounded in the old
Jeffersonian principles.
Samuel M. Crawford was born in Marion county,
Oregon, on Fehruary 11, 1867. His parents, James
and Lucetta (Lennon) Crawford, were born in Indi-
ana, the father in 1840 and the mother in 1842. They
were pioneers in Oregon, settling in the Willamette
valley in 1863. The paternal grandfather was a Ken-
tuckian and his wife was born in Indiana. The
mother's parents were early pioneers in Iowa. When
Samuel was five the family came to the vicinity of Day-
ton, Washington, and there he was educated and grew
to manhood, laboring with his father on the farm.
He remained there until 1893 and then went to Latah
county and farmed for two years. Mr. Crawford
raises diversified crops and handles a good many
horses. He is a thrifty and skillful farmer and is be-
ing prospered.
On March 21, 1893, in Juliaetta, Latah county,
Mr. Crawford married Jane, the daughter of James
Thornton, a farmer at Elgin, Oregon. He was a pio-
neer of this northwestern country and packed to vari-
ous camps. He also assisted to build old fort Lapwai,
rafting the timbers down the river. Mrs. Crawford
was born in the Willamette valley in 1867 and has
three brothers and three sisters, Orie, Sude, Ida, Otes,
William and Herbert. Mr. Crawford has the following
named brothers and sisters : William, James, Abner,
John, Anna, Sarah, Florence. Five children have been
born to Mr. and Mrs. Crawford, James, Arthur,
Charles, Samuel and Mabel.
SIMON NELLSEX. The pluck and spirit of our
subject is shown in his arduous labor which in the face
of misfortune he has continued and brought success
out of failure and victory out of defeat. He is now
one of the substantial and well-to-do farmers of his
section and a man of good standing.
Simon Nellsen was born in Winneshiek county,
Iowa, on October 24, 1866, being the son of John and
Elizabeth (Hammer) Nellsen. The father, who was
born in Germanv, Line, 1808, was a pioneer in \\ is-
consin, and died' on February 28, 1897. The mother
of our subject was born in Austria and died September
11, 1882. The following named children were born
i56
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
to them. Nicholas, Joseph, Drina, died when she was
young, Simon, Henry, John, Frances, Elizabeth. Our
subject was reared and educated in his native place
and remained with his parents until twenty-two. Then
he went to do for himself, and took up
the business of baling hay. He followed it
for nine years and did well, but finally a
crash came and he lost all. He was not to be discour-
aged, however, and came west with the determination
to dig out another fortune and at once set himself to
the task He started cutting cord wood near Walla
Walla, then harvested, and at the opening of the reser-
vation he came hither and secured a quarter section
about four miles northwest from Morrow. He has
twenty-five acres of meadow and one hundred and
twenty fenced. In addition to this land, Mr. Nellsen
and his brother John, who is in partnership with him,
rent three hundred acres on Mason prairie which
they farm to the cereals. He threshed about five thou-
sand bushels of grain this year, including oats, barley,
flax, timothy seed and so forth.
When Mr. Nellsen and his brother started here
they had a capital of twenty-five cents cash and an
unlimited amount of pluck and courage. The former
has increased until they have a fine holding of land,
farm stock and tools and are prosperous, but their
courage is none the less abated, and could hardly be
increased. They are men of good standing and vote
for the man rather than the party.
WILLIAM H. ABEL. Among the enterprising
men of the reservation country and one who has done
a goodly part in its development, being also a man of
stability and good talent, is mentioned above and with
pleasure we grant him consideration in the history of
northern Idaho. He was born in Greene county,
Pennsylvania, on April 7, 1866, being the son of John
A. and Sarah (Lucas) Abel, natives of Greene county.
The father took his family to Wayne county, Iowa, in
1869. being one of the pioneers of that section. He
descended from a prominent and old Dutch family.
The mother died in Iowa, on May 9, 1897. Our sub-
ject was reared and educated in Iowa, remaining with
his parents until seventeen. Then he farmed in South
Dakota and reached the Sound country in 1892. He
followed the restaurant business in Olympia two years
and then came to Oakesdale, Washington, after which
he visited California, and on August 8, 1896, took up
his abode on his present place, two and one half miles
east from Fletcher. Final proof was made on this
land, on December 21, 1901. Mr. Abel owns eighty
acres of fine land and raises horses. He also handles
three hundred and eighty acres of Indian land, doing
general farming. About five miles northwest from
Fletcher, Mr. Abel is constructing a new sawmill on a
quarter section of valuable yellow pine land. He is
an enterprising and skillful man in business and stands
well in the county. Mr. Abel has the following named
brothers and sisters, John A., in Wayne county, Iowa;
Marv E. Casad, whose husband is editor of the Hub-
ble Standard and pastmaster at Hubble, Nebraska;
James T., in Wayne county; Eliza J. Ellis, in Ohio;
Alford, McClellan. hardware merchant in Corydon,
Iowa ; Leonard A., sergeant in Company F, Four-
teenth United States Infantry. He was in the battle
of Manila and took part in the attack on Pekin at the
time of its fall. Mr. Abei is a member of the W. W.,
Phiney Camp, No. 492. He is allied with the Demo-
crats in politics. Mr. Abel is still listed with the jolly
bachelors and is content with the retired life and mod-
est joys of the celibatarian.
WILLIAM J. GREEN was born in Kansas, on
March 22, 1871, being the son of William J. and Vir-
ginia (Powell) Green, natives of Georgia and Vir-
ginia, respectively, and now living near Cavendish.
The father is of Scotch-Irish extraction and the
mother is descended from Welsh-Scotch ancestors.
Our subject was raised in Kansas until twenty
and also received her education there. Then
he came to Vollmer, whither his brother had
preceded him by five years. In 1897 Mr.
Green took up his present place, three and one-half
miles west from Cavendish. The land is in dispute
as to whether it is in the reservation or not and the
matter will be settled next year. Mr. Green has a
quarter section and raises cereals and flax. He also
rents forty acres which is farmed to flax. He has a
fine young orchard, raises stock and is now the owner
of a number of head of cattle and horses. Mr. Green
has four brothers, Frank, Joseph, Daniel, Edward, and
three sisters, Elizabeth Harris, Alice Harris, Jennie
Horton.
In the fall of 1892, Mr. Green married Miss Mattie
F., daughter of Thomas B. and Huldah (Queener)
Hill, natives of Georgia and Virginia, respectively.
The father died in 1897 but the mother lives in Latah
county. Mrs. Green has the following brothers and
sisters, Frank, George, John, Senebar, Louisa Roberts,
Hattie Smith, Delia Ray and Nora. Three children
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Green, Catherine,
Wilma, and Carman. Mr. Green is a member of the
M. W. A., Le Baron Camp at Cavendish. In political
matters lie is a Democrat and one of the active men of
this section.
CHARLES S. INGLE. A son of the west and a
practical product of Nez Perces county, the young
man whose name heads this article is one who has
labored faithfully here in the work of development
and is one of the substantial and enterprising farmers
and fruit men of the vicinity of Genesee, his farm of
eighty acres being located five miles south from that
town, where also he rents between two and three hun-
dred acres besides, which he farms to the cereals, rais-
ing also some stock. Charles S. was born in Ada
county, Idaho, on June 23, 1876, being the son of
William A. and Malinda (Voding) Ingle, natives re-
spectively of Arkansas and Missouri. The parents
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
57
came west and permanently located in Nez Perces
county where they are living now, and here our sub-
ject received his early education in the district schools,
later attending the Genesee schools and the Lewiston
high school, where he graduated in 1897. After school
days were over, Mr. ingle went to farming, leasing
a piece of land and in 1899 ne leased two hundred and
thirty-five acres, which he still works. In addition to
his general farming, he raises some horses, cattle and
hogs and last year he marketed eight hundred boxes
of apples besides much plums, prunes, apricots, and
cherries as well as small fruits.
In 1899 occurred the happy event of the marriage
of Mr. Ingle and Miss Matilda, daughter of Jacob and
Mattie (Toskey) Tonning, who lived in Genesee. Our
subject has the following brothers and sisters: Maud
L., married to J. F. Willows and living in Xez Perces
county ; Thomas E., Bonnie, Minnie and Iva. Mr.
and Mrs. Ingle are members of the United Artisans
and Mrs. Ingle is a member of the English Lutheran
church. In politics, Mr. Ingle is a Democrat and al-
ways takes the interest that becomes an intelligent citi-
zen in the affairs of government. He has been elected
to the important office of justice of the peace for two
terms and his faithful service gives general satis-
faction. Mr. Ingle is a man of ability and vigor and
is dominated with a high order of wisdom and honor
and is well liked among his fellows.
CYRUS NORTON lives about four miles south-
west from Morrow and has a good place which he se-
cured by homestead right in 1893. He raises diversi-
fied crops and handles stock. He comes from one of
the early colonial families and his great-grandfather
was an officer in the Revolution, serving with the
Green Mountain boys. They came from English an-
cestry and were men of patriotism and strength of
character.
Cyrus Norton was born in Pike county. Illinois, on
September 6, 1849, being the son of Thomas H. and
Emaline (Davis) Norton. The father was born in
Vermont, January 8. 1819, and died in November,
190 1. The mother of our subject was born in Detroit
county, Illinois, and died in 1897. In 1852 the par-
ents came across the plains with ox teams, consuming
six months in the trip. They settled in Marion county
and our subject grew to manhood in that section. He
had only a few months at school but so well did he
improve the opportunity and odd moments afterward
that he gained a good education. He remained at home
most of the time until he was twenty-five and then
worked for a time in the iron mines in Oswego, Ore-
gon. After this he ranched in Marion county until
1883. then moved to Whitman county, Washington,
and farmed until 1893, the year in which he came to
his present place, which is well improved, has com-
fortable buildings and besides which Mr. Norton has
an interest in the old homestead in Oregon.
On December 27, 1877, Mr. Norton married Miss
Mary A., daughter of Christopher and Harriett 1 Far-
ley) Strohm. The father was born in Switzerland
and came to the United States when a child and was a
soldier in the Mexican war. The mother was born in
Missouri. Mrs. Norton was born in Missouri, on
September 12, 1857, and was educated in the common
schools. She has six brothers: David F., Peter P.,
Cornelius F., Christopher, William L., George T. Mr.
Norton bas the following named brothers and sisters :
John, Lafayette W., William S.. Samuel. Claude,
Alice A., all in Marion county, Oregon. Four chil-
dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Norton: Alphia
A., Elsie D. Green, Cora B., Myrtle, and Hattie E.
Mrs. Norton and her daughters are members of the
Christian church. He has served as deputv county
clerk in Marion county and also in other offices. Mr.
Norton is a life-long Democrat of the Jeffersonian
stripe. He is an active laborer for good schools and
believes in the best that can be had" In 1870-71 he
traveled extensively in eastern Oregon and in Idaho
and was at Pendleton when it consisted of one store.
SCHUYLER J. ADAMS, a skillful and success-
ful agriculturist and stockman, resides about two miles
northeast from Morrow, where he is devoted to the
enterprises mentioned and where he manifests those
qualities of substantiality and worth which have al-
ways characterized him in all his ways.
Schuyler J. Adams was born in Oceana county,
Michigan, on March 25, i860, being the son of Simeon
and Lanah (Schuyler) Adams. The father was born
in Massachusetts in 1832 and died in 1885, February
14. He was a pioneer in Michigan and enlisted in the
Twenty-second Michigan Cavalry and lost his arm in
the battle of Gettysburg. The mother of our subject
was born in Germany and came with her parents to
Three Mile Bay, Jefferson county. New York. In
1871 our subject went with his parents to Rice county,
Kansas, and six years later he returned to his old
home in Michigan, where he remained until October
6, 1885. During this time he learned the trade 1 if the
engineer and at the date mentioned came to Portland,
whence one year later he went to Montana with a train
load of cattle. He returned to Walla Walla and farmed
until 1894, in which year he went to Whitman county
near Colfax and farmed until 1896. during which time
he came to his present place, which has been the home
since. He has one hundred and fort}" acres of fine
land, well improved and tilled to general crops. Mr.
Adams finds the country well adapted to oats, timothy
and barley and feeds the products to his stock, having
never hauled a load of grain to market. He has a
good residence and perhaps as fine if not the finest barn
on the reservation, it being a substantial structure forty
by sixty and well finished. Mr. Adams operated the
hotel in Morrow for a time and spends considerable
time there for the benefit of the schools for the chil-
dren.
On August 19, 1880, Mr. Adams married Miss
Anna Whitby, who died in 1894, leaving one child,
Hattie Mamie. Mr. Adams contracted a second mar-
riage, October 13, 1805, the lady becoming his wife
being lessie M. (Day) Turner. By a former marriage
158
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Mrs. Adams has two children, Elizabeth Jane and
Georgia. Mr. Adams has the following named broth-
ers and sisters : Samantha Knight, Margaret Knight,
John D., Samuel. The brothers and sisters of Mrs.
Adams are named as follows : William Day, Margaret
Barstow, Joseph, George P., Anna, Josephine, Rob-
en. fohn, Benjamin, Chester, Walter. Grace, Francis.
Mr. Adams is a member of the I. O. O. F. in Morrow.
He is constable of his precinct and in politics is a Re-
publican. Mr. Adams is a warm advocate of good
schools and has done all in his power for the better-
ment of educational facilities.
AMOS K. RICHARDSON. Near the town of
Forest lives the stockman and agriculturist mentioned
at the head of this article and he has achieved success
in the business world and is considered one of the sub-
stantial men of the section.
Amos K. Richardson was born in Franklin county,
Missouri, on March 24, 1839, being the son of Aaron
and Nancy (Brown) Richardson, natives of Ken-
tucky. The father was born in 1797 and died in 1884.
He was a pioneer in Missouri, volunteered to go in
the Mexican war but did not get to the front. He
came to Oregon in 1846 and participated in the Rogue
river war. The mother of our subject was born in
1799 and died in 1863. Our subject came to Oregon
overland in an ox train with his parents and they ex-
perienced considerable trouble with the Indians en-
route. After six months of hard traveling they landed
in Yamhill county and later the father took land in
Benton county, which is still in the family. Amos K.
grew to manhood there and improved the scanty oppor-
tunity to gain an education. When twenty-two he
began to work for himself and in 1879 he settled in the
vicinity of Colfax and there farmed for fourteen years.
In 1893 he came to Nez Perces county and took up
land on Mission creek near the Catholic mission. In
1901 he came to his present place on the Salmon. He
pays attention to raising stock and is skillful in this
occupation.
In 1862 Mr. Richardson married Miss Julathia
Cox, who died in 1876, leaving four children, George
B., Robert B., Benjamin and Anna. In 1879 Mr.
Richardson married a second time and the lady of his
choice was Judith Vallandingham and the wedding oc-
curred in Prineville, Oregon. Three children have
been born to this union : Ollie, Clarence and Chauncey.
Mr. Richardson has four brothers. Hiram, John C,
Richard, Aaron. Politically Mr. Richardson is a
Democrat and takes an interest in the questions of the
dav.
JOHN C. LARKEE. Everything about the
premises of this leading farmer and fruit raiser indi-
cates the prosperity and plenty that comes from in-
dustry and thrift bestowed with consummate intelli-
gence and sagacity. There is no mistaking the sur-
roundings, and the pleasant home, bright family and
charming wife of our subject are but proper crowning
to his integrity, untiring care and uprightness.
John C. Larkee was born in Outagamie count}",
Wisconsin, on February 6, 1865, being the son of
Frederick and Anna (Anderson) Larkee, natives of
Denmark. The father came to the United States in
1848, sailed on the lakes for two years and now lives
with our subject. The mother was married in Wis-
consin and is at the present time in Minnesota visiting
with a son. Our subject was raised in Wisconsin un-
til thirteen and gained a common schooling, then came
with parents to Nebraska, where he wrought for nine
vears. In 1888 he came to Washington, traveled about
and in i8qo went to the Baptist College in Colfax.
In 1892 he came to Leland and was elected road over-
seer. On November 19, 1895. Mr. Larkee filed on his
present place, five miles northeast from Lenore and
since then he has bestowed his labors with wisdom
here. He has four hundred fine bearing fruit trees
and some of the finest pears and apples of the state are
his to enjoy as the result of his skill. Mr. Larkee has
a beautiful and commodious barn, one of the finest in
the county and it is kept in an orderly manner. He
owns doubtless the largest horse in the state, the mam-
moth animal standing eighteen and three-fourths
hands. The mate to this animal is only about one inch
shorter. Mr. Larkee's brothers and sisters are men-
tioned as follows : George, James, Steena Hall. Net-
tie Standard, Emma Ross, Esther Standard.
On January 14, 1892, at Kendrick, Mr. Larkee
marriedMiss Ella I., daughter of Henry D. and Mary
E. (Johnson) Peden, natives of Ohio. They now live
near Leland. The father was born on January 12,
1838, and served three years in the Civil war in Com-
pany B, Thirty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He
was wounded seriously in the thigh in the battle of
Missionary Ridge. They came to Whitman county in
1888. The mother was born on June 2, 1842, and is
an invalid. Mrs. Larkee has six brothers and one
sister, Dora, William M.. John, Henry W., James,
Frederick and Walter. Mr. Larkee is a member of the
M. W. A., and they both are members of the Christian
church. Six children are the fruit of this happy mar-
riage, Dora, born November 17, 1892; Ralph, born
February 10, 1894; Maude M., born March 2, 1896;
Esther, born July 15, 1898; Mary, born February 21,
1900; Helen, born December 3. 1901.
CHARLES SCHWARTZ. A bright, popular,
industrious, and prosperous agriculturist ; a man of
principle and integrity, and one who has the esteem and
confidence of all, it is with pleasure that we grant to
him consideration in the history of his county.
Charles Schwartz was born in St. Genevieve coun-
ty, Missouri, on January 4. 1862, being the son of
Peter and Clara (Pollitt") Schwartz, natives of Penn-
sylvania and Missouri, respectively. The paternal
grandfather of our subject was born in Alsace-Lor-
raine and he brought his family to Missouri when
Peter Schwartz was a small bov. The latter is still
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
59
farming in Missouri. The mother of our subject was
called to depart this life in August, 1874. Charles was
reared in Missouri until twenty-one, gaining his edu-
cation from the district schools during the winter
months of his first fourteen years and then he wrought
with his father until he was twenty-one. Then he
spent one year in Montana, one year in Portland, and
one rear in the Grande Ronde valley. He then settled
near Ritzville, Washington, and took a timber culture
and preemption. Ten years later, in 1896, he came to
the reservation and filed on his present farm of eighty
acres, two miles northeast from Lenore. His brother,
Anton, has a quarter section adjoining. Our subject
had but little capital when he settled, the first year the
cattle ate his small crop, which necessitated his working
in the harvest fields to support the family. He did
better the next year and he has labored on successfully
until now he is one of the prosperous men of the sec-
tion. This year he raised over one thousand bushels
of onions, one hundred and twenty sacks 01 potatoes
and other crops in proportion. He has good improve-
ments and a fine young orchard is soon to begin bear-
ing.
On October 1, 1890, Mr. Schwartz married Miss
Laura, daughter of Egbert and Eliza (Cumrine) Hill,
who was born in Iowa, on August 28, 1873. Her par-
ents are living in Spokane retired. This wedding oc-
curred in Harrington, Washington, and five children
are the fruit, Charles, born February 25, 1892 ; Eu-
gene, born September 22, 1893 ; Arden, born August
11. 1895; Ethel, born November 11, 1899; Mildred,
born October 9, 1901. Mr. Schwartz is a stanch
Democrat and an active, intelligent citizen in all mat-
ters pertaining to general progress.
CEORGE W. WAYXE. In addition to operating
his farm successfully. Mr. Wayne is conducting a liv-
ery and feed business in Morrow, where he is doing
well. He handles eighteen head of stock and has rigs
in plenty while his careful treatment of customers, al-
ways watching for their welfare, has given him a good
trade. " He is also feeding cattle and has nineteen head
at present.
George W. Wayne was born in Audrain county,
Missouri, on March 1, 1837, being the son of Temple
and Elizabeth (Gregg) Wayne. The father was born
in Virginia in 1796 and died in 1864. He was of Welsh
and English extraction. Mad Anthony Wayne of Revo-
lutionary fame, was a first cousin of Temple Wayne.
Mr. Wayne settled in Audrain county in 1827.
The mother of our subject was born in South Carolina
in 1798 and died in 1865. Her mother, Jane, was born
in Ireland. ( >ur subject was educated in his native
place and worked on the farm with his father until he
was twenty. Then he worked on adjacent farms and
in 1855 the family went to Linn county, Kansas, and
our subject was there during the John Brown raid.
In 1857 he returned to Missouri and continued there
until 1862, when he prepared an outfit and started
across the plains. At Soda springs the Indians stole
his stock and he was left with wife, one child, and only
one horse. He hired cattle and came on west, but his
wife died enroute. Mr. Wayne bore up bravely under
these terrible afflictions and came on to Auburn, Ore-
gon. His daughter grew up and married Sam Pat-
terson of this county. From Auburn, Mr. Wayne went
to the Grande Ronde valley and packed for eight years.
Thence he went to Marion' county, Oregon, and farmed
for eighteen years. In 1886 he 'came to Latah county,
settling near Genesee, where he farmed and raised
stock for seven years, then teamed for three years and
in 1896 came to the reservation country. He took his
present farm and since then he farmed until recently
he purchased the livery, coming to town to school the
children.
Mr. Wayne was married first to Martha Threlkeld,
who died in 1862. leaving one child. On June 4, 1876,
in Oregon, Mr. Wayne married Miss Carrie S., daugh-
ter of James and Ann (Bowman) Miner, natives of
Illinois. The mother is still living but the father is
dead. Mrs. Wayne's maternal grandmother is still
living, aged eighty-one. Mrs. Wayne was born in i860
and has two sisters and two half brothers. Mr. Wayne
has brothers and sisters as follows, Alfred, Franklin,
Elizabeth, and Martha. Seven children have been
born to this couple, Cordelia Hegle. James T., Will-
iam W., George G., Vance Hazel, Maggie, deceased,
and Birdie O. Mr. Wayne is an active Democrat. His
farm is well improved and he has prospered in his
labors.
CHARLES C. NEWHARD. Since Mr. New-
hard is one of the sturdy men who assisted to open the
reservation country, has labored, since settlement here,
with wisdom and enterprise, it is fitting to grant a re-
view of his career in this volume. The ranch home of
the family is one mile west from Fletcher, but Mr.
Newhard devotes considerable energy to railroading
and is in Genesee much of the time.
On April 15, 1873, Mr. Newhard married Miss
Jennie R., daughter of Hon. Joseph L. and Virginia
Meek. He lived in Puyallup, Washington, for a num-
ber of years, then moved to Vancouver, then to Spen-
ce's Bridge, thence to Ashcroft, and later to the Okano-
gan country. In July, 1896, Mr. Newhard came to his
present abode and" has done general farming and stock
raising since. Five children have been born to this
union, Courtney W., born November 1, 1877, in Puy-
allup: Charles C, mentioned elsewhere in this volume;
Tennie O., born July 3, 1881, in Tacoma ; Francis V.,
born December 8. 1883, in Puyallup ; William H, born
September 14, 1886, at Spence's Bridge. British Col-
CHRIS MATHISON. From the land whence
came the discoverers of the New World hails the sub-
ject of this article and June 1. 1864. was the date he
was born. His parents, Mathis Hanson and Henricka
Christopherson, were both natives of Norway also and
the father followed railroad contracting. The mother
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
died in 1895. Our subject grew to manhood, was
educated and worked on the railroad in his native
land. When twenty he decided to come to the United
States and settled in Olmstead county, Minnesota.
Four years were spent there and in that time his
brother John had come from Norway and they de-
cided to see the west and accordingly made their way
to Seattle, Washington. Thence they traveled to
Walla Walla and worked on the Palouse branch of the
Northern Pacific. He came to Nez Perces county in
1888, and settled on his present place, about three
miles southwest from Morrow. Here he has remained
since, except he has spent considerable time in mining
in the Elk country and other camps. In 1900 Mr.
Mathison went to the Klondike region and six months
later returned to his home. He and his brother have
also spent considerable time in steamboating on the
Snake and are well experienced in the various callings
of the industrial world. They now own one quarter
section, having sold one recently, and they devote this
to general crops and raising stock. Mr. Mathison was
raised a Lutheran and in politics is a Democrat.
JOSEPH L. CRAIG. The venerable and highly
esteemed gentleman of whom we now speak was a
farmer and stockraiser living one half mile south from
Morrow, where he had a fine estate, well supplied with
buildings and all necessary improvements and in ad-
dition to general farming he raised fine Shorthorn
cattle and was a prosperous and leading citizen.
Joseph L. Craig was born in Virginia, on July 26,
1832, being the son of George and Mary D. (Mc-
Mullin) Craig. The father was born in Virginia in
1795 and died in 1845. George Craig, grandfather
of our subject, was also born in Virginia and married
Kittie Kimberly. His father, the Rev. John Craig,
was born in Donagan, county of Antrim, north Ire-
land, and was descended from Scotch ancestry. He
was a graduate of the Edinburg University and came
to the United States in 1734, settling in Delaware. He
was sent to Ft. Stanton, Augusta county, Virginia, by
the Presbytery of Delaware and there he ministered
to his flock for twenty-five years. This was the first
Presbyterian church of the Virginia settlement. He
was a minister of note in his day and died in 1774.
The mother of our subject was born in Virginia, in
April, 1803, and died in 1836. Her father was of
Scotch-Irish descent. Her mother, Jane Aladison,
was the daughter of William and Catherine Arbuckle
and was a niece of Bishop John Madison, of Vir-
ginia, and of Governor George Madison, of Kentucky,
and was a cousin of President Madison. William Ar-
buckle was born of Scotch parents in Virginia in
1752 and was a volunteer under General Lewis,
founder of Lewisburg, Virginia, in his expedition
against the Ohio Indians in 1774, participating in the
battle of Point Pleasant at the mouth of the Great
Kanawha river. Our subject went with his parents
to Callaway county, Missouri, where he grew to man-
hood and was educated. When eighteen, in 1850, he
went to California and gained a thousand dollars in
the gold fields in one year. Returning home, he
farmed and raised stock there until 1888, when he
came west and settled on his present place on July
14, 1888. He continued here until his death, displaying
thrift, industry and sagacity.
On April 9, 1856, in Callaway county, Missouri,
Mr. Craig married Miss Mary E., daughter of Thomas
G. and Rebecca B. (Snedicor) Jones. Mr. Jones was
a farmer and merchant, born in Madison county, Ken-
tucky, in 1795 and died in 1846, being of English and
Welsh extraction. Mrs. Jones was born in Virginia
in 1799 and died in 1835, being of Scotch-Irish ex-
traction. Mrs. Craig was born in Callaway county,
Missouri, on August 15, 1831, was liberally educated
and taught for five years. She has eight brothers and
sisters, but George W. Jones, of San Francisco, is
the only one living. Mr. Craig has three brothers
and sisters, all deceased. The following named chil-
dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Craig: Charles
Henry, a physician in Webb City, Missouri ; Jeffer-
son E., deceased : Emma Julia MacKay, in Jefferson
City, Missouri; Jennie Allen Miles, deceased; Stone-
wall Jackson, Idaho county ; Mary Katherine Buck-
ner, Jefferson City, Missouri ; Albert B., a physician in
Philadelphia ; George E., principal of the public schools
in Oakesdale, Washington ;_ Annahalana R. Davis, of
Nezperce : Joseph Franklin, principal of the public
schools in Burlington, Washington. W. S. Davis,
the husband of Mrs. A. Davis, died in the Philippine
Islands recently. He was professor of English in an
educational institution in the town of Moncada. Since
his decease Mrs. Davis has returned to America. Mr.
Craig joined the Masonic lodge in 1856. Mrs. Craig
is a member of the Christian church and her husband
is a member of the Methodist church, South. Mr.
Craig had been a justice of the peace for three terms
and was eminently satisfactory to his constituents. He
was a stanch Democrat and had been committeeman for
ten years. He died at his home March 27, 1903, and
his remains were laid to rest in the I. O. O. F. ceme-
tery, Morrow, Idaho.
JOHN W. B1LLUPS. On November 22, 1895,
John W. Billups filed on his present homestead and
at once went to work. He possessed a four horse
team and wagon, this being the sum of his earthly
wealth. The second year he marketed nine hundred
bushels of wheat as seed for his neighbors. The
next year he marketed two thousand bushels of wheat
and five hundred of flax at Spalding. He now has
his homestead supplied with a beautiful residence, large
and handsome barn, plenty of out buildings, a good
holding of stock and handles two or three headers and
steam thresher, besides having another quarter of
land adjoining. In addition to this, Mr. Billups has
rented Indian land and this year, he marketed twelve
thousand bushels of flax. Such a record reads like
a dream, it is so w-onderfully successful, but when we
see the man that has executed it, the keen and pene-
JOHN W. BILLUPS.
MRS. JOHN W. BILLUPS.
WILLIAM F. JOHNSON.
MRS. WILLIAM F. JOHNSON.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
161
trating wisdom, the executive force, the tireless energy,
it is all explained. Mr. Billups stands at the head in
farming on the reservation and doubtless there is
not another record to match this one in the county.
John W. Billups was born in Cabell county, West
Virginia, on May 20, 1859, being the son of Richard A.
and Hulda (Moore) Billups, natives of Virginia. The
family was one of the earliest pioneers of Virginia
and are an honorable and strong family. The grand-
father of our subject was a soldier in the Revolution.
The father of John W. is a minister in the Missionary
Baptist church and is still preaching in Virginia,
aged seventy-six.
On March 24, 188 1, Mr. Billups married Miss
Rhoda C, daughter of Alanson and Charlotte (Gra-
ham-) Farmer, natives of Virginia. Mr. Billups' grand-
father Graham fought in the war of 1812. In March,
1882, Mr. Billups went to Hancock county, Indiana,
then to Hamilton county and in 1886 they went to
Sumner county, Kansas, and there railroaded until
1889. Then he came to Moscow and later purchased
a small farm there but in the panic he lost everything.
When he heard of the reservation being opened, he
came and selected his claim and the result is in evi-
dence.
Mr. Billups is a member of the M. W. A. and the
Yeomen, both at Nezperce. He and his wife are de-
vout members of the Methodist church and are hearty
supporters of the faith. Eight children have been
born to this worthy couple, Mamie, wife of C. C.
Mizer near Nezperce; Minnie D., born in Hamilton
county, Indiana ; Lulu E. born in Sumner county,
Kansas ; Hulda, Clea C, Letha Murle, all born in
Latah county ; James O. and Jesse Carl, born at the
home place. Mr. Billups has always striven for sub-
stantial improvements, and is a warm supporter of
progress and especially first class educational facil-
ities.
On March 2, 1903, Mr. Billups sold at auction
sale, implements and stock amounting to seven thou-
sand dollars, rented his farm and is now enjoying the
pleasures of a retired life.
WILLIAM F. JOHNSON, a man of excellent
standing in the community and possessed of keen dis-
crimination and business ability with integrity and
honor of high degree, is the owner of one of the most
valuable estates in Nez Perces countv and which
is handled with all the skill and energy to make it
a first class twentieth century farm. This valuable
estate consists of three hundred and twenty acres in
section seventeen and four hundred and eighty acres
in section sixteen, township thirty-three and range
two, east, it being a little over one mile south of
Nezperce. Mr. Johnson has a large band of hogs,
plenty of other stock for the farm and is raising
the cereals and other crops adapted to the climate.
He has over twelve hundred fruit trees, all kinds of
shrubbery and other useful plants and his farm is
provided with an elegant nine-room house, a com-
modious barn and other improvements necessary.
William F. Johnson was born in Benton county,
Iowa, on September 30, 1872, being the son
of Stephen and Elizabeth (Hardinger) Johnson.
He grew up on a farm, received a good education from
the common schools and on December 25, 1895, in his
native place, Mr. Johnson married Miss Hattie,
daughter of Samuel and Alary (Tanner) Long, na-
tives respectively of Pennsylvania and Ohio. Mr.
and Mrs. Long were married in Ohio and came to
Benton county, where Mrs. Johnson was born on
July 8, 1871. Her parents both died in Iowa. .Mr.
Johnson received from his father a team and one
thousand dollars when he became of age. He at
once wisely invested his money in land and farmed
there until the year 1900. In that spring he came
to the reservation and searched out a place which he
purchased and then sold his Iowa place for thirteen
thousand dollars. In the fall of 1900. the entire
family came out and here Air. Johnson has
resided since. He added the other four hundred and
eighty acres by purchase later. The entire farm is
under cultivation. Mrs. Johnson is a member of the
German Baptist church and is devout in her adher-
ence to the principles and the support of this organi-
zation. Three children, Galen L., Leland M., and
Dwight E., have been born to bless this happy mar-
riage and all of them are at home. Mr. Johnson is
of exceptionally good standing in the community, is
a man of intelligence and intrinsic worth and our
county is to be congratulated that he came from the
east and settled in our borders.
WILLIAM J. MERVYN. To accord to the
leading and substantial citizens of Nez Perces county
a representation in this volume of its history must
necessarily include an epitome of the gentleman whose
name heads this paragraph, since he is one of the
leading stockmen and agriculturists of his vicinity,
his farm being situated one and one-half miles south-
west from Genesee, Idaho. William J. was born in
county Cavan, north Ireland, on December 27, 1847,
being the son of John J. and Anne (Griffith) Mervyn,
natives of Ireland. The father was a merchant in
the home county, and the parents remained there until
their death, the mother pasing away in 1S73, and the
father going in 1880, their remains being buried in
their native place. At eighteen years of age our subject
retired from the schools and bade farewell to home
and native land and sailed for Melbourne, Australia,
reaching there in 1866, and for nine months engaged
there in mining. After this he went to New Zealand
and mined in the placer diggings for seven years, then
in 1873 came to California, where he continued the
same search in Plumas county for one year, then
farmed in Humboldt for four years and in 1879 came
to Idaho. He sought out a location and settled on a
pre-emption where he now resides. He gave his at-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
tention to farming and stock raising and has been
attended with abundant success, having now four hun-
dred and thirty acres of excellent farm land. His
place is well improved and handled with skill and
thrift and the result is that large crops reward his
industry.
The marriage of Mr. Mervyn and Miss Cora E.
Lees, a native of Ohio, and daughter of Simeon E.
and Anne Lees, was solemnized on April 26, 1884,
and three children have come to gladden the home,
Edith C, Elizabeth, and William" Mrs. Mervyn's
father was a native of Virginia and the mother of
Maryland, but they were farmers in Ohio and re-
mained in that state until the time of their death, the
father passing away in 1898. and the mother in 1887,
both being buried in Holland, Ohio. Mr. Mervyn is
a member of the Masons and of the K. of P. He
affiliates with the Democratic party and takes the
active interest demanded of every true citizen in the
realm of politics and the affairs of the county and
state, although he always declines personal prefer-
ment in the way of public office. He is a man of fine
ability, faithful and upright in his walk, careful and
sagacious in his business matters, and a patriotic and
broad minded citizen.
JACOB BLUME. Mr. Blume is one of the
leading men of Nez Perces county, being one of the
heavy land owners and prominent farmers, having
nearly 'me thousand acres of land where he lives, four
miles southwest from Genesee, which is fitted up into
one of the finest rural homes in the county, being em-
bellished with an elegant residence, good barns and
orchards am! all improvements that add comfort and
value to an estate. He markets annually about ten
thousand bushels of grain and produces much stock
and fruit. Mr. Blume was born in Hanover, Ger-
many, on September 25, 1831, being the son of John
F. W. and Mary (Piatt) Blume, natives also of Ger-
main , where they remained until the time of their
death, being buried in the Kuhstedt cemetery, in Han-
over province. Our subject was educated in the col-
lege of his native place and at the age of fourteen
years he quit school and went to work for the farm-
ers : eleven years he persevered in this arduous under-
taking and then bought a piece of land for himself,
which lie tilled until [882, when he sold all and came
to America, locating first in Logan county, Illinois.
He rented a farm there for six years and then de-
termined to try the west and accordingly he came to
Nrz Perces county, Idaho, buying a farm one mile
from Genesee, which, however, he sold about two
years later. Then he bought three hundred and ten
acres of land where he now lives, which was
partly improved, and has also added land until his is
a mammoth estate of nearly one thousand acres. In
addition to the general farming and fruit raising he
handles a great many horses and is one of the leading
stockmen as well as farmers of the county.
In 1854. in Germany, occurred the marriage of
Mr. Biume and Miss Anna, daughter of Henry and
Mary (Meyer) Burfeind, natives also of Germany,
where they remained until the day of their death,
being buried in the cemetery at Hohenmoor. To Mr.
and Airs. Blume there have been born the following
children: Henry, single, living in Jersey City, New
Jersey; Alary, wife of Herman Moresheck and resid-
ing in this county: Frederick, married to Lizzie Ober-
feild, and living in Jersey City, New Jersey ; Mar-
garet, wife of Clans Michiles and living in Logan
county, Illinois : George, single and with parents. Our
subject and his wife are members of the German Lu-
theran church and now as the golden years of his
well spent life draw on apace, Mr. Blume is enjoying
the fruits of his honest and arduous toil wherein he
has also manifested great wisdom and has earned the
rest and competence that are his to indulge.
CHARLES C. NEWHARD, Jr., is one of the
younger men of stirring energy and push who are
making the reservation country one of the best sec-
tions in the northwest. He was born in Puyallup,
Washington, on November 24, 1879, being the son of
Charles C. and Jennie (Meek) Newhard. who are
mentioned in this work. He is a grandson of the noted
Hon. J. L. Meek. Our subject was reared in the
various places of the northwest where the family re-
sided and gained a good education from the common
schools. He studied longer in Genesee than in any
other one place. He remained with his parents in
their travels and labors until May, 1901, when he
came to Its allotment, which is eightv acres of
choice land, about one mile west from Fletcher. Here
he is devoting his labor and skill to tilling the soil,
raising stock and making a comfortable home for
his family. Mr. Newhard is a young man of promise
and stands well among the people of the community
and is doing good work in building up the county.
On November 14, 1901, Mr. Newhard married
Miss Alice M., daughter of John and Lucy (McNa-
mara) Howard. Mr. Howard was born in Iowa, in
1S54. went to Nebraska where he followed the black-
smith, trade and in 1899 came to Idaho and is still
engaged at his trade. His wife was born in Illinois,
in 1858, and her parents, Thomas and Catherine Mc-
Namara, were pioneers in that state. Mr. and Mrs.
Newhard have one child, Kenneth Charles, born Octo-
ber 17, 1902. Mrs. Newhard has the following
named brothers and sisters: May D. Charlotte,
Frank, Frederic, Earl. Clara.
JAMES F. WILLOWS. One of our capable and
enterprising farmers is named at the head of this ar-
ticle, and he is also one of the substantial and patri-
otic citizens of Nez Perces county, being a man of
marked uprightness and unswerving integrity and
strength of character. James F. was born in Canada,
on A larch 24, 1868, being the son of Thomas and
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
163
Ellen (Farris) Willows, natives respectively of Eng-
land and Canada, and now residing in Alberta, where
they devote themselves to farming and stock raising.
When our subject was four years of age his parents
removed to Saunders county, Nebraska, where he was
educated, finishing his school days at the age of sev-
enteen. In 1889 he came west to Gray's harbor,
Washington, and two years were spent in that sec-
tion, when he came to Nez Perces county, renting six
hundred acres of land on the reservation. He also
bought a quarter section three miles south "from Gen-
esee, but he made his home on the reservation where
his large farm was until the time of his marriage,
which occurred on November 29, 1899, when Maud
Ingle became his bride. Her parents, William A.
and Malinda (Voding) Ingle, came west in 1885 and
now live in this county. To our subject and his es-
timable wife there has been born one child, Thomas
W. Mr. Willows has two brothers, Harvey D., mar-
ried to Annie Haley, living in Northwest Territory,
and John R., married to Amy Yeoman and living in
Alberta, and he also has one sister, Jennett M., mar-
ried to C. M. Dodson and living in Alberta, North-
west Territory. In political matters, Mr. Willows al-
lies himself with the Democratic party and always
takes an active interest in the local matters. He is
also a member of the K. of P. Lodge, No. 5, of Gen-
esee, and of the I. O. O. F. Lodge No. 36, of the
same town. His wife is an adherent of the Methodist
church and they are among the leaders in the society
of their community, being capable, and good people.
JOHN C. BERRY, a popular, intelligent and
genial gentleman, is one of the leading agriculturists
of the vicinity of Summit, owning an estate right at
the postoffice. He has displayed excellent wisdom
and industry in his labors and his worthy achievements
ami steady increase of goods are but the proper re-
sult of this endeavor.
John C. Berry was born in Sullivan county, Ten-
nessee, on February 11, 1855, being the son of James
O. and Martha (Crumley)' Berry, natives of Ten-
nessee. The father is now living with our subject.
John C. was raised in Tennessee until twenty-two,
being educated in the district schools. He then mar-
ried and went to Texas, where he was engaged in
ranching for seven years. The next journey was to
Washington, where he did gardening near Walla
Walla for about seven years." In 1889 Mr. Berry-
came to the Potlatch country and gardened for three
years and then took his present place. He was on his
land the opening day of the reservation and has given
his undivided attention to cultivating it and the In-
dian land which he has leased since that time. Mr.
Berry had four horses, one wagon and no cattle
when he came, but is now one of the prosperous
men of this vicinity. He lived in a tent the first year
and had all the hardships of the pioneer to endure.
He owns seventy-five hogs,' has good improvements
.and a valuable and well tilled farm. Mr. Berry has
the following brothers and sisters: William T.. a
Methodist preacher; Robert E., Elbert E., Fleming
J., Murray, Martha E., widow of Robert Hall ; Nan-
nie C. Maynard, Jane Cash, Eliza Hall, Sophie
Henry.
On August 16, 1876, Mr. Berry married Miss
Sarah J., daughter of Thomas and Anna (King)
Dyer, natives of Tennessee. The mother died in
October, 1893, and the father lives with one daugh-
ter near Milton, Oregon. Mrs. Berry has two
brothers and two sisters, |ohn S., William A., Martha
A. Taylor, Mar_\ ( ). Bishop. .Air. and Mrs Berry
have one adopted child. Mr. Berry is a member of
the M. W. A.. Lewiston Camp. They are both mem-
bers of the Methodist church, South. In political
matters, Mr. Berry is allied with the Democrats and
is frequently in the county conventions. He is school
director and is a stirring advocate of good roads.
FRANK S. DAGGETT. It is a pleasure to
grant consideration to one so enterprising and skillful
in business affairs as the subject of this sketch, who is
one of the esteemed gentlemen and public-minded citi-
zens of the county of Nez Perces.
Frank S. Daggett was born in Iowa, on December
2, 1867, being the son of David A. and Julia (Leppla)
Daggett, natives of Wisconsin. From the father's
side of the house the family comes from a prominent
English house and many of the members are noted
in educational, commercial and legal circles, while
two have served in congress. The mother's ancestors
were from Germany. The Daggetts were noted and
prominent in Revolutionary times. Our subject was
educated in the public schools and spent the first eight
years of his life in Nebraska, the next six in Iowa
and then went to South Dakota. Then he finished his
education in the state normal school. When nine-
teen he came to Idaho and worked until twenty-one,
when he married and returned to South Dakota and
took up stock raising. His ability and attention to
business gave him success and later he went to Illinois,
where he bought a small farm near Hoopston, one
hundred miles south from Chicago. In 1808 he came
back to Idaho and purchased the relinquishment of
his present place, three miles northeast from Lenore,
for twelve hundred dollars. The first two years'
crops sufficed to pay for the farm and some besides.
Since then he has done equally well and is one of the
prosperous men of this section. He has one of the
best places in this vicinity and as it is only a short
distance above the river is much freer from frost than
those higher on the hill, the difference being about
fifteen degrees. Mr. Daggett has one brother and
two sisters. True G.. traveling salesman for a large
drug house in Sioux City. Iowa; Maude, wife of
Mark D. Edgerton, a clothing merchant in Spearfish,
South Dakota : Creta. single.
In August. 1889, Air. Daggett married Miss Mary,
daughter of Stephen R. and Martha (Shea) South-
wick, who are mentioned elsewhere in this work.
[64
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Three children have been born to this happy union,
Roma, Gladys and Frankie. Mr. Daggett is an intel-
ligent Republican and a great advocate of good
schools, being on the board. He is also a moving
spirit in making good roads. He is well respected
in the community and has excellent standing.
JOHN C. GRANZ is a well known and industri-
ous farmer and thresher. He pays special attention
to operating his threshing outfit and also is intending
to devote considerable time to handling a mine on
Swamp creek which he is opening. Mr. Granz stands
well with the people and is highly spoken of by all.
John C. Granz was born. in Germany on May 18,
1872. being the son of Frederick and Mary (Schwech-
ler) Granz. natives of German. The father was in
the Franco-Prussian war and served in the German
army for five years. He died in 1879. The mother
lives with our subject and is aged about sixty. Our
subject came to the United States with his mother
when he was eight and settlement was made in Penn-
sylvania, where he attended district school. Mrs.
Granz married a second time, her husband on this oc-
casion being Mr. Holway. He died when John C. was
about fifteen. At the early age of ten, our subject
left home and took up the battle of life. He worked
for his board and clothes and when fifteen he came
to the west. He landed finally near Juliaetta and there
attended the Fairview school for two terms and then
labored at different occupations until the reservation
opened up, when he took his present place. He sold
a portion of his land in the spring of 1902. He has
at present thirty-three acres of land and handles
this with his mining and threshing.
On June 10. 1900, Mr. Granz married Miss Ollie
E., daughter of James O. and Hattie R. (Ramsy)
Young, natives of Kansas. Mrs. Granz was born in
Cherokee county. Kansas, on January 15, 1884, and
has two brothers and two sisters, William, George,
Minnie McNeeley, Elizabeth. Mr. and Mrs. Young
live near Pullman, where the wedding of our sub-
ject occurred. Mr. Granz is a Republican and has
served as election clerk.
GEORGE W. GILMORE. This industrious and
prosperous farmer is one of the men whose labors
have built this section of our county and made it one
of the wealthy portions. He is a man of good stand-
ing, has displayed ability and good qualities in his
labors and achievements.
George W. Gilmore was born in West Virginia,
on February 22, 1856, being the son of William J.
and Mary (Hansford) Gilmore, natives of Virginia.
The father came from an old English Virginia family
and he died in April, 1899, aged seventy-four. The
mother was also a descendant of one of the old colon-
ial families and died in April, 1895. Our subject
was educated in the public schools and remained with
his parents until twenty-one, and then went to work
for wages, and about 1878 he purchased a small farm
and to the development and improvement of that he-
gave his attention for a number of years. Then he
became interested in lumbering on Cheap river, and
this continued until 1892, when he came to Idaho and
filed on his present place, two miles east from Lenore,
He erected good buildings and since that time he has
cultivated it himself. He raises the cereals and flax
and has done well on his farm. He has about thirty-
five head of stock and pays much attention to raising
stock. Mr. Gilmore has the following brothers and
sisters : Albert H, David W.. Charles W., John W.,
Elizabeth Myers, all of West Virginia ; Salome Graff,
in Pennsylvania ; Florence Auvil. in Alabama.
On January 21. 1877, at St. George, West Vir-
ginia, Mr. Gilmore married Miss Elizabeth, daughter
of Jacob and Annie (Johnson) Myers. The father
was born in Pennsylvania and now lives in West Vir-
ginia. He comes from an old Dutch family. The mother
was born in Virginia of a pioneer family and is still
living. Mrs. Gilmore was born on April 29, 1858,
and she has three brothers and one sister, Xelson,
John, Benjamin, Barbara Shoemaker. Three chil-
dren have been born to our subject and his wife, Tacy,
wife of Harvey A. Southwick. on Windy Ridge ;
Mary, wife of Charles H. Crumpacker, near Nez-
perce ; Annie, wife of James Johnson, near Lenore.
Mr. Gilmore is a Democrat and a good substantial
citizen.
ANDREW BAKER. In addition to handling a
farm, which is situated a mile or so east from South-
wick, our subject has also paid considerable attention
to running a steam threshing outfit and at the present
time is also handling a fine little saw-mill on his place.
It is a complete plant and has a capacity of eight
thousand feet per day. Mr. Baker is utilizing it in
manufacturing his own timber into lumber products,
and has also bought recently some more timber land.
He is one of the leading men of this vicinity, is an
enterprising and energetic worker and manifests com-
mendable wisdom in his labors.
A detailed account of his career will be interesting,
and so we note that he was born in Indiana, on March
6, 1849, being the son of James and Mary (Davis)
Baker, natives of Tennessee and Indiana, respectively.
The father died in 1863. They were married in
Indiana and the mother is now living in Missouri.
Our subject was reared in Missouri and received his
education from the district school. When twenty-
six he went to California, where he continued for
seven years in various employments. It was 1882,
that he came to Idaho and filed on his present place.
He has devoted himself to the labors mentioned above
and has made a good success. Mr. Baker has three
brothers, William and Perry, farmers in Missouri ;
John, in Idaho. He is a Republican and is intelli-
gent on the issues of the day. He has been road su-
pervisor and has evinced an interest in the improve-
ment of the countv roads that is more than theorv
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
165
and his labors in this line have resulted in much
improvement in this important matter.
On January 6, 1874, Mr. Baker married Miss
Josephine McCoy, in Caldwell county, Missouri. She
is a native of Iowa and has three brothers and two
sisters, Alfred, Benjamin, and Austin, farmers near by ;
Susan, widow of Frank Cuddy, in Clarkston, Wash-
ington; Julia, wife of John Mclver, near Cavendish.
These children have been born to this couple, Al-
bert, near Steele; George, employed in his father's mill
and is also road overseer ; Ory, wife of Charles Guern-
sey, at Russel; Benjamin, at home; Perry, with his
brother Albert; Bertha, Mary, Lottie and William, all
at home. Mrs. Baker is a member of the United
Brethren church and is active in Sunday school work.
CHARLES HOFFMAN. This veteran on the bat-
tlefield of life has passed three-quarters of a century in
the struggle allotted to man and in it all he has mani-
fested great tenacity of purpose, good ability, and
has achieved a fine success both from a financial
standpoint and in the excellent standing in the com-
munity where he is highly respected and holds the
good will of all.
His parents, Jacob and Sarah (Troxall) Hoffman,
were natives of Pennsylvania, where our subject, was
also born : they are of German extraction and for
many years back all have resided in that state. Charles
was raised in Northumberland county and while his
educational advantages were limited, he acquired a
good training and fund of information by his per-
sistent efforts in study. When twenty-four he went to
blacksmithmg in New York as foreman of a shop
and wrought there until the close of the Mexican war.
Then he went to Illinois and wrought at his trade
and farmed until after the Civil war. Then a brief time
was spent in Kansas and in 1879 ne crossed the plains
diid settled on a pre-emption, which is now a part of
his fine estate of over six hundred acres, five hundred
of which are in a high state of cultivation. He has
excellent buildings, handles considerable stock and
does a large farming and stock business. Mr. Hoff-
man raises some fine draft horses. He has a well
of fine water that was blasted out of the solid rock.
Mr. Hoffman had six brothers and three sisters, but
does not know the whereabouts of any of them. He
was married when about twenty-seven to Sarah J. Dowd
and three children were born to them, Sarah C,
wife of Burton Lane, of Council, Idaho; Lucy, wife
of A. Ebell, near Baker City, Oregon ; Ross, a farmer
at the mouth of Pine creek.' Mr. Hoffman was called
to mourn the death of his wife and on June 4, 1876,
he married 'Miss Lucy Shay, at Chetopa, Kansas,
who was the first white woman on the prairie. Her
parents, Isaac A. and Margaret (Burkhardt) Shay,
were natives of Illinois and Kentucky and of Irish
and Dutch descent, respectively. Thev are both dead.
Mrs. Hoffman was born in Leavenworth, Kansas,
on July 31, 1859. She lias three brothers, Benjamin!
William, and Charles. Nine children have been born
to this worthy couple, Jesse, the first white child
born in the Big Potlatch, now a student in Milton
College ; Charles, Walter, Olive, Alice, Benjamin,
Elsie, Esther, Mary, all at home. Mrs. Hoffman was
occupied in teaching school before her marriage. She
is a member of the Methodist church. Mr. and Mrs.
Hoffman are ardent supporters of educational facili-
ties and believe firmly in thorough training for their
children. They are counted among the leading people
of this section and are always in the van for anything
that will build up and enhance the interests of the
community and be for the good of all.
WILLIAM T. WRIGHT. This pioneer and sub-
stantial citizen has been one of the well known men
here for a long time and is deserving of credit for
his labors and improvement. He is not only a tiller
of the soil, but is a skillful and enthusiastic apiarist,
having forty stands of bees. In addition to this, Mr.
Wright carries a large stock of bee raising supplies
for the accommodation of those in the surrounding
country. It is interesting and profitable to notice with
what skill and wisdom Mr. Wright has continued to
put forth the advantages of this important industry
and it has been and will be of untold benefit to this
section, as the raising of bees is no doubt one of the
profitable lines heretofore too little attended to, espe-
cially in the western sections. Much wealth will be
distributed among the farmers thus and the luxury of
the hive will be enjoyed by many where now it is al-
most unknown.
William T. Wright was born in Porter county,
Indiana, on September 16. 1837, being the son of
Joseph Y. and Tabitha ( Evans ) Wright, natives of
Pennsvlvania and Virginia respectively. The father died
in 1850, aged sixty. He was a wealth}- farmer and had
served as captain of heavy artillery in the war of 1812.
The mother died in 1892, aged eighty, and is buried
in Indiana. Our subject was reared in La Porte
county. Indiana, until twenty-five, gained a good edu-
cation in Valparaiso College and in 1864 went to Cali-
fornia, where he remained until 1880. He taught
school, operated a nursery and did various labors, and
in 1880 he came to the Potlatch country. He took a
government right on his present place and did well
until 1803, when he went down with the crash, but he
saved sixty acres of good soil which is tilled, and that,
with his bee industry, makes a profitable business.
Mr. Wright has the following brothers and sisters:
JonathanTMoses, Gideon, Harriet Stone, Sarah Stone,
Carrie.
On July 2, 1868. in Cortland, California. Mr.
Wright married Miss Emma, daughter of Charles U.
and Margery (Crawford) Talmage. The mother died
in Cortland' and the father lives there now. Mrs.
Wright was born in Joliet. Illinois, on December 19,
1845. She has one brother and five sisters, Samuel,
Harriet Northup, Henrietta porter, Mary, Lottie,
Annie. Five chldren have been born to this couple,
Myrtle, wife of Tames Kuykendall, a miner in Montana;
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
C. Herschcl, a stockman in Northwest Territory, Can-
ada; Dean, with H. Trimble, in Lewiston ; Pauline,
wife of E. Harrisi m. in Frasier, Idaho; Lillian, at
home. Mr. Wright is a member of the I. < >. O. F.,
Leland, Xo. 90, and he and his wife are members of
the Methodist church. He is a stanch Democrat and
has taken an active part in politics. He has been school
trustee for many years and is now serving as justice
of the peace, having been the same in California.
WILLIAM J. RILEY, deceased. It is fitting that
we should incorporate in this volume a memorial of
the esteemed patriot and substantial citizen, whose
labors in the northwest have resulted in much develop-
ment and building up. He was born in Carroll county,
Missouri, on February 6, 1846, being the son of
Ulysses J. and Mary (James) Riley. The father was
born in Washington count}-, Virginia, in 1815, being
a nephew of the Meek family. He was a pioneer in
Missouri. Out subject was brought up in Missouri,
was educated in the common schools and also
in his youth perfected himself in the carpenter
trade. During the time of dark fratricidal strife he
was one of the brave ones who fought for the Union
and the homes of the people, under Captain Hoover
and. took part in the border warfare. In 1875 he
went to California, and two years later came to Ore-
gon, settling in Hillsboro. There he wrought at his
trade until 1805, when he brought his family to the
reservation where they all received their allotments.
Since that time all have been employed in the work
of improvement and on June 16, 1902, the father and
beloved husband was called to the world beyond.
On September 24. 1878, Mr. Riley married Miss
Olive L. Meek, daughter of the Hon. J. L. and Vir-
ginia Meek. The fruit of this union is as follows,
Stanley M., born October 3, 1879: Kate Francis, born
August 9, 1885, and died February 7, 1895 : Virginia
Belle, born March 7, 1887. All were born in Glen-
coe, Oregon. Mr. Riley was a member of the G. A. R.,
and also of the I. O. O. F. He was allied with the
Republican party and took an intelligent part in the
issues of the day, being justice of the peace in Wash-
ington county, Oregon, in 1881. The family have
allotments amounting to three hundred and twenty
acres and handle cattle and hogs, while they carry
on a general farming business.
WILLIAM A. WRIGHT. Prominent as one of
the business men of the reservation country, successful
in his endeavors, upright and faithful in his walk, a
man of many friends and standing well, the subject of
this article should be mentioned as one of the repre-
sentative men of the county and with pleasure we ac-
cord him such.
William A. Wright was born in Morgan county,
Ohio, on December n, 1850, being the son of Charles
S. and Deborah (Oliver) Wright. The father was
born in the same county ; his father came to that place
in a two-wheeled cart from Pennsylvania and died in
1 >regon, aged ninety-three. Our subject's parents are
living neai him. His mother was born in Marietta,
February 8. 1831. In 1853. the family went to Wis-
consin, where our subject was reared and educated.
When he was twenty-one the family came to Wash-
ington county, Oregon, and there the father bought
land. In 18*76, they all came to Columbia count) ,
Washington, near Dayton : the father, this son and a
brother took land, where they busied themselves with
farming until 1887, when our subject sold out and
went to Whitman county. In 1893 all was lost and
he went to Idaho. Then came two years of renting
Indian land and when the reservation opened Mr.
Wright secured a good quarter which he improved
and sold in 1901. Then he erected a fine flouring mill
in Dublin, with an output capacity of sixty barrels
per day. it being supplied with all the latest improve-
ments and is one of the finest and most complete
mills in the state. Mr. Wright is now giving his at-
tention to the operation of this plant, meeting with
good success and being favored with an ever increasing
patronage. He has three brothers, Davis S., George
\\'.. and Amos A.
On November 17, 1872, Mr. Wright married Miss
Ella, daughter of Solomon and Lucetta (Zachary)
Emrick. Mr. and Mrs. Emrick came overland in
1843 w'th ox teams. The father was a native of
Illinois and the mother of Kentucky. Mrs. Wright
was born in Washington county. Oregon, on July 28,
1856, and received a common schooling. They have
five children living, Charles W.. a farmer and owner
of the ferry at Agatha; Harry S.. engineer in the
mill at Dublin ; Henrietta, deceased, wife of Robt.
Hall; Earl, at home; Myrtle, wife of William Evans,
Willola ; Cora, wife of Oliver Anderson, on the reser-
vation; May. an adopted child, at home. Mr. and
Mrs. Wright are members of the Christian church.
Mr. Wright is an active and stanch Republican, being
always a delegate and a potent influence in the cam-
paigns. He is an advocate of good schools, general
improvements, better roads and is a progressive and
enterprising man.
GEORGE P. DALE and CHARLES H.
DALE are two of the well known citizens of the vi-
cinity of Leland, having a ranch in company adjoin-
ing the town on the west. They have one hundred
and twenty acres and utilize it mostly in raising
wheat, but handle about ten acres to orchard. They
are expecting to go more extensively to raising hogs,
as it seems wise to feed as much of the grain as 1 » issible
to stock.
Charles H.Dale was born inMcKeesport, Pennsyl-
vania, on March 18. 1867, being the son of George P.
and Jennie (Miller) Dale, natives of the same state.
The mother died when our subject was two days old;
he being an only child. He was raised by his grand-
mother until ten and then he went to live with his
father, who married a second time. The father was
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
167
a expert ship builder and served in government em-
ploy much of the time. He is now in this capacity in
San Francisco. Charles gained his education from the
public schools and when he was thirteen the family
went to Arkansas and the father did ship work on the
Mississippi river. He worked on the government
steamers, where our subject served as waiter, later as
second cook and finally as head cook. In 1885 they
all came to Sprague, Washington, where the father
took a ranch. They farmed and the father wrought
in the railroad shops part of the time. In 1888 Charles
H. went to Colton and ranched for some time. About
1892 the father went to Portland and took up ship
building again and our subject freighted, rode the
range and farmed and did various other work in the
Coeur d' Alene country, at Dayton, Sprague, in the
John Dav country and finally came to Leland. where
he and his father bought their present ranch.
On March 6, 1895, Mr. Dale married Miss Edith,
daughter of Oxford B. and Adelia (Perkins) Owens.
She was born in Pendleton in 1876 and the
wedding occurred in Sprague. Mr. Owens crossed
the plains with ox teams in 1849 to California and
died in Pendleton in 1894. He was a prominent stock
man there and had suffered great hardship in the In-
dian troubles. Mrs. Dale has one brother, George,
in the U. S. army in the Philippines ; and one sister,
Lenore. wife of W. E. Lloyd, in Lewiston. Three
children have been born to this marriage, George P.,
Bradford G., and William. Mr. Dale is a member of
the K. P., Kendrick Lodge No. 23, and of the I.
O. O. F,. Juliaetfe. Lodge No. 45. Mrs. Dale is a
member of the Methodist church. She was a gradu-
ate of the high school in Pendleton and was a com-
positor on the East Oregonian.
George P. Dale enlisted in the Civil war on Janu-
ary 5, 1863, being in Company G, First Regular Mary-
land Infantry, under Captain I. H. Stonebreaker. He
was discharged July 2, 1865, having fought in the
principal battles between those dates. He was at the
second Bull Run and in the siege of Yicksburg and
was wounded several times, but never left the front
although shot through the hand. He left the war
broken in health and has been much incapacitated by
his arduous labors and rigorous service.
HENRY A. MORGAN. In the person of the
subject of this sketch we have one of Nez Perces
county's active, enterprising, successful, and capable
agriculturists, dairymen and stockmen. His abode is
six miles south from Genesee, and there he has a farm
of two hundred acres of well tilled soil, a fine home
in every respect, with substantial out buildings of all
kinds necessary to the successful operation of his
estate ; he handles many cattle, horses, and hogs. Mr.
Morgan was born in St. Lawrence county, New York,
on February 3, 1858. being the son of John C. and
Ruth L. ( Courser) Morgan, natives of Canada, who
removed to North Dakota in 1880, where the father
died in 1896, and the mother in the following year,
being buried in the Arvilla cemetery in Grand Forks
county. Henry A. was educated in his native place
and also in New London. Minnesota, where the parents
removed previous to going to North Dakota. He re-
mained with his father until he had reached his twenty-
first year and then went with him to North Dakota
and there took a homestead, bought as much more
and used half for pasture and half for production
of the fruits of the field ; there he toiled until thirteen
years had elapsed, when he sold out and spent one
year in the butcher business and then two years in
machine selling. After that he worked for the Great
Northern railroad for five years and then came west
and located six miles south from Genesee, where we
find him at the present time. He bought a quarter
section and filed on forty more and has devoted
his time and attention to general farming and raising
stock. He has made his estate a fine rural abode,
having added all improvements commensurate with
its extent that taste and necessity demand and he is
one of the leading men of the community. Fratern-
ally, Mr. Morgan is affiliated with the M. W. A. and
he and his wife are also members of the Methodist
church.
The marriage of Mr. Morgan was to Miss Alice A.,
daughter of W. B. and Martha L. (Swift) Reed,
natives of Kentucky and immigrants to Minnesota in
1867. where they still reside. Mr. and .Mrs. Morgan
have been blessed with five children, Eli C, Arthur
H., Edith M., Charles W.. and Ruth. Mr. Morgan
has demonstrated his ability and wisdom in the suc-
cess that he has achieved and he fully deserves the
prominent place he holds in the esteem and respect
of his fellows.
ANDREW O. CHRISTEXSOX. This well-to-
do and enterprising farmer of Nez Perces county is
richly deserving of consideration in this volume of
his countv's history since he has labored faithfully and
deservingly in this section for its improvement and
upbuilding, maintaining meanwhile a good reputation
and doing good work on his esjate of three hundred
and twenty acres, four miles southwest from Genesee,
where he operates a first class farm in a commend-
able manner. He was born in Winnebago county,
Wisconsin, in May, 1859, being the son of Andrew and
Tona (Olson) Christenson. natives of Norway, but
immigrants to Wisconsin in 1854, where the father
engaged in farming and the mercantile pursuit. He
wrought there until the time of his death, which oc-
curred in 1884. The mother died in 1888 in Latah
county, whither she had gone to live with her children.
At the age of seventeen our subject came to the west,
landing in Walla Walla in the centennial year. Two
years were spent in lumbering and then he went to Nez
Perces county and took a homestead and timber claim,-
one and one half miles distant from his present abode.
He afterward sold the improvements on these places
and returned to Walla Walla to lumber in the Cas-
cade and Blue mountains. For five years he followed
this stirring industry and then in 1884 bought back
[68
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
one of the places he sold; then, having married, he
settled down on their present place, which was given
to his wife by her father. Thus our subject is hand-
ling one half section of land and gains abundant re-
turns of crops, while he also pays considerable at-
tention to raising stock, being successful in both lines
of industry.
On July 14, 1881. at Lewiston, Idaho, Mr. Chris-
tenson married Miss Johana, a native of Wisconsin
and daughter of Benjamin and Johana Thompson,
natives of Norway. To this happy marriage there
have been born three children, Emma E., Clarence E.,
and Harvey G. Mr. Thompson came west with his
family in 1878. his wife having died in Wisconsin in
1859, being buried in Winnebago county, and here he
homesteaded the place where our subject now lives,
and at the time of his death, which occurred on Oc-
tober 16, 1884, he gave the farm to Mrs. Christenson.
His remains were buried in the Genesee cemetery; he
was a good man and a patriotic citizen. Mr. Chris-
tenson is a member of the W. of W., Grenadier Lodge
No. 240. He has served for fourteen years on the
school board, also as road supervisor and is one of the
substantial and prominent men of his section, being
highly esteemed and manifesting those qualities of
worth that characterize the true man and the loyal
WILLIAM R. GIBBS. While there are some
excellent stockmen and agriculturists in Nez Perces
county, it is fitting that the subject of this sketch be
accorded position with the leaders, for he has mani-
fested a stirring energy, wisdom and progressiveness
in his career which has been fraught with abundant
success, especially in this county.
William R. Gibbs was born in Wilkes county.
North Carolina, on February 24, 1861, being the son
of Thomas L. and Adeline (Howell) Gibbs. natives
of North Carolina. The father was born in 1832, be-
ing one of triplets. He and his two brothers were so
near alike that people could not tell the difference.
They are all carpenters and living in Wilkes county
still. The mother of our subject was born in 1839 and
still lives. Her parents were pioneers of North Caro-
lina. Our subject was educated in his native place and
remained there with his parents until he wras twenty-
two. At that age he went to the Pocahontas coal
mines in Virginia and wrought for one year, when he
returned home. Then the desire to see the wist was
the main thing that led him to Nez Perces county
and in 1886, lie engaged in the stock business here
and two years later he took land. Since that time
he has been one of the active factors in building up
this country and he is to-day one of the heavy land
owners in the vicinity. He has three farms, one all
under cultivation and well improved with buildings,
while another has one hundred acres under culti-
vation and the third is all fenced and used for pasture.
Mr. Gibbs is investing more and more in land and
stock. He also handled a mercantile business and a
hotel and liverv stable in Morrow, but recentlv sold
them all and is now devoting himself to his stock and
land. At present he is making his home in Morrow
and is one of the leading citizens and a man who com-
mands the respect of all. Mr. Gibbs is a member of
the I. O. O. F. He is a stanch Democrat with energy
and able to give a reason for his political faith. His
party nominated him for sheriff of Nez Perces county
but with the ticket he suffered defeat. Mr. Gibbs has
the following brothers and sisters : Maggie Davis, who
died in this" county two years since ; Nancy Walker,
Sarah Gibbs, Ellen Davis, Martin, Thomas, all in
North Carolina. Mr. Gibbs is one of the most active
workers for good schools in the district and is always
allied on the side of advancement and those measures
which are for the general welfare.
HON. JOSEPH L. MEEK will live in the mem-
ory of the northwest as long as worthy descendants of
noble pioneers are interested in the achievements of
those intrepid men and women who gave to us this
grand country. He was one of the most unique and
daring characters in the entire northwest and his
name is indissolubly linked with its history as his
deeds and accomplishments are with its subjugation
and civilization. Since it is utterly impossible for
us in this capacity to give a complete history of a man
of national reputation and so prominent as he, as it
would take a whole volume to accomplish this inter-
esting undertaking, we will give an epitome.
Joseph L. Meek was born in Virginia on Febru-
ary 9, 1810, and was a cousin of President Polk. He
inherited the stirring spirit of the old Virginia cheva-
liers and in March, 1829. went to the Rockies and
for eleven years was a hunter and trapper. Personally,
he was a man above six feet in his stockings, well
formed and active as a deer, while his spirit never
knew fear. These qualities coupled with his love for
adventure and the wilds of the west led him to take
hold of his chosen life with a zest and keen relish
and he was always known as one of the most daring
of frontiersmen, skillful and sagacious, unconquered
by fatigue or hardship and always ready for the most
dangerous exploit or expedition. Being well endowed
with natural talent and passing a life of constant ad-
venture and thrilling escapes, his bright memory
could give the exact accounts which Frances Fuller
Victor wove into the entrancing volume, River of the
West. Later in life, Mr. Meek delivered a very in-
teresting and taking lecture, entitled "From the Wig-
wam to the Whitehouse :" being accounts of his various
experiences. At one time he held a seat in the lower
house at Washington and on August 14. 1848, was
appointed by President Tolk Dnited States Marshal
of Oregon, it being then organized. He re-
turned to Oregon and filled the office with
efficiency until 1853 and then he retired to
private life. At the time of the Whitman massacre,
Jo Meek was sent by the provincial legislature to Wash-
ington to announce the tidings and lay the matter
before the president and also to gain such legislation
HON. JOSEPH L. MEEK
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
i6q
as could be given for the benefit of the west. He ac-
complished the trip across the Rockies in the dead
of winter and on to Washington in an incredibly short
time, where he was a guest in the Whitehouse. His
stay there is a matter of history and when the early-
days of autumn came, he bade farewell to the scenes
of the nation's capital, accepted the commission from
President Polk, and turned his face toward the
weary trials of the west and bivouacked later where
rolls the Oregon, in the land where he had achieved
and was to achieve much for the advancement of the
country and the making of a state.
Adapting himself to the cause he had taken. up,
Mr. Meek married a native woman, who was murdered
by the Indians. He married a second time and later
took as his wife a maiden of sixteen years, whom he
named Virginia, in honor of his native state. She was
born in the year 1820 on Clearwater river near the
present site of Ka"miah and was a full blood Ne^
Perce. To this couple were born the following issue,
Courtney W., Olive L., wife of Wm. Riley, Jennie,
wife of Chas. Newhard, Joseph L., Stephen A. D.
They all have good allotments of land in Idaho and
possess the spirit of their father.
On January 20, 1875, Air. Meek was called to
depart this, life and his last hours were spent on the
old donation claim in Washington county, Oregon.
His wife died March 5, 1000, aged eighty ; she had
been a faithful companion in all his labors and achieve-
ments in Oregon.
JOHN LIVENGOOD is one of the pioneers of
the reservation, having located on his present farm on
November 18, 1895, the day the reservation was
thrown open for settlement. He has devoted himself
to farming and stockraising since that time and has
had abundant success in it all.
John Livengood was born in Indiana, on March
19, 1854, the son of David and Elizabeth (Tilery)
Livengood, of German descent and natives of Penn-
sylvania and Kentucky, respectively. Our subject was
educated in the public schools in his native place
and in 1874 he moved to Topeka, Kansas, where he
farmed and raised stock for seventeen years. In 1890
he crossed the plains to Moscow, and there farmed.
Soon, however, he was at Leland in the freighting
business. This was the home of the family until the
reservation opened and then he came to his present
place about two miles northwest from Mohler and
took a homestead. At this time Mr. Livengood had
a race to secure his land but his skill and grit gave
him success and he got the prize. Among other im-
provements, he has doubtless the best well on the
reservation, it costing over five hundred dollars. The
estate is one of great value and has been improved in
excellent shape. He and his sons farm this with
enough rented land to make nine hundred acres and
last year their threshing bill alone, exclusive of all
other expenses was thirteen hundred dollars, which
indicates the mammoth business thev are handling.
In Topeka, Kansas, on Noyember 2, 1877, Mr.
Livengood married Miss Emma A. Ferguson, a native
of Cass countv, Missouri, and to them have been born
the following' children : Arthur T., Walter W., Ella
M., wife of Robert Read, at Prescott, Washington;
Otto, Nora P., Urban, Ernest. The two eldest sons
are married. Mr. Livengood is a Democrat in national
politics but in other matters he always votes for the
man.
ANDREW E. ROE-BINS is one of the industri-
ous raid stirring men of Nez Perces county and by his
skill in handling the resources of the country and by
his thrift he has accumulated a good holding in this
world's goods in the years in which he has domiciled
here. He was born in Overton county, Tennessee, in
1863, being the son of Preston and Sinda (Rucart)
Robbins, both of whon died when he was small. He
was then placed with relatives and to use his express-
ion, "I had to dig for a living" and continued in this
strenuous line until grown to manhood. Being thus
associated with others his education was neglected and
he has had to secure training in later years. When
eighteen vears old he came out in the world for himself
and commenced to work for wages. Then he teamed
and later farmed for himself. After some time in these
two occupations he came to Seattle and there teamed
for some time. Next we see him in Prescott, Wash-
ington, where he farmed for four years, and then lo-
cated a homestead in the Weippe country, which he
relinquished back to the government later, and in 1898
he came to Leland and located one hundred and forty-
four acres three miles south of this place. He devoted
himself to improving and developing it and has a good
place. He also handles considerable stock and in
January, 1903, he came to Leland and bought the only
hotel in the place and since that time he has been
managing it. He made this last move for the purpose
of giving his children schooling.
On November 13, 1879, Mr. Robbins married Miss
Sarah, daughter of V. V. and Frankie (Ashburn)
Vaughn. The wedding occurred in Overton countv,
Tennessee, and Mrs. Robbins is a native of the same
state. Nine children have been born to this union,
named as follows: Laura A.. Minnie A., Emma L.,
Addie A., Echo H, Idaho V., Zelma F, Granville,
deceased, and an infant son not named. Mr. and Mrs.
Robbins are members of the Presbyterian church and
are devout and exemplary people.
F. B. PRINE is one of the early pioneers in Ore-
gon and his name is immovably printed in the history
of the state and his works, as a courageous and hardy
frontiersman, have accomplished much for the up-
building and civilization of the state. He was born in
Missouri, in 1841, the son of Frank and Elsie
(Dealey) Prine. In 1853, he came overland to Oregon
and settled in Linn county. There he received his edu-
cation and remained until 1868, in which year he came
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
where Prineville is now situated, settled, located the
town and named it. He remained there until 1875
and then went to Silver City and mined, later sought
the precious metal in Boise, after which he settled in
Weston. Oregon, and opened a shop. Mr. Prine had
previously became a skilled blacksmith and for
twenty-five years he beat the anvil in Weston
to the tinie of honest industry and skillful
work, being one of the substantial and re-
spected citizens. Then, it being 1902, he became
animated with the spirit of migration and Lapwai
was the fortunate town to receive his residence. He
opened a shop and at once had a good business and
since that time he has continued here giving his atten-
tion to his trade. In 1862, Mr. Prine had passed
through this section and in 1865 he soldiered here for
eleven months.
In 1867 occurred the marriage of Mr. Prine and
Miss Eliza Sylvester, a native of England, and to
them have been born two children. Frank D., the
first white child born in Prineville ; Cora Bell, now
the wife of Clifford Tucker, at Weston. The son is
married and lives in British Columbia. Mr. Prine is
a man of good substantial qualities and has made a
first class record and done a worthy labor in his vari-
ous capacities on the frontier and in building up the
country.
FRANK E. HARRIS. The excellent ability and
industry of our subject coupled with integrity and
geniality have lead him to give strict attention to a
thriving business guided by a skillful hand, and have
given him the excellent prestige which he enjoys at this
time together with the good will and esteem of all.
Frank T. Harris was born in Highland, Wisconsin,
on June 21. 1874, being the son of William and
Catherine (Sleep) Harris, natives of England. They
were married in Wisconsin and the mother died in
Darlington, in that state, in June, 1884, aged twenty-
nine. The father of our subject came to the United
States with his father when he was a boy, settled in
Wisconsin and there learned the shoemaker's trade.
He now owns and operates a shoe store in Pullman,
Washington. Our subject attended school in Wis-
consin until eleven and then came to Genesee, where
he studied some more. The father operated a drug
store and Frank early learned the apothecary's art.
In 1893 he went to Spokane and engaged with the
Spokane Drug Company, a wholesale and retail con-
cern. He served a proper time there and then spent
one vear in surveying. When the call came for troops
in the Philippine 'struggle, he pressed to the front and
enlisted in Company D, First Idaho Volunteers, under
Captain Edward Smith of Moscow, and Colonel Fig-
ginson. Mr. Harris participated in the first battle
of Manila and continued in the conflict until its sur-
render. He was in thirteen battles and skirmishes.
On August 25, 1899, he returned and in the same year
he bought the business which his father was conduct-
ing in I.eland, he having come thither from Genesee.
Our subject has two brothers and one sister, William,
in North Dakota : Frederick, in Spokane ; Cora, wife
of H. Sampson, at Harrison. Idaho. He also has two
half-brothers and two half-sisters, John, in North
Yakima ; Herbert, in Pullman : Beulah and Ethel, with
their parents.
On April 30, 1901, Mr. Harris married Mabel,
daughter of Mary (Johnson) Chapman. The father
died" in Dixie, Washington, in April, 1899. The
mother is still living in Washington. Mrs. Harris was
born in Iowa, on June 15, 1884. and her wedding
occurred in Lewiston. She was educated in the graded
and high school in Lewiston. Mr. Harris is a member
of .the I. O. O. F., Leland Lodge No. 90.
GEORGE A. CHAPMAN, a farmer and stock-
man, whose efforts of industry and thrift have been
rewarded with a good property' holding, lives one
fourth of a mile west from Fletcher, and is one of the
substantial and leading men of the section. He was
born in Tama county, Iowa, on June 9. 1874, being
the son of Thomas C. and Matilda J. (Hall) Chap-
man, whose efforts of industry and thrift have been
parents were pioneers of that state and Iowa. The
mother of our subject was born in 1848, in Penn-
sylvania, and her parents were pioneers in that state
and Iowa, and her mother is living in Iowa aged over
eighty. When George was ten the family came to
Buffalo county, Nebraska, and there he completed his
education. In 1893, he came with his parents to
Troy, Latah county, and in April, 1896, took his present
place as a homestead.- This has been the home since
that time and it is a well improved and valuable place,
sixty acres being under cultivation, while he also farms
eighty acres adjoining. He handles many hogs, hav-
ing fine thoroughbred Poland China and Berkshire.
On July 11. 1900. Mr. Chapman married Miss
Norah E.. daughter of Richard C. and Mary E. (Tip-
ton) Young. Mrs. Chapman was born in Dayton,
Washington, on September 3, 1879, and has the fol-
lowing named brothers and sisters : Jonathan T.,
Frank. Edward K. Alexander. David H., John W.,
Charles C, James J.. India Dove, Amelia E. Clark,
Rosie B. Young. Maggie J. Davis. Mr. Chapman has
seven brothers and sisters. Agnes S. Willoughby, Will-
iam E., Roy T.. Irene Nichols, Lola, Minnie Regan,
Jessie. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs.
Chapman, Ivan S.. born April 7, 1901 ; Edna, born
May 17. 1902. Mr. Chapman is a Republican and
active in the campaigns. Fraternally he is affiliated
with the W. W.. Phiney Camp. No. '492, of Fletcher.
Mr. Young was born in Rush county, Indiana, on
June 11, 1831, and bis wife was born in Ohio, October
28, 1834. Mr. Young's father, Alex Young, came
came from his native land, Scotland, to Virginia,
thence to Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, thence
to Fleming county, Kentucky, where he married.
He took part in the war of 1812 and received a forty
acre tract of land in Washington county, Iowa, for his
services. Thither the family came and Richard was
reared and educated there. He enlisted in the Eighth
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
171
Iowa Infantry on August 10, 1861, and was honorably
discharged on June 11, 1864, having done excellent
service. He was in Missouri under Fremont and Mc-
Kenzie, participated in the conflict of Pittsburg Land-
ing, was captured and languished at Macon, Georgia,
for sixty days before he was exchanged and his
company reorganized at St. Louis. He fought through
the battles on the Mississippi, was at Champion Hill
ami Vicksburg. His company was after Johnson when
he retreated. He was discharged at Davenport, Iowa,
on account of sickness and continued to live in Iowa
until 1869. Then came a move to Kansas, whence he
came to Oregon, in June, 1877, following which he
went to Columbia county, Washington, and finally to
Whitman county. In June, 1897, he removed to
Fletcher, where he now resides.
WILLIAM A. INGLE. Among the pioneers of
this portion of Nez Perces county should be mentioned
the estimable gentleman and thrifty farmer and stock-
man whose name is at the head of this article and
who has labored for the development of the resources
of the country in a becoming and wise manner for
a good many years, having now the need of a good
property which his industry and thrift have accumu-
lated. Mr. Ingle was born in Benton county,
Arkansas, on May 25, 1856, being the son of James
T. and Nancy J. (Brantley) Ingle, natives of Ten-
nessee. They emigrated to Arkansas and there, in
1900, the mother died and was buried in the Bloom-
field cemetery, and the father still lives in Bloomfield.
William A. received a common school education and
remained with his father until the age of eighteen,
when he married Miss Malinda P. Voding, and the
same year, 1874, came with his bride to Wralla W'alla,
where he remained for one year and then removed to
southern Idaho, remaining one year, when he went
back to Arkansas. That state was his home until
1883, when he again came west, purchasing eighty
acres where he now lives, about three miles south from
Genesee. He has added since one hundred and
thirty acres by purchase. His estate is one of great
fertility and is in a high state of cultivation, pro-
ducing abundant crops. In addition to general farm-
ing and raising fruit, he handles a bunch of cattle,
having about forty head and he sells a number every
year. Mr. Ingle has fine and comfortable buildings
and is a wise farmer, having everything cared for in
good shape.
To Mr. and Mrs. Ingle there have been born the
following children : Charles S., married to Tilda
Tunning and living in this county; Maud L.. wife of
James Willows and living in this county ; Thomas
F., living in Genesee ; Bonnie E., Minnie J. and
Iva, the last three living at home and attending school.
Mrs. Ingle's parents, Elga and Jane (Gleen) Voding,
natives of Tennessee and Kentucky, respectively,
moved to Arkansas where the father died and is in-
terred in the Decatur cemetery. The mother is still
living, her home being in Maple City, Kansas. Mr.
Mr. Ingle is a member of the W. of W. and also of
the Christian church, while his wife affiliates with the
Methodist church. Mr. Ingle is one of the substantial
men of the county and has demotistrated his ability
and worth, in his walk, both in business operations
and in social life, as well as in manifestation of true
Christian uprightness and candor.
ELECTUS M. FROST. A pioneer of various
sections, a veteran of the terrible war of the Rebellion,
a capable and public minded citizen, and now one of
the well to do farmers in the vicinity of Melrose, the
subject of this article is granted consideration in this
volume by right.
Electus M. Frost was born in Bradford county,
Pennsylvania, on June 22, 1841, being the son of John
O. and Jane CWilsie) Frost, natives of Connecticut,
and died in 1857 and 1859, respectively. The father
was born in 1808. Electus received his education in
Pennsvlvania and when sixteen his father died and
he and his older brother were called upon to support
the family. Two years later the mother died and our
subject went to do for himself. He learned the shoe-
maker's trade and wrought at it until the breaking out
of the war, when he laid all aside and enlisted in
Company I, Sixth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry,
under General Meade. He also served under General
McClellan. He participated in the battles of Gaines-
ville and some skirmishes and in 1862, he was dis-
charged for disability. Returning home he wrought
at his trade until 1879. having taken a journey" to
California in the meantime, the year of that excursion
being 1872. In 1879 he bought a farm and tilled it
until 1887, when he came west to Latah county and
bought a farm of two hundred and eighty-five acres.
He did general farming and raised horses, and did well.
In 1893 he was pinched in the crash and sold one
hundred and twenty-five acres of land. He made that
his home until 1901, when he came to the reservation
and secured a quarter where he now lives, one and one
half miles south of Melrose. He also owns the
quarter in Latah county.
In 1864 Mr. Frost married Miss Mary J., daugh-
ter of Joseph and Eliza A. (Bryan) Warren. The
father was born in Sullivan county, Pennsylvania, in
1798, being the first male white child born there.
His parents were pioneers there from England in 1796
and for one year they did not see a white woman.
The mother of Mrs. Frost was born in Pennsylvania,
in 1808. of English extraction. Mrs. Frost was born
in Pennslvania, Sullivan county, in 1844 and in her
younger years was a teacher in the schools. She had
one sister and one brother, both being dead. Mr.
Frost has one sister and three brothers. Mary Nichols,
in South Carolina: Clayton, John O. and Henry.
The brothers were all through the Civil war. To
Mr. and Mrs. Frost there have been born six children:
Frank, at Ithica. New York, conductor on a railroad:
Cora Collins, in Latah county : John, deceased ; Emma
Fritz and Maud Thomas, in Xez Perces county;
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Fred, at home. Mr. Frost is a member of the Ma-
sonic order and also of the G. A. R. Mrs. Frost is a
devout member of the Methodist church. Mr. Frost
is a Republican and is an active participant in all
questions of government and of local interest.
GEORGE MUCKEN. The reservation country
shows some of the finest tilled farms in the county
and among this number we should mention that owned
by the subject of this article, whose labor and skill
have been well manifested here in his achievements.
George Mucken was born in Prussia, on the Rhine,
on September 29, 1865, being the son of John P. and
Susan Mucken, natives of the same country. Our
subject was educated in the common schools, and
at the age of twenty-one joined the regular army and
served two years. In 1892 he started from Bremen
to New York, leaving his parents and two brothers in
the old country. He came on to Stearns county,
Minnesota, and later to Whitman county, where he
wrought for wages until the reservation opened. He
was on hand and selected his present place, about
three miles northwest from Nezperce and filed the
nineteenth day of November, 1893. He had only five
dollars in cash, but commenced the good work of
improvement with a will and an empty pocket. He
erected a small cabin and was soon at work for a
salary, using the money to improve with until he got
a start and then devoted himself entirely to the culti-
vation and handling of the estate. The result is that
he has a good and valuable farm. In the fall of
1898, Mr. Mucken went back to Germany for a visit
and had a very enjoyable time. He returned the
following spring and went on with his farm improve-
ments.
On April 18, 1900, Mr. Mucken married Miss
Mary E. Seubert, a native of Bavaria, Germany, who
came with her parents to the United States when she
was thirteen. They settled in Illinois, later went to
South Dakota and thence to the reservation in the
spring of 1002. Mrs. Mucken had come three years
previous to that. One child has been born to this
union, Louisa S. Mr. Mucken and his wife are de-
vout members of the Catholic church and are of
excellent standing in the community.
JOSEPH W. STONEBURNER, M. D., is one of
the popular and able physicians of Nez Perces county
and because of his ability, integrity, and skill, he
enjoys a fine practice, having his office and head-
quarters in Leland.
Joseph W. Stoneburner was born in Fairfield
county, Ohio, on February II, 1865, being the son of
Israel and Catherine (Welty) Stoneburner, natives of
Ohio. The paternal grandfather was a native of Vir-
ginia, married in Harper's Ferry to Susan Sowders,
whose ancestors were distillers for generations. He
was a Dunkard preacher. The father of our subject
is living in Decatur, Indiana, aged eighty-eight, being
a retired farmer. He had three brothers who were
preachers in the Dunkard church, one of whom lived
to be ninety-two years old. The mother of our sub-
ject died on November 28, 1870. Her father, Peter
Welty, was of German descent and a native of Vir-
ginia. He was a captain in the Revolution and was
at Valley Forge and crossed the Delaware on the
memorable night of the attack on the Hessians. His
son, Colonel Seth Welty, was a colonel in the Civil war
and is now a prominent attorney in Logan, Ohio.
Our subject attended district school until sixteen, then
entered Valparaiso college, where he studied two years,
after which he learned the art of steam engineering.
During his labor in this calling he saved money enough
to educate a brother and also to put himself through
his professional course. For five years he read medi-
cine and then entered the Eclectic Medical Institute at
Cincinnati, whence he graduated in three years. He
practiced in Berne. Indiana, from July, 1892, to 1898,
then came west to Leland and since that time has been
doing a good practice here. Dr. Stoneburner has three
bi others and two sisters, Jesse W., a preacher in the
Dunkard church ; Abraham, farmer ; John B., a
talented musician and handling a music store ; Mary,
wife of G. W. Woodward, a merchant ; Allie, wife
of W. Kitson, all in Decatur. Dr. Stoneburner is
a member of the A. F. & A. M., Kendrick No. 26;
of the I. O. O. F., being noble grand of Leland,
No. 90 ; of the K. P., being past chancellor of Berne
Lodge, No. 96, in Indiana. He is a stanch Democrat
and has been a delegate to the state and county con-
ventions and this past year was the strongest opponent
to Hunt. The Doctor is popular and well liked as
his good standing and gratifying practice testify.
HON. WILLIAM L. THOMPSON is a man of
decided popularity among the people of Nez Perces
county and he deserves the same for he has been a
laborer here for many years, has ■ demonstrated him-
self to be possessed of keen business ability, has mani-
fested upright principles and integrity and has shown
forth in sterling worth in all his ways.
William L. Thompson was born in Wapello,
Louisa county, Towa, on July 18, 1857, being the son
of Andrew and Elizabeth (Willis) Thompson, natives
of Ohio. The father was born in 1820 and died in
1892. The mother was born in 1822 and is still living.
Our subject was reared in his native place and labored
on the farm and attended school, then earned money
by teaching to gain an academic course at Mt.
Pleasant, Iowa, and then earned more to put him
through the scientific course in the Valparaiso school in
Indiana. He followed teaching until he was twenty-
seven and then set out on the journey to the great
west. He finally landed in Nez Perces county and
finding resources and surroundings congenial and to
his liking he settled on a piece of land about three
miles west from where Morrow now stands and set
to the task of building a home, farming, and raising
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
'73
stock. He has been eminently successful in these
worthy endeavors and has a fine well improved farm
and considerable stock. The estate is a half section
and a valuable piece of land. Mr. Thompson located
the town site of Morrow in 1896, started a store and
soon had a postoffice and since that time has con-
tinued as postmaster to the entire satisfaction of all.
He has been active and influential in putting the edu-
cational affairs of the section in good shape both in
this district and where his land is situated. Mr.
Thompson sold his mercantile establishment in 1900,
and since then has devoted himself to his stock and
farms. He has twice been elected by the people to
represent Nez Perces county in the state legislature,
once in the time when Latah was set off, and once in
1894. He served his constituency to their entire satis-
faction and demonstrated his ability in the halls of
legislation as he had done in the quieter walks of life
here.
On October I, 1888, Mr. Thompson married Miss
Estella, daughter of Hayden and Barbara Smith. The
wedding occurred in Cottonwood. Mrs. Thompson
was born in California on June 4, 1870, and has
three brothers: W. S.. J. H, and C. S., all in Nez
Perces county. Mr. Thompson has the following
named brothers and sisters : Mary Harkness, Nancy
J. Armstrong, Laura E. Gimes, Martha L. DeGarmo,
Olive C. Porter and Oliver, twins, J. F. Seven chil-
dren were born to this worthy couple.Vieva, Voss,
Volney, Vaguno, Vester, Verea and Vivian. Mr.
Thompson was instrumental in establishing the Insti-
tute lodge of the I. O. O. F. in Morrow. His wife
is a member of the Christian church and Mr. Thomp-
son takes great interest in building up the church and
helping in general progress.
JESSE P. WILLIAMS. About two miles south-
east from Fairburn is to be found the home of the sub-
ject of this article. He secured his place, one hundred
and sixty acres of fine timber land, under homestead
right and although he has met with reverses in his
labors since coming here he has gone forward with the
work of improvement and will in time have one of the
excellent farms of the section. He was born in Surry
county. North Carolina, on February 9, 1868, being the
son of Joel W. and Myrtle Lane, natives of the same
county. The father was a school teacher, born in 1832
and married in 1861. The brothers and sisters of our
subject are named as follows, Sarah J., wife of Frank
Day and born August 5, 1864; Nannie Bush, born
February 28, 1866; Mary E. McKee, born in April,
1870; Jonah, born August 12, 1874; William, born in
September, 1876 ; Fannie, wife of Frank Randies, born
in 1876, a twin of William. Our subject was left an
orphan at the age of eleven, worked for strangers for
a living and in the spring of 1899 came to Colfax and
gained a start in working out. Then he came to Nez
Perces county and settled on his present place, where
he has labored since. Politically, he is a Republican.
On February 10, 1895, Mr. Williams married Miss
Salina, daughter of William and Salina E. White, na-
tives of Pennsylvania. The father served in the Re-
bellion. Two children have been born to this marriage,
Anna G., born in Nez Perces county, November 17,
1900; William J., born July 4, 1902.
CHARLES E. MORRIS. It is with pleasure that
we are enabled to grant space in this work to the well
known and talented business man whose name initi-
ates this poragraph for a review of his career. Mr.
Morris is at present time the incumbent of the post-
office at Myrtle, where he is serving in an acceptable
manner, while he also handles a general merchandise
business. In this line, Mr. Morris is achieving a special
success, having both the talent and the reliability to
handle a successful business. He is bright in observ-
ing the class of goods needed, is quick to provide for
the demands of the people, and withal is a man upon
whom the people can rely, and who has won a generous
patronage. This is enabling him to constantly increase
his stock, which is very complete now, and thus is
brought to the doors of the farmers a large assortment
for them to select from, which supplies their wants
cheaper than could be done by expensive trips to the
city.
Charles E. Morris was born in Columbia county,
Washington, on April 19. 1875, being the son of Mason
and Elizabeth M. (Bramlett) Morris. He was raised
in his native county and there gained his education in
the graded schools. In 1886 the family came to Ken-
drick, and there Charles wrought with his father until
of age, when he took land which he farmed until 1901,
then came and bought land where he is now located.
He erected a good store building and at once went into
business. He has five brothers and two sisters.
On October 15, 1899, Mr. Morris married May E.
Glasby, who was born in Kansas on May 16, 1883.
One son, Herschel, born July 31, 1900, and a sturdy,
bright bov. who promises to add laurels to the worthy
labors of his ancestors, has come to bless this happy
home. Mr. Morris stands exceptionally well with the
people, is an affable and genial man, and a thorough
business operator, being alive to the interests both of
his customers as well as the extension of his trade.
THEODORE SCHLUETER is one of the younger
men whose energy and skill have done a good portion
in the excellent work of improving this country and
building up its prosperous condition. He was born in
Hanover, Germany, on May 18, 1867, being the son of
Henry and Elizabeth (Genteman) Schlueter, natives
of Hanover, and born October 17, 1837, and December
18,1842, respectively. The father visited the United
States in 1898 and is still living in his native land. Our
subject was educated and reared in his native land
learning also the carpenter and cabinet maker's trades.
When nineteen he came to the United States and lived
in St. Louis until 1888. Then came a trip to Spokane,
174
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
where he landed one week before the awful fire.
He spent one year in Dakota, however, before he came
to Spokane. He worked on the farm and at his trade
in Spokane for a rear and then went to Adams county.
Washington After two years there he went to the
Blue mountains in 1891 where he remained cutting
wood until 1892.. He visited Uniontown, Whitman
county, and in the fall of 1895, he was on the site of
his present place, which adjoins Fletcher. Mr. Schlue-
ter built the first house on the reservation, it being for
Courtney Meek. In the spring of 1896, he came onto
the homestead and since that time he has given himself
to the work of improvement. He has a good farm,
well improved and raises many thoroughbred Poland
China and Berkshire hogs.
I In I une 7, 1900, Mr. Schlueter married Miss Ce-
cilia J. ' Stollberg, daughter of Joseph and Caroline
Stollberg. natives of Hanover. Mrs. Schlueter was
born in Hanover, on October 6, 1874, and has the fol-
lowing named brothers and sisters, Alois, Edward,
Joseph. Mr. Schlueter has five brothers and sisters,
Frank, Henry, William, Otto. Caroline. Mr. and Mrs.
Schlueter are members of the Catholic church and he
is affiliated with the Catholic Foresters of America.
He also belongs to the M. W. A., being secretary of the
order. Mr. Schlueter is a Democrat and well posted
in the matters of local import.
GEORGE GILLAND. It was in a very early day
that Mr. Gilland found the '"Way of the West" and
since the first he has constantly remained, laboring act-
ively and intelligently in various capacities. At the
present time his home is about one mile west from
Rosetta, while also he is much of the time residing in
Rosetta.
George Gilland was born in Saint Catherines, On-
tario, on January 4, 1830, being the son of Alexander
and Alice' Gilland, natives of Ireland where they were
married and came to Canada shortly before our sub-
ject was born. This stanch Irish blood is one of the
secrets of the sturdy qualities of our subject and of
the .strenuous life he has lived. His father originally
spelled his name Gilliland. He died in December,
1873, aged sixty-five. He was a prominent and influ-
ential citizen in'Michigan as also in other places where
he resided. The mother of our subject lived with her
husband three years in Canada and then they went to
Brooklyn, where Mr. Gilland opened a paint factory,
then operated a lumber yard, and afterwards they came
to Michigan. Our subject was raised in Brooklyn until
sixteen and then came with the balance of the family to
Wayne county, Michigan, and settled near Detroit.
Later they went to Shiawassee county and there the
parents di'ed. At the first draft of the war Mr. Gilland
was taken, but his father hired a substitute for nine
hundred dollars and George went free. In 1865 our
subject came west and contracted ties and square tim-
bers for the UnionPacific, remaining in this until 1868,
when he made his way to Tacoma. He helped build the
first sawmill there, the old Tacoma. Seattle was then a
town of four hundred people. Mr. Gilland labored
there and in various portions of Puget sound until
1891, excepting one year which was spent in mining
in Alaska, in which trip, he was far above Klondike.
In 1891 Mr. Gilland came to Moscow and two years
later went to Southwick where he operated a mill for
one year. Then he mined around Pierce for four years
and in June, 1901, he bought his present place about
fine and one-half miles northwest from Ellensburg.
He rents this farm, as also other property which he
owns. Mr. Gilland is a heavy property owner on the
Sound, having much improved property in Tacoma,
Seattle and various other points, as well as consider-
able unimproved property. In addition he has a good-
ly holding in British Columbia. In all these years of
toil and activity on the frontier, Mr. Gilland has never
deserted the ranks of the bachelors and is still enjoy-
ing the quietude and retirement of the celibatarian. He
is a member of the A. F. & A. M.. Xo. 2. at Steila-
coom, Washington. In politics, Mr. Gilland is a stanch
and intelligent Democrat and is able to handle the ques-
tions of the day with keen insight and discriminating
judgment and is possessed of abundance of courage
and ability to speak out his convictions. He is a po-
tent factor at the conventions and is a man of exten-
sive research and investigation, being a careful thinker
and wide reader. Mr. ( iilland has one brother and one
sister, Edward, a wealthy and prominent farmer in
Michigan ; Alice, wife of Charles Darrows, a merchant
in Traverse City, Michigan. Mr. Gilland has had
many experiences in the frontiersman's life and if they
were related would fill a volume. During the labors
on the Union Pacific, he fought frequently with the
Indians and once was wounded with an arrow. He
has had many narrow escapes and experienced many
thrilling episodes. He is a man of public spirit, is
genial and affable and has hosts of warm friends. His
large holdings give him ample time to travel and in-
vestigate the various lines which his desires may indi-
cate ; he has kept fully abreast of the times and is one
of the substantial men of Xez Perces county, well
known, highly respected and fully worthy of the un-
bounded confidence and esteem generously granted
him by all.
WILLIAM E. STODDARD. The well known
business man mentioned here is one of the promoters of
enterprise and advancement in Nez Perces county in
a telling manner, having been prominent in business,
where he has demonstrated his ability and done a com-
mendable work in building up the country. At present
he is handling the grain warehouse for the Yollmer-
Clearwater Company at Kamiah.
William E. Stoddard was born in Arlington. Yan
Buren county, Michigan, on June 28, 1869, being the
son of Samuel and Harriet (Moden) Stoddard. The
father was born in 1837. in Hartford. Connecticut. He
was descended from John Stoddard, who was born in
Wethersfield, Connecticut, in 1742, probably of Eng-
lish extraction and from that date to the present there
is a full genealogical tree without a break. Our sub-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ject is thus descended from a noble ancestry and it may
be said of him that he in no wise has allowed the ban-
ner to droop. The name was tormerly Standard and
the family dates back to William the Conqueror. Our
subject's father died at Leland, on June 22, 1898. His
mother was a native of England and came to the United
States with her parents at the age of eight. Her par-
ents died, the mother in January, 1900, and the father
in February, 1898. William's mother lives in Benton
Harbor, Michigan.
< lur subject was educated in the public schools and
finished his training in the Spokane Business College.
When eighteen he came to Leland with his father, who
took land where the present town stands. William re-
mained on the farm until 1892, then visited in various
places for a vear when he returned and took charge of
a grain warehouse with the Kendrick Grain Company.
Ft '11' wing his course in the business college he man-
aged the T. S. Cantril Mercantile Company for two
and one half years, manifesting here excellent ability
and gaining a gratifying success. He then operated a
blacksmith shop for a time which was sold. Later, he
ran on the Democratic ticket for assessor and although
he was two hundred ahead of his ticket, he suffered
defeat. He has always been in attendance on the coun-
ty conventions and is a potent factor there. Mr. Stod-
dard is a member of the 1. (J. O. F., Leland No. 90; of
the W. \Y., Leland Camp 327 ; also of the Women of
Woodcraft, Circle 217. Mr. Stoddard served as jus-
tice of the peace for four vears in Leland and was
universally liked in this relation.
On September 1, 1808, Mr. Stoddard married Mary
A., daughter of Samuel J. and Elizabeth (Harris)
Richards, natives of England. The father was a miner
and new is in the employ of J. P. Vollmer. The
mother was married in Wisconsin and died in 1886,
aged thirty-eight. Mrs. Stoddard was born in Mineral
Point. Wisconsin, on January 13, 1880. She has one
brother and one sister. Joseph F., a hardware merchant
in Alberta ; Annie L., wife of John H. Day, a shoe
dealer in Mineral Point. Two children have been born
to Mr. and Mrs. Stoddard, Rosetta E. and Elsworth S.
Mrs. Stoddard was educated in Illinois. Mr. Stoddard
owns the land over which the Kendrick tramway runs.
WILLIAM W. WRIGHT. After a long period
of intelligent labor in developing and building up the
various sections where he has resided, the gentleman
whose name appears above is now living a quiet and
retired life in Lookout, where he is also giving some
attention to the duties of vegetable gardening and
handle- the business of a notary public.
William W. Wright was born in Marion county,
Indiana, on May 6, 1839, being the son of Adam and
Judith ( I'.ollibaugh ) Wright, natives of North Caro-
lina, as also were their parents. The paternal grand-
father of our subject served in the Revolution, died in
Marion county aged cue hundred and four in the year
1842. The father of William was a stanch Democrat,
active in politics find served for sixteen years as pro-
bate judge of Marion county. He died on September
12, 185 1, aged fifty-two years. The mother of our sub-
ject came from a prominent Dutch family and she
died in November. 1850, aged fifty. William W. was
raised in Indiana until thirteen and then came to Iowa
with his brother-in-law, he being his guardian, both
parents having died. This gentleman was Thomas
Burns and when his ward came of age, a fair estate
was delivered to him from the father's property. Will-
iam remained with Mr. Burns until he was eighteen
and then went to do for himself. When twenty-one he
settled on the portion left him from his father's estate
and later removed to Clarke county and bought land
from the proceeds of the sale of the former property.
Nineteen years he toiled in Clarke county and in 1882,
he came to Idaho and took land near Kendrick. Sev-
enteen years were spent there in its cultivation and he
then came to Lookout, where he owns a small tract
of timber land and considerable town property. Mr.
Wright has one brother, Nathaniel T., with the Capi-
tal Mills Company, in San Francisco. Mr. Wright is
a zealous and active Republican and has participated
in the conventions, both county and state. For twenty
years he did service on the school board and has also
been a hard worker for good roads in the places where
he has resided. Mr. Wright is a member of the
Christian church and holds a life scholarship in the
Bible department of the Oskaloosa College in Iowa.
This was secured in 1863. He is a highly respected
citizen, a man of ability and has won the esteem and
approbation of the people who know hint.
JAMES DENNIS. Since the early days of open-
ing of the reservation, the subject of this sketch has
toiled well here with display of wisdom and industry
in the manipulation of the resources of the county and
the result is that he now owns a fine farm one-half
mile west from Mohler of one hundred and sixty acres
and he operates eighty more.
James Dennis was born in Wyandotte county, ( >hio,
on August 10, 1849, being the son of Jonas I. and Sarah
(Henry) Dennis, natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania, re-
spectively. The. father, who was a tanner, was born in
1814 and died in Wisconsin, on January 14. 1857. His
parents were pioneers in Ohio, as he was in Wisconsin.
The mother of our subject came from an old Dutch
family and she died March 18, 1893. James was reared
and educated in Wisconsin and when eighteen went to
Marion county. Iowa. There and in Madison county
he remained eleven vears. In the spring of 1878, he
went to Kansas and later returned to Cass county,
Iowa. In 1882 he came to Cheney, Washington, with
the Hoyt colony. They shipped wagons and horses
to Silver Bow, Montana, and went thence over the old
Mullan road to Washington. He labored at railroad-
ing near Sandpoint and in 1883 took a homestead
near Oakesdale. In the spring of 1893 he sold out
and bought property in < lakesdale. In [897 .Mr. Den-
nis leased school land where he now lives and on De-
cember 24, 1901. he purchased the same at auction. He
i76
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
has done excellent work in farming and enjoys the
proper reward of thrift and industry.
On January 10, 1876, Mr. Dennis married Miss
Ruhama R.. daughter of Justus and Nancy E. (Cain)
Wade. The father, a plasterer by trade, was born in
1839. and enlisted in an Iowa regiment and died from
exposure in the war, in December, 1866. The mother
was born on February 20, 1836, in Indiana, and now
lives in Spokane. Airs. Dennis was born in Lucas
county, Iowa, on October 6, 1858, and has five brothers
and sisters, George W., Justus E., Victoria Gertz,
Cora Ingalls, Flora Willis. The brothers and sisters
of Mr. Dennis are named as follows : John, Flora A.
Bnkcr. Mary E. McMillen, William, Margaret Long,
Charles, Isaiah, Edward, Jennie, deceased, Ira. To
Mr. and Mrs. Dennis one child, Nellie M. Giles, was
born on May 25, 1877, who is now living in Mohler.
Mr. and Mrs. Dennis are members of the Methodist
church.
EDWARD J. NORTHCUTT is a veritable pio-
neer of the pioneers and has a history that is well
worth chronicling in any volume that attempts to
outline the history of Nez Perces county. He is
really the father of Culdesac, which is one of his late
ventures in life, his former career being spent on the
frontier in all the leading western sections.
Edward J. Northcutt was born in Urbana, Ohio,
on May 6, 1830, being the son of Willis and Sarah
(Furman) Northcutt, farmers. The father was born
in Ohio, his father being of Scotch extraction and a
pioneer of that region. The mother of our subject
was born in Ohio of English parentage, and their
ancestors came from Kentucky and Virginia. Three
children of the family are living, Charles W., a
mechanic; Frances A., widow of Mr. Wheeler, residing
in Tacoma; Emma -M.. wife of Bedford Jackson,
a farmer on Cottonwood creek. Mr. Northcutt is
now engaged in erecting a flour mill at Culdesac,
which enterprise he is carrying on for a company,
having collected twelve hundred dollars bonus for it.
He is the owner of some fine residence property, also
the livery barn operated by Mr. Watkins, besides other
property. Mr. Northcutt helped to survey the town
site and 1899 marks the date of his arrival on the
spot. Mr. Northcutt has been a pioneer of the Pacific
coast for over fifty-one years and always has been
foremost in the good labor of developing the country
and fostering industries for its upbuilding. He is
now past seventy-one and is hale and hearty, being
robust and ready for the activities of life. No sick-
ness has come upon his to mar his life and he is free
from all doctor bills. Mr. Northcutt in these fifty
odd years has undergone deprivations and hardships
that few could sustain, but he has never flinched and
is now a leader in the line of progress. In 185 1, Mr.
Northcutt left Illinois and came with wagon train
through to the coast. He crossed the Missouri where
Omaha now stands and the first night out the In-
dians plundered the camp but because of the fierce
resistance offered by the emigrants led by Mr. North-
cutt they got but one steer. The next day Mr. North-
cutt was chosen captain of the train, which he piloted
through, having many trying experiences and some
severe fighting with the Indians.
Mr. Northcutt has been married three times, and
his first wife, whom he married in 1853, was the first
single white woman in the Rogue river valley. He
fought the Indians there and mined, and during that
time drafted the first mining laws of the territory
of Oregon. Much of his life has been spent in trap-
ping and scouting and the mountain topography of
the entire northwest is familiar to him. He helped
to establish the post at Lapwai and was familiar with
all the early history of this region.
.Mr. Northcutt built the grade at Wawawai where
the Palouse grain was hauled to the river before the
railroads. On his farm near Pullman, Washington,
Mr. Northcutt raised one hundred and one bushels
of wheat on one acre, which went to the World's Fair
m Chicago in 1893. He is a man of sound judgement
and great resources, has always labored for -the good
of the community where he has resided and to him
is very much due for the upbuilding and progress of
much of the entire northwest.
ARTHUR J. MILLS. Whatever enterprises are
for the benefit of the people in general, whether good
schools, good churches, or good government, they al-
ways find an ardent and intelligent champion in Mr.
Mills. He is one of the progressive, reliable and capa-
ble men of the vicinity of Melrose, whose labors have
assisted materially in opening the country and making
a fertile iand from a wilderness.
Arthur J. Mills was born in Guthrie county, Iowa,
on October 20, 1867, being the son of Hadley and
Margaret (Bowles) Mills, natives of Indiana. The
father was born on March 16. 1844, and now lives in
Lyon county, Kansas. He was a soldier in the Civil
war in the Forty-sixth Iowa Regiment, under Col-
onel D. B. Henderson. His mother bought govern-
ment land where Stuart now stands. She was born
in 1845 and died in 1889. Arthur grew to the age of
fifteen in Iowa, attending school and working with his
father on the farm. In 1882 the family went to Kansas
and settled in Jewell county and there our subject con-
tinued at school until he was twenty. At that age, he
took up farming for himself. He worked one year in
Cherokee county and then sold out and came to Latah
county. In the spring of 1897 he came to the reserva-
tion country and since that time he has continued here
in the good work of development and improvement.
His farm of eighty acres lies about one mile southwest
from Melrose and is one of the places that produces
abundant crops of diversified grains, while also Air.
Mills raises cattle and hogs. On February 22, 1897,
at Moscow, Latah county, Idaho, Mr. Mills married
Cora A. McKinzie, daughter of Sterling N. and Re-
becca (Ousterhouse) Bunce. and to them two children
have been born, Margie E. and Edward S. Mr.
Bunce is a farmer in Nez Perces countv and he and
EDWARD J. NORTHCUTT.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
177
his wife were born in Massachusetts. Mrs. Mills was
born in Michigan in 1874 anil she has the following
brothers and sisters: Clara Buttrey, Grace Rancier,
Mattie Buttrey Bernie. Mr. Mills has two brothers
and two sisters. Emery H.. Rhoda M. Dobbins, Will-
iam C. and Edith Mills. Mr. Mills is a member of
the I. O. O. F., and the W. W. at Melrose. He is a
Democrat, but does not press for preferment in po-
litical matters. Air. Mills is of excellent standing in
the community and is a good, reliable and capable
citizen.
Mr. and Mrs. Mills by former marriages have
children as follows: Irma, Earl H. and Maude Mc-
Kenzie.
WILLIAM TIMMONS. A progressive and suc-
cessful farmer and stockman, living on a farm secured
by the homestead right from the wilds of the reserva-
tion, the worthy subject of this article is to be num-
bered among the leading citizens of his community
and to be accredited with much good labor wrought
both for his private business enterprises and for the ad-
vancement of the county.
William Timmons was born in Marion, Linn
county, Iowa, on January 10, 1844, being the son of
Thomas and Elizabeth (Mallett) Timmons. The
father was born in Ohio, in 181 r, and died in 1898,
having been one of the earliest settlers in the territory
of Iowa. The mother of our subject was born in Ken-
tucky in 1821 and died in 1887. Her people were also
natives of Kentucky and removed to Indiana on pack
horses. This daughter was thirteen before she saw a
wagon. Our subject grew to manhood in the vicinity
of Colesburg. Iowa, and there received his education
and assisted his father until he was twenty-one. He
then bought a .farm in Nodaway county, Missouri,
and tilled it for two years. Next we see him in Floyd
county, Iowa, and five years later, he went thence to
Wayne county. Nebraska, with his two brothers,
Henry and Stephen, and for three years tilled the soil
there. He removed then to Grant, on the Columbia
river in Oregon, thence to Adams county, Washington,
then to Lincoln county. Six years later he went to
Cornwall, Latah county, and when the reservation
opened he settled on his present place, two miles south-
west from Melrose. He has a good farm, raises
cereals and flax, with hogs and cattle and is prosperous
in his labors.
On March 28, i86q, Mr. Timmons married Miss
Mary C, daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Rati-
baugh) Anderson, the wedding occurring in Nodaway
county, Missouri. Mr. Anderson was a farmer anil
carpenter: he and his wife were descended from the
Dutch in Pennsylvania. Mrs. Timmons was born in
Pennsylvania, in 185 }, and has the following sisters:
Kate Shaffer. Ann Overdorf, Susie Bishop. Air. Tim-
mons has the following brothers and sisters : Benjamin.
Stephen, Jesse, Henry and Edward. The following
children have been born to Mr. and Airs. Timmons :
Lizzie Clark, in Washington ; Hattie Lowary, in Nez
Perces county ; Addie Hill, in Nez Perces county :
Jacob, Thomas, Ruth, Robert, all at home. Mr. Tim-
mons is a member of the I. O. O.F., at Melrose, while
in political matters, he is an active and stanch Re-
publican. He is treasurer of the school board and
has ever been a zealous advocate for better education
for the rising generations, and to that end better
schools.
WILLIAM C. BUTLER. Our subject has not
only been a pioneer in various sections of the west
in doing agricultural work, but is at the present time
operating the first meat market opened in Gifford,
where he is doing a good business. Mr. Butler is well
known in Nez Perces county and has a first class
standing, is well respected by all and is a man of
worth and integrity.
William C. Butler was born in Linn county, Ore-
gon, on December 9, 1869, being the son of Jason R.
and Alary (Fields) Butler. The parents, as also the
two brothers and six sisters of our subject, are men-
tioned elsewhere in this work. William C. was raised
and educated in Linn county and Benton county. Ore-
gon, and when eighteen he came in company with his
brother, T. AI., to Grant county and there followed
ranch work for two years. When twenty-one he came
to the vicinitv of Juliaetta and wrought on a farm until
i8<)4. then rented with his brother one year on the
reservation and also filed on a quarter section, which
he cultivated for six years. This land was sold in the
spring of 1002, and Air. Butler bought a ranch near
Juliaetta, which he is overseeing at the present time
in connection with his labors in the meat market. Air.
Butler owns a residence ?.nd a good business estab-
lishment in Gifford and is one of the substantial men
of that town. Air. Butler is a Republican, and in
school matters, as also in reference to roads, he has
done much hard labor for betterment and upbuilding,
being a man of enterprise and progressive ideas.
On July 22, 1894, Mr. Butler married Aliss
Prudie E. Richardson, who was born in Nez Perces
county, on November 20, i860. Four children have
been born to this marriage, Mary S., Marion, de-
ceased, lohn R. and Floyd A. Airs. Butler has one
sister and one brother. George W., residing near Julia-
etta : Ida AI., wife of Senator Louis Clark, who is
mentioned in this work. Her parents are John A. and
Susannah (Harrington) Richardson. The father was
a pioneer in Oregon and participated in the early In-
dian wars, and now lives in Juliaetta.
THADDEUS T. MAYNARD. This well-to-do
farmer and highly respected citizen is one whose
labors have made Nez Perces county what she is to-
day, one of the leading counties in the entire state.
He took land three and one-half miles west from Mel-
rose in 1807, it being wild, and since then he has trans-
formed it into a fertile and valuable farm, very pro-
ductive and tilled in a becoming manner.
Thaddeiis T. Alavnard was born in Yam Hill
i73
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
countv I >regon, on March 25, 1869. being the son of
John'W. and Mary (.Merchant) Maynard. The
father was born in Ohio, served in the Home Guards
in Iowa, not being able to enlist in the regular army
on account of his youth. His brother served four
years in the Civil war. The mother of our subject was
born in Yam Hi!! county and her parents were pioneers
there. Air. Merchant was given a large grant of
about one thousand acres of land to induce other set-
tlers. This was in 1842 and the Indians were in pos-
session. The old homestead .house is now standing
where the neighbors gathered when the Indians at-
tacked them. " Thaddeus was raised in Yam Hill
countv until twelve, was educated in the public schools
and then the family removed to Pullman, where he was
educated in the college. He stayed with his father on
the large stock farm until 1897, and then came to the
reservation and took his present place. He has a
good place, tills it well and is rewarded by good re-
turns
Mr. Mavnard has one brother, Jay, and three
sisters. Kiltie, wife of W. E. Gage, warehouseman in
Lind, Washington, and also owner of a large body of
land ; Lvdia, wife of I. H. McDougall, railroad agent
at Vollrner; Jennie, wife of R. D. Ryre, a harness-
maker in Whitman county. Air. Maynard is a member
of the M. W. A.. Melrose Camp. Politically, he is a
Republican.
On Julv 5. 1892, Mr. Maynard married Maude,
daughter of Cahill and Ruth (Dick) Richardson, na-
tives of Indiana, now living in Melrose. Mrs. May-
nard was born in Kokomo, Indiana, in 1867, and has
two brothers and five sisters, Byron, a mechanic in
Whitman county: Dick, at home; Pearl, wife of J.
R. Standlev. at Mohler : Winnie, wife of Joseph
Leach, in Colton, Washington : Georgia, wife of Dick
Denny, at Melrose; Mary and Zoe. single and at home.
Six children have been born to Mr. and .Mrs. May-
nard. Mildred, Violet. Magell. Patty, Zell and Mona.
JOHN McKENNA, a man of stirring energy and
possessed of those qualities which bring success in
the business affairs of this life, is one of the substan-
tial farmers and well-to-do stockmen of the vicinity
of Fletcher. The gaining of his present farm home
was attended with a display of determination and win-
ning energy. On the night of November 17, at the
stili hours" of midnight, he laid the four corners of his
present farm, broke some land and then hied away to
the land office to file.
John McKenna was born in Philadelphia, on Janu-
ary* 14, i860, being the son of John and Anna (Mc-
Kenna) McKenna, natives of county Derry, Ireland.
The father was born in 1832. came to America in 1857,
settled in Pennsylvania, where he engaged in dairying
until his deatli in 1887. The mother died in
1866. Our subject was reared by an uncle. James Mc-
Kenna, in Wilmington, Delaware. He was educated
there and when twenty, came to Portland, landing
there in July, 1880. Thence he made his way to Waits-
burg, Wa-hington, where lie freighted for five years
then took a pre-emption. In 1886 he went on the Ore-
gon side of the Snake above the Salmon and raised
horses. In the fall of 1895 Mr. McKenna came to
the reservation with Samuel Phiney, who founded
Fletcher. He took his farm as mentioned and has
devoted himself to raising diversified crops and stock.
He has some fine Shorthorn Durhams and is prospered
in his labors.
On May 8. 1804, Mr. McKenna married Miss Min-
nie, laughter of Richard and Jennie (Williamson)
Fay, natives of Pennsylvania and born in 1842 and
December 31, 1856. respectively. The father went
from his native state to Missouri, thence to the Grande
Ronde valley, Oregon, thence to Wallowa county and
there he died on February 4. 1899. Mrs. McKenna
was born August 23. 1874, in Crawford county, Penn-
sylvania, and has the following named brothers and
sisters: Clara Hensley, Ida, Walter, all in Wallowa
county. Mr. McKenna has four brothers and sisters,
James, Rosa. Mary, Anna, all in Pennsylvania. To Mr.
and Mrs. McKenna two children have been born,
Anna, born Jul}". 1896. Paul, born January 9, 1897.
Mr. and Mrs. McKenna are members of the Catholic
church and in politics he is a Democrat.
LATTIN L. POTTER is a man of intelligence
and good capabilities and has devoted himself assidu-
ously t<i the labor of improving his fine farm, about
two miles southwest from Gifford. where he has
brought about a good display of what wisdom and
energy can do with the wild soil of this country.
Air. Potter was born in Rock county, Wisconsin,
on September 21, 1867, being the son of John G. and
S. Emily (Scoville) Potter. The father was born in
New York, came to Whitman county in 1877, anc" "s
now a retired farmer in Colfax. The mother of our
subject was born in Ohio, married in Wisconsin and
is now living in Colfax. Lattin L. was reared in Wis-
consin until lie was ten years of age and then came to
Colfax witli his parents. He attended the graded
schools of Colfax, then the Methodist college in Spo-
kane, and after completing his education at eighteen,
he commenced to teach school. Four years later he
bought a farm in Whitman county, near Latah. Four
years after this he went to Garfield on his father's
homestead and in 1897, he came to the reservation and
took his present claim. Part of this was broken, hav-
ing been rented on the supposition that it was Indian
land. He has raised the cereals and flax since and
done much improvement and his is now a valuable
estate. Mr. Potter has one brother and two sisters,
William C, an elocutionist in Spokane ; Jessie L. ;
Lillie, wife of Adrien W. Wisner. secretary and man-
ager of the King Countv Abstract Companv, in
Seattle.
On December K>. 1894. Mr. Potter married Miss
llattie M., daughter of Edgar M. and Jennie B.
(Wright) Giles, natives of Iowa. The father is a
contractor and builder, at Garfield, Washington. Mrs.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Potter was horn in. Iowa, on December 3. 1873, and
she has three brothers and one sister: Freeman, a
farmer, George, a carpenter, William, a farmer, all at
Garfield, Washington: Minnie, at home with her
parents. Mr. Potter is a man upon whom prosperity
has smiled, recognizing his labors and wisdom and he
has gained the good will and approbation of all who
know him.
SAMUEL K. MILLER. This industrious farmer
is a man whose example of thrift and wisdom is
worthy to be copied by any who would desire to follow
the path of progression and success. He, in partner-
ship with his brothers, Solomon and Burt, operates
his farm, lying three and one-half miles west from
Gifford.
Samuel K. Miller was born in Ray county, Mis-
souri, on Junei5, 1870. being the son of Abraham
and Sarah (Benedict) Miller. The father was born
in Ohio and now lives near Albion, Washington, aged
sixty-two. His parents, natives of Pennsylvania,
were of Geman descent. He enlisted in the Union
army in Virginia and served three years and nine
months. He was under General Custer and other gen-
erals, participated in both battles of Bull Run and
many others besides skirmishes. He came to the coast
in 1890, from Kansas, accompanied by our subject,
where they had lived for twelve years. The mother of
Samuel K. was born in Lawrence county, Ohio, was
married there and is now living at Albion, aged sixty-
two. She has four brothers who served in the Civil
war for three years each, George, Albert, Samuel and
John. Samuel K., our subject, was raised in Mis-
souri and Kansas, receiving a common schooling and
in 1890 came to Whitman county with his father. He
ranched for two years and then took a trip to Cali-
fornia, where he worked on various ranches for two
years and then returned to Washington. It was in
1898 that he came to his present place and filed. Since
then in company with his brothers mentioned, he has
devoted himself to general farming and raising stock.
They have the farm well improved, and are fast
bringing it under cultivation. A good orchard, fences,
and buildings are among some of the improvements
that their labors have" provided. Mr. Miller has
six brothers and one sister, Solomon and Burt, with
our subject; Abraham and Jesse, with their parents;
John E., in Alberta, Canada, mining; Robert, at Al-
bion; Georgia, wife of Charles Reed, a mill engineer
in Albion. Mr. Miller has never seen fit to allow him-
self to be lured from the quiet pleasures and comforts
of a life of celibacy. He and his brothers are men of
integrity, honor and capabilities and receive the es-
teem and respect of the entire commuiity.
FREDERIC S. ROGERS. Although the subject
of this article has not so much acreage as some of the
farmers in Xez Perces county, still he gains a satis-
factory prosperity from his forty-acre farm and dem-
onstrates the one thing that is wanting generally
through the west, namely, the skill that enables one to
produce great quantities of crops from a small acre-
age and to utilize then: to the best advantage with
stock. This science must in time come hither and it
is pleasant to see one so skillful as Mr. Rogers. He
was born in Penobscot county, Maine, on August 21,
1849, being the son of William ( i. and "Lavinia
(Weber) Rogers, natives of Maine and born on May
2, 1819. and in 1822, respectively. In 1850 the father
came to Eaton county, Michigan; in 1854 he came to
Waushara county, Wisconsin, where he remained on
a large farm for thirty years. In 1885 he went to Lake
county. South Dakota, and in 1892 to Portland, Ore-
gon, where he now lives. The mother comes from a
noted family in Maine and one of her brothers, Frank
Weber, was a United States senator. Our subject
was educated in Waushara county and at the age of
twenty-three married and farmed until 1878. Then
he came to Oregon, living in Hillsboro for a time and
then went to Linn county and in 1880 moved thence
to Goldendale, Washington. On account of ill health,
he returned to Wisconsin and farmed two years.
In 1883 he went to Lake county, South Dakota, then
to Oregon and was all over that state and on June 7,
1897, Mr. Rogers located on his present place two
miles northeast from Fletcher. He had met with
great misfortune in the previous years and in less than
five years after losing all he is again in fine circum-
stances and doing well.
On November 28, 1872, Mr. Rogers married Miss
Fliza, daughter of George and Eliza Newton, who
died on March 22, 1900. Mrs. Rogers was born Janu-
ary 26, 1852. Mr. Rogers has the following brothers
and sisters, Helen Howe, Frank Roscoe, disappeared
in 1897 a°d has never been heard from since; Charles,
Lavinia Beauvist, Ada M., Fanny A. Richards,
Emma Talbott, Britomart Knauer. Mr. and Mrs.
Rogers have been blessed by the advent of the fol-
lowing children: Edgar, E., born July 13, 1875;
Frank E., born October 16, 1877; Allison, deceased;
Cora M. Hall; Guy W., born September 10. 1882;
Earl J., born August 12, 1884; Ethel B., burn No-
vember 16, 1888: Milton D., born March 16, 1893.
Air. Rogers is a Republican in political matters and is
an advocate of good schools, good roads, and in fact
all progress and advancement.
LEVI C. EASTER. This industrious and up-to-
date farmer is one of the substantial citizens of Nez
Perces county and has showed by his labors and wis-
dom that he is a man upon whom one can rely and who
is deserving of credit for the development that he has
wrought.
Levi C. Easter was born in Holt county, Missouri,
on April ^o, 1871, being the son of William D. and
Alice (Patterson) Easter. The father was born in
Indiana, in 1846, served as a soldier in Company H,
Thirty-third Indiana Infantry, under Sherman on the
famous march to the sea. He settled on the reserva-
i8o
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
tion when it opened and is here still. The mother of
our subject was born in Ohio, in 1854, and is living
on the reservation. When Levi was eight the family
went to Cloud county, Kansas, and the father oper-
ated the poor farm there for five years, then he con-
tinued general farming until 1888. when he made the
trip to Portland. Later his family joined him and they
labored at the wood business. In 1891 our subject
went to Lewis county, Washington, and settled on land
and farmed there until the reservation opened up and
then they came to their present location, three miles
south from Melrose. He has a good farm, raises
general crops and stock and is prospered. While in
Lewis county, they were surrounded by high water
from the Cowlitz river and one eighty of land was
taken away and all their property except one team was
destroyed. Not less than two thousand dollars' worth
of property was taken thus. Despite these adversities,
Mr. Easter has labored on and managed with wisdom
and is now one of the prosperous men of his section.
In 1893, while in Washington, Mr. Easter married
Miss Clara, daughter of Alvin Brown, a farmer and
school teacher, and a native of New York. Mrs. Easter
was born in Iowa, in 1868, and has one brother and
four sisters, Sadie Knapp, Blanch Romerman, Cora
Lynch, Clarence and Ermie. Mr. Easter has one sister,
Hattie Bledsoe, in Nez Perces county. Five children
have been born to bless this happy union. Florence,
Frances, Dewey, Curtis and Clarence. Mr. Easter
is a member of the M. W. A., at Melrose. He is an
active Republican and is faithful at the caucuses and
conventions, where he labors for the general welfare
by upholding sound principles. Mr. Easter is an ardent
advocate of excellent educational facilities, and does
all in his power for this good end.
THOMAS C. McINTYRE. This well known
and capable business man has a general store and post-
office at Myrtle, where he does a good business and
also handles a sixty-acre farm.
Thomas C. Mclntyre was born in Montgomery
county, Indiana, on March 9. 1838. being the son of
John and Jane (McMeine) .Mclntyre, natives of Ken-
tuckv. The father is of Scotch extraction and came
to Indiana with his parents when small. The mother
came also to that country when a child and she, too, is
of Scotch ancestry. Our subject was reared until
twelve in the old home place and then the family came
to Iowa, where they remained for twenty-eight years.
He farmed for a time when he became of age, and
then for twenty-six years he handled a general mer-
chandise establishment and a flouring-mill in company
with his father and brothers. In 1875 he went to Ne-
braska, engaged in grist-milling for six years, then
traded for farm land and tilled that for three years. Mr.
Mclntyre then took a pre-emption in northern Ne-
braska but let it go back to the government, and in
1891 came to Idaho. He lived three years in Vine-
land, and in 1898 came to his present place and pur-
chased sixty acres. He built a store in company with
his brother-in-law, G. L. Briggs, whose interest he pur-
chased last year. Since its start the business has been
pushed with a vigor and wisdom that have brought
success and Mr. Mclntyre is gaining a patronage and
prestige that are truly enviable. Our subject has the
following brothers and sisters : John, residing in"
Iowa; James, a teacher and preacher; Perry, at Lap-
wai ; Robert, a railroad man, in Council Bluffs. Iowa ;
Ann, wife of George W. Wasson, a -farmer in Iowa;
Margaret, wife of John Stahl, a farmer in Iowa ;
Elien, wife of Mr. Wyman, in Council Bluffs. Iowa.
On July 21, 1880. in Greley county, Nebraska, Mr.
Mclntyre married Elizabeth, daughter of William and
Zillah (Swenk) Hayter. The father was a preacher
in the United Brethren church and died on July 23,
1889. The mother lives in Blackfoot, Idaho. Mrs.
Mclntyre was born in Poweshiek county, Iowa, on
March 4. 1858. She has two brothers and three sisters,
John and Wallace, in Blackfoot, Idaho, farming ;
Mary, wife of Perry Mclntyre : Susan, wife of Alonzo
Lewis, in Idaho ; Viola, wife of John S. Briggs, in
Oregon. Two children have been born to Mr. and
Mrs. Mclntyre, Thomas and Gladys. Our subject and
his wife are both members of the Methodist church,
South. Politically, Mr. Mclntyre is a Prohibitionist
and is always allied on the side of sound principles
and progress in the substantial interests of the country.
ALVA BOYER. Among the industrious ami well
prospered farmers of the reservation country, whose
labors have made this wild region to blossom as the
rose, we are constrained to mention the upright, genial,
and substantial gentleman whose name initiates this
paragraph.
Alva Lover w'as born in Oregon, on July 22, 1867,
being the son of Lloyd and Sarah (Pinkerton) Boyer,
natives of Missouri, born January 15, 1840, and July
18, 1844, respectively. They were married September
27, i860. The father crossed the plains in 1859 and
died in 1870. The mother died in 1873. She had
two brothers, Henry and William, large land owners
near Athena, Oregon. Alva went to live with his
uncle, William Pinkerton, after the death of his parents
and remained in the vicinity of Athena until he was
twenty-one. securing a good education from the dis-
trict schools and a fine training in farming and stock
raising.
He entered the employ of others until the year
1897. and then he came to the reservation and
purchased the relinquishment of his present place,
four miles west from Gifford. To the improvement
and subjugation of this land he has devoted his time
and energies since, with the gratifying result that he
has a good farm which produces abundant crops of the
cereals, flax and fruits and sustains considerable stock.
Mr. Boyer has two brothers, Henry, living on a farm
near Summit, Idaho; William, in Adams, Oregon;
tw<> sisters, Angie, wife of Eugene Richardson; Mary.
wife of James Johnson, whose brother, Burr Johnson,
is a large stockman of Pendleton.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
< >n June 21, 1891, IMr. Boyer married Miss Cora,
daughter of Elijah V. and Sarelia (Wheeler) Cun-
ningham, natives of Missouri and Polk county,
Oregon. The father crossed the plains in the 'sixties ;
he and his brothers served in the Civil war. Mr. and
Mrs ( unningham now reside in Whitman county.
Mrs. Boyer was born in Independence, Oregon, on
July 9, 1871. and has two brothers and three sisters,
Arthur, in the Buffalo Hump country; Macy, with his
parents near Albion ; Opal and Stella, single ; Bertha,
wife of Bert Rice, near Albion, Washington. Two
children have been born to Mr. and, Mrs. Boyer, Veta
and Lloyd. Mr. Boyer is a Populist in politics.
ELBA L. SPIVY. An industrious and highly
respected farmer and citizen, a man of integrity and
worth of character, and who has manifested it in his
commendable walk among his fellows, it is with
pleasure that we accord representation to the subject
of this article.
Elra E. Spivy was born in Adair county, Missouri,
on March 15, 1865. Especial mention is made of his
father elsewhere in this volume. When five months
old, the parents crossed the plains and settled in Ore-
gun, where Elra was educated and where he worked
until eighteen, when he stepped forth for himself and
removed to Whitman count}-, where he took land near
Palouse and for five years devoted himself to its
culture. Later he spent six years in the Big Bend
raising horses and cattle, whence he came to the reser-
vation when it opened. He owned then nineteen head
of horses and with this capital he started in. His land
is located three miles east from Myrtle and is well im-
proved and he also raises some stock.
1 In August 7. 1900, Mr. Spivy married .Miss Elsie,
daughter of William V. and .Mary 1 Kenoyer) Mar-
latt. She was born in Columbia county, Washington,
on November 6, 1879, and she has the following
brothers and sisters : Thomas, a stockman in Oregon ;
Milton M., near Walla Walla; William, on the reser-
vation : Edward D., also on the reservation ; Nancy
M., wife of William Catron, in the Grande Ronde,
Oregon; Elia. wife of Jackson Hull, in Whitman
county, Washington ; Florence, wife of Frank Brown,
manager of Jumbo mine, in the Buffalo Hump country.
JERRY WEBBER comes from a strong and
prominent family and his record compares favorably
with that of his worthy ancestors and will make ver'y
interesting additions to the volume of the county
history.
Jerry Webber was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, on
August 2, 1858, being the son of Jeremiah and Anna
J. ( Arbuckle) Webber. The father was born in Pitts-
burg, Pennsylvania, and has been a steamboat captain
on the Mississippi all his life and still continues to
run the river. The mother was born in East Liverpool,
Ohio, in 1830, of Welsh ancestrv and her father is
aged ninety-eight and her mother ninety-seven. Our
subject departed from the parental roof when he was
ten years old and found employment as clerk in a
grocery store. A year or so later, he went as pilot
on the Wisconsin river, being also watchman. Then
he went with the Hudson Bay Company as pilot on
the Saskatchewan river for eight years. Then came
the Reil Rebellion for services in which he owns a
medal from the Canadian government. After this he
went to the Nile for the English government to the
relief of General Gordon under Woolesley. For his
excellent service in this expedition, Mr. Webber bears
a silver medal and a bronze cross from the Khedive
of Egypt. These trophies of merit and excellent ser-
vice should cause a pardonable pride and they speak
great things of Mr. Webber*s faithfulness, his ability,
and his courage, having been given from governments
in widely different sections. He served on a steamer
for a time and then returned to St. Paul, where he
took the position of mail carrier, about eight years,
after which he budded bridges, then came to Buffalo
Hump and mined. In 1898. Mr. Webber entered the
Spanish war and soon rose from private to regimental
quartermaster, serving in that capacity for nine
months. 1899, he came to Idaho and took a claim on
the Salmon river six miles south from Morrow. Mr.
Webber has five sisters, Phoebe Henderson, Sarah
Hines, Lavina Cassity, Deborah Ella, Ida May Upham.
Mr. Webber is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the
Knights of Malta. Politically he is a Republican and
takes up the campaigns with a zest. His paternal
grandfather was in the war of 1812 and also the
Mexican war and lived to be one hundred and one
years old. He built the arsenal at Allegheny, Penn-
sylvania, in the 'forties. Mr. Webber had five uncles
in the Civil war and three of them gave their lives
for their country.
MASOX MORRIS. This enterprising and pro-
gressive agriculturist and leading citizen of the vicinity
of Summit, is a man of strong character, well re-
spected by his neighbors, a keen business man, a pro-
moter of good schools and a patriotic man, public
spirited and intelligent.
Mason Morris was born in Daviess county,
Missouri, on September 5. 1847, being the son of
John and Edith ( Johnson ) Morris, natives of Ken-
tucky, and born June 17, 1809 and 181 1, respectively.
The mother died in 1867 and the father died in April
1887. Fie was a prominent farmer and pioneer of
Iowa and Ohio. Mason was taken to Texas when one
old and there remained until nineteen. In 1867, he
came with his sister's family to the vicinity of Waits-
burg, Washington and then lie worked at teaming and
farming for a time ami sold his railroad land and
went to Dayton. There he operated a milk wagon for
a time, then bought a farm and he sold and bought
several times until 1884. when he removed to the
vicinity of Kendrick and bought land. Here he re-
sided until ib'0,4. when he removed to the reservation
S2
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
and rented land. When it opened, he took his pres-
ent place, three miles northwest from Summit. He
had little capital but has done exceedingly well since
then. Me produced as high as twenty-seven bushels of
flax to the acre this year. Air. Morris had one brother.
Robinson, deceased. He has four sisters dead and one,
Mary E., wife of Washington B. Smith, living in
Washington.
On December 14. 1871, Mr. Morris married Miss
Elizabeth M., daughter of Sanford and Margaret M.
(Buchanan) Bramlett. The wedding occurred at Mr.
Bramlett's home. To this marriage there have been
born the following children : Charles E., a merchant
at Myrtle; Earnest F., Elmer F., Clarence N., John
S., Robert M., Dora F., all at home ; Ida C, wife of
Noah Bechtel. near Summit. Mrs. Morris was born
in ( >bion county, Tennessee, on December 21, 1848.
Her father lives three miles northwest from Summit
and is raising stock. Her mother died January 4,
1900. She has the following brothers and sisters :
Thomas N., Vandelia, Louise J., Samuel, Laura L.,
John S., Martha F., Dora A. and Charles A. Air.
Morris is a man of progressive ideas and has put in-
to execution good energy and wisdom in the care of
his business enterprises.
MINOR SPIVY is one of the esteemed pioneers
of the northwest, having assisted to open up a number
of different sections since his first advent to the coast
country in 1805. He was born in Giles county, Ten-
nessee, on August 26. 1836. being the son of Will-
iam and Lucy Spivv. The father was a native of
Tennessee and died aged thirty-eight. His father was
born in Ireland and his mother in Germany. The
mother of our subject was born in Tennessee and her
parents were natives of North Carolina. She died six
days after her husband's death. Both deaths resulted
from exposure while traveling to Missouri. Our sub-
ject was raised by his uncle, John Wilks, in Randolph
county. Missouri, and his education was gained from
the district schools. At the age of fifteen he worked
out and when twenty-eight he, with his wife and child,
crossed the plains with ox teams. He settled in Lane
county, later removing to Douglas county, where he
did well raising hogs. In 1879, he settled near
Palouse, on lieu land and there farmed until Novem-
ber, 1897, the month of his arrival and also the time
of his departure. He filed on his present place, just
southeast from Myrtle, and since that time has devoted
himself to its cultivation and improvement. .Mr.
Spivy has one brother. William, residing in Fresno,
California, who owned land in the city limits which he
sold at two hundred and fifty dollars per acre and
thus became wealthy. Mr. Spivy has one sister,
Lucy, widow of Milton Bozarth.
On February 22, 1864, Mr. Spivy married Miss
Ellen, daughter of Washington and Mary .(Jones)
Parker, natives of Missouri, but pioneers to Lane
county. Oregon. Mrs. Spivy died, aged twenty, when
they were crossing the plains and were twelve miles
out from Boise. On October 24, 1865, Mr. Spivy
married Miss Jemima McDonald, at Garfield, Wash-
ington. She was born in Kentucky in 1856, her
parents being natives of Germany. By the first wife,
one child was born, Elra. mention of whom is made
in this work. The fruit of the second marriage is one
son. William A., a specially bright and promising
youth. Mr. Spivy served in the Confederate army
under Price, participating in the battles of Lexington,
Pea Ridge and others. He was finally discharged for
the purpose of taking care of a very sick brother. Mr.
Spivy is a Democrat and a highly respected citizen.
NOBLE HENRY. Daniel Boone has a counter-
part in the subject of this article. A noted trapper, a
skillful hunter, a doughty pioneer, a veritable leader
of frontiersmen, it is eminently fitting to grant space
in the history of Nez Perces county to Noble Henry.
He was born in Indiana, on October 8, 1838, the son
of Joseph and Ellen (Fisher) Henry. The father died
on December 15. 1892. aged seventy-eight. He built
the first house in the Grande Ronde valley, in i860,
and was a pioneer in Iowa. Kansas, Nebraska, Mon-
tana, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. He was a
native of Ohio and died on the reservation. The
mother of our subject was also a native of Ohio and
her parents were Pennsylvania Dutch. Noble acquired
little schooling in Michigan, but has spent much time
in careful research since, and is a well informed man.
When nine, he settled with his father in Iowa, seventy-
five miles from neighbors. Later they went to the
various states mentioned above and in i860, came to
Grande Ronde valley and both took claims. Our sub-
ject held the land where Union now stands and sold
his relinquishment for seventy dollars. In 1861, he
commenced packing and in this line he was exception-
ally skillful. He packed out of Lewiston for eighteen
years, having a train of nearly one hundred animals,
handling nineteen thousand pounds. Lewiston was a
great shipping point in those days and Mr. Henry was
one of the best known transporters of freight in the
entire country. In the 'seventies he settled in Asotin
county. \\ ashington, and commenced to raise stock.
There he remained until 1899. when he came to the
reservation and settled on his allotment, the entire
acreage of his family being nearly one thousand. Mr.
Henry has the following brothers and sisters : Frank,
in the Okanogan country, Washington ; Joseph, in
Stockton. California : Lorenzo, residing near Lapwai ;
Lorin G., in Umitilla county, Oregon; Marinda, wife
of James Allen, on the John Day ; Eliza, wife of Mr.
Brintner. at Mason City, Iowa; Mary, wife of Air.
Black, in Iowa; Sarah, wife of Robert Sutton, in
Okanogan county, Washington.
In 1868, Air. Henry married Tanacama, a Nez
Perces Indian woman. Her parents died when she
was very young and she was raised by a sister. She
is a sister of old chief Jonah, now living on the reser-
vation, aged seventy-five. Airs. Henry has one sister,
Mealets, wife of J. Maxwell, who deserted her recently.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
To Mr. and Mrs. Henry there have been born nine
children: Mar)' A., wife of Frank Broncho; Louisa,
wife of Edwin Broncho; Jane, wife of William Smith,
all living' on their allotments in the reservation ;
Joseph, aged twenty-two, who is master of the carpen-
ter, shoemaker and baker trades; John, aged twenty,
a blacksmith and engineer; Benjamin, aged seventeen,
a shoemaker; Frank, aged fourteen, and Lorin aged
nine, both attending the Indian school. The sons of
Mr. Henry are all notable musicians and are members
of the band. In fact, they have displayed great skill
and talent in this line and it is to be hoped that they
may seek training further to develope the latent ability.
PHILIP R. KIRBY. It is with especial pleasure
that we are enabled to review the career of Mr. Kirby,
both because he has done commendable work in de-
veloping the reservation country and also because
he is one of the pioneers of the northwest and crimes
from one of the pioneer families.
Philip R. Kirby was' born in Brown county, .Min-
nesota, on September 8, 1866, being the son of Philip
and Sarah M. (Back) Kirby. The father was born
in Ohio on February 11, 1830, and his parents were
born in Middletown, Connecticut, and for six or more
generations back, the Kirbys were a stanch and promi-
nent family there, having taken part in the arduous
labors of opening the land for the early colonies.
They also furnished many brave soldiers for the wars
of the Revolution and of 1812, while also many noted
officers came from this family in these and the Indian
wars. The father of our subject came to Michigan
when a small boy, and he has been on the frontier
all his life. He now lives in Vineland, near Lewiston.
The mother of our subject was born in Vermont and
died on January 13, 1896, aged fifty-nine. Her de-
mise occurred near Wilbur, Washington. She came
from an old and prominent New England family. In
1872, our subject came with his father to the land
where Spokane now stands. The father built the third
log cabin on the site of that now flourishing city and
was identified with the opening of the country and in
building it up. He was well known about Spokane
and his labors did very much to assist in starting the
thriving city that is now the pride of the northwest.
He took land on what is known as Moran prairie,
hauled the first fruit trees from Colfax and planted
the first orchard in the whole section, thus benefitting
in an untold manner the whole countrv by introducing
fruit growing. Philip R. drove the second milk wagon
that ever started in Spokane, and he attended the first
school taught in the village. Mr. Havermale, a
well known .Methodist preacher now living in Spokane,
taught the school. Thus has Mr. Kirby and his
father been connected with the inception of civiliza-
tion's salutary institutions in the most notable Sections
of the northwest and he is today still in the chariot
of progress and his labors in the reservation portion
of Nez Perces count}' are worthy and skillful. When
'he was twentw-two, he went into partnership with his
father and brother and they embarked in the stock
business in what is known as the Big Bend country.
There, also, they did much to open up the country.
Twice, on account of hard winters, they were swept
clean oi all stock, but they stuck to the enterprise and
finally made a success of it. In 1898, our subject re-
moved to the reservation and bought a relinquishment,
which he sold later and made a tour of northwestern
Canada in quest of land, but finding nothing suitable,
he returned to the reservation countrv and bought his
present place, one and one-half miles northwest from
Dublin. He has a good ranch and raises oats and
timothy principally. Mr. Kirby has one brother,
Eugene, a farmer near Ilo. He has five sisters, Isabel,
wife of Thomas Newlan, a fruit raiser, five miles
southeast from Spokane: Blanch, wife of William
Hilby. a farmer eight miles southeast from Spokane:
Sarah, wife of P. T. Lewis, a farmer at Ferdinand,
Idaho county; Mary, wife of George Capps, a farmer
near Reardan, Washington; Abigil, single and living
near Spokane. Mr. Kirby has never seen fit to re-
linquish the pleasant retreat and quiet joys of the
bachelor for the seas of matrimony.
By way of reminiscence we remark that his father
was in the Civil war, serving in the eleventh Minnesota
Volunteers, and also fought in the bloody Sioux Indian
war.
JOHN THAIN. A prosperous farmer, an up-
right man, a loyal citizen and a good friend and neigh-
bor, such is the subject of this article, who has done
a goodlv share in the development work on the reser-
vation and is a man of sound principles and wisdom.
John Thain was born in Scotland, on November
t'i, 1865. being the son of James and Mary (Forbes)
Thain, natives of Scotland. The father was a boat
builder and died in 18(19. The mother was born in
1828, and still lives in North Dakota. John grew up
in his native land and there acquired his education.
In 1882. he came to the L'nited States and thence he
went to Canada, Ontario, where he settled to farming
for a time. Xext we see him in Dickey county, North
Dakota, where he took a timber culture and for six
years he farmed. Then a sale was made of this prop-
erty and he came to the Hoodoo mining section in
Latah county, where he mined and also on the Clear-
water, for four years, doing well in both places. In
1896, Mr. Thain came to The reservation, taking his
place, immediately adjoining Melrose on the northeast,
where he has bestowed his labors since.
On January 10, 1894. in Latah county, Mr. Thain
married Miss Elsie, daughter of John and Belle ( Tay-
lor) Lorimer. natives of Scotland. The father was
a veterinarv surgeon. Mrs. Thain was born in Scot-
land and came to the United States in 1888. She has
the following brothers and sisters: Charles, David,
fames, Isabella, Anna and Ellen. Mr. Thain has the
following named brothers and sisters: Ana, Jane,
James. William and Henry. Four children have been
born to Mr. and Mrs. Thain. Alice. Douglas. Mary
and Raymond. Mr. Thain is a member of the M. W.
1 84
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
A., at Melrose. He has served considerably on the
school board and is a strong advocate of good schools.
He is a stanch Republican and active in the caucuses.
J( IHN W. WHITE. Although in 1902, the sub-
ject of this article came to Gifford, still he has been
almost all his life in the various portions of the west,
adjacent to Nez Perces county, and his integrity, his
energy, his patriotism and progressive spirit entitle
him to be numbered with the leading citizens of Gif-
ford. At the present time, Mr. White is engaged in
handling a stock of papers and paints, occupying a por-
tion of Clayton's hardware store. He is a practical
house decorator and a man of excellent tastes and so
leads in this line of enterprise.
John W. White was born in Oskaloosa, Iowa, on
February 13. 1859, being the son of Alva and Re-
becca (Burton) White. The father died when John
was two years of age. The mother was a native of
Kentucky and died in Yolo comity, California, in
1887, aged sixty-five. Our subject was reared in
Iowa until eighteen and then went to Sacramento
comity. California, whither the rest of the family had
preceded him. He was two years in school and on
the farm, then went to Tulare county, but returned to
Sacramento. All told, he lived in California nineteen
years. During this time, he learned the carpenter's
trade. Then a move was made to Sprague, Washing-
ton, and two years were spent in laboring as a carpen-
ter. Following this, Mr. White removed to Kendrick
and there resided for twelve years and then came the
settlement in Gifford, as stated above. Mr. White has
some fine residence property in Gifford. He has one
residence on the hill, where he has bought two acres
of land, which is one of the most tasty and hand-
somely arranged and decorated of any residence in
the town.
Mr. White has the following brothers and sisters,
George W. ; William L. : Byron B. ; Annie C. Elesy ;
Mary J. Allard ; Ida : Clement. Mr. White has never
seen fit to leave the contentment and quiet pleasure of
his bachelor life for a venture on the stage of connubi-
ality. He is a man of sound principles, governed by
discretion and wisdom and is entitled to and receives
the confidence of all who know him.
E N Keeney to Imy follow.
ELIJAH N. KEENEY is one of the principal
owners of the town site of Eugene, which postoffice
is known as Gifford. He has always been public
spirited and generous for the upbuilding of the town
and surrounding country. He has donated lots to sev-
eral worthy purposes and is always on the progressive
side of things.
Elijah N. Keeney was born in Eugene, Oregon, on
November 12. 1866, being the son of Jonathan and
Margaret S. (Mitchell) Keeney. When our subject
was ten, the father went to Colfax, Washington, and
his sons joined him three years later. The
mother died April 14, 1S99. Elijah worked in the
planing mill business in Colfax for eight years and
in 1892, went to Valejo, California, where he labored
for three years as an undertaker for Henry Connolly.
In August, 1895, he returned to Colfax, ami later
came to the reservation, securing the claim where he
now lives. He built a primitive log cabin and for a
long time it was used for the meeting place of the
settlers. He has improved his place in excellent shape
and raises the cereals, handles stock and has some
registered specimens. A portion of his land has been
used for the town site of Eugene and many have pur-
chased lots from him. Mr. Keeney has three brothers,
Oliver M., George F., and John J., the last two living
in the vicinity of Rosedale, Washington, and the for-
mer in Whitman county. He has one sister, Martha
J., wife of Joseph Cherry of Rosedale, Washington.
On May 23, 1900, Mr. Keeney married Miss Eu-
genia, daughter of John and Catherine M. (Thiele)
Allen, natives respectively of Arkansas and Missouri.
They reside near Drain, Oregon, having crossed the
plains in 1852. Mrs. Keeney s ancestors on her moth-
er's side came from Germany and her paternal an-
cestors from Tennessee. She has four brothers and
one sister, Robert L., Frederick A., Murry M., Creed
H., all in Oregon. The sister. Mrs. Susie E. Hanson,
lives near our subject. .Mr. Keeney has a member-
ship in the M. W. A., Melrose camp, 6216. He was
clerk of Beeman Camp, M. W. A., 6885, at Eugene un-
til it disbanded. In politics he is independent. To
Mr. and Mrs. Keeney there has been born one child,
Hester W. Mr. Keeney's grandparents crossed the
plains with ox carts in 1852, the maternal grand-
father being from Maine and the maternal grand-
mother from Connecticut. Mr. Keeney has served as
school director and has always labored for the ad-
vancement of the cause of education as well as for
the general progress and he has universally shown
himself a man of mature judgment and keen wisdom,
while his integrity and intrinsic worth is never ques-
tioned.
JOHN L. BLEWETT is a young man of intell-
igence and ability and has shown forth wisdom and
enterprise in his labors in Nez Perces county, where
he has a good estate three miles west from Gifford.
This land was secured through homestead right and
Mr. Blewett has devoted himself to improving it and
making a first class farm in every respect.
John L. Blewett was born in Lafayette county,
Wisconsin, on September 8, 1867, being the son of
Richard and America (Lorton) Blewett. The father
was born in England and came to the United States
with his parents when a small boy and now is farming
in Kansas. .The mother of our subject was born in
Iowa, and married on February 16, 1864, in Lafay-
ette county, Wisconsin. John L. was raised in Wis-
consin until seven, when the family went to Iowa.
Ten years later, they journeyed to Kansas, and in
these places he secured his education. When twenty-
t Uj
JOHN W. WHITE
ELIJAH N. KEENEY.
[RS. ELIJAH N. KEENEY.
MRS. LILY M. BLEWETT.
JOHN L. BLEWETT.
JAMES W. BOYD.
CHARLES W. GREEN. MRS. CHARLES W. GREEN.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
one, he came to Walla Walla and labored on a ranch
for eighteen months, after which he went to Whit-
man county and worked on a steamer on the Snake
river until 1896. In that year he came to the reserva-
tion and filed on his present claim. He brought
twenty-five head of cattle with him and the first year
he fenced his land and got a good start. He has since
devi ited himself to general farming and raising stock
and is a prosperous citizen. His farm supports large
numbers of hogs, some cattle and horse's and is a well
improved and valuable estate. Mr. Blewett has four
brothers and three sisters, Daniel, Frank. Richard,
Gilbert, with his parents ; Drusilla Douty,. Laura Tow-
ner, Nettie. Mr. Blewett is a member of Excelsior
Lodge Xo. 2, K. of P., and also of the M. W. A.,
both in Lewiston. He is a Democrat in politics.
On June 16, 1901, Air. Blewett married Miss
Lily M., daughter of Lavega and Mahala (English)
Peer, natives of Ohio. The father is deceased but
the mother lives with her sons at Cottonwood. Mrs.
Blewett was born in Illinois, on September 14, 1881
and has three brothers and one sister, Ernest. Slur-
man, Alexander, Hope, all near Culdesac. One child
has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Blewett, Neta B. This
young couple are important additions to the social
realm of their community and are bright, spirited,
and excellent people who have many friends.
JAMES W. B( )YD, a prominent and substantial
agriculturist located three miles west from Nezperce
on one of the choicest farms of this section,
is the son of Robert and Sarah (Reed) Boyd. The
father was born in Ireland and came to this country
with his parents when he was four years of age.
They located in Ohio and there he grew to manhood
and married. Later he removed to Carroll county,
Illinois, where the subject of this sketch was born
on February 5, 1847. The mother of our subject
died when he was an infant and then the father took
him to Washington county, Iowa, where he grew to
manhood and received a good education in the public
and high schools. The father was a prominent and
wealthy farmer of that county and James remained
with him until his death. Previous to that death,
however, James had engaged in coal mining. Then
he went to Hastings, Nebraska, and began the manu-
facture of barbwire. Soon he returned to Iowa and
on November 13, 1879, occurred the happy event of
his marriage with Ruth McNay. They returned to
Hastings and one child was born to them. Lena R.,
who is now attending a business college in Denver,
Colorado, having also graduated from a literary col-
lege there. Mrs. Boyd died on December 7, ' 1880.
Following her death, Mr. Boyd closed out his busi-
ness and went to Helena, Montana, where he did dai-
rying for a time, later returning to Gage county, Ne-
braska. He engaged in different occupations there
and in 1889 Mr. Boyd came to Tacoma, thence to
Centralia and later to Moscow, Idaho, where he fol-
lowed prospecting for three years. But at the time
of the opening of the fertile Nez Perces reservation,
Mr. Boyd was ready to locate and so secured one of
the most valuable claims in this favored section. He
had much to endure to open up the land and make a
good home single handed, but he has persevered and
Has now] one of the excellent estates of the country.
In addition to this property, Mr. Boyd has an inter-
est in the Farmer's Grain Company which owns
tramways and warehouses.
Mr. Boyd has been an extensive traveler and has
seen much of the ways of man as well as exploring
many of the interesting places of the United States.
In 1876 he visited the Centennial at Philadelphia and
at that time also visited most of the important cities
of the east, not missing, of course, the great Niagara
Falls. During 1870 he traveled in California and al-
most every portion of that state is familiar to him.
We are also glad to add that Mr. Boyd is of excep-
tionally good standing in the community, being re-
spected and esteemed by all who know him.
CHARLES W. GREEN is one of the leading busi-
ness men of Nez Perces county and is at present lo-
cated at Lenore where he operates a fine warehouse.
He has warehouses on both sides of the river and they
are connected by an aerial tramway and his facilities
for handling and storing grain are among the best
in this section of the country.
Charles W. Green was born in McLean county,
Illinois, on June 26, 1867, being the son of Thomas S.
and Nancy C. (Herdall) Green. The parents came
to Idaho in the spring of 1901 and the father died
August 18, of the same year, aged eighty-six. Our
subject received a good education from the public
schools and from Baker University, in Baldwin City,
Kansas. The family had come to Kansas in 1880 and
the father had purchased a farm of twelve hundred
and eighty acres of land, the largest estate in that sec-
tion. In addition to general farming the father was
heavily interested in raising stock. Our subject re-
mained with his parents until 1893, and then came
west to look up a place for himself. He rented a farm
for one year on Fix Ridge, in this county and then
opened a store in Juliaetta. which he retired from one
year later to take up mining in the Rogue river re-
gion. Since that time he has continued his ownership
and interest in these promising mining properties. Af-
ter three years of personal work in the mines he came
to Kendrick and took up the grain business for one
year and then made a move to Agatha for one year.
Then Mr. Green came to Lenora, where he had erected
various buildings and now is fully equipped to handle
large quantities of all kinds of grain. He has a hand-
some and modern two-story residence which is pre-
sided over by his gracious and refined wife, who makes
it a centre of real hospitality, being a lady of excell-
ent qualities and many virtues.
Mr. Green married Miss Eva. daughter of John
and Charlotte (Mason) Taylor, on September 20,
1897, and to them have been born two children, Edra
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
T., and Donavan, the former aged four years and
the latter two years. Mrs. Green was born near Pres-
cott in Walla Walla county, Washington, and her
parents are now retired farmers. She has six broth-
ers and three sisters, as follows : Richard, Ira, Ernest,
Elmer, John, Roy, Iona, Etta. Ina. Etta is the wife
of Charles Bellmer, a well known merchant of Oro-
fir.o. -Mr. Green has two brothers and six sisters,
Joseph M., Thomas, Sarah Gasaway, Martha Hel-
mick, Melissa Lukins, Alice Hanlen, Clara Shields,
Nancy Flora Willis. Mr. Green is a Republican in
politics and has frequently been a delegate to the state
conventions, always taking a leading part for the ad-
vancement of the measures that are for the general
welfare. But Mr. Green never lets politics or social
affairs interfere with his business interests. He is a
member of the K. of P. at Kendrick.
MAN LEY I. SHARP is one of the thrifty and
industrious stockmen and farmers who have made the
reservation country of Xez Perces county one of the
most progressive portions of the state of Idaho. His
estate is five miles east from Peck and he devotes
himself with assiduity to producing the fruits of the
field and raising stock and dame fortune has been
lavish in favors upon him.
Manley I. Sharp was born in Blue Earth county,
Minnesota, on July 7, 1862, being the son of Hector
and Emily A. (Carpenter) Sharp, natives of Vermont
and Maine respectively. The father was born in 1812
and died in 18(19, being frozen to death while on a
business trip from his home in Dakota to Minnesota.
This sad death occurred on the place where in iw the
town of Worthington, Minnesota, stands. He was
a pioneer of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Dakota.
He was in New Dim at the time of the awful Sioux
massacre. The mother of our subjeci was born in
1817 and died in 1886. It is of note that she was
born in the northeastern and died in the northwestern
states of this great nation and traveled all the distance
between bv team. When Manley was seven, the family
went to Sioux Falls. Dakota, and when his father died
an older brother took charge, but he, too. died in four
years and the weight and responsibilities of business
rested on our subject. He had acquired an education
from the schools of the barracks in Dakota, and the
family remained in Dakota until 1877, when they re-
moved by team to Boise and settled, just in time to
meet the Bannock Indian war. Mr. Sharp teamed for
the government, hauling supplies and in 1878 came
to the vicinity of Moscow, where he rented a farm.
There and near Pullman, they continued to live until
the opening of the reservation, when he came hither
and took his present place, five miles east from Peck.
Settlement was made here on March 26, 1896, and
since that time Mr. Sharp has devoted energy and wis-
dom to bear in his efforts to build a fine home and
make a valuable farm. He has succeeded well and is
one of the leading men of the community. He has
three sisters, all living in the Palouse country. Flora
Stratton. Ellen Booth, and Minnie Longstreet. Mr.
Sharp is an active Republican and has always taken
the part of the responsible and intelligent citizen in
this realm. He was a delegate to the state convention
iast year. He is an advocate of educational progress and
labors for it. His ancestors fought in the Revolution
and Mr. Sharp, himself, has been on the frontier since
his birth, in fact, he was born on the frontier and
has been a pioneer ever since. His uncle, W. W.
Carpenter, served in the Civil war and was wounded.
Mr. Sharp is a man whom all respect and who has done
much for the general progress. Manley I. Sharp and
Mrs. Logenia Shockley were united in marriage at the
the home of the bride on Central Ridge in 1903.
WILLIAM A. SMITH, a leading farmer and
stockman of the vicinity of Westlake, is one of the
heavy real estate holders of our county and a sub-
stantial and good business man.
William A. Smith was born in Orange 1
Xew York, on September 28, 1856. His parents.
Amzie L. and Rachel ( Gray 1 Smith, were b rri in
Xew York, in 1824. and died in ,1896 and [898 re-
spectively. The father was colonel of the Home
Guards in his county. ( >ur subject grew to manhood
in Xew York and was there educated. When eighteen,
he farmer for himself and in 1878 lie journeyed to Illi-
nois, where he engaged in farming and dairying in
Kane county. He also shipped hay and stock. He
continued there for a number of vears, excepting 1^82.
when he traveled through the middle states. In 1888,
Mr. Smith came to Seattle and engaged in logging.
He sold out there in 1892 and came to Xez Perces
county and took a portion of his present place. It
is a fine estate of eight hundred acres and provided
with fine barns, residence, outbuildings, and other im-
provements that make it a first class place. Mr. Smith
has been engaged in raising fine blooded hogs but
is new turning his whole attention to raising cattle.
He came here with twelve dollars cash and a pack
animal and a riding cayuse but is now one of the
prosperous men of the county.
At Lewiston, on October 13, 1902, Mr. Smith mar-
ried Miss Harriet Paddock. She was born in Illinois
and taught school in Chicago for eighteen years. She
came west for a visit last summer and the result was
a meeting with Mr. Smith and their acquaintance
ripened into a courtship which resulted in the happy
marriage mentioned. Mr. Smith has the following
brothers and sisters: Martha, deceased. George S.,
Orville A.. Virginia. Peter and Jesse, twins. Mary,
Doria and Charles. Politically Mr. Smith is liberal
and an independent thinker, being unfettered by any
party ties.
WILLIAM X. WHITSON. Among those who
have made comfortable homes and gained valuable
estates n tin; reservation, we are constrained to men-
tion Mr. Whitson, who lives about one mile north-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
187
east from Fletcher, where he owns a quarter section
of good land and also farms considerable more. He
raises diversified crops, fine Poland China hogs, good
thoroughbred Shorthorn cattle, and is a prosperous and
substantial man.
William N. Whitson was born in Jefferson county-
Iowa, on October 10, 1862, being the son of Samuel
H. and Catherine (Bivens) Whitson. The father was
born in Indiana in 1814, where his parents were pio-
neers. In 1847 he went to Jefferson county, Iowa,
then a new country, took a homestead and remained
tilling the soil until the time of his death in 1891.
The mother was born March 6, 1828; her people were
pioneers of the middle west. Our subject was reared
and educated in Iowa. At the age of seventeen he
came to southern Idaho, Malad valley, and drove stage
at the time the railroad was building from Ogden to
Butte. Later he assisted John Bitney, a prominent
stockman, to drive a bunch of cattle over the Mullan
trail to Pendleton, passing through where Spokane
now is. A store, blacksmith shop and so forth con-
stituted the town then and they camped with the cattle
on the north side of the river, where a large portion
of Spokane now stands. After the drive Mr. Whitson
returned to Spokane and with a cousin visited the Big
Bend country. Then he went to Dayton and freighted
to Pomeroy for six years, also drove stage from Day-
ton to Lewiston. Later he went to Moscow and took
a position with the Shields Company, beginning work
in 1890 and continuing for six years. Then came two
years of farming in Latah county, and in 1898, Mr.
Whitson bought his present place and it has been the
family home since that time.
On January 17, 1889, Mr. Whitson married Miss
Nora, daughter of Amos H. and Mary (Gwynn)
Phillips. The father was born in New York state,
moved to South Dakota, was a pioneer to the Palouse
country, where he now lives. Mrs. Whitson's mother
was born in Londonderry, Ireland, came to New York,
where she was married and now lives in the Palouse
country. Mrs. Whitson was born September 20, 1869,
in Union county. South Dakota, and has the follow-
ing brothers and sisters: Elizabeth LaDow, Harry
D., Jennie Ames. Mr. Whitson has six brothers and
sisters : Suzanna Smith, Mary Fountain, Amelia, Laura
Axlines, deceased, Joseph, Francis. Five children
have come to bless the home of our subject and his
faithful wife: Harold, born February 1, 1890; Leslie,
born January 5, 1892: Rollo, born May 28, 1894;
Fern, born June 6. 1896; Aloha, born' August 14,
1898. Mr. Whitson is a member of the Roval Ar-
canum, Council No. 145 1, of Moscow. He is allied with
the Republicans in political questions and is a strong
advocate of good schools and better roads and always
labors for progress in general.
JACOB HAEBERLE. A sturdy son of the
fatherland who is now one of the most substantial,
intelligent, progressive and well-to-do citizens and
agriculturists to be found in Nez Perces county
is the subject of this article and an epitome of
the salient points of his career will be interesting
reading.
Jacob Haeberle was born in Wurtemberg, Ger-
many, on December 19, 1858, being the son of John
Jacob and Julia M. (Mueller) Haeberle, both natives
of Goppingen, in Wurtemberg. The father was a
farmer and butcher and was a sharpshooter from 1846
to 1852. The mother of our subject was born June
22, 1837, was married in 1856 and died January 15,
1885. Her father was a butcher. Jacob was raised in
Goppingen, and there he was educated in the public
schools, gaining also excellent training from a wise
father, both in farming and butchering. When twenty-
two he had a butcher shop for himself and did a good
business, buying and selling stock. In 1885 ne came
to New York and soon returned and brought his family
over, settlement being made in Indiana. In 1888 he
migrated to Colfax, Whitman county, and there
freighted. It was 1891 that Mr. Haeberle moved to
Genesee, where he spent one year on a farm. The
next year he rented a farm in Tammany hollow, near
Lewiston, and in the spring of 1896 came to the reser-
vation, took a quarter section and improved it in fine
shape. On August 1, 1902, Mr. Haeberle sold this
farm to an Iowa homeseeker, H. M. Flueharty, and
bought where he now lives, three miles northeast from
Gifford. He owns one hundred and thirty-four acres
and rents seven hundred from the Indians. He raises
flax and the cereals on this fine estate and is doing well.
Mr. Haeberle has one brother, Otto, who is his partner
in renting land.
In Goppingen on November 23, 1880, Mr.
Haeberle married Miss Paulina, daughter of George
and Katrina (Weidler) Kraft. Her father was a rail-
road watchman for twenty-eight years. Mrs. Haeberle
was born in the vicinity of Goppingen and has two
brothers, William, a preacher in the Christian church ;
Christian, a first class mechanic in Germany. Six chil-
dren have been born to this happy household, Rose,
wife of John Nestlen, a farmer near Rosetta : Mary,
Charles, Kate, Otto, and Bertha. Mr. Haeberle is
independent in politics and is always allied on the side
of progression. He is a skillful operator in farming
and a keen and far seeing business man, whose labors
and wisdom have accumulated a fine holding for him.
PETER BOOK is a prominent citizen of Xez
Perces county, being a thrifty and prosperous farmer,
a skillful contractor and builder, and a man of reli-
ability and talent, withal a fine neighbor and upright
and genial.
Peter Book was born in Germany on December
25. 1852, being the son of Jacob and Bertha Book,
both natives of the fatherland. Our subject was edu-
cated and reared in his native place and when the
budding years of his majority arrived, he determined
to try his fortune in the resourceful land of the free,
and accordingly came hither. He spent a few years
in New York city, following his trade, bricklaying,
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
and perfecting himself in the builder's art. Then he
came to Mandan, North Dakota, and there operated
a hay farm with his brother for two years.
His 'brother was killed by a neighbor in a
dispute over some hay and then Mr. Book
went to Medora, and there operated a brick yard for
two rears. Thence he repaired to Rapid City, South
Dakota, and ran a brick yard and did building for
a number of vears and in the 'nineties he came t( i 1 .ewis-
ton. his family remaining at Red Wing. Minnesota, the
old home of" his wife. In 1898 they filed on their
present place, two and one-half miles southwest from
Lookout, and the family came on. He has .improved
the place in fine shape and is raising fine crops. In
addition to this enterprise, Air. Book is doing much
building and contract work in the cities adjacent. .Mr.
Book has three brothers- one sister, and two half-
sisters, all in ( rermany.
At Red Wing. Minnesota, on November 19, 1882,
Mr Book married Miss Minnie C, daughter of Will-
iam and Louisa (Hempling) Ritchlag. natives of
Germany, married in New York city, where they lived
for a few years and then came to Red Wing, where
the father is running a blacksmith shop. Mrs. Book
was born in Red Wing, on March 13, 1858. She has
two brothers and one sister, Fred, a saloon man in Red
Win? : William, running a pottery there ; Rose, single
and Hying with her parents. Two children have been
born to this happy family. Lucy, born September 20,
188}, at Mandan, North Dakota: Jacob 1'.. born No-
vember 17. 1885. at Mandan. Both are with their
parents.
JAMES SHAW. A man of stanch Republican
principles, thrifty and industrious as a farmer, keen
and careful in his business matters, possessed of in-
tegrity and uprightness and careful to meet all obli-
gations in a prompt manner, the subject has displayed
fitness to be classed as one of the benefactors of his
county and as one of the leading citizens, having
achieved a good success and maintained a first class
standing among his fellows.
fames Shaw was born in Wisconsin, on October
9. 1*855. being the son of Jerry and Cynthia ( Cart-
wright) Shaw, natives of New York. They were
married in New York and came to Wisconsin and there
farmed. In 1862 the family removed to Minnesota,
where James grew up and was educated in the district
schools, remaining at home until he was twenty. Then
he went to the Black Hills. Dakota, and there pros-
pected and mined for two years and then made his way
to the Northern Pacific, where he labored, for two vears.
In 1884 he came to Walla Walla. Here he labored on
the ranches for two years more and then repaired to
the Palouse county where he operated a meat shop
in Colton until 1895. 1893-94 broke his business and
he left that country with over six thousand dollars on
his books. He came to the reservation upon its opening
and located his present home place, about one mile
south of Rosetta, where he settled. Mr. Shaw com-
menced the battle here without capital and he has made
a truh commendable showing. He has now one hun-
dred and ten acres of fine crops. Flax, seventy acres.
and the cereals, vegetables and fruit the balance. Mr.
Shaw has one brother. Milford, in Minnesota, and three
sisters, Edwina, Emma, Ida.
On February 19, 1889, at Colton, Washington, Mr.
Shaw married Miss Clara B. Harrington, a native of
California. She has one brother and four sisters,
Arthur, a farmer, Viola, single, Myrtle, wife of Mr.
Holton, a railroad man : Ruth, wife of Charles Swain,
Susan, wife of Riley Holden, all residing in the Grande
Ronde valley.
Mr. and Mrs. Shaw have three children, Frank,
Ruth and Betta.
JOHN W. HOBSON. This substantial and suc-
cessful agriculturist is living about one mile southeast
from Gift'ord, where he has a good estate of one quar-
ter section that he gained title to through the home-
stead right and from the wild and unbroken sod
he has made it a fertile and valuable farm. He raises
much grain, has thirty-five acres of timothy, three
acres of orchard, which he is increasing to fifteen, and
other crops in proportion.
John W. Hobson was born in Nevada county. Ar-
kansas, on December 3, 1867, being the son of Na-
thaniel P. and Eliza (May) Hobson. The father was
born in New York of parents who bad come thither
from England and Ireland. He was a farmer and
blacksmith and migrated to Alabama, thence to Mis-
sissippi, thence to Arkansas and finally to Texas, where
he lived fourteen years and then died aged titty-six.
The mother of our subject was born in Pennsylvania,
was married in Alabama and is now living in Texas.
John W. was reared in Texas and educated in the dis-
trict school. When eighteen, he went to Los Angeles.
California, and thence to every portion of the state. He
shipped on a whaler and sailed nine months in the Beh-
ring and Okhotsk seas, then was three years in Cali-
fornia, and about 1890 he came to Idaho. He rented
land near Moscow for four years and then came to
the reservation and worked for H. Beeman. On No-
vember 20. two days after the reservation opened, Mr.
Hobson filed on his present place. He has three
brothers and two sisters, Robert N.. Tillman Y., and
Nathaniel E., all farmers and stockmen in Texas ;
Martha M., wife of R J. Powell, who operates a grist
mill and cotton gin in Texas ; Sophia E.. wife of Frank
Swopes. a farmer in Texas. On May 21. 1896, Mr.
Hobson married Miss Lillie A., daughter of James A.
and Mary (Barnard) Wilcox, natives of Missouri.
Mrs. Hobson was born in February. 1879. sne has one
brother and one sister, James, a farmer in Missouri ;
Mrs. Henry Rogers, in Melrose. Mr. and Mrs. Hob-
son are members of the Chrisitan church and he is a
member of the M. W. A.. Melrose Camp. He is a
Democrat and a Prohibitionist in political matters.
Three children have been born to gladden the home:
Winnie M., Mary Ethel and Grade Aranda.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
IRA SMALL.. Noting the details of our subject's
personal history, we see that Ira Small was born in
Ludlow, Maine, on October 28, 1848, being the son of
Daniel and Louisa (Monroe) Small. The father was
bum in New Brunswick in 1812 and died in 1872. The
mother of our subject was born in New Brunswick
and died in 1874.
On June 10. 1884, Mr. Small married Miss Alice,
daughter of P. B. and Alice E. (Abbott) Chamberland,
natives of Vermont and Canada, respectively. Mrs
Small has two sisters, Felicia H., wife of Dr. A. T.
Willis, in Walla Walla ; Marietta, in Portland. Mr.
Small has the following brothers and sisters : David W.,
in Alaska: Mary, deceased; Albert, in Lewiston ; Lot-
tie E. Sanborn, in Montana ; Sarah Potter, in Montana ;
Inez Colby, in Lewiston. The following children have
been born to this worthy couple : Mary, Roy, Ray, Fern,
all at home.
WILLIAM MUSTOE. One mile south from the
rustic village of Melrose lies the beautiful estate of
William Mustoe. Acquired by the homestead right
in the very latter part of the last century, Mr. Mustoe
has shown exceptional skill and industry to have it so
well improved as it is. He has a modern residence of
nine rooms, a large barn, good outbuildings and other
improvements to match and altogether it is one of the
best places in the community.
\\ illiam Mustoe was born in Scotland county, Mis-
souri, on March 21, 1865. being the son of Henry and
Martha (Heuett) Mustoe, natives of Virginia, and
born in 1834 and 1836, respectively. They both live in
Nez Perces county on a farm. The father was a pio-
neer to Missouri and a freighter of note there in those
early times. The mother's father. Hiram Heuett, was a
captain in the Civil war and died in the army. He was
a prominent public man. Her mother is still living,
over eighty years of age. In 1868 the family of our
subject's father came to Adair county, Missouri, and
there William grew up and was educated. When
twenty-one he went for himself, clerked in a store,
farmed and operated a creamery, but all the time,
made his home on the farm. In February, 1893, he
sold out in Missouri and came to Tekoa, Washington.
One year there and he went to southern Idaho. One
year after he was in Farmington, and later worked a
year in the Bunker Hill & Sullivan at Wardner. It
was in 1897 that Mr. Mustoe came to the reservation
and took bis present place. Since then he has devoted
himself to its improvement and to raising stock and
doing general farming.
On January 7, 1887, in Kirksville, Missouri, Mr.
Mustoe married Miss Fannie, daughter of Robert H.
and Jennie (Hill) Stephens. Mr. Stephens was born
in Kentucky in 181 7 and died in April, 1900. having
been a pioneer in Missouri. Mrs. Stephens was born in
Missouri, in 1837 and still lives in that state. Mrs.
Mustoe was born in Randolph county, Missouri, on
August 4. 1868, and has the following brothers and
sisters: Richard, Thomas J. and Robert F, Emma
Dodson, Tames G., William A., Charlie, deceased ; Ida,
deceased; Elenta Starr and Eva Patton. Mr. Mustoe
has the following brothers and sisters : Loreta M. Page,
Dora B. Wilson, Benjamin F., deceased: Sarah J., de-
ceased : and Albert. The children born to Mr. and
Mrs. Mustoe are named below, Aubry IV Nellie Al.,
Ray A., and Robert H. Mr. Mustoe is a member of
the M. W. A. at Melrose and he and his wife are devout
members of the Methodist church. Mr. Mustoe was
elected justice of the peace but he would not qualify,
although he is always active in the political questions
of the day and is an intelligent Democrat. In school
matters, especially, Mr. Mustoe is an ardent laborer
for betterment in all its lines and has served much on
the board.
J. SHANNON HOGUE. A successful business
career on the Nez Perces Indian reservation, and a
mover in all lines of improvement, a leading farmer
and stockman at the present time, entitle the subject
of this sketch to a place in the annals of his county.
Mr. Hogue was born in Macon county. Missouri, on
August 6, 185 1, being the son of John and Sarah A.
( Culter) Hogue, natives of Pulaski county, Kentucky.
The father was born in 1819 and was a successful
farmer and stockman. He died in August, 1859, pos-
sessed of five hundred acres of fine soil in Macon coun-
ty, Missouri. The mother was born on August 2,
1826, came with her parents to Missouri in 1838, mar-
ried in 1844, and died in November, 1900. Our sub-
ject was reared and educated in Macon county and re-
mained with his parents until he was twenty-six, be-
ing then married. When eighteen he received one
hundred acres of land as an inheritance and added
seventv-five acres more, which he farmed ami also did
a lumber business until his health broke down and he
came to Moscow, on April 15, 1892. He took tire in-
surance and real estate until 1894 and then obtained
from the government license to establish a trading post
on the Nez Perces reservation and on June 22. 1804. he
moved his family thither, settling on the north fork
of the Clearwater, tie opened a store and suppl) hi >use
for the Weippe country and the Pierce mining district,
continuing in the same until 1898. When first there
he traveled twentv-three miles to Southwick for mail
but soon had the postoffice of Gilbert started with him-
self for postmaster. At the opening of the reservation
he secured his present place, four miles south from < )ro-
fino and he is now handling a half section to general
crops while also he raises Shorthorn cattle and Berk-
shire hogs. He is prosperous and a leading citizen of
the community. . .
On April 10, 1876. Mr. Hogue married Miss Name
r\ daughter of Samuel C. and Sarah A. ( Black well)
Hamilton. Mr. Hamilton was born on January 7,
1820, in Wavne county, Kentucky and died April n,
1890' having'been a successful business man andpromi-
nent'in politics. The mother was born June 15. 1825,
married Februarv 20. 1845. and died in Moscow, Au-
gust 1 ? 1892 Mrs. Hogue was born in Macon county
and has the following brothers and sisters: \\ illiam J.,
[go
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
lames EL, Sidney I'.. Charles L., Samuel C. R., de-
ceased, Bessie Branscombe, Robert E., deceased. Mr.
Ho^ue has two sisters, Susan E. Davis. Annie Par-
cells, and one brother, Harlen M. Three children have
been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hogue, Gilbert H., born
February 23, 1S77, and now a civil engineer in the ser-
vice of the government ; Wilbur W., deceased at the
age of eighteen ; John F., born August 23, 1884. Mr.
and Mrs." Hogue "are members of the Christian church
and are estimable people. He has been justice of the
peace for a long time and was appointed probate judge
by the state of Idaho for Clearwater count), which
was formed on April 6, 1901, but which was declared
illegal by the supreme court three months later.
JAMES R. SCOTT. A reliable and enterprising
stockman and farmer, personally a man of integrity
and worth of character, the subject of this article is
one of those who deserve representation in this his-
tory and we accord him such with pleasure.
James R. Scott was born in Tuscarawas county,
Ohio, on March 11, 1873, being the son of Isaac and
Man- A. (Shaffer) Scott. When James was six, the
family removed to Sullivan county, Missouri, and
farmed and raised stock. Four years later they went
to the Rogue river country in Oregon and there fol-
lowed the same occupation for six years. The next
move was to the vicinity of Palouse, where they settled
in Latah county. In these various places, our subject
was educated in the public schools and learned well
to meet the questions of life. For five years he was in
the employ of Washington Wolheter, in Latah county,
and owned a half interest in a second hand and new
goods store in Palouse. In 1901 he came to the reser-
vation portion of Nez Perces county and rented
a section of land three miles east from Melrose. He is
associated with his brother in this labor and together
they are doing a fine work. They have paid considera-
ble attention to raising stock, heretofore, but at this
present writing they are devoting their energies most-
ly to producing the cereals and large crops of flax.
Mr. Scott has the following named brothers and sis
ters: Joseph, Charles, John W., Maggie, Susie, Nora,
Alonzo, Clyde, Maude, Ida and Jesse. Fraternally
Mr. Scott i's affiliated with the W. W. and the auxil-
iary circle of the same order, while in political matters
he is liberal, reserving for his own decision the ques-
tions of the day, regardless of the tenets of different
parties. He is a reliable young man of energy and
push and his characteristic wisdom with this combi-
nation assures him unbounded success in his labors.
LEN L. BROWER lives about one mile east from
Rosetta, where he has a farm and devotes his atten-
tion to its cultivation and improvement. He was born
in Cleveland, Ohio, on June 27, 1858, being the son of
Reuben L. and Olive (Stroud) Brower. The father
was a native of Ohio, born in 1836 and died in 1887,
at Harnev. Oregon, while on his wav to visit our sub-
ject. He-was a soldier in the Civil war, serving eight-
een months in the Twelfth Indiana Infantry. The
mother of our subject was born in Ohio, in 1837. ami
died in Nebraska, on April 1, 1877, being shot by ac-
cident. She was married in Ohio, in 1857. Len L.
was reared in Indiana, Michigan and Nebraska and
for fifteen years was buckayro and has traveled in
thirty-three states. Soon after his mother's death he
came west, bringing his father, grandmother, and two
sisters. The father settled on a claim on North Pow-
der, but died before he proved up on it. Len L. worked
at various callings, sometimes logging and hauling
ore and spent eight years near Spokane, Cheney
and Rockford. He has no brothers and three sisters,
Sarah A., Ida L., wife of John Marrs, at Union, Ore-
gon ; Elnora, married and living at Portland.
On October 16, 1879, Mr. Brower married Miss
Emma Marrs, at Lagrande, Oregon. She is the daugh-
ter of William H. and Martha (Vaughn) Marrs, na-
tives of Tennessee. The father is dead and the mother
lives in Harney valley, Oregon. Mrs. Brower has four
brothers and four sisters. William, in Wyoming ; John,
in Oregon; Manvil A., in Harney county, Oregon;
Dock, at Boise. Idaho ; Laura ; Mary, widow of Rich-
ard Nelson, in Montana ; Ida, wife of Joseph Kessler,
a miner in Harney county, Oregon ; Callie, wife of Mr.
Benson, in Harney county, Oregon. Four children
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brower, Reuben,
George, Mary and Earl L., all at home. Mrs. Brower
has a daughter by her former husband, Martha, and
she is the wife of Matt Mortimore and living at Ro-
setta. Mr. and Mrs. Brower are members of the United
Brethren church and in political matters, he is a Pro-
hibitionist. Thev are upright people and are respected
by all.
JOHN B. DAVIS. A thrifty and industrious
farmer, a capable and keen business man, a patriotic
citizen and a warm advocate of general improvement
and progress, the subject of this article is eminently
entitled to representation in the history of his county.
John B. Davis was born in Warren county. In-
diana, on April 15. i860. His parents, Dorse and Mary
F. (Breuster) Davis, were natives respectively of
Kentucky and Tennessee.. The father was born in
1826 and in 1856 went to Arkansas, whence three years
later to Indiana and there farmed until his death in
1867. The mother was born in 1830 ; her parents were
pioneers in Indiana and her father operated a general
merchandise store together with a farm. She had
three brothers in the Civil war. Our subject was
reared and grew to manhood in Indiana, remaining with
his parents until he was fourteen. Like all the hardy
and energetic pioneers, he traveled all over the middle
west, and the northwestern country. Finally, in 1883,
he settled down near Waitsburg and farmed until
1889. Then Mr. Davis sold out and bought a farm
twelve miles northeast from Colfax. At the opening
of the reservation he came hither and secured his pres-
ent place, which adjoins Mohler. He was among the
GEORGE W. STELLMON.
IOEL D. MARTIN.
MRS. MARTIN L. GOLDSMITH. MARTIN L. GOLDSMITH
WILLIAM B. MARTIN.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
very first to locate and moved the family there the
next summer. He owns a quarter section and farms
two hundred and thirty acres. Mr. Davis follows the
diversified plan of farming and also raises fine Poland
China hogs. He built the hotel in Mohler, ran it for
one year then rented and later sold it.
I In < >ctober 28, 1885, Mr. Davis married Miss Mary
C. Pollard, whose parents reside near Walla Walla.
She was born on February 7, 1867, and has the follow-
ing named brothers and sisters. Melissa A., Oliver,
Etta, Minnie, Frank, Robert. Roy, four deceased,
John B., Betty, Ella and Delia. Mr. Davis has four
brothers and one sister, Jasper, deceased, Newton,
Frank M., Phillip, Mary Summons. The children of
the household are two, George A., born September 19,
1886: Floyd E., born January 3, 1895. Mr. Davis is a
member of the W. W., the I. O. O. F. and Rebekahs.
Politically he walks with the Republicans, although he
is an independent thinker.
GEORGE W. STELLMOX. A prominent and
skillful farmer and stockman, a keen, practical, busi-
ness man, a good financier, a public minded citizen,
an upright man of integrity and good walk, these
things with many others that we could mention en-
title the subject of this article to representation in the
volume of his county's history.
George W. Stelfmon was born near Greenville,
Greene county, Tennessee, on July 16, 1864, being the
son of Henry and Elizabeth (Brooks) Stellmon, na-
tives of North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively.
The father was born in 1835, and is now living in
Arkansas. He has always been a prominent citizen.
The mother died in 1880. Her father and grandfather
were among the very first settlers in eastern Tennessee.
Our subject was reared on a farm until 1878 in his
native place and then the family went to Benton
county, Arkansas, that being new then. He received
his education in these places and when twenty, deter-
mined to try the west, was soon in Colfax. He worked
oh a farm for a year and then went to Pullman and
later to Genesee. Later he rented land and also took up
forty acres. He farmed here for five years and then
went to the Potlatch country near Juliaetta and bought
a ranch. This was the home for six years and in
1896 he came to his present place, one mile north
and one mile east from Dublin. He took a quarter sec-
tion of good land, later bought two hundred and forty
acres more and is now one of the heavy land owners
of the reservation. He leases his land and is moving
his family to Clarkston. where they will remain until
the children are educated. In addition to this mam-
moth estate, all of which is under cultivation, Mr. Stell-
mon has leased over ten thousand acres of state land
in Douglas county and is stocking it as he purchases
cattle for shipping. He does a good business in buy-
ing and selling cattle and intends to handle a large
ranch. He has a commodious home and excellent
improvements and his is one of the best estates in the
countv.
In Arkansas on April 15, 1883. Mr. Stellmon mar-
ried Miss Delia, daughter of John and Mary (Ingle)
Brock. The father was killed by lightning when his
daughter' was young, but the mother is still living
near Clarkston, Washington. Mrs. Stellmon was born
in Benton county, Arkansas, in 1868. and has one
brother and one sister, John, in Indian Territory ;
Anna Allard at Clarkston. Air. Stellmon has the
following brothers and sisters : Delia Hughes, John,
Charles, Andrew, Melvin, William, all in Nez Perces
county but the last, who is in Arkansas. The follow-
ing children have been born to this worthy couple:
Pearl E., Annie L., Mary, Cora, Neva, Ralph, Grace,
Roy, Eula, Lottie and Lucile. Mr. Stellmon is a Re-
publican, and is always in the lead in any enterprise for
the advancement of the community. He has been
school director for some time.
JOEL D. MARTIN. We esteem it a privilege to
recount the items in this worthy pioneer's interest-
ing career, since he has been intimately connected
with this country for many years, is well posted in
reference to the early history, has labored here for
many years to build up and develop, is a man above
reproach, and withal is a prominent and worthy
citizen.
Joel D. Martin was born in Yates county, New
York, on May 9, 1823, being the son of Garrett and
Laura (Clark) Martin. The father, born in New
Jersey in 1802, is now dead. The mother was a
native of Yates county, New York, and she too is de-
ceased. Our subject remained in New York until
1847. He was educated in Penn Yan Academy. When
the gold excitement broke out in California, the stir-
ring spirit of Joel D. was ready for action and he at
once bought a ticket from New York to San Fran-
cisco, via Panama. Aside from a little foray on Pan-
ama with the natives the trip was accomplished with
no special incident and on June 20. 1850, he passed
within the Golden Gate. At once he made his wa\
to the mines on south Feather river and as they were
poor, he did not do well, and joined a party who
bought a whaling vessel and journeyed up the coast,
giving their attention to hunting. In the following
vear he returned to mining on the middle Feather
river and there success crowned his industry. At
the end of 1852, he engaged for some years in other
business and later returned to the Timbuctoo and
worked for a time. In 1857, at an expense of three
thousand dollars, he had made the trip to New York
and had bought his family west. Strange are the
vicissitudes of life, for in 1862, on July 5, Mr. Mar-
tin landed in Lewiston, "flat broke" to use his laconic-
phrase. He removed to Elk City and went to clerk-
ing for Llovd Magruder for a remuneration of six
dollars per day.
He invested in mining property and with a part-
ner, David A. Butler, took out as high as eighteen
hundred dollars per week. Those same mines are
said to be among the very best in Elk City district
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
now. At the end of four years he returned to Lew-
iston and took up the fruit business in which he did
well. Two years later he went to farming- and this
has occupied him continuously since. He took a
ranch in 1877, and now owns four hundred and forty
acres nine miles southeast from Lewiston. During
the Indian trouble of 1878, Mr. Martin attended to
the construction of defences but after every precau-
tion was taken, the Indians did not show themselves
nor attack the town, doubtless deeming themselves
safer away from these doughty pioneers prepared to
fight.
It is of note that in 1863-64, when the awful
Magruder murder was committed, Mr. Martin was
in Elk City and was one of the party that found the
remains, the next spring, of that unfortunate man,
for whose death five men were hung later.
In New York, in 1846. Mr. Martin married Miss
Caroline, daughter of Isaac and Sarah Stiles, natives
of Xew York and Pennsylvania, respectively. Mrs.
Martin was born and reared in New York, and died in
1885, in Xez Perces county. To this happy union.
there were born three children : Mortimer S., living on
Camas Prairie ; Olive C, wife of W. P. Hunt in Lew-
iston; Helen A., wife of C. F. Leland and she died
in 1 90 1. Mr. Martin had six sisters and two broth-
ers and all are dead but two named below, George W.,
on the old homestead in Yates county, New York;
Melville M.. 111 Wisconsin. Mr. Martin is a stanch
Republican, was assessor for years in California and
deputy for two years. He has been elected justice
of the peace twice and appointed twice but would not
qualify. Mrs. Martin had seven sisters and four
brothers. Mr. Martin is a director in the Pioneer
Association and is a man of good capabilities and
stands exceptionally well in the county, being esteemed
both for his good labors and his own worth."
MARTIN L. GOLDSMITH. It will surely cre-
ate a feeling of pleasure and stir to admiration the
ones who read the items of the career of M. L. Gold-
smith, since there is manifested the sterling qualities
of faithfulness to friends, determination winch brings
success in. labors, and integrity and uprightness which
shine forth in each turn of his walk.
Martin L. Goldsmith was born in Sussex, Eng-
land, on May 29. 1854, being the son of George and
Jane (Wenham) Goldsmith. He was educated" in his
native land, and at the age of thirteen was appren-
ticed to a plumber and painter. Not being pleased
with this work, after six months, he was released from
that and given a position with a gas fitter, ^ where he
served until he was seventeen, gaining a perfect mas-
tery of his craft. When sixteen, he joined the Eng-
lish volunteers ami served until February, 1872. On
the fourteenth of that same month, he embarked for
America, having earned sufficient money for his own
way. He was one of a family of eight boys and eight
gfirls and earlv learned to make his own wav. On
February 29. 1872, the youth landed in Xew York and
after buying a ticket for himself and partner to Chi-
cago, he had one dollar and eighty cents. This he
divided with his partner and they spent fifteen cents
before they got to Chicago. Arriving there he ex-
perienced the discomforts of a heavy snowstorm in a
city ruined and piled with the debris of an awful tire.
He met a new acquaintance and soon had a job in a
blacksmith shop at nine dollars per week. The board
for himself and partner was ten dollars per week and
they steadily fell behind one dollar per week until the
partner gained work. The good fortune of that part-
ner was manifest in having such a warm friend to
rely on as our subject. But this shows forth the quali-
ties of which we spoke and this unqualified faithful-
ness is the one thing above all others that has wrought
the brilliant success of Mr. Goldsmith. He worked on
until July 7, and then went to gas fitting, which was
a source of fine revenue until 1875. In September of
that year, he came to Oregon, via San Francisco. He
opened a blacksmith shop in Mohawk. Oregon, but
was sick there from September, 1876, until the mid-
dle of 1877. In October of that year he came to the
Palouse country with a team, landing amid a blind-
ing snowstorm, on November 24, 1877. On Decem-
ber 19, 1877. he located a homestead and timber cul-
ture, five miles north from Lewiston. For twenty-
five years. Mr. Goldsmith continued in patient and
successful toil on this place and still owns a quarter
section there. After an absence of twenty-eight years,
he returned to London to visit his parents who still iive
there, and about that time he sold his land north of
Lewiston, one section being disposed of then, for
nineteen thousand dollars.
Since then, Mr. Goldsmith has gone into the gen-
eral merchandise business, being located now- at Spald-
ing, where he is doing a fine business. He also has
nearly one thousand sheep, fifty or more cattle and is
a partner of Mr. Wann in the ferry business at Spald-
ing. Thus it is seen that Mr. Goldsmith is very ac-
tive in business, and in it all he has displayed keen
discrimination, excellent executive force and an energy
and continuity that have well merited his brilliant
success.
On August 3, 1873, Mr. Goldsmith married Miss
Margaret, daughter of John P. Hall, who came from
England in 1872. Her'energy and faithfulness, cou-
pled with good business ability, have won for her the
highest esteem of womanhood as well as assisting in
the financial success of her husband. Her parents
have four children, Alice W., born in Chicago, on
July 2^,. 1875. an'l 's now postmistress in Spalding;
George, born 111 ( (regon, on April 6, 1878. and who
was killed in 1890. by a horse falling on him: John,
born near Lewiston on June 17, 1881, married to Daisy
Shaefer in 1900, and now in the sheep business ; Jane,
born near Lewiston on October 30, 1883, and now as-
sisting her father in the store. Mr. Goldsmith is a
Republican and active in all the campaigns and in-
telligent in the issues of the day. He. is a Knight
Templar Mason and also a member of the I. O. O. F.,
and the Pioneer society, while Mrs. Goldsmith is Past
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
'93
Grand of the Rebekahs, Union Lodge, No. 100. In
addition to all his other property he has holdings in
various other places and Mr. Goldsmith has the keen
satisfaction of knowing that from the poor youth with
less than a dollar in his pockets amid the snow of
black Chicago, he has risen to his present commanding
position of successful merchant, stockman and finan-
cier, through his own faithful efforts and commenda-
ble wisdom, having also maintained an unsullied rep-
utation, and is today high in the esteem of all who
know him, being a man of integrity, sound principles
and intrinsic worth.
WILLIAM B. MARTIN. This well known,
prosperous farmer and business man is deserving of
a representation in the history of his county and with
pleasure we accord him such.
William 11. Martin was born in Greene county,
Pennsylvania, on September 28, 1848, being the son
of Annanias C. and Margaret (McCormick) Martin,
natives of Pennsylvania. When William was two
years old, the family came to Henry county, Iowa,
locating near Mount Pleasant. In 1853. tne>' went
to Illinois and returned to Iowa in i860. William was
the second of a family of five children. A. M. Martin,
living near Post Falls ; Frank B., E. M., and Mrs.W.
W. Levis are still living near McMinnville, Oregon.
In 1862, they all came across the plains with ox-
teams, joining a large train at the Platte. The jour-
ney was made without incident out of the ordinary
and they settled in the vicinity of McMinnville, where
the father bought land and farmed. Our subject was
educated in the public schools, completing in the high
school. There on October 2, 1870, Mr. Martin married
Miss Mary E., daughter of Jesse T. and Violet (Ship-
ley) Mulkins, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio. They
were married in Indiana and came to Des Moines
county, Iowa, where Mrs. Martin was born on July
24, 1847. In J864, they made the weary journey
across the plains to Oregon, locating in Yam Hil:
county. In 1871, they came to Dayton, Washington,
and in 1881, they removed to Spokane Prairie, where
the father died in 1885. Mrs. Martin died in March,
1902. Our subject sold his farm in Oregon in 1877
and came to the vicinity of Dayton, Washington. In
1882, he settled near Lewiston, on a preemption,
where he took to fruit raising and dairying, in
October, 1896, Mr. Martin came to the reservation
and located a homestead, where he now lives, four
and one-half miles south from Nezperce. The family
came to this place in the spring of 1897 and it has
been the home since. The farm is well supplied with
first class improvements, among which are a fine seven
room house, a large barn, excellent outbuildings, or-
chards, fences and so forth. Mr. Martin operates a
threshing machine and is also president of the Farmers
Grain Company, limited, which has been incorporated
umder the laws of Idaho. They have warehouses at
Kamiah and a wire tramway from the top of the hill
to them ; they also own other property. Mr. Martin
is also a shareholder in the telephone line from Play-
fair to Nezperce. Three children have been born to Mr.
and Mrs. Martin, Lester L., aged twenty-seven and
the owner of a homestead joining his father's farm;
Fred L., who also has a homestead adjoining, is
twenty-two years old; Walter M., aged nineteen.
EDDY H. WATERS is a substantial farmer and
stockman about seven miles north from Nesperce and
although he has not been here so long as some he has a
fine farm and handles three hundred and twenty acres
to general crops and raises fine Berkshire and Poland
China hogs and some cattle. Mr. Waters has had con-
siderable experience in the ways of the far west and
Alaska and is a man of broad views and progressive
ideas. He was born in Scott county, Iowa, on May
21, 1862, being the son of William and Sarah J.
(Goodrich) Waters. The father was born in Illinois in
1832, twelve miles east from St. Louis. His parents
were pioneers in Illinois and his father, Israel Waters,
volunteered from Maine for the war of 18 12 and took
part in the battle of New Orleans. While he still lived
the whole family went to Scott county, Iowa. In
1849 William took a quarter section under the entry
act and farmed it until 1874, when he came to Wash-
ington county, Oregon, and there died on October 7,
1895. The mother of our subject was born in Ohio-,
in 1836, the daughter of Abijah and Hannah Goodrich,
pioneers in Iowa.. Her father took land in Scott county,
Iowa, in 1840, married in 1855, and lives now in Forest
Grove, Oregon. Our subject was brought up in For-
est Grove and educated in Tualatin Academy. At the
age of twenty-one he worked in the lumber camps then
farmed the home place until 1891. Following this he
settled three miles north from Hillsboro for two years,
then returned to the home farm until the Klondike
fever broke out and he then crossed Chilkoot pass, de-
scended the Yukon to Dawson, mined on American
creek and Gold hill and in the spring of 1898 he
returned by way of St. Michaels. In May, 1899, he
drove overland to Nez Perces county, bought a relin-
quishment of his present place and filed and has labored
successfully here since.
On October 7, 1891, Mr. Waters married Miss
Margaret A., daughter of John M. and Julia A. (Se-
bring) Edwards. John M. Edwards was born in
Bartholomew county, Indiana, on June 7, 1835, the son
of Jacob and Albina B. Edwards, pioneers of Indiana,
and descendants of the early colonists. The grand-
mother of John M. was a direct descendant of the well-
known Morris family and her uncle, Robert Morris,
was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. John
M. wasbrought up in Indiana, when twenty-one he
left home and settled in Iowa and in 1855 went to Mis-
souri. At the breaking out of the Civil war, he enlisted
in February, 1861, in "the Second Regular Cavalry and
fought at the battle of Kirksville, repelling Marma-
duke's raid. He was sergeant and secretary of his
company and was discharged March 4, 1865. He is
now a member of the G. A. R. Post No. 6, at Forest
■94
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Grove, and has beenn chaplain for four years. Mrs.
Waters' mother was born August 8, 1842, in Stark
county. Ohio, was married in 1866 and now lives in
Spokane. Mrs. Waters was born in Newton county,
Missouri, on January 9, 1869, and has the following
brothers and sisters.' Mary Thompson, Joul J., Alvia
J., Florence Bogart, Charles, Sylvia, Benjamin F..
Julia Ann. Mrs. Waters was educated in the Salina
Normal and has been a successful teacher for many
years. .Mr. Waters has one brother and two sisters,
Frank E., Eva E. Wilkes. Ethel A. One child has been
born to them. Wilfred W.. born December 3, 1892.
Mr. Waters is a member of the Order of Artisans and
he and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal
church. Politically he is a Republican and a good sub-
stantial man.
PHILIP WYMAX. A typical westerner in every
respect and a man of ability and honor, whose career
has been packed with adventure and thrilling incident
that would in itself make an interesting book, and who
has wrought with energy, skill, and display of courage
and fortitude, the well known gentleman mentioned
above is well entitled to representation in any volume
that purports to chronicle the history of Nez Perces
county.
Philip Wyman was born in Germany, in 1837. His
parents. Philip and Louise (Fisher) Wyman, were
born in Germany in 1812 and 1817. respectively. The
mother died in '1887. The father was a confectioner
and came to St. Louis in 1845. Our subject was edu-
cated there and also during his minority learned the
butcher trade. In 1 861 he crossed the plains with a
drove of horses numbering eight hundred, and re-
mained in Virginia City, Nevada, for several years fol-
lowing his trade. Then he sold out and went to San
Francisco, butchering there two years, after which he
opened a butcher shop in Portland, remaining there
seventeen vears. His next venture was to drive a
large herd" of cattle, sheep, hogs and so forth to the
mines in Nez Feces and Shoshone counties where he
did a fine business for several years. He went to the
Salmon river and opened in stock raising in 1885,
which he sold later. He has a farm two miles west
from Morrow. Mr. Wyman is engaged in buying and
selling ranches in different sections, and is also devot-
ing his attention to buying and selling stock and is do-
ing a prosperous business. He has one brother and
one sister. Ludwig. Louise. Mr. Wyman is a Demo-
crat from principle and is intelligent in the issues and
questions of the day. By way of reminiscence we de-
sire to mention that on one of his ranches there oc-
curred the hottest battle of the Bannock war and he
later found :\ sword and a couple of guns that are now
on exhibition in one of the Lewiston banks. He was
one of five in 1862 that pulled a boat from Portland
clear up the Columbia, Snake and Salmon to Slate
creek. They rowed it all the way except in rapids and
in one case they had to tow it with an eighty rod rope.
Nothing but Indians were to be found in the country
and it was a hazardous undertaking. Two months were
consumed in the trip. At one time, Mr. Wyman
packed one hundred and fifty pounds for seventeen
miles, receiving fifty cents per pound. He is intimately
acquainted with all the early pioneers and is one of the
well known men all through central Idaho. He has
ever displayed a courage and endurance dominated
with keen wisdom and foresight that have given him
the meed of success and no man in the whole region
mentioned stands better in the hearts of those who know
him than does Mr. Wvman.
WILLIAM CROW was born in Pike county. Illi-
nois, on February 4, 1 861, being the son of Jesse and
Eliza E. (Coley) Crow. The father was born in St.
Charles county, Missouri, on February 15, 1822, and
on January 18, 1899, a tree fell upon him accidentally,
which caused his death. His grandparents came from
Germany. The mother of our subject was born in In-
diana, on February 4, 1834, and died July 5, 1901. Her
father was a veteran of the war of 1812. William was
reared in Illinois, spent a short time in Missouri, and
in 1892 came to Milton, Oregon, where he rented land
for a time and then came and took a claim on unsur-
veved land. Not liking it, he removed to his present
place, five miles north from Culdesac, where he took
forty-five acres of very fertile land. He has devoted
himself to its culture and improvement since and has a
good place. Mr. Crow has the following brothers and
sisters. Edgar P., in the east : Thomas J., a railroad man
near Boice ; Robert and John, near Cavendish; Annie,
wife of Charles Florn, near Cavendish ; Mary, wife of
Gilbert Bentley, in Lincoln county. Washington; Min-
nie, wife of William Rafferty, near Cavendish ; Lulu,
widow of Charles Rice, near Reardon. Washington.
On June 25, 1885, m Pike county, Illinois, Mr.
Crow married Miss Kate, daughter of John and Liz-
zie Batz. natives of Germany and immigrants to the
United States in 1868. They settled in Pike count}- and
that is still their home. Mrs. Crow was born in Ger-
many «.n February 16. 1862, and has the following
brothers and sisters. John, with his parents ; Anna, wife
of .George Frank: Lizzie, wife of Jeff J. Petty, in
Oklahoma. Seven children have been born to Mr.
and Mrs. Crow. Harry E.. John W., Bertram Everett,
Ethel, Robert and Oliver. Mr. Crow is independent in
politics, reserving for himself the right to choose the
man. He is a thrifty, industrious man and one of that
number who form the strength and boast of any sub-
stantial community.
JOACKIAM L. DICKlNS* >N. When the reser-
vation was opened for the settlement of white people
and for the improvements of civilization, the subject
of this article was one of the first to avail himself of
the privilege of taking a homestead and accordingly
four and one half miles east from Melrose, we find him
living now, the owner of a good farm, where he dis-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
19s
plays thrift and industry in raising both the fruits of
the field and stock, and also in handling a fine thresh-
ing outfit in the harvest seasons of the year.
Joackiam L. Dickinson was born in Iowa, on Janu-
ary' 3, 1868, being the son of Oren and Susan ( Larson )
Dickinson. The father was a soldier in the Civil war.
The mother was born in Norway. Our subject grew
to young manhood and received his education in Iowa,
studying in the winters and assisting his father in the
summers. When he was sixteen, the family settled in
Whitman county, Washington, and gave their attention
to farming and raising stock for six years when anoth-
er move was made, this time transferring their resi-
dence to Latah county, Idaho. There they lived for
about seven years, or until the opening of the reser-
vation, when they came and took land, our subject se-
curing a good quarter, as described above.
In 188", Mr. Dickinson married Miss Etta B.
Michaels, a step-daughter of Mrs. A. A. Anderson.
Mrs. Dickinson was born in Kansas, in 1870, and has
one brother. George W. Michaels. Mr. Dickinson has
the following brothers and sisters, Rudolphus S.. Joac-
quin, Dormie A. Key, May Yarbrough, Sophia Wright.
Alfred and Chester. The following named children
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Dickinson, Pearl. May,
Alto, Loy, and Levi. Mr. Dickinson is a Republican
and is on hand at the caucuses and conventions to voice
his principles. He has been on the school board for
the past twelve years and is a wheel horse in the
labors of keeping up good schools and in the improve-
ment of educational facilities in general, as he has op-
portunity,. Mr. Dickinson is a man of integrity and
enterprise, is a patriotic citizen and the recipient of the
good will and esteem of all who know him.
OSCAR ADDINGTON. The subject of this arti-
cle is a good representative of that class of men who
have wrought on our frontiers with assiduity and wis-
dom and have made the abode of civilization to extend
to the remotest bounds of the United States. At the
present time Mr. Addington resides two and one-half
miles northeast from Melrose on a farm which he se-
cured by homestead right and which he has made from
tlie wilds of the reservation.
Oscar Addington was born in Kansas, on July 13.
1874, being the son of Willis G. and Melissa M.
(Jessup) Addington. The father was born in Iowa in
1837, served in the Civil war, for which he now draws
a pension of S24.00 per month. He was a pioneer in
Kansas and still lives. The mother was born in 1842
and still survives. When ( )scar was a small child his
parents came to Dayton, Washington, and there took
land and farmed for nine vears. There he was edu-
cated and assisted his father in the farm work. Later
they all removed to the Rig Bend country and farmed
on the Columbia for nine years, then came to the reser-
vation, where the father and our subject and his
brother all took land and are dwelling on it at the
present time.
On June 4, 1896, Mr. Addington married Miss
Beva, daughter of W. W. and Mary Crockett, the wed-
ding occurring in Sprague, Washington. The father
is a native of Missouri and is now a stockman in Wash-
ington. Mrs. Addington was born in Missouri and has
one brother and six sisters, Alice Gentry, Belle Gentry,
Cora Buck. Besie Crockett, Oren, Dollie and Elsie.
.Mr. Addington has the following brothers and sisters,
Alice Lewis, Emma Hammer. Mina Tavis, Ruth Den-
ny and Berton. Three children have been born to Mr.
and Mrs. Addington, Orville, Mabel, Percy. Mr. Ad-
dington is a member of the M. W. A., at Melrose and
his wife is a member of the Methodist church. Mr.
Addington is a good farmer and in addition to the pro-
duction of the fruits of the field, he raises cattle, horses,
and hogs, being prosperous in his labors.
WILLIAM R. DIX( >N. assistant postmaster at
Morrow, has been connected with Lncle Sam's mail
department in one way or another for seventeen years
and has always proved himself to be a trusted and
capable man in these various capacities. He was born
in Cedar county. Missouri, on September 10, 1850,
being the son of William and Nancy (Privett) Dixon.
The father was born in Indiana in 1832 and died in
1882. He was a soldier in the Civil war, being in
Company C, Eighth Missouri Cavalry, under Colonel
J. J. Gravley and Captain Conway. He was discharged
for disability after a year's service and re-enlisted
again as soon as he was able, it being just before the
close of the war. The mother of our subject was born
in Tennessee in 1825 and is still living. Her parents
were of Irish extraction. Our subject received his
education and grew to manhood in Missouri. When
of age he left the home circle and went to farming for
himself. In 1872, he went to Ft. Scott, Kansas, and
thence to Walla Walla, landing in the latter place on
August 18, 1873. He worked on a farm for two years
and then drove the stage from Dayton to Walla Walla
for four years and then from Dayton to Lewiston for
the same period, having good wages all the time. After
this long service, he bought a farm near Pomeroy and
went to farming. Three years later, he spent a few
months in Lewiston and then, in 1887, took his pres-
ent place, just outside the reservation. Since that time
he has paid attention to the farm and has a fine place
today, having everything in tip top order and thrift is
in evidence at every point. Mr. Dixon has handled a
road house for stages and also has raised considerable
stock in addition to the other occupations mentioned.
On September 24. 1876. at Waitsburg. Washing-
ton. Mr. Dixon married Alice C. Rowan. Her father
was a blacksmith. Her mother was born in Illinois,
in 1826, and now lives in Waitsburg. Mrs. Dixon
was born in Missouri, on October 2. 1854, and has
one brother and two si-ters. Lucretia Denny. Lauena
McHargue. Joseph R. Cox. Mr. Dixon has two
brothers, Andrew, on the Cottonwood, and Henry M..
in Pomerov, Washington. One child has been born to
this union, Frankie Evans, living south of Lewiston
on the Snake river. Mr. and Mrs. Dixon are devout
196
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
members of the Christian church. He is a member of
the [. O. O. F. He was elected justice of the peace
at the last election but refused to qualify. Mr. Dixon
is a member of the school board and has always done
much for the advancement of school interests. Mr.
Dixon has a fine eleven room house and good barn
and his place is a model. It is of interest as a remin-
iscence that in 1878, when he was on the stage from
Dayton to Lewiston, he was held up and robbed by
highwaymen.
MASON S. McCOY. A popular and up-to-date
hotel man and now operating a first class house in Mor-
row, also having a good feed barn in connection, a
man of uprightness and integrity, we, with pleasure,
grant to Mr. McCoy space in the history of his county
for a review of his life.
Mason S. McCoy was born in Walla Walla county,
Washington, on February 15, 1872, being the son of
James and Margaret (Leadbetter) McCoy, natives of
Texas. The father was born in 1839, now lives in
Prosser, Washington, and was one of the early pioneers
of Washington, being through all the Indian wars.
The mother was born in 1849, is living and came west
with ox teams. Our subject grew to manhood in Day-
ton, and was there educated. He learned in his early
life the trade of sawyer and when fifteen went to do
for himself, working both at farming and in the mills.
When nineteen he went to the Willamette valley, later
returned to Washington, then to Portland, then again to
Washington. In the fall of 1895 Mr. McCoy was at
the mouth of Lolo creek, on Clearwater, hunting
and trapping and from which he came to his present
place. In 1896 he came to Idaho, and here he was
married to Mary Hacker, daughter of Jacob and Mary
Hacker, on June 3, 1896. Mrs. McCoy's parents were
born in Germany and her father died in 1899. She
was born in Germany, on May 25, 1874, and came to
the United States when six with her parents. Mrs.
McCoy was educated in Kansas City, Missouri. She
has the following named brothers and sisters, Terese
Ettlesburger. Louis, Lizzie Lamb. Mr. McCoy has the
followig named brothers and sisters, Mary, William,
George. Clara Bait, Maude Radley, John, Viola Swift,
Rose McFarland, Guy. Three children have been born
to Mr. and Mrs. McCoy, Eugene. Beatrice, Lela Fay.
Mrs. McCoy is a Catholic. Mr. McCoy is allied with
the Republicans in politics but reserves for his own de-
cision the judgment of the different men and is an in-
dependent thinker. He has a farm in addition to his
hotel and also is handling some stock.
DANIEL M. WING. Engaged in the occupation
of handling a farm, the genial gentleman and capable
business man of whom we now have the pleasure of
speaking is working out a good success and is one of
the influential and reliable men of good standing in his
section of the county.
Daniel M. Wing was born in Vassalboro, Maine,
on March 13, 1859, being the son of Henry C. and Ju-
lia A. (Pettingale) Wing, natives of Maine. The
father was born in 1842 and died in 1894, was a man
of popularity and held numerous county offices, as
sheriff, assessor and so forth. The mother was born
in 1838 and died in 1897. The whole family removed
to Farmington, Dakota county, Minnesota, in 1861 and
the father acted as station agent for a number of years.
Then he opened a foundry business and later was in
public office in the county for years. Daniel M. grew
to manhood there and was educated in the public
schools. He operated a boot and shoe store for his
father and then superintended a farm for his father.
In 1884, they all moved to Minneapolis and opened a
grocery store. Later, we see our subject engaged in
street railway business and then he was with the North-
ern Pacific Express Company. In 1891 he came to
Butte, Montana, and for seven years he wrought in the
concentrating mill of W. A. Clark. On March 22,
1899, Mr. Wing came to the reservation and took his
present place near Peck. He devoted himself to its
improvement, putting out orchard, erecting buildings,
and so forth, while he also clerked in a store in Peck.
In August, 1885, Mr. Wing married Miss Nettie
Lakin, the wedding occurring in Farmington, Minne-
sota, and to this happy marriage there have been born
two children, Ruth, aged fifteen, and Freddie, aged
five. Mrs. Wing was born in New York, in 1862. She
finished her education in the state normal and then
taught school for some time. She has two sisters and
one brother. Frankie Berlin, Decker, and Carrie Pratt.
Mr. Wing has one brother and one sister, Harry and
Pearl Kinney. Mr. Wing is a member of the W. W.
and Mrs. Wing of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Wing
is active in political matters and reserves the right to
vote for the man he chooses regardless of party tenets.
He is an enthusiastic supporter of good schools and
labors with wisdom for that end.
FRANK W. JULIAN. It is with pleasure that
we incorporate in the volume of Nez Perces county
history a resume of the career of the gentleman whose
name is at the head of this article, and who is one of
the substantial and capable farmers of this section.
He was born in Greene county, Missouri, on October
14. 1869, being the son of Isaac M. and Sarah J. (Mc-
Spadden) Julian. The father was born in Missouri,
on October 25, 1840, was a soldier in the Civil war
and fought the Indians with Ft. Leavenworth as head-
quarters. He was assessor in Garfield county, Wash-
ington, for two years. When our subject was twelve,
he came with his parents from Missouri to Pomeroy,
Washington, where the father took land and farmed.
He also raised stock. Here our subject grew to man-
hood and when eighteen, went to Dayton, Washington,
and there farmed for himself until 1896, when he
came to the reservation and homesteaded eighty acres,
near where he now lives. Later, Mr. Julian sold this
property and bought his present home place about
two miles northeast from Morrow. Mr. Julian has a
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
good orchard, house, barn and other improvements
on his quarter section and is making a fine place of the
estate.
On .March 29, 1891, at Dayton, Washington, Mr.
Julian married Miss Blanche, daughter of Anthony
and Rosetta (Robbins) Rockhill. The father was
born in Ohio. He crossed the plains in 1864 with ox
teams and stopped two years in Willamette valley,
whence he came to Dayton, where he now lives, aged
eighty-two. Mrs. Julian was born in Dayton, Wash-
ington, May 3, 1873, and has brothers and sisters as
follows: Louise, Phoebe, Ellen. John, Rosetta, de-
ceased, Anthony, deceased, Effie, Luella. Mr. Julian
has three sisters and three brothers: Mary, Jennie,
Fred, Lottie, Roxie, Nellie. Two children have been
born to .Mr. and Mrs. Julian, Floyd and Hazel. Mr.
Julian is independent in politics and reserves for his
own decision the questions and qualities of the men to
vote for. He is a warm advocate of good schools and
general orosrression.
LAFAYETTE KNOWLTON. The related occu-
pations of dairying and farming occupy the subject of
this article, and his family home is two and one-half
miles southeast from Lewiston, where he has a farm,
well improved and which he makes the headquarters
of his dairy. He is a man of reliability and integrity,
well spoken of by his neighbors and of untarnished
reputation in the community.
Mr. Knowlton was born in Benton county, Ore-
gon, on June 20, 1854, being the son of George and
Susanna ( McKee) Knowlton, the father is a farmer
and harness maker, also a successful school
teacher, born in Vermont, in 1826, and now
living in Spokane. The parents of Mr. Knowl-
ton were also Yermonters. The mother of our
subject was born in Ohio, in 1830 and died in 1874.
Lafayette was called to mourn the death of his mother
when he was twelve years of age and then he lived
with a neighbor for four years, after which his father
married and he returned to his home. The father had
crossed the plains in 1832 and in 1862 he was led to
the Salmon river mines through the gold excitement.
He packed a sack of flour into Florence clear from
Lewiston and at Florence he was offered one hundred
dollars for it. Our subject went to raising horses in
Oregon when he became of age and remained there
until 1885. when he came to the vicinity of Ritzville,
Washington, and bought a section of land and con-
tinued in that industry. The great depression in the
price of horses in the 'nineties and the panic at the same
time caused a financial failure on the part of Mr.
Knowlton and he lost about eight hundred head of
horses. In 1897 he came to Lewiston and took up
dairying. He took a claim in the county where his
son now lives and he has continued in this line since.
On February 14. 1877, ^r- Knowlton married Miss
Alice, daughter of Thomas and Louisa (Reddick)
Kendall, natives of Ohio. Mrs. Knowlton was born
in Bloomington. Illinois, in 1858, and she has one
brother and one sister. Homer and Lena ( r'Hara, both
in Oregon. Mr. Knowlton has the following named
brothers and sisters : Frances M., in Spokane county,
Washington ; Emma Jackson, at Priest river, in this
state; Mar) Jamieson, in Spokane; James E., in
Okanogan, Washington ; and Grant, George and Su-
sana, by his step-mother. To Mr. and Mrs. Knowlton
there have been born six children: Dallas M., in Mel-
rose, this county; James E., attending normal: Nel-
lie G., Mabel M.', Mary L., and Yerna V. Mr. Knowl-
ton is a member of the M. W. A., at Melrose and his
wife is a member of the Methodist church. Mr.
Knowlton had a number of uncles in the Civil war. In
political matters, he is an admirer of Roosevelt, but
not partisan. He is a warm advocate of good schools
and labors always for their betterment.
EMANUEL VADNEY, M. D., is one of the
earliest pioneers to settle in the bright little town of
Morrow, where he is now conducting a lucrative prac-
tice and also conducting a drug store, which is one of
the thriving business establishments of the town.
Emanuel Vadney was born in Albany, New York,
on October 5, 1858, being the son of Augustus and
Elizabeth (Calderhovre) Vadney. The father was
born in Paris, France, in 1822 and died in 1867. He
came to the United States in 1839, was a graduate of
the Homeopathic Institute in France, and was ex-
amining physician for the government during the Civil
war. He was a professor in the Homeopathic Insti-
tute in Albany and a prominent physician. The
mother of our subject was born in Albany county.
New York, and died when Emanuel was an infant.
Her father, George Y'anderhovre. built and owned the
Chicago hotel which was destroyed by the fire and
afterwards rebuilt. He died in 1898. Our subject
grew to young manhood in Albany and after complet-
ing a literary course took a thorough course in the
Homeopathic Institute where his father was professor.
Then he went to Chico, California, and later returned
to Chicago and took a four-year course in the In-
dependent Medical College of that city. Being thus
excellently fortified for life's work, he came to Chico,
then being twenty-six, and later removed to Milton.
He practiced there and in Baker City for eight years
and then removed to Boise, where he followed his
profession for two years. In 1897 Dr. Vadney came
to Morrow, and since that time has continued here
with good success and also being held in high esteem
among the people.
On May 16, 1884, in Milton, Oregon. Dr. Vadney
married Miss Carrie C, daughter of Levi R. and
Cecilia (Yanattin) Mock, natives of Albany county,
New York. They are Holland Dutch extraction.
Mrs. Vadney was born in Chico, California, in 1870.
and has the following brothers and sisters: Jacob,
John J.. Fannie Kirkpatrick. Dr. Vadney has one
brother and one sister, George E.. Camilla V. Four
children have been born to this union: George E.,
Augustus. Albert E., Bertha C, all at home. Dr.
[98
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Vadney is a member of the I. O. O. F. and has passed
all the' chairs. He is also a member of the M. W. A.
He is a Republican and active in the campaigns. In
addition to his business mentioned above, the Doctor
owns real estate in various places and is prosperous.
He is and has been for some time a member of the
school board and has always shown himself an advo-
cate of good schools. He contributed seventy dollars
towards the new school house and is ever found a pro-
gressive and public minded citizen.
ROBERT E. L. HUCKABAY. 1897 marks the
date when Mr. Huckabay bought the relinquishment
to his present place and since that date he has been one
of the progressive and leading farmers of his section.
His farm consists of one hundred and sixty acres and
lies about two miles north from Westlake. Mr. Huck-
abay was born in Lake county, California, on April 15,
1863, being the son of Berry and Sarah (Milton)
Huckabay," natives of North Carolina and born on
August 28, 1818, and September 26, 1818, respectively.
The father was a pioneer in Oregon in 1850, then went
to California and in 1873 came to the vicinity of Col-
fax, where he died in 1891. The mother died on April
4, 1892. Our subject was educated in California and
Washington and grew to manhood in the latter place.
He remained with his father until the latter's death
and then took full charge of the home estate until 1897,
the year of his advent to the reservation country.
Since this year, he gave himself to the good work of
improvement and has achieved good success in his
labors.
On May 3. 1891, Mr. Huckabay married Miss Ida
F. Burgess, who died on March 20, 1900. On No-
vember 4, 1901. Mr. Huckabay married Miss Bar-
bara, daughter of John and Mary (Miller) Unzicker,
who are mentioned in this volume. She has four
brothers and six sisters. Mr. Huckabay has the fol-
lowing named brothers and sisters : Oliver, Amelia,
Catherine, Adeline, Emeline. Five children were born
to the first marriage of Mr. Huckabay, Ethel, deceased,
Robert and Edward, twins, Victor, Schuyler, de-
ceased. Mr. Huckabay is a member of the I. O. O. F.,
and in political matters is allied with the Democrats.
FRANK KELLER. A good and substantial man,
a patriotic citizen, a thrifty and industrious farmer, and
one whose labors have been wisely bestowed for the
development of this country, it is fitting that the sub-
ject of this article be accorded consideration in the
history of the county of Nez Perces.
Frank Keler was born in Tama county, Iowa, on
October 3, 1866, being the son of Joseph and Sarah
(Mericle) Keller, natives of Ohio. The father, born
in 1844, was a pioneer to Iowa and now lives in Ala-
bama, having wrought through life as a blacksmith.
The mother's father, John Mericle, was a pioneer to
Iowa. In 1881 the family removed to Cowley county,
Kansas, where the father took land and there our sub-
ject grew to manhood and received the finishing part
of his education in the common schools. When
twenty-one he stepped from the parental roof and in-
augurated independent action. He wrought at the
stock business for four years and in 1891 sold out and
came west to Elgin, Oregon. For a time he farmed
there and then made another move, this time to the
county of Latah, and settled in the vicinity of Palouse,
where he farmed for six years. It was in 1898 that he
came to the reservation and selected a homestead four
and one-half miles east from Melrose. He has opened
up a farm and has a good orchard and in addition to
general farming Mr. Keller raises cattle. He is pros-
perous and handles his business affairs with wisdom.
In June, 1893, Mr. Keller married Miss Lona,
daughter of Granville and Leona (White) Long, na-
tives of Indiana, and the father a farmer. Mrs. Kel-
ler was born in Indiana, in 1874, and has three broth-
ers, Cornelius, Schuyler and Clyde. Mr. Keller has
(he following brothers and sisters : Martin, Jacob,
Manuel, Joseph, Emma Kimball, and Pearl Sanderson.
Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Keller,
Esther and Clara. Mr. Keller is a member of the M.
W. A., at Melrose. Mrs. Keller is a member of the
Christian church. Mr. Keller is also a member of the
school board and devotes time and attention to improv-
ing the school facilities. He is a Democrat, but not
bound by party ties, so that he feels at liberty to vote
for the man he desires.
GEORGE S. HALL is an intelligent, capable and
leading citizen of the vicinity of Gilford. He has made
a good success in the affairs of life, has won many
friends and has maintained a reputation unsullied and
clean.
George S. Hall was born in Polk county. Oregon,
on December 30, 1859, being the son of Edward C.
and Margaret (Leasure) Hall. The father was born
in Bureau county, Illinois, and died September 27,
1901. His father was a Kentuckian and his mother a
native of Illinois. They came to Oregon with ox
teams in 1846, bringing the father of our subject with
them. A donation claim of one section was taken in
Polk county, and Mr. Hall, Reason B., being his given
name, gained title for his services in the war of 1812
and the Black Hawk war. When Edward C. became of
age, his father gave him eighty acres and he bought as
much more and farmed for a number of vears and then
went to making wagons and blacksmithing. His wife
was a native of Indiana, and now lives in Moscow,
aged fifty-eight. Our subject was reared on a farm and
educated in the district school and the Willamette Uni-
versity. Following this he worked on the farm, also
spent two years running an engine in Portland. Then
in 1890 he came to Moscow and for a time mined in the
opal mines, but upon their giving out he bought a farm
in 1893, west from Moscow, gaining title at a low
figure on account of the depressed times. When the
reservation opened he sold well and bought his present
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
199
land, seven miles west from Gifford. He has good
improvements, a tine orchard, raises flax and oats, and
plenty of stock. Mr. Hall has four brothers, John E.,
a farmer near Moscow ; Henry R.. a miner at Murray ;
Charles C, a commercial traveler in Portland ; Ralph
L., farmer near our subject.
On January 30, 1895, Mr. Hall married Miss Lil-
lian Husted, a native of Illinois, the wedding occur-
ring in Moscow. Two children, William and Ray-
mond, have been born to them. Mrs. Hall has two sis-
ters. Emma ; Kate, wife of J. H. Williams, at Kalispell,
Montana. Mr. Hall is a member of the M. W. A.,
Paradise Camp, 563 : also the I. O. O. F., at Mos-
cow. He is a Republican and a bright man, active and
interested in the questions of the day and always a
champion for the bettement of the country.
EMERSON T. ROOT. Perhaps there will
never be put on paper the exact descriptions of the try-
ing times the early pioneers had in opening the western
country for settlement. Although the reservation
portion of our country was settled later in the pro-
gress of development, still the same trying times and
hardships were to be encountered as in other sections
and the worthy subject of this article had his portion
in this noble work. Suffering, self-denial, and ex-
tremely arduous labors with deprivations, were the
lot of him and his family, but it is with pleasure that
we can record that at the present time he is one of
the prosperous farmers and stockmen of the county ;
his estate lies one and one-half miles north from
Melrose.
Emerson T. Root was born in Evansville, Wiscon-
sin, on August 18, 1864, being the son of William L.
and Almira (Silverthorn) Root. The father was a
shoemaker, born in Ohio, in 1840, was a pioneer to
Kansas and died in 1894. The mother was born in
Pennsylvania in 1843 and still lives in St. Louis. In
1870, the family went to Whiterock, Kansas, and two
years later to Saint Joseph, Missouri. There our
subject was educated and learned the shoemaker's
trade, working at it for five vears. It then became
evident that for the sake of his health it would be
necessary to have outdoor labor and accordingly he
went to teaming and afterward associated himself
with a wholesale hardware house. In 1888 Mr. Root
came west to Colfax and engaged in the sawmill
business. Later he was agent for the Singer sewing
machine. On April 14, 1896, Mr. Root landed on
his present place and soon he had his family settled.
Being practically without means, he was forced to go
to the more settled country and work, thus leaving the
family alone. He had to pack his provisions in on
horseback and the first winter, he had the great mis-
fortune to lose his horses and the only cow and calf
they possessed, but despite these trying times Mr.
Root labored on and he and his faithful wife are now
enjoying the rewards of their industry in plenty and
prosperity. He handles hogs, sheep, and does a gen-
eral farming business.
On July 3. 1886, Mr. Root married Mrs. Melinda
Lowe, daughter of James and Margaret A. (Broyles)
Speer. Mr. Speer died in the Civil war fighting for
his country. His wife was born in 1832 and now" lives
in Harrison county, Missouri. Mrs. Root was born
in southern Missouri and has one brother, William R.,
now in that state. She was married first to George
W. Lowe and by that marriage has one son, Benjamin
F., and one daughter, Margaret A. Air. Root has the
following brothers and sisters, Oliver E., William L.,
Leroy, Charles F., Arthur P., and George F. Mr.
and Mrs. Root are members of the Methodist church
at Melrose and devout supporters of the faith they
profess. Politically, Mr. Root is an independent Re~-
publican and is a progressive and enterprising citizen.
His uncle, Emerson T. Root, gave his life for his
country in the Civil war. Mr. Root was clerk of the
school board and always strives for the betterment of
educational facilities.
JOHN S. UNZICKER. This thrifty and well-
to-do farmer is one of the venerable men who has
settled in the reservation country. His estate of one-
quarter section iies two and one-half miles north from
Westlake and is well improved and provided with
good, large residence and splendid outbuildings.
John S. Unzicker was born in Lancaster county,
Pennsylvania, on May 21, 1829, being the son of
John and Barbara (Unzicker) Unzicker. The father
was born in Germany, came to the United States in
1829 and died the same year. The mother was born
in Germany in 1808. Our subject was reared by his
grandmother and commenced the battle of life for
himself when he was ten years old. He was taken to
Ohio when four and there educated. He learned the
cooper trade but when he was nineteen he went to
Lee county, Iowa, and farmed there and in Illinois.
When twenty-seven Mr. Unzicker went to Hickory
county, Missouri, broke the wild sod and settled to
farming. At the breaking out of the war he returned
to Davis county, Iowa, then to Lee county, and finally
went to Clark county, Missouri, was also in Cass
county. He was in McPherson count)- and then in
Linn, and in 1886 he came to Whitman county, Wash-
ington. At the date of the opening of the reservation
he came hither and settled on his present place. This
was in the fall of 1895 and since then he has labored
faithfully in farming and raising stock.
In Henry county, Iowa, on September 21, 1856,
Mr. Unzicker married Miss Mary, daughter of John
F. and Magdelene (King) Miller. The father was
a miller and farmer, born in Germany in 1801, came
to the United States when a young man on a con-
tract to work out his passage money after he got here,
which he did. He died in 1871. The mother was
also born in Germany. Mrs. Unzicker was born in
Ohio, in 1839. and has the following brothers and sis-
ters, Gideon, John. Isaac, Samuel, Joseph. Charles,
Lydia, Sarah. Barbara. Mr. Unzicker was an only
child. The following named children have been born
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
to Mr. and Mrs. Unzicker, Lydia, Gideon, William,
Lavina, Samuel, Barbara, Emma. Ella, Charles, Clara.
Our subject and his wife are members of the Men-
nonite church. Mr. Qnzicker is a member of the
school board, is road overseer and has always been
an advocate of good schools and progression generally.
GEORGE A. SMITH is one of the leading stock-
men of Xez Perces county, as well as a heavy real
estate holder. He has a farm of nearly one section,
seven miles east from Lewiston, where the family home
is, and also rents eight hundred acres in addition to
this. Mr. Smith runs his cattle in the mountains in
the summers and feeds them at the ranch in the win-
ters. He has made a good success in this line of work
and is a man of ability and energy. He raises barley
and wheat on the farm and does a general farming
business. He has a fine residence, good barns, and the
property is one of the excellent ones of this section.
It is interesting to note the details of a successful
life like this, and accordingly we append them. Mr.
Smith was born in 1'ike county, Illinois, on August
22, i860, being the son of Hiram R. and Nancy ( Al-
kire 1 Smith. The father was born in Pike county,
Illinois, in 1829, and died in 1873. The mother was
born in Illinois also and died in 1863. Our subject
remained at home with his father, the mother dying
when he was ver\ young. He gained a good educa-
tion and at the age of thirteen the family removed to
Vernon county, Missouri, this being in the fall of 1872,
and six months later the father died. He had bought
a tract of land there, but the family returned to the
Illinois home, which they still owned. He remained
there until eighteen and then came west in the fall of
1878. He went first to the Willamette valley and
thence to Lewiston. landing here on November 2, 1878.
He worked at different things until 1880, then took a
position with the N. P. R. R. as fireman, and later be-
came engineer ; then he operated an engine in a mill
and in 1885 he began raising stock and farming. He
took a homestead, which was the nucleus of his farm,
and bought more land until he has as described above.
On November 14, 1886, in this county, Mr. Smith
married Miss Alfreta, daughter of Robert and Eliza
(Sewell) Inghram. The father was born in Holton,
Maine, in 1837, a»d died in 1891. The mother was
born in Miramichi, Canada, on August 30, 1842. Mrs.
Smith was born in Holton, Maine, on October 10,
1870, and she has brothers and sisters a« follows:
John, Bernard, Robert L. and David. Mr. Smith has
the following named brothers and sisters : Seldon,
Robert. Hiram. Hilbert, Wesley Akers, Mrs. J. M.
Edkins. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith there have been
born five children, Laura, deceased ; Arthur, also de-
ceased; Ernest, Dora and Helen. Mr. Smith is, a
member of the I. O. O. F. and of. the W. W. In poli-
tics he is allied with the Republicans. He has been
a member of the Lewiston (school board for eight years
and is a warm advocate of good schools, and his efforts
have done much in this direction in building up. Mrs.
Smith had two uncles in the war of the Rebellion, John
Inghram, who died in the army, and Frank, who lost
one leg. Mr. Smith is one of the enterprising, thrifty
and sagacious citizens of our county 'and is the recipi-
ent of the esteem and confidence of his fellows. Mr.
Smith is a stockholder and director of the! Idaho Trust
Company, Lewiston. He is a candidate for county
commissioner on the Republican ticket from the first
district.
HON. LOUIS CLARK. This capable and influ-
ential citizen of Nez Perces county is one of the pow-
erful men whose talents have been turned to the pro-
vision of sound legislation for the state of Idaho, be-
ing at this time a member of the state senate from Nez
Perces county. Mr. Clark is conceded to be the most
powerful forensic orator on the floors of legislation
in his state, and he has made a record that is highly
appreciated not only by his constituents but also by all
lovers of salutary and right laws.
Louis Clark was born in Hawkins county, Ken-
tucky, on August 3, 1865, -the son of William H. and
Mary A. (Ray) Clark, whose ancestors had been resi-
dents of that section for four generations. Mr. Clark
is the eldest of three children and his father died
while he was an infant- From that time forward,
Louis helped his mother in the battles of life. In 1874,
they came across the plains to Boise. Idaho, and in
1882, our subject came to Beeman and later settled in
Gifford. In this latter place he gives his attention to
mercantile pursuits in Gifford and handling his estate
two miles west from Gifford. Mr. Clark has made a
brilliant success in farming and raising stock and is
one of the most substantial men of the county. He
was reared amid the trying scenes of life in various
localities and received bis education from the common
schools. In 1890, he became greatly interested in
politics and in 1892, he was elected constable of the
Potlatch district. In 1896, he was elected justice of
the peace in the Lapwai precinct. In 1898, he was
nominated as state senator but was defeated. In 1900,
he was nominated again and that time he carried the
day. In both races, he went far ahead of his party and
although the county of Nez Perces is Republican, he
won, being on the Democratic ticket. It was soon
discovered that Senator Clark was the right man in the
right place and the senate accorded him responsible
positions. He is chairman of the committee on agri-
culture and live stock, a member of the committee on
rules, on highways, on bridges and ferries and he has
been one of the most active and influential men of the
senate. The success that Mr. Clark has won is en-
tirely the achievement of a strong will, wisdom, in-
tegrity and untiring activity in the various channels
of business life and in the realm of politics, while also
in educational matters he has always been a power
for good.
Senator Clark is a member of the Reorganized
church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which
organization is often confounded wrongly with the
polygamous faction which Brighara Young establish-
HON LOUIS CLARK.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ed, but the two organizations are widely different and
the church of our senator is stanchly opposed to the
practices of the followers of Young.
On July 2, 1885, Louis Clark married Miss Ida M.,
daughter of J. A. and Susan (Herrington) Richard-
son, natives of Missouri. The nuptials occurred in
Juliaetta, Latah county. Mrs. Clark was born in
Pendleton, Oregon. She had one brother, Isaac, killed
in the Philippine war. He belonged to Company B,
Idaho Volunteers. Another brother, John, was killed
in an accident, and one brother, George, is living at
Juliaetta farming. Mr. Clark has four brothers and
two sisters living. We wish to mention that in ad-
dition to the brilliant record that Senator Clark has
made in legislation for his state, he has also demon-
strated that he possesses excellent business and execu-
tive ability and is a good financier. He has large
tracts of real estate, handles about two hundred head
of beef cattle annually, and has done a lion's share in
the development of the resources of Nez 1 Vices
county.
JOSEPH H. DAY. an enterprising and success-
ful farmer and stockman, residing on his estate of two
hundred and forty acres, four miles north from Mor-
row, lias also achieved success in the work of the edu-
cator and is one of the substantial and influential men
of this section.
Joseph H. Day was born in Washington county,
Oregon, on October 5, 1864, being the son of George
•C. and Sarah J. (Painter) Day. The father, a farmer
and stockman, was born in Ohio, crossed the plains in
1850 with ox teams and settled in Oregon City. He
put the first boat on the river above the falls, then
farmed and taught school and in the 'sixties was sent
to the legislature. He was a strong and influential
Republican and did much to mould affairs in early
days. He was also active in the Indian troubles in the
'fifties. The mother of our subject was born in Mis-
souri and crossed the plains in 1851, with her parents.
Her grandfather, Robert Moore, crossed the plains in
1838 and started the town of Linn City across the
Willamette from Oregon City, which was later washed
away. W. C. Painter figured prominently in the In-
dian wars. Joseph C. Painter and two brothers were
members of the Washington legislature. Our subject
grew to manhood . in his native place and was edu-
cated in the common schools and business college in
Portland. Then he taught two years and removed to
Kittitas county, Washington, where he taught four
years, after which he went to Walla Walla, Whitman
and othei counties and worked with engineering corps
fur the Northern Pacific. In 1896. Mr. Dav came to
his present place and since that time has been engaged
in farming and raising stock. He was nominated by
the Democrats for county surveyor in 1898 but suffered
the defeat of the party "that year.
On October 7, 1888, in Ellensburg, Washington,
Mr. Day married Miss Orlena, daughter of Casper B.
and Elizabeth A. (Enochs) Fetters. The father was
an artist as well as a farmer, and died in 1898. One
of his wood engravings among others attracted con-
siderable attention in the World's Fair in Chicago. The
mother was born in Illinois and still lives in Ellens-
burg. Washington. Mrs. Day was born in Illinois in
1869, and has five brothers and two sisters, Carl B.,
Horatio, Freeman, Estella Elliott, Flora Dyer, Jo-
seph, Ernest. Mr. Day has the following brothers and
sisters, William R., Margaret Barstow, Jessie M.
Adams, George P., Robert, Anna Andrews, Grace
Schuster, Josephine Ford, John, Benjamin, Chester,
Walter, Francis E. Four children have been born to
Mr. and Mrs. Day, Jean, George C, John and Lydia
M. Mr. Day is a member of the I. O. O. F. at Mos-
cow, and the' A. O. U. W. at Ho.
ALFRED E. MILLER. This genial and affable
gentleman, who with his faithful and pleasant wife
have traveled on the journey of life for many years,
and now as the golden years of their days are begin-
ning to run apace, they have made themselves a home
in the reservation country, .which for natural advan-
tages is equal to any which has been developed and
improved in a becoming manner.
Alfred E. Miller was born in Spring Mills, Penn-
sylvania, on June 13, 1833, being the son of Jonas and
Lydia- (Ettinger) Miller, natives of Lehigh county,
Pennsylvania, and born in 1801 and 1799 and died in
1876 and 1874, respectively. The father was a tailor
but farmed some the latter part of his life. Alfred
was educated and raised in his native place and when
seventeen started for himself. He worked on the
farm and one year later took up blacksmithing, which
he followed for three years. Subsequent to that, we
find him for eight years in a dry goods store and then
he went to Colorado and mined three years. His next
move was to Baker City, Oregon, and there he
freighted and mined for fifteen years and came thence
in 1877 to Dayton, Washington. That was the place
of his toils on the farm until 1891, when he came to
Genesee and bought land. Like the majority of the
farmers in the gloomy vear of 1893, he went to the wall
financially and when the reservation opened he came
hither and selected his place, three miles west from
Gifford. He had but a few cents in cash, and the
opening of a new place was very slow, but he has
labored on and now has a good home, plenty of stock,
does a general farming business and is prospering.
Mr. Miller has one brother, Charles, a tailor in Penn-
sylvania, and four sisters, Catharine, deceased wife of
Michael Keys : Aim, widow of Evan Evens, in Penn-
sylvania: Polly, widow of Lyons M. Hanna ; Marga-
ret, single, living in Pennsylvania. Mr. Miller is a
member of the Lutheran church and his wife of the
Baptist. He is a Republican and is active in the im-
provement of the country and the development of its
resources.
On April 10, 1867, at Lagrande. Oregon, Mr. Mil-
ler married Julia Holbfield. widow of David Holbfield,
and daughter of Theopholus and Elizabeth H. (Lech-
man) Shaw, natives of Kentucky. Mrs. Miller was
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
born in Putnam county. Missouri, on June 26, 1838,
and came to Oregon with her parents in 1865. She
had nine brothers and sisters and all are dead but
two, Sampson, in Okanogan county, Washington ;
Daniel, in Baker City, Oregon. Four children have
been born to Mr. and Mrs. .Miller: Charles, at home;
Annie, wife of George M. White, near Culdesac ; Jane,
wife of Charles Bateman, on the reservation ; Mary,
wife of F. A. Schreffler, a farmer near Girford. Mrs.
Miller had one son by her former marriage, David, liv-
ing near Clarkston, Washington. Mr. and Mrs. Miller
are well respected people and are worthy of the esteem
in which they are held. They have labored well to
develop the western country and are deserving of the
portion they have wrought out by their toils.
CHARLES W. EVERTS. To the old Empire
state we travel to find the birth place of the subject
of this article. Syracuse county was the spot and May
4, 1865, the date of this event. The parents, William
H. and Mary A. (Miller) Everts, came to Ionia coun-
ty, Michigan, and in 1880, to Dayton, Washington.
The father went to South Dakota and there took a
homestead, where in 1891. he died aged fifty-five. The
mother, aged fifty-seven, is now living with a daugh-
ter in Southshore, South Dakota. Our subject com-
menced for himself at fifteen, having secured a com-
mon school education. After coming to Washington
with the family, he spent considerable time around
Walla Walla and also worked at Union, Union coun-
ty, Oregon. He was jailer there for a time. In 1893
he went to Oakesdale, Washington, and there farmed
and worked on the Northern Pacific until 1897, when
he came to his present place, about five miles northeast
from Nezperce and took eighty acres under the home-
stead act. He has proved up on this, and has an
orchard of two hundred trees, a well cultivated farm
and good improvements otherwise.
Mr. Everts has one sister, Mrs. Emma L. Potter,
and one brother, Henry, residing in Southshore, South
Dakota. The sister was born on January 21, 1875,
in Ionia county, Michigan, and Henry was born in the
same place, on March 29, 1877. Mr. Everts is a re-
spected and public-minded citizen and has the good
will of all. He is still one of the jolly bachelors of
the section and seems quite content with the quiet
joys and peacetulness of that state.
CHARLES C. SAUNDERS, a farmer and stock-
man, whose home is one mile west from Dublin, is to
be numbered with the enterprising and substantial citi-
zens and it is with pleasure that we are enabled to
grant him consideration in the volume of his county
history.
Charles C. Saunders was born in Monroe county,
West Virginia, on September 24, i860, being the son
of Lewis W. and Julia (Harlen) Saunders, natives
of West Virginia. The father was born on September
24. 1835. He served about four years in the Civil
war, participating in the awful battle of Gettysburg,
and also served under Grant. The mother of our sub-
ject was born in 1841 and died in 1885. The family
went to Missouri when our subject was eleven and
there as in his own home place he studied in the com-
mon schools. He remained with his father until he
was twenty-one and then started in the battle of life
on his own resources. When twenty-five he started
out west and March 12, 1886, marks the date of his
landing in Lewiston. He worked for a time and then
journeyed to the Okanogan country, after which he
came to Uniontown and harvested. About this time
he had the misfortune to break his arm which necessi-
tated his retirement from active life for a time. In
November, 1888, we see him in Spokane, working for
Meade & Company, wholesale butchers. Two years
here and then he butchered in L'niontown after which
he served fourteen months for the Great Northern in
this capacitv. Next, Mr. Saunders opened a meat
market in Spokane, called the Union market and as
partner he took F. L. Sampson. After four years in
this business he sold out and went to buying and ship-
ping stock. On June 1, 1898, he came to the reserva-
tion country and secured his present place. This was
raw prairie and he has devoted himself to improving it
and also continues to buy and ship stock. He raises
fine grades of cattle and hogs. Mr. Saunders is a
Democrat and interested in the campaigns. He has
the following brothers and sisters, Jennie L., Mamie
Hayes, Lewis A., Cass, Ross, Earl. Mr. Saunders is
one of the jolly bachelors of the reservation country
and is also one of the esteemed and substantial men of
this section.
EDWARD L. WIGGIN is one of the leading com-
mercial men of Lewiston, handling an establishment
as tobacconist, wherein he has made a good success.
He is a native of Dayton. Washington, being born of
pioneer parents, Lott and Mary J. (Newell) Wiggin,
on February 15. 1871. His father was a wheelwright,
born in Portland, Maine, in 1823, and died in 1899,
in Lewiston. He came up the first steamboat on the
upper Snake and landed at Lewiston in 1861. He
opened a trading store at the junction of the Snake
and Clearwater and continued in the country until the
time of his death. He was a prominent man in Lewis-
ton and for many years was a member of the city
council. Mrs. Wiggin is still living in Lewiston.
Her father, Dr. Newell, was Indian agent at Lapwai
from 1874 to 1875 and was one of the early pioneers
of the country. He was a man of great influence and
held in high esteem by both whites and Indians.
When he retired from the agency, the Indians, as a
manifestation of their appreciation, granted him a
tract of land at the forks of the Snake and Clearwater
rivers, which is still known as the Newell grant. He
and his wife were content to pass their days in Lewis-
ton and here also they ^eq>.
Our subject was educated in the common schools,
and remained at home until of age. His parents came
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
203
to Lewiston when he was four years old and he has
remained here since and so is very familiar with both
the citv and surrounding country. When eighteen
he wait to work in the Teller office and three years
later went into the Tribune office. He also handled
stock on the range and made camp Joseph his head-
quarters for a time. In 1895 he started his present
business and his ability and care of business has given
him the meed of excellent success and he is one of
the prosperous business men of Lewiston.
On November 30, 1899. Air. Wiggin married Miss
Augusta M., the youngest daughter of A. Benson, a
well known pioneer. Mrs. Wiggin was born in Lew-
iston, where also her wedding occurred, and the date
of her advent into life was 1877, during the hostilities
of the Nez Perces war and she is distinctly an Idaho
product. She has the following brother and sisters:
Mrs. Clifford Riggs, Mrs. Walter Addison, Albert, a
resident of this county. Mr. Wiggin has the following
brothers and sisters: Mrs. Joseph Molloy ; John, a
soldier in the Philippines and now in Lewiston ;
Charles A., also in Lewiston. Mr. Wiggin has a fine
home in the city and one child, Albert Edward, eight-
een months old. Mr. Wiggin is a member of the I.
O. O. F. in Lewiston, and also of the W. of W. He
is a Republican and active. He is also a member of
the Pioneer Association. Mr. Wiggin is well and
favorablv known and has the regard and esteem of
all.
LOUIS DELSOL. A list of Nez Perces county's
orchardists and real estate holders would by no means
be complete were there failure to mention the well
known citizen whose name initiates this paragraph.
Mr. Delsol is one of the pioneers of this country, has
labored faithfully and intelligently for its upbuilding
and advancement, has demonstrated the fruit culture
to be a successful industry, being one of the first men
who planted fruit here and also one of those whose
efforts have continued with commendable progress
and success, and now he stands one of the leaders in
his line. Three miles east from Lewiston is his home
place, which consists of three hundred and thirty-five
acres of good soil. He does a general farming 'busi-
ness and has some stock, but his attention is largely
devoted to fruit, of which he has thirty-five acres. In
1872 Mr. Delsol planted the first grape vines in this
country, sending to California for them. They have
been a success and the two acres planted then are
regularly bearing now and have been during the inter-
vening time. He has a good house and all the out-
buildings that are needed.
Louis Delson was born in France, on March 25,
1838. being the son of natives of that land. His
parents died when he was small and he has but slight
remembrance of them. In his native place, Louis
received a good education and remained until he was
twenty-one years old. Then he came to New York
and thence, via Panama, to San Francisco, where an
older brother had preceded him about two years.
He arrived in the Golden state in i860, and soon was
in the mines hard at work for the hidden treasure and
at this he wrought for a number of years and then
came to Canyon City, Oregon, where he delved for
gold for a time and then went to the Salmon river
mines, remaining four years, until 1870. Then Mr.
Delsol came to Lewiston and took his present land
from the government. At the time of the Nez Perces
war he was in San Francisco and learning of it he
speedily came home and assisted to stand guard. A
number of French miners on the Salmon came troop-
ing into his place at this time and remained there
several months or until hostilities ceased.
Mr. Delsol is interested in commercial pursuits in
Lewiston and is constantly investing more. He is one
of the genial and affable celibatarians of the county
and is popular with all. He takes an active part in
politics, being a Democrat, and has done duty in num-
erous conventions. In religious persuasion he is a
Catholic, and fraternally he is a thirty-second degree
Mason. Mr. Delsol has two brothers and one sister,
Frank, Baptiste and August.
CHARLES B. WORTMAN. The subject of
this review is one of the representative men of this
reservation country and is now dwelling on a farm
four miles west from Nezperce. Being among the first
at the opening, he secured one of the choice pieces
and since that date has given his undivided attention
to its improvement and cultivation.
Charles B. Wortman was born in Daviess county,
Missouri, on December 25, 1859, being the son of
Milton L. and Catherine (Spencer) Wortman, natives
of West Virginia and Ohio, respectively. The father
enlisted in the Confederate army in June, 1861, and
fought in Price's army all through the conflict, being
in many battles and skirmishes and also at the sur-
render. He was sheriff of Daviess county when the
war broke out and he was elected again after the war
was over. On September 15, 1872, he died from the
effects of bone erysipelas. The mother died on July
4, 1876. In 1873 our subject went to Douglas county,
Colorado, but returned to Missouri, whence he again
went to Colorado and remained riding the range until
1889, the year in which he came to Latah, Washing-
ton. He was here at the day of the opening of the
reservation, November 18, 1895, but did not rile until
the twenty-ninth. His place is situated on the Nez-
perce and Lewiston wagon road and is well fenced
and about all under cultivation. Mr. Wortman came
here with but little property and is now a prosperous
and substantial agriculturist.
On April 1, 1889, Mr. Wortman married Miss
Nancy M., daughter of Hathaway and Nancy Mas-
terson. They lived in Carroll county. Missouri, where
Mrs. Wortman was born on August 25, 1864. The
family went to Benton county, Arkansas. Mr. Mas-
terson was born in Kentucky and commenced to teach
at the age of eighteen and continued that with the
work of the ministry in the Christian church until
two years before his death in June, 1897, being then
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
aged seventy-seven. His widow now lives on the res-
ervation in her seventy-fifth year. Mrs. Wortman is a
member of the Christian church.
THEOPHILUS F. ROSSE was born in the grand
little republic of Switzerland, the date thereof being
October 28. 1859. His parents. Joseph and Barbara
(Berdat) Rosse, were of French extraction and their
home was in France until Bonaparte changed the
boundary of Switzerland. The father of our subject
was born in Delemont, the old home place of this son,
in 1804, and he died in 1873. He was a farmer and
served as a cadet under Napoleon Boneparte in 18 16.
The mother of our subject was born in the same place
in 1820 and died in 1863. Theophilus was reared on
a farm and gained his education from the common
schools. He "learned the trade of making confections
and fine pastry cooking. He was favored in his youth
in being able to study in French and German and
speaks tftose languages in connection with the Eng-
lish. When twenty-one he came to the United States
and from New York he sailed to Argentine and back
as cook. Next he cooked on a steamer on lake Michi-
gan. Then we see him in Minnesota following the
fine art in a summer hotel on lake Osakias. Conse-
quent to this he cooked for a corps of Canadian Pa-
cific engineers and thus traveled all over the country.
He took land in Saskatchewan and held it until the
breaking out of the Indian rebellion, when he joined
the whites and received a wound in the thigh. This
was in 1885 and soon after his discharge he came to
Lane county, Oregon, where he settled to farming and
stock raising. For fourteen years Mr. Rosse did
well here and then the panic of 1893 struck the coun-
try and he \\as financially crippled with the others.
Then he came to the reservation and leased Indian
land, whore he now is. three and one-half miles west
from Ilo, since which time he has done well. He has
re-leased the land for three years and is entering still
more deeply into agricultural pursuits.
Mr. Rosse has the following named brothers and
sisters : Joseph, a large wholesale merchant in France ;
Julia Frey, Josephine Fox, Bridget Bill, all in Switz-
erland; Mary Schaub, whose husband is a banker in
Buenos Ayres, Argentine. Mr. Rosse is a Catholic
and adheres to the Republican party. He is a man of
principle and integrity and is of excellent standing in
the community, being ever allied on the side of sub-
stantial upbuilding and progress.
ALBERT WILLIAMS is one of the prosperous
farmers who have settled in the reservation country
and l>ave made it a very attractive and pleasant place
to live, besides making it one of the most valuable
sections of the state.
Albert Williams was born in Port Hope, Canada,
in June, 185 1, being the son of John and Fannie
(Cobblde) Williams. The father was born in Canada
and died in 1864, having been a farmer. The mother
was a native of England and died in 1864. Our sub-
ject was thus early left an orphan and knew some of
the hardships of this life in his childhood. He con-
tinued to farm the old home place until 1888, then he
sold it and came to Jacksonville, Oregon, where he
stayed but a short time. The next move was to Idaho,
where Mr. Williams bought a farm, tilling the same
until the reservation opened and then he took his pres-
ent place, two miles southwest from Melrose. He
made final proof of this place in 1901 and it is con-
sidered one of the very best farms in the vicinity. Mr.
Williams has a fine orchard, a commodious barn and
is about to erect a good residence. He had brothers
and sisters, as follows : Elizabeth, deceased, Joseph,
Benjamin, William, deceased, Frances, Harnett, Zu-
rina Stephens and Simeon, in Canada. Mr. Williams
is a member of the Methodist church and is a man of
integrity and industry.
While in Canada, in 1884, Mr. Williams married
Miss Sarah, daughter of Godfrey Robinson, a farmer.
One child has been born to this union, Sarah B., now
fourteen vears old.
JEFFERSON DAVIS HENDREN. We wish to
especially mention the subject of this sketch in the
history of Nez Perces county, as he has been well
known in the eastern part as a man of strong character
and determination, and has led a remarkable career as
an officer of justice, always accomplishing the danger-
ous and trying tasks in his service as deputy sheriff,
even capturing noted criminals and handling them
without irons, when others were killed in the attempt.
Also in the seventeen years of his stay in these sec-
tions, Mr. Hendren has shown true qualities of integ-
rity, uprightness and honor and his friends are num-
bered from every quarter.
Mr. Hendren was born in Arkansas, on July 29,
1861, being the son of William H. and Elizabeth W.
(Bates) Hendren. The father was born in 1834, in
Wilkes county, North Carolina, fought througb the
Civil war as captain under Price and experienced some
thrilling times. The mother of our subject was born in
Georgia in 1833 and her parents were also natives of
that state. Mr. W. H. Hendren and his wife still live
on the home place in Arkansas. Our subject was edu-
cated and reared in Arkansas, then followed stock busi-
ness in Nebraska and Montana until twenty-three, at
which time he visited home again and then came to
Camas prairie, where he located and took up stock
raising. Since then he has more or less devoted him-
self to this and is now handling a livery business in
Kamiah, where he is successful. Mr. Hendren has the
following brothers and sisters: John J., William I.,
James E., Evan L., Robert L., Napoleon P., Albert M..
John T., Julia A. Bates, Frances P. Austin, Lizzie
Vandevanter and Lottie. Mr. Hendren is a member
of the I. O. O. F., Clearwater Lodge No. 68, at Mt.
Idaho ; of the Encampment, No. 18 ; and he and his
wife belong to the Rebekahs.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
205
On June 6, 1883, Mr. Hendren married Miss Mar-
tha J., daughter of William B. and Jane (Caughron)
Austin, of Benton county, Arkansas, and on February
8, 1887, on Camas prairie, aged thirty-two, Mrs.
Hendren was called from her home by death and left
five children, Berna and Bertha, twin girls, George
S., Mabel and Earl. In March, 1902, Mr. Hendren
contracted a second marriage, Mrs. Mattie D. Mont-
gomery then becoming his wife. Her parents are
Joseph and Nancy J. McKinney, residents of Camas
prairie. Mr. McKinney is an influential man and
prominent in political matters, being a Democrat, and
also in Oregon he was one of the leading men, being
a heavy stock raiser and dealer. Mrs. Hendren was
born in Linn county, Oregon, on October 24, 1870,
and has two brothers and seven sisters, William and
John, Annie, Clara Springer, Etta, Orpha Powell,
Ollie Lieuellen, Rose Bush and Bertha Bryant. By
her former husband Mrs. Henderson has two chil-
dren, Francis R. and Ida M. Montgomery.
In the political field, Mr. Hendren is both popular
and prominent, being at the county and state conven-
tions at almost every sitting and a man of influence in
these capacities as well as in his home position. Mr.
Hendren was deputy sheriff for six years in Idaho
county and county assessor there for one term, being
deputy for four years in addition. Although the
county was Republican, still he secured a majority of
twenty-six at the time of his election. When deputy
sheriff, Mr. Hendren captured the noted Oregon des-
perado who had killed two men in Oregon. He caught
his man on the Salmon and took him forty-five miles
without an iron.
CHARLES W. HEBERLY. Being here at the
very day the reservation was opened, and owing to
his excellent enterprise and keen judgment, Mr. Heb-
erly secured one of the most valuable ranches in Nez
Perces county, being located three miles west from
Nezperce and on the main Lewiston road. His land
all lies well, is very fertile and plentifully watered, while
the valuable improvements which he has added from
time to time since, by dint of hard labor and wise man-
agement, have doubly enhanced its value. The an-
nual returns in crops make a fine dividend and Mr.
Heberly is one of the prosperous and substantial men
of the community.
Charles W. Heberly was born in Mineral county,
West Virginia, on September 25, 1867, being the son
of Charles G. and Margaret C. Heberly, natives of
Germany and West Virginia, respectively. Mr.
Heberly has one sister, Mrs. Caroline Hollen, who was
born on February 25, 1866, and is now living in Mays-
ville, Grant county. West Virginia. The father of our
subject, who was living in Illinois at the time of the
Civil war, enlisted in the Second Illinois Light Artil-
lery, and served all through the war, being in many
battles and skirmishes. He was wounded and also
languished in one of the horrible prisons. Being hon-
orably discharged, he returned to West Virginia and
later went to Maryland, where he died in 1870 from the
effects of a wound received in the war. Our subject
remained at home with his mother, gaining his educa-
tion from the common schools, until he was sixteen,
when he started in life for himself. At this time he
had no money and he commenced work for a salary.
In 1887 he went to York county, Nebraska, and one
year later came to Moscow. He was variously em-
ployed on a farm and the railroad and otherwise until
the opening of the reservation, as stated above, and
then he secured his present place, where he has wrought
since. Mr. Heberly had but little financial means when
he landed here and the goodly holding he now has is
the result of his excellent labor and thrift. He also
owns shares in the Farmers' Grain Company. Mr.
Heberly's mother is living with his sister in Maysville,
West Virginia, aged sixty-one. Our subject has never
launched on the sea of matrimony but is still enjoying
the seclusion of his bachelor home. He is respected
and is of good standing.
FRANK CHANDLER. Three miles west from
Nezperce lies the well tilled and valuable farm of the
subject of this article. This land was taken as a home-
stead in 1897, being one hundred and twenty acres,
and since that time Mr. Chandler has devoted himself
in an industrious manner to its improvement and cul-
ture, having been favored with good success in these
efforts.
Frank Chandler was born in Iowa, on April 22,
1867, being the son of Sireno and Laura (Tillotson)
Chandler, natives of Maine and the province of Que-
bec, respectively. The former died at Sioux Falls,
South Dakota, in 1900, aged sixty-four, and the latter
in May, 1881, aged forty-five. Frank was reared on
a farm and was a regular attendant at the district school
until seventeen and then he started in life for himself.
Three years were spent in various employment in
Minnesota and thence he migrated to Coleridge, Ne-
braska, where he operated a dray line for eight years.
From that locality Mr. Chandler came to his present
place and his labors have been dispensed with wisdom
in building the improvements and in cultivation of his
farm. He raises wheat, oats, flax and barley, also a
good orchard and pays considerable attention to raising
stock. He has some well bred Berkshire hogs, a sev-
en-eighths Shire stallion and other animals.
Mr. Chandler has the following named brothers and
sisters : George, at Sioux Falls, South Dakota ; Midas,
in Minnesota ; Clemma, wife of L. S. Nelson ; Olive,
wife of Ed Cooper; Gertrude, wife of Will Becker,
all residing in Minnesota, and Carrie, wife of John
Watkins, residing in Iowa. Mr. Chandler's father
was in the Civil war for three years.
At Coleridge, Nebraska, on December 26, 1887,
Mr. Chandler married Miss Hallie M., daughter of
Henry L. and Elnora (Hakes) Beach. The parents
were natives of Illinois and came as pioneers to Min-
nesota, Iowa, and finally to Nebraska. Mr. Chandler
was born in Illinois, on January 30, 1868, and has the
following named brothers and sisters : Virgil E., Ros-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
cue W.. Charles, all in Iowa: Vernie, with parents in
Nebraska: Orpha, wife of W. H. Needham ; Rose,
wife of Bert S. Baker, at Palouse, Washington. Mr.
and Mrs. Chandler have two children, Lee and Ger-
trude.
LOREX L. HAYXES. Among the younger
men of Xez Perces county, there is none more popular
nor of better standing than the energetic, stirring and
capable gentleman whose" name is at the head of this
article.
Mr. Haynes was born in Adair county, Iowa, on
July 14. 1873, being the son of Andrew and Clara
(Polk) Haynes. The father was a farmer, born in
Ross county, Ohio, in 1S41. He lives in Iowa and is
a man of much influence in his state, being an aggres-
sive Democrat of ability. 1 he mother was born in In-
diana and died when Loren was four years of age.
His maternal grandmother is still living, aged eighty-
eight. Loren L. was educated in the common schools
and then finished at the Capitol City Commercial Col-
lege of Des Moines, Iowa, after which he took a course
at the Iowa College of Law, graduating with honors ;
he came to Lewiston in 1894 and there engaged in the
practice of law, associating himself in a partnership
with Judge Jasper Rand, the oldest practitioner in the
state." For three years Mr. Haynes did good work at
the bar and then determined to retire from the prac-
tice of law, and accordingly removed to the farm where
he now lives, three miles east from Lewiston. He
owns four hundred acres of good land and he is one of
the most enterprising fruit raisers of the county.
In January, 1897. Mr. Haynes married Miss Abbie,
adopted daughter of Judge Rand. Mrs. Haynes is
an only child and was born in Lewiston, in January,
1880. Mr. Haynes has one brother. Farris, who is
a farmer and stock raiser in Iowa. To the happy home
of Air. Haynes there have come as the fruit of the
marriage three children. Austin, Hester and Clara.
Mr. Havnes is a member of the W. of W. and of the
K. of P.' He is a Democrat in politics and is influential
and active in this realm. He has never sought personal
preferment, but has done much for his party. He was
a member of the Xational Democratic convention in
1896 and has attended a number of national conven-
tions. Mr. Haynes had an uncle in both the Mexican
and the Civil wars. Mr. Haynes is an advocate of
good government, especially a devotee of good schools
and he is always arrayed on the side of progress. Mr.
Havnes has done well in handling his business affairs
and has a good dividend paying orchard.
HENRY T. SUMMERS. A good, substantial
man, a wise and industrious farmer, whose labors have
brought abundant success to him, a patriotic citizen
and a true and loyal friend, it is fitting that we should
grant representation to Mr. Summers in the history of
his county.
Henrv T. Summers was born in Vernon county,
Missouri, on February 1, 1847, being the son of Allen
and Elizabeth ( Wright ) Summers, natives of Ken-
tucky, dying in 1849 and :859. respectively. The
father was one of the first to settle in Vernon county
and his son, Hardin, was the first white child born
there. As the parents died when Henry was young,
he was raised by his eldest brother, where he remained
until twenty. His first labor for himself was to herd
and drive cattle and feed them in the winter, and for
five years he continued with one man, and then he
bought a farm and settled to tilling it. In 1887 he came
to Latah county, purchased land near Vollmer and
there and in Whitman county he farmed until the
opening of the reservation, when he was the second 1
man to file in township thirty-five. His farm is two
miles due south of Melrose, is fertile land and im-
proved with a skillful and thrifty hand. Mr. Sum-
mers has a good house, barn and orchard and other im-
provements in proportion. He threshed thirty-rive
hundred bushels of grain from his ranch this year, in
addition to the hay put up for all his stock. Mr. Sum-
mers also operates a threshing outfit and is a business
man in every respect.
In Missouri, in 1868, Mr. Summers married Miss
Phoebe C. daughter of Delilah Reed, and to them four
children have been born, Delilah, wife of John W.
Seet, in Whitman county ; Lee, in this county ; Flor-
ence Hill, in Kendrick ; Charles, in Xez Perces county.
Mrs. Summers was born in Indiana, on September
20, 1845, and has one sister, Manilla Arnold, in St.
Louis : also she has two half sisters and five half
brothers. Mr. Summers has the following named
brothers and sisters : Moses, John, Julia Daniels ; he
has also six brothers and one sister dead. Mr. Sum-
mers is a Democrat and always takes the part of the
intelligent citizen. He has been trustee of the school
and is an advocate of the best of schools and is will-
ing to pay the price of the same. He is an elder in the
Christian church at Melrose and an active worker in
the support of the faith, and he is respected and es-
teemed bv all who know him.
CHARLES M. FRYE. It is with pleasure ,that
we are privileged to recount the career of the intelli-
gent and industrious young farmer and agriculturist
named above. He was born in Illinois, on Xovember 30,
1875, being the son of Abraham A. and Ruth (Brooks)
Frye. The father was born in Pennsylvania and died
in Xez Perces county in January, 1895. The mother
was born in Kentucky and still lives in this county.
Our subject came to Moscow with his parents in 1878
and there received his educational training. His
father bought eighty acres on the present site of Mos-
cow and started a liven- and feed stable. He built the
Star stable and also operated a hotel. He bought land
around Moscow and in 1894 sold to Latah county the
farm now used as the poor farm. Then he removed to
the place where our subject now lives, four miles north-
east from Lewiston, and that has been the family home
since that time. After the father's death Charles took
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
207
charge of the farm and now, in connection with his
brother, he is farming the land and raising stock. They
do a genaral farming business, raise all crops that do
well in this section, handle cattle, hogs, sheep and
horses, and are prosperous and well-to-do citizens of
the county.
On December 21, 189S, Mr. Frye married Miss
Nettie, daughter of John and Ida (Strong) Miller.
The father, who was born in Pennsylvania, is a miller
by trade and is now operating a mill at Dublin, Idaho.
The mother was born in Illinois. Mrs. Frye was born
in Lewiston, in 1879, and has two brothers and two
sisters, Iva. Veva. Earl, Frank. Mr. Frye has the
following named brothers and sisters : Thomas, Will-
iam, Abram A., Walter, Bertha Bell and Pearl Gard-
ner. To Mr. and Mrs. Frye two children have been
born, Irene and Marion. Mr. Frye is an active and in-
fluential Republican and is ever on the side of progress,
both in schools and government. He had one uncle,
Mr. Brooks, in the Civil war.
THOMAS C. MOXLEY, who is now one of the
leading men of Nez Perces county, has had a very act-
ive and stirring career, and he is deserving of a place
in the history of his county. He was born in Wheelers-
burg, Scioto county, Ohio, on December 10, 1840, be-
ing the son of Thomas S. and Susanna (McConnell)
Moxlev. The father was a physician, born in Orange
county, Vermont, in 1808, and died in November,
1880. He was a graduate of Woodstock Medical Col-
lege, in Vermont, and his father was also a physician.
The mother of our subject was born in Portsmouth,
Ohio, in 1810, and died in 1889. Her father, John Mc-
Connell, settled in Portsmouth in 1802, being one of the
pioneers of that country. Thomas C. worked at home
and«attcnded the schools of his town until fifteen and
then managed a farm that his parents purchased. On
April 6, 1 86 1, he left home and came, via Panama, to
California, landing in San Francisco on May 5, 1861,
and there learned of the outbreak of hostilities. He had
seven dollars and fifty cents and at once went U> work
for Mr. Coffin, a prominent man in Oregon, whence
our subject went. He was employed in taking supplies
to the soldiers who were guarding the immigrants from
the Indians. He assisted to build a wagon road from
Umatilla county to the Grande Ronde valley, then
went to Portland and was appointed assistant farmer
at the Lapwai agency, under Agent Charles Hutchins,
in 1862. He was retained until 1863, then went to Walla
Walla to file on the townsite of Boise, but was a little
too late. He then went to Lapwai anil thence to the
Flat Head agency as farmer for Mr. Hutchins, remain-
ing until 1866. He then visited Helena and Fort Ben-
ton, embarking there for Ohio. Next we see him in
Illinois, where he bought a farm near Xenia, and on
March 1, 18(17. he married Miss Mary Goult. To them
were born three children. King, deceased. Myrtle (now
Mrs. F. S. Curtiss) and Charles, married, Sep-
tember IQ, 1902, to Miss Sadie Cochrane, of Liv-
ingston, Montana. He sold his farm and came to
the Flat Head agency and acted as a farmer
for McCormick. His wife became dissatisfied with
this and they came with <ix teams to Omaha,
where he bought a farm. In 1872 he and his brother
John came to Sidney, Cheyenne, Ogden, Helena, and
thence across the mountains afoot to Lewiston. They
arrived in July, 1873, and at once went to work with
the corps of surveyors who were running the boundary
line between Idaho and Washington. Later he worked
as carpenter and cook for the Catholic mission, for
Captain Williams. Flere he learned of the death of his
wife in Ohio, and returning to that country, he settled
his affairs and on April 7, 1875, married Miss Mary C,
daughter of Hiram and Zerilda (Thomas) Wilson,
natives of New Jersey and Kentucky. The father was
born in 1817 and died in 1899. Mrs. Moxley was born
in Scioto county, Ohio, in 1849, and has the following
brothers and sisters : Katherine Long, Angeline West,
deceased, Martha West, John, Virginia, Charles, M. D.,
Sarah Dewey. Thornton, Sele, Elizabeth, Florence
Rapp, deceased, and George. Mr. Moxley has the fol-
lowing named brothers and sisters : Marcellus K., a
surgeon through the entire war, now deceased ;
Frances M., John O., Jr., M. D. ; Anna, deceased.
To Mr. and Mrs. Moxley there have been born
eight children, Thomas, deceased, Virginia, at
home, Robert, deceased, John Q., Florence, Jessie,
Minnie, Thornton. After his second marriage
Mr. Moxley came to Utah, bringing his wife,
aged parents, two sisters and two children. Then he
came to Lewiston and for two years wrought in the
mines and came out, to use his trite expression,
"busted." In 1877 he sold his possessions and went to
market gardening, in which he did well. He bought
a small tract of land, later he took a pre-emption,
which he sold, and then he took up the homestead and
tree culture claim where he now lives, three miles
northeast from Lewiston, having a fine farm of one-
half section. He raises much fruit and also handles
stock. Mr. Moxley also owns town property in Lewis-
ton. He is an active Republican. Mr. Moxley always
strives for good government and schools and is a de-
votee of progress. He is a member of the Pioneer As-
sociation.
JAMES M. CHASTEEN. In a number of dis-
tinct lines of labor, the gentleman whose name initi-
ates this paragraph has won both success and distinc-
tion. In addition to handling a fine farm about three
miles southeast from Russell. Mr. Chasteen operates a
good threshing outfit, and then regularly on each
Sunday he preaches, being a devout member of the
Christian church.
James M. Chasteen was born in Bossier parish,
Louisiana, on ( Ictober 16, 1865. being the son of
Thomas and Martha (McCulland) Chasteen. The
father was a millwright, born in Knox county, Ten-
nessee, in 1816, and died November 5. 1901. Our sub-
ject's grandfather. Raney Chasteen. was one of the
verv first settlers in Knox county. The mother of our
subject was born in South Carolina in 1839 and died
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
on February 19, 1882. Her parents were born in
Scotland and came to this county in their youth. Our
subject was educated in the common schools and in
the university at Fayetteville, Arkansas, in Washington
county, in which state his parents had settled when
he was fourteen. When twenty-one our subject en-
gaged as engineer on the St. Louis and San Francisco
Railroad, having learned the art of driving an engine
in his father's saw-mill. Four years later Mr. Chas-
teen came to Whitman county, Washington, settling
near Garfield and following engineering until 1899,
when he came to his present place. He purchased the
home farm, which is a good estate, and to the cultiva-
tion and improvement of which Mr. Chasteen has de-
voted energy and skill.
In 1897 Mr. Chasteen began preaching, his first
pastorate being the Eden Valley congregation near
Palouse. He has continued at this labor of spreading
the gospel since that time, although he has also at-
tended to business affairs. The Eden Valley congrega-
tion is the first one of Disciples in the Palouse country.
In connection with ministering to this congregation,
he preached at Pine City and after two years of steady
pastorate labor he took up the work of the evangelist.
It is also very pleasant in this connection to note the
seif-denia! and devotedness of Mrs. Chasteen, who
willingly superintends the farm and the business af-
fairs while her husband is called to remote sections in
evangelical work.
In Washington county, Arkansas, in 1886, Mr.
Chasteen married Naomi Trowbridge, who died on
August 28, 1896, leaving two children, Arthur and
Ray. Mr. Chasteen married a second time, the date
being November 6, 1899, and the lady, Sarah, daughter
of Joseph and Emily Ringo. The nuptials occurred
in Whitman county, where her parents now live, they
being natives of Illinois. Mrs. Chasteen was born in
the Willamette valley in 1875, and has two brothers
and six sisters. Mr. Chasteen has five brothers, Ed-
ward, Thomas, John, Robert, Charles. To Mr. and
Mrs. Chasteen there has been born one son, Roy.
Mr. Chasteen was elected sheriff of Washington
county, Arkansas, on the Prohibition ticket, but re-
fused to qualify. He is a Prohibitionist in political
matters and a zealous advocate of good schools. Mr.
Chasteen is to be credited with much labor and effort
put forth in this section of the country for the spir-
itual welfare of the people, he having been among the
very first preachers to come to the reservation country.
He is an upright man, respected by his neighbors and
beloved by all those who know him best, and his faith-
ful life is one of the best parts of his Christian tes-
timonv.
RICHARD WELLS. This venerable citizen of
Nez Perces county is one of the deserving pioneers
of the west and at least two states have profited by
his worthy labors in development in the early days
on the coast, while in the eastern part of our country
he also did good work in two or more states.
Richard Wells was born in Harrison county, Ohio,
on July 10, 1824, being the son of John and Nancy
Wells. The father was a farmer, born in Virginia in
1810 and died in 1890. The mother was born in Ohio
and died in 1847. Our subject remained at home un-
til he was twenty-two and then came with his parents
to Illinois. There he remained until 1864, paying at-
tention to tilling the soil. Then he took teams and
made the weary journey across the plains to Oregon.
He bought laud in Clackamas county and farmed it
for five years and then he came to the vicinity of
Walla Walla and there he farmed for ten years and
did well. Then he decided to seek range for stock and
accordingly came to Tammany Hollow and took land
where he owns three hundred and sixty acres at the
present time. He handles stock and has more or less
since coming here and also does a general farming
business, raising wheat and barley principally. His
stock was horses mostly, and of late years he has re-
tired more from active business to enjoy the compe-
tence which his industry has provided.
On June 10, 1848, in Pike county, Illinois, Mr.
Wells married Miss Sallie M., daughter of Barnett
and Cornelia (Kiser) Wilsey, natives of New York.
Mrs. Wells was born in New York, in 1823, October
25, and she has the following named brothers,
Jahes T., in Illinois; John J., in Missouri;
William, in Kansas. Mr. Wells has two brothers,
Benjamin, in Illinois; Albert, at Pittsfield,1 Illinois,
and he was a participant in the Civil war, serving
throughout the entire struggle. To Mr. and Mrs.
Wells there have been born five children, Louise
Wishard, at Peck ; Sarah M. ; Almira M. ; Jane Knight,
at Moscow ; Butler, in Nez Perces county. Mr. and
Mrs. Wells are members of the Methodist church. He
is a Democrat and manifests an intelligent interest in
the affairs of government. Mr. Wells has always
labored for good schools and is a warm advocate of
progress in all lines. He was here in the time of the
Nez Perces war and remained at home on the ranch.
MILO H. ADAMS is a man of great experience
in the business world and also on the frontier and is
now "iK- of the highly respected and capable farmers
near Nezperce. He was born in Kempville, Canada,
on March 9. 1834, being the son of James and Sarah
(Barton) Adams. The grandfather of our subject was
a relative of President John Adams and fought all
through the Revolution, then moved to Canada, where
the father of Milo was born. In 1840 our subject
came with his father to Fort Madison, in Iowa, at that
time a territory. Later, in 1842, they were where Des
Moines now stands, it being then called Raccoon Forks.
In 1854 Mr. Adams came with an ox team to Cali-
fornia and mined for some time, then returned via
Panama and New York. He moved to Wapello
county and on September 23, 1858, Mr. Adams mar-
ried Lucv Woodruff. He then moved to Shelby
county, Iowa, where he was elected treasurer on the
Republican ticket, although the county went Demo-
cratic. In i860 he took a trip with his wife across the
RICHARD WELLS.
MRS RICHARD WELLS.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
plains in an ox train to Denver. Returning to Shelby
county, they remained there until 1870, when he went
to Pottawattamie county. There he was elected the
first mayor of Avoca and served four years. In 1872
Mr. Adams went to Texas and took a large tie con-
tract on the Texas Pacific. In 1880, on account of
failing health, he went to Fremont county, Idaho. Re-
gaining his health, he removed to the coast and bought
a drove of cattle for an Avoca firm. He drove them
through to Avoca and returned to Portland with
twenty men. coming via San Francisco. He bought
four thousand cattle and drove them all to Avoca. In
1882 Mr. Adams removed his family to southern Idaho
and was the county surveyor of Fremont county, Idaho,
for two years. In the fall of 1895 Mr. Adams came to
the reservation and secured one hundred acres
where he now lives, about two miles west from Nez-
perces. He has a choice piece of land and it is well
improved. Five children have been born to Mr.
Adams and his worthy helpmate, Elpha, deceased ;
Lenna A., wife of R. C. Halliday, of the Grand Hotel,
Spokane; Florence E., wife of W. T. Johnson, a
farmer in Nez Perces county : Sarah E., deceased ; Roy
W., married to Grace Day, living on the reservation.
Mr. Adams is a member of the A. F. & A. M. at Nez-
perce. He is a spirited and public-minded citizen and
is enjoying the golden years of his life in his quiet
western home.
ANDREW HUBER. While the subject of this ar-
ticle is now one of the substantial and prosperous farm-
ers of the reservation country, living about one mile
west from Nezperce, and is considered one of the most
prosperous and progressive farmers of the section, still
in military matters he doubtless has a record which
places him clear in advance of any other portion of his
life's work. Few men have the opportunity to re-
count personal experiences as has Mr. Huber. He en-
listed in the regular army of Germany in 1864; in
1866 the war with Prussia broke out and he partici-
pated in the battles of Kissengen, Holzkirchansen and
Wurzburg, besides several others and many skirmishes.
When it is understood that the war continued but six
months it will be seen that he was excessively active.
Retiring from that, he went to work at the' miller's
trade, although still a soldier. In July, 1870, came
the call, when the Franco-Russian war broke out.
This conflict lasted one year and Mr. Huber fought
in nineteen principal battles. In the battle of Weisen-
burg, his company numbered two hundred and forty,
and all but twenty-six were wounded or killed. He re-
ceived a bayonet wound in the neck, which kept him
in the hospital six days, and thus he lost the oppor-
tunity of participating in one of the leading battles.
Mr. Huber was under General Van Tann, one of the
leading commanders of that war. Following this war,
Mr. Huber again worked at his trade and in 1883 he
came to the United States, shipping from Hamburg;
aftei landing in Xcw York he went to Washington
to associate with a friend, where he learned English.
Thence he went to German City. Michigan, and was
married to Miss Carrie Luger, on October 5, 1884. She
was born in Baden, Germany, and was left an orphan
when an infant ; during her youth she lived in Germany,
Switzerland and France. In 1882 she came from Paris
to New York city and there had the care of children
for rwo years. In 1887 Mr. Huber came with his
family to the vicinity of Moscow and followed farm-
ing, in which he was not very successful. On the noted
November 18. 1895, he was on the ground and secured
his \aluable place, which in addition to its fertility pos-
sesses plenty of fine spring water. He has improved
it in excellent shape and is one of the skilled tillers of
the soil. He hauled his initial crops to Lewiston and
the first years were hard ones. He and his wife belong
to the Catholic church in Nezperce. Three children
have been born to this household, Joanna, John Will-
iam and Mary Magdalene. Mr. Huber was born in
Bavaria, July 24, 1842, being the son of Michael and
Marv Huber. He was educated in the public schools
and was apprenticed to a miller when he was thirteen.
ELMER D. NICHOLS is one of the younger men
of Nez Perces county, but is also one of the pioneers,
having come here with his parents when he was but one
year of age, thus spending his life largely within its
precincts and always being one of the men whose la-
bors have resulted in the upbuilding and advancement
of Nez Perces county.
Elmer D. Nichols was born in Albany, Linn coun-
ty, Oregon, on May 22, 1875, being the son of George
and Amanda (Rosecrans) Nichols. The father was
born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, on October 12, 1850,
and died in 1887. He farmed, then taught school for
ten years and then practiced medicine and farmed until
the time of his death. The mother was born in Wis-
consin on April 29, 1852, and now lives in Latah coun-
ty. Our subject was educated in the common schools
of Nez Perces county, in that portion which is now
Latah county, and also spent one year in Clairmont Col-
lege, in California. At his father's death, being then
twelve and the oldest of the family, he took charge of
the farm, located on Thorn creek, Latah county, and
operated it until he was twenty-four. At that age he
bought a farm on the Clearwater river, near Lewiston,
on which was the Central ferry. He did a general
farming business and operated the ferry until July,
1902. when he sold out and retired to Lewiston. having
property in that town.
( )n January 17. 1897, Mr. Nichols married Miss
Ella A., daughter of Frank and Elizabeth Cole. The
wedding occurred in Nez Perces county. Mrs. Nich-
ols was born in Kossuth county, Iowa, on April 2, 1879,
and came with her parents to Idaho in 1885. She has
the following brothers and sisters: Jennie, wife of
William Bower, at Avon, Latah county; Leonard, at
Wardner, Idaho: Bertha, Matie, Roy, Edna and Lillie,
all at Kendrick. Mr. Nichols has the following named
brothers and sisters : Mark and Ray, in Latah county ;
Eveline, in Los Angeles. California ; Warren, in Ward-
ner ; Leon and Milton, in Latah county. To Mr. and
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
.Mrs. Nichols have been born the following children:
Elora, four years old; Delano, two years old. Air.
Nichols is a member of the VV. of W. He is a Repub-
lican and takes an active interest in the affairs of state
and county. Mr. Nichols is a warm advocate of good
schools and in fact is always favoring advancement
and progress.
E RLAN OLSON. We are glad to add an account
of the life of this substantial gentleman, since his life
has been an industrious and worthy one and 'he is now
one of the enterprising and progressive citizens of the
reservation country.
Erlan Olson was born in Dalsland. Sweden, on De-
cember 7, 1863, being /the son of Olla and Anna Olson,
also natives of the same place. Erlan was educated
in his native place and in 1884 he crossed the North
Sea to Hull, England, thence to Liverpool and so pn
to New. York. Next we see him in Marquette county,
Michigan, mining. Soon he went to Dtduth, Minne-
sota, and later to Canada, where he worked on the
Canadian Pacific Railroad. He returned later to St.
Paul, and then made his way to Leadville, where
he worked on a tunnel of the railroad, and then
railroaded in the Coeur d"Alenes. Finally he settled
down to farming near Rosalia, having also taken a
trip to Portland. On November 18, 1895, Mr. Olson
came to the reservation country and selected his pres-
ent place. It lies one mile west from Nezperce, and
as he was one of the very first, he succeeded in getting
a good farm. Since that time Mr. Olson has given
himself to the good work of improving and making
valuable the estate and he has succeeded in an admira-
ble manner, having now one of the most valuable places
around.
On November 1. 1899, Mr. Olson married Miss
Martha Fuller, a native of Kentucky. She came west
with her parents in 1888, and they now live near Nez-
perce. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs.
Olson, Wilber Erlan. born January 29, 1901. Mr. Ol-
son is a member of the Maccabees, in Nezperce. He
is a man of good standing and a well respected and
intelligent citizen, whose labors have been always in
the line of substantial improvement and upbuilding.
JAMES A. FRITZ. This successful farmer and
stock raiser is one of the men who has labored faith-
fully to develop the resources of the reservation portion
of Nez Perces county and has wrought wisely and well.
James A. Fritz was born in Grant county, Wiscon-
sin, on July 13, 1866, being the son of Casper and
Elizabeth (Bred) Fritz, natives of Germany, born in
1832 and 1834, respectively. The father was a butcher
ami stockman, served in the Civil war and died in
1885. The mother still lives in Wisconsin. James A.
worked at home until eighteen, having gained his edu-
cation from the public schools. Then he went to
South Dakota and one year later returned home. When
twenty he went to Minneapolis and railroaded. Soon
he was in Ponca, Nebraska, and in January, 1887, Mr.
Frtitz came to Moscow, Idaho. He farmed for one
year and then went to Santa Barbara, California, but
returned to Moscow the next year and bought land.
He tilled this until the fall of 1897, when he made his
way to the reservation and located his present place,
about one and one-half miles south from Melrose. He
has a fine farm, raises oats, wheat and flax and has
some excellent Berkshire hogs.
At Aloscow. in the fall of 1891, Mr. Fritz married
Miss Emma I!., daughter of Electus M. and Mary J-
(Warren) Frost, natives of Pennsylvania, the father
from Rome, and the mother from Sullivan county.
The father served in the Civil war and both are now
living. Mrs. Fritz was born in Sullivan county. Penn-
sylvania, in 1876, and has three brothers and two sis-
ters, Frank W., John O., deceased, Fred M., Cora,
Maude. Mr. Fritz has the following brothers and
sisters : Henry S., Peter, Charlie, Casper, August,
Mary. Lizzie and Katie. All are in Wisconsin, ex-
cept Casper, who is on the reservation, and Katie, who
is deceased. Two children have been born to this
happy union. Marie E. and Hazel B. Mr. Fritz is a
member of the W. of W., at Melrose, and his wife is a
member of the Methodist church. He is an active
Republican and is always in his place in the caucuses
and conventions.
Mr. Fritz is a man of excellent standing, has an
untarnished reputation and is one of the substantial
men of the county.
DOUGLAS V. DOWD. As a distinguished edu-
cator of Nez Perces county, as well as a landowner,
the subject of this review is to be noted as one of the
successful and leading men of the reservation portion
of the county and one whose life is above reproach
and whose standing is excellent among his fellows.
Douglas Y. Dowd was born in Yinton county, ( )hio,
on July 24. 1852, being the son of John and ( Hive-
(Fuller) Dowd. The father was born in Ohio, in
1818, and died in 1895. His grandfather was one
of the earliest pioneers to the territory of Ohio, having
gone there in the eighteenth century. The mother
of our subject was born in Ohio, and died in 1856.
Douglas V. was reared on the farm, educated in the
district schools and the Ohio University at Athens, the
first university established west of the Allegheny
mountains, the date of its inception being 1804. At
seventeen Mr. Dowd began his career as an educator,
and from the inception he manifested those qualities
and the worth that have made him so successful in
life's pathway, being especially endowed by nature
with the qualifications that are requisite for the first
class educator. In 1878 Mr. Dowd went to Kansas,
settling in Wabaunsee county, where he operated a
Republican newspaper for five years, it being a journal
of distinct merit. He taught school for a number of
years. It was in 1S95 tnat ^'r- Dowd determined to
try the west and accordingly selected Nez Perces coun-
ty as the point. He taught for several years and in
1897 took up the ranch which has become his home-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
stead. It lies about two miles southwest from Steele
and the final proof was made in August, 1902. At the
present writing Mr. Dowd is teaching in the Fletcher
schools and, as is his characteristic methods, he is do-
ing the best of work, being a conscientious instructor,
and realizing that he is molding the minds of the ones
who will soon take the responsibilities of our great
government into their hands, either to carry it on to
greater perfection or make sad failure where their an-
cestors have done gloriously.
In 1884, wdiile in Kansas, Air. Dowd married Miss
Clara M., daughter of S. A. and Cornelia J. (Apple-
gate) Gould, natives of New York, and the father a
farmer and merchant. Mrs. Dowd was born in Sen-
eca Falls, New York, in i860. Mr. Dowd has the fol-
lowing brothers and sisters: Francis M., in Ohio;
Homer N., at Thompsonville, Michigan ; John \Y, in
Toledo. <>hio: Milton 11. , in Yictor, Montana; Ralph
P., in Illinois; Mary Goff, in Zaleski, Ohio; Charlotte
Timms, in Dundas, Ohio. Two children have been
born to bless the happy marriage of Mr. and Mrs.
Dowd. Augustus G. and Lillian C. both at home. Mr.
Dowd is a Mason and a member of the I. O. O. F.
order, and also belongs to the Phi Delta Theta, a col-
lege fraternity. He is a Republican and active in
the realm of politics, and in 1902 was a delegate to
Boise at the Republican state convention.
ALBERT ODERKIRK. Portions of Nez Perces
county are among the most excellent fruit producing
sections in the northwest, and the enterprising gen-
tleman mentioned above has a fruit farm among the
best in this favored region. He is located about two
and one-half miles northeast from Lewiston, owns land
that is well irrigated and produces under his skillful
husbandry an abundance of fruit of the best kind and
all varieties.
Mr. Oderkirk was born in Granby, New York, on
December 8, 1858, being the son of Isaac and Caroline
( Weatherwax ) Oderkirk, natives of New York and
now living in Canada. The father was born in 1832.
and the mother in 1830. Our subject was taken by his
parents to the province of Ontario, Canada, when
young, and there he received his education in the
excellent schools of that province, attending mostly at
Tanworth. He made several trips to his old home and
at the age of twenty-six he settled in North Dakota,
taking land near Wheatland. He farmed and raised
stock for seven years, then sold out and went to Park
Rapids, in Minnesota, where he operated a hotel for six-
years and prospered. His next move was to
come west, and the fertile region of Lewiston attract-
ing him, he purchased his present good place. To the
culture of fruit he has given himself with good success
since that time.
On June 6. 1883, Mr. ( klerkirk married Miss
Annie, daughter of William and Jane ( Stafford ) Haw-
ley, natives of Canada. Mrs. Oderkirk was born in
Sheffield. Canada, September 2, i860, and she has
four brothers, George, Perry, John and Frank. Mr.
Oderkirk has the following brothers and sisters;
Yenus, Eugene, Isaac, Stephen and Irvine. To Mr.
and Mrs. Oderkirk there have been born the following
named children, William M., \'era A., Isaac \'.. Jennie,
Ray and Cora, all at home. Mr. ( )berkirk is a member
of the K. of P., and of the M. W. A. He had one
uncle in the Civil war. Mr. Oderkirk is an advocate
of good schools and churches and is now doing service
on the school board of his district. He is a Democrat
in politics, but is not partisan, and prefers to choose
the best men and the sound principles regardless of
party.
OSCAR PELTON. Among the successful and
enterprising agriculturists and stockmen of the county
of Nez Perces we should not fail to mention the name
of the gentleman mentioned above, since he is one
of the substantial men of the county, and is a real la-
Iwrer in the realm of upbuilding' and advancement.
Oscar Pelton was born in Somerset county, Maine,
on July 14, i8_j4, being the son of Matthew B. and
Caroline (Stevens) Pelton. The father was a farmer
and lumberman in Maine, born in 1821. died in 1894,
f.nd served his country in the Civil war. The mother
was born in Somerset county, Maine, in 1827, and still
lives there. Ouir subject received his education in the
common schools of his native place, remained at home
engaged with his father until he was seventeen years
of age. and then his young blood could not resist the
call of Columbia to rally supporters for the defense oi
the flag and our government. He enlisted at the first
call, in Company D, Thirtenth Maine Volunteers, and
went with General Ben Butier to New ( Weans, also
served under Banks in the Red River campaign. He
served three years and then received his honorable dis-
charge and returned to his home. But he had for-
feited his health in the struggle and has more or less
suffered since from the troubles contracted in the war.
At the age of twenty-three he removed ito La Crosse,
Wisconsin, remaining one vear in the lumber business.
He next bought land in Trempealeau county, the same
state, and settled down to farming. After seven years
he located in Wadena county. Minnesota, and took
land and his parents followed him in 1876. He was
one of the pioneers there and sixteen years were spent
in tilling the soil ill that county. Then he went to St.
Cloud, and in 1895 came to Idaho for his health. He
has been much benefited by the change and is now en-
joying better health than for some time previous. He
located two miles northeast from Lewiston and gave
his attention to general farming and raising stock.
In August. 1867. Mr. Pelton married Miss Bar-
bara, daughter of S. R. and Ann (Fox) Bates, natives
«>f ( >hio. Mrs. Pelton has two brothers, Timothy
and Hanson, both in Wisconsin. Mr. Pelton
has the following named brothers and sisters:
Albert, in St. Cloud, Minnesota; Ernest, in
North Dakota; Sarah Pelton, in Canada; Hiram and
La Forest, in Alaska: C. S., in Colfax, Washington.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
To Mr. and Mrs. Pelton there have been bom the fol-
lowing children : Loreda and Minnie, in Missoula ;
Ernest, at home ; Fred and Eugene, in Spokane ; Lois,
Gladys and Harry, at home. Mrs. Pelton is a member
of the Methodist' church. Mr. Pelton is a Republican
and takes an active part in political matters. It is of
note that Joel Pelton, the great-grandfather of our sub-
ject, was "a soldier in the Revolution and served under
Washington hi many campaigns, being present at the
surrender of Cornwallis. He saw Lafayette and other
great men of that day. After the war he took up land
in Maine, where he raised his family and lived to the
good old age of one hundred and six years.
EDWARD DANIELS. A very prosperous and
successful farmer and stock raiser, having a fine es-
tate two miles east from Chesley, our subject is deserv-
ing of being classed with the leading and influential
men of this section, and as such we accord him space
in the history of his county.
Edward Daniels was born in Devonshire, England,
October 14, 1850, being the son of Edward and Mary
(Eastman) Daniels, natives of England, and born in
1805 and 1814, and died in 1867 and 1878, respectively.
Edward grew to young manhood in England and re-
ceived most of his education there ; however, he attend-
ed school some in Canada. In 1869 he came to London,
Canada, and worked at railroading for a year, then
went to St. Thomas and rented a farm on Lake Erie,
where he continued for nine years. In February, 1889,
Mr. Daniels came to Colton. Washington, and rented
land, doing farming on a large scale. He was (exceed-
ingly prosperous and was making lots of money. The
wet year of 1893 and the following panic stranded^iim,
as it did everyone else, and in May, 1896, he sought
out his present place on the reservation. He brought
the family the following year and since that time has
devoted himself to general farming and raising stock.
He has fine cattle, horses and hogs, and is a thrifty
farmer who is rewarded with annual dividends that are
gratifying.
On March 21, 1878, Mr. Daniels married Miss
Margaret Dores, and three children have crowned the
happy event, James Edward, a Methodist minister at
Colton ; Olive Lenora, attending college at Salem, Ore-
gon ; Frank Raymond, in Manitoba. On October 7,
1890, Mrs. Daniels was called hence by death.
On March 21, 1900, Mr. Daniels married Miss
Effie E., daughter of John and Julia A. (Chamber-
lain) Smylie. The father is a wagon maker and was
born in Goddridge, Ontario, in 1840, and now lives «n
this county. His wife was born in New York, in 1843,
and is still living. Mrs. Daniels was born in La
Crosse, Wisconsin, in 1875. She attended the Lewis-
ton Normal School and was a prominent (teacher for
five years. She has the following brothers and sisters :
Mina B. Ouillin ; Bertha, deceased ; Julia M. Lane;
Jennie A. Sargent; Elizabeth, deceased; John H. ;
Josephine ; and George E. Mr. Daniels has the fol-
lowing brothers and sisters: Mary A. Whitfield,
Eliza Davis ; Elizabeth, William, John and James, all
deceased. One child, Elizabeth, has been born to this
second marriage. Mr. Daniels is a member/of the I.
O. O. F. and he and his wife belong to the Methodist
church. Mr. Daniels is an intelligent laborer for good
schools and also for the improvement of roads. His
farm is one of the finest, even of this excellent section,
and the improvements are entirely commensurate with
the natural fertility of the soil, and altogether the es-
tate is a model. Mr. Daniels handles considerable
stock and raises diversified crops. He has a half sec-
tion of timber land in Oregon, in addition to his farm
here. Mrs. Daniels' grandfather, Chamberlain, was a
veteran of the Civil war and now has a good pension.
Her great-grandfather, Barnes, was one of the first
advocates of woman suffrage in New York.
THOMAS J. WIMPY. Although the subject of
this sketch was located in a state where much of the
sentiment was strongly in favor of the Rebellion, still
when the critical time came for action he boldly and
with a courage born of real conviction enlisted in Com-
pany F, Second Arkansas Cavalry, on the Union side,
the date being 1863. and under General Sanborn fought
the battles of right. He was in the conflicts of Boone-
ville, Big Blue, Independence and many skirmishes,
and assisted to run Price out of Missouri. He served
in that state and in Arkansas mostly. He was honor-
ably discharged in July, 1865, and is a member of the
G. A. R. in Latah. Washington.
Thomas J. Wimpy was born in Union county,
Georgia, on September 20, 1846, being the son of
Aaron and Hannah Wimpy, natives of North Carolina.
When our subject was six the family removed to Ben-
ton county, Arkansas, and there received a good com-
mon schooling. Then came the enlistment noted
above, which speaks volumes for his loyalty, as he was
but a lad of seventeen. After the war he resided a
time in Missouri and then returned to Arkansas, where
he was married, on June 2j, 1866, to Mary A. Ander-
son. Her parents, Andrew B. and Adelia (Dickens)
Anderson, were natives of Tennessee and Georgia, re-
spectively, and were married in the former state. Then
they removed to Lumpkin county, Georgia, where Mrs.
Wimpy was born, on June 17', 1844. Her parents
crossed the plains in 1877 to Latah, Washington, and
there her father died in August, 1899, in his seventy-
seventh year. Mr. Wimpy and his wife started across
the plains in 1876 with teams, but at Cheyenne, as the
Indians were hostile, they took train to Kelton, and
then came to the vicinity of Latah. No settlers were
there, except his brother, Major Wimpy, and one or
two scattering ones. Our subject engaged in farming
and did well until the panic, when he suffered financial
loss, as did all others. In the fall of 1897 he came
to his present location, about five miles northeast from
Nezperce, and here his labor and wisdom have given
him a goodly competence. He has comfortable and
tasty improvements and has been one of the progress-
ive and substantial citizens. Mr. Wimpy and his wife
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
213
are devout members of the Christian church and their
lives are exemplary and upright. Six children have
been born to this household, Amanda J., wife of E. M.
Nelson, of Nezperce ; Sarah B., wife of W. M. Poteet,
of Nezperce ; Eva M., wife of Arthur Boswell, near
Nezperce; Minnie E.. Aaron A.. James W. Mrs.
Wimpy's mother is living with her, aged seventy-eight.
J. TELFORD ORBISON. No man is better
known in Nezperce or more popular than the genial,
whole-souled and capable gentleman whose name ap-
pears above. He is the pioneer merchant of the town,
has labored with untiring interest for its welfare and
upbilding steadily since its start, and is now one of the
substantial and capable business men.
J. T. Orbison was born in Miami county, Ohio, on
November 9, 1841, being the son of Alexander N. and
Mary (Ayers) Orbison. The father was a farmer
until 1841, then went to Fort Wayne. Indiana, then to
an Indian trading village, where he entered the com-
mission business. He built warehouses, operated a
canal, building many boats, and also built twenty-five
miles of plank roads four directions out of the village.
About this time he secured the establishment of some
of the business houses that were the means of making
the city what it is today. He was exceedingly pros-
perous and amassed a splendid fortune. Owing to
great generosity to friends, and some heavy losses,
however, his estate was much smaller at the time of his
death. But even then it was a handsome amount to
each one of the family. About 1882 he sold his inter-
ests in Fort Wayne and went to Sturgis, Michigan.
Although he was retired from active business there,
he built an elevator with his youngest son and was
known as a prominent and prosperous man until his
death, in 1896. His parents were natives of Randolph
county, Virginia, and of English descent. The moth-
er of our subject was born in Ohio, on September 28,
1818, iher father being a physician and both of her par-
ents natives of Orange, New Jersey.
Reverting again more particularly to our subject,
we note that the foundation of his education was laid
in the schools in Fort Wayne, and then he went to col-
lege in Oxford, Ohio. While in his sophomore year
the war broke out nd he promptly laid aside the books
lor the musket, and enlisted in Company E, Fifty-fifth
Indiana Volunteer Infantry. After his three months
of service expired he took a place in the quartermas-
ter's department and remained there until the close of
the war. Then he went to Sturgis, Michigan, entered
the grocery business and later railroaded on the Fort
Wayne road. Next we see him in Frankfort, Ken-
tucky, in the boot and shoe business, whence he went to
Louisville in the commission business until 1879.
Then, on account of his wife's health, he went again
to Michigan, this time taking a station at Alma, on the
Saginaw Valley & St. Louis railroad. Then he re-
moved to Saginaw, Michigan, taking the position of
cashier of the Michigan Central for five years. It was
in 1891, when Mr. Orbison came to Coeur d'Alene and
opened a gents' furnishing establishment. Two years
later he removed to Moscow and one year after that he
was in Denver, whence upon the opening of the reserva-
tion he came to Nezperce and opened a general mer-
chandise establishment. He has continued in business
steadily since and has always labored for good schools,
good roads, and, in fact, all things that would build
up the town.
Mr. Orbison married Miss Aubrey Van Dervanter,
whose parents were natives of Louisville, where they
died. The wedding occurred on October 8, 1878. Mr.
Orbison has two brothers deceased and two sisters
living, Millie, wife of William D. Van Devanter, a
journalist' in Chicago; Lucy B., wife of Ira Pendleton,
a retired capitalist in Los Angeles. Mrs. Orbison has
three brothers, Silas, in St. Louis ; Charles and Robert,
in Memphis, Tennessee. She has one sister, Mary,
wife of George W. Cline, a leading capitalist in Louis-
ville. Mr. Orbison is a member of the I. O. O. F.,
Lodge No. 56, in Nezperce, being treasurer since its
organization. He is also a Mason, holding his mem-
bership in the Knight Templar Commandery, *No. 4,
in Moscow. In political matters Mr. Orbison is a
strong Republican, and is an intelligent and potent
factor in that realm.
EZEKIEL LUCAS. A public minded, progress-
ive, upright and exemplary man, a thrifty and pros-
perous farmer, a good neighbor and a loyal friend, we
are pleased to grant to the subject of this article a rep-
resentation in his county's history.
Ezekiel Lucas was born in Fremont county, Iowa,
on April 21, 1861, being the son of John and Lucinda
(Keeler) Lucas. The father was born in Ohio, in
1 82 1, came as one of the earliest pioneers to Fremont
county, Iowa, and now lives in Palouse. The mother
was born in Indiana, in 1836, and died in 1899. Ezekiel
was reared and educated in his native place and re-
mained helping his father until twenty-three. Then
he farmed for himself in Woodbury county, Iowa, and
in 1884 came to Washington and settled in Palouse.
He took up the lumber and saw milling business, but
in 1887 he returned to the east and in time went to St.
Louis and there learned the machinist trade. In 1898
he determined to see Klondike and got as far as Port-
land, when he was led to turn aside and wrought at
his trade in Seattle. He was very successful in this
line, and in 1901 he came to his present place, which he
purchased. He has improved the farm in fine shape,
has a neat and comfortable house, a good orchard and
a splendid barn, with outbuildings and all necessary
utensils for the labor of the estate.
In 1891 Mr. Lucas married Miss Clara, daughter
of Henry and Josephine (Elkins) Peck, natives of Vir-
ginia. The wedding occurred in St. Louis. Mr. Peck
was an architect and builder. Mrs. Lucas was born
in the Cherokee Nation in 1859. at Fort Gibson, and
has one sister, Minnie Wanlinski. living in Chicago.
Mr. /Lucas has brothers and sisters as/follows : Henry,
Rilev, Lee.. Lizzie Brown. Clara Boatman, Ruth Smith
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
and Samantha Perkins. To Mr. and Mrs. Lucas two
children have come to gladden their home, Arthur and
Lottie. Mr. Lucas is a Democrat and is of sufficient
independence to vote for the man and not to be tied
to party tenets regardless of his own opinion, i He
has always been an advocate of good schools and is
doing much for the betterment of educational facilities,
while also he labors hard for general improvement and
advancement.
ARTHUR E. MISNER. Few men have the sta-
bility and perseverance to stem the tide of life' in busi-
ness enterprises when they have met total loss, but the
subject of this article, a well known and highly re-
spected farmer and stockman, two and one-half miles
northwest from Melrose, has displayed this kind of
courage and doubly so has he manifested tenacity of
purpose and determination to achieve success, for twice,
by outside circumstances, he has been a loser of his en-
tire property. Such circumstances have but brought
out the real metal of the man, and Mr. Misner is now
one of the most substantial and capable men of our
section.
Arthur E. Misner was born in Mount Morris,
Illinois, on January 3, 1 85 1 , being the son of Chris-
topher and Cordelia (Clark) Misner. The father was
born in Indiana, in 1822, and died in 1889. He was
a pioneer in Illinois, and was on the ground of Chicago
before the town was thought of. He operated as a
merchant and in 1879 settled near Spokane and took
up the stock business. The mother was born in Ohio,
in 1820, and is now living with our subject. Arthur
E. left home at the early age of thirteen, and made
his way, gaining a classical education in the Willamette
University at Salem, Oregon, entirely by his own ef-
forts. Following that excellent achievement, he taught
for five years, but discovering that his health demand-
ed more out-door exercise, he went to the Big Bend
country in Washington and took up stock raising.
When Spokane was starting, in 1880, Mr. Misner
opened a livery stable there and took the contract of
carrying the mail to Okanogan. He also drove the
first four-horse team to the Salmon river mines, carry-
ing a load of miners. Aside from Mr. Glover, our
subject had the first livery stable in Spokane. He
did well until the big fire in 1889, and then suffered
the loss of everything. Then he prospected in the
Okanogan country and soon we see him near Sprague
farming four hundred acres, but the wet year of 1893
again swept him clean from his property. It was 1895
that Mr. Misner came to the reservation and took his
present place. Here he has again made a good suc-
cess, and is now well among the leaders of this section.
At Sprague, Washington, in 1893, Mr. Misner mar-
ried Miss Alary, daughter of William and Anna Swan-
nack, natives of England but immigrants to the United
Slates from Australia. Mrs. Misner was also born in
Australia, and she has two sisters and nine brothers.
Mr. Swannack is a large farmer near Sprague. Mr.
Misner has two brothers and two sisters: Willis, a
blacksmith in Spokane ; Henry, a merchant at Sprague ;
.Mary Melcher, in Spokane county; Emma Bowerman,
in Republic. Washington. The following children
have been born to our subject and his estimable wife:
Mildred, Helen. Dorothy, Ladru R. and William. Mr.
and Mrs. Misner are members of the Methodist church,
and in politics Mr. Misner is an active Republican and
a stanch helper of his friends in the conventions. Mr.
Misner is a member of the school board and evinces a
zeal for good schools and has taught one term here.
He has a fine farm, well improved, has just completed
a tasty residence of seven rooms, and other improve-
ments in proportion, while raising grain and stock
occupy his attention. Mr. James Clark, the maternal
grandfather of our subject, is one hundred years old,
and is -aid to be the oldest Mason in America. He
dwells in Quincy, Illinois.
FRED M. MANNING. This well known pioneer,
and successful stockman is now a leading business
man of Lewiston, having in company with his son-
in-law. Nathan Branch, rented a laundry, where they
are doing a good business.
He was born in Milford, Maine, on June 8. 1858,
being the son of George A. and Susan E. (Wilber)
Manning. The father is a real estate dealer in Lewis-
ton, and was born in Maine in 1838. The mother was
born in Boston in 1839. ( )ur subject came to Idaho
with his parents in 1869 and the father took a preemp-
tion at Central Ferry, which he still owns and is known
all over as the Alanning homestead. At the age of six-
teen Fred M. started in the stock business for himself.
which he has continued ever since. He keeps his stock
wherever he finds the best range, in Kootenai county
and other places. He was in company with George
White on the start. At the breaking out of the Nez
Perce war he went as scout for the government under
General Gatley and Lieutenant Bowman. In the Ban-
nock war of 1878 he was with General Howard when
they chased the Indians all over the country. He was
at the Malheur reservation when eighty surrendered
and took the first gun from them. Mr. Manning con-
siders Lieutenant Bowman one of the most able and
faithful officers in the west at that time. Mr. Man-
ning was in the heat of these struggles and did com-
mendable and valiant service. He found the bodies
of Monday, Grosgrove and Hailey, brother of Hon.
John Hailey. whom the Indians had killed, and buried
them, chiseling the name of each on a granite rock
beneath which they were killed. He also found the
bodies of Crook and the man with him, -who were killed
by the savages. Air. Alanning's father organized the
California Hundred during the Civil war. went east
with them as their major and fought in that war. they
being the only ones that went east for that purpose.
In the spring of 1879, in Nez Perces county. Air.
Alanning married Aliss Anna E.. daughter of James
and Katherine AlcGrane. of Lewiston. and natives of
Ireland. Airs. Alanning was born in Salem, Oregon,
in 1859, and has the following brothers and sisters :
Mrs. W. L. Boise, Frank, Thomas and James. Air.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
215
Manning has brothers as follows: James A. and
Charles F. To Mr. and Airs. Manning there have
been born six children: Nellie, wife of Nathan
Branch, of Lewiston; Frank, Clara. Fred. Hattie and
James. Mr. .Manning is a member of the \Y. of W.
and the auxiliary. He has been deputy sheriff under
Billy .Martin, of Kootenai county, and deputy United
States marshal under Fred Dubois, and is now mar-
shal of Lewiston and deputy sheriff. Air. Manning
has a good home near the court house and is one of
the leading and substantial men of the county.
ULYSSIS S. CHAA1BERS was born in Knox
county, Indiana, on December 10, 1866. His parents
were Samuel T. and Joannah ( Bell ) Chambers, natives
of Indiana. The father, who was born in 1833 and
served in the Twenty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry
for four years, is specially mentioned in this work.
Our subject came to Whitman county. Washington,
with his parents, when five years old, and in 1880 they
moved to Latah county, where the father now lives.
Clyssis gained his education in these places and
wrought with his father until the time of his major-
ity and was also engaged in the mines of the Hoodoo
district and on Gold hill. In June. 1897, he filed on
his present place, which had been smuggled, a fine
farm three miles east from Chesley. Air. Chambers
has cultivated and improved the land in a first class
manner, and has now one of the desirable places of the
county.
In July, 1891, while in Latah county. Air. Chambers
married Aliss Alary, daughter of Charlie and Lucretia
(Herring) Bay, early pioneers of Oregon. They
crossed the plains in the early 'sixties with team and
wagon and settled in the Grande Ronde valley. Mrs.
Chambers was born in Union county, Oregon, in 1873,
and has four brothers and two sisters. William. Lizzie
Haskett, Inez Roberts. Clyde and Wayne. Air.
Chambers has the following named brothers and sis-
ters : Eudoras, Orpha Cochran. Corinne Bay and
Joseph. Two children. Hazel and Ray. have been
born to Mr. and Mrs. Chambers. Mr. Chambers is a
member of the M. W. A., at Kippen. He has been
a member of the school board since coming to this
place, and is a tireless worker for the improvement
of the schools, which worthy end is sure to be accom-
plished among the intelligent people of this section.
Mr. Chambers is a stanch Republican and labors for
the general welfare.
DAVID L. CHAPMAN. This successful and re-
liable citizen dwells about two miles east from Melrose,
where he has carved from the wilds of the reservation
a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which now
produces annually excellent yields of fruit, flax, wheat
and other crops.
David L. Chapman was born in Ogle county, Illi-
nois, on October 25, 1862, being the son of George
and Fannie (Harrington) Chapman. The father was
born in Yorkshire, England, in 1829, 'came to the
United States in his eighteenth year and died in 1894.
The mother was born in Pennsylvania in 1831 and died
in 1896. When David was four years of age the fam-
ily came to Woodbury county, Iowa, where he was
reared on a farm and received his education from the
public schools. When twenty he started for himself,
and the next year married. We see him in Dawson
county, .Montana, freighting, thence he went to North
Dakota, later to Nebraska, and soon was in the ma-
chine shops at Newcastle, Wyoming, where he
wrought for two years. The next journey brought
them to AIoscow, Idaho, and when the reservation
opened Air. Chapman came and homesteaded his pres-
ent farm, since which time he has devoted himself in-
dustriously to its improvement and culture.
In 1SS3 Air. Chapman married Aliss Addie. daugh-
ter of Fred and Eliza Procunier, farmers in South Da-
kota. Mrs. Chapman was burn in Ogle county,
Illinois, in 1864, and has two brothers and one sister,
Isaac, Rettie and William. Air. Chapman has the fol-
lowing brothers and sisters : Levi ; Rosella Kocher ;
Rachel Hawks, deceased ; Henry : and Charles. The
children born to our subject and his faithful wife are
named as follows : Ethel, Charles, Earl, Alabel,
Rachel and Clarence, all at home. Air. Chapman is
a good Republican and is active and influential in the
caucuses and conventions. He believes in good schools,
good roads and good morals, a very sound trinity of
good things. It is of interest that three brothers of his
mother, Lorenzo, Wade and John Harrington, and one
brother of his father, David Chapman, were all faithful
soldiers in the Civil war.
ISAAC SCOTT. An enterprising man whose la-
bors have made the wilderness blossom as the rose,
as his fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres two
and a half miles east from Melrose, with its excellent
orchard of eighteen acres, its well tilled and fertile
fields and comfortable improvements, testifies, the sub-
ject of this article is entitled to aiplace with the builders
of this county, being also a man of stanch qualifica-
tions.
Isaac Scott was born in Ohio on March 1. 1847,
being the son of James L. and Catherine (Hender-
shot) Scott. The father was born in Chester county,
Pennsylvania, in 1813. and died in 1892. He was a
pioneer in Tuscarawas county. Ohio, in 1817. The
mother of our subject was born in Belmont county,
Ohio, in 1817. and died in 1897. Isaac's paternal
grandfather was lieutenant in the army in Ireland.
Our subject grew up on the farm and gained his edu-
cation from the district schools in his vicinity and he
continued to labor with his father until 1879, when they
went to Sullivan county, Missouri. In 1883 they
crossed the plains to Jackson county, and there farmed
for six years. Another move was made then to Whit-
man count v, Washington, and settlement was effected
in the vicinity of Palouse, where the home continued
2l6
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
to be until 1895, when Mr. Scott came to the reserva-
tion and secured his present place as homestead. Mis-
fortune has attended Mr. Scott in some of his efforts,
and when he settled here he had very little property.
He has by careful management and labor secured a,-
first class holding and is high in praises of this ex-
cellent country.
In Ohio, in 1S70, Mr. Scott married Miss Mary A.,
daughter of Joseph and Susan Shaffer, pioneers of
Ohio. Mrs. Scott was born in Ohio, has one brother,
Joseph, in this county and five sisters. Mr. Scott has
one sister. Mary Melissa Beatty, living in Sullivan
count)', .Missouri. The following children have come
to bless the household of our subject and his faithful
wife : James R., Joseph E., Charles O., John W.,
Maggie J., Susie V.. Nora, Louie, Clyde, Maude, Ida
M. and Iense. Mr. Scott is not bound to the wheels
of any party, but sustains an independence that enables
him to select the right man and cast his vote accord-
ingly. He is a most skillful farmer, following the di-
versified plan and also paying much attention to fruit
culture and stock.
GEORGE W. BRAMMER is one of the commis-
sioners of Nez Perces county, being nominated on the
fusion ticket in 1900, and this the people endorsed at
the polls ; he has served with credit to himself and to
the satisfaction of his constituency. He has been nomi-
nated for re-election for commissioner on the Demo-
cratic ticket also.
Reverting to the details of his career, we note that
Mr. Brammer was born in Hanover, Germany, on Jan-
uary 28, 1867, being the son of William and Sofie'
(Hiestermann) Brammer. The father was born in
Hanover province, Germany, in 1839. came to the
United States in 1893 and is now at Lookout, Nez
Perces county. The mother was born in Hanover,
in 1840. Our subject was educated in the common
schools, learned the carpenter trade and then attended
the architectural school for two terms. He followed
his trade of building until 1892, when he came to the
United States. He at once came to Cameron, Idaho,
and when the reservation was opened he retired from
the labor of his trade for a time and took land, where
he now lives, at Melrose.
On April 5, 1890, Mr. Brammer married Miss An-
nie, daughter of Henry and Mary (Bebrens) Riggers,
natives of Germany, where the father farms. Mrs.
Brammer was born in Germany in 1861 and has two
brothers. Henry and William, also four sisters in ( ier-
many. Mr. Brammer has two brothers, William, who
went to South Africa in 1883 and was in the war for
the independence of the Boars. He was taken pris-
oner in 1900 by the British, who deported him to Ger-
many, whence he came to the United States in 1901
and is now in Nez Perces county ; Henry, also in this
county. To Mr. and Mrs. Brammer there have been
born five children, Anna, Bertha. Mary, William and
Ernest, all at home. Mr. and Mrs. Brammer are mem-
bers of the Lutheran church. Mr. Brammer is an ad-
vocat of good schools, churches, and of general prog-
ress, being always found in the vanguard. He owns
two hundred and forty acres where his home is ; he has
made good success in general farming, raising hogs,
cattle and horses. He is well esteemed and stands
high among his fellows.
GEORGE T. HOLLIDAY. It certainly is a
pleasure to be permitted to review the career of the
gentleman to whom we are now introduced, and
chronicle the sailent points thereof, since he is a man
of energy, has accomplished excellent achievements,
has set a worthy example all of his life as a student,
an upbuilder, a progressive element in the communi-
ties where his lot has been cast, and as a Christian.
"Strenuous." indeed, has been his life ; it is no small
matter of congratulation, that the sons of America are
many of them, at least, given to studious lives, and it
is surely right to say that in this line, Mr. Holliday
is a real leader.
George T. Holliday was born in Pike county, Mis-
souri, on Mav 15, 1858, being the son of William P.
and Mildred '(Nally) Holliday. The father was born
in Pike county, Missouri, of an ancient and influential
family from Virginia, is a physician and farmer, now-
living on the reservation. His mother's parents came
from Kentucky and their parents from Scotland, but
the Hollidays were English extraction. The mother
of our subject is a native of Newton county, Missouri,
and of Scotch extraction. She is now living on the
reservation aged sixty-four and her husband is aged
seventy-four. Gorge was raised in Missouri until
seven, then he came with the family to Warren county.
Illinois, and two years later to Texas, where he re-
mained until he was thirty-one. In these various
places, Mr. Holliday began his education in the com-
mon schools, but he has not yet completed it. How
often we hear the young sprig say, "I have finished
my education." Alas, that one can ever believe that
he finished his education. It is not true of the
typical man, that he ever finishes his education, he is
simply passing from one form on to the other. Thus
has Mr. Holliday gained the true idea, and his nights
are ahvays spent in hard study as regularly as he takes
his sleep. Thus is gained real information, strength
of mind and the wisdom that makes wise. For eleven
years, Mr. Holliday handled stock for Hunter, Evens
& Company, of Kansas City and for nine of those
years, he was foreman. Then, on account of failing
health from excessive strain and care, he resigned his
position and came to the west, following his parents
within a few months to the vicinity of Moscow. This
was in 1889. Mr. Holliday had a decided turn of mind
toward the geological and mineralogical world and he
at once set about gratifying his desire for investigation
in these worthy lines. He spent the summers in care-
ful prospecting and the winters in hard study in the
Denver school of mines, for twto years and more or
less since then he has kept up his labors along this line
and the result is that he has gained a wonderful fund
of knowledge and has at the same time located some
GEORGE T. HOLLIDAY.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
217
valuable properties in mineral claims. In 1897, he
riled on his present place, a little northwest from Ches-
ley, where he has bestowed his labors since that time.
He has a fine farm, raises the cereals and flax, with
stock and orchards. In addition, Mr. Holliday han-
dles a threshing outfit, owning a half interest. He also
pays considerable attention to raising the small fruits
and vegetables. He has the following brothers and
sisters, James B., near Winchester, farming; William
P. and Richard, partners in the livery business in
Moscow; Martha, wife of Eli Richardson, a fanner
and stage owner near Lookout ; Annie, wife of Mr.
Flannery, in Texas.
On January 17, 1892, at Moscow, Mr. Holliday
married Miss Telitha, the daughter of John and Cath-
arine (Kane) Miles, natives of Berry county, Missouri,
where also Mrs. Holliday was born, in 1867. Mrs.
Holliday is a graduate of the state normal school at
Monmouth, Oregon, and she taught for four years in
Roseburg, Oregon. She has three brothers and one
sister; John, a cattleman in southern California;
Charles, postmaster and storekeeper, in Webb, on the
Sweetwater ; Ira, a dealer in lumber near Portland ;
Rose, single and living with her parents near Rose-
burg, Oregon. Mr. Holliday is a member of the I. O.
O F., Ilo Lodge, No. 71, at Ilo, Idaho. He and his
wife are devout members of the Christian church and
are leaders in this work, while in politics, he is in-
dependent. Five children have been born to bless this
household, Pearl Miles, Marion, Nellie and Veva.
FRANK DURETTE. Although the subject of
this sketch has not been domiciled as long as some in|
Nez Perces county, still he is entitled to representa-
tion in the county history as he is one of the enterpris-
ing and substantial men of Melrose, a man of upright-
ness and ability and has a fine property of farm land
adjoining town, which is well improved.
Frank Durette was born in the vicinity of Jersey
City, New Jersey, on May 27, 1855, being the son of
Anthony and Catherine (Wench) Durette. The fa-
ther was a farmer, born in France, and died in 1862.
The mother was born in Scotland in 1832, of Scotch-
Irish extraction, and now lives in Michigan. Our
subject was left at the early age of seven fatherless,
and as little property was left for the support of the
family he was forced to struggle for himself from earli-
est boyhood. He fought the battle well, and when six-
teen we find him sailing on the lakes, continuing the
same until he was twenty-one. Then he turned his
attention to farming in Michigan in the summers and
lumbering in the winters, until 1878. In that year
Mr. Durette migrated to Burleigh county, Dakota,
took land and made himself one of the leading farmers
until 1 901. Then he sold the property there and came
west, settling in Nez Perces county, and purchasing
land adjoining Melrose, where the family home is now.
On March 25, 1885, in Dakota, Mr. Durette mar-
ried Miss Jennie, daughter of Leonard and Fannie
(Foster) Lucas. Mr. Lucas was born in England,
raised in Canada, and his wife was a native of Can-
ada. Mrs. Durette was also born in Canada, the year
being 1854, and has four brothers and three sisters.
Mr. Durette has four sisters. To this worthy couple
there has been born one daughter, Frances, who is at
home. Mr. Durette is a member of the K. of P., while
he and his wife are members of the Methodist church.
Politically he is allied with the Republicans, and is an
advocate of good schools and progression.
CASSIUS W. COLBY was born in Monroe coun-
ty, New York, near Rochester, on January 7, 1850,
being the son of Amos N. and Elvira (Willy) Colby.
The father was born in New York in 1832 and still
lives there. His father was born in Connecticut, mar-
ried a native of that state and was colonel in the war of
1812. The mother of our subject was born in New
York in 1835 and died in 1865. Her father, Sylvester
Willy, was a captain in the war of 1812. Cassius W.
was a graduate of the Rockport state normal at the age
of twenty and then went to Ionia, Michigan, where he
entered the office of E. Colby & Company, lumbermen,
as bookkeeper. Later he gained a position as part-
ner, the firm being formed of his father, his uncle and
himself. They did a good business and in 1873, on
account of the panic, dissolved. Our subject came
to Walla Walla in 1878 and associated himself with
the well known Dr. Blalock as superintendent of his
various enterprises. Later the firm of Blalock, Son
& Colby was formed, and there Mr. Colby wrought in
the construction of their flume that brought all kinds
of timber products from the mountains to Walla Wralla.
Three years after this they sold out and Mr. Colby
took a trip to the Sandwich Islands. On his return
he acted as salesman for Stinehouse, in Walla Walla,
for three years. Then he superintended the Small
Brothers' saw mill plant at Rathdrum for two years.
In 1886 he went to Cataldo, in the Coeur d'Alene min-
ing district, and started a mill. Later Mr. Albert
Small was partner and they worked up a fine wholesale
trade, continuing for seven years. Then the panic of
1893 struck the country, and, with many another good
firm, they went under. Mr. Colby then spent one year
in Florida, after which he formed a company to manu-
facture fruit boxes, the plant being established at Har-
rison. His brother, Delwin S., and Mr. Small were
with him in this venture. Three years of success here
and they sold out. Then Mr. Colby located in Lewis-
ton, where we find him today. He is secretary and
stockholder in the Gold Bug Columbia Mining Com-
pany. He is interested with M. A. Snyder & Com-
pany, lumbermen at Melrose. Idaho. And in addi-
tion'to this, Mr. Colby handles the books for the Small
& Emory Lumber Company, of Lewiston.
On January 5, 1880. Mr. Colby married Miss Inez
E. Small, daughter of David Small, a saw mill man and
merchant. He was born in New Brunswick, as also
his wife, and he died in Montana. Mrs. Colby was
born in Maine in 185 1 and received a good academic
education. She has the following sisters and brothers
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
living: David Small, Albert, Ira, Lottie Sanborn and
Sadie Potter. Mr. Colby has the following brothers
and sisters: Delwin S.. Virginia E., Lucy A. Wam-
boldt. To Mr. and Mrs. Colby there has been born one
child, Ned \V., ten years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Colby
are members of the Baptist church, which they assisted
to organize, and are active workers in it. He is a Re-
publican and active in the realm of politics. He is an
advocate of good schools and is always in the vanguard
of advancement. Ex-Governor Colby, of Connecticut,
is a relative of the family.
MELVIN S. STELLMON. Among the first class
and prosperous agriculturists of the reservation coun-
try we will mention the subject of this article, whose
estate of one-half section lies about six miles north-
east from Nezperce and is one of the choice ones of
that section. He has a goodly list of valuable improve-
ments, as house, barn, outbuildings, orchard, fences,
and so forth. The estate is supplied with plenty of
spring water and half of it is under cultivation, while
the balance is timber and grazing land.
Melvin S. Stellmon was born in Greene county,
Tennessee, on May 30, 1876, being the son of Henry
and Elizabeth Stellmon. When a child he went with
the family to Washington county. Arkansas, and later
to Benton county, where he remained with his father
until the age of seventeen. At that time he went to
Denton county. Texas, and a short time thereafter
journeyed to Oklahoma, where he engaged in farming
for two years. Thence he made his way to Welling-
ton, Kansas, and returned to Benton county, in which
place, on December 22. 1898. he married Miss Effie,
daughter of John and Mary Home. Mr. Home was a
native of Germany and came to the United States in
an early day. Mrs. Stellmon was born in Benton coun-
ty. Mr. Stellman came to Nez Perces county with his
family in 1809 and secured a homestead near Mohler.
He sold this place later and in 1902 bought the farm
where he now lives and which was described above.
To Mr. and Mrs. Stellmon have been born two chil-
dren, Clarice and Atha. Mr. Stellmon enjoys a first
class standing among the people and has demonstrated
himself to be a reliable, substantial, upright and ac-
commodating neighbor and a true and stanch friend.
JOHN F. LEACHMAX is one of the prominent
and substantial men of Nez Perces county, now living
on his home place six miles southeast from Lewiston.
He was born in Adams county. Illinois, on January 12,
1845, being the son of Samuel and Maria Leachman.
The father was a farmer and merchant, born in Yir-
gania. and died before the war. His father, Thomas
Leachman, died aged ninety-three. The mother of
our subject was born in Ohio, in 1819. and lived in
Illinois. Our subject remained with his parents as
a dutiful son until seventeen, attending school at the
proper seasons, and then he enlisted in Company B,
Seventy-eighth Illinois Infantry. He served under
Grant at Missionary Ridge and under Sherman on
the memorable march to the sea. He also participated
in the battles of Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Benton-
ville, Atlanta, Jonesborough and numerous others. He
was captured by Morgan's men and held a prisoner
for seven months, learning by hard experience the
miseries of a war prison. He was exchanged at St.
Louis and at the close of the war returned to Illinois
and went to farming, at which he continued for four-
teen years, when he came to Walla Walla and two
years later to his present place. He took a homestead
and has devoted his labors and abilities to improve-
ment and advancement since that time.
On January 30, 1863, Mr. Leachman married X 1 iss
Josephine, daughter of Emory S. and Rhoda (Beatty)
Whitcomb. The father was a weaver, born in Keene,
Xew Hampshire, in 1819, and died in 1899. The
mother was born in Kentucky, in 1824, and died in
1889. Both the Whitcombs and the Beattys were
prominent in the Revolutionary war. Mrs. Leachman
was born in Adams county, Illinois, on May 10, 1844,
and has brothers and sisters living as follows: Will-
iam, Charles and Florence Nelson, all in this county.
Mr. Leachman has the following named brothers and
sister : Thomas, Elizabeth Grotz, Joseph Edward
and Samuel S. The following named children have
been born to Mr. and Mrs. Leachman : Franklin, in
this county: Edward A., at home: Nellie Perkins, in
Wilbur, Washington: William, in this county: Nora,
deceased; Lola M. Newman, in Lewiston; Benjamin,
at home. Mr. Leachman is a stanch Republican and
was nominated by his party for sheriff, but as the party
went down in that year. 1900. he was defeated. He
is a member of the G. A. R., and is one of the leading
men of our county.
The Leachmans are related to General Washington,
the great-great-grandfather, a Welchman, having been
secretary under him during the Revolution. Mr.
Leachman's mother is residing at present at Mayview,
Washington.
ERNEST L. PARKER. Perhaps there is no man
in the entire county of Nez Perces who is better and
more favorably known than the genial, talented and
faithful business man and true gentleman whose name
appears at the head of this article. A review of his
life is a real part of the history of this county and
therefore we append an epitome with pleasure.
Ernest L. was born in Sigourney, Iowa, on No-
vember 29, 1864, being the son of John T. and Albina
S. ( McColley ) Parker. The father was a millman and
contractor and is now mayor of Sigourney. He was
born in Ohio on February 2. 1832. was a captain of
Company D, Thirteenth Iowa, and spent eight months
in Libby prison. He was also sheriff of Keokuk
county, Iowa, and county commissioner for a number
of terms. His father was Samuel Parker, who mar-
ried a Miss Barton of New England. This gentle-
man was born in Virginia in 1808 and died in moo.
The mother of our subject was born in Indiana on
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
January 5, 1836. Her father, Charles McColley, was
horn in Virginia, was sheriff of Keokuk county, Iowa,
and married Miss Buck, a native of Pennsylvania. Our
subject was educated in the comomn schools, labored in
the mill and remained at home until twenty-one, then
went to Omaha and worked in a sash and door factory.
Later he worked in Sioux City, Iowa, and then went
to Spokane, Washington. His brother, James S.,
was operating a sash and door factory there and he
labored with him for two years. Then he went to
Moscow and worked for the M. J. Shields Company
for eighteen months. He and his brother James then
bought a mill and moved it to Denver, Idaho county,
where they operated it for three years, and then our
subject went to Nezperce, when the reservation was
opened up, started a lumber yard and later put in a
stock of furniture, and here we find him at the present
time.
In 1896 the people called him to act as county com-
missioner, electing him on the Democratic ticket.
At the expiration of that term he was nominated for
sheriff, but went with his entire ticket to defeat. In
1900 he was again nominated for commissioner and
elected, and is serving in that capacity now. He has
been trustee of his home village for a number of terms.
Mr. Parker is a man of high standing, is popular with
the people, of good appearance, and a gentleman in
every sense of the word. In 1900 he was called by the
people to act as delegate to Boise to oppose the slicing
of this county to add taxable property to Shoshone.
Mr. Parker has the following brothers and sisters :
James S., Charles M., Elvin M., Louisa A. Foley. Eva
A., T. Barton, Fred F. and Ray. Mr. Parker is a
member of the K. of P., of the W. of VV., of the I. O.
O. F., and is also a Son of the Veterans. Mr. Parker
owns real estate in Nezperce and in Lewiston, besides
other property. He is a firm believer in the advan-
tages and resources of Nez Perces county, and is al-
ways laboring for its upbuilding and advancement.
JOHX T. SPRIXGSTOX. The valuable estate
and pleasant home of our subject lies three and one-
half miles southeast from Lenore. The land, one
hundred and sixty acres, was acquired by homestead
right in 1896, and since that time Mr. Springston has
devoted his wisdom and labors to the improvement of
it, and also to handling a threshing outfit, of which
latter industry he is a skilled master, having operated
in it for twenty-five successive years.
John T. Springston was born in Warren county,
Illinois, on May 3, 1857, being the son of Samuel A.
and Rebecca (Haynes) Springston, natives of Virginia
and both born in 1834. The mother died in 1866,
but the father still lives in Kansas, a veteran of the
Civil war. John T. remained at home until nineteen,
gaining in that time his education and good skill in
labors on the farm. Then he married and settled down
to farming for himself, which continued in that coun-
try until 1884. Then he came to the vicinity of Pa-
louse, bought land and rented more and devoted him-
self to the agricultural art. in which he has been suc-
cessful. He also gave attention to logging, and in
1893, when the Palouse Milling Company went to the
wall, he was so incumbered by their failure that he
lost almost everything also. In 1896 he saved enough
out of the wreck to make his way to the reservation
with a small saw mill, and since that time Mr. Spring-
ston has been closely identified with the substantial
progress and development of this section, well earning
the place of prestige and prominence that he enjoys.
While in Kansas, in 1876. Mr. Springston married
Miss Rosa, daughter of George and Lillie (Smith)
Duston. The father was a sea captain and a native of
England, and is now deceased. The mother was a
native of Ireland and is now living with our subject.
Mrs. Springston was born in 1858, at Burlington,
Iowa, and has one brother and two sisters, — Joseph, in
Elgin, Oregon ; Lillie. in Garnett, Kansas ; Emma, in
Omaha, Nebraska. Mr. Springston has two brothers
and one sister, — Andrew, in Kansas ; Frank, in Ore-
gon ; Lucinda, in Missouri. To Mr. and Airs. Spring-
ston there have been born the following children :
Grace Henderson. Harry, Maggie Henderson. Etta
Tumalson and Cora Lota Allen, Horona, Howard,
Kittie, Floyd and Loren. Mr. Springston is a Popu-
list and active in the conventions, and he has devoted
much time and energy to the labors on the school
board for the betterment of the school facilities and is
decidedly a man of progress and improvement.
CALEB W. RICHARDSON. It gives us pleas-
ure to recount the career of the industrious and sub-
stantial gentleman whose name initiates this paragraph,
since he is a patriotic citizen, a good business man
and an upright ami reliable man in all his walk.
Caleb W. Richardson was born in Howard county,
Indiana, on May 26, 1848, being the son of Caleb and
Celia (Humphries) Richardson. The father was
born in Virginia in 1799 and died in 1870. He was
one of the earliest pioneers in Howard and Tipton
counties, in Indiana, and served in the Blackhawk war.
Farming was his occupation. The mother was born
in Soulh Carolina in 1802 and died in 1892. She made
two trips across the plains after she was eighty-five.
Caleb W. remained at home until he was twenty-three
assisting his father, and during the winters attending
school. Then he started for himself. Fanning and
saw-milling in his native place occupied him for some
time, and in 1871 he went to Kansas. Two years
there, and then a brief visit to Indiana, and our sub-
ject was then ready for the Pacific coast country. He
settled in Linn county, ( >regon, and farmed until 1876.
when the inviting resources of Whitman county,
Washington, attracted him, and in 1877 he took land,
and tilling that, with buying and shipping grain, occu-
pied him until 1896. but the hard times caused a finan-
cial loss to him, as well as to thousands of other-, and
in 1896. after coming to the reservation and purchas-
ing the relinquishment of the man who held the land
where Mr. Richardson now lives, adjoining Melrose
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
on the west, he summed up his assets and found that
he had twenty dollars in cash, and a year's provisions.
Right faithfully Mr. Richardson went to work with
his hands, and the result is that he is one of the well-
to-do farmers of this section.
On December 24. 1868, Mr. Richardson married
Miss Ruth, daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth (Light)
Dick, natives of Virginia and Ohio, respectively, but
now deceased. Mrs. Richardson was born in Ohio, in
1848, and has three brothers and two sisters, — Mor-
gan, Mahlon, J. Alonzo, Mary Dutton and Rebecca
Barrett. Mr. Richardson has ten brothers and five
sisters, and six of the brothers were soldiers in the
Civil war. Our subject also served as a minute man
to repel Morgan. The following children have been
born to Mr. and Mrs. Richardson: Maude Maynard,
in Melrose: L. Byron, at Colton, Washington; Pearl
Standley, at Mohler ; Winona Litch, in Colton, Wash-
ington : Georgia Denny, in Melrose ; May, Dick and
Zoe L., at home. Mr. Richardson is past grand in the
I. O. O. F., and past chancellor in the K. of P. Mrs.
Richardson and her daughters are members of the
Methodist church. Mr. Richardson is one of the
most active men and labors for the betterment of edu-
cational facilities, and when the Melrose school house
was built he donated lumber and thirty-five clays' work.
He is also an active Republican, and in 1900 he ran for
the state legislature and was only beaten by sixty-two
votes. He is a popular and highly respected man. and
is a genial and good neighbor.
LOUIS HADFORD is a fine example of those who
came to this new and untried conntiy witti meager
means and have by thrift, industry and wisdom in the
bestowment of their labors come to be the prosperous
farmers and stockmen now dwelling in the reservation
country. He was without means when he settled on
his present place, two and one-half miles southeast
from Lookout, and now he owns two hundred and
forty acres of fertile land, well improved, raises the
cereals and flax, handles many head of cattle, horses,
and sheep and is a well-to-do, substantial citizen.
Louis Hadford was born in Sweden, on February
20, 1865, being the son of Hedfors and Karin ( Yes-
terlund) Hadford, natives of Sweden. The father
was born in 1832 and still lives in Sweden. The
mother was born in 1839 and died in 1885. Louis
grew rip in his native place and was trained in the
common schools. As soon as he was able he went to
work in the trying labor of loading ships in the harbor
of Harnes. While following this arduous calling he
conceived the idea of coming to America and securing
a home for himself. Accordingly, in 1889, he made the
trip across the water and land to Spokane, Washington,
where his brothers, Gust, John and Peter, were located.
He paid attention to farming for two or three years.
buying land. But at the time of the panic, he aban-
doned his land and went to railroading. In the spring
of 1896 he. with his brothers, John and Gust, came to
the reservation and they all secured good claims.
His is one of the excellent farms and is handled with
becoming skill and thrift. He has operated a threshing
machine in addition to his other labors, being a skilled
hand in this capacity.
Mr. Hadford has three brothers and two sisters,
Peter, in Washington, John and Gust, in this county :
Christine and Caroline, in Sweden. Mr. Hadford is a
Repubican and takes an interest in good govern-
ment, especially so in schools and the general improve-
ment and development in this section. Mr. Hadford is
still the possessor of the quiet joys of the celebatarian
and is content in his seclusion.
ALVA T. McCARTY. This gentleman is to be
numbered with the heavy real estate owners of the
county and is considered one of the substantial and
capable business men. He handles his affairs with be-
coming wisdom, is a man of stability and integrity and
respected by all .
Alva T. McCarty was born in Wayne county, Iowa,
on August 5, 1870, being the son of Isaac and Re-
becca (Jordan) McCarty. The father was born in
Wayne county, Iowa, in 1845, a°d served three years
and more in the Civil war. His father, Dr. McCarty,
was a pioneer to Wayne county and the first sheriff of
the county. The mother of our subject was born in
Indiana, in 1847, and died in 1878. Alva remained
with his father until twelve and then started for the
west to seek his fortune. He went to work in Whit-
man county and soon after went to riding the range,
also engaged in the horse raising industry for himself.
He continued thus until 1892, and then he farmed,
but owing to the excessive rain of that year, well re-
membered all over, he lost his crops. From this ven-
ture he went to raising stock and in 1895 he came to
the reservation and took his present farm, one mile
east from Melrose. He gave much labor to opening
the land and also to raising stock. In June, 1902, he
sold his stock and devoted himself to farming more
extensively. Mr. McCarty now owns nearly one sec-
tion of land in different parts and is also the possessor
of other property. All his farms bear the marks of
thrift and industry, and he is prospered because of his
skill.
On December 24, 1893, at Moscow, Idaho, Mr.
McCarty married Louise, daughter of James and Mary
(Flower) Nifong, natives of Illinois and born in 1832
and 1833, respectively, and now living in Whitman
county. Mrs. McCarty was born in California, in 1873,
and was there educated in the Uniontown University.
She has the following brothers and sisters : Mary E.,
Octova, Lizzie A., Josephine, Henry, Albert, Edward.
George and Milton. Mr. McCarty has two brothers and
two sisters, George, deceased ; Dora, Miles, Ina. The
children born to our subject and his faithful wife are
Ina J., deceased: Walter T., Harry L., and Blanche
L.. the last three at home. Mr. McCarty is a member
of the W. W.. and in the political arena is a Repub-
can and a familiar and influential figure at the conven-
tions. Mr. McCarty gives time and energy to the ad-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
vocacy of good schools. We wish also to mention that
his farm, with the home place, is beautified with a fine
eight-room structure of modern design, and also has
a commodious barn and outbuildings to match.
CHARLES DOWD. This enterprising young
gentleman is a native of the Occident, being born in
Pierce City, on June 7, 1870. He is now one of the
most substantia! farmers and stockmen of Nez Perces
county and resides on his fine estate of five hundred
and sixty acres, which he owns in partnership with
his brother Matthew. This land is located about eight
miles southeast from Lewiston and is favored in that
five artesian wells flow constantly there, making it
very valuable. He raises large crops of wheat, barley
and alfalfa. Mr. Dowd pays considerable attention to
raising stock, cattle, horses and hogs. He has a large
band of the equines and also some exceptionally fine
hogs. The family home is a comfortable and tasty
dwelling of generous proportions and the farm has
plenty of outbuildings and barns and so forth. We
note that the parents of our subject, Michael and Eliza-
beth Dowd, were natives of Ireland and their career
is epitomized elsewhere in this volume. They came
from Pierce City to their present home place in 1870,
the father buying seven hundred and fort)' acres there.
He died in 1873 and the mother carried things along
until her demise, in 1898, and before her death she di-
vided the property, which also included some town
property, among the children. Charles was educated
in the district schools, in the schools in Lewiston, in the
college at Fort Colville and also in the college at Spo-
kane, from which last institution he graduated in 1889.
Then he returned to the farm and since that time he
has given his time to farming and raising stock as men-
tioned above.
On September 20, 1899, in Nez Perces county, Mr.
Dowd married Miss Beatrice M., daughter of Fred-
erick E. and Minnie (Raul) Kling, natives of Germany
and Mobile, Alabama, respectively. Mrs. Dowd has
three brothers, Frederick, William and Roy, who is a
half-brother. Mrs. Dowd was born in Lewiston,
on July 20, 1880. Mr. Dowd has the following named
brothers and sisters, Harry, Mary E. Erb, both in Lew-
iston, and Matthew, on the farm. One child has been
born to Mr. and Mrs. Dowd, Aileen Marie. These
worthy people are members of the Catholic church.
Mr. Dowd is a strong advocate of good schools and al-
ways labors hard for their betterment. He is a Dem-
ocrat in political matters and takes an active part.
MATTHEW DOWD. It is pleasant to contem-
plate that in these western sections where the pioneers
labored so hard to gain a foothold that now there is
rising up a worthy class who are pushing their achieve-
ments in such a manner that they are a crown to the
foundations laid by their sturdy ancestors. Notable
among this number of young men is the subject of this
sketch who was born on the place where he now
lives, on March 22, 1872, being the son of Michael
and Elizabeth Dowd. The father was a native of
Ireland, being born in 1824. He was a pioneer of Cali-
fornia, where he wrought at his trade, that of ma-
chinist and blacksmith. The mother was also born in
Ireland in 1840, and died in 1898. These worthy peo-
ple came to California in i860 and the father wrought
at the forge, in the mines and in San Francisco for four
years and then determined to try Idaho. He went
into the Pierce City mines and there operated some
mines that he gained title to and also labored at his
trade, doing well in both lines. Five years of
this labor and then he came to Nez Perces county
and bought the land where our subject now lives,
seven miles southeast from Lewiston. This was in
1870, and in 1873 he was called away by death. The
mother was left with four small children and nobly
did she take up the burdens, hiring help and overseeing
the farm. Our subject received his education in
Spokane and at Fort Colville, being well trained.
At the age of nineteen he quit school, went into the
stock business and farming with his brother Charles,
and they have had good success in these lines, being
men of care and industry, always dominated with
wisdom.
On November 4, 1897, Air. Dowd married Miss
Mary, daughter of Patrick and Bridget Gaffney,
natives of Ireland. The father was a mining man,
born in 1837 and died in 1895. The mother still lives
in Pierce City. Mrs. Dowd has four brothers, Frank,
John, William and Robert, all in Pierce City. Mrs.
Dowd was born in Pierce City on July 29. 1874. Mr.
Dowd has the following brothers and sisters : Harry,
Mary Erb, and Charles. Mr. Dowd is a member of
the Catholic church, as also is his wife and they are
devout supporters of their faith. He is a stanch
Democrat and is always attending to political matters
in their season. Mr. Dowd owns, with his brother
Charles, five hundred and sixty acres of fine land and
there are five artesian wells on the place. He raises
cattle and horses and has large bands of them. The
farm produces wheat, barley and alfalfa. He has a fine
home and the estate is improved in a becoming manner.
Mr. Dowd is an advocate of good schools and is a
member of the Pioneers' Association.
E. CLAY CHAPMAN. The prosperous farmers
and stockmen of the reservation country surely in-
clude the subject of this article. His estate lie- just
east from Melrose and is in fee, Indian land, but is
operated by Mr. Chapman, who is making a good divi-
dend producer from the property.
E. Clay Chapman was born in Wabash county,
Indiana, on April 22, 1851, being the son of George
W. and Catherine C. (Ritter) Chapman. The father
was a cooper, born in Knox county, Ohio, in 1826.
He was a pioneer in Iowa and now lives near Yollmer,
Idaho. The mother of our subject was born in Penn-
sylvania in 1828 and is living near Yollmer. The
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
family came to Illinois, settling in Princeton, when
this son was two years old. On October 30, 1861.
they landed in Poweshiek county, Iowa, and there our
subject grew to manhoou and secured his educational
training. When twenty-one he started in life's battle
for himself and farmed in Iowa until 1879. Then he
went to Custer county, Nebraska, took land, farmed
and raised stock until 1887. He was very success-
ful in those labors and accumulated a goodly holding.
He wished to see the west and so sold out, and in
company with many neighbors came to Latah county,
Idaho. ' Soon he was in Nez Perces county and took
a preemption near Westlake. and went to raising stock
and wheat. This property was sold in 1892 and on
account of failing health of his wife, a trip was made
to Alberta, Canada. This was an unfortunate venture
and Mr. Chapman lost heavily. In May. 1893, he re-
turned to Yollmer and gave his atteneion to farming
and lumbering until 1898, when he came to his present
location.
On October n, 1872, Mr. Chapman married Miss
Mary, daughter of Judge John B. and Mary C.
(Bickle) Stitt. Judge Stitt was a native of Ohio,
a pioneer in Kansas and died in 1879. Mrs. Stitt was
a native of Virginia and is now deceased. Mrs. Chap-
man was born in Indiana, in 1852 and has four sis-
ters, Hattie, Mattie, Anna, and Jennie, and one
brother, Samuel, at Lamar, Missouri. Mr. Chapman
has the following brothers and sisters: Thomas C,
deceased : George" YV.. deceased ; John W., Albert B.,
Alice S. Jones, and Clara Schultz. Four children have
been born to Mr. and Mrs. Chapman, Carl E.. de-
ceased; Clyde D., in Culdesac ; Claude H. at home:
Hattie V., wife of Richard Stinson, at Yollmer. Mrs.
Chapman is a member of the Methodist church. Mr.
Chapman is a Republican in politics and is always
active for the betterment of the country. In his farm
labors Mr. Chapman confines himself largely to pro-
ducing flax and he is a successful raiser of this im-
portant crop.
AARON j. RICHARDSON. The industrious
mechanic, whose name initiates this pararaph, is one
of the substantial laborers on the reservation who
have made it one of the most thrifty spots in Idaho.
He is operating a blacksmith shop in Melrose, in
partnership with Mr. Coker, having taken up this in-
dustry in [une, 1902. In addition. Mr. Richardson
has a fine farm about two miles northwest from town
where he is bestowing much thought and capital. It
is a good piece of land taken from the wild, and is
being made one of the valuable and highly improved
estates of the count)'. It contains a good orchard, is
improved in a becoming manner, and is now handled
through hired help directed by Mr. Richardson in ad-
dition to his shop work.
Aaron J. Richardson was born in Benton county,
Oregon, on Tauuarv 28. 1864, being the son of Rich-
ard C. and Sarah E\ Richardson. The father was born
in Missouri in 1834. is now a resident of Nez Perces
county He is a pioneer in Oregon and took his part
in the Indian wars. The mother of our subject was
born in Missouri in 1840 and died in 1886. Aaron re-
mained with his parents until twenty, then came to
Pullman for himself and there wrought at black-
smithing, ranching, carpentering and so forth, until
1898. which was the date of his advent to the reser-
vation country. He selected his present place and has
taken hold with his hands and has done a commend-
able work in improvement and in building up.
Mr. Richardson is a member of the M. W. A.,
Melrose Camp No. 6216. He is a Democrat in poli-
tics but never strives for personal advancement in
that realm. He has the following brothers and sis-
ters: Zerilda A., at San Francisco: Thomas J., in this
county; Yictoria, in Benton county, Oregon; Sidney,
in Idaho county; Laura, in Oregon; Tolbert, in Whit-
man county: Sarah, living near Salem. Oregon,
Charles, Henry, Mary, Jesse, and Emery, all in Nez
Perces countv.
FRANK NELSON. This well known young man
lias gained tor himself a good reputation on account
of his uprightness and his careful walk while he has
also gained a competence in worldly goods because of
his thrift, industry and careful managing the resources
placed in his hands in this rich country. Frank Nel-
son was born in Marion county, Iowa, on October
2j, 1870, being the son of James R. and Mary C.
(Ruddell) Nelson. The father was born in Adams
county. Illinois, on October 30, 1840. was a pioneer to
Lewiston, coming here in 1862, later returning to Illi-
nois for a time, and is now one of the substantial
citizens of this county. The mother was born in
Adams county, Illinois, in 1841 and died November 18,
1897. Our subject came with his parents to Walla
Walla when he was but seven years old and there he
labored on his father's farm and attended school until
they removed into Nez Perces county. The father came
hither for range for his stock, in which business he
made a good success. When twenty-one Frank started
for himself and farming was his initial work. At the
opening of the Nez Perces reservation, he refused
to take laud on account of the exorbitant price asked
1)\ the government, it being cheaper to buy land out-
right. He has continued farming and mining ever
since he has been doing for himself and he has some
fine properties on Snake and Clearwater, they being
gold and silver bearing ledges. He also has stock on
those ranges.
On October 15. 1891. in Nez Perces county. Mr.
Nelson married Miss Florence, daughter of Emory
and Rhoda Whitcomb. The father was a millwright,
horn in New Hampshire in 1821 and died in Novem-
ber, 1898. The mother was born in Illinois on May
27. 1824, and died on August 27, 1889. Mrs. Nel-
son was born in Adams county, Illinois, on September
18, 1867. She came to Idaho in 1887 and she has the
following named brothers and sisters: Josephine
Leachman. in this county : James W.. also in this
county : Charles E., in Lewiston. Mr. Nelson is a
member of the I. O. O. F. and the K. of P. in
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Lewiston. Mrs. Nelson is a member of the Metho-
dist church. In political matters Mr. Nelson is allied
with the Republican party and always displays a com-
mendable activity in the affairs of state. He is a warm
advocate of good schools and is always in the van for
their betterment. Mr. Nelson had two uncles who
fought for their country in the Civil war.
GEORGE L. RICHARDSON. This successful
farmer and business man lives on an estate adjoining
Melrose, where he is making a comfortable and valu-
able abode. He raises cattle, hogs, horses, and does
a general farming business, while he is steadily adding
the improvements needed to make his farm first class
in every particular. In addition to the farm enter-
prise. Mr. Richardson is assistant postmaster in Mel-
rose and is a salesman in the store of T. H. Thompson.
George L. Richardson was born in Benton county,
Oregon, on October 15. 1868, his parents being
Thomas and Nancy (Cooper) Richardson. The father
was a farmer, born in Missouri in 1834, and died in
1898, in Washington. He was a pioneer in the west,
camped on the ground where Pullman, Washington,
now stands, when there was not a house there. He
fought in the Indian wars, before the town of Walla
Walla was established. The mother of our subject
was born in Missouri in 1850 and still lives in Nez
1'erces county. George remained at home until twenty-
three, receiving his education in Whitman county,
whither the family had moved. Many were the nights
that they hid for fear of the Indians and they had
the hardships and trials of the pioneers to endure.
In 1898 Mr. Richardson came to the Nez Perces
reservation and took a homestead. Later he sold this
and bought his present place on account of school
facilities for his children.
On March 15. 1891, Mr. Richardson married Miss
Ada, daughter of Miller and Lydia (Bliou) Curl,
the nuptials occurring in eastern Oregon. Mr. Curl
came to Oregon in pioneer days and this daughter
was bora in the Willamette valley in 1874. She has
the following brothers and sisters : William, Frank,
Walter and Anna. Mr. Richardson has two brothers,
Claude and Ernest, both in this county. To our sub-
ject and his gracious wife there have been born three
children. Merle. May. and Fay, aged nine, seven and
five at the presenf writing. Mr. Richardson is a mem-
ber of the I. O. O. F. and a charter member of the
M. W. A., aiding to organize the latter. Republican-
ism is his belief in politics and he is a substantial and
upright man, commanding the respect and winning
the esteem of all who know him.
CHARLES BL1ESNER. A man whose thrift
and wisdom have granted the rewards due these excel-
lent virtues, and who is at this time one of the sub-
stantial and representative citizens of the reservation
country and has assisted materially to develop this
favored region, it is becoming that he should receive
especial mention in the volume that recites the history
of northern Idaho.
Charles Bliesner was born in Prussia, Germany,
on December 6, 1872, being the son of Christ and
Rachel Bliesner, also natives of the same place. In
1882 the family came to the United States from
Bremen, landing in Baltimore. Soon we see them in
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, where they remained until
1885, when a western journey was made which brought
them to Spokane county, Washington. There the par-
ents remain at this time. They have the following
children: Frederick, Christ and 'William, in Spokane
county; August, Charles and Otto, in Nez Perces
county ; Gustav, also in Spokane county. In the spring
of 1896 our subject made his way to the reservation
country and located on his present place, about two
miles north from Nezperce. This is one of the choic-
est pieces of land in this vicinity and Mr. Bliesner
has improved it in a worthy manner. He came with
but little finances, but now has a valuable farm, good
buildings, stock, implements, and orchards, and is one
of the leading farmers of this section. His house is
one of five rooms, a barn eighteen by thirty and a
granary sixteen by thirty-two. Mr. Bliesner had to
haul his first three crops to Lewiston. Spalding and
Culdesac, but notwithstanding the hardships and
arduous labors to perform, he has held tenaciously to
the one pursuit and success has crowned him.
On March 1, 1901, Mr. Bliesner married Miss
Nettie, daugher of Mathias and Ellen Henderson,
natives respectively of Ireland and Canada, ami who
came to Spokane county in 1890. The father died in
1899 an<J the mother is dwelling near by on the reser-
vation. Mr. Bliesner is a man of excellent standing
m the community, has maintained a first class repu-
tation and is the recipient of the friendship of all who
know him. He is a charter member of the M. W. A.
AUGUST LARSON. The grand old motto,
'AVhat is worth doing is worth doing well." has been
exemplified in the career of the subject of this article
and it is with pleasuree that we are privileged to put
in the abiding chronicles of his county an epitome of
the same, since also he has done much for the advance-
ment of the county's interests and has conducted him-
self in a commendatory manner here.
August Larson was born in Sweden on June 30,
1861, being the son of August and Carolina (Blom-
christ) Larson. The father was a native of Sweden,
farmed there and is still living, although born in
1828. The mother was born in 1833 anc' >s stih"
living. August attended school and worked on the
farm until 1879, when he bade farewell to home,
severed family ties and came to America. Landing in
New York, he went thence to Chicago and worked on
the Douglas pike for a year and then went to Iowa,
where he farmed for ten years. He did well and
accumulated a good property and in 1890 he decided
to come west. ( >n May 31st of that year, he landed
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
in Xez Perces county and took up a preemption in
Tammany hollow. He improved and tilled it until
1899, then sold and bought his present place, twelve
miles southeast from Lewiston. He has a good estate,
well improved, a good band of cattle on Salmon creek.
and other property. He has been prospered in his
labors on account of his industry, his wise manage-
ment and his keen foresight in business matters.
In 1885 Mr. Larson married Hiss Walker, who
was born in Scotland in 1865 and came to America
when sixteen years of age. To them have been born
six children: Albert, August. Fred, George, Bob and
Grace. Mr. Larson has brothers and sisters named as
follows : Axtel, Oscar, Amel, deceased, Emma, Alma,
deceased. The living ones are in Sweden. Mr. Lar-
son is affiliated with the Masonic order and with the
M. \Y. A. He is road supervisor and has been for
seven years. He has also been a member of the school
board. In political matters, he is a Democrat and an
influential factor in this realm. Mr. Larson is a warm
advocate of good government, good schools, good
roads, and good churches, and for all these worthy
matters he labors faithfully.
ZEPHANIAH A. JOHNSON. It is with pleas-
ure that we are enabled to grant in this history a re-
view of the leading business man and prominent mem-
ber of societv whose name appears above, and who
is proprietor of the largest flour mills in the county.
Mr. Johnson was born in Benton county, Iowa,
on Februarv 28, 1868, being the son of Stephen and
Elizabeth (Hardinger) Johnson, natives respectively,
of Greene county, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. The father
was a farmer and carpenter and later was a faithful
preacher in the German Baptist church. Our subject
was educated in the native place and labored with his
father until twenty-three. Then he bought a farm of
two hundred and forty acres for himself and after
cultivating it six years, came to the reservation. Two
years after it opened he bought the improvements of
a man, added materially in erecting greater and bet-
ter improvements and then filed and sold it three years
later as a relinquishment. He then erected a large
Hour mill in Nezperce, it being of seventy-five bar-
rels capacity daily, and equipped with all the modern
and up-to-date machinery known, and it is one of the
finest plants in the northern part of the state. In
June, 1901, Mr. Johnson completed a fine two-story
residence on the hill overlooking the town, and he
supplied the home with a three-story observatory
tower, that makes the place doubly attractive. It is
one of the finest places in the county and is made at-
tractive and beautiful by the taste and tact of Mrs.
Johnson, who presides with graciousness. In addition
to the properties mentioned, Mr. Johnson has a fine
quarter section of land one-half mile from the town,
which he utilizes as headquarters for his industry of
raising hogs, which he is building up in good shape,
thus making a market at home, as he purchases many
each year.
The marriage of Mr. Johnson and Miss Emma A.,
daughter of Jacob B. and Sallie (Arnold) Lehman,
who are deceased, was solemnized on March 4, 1891.
Mrs. Johnson is a native of Benton county, Iowa. To
them have been born four children, Charles Clifford,
Murrel, Ray and James W. Mr. Johnson has three
brothers and three sisters, William E., George R.,
James M., Elma Jones, Olive Cox, Alary Jorgans.
Mrs. Johnson has two brohers and four sisters, Jacob,
George L., Rebecca Fletcher, Nannie Pike, Sadie,
Lydia.
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are members of the German
Baptist church and are devout supporters of the faith,
being also consistent in their representation of the
denominational teachings in practical life. In Octo-
ber, 1902,' Mr. Johnson suffered the loss of his fine
home bv fire.
OREN L. DICKINSON. In addition to han-
dling a fine tract of land which Mr. Dickinson secured
on the reservation by the homestead right, he has,
since 1901, been operating a drug store at Melrose,
where he is working up a good patronage. He is a
man of good standing and has labored for the advance-
ment of the interests of the country and is a progressive
and patriotic citizen.
Oren L. Dickinson was born in Oswego, New
York, on August 12, 1840, being the son of Ru-
dolphus and Margaret K. (Coplin) Dickinson. The
father was a merchant and died in 1893, while the
mother was born in Michigan. Oren was raised by
his grandfather Coplin, until ten, his father being in
California, and then the father came home and took
him to Davenport, Iowa, where he received his edu-
cation. Oren remained with his father until he was
eighteen and then started out in the world for him-
self. Three years were spent in traveling to various
places and then he setled in Dixon, Scott county,
Iowa, and took a mail contract. In September. 1863,
he enlisted in Company B, Ninth Iowa, and served
principally on scout detachments in Arkansas. After
three years of faithful service, he was discharged at
Davenport and now is the recipient of twelve dollars
per month from the government. Following the war
he engaged in mercantile pursuits with his brother
Arthur for two years in Calamus, Iowa. In 1873 ne
took a homestead near Harrison, Arkansas, and two
years later returned to Iowa and took up the tinner's
business. It was in 1882 that he retired from that and
migrated to Palouse, Washington, where he continued
the tinner's work in connection with a preemption in
Latah county. That was his home for fourteen years
and then upon the opening of the reservation, he came
hither and took his present place, which he is handling
in partnership with his son.
In Scott county, on September 9, i860. Mr. Dick-
inson married Miss Susan, daughter of John and
Margaret (Anfinson) Larson, natives of Norway.
Mrs. Dickinson was also born in Norway, on March
13, 1844, and came to the United States with her par-
ents in 1856. She was well educated before coming to
ZEPHANIAH A. .JOHNbON.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
225
this country. The parents settled in Illinois and then
came to Iowa. She has three brothers; Louis, Anfin,
and John. Mr. Dickinson has one brother, Arthur,
living in Missouri, and one half-brother, Frank Dick-
inson, in Vineland, Washington. To our worthy sub-
ject and his estimable wife there have been born the
following named children : Rudolphus S., in Iowa ;
Joacouin, in Nez Perces county ; Alfred, at home ;
Dona'ceha. wife of W. R. Skey; -May V. Yarbrough ;
Sophia, wife of Jesse J. Wright: Melrose, Arthur F.
and Chester O., both at home. Mrs. Dickinson is a
faithful member of the Lutheran church. Mr. Dick-
inson is an adherent of the Republican party and takes
a very active part in the campaigns. His grandfather
was a soldier in the Revolution and this son is not a
whit behind in patriotism.
ALOIS KACHELMEIR was born in the east-
ern part of Germany, on June _>5, 1856, being the sou
of Joseph and Catherine Kachelmeir, both natives of
Germany. The father, a musician, was justice of the
peace in Germany for sixteen years. In 1857 they
came to New York, and thence to New Ulm, Minne-
sota, where the father secured land and farmed. Our
subject grew to manhood on the farm and was edu-
cated in both the German and English schools. On
October 23, 1888, in Renville county, Minnesota,
Mr. Kachelmeir married Miss Mary Gaurahy, whose
parents were born in Ireland, but she was born in
Renville county, on May 1, 187 1. In 1893 Mr.
Kachelmeir came to Spokane and farmed near Trent.
Upon the opening of the reservation in the fall of
1895, he immediately came hither and selected his
present farm about two miles northeast from Nezperce.
It is one of the very choicest farms in this section
of the country and has been handled in a very skillful
manner by the owner. He has a good house, a choice
orcbard and all outbuildings and improvements
necessary for carrying on the estate. Mr. Kachelmeir
has shown himself to be an honest, industrious, and
upright man, a worthy citizen and one whose labors
have always been for substantial improvement and
the building up of the country. His example in first
class farming has been of great benefit as a fine
practical object lesson to the new comers on the reser-
vation and it has stirred the spirit of emulation in
many and the general result has been of value to the
country.
Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs.
Kachelmeir. Joseph, Alois, Cecelia, Mary, Bridget C,
and Ralph. Mr. Kachelmeir and his estimable wife
are members of the Catholic church, while he is a mem-
ber of St. Joseph's Union of Renville county, Min-
nesota.
SILAS JOHNSON. A capable and upright man,
whose life is consistent with his faith and who has
won and retains the confidence and esteem of all who
know him, it is quite within the province of this vol-
ume that our subject should be represented in the bio-
graphical portion thereof.
Silas Johnson was born in Greene county. Penn-
sylvania, nil January 29, 1846, being the son of Zepha-
nia and Rachel (Fiery) Johnson. Our subject was
educated and grew to manhood in his native place, and
for fifty-two years he dwelt on the old home place,
within three miles of where his father had been born in
1812. On July 8, 1875, at the native place, Mr. John-
son married Miss Nannie, daughter of John and Maria
(Lockard) Rudabaugh, natives of Pennsylvania and
residents of Westmoreland county, where Mrs. John-
son was born on May 13, 1854. Mr. Johnson followed
farming and raising stock there until 1898, when he
came on the long journey to Nezperce. landing here
on March 31, 1898. He soon bought the relinquish-
ment to his present place and settled down to make a
home. The land was wild then, but he has it all culti-
vated now, well fenced and adorned with a fine eight-
room house, large and substantial barn and all acces-
sories needed on a well regulated farm. Mr. Johnson
is one of the thrifty and prosperous farmers of the
country and is of exceptionally good standing. He
and his wife and their children are all members of the
well known German Baptist church, with the excep-
tion of Howard, and are devout supporters of the faith.
Six children have been born to this happy home, name-
ly : Leslie, married to Gertrude Young ; Alice, wife of
David John ; Melvin, married to Daisy Center ; Ethel,
wife of Peter Fike ; Pearl and Howard, both at home.
Mr. Johnson has always evinced the keenest interest in
advancing the educational facilities of the land where
he has dwelt, as also in the general progress and sub-
stantial development of the country.
SAMUEL W. MARSHALL. Located at what
was once known as the Beeman stage ranch, about
one mile north from Lookout, i> this prosperous far-
mer, as well as teacher of vocal music, in which line he
has been blessed with abundant success, being endowed
by nature for the fine art, and the subject of this sketch
is entitled to representation in the history of Xez Per-
ces county.
Samuel W. Marshall was born in Newton county,
Missouri, on April 2. 1854, being the son of Elias M.
and Rebecca ( Sutherland) Marshall. The father was
a farmer and minister in the church of Christ. He
was born in Illinois in 183 1. and died on March 5,
1890. He was a pioneer in Newton and Jasper coun-
ties, Missouri, also in Bourbon count}'. Kansas. He
was a scout in the Sixth Kansas Cavalry, enlisting in
the fall of 1861 and participated in the battles of Prairie
Grove and Cane Hill. Being discharged on account
of sickness he soon joined the militia and assisted to
chase Price out of the country. The mother of our
subject was born in Indiana in 1S38 and is now living
in Joplin, Missouri ; her father was one of the earliest
pioneers of Newton county, Missouri. When Samuel
was seven the family went to Fort Scott, Kansas, and
there he was raised and educated. Returning to New-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ton county, he soon went into the mines in the vicinity
of Joplin and then took up farming. He had received
a technical training in music in the meantime and
commenced to give instruction in vocal music. In
1888 he sold out and came to Moscow, where he rented
land extensively until 1893, doing well until that "wet
year."' Losing heavily, he then went as foreman for
'the Farmers' Warehouse at Jewell. Four years later
he took a position as weigher for the Tacoma Grain
Companv at Kendrick and after two years of service
he came" to Nez Perces county. He located on the
Cottonwood for a time and in 1900 he came to his
present place, which he intends to farm to fruit and
grasses.
( »n December 25. 1876.. in Joplin. Missouri, Mr.
Marshall married .Miss .Mary M., daughter of Abram
and Rebecca ( 1 [enry ) Shira, of German extraction
and born in Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively. Mrs.
Marshall was born' in Iowa, on October 26, 1856. and
has two brothers and one sister, George M., Emma
Blankinship, John H. Mr. Marshall has the following
brothers and' sisters: Elizabeth Wolf, Margaret L.
Hooper, Cyrus A., Martha J. Garrison, Seth \Y.. de-
ceased, Edward E, Schuyler C, Ira S., deceased,
Fredrick and Perry D. Eight children have been the
fruit of this happy union: George A., in Moscow ;
James C.: deceased ; Hattie J. Keeney, in Rosedale,
Washington; Ida R., deceased; Minnie A., a musician
in Rosedale: Charles L., deceased; William ( >.. Mary
G. Mr. Marshall is a member of the W. of W. at
Lookout. He is also a school trustee and labors faith-
fully for the improvement of the schools. Mr. and
Mrs. Marshall are consistent members of the Church
oi Christ. Mr. Marshall was the last postmaster at
Beeman.
LONZO McWILLIS. The reservation portion of
Nez Perces county is the newest portion in the northern
part of the state, its settlement dating from 1896.
Among the later ones to settle on this desirable section
of land is the subject of this sketch, who bought his
present estate, about five miles northwest from
Culdesac. Mr. McWillis is a substantial man of ability
and is improving his place in fine shape and is counted
one of the progressive and enterprising men of the
county.
Lonzo McWillis was born in Port Oxford. Oregon,
in 1869, being the son of William and Mary E.
1 Dougherty) McWillis. The father was horn on the
ocean while his parents were coming from Scotland,
in 1836. He was raised in Louisville, Kentucky, and
was a professional cook on the Ohio river steamboats.
He died in 1887. The mother was born in Iowa in
1847 and in 1849 her father crossed the plains to
( Iregon, bringing the family in 1852, with ox teams.
His name was Nathan Dougherty, he was born in
Indiana and he married Lydia Rickard, a native of
New York. Our subject remained at home with his
parents until he had reached his majority, and then
he migrated to eastern (Iregon, taking up the sheep
business in Grant, Cook, and Gilham counties. In
1899 he sold his possesions there and came to Xez
Perces county, Idaho. As mentioned above, he bought
his land instead of taking it as a homestead. Immedi-
ately Mr. McWillis went to work in improving the
estate. He built a beautiful modern house and soon
after moving in it burned to the ground. At the
present lime In: is engaged in erecting a commodious
barn and Ins estate is being improved accordingly in
other lines.
Mr. McWillis is the originator of a new kind of
flax which is lighter colored, earlier, produces more
seed to the acre, and yields more oil to the pound than
the ordinary flax. On five square rods of ground
seventv-five pounds were raised and the test shows the
white flax to yield at least sixteen one-hundredths of
a pound more oil per bushel than the average variety.
On November 19, r894, at The Dalles, Oregon,
Mr. McWillis married Isabella, daughter of Jason R.
and Mary * '.. Butler. Mrs. McWillis was horn in Lynn
county, I Iregon, in June. 1871. She has three brothers
and five sisters, while Mr. McWillis has two sisters
and six brothers. Two children have been born to
this happy marriage, Leonard M. and Mabel E. Po-
litically Mr. McWillis is a Republican and takes the
part of the interested and intelligent citizen. It is of
interest that the father of our subject was in the In-
dian war of 1855-6, having enlisted at The Dalles.
FRANK W. HILTON. To the well known and
industrious merchant whose name is above, we grant
space in this history as he is one of the leading men
of Leland. has made a commendable record and is
a substantial and good citizen and an upright and
capable man.
Frank W. Hilton was born in Muskegon, Michigan,
on August 25, 1851, being the son of Richard and
Rachel (Bailey) Hilton. In 1864 the family came to
Inyo county, California, and there the father bought
several hundred acres of land. The parents still live
there. As soon as our subject had finished his edu-
cation, he assisted his father in freighting from Los
Angeles to Independence, the county seat of Inyo
county. Also during this time he learned the wagon
and blacksmith trade. When he was eighteen he went
to Arizona and freighted. Two years later we find
him in St. Clair county, operating a supply store on
the Pescadero and Saratoga road, and then he erected
a hotel on the summit of the range and conducted it
for two years. Returning to Inyo county he started
a little town in Round valley, which is now a thriving
trading point. He then went to Pendleton, took land
and after five years sold it. His next move was to
Genesee, where he purchased a blacksmith shop. This
was sold in [893 and then Mr. Hilton came to Leland.
taking up the same business witli the added part of
merchandising. In 1897 the store burned down and
in 1901 the shop was destroyed by fire. The former
was re-established and the latter has not been. Mr.
Hilton is doing a good business and is popular with
the trading po pl< .
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
227
In 187 1 Mr. Hilton married I\l iss Margaret, daugh-
ter of John and Eliza (Henson) Hartman, natives of
Missouri, and of German and Swedish descent.
Mr. Hartman is a prominent merchant in Saratoga. Mr.
and Mrs. Hilton have eight children,* Richard, a
wealthy farmer and real estate owner at Pomeroy,
Washington; Frank, with his parents; Allen, at home;
Edna, wife of Lee Penell. a merchant at Lewiston;
Erma, wife of William Hillman, near Dayton. Wash-
ington ; Lettie, Pearl and Kate, at home. Mr. Hilton
is a Republican, has attended conventions but never
allows his name placed in nomination for office though
often urged to do so. Mr. Hilton has three brothers,
one sister, Joseph H., a leading farmer near Preston,
Washington ; Oscar, a large farmer in Inyo county,
California ; Charles, a farmer in the same county ;
Amelia, conducting the mercantile business of her
husband, who recently died. Mr. Hilton's family is
an old and prominent one in Xew York. Judge Hilton,
one of the wealthy men of that state being one of the
family. This latter succeeded to A. T. Stewart's busi-
ness upon his death. Our subject is an amiable and
upright man. has a fine standing among his fellows
.and has always manifested industry, assiduity and
wisdom in his labors.
STEPHEN R. SOUTHWICK. As one of the
early pioneers of this section of Nez Perces county,
a man of energy and enterprise, whose labors have
materially built up Nez Perces county, always domi-
nated by integrity, wisdom and charity, the subject
of this article is granted a representation in his coun-
ty's history with pleasure, and we are assured his life's
sketch will be interesting to many.
Stephen R. Southwick was born in Rensselaer
county, Xew York, on February 12, 1838, being the
son of John Wesley and Esther (Chapman) South-
wick. The father was a farmer and carpenter. At
I he age of three our subject was called to mourn the
death of his mother, after which he resided with his
aunt, Roxana Chapman, until seventeen years old.
During this time he was favored with a good public
school education, and then three years were spent in
Eureka College, in Woodford county, Illinois. Mr.
Southwick then took up the work of "the educator and
followed it more or less until recently. He wag emi-
nently successful in this line and has a record that is
worthy and good. In addition to this. Mr. Southwick
acted as surveyor in a number of places. In Labette
county, Kansas, he was chosen county surveyor for
two terms. He also surveyed the towns of Chetopa
and Oswego, both being thriving places now. It was
1882 that Mr. Southwick came to his present place,
about one-half mile southwest from the village of
Southwick He took a quarter section and added forty
acres more by purchase. He cultivates a small por-
tion and the balance has fine timber. Mr. Southwick
has had many experiences in various frontier lines.
One night, hearing an outcry, he rose from his bed and
opened the door and answered. The party in distress
called again, and by this signalling from each other
the stranger was guided to Mr. Southwick's door, and
behold, it was a monstrous cougar. This ended that
interview, as the door was shut. Again, Mr. South-
wick's daughter was after the cows and a fond bear
accompanied the young lady home, but the journey
home was in the form of a race, and we understand
that Miss Southwick made good time, to the disgust
ot bruin, who fell behind. Again, Mr. Southwick
came suddenly face to face with a brown bearship,
and so unaccustomed were each to the etiquette of this
kind of tete-a-tete fellowship that they ignominiously
tied in opposite directions, and we have not vet heard
the bear's version of the episode, but Mr. Southwick is
trustworthy and would not reflect any thing on the
training of bruin.
In 1888 Mr. Southwick was appointed postmaster
at Southwick, the office being named for him. Seven
years and more he served faithfull) to the satisfaction
of the people. Mr. Southwick is a Republican and
Populist. He has been chosen justice of the peace,
but would not act. He is frequently selected for the
conventions, both county and state.
On July 8, 1863, Mr. Southwick married Miss
Martha, daughter of Aaron ami Melinda 1 Dougherty)
Shay, natives of Ohio and Shelby county, Illinois.
To Mr. and Airs. Southwick there have been born
eight children: Edwin, living in Canada: Harvey,
five miles southwest from Southwick ; LeRoy, near
Southwick; Albert, at home; Mary, wife of Frank
Daggett, living near Southwick; Mattie, wife of
Frank Brown, living in San Jose. California; Emma
and Myrtle, at home. Mr. Southwick has one sister
in Missouri, — Alary, wife of Henry Hall. Mr. and
Airs. Southwick and their children are members of the
Christian church and he is an elder in that organiza-
tion.
It is of note that Mr. Southwick and Ah-. L. R.
Chapman by hard effort succeeded in getting the gov-
ernment mail route to Pierce City from Southwick,
which shortened it forty miles and saved much ex-
pense. Ah. Southwick stands exceptionally well
among those who know him and his faithful' life as
an educator and his worthy labors in pioneer work have
given him an enviable prestige.
GEORGE W. PLITER. In this gentleman we
have exemplified the true grit and stability that have
outridden the adversities and hardships that accumu-
lated in his path and hue with every rising tide of
trouble found a way to scale them all and bring excel-
lent success to him in the end. He is one of the most
prosperous farmers and real estate holders of this
county, and is one of its leading and prominent busi-
ness men.
George W. Pliter was born in Genesee county.
New York, on March 22. 1853, being the son of
Matthew Pliter. The father was a farmer and was
born in Germany February 21, 1809. He came to this
countrv when nine years of age. The mother died
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
when our subject was an infant and he has no rec-
ollection of her. The family went to Michigan when
George was five, where he was reared and gained his
education. When fourteen he went to East Saginaw
and began to learn the blacksmith trade. He contin-
ued at tin's trade until he was twenty-two. Then he
bought and sold stock until 1878. making a good
success. In 1878 he went to San Francisco, thence to
Portland and later to Moscow. Xext we see him at
Lake Waha, where in company with John H. Wa-
math he operated a sawmill for four years. In the spring
of 1883 he went to Seattle and the next year returned
to Michigan. Later we see him in Pendleton and then
raising sheep in the John Day country. It was in 1886
that he returned to Nez Perces county and again he
started a saw mill near Waha lake. He continued this
until 1805, when the mill and all the contiguous prop-
erty burned and was a total loss. At this juncture,
Mr. Pliter lost five hundred acres of wheat by the
grasshoppers; the combined blow would have defeated
an ordinary man. However, he went to work, bought
and sold cattle and hogs, shipping train loads of them
to Kansas City and Chicago. He did well and also
at his farming and now he owns a section of land thir-
teen miles southeast from Lewiston, and sold four
hundred acres besides, this spring. He has good
improvements and stock in abundance.
In 18S8 Mr. Pliter married Miss Mattie Parker,
who died in 1894. In the fall of 1897 Mr. Pliter mar-
ried Miss Agnes L. Reed, born in Clark county. Mis-
souri, in 1864. Her parents are dead and also her
eight brothers and sisters. Mr. Pliter has the follow-
ing half brothers ami sisters : Frank M., William,
Catherine Gilbert. Lydia Stingle, Emma Buckey.
Mrs. Pliter is a member of the Presbyterian church
and is a graduate of Park College, Missouri. Mr.
Pliter is one of the active Republicans of the county
and has done exceptionally good work in this realm.
He is a warm advocate of good schools and is a
heavy tax paver, thus backing up his stand for better
educational facilities with the means to do the work.
.Mr. Pliter operates a combined harvester, there be-
ing but one other in the county. He is an active,
enterprising agriculturist and a keen and masterful
Imsiress man and has done a great deal for the ad-
vancement of the interests of the county, both by
individual labor and improving his property and in
his creating a market in his stock buying and also in
man) other ways, being progressive and up-to-date.
Mr. I 'liter had one brother, John, in the Civil war.
WILLIAM L. RCDDELL. It now becomes our
pleasant privilege to outline in brief the interesting
career of the industrious and capable gentleman men-
tioned at the head of this article. It is quite becoming
that he should be granted recognition in his county's
history, since he has labored faithfully here for the
betterment of the schools of the county, has always
stood for good government, and in industrial life he
has wrought with a firm hand and winning skill, while
his moral conduct has been such as to win the appro-
bation of all who know him.
William L. was born in Adams county, Illinois, on
October 18, 1864, being the son of John D. and Crilla
(Nichols) Ruddell, natives of Adams county, Illinois,
where the mother still lives, the father dying in 1876.
A more extended mention of these worthy people is
made in another portion of this volume. William's
grandfather. John M. Ruddell, was a leader in his
a unity and the Democratic party, and was a member of
the state legislature of Illinois. William's grandfa-
ther, Nichols, was one of the leading stockmen of
Adams county and a good man. Mr. Ruddell died in
Missouri when this son was nine years of age. Will-
iam then went to live with his father's father and there
remained until he was of age, receiving a good educa-
tion. He and his brother George decided to come west,
and on October 18, 1885, they landed in Lewiston ; for
ten years they labored together in various lines, both
renting land and buying. Finally, in 1897, our sub-
ject purchased his present place of two hundred and
forty acres, thirteen miles southeast from Lewiston,
where he does a general farming business and raises
some stock.
On October 12. 1888, Mr. Ruddell married Miss
Hattie G., daughter of Isaac and Priscilla (Timmons)
Mounce, natives of Indiana and Ohio. To this happy
union there have been born four children, all at home
and named as follows, Harry, Clair. Ethel, and Mearl.
Mrs. Ruddell was born in Iowa on July 6, 1869. Mr.
Ruddell is a member of M. W. A., at Lewiston. He
and his wife are devout members of the Christian
church. Mr. Ruddell is an active Democrat, believing
in the stanch old Jeffersonian principles of democracy.
He is especially active in the betterment of educational
facilities and is now acting as clerk for his district.
Mr- Ruddell had three uncles in the Civil war, and
W. 1). Ruddeil was captain. Mrs. Ruddell had four
uncles in the same conflict.
JOSEPH P. WOOD. The career of this stirring
gentleman in an exceptionally complete manner exem-
plifies the hardships and labors of the pioneers, and
also he has demonstrated what success can be achieved
by care and industry.
Joseph P. Wood was born in Umatilla county, Ore-
gon, on November 11, 1863, being the son of Joseph
and Jane (Carey) Wood. The father was born in
Knox county, Tennessee, on February 16, 1809, and
died on August 3, 1878. He was a pioneer in Uma-
tilla county in 1863, being one of the very first men to
farm in that county. He crossed the plains with ox
teams and remained on his homestead until his death.
The mother of our subject was born in Ohio and died
in Oregon in 1899. Her parents were pioneers in
Ash Grove. Iowa, and her father. Jonathan Carey, was
a Cumberland Presbyterian minister, becoming such
at the age of twenty. Joseph grew up and was edu-
cated in his native piace. He remained with his
mother until he was twenty and then married Anna
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
White, who died eighteen months later. Subsequent
to this, Mr. Wood travelled over the northwestern
states and spent one winter in the Yellowstone region.
Then he came to Walla Walla, married and settled
down to farming, buying land. He prospered nntil
1893, when everyone was broken financially or sadly
shaken, and he suffered with the rest. He struggled
on and operated a threshing machine and had to under-
go much sickness, but at the time of the opening of
the reservation he came to Nezperce straightway, and
there located his family while he searched for a place.
He selected his present abode, three and one-half miles
southwest from Melrose, and filed. He brought his
family thither with much difficulty, as there were no
roads and he was obliged to sell his wagon to procure
food. He lost a fine horse in hauling lumber, and for
the first year or two it was a desperate struggle to keep
back the wolf. However, Mr. Wood was possessed of
determination and skill, and he continued and now has
a fine place, well improved, owns two hundred and
forty acres, raises cattle, horses, hogs and diversified
crops.
In Walla Walla, in 1S91, Mr. Wood married Miss
Jennie, daughter of Daniel Priest, a soldier of the Civil
war, a pioneer in Ohio and Michigan, being a native of
Indiana, and is now dwelling in Lynn county, Kansas.
Mrs. Priest was born in Indiana, had thirteen
brothers and sisters. Mrs. Wood was born in
Wa\ne county. Ohio, on June 2, 1861, and
has twelve brothers and sisters, nine of whom
whom are living. Mr. Wood has the following named
brothers and sisters: Clarinda A. Beard, in Walla
Walla ; Mary E. Maxin, in Oakland, California ;
George, on the old place in the vicinity of Walla Walla ;
William, also on the old homestead. Two children
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wood, Roy and Edna.
Mr. Wood and his wife are devout members of the
Methodist church. He is a Democrat and takes part
in some of the conventions, but is liberal in his princi-
ples. Mr. Wood has been a member of the school
.board from the first and is always striving for better-
ment in this line. He advocates better schools and
is strongly in favor of raising the money for them.
JOSEPH RAINVILLE. Rainville & Brothers, in-
cluding Fred, Antoine, Felix, three brothers, and Jo-
seph Rainville, their father, are a firm of well-to-do
farmers whose estate of over five hundred acres lies five
miles north, from Culdesac. This land is leased from
the Indians and is a first class grain and stock farm,
well handler! and productive of abundant returns.
Joseph Rainville was born in the vicinity of Mont-
real. Canada, on April 2. 1839. being the son of Tim-
othy and Flavio (Louizel) Rainville, natives of Mont-
treal. The mother was born in 1820 and died in 1893.
The grandfather was a soldier under Napoleon and died
in 1856. Joseph worked on the farm with his father
until he was twenty-one and then started for himself,
spending two years in the home vicinity. 1863 marks
the date of his advent to the United States and Cali-
fornia was the place selected for settlement. Six years
Mr. Rainville devoted to farming and then he took up
the carpenter trade in Plumas county. Later he
wrought in San Francisco and also in San Jose and in
1879 came to Walla Walla. Mr. Rainville took up
land and added by purchase until he possessed eight
hundred acres of fine wheat land. In 1886 he went to
the Umatilla reservation and remained there until 1894,
when a trip was made to Butte, Montana. Soon he
was in Alberta, then returned to Missoula and eighteen
months later was again in Umatilla. In 1898, Mr.
Rainville went to Boston, Massachusetts, where he re-
mained for one and one half years. Then another move
was made, Idaho being the objective point, and in 1900
he came to his present place spoken of above.
In 1861, Mr. Rainville married Miss Julia, daugh-
ter of Xavia Baulait, the wedding occurring in Canada.
Mrs. Rainville has not seen her parents for thirty-six
years. She has four brothers and six sisters. Mr.
Rainville has three brothers and seven sisters. To Mr.
and Mrs. Rainville, there have been born ten children,
named as follows, Joseph, in Oregon; Henry, in Mon-
tana ; Nelson, Peter, and Frank, all in Oregon ; Fred,
born in San Jose, in 1879, is now one of the firm ; An-
toine, born in Oregon 111 1880. also one of the firm;
Elizabeth, wife of Felix Hamel, in Montana ; Rosa,
wife of Nelson Boyer, in Nez Perces county; Felix, at
home. Mr. Rainville and his family are adherents of
the Catholic church and in political matters he is allied
with the Republicans.
JOSEPH A. THOMPSON. Almost every state
in the Union has her representation in the reservation
country and this cosmopolitan population is one of the
reasons why such progression and prosperity has been
brought about here. From Illinois hails the subject of
this sketch and in Mercer county, on January 21, 1862,
he first saw the light. His parents were Ephraim and
Elizabeth (Neeley) Thompson. In the fall of 1865 they
all removed to Boone county, Iowa, and as the father
was a farmer our subject early experienced the invig-
orating exercise of the agriculturist while his education
was gained meantime from the adjacent public schools.
In 1887, Mr. Thompson went to Oakland county, Mich-
igan, and on Jauarv 19, he married Miss Minnie E.,
daughter of Samuel and Mary (Truesdell) Martin, na-
tives of Philadelphia and Oakland county, Michigan,
respectively. She was born October 10. 1864. Mr.
Martin served as a corporal three and one-half years in
the Civil war, being in the Twenty-second Infantry and
the Eighth Cavalry of Michigan. He is now a mem-
ber of the G. A. R. in Detroit, while he and his wife
are living a retired life in McComb county, Michigan.
On March 6, 1897, Mr. Thompson landed in Juliaetta
and on the tenth of the same month he arrived in Nez-
perce, having made Hi : trip from Juliaetta in snow and
rain and mud. with much hardship and attendant labor.
He selected his present place, about two miles east
from Nezperce and bought the relinquishment from
another man. He has since that time been steadily pur-
230
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
suing the worthy path of improvement and in making
a fine home. His first crop was twenty-eight bushels
per acre but now he has as large yields as any in this
section. The farm is supplied with all improvements
necessary, a good residence, substantial barn and other
outbuildings. Mr. Thompson handles some cattle and
does diversified farming. He is a member of the I. O.
O. F., while lie and his wife are members of the Re-
bekahs, all in Xezperce. Mr. Thompson is also a mem-
ber of the AI. W. A., being a popular associate in these
relations as he is also in general. He is a man of in-
tegrity and is of excellent standing among the people
of the community.
THOMAS STEPHENSON. The career of this
worthy gentleman, especially since he has been in Nez
Perces county, shows conclusively what can be done
here by taking hold with one's hands and operating
with wisdom "the resources of the country. Coming
here in 1896. with an old wagon and team, ten dollars
in cash and a couple of weeks' supply of flour. Mr.
Stephenson has wrought with a master hand until now
he has, located five miles southeast from Melrose, a
beautiful and valuable farm, all tilled in excellent shape,
a large and tastv residence, one of the finest orchards in
the county, stock of all kinds and all the implements
needed in carrying on the farm, being one of the most
prosperous and substantial men of this section. Air.
Stephenson raises the cereals, flax and carries his farm
on with skill. He is now erecting one of the finest
barns of the community.
Thomas Stephenson was born in Cumberland, Eng-
land, on January 29. 1852, being the son of Joseph and
Mary A. (Hornsby) Stephenson, natives of Cumber-
land; and born in '1829 and 1833, respectively. They
are still living in Nez Perces county. The family came
to Canada when Thomas was two and one half years
of age, settling in the county of Gray. There our sub-
ject received his education in the excellent schools of
that country and he remained at home until he was
twenty-six. At that time, Mr. Stephenson went to do
for himself and rented a farm in the neighborhood.
Later he took a homestead on the north shore of Lake
Huron and for six years he dwelt there. Thence he
went to Alberta and spent four years before he decided
the country was too cold. Then, in 1896, he came to
the Nez Perces country and has since wrought here as
stated above, with gratifying results.
In Canada, on August 12, 1878, Mr. Stephenson
married Miss Joanna, daughter of John and Frances
(Cobbledeck) Williams, natives of England. Mrs.
Stephenson was born in Canada, in 1855, and has five
brothers and five sisters. Mr. Stephenson has the fol-
lowing brothers and sisters, Emma, Henry, Philas.
John, Sarah. Mary. Fannie, and Phumess. The fol-
lowing named children have come to gladden and bless
the home. Joseph, John. Frances. Emma, Thomas,
Reuben. Frances is married to Mr. John Procunier, of
this county. Politically, Mr. Stephenson is independent
and reserves for his own choice the man rather than the
tenets of the party. Mr. Stephenson has been a mem-
ber of the school board and believes in good schools
and is willing to pay hi* share towards sustaining such.
Air. Stepbenson is well satisfied with this country and
speaks very highly in its praise and in turn he is highly
spoken of by all who know him.
HARRY D. KIXsMAN. This well known and
representative business man is now in charge of the
Sweetwater warehouse one and one-half miles south
from Lapwai. He is a man of stability and has the
respect and confidence of all.
Harry D. Kinsman was born in Canada, on De-
cember 28. 1864, being the son of Ezekiel and Sophia
(Forsyth) Kinsman. The father was born in New
Hampshire, in 1809 and died in 1896. His ancestors
were in the Revolutionary war and many relatives par-
ticipated in the Civil war. The mother of our subject
was born in Canada, in 1820, and is still living there.
Harry was reared in Canada and at the age of fifteen
went to Massachusetts. He enjoyed the privilege of a
public school education and when twenty-four went to
Central America and thence through Mexico to Cali-
fornia. Afterwards, he came to Walla Walla and there
did a warehouse business for twelve years. Next we
see him in Lewiston in the same business for two
years and then he assisted to erect the building where
he is doing business at the present time. He does a
good business for the owners, the property being the
Kittenbach Company's warehouse.
On October 10, 1898, at Spokane. Washington, Air.
Kinsman married Aliss Annie, daughter of James and
Anna (Conway ) Williamson, natives of Scotland and
New York, respectively. The father was a fruit raiser
in California. Airs. Kinsman was born in Sacramento
county, California, and has one sister, Julia, and one
brother. James. Air. Kinsman has the_ following
brothers. Lamont. Robert, George and Frank. To our
subject and his wife there has been born one daughter,
Julia F. Air. Kinsman is a member of the I. O. O. F.
and of the Alasonic fraternity. Airs. Kinsman is a
member of the Catholic church. Air. Kinsman is jus-
tice of the peace in Lapwai and he is active in political
matters, being a Republican.
GEORGE H. RUDDELL. Thirteen miles south-
east from Lewiston is the estate of four hundred acres
which is the home place of the subject of this article.
It is a valuable farm and is handled with the enterpris-
ing skill and assiduity of Air. Ruddell, which insures
him annual dividends of handsome returns in crops
and stock. He is an excellent man, a good citizen, an
advocate of good government and schools and is popu-
lar and stands well.
George H. was born in Chariton county. Alissouri,
on May 26, 1866, being the son of John D. and Urilla
M. ( Nichols) Ruddell. The father was a farmer and a
leading man in his county. He was county assessor, a
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
231
] )emi icrat and active for the welfare of the county. He
was born in Illinois in 1834 and died in 1876. He had
served in the Civil war, being four years under Grant.
He enlisted in the Fiftieth Illinois as lieutenant and was
promoted to a captaincy. The mother was born in
Illinois in 1847, and lives there now. The parents came
to Missouri in April. 1866, and George was born the
next month. He attended school and worked at home
until seventeen and then went to live with his grand-
parents, Nichols, in Ursa. Adams county, Illinois.
Three years were spent there and then he came west.
October 15, 1885, was the date when he landed in
Lewiston and went to work on a farm for wages, re-
maining two years and then in company with his
brother William rented a farm for three years more.
They then bought land on Waha prairie and four years
were spent in its culture when they sold out and rented
again. He then bought his present place of four hun-
dred acres.
< In November 18, 1896, in Nez Perces county, Mr.
Ruddell married Miss Edith A., daughter of Isaac and
Precilla Mounce, natives respectively of Indiana and
Ohio. The father is a pioneer of the state and a farmer.
Mrs. Ruddell was born in Iowa in 1875 and has the
following named brothers and sisters, Hattie Ruddell,
tiara Goodnight, Eben. Smith and Lafayette. Mr.
Ruddell has the following named brothers and sisters,
James N.. John D., William L., Harry L., Mattie A.
Lamb. To Mr. and Mrs. Ruddell have been born
two children, Lloyd H., five years old ; Kennith D.,
four months of age, deceased. Mr. Ruddell is a mem-
ber of the K. of P. and M. W. A. He and his wife are
members of the Methodist church and are highly re-
spected people and valuable members of society.
JOHN WISSINK, an exemplary and enterprising
young farmer residing three miles east from Nezperce,
is one of the substantial citizens of the reservation
country and deserves to have a position in the history
of his county. He was born in the province of Gelder-
land, Holland, on July 22, 1870, being the son of Bern-
ard and Gerharda (Bongers) Wissink, natives of the
same place. There he was educated in the common
schools and in 1885 came with his parents on the steam-
er Weasland, of the Red Star line, to New York, whence
they came direct to Lyon county, Minnesota, where the
father bought a farm. Later they moved to several
different places in the east. On October 17. 1898, Mr.
Wissink married Miss Antoinette Van Wychen, whose
parents were natives of Holland. She was born in
Little Chute. Wisconsin. In 1900 Mr. Wissink came
with his wife to Uniontown, Washington, whither his
parents had preceded them. The following spring Mr.
Wissink came to the reservation and bought the re-
linquishment of his present place, which is about one
hundred acres of grazing land and the balance is excel-
lent for grain and hay. The farm is provided with
plenty of running water and is improved with buildings,
orchard, fences and so forth. Mr. Wissink handles
some stock and does a general farming business. He
is thrifty and industrious and has the good will and re-
spect of all who know him. Mr. Wissink and his wife
are devout members of the Catholic church in Nez-
perce and he is aiways interested in the welfare and
progress of the country.
THOMAS G. J( )HNST( )N. About twelve miles
southeast from Lewiston is the fine wheat farm of the
subject of this sketch. It consists of one hundred and
sixty acres of fertile soil which annually produces fine
dividends of golden grain. He has it well improved
and has lived here since 1 896. the date of his advent to
Nez Perces county.
Thomas G. was born in Toronto, Canada, on April
25. 1847, being the son of James and Mary (Graham )
Johnston. The father was born in Dublin, Ireland, in
181 1, and came to Canada in 1830. The mother was
1m 1,1 in Enniskillen, Ireland, in 1809, and died Decem-
ber 8, 186S. In his native place our subject was edu-
cated and at the age of sixteen started for himself. He
learned the blacksmith trade and until 1870 he steadily
worked at it in Canada. Then he came to Chicago
and thence to Benton Harbor. Michigan, where he
wrought at the forge for ten years. The next move
was to Grand Forks, North Dakota, where he took up
land and went to farming, devoting a portion of his
time also to his trade. In 1889, he left that country
and located in Douglas county, Oregon. He bought
a ranch there and was numbered with the thrifty agri-
culturists until 1896, the date of his coming to Nez
Perces county. He selected the farm where he now
lives, purchased it and there he has bestowed his labors
since that time with gratifying success.
On November 27, 1872, in Benton Harbor. Mich-
igan. Mr. Johnston married Miss Mary E. Robinson
and two children have been the fruit of the union,
Frances M., wrife of Alexander Stevenson, in this coun-
ty ; William T., at home. Mrs.- Johnston was born in
Steuben county, New York, in 1845, to Cyrus and
Sarah (Porter) Robinson, natives of New York. Her
grandfather was killed in the Revolutionary war. and
her half brother, S. O. Coddington. her brothers, Will-
iam and John, and her brother-in-law. Perry Nichol-
son, were all in the Civil war. She had the following-
brothers, John, William, deceased, Robert and James.
Mr. Johnston is a member of the I. O. O. F., and he
and his wife are members of the Methodist church.
Mr. Johnston takes a proper interest in political mat-
ters and is allied with the Republican party.
WILLIAM A. EASTMAN is a man who has
demonstrated to all who will see that where there is a
will there is a way. He now lives five miles west from
Nezperce. where he has a fine farm of one quarter sec-
tion, well improved, owns considerable stock, does a
general farming business and is prospered. In contrast
to this it is interesting to note that when Mr. Eastman
came to this reservation country, he had sixty cents in
23*
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
his pocket, which was his total cash capital, besides
which he owed sixty dollars for a horse recently pur-
chased. He threw up a rough log cabin for his family
and covered it with sacks for a shelter, his family con-
sisting of wife and one baby. Then he determined to
see what could be done and the excellent showing men-
tioned above is the result of the labors of himself and
his worthy wife.
William A. Eastman was born in Jones county,
Iowa, on October 4, 1865, being the son of Daniel
and Adelaide (Nottingham) Eastman, natives of
Michigan and Illinois, respectively. The father was
born in Kalamazoo, in 1840, enlisted in the Civil war
but was discharged before service and died in 1868.
The mother of our subject was born in 1844 and died
on October 9, 1901. Our subject remained at home,
assisting in the support of the family and attending
school until thirteen. The family, the mother having
married again, removed to Republic county. Kansas,
and William started for himself there. He was in
the implement business for two years in Hardy. Ne-
braska, and in the spring of 1895 he came west to Mos-
cow and upon the opening of the reservation he selected
his present place.
On May 7, 1893. at Republic, Kansas, Mr. Eastman
married Miss Mabel, daughter of Oscar and Lelia
(Hazelton) Ware, natives of Michigan. The father
was a carpenter and a soldier in the Civil war. Mrs.
Eastman was born in Michigan in 1872 anil graduated
from the Kansas normal school and for years devoted
herself to teaching. She taught the first school in the
district where they live now. She has one brother and
six sisters, Walter, Alma McArthur, .Minnie Bruce,
Essie Eisner, Stella, Lora, Ruth. Mr. Eastman has
one sister, Mary, deceased, and three half brothers,
Walter, Eli and Arthur. Air. and Mrs. Eastman have
three children, Clarence. Elwyn and Verne H. Mr.
Eastman is a member of the W. of W. and I. O. O. F.,
and he and his wife belong to the Christian church. In
politics he is a Democrat and active for general prog-
ress. He is a member of the school board and the dis-
trict is a prosperous one. Mr. Eastman has fine build-
ings and good improvements on his place. On Octo-
ber 4, 1902. Mr. Eastman purchased eighty acres ad-
joining the home farm on the north.
JOSEPH A. SCHULTZ. There are few men in
the state of Idaho who have made so brilliant and
at the same time so substantial a success as has the
subject of this sketch, who at the preent time stands as
one of the veritable leaders in Nez Perces county in
the line of business. He has fully demonstrated his
fitness for this position by his unbounded success, his
wisdom, good financiering, executive force and keen
foresight, all of which enable him to handle in a mas-
terful way the general scope of his business as well
as attend to all details.
Joseph A. Schultz was born in Effingham county,
Illinois, on February 20, 1872, being the son of Aug-
ust and Mary (Ouatman) Schultz. The father was
born in Germany and is now sixty years of age, liv-
ing in Effingham county, Illinois. The mother was
born in Ohio, being aged fifty-six, and her parents
were natives of Germany. Our subject was reared
on a farm, partaking well of the vigorous exercise of
that excellent place and receiving from the public
schools the beginning of his education, which he
finished in the St. Joseph College at Teutopolis, Illi-
nois. Immediately upon leaving school, he took up
the work of teaching in Shelby county, and in 1890
he came to Idaho county, Idaho, and taught in Cot-
tonwood and Kewterville for a time and then re-
moved to Uniontown, Washington. Here he em-
barked in the mercantile business, and for five years
he was postmaster. In April, 1900, Mr. Schultz came
to Nezperce and in February, 1901, entering into
partnership with O. M. Collins, of Uniontown, he
opened the Bank of Nezperce.
He started with a capital of ten thousand dollars.
He is now organizing the Bank of Nezperce into the
Firsl National Bank of Nezperce with a capital of
twenty-five thousand dollars. The deposits of the in-
stitution now aggregate fifty thousand and through
the excellent management which conserves the inter-
ests of the patrons, and deferential treatment of all,
the bank has come to be one of the strongest monied
institutions of the northern part of the state. Ow-
ing to the fact that Mr. Collins is one of the heaviest
real estate holders in Whitman county and in Nez
Perces county, and to the excellent financial ability
displayed by Mr. Schultz, as well as his large prop-
erty holdings outside of the bank, it stands on an ex-
ceptionally good footing and has the confidence of the
monied men and associate banks, as well as of the en-
tire country where it does business. Mr. Schultz
has the largest general merchandise establishment in
Nezperce. When we consider that Mr. Schultz had
no capital when he started life, that he accumulated by
his teaching the few hundred dollars that enabled him
to embark in the commercial world, that unaided and
entirely by his own efforts and wisdom, he has gained
ithe prominent and leading position in he financial world
that he now occupies, we then are able to discern the
resourcefulness and ability of the man. Socially, he
is a man of unsullied reputation, genial and affable
and popular, while in the political world, he takes the
part of an intelligent citizen, but never aspires for
public preferment. He is a Democrat and has at-
tended the conventions of the county and state. He
was mayor of I niontown and also has held the same
position at the hands of his fellows in Nezperce.
On February n, 1899, in Effingham county. Illi-
nois, Mr. Schultz married Miss Mary G., daughter of
Doctor Henry and Caroline (Waschford) Eversman,
natives of Illinois, but their ancestors were natives of
Germany. The ceremony making this happy couple
husband and wife was performed by Father Lambert.
To Mr. and Airs. Schultz there have been born two
children, Frederick J. and Henry J. Mrs. Schultz
is a graduate of the Convent of immaculate Concep-
tion, at Oldenburg, Indiana. She has one brother,
Henry, and two sisters, Louisa, wife of William H.
.JOSEPH A. SCHULTZ.
WILSON BOWLBY.
THOMAS M. MOOKLER.
MARTIN B. MALMOE.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
233
Engbring, and Lizzie, all in Illinois. Mr. Schultz
has five brothers, August, Frank H., John, Lawrence
and Ben. Mr. and Mrs. Schultz are devout members
of the Catholic church and they are valuable members
of society, being secure in the esteem and good will of
all who know them and thev have hosts of friends.
WILSON BOWLBY. Among the pleasant and
truly successful men in Xezperce, we should mention
Mr. Bowlby, whose genial manner and good business
ability and public spirit have placed in a prominent
and popular position. He is the owner and operator
of a fine drug store in Nezperce and is a leader in his
line.
Wilson Bowlby was born in Oregon, on the July
7, 1867, being the son of Theodore F. and Sophia A.
(Adams) Bowlby. The father was a native of In-
diana and crossed the plains with ox teams with
his father, a physician seeking his health in the west.
The family settled near Forest Grove and took" land
and the doctor opened a drug store in the town.
Our subject was reared on the farms adjoining this
town, gained his schooling there and learned the drug
business from his grandfather. His grandfather was
speaker of the territorial senate for seven years and a
prominent man there. The mother of Wilson was a
native of Ohio, crossed the plains with her parents in
an early day and was married to Mr. Bowlby in Van-
couver, Washington. In addition to the college
course in the university at Forest Grove, Wilson
studied denistry for three years and later bought the
drug store of his grandfather. This was in 1887 and
that was the arena of his labors until August, 1896,
when he came to the reservation, bought a relinquish-
ment, and then practiced denistry in Nezperce for two
years. The farm is near town and is still the family
home. Then Mr. Bowlby bought the drug business
of Eitzen & Towell, the pioneer drug store of the
town, and building a commodious structure for the
business, Mr. Bowlby has continued it since with ever
increasing patronage.
Mr. Bowlby is popularly affiliated in fraternal cir-
cles, being a member of the I. O. O. F.. Morning Star,
No. 56, of the K. of P., in Forest Grove; of the W.
W., in Nezperce, while he and his wife are members
of the Methodist church. Politically. Mr. Bowlby is
a staunch Republican and is always interested in any
movements that are for the benefit of the county or
town.
On May 4, 1891, Mr. Bowlby married Miss Bertha
E., daughter of Rev. J. W. and Sarah H. (Richie)
Spangler, the wedding ceremony occurring in Hills-
boro, Oregon. Mrs. Bowlby came to Oregon in 1882
with her parents. The father is a Methodist preacher
located in Latah. Washington, while his wife was
state organizer for the W. C. T. U. of Oregon. Three
children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bowlby,
namely. Helen M., Ethel M. and Bert W. Mr.
Bowlby has five brothers and three sisters, Charles H.,
at Hillsboro, Oregon; Theodore A., in Tilamook
creamery: Randolph, Fred and George, all on dairy
ranches and in partnership with Charles, and their
mother resides with them ; Emma M., wife of William
Pitman, in Hillsboro, Oregon ; Lois and Stella, living
with their mother. Mrs. Bowlby has two brothers,
James W., superintendent of Bradstreets agency in
Seattle; Walter W., at Latah, Washington.
THOMAS M. MOCKLER. This gentleman is
the senior member of the well known and leading firm
of hardware merchants that bears his name and owning
to his keen business ability and energy, he has won a
success that is exceedingly gratifying, while his prop-
erty holdings in various parts of the country amount
to vast estates of great value.
Thomas M. Mockier was born in Nova Scotia on
March 23, 1867, being the son of Richard and Kath-
erine (Brophy) Mockier. His father was a native of
Ireland and came to Nova Scotia with his parents
when four years old. He died in that country on
February 9, 1888, aged sixty-four. The mother of
our subject was born in New Brunswick ; her parents
were natives of Ireland, later came from New Bruns-
wick to Nova Scotia and live there now. Thomas M.
was raised in that country and received his educational
discipline in the district schools. In 1882, he went to
Sutter county, California, and spent four years with
his uncle on a farm. Then a move was made to Lin-
coln county and a homestead taken by Mr. Mockier.
He settled to steady business with a will and the re-
sult was, that inside of three years he had purchased
and paid for three and one-fourth sections of land
adjoining his homestead, of which he has sold all but
one section. He was a dealer in stock and his ex-
cellent judgment and business tact won for him this
mammoth domain. At the opening of the reserva-
tion, Mr. Mockier came hither and purchased about
three-fourths of a section of land in various places in
this county and now he handles it to the cereals. In
August, 1896, Mr. Mockier embarked in the hard-
ware business and took as partner his cousin. John H.
Mockier and since that time they have operated the
largest establishment of the kind on the reservation.
Since starting, they have not handled less than eleven
car loads of farm goods each year exclusive of cut-
ting machinery. They have an establishment stocked
in a most complete manner and by strict adherence to
business principles and fair dealing with deferential
treatment of patrons, the firm has gained a trade that
extends for many miles in every direction.
Mr. Mockier has brothers and sisters named as
follows: John, in Nova Scotia: James, at Stillwater,
Minnesota ; William, in Alaska ; Frank, handling a coal
and ice business in South < )maha, Nebraska : Annie,
wife of John Doe, in Omaha : Mary, wife of Horace
Thissell, in Clinton. Massachusetts: Sarah, wife of
Herman Morris : Kate, single, living in Nova Scotia ;
Ida, wife of Edward Chissel, in Omaha ; Emma,
234
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
single, also living in Nova Scotia. Air. Mockler has
never left the ranks of the bachelors for the trying
seas of matrimony. He is a man of integrity, ability
and public spirit and is always forward in any move-
ment that will advance the interests of the town or
build up the county. Mr. Mockler has won many
friends and his manifested wisdom, stability, and
strong personality have called forth the admiration
and respect of all.
MARTIN L'.. MALMOE. To men who have
labored to open the country and who have continued
in the noble work of improvement and building it up
the reward of prosperity and affluence is due. which is
now being felt in the reservation country and as a
leader in the lines mentioned we are to place the sub-
ject of this sketch.
Martin B. Malmoe was born in central Norway, on
February 10, i860, being the son of Michael and
Anna .Malmoe, natives of the same place. The fam-
ily came from Trondhjen to Quebec, when Martin was
six years old, being five weeks on the ship. Thence
they went to Montreal, Chicago and finally to Red
Wing, Minnesota. Our subject was the oldest' of
six children and grew up on a farm, acquiring his
education from the public schools. In 1885. he came
to Cheney, Washington, and took up farming. In
the spring of 1895, he came to Latah and on November
18, of the same year, he located his present place about
three miles northeast from Nesperce. Being one of the
very first, he secured a choice piece of land and the im-
provements since have been equal to the fertility of
the soil. He hauled his first lumber from the moun-
tains twenty-five miles away. Mud and snow and
rain were to be contended with and all the hardships
of the pioneer beset him around. Of his first crop,
he took twenty sacks to Lewiston to mill but got there
with (inly nine and nine days were consumed in the
trip, although the distance was but fifty-five miles.
Mr. Malmoe's house stands by the famous Lolo trail
and he erected the first lumber* house in the locality.
In 1901, Air. Malmoe bought one hundred and sixty
acres more and the entire estate is in a high state of
cultivation. He has labored with great wisdom and
thrift and the result is the gratifying prosperity that
is evident on every hand.
On November 29, 1894, Mr. Malmoe married Miss
Daisy B., daughter of Marion M. and Elizabeth
Nobles, who crossed the plains with ox teams in an
early day to Mendocino county, California, where
they now reside. Mrs. Malmoe was taken by her
uncle, A. H. Noble, seven months after birth, which
occurred on September 5. 1877. She was one of
twelve children and came to Latah with her uncle in
1883. Mr. Noble now lives on the reservation. Five
children have been born to Mr. and Airs. Malmoe,
lesse A., Orin A., Hazel I., Roy E. and Daisy B.
Mr. Malmoe went fifteen miles to get a machine to
thresh his first crop and he still has a few sacks of
this wheat, which is hard No. 1. He raises some fine
Percheron horses, having a first class stallion and
some breeding mares. Air. Alalmoe is a member of
the Masonic order and of the M. W. A. in Nezperce
and he stands well in the community, being a man of
integrity and worth.
ISAAC S. BILLOW lives one mile north and three
and one-half miles east from Nezperce upon a farm
which he took from the wild country and has made
one of the choice places of this community. He
was born in Cumberland county. Pennsylvania, on
October 24. 1845, being the son of Alartin and Eliza-
beth (Kahney) Billow, natives of Perry county, Penn-
sylvania. When Isaac was five years old. the family
came to Illinois and later settled in La Salle county.
There he grew to manhood and received a common
schooling. In the spring of 1864 he enlisted in
Company A. One Hundred and Thirty-second Illi-
nois Volunteer Infantry. He belonged to the rear
guards an 1 spent most of his time in Kentucky and
on the Mississippi and participated in numerous skir-
mishes. After six months of this service he was honor-
ably discharged and returned to La Salle county. On
February 20, 18(17. Air. Billow married Aliss Sylvia
A., daughter of William D. and Alargaret (Worsley)
McDonald, natives of New York and Kentucky, re-
spectively. They came to La Salle county, where
Airs. Billow was born on January 28, 1847. Her
grandfather, Dr. Malcolm McDonald, was a prominent
surgeon in the war of 1812. In 1870 Air. Billow and
his wife came to Carrol! count}', Alissouri, and took up
farming and stock-raising until 1890, at which time they
came west to Palotise, Washington. They farmed in
Latah county, near Moscow, until 1896, and then came
to their present home, about three miles northeast from
Nezperce. The farm is a good one, all fenced and culti-
vated. A seven-room modern structure adorns the
property, good barns and outbuildings are in evidence
and the estate presents testimony of being one of the
well kept and valuable ones of the county. When Air.
Billow came here he had two cowrs, four horses and a
wagon. Now he is numbered with the most prosper-
ous. Mrs. Billow is a devout member of the Christian
church. Seven children have been born to Air. and
Airs. Billow: Alartha E., wife of George Reinhardt,
of Nezperce: Addie W., wife of Hiram Thornburg,
of AIoscow : William F., near Kamiah : Aland R., wife
of Mark Harding, near Nezperce ; Charles H., Iona
S. and Gladvs V., all at home.
THOAIAS SULLIVAN. This genial and affable
gentleman was postmaster at Slickpoo, a postoffice
which received its establishment through his efforts
and was named for an Indian family near its location.
Air. Sullivan did a general merchandise business in con-
nection with handling his farm, which is a homestead
that he secured from the government and which he has
improved in becoming shape since his settlement.
Thomas Sullivan was born in Oueenstown, Ireland,
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
235
on August 11, 1843, being the son of David and
Nancy Sullivan, natives of Ireland. The family came
to New York when our subject was four years of age,
and the father went to sea after locating them and was
never heard from since. He is supposed to have been
lost at sea. The mother died in 1859. After the loss
of the father, Thomas went to live with L. F. Corwin,
111 Xew Jersey, and he labored on the farm there and
attended school until he was sixteen. Then he went
to New York and on April 17, 1861, he enlisted in the
Third United States Regular Infantry and served three
years. After that he enlisted in the One Hundred and
Forty-sixth Xew York Volunteer Infantry and con-
tinued in active duty until the close of the war. He
was in the Army of the Potomac and served in the
Peninsular campaign. At the battle of Gettysburg, he
was taken prisoner and kept three months at 1 ;, -Ik-
Island when he was paroled, pending exchange. After
the war he was in New York and then went to Illi-
nois. In 1871, he went to Texas and in 1873 returned
to Xew York. In 1888, he came to Moscow and
opened a restaurant, doing business there until Febru-
ary, 189.4, when a move was made to Lewiston. it
was in 1897 that Mr. Sulivan came to his present lo-
cation, took a homestead and went to tilling the soil.
He opened a mercantile establishment, got the post-
office established and has done well since that time.
In 1873. at New York, Mr. Sullivan married Miss
Annie Quaine, a native of Ireland, who came to this
country with her parents in 1859. She has two sisters
living. .Mr. Sullivan has one sister, Mrs. Ellen Man-
nle. whose husband was an old soldier. It has been
the lot of Mr. and Mrs. Sulivan to mourn the death of
all three of their children. In political matters, Mr.
Sullivan is a Democrat and active in representing the
principles of his party. He and his wife are adherents
of the Catholic church. Mr. Sullivan is a member of
the G. A. R. and is a good citizen, an upright and
highly respected man.
FERDINAND E. PREISIXGER. The parents
of the subject of this review. Anton and Mary Preisin-
ger, were born in Bavaria, Germany, and came to the
United States in 1858. They located in Nicholas
county, Minnesota, being among the very first settlers
there. In that place on October 6, 1877, Mr. Ferdi-
nand B. Preisinger was born. He grew up in his na-
tive place and wrought with his father on the farm.
His education was gained from the common schools
and finished in the Albany high school. While there
he served as apprentice to a carpenter and thoroughly
learned the trade. In 1897 he came to Spokane, where
he worked at his trade a short time and then came to
the reservation country, locating his present place the
same year. His land lies about four and one-half
miles east from Xezperce and is one of the finest fruit
and vegetable farms in the county. Half of the land
is fitted for grazing and the balance is the finest soil
for fruit and vegetables. Mr. Preisinger has some
stock and is improving his place in a becoming man-
ner. He is a member of the Catholic church and also
of the Catholic order of Foresters. He is an ex-
emplarly young man, has a first class standing and
the good will of all. He is still enjoying the quiet of
the celibatarian and seems loath to leave the ranks of
the substantial order of bachelors.
THOMAS C. GLASS. This esteemed gentleman
is one of the pioneers of Nez Perces county, having
lived here since 1879, and during that time has as-
siduously devoted himself to the raising of stock and
general farming at his place, twenty miles southeast
from Lewiston.
Thomas C. Glass was born in Gardner, Illinois, on
November 3. 1800. being the son of Andrew I. and Lu-
cretia (Williams) Glass, both natives of Ohio. The
father was born in 1830 and died in 1898, while the
mother died in r86l. While our subject was an infant
his mother died, and he was taken by an aunt. Ruth
Stinson, to be raised. They resided" in Furnessville,
Indiana. Six years after this they removed to Michi-
gan and at the age of nineteen the young man de-
termined to try his fortunes in the west, and accord-
ingly came to Nez Perces county, where his father was
living. He remained with him for a few vears and
then in 1882 bought the place that the father resided
on and the elder Mr. Glass purchased another farm.
Since that time our subject has continued to reside in
this place and has also improved and tilled it in a
becoming manner. He pays considerable attention to
raising stock, having good horses and some fine Here-
ford cattle. His residence is a good seven-room house,
and other buildings proportionate to the use of the
estate are in evidence.
On February 25, 1885, in Xez Perces county. Mr.
Glass married Miss Mattie Leiberg, and to them two
children have been born, Corwin, aged fourteen, and
Ralph C, aged seven. Mrs. Glass was born in Iowa
in 1861 ; she has two brothers and one sister, Silas
Johnson, Griffith Johnson and Minnie Pangborn. .Mr.
Glass has the following brothers and sisters : Elizabeth
Day, Julia Stevenson and John R. Glass. Mr. Glass
is a member of the M. W. A. in Lewiston. He is a
Republican, but is not bound to the party, being inclined
to be governed by principles and men than by tenets.
Mr. Glass is a good man and well respected by all who
know him.
GEORGE PAHL. A sturdy son of the Fatherland
who has chosen the free institutions of America for
his dwelling and who has manifested patriotism and
loyalty to the government in a becoming manner, and
who is now one of the highly respected and prosper-
ous residents of the reservation portion of Xez
Perces county, it is quite in compliance with the
province of the volume of history to grant him a rep-
resentation therein.
George Pahl was born in Rendsburg, province of
Holstein, Germany, on March 10, 1870, being the son
236
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
of John and Abel Pahl, also natives of Germany.
George attended school from six until fifteen, acquir-
ing a ?ood education. In [893 he came by steamer to
New York, thence direct to Spokane, where he labored
on a farm until the spring of 1899, when he came to his
present location, about two miles east from Nezperce,
here he purchased the relinquishment to his farm. It
is one of the choice places in this community and has
been well improved by our subject. He is a skillful
farmer and is being rewarded for his labors in abundant
crops. Mr. Pahl is a member of the W. W., at Nez-
perce and is also a member of the Lutheran church.
He is a progressive and enterprising man of excellent
standing and as yet has chosen to remain in the quiet
securitv of the bachelor.
JOHN G. WRIGHT is a veritable leader of pion-
eers, a man of broad and varied experiences in all
lines of the frontiersman, fitted for the stirring career
which he has made by excellent physical powers, keen
perception, good executive force, and an energetic and
indomitable spirit. The best encomium that can be
paid to such a man is but to recite the leading items of
his experience and achievements, which we will hasten
to do.
John G. Wright was born in Livingston county.
New York, on February 22, 1834. being the son of
John and Jane (Armstrong) Wright, natives of New
York. The father was born July 8. 1799, was a pion-
eer to Boone county, Illinois, in 1836, and died there
in 1881. aged eighty-two years. His father, Joseph
Wright, was also a pioneer in Illinois. The mother of
our subject was born in 1800. and her father,
Thomas Armstrong, was one of the earliest pioneers
in his section of New York. Our subject came to
Illinois with his parents when he was an infant and in
Boone county he received his schooling in the winters
and labored with his father until seventeen and then
went into the battle of life for himself. He assisted
to lay out the town site of La Crosse, Wisconsin, and
then went to steamboating. He was soon drawing a
salary of five hundred dollars per month as captain
and pilot, the highest salary paid to any operator on
the river. He did those labors for seven years and then
went west to Minnesota and Dakota. He was in the
cruel Sioux Indian war and in Cottonwood, Brown,
and Murray counties, he saw the awful carnage of two-
thirds of the settlers being killed by the savages. Mr.
Wright was on General Sibley's staff. After that
war." Mr. Wright went to Austin. Minnesota, and fol-
lowed merchandising until 1870, when he removed
to Petaluma, California, where he sold jewelry, manu-
factured hair goods and dealt in fancy goods. Two
years later, be was in Xapa City, manufacturing pumps.
Thence he went to Los Angeles, and there operated
a hotel for seven years, and still owns the property.
Then he visited Walla Walla, Lewiston, Dayton and
Spokane, and in 1881. he was in Seattle. Then we
see him in British Columbia at the western terminal
of the railroad and in the sawmill business, where he
made a good success. He also dealt in real estate and
later removed to Pendleton, whence he went to south-
ern California, thence to Rossland, British Columbia,
and then to Alaska, with his sons, and there did a
thriving business in an eating house. In 1898, Mr.
Wright came from Alaska to Idaho and at last set-
tled in Culdesac. He owns an addition to the town site
of Orofino. Mr. Wright took a homestead where Culde-
sac now stands. He saw the advisability of platting
the land for a town site and did so. He has labored
since that time for the progress and up-building of the
town of Culdesac rather than for personal profit and
has done a commendable work here. Mr. Wright is
now handling a general merchandise establishment and
operating a real estate office. He has donated liberally
to all institutions, as industries, churches and so forth,
calculated to assist the town. Mr. Wright is a public
minded and generous man and is universally esteemed
and admired by all.
In Wisconsin, in 1852, Mr. Wright was married.
He raised three sons, George, in Seattle; Charles, in
Los Angeles : Chauncey, in Alaska. Mr. Wright is
a Mason, and Chauncey is a member if the Chapter in
Seattle. He is an active Republican. There is very
much credit due Mr. Wright not only for the worthy
labors done by him in the upbuilding and fostering of
Culdesac, but also in the achievement accomplished in
other places and the sound principles always put forth
by him and his untarnished reputation, being a man of
broad views and ever in the lead for the advancement
of the country and especially the locality of his resi-
dence.
LEE LUCAS. In the subject of this article we
have a supporter of good schools, good morals, and a
laborer for good roads and progress in all lines, and
to just such men we owe the marked development and
progress of the reservation portion of Nez Perces
county, which has really been one of the finest examples
of transformation from nature's wilds to the abode of
civilization in the northwest.
Lee Lucas was born in Fremont county Iowa, on
April 22, 1868, being the son of John L. and Lucinda
( Keeler) Lucas. The father was born in Green county,
Ohio, on April 22, 1819, and is still living in Palouse.
He was one of the very first settlers in Fremont county.
The mother of our subject was born in Indiana in
1842 and died in 1807, and her parents were also pio-
neers in Fremont county. Lee grew to the age of
fourteen and received his education in the public
schools in his native place. Then the father sold out
and in 1883. landed in Spokane, and then went to the
vicinity of Steptoe Butte and farmed for one year.
Then he bought land near Palouse and there he remains.
At the age of twenty-three, our subject took up the
occupation of his father, rented a farm in the neighbor-
hood and labored there until the opening of the reser-
vation : in April, [896, he came hither and settled on
his present place, about five miles southeast from Mel-
rose. He has followed the diversified plan in handling
his farm and has shown excellent results of his labor
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
and skill. Mr. Lucas is highly respected on account
of his excellent standing, his integrity, his wisdom and
substantiality.
In Whitman county, on November 13, 1892, Mr.
Lucas married Miss Sallie K., daughter of \Y. K. and
Susan Lewis, natives of Virginia. Mrs. Lucas has
two brothers and four sisters, Volney, John, Minnie,
Susie, Jinnett and Nettie. Mr. Lucas has the following
brothers and sisters, Henry, Riley, Ezekiel, Elizabeth,
Clara, Ruth, Samantha. Four children have come to
gladden the household, Ethel, Gay, Phelis and Irene.
Mr. Lucas is a member of the W. W. and of the M.
W, A., both at Melrose, lie and his wife are consist-
ent members of the Church of Christ at Alelrose and
are liberal in their support of the same. Mr. Lucas
is road supervisor and in politics is a stern Republican,
always ardent in the support of the principles set forth
by that party.
WILLIAM P. GARNER is one of the substantial
men whose labors have aided materially in improving
the reservation portion of the county of Nez Perces.
He is a man of good ability and excellent standing
among his neighbors and has achieved a commendable
success.
William P. Garner was born in Andrew county,
Missouri, on November 21, 1848, being the son of
Neri and Rachel (Matticks) Garner, natives of Ten-
nessee and Virginia, respectively. The father was
born in 181 5 and died in 18S4. He was a pioneer in
Andrew county, Missouri, settling on the old Piatt
purchase. The mother was born in 1S10 and died in
1*879. In 1861 the family removed to Doniphan
county, Kansas, where the father went to farming and
raising stock on an extensive scale. William was
educated there and grew up on the farm, working with
his father until he was twenty-seven years of age.
The last years he was in partnership with his father.
When twenty-seven, he went went to do for himself and
continued in that section until 1885, in which year he
sold out and came by team to Camas prairie, Idaho,
settling west from Haiiey. He secured a pre-emption
and tilled it until 1889, and then removed to Josephine
county, Oregon, which place was the scene of his
labors in the agricultural realm until 1895. Then he
returned to Idaho county, whence he came in 1897 to
his present place three miles northeast from Melrose,
which he secured as a homestead. His son, David,
took a claim adjoining and they have devoted them-
selves to improvement and advancement in general
fanning and raising stock since that time.
In Missouri, on February 4, 1874. Mr. Garner mar-
ried Miss Mary M., daughter of David and Isabella
( Turner) Harness, natives of Virginia and now both
dead. Mrs. Garner was born in Buchanan county,
Missouri, in 1850. and has three brothers, James A.,
William T. and David H. Mr. Garner has two sis-
ters, Martha A. Gentry and Nancy C. Harness. To our
worthy subject and his estimable wife there have been
born five children, David V., in Nez Perces county;
Mary I. Leeper, in Nez Perces county; Rachel N.
Maxwell, in Idaho county; Leda M. Pell, also in Idaho
county ; Neri, at home. Mr. Garner has a fine farm of
one hundred and sixty acres, and does a general farm-
ing business. Having orchard and hogs, cattle and
so forth, while his improvements are hue. He is an
advocate of good schools and labors for general pro-
gress. It is of note that Mr. Garner's mother was the
hrst white woman that settled in Holt county,
Missouri.
CALVIN BOYER. This well known gentleman
is one of the leading stockmen of Nez Perces county.
He has a broad estate of eight hundred acres, twenty-
four miles southeast from Lewiston, and handles over
two thousand head of sheep and some cattle. He has
good improvements, is enterprising in his labors, stands
well with his fellows, and is an upright and capable
man of integrity and worth.
Calvin Boyer was born in Adams county, Penn-
sylvania, on Nevember 11, 1858, being the son of
Martin and Hannah (Keeklerj Boyer. The father
was a shoemaker, born in 1830, in Adams county also,
served in the Civil war and now is passing the riper
years of his life in retirement in Lewiston. The
mother was born in Pennsylvania in 1835 and is now
living in Lewiston. Her mother lived to the great age
of ninety years. When fourteen years of age, Calvin
went with his parents to Van Buren county, Iowa, and
four years later the family went to Ellsworth county,
Kansas, and there tilled the soil for three years. An-
other move was made, this time to Scotland county,
Missouri, and there our subject went to work for him-
self in 1879. In 1884 he removed thence to Ellsworth
county again, and in 1887 he came to Idaho. He
selected land on Waha prairie in Red Bird flat and
there began operations in general farming and stock
raising which have culminated so successfully.
On December 21, 1893, Mr. Boyer married Miss
Naomi, daughter of Perry and Ann (Teel) Steen.
The father is a sheep man in Asotin county, Washing-
ton, and was born in Indiana, while the mother was
born in Illinois. Mrs. Boyer was born in Walla Walla
county, Washington, on January 8, 1871, and she has
three 'brothers and sisters, R.' R., Etta, May. Mr.
Boyer has the following named brothers and sister,
Martin, James, both in this county, Mary M. Dowd.
To Mr. and Mrs. Boyer there have been born three
children, Laurine Pearl, Richard M., Mildred M. In
political matters Mr. Boyer is a Republican and he
votes the ticket straight, having ever labored for the
principles of his party.
JOHN F. STELLMON. The family residence of
Mr. .Stellmon, about one mile northeast from Nez-
perce, is one of the happy and prosperous homes of
the reservation country. His broad acres of well
tilled land, which produce abundant harvests, have little
appearance of the wilderness of the reservation when
he came to this place to seek a home. His wisely be-
23»
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
slowed industry has transformed the face of nature
until it is one of the pleasant and valuable estates of the
county.
John F. Stellmon was born in Greene county, Ten-
nessee, on March 21. 1867. being the son of Henry
and Elizabeth ( Brooks ) Stellmon, natives of North
Carolina and Tennessee, respectively. The mother
died in Arkansas but the father still lives on the home
place there. When John was twelve, his parents took
him to Benton county. Arkansas, and there he grew
to manhood and finished his education. On February
2, 1891, Air. Stellmon marriel Miss Ellen, daughter of
Stephen and Mary (White) Graham, natives of
Washington county, Arkasas. In 1893 Mr. Stellmon
migrated to Latah county, Idaho, and farmed one year
near Genesee. In 1894 he came to the reservation near
Lapwai and leased land, where he toiled until 1896,
when he came to his present place and commenced
the labors of making a home, which have culminated
so successfully. He has a good house, barn, outbuild-
ings, orchards, and so forth, while he raises abundant
crops of the cereals and flax, also handling some stock.
Mr. Stellmon had a very scanty allotment of worldly
goods when he came to this place but he is now one
of the prosperous men of the reservation country.
Two children have been born to this worthy couple,
Mamie E. and Normal B. Mrs. Stellmon's mother died
in Arkansas and her father is now living near Nez-
perce. Mr. and Mrs. Stellmon had to endure many
hardships in common with the other early settlers in
this countrv and thev have always manifested a wealth
of courage and strength of character that have enabled
them to outride the severest storm of adversity and
have given them the sure confidence of the people and
the good will of all.
JULIUS ELDOR CURTIS was born in Warren
county, Pennsylvania, on September 26, 1847. being
the son of James and Alzina (Hill) Curtis, natives of
the same place. The grandfather of our subject,
David Curtis, was a captain in the war of 1812. In
1853, the parents came to Mitchell county, Iowa, with
teams and settled while the Indians were thick and
treacherous. At the time of the Pikes Peak excite-
ment, Mr. Curtis sold his farm, moved his family to
the village of Mitchell Center and went with his oldest
son for that mecca. The train turned aside to Cali-
fornia and he went with it and mined for two years
in Placerville, with indifferent success. Then he re-
turned to Iowa and his son remained, going into the
>tnck business and is now one of the wealthiest stock-
men of his section, Modesto, California, his largest in-
terests being at Reedley. Fresno county. ( )ur subject
received little opportunity to gain an education, but
steady application and personal studiousness gave him
a good training. In 1869 the parents went to Cali-
fornia, via train, and Julius and his younger brother
went via New York and the Isthmus, being twenty-one
days on the journey. He was afflicted with typhoid
fever during the trip. Having learned the harness
trade, he wrought at it in California but as his health
was poor there and he failed to recuperate it in the hot
baths, he came in 1879 t0 Douglas county, Oregon, and
in 1882 came on to Spokane county, Washington. His
trouble was rheumatism and by bathing in the waters
of Medical lake in this last mentioned county, he was
fully cured. Then he wrought at his trade in Cheney
with Mr. Walters and later bought a farm and did
dairying. He then moved to Colfax and gardened.
In the tall of 1899, he came to the reservation and took
a homestead five miles north from Russell. This has
been improved and is producing abundant fruits and
vegetables for his business in Nezperce. Mr. Curtis
operates what is known as the Equity fruit store. He
sells fruits, vegetables and dairy products, having a
fine cold storage plant which enables him to handle his
products all seasons of the year. This was opened in
July, 1902. Mr. Curtis has a vegetable wagon and
runs a barn for the stage, while the express office is in
his building. He has built up a good trade and is
prosperous and well esteemed by all.
On October 26, 1869, Mr. Curtis married Miss
Sarah L., daughter of Alvin and Climena (Wash-
burn) Skinner. The father was a merchant in Maine
and died m 1855. The mother came to California in
1869, where she now lives. Mrs. Curtis was born in
Corinth. Maine, on October 25, 1850. Eighl chil-
dren have been born to them, Gertrude L., wife of
Charles F. Munz, in Maysville. Missouri; Fred M., a
farmer in the Pig Bend country ; Charles C, study-
ing for the ministry in Divinity College in Eugene,
Oregon : Mary A., saleslady in Spokane department
sti ire : Nellie E.. wife of Walter Collison, a -school
teacher in Garfieid, Washington : Grace, died in Cali-
fornia; Floyd, died at Cheney: Guy E., at home. Mr.
Curtis and his wife and all their children are members
of the Christian church. He has always taken an
active part in the progress of the country where he has
lived and especially has he wrought for the advance-
ment of educational facilities. His children have all
been well educated and are all prosperous in the walks
of life, which reflects great credit on Mr. and Mrs.
Curtis.
ANDREW C. JOHNSON. From the land of
Denmark came the subject of this article and since his
arrival here he has thoroughly espoused the cause of
the patriotic American citizen and is one of the valu-
able additions to Nez Perces county, being a substantial
and thrift}- farmer located five miles southeast from
Melrose.
Andrew C. Johnson was born on March 2^,, 1847.
and his parents were Christ and Mary (Hanson)
Johnson, natives of Denmark, and born in 1818 and
1819, and died in 1894 and 1895, respectively. The
father was a soldier in Denmark in 1849-1850. Our
subject went to work for himself at the earfy age of
sixteen and wrought in Copenhagen and other points
until he was twenty-five, when he determined to see
the world and accordingly embarked for Greenland,
where he worked in the crockery mines for eighteen
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
239
months and then came to the United States, landing in
Philadelphia, whence he came to Omaha, and then to
Cheyenne, Wyoming, where he wrought on the Union
Pacific. He fired for three years and then went to
San Francisco and shipped on the Pekin as fireman
and sailed to China and other places. In 1876 he
settled in San Jose and farmed for nine years. Then
came a journey to Portland where six years were spent
in the service of the O. R. ei X., inspecting ties and so
forth. Then Mr. Johnson settled near Palouse and
farmed, for ten years. In the spring of 1896 he came
to the reservation and selected his present place, and to
the cultivation and improvement of this Mr. Johnson
has devoted himself with wisdom and energy, lie
does a general farming business and also raises "stock.
At Walla Walla, in 1884, Mr. Johnson married
Miss Margaret, daughter of Antlers and Sine Alik-
kelsen, natives of Denmark, but immigrants to the
United States in 1890. Mrs. Johnson was born in
Denmark. Mr. Johnson has the following brothers
and sisters, Henry and Xels, in the United States;
Ann, Christina, Mary, all in Denmark. Five children
have been born to this household, Julia, .Mary. Chris-
tina, Albert, Mabel. Mr. Johnson and his wife arc
faithful members of the Lutheran church. He is a
Republican and is active in the support of those prin-
ciples, while also he is a staunch supporter of good
schools and general advancement.
JAMES LAMBERT. This heavy real-estate
holder and prominent man of Xez Perces county lives
twenty miles southeast from Lewiston upon his fine
estate of seventeen hundred acres of land. This is laid
under tribute to produce annually excellent crops of
barley and wheat and Mr. Lambert also gives attention
to handling stock, although at the present time he has
sold main- of his herds. He has just now finished a
beautiful residence of nine moms, with all modern im-
provements and of tasty architectural design. He has
al! the improvements, as barns, out buildings, corrals,
fences, machinery and equipment needed on his large
domain and Air. Lambert is considered one of the most
substantial men of the county.
James Lambert was born in Washington county,
New York, on April 5, 1848. being the son of Peter
Lambert, who was born of Scotch- Irish ancestors, in
Ireland, in 1832. and died in 1894. Mr. Lambert losl
hi- mother by death when young, and has but little re-
membrance of her. He was educated in the common
ind when seventeen stepped forth to encounter
tin- battles of life alone. He went to Chatauqua county,
in his state, ami worked on a dairy farm until 1878.
Then he sold "in and came to San Francisco. Thence
he went to Oregon, later to Walla Walla and finally
came to Lewiston. He purchased a portion of his
present estate from the owner and took some from the
government. He at once commenced stock raising,
handling cattle principally, and to this he devoted such
skillful effort that he won the finest success.
< in March 29, 1872, Mr. Lambert married Miss
Elizabeth, daughter of David Ranch, in Chautauqua
county. New York, and to them one son, John J. Lam-
bert, was born. Mrs. Lambert died in 1890.
In [894, Mr. Lambert married Mary, daughter of
Andrew and Esther | .Marshall) Sherburn. The father
was born in Portland, Maine, in 1830, and the mother
was born in Perry county, Indiana, in 1843. Mrs.
Lambert was born in Wisconsin, in 1871. Mr. Lam-
bert has one brother, John, who lives in Fredonia, New
York, and is judge of the supreme court of that state.
Mr. Lambert is an advocate of good schools and has
done much for the advancement of the cause of educa-
tion in this county, lie is a Democrat, but is not
bound by party lines to bias his judgment in voting for
the men whom he believes to be the best and for those
principles that are salutary. Mr. Lambert is a man
of excellent standing, has gained a success that demon-
strates bis ability better than words can do, has ever
maintained a high sense of his stewardship and is to-
day one of tile prominent men of his count}-.
ORVILLE G. THORNTON. A westerner by
birth and so entitled to the legacy of snap, energy, push
and progression that imbue the residents of this fron-
tier land, our subject has come no whit behind in mani-
festing his ability to keep abreast of the times and secure
for himself a place both in the financial world and in
tile confidence and esteem of his fellows.
Orville ( '.. Thornton was born in the vicinity of
Salem. Oregon, in 1807, being the son of William E.
and Susanna (Chinoweth) Thornton, native- -1 Vlis
souri and born in 1842 and 1840, respectively. The
father is a Baptist minister, also handles stock and
came across the plains to Oregon in 1855. The mother
crossed the plains in 1853. When Orville was two
years old, he was taken with the balance of the family
to California, where they remained two years, when a
return trip was taken and settlement made near Rose-
burg, ( Iregon. Here our subject was educated and
the father raised stock and farmed. When eighteen,
( >rvi!le < i. went to do for himself and rode the range
for a time and then settled down to the dray business
in Palouse, Washington. Then he farmed in Latah
county until 1807. the date when lie settled on his
present place, about two miles northeast from Mel-
rose. He has added to his original quarter eighty
acres by purchase and also owns a quarter of land
near Lewiston.
In 1896. Mr. Thornton married Mi-- Josie, daugh-
ter of James and Alary Nifond, who reside west of
Moscow on a farm. The wedding occurred in Latah
county. Airs. Thornton was born in i8t)2 and has
five brothers and five sisters. Air. Thornton has the
following named brothers and sisters, Samuel G, Ella
Ladro, Sarah M. Wiley, Ollie A.. Murray
and Bertha. Two children have been born to Air.
and Airs. Thornton, Anna Pearl and James L. Mr.
Thornton is a member of the school board and is act-
ive in hi- efforts to have good schools. He is a Re-
publican and intelligent in the issues of the day. He
240
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
has sold his homestead and bought land one mile and a
half northwest from Melrose. He also sold his farm
near Lewiston and bought property in Melrose.
ROBERT L. IXGHRAM, deceased. The es-
teemed pioneer is gratefully remembered in Nez
Perces county for he was a good man and manisfested
enterprise and wisdom in his walk during his life.
He did much to build up Nez Perces county, as he
did also for other portions of the west ; his death was
a loss to all, and sincere mourning among a large
circle attended the sad event.
Robert L. Inghram was born in Holton, Maine, on
December 16, 1838, being the son of Robert and
Martha (Stuart) Inghram. The father was born in
England and the mother in Ludlow, Maine, and died
in 1892. Robert L. remained at home and assisted
his brothers to care for his mother after the father's
death, which occurred when this son was young. Up-
on the breaking out of the war, the older brothers,
John and Frank, enlisted, the former giving his life
and the latter one limb for his country. Our sub-
ject worked on the farm, the mother keeping the chil-
dren all together, and attended school ; when he be-
came of age, he came west and was in Nez Perces
county in 1872. He assisted to build Dr. Baker's
railroad to Walla 'Walla, it being the first line into
that city, running from Wallula to Walla Walla.
After two years he went east and in 1876 came to Cali-
fornia ; the following year he was in Lewiston, com-
ing thither in the employ of the government. He
also lumbered some on the Clearwater and in 1878, he
went east sold out and brought his family to Walla
Walla in 1880. He took charge of Baker & Com-
pany's flume works and in 1882, came to Lewiston.
He took up the land where the family now lives, and
then went to work on the Northern Pacific. The
family held the homestead while he labored; later
he came to the farm and then took a pre-emption and
also bought land until he left an estate of four hun-
dred and eighty acres. He prospered in his labors
but in 1891, he was suddenly taken with La Grippe
and although rugged and had never been sick, he
succumbed to the disease on April 26, and went hence
1o the scenes of another world. He had the following
brothers and sisters, Amos, deceased ; John, died in the
army; Frank, Charlie, Mary, Joseph and Samuel.
On July 2. 1862, Mr. Inghram married Miss Eliza,
daughter of John and Jane (Stevens) Small. The
father was a farmer, born in Miramichi. Canada, and
came to the United States when young. The mother
was born in Canada, also, but her father was born in
England and married in Scotland. Mrs. Inghram's
paternal grandfather Small was born in New York
and married a Miss Mitchell. Mrs. Inghram was
born in Miramichi, Canada, on August 30, 1842, and
her brothers and sisters are named as follows, Mary-
Stuart, Myra Smith, Nancy, Alfreta, all deceased;
Lydia Smith, Anna Cochran ; George Small and Ellis.
To our worthy subject and his estimable wife there
were born the following named children, John, Ber-
nard, deceased, Robert, Alfreta and David. Mr.
Inghram was a member of the K. of P. He was a
Republican and an active worker for the advancement
of good principles and while he worked faithfully
for his friends, he never accepted preferment for him-
self. At his death, he left a good property for his wife
and children and they have now a good place and a
nice band of cattle.
JOHN F. INGHRAM. It is quite in accord
with his life and meritorious actions, when we men-
tion that Mr. Inghram is a public spirited man, an
advocate of good schools and government and has
done his share in producing these worthy ends, while
bis ability and industry have given him the meed of
recompense in a good holding of a fine farm and plenty
of stock and other property.
John F. was born in Aroostook county, Maine, on
July 1, 1863, being the son of Robert and Eliza
(Small) Inghram. The father was a lumberman,
born in Ludlow, Maine, on December 16. 1838, and
died in Lewiston. Nez Perce county, on April 26, 1891.
The mother was born in the same place in 1843 and is
still living in this county. Our subject worked at
home and attended school, remaining with the family
until of age. His father had taken several trips to
the Pacific coast and finally in 1880, he brought his
family to Walla Walla and two years later thence
to Lewi-ton. He was foreman of a flume company in
Walla Walla, and in this country he took land and en-
gaged in farming and raising stock until the time of
his death. He bad achieved a good success and died be-
loved by all who knew him. Our subject began doing
for himself when he reached his majority. He
bought a farm in 1887, and two years later sold' it and
removed to Lewiston, taking up the dairy business,
making a success in this venture. He again bought
a farm and later sold it. Upon his father's death, he
managed the business of the estate. During this time
he purchased his present farm, which his father had
contracted for. It is situated nine miles southeast
from Lewiston, and consists of three hundred and
twenty acres of grain land. He raises wheat and
barley, handles stock, raises hogs and breeds fine
draft animals. He has some excellent specimens of
registered draft horses and is a skillful hand with this
stock. He then removed to Mrs. English's farm and
lived there three years, settling the business left by her
husband on his death. From there be moved to his
present place and has made it his home since that time.
On May 15, 1886, in Nez Perces county, Mr. In-
ghram maried Miss < (rpha L., daughter of josiah and
Ruth A. (Bony) English. The father was a farmer
and a prominent man in the county, being county
assessor and active in political matters. The mother
is a native of New York. Mrs. Ingham was born
in Illinois, in 1868 and on April 10, 1899, she was
called from her happy home and family by death. She
left the following children, Ira Reed, Lelia, May,
ROBERT L. INGHRAM.
JOHN F. INGHRAP
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
241
Clarence and Orpha Gertrude. Mr. Inghram has the
following named brothers and sisters: Robert, resid-
ing near Lewiston, this state ; Elphreta, wife of A.
Smith, in this county; David B., in the implement
business in Lewiston. Mr-.* Inghram is a member of
the W. of W., at Lewiston. He is a Republican in
political matters and always active in the support of
good men, although he never solicits its personal pre-
ferment.
HENRY K. FOUNTAIN. About ten miles south-
east from Lewiston one finds the fine estate of the
subject of this sketch. It contains six hundred acres
of good land, a portion of which was taken by home-
stead and preemption rights by Mr. Fountain in 1878,
and since that time it has been his home. He has a
fine dairy of Jersey cows and sells many hundred
pounds of butter annually. He raises alfalfa and also
wheat and hay, and is one of the skillful agriculturists
and dairymen of the county, being industrious, thrifty,
wise in management and thorough in execution.
Reverting to the early history of Mr. Fountain, we
note that he is a native of the Occident, having been
born in Linn county, Oregon, on April 26, 1857, being
the son of Matthew and Sarah (Hicks) Fountain,
natives of Missouri. The father came to Oregon with
his family in 1857, being one of the first settlers in
Linn county. He was a representative from Jackson
county in the state legislature at the time of his death.
The mother was born in 1825 and is still living near
Athena, Oregon. Henry K. worked on the farm and
attended school until he was twenty-one and then set
out in life for himself. He came to Idaho and went to
iarming and raising stock and in 1878, as mentioned
above, he settled on his present place. This he has
made a comfortable, valuable and attractive estate.
On January 1, 1884, Mr. Fountain married Miss
Sarah E., daughter of John and Catherine Denny,
natives of county Cork, Ireland, and Indiana, respect-
ively, and born in 1822 and 1838. Mrs. Fountain was
born in Lagrande, Oregon, on October 28, 1868, and
was educated in the common school. To Air. and Mrs.
Fountain there have been born six children : William
M.. Volny L., Mabel M., Helen M., Hattie E. and
Minnie M. Mr. Fountain has seven brothers and five
sisters. Mrs. Fountain has the following of her
father's family living in Lewiston: William, Mary V.,
and Mrs. John Ponting. Mr. Fountain is a member
of the I. O. O. F. and also of the W. of W., while his
wife belongs to the Christian church.
LOUIE J. HERRES is one of the vounger business
men of Peck, being now proprietor of a first-class drug
store there and well known for his enterprise, integrity,
and commendable business qualities of worth and
wisdom.
Louie J. Herres was born in Westphalia, Clinton
county. Michigan, on May 3, 1877, being the son of
Dr. Simon and Emily (Amen) Herres. His father
was born in Phillipsburg, Canada, graduated from Ann
Arbor and was a practicing physician of note, being
a leading contributor to many medical journals. He
died in 1885. The mother of our subject was born in
Brooklyn, New York, and died in 1880. Our subject
being thus bereft of his parents when he was voting
was taken to raise by his grandfather, at St. Agatha,
Canada. He received the beginning of his education
there and remained with his grandparents until twelve
years of age. He then went to Detroit, Michigan,
and entered the employ of J. P. Rheinfrank, a leading
druggist of that place. For two years he steadily fol-
lowed the business and then went home on account of
sickness. Soon, however, we find him working for F.
H. McCallum, a druggist in New Hamburg, Canada.
Later he was with the King Street Drug Company,
of Toronto, and then a move was made to Moscow,
where he entered the employ of T. G. Reece, then
worked for R. Hodgins. After the consolidation of
these firms he worked for the company until the open-
ing of the reservation, and in July, 1896, he secured a
quarter section of land adjoining the town of Peck.
This was a new field and he devoted his energies for a
time to the opening up of the ranch and its cultiva-
tion. On May 10, 1901, Mr. Herres embarked on the
commercial sea for himself and opened the drug store
in Peck, where he is now doing a good business with
a constantly increasing patronage.
On October 17, 1900, Mr. Herres married Miss
Lulu, daughter of Thomas and May (Hall) Kirby, the
nuptials occurring at Lewiston. Mr. Kirby is post-
master, real estate dealer and notary public in Peck,
and was born in Canada in 1850, while his wife was
born in Toronto, Canada. Mrs. Herres is a native of
Howard, Kansas, born in 1S73. She has one brother,
Rollie C. a furniture dealer in Peck. Mr. Herres has
one sister, Clara Groom, in London, Canada. In polit-
ical matters, our subject is a Democrat and is always
a leader for better educational facilities and general
progress. He is a vice-grand of Peck Lodge No. 97.
Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Herres is a
self-made man in every particular, and as Mark Twain
lemarks, "He did not stop until the job was well
done.*' He is one of the progressive and substantial
young men of the county and is highly respected.
PHILIP JOHNSON. Among the beautiful and
valuable estates in the vicinity of Peck, must be men-
tioned that of the subject of this article, which lies one
and one-half miles south from the town. This home
place was acquired by Mr. Johnson by homestead
right in 1897, and the excellent improvements that have
enhanced the natural beauty and value of the farm have
all been placed there by his labors. In addition to these,
Mr. Johnson has a fine orchard and his place manifests
the excellent skill, thrift and industry of the proprietor.
Mr. Johnson is a man of sound principles and a pa-
triotic and substantial citizen of influence and good
standing. His birth occurred in Illinois, on May 7,
1864, his parents being Joseph and Susan (Heeder-
24'
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ick) Johnson, natives of North Carolina. The father
was bom in 1814 and died in 1894. having been a farm-
er all his life and was a pioneer to Benton county, Ore-
gon. The mother died in 1882. When Philip was but
seven years of age, the family made the weary jour-
ney across the plains with ox teams to Benton county,
Oregon, where the father took a homestead and became
one of the builders of that county. Our subject
worked with his father on the farm, studied in the pub-
lic schools and was one of the home circle until he was
seventeen, when he began life for himself. He came to
eastern Oregon later and settled near Pendleton. He
was in that country in the time of the terrible Snake and
Bannock Indian war. It was his lot to be on picket and
other duty and he was present when Egan and Big
Horn, the leaders of the savages, were executed. Mr.
Johnson also lived on John Day creek and on Camas
prairie and was always devoting his attention to farm-
ing and raising stock. At the opening of the reserva-
tion he came, and in 1897 secured the land which was
described above. Owing to the far reaching and grand
view to be had from his place, the farm has been appro-
priately named the "Fair View Farm." Mr. Johnson
handles stock and does a general farming business. He
has plenty of natural spring water on the farm and it
is one of the most valuable places in this vicinity.
On December 24, 1881, Mr. Johnson married Miss
Mary, daughter of William and Harriette (Bellings)
Groom, natives of Missouri. The wedding occurred in
Oregon and to this worth}- couple there have been born
the following children: Ernest E., Arthur X., Nora E.,
and William R. Mrs. Johnson was born in Willamette
vallev on November 24. 1865, and has three brothers
and two sisters, John, Bird S., Lizzie Froxwell, Hattie
Reeves and Fred, all in Oregon except Bird S., who is
on the reservation. Mr. Johnson's brothers and sisters
are all dead. His brother David was in the Civil war.
In political matters, Mr. Johnson holds with the Re-
publicans and is also a laborer for good schools.
JOHN HADFORD. Two and one-half miles
southeast from Lookout dwells the subject of this
sketch on a farm which he took from the wilderness
of the reservation in 1896 and which he has made one
of the valuable and fertile places in this section. It is
improved with good residence, substantial barn and out
buildings and orchard, and all implements necessary
for its successful cultivation and to make it return
handsome dividends annually.
John Hadford was born in the central part of
Sweden on April 17, 1867, being the son of Lars and
Catherine Hadford, natives of the same place. The
father still lives there, having been born in 1832. But
the mother, who was born in 1839, has passed to the
world beyond. Our subject grew up on a farm and
attended "the common schools. In 1887 he came to
New York, via Lubeck, Hamburg and Bremen. He
was soon in McPherson county, Kansas, and there
worked on a farm with his brother dust. In 1890
{hey came to Spokane and took up railroading on the
Great Northern. He was in the states of Washington
and Idaho until 1896, when he came to the reserva-
tion and took the land as stated above. With his
brothers, Louis and Gust, he had farmed near Spo-
kane but when the panic came he went to the wall
with the rest. When Mr. Hadford came to the reser-
vation on account of this panic he had but little finan-
cial wealth but was possessed of great courage and
determination, which have given him, with his thrift
and industry, a fine holding and he is numbered with
the prosperous men of his county.
On May 30, 1896, Mr. Hadford married Aliss Ber-
tie C, daughter of Hans and Catherine Hedin, natives
of Sweden. In 1881 they came to Kansas from the
old country and in 1886 journeyed on to Spokane coun-
ty, Washington. Four children have been born to
Mr. and Mrs. Hadford, Melvin and Arnold, deceased;
Archibald and Ethel E. Mr. Hadford's brothers are
residents of the reservation and with him they operate
a threshing machine, being skillful and energetic men
in this line.
CHARLES A. MENGES. As Daniel Boone
knew the country of Kentucky and followed the life of
the typical pioneer, so has the subject of this article
known the northern Rockies and has taken delight in
the arduous and trying ways of the mountain hunter,
trapper and miner, following this vigorous and alluring
life for many years. Mr. Menges is an expert in his
line and one of the best artists with the rifle and rope in
this part of the country, while he is a man of integrity
and sound principles.
Charles A. Menges was born in Des Moines, Iowa,
on August 21, 1861, being the son of Charles and
Harriet (Montgomery) Menges. His father was born
in Germany, on April 15, 1825, and came to America
in 1849. He was a soldier in the German army,
a prominent Odd Fellow in Iowa, and a leading citizen
of Des Moines and heavy property owner there, while
he occupied the position of chief of police of Des
Moines for many years. The mother of our subject
was a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1836, and died
in 1868. She was of German descent. Our subject left
the parental roof at the early age of fifteen and made
his way to Colorado, where he operated a steam engine
in a saw mill near Manitou, with his brother-in-law,
C. M. Elrick for three years. Then he made a move to
the vicinity of Missoula, Montana, and prospected there
and in the Coeur d'Alene country for ten years. Dur-
ing this time and afterward. Mr. Menges was engaged
in trapping and hunting also, and was very successful.
He also caught game, as mountain lions, cougars, bears,
mountain sheep, and so forth, for zoological gardens,
and his skill was so great that he had plenty of orders
to fill. At the present time, Mr. Menges has a con-
tract for furnishing the Lewis & Clark exposition at
Portland with animals. In 1890 Mr. Menges settled to
ranching and guiding hunting parties from the east.
At the opening of the reservation, he took up land,
cultivating; the same until July 1, 1902, when he pur-
chased the hotel at Peck and is now devoting his atten-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
243
tion to it. He is a first-class and popular host and his
patronage is increasing rapidly. ,
In 1890 Mr. Menges married Miss Elsie A., daugh-
ter of Bert Stark and Agnes (Kelley) Mayne. Her
father was born in New Hampshire in i860, being a
grandson of General Stark of Revolutionary fame.
The Stark family is well known all over New Hamp-
shire. The mother of Mrs. Menges was also born in
New Hampshire, being of Irish descent. Mrs. Menges
was born in the same state in 1878 and has one half-sis-
ter and one half-brother, Pearl Cluff and Nora Cluff.
Mr. Menges has one sister, Irena Hoffman, at Lake
City, Colorado. To Mr. and Airs. Menges there have
been born four children, Margaret H., Charles M.John
H. and Frank R. Our subject is a member of the M.
W. A. He established the Stark postoffice in Mon-
tana and was postmaster there for years. In politi-
cal matters, Mr. Menges is a member of the Republi-
can party and is active in the conventions. In 1902 he
was elected justice of the peace for Peck precinct. He
is always found laboring for good schools, public im-
provements, and is a man of integrity.
JAMES MARKER was born in Noble county,
Indiana, on April 19, 1846, being the son of Jonas and
Elizabeth (McClintock) Marker, natives of Somerset
county, Pennsylvania. They came to Noble county,
being the second family to settle there. The father
was the first justice of the peace, the first county com-
missioner, and the first overseer of the poor in that
county. Michael McClintock, the grandfather of our
subject, was a veteran in the Revolution. In 1850, the
the father of our subject died and he remained with
his mother until her death, in 1861. His education was
obtained from the district school over two miles dis-
tant. On October 3, 1864, Mr. Marker enlisted in
Company F, Thirtieth Indiana Infantry, under General
Thomas. He fought in many places and in the battle
of Nashville was in the thickest of the fray and the
bullets pattered like hail. His clothes were pierced
but he was not wounded. On September 9, 1865, he
was honorably discharged, having served faithfully
and endured all the hardships incident to a soldier's
life. Returning to Noble county, Mr. Marker learned
the carpenter trade and there on September 15, 1869,
he married Miss Jennie Fulk, a native of Noble county.
To them were born five children. James F., deceased;
John W., Benjamin O., Charles C, Lucv C. deceased;
the three living ones are in Whitley county. Indiana.
Mrs. Marker died in Whitley county in' 1882. In
1885, Mr. Marker came to Chicago and wrought at
his trade there and in Stoney Island in the Nickel
Plate car shops. Thence he went to Colorado, Kansas,
New Mexico, and other places, and in 1888 he came
from Denver to Latah. On June 16, 1889, Mr. Marker
married Miss Laura, daughter of John and Ellen
(Firkins) Dean, natives of Knox county, Illinois.
Mrs. Marker was born in Knox county, Illinois, on
October 27, 1867. She came across the plains with
her parents in a large train in 1872 and distinctly re-
members the large herds of buffalo. On one occasion
her father was kicked by a horse and lay unconscious
for one week, and the mother had all the trying hard-
ships of attending to the duties of travel with the team.
They settled in the Grande Ronde valley, then went to
Polk county, and in 1878 started to Spokane county,
Washington, and encountered many Indian braves on
the war path. Mr. Dean settled in Latah and has
since lived there. Immediately following his marriage
Mr. Marker took a contract of erecting the barns and
outbuildings of the county poor farm at Spangle and
then returned to Latah, where he built several of the
best buildings in the vicinity, and on the eighteenth of
November, 1895, he located on the northeast fourth
of section twelve, township thirty-three and range one,
east, where his home is now. He filed on the
fourth day after locating and moved his family on in
May, 1896. An inventory shows he had four horses,
two cows, a wagon and ten dollars. Seven times he
mired down in getting to his claim and four times he
did the same hauling four dollars and seventy-five
cents worth of lumber to build his first house. Mr.
Marker had a rough experience in getting started but
he recently proved up and it appears that he had
nearly three thousand dollars worth of improvements
on the place. He has a fine farm, and this year sold
a thousand dollars worth of grain off from eightv-two
acres. He has excellent buildings, first class orchard
and all improvements needed. Mr. Marker is a mem-
ber of the A. F. & A. M. He and his wife are members
of the Baptist church and are leading people of the
community. Seven children have been born to them,
Mable Pearl, born February 19, 1890; Wilbur Percy,
born November 23, 1891 ; Lloyd Bernard, born Jan-
uary 14, 1894: Grace Eva, born July 16, 1895; Minnie
Ellen, born March 23, 1897; Dewey Beauford, born
April 11. 1900, and Spurgeon. born October 19, 1901,
and died March 30. 1903. Mr. Marker is an active
laborer for general and substantial progress in all
ARTHUR S. STACY. No business man of Lew-
iston has had better and brighter success for the time
he has operated in Lewiston than has the subject of
this review. Mr. Stacv is at present manager, direc-
tor and stockholder of the Lewiston Mercantile Com-
pany, one of the strongest institutions of its kind in
the state of Idaho. It is practically a creation of Mr.
Stacy and issued its first catalogue on June 20, 1889,
since which time it has increased from three hundred
thousand dollars worth of trade the first year, to five
hundred and fifty thousand in 1901. This is clue to
the business acumen and foresight of its able manager,
together with his capable corps of assistants, whom he
lias gathered around him. The company is widening
and broadening and is recognized as one of the large
and substantial establishments of the northwest.
Reverting to the personal history of our subject, we
note that he was born in San Francisco, on November
1S. 1864, being the son of George W. and Emily A.
(Granger) Stacy. The father was a merchant, born
244
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
in Massachusetts, and died in Minnesota in 1869.
The mother was born in Illinois and now lives in
Minneapolis. The parents removed to New York,
when Arthur was an infant, then to Monticello,
Minnesota. This was the scene of the early education
and training of our subject and at the age of fourteen
he entered the general mercantile establishment of
T. G. Nealy & Son. He did business behind those
counters for twelve years straight, then was offered a
partnership interest in the concern. He did not accept
however, believing that better things were before kirn.
He sought the west, and finally decided to try Lewis-
ton. Entering the store of Vollmer & Company as
bookkeeper, in four years he was manager of the house.
In 1899 he severed his connection with this house and
organized the concern above described, which is now
no longer an experiment, but an established business of
very gratifying proportions.
Mr. Stacy married Miss Alice Harwick, in Min-
nesota, on June 7, 1893. Her parents, A. H. and E.
J. Harwick live at Monticello, .Minnesota. The
father was a native of Michigan and early settled in
Minnesota. Mrs. Stacy was born in Paw Paw,
Michigan, and there was educated in the high school.
She has one brother, Elmer J., with the Lewiston
Mercantile Company. Mrs. Stacy is vey proficient
on the piano and has been a successful instructor in
music for some time. Mr. Stacy has two brothers and
one sister, Francis N., George E. and Emma A. To
Mr. and Mrs. Stacy there have been born two children,
Elmer G., five years of age, and Marjorie, two years
old. Mr. Stacy is a member of the Masons, having
taken thirty-two degrees. He is allied with the Re-
publicans in politics and manifests both zeal and active
interest in this realm. Mrs. Stacy is a member of the
Presbyterian church. Mr. Stacy owns real estate in
addition to his business interests. It is of note that his
ancestors were among the early immigrants to Amer-
ica who settled in Virginia.
JACOB SCHAEFER. Germany has furnished
to the United States many of her best citizens, and not
a few have found their way to this western country,
being a progressive and vigorous race. One worthy
member of this pioneer band is named above and is
deserving of consideration in the county where he has
wrought with such assiduity and display of ability
and thrift.
Our subject was born in Germany on November
27, 1867, being the son of John and Magdelena (Pos-
tel) Schaefer. The father farmed in Germany, being
born in 1843, and now lives in Philadelphia. The
mother was born in the Fatherland in 1850. Jacob
was educated in the native country and wrought with
his father in farm work and in the manufacture of
wine until seventeen, and then learned the butcher
trade. That occupied him until 1887, when he de-
cided to come to America. Landing in New York, he
made his way to Carroll county, Missouri, worked
there for ten months and then went to St. Louis, where
he operated at his trade. Fourteen months later he
was in Portland, Oregon, working at his trade, and
five months later he opened in business for himself.
He continued in business there until 1896, being very
successful, but finally lost it all through complication
and litigation with an unworthy partner. He then
went to Quigley, Montana, and there worked for
wages and in the fall of 1896 came to Lewiston and
started anew, with a larger stock of experience. He has
been successful here from the start and is now doing
a good business, both in butchering and buying and
selling cattle. He handles large quantities of stock.
In addition to this business, Mr. Schaefer has twenty
acres of irrigated land in vineland, which he is set-
ting to grapes and he intends to start a winery in the
near future, being assured that the conditions for the
successful raising of grapes are as favorable in this
place as on the Rhine in Germany.
On January 15, 1891, Mr. Schaefer married Miss
Katie, daughter of John and Mary Young, natives of
Germany, the father now deceased and the mother
living in Vancouver, Washington. The wedding oc-
curred in Vancouver, Washington, and two children
have been the fruit of the union, John and Lonis. Mrs.
Schaefer was born in Germany in 1872 and has
the following brothers, Phillip, Andrew. Peter.
Mr. Schaefer has brothers and sisters named below,.
Lonis, John, Elizabeth, Barbara, the first in Germany
holding a good position as civil engineer for the gov-
ernment, while the others are at home. Mr. Schaefer
is a member of the M. W. A. His people, as well as
himself, were in the German army for a term.
A. C. GAYLORD. A representative business
man of Peck, being now engaged in the hardware
business, a real pioneer in different regions where he
has shown that dauntless spirit which ever character-
izes the true frontiersman, a man of integrity and
worth and always allied on the side of progress and
upbuilding of the country, we are constrained to grant
to the subject of this article a representation in the
history of Nez Perces county.
A. C. Gaylord was born in Bradford, Pennsylvania,
on January 19, 1845, being the son of Giles and Nancy
(Taylor) Gaylord. The father was born in Pennsyl-
vania in 1816 and died in 1880. He was a pioneer
of Carroll county, Illinois ; his parents were pioneers of
Bradford, Pennsylvania, and both lived to be one
hundred years old. The mother of »ur subject was
born in Bradford, Pennsylvania, in 1818 and still
lives with our subject, being aged eighty-four
years. Her parents were pioneers of Pennsylvania.
When this son was two years old, the
family came to Carroll county, Illinois, and there he
grew to manhood and received his education. In 1862,
though still a lad, he was stirred by the call of pa-
troitism, and enlisted in the Ninety-second Illinois,
afterwards going to join the Seventh Cavalry, in which
latter he fought until the close of the war. He was
under General Thomas a good portion of the time.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
245
Mr. Gaylord was active in the taking of Fort Donelson,
in all the conflicts in the raid at Nashville, and in many
other struggles, ever conducting himself with the true
spirit of bravery and faithfulness of a patriotic soldier
and man of courage and intrepidity. At the close of
the war he laid aside the weapons of carnage and went
to Manning, Iowa, and there took up the livery busi-
ness. Seven years later, he went to Springfield,
Nebraska, engaging himself in the hotel and livery
business combined. Soon we see him in the Hot
Springs country, South Dakota, where he acquired
title to three thousand acres of land and devoted him-
self to raising stock. He continued steadily at that as
well as buying and shipping for seventeen years. It
was 1901 that he sold his estates and stock in Dakota
and came to Nez Perces county. He bought a farm on
Russell ridge and then opened a hardware store in
Peck, where he is doing a good business now.
In 1882, while in Dakota, Mr. Gaylord married
Miss Mary, daughter of John Bingham, of Illinois.
Mrs. Gaylord was born in New York city, in 1863,
and has three brothers and two sisters. Mr. Gay-
lord has three brothers, Orlando, an old soldier, Pres-
ton, Joseph. To Mr. and Mrs. Gaylord, one child,
Ackie, has been born. Mr. Gaylord is a member of
the I. O. O. F., and is a Republican, being active in the
realm of politics. He is generally an attendant at the
conventions and is always on record for good men,
•while in school matters, Mr. Gaylord labors for better
facilities and education of the masses more fully.
ELGEE C. CHASE. The varied experience that
Mr. Chase has had in different portions of the United
States has satisfied him that the fertile and favored
spot of the reservation country is a place worthy to
be courted and as a country of resources for the farmer
and stockman it is unexcelled. His farm lies four
miles southeast from Nezperce and was selected by
him about two hours after the country had been thrown
open to settlement. It is mostlv all good land, is well
improved and has yielded to his skillful husbandry
rich returns of crops in the years he has been here. He
handles diversified farming and keeps enough stock
to consume all the productions of the farm.
Elgee C. Chase was born in Columbia countv, Wis-
consin, on October 5, 1862, being the son of John G.
and Eleanor (Walton) Chase, natives of Vermont and
Canada, respectively. When Elgee was a child, the
family removed to Dodge countv. Minnesota, and
there he grew to manhood on a farm. In 1884 he
went to Potter county. South Dakota, entered a pre-
emption claim, farmed there and traveled over the
country until 1890, when he went to Butte, Montana,
and engaged in mining. In 1892 he returned to his
boyhood home, and in 1893 visited the World's Fair
at Chicago. In 1894 Mr. Chase came to Colfax, and
soon we see him lumbering on the Clearwater. Then
he wrought in Rossland, British Columbia, and at the
opening of the reservation, came hither, as stated be-
fore. His farm is one of the excellent ones of the
section, is well supplied with spring water and is a
beautiful and valuable estate.
On December 2, 1897, Mr. Chase married Miss
Mary, daughter of Fred E. and Mary (Bolin) Hon-
roth. Mr. Honroth was a native of Germany and
came to the United States when a child. At Louis-
ville, Kentucky, he enlisted as first sergeant in Com-
pany G, Twenty-eighth Infantry, in April, 1861. He
served in General Grant's army and was in numerous
severe battles. In the battle of Kenesaw Mountain,
he was severely wounded in his shoulder and was dis-
charged on account of disability. His wife was a na-
tive of Indiana and in 1891 they came to Pomeroy,
Washington, and later to Pierce, where he died in
1894, having never recovered fully from the strain of
the war. Two children have been born to Mr. and
Mrs. Chase, Warner E., deceased, Mary E. In the
spring of 1900, Mr. Chase had a severe attack of
Nome fever and it was ascertained that the only cure
was a trip to that region. He went, got one hundred
and twenty miles into the interior, suffered about all a
man can suffer without perishing, and stuck to it for
one and a half years, and then the fever was entirely
cured and he returned to his family and farm, a wiser
and well cured man. Since then, Nez Perces county
has appeared even better than it did before.
EDISON E. HARRIS is one of the well known
and representative business men of Peck and his
stanch qualities of worth have made him one of the
highly respected and substantial men of this section.
It is quite fitting that a review of his life form a part
of h;s county's history, having been a man of activity
and a promoter of good schools, progress and upbuild-
ing.^
E. E. Harris was born in Jamesville, . on
April 15, 1864, being the son of Jackson and Susan
C. (Thayer) Harris. The father was born in Canada
in 1836. of Irish extraction, was a pioneer to Califor-
nia and now resides in Oklahoma. The mother was
born in New Hampshire in 1838 of English descent;
her father was a veteran of the war of 1812 and of the
Mexican war, and lived to be eighty-eight years of
age. Our subject was taken to Minnesota in 1871
and in 1878 the family went thence to North Dakota,
being the first settlers on the Fort Ransom reservation.
From this resulted, in 1884, a gold excitement in that
section. Edison grew to manhood and received a
common school education in this section, and then
graduated from the Ottawa University in Kansas. He
made a trip to Texas in 1889, seeking a business loca-
tion and brought back a band of cattle to Nebraska to
winter. In 1893 he made the race to the Oklahoma
country and secured a claim, where he toiled for four
years and then for the benefit of the health of the fam-
ily, he sold out and removed to the salubrious sections
of Nez Perces county. He made settlement at Ahsah-
ka, secured a postoffice, and was appointed postmaster,
this position Mr. Harris still holds, handling the office
bv an assistant. He opened a general merchandise
246
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
store with M. Mean-, in that place and two years later
removed the stock to Orofino. After this Mr. Harris
was engaged as bookkeeper for Fox & Debaum, at
Juliaetta. then at Lane and is now in the same position
for the McGrew Mercantile house in Peck. Mr. Har-
ris is manager of the concern and does a fine business.
On June 21, 1887, at Lisbon, North Dakota, Mr.
Harris married Miss Sarah A., daughter of Thomas
and Martha Roach, natives of Canada, where also
Mrs. Harris was born. They have two children,
Susan and Crystal. Mr. Harris has two brothers and
one sister, George R.. Jack T., and Fsther W'hybark.
all in Oklahoma. Mr. Harris is a member of the I.
O. O. F., having assisted to organize the lodge at Oro-
fino. He is aiso a member of the liberal Christian
church. In politics Mr. Harris is a Republican and is
now chairman of this precinct committee. He is active
at all the conventions and especially interested and
active in promoting good educational facilities. He
was the moving spirit in organizing the Ahsahka dis-
trict and in getting nine months of school each year.
WILLIAM BOLLINGER. This gentleman is a
well known and representative business man of Lewis-
ton, being at the present time a proprietor of the Bol-
linger hotel, one of the popular and established hostel-
ries of Lewiston, where he does a fine business and is
well liked by every one.
Mr. Bollinger was born in New Ulm, Minnesota,
on September 1, 1868, being the son of Rudolph and
Sophia (Ihrig) Bollinger. The father was born in
Zurich, Switzerland, on July 23, 1826, came to Amer-
ica when a young man and now lives at Dayton,
Washington. The mother was born in the province of
Hessen, Germany, on May 7, 1845, ar*d is still living.
Her father and mother were also natives of the same
province. Our subject was educated in primary stud-
ies in New Ulm and at the age of fifteen came with his
parents to Dayton, Washington, where the father took
a homestead, which he still owns, having added more
since that time. William completed his education in
Dayton and remained on the farm with his father un-
til becoming of age, went to Dayton and clerked in a
grocery store and general merchandise establishment
for August Engel. Five years later he went into the
butcher business, spending one year, and then came to
Lewiston and opened a restaurant with his present
partner, John Bell. They operated the Royal for three
years, adding meanwhile a grocery store, when the
grocerv was sold and the restaurant burned down. Be-
ing partly insured, they saved a little from the wreck
and bought the lots where the hotel now stands and
put up the building. The hotel was a popular resort
from the first and they are now handling the Scully
house as an annex and have built a large addition
to their establishment. The house is justly popular
because of the skill and affability of Mr. Bollinger in
his care of the traveling public.
Our subject has brothers and sisters as follows,
Emma, wife of Herman Hessel, in Oregon ; George,
Fred, Mary. Minnie, all on the farm at home. Mr.
Bollinger is happily affiliated with the following differ-
ent fraternities ; the I. O. O. F., the Rebekahs, the
Encampment, the K. of P., the Uhiform Rank, the
D. O. K. K., the W. of W., the Auxiliary Circle, and
also with the Sons of Veterans of Dayton, Washing-
ton. The father of our subject fought in the Union
army in Company C, Fourth Minnesota.
GEORGE W. TAXXAHILL The facetious
speaking of a man said, "He is a self-made man and
he did not quit until the job was done." Such is surelv
applicable to the subject of this sketch. He is a self
made man, and he has done a good job. He is one of
the leading young men of Nez Perces county, having
demonstrated his ability, acumen and stirring quali-
ties in his profession, that of the law, wherein he is
making a brilliant success, but to gain which he has
labored long and faithfully, making the most of all of
his opportunities in life.
Mr. Tannahill was born in Selma, Van Buren
county, Iowa, on July 2, 1872, being the son of John
and Almira (Jones) Tannahill. The father was a
carpenter and builder, born in Ohio, in 1843, and died
in 1875. His father, Frank Tannahill was a native of
Wales and he married Poly A., who was born in Iowa,
and died in 1897. The mother of our subject was born
in Iowa in 1847 and is living in Chautauqua county,
Kansas. The paternal grandfather of our subject was
Henry V. Jones, a native of Ohio, whose wife was
Hulda Herrington, who died in 1898. George W.
lost his father when he was a child of three. The
mother married again and the stepfather being very
kind to this lad gave him a good education until thir-
teen years of age, when he desired to do for himself
and accordingly went to Indian Territory and rode
the range for a Mr. Brown. Two years later we find
our subject in school in Kansas and again in Indian
Territory, this time working in a saw mill. He then
went to school and in 1890 came to Pomeroy, Wash-
ington, where he worked on a ranch, then went to Le-
land, Idaho, and farmed for himself for a couple of
years. Then he turned his attention to operating a
hardware store in Leland until 1896, when he sold out
and removed to Valparaiso. Indiana, and entered the
excellent law school of that place. He graduated in
due time, having read law considerable before, and on
September 14, 1897. he was admitted to practice be-
fore the supreme court of the state of Indiana. He
went to his old home and made a visit, then came on to
Lewiston, where he has been practicing since that
time. He has secured a good practice and is one of
the reliable and capable members of the bar. having
distinguished himself on many occasions, where he
has done telling work. Mr. Tannahill is a member of
the Masonic fraternity and of the K. of P., and the
Eastern Star, having taken many degrees in the first
order named. In political matters, he is a stanch
Democrat, faithful to the principles of Jeffersonian
statesmanship and is active in that realm. He is in-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
247
terested in the mercantile business with his brother, at
Ho, Idaho. Mr. Tannahill has two brothers, Samuel
O., in mercantile business at Ilo; John L., in stock
business in Indian Territory. We wish also to record
that the father of our subject was a faithful soldier for
the Union in the Civil war.
ROBERT L. PENNELL. The young men who
have made and are making a fine success in the busi-
ness world of Nez Perces county are a prominent class
of the population and as a distinguished individual of
this nnmber, we are constrained to mention the gentle-
man whose name heads this paragraph. He is a na-
tive of Chautauqua county, Kansas, born on October
13, 1876, the son of Samuel W. and Almira (Jones)
Pennell. The father was born in North Carolina in
1848, and is now a cattleman and farmer in Kansas.
He was a soldier in the southern army and his father
was a native Virginian, while his mother came from
German stock. The mother of our subject was born
in Iowa, in 1850, and is still living at the home place
in Kansas. Her parents, H. V. and Hulda Jones, were
natives of Iowa, also. Our subject attended the com-
mon schools and worked with his father until he had
arrived at the age of twenty and then he went to Val-
paraiso, Indiana, where he attended the state normal
school. Graduating in 1898, he went to Chicago and
accepted a position in a wholesale grocery house, after
which he returned home. It was May, 1899, that he
came to Lewiston, Idaho, and took up the business of
the hardware and furniture merchant. He has won a
good success in this line and is one of the well estab-
lished business men of the city, having a profitable and
extensive patronage. Mr. Pennell has brothers and
sisters as follows, Charles W., Maude, Mollie, Grover
Frank and Jennie. He has also the following named
half brother?, S. O. Tannahill, George W., and John.
Mr. Pennell is a member of the I. O. O. F., and is in-
terested in fraternal insurance. In politics, he is allied
with the Democrats and is an active and potent factor
in the labors of the party in his county. The grand-
father of Mr. Pennell, H. V. Jones, was one of the
sturdy pioneers of the western plains.
On June 26, 1902, Mr. Pennell was married in
Spokane, Washington, to Miss Edna Hilton, a native
of'California. Her parents were early settlers of Ore-
gon and at present her father is a merchant at Leland,
Idaho.
EARL E. FAIRLEY. Our subject is one of the
younger men whose energy and stirring qualities have
added life to the business development of Nez Perces
reservation country and at the present time he is oper-
ating successfully the only livery and feed stable in
Peck. He is industrious, enterprising and capable,
and stands first class with all the community.
Earl E. Fairley was born in Cherokee county, Kan-
sas, on January 7, 1880, being the son of Edward H.
and Martha (Sailing) Fairley, natives of Iowa and
born in 1848 and 1850, respectively. The father was a
pioneer in Douglas county, Washington, also in the
reservation section of Nez Perces county, while his
parents were pioneers in Iowa. Our subject went with
the family from Kansas in 1884, to California, thence
to Oregon, and finally they settled in Douglas county,
Washington, where the father took up stock raising.
There Earl grew to young manhood and received his-
educational training. When the reservation opened,
the father came hither and took land, the relinquish-
ment of which he purchased, adjoining the town of
Peck. Earl worked with his father until 1899, when
he opened his present business in Peck, a first class
livery and feed barn. Since that time he has devoted
his talent and energy to building up his business and
has gained a fine patronage.
On May 21, 1902, Mr. Fairley married Miss Helen
A. Parks, her father, Miles Parks, being a saw mill
man of the Potlatch country. Mrs. Fairley was born
in Canada in 1880 and has "three brothers and one sis-
ter, Ford and Monroe, in the Potlatch country, Flor-
ence and Raymond at home. Mr. Fairley has one
brother, Oliver, living in Peck. Mr. Fairley is a mem-
ber of the M. W. A., Peck Camp, No. 7144. In politi-
cal matters he is allied with the Democrats and is con-
stable of this precinct. Mr. Fairley is a man of prom-
ise and has already gained a very enviable prestige.
Mrs. Fairley is a teacher of standing and also is con-
siderably interested in writing, having written a num-
ber of meritorious articles.
HON. FRANK B. WILLIS. It is indeed a pleas-
ure to incorporate in this volume a review of the career
of this esteemed and popular gentleman, who has been
prominent alike in his county, Nez Perces, as in Cus-
ter, his former county, and in the entire state of Idaho,
as well, having filled responsible offices and having
always manifested a becoming sagacity and enterprise
in all his ways, both public and private business.
Mr. Willis was born in St. Lawrence county, New
York, on October 10, 1845, being the son of John F.
Willis, a native of New Hampshire, born in 1785 and
died in 1855, and a pioneer of northern New York.
The mother of our subject was a member of the Whit-
ney family of New York, where she was born and
died in 1848. When ten years old, Frank B. was left
an orphan, but remained at the old home, a part of the
time being spent at the St. Lawrence Academy and at
Eastman's College at Poughkeepsie, New York.
When nineteen, Frank B. came to Red Wing, Minne-
sota, where a half brother lived, and there he clerked
in a dry goods store for eighteen months. Immediately
after the Sioux war, in 1866, he crossed the plains
from Abercrombie with an ox train. He landed in
Montana, and the first sight that met his eye was three
men dangling from the limb of a tree. Such a thing
expresses die times of that then, new, rough and ready
country. Our subject worked in the vicinity of
Helena, for two years, then came to East Bannock,
Montana, and mined. In 1870 he went to Salmon
248
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
City, Idaho, and mined there until 1878. Then he
went to Challis and opened a livery stable. Next we
see him assessor of Custer county, being the first
elected incumbent of that office which he held for five
successive terms. He was also elected grand master
of the I. O. O. F., for the jurisdiction of Idaho, and
he has held some of the highest offices in this order. In
1893 and 1894 he was representative to the Sovereign
Grand Lodge at Atlantic City and Dallas, Texas. In
1891, having been active and prominent in politics for
vears previous Mr. Willis was elected lieutenant gov-
ernor of the state of Idaho, acting in conjunction with
Gov. W. J. McConnell. Subsequent to this service, he
sold his interests in Custer county and repaired to Poca-
tello and engaged in the drug business there. Six
years were spent at this and then he sold out and came
to Lewiston, where he bought the Aune interest in the
furniture stock of Aune & McGilvory. He sold out
that stock and in 1900 opened the Lewiston Furniture
and Undertaking Company, where he is doing a good
business at this time.
The marriage of Mr. Willis and Miss Anna O.
Diehl, of Salt Lake City, was solemnized in 1887; two
years later Mrs. Willis died, leaving one child, who
died at the age of six. In 1892 Mr. Willis married
Mrs. Delia B. Burns, widow of Judge James Burns, of
Custer county, Idaho. She was born in southern Ohio,
came west and was a teacher in Nebraska and Iowa.
Mr. Willis has but one living brother, Charles B., in
Willisville, New York, the old home. Mr. Willis is a
member of the Artisans and is one of the highest
in the I. O. O. F. He has always been a Republican,
and cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. He is
prominent in the councils of his party and has always
been active in it. In addition to the fine business that
Mr. Willis is doing in Lewiston, he owns property in
Pocatello and in Custer countv, Idaho.
JAMES WILLIAM WHITCOMB. The sub-
ject of this review is one of the well known and leading
citizens of Nez Perces county, having been one of the
active participants in improvement and advancement
in its limits for a number of years. He is at the
present time owner of a fine farm of one-half sec-
tion in Tammy hollow where he also rents twelve
hundred acres of grain land and operates with his
own, being thus one of the largest farmers of the en-
tire county. He has his estate improved in an up-
to-date manner, and has the best of all kinds of ma-
chinery for its cultivation. Good buildings of all kinds
needed are in evidence and in addition, Mr. Whit-
comb has a fine eight room house and a large barn
in Lewiston, corner of Eighth street and Eighth
avenue, where he resides during the school season.
James W. Whitcomb was born in Adams county,
Illinois, on March 28, 1859, being the son of Emory
Stratton and Rhoda (Beatty) Whitcomb. The
father was born in 1819, at West Swanzy, Maine, and
came as an early pioneer to Illinois, where he was
married, his wife being a native of Illinois. He was
a wool carder and a miller and wrought at his trades
in Illinois. In the spring of 1880, Mr. Whitcomb
came to Walla Walla, leaving the parental roof and
the old homestead of Illinois. One year later he was
in Nez Perces county and there took government
land which he still owns. Steadily and constantly
has Mr. Whitcomb wrought in the goodly enterprise
of producing the fruits of the field and building up
the county and is deserving of great credit for his
worthy labors.
On November 12, 1885, Mr. W'hitcomb married
Miss Sallie, daughter of James R. and Mary C.
(Ruddell) Nelson, early pioneers of Nez Perces coun-
ty. Six children have been born to this happy union,
as follows, Marvin R., Mamie A., Homer E., Delia
M., Lee V., Joseph M. Mr. Whitcomb is a member
of the M. W. A., of Lewiston. Several years since,
his parents came from Illinois and the father died
here in September, 1899, but the mother died in
August, 1889. Mrs. Whitcomb's father is living in
this county but her mother died on November 17,
1898. Mr. Whitcomb is one of the substantial and
reliable men of the county and has been very zealous
and active in the cause of education and general pro-
gress. He and his estimable wife are worthy mem-
bers of society and stand in high regard in the com-
munity.
♦♦-*
WILLIAM A. TESTERMAN is a true fron-
tiersman and in many ways and districts he has shown
forth the proof of this. He was born in Newton
county, Missouri, on August 6, 185 1, being the son
of Harvey and Nancy (Eads) Testerman, natives of
Tennessee, whence they came to Newton county,
Missouri. The father died in 1853 and our subject
was brought up with his mother and stepfather, Per-
rin Fay, with whom he came to Fredonia, Wilson
county, Kansas. In 1872 he went to Sherman,
Texas, then on to western Texas where he was a cow-
boy for years. The Comanches were hostile at that
time and as he was a member of the Texas Rangers,
he had many skirmishes with the redskins, but was
never wounded, although he has seen many killed by
their deadly arrows. Mr. Testerman was with the
noted scout, Jack Stillwell. and had much frontier
experience. His health failed and, alone on horse-
back, he made the trip to San Juan, Colorado, en-
countering hostile Indians and much hardship. He
was without food for three days and laid out at
night. He mined in Colorado and also had a hay
ranch, and in 1878 left that country for Goldendale,
Washington. He bought some horses there and in
1879 drove them to Wyoming. On May 8, 1881, Mr.
Testerman married Miss Annie B., daughter of
Ephraim and Sarah J. McFarland. Mr. and Mrs.
McFarland came from the east to Linn county, Ore-
gon, in pioneer days and there Mrs. Testerman was
born. Soon after his marriage, Mr. Testerman took
another trip with horses to the east, this time taking
his wife with him. They had a fine time, hunting
deer, birds, antelope, and catching fish. Following
[RS. JAMES W. WHITCOMB. JAMES W. WHITCOMB. WILLIAM A. TESTERMAN.
*,
GEORGE W. UNDEKWOOD.
FRED. B. SEARS.
WILLIAM STEVENSON.
WILLIAM E. RATCLIFFE.
JOHN BIELBY.
JOHN H. BLACK.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
249
this delightful trip, Mr. Testerman settled in Gilliam
county, Oregon, and secured twelve hundred acres of
fine land. He did well raising wheat and the year of
the panic had fifteen thousand bushels, which he
hauled twenty-five miles and sold for nineteen cents
per bushel. This strain ruined him financially and he
was forced to come to the reservation with borrowed
money. He rented land from the Indians in |the
vicinity of Lapwai, and in 1899 he bought his present
place of one-half section from the state, it being school
land. His estate is located four and one-half miles
east from Nezperce. The farm is in a high state of
cultivation and Mr. Testerman is one of the heavy
property owners of this section. He has a fine resi-
dence, excellent barn, and all outbuildings and im-
provements that are needed on the farm. Mr. Tes-
terman rents one hundred and twenty acres of In-
dian land near by and does a general farming business
and also raises stock. He own a share in the tram-
way to Kamiah. Eight children have been born to
this happy couple, Charles A., James F., Annie B.,
William M., Ada C, Ida E., Harvey E. and Robert
L. Mr. Testerman has always been an intrepid and
skillful frontiersman and although much in the midst
of rough men. he has never allowed himself to be in-
temperate or immoral and is the possessor of an un-
sullied reputation.
GEORGE W. UNDERWOOD. This esteemed
gentleman is one of the first of that worthy band of
pioneers who came into this country when it was wild
and inhabited only by savages, and here he has done
excellent labor for the opening up of the resources at
hand, the development of the country, the advancement
of good government, and the establishment of free in-
stitutions of civilization.
George W. Underwood was born in Middlesex.
Yates county, New York, on October 9, 1839, being
the son of Adams and Mahala (Aldrich) Underwood.
The father was a farmer and was born on January 7,
1803, in Vermont and died in 1843. He was a highly
educated man and had taught school for nineteen
winters in one place. The mother was born in New
York, on May 18, 1804, and died in August, 1885, in
Middlesex. New York. Our subject remained at
home after the death of his father, laboring with an
older brother and attending school. Before he be-
came of age, he went west to Michigan and Illinois
and one year later returned to his home. He had
learned the wagon and carriage maker's trade and at
that time worked for a carriage maker. It was in
i860 that he came west via New York and Panama, to
San Francisco and thence to Douglas county, Oregon.
The next spring he came to Walla Walla and thence.
in 1861, to Lewiston. He went into the mines and
worked summers with William Stevenson, his part-
ner. They did carpenter work thus until 1873, and
then located on his present place, twenty miles south-
east from Lewiston, and with Mr. Stevenson went into
the stock business. Before this Mr. Underwood had
worked some as wagon and plow maker at the Indian
department at the Lapwai agency.
In July, 1883, Mr. Underwood married Tillie
(Giles) Yane, daughter of Shovel and Caroline
(Short) Giles, natives of New York, and born re-
spectively in 1835 ar>d 1844. The father lives in Ore-
gon and the mother is dead. Mrs. Underwood was
born in New York in 1858 and has two brothers,
James and William. Mr. Underwood has one brother
and one sister, Adams, and Lucy J. Adams, both in
New York. They have one child, Ora, daughter of
Mrs. Underwood by a former marriage. Mr. Under-
wood is a member of the blue lodge, the chapter, and
commandery of the Masonic order. He is a charter
member of the Nez Perces Lodge at Lewiston, and
he is also a member of the Pioneers' Association of
this county. Mr. Underwood cast his first vote for
Abraham Lincoln in i860 and has voted for the
Republican candidates ever since. Mr. Underwood is
still in the stock business and is a substantial citizen.
FRED B. SEARS is a native of the Occident and
in this realm he has spent his entire life, being imbued
with the true western spirit and that enterprise and
energy which has brought to the front the inland
empire country and made the entire Pacific slope one
of the great sections of the world. His native place
is Carson City, Nevada, and the date of his birth,
March 17, 1862. The parents, James D. and Marietta
(Camburn) Sears, were natives respectively of New
York and Michigan. The father's family is an old
and prominent New England house. He went to
California in the winter of 1849-50 and did placer
mining on the American river. A few years after
he went east, married, returned to the coast and now
lives in Grand Forks, British Columbia. He pos-
sesses considerable property there and is engaged in
the real estate business and mining brokerage. The
mother of our subject is living with him at present
and her mother is still living in Michigan. She
comes from an old American family of English de-
scent. Our subject was raised principally in southern
California, studied in Inyo county and then returned
to Carson City when he was sixteen. His parents
went to Washington and he was variously engaged,
being in the water business for ten years. Later we
see him in Palouse, handling meat. Two years were
spent there and he went to Spokane, where he was
special police for a time after the fire and in January,
1890. he came to Wallace. He was engaged in the
meat trade there for a vear and in the spring of 1891
Mr. Sears went to Wardner. He conducted a first-
class butcher shop and had an excellent trade. Lately
he came to Lewiston and opened up a fine shop here.
Mr. Sears has four brothers and one sister, Jesse R.,
Charles F., Frank D.. Justin C. Mrs. Nettie E.
Barger.
At Palouse, on January 2, 1900. Mr. Sears mar-
ried Miss Martha E., daughter of Joseph and Nancy
Knight. The father was a well known pioneer in the
250
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Polouse country, and is now deceased. The mother
lives in Palouse. Mrs. Sears has the following
brothers and sisters, Henry P., probate judge in Wal-
lace: Everett, Samuel, Mrs. Georgia Coleman, Mrs.
Marie Todd. Three children have been born to Mr.
and Mrs. Sears, Carl F., Henry D., Mildred, aged
eleven, four and two, respectively. Mr. Sears is a
member of the Elks, Coeur d'Alene 331 ; of the K. of
P., Galena No. 12 ; of the Junior Order of American
Mechanics; of the Eagles, Wardner Aerie. Mr.
Sears is a true blue Republican and is frequently a
delegate to the county conventions, where he is an in-
fluential member. Mr. Sears is a thorough western
man by both birth and practice, is enterprising, up-to-
date and popular and one of the substantial business
operators in this entire Coeur dAlene country.
WILLIAM STEVENSON. It is with pleasure
that we are enabled to give to this worthy pioneer
and substantial farmer and loyal citizen of Nez Per-
ces county, a representation in his county history,
since he has labored for many years for the devel-
opment of this county, has maintained an unsullied
reputation, has always been a good and upright man
and is highly esteemed by all to-day.
William Stevenson was born in Prince Edward
Island, on September 21, 1841, being the son of Charles
and jane (Orr) Stevenson. The father was a farmer,
born in Scotland in 1802 and died in Prince Edward
Island in 1889. His ancestors were natives of Scotland
and his father was John Stevenson. The mother of our
subject was also born in Scotland in 1808, and died
in i860, her parents being Robert and Jane Orr. Will-
iam remained with his parents until of age and then
started for himself, having received his education from
the schools of his native place. He went to New York
and thence via Panama to San Francisco, arriving
there in 1863. He labored on a farm for a time, then
went to Puget Sound where he worked in the woods
until 1865. One year was spent in Canyon City, Ore-
gon, then and afterwards, he went to Montana and
thence to Lewiston. It was 1866 that he landed in
this county. He worked in the mines in the summer
and wintered in Lewiston. In 1873 he took up his
present place, twenty miles southeast from Lewiston,
where he has remained since, giving his attention
to general farming and raising stock. He has four
hundred acres of land and his stock consists of horses
and cattle.
On June 14, 1882, Mr. Stevenson married Miss
Julia, daughter of A. J. Glass, who was born in Ohio
in 1830, and died in 1898. This wedding occurred in
Nez Perces count v. Mrs. Stevenson was born in Illi-
nois in 1857. Her brothers, John R. and Thomas
C, live in Nez Perces county, and her sister, Mrs.
Elizabeth Day, resides at Douglas island, Alaska. Mr.
Stevenson has brother and sisters named below, Rob-
ert, in Prince Edward island ; Margaret Wyand, Jane
Head, Mary, deceased; Martha McLeod, Agnes, de-
ceased; half brothers, Henry B., and Charles. To
Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson there have been born six
children, Grace M., Winifred G., Clarence C, Ella B.,
Mildred R., and Laura May. In political matters,
Mr. Stevenson is a staunch Republican and always
attends to voting and the interests of his county. He
is an ardent and intelligent supporter of good educa-
tional facilities and has done much for the schools.
Mr. Stevenson is a member of the Pioneer's Asso-
ciation. He is respected by all, is a loyal friend and
a kind neighbor and is one of the substantial men of
his section.
WILLIAM E. RATCLIFFE. It is seldom our
opportunity to review the career of a man who has
had more experience in the life of the frontiersman
and in the hardships of pioneer life than the subject
of this article and it is very fitting that an account of
his life be embodied in this history of Xez Perces
county, inasmuch as he has done a great deal here for
the advancement of the county and has always con-
ducted himself in a commendable manner, and is to-
day one of the substantial men of the county.
William E. Ratcliffe was born in Henry county,
Indiana, on January 20, 1845, Demg the son of Isaac
and Hulda (Carr) Ratcliffe, natives of Ohio, both
being born in 1820; the father dying in 1891 and the
mother in 1853. Our subject went with the family
to Marshall county, Iowa, when he was thirteen and
he remained a dutiful son with the father until he was
nineteen, and then he desired to go to the West accord-
ingly he fitted out four teams and joined a train in
Omaha that was to make the journey. At Pawnee
Springs, the Indians began to manifest their
hostilities, threatening to scalp the immigrants
and from that time until they landed at
their journey's end, the sturdy immigrants
would not allow a red skin to show his head
in the camp. They fought the entire distance, but
were fortunate in not losing a man. When they were
camped on the Platte river, a poor unfortunate band
of immigrants on the other side, who had seven
wagons, were all murdered by the savages. Our sub-
ject and his comrades were powerless to do anything
to avert the awful catastrophe and the fiendish red
men did a thorough work. One man was brought
into the camp with nine arrows in his body, but he
recovered. The other ten of that hapless train were
killed. May 16, 1864, was the date they started
and one hundred and twenty days later they stopped in
the Grande Ronde valley. A short stop was made at
Boise, while enroute. The spring of 1865 Mr. Ratcliffe
went to Boise and remained one year. Then he went to
Portland, and afterward visited Benton, Lane, Douglas,
Linn and Wasco counties. In the last named
county he operated a butcher shop for two years. His,
next move was to Linn and then Marion and Yam
Hill counties. Later he went to Portland and after-
wards to Salt Lake. From there he went to Lower
California through Nevada, taking his family with
him and landing in San Barnardino on November 15,
1880. He crossed the Los Vegas desert of sixty miles
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
251
without water, having his family with him. Two
years were spent in Los Angeles county and then by
steamer he went to Santa Barbara and bought teams
to make his way through the state to Red Bluff,
whence he returned to Lane county. The next move
was to Davenport, Washington, where he remained
eleven years and operated a stock ranch and butcher
shop. Then he came to Nez Perces county and his
son took up land where the town of Peck now stands.
Mr. Ratcliffe married Sallie A. Bridges, in Sep-
tember, 1867, the wedding occurring in Lane county,
Oregon. Her parents, Samuel and Betsey Bridges,
were early pioneers to Oregon, 1852 being the date of
their immigration. Mrs. Ratcliffe was born in Iowa
in 1845 ar,d crossed the plains with her parents in
1852. She died in 1889, leaving four children, Betsey,
J., wife of John Horwage in Davenport. Washington ;
Isaac N., Marion A., Nancy E., wife of J. O. Moore,
all in Peck, Idaho.
In 1891, Mrs. Ratcliffe married a second time and
in 1900 this lady also passed away. Mr. Ratcliffe has
the following brothers and sisters : Mary, Jemima,
Louisa, all deceased ; Thomas E., in Idaho county.
Mr. Ratcliffe is a Quaker and has always followed
their faith. He is a Democrat, and while interested
in the welfare of the county, is not a politician. He
is an advocate of good schools and advancement in
all lines and has always labored for this.
JOHN BIELBY. This genial gentleman is pro-
prietor of a nice hotel and a good feed stable in
Fletcher, where he has done a thriving business since,
the opening of the house and on account of his kind
care for the welfare and comfort of guests, his wis-
dom in providing entertainment, and the business-like
manner in which he operates his hotel, he is rapidly
gaining an increasing patronage and has the reputa-
tion of having as fine a place as there is on the reser-
vation for caring for guests.
John Bielby was born in Bridlington, East Riding,
Yorkshire, England, on October 30, 1843, being the
son of William and Hannah Bielby, natives of the
same place. The father was a Methodist preacher
and continued his calling until his death. Our subject
was the eighth of a family of nine children and was
educated in his native place. On May 27, 1865, Mr.
Bielby married Miss Elizabeth S. Hodson, who was
born in Butterwick, Yorkshire, England, on October
21, 1843. On October 3, 1871, Mr. Bielby started
with his wife and three children from Liverpool to
Boston, on the steamer Porttrain. They landed finally
in Fillmore county, Minnesota and farmed there until
1879, when he removed to Lac Qui Parle county, the
same state. In 1892 they went to Alberta, Northwest
Territory, where Mr. Bielby operated a dray line for
a year and then took the oversight of a coal mine.
It was in 1896 that he came to Pullman and the fall
of that year, October, he located his lots in Fletcher
and erected a dwelling house. Later he put up a good
building for a hotel, having commodious office, parlors,
kitchen, dining room, bed room, and so forth below
and occupied with sleeping rooms above. He does a
good business here as well as in his feed stable. Mr.
Bielby was one of the very first who located in Fletcher
and is one of the leading men of the town. The fol-
lowing named children have been born to Mr. Bielby
and his faithful wife : Mary A., wife of J. Nelson, a
farmer in Alberta ; Sarah E. wife of J. Blades, a
butcher in Alberta ; Margaret H., wife of E. Dunbar,
who operates and owns a large elevator and general
merchandise store in Beaver Creek, Rock county, Min-
nesota; Ellen, wife of R. P. Pettepiece, editor and
owner of a Socialist paper in Vancouver, British Co-
lumbia; Alice, wife of R. Hutchinson, a miner of
Rossland ; William, at home.
JOHN H. BLACK. The subject of this review
is one of the sturdy men who have made the reser-
vation portion of Nez Perces county one of the best
places in the state of Idaho. He is well respected, is
a man of ability and erudition and has a wide influ-
ence in the affairs of the county.
John H. Black was born in Clark county, Missouri,
on January 4, i860, being the son of Andrew J. and
Ann (Burner) Black, natives of Ohio. The father is
of Scotch-Irish lineage and now lives near South-
wick. The mother died when John H. was a small
boy. For twenty years of his life, our subject was in
Missouri and during this time he gained his educa-
tion from the district schools. Then came a trip
to the west and settlement was made near Colfax, and
one year was spent on a dairy ranch. Then he farmed
until 1890, after which he purchased a ranch adjoining
Leland. Here he remained until the opening of the
reservation, when he took his present place in the vi-
cinity of Giftord. He was in financial straits at that
time, but by hard work and taking advantage of the
resources of the country, he has come to be well re-
warded with the goods of this world. This last year
Mr. Black rented his land and is now living in Gil-
ford. He has the following brothers and sisters :
Charles E., in Leland ; Samuel, at Southwick ; Matilda
J., wife of John A. Porter, a banker of Luray City,
Missouri ; Mabel, a school girl in Leland. Mr. Black
is a staunch Democrat, active in all questions of in-
terest and a zealous laborer for good schools and
roads.
On February 9, 1890, Mr. Black married Miss
Mary E., daughter of Matthew and Elizabeth (Luther)
Williams, the wedding occurring at Leland. Mr. Will-
iams was born in Virginia and died in 1901, aged
seventy. His death resulted from a team running
over him. He was a pioneer of Illinois, being one of
the first settlers in Gallatin county. Then he went to
Pratt county, Kansas, in 1885 and then engaged in
stock raising, merchandising and banking. He owned
a large hotel and other property. The mother of Mrs.
Black was born in Illinois and died at the residence
of her son, Rev. Williams, on the reservation, in
March, 1900. Mrs. Black was born in Illinois in Feb-
352
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
xuary, 1873 and has five brothers and three sisters.
Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Black :
Norval A., born May 26, 1895 ; Ila M., born November
-22, 1898, and Norma Irene, born October 20, 1 901.
HARDY W. SHELBURN is a prosperous general
merchant at Peck, where he does a good business, and
owing to his ability and careful attention to business,
is steadily gaining a lucrative and increasing patron-
age. He is a man of good principles, manifests in-
tegrity and worth and has gained the respect and con-
fidence of all.
Hardy W. Shelburn was born in Plover, Wiscon-
sin, on October 18, 1866, being the son of Hardy H.
and Valeria (Sutton) Shelburn, natives of Missouri,
and born, November 14, 1836, and December 22, 1838,
respectively. The father was a pioneer in Wisconsin
and is now in partnership with his son in the store in
Peck. The mother died in August, 1870. Our sub-
ject grew up and was educated in his native place and
then the family removed to Norman county. Minne-
sota. On the Red River Valley Journal he learned
the printer's trade and labored there for five years, be-
ing foreman when he quit. Then he went to brak-
ing on the railroad and farmed until 1889, when he
came to Spokane. This was in November and soon
he removed to Stevens county, near Newport. He was
the second settler there and seven years were spent on
a homestead, raising hay and selling wood, and then
a move was made to the vicinity of Spangle. In 1899
he came to Peck. He bought an interest with E. E.
Carter and one year later sold out to him. Carter
then moved away and on May 24, 1901, in company
with his father, he opened a general merchandise es-
tablishment. They have succeeded well and now en-
joy a fine trade.
On December 14. 1895, in Stevens county. Wash-
ington, Mr. Shelburn married Miss Hester, daughter
of George W. and Mary Casteel, natives of Ohio and
Missouri, respectively. The father was born in 1844.
Mrs. Shelburn has three sisters, Minerva Meek, Net-
tie Blalock and Sophia Rice. Mr. Shelburn has four
sisters, Sarah Foster, Dora Marion. Kate Geau-
dreau, and Julia Newby. To our subject and his
faithful wife there have been born four children, Ada,
Harrv, Ila. Muriel. Mr. Shelburn is a member of
the I. O. O. F. In politics he is associated with the
Democratic party. Mr. Shelburn has always cast his
influence on the side of good government and good
schools and is one of the influential and capable men of
this section.
JOHN J. PHILIP1. Among the capable, enter-
prising and successful business men of Lewiston is to
be mentioned the industrious and skillful tradesman
whose name appears above, and who has since 1885
operated a first-class tailor shop in Lewiston, where
he is now doing a thriving business, being highly re-
spected and in good standing. John J. was born in
Austria, near Prague, on November 1, 1856, being the
son of John and Anna (Borovec) Philipi. The father
was a weaver, born near Prague and died aged fifty,
in 1870. The mother was also born in the same place
in 1830, and she is now living in Washington. Her
parents, Tony and Anna Borovec, both died in Port-
land. Our subject was educated in Austria, then was
bound out to a tailor in 1870, serving four years, at the
expiration of which time he came to the West Indies,
thence via Panama to San Francisco and Portland,
whither his mother and three brothers had preceded
him the year previous. He worked for a time at his
trade, then returned to San Francisco, working for a
few months and then enlisting in the regular army,
Company D, First Cavalry. In 1877 he was sent to
Nez Perces to assist in quelling the Indians and he
participated in a number of engagements. He then re-
turned to the Golden Gate and was transferred to the
Twenty-first, Company K, under Captain Downie,
being company tailor, and in 1882 he was honorably
discharged at Vancouver. He opened a tailor shop
and did well there until 1885, when he came to Lewis-
ton and engaged in the tailoring business here, where
he has wrought with a winning hand since that time,
being one of the substantial and leading business men
of the city. In 1897 Mr. Philipi took a homestead on
the Nez Perces reservation and proved up on it re-
cently, having a fine farm, well improved.
The marriage of Mr. Philipi and Miss Fannie,
daughter of Martins M. and Fannie Podamy, natives
of Austria and immigrants to America in 1871, was
solemnized in Portland, on May 22, 1882, and to them
four children have been born, Ida, Chester, Allie and
Lela. Mrs. Philipi has four sisters, of whom three are
now living, Mary Connasek, Anna Bonty and Josie
Kiten. Mr. Philipi has three brothers, Joseph, Anton
and Henry. Mr. Philipi is a member of the Maccar
bees, while he and his family are Catholics. Mr.
Philipi is a Democrat and active in political matters.
In addition to his farm he has a fine business in Lewis-
ton and has conducted his financial matters in a be-
coming and wise manner. He is a member of the
Pioneer Association and is really one of the builders of
the county, having labored faithfully in all his ways.
SHERMAN W. FANNING is a westerner by
birth and has devoted himself to the development of
the raw country of the west for many years with grati-
fying results in a fine farm, good improvements and
a substantial holding of property that makes him one
of the well-to-do men of the vicinity of Nezperce, his
farm being about one mile southwest from Nezperce.
Sherman W. Fanning was born in the vicinity of
Albany, Oregon, on September 18, 1865, being the son
of Elias E. and Mary A. (Gladhill) Fanning, natives of
Morgan county, Illinois. Levi Fanning, "grandfather
of our subject, was a Mexican war veteran. The
father of Sherman was a member of the state militia
in Illinois. In 1852 Mr. and Mrs. Fanning crossed
the plains with a train of over two hundred people.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
255
Cholera attacked them and many of the emigrants were
buried by the trail. Six months were consumed on
this weary journey and they settled near Afbany on a
donation claim. In 1874 they came to the vicinity of
Forest Grove and in 1877 they all settled near Pome-
roy, Washington. The father was a prominent
politician in Oregan and served in the legislature from
Washington county. He was also prominent in the
Grange movement in that state.
On July 4, 1887, Mr. Fanning married Miss Effie
M., daughter of George W. and Sarah E. (Bragg)
Warfield, natives of Illinois, and came from Union
county, Iowa, where Mrs. Fanning was born, to
Pomeroy, in 1881. Mr. Warfield died on January ii,
1899, but his widow is still living in Whitman county,
Washington. Mr. Fanning resided near Pomeroy un-
til the spring of 1898, when he came to his present
farm, which is now well supplied with buildings and
the farm is highly cultivated and a valuable place.
Mr. Fanning is a member of the W. W. Camp No.
419, of Nezperce. Two children have been born to
him and his estimable wife, Sherman W. and Arthur
L. Mr. Fanning's mother died on December 5, 189 1,
aged fifty-five. His father died on December 23,
1900, aged sixty-seven. He is a director of the Nez-
perce tramway, the first one on the Clearwater, of
which he was one of the instigators.
LEE MAYS. While the worthy pioneers who first
started the commercial activity and business of Nez
Perces county did a noble work, still there are many
who have come here since that have manifested ex-
cellent enterprise also in the continuation of the indus-
trial interests of this section. Among this number we
mention the subject of this sketch, who, in company
with F. Gritman, does a fine business in Lewiston, be-
ing proprietors of the White Front livery and feed
stable in Lewiston. They have a fine equipment of
stock, vehicles and buildings, and are up-to-date and
careful liverymen, doing a fine business at the present
time.
•Mr. Mays- is distinctly a western product, being
born in Walla Walla, on January 19, 1877, and at the
age of thirteen doing for himself, since which time he
has always conducted his affairs with great credit to
himself. His father, John Mays, who was a carpen-
ter, farmer and stockman, born in 1857, crossed the
plains in an early day, and died in July, 1902. His
mother, Rachel (Beard) Mays, was born in 1857 and
is at Green Creek, Idaho. When our subject was one
year old, his parents went to the vicinity of Dayton and
farmed. That continued to be his home, except from
1895 to 1898, when he was with the Walla Walla
Dressed Meat Company, of Dayton. Mr. Mays was
in the livery business there until he came to Lewiston.
He then formed a partnership with Mr. Gritman and
together they started the livery stable mentioned and
have since that time done a fine business.
On June 10, 1902, Mr. Mays married Miss Nellie,
daughter of John A. and Ellen A. (Watris) Knox, at
Dayton, Washington. Mr. Knox was born in New
York, in 1845, came west in 1889 and settled in Colum-
bia, where he lives now and is an esteemed and suc-
cessful farmer. Mrs. Knox was born in Wisconsin, in
1847. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Mays was
John E. Knox, born in Ireland, of Scotch descent,
while her maternal grandfather, Levi Watris, was
born in Canada and came to America when young.
Mrs. Mays was born in Iowa, on September 26, 1881,
and educated in the high school in Columbia county,
Washington. She has the following brothers and sis-
ter, John Arthur, Clara Mays, Walter and Bruce, all
in Columbia county. Mr. Mays has the following
named brothers and sisters, Daughty, deceased; An-
drew, near Dayton, Washington ; Lulu, wife of Will-
iam Hood in Kooskia, Idaho ; Maude, wife of Willis
Baldwin, in Dayton, Washington; Stella, Grace,
Charlie, at Green Creek ; also a half brother, Robbie
Dunn. Mr. Mays is active in the political world and
has always allied himself with the Democratic party.
JOHN R. WOLFE. Among the enterprising and
successful young men of Nez Perces county who are
making a good success because of ability and industry
we are constrained to mention the subject of this arti-
cle, who at the present time is conducting an assay-
ing office in Lewiston, where he is doing a fine busi-
ness. Mr. Wolfe was born in Brown county, Kansas,
on December 2, 1869, being the son of John C. and
Cintha (Doughty) Wolfe. The father is a grocery
man in Moscow, was born in Illinois in 1848, came to
Washington in 1875 and to Idaho in 1876 and is now
councilman of Moscow. He enlisted in the Union
army when a boy and his parents took him out, after
which he returned and re-enlisted. The mother of
our subject was born in Ohio in 1849 and is living in
Moscow, while her mother is still living in Illinois.
Our subject remained with his parents until of age.
He attended public school and worked on the farm and
finally took a course in the University at Moscow,
finishing with a Special course in mineralogy. He
then opened an office for assaying for two years in
Moscow, after which he repaired to Florence and did
business there for a time and at the time of the Buffalo
Hump excitement he went thither and opened an of-
fice for assaying, mining engineering and surveying,
doing also a contracting business. Later we find him
in Stuart on the Clearwater, running an assay office.
Then he took a position with the Lolo Pioneer Mining
Company in the Pierce City district and stayed with
them until 1901. Then he went to Moscow and
erected the White Cross Mills, after which he came to
Lewiston and opened an assaying office, where he is
doing a good business.
The marriage of Mr. Wolfe and Miss Lunia,
daughter of J. R. and Sarah Fariss, of Latah county,
was solemnized in Moscow on January 20, 1891. and
to them has been born one child, Robert W., born
August 18, 1902. Mr. Fariss is a farmer and a na-
tive of Virginia and in addition to Mrs. Wolfe, who
254
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
was born in Stanberry, Missouri, on June 24, 1870, he
had other children as follows, George, at Pueblo,
Colorado; Delmer, in Idaho; Cinthia and Effie, in
Moscow. Mr. Wolfe has two sisters, Neva, wife of
L. J. Lindley, in Pullman; Ada, at home. Mr. and
Mrs. Wolfe are members of the Christian church and
are hearty supporters of their faith. He is a Republi-
can as have been his people for some time.
FRED GRITMAN has not long been in business in
Lewiston, but he has manifested the ability and genial-
ity that have already won him a good patronage and
which made him many friends in other sections ad-
jacent to Nez Perces county, where he has wrought for
a long time. He was born in Central, Menard county,
Illinois, on February 22, 1861, being the son of Delos
W. and Mary E. (Davis) Gritman, natives of New
York, the father dying in 1894, and the mother in
1893. Our subject remained at home, attended the
common schools, and labored on the farm with his
father until the time of his majority and then came to
Walla Walla county, Washington. Soon he went to
Columbia county and started at the art of agriculture,
but mostly handling cattle and sheep. He met with
fair success in the business and remained at it for
twenty years. Then he sold his stock, retaining his
cattle, and came to Lewiston. This was the first of
1902. The change was made as Mr. Gritman was
breaking down from the arduous exercise of riding
horseback. In Lewiston he went into the livery busi-
ness in partnership with Lee Mays, and they operate
the White Front livery on Main street, which is a
first-class establishment in every respect, being pro-
vided with accommodating attendants, fine stock and
elegant rigs, and the proprietors are tireless in their
efforts for the comfort and safety of their patrons.
On October 26, 1881, Mr. Gritman married Miss
Laura B., daughter of Henry and Emily (Kincaid)
Gaines, in Illinois, and to them have been born six
children, Lottie, Addie, Fred S., H. Lee, Ernest,
Oneta, all at home. Mr. Gaines was a farmer, born in
Kentucky, and died in 1892. His wife was also a
native of Kentucky, born December 12, 1832, and died
on March 20. 1902, at Mason City. Illinois. Mrs.
Gritman was born in Illinois on March 31, 1861 ; she
has two brothers and two sisters, Charles, Anna
Copper, James E.. and Mollie Stone. Mr. Gritman
has the following named brothers and sisters, Nettie
Rayburn, Charles, A. D., Nellie Clark, May Rowe,
Lulu Johnson and Earl. Mr. Gritman was deputy
assessor in Columbia county and has always taken
active interest in political matters, both of state and
county, being allied with the Republican party.
OWEN DEVLIN, a respected and well known cit-
izen of Nez Perces county, whose uprightness and abil-
ity are manifest in his labors and achievements, is a
son of the noted Emerald Isle, and the good Irish
blood that courses in his veins has enabled him to suc-
cessfully battle with the adverse forces of the world
and gain a good holding in the material line, while his
integrity, manly qualities, and intrinsic worth have
gained for him the encomiums, good will and confi-
dence of all who know him.
Owen Devlin was born on June 11, 1853, in Ire-
land, being the son of Patrick and Kate, also natives
of Ireland. The former was born in 1824 and died in
1894, while the latter was born in 1824 and died in
1898, being farmers all their lives. Our subject was
reared and educated in the native place and there
wrought with his father until he had reached the age of
nineteen. This was in 1872, and that marks the year
when Owen severed home ties, parted with native
land and sailed for better opportunities in the land
of the free. He went at once to Illinois and com-
menced railroading, which he followed for three years
with his headquarters at Rock Island. His next move
was to Clayton county, Iowa, where he continued rail-
roading for fifteen years. It was 1890 when he came
to Spokane and nine years were spent in the labor
wherein he had become proficient, railroading. Then
he made his way to the reservation and in 1899 pur-
chased his present farm. This estate consists of one
quarter section and is situated three miles southwest
from Peck. Mr. Devlin has given the same assiduous
attention and labor, always dominated with wisdom of
a high order, which always characterized him in earlier
years and he has won the smiles of fortune and is one
of the substantial and prosperous men of the county.
He has a good residence, commodious barns, excellent
orchard, and other improvements to match, while he
devotes himself to general farming and raising cattle
and hogs.
In July, 1876, Mr. Devlin married Miss Margaret
Sturum, a native of Germany, born in 1864. Her
parents were natives of the same country and came to
this country in 1866. She has three brothers and one
sister living. Mr. Devlin has the following brothers,
John, in Iowa: Thomas, in Ireland; Patrick in Iowa;
James, in Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Devlin have
been born the following named children, Kate
Graham, James, Martin, Susie, Agnes, Patrick, John,
William, Michael, Bessie. Mr. Devlin is a member of
of I. O. O. F., while he and his wife are adherents of
the Catholic church. He is a member of the school
board and is always in favor of improvements and
progress in educational and all lines.
JOHN H. UTT. Among the prosperous and sub-
stantial farmers in this vicinity we should surely place
the name of the genial and capable gentleman that in-
troduces this paragraph, for he deserves representa-
tion in the history of his county.
John H. Utt was born in Jersey county, Illinois, in
1842, being the son of John and Nancy (Gardner)
Utt, natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania, respectively.
The father was born in 1800, came as a pioneer to Illi-
nois when there was but one store in Alton. He took
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
255
part in the Black Hawk war and is now dead. The
mother died in 1861. Our subject remained with his
father on the farm, gaining from the country schools
the educational discipline needed to assist him in the
battles of life, until he was of age. Then he went to
Plumas county, California, and farmed for five years.
Jn 1883, he settled in Chautauqua county, Kansas,
where his home was for sixteen years. In 1866 Mr.
Utt went to Illinois and married Miss Nancy, daugh-
ter of James and Nancy Armstrong. Mrs. Utt was
born in Illionis, and in 1883 was called from her happy
home by death, leaving her husband and four children
to mourn her loss. The children are named as fol-
lows, Rufus, in Nez Perces county; Jennie Both-
wick, in Little Rock, Arkansas ; John E., in Palouse,
Washington ; Mony. Mr. Utt has the following named
brothers and sister, Henry, William, deceased, Sarah
J., deceased. Mr. Utt is interested in political mat-
ters and is associated with the Democratic and Popu-
list parties. His brother William was a participant in
the great struggle of the Civil war and fought for his
country- Mr. Utt is quite active in advocating good
schools and general progress. He owns a good farm
in Cedar Vale, Kansas, in adition to the quarter sec-
tion where he resides, one mile southwest from Peck.
He took this last land with his government right in
1899. Since that time he has devoted himself to its
improvement and is one of the respected men of the
vicinity, being public spirited and ever ready to aid his
fellows in the race of life.
JOHN W. KILLINGER. The mining interests
of the west have brought here some of the finest talent
in special lines to be found and one of the prominent
professional gentleman attracted hither is the subject
of this humble review. He is a graduate of some of
the best schools on mining, assaying, metallurgy and
kindred subjects that are to be found in the United
States and at the present time he is operating a labora-
tory for assaying in Lewiston.
John W. was born in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, on
December 30, 1865, being the son of Hon. John W.
Killinger. The father was for years a state senator
from Lancaster county and then was sent to Congress
for eight terms. He was a warm personal friend of
James G. Blaine, was one of the committee who as-
sisted to get Lincoln into Washington after his elec-
tion, was all through the trying times of the war and
did creditable service for his constituency, being a
man of excellent ability and integrity. He retired
from Congress in 1888 and died in Pennsylvania in
1896. The mother of our subject was born in Ohio
and lived at the old homestead in Lebanon, Pennsyl-
vania. ( )ur subject was well educated in the public
schools, prepared for college at the Media Academy,
and was graduated from the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology in Boston in the class of 1886, having
taken the chemical course. He went into business in
Lebanon and in 1891 came west to Portland and took
charge of the metallurgical and assaying departments
of the Fiske School of Mines. He arrived in Lewis-
ton in September, 1898. Previous to locating here he
had been to the Columbia School of Mines in New
York and taken a special course.
Mr. Killinger married Miss Olive S., daughter of
John and Margaret Aldridch. To this union there has
been born one child, John W. Mr. Killinger is a
Mason and member of the Knights Templar. He and
his wife are members of the Episcopalian church, of
which he is trustee. In politics, he is allied with the
Republicans and is active.
Theodore Hittell, uncle of our subject, was author
of the leading history of California and was state sen-
ator there, being also a leader in the committee of re-
vision of the constitution of the state. He was a
pioneer of 1849 and is regent of the Berkely Univer-
sity. John S. Hittell, a brother, is also a prominent
writer.
LOUIS GROSTEIN. A well known pioneer, a
man of wide experience in the mines of Idaho and in
frontier life in general, our subject is now one of the
business men of Lewiston and a patriotic and worthy
citizen. He was born in Buffalo, New York, on July
26, 1852.. being the son of Jacob and Betsy Grosteirl.
The father was born in 1792, in Poland, was with
Napoleon in Russia and came to the United States in
1838 to escape punishment on account of having been
allied with Napoleon. He settled in Albany, later was
a clothier in Buffalo, and died in Lewiston in 1886.
The mother was born in Poland in 1803, and died in
Lewiston in 1888. At the age of fifteen, our subject
came west with his sister, landing in Lewiston on May
12, 1867, having come via Panama and San Francisco.
He was educated in Buffalo and Lewiston and here
went with his brother Robert to Clearwater Station,
where he engaged in business in 1869 and then went to
Newsome creek in 1872. He was in business with his
brother Isaac there ; then went to Elk City, where he
entered into partnership with Mr. Bernard until 1875.
After that we find him operating a store in Warren
until 1880, then he came to Lewiston. On February
23, 1881, Mr. Grostein married Miss Clara J., daugh-
ter of William and Mary Writer, the father a farmer
and pioneer from Iowa, his native state. Mrs. Gros-
tein was born in Florence on August 30, 1863, being
the first white child born there. She has brothers and
sisters named as follows, Josephine, Walter, Carrie,
Greer and Elbert. Mr. Grostein has two brothers and
one sister, Robert, Rachel Bernard, Isaac. To Mr. and
Mrs. Grostein have been born four children, as follows,
Isaac C. twenty years of age on September 3, 1902,
now in the fruit business in Lewiston : Eunice, seven-
teen, at home; Jacob M., thirteen, at home; Mary B..
aged seven. Mr. Grostein is a member of the Masonic
fraternity, both the blue lodge and the chapter. He is
a Democrat and active in politics, and while he always
helps his friends to lie elected, he has never sought
political preferment for himself. He is also a member
of the Pioneer Association and is one of the real build-
ers of the country. He was in the Sheepeater war and
2S6
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
the Nez Perces war and his wife was one of the num-
ber shut up in the block house on Slate creek while the
Indians had them surrounded. Mr. Grostein was one
of sixteen that went out from Warren to get Frank
Smith on die Salmon and bring him to Warren.
RUFUS H. BEEMAN. President Roosevelt is
said to admire men who "do things." We feel sure
that had he had the opportunity of knowing the sub-
ject of this article, he would, for that reason, be well
impressed with him. A doughty pioneer, an intrepid
Indian fighter, a sociable and generous man. a pa-
triotic citizen, Mr. Beeman is one among a thousand
and a brief review of his intensely interesting career
will be profitable and interesting reading for the his-
tory of Nez Perces county.
Rufus H. Beeman was born in McKean, Pennsyl-
vania, on August 3, 1832. His father was a lumber-
man and a native of Connecticut, and his family had
been residents of New England for many generations.
The mother of our subject was a native of Pennsylva-
nia, and three years after the death of Mr. Beeman
she married Mr. Mcintosh, a native of Scotland.
Shortly after this, the family removed to Potosi, Wis-
consin, and there Mr. Mcintosh mined and later dis-
covered a very valuable lead mine. When twelve,
Rufus left home and resided with Mr. Parker, a miner,
where he attended school a part of each year and
worked in the mines the balance of the time for six
years. In 1852 he came to the Cascades, Oregon,
herded cattle, cleared land and boated on the Colum-
bia. In 1854, we see him in Roseburg and from then
until 1861, he had a freight train from there to Jack-
sonville, Oregon. During the Rogue river Indian
war in 1855 and 1856, he fought the savages and par-
ticipated in the battle of Hungry Hill, said to be the
bloodiest battle ever fought on the coast. He was
about to be killed, while assisting a wounded com-
rade, but managed to escape without a scratch. He
was in Company C, Ninth Regiment, under Captain
Rynearson and Colonel John E. Ross. He came to
Walla Walla in 1861 and there freighted and farmed
until 1872. In 1874 Mr. Beeman removed to Genesee
valley and bought five hundred and sixty acres of
land. He cultivated it to the cereals and while there
ran for sheriff and was defeated by one vote. Seven-
teen years were spent there and part of that time
he operated a general store, but while trade was good
his collections were poor and therefore he was obliged
to withdraw from the field. He then bought a half
section in the Potlach country near Juliaetta and about
a year before the opening of the reservation, he sold
it and bought cattle. When the reservation opened
he came hither and rented land from the Indians, one
section in one place and two hundred and forty acres
in Garden Gulch. His daughter, Clara B., filed on a
quarter and that with other rented land, was culti-
vated to oats and flax, having nearly five hundred acres
all told. Mr. Beeman is one of the largest farmers in
this portion of the county and is abundantly prospered.
On February 19, 1856, at Roseburgh, Oregon. Mr.
Beeman named Miss Caroline, daughter of Levi and
Elizabeth (Ream) McBee, natives of Ohio and Mary-
land, respectively ; both died while crossing the plains
:n 1852. Mrs. Beeman was born in Missouri, on Feb-
ruary 19, 1842, was with relatives at the Cascades,
Oregon, for a time and then lived with E. F. McXall
at Roseburg until she was married. She has one
brother, Isaiah, a blacksmith and farmer, near Golden-
dale, Washington. Mr. Beeman has one sister, Sarah,
wife of Abraham Anderson, in Lafayete, Pennsylva-
nia. Mrs. Beeman also has two sisters, Barbara A.,
wife of Edward Chambreau, at Portland ; Rebecca,
wife of Isaac Knighton, a farmer in Morrow county,
Oregon. To Mr. and Mrs. Beeman, twelve children
have been born, named as follows : Henry, in Wallowa
county, Oregon ; Francis M., a herder, in Okanogan
county, Washington; Frederick S., William Charles,
all stockmen in the same place ; Egbert, at home ; Le-
roy, also at home ; Mary E., wife of Joseph Henry, a
freighter, near Milton, Oregon ; Rosella, wife of
Lewis Taber, a farmer near Ellensburg, Washington ;
Lura, wife of Jack Johnson, a farmer in Okanogan
county; Adelia, at home; Anna, born August 5, 1864
and died October 16, 1883, and was the wife of Albert
Fansler, a native of Virginia, and she left one child,
Iris, who died aged fourteen ; Arabelle A., died June
22, 1896, aged twenty-three years, three months and
two days.- Mr. Beeman was an active Democrat in
earlier days, but is not so much so now. He is a re-
spected and prominent man in this community.
THOMAS H. BERRY. Many strong hands and
willing minds came to the opening of the fertile reser-
vation country and they have made a wonderful and
commendable progress in transforming the entire face
of the country from a wilderness to fertile farms and
pleasant and valuable estates. Among this worthy
number we are constrained to mention the affable and
skillful agriculturist whose name appears above. His
farm, one mile north from Melrose, was obtained by
government right and he has labored with assiduity
and intelligence to make of it a valuable rural abode.
He has good, comfortable buildings and other improve-
ments and has demonstrated himself an upright man,
a public spirited and progressive citizen and one who
has won the confidence of all.
Thomas H. Berry was born in Gentry county, Mis-
souri, on March n, i860, being the son of James B.
and Elenor (Grantham), natives of Illinois, mention
of whom, with their family, is made in the sketch of
L. L. Berry in this volume. Our subject remained
with his parents, a dutiful and industrious son, until
the time of his majority, and then entered the realities
of life on his own responsibility. He worked with
his father some time after that age and went with him
to Dakota in 1883. But Thomas returned to Gentry
county and then made his way back to Dakota, after
which he journeyed to Iowa and settled for a time
near Marshall count}-. Agajn he went to Missouri
RUFUS H. BEEMAN.
CHAS. A. LEEPER.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
257
and on February 14, 1888, he took the trip to Latah
county, or rather completed the trip on that date. He
farmed in the Cove, near Palouse, for ten years and on
May 27, 1898, he came to the reservation and took
his present estate.
On .March 20, 1887, in Gentry county, Missouri,
Mr. Berrv married Miss Arminda J., daughter of
John and Eliza A. (Hammonds) Finders, natives of
Illinois and Kentucky, respectively. Mrs. Berry was
born in Gentry county, Missouri, in 1870, and she has
three sisters and one brother. To our subject and his
estimable wife there have been born five children,
Gracie Elenor, deceased : Thomas Frederick, and John
Fay, Hester and Eliza Fern. Mrs. Berry is a member
of the Christian church. Mr. Berry is a Populist in
political matters and takes the part of the intelligent
citizen in the affairs of the dav.
CHARLES A. LEEPFR. In a number of lines
the subject of this sketch has achieved success, having
demonstrated his ability as an educator, a frontiersman,
and is now one of the leading farmers of Nez Perces
county ; it is affirmed that he owns more cattle than any
other one man in Nez Perces county, having now six
hundred on the range. Mr. Leeper is also a man of
sterling and intrinsic worth, of moral character, integ-
rity and uprightness.
Charles A. Leeper was born in Marion county, Indi-
ana, on January 19. 1850, being the son of Judge Will-
iam and Obedience A. (Parsly) Leeper. The father
was a farmer and capitalist, born in 1817, in Indiana,
and served as lieutenant in the Civil war. He was also
county judge in Nodaway county, Missouri. His
father, John Leeper, was of Scotch-Irish extraction and
belonged to a prominent old family of Scotland which
include a number of professional men of Edinburg.
The mother of our subject was born in Virginia in
1823 and died in 1868, being of Scotch descent. Our
subject remained at home until he was twenty-six years
of age, having been educated in the public schools and
the state university at Columbia. He came west in
February, 1876, to Salmon City, Idaho, and taught
three terms of school and also farmed. He was in
Custer county when it was cut off from Lemhi, remov-
ing to Nez Perces county in 1883, where he bought a
man's right to three hundred and twenty ac-
res of land and settled clown to raising stock
farming. He now owns the princely do-
and
main of fifteen hundred and eighty-six acres of
fine farm land which is devoted to agriculture
and feeding his fine bands of cattle. Since 1883 Mr.
Leeper has continued at the business in this county
and is now one of the prominent men and leaders in his
work.
On February 12, 1888, Mr. Leeper married Miss
Annie E. Bollinger, a native of Sandusky, Ohio, being
born in 1866. She came to Lewiston to visit her uncle,
S. Wildenthaler, and the acquaintance was formed
which later ripened into courtship and at the date men-
tioned Mr. Leeper went to Ohio to claim his bride. Mrs.
17
Leeper has three sisters, Josephine Weible, Sophia and
Rosa. Mr. Leeper has the following named brothers
and sisters : William, George, Ollie Falconer ; also four
half brothers, Frank, Fred, Robert and Lawrence. To
Mr. and Mrs. Leeper have been born five children,
Maude, Annie, Alice, Louise and Helen. He is a char-
ter member of the K. of P. in Lewiston, and has passed
the commandery degree of the Masonic fraternity. Mrs.
Leeper is a member of the Catholic church. .Mr. Leeper
is an active Democrat, was nominated for the legisla-
ture and was beaten by three votes. Was nominated
again and won the day, but in Latah county the courts
decided against him in the contest that followed. He
has been chosen as county commissioner for three terms
and is now chairman of that important body, and in all
of his public service he has been characterized by effi-
ciency and candor, always conserving the interests of
his constituency and the welfare of the commonwealth.
It is of note that Mr. Leeper's ancestors fought in
the Revolution and he had an uncle on his father's side
who fought with the south and three maternal uncles
who fought with the North. He was a scout in the
time of the Indian trouble in 1878 and had much ex-
perience in repelling the savages in Lemhi county. Mr.
Leeper is a member of the Pioneer Association, and is
a man respected by all.
JOHN B. MORRIS. M. D. For more than twen-
ty-five years this worthy and capable gentleman, whose
record in the state of Idaho is set with many gems of
courage, ability and genuine kindliness for his fellows,
has labored in the medical profession with display of
genius, adaptability and uprightness that have placed
him in the lead as a pioneer, as a professional man of
high repute and a stanch and true man of many virtues.
Dr. Morris was born in Knoxville, Ray county, Mis-
souri, on October 1, 1850, being the son of Benjamin
and Amanda (Hamilton) Morris, natives of Virginia.
The father died in Missouri, in June, 185 1. The mother
was born October 5, 1812, and died October 30. 1889.
Our subject remained with his mother until he had
reached his majority. In the meantime, he had gained
a good education from the public schools and the
academy. He assisted his older brothers to care for the
family and also taught school for means to educate
himself. It was in 1872 that he matriculated at the
St. Louis Medical College and thence he graduated in
1874. He had the distinction of paying the entire cost
of his education from his own earnings. After graduat-
ing he determined to try the west, and accordingly came
to Mount Idaho in 1875, where he settled to the prac-
tice of his profession, gaining good success from the
start. When the terrible Indian war broke out in 1877
Dr. Morris chanced to be in Portland and he at once
turned his face to the scene of trouble in the vicinity
of Mount Idaho. He was the first and only physician
that came to the rescue of the poor wounded soldiers
who had participated in the battle where, thirty had
been killed. To get to these unfortunate men, Dr. Mor-
ris had to cross the reservation of a hostile tribe and
25:
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
in reality took his life in his hands to assist his fellows,
and be' it ever said to his credit that he made
his way through,, using a gun that General Howard
had loaned him ; he cared for the suffering men, he
nursed and doctored them back to life, and to his skill.
his bravery, and his love for his fellows many a one
owes his life. It is with a feeling of regret, however,
that we are forced to chronicle that there was not an-
other physician who would go with Dr. Morris. Fol-
lowing the war, which closed in 1878, Dr. Morris set-
tled in Lewiston and there continued his practice even
until the present time, having great success and being
highly esteemed by his fellows wherever he is known.
He has a large and lucrative practice and no man is
really honored by his fellows more than the subject of
this sketch, who risked his own life to assist others.
The marriage of Dr. Morris and Miss Laura, daugh-
ter of T. S. and Elizabeth (Hutchingson) Billings.
was solemnized on September 24, 1879, and two chil-
dren have been born to them, Cora E., graduated from
the Lewiston high school at the age of seventeen, in
June, 1902 ; Benjamin Ray, attending school. Mr. Bill-
ings is a native of New York and is now a harness
dealer in Lewiston. His wife is a native of Canada,
where also Mrs. Morris was born on March 11, 1859,
in Toronto. She is an only child and came in an early
day to California with her parents. Dr. Morris has
the following named brothers and sisters : Levi, James
W., Mrs. John Prichard, Mrs. J. R. Warder, Mrs. M.
M. Sherlock, Benjamin F. and Hamilton. Dr. Morris
is a thirty-two degree Mason. His wife is a member of
the Presbyterian chuch. The Doctor is very popular
in political matters and for four years he served the
county as treasurer, being elected first in 1894, on the
Democratic ticket. He has been alderman and school
director for a number of terms. The Doctor is pros-
perous, having considerable property in Lewiston, and
is president of the Lewis Mercantile Company, a whole-
sale grocery house of that city, which is doing a good
business.
HANK TRIMBLE. A veritable pioneer from
the time that he doffed swaddling clothes to stretch his
first suspenders, and made of the stuff that wins in the
frontier fight, while he has also ever maintained a high
sense of honor, and being a man of consummate energy
and execution, the subject of this sketch is accorded a
prominent place among the worthy men who opened
this countrv and he is certainly deserving of the same.
.Mr. Trimble was born in Illinois in 1844. May 26,
being the son of Edward and Abarilla (Ross) Trimble.
The father was born in 1816 and was killed by the In-
dians on the Platte river in 1846, when he was com-
ing to the Willamette valley. The mother was born in
1819, and died in 1896. The family started for the
west in 1846 and as the stock strayed on one night
when they camped on the Platte. Mr. Trimble went to
search for them aiv' was killed by Pawnee Indians, who
cast his bodv in the river. The heartbroken widow
came on through and at The Dalles secured the ser-
vices of some parties who assisted her to Oregon City.
Two years later they went to Salem and here our sub-
ject attended school some, but the mother, having mar-
ried a man named Powell, and he not being congenial
to Hank, the latter struck out for himself at the age of
nine. He stayed with his uncle, Jonathan Bratton, then
went with Dr. S. A. Smith for a year, attending school,
after which, being eleven, he went with a pack train.
This was in 1855, and the train was attacked by In-
dians and captured, several of the packers be-
ing killed, but our subject escaped by an accident.
He returned to the Willamette valley and in 1859
and i860 attended school at Peoria, Linn county,
Oregon. It was as early as 1861 that he came to Lewis-
ton, or where Lewiston now stands, and had to wait
for four days to get across on the ferry, the rush being
so great. He went to Oro Fino and worked in the
mines and has been there off and on since that time.
He mined and packed until 1865, then went to Boise
and mined and then followed the same business. in Mon-
tana, on Elk creek, and there, in the summer of 1868,
he took out one hundred and forty-four thousand dol-
lars from the ground. He went to Walla Walla and
then came to Lewiston and mined and kept a saloon
until 1880, having a hydraulic on the Clearwater and
at Warren. In 1880 he bought land and took two
quarters and went to farming and raising stock. He
has made a great success of it, handling more stock than
any one man in this country. Last winter he fed one
thousand. He has just sold about two thousand acres
of land and now has plenty of land left. He also has
fine cattle and property in Lewiston.
At Helena, Montana, in 1869, Mr. Trimble married
Anna (Dunlop) Myer, whose father was a pioneer of
the Pacific coast. Mr. Trimble has brothers and sisters
as follows: Martha J. St. George, living at Pomeroy,
Washington, the town being named from her first hus-
band. J. M. Pomeroy, who died there: Mary Ellen
Adams, in San Diego, California ; Frank and Horace,
deceased. Mr. Trimble is a Democrat and active in
politics. He has the best fitted stock farm in the coun-
try and his wisdom and skill have been manifested in the
brilliant success that he has achieved. He is a member
of the Pioneer Association. It is of note by way of
reminiscence that Mr. Trimble had twelve uncles and
cousins murdered in the Mountain Meadow massacre
and in the Salmon Falls massacre by the savages.
LOWRY L. BERRY is one of the younger men of
enterprise who have assisted materially to open the res-
ervation country to be a fertile and valuable farming
vicinity. He is a man of good ability and handles his
business affairs with commendable zeal and thorough-
ness which have given him the desirable meed of pros-
perity and good success. He has a fine piece of land of
eighty acres, which is improved in excellent shape.
At the present time Mr. Berry is erecting a commodious
residence for his family, while good outbuildings,
orchard, and so forth, embellish the farm.
Lowry L. Berry was born in Gentry county. Mis-
souri, on April 25. 1871. being the son of James B.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
259
and Elenor (Grantham) Berry, natives of Illinois, born
in 1825 and 1827, respectively. The father was a
farmer and merchant and died on July 9, 1893. He was
a volunteer in the Civil war, where he gave faithful
service for his country. He was a pioneer in Missouri
and Dakota, and his father was also a pioneer to Mis-
souri. The mother of our subject lives with him and
has done so since the death of her husband. In 1883
the family went from Missouri to South Dakota, settling
in Potter county, where the father and elder sons took
land. Four years were spent there and then they all
sold out and came to Latah county. There they re-
mained until the death of the father in 1893, when our
subject took charge of the farm estate and since that
time has continued thus. Lowry received his education
in the various places where the family lived and was
trained by a skillful and progressive father. When the
reservation opened he came and secured his present
place.
On December 9. 1897, in Latah county, Dr. Berry
married Miss Florence, daughter of Thomas and Lo-
raine (Camp) Williams, natives of Kansas. Mrs.
Berry was also born in Kansas, the date being 1873.
She has four brothers and one sister. Mr. Berry has
the following named brothers and sisters : William
H., Mary J. Craig, James D., Jacob N., Thomas H.
and George R. Elsie M., Evelyn E., Chrissie E. and
a child as yet unnamed have been born to bless the
household of our subject and his estimable wife. Mrs.
Berry is a member of the Methodist church. Politic-
ally. Mr. Berry is affiliated with the Populist party,
and is always found on the side of progression and
is especially interested in good schools.
WYLEY T. JOHNSON. The southeast fourth
of section twenty-four, township thirty-four, range
one east of the Boise meridian belongs to Wyley John-
son. It bears the marks of being one of the best
tilled and kept farms in the vicinity. Mr. Johnson
has a seven-room residence, with water piped in. and
all of the modern conveniences and this is but a sample
of his farm improvements and achievements. He
borrowed money in the east to make his way west and
has wrought with industrv and sagacity until he is
now one of the most prosperous men of the reserva-
tion country. Air. Johnson has cattle and hogs to con-
sume the abundant harvests of his fertile farm and
he is as successful in raising stock as in his farming.
Wyley Johnson was born in Montgomery county.
Tennessee, on March 10. i860, being the son of Len
H. and Martha (Turner) Johnson, natives of Ten-
nessee. The maternal grandfather, Wyley Turner,
served in the war of 1812. The father of our subject
died in 187 1 and the mother removed her family to
Humphreys county, Tennessee, in 1876. In 1884 Mr.
Johnson came to Albion, Cassia county. Idaho, and
there wrought on a stock farm. The next winter he
wenl tn San Francisco with a train of stock for Samuel
Guinn. He remained a time in California and in 1891
came to the Palouse country, then went to Cassia coun-
ty again, whence he again went to California. Soon
we see him in Pullman and when the reservation
opened he was among the enterprising ones who came
and selected fine farms.
On July 27, i8q8, Mr. Johnson married Miss Flor-
ence, daughter of Milo H. and Lucy A. Adams, of the
vicinity of Nezperce. They had one child, Milton A.,
born August 27, 1901. Mrs. Johnson taught school
three terms in Bingham county, Idaho, and also taught
the first school in Fletcher. She was also saleslady in
J. T. Orbison's store in Nezperce for a year. They
are highly respected people and hold a leading place
in the society of the community.
DR. JOHN H. LEWIS. Nezperce is to be con-
gratulated in securing as a permanent resident the
subject of this article, who has shown himself in his
large and ever increasing practice in dentistry to be a
master in his profession, a noble and upright man,
and a keen and discriminating student of deep erudi-
tion, not only in the technical departments of dentistry
but in general information.
John H. Lewis was born in Blackhawk county,
Iowa, on February 11, 1875. being the son of Ezra J.
and Anna M. (Harris) Lewis. The father was born
in Harnsburg, Pennsylvania, and came with his par-
ents to Carroll county, Illinois, where he was married,
his wife being a native of that county. Later they re-
moved to the birthplace of our subject and in 1885
they came to Cheyenne county, Nebraska, whence, in
1889, they journeyed to Marion county, Oregon. Dr.
Lewis attended public school in the east and the high
school at Newport, Oregon, gaining the monev for his
expenses in the latter by teaching school. We may
also remark that Dr. Lewis is a self-made man in every
respect, for his own efforts have contributed solely
to the fund that gave him his training in his profes'-
sion. He possessed the requisite courage, ambition
and tenacity of purpose to accomplish this worthy
achievement and it is greatly to his credit in his life
that he has so done, for it has given him an independ-
ence, a self reliance and freedom of thought that have
contributed much to his excellent success in profes-
sional life. Succeeding the high school course, Dr.
Lewis studied at the University of Oregon in Eugene,
then took a dental course at Albany. During the latter
part of this extended study he spent one and one-half
years in Lewiston in the prosecution of his profession
with Dr. W. F. Galbraith. In November, 1899, the
Doctor located permanently in Nezperce and has from
the first done a good business and at this time he is
thinly established in the confidence and esteem of
the entire populace. He took an extended post gradu-
ate course in prosthetic dentistry in Portland, in 1900,
and now he is in charge of one of the finest dental
parlors in the state. The Doctor owns the office
building where he operates and also is contemplating
in the near future to erect a beautiful residence on the
lots which, he also owns.
On July 15, 1901. the Doctor had the happy privi-
260
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
lege of taking to himself a wife, the charming lady
being Miss Dora B. Laird, a native of Lane county,
Oregon. He and his wife are devout members of the
Church of Christ and he is an acting elder in this con-
gregation at Nezperce. Dr. Lewis is a member of the
W. W. and the M. W. A.
CHARLES A. BACON. About one mile northeast
from Melrose is situated the estate of the representa-
tive agriculturist and esteemed citizen and well known
gentleman whose name initiates this paragraph. From
the raw state of nature Mr. Bacon took this land and
has made it a fine producing farm with all the neces-
sary improvements, as comfortable house, good barns,
fences, and so forth. The farm contains one hundred
and sixty acres of good land and produces the cereals.
Charles A. Bacon was born in Xewaygo county,
Michigan, on December 26, 1857, being the son of
Erastus and Lucy A. (Done) Bacon, natives of New
York. The father was born in 1821 and was a pioneer
to Michigan, as his father was 'also. Our subject
worked with his father on the old farm and gained
the educational training to be had from the schools
during the winters. He continued in activity on the
homestead until thirty years of age, and in 1890 sold
out and came to Port Angeles, Washington, where
he labored for five years. At the opening of the reser-
vation he made his way thither and secured the land
where is now situated the family home. Since that
time he has given his attention assiduously to its im-
provement and cultivation. He has been blessed with
success and is deserving of the same. And while he
has industriously handled the duties of life as they
came, he has also worked for the advancement of the
interests of the county and has always allied himself
on the side of good schools and good government. He
is a Democrat in politics and sustains the principles of
Jefferson.
On September 5, 1886, in Michigan, Mr. Bacon
married Miss Roena L., daughter of Enoch and Han-
nah J. (Kimbell) Doty, natives respectively of Michi-
gan and New York. The father, a pioneer of Michi-
gan, was a soldier in the Eighth Michigan Infantry,
and died from the effects of a wound in 1873. The
mother's birth was in 1843. Mrs- Bacon was born in
Michigan in 1867. She has one sister, Achsah Piatt,
in Nez Perces county. Mr. Bacon's brothers and
sisters are all dead. To Mr. and Mrs. Bacon there
have been born the following named children : Charles
E., Ery L., Frank A., Harry D., Lucy J.
DAVID W. POTTER. Although this gentleman
has not been in Nez Perces county many years, he has
nevertheless, been in the vicinity and has done good
work in the upbuilding of the country and deserves
space in the history of the county, being a good busi-
ness man, upright, and of sound principles. He was
born in Weyauwega, Wisconsin, on August 17, 1851,
being the son of Wilber and Maria Potter, natives of
New York, born respectively in 1810, and on August
17, 1832. The father died in 1900, and the mother still
lives in Minnesota. Our subject worked on a farm and
received his education from the common schools of
his vicinity. At the age of twenty five, he left the pa-
rental roof and settled on a ranch that he had taken
near the home place. For nine years he was occupied
there and then went to Fergus Falls, Minnesota, and
there engaged in the dray business. In 1885 he sold
out and came to Peola, in the Blue Mountains. He
worked at milling and took up a timber claim in Aso-
tin county and farmed for seven years and then re-
moved to Colton, Whitman county, where he engaged
in livery and draying. He was deputy sheriff of that
county for a term and constable and marshal of Col-
ton for five years. In the spring of 1902, he came to
Lewiston and opened a livery stable, which he is car-
rying on in a creditable manner. He still owns a fine
farm near Colton, and also property in town.
On December 25, 1877, Mr. Potter married Miss
Gertie, daughter of Charles White, a native of Michi-
gan, now living in Peola. Mrs. Potter was born in
Plainville, Minnesota, on August 18, 1858, and has
one brother, Albert, now deceased. Mr. Potter has
brothers and sisters, as follows, Charles, in Dakota ;
Delbert, in Minnesota ; Allen, deceased ; Harriett, wife
of T. Watson, in Los Angeles, California ; Alice, de-
ceased ; Stella, wife of Charles Works, in Minnesota.
Mr. Potter has also the following half brothers and
sisters, Albert, who has been assistant secretary of
state of Wisconsin; Peter, at Black River Falls, Wis-
consin ; William, now in Montana, having been wound-
ed in the Civil war ; Jasper, wounded in Civil war and
now a cripple on account of it; Horace, in the Civil
war, now in Minnesota ; Julia Hall, in Sparta, Wiscon-
sin ; Mary, wife of Thomas Hogue, in Sparta, Wis-
consin ; Matilda, at Black River Falls, Wisconsin. To
Mr. and Mrs. Potter there have been born three chil-
dren, Ernest, a soldier in the Philippine war; Harry
and Ray, at home. Mr. Potter is a member of the K.
of P., at Colton, Washington. He is a Republican and
active in the political realm.
ALEXANDER H. VAYER is a capable and ex-
perienced man in the manufacture of all kinds of tim-
ber products and at the present time is in charge of
a fine saw-mill plant at Melrose, of which he is part
owner. It is one of the finest plants in the county
and is doing a good business in the development of
the country.
Alexander H. Vaver was born in Chippewa county,
Wisconsin, on January 5, 1867, being the son of Alex-
ander and Betsy (Dixson) Vaver, natives of Canada
and born in 1828 and 1842, respectively. The father
died in 1900, having been a pioneer in Wisconsin be-
fore the day of railroads there and a successful operator
of saw-mills. The mother died in 1900 ; her father
was a trader of the Hudson Bay Company and pio-
neered all through the west and northwest. He was of
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Scotch lineage. Our subject grew to manhood in Wis-
consin and learned from the beginning the sawmill
business and the handling of timber and its products.
There he wrought in this field until 1897, when he re-
paired to Minnesota, settling at Crookston for two
years. Next we find him in Great Falls, Montana,
with the Butte Commercial Company. A year later
he returned to Wisconsin and then again came west,
settling in Lewiston. He operated for the Small <x
Emory Saw-mill Company for two years and the M. A.
Snyder Company was formed, of which Mr. Yaver
is one of the members. The mill was put up at Mel-
rose and Mr. Vaver has been handling it since.
In Wisconsin, in the year 1892, Mr. Yaver married
Miss Louise Winsenson, whose parents were natives
of Denmark. She was born in Wisconsin in 1874 and
has two sisters, Stina Flanders, in Wisconsin ; Anna
Lock, in Oregon. Mr. Winsenson was a soldier in
Denmark and also served three years to defend the
flag in the Civil war and received a pension for his
valiant service Mr. Yaver has the following brothers
and sisters : William, John, Frank and Henry, Clara,
Emily Coleman and Florence. One child has been born
to Mr. and Mrs. Yaver, James. Mr. Yaver is a mem-
ber of the I. (J. O. F. and the Encampment and also
of the M. W. A. He is a Republican and an active
worker for those principles. Airs. Vaver is a member
of the Lutheran church and her husband of the Meth-
odist.
BENJAMIN F. BASHOR. The affable and gen-
ial subject of this article, who has labored so faith-
fully in this county, is granted with pleasure a rep-
resentation in this volume of the history of Nez Perces,
since he is one of the popular and prominent men in
its precincts and since also he is a man of good princi-
ples and integrity.
Mr. Bashor was born in Las Animas county, Colo-
rado, on April 3, 1873, being the son of Michael M.
and Susan (Garst) Bashor, the father a German
Baptist minister, born in Yirginia in 1830. and his par-
ents born in Pennsylvania. The mother of our sub-
ject was also born in Virginia in 1832. her father be-
ing born in Germany and coming to America when a
boy and her mother a native of Pennsylvania and an
immigrant to Virginia when young. Our subject's
parents were married in Tennessee, December 1 1 .
1850, and in 1872 came to Colorado and the father
preached in Trinidad. When Benjamin was six years
old the family came to Marion county, Oregon.' He
was educated in the common schools of that and Linn
count}' at the Mineral Springs Seminary and then
finished at the Willamette University in Salem in 1894.
He taught two years and then came to Nez Perces
county in 1896, taking a homestead in July of that
year. He was postmaster at Steele, taught school,
farmed, and acted as justice of the peace. In 1900
the Republicans nominated him for county assessor,
and tbe people promptly elected him and in that ca-
pacity he is serving now.
October 16. 1898, Mr. Bashor married Miss Emma
C, daughter of William C. and Rebecca Waide, and
to them has been born one child, Vernon B.. two years
old. Mr. Waide is a farmer and was born in < )hio, in
1845, was a soldier in the Civil war and now draws a
pension. The mother is a native of the Buckeye State
born 1844. Besides Mrs. Bashor. they have children
as follows: Martha Pope, Dora B. Day, John F,
Nelson W., Charles W.. Ida Hackett and Alice. Mr.
Bashor has the following named brothers and sisters :
Alary Bryant, Frederick F., George W., Adam A.,
Henry \\'., Noah N., Amanda C, Sarah M. Monsey,
Jacob F., Levi M., Nancy Z. Rinehart, Anna Bashor,
Suda E. Bashor. Our subject and his worthy wife
are members of the Baptist church and devout sup-
porters of the faith. He is a Republican in politics and
active in that realm. Mr. Bashor has a good farm of
two hundred and forty acres near Steele. His grand-
father Bashor lived to be ninety-eight years of age and
his grandmother was eighty-eight at her death ; his ma-
ternal grandparents were also of good age when they
died. Mr. Bashor is a man whose kindness and genial-
ity have won him many friends, is a worthy citizen
and has the confidence of all.
EZRA BAIRD. A typical pioneer, a staunch man.
a patriotic citizen, and as wise and fearless a frontiers-
man, as entered these wild regions years since, the sub-
ject of this sketch is rightly placed with the leading
and prominent men of this part of the state. He was
born in Schoharie county, New York, on .May 1 1. 1839,
being the son of Joseph and Sallie A. (Gifford) Baird,
the father being a milling man, died in 1864. while the
mother was born in Gilbosh, New York, and died at
the age of seventy-five, in 1891. In 1849. tbe family
removed to Broome county. New York, where our sub-
ject was educated. On April 1, 1861, he left New
York City for San Francisco, arriving there on the
twenty-fourth of the same month. The news 1 if the
outbreak of the Civil war had preceded him by pony
express. He labored in a bakery for one year and on
April 1, 1862, started for Lewiston, which he reached
mi June 15, 1862. He with four companions bought
a boat at The Dalles and sailed to Lewiston. fishing
and hunting enroute. He was soon on the road to Elk
City, but stopped at Newsome, twenty miles this side
and mined there, also operating a hotel for four years.
In 1871 he bought the express business from Lewiston
to Elk City, and the next year put on a stage to Florence
and Warren, m 1874 he was elected sheriff of old
Nez Perces county and served for three consecutive
terms and in 1882'was re-elected. In 1885 Mr. Baird
sold horses in Montana and went to Washington, D. C.
to see Cleveland inaugurated and visited his old home.
In 1886 he sold more horses in Montana, then made
another trip to Washington and secured the position
of United States marshal for Idaho. He served two
years and nine months and then gave place to Dubois,
letting the latter have the one year and three months
and in Cleveland's time this same man turned against
our subject. In 1889 Mr. 1 laird bought a hotel on
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
St. Reiges river in anticipation of the railroad. In 1893
he again took the Elk City stage and in 1894 he went
into mining, having now large interests in Buffalo
Hump. Thunder Mountain, and other places, while
he has also bought and sold many farms.
In September. 1872, at Mount Idaho, Mr. Baird
married Miss Alice, daughter of James and Katherine
( Crusin ) Odle. pioneers of the west. To this happy
union there have been born the following children :
Edna, at home in Lewiston ; Lewis, at home assisting
father. Mrs. Baird was born in Rosenburg, Oregon,
and has two sisters and one brother, Mrs. John Rice,
Emma Rice, and George. Mr. Baird has two brothers
and two sisters; Lewis. William, Sarah Langdon, and
.A lav Avery. Mr. Baird has taken thirty-two degrees
in the Masonic order and was a charter member of the
Mt. Idaho lodge. He is an active worker in the realm
of politics and is ailied with the Democratic part}',
being deeply interested in its success. He attends the
county conventions and is always alert for the advance-
ment of the Jeffersonian purinciples. Mr. Baird is also
a member of the Pioneer Association, being one of the
real builders of the Nez Perces countrv.
HOX. GEORGE A. MANNING. James Man-
ning was of English descent, his ancestors coming to
the colonies in 1046. and he served in the Revolution
as colonel and sustained a wound at Valley Forge. His
son. James, was born in Maine, then a part of Massa-
chusetts, in 1795, and married Jane Bowness, who was
born in county Kent, in England, in 1805 and died in
Maine, in 1884. Her father, Isaac Bowness, came to
America in 1818 and was superintendent of public
works in New Brunswick, receiving a large grant of
land which is still in the family. To James and Jane
Manning were born our subject on November 21, 1836,
in < lldtown, Penobscot county, Maine; Cyrus M., who
came to the vicinity of Lewiston, in 1862, worked at
lumbering, fought in the Nez Perces war. and was
killed in a runaway in 1880; Hamilton died when he
was young : William C. who came to California with
our subject and was companion with him in all the
war hardships, being in Libby prison, was promoted to
rank of major and died in 1892 ; John B., died in Ore-
gon: Mrs. M. A. White, in Lewiston; Mrs. Lydia
Cushman, in Spokane. Our subject was educated in
the Oldtown Academy and came to San Francisco, via
Panama, in 1859, and mined two years with good suc-
cess. In August, 1861, he enlisted in Company F,
Second California Cavalry, as private and steadily be-
gan by merit to rise in rank. He was instrumental in
arresting the principal members of the Knights of the
Golden Circle on the Pacific coast. He gained the rank
of second lieutenant in First California Cavalry and
was detailed to organize a battalion to serve in the east.
He went east as captain and his five hundred men were
the only Californians who fought in the war in the east.
He was attached to the Second Massachusetts. He was
active in the service until February, 1864, when he was
captured and languished in Libby prison, and others.
He was one of six hundred officers placed in Charles-
ton to avoid bombardment of the city. He was in vari-
ous places and was finally paroled at Raleigh and
reached his own lines at Wilmington, North Carolina,
in March, 1865, and went after Johnston but he sur-
rendered before he was captured. After a most wor-
thy service in the hardest of the fray, in the keenest of
the suffering, the worthy subject of this article was
mustered out on July 20, 1865, with rank of major
and badly wounded in side and leg. He returned to
Maine and remained there until December, 1869, when
he went to California and then to Lewiston in 1870.
He went to lumbering and farming, taking a preemp-
tion close to town which he still owns. In 1878 Mr.
Manning was a member of the tenth senate of the state.
He has been clerk of the United States court, serving
in 1880 and 1881. He was deputy United States mar-
shal from 1882 to 1886, and district attorney of Koot-
enai county in 1888 and 1889. Then he took up real
estate business and in 1890 he was appointed by the
President one of the National Commissioners of the
Columbian Exposition which position he held for eight
years, since which time Mr. Manning has been giving
his attention to fruit raising, milling and real estate.
On September 29, 1855, ^r- Manning married
Miss Susan E., daughter of Frank and Elizabeth
( Manning) Hawthorne. To them have been born
three children, Fred M., proprietor of the Idaho steam
laundry, in Lewiston; James A., raising fruit at Lew-
iston; Charles F., at Post Falls, Idaho. Mr. Haw-
thorne was born in Massachusetts as were his ances-
tors for generations back, being a descendant of Na-
thaniel Hawthorne. Mrs. Manning was born in Ban-
gor, Maine, on December 15, 1836, and was educated
in Boston. Her brother Charles is a lumberman in
Maine and her brother Frank is a stockman in Colo-
rado. Mr. Manning is a prominent member of the G.
A. R. and his wife affiliates with the Methodist church.
He is one of the prominent and leading men of our
county and is highly respected by all.
JENNIE M. ROBNETT. This lady is the county
superintendent of schools and is one of the most effi-
cient and highly esteemed incumbents of the office that
Nez Perces county has been favored with. Her gen-
eral popularity is evidenced by the majority of five
hundred that was given her at the first election, being
larger than any one ever gained before on the Repub-
lican ticket.
Jennie M. Robnett was born in Farmington, Da-
kota county, Minnesota, on March 10, 1874. Her
father Jason M. Herrington, was born near New
Nork, in 1843, and his father, Jeremiah Herrington,
was a lumberman. Jason M. was too young to enlist
in the Civil war but evinced his patriotism in going
as bridge constructor for the army. Mrs. Robnett's
mother, Lavinia Sykes, was born in Lexington, Ohio,
in 1842. Her father, George W., was born in Pennsyl-
vania and he and his wife were pioneers to Minnesota
and experienced the troubles of the Fort Snelling
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
263
Indian outbreak. Our subject was educated in the
common schools of Farmington and Long Prairie,
whither the family removed, and then completed the
high school course in Lewiston, after which she taught
and then graduated from the State Normal. She mani-
fested true pluck and spirit in this commendable labor,
demonstrating that some one besides young men can
work their way through college. It was in 1892, that
her father decided to come west, and being a lumber-
man, he located at Lewiston, on account of the immense
pine forests of Idaho. In 1898 Miss Herrington grad-
uated from the state normal and was elected principal
of the Clarkston schools and contrary to her wish she
was elected to the position of county superintendent
and so well did she discharge its duties that she was re-
elected and is now serving her second term.
On February 6, 1900, Miss Herrington was mar-
ried to Clarence W. Robnett, of Lewiston. He was
born August 11, 1872, at Waterbury, Washington, and
was educated in Lewiston and Pomeroy. At the age
of twenty he accepted a position in the Lewiston Nat-
ional Bank and is now bookkeeper there. Mrs. Rob-
nett has the following named brothers and sisters,
Elsworth M., Lafayette, Minnie Herrington, Jerry,
Nettie Knight, Nellie Herrington, George, Jason, Lew-
is, and Gladys. Mr. Robnett has two brothers and two
sisters, William M., Mrs. Clara Rainwater, James, and
Mamie Akin. To Mr. and Mrs. Robnett there has
been born one child, a baby. Mrs. Robinett's uncles,
David, George W., Lewis F. and John Sykes, served
in the Civil war and the latter died from injuries re-
ceived there. Mrs. Robnett is one of the highly es-
teemed ladies of the county and has made a worthy
record, demonstrating her ability and energy, while
she has the esteem and confidence of all.
LEWIS SANDERS is at the present time one
of the capable men of Melrose, having a machine shop,
where he is working up a fine patronage. Formerly,
he was well known in the milling business but since
his property was destroyed by fire, he has turned his
attention to mechanics, being skilled in that work.
Mr. Sanders is a man of integrity and uprightness
and is reckoned one of the substantial and leading citi-
zens of this community.
Lewis Sanders was born in Texas county. Mis-
souri, on February 14, 1866, being the son of Jefferson
and Elizabeth (Fry) Sanders, natives respectively of
Missouri and Kentucky. The father was a pioneer in
Missouri and died there in 1884. The mother still
lives in that state. Lewis worked at home as a dutiful
son and attended the schools until he was nineteen and
then he went to railroading on the M. K. & T. lines.
Following this for a time he soon drifted west to San
Bernardino. He returned from there to visit in
his native place and on August 9, 1889, he
came west to Waverly, Washington, where he
devoted his attention to farming until 1896.
At that date, Mr. Sanders came to the reser-
vation and took land near Melrose and farmed it
for five years ; at the same time he operated a flour mill
which he and his brother-in-law, George Allen, built.
For four years they operated the mill with good success
and then it was destroyed by fire. Then Mr. Sanders
sold his farm property and opened a machine shop in
Melrose, where we find him at the present time.
In July, 1891, while in Washington, Mr. Sanders
married Miss Frances, daughter of Isaac and Esther
Huffman, natives of Virginia. Mrs. Sanders was also
born in the Old Dominion State, on February 13, 1866.
She has one sister and three brothers living, while,
Mr. Sanders has three brothers and two sisters. Fra-
ternally, Mr. Sanders affiliates with the I. O. O. F. and
the M. W. A. In political matters he is allied with
the Democrats and takes an interest in all measures
that are calculated for the benefit of the country and
its progress.
MORTIMER A. SNYDER, one of the prominent
men of Nez Perces county in the industrial and manu-
facturing line, while also a leader in any line of enter-
prise and the substantial upbuilding of the country,
is eminently fitted for representation in any work that
purports to grant mention to the leading men of the
county.
Mr. Snyder was born in Montreal, Canada, on Jan-
uary 12, 1855, being the son of Atkinson and Susan
(McBean) Snyder, natives of Montreal, and born in
1820 and 1823, respectively. The father was a success-
ful merchant and lumber dealer, of English descent
and died in 1862. The mother, who still lives in Can-
ada, was of Scotch descent, being the daughter of Col-
onel Archibald McBean, who came to Canada from
Scotland. He was a large lumber dealer and on ac-
count of distinguished service was presented with a
handsome sword from Queen Victoria. Our subject
remained at home and attended school until the death
of his father and then was adopted by his grandfather,
McBean. Then he completed his educational training
in the Normal school and learned the lumber business,
which has occupied his attention continually since
that time. He is a thorough master of the
business and has operated mills in various
sections of the United States and Canada. In
1871 he went to the vicinity of Buffalo, New
York, and took charge of a sawmill, but later removed
to Bay City, Michigan, and there operated a mill for
two years.' With his cousin, T. H. Snyder, we next
see him in Manitoba, where they erected one of the
largest mills of the country and made a financial suc-
cess of the enterprise. Later he was in the Rockies and
handled a mill for the Palisser Company on the Colum-
bia river. In 1883 he went to Seattle and there took
charge of the Fremont Milling Company's plant, where
he was engaged until April, 1901, when he came to
Lewiston for "his wife's health. In the following April
he came to his present location in Melrose and is now
completing one of the finest mills on the reservation,
which is fitted with all the latest and best machinery
and equipped with a fine dry kiln, the only one in the
countv.
264
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
In 1883 Mr. Snyder married Miss Elvira, daugh-
ter of A. R. and Mary Gerald. The father, a native of
Iowa, was a merchant. He served in the Civil war
under Captain Donaldson. The mother was the daugh-
ter of Major Armstrong, an old English soldier who
settled in Manitoba in 1847. Mrs. Snyder was born
in Winnipeg and has one brother, Mortimer, in Mos-
cow, and two sisters, Jennie McKenzie and Lucy King-
ly, both in Moscow. Mr. Snyder has the following
brothers and sisters, Robert, in Michigan ; Alma Milne,
in Montreal. To this worthy couple have been born
the following named children, Wilmer G., Howard,
Myrtle, and Raymond. Mrs. Snyder is a member of
the Congregational church. Mr. Snyder is a member
of the A. ( ). U. W., while in politics he is a Republi-
can. Mr. Snyder is a progressive, intelligent and sub-
stantial citizen, a man always allied on the side of prog-
ress and upbuilding. He had four cousins in the Civil
war, two of whom were killed.
M. A. KELLY, M. D. It gives us pleasure to be
permitted to outline the career of the estimable gentle-
man and pioneer, whose name initiates this paragraph.
Doctor Kelly came to Lewiston in 1862 and has been a
familiar figure here most of the time until his death,
being well and favorably known to all and the recipi-
ent of the friendship and good will of all. His father,
Alexander Kelly, a farmer by occupation, was born
in Pennsylvania, in 1780, and fought in the war of
1812. He came of Irish extraction and died in 1859.
The mother of Dr. Kelly was Rachel Cox, who was
born in Pennsylvania in 1783, of Scotch descent and
she died at the ripe old age of ninety-five, in 1878.
On January 4, 1862, Dr. Kelly married Miss Abbie
M., daughter of John Gordon, a lumberman of Old-
town. Maine. The wedding occurred in Marysville,
California; Mrs. Mounce, of Lewiston, is the daugh-
ter of this worthy couple. Mr. Gordon's mother, who
was a St. Clair, was born in Oldtown, Maine, and died
in East Portland, in 1898. She was a sister of the
celebrated Dr. St. Clair of Cleveland, Ohio, and a
woman of superior ability and education. Mrs. Kelly
was born in Oldtown, Maine, in 1842, and had good
educational facilities. She was attending the Catholic
school at Marysville; California, when she married
Doctor Kelly. A very interesting romance is con-
nected with this marriage. The death of Dr. M. A.
Kelly occurred on May 2j, 1903.
BENJAMIN F. JACKS. It is a pleasure to be
able to chronicle in the history of Nez Perces county
the career of one of her leading and public-minded
citizens, the gentleman mentioned at the head of this
article.
Benjamin F. Jacks was born in Gallia county.
Ohio, August 9, 1839. being the son of Solomon and
Lavina (Macomber) Jacks, farmers. He was edu-
cated in the common schools and remained at home
until of age. On July 11, 1861, young Jacks en-
listed in Company A, Fiftieth Illinois, under Captain
H. P. W. Kramer, in the Second Division and Second
Brigade of the Sixteenth Corps of the western army.
General Dodge, who is now living at Fort Dodge,
Iowa, which town was named for him, was division
commander, and General Cooke commanded the bri-
gade. Mr. Jacks was in for service as the following
will show. He participated in the battles of Fort
Henry, Fort Donelson, Pittsburg Landing, Shiloh, in
the siege of Corinth and the battle of Corinth on Oc-
tober 2, and 3, 1862. Also he was in the battle of
Resaca, Dalton and many skirmishes. Mr. Jacks was
in charge of two hundred men in the construction of
the defense at Memphis, being there in the engineer-
ing department. In all this long service and heavy
fighting, which continued for three years and three
months, Air. Jacks was always courageous, faithful
and found at the post of duty. Space forbids detail,
but who can read the list of those terrible battles
where he faced he cannon and fought for the country
during those awful days of carnage without recog-
nizing in the person of Mr. Jacks one of the worthy
veterans whose arms saved our country from dire de-
struction and preserved to unborn generations the be-
nign influence of our free institutions. On October
28, 1864, at Rome, Georgia, Mr. Jacks was mustered
out and returned to his home in Illinois, spending three
months in a royal visit and then he turned his face
to the prairies of Iowa and took up the civilian's life.
There on February 18, 1866, Mr. Jacks married Miss
Mary M. Rhodes, at Des Moines. Her father was
James S. Rhodes, who was a faithful preacher in the
Christian church for thirty-five years. Her mother
was Eliza Adams, a native of Kentucky and her pa-
rents were pioneers of Illinois.
Mr. Jacks' father built the second house in the
now flourishing city of Columbus, Ohio. He was a
physician and practiced for thirty-five years and also
preached in the Methodist church for fifteen years.
Mr. Jacks had five brothers who fought for the
Union and we desire to make a brief notice of them.
Augustus, sergeant in Company I. Second Illinois;
Henry, twin brother of our subject, sergeant in Com-
pany G, Second Illinois Cavalry ; George W., private
in Company G, Second Illinois Cavalry; John, private
in Company I, Fourth Iowa Cavalry, and he was
killed in the battle at Big Blue, near Independence,
Missouri: Isaac, private in Company I, Tenth Iowa.
Henry had a remarkable experience at the battle of
Three Springs, Tennesse. Nineteen bullets pierced
his clothing and one burned the skin, yet he escaped
uninjured. Mr. Jacks was always ready for duty and
often took the place of a weaker comrade. He was
never in the hospital nor off duty but once when
burned.
Mr. Jacks is an elder in the Christian church and
also in politics he has been active, having served in
every Democratic convention for ten years past. From
1865 to 1870, he farmed in Iowa, then located with
his family in Nebraska for five years. The family was
nearly killed in a cyclone there and he returned to
BENJAMIN F. JACKS
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Iowa. On April n, 1887, he came to Pendleton. Ore-
gon. On November 7 of the same year he came to
Leland. Idaho, and bought a quarter section. Seven
years he farmed that and then came to his present
place, one mile east and-half mile north from Gif-
ford. Mr. Jacks has a fine place, well improved and
his orchard of ten acres is a model in every respect
and doubtless the finest one on the reservation. It is
replete with points of excellence in every respect and
reflects the industry and skill of the proprietor.
Mr. Jacks has four fine sons, who are coming
forward to do credit to their worthy father in the
walks of life ; their names with those of their three
sisters, are as follows: Alemeda A., James, William
C. Jesse X., Orrin W., Eva J., and Pearl O. Mr.
lacks has every reason to take a pardonable pride in
the many achievements of his life, wherin he has man-
ifested great wisdom, faithfulness and integrity. He
made a fine record in the war that is a credit to any
man. he has displayed the works of his hands in pro-
ducing as fine an orchad as can be found in this vi-
cinity and he has for the comfort and solace of his
golden years, which are beginning to run apace, ca-
pable and worthy children, and it is with pleasure
that we have been privileged to speak of this worthy
ami venerable veteran and his gracious and estimable
partner in life.
HORACE W. NELSON is a man of sterling
worth and honor and has displayed the qualities of
substantiality and enterprise in all his ways. Since
coming to Nez Perces county in 1880, he has remained
here and is well and favorably known throughout its
borders.
Horace W. Nelson was born in Marion county,
Iowa, on Tanuarv 18, 1872. being the son of James
R. and Mary C. (Ruddell) Nelson. The father is
now living on the old homestead in Tammany hollow
and the mother died on November 20, 1898. She was
the daughter of Elder John M. Ruddell, a pioneer in
Adams county, Illinois. Horace was the fifth of a
family of ten children, eight boys and two girls. The
parents were both born and raised in Adams county,
Illinois, and came to Iowa and in 1876, they came
thence to Walla Walla via San Francisco and Port-
land. In 1880 they migrated to Tammany hollow
and there our subject was reared and received his edu-
cation in this county. On Christmas day. [892, he
married Miss Delia, daughter of James and Martha
A. McKissicks, natives of Tennessee. The father
died there and she came to Nez Perces county with
her mother in i8qo. The mother now lives with her
son, John, near Lewiston. Mr. Nelson has a large
number of work horses, a fine equipment of farming
machinery and handles several hundred acres of land
each year. He owned a farm but sold it and now rents
land from other parties. He is a member of the I. O.
O. F., Lodge No. 8. also of the Encampment, both
in Lewiston. Mr. Nelson has spent the major portion
of his life in Nez Perces county and has gained a stand-
ing for honor and real worth of character that is very
gratifying. His ancestors were people of a high sense
of honor and integrity and this son is in no wise an ex-
ception.
■» » »
HON. EBEN M.< >UNCE. This well known busi-
ness man and esteemed gentleman of enviable pres-
tige was born in Linn county, Iowa, on July 19, 1856,
being the son of Isaac and Persilla (Timmons)
Mounce. The father was a stockman, born in Mus-
catine, Iowa, in 1 82 1 and is now living in Lewiston.
The mother was born in \ran Buren county, Michigan,
in 1836 and died at Lewiston, in 1900. Our subject
attended public school and then went to Western Col-
lege, at Western, Iowa, and in 1878 came west to Van-
couver, Washington. Soon after that he was in Lew-
iston, where he took a homestead near town and went
to raising stock. He devoted himself to this for ten
years with excellent success and then sold the stock,
retaining the land. He removed to town and was ap-
pointed deputy sheriff under J. M. Eakins, for two
years and then was nominated on the Democratic
ticket and elected, although the county is Republican.
Two years as sheriff were spent with credit to himself
and satisfaction to his constituents. The law allows
only one term in this office and then as Harry Lyden
was elected, our subject was made deputy for two years
longer. He was also serving at this time as deputy Uni-
ted States marshal, continuing in this until 1897; then
he turned his attention to real estate and was connected
with the Idaho Investment Company until 1900, when
he sold out and formed a partnership with W. H. Skin-
ner, the firm being known as Skinner & Mounce. Mr.
Mounce was one of the original directors of the Idaho
National Bank and connected with it for some time.
The marriage of Mr. Mounce and Miss Callie J.
Rose was solemnized in Iowa. She died in 1890, leav-
ing one child, Lionne, now at home. Mr. Mounce
was married a second time to Eva (Kelly) Yantis.
She is the daughter of M. A. Kelly. M. D., who is
mentioned in another portion of the work. Mrs.
Mounce was born in Lewiston in 1866. To this mar-
riage one child was born on June 4, 1897, Gordon.
Mrs. Mounce has by her former marriage, one daugh-
ter, Frances Yantis. now at home. Mr. Mounce has
the following named brothers and sisters, John S., a
farmer in this county ; Clara, wife of J. L. Goodnight,
near Genesee ; Lafayette, farmer twelve miles south-
east from Lewiston ; Hattie, wife of William Ruddell,
of this county ; Edith, wife of George Ruddell, of this
county. Mr. Mounce is a member of the M. W. A.
and a charter member of the Lewiston lodge of K.
of P. He is an active Democrat and owns considerable
property in the town and country. In 1899. the people
called Mr. Mounce to the state legislature and al-
though his county was Republican, he gained a major-
ity of ninety-five and made a clean and good record
in those halls. He has ever been the friend of educa-
tion and sought to aid the state normals while in the
legislature. He was chairman of the committee on
county offices and of the committee on education, of
public lands, and was one of the joint committee of
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
house and senate. Mr. Mounce made a good record,
did faithful work for his county and for the interests
of the state.
WILLIAM H. SKINNER. The father of
Charles Skinner came from England to the place where
Hartford, Connecticut, now stands in an early day and
the city is partly on land that he owned. Charles
was born there and married Sarah Orborne, of Maine,
then removed to New Brunswick. His son, Alfred,
married Abigail Bigelow, to whom was born Henry
Skinner, in Kings county, Nova Scotia, on March
26, 1824. On March 26, 1845, this gentleman was
united to Ruth A., daughter of James and Mary Ills-
ley, a native of Kings county, Nova Scotia, and to them
were born William H. Skinner, the subject of this
sketch, on July 24, 1856, in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia,
and also James Stanlev, now in Lewiston ; Alfred L.,
in Lewiston ; Samuel W., John, and Oscar, deceased ;
Charles A., in Brookings, South Dakota; Bradford,
deceased ; Mary and Agnes A., both deceased. On
April 13, 1873, our subject married Miss Elizabeth
A. Laird, who died in July, 1886, leaving five children,
Ansel O, at Rathdrum, Idaho; Agnes A., now Mrs.
C. L. Wright, at New Hampton, Iowa; Charles H,
Guy E., and Mary E., all in Lewiston. On February
29, 1888, Mr. Skinner married Miss Georgia A.,
daughter of George and Catherine Laird, and a cousin
of his former wife. Mrs. Skinner was born in Brad-
ford, Iowa, in March, i860, and has two brothers, J.
G. Laird and J. J. Laird, and E. G. Laird, Mrs. W.
R. Longhorn, and Mrs. E. G. Sage, half sisters. To
Mr. and Mrs. Skinner have been born the following
named children, Gladys I., deceased, Catherine, Ruth
A., Rae G., Grant, Helen, and Georgia, all at home.
Mr. Skinner was educated in Nova Scotia at Acadia
College and at Bradford Academy, in Iowa. He came
with his parents to Iowa in 1869. He had taught four
years before his advent to Iowa and there for two years
he was one of the thorough educators. In 1873 he
took a homestead in South Dakota, Brookings county,
moving there in 1875. He farmed for a few years and
in 1878 he opened a real estate and loan office in
Brookings. There he continued until 1900, when he
sold and came to Lewiston, where he engaged in con-
tracting, paving the main street in Lewiston. He
then went into real estate with Hon. Eben Mounce, the
firm was known as Skinner & Mounce. In 1901, Mr.
Skinner was elected to the office of mayor of Lewiston,
and 1902 reelected without opposition and he is serv-
ing in that capacity at the present writing. It speaks
highly of his ability and integrity that he was so soon
called by the people to this responsible office. While
in Brookings he was postmaster from-i89i to 1895,
was elected to the office of district clerk and served
the county for five years, was secretary of the board of
regents of the State Agricultural College and the Uni-
ted States Experiment Station there and was chairman
of the board of county commissioners for three years.
In all this long public career in important offices it
must be said of Mr. Skinner that he has with great
faithfulness, and excellent efficiency conserved the
interests of all, and in every case the office sought the
man and not the man the office. In his position of chief
executive of Lewiston he has wrought many beneficial
changes and his work is appreciated by a discriminat-
ing people. He is a member of the Masons, blue lodge,
Royal Ar.ch Chapter, and Knights Templar, also of
the A. O. U. W., the M. W. A., and the K. of P. He
and his family are allied with the Baptist church and
are staunch supporters of the faith. Mr. Skinner is
one of the able men of our county, and has wrought
with marked wisdom and executive force for
its interests ; is held in high esteem by all,
being a man of enterprise and progressive ideas
and dominated by keen perception and practi-
cal judgment and sound principles in all of
his ways. In addition to his other arduous and
many labors, he has found time to study law and is
admitted to the state courts.
MILES S. JOHNSON is one of the leading men
in Nez Perces county, being at the present time county
attorney and one of the most prominent practitioners
of the country, a keen student of human nature, thor-
oughly posted in the lore of the law, and a pronounced
success on the public rostrum.
Mr. Johnson was born in Portland, Oregon, on
July 2, 1871, being the son of Jasper W. and Mary E.
(Post) Johnson. The father is a lawyer, born in In-
diana in 1836 and still practicing in Denver, Colorado.
He was brigadier general of the Pacific troops at
Olympia during the war and was first county judge of
Umatilla county, Oregon. The mother was born in
New York in 1843, came to Oregon City in 1853, via
Panama ; her father, John D. Post, was a graduate of
Yale College, coming to the coast in the same year
that his daughter did, and acted as president of the
first college on the coast, it being located at Oregon
City. Later he returned to New York and was con-
nected with various institutions of learning. His
mother came of the Pierpont stock that founded Yale.
Our subject was reared and educated in Portland,
where he remained until the early part of 1892. At
that time he went to Aspen, Colorado, being admitted
to the bar there, having completed the course of read-
ing that was begun in Portland. He practiced in Colo-
rado and Utah until 1897, having access to all the
courts. Then returned to Portland and engaged in the
political campaign of 1898. stumping the state for the
Republican party. In July. 189S. he came to Lewis-
ton, and opened an office. In 1900 he was nominated
for county attorney and after a stubborn fight was
elected with three others of his ticket.
On June 5, 1901, Mr. Johnson married Miss Sarah
G. Sweet, niece of Edward A. Temple, president of the
Bankers' Life Association of Des Moines, Iowa, who
raised this lady. The wedding occurred at Chariton,
Iowa. Mrs. Johnson, who was born in that town on
September 24, 1876, has two sisters. Harriett Sweet,
and Mrs. Kate Rose. Mr. Johnson has the following
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
267
brothers and sisters, Clara W. Knight, Thurston L.,
Harry B. He is a member of the K. of P. and the
Artisans. Mrs. Johnson is a member of the Episcopal-
ian church. Mr. Johnson is strictly a westerner in
every true sense of the word, and has a good prac-
tice in Lewiston and adjacent country. His grand-
father William was with Whitman in the early days,
and his aunt, Mrs. Mary Clymer, was with Spalding
at the time of the massacre, and narrowly escaped.
Hezekiah Johnson, his great uncle, was the first Bap-
tist missionary on the Pacific coast. His uncle, John
A. Post, was postmaster for years at Boise, Idaho. Mr.
Johnson has a fine home in Lewiston, where his esti-
mable wife presides with gracious dignity, making
it a centre of refined hospitality. He has a fine prac-
tice and stands high among his confreres as also with
the people, being a man of sound principles and with
a noble sense of honor and justice.
WILLIAM E. TIMBERLAKE was born in
St. Charles county, Missouri, on June 26, 1838, the son
of Benjamin E. and Eliza M. (Overstreet) Timber-
lake. The father was a contractor, born in Madison
county, Kentucky, in 1808, and his mother, formerly
Mrs. Ball, was also a Kentuckian. The mother of our
subject was born in Albermarle county, Virginia, in
1817 and her parents were Virginians. Our subject
lived with his parents until he was eighteen years of
age, then went to work for himself in the community
until twenty-nine years old; he then decided to come
west and in 1867 we find him in Walla Walla. In his
boyhood days, he had gained his education from a sub-
scription school, walking many miles and then paying
for the privilege of learning. This arduous way had
hardened him into the traces of life, he was filled with
vigor and ready for the occasions presented in the
west. He clerked for a time, then went to Lewiston
and was soon in the mining town of Warren, where he
spent four years clerking, from 1868 to 1872. Then
he went to Walla Walla and on May 1, started for
Texas, where he bought a herd of cattle, then left
there June 20, landing in southern Colorado, October
1, 1872. Wintering there, the next spring found him
on the drive again, and on November 13, 1873, he
turned his stock on the range in Routt county,
Colorado. He handled them there until June
25, 1880, then sold out and came to Lewis-
ton, landing there on July 25. He had been
verv successful in the cattle business, but in 1879, at
the breaking out of the Utes, he lost heavily, and now
has a claim of twenty thousand dollars against the
government, which is being litigated. Arriving in
Lewiston, he purchased the Raymond house, on July
30, 1880, and from that date until March 4, 1901, he
was installed as manager of that popular house, and
continued as such until March, 1901, when he leased
the hotel. Mr. Ttmberlake has real estate interests in
the country and property in Lewiston. At one time
he was interested in the Lewiston Mercantile Company
but sold out in 1901. At present he has mining inter-
ests. At one time Mr. Timberlake was elected mayor
of Lewiston but refused to serve, and has always de-
clined the honor of public office, but has labored hard
for his friends' election. He is allied with the Demo-
cratic party, and laconically remarks that he has been
trying to elect a Democratic president.
Mr. Timberlake was married in 1876 and has now
one grown daughter. Mr. Timberlake had relatives
on both sides of the struggle in the Civil war and
was in and out of the lines on both sides and had many
thrilling experiences. While in the stock business
he was active against the Indians in the outbreak. One
of his herdsmen, Mowery by name, was killed by the
Indians. Swift Timberlake, of Liberty, Missouri, who
for so many years fought the James and Younger
boys, and traced them so much, was a noted officer in
the entire country, and a cousin of our subject. While
Mr. Timberlake was in the stock business, the gov-
ernment sent special agents out from Washington a
number of times to quell the Indians and prevent their
driving him out of the country.
COMMODORE B. NELSON. Nez Perces county
does not come one whit behind in the excellency of her
mechanics as she does not in any other line.
One to be mentioned especially in this num-
ber of worthy workers is named at the head
of this page. Mr. Nelson is well known and
highly esteemed and is now operating one of
the leading blacksmith shops in the town of Lewis-
ton. Being a natural mechanic, he has added to this a
wealth of skill and experience that make him one of
the leaders in his line, and he is doing a fine business.
C. B. Nelson was born in Adams county, Illinois,
on September 3, 1868, being the son of James R. and
Mary C. (Ruddell) Nelson. When a child, his parents
came to Marion county, Iowa, and in the fall of 1876,
he came with them, via San Francisco, to Walla Walla,
where the father entered government land and farmed
until January, 1880. Then a move was made to the
vicinity of Lewiston. Commodore remained with his
parents and received his education in these various
places.
On September 2, 1888, Mr. Nelson married Miss
Melissa, daughter of John and Barbara (Shoup)
Tripp. Mrs. Nelson was born in Adams county, Illi-
nois, on July 13,1868, and came to Nez Perces county
the April" before she was married. Subsequent to their
marriage they removed to Lincoln county and there
farmed for a short time, after which they returned to
Nez Perces county, then in 1890 went to Rathdrum
and Mr. Nelson took up the logging business until
1895. The following year he returned to Lewiston and
opened a blacksmith shop and since that time has de-
voted himself to this important industry. In the be-
ginning of this labor Mr. Nelson was associated with
Mr. Nelson, no relation, but in 1897 his partner died and
he has operaated the labor alone since. The shop hires
one man and part of the time two men and does a fine
business. Since the start, Mr. Nelson has done a
268
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
thriving business and is one of the prosperous men of
the town now. He has a fine modern residence of ten
rooms at the corner of Second and Prospect avenues,
elegantly furnished, over which Mrs. Nelson presides
with refined dignity and graciousness, making it one of
the very attractive homes of the city. Mrs. Nelson
has a most beautiful collection of house plants upon
which she took the first premium at the inter-state fair
in Lewiston and her artistic ability in arranging them
creates a beautiful effect. She has received a second
premium also for the choicest selections of house
plants. Mr. Nelson is a member of the I. O. O. F.,
Lodge No. 8, in Lewiston and is also a member of the
Encampment. He has been noble grand in the lodge.
Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Nelson,
James Carl and Ruby Olive.
SERAPHIN WILDENTHALER is among the
oldest pioneers of Lewiston as well as one of its most
substantial citizens. He was born in Baden, Germany,
on July I, 1827. His family sailed from Havre, France,
in 1852 and settled in Sandusky, Ohio. Soon there-
after our subject came back to New York and went
thence, via Panama, to San Francisco. For eight
years he prospected and mined in the Golden state
and came thence to northern Idaho in 1862. Hostile
Indians attempted to stampede their horses while they
were enroute and one morning they found the ground
filled with arrows that had been shot at them in the
night, the weapons being half buried by their force.
In due time they arrived at Lewiston, a city of five
thousand, all living in tents. A crossing was effected
on the Snake where the ferry is now operated. Every
day a pack train wound its way out from Lewiston and
the tinkle of their bells was a familiar sound of the
day. For three years Mr. Wildenthaler mined at Oro-
fino and in the autumn of 1865, in company with Nye
and Harness, took a pack train of flour to Kootenai
and there sold it for sixty-five dollars per hundred.
Later in the same years he opened a bakery in Lewis-
ton with C. Baker. But the freedom of the hills called
him and he sold out to his partner and went to Mon-
tana. He mined on Harvey and Ten Mile creek and
then went to Arizona, California, Nevada and finally
came back to Sweetwater and South Pass. Mr. Wild-
enthaler joined the workers on the Union Pacific and
operated a bakery along the line, moving it sixteen
times to keep abreast of the road. He witnessed the
laving of the silver rail and the driving of the golden
spike that celebrated the completion of the first trans-
continental railroad in the United States, which act
was done at Promontory Point. Air. Wildenthaler
visited Ohio at this time and two months later came
back to Walla Walla. In 1870 he selected Lewiston
as his home place and bought a half interest in the gro-
cery and bakerv business of Conrad Wintch. This
partnership continued until 1878 when Mr. Wilden-
thaler bought the entire business. He conducted it
alone until 1901 when he sold a share to Joseph E.
Kincaid. The next vear Mr. Kincaid sold his inter-
est to D. O. Powell. The firm still occupies the same
place on west Main street, but the old wooden struct-
ure has given place to a brick building.
In 1878 Mr. Wildenthaler was united in marri-
age with Miss Hattie Palmer and they have become
the parents of two daughters and one son.
WILLIAM E. SCHNEBLY. It is with pleasure
that we are enabled to grant this estimable gentleman
a representation in the history of Nez Perces county
since he has not only made a handsome success in busi-
ness matters in the west, as his fine holding and enter-
prise will show, but has also achieved a success as an
educator ; in addition to these two lines of commenda-
ble labor he has also done worthy work in the minister-
ial line, having been exceptionally favored as a mission-
ary in establishing churches of his faith. Mr. Schne-
bly is a Baptist of the true stock and has preached
for many' years in the sections where he has resided
and many places in the west are deeply indebted to him
for sound moral teaching and gospel preaching.
A more minute detail of his life will be interesting
and therefore we note at the beginning that he was
born in Clarke county, Missouri, on December 14,
1854, being the son of John H. and Mary E. (North-
craft) Schnebly. The father was a farmer, born in
Maryland in 1816 and died in 1889. He was sheriff
of Clarke county for two terms, was pioneer of that
county as he had been of Peoria, Illinois and was a
capable and respected man. The mother of our sub-
ject was born in Virginia in 1830 and died in 1890.
Her father was a pioneer of Clarke county, Missouri,
having come thither in the thirties. Our subject re-
ceived a common school education while at home and
remained with his parents who removed to various
places. The father served in the Civil war in the quar-
ermaster's department and on account of the scourge
of the war removed after it closed to Lafayette, Saline
and Knox counties, to the latter in 1869. When Will-
iam was twenty-five vears of age. he saw the need of
better education and so labored and attended Edina
Seminary. He began his career of teaching at that
time and has followed it more or less since. He taught
and preached and finally in t88i, came west to Mon-
tana and the next year to Garfield county, Washington.
He farmed four hundred acres there, taught school,
and preached, being as busy a man as could be found
in the county. About this time, being thirty, he de-
termined to study in the theological seminary and ac-
cordingly went to Louisville, Kentucky, and took a
course. He returned to Latah countv where he had
purchased land and settled to till the same, but also
took up missionary work in his church. For three
years he was missionary pastor in Kendrick and he es-
tablished churches at Ping, Washington, Pine Grove,
Idaho, Kendrick, Big Meadows, and Lookout. Mr.
Schnebly remained in Latah county until the reserva-
tion was opened and then took up land where Lookout
now stands.
On January 13, 1888, in Knox countv. Missouri,
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
269
Mr. Schnebly married Lucy A., daughter of Welling-
ton and Amanda A. (Stapeles) Buford, natives of
Virginia and pioneers of Lewis county, .Missouri, both
dying in Knox county. Mr. Buford was a brickmason
and for years was judge of Knox county. Mrs. Schne-
bly was born in Knox county in 1854 and has ten
brothers and four sisters. Mr. Schnebly has the fol-
lowing named brothers and sisters, Frances V., Eliza-
beth V., Arabella, John H., Andrew, and Richard, the
last one deceased. One child has been born to Mr. and
Mrs. Schnebly, William B. B., at home. Mrs. Schne-
bly's brother, George, was a soldier in the Civil war.
Mr. Schnebly is a Prohibitionist and was nominated
by his party for secretary of state. He is an advo-
cate of good schools and morals and always labors for
these worthy ends. Mr. Schnebly is a man of business
and is handling the telephone system of this section,
having been the promoter of it and now owns a two-
third interest in the property. In addition to this he
has a farm of one hundred and twenty acres at Look-
cut and one hundred and sixty in Latah county.
HORACE STANLEY. About two miles north
from Steele post office is located the estate of Mr.
Stanley, which he secured from the government by his
homestead right, filing on the land in August, 1897.
Since that time Mr. Stanley has been laboring assidu-
ously in the good work of improving and opening his
place, and he is now the owner of a fine farm, with
good improvements, stock, orchards, buildings and so
forth, all of which is the result of his industry and
wisdom, for he came to the country in a "prairie
schooner," which was the sum total of his assets at that
time.
Horace Stanley was born in Guthrie county, Iowa,
on October 17, 1865, being the son of Samuel C. and
Emma (Newman) Stanley, natives of Indiana, where
also they were married. When Horace was four years
of age the family went to Jasper county, Missouri, and
later to Berry county. It was 1877 when they went
to Cherokee county, Kansas, and in the spring of 1888
they migrated to San Diego county, California, where
the father went to raising fruit.
In Cherokee county, Kansas, Mr. Stanley married
Marv, daughter of William and Abigal (Lee)
Mi
Jessup. The wedding occurred on November 22, 1887.
Mr. and Mrs. Jessup were natives of Indiana and were
married there. Subsequent to that event they removed
to Wayne county, Iowa, where Mrs. Stanley was born
on April 14, 1864. In 1866 the family went to Chero-
kee county, Kansas, and there her mother died in 1877,
and her father passed away in 1885. I" ^84 Mr.
Stanley had taken a trip to Yamhill county, Oregon, for
the purpose of exploring the country, and in 1886 he
returned to his home in Kansas. In 1889 he came
with his family to where his father dwelt in California,
and thence in 1890 to Yamhill county again. In 1896
he migrated from that county to Latah county, and in
1897 came to his present place. He bought the right
of a squatter and took a quarter section at that time.
Mr. Stanley has been active in the endeavors of build-
ing up the country and has always labored for good
schools and good government. He has rendered ex-
cellent service as director and in all matters for the
building of good roads and so forth he has also been
zealous. Mr. and Mrs. Stanley are devout members
of the Friends church and are real exemplifications of
the principles of the faith. To this worthy couple
there have been born five children, — Emma L., born
October 7, 1889; Carl J., born October 22, 1891 ; Ethel
A., born July 27, 1893 ; Howard S., born June 10, 1895 ;
Warren N., born July 7, 1897.
SIMEON J. GILLMORE. It is with pleasure
that we are enabled to incorporate in the history of
Nez Perces county an epitome of the career of the es-
teemed gentleman whose name is at the head of this
article. He was born in Pulaski county, Indiana, 011
February 27, 1863, being the son of James and Mary
A. (Rumbough) Gillmore. When a child he went
with his parents to Michigan and there he was reared
until thirteen, when he began the labors of life for
himself. He wrought in different parts of Michigan in
logging and timber work and also did much dock build-
ing on the lakes. In 1891 he came to Tacoma and en-
gaged in logging, and the next year he came to the
Okanogan country, where he delved for the riches of
the mining regions. Later we see him in this same
work in Shoshone county, Idaho. There, also, he was
occupied in locating timber claims, in which he was
skillful. When the reservation was opened he came
hither and located on a choice quarter section of land,
three miles north from Mohler. To the improvement
and opening of this he has devoted himself with an en-
ergy and skill that have brought their sure reward of a
good competence and a fine and valuable farm. Mr.
Gillmore states that when he landed on his present
place he had but ten days' rations and he was obliged
to continue for three years, nearly, before he got any
returns of any value from the farm. But he was de-
termined to make a valuable estate and he has been
very successful in this labor. He has plenty of im-
plements of all kinds for the cultivation of the farm,
has it all tilled, fenced and bearing the fruits of the
field, while a good house, orchard and other improve-
ments are in evidence. Mr. Gillmore is a member of
the W. of W. and is a reliable and honorable man, who
is deserving of the generous approval and esteem that
are bestowed upon him from his fellows.
JAMES R. LYDON. Since this volume is pur-
porting to grant consideration to the leading citizens of
Nez Perces county, therefore it is fitting that the gen-
tleman whose name is at the head of this article should
be mentioned herein, since also he is a man of good
standing, uprightness and ability, and has spent most
of his days in this and adjacent counties. James R.
was born in San Francisco, on November 15, 1865.
270
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
He was elected city treasurer in 1891, and that and
various other employments occupied him until 1895,
when he was appointed deputy sheriff under his broth-
er, Harry Lvdon. Two years later, this labor being
finished, he "went into the employ of the Northern
Pacific Railroad Company and continued there until
1900, when the people called him to act as county
treasurer. He was nominated on the Democratic
ticket, and although many of that ticket suffered de-
feat he was elected by a handsome majority. Since
January 1, 1 901, he has filled that office with credit to
himself and acceptability to the constituency.
OSCAR B. CHESLEY is one of the later settlers
in Nez Perces county, but he is a pioneer in the place
where he now resides, having come to Rock Creek and
started the town of Chesley in 1899. He established
a general merchandise store, got a post office located,
and since that time has been doing a good business,
and in addition to those industries mentioned he also
operated a hotel. Mr. Chesley is a man of ability and
enterprise, and has shown himself a valuable citizen.
In political matters he is active, always taking part in
the affairs of state. In his walk he is a man of integ-
rity and has won the good will and esteem of all who
have the pleasure of his acquaintance.
Oscar B. Chesley was born in Fond du Lac county,
Wisconsin, on March 15, 1864, being the son of Israel
and Jemima (Hendricks) Chesley. The family dates
back for many centuries and the family tree is without
break in all this long time. The Chesleys were always
noted in the military actions of their day and took a
prominent part in the Indian and Colonial wars.
The original emigrant, Philip Chesley, came to
America from Dover, England, and was among the
founders of Dover, New Hampshire, in 1642. The
descendants scattered from this point, and in 1758
Camuel Chesley, who joined the colonial forces, went to
Halifax and the following year settled on a grant of
land in Nova Scotia allowed for military services. The
father of our subject descended from this branch of the
family and was born at Granville, Nova Scotia, and later
emigrated to Canada, finally settling on his new farm
at Campbellsport, Wisconsin, in 1850, where he still
resides. The mother of Oscar was a descendant of
the early Pennsylvanians and was born in that state ;
later moved to Wisconsin, where she was married, lived
and finally died, in 1900.
Oscar was educated in the Fond du Lac high school
and then taught for several terms ; in 1887 he came to
the Black Hills country, South Dakota, and settled at
Oelrichs, where he edited and published the Oelrich's
Times, a weekly newspaper. He also acquired title
to over four hundred acres of land there, which he still
owns. Mr. Cheslev was elected clerk of courts of
Fall River county, South Dakota, on the Republican
ticket, and also served an unexpired term of another
incumbent.
On May 30, 1898, near Omaha, Nebraska, Mr.
Chesley married Miss Minnie J., daughter of Charles
G. and Louisa (Roberts) Laing. The father came to
the country where Omaha now stands when there were
but two houses, and he fought the Indians several
times. He was a native of Canada, of Scotch extrac-
tion. The mother of Mrs. Chesley was born in Illinois.
Mrs. Chesley 's brothers and sisters are Prince C, Liz-
zie Graham, and Rose, Cyrus, Margaret, Lena, Kirk,
at home, in Springfield, where Mrs. Chesley was born.
Her uncle William and his three sons were killed near
Oberlin, Kansas, by the Indians. Mr. Chesley has two
brothers, Walter W. and Arthur D. Mr. Chesley is
a member of the M. VV. A. and of the I. O. O. F.,
while he and his wife are church people. He was ad-
mitted to the practice of land law in South Dakota.
He had four uncles who fought for the Union, and
two were killed in battle, one died before he came out
of the war and one came home and died from the
effects of his hardships. Mr. Chesley is one of the
leading men of his section, and his ability in business
matters, his careful management of the affairs of life
entitle him justly to this position. In the fall of 1902
Mr. Chesley was nominated by the Republicans to the
office of probate judge.
CAPTAIN LOUIS D. SCHATTNER is one of
the veterans of the Philippine struggle, being captain
of Company B, First Idaho Infantry. His company
was detailed for the service of the Philippines and he
was active in the battle of Manila. Shortly after this
he was taken sick and was sent home after serving
there for eleven months.
Our subject was born in Wurtemberg. Germany,
on October 1, 1858, being the son of David A. and
Ursula (Kast) Schattner. The father was a highly
educated gentleman, was in the military in Germany,
was born on January 6, 1833, and died in 1895. He
held the permanent position of foreman of the grand
jury and was a prominent and highly esteemed man.
The mother was born in Wurtemberg. Germany, also,
in 1836, and died in 1872, being a thoroughly educated
lady of distinction. Our subject was educated in the
high school of his native place, and then graduated
from the Polytechnic schools. He came to America
in 1873 and soon established himself in the drug busi-
ness in Baltimore, but later went to Texas, following
the same business. Soon after we see him in Butte.
Montana, mining. He next enlisted in the regular
army, Company G. First Cavalry. For ten years he
served in the western department. He was engaged
in the Nez Perce war, with the Bannocks and the
Sheepeaters, the latter on the Salmon river. After his
honorable discharge he went to Billings, Montana,
and then to Spokane. Washington, and later opened a
drug business in Kendrick. After the fire there he
established himself in Leland and was there appointed
postmaster. It was 1805 that he came to Lewiston ;
then again we find him in Montana, in the drug busi-
nes. After his return from the Spanish-Philippine
war he went to Lewiston and opened a drug store,
which, however, he recently sold, and is now engaged
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
271
in life insurance. The brothers and sisters of our
subject are Katherine, Fredericka, Richard A., Rosa,
Marie, all in Germany. The children of Mr. Schatt-
ner are named as follows : Gretchen and Guy W.
Mr. Schattner is a thirty-second degree Mason and in
politics a Republican. He has never accepted nomina-
tion, but has always worked faithfully for the election
of the other good men. He has property in Lewiston
and in Leland. On July 25, 1902, he was appointed
United States deputy marshal, bv (Marshal) Hon. R.
Rounds.
ALFRED W. KROUTINGER. This well known
and representative business man and financier of Nez
Perces county is today holding one of the most re-
sponsible offices within the gift of the people of the
county, that of sheriff, and he is discharging the duties
thus incumbent upon him with efficiency and a display
of uprightness and wisdom.
Alfred W. was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on July
29, 1859, being the son of Adolph W. and Anna W.
(Jacobs) Kroutinger. The father was a major in the
regular army for thirty-five years; was born in 1830
and died in Idaho county, Idaho, in 1893. His an-
cestors were military men in Germany ; he came to the
United States, enlisted in the army and was retired in
1889. The mother was born in England on March 3,
1842, and came to the United States in infancy. Al-
fred was educated in the Chickering Institute, in Cin-
cinnati, and the Washington University, in St. Louis.
In 1877, when our subject was twenty years of age, he
came with his father, who had been ordered to quell
the Nez Perces, to central Idaho. He at once began
bookkeeping for John P. Vollmer & Company. Sev-
eral years were spent in this labor and then he was
selected as cashier for the First National Bank in
Lewiston, and was later appointed receiver in the
United States land office by President Cleveland, and
served from 1892 to 1896. He was also deputy auditor
and recorder from 1884 to 1888, and the last two years
of this period he was city treasurer. In 1896 he acted
as practicing attorney before the United States land
office and continued in that capacity until 1900, when
he received the nomination on the Democratic ticket for
sheriff of Nez Perces county, and was elected. He is
still filling that office in a creditable manner.
On May 3, 1881, in Lewiston, Mr. Kroutinger was
married to Miss Anna E. Vollmer, a sister of John P.
Vollmer, who had raised this sister after the death of
her parents. Mrs. Kroutinger was born on November
11, 1864, at Indianapolis. Indiana; her brother and
sister are as follows : J. P. Vollmer and Mrs Corine
Truscott. Mr. Kroutinger has no brothers or sisters.
Our subject and his estimable wife have become the
parents of one child, Anna L., who was nineteen vears
of age on January 15, 1902, is a graduate of the high
school at Lewiston, and a very proficient musician.
Mr. Kroutinger is a member of the Masons. Scottish
Rite Chapter, and has taken all the degrees in that
order but one. He and his family affiliate with the
Episcopal church. Mr. Kroutinger is active in poli-
tics and is also a vigilant business man. He is in
partnership with B. F. Morris, one of the best known
men in Idaho, and they handle considerable real
estate.
JOHN F. POWERS has been a resident of Nez
Perces county since February 5, 1902. at which date
he purchased his present farm, four miles southwest
from Melrose. But he has lived in the west all of his
life, and a large portion has been spent in the vicinity
of Nez Perces county. He was born in Saltese Junc-
tion, Washington, on December 19, 1874, being the son
of William L. and Rebecca (Davis) Powers. The
father was born in Pike county, Illinois, in 1842, and
now lives on the Sound. The mother was born in
Iowa in 1844. In 1853 the father came to the Will-
amette valley and seventeen years later removed with
his family to Saltese, in the Palouse countrv. Our
subject was born there, being the first white child born
in the northern part of Whitman county. The father
did merchandising and was one of the most successful
salesmen in the entire eastern part of the state. He
and his brother, John G. Powers, now of Palouse City,
were wealthy and influential merchants and were part-
ners for years. The father retired from the store and
dealt in timber and later went into the stock business
extensively. In 1896 he sold out and went to southern
California for his health. Our subject remained at
home in attendance at school and assisting his father
until of age. and then started for himself. He went
to southern California with his father, but after three
years in the vicinity of San Diego and tiring of the
country, he returned and settled in Palouse. Later
he came to Nez Perces county, as noted above.
On June 5, 1895, Mr. Powers married Miss Mary
Bures, in Palouse. Her parents died when she was
an infant. Mrs. Powers was born in Bohemia, on
September 22. 1874. and came to the United States
in 1878. She has one brother. Benjamin Bures, in
Spokane. Mr. Powers has one sister and three broth-
ers,— Benjamin, Clifford, William and Annie Kincaid.
To Mr. and Mrs. Powers there have been born two
children, Delmar and Nelson. Mr. Powers is a mem-
ber of the W. of W. In political affairs he is an
active Republican, attending the conventions and
caucuses. He has been clerk of the school board for
some time and he is always on record for good schools
and the betterment of educational facilities.
WILLIAM C. WATDE was a stanch supporter of
the flag in the time of internal strife and did valiant
service in this capacity. He has since proved himself
as worthy in civil life and is now one of the prosperous
farmers on Central ridge, being about nine miles south-
east from Peck.
William C. Waide was born in Mason county, West
Virginia, on December 22. 1843, being the son of Sam-
uel and Mary (Greenlee) Waide. He was reared on
a farm and educated in the log cabin school houses of
272
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
that day, and when the war was at its height he en-
listed in Company I, Ninth West Virginia Volunteers.
His father had enlisted in the Ninth also, but was
obliged to retire from active service on account of his
advanced age. He was a colonel in the state militia.
Our subject started his military career on February
25, 1864, and fought at Clyde Mountain, Winchester,
Lynchburg, Fisher Hill, Charlotstown and was al-
most constantly in action all the time he served. He
was in the Eighth Corps under General Crook and
later under General Sheridan. He was captured three
different times, but was not in prison. He served
until the close of the war and was then honorably dis-
charged to return to quiet life in his native place. He
farmed for a time there and then moved to Lawrence
county, Ohio, where he married Miss Rebecca Suiter,
on February 29, 1867. Her parents were William and
Martha Suiter. Mr. Waide removed to Miami county,
Ohio, in 1870, and in 1885 he came to Portland and
farmed close to that city for a decade and more. He
sold his farm of one hundred and twenty acres there
in 1898 and came to his present location, which he
secured as a homestead. He has good improvements,
raises general crops and some stock and is on the list
of the prosperous farmers of his section. He and
his estimable wife are members of the German Baptist
church and are devout in the path of the faith they
have espoused. Eight children have been born to
this household, named as follows : Mrs. Martha Pope,
of Butte, Montana ; Mrs. Dora Day, of near Southwick ;
John F., at home ; William N., near Russell, Idaho ;
Mrs. Emma Bashor, in this county: Charles E., oi
Yamhill county, Oregon; Mrs. Ida Hackett, near
Steele ; and Marv A.
JAMES H. WANN. Among the capable and
successful business men of Nez Perces county we
are constrained by force of right to mention this gen-
tleman, whose name initiates this paragraph, and
who is well known as a merchant at Spalding and an
orchardist.
James H. Wann was born in Lawrence county,
Missouri, on November 11, 1849, being the son of
Daniel and Sarah J. (Hague) Wann. The father
was a farmer, born in Tennessee, in 1815 and died
in 1850. He was one of the very first settlers in
Lawrence county, Missouri, was county commis-
sioner and chairman of that body. The mother was
born while her parents were crossing the ocean from
Scotland to the L'nited States, in 1818. Her parents
were both Scotch, the father being born in Edin-
burgh, a descendant of highlanders of note, and him-
self being a graduate of Edinburgh University. Our
subject remained at home until of age. The mother
came to Cass county in 1856 and to Kansas City in
1862, she having married a second time a gentleman
by the name of A. J. Farmer. At the time of his
majority, James went into the mercantile bus-
iness with his brother, Dr. J. B. Wann, in Lawrence
county. Ten years were spent there and then he went
to Halltown and started a store and a drug
store in Mt. Vernon. In 1881 he sold the
entire business interests there and came west
and in company with his brother he went to
farming extensively in Garfield county, Washing-
Ion. Later our subject went to Pataha and em-
barked in the hardware business on his own respon-
sibility. He did well and remained there until 1887,
when in October of that year he went to Camas prai-
rie. He took up the mercantile business there and
m the fall of 1892 he was elected county assessor and
tax collector of Idajio county on the Democratic
ticket. From 1888 to 1896 he was engaged in raising
sheep and cattle, which he sold and bought a fruit
ranch in the vicinity of Spalding. He now handles
this in connection with a general merchandise store
and assistant postmaster.
In 1871 Mr. Wann married Miss Sarah F. Neil,
in Greene county, Missouri. Her parents, Benjamin
A., and Nancy (Wallace) Neil, were natives of Ten-
nessee and the mother of Scotch extraction. Mrs.
Wann has one sister and three brothers, named as
follows : B. G. Neil, Prior, David B., Jane West. Mr.
Wann lias two brothers, John B., a physician in Mis-
souri ; Daniel J., at Pullman, Washington. The fol-
lowing children are the fruit of this marriage : Charles
A., merchant at Mohler, Idaho ; William D., at home ;
Loren 1'.., 111 Culdesac; Delia O'Conner, in Spokane;
James Norman, at home. Mr. Wann is a Mason,
having taken the highest degree obtainable. He is a
notary public, handles cattle in addition to his other
labors and is an active Democrat, and good man. His
brother, William M., was killed in the Civil war.
WILLIAM M. EVANS. At Willola, in Nez
Perces county, is located the enterprising gentleman
mentioned above, and there he is the present incum-
bent of the postoffice, does a general merchandise busi-
ness and handles a ferry, the last two industries in
partnership with his brother-in-law, Charles W.
Wright.
William M. Evans was born in Linn county, Ore-
gon, in 1867 and remained with his parents until
1886. Being then about nineteen, he started for him-
self and various employments engaged him for two
years. Then stirred by the tales of wealth in the
British Columbia regions, he mined two years in the
vicinity of Nanaimo. After this venture he was
employed for some time in railroading and bridge
construction. In 1893 he made his way to Juliaetta,
hired land from his brother, mention of whom is
made in another portion of this volume, and there
farmed for three years. At that time, the reservation
was opened and he came to his present placed and filed
on a quarter section. In connection with his brother,
Mr. Evans built roads for the ferry which they op-
erated and later he bought the ferry from his brother
and is still operating it. In addition to this and the
merchandise mentioned above, Mr. Evans has been
busy in the sawmill business, erecting the first mill on
the reservation. Two vears he devoted time and en-
JAMES H. WANN.
WILLIAM M EVANS.
MRS. WILLIAM M. EVANS.
MRS. CHARLES W. WRIGHT. CHARLES W. WRIHHT
.IK.SSH H I- ANSLEK
BERTRAM W. TEFFT. MRS. BERTRAM W. TEFFT.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ergy to this industry and made a success of it as is
the custom of Air. Evans in any line that he at-
tempts.
On August 3, 1894, Mr. Evans married Miss
Minnie M. Wright, daughter of William A. and Ella
(Emrick) Wright, of Dublin, this county. Mrs.
Evans was born in Columbia county, Washington, on
December 19, 1878. To this happy union there have
been born three children, Lola, Willie and Henry.
Mr. Evans and his gracious wife are among the
most valuable additions to society- in this section.
They are highly respected people, and the business
ability, integrity, energy and wisdom manifested by
Mr. Evans have given him a place of influence and
prestige, while he has also gained a gratifying success
in his business enterprises.
In politics, Mr. Evans is a Republican and is an
active worker in the county conventions, and always
stands bv his convictions. The postoffice was named
for his two children, Willie and Lola.
CHARLES W. WRIGHT. The stirring and ge-
nial young man mentioned at the head of this article
is one of the successful business men of the reserva-
tion portion of Nez Perces county, being now equal
partner in the mercantile and ferry business owned
by Evans & Wright at Willola.
Charles W. Wright was born in January 2, 1874,
being the son of William A. and Ella (Emerick)
Wright, natives of Ohio and Washington county, Ore-
gon, respectively. They now live at Dublin, this
county. Our subject has the following brothers and
sisters, Harry S. ; Henrietta, deceased, wife of Robert
Hall, of Latah county, who had two children. Roy E.
and Vera; Earl, with parents; Myrtle, wife
of William Evans ; and Cora, wife of Oliver Anderson
of this county. He has also one adopted sister, May,
with his parents. Charles was educated in the public
schools in Dayton, Washington, graduating at the age
of nineteen. Then he farmed for a time and in 1894,
came to the reservation and rented Indian land, hand-
ling three hundred acres for three years. After this
he located a homestead sevn miles west from the town
of Nezperce and that was the scene of his labors until
1902, when he sold out and after a visit to Washing-
ton, he returned to the county and purchased a half
interest in Mr. Evans' business at Willola, where we
find Mr. Wright at this time rapidly building up a
good patronage. His skill, good judgment, business
tact and kind and pleasant ways have added strength
to the firm and the partners are now the recipients of
a first-class patronage.
On September 30, 1893, Mr. Wright married Miss
Annie, daughter of Elijah and Minerva (Farris) Da-
vidson, pioneers of Oregon. Mrs. Wright was born
in Josephine county, Oregon. Four children have
been born to them, Charles R., Jesse J., Levina A. and
an infant. Mrs. Wright has the following brothers
and sisters: Winter L., in Bandon, Oregon; Summer,
in Culdesac ; Thomas B., at Bandon, Oregon ; Frank
F., at Grants Pass, Oregon ; Pearl, single, living with
her parents. Mr. Wright is a member of Phinney
Camp No. 492, of the W. W. at Fletcher. He and his
wife also belong to the auxiliary. Mr. Wright is a
Republican in political matters, but is not desirous of
personal preferment.
Mr. Wright's eldest son had eleven grandparents
at one time and was the fourth generation living.
JESSE H. FANSLER was born in Randolph
county, West Virginia, on April 25, 1849. This
was later Tucker county, West Virginia. He was
reared on a farm and educated in his native place,
where he remained until 1887. Then came a journey
to eastern Tennessee and Mr. Fansler farmed there
for two years. After this he went to Knoxville. Ten-
nessee, and acted as salesman for a furniture house,
then was with the Eureka soap company for a time.
He left Knoxville in May, 1892, and landed in Lewis-
ton on June 6. He engaged with his brother in cut-
ting cord wood and then went at the business him-
self and also took his present place as a homestead.
This was in 1897 and since then it has been the fam-
ily home.
In Randolph, West Virginia, in 1879, Mr. Fansler
married Miss Amanda Roy, a native of Virginia.
Eight children have been born to this union, Camden
B., Zadie. Zernie, Manning G., Jessie, Roy, Golden,
William T. On Mav 10, 1900, Zadie married Charles
C. Miles.
The paternal grandfather of our subject, Henry
Fansler, was a drummer boy in the Revolution. He
later married Miss Stone, a native of Pennsylvania.
Their son, named Solomon, was born in 1800 in Ran-
dolph county, Virginia, and married Miss Flanagan, a
native of the same county, and they became the pa-
rents of the subject of this sketch. The mother's an-
cestors were among the first settlers in New Jersey.
Mr. Fansler is at the present time engaged in the mer-
cantile business at \\ ebb, Idaho.
BERTRAM W. TEFFT. The thrifty farmer
and stockman, who is mentioned at the head of this
article, is one of the builders of the reservation coun-
try, having taken his present home place about two
miles northwest from Morrow at the opening of the
section to settlement. He has persevered here in the
good work of improvement and is now a leading man
of the section.
Bertram W. Tefft was born in Elgin, Illinois, on
December 2, 1867. being the son of Thomas W. and
Emily (Jolls) Tefft. The mother was born in Elgin
and died about 1868. The father was born in New
York state on October 30, 1824. He went to Califor-
nia in 1849, when he went to Elgin. He filled the
office of chief of police there and was in Company A.
One Hundred and Forty-First Illinois Infantry and
now lives in Elgin. Our subject received an academic
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
education, and when nineteen came to Nez Perces
county and settled on unsurveyed land and proved up
later. He took his present place at the opening of
the reservation and has now a fine six-room residence,
a first-class barn, and other improvements to match.
He was here when there were but four votes cast in
his precinct, thus being a real pioneer in this section.
On this prairie, on June 22, 1892, Mr. Tefft mar-
ried Miss Catherine, daughter of Lemuel and Sarah
A. Hendrickson, who came to Oregon in 1843. Mrs.
Tefft's uncle, Milton Doan, was the first white child
born in Multnomah county. Her father died in the
Potlatch country in 1887 and her mother died May 16,
1 90 1. Mr. Tefft has the following brothers and sis-
ters, Harvey W., Albert P. and Emma Mead. Mr.
Tefft has brothers and sisters named as follows: Mar-
garet Slaven, William, Elizabeth Miller, Grace Sharp,
Mary Park, Nellie Stevens, Benjamin. Five children
have been born to this couple, Victor, Evelyn, Ruth,
Loris and Ray. Mr. Tefft is a Democrat and a pro-
gressive and public-minded man. well liked and of
good standing.
JACOB N. GWIN is a man of stirring activity
and integrity, and has made a good name for himself
in Nez Perces county and adjacent sections ; he is de-
serving of consideration in the volume that mentions
the leading men of the county. He was born in
Washington county, Tennessee, on March 4, 1853,
being the son of James K. and Mary A. (Whistler)
Gwin. The father was of -Welsh extraction, was born
in Tennessee and died in 1874, having wrought at till-
ing the soil. The mother was born in Tennessee, in
1824, and now lives in this county. Her father, Jacob
Whistler, was born in Virginia, and her mother, a
.Mis- Swecker, was a native of that state also. The
Swecker family were pioneers of Virginia, and some of
its members were massacred by the Indians. Mr.
Whistler died at the age of eighty-five and his wife was
eighty-seven when she passed away. Our subject re-
mained at home working on the farm and gaining a
good education, both from the public schools and
Washington College, until manhood's estate. At twen-
ty he came to Trinidad, Colorado, with his parents.
There he was interested in carpentry. They made the
trip from Kit Carson, Colorado, to that city with Mexi-
can freight outfits. Trinidad was his home until 1883 ;
during that time he had taught school and been inter-
ested in various businesses. Then he came to Wash-
ington, settling near Dixie, where he assisted in thresh-
ing wheat that yielded forty bushels per acre without
rain after May 12. He taught school after settling
there, then removed to the vicinity of Garfield, and
later came to Moscow to educate his children. There
he was chosen to preach in the German Baptist de-
nomination, and at this he labored faithfully for some
years, also doing carpenter work. In 1896, on account
of bronchial trouble, he went to Ashland, Oregon, with
team, where he found relief. Three years were spent
there and then he came to Nez Perces county and bought
land. On the election of Mr. B. F. Bashor to the
assessorship of the count)-, in 1902, our subject be-
came deputy, and is acting in that capacity now and
giving general satisfaction.
The marriage of Mr. Gwin and Aliss Margaret J.,
daughter of Jacob and Anna (Arnold) Nead, was
solemnized in Tennessee on January 5, 1881, by J. B.
Pence. They have the following children : Ethel A..
Laura M.. Dora A., Emma J., Edgar J., deceased,
Bertha A., Lois, deceased. Mrs. Gwin was born
in Washington county, Tennessee, on December
16, 1854, was educated there and taught school.
Her father was born in Virginia in 1829 and died
in 1862, while her mother was born in Virginia
in 1828 and died in Tennessee in 1880. Mrs.
( iwin had three uncles in the Confederate army.
Her brothers are deceased and are named as fol-
lows: James, Benjamin and Jacob; and one sister,
Cornelia Hopkins, who lives at Dayton, Washing-
ton, and two — Mary and Rebecca — are deceased.
Mr. Gwin has brothers and sisters as follows:
Phoebe I. Sipe, Mary J. Bashor, Joseph A., James F.,
Margaret E. Boyles, Emma M. Whitney. Mr. and
Mrs. Gwin are members of the German Baptist Breth-
ren church and are devout supporters of their faith.
They have a good ranch in Nez Perces county and
have raised as high as eighty-six and one-half bushels
of grain per acre.
FRED RUCHERT is one of the sturdy and enter-
prising men whose nativity is in the Fatherland, but
whose spirit and energy have led to this prosperous
country. His estate lies two and one-half miles east
from Lapwai and he is numbered with the substantial
and reliable men of the community.
Fred Ruchert was born in Prussia, on July 15,
1842, being the son of Charles and Minnie (Croppe)
Ruchert. The father was a carpenter, born in Prussia
in 1801, and died in 1874. He was in the German
army. The mother was born in 1808, and died in
1873. Our subject was educated in the schools of his
own country and then farmed there until 1872. At
that time he decided to come to the United States and
accordingly we see him in Door county. Wisconsin,
soon working with his brother in the timber. He
bought a piece of land the second year, cleared it and
settled to farming there for fourteen years. Then
he sold out and came to Wallowa county, Oregon, pay-
ing attention to farming there also. Later he was
in the Grande Ronde valley and there farmed and
raised stock until 1S98. He sold again and settled
next time in Anatone, Asotin county, Washington.
lie did well in the stock business there until he was
burned out by some jealous companies. Then he was
forced to leave that section and purchased land in Nez
Perces county as mentioned above.
In Germany, on October 2, 1872, Mr. Ruchert
married Miss Minnie, daughter of John and .Minnie
Grabbart. and the next day they started for the United
States. Mr. Grabbart was an attendant on a wealthy-
duke in Germany. Mrs. Ruchert was born in Ger-
many in 1849, ar>d has one brother and three sisters, —
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
275
Morris, Karalina, Austina and a baby. Mr. Ruchert
has the following brothers and sisters : Theodore,
who participated in the Danish, Austrian and Prussian
war in 1864. in the Austro-Prussian war of 18G6 and
the Franco-Prussian war in 1870-72 ; Charlie, Christ
and Sophia. To Mr. and .Mrs. Ruchert there have been
born eight children, — Frank, Lizzie, Albert, Otto, Ed-
die, Emma, Henry and William. Mr. Ruchert was in
the Austro-Prussian war. In political matters he is
allied with the Republicans and always takes an intelli-
gent interest in political matters. He and his family
are adherents of ihe Lutheran church.
ARTHUR SKELTON. This young and indus-
trious farmer resides five miles southeast from Peck,
on a quarter section that he secured by his homestead
right, filing on it in January. 1897. Since that time
Mr. Skelton has devoted himself to its culture and
improvement, and he has a good farm and tills it in a
skillful manner.
Arthur Skelton was born in Calhoun county, Ala-
bama, on June 5, 1872, being the son of James J. and
Mattie J. (Stewart) Skelton, natives, respectively, of
Calhoun county and St. Clair county, Alabama. They
were married in the latter county and resided in the
former, where Mr. Skelton was a furniture dealer and
also county treasurer. He served in the Civil war,
all through. The grandfather, Stewart, of our subject,
was a general in the Confederate army. Arthur was
educated in the common schools and the state normal at
Jacksonville, and in 1892 he went west to Texas and
Colorado. The following year we find him in Walla
Walla, then later in Colfax, and soon in Pierce City,
where he sought the smiles of fortune in mining labors.
Later Mr. Skelton visited Lewiston and afterwards
settled in the Potlatch country until the date mentioned,
when he came and secured his present home place.
On October 14. 1896, Mr. Skelton married Miss
Mary E., daughter of James V. and Elva V. Cotter,
natives of Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. They
came to Latah county in 1888. and Mr.' Cotter died in
1894, but his widow is still living, making her home
in Nez Perces county. One child has been born to
Mr. and Mrs. Skelton, Daphne 1., born December 11,
1898. Mrs. Skeiton was born in Isabella county,
Michigan, on April 8, 1876. This young couple have
done well in this county, are highly respected and are
always found allied on the side of good government,
progression and sound principles, being possessed of
admirable integrity, affability and wisdom, which
bring to them the good will and approval of all.
WILLIAM B. REESE. From a worthy family of
excellent quality came the subject of this sketch, a pop-
ular and esteemed citizen of Xez Perces county. Dr.
Reese ;s one of the talented and leading professional
men of the county and has achieved distinction in differ-
ent lines of enterprise, ever manifesting the happy
qualifications of which he is richly possessed, and dis-
playing uprightness and integrity in all his ways.
Mr. Reese was born in Hendersonville, North Caro-
lina, on February 4, 1849. being the son of William and
Margaret C. (Plumblee) Reese. The father was
born in North Carolina in 1807, and was a carriage
maker. While he owned slaves, he never would buy
or sell them. He was of French and Welsh extrac-
tion and died in 1884 with pneumonia. His father
was a soldier in the Revolution. The mother of our
subject was born in North Caroline in i8r5 and died
in 1890. William B. remained with his parents until
of age, gaining a good education and being employed
with his father. At the age of twenty-five he was
admitted to the Methodist conference and was a trav-
eling minister for seven years. At the end of that
time he was forced to abandon his calling on account
of throat trouble. He immediately went to studying
medicine and graduated from the Vanderbilt Uni-
versity in 1882, then went to practicing medicine in
.Mitchell county and five years later, when his father
died, he went to the old home to care for his mother,
and there practiced for two years ; then he went to
New York city and took a post graduate course in the
Polyclinic hospital. He then closed his business in
the south and came to Genesee, Latah county, arriving
there in April, 1891. Three years were spent there
in successful practice, and then a move was made to
Leland, where we find him in his profession until
1900, when the people called him to act as probate
judge of Nez Perces county. The election was a stub-
bornly fought contest, he being on the Democratic
ticket, but as he was not a strong partisan he receiv-ed
much Republican support. He is now in the city of
Lewiston and fulfilling the duties of that important
office with credit and distinction.
The marriage of Dr. Reese and Miss Anna, daugh-
ter of Rev. Andrew and Lucinda ( Phillips) Robert-
son, was solemnized on February 6, 1888, in Chat-
tanooga, Tennessee, and three children have been born
to them — T. Caroosso, in Lewiston; John M. and
Willie, at home. Mrs. Reese was born in Georgia
and her father in the same state, while her mother was
born in North Carolina. The father was a Methodist
minister, and his father was also a minister in that
church, and died in his eighty-fourth year, having
been a soldier in the war of 1812. Mrs. Reese's grand-
father Phillip was born in 1788. died in 1889, and his
wife also lived to a good age. This veteran was mar-
ried without a dollar, became the father of eighteen
children, left them each a farm and died with plenty
himself. He handled his own farm until ninety-seven
vears of age. The brothers and sisters of Airs. Reese
are: Christopher B.. Joseph, John W., Reuben,
Bright, deceased, Clara " Stover. Hattie Richie. The
brothers and sisters of Mr. Reese are: John, de-
ceased ; James, Henry C. deceased : Thomas C. ;
Solomon ; Man- Dunlap : Ellen Burges. Judge
Reese is a past master Mason with membership
at Genesee. He and his wife are members of the
Methodist church. South.' He is a stanch Demo-
crat and active in the realm of politics. He owns
276
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
property in North Carolina and at Genesee, and farms
near Orofino. His brothers, James and Henry,
fought in the Civil war and the latter was killed at the
battle of Seven Pines, while the former languished one
year in the war prison at Elmira, New York.
JAMES W. McFADDEN. This venerable de-
fender of the flag on many fields of blood is one of the
substantial citizens of Nez Perces county, residing two
miles south from Southwick, and in his private life, as
in the service of his country, he has manifested the
true courage born of principle, and has been dominated
by the wisdom that has materialized the enterprises of
business into a goodly competence for the golden years
of his active and well spent life.
James W. McFadden was born in Venango county,
Pennsylvania, on December 5, 1838, being the son of
John and Mary McFadden. James W. grew up on
a farm, received a good education and when the Civil
war broke out enlisted in Company H, Fourth Penn-
sylvania Cavalry. Three years later, when his time
had expired, he re-enlisted in the same company and
served until the close of the war — ten months. He was
in the batles of Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellors-
ville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, besides many others.
His regiment participated in seventy-five battles and
skirmishes. Being honorably discharged at the close,
Mr. McFadden returned to his home, having the satis-
faction of knowing tnat, althought he had suffered al-
most untold hardship, serving under Sheridan and
others in active and vigorous warfare, the country was
safe ; he had rendered the patriot's offering and is now
entitled to the patriot's honors and rewards.
On January 29, 1869, Mr. McFadden married Miss
Hannah, daughter of John and Hannah (Weakley)
Foster, natives of Pennsylvania, and the father was a
veteran of the war of 1812. Mrs. McFadden was born
in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, in April, 1833, and
though now in her seventieth year she has no silver
threads of age and is hearty and active after a pioneer's
life of labor. This marriage occurred in Mercer coun-
ty and Mr. McFadden took up his residence in Ven-
ango county until 1876, then took train October 2
and came to San Francisco, thence to Portland by
steamer, then up the Columbia by boat to Wallula,
thence to Walla Walla, and there after a short stay a
team was purchased and they went to Whitman county,
where they took up a soldier's homestead. In 1881
they sold that property and came to their present place.
A preemption was taken and as much more land was
added by purchase later, and since that time they have
labored on together and have been attended by the
prosperity that comes to wise industry. Mr. McFadden
was forced to go to Lewiston and Moscow for all sup-
plies, and often paid twenty cents per pound for sugar
and other things in proportion. The nearest neigh-
bors were some miles away, and they labored with
zeal and determination to make their valuable and
handsome estate. Three hundred acres are brought
under tribute to produce annual fruitage, and thirty
acres are devoted to a valuable orchard. Two im-
posing barns grace the estate, outbuildings in abund-
ance, and a nine-room residence of modern archi-
tectural design is the comfortable and tasty home.
Mr. and Mrs. McFadden are deserving of great credit
for the wisdom and labor they have shown, and they
are accorded the same in generous measure. The) arc-
both members of the Presbyterian church and are de-
vout in the faith. Four children have been born to
them, — John P., married to Esther Mathew, in Nez
Perces county; James M., married to Bertha Guern-
sey, near Peck; Clyde E. died eight years ago, aged
twenty-one ; Bernice, wife of Lee Mathew, in this
county. The eldest son has three children, the second
two, and the daughter is the mother of one child.
JOSEPH F. EDWARDS. Biography is becom-
ing distinctly the literature of the day, and doubtless
it is here to remain. It is fitting therefore that in the
history of his county that the biographies of the leading
men should appear and thus we place before our read-
ers an epitome of this prominent gentleman, who* has
done a large amount for the advancement and progress
of Culdesac, being at the present time one of the heavy
real estate holders and also engaged in transferring
real estate.
Joseph F. Edwards was born in Manitowoc City,
Wisconsin, on November 4, 1858, being the son of
John W. and Frances (Hunter) Edwards. The father
was a carpenter and ship builder, born in Calais,
Maine, in 1812, January 23, died on January 8, 1897.
He participated in the Black Hawk and the Civil wars.
In the latter he was orderly sergeant of Company K.
Twenty-first Wisconsin Volunteers. He served under
Generals Rosecrans and Thomas, and was in the bat-
tles of the Wilderness, Lookout Mountain and Vicks-
burg. The mother of our subject was born in Nova
Scotia in 1822, and died on May 10, 1898. These peo-
ple were pioneers to the vicinity of Milwaukee. Wis-
consin, in 1833. At the age of thirteen Joseph started
to sail on the lakes, and continued until he was twenty.
He then came west to California and on September
28, 1878, he settled in Nez Perces county, in the vicin-
ity of Genesee. For twenty years he farmed there,
and in 1898 he came to Culdesac, locating the first store
in a tent July 29, 1899. Prior to that time he had also
been organizer for the W. of W. Soon he sold his
interest to his partner, Mr. E. T. Brandon, and in No-
vember of the same year started a general merchandise
store for himself. He continued that with the post
office until June, 1901, when he sold out and erected
several buildings in the town. He recently completed
Magnolia hall, the largest two-story structure in the
town. Now Mr. Edwards is engaged in the real es-
tate business.
On March 4, 1889, Mr. Edwards married Miss
Ada V. Nelson in Latah county. Mrs. Edwards is
the daughter of T. F. and Mary E. (Greer) Nelson.
The father, a Baptist minister in Idaho county, was
born in North Carolina and was a Confederate sol-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
dier. He has represented Idaho and Latah counties
in the legislature and at the time Heitfield was elected
Mr. Nelson came within two votes of being United
States senator. Mrs. Nelson was born in North Caro-
lina, as was also Mrs. Edwards. November 19, 1871.
She has the following brothers and sisters : Thomas,
Rosa Howton. Horace, Samuel. John and Gordon.
Mr. Edwards has the following named brothers and
sisters : Charles A., Margaret Spencer ; George,
Thomas and John, all deceased. Mr. Edwards is a
member of the W. of YV., the I. O. O. F., having passed
all the chairs of the latter order, and past chancellor of
the K. of P. He is also a member of the Rebekahs
and the Women of Woodcraft, his wife being a mem-
ber of these last named orders also. Mr. Edwards is
an active and intelligent Republican. He is a commit-
teeman of the Culdesac precinct. Mr. Edwards is
always an advocate of good schools, and is a liberal
contributor towards all institutions for the benefit of
the community. He has assisted much in contribu-
tions toward the location of the new mill and other
industries of the town. Four children have been
born to Mr. and Mrs. Edwards, as follows : Mary-
Frances, Charles M., Everett W. and a baby which died
in infancy.
EDWARD G. WILLIAMS. Two and one-half
miles northeast from Lapwai is the quarter section
where is located the family home of the subject of this
article. He has improved the land in a very praise-
worthy manner, having good buildings and an orchard
of two thousand trees. It is quite appropriate that
this history should contain a biographical account of
this worthy citizen, and therefore we append for the
perusal of all some of the details of his career.
Edward G. Williams was born in Sangamon coun-
ty, Illinois, on August 16, 1857, being the son of Isaiah
B. and Phoebe (Baker) Williams. The father, who
was a farmer, born in Ohio in 1810, died in 1901, par-
ticipated in the Black Hawk war. The mother was
born in Kentucky in 1817 and died in 1892. Her
people were pioneers in Kentucky. Edward worked
on a farm and attended school until young manhood's
estate was reached. At his majority he started for
himself. He bought land and lived there until 1883.
Then he removed to Sumner county, Kansas, bought
land near Belleplaine and farmed for four years. Next
we see him in Prairie county, Arkansas, and two years
later he returned to Sangamon county, Illinois. Five
years were spent there, and then he went to Iowa, re-
maining three years. In March, 1897, he came to
Juliaetta. Idaho, and the next year purchased a man's
right to a homestead, where he now lives.
In Illinois, on December 25, 1879, Mr. Williams
married Miss Sarah J., daughter of Gilbert and De-
lilah Hatler, natives of Kentucky and Illinois, respect-
ively. Mrs. Williams was also born in Illinois. She
has three sisters and one brother, — Josephine, Ema-
line. Albert and Daisy. Mr. Williams has the follow-
ing named brothers and sisters : Susan, Mary, James
H. Hattie. Mattie. Amos S., Sanford, Abraham. To
Mr. and Mrs. Williams there have been born six chil-
dren,— Lola, Ethel. Homer, Murray. Alvin and Marie.
Mrs. Williams is a member of the Methodist church.
Mr. Williams is a strong Republican and attends the
conventions and primaries and always takes an active
part in local matters. He advocates good schools and
is a public-minded citizen allied on the side of progress
and advancement.
RUFUS B. MILLER. Mr. Miller is a man of
varied and extensive experiences in the enterprises of
life and has always wrought with a manifestation of
industry and wisdom. He is at present located on his
estate, one mile northeast from Peck, where he does
a general farming business and is prospered in his en-
deavors. He is a man of zealous interest in the edu-
cational progress of the country, labors assiduously
and unremittingly for this end and is also allied on
the side of general progress as well.
Rufus B. Miller was born on March 7, 1858, in
Wythe county, Virginia, being the son of Austin and
Elizabeth (Newland) .Miller, both natives of Wythe
county, where they passed their lives. Rufus was
reared there and received a good education in the com-
mon schools and then finished with a course in the
college at Marion, Virginia. Following this, he de-
voted himself to teaching for a time and then, on
September 1, 1881, he married Miss Josie S., daughter
of Joseph and Sarah E. Hutton, natives of Washing-
ton county. Virginia, where also the mother died. The
father is still living on the old homestead. Mrs. Miller
was born on October n, 1863. In 1884 Mr. Miller
came with his family to Dayton. Washington, and re-
mained one year with his uncle. R. G. Newland, who
represented the territory of Washington three terms
in the United States congress. In 1885 a move was
made to the vicinity of Sprague and Mr. Miller located
a homestead and tilled it until 1892. Then he sold
out and removed to Oakesdale, Washington, and there
operated the farm of Hon. T. G. Mulkey for two
years. In 1898 Mr. Miller came to the vicinity of Nez-
perce and settled on school land and in the fall of 1901
he sold this and came to his present place and is now
engaged in general farming. Nine children have been
born to Mr. and Mrs. Miller: Bessie E., born August
9, 1882, and now the wife of Asa Baumgardner, living
near Kamiah : Marion M.. born June 7. 1884. and now
deceased; Margie M., born January 2. 1886, and now
attending school in Milton, Oregon : James V., born
October 9, 1888: Robert B., born October 10, 1890:
Paul, born March 17. 1804. and now deceased: Blanch
E., born February 2. 1896; Frank T., born May 31,
1898: Maud E.. born May 7. 1901. Mr. Miller and his
wife and four eldest children are members of the
Methodist church, South, and at the present time Mr.
Miller is superintending the union Sunday school in
the neighborhood. He is a zealous supporter of the
faith and is a man of broad views and possessed of
a public spirit that allies him on the side of progress
and the betterment of all in advancement along all
lines.
278
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
WILLIAM H. DAVISON is one of the well
known men of the state of Idaho, being at the present
time host of the Raymond Hotel in Lewiston, which
is doubtless doing as fine a business as any hostelry in
the state, on account of the skill and ability of the
manager. He is a man of uprightness and many at-
tractive qualities. William H. was born in Moke-
lumne Hill, Calaveras county, California, on October
II, 1856, being the son of James W. and Mary E.
(West) Davison. The father was born in England,
on May 3, 183-1, came to the United States when three
years of age and died March 13, 1900. The mother
was born in New York in 1833 and died in Placerville,
Idaho, in 1888. The parents came to Idaho, via Port-
land and The Dalles, and thence by stage to Placer-
ville, where the father mined for two years and then
opened a hotel, which he operated for twenty years.
Our subject was early trained in the arts of a host and
also acquired his education from the San Francisco
schools. Then, after 1886, our subject removed to
Boise and opened the Central Hotel. One year later
he went to the mines and remained for four years.
Then he returned to Boise and conducted a restaurant
successfully for seven years. On February 19, 1897,
Mr. Davison took charge of the De France, which had
fallen into a bad state through mismanagement ; in a
short time our subject had it on a paying basis and
soon a very popular house. On April 4, 1901, Mr.
Davison took charge of the Raymond House, which
he is operating at the present time with most excellent
success. The house is well appointed and the skill,
ability, executive force and affability of the host is
felt in every department and is one of the most com-
fortable places for travelers to be found in the west.
On April 25, 1899, Mr. Davison married Annie
Smith Pierce, daughter of Scott and Rebecca Smith,
at Lewiston. Mrs. Davison has brothers and sisters
as follows: William, Clarence, Mary Ormsby, of
Boise; Nellie Thomas and Mrs. Villa Isham, of Grant's
Pass, Oregon: Mrs. W. R. Thomas, of Lewiston. Mr.
Davison has brothers and sisters as follows : Thomas.
died August 4, 1877; Mrs. John Myer, of Boise. Mr.
Davison is affiliated with the I. O. O. F., and has
been for twenty-five years, joining at Placerville in
Covenant Lodge, No. 6. He attended the grand lodge
in Portland as delegate in 1878, staging most of the
way. He joined the Elks, in February, 1902. In po-
litical matters Mr. Davison is allied with the Republi-
cans, but is not partisan, believing in sound principles
and good men wherever put forth and nominated.
He is interested in mining at Buffalo Hump and at
Wood river.
DR. BENJAMIN L. COLE. Among the pro-
fessional men of Nez Perces county is to be mentioned
the gentleman whose name initiates this paragraph.
He is a man having a high sense of honor, has main-
tained an untarnished reputation, is imbued with an
understanding of his stewardship and in all his walk
has so conducted himself that he has the entire con-
fidence of the people and enjoys an enviable prestige.
B. L. Cole was born in Yicksburg, Mississippi,
on April 14, 1866, being the son of Morris C. and
Julia B. (Leas) Cole. The father is a minister in the
Baptist church, was born in New York, in 1831, and
now lives in Whatcomb, Washington, being still active
in the ministry. He is a veteran of the Civil war,
having enlisted in the Fourth New Jersey, and was
mustered out at New Orleans, in 1865. His father
died aged eighty-two, having served faithfully as a
Methodise minister, and his mother was seventy-six
at the time of her departure. The mother of our
subject was born in Pennsylvania in 1840 and is still
living. When mustered out. the father of Benjamin
settled at Vicksburg, later went to New Orleans. In
that city the son was reared amid refining and literary
surroundings, being highly educated. His father was
a cukured man and for a time was secretary to the su-
perintendent of education for the city of New Orleans.
Our subject completed his professional course in the
New Orleans Dental College and in that city he prac-
ticed until 1892. In that year he came to Walla Walla
and two years later went thence to Tacoma. In that
city he had charge of the infirmary for the first year
of its existence. Later we find Dr. Cole in Juliaetta,
where he practiced successfully until 1901, when he
came to his present location in Culdesac. Dr. Cole is
favored with a good and increasing practice, because
of his skill and also his excellent success tkat is the
result of painstaking and constant study. He has
three brothers and one sister — Morris C, Thomas B.,
John FI. and Julia B. Dr. Cole is a member of the
K. of P. and of the M. W. A., and of the Sons of
Veterans, being in Benjamin Harrison Camp. No. 1,
New Orleans, of the latter order. He is a member of
the Baptist church. His maternal grandfather was a
judge in Vicksburg, Mississippi.
WILLIAM M. PEDEN. It is gratifying indeed
to see the prosperity that has attended the efforts
of our subject since he settled in his present location,
one mile east from Summit. He came with a saddle
horse and blankets in December, 1895, and while camp-
ing on his land the snow came and covered him a foot
deep. The next spring he moved his family here, but
as there were no roads it was tedious work. All honor
to the brave pioneers who blazed the way into these
wilds and have made of them fertile and productive
farms. Mr. Peden has done his share, for from the little
shack which he built for his family and the wilds that
stretched in every direction, have been evolved by his
labors a good home, large barn, substantial outbuild-
ings, a well cultivated and fertile farm, and a good
orchard, all of which is deserved because of the faith-
fulness and industrious labors of Mr. Peden and his
worthy wife.
Mr. Peden was born in Davis county, Iowa, on No-
vember 25, 1865, being the son of Henry and Mary
E. (Johnson) Peden. natives of Ohio. The father was
born in Kentucky in 1819 and died in 1896, and was
a pioneer in Nodaway county. Missouri. The mother
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
was born in Tennessee in 1833 and still lives in Xez
Perces county. Idaho. When they lived in Missouri
all their propertv was blown away by a cyclone. The
father enlisted in 1861 in the Thirty-sixth Ohio In-
fantry and participated in the battles of Chickamauga,
Lookout Mountain and many other struggles. In the
battle of Lookout Mountain he was carrying a blanket
under his arm and nine bullet holes were found in it.
At this battle he was wounded in his left leg and sent
home. During his illness he was married, but as soon
as he recovered he returned to the front and served
out his time, being honorably discharged in 1864.
Then they moved to Davis county, Iowa, and when our
subject, who was the oldest of six boys and three girls,
was seven, they all went to Ohio, but soon came back
to Iowa and then removed to Gage county, Nebraska.
In 1888 the father crossed the plains with team and
settled in Whitman county. Washington. In 1890 our
subject made the same trip and remained in Whitman
county, teaming until the trip to find his present loca-
tion, as described above.
In Gage county, Nebraska, on January 14. 1886,
Mr. Peden married Miss Laura Guthrie, whose
parents were born in Missouri and Tennessee,
respectively. The father was a pioneer in Noda-
way county, Missouri, and died in Oregon in 1896.
The mother still lives with a brother near Winchester.
Five children have been born to them, Elsie E., Lena
M., Lizzie A , Harvey D., Hattie E. Mrs. Peden was
born near Marvsville, Missouri, on May 23, 1868.
Lena, the second child of Mr. Peden, has assisted her
father to harvest three hundred and fifty acres of grain
each year for four vears past, driving the lead team
on the binder machine all the time. Mr. Peden and
his wife have labored faithfully and are now seeing
the rewards of their toil and enjoying the fruits of
their labors. They are members of the Congregational
church and are devout supporters of the faith, while
in all matters of progress and advancement Mr. Peden
is always active. He has done labor on all the roads in
his section and is a zealous advocate of good roads.
G. E. PRIBBLE. While the time of the resi-
dence of our subject in Nez Perces county has been
rather brief, still he has so identified himself with the
interests of the county that he is justly entitled to rep-
resentation in its history as one of the stanch and com-
mendable laborers for its upbuilding and advancement.
G. E. Pribble was born in Greensburg, Indiana,
on September I, 1867, being the son of John \\". and
Susan (Scontz) Pribble. The father was born in
Clermont county. Ohio, in January, 1837, was a pio-
neer 111 Montgomery county, Iowa, and now is a re-
tired farmer in Ped Oak, Iowa. The mother was
born in southeastern Indiana, in 1847, he and is liv-
ing at the home place in Red Oak. The family came
to Iowa when our subject was four years old, engaged
in farming and raising stock on a large scale and did
well. ( )ur subject grew to manhood in Iowa and was
educated in Shenandoah College. Completing his edu-
cation, he went industriously to farming and later spent
two years in carriage painting. About the time of his
majority he went to the San Luis valley, Colorado, and
took land. He had a half section under irrigation
there and remained four years. Selling out after a
successful venture, he went to Carbon, Wyoming, and
took up the coal business. Three years later he returned
to Council Bluffs, Iowa, and took the position of
shipping clerk and later that of foreman of a ware-
house. In 1901 Mr. Pribble came to the Big Bend
country, in Washington, and in April, 1902, he came to
Peck and bought a half interest in the ferry plying to
the station on the north of the Clearwater, which has
proved a good investment. Mr. Pribble intend.- to
soon take up some other business with this.
On December 23, 1888. in Corning, Iowa. Mr.
Pribble married Miss Jessie L., daughter of Charles
F. and Emma (Archer) Lathrop. The father is a
jeweler and was born in Wisconsin. He held the
office of sheriff and other positions of trust in Iowa
and was a pioneer in Nebraska. His wife was born in
Michigan and her parents are living in Council Bluffs,
Iowa. Mrs. Pribble was born in Delaware county,
Iowa, on May 21. 1872; she finished her education in
the high school and was also accomplished in music,
having given instruction in that branch for years.
She has two brothers and two sisters, William and
Ernest, in Iowa : Bertha Yredenburg and Maude, both
in Iowa. Mr. Pribble has one brother, Ira A., living
in Salina, Kansas, being a traveling salesman for the
Lnion Pacific Coal Company, of Omaha. Mr. Pribble
is a member of the Brotherhood of American Yeomen
and his wife is a member of the Methodist church.
Politically, our subject is a stanch Democrat and active
in that arena. His father was rejected from the war
on account of being a cripple, but his wife's father
served in the war.
SAMUEL HOLT. The days of pioneer hard-
ships are largelv done in Nez Perces county ; the times
of Indian fighting are over; the toil of the sturdy
frontiersman has resulted in a prosperous and wealthy
community of intelligent and progressive people. ( hie
who has passed the years of toil, danger and hardship
as one of the real pioneers and who has demonstrated
himself one of the real frontiersmen of the country,
having passed through all the trying times referred
tci. is mentioned at the head of tin's article. Samuel
Holt is well and widely known both as a business man
of Culdesac, having a first-class hotel there, the •'Com-
mercial." and also as the intrepid, fearless and sturdy
pioneer of thrilling early days.
An epitome of his career will be interesting read-
ing and therefore we make it a part of the county
history. He was born in Fort Scott, Kansas, on July
22. 1840. being the son of Thomas A. and Alary
( Cardwell ) Holt. The father was a lieutenant in the
regular army, participated in the Mexican war and
died when our subject was one year old. The mother
was born in Tennessee in 1823. and the time of her
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
death was 1853. After her husband's death she had mar-
ried John L. 'Kline in [852. In 1853 they started across
the plains, when within one hundred and fifty miles
of Boise City she sickened and died. Our subject and
his older brother. Frank, three years his senior, came
with their stepfather to Eugene. Oregon, and there
wintered. When he was thirteen years old the two
boys came to Walla Walla together and he went to
cooking for Ed Whitman's pack train. In 1863 he
was at Lewiston and also at Idaho City with a pack-
train In 1866 he was cooking at i&eartown. and more
or less since that time he has followed cooking. In
186S he returned to Lewiston, and that town has been
his headquarters most of the time since. When the
Nez Perces reservation opened up he came and on
Ma} 22, 1896, he took a claim seven miles southwest
from Culdesac. which he still owns and handles. In
addition to that Air. Holt operates the "Commercial,7'
as stated above, one of the leading hostleries of the
count}'. He has a good trade and is wise in his manage-
ment to please the traveling public. During the Nez
Perces war he served seven months, pursuing the In-
dians most of the time. He carried dispatches from
Lewiston to Walla Walla at that time and made the
best time on record. He rode the distance of ninety-
eight miles in seven hours and forty minutes, having
four relays.
On November 2, 1885, Mr. Holt married Miss
Laura A., daughter of Samuel and Lucinda (Privett)
Minnick, the nuptials occurring in Lewiston. The
father was a carpenter and a native of Illinois and a
pioneer to Oregon. The mother died in Oregon in
187 1. Mrs Holt has one sister, Addie Lubkins. living
in Spokane. She also has three half-sisters and three
half-brothers in Spokane. Two children have been
the fruit of this happy marriage, Mabel and Chester,
both at home. Mrs. Holt was born in Albany, Oregon,
on February 5, 1870, and came with her parents to
Waitsburg while an infant. Mr. Holt has one brother,
Frank, living in Yakima. He is the only living rela-
tive. Mr. Holt is a Democrat and active in matters
of political moment. He is an advocate of good
schools, and one reason of his moving to town was to
educate his children better than could be done in the
country.
WILLIAM H. YOUNG. This well known busi-
ness man of Lewiston has not been here as long as
many of the worthy pioneers, still his industry, capa-
bility and excellent success in his business, as a music
dealer, having the only exclusive store of that kind in
Lewiston, together with his good moral qualities of
worth, entitle him to representation in any volume
that purports to give review of the leading citizens
of the county of Nez Perces.
In Cobden. Canada, on December 24, 1857, oc-
curred the birth of William H. Young to George A.
and Eveline (Marshall) Young. The father was a pilot
in Canada and was born in the north of Ireland in
1826, his parents also being natives there, while his
mother, a Meredith, was closely related to the royalty
of Scotland. The mother of our subject was born in
Canada in 1828 and now lives in Lewiston. Her fa-
ther was born in Connecticut and her mother was born
in Vermont. Her father was a shipbuilder. William
H. was educated in his native land and remained
there until 1875, when he and his brother, John M.,
came to the United States and settled in York, Ne-
braska, working the blacksmith shop of their uncle,
Benjamin Marshall. In 1877 they started a grocery
store in York and in 1882 removed to Riverton, being
there in the mercantile business also until 1887. Then
he sold and invested his money in land in northwestern
Kansas, which proved a poor venture. In July, 1889,
he abandoned the land, removed to Smith Centre and
went to clerking. In August of the next year he was
in North Dakota selling music. In 1892 he returned
to Smith Centre and opened a music store, where he
did business until 1901, when he came to Lewiston
and bought out F. G. Erb & Company. He is now
doing a fine business, having the only strictly music
house in the city.
On August 10, 1881, Mr. Young married Miss
Kate, daughter of Edward and Mary (Rankin) Gib-
son, natives of Canada, and of English descent. The
wedding occurred in Canada. Mrs. Young was born
in Cobden, Canada, on August 4, 1858, and was edu-
cated in the Bowman Academy. She died November.
1900, in Smith Centre, Kansas, having been the
mother of the following children: George E., de-
ceased : W. Bertram, a good musician, eighteen years
old and now in Taylor, California ; Rex J., Virgil R.,
Winifred H.. Kate, Mary, Douglas A., all at home.
Mrs. Young had one brother and two sisters, John,
Julia Burns. Rebecca Stuart. Mr. Young had three
brothers. John M., George A. and James T. Mr.
Young has property in Smith Centre, in addition to
his business and holdings in this county. He is a
man of business energy and very proficient in his line.
I1ILBERT B. SMITH. The town of Lewiston
and the traveling public of the northwest need no in-
troduction to the capable and entertaining gentleman
whose name appears at the head of this article, being
the proprietor of the Crand Hotel, one of the most
popular hostelries in the state of Idaho, and justly de-
serving of its standing on account of the excellent
manner in which it is conducted by its skillful and
affable proprietor.
Mr. Smith was born in Vernon county. Missouri,
near Nevada City, on October 30, 1872, being the son
of Hiram R. and Sarah J. (Salmon) Smith. The
father was a farmer and died in February, 1873, and
the mother died in 1893. Shortly after the father's
death the family removed to Pike county, Illinois, set-
tling on a farm near New Canton, which the older
brothers tilled. Our subject attended school and as-
sisted his brothers in the care of the farm, remaining
there until 1880. Then he came to the west, settling
at Sprague, Washington, taking up the restaurant
business. In 1895 he went to Trail. British Columbia.
WILLIAM H. YOUNG
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
In 1S98 Mr. Smith came to Lewiston and opened the
Model restaurant in partnership with his brother
Hiram R. They did a good business until 1901, when
the entire property was destroyed by fire. On the
fifth day of June, in the same year, Mr. Smith opened
the Grand restaurant and afterward the Grand Hotel.
The establishment is conducted on the European plan
and has thirty-seven sleeping apartments ; the cuisine
is unexcelled, as is also the service of the entire house.
On November 25, 1897, at Trail, occurred the mar-
riage of Mr. Smith and Miss Myrtle, daughter of
James and Nettie (Merrick) Gibbs. Mr. Gibbs was a
farmer, born in New York state in 1846, and the
mother in Iowa in 1856: both are in the mining coun-
try of British Columbia. Mrs. Smith was born in
Delaware county. Iowa, on November 10, 1876, was
educated in the common schools and came west with
her parents in 1883. She has the following named
brothers and sisters: Irving W-, Grace, Reece and
Blanche. The brothers and sisters of Mr. Smith are
named below: Wesley Acres, a half-brother, George
A., a half-brother, Seldon Smith, Robert. Hiram and
Ella (Acres) Eakin. Mr. Smith is a member of the
K. of P.. the M. W. A., and the W. of W. He is
allied with the Republican party and is one of the
leading business men of Lewiston, being capable, up-
right and possessed of sterling qualities.
LEWIS W. MUSTOE. It gives us pleasure to
record the salient points in the career of our subject,
as he has been a real pioneer in the reservation portion
of the Nez Perces country and has shown commend-
able zeal and energy in his labors for its upbuilding and
development.
Lewis Mustoe was born in Bath county, Virginia,
on June 8, 1859, being the son of Adam G. and Nancy
(Wilson) Mustoe. natives respectively of Bath county,
Virginia, and Barbour county, West Virginia. They
were married in the latter place and came to Bath
county to live and in 1871 removed to Adair county,
Missouri. In these places our subject grew to man-
hood, received a good common school education and
learned well the art of farming. He then took various
trips to Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas, and in
1889, he made his way to Moscow, where he explored
the country and then went to the north fork of the
Clearwater and there spent several years hunting,
trapping, prospecting and exploring the country. He
was a very successful nimrod and many excellent speci-
mens of big game were the trophies of his chase.
Later we see him in the Potlatch country and there
he remained until the twenty-sixth day of March, 1896,
on which day he located his present claim, about four-
teen miles southeast from Peck. He had the pick of
farms, being one of the first settlers, and his judgment
was good, for Mr. Mustoe has as fine a piece of land
as is to be found on the reservation. He has bestowed
his labors with wisdom and industry and the result
could but be that such effort would be rewarded with
a competence that is gratifying. Mr. Mustoe has de-
voted himself to raising the cereals and flax and is one
of the successful men in this line. It is interesting to
see that all this has ben accomplished without the aid
of capital, for Mr. Mustoe came with a couple of
horses and has wrought it all out by the sturdy labors
of his hands. He has had all the various hardships
of the mountaineer and pioneer to endure and is one
who has shown in it all endurance, continuity of
purpose, determination to succeed despite the various
hardships and obstacles, and has accomplished his
purpose. The mother of our subject died on July
11, 1891, at the old home in Missouri. The father
came to the Potlatch country in 1893 and died in
September, 1899.
CLYDE D. CHAPMAN. This intelligent and
progressive business man of Culdesac is one of the
men who is bringing that town to the front. He oper-
ates a livery stable, having the finest barn in the town.
He enjoys a good trade, owing to his care of the needs
of patrons and accommodating ways and affability. In
addition to his business. Mr. Chapman has a timber
claim and also a farm, where he raises flax, doing a
good business in that line.
Clyde D. Chapman was born in Poweshiek county,
Iowa, on November 16, 1875, being the son of Emulos
C. and Mary C. (Stitt") Chapman. The father was
born in Indiana, in 185 1, now lives at Melrose, Idaho,
having come to this slate in 1887. His father was born
in Knox county, Ohio, and was a pioneer in Illinois.
The mother of our subject was born in Kansas in
1855, her father being a pioneer in that state and a
soldier in the Civil war for four years. The parents
of our subject removed to Nebraska in 1882 and en-
gaged in farming and raising stock for five years. In
1889 they came to Idaho and settlement was made
in Westlake. A pre-emption was taken and there Clyde
labored with his father and attended school. Although
when he became of age, and even before, he worked
some for himself, still he made his home with his
parents until 1901. Mr. Chapman is still enjoying
his bachelor freedom and is a popular resident of
the community. Mr. Chapman has the following named
brothers and' sisters: Carl, deceased: Harriett V.
Stinson and Claud H. This latter is an exceptionally
bright and precocious lad. Mr. Chapman is a mem-
ber" of the I. O. O. F. ; the W. of W.. and the Women
of Woodcraft. In political matters he is a Republican
and takes an intelligent interest in the affairs of that
realm.
VICTOR SPENSLEY. This energetic, industri-
ous, and capable gentleman, has a special talent of
adaptabilitv that has enabled him to turn his force and
ability in different directions with great success and
also with credit to himself. At the present time he is on
a farm, one mile north from Lapwai, has a comfort-
able home and handles considerable stock, cattle,
horses and hogs. He owns one hundred and seven
282
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
acres of land, property in Lapwai, and also property
in Nezperee.
Victor Spensley was born in the northern part of
England on May 30, 1861, being the son of Joseph and
Marv Ann (Southern) Spensley. The father was a
physician and surgeon and has the remarkable record
of practicing for sixty years. He was born in 181 2
and died in 188S. His father was also a physician.
The mother of our subject was born in 1812 and is
still living. Victor was educated and followed the
dry goods business; in 1881 he came to the United
States.
Settlement was made in western Minnesota, and
in Murray and Pipestone counties he followed mer-
chandising for four years. Then a move was made to
Bazile Mills, Nebraska, and there Mr. Spensley opened
a livery stable. One year later lie went to western
Nebraska and farmed. Next he came to Baker City,
and in October, 1894, he settled in Lapwai. He raised
hogs for a year or so and then opened a restaurant in
Lapwai. Later he operated a livery stable in Lewiston
and then he returned and erected a hotel and feed
stable in Lapwai. which he operated until June. 1902.
On Februaiy 21, 1890. Mr. Spensley married Miss
Kate Piatt, in Dawson county, Nebraska. Her parents
were Lafayette and Eliza ( Cole) Piatt, natives re-
spectively of Indiana and Illinois. Mrs. Spensely has
the following named brothers and sisters : Joshua,
Dora, Elizabeth, Walter, Chauncey, Pearl and Earl.
Mr. Spensley has the following named sisters: Mary
F., Emma A., Agnes, Minnie and Kate. The second
one is able to speak six different languages, and all
are well educated. Part of them belong to the Catholic
church and part belong to the Episcopalian church.
In political matters Mr. Spenslev is a Republican and
takes the proper interests in the affairs of state. He
is an advocate of continual progress in educational
facilities and is an enterprising and progressive citi-
zen.
NELS P. SKOW. This intelligent and industri-.
farmer and stockman of the reservation country is
one who has done his share in the good work of im-
provement and opening up of the country and he is
entitled to a consideration in his county's history.
Nels P. Skow was born in Denmark, on September
13. 1857, being the son of Peter and Catrine Skow.
natives" of Denmark, and died in 1894 and 1895, re-
spectivelv. Nels grew to manhood in the native coun-
trv and was educated in the common schools. At the
age of twenty he came to the United States and settled
in Minnesota. He railroaded there for three years
and then went to Canada and did the same wi>rk un-
til [886. when he made his way to Portland. ( )regon.
There and in the Sound country he railroaded and later
went to farming in Stevens county. Washington. He
was defrauded out of Iris honest earnings there after
eight years of hard toil. In 1896 he came to the
reservation country and took his present place, four
miles southeast from Melrose. This has been the
scene of his labors and plans since, and he now has a
fine farm all under cultivation, good buildings,
fortable residence and a goodly holding of stock.
( in ( ictober 22, 1894, Air. Skow married Mary A.
Curry, daughter of Matthew and Elsie (Walker 1
Curry, natives of Scotland. One son has been born to
this union. Nels. By a former marriage Mrs. Sk<>w
has two children, Elsie and Bernice. Airs. Skow was
born in Ashland county, Ohio, in 1868, and has four
brothers and two sisters, Theodore, Maggie Marion,
William. Matthew, Elsie and Earl.
Air. Skow has the following named brother^ and
sisters : Peter, Samuel, Bertie, Catherine and Elsie.
They are both members of the Alethodist church and
hearty supporters of their faith. In political matters
they are both Republicans and intelligent in' the ques-
tions of the day and also actively interested in the ad-
vancement of the welfare of the community. Air. and
Airs. Skow are respected and influential people.
CHARLES C. BUNNELL. No more familiar
figure and substantial business man and patriotic citi-
zen is seen on the streets of Lewiston than the sub-
ject of this article. Air. Bunnell was born in Roches-
ter, New York, on October 5. 1835, being the son of
Dennis D. and Eliza (Durand) Bunnell, natives of
Connecticut, the mother coming to New York in 1S1S.
When two vears old, our subject came west with the
family to Alichigan and settled in Marshall. The
father farmed there and also conducted various
financial operations. In Alarch, 1850, he died and in
October of the same year the mother passed away,
having returned to New York to be among old friends.
Charles C. remained with his brothers, Augustus and
D. D., for two years in Alilwaukee. then returned to
Rochester. New York, and there learned the tinner's
trade. He worked at it five years in Rochester and
then went to Michigan for a few months, then 01 to
Portland, Oregon, in May, 1857. whence he took a
trip to San Francisco, but returned to Portland, and
then to The Dalles, where he did well, saving one
thousand dollars. He went to Portland in i860 and
opened a tinware and stove store with his brother,
D. D. They worked together until 1868. In 1862,
however, our subject came to Lewiston. A few peo-
ple had stopped there the previous year, but Mr.
Bunnell is about one of the oldest settlers. He and his
brother put up a quartz mill at Sparta. Baker county,
Oregon, which proved a financial failure; in 18' 18,
when he and his brother dissolved partnership, the
mill fell into his hands and he sold it at a great sacri-
fice. Our subject started into the tinware business
in Lewiston in 18(12, manufacturing all his own sti ck :
he si 'i >n added hardware and stoves and prosperity
came to him constantly. He labored faithfully year
after year, gaining a fine patronage by his kind and
upright treatment of all and his business became "iie
of the mammoth affairs of the city; he now owns the
block where he conducted it, having sold the business,
feeling assured that he has well earned the retirement
that now comes to him in the golden vears of Ids
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
283
well spent career. He also owns a number of dwell-
ings and some farms adjacent to Lewiston. 1899 was
the date that Mr. Bunnell sold his business and retired
from the store.
The marriage of Mr. Bunnell and Miss Flora
Springer, daughter of Wesley and Rebecca (Shoe-
maker) Graves, was solemnized on September 22,
1872. Mr. Graves came to Oregon in 1852 and he
was proprietor of the Chemetka Hotel in Salem for
years. Mrs. Bunnell was born in Knox county, Illi-
nois, in 1845, anc'- was but seven years old when she
came with her parents to Oregon. The other mem-
bers of her father's family are Johanna Springer, in
Lewiston; Mary Lenninger Graves, in Oregon: Mattie
Cardwell, also in Oregon. Mr. Bunnell's brothers and
sisters are, Augustus, William and Dennis D., all
deceased.
Mr. Bunnell is a charter member of Xezperce
Lodge of Masons, Xo. 10, and has been its treasurer
since its organization. He and his estimable wife are
members of the First Presbyterian church in Lewis-
ton. He has never sought office in any form and
although being frequently solicited by friends to ac-
cept, he has steadily declined. Mr. Bunnell is one of
the real builder of the county and has been one of its
most successful business men, is esteemed by all and
highly respected as a worthy pioneer and gentleman
of integrity. He has been a director of the Lewiston
National Bank since 1888, and for three years was
president of the institution.
THOMAS M. BUTLER. This enterprising and
leading farmer in the vicinity of Rosetta, is a
native of the Occident, and his career has all been spent
in the west. He is a son of this country, in which
commendable pride may be taken, and has done a
great deal to assist in its development and upbuilding.
Therefore a brief review of his life will be quite in
place in this history of his county.
Thomas M. Butler was born near the John Day,
in Oregon, on Xovember 12, 1867, being the son of
Jason R. and Mary K. (Fields) Butler, natives re-
spectively of Rockland, Maine, and Linn county, Ore-
gon, the latter being born on December 12, 1847. The
parents were farmers and our subject received a com-
mon school education and was reared amid the sur-
roundings and labors of a western farm. He remained
in the native place until 1890, engaged in farming and
at the year mentioned he migrated to the favored
country of Idaho. He rented land on the Potlatch
until 1806 and then, upon the opening of the reser-
vation, he selected his present place, two miles west
from Rosetta and homesteaded it. Since that time this
has been his home and he has devoted himself to
general farming and has prospered. At the present
time Mr. Butler is erecting a fine, two-story house,
which, when completed, will be one of the finest rural
abodes in the county. In addition to the comfort and
beauty that skill and architecture can make of the
residence, Mr. Butler is exceptionally well favored, in
that from the veranda of his beautiful home can be
seen for miles the fertile valleys of the Potlatch and
the Cottonwood, making a sight that will feast the
eyes of the lover of landscape beauty. This enraptur-
ing view is one of the most beautiful to be found any-
where on the reservation and to have it constantly as
the vista of the home place makes Mr. Butler especi-
ally favored in his home surroundings.
Mr. Butler married Miss Mabel J., daughter of
Charles B. and Margaret (Weeks) Herrick. and a
native of Iowa, on June 13. 1886. She has two
brothers and one sister living, Fred, Clarence and
Nellie G. Mr. Butler has the following named broth-
ers and sisters : William C. and Clarence A., both
living in Idaho; Lucinda. A., wife of Charles W.
Little; Liilia A., wife of Charles W. Laughlin :
Catherine I., wife of Lonzo McWillis ; Sophrona A.,
wife of Fred X. Fells ; Clara E., and Bessie A.
CHARLES C. MILES. It is very gratifying to
see so many enterprising and sagacious young men
taking up business and residence in Xez Perces county,
and a real leader in these qualities mentioned is the
subject of this article. He is postmaster at Webb, hav-
ing been the moving spirit in getting the office estab-
lished. In addition to that he handles a general
merchandise business and his fair dealing, his upright-
ness, and his differential treatment of customers have
given him a good patronage that is constantly in-
creasing. He also handles a farm, having a fine estate
well improved and stocked with cattle, horses and
hogs. Thus it is seen that Mr. Miles is one of the
leading men of this section, is an active, public
minded, and capable young man of excellent stand-
ing.
We note that Charles C. Miles was bon in Wise
county, Texas, on October 30, 1874, being the son of
John and Caroline (King) Miles. The father was a
farmer, born in Marion county, Missouri, a pioneer
of Texas and a soldier in the Civil war. being in
Company E, First Arkansas Cavalry. The grand-
father was killed at the battle of Xew Orleans His
great-grandfather, although the son of a slave owner,
grew up believing' that slavery was wrong and left
home on account of his sentiments. The father was
sheriff of Parker county. Texas, and is now living in
Douglas county, Oregon. His birth occurred in 1844.
The mother of our subject was born in Missouri, on
April 11, 1847. When Charles was ten years of age
the family removed to Colorado for his father's health.
Then they went to southern Idaho, later to northern
California and finally settled in Myrtle Creek, Oregon,
where they now live. Our subject was well educated
in the various places where he lived and for years
taught in Oregon, being numbered with the leading
educators of the section. He went to Crook county,
Oregon, later, and read law and then removed to Xez
Perce s county, where he took land. In 1898, when the
Spanish war broke out. he was in the field plowing
when he heard of it. and he immediately unhitched his
284
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
teams, turning them on the range, leaving thirty acres
of sowed grain uncovered, and at once went to enlist
for tiie conflict. He was a member of Company B,
First Idaho Volunteers, and participated in the battle
of Manila, helped take that town, fought with the
insurgents there, was in the conflict at Santa Anna,
and also at Caloocan. He returned in 1899, being dis-
charged for disability. He afterwards went on to his
ranch, opened a store, got his postofHce and has since
done business there.
On May 10. 1900, Mr. Miles married Miss Sadie
Fansler, at Lewiston. Her parents, Jesse and Amanda
1 Roy 1 Fansler, were born respectively in Virginia in
1849 an,l m West Virginia in 1864. Mrs Miles was
born in West Virginia in 1883. She has the following
brothers and sisters: Camden, Zernie, Jessie M., Roy,
Golden, William. Mr. Miles has the following named
brothers and sisters : Telitha, John R., Ira, Harold,
Rose and Arthur. By a previous marriage Mr. Miles
has two children. Frances R. and John R. Mr. Miles
has been elected justice of the peace but did not
qualify. He and his wife are members of the Christian
church. In political matters he is a stanch and active
Republican. He takes great interest in the progress
of all good measures, and is especially active in pro-
moting good schools. He has been a member of the
central committee from his precinct for two years.
JEFFERSOX D. TRIPLETT. A good sub-
stantial man and a loyal citizen of our free land, a
pleasant and accommodating neighbor, and an industri-
ous farmer, we are constrained to grant to the subject
of this article a representation in the history of Nez
Perces county.
Jefferson D. Triplett was born in Putnam county,
Missouri, on December 9, 1862, being the son of John
and Mary (Bridgefarmer) Triplett, natives of Ken-
tuck}'. The father was born in 1820 and his parents
were natives of Kentucky and of English and Irish
extraction. The mother was born in 1819 and her
parents were also natives of Kentucky and of Irish
lineage. When three years old Jefferson went to
Arkansas with his parents, and there grew up and
was educated in the district schools. At seventeen,
lie kit home and railroaded, and later spent four years
on the Northern Pacific. Returning home, he labored
in a saw mill for two years and then came to Idaho
and filed on a forty on the reservation, about one and
one-half miles southwest from Gifford. He rents one
hundred and eighty acres in addition and raises much
flax and barley. ' Mr. Triplett has eight brothers,
George, in Spokane ; William, farmer in Missouri ;
John, a trader in Arkansas ; Mack, engineer in a saw
mill, and Richard, a farmer, both in Arkansas; Dock,
Jasper and Columbus, in Nez Perces county.
At Leland, on February 9, 1890, Mr. Triplett mar-
ried Miss Ella Florence, daughter of Matthew and
Elizabeth (Luther) Williams. Mr. W'illiams was born
in West Virginia and died September 14, 1900. aged
seventv-three. His wife was born in Illinois and died
March 1, 1899, aged sixty-three. Mrs. Triplett was
born in Illinois and has the following brothers and
sisters: Charles W., in Lewiston, and George A., in
Asotin county. Washington, twins : John E., a Metho-
dist preacher in Prosser : William M.. in Asotin coun-
ty; Lowe L., near Gittord : Martha, wife of M. Duty,
a retired farmer in Illinois ; Mary, wife of John Black,
at Gifiord ; Lulu, wife of E. Carter, near Gifford.
Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Triplett.
Fred, bom January 18, 1891 ; Edith, born July 17,
1892 ; Nellie, born November 30. 1893 > Hazel, born
in December, 1895 ; Marion, born in October, 1897 ;
George, born in April, 1900. Mr. Triplett is a Demo-
crat and has been a delegate to the conventions and
was constable in the Potlatch country. He is active
for good loads, excellent schools, and progress and
development generally.
ROBERT M. WRIGHT. Many were the hard-
ships that the subject of this article had to undergo
in the times of the terrible Rebellion. His father was
a Union man, and living in West Virginia, he was es-
posed to great dangers and troubles and these things
early impressed themselves on young Wright. In Bar-
bour county, that state, Robert M. was born June 10,
1858, his parents being William J. and Sarah A. (His-
kell) Wright. The father was born in Barbour county
June 8, 1833, and was a pioneer of that county, as also
was his father. William Wright fought for the stars
and stripes in Company F, Tenth West Virginia
Volunter Infantry. He still lives though wounded in
the war and is a very active politician and was a dele-
gate to the national convention in 1900. The mother
of our subject was born in Preston county, West Vir-
ginia, in 1834 and her father came from Germany.
Robert M. grew up on the farm, received his education
in the schools of his vicinity, and there he farmed un-
til 1890. Then he sold out and made the long journey
to Kendrick. Idaho, thence to the Potlatch. Later he
bought the townsite of Southwick and named the town
Grafton, but the post office has since been changed to
Southwick. It is a good business point. In 1896 Mr.
Wright sold his interest there, went to the reservation,
took a claim near Steele and farmed there unttil 1901,
when he sold the property and bought two hundred
and forty acres where he now lives, one and one-half
miles south from Southwick. He has a good house
and barn, raises cattle and does a general farming busi-
ness Mr. Wright also breeds fine Poland China and
Berkshire hogs, and raises so much stock that they
consume all the grain of his farm.
In 1880 Mr. Wright married Miss Laura Mustoe
and to them were born Ernest L.. Robert R., Clinton
C. and Darl D. In 1894 Mr. Wright married Miss
Amanda Mvers and two children were born to them,
Madolin. William M. In 1898 Mr. Wright married
Miss Eva, daughter of Tweed and Cordelia Helm,
natives of Missouri. Mrs. Wright was born in Cali-
fornia in 1871 and has four sisters and two brothers:
Lizzie. Emma, Jane, Lucv, Newton, and Charlie, the
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
285
last one being in South Africa. Mr. Wright has the
following named brothers and sisters : Arnold R.,
Lewis, Tabitha E., Martha E., Catherine E.,
Sarah E., Florence E., Amanda. Mr. and Mrs.
Wright are members of the United Brethren
church, while Mr. Wright is a Republican and
an active participant in the questions of the
day and of local interest. He is a prominent
figure in the conventions and the caucuses. In edu-
cational matters Mr. Wright has made his influence
felt for betterment and advancement and has done
good service on the boards.
GEORGE H. WYMAN. Just west from Rosetta
post office is the estate of Mr. Wyman, a man whose
labors along the line of pioneering in and developing
this western country, have been assiduous and well
bestowed. He is a man of thrift and keen discrimi-
nation in financial affairs and has prospered in his
homestead venture on the reservation.
George H. Wyman was born in Vinton county,
Ohio, on May 25, 1846, being the son of Arthur and
Annie (Salts) Wyman. The father was a native of
New York, as were his ancestors for some generations
back. He died in Knox county, Illinois, in his seventy-
eighth year. The mother was born in Maine, of Ger-
man and Scotch ancestry and died aged seventy-
nine. When seven, George came with his parents from
Ohio to Illinois and there spent twenty-seven years.
He was educated in the district schools and began
his individual business career when he was twenty.
He rented land and farmed in Illinois, Missouri, Ne-
braska, Kansas, and in 1899 he came to Washington.
He located near Oakesdale, bought land and farmed
until 1891, then removed to the vicinity of Leland, Nez
Perces countv. He farmed his own property and
leased land and when the disastrous year of 1893
came, he, with the majority of others, lost his land.
Upon the opening of the reservation he came hither
and located his present place. A man anxious for the
same place pulled a gun on Mr. Wyman, but firmness
gained the day and not only the land, but the angry
man is now a friend. Mr. Wyman has a neat and
comfortable home, a good barn, outbuildings and
orchard and does a good farming business. He has
some exceptionally fine apples, one specimen weighing
one pound and ten ounces. Mr. Wvman has three
brothers, John, Edward J. and Stephen, farmers in
Knox county, Illinois; also two sisters, Minerva, in
Knox county, wife of Noah C. Dawson ; Eliza, widow
of Robert Bolding, now living on her fruit ranch near
Leland.
On May 21, 1866, Mr. Wyman married Lucinda.
daughter of Freeman and Rebecca (Jackson) Myrick,
both deceased. To this union there were boni five
children: William A., gardner near Willola ; Stephen
A. rents Indian land near his father; Edward A. has
eighty acres near his father ; Emma, now deceased, wife
of Thomas Terrel ; Annie, wife of John Eaton, of
Elberton, Washington. In October, 1892, Mrs.
Wyman was called by death from her home and
family. On August 24, 1894, at Juliaetta, Mr. Wy-
man married Martha H. Baker, widow of James H.
Baker. She was born in Franklin county, Vermont,
in 1850, the daughter of George E. and Mary 1 Rowe )
Edgar, natives of Scotland and England, respectively.
Mrs. Wyman has two sons by her former marriage,
Charles and John, in Michigan. Mr. Wyman and his
wife are members of the United Brethren church.
He is an active Republican, takes part in the conven-
tions, and is especially active in the progress of the
country. He is always on hand to donate any work
for the bettering of the roads and is an enthusiastic
laborer for upbuilding in all lines and this has been
of inestimable good to the community.
WILLIAM J. RAMEY. The progressive, talent-
ed, successful and leading business man of whom we
now speak, is well known in Nezperce and through the
county, being a large lumber dealer and manufacturer,
as well as a large real estate holder. His excellent
capabilities have been manifested in a commendable
manner in his business career and owing to his keen
perception and discrimination, coupled with energy,
he has placed himself among the heaviest property
owners in this part of the state.
William J. Ramey was born in Dassel, Meeker
county, Minnesota, on February 26, 1869, being the
son of Sylvester and Delilah C. (Gilbert) Ramey.
The father is a native of Kentucky, and his parents
were natives of the same state. Just at the breaking
out of the war, they removed to Minnesota and there
he enlisted in the Union army and fought for the flag
for two and one-half years. He is now aged fifty-
eight and lives in Kootenai county, Idaho. In 1880
he was in Portland in the saw mill business with our
subject, and then he was foreman and manager of
Goldsmith & Company's mills at La Prairie, formerly
Texas Terry, Washington, being an expert timberman.
The family then resided in Lewiston and later Mr.
Ramey was bridge builder for the Northern Pacific.
He went to Kootenai county in 1889. The mother of
our subject was also born in Kentucky, of parents who
were natives of that state, too. She went with them to
Minnesota at the close of the war and there married.
William J. was educated in the district schools in
Minnesota, then in Rockford public schools, and
finally took a course in the business college in Spo-
kane. Subsequent to this, he traveled for fire insur-
ance for two years and then opened an office in Tekoa,
Washington, where he continued until 1896. Then he
came to the reservation, being quick to perceive the
advantages there to be had. He bought a milling plant
twelve miles north from Nezperce and to the operation
of this and handling his fine farms in the county he
has since continued. He has about eight hundred
acres of excellent land, all in to hay and grain and he
feeds scores of cattle and hogs. Mr. Ramey has a fine
residence in Nezperce and also business property there ;
he has constructed a private telephone for his 11
286
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
the mills to the residence and office, it being the finest
private line in the county. His mill will cut thirty
thousand feet of lumber daily and he has machinery
to produce all kinds of finished material, and is doing
a thriving business, in all of which, as in his real
estate matters, is seen his executive force and wisdom.
His brother. Chads P.. is foreman and manager of the
mill at Russell and is a capable man. Mr. Ramey has
also four sisters: Jane, wife of Paul Roscoe, a stock-
man in northern Idaho and Montana: Victoria, wife
of Alexander Bailey, a saw mill man at Harrison,
Idaho : Roxy, wife of Charles Van Amburg, a mining
man at Murray, Idaho; Effie, wife of Edward Rib-
stein, a hardware merchant at Harrison.
On February 6, 1895, Mr- Ramey married Miss
Bertha A. Whitney, at Palouse, Washington, and to
them have been born thee children: Marvel A., Lois,
and Olga. Mrs. Ramey was born in Woodburn, Ore-
gon, on September 20, 1879, and her parents, David
and Minerva (Braun) Whitney, were pioneers of that
state. The father was born in England and is an old
sea captain. The mother was born in Illinois of Ger-
man ancestry. Mr. Ramey is a member of the K. of
P. in Wallace. Idaho: and of the W. W. and M. W
A.. in Xezperce. He is an active Democrat in po-
litical matters and interested keenly in all that is for
improvement and advancement.
ADAM RAMMERS. The achievements of this
enterprising gentleman in several lines demonstrate
him to be possessed of excellent ability and keen busi-
ness discrimination and he holds the meed of his labor
in good income paving property in various places.
Adam Rammers was born in Cook county, Illi-
nois in June 1865, being the son of Matthew and
Lucy Rammers. The father was born in Germany
in 1 8 14 and came to the United States in 1848, settling
on ten acres, now a part of the city of Chicago. He
gardened and later sold his land for excellent prices.
He died in i8qi. The mother of our subject was born
in Germany in 1824 and died in 1876. Adam went
with his parents to Tennessee when he was thirteen
and later they settled in Iroquois county. Twelve years
there and they sold out and removed to Hamilton
county. Iowa. Thirteen years were spent there and our
subject then came to the Palouse country in 1889.
He bought town property and lived in Uniontown for
some time and then bought a farm of two hundred
and forty acres. In 1897 he bought his present place,
about one mile northwest from Westlake, and now has
here a half section. He does a general farm busi-
ness, raises stock and is well-to-do. Mr. Rammers has
also been operating a blacksmith and wood work shop
in Westlake and is doing a good business. He is
purchasing propertv in Vineland and has the con-
tract to erect a church building there. Mr. Rammers
has recently rented his fine farm for six years and is
devoting his energies entirely to mechanical work, in
which line he is skillful and liberally patronized.
In December, 1887, in Wright county, Iowa. Mr.
Rammers married Miss Barbara, daughter of Chris-
tian and Rate (Flier) Slader, natives of Germany.
Mrs. Rammers was born in Germany and has the
following named brothers and sisters : Tony, Peter,
Susan, Rate. Mr. Rammers has four sisters, Han-
nah, Lina, Kate and Mary. Four children have been
born to our subject and his wife, Frank, John, Walter,
William. Mr. Rammers and his family are all mem-
bers of the Catholic church. Politically he is allied
with the Democrats and a firm supporter of progress
and upbuilding. Mr. Rammers has been successful in
another line than what we have mentioned ; for six
years he has owned and operated a threshing outfit.
CHARLES L. WALRER was born in Brecken-
ridge county, Kentucky, on June 4. 1852. being the
son of Ralph B. and Judith (Compton) Walker, na-
tives of Kentucky. The father was an orderly ser-
geant under Major Winker, in the Rebellion. Besides
our subject they were the parents of the folowing named
children: Henry C, born February 21, 1846, in Breck-
enridge county, was a private in Company R, Third
Kentucky Cavalry, has been county commissioner in
Barber county, Kansas, for six years and was nomi-
nated by the Democrats and Populists for represent-
ative ; Mary E., wife of Ben F. Walker and born in
Breckenridge county, November 8, 1848; Levi T.,
born January 14, 1850; John A., born September 17,
1854; George R., born November 27, 1857. Our sub-
ject remained with his parents until he was twenty-two
and then started in life for" himself, possessing the
capital of two good strong hands, a courageous heart,
and plenty of pluck. December 12, 1876, he married
Emeline S., daughter of Hans S. and Millia Cochran.
The father was born in Indiana on December 31, 1822,
and served in the Rebellion. The mother was born in
Tennessee and died on February 18. 1898. Mrs. Wal-
ker has the following named brothers and sisters:
John W., born in Greene county, Indiana, on Septem-
ber 10, 1843, served in the Rebellion and died before
the close of the war: William O., born in April, 1845,
and served four years in the Rebellion, was one year
with the militia in Kansas and also served in the same
capacity in 1874 and 1875 m Barber county against
the Indians, and then joined Roosevelt's Rough
Riders: Elizabeth J. Clements was born in July. 1855;
Henry O., born in July, 1850, and served two years in
the Rebellion: Albert W. and Alfred A., twins, born
December 9, 1 851: Emma S., born August 24, 1853:
Mary A., born Aprii 7, 1859 and married to Robert
Kirby. Our subject remained seven years in Barber
county and served two years as sheriff, then followed
the cattle business until 1882. In that year he came
to Whitman county and farmed for three years. Then
came six years in Washington, two in Milton. Oregon,
after which he spent four years in Colfax, in charge
of the orphans' home. After this he traveled some
time in Oregon and Idaho and finally settled about two
miles northeast from Forest, where he has a fine piece
of yellow pine land. He has devoted attention to
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
287
clearing some of the land and making improvements.
Mr. Walker is an active man in advancing the school
interests of the vicinity and a good substantial citi-
zen. He is a Republican in political matters. To Mr.
and Mrs. Walker there have been born the following
named children: Laura E.. born August 18, 1877;
Zopher L., born December 7. 1878; Lenora G., born
July 29, 1881 ; Albert A. and Albertia A., twins, born
in Nez Perces county, January 15. 1885; Eugenia N.,
born in King county, Washington, on April 23, 1888 :
Herbert R., born March 15, 1897, in Whitman county,
Washington. The first three were born in Barber
countv, Kansas.
ADAMS G. JOHNSON. A well known and
prominent citizen of the reservation country, being
also influential throughout the country, for he was
elected county commissioner, having a plurality of two
hundred and forty-four. Mr. Johnson is entitled to a
place among those represented in the county history
and it is with pleasure that we accord the same to him.
Adams G. Johnson was born in Whiteside county,
Illinois, on January 14, 1839, being the son of Jere-
miah H. and Harriet M. (Getty) Johnson. The father
was born in Washington county, New York, on De-
cember 12, 1797, and died in 1 87 1. The paternal
grandfather of our subject was born in Vermont and
died in 1852, aged eighty-four. This venerable gen-
tleman had married Miss Parker, a native of the Wy-
oming valley in Pennsylvania. She removed from that
fateful valley just three days before Chief Brant's
terrible massacre, going to the Mohawk valley in New-
York. Some of the Parker family fought in the Revo-
lution. A brother of the lady mentioned was Captain
Thomas Parker in the war of 18 12. This man had
two sons in the Civil war ; one, Colonel Thomas Jef-
ferson Parker, commanded the Thirty-fourth New
York Infantry, and Captain Fred Parker was com-
mander of a company of his regiment and he fell at
the battle of Chancellorsville. Our subject's father was
related to Stephen Hopkins, the signer of the Declara-
tion of Independence, and he bore the name of his illus-
trious ancestor, the middle initial indicating Hopkins.
The family was also related to General Nathaniel
Greene, of Revolutionary fame. The mother of our
subject was born in Erie county, New York, in 1805
and died in 1872, being of Scotch-Irish descent. Adams
G. was raised on a farm in Illinois and educated in
the district schools there. In 1859, he and his father
and some friends went to Osawattomie. Kansas, but
returned the same year. Then our subject went to
Pikes Peak and mined for a time, but as politics be-
came heated, the southerners there threatening venge-
ance in case Lincoln was elected, Mr. Johnson re-
turned to Illinois for the express purpose of voting for
Lincoln. He made the journey with ox team. LTpon
the breaking out of the war, Mr. Johnson enlisted in
Graham's Independen Rangers, a cavalry company,
which was taken from Moline, Illinois, the place where
Mr. Johnson went in as a corporal, to Ouincy and there
mustered in. Thence thev went to Fort Leavenworth
then to the siege of Lexington, Missouri, where our
subject was captured by Price. Being paroled he
went home, but later was discharged at St. Louis and
then re-enlisted in the Eighth Kansas Infantry, Com-
pany I, under Captain H. C. Austin, and he served
until the close of the war. He was in detached and
garrison duty much of this time. Mr. Johnson was
mustered out on November 4, 1864, at St. Louis, after
which he served one year as auditing clerk in the
commissary under Captain Hollis Steadman. Then he
went to raising cotton in Arkansas, later kept hotel
in Moline. Illinois, for a time, and in 1871 he came
to The Dalles, Oregon. His family having gone to
California to visit relatives, they joined him later and
for a decade he raised sheep and farmed. Then he
was deputy sheriff, then deputy United States mar-
shal and other official positions occupied by him until
1895. when he came to Genesee. Idaho, and at the open-
ing of the reservation he came hither, and in 1898
he filed on his present place, three miles south from
Nezperce. He has a good farm and does general
farming.
Mr. Johnson married Miss Mary E. Hogue on Oc-
tober 29, 1866. Her parents. James M. and Emma
(•Ridgeway) Hogue, lived in Newcastle, Placer county,
California, the father being of Scotch descent and a
native of Tennessee, while the mother was born in
Philadelphia and was of English extraction. Two
children have been born to this marriage, Hollis C,
a dentist and dealer in mines, in Columbus, Montana ;
Emma, wife of S. B. McCullough, a stockman in Ida-
ho county. Mr. Johnson has one sister, Helen S.
Young, a widow in Geneseo, Illinois. Mr. Johnson is
a Republican and active in the political field, always
being allied on the side of progress and improvement.
ISAAC TELLIER is one of the men who has
opened the western country for settlement, being an
intrepid pioneer and a man of enterprise and stirring
energy. His wife and children's allotments were taken
m [894 and he has a fine body of land of four hundred
and eighty acres, with a good large house and other
improvements, as orchard, fences, and so forth.
Isaac Tellier kas born in Walla Walla, on Febru-
ary 20, i860, being the son of Louie and Angelique
(fecomtah) Tellier. The home ranch joined the
Whitman ranch. The father was born in 1806 in
Canada, and died in 1880. He settled in the vicinity
of Walla Walla in 1833. was an independent trapper
and sold to the Hudson's Bay and American Company.
He knew Whitman, Spalding and all the early mission-
aries, also Dr. McLoughlin. The mother of our sub-
ject was born in the Flathead country in 1822 and
iives with this son. Her uncle. Coon-Coon-Staine,
was chief of the Flatheads. ( Kir subject lived on the
home ranch and was educated there until fifteen, when
he rode the range until twenty-two. In 1883 he went
to the Coeur d'Alene country and learned the harness
maker's trade. Then he packed to British Columbia
with General Sherman and afterward for the Northern
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Pacific. After this he went to the Flathead reser-
vation and worked for the mission for a time, con-
tinuing until 1894.
On April 14, 1888. in Montana, at the Flathead
mission, Mr. Tellier married Miss Cecile, daughter of
Louie and Mary Ann. The father was a Frenchman
and the mother a Xez Perces Indian woman. Her
father was a smart man and one of the first among the
Indians who was educated. His Indian name was
Kimpilets, but in English he was known as Dick
Richards. He was a powerful chief and a firm
friend of the whites. Mrs. Tellier was born in Missou-
la, Montana, on May 30, 1864, and she has one sister,
Lillie Compleville. Mr. Tellier has the following
brothers and sisters : Mary Beauchamp, Nelson, Cleo-
faus, Theodore, Adelaide. The children born to Mr.
and Mrs Tellier are named as follows: Rosa Find-
lav, who was educated in the Montana mission and is
at Kamiah ; Esther, educated at the Montana mission ;
Cleofaus, Laurett, Albert, Louie, all at home and will
be educated in the English schools. Mr. and Mrs.
Tellier are members of the Catholic church. He is a
Democrat and takes an active part in the campaigns.
THOMAS J. S. MABBOTT. While Mr. Mabbott
is one of the best farmers of his section he is also equal-
ly skilled in the art of the carpenter and builder and his
life has been mostly made up in labors in these two
important lines. He was born in Iowa county, Wiscon-
sin, on January 8, 1849, being the son of Christopher
and Mary A. (Springthrop 1 Mabbott. The father was
a farmer and stockman, born in Rutlandshire, Eng-
land, on March 26, 1809. He came to the L'nited
States in 1844 and died in 1886. The mother was born
in Rutlandshire, England, September, 1809, and died
in 1890. Our subject was educated and grew to man-
hood in Iowa county and remained with his parents
until he was twenty-four. He perfected himself in the
carpenter trade and then worked at it eight years in
McGregor, Iowa. Then he removed to Sauk county
and engaged in the grocery business for two years,
after which he farmed and in 1894 he took an extended
trip all over Iowa, Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming,
Washington and other places, finally settling in the vi-
cinity of Genesee. He farmed two years and in 1896,
he came and secured his present place a mile south-
west from Ho.
On June 24, 1874, in Wisconsin, Mr. Mabbott mar-
ried Miss Nellie, daughter of Luke and Mary Ellen
(Ballou) Farwell. The father was a farmer, born in
Ohio, in 1826, and died in i860, at Pikes Peak, being
m that excitement. His father was a pioneer in Iowa
county and went to California in the exciting days
of 1852, remaining ten years. Mrs. Mabbott's mother
was born in Illinois in 1827 and died when this daugh-
ter was but four years old. Mrs. Mabbott was born in
Iowa county in 1852, May 26. and has two sisters,
Adelia Jain and Adora Pope. Air. Mabbott has the
following brothers and sisters : Charles W., John R.,
Amos M., Mary A., Edward J., Christopher A.,
Martha A., George \\\. Laura J. Five children have
been born to this worthy couple: Ernest C, May L.,
Grace A.. Guy E., Ruth N. Mr. Alabbott is a pro-
gressive and active Republican and is on hand in all
the primaries and the campaign fight, while also he
takes great interest in the advancement of school
facilities. He has a good home place, well improved,
and handled with skill and thrift.
ALBERT G. WISNER is one of Nez Perces
county's leading farmers and stockmen, being a man
of excellent capabilities and sterling worth, which
have been duly manifested in his business achieve-
ments, his political career and in his walk as a citizen
and as an upright man. He dwells about ten miles
southeast from Lewiston, on a fine farm of three hun-
dred and sixty acres of good land. This is laid under
tribute to produce good wheat and barley each year,
while in addition, Mr. Wisuer handles about three
hundred head of hogs each year. This alone would
be a sufficient industry for one but also the one line
in which Mr. Wisner has gained the finest success is in
breeding excellent Hereford cattle. He has some spec-
imens that would delight the eye of a stock connois-
seur and of which he is justly proud. Mr. Wisner
also handles a section of rented land.
It will be interesting to trace the life of such a
successful man and with pleasure we append the de-
tails. Albert G. Wisner was born in Genesee county,
New York, on October 31, 1851, being the son of
Peter S. Wisner, who had married Miss Haner. The
father was a carpenter and a native of the Empire
state also, and 1880 is the year of his demise. The
mother died in 1856 and thus Albert never knew the
tender hand of a mother while he was growing up.
The parents removed to Kent. Michigan, before the
death of the mother and after that sad occurrence,
the father kept the little band together until our sub-
juct was ten years of age and then they all went for
themselves. However, Albert remained there and la-
bored at different callings until he was twenty-four.
He had purchased a portion of his father's farm and
in 1876 sold that and came to Douglas county, Ore-
gon. The next year, we see him in Lewiston and
there he enlisted with General Howard to fight the
Indians. Then he was hired by the government to
aid in the construction of roads. Next, he logged on
the Clearwater and in the fall of 1879, he took a
claim south of Tammany hollow. Later, he sold that
property and bought the farm where he now lives. His
place is embellished with a fine, modern, eight-:' n >m
house with plenty of closet and pantry room and ex-
ceptionally well arranged for comfort and conven-
ience. He also has a fine, large, red barn and out
buildings. Mr. Wisner deals in cattle a great deal,
being an excellent judge of stock.
In April, 1882, Mr. Wisner married Miss Lillie,
daughter of W. H. and Ora (Kirk) Wishard, natives
of Indiana. The father was a wheelwright and died
in 1894 and the mother died in 1872. Mrs. Wisner
ALBERT G. WISNER
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
289
was born on September 9, 1S01. Mr. Wisner has the
following-named brothers and sisters : Rebecca Og-
den, Alatiida Vanorton, Byron D., Louisa Frazee and
John S., Adelia Sessions, Gustavus, Ruth Warner,
Frederick. Mr. and Mrs. Wisner have one adopted
child, Lauretta. In political matters, Mr. Wisner is
a stanch Republican and votes the ticket straight ; he
often attends county conventions as delegate. He was
elected county commissioner on his ticket in 1894 and
with great credit to himself and advantage to the
county he served his term and was renominated, but
the entire party was snowed under. Mr. Wisner had
three brothers, Byron, John and Gustavus, who fought
for their country in the time of the dark rebellion. One
entered the ranks when but fourteen years of age. Mr.
Wisner is a strong advocate of good schools, has al-
ways worked for their betterment and is to be credited
with much good accomplished in this line.
EDWARD B. WILSON. It is remarkable how
many excellent mechanics there are in the reservation
portion of Nez Perces county and as a pioneer of them
all, as well as a leader in both proportions of business,
and excellence of equipment, we are constrained to
mention the well known gentleman whose name is
at the head of this article. Air. Wilson is a pioneer
in that he was among the very first settlers in the res-
ervation country, and also in that he erected one of the
first blacksmith shops in Xezperce. To the prosecu-
tion of the business he has steadily devoted his labor
and excellent skill since that date and it is without
doubt that he has today one of the best paying con-
cerns in the state. Recently, Mr. Wilson took as part-
ner in business Mr. Davis, and the firm is known
as Wilson & Davis. Mr. Wilson is a first class me-
chanic in both wood and iron, and handles a number of
men in his shop. His shop is now one of the finest to
be found. It is fully equipped with all modern and up-
to-date appliances and is a model of neatness and or-
der. The upper story is arranged for a nice hall to
accommodate theatrical entertainments, it being pro-
vided with good stage, curtains and scenery. It is
of note that when Mr. Wilson came to this town in the
fall of 1896, he was not well provided with finances,
and when he erected the first shop in February, 1897,
he had but fifty dollars. With this humble start, by
industry, executive ability, and excellent skill of Mr.
Wilson, there has been evolved a business, as stated
above, second to none in the state; he has since pur-
chased his partner's interest. The equipment, build-
ings, land, and so forth, all belong to Air. \\ ilson, per-
sonally, and are at a low estimate worth over five
thousand dollars. In addition to this. Air. Wilson
owns a seven-room cottage of neat and tasty architec-
tural design, which is his family heme.
Reverting more to the early life of our subject we
note that he was born in Alorgan county, Illinois, on
March 9, 1862, being the son of Henry and Harriet
(Breckon) Wilson. The father was born in Illinois
in 1833, of English parents, and now lives in Central
City, Nebraska, retired. The mother of our subject
was born in England in April, 1833, came to the Un-
ited States when she was six years old with her par-
ents, who are dead. She was married in 1854. Ed-
ward was reared on a farm, educated in the common
schools and then took a course in mechanical drawing.
When twenty-three, he went to Nebraska and opened
a blacksmith shop. Eleven years were spent there and
a move was made to Moscow ; then he operated a shop
in Cornwell, after which he came to Nezperce, as
stated above. Mr. Wilson has two brothers, Lincoln,
a blacksmith in Wyoming, and Albert, a Methodist
preacher.
At Archer, Nebraska, on September 6, 1888. Mr.
Wilson married Miss Viola V., daughter of Jacob B.
and Martha Templin, natives of Ohio. The father was
a merchant and operator of creameries in Archer.
Nebraska. He was a popular and prominent man and
held many public offices. He is a veteran of the Civil
war and carries a wound in his hip, which crippled
him for life. He served in the Ohio Cavalry all
through the conflict. Airs. Wilson was born on May
19, 1871, and has the following brothers and sisters';
Wilbur, a farmer at Archer, Nebraska ; Leonard, re-
siding with his parents; ( Miie, wife of George Ayers,
county attorney of Merrick county, Nebraska; Clara,
wife of Roy Farnham, a farmer near Wheatland, Wy-
oming; Jessie, a student in Lincoln University: Alice,
at home. Air. Wilson is a member of the I. ( >. I I. I ■'.,
North Star Lodge, No. 56, of Nezperce; of the M.
W. A. and the W. W., both of Nezperce. He and his
wife also belong to the auxiliaries of the last two or-
ders. They are prominent members of the Methodist
church and have an excellent standing in the commun-
ity. To .Mr. and Airs. Wilson there have been hum
six children, Harry, Pearl, Lloyd. Roy, Earl, Glenn.
His father served in Company D, 101st Illinois Vol-
unteer Infantry for three years "from enlistment to the
close of the war. under General Sherman, and on the
march to the sea. Lookout .Mountain, Chattanooga and
Peach Tree Creek.
ARTHUR S. CORDINER. We are constrained
to mention this genial and capable gentleman, who has
labored with unflagging interest for the upbuilding 1 >f
the country and the handling of his business enter-
prises. He has a fine farm in the vicinity of Melrose,
it being about three miles southeast from the town, and
there he has bestowed his labors with excellent visible
results and he is counted one of the substantial men
of the community.
Arthur S. Cordiner was born in London county,
Ontario, on April 13, 1866, being the son of Arthur
and Ellen (Beatty) Cordiner. The father w
in Scotland in 1818 and still lives. He came to Can-
ada in 1848 and farmed there. He was one of the
councillors in his county. The mother of our subject
was born in Scotland in 1828. and died in 1893. Our
subject remained at home until he was eighteen, being
educated in the famous schools of Ontario, which
290
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
have justly gotten a world wide reputation. Then
lie came to Walla Walla and worked on a farm for
live years. His next move was to Whitman county
where he farmed for himself. This was a trying time
for Mr. Cordiner for he went to that county with two
thousand dollars cash and came away in six years with
one thousand dollars of debt. In 1896 he settled on
his present place and two brothers took land adjoining
his. They have labored together and our subject has
z. fine orchard and does a general farming business,
also raising many shire horses.
Mr. Cordiner is a Democrat and always on the side
of progress and advancement. He is a member of tne
M. W. A. and of the I. O. O. F., both at Melrose. He
has the following named brothers and sisters : Alex-
ander, John. Mary Jarron, William, George, Jessie
Cunningham. Ella Cook. Anna Xevel, Peter F.
and James B.. twins, both graduates of Pullman, and
Peter is now attending Ann Arbor University and
Robert S.
GRANVILLE O. DAMS. To the honest and
hardworking mechanics, and those who have taken
hold with their hands and wrought out the develop-
ment of the reservation country, we are constrained
to grant a prominent place in the history of our coun-
ty, for we firmly believe that the ones who have done
the labor are the ones who should receive the credit
of opening any country, regardless of the amount of
-wealth the laborer has gathered. As a leader in the realm
of mechanics in Nezperce, we mention Mr. Davis, of
the firm of Wilson & Davis, doubtless the largest firm
lor blacksmithing and wheelwright work in the eoun-
ly, and the operators of as good a shop and as well
furnished and equipped as there is in the state. They
employ three men besides the proprietors and Mr.
Davis attends to the wheelwright department.
Granville O. Davis was born in Ross county, Ohio,
on February 10, 1858, being the son of Horatio H.
and Lucy (Kuhl) Davis, natives of Fayette county,
Ohio, born on February 22, 1833, and 1835. respect-
lively. The father has a large shop in Lyndon, Ohio,
where he is a prominent citizen and his ancestors came
from the Plymouth Rock pioneers. He was married in
1854. The ancestors of our subject's mother lived in
Virginia for seven generations back. Granville was
educated in his native place, finishing with a course in
the South Salem Academy. In 1878 he started in
blacksmithing for himself in South Salem, Ohio, and
fifteen years he wrought there. It was 1893 that he
came to Johnson, Washington, and there operated the
best shop until 1961, when he came to Nezperces and
at first entered partnership with S. J. Doggett, but
later sold to .Mr. Doggett and in November, 1901.
formed his present business relations. Mr. Davis has
three brothers, Peter K., a traveling salesman for the
Gilliam Manufacturing Company of Canton, Ohio;
Horatio H.. with the same company; Jesse R., a phy-
sician in New York city. Mr. Davis also has three
sisters, Ogeda V., single, living with parents; Annie.
wife of Joseph Rohan, a horseshoer in Jerlersonville.
Ohio ; Lucy, wife of Amer Wilson, a farmer at Johnson,
Washington.
In Ross county, Ohio, on October 30. 1878, Mr.
Davis married Miss Vedie L., daughter of Joseph and
Louisa (Wilson) Lumbeck. natives of Ohio. The
father was an undertaker and died in 1885, aged fifty-
eight, while the mother died January 20, 1903, in
Burlington, Iowa. Mrs. Davis has one brother. Daniel
W., a physician at Burlington, Iowa. Two children
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Davis, Bonnie L. and
Edna W. Mr. Davis is a member of the K. P., McLean
Lodge, No. 262 of Greenfield, Ohio; and also of the
W. \\ '.. at Nezperce. He and his wife are members
1 if the Presbyterian church and are highly respected
people.
JAC( >B H. MOWRY. It is with pleasure that we
essay the task of outlining the career of this estimable
gentleman, since he has demonstrated in the face of
overwhelming odds, his integrity, determination, and
ability to endure hardships and win success in spite of
the greatest opposition and obstacles to overcome.
Jacob H. Mowry was born in Miami county, Ohio,
on May 11. i860, being the son of Phillip and Sarah
( Sheilenbarger) Mowry, natives of Pennsylvania. The
mother died when our subject was eight years old. His
father is now aged seventy-eight and is living a retired
life at Covington, Ohio. Our subject was reared on a
farm which his father rented from the noted patent
medicine man, Dr. Harter. He was educated in the
high school and when twenty-one went to Arkansas to
raise cotton. Later he removed to Iowa, and in various
places in that state he wrought at farming and in the
starch works until the opening of the reservation when
he came hither and bought the relinquishment to his
present place. He was rather depleted as to finances,
and his wife was very poorly from consumption.
Mr. Mowry was forced to leave the family and go to
Walla Walla and work in the harvest fields to secure
food for them. On November 10, 1897, Mrs. Mowry
died and left four children, the youngest four years
old. Mr. Mowry remained at home and cared for his
little ones as best he could and little by little improved
the ranch. He worked out and one day earned a little
pig, which he brought home under his arm. He now
has one hundred and twenty-five descendants of that
animal on his place and is being prospered exceedingly
in raising hogs, being very skillful in that line. Mr.
Mowry has his place improved well, has platted twenty
acres and sold some lots and is one of the leading and
respected men of the county. His children are bright
and showing great talent in the line of music and there
is great credit due our subject for his faithful and wise
manner in which he has met the adversities of life and
has wrought.
( hi January 6, 1884. Mr. Mowry married Miss
Millie A., daughter of Charles and Mary (Thomas)
Walker, now deceased. Mrs. Mowry was born in Illi-
nois in 1869. She had the following brothers and sis-
ters, Lester. Fred, Charles and Milton, all residents in
Iowa ; Allie, wife of Seth Smith, in Racine, W'iscon-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
291
sin : Lula, single and on the home farm in Marshall
count}. Iowa. The four children of our subject are
named as follows: Roy, born May 15, 1885; Fred, born
January 7, 1887; Hazel G., born December 30, 1891 ;
Pearl, born January 3, 1893. Mr. Mowry has two
brothers, Samuel and John, both farmers near Coving-
ton. Ohio. He is a Republican and is often seen at the
conventions. Mr. Mowry is one of those worthy men
whose example and walk and business enterprise are
worth much for the upbuilding of the country and it
is gratifying that we are able to record that he is now
enjoying the reward of the wise effort that he has be-
stowed.
FRANK J. DECKER. The travels and exper-
iences of this well known and substantial resident of
Mason prairie would fill a volume and the best way to
recount the career of a man is to see what he has done.
So we will give in as great detail as we are able to do
the review of Mr. Decker's life.
Frank J. Decker was born in Jefferson county, In-
diana, on February 4, 1849. His father. George D.,
was a machinist, born in France and at nineteen years
of age he was head of a large shop. He patented the
first shoe pegging machine and was also the patentee
of several other valuable inventions. He married Ju-
dith, daughter of John and Eleanor Hall. She was
born in Kentucky . The father died in 1839 an^ tne
mother in 1899. Our subject went to live with his
grandmother when he was thirteen and two years
later he commenced to learn the harness trade. Next
we see him in Kansas City then in Stark county. Illi-
nois, where he worked in the coal mines. In the fall
of 1869, he went to Montana, looked the country over
and in his trips nearly lost his scalp, only avoiding
that unpleasant experience by secreting himself in the
brush. A few nights following this he was awakened
in his camp by breathing in his face ; carefully lighting
a match, he held it to some prepared tinder which dis-
played a bear who was quite at home, but at this he
concluded to depart. Game was plenty in those
days in Montana and one day when he had gotten into
settled quarters, he heard a disturbance in the yard
and went out to find a lusty elk with his antlers caught
in the door of the dog house. The dog inside was re-
senting the intrusion as desperately as circumstances
would permit. In 1870 Mr. Decker landed in Helena
and worked there with one man for six years. While
he was there, the Chessman reservoir broke and Mr.
Decker was in the way of the awful torrent. He was
tossed about as a cork and not a thread of clothing was
left on his body. He was bruised terribly all over his
body but escaped with his life and a broken leg and no
clothes. Several others perished in the flood. He was
broken in finances because of this catastrophe and made
a new start in life. He took up farming and also
freighted to Fort Benton from Deer Lodge and other
points. He then bought sixty-five head of cattle and.
went to the head of the Teton and a hard winter killed
all. This left him with a four-horse team and thirty
dollars. He came west and located in Spirit valley and
two vears later came and took his present place, known
as the Mason creek ranch. He has one hundred acres
in meadow, two good barns, a comfortable residence,
twenty-five cattle and other improvements and pro-
perty. Mr. Decker was one of the very first to settle
in this part and is well known all over this section, hav-
ing kept for years a stopping place and feed barns.
Air. Decker has two children by his former mar-
riage, Emma A., born April 21, 1878, at Helena,
Montana; Ella E., born January 20, 1880, at Helena,
and wife of Edward Cole.
Mr. Decker married a second time on August 12,
1897. Ida A., daughter of Otto and Anna M. ( Robison)
Brown, becoming his wife then. She was born in
Montana, on June 22, 1880. Her mother was born in
I >enmark, July 19, 1864. The following named chil-
dren have been born to this union: Clarence G., born
February 11, 1898; Frederic F., born December 28,
1899 ; Elmer E., born January 9, 1901 ; all were born in
Nez Perces countv.
CHARLES A. MARKWELL. This young man
is one of the substantial property owners of the reser-
vation portion of our county and he is also one of the
vanguard of progress and development, having a fine
farm in the vicinity of Nezperce, while also he has
great interests in the mining regions of the Coeur
d'Alenes.
Charles A. Markwell was born in Missouri on Sep-
tember 20, 1 87 1, being the son of Sylvester and Esther
(Stevens) Markwell. The father was born in In-
diana, on May 29, 1840, and his parents were born in
Missouri. He is a mining man and raiser of stock.
The mother of our subject was born in the vicinity of
Bangor, Maine; her father was a native of England
and her mother of Scotland. When an infant, our sub-
ject was taken to Nevada with his parents and there
was educated in the graded schools, also attending
school some in Healdsburg, California. He labored
with his father until twenty-one, when they all came
to Wallace, Idaho, where he and his father went into
the dairy business. This he conducted until 1901, and
then sold out to his brothers. In 1898 Mr. Markwell
filed on his present claim, purchasing a relinquish-
ment. He has given attention to the cultivation and
improvement of this farm since that time and it is
one of the valuable places in this vicinity. Mr. Mark-
well also owns stock in the famous Hercules mine,
111 Burke, fir which property one million five hun-
dred thousand dollars were recently refused. He also
owns three dwellings and a business building in Burke,
which he rents. Then he has a one-third interest with
his father and brothers in a fruit ranch and stock
farm two miles from Wallace. Mr. Markwell has
three brothers and two sisters. — J. Fred, a dairyman
near Wallace; Frank P.. a partner in this dairy: Jess
E.. in Wallace; Effie F. ; Emma, wife of Thomas J.
Hardwick, a vegetable farmer near Wallace. Mr.
Markwell's father was in the Civil war and after con-
siderable sickness he was discharged. Mr. Markwell
292
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
is a thorough business man and has operated with
display of great wisdom and keen foresight in his ven-
tures, success having crowned him each time. He is
of excellent standing and has the good will and esteem
of all who may have the pleasure of his acquaintance,
being an affable and pleasant companion and a loyal
friend.
GEORGE W. DILL. This prosperous farmer is
to be classed among the most enterprising men of the
county and his hard labors, deprivations and hardships
endured in the struggle to open this new country, dem-
onstrate him to be possessed of true grit, energy, wis-
dom and powers to overcome.
George W. Dill was born in Nevada county, Cali-
fornia, on June 24, 1870. His father, Henry P., was
born in St. Louis, on June 13, 1833. In the early fifties
he went across the plains with ox teams and although
the Indians were on every hand they escaped a battle
and he was soon in the mines of the Golden state, where
he discovered some valuable properties. After min-
ing for some time on his own responsibility, he took
the superintendency of a large hydraulic company and
operated it for seventeen years. He is now farming in
Washington. He married Elizabeth, the daughter of
Michael and Elizabeth Sullivan. She was born in
California in 1850. May 28. They had the following
children, besides our subject : Henry, died in Califor-
nia ; Laura L. Hayhurst. Elizabeth L., with parents.
George W. worked with his parents until he was of age
and then went to Whitman county and farmed for
three years. In the panic of 1893 he was completely
broken up financially and packed his blankets seventy-
miles to work in- the timber. Two years there and he
came with a three-horse team to the reservation coun-
try and during that trip camped out when the mercury-
registered twelve degrees below zero. He took a
quarter by homestead right and has given himself to its
culture since. He had a stopping place for freighters
and travelers during the days of freighting to Grange-
ville. He was one of the first to settle on Mason prairie
and has made a fine showing, having marketed over
twelve hundred bushels of grain this year, has stock
and is a prosperous man. He drew up the petition for
the first school district and was appointed director by
the county superintendent. Politically he is a Demo-
crat but is an independent thinker and chooses rather
the man than the tenets of any party.
DAVID H. LOWRY. Characterized by public
spirit, enterprise, and keen business ability, being
withal a man of excellent qualities and actuated with
a sence of high honor in his relations, it is fitting that
the subject of this article be accorded a prominent
position in the history of Nez Perces county. Mr.
Lowry is the man who has really thought out the pro-
blem of successfully locating a town and has given prac-
tical exemplification to his plans and ideas in the thrifty
and stirring village of Dublin. This town was platted
on June 1. 1900, and they have two substantial stores,
a flour mill of sixty barrels capacity, good blacksmith
shop, other enterprises and a fine hotel building. The
town has an abundant supply of pure water, an impor-
tant item which few other towns can boast of in this
section. Mr. Lowry gave the Northern Pacific right
of way and station ground on his land, it being select-
ed by that company. He has offered free lots for school
and church buildings and is a strong supporter of
these things.
David H. Lowry was born in Ireland, on February
22, 1856, being the son of Hugh and Ann (McKelvey)
Lowry. The father was born in Ireland on June 21,
1817, and died on January 4, 1890. He came to the
United States in 1870 and settled in Lincoln county,
Missouri. The mother was born in Ireland in 1830,
and died in April, 1892. Our subject was educated in
Ireland and came to the United States with his parents
when he was fourteen. He worked with his father on
the farm, later went to Jackson county, Missouri, and
farmed prosperously for seven years, after which he
came to Lewiston. He farmed in the Genesee country
and was on the Sound and in various employments un-
til 1895, when the reservation opened and he selected
his present place, upon which the town of Dublin is
situated. Mr. Lowry has given his attention to general
farming and handling his other lines of business, in all
of which he has met with success. He has fourteen
brothers, six of whom are living. John, Henry I.,
William P.. Robert M., lames. George. Mr. Lowry has
been a member of the I. O. O. F. and the A. O. U. W.
In 1900 he was elected justice of the peace, but refused
to qualify. He is an active Democrat and a potent in-
fluence that helped to carry the precinct for that ticket
notwithstanding the land slide of the other precincts.
He is skillful in raising the excellent English Berk-
shires and the Poland Chinas, having the best strains
in the west.
JAMES M. WHEAT. Among those who have
done commendable work in the development of the res-
ervation country we are bound to mention the enter-
prising and capable gentleman whose name appears
above.
James M. W7heat was born in Madison county,
Iowa, on December 25. 1853. being the son of Au-
gustus and Isabella (Smith) Wheat. The father was
born in Alabama in 1822 and died in 1902. He opera-
ted a general store for years in Indianapolis. He
then became a pioneer in Madison county, Iowa. His
father, James Wheat, was a soldier in the war of 1812.
The mother of our subject was born in Nauvoo and
now lives in Missouri. Her father, John C. Smith,
was one of the first settlers in Clarke county, Iowa, and
is now operating a large mill in Portland. When our
subject was eleven, the family went back to Indiana
and made their home there for ten years. Then they
returned to the old home in Iowa and in these places our
subject was educated. When James was twenty-one
he farmed in partnership with his uncle, J. T. Wheat.
In 1883 he sold out and came to Genesee, where he
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
293
settled on a farm until the reservation was opened. At
that important time he came hither and selected his
present place, about one mile south from Ilo. He has
it well improved with comfortable building's, orchard,
fences, and much besides, and is one of the thrifty men
of the section. In addition to general farming he pays
considerable attention to breeding and raising fine Po-
land China and Berkshire hogs, and is successful in
this line.
On January 16, 1877, Air. Wheat married Miss Jen-
nie M., daughter of William and Elizabeth (Simmons)
Lockridge. This was in Warren county, Iowa, and
tight children have been born to them, Charles E.,
William, Jessie, Everett, Lucella, Esther, Dora Z.,
Savanah M. Mrs. Wheat has six brothers and sisters,
— Leander, Samuel, John, Allen, Sarah Follett, Sa-
vanah Crow. Mr. Wheat has four brothers and sisters,
Pantha Etta, Sarah T., Eldora, Edgar. Mrs. Wheat
was born in Warren county, Iowa, in 1861. 'Her
father was born in Virginia and was a farmer. Her
mother was born in Kentucky and is a direct descend-
ant of Daniel Boone. Mr. and Mrs. Wheat are mem-
bers of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. He is a
Republican and active in the local campaigns. Recent-
ly Mr. Wheat has been elected to the important posi-
tion of road overseer and doubtless there will be mani-
fested in his labors in this line the same efficiency and
wisdom as have characterized him in all his ways.
SAMUEL M. EBY. Among the leading citizens of
the vicinity of Nezperce, we are constrained to mention
the well known and capable gentleman whose name in-
itates this article. Mr. Eby is one of the shrewdest and
most successful business men of the county. He is the
owner of much land grouped around the town and his
keen foresight, executive ability and fine management
have placed him among the heaviest property owners
and leaders here.
Samuel M. Eby was born in Montgomery county,
Ohio, on March 3, 1841, being the son of Christian and
Diana (Murray) Eby, natives of Maryland. The
father descended from the Pennsylvania" Dutch, was
born in 1808, and died in 1891. The mother is of En-
glish extraction, was born January 9, 1814, was mar-
ried March 3. 1836, and died in 1900. Her father was
a farmer and merchant. Our subject was reared and
educated in his native place and after school days were
past he taught for two vears and then farmed. ' Later,
we see him in Indiana and seven years were spent in
successful farming. Then a move was made back to
Ohio, and then he came to Missouri, where his busi-
ness ability led him to acquire large tracts of land
which he still owns, and which is operated by his son.
Then Mr. Eby made one of the unfortunate moves of
his life, a trip to Florida, where he lost about seven
thousand dollars, but he still owns part of the real
estate there and may yet make a winner out of it.
Thence Mr. Eby went to the Rogue river country,
Oregon, and after a short time came to the reservation
and bought land in the vicinity of Nezperce. To the
management of these estates and the care of his other
business, Mr. Eby devotes himself now. He has two
brothers and three sisters, — Joseph W, a farmer in
Ohio; John, a farmer in Tennessee; Agnes, wife of
Samuel Wampler in Dayton, Ohio; Rebecca, widow of
Levi Ikenberry, in Camden, Ohio; Jane, wife of A. C.
Prugh, at Camden, Ohio.
Mr. Eby married Miss Nancy J. Collett, on April
17, 1866, in Miami county, Indiana. She was born in
the same county, on November 13, 1843 and died at
Warrensburg, Missouri, July 14, 1885. leaving the fol-
lowing children, Agnes, wife of John'Snyder, a farmer
in -Maryland; Edward M., a stockman and who looks
after his father's property in Missouri ; Laura D., with
parents. On September 12, i8S6, at Warrensburg. Mis-
souri. Mr. Eby married Miss Minnie E., daughter of
Peter S., and Sarah A. (Miller) Garman. She was born
in Elkhart. Indiana, ancl her father was a preacher in the
German Baptist church. To this second marriage
there have been born five children— George, Vernice,
Hazel, Delfa and Isabel. Mr. Ebv is a preacher in the
German Baptist church, to which he and his wife be-
long ; he is an ardent worker and supporter of the faith,
being a man of great influence and filling the position
of leader in a faithful and efficient manner.
ALEXANDER MILLER, a member of the thrif-
ty band of sturdy men who came to this country at the
opening of the reservation to make of it one of the most
fertile and productive regions of the west, is now to be
numbered with the leading citizens of this section and
is a well-to-do and substantial man.
Alexander Miller was born in Fulton county, Ohio,
October 18, 1850, being the son of Alexander and
Polly Anna (Lyba) Miller. The father was born in
Switzerland in 18 10 and came to the United States in
his boyhood days. He died in 1899, having been one of
the prominent oil men in early days in Pennsylvania.
The mother of our subject was born in Pennsylvania
in 1826 and died in 1868. She descended from the
Puritan stock; her grandfather Lyba fought in the
Revolution and her grandmother who recently died
played a conspicuous part also in that memorable strug-
gle. Our subject worked with his father in the oil re-
gions until eighteen and then returned to Ohio and
there bored oil wells. In 1876, he went to Dickinson
county, Kansas, and bought a farm of railroad land and
also drilled wells in addition to the farm improvement
and labors. He remained there for twelve years and in
1889, he sold out and came to Spokane, that being the
time of the big fire. He took up railroading and was
located at Medical Lake for nine months and then went
to Colfax, where he continued that labor until 1895.
In that year, Mr. Miller came to the opening reserva-
tion and secured his present estate as a homestead. It
is located a mile and a half south from Ilo and this has
been the family home since that date. He has made
good improvements and does general farming and rais-
ing hogs.
In 1871, Mr. Miller married and two children were
294
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
born to them, George and Amy. George is attending
the Northwestern .Medical college in Chicago where he
will graduate in three years more and then will return
to this country for practice. He has also had a course
in Ann Arbor. Amy married George Calmer and they
live in Colfax. Mr. Miller has two brothers and two
sisters. — George. John. Jane Townes, Matilda Buria.
Air. Miller is a staunch Democrat and is an advocate
for improvement in all lines and especially so in mat-
ters of education. His home is a valuable and pleasant
place and the six-room residence, good barn, fine or-
chard and other improvements are all evidences of his
wiselv bestowed labors.
CHRISTIAN J. FIKE. No list of the leading
agriculturists would be complete without an especial
mention of the sagacious, capable, and upright gentle-
man, whose name appears above.
Christian J. Fike was born in Somerset county,
Pennsylvania, where he was also raised and educated.
When twenty-one he came to Iowa and bougnt land
near Garrison, farming it for twelve years. Then his
father came to Iowa and bought land near Waterloo,
and our subject sold his estate ami purchased land ad-
joining his father*s, which was the family home until
1897, the date of the migration to Nez Perces county.
The parents of our subject, Jacob C. and Elizabeth
(Blough) Fike, were natives of Pennsylvania. The
father was born in 1828 and died in. April, 1902, being-
descended from the Pennsylvania Dutch for several
generations back. The mother was born in 1827 and
still lives in Iowa. She also is descended from the
Dutch of Pennsylvania. Upon coming to the reser-
vation. Mr. Fike purchased the relinquishment of a
settler, which is still the family home. The land ad-
joins Nezperce and lies so as to overlook the town and
is one of the most valuable places on the reservation.
Mr. Fike has displayed both industry and wisdom in
improving and he has a splendid orchard and is a very
prosperous man. Mr. Fike has the following brothers
and sisters, John, a retired farmer at Waterloo, Iowa ;
Samuel, on the old homestead at Waterloo, Iowa, and
his mother resides with him ; Sarah, wife of Benjamin
Lohr; Susan, wife of Henry Grady, at Waterloo;
Mary, wife of Albert Blaough, a farmer near Wat-
erloo.
On October 3, 1865, Mr. Fike married Miss Fran-
ces B., daughter of Abraham and Fanny Allison. Mr.
Allison brought his family from Ohio to Stevenson
county, Illinois, thence to Iowa and he is now living in
Kansas. The mother is dead. Mrs. Fike was born in
Miami county, Ohio, on September 8, 1846. and was
educated in Illinois. She has two brothers and three
sisters, David, a stock buyer in Kensett, Iowa ; Henry
H, a banker and prominent man at Sac City, Iowa ;
Susan, wife of Peter Fike. a farmer in Kansas ; Mary,
widow of John Moses: Martha, widow of George
Thomas, living on her homestead on the reservation.
Mr. and Mrs. Fike have become the parents of six chil-
dren.— Jacob H, born July 18, 1867, a school teacher
and elder of the German Baptist church in Indiana;
Bert, born November 14, 1877. engineer in flour mill at
Nezperce; Fannie E., born January 14, 1880. wife of
John McCahill, a farmer near Nezperce: Abraham R.,
born July 27 ', 1882, in Iowa; Franklin \Y.. born Janu-
ary 17, 1885, at home; Charles C, born June 22, 1887,
living with parents. < )ur worthy subject and his esti-
mable wife are devout and faithful members of the Ger-
man Baptist church and are devout supporters of the
faith. Mr. Fike is allied with the Republican party
but is not forward in that realm. He is a man 1 if keen
business ability, is exemplary in his walk and is re-
spected by all. He and his faithful wife have raised a
large family of children, whom they have taught in
the fear and admonition of the Lord and it is with
great pleasure that we are allowed to place the record
of such stanch, reliable and worthy people in the his-
tory, of our county.
CHARLES D. THOMAS. This rising young at-
torney promises to place himself among the leaders in
his profession in the near future as he has displayed
great aptness and ability in the profession. At the pre-
sent time he is a member of the firm of Stearns &
Thomas, which handles a general loaning, real estate,
insurance, and law business in Nezperce.
Charles D. Thomas was born in Danbury, Iowa, on
January 7. 1871, being the son of Daniel and Mary
(Smith) Thomas, natives of New York and Ohio and
born in 1830 and in 1837, respectively. When Charles
was young he came with his parents to Moscow and
there he attended the public schools and in [890 he
graduated from the Hillsdale College at Hillsdale,
Michigan. Returning to Idaho, he took up the work of
the educator and for three years he was assistant prin-
cipal of the Genesee schools. In July, 190 1. Mr.
Thomas entered into partnership with Judge Stearns
and since that time has steadily pursued the study of
the 'aw, which he had followed in his teaching. Mr.
Thomas has one brother and three sisters, Frank B., at
Colville, Washington, in tin- building business: Lovina,
wife of Melvin Chapman, at \\ aterville, Washington,
raising stock ; Ida, wife of Scott Dennison, a farmer at
Colville: Alice, wife of Alonzo Horn, a railroad man
of Moscow.
( hi April 18. 1893. Mr. Thomas married .Mi— 1 >ora
R.. daughter of Allen and Rachel (Robertson) Bond,,
natives of Virginia, and now living in Irving. Oregon.
Mrs. Thomas has the following brothers and sisters:
Lincoln, merchant in Irving. Oregon : Edward, a mer-
chant at Baker City ; James, a farmer at Irving ; Frank,
a railroad man at Irving: Mary, wife of A. J. Green,
an attorney at Moscow; Helen, wife of James Ebert,
a farmer near Eugene. Oregon; Clara, wife of J. D.
Spencer, a farmer near Irving; Daisy, wife of Charles
Minkler, railroad conductor at Portland. Two children
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas. Vesta D.,
Reginald F., aged six and four, respectively. Mr. and
Mrs. Thomas are members of the Christian church. He
is a member also of the I. O. O. F.. Morning Star
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
29c,
Lodge, at Nezperce; of the K. ( >. T. M., Nezperce
Tent ; of the M. W. A., of Nezperce ; of the Yeoman of
America, at Nezperce. Mr. Thomas is an active Re-
publican and has done good service in the count) and
state conventions. He is a bright, cultured and capa-
ble young man and he is the recipient of the g 1 will
and esteem of all who know him.
It is an interesting reminiscence that Airs. Thomas
is one of a family of eight children, all of whom were
born and married in the old family home in Irving,
Oregon.
In 1902 he was nominated by the Republican party
as candidate to the state legislature and was elected
by a large majority, receiving two hundred and forty-
three votes in his own precinct. He was also a member
of the seventh session.
CHARLES LARSON. In at least two lines of
endeavor has Mr. Larson achieved success and is now
one of the prominent and successful farmers and busi-
ness men of the reservation country, being located at Ho,
where he carries on a thriving business as a wheel-
wright and wood workman. He was born in Norway,
on September 25, 1873, being the son of Lars and
Mary (Erickson) Larson, natives of Norway and born
in 1787 and 1836. respectively. The father died in
1881, aged ninety-four. The mother later married Mr.
Nelson and is now living in the Potlatch country.
Charles was educated in his native country and there
learned the trade which he now follows, also perfect-
ing himself at a carpenter's school. He worked on
piece work until eighteen, when he came to the Cnited
States, whither his mother and stepfather had come
four years previous to this time. Mr. Larson settled
at Moscow and took up his trade which he followed
for five years. In 1895 he took his present farm as a
homestead, but he returned to Moscow, off and on.
working at his trade. In April, 1901, he opened his
present business and is doing we.ll.
On November 3, 1896. in Nez'Perces county, Mr.
Larson married Miss Anna, daughter of Julius and
Sophia Shoemaker, natives of Sweden and Germany
respectively. Mrs. Larson has three sisters and four
brothers. Mrs. Larson was born in Latah county, on
April 4, 1880. Mr. Larson has three brothers and one
sister. Leonard, Louis, John, Lena. Two children
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Larson. Hazel I.. John.
Mr. Larson is a member of the M. W. A., at the Ho
Camp. He is a stanch Republican and believes in pro-
gress and improvement and is always fostering public
enterprises which are for the welfare of all. Mr. Lar-
son has a fine farm, of one hundred and sixty acres, well
improved with buildings and last year he sold of oats
alone three thousand and five hundred bushels.
DANIEL W. Y( )RK is a man of the true grit as
has been demonstrated by his success in this new coun-
try in spite of hardships and scant means, which en-
tailed great labors and deprivations. He has a good
farm three miles northwest from Morrow and has im-
proved it in a becoming manner. He threshed eleven
hundred bushels of grain this year and feeds most of it
to his stock, having some fine hogs. Altogether, Mr.
York is prosperous and one of the leading and sub-
stantial men of the community.
Daniel W. York was born in Alabama', on Novem-
ber 6, 1863. His father, Caswell, was born in Ten-
nessee, on April 20, 1827. He was among the Indiana
volunteers and was detailed on the bridge brigade and
w ent ahead preparing the way for the army to pass. He
homesteaded land in Spokane county, having previously
married Klizabeth Wallace of Tennessee, Besides our
subject, they had the following children: Adam. John
E.. Nancy Crane. Jane Nelson, Mary E. Behrens, Hen-
ry C. and Daniel \V., twins. Henry C. was a member of
the National guards at Tekoa, Washington. Our sub-
ject worked with his parents until he was twenty-four
and then went to Tekoa, Washingti in, where he engaged
in the lumber business with his brother. They con-
tinued for two years and then Mr. York turned his at-
tention to farming in the same county until the spring
of 1897, when he settled on his present home place. He
has stuck to the battle with grit and has shown real
skill and wisdom and is now being rewarded with good
success and prosperity. In addition to the other things
mentioned on the farm, Mr. York raised one hundred
and fifty bushels of timothy seed.
On May 17, 1891, Mr. York married Miss Mary J.,
daughter of Amos and Elizabeth Blue. She was born
in Linn county, Oregon, on ( )ctober 17. 1870. The fol-
lowing children have been born to this marriage : Edna
E., born in Whitman county, Washington, on March
14. ]X<)2; Hattic E.. born in Spokane county, April 14,
r8<)4: Arthur H., born in Nez Perces county, .March
30. 1902. Mr. York is a member of the !.<».(>. F. and
he and his wife belong to the Christian church. He
lias been clerk and trustee on the school board for five
years and was elected again at the last meeting.
SIDNEY J. DOGGETT. Among the mechanics
of Nez Perces county there is none with more skill in
his line, enterprise in business, good practical judg-
ment and ability, than the subject of this brief article.
Mr. Doggett now handles the first shop in size and
business on the reservation, doing a general black-
smith business with all of its branches and operating a
half dozen men.
Sidney J. Doggetl was born in Siskiyou county, Cal-
ifornia, on April 29, 1867. being the son of William C.
and Jane P. (Redman) Doggett. The father was born
in St. Louis county. Missouri, on March 14. 1825. and
followed mining until he came to Sprague, Washing-
ton, where he farms. The mother was born in St.
Louis county. Missouri, on January 10. 1838. The
family came to Washington when Sidney was seven
months old, where he was reared and educated. When
eighteen he rode the range in the Palouse and in 1890,
he rented land near Pullman and farmed. It was 1896
296
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
that he came to the reservation and bought the relin-
quishment of a settler and followed farming until he
proved up on the place. During the times between the
rush of farm work he gave his attention to the black-
smith's art and he became very proficient in it. In the
fall of 1901, he erected a substantial building in Nez-
perce and opened a shop, and as said above, he is hand-
ling the largest blacksmith business in the reservation
country. Air. Doggett has the following brothers and
sisters : John, a farmer at Chesley ; Jefferson D.. farmer
near Walla Walla; Robert S., a farmer at Johnson,
Washington: Francis E.. a farmer in California; Isaac
H.. and Frederick T., farmers at Sprague, Washing-
ton; Sierra Nevada, wife of T. A. Brown, a farmer at
Pullman, Mr. Doggett is a member of the I. O. O. F.
;m>l of the Rebekahs in Xezperce; also of the W. W.,
and the M. W. A. and the Women of Woodcraft, all
in Xezperce. He is a Democrat but is never zealous
of personal preferment.
1 >n February 23. 1891, Mr. Doggett married Miss
Edna A., daughter of Alsa and Sarah (VanBibber)
Woodward-. Mrs. Doggett was born in Missouri on
October 5, 1874; she has the following brothers and
.-isU-rs : \\ illiam D., a farmer at Johnson, Washington ;
Caroline, in Missouri ; Martha, wife of John Brown, a
saw mill man at Kendrick : Cinderella, wife of Robert
L. Doggett ; Alice, wife of Wm. Anderson, in Wash-
ington. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs.
Doggett,— Lulu M„ Herbert I-:., Ftta. William A.,
George, and Esther. Mr. Doggett is enjoying the
meed of honest industry and wisdom in the competence
that he possesses and the prosperous business that he is
handling, while also the confidence and good will of all
are his in unstinted measure.
LEWIS D. STEVENS. This prosperous farmer
lias well earned the meed of success by his thrift, his
industry, and his wisdom in managing the resources
of the country in these pioneer days and is to he classed
among the substantial and capable men who deserve
representation in the history of the county.
Lewis D. Stevens was born in Alpine county. Cali-
fornia, on April 10, 1876. His father, Alexander H.
a farmer, was born in Perth, Scotland, on May 4, 1849,
and married Sarah F. Trimmer. Our subject remained
with his parents until nineteen. He came to Nez
Perces county on July 9. 18S5. and engaged in tin cat-
tle business with his father and for himself. On Au-
gust tj. 1895. Mr. Stevens married Miss Addie.
daughter of Darius -B. and Arabelle J. Randall. Mr.
Randall's first work in life was as a teacher, being a first
class educator. He was first lieutenant in the Rebellion
and later was lieutenant in a company at Fort Lapwai.
A detailed account of his career in the Indian troubles
will appear in another portion of this volume and we
will not revert to it here. He was a brave and coura-
geous man and with a handful of sixteen he was pit-
ted against one hundred and twenty-five Indians. He
fought the Indians with display of desperate and great
valor but was overpowered and slain. It is said that
officer Perry stood and witnessed the awful massacre
with no move to avert it. Mr. Randall was judge of
Idaho county at the time of his death. He was be-
loved and esteemed by all. Mrs. Stevens was born
December 8, 1876, in Idaho county and her brothers
and sisters are named as follows : Oronoco L. Ingh-
ram, born April 25, 1866, in Linn county, Oregon;
iLnry A., born August 28, 1867, in Nez Perces coun-
ty ; Belle J. Gable, born November 2, 1870, in Nez Per-
ces county; Maude E. Byron, born September 16, 1873,
in Idaho county. Mrs. Stevens has also one half sister.
Jay Al. Donna'!, born March 13, 1883, in Idaho county.
Mr. and Mrs. Stevens have two girls, Ruth Elizabeth,
born June 19, 1898, in Idaho county ; Lauretta Jay, born
September 18. 1900, in this county. Mr. Stevens has
devoted himself to the improvement of his estate and
has done commendable work. He raised about two
thousand bushels of grain last year and feeds it all to his
stock. He has fine stock, having twelve cattle, sixty
horses, thirty sheep and many hogs.
DAVIS S. WRIGHT is a saw mill man and a true
blue Republican with no uncertain motto on his banner
and with plenty of keen penetration into issues and
ability to handle convincingly the political questions
of the day. His mill is located four miles west from
Ho. is one of the best and perhaps the largest plant in
the reservation cpuntry and is handled with a wisdom
and business abilitv that have given to the owner a
gratifying success. In the political field he is known
as one of the strongest factors of the party in this sec-
tion and a terror to opposers. and in the caucuses and
conventions he is a familiar figure and a power.
Davis S. Wright was born in Ohio, on April 15,
(858, being the son of Charles S. and Deborah (Oliver)
Wright. The father was born in the state of presi-
dents in 1838, and his father was a pioneer there.
Charles S. Wright is now operating a flour mill in
Dublin. The mother of our subject owns Ohio as her
native place also and her parents were pioneers there.
She and her husband came to Walla Walla in 1873.
( )ur subject was taken from Ohio to Wisconsin by his
parents when he was two weeks old. the trio being
made by wagon. Settlement was made in Vernon coun-
ty and ten years later they pulled up stakes and turned
the prow of their prairie schooner toward the setting
sun and cast anchor in Washington county. Oregon.
There they farmed and about 1872 or 1873 they came
thence to Walla Walla. Our subject was educated in
' (regon and Washington and when he was nineteen
went to do for himself. He was married about that
time and went to farming near Walla Walla, where
his home continued to be until 1892, in which year he
removed to the Potlatch country. He settled in Ken-
drick and took up the livery business and assisted ma-
terially to build tliat town. In 1896, Mr. Wright came
to the reservation and took a farm near Fletcher and
in 1898, he took up the saw mill business as mentioned
above. *|
On November 24, 1877, Mr. Wright married Miss
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
297
Emma, daughter of Thomas and Lydia (Skinner)
Whetstone, the wedding occurring in Dayton, Wash-
ington. Mr. Whetstone was a pioneer in the Walla
Walla country and built the first house on the wagon
road from that town to Lewiston. It is located in
Whetstone hollow. -Mrs. Wright was born in Colum-
bia county, Washington, in i860. She has the follow-
ing named brothers and sisters, Mary, Alice, Robert
E., all living in Nez Perces county. Mr. Wright has
three brothers, William A., in Dublin, George W., in
Kendrick, Amos A., in Spokane. Three children have
been born to our subject and his wife, — Robert O.,
Lilly Johnson, Bessie L., in Nez Perces county. Mr.
Wright is a member of the 1. O. O. F., Lodge 65, at
Magnolia. He has been justice of the peace for two
terms.
ESLI W. BEAN. This enterprising and thrifty
farmer dwells about two miles northeast from Morrow,
upon land that he took wild and secured through home-
stead right. He has made a good home from his place
and is numbered with the progressive and public
niin- led men of the section.
Esli W. Bean was born in Rock county, Wisconsin,
on April 30, 1848, being the son of Edward S. and
Marv (Vaughn) Bean. The parents were pioneers in
Rock county and died when he was young. After the
death of the parents, he went to live with his sister,
Mrs. Yielie. He remained with them until he was
nineteen, gaining a good education and working on the
farm. Then he went to Plover, Portage county, Wis-
consin, and worked in the timber two years. Then he
came to San Francisco and thence to Walla Walla.
Here he worked in a saw mill for his cousin. Lon Bean,
on the Walla Walla river. Four years later he came
to Latah county and settled where the town of Palouse
now stands. This was in 1875, but no Palouse was
there then. He took land and farmed for a time and
then went to Longmount, Colorado, with cattle. He
worked there in a hardware and tinning establishment
and sixteen years later came back to Oregon. This
was in 1893 and three years later he came to his pres-
ent place.
In February, 1879, Mr. Bean married Miss Lulu
Crawford and two daughters, Goldie and Fern, are the
living children born to them. Mr. Bean is a firm Re-
publican and active in the primaries and conventions.
He is an ardent supporter of good schools and ad-
vanced twenty dollars to assist in painting a new school
house if the neighbors would take hold and erect one.
Mr. Bean has the following brothers and sisters : James.
Lizzie. Hepsie Howard, Ira, Hulda.
HENRY J. GERTJE. This young farmer is an
enterprising and successful toiler, whose labors have
done much to advance the welfare of the reservation
portion of the county and whose standing is first class
among his fellows.
Henry J. Gertje was born in Waseca county, .Min-
nesota, on June 13, 1876, being the son of John and
Mattie Gertje. The father was born in Germany in
1832. About 1884 the family came to Dakota from
Minnesota, where the father took land and farmed for
three years. The next move was to Latah county, in
the Potlatch country, and there our subject received
his education and grew to manhood. On November 1,
1897. Mr. Gertje came to the reservation and took his
present place, about two and three-fourths miles east
and one south from Melrose. He has a good place,
well improved, excellent labor having been done by
him since his settlement here.
On January 30, 1900, Mr. Gertje married Miss
Estella, daughter of William and Anna (Greer) Par-
nish. The father was a millman born in Virginia in
1840 and served in Company F, Twenty-fifth Ohio,
and was wounded at Gettysburg. The mother was
born in Jefferson county, Ohio, in 1847. Mrs. Gertje
was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, on August 10,
1876, and has two brothers, William and Charles, at
Spalding. Mr. Gertje has the following named
brothers and sisters : George, John, Herman. Mary
Tedie and Edward. One child has been born to Mr.
and Mrs. Gertje, Lulu I. Mr. Gertje is a stanch Re-
publican, is always present at the post of duty and is
an active worker. He is also strongly in favor of
good schools and he and Arthur Cordiner helped to
build the school house and hired the children to come
to get the school started, and it is interesting to note
that Mr. Gertje and Mr. Cordiner were both bachelors
at that time. Mr. Gertje has a good home place and
is highly esteemed in the community both for his
excellent labors as well as for his intrinsic worth.
EDWARD S. HEGEL. About six miles north-
west from Morrow is the home place of our subject,
which was secured by homestead right on June 7.
1897. Since that time. Mr. Hegel has devoted him-
self to improving the farm and building up the country.
He :s a man of industry and worth and is entitled to
and receives the esteem of all.
Edward S. Hegel was born in Eau Claire county,
Wisconsin, on May 24, 1869. His father, John F.,
who was born October. 1818. in Baden, Germany, was
a plasterer and mason. He served in the confederate
armv under Price and Johnston. He married Eliza
1. Folt. Edward S. worked for his father until he was
fifteen, then went to Portland remaining three years.
Next we see him at Ellensburg. Washington, and later
was in the Okanogan country. He was also at Hunter,
the same state, where he was occupied in raising stock
with his brother for five years. Selling out. he went to
Palouse countrv and fanned for two years. At the
date mentioned' he took hi- present place and is fast
bringing it all under tribute by cultivation. Mr.
Hegel married Miss Cordelia, daughter of George W.
ami Carry S. Wayne, who are mentioned in this vol-
ume. Mrs. Hegel was born in Silverton, Oregon, on
December 10. 1877. Mr. Hegel's father manufactured
the first brick made in Ellensburg and in North Yakima
2y8
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
and later burned the first kiln in the Okanogan country.
He died in 1896. Our subject was school director and is
actively interested in good schools and general prog-
CHRISTIAN FLAIG. In recounting the items
in the career of the subject of this article we note first
that he was born in Germany, in April, 1867. His
parents, Joseph and Mary (Wernz) Flaig, were also
born in German}', the father in 1830, and are now de-
ceased. Our subject received his educational train-
ing in the schools of his native land and followed
teaming and driving stage until he had arrived at his
majority. Then he bade the fatherland and all its
loved ones and associations farewell and sailed away to
New York, whence he went direct to Spokane, Wash-
ington. He soon selected Rosalia as the place of opera-
tions and went to work in the saw mills. In the year
1888 he came to Spokane, and in 1895 he left Rosalia
and came to the reservation country and located his
present place, one mile south from Ilo. He has a
quarter section of good land, well improved, having
a fine house and orchard and buildings, and other im-
provements : thrift and order characterize the entire
premises.
In 1896, at Lewiston, .Mr. Flaig married Miss Min-
nie, daughter of Frederick and Louise Johns, natives of
German)-, who now live near Ilo. The former was
born in 1853. and the latter in 1878, being an only
child. Mr. Flaig has three brothers and sisters, —
Mary, Franz and Amale. Two children have been
born to Mr. and Mrs. Flaig, — Louise and Fred. Mr.
Flaig is a member of the M. W. A. He is a Demo-
crat in political alliances and is a progressive man.
In addition to his farming he owns and operates a fine
threshing machine.
FRANK A. KFMPER. It is pleasure to us to
be able to grant to this prominent and substantial citi-
zen a consideration in the history of Nez Perces county,
both because of his excellent industry and wisdom,
which have accumulated a good holding for him, and
because of his real worth and integrity.
Frank A. Kemper was born in Lippstadt, Germany,
on August 31, 1845, being the son of Henry and
Mary E. ( Heimver ) Kemper, natives of Westphalia.
Frank attended school from seven to fourteen. At
the age of twenty he joined the regular army and
served in the Franco-Prussian war, being under Gen-
eral Mantaufel. He served in four of the fierce battles
of that war. namely. Forbach. Columba, Gravalotte
and Auxere. He endured great hardships and terri-
ble fatigue in forced and long marches. Many bul-
lets passed through his clothes and many soldiers fell
at his side, but Mr. Kemper was never wounded. He
was honorably discharged in 1871. and in October of
that year he came from Bremen to the United States.
landing in Baltimore October 22, after eleven days at
sea. On March 13, 1872. he started for San .Francisco,
and his train suffered wreck at Oakland, but he was not
injured. Then he came by steamer "Ajax" to Port-
land, and there followed his trade, harness making,
for four years, and then went to Cornelius and farmed
for some time. There, on January 16, 1877. Mr.
Kemper married Miss Barbara Thomas, a native of
Bavaria, Germany. In 1887 they came to Uniontown,
Washington, where Mrs. Kemper died on September
18, 1888, leaving three children. — Joseph. Kate and
Nicholas. On July 25, 1889, Mr. Kemper married
Kate Hageman, a native of Peoria, Illinois. She was
born nn March 4, 1855. and came to Uniontown via
San Francisco and Portland, in 1885. Mr. Kemper
left the harness-making trade and in 1893 made a trip
to the reservation to inspect the land and view the
country: the result was that on November (8, [895,
he was mi hand to file on his present place, about two
miles northwest from Nezperce. He has a fine seven-
room house, a large barn, first class granary, bearing
orchard and the entire premises show skill and indus-
try. In Mr. Kemper's house was held the first Cath-
olic service of the entire reservation country, and for
two years there was service there on each alternate
Sunday. Father Suer, a well known and faithful mis-
sionary, was the officiating priest. One child. Mary
Magdalen, has been born to this couple.
THOMAS H. LaDOW. This worthy pioneer
has done much to open this western country for the
abode of his fellows. He is worthy of a place in the
history of northern Idaho and it is with pleasure that
we accord him consideration. He is a man of integ-
rity and strong character, and has manifested great
energy and enterprise in his course.
Thomas H. I.aDow was born in Oshkosh, Wiscon-
sin, on August 22. 1853, being the son of John and
Cornelia (Geer) LaDow. The father was born in
( )hio, in 1819, and was a pioneer in Wisconsin and
Minnesota, being in the last state at the time of the
Sioux uprising. He was also a pioneer in Washing-
ton. The mother of our subject was born in Xew
York in June, 1826. The family went to Wisconsin,
and in 1859 went thence to Dayton, Ohio, returning
again to Wisconsin ; Thomas distinctly remembers the
debates between Lincoln and Douglas. They went
from Wisconsin to Minnesota, and in 1868 came across
the plains with ox teams to Walla Walla. Four years
after that the father went to unsurveyed land north
from Palouse and settled, and that is the home where
our subject remained until twenty. In November,
1873, he began carrying the mail from Lewiston to
Spokane, there being no town at Spokane, only a store
or so, and no town between that and Lewiston. This
was the first mail route into Spokane. UTntil 1882 the
mail was carried on hoseback, and in that year Mr.
I.aDow got the contract for himself. He then put
on a four-horse stage. Two years later he sold out and
took a line from Colfax to Cheney. In 1884 he went
to the Coeur d'Alene mines and there operated until
his exchequer was empty ; then he returned to staging.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
He operated the first line from Moscow to Colfax,
then he took the line from Farmington to Spokane and
later bought a livery stable in Moscow. In 1886 Mr.
LaDow went on the road as a traveling sales-
man for farm implements, and in a short time he went
to farming near Palouse. In March, [896, he came to
the reservation and took his present place three miles
south and two east from Melrose. He has a good
farm, well tilled, fine barn and orchard and also handles
considerable other land.
( >n November 9, 1884, at Moscow, Mr. LaDow
married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Amos and Alary
(Gwin) Phillips. Air. Phillips was a pioneer to Whit-
man county in 1874. Mrs. LaDow was born in Dakota
in 1863 and has two sisters and one brother. Nora
Whitson, Hiram and Jennie Ames. Mr. LaDow
has the following brothers and sisters : Jose-
phine, Emmett A., Lora Palmer, Hattie Cox
and Stella McConnell. Two sons have been born
to Mr. and Mrs. LaDow,--Leonard, and Floyd, de-
ceased. They are members of the Christian church in
Melrose. Mr. LaDow is clerk of the school board and
has been since the district was organized. He is
greatly interested in good schools and general prog-
ress. Mr. LaDow is a stanch Republican and his
friends strongly urged him to accept the office of coun-
ty commissioner.
By way of reminiscence it is of note that Mr. La-
Dow was present when the volunteers, Captain Ran-
dall, Lew Willmott, James Curley, C. M. Day, Josh
Rowden, and Joe Moore, were surounded by the In-
dians and Captain Randall and Joe Moore were killed
almost in sight of the soldiers. Mount Idaho was but
a trading post and Grangeville was not then built.
CHARLES W. MOTE, the enterprising farmer
and patriotic citizen whose labors have resulted in great
good in the line of development in Nez Perces county,
resides about four miles southwest from Forest, on a
farm which he secured through homestead right, and
which his industry and thrift have cultivated and im-
proved in a commendable manner.
Charles W. Mote was born in Mahaska county,
Iowa, on June 20, 1850. His father, Jacob C, was
a farmer, born in Darke county, Ohio, on October 27,
1827, and was a pioneer in southwestern Missouri.
He was a confederate soldier under General Greene.
He married Rachel, the daughter of John and Mary
Jane Cline, and she died on April 15, 1876. They
had one child besides our subject, — Emma F. Worth-
ington. Our subject's grandfather was born in Ohio,
and his father w:as born in England. Charles W.
worked for his parents until twenty-two. and in 1878
he went by ship to Nino, California. One year later
he went to Siskiyou county and dairied six years and
also packed to the mines some. On October 19, 1885,
Mr. Mote married Miss Lida A., daughter of Henry
C. and Hannah Cory. The father was born in Indi-
ana on January 24, 1829, and his father, Daniel F.
Cory, was born in Ohio. Henry C. Cory died July
1. 1802. and his wife May 9, [895. Besides Mr-. Mote,
they had the following named children: Mary E.
Walker, born December 24. 1850 (Mr. Walker was in
the Illinois Infantry during the Rebellion) ; Lesius !!..
born December 10. 1852," a graduate of the Spring-
field Academy: Aaron E., born January 28. 1855, a
miller: Elsja M., born January 20, 1857. a pi' neer 111
Spokane: Susa L. Davidson, born Januarv 15. 1859:
William E.. born April 12. i86r ; E'lda E. Estes, born
September 1. 1865: ina A. Denny, born Januarv 12,
1870; Daniel F. born August 20, 1873. " He was a
regular at Vancouver for three years, and was on the
Oregon at the time the Spanish fleet was captured.
Our subject and his wife landed in Union county. 1 >re-
gon. on November 1, 1885, and he farmed there for a
decade. On December 4, 1895. he came to his present
place, which has been the family home since that time.
One child has been born to them, Cory A., born Feb-
ruarv 14. 1890. Mr. Mote is a member of the M. W.
A., and in political matters is a Republican.
JOHN V. WILLS. In addition to the business
of general farming which our subject carries on. he has
been greatly interested in contract work and freight-
ing, having followed the latter from Lewiston to
Grangeville for eleven years. Also he furnished the
telephone poles for the line from Lewiston to Mt.
Idaho, from Morrow to Nezperce and from 11... to
Culdesac.
John V. Wilks was born in Steuben county. New-
York, on April 12, 1851. His father, William Wilks.
was born in England on January 10, 1821. and was a
farmer and lumberman. He married Harriet, the
daughter of Ranee and Sarah E. Robbins. She was
born in New York state in 1827, and is now living in
Tillamook, Oregon. Our subject has the following
brothers and sisters: Sarah E. Christianson. William
M.. John V., James, George, Charlev L., Marv Ann
Hull', Olive L." Ramon, Hans, Ellen Crugg, Hattie A.
Clinesample, Emma, Lillie E. and Albert. Our sub-
ject remained with his parents until he was nineteen
and gained meanwhile an education from the district
schools. Then he began farming and lumbering in
northern Wisconsin, where four years were spent, and
during this time he married Miss Eliza C, daughter of
William D. and Cynthia F. Newton, natives of Ver-
mont. The father was a pioneer in Wisconsin and had
many fights with the hostile savages. He was an ex-
pert violin maker. The mother was born on August
4, 1822, and was left a widow in Wisconsin with nine
children, and she endured great hardships and wrought
with an untiring hand to accomplish the support and
bringing up of this large family. She taught the first
schools in Oconto county and was a practicing physi-
cian, being in great demand among the people of her
vicinity. She died on December 4, 1901. Mrs. Wilks
has the following brothers and sisters. Charles II..
born September 20. 1845 '• George N., born March 22.
1847: Sarah E. Hiszh, born April 7. 1855: Roberl 1'..
born May 21. 1848; Edward D. W. I., born in 1849:
3oo
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Myron A., born June i, 1852; Luman O., born in
1854: Hattie A. Foltsz, born in 1856. When Mr.
Wilks married he went to York, Nebraska, and lived
there for seventeen years. Thence he came to Rock-
ford. Washington, and did timber work for three years.
The next move was to their present place, about one
mile northwest from Forest, where he has a farm of
eighty acres, which is well fenced. He also has good
buildings and other improvements. The school house
is on Mr. "Wilks' place and he is an active advocate for
good schools. In 1893 he was chosen road supervisor
and held it seven years and is asked again to fill this
position. To Mr. and Mrs. Wilks there have been
born the following named children, John W., born
April 2. 1873 ; Eddie, born January 22, 1875 ; Emeline,
born April 21, 1876; Eliza L., born July 10, 1878:
Martha E., born December 28, 1880 ; George F., born
March 16, 1883; Rosa M., born June 5, 1885; Bertha
M., bom March 29, 1888: Lillie E., born April 21,
1891 ; William D., born July 25, 1892; Zoa F., born
June, 10, 1894; Ruth E., born May 28, 1895; Myrtle
A., born February 8, 1898.
JOSEPH S. SIMMONS, a prosperous and intelli-
gent farmer residing about two miles northeast from
Ilo on the estate which he took by homestead right
from the wilds of nature, has done good labor in the
building up of the country and is one of the enterpris-
ing devotees of progress in every line, especially in the
matter of betterment of educational facilities, for the
purpose of which he even advocates doubling the sch< « >1
tax.
Joseph S. Simmons was born in Warren county,
Iowa, on November 20, 1859, being the son of William
C. and Mary B. (Allen) Simmons. The father was a
farmer, born in Maryland in 1819 and died in 1876.
He came to Warren county as early as 1846, being one
of the very first settlers there. The mother was
born in Indiana in 1821 and is now living in Nez
Perces county. Her father was in the Blackhawk war
and also in the war of 181 2. She was a grandniece
of Daniel Boone and her parents were pioneers in Ken-
tucky. Our subject received his education in his native
place and remained there until young manhood. 1879
marks the date when he started west for himself and
he was in the first rush to Leadville, in the San Juan
country, and then traveled in New Mexico, Arizona,
Montana, Wyoming and returned to Iowa after he had
been absent four years. He farmed there for a couple
of years and in 1886 came to Genesee, settling to the
basic art for nine years. Then came a move to Camas
prairie and when the reservation opened he took his
present place and has devoted himself principally to
raising grain and improvement of his farm since. He
is one of the substantial agriculturists in the section
and a man whom all respect.
On January 4, 1885, in Iowa, Mr. Simmons married
Miss Mary F., daughter of Absalom B. and Susan
("Little) Banks. The father was born in North Caro-
lina in 1828 and the mother in Kentucky in 1838 and
they both live in Nez Perces county. Mrs. Simmons
was born in Warren county, on July 26, 1867, and has
the following brothers and sisters : James George,
Isabella, Andrew J., Cora J. Mr. Simmons has
brothers and sisters named as follows : Lewis A., Me-
halah A., John B., Lucinda R., William T. Three chil-
dren have been born to this couple, James, Herbert, and
an infant unnamed. Mr. Simmons is an active Demo-
crat and a familiar figure in the caucuses and conven-
tions.
ERNEST C. MABBOTT. This young and enter-
prising agriculturist has done his share toward the
opening of the reservation country and it is with pleas-
ure that we accord him a review of his career in the
history of this section.
Ernest C. Mabbott was born in Iowa county, Wis-
consin, on April 2, 1874, being the son of Thomas and
Nellie (Farwell) Mabbott, natives of Iowa county,
and now living in Nez Perces county. They were
among the first settlers in Iowa county, and have
wrought well on the frontier. The maternal grandfa-
ther was in the Pikes Peak excitement and died in
that country. Our subject grew to the age of eighteen
in Iowa county and received a high school education.
When he was eighteen he came to Genesee, and one
year later went thence to eastern Colorado and re-
mained two years. In 1895 he came to Genesee again,
and two years after that time he came to the reserva-
tion and secured his present place, two miles north and
two east from Ilo. He has done well by devoting him-
self to general farming and raising hogs.
On December IQ, 1899, Mr. Mabbott married Miss
Mary, daughter of Jefferson and Priscilla (Tatron)
Tuttle, natives of New York and born, respectively, in
1844 and 1843. The wedding took place in Yuma,
Colorado, and two children have been born to them,
— Lela A. and Ivan E. Mrs. Mabbott was born in
Howard. Nebraska, on November 12, 1880, and has
two sisters and three brothers, — Nellie, Frank, Cora,
Winfield and Thomas. Mr. Mabbott has the following
brothers and sisters : May Lyford, Grace Markham,
Guy, Ruth. Mr. Mabbott is a member of the W. of
W. at Fletcher. He is a Republican and a progressive
citizen, always laboring for the general welfare and
advancement! He affiliates with the I. O. O. F. at Ilo.
JOSEPH STACH. Without doubt some of the
most enterprising citizens of this country have come
to us from the Fatherland, and one among this worthy
number is mentioned at the head of this article ; it is
with pleasure we accord him representation in the his-
tory of his county, since he is a man of uprightness
and integrity, since he has done a first class work in
developing the country, since he is now one of the
substantial men of the community, and since he is a
patriotic and public minded citizen of worth and ex-
cellent standing.
Joseph Stach was born in Germany on November
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
30 1
27, 1859, being the son of S. and Hattie Stach, natives
of German}'. They came to this country when our sub-
ject was twelve years old and settled in Todd county,
Minnesota, where they still reside, prosperous and
prominent people. Our subject was educated in Ger-
many and in Minnesota, and grew to manhood in Todd
county. In 1884 he came to Uniontown, Washington,
and in 1892 he returned to Minnesota and there, on
August 21, 1893, he married Miss Martha Kripstach,
whose parents were natives of Germany. Mr. Stach
came back to Washington then, and his home was
there until the opening of the reservation. His inher-
ent energy and enterprise led him to be on hand on
the eighteenth of November, 1895, to take his present
place, which lies about three miles northwest from
Nezperce. He filed on the nineteenth of November,
1895, and since that date he has been one of the pros-
perous, industrious and leading citizens of this sec-
tion. His place shows genuine skill, industry and
wisdom and the abundant returns from field and stall
testify of his prosperity and substantiality.
Mr. and Mrs. Stach are stanch members of the
Catholic church and they are liberal supporters of the
faith. Six children have been born to gladden their
home. — Hetta, Barney F., Celia, Joseph, Albert and
John.
JACOB E. FREEBURN. As a pioneer of the
country adjacent to Forest and one of the untiring
laborers to bring development and progress, we chron-
icle the items of the career of our subject and grant
him space in the history of his county.
Jacob E. Freeburn was born in Franklin county,
Iowa, on December 27, 1856, being the son of William
Freeburn, who was born in New Jersey, on August 6,
1817. He was an enrolling officer in the Civil war and
received an honorable discharge at the close of the
war. He married Elizabeth, daughter of John and
Maggie Shannon, and died in August, 1901. The fol-
lowing named children were born to this union : John
P., a soldier in the Civil war ; William, Wesley S.,
Mary C. Brockman, Matilda Peters, Clara Welch,
Charlie E., Martha W., Clark, Maggie, Upton, and also
the subject of this article. Jacob E. worked at home
until he was twenty-four and then married Martha, the
daughter of Allen W. and Emily Bottorff. The father
was born in Iowa and the mother was born in Illinois
on September 27. 1828. They had the following named
children in addition to Mrs. Freeburn, James M.,
Jacob. Sarah J. Keen, Laura M. Carter. William A.,
Theodosia Krowlman. After his marriage the subject
of our sketch went to farming in Nebraska and contin-
ued for three years. Then came a move to Walla
Walla, whence he came to Nez Perces county and
bought one hundred and sixty acres of land. He con-
ducted a hotel and bar in Morrow and then in Forest
for a time. Later he located on unsurveyed land on
the Salmon, where he is now running a band of cattle.
He has over fifty head of stock and also a house and
lot in Forest. He has bought and sold considerable
town property and was one of the very first to settle
in its precincts. To Mr. and Mrs. Freeburn there have
been born five children, — Emma E. Critchfield, Jessie
M. Lemons, William A., Cora E., Delia V. Air. Free-
burn has done a great deal to build up the country and
is one of the influential men of the section.
HENRY D. COOLEY. As a veteran of the ter-
rible Civil war, a successful business man in the east,
a traveler to many sections of the west, a substantial
farmer of Nez Perces county and an upright and ca-
pable man of integrity and sound principles, we grant
to the subject of this article consideration in the his-
tory of his county.
Henry D. Cooley was born in Whitewater, Wiscon-
sin, on July 18, 1842, being the son of Orville and
Caroline (Curtis) Cooley. The father was born in
Attica, New York, in 1823, and died in Minnesota in
1895. He was a pioneer in California in 1849. also a
pioneer in Wisconsin and Minnesota, having owned
some of the land where Milwaukee now stands. The
mother of our subject was born in New York and died
in Minnesota in 1890. In 1859 the family removed to
Rochester, Minnesota, where the father bought land.
When the Civil war broke out, Henry D. was stirred
with patriotism and on June 26, 1861, he enlisted in
Company B, Second Minnesota Infantry, under Colonel
Van Cleve. He fought at the battles of Mill Springs,
Shiloh, the siege of Corinth, Chickamauga, Perryville,
Kentucky, Atlanta and also made the famous march
to the sea under Sherman. He was veteranized in
Chickamauga. Mr. Cooley was in the grand review
at Washington and the contrast between the well
dressed troops from the Potomac and the ragged vet-
erans just out of the terrible march to the sea, was very
apparent. Mr. Cooley was taken to Fort Snelling,
Minnesota, and there mustered out on July 11. 1865.
He returned to Rochester, bought land and settled to
farming. In 1872 he came to Walla Walla and one
year later returned to Minnesota and there bought
wheat until 1891. In that year he went to Palouse
and opened a confectionery store but later went to the
Okanogan countrv in Washington. Returning to Pa-
louse, he remained until the opening of the reservation
and then took his present place, about three miles
southeast from Melrose. He has a good orchard and
raises the cereals and some stock.
On November 3, 1867, at Rochester, Minnesota,
Mr. Cooler married' Miss Josephine, daughter of John
and Cornelia (Gere) La Dow. The father was an
early pioneer farmer in Minnesota and came to Wash-
ington and settled near the Idaho line in 1888. Mrs.
Coolev was born in McHenrv county, Illinois, in 1847,
and has the following brothers and sisters : Emmett, a
preacher of the Christian church in Palouse: Lora
Palmer, in Walla Walla: Hattie Cox and Stella Mc-
ConnelL both in Palouse; Thomas, in Xez Perces
county and enjoying the distinction of carrying the
first mail from Lewiston to Spokane. Mr. Cooley has
the following brothers and sisters: Alta Hubbard, and
Ella Orderkirk, both in Rochester, Minnesota : Ver-
302
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
non, killed in an accident on his farm at Gary, South
Dakota. Four children have been born to Mr. and
Mrs. Cooley — Louis R., at home ; John, in Nez Perces
count\': Marion Wellis, and Leonard, both in Spokane.
Mr. ( iooley is a member of the G. A. R. and a strong
Republican, while his wife is a Prohibitionist. Thev
are both members of the Methodist church. Mr.
Cooley is a strong advocate of good schools and labors
for this end with zeal.
CHARLES W. GRINSTEAD, a thrifty farmer
and influential man, who lives about one mile north-
west from Forest, is one of the substantial men of
property and a public minded citizen of this section.
Charles W. Grinstead was born in England, on De-
cember i. i860. His father, Charles G. Grinstead, was
a clergyman and devoted himself to his calling all his
life. He married Sarah A. Stanley, whose father was
a prominent physician and surgeon. The father died
in March, 1899. and the mother died on November 30,
1 90 1. Our subject remained with his parents until he
was twenty-four, having received a good college edu-
cation. He left England in the spring of 1885 going
direct to Ontario, Canada, where he remained nine
months and then made his way to the United States
and engaged in the mercantile' business. In 1899 he
came ti ■ his present place and bought one hundred and
thirty acres of land. It is partly in cultivation, all
fenced and furnished with plenty of good improve-
ments, among which may be mentioned a fine eight-
room house, good large frame barn and other buildings.
He has sufficient stock to carry on the place and is a
thrift} fanner.
On September 6. 1892, Mr. Grinstead married Miss
Gertrude, daughter of George W. and Eliza Cline.
Mr. Cline was a barrister in India and not onlv handled
the language with fluency, but was also a very prom-
inent man in his profession and exceptionally talented.
Mrs. Grinstead has the following brothers and sisters :
George L., Charles H. Edith C. Bullock, Adaline R.
To Mr. and Mrs. Grinstead there have been born three
children — Charles C, Gertrude L. A., Ledlie S. R.
Mr. and Mrs. Grinstead are members of the Episcopal
church and devout and faithful supporters of the same.
.Mr. Grinstead is an ardent and well informed Re-
publican.
Al'.SALOM B. BANKS. This venerable and en-
terprising stockman and agriculturist is one of the in-
dustrious men who have made the reservation country
blossom as the rose, thereby adding materially to the
wealth of the country.
Absalom B. Banks was born in Stokes county.
North Carolina, on November 19, 1828, being the son
of Squire and Elizabeth Banks, natives of North Car-
olina and born in 1807 and in 1820 and died in 1882
and 1886, respectively. The father was a pioneer of
North Carolina, as was his father, who was a patriot
in the Revolution and experienced many thrilling ad-
ventures and narrow escapes. When our subject was
three the family went to Indiana, thence to Kentucky
and later again to Jennings county, Indiana. There our
subject was reared and remained until manhood's es-
tate. He gained his education from the pioneer schools
of the day and when thirty, having been interested
until that time with his father, he bought a farm and
settled to labor on his own account. When thirty-two
he went to Iowa and took land in Marion county. Four
years later he sold and removed to the southern part
of the state. Later he sold there and removed to cen-
tral Kansas. Six years there and he removed to north-
eastern Iowa, where he remained for twenty-six years.
Next we see him in Harrison county, Missouri, where
he remained for eight years. On October 26, 1901,
Mr. Banks landed on his present farm, which he pur-
chased. It is a good place and lies about one mile east
from Ilo.
In 1857 Mr. Banks married Miss Susan, daughter
of Jefferson and Elizabeth Little, farmers and natives
of Kentucky. Mrs. Banks has two brothers, George
and Wayne. Mr. Banks has the following brothers
and sisters who are living, from a family of six broth-
ers and six sisters : Emma, Albert, James. Six chil-
dren have been born to this worthy couple : James,
George, Andrew, Isabella Phillip, Mary Simmons,
Cora Jane Miller. Mr. and Mrs. Banks are members
of the United Brethren church and are highly respected
people. Mr. Banks was a member of the home guards
in Kansas and desired to go south and fight but was
held in Kansas.
HERBERT T. HOSLEY. This stirring and high-
ly respected young man is, in company with his broth-
er, handling a fine business as blacksmith and mechan-
ic. He is a man of broad experience in various
branches of mechanical industry and has proved him-
self a skillful and talented artisan in his line of work.
Herbert T. Hosley was born in Mendota, La Salle
county, Illinois, on April 22, 1869. His' father, An-
drew J. Hosley, was a cabinet maker and was born in
Arlington, Vermont, on July 20, 1841. He was a pio-
neer in Rooks county, Kansas, and served three years
and eleven months in the Eighty-ninth Illinois Volun-
teer Infantry. He was one of the crew on the flying
train to assist in fighting the awful Chicago fire. Mr.
Hosley married Jennie Matteson and they became the
parents of five children, our subject, Isabella J. Wil-
kins, Robert A., Ida Eaton, and Frank H., now in
partnership with the subject of this sketch. The firm
is known as Hosley Brothers, of Forest, and they do
a good business. Our subject remained under the
parental roof until he was seventeen and then entered
apprenticeship in the Dowing & Watham Machine
shops at Clay Centre. Three years in that shop and
then we see him in Spokane, wdiere he entered the em-
ploy of the Washington Water Power Company. Later
he was engineer in the Tidball block and went to Day-
ton in 1891. He took charge of the Eckler sawmill
and in the spring of 1892 he entered the employ of
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
503
Feehan as engineer He remained with him until 1901,
and then opened his present shop where he and his
brother are doing a good business.
( In October 28, 1894. Mr. Hosier married Miss
Elsie E.. the daughter of John G. and Margaret C.
Ball. The father is a farmer and was born on April
25. 1856, and the mother was born on October 22,
1859, and they are both still living. Besides Mrs.
Hosier they were the parents of three children, Liberty
L.. ( )rville O., Violet V. Four children have been
born to Mr. and Mrs. Hosley. Cecil F., Marion B.,
Freeda G, Fay H. Mr. Hosley is a member of the
1. O. ( ). F., and is prominent in fraternal circles. He
has been noble grand of his lodge and is now P. G.,
D. D., and G. M. of Idaho. He is also a member of
the M. W. A. Mr. Flosley stands well in the com-
munity, is a man of stirring energy and has hosts of
friends.
HAROLD L. LEE. An enterprising business man
of good standing, possessed of the meed of honest en-
deavor in a good holding of property and withal a
substantial and capable man and public minded citizen,
the subject of this article deserves representation in
the history of his county.
Harold L. Lee was born in Throndhjem, Norway.
on August 17, 1873, being the son of Halvor A. Lee.
The father was born in. 1840, educated in the official
schools and held different state offices for many years.
He was also an expert painter and carver. He married
Lydia, the daughter of Eric Ovre. who died in 1876.
Our subject lived with an uncle and aunt until he was
eleven and then started on the long voyage for the
New World. After landing he journeyed to Yankton
county. South Dakota, and for four years was em-
ployed m herding cattle. On March 3. 1890. he came
to Moscow, thence to Mason prairie. His father took
a homestead here and our subject proved up on it later.
Then he filed on a place which he relinquished. After
this he removed to Forest and opened a livery and
feed barn. He has two and one-half acres of land,
house and barn and is doing a good business.
( )n March 3, 1899, Mr. Lee married Ella M.,
daughter of Isaac and Amanda Malone, natives of
Iowa and Oregon, respectively. The father followed
farming, carpentering and teaching school. Mrs. Lee
was born on March 3, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Lee have
two children. Mary A., Mable E. Mr. Lee is a mem-
ber of the M. W. A., while he and his wife belong to
the Lutheran church. Mr. Lee is an active and inter-
Republican, be
lfluential in the campaigns.
GEORGE E. TATKO. Engaged in the dual oc-
cupation of farming and raising stock, the subject of
this sketch has done excellent work in the development
and improvement of the reservation country and is
deserving of representation in the volume of its his-
torv.
George E. Tatko was born in Germany, on March
13, 1859, being the son of John and Aggie (Meyer)
Tatko, natives of Germany; the father died in 1873
and the mother in 1862. The father was born in 1820.
Our subject grew to young manhood and was edu-
cated in his native country. He heard of the excel-
lent opportunities in the new world and came hither
seeking the road to fortune. He worked in the railroad
shops in Allentown, Pennsylvania, whither he had
come from Xew York, his landing place. Three years
were spent in the shops and then Mr. Tatko came to
Iowa and farmed near Osage for two years. In 1889
he came thence to Spokane and worked in a sawmill
for one year. The next move was to the vicinity of
Palouse in Whitman county, where he farmed for five
years. At the opening of the reservation in 1895, he
came hither and took his present place, one-half mile
south from Ilo. This has been the family home since
that time and Mr. Tatko is one of the' enterprising
residents and leading farmers of this section.
In 1894, at Lewiston. Mr. Tatko married Mrs.
Cynthia Lenz, a native of Allegheny county, Pennsyl-
vania. She has the following brothers, Joseph and
John Strubble. Mr. Tatko has one sister, Sophia, still
in Germany, and has one half-brother. Jacob, also in
Germany. Mr. Tatko is a member of the I. O. O. F.
and he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian
church. Mr. Tatko is a Democrat and is an advocate
of better schools. He owns now one-half section of
iand which is well improved and in addition to doing
general farming, he raises cattle and hogs, being one
of the prosperous men of the section.
SAMUEL S. MORSE. This enterprising agri-
culturist is one of the developers of the reservation
and is now enjoying the fruits of his wise labors in
his home, about one mile north from Nezperce, where
he has a fine farm, well improved and productive of
annual dividends of a gratifying amount.
Samuel S. Morse was born in Delaware county,
( (hip, on April 30. 1854, being a son of Ahira and
Rosa (Laffey) Morse, natives of Vermont and Ire-
land, respectively. The father was in the war of 1812
and was first married in 1824. This wife died leaving
him a family of seven children. In 1841 he married
the mother of our subject, who came to the United
States in her twelfth year. Our subject is the young-
est of seven children, making fourteen in both fami-
lies. The father died on September 15. 1854. in his
seventieth year. After the father's death. Samuel
went with liis mother and stepfather to Chariton. Lu-
cas county, Town, where he gained his education in the
log school houses, and remained until he was at the
age of maturity. In 1873. the family went to Butler
county, Kansas, and there our subject entered a pre-
emption. In 1 88 1 he came to Valla YValla and in
1885 returned to Butler county, where he was married
on December 31. 1885, to Amanda J., daughter of
James and Emily C. ( Yantis) Dunbar, natives of Rus-
sell county, Kentucky. They removed to Appanoose
countv, Iowa, and there on March 11. 1857. Mrs.
304
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Morse was born, being tbe sixth of a family of eight
children. Mr. Dunbar died in Iowa and the widow
went to Butler county, Kansas, in 1873. She lived
with our subject and his wife until the time of her
death on September 19, 1902. being then in her seventy-
fourth year. She was a devoted member of the Chris-
tian church and Mr. and Mrs. Morse are also members
of the same church. Mr. Morse's mother died in But-
ler county, Kansas, on January 7, 1900, in her seventy-
seventh year. As soon as Mr. Morse was married he
came with his wife to Pomeroy, Washington, whence
he went in May, 1894, to Milton, Oregon, and in the
spring of 1896, they came with team and wagon to
the reservation country and he secured his present
claim, which consists of eighty acres of exceptionally
fertile land. Five children have been born to this
household, Maud C, born August 12, 1887; Elmer S.,
born August 26, 1889; Nellie F, born March 11, 1894;
Wilbur S., born in Nezperce, August 17, 1896, being
the first boy born in that town ; Ora I., born August
8, 1899. Mr. Morse has two brothers in the west.
They came in 1868. Ahira, who is an invalid, has
suffered from paralysis for eleven years and is now
living in Milton; F. B. Morse, now in Walla Walla.
CHARLES E. CHAPMAN. Truly this gentle-
man is entitled to honorable mention among the pio-
neers to the reservation portion of Xez Perces county
as will be evinced from the points of his career men-
tioned, while also he has shown forth stanch qualities
of uprightness and integrity in his walk.
Charles E. Chapman was born in Woodbury
county, Iowa, on June 24. 1868. being the son of
George and Frances J. (Herrington) Chapman. The
father was born in Yorkshire, England, on February
24. 1827, and came to the United States in 1849. He
settled in Illinois, moved to Iowa in 1867, and died on
September 22, 1892. He had two brothers in the
Civil war. The mother of our subject was born in
Wayne county. Pennsvlvania on December 27, 1830,
and died in 1875. Her parents were pioneers in Penn-
sylvania ; she had two brothers in the Civil war. Our
subject was educated in Iowa. Dakota and Montana.
The family went to the latter state in 1883. and two
years later migrated to Emmons county, Dakota.
Upon the opening of the Nez Perces reservation, Mr.
Chapman came hither and in April. 1896, he settled
on his present claim, about two miles east from Mel-
rose. He had arrived in Moscow the year previous,
and his entire capital was fifteen cents, three poor
horses and a covered wagon. He had traveled the
entire distance from the east by team.
On October 29, 1896. Mr. Chapman married Mrs.
Phoebe Dill, a daughter of William and Catherine
(Primer) Beasley. The father was a farmer, born in
Illinois, Morgan county, on February 28, 1839, came
as a pioneer to Umatilla county, Oregon, in 1865, to
Idaho in 1886 and died July 15. 1902. The mother of
Mrs. Chapman died in 1S78. Mrs. Chapman was
born in Umatilla county, Oregon, on September 28,
1873, and has one sister, Mrs. Sarah Cox, near Odessa,
Washington. Mr. Chapman has one sister and three
brothers, Rosella Coker, Levi, Henry and David. To
Mr. and Mrs. Chapman there have been born three
children, Gertrude, Mildred and William. By her
former marriage, Mrs. Chapman had two children,
Edwin, deceased, and Hazel. Mr. Chapman is a
member of the M. W. A., Melrose Camp, No. 6216.
He is a Republican and has been elected constable, but
refused to qualify. Mr. Chapman has one hundred and
sixty acres, well improved, a fine threshing outfit, and
several thousand dollars* worth of property besides.
He came to the reservation without enough monev to
file. His wife was obliged to hold the claim, having
only an unchinked cabin with dirt floor, while he went
to earn money. All the hardships incident to this try-
ing life they bravely bore, and their combined wisdom
and labors have made them among the most pros-
perous people on the reservation and they are entirely
worthy of this good fortune that has rewarded their
labors.
THOMAS H. THOMPSON is the efficient and
faithful postmaster at Melrose and also handles a
general merchandise estblishment, where he has a
good patronage. He is a man of stanch qualities, pub-
lic spirited and active in the welfare of the place and
the upbuilding of the country.
Thomas H. Thompson was born in Blue Earth.
Wisconsin, on January 2. 1859. being the son of
Hans and Martha 1 Johnson) Thompson, natives of
Norway, and now residents of Melrose. The father
was born in 1837 ar>d came to the United States in
1857. Our subject lived in Wisconsin until of age,
gaining a good training from the common schools.
Then he went to Dakota and took land, farming for
three years. After that he went into the lumber busi-
ness, doing well, and later operated a threshing ma-
chine for himself and other parties, in all of which he
did well. In 1888 he went to Seattle and for eight
years he farmed but did not prosper. His next move
was to Moscow and in the fall of 1896 he came to
his present place, on the reservation. He took the
land as a homestead where Melrose now stands and
donated twenty acres for a town site. He secured the
establishment of a postoffice in 1897 and I. N. Huff-
man was the first incumbent of the office. In 1001
Air. Thompson was appointed as postmaster and still
retains it. At the same date. Mr. Thompson estab-
lished his store and his ability and geniality made him
successful.
. On April 13, 1880, in Dakota, Mr. Thompson
married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Matthias and
Sarah Thompson, natives of Norway. Mrs. Thompson
was born in Jackson county. Wisconsin and has four
brothers and three sisters. Mr. Thompson has the
following brothers and sisters, George, Ole, deceased :
Carrie Douglas, and one other sister, deceased. Mr.
and Mrs. Thompson have been blessed by the advent
of four children, Sever, Annie, Hattie and Elmer.
Mr. Thompson is a member of the I. O. O. F. and
MRS. CHARLES E. CHAPMAN. CHARLES E. CHAPMAN.
THOMAS H. THOMPSON.
CHARLES D. BENSON.
MRS. CHARLES 1). BENSON.
MRS. WILLIAM H. GAGE.
WILLIAM H. GAGE
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
305
the M. W. A. He is a Republican and always takes
the active part that becomes the intelligent citizen, and
is one of the delegates to the conventions nearly every
year. Mr. Thompson is also a warm advocate of the
upbuilding of good schools and always labors for this
worth end.
CHARLES D. BENSON. Among the intelligent
and enterprising mechanics who are producing credit-
able evidences of their skill and wisdom, we are con-
strained to mention the genial gentleman whose name
is at the head of this article and who is now operating
a first class blacksmith and machine shop in Culdesac.
He has had abundant success and experience hereto-
fore and is a valuable acquisition both to the town and
county.
Charles D. Benson was born in Wheeling, West
Virginia, on November 2, 1856, being the son of
George W. and Elizabeth (DeHass) Benson. The
father was born in Baltimore and the mother in
Wheeling. The maternal ancestors of our subject came
from Massachusetts and were early pioneers of Wheel-
ing and the grandfather was a doctor and also oper-
ated a drug store. On the father's side, our subject's
ancestors were Irish and on his mother's side they
were French. Charles gained a good education from
the public schools and from the state normal, being
kept from graduating from the latter on account of
his father's death. That sad event occurred when he
was sixteen and then he went to learn the blacksmith's
art. He wrought until twenty-one and then went to
Ashland, Kentucky, and beat the anvil for the Ash-
land Coal & Iron Company for three years. Two
years were spent at Terre Haute, Indiana, and in
1876, we find our subject at the Centennial Exposi-
tion at Philadelphia. After this we note that he
wrought in Kansas City, Topeka, Santa Fe, Galves-
ton, Texas, Colorado, then six years again in New
Mexico, and again in Colorado and finally in 1888, he
came to Tekoa, Washington. He wrought some for
the Union Pacific and then came to Moscow and in
company with George H. Goude, they opened a foun-
dry. They put in eleven thousand dollars apiece and
later incorporated for thirty-three thousand. They
did a large business until 1893 and the hard times
then forced an assignment. Our subect immediately
opened a smaller shop and wrought successfully For
four years when he was taken one year from his work
by a surgical operation. He went to business again
and later was forced to again retire for a year on
account of another operation. Upon recovering from
this he went to Pullman, Washington, and in partner-
ship with George Gausney, he whought there for two
years. On February 8, 1900, Mr. Benson landed in
Culdesac and at once he opened a shop. He has a
good shop, is an exceptionally skillful and competent
machinist and blacksmith, and stands well with all
the people and enjoys a fine patronage. In addition
to the arts mentioned, Mr. Benson is a first class
worker in wood and does much wagon work.
On October 26, 1891, Mr. Benson married Miss
Annie F., daughter of R. G. and Jane (Day) Newland.
Mr. Newland was one of the early pioneers to Wash-
ington and Oregon. He settled on the original home-
stead of Mr. Jesse N. Day on the Touchet near Day-
ton, who owned the town site of Dayton, and was one
of the substantial men of that section. Dr. J. H. Day
of Walla Walla was an uncle of Mrs. Benson. He
died in 1896, aged eighty-seven, and was a highly re-
spected and universally beloved man. Mr. and Mrs.
Benson have five children, Esther and Vester. twins,
Edna, Fred and DeHass. One, Maggie, an excep-
tionally robust child, died at twt> years of age.
It is of note that Mr. Benson took passage on the
steamship Metropolis, when he was in Philadelphia
in 1876, and started for Rio De Janeiro. Five days
out, the date being January 5, 1877, the vessel was
wrecked and eighty-one lives out of one hundred
and thirty were lost. Our subject held to the chains
under the bowsprit for hours waiting for the debris
and dead bodies to float away and finally dropped into
the ocean and swam ashore, being assisted to land
by rescuers.
Mr. Benson was a member of the I. O. O. F.
and of the W. of W. Mrs. Benson, whose parents
were natives of Virginia, was born near Dayton.
Washington, and was educated in Waitsburg' and
Walla Walla. Her father was state representative
once of Walla Walla county and once of Columbia,
and was speaker of the house for one term.
WILLIAM H. GAGE. We are pleased to grant
to Mr. Gage a consideration in the pages of the his-
tory of the Nez Perces county since he has wrought
in this section for a long time, has manifested those
qualities of worth and perseverance that bring the
meed of success and has maintained an unsullied re-
utation, becoming one of the leading men of his com-
munity, being esteemed and respected by all. He was
born on October 1, 1857, in Gardner, Grundy county,
Illinois, being the son of Thomas W. and Martha A.
(Rogers) Gage, natives respectively of Vermont and
New York. They came to Illinois in an early day and
where Chicago now stands could have been taken as
homestead land at that time. They removed to Mis-
souri in 1869 and to Kansas in 1876, where the father
died in 1896, aged sixty-six years and the mother
still lives there. Our subject received very little
schooling, but spent his boyhood days in working for
his father and in the coal mines in Missouri. He has
been careful to investigate and has read much during
his life, thus having made up for the lack of schooling.
In 1879, he came west, locating a preemption near
Moscow, where he went into the livery business Inn
sold out two years after starting, then removed
south from Genesee, where he purchased two hundred
acres of land and farmed until 1887 when he sold and
bought his present place, three miles south from Gen-
esee. This land was wild at the time Mr. Gage bought
it, which he cleared and broke, building a good house,
barns, outbuildings and otherwise improving it un-
306
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
til it is a model farm. He has a fine orchard of five
hundred trees and does a general farming business and
handles some stock. ' Mr. Gage has been active in the
field of education, always laboring for good schools and
has been both school director and road supervisor, and
always evinces a manifest interest in the local politics.
On December 6, 1885, "Sir. Gage married Miss
Julia, daughter of E. A. and E. A. (Warner) Samp-
son, natives of Missouri and Indiana, respectively.
Thev crossed the plains in 1847 to Oregon and then
returned to the states to come out west again in 1852.
Mr. and Mrs. Gage have become the parents of seven
children, as follows, Jessie, going to school in Gen-
esee, William C, Ernest W., Mabel A., Chester E.,
Pearl A., and Eunice A. Mr. Gage affiliates with the
YV. 1 if \Y. and the A. O. P. He is a man of broad ex-
perience and native talent which gives him a great
prestige in the community where he is respected and
confided in by all.
PETER JUTTE, deceased. It is very fitting that
in the volume that chronicles the history of Nez
Perces county, there should appear a proper memorial
of the late esteemed and beloved gentleman whose
name is at the head of this page, since he was one of
the earlv settlers of this portion of Nez Perces county,
and here he labored with display of great faithfulness,
enterprise and wisdom for many years and since also
lie was a man of great strength of character, being
upright, capable, and possessed of a sterling worth
and principle that always guided him in the path of
unswerving integrity and maintenance of an unsullied
reputation and high honor.
The deceased was born in Saint Peters, Ohio, on
April 2, i860, being the son of John and Kate Jutte,
natives of Germany and immigrants to the United
States in 1850. Locating in Ohio, they spent the years
of their life there and now repose in the Catholic
cemetery in Saint Peters of that state. In his native
town our subject received his early schooling and
there remained with his parents until he had arrived
to the age of twenty-four. At that time he made a
journey to Ottertail county, Minnesota, and two years
"later, he came thence to Nez Perces county, Idaho,
purchasing a half section of land where the family
home is now located, about four miles west from Gen-
esee. He began at once the labors of transforming
the raw sod to a fertile farm, and improvements be-
gan to appear in various portions. Fences and barns
were built, a fine residence erected, and all the modern
improvements of a fine western grain and fruit farm
were added in due time. He manifested great wisdom
and untiring care of the entire estate and under his
careful husbandry it was made to produce abundant
crops of the cereals and other things. He purchased
from time to time pieces of land until the estate is now
four hundred and seventy acres of fine land. In ad-
dition there is one acre in the town of Genesee, where
the intention was to erect a home to be occupied by the
family. The farm produces as high as six thousand
bushels of wheat annually, and it is kept in excellent
condition.
On January 19, 1886, occurred the marriage of
Mr. Jutte and .Miss Veronika. daughter of Joseph W.
and Barbara (Secrist) Doll, the father being a native
of Ohio and the mother of Germany, and they reside
in Ottertail county, Minnesota. To Mr. and Mrs.
Jutte there were born six children, four of whom are
living, as follows, Barney H, Anton C, Albert J. and
Edward F. On April 16, 1902, the messenger of
death came to Mr. Jutte and snatched him hence. It
was a time of universal mourning, for he was widely
known and beloved by all who had the pleasure of
a personal acquaintance with him. With solemn ser-
vices the remains of the good man, the true and devot-
ed husband, loving and wise father, capable and noble
citizen of our land was consigned to the last resting
place in the Catholic cemetery in Genesee. He had
been in lifetime a popular member of the W. of W.
Camp No. 207 of Uniontown, and a devout adherent
of the Catholic church. The heavy grief and attend-
ant burdens that have fallen upon Mrs. Jutte are nobly
borne, and it is with great wisdom and commendable
ability that she is assuming the responsibilities and
discharging them in a becoming manner. She is
handling the farm and maintains the home place.
HENRY J. ROGERS. This successful and capa-
ble young agriculturist is the owner of a good estate
one and one-fourth miles southwest from Melrose,
where the family home is and where Mr. Rogers has
bestowed his labors with wisdom and skill.
Henry J. Rogers was born in the Willamette val-
ley, Oregon, on March 12, 1874, being the son of
Henry M. and Palina (Whited) Rogers. The father
was born in Wales in 1828, came to America with his
parents when he was five, and in 1852 crossed the
plains with ox teams and settled in the Willamette
valley, being one of the earliest pioneers of that coun-
try, where he lived on one farm for thirty years. He
was one of the home guards of the territory. The
mother of our subject was born in Indiana in 1832
and died in 1899. Her parents were pioneers in In-
diana and Ohio. The father of our subject was one of
the early miners of the Boise and Powder river regions
and there met all the hardships of the arduous fron-
tier life. In 1877 the family came to Moscow, it being
the year of the Indian outbreak. Henry heard the be-
ginning of the Butter creek battle, and though young,
called his parents' attention to the frequent shots. The
father secured three quarters of a section near Moscow
and there Henry grew up, being educated in the com-
mon schools and also in the university. At the open-
ing of the reservation, he came and bought the re-
linquishment to his present place and settled down to
make a fertile farm and a good home. He has a gen-
erous orchard, raises much grain and handles hogs
and cattle enough to use all of his grain on the farm.
On September 29, 1895, m Moscow, Mr. Rogers
married Miss Lulu, daughter of James and Mary Wil-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
cox, natives of Missouri, the father being a farmer and
plasterer. Mrs. Rogers was born in Missouri, in 1876,
and was educated in the grammar schools in Kent,
Washington. She has one brother and one sister,
James, in Missouri, and Lillie Hobson, in Beeman,
Idaho. Mr. Rogers has the following brothers and sis-
ters, Eliza Heick, Marion and Matilda Burgess, Re-
becca Burgess, Thomas, Minnie Robertson. One child,
Henry James Cecil, two and one-half years old, has
been born to this happy marriage. Mr. Rogers is a
member of the W. W. and is a socialist in political mat-
ters. He and his wife are members of the Church of
Christ and he holds the office of elder in the Melrose
congregation. He is a man of good influence in the
community and is one of the solid and well esteemed
citizens.
BENJAMIN F. AYTCH. The energy, skill, good
business qualifications and fine achievements of Mr.
Aytch demonstrate him to be a man of excellent qual-
ity and one who has won first class success in the battle
of life. He was born in San Joaquin county, Cali-
fornia, on September 14, 1869, being the son of Will-
iam H. Aytch, who was born in West Point,
New York, in 1819. He was one of seven
who fought the Indians against great odds in the
Yosemite valley. He married Amanda, daughter
of John and Caroline Rodgers. She was born
in Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Aytch were
born eight children, the subject of this article,
Kitty. William E.. Ella E. Redfield, Charles H., Ada
A., Lillie R., Elonzo. Our subject has always re-
mained with his parents and they are living with him
at the present time. They all went to Canyonville,
Oregon, in the seventies and later returned to Siskiyou
county, and in 1894 came thence to his present place.
Mr. Aytch landed here with one dollar and at once
began to secure sheep, upon which he cleared four
thousand dollars. He now has a fine farm about five
miles southwest from Forest, eighty acres of which
is good meadow, all being fenced, has comfortable
buildings and much room for hay and stock, of which
he owns over thirty head. He is prosperous and one of
the substantial men of the section. Air. Aytch is a
member of the I. O. O. F. and in political alliances is
with the Republicans. He is a man of good standing,
liberal and public minded and always labors for the
general good and advancement along all lines.
MICHAEL N. NYE. a thrifty farmer living about
one mile east from Forest, should be ranked as one
of the pioneers of this section and is surely to be
credited with a public spirit and good labors in im-
provement and building up the country.
Michael X. Nye was born in Kosciusko county, In-
diana, on February 17, 1847, being the son of Michael
Nye, a brick-mason, who was born in Pennsylvania, in
1808. and a pioneer in Indiana. He married Elizabeth.
daughter of Peter and Nancy Kimes, who were also
pioneers of Indiana. Besides our subject there were
born to this marriage six children : Omar, Jasper,
Nancy Disher. Rebecca Yanator, Rowan, Mary Mag-
rin. Michael N. was educated in the common schools
and remained with his parents until he was sixteen
find, then enlisted in Company A, Seventy-fourth In-
diana Infantry. He served eighteen months and then
was discharged on a general order, on July 25, 1865.
He returned home, where he remained for two years,
then went to Iowa in the fall of 1867, traveling also
in Kansas and Nebraska until the beginning of 1871.
Then he returned to Marshall county, Indiana, and
married Miss Eliza, daughter of Charles H., a native
of Kentucky, and Sarah E. Patterson, a native of In-
diana. The father died on January I, 1870. and the
mother died on February 4. 1894, leaving seven chil-
dren: Mrs. Nye, Mary j. Chapman, George A.. Blair
M., Nancy E. Harvert, James W., Arrilda Bell. In
1876 Mr. Nye went to Iowa with his family, farmed
there two years and then went to Kansas and took a
homestead. They remained there and in town adja-
cent until 1888, when they came to Idaho and located
on his present place, which has been the family home
since. The land was unsurveyed when they came and
they held by squatter's right but filed in 1896. They
have a portion of the farm cultivated, about seventeen
head of stock and buildings and fencing. Mr. Nye is
an active supporter of good schools and has given his
children a college education. Politically, he is allied
with the Republicans and is intelligent in the issues of
the campaigns both of state and nation. Four chil-
dren have been born to this couple : Zoa A., at the pres-
ent time head nurse in the Mountain Mew sanitarium
in Spokane : Bertha, also a trained nurse ; Charles A.,
a stockman on the Salmon river; Minnie E., a grad-
uate of the State Normal School at Lewiston. The
young ladies who are nursing are both graduates of
the Battle Creek school for nurses and are skillful in
their work.
SENEBER S. BROOKS. About two miles south-
west from Ilo is found the home of the thrifty and
prosperous citizen mentioned at the head of this arti-
cle and it is with pleasure that we are enabled to grant
to him consideration in this volume.
Seneber S. Brooks was born in Linn county, < >re-
gon, on August 17, 1856, being the son of Durin P.
and Amanda C. (Hill) Brooks. The father was born
in Michigan in 1834, crossed the plains in 1852, set-
tling in Linn county. He was a farmer and stockman
and died in Huntsville, Washington, in 1882. He was
a volunteer in the Rogue river Indian war of 1856. The
mother was born in Tennessee, in 1834, and died in
1888. Her parents came to Oregon in 185 1 from
[owa, where also they had been pioneers. Our subject
grew to manhood in Oregon, attending common
schools. The family had come to Umatilla
county when he was thirteen and there also
he attended school. When he came to the
years of maturity, he went to the state uni-
versity in Linn county and took a two years' course.
3o8
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
He farmed in Umatilla count}', in Dayton county and
final1}- took land near Farmington, Whitman count}'.
He gave his attention to farming and teaching
for a number of years and continued on his Whitman
county place until 1895. Then he came to his present
place the day the reservation opened and secured it
by homestead right. He has made this the family
home since and it is now a well improved and valuable
place. Mr. Brooks gives his attention to general
farming and also to handling stock. He has cattle
and hogs and is breeding some fine Berkshires. Mr.
Brooks is erecting a new barn and is making substan-
tial improvements.
In Lewiston. on November S, 1885, Mr. Brooks
married Miss Victoria, daughter of Elias and Callis-
tine (Holman) Forgey. The father was born in 1835
and the mother was born in Missouri, and
both are living. Mrs. Brooks was born in Linn coun-
ty in 1866 and has the following brothers and sisters:
Vina Bolic, William A., Isaac, Dawn, deceased, Mrs.
Ollie Barnes, Loufisa Cliff, Louisa Watkins, Elias, de-
ceased, Demarkis. Mr. Brooks has the following
brothers and sisters : Vinna, deceased, Hershel, Fla-
vius, Mary, deceased, Clarburn D. To Mr. and Mrs.
Brooks there have been born seven children : Blanche,
Mabel, Florence, Clark, Claude, Prudence, Roy. Mr.
Brooks is a member of the I. O. O. F. He is a stanch
Republican and always active in the campaigns. Mr.
Brooks is justice of the peace and was nominated by
his party for county commissioner in 1900, but was de-
feated by tiie fusionists. He has been road overseer
for four years and is an advocate for improvement and
advancement in this line as also in educational facilities,
for which he untiringly labors. Mr. Brooks stands
well and has the confidence of all who may have the
pleasure of his acquaintance.
CHARLES H. BROCKE is one of the substantial
respected and honorable citizens of the vicinity of
Nezperce. The labors of his hands dispensed with
wisdom and industry have done a worthy amount in
the good work of building up this country and of aug-
menting the wealth of the county, while his own hold-
ings have been increased to a prosperous degree.
Charles H. Brocke was born in Dixon county, Ne-
braska, on September 4, 1859, being the son of John
P. and Christina ( Webber) Brocke, natives of Ger-
many, and born on the banks of the Rhine. The fa-
ther served as a soldier in the German army and then
they migrated to Dixon county, Nebraska. The coun-
try was very new and in 1863 there occurred the awful
Wiseman massacre in their neighborhood. While the
father was in the army, and the mother away from
home, the Indians killed all their children, five in num-
ber. The neighbors were all frightened and fled from
the country and Mr. Brocke was left to hold the fron-
tier position alone. He did so and later the country
settled up permanently. Our subject had but scanty
opportunitv to secure an education in this wild coun-
try, which he was forced to gain by careful personal
research ana reading nights. On October 17. 1881, he
married Miss Catherine, daughter of Henry and Cath-
erine Burgel. natives of Germany. They came to the
United States and located in Wisconsin and in 1874
went thence to Nebraska. In 1897 our subject came
west to Kendrick, landing there on February H>. In
April of the same year he came and bought the re-
linquishment of his present place, putting his filing
on it on April 17. It was all unimproved and
he at once set to work to make it one of the valuable
home places of the community and the excellent im-
provements show the industry and wisdom with which
he has wrought. He does a general farming business.
Mr. and Mrs. Brocke are devout and active members
of the Catholic church and are of exceptionally fine
standing in the community. They have eight children,
John P., Marv C, Katie, deceased, Christina, Rosa,
Lena B., Frank H, and Katie E. Mr. Brocke's fa-
ther died in 1891 aged sixty-six. His widow is now
living in Vermillion, South Dakota, aged seventy-two.
WESLEY STEEL is one of the heavy land own-
ers of Nez Perces county, having six hundred and
forty acres in the vicinity of Melrose, while he makes
his home in Lewiston, where he has a good residence
and some business property, being one of the substan-
tial business men and a true type of the enterprising
westerner.
Wesley Steel was born in Monroe county, Ohio,
on April 1, 1S54, being the son of Jabe and Susan
(Mann) Steel. The father was born near Philadel-
phia, and went to Ohio as a pioneer in an early day.
He was a stockman and served in the Civil war for
four years in the Second Virginia Cavalry. The
mother of our subject was born in Monroe count}'.
Ohio, her parents being natives of the Keystone state
and pioneers to Ohio. Our subject left the parental
roof when he was fourteen years old and made his wax-
to Tazewell county, Illinois, where he worked on a
ranch for five years. Then he went to Van Buren
count}', Michigan, and dealt in horses until he was
twenty-one and also learned the butcher business.
Then he went to San Francisco, thence to Roseburg,
Oregon, and bought stock, where he did business for
five years. After this he moved to Pendleton, where
he dealt in horses for two years. Then we see him in
the Grande Ronde river valley in the stock business,
where six successful years were spent. His next move
was to Asotin, Washington, where he built a large two
story brick business block and a flouring mill. He
also raised sheep and for nineteen years he was one
of the most prosperous men of that section. He then
sold everything there but his home, and spent some
time in traveling to various sections. Finally, Mr.
Steel settled in Lewiston and bought business property
and also the fine tract of land spoken of above. It is
very fertile land and produces abundantly. Mr. Steel
has fine buildings and his farm is handled in a skill-
ful manner.
Mr. Steel married in Asotin, in 1885, Miss Mollie
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
309
Flynn. daughter of Thomas and Ruth (Porter) Flynn,
natives of Tennessee. Mrs. Steel was born near Knox-
ville, Tennessee, and has two brothers. Samuel, in
Asotin, and George, in Genesee : she also has one sister
in Tennessee. Mr. Steel has two brothers and one
sister. Hough and Andrew Jackson, both in Ohio ;
Abigail Mann, in Kansas. Two children have been
born to our subject and his wife. Charles E., aged six-
teen, and Bonnie, aged three. Mr. Steel is a member
of the Methodist church. Mr. Steel affiliates with the
Redmen of Asotin and in political matters is an in-
fluential Republican.
Mr. Steel is a man of integrity and substantial
qualities, having had great experience in the west and
he is a true pioneer and a supporter of progress and
improvement.
WILLIAM J. WILSON, a farmer and stockman
dwelling about two and one-half miles northeast from
Forest, is one of the industrious and progressive men
whose labors have resulted in such excellent develop-
ment of the reservation country and it is fitting that a
review of his career be incorporated here.
William J. Wilson was born in Sanilac, Michigan,
on February 16, 1868, being the son of Andrew W. and
Susana (Neal) Wilson. The father was prominent
in county affairs in Sanilac county and there married
and his wife died in 1881. She was a native of Can-
ada. They had the following named children: Entity,
Elonzo, Cudy, Jennie, Albert, Bogart, Robert N., i'n
addition to the subject of this article. William J. was
educated in the common schools and remained with
his parents until he was sixteen and then migrated to
North Dakota. He continued there one year and then
made his way to Washington, where he railroaded and
farmed until 1887. Then he went to Lewiston and
later came to Mason prairie and located his present
place. It is now well fenced, improved and returning
good dividends in crops. He has about fifteen head of
stock and is one of the prosperous men of the section.
Mr. Wilson married Miss Rosa A., daughter of
William and Margaret (Stevenson) Slavens. The
mother was born in Oregon on January 21, 1855. The
father was a native of Illinois, and December 15. 1845,
was the date of his birth. Six children have been born
to Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, Geneva B., Bav N., Gladvs,
Lester. Ecla, Marvin. Mr. Wilson is a Republican
and actively interested in political matters. He has
been school trustee for eight years and is an ardent
advocate of good educational facilities and does all in
his power to obtain this good end. He is a member of
the M. W. A.
BRYANT M. CREWS, one of the stockmen and
pioneers of the Mason prairie country, is deserving
of mention in the work which chronicles the history of
Nez Perces county, and with pleasure we grant him
such. He was born in Montgomery, Virginia, on
April 11, 1857, being directly descended from the
early settlers of the new continent, as his great-grand-
father came hither in the Mayflower. The parents of
our subject, James P. and Mary I. (Gardner) Crews,
were natives of Appomattox and Campbell counties,
Virginia, respectively. The father was born April 22,
1832, and died in 1882. He was quartermaster during
the Civil war and left Virginia in 1869, being a pioneer
in Phelps county, Missouri. Besides the subject of
this article, they had the following named children:
Emma E., Elonzar P., Emma J., Rosa, James H. Our
subject was educated in the common schools and re-
mained with his parents until twenty. He went to
Nebraska in 1886, commuted on a homestead and
sold and came to Coos county, Oregon, in 1888. He
bought land there and farmed three years and then
came to Cowlitz county, Washington. One year was
spent in railroading there and he made his way then to
southern Idaho and two years later we see him in
Whitman county. Later he was in the big bend coun-
try handling a band of cattle but returned again to
Whitman county, whence he came to Nez Perces county
and took his present place, about six miles west from
Forest. He has a meadow of fifty acres and has im-
proved the place with buildings necessary and other
accessories. Mr, Crews has thirty head of cattle and
is doing excellent work in handling his stock.
Mr. Crews married Miss Delilah, daughter of Jesse
and Eliza Shepard. Mrs. Crews was born January
16, 1859, in Wells county, Indiana. Seven children
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Crews, Wallia, A. Mac-
Intyre, Leroy, Ethel, Dollie Ann, Thomas A.. Myrtle
L., and Alberta. Mr. Crews is a member of the M.
W. A. and in political alliances he is associated with
the Democrats. He is highly esteemed among those
who know him and is a substantial and good man.
JOSEPH ZIVER. A patriotic and loyal citizen,
an upright and capable man. a true disciple of busi-
ness and respected by all. such is the esteemed gentle-
man whose name is at the head of this article and it
is with pleasure that we are enabled to incorporate an
epitome of his career.
Joseph Ziver was born in Bohemia, on November
13, 1858, being the son of John and Francisca 1 Mar-
lick) Ziver, natives of Bohemia, where they now live,
prominent and wealthy people. Our subject attended
school from five to eleven in Bohemia and one year in
Germany. When twenty, he went to Saxony and when
twenty-eight he left the old country and journeyed to
America. Soon he was in Philadelphia, thence he
went to Chicago and six months later was in North
Dakota. It was 1888. when he came to Helena, Mon-
'tana, and afterward spent some time in Wallace,
:klaho. The next we see of Mr. Ziver was in Tacoma,
where he spent three years. From this place he re-
paired to thr Palouse country and also later settled in
Lewiston, taking up the butcher business. Dissolv-
ing with his partner there he came to Spalding and
soon secured the contract of supplying the Indian
school with beef, which he has handled since. Mr.
Ziver supplies fifty thousand pounds of beef annually
3io
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
to this institution and also has an extensive trade be-
sides this. He handles a shop in Culdesac and is a
thorough business man.
Mr. Ziver is the only one of his family who has
come to the United States, but he is an enthusiastic
supporter of our free institutions and is a true Ameri-
can citizen. In politics, he is a Democrat but still he
reserves for himself the liberty to choose the man
whose principles he will uphold. Mr. Ziver has one
brother', Frank, in the old country. Our subject is a
member of the Maccabees and of the M. W. A., both in
Culdesac. He was raised in the Catholic faith. He
has a fine ranch in addition to his business and raises
stock and hay. Mr. Ziver is a warm supporter of the
dignity and greatness of this country and is firm in the
belief that is dear to every true American, that the
United States is the greatest country on the earth to-
day.
CHARLES E. FERRY. The enterprising young
business man, of whom we now speak, is not only do-
ing a good business in the drug store that he owns in
Peck but also derives a welcome income from the farm
that he took as a homestead from the wilds of the res-
ervation. Mr. Ferry is a self-made man. largely, and
has passed that school of experience in the things of
this world that fits him for a successful career, which
is his lot at this time.
Charles E. Ferry was born in Missouri, on August
28, 1878. being the son of Charles and Ellen D.
(Stiles) Ferry. Our subject never saw his father after
he was one and one-half years of age. The mother was
born in Wisconsin and died in 1880, Charles being an
infant. He was then taken by his grandparents Stiles,
who lived in Kansas. Thence they went to New Mexi-
co, then to Denver, next to Boise, from there to Weiser,
and finally to Moscow, where they settled, the grand-
father taking up farming. When Charles was thir-
teen the grandfather went to Milton, Oregon, but our
subject remained with an uncle, Mr. Stiles, and when
he arrived at the age of fifteen went to do for himself.
He had gained his education from the common schools.
in the various places where he had resided, and worked
faithfully until the reservation opened, then he took a
farm, upon which he made final proof in April. 1902.
Then Mr. Ferry, having learned the druggist's art,
bought a stock of drugs and opened a store in Pecic,
where he is operating at the present time.
In December, 1896, Mr. Ferry married Miss Ona,
daughter of Alexander A. and Cordelia (Williams)
Anderson, the father a native of Kentucky and now a
large farmer in Latah county. Mrs. Ferry was born
in Latah county, in 1879, and has two brothers, Frank-
lin J. and Martin A. Mr. Ferry has two sisters, Lill-
ian Humstock and Anna B. Riggs. The following
children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ferry. Milo
G., Lottie M., and Velva. Mr. Ferry affiliates with
the W. W. at Melrose, while in political matters, he
is a Republican, being active in the caucuses and con-
ventions. His father was a soldier in the Civil war.
Mr. Ferry has conducted his business enterprise in a
commendable manner, and has manifested true wisdom
and thrift. His farm is well provided with buildings,
consists of eighty acres, and among other good im-
provements has a fine orchard.
JOSEPH RAWNSLEY. A prosperous and pro-
gressive farmer and a man of integrity and uprightness
and one of the real builders of the reservation country,
it is fitting that he be accorded representation in this
volume which recounts the history of this interesting
region.
Joseph Rawnsley was born in Morgan county, In-
diana, on September 5, 1844, being the son of James
and Margaret (McPherson) Rawnsley, natives of
North Carolina. At the age of four he came with his
parents to Keokuk county, Iowa, and thence they re-
moved to Hardin county, the same state. There the
father died in 1859. Our subject grew to manhood
there and received his education, remaining with his
mother until the date of his marriage. This import-
ant event occurred on February 6, 1870, and Laura
T., born April 18. 1854, daughter of Carver and Lu-
anda (Rubottom) Benbonw, natives of Worth Caro-
lina, was the excellent lady that became his bride. The
following children have been the fruit of this union :
Florence M.. wife of Henry Krounse, of Pomeroy,
Washington ; Nora, wife of George Montgomery, of
Pomeroy; Wilbur J., married to Nellie Miller of Nez-
perce; Margaret, Ada C, and Iris L., who is deceased.
Mrs. Rawnsley's parents removed from their native
state to Indianapolis and in 1854 they landed in Har-
din county, Iowa. In 1875 our subject and his family
came to San Francisco, thence by ship to Portland and
in the vicinity of Vancouver he bought land and there
followed farming for five years. Then came a move
to the vicinity of Pomeroy, Washington, where he en-
tered a pre-emption which was the family home until
the opening of the reservation. He was here on the
eighteenth day of November, 1895, the date of opening,
and he selected his present fine place, about six miles
southwest from Nezperce. His family was brought
the following spring and were among the very first
ones here. He now has a house, barn, orchard, plenty
of berries, all varieties of fruits, and many other im-
provements, which, added to the real value of his land,
make his estate one of the most valuable of this vicin-
ity. All this has been wrought out by the wise labor
of Mr. Rawnsley and speaks well of his energy and
wisdom.
■» » »
JOHN B. SIMMONS. The old proverb, "He
that becometh surety for a stranger shall smart for it,"
was exemplified to the sad experience of our subject,
for from a comfortable and good place he was reduced
to almost penury by having to pay a debt for which he
had become surety. Mr. Simmons was thus forced to
begin life on the reservation, with a family to support
and nothing but the wild sod to gain a living from,
and handicapped because of lack of capital to improve
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
the farm. He has done well and the land which he
filed on in the fall of 1805 and upon which he removed
his family in 1896, is now one of the fertile and well
developed farms of the vicinity of Ilo, being one mile
south and one east.
Mr. Simmons was born in Warren county, Iowa,
on November 18, 1857, being the son of William C.
and Mary JJ. (Allen) Simmons, who are mentioned
elsewhere in this volume. Our subject grew to man-
hood in Iowa and gained his education there. When
twenty-one he. went to farming for himself and s< « m
bought a farm, which he tilled until 1884, when he
came west to the vicinity of Genesee, where he settled
and bought a farm. This continued to be the fam-
ily home until he removed onto the reservation as
stated above. He is now a prosperous farmer, has
two acres of orchard and handles considerable stock.
On October 16, 1878, in Harrison county, Iowa,
Mr. Simmons married Miss Matilda J., daughter of
Jeremiah and Melinda (McGuire) Whitt, who are
mentioned in this volume elsewhere. Mrs. Simmons'
brothers and sisters are also mentioned in the volume
as are the brothers and sisters of Mr. Simmons. Five
children have been born to bless this marriage : Jettie
M. Trueblood. Myrtle A. Nichols, both in this county;
Bird, Murt Merl and Pearl, twins, all at home. Air.
Simmons is a member of the M. W. A. at Ilo and has
been a school director for some time, but has preferred
of late that another should take the office. He has
labored and does continuously strive for the advance-
ment and upbuilding of the country and especially for
the betterment of educational facilities. Mr. Simmons
is a staunch Democrat and has the courage and intelli-
gence to expound the principles of his party.
He and his son-in-law, John Nichols, have built a
livery and feed barn in Ilo, where -Mr. Simmons has
recently moved.
HON. CLAY M. STEARNS. The prosperous,
genial, pleasant and popular business man, named
above, is a member of the law firm of Stearns &
Thomas, of Nezperce, which does not only a good law
business but also handles a great deal of insurance and
does a loaning business.
Clay M. Stearns was born in Pennsylvania, on
July 29, 185S, being the son of Josiah H. and Sarah
(Russell) Stearns. The father was born in Maine,
in 1832, and now lives in Lovell, Maine, and is a
farmer. His first ancestor that came to this countrv came
with the Puritans and settled in Watertown, Massa-
chusetts, in 1680, and the family has been a prominent
New England house since that time. Our subject's
father was a captain in the Twenty-third Maine, Com-
pany H. and served in the battles of the Army of the
Potomac for fifteen months. The paternal grand-
father was a lieutenant in a Massachusetts regiment in
the war of 1812 and later was commissioned general;
the great-grandfather was prominent in the Revolu-
tion. The mother of our subject was a native of
Maine and a great-granddaughter of Benjamin Rus-
sell, the founder of the Columbia Sentinel, a noted
Whig organ of influence. Louis Phillip, the exile
from France, was a guest of Mr. Russell for a long
time and at the time of the restoration, he was offered
a patent of nobility but refused it. Our subject was
educated in the Fryburg and Bridgeton Academies
and the Bowdoin College. Daniel Webster taught
at the Fryburg institution in 1800. Following his
college course, Mr. Stearns taught school, was county
superintendent in Oxford county, and a member of the
state legislature in 1884, being the youngest member
in the house, aged twenty-six. In 1885 he came to
Walla Walla and from May of that year until January
of 1887, he was in the law office of Allen, Thompson
& Crowley, then he practiced in Farmington, Washing-
ton, and three years later he returned to Walla Walla.
After some time there he went to Pullman and prac-
ticed until 1897, when he stationed his family in Spo-
kane and followed mining in various places in the
northwest. It was 1901 that Mr. Stearns came to
Nezperce and established himself in his present busi-
ness, taking as partner Charles D. Thomas. Air.
Stearns has considerable city property and is doing
a good business. He has the following brothers and
sisters : Henry, a physician in Dunbarton, New Hamp-
shire ; Leslie L., at Great Barrington, Massachusetts,
handling a boot and shoe business ; Adelbert, on the
old homestead in Maine with parents ; Sargeant S.,
in the government service in Washington, D. C. : Mar-
iam, wife of Willis Walker, in Lovell, Maine, a heavy
propertv owner there. Mr. Stearns is a member of
the A. F. & A. M., Walla Walla Lodge, No. 7: of the
1. O. O. F., Pullman Lodge, No. 29; K. of P.. Wash-
ington Lodge, No. $2, at Lovell, Maine; M. W. A.,
Nezperce Lamp, Xo. 7498: Yeoman of America, at
Nezperce, being foreman of this last order ; and is
also a Knight .of the Palm and Shell.
On September 17, 1887, Mr. Stearns married Miss
Etta E., daughter of Leonard and Hannah (Preston)
Ladd, and a native of Minnesota, born on July 7. 1862,
at Elgin. The father died when this daughter was
young and her mother lives at Walla Walla. Mrs.
Stearns has two brothers and three sisters : George, a
farmer in Umatilla county, Oregon ; Edward, in The
Dalles machine shops ; Florence, single, living in Walla
Walla; Jennie, widow of Millard Roff, in Walla Wal-
la ; Nellie, widow of John Delaney at Spokane. Her
husband was killed in the Philippine war. Air. and
Mrs. Stearns have one child, Gladys, bprn March 20,
I r] 1 tRGE W. S. WHITE, a prosperous and sub-
stantial farmer residing about three miles southeast
from Ilo, where he has a fine farm, well improved.
wa> born in Greene county, Tennessee, on January .24,
1857. being the son oE Enoch and Frances (Nixon)
White. The father was born in Tennessee in
died in 1862, being killed at Chattanooga. His father
neer in Tennessee and was known as L'ncle
Robert White, the pioneer. The mother of our sub-
ject was born in Georgia, in 1821, and died in Septem-
ber, 1900. aged seventy-nine. When George was five
3I2
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
he went with his mother to Jasper county, Iowa, where
her parents lived. Four years later she moved to
Cherokee, Kansas, and thence in three years to Benton
count). Arkansas. In 1874 she crossed the plains
with teams and settled in Union county, Oregon. She
had married Myrock Huntley in Kansas. Our sub-
ject remained with his step-father until fourteen and
then started for himself. He worked out in the Grande
Ronde valley for seven years and then came to Boise,
in 1881. Two years in the mines and then two and a
half on a farm, and then again to the Grande Ronde
valley, whence he came to Sprague, Washington. He
went thence to North Yakima and railroaded for a
time and then operated a saw mill which was destroyed
by tire, when he returned to Davenport and Sprague.
Next he went to Pullman for four years and then did
contract work in Spokane, after which he moved to
Uniontown and resided for three years. After this,
Air. White went to Camas prairie and when the res-
ervation opened up he took his present place, upon
which he moved his family in the spring of 1896. This
has been his home since and is a good farm, well
handled and supports considerable stock.
On June 18, 1890, in Spokane, Mr. White married
Miss Hannah, daughter of Jeremiah and Melinda
(McGuire) Whitt. The father, a farmer and stock-
man, was born in Virginia and died from measles in
the Civil war in 1864. He had been a pioneer in Har-
rison county, Missouri. The mother of Mrs. White
was born in Tazewell county, Virginia, and died in
1866. Mrs. White was born "in Harrison county. Mis-
souri, in 1863, and has the following brothers and sis-
ters: Frank, Narsissis Hensley, Napoleon, Mattie
Woods, Ellen Crow and Jennie Simmons. Mr. White
has the following brothers and sisters, Robert and
John R., in Spokane; Rebecca J. McNall, in Sprague.
Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. White,
Archie L. and Hazel V., at home. Mr. White and his
wife are members of the Church of Christ in Ilo and
he holds the office of deacon. He is a man of integrity
and reliability and is secure in the esteem and confi-
dence of the people.
JOHN H. POWELL. M. D. This well known
professional gentleman is one of the practicing phy-
sicians who have won a fine success in the reservation
portion of Nez Perces county and is a man of good
standing and has made a commendable record in his
profession. In addition to this. Dr. Powell has the
distinction of being one of the brave boys who wore
the blue and fought until treason and her minions
were forced to retire, beaten from the field. A de-
tailed account of his career is justly entitled to place
in history.
John H. Powell was born in Logan county. Ohio,
on July 12, 1840, being the son of James R. and Anna
(Wise) Powell. The father was a native of Delaware
and his father was owner and captain of a coasting
schooner on the Atlantic. The mother of our subject
was a native of Switzerland, was married in Ohio,
and died in 1852. The family came to Union county,
Illinois, in an early day and there our subject was
reared and educated. When twenty-one, he enlisted
in the Thirty-first Illinois Volunteer Infantry, under
Captain Batson and General Logan. He served three
years and two months and saw much hard fighting.
His first battle was at Belmont, then he fought at
Forts Henry and Donelson and at Corinth and Shiloh,
then through all the struggle at Vicksburg, at Point
Gibson, Raming, Champion Hill, then at Atlanta, when
McPherson was killed. This last day was one never
to be forgotten. Part of his company was
captured. He was ordered to stop, but ran
and amid a perfect hail of bullets he suc-
ceeded in getting to an Iowa regiment, where
he was safe. The Doctor says the first bayonet
charge he was in was the most awful experience of
the entire war. It is beyond description of words to
picture the horror and carnage. Following the war,
our subject returned to the Illinois home, soon married
and went to Kansas, where he engaged in transporta-
tion business. Thence he went to Newton county,
Missouri, and engaged in the mercantile business.
About this time the Doctor commenced the study of
medicine, which continued constantly until he re-
ceived his diploma in the Physio-Medical College of
Indianapolis. There also he took an extended course
in obstetrics and he has become very skillful in this
practice. The Doctor also did mercantile business in
Medical Lake, Washington, while he was pursuing
the study of medicine and he owns property there now.
He practiced one year in Lincoln county, in that state,
then four years in Juliaetta, and in 1897, ne located at
Nezperce and since that time he has enjoyed a good
practice. The Doctor has caused to be erected a fifteen
room sanitarium which will be a great and needed ad-
dition to the town and it is fitted with every conven-
ience for the care of the sick and will be entirely open
to any physician. In addition to his practice, the
Doctor has taken up a homestead and has improved it
with good house and orchard and so forth.
In 1865 occurred the marriage of J. H. Powell and
Martha A. Jolley. Her parents, John and Lucinda
Jolly, were natives of the state of Tennessee; the
father was a blacksmith and a Methodist preacher.
Doctor Powell has one brother, a farmer in Illinois,
while Mrs. Powell has two sisters, Jennie, wife of
Walter H. Wiscomb, citv treasurer of Spokane a
number of terms ; Mary, wife of W. C. Johnson, a car-
penter in Seattle. To Dr. Powell and his faithful wife
there have been born six children, Elizabeth J., wife
of G. G. Muller, proprietor of the leading hotel at
Sunnyside, Washington; Ella, single with parents;
James Wesley, in Portland, Oregon, three deceased.
Dr. Powell is a member of the German Baptist church
while his wife and two daughters belong to the Metho-
dist. Politically, he is affiliated with the Republicans.
ROBERT SMITH. At the present time, Mr.
Smith is a prosperous dairyman, located three miles
east from Lewiston, and he is well known for his thrift,
JOHN H. POWELL, M. D.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
3'3
energy and integrity and stands well among the people
of the community. He was born in Pike county, Illi-
nois, on October 8, 1866, being the son of Hiram and
Sarah J. (Simons) Smith. The father was a farmer,
born in Pennsylvania in 1820, and died in 1875. The
mother was born in Adams county, Illinois, on No-
vember 11, 1836, and died August 15, 1893. Robert
was educated in the schools of his neighborhood and
was a diligent lad on the farm. In 1884, aged eighteen,
he came to the west. He landed in Waashington, then
went to Lewiston, where he worked for a couple of
years, and then returned to Illinois. There he went
to farming and raising hogs, at which he did well, and
then suffered the misfortune to see his all swept away
by the hog cholera. Being discouraged with that labor
he came again to the west, this time settling near Pull-
man and taking charge of a large farm for Dr. Webb.
Two years were spent here and Mr. Smith returned
to Illinois. Four years were spent there and then he
came west for good, setling at his present place. He
paid attention to dairving. gardening, and fruit raising,
and did well, but now he is confining himself to dairy-
ing alone and is making a good success.
On January 8, 1889, in Illinois, Mr. Smith mar-
ried Miss Carrie, daughter of William and Susan
Uppinghouse. The father served in the Civil war and
is now a farmer. Mrs. Smith was born in New Can-
ton, Illinois, in 1869 and has brothers and sisters as
follows : Charles, James, Nellie, Logan, Eva, Arthur
and Nina. Mr. Smith has brothers and sisters named be-
low : Seldon, Hiram R.. Hilbert, and Ella Eakins, and
his half brothers are named also ( ieorge A., Wesley Ak-
ers. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith there have been born
three children. Opal, Paul. Grace. Mr. Smith affiliates
with the W. of W. and M. W. A. He is a Republi-
can but is not bound by party lines so that he uses his
judgment for men and principles.
JOSEPH E. SHAFFER. About three miles east
from Melrose is situated the estate of our subject,
which is cultured and cared for in a manner becoming
a first-class farmer, while it is improved with excellent
barns, outbuildings, and residence, with orchard. Mr.
Shaffer is a man of industry and thrift and is well es-
teemed by all in the community.
Joseph E. Shaffer was born near Ragersville, Ohio,
on April 2, 1858, being the son of Joseph and Susan
(Cullar) Shaffer. The father was born in Fayette
county, Pennsylvania, on June 10, 1806, was a pioneer
to Ohio in 1831 and died in 1889. He was a farmer
and boat builder. The mother of our subject was born
in the same county and state, in 18 16 and died in
1880. Joseph grew to manhood in Ohio and was edu-
cated there. In 1872, the family went to Portage
county and when this son was of age, he spent some
time in traveling to various portions of the country.
Then he rented the old homestead and worked it for
a time, after which he sold and same to Portland, Ore-
gon. Later he was in Jacksonville, the same state, and.
then returned to Portage county, Ohio. In the fall
of 1891, he came to Latah county and farmed in the
Cove until 1896, when he repaired to the reservation
and took up his present place.
On July 24, 1881, in Sharon, Pennsylvania, Mr.
Shaffer married Miss Love, daughter of Joseph and
Catherine (Jones) McFee. The father was a farmer,
born in Ohio as was also his wife, and he served in
the Civil war under General Marshall. Mrs. Shaffer
was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, in 1863, and has
five brothers, John, William, Oscar, Frank, and Mar-
shall. Mr. Shaffer has the following brothers and
sisters, Selinda Shannon, Jane Durkee, Lydia Thomp-
son, Melissa Norris, Mary Scott. To Mr. and Mrs.
Shaffer there have been born three children, Clyde M.,
born in Ohio on April 16, 1882; William J., born in
Portland, Oregon, on December 18, 1883; Guy O.,
born in Nez Perces county on May 1, 1897. Mr. Shaf-
fer is a Republican and a first-class citizen.
WILLIAM F. SHAWLEY, M. D. Well known
in Nez Perces and Idaho counties as a man of honor,
uprightness and ability, as well as a man of extensive
experience in the medical world and excellent skill,
the subject of this article is justly ranked with the
leading men of the section. On account of a serious
accident that crippled the Doctor for life, we now find
him taking up other business lines that demand less
activity and are not so trying as extended practice of
medicine. <•
William F. Shawley was born in Montgomery
county, Kentucky, on December 10, 1851, being the son
of John B. and Catherine A. E. (Gray) Shawley.
The father was born on the same farm as our subject,
while the grandfather of William F. was a native of
Baltimore. Maryland, and the great-grandfather was an
immigrant from Saxony. The mother of our subject
was a native of Montgomery county also and her
father was born in Ireland, while her mother was of
German descent. William F. was taken to Missouri
in 1853 with the family and reared and educated there.
Later he completed his education in the Normal at
Troy, Iowa. In the Keokuk College of Physicians and
Surgeons, Mr. Shawley entered with a determination
to delve thoroughly into medical lore. In 1882 he
graduated with honors from that institution and then
practiced six years in Aetna, Missouri, two years in
Milton, Iowa, six years in Taylor, Nebraska, eight
years in Idaho and then in ( (ctober, 1898. he met with
the sad accident above mentioned. The following year
Dr. Shawley came to Nezperce. bought business
and residence property, erected a hotel which he rents
and is now retired from the activities of business. He
has three living brothers: Hezekiah, a farmer in Okla-
homa ; John D., in Missouri : ( Ieorge W.. land owner
and dentist in Kansas City ; he also has three sisters,
Lucy G., wife of Richard Morton, in Missouri, who
served in the Confederate army as lieutenant under
Morgan ; Henrietta, wife of N. D. Hoover, a farmer in
Oklahoma, who served as a private under Stonewall
Jacks, in: Sophronia J., wife of John Marlow, a man
3»4
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
standing six feet, ten inches in his stocking feet, and as
prominent in politics, business and social circles in
Scotland countv, .Missouri, as he is large physically.
Dr. Shawley is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Mount
Idaho Lodge, No. 9, at Grangeville.
In Memphis. Missouri. Dr. Shawley married Miss
Mary A., daughter of James A. and Angeline
(Roole) Sayers. She was born in Illinois in
1853 and died December 7, 1887, leaving two chil-
dren, Inez L., wife of Charles Pomeroy, in Nezperce ;
John G., with his father. Dr. Shawley contracted a
second marriage, the date was January 9, 1889, and the
lady Hulda A. Langrish, and a native of Saxony. Her
parents. Christian and Minnie C. (Carter) Langrish,
brought her to this county when she was fourteen and
they lived in Nebraska and Kansas. Four children have
been born to this union: Cora D., aged twelve; Mary
D., aged ten; William G., aged seven; Charles F.,
aged three. Airs. Shawley has two sisters, Minnie
C, widow of Bartholomew O'Rourke, in Oklahoma ;
Ida, wife of Frank C. Smith, also in Oklahoma.
LEWIS A. SIMMONS was born in Warren coun-
ty, Iowa, on October 16, 1849, being the son of Will-
iam C. and Mary B. (Allen) Simmons, natives of
Indiana and Kentucky, respectively. They are men-
tioned elsewhere in this volume. Our subject grew
to manhood in Iowa and there received his education.
He labored with his father until he was twenty-eight
and then began to do for himself. He bought a farm in
his native place and wrought there until 18X4. when
he journeyed westward to Oregon, whence he moved
to Washington, and then to Latah county, near Gen-
esee, where he rented land. Later Mr., Simmons
bought a farm and in the fall of 1895 he came to the
reservation and took land for himself. His place is
situated about three miles southeast from llo, and the
winter following his filing, he removed the family
there. This has been the family home since and Mr.
Simmons has displayed both wisdom and industry in
handling his estate. He has a large number of im-
provements and raises grain for the market. Novem-
ber 18, 1895, was the date of taking this claim.
On February 24, 1876, Mr. Simmons married Miss
Charity, daughter of James E. and Rebecca (Nice)
Smith, natives of Ohio and Indiana and were born in
July, 1814, and November, 181 4, and died in 1893 and
1865, respectively. Mr. Smith was a pioneer of Indi-
ana'and his parents were of Kentucky. Mrs. Smith's
parents were pioneers of Indiana and her grandfather,
William Nice, was a soldier in the war of 181 2. Mrs.
Simmons was born in Carroll county, Indiana, on No-
vember 9, 1852, and has three brothers, John W.,
Erastus J., and Isaac N. Mr. Simmons has the fol-
lowing named brothers and sisters : Elizabeth, James
( :., and Deborah, all deceased : Mehalia, John B„ Sam-
uel J., l.ucinda R., and William T. Eight children
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Simmons: Etha, Me-
genity, William O., Alta M.. Samuel J., deceased, Lot-
tie F.. ( iustave, Isaac A. Mrs. Simmons is a member
of the Primitive Baptist church. Mr. Simmons is a
member of the school board end has always been active
in labors for good schools. Mr. Simmons is a man of
exceptional qualifications for getting along peaceabl)
in this world, having never been sued and never has
he resorted to the law in any case. He is respected
bv all who know him and is a good, substantial citi-
CHARLES E. WILLIAMS. This noted front-
iersman is now a resident of Spalding, and to give a
full account of the thrilling adventures, the weary and
trying journeys, the terrible hardships, the difficult
explorations of many years on the very outposts of
the frontiers and in the almost impenetrable wilds
would take an entire volume and therefore we will be
obliged to touch on only the salient points in this re-
view. Mr. Williams is a man of staunch character
and uprightness and all those qualities that make the
hardy pioneer.
Charles E. Williams was born in Springfield, Illi-
nois, on April 22, 1847, being the son of Cornelius and
Alary J . (Harvey) Williams. The father was a native
of Pennsylvania, of Welsh extraction, and died in Illi-
nois, having been a miner in the coal regions. The
mother of Charles E. was also a native of Pennsylvania
as were her ancestors, and she died at Cascade Locks,
Oregon, in 1901. < )ur subject was brought by his
mother .across the plains to Cascade Locks, in 1852.
She took a donation claim and. he remained with her
for fifteen years. She married R. G. At well in 1853,
an attorney of an old Virginia family. Mrs. Williams'
grandfather fought in the Revolution. Charles F. was
educated in Portland at the academy and when that
part of his life was done, he commenced the operation
of a pack train. He packed from Walla Walla to Hel-
ena and Fort Boise, which latter he helped to build in
1864. In 1 87 1, .Mr. Williams did the herculean task
of taking a pack train of flour from Helena to Cassier
bar in the Fraser river country. He had six men and
seventy-seven mules. The start was made on March
18, 1 87 1, and they arrived at the destination on July
18, 1871, the goods being fur Pern- Kent, an old Cali-
fornian. In this trip. Mr. Williams built two hundred
miles of road and came over the land where Spokane
now stands. Following this, he took charge of a train
for the Canadian government and for several years
did excellent service in this capacity, much of the tune
handling the supplies for the engineers of the Cana-
dian Pacific. In this work he packed across glaciers
where they had to cut steps for the animals in the ice
and thus get them down the precipitous sides. Fol-
lowing this service Air. Williams settled down to
ranching and a commercial life in British Columbia
and seven years were spent in that labor. Selling this
business for eighteen thousand dollars to James Sul-
livan he came to the Flathead reservation in Alon-
tana and embarked in the stock business. A hard
winter killed all his stock and then he went to Spald-
ing, where land was allotted his wife and children.
Mrs. Williams has two granddaughters, Alaggie B.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
3i5
and Ida K. Elliot, who are good musicians and own
eighty acres of land each.
Mr. Williams started to dam the Clearwater for
the purpose of mining the Webfoot bar, but after
spending three thousand dollars he failed, although he
found considerable gold. Since that time he has been
prospecting all over the country and now he has located
the Lost creek, known as the Bill Rhodes property,
which he has been searching for for twenty years. It
is doubtless a bonanza for Mr. Williams and his asso-
ciates.
At Kamloops, on December 25, 1877, Mr. Will-
iams married Mrs. Christina, widow of James Mc-
Kenzie and daughter of Angus and Kathrina McDon-
ald. Mr. McDonald was chief factor in the Hudson
Bay Company at Fort Colville. In a time of great
trouble between the Indians and the whites, Kathrina
stood nobly with the whites and not only did many
things for their advantage but in the fight she loaded
the arms of the white man and never flinched from
the trying clangers. This brave and noble action so
touched the heart of McDonald that he later married
the maiden, she being a beautiful woman. Mrs. Will-
iams was highly educated and given every advantage
that her wealthy father could supply and she is a gra-
cious and accomplished lady of refinement and culture.
She has rive brothers and one sister, Duncan, Angus,
Joseph, Thomas, Donald, and Margaret, a noted busi-
ness woman on the Bitter Root river in Montana, who
has an immense stock ranch and who is styled the
"Cattle Queen." To Mr. and Mrs. Williams have
been born children : Charles, married and farming
his allotment ; Mary, wife of George Campbell, owner
of a hotel in Spalding and a portion of the townsite.
Mr. Williams has one brother and two half-brothers,
Cassius M., James and John Atwell, the former a
marine engineer and captain on the Columbia boats
and the latter a contractor and builder at Cascade
Locks. Mr. Williams is a member of the Methodist
church while his wife and children are members of the
Presbyterian, except Kate, who is an adherent of the
Catholic faith. By her former marriage Mrs. Will-
iams has two children, Alexander D: McKenzie, farm-
ing on the allotment ; Kate, widow of W. Elliot, and
now wife of Louis Forrest, a mechanic at Lapwai.
Recently Mr. Williams cut thirty-five miles of trail
in the Eldorado country and is interested in mining.
JOHN C. JACKSON. Among the successful and
well-to-do men of the vicinity of Dublin, we must men-
tion the subject of this article, whose estate of three hun-
dred and twenty acres of fine land lies about one mile
southwest and has been made by his wise and industri-
ous labors one of the most valuable of this section. Mr.
Jackson has a fine residence, good barn and outbuild-
ings and a general air of thrift pervades the premises.
He pays attention to diversified farming and raising
fine Berkshire and Poland China hogs.
John C. Jackson was born in Carroll county, Ohio,
on March 18, 1855. being the son of Hugh and Mar-
garet (Crawford) Jackson. The father was born in
Pennsylvania on February 22, 1815, and died in
August, 1885. He was a pioneer in Ohio, Illinois,
and Iowa, dying in the last state. His grandparents
were all natives of Ireland and were among the earliest
settlers in. Ohio. The mother of our subject was born
in Ohio, on March 7, 1815, and died in December,
1898. John C. was taken by his parents to Illinois
when four years old, and the family settled in .Mon-
mouth, where he received his education. In 1871 they
all went to Warren county, Iowa, and there our sub-
ject labored with his father until he had reached the
age of twenty-one. when he started the battle of life
for himself. He visited the old home in Ohio, then re-
turned to Iowa and took up farming and handling
stock. In 1890 Mr. Jackson moved to Genesee, where
he farmed until 1895, at which time he took up his
present place. This has been the family home since
that time and the scene of the wise labors of Mr. Jack-
son.
On January 1, 1880, Mr. Jackson married Miss
Lucinda R., daughter of William and Mary (Allen)
Simmons. The wedding occurred in Warren county,
Iowa. Mr. Simmons was born in Kentucky in 18 19 and
died in 1876. He was one of the very first settlers in
Iowa. His wife was born in Spencer county, Indiana,
in 182 1. Her grandparents settled in Kentucky with
Daniel Boone and her great-grandmother was a niece
of that noted frontiersman. Mrs. Jackson was born in
Iowa, on October 30, 1861, and has the following
named brothers and sisters : Louis, John, Joseph,
William. Elizabeth. Mary and Mahala. Mr. Jackson
has the following named brothers and sisters: Eliza-
beth, Nancy J., James M. Mrs. Jackson is a member
of the Presbyterian church ; Mr. Jackson affiliate- with
the Masons and the M. W. A. He is a Republican
and takes the part of an intelligent citizen. He is a
member of the school board and has always evinced a
great interest in these matters, laboring for advance-
ment and progress.
CHRISTOPHER C. MILLER. The home of our
subject is about six miles west from Nezperce and is
one of the promising farms of the section, having been
taken from the raw by homestead right and brought
to its present state of cultivation and improvement by
the arduous and careful labor of Mr. Miller, whose in-
dustry, thrift, integrity and uprightness have been pat-
ent to all.
Christopher C. Miller was born in Mercer county,
Illinois, on June 30, 1842, being the son of George and
Elizabeth (Hyatt) Miller, natives of Indiana. In [847
the family came across the plains with ox teams in a
large train captained by Jonathan Mulkey. Some
trouble was experienced with the Indians and when
they came to The Dalles, Mr. Miller floated his family
and their goods down the Columbia and up the Will-
amette to Oregon City in Indian canoes. Arriving in
Oregon City without means, he was confronted with
ri,e proposition of caring for a family of ten children,
3i6
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
of which our subject was the eighth: the first venture
was to cut the tents up and make clothes for the little
ones. He soon went to California in the mining excite-
ment and in 185 1 moved to Lane county, where he died
in 1853. Our subject remained with his mother until her
death, and on December 27, 1872, he was married to
Sarah, daughter of James and Elizabeth Lee, who
came across the plains in 1863 from Missouri, in which
state Mrs. Miller was born. Settlement was made in
Lane county, where the father died, the mother hav-
ing passed away in Missouri. Our subject remained
on the old donation claim until 1878 and then came to
the vicinity of Dayton, Washington, whence he re-
moved to Pomeroy in 1880. He followed farming and
raising stock until 1898 and then located his place and
the result of his labors since that time is apparent in
the excellent holding that he has wrought out, as he
came here with very little capital and all he now pos-
sesses is the result of his wise labors. A good windmill
with a well one hundred and twelve feet deep, orchard,
shrubbery, garden and buildings are among the im-
provements in evidence.
The following named children have been born to
Mr. and Mrs. Miller: Dora, wife of Buel Abies, near
Mohier ; Elizabeth, wife of F. Morgan, in Garfield
county ; Clara J., wife of Lewis Harris, in the vicinity
of Xezperce : Nellie, wife of Wilber Rawnsley, near
Nezperce; Annie, deceased; Nettie: Bessie, deceased;
John and George.
ALEXANDER McCUTCHEN. This genial and
pleasant gentleman is one of the successful farmers in
the vicinity of Melrose, his ranch joining the town on
the east. Mr. McCutchen is a man of excellent qualities
of intrinsic worth, as integrity, industry and upright-
ness, and is secure in the esteem and confidence of his
associates.
Alexander McCutchen was born in Floyd county,
Indiana, on October 12. 1852, being the son of Alex-
ander and Mary (Johnston) McCutchen. The father
was also born in Indiana and his father, Samuel J. Mc-
Cutchen, was a pioneer of Indiana, from his native
state, Kentucky, and was one of the stanch members
of the Christian church in early days. The mother of
our subject was born in Indiana, in 1821, and died in
1880. Her parents were natives of Pennsylvania and
were pioneers to Indiana. Alexander grew up on the
farm, attended school in the winter and assisted his
father in the work until he was twenty-two, when he
came to Macoupin county, Illinois, where he remained
for six years, being employed by J. F. Roach, one of
the largest shippers and feeders in Illinois. Mr. Mc-
Cutchen became expert in this art and is considered
one of the first men in this line in the county. From
Illinois he came to Portland and then made his way
to the vicinity of Walla Walla, where he farmed for
sixteen years, having arrived there in 1882. During
this time Mr. McCutchen prospered, owing to his in-
dustry and wise management. He states that in many
cases he has headed field after field of wheat that
averaged fifty bushels to the acre. He became one of
the best header drivers in the country and doubtless
takes the lead in this important industry in Nez Perces
county. In 1898 Mr. McCutchen purchased his pres-
ent ranch and has devoted himself to its improvement
since. He raises many hogs and has his farm fenced
hog-tight so that he can feed them from the field. Mr.
McCutchen is now planning to erect a commodious
barn and fine residence and is one of the leading and
progressive men of the county. September 30, of the
year mentioned, was the date of his settlement and
much has been done since by his thrift and labor. Air.
McCutchen has the following brothers and sisters :
Jacob M., William M., George W. and John B., de-
ceased. Air. McCutchen is a Bryan man and always
interested in political matters. As yet, our subject has
not elected to desert the ranks of bachelordom, but is
enjoying the choice pleasures of a life of celibacy.
ALANSON FARMER. The subject of this ar-
ticle has exemplified in a striking manner both his
ability and the possibilities A this country. For, com-
ing here with no money, having only two horses and
two cows, he is now possessed of a fine farm, one of
the choicest of the vicinity, comfortable improvements,
a good holding in stock and good orchards, shrub-
bery gardens, and all that goes to make a farm both
a valuable and pleasant abode. These things speak in
emphatic terms of the industry and wisdom of Mr.
Farmer and because of these qualities, together with
real moral worth and integrity, he is of excellent stand-
ing in the community and is the recipient of the re-
spect of all.
Alanson Farmer was born in Tazewell county,
Virginia, on January 2, 1856, being the son of Aianson
and Charlotte (Graham) Farmer, natives of Virginia.
Near the close of the war the father enlisted in the
Confederate armv and a few weeks later he was killed
in the battle of King's Salt Works. The mother is now
living in Palouse, aged eighty-three. Our subject was
the seventh of a family of nine children and was edu-
cated in his native place. There, also, on January 2,
1878, he married Miss Georgia Ann, daughter of
Nathaniel and Susan (Webb) Puckett. The father
died when she was a child, while the mother is now liv-
ing in Wayne county, West Virginia. Thither our
subject removed in 1880 and in 1887 came to Moscow,
Idaho. The following year found him in Palouse,
whence he went again to Moscow and at the time of
the opening of the reservation he was on hand to take
a claim and his push and energy secured for him one
of the very choicest claims on the reservation. He
filed on November 22, 1895, and in May, 1896, he
brought the family. He had erected a house and seeded
eighteen acres of grain before he brought them and
when they were well settled he went to the harvest fields
of the Walla Walla country to gain bread for their
sustenance. He has wrought with a faithful and win-
ning hand since that time and the result is the goodly
holding that is his now to enjoy. Mr. Farmer has two
wells, one sixty-five feet deep and one seventy feet
deep, and in neither did he encounter any rock. He
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
3i7
has plenty of good water and his place is fine in every
respect.
Mr. Farmer is a member of the M. W. A., and his
wife is a member of the Baptist church, both being-
devout in the support of their faith. Nine children
have been born to this happy family, Vicey, deceased ;
Reba E. Bailey, Albert S., Nevada S., Emery, deceased,
Lena C. Edith H., Aressa I. and Evert W.
PERRY E. MILLER. This successful young-
business man of Nezperce is associated with Thomas
Mockler in a large furniture business which is both
successful and well managed.
Referring to his personal career, we note that Perry
E. Miller was born in Scio, Linn county, Oregon, on
May 23, 1868, being the son of John and Amanda
(Redman) Miller. The father was born in Illinois, in
1841, and came to Oregon with his parents in 1849,
who took a donation claim of one section, where he
was reared and lived until his death in 1878. Perry's
mother was a native of Iowa, born in 1846, and now
lives at Freeman, Washington, being the wife of P. J.
Wycofr. Shortly after his birth our subject's parents
came to the old donation claim near Albany and he
was educated in the district school there until he was
twelve. Then a move was made to Sprague, Wash-
ington, and for two years Perry E. attended graded
school. Following this, he went to Adams, Oregon,
and lived with an uncle, J. T. Redman, a prominent
merchant and stockman. Two more years in the
graded schools and then four years were occupied in
the foremanship of the I. R. horse ranch. Mr. Miller
then accepted a position with Reese, Crandall & Red-
man, wholesale grocers in Tacoma. Two years later
he came to Freeman, Spokane county, Washington,
and bought a farm, which he handled for years and
then, on account of the panic, he was unsuccessful
and after much hard work succeeded in settling all
indebtedness and had a four-horse team and one dollar
and twenty-five cents left. Then Nez Perces reserva-
tion was the mecca of those who had energy to start
again, and our subject is blessed with plenty of pluck.
He came straightway, took a ranch, one of the best in
the county, thanks to his good judgment in selecting
it, and in a short time Mr. Miller had a crop of wheat
growing. He freighted between times and in a few
years had the entire quarter growing fine crops of the
cereals. The fourth year he bought a threshing out-
fit with his brother, Norton B.. and they operated it
for two years, being successful. On February 16,
1901, Mr. Miller bought the interest of E. L. Parkers
in the small furniture business in Nezperce and im-
mediately he and his partner built a large twenty-four
by one hundred and twenty structure and filled it with
a well selected stock. Since then Air. Miller has de-
voted himself to this business and is doing well. He
personally manages the establishment and is a man of
energy and successful business capabilities. This
house is the largest in this entire section of country
and is favored with a rapidly increasing patronage.
On December 23. [889, Mr. Miller married Miss
Annie E., daughter of Lewis M. and Emma Simpson.
Mr. Simpson was a merchant in Adams, where this
wedding occurred, but now he is a farmer near ( . itti m-
wood. Mrs. Miller was born on November 15, 1872,
and on September 6, 1901, she was called by death to
the world beyond. She left three sons, Vonley |.,
Verona LeRoy, Dar! V., and one daughter, Madge
Leona. Mr. Miller is a member of the W. W.. Nez-
perce Camp No. 445, also of the auxiliary, being man-
ager of the latter. In politics Mr. Miller is a Demo-
crat and in 1899 ne was elected county commissioner
by a good majority, although the county was Re-
publican. His own district gave him one hundred
and forty-two majority, notwithstanding that it was
a Republican precinct. Business matters pressed so
closely that Mr. Miller could not devote the time to
the office that he deemed it deserved and consequently
he resigned. He was a delegate to the state convention
this year.
On February 19, 1903, Mr. Miller entered a corpo-
ration composed of T. M. Mockler, J. H. Mockler and
P. E. Miller, doing business under the name of Mock-
ler, Miller & Mockler, of which Mr. Miller is secre-
tary and treasurer. This firm is the largest on the \ez
Perce prairie, handling a complete hardware business,
farm machinery, furniture and being the only under-
taking establishment outside of Lewiston, in the Nez
Perces county.
JOHN LEROY SANFORD. A prosperous
farmer, an upright man, a scion of a substantial and
old family, and a man who is doing a commendable
work in developing this country, it is fitting to give
an epitome of the subject of this article.
John L. Sanford was born in Lincoln county. South
Dakota, on September 24, 1878, being the son of John
and Alary (Nelson) Sanford. The father was born
December 16, 1837, in Clark county, Illinois. He lived
a time in Putnam county, Indiana, then removed to
Boone county, Iowa. In the summer of 1861 he en-
listed in Company D, Tenth Iowa Infantry, in the
Fifteenth Army Corps. He was in both battles of
Corinth, at Iuka, Chattanooga, and the siege of Vicks-
burg, at Atlanta and several other battles and many
skirmishes. Mr. Sanford was in the hottest of many
of these awful conflicts when bullets were like hail,
while hundreds of men were falling all around. He
fought with a display of great courage and bravery
and endured unflinchingly the terrible ordeals of hard-
ship and trials of the soldier's life. In August, 1865,
he was mustered out at Little Rock, Arkansas, and re-
ceived his discharge at Davenport. He returned to
Boone county and on March 6. 1861 >. was
married. In 1872 he went to Lincoln county. South
Dakota, and in 1889 came to Moscow. Airs. Sanford
was born in Van Buren county, Michigan, on Novem-
ber 9, 1848. Seven children were born to Air. Sanford
and are named as follows : Violet S. Carley, Charles
M., Ella Olson, John Leroy, Alary A. Alillage. William
S. and Jesse H. Our subject came to the reservation
in 1898 and as soon as he was of age secured his pres-
ent homestead of forty acres. He has a good house,
3i*
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
first-class improvements, besides handling three hun-
dred acres of rented land. He raises flax and the
cereals and is prosperous and well respected.
The Sanford family is one of the oldest in America.
They descended from John Sanford, a wealthy Eng-
lishman, who came to the colonies in 163 1. His son
was William, and from him to the present, the geneal-
ogy is unbroken and they have many men of note
among them and are a strong, vigorous and prominent
family. Some of them have lived to be one hundred
years of age and some even older than that. Abraham
Sanford. a great-uncle of our subject, died in 1897
aged one hundred and one. Mr. Sanford's parents
are now living on the place with him and they are
highly respected people.
WILLIAM DESCHAMPS. A man full of en-
ergy, snap, and those qualities of aggressiveness that
make successful business men, also possessed of an
agreeable way and genial manner that win many
friends, and guided with wisdom and keen perception,
the subject of this sketch is rightly classed with the
leading men of business ability in the county of Nez
Perces. At present Mr. Deschamps is owner of a
first-class livery stable in Nezperce, which he has
leased.
William Deschamps was born in Stevens Point,
Portage county, Wisconsin, on May 7, 1872, being the
son of Peter and Margaret (Tardiff) Deschamps. The
father, a native of the province of Quebec, came to
New York state when twenty-one and thence through
various regions to Lewiston, where he now lives, aged
sixtv-seven. His brother lives on the old homestead
in Canada, which has been in the family for three hun-
dred years. The mother of William was of French de-
sent and born in Upper Canada. Her brothers are
well known railroad men in Wisconsin, John J. being
superintendent of the Wisconsin Central shops for
twenty years ; and George is a conductor on that line.
William was educated in Wisconsin and North Dakota,
whither the family went in 1882. The father took a
half section of land and farmed there for ten years.
The farm was an unsuccessful venture and although
the father did well in contracting on the construction
of the Great Northern, the losses on the estate ate up
all profits and when they sold and came to Lewiston
their finances were not of the best. This was in 1894,
and when the reservation opened they were among the
first to select land and secured a good tract for each
one. Our subject sold his quarter for thirty-five hun-
dred dollars and the father and sister sold a quarter
for four thousand dollars. Mr. Deschamps has bought
and sold some land since, among which is a stock farm
in Whitman county, Washington. In 1901 Mr. Des-
champs came to Nezperce and built a fine livery barn,
it being a substantial structure, and since that time
he has been conducting a first-class business there until
January I. 1003.
Mr." Deschamps has one brother, Charles E., on the
reservation, and three sisters, Mary, wife of John Rea-
gan, mi the Colville reservation, Washington; Lizzie.
wife of Orrin l'ixley, a stockman at Waha ; Meda, liv-
ing with parents in Lewiston. He and his family are
members of the Catholic church and stanch supporters
of the faith. Mr. Deschamps is a charter member of
the M. W. A., Nezperce Camp, No. 7498, being also
manager. He is a Republican and a rustler in this
realm, being a magnetic orator on the campaign and
a zealous worker in the field.
On November 2, 1901, Mr. Deschamps married
Miss Josephine M., daughter of Charles and Margaret
( Bulldell ) Langer. The father was born in France
and was one of the prominent architects in North Da-
kota, Minnesota and Puget Sound, but was caused to
retire from the work by a serious injury in North
Yakima resulting from a fall. He is now residing On
the reservation. He constructed the plans for a large
residence of Z. A. Johnson, in Nezperce. Mrs. Des-
champs' maternal grandparents reside on a ranch near
Cold Springs, aged ninety. Mrs. Deschamps has five
brothers : Fred, in Spokane ; Louis, a farmer on the
reservation ; Eugene, with his father ; Edward, in Cali-
fornia ; Phillip, a school boy with his parents. William
Deschamps has just bought one hundred and sixty
acres, two miles northwest of Nezperce, and intends
moving on it.
ELI A. LEACH. A man of integrity and sound
principles and whose life has demonstrated his worth
and ability as a stanch citizen, it is becoming that we
accord him space in the history of his county.
Eli A. Leach was born in Greenview, Menard
county, Illinois, being the son of Salathiel G.
and Mary (Yarner) Leach, natives of Indiana.
The father was born in 1826 and died in
1862 from yellow fever, while in service in the Civil
war in Tennessee. He was one of the earliest pioneers
in Illinois and a capable and enterprising man. The
mother was born in 1824 and her parents were among
the earliest settlers in that state. They had to fight
both wild animals and hostile Indians. Her father was
also a forty-niner in California. Our subject remained
in Illinois until fourteen and then went with his mother
to northwest Missouri, where he and his brother
farmed for her, their home being in Harrison county,
where he was educated and grew to manhood. Later
he studied and practiced medicine, and gained good
laurels in this line. When twenty-seven he settled in
Elk county, Kansas, and later in Pratt county, where
he farmed and practiced medicine. Later he returned
to Harrison county on a visit and in 1888 Mr. Leach
came to Farming-ton, Washington. Here he leased
land extensively and farmed. In the awful year of
panic, 1893. Air. Leach had one thousand acres of
first class wheat which was entirely lost on account of
wet weather. This broke him up financially and in
1895 he came to his present place, about two miles
southeast from Ilo, made a filing and settled down.
He now has a fine house of fourteen rooms, which
he is completing, and has followed diversified farming
with success since.
( )n August 16, 1874, Mr. Leach married Miss
Lucinda, daughter of William R. and Sarelda (Croff)
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
3'9
Smith. born in Kentucky in 1827 and 1829, respectively.
The father still lives in Missouri but the mother died
in 1884. The nuptials of our subject were celebrated in
Harrison county, .Missouri. Mrs. Leach was born in
Missouri on November 14. 1855, and has the following
brothers and sisters: Sarah, Jeremiah, Mary, Richard,
Susan. Jasper. Rena, Ison, and William. Mr. Leach
has the following named brothers and sisters : Eugene,
a soldier in the Civil war ; Edith, Robert, deceased ;
Salathiel. Eleven children have been born to our
worthy couple : Theophilus, Floyd, Cloyd, Theodore,
Rosa, deceased, Mary E., Eugene, Mattie, Edith, Dol-
lie, Ida. Mr. Leach is an elder in the Christian church
and has been an active member of that church since
he was seventeen. Mrs. Leach has been a member of
it since 1889. Mr. Leach is a Republican and has al-
ways been active. He is a strong supporter of good
schools and labors intelligently for their betterment
constantly. He was forced to undergo much hardship
when he came here, but has been prospered and now
has a fine bunch of stock and is well-to-do.
ALAXANDER POLLOCK. It is a pleasure to
grant to Mr. Pollock consideration in the history 'of
Nez Perces county, since he is one of the most enter-
prising and capable farmers of the entire reservation
county. His ranch is about one mile southeast from
Dublin and is known as the Idaho Model Farm, No. 1.
And surely it bears this name out in reality, for it is
one of the best places in the country and bears the
marks of the skill, wisdom, industry and careful plan-
ning of the owner. Mr. Pollock took the land in 1895,
being one of the first here, thus securing a choice farm.
It is well watered and fenced hog tight with twenty-
six inch wire netting. Mr. Pollock is devoting him-
self largely to raising hogs, finding them very profit-
able. He also raises flax for the market in addition to
the large amounts of grain which is consumed by his
stock. He has good, tasty buildings and an orchard,
with many other improvements of value.
Alaxander Pollock was born in Gray county, On-
tario, on November 18, 1869, being the son of' Alex-
ander and Elizabeth (Cook) Pollock, natives of
northern Ireland and Canada, respectively. The father
was married in Ontario and still lives in Gray county.
He and his wife are devout members of the Methodist
church. Our subject had scanty opportunity to gain
an education, but improved it well and by personal
research is a well informed man. In 1888-0 he was
on the Indian Peninsula in Canada, lumbering. In
1890 he came to Chippewa county, Michigan" then
went to Duluth, thence to Cumberland, Wisconsin, and
other portions of the country. Later he was in Kaslo.
British Columbia, and there mined for a time. In 1895
Mr. I'dl lock came to Spokane, thence to Lewiston
ami then to the reservation, selecting a choice spot.
He then returned to Spokane and later" when the reser-
vation opened, he was on hand to take his place. He
raises stock in addition to the hogs .mentioned and also
has some fine poultry. His house, barn, out buildings,
as granary, chicken house, hog barn and so forth are-
all made and kept in a model manner and it is the
purpose of M r. Pollock to make one of the finest farms
in the state.
On March 26, 1899, Mr. Pollock married Miss
Minnie A., daughter ot Willard and Julina Birchard,
natives of Vermont. They came to Mandan, North
Dakota. In 1800 they came to Marion county, Oregon,
where they now reside, engaged in fruit raising and
general farming. Mrs. Pollock was born in Iowa in
August, 1879. Two children, Howard M., born May
28, 1901, and Earl A., born December 5, 1902, have
come to gladden this home.
JERVIS R. CRAWFORD. Judge Crawford is
one of the prominent and popular residents of Nez-
perce and is entitled to especial representation in the
volume of his county history, being a man of excellent
business qualifications and possessed of a goodly hold-
ing of property and withal a man of sound principles
and first-class standing among the people.
Jervis R. Crawford was born in Wisconsin on Oc-
tober 1, 1854, being the son of Leonard and Lydia
(Sweet) Crawford, natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania,
respectively. The father came to the vicinity of Pull-
man, Washington, took land, and remains there still,
being aged seventy. The mother of our subject came
to Wisconsin with her parents, who are now dead,
and the family resided there for fifty years.
She died in 1874, aged forty. Jervis was raised
in Missouri, and educated in the common schools
and the College of Pharmacy in St. Louis. Aft-
er he graduated he accepted a position in Oron-
cgo, Missouri, and clerked in a drug store for two
years and then bought the store and remained six vears
longer. A move brought him to Kansas and two years
more were spent in a drug store. It was 188 1 that he
came to Whitman county, took a half section of land
and farmed for twelve years. The rust ruined him,
and when the reservation opened he came to its fertile
regions and at once entered the building and contract-
ing business in Nezperce. He has erected one-third
of the buildings in the town and is a skilled hand in the
business. Mr. Crawford has been elected justice of
the peace and he is especially fitted for this position, be-
ing a man of logical turn of mind and given to careful
weighing" of evidence and condition. He is popular in
this line and is a man of sound judgment. Mr. Craw-
ford is a member of the A. F. & A. M.. Hiram Lodge,
Number 36 ; of the I. O. O. F., Morning Star Lodge,
No. 56; of the W. of W. : and the M. W. A. He has
one brother, Clyde L.. a farmer at Yollmer. Politically
the Judge is a strong Democrat and can give a good
reason for the hope within him.
On January I, 1879, Mr. Crawford married Miss
Sarah E., daughter of Edward E. and Melinda J.
Richardson. She was born in Ottumwa, Iowa, on
April 1, 1861, and received a high school education.
Her father was a physician from Louisville, Kentucky,
and her mother was a native of Indiana. One son and
320
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
three daughters were in the family besides Mrs. Craw-
ford, namely: Harry J., in Nezperce ; Allie, wife of
Edward Barber, in this county ; Edna, wife of Joseph
Donaldson, also on the reservation. Two children have
been born to Judge Crawford and his wife, Cora M.,
wife of Harvey J. Harris, a farmer at Mohler; Gracie
D., wife of Roy W. Adams, on the reservation. Mrs.
Crawford is a member of the Rebekahs and also of the
Methodist church.
Judge Crawford and his wife are prominent in the
best social circles ; he is a progressive and substantial
citizen, ever in the lead in lines of improvement and
advancement of the town and county.
ERICK ERICKSON. At Kippen, in Nez Perces
county, is located the complete saw mill and plant, for
the manufacture of all kinds of building material, that
belongs to the subject of this sketch. It is one of the
most complete plants in the country and Mr. Erickson
carries full lines of material and a large stock. He is
an old saw-mill man and understands the business
thoroughly in all its departments and the county is to
be congratulated in securing his presence in this im-
portant industry.
Mr. Erickson was born in Sweden on August 21,
1848, being the son of Erick and Breten Pearson. The
father was born in that country in 1822, and has spent
his life in farming and still lives there. The mother
was born in 1822, and died in 1891. Erick was edu-
cated in his native land and remained there until
1868, when he bade farewell to all early environments
and associates and came to the United States. He
stopped six months in Galesburg, Illinois, and then
went to Clay county, Dakota, and took a
homestead. He worked as engineer in a saw-
mill for one and one-half years and did the
same business in a grist mill for three years.
Then he made the "trip to Portland, Oregon,
and thence came to Moscow, Idaho. He operated
a saw mill for a time and soon erected one of his own.
This was in the vicinity of Vollmer and for twenty
years he continued in this line of business there. He
also operated a general merchandise establishment at
the same time, and did a good business. When the
reservation opened up he came to his present location,
and has also done a good business here, having a fine
patronage. He is assistant postmaster at Kippen.
In 1874, at Vermillion, South Dakota, Mr. Erick-
son married Miss Minnie Anderson, who was born
in Norway in 1853 and came to the United States in
[869. Mr. Erickson has the following named brother
and sister. Andrew. Annie, both in Sweden. To Mr.
and Mrs. Erickson there have been born the following
children, Carl, deceased ; Ella, wife of Ernest Parkin,
111 this countv; Frank E., in Nez Perces county; Min-
nie, Annie, Enos, Lewis, all at home. Mr. Erickson
is a member of the I. O. O. F., and of the M. W. A..
and he and his wife belong to the Lutheran church.
Mr. Erickson is a Republican and is a familar figure in
both the county and state conventions. He always
labors for good educational facilities. Mr. Erickson
is a member of the Pioneer Association of Moscow.
His grandfathers were both soldiers and officers in
the army in Sweden.
ANDREW J. ERICKSON. Many hands have
labored in many different lines to bring about the
prosperity and high state of development in Nez
Perces county and a faithful one who has done well
in this line of advancement is named at the head of
this article. Mr. Erickson is postmaster at Kippen
and does a general merchandise business.
Andrew J. Erickson was born in Sweden, on Octo-
ber 7, 1866, being the son of Erick and Martha
(Johnson) Erickson. The father was a farmer, born
in Sweden in 1838 and was a tax collector for the
government. His father, Andrew Erickson, was a
sheriff. The mother of our subject was born in
Sweden in 1839 and died in 1886. Andrew J. was
educated in his native land ; after graduating from the
high school, he took a thorough business course. He
worked with his father until 1889, and then deter-
mined to start for himself in the world of business.
He was also imbued with the idea of the opportunities
in the new world and accordingly he came hither and
settled at Troy, Idaho. He went to work in the saw
mill there and soon had charge of the yards. At this
he continued until 1895 when he went to Portland and
worked for a couple of years. In 1897, he came to his
present location, taking charge of Mr. Erickson's saw
mill. He took a claim in 1888, which he still owns.
In 1899 Mr. Erickson started in the merchandise busi-
ness and in 1901 he was appointed postmaster. He
has done well in the merchandise business and has a
fine residence besides other property. Mr. Erickson is
a member of the I. O. O. F. and of' the M. W. A. In
political matters, he is a strong Republican and his
influence is felt in upholding the principles of his party
in no uncertain manner. Mr. Erickson is a warm
advocate of good schools and is ready to pay the tax
necessary to sustain them. He has five sisters and four
brothers! Mr. Erickson has never seen fit to embark
on the matrimonial sea and is now enjoying the con-
tentment and happiness of bacholor life.
ORIE W. CLICK. One of the men who has re-
cently come to Nez Perces county and who is now do-
ing a commendable work in bringing the county to
a "still higher state of development, is named at the
head of this article, and he is worthy of representation
in the history of this county as he is a man of industry
and energy, capable and upright and has manifested
himself as a successful operator in the industrial world,
having now a fine saw mill plant two miles southeast
from Winchester. Mr. Click was born in Montgom-
ery countv, Indiana, on June 1, 1871, being the son of
Jonathan "M. and Luanda (Cox) Click. The father
is a saw mill man, born in Virginia, in 1841, now liv-
ERICK ERICKSON.
ANDREW J. ERK'KSON
GEORGE G. STEVENS.
DeWITT STEVENS.
COURTNEY W. MEEK. CHARLES S. PUNTENNEY. ERICK HENDRICKSON
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
32 1
ing in Missouri. His parents were pioneers in In-
diana. The mother of our subject was born in Ken-
tucky, in 1846, and now resides in Missouri. The
family came to Vernon county, Missouri, when ( )rie
was eleven years of age. He was educated there, com-
pleting his training by a good business training in a
commercial college. He wrought with his father and
gained a thorough knowledge of the lumber business
in all its departments, as well as becoming a thorough
machinist and engineer, thus being admirably fitted
for the labors he is now prosecuting. At the time of
his majority, he came to the west, landing near Mos-
cow, where he operated an engine for a year. He re-
turned then to Missouri and engaged in the saw mill
and lumber business, continuing there until 1900. In
that year, he came to Nez t'erces county and located
where we find him at the present time. He had as part-
ners, Palmer and Hunter, but he bought these
men out later and took as partner, Mr. Cope, with
whom he is laboring now. They have a fine mill, do
first class work, and are building up a good trade.
On October 25, 1894, in Vernon county, Mis-
souri, Mr. Click married .Miss Betsey A., daughter of
J. M. and Elizabeth M. (Ellis) Seybold. Mr. Sey-
bold was a native of Missouri, but is now dead. Hon.
J. D. Ellis, representative to the state legislature, is
an uncle of Mrs. Click. Mrs. Click has one brother,
William, in Winchester. Mr. Click has one brother
and one sister, Quincy R. and Icy L. Mr. and Mrs.
Click have been blessed by the advent of three chil-
dren, Wellington B., Marion C. and Wardin C. Mr.
Click is a warm advocate of good educational facili-
ties and thus believes that the morals of all will be
brought to a higher plain. He is a Democrat and ac-
tive in political matters. Mrs. Click's father was a sol-
dier in the Civil war, serving the entire time of the con-
flict. Mr. Click and his wife are both members of the
German Baptist church and are substantial people,
highly esteemed and of good standing.
GEORGE G. STEVENS. A promoter of the
industrial development of. Nez Perces county and ;i
man of enterprise and intelligence, the subject of this
article is worthy of representation in the history of
his county, being also a man of integrity and excellent
standing among his fellows.
George G. Stevens was born in Illinois, on Octo-
ber 11, 1869, being the son of George W. and Lydia
E. (Dillingham) Stevens, natives respectively of
Washington county, Tennessee, and North Carolina.
He came to the coast with the family and settled on
his father's ranch near Moscow. At the acquisition
of his majority he went to Palouse City and engaged
in a flour mill for two years. Then he returned to the
farm for a year and after that operated a binder until
1898, which was the date of his advent to this sec-
tion. He purchased the relinquishment of a settler
and filed on his present place at the Star mills, which
he erected and has been operating since. The mill has
an output capacity of twenty-five thousand feet per
day. He has it equipped with fine Russell saws and
Goodell & Waters planer, with all modern machinery
for the manufacture of timber products, and the sup-
ply on his farm with that of forty acres owned by his
father will keep the mill in operation for ten years.
On October 10, 1896, Mr. Stevens married Miss
Marie, daughter of John and Francis Waldher, natives
of Germany. Mrs. Stevens' mother died when she
was two years old and the father married a sister of
his former wife. Mr. Stevens is a member of the W. of
W. Lookout Camp, No. 607. Mr. Stevens has erected a
story and one half residence with modern improve-
ments, which is the family home, and his place mani-
fests much labor and excellent skill in all its improve-
ments. He is a Republican and takes the part of a
good citizen in these matters. Air. Stevens is deserv-
ing of much credit for the manner in which he has
labored for the upbuilding of this country and he is
one of the potent factors in its advancement and is
a progressive man.
DEWITT STEVENS is assistant manager and
engineer in the Star mills, two miles southeast from
Lookout. He has demonstrated himself a man of abil-
ity and integrity and is one of the foremost men in
the development of the country and labors for its
progress.
DeWitt Stevens was born in Tennessee on Decem-
ber 30, 1859, being the son of George W. and Lydia
E. (Dillingham) Stevens, mention of whom is made
in this work. He grew up with his parents, receiv-
ing a common schooling, which was completed in the
State Normal at Fort Scott, Kansas. Soon after the
family came from Kansas to this country. DeWitt fol-
lowed and he has been associated with his parents and
brothers in business more or less since that time. He
operated in sawmills with his brother George, and
then, in 1893-4 opened in the furniture and undertak-
ing business in Moscow. A fire destroyed their pro-
perty and but slight insurance recompensed them, so
it was almost a total loss. Then we find Mr. Stevens
associated with Mr. McCarty in the flour and feed
business under the firm name of Stevens & McCarty.
Later he sold his business and came to take part in
the sawmill business with his brothers, George.
On April fi, 1890, Mr. Stevens married Miss [da K.
daughter of Henry J. and .Mary ( Frtle) Fry. natives
of Germany. The father was a prominent business
man in Moscow but is now deceased. Mrs. Stevens
has two sisters. Elmina Fry. treasurer of Latah coun-
ty, and Emma, wife of George Steward, of Moscow.
To Mr. and Mrs. Stevens there have been born the
following children. Ray, Fred, Paul. Jesse. Ruth. Ha-
zel, deceased, and Esther. James F. Stevens, a brother
of our subject, was born in Tennessee and grew up -in
the various places where the family lived and two
years after the family came to the coast he came also.
He returned to Georgia and two years after that came
back to Whitman county. Washington. He operated
as section foreman until he was crippled by moving
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
tars and then upon recovery he worked in Moscow.
Finally, he went to Coos county, Oregon, and took a
claim 'where he dwells at the present time, devoting
his attention to his farm and the duties of a Dunkard
preacher. He was married in Atlanta, Georgia, to
Rhoda E. Ouillen. They have six children. We de-
sire to add that the subject of this sketch is one of the
substantial and worthy men of this section and stands
well with his fellows, being a man of enterprise, wis-
dom and integrity.
C< H'RTNEY WALKER MEEK, deceased. One
mile and one half west from Fletcher is the home
allotment where the widow and descendants of the
subject of this article resides, and which was also the
home of Mr. Meek before his death. His name is
known all over the northwest, not only on account of
the prowess of his father but also because of his own
activities, achivements, and personal worth. He
was a man of fine appearance, strong intellectual
powers, well versed in law and history and in every
respect a public minded and patriotic citizen. He did
pioneer work all over the northwest, fought the warring
Indians, and as occasion provided settled down to
producing the fruits of the field.
Courtney W. Meek was born in Idaho when it
was a part of Oregon territory, on December 7, 1838,
and his death occurred on' May 13, 1896, being
drowned in the Willamette river. His parents were
the well known historical characters of Joseph L. and
Virginia Meek, of whom especial mention is made in
another portion of this work. Our subject was
brought up at Hillsboro and attended the district school
us well as the Indian school, which was located where
part of the Forest Grove institution is now situated.
Mr. Meek was seventeen years old when the Indian
war of 1855 broke out and he and his father fought
with Captains Layton and Goff. Our subject endured
al the hardships and dangers incident to such a posi-
tion and was also with Colonel Steptoe at the Medical
Lake fight. During the Civil war he enlisted, being
in Captain E. Palmer's Company B of the Oregon
hirst Regiment of Infantry, the date of taking his
place being December, 1864. On December 26, he was
promoted as Corporal and saw service against the
Indians. He was discharged at Vancouver on July
23, 1866. Following this he farmed in Washington
county, Oregon, took a prominent part in developing
the country and held county offices. In 1895 he sold
out and came to his allotments and did considerable
labor in locating settlers.
On September 24, 1878, Mr. Meek married Miss
Adell. daughter of George and Eliza (Cathleen)
Newton, natives of New York, and died in 1884 and
1896, respectivelv. Mrs. Meek was born in Wiscon-
sin, on July 7. 1851. She has two sisters and one
brother, Sarah, Eliza, Clark. The children born to
this marriage were Josephine and George Newton,
both deceased. Leonora E., and Cella W. Mrs.
Meek lias shown remarkable fortitude and business
skill since the death of her husband. She has con-
ducted the business, has improved the land, erected
good buildings, has a large barn, a fine eight-room
house and is one of the enterprising residents of the
region. Mr. Meek was a member of the Pioneers'
Association of Portland, the G. A. R., and of the
Ciood Templars.
CHARLES S. PUNTENNEY is one of the leading
men of the vicinity of Lookout, Nez Perces county,
having a general merchandise store and a hardware
establishment there. He was virtually the founder of
the business industries of the place, although the name
had been given when he came there. He is a native
of Parke county, Indiana, being born on September
29, 1858, the son of James N. and Mary A. (Hamlin)
Puntenney. The father was also born in Parke county,
Indiana, on August 3, 1831, and still lives in Butler,
Illinois, where he was in the state militia at the close
of the Civil war. The mother of our subject was born
in Springfield, Illinois, in 1839, and her father, a
Methodist preacher, was a native of England, and
followed preaching in Illinois. He was a younger
brother of Emmons Hamlin, the famous musical in-
strument manufacturer. Mrs. Scott, the mother of
Mrs. Puntenney was of Scotch descent, born in Ken-
tucky and a relative of General Winfield Scott. Our
subject was taken by his parents to Illinois while an
infant and the father settled in Montgomery county,
where he is an honored citizen. Charles gained his
education there and remained at home until twenty-
one. He was then a -cowboy over southern Colorado,
freighted and labored in the mines, where he
did well. Later he returned to Butler and op-
erated the home place and then went into the
drug and grocery business in Butler. For
eight years he continued thus and was prospered.
In 1887, he sold out and went to Paris, Illinois, tak-
ing up the creamery business. After this we see him
dealing in farm implements and then manufacturing
a patent bed spring, in which he prospered. Selling
out, he returned to Butler and went into the mines.
Afterwards he was in Connellville, Pennsylvania,
operating in a dry goods store and also in the mines.
In March, 1891, he came to Boise and soon thence to
Moscow. In this last town he remained in the gro-
cery business until he sold and came to his present
location in 1899. Since coming here he has done a
good business and is carrying a good stock in his gen-
eral store as well as in the hardware department.
On November 28, 1897, occurred the marriage of
Mr. Puntenney and -Miss Ida, daughter of Levi and
Maria (Browning) Smith, in Hood River, Oregon,
while she was visiting her sister and brother there.
The father was born in Pennsylvania and mother at
Baltimore. Maryland, and both died near Dayton,
Indiana. Mrs. Puntenney was born in Tippecanoe
county, Indiana, on July 20, 1858. Mr. Puntenney
has the following brothers and sisters, Lizeth Roberts,
in Litchfield, Illinois ; Minnie E., teacher for years in
Normal schools, Sarah E., deceased ; Laura E., at
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
home ; Lylah A. Reagan, in Indiana. Mr. Puntenney
is a member of the I. O. O. F. and of the W. of W.
His wife is a member of the Methodist church. Po-
litically, Air. Puntenney is a Prohibitionist and takes
an intelligent interest in the affairs of government.
His grandfather on his father's side was a veteran of
the Mexican and Black Hawk wars. Mrs. Puntenney
had uncles on both sides in the Civil war, while Mr.
Puntenney's uncle, Munson Hamlin, fought in that
awful struggle also.
ER1CK HENDRICKSON. This loyal and in-
telligent citizen is one of the men whose labors have
resulted in the development of the county and he has
done good work in the vicinity of Lewiston for some
time. At the present time he is in charge of Mr.
Slasher's farm and fruit ranch five miles east from
Lewiston.
Mr. Hendrickson was born in Sweden, on
September 22, 1864, being the son of Hendrick Hen-
drickson, who was born in Sweden on March 12,
1830, and is still a farmer in his native land. The
mother was born in 1829 and died in 1876, while
Erick was but a small lad. He labored diligently on
the farm with his father and secured his education
from the schools of his native place and when he was
twenty-two, he was determined, from the information
he had read of the United States and its opportunities,
to come hither. Accordingly, he severed the ties that
bound him to home and native land, bade his kindred
and friends farewell and came to New York. Thence
he made his way to Pomeroy, Washington. He
harvested the first year and then leased a saw mill,
which he operated one year in the Blue- Mountains,
after which he came to Lewiston and went to work
for Mr. Porter. He operated the engine in his saw
mill and attended to the fruit in its season. He con-
tinued in this for five years and made some money.
Next we see him operating Mr. Isaman's fruit ranch,
and in 1901, he took charge of Mr. Slasher's fruit
farm, where he is at the present time. Mr. Hendrick-
son is skilled in the care of orchards and makes a
fine success of the same.
Mr. Hendrickson has the following brothers and
sisters. Carl, in Minnesota; Anders, in Sweden; Marie
in Minnesota. He is a member of the W. of \Y., at
Lewiston. In political matters. Mr. Hendrickson is
a Republican and always takes the proper interest in
these matters. He owned some land near Porter, but
sold it to Mr. Isaman. Mr. Hendrickson is an intel-
ligent and industrious man and enjoys the confidence
cf all who know him.
ELMER WEEKS. Among the younger men of
the reservation country whose labors have been worthy
and wisely bestowed, we should mention the subject
of this article, ami it is with pleasure that we grant
him space in the count v history.
Elmer Weeks was born in Nebraska on Line 27,
1874, being the son of George and Gertrude (Tetly)
Weeks, natives of Norway, but immigrants to the
United States when young. The family" went to Clay
county, South Dakota, in the seventies and in the Cen-
tennial year they all journeyed to Moscow, where the
parents are still living. They have had eight children :
Mrs. Nellie Madison, deceased : Elmer ; Joseph ; Mrs.
Clara Clark; Granford, deceased; George; Emma M. :
Alma G. In 1895 Mr. Weeks came among the very
first and secured his present claim on the reservation.
It lies less than a mile southeast from Dublin and is
well improved, thus manifesting the industry and wis-
dom of the owner.
On October 23, 1898, Mr. Weeks was married to
Miss Elva, daughter of James and Lucetta Crawford.
The father was born in Daviess county, Indiana, on
January 30, 1841, and the mother was born in Carroll
county, Indiana, on October 2, 1843. He was raised
in Madison county, Iowa, and she was raised in
Guthrie county, Iowa. In 1865 they both crossed the
plains with ox teams and on this trip, being in the
same train, they became acquainted and were married
in Marion county, Oregon, after the trip. The jour-
ney was attended with considerable danger from the
Indians, and many fights with them occurred on the
way, some of the immigrants being wounded. They
removed to Dayton. Washington, in 1873, and there
in 1878, March 1. Mrs. Weeks was born. In [891 the
family removed to Latah count}-. Ten children were
in this family, — Samuel M., William L., Mary B., de-
ceased, Mrs. Anna L. Haroke, James N., Mrs. Elva
Weeks, Abner A., Joseph F., John E., Celia Flo. Mrs.
Crawford died on April 26, 1898. Two children have
been born to Mr. and Mrs. Weeks, — Lester E., born
July 29, 1900; Franklin E., born March 14, 1902.
NATHANIEL WILSON. Among the very first
ones who settled on the reservation, our subject has the
place of the real pioneer in this section and as such we
accord him space in the history of Nez Perces county.
On November 19, 1895, Mr. Wilson filed on his present
place, two miles east from Ilo, where he has done com-
mendable labor in developing the country.
Nathaniel Wilson was born in Sullivan county,
Missouri, on October 11, 1867, being the son of Enos
and Martha (Norton) Wilson. The father was bom in
Ohio in 1824 and now lives in Elgin, Oregon. He
fought in the Civil war, was a pioneer in Red Cloud,
Nebraska, when there was not a house in sight of his
dwelling. The mother was born in Tennessee 111 1835
and died in 1894. The family removed from Missouri
to Webster county. Nebraska, where the father took
land and farmed. Nathaniel then being seven years old.
Our subject grew to young manhood, received his edu-
cation in the common schools and the}- all went to
Rollins county, Kansas. After that he went to do for
himself and was in that state and in Nebraska until
1889, when in company with his brother Albert he
crossed the plains with wagons and settled on the big
324
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Potlatch, in Xez Perces county. Later he went to
Genesee and then spent a year in the Gem mine in the
Coeur d'Alene country. Then Mr. Wilson visited Cali-
fornia, after which we see him in Xez Perces county,
again living near Genesee. In the fall of 1895, as stated
above, he came to the opening of the reservation and
selected his present place. He has done diversified
fanning business since that time, and also devotes
much attention to raising stock. He has some excel-
lent draft horses, the lightest one weighing fourteen
hundred pounds. Air. Wilson also has some fine hogs.
His brothers and sisters are named as follows :
Malhalia, Esther, James M., Albert, Harvey,
Minnie and Edith A. Mr. Wilson is a member of
the I. O. O. F., at Ilo. He is a Democrat and is
always at the conventions and caucuses. The conven-
tion at Lewiston honored him with the nomination of
county commissioner in the second district. He has
often been desired to take the position of school trustee,
but refuses. He has labored for good schools and has
donated much for them. Mr. Wilson has never left the
ranks of bachelordom, but is still enjoying its quiet-
ness. He is a man of excellent standing and has both
the good will and confidence of the people.
EDWARD F. ANDERSON was born on Febru-
ary 17, 1 85 1, in Union county, Georgia, being the son
of Andy and Adaline (Dicken) Anderson, natives of
Tennessee. The)- removed to Union county, Georgia,
thence to Benton county, Arkansas, and in 1862" to
Dade county, Missouri. In August, 1863, Mr. Ander-
son enlisted in Company F, Second Arkansas Cavalry,
and continued in service until the close of the war.
He fought in many battles and skirmishes. When he
left Arkansas he had a fine farm well improved and
stocked. Returning at the close of the war, he found
all improvements destroyed and all stock stolen. Our
subject grew to manhood in Arkansas and there, on
April 10. 1 8 7 1 , he married Ali>s Emma Bozarth. In
1877 the father with all of his family, three sons and
one daughter married, started across the plains with
teams. They all, with the exception of our subject,
who stopped at Walla Walla, came direct to Latah,
Washington. A year later our subject came to Latah,
took land and farmed. He had five children by his
first wife: John Oliver, married tc Cora Wright:
Clarence H. married to Grace L. Denny ; Benton A.,
married to Grace B. Haggett : Minnie, wife of Robert
Dunham : Emma L., at home. All the others are near
Nezperce. On April 13, 1886, Mrs. Anderson died.
In the fall of 1887 Mr. Anderson returned to Arkansas
and married Mrs. Keturah Cox. on March 25, 1888.
They immediately came to Latah county, and in [894
removed to Camas prairie and when the reservation
opened up Mr. Anderson located his present place, six
miles west from Nezperce. He was one of the first
settlers and now has a fine place well improved. Good
buildings, a thrifty young orchard and other evidences
of industry and good management are to be seen. To
Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have been born seven children :
Francis A.. Zoe. Irene, Edna F., Ethel V., Edward L.,
Thomas A., deceased. Mrs. Anderson has one son by
her former marriage, Charles H. Cox. Mrs. Ander-
son's parents were Hathaway and Nancy ( Hawkins 1
Masterson, natives of Kentucky, who are mentioned.
elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are
devout members of the Christian church. His father
died at Tekoa, Washington, in August, 1900, aged
seventy-seven and the mother aged the same is living
with her children. The father was a member of the G.
A. R., and was buried by that order. He was also an
elder in the Christian church for many years. Mrs.
Anderson's mother is a sister of Senator Hawkins, of
Alabama, from which family the town of Hawkins-
ville, Alabama, was named. Mrs. Anderson was born
in Benton county, Arkansas, on October 27, 1866, and
there remained until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs.
Anderson are exemplary citizens and have the esteem
and good will of all who know them and have done
much for the material and moral upbuilding of the
country.
JOHN D. GRAHAM. This gentleman is one of
the heaviest property owners in the town of Nezperce,
a man of substantial qualities, dominated with wisdom
and integrity and a leader among his fellows.
John D. Graham was born in Missouri, on Septem-
ber 2-j, 1847, being the son of William and Harriet L.
( Duncan) Graham, natives of Holmes county, Ohio.
The paternal grandfather of our subject came from
Ireland and died in February, 1894, aged seventy-eight,
while his maternal grandparents came from Pennsyl-
vania and died in 1892. When John was five years
old he crossed the plains with his parents with ox
teams and they located in Benton county, Oregon,
seven miles from Corvallis. Later the family came
to The Dalles and built a toll bridge across the Des
Chutes. John was educated in the public schools and
when twenty-five he went to Klickitat county and
raised stock for twenty-nine years. It was 1887 that
he came to Grangeville, Idaho. He purchased two
hundred and forty acres and raised stock until the
reservation opened and then located a homestead two
miles from Nezperce. Mr. Graham owned a liver}'
barn here until recently, has a fine residence in the
town, nas much real estate, and half interest in the
mercantile business conducted by Mr. Schultz ; he also
owns the Nezperce hotel building and considerable
other property.
Mr. Graham has the following brothers and sis-
ters; Robert M., in Bickleton, Washington : Thomas
B., in Dayton, Washington ; Maria L., widow of H.
South, in Prosser, Washington ; Frankie, widow of
Ij. F. Morris, at Lewiston : Delia, wife of Alec O'Dell,
in Dayton, Washington: Georgia, wife of Logan Mul-
key ; and Mrs. Mary Bailey. Mr. Graham is a member
of the W. W., Nezperce Camp, No. 445. He is a good,
strong Democrat in politics and has held school of-
fices for twenty years. Mr. Graham and his wife are
members of the Christian church, while his children
affiliate with the Baptist.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
On November 4, 1877, Mr. Graham married Miss
Phoebe A., daughter of David and Phoebe (Pugh)
Story. She was born in Hancock county, Illinois,
on January 12, 1858, and came with her parents across
the plains with ox teams in 1864. Her mother died in
1869, and was born in 1826, being a native of Indi-
ana. Mrs. Graham's father was born in Alabama and
is still living, aged eighty-four. Mrs. Graham has
two brothers and three sisters, Caleb, a farmer in
Goldendale, Washington; David M., a school teacher
in Grangeville; Sarah, wife of D. Jordan, in Colum-
bia. Washington; Alary, wife of T. L. Masters, at
Goldendale, Washington ; Patsey E., wife of A. Car-
lyle, at Republic, Washington. Eight children have
been born to Mr. Graham and his estimable wife : Will-
iam V., Bessie D., wife of Ollie Waechter, Everett,
Washington; Edna L., wife of B. L. Schultz, a mer-
chant of Nezperce; five deceased. Mr. Graham is a
genial and affable gentleman and has the good will of
all who know him ; he and his wife are leading mem-
bers of society.
FRANCIS F. POMEROY. Kamiah's list of busi-
ness men was materially strengthened when the sub-
ject of this sketch located there in 1899. He opened a
hotel which is one ot the excellent places for enter-
tainment in the county, and which Mr. Pomeroy con-
ducts with skill and wisdom that have brought him a
good patronage.
Francis F. Pomeroy was born in Oregon, on April
.24. [849, being the son of Francis F. and Mary ( Kitch-
en) Pomeroy, natives of New York and Missouri, re-
spectively. The father came to Oregon in 1845. In
1848. while packing to Feather river camps in Cali-
fornia, he was murdered by two men who joined his
train to travel with it. The murderers killed Mr. Pom-
eroy and two helpers, robbed their bodies and the
train and made off, but owing to the vigilance of of-
ficers, they were caught and executed. The place of
their execution was called Hangtown on account of
this episode. The mother of our subject came to
Oregon overland with her husband. When Francis
was six years old his mother died and he went to live
with his uncle, Benjamin Kitchen. When fourteen he
went to Douglas county to mine and spent four years
in that labor, after which he returned to Washington
county. He bought his father's old donation claim
from the other heirs and farmed it until 1899, then
sold out and came to his present place. Mr. Pomeroy
is a member of the Native Sons of Oregon, also of
the Maccabees, being chaplain of Tent No. 10, in Ka-
miah. Mr. Pomeroy has two sisters. Lydia, wife of
Kenvon Crandall, in the real estate business in Port-
land ; Welthea. wife of Edwin Ford, operating a can-
nery at Astoria.
On September 2, 1867, Mr. Pomeroy married Miss
Rebecca, daughter of Xoa and Lydia (Garw 1)
Jobe, pioneers from Missouri. They made the trip
to Oregon with ox teams overland and Mr. Jobe
fought m the Cayuse Indian war nearly two years. He
is still living but his wife is dead. Mrs. Pomeroy was
married in Hillsboro, and to this union there have
been born six children: Ida. wife of William Ryan, a
grocer in Portland; Lulu, wife of William 1'olitz, a
grocer in Portland; Edgar, at Lapwai ; John, a mer-
chant at Kamiah ; Nellie, at school ; Charles, in Nez-
perce. Politically, Mr. Pomeroy is a Democrat and
lias frequently been delegate to the conventions. He
believes in excellent schools and labors hard for them.
Mr. Pomeroy gave each of his children a good educa-
tion and he is one of the progressive and enterprising
men of the town.
JOHN G. LENZ, M. D. This popular and tal-
ented young physician is a graduate of the Chicago
Homeopathic College, having taken an exceptionally
thorough course, since he studied for this end some
years previous, and also having shown his erudition
and ability both in the state examination of Idaho as
well as in his extensive and constantly increasing prac-
tice since coming to Ilo. He is now one of the sub-
stantial men of the town and is operating a nice drug
business in addition to his practice.
John G Lenz was born in Rock Island county.
Illinois, on July 17, 1875. being the son of Nicholas
and Cynthia A. (Strubble) Lenz. The father was
born in Germany in 1845 and died in 1893. He came
to the United States with his parents in 1857. The
mother of our subject was born in Pennsylvania in
1849 and 1S now living in Nez Perces county, having
come here in an early day. Our subject lived in Illi-
nois until fifteen, when the family went to Nodaway
county, Missouri, settling near Marysville. A
year and one half later the mother came west,
settling in this county. John G went to a
business college and then took a course pre-
paratory to his medical course in the state
university ot Iowa. We next see him in the Chicago
Homeopathic Medical College, whence he graduated
with honors. He came west and selected Ilo as the
point for settlement. Ho was then only thought of, but
the aggressiveness and farsightedness of the Doctor
was put into play and he. with Mr. Leggett, who is
mentioned in the work elsewhere, established the town.
They erected the building where Mr. Leggett is now
and then the Doctor built his drug store and the t< iwn
was launched and has shown itself a worthy child.
In Iowa City, on June 8, iSnj. Doctor Lenz married
Miss Ada M., daughter of William T. and Lydia F.
(Heil) Scheib. The name used to be Scheibel. Mr.
Scheib was born in Pennsylvania in 1840, was a mer-
chant and farmer and had devoted many years to the
work of the educator. He served in the Civil war. in
Company H, Sixteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He
was wounded in the wrist at the battle of Shiloh and
also in the head at Island No. Ten. Following this he
was discharged and now draws a pension. Mrs.
Scheib was born in Iowa, in October. 1854. Both are
'living. Airs. Lenz was born in Jackson county, Iowa,
on |uly 12. 1875. She received a good education from
the state university and also took a course of training as
nurse. She has the following brothers and sisters :
326
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Jennie, deceased; Bessie: Bernice, deceased; Harry;
Nellie : Lersy : and Herman, deceased. Dr. Lenz has the
following brothers and sisters ; Mary, deceased ; Eliz-
abeth ; Elmer. Dr. Lenz is a member of the I. O. O.
F.j the M. W. A. and the Brotherhood of American
Yeomen, and is examiner for the last two orders.
Politically, he is a Democrat. He is also a member of
the Central Congregational church in Chicago. He
is deeply interested in educational progress and has
alwavs been a liberal contributor for general improve-
ment. To Mr. and Airs. Lenz there has been born one
child, Camilla B. C. She was born on September 7,
1 90 1, and died on September 21, 1901.
JAMES TURNER. This worthy and stanch pio-
neer of many sections of the west is now one of the suc-
cessful business men of Kamiah, handling a fruit, con-
fectionery and refreshment establishment which is the
recipient of a good patronage.
James Turner was born in Iowa, on November 4,
1837, being the son of John and Elizabeth (Penning-
ton ) Turner, natives of Kentucky. In 1832 the entire
family came across the plains to Linn county, Oregon,
and in February, 1854, our subject started in life for
himself. He mined in Shasta county, California, and
in Jackson county, Oregon, until 1865, also taking a
trip to Idaho in 1862. He visited Florence City, in
1863 came to Idaho City and for three years he was
numbered with the successful placer miners of that
city. Then he returned to Linn county and in 1875 he
moved to Whitman county, Washington. Ten years
in that region and then three and one-half were spent
in Spokane. He returned to Whitman and railroaded
for a time and later went at his labor of mining in the
Pierce City district. Seven years were spent in that
labor and in 1900 Mr. Turner came to his present
place. He has one brother, Henry I., a miner in
Shoshone county, and three sisters, Melinda; Mary,
wife of William Rett, a stockman of Montana; Mar-
garet, wife of Harry Titman, residing at Yaquina bay,
Oregon.
In February, 1866, Mr. Turner married Miss Jane,
daughter of John and Elizabeth (Gohlson) Naught.
Mrs. Turner was born in Iowa in 1846 and came to
Polk county across the plains with her parents in
1853. She is a member of the Christian church and is
a woman of excellent virtues. To this union there have
been born four children, William A., with his parents ;
Cora D., wife of Henry B. Webber ; Charles E. and Ella
M., with parents.
ROBERT H. RENSHAW. Among the leading
merchants of eastern Nez Perces county we mention
R. H. Renshaw, who is one of the partners of the firm
of Renshaw Brothers & Johnson, which does a general
merchandise business in Kamiah. also handling a
livery stable in the same town. In both lines of busi-
ness they are reaping the reward of industry and wise
business methods, being favored with a' very lucrative
patronage, which is handled in a commendable manner.
Robert H. Renshaw was born in Lane county,
Oregon, on October 23, 1853, being the son of Robert
H. and Nancy J. (Stowell) Renshaw. The father was
born in Tennessee, on September 6, 1818, near Knox-
ville. He crossed the plains in 1851, locating six miles
south from Eugene, where he farmed until his death,
on April 4, 1883. The mother of our subject was born
in Tennessee, on July 27, 1824 and is now living with
her son in Spokane. Her parents were natives of
Virginia and descended from an old English family
of note. Robert was raised and educated in Oregon,
completing his training at Forest Grove University,
where he paid his expenses by his own efforts. Three
years were then spent in Washington, three more in
Oregon and four in Modoc county, California, various
employments engaging him. Then a trip was taken to
Montana and mining was his labor until 1889. Thence
he went to Washington and filed on a homestead in
Stevens county, where he farmed and did dairying un-
til 1900, at that time selling twenty-five cows and three
hundred and sixty acres of land. He came to Kamiah
and bought the interest of C. J. Lester in the mercan-
tile establishment of Renshaw & Lester. The firm
style changed to Renshaw Brothers & Johnson.
Mr. Renshaw has five brothers and one sister, Baxter,
a paint and oil man in Spokane ; Moses A., a dairyman
in Spokane ; John D., a large stockman in Stevens coun-
ty, Washington; Henry, partner of our subject; Har-
vey H., farmer on Camas prairie ; Bell, wife of E. Kin-
near, a merchant in Rossland, British Columbia. Mr.
Renshaw is a member of the I. O. O. F., Clearwater
Lodge. No. 68, at Kamiah ; and of the Maccabees,
Kamiah Tent, No. 10. He is a Democrat and interested
in good government.
On February 28, 1884, in Modoc county, Califor-
nia, Mr. Renshaw married Miss Laura, daughter of
M. and Harriet (Briggs) Thacker, natives of Spam
and New York, respectively. The father is deceased
and the mother lives with her son, Stephen D., fruit
grower at Payette, Idaho. Five children have been
born to Mr. and Mrs. Renshaw. John H, George W.,
Winnie W., Emera H. and Helen.
GODFREY JARBO. This enterprising gentleman
is operating a successful and popular livery stable in
Kamiah in connection with Renshaw Brothers &
Johnson. The barn is a commodious structure, is fit-
ted with all the conveniences, is stocked with excellent
horses and fine new vehicles, and the entire business is
one of the largest on the reservation. Mr. Jarbo gives
his personal attention to its management and is a
skillful horseman.
Godfrey Jarbo was bom in Canada on November
19, 1868, being the son of Layon and Eliza (Bushaw)
Jarbo. The father is now a retired farmer in North
Dakota, but the mother is deceased. Godfrey came to
North Dakota with his parents when a small boy and
was there reared and educated. He learned the butcher
business when young and before he was twenty-one
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
327
he was in business with his brother, and they conducted
a first class butcher shop in Ardoch, North Dakota,
until 1900. Then he sold out and came to Kamiah and
opened a livery stable which, however, he soon sold and
then entered his present partnership.
Mr. Jarbo is a member of the M. W. \. Camp No.
61, at Kamiah, and also affiliates with the I. O. O. F.
at Kamiah. Politically, Mr. Jarbo is a Democrat.
WILLIAM P. HOLLIDAY. In at least three
distinct lines of endeavor has the subject of this arti-
cle been a successful laborer and in them all he has dem-
onstrated his adaptability and also bis integrity and
worthy manhood.
\\ illiam P. Holliday was born in Pike county,
Missouri, on August 4, 1833, being the son of Dr.
George R. and Sarah T. ( McMahill ) Holliday, natives
of Kentucky and Illinois, respectively. The father was
born in 1815 and died in 189S. He went to Pike coun-
ty in 1825 and was a pioneer in Monroe county, Iowa,
when it was a territory. Mrs. Holliday was born in
1811) and died in 1902. Her parents settled among the
very first white people in Warren county, Illinois. Our
subject was taken by his parents to Warren county
when he was two years old, then to Monroe county,
Iowa, when he was nine years old. There he grew to
manhood and received his literary education and then
attended the medical college in Keokuk, Iowa. In
1856 he commenced the practice of medicine in Iowa,
continuing there until 1861. Then came a move to
Warren county, where he continued for two years.
There he was enrolled in the militia, but was never
called into action. He moved to Jasper county and then
Atchison county, Missouri. In 1880 he moved to
Gordon, Texas, one hundred miles west from Dallas.
He followed his profession there and in 1881 he was
ordained a minister of the Church of Christ. He
preached and practiced medicine and the following
year went to the Choctow Indians and did evangelistic
labor for five years. He visited in his old home in
Illinois after this and then came to Garfield county,
Washington. He bad continued his profession all
the time and was also active in the ministry. 1880
marks the date of the western trip and later he dwelt
on Bear ridge. Latah county, in Douglas county, Ore-
gon, then again on the Bear ridge, and in 1896, Dr.
Holliday came to his present place, two miles southwest
from Kippen. Since coming here he has been active as
a physician, has bandied his farm and also proclaimed
the gospel continuously. He is now the pastor of the
church at Ilo and is regularly heard in the gospel
each week.
In Pike county, in November, 1855, Dr. Holliday
married Miss Mildred, daughter of Bennett Nalley, a
school teacher and native of Virginia. He was a sol-
dier in the Mexican war. Mrs. Holliday was born in
Pike county in 1833 and her brother, John Nalley,
still lives there. Dr. Holliday has brothers and sis-
ters named as follows- Americus C, and Benton A.,
both in Sullivan county, Missouri; Dr. Samuel \\, in
Oklahoma; Dr. Milton J., in Taney county, Missouri;
Joseph M., in Kansas; Susan R. Garnett, in Leaven-
worth. Kansas. The following named children have
been born to the Doctor and his worthy companion:
George T., in this county ; James B., in Yakima ; Will-
iam P., in Moscow ; Richard M., in Moscow ; Martha
J. Richardson, at Lookout; Mildred A. Perry, in Cali-
fornia. Dr. Holliday is a member of the Masonic or-
der. He is an active Democrat and is an influential
figure in the campaigns, being an enthusiastic and pow-
erful orator. He has always labored for his friends'
promotion in office but has steadily refused this for
himself. He was a member of the first state convent ic >n
in Idaho and has always been in the county convention,
being now committeeman. He was the first president
of the Nez Perces county Pioneer Association, and has
recently been again elected to that position.
JOHN F. POMEROY. \-,, list Gf the business
men of the reservation portion of Nez Perces county-
would be complete without a prominent mention of the
esteemed gentleman whose name initiates this para-
graph. Mr. Pomeroy was proprietor and operator of
the livery stable in Kamiah which he recently sold oul
and is now proprietor of a general store where he has
displayed good ability 111 handling his business, both
m securing a fine patronage and in conducting it in
such a manner that it is a financial success. In ad-
dition to this Mr. Pomeroy has a fine ranch of eighty
acres adjoining the town, which is principally devoted
to raising hay. It is a very valuable piece of land and
was secured by him through homestead right when the
reservation opened. He has refused three thousand
dollars for the eighty.
John F. Pomeroy was born in Washington county,
Oregon, on June 2, 1873, being the son of Frank F.
and Rebecca (Jobe) Pomeroy, natives of the same
county. The father was born in 1850. His parents
crossed the plains from Illinois in 1849, locating in
Washington county. Shortly afterwards they went to
California and there were murdered in a mining camp.
The mother of our subject was a descendant of early
pioneers from Missouri, and her father, Noah Jobe, is
still living, aged seventy-seven. Our subject was ed-
ucated in Hillsboro. Oregon, and remained iii Wash-
ington county until twenty, at which time he went to
Idaho. He operated a ferry on the Clearwater for a
few months and then repaired to Grangeville. where
he entered the lumber business. This continued to oc-
cupy him until the reservation opened and then he
went to the homestead spoken of and in 1902 to his
present business in Kamiah. Mr. Pomeroy has two
brothers and three sisters. Edgar, in Lapwai : Charles,
in Oklahoma: Ida, wife of James Ryan, at Portland;
Lulu, wife of William Pulitz, also in Portland : Nellie,
attending the University at Moscow.
On April 18. 1900', Mr. Pomeroy married Miss
Emma F.. daughter of Frank and Dora (Spooner)
Harning. natives of Oregon ami Pennsylvania, re-
spectively. Mrs. Pomeroy was born in Camas prairie,
328
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
en April 29, 1882. She has one brother, Edward, a
rancher on Camas prairie. Mr. Pomeroy is a member
of the 1. O. O. ¥., Clearwater Lodge. No. 68, at Kamiah,
and is past noble grand. He is a Democrat in politi-
cal matters, though not especially active ; is justice
of the peace, registrar of vote.- and has been a dele-
gate to the convention. Mr. Pomeroy is a descendant
from a worthy pioneer family and his ancestors on
both sides did much for the opening up of the western
countries. He is a creditable descendant and has had
his share in this same work and now is one of the sub-
stantial, reliable, and respected men of the community.
JAMES S. TYLER is one of the careful and en-
terprising merchants of Nez Perces county, having his
store at this time at Dublin, where he is the" recipient
a very gratifying patronage. He is postmaster at that
place also and is a man of good standing, capable and
genial, and has won the esteem and confidence of the
people.
James S. Tyler was born in Johnson county, Mis-
souri, on June 8. 1868. being the son of James K. and
Jane (Hocker) Tyler. The family is one of the old
and established ones of Kentucky and they have al-
ways been prominent and influential people. Edward
Tyler, the great-grandfather of our subject, kept a
tavern on the site of Louisville before a town was
thought of and he laid out the first plat there. The
grandson of that gentleman is at the present time
mayor of that thriving city. Henry S. Tyler, another
one of the family, was one of the wealthiest and most
popular men in Louisville. The father of our subject
was born in 1831 in Jefferson county. Kentucky, his
father being born in the same county. His grand-
father was the man who came to Kentucky with 1 ien-
eral Roger Clark and thirteen other families from Vir-
ginia and settled, and later he laid out the town of
Louisville. The mother of our subject was a native of
Missouri, being now deceased, and her ancestors were
natives of Kentucky and Virginia for generations
back, but pioneers to Missouri in the time of the early-
settlement of that state. The Tyler genealogy and
histor} have been compiled and the work is in press to
be issued in two volumes. This gives the lineage back
to 1604. Mr. Tyler spent most of six years aiding in
this work. The father of James took up land in John-
son county. Missouri, when a young man and there
his son was reared and received his education, the
rudiments from the district school; but later being
elected county treasurer, the father moved to the coun-
ty seat. Warrensburg, and then James graduated from
the State Normal situated there. Immediately follow-
ing his graduation James gave himself to the stud) of
telegraph}- and for fifteen years he was station agent
on the Northern Pacific, mostly in Montana. Soon
after the opening of the reservation he came to
Fletcher and opened a general store. In August. 1901,
he came to his present place and here he has done a
fine business since.
On December 22, 1891, Mr. Tyler married Miss
Olive, daughter of Philetus and Esteline (Mattoon)
Campbell, natives of Missouri. She was born near St.
Louis and when fourteen entered the normal at War-
rensburg. from which institution she graduated. She
was married at St. Louis. Mr. Tyler has three brothers
r.nd one sister: Sterling P.. in Warrensburg: Larkin,
M.. in Kansas City: Elmer H., in Oklahoma: Mallie,
wife of W. H. Hickman, a prominent merchant in
Warrensburg. Mrs. Tyler has the following brothers
and sisters: Clarence, in St. Louis: Lucien and
Joseph, in Missouri; William, in Idaho; Matlie, wife
of Edward Webber, in Missouri; Lima, wife of John
H. Wilson, a merchant in Warrensburg ; and Kate,
wife of Perry Hanna, a merchant in Brookfield, Mis-
souri. Mr. Tyler is a member of the W. W., Finney
Camp. No. 492, having filled the chairs. He is a
Democrat in political matters but is not so active here,
although in Montana he was a regular attendant upon
the conventions. To Mr. and Mrs. Tyler there have
been born four children, Arlee. Moses. Robert and
James.
ABRAHAM L. STALEY. A man with courage
enough to leap the narrow bounds of partyism and
choose for himself the man and vote for him, a success-
ful farmer and a thoroughgoing and upright man in
every respect, of whom his neighbors speak well and
who is respected wherever he is known, such is the
gentleman of whom, with pleasure, we incorporate an
epitome.
Abraham L. Staley was born in Shelby county.
Ohio, on April 4. [861, being the son of William and
Julia A. (Babcock) Staley. The father was a farmer
and sawmill man. was born in Ohio, in 1841, came to
Spokane county in 1884 and died there in 1896. The
mother was horn in Virginia, in 1835. and lives in
Spokane county. The family went to St. Joseph county.
Indiana, when our subject was nine years of age and the
father operated a sawmill there. Three years later
they came to Richardson county, Nebraska, and
farmed for seven years. Abraham here grew to young
manhood and received his education. When fourteen
he went to do for himself ami when eighteen came to
Lehmi county, where he wrought on the farms as he
had done previously. In 1887 he returned to Kansas,
settling in Sheridan county, and one year after that he
came again to Lemhi county and took a ranch and
spent one year there. In the spring of 1896 we find
Mr. Staley on the reservation and he secured one of
the finest pieces of government land, and it lies about
two miles east from Chesley. This has been tilled to
diversified crops, is Wel] improved and the family home
now. Between the times of his labor in Lemhi count)
and the date of his settlement here. Mr. Staley was in
Whitman count) farming. He did well there as he is
doing in this county.
In 1882 Mr. Staley married Miss Clara B., daughter
of John and Mary C. Yearian, natives of Ohio and
Illinois, respectively. The father was a railroad man
and a farmer anil pioneer in Lemhi county. Mrs.
Staley was horn in Illinois, in 1863, and has one brother
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
and two sister-. Alpha, in Lemhi county, Idaho; Flora,
in Spokane county ; Sarah, in Lemhi county. Mr.
Staley has the following named brothers and sisters :
Reuben, in Smith county, Kansas ; Ezekiel and Jacob,
in Spokane county ; Lydia. in Kansas ; Martha, in
Philips county, Kansas ; Lillian, in Nebraska. Seven
children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Staley : Elmer,
Wilber, Ira, Alpha, Minnie B., Jennie, and an infant
still unnamed. Mr. Staley is a member of the M. W.
A. at Kippen. He is a warm advocate of substantial
development, progress and good educational facilities.
CHARLES J. SHEPPARD. It is with pleasure
that we are enabled to grant a review of the career of
this substantial and industrious citizen of Nez Perces
county. He was born in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, on
April 21, 1872, being the son of Deastang and Louisa
(McDonald) Sheppard, natives respectively of New
York and Minnesota. The father enlisted in the Civil
war under General McClellan and fought in the battles
of Waterloo, Vorktown. Bull Run and many skir-
mishes. He suffered a wound in the foot from a shell,
languished in Libby for a time and endured all the hard-
ships known to the soldier's life. At the close of the
war lie was honorably discharged and returned to his
home, going thence to Minnesota. In 1878 the family
removed to Portland and the father went to carpenter-
ing. Then they moved to Beaverton, later to Yaquinna
bay and lived in Salem, Albany, Ashland, and other
places. We next see our subject riding the range out
from Prineville ; he has also ridden all over Grant,
Harney, Crook and Wasco counties. In 1895 he went
across the country to California and three years later,
having mined and prospected there, he came to Ashland,
Oregon, by horse and wagon. In August, 1898, he
came to Nezperce anil engaged in farming. Here on
October 21, 1901, Mr. Sheppard married Mrs. Nannie
Siler, widow of the late Granville Siler and daughter
of Fielding and Elizabeth Fuller. Mrs. Sheppard was
born in Knox county, Kentucky, and came with her
parents to Rosalia in 1888. She married Mr. Siler
and to them were born three children, Martha Wash-
ington, Mary Pearl and William Lloyd. Mr. Siler
located his present home in 1895 and brought the
family here in 1896. The farm is a fertile one, has a
good six-room house, orchard and other improvements
and is now handled in a first-class manner. Mr. Siler
died on November 3, 1899. To Mr. and Mrs. Shep-
pard has been born one child, Thresie Marie. Mrs.
Sheppard's prents are living near her home. She and
Mr. Sheppard are active members of the Christian
church and are highly respected people and of ex-
cellent standing; in the community.
DANIEL BAKER. The enterprising farmer,
fruit and stock raiser of whom we now speak is one of
the substantial men of the vicinity of Chesley. and has
a good farm, well improved, two miles east from that
village. He took, the land from the wildness of
nature's regions and made it. by his labors, a good
farm.
Daniel Baker w-as born in St. Joseph county, In-
diana, on June 5, 1866, being the son of Samuel and
Barnara (Coble) Baker. The father was born in
Virginia, in 1819 and died in 1884. He was a pioneer
in Indiana, practiced medicine there and was a mem-
ber of the Dunkard church. The mother was born in
Pennsylvania, in 1824 and is still living. Daniel grew
to the age of fifteen in his native place and received
there his education. Then the family removed to Gage
county, Nebraska, where they lived for fourteen years.
When seventeen, he went to work for himself and the
next year rented land and soon thereafter bought land
for himself. In 1887 he went to Oregon and lived for
two years, traveling all over the state in exploration.
Then he returned to Nebraska and lived there until
1895, in which year he journeyed to the west again,
this time to Vancouver, Washington. The next year
he came to the reservation and on May 27, 1897, he
selected and settled upon his present place. Here has
been the family home and the scene of .Mr. 1 laker's
labors since that time.
On November 3, 1892, in Nebraska, Mr. Baker
married Flora Knoedler. daughter of George and Al-
bina Pitts, natives of Ohio, and born in 1844 and 1845,
respectively. Mr. Baker lias the following brothers
and sisters: Sollis, a physician in Denver: Cora Cole-
man, in Nebraska: Walter, in Nez Perces county;
Arthur, in Lincoln, Nebraska ; Eva, at home. The
following named persons are brothers and sisters of
Mr. Baker : Jane Morse, in Nebraska : Susan Cripe, in
Indiana : Abram, in Nebraska : Jacob, in Wisconsin ;
Sarah Chenemann and Elizabeth Wendall, both in Ne-
braska ; Nevada Brant, in British Columbia. Five chil-
dren have been born to this union, Alma, Elsie, Mabel,
Scott and Edith. Mrs. Baker has one son, Alfred, by
her former marriage. They are members of the Bap-
tist church at Lookout. Mr. Baker is a Republican and
an intelligent advocate of those principles. He is for-
ward in all endeavors for general development and pro-
gress and especially for good schools and good roads.
CURTIS MILLER. Xo mention of the business
men of Xezperce would lie complete without the sub-
ject of this article having a prominent place in it. He
is a man of integrity and excellent practical judgment
and possessed of sufficient executive force to give ex-
emplification to his good business ability, which have-
resulted in his being at the head of one of the most
prosperous and up-to-date establishments in the coun-
ty. We refer to the model livery hams that are oper-
ated by our subject and his brother.
Curtis Miller was born in Linn county. Oregon, on
[une 3. 1872, being the son of John and Amanda
(Redman) Miller, natives, respectively, of Illinois and
Iowa- I >ur subject was educated in the public schools
of Sprague, Washington, where he resided tor twenty-
two vears. all told. When fourteen he. in company
330
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
with his two brothers. Norton and Perry, rode the
range for five years. They handled the I. R. band of
horses and other stock. Then in company with Nor-
ton Mr. Miller rented six hundred acres of good farm
land six miles north from Sprague, Washington.
They farmed until 1893, when they lost ail. and then
our subject bought a small stock ranch thirteen miles
northeast from Sprague. He continued in the han-
dling of that until 1901 , when he sold out and embarked
in the livery business in Nezperce, in company with
his brother Norton. They bought the barn, doubled
its capacity and placed in it all the modern conven-
iences to the business. Twenty head of horses are
not too many to handle their now increasing patron-
age, and their horses are well selected and excellent
specimens, while all the rigs arc new and fully up to
date, and the management of the business under the
skillful hands of our subject has grown in a most
gratifying manner, making it favorably known among
the traveling public. Mr. Miller also makes a spe-
cialty of boarding domestic stock and his stable is
patronized in a liberal manner in this line. We can
hardly speak too commendably of the excellent equip-
ment and skillful manner of handling their business.
There is no better barn in the northern part of the
state and in Lewiston only is there anything that
equals it in size. They have a large excursion rig,
the finest in the Clearwater valley, that finds popular
favor among the people of the town.
< >n November 28. 1892, Mr. Miller married Miss
Paulina McGlade, who came from the east in 1887
with her widowed mother. She was born in Iowa, on
April 29, 1873. Mr. Miller has two brothers, Norton
P... his partner; Perry E., a furniture dealer in the
town, and one sister, Lettie, wife of Charles Bartlett,
at Fairfield. Washington. Mr. Miller is a member of
the \Y. W., Nezperce Camp, No. 447. He is a prom-
inent citizen of excellent standing, whose wisdom, in-
tegrity and reliability have gained for him a very envi-
able prestige.
NORTON B. MILLER. This enterprising and
well known business man of Nezperce is a member of
the firm of Miller & Miller, which operates a first-
class livery stable in Nezperce. Mr. Miller is also the
owner of a fine farm, some twelve miles east from
town, and also has other property. He is a man of
fine business qualifications, has demonstrated his abil-
ity to gain success in worth) endeavor and is now a
man of influence and weight in the town and com-
munity.
Norton 11 Miller was born in Scio, Oregon, May
18, 1870, being the son of John and Amanda (Red-
man) .Miller, natives of Illinois and Iowa, respectively.
The father was born in 1S41, came across the plains
with his parents in 1849, wno to°k a section of dona-
tion land in Linn county and there he was brought up.
He died in 1878. near the old home place. The
mother of our subject was born in 1846, and is now
of 1'. J. Wycoff, at Freeman, Washington.
Norton was brought up in the native place and when
manhood's estate arrived he undertook different enter-
prises with his brothers and in the course of time he
was farming with his brother, Curtis, in the vicinity
of Sprague, Washington. In 1894 he came to Little
Camas prairie, thence went to Spokane, Washington,
until the reservation opened up and then he selected
his present place of one quarter section, which is one of
the finest pieces of land on the reservation. It produces
now wheat and oats principally. In 1901 Mr. Miller
embarked in the livery business in Nezperce with his
brother Curtis, and they have one of the finest stables
in the country. What makes their business so popular
is their untiring care that all details will be satisfactory
for both the comfort and safety of their patrons. They
have fine horses, excellent turnouts, and everything is
handled with praiseworthy skill and wisdom.
At Sprague. Washington. Mr. Miller married Aliss
Bertha, daughter of William and Orilla Frink, in
1900, and to this happy union there have been born
three boys, Lester. Claude and Clayton. Mr. .Miller
is a member of the W. W., Nezperce Camp. He is a
Democrat in political matters, is quite active and al-
ways takes pari in the conventions, being frequently
delegate. Mrs. Miller is a member of the Circle of
the Woodmen and also of the Baptist church.
MARTIN ]). DeM< IUDE. The capable and en-
terprising business man whose name is at the head of
this article is well known in Nezperce, where, in com-
pany with his son, he conducts a first-class drug busi-
ness. He is a man of energy and affability and stands
at the head of the thriving business that his skill and
push has made.
Martin D. DeMoude was born in Fond du Lac coun-
ty, Wisconsin, on November 13, 185 1, being the son of
Richard and Jane (Edmunds) DeMoude. The father
was a shipbuilder, native of Buffalo, New York, and
he wrought at his Trade in the lake country and in
New \ 1 irk. About 1836 he went to Fond du Lac. Wis-
consin, and later to Minnesota, where he died in Wa-
basha county in 1882. His father was a ship-rigger and
a native of France. The mother of our subject was
a native of Rochester, New York, of French descent.
Her father died about 1855 and she had two brothers.
John and Martin, who were noted fur traders. 1 lur
subject was educated in his native place and when
fourteen he went to work in a drug store. Later he
was variously engaged until thirty, when he embarked
in the commercial world in Ogden, Utah, but this was
not a successful venture and we see him next in Wy-
oming, where he bought a saw-mill on credit and in
two years paid out and made good success of it. Then
he railroaded some and on account of failing health
came to Boise, Idaho. A few years were spent there
and then some time in Moscow, after which Mr. De-
Moude started a drug .store in Beeman. Later he
was in the same business in Fletcher, but perceiving
the advantages of Nezperce, he came hither in 1899
and in iwoi he built a store, which he has occupied
since. He handles a good business, is the possessor of
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
33i
a first-class patronage and stands well with his fellows.
Mr. DeMoude married Miss Emma I. Bradstreet,
daughter of John and Emmeline (Campbell) Brad-
street, both deceased, being natives of New York.
This wedding occurred in Ogden, on May 16, 1867.
One son, Ora D., was born to this happy union. He
was educated in the high school at Boise and in the
university at Moscow, taking also the pharmaceutical
course. He received his state diploma on October 1,
1897, passing well. Ora D. is also a first-class musi-
cian, being able to skillfully handle any instrument in
the range of band music and is now the leader of the
Nezperce band. He is also a member of the Macca-
bees, being record keeper of Sunrise Tent, No. 17.
Mr. DeMoude has two brothers and one sister, Ed-
win H.. in Kansas, and a veteran of the Civil war. hav-
ing enlisted in Company D. Third Wisconsin, and
serving the entire war under Joe Hooker and being 111
the principal battles of the conflict, never wounded,
but once terribly hurt in an accident; Richard R., in
Minnesota, and also a veteran of the Rebellion, serving
under General Washburn in the Twenty-third Wis-
consin; Xettie. wife of D. C. Clark, an attorney in
Minnesota. Mr. DeMoude is a Republican, strong in
his principles, and he is always ready to take the part
of the good citizen. He is a member of the I. O. O. F.,
Morning Star Lodge, No. 56, in Nezperce, being vice
grand ; also of the Maccabees, Tent No. 17 ; also of the
Brotherhood of American Yeomen, Cedwick Home-
stead, No. 428, being deputy organizer. The family
affiliates with the Episcopal church.
LAFAYETTE STARCHER. Three miles east
from Lookout is the home of the subject of this ar-
ticle, who was one of the pioneers of this reservation
country. Mr. Starcher owns forty acres in this place
and also one hundred and sixty acres in Shoshone
county. He handles his land to fruit and has it well
improved.
Lafayette Starcher was born in Spencer, West Vir-
ginia, on June 25, 1858, being the son of Alfred and
Nancy (Nutter) Starcher, natives of West Virginia.
They were pioneers in West Virginia and in Washing-
ton county, Kansas. The father was a Confederate
soldier and was captured near Wheeling. He was born
in 1835 and died in 1867. His wife died in 1897. The
family went to Atchison county, Missouri, in 1865,
and the next year to Washington count}-, Kansas, where
the father died. The mother later' married a Mr.
Ware. Our subject remained with his mother until he
was twenty, gaining his education in those days. Then
he went to do for himself. In 1888 he migrated to
Rawlins county and took land, but afterwards left the
country on account of drouth, and so forth. Two
years were spent in Nemaha county and in 1892 he
came to Farmington, Washington. Two years were
spent on the farm there and some time in town, and
in 1896 he made his way to the reservation and la-
cated his present place. He has since devoted him-
self to the improvement of his land.
On May 22. 1877, in Washington county. Kansas.
Mr. Starcher married Miss Sarah, daughter of Rowdy
and Jane (Covis) Breckinridge. Mr. Breckinridge
was born in Ohio, and was a pioneer in Illinois, at
Oskaloosa, Iowa, and in Kansas. Mrs. Starcher was
born in Ohio and has two sisters, Bell Henry and
Rachel McCullough, both in Kansas. Mr. Starcher
has the following brothers and sisters: Jacob, Arti-
macia Stonebraker and Indiana Groh, all" in Kansas.
Six children have been the fruit of the marriage of .Mr.
and Mrs. Starcher: Lenna Sargent, near Spokane;
Otis, Carl, Veva, Roy and Oral, at home. Mr. and
Mrs. Starcher are members of the Baptist church at
Lookout and they are exemplary people. Mr. Starcher
has always been an ardent and faithful laborer for
the advancement of the schools and general improve-
ment.
ABRAHAM J. MARSHALL. Our subject has
been a traveler in various portions of the west and has
gained a vast fund of practical knowledge in various
lines, while also he is well informed as to the country,
and his selection of a farm in the reservation portion
of Nez Perces county speaks volumes for the advant-
ages of the county.
Abraham J. Marshall was born in Millville. Clayton
county, Iowa, on July 23, 1864. being the son of Michael
and Alice (Scoggyj Marshall, natives of Ohio. The
father was born in 1825 and died on March 2S. t8oo.
He was a carpenter and a pioneer in Clayton county,
where he remained until his death. He was a popular
man of the county, having been sheriff, and also was
in other public positions. The mother of our subject
was born in 1824 and still lives in Dakota. Her parents
were also pioneers in Iowa. Abraham attended public
school until he was thirteeen and then went oul into
life for himself. He located at Fort Pierre. Dakota,
and went to work on the range, which avocation he
followed for nine years. Then a year was spent in
Buffalo Gap, Wyoming, and later he was occupied for
six years with a stockman in Deadwood. Subsequent
to that he came to Spokane and worked one year near
Reardan, after which he was engaged in a brick yard
in Medical Lake. In 1895 he came to Moscow and
spent several years there. Then a winter was spent
in Salubria valley, southern Idaho, and thence he went
to Walla Wralla, then returned to Moscow. In Janu-
ary. 1901, he came to the reservation country and
bought his present farm, one mile east and three miles
south from Lookout. It is a valuable place and well
handled and produces excellent returns.
On May 16. 1897, in Moscow. Mr. Marshall mar-
ried Aliss Henrietta, daughter of Stephen and Jennie
(Erickson) Timmons. The father was born m Jasper
county, Indiana, in 1843. He enlisted in the Civil war.
in 1861, being in the Twelfth Iowa, and now lives in
Nez Perces county. Mrs. Timmons was born in Min-
nesota. Mrs. Marshall was born in Rock county. Min-
nesota, on November 8, 1S77. and has one brother and
one sister, Henry, in this county; May. in Lin erne.
Minnesota. Mr. Marshall has the following named
33-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
brothers and sisters : James and Charles, in Iowa ;
Lizzie Moore, in South Dakota : Sophia Graham, de-
ceased : Scott. Colesburg, Iowa: Firmon, in Greeley,
Iowa : Wesley, in Millville, Iowa. Mr. Marshall is a
Republican and capable of defending his principles.
Mr. Marshall has considerable stock and his hogs,
Berkshire and Poland China, are among the finest in
the countv.
CHARLES F. STELLMON. About seven miles
northeast from Xezperce we find the home of the
gentleman whose name is mentioned above. He is
classed with the prosperous and progressive farmers
of the section and has wrought here with a display of
wisdom and skill which have given him the meed of
a goodly portion of property, while he came here with
very little property of any kind except a good stock
of courage and determination.
Charles F. Stellmon was born in Greene county,
Tennessee, on December 20, 1868, being the son of
Henry and Elizabeth Stellmon, natives, respectively,
of North Carolina and Tennessee. When Charles was
nine the family removed to Washington county. Ar-
kansas, and soon went to Benton county, where the
mother died when he was twelve years old. When
our subject was sixteen he went to the Cherokee na-
tion and later went to Bates county. Missouri, work-
ing on a farm. Later he went to various places, vis-
ited his father, and in 1887 he came to Genesee, Idaho.
There and at Juliaetta and Lewiston he spent the
time until the nineteenth of November, when he filed
on a piece of land near Xezperce, which, however, he
sold in February, 1902, and purchased his present
place. In 1900 he made a visit to his father in Ar-
kansas and in June. 1901, he went to Benton county,
Arkansas, and there married Miss Jennie, daughter of
William and Meekie Burrow. This wedding occurred
on September 24, 1901, and in October they came to
the home near Xezperce. In February, 1902. as men-
tioned above, Mr. Stellmon came with his family to
his present abode. This farm is a valuable piece of
land, doubtless as good as any in the locality, and is
handled with great skill and thrift. Air. Stellmon has
a good list of improvements, including buildings,
fences, orchards, and much other valuable property.
Mr. and Mrs. Stellmon are highly respected people,
are intelligent and progressive and have demonstrated
their qualities of worth here, which has given them
numerous friends from every quarter.
SAMUEL PHINNEY. It is especially gratify-
ing to have the opportunity to chronicle the salient
points in the career of this worthy pioneer, ,as he has
been through all the vicissitudes and hardships of the
frontiersman in most of the important western places
in early days and has for nearly forty years been iden-
tified with the northern part of Idaho, having always
been a foremost figure in its progress and upbuilding.
He is a man of sound principles, and now. in the
golden days of his career, he is surrounded with
friends and is honored and esteemed by all.
Samuel Phinney was born in Susquehanna county,
Pennsylvania, on August 2, 1830, being the son of
William and Lydia (Belknap) Phinney, natives of
Connecticut and Xew York, respectively. The father
was of Scotch extraction, migrated to Xew York,
where he was married, and then to Pennsylvania and
thence to Iowa. He enlisted to fight in the Black
Hawk war and was one of the enterprising farmers of
Iowa until his death in 1876. The mother of our subject
came from ancestors who were settlers in Xew York
for generations back. Our subject went with the fam-
ily to Iowa when he was eight years of age and there
was educated in the district schools. In 1851 he went
to seek gold in California and after mining near Sac-
ramento for a time he was taken sick and returned
via the Isthmus to his home. Six months later he
made the trip across the plains with ox teams to Port-
land. Soon he was in Astoria, and after two years in
a saw-mill he spent three years or so in rafting on the
Columbia. Then a move was made to Walla Walla
and stock raising occupied Mr. Phinney until he came
to Lapwai in 1866. While in the Portland country he
enlisted to fight the Yakimas. At Lapwai Mr. Phin-
ney settled on land leased from the Indians and con-
tinued there until the reservation opened, when he
took his present place, a portion of which is devoted
to the town site of Fletcher. He has given his atten-
tion to raising the cereals and improvement of his
farm and he is one of the substantial residents of this
vicinity.
Mr. Phinney married Adeline, daughter of Col-
onel William Craig, at Walla Walla, in 1864, and to
them have been born three sons, Fitch, Lee and Will-
iam, farmers near Culdesac. Mrs. Phinney has two
sisters: Annie, wife of Charles Fairfield, a farmer
near Culdesac: Martha, widow of H. Vaughn. The
subject of this article has traveled all over the north-
west, especially the panhandle portion of Idaho, and is
familiar with its early history, it growth, and has al-
ways striven for substantial improvement and devel-
opment.
STEPHEX JOHNSON. President Roosevelt
said recently in eulogy of a man. "He has done
things." And in speaking of the highly respected
gentleman whose name appears above, we can say
nothing more eulogistic than to recount somewhat the
achievements of his life. They speak in no uncertain
terms.
Stephen Johnson was born in Greene county, Penn-
sylvania, on July 20. 1839, being the son of Zephaniah
and Rachel ( L'lery ) Johnson. The father was born in
Pennsylvania, on December 21, 181 2, and farmed in
Greene county, and his death occurred on July 12,
[895. His parents were Zenias and Sarah (Crane)
Johnson, both of German descent. The mother of our
subject, who was born in Washington county, Penn-
sylvania, about 1818. being of German extraction, is
now deceased. Our subject received the beginnings of
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
333
his education in his native place, but since that time
Mr. Johnson has improved his time in a most com-
mendable manner and stands today a well educated
man, with a ready reference library at his hands with
which he is very familiar. When the budding years of
twenty came he started out and in Ohio and Iowa he
worked at his trade of builder and contractor for six-
teen years. Soon after the war he purchased land in
Benton county, Iowa, aggregating seven hundred
acres. While doing a contract business here, he had
charge of the following churches : Garrison church,
Benton county : Grundy, Grundy county ; Iowa River
and State Center churches, Marshall county ; and Wa-
terloo, in Blackhawk county, in joint charge with
Elder Miller. A sad experience in Mr. Johnson's
career was the loss of his eyesight at the age of forty-
five, but, using his own words, '"Through skillful
treatment and the blessings of the Lord. 1 am able to
say, 'Whereas 1 was blind, now I can see', and I give
all the praise and glory to His name." In 1883 he
retired from the field of business and for twelve years
devoted himself entirely to preaching, being thoroughly
imbued with the spirit of the gospel. In 1897 ^lr-
Johnson came to the reservation and took fend, which
is now adjoining the town of Xezperce. He has im-
proved his land in a becoming manner and is now re-
tired from the more active calls of business. Mr.
Johnson is still very active in preaching and for five
years he proclaimed the gospel in this vicinity and
George W. Thomas, whose heart and soul was in the
work, was an able assistant in this worthy labor. Mr.
Johnson is now presiding elder for the congregation at
Nezperce and the one at Moscow also. He was the mov-
ing spirit in organizing the church here and has done
much to foster and build it up. One beautiful charac-
teristic of our subject that we must not omit is that
spoken of by the apostle that those in authority should
be of good repute with those who are without. Thus
shall the faith for which the church stands not be
brought into disgrace. And it is with pleasure that
we are able to state that in this particular Mr. John-
son is of exceptional standing with all who know him,
being highly respected and esteemed.
On March 7, 1865, in Knox county, Ohio, Mr.
Johnson married Elizabeth, daughter of Philip and
Saloma (Rice) Hardinger, natives of Knox county,
where also Mrs. Johnson was raised. To this happy
union there have been born eight children, named as
follows- Elma A., Zephaniah A., Zenas C William
F., Sarah O.. George P., Mary E., James M. After
preaching the gospel for thirty-five years he, accom-
panied by bis wife, went to Lordsbury, California, in
quest of health. Mrs. Johnson has been a constant and
faithful helpmeet of her husband and it is gratifying to
see them in this, the golden time of their life, stanch tes-
timonies to the truth and deserving of the enconium,
"The hoary head is a crown of glory, if found in the
way of righteousness."
Mr. Johnson has three brothers and two sisters:
Silas, near town; George, in Iowa; Daniel, on the old
home place in Pennsylvania ; Phoebe, wife of Isaac
Kemp, in Greene county, Pennsylvania ; Sarah, re-
siding with her brother, Daniel. Mrs. Johnson lias
three brothers: Jacob, in Sullivan county; Frederick,
there also ; Philip, in Benton county, Iowa. Jacob and
Frederick served three years in the Forty-third Ohio
Infantry in the Civil war. George, another brother,
died on a gunboat on the Mississippi. Frederick was
wounded in the hand. George, the brother of Air.
Johnson, was also three years in that awful conflict,
as was his brother, Zenas, now deceased.
DANIEL S. STARXER. This gentleman is a
sturdy representative of the pioneers who have opened
the reservation country for settlement and made it one
of the finest portions of the state. At the present time
Mr. Starner lives one and one-half miles northeast
from Lookout, where he owns a good farm and has
devoted his attentions since filing on it to improve-
ment and production of the fruits of the field.
Daniel S. Starner was born in Holmes county,
Ohio, on October 18, 1848, being the son of Samuel
and Elizabeth (Byers) Starner, natives of Pennsyl-
vania, and born on September 18, 1803, and Decem-
ber i». 1S13, respectively. They died on December 13,
1882, and August 25, 1881, respectively. Our subject
grew to manhood and gained his education in his na-
tive place and always manifested skill with tools, early
learning the carpenter trade. When twenty-three he
went to Wisconsin, settling in Richland county for
two years. Then came a move to Stevenson county,
Illinois, and two years later he went to Crawford
county, Wisconsin, where he wrought for five years.
In that place Mr. Starner married Miss Phoebe J.,
daughter of William and Isabelle Duell, natives of
Xew York and Germany, respectively. Three chil-
dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Starner, all deceased.
In the spring of 1883 Mr. Starner migrated to Ore-
gon ami thence to Dayton, Washington. In this last
place his brother John resided and was probate judge.
For eight years Mr. Starner farmed in that vicinity
and in i8yi went to Moscow. There and in the vi-
cinity of Garfield he farmed until May 17. 1898. when
he came to his present place. This has been the scene
of his labors since that time. Mr. Starner also car-
ried the mail from Beeman to Rosetta, continuing on
to Lookout when Beeman was discontinued. Mr.
Starner has two brothers and one sister, John A., a
merchant at Freese. Idaho; Julia A. Bolley. in Mans-
field, Ohio; Frederick, in Lvnxville. Wisconsin. Air.
Starner has been a member of the K. of P. for years.
He is a Republican 111 politics, but is an independent
thinker. Mr. Starner is a strong advocate of good
schools, good roads and all general improvement, be-
ing a man of broad views and of public mind.
XATHAX1EL T. WRIGHT. Among the stir-
ring and practical business men of Mohler. whose
skifl and ability are bringing success to them, we are
constrained to mention X. T. Wright, who is one of
334
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
the enterprising men who conduct the Mohler Imple-
ment Company.
Nathaniel T. Wright was born in Iowa, on June
27, 1866, being the son of William W. and Elizabeth
(Gibson I Wright, natives of Indiana. His father was
probate judge in Indianapolis fifteen years before his
death. Our subject remained with his parents in Iowa
and in Latah county, Idaho, until he was twenty-one,
having acquired his education from the common
schools. Then he took a preemption on Bear Creek
ridge, and in tilling this and rented land as well he
was engaged until 1896, when he came to the reser-
vation and took land. He was steadily engaged to
open this and improve it until three years since, when
he rented it and entered the employ of an implement
firm in Spalding and later another in Crangeville. In
January, 1900, in company with Messrs. Giles and
Crass. Mr. Wright opened the recent business and
since that time he has bent his energies and devoted
his skill and business experience to the successful up-
building of this trade. He has succeeded in a very
gratifying manner and the company has already a
large trade and a very flattering outlook.
( in June 15, iSyo, Mr. Wright married Miss Mar-
garet V., daughter of Urban E. and Hannah (Bullis)
Elliott, natives of Pennsylvania and New York,
respectively, and now residents of Kendrick. Mrs.
Wright received her education from the district
schools and she has five brothers: Newman,
in Kansas ; Charles, William, Eugene, Frank, the
last four residing in Kendrick. Mr. Wright has two
brothers and one sister : Samuel A., at Lookout ; Will-
iam W., at Slickpoo; Goldie M., wife of Robert L.
Ralston. Mr. Wright is a Republican and takes part
in the <luties of the patriotic citizen. He is a member
of the K. of P., Magnolia Lodge, Xo. 51, at Culdesac :
of the I. O. O. F., Echo Lodge, Xo. 60, at Mohler; of
the W. W., Camp Xo. 012, in .Mohler; and of the
auxiliaries of the I. O. O. F. and the W. W.
Air. and Mrs. Wright have been blessed by the
advent of two children, Arthur L. and Xathaniel T.
Mr. Wright is one of the solid and reliable business
men of Mohler, who devotes his attention carefully to
the prosecution of his business and brings to bear a
wealth of skill and experience, together with fine
judgment and keen foresight, which are telling in
building it up in a commendable manner.
J( d i\ BRASCH is one of the substantial and en-
terprising farmers of the vicinity of Xezperce, having
taken his present farm, two miles northeast from
town, in the fall of 1895. He came with two cayuses
and plenty of courage and determination and this has
won the day, for he now has a choice farm, well im-
proved, with good buildings, orchard, fences, and so
forth, and is a prosperous and well-to-do citizen. He
also has a nice bunch of cattle and some hogs and
horses.
John Brasch was born in Prussia, Germany, on
February 25, 1842. being the son of Christ and Chris-
tina Brasch, also natives of the same place. When our
subject was a child the family came to the United
States and settled in Wisconsin, where John grew to
manhood. On August 15, 1862, he enlisted in Com-
pany I, Twenty-eighth Volunteer Infantry of Wis-
consin, and was attached to the western army under
Sherman. He fought in the battles of Helena, where
he was wounded ; Little Rock, Saline River, Spanish
Fort, Blakely, and was in the siege of Vicksburg.
Later he was sent to Texas and on August 23, 1865, he
was honorably discharged, having seen plenty of hard
service. Returning to his home in Wisconsin, he was
married in Winnebago county, on March 3, 1867,
Henrietta Koch becoming his wife. In 1S80 they
went to Thayer county, Xebraska, and in 1890 he
came to Fairfield, Washington, and in Xovember,
1895, Mr. Brasch made his present location, where he
had pretty difficult toiling for a time, but now he is
enjoying the fruits of his wisely bestowed industry.
Four children have been born to Mr. Brasch : Chris-
tina, wife of Lewis Nisson, in Adams county, Wash-
ington; Frederick W, who has a quarter section ad-
joining his father's; Theodore L., at Fairfield, Wash-
ington ; Bertha, wife of B. Ohlson, at Rockford,
Washington. On January 18, 1899, Mrs. Brasch was
called hence by death.
On June 7, 1899, Mr. Brasch married Mrs. Mar-
tha J. Stewart, daughter of George W. and Caroline
V. Jackson. Mr. Jackson crossed the plains in 1845
and recrossed them five times. He was an intrepid
pioneer and followed his profession of teaching school
and music in various places of the west, especially in
the vicinity of Spokane. He settled first in Clackamas
county, Oregon, where Mrs. Brasch was born on
March 13, 1856. She married Richard R. Stewart,
by whom she had four children : Lynda V., wife of
A. Pradella, near Spokane ; Margaret G., wife of W.
Redjovich. of Republic, Washington; Olive C, wife
of E. C. Quincy, of Xezperce ; Andrew C. Mr. Stew-
art died in 1898. Mrs. Brasch's father, well known
as Professor Jackson, taught school and gave instruc-
tion in music for the last fifty-seven years of his life.
He was born on May 10, 1819, and died on October
25, 1894, the last event occurring in Spokane, where
he was widely known and beloved. Mrs. Brasch car-
ries a diploma as a skilled nurse and an expert ob-
stetrician and has practiced for twenty-seven years.
Mr. and Mrs. Brasch are among the most substantial
and prosperous people of this vicinity and have the
esteem and confidence of all.
LEF J. RoWE. It is like a fairy tale to recount
the facts of the prosperity of the subject of this ar-
ticle. In the fall of 1895 he came to the reservation
and selected a raw piece of land, about three miles
northeast from Xezperce, and in the following spring
he brought his family to the land he had filed on. He
had a team, one cow and seven dollars in cash when
he landed here and now Mr. Rowe has one hundred
and sixtv acres of as fine farm land as one could wish to
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
335
see, all fenced and under cultivation, a lovely eight-
room house, commodious barns and outbuildings, a
large amount of farming machinery, excellent or-
chards and good berry gardens, besides considerable
stock, and his crops are a source of large revenue
each year. Of course, be had the hardships and ardu-
ous labors to endure incident to opening a farm here
and his family were to be provided for, but he and
his faithful wife labored along and the result has been
this excellent showing mentioned above, and now they
are among the leading and most substantial people of
this vicinity. Mr. Rowe and his wife are devout
members of the Christian church, as is also their child,
yarn ill. and their example has been for good all the
time they have resided here.
Lee j. Rowe was born in Catawba county, North
Carolina, on February 16, 1862, being the son of Noah
I. and Camilie (Smith) Rowe, also natives of the
same place. They reside in the old homestead house.
where they have been for fifty years, and are aged
seventy-four and seventy, respectively. The father
served all through the awful conflict of the Civil war
on the Confederate side. Our subject was liberally
educated in Catawba College, attending that institu-
tion from fifteen to nineteen.
On November 9, 1881, Mr. Rowe married Miss
Fannie I!., daughter of Marcus and Mahalia ( Yunt 1
Smith, natives also of Catawba county, where they
now live, aged eighty-five and seventy-five, respect-
ively. Air. Smith served in a portion of the war.
Mrs. Rowe was born in Catawba county, on .March 1,
1866. In the spring of 1892 Mr. Rowe and has ramih
came to the Palouse country, settling near Steptoe
Butte, and in the fall of 1895 he came, as related
above, to his present place. Six children have been
born to this worthy couple : Arthur W.. Claude E.,
Carroll L., Annie P., Flovd S. and Blanche E.
CHARLES GILES. This pleasing pud popular
gentleman is a leading member of the well known
business firm of the Mohler Implement Company,
which does a thriving business in Mohler, being the
leading house dealing in hardware and all kinds of
farm inplements and vehicles.
Charles Giles was born in Cocke county, Tennes-
see, on February 28, 1865, being the son of Perrin and
Rebecca (McGaughey) Giles. The father was a na-
tive of Tennessee, as also were his parents. He served
in the Confederate army and died in 1895. aged sev-
enty-two. The mother of our subject was also a na-
tive of Tennessee, as were her parents and grand-
parents, and several of her brothers served in the
Union army. Our subject was reared in his native
place and educated in the public schools. When he
reached man's estate he went to western North Carolina
and embarked in tobacco raising. Three years there and
then we rind him pressing his \va\ westward, landing
finally in Columbia county. Washington. There he
operated in a saw-mill, logged and farmed until 1896.
The next vear he came to the reservation, took a claim
one and one-half miles west from Mohler and settled
to its improvement and culture until 1900. Then Air.
Giles rented his farm and embarked in the hardware
business with Mr. Boozer. In January. 1902, he sold
his interest to his partner. About the same time Air.
Giles associated himself with X. T. Wright and A. G.
Gross, and under the style of the Alohler Implement'
Company, they opened a fine establishment of hard-
ware, implements and vehicles. They erected a large
two-story building, the upper portion of which is de-
voted to lodge rooms and hall, while the lower apart-
ments are the quarters where they conduct their busi-
ness. Since March last this firm has disposed of seven
car loads of machinery, besides its trade in vehicles
and hardware.
Mr. Giles is an active Democrat and well informed
on the questions of the day. At present he is acting as
central committeeman for his precinct and he. is a fre-
quent figure at the conventions. He is a member of
Echo Lodge, No. 60, I. O. O. F., at Mohler, being
treasurer; also of the Alohler Camp, No. 612, and the
Alohler Vallev Circle of the W. W. Air. Giles has
one brother, Henry Giles, and five sisters, named as
follows : Alargaret E., widow of Henry Wright ; Ma-
tilda, wife of John Odell; Charlotte, wife of Robert
Crumb; Hester, wife of Andrew Alantooth ; Elizabeth,
wife of Alatt Crumb, all in Cocke count}-, Tennessee.
On December 25, 1901, Air. Giles married Nellie
Al. Coolidge, daughter of James and Rebecca Dennis,,
natives of Ohio and Iowa, respectively, now living
near Alohler. Air. Giles is a popular and well liked
resident of our county and he is deserving because of
his uprightness and integrity.
WILLIAM E. CRCAIPACKER. When victory
crowns a great general in slaying men, the world bowrs ;
how much more in the great battle of life should we
acknowledge credit to the man who has won in spite of
adverse circumstances, gaining his success by his wis-
dom, thrift and hard labor, as has the subject of this
article, aided by his estimable wife. An account of
how he labored and won will fittingly form a part of
this history.
William E. Crumpacker was born in Umatilla coun-
ty, Oregon, on August 21, 1869, being the son of Henry
D. and Rachel (Frazier) Crumpacker. The father was
born in April, 1840, came west to Alissourijvhen a
small bov. grew up on a farm, served in the Civil war
and came west to Oregon. The family came to Wash-
ington, after the birth of William, then went to Yam-
hill county, < )regon, then removed to Columbia county,
Washington. Our subject gained his education in the
various places where he was brought up, and when sev-
enteen started out for himself. He worked on various
ranches and in 1890 went to Moscow and ranched in
the vicinitv for two years. Next we see him in Ken-
drick as night clerk.' In November, 1896, he filed on
the land where his family home now is, two miles east
from Nezperce. In 1897, he got in seven acres of wheat
for hay. That fall he worked harvesting and lost all
336
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
his wages, his employer becoming bankrupt. Air.
Crumpacker freighted that winter and in 1898 he
sowed twenty acres of crop. He worked that fall
three months harvesting and that gave him a good
start. But when he came home the house had been
burglarized, everything of value being stolen. Again,
he took up for another winter the trying labor of
freighting and in 1899 he was fortunate enough to
get in eighty acres of crop, but market was forty miles
away. The next year saw one hundred acres bearing
a fine crop, and as the railroad came to Kamiah, the
bright sky on his financial horizon began to show-
through. Air. Crumpacker has since rented his farm,
removed to Nezperce where he is now operating a
first class hotel. He has a good patronage, his farm is
well stocked, having some excellent blooded cattle and
he is enjoying the success that labor and wisdom
have gained for him, in spite of set backs.
In Kendrick Air. Crumpacker married Miss Anna,
daughter of Michael and Lizzie (Normoyle) Swee-
ney, natives of Limerick, Ireland, and Cornwall, Penn-
sylvania, respectively. Airs. Crumpacker was born in
Kansas. To this happy union there have been born
four children, Elva O.. Alary E., Orville, and one in-
fant, unnamed. Air. and Airs. Crumpacker are high-
ly respected people, stand well in the community and
are citizens of worth and honor.
CHARLES E. FAUNCE. A real pioneer of the
pioneers, leading the way for the early seekers for
gold into this country and also doing the same in
many other localities, always conducting him-
self with the same sagacity, uprightness, cour-
age, fortitude, and affability that now char-
acterizes him, and always doing a noble part
in the worthy undertakings of the pioneers, it is very
fitting that the subject of this article should occupy
a prominent position in the history of Xez Perces
county, since also he has done much here to advance
and build it up, and is now one of the highly esteemed
and substantial men of the county.
Charles E. Faunce has the distinction of being
born in the old Aliles Standish house, in Duxbury,
Massachusetts, which was built in the seventeenth
century. His birth occurred on August 17, 1832, be-
ing the son of George and Sallie (Chase) Faunce.
The father was a seafaring man, born in Vermont, and
died at the age of eighty-three. The mother was born
in 1 791 and died in 1881, aged ninety. New Hamp-
shire was her native state. Our subject remained at
home securing his education and a training in sea-
faring life until he was twenty and then he went, via
Cape Horn, to San Francisco, consuming one hun-
dred and twenty days on the trip. He went to the mines
at Auburn, California, at once joining his brothers
John and William, who had gone thither in 1849. A
little later he went to Alichigan Bluffs, having learned
the art of mining in Auburn. He mined there for
nine years and did well. Then he came to Idaho and
went into the Florence and Warrens districts. He
took a pack train in and found ten thousand men
there. He worked that summer, took claims in the
fall, then went to the Clearwater and assisted in raft-
ing logs to build the Lapwai agency. Returning to
Florence and Warrens the next spring, he did not
meet with success, so came back to Lewiston and took
charge of the wood business of Allen, Piercy & Com-
pany. He mined on the Snake river and at Warrens,
and always wintered in Lewiston. At one time he
had a summer's work in the flume and one night
parties cleaned it up and stole the entire amount,
leaving him in the fall penniless. He went to Lew-
iston, having sold out his claims and quit the mining
business. He was appointed deputy sheriff under
Ephraim Bunker and was in this capacity when the
noted criminal, Peter Walker, was hung by a mob.
He then went into the dray and transfer business with
Dyer, where he labored until 1874, then sold out and
returned to Alassachusetts. where he visited one win-
ter. Returning, he mined, acted as night watchman,
and in 1882, he built a hotel at Lake Waha. By his
skill in handling it and making the place attractive as
a summer resort, he soon had an enormous trade, al-
most the entire town of Lewiston being visitors to
that attractive spot. In 1892 Mr. Faunce sold this
property and removed to his homestead, two miles
west. His wife, who had been postmistress at tne
lake, was also appointed the same in this new place,
and here Air. Faunce and his wife built up a fine
resort. This was operated until 1901, when he sold
it and removed to Lewiston where he now lives.
On September 28, 1881, Mr. Faunce married Airs.
Alida J. (Lappeus) Anderson, daughter of William
W. and Elizabeth (Lewis) Lappeus, natives of New
York, now dead. Airs. Faunce was born in Albany,
New \\>rk, in 1840. and she has two sisters, Airs.
Rachel Alorris and Airs. Alary Giffin. Air. Faunce
has the following brothers and sisters, George, John
and Sallie. Airs. Faunce has two sons by her former
marriage, William and Absolum Anderson, both in
Lewiston. Air. Faunce is a Republican and is always
interested in politics.
It is of note that the father of our subject was
captured by the English in 1812, taken to England and
there detained until he was stricken with the brain
fever which nearly cost him his life. Air. Faunce
is a member of the Pioneer Association in the county
and is highly esteemed by all who know him.
WILLIAM D. HARDWICK. Holding the re-
sponsible position of postmaster at Nezperce. where he
is in every respect popular and efficient, the subject of
this article is also the owner of fine real estate, which
he took as a homestead, and now rents.
William D. Hardwick was born in Missouri, on
Alarch 15, 1844, being the son of Noah J. and Catherine
( Rhoades) Hardwick, natives of Kentucky and Alarion
county, Missouri, respectively. The father was born
in 1818, migrated to Alissouri and at the breaking out
of the Civil war he enlisted in the Forty-fourth Missouri
CHARLES E. FAUNCE
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Infantry. At the battle of Nashville, under Thomas,
he was taken sick and died in St. Louis, on January
13, 1865, having served almost through the entire strug-
gle. The mother died when our subject was thirteen.
Her parents were natives of South Carolina, her mother
dying at the age of one hundred and two years. This
aged lady was named Barbara Cochran Rhoades, was
of Irish descent and married a descendant of the Dutch
in Pennsylvania. Our subject remembers but little of
his father's relatives, except the brothers were men of
prominence in Missouri. He received a common school
education, stepped from the parental roof when four-
teen, and when barely seventeen, he enlisted in Com-
pany A, Twenty-third Missouri Infantry, under Cap-
tain J. T. Dunlap and Colonel J. T. Tindall. He served
four years and one month, participating in the battle
of Shiloh, where he was captured and suffered ter-
ribly in the awful war prisons of that time, being mostly
at Macon, Georgia. After that, he was exchanged and
went with Sherman to the sea, participating in the con-
flicts there encountered. He went into the war as a
private, was promoted to corporal, then to sergeant,
and later was elected captain, but the war closed before
he was able to act in that capacity. Following the war,
Mr. Hardwick attended high school in Iowa for one
year and then turned his attention to teaching, having
taught in Iowa, Missouri, Kansas and Washington.
From 1870 to 1892 Mr. Hardwick was in Kansas, be-
ing occupied as an educator, farmer and merchant.
Then he came to Pullman, Washington, operated a
boarding house and taught school. His children were
educated in the college at Pullman. The day of the
opening of the reservation, Mr. Hardwick filed on his
present farm, it being one of the best in the vicinity of
Nezperce. He was without capital then and he gave
his attention to farming, freighting and so forth until
he has accumulated a fine holding. He was appointed
postmaster on June 4, 1902, and took the office on July
1, and he has made a commendable record.
On April 19, 1867, Mr. Hardwick married Miss
Joanna Smith, a native of Scotland, the nuptials oc-
curring in Mercer county, Missouri. On May 24, 1868,
she died from the dread disease, consumption. On
May 9, 1869, Mr. Hardwick married Martha H..
daughter of Zachariah and Martha (Hutchison)
Rhoades. The father was born in Kentucky, in 181 1,
and died in 1856, having been a farmer. The mother
is a native of Tennessee, and now lives in Fontana,
Kansas. Mrs. Hardwick was born on October 3,
1846, in Illinois. She has two brothers, Andrew J. and
Elijah B., residing in Miami county, Kansas ; also one
sister, wife of Horatio H. Quincy, in the same county.
Mr. Hardwick has two brothers, George E., residing in
Idaho county; Thomas J., a preacher for the United
Brethren church in Whitman county, Washington. Mr.
Hardwick has five sisters, Emily J., widow of E. L.
Garriott, residing in Idaho county ; Barbara C, wife of
David M. Sanders, in Whitman county; Sarah E., wife
of John Rhodes, in Indian Territory ; Rebecca A.,' wife
of Alfred R. Williams, in Gray county, Kansas ; Sina
A., wife of William J. Brittain, in Neodesha, Kansas.
To Mr. and Hardwick and his faithful and estimable
wife there have been born four children, Andrew B.,
about to enter Leland Stanford University ; Thomas I.,
a truck farmer near Wallace, Idaho ; William N., now
assistant postmaster at Nezperce, about to enter the"
law department of Leland Stanford ; Emma J., wife of
Henry H. Pogue, the county surveyor of Idaho county,
with residence at Grangeville.
WILLIAM M. BLACKINTON. Among the pi-
oneers of Nez Perces county we are constrained to
mention the subject of this sketch, who has wrought
in different capacities in this section for years and is
a well known business man, capable and 'industrious.
William M. Blackinton was born in Winnebago
county, Illinois, on October 5, 185 1, being the son of
Marcus R. and Ann (Trumble) Blackinton. The
father died in 1895, aged eighty-one, being hale and
hearty and possessed of all his faculties.' Subject's
paternal grandfather lived to be over fourscore wars
old. William grew up on a farm, received a common
school education, in 1881 went to Minnesota, and in
1883 came to Lewiston. A short time was spent there
and then a move was made to the Potlatch country
on his father's farm, he having come to the coast in
1884. Five years were spent on that farm and about
1895 Mr. Blackinton homesteaded land east of
Southwick. Three years later he sold his improve-
ments and then rented until 1901, when he removed
to Leland and rented the hotel which he ran until
January, 1903. Mr. and Mrs. Blackinton handled
a fine house and became very popular with the travel-
ing public.
On October 17, 1883. Mr. Blackinton married
Miss Nellie Fletcher who died in 1885. leaving one
child, Grace. On December 4, 1890,' Mr. Blackin-
ton married Frances, daughter of Henry and Hul-
dah (Harrington) Jones. It was the first marriage
ever solemnized in Leland. Mr. Jones was a black-
smith and wagon maker. His father and his three
brothers were all blacksmiths and were natives of
Ohio. Mrs. Blackinton's grandmother was burn in
Wales and her mother was a native of Ohio. Mrs.
Blackinton was born in Van Buren county, on De-
cember 4, 1861, and has one brother and two sisters
living, George, in Kansas ; Amira, wife of Sam Pen-
nel, of Jonesburg, Kansas ; Mary, wife of Frank
Thompson, of Leland. Mr. Blackinton has two
brothers, George, a carpenter in Vineland ; Emmett,
at Leland. To Mr. and Mrs. Blackinton one child
has been born, Florence, aged eleven years. Mr.
Blackinton is fraternally affiliated with the I. O. O.
F., Leland Lodge. No. 90. He owns a farm of 120
acres one mile west of Leland which he rents : it has
a good orchard and is farmed to grain.
WILLIAM Le BARON is one of the earliest
of the hardy men who invaded nature's domain in the
interests of civilization in what is now Nez Perces
33«
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
county. He has labored with assiduity and wisdom
all the intervening years for the advancement and
progress of the country and has gained the good will,
high esteem and confidence of all who may have the
pleasure of his acquaintance.
William Le Baron was born in Saline. Washte-
naw county, Michigan, August 20, 1838, being the
son of Uriah and Lois (Sephard) Le Baron, natives
of New York, and among the first settlers in that sec-
tion of Michigan. Our subject grew up on a farm
and gained a good education from the public schools
and the Ypsilanti Normal school. When nineteen,
our subject came to Missouri on a sightseeing trip,
then made his way to Nebraska and thence drove a
freight team of oxen to Salt Lake. Soon he was in
California and devoted himself to mining there until
1861. Next we see him in Applegate, Josephine
county. Oregon, where he mined one year. In the
early part of 1862 Mr. Le Baron came to Lewiston
and thence he went to the famous camps of Florence,
Warren, Orifino and others, settling in 1863 on a pre-
emption four miles east from Lewiston, now known as
the Porter ranch which was his abode until 1880. In
that year Mr. Le Baron sold his property and engaged
m rafting timber down the Clearwater, being the first
in that business. He was assisted in these labors by
his partner, Charles Carlton. In 1S90 Mr. Le Baron
came to his present place adjoining Cavendish. He
bought half of a saw-mill from A. E. Snell and in
1895 filed on one hundred and twenty acres of land
on the reservation. He also purchased a quarter sec-
tion and all of this land is outside of the reservation.
About 1898, Mr. Le Baron bought out Mr. Snell. He
now has a fine mill and is turning out all kinds of tim-
ber products, having a first class patronage.
Mr. Le Baron has two brothers living, Charles
and Marshall. The former is a real estate agent in
Los Angeles, California, while the latter is a railroad
official in Colorado. Mr. Le Baron is a Democrat in
politics and has been a delegate to the conventions
many times but never pressed forward for prefer-
ment. He is one of the substantial and leading men
of this section and stands secure in the good opin-
ions of his neighbors. He is a man of ability and wis-
dom and has displayed his integrity and sound princi-
ples always.
JAMES H. EVANS. Many are the worthy pi-
oneers whose faithful and well directed labors have
given to us this famous western country for enjoy-
ment and wealth, but not least among them were the
parents of our subject, who crossed the plains with
ox teams in 1852 and ended the weary and dangerous
journey when they settled in western Oregon. The
fatlnr went the next year to Yreka, California, and
gained good mining interests and then went to Boise,
Idaho, and there operated in the mines. Between these
two points and his home in Oregon he spent much of
the early years and also did much development work
on the home place in Oregon, in addition to the ardu-
ous labors of mining.
James H. Evans was born in Linn county, Oregon,
on January 28, 1862, his parents being Berry and
Ann E. (Cunningham) Evans. When James was ten
years of age the family came to Washington and set-
tied near where Dayton is now, it being then but one
little red store and a blacksmith shop. There he ob-
tained his education from the public schools and in
1883 he decided to start in the walks of life on his own
responsibility and accordingly went to Garfield and
rented a farm. One year later he went to Alpowa
and took a preemption, which he tilled for three years.
Thence he removed to his present residence, three
miles south from Juliaetta, took a homestead and began
the commendable labors of improvement and develop-
ment. Mr. Evans cut the first road through this sec-
tion to the famous Camas prairie region, the same be-
ing the first one there since the early one from Cald-
well. He built and maintained a ferry at the Clear-
water crossing known then as Big Eddy, but now
named by the Northern Pacific, Agatha, from the
given name of Mrs. Evans.
On March 18, 1884, Mr. Evans married Miss
Agatha, daughter of Thomas Reynolds, mention of
whom is made elsewhere in this volume. To this
happy union there have been born six children : Thom-
as W., at home; Joseph, May, Esther, Vera and Mary.
Mr. Evans has three brothers and four sisters, Will-
iam M., a merchant and farmer at Willola, who also
runs the ferry; Berry, at Lake Chelan, Washington,
in the stock business ; Granville, residing at Riverside,
Okanogan county. Washington ; Mary C, wife of
Bud King, residing near Dayton ; Angonetta, wife of
D. Flemmmg, residing near Lake Chelan : Anna, sin-
gle. Mr. Evans is a Republican. He and his estima-
ble wife are highly respected people and are deserv-
ing of much credit for the worthy labors they have
done for the opening of this country and they are pos-
sessed of rare virtues of integrity, enterprise and wis-
dom, while geniality and good will abound on every
hand in their happy home.
LEON M. THORNTON. Among those who
have settled in Nez Perces county recently is to be
mentioned the energetic and successful young busi-
ness man whose name initiates this paragraph and
who is at the present time operating a general mer-
chandise establishment in Southwick. He has a good
stock of well assorted commodities used in the sur-
rounding country and because of strict business meth-
ods, his geniality and his wisdom in selecting goods
for the needs of the people he has won and is rapidly
gaining a lucrative patronage.
Leon M. Thornton was born in Delaware county,
New York, on October 15, 1870, being the son of An-
son W. and Martha G.^ (Tiffany) Thornton. The
family came to Seward county. Nebraska, when Leon
was three years old and two years later removed
thence to Furnas county in the same state. There they
all remained until 1901, when the parents, our subject,
four brothers and two sisters came to this country
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
and settled in various sections of the county. At
that time Mr. Thornton opened his mercantile es-
tablishment and has continued steadily in this line.
He is well respected and stands high in the esteem
and confidence of all who know him. Mr. Thornton
is a member of the Reformed Dunkard church and is a
consistant supporter of his faith.
GEORGE W. STEVENS resides at Star Mills,
two miles southeast from Lookout and while he is
largely retired from the more active participation in
business he is still interested with his sons in the mill.
He was born in Washington county, Tennessee, on
July 23, 1831. being the son of John and Margaret
(Dunsworth) Stevens, natives respectively of Wash-
ington county and Illinois. They were descended
from the Pennsylvania Dutch and pioneers in the
then western country. Our subject grew to manhood
amid the environments of the farm and during the
conscription in his native place he was caught in the
Confederate army, though he took a musket in those
ranks much against his will. He was in Company
U, First Tennessee Heavy Artillery. He fought
through the trying times until the surrender of Vicks-
burg, being in Pemberton's command. His two
brothers were more fortunate than he and escaped the
conscription.
.Mr. Stevens went to Illinois in 1865, where he re-
mained for six years. The next move was to Kansas,
in which place he lived sixteen years, whence he came
10 Moscow in 1889. In the same year he came to the
reservation, settling where we now find him.
In 1856. in North Carolina. Mr. Stevens married
Miss Lydia A. Dillingham, and to them four sons and
one daughter were born : James F., in Oregon ; De-
witt S. ; John D., living at the mill; Semaramis, wife
of William F. Gill, in Kansas, and George G., at the
mill.
Mr. Stevens is one of the highly respected citi-
zens of our county and is beloved by all. He is now
passing the golden years of his life in retirement, be-
ing cheered by the associations of his sons and sus-
tained by the competence which his faithful labors
conserved for himself and his wife.
SAMUEL J. MARKHAM resides at Gifford and
is one of the promoters of the town, being also a pro-
gressive and public minded man of wisdom and energy
whose assiduous labors have placed him as one of the
substantial developers of the country. Mr. Mark-
ham has also donated much land for the benefit of the
town and labors hard to build it up.
S. J. Markham was born in Marion county, Ore-
gon, on November 2. 1867. being the son of Cyrus
and Ann (Bowman) Markham. natives of Missouri
and Iowa. Our subject was educated in the public
schools and when seventeen his father died. Just pre-
vious to that the family had come to Idaho, near
Genesee. The mother proved up on the homestead
the father had taken and Samuel continued with her and
working for the neighbors until he was twenty-three.
Then he and his brother traded stock for a quarter
section on the rim rock, out from Genesee. Later
they sold and rented in different places until the res-
ervation opened and the first day he and his brother
filed. He has a fine piece of land and, as said above,
has sold and given away considerable to foster the
town. Mr. Markham has one brother, Fred, and three
half-sisters, Carrie, wife of George Wayne at Mason's
Butte; Minnie, wife of Charles Sampson at Lewiston ;
Margaret, wife of Alfred Sampson, in Lawyer's can-
yon.
On May 25, 1890, Mr. Markham married Mary
C, daughter of William W. and Minerva C. (Ingle)
Loper, natives respectively of Mississippi and Ten-
nessee. Mrs. Markham was born in Benton county,
Arkansas, on January 3. 1874. She has two brothers:
James T. and William. She has the following sisters:
Nancy D., wife of George A. Smith; Margaret, wife
of Oscar Rogers, of Gifford. Her parents now re-
side in Lewiston. To Mr. and Mrs. Markham have
been born three children: Mabel C. Alta and Harlond
C. Mr. and Mrs. Markham are members of the Metho-
dist church and he is one of the trustees of the church.
Mr. Markham is a school director and is independent
in politics. Among the other things which Mr. Mark-
ham has donated is a lot for a parsonage and two
thousand feet of lumber, which he hauled, half of a
lot for, a church, and other items as well. Mrs. Mark-
ham's brother, James T. is a preacher in the Metho-
dist church. Her father served in the Civil war. Mr.
Markham is a man of reliability and is one of the
substantial factors of the communtiv.
CHARLES C. SAMPSON is one of the real pi-
oneers of this western country, having lived in dif-
ferent sections, while his parents were among the
very first ones who braved the dangers of an ox team
trip across the plains to enter the Willamette wil-
derness.
Charles C. Sampson was born in Lane county,
Oregon, on October 15, 1855, being the son of Eph-
raim A. and Eunice (Warner) Sampson, natives re-
sectively of Missouri and Indiana. The father came
to western Oregon in 1849, having also been in Cali-
fornia in that year and the mother came to the Willa-
mette valley in 1853, both crossing the plains with ox
teams. They were married in the valley. The father
was we!! known as one who did much hunting for
emigrants who were coming in and who needed help.
He would organize parties and go to meet the un-
fortunates who were beset with Indians or who had
iost food and were starving or who had wandered
out of the way and were unable to find the proper
trail. Many such trips did the elder Sampson take
and many pathetic and deeply touching tales could
he tell of the sad sights that met his eyes and the
suffering that he relieved. About 1852 Mr. Samp-
340
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
son went east on a business trip, crossing the Isthmus
on a cavuse. Our subject gained some schooling in
the native place and when the family came to the vi-
cinity of Davton, Wahington, he studied there also.
It was 1870, that they came thither and in 1874
Charles went from the homestead near Dayton to
Baker City and worked in a quartz mill for three years
on Conner creek. In 1877 he came to Lewiston and
that has been his headquarters since. He went into
the stock business and followed raising cattle and
horses for a long time and the last six years he has
devoted his energies principally to sheep, of which he
has four thousand. He has fine Oxfords and many of
them are entitled to registration. Mr. Sampson has
seven living brothers : Horace J., merchant at Har-
rison, Idaho; Alfred E., at Kamiah, Idaho; Thomas
J., sheepman near Lewiston; David, living near
Southwick; Norman, in Wallowa county, Oregon;
Virgil, farmer near Genesee; Glenn with Virgil in
the stock business.
In 1881 Mr. Sampson married Miss Minnie C.
Miner. Mrs. Sampson's mother's maiden name was
Bowman, and her parents were pioneers of the Willa-
mette valley while some of the family live near Gen-
esee. Mrs. Sampson has two half brothers, Samuel
Markham, a prominent citizen of Gifford and part
owner of the townsite ; Fred, at Cold Springs, Idaho.
Mrs. Sampson has two sisters, Carrie, wife of George
Wayne; Maggie, wife of Alfred Sampson, brother of
our subject. To Mr. and Mrs. Sampson there have
been born five children: Myrtle, Ivy, Jettie, Bessie
and Clifford. Mr. Sampson is a member of the W.
of W. at Lewiston. He is a Democrat in political
matters but he is not at all desirous of personal pre-
ferment although he is frequently selected to attend
the conventions. He is a man of wide experience,
good training, and has demonstrated both his integ-
rity and ability in an upright life and a successful
business career.
WALTER E. DAGGETT. The enterprising
young man whose name is at the head of this article,
is one of the stable and successful business men of
Southwick, engaged in the mercantile business and
also postmaster, in which capacities he displays abil-
ity and faithfulness.
Walter E. Daggett was born in Shabonier, Fay-
ette county, Illinois, on May 23, 1866. being the son of
Louis N.~ and Charlotte (Wilkins) Daggett. The
father is now living with the son but the mother died
when Walter was- four months old. After this sad
event he went to live with distant relatives, Reuben
E. Wetmore, at Nokomis, Illinois. When fifteen he
went with the family to South Dakota, and two years
later Mrs. Wetmore died. Walter remained with
them until twenty-two and then married Miss Louisa
A., daughter of Simon and Maria (Thode) Sievers,
of German extraction. The wedding occurred in
Huron, and a few months later we find the young
couple in Sioux City, whence they went to St. Louis,
where he remained seven years in the employ of the
Edison General Electric Company of St. Louis. Three
children were born to them there: Dora G., Adaline
M., and Walter N. In May, 1897, Mr. Daggett came
to Idaho to join his father who was postmaster at
Southwick. In 1889 the office was transferred to our
subject and with that and the duties of his commer-
cial business he has been occupied since. In politi-
cal matters he is a Republican and is now justice of
the peace. He has been delegate to the county con-
ventions and is now a delegate to the state convention.
Fraternally he is affiliated with the A. F. & A. M.,
Kendrick Lodge, Mo. 26; with the W. W., at Leland
and the M. W. A., LeCaron Camp, No. 9383, at
Cavendish, Idaho. Mrs. Daggett has three brothers
and four sisters : G. W., at home with the old peo-
ple, who are prosperous and prominent farmers ; Hen-
ry, in Westbend, Washington county, Wisconsin, is
justice of the peace and a prominent man and pro-
moter of factory interests ; William, a capitalist in
Huron, South Dakota ; Dora, wife of Fred Schoen-
leber, in South Dakota; Amelia, wife of Gustave
Thode, a farmer in Bazile Mills, Nebraska; Mary,
wife of Isaac Van Winkle, in Huron, in the real es-
tate business ; Helen, wife of Edward Van Dyke, at
Southwick, Idaho. In addition to other business trans-
acted, Mr. Daggett learned to set type and is skilled
in that line. As a man he is of good standing and an
attractive personality, while he numbers his friends
by scores.
WILFRED L. GIFFORD. Although the sub-
ject oi this sketch has not been so long a resident of
Nez Perces county as some, still his worthy labors and
real worth entitle him to representation in the annals
of its history, while also on the reservation portion of
the county he has been one of the real pioneers.
Wilfred L. Gifford was born in Cedar county, Io-
wa, on June 19, 1870, being the son of Seth and Anna
A. (Buckman) Gifford. The father resides at Gif-
ford and the mother is long since deceased. Our
subject received his education from the various places
where he lived with his father, who is mentioned in
this volume. He remained at home until 1890, and
then entered the employ of the F. E. & M. V. R. R.
in Nebraska, continuing there for four years. After that
he turned his attention to developing mining prop-
erties in the Black Hills, South Dakota, until 1898, the
date of his advent to this county, his father having
preceded him. He homesteaded his present place of
one hundred and twenty acres three and one-half
miles northeast from Gifford. The land is adapted to
fruit and stock and in these lines he is starting. Dur-
ing the summer of 1890 Mr. Gifford was a forest
ranger for the government in the Bitter Root forest
reserve. He was deputy sheriff under his father in
Fall River county and had thrilling experiences among
the outlaws who knew the terror of the law when our
subject and his father administered it. One noted
criminal, Ed Lehman, was apprehended and executed:
at this time.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
On June 23, 1891, at Hot Springs, South Dakota,
Mr. Gifford married Miss Tillie, daughter of James
and Elizabeth (Bellew) Craven, natives of Illinois
and Kentucky, respectively. The father was a promi-
nent stockman and also a pioneer across the plains in
1863, having made much money in the placer mines in
Montana. Mrs. Giftord has the following brothers
and sisters: John B., Woodson B., both residents of
South Dakota* ami the latter county commissioner of
Fall River county for four years ; Lydia, twin sister
to Mrs. Giftord ; Jimmie, assistant principal and dis-
ciplinarian of the Gaylord Institute at Platte City,
Missouri, yet her home is in Dakota with her other
sister. Mrs. Gifford was born in Clay county, Mis-
souri. Air. and Mrs. Gifford have one child, Bessie
L., aged ten. Mr. Gifford is a member of the Tin
Centre Lodge, of the K. of P., No. 44; also of the
M. W. A., Camp No. 5545. Mr. Gifford is a Repub-
lican and takes an active and intelligent part in politi-
cal matters. He stands well among his fellows and is
one of the leading citizens of the community. He
was nominated on the Republican ticket for assessor
and ex-officio tax collector of the N. P. Company and
was elected by a majority of four hundred and sixty-
one votes, and will begin the duties of the office Jan-
uary i, 1902.
JOHN D. STEVENS is a leading merchant of
the reservation region of Nez Perces county, and
at present is doing business at the Star Mills, two
miles south from Lookout postoffice. He is a repre-
sentative business man and public minded citizen and
an enterprising factor in the progress of the county.
John D. Stevens was born in Washington county,
Tennessee, on January 30, 1862, being the son of
George W. and Lydia E. (Dillingham) Stevens, na-
tives of Washington county. Tennessee, and North
Carolina, respectively. In 1865 they removed to Mc-
Donough county, Illinois, and our subject grew up
on the farm and gained his education from the com-
mon schools. In 1 87 1 the family came to Kansas and
the father took a claim. It was 1890 that our sub-
ject left the parental roof and started for himself. His
first journey was to Polk county, Oregon, where he
was engaged in a flouring mill. 'He learned the trade
of the engineer and the arts of the miller, becoming
a practical operator in both these important lines. He
later bought an interest in a general merchandise
establishment. He wrought there until 1899, and
then made a move to Willola postoffice on the reser-
vation, where he was postmaster for a time and in Oc-
tober, 1901, he came to his present location and here
he is doing a good business. He is a business man
in every sense of the word and his affability and gen-
ial ways, added to his talent, are making for' him a fine
trade.
At Independence, Oregon, in 1892, Mr. Stevens
married Miss Nettie, daughter of James and Phila-
delphia (Fry^ Ferguson, natives respectively of Can-
ada and England. Mrs. Ferguson saw Queen Victoria
crowned before leaving the old countrv. Mr. Stevens
has three brothers : James F., living in Oregon ; DeWitt
S., George G., also one sister, Semarimas, wife of Will-
iam F. Gill, in Kansas. To Mr. and Mrs. Stevens
there have been born three children, Raymond A.,
John D. and Robert N. In political matters Air.
Stevens is allied with the Republicans and while he
does not press for personal preferment in that realm,
he always takes the interest in governmental affairs
that becomes the good citizen.
HENRY JOHNSON is one of the industrious
and substantial men who live in the vicinity of Gifford,
his estate of one hundred and twenty acres being about
one mile east of town and he is entitled to representa-
tion in the history of his county as he has done much
toward the development and upbuilding of the county
and is now one of the thrifty and progressive farmers.
He handles his land to the cereals, raising also cat-
tle, horses and hogs, while the entire premises mani-
fest the neatness, thrift and good management of the
proprietor.
Henry Johnson was born in Denmark, on Octo-
ber 1, 1870, being the son of John and Cecil (Samson)
Johnson, farmers of that country. Henry grew up on
the farm and attended private school. When eight
he was called to mourn the death of his mother and
in 1887 he came to this country, joining an uncle in
Shelby county, Iowa. His only brother, John John-
son, now lives in Spokane. For two years our subject
wrought in Iowa and then came to Whitman county,
Washington. He worked on the railroad construc-
tion for a year and then went into the mines in Sho-
shone county, where he remained until the strike. Re-
turning to Colfax he remained one year and then came
across the river from the reservation, in order to be
handy when the land was opened. He was there the
first day and filed on November 30, 1895. Since that
time Mr. Johnson has given his time to the improve-
ment of his land and he has one hundred and twenty
acres of the excellent land of this section. In politi-
cal matters he is a Democrat, but does not ever press
for personal preferment. Mr. Johnson is still on the
ground of the celibatarian, having never embarked
on the uncertain sea of matrimony. He is respected
and well thought of by all and is one of the up-to-
date men and public minded citizens.
HUGH PORTER is one of the substantial and
prosperous farmers and stock raisers of the vicinity
of Summit, his estate of eighty acres being one and
onedialf miles south from that place. His birth was
on August 2, 1853, in Prince Edward county, Ontario,
and his parents were James and Jane (Law) Porter,
natives of England ami Ireland, respectively. The
mother's mother, Ann Law. lived to be one hundred
and four years of age and was one of the most cele-
brated midwives of the country where she lived. She
officiated at eight hundred births and lost only si*
342
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
cases, one case being tripletts. She was hale and
hearty up until the time of her death. At ninety she
plaited a straw hat that took the premium in their
county fair. Our subject's parents were among the
leading and most wealthy people of their section.
Hugh remained at home, working summers and at-
tending school winters until seventeen and then he
went to Santa Clara county, California, where he op-
erated on a farm and in the mercantile realm until
1875, when he removed to Xevada county and took
a position as car bulkier on the Southern Pacific.
While there, the town being Truckee, he married in
1879, August 9, Aliss Cora, daughter of Joseph and
Mary (KelleherJ Tomkins. natives of Baltimore and
Ireland, respectively. The father died in Boston when
Mrs. Porter, his only child, was four years old. The
mother married Hugh Newell later and they went to
California. Mr. Porter has one brother, James, in
Sacramento, and three sisters: Martha, wife of Reu-
ben Lewis: Charlotte, wife of Timothy Lewis: Mar-
garet, wife of James Haggerty. all living in Canada.
In 1888 Air. Porter removed with his family to
Sprague. Washington, and entered the employ of the
Northern Pacific. In 1891 he went to Hope, Idaho,
in the train service, later to Helena, and in June, 1896,
he went to Kendrick. In 1897 ne came to the reserva-
tion and found a piece of land, where he now lives,
that had been overlooked, every one supposing it to
be Indian land. He raises hay and the cereals and
rents a quarter section each year. Mr. and Mrs. Por-
ter are members of the Methodist church ; she is a
fine musician and has taught the art considerably in
earlier davs. Mr. Porter has been a member of the
Red Cross Lodge of the K. of P., No. 28, of Spo-
kane since 1879 a°d has passed all but the highest
chair and would have held that but for removal. Air.
Newell, brother of Airs. Porter's step-father, was a
prominent educator in Baltimore and gained a national
reputation as author of some of the well known school
books. He was a native of Ireland and a graduate
of the Royal College of Belfast and also of Trinity
College, Dublin. He held the position of principal
of the state normal school in Baltimore and held the
chair of natural sciences in Baltimore College, while
at the time of his death he was state superintendent of
public instruction in Alaryland. To Air. and Airs.
Porter there have been born one son, Harold E., liv-
ing, and two children deceased ; Winnie M. and Jos-
eph G., both swept away by diphtheria while the par-
ents lived in California.
PITTS ELLIS. It is not often that one finds in
the rural districts of the country a man of the genius
and ability of the subject of this article. Air. Ellis
is not only an agriculturist, but he is a mechanic and
a first-class millwright, while also he holds the dis-
tinction of being one of the inventors of much im-
proved mill machinery. At present the family home
is two and one-half miles west from Summit on the
farm, while the mill that Air. Ellis owns is near Sum-
mit. With the help of his son Raymond, who is also
a clever mill man. Air. Ellis built not only the mill,
but also the entire machinery in it. This was in 1901
and the mill is a fifty barrel capacity. It is a model
plant of the northwest. The rolls are different from
others and his own invention, while the bolter and
sifter he constructed from models which he evolved
from his own bram. The mill does most excellent
work and is a triumph of the ability and skill of our
subject.
Pitts Ellis was born in Posey couny, Indiana, on
January 23. 1852, being the son of Ebenezer and Theo-
dosia (Phillips) Ellis, natives of Cayuga county. New
York. \\ hen our subject was six, the family went
to Waukasha county. Wisconsin, where the father did
a general merchandise and milling business. Pitts
was educated there in the high school and at the age
of nineteen went to teaching. It was 1872 that he
went to Nebraska, where he taught until 188 1"; he
then taught in Denver for two years. In 1883 he
went to Arkansas City. Arkansas, and built his first
mill. Sixteen years were spent in operating it and
then Air. Ellis came to Nez Perces county and built
the first flour mill on the reservation. He traded it
for his present place and later the mill burned. Then
the mill we first mentioned was built and this is being
operated now. Mr. Ellis also handles considerable
grain from his farm, raises good graded Poland China
hogs and Jersey cows.
On July 7, 1880, Mr. Ellis married Miss Olive,
daughter of William and Lenora (Hubbard) Rose,
natives of New York. Airs. Ellis was born in Sauk
county, Wisconsin, and was a pupil of Air. Ellis in
Vernon county. Her family went to Iowa and there
her wedding occurred. She has one sister and four
brothers : Henry, Hubert. Daniel, George. Laura,
wife of W. A. Simmons, living in Denver, Colorado.
The others live in Colorado, except George, who is a
Congregational minister in Idaho. Airs. Ellis is now
candidate on the Prohibition ticket for state superin-
tendent of public instruction and is active in W. C.
T. LT. circles. Air. and Airs. Ellis have two children:
Raymond and Harold, both at home. Mr. Ellis is
justice of the peace, elected on the Democratic ticket
in 1900, running ahead of his ticket. Mrs. Ellis'
father, her brother and three brothers-in-law were all
in the Civil war and came through many years of serv-
ice without a wound. Air. Ellis has one brother and
four sisters: Edwin; Julia, wife of John H. Alocket,
who was in Company K, Twenty-eighth Wisconsin
Volunteers; Sophronia, wife of Richard Alocket. who
was in the Forty-third Wisconsin Volunteers ; Hattie,
wife of Andrew W. Dean; Alary, wife of Frank
Clark, who served four years in the Civil war, one of
which was in Andersonville prison.
FRANK MAYNARD, Jr. In matters of advance-
ment and development, this gentleman is always in
the vanguard. In labors to build up beter educa-
tional advantages, he is an enthusiastic worker and in
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
343
the walks of a patriotic citizen and good neighbor he
is second to none.
Frank Maynard was born in Guthrie county, Iowa,
on August 16, 1861, being the son of Frank and Mary
J. (Costel) Maynard. The father was born in Dela-
ware count}-, Indiana, in 1839, served in the Civil
war under General Siegel and was a pioneer in Ore-
gon and in Washington. The mother of our subject
was born in Ohio, in 1844 and her father was a native
of Maryland. The family went from Iowa to Oregon
in 1862, crossing the plains with teams. They settled
in Multnomah county and also lived in Washington
county and Yamhill county and the father did ranch-
ing and worked at saw-milling. Frank was educated
in Portland, spending five years there. In 1874 they
came to Dayton, Washington, and the father wrought
in a planing mill and there our subject learned both
the trade of the carpenter and that of the engineer.
He built bridges on the Northern Pacific for three
years, then farmed a while and after that was engineer
for six years in a sawmill. At the time of the Nez
Perces war, he was in Dayton and enlisted, but before
action he was sent back on account of his youth. In
1895 Mr. Maynard located a claim on the middle fork
in Idaho county and in 1898 he came to Nez Perces
county, where he now resides, one mile east from Sum-
mit.
On July 27, 1891, Mr. Maynard married Mamie,
daughter of James A. and Martha Ellen (Crumley)
Berry, natives of Tennessee. Mrs. Maynard was
born in Tennessee in i860 and came west in
1898. She has five brothers and- five sisters. Mr.
Maynard has six brothers and three sisters : Mary
A. Boyles, whose husband is a banker and landowner
in Colton, Washington ; James M., in the Philippines ;
Daniel O, a stockman in this county ; John W., de-
ceased ; Lulu Hawker, in Colton, Washington ; Meade
N., stock owner in this county ; Mollie, deceased ;
Burt, in Nez Perces county ; Chester, in Whitman coun-
ty. By her former marriage Mrs. Maynard has three
children: Vincent E., Bulah E., and' Mary B. To
Mr. and Mrs. Maynard there has been born one child,
Jaumta. Mr. Maynard is a member of the A. O. U.
W. and his wife of the Presbyterian church. Politi-
cally, our subject is a warm Republican and a member
of the club of the county. He gives his attention to
raising fruit and is one of the respected and substantial
men of his section.
OLE OLSEN. Norway has sent to the coasts of
America many of her stalwart sons, whose brain and
brawn have materially assisted in making this one
of the grandest countries on the face of the earth
today. One among this worthy number is named at
the head of this article and it is with pleasure that wc
grant to him consideration in the volume that chroni-
cles the history of his county.
Ole Olsen was born in northern Norway on De-
cember 6, 1859, being the son of Ole and Karl Even-
sen, natives of Norway. Our subject grew to man-
hood on a farm, received his education in the common
schools and then served three years in the regular
army. In April, 1885, he came to Hull, England,
across the North Sea and thence by rail to Liverpool,
whence he sailed in steamship to Quebec. On the
coast of. Newfoundland they had much trouble in the
ice floes and great danger of demolition threatened
them. From Quebec, Mr. Olsen came to Union
county, South Dakota and there farmed for four years.
On July 6, 1889, he landed 111 Moscow and there he
wrought for wages on a farm for four years. Then
he rented a farm in Whitman county and in 1895 he
selected his present place and filed on it. The next
year he moved here and this has been the arena of his
labors and successes since that time. Air. Olesen has
a good place and it is skillfully handled and produces
fine annual returns. This year he had the gratifica-
tion of harvesting over four thousand bushels of
grain. He has a good house and other improve-
ments also a good orchard and plenty of smaller
fruits. Mr. Olsen handles some stock and also owns
an interest in a threshing machine with the Hadford
brothers. He is a man of uprightness and is well
respected by his fellows.
ISAAC N. LOUGH. Descended from an old and
honorable family whose members are noted for tem-
perance, integrity and honor, and from whose ranks
many were found to fight for the cause of the gov-
ernment and principles of rectitude, one of whom, the
grandfather of our subject, drummed for the marshal-
ling of the soldiers in the war of 1812, beat the roll
call for the Mexican conflict and was on hand with
drum and steady and active hand to call out the sup-
porters of the Union when dark clouds of strife rent
the land in 1861. He was hoary headed then, but his
vigor and patriotism was no whit behind its flow of
youthful days.
Isaac N. Lough was born in Cumberland county,
Kentucky, on February 27, 185 1, being the son of
Samuel M. and Delilah (Stolcup) Lough, mention of
whom is made in another portion of this work. When
five years old, Isaac came with the balance of the fam-
ily to Grayson county, Texas, where the father farmed
and raised stock. Nine years were spent there and
during this time the father and one son, John, were
conscripted in the Confederate army. The mother
died in Texas and the father had married a second
time. Our subject and his brother, Aaron, two years
his senior, remained at home and cared for the family.
Here Isaac learned to spin and weave, his stepmother
being unable to do so. He kept the family in clothes
and also made for his brother, father and un-
cle in the war. At the close of the war
came the happy time of reunion of the fam-
ily and they all moved to Barry county, Mis-
souri. There Isaac was educated and at the age of
twenty-nine, he was united in the holy bonds of mat-
rimony with Anna, daughter of Uriah and Elizabeth
(Ellmore) Humphreys, natives of Missouri. The
344
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
mother's cousin was the noted preacher, Alfred Ell-
more, of Indiana. Mrs. Lough was born in northern
Missouri in 1862, and died March 7, 1889. She was
an active and devout member of the Church of Christ
and a beautiful singer of gospel songs. She died firm
in the faith and surely went to the reward of the
Christian. She has two brothers and two sisters:
George, Isaac, Gertrude Marshall, and Eva. Sub-
sequent to his marriage Mr. Lough moved to White
river and farmed, doing well. In August, 1887, he
came thence, on account of poor health, to Latah coun-
ty and rented land there until 1896, when he -came
to his present place, making a filing two miles north-
cast from Gifford. The next April, 1897, he settled
with his family. He had rented from one man in
Latah county for eleven consecutive years without a
line of writing. Mr. Lough has a fine farm, good barn
and other improvements and is about to erect a
beautiful residence. Mr. Lough has the following
named brothers and sisters: John T., George
W., Sallie Marshall, Lee, Alice Mason, Gran-
ville J.. Bell Stevens. Amelia and David. All
but the first two were offsprings of the
stepmother. Mr. Lough is a member of the
Church of Christ and has been for many years an ac-
tive and conscientious worker in it, being now a deacon
in the Giftord congregation. He votes for the man
rather than the party and in school matters he is well
known as one of its best supporters. He is one of the
committee on the fine school building being erected
in Gifford now and it is due to his efforts largely
that it is being materialized now.
JAY W. STROL'SE is at the present time one of
the leading business men of Peck, being proprietor with
Mr. Gaylord of the hardware establishment where they
are doing a first class business and are well liked
among their many patrons, whose number is daily in-
creasing.
Jay W. Strouse was born in Ogle county. Illinois,
on September 10, 1855, being the son of Peter and
Rosina A. (Page) Strouse. The father was a car-
penter, born in Pennsylvania in 1837 and died in 1897.
He was a pioneer in northern Illinois and a soldier in
Company E. Forty-seventh Illinois Volunteers, under
General "A. J. Smith, and did service in the battles
of Blakely, Dalton, Island No. 10 and Mobile, being
a faithful and brave soldier. The mother was born
in Brattleborough, Vermont, in 1830 and lives in
Wyoming. Our subject grew to young manhood in
Illinois, serving with his father and gaining the edu-
cation to be had from the public schools. When nine-
teen, he came with the family to Creston. Union
county, Iowa, and then attended Drake University, a!
Des Moines. He remained at Creston working at
his trade of carpentering which he had learned from
his father and did well for fourteen years. It was
1886. that he came to Fall River county, South Da-
kota. He took a homestead, worked at his trade,
connected with the Oelrichs Times for five vears and
for five years was its editor and was also justice of
the peace. In 1897 he sold his possessions there and
came west to the reservation, settling first at Leland.
Later he removed to Beeman, operating a store and
acting as postmaster for one year. Then he came to
Peck, and in 1899 he went to work for the M. W. A.
as district deputy head consul, organizing camps.
Before the year was out he was operating a saw mill
and in this business he is still engaged, having also
taken up the hardware business as we mentioned
above.
On November 19, 1888. while in Dakota, Mr.
Strouse warried .Miss Ella M., daughter of S. S. and
Alary ( McCallister) Pfautz, natives of Pennsylvania
and Canada. The father's ancestors were French
Huguenots. Mrs. Strouse was born in Iowa and has
one brother and four sisters, John, Anna, Maggie,
Lou, and Alice. Mr. Strouse has the following
brothers and sisters: Arthur, jacob, Amelia Robb,
Minnie Bone, Effie Campbell and Dora Lumen. To
our subject and his wife have been born the following
named children : Vera, Byron. Mr. Strouse is a mem-
ber of the M. W. A. and in political affiliation he is a
Republican. He is especially active in this realm and
is a well known figure of influence in the conven-
tions. Mr. Strouse and his wife are members of the
Baptist church. Mr. Strouse is a public spirited man
of broad views and a good substantial citizen of wis-
dom and prestige.
THOMAS KIRBY. A more enterprising, ener-
getic man, with ability commensurate therewith, than
the subject of this sketch is hard to find in the state
of Idaho. Mr. Kirby, while maintaining a reputa-
tion untarnished and unquestioned, has always been
at the head in any line of enterprise that was for the
general welfare and the upbuilding of his county and
state.
A more detailed account will furnish interesting
reading for the history of our county and therefore
we append a life's review of Mr. Kirby. He was born
in Canada, on January 23, 1847, being the son of
William and Mary (Metcalf) Kirby, natives of En-
gland. The father was a farmer and a squire, born
in 1833 and died in 1895. His wife was born in 1833,
also, and died in 1897. Our subject remained at home
in Canada, receiving a fine education which fortified
him for the affairs of life until he was of age. He
learned the tanner's art there. When his majority
arrived, he came to the United States and settled at
Ottawa, Kansas. Two years later, he shipped a car
of furniture and drugs to Juliaetta and did business
there for one year. Then he sold out and started the
town of Kendrick. Mr. Kirby was eminently suc-
cessful here and made twenty thousand dollars, but in
the panic of 1893. he lost heavily. He then operated
in grain there and built two of the largest ware-'
houses in the town. In 1805. Mr. Kirby came to the
Nez Perces reservation, settling at Peck. In 1898, he
started the town and is now one of the large property
owners of the site.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
345
On November 8, 1874. Mr. Kirby married Miss
May. daughter of Smieron and Agnes Hall, natives
of England and Scotland, respectively. The nup-
tials occurred in Longton, Kansas. Mrs. Kirby was
born in Canada in 1850 and has two brothers and three
sisters. Mr. Kirby has one brother, John, in Canada.
To Mr. and Mrs.' Kirby there have been born three
children, Rollie, a furniture dealer in Peck; Eller,
deceased ; Lulu Herres in Peck. Mr. Kirby deals in
real estate, is the postmaster of the town, and does
notary work. He is an active Republican and a po-
tent factor in the field of politics. Since 1897, Mr.
Kirby has been manager of the exhibit from Ken-
drick, and from Nez Perces county in 1899, 1900,
for the interstate exposition at Spokane, and has won
the silver cup twice above all competitors. One of
the cups is worth one hundred and fifty dollars. Mr.
Kirby is especially talented in this line and is able
to handle things as they should be. Recognizing this
ability, he was appointed as one of the World's Fair
commissioners from Xez Perces county, while he has
been appointed by the Idaho state commissioners to
superintend the exhibit at St. Louis, and in addition
to this, the governor of Idaho has appointed Mr.
Kirby to collect specimens from the state of Idaho to
be exhibited at the Lewis Clark exposition in Port-
land in 1905. He has already a goodly showing and
is prosecuting this work with vigor and intelligence.
Mr. Kirby is full of the right kind of energy and all
know that when he takes hold of a thing, it will go.
He is held in high esteem by his fellow townsmen and
is worthy of the respect and prestige which he gener-
ously enjoys. He is a man of integrity and very much
credit is due him for the excellent labors he has done to
bring this section of the country to the front.
DAVID S. WILLIAMS is one of the important
factors in , the industrial realm of Latah and Nez
Perces counties, although at the present time he is
located on a farm four miles west from Ahsahka,
which is the family residence. He has been a man of
energy and talent and many places have been built
up by his labors and skill. In addition to farming,
Mr. Williams is a skilled contractor and builder.
David S. Williams was born in Clearmont county,
Ohio, on October 17, 1848, being the son of Alexander
and Lydia A. (Smith) Williams, natives of Ohio.
The father was born in 1818, settled as a pioneer in
Adams county, Illinois in 1849, and died in 1898.
The mother was born in 1825 and died in 1895. David
labored with his father and attended school until
twenty-two and then in 1871, he took a trip to the
plains and spent seven months shooting buffalo. Re-
turning to Illinois, he settled to farming for two vears
and then went to Cass county, Missouri and took up
farming and raising mules. Three years later, he went
to Labette county. Kansas, and two years after that
he was in Arkansas. One year there and we find Mr.
Williams in Chautauqua county, Kansas, where he
took land, farmed and raised stock. Two years later
he went to Indian Territory and leased land from the
Cherokees and farmed. We next see Mr. Williams
in Coffeyville, Kansas, where he contracted and did
bridge building. In 1887, he came west to Pomeroy,
Washington, and for one year he contracted building
in that town. Next he came to Genesee and built
many of the edifices there. Taking a homestead on
Cedar creek, Nez Perces county, he commuted four
years later and sold. He bought a ranch near Julia-
etta and farmed for nine years. It was 1901, when
he came to his present place and he has a first class
place and good buildings.
On November 4, 1873, in Illinois, Mr. Williams
married Miss Mary E., daughter of Cornelius and
Jane (Byers) Humphrey, natives of Illinois and Ten-
nessee. The father was a pioneer in Morgan county.
Mrs. Williams was born in Brown county, Illinois, in
1855 and has one brother, John, in Colorado, and one
sister, Jennie Thyre. at Bartlettsville, Indian Territory.
Mr. Williams has the following named brothers and
sisters : Amos and Stephan, who were in the Civil
war, Harvey, Abigail, Rachel, Martha, and Laura. To
our worthy subject and his estimable wife, there have
been born six children, Martha D. Craig, Cornelia
O'Keiffe, Anna, Allen A., Cora, and Nora. The fam-
ily affiliate with the Baptist church. In Chautauqua
county, Mr. Williams was school treasurer, being
elected on the Democratic ticket. He has served on
school boards for fifteen years and has done much for
the cause of education.
GEORGE W. BASHOR is one of the leading busi-
ness farmers on the reservation. He handles his
whole affairs with a wisdom and execution that have
made him especially successful, while his standing
among his fellows is of the very best and his popular-
ity wherever he is known makes him hosts of friends.
George W. Bashor was born in Washington coun-
tv, West Tennessee, on September 6, 1856, being the
son of Michael M. and Susan (Garst) Bashor. The
parents were born in Rockingham county, Virginia.
George remained with his parents until twenty-one,
gaining a good education. When he was sixteen the
family went to Colorado, and in Apishapa, Mr. Bash-
or made his first venture in purchasing a general mer-
chandise establishment. Two years were spent there
and during this time, July 18, 1878. being the date,
Mr. Bashor married Miss Mary A., daughter of
James K. and Marv A. (Whistler) Gwin, natives of
Virginia. The father i< deceased but the mother
lives with her son. Tames P., three miles southwest
from Summit. Mrs." Bashor has the following sisters
and brothers: Jacob M., deputy assessor at Lewiston;
Toseph A., in Walla Walla county farming: James F. ;
Phoebe I.', widow of Robert G. Sipe, in Colorado;
Emma, wife of William H. Whitney, in Boston,
Massachusetts. Mr. Bashor's mother's brothers are
William Garst, killed in the Civil war. John Garst,
both of them in the Union army. Mr. Bashor's
brothers and sisters are mentioned elsewhere in this
346
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
volume. To Mr. and Mrs. Bashor there have been
born the following: children: Lester W., Oscar E.,
Archie A., Horace^ Ernest G.. Charles, Clara E. Mr.
Bashor is a member of the German Baptist church and
his wife belongs to the Methodist denomination.
In the spring of 1883, Mr. Bashor and his family
came to Garfield county. Washington, and there he
preempted a claim near Pomeroy and for seven years
he was numbered with the leading agriculturists of
the section. In 1891 he came to Latah county, bought
a quarter near Kendrick and tilled it until 1898. In
that year he came to his present place. Miss Alma
Camp had filed on it and before proving up, she
married and her husband was holding a claim. There-
fore Al Rockwell contested her right, but as Mr.
Bashor held possession and had made the improve-
ments, he contested the latter and the secretary of
the interior gave him the decision. Mr. Bashor has a
fine claim, is improving it in excellent shape and will
make it a beautiful rural home as well as a good divi-
dend producer. He does general farming and handles
hogs, good graded cows and does dairying. Politi-
cally, Mr. Bashor is a Republican and has been a dele-
gate to all the county and some of the state con-
yentions.
CLARA J. THOMPSON. The ones who have
the enterprise and wisdom to handle the resources of
the fertile regions of the reservation country are the
ones who deserve mention in the history that chronicles
the annals of the country and surely then, the worthy
lady mentioned above is entitled to this place.
Mrs. Clara J. Thompson was born in Lee county,
Iowa, on February 9, i860, and her parents were Enos
and Mary A. (Marshall) Puckett. The father was
born in Ohio, in 1834. and now lives in Lawrence,
Kansas. He has labored long and faithfully in the
gospel in the Quaker church. The mother of our sub-
ject was born in Indiana, in 1833, and died on January
31, 1900. When Mrs. Thompson was seven years old
the family went to Adair county, Missouri, and three
years later returned to Iowa. After three years of resi-
dence in Mills county a move was made to Plattsmouth,
Nebraska, whence one year later, they returned to
Iowa. Two years more in the Hawkeye state and they
all went to Jewell county. Kansas.
On March 15. 1885, our subject was married to
Robert Thompson and three sons were born to this
union. Harry W., Benjamin R., and William H. all
with their mother. One year after the marriage. Mrs.
Thompson came to the vicinity of Guy, Washington,
and remained there sixteen years. In the spring of
1902 she came to her present place, three and one-half
miles northeast from Gifford. She bought a fine farm,
and with her sons she is handling it in a very skillful
manner. The estate is provided with seven springs of
fine water, is improved with good buildings and lies
in a commanding position. Annually this land pro-
duces excellent returns of grains, fruits and vegetables.
Mrs. Thompson has taken a divorce from Mr. Thomp-
son. When thirteen, Mrs. Thompson united with the
Methodise church and now is a member of the United
Brethren church. She takes an interest in the affairs
of the county and votes the Prohibition ticket. She is
preparing to send her boys to college as soon as their
age will warrant, and in every respect Mrs. Thompson
is a progressive and wise woman and is secure in the
esteem of all who know her.
JASPER N. MOUNCE. An estate of eight hun-
dred acres, well tilled, fenced and cared for, embellished
with a first class orchard, an imposing ten-room house
of modern architectural design, commodious barn and
ail out buildings needed on such an estate, — such is
the attractive and valuable home place of the subject
of this sketch. It is situated sixteen miles southeast
from Lewiston and is one of the most valuable places
in the county. On September 30, 1879, Mr. M ounce
came to Nez Perces county and took a portion of this
place as homestead and preemption, paying the former
settler well for this right. Thus he is one of the old
pioneers. He came with four hundred and fifty dol-
lars and the first winter spent it all through sickness.
Since that time he has labored steadily and wisely here
and the grand showing he has made demonstrates his
ability and skill.
It will be pleasant to note the details of the domestic
life of our subject. We see that he was born in Linn
countv. Iowa, on June 12. 1855, being the son of Jo-
seph W. and Christiana (Shoe) Mounce. The father
was a farmer, born in Ohio, in 1818 and died in 1864.
His grandmother lived to be over eighty but his grand-
father died aged sixty, they both being early pioneers
to Iowa. The mother of our subject was born in Ger-
man}, in 1827, came to America when five years of
age and died in 1874. Jasper N. started out in life for
himself when thirteen. He worked for an uncle for
two years and when sixteen went to Utah. He freight-
ed ore, logged and worked in a saw mill, drove cattle,
and then mined in the Hidden Treasure. Two years
in this latter place and then he went to Nevada, return-
ing to the same mine and later he went to Iowa. Two
years later he came to Nez Perces county, as mentioned
above, and the unbounded success that he has achieved
here stamps him as a capable and wise man.
Tn Linn county. Iowa, May 22, 1878, Mr. Mounce
married Emma, daughter of John W. and Elizabeth S.
(Newman) McLeod. The father was a farmer, born
in North Carolina, on February 24, 1829, and died in
T883. The mother was born in Kentucky, on March
18, 1835, and died in 1883. Mrs. Mounce was born in
Linn county, Iowa, on September 13. i860, and has the
following brothers and sisters. Nancy J., David A.,
deceased, William T., Amanda E.. deceased, James N.,
Micha J., and Eunice N. Among her ancestors was
Norman McLeod of Scotland, a minister, whose ser-
mons were so favored by the Queen of England. On
her mother's side of the house, a descendant of Thomas
Benton, the state senator and father of Jessie Fremont
Benton, the noted writer. Mr. Mounce was one of the
following named children, Malan D., killed in the Civil
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
347
war at Springfield, Missouri, when seventeen; Francis
M., Artensa .]., Margaret C, Arthalinda, deceased,
Christopher C, deceased, Adusta, deceased, Nancy M.,
Vesta A., Americus \'., Goldsbery, and Joseph W. To
Mr. and Mrs. Mounce, there have been born the fol-
lowing named children, Earl, Nyda, Owen, mention
of whom is made farther on in this article ; Wayne, at-
tending State Normal school ; Mabel, who has excelled
in music ; Blanche, at home. Mr. Mounce is a member
of the Masonic fraternity. He is an active Democrat
and a potent influence in political matters, but he has
never accepted preferment for himself. Mr. and Mrs.
Mounce each had uncles in the Civil war.
We wish to mention in this connection the remark-
able career of the son Owen. He has achieved a suc-
cess at the age of eighteen that few have gained even
after a life long effort. Last year he gained fifteen
thousand dollars for his services in riding race horses.
He stands at the head. in this line. He has even sur-
passed Todd Sloane, and there is but one rider in the
world, who can in any way claim to be in the lead.
Owen rode for August Belmont last year and the Cali-
fornia Jockey Club presented him with a beautiful and
costly whip. He won last year more stakes than all
eastern riders and all other American boys that ride
in England. He won in actual count, one hundred and
thirty-one races in the winter of 1900 and 1901. At
this present writing, he is visiting at home and he has
earned iiis success in meritorious and hard labor. Nez
Perces county is to be congratulated upon having this
successful young man in her precincts.
Our subject has built a ten-room house in Lewiston
and will move his family there, for the benefit of
schools.
JOHN M. NELSON. A man in the vanguard of
progress in Nez Perces county, a skillful and enter-
prising agriculturist, and withal a man of sound prin-
ciples and good capabilities, it is with pleasure that
we accord to John M. Nelson representation in the vol-
ume of his county's history. He was born in Adams
county, Illinois, near Quincy, on May 28, 1867, being
the son of James R. and Mary C. (Ruddell) Nelson,
both born near Quincy, also, the father in 1842, his
parents being dead, and the mother's parents are dead
also. They were pioneers of the section of Illinois ad-
jacent to Quincy. The parents of our subject re-
moved from Adams county to Marion county, Iowa,
when he was seven years of age. Two years later they
removed to the vincinity of Walla Walla, going by way
of San Francisco and consuming twenty-one days on
the trip. The father took a homestead and farmed
there for four years and then went to Tammany hol-
low, settled on a homestead and there resides now. Un-
til he arrived at the age of majority, John M. labored
with his father when he started in the world for himself.
He farmed in this county two years and then went to
Lincoln county, Washington, and farmed for seven
years. During this time he spent one year prospecting
in British Columbia. Then he returned to Nez Perces
county and prospected in Thunder Mountain district,
with, the gratifying result that of locating with others
the properties that made the camp famous. At the
close of a year he returned to the farm where he now
lives, ten miles southeast from Lewiston and to this
he has given his attention, also handling a threshing
machine and two headers. He is very enterprising and
is a leader in his section. He has a half section of
land all under cultivation and has enough crops in addi-
tion to make fourteen hundred acres all told ; he owns
nearly five hundred head of cattle.
On August 5, 1899, Mr. Nelson married Clara M.
(Flickinger) Robertson, daughter of George W. and
Sarah A. ( Kuntz ) Flickinger, natives of Pennsylvania,
born in 1830 and 1832, respectively. Mrs. Nelson is a
native of Illinois, born February 25, 1868, and has the
following named brothers and sisters. Flora E. Morey,
Susanna Webb, Amos E., and Alice Noel. Mr. Nelson
has brothers and sisters named as follows, Commo-
dore, Sarah Whitcomb, Frank. Horace, Riley. George,
Martha McCoy, Joseph, and Ernest. Mr. Nelson is a
member of the 1. O. O. F. at Lewiston. He is a Dem-
ocrat and active in political matters. Mrs. Nelson is a
member of the Methodist church. Mr. Nelson had
three uncles, John, Dee, and George Ruddle, who
fought in the Civil war. Mrs. Nelson's father was a
soldier in the same war and marched with Sherman
to the sea. He died in 1892 but his widow still lives in
Kansas.
FRED DIETERLE. The honest industry and
merit of the subject of this article have given him an
unquestioned standing of influence and esteem among
the people of Peck and vicinity. Mr. Dieterle owns and
operates a first-class blacksmith shop in Peck and is
one of the substantial and worthy citizens who have
manifested enterprise and energy in the upbuilding of
that progressive town.
Like so many of the most industrious and thrifty
people of this country, our subject was born in Ger-
many, on April 9, 1862. The father died in 1864. The
mother was born in 1829 and died in 1897. Fred left
home at the age of twelve, having completed his edu-
cation in the six years previous to that time, and he
went to work for the neighboring farmers. At fifteen
he began his apprenticeship in the wagon making
trade. " Three full years were served and at eighteen
he determined to seek other and newer fields and ac-
cordingly, in 1880, he came to America. We find him
next in Lafayette, Indiana, and then two years were
spent in Brookston, that state, mastering the intrica-
cies of the blacksmith's art. In 1882 he removed to
Iowa and five years were spent in traveling about and
viewing the country. Then he settled in Iowa county
and wrought until 1890. Again he went to Brookston,
Indiana, and there handled implements extensively un-
til 1897. At this time a move was made to Buyrus,
Kansas, and in 1898 Mr. Dieterle came west and op-
erated a shop for two years. Then he took land near
Peck and opened a shop in that town. His family
occupy the homestead and he is now, in partnership
345
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
with J. F. Phar, conducting a first-class blacksmith
and wagon shop.
In 1886, in Iowa, Mr. Dieterle married Miss I. C,
daughter of Isaac and Rebecca (Hostler) Merchant,
natives ot Ohio. Mr. Merchant was a school teacher.
Mrs. Dieterle was born in Ohio, in 1868. She has
five brothers, Clem, Robert, Isaac, Luther, and Frank.
Mr. Dieterle has the following brothers and sisters,
Bernhard, Chris, Andrew, Godford. Anna, and George.
To Mr. and Mrs. Dieterle there have been born the
following named children, Eva, Irene, Glen, Almon,
Pierre, Lorries. Mr. Dieterle is a member of the M.
W. A. in Peck. He is also a director of the schools
and labors incessantly for good schools. In addition
to his business, which is prosperous, Mr. Dieterle has
a fine farm, supplied with good buildings, orchard, and
so forth, ami this is the family home.
ORIN EVANS is one of the substantial men of the
vicinity of Gifford and has a fine farm adjoining town,
where he raises all the cereals and is making a good
success of corn. He is a man of excellent standing in
the community, has always manifested integrity and
uprightness and is one of the reliable, intelligent, en-
terprising and up to date men of the county.
Orin Evans was born in Jefferson county, New
York, on October 20, 1844, being the son of Albert
and Maryette (Carnegie) Evans, natives of New
Hampshire. Our subject grew up on a farm and was
eduated in public and private schools and in the be-
ginning of the Civil war he enlisted in Company F,
Ninety-fourth New York Volunteers, Second Corps,
under Pope. The date of this was January, 1862. On
August 29 he was wounded at the second Bull Run.
by a gunshot in the thigh. Forty-eight hours he lay
on the field, and seven days on the road before he got
to the hospital in Washington. One year was spent in
languishing in this hospital and then he returned home.
He had previously been in the battle of Cedar Mount-
ain and in the Shenandoah valley conflict. His broth-
er Gilman enlisted in the same corps. Thirty-fifth New
York, Company I, and two vears later he enlisted in
Company L. Eighteenth Cavalry. Mr. Evans has three
brothers, Gilman, James and Warren, all in Jasper
count}', Missouri. He also has one sister, who lives
in Iowa.
In Jefferson county, New York, Mr. Evans mar-
ried Miss Fanny, daughter of Lewis and Delia (Ly-
man ) Barrett, and one child was born to them, Fred
B.. now a practicing physician in Pineville, Missouri.
Mr. Evans farmed in New York until 1882 and then
came to Missouri on account of failing health of his
wife. But March 17. 1886. she was called away, in
Jasper county. Missouri. In December, 1887, Mr.
Evans married a second time, the nuptials occurred at
Golden City. Missouri, and Miss Cardie Cleveland,
became his wife. Her father, Larkin, is
mentioned fully in this work. To this mar-
riage three children have been born, Bessie,
Alma Bell, deceased, and Orin, the latter being aged
six. In 1S92 Mr. Evans came to Kendrick and there
started a small orchard adjoining Kendrick. He still
owns the same and when the reservation opened he
came, in 1896, and filed a contest on the place he now
occupies. It being decided in his favor, gave him a fine
farm and he devotes his attention to its improvement
and culture. Mr. Evans is a Republican and went one
thousand miles to vote for Abraham Lincoln in time
of war. He is not especially active but takes an in-
telligent part in political matters. Mr. Evans is one of
the men whose influence and life have been for progress
and upbuilding and he is the recipient of great respect
and full confidence from his fellows.
WILLIAM O. TUMELSON. It is with pleasure
that we are enabled to grant consideration to this young
and substantial citizen of Nez Perces county, who has
displayed such commendable zeal in bringing about
improvement and progress in the county. His pres-
ent home is on the ranch which he took as wild land
from the government, five miles west from Peck.
William O. Tumelson was born in Cowley county,
Kansas, on December 12, 1875, being a son of Will-
iam C. and Sarah E. Tumelson, who are mentioned in
another portion of this work. William lived at home
until he was nineteen, gained a good education and
learned the art of the engineer. When nineteen he
came to Latah county and wrought in handling a
hydraulic in the mines at Cold Hill. He did well there
for three years and in 1897 came to the reservation
and located his present ranch. In addition to handling
this ranch, he has operated a steam thresher for a por-
tion of each year. These years, with the time in the
east, make a total of ten years which he has devoted
to this important industry and he is very skillful in it.
On February 26, 1899, Mr. Tumelson married Miss
Etta M., daughter of John T. and Rosa (Duston)
Springston. The nuptials occurred in this county.
Mrs. Tumelson was born in Garnett, Kansas, on April
iS. 1881. Two children have been born to this happy-
union, Gladys and Edna. Mr. Tumelson is a Repub-
lican and takes a progressive part in the advancement
of educational facilities. He has a good farm, handles
it skillfully and is gaining a fine bunch of stock, while
his land is adapted to raising all kinds of cereals, in-
cluding corn. He stands well in the community and
is a man of reliability.
DAVID BLACK. It is gratifying to have the
pleasure to grant space to an esteemed gentleman, such
as we now speak of, in the volume of the annals of Nez
Perces county, since he is a man of ability and influ-
ence and has done a commendable part in the sub-
stantial upbuilding of the newly opened reservation.
David Black was born in Northumberland county,
Pennsylvania, on October 3. 1849, being a son of James
and Mary (Carter) Black. The father was born in
1808, being one of a family of five children, Jeremiah,
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
349
William, Mary and Elizabeth, besides James. Jere-
miah was for years supreme judge in Pennsylvania.
William was a large farmer in Michigan. James passed
away when he was eighty-two. Our subject's father
was educated for a lawyer and a Catholic priest. Not
liking the priesthood, he then turned his attention to
medicine and graduated from the leading colleges of
his time. His trend was rather for quiet retirement and
therefore he did not press for personal recognition, but
he was a man of deep erudition, with a masterful mind,
well cultured and refined and he could have easily won
professional distinction, had his taste been in that di-
rection. He compiled, but did not publish, two large
volumes on the forecasts of the weather, which cov-
ered a period of sixty years and was a work of great
labor and worth. Our subject's paternal grandfather,
John Black, ran away from Ireland when fifteen and
came to America. He married a Scotch girl in Penn-
sylvania and settled down to shoemaking .
* lur subject grew up on a farm and was well edu-
cated both by the constant training of his father as well
as in the schools of the dav. He remained with his
parents until he was thirty-three and then went to Mis-
souri. His marriage occurred on September 10, 1883,
Miss Eliza M., daughter of Larkin and Minerva
(Parker) Cleveland, mention of whom is specially
made in this volume, then becoming his wife. The
following children have been born to them : Corda G.,
Robert, William A., George O., Ralph E. and Orval
C. Mrs. Black was born on July 4, 1862, in Monroe
county, Tennessee. Mr. Black has one brother, Will-
iam, living in Missouri, and one brother, who died iri
infancy. His sister, Mary Ann, who was born March
7, 1855, died March 20, 1888, in Barton county, Mis-
souri, was the wife of Samuel Heverling, a prominent
farmer. He was a member of the United Brethren
church and a good man. Mr. Black's brother, William,
enlisted in Company I, Illinois Light Artillery, and was
transferred to Battery F, Heavy Artillery, of the Fif-
teenth Corps. He served the' entire war without a
scratch, was in many battles and saw much hardship.
Mr. Black came to Colfax, Washington, in 1891
and for four years he tilled the soil there and then
came, in 1895, to the reservation and the day following
his arrival he filed on his present place. Politically he
is a Populist, but is not active at the present time. His
estimable wife is a member of the Baptist church and
they are among the most substantial and worthy peo-
ple of the community. Mr. Black is a generous man,
well liked by his neighbors and is always ready to give
the helping hand to one in need, while his integrity,
uprightness and sound principles are manifest to all.
WILLIAM H. KING. In addition to being one of
the most extensive farmers of the reservation, Mr.
King is also a successful operator of a threshing ma-
chine outfit which he owns. In conjunction with his
cousin, William A. King, he has invented and pat-
ented a threshing machine which experts pronounce
a wonderful improvement on the present methods, and
doubtless in proper time, Mr. King will put out his
machine. He has a fine farm two miles east from
Gifford and among other improvements he has a ten-
acre orchard which will rank well with anything on the
reservation. He has always handled about five hun-
dred acres each year to grain, but this year he has
rented his land and pays all of his attention to his
threshing machine.
William H. King was born in Vernon county,
Wisconsin, on October 22, 1868, being the son of
James M. and Adelia (Joseph) King, natives of New
York and Ohio, respectively, the former being born
in Oswego and the latter in Zanesville. The father
is of French extraction and the mother of American
and German. The father, with his older brothers,
fought in the Civil war with the Wisconsin volunteers.
He was twice discharged on account of disability. The
parents live in Blaine, Washington, as also two broth-
ers, Thomas E. and James H. Our subject grew up on
a farm and was educated in the public schools. The
family removed to South Dakota, where the father took
a preemption and later thev*all went to Josephine coun-
ty, Oregon, living in Grants Pass. There William
completed his education in the college of that city. In
1889 they all went to Blaine, Washington, and for
three years our subject worked in the saw mills of the
place. Then he embarked in the hotel business and
then came to the reservation. He secured a good piece
of land and his mother also took a claim as head of the
family on account of the blindness of her husband. It
was contested, but after three decisions, Mrs. King
will now prove up. The father, after being totally
blind for one year, has been relieved by an operation
so he can see a little with one eye. Our subject's broth-
er also took a claim, but as his little girl burned to
death, and his house also burned up, he determined to
leave the reservation and so went back to Blaine.
On July 2, 1894, Mr. King married Miss Anna,
daughter of Clawson F. and E. M. Dahl, natives of
Germany. The father died in 1900. To Mr. and Mrs.
King there have been born three children, Mabel D.,
Elmer J. and Violet. Mr. King is a member of the
W. of W., Lookout Camp, No. 607. His estate is a
valuable one as he has refused four thousand five hun-
dred dollars for it.
BEN D. CLEVELAND. About one-half mile
south from Gifford one comes to the beautiful estate
of Mr. Cleveland. He has one of the finest quarter
sections in this part of the county and his industry and
skill have improved it in a very creditable manner.
In addition to other improvements and buildings and
so forth. Mr. Cleveland has erected a palatial residence
of nine rooms. It is of Queen Ann architectural de-
signs, all finished in costly oils and arranged in excel-
lent manner for comfort and convenience. This resi-
dence is doubtless the finest one in this section of Nez
Perces county and Mr. Cleveland is to be heartily com-
mended for his enterprise, taste and wisdom.
Ben D. Cleveland was born in Monroe county,
35o
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Tennessee, on December 14. 1867, being the son of
David H. and Elizabeth E. (Johnson) Cleveland. He
was reared on a farm and gained a fine education from
the adjacent schools and also the high school. At
twenty-one he started for himself, going to California,
where he spent two years. Later he returned home for
eighteen months. Then came a trip to Whitman coun-
ty? Washington, and for five years he was numbered
wi'th the thriftv farmers near Colfax. He then went
to Kendrick and wrought in a warehouse until the
reservation opened and then in the fall of 1895 he came
and filed on his present land, being one of the persons
whose energv and wisdom were rewarded by securing
a fine tract "of land from Uncle barn's domains. Mr.
Cleveland devotes his attention to general farming,
producing large quantities of wheat, barley and flax.
He handles some stock and is expecting to engage
more extensively in this profitable industry.
On November 2, 1897. Mr. Cleveland married Miss
Maud M.. daughter of S. C. and Mary (Dickinson)
Douglas, natives of West Virginia, -their ancestors also
being residents there for some time back. Mrs. Cleve-
land was born in Barbour county, on October 30,
1866. She came west in 1895 to reside with relatives
near Genesee. Mr. and Mrs. Cleveland are members
of the Methodist church and are highly respected peo-
ple. Mr. Cleveland is a Democrat but is not partisan
nor does he desire political advancement.
ALBERT E. TUMELSON. A wide awake, en-
ergetic, and well liked young man, whose faithful la-
bors in the improvement of his farm, four and one-
half miles southeast from Lenore, are manifest in his
valuable place, and it is but due that an epitome of the
career of this successful citizen be incorporated in the
historv of Xez Perces county.
Albert E. Tumelson was born in Jasper county,
Illinois, on Tanuary 29, 1869, being the son of Will-
iam C. and "Sarah E. (Grove) Tumelson, natives of
Illinois. Thev are now retired and living in Cedar-
vale, Kansas. The father served in the Civil war and
was' one of the unfortunates who languished in An-
dersonville. that den of suffering. When Albert was
two vears old the family went to Chautauqua county,
Kans'as, and later they moved across the line into Cow-
lev county. Our subject grew to the age of sixteen
with his parents and then started in the battle of life
for himself. He gained his education in the common
schools and worked at various places on the farms and
in the coal mines until nineteen and then came to the
west. For five or six years he toiled in the agricultural
region of Whitman county adjacent to Palouse. Then
he bought a claim in Garden Gulch in Latah county
and when the water was plenty in the spring he used
the hvdraulic and did well. In the summer time he
would harvest and in the fan worked with the thresh-
ers One winter was spent in trapping and hunting
at the forks of the Saint Marys river in Idaho, and in
this undertaking, as in his other labors. Mr. Tumelson
was blessed with success. In 1897 he came to the res-
ervation and took his present place and this has been
the scene of his labors since. Having a little capital,
he at once bought a team and wagon, fenced the land
and built a good house. He has now a fine bunch of
stock, cattle, hogs and horses, and is doing a general
farming business. He has manifested great wisdom
and discrimination in his business affairs and this cou-
pled with his native force and energy have given him
abundant success. Mr. Tumelson has also operated a
binder and a thresher much of the time. He is a man
oi excellent standing and is the recipient of the good
will of all the neighbors and in fact of all who know
him. On February 18, 1903, Mr. Tumelson was mar-
ried to Miss Telva Ross, daughter of Mr. Dick Ross,
of Kansas. Mr. Tumelson has given of his time for
the work of clerk of the school board and he is heartily
in sympathy with all advancement in education and
betterment of the people in all lines.
JAMES S. JACKS. It is with pleasure that we
are enabled to grant to this gentleman a representation
in the volume of his county's history, since he is one of
the men whose labors have transformed the Nez Perces
reservation from wilds to fine farms, and also because
he is a man of intrinsic worth and intelligence and is
the recipient of the confidence and esteem of his fel-
lows.
James S. Jacks was born on October 9, 1868, near
Winterset, Madison county, Iowa, being the son of
Benjamin R. and Mary M. (Rhodes) Jacks, mention of
whom is made in another portion of this work. James
received a good education from the common schools
and remained with his parents until 1889. Then he
went to eastern Oregon, working at printing for a year
at Athena, haying learned this trade in Des Moines,
Iowa. Later he worked at this trade in Tacoma and in
189 1 he came to the Potlatch country. When the res-
ervation opened up he at once filed on his present place,
one and one-half miles east from Gifford. The date of
his filing was November 19, 1895, the next day after
the reservation opened. In addition to doing a general
farming business, Mr. Jacks is devoting considerable
attention to fruit raising. He has now over five thou-
sand trees, many bearing, making an area of about
sixty-five acres to orchard. The varieties that Mr.
Jacks finds best for this section are the Gano, Jona-
than and the P.lack Ben Davis, all hardy winter ap-
ples. Mrs. Eva J. Miller, a widowed sister, keeps
house for Mr. Jacks, he being one of the happy bach-
elors of the community.
On June 25, 1898, our subject enlisted in Company
C, Independent Battalion of Washington, enrolling at
Pomeroy, being under Captain Harry St. George. He
was mustered out on October 26, 1898. The following
winter was spent at home and on August 14, 1899, he
enlisted again, this time at Lewiston. He was sent to
Vancouver barracks and attached to Company I, Thir-
ty-fifth United States Volunteers, commanded by Col-
onel Plummer. who got his commission a little later.
The captain of the company was C. I ». Roberts. Mr.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
3Si
Jacks was in service from August 14, 1899, to March
15. 1 00 1. He fought in the battle' of Balobad Hill and
later served as a non-commissioned officer in Company
A on detached service in scouting. His regiment was
stationed in the province of Bulacan. Mr. Jacks aid
faithful and efficient service and since the war he has
been paying especial attention to the development of
his farm and is one of the highly esteemed and intelli-
eent citizens of the county.
AMOS MAEL is deserving of mention in the his-
tory of Xez Perces county since he is a man of good
standing, is possessed of sound principles and integrity,
has labored for the improvement and substantial prog-
ress of the county and is now making a fine fruit and
stock ranch, three miles southeast from Lenore. where
his home is.
Amos Mael was born in Marion county, Oregon,
on .March 7. 1867. and his parents are Robert and Mary
E. (House) Mael. The father was born in Iowa, in
1826, and died in 1889. He was a pioneer in Oregon
and crossed the plains with ox teams. The mother of
our subject was born in Missouri, in 1842, and is now
living in Washington. Her parents were also pio-
neers in C >regon and she crossed the plains in the same
train with her husband and they were married in Ore-
gon. Amos grew up on a farm and received his edu-
cation from the district schools. The family removed
from ( )regon to Washington, immediately north from
The Dalles, when he was a child and he remained on
the Washington farm until he was twenty-three. Then
farmed for himself for five years and in 1899 came to
the reservation and took a place, which he sold later
and bought his present farm of one hundred and
twenty acres. He has a fine barn and is improving
the place rapidly.
On August 3, 1892, Mr. Mael married Miss May,
daughter of John and Emma (Bowman) Buford. Mrs.
Mael was born in Oregon, in 1872, and has two broth-
ers and two sisters. Mr. Mael has the following
brothers and sisters, Frances E., Rachel Darland, Ella
Adams, Daisy Dykes, Adam, Andy, Martin. John,
Harvey. Four children have been born to Mr. and
Mrs. Mael, Earl, Lee, Lloyd and Len. Mr. Mael and
his estimable wife are members of the United Brethren
church. Mr. Mael is a Republican and always is
allied on the side of order and good government.
_ JESSE E. TUAIELSOX. This intelligent and
bright young agriculturist of the reservation portion of
Xez Perces county is a man whose labors have been
bestowed with sagacity and enterprise, and he has
as a result a goodly showing in the fine farm of one
quarter section where he resides, five miles west from
Peck, and also in the other property that he holds.
Jesse E. Tumelson was born in Cowdey county,
Kansas, on September 14. 1873. being the son of Will-
iam C. ami Sarah E. (Groves) Tumelson, natives of
Illinois and born in 1846 and 1845, respectively. They
now live in Cedarvale, Kansas. The father was a sol-
dier in the Civil war for three years and languished in
Andersonville for three months. Jesse grew to young
manhood in Kansas and when seventeen joined his
brother, Albert, who was in Latah county, Idaho.
They mined with hydraulic in Garden Gulch and did
well. In 1896 they came to Xez Perces county and
settled on their present places. Our subject has since
that time devoted his energies assiduously to the im-
provement of his farm and has a fine property.
On December 23, 1898, Mr. Tumelson married
Miss Cora E., daughter of Thomas and Rosa (Dus-
ton) Springston, the wedding occurring at Gifford.
Mr. Springston is a farmer and thresher in this county
and was born in 1857. His father, Samuel A., was a
soldier in the Civil war. The mother of Mrs. Tumelson
was born in 1858. Mrs. Tumelson has the following
brothers and sisters, Grace Henderson, Harry, Maggie
Henderson, Etta Tumelson, Lota Allen, Howard, Ka-
tie, Floyd, Loren. Mrs. Tumelson was born near
( iarnett, Kansas, on February 12, 1882. Mr. Tumelson
has the following brothers and sisters, Lydia A. Strode,
Albert E.. Emma B., deceased, Bessie Witt, William
( )., Lucy Wilson, Lura. Two children have been born
to Mr. ami Mrs. Tumelson, Bessie R., Lena M. Mr.
Tumelson is a staunch Republican and an advocate
of excellent schools. His farm supports a goodly
number of hogs, cattle and horses, and he gathers an-
nually good harvests of grain and fruits from the en-
tire place.
ALBERT D. WHALEY is one of the industrious
and enterprising men whose hands have brought the
excellent products from the reservation lands that
make Xez Perces county one of the best in the state
of Idaho. He resides on a farm immediately north
from Summit and gives his attention largely to truck
farming and raising hogs and poultry. Mr. Whaley
is making a fine success of his labors and has this year
one of the finest onion patches of one acre to be found
in the entire county.
Albert D. Whaley was born in Lake county, Illi-
nois, on March 22, 1852, being the son of David and
Prudence (Corser) Whaley, natives of Xew York and
Vermont, respectively. The mother went to Illinois
in an early day with her parents in a wagon. Mr.
Whaley had two brothers. Charles A. and Cyrus C,
in the Civil w:ar. both being privates in the Twelfth
Michigan. Charles lives in Oakesdale, Washington,
and Cyrus lives in Kansas. His other brothers are
Marcus, in Kansas, and Marlow, in Oakesdale.
Mr. Whaley married Miss Irene, daughter of
John W. and Elizabeth (Smith) Dinwiddie. After the
war the parents of our subject came to Douglas coun-
tv, Kansas, and there and in his native place. Albert
was reared on a farm and educated in the common
schools. When he was twenty-one he went for himself
and worked on the railroad and followed other occu-
pations, also purchasing eighty acres which he rented.
In r888 he came from Kansas to Oakesdale. Washing-
352
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ton, and farmed for three years and then went to
Chehalis. where he was engaged in timber work for
seven years. In 1898 Mr. Whaley filed on his pres-
ent place and since that time he has devoted his ener-
gies to its improvement and development. He has a
comfortable home and is one of the thrifty residents of
the community. To Mr. and Mrs. Whaley there have
been borr. the following children, Charles J., Maude L.,
Lester Z., Lizzie I., Floyd W. Mr. Whaley is a Pro-
hibitionist in politics, while he and his wife are soldiers
in the Salvation Army, holding their enrollment at
Chehalis. While there, Mrs. Whaley was sergeant
major, having charge of the children's branch. Our
subject and his wife are highly respected and are val-
uable acquisitions to the community.
HENRY F. BLACK. In February, 1864, Mr.
Black enlisted in Battery D, Second Pennsylvania
Heavy Artillery, and did service in the army of the Po-
tomac. He was in the battles of Rapidan, the Wilder-
ness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor and Petersburgh,
feeing wounded in the last conflict on July 30, by a
piece of shell. The wound was in his left arm and
that member is crippled to this day. He languished
in the hospital for six months and then returned to
his regiment and did duty until the end of the war
but was not discharged until February, 1866. He
participated in some of the fiercest conflicts that were
ever fought between contending armies and his was
a brilliant military record.
Noting details, we see that Henry F. Black was
born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, on October
31, 1847, being the son of James and Margaret C.
(Norton) Black, natives of Pennsylvania. The
father was a miller and they soon removed to Sulli-
van county after the birth of Henry. There the
mother died when he was six and the father died in
1862. After the war Mr. Black returned to Han-
cock county, Illinois, and two years later went to
Hannibal. Missouri. In 1870 he came to Silver City,
Utah, where he mined and prospected. There he was
married on April 4, 1873, to Melvina, daughter of
Madison D. and Clarinda (Green) Hambelton. Mrs.
Black was born in Carson Valley, Nevada, on Decem-
ber 4, 1856. Mr. Black was constable and also
deputy sheriff in Utah. In 1881 he mined at Wood
river, Idaho, and 1890 found him in Pullman and 1893
he leased Indian land, where he remained until the
reservation was opened. Then he took his present
place, about two miles southwest from Mohler, which
he has improved in an excellent manner. He has
a fine windmill, tank and many other excellent re-
sults of his skill and industry. 'Mr. and Mrs. Black
are both members of the Christian church. They
have one son, James F., who married Miss Pearl
Departv. came and took a quarter section adjoining
his father's farm on the east. Mr. and Mrs. Black
are exemplary people and stand high in the esteem
and good will of the members of the community. His
uncle, H. F. Black, a banker of Ness City, Kansas,
died recently.
HON. THOMAS O. HANLON. A prominent
man in the political questions of his state, a potent
factor in the upbuilding of Nez Perces county, a
cultured gentleman, a patriotic citizen, a loyal friend
and an esteemed member of society, the subject of
this sketch is properly entitled to representation in
the history of his county.
Thomas O. Hanlon was born in Dublin, Ireland,
on July 18, 1846, being the son of Francis and Ann
(Bradley) Hanlon, natives of Dublin, Ireland. The
father was thirty years warden of the Alount Joy
prison in Dublin, but is now deceased. Our subject
received his education in a private academy in Dub-
lin and when fifteen came to the United States. Land-
ing in Brooklyn, he at once set to finish the trade of
carpenter, which he commenced in his native land.
He continued in this until the breaking out of the
Civil war, and then enlisted promptly in the Thirteenth
New York Cavalry, in May, 1863. He joined his
command at Fallschurch, Virginia, and then trans-
ferred to Battery E, First Artillery. Frank E.
French was first lieutenant. Our subject acted as
artificer for three years. He participated in the bat-
tles of Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania and
Cold Harbor, also in the Shenandoah campaign, in-
cluding the battles at Frederick City, Fisher's Hill,
Opack creek and then the battery operated with an
independant brigade until the close of the war. At
one time his command was ordered to Camp Barry
to recruit. He was wounded at Fairfax Court House,
by dirt thrown from a bursting shell, which cost him
the sight of his left eye. Following the war, Mr. Han-
lon returned to Brooklyn and followed his trade and
contracting until 1867, when he went to Sioux City,
Iowa, thence to Manistee, Michigan, and there spent
seven years contracting. Also he served as county
clerk one term and county superintendent of schools
one term. Next we see him in in Medford, Wisconsin,
and four years he contracted there. In 1889 he went
to Tacoma, and in that city and its suburbs he spent
seven vears. He was town clerk at Orting six years
and built the Soldiers' Home there. In 1895 Mr. Han-
lon came to the reservation and secured a claim,
the date of filing being November 18, 1895. In the
spring of 1901 Mr. Hanlon platted ten acres in the
northeast corner of section twenty-one, of township
thirty-four, in range one, and in honor of President
Mohler, of the O. R. & N., who has endeavored to
bring railroad facilities to this county, Mr. Hanlon
named the town Mohler. He has several buildings,
as general merchandise, drug store, dwellings, and so
forth. He himself is occupied in operating a furniture
store, is postmaster, notary public, justice of the peace
and insurance agent. Mr. Hanlon is a man of good
business qualifications and his efforts are praiseworthy
in promoting the town.
In the fifth session of the Idaho legislature Mr.
IRS. HENRY F. BLACK.
HENRY F. BLACK.
THOMAS O. HANLON.
HON. S. G. ISAMAN.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
353
Hanlon was a potent factor, having been elected by
the Republicans of this district, as he is a stanch rep-
resentative of Republicanism, and in this house he
was a strong candidate for speaker, but the fusionists
overcame his party. The act granting attorney's fees
in suits for debt, the free home bill and the amend-
ment to the school laws were all bills introduced by
our subject. He did efficient service and won many
plaudits. Mr. Hanlon is a member of the G. A. R., and
has always been active in that capacity, having been
deputy inspector for Washington and Alaska, as well
as aide-de-camp on the staff of the commander in chief
of the G. A. R., having rank of colonel.
On September 4, 1876, Mr. Hanlon married Miss
Ella, daughter of George and Sallie (Hoogaboom)
Bolles, natives of New York. Two children have been
born to them, Cora E., wife of Wallace Masterson, a
farmer on the reservation ; Nellie, single. Mrs. Hanlon
has one brother. Nelson, and one sister, Mrs. R. Smith.
Mr. Bolles enlisted in the Seventh Wisconsin in 1861,
and served four years, being in the battle of Gettys-
burg. Mr. Hanlon is a member of the Echo Lodge,
No. 60, of the I. O. O. F., at Mohler. He has held a
membership in this order since 1863. is past noble
grand and also chief patriarch of the encampment.
HON. SAMUEL G. ISAMAN. This gentleman
is one of the successful men of Nez Perces county. He
is an influential factor in the political world and has
done commendable work in this line. In 1882 he was
elected city treasurer of Lewiston, and did creditable
service for three years. In 1884 the people chose him
for the territorial senate and there he succeeded in
connection with Mr. Moody in getting a memorial
to congress for the annexation of the Panhandle in
Idaho to Washington. In 1888 Mr. Isaman was
chosen county superintendent of public instruction. In
1890 he was chosen to this office and also that of pro-
bate judge. At the expiration of these terms, he re-
tired from politics for a time, but his fellows would
have him brought forward and accordingly in 1898
he was called to the important office of county com-
missioner. He has served several times as chairman
of the central committee. In all this long and re-
sponsible service, Mr. Isaman has so conducted himself
that he has ever increased in popularity with the peo-
ple and is held in high esteem.
Reverting to the early life of our subject, we note
that he was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylva-
nia, on August 26, 1849, being the son of Samuel and
Mary (Grim) Isaman. The father was a shoemaker,
born in Pennsylvania in 1812 and is still living in Iowa,
aged ninety. The mother was born in Greensburg,
Pennsylvania, in 18 14 and died in 1895. The family
came to Ohio in 1853 and thence they went to Iowa,
bought land and settled in Henry county. The fa-
ther worked at this trade and the boys handled the
farm. Our subject went to the common schools and
when the war broke out, the two older boys enlisted
to save the nation while Samuel and a brother four-
teen years old were left to handle the farm and conse-
quently they had hard work. At the age of nineteen,
our subject went to work for himself and earned money
to atted a private school in Mount Pleasant ; he then-
took a course at the Agricultural College at Ames.
When twenty-two he met with an accident that crip-
pled him. While attending school, Mr. Isaman taught
and soon he became a first-class educator, and in this
line he has had brilliant success. He holds a life cer-
tificate from the state of California. When twenty-
four, he went to Butte county and taught school
there and in other portions of the state for five years.
Then he came to Rosalia, Washington, and took land.
In 1880 he came to Lewiston and in 1889 he purchased
his present place, three and one-half miles east from
Lewiston. He has thirty acres of fruit and his farm
is one of the many fine ones of the county.
In the spring of 1887, in Oregon, Mr. Isaman mar-
ried Miss Emma Reynolds, daughter of A. V. and
Harriett Reynolds, natives of New York. The father
was a contractor and builder. Mrs. Isaman was born
in the vicinity of Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1855, and
had a good high school education. She has seven
brothers, R. P., Lemuel, Justus, George, Almos, Charles
and Robert. Mr. Isaman has the following named
brothers and sisters: Benjamin, Franklin, Lafayette,
David, Kate Deeds, Leah Beach and Vina Ferree. Mr.
and Mrs. Isaman have been blessed by the advent of
the following children : George, Harry F., Kate, Roy
and Charlie, all at home. Mr. Isaman is a member
of the I. O.O. F., and the A. O. U. W. His wife is
a member of the Methodist church. Mr. Isaman had
two great uncles killed in the Revolution. It is with
pleasure that we are enabled to record that Mr. Isa-
man has always been an advocate of good schools
and has done a great deal to promote such here.
WILLIAM WHITE. A man of energy and ex-
cellent practical ability, who demonstrated his patriot-
ism by serving in the Civil war from March. 1865. to
November 20, 1865, in the Seventh Illinois Cavalry,
Company E. under General George H. Thomas, who
has wrought in a worthy manner since and is now one
of the substantial men of the reservation, — to such an
one we with pleasure grant space in the history of the
county.
William White was born in Jefferson county. New
York, on December 1. 1845. being the son of William
and Elvira ( Freeman I White, natives of New York.
Hiram Freeman, great-grandfather of our subject, en-
listed in the Revolutionary war at the age of seven-
teen. William came with his parents to Jo Daviess
count v. Illinois, where he grew up and received his edu-
cation. During the war period of his life he was in
several skirmishes and had bullets graze his face. He
was in Mississippi. Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee and
other places during this time. Mr. White is a mem-
ber of the G. A. R. in Ames, Iowa. Subsequent to his
discharge in Nashville, Tennessee, he returned home
and farmed. On February 20, 1868, Mr. White mar-
354
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ried Miss Susan L., daughter of Henry and Jemima
| I low | Trevits. Eight children have been born to this
union. Frank E., married to .Marion Burton, is now
living in this county, having been a successful teacher
in Iowa; Wilna S. Keltner, of Chamberlain, North
Dakota, formerly a teacher; Alice A. Keltner, also
a teacher, now' in the reservation; William H.,
deceased ; Marv L. Melliken, in Spokane ; Florence P.
died a few days after coming to the reservation, aged
seventeen, she was a fine musician; Willis Herbert,
owner of eightv acres and, although but eighteen, is
doing for himself; Mary L., a graduate of the high
school and a good musician. Mr. Trevits was born
in Berks county. Pennsylvania, and his wife in Chautau-
qua county, New York. He enlisted in Company A, in
Illinois, and was transferred to the Third Missouri,
where he served until he was taken sick and then dis-
charged, naving been in the ranks nearly two years.
Ik- never fully recovered from this stroke and the
last seventeen years of his life were spent in physical
helplessness. He died in 1897, in Contra Costa coun-
tv, California. His wife died in 1888. They were
married in Wyandotte county, Pennsylvania, and there
Mrs. White was born on August 6, 1849. The family
came to Jo Daviess county when she was a child. In
iS;_> Mr. White moved his family to Boone county,
Iowa, and there farmed as he had done in Illinois, and
there he remained until 1899, when he came and took
his present place, one mile southwest from Nezperce.
It is a fine farm, well improved, with elegant modern
residence, fitted with all conveniences, a first-class barn,
and other accessories, as well as a good orchard and so
forth.' Mrs. White secured her first certificate and
taught her first school when she was sixteen years old
and for twenty-four years she has held high rank
among educators. They are both members of the Meth-
odist church and Mrs. White has been superintendent
of the Sunday school for three years. Mr. White is a
deacon in the church and has been trustee.
RUFUS W. UTT. It is very fitting that among
the young men of Nez Perces county, Mr. Utt should
be mentioned as one of the capable, enterprising and
progressive ones, whose labors have done much to as-
sist in the upbuilding of the county.
Rufus W. Utt was born in Jersey county, Illinois,
on January 15, 1872, being the son of John H. and
Marv (Armstrong) Utt, natives of Illinois. The fa-
ther was born May 2, 1 84 1, and his father was a pio-
neer of Illinois. The mother of our subject died in
1877 The family removed to Kansas when Rufus
was eleven years old, settling in Chautauqua county.
The father bought land and farmed. Rufus was edu-
cated and grew to manhood in that western home and
at the age" of twenty-three he came to Latah county
and milled in Garden Gulch and on Gold Hill with
varying success for two years. Then he came to Nez
Pen es county and took up farming and stock raising.
He leased land and broke it for two years' use and in
this business he has done well. He owns a good farm
of one hundred and sixty acres in Latah county, near
Princeton, which is well improved and which he in-
tends to make his home when his leases expire in this
county.
In Latah county, on January 1, 1899, Mr. Utt mar-
ried Miss Lulu I., daughter of Robert and Louise
(Hendricks) Mowlds. The father was born in Illi-
nois in 1852 and the mother was born there in 1862.
They are "both now living in Latah county. Mr.
Mowlds was a pioneer in Lincoln county, Washing-
ton, and is a first-class carpenter and builder. Mrs.
Utt was born in Lincoln county, Washington, on
January 31, 1882, and she has the following brothers
and sisters, Mattie, Cecil, Virgie, Itha, Lloyd and Pearl.
Mr. Utt has two sisters and one brother, Nancy J.
Bontwell, in Little Rock, Arkansas; John M., in Nez
Perces county ; Mary M., who has not been heard from
since the Johnstown flood, she being there. Two chil-
dren have come to bless the household of our subject,
Ethel M. and Rufus Ed. Mr. Utt is a member of the
M. W. A. at Peck. He is a Democrat but does not
press for personal preferment. Mrs. Utt is a mem-
ber of the Christian church and Mr. Utt is a wise auvo-
cate of good schools and general progress.
CLARENCE E. LEEPER. The industrious and
enterprising gentleman of whom we now have the
pleasure of speaking is one of the men who came to
this county with but little of this world's goods, but
by his wise management of the resources of the place
has put himself in a first-class financial position, be-
ing one of the prosperous and substantial farmers of
the place. He remarks that when he came here he was
enabled to carry all his goods on his back and had but
a few dollars in his pocket. True grit, pluck and sa-
gacity have been displayed and now the fruit of this
effort is in abundant evidence in his holdings.
Clarence E. Leeper was born in Greene county,
Missouri, on September 5, 1872, being the son of James
and Mary C. ( West) Leeper, natives of Missouri, and
born in 1846 and 1856, respectively. The father was
a pioneer in Missouri and served four years in the Con-
federate army. The mother died in 1888. When Clar-
ence was two years old the family migrated to Ore-
gon and settled in Douglas county and later went to
Josephine county. There they farmed and raised stock.
Our subject grew up on a farm and was educated in
the public schools. He remained with his father until
twenty-four. In 1896 he came to his present place, two
and one-half miles north from Melrose, and secured a
quarter section by homestead right. This has been the
home since that time and is one of the valuable places
in this vicinity.
On November 29, 1899, Mr. Leeper married Miss
Mary I., daughter of William P. and Mary (Harness)
Garner, the wedding occurring in Nez Perces county.
Mr. Garner and his wife were born in Missouri and
their daughter was born in Doniphan county. Kansas,
on April 18, 1876. She has two brothers and two
sisters. Vinal. Naomi, May, Neri. Mr. Leeper has one
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
355
sister and two brothers, Albert E., Ava M. and Hugh,
all in Nez Perces county. One child. Villa M., has
been born to .Mr. and Mrs. Leeper. Mrs. Leeper is a
member of the Christian church. Mr. Leeper is a
stanch Republican and labors for practical results and
is dominated by wisdom and sound principles. He has
always been a zealous advocate of first-class educa-
tional facilities and believes in paying the price to ob-
tain them. Mr. Leeper is not content with handling
his land, but leases considerable in addition, which he
cultivates.
JOSEPH HARR is one of the most substantial
and capable men in the vicinity of Summit and is one
of the worthv men whose labors have made Nez
Perces county' what it is at the present time, one of
the leading counties in the state. He is a man of in-
tegrity, uprightness, and is held in esteem and highly
respected by all who know him.
Joseph Harr was bcrn in Butter county, Ohio, on
May 18. 1853, being the son of Joseph and Margaret
( Curry 1 Harr, farmers of that state. Joseph received
a common schooling and made the best of his oppor-
tunities to gain knowledge. He has always been a
studious man and very observing and the result is
that he is well posted and an influential and leading
citizen. In 1875 he left home and migrated to Coles
county, Illinois, where he rented land for eight years.
Then a move was made to Minor county, South Da-
kota, where a brother had preceded him and five
years were spent there on a homestead. For one
year he resided in Nebraska and then he came to Mos-
cow and when the reservation opened he sold the prop-
erty that he had acquired in Moscow and settled on his
present place, one and one-half miles west from Sum-
mit. He has a good farm of one quarter section and
he rents as much more, raising the cereals and also
handling considerable stock. In 1900 he sold nine
hundred and thirty dollars* worth of hogs and in 1902
he sold nearly as many. Thus it will be seen that from
this single product of the farm that Mr. Harr is a
thrifty and capable farmer. He was one of the two
first settlers in his section and he directed the build-
ing of the first school house in his district. No. 3. lie
is chairman of the board now and has always taken a
great interest in educational matters.
( )n April n, 1S77. Mr. Harr married Miss Lavina.
daughter of James Q. and Lucinda (Wright) Sair,
natives of Ohio, and of German descent. Mrs. Han-
was born in Vinton county, Ohio. To this happ) mar-
riage were born six children : Charles, Hattie B.,
Harry, Mabel, Elmer and Walter. Mrs. Harr has
since been called away from her pleasant home and
loving family by the cold hand of death.
Mr. Harr has the following brothers: John W.,
William H., Jackson. He has two half-brothers,
Charks and G. W. Smith. Also Air. Harr has two
half-sisters: Laura, wife of Eli Gerard: Lizzie, wife
1 if Butler Gerard, a cousin of Eli. Mr. Harr is a
Democrat in politics but never ;s desirous of personal
preferment, alwavs allowing the emoluments of office
to be given to another and is contented with the quiet
of private life. He is a man of excellent qualities and
has the good will of all.
DAVID FISH. A farmer whose labors have ac-
cumulated a fine holding in this favored region of the
reservation and who is in excellent standing among
the people, has done a comendable part in the good
work of improving and building up the country, it is
with pleasure that we are enabled to grant the subject
of this article representation in the county history.
David Fish was born in the province of Quebec,
on May 10, 1857. He grew up and was educated in
his native place and in 1877 came to New Hampshire,
where he wrought in the lumber business until 1880.
Then he went to Bay City, Michigan, and worked in
the lumber business one year, then sailed on the
lakes, and in 1888 came as far west as Marysville,
Montana, and wrought as a miner and also as a machin-
ist. In 1890 Mr. Fish returned to Michigan and later
came to Elkhorn, Montana, and in 1896 to his present
place, a snug and well kept farm about one-half mile
southwest from Nezperce. He had but little when he
located this land and so he was forced to endure the
hardships and arduous labor of pioneer life ; he has
faithfully labored on until he has a good farm, well
improved, and is one of the prosperous men of this
section. Mr. Fish is a member of the M. W. -V.
The marriage of Mr. Fish and Miss Emma Hart,
a native of Calumet, Michigan, was solemnized on
April 18, 1887, and four children have been born to
gladden the home: Laura, Arlie, Rehomode and
Mardiez E. Mrs. Fish was born on May 28, 1871.
Mr. Fish and his family all affiliate with the Catholic
church and are faithful supporters of the faith.
JOHN T. LOUGH. The apostle Paul minis-
tered to his own and to the needs of those with him
through the work of his own hands and thus preached
the gospel free to all. Such has been the career of the
estimable gentleman whose name is at the head of this
article and he is now preaching regularly at Gifford and
other points, while he also handles his farm, which is
located one and one-half miles east from Lookout. On
March 17. 1878, in Barry county, Missouri, John T.
Lough was ordained to preach in the church of Christ
ami "since that time he has been active in the spread of
the faith.
Mr. Lough was born near Waveland, Indiana, on
October 12, 1846, being the son of Samuel M. and
Delilah J. (Stalcup) Lough. The father was born in
Cumberland county. Kentucky, on January 25. 1823,
and died Februarv' 5, 1902. His father. Thomas W.,
was born March" 12. 17SS. in Virginia; the great-
grandfather of our subject was a pioneer in Kentucky
and enlisted in the Revolution under General Wash-
ington, but on account of his youth was detailed as a
servant of the General, and afterward married a niece
356
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
of George Washington's mother. The mother of our
subject was born in Tennessee, in 1822, and died in
August. 1857. Her parents were pioneers in Tennes-
see. When John T. was ten months of age the family
went to the father's old home in Kentucky and when
John was ten years old they all went to Texas. Gray-
son county was the home place and in the time of the
Civil war he and his father were conscripted for the
Confederate army. In the spring of 1865 Mr. Lough
went to Barry county, Missouri, and farmed and fol-
lowed saw-milling. As stated before, it was there that
he began preaching for the church of Christ, being
the first county evangelist. In 1892 he sold out and
came to Latah county, where he resided until the
spring of 1896, when he come and took his present
place. This he has farmed in good shape and it is
one of the fine farms of the county.
On December 23, 1867, Mr. Lough married Miss
Nancy C. daughter of Josiah and Lodusky (Smith)
Daugherty, natives of Tennessee: Mr. Daugherty
was a pioneer of southwestern Missouri and served in
the Confederate army. Mrs. Lough was born in
Barry county, in 1841, and died on August 2, 1897.
Three children were born to this marriage : Delilah L.
Kelly, at Gifford, Idaho; Margaret E. Nelson, in Cal-
ifornia ; Lona A., at home. Mr. Lough is a stanch
Democrat and in Latah and this county he refused the
nomination for the state legislature, when his nomi-
nation meant his election. He has always been an ad-
vocate of first-class schools, and has labored faithfully
for the welfare of all, both temporally and spiritually,
and he is highly respected and beloved by all.
FRANK WESLEY WOODIN. The esteemed
gentleman . whose name forms the caption of this ar-
ticle is one of the younger men who are making of the
reservation portion of Nez Perces county one of the
most valuable farming regions in the state of Idaho.
His estate of one-quarter section is situated three miles
west from Peck. He has devoted himself with in-
dustry and skill to its improvement and culture since
taking it in the year of the opening of the reservation.
Frank W. Woodin was born in Osceola county,
Michigan, on May 8, 1876, being the son of Professor
Frank E. and Urena V. (Benscootter) Woodin. Pro-
fessor Woodin is a man of considerable note, being an
expert artist and lecturer. Especially has he gained
prestige in Michigan, his home state. He handles the
caricatures of the Toledo Blade and other journals.
He was born in Wayne county, Michigan, in August,
1853. The mother of our subject was born in Phila-
delphia, Pennsylvania, on November 10, 1853, and
died in 1892. Her father was one of the sturdy pio-
neers of the early days. Frank W. grew to manhood
and gained his education in Detroit, Michigan. In
18Q2 he graduated from the high school in that city
and then devoted himself to the mastery of the tin-
ner's art. This being accomplished, he came to south-
ern Minnesota, after traveling around considerably in
other portions of the country, and in Minnesota he
engaged in firing on the railroad for a time. In 1895,
on account of the sickness of his brother, Charles,
who died in September, 1898, he came west and re-
mained with him on American Ridge for a time. In
1895. at the opening of the reservation, Mr. Woodin
took a claim near Nezperce, but becoming involved in
a contest, he abandoned the claim and came to the
vicinity of Peck. Here he found a settler on his
present place who was willing to abandon for a
horse and saddle that Mr. Woodin had, and the trade
was soon was consumated. Mr. Woodin then went to
work to get a little start, for he had scanty capital
at that date, and for two years he worked in the
neighborhood. He has steadily devoted himself to the
improvement of his farm and now has a good place.
Mr. Woodin has brothers and sisters as follows :
Bessie Pearl, is one of the successful educators of the
county and keeps house for our subject; Charles E.,
deceased ; Bertha L., in Toledo, Ohio, holding the
position of stenographer for the Cressor Company,
ladies furnishers; William M. S., in this county with
our subject; Elizabeth M. E., in Toledo, Ohio, with
her father. Mr. Woodin is a member of the M. W. A..
at Peck, and a Republican in politics and is a good
citizen possessed of many friends. His uncle. Captain
Ira Ennis, was a volunteer from Michigan in the Civil
war, and is now superintending a railroad in Cuba.
His uncle, Al Beorn , was in the Civil war and
languished a year in Libby prison.
EDWARD E. WATTS, M. D., is one of the lead-
ing professional men of Nez Perces county. Naturally
endowed with the talent and ability requisite for the
medical profession — and in this profession it must be
understood that an enlightened public require in-
tegrity, talent, skill, erudition and thoroughness in
keeping abreast of the rapidly advancing science of
medicine, — being naturally endowed, we remark, in a
generous manner and aided by a careful and thorough
course in general and technical education, also skilled
by a long and thorough practice, Dr. Watts is emi-
nently fitted to handle the large and ever increasing
practice that his skill and worth are daily bringing
him.
Edward E. Watts was born in Columbia City,
Louisa county, Iowa, on February 22, 1854, being the
son of John M. and Sarah (Gunn) Watts, natives of
Ohio and of Scotch extraction. The father was a
pioneer of the territory of Iowa from Indiana and
was a faithful preacher for the Christian church foi
twentv-five years, and also did farming. When Ed-
ward was eleven his parents both died and he was thus
early left to try the hardships of a cold world. He
worked for farmers and gained schooling in the
winters and his industry is manifest in that he joined
the ranks of the educators when he was but seven-
teen, and for five years he taught, studied medicine
and perfected himself in higher education. In 1875,
by dint of hard labor and careful study he had been
enabled to pay his own way through the American
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
357
University at Philadelphia and with credit to him-
self he graduated there in that year. The next year
he located in Unionville. Missouri, and for five years
he enjoyed a good practice. Then he located at Bige-
low. Kansas, and for seven years he practiced there.
It was 1888 that he came to Juliaetta and in 1891
Dr. Watts determined to enjoy and bring to the west
the results of a thorough post graduate course and
accordingly he spent one year in the Eclectic Medical
Institute in Cincinnati, Ohio, receiving additional di-
plomas from that institution, which is the very father
of eclecticism in the entire world. After this excel-
lent course, in which as in other investigations and
training the Doctor had paid especial attention to
surgery, he came to Southwick, Idaho, and established
himself there. In April. 1901, discerning the excellent
location of Gifford, he came hither and has since his
coming enjoyed an exceptionally good practice, his
skill and success haying already preceded him hither.
Dr. Watts has two brothers and two sisters : James
M., Edwin O., Elizabeth M., widow of David Grif-
fiths; Mary A., wife of James M. Osborne. James
lives in Pullman and the others live in Kansas and
Iowa. Dr. Watts takes the proper interest in politics
and is allied with the Democratic party and has been
a delegate to nearly all the county conventions. He
is examining physician for the W. of W.
Dr. Watts was married and has three children:
Victor, in Kansas ; Charles E. and William A., at
Southwick, Idaho. His brothers James M. and Jona-
than W., were in the Union army under Sherman.
Jonathan was killed in Georgia while he was assisting
to build breastworks. They were both privates. Dr.
Watts has hosts of friends wherever he is known and
is a man of sterling worth and commanding ability.
DEXTER D. MERRITT. A man of wide ex-
perience in the ways of life and who has wrought with
wisdom and energy in the occupations of his hand
and is now one of the substantial and respected citi-
zens of Melrose, it is consistent with the province of
this work to incorporate the salient points of his career
in its pages.
Dexter D. Merritt was born in Warren county,
Pennsylvania, on June 10, 1848, being the son of
Thomas and Elizabeth (Jewetti Merritt. The father
was born in Connecticut in 1787, settled in western
New York in 1807 and died in 1870. The mother of
our subject was born in New York in 1814 and died
in 1 85 1. When eleven years old Dexter went from
the parental roof for the stern duties of life. He was
educated in New York after this and then came to
Iowa when he was fifteen. He settled in Clayton
county, and farmed until 1873, then came a migratory
journey to Colorado and for ten years he delved in
the mines of that state, working in Clear Creek, Lake,
and Boulder counties, where also he did carpentering
work. Then he journeyed to Idaho and wrought at
his trade for a year or more, after which he came
again to Colorado and farmed in Rio Grande county.
In 1891 he came to Cassia and Freeman counties, in
Idaho, and wrought for a couple of years, also oper-
ated a general merchandise store there for a time, at
Rock Creek. In 1899 Mr. Merritt came to Lewiston
and wrought for Small and Emory in the lumber busi-
ness, and in September, 1902. he came to Melrose
and took the position of bookkeeper in the concern
of Snyder & Company, where he is engaged at the
present time. Mr. Merritt is a man of excellent
qualities and has won the approbation and confidence
of all. He has ten brothers and sisters and nine half
brothers and half sisters. Politically Mr. Merritt is
allied with the Republicans. His brother, Charles C,
was a captain in Company A, One Hundred and
Forty-fifth Pennsylvania Regiment in the Civil war
and for nine months languished in a war prison of
the enemy. Another brother. Barton M., who died at
Folly Island before Charleston, was in the One
Hundred and Twentv-fifth New York Regiment.
AARON BRADBURY. Our subject early
learned the exciting "way of the west" and is a typi-
cal frontiersman, having done his part in opening for
settlement California, Oregon, Washington and Idaho.
Aaron Bradbury was born in New York City on
April 9, 1 83 1, being the son of Lewis and Maria
(Smith) Bradbury. The father, who came to Illi-
nois in 1836, was born in Ulster county, New York,
on June 6, 1804, and died in 1838. His grandfather,
Amirhuhama, was born in Maine on March n, 1762,
and served two years and eight months in the Revo-
lution, enlisting in July, 1781, in a Massachusetts
regiment under Captain Leonorde and Colonel Will-
iam Shepard and was in the siege of Yorktown and
at the surrender of Cornwallis. His ancestors settled
in Biddeford, Maine, in 1638. The mother of our sub-
ject was born in New Jersey in 1807 and died in 1898.
Her ancestors were of the Holland Dutch stock and
were very early settlers among the colonists. Our
subject's parents removed to Ogle county, Illinois,
when he was a lad, in 1836, and they were among the
very first settlers there. There he grew to young
manhood and received his education in the district
school. He was a studious youth and gleaned much
information from reading outside of the school course.
He also learned the carpenter trade and studied law.
He also gained good training in the postofhee at Ore-
gon, Illinois. He was at home much of the time, but
reallv independent action for him began at the age of
fifteen. In 1850 he was taken with a severe attack
of the gold fever and no cure was found but a trip
across the plains and vears of delving for the precious
metal in the mines in different parts of California.
Ten vears were spent in this way and he then came to
The 'Dalles and joined an expedition for exploration
into central and eastern Oregon under Captain Smith.
Many encounters with the Indians were participated
in and then he returned to the Willamette valley and
tauo-ht school and followed other vocations until 187S,
in which vear a journev was made to Whitman county.
358
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
He took lieu land below Pullman and lived on it until
1897, when he made his way to the reservation and
secured his present claim, live miles southeast from
Melrose. Air. Bradbury married in 1866 and three
sons were born to him: John \Y., in the Lewiston
National Bank; Edward G., a school teacher m New
York City : Lewis, at Walla Walla. Mr. Bradbury
has one brother living. Lewis, of New York, and one
sister. Mary Mitchell, also in New York. Mr. Brad-
burv was "justice of the peace in Whitman county
for fifteen years and is a stanch and active Democrat.
He was made a Mason in California in 1855 and has
a dimissory letter dated 1857 from his home lodge.
A typical pioneer, a genial companion, a well informed
niaii, a sturdy and patriotic supporter of the govern-
ment and withal one esteemed and highly respected
by his fellows, Mr. Bradbury is justly worthy of the
encomiums he enjoys and the prestige granted him.
JACOB XOSBISCH. The success that has at-
tended the subject of this sketch is evidence sufficient
of his ability, thrift, industry and energy. He owns a
fine farm about three miles southwest from Nezperce,
and here he has shown excellent qualifications to handle
the resources of the country in a winning manner.
Jacob Xosbisch was born in Huttingen, the vicinity
of Trier, in Prussia, German}", on April 3, 1868, being
the son of Nicholas and Mary Nosbisch. also natives
of the same country. The mother died in January,
1898. but the father is still living on the old home
place, leading a retired life and being well-to-do. Our
subject is the eldest of a family of seven children and
the only one in the Cnited States. From the age of
six to fourteen he attended public school in his native
land, and at the age of seventeen started from Bremen
on the steamer Nurenberge. The date of his voyage
was October 28 and the landing in Baltimore was
November 13, 1885. He came direct to Eagle Grove,
Iowa, and attended school the first winter to learn
English. He worked in different places in Iowa and in
1893 went to Chicago and worked in a garden and
also attended the World's Fair. That winter was spent
in St. Joseph College, at Teutopolis, Illinois. In 1894
he returned to Iowa and farmed for himself until 1897.
In September of that year he came to Uniontown,
Washington, and in October to his present place.
Here he has lived and labored since. His flax crop
alone this year was nearly one thousand bushels, and
he has other crops in proportion. Mr. Xosbisch also
has stock and his is a fine and well kept farm. He
has maintained a clean record here and is well thought
of by his neighbors and all who know him, being a
man" of excellent qualities and sound principles. He
is a consistent member of the Catholic church.
ROBERT M. CLEYELAND. One of the pop-
ular and esteemed citizens of Gifford is named at the
head of this article and his geniality and public spirit
have won for him hosts of friends in all sections where
he is known.
Robert M. Cleveland was born in Monroe county,
Tennessee, on March 6, 1866, being the sou of Lar-
kin J. and Minerva (Parker) Cleveland. He was edu-
cated in the public schools at Golden City, Missouri,
and then took a complete course in civil engineer-
ing. Three years were spent after he was twenty in
railroad work, and then he was engaged in buying
poultry and in the nursery business for a year. In
1889 Mr. Cleveland came west to Colfax, Washington.
Then he operated as baggageman, express messenger,
brakeman, fireman, and so forth for three years and
after this returned to Whitman county and rented land
for a time. We next see him in the Potlatch country,
and there he bought a quarter and when the reser-
vation opened Mr. Cleveland came to his present place,
one-half mile south from Gifford, and on October
i<>. [895, filed on it. He has made a fine farm which
is very valuable and a good dividend producer. Air.
Cleveland is one of the substantial and leading men
of the community.
On March n, 1890. Air. Cleveland married Miss
Minnie C, daughter of Jacob E. and Myra (Baldwin)
Brake, the wedding occurring in Colfax. Mrs.
Cleveland was born in Newton county, Missouri, on
March 3, 1869. Her father was a native of Ohio and
her mother of Canada. She has one sister: Ella, wife
of Harvey W. Doolen, of Missouri. Air. Cleveland
is a member of the M. W. A. and of the 1. O. O. F.,
while his wife is a member of the Methodist church.
To Air. and Airs. Cleveland there have been born
four children : Clarence C, Alfred H, Harry B.. and
Minnie C. Mr. Cleveland is one of the men whose
labors have made the beautiful Beeman Flat country
prosperous and productive of great wealth, and he is
a leader in excellent farming and is a man of ability
and stands well with his fellows.
ROBERT E. AIOSER. The reservation country
has been the scene of the labors of this gentleman
for some years, and here he has shown his ability to
handle the resources of the country in a winning man-
ner, for he has increased his holding from a very-
meager showing at the time of his immigration here to
those of a substantial and prosperous, thrift}' farmer.
Robert E. Aloser was born in Catawba county,
Xorth Carolina, on February 7, 1866, being the .-on
of John P. and Catherine AI. ( Roseman) Aloser. The
father was born and reared in Tennessee and served
through the Civil war. The mother of our subject
was a native of Catawba county. Robert was the
fourth of a family of six children, and when a child
they all removed to Alonroe county, Tennessee, and
when he was twelve they returned to Xorth Carolina.
He was educated in Concordia College, in Catawba
county, and afterwards taught school for a few terms
and held a first grade certificate. In 1889 he came to
Oakesdale, Washington, and there took up farming.
On October 30, 1894, Air. Aloser married Aliss
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
359
Florence M., daughter of Frank M. and Eleanor S.
(Bellinger) Brown, natives of St. Lawrence county,
New York, where also Mrs. Moser was horn. They
came to Whitman county in an early day. Mrs. Moser
is a niece of Jacob Bellinger, of Colfax. Soon after
his marriage Mr. Moser went to the Potlatch country,
and in the spring of 1896 he came to his present place,
one-half mile southwest from Nezperce. He has a
first-class farm, well improved, having a two-story,
eight-room residence, a commodious barn, out build-
ings, and other improvements as orchard, fences,
implements and so forth. Four children have been
born to Mr. and Mrs. Moser: Marion L., Eleanor C,
Maggie M.. Ollie I. Mr. Moser is a member of the
K. O. T. M., of Xezperce. He is a reliable and up-
right man, who has hosts of friends and has done
a worthy part in the development of the reservation
country.
JACOB ALTMILLAR. Among the sturd) sons
of the fatherland who have become stanch and pariotic
citizens of the free land, we notice the subject of this
article as one of the best of them and a man of ster-
ling worth and integrity.
Jacob Altmillar was born in Germany in 1840,
being the son of Joseph and Conna (Constantier)
Altmillar, born in Germany in 1806 and 181 1 and died
there in 1896 and 1882, respectively. Jacob grew to
manhood and received his education in his native
place and wrought at the charcoal burner's trade until
he was twenty-six, when he used the capital lie had
accumulated to start in the mercantile business. He
was a careful buyer and a good salesman and attended
to the details of the business with such care and wis-
dom that he had a splendid trade and success in every
wax crowned his endeavors. In 1884 he desired to
see the new world and accordingly sold his property
and business and came to Juliaetta. He took land on
American ridge, one mile from town, and went to pro-
ducing the fruits of the field and raising stock. Eight
years later we find him selling this property and an-
other move was made. This time to the Potlatch
country and there he bought school land. Five years
covered the period of his labors in that place and Mr.
Altmillar then came to his present place, three miles
north from Melrose. He filed in 1898 and since that
time has devoted himself to its improvement and
culture. He has good buildings and the place shows
the labors of a master hand in the art of agriculture.
Eighty acres are under the plow and the balance of
the property is devoted to pasture and wood lots.
Fruit and stock, with general farm products, are the
market dividends produced and Mr. Altmillar is one
of the substantial men of the community.
While in Germany Mr. Altmillar married in 1866,
Miss Tafara Constantia becoming his wife. Her par-
ents were natives of Germany and she was born there
in 1830. She has no brothers and sisters. Mr. Alt-
millar has two brothers and two sisters in Germany.
Two children have been born to gladden the house-
hold : Constantia and Frank, both at home. Mr. Alt-
millar and family are members of the Catholic church
and are ardent supporters of that faith. He was a
public official in Germany and has served as justice of
the peace here for three years. Politically Mr. Alt-
millar is independent, reserving for his own judgment
the qualifications of the man. He has educated his
children well in the English branches and is a warm
champion of good schools.
ALVAH T. ROGERS. The enterprising and
industrious gentleman, whose name is at the head
of this article, has made from the wild land that he
took as a homestead in 1895, a model farm and one
of the finest home places and productive farms in the
vicinity of Gifford. It lies about one mile north from
town and is a tasty and beautiful rural abode. Mr.
Rogers devotes his attention to general farming, and
also to raising stock He has a fine orchard, good
buildings and is prosperous and a substantia! citizen.
Reverting to the personal details of his life, we
note that Mr. Rogers was born in Minnesota, on May
'22, 1858, being the son of Samuel D. and Mary J.
(Kerns) Rogers. The parents removed to Scott coun-
ty, Iowa, when our subject was an infant and later
went to Iowa county. For sixteen years Alvah re-
mained there, working on the farm and gaining his
education from the schools in winter. After
leaving home he rentel land there and farmed
until 1890, when he decided to try the west,
and accordingly came to the vicinity of Gar-
held, Washington, and there farmed success-
fully for five years. The next move was to
his present place, described above. Mr. Rogers and his
wife are members of the Methodist church, while in
political matters he is allied with the Republican party.
He is not desirous of preferment in this line, although
he has given his time on the school board for the pro-
motion of good schools.
On July 3, .Mr. Rogers married Miss Alary B.
Lewis, daughter of William R. and Nancy A. ( Bran-
son) Lewis. Mrs. Rogers has two brothers: Benton
and Joseph, living in Columbia county, Colorado. Her
father was a captain in the Civil war. Mr. Rogers has
one brother who is still living in Iowa. Mr. Rogers'
father was a soldier for two years and one-half in
the Civil war and received a wound in his head from
which he is still suffering. He was reported lost, but
afterward made his way home, having suffered
greatly. Air. and Mrs. Rogers have been blessed by
the advent of six children: Oscar \\\. Mary P.. Roy
S., Walter A., Arthur L., and Milton C.
PEARL C. LACEY is a man of energy and in-
tegrity and has demonstrated these worthy qualities
with no uncertainty in his labors and achievements,
which have placed him in the catalogue of the pros-
perous and successful agriculturists in Nez .Perces
county.
360
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Mr. Lacey was born in Adair county. Iowa, on
August 15, 1871. being the son of Warnik S. and
Martha (Chaney) Lacey, natives of Pennsylvania and
Virginia, respectively. The former was born in 1831,
was" a pioneer in Ohio and now lives in Wisconsin,
having passed an active life as a carpenter, while the
latter was born in 1839 and died in 1886. Our sub-
ject's parents removed to Sauk county. Wisconsin,
when he was six years of age. In Reedburg. that
county, he grew up and was educated and when he
had reached the age of eighteen he began the labors
of life for himself. About that time he came to
Washington, settling in the vicinity of Sprague, where
he worked on a farm for two years. After that period
he went to the Potlatch country and purchased a piece
of land, devoting himself to its improvement for a
number of years. It was in 1894 that he came to the
reservation and leased land from the Indians and
farmed it. He was engaged in this occupation when
the reservation opened up and immediately secured
a quarter section for himself. He has improved it
in a good shape, has a good house, a fine orchard and
raises flax, barley and timothy. The estate lies six
miles north from Melrose.
In 1894 Mr. Lacey married Miss Martha, daughter
of L. D. and Mary Porter. The father is a farmer
and a native of Tennessee. Mrs. Lacey was born in
Missouri in 1875 and has three sisters and one
brother. Mr. Lacey has one brother and one sister:
Edwin, in Buffalo, New York ; Nettie Adams, in Wis-
consin. To our subject and his faithful companion
there have been born the following children : Claude,
Ernest, Nettie, Edgar. Mr. Lacey and his wife are
members of the Baptist church and are devout sup-
porters of the faith. He is a member of the school
board and is always striving for the betterment of
educational facilities. Mr. Lacey had one uncle in the
Civil war and Mrs. Lacey's father fought on the
southern side. Our subject and his worthy wife are
highly respected people and are the recipients of the
confidence and esteem of their fellows.
OLIVER L. FAIRLEY. This enterprising and
well known agriculturist and business man is at the
present time handling the Monroe house, one of the
leading hotels in the reservation portion of the county
of Nez Perces. It is situated in Peck, adjoining which
town Mr. Fairley owns a first-class ranch.
Oliver L. Fairley was born in Cherokee county,
Kansas, on October 16, 1869, being the son of Edward
and Martha (Sailing) Fairley, natives of Iowa and
born in 1848. The father was a farmer and carpenter
and pioneer to California in an early day. The father
and mother are still living on the reservation. Out-
subject grew to the age of fourteen in Kansas and
then the family removed to Salem, Oregon, and thence
to Grant county, in the same state. Soon they re-
moved to Montgomery county. California, and one
year later journeyed to the Grande Ronde country
in Ore'gon. After failing to get a filing on some land
thev came to the Palouse country, settling near Viola.
The next vear they went to Douglas county. Wash-
ington, it being 1887, and there they raised stock on
a large scale. Our subject commenced to drive stage
from Coulee City to Waterville and Wenatchee and
continued for eight years. All the time he was in-
terested with his father in the stock business. In
1896 thev left that country and the following year
they came to their present place adjoining Peck and
settled, the land being then unsurveyed. They filed
in June. 1898. Mr. Fairley has a nice lot of stock,
cattle, hogs and so forth. He also raises much poultry
and does a general farming business. Good build-
ings adorn the premises.
At Peshastin, Washington, Mr. Fairley married
Miss .Martha G, daughter of Morgan and Mary E.
(Adams) Lacey. The nuptials occurred on December
17, 1895. Mr. Lacey was born in Virginia and his
wife in Iowa. Her father died when she was nine
months old and her mother when she was seven years
of age. Mrs. Fairley was born in Indiana, in 1866,
and is an only child. Mr. Fairley has one brother :
Earl E., at Peck. Mr. Fairley is a Democrat but not
aggressive. He labors zealously for the promotion
of good educational facilities and is a stirring business
man.
ROBERT H. STEELE. An honorable and up-
right man. a patriotic citizen, a first-class farmer and
an enterprising business man, the subject of this
sketch is eminently fitted for representation in the
history of this county.
Robert H. Steele was born in Randolph county,
Missouri, on April 16, 1858. being the son of William
M. and Nancy H. (Wallace) Steele, natives re-
spectively of Kentucky and North Carolina. Robert
grew up on a farm, obtained a common schooling, and
in 1878 went to Colorado Springs, where he teamed
and railroaded until 1881. In that year he came to
southern Idaho and there wrought on the Oregon
Shortline and in 1883 we find him in the same labor
between Colfax and Pullman. In 1884 Mr. Steele
went to the Coeur d'Alenes and packed for Charlie
Smith for a time, then worked in a sawmill in Pa-
louse. In the winter of 1884-5 he went, via Portland,
to San Francisco, Old Mexico, Texas, and so forth,
to his home in .Missouri, to visit his father, his mother
having died in 187 1. While crossing the Cascade
mountains they were snowed in and were twenty-three
days cooped up and finally had to walk out, almost
perishing, as three days were spent without food
under these trying circumstances. Two years were
spent in the east and then Mr. Steele came to the
vicinity of Troy, Latah county, and there took a pre-
emption. This was the arena of his labors in the
stock business until lhe spring of 1896, when he came
to his present place at Steele postoffice, and took a
homestead. This has been improved in a good man-
ner, has produced abundant returns of crops, is a
valuable piece of land and shows in every point the
skill and thrift of Mr. Steele. His means were limited
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
i" i
when he opened this place but now he has gained a
good competence. Tn April, 1902, Mr. Steele was
appointed postmaster of Steele postoffice and since
that time has discharged the duties of the office in
an acceptable manner. In addition to the postoffice and
farm, Mr. Steele has opened a general merchandise
establishment and is constantly increasing his stock
as the demands of trade indicate. He is a good,
substantial man, well respected by all who know him
and is an influential factor in the upbuilding of the
country. He is a member of the W. W.
On February 17, 1895, Mr. Steele married Miss
Nettie B., daughter of Allen and Susan Summers,
who were pioneers to Bates county, Missouri, and
also to Latah county and in 1896 to the reservation
country near Nezperce, where the father died on
February 21, 1902. The mother still lives on the old
home place. Three children have been born to Mr.
and Mrs. Steele: William A., Victor H., and Susan
F. Mr. Steele enlisted in the National Guards in
1890 and served three years, being there soon after
the Frisco mine was blown up. Mr. and Mrs. Steele
are members of the church and are in hearty sympathy
with this branch of labor as in all worthy endeavors
for the amelioration of the condition of all.
SAMUEL E. L( WARY is an enterprising farmer
and stockman, two miles southwest from Melrose,
where he took the raw land and has made worthy im-
provements and also placed himself as one of the sub-
stantial men of the community. He handles stock and
raises the cereals and his place is a model of excellent
cultivation and thrift. Mr. Lowary also has a fine
orchard and intends making his place one of the finest
that skill and labor can accomplish.
Samuel E. Lowary was born in Chautauqua county,
Kansas, on November 16, 1871, being the son of James
and Mary A. (Hawkins) Lowary. The father was
born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, on March
20, 1833. served as teamster in the Civil war. came as
a pioneer to the big bend country in Washington in
April, 1883, and died there July to, 1901, aged sixty-
eight years, three months and twenty days. The moth-
er was born in Missouri, on January 1, 1839, and died
March 5, 1886. Our subject grew up in the various
places the family lived and was favored with a public
school education. In September, 1879, the family came
to the Grande Ronde valley, Oregon, crossing the
plains with wagons. Then came the move to Wash-
ington, as mentioned above, and our subject remained
at home until twenty-one, at which time he
bought land, and farmed' until 1895. In that vear he
came to the Potlatch country, tilling the soil there un-
til the reservation opened, in 1896, when he came and
settled on his present place, and here he has devoted
his labors assiduously since with the happy result that
his estate is one of the best improved and most excel-
lent ones in the community.
In the spring of 1896 in Latah county. Mr. Lowarv
married Miss Harriett E. Timmons, daughter of Will-
iam and Mary Timmons, natives of Iowa and Penn-
sylvania, respectively. The father was a farmer. Mrs.
Lowary was born in Floyd county, Iowa, on July 26,
1877. She has four sisters and three brothers living.
Mr. Lowary has the following named brothers and
sisters, Frank and George, in Lincoln county. Wash-
ington ; Lorenzo, in Xez Perces county ; Minnie B.
Richardson, in this count}'. To Mr. and Mrs. Lowary
there have been born four children, Annie B., Bertha
E.. George and Dora. Mr. Lowarv affiiliates with the
I. O. O. F. and the M. W. A., at Melrose. He is a
Republican in politics and is a stanch advocate of good
schools and churches. Mrs. Lowary had one uncle in
the Civil war. It is with pleasure that we can record
that Mr. Lowary stands well with the people and is one
of the leading and responsible men of this section.
GEORGE W. BELOIT. Among those whose la-
bors have developed the reservation in Nez Perces
county must be mentioned the gentleman whose name
is at the head of this article. He has a nice farm and
good improvements, one mile west from Summit, where
the family home is now.
George W. Beloit was born in Flint City. Michi-
gan, on July 19, 1864, being the son of Charles W. and
Sarah J. (Martin) Beloit. Tn 1870 the family re-
moved to Missouri, the father taking a homestead in
Texas county. The parents remain there yet. Our
subject left the parental roof at the age of fifteen and
worked on the farms of the state for two years. Then
he went to Montana, being engaged on the stock
ranches and teaming for the government. Later he
purchased a team and freighted, gaining sufficient
means to enable him to spend a season in the Salt Lake
Seminary, which made up for the lack of educational
training he was deprived of in his earlier days. Later
he took a course in the Helena Business College and
canvassed for a Chicago house in that section success-
full} for a time and then returned to Missouri to get
married. Bringing his bride with him, he came to Hel-
ena and canvassed for a couple of years. Later he
rented a farm and then squatted on unsurveyed land,
but the excessive drought spoiled three crops and, be-
coming discouraged, he sold out and removed to Deer-
lodge, where he gained employment for three years.
He dealt some in town property there. In 1894 Mr.
Beloit came with teams, via Boise valley, to the Pot-
latch country, where he harvested and dealt in horses,
and in 1895 he filed on his present place. He raises
cattle and hogs and uses the entire production of the
farm to feed his stock. Mr. Beloit has been especially
successful in breeding hogs. He handles the Berk-
shires exclusively, and has some fine premium winners
and also a good many animals that are registered and
eligible for registration. His success in this line has
placed him in the lead in this entire section.
Politically Mr. Beloit is a Prohibitionist and has
acted as delegate to the state convention. He was nom-
inated for the legislature and was defeated, as he ex-
pected. He has two brothers, Virgil and Fred, both
362
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
in Colorado, and he also has three sisters: Cora N.,
wife of Air. Leslie : Carrie, wife of Elmer McClelland,
of Mackey, Idaho: Clara, wife of Air. Cray. The last
named sisters are twins. Mr. Beloit's wife was born
in Washington county, Missouri, on August 16, 1863.
To Mr. and Airs. Beloit there have been born seven
children. Jesse J., Heman H., Mabel Y., Wayne M.,
Florence N., Ray and Elden. Mr. Beloit and his es-
timable wife are members of the Methodist church.
PRESLEY P. CLEVELAND. Men, like the sub-
ject of this article, are the ones who have made the
west so thrifty and wealthy. Mr. Cleveland is one of
the leading agriculturists of Nez Perces county. We
make that statement guardedly and the reasons are,
that he has in the first place a well selected farm, which
he took from the wilds when the reservation was
opened. It is laid out with wisdom and the build-
ings are erected with an outlook both for convenience
and beauty. He has a well selected orchard that is a
model in every respect. His land is handled in a skill-
ful manner, being rotated to a variety of crops as hay,
oats, wheat, bariey. flax and the vegetables. Mr.
Cleveland has a number of excellent graded cattle and
some thoroughbred hogs. His barns are commodi-
ous and his residence is comfortable and tasty. The
entire appearance of the farm is one of thrift, indus-
try and skill and because of the points mentioned it is
evident that it is one of the model farms in the west.
not given to extremes in any line, but manifesting a
beautiful symmetry and proportion in all points.
Reverting more to his personal history, we note
that Presley P. Cleveland was born in Monroe county,
Tennessee, on August 19, 1851. being the son of Lar-
kin J. and Minerva (Parker) Cleveland. The father
was born in Tennessee and his father was one of the
pioneers of that country from North Carolina. The
mother of our subject was a native of Tennessee and
her father came from Virginia to her native state.
Presley grew up on a farm and gained his education
from the public schools and from Croton Academy.
He remained at home until of age and then farmed for
a widowed cousin for four years. After this, he op-
erated a farm for a great-uncle for four years, during
which time he was married and in the fall of 1879 he
came to northwestern Missouri. The next spring he
went to the southern part of that state and nine years
later he came to the vicinity of Garfield, Washington,
where he rented land and also near Steptoe Butte for
a year and then came to the Potlatch country, settling
near Juliaetta in the fall of 189 1. In the spring of
1892 he purchased a ranch near Kendrick and to the
tilling of that he gave his attention until the reserva-
tion opened up and then he located on the place de-
scribed above. In addition to the items mentioned we
should relate that the two hundred shade trees that
Mr. Cleveland has arranged in an artistic manner about
his grounds add great comfort, beauty and value to the
property. In addition to his own land he leases eighty
acres from Mr. Clifford. Mr. Cleveland has three
brothers, Alfred A., Harvey H. and Robert M. Also
he has two sisters, Cordie, wife of Orin Evans, near
Gifford; Eliza, wife of David Black, south of Gifford.
Airs. Cleveland's maiden name was Nannie J. Rausin.
She was born in Alonroe county, Tennessee. He had
three uncles in the Confederate army and one in the
Union army. The last one was a lieutenant, who was
wounded at the battle of Nashville.
To Mr. and Airs. Cleveland there have been born
ten children, Charles F., Robert B., Ben J., Ira, Satie
L., Minerva E., Larkin P., Hattie M., Grace E., Lona
H. Air. Cleveland is one of the leading men of the
community ami is always alert for the furthering of
those measures that tend to advance the welfare of
all. He was formerly a Republican in politics but is
now a Populist.
Airs. Cleveland, whose parents were natives of
North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively, but now
deceased, had three uncles in the Union army; oik- on
the mother's side, and two on the father's side.
PHILANDER H. CLARK. Although .Mr. Clark
has not been in Nez Perces county as long as some of
the pioneers, still he has been in different sections of
the west for a long time and has wrought with energy
and skill and. thrift in these various places for their
upbuilding and advancement, and during the time of his
stay here he has made a good record for himself and is
one of the established business men of Gifford. He
operates a feed and livery stable and does ;i good busi-
ness.
Philander H. Clark was born in Blount county,
Tennessee, on June 4. 1863, being the son of Philander
H. and Margaret J. ( Dearmond) Clark, natives of
Tennessee, where they now reside. The ancestors came
from Scotland and England and were of French de-
scent. Our subject remained at home until twenty,
gaining a good education from the common schools and
from Marysville College. Then he came alone to I 'oik
county, Oregon, purchased land and settled to farming.
He remained there until 1890, when he sold out and
came to Colfax, Washington, and selected land eight
miles north from that town. He tilled the soil in a
becoming manner there for a decade and then sold
again and on this occasion he made a visit to his home
place in Tennessee, renewing old acquaintances and
having a pleasant time with his aged parents and the
other members of the family. But the pleasant asso-
ciations of th.e east were not able to allure one whose
spirit had tasted the freedom and stir of the Occident,
and accordingly we see Air. Clark back in the west
and soon settled in Gifford, the date being ( Ictober,
1901. He opened a feed stable, which he has been im-
proving, and during the months in which he has la-
bored here he has gained a good trade and is fast be-
coming popular with the people of his section and the
traveling public who require rigs. ' He is known as a
reliable and accommodating man and one who exerts
himself for the safety and welfare of his patrons.
Air. Clark has three brothers, James R., a farmer
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
363
about two miles northeast from Gifford ; Robert and
Thomas E., both living with the parents in Tennessee.
Also Mr. Clark has one sister. Alary, who resides with
her parents. Mr. Clark had one uncle and two nephews
in the Confederate army, while his father was a strong
Union man. Our subject is a member of the W. of
\\'., at Lookout. Mr. Clark owns his own property
and stables here and is one of the thrifty and respected
men of the community.
CHARLES W. LITTLE was born in Elgin, Illi-
nois, on November 29, i860, being the son of Edward
V. and Lannie Ann (Keach) Little. The father was
a cabinet maker and was born in Montreal, Canada,
and the mother was born in New York. Our subject
was reared in his native place and received a common
school education. He came to the coast in 1882 and
for one year he was engaged with the street car
company in San Francisco. He next spent two years
in fishing for salmon on the Columbia river. After
this he purchased a farm in Linn county. Oregon, and
gave his attention to raising poultry. This was in
1884 and at that time he also married and continued to
live on the farm until 1887. In that year he removed
to Lincoln county, Washington, and there took a
government claim, which later he abandoned. In 1892
Mr. Little went east and remained two years. It was
1897 that he came to his present location and is now
farming a portion of the land of Mr. Butler, his
brother-in-law. To Mr. and Mrs. Littie there have
been born three children, Jessie E., Minnie E. and
Marion W.
Mr. and Mrs. Little are members of the Reor-
ganized church of Latter Day Saints, better known as
Josephites. This organization has repudiated some
of the practices of the body from which they split
and they are entirely free from the practice of poly-
gamy as sustained by Brigham Young. It is but
right to say that this reorganized denomination has
so far cut off all those things that were objectionable
to the body politic of the country that they stand as
one of the evangelical organizations of the country.
Mrs. Little's father is a priest in this church. Mr.
and Mrs. Little are respected citizens of the county
and are esteemed by all who know them.
SETH GIFFORD. Not only has the subject of
this article taken a leading and influential part in the
affairs of the county of Nez Perces since he has been
here, but in his career formerly, he has held prom-
inent positions and has achieved brilliant success in the
face of great odds. A more detailed account will be
interesting reading for the people of our county and
accordingly we append an epitome of his life.
Seth Gifford was born in Morgan county, ( )hio, on
November 23, 1847, being the son of Burton and Re-
becca (Worrall) Gifford. His father was born in Ken-
nebec, Maine, and for fortv vears sailed the ocean.
Our subject's mother was born in Ohio, being de-
scended from Holland Dutch and her ancestors were
earl\ settlers in Pennsylvania. Mr. Gifford's paternal
ancestors were English Quakers and the sturdy blood
of that race is manifest in the life of our subject. The)
were among the earliest settlers at Roxbury, Massa-
chusetts, and the family is known there to this day.
Mr. Gifford's present wife was formerly Miss Cannie
Crewdson, born in Iowa in 1866, her parents being
William W. and Eliza Crewdson. She has two broth-
ers, Ezekiei, treasurer of Crook county, Wyoming, and
Monroe, a farmer in Iowa ; she has also two sisters.
Carrie, wife of John Haney : Eva, wife of Israel Lake.
Mr. Gifford has two brothers living, John ana Charles ;
George died in the south during the Civil war ; and
six sisters, Harriet, wife of Jesse H. Swart : Ann, wife
of Thomas Gray; Ruth, wife of John Malone; Martha,
wife of James Pierce: Maria, wife of Joseph \\ alker :
Eliza, wife of Cass S. Swart. By a former marriage
Mr. Gifford has two children, Wilford L., now asses-
sor and tax collector of Xez Perces county, and Len-
na M., who is now assistant superintendent of the city
hospital at Sioux City, Iowa. This former wife ir.
Gifiord used to be Anna Buckman. From the pres-
ent marriage there have been four children. Burton,
Lora, Lucy and Ruth.
Mr. Gifford spent his boyhood on a farm in Cedar
county, Iowa, coming there when four years of age.
At twenty, there he married his first wife and settled on
a farm which his father gave him. In 1864 he enlisted
in Company G, Forty-seventh Iowa, under Colonel
Sanford, being most of the time at Helena, Arkansas.
He went to Dakota in 1870, taking a pre-emption and
then came back to Montgomery county, Iowa. Later
he sold out and removed to Audubon county, pur-
chased a farm and also engaged in mercantile labors
for one year, and the next five years were spent in
traveling about in the government secret service. He
came as far west as the Pacific coast and did com-
mendable work in capturing law breakers. In 1882
he was engaged in the Apache Indian war as a scou!
and had many narrow escapes and much thrilling ex-
perience In 1885 he went to the Black Hills, repre-
senting five leading companies in detective work as
well as being in the government service. In 1887
he was elected sheriff of Fall River county, and served
six years. He was the only Republican that has ever
served in that county. In 1890. under the state law,
it was his duty to protect the interests of the people,
as the Sioux " Indians at Pine Ridge and Rosebud
agencv were on the war path. He did a great deal
of fighting and while not at the battle of Wounded
Knee, he was there just after the battle. It was at
a time of great trouble, as the outlaws of the world
had flocked there: but soon it was apparent that in
Mr. Gifford, a man was on (lie scene who was a
match and during two terms he was instrumental in
sending to the "per1 nineteen terrorizing criminals.
During his term of service the territory was made
a state and under the state constitution he could hold
only two terms or doubtless he would have been called
to still conserve the interests of the county in peace-
364
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ful government. He then retired to his stock farm
on the Cheyenne river, remaining in that retreat, tak-
ing the long needed rest from constant strain for
years, until May, 1895, when he went to Little Bitter
Root Falls, Montana, with teams, taking his family
and there settled on unsurveyed land. On account of
the exposure of his family to hostile Indians who
were fighting for that land, he vacated and came to
Nez Perces county and settled on land that now ad-
joins Gifford. He broke twenty acres the first fall
and now it is all farmed to wheat. He bought land
where the town stands, and was instrumental in
starting it. He owns a large interest in the site and is
one of the prominent men of this section. Mr. Gif-
ford is engaged in conducting a first class hotel,
operating a general merchandise establishment and
is postmaster for the town. In all these relations he
has manifested great ability, excellent wisdom and
integrity to the satisfaction of the patrons of the of-
fice and to the enlargement of a fine business.
He served as justice of the peace from 1895 to
1900 and in politics he has always been active. He is
a Republican and has not scratched the ticket for
twenty-five years. For two years, Mr. Gifford was
in charge of the postoffice and the stage station at
Beeman. He has a brother who was connected with
the famous Brown in operating an underground
railroad in 1859. Mr. Gifford is unsectarian but his
wife is a member of the Methodist church. Mr. Gif-
ford stands well among the people of this section and
has gained a prestige that is deserving and enviable.
He has many friends from all quarters and his past
services in the interests of peace and good government
entitle him to the emoluments that are now his to en-
joys.
SAMUEL PORTER. Among the leading stock-
men and farmers of the vicinity ot Peck the name of
our subject holds a prominent position, which is well
merited by his excellent endeavors and personal worth.
Samuel Porter was born in Northampton, Massa-
chusetts, on September 8. 1867, being the son of Will-
iam J. and Ellen (Foley) Porter. The father was born
in county Antrim, Ireland, in 1830, and came to the
L'nited States in 1846. He now lives in Xez Perces
countv with this son. He was county supervisor in
Hancock county, Iowa. The paternal grandfather of
Samuel was born in America. The mother of our sub-
ject was born in county Cork, Ireland, in 1812, and
died in 1897. The family came to Mitchell county,
Iowa, when Samuel was two years old, and then went
to Hancock county, where they remained until 1893.
There Mr. Porter grew to manhood and received his
education in the public schools. He wrought with
his father in the stock business, which the latter was
extensively engaged in. During this time he traveled
to various portions of the country, Florida, all over the
south and to the leading markets. In 1893 they came
to Kendrick and bought a ranch, which the father owns
now. In the fall of 1895 Mr. Porter came to his pres-
ent place, about one mile northeast from Peck, and
there took land. He has a half section of fine land,
well improved and productive of good returns annu-
ally. Air. Porter has a fine seven-room house, a ca-
pacious barn and all improvements needed. He raises
cattle extensively, being associated with his father,
as he has always been since boyhood.
On May ic, 1899, Mr. Porter married Miss Isa-
bella Holt, daughter of James and Mary Holt. The
wedding occurred in this county. Mr. Holt is a stock-
man and farmer in this county and was born in Ken-
tucky, but crossed the plains in a very early day, hav-
ing been one of the sturdy pioneers who opened up
California. Oregon and Idaho; and was married at
The Dalles. His wife was born on the Pacific slope.
Mrs. Porter was born near Marengo, Washington, in
1872. She has five brothers and eight sisters. Mr.
Porter has the following named brothers and sisters,
John, deceased ; Joseph D., William, Ella, Cusic, Mag-
gie, deceased. Our subject and his wife are devout
members of the Catholic church. In political matters
Mr. Porter is a Democrat and sometimes is at the con-
ventions. He is a hearty supporter of good schools and
is a progressive citizen. Mr. Porter has some excellent
Shorthorn cattle and takes great interest in breeding
fine stock. His farm is well supplied with water from
springs which he has piped down, and his estate is a
place of value and displays commendable thrift.
WILLIAM S. CLAYTON. This enterprising
and well known business man of Gifford is one of the
representative citizens and public minded men who
have built the town of Gifford to what it is and have
the energy and push' and skill to make of it a prosper-
ous and influential municipality. It is very fitting
therefore that the history of Nez Perces county should
grant space for the life of Mr. Clayton. He was born
in Jackson county, Arkansas, on October 14, 1863,
being the son of John M. and Cynthia (Damron)
Clayton. The father was a Methodist minister and a
chaplain in the Confederate army during the entire
war. His wife's brother, John Damron, was a soldier
in the conflict on the southern side. The father still
lives on the old homestead at Pea Ridge, where our
subject was reared. The place is the spot of the bat-
tle and made famous by Sigel and others. William
S. was educated in the common schools and in Pea
Ridge Academy. In 1884 he came to Wyoming and
there spent three years herding stock. Then two years
were happily passed in visiting his home place and vi-
cinity. After that, Mr. Clayton came to Klickitat
county, Washington, and learned the blacksmith trade
in Centerville, in that county. He wrought there and
in Sherman county, Oregon, for eight years and in
1899 came to Culdesac In 1900, he came to Gifford
and started a blacksmith shop. G. M. Lindsay started
a general merchandise establishment at about the
same time and this was the nucleus of the town. In
June, 1 901, Air. Clayton started a small hardware
store in connection with his blacksmith shop and as
business increased he erected a building especially for
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
365
it and put in a good stock. He went into partnership
with his brother, George D. Clayton, and by fair treat-
ment of customers, and good business methods, they
have built up a good business, have cleared the house
from all indebtedness and are rapidly building them-
selves up as prosperous and substantial merchants.
In 1898 Mr. Clayton married Miss Ella E.,
daughter of Anthony and Maggie (Bishop) Tozier.
She was born in Kansas, on June 8, 1874, and has two
brothers, James and Robert. Mr. and Mrs. Clayton
have one child, Lloyd Alvin. Mr. Clayton has three
brothers, George D., John M., and Walter P. ; he has
also five sisters, Mary C, wife of Dr. T. A. Coff elt ;
Annie L., wife of Charles B. Lewis ; Fanny L., wife
of Lemuel Keith; Hattie J. and Nellie. Mr. and Mrs.
Clayton are members of the Methodist church and are
highly respected people. Mr. Clayton came to this
country not possessed of great capital and his ability
and enterprise with his genial way and skill have placed
him in the front ranks of business men of this section.
ENOCH S. REEVES. A worthy member of the
large class of farmers and stockmen who have builded
Nez Perces county, it is with pleasure that we are
enabled to grant to the subject of this article a con-
sideration in the history of his county. Enoch S.
Reeves was born in Woodson county, Kansas, on De-
cember 11, 1868, being the son of Newton and Matilda
(Gordy) Reeves. The father was born in Iowa in
1843 and died in ^79' having been a pioneer in Kan-
sas. His wife was born in Ohio in 1849, and she
still lives near Palouse, in Idaho. Her father was a
pioneer in Kansas and her two brothers fought for
the flag during the Civil war. Enoch grew up on a
farm and gained an education by studying during the
winters. He was but twelve when the father died and
being the eldest boy, he had the burden to carry, which
early gave him to know the hardships of life and the
responsibilities of providing for dependent ones. In
1883 they sold out in Kansas and migrated to Palouse,
where the mother bought a farm and he managed it
until 1890. In that year he bought a farm for him-
self and, in addition to general farming, he devoted
himself to raising hogs, which was the means oi tid-
ing him over the awful panic from 1893-6. He still
owns the farm, which is a great proof of his ability
and wisdom, for the most able of the farmers were
called upon to give up their possessions.
In 1899 Mr. Reeves came to the reservation and
settled on his present place adjoining Peck on the
east. Here he has devoted himself to raising fruit
and general farming ; he has excellent buildings and
his place is one of the neat and comfortable ones of
the county.
On December 24. 1891, Mr. Reeves married Mi^s
Laura B., daughter of George H. and Itha J. (Gaut)
Sawyer. Mr. Sawyer was born in Oregon in 1847
and is now one of the prosperous farmers and stock-
men of Latah county. His wife was also born in
Oregon, the date being October 14, 1852, and her
parents settled in that state in 1845. Mrs. Reeves
was born in Oregon, on June 17, 1872. She was edu-
cated at Philomath College and has two brothers. El-
mer, deceased; Charles, at home near Palouse. Mr.
Reeves has two sisters and one brother, — Bell Ander-
son, near Palouse ; Anna Rudd, deceased : Orletus,
in Latah county. To Mr. and Mrs. Reeves there have
been born four children, Milly, Pearl, Rubena and
Enoch L. In national politics Mr. Reeves is a Repub-
lican but in all other matters of government he se-
lects the man from the intrinsic worth of the candi-
dates. Mr. Reeves has spent his odd moments in
perfecting himself in the taxidermist's art and had
some fine specimens on exhibition at the fairs in Lew-
iston and Peck.
CASSIUS M. COLE. At the present time Mr.
Cole is one of the prosperous and well-to-do citizens
of Nez Perces county. His family home is situated
on his estate of two hundred and forty acres about
three miles north from Culdesac. He has a fine farm,
is getting it well improved and is raising stock in ad-
dition to a general farming business and fruit cul-
ture. He has between one and two acres of fine
strawberries, owns some excellent specimens of Po-
land China hogs, has a good Percheron stallion and is
beginning to launch out in stock more extensively.
His buildings consist of comfortable house and out-
buildings, the former being situated in a naturally
sheltered spot and when Mr. Cole gets his plans car-
ried out and his estate improved he will have one of
the best rural abodes in the county.
Cassius M. Cole was born in Knoxville, Knox
county, Illinois, on March 17, 1852, being the son of
Asa V. and Lucy (Doty) Cole. They were farmers
and in 1856 the family went to Santa Clara county,
California. There our subject received his educa-
tion in the public schools and in Gates Business Col-
lege in San Jose. When twenty he started in the re-
tail liquor buiness in Tulare county and five years
were spent there. He also continued in other places
in the state and at the time of the Coeur d'Alene ex-
citement, he took in the first sawmill and also a stock
of general merchandise to that section and thirteen
years were spent in industrial efforts there. He built
the first sawmill on Eagle creek, built the first jail in
Shoshone county, Pierce City being the county seat.
Next we see him in Palouse where he loaned money
for eight years and then repaired to Harrison and
built the Hotel Harrison, which he operated for two
years. A time was spent in Portland and later wc
see him in Astoria, but on account of the fishermen's
strike there which stagnated business he moved to
Lewiston and did business for five years. Later he
settled on his present land and is now turning his
attention to the industrial life again.
Mr. Cole married Miss Emma Fail-bank, a native
of Iowa, in 1886, and to them have been born five
children, Clarence, Herbert. May, Edith, and Cas-
sius Dell. May is the wife of Frank Lehmicke in
Kendrick. Mrs. Cole has the following brothers and
366
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
sisters: Robert, Thomas, James, Minnie, wife of Air.
Morris: Grace, wife of Ward Allen; Jane, wife of
Henry Erickson, a photographer in Moscow ; Eva,
wife of Mr. Turnbow. Mrs. Cole's father was a
veteran of the Mexican war, and is now deceased.
Mr. Cole is a member of the I. O. R. M., at Lewiston,
Idaho. In political matters he is a Democrat and was
deputv sheriff under John Costillo, in Kootenai coun-
ty in 1894. At the same time he was deputy United
States marshal under Joe Pinkham. He was nomi-
nated bv acclamation for delegate to the legislature
in 1894, but resigned in favor of Judge Hogan of
Kootenai county. Mr. Cole has always taken an ac-
tive part in political matters and is a leader in his
part\. yet has never pressed himself for preferment,
being willing to give the offices to others. Mr. Cole
has also been active in prospecting in different sec-
tions and is now interested with W. Kittenbaugh, of
the Lewiston National Bank, in some promising pro-
perties. He is skilled in minerals and in prospecting
as well as in the methods of the developing of pro-
perties and Mr. Cole is one of the leaders in push-
ing forward this important industry.
LAWSON W. WARLICK. In the persons 01
this gentleman and his estimable wife we have the
exemplification of the true spirit of the pioneer and
a demonstration of genuine stability and courage,
for they came to the reservation country carrying a
rake and a hoe and making the trip on foot. Their
fine ranch is situated about one mile northeast from
Peck and is embellished with substantial improve-
ments and bears annually abundant crops of all the
cereals, including corn, the place being one of a half
a dozen on the reservation that will produce that fine
grain. .Mr. Warlick has shown commendable pluck
and skill and has now the reward of his labors in this
goodly home and estate.
Lawson W. Warlick was born in Calhoun coun-
ty, Alabama, on May 5, i860, being the son of Law-
son and Polly (McGinnis) Warlick, natives of North
Carolina. The father was born in North Carolina in
[826, was impressed by General Lee into Confederate
service although a strong Republican. He died in
1873. The mother was born in 1827 and died in
1862. being of Scotch extraction. When Lawson
was two years old his parents removed to Dallas.
< iaston county, North Carolina, that being the old
home place of the father. There he grew to man-
hood and received his education. Later he learned
the art of the engineer and also the business of operat-
ing a planing mill. When seventeen he went to
western Kansas and wrought in the round house on
the Kansas Pacific at Wallace; Then he fired some
time and at the age of twenty-three he took his first
orders on the -Denver, Texas & Fort Worth. When
twenty-six he returned to North Carolina and re-
mained two years. On April 16, 1889, Mr. Warlick
came to Lagrange, Oregon, and thence to Long val-
ley, Idaho, where he took a piece of government land.
Proving up on it in two years, he returned to Lagrange
and labored in the sawmills for six years. It was 1898
that he came to the reservation country and settled on
his present place. Fifty dollars was the sum of the
earthly possessions, with the rake and hoe mentioned
above, of Mr. Warlick and his wife when they footed
it to their land. They are now well-to-do.
On October 9, 1887, Mr. Warlick married Miss
Lanie, daughter of John and Barbara (Kiser) Smith,
the wedding occurring in North Carolina. Mr. Smith
was born in North Carolina and his ancestors for
generations back were pioneers and land owners
there. Mrs. Smith was also born there and came
from an honorable pioneer family. Her father was
impressed in the Confederate army although he was a
stanch Republican. Mrs. Warlick was born on Janu-
ary 13, 1872, and has the following named brothers
and sisters : Maggie, Thomas, Luther, Lizzie, Charles.
Mr. Warlick has the following brothers and sisters:
Rubertus, Abraham, Mary C, deceased, and one half-
sister, Martha Candis. One child has been born to
Mr. and Mrs. Warlick, Bessie. Mr. Warlick formerly
belonged to the Firemen's Brotherhood. He is a
stanch Republican and votes the ticket straight and
is a zealous supporter of Republican principles. He
is a zealous worker for good roads and schools and
does much labor for these worthy ends.
CHARLES R. TIEDE. An old adage says that
where there is a will there is a way, and it seems that
this was fully exemplified in the life of our subject in
his struggles to get to the reservation country. He
was working on a squater's right at Gray's harbor
and was practically without means and when he saw
that this land was not to come into market for some
time, he determined to see the reservation, and accord-
ingly he and his father set out on foot to make the
journey from that place to Nez Perces county. He
sold a horse to gain money enough for the necessaries
of the journey and they started. While crossing the
Cascades they were lost and wandered four days with-
out food. One month was consumed before they saw
the land they sought and then on June 20, 1896. he
filed on his present place, three miles southeast from
Gifford. Since that time, Mr. Tiede has given him-
self to improvement and tilling his ranch and he is
now possessed of a good holding in worldly goods.
His ranch is valuable and well improved and he has
made a commendable showing.
Charles R. Tiede was born in Jefferson county,
Wisconsin, on March 11, 1873, being the son of Her-
man L. and Louisa (Youst) Tiede. The father was a
native of northern Germany and came to the United
States when he was twenty. Charles was the young-
est of seven children and his mother died when he
was a child. In 1878 he went with his father to
Hamilton county, Nebraska, and in 1885 they re-
moved to Seward county, the same state. There the
father owned and operated a grist mill for five years.
On October 1. 1889. our subject came to Portland and
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
367
labored as a longshoreman for a time, then went to
Gravs harbor and engaged to run a planer, also set-
tling on a piece of land. Later, he heard of the res-
ervation country and came hither as we have de-
scribed.
I In March 19, 1901, Air. Tiede married Mrs. Mary
Herider, daughter of John and Marguerette Gertje,
natives of Germany. They migrated to Minnesota
where Mrs. Tiede was born and they now live in the
Potlatch country. Mrs. Tiede had one child by her
former marriage, John Herider, born May 23, 1897.
To Mr. and Mrs. Tiede there has been born one
child, Louisa.
-•
GEORGE A. ROBERTS is entrusted with the
responsibilities and intricacies of the postoffice at Cul-
desac, while he also oversees his farm, which lies two
and one-half miles northeast from the town. He is a
man of uprightness and integrity and stands well in
the community, has had considerable experience in this
western country and has wrought with a strong hand
and manifestation of sagacity in the development of
the resources of the country.
George A. Roberts was born in Mercer county,
Pennsylvania, on September 17. 1861, being the son of
Joseph and Sarah (Unangst) Roberts. The father
was a carpenter, born in Ohio, in 1833, a pioneer to
Iowa, and now lives- in Missouri. His father was
born in Vermont. The mother of our subject was
burn in Pennsylvania in 1839 and still lives. Her
parents were natives of Pennsylvania also. When
George was three years old the family came to Jack-
son county, Iowa, and there he grew to young man-
hood. He attended the schools of his native place,
and worked between times. At the age of twenty he-
decided to try the issues of fortune for himself and so
came west to Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. For
fifteen months he resided in the Willamette valley
ami then came to \YaHa Walla. He married there
and went to Whitman county, taking a preemption and
timber culture. He did well, then sold out and rail-
roaded for a couple of years, after which he repaired
to Lincoln county and raised stock until the Nez
Perce reservation opened up. It was in 1896 that
he took his present place which he improved in good
shape. He has fine orchard, buildings, and so forth.
In 1901 he was appointed postmaster at Culdesac
and he has discharged the duties incumbent upon him
there in a becoming manner and with credit to him-
self and the community.
< hi September 4, 1884, Mr. Roberts married Miss
Mattie, daughter of Daniel and Mary (Spear) Learn-
ing. The father of Mrs. Roberts is a stockman, born
in Indiana, in 1822. The mother was born in ( )hio
m [836 and died in 1895. Mrs. Roberts was born
in Thayer county, Nebraska, in 1863, being the first
white child burn in the county. She has the following
brothers and sisters: Carrie Hamlin, in Culdesac;
Frances Logsdon, at Endicott, Washington; Wesley,
in the Colville reservation, Washington. To Mr. and
Mrs. Roberts have been born three children. Montie,
deceased; Blanche, and Evertie. Mr. Roberts has
brothers and sisters named as follows: Park, Minnie
Latshaw, Minor, Earl, and Bertrand. Mr. Roberts
is a member of the I. O. O. F., while his wife is a
member of the Presbyterian church. In political mat-
ters he is allied with the Republicans and takes an
active hand in this realm, always attending the con-
ventions and primaries. He labors incessantly for
good schools and is clerk of the board at the present
AUSTIN D. GREGORY is manager of the
largest warehouses in Culdesac, and they are owned
by the Vollmer-Clearwater Company, and do the most
extensive business in the county.
Mr. Gregory was born in Monroe, Michigan, on
January 17, 1872, being the son of John S. and Eliza-
beth Mary (White) Gregory. The father was an
attorney for the Union Pacific Railroad for main years
and now lives in Galveston, Texas. Austin D was
educated in the common schools and came to Lewis-
ton in 1896. He was engaged by the Clearwater Grain
Company and soon had charge of a warehouse at
Spalding and later assumed his present position.
GEORGE M. HENDERSON. A leading and
successful business man in Culdesac, a man of excel-
lent capabilities, and withal a pioneer of the west and
one who has wrought with faithfulness in many places
and avocations, the subject of this article is eminently
fitted for representation in the history of his county.
George M. Henderson was born in Appanoose
county, Iowa, on August io, 1857, being the son of
John A. and Matilda J. (York) Henderson. The
mother died in 1863. Our subject remained on the
farm until eighteen years old, having been educated in
the public schools. He then learned the trade of the
engineer and several years later came across the plains
with his father and brother. They wintered in Boise
valley where their cattle died and they traded one cart
for a sack of flour. In the spring they went to
Idaho City and there the father did well on the pur-
chase of some mining property. A few years later
they came to Walla Walla and there the father was
sick for some time. He made several trips to the
east and on July 28, 1897, he died. Our subject fol-
lowed engineering in Walla Walla and later bought a
farm near Dayton. He sold a couple of years later
and went to Walla Walla, later returned to Dayton
and was deputy sheriff under J. H. Hosier. When the
Nez Perces war broke out he* participated in quelling
the savages. After that he went to Whitman county
and remained there until 1900. when he came to
Clarksti m, Washington, and for one year operated a bus
and feed stable. "Then in July, 1901, he came to
Culdesac. opened a furniture store, where we find him
at the present time doing a good business.
Mr. Henderson married .Miss Mattie E. Denge,
who was born in Davis county, Iowa, on January
368
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
14, 1859. Her parents were Dr. Louis W. and
Cynthia Ann (Sheffer) Benge. The family came to the
Walla Walla valley in .September, 1862, settling on
the Oregon side. The father operated a farm and
practiced medicine and was county commissioner
several terms. There were three boys and three girls
in the family besides Mrs. Henderson. Mr. Hender-
son is a Democrat and active in political matters. He
is a member of the Wr. W., Camp No. 230 of Johnson,
Washington, while his wife is a member of the Ladies
Circle of this order, at the same place. To Air. ami
Mrs. Henderson have born three children : Eva L.,
Charles B. and Claude R.
HAZEN SQUIER. This well known business
man and representative pioneer of the county of Nez
Perces, as also of other sections of the west, is among
the leading and prominent men of our country and
although formerly one of the most active business men
of Lewiston, is now retired from the arena and is enjoy-
ing the competence which his industry has accumu-
lated. Mr. Squier was born in Weathersfield, Vermont,
on May 9, 1835, being the son of John and Louisa A.
(Kendall) Squier. The father was a marble worker
and engraver, born in Vermont, on March 18, 1807,
being of English extraction. He died on May 15, 1885.
The mother was born January 31, 181 1, and died July
5, 1890, in Vermont. The subject of this sketch re-
ceived a good common school and seminary education
and at the age of seventeen was employed as clerk in a
country store in Vermont. Two years later, led by an
adventurous spirit to the west, he went to St. Clair,
Michigan, and thence to Lexington, clerking two years
in each place. It was 1858 when he determined to try
San Francisco, and came there via Panama. He went
thence to Oroville, Butte county, and engaged in placer
mining for two years. Failing of success in that
venture, he then came, in 1862, overland to Portland,
and in July enlisted in the Washington Territory Vol-
unteer Infantry, understanding the regiment was to
go east. He was taken to Vancouver instead, and
was detailed as clerk in the quartermaster's depart-
ment. In December, the company was ordered to The
Dalles, to relieve Company A. of the Ninth Infantry,
which was sent east. Mr. Squier remained in the
quartermaster's department until his term of service
expired in July, 1865. He had charge of the quarter-
master and commissary department during his time
of service and after his discharge he was appointed
quartermaster's clerk at The Dalles. In November,
1865, he was sent to Fort Lapwai, Idaho, where he
remained until the abandonment of that post. He
then came to Lewiston, traveled some, and in 1869
settled here permanently. He was appointed United
States district clerk for the first judicial district of
Idaho territory, in May, 1871, under the territorial
government, and for sixteen years, or until 1887, he
served in that capacity. He was one year in the
United States land office, was county treasurer for
two years and has held various municipal offices.
During the Indian war in 1877, he was quartermaster's
clerk for the depot at Lewiston. Since that time Mr.
Squier has been in various lines of business until 1896,
when he had a partial stroke of paralysis and then he
retired from active business. He owns considerable
city property, one business house, and ranches in va-
rious quarters.
The marriage of Mr. Squier and Louise Beck was
solemnized in Lewiston, in November, 1876. Mr.
Squier has brothers and sisters as follows: Delos K.,
in Newark, New Jersey ; Frances L., deceased ; Stella
A., wife of Albert M. Whitelow, living in Vermont.
Mr. and Airs. Squier have become the parents of two
children, Leslie E.. attending the dental department of
the University of Pennsylvania ; Elton K., in Lewiston.
Mr. Squier is a member of the A. O. U. W., the I. O.
O. F., and the A. F. and A. M., blue lodge and chapter,
having been allied with the latter order since 1868.
Politically, he is a Republican. Air. Squire is an affa-
ble and genial gentleman, has seen much of the fron-
tier life and has done much for the advancement and
upbuilding of this county.
WILLI A AI THATCHER. In the town of
Culdesac, this enterprising business man conducts a
well kept and thrifty meat market and he is doing a
good business, while he ever manifests those capa-
bilities of success and industry that are commendable.
William Thatcher was born in Adams county,
Ohio, on October 4, 1870, being the son of Samuel
and .Martha (Wilmoth) Thatcher. William grew up
on a farm and was educted in the public schools.
When eighteen he went to Montana and for nine years
he was engaged in various occupations there. Three
of those vears were spent in the regular army and he
had the rank of corporal and also sergeant. Following
this he came to Harrison, Idaho, and for eighteen
months wrought there and then numbered himself
with the citizens of Culdesac. In November, 1901,
he opened a meat market here and since that time
he has been doing a good business. He displays good
business ability, is a genial companion, a loyal friend,
a patriotic and substantial citizen, and withal a well
respected man and of excellent standing. Politically
Mr. Thatcher is allied with the Republicans and takes
an intelligent interest in this realm. He is a member
of the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 65; also of the M.
W. A., Spalding Camp, of Culdesac. Air. Thatcher
is also an enthusiastic member of the Sons of
Veterans, Buena Vista Camp, No. 69, of Buena Vista,
< )hio, and in this order he has held every office except
captain. The father of our subject is a prominent
G. A. R. man and has an exceptionally brilliant war
record, having served throughout the entire conflict
with gr.eat credit and manifestation of bravery and
courage. He was a sergeant in the Seventieth ( )hio
Volunteers, Company C, under Captain R. F. Hughes.
Thomas Brown, an uncle of Airs. Thatcher, also served
in the Civil war.
In 1892 Air. Thatcher married Aliss Alamie E.
HAZEN SQUIER.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
369
Phillips, who was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on
June 7. 1874. They have one son, William Warren
rhatcher, who was burn on April 26, 181,14, in Miles
City, Montana.
WILLIAM H. SIMMONS is one of the substan-
tial and respected citizens of Central ridge, a man of
uprightness and governed by sound principles, thor-
oughly alive to the welfare of the community and an
enterprising and industrious agriculturist. He was
born in Randolph county, Indiana, on January 31, 1861,
his parents being John and Martha (Woodin) Sim-
mons. At the age of seven, he went with his parents
to Douglas county, Kansas, and there grew up and re-
ceived his education. His mother died in 1873, Dut
the father lives still in Douglas county. In 1891 Mr.
Simmons came to Moscow, and there engaged for
wages in farm work. At the opening of the reservation
for settlement, on November 18, 1895. he was among
the first to locate and so secured a choice piece of land,
it is situated about twelve miles southeast from Peck
and is a model farm in every respect of care and hus-
bandry. Mr. Simmons has comfortable buildings and
has made his farm to produce abundantly. One can-
not realize fully the hardships, the deprivations and
arduousness of the pioneer's labors, until on the ground
for himself. But we may say that Mr. Simmons has
endured his share and also has done his full part in
the improvement and advancement of the country, lie-
has taken hold with willing hands, shows wise plans
and has accomplished results worthy of his efforts and
commendable in every respect. Mr. Simmons is a de-
vout and zealous member of the United Brethren
church and is steward of the organization on Central
ridge. His standing with the people of the community-
is of the best and he is one of the foremost and leading
citizens. Mr. Simmons is also still a participator of the
quiet joys of the celibatarian.
THEODORE CURRY. The record of Mr.
Curry from the time he landed in the reservation
country until the present is like a tale of fairyland,
looking at it from the point of the observer. He landed
here in the spring of 1896. with a couple of poor
horses, and a wagon, seven sacks of flour and nothing
else, not even a penny ; and to-day he is proprietor of
a fine quarter, all paid for, all the tools necessary for
its cultivation, owns a thresher, considerable stock,
good improvements on the farm, and harvested about
twenty-five hundred bushels of grain this year. This
is a tine record and we cannot credit it all to the fertile
country, for we observe the enterprise, the keen fore-
sight, careful management and energy of our subject
and that accounts for the success.
Theodore Curry was born in Ashland county,
Ohio, on November 18, 1866, being the son of
Matthew and Elise E. (Walker) Curry. The father
was born in Pennsylvania in 1825, went to Kansas in
1872, where he still lives. The mother of our subject
was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1846 and came to
the United States with her parents when she was
eight. ( lur subject went to Kansas with his parents
when he was five and settlement was made in Coffey
county, where they farmed for nine years and did well.
Then a move was made to Leadville, Colorado, where
the father freighted and when Theodore had finished
his education he went to work in the mines and con-
tinued for four years. On October 18, 1890, he came
to Spokane and worked one year and then went to
Stevens county and farmed and later we see him
mining in the Kootenai country. In the early spring
of 1896 he came with his brother William and each
took land as mentioned above.
In November, 1898, Mr. Curry married Jennie
M., daughter of James and Aggeness (Noltia) Walker,
natives of Ashland county, Ohio, and Scotland, re-
spectively. Mrs. Curry was burn in Ashland county
in 1878. and she has the following named brothers
and sisters : Agnes, Edith, Grace, Florence, Len.
Everett, all hi Washington. Mr. Curry has the fol-
lowing brothers and sisters : Mary A. Scow, in Xez
Perces county; Maggie A. Marion, of Boise; William.
Elise, Matthew and Earl, all in this county. Three
children have come to bless and gladden the home of
Mr. and Mrs. Curry, Ray, Hughue, and an infant un-
named. The family are members of the Methodist
church and Mr. Curry is a man of independence in
politics. In educational matters he is greatly interest-
ed for improvement and that the country should be
provided with the best schools.
WILLIAM BRAMMER. It is seldom, indeed.
that one has the pleasure of chronicling the events in
the life of One who fought in the recent struggle for
the freedom of the Boers. Such is the case, however.
with the gentlemen whose life's career we now assay
to outline.
William Brammer was born in Germany, on Decem-
ber 16, 1864, being the son of William and Sophia
(Hiestermann) Brammer. The father was born in
Germany in 1840, acted as forester there for a nobleman
until 1892, when he came to this country. The mother
of our subject was also born in Germany, the date being
1841, and died in 1899. William was educated in his
native place, and when nineteen he determined to go
to south Africa. His cousin was to accompany him.
but at the last moment he backed out and our subject
was left to try it alone. He was of the metal that goes
through and so as a British immigrant he went to the
colony and wrought as a stock raiser. At the opening
of the gold fields, he imbibed the fever and continued
to search for the treasures of the soil from 1885 until
1893, when a different fever seized him, the malarial
fever, and he was obliged to se.ek a higher altitude.
He learned the bricklayer's trade in the Transvaal and
worked at it from 1895 to 1899, at Standerton ; when
the war broke out he at once took up the cause of the
Boers. While he could have gone to the field, he be-
lieved he could render better service for the country
3/0
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
in acting as fireman on a locomotive that carried muni-
tions of war and there he served until the English took
him and all the officials of the road prisoners of war
and he \va> deported to Germany. His stay was seven-
teen years in Africa and was a citizen of the Transvaal.
In iyoi Mr. Brammer came to America and at the
present time he is operating his father's and brother
( Jei trge's farms, three miles east from Lookout.
On August 6, 1894, Mr. Brammer married Miss
Mary, daughter of Frederick and Christine (Eggers)
Rentier, the wedding occurring in the Transvaal. Mr.
Rentier was a native of Germany and went to south
Africa in 1892, there working at his trade of brick-
mason. Airs. Brammer was born in Germany, in 1867.
She has three brothers in Germany, one brother and one
sister in the Transvaal, and one sister in America. Mr.
Brammer has two brothers, George, county commis-
sioner of Nez Perces county; Henry, a farmer in the
county. The following children have been born to our
subject and his faithful wife, William and Frieda, born
in the Transvaal, and Henry, born in Germany. Mr.
and Mrs. Brammer are members of the German Luth-
eran church.
SOLOMON J. POOL is now a prosperous farmer,
residing six miles northeast from Mohler, but he in-
forms 11s that when he came here in February, 1896, he
had seventy-five cents and three horses. The fine hold-
ing of property that he now has was all secured by his
faithful and enterprising labors in the intervening
years. His farm is one of the best in the -country, is
well improved and produces abundantly. Mr. Pool had
to endure many hardships in getting a start, having to
go to the Palouse country for three successive years to
work for wages and then would bring supplies back.
He hauled his grain at first clear to Spalding and five
<lays were consumed in a trip. Now he is close to
market and the returns of his skillfully handled farm
are bringing him a gratifying competency in this
world's goods.
Solomon J. Pool was born in White county, Indi-
ana, on August 17. 1855, being the son of Jeremiah and
Almira ( Hilderbrand) Pool, natives of Virginia and
Ohio, respectively. They were married in White coun-
ty, Indiana. Solomon was reared on a farm and re-
mained with his parents until the father's death in 1872.
The mother is now living in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Solomon went to Fremont county. Iowa, in 1875 and
there lived until 1889. During this time he spent two
vears in western Colorado in the mines and timber. In
"1889 he fitted out a mule team and wagon and made the
trip to Seattle, Washington. He wintered in Saratoga
springs and completed the trip the next spring. Mr.
Pool logged a time on the Sound and then returned
to Yakima, and later went to Dayton, Washington. In
1893 he was in the Pierce City country, mining, and
the-', repaired to the Potlatch country. On February
27, 1896, he came to his present location, and this has
been his home and the scene of his labors since that
time. He has a first class orchard, a large barn, a good
house and many other improvements that make the es-
tate valuable and attractive. It was tough work at the
beginning, for Mr. Pool tells us that man)' times he
was forced to sleep on the snow and he labored hard
and long hours, but success has rewarded his industry
and he is one of the substantial men of the community.
Mr. Pool is a man of good principles, stands well with
the people, as he has always done in all the places where
he has lived, and he is always allied on the side of prog-
JOHX W. THOMAS is a progressive and capable
young man, whose labors have been crowned with
abundant success in the acquisition of the goods of this
world, while also he has been one of the foremost ones
in the upbuilding and material welfare of the reserva-
tion portion of Nez Perces county, where he has labored
faithfully since taking his present place, ten miles south-
east from Peck, in 1896. From the wild land, it has
been transformed to a valuable and fertile farm that is
placed under tribute by his skillful husbandry to return
annual dividends of bounteous crops. A large orchard
of bearing trees, a modern and tasty six-room house, a
commodious barn and many other improvements testify-
to the labor and wisdom manifested.
John W. Thomas was born in Howell county. Mis-
souri, on September 14, 1870, being the son of Nathan
and Obelia (Forbes) Thomas, natives of Yancey coun-
ty, North Carolina, and Lee county, Virginia, respect-
ively. They were married in North Carolina and came
to Howell county. Missouri, where the father farmed
until January 21, 1881, the date of his death. The
mother died in September. 1891. In the spring of 1893,
Mr. Thomas came to Juliaetta. and went to work for
his brother. He had five dollars cash then and all his
goodly holdings have been wrought out by his industry
since that time. Just previous to the opening of the
reservation, Mr. Thomas spent some time traveling
over it and when the opportunity presented itself to file
he was in position to locate the ground he desired.
Time has shown his judgment to have been good.
( >n .May 20, 1894. Mr. Thomas married Miss Jennie
Jayne, who had lived in Howell county. Missouri. Two
children have come to gladden the union, Howard,
born Tanuary 14, 1895: Benjamin .Martin, born April
21, 1901. Mr. Thomas' father was a soldier in the
Confederate army and participated in the following
notable battles, Fair Oaks, Chancellorsville, Gettys-
burg, Chickamauga, besides others and many skir-
mishes. Our subject is a zealous disciple of Nimrod
and has made four different trips to the Salmon river
country to hunt deer. In these he has taken as his
trophies thirty-six of the fleet footed creatures and he
is a skillful man with a rifle in the chase.
ALBERT C. HARDMAN. Ten miles southeast
from Peck is the fine estate of Mr. Hardman. When
he took this land under the homestead right, in Febru-
ary, [896, the country was very different in its appear-
ance from the present time, as is also his farm. Then
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
37 1
no roads crossed the country, nor fences, no families,
except two in remote places, and everything was wild
as from the hands of nature. Mr. Hardman displayed
good judgment in selecting a fine piece of land and in
April following his location, his family came to take
up the pioneer's life with him. They were victims of
the panic in the years just previous to that and so came
with very little of this world's goods. At once they set
to labor and so well have they wrought that now the
farm is one of the finest about. Four hundred bearing
trees, the farm is all fenced, good buildings are in evi-
dence and the annual returns of bounteous crops are
the due reward of the industry and thrift bestowed.
A more detailed account of Mr. Hardman's life is
desirable. We note that he was born in Davis county,
Iowa, on February 18, i860, being the son of George
and Jane (Calvert) Hardman, natives respectively of
Pennsylvania and New Brunswick. They were mar-
ried in Iowa and the father died in i860. In 1864, with
his mother and her parents, our subject was brought
across the plains to Walla Walla. The trip was made
by ox teams and consumed six months. Albert lived
on a farm near Walla Walla with his mother until he
was seventeen and then went to Adams, in Uma-
tilla county, and settled on lieu land. There, on Octo-
ber 1.3, 1881, Air. Hardman married Miss Lucy,
daughter of Joseph and Mary (Kees) Gallaher. Mr.
Gallaher came across the plains in 1848 to western
Oregon, from Iowa. His wife came with her parents
from Missouri and they were married in Linn county,
Oregon: later they removed to Umatilla county,
where Mrs. Hardman was born December 7. 181 14. In
1889 Mr. Hardman brought his family to Fairfield,
Washington, where he farmed until the time when he
came to the reservation, as mentioned above. The
mother of Mr. Hardman is now living in Adams, Uma-
tilla county. Mrs. Hardman's parents are living near
Karniah. To Mr. and Mrs. Hardman there have been
born four children: Royden L., born June 19, 1883;
Carroll P., born July _>,:;. [885; William A., born No-
vember 15. 1887 ;"< >wen M.. born .March 21, 1890. Mr.
Hardman and his faithful wife are devout members of
the United Brethren church and are worthy citizens
who exert a good influence in the community where
they are highly respected.
JOHN W. HAWTHORN is one of the well
known and prosperous business men of Culdesac, at
thi present time operating a livery stable in partner-
ship with John Whalen. He is a man of upright-
ness and integrity and is the recipient of the confi-
dence and esteem of the people. In addition to the
livery business they handle a hundred and eighty acres
of land that is rented from the Indians, and which they
farm to flax, oats and barley. Mr. Hawthorn has a
good business and the untiring care and attention be-
stowed for the comfort, accommodation and safety of
his guests has built it to its present lucrative dimen-
sions.
|ohn W. Hawthorn was born in Jefferson county,
Iowa, on July 1, 1854. being the son of Jesse and
Hannah (Barnett) Hawthorn. He grew up on a
farm and was educated in the schools of his native
place. When twenty-four he started into the battle of
life on his own responsibility and his first ventures
were to rent land and farm and then to operate on
different railroads and in liverv work. About iSiji
Mr. Hawthorn came to Washington, landing first at
Pomeroy. Then he worked on ranches in Asotin
county about three years. It was 1894 when he came
to the reservation 111 the vicinity of Lapwai. Here he
was engaged for wages on different farms until the
reservation opened and then he took a quarter sec-
tion and proved up on it in 1901. In the same year
he opened the livery and since has divided his time
between it and the prosecution of the fanning indus-
try. Mr. Hawthorn had but little of this "world's
goods when he filed on the land but Dy his industry
and wisdom in management he has accumulated grat-
ifying holding. Mr. Hawthorn was married in 1872.
< >ne daughter was born to him, Josephine, wife of
Arthur Haskms, a farmer on Snell gluch, in Xez
Perces county. Mrs. Hawthorn was called away by
death.
.Mr. Hawthorn has four sisters ami no brothers,
and the other members of the family, besides himself,
all live in Iowa. In his career here, it is with pleas-
ure that we are enabled to state that Mr. Hawthorn
has so conducted himself that he has won the hearty
good will and approval of all who know him and he is
one of the prosperous and substantial citizens of good
standing.
CHARLES A. WANN. Among the quota of
Mohler's successful business men we must needs men-
tion the estimable gentleman whose name initiates
this paragraph, as he is conducting a general merchan-
dise establishment there which his skill, good ability,
and geniality have made a success in every sense of the
word, and at the present time, his patronage is rap-
idly increasing.
Charles A. Wann was born in Misouri, on January
22. 187 1, being the son of James H. and Sarah F.
1 Xeil ) Wann. mention of whom is made in this work
elsewhere. Until ten. our subject- was at the native
place in Missouri, and then came with the family to
Pataha City, Garfield county. Washington, and there
and in Dayton he received the completion of his edu-
cation. At seventeen he started in lift- for himself.
Two years were spent in the store of Weiler & Wax,
which his father managed at Cottonwood, Idaho. At
nineteen he went east with a band of horses, consum-
ing -even months in the trip. Returning to Cotton-
wood he embarked in the sheep and horse business
with his father, which engaged their attention until
1897. Then Charles spent one year mining and rail-
roading. Then a time was spent as bookkeeper of
E. T. Brandon's general merchandise establishment at
Culdesac. It was 1900 that Mr. Wann opened a small
-tore at a postoffice named Howard, near where Moh-
lei is now situated. When Mohler was started, he
372
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
removed to his present location and as the business
has built up, he has increased his slock and is now one
of the leading merchants of this part of the reserva-
tion.
On April 22. 1803, Mr. Wann married Miss Hat-
tie, daughter of William J. YVilburn, a native of
Missouri. Airs. Wann was born in California. Air.
Wann has three brothers, William D., residing at
Spalding; Loren B., with J. G. Wright, at Culdesac ;
Norman J., residing with parents. Mr. Wann asso-
ciated himself with George S. Martin in his mer-
chandising efforts and together these gentlemen con-
duct their rapidly increasing business. Mr. Wann is
a member of the I. O. O. F., Mohler Lodge, No. 60 ;
of the Mohler Encampment, No. 20, being scribe ; of
the Mohler Camp, No. 612. W. W., being past consul;
while he and his wife belong to the Jewel Lodge of
Rebekahs, and the Mohler Circle of the W. W. Mrs.
Wann is treasurer of the Rebekahs and past guardian
of the later. Mr. Wann is a Democrat in political
ideas ; he is a familiar figure in the conventions and is
a very successful and powerful personage in these af-
fairs, although he has never pressed for personal pre-
ferment. He served as deputy assessor in Idaho
county in 1892. Air. Wann is a popular man and
stands well among all who know him. He is manag-
ing his business with commendable wisdom, and is do-
ing his part for .-aibstantial upbuilding and progress
of the countv.
HULL1S W. KEITH. The reservation portion
of our county has been the place where many have
won the smiles of fortune and have come from the
depleted resources of hard times to have plenty and
be prospered abundantly. Among that number is the
enterprising and industrious young farmer whom we
mention at the head of this article.
Hollis W. Keith was born in Boone countv. Alis-
souri, on April 4, 1872, being the son of George G. and
Ann Maria (Willis) Keith. The father was born in
Kentucky, in 1828 and died in 1901, having been a
pioneer in Alissouri and also in Washington. The
mother was born in New Jersey, in 1830 and still
lives in Idaho. Her father, John Willis, was a fortv-
niner in California. Hollis grew to manhood in Alis-
souri and was educated in the public schools. When
seventeen he came west to Colfax, Washington,
The father joined him in a few months and together
they farmed near St. John, that state. In 1893, they
explored the Salmon river country and soon returned
to the vicinity of Pullman where they farmed until
1897, when the reservation lands attracted them and
our subject took his present place, two miles south-
east from Lenore. He owns one hundred and thirty-
nine acres, raises domestic stock, does general farm-
ing and has good improvements, being prospered.
Air. Keith also handles a threshing outfit" and he is a
leading man and stands well. His two brothers.
Jesse G. and Allen, took land also, and the father came
to the reservation with them.
In January, 1892, Air. Keith married Mis- Nora
McArty. The wedding occurred at St. John. Her
father, Adam AlcArty, married Aliss St. John, whose
father started and named the town of St. John. Air.
St. John was a merchant and an old soldier. His
death occurred in 1895. Mrs. Keith was born in Kan-
sas in 1878 and died April 11, 1902, having borne
four children, Albert J., Arthur C, Alice B. and
Georgia M., who are all at home with their father.
Air. Keith has the following named brothers and sis-
ters: John W., in this county; William M., in Alis-
souri ; Allen B. and Jesse G., both in the reservation
country ; Catherine Boyer, Mary E. Barnett. both
at Odessa, Washington; Anna Al. Hitching.-, near
Sunset, Washington. Mr. Keith is a Democrat but
is sufficiently independent to reserve his vote for the
man rather than the party. He is a zealous supporter
of good schools and is wide awake for the betterment
of the country and its advancement.
HERA1AN L. TIEDE. A stanch and sturdy son
of the Fatherland, whose labors have been bestowed
with wisdom in the development and upbuilding of
this western country for a term of years, and whi > is
now one of the industrious farmers of Nez Perces
county, the subject of this sketch is deserving of spe-
cial mention in the history of his county.
Herman L. Tiede was born in Prussia on Alay 10,
1841, being the son of Samuel F. and Caroline C.
(Streitz) Tiede, natives of Prussia and died in 1877
and 1880, respectively. Herman was educated in his
native land and learned the trade of the miller from
his father. Working at this and serving in the army,
he passed the time in Germany until he was twenty-
four and then came to Chicago. Thence he made
his way to Watertown, Wisconsin, and farmed for
six vears. After this he went to Hamilton county,
Nebraska, and after a brief period of farming, he
purchased a flouring mill in Seward county. After five
years of this, he was financially on the debit side and
so sold and came to Lewis county, Washington, in
1888. In 1895 he migrated thence to Cameron, Idaho,
and there was his home until 1897, when he came and
secured his present place, two miles northeast from
Lookout. He owns eighty acres, does a general farm-
ing business and raises some stock, having comfortable
improvements.
In 1866, Air. Tiede married Aliss Louise Tesch
and five children were born to this union, but in 1876
Airs. Tiede was called away by death. In 1878, Jan-
uary 12. Air. Tiede married a second time, the lady
becoming his wife was Bertha Arndt. Her parents,
August and Amelia (Newman) Arndt, were born in
( iermany and her father was a soldier in his native
land and wrought also at farming and blacksmithing.
Airs. Tiede was born in Germany in 1861 and came
to the United States in 1870. Mr. Tiede has two
brothers and two sisters in Germany. The following
named children have been born to the household. Au-
gust, Sidoni, Alfred, Herman, Mary, Emil, Pan
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
373
Louis. Mr. and Mrs. Tiede are devout members of
the Lutheran church ; v\ hiie in politics, Mr. Tiede is a
Democrat and is a zealous advocate of good schools.
EUGENE F. GO-FFINET. Much credit is due
thosi whose labors and energy have built up the reser-
vation country, and one deserving of especial mention
in this connection is the gentleman whose name ini-
tiates this paragraph. Eugene F. Goffinet was born in
Perry county. Indiana, on March 20, 1869, being the
son of Charles and Mary (Collin) Goffinet. The
mother died in Indiana in 189 1. and the following-
year the father came to dwell with our subject and is
now in his seventy-eighth year. In 1874 the family
left Indiana and migrated to San Francisco, thence
to Sonora and there the father engaged in mining
and carpentering until 1884, when they all returned
to Indiana. Eugene attended the common schools
in the various places where he resided in his boy-
hood days, and in 1887 went to Daviess county. Ken-
tucky, and there wrought for the Cincinnati Cooperage
Company, getting out staves. This was then one
of the largest concerns of its kind in the world. In
1892 he came to Fairfield. Washington, and there la-
bored for a salary until 1896 when he came to the
reservation and took his present place, ten miles south-
east fri m Peck. He has good land and has shown
skillful husbandry and industry in the improvement
and tilling of it since that time. He has a good orchard
and other improvements and the annual returns of his
land are very gratifying. The country was sparsely
settled when Mr. Goffinet came here and he had the
hardships that are the lot of the pioneer to endure, and
especially was it hard with him as his means were
very limited. But he labored on with courage and de-
termination, using the best of wisdom in all his en-
deavors, until he has achieved a success that is the
proper crown of such worthy endeavors. Mr. Goffinet
is one of the highly respected men of this section, and
he is an influential citizen. His father has a home-
stead near and has taken great interest in the improve-
ment of the country and the days of the golden years
of his life are being spent in the good labors of bring-
ing fruitful returns from the fertile soil of this favored
region.
WILLIAM M. BLAIR. This well known and
enterprising young business man of Ilo is esteemed
not only for the ability and energy displayed in his
business career, but also because he is a man of integ-
rity and withal of a genial and affable nature and pos-
- - 1 of sound principles.
William M. Blair was born in Lee county, Iowa, on
May 14. 1870, being the son of Charles F. and Eliza-
beth A. (Lyen) Blair. ' His father was a merchant,
born in Cattaraugus county, New York, on August 14,
1836. He was a soldier in the Civil war, enlisting
in Company B. Thirteenth Iowa Infantry, under Colo-
nel Rankin. The paternal grandparents of our subject
were pioneers in Jefferson county, Iowa, in 1840. The
mother of William M. was born in Washington county,
Iowa, in 1839, her parents being pioneers there in
1837. The family remained in Iowa until our subject
was fourteen and there he attended school. Then
they removed to Wellington and later to Pratt county,
Kansas, where the father took land and farmed. Will-
iam remained there four years and then returned to
his old Iowa home and worked for Carson & Rand,
lumbermen of Keokuk, where two years were spent.
Then two years were spent in Pratt count}-, Kansas.
In 1893 he went to the Cherokee strip and gained land
as it opened. Two years later he went to Hope, Kan-
sas, and there operated a short order house for two
years. He then spent two years driving teams for stock
companies in different portions of that country, then
returned to Pratt county and later went to the opening
of the Arrapahoe and Cheyenne lands, but failing to
get lands that suited him, he car.ie thence to Ilo, and
here erected a house and livery barn. He has devoted
his attention to this business since and is having a good
trade. He has a good stable and is an accommodating
man, ever looking for the comfort and safety of his
patrons.
Mr. Blair has the following named brothers and
sisters: George R., in Pratt county. Kansas; Mary S.
Miller, in Kansas ( 'itv. Missouri; Annie B. Balner, in
Pontiac, Illinois : John R., in Sawyer, Kansas. He is a
member of the M. W. A., and in political matters he
is active and interested, always supporting the princi-
ples of the Republican party. Mr. Blair is a bachelor,
preferring the quiet of the celibatarian^ life to the
cares of the connubial relation. His mother is living
with him at the present time.
HENRY RIGGERS. The prevailing condi-
tions of hardship for the laboring men in Germany
have sent many of the sturdy sons of that land to
seek their fortunes in the resourceful territory of
this land of the free. Among this number is the
worthy young gentleman of whom we now have
the privilege of speaking. He is a man of indus-
try, thrift and energy, and has labored in such a
way that he has gained a goodly competence since
locating here. His farm of one hundred and sixty
acres is located three miles southeast from Gifford
and was taken by him under the homestead right in
1896. He has bestowed his labor here since and it
has produced such fine improvements, as house, barn,
fences, orchard, and so forth, and the products of
the soil have made Mr. Riggers a prosperous and well-
to-do farmer. He raises cattle and hogs and feeds
most of his grain to them. He raises flax for the
market.
Henry Riggers was born in Germany in 1872,
being the son of Henry and Mary Riggers, natives
also of the fatherland. The father as born in 1829
and came to America in 1892. The mother was
born in 1841. Henry was educated in his native
land and came in his early manhood alone to Wash-
374
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ington county, Kansas, where he labored until 1892,
when he migrated to the vicinity of Genesee. There
he wrought on the farms until the reservation
opened and then he took the land as mentioned above.
On January 10. 1899, in Xez Perces county, Mr.
Riggers married Miss Mary Kothe, who was born
in Germany in October, 1879, and came to the United
States when she was four years of age. Two chil-
dren have been born to this union, Henry and Her-
man. Mr. Riggers has two brothers, William and
Dietrich, both in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Rig-
gers are members of the German Lutheran church.
in political matters Mr. Riggers votes for a Republi-
can president but as to others, he selects according to
the man. He and his faithful wife are respected and
worthy people and are among the most substantial
citizens of our county.
I ( 1 1 1 X H E X R Y B R A M M ER. Without per-
adventure it is admitted that some of the most thrifty
and substantial citizens of America come to us from
the land of Germany. As a true specimen of the
thriftv and industrious and keen business men of the
fatherland, we note the young and well-to-do stock-
man and farmer, whose name initiates this paragraph.
A brief review of his career will be interseting read-
ing in the history of Xez Perces county and there-
fore we append it.
John H. Brammer was born in Germany, on June
5, 1869. being the son of William and Sophia
(Heisterman) "Brammer, also natives of the same
country. The father was born in 1839 and came to
the United States in 1893. He was a forester for
Lord Von Rehden for many years previous to com-
ing to America, and is now dwelling near Melrose.
The mother of our subject was born in 1840 and died
in 1900. John Henry was educated in his native
land and often he and his father talked over the ad-
vantages of this country and together studied the
financial condition here; finally in 1893 determined to
try the venture of citizenship in the United States.
They landed in Xew York on April 1, 1893, and at
once came to Idaho, where settlement was made at
Cameron and there they lived until February, 1896,
when our subject filed on his present place, about two
miles west from Melrose. He has bestowed with
wisdom his labor in raising stock, general farming
and so forth, and has been rewarded with the due
meed of the industrious and capable, and is well
possessed of the goods of this world. Mr. Brammer
has recently sold the home place but is buying an-
other and also contemplates starting in business in
Melrose.
On December 7, 1900. in Xez Perces county, Mr.
Brammer married Miss Lena, daughter of John and
Mary (Gertje) Eihlers, natives of Germany, and now
living in Cameron. Mrs. Brammer has two brothers
and one sister. Herman, George and Emma, all at
home. Mr. Brammer has the following brothers,
William, who was a soldier in the South
African war, now residing in this country; George,
a farmer here, who was also in this country bef( re
our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Brammer are members
of the German Lutheran church and staunch sup-
porters of their faith. He is a man of his convic-
tions and not only favors the Populist ticket, but
votes it also. While in Germany, he was during the
last years a soldier in the army and is well trained
in military tactics.
OAKY W. LEGGETT. The little village of Ilo
owes its birth to the efforts of the subject of this
sketch. Through his efforts the postoffice was estab-
lished and he named the place Ilo from his little daugh-
ter's name. He is a public minded man, takes liberal
views of the questions of life, is always laboring for
advancement and stands well among the people. Mr.
Leggett operates a general merchandise establishment
and has a good trade.
An outline of his career will be of interest to the
readers of this volume and therefore we append the
same. Oaky W. was born in Adair county. Iowa, on
May 30 1873, being the son of John L. and Emma
(Johnson) Leggett. His father was born in Illinois
in 1839. He was a merchant and farmer, was post-
master at Lathrop, Iowa, for twenty-five years, was
railroad agent also, and county commissioner for six
years. He fought the battles of the country in the
Ninth Illinois Cavalry for three years in the Rebellion.
He was a pioneer of Adair county and lives there still.
His parents were natives of Illinois. The mother of our
subject was born in Ohio, in 1849. her parents being
natives of the same state. Our subject grew to man-
h 1 in Iowa and there received his education. At the
age of fifteen he took charge of a station at Rock
Island, having learned telegraphy and the business
from his father. Three years were spent there, next
he operated as express agent from Des Moines for a
time and then engaged with the Great Western for a
time. After this, he returned to the farm and labored
for four years. Next he opened a general merchan-
dise establishment in Dana, Iowa, and did a good busi-
ness until the store burned down. It was 1898 that he
came to the coast and later to Lewiston. He engaged
with the Small & Emory Lumber Company for a time
and then came to Ilo, where he opened a general
merchandise establishment, and as stated above, he suc-
ceeded in getting the postoffice established, of which
he is postmaster, in addition attending to his mercantile
business.
< »n Much 7, 1894, Mr. Leggett married Miss Lillie
M., daughter of Oscar and Elizabeth (Armstrong)
Allen, natives of Ohio. The father was a blacksmith :
both parents died when Mrs. Leggett was young. Mrs.
Leggett was born in Iowa in 1874, graduated from the
high school and taught for three years. She has two
brothers and one sister, Charles H. Oscar F. and
Hatt'e. all in Iowa. Mr. Leggett has the following
named brothers and sisters: Anna, Bert L., Stella M.,
all in Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Leggett have two children,
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
375"
I In and Dorothv. Mr. Leggett is a member of the I.
O. O. F. and the M. W. A. He is a Republican in poli-
tics and labors for good government. He owns a farm
near town and other property. Mr. Leggett takes great
interest in good schools and in churches and at the pres-
ent time he is assisting liberally to build the Presbyte-
rian church at Ilo, although he is not a member of that
denomination. Mr. Leggett's father, grandfather, and
two uncles. Thomas J. Armstrong and John Spellman,
all fought for the Union in the Rebellion. The two
uncles were killed.
WARREN CLUGSTOX is a man of varied and
many experiences in the industries of this world, has
traveled over the western portion of the United
States, especially in the northwest, and is well satis-
fied that the reservation portion of Xez Perces county
is one of the best sections in the west. He has a fine
home and a good farm nine miles southeast from
Peck, being a well-to-do and thrifty farmer. War-
ren Clugston was born in the vicinity of Salem, Ohio,
on March 4, 1840, the son of James and Catherine
Clugston, natives of Franklin county, Pennsylvania,
where also they were married. An uncle of James
Clugston, Captain John Clugston, was killed in the
Revolution. In 1835 the parents of Warren moved
to Ohio and in 185 1 they came to McDonough coun-
ty, Illinois, where he grew up and was educated. In
1862 he enlisted in Company H, Second Illinois Cav-
alry, and served under General Grant. He was in the
battle of Holly Springs and many skirmishes but on
account of disability was discharged some time be-
fore his enlistment of three years had run its course.
In 1864 Mr. Clugston joined the Bozeman train of
eighty wagons and four hundred men and started for
the west, coming via the Bozeman cut off from the
Platte. At Virginia City Mr. Clugston left the train
and came to Idaho City, Idaho, where he mined. In
the fall of 1865 he returned home, having three com-
panions, The trip was made on horseback and one
horse sufficed to carry the pack for the entire com-
pany.
On February 1, 1876, in McDonough county, Illi-
nois, Mr. Clugston married Miss Ann E. Johnson and
in 1879 tney removed to Crawford county, Kansas,
and farmed. Two children were born to this mar-
riage, John C, near Peck ; James L., in McDonough
county, Illinois. Mrs. Clugston died on September
4, 1881. Mr. Clugston had purchased a farm in Car-
roll county, Missouri, and there, on July 2, 1883, he
married Sena A., daughter of John and Grazelda
(Barrier) Parker. Mrs. Clugston was born on July
8, i860, in Richmond, Missouri. Two children were
the fruit of this union, an infant that died on August
8, 1884, and Grazelda Ann, born in Carrollton. Mis-
souri, on October 12. 1885. Mr. Parker is a business
man in Carrollton and is now aged seventv-one, and
bis wife died in February, 1896. In the fall of 1888
Mr. Clugston came with his family to Colfax, thence
to Moscow, and in 1889 he settled near Southwick,
and later we see him near Linden, where he pre-
empted a quarter. ( )n the seventh of June, 1896, Mr.
Clugston came and took his present place, which was
a wild piece of land and is now a fertile and valuable
farm, well provided with buildings and other im-
provements. He and his family endured the hard-
ships incident to pioneer life, which were rendered
more rigorous on account of the panic having just
swept over the country before that. Mr. Clugston is
a member of the G. A. R., at Kendrick. Mrs. Clug-
ston was a graduate of the high school at Carrollton,
Missouri, and has taught much both in the east and
also since coming west. She held the principalship
of the Juhaetta schools in 1895-6, and also has taught
in other positions both in Latah and Xez Perces
counties. Mr. Clugston is an old and skillful hand
with threshing machines. He has followed the busi-
ness for thirty-two successive years and is now using
his sixth machine.
ALLEX J. SHORTLIDGE. A pioneer of the
Central ridge country and one, too, who has made
his labor manifest in the achievements in improving
his farm, our subject deserves first rank among the
worthy men whose labors have made this county a
fertile and wealthy country.
Allen J. Shortlidge was born in Delaware. Xew
Castle county, on December 31, 1861, whence the
family removed to Philadelphia. His parents were
Allen and Mary A. (Plumley) Shortlidge. The
father was a native of Pennsylvania and enlisted in
the Civil war, going in as a private but coming out
as a captain. He fought in many battles and skir-
mishes and was severely wounded through his hips at
Antietam. He carried this ball to his death in 1899.
In the early 'seventies the father came to the Black
Hills, South Dakota, and in 1877 our subject joined
him there. They freighted and in 1878 went to Wy-
oming, working in the Sweetwater mines. In 1879
they went to New Mexico and there freighted until
1882 in which year they came to Pendleton and en-
gaged in farming. In 1890 another move was made,
this time Fairfield, Washington, being the objective
point. Three years later they visited the Big Bend
country and later our subject traveled in Alberta,
Canada, but did not take land, not liking the country.
In April, 1896, we find Air. Shortlidge on the reser-
vation and as soon as he saw the country he deter-
mined to locate. A search soon found for him his
present place, a fertile quarter ten miles southeast
from Peck, where he has bestowed his labors with
telling effect, making his farm one of the best in this
section of the county. Few people were here and
Mr. Shortlidge was forced to endure the hardships
and deprivations of the pioneer and although he came
with very limited capital, he is now one of the well-
to-do men of the community.
On November 10, 1899, Mr. Shortlidge married
Miss Carrie M. Wheat, who was born in Clay county,
Illinois, on March 20, 1874. She graduated from the.
376
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Flora high school and took up teaching which she
followed until her marriage. She came west and
taught at Moscow some also before her marriage.
One child has been born to this union, Florence Lu-
cile, who celebrates November 6, 1900, as her birth-
day. Mr. and -Mrs. Shortlidge are consistent mem-
bers of the Christian church and they are leading and
influential citizens in their community.
OWEN NUGENT. The famous little Emerald
Isle has furnished a worthy quota of staunch men to
build up American institutions and among the large
number of substantial and patriotic citizens of this
blood we mention the subject of this article, as both
a typical specimen of the native land, and a patriotic,
loyal and deserving citizen of this free land.
Owen Nugent was born in county Tyrone, Ire-
land, in 1864, being the son of High and Bridget
Nugent, natives of Ireland and dying in 1899 and
1895, respectively. Owen worked on his father's
farm, embracing" the rather meager opportunities to
gain an education, and when twenty determined to
try his fortune in America. He landed in Philadel-
phia and for two years he wrought in the foundries
and lumber yards of the Quaker city. Then he came
on to Minnesota and farmed for two years. The next
vocation was railroading, which he followed in all the
states from Minnesota west and when the reserva-
tion opened, he came hither and secured the place
where he now lives. It lies six miles east from Ches-
ley and has been well improved and made valuable by
the wisely bestowed labors of Mr. Nugent. He has
forty head of stock, has seven acres of ochard and
other improvements equally excellent. Mr. Nugent
has one brother in America and four brothers and
three sisters in his native land. He has never seen
fit as yet to abandon the quiet joys and composure of
the bachelor life for the matrimonial sea. but Mr.
Nugent is a jovial and affable man, a good business
operator and stands well in the community.
GUST HADFORD. It is especially interesting to
note with what zeal and interest those who come to the
United States from the north lands of Sweden and
Norway enter into the spirit of American citizenship.
As a veritable leader in this worthy undertaking, we
are constrained to mention Gust Hadford, who has
manifested such loyalty and patriotism in his new
found home that one is kindled to admiration of his
manly and public spirited ways. In addition to this,
Mr. Hadford determined when he came to become a
thorough American and so at once set with a will
to learn the language and he is now master of the
English in a gratifying degree and speaks it fluently.
• Gust Hadford was born in Sweden, on January 10,
1870, being the son of Lars and Catherine (Vester-
ltmd) Hadford, natives of Sweden. The father is a
farmer, was born in 1837 and is still living in his native
place. The mother died in 1885. Gust was educated
in his native place and on August 20, 1885. he came
to the United States. As said before, he came with the
full determination of making this his home and settled
to the spirit of the subject with an apitude and zeal
that have made him a worthy and leading citizen. He
had three older brothers, Peter, in this country, who
toiled in McPherson county, Kansas, two years and a
half and then came to Washington and worked at
railroading for a time, after which he farmed in Spo-
kane county until 1896, at which time he came to the
reservation country and selected his present place, three
miles southeast from Lookout postoffice. He has a
good farm, well improved with comfortable buildings
and beautified with a fine orchard. Mr. Hadford does
a general farming business and raises cattle, horses
and hogs.
At Spokane, in July, 1896, Mr. Hadford married
Miss Hannah F... daughter of Hans Halverson. Mr.
Halverson was born in Norway and his widow now
lives near Medical Lake, Washington, on a farm. Mrs.
Hadford was born in Iowa, in 1880 and has two sisters
and two brothers, Mary Wick, Anna Hadford, Holver,
and John. Mr. Hadford has two brothers on the res-
ervation. Lewis and John, and two sisters in Sweden,
Christine and Caroline. Three children have been born
to Mr. and Mrs. Hadford, Celeste, Glady G. and Claude
A. Mr. Hadford is a Republican and takes an intel-
ligent interest in political maters. In addition to his
other labors, Mr. Hadford has operated a threshing
machine during much of the harvest times and is
a skillful hand in this line.
WARREN P. HUNT. This well known pioneer
has made a good record for himself and wrought with
energy and sagacity for the development of the country
since the early sixties, being one of the first who set-
tled in Lewiston. He was born in Erie county. New
York, near Buffalo, being the son of Isaac and Diantha
(Allbee) Hunt. The father was a farmer, born in Mas-
sachusetts, in 181 2, and died in New York in 1896.
while the mother was also a native of the Bay state,
born in 1814, and died in 1892. Our subject was edu-
cated in the common schools, and went to California,
via Panama, arriving at Sonora the day he became
of age. He mined for eight years with indifferent
success and then went to Monterey county and farmed
for two vears, when he came to Idaho, landing in
Lewiston in June, 1862. He was soon in Warren at
the mines, where he secured some claims for himself
and then bought the stage and express line from Lew-
iston, which he operated for about seven years. Sell-
ing then, he was elected recorder and auditor of the
county, and was also given a second term, as his
service was faithful and efficient. He was then ap-
pointed postmaster for five years, then resigned the of-
fice and took preemption and timber claims and en-
gaged in raising stock. He was thus employed until
1 89 1, when he sold one claim and took up the butcher
business in Lewiston and Lapwai. also buying and sell-
"Tr***
WARREN P. HUNT.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
mg stock. Mr. Hunt continued in this until 1898,
when he retired from active business to enjoy the fruits
of his industry, wisdom, and thritt. He owns the
claim he took in an early day and also some valuable
town property.
The marriage of Mr. Hunt and Miss Olive C
daughter of J. D. and Caroline (Stiles) Martin, was
solemnized in 1870, and they had two children,
Irene, deceased, . and an infant, unnamed. Mr. Mar-
tin was a miner, born in New York, in 1823, came
to California in 1850, and was assessor of Marysville.
His wife was born'in New York in 1828. .Mrs. Hunt
was born in New York on February 22, 1850, and
came to California in 1858 ; she has one brother and one
sister. Mortimer S. ; Hellens A. Leland. Mr. Hunt
has one brother and one sister, Clara Washburn, and
Frank. Mr. Hunt is a Republican and zealous for
good government. He cast his first vote for Abraham
Lincoln, in California. Mrs. Hunt is a member of the
Methodist church. Mr. Hunt is a member of the Pio-
neers' Association, and is one of the worthy pioneers
of the county and a reliable, upright and highly es-
teemed man.
SMITH RUPE. Perhaps no man in the vicinity
of Chesley is better acquainted with the country
in Nez Perces and adjacent counties than the subject
of this sketch, who is a man of integrity and substan-
tial qualities and has made a good home on the land
acquired from the wilds of nature.
Smith Rupe was born in Montgomrey county, Vir-
ginia, on April 5. 1853, being the son of William and
Catherine 'CarL Rupe. The father was born in Ger-
main- in 1795 and died in 1886. He was a pioneer in
Virginia and the mountain districts of Kentucky. He
was a carpenter and farmer. The mother was born in
Virginia in 1814. and died in 1879. The family came
to the mountain districts of Kentucky, when Smith was
a small boy and there he grew to manhood and received
his educational training. In 1882 he moved to Living-
ston county, Missouri, and there farmed for ten years,
doing well. His next move was to Farmington, Wash-
ington, where he did a thriving garden business until
the reservation opened, when he made settlement on his
present place, two miles northeast from Chesley. He
has a well improved place and a fine bunch of cattle.
On August 30, 1877, in Kentucky, Mr. Rupe mar-
ried Miss Lizzie, daughter of David and Frances
t Montgomery) Traylor, natives of Kentucky. The fa-
ther enlisted in the Mexican war, but it closed before he
got into action. He is now deceased, but the mother
is still living. Mrs. Rune was born in Menifee county,
Kentucky, in 1861 and has three brothers, James R.,
George R. and Wiliam A. Mr. Rupe has the following
brothers and sisters: Mary M., F. Marion, Oscar
H. and John M. The following children have been
born to Mr. and Mrs. Rupe: Sarah F. Simmons, in
Che-ley: Louise J. McBride. at Farmington; Ida M.
Herman, at Chesley, Idaho : Eva, Marion, Lloyd, and
an infant unnamed, all at home. Mr. Rupe is a mem-
ber of tlte M. W. A., at Melrose, and his wife is a
member of the Methodist church. He is a Democrat
in politics and is intelligent in the questions of the
day. Mr. Rupe does a general farming busim
the cereals and stock and is prosperous. He is an ad-
vocate of good schools and a progressive and good
citizen.
Mr. Rupe's maternal grandmother was captured by
the Indians and held a prisoner until she made her
escape.
JAMES M. TAPER. Any compilation that has to
ilo with the pioneers of Nez Perces county and adja-
cent country cannot fail to make mention of the genial
and affable gentleman whose name appears above,
since he is one of the earliest settlers ; his father was
one of the stanch men who came across the plains with
ox teams and opened the west for the abode of man.
It will be interesting to note the details of this ca-
reer and we will briefly outline them. James M. Taber
was born in Sullivan county, Missouri, on April 6, i860,
being the son of John and Catherine (Whetstone)
Taber. The father was born in Indiana in 1829 and
died in Washington in 1871. The mother was born in
Illinois in 1838 and lives at Latah county. In 1864
the family crossed the plains with ox teams and the
father bought land on the Touchet river, near Walla
Walla. He went to work improving the property and
was one of the enterprising men there until his death.
Our subject and his brother continued to handle the
farm until 1878, and then they sold out and the family
went to the Potlatch country. Mrs. Taber had mar-
ried E. Fix in the meantime. She was the first white
woman in the Potlatch country and they have labored
faithfully in the upbuilding of the country. James M.
took land and farmed there until 1892, doing well.
Then he sold out and rented land on the Nez Perces
reservation. He continued there until 1896, then re-
moved to Lewiston for a year to educate his children.
He returned to the reservation and engaged as engi-
neer at Mill No. 1 : he passed the civil service examina-
tion and could have remained indefinitely. He deter-
mined, however, to purchase a mill for himself and ac-
cordingly bought his present property, three miles
southwest from Kippen. He has operated this mill for
four years and does well. He is a good sawmill man
and lias a fine plant.
On May 21, 1882, in Nez Perces county. Mr. Taber
married Miss Addie, daughter of Perry and Nancy
( Sumpter) Thomas. The" father was a freighter and
packer in Oregon, being an early pioneer. He came
first to Washington and Idaho in 1852. He and his
wife were born in Missouri. Mrs. Taber was born in
Walla Walla countv. Washington, in 1866, and has
one brother and one 'sister, Thomas T. and Dora Taber.
Mr. Taber has two brothers, Lewis C, Samuel S., and
Lill'ie Hall and Ira Fix, a half-brother and sister. Mr.
and Mrs. Taber have the following named children:
Lucy M. Bailey, of Nez Perces county: John, Clarence.
Lester. Dorcas, and Samuel, at home. Mr. Taber is
a member of the M. W. A. and he and his wife are
members of the Methodist church. Mr. Taber has
378
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
been justice of the peace; is a Republican in politics
and always labors for good schools. He is a substantial
man and 'stands well in the community.
OSCAR NELSON. Although Mr. Nelson has
had plenty of opportunities to secure land in other
places, still after a long travel over the country in va-
rious portions, he has' never found any place that is
quite equal to the reservation portion of Nez Perces
county. He owns a valuable farm about nine miles
southeast from Peck, which he secured from the wilds
by homestead right and has improved in a fine manner,
thus manifesting not only his industry but wisdom and
skill also. Oscar Nelson was born in the southern part
of Sweden, on July 21, 1874, being the son of Peter
and Kate Nelson. The father was a jeweler and
a musician. This son was reared on the farm and in
town, securing a good education. In 1891, he started
for himself, and at once embarked for America. He
had inherited his father's talent for music and at that
youthful period had mastered seven instruments. His
best instruments are the fife, violin and accordion.
When he landed in New York, he had only one five
cent piece. The passengers who had been enter-
tained by his music on the voyage made up a purse
and so he started out for the future. Coming to Fargo,
North Dakota, he at once found a position where he
could earn his board and tuition by his instruments
and so went industriously at it, gaining also a good
knowledge of the English. In 1892 he was in La-
grande, Oregon, then cut wood in the Palouse and so
traveled around and sought land. Finally he came to
the reservation in March, 1896, having a pack horse.
He footed it over the county and finally selected the
homestead where he is now dwelling. He has im-
proved it in good shape, has a fine spring and his farm
produces abundance of grain and general crops. Mr.
Nelson had the first contract of carrying the mail from
Peck to Steele. This was before the road was graded
up the hill or bridges put across the creeks. It was
an arduous undertaking and some times he was obliged
to pack on his own back eighty pounds up the hill.
These were trying times, but Mr. Nelson stood the
test and to-day he has one of the most valuable pieces
of land on the reservation, owes no debts, and is en-
joying the rewards of his worthy labor. During the
closing of 1002 and the beginning of 1903, Mr. Nelson
is contemplating a trip to Sweden to visit his aged
mother and doubtless much joy will be his to renew
old acquaintances and live over again the happy days
of youth. He is highly esteemed by all in this com-
munity and has hosts of warm friends who wish him
well. '
RENNY T. BOFFERDING. It is our pleasure
to now have the privilege to write concerning the esti-
mable gentleman whose name initiates this paragraph
and who has wrought with a strong hand and enter-
prising wavs in the development of the reservation
country and who now has a fine farm, two and one-
half miles south from Melrose.
Rennv J. Bofferding was born in Minneapolis. Min-
nesota, on November 1, 1864, being the son of John and
Willemena ( Knapper ) Bofferding. ^ The father was
a carpenter, born in Luxemburg. Germany, came to
America in 1856 and died in 1869. He was a soldi :r
in ( Germany, and was married and had one child before
coming to the United States. His wife was also born
in Germany and is still living. When Renny was one
year old. his parents went to Wisconsin and there his
father died when this son was five years of age. The
older children bore the expenses of the family until
all were able to go for themselves. In 1881 our sub-
ject went to Iowa and Nebraska and engaged in rail-
roading. The next year he migrated to Idaho and
continued railroading on the O. R. & N., with head-
quarters in Boise. Then he mined in eastern Oregon,
doing welt Then he followed saw milling until 1896,
the date when he settled on his present place. His farm
is well improved and has an orchard of three acres.
while he devotes himself to general farming and raising
hogs and horses.
Mr. Bofferding has the following brothers and sis-
ters : Anna Dell. Emuel, Louise Weigle, Lucy, and
Terese, all in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Mr. Bofferding
was reared in the Catholic faith. In the fall of 1902
he received the nomination for county commissioner on
the Socialistic ticket. He is an enthusiastic member
of that party and active in promulgating the princi-
ples which he believes applicable to the questions of
the day. Mr. P.offerding has never seen fit to retire
from the pleasant and quiet life of the bachelor and is
a man who receives the respect and esteem of al! who
know him.
FREDERICK M. MINERT. As a substan-
tial and loyal citizen, an upright and intelligent man,
a successful operator in the sawmill business and a
good farmer and stockman, the subject of this ar-
ticle is deserving of representation in the history of
his county and we accord him such with pleasure.
F. M. Minert was born in Montgomery county,
Iowa, on January 29, 1862, being the son of James
ami Nancy J. ( McClure) Minert. The father was
born in Vermillion, Indiana, in 1830 and died in 1898.
He was a pioneer to Wisconsin in 1837 and to Iowa in
1855. The mother was born in Johnson county. In-
diana, in 1840. Her father, Thomas McClure. was
born in Kentucky and her mother. Mary A. Wag-
goner, was born in Virginia in 1820 and died in Spo-
kane, October 3, 1902. Our subject grew to man-
hood in Iowa, also gaining there his educational
training. When he was twenty-five, he determined
to see the west and accordingly he came to Nebraska,
the Dakotas, Wyoming, Montana, working in all
these places and finally, in 1890, he came to Latah
county and settled. He went into the timber indus-
try and soon acquired skill and mastered the saw-
milling industry. In the spring of 1896 he came to
the Nez Perces country and took his present place,
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
379
three miles southwest from Kippen. He bought an
interest in the mill now owned by him and Mr. Taber,
mention of whom is made in this volume. Since that
time he has given his attention to the improving of
his estate and operating the mill. He assisted in
erecting the first mill put up by white men on the
reservation.
On September 3, 1899, Mr. Minert married Miss
Brunettie, daughter of Selby H. and Margaret
(Thompson) Kreisher, natives of Ohio and Indiana,
respectively, and pioneers of Indiana. Mrs. Minert
was born in Clinton county, Indiana, on July 3, 1875,
and has the following brothers and sisters: Lydia M.,
Zeningles, William A.. Minnie M., deceased. George,
Rosa M., Annie E., Selby D., Zelma L., and Louie,
Mr. Minert has brothers and sisters named as fol-
lows: Henry T.. deceased. Anna E., Martha and Mary,
twins, Louie, deceased, Hattie, deceased, Horace,
twin to Hattie, Edward. Mr. and Mrs. Minert are
members of the Methodist church. He is a Repub-
lican. Mr. Minert's uncles, Virgil and Miner Mc-
Clure and John and William Minert fought for their
country in the Civil war. Mrs. Minert's father was
also in the Civil war. Mr. Minert is an advocate of
thorough and extended educational facilities and has
been on the school board since the organization of the
district, being a moving spirit in the organization.
STAAS SPEKKER. This patriotic citizen and
leading business man was born in Hanover, Germany,
on March 4, 1841. being the son of Peter and Annie
(Dresman) Spekker. The father was a farmer, born
in Bingusta, Germany, in 1800, and died in 1876, hav-
ing been a prominent man and the incumbent of a
number of public offices of honor. The mother was
born at Eppingavcht, Germany, in 1810 ; her father
was an officer in Germany and died in 1852. Our sub-
ject was educated in his native country and also learned
the English language there, attending the agricultural
college. He had practical experience on a farm and
at the time of his majority he assumed charge of a
nobleman's estate, which occupied him until the time
of the retirement of the nobility and then he deter-
mined to come to free America. This journey was
taken at the close of the Franco-Prussian war, in 1871.
He landed in Ackley, Iowa and was employed for some
time on a farm and then came to Linn county, Oregon,
Laking charge of Judge Geary's farm, where he re-
mained eight years. Prosperity attended his industry
and thrift and then came the black rust which de-
stroyed his crops. This led him to eastern Oregon,
where he established a country hotel and stage on
Butter creek. After two years of prosperity he came
to Uniontown in Washington, taking up a homestead,
which he sold in r886 for four thousand dollars. Then
he came to Nez Perces county and bought his pres-
ent estate of two hundred and eighty acres, three and
one-half miles north from Leland.
While in Iowa, in 187 1, occurred the marriage of
Mr. Spekker and Miss Mary, daughter of Gottlieb and
Henriette (Jacobs) Latzsch, who were natives of
Saxony, the father being a contractor. Mrs. Spekker was
born in Pennsylvania in 1852. Mr. Spekker has brothers
and sisters as follows: Temmens, Amos. Anna. Heans-
man, and Jda Mansholt. To Mr. and Mrs. Spekker
have been born the following children : Edwin, twenty-
eight years of age and well educated, now acting as
deputy county assessor ; Peter, at home, road supervi-
sor and well educated, now acting as member of school
board ; Cla\\ at home ; Amos, in Colorado ; Arthur, six-
teen and at home ; Manon, fourteen and at home : Ida.
twelve, at home: Llara, married to Hogo Valdman, a
merchant in Lewiston : Minnie, Emma, and Clarence,
at home. Mr. Spekker was elected county assessor
for 1899 and 1900 on the Republican ticket and then
refused to take office any more. He was an active
worker in his party and a champion of good govern-
ment and good schools. He was a member of the .Ma-
sons in Pendleton until his death, which occurred No-
vember 6, 1902, of paralysis. The farm now comprises
about four hundred acres, all told, including fine build-
ings, orchards and so forth. Mr. Spekker's brother
Amos was in the Franco-Prussian war and his health
was broken. Also two nephews fought in that war.
WALTER E. YAGER. The success achieved
by this stirring young man is evidence of his worth
and ability in the agricultural lines, while his excel-
lence in the sawmilling business is equally as signal.
having made himself an expert sawyer in following it
for a number of years.
Walter E. Yager was born in Hancock county, Illi-
nois, on November 2, 1870, being the son of Cornelius
J. and Elizabeth ( Pullian ) Yager. The father was a
farmer, born in 1844, in Illinois, and served under
General Sigel in the cavalry of the Civil war. His wife
was born in Illinois and did in 1875. Her parents were
Kentuckians and pioneers in Illinois. Walter remained
in Illinois, where he gained his education, until fifteen,
when he came to Union county, Oregon, his father
having come in 1882. He at oiice took up sawmilling
and became expert as a sawyer. He followed this
steadily until the reservation opened and in 1896 he
selected a quarter section near Melrose, and proved
up on it on December 7, 1901, having lived steadily
there during the intervening time.
On December 31, 1901, Mr. Yager married Miss
Lillian, daughter of Jacob and Lucy ( Palmer) Goble,
the wedding occurring at Lewiston. Mr. Goble was a
wagonmaker, born in Pennsylvania in 1822. He settled
in Kansas in 1857, and his daughter. Xaoma, was the
first white child born in Marysville, Kansas. In 1862
they came to Walla Walla and took land, and Mr. Goble
and his wife are still living. Mrs. Goble was born in
New York in 1830. Mrs. Yager was born in Lehigh.
Utah, in 1872 and was educated in Marshall county,
Kansas. She has the following sisters and brothers :
William, in Kansas: Ophelia, in Oregon; Sarah, in
Oklahoma : Don. in Lewiston ; Anna, in Mount Idaho.
Mr. Yager has two half sisters and one half brother.
3So
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
On January 14. 1898, .Airs. Yager took a claim four
miles northwest from Culdesac, where they now live.
Mr. Yager handles both this and his own claim. He
does a general farming business and raises stock also.
He is thrifty, industrious and capable, and is one of
the men who has done much for the general upbuild-
ing and progress of the country.
ALEXIS PICART. Like many of the well-to-do
inhabitants of the reservation portion of Xez Perces
county, our subject came here with very limited cap-
ital and the fine possessions that are now his have been
gained by his skill in manipulating the resources of
the county and his industry in prosecuting the enter-
prises of farming and stock raising. His farm is eight
miles southeast from Peck, is good land and produces
under his wise husbandry bounteous returns. Com-
fortable and commodious buildings are a part of the
improvements and the farm has an air of thrift and
contentment that betoken the personality of the pro-
prietor.
Alexis Picart was born in Belgium, on April 21,
1852, and there remained with his parents on the farm,
attending school until he was twenty, when he en-
listed, in the regular army and served as corporal one
year and as sergeant for two years, being personally
acquainted in this time with every town of impor-
tance in Belgium. Following his military career. Air.
Picart returned to the native place and on Alarch y.
187c;, he married Aliss Adle Thomson, a native of Bel-
gium and a dressmaker. In 1884, they took passage
on the steamer Paris, and went via Bordeaux, France,
to New Orleans, being eighteen days on the ocean.
Thence they made their way to San Antonio, Texas,
and later settled in Seguin. where they remained until
t888. Then a journey was made to Los Angeles,
whence they went to Kern county, California, and in
1890 we find them in San Francisco, following which
they were in numerous places in the northwest coun-
try. In the spring of 1896 Mr. Picart came to his
present place, filed a homestead right and has dwelt
here since. Four children have been born to Mr. Picart
and his faithful wife, A irginia, wife of Charles Hutch-
ins : Mary ; Augusta, born in Texas : August, born in
Kern county, California. The two oldest children were
born in Belgium. Ah\ Picart is a man of excellent judg-
ment and business ability, while his walk manifests in-
tegrity and uprightness, which have commended him
to the good will and esteem of his fellows.
MAJOR J. STEELE. The subject of this article
was one of the first settlers on the Central ridge and
now he is the possessor of one of the finest ranches
in the county. He owns two hundred and forty acres
of well tilled and fertile land, all improved in good
shape with fences, orchard, commodious barns and
out buildings, while the modern ten-room residence is
a structure of beautv and one of the best in the county.
Much credit is due Mr. Steele for the energy and push
manifested in developing the country and he is a lead-
ing citizen to-day. His parents, William AI. and Nancy
(Wallis) Steele, were early pioneers of Missouri and
the father is living in Aloberly now. aged eighty-four.
He has been in the state seventy-two years and for
thirty-four farmed near Aloberly. He was born De-
cember 30, 1819, near Lexington, Kentucky. The
mother of our subject was born in 1822, in the Blue
mountains and came to Howard county, Missouri, with
her parents in 1830. She was married in 1840 and in
1853 they removed to Randolph county, where our
subject was born on January 13, 1856. His mother
died on August 28, 1873. having been the mother of
nine children, five of whom are living. Our subject
grew to be twenty in the native place, having received
a common schooling and then he entered Mount Pleas-
ant College and one year later began teaching. Follow-
ing a period at this, he entered the State Normal School,
taking a two years' course. This was at Kirksville,
Missouri. He followed the calling of the educator for
a number of vears, then took the management of a
wholesale lumber company in Kansas City. On account
of failing health in subsequent years, he was forced to
abandon this labor and in 1892 came west. He bought
the paper afterward known as the Times-Democrat,
which he operated in Moscow for a time and then
sold. Then farming occupied Air. Steele until 1895.
The year previous to this he was nominated by
the fnsionist party as state superintendent of instruc-
tion, but suffered defeat with the rest, although he was
ahead of the ticket. In Alarch, 1896. Air. Steele loca-
ted the present estate, which has been increased by
purchase to two hundred and forty acres.
On April to. 1890. Air. Steele married Aliss Cora
I!., daughter of Josephus and Jennie Lentz, in Rich-
mond, Missouri. Two children were born to this
happy union, but both died in infancy. Air. and Mrs.
Lentz were early pioneers in Ray county, Alissouri.
Mr. Steele has done a commendable labor in upbuilding
and developing this section of the country and he is
marked by a progressive energy and a public spirit that
stamp him a real leader.
WILLI AA1 FORD. In the industrial world. Air.
Ford has gained a good success, having a fine saw
mill one half mile west from Kippen, where he does a
good business. In addition to this he has a quarter
section of fertile land and does a general farming bus-
iness and in connection with his son, who owns a
quarter of land also, raises cattle, having good success
in all these undertakings, because of his thrift, skill
and sagacity.
William Ford was born in Carroll, Penobscot
county. Alaine. on September 28. 1850. being the son
of Charles and Philoma (AIcKinny) Ford. The father.
who was a blacksmith and farmer, was born in Maine in
1810. He was a pioneer in Minnesota and died there
in 1876. The mother was born in Alaine also, in
1815 and in 1889 she passed from this earth. The
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
3»i
family came to Minnesota when William was two years
old. They settled in Minneapolis and the father
wrought at his trade. Three years later they removed
to Anoka, where the father took land and there
wrought at his trade also. Our subject worked with
his father, attended school and by the time of his ma-
jority had mastered in a skillful manner the king of
all trades. Then he went to do for himself and in ad-
dition to working at blacksmithing took up lumbering
and became thoroughly acquainted with this business
throughout. He remained in Minnesota until 1891,
then he came west and sought out a place. He located
near Tyler, in Washington, and his family came to
him. Three years were spent there and when the Nez
Perces reservation opened up he came hither and took
up his present farm as a homestead. Between the time
1 if his residence at Tyler and his coming to Xez Perces
county he had spent two years near Colfax.
On July 27, 187b, Mr. Ford married Miss Eliz-
abeth J., daughter of Thomas and Angeline ( Caroth-
ers) Hull. The father, a farmer, was born in Ohio
in 1834. The mother was born in Indiana, in 1840.
and died in October, 1891. Mrs. Ford was born
in Richland county, Wisconsin, in October, 1858.
Her parents were pioneers to that county and
her grandfather Carothers was one of the first settlers
in Wisconsin. Mrs. Ford has the following named
brothers and sisters: John R., in Minnesota; James
E., in Washington: Lillie. now Mrs. Z. M. Powell;
Delia Gilispie ; Gertrude ; Eugene. Mr. Ford has broth-
er- and sisters as follows: Philoma Varney, at Co-
quille. ( iregon ; Ruth Demorest, in Kippen ; Charles, at
Grand Junction. Colorado, and was wounded in the
Civil war, where he served ; Frank, in Minnesota. To
Mr. and Mrs. Ford there have been born five children,
Bernard M.. living adjoining his father's farm and in-
terested in the mill business with his father ; Effie, Clair
H. Hugh and Cecil, all at home. Mr. Ford is a Re-
publican and takes a great interest in having good gov-
ernment and good schools. Mrs. Ford's father was a
soldier in the Civil war. being in the Eleventh Wis-
consin.
JOHN W. HELT. Two miles south from Melrose
is the home place of Mr. Helt. It consists of a fine
quarter of land that he secured from the government
by his homestead right and which he has transformed
from the wilderness of nature to a fertile and productive
farm, supplied with comfortable buildings and a good
orchard. Mr. Helt is personally a man of good
qualities, industrious and progressive. He was born in
Dubuque, Iowa, on July 2, 1869, being the son of John
and Margaret ( Cahill ) Helt. The father was a cooper,
born in Germain- and came to the United States in an
early day. The mother died when John was four
years old. He then went to live with John J. Mc-
Xamara, in Jones county. Iowa. This man was
a brother to the well known Bill McNamara,
who built one of the finest blocks in Butte,
Montana. Mr. Helt was one of the family and re-
ceived equally good treatment from his foster parents
as did their own children and he remained contented
with them until he was twenty-one. Then he began
doing for himself and in 1896 he made his way to the
reservation and took his present place. He has devoted
himself to its culture and improvement and the result is
that he is prosperous.
On January 1, 1896, in Sioux City. Iowa, Mr. Helt
married Miss Georgianna, daughter of George andCelia
( Brown ) Pitts. Air. Pitts was born in Otisco. New
York, in 1838 and died in 1888. He was a soldier,
serving in Company F, First Michigan of Engineers
and Mechanics, where he enlisted under Sherman and
went to the sea. Captain Bilton and Colonel Evans
were his immediate commanders. His wife was born
in Cortland county, New York, her folks being pioneers
from Massachusetts. Mrs. Helt was born in Flower-
field, Michigan, in 1876, gained a good education in
the University of Sioux City. Iowa, and taught for a
few years previous to her marriage. She was an only
child. Mrs. Helt has the distinction of carrying the
first mail in the Melrose section, handling a po'nv route
twice a week from Beeman. before there was any Mel-
rose. At first they went twenty-five miles to Juliaetta
for mail. Mr. Helt has the following brothers'and sis-
ters : Edward, Mary E., Fannie, Rosa and Jessie. Two
children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Helt. Marv
EHen and John E. Mr. Helt is a member of the M.
W. A., also of the Masonic order. He is a Republican
in politics, has been director in the school matters and
is zealous in his endeavors for good schools. He is a
man of stanch character and stands for the develop-
ment and progress of the country.
THOMAS J. BURNS. This prominent citizen of
Nez Perces county is the vice president of the Pioneer's
Association and is one of the substantial and prosper-
on farmers and stockmen three and one-half miles
south from Kippen, in this county. When the great
excitement of the gold discovery in California spread
like wild fire over the land in the memorable year of
forty-nine, our subject was an infant, having been
born on ^lay 6 of that year, being the son of Francis
and Mary (Clarcey) Burns, natives of Ireland, the fa-
ther being born in 1815 and dying in 1899. The mother
was taken from this life in 1853. Thomas J. was born in
Livingston county, New York, and in 1852 the parents
came to Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, being pio-
neers there. Our subject received his education there
and labored with his father until he was twenty-four,
at which time he got married and started for himself.
He farmed for six years, then came to the west, taking
a position as car foreman for the O., R. & X. He
wrought at The Dalles. Tekoa, Albino, and Riparia.
being with this company for seventeen years. Upon
the opening of the Nez Perces reservation, he came and
secured the place where he now lives. It is a fine piece
of land and contains one hundred and twenty acres,
is well tilled and improved in a becoming manner. Mr.
Burns raises stock, cattle, hogs and horses, and does
a general farming business.
332
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
< >n September 23. 1S73. Mr. Burns married Miss
Annie, daughter of Lewis and Alary (Ader) Fillers,
natives of Belgium and Germany, respectively. Mrs.
Burns was born in Pnnsylvania, in 1855, and has five
sisters and two brothers. Mr. Burns has one brother,
John, living at Pomeroy, Washington. To this worthy
couple there have been born eight children, named as
follows: William, Frank. Rosella, Emma. Charles,
Mark, Monica and John, all at home. Mr. Burns and
his family affiliate with the Catholic church. In po-
litical matters, he holds with the Democrats and takes
a deep interest in politics, and is frequently a potent
factor in the conventions. Mr. Burns always labors
for good schools and is a director in his district.
THOMAS B. BEALL. No compilation which en-
deavors to outline the careers of the pioneers would be
complete were there omission of the gentleman whose
name heads this article : therefore we accord him rep-
resentation in this place as one of the real builders of
the west, being especially conversant with its history,
and a participant in the leading actions that form the
chief items of its history. Personally. Mr. Beall is a
man of fine intellectual powers, well educated, con-
versant with the affairs of the day and dominated by
integrity and principles of uprightness, being highly
esteemed by all and his name deserves to be among the
very leaders of this northwestern country.
Thomas B. Beall was burn in Washington, D. C,
on December 28, 1834, being the son of Colonel Benja-
min L. and Elizabeth (Taylor) Beall. His father was
a commander in the United States army, and was
born in Washington. D. C, in 1802. He was a grad-
uate of the military academy at West Point, acted as
lieutenant in the Florida war and a major in the Mex-
ican war. During the Civil war he acted as mustering
officer until his death in September, 1863. The mother
was born in Alexandria, Virginia, in 1802 and died De-
cember 25. 1899, being the daughter of George Taylor,
a merchant in Alexandria. Our subject remained with
his parents until he was nineteen years of age and was
finely educated in William Jewell's College in Mis-
souri, at the Chapel Hill College 111 Lafayette county,
Missouri, at the State University of Missouri, and at
the University of the state of Illinois. His father was
commander at Fort Leavenworth for many years, be-
ing there from 1846 to 1854. He built Fort Tejon, in
Los Angeles county, California, and commanded at
Vancouver in the department of the Columbia. Our
subject came to California in 1854 and was in the
employ of the goernment, being but nineteen. He built
Lapwai under A. J. Cain, agent, in i860, and re-
mained with the government until 1861. He owned a
ferry at the mouth of the Potlatch and on the Clear-
water for years. He mined in British Columbia and
in Montana and took up his present place in 1900. His
brothers and sisters are Lloyd, in the regular army for
years; George, born at St. Louis, and in the medical
department of the army: Alexander, deceased; Alfred,
county surveyor of Nez Perces county, also civil engi-
neer on X. P. and U. P. railroads for years, now dead;
Virginia, deceased ; Elizabeth, wife of Theodrick
1 'orter. a brother of Admiral David Porter, but she
is now dead; Fanny, died at Port Point. Mr. Beall
is a Democrat and has been justice of the peace for
years and is active in politics. He is affiliated with the
K. of P. in Dayton, Washington.
It is of great interest that Mr. Beall was in the
famous battle of Steptoe Butte and a few reminiscences
are quite in place. The government was sending a
party to locate a north parallel at that time and Colonel
Steptoe was ordered to look out a site for a fort near
the line. The expedition left Walla Walla on .May 3.
1858, crossed the Snake river and got to about where
the town of Spangle is now located and the Indians
called them to halt. Colonel Steptoe seeing the odds
so great against him, determined to return to Walla
Walla, and they had gotten as far back as the vicinity
of Rosalia, when Chief Saltese came for a conference
and Father Joset was interpreter for the Indians. A
Nez Perce Indian struck Saltese with a club in this
interview and it ceased. The Indians fired on the de-
tachment and as our subject was in charge of the pack
train and in a gulch, the work of getting away was
difficult. But he succeeded with some others in getting
with Chief Timothy of the Nez Perces, and so es-
caped. Air. Beall declares that Saltese was not of as
good intentions as is supposed, as he was seen to fire
and afterwards was found with Lieutenant Gaston's
clothes on. Chief Timothy, however, who was guide
to the whites, he believes to have been actuated by gen-
uine friendship.
The paternal grandfather of our subject. Colonel
Lloyd Beall, was in command of Fort McHenry, in the
war of 1812 when the British fired on the fort. It was
this incident that inspired Francis S. Key to write the
famous Star Spangled Banner.
ANDREW SETLOW. Among the industrious
and thrifty men who are laboring to develop the reser-
vation country we are constrained to mention the sub-
ject of this article. Mr. Setlow is a man of good habits
and principles, has shown skill and wisdom in his
labors and has won the esteem of his fellows. His
farm is located five miles southeast from Peck, con-
sists of a quarter section, provided with good build-
ings, a seven room residence and a good orchard. He
and his wife are members of the Seventh-day Adventist
church and he is a stanch supporter of his faith.
Andrew Setlow was born in the central part of
Sweden, on February 24, 1856. being the son of Erick
and Anna I'.. Setlow, also natives of that country. He
was educated there, learned the carpenter trade, and
also received training in the regular army of Sweden.
In 1SS1 In- determined to try the United States and
soon was in New York, whence he went to Pepin coun-
ty. Wisconsin, and then to St. Paul. Minneapolis and
Brainard, Minnesota, where he labored for two years
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
38.3
and then returned to Sweden with the intention of set-
tling there. But two years in this country spoiled life
there and so he returned to Minnesota and wrought at
his trade in different places. In the fall of 1886, at
St. Paul, he married Miss Bertha Bolander, a native of
Sweden, but an immigrant to the United States in 1882.
To this happy union there have been born five children,
Mabel R., Albert B., Nellie G., John C. and Charles
R. In 1891 Mr. Setlow came with his family to Mos-
cow and there followed his trade and built him a home.
In [894 lie went to Boulder creek and four years later
he came to his present place, which he purchased.
Since that time Air. Setlow has been known as one of
the substantial men and public minded citizens of this
section ami he stands well todav.
JOHN M. McGEE is an enterprising and thrifty-
farmer and stockman in the vicinity of Steele, in Nez
Perces county. He selected a fine piece of land in
1896 and since that time has bestowed his labors in
a commendable manner, making it now one of the
best farms of the section. He was one of the real
pioneers in this region, his wife being the first white
woman on Central ridge for a number of months. Mr.
McGee makes a specialty of good stock, cattle, hogs
and horses and feeds all his farm products to them.
Mr. McGee was born in Taney county, Missouri,
on January 18, 1867, being the son of John ( ). and
Samantha (Friend) McGee. The father was a far-
mer, born in Tennessee in 1837, and now lives in Ok-
lahoma. He was a soldier in the Union armv for
four vears and received a wound at the battle of
Pea Ridge. The mother was born in Missouri and
is still living. The family came to Iowa when John
M. was small, and thence they went to Nodaway
county, Missouri. There the subject of this article
was educated and remained until thirteen. The fam-
ily then went to Cloud county. Ransas, where the
father bought land. When fifteen John M. started on
life's pilgrimage for himself. First he went to Solo-
mon City and worked at various callings and next we
see him in Beatrice, Nebraska, railroading. From
this he went on a trip through western Kansas and
Nebraska and into Colorado. Then he returned to
Nodaway county. After a visit he came to Waits-
burg, in Washington, also staying in Walla Walla.
He railroaded on the Hunt system, then went to the
sound with an outfit of mules for Mr. Hunt. He came
back to Huntsville, got married and settled down to
farming and one year later removed to the Potlatch
country. He remained there until February, 1896,
when he came to his present place.
At Dayton. Washington, in 1891, Mr. McGee-
m trried Miss Mattie, daughter of Jackson and Lu-
anda ( Walters) McKay. The parents are farmers at
Huntsville and are both living. Mrs. McGee was born
in western Kansas, in 1870 and has one brother and
ne -i>ter, Ella B. Pearson, in Cottonwood, this coun-
ty; Allie William. Air. McGee has the following
named brothers and sisters, Martin, in ( )klahoma ;
Anna Green, also in Oklahoma ; James, in Nez Per-
ces county ; Reason, Monroe, May, all three in
Oklahoma. Mr. and Mrs McGee have three
children: Maria, deceased; Thelma, Ada Myers,
the last one is an adopted child. Mr. McGee is an ac-
tive Republican and often is committee man and holds
other influential positions. He is general manager and
stockholder of the Cooperative Telephone Company;
being the prime mover in barb wire telephoning in
this county. Mr. McGee has donated much for good
roads and schools, being an advocate for these things.
He has been road overseer and built the Peck grade
on Central Ridge.
ALBERT MUSTOE is an enterprising young
farmer and carpenter dwelling about two miles north-
east from Chesley, having taken his land from the
wildness of nature and improved it so that it is a pleas-
ant and valuable place.
Albert Mustoe was born in Adair count}-. Missouri,
on Match 28, 1875. being the son of Henry and Martha
(Heuett) Mustoe. mention of whom is made in an-
other portion of this work. He grew to manhood in
his native county and there received his education. In
1891 the father came to Tekoa, Washington, on ac-
count of his health, and the next year our subject and
his mother came also. Albert remained in that section
of the country until the spring of 1896, when he came
and took as homestead the eighty acres where he now
lives. He erected a house in the tall and then worked
in various places and when he had gained a sufficient
start, came and dwelt steadily on the farm, which he
has improved in good shape. He has a fine orchard,
raises cattle and also breeds excellent Poland China
hogs. He is successful in this and has some good spec-
imens.
On October 30, 1895. in Tekoa, Washington, Mr.
Mustoe married -Miss Anona, daughter of Alfred and
Elizabeth Walker. The father, a carpenter, born in
Illinois in 1852, was a pioneer in the vicinity of To-
peka, Kansas, then migrated to California, and in 1SS2
he settled in the Palouse country. His wife was born
in Sanford, ( Intano. Mrs. Mustoe was born in Shaw-
nee county. Kansas, on November 7, 187(1, anc' was
well educated. She has two brothers and one sister.
Fountain, Minnettie Thompson, and Jesse. Mr. Mus-
toe has one brother and two sisters, Loretta Page, Dora
Wilson and William, all in this county. Ruth M.. a
bright girl, born on May 24, 1897, is the fruit of the
liapp} marriage of our subject. Politically Air. Alustoe
is a Democrat and is actively interested in the welfare
if the community and in questions of general import.
Airs. Murine has been clerk of election for a number
MICHAEL K< >UNI. To this industrious and
wise farmer have come the emoluments of- honest toil
and good management in financial affairs and he is
one of the most prosperous men of the section where
he resides. Air. Kouni has an excellent farm, verv
384
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
fertile land and well tilled. It lies two miles south-
east from Peck and was taken by him as a homestead.
Michael Kouni was born in Switzerland, on Feb-
ruary 5. 1863, opening his eyes in the presence of
everlasting snows of the Alps and for three years he
breathed the pure air of free Switzerland. In 1866
his parents, Mathias and Mariah Kouni, came to
Peoria, Illinois, and there the father wrought in the
coal mines until 1869, when they all went to Marshall
county, Kansas, and there the father took a homestead
where he dwells at the present time. The mother died
in 1892. Our subject spent the years of his child-
hood, gaining his education from the common schools
and learning the ways of excellent farming from an
industrious and thrifty father. In 1885 Michael
stepped forth into the world for himself and journeyed
to Cheyenne, Wyoming, where he dealt in stock, buy-
ing and sniping horses to the east. In 1887 he made
his way to Moscow and engaged in the nursery busi-
ness, operating the Mix nursery until 1891. Then a
move was made to Kendrick and Mr. Kouni operated
a nursery for himself until 1897. That was the year
when he came to the reservation and bought the re-
linquishment of the place he now owns and here he
has bestowed his labors since that time. He has the
farm well under cultivation, owns a commodious
barn, a good house and in addition to the general
products of the farm Mr. Kouni raises hogs and hors-
es and is operating a nursery. He is a thrifty and in-
dustrious man, well esteemed by his neighbors and a
good citizen.
On December 25, 1902, Mr. Kouni was married
to Miss Nancy Bell Goalder, daughter of Ward and
Mary (Wilcox) Goalder, natives of Kentucky and
now residents of Adams county, Washington. Mr.
Goalder lives near Lind. Mrs. Goalder died .March
28, 1892. Mrs. Kouni has the following named broth-
ers and sisters: Mrs. Mary Ann Grav, Benj. W.
Goalder, M. P., and Edw. G.
SWEX I. SWENSON. All honor is given to
those who have done the herculean task of opening
the wild countries for settlement. Among the
worthy pioneers of the reservation portion of Nez
Perces county we are constrained to mention the
gentleman whose name is at the head of this article.
He came here in 1896 and took a homestead to which
he could not come with a wagon. The wife and chil-
dren had to walk up the lull, which is two thousand
feet above the Clearwater, while Mr. Swensen pulled
the cook stove on the front wheels of his wagon. He
built a small log cabin, got the family settled and
then went to work in the harvest fields to get bread.
Mr. Swensen has been a great worker and has a fine
farm, now all under cultivation, except the timber lot,
while good buildings and improvements, as fences,
orchard and all implements for use, testify strongly
his industry and great excellence in labors.
Swen I. Swensnn was born in central Norway, on
August 18, 1863. and his parents, Iver and Ingri
Swenson, were natives of the same place. The fami-
ly came to the United States in June, 1866, and soon
they were settled in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. In 1868
they went to Swift county, Minnesota, and there Swen
grew to manhood, receiving his education, and there
also, on November 21, 1887, he married Olive, daugh-
ter of Helge and Ingeborg Hillerud, natives of Nor-
way, and who lived then in Kandiyohi county, Min-
nesota, where Airs. Swenson was born, on May 21,
1869. In 1890 Mr. Swenson came with his family to
Latah county and there worked for a salary until
February, 1896, the time that he came to his present
place. He was one of the very first settlers on Cen-
tral ridge, and since that time has labored inces-
santly for progress and improvement. Seven chil-
dren have been born to this home: Helmar I., born
June 22, 1888; Stener, born May 31, 1890; Emil and
Julius, twins, born April 8, 1893, and died December
9, 1899, and May 29, 1894, respectively; Simon O.,
born April 28, 1895; Julius, born May 26, 1897; Emil
Joseph, born October 27, 1899. On February 22,
ii)Oi, Air. Swenson was called to mourn the death of
his wife, consumption being the dread disease that
look her away. Mr. Swenson has six brothers and
two sisters, he being the oldest of the family. The
youngest sister, who is also the youngest member of
the family, is now keeping house for Air. Swenson.
Air. Sw enson's parents are now living in Latah
county.
REUBEN ROGERS. Four miles southeast
from Peck, on the Central Ridge wagon road, one
comes to the pleasant home place of Air. Rogers. The
estate consists of a fine quarter section of fertile land,
which was taken by Air. Rogers as a homestead from
the wild country. He has bestowed his labors with
Mich wisdom and industry that it is now one of the
finest farms of the vicinity and a standing evidence
of his thrift and progressiveness. The residence is a
seven-room structure of modern design, while a large
and substantial barn with outbuildings to match and
all fences and so forth needed are other evidences of
the prosperity and emoluments of industry.
Reuben Rogers was born in Allegany county, New-
York, on December 30, 1844, where also his parents,
Orton and Jerutia (Hadsell) Rogers were born in
1815 and 1827, respectively. Reuben's grandfather,
Stephen Rogers, was born in Connecticut, on May
12, 1786, and died in 1888, aged one hundred and two
years, a remarkable length of life. He was a man of
great powers and of considerable prominence in his
place. He fought in the war of 18 12 and was always
a staunch supporter of the government. For sixty-
seven years he dwelt on one farm, then in 1870 sold
it and bought another two miles distant, where he re-
sided until his death. He never would trust himself
to the cars, and on one occasion made a trip from the
old home in New York to Adams county. Wisconsin,
by private conveyance rather than ride on thi -
cars.
Reverting again more particularly to our subject,
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
3»:
we note that he grew to manhood on the farm, re-
ceived his education from the common schools and
on October 13, 1864, he married Miss Mary L.,
daughter of Moses and Martha (Putney) Black, na-
tives also of New York. Mrs. Rogers was born in
Allegany county, on February 15, 1840. Mr. Kogers
enlisted three different times in the war of the Re-
bellion, but was refused each time on account of the
loss of his right index finger. In 1873 he located in
Huron county, Michigan, and in 1879 came to Pawnee
county, Nebraska. In 1882 he removed thence to
Beadle county, South Dakota, whence he came by
train to Butte, Montana, and the remainder of the
journey to his present place he made with team, lo-
cating here in 1896. Five children have been born to
this happy family. Melvin A., married to Lucena Rob-
erson, living near Peck, and having two children,
Edgar E. and Mary A. ; Emma T., wife of Berney
Powell, of Butte, Montana, and they have one child,
Harold L. ; Myrtle J., wife of Oscar D. Holmes, of
Butte, Montana, and they have one child, Keith D. ;
Carrie I. ; Elizabeth, who is teaching school in Peck.
The three oldest daughters have taught much in
Butte. Mr. Rogers is a man of good qualities and
has done a real worthy labor in building up this sec-
tion of the county, while he has maintained an un-
sullied reputation, being of first class standing.
HENRY MUSTOE. The owner of a good farm
with comfortable improvements, a man of industry
and good wisdom in the business enterprises to which
he has devoted himself, of excellent standing among
his neighbors, it will be interesting to append a re-
view of the salient points in the career of this sub-
ject.
Henry Mustoe was born in Barbour county. West
Virginia, in 1838, being the son of William and Nancy
(Cash) Mustoe, natives of Bath county and Rocking-
ham. Virginia, respectively. The father was a suc-
cessful blacksmith. The mother was born in 1818.
When Henry was a boy they came to Edgar county,
Illinois, and four years later removed thence to Scot-
land county, Misouri. There our subject grew to
manhood, gaining a good common school education
from the winter schools and also learning the black-
smith trade. When Henry was twenty-two he
started farming for himself and in 1868 went to Adair
county, Missouri, and there he was one of the sub-
stantial and successful farmers until 189 1. Then
he determined to see the west, and accordingly came
to Tekoa, Washington, and soon to Farmington, in
which places he farmed until the spring of 1896. In
that year he came to the opened reservation and se-
cured his present place, three miles east and one mile
north from Chesley. Improving the place, doing a
general farming business, am! raising horses and cat-
tle, have occupied .Mr. Mustoe since his settlement
here and he has achieved a good success.
In Scotland county, Missouri, on November 22,
i860, Mr. Mustoe married Miss Martha, daughter of
Hiram and Sarah ( Wilson) Heuett. Mr. Heuett
was born in Randolph county, Virginia, and was a
pioneer to Illinois and also to Scotland county, Mis-
souri. He had the distinction of being a captain in
the Mexican and Civil wars. His wife was born in
his native county from a pioneer family. Mrs. Mus-
toe was born in Barbour county, West Virginia, in
1841, and has five brothers, Edwin W., William H.,
George, Jacob and Benjamin. Mrs. Heuett is still
living, aged eighty-three. Mr. Mustoe has one sis-
ter, Edna J. Yeager. Mr. and Mrs. Mustoe have
four children, Loretta M. Page, Dora Wilson, Will-
iam and Albert, all in Nez Perces county. Our sub-
ject and his faithful wife are devout members of the
Methodist church ; Mr. Mustoe is a zealous supporter
of good churches and schools. He is a Democrat and
is always in his place in the conventions, caucuses and
at the polls. He is a man of good character, a fine
neighbor and is always ready to give a hand to one in
need.
JOHN H. GERTJE is one of the enterprising pi-
oneers who are laboring to bring the country that was
once embraced in the Nez Perces reservation to a
good state of cultivation and make it productive of the
fruits of the field. His place is situated four and one-
half miles west from Ho, and consists of one hundred
and sixty acres of land, well improved, having good
buildings and so forth. Mr. Gertje does a general
farming business and raises stock sufficient to con-
sume the products of his land, which makes it more
profitable. He also finds time from his other duties
to operate a first-class threshing outfit in the fall and
does a good business in this line.
John H. was born in Oldenburg, Germany, on
April 23, 1869, being the son of John and Mate (Kora-
mer) Gertje. The father was a native of Germany,
came to the United States in 1872 and now lives in
Nez Perces county. He was born in 1836. The
mother was born in Germany in 1836 and is still living.
Our subject came with his parents to this land in
1872, being three years of age. They stopped a time
in New York and two years later we find them in
Waseca county, Minnesota, where the father bought
land and farmed. There John H. received his edu-
cation and in 1883 the family went thence to Rob-
erts county, Dakota, where the father took a pre-
emption, but at the end of two years he sold it and
came to the Potlatch country, where he still lives. Our
subject went to carpentering when he became of age,
and then farmed. He did well until sickness came
into his family and then he was forced to meet mis-
fortune and hardship. He removed to Asotin county,
Washington, and raised fruit for two years and when
the reservation opened he took his present place as
described above.
On December 31. 1891, Mr. Gertje married Miss
Minnie, daughter of Andrew and Frances Jackson.
Mr. Tackson was a captain in the Civil war. To Mr.
and Airs. Gertje one child was born. Ruby Fay. On
November 12, 1807. Mrs. Gertje was called away by
386
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
••death. On July 22, 1901. Mr. Gertje married a sec-
ond time, Miss Josephine, a daughter of John P.
Voitte, then becoming his bride. Air. Voitte is a bar-
ber, in Davenport, "Washington. Mrs. Gertje was
born in Omaha, Nebraska, on September 16, 1879,
and she has three sisters, Martha, Jennie, and Sadie,
deceased. Mr. Gertje has four brothers and two sis-
ters : George, Herman, Henry, Mary Tiede, Sophia and
Edwin. Mr. Gertje is an active Republican, always la-
boring for the principles of his party and good schools,
and he is frequently found in the conventions.
BENON] PALMER. Since the opening of the
Nez Perces reservation the subject of this sketch has
been a resident of this county and is one of the pro-
moters of industrial labor, while also he does a general
farming business. He has a fine saw-mill on his
place two and one-half miles southeast from Win-
chester.
Mr. Palmer was born in Sauk county, Wisconsin,
on December 22, 1856, being the son of Benoni F. and
Eliza J. (Denslow'J Palmer. The father was a car-
penter, born in Cincinnatti, Ohio, in 1822 and died
in 1S98. He was a pioneer in Wisconsin. The mother
was born in Ohio in 1839, and died in 1897. Our sub-
ject remained at home, learning the carpenter trade
and working with his father until of age. Also dur-
ing this time he received his education from the schools
of his home place. Then he started in life for him-
self. He went to North Dakota on the Northern Pa-
cific Railroad, built a warehouse and did a contracting
lousiness. Returning to Cincinnati, he labored for
seven years in contracting business. He then came
west to Spokane, Washington, went prospecting for
several years, meeting with varying success and then
came to Latah county and wrought at his trade. Four
years were spent there and then he went to Tacoma
and labored at ship building for four years. It was
1897 when Air. Palmer came to Nez Perces county
and took his present place, where he erected a tine
saw mill and does a good business.
In 1887 Mr. Palmer married Aliss Sarah G.,
daughter of Henry Marston. a native of Wisconsin.
Airs. Palmer was born in Sauk county, Wisconsin,
in 187.1. and her marriage occurred in Colfax. Wash-
ington. She has no brothers nor sisters. Air. I 'ai-
mer has the following named brothers and sisters:
Helen Sprague, Elenor Townsend, Franklin, ( >rson,
Rose, Grant and Lillie. Two children have been born
to Air. and Airs. Palmer. Pearl and Claud. Air. rai-
nier is an active Republican and is often at the con-
vention, where he is an influential factor. Airs. Pal-
mer's father was in the Civil war and Air. Palmer had
a number of uncles in the same struggle.
THOAIAS F. REYNOLD. Perhaps no man in
the county of Nez Perces has had a wider experience
in the northwest than the subject of this article who
has traveled in many capacities and has met the inci-
dents of the frontier in every shape, being a man of
great courage and stability and having conducted
himself in this long time in a worthy and commenda-
ble manner, ever manifesting courage, sagacity, en-
durance and ability, which has been dominated with
sound principles.
Air. Reynold was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania,
on Alay 10, 1829, being the son of Edwards and Clid-
na (Michaels) Reynold. The father was a native of
Ireland, born in 1801. and died in Iowa in 1840.
while the mother was born in France in 1809, and
her father was a German. She died in 1871. Air.
Reynold, senior, was a farmer and distiller. The par-
ents came to America and setled in Pennsylvania and
when our subject was six years of age came to Cin-
cinnati. Another move was made to Dayton, and then
to Iowa, in which last place Thomas F. was educated.
The father bought land and farmed in Iowa and in
1852 came with his family to Portland, where he
worked at painting and boating. Our subject was one
of a party that accompanied George B. McClellan
to meet the first governor of Washington, I. I. Stev-
ens, and after that he was in the employ of the gov-
ernment for a number of years, being packmaster on
the expedition that surveyed the line between British
Columbia and the L'nited States. After one year in
this work, he returned to Washington. In 1866 he
went to farming in Columbia county, Washington, and
in 1884 came to Lewiston. He operated a ferry boat
there until 1892, when he came to his present home,
five miles south from Juliaetta. taking the land from
the Nez Perces reservation which was then opened.
Mr. Reynold married a Nez Perces woman. Polly,
in 1863, in Lewiston. His brothers and sisters are
named as follows : Alary Ann. in Ottumwa, Iowa ;
Clidna, there also ; Joseph, at Oskaloosa, Iowa ; Eliza-
beth, deceased ; James AL, in Iowa : Edward, de-
ceased ; Agatha, deceased ; John \\, deceased. To
Mr. and Airs. Reynold there have been born two chil-
dren, Clidna. deceased : Agatha, wife of James H.
Evans, on Nez Perces reservation. Air. Reynold has
always taken an interest in the affairs of politics, be-
ing a strong Jeffersonian Democrat and is usually a
delegate to the county convention. He is an adher-
ent of the Roman Catholic church. He has a fine
farm of one quarter section and well improved and
owivs forty head of cattle and raises much wheat and
many hogs. He has a large grove of the Lanthos
trees. Air. Reynold is a man of much experience and
has done much commendable work in the northwest
and is entitled to the credit of a real pioneer.
PART III.
HISTORY OF IDAHO COUNTY
CHAPTER I.
CURRENT HISTORY, 1861-1879.
The earliest history of Idaho county, like that of
Nez Perces and southern Shoshone, is identical with
the placer mining history of the region, which has
already been given place in our chapters. The dis-
covery of gold at Oro Fino, Elk City, Florence, New-
some and Warren had other effects upon the country
than simply building thriving towns at these points.
Routes of travel and transportation had to be estab-
Hshed and way stations along these provided for the
comfort and convenience of gold seeker and packers.
Naturally the keepers of these stations were impelled
to experiment in raising different farm and garden
produce, and the enormous prices received by them
for whatever they harvested encouraged the extension
of this form of industry. There was one serious draw-
back to it. however, during the first two years. Both
the miner- and station keepers were upon an Indian
reservation. They could only remain by sufferance of
the Indians and Indian authorities under protection of
a treaty permitting occupancy only, and could not se-
cure title to any land other than such as was by com-
mon consent accorded to squatters.
L. P. Brown, in a lecture before the Idaho County
Pioneer Association, made the statement that the first
house occupied by white man on Camas prairie was the
home of Captain Francois, built on the White Bird
divide during the fall or winter of 1861, and that the
spring of 1862 witnessed the construction of several
way stations along the different trails to the mines :
one at Sweetwater, kept by James Donnelly ; one at
what later became known as the Mason place, by
1 >urkee & Crampton : one at Cottonwood, by a man
named Allen and one at the foot of Mount Idaho,
erected, we have been informed, lay Moses Milner and
his partner, Francis, the men who cut the pack trail
from the site of the town of Mount Idaho to Florence
mining camp in the spring of 1862. However. A. I.
Watson says that Arthur Chapman was keeping this
station in 1862 and was understood by him to be its
owner. During the summer and fall of the same year
Hiram Lusk erected a log house on Three Mile creek,
which, the following year, became the property of
Crooks & Shumway.
These facts were no doubt given by Mr. Brown
from memory and may not be absolutely correct in
minor details, but they are corroborated for the most
part by Seth Jones, who came to the county with Mrs.
Jones in May, i8<'>2. They found a station at what is
now Cottonwood, kept by a man named Allen, and
Captain Le Francois, then unmarried, at his station on
White Bird divide. They found also a small station,
just started, where Mount Idaho now stands, and
Moses Milner at work cutting his trail to Florence.
Loyal P. Brown, who came into the country a few days
later than Mr. Jones, bought Mr. Milner's interest in
both road and station and later laid claim to a tract
of land. For many years afterward he was prominent
citizen of Mount Idaho.
Mr. rones and wife went on to Florence, where they
remained until July, returning then to Mount Idaho
over the Milner trail. Mrs. Jones gained the distinc-
tion of being the fir-t woman to pass over the new
route, and in recognition of this fact, she was per-
mitted to pass without the payment of toll. About
August 1st they opened a small way station at Mount
Idaho. Throughout the following winter Mrs. Jones's
nearest neighbor of her own race and sex was Mrs.
Marv Caroline Wood, wife of John Wood, who lived
on slate creek.
During the spring of 18(13, Mr. Jones selected a
388
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
farm on Three Mile creek, about a mile above the
Hiram Lusk station. Brown had taken a claim in
the foothills near Mount Idaho and this same spring,
James Odle laid claim to a ranch in the vicinity of
that station. It is related that when Mr. ( )dle began
plowing, the Indians gathered in considerable num-
bers, watched the operation with interest and protested
mildly, saying that if much of such work should be
done, they would be left without pasture for their
ponies. He assured them that he wished only a small
spot for a garden and they went away apparently satis-
fied. Mr. Odle is said to have been in partnership with
Brown in the station for several years.
July 6th Mr. Jones left Mount Idaho and took up
his abode on his new farm. He plowed and sowed
quite extensively, planting an acre and a half of po-
tatoes, ten acres of oats and a considerable amount of
rutabagas, tomatoes, cabbage, turnips and other garden
vegetables. That fall he harvested 54,000 pounds of
potatoes and sold them for eight cents a pound. The
oats were cut for hay, which found ready sale at $80
a ton ; the cabbage brought i2l/2 cents a pound ; the
turnips four cents. John Londsberry, a Pensylvanian
of seventy summers, who had taken a claim adjoining
Mr. Jones, was a partner of the latter in the potato
venture.
The success of the early experimenters in agri-
culture and the enormous prices realized by them could
have no other effect than to inspire more persons with
a desire to try what wealth the rich black soil of the
prairie might have in store for them. A treaty was
concluded with the Nez Perces Indians on the 9th of
June, 1863, amendatory to that negotiated by Stevens
and Palmer in 1855, by which the greater part of
Camas prairie and Idaho county, along with the Wal-
lowa valley in Oregon and other territory was ceded
to the United States. The treaty was not confirmed
until some years later, so that title to land could not
be secured, but the foundation was laid for hope that
the land would some day be the property of the set-
tler and interest in agriculture was therefore stimu-
lated in some measure.
Prior to the spring of 1862 the route to Florence
was up Salmon river to the divide between Slate creek
and John Day creek, up that to the summit of the
mountains, and thence to the objective point. A sta-
tion was early established at the mouth of Slate creek
by one Charles Silverman, who seems to have had
some kind of a partnership arrangement with the In-
dians through a chief known to the whites as Whistle-
knocker. In the spring of 1862, John Wood purchased
the station, paying Silverman and the Indian $1,000
for it. By this transaction, Mr. Wood not only secured
the desired property but he laid the foundation for a
lasting friendship between the red men and himself,
with the result that in alter years, when trouble arose
between the two races, Mr. Wood and his family were
ii< it molested by the hostiles. At the time of the pur-
chase Silverman had a small garden. Wood immedi-
ately planted some apple trees, among the first, perhaps,
that ever drew their nourishment from the soil of
Idaho county except a few planted by Indians, or per-
sons unknown, at Billy's crossing. Mr. and Mrs.
Wood kept this station until 1884, but ten years earlier
they sold the portion of their place across Slate creek
to Charles F. Cone, who also opened a way station.
In the summer of 1802, Henry Elfers and John
Wessel took a claim on John Day creek. In 1863 A.
Berg squatted on land on the main Salmon, two and a
half miles above the mouth of the Little Salmon, and
the same year J. Allison settled on a claim six or seven
miles above the Berg place. The ensuing winter came
James F. Alvord and Michael Storms, who established
themselves on a tract adjoining Mr. Wood's home.
They opened a small general store. Later came James
Baker, who made his abode about a mile and a half
from the mouth of Wrhite Bird creek. On all these
places stock was kept and on all of them were rai.^ed
grain, vegetables and everything for which there was
a demand among the miners. The land was, of course,
unsurveyed.
The inception of the cattle industry was practically
contemporaneous with that of agriculture. No farmer,
seeing the vast areas of grass-clad land and the shel-
tered canyons and valleys of the Salmon river, furnish-
ing warm winter retreats for stock, could fail to realize
the profit which must surely accrue from this business.
In the spring of 1863, John M. Crooks and Aurora
Shumway bought out Lusk's station on Three Mile
creek. Later Shumway purchased the farm of John
Carter, adjoining. The two, under the firm name of
Crooks & Shumway, became pioneer stockmen of what
is now Idaho county, bringing in a thousand head from
the neighborhood of The Dalles, Oregon. They were
the leaders in this industry throughout all the early
days ; nevertheless there were others not far behind
them. Seth Jones was the second man to engage in
cattle raising as a business, though undoubtedly a num-
ber of farmers on Camas prairie and Salmon river had
a few head from their first settlement. Jones's start
consisted of ten cows, purchased at a cost of $60 each.
It was a custom among those early cattle men to drive
their beef animals to the mining districts, where they
sold for good prices, though beef was never high in
proportion to other articles of food. Among the lead-
ing cattle men of the years prior to the outbreak of the
Nez Perces war were Henry Elfers, who at one time
had as many as 2,000 head, and Seth Jones, James
Baker, John Wood. Charles F. and Charles P. Cone, A.
Berg, Getter & Orcutt, Hickey & McLee. John
Doumecq, Victor Glatigny, J. M. Crooks, John and
Dan McPhearson, George Sears, Rice Brothers, Ed
Byrom, Charles Redman and James Lambert, whose
largest herds ranged between 300 and 1,600 head. The
stock business never assumed the proportions in north
Idaho that obtained in Harney county and other por-
tions of eastern Oregon, where the larger herds ranged
between fifteen and fifty thousand head, but the quality
of the stock was undoubtedly better. The cattle had
marked strains of Durham and Devon in their blood,
though somewhat mixed with Texas stock. It is said
that four-year-old steers were known to dress as high
as 1,100 pounds.
In 1861 a few more settlers took homes on G
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
339
prairie, among whom were Israel Chapman, who set-
tled on land adjoining the Crooks place, and Francis
Marion Hughes, whose home was established between
Mount Idaho and the site of Granville. Joshua S.
Fockler became a resident of the prairie this year, but
did not take land. He and Ward Girton were em-
ployees for a time of Crooks & Shumway.
Upon his arrival on the prairie in 1865, James H.
Robinson took a claim half a mile east of the J. M.
Crooks ranch, and from him we learn that the settlers
at that time, besides those already mentioned, were an
old trapper, Green B. Profitt, on the creek above the
Jones ranch, William C. Pearson, a land holder and a
partner in the cattle firm of Crooks & Shumway,
John McPherson, on Three Mile creek, three miles be-
low Mount Idaho, "Whisky Bill" and A. I. Watson,
on Whisky Bill creek, Edward Byrom, proprietor of
the Cottonwood station, James Cearley, on Three Mile
creek, below McPherson's place, Milton Cambridge,
between Three Mile and Butcher creeks, William Jack-
son, who kept a toll bridge across the south fork of the
Clearwater on the Elk City trail, and John Aram, near
the home of Seth Jones, on Three Mile. Mr. Watson
says that during this year, also, John Brown settled
on Three Mile creek, three miles below Grangeville,
and Jack Moran on Butcher creek above Odle's.
A few more settlers came in r866, among them an
ox teamster and freighter named Bush and each suc-
ceeding year brought a small augmentation to the num-
ber of settlers. The population grew from not to
exceed seventv-five in 1866 to perhaps 150 or 175 in
1870. The United States census of the latter year
gives Idaho county a population of 849, but these fig-
ures, like statistics based upon the assessment rolls
t< 1 -how the increase of wealth, are rendered valueless
by the fact that the county's boundary lines have un-
dergone important changes. In 1870, Mount Idaho
and all the Camas prairie country were included in
Xez Perces count}', and Idaho county included only the
mining country further south.
The cattle industry received a severe setback almost
in its very inception by the long, cold winter of 1865-6,
which caused quite serious losses. It was further dis-
couraged by the fact that many head of cattle were
driven into the mines from Oregon and Washington,
making the price of beef relatively low. But all other
products of the soil commanded high prices, butter a
dollar a pound, eggs a dollar a dozen, vegetables
five to ten cents, American horses $100 to $300 each,
wild hay $15 to $40 a ton, etc. etc. The inception of
fruit raising in the valley occurred in 1864, when trees
were brought from Walla Walla and planted at Mount
Idaho. Success attended experiment in this as in other
horticultural and agricultural enterprises.
"The first stage line from Mount Idaho to Lewis-
ton." says L. P. Brown, "was put on the route by
Francis & Company in the summer of 1862. The next
spring Durkee and George Crampton placed a line on
the same route, which was continued until late in the
fall of 1863." Then Crampton sold out and went back
to his home in Boston, Durkee to Burnt river in Ore-
gon, where for years he kept the station known as Ex-
press ranch. A station and small town on the O. R.
& N. commemorates his name. Mr. Watson says that
Francis & Carnish established the first stage line and
he fixes the date as 1863 or 1864. Frank Shissler, he
says, succeeded Durkee and Crampton. Among the
earliest express riders were Denny Bacon, John Brear-
ley. Charles Fairchild, and the Baird Brothers, Ezra
and William.
• Up to June 1, 1869, the county seat of Idaho coun-
ty was located at Florence but by an act passed by the
legislature of 1868, the honors and prestige belonging
to the seat of local government were transferred to
Washington, in the Warren mining district. The
change, however, had no material effect upon the Ca-
mas prairie settlers, for as yet these were affiliated
politically with Nez Perces county, though their in-
terests were with the mining districts, where they mar-
keted their products, and they earnestly desired to be
identified with Idaho count)'. This boon was granted
them six years later.
Notwithstanding the fact that the earliest years of
the occupancy of the Salmon river and Camas prairie
countries by farmers and stockmen were years when
north Idaho was yet overrun by hordes of robbers,
desperadoes and murderers, and the mining districts
and the trails to them were still haunted by lawless
characters, the agriculturists and stockmen seem to
have enjoyed practical immunity from criminal opera-
tions. The execution of English, Scott and Peoples by
Lewiston vigilantes and of the Magruder murderers
by process of law caused an exodus of villianous char-
acters from the country, and as the settlers before that
date had nothing specially tempting to marauders, ex-
cept, perhaps, a few horses, they never were victimized
in the early carnival of crime'.
But about July of the year 1869 tne people of the
prairie thought it necessary to take the law into their
own hands and administer summary punishment to
an Indian named Shumway Jim, a renegade, whose rep-
utation as a desperate man was such that he was feared
by both Indians and whites. He received his sobriquet
of Shumway from his devotion to and friendship for the
stockman of that name. He was credited with the com-
mission of several murders, none of which could In-
proved against him, but he committed one too many.
Early in the spring, of 1869, several Nez Perces squaws
reported to the settlers that they had found human bones
under some rocks at the mouth of Three Mile creek and
intimated that Shumway Jim probably knew more about
them than he would care to tell. Messrs. Crooks and
Shumway interviewed Jim regarding the matter, de-
manding that if he were guilty he should confess it.
Jim ultimately acknowledged that he had killed a pros-
pector, a Frenchman, for gain, but had only secured the
man's horse, his weapons and blankets and about ten
dollars in money. The citizens in general took up
Jim's case and finallv decided that the time had arrived
when his career of crime should be brought to an end,
so I im was escorted to a spot on Ward Girton's ranch
near Three Mile creek where three poles had been
stood up in the form of a tripod. To the apex of this
[im was hanged, all the settlers present, constituting
390
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
a majority of those on the prairie, taking part in the
execution.' The body of the Indian was given into
the possession of his red brethren, who bore it to
Jim's home at Horse Shoe bend on the Salmon, where
it was interred. Whites and Indians alike seemed
pleased that the country was rid of this assassin and
desperado.
In the fall of 1869, also, another serious crime was
perpetrated in the Camas prairie country, which led*
to a lynching. The author of the crime, one Peter Wal-
ters, "was a" young man who, by dint of energy and
push, had become the proprietor of a sawmill near
Mount Idaho. Joseph. Yates, the victim of the tragedy,
was an employee in the mill, and had been on terms
of intimacy with Walters, living with him the preceding
winter. It is thought that the seeds of the quarrel
were sown during the continuance of this intimate as-
sociation, but an open breach did not take place until
some time later. Early in the fall they had some
words and the relationship of employer and empoyee
existing between them was abruptly terminated. It
was agreed that they should meet that evening in
Mount Idaho to complete their settlement. After sup-
per Walters called Yates out. What words passed
between them nobody overheard, but the conversation
was brought to an end by Walters drawing his pistol
and shooting Yates, mortally wounding him. Wal-
ters was taken to Lewiston, the county seat, for trial.
He escaped conviction at the next term of court on a
technicality. The following term he was convicted
and sentenced to be hanged. Preparations were made
to execute the sentence, but at the last moment the young
man's attorneys gave notice of an appeal to the su-
preme court. Becoming tired of the law's delay, a
number of the citizens of the prairie, perhaps about
thirteen, repaired to Lewiston, battered down the jail
door at night, took the prisoner out and hanged him.
During his incarceration, Waiters wrote to per-
sons on the prairie, among them Mrs. Seth Jones,
protesting his innocence of deliberate murder. He
claimed that he had settled with Yates; that Yates ac-
cused him of stealing; that he drew his pistol, be-
lieving it uncapped, for the purpose of scaring Yates
into a retraction of his charges and that the pistol was
discharged unexpectedly. Others state that Walters
had sharpened his bowie knife and carefully loaded
his pistol beforehand giving evidences of premedita-
tion and from the testimony of several pioneers it is
certain that the homicide was a cold blooded and very
atrocious one. Walters was a young man of un-
governable passion and somewhat disagreeable dispo-
sition. No attempt was ever made to apprehend and
punish his self appointed executioners.
After the earliest settlements on Salmon river, no
further increase of population took place in that part
of the county until about 1870, when there was a
small influx into the valley. Hiram Titman took the
place now occupied by J. P.. Chamberlain, just above
the mouth of Skookum Chuck creek. Harry Mason,
Samuel Benedict, Larry Ott, Isaac Orcutt, John Get-
ter and Mathewson & Cristy settled at various points
on the river about the same time ; then immigration
again ceased for several years.
The output of the placer mines had been steadily
declining since about 1864, and the market for the
produce of farm and garden had suffered a proportion-
ate depression. In 1869, however, the miners voted
to admit the Chinamen to Florence. Those who
favored this measure argued that the best deposits
were exhausted ; that white men could no longer work
them profitably and that the Mongolians ought to be
allowed to appropriate the residue. The permission
was received with eclat by the Chinese, who came into
camp in a body, protected against those who were
hostile to them by an abundant guard of white people.
Their advent was the signal for others to come in and
in 1870 there were several thousand in the different
mines. They seem to have infused new life into the
districts, and though it is generally considered that a
Chinaman lives on a few cents a day and sends the
re>t of his earnings back to China, yet these Mongo-
lians are said to have spent their money freely when-
ever fortune favored them, creating a good market
for agricultural products. Between 1870 and iiSSo they
were in almost absolute control of the placer fields.
They not only made what they would consider good
wages in working claims, but occasionally struck rich
-round that had escaped the while miners, realizing
thousands therefrom.
But the fact that the number of Chinamen in the
county dwindled in the decade to one-third of their
original numbers was good evidence of the hopeless
decline of placer mining. The effect of this was
the upbuilding of stock raising and extensive agricul-
ture in Idaho county instead of market gardening.
But there were difficulties in the way of this change.
Lack of transportation rendered wheat raising un-
profitable ; there were no factories in the county before
1870 aside from a few sawmills ; and even the flour con-
sumed by the people had to be brought from without.
It is true that in 1874 Wheeler & Toothacher started
the small grist mill which later became the property of
P. 1'. Brown, but this was not sufficient to encourage
the farmers to raise all their own breadstuffs. As
the prairie was still in Xez Perces county and the mines
had passed to the, Chinese, Idaho county, as it then
existed, seemed likely to be reduced to the same con-
dition into which Shoshone had degenerated. — a coun-
ty only in name, incapable of maintaining an efficient
organization and in danger of dismemberment at any
time.
Fortunately the year 1874 brought to the prairie
the organization of a society which was destined to
have much influence upon the future history of the
community and of Idaho county. About this time
the order known as the Patrons of Husbandry was
coming into prominence in the farming sections of the
United States. The farmers of the prairie had objects
to accomplish requiring united effort and it occurred
to some of them that perhaps this popular agricultural
association was just the agency through which the de-
sired ends might be most speedily attained. Accord-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
39*
ingly Charity Grange was organized. Many of the
leading farmers in the vicinity of Mount Idaho and
on the banks of the streams joined the society, the
charter membership of which numbered about twenty.
Within a few months it had one hundred members and
later its roll call was still further extended.
The first object proposed to itself by this grange
was speedily accomplished. It desired to form a closer
bond of union between the citizens of the prairie, ami
inasmuch as this part of the country had no affilia-
tions with Nez Perces county but carried on practically
all its business with the mining districts, it desired also
union with Idaho county. An effort had been made
looking toward this end in 1872. but as the petition in-
cluded also a removal of the county seat from Washing-
ton, in the Warren district, the people of that town
joined Nez Perces in opposing the measure so that it
failed. But at the session of the legislature of 1874-5,
a determined movement was inaugurated in the
direction of securing this desideratum. It proved suc-
cessful and an act was passed granting to Idaho coun-
ty not only the Camas prairie country, but the rich
strip lying east of it in which Elk City is situated. The
measure created a new Idaho county with both fann-
ing and mining communities, bound together by the
closest ties of trade relationship and reciprocal inter-
ests. It saved the political entity from danger of dis-
integration, building up a united, interdependent and
stable community, while it inflicted little or no perma-
nent damage, probably, upon Xez Perces count).
While the grange was behind the measure, credit for
this judicious piece of legislation is owing, as L. P.
Brown informs us, to Hons. S. S. Fenn. Phil. Cleary
and S. P. C. Howard, members of the legislature at
the time, to C. W. Case, N. B. Willey and Bailey
Chamberlain of Warren camp, to Jeff Rhoads and
George Shearer, of Florence, and to D. H. Howser,
Tames Odle, Judge Bower, lames Witt. I. M. Dorman,
M. H. and C. L. Rice, Crooks & Shumway, J. H.
Robinson, Girton, Telcher, Pearson, B. F. Morris and
others of Camas prairie. Mr. Brown himself was also
an efficient worker in this cause. The bill was indited
as follows:
AN ACT.
To Define the Boundaries nf Idaho County and for other Pur-
the T
it enacted by the Legislative Assei
Tdaho as follows :
tion t. The boundaries of the county of Idaho shall
•r be as follows: Commencing at the junction of Sal-
er with Snake river ; thence up the channel of Salmon
' the mouth of Maloney creek: thence easterly to the
ot the north fork of the south fork of Clearwater;
Montana, to the northwest comer of Lemhi county thence
south and southwest along the line between the counties of
Idaho and Lemhi to Boise county; thence westerly and north-
westerly along the present line" dividing tdal 1 county and
Boise county- and the present line dividing the counties' of
Ada and Idaho to the extreme north corner of Ada county on
Snake river, thence down Snake river to the place of be
ginning.
made bj Ne; 1
for. and shall
forty per cent
that part of Nez Perces county being south
boundary line established by section one ( i )
hereafter be attached to and form
onsideration of the grant of territory hereby
■o - county, the county of l.lalm shall be liable
ssui ii and pay to the county of Nez Perces
f thi indebtedness of said Xez Perces county,
ict shall take effect and be in force
of such indebtedness of Nez Perces county
and paidbj Idaho county -hall be ascertained
■ auditor of Idaho countj .hall, within three
taking effect of this act. ascertain from the
uditor and treasurer of Xez Perces county,
tdahi
shal
he
iable foi a
torn
per
-cut.
upon such adjust-
1 Col
nty commissii mers,
ale amount in said sinking fur
redemption of said warrants
Sec 5 The- board of count
eht of said county, and not transferable,
the same to the treasurer of Nez Perces
inty commissioners of Idaho shall at their
g. after the passage and approval of this
ereafter, a- long as the same may he re-
ents of the warrants to he drawn as pro-
ree (3) of this act, set apart the whole
eighty per cent, of the hospital taxes col-
', and ten per cent, derived from property
institute a sinking fund for the payment
r "I Xez Perce- countv. and the countv
ounty shall, on the first day of July and
ir, and oftener if directed by the county
o the treasurer ..t Nez Perces comity the
I to he by him applied to
tnmi • ■ ol '.
e held at all the usual
ces in the whole county on the first Mondaj of June,
in h time there shall he elected a full hi lard i if ci >unty
ucr-, win. -hall hold their offices until the next gen-
m, and until their successors are elected and quali-
.- shall qualif} and enter upon the di-charge of their
ne first Mondaj of July ;ubsequent to said
d <'-ih.il there shall he submitted to the voters of
3 the permanent location of the countj
pose the three points ,.r place-, Washington, Slate
\l"iii'i Malm, -hall he \ot,il fur. and the point or
lesignated, receiving the highest number ol votes,
' ared tl ■ -• intj -''at i if Main ■ county.
pecia! election to he held under the provisions of
all be canva sed anil governed by the general elec-
i The board of county commissioners of Idaho
i!. at their first regular or special session after said
"\iile fur and direct the removal of all the county
loks, papers and other county property, to be re-
i1). -aid county -eat and provide county buildings,
'lung- necessary to he done to carry the provisions
into effect.
. All acts and parts of acts in conflict with the
ill tin- act are herein' repealed.
' to take effect and he in force fr
ipro\ al b} the governi ir.
i irj 8, [875.
1 -tii hi. held in accordanr
ith the
392
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
provisions of this act. Mount Idaho was chosen as the
county seat. Elliott's history of Idaho territory in-
forms us that "there being no court house, rooms were
fitted up for the various officers in the Idaho hotel,
since which time a commodious court house and jail
have been erected, where the county officers have com-
fortable offices, and a large hall for the district court,
jury rooms, etc.''
The next important direct result of the organiza-
tion of this Grange society was the formation of a stock
company among the grangers, capitalized at $25,000,
for the purpose of erecting a flouring mill, in addition
to that erected by "Wheeler, Toothacher and Kelley at
Mount Idaho in 1874. The mill was completed some
time in 1876 at a cost of approximately $8,000. Its
site was on Three Mile creek, just below the Crooks'
ranch. The plant was equipped with one set of burrs,
was operated by water power and had a capacity of
twenty-five barrels daily. Its natural result was to help
keep among the settlers the thousands of dollars there-
tofore expended annually for flour in other counties,
and to stimulate wheat raising among the populace.
A little later the grange built a hall on a five-acre
tract of land, donated to them by J. M. Crooks, south
of the mill. This hall, erected under the supervision
of William B. Bloomer and Frank D. Vansise, stands
today in the heart of Grangeville, to which city it gave
inception and name. For twenty years it was the
favorite meeting place of the prairie. It was open to
preacher, lecturer, teacher or anyone who had aught
to contribute toward the enlightenment or entertain-
ment of the community ami it has certainly contributed
not a littie to the social and substantial well being of
the people.
Until the early 'eighties Charity Grange was the
leading combination of men in Idaho county. What-
ever the order may have done or failed to do in other
parts of the American Union, it must certainly be
given credit for having effected much good in this com-
munity. It came at a critical period of the county's
history, gathered up the scattered and divided ele-
ments of strength and cemented them together into a
harmonious, energetic body, working unitedly for the
common welfare. It was one of the important fac-
tors in the development of Idaho county.
The momentous year of 1877 came in with few
clouds in the sky. but before it was half over, the most
awful storm burst upon the county and north Idaho
that has ever been experienced in this region or state.
The horrible murders by which the Indian war was in-
augurated and the course of that war until the surrend-
er of Joseph at Bear Paw mountain, have been given in
some detail elsewhere in this volume. Besides these
horrors many homes and outbuildings were sacked and
destroyed by tire and hundreds of head of cattle and
horses were captured and appropriated to the uses of
the hostiles. The advertising the country received,
while it called attention to its undeveloped resources,
was not of the right kind, as it also gave the impression
that central Idaho was not a safe place in which to live,
an impression which was unfortunately heightened
during the next year or two by the Sheepeater out-
break. The war, however, led to the establishment of
Camp Howard on the prairie, which gave assurance to
all old settlers and new arrivals that they would be
fully protected, also furnished an excellent market for
such of the farm products of the community as were
needed by the soldiers. Camp Howard was a two com-
pany post, established by Colonel Green and com-
manded by Major Hancock and Captains Kroutinger
and McKeever during the period of its existence.
When it was abandoned in 1881 an indignant and en-
ergetic though unavailing protest was raised by the
people of this and Xez Perces county. It is with pleas-
ure that we record here for permanent preservation the
names of the volunteers enrolled at Mount Idaho and
Grangeville for service in the war of 1877, with their
commissioned and non-commissioned officers. The cor-
rectness of these muster rolls was certified to by Major
James P. Canby, paymaster. United States army, in
August, 1877. and by affidavits of the two captains.
The} are as follows:
Roll oi officers, non-commissioned officers and pri-
vates enrolled at Mount Idaho, Idaho, June 15, 1877:
Captain, D. B. Randall ; first lieutenant, James Cear-
lev ; second lieutenant, L. P. Wilmott ; sergeants, John
AlcPhersoii, J. W. Rainey, F. Oliver, J. W. Eastman,
Robert Nugent : corporals, George Smith, John Bower,
M. S. Martin. K. W. White, George Riggins, John
A I. Auchinvole ; privates, J. T. Aram, John Aram, John
R. Adkison, R. D. Adkison, J. O. Barber, R. C.
Brown, W. B. Reamer. L. Bocher, A. D. Hartley. T. J.
Bunker. James Buchannan. W. Clark, John Crea,
Thomas Crea, ]. Chapman, H. E. Croasdale, Green
Dallas, C. M. Day, J. W. Eastman, C. T. Eaton,
Charles Flynn. H. A. Faxson, William Grotts, George
Hall, Joseph Hemelspak, Joseph Harrison, J. C. Har-
ris, John Hansen, D. H. Howser, M. V. Jarrett, F. E.
Jerome, Peter King, F. B. King, A. B. Leland, B. F.
Morris, Daniel MePherson, Cyrus Overman, Larry
Ott, D. Ousterhaus. Joseph Peasley, A. F. Plummer,
J. W. Poe, John Riggins. F. M. Rice. M. H. Rice,
C. L. Rice, James Rice. I. N. Rice, J. G. Rowton,
J. A. Swarts, F. Shissler, T. D. Swarts, F. M. St.
Clair, Marion Smith. T- M. Snodgrass, George Sears,
Yince Tellis, M. H. truscott. Frank Vansise, B. R.
Wilmor. W. West. A. I. Watson. T. Wall. J. A. Miller,
George M. Shearer, T. W. Girton. George Woodward,
Ernest Smith, Husjh Kennedy, P. Price. P. Mallick,
B. Penny, P. H. Ready. D. H. Telcher. F. Noyes, T.
("73110, N. Markham, E. Watkins, James Crea, A. A.
Harris. Elijah Adkison, T. L. Ward. S. S. Fenn.
L. P. Brown, Sidney B. Brown, William Mitchell.
Walter B. Fenn, A. Talkington, H. C. Johnson. James
Ragan, C. B. Woods, E. C. Sherwin. Elbert Sherwin,
Perry Sherwin, Charles Johnson, James Odle, J. M.
Dorman, Clyde Fountain, Thomas Surridge, John Pe-
terson, Elias Shipley, William Gaddy, C. A. Sears,
Henry Van Buren, Joseph Richards, Henry Meyers.
Norman Gould. Philip Helmer, H. W. Cone, Isaac
Orcutt. J. H. Getter. X. B. Mallory. Charles F. Cone,
C. P. Cone, A. Van Side, Samuel Large, John S.
A GLIMPSE OF THE KOOTENAI NEAR BONNERS FERRY.
~*-*.\,
[
t0**#
SOLDIERS' LOOKOUTS OVERLOOKING WHITEBIRD CANYON IN THE WAR OF 1877.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Kelley, James Carey, John Wood, M. B. Howard,
William Trieblecock, John Ramsey, John Stuart, Ab-
ner Smith.
Grangeville volunteers: *W. B. Bloomer, captain;
A. H. Gordon, C. P. Clingan, A. Shumway, J. T.
Silverwood, John Johnson, F. M. Hughes, C. M. Red-
man, S Weaver, W. M. Williams, lames Flenne, 1. M.
Crooks, John Fields, J. H. Ranch, G. W. Hashagen,
V. D. Remington, W. C. Pearson, W. H. Sebastian,
J. Brown, J. B. Crooks, J. J. Remington, Charles
Bentz. Jacob W. Crooks, Samuel Harty, S. W.
Revnolds. Charles Crooks. E. S. Remington, John By-
rom, D. C. Crooks. James L. Crooks, M. P. Crooks,
James Spence, Robert Wilmot, John Flynn, Patk.
Curtin, Frank Weichel, E. W. Robie, John Healy, John
Weaver, C. H. Robinson, C. H. Brown, Albert
Bensehing, John Mitchell.
The return of a small remnant of Joseeph's scat-
tered band of hostiles caused a little flurry of excite-
ment in Idaho county during the summer of 1878.
This remnant consisted of perhaps half a dozen war-
riors and their squaws and children, but in their efforts
to slip back to the reservation unobserved they ap-
peared to be several times their real number. Whether
or not they belonged to White Bird's band is not
known, but it is certain that they had been driven out
of southwestern Montana by a detachment of troops,
and had crossed the Bitter Root range, proceeding
thence westward via Elk City. Near this little min-
ing town they stopped at a Chinaman's house early
one August morning and forced him to prepare food
for them. While thev were engaged here they were
seen by one of the white men living nearby, who hastily
spread the news that a band of hostile Indians was
about to attack the town. The few white men in the
camp thereupon repaired hurriedly to the old fort con-
structed by them during the Indian war, there to await
further develpoments. Two of the whites ventured to
the outskirts of the town, whence they could see the
little band of redskins as they passed near the place.
As soon as the Indians saw that they were observed by
the whites, they fled in the direction of Newsome creek.
Here they plundered a Chinese store and stole a horse,
after which they continued westward.
Meanwhile James B. Sloan, one of the residents of
Elk City, volunteered to inform the commandant at
Camp Howard of the actions of this band of Indians
and through him the news reached Camas prairie. At
Mount Idaho a few settlers under command of Benja-
min F. Morris went in search of the renegades and
soon came upon them near the Clearwater beyond
Jackson's bridge. On the approach of the whites the
Indians scattered and fled. They ultimately reached
the reservation in safety, without committing further
depredations.
Doubtless a few other members of Joseph's band
reached the Sheepeater country in the southern por-
tion of Idaho county during that same summer and the
succeeding winter, and were instrumental in inciting
the outbreak which occurred in that region the next
year. Here they would find renegades from nearlv
every tribe in this section of the northwest — Nez
Perces, Bannocks, Shoshones, Umatillas and a few
Montana Indians and doubtless representative:, of
other tribes. All were outlaws, fugitives from the
courts of the white man or from the wrath of their own
tribesmen, joined to each other only by the bonds of
fear and companionship in crime. In their mountain
retreats they were safe from pursuit and capture.
What is known as the Sheepeater's country is the
wildest and most impenetrable region in Idaho, it not
in the entire Northwest. It is a region of indescribable
ruggedness and grandeur. 1 loary mountain peaks
with their green mantles of forest alternate with
abyssmal canyons thousands of feet in depth along
whose bottoms the waters of angry mountain torrents
leap and dash and writhe in their efforts to free them-
selves from their rocky bounds. There are no broad
prairies or level tracts of any size here; nothing but
precipitous mountain sides and sheer canyons for the
most part. Along the crests of the highest ridges with
an occasional abrupt descent into the canyons the old
Indian trails wind and there are no more tortuous
paths than these in all the Northwest. The forests
abound in game ; the streams teem with fish and these
constituted the principal subsistence of the Sheep-
eaters. The big horn or mountain sheep were very
numerous in this region until a comparatively short
time ago and because of the fact that the Indians who
lived here were such successful hunters of this most
elusive game and to a large extent lived on their meat,
they were called the "Sheepeaters."
So far as is known no serious crimes were ever
laid at their door until the outbreak of 1879. They
were seldom seen by the whites, but kept in their
mountain fastnesses, well hidden from the curious
gaze of civilized man. ( )ccasionally two or three came
into Warren with strings of fish or with game, but
even these seldom stayed lung. The Sheepeaters were
very poor, possessing only a few guns and few if any
horses, — so poor, indeed, that to many it was a mys-
tery how they managed to exist. They were not con-
si.1 lered Indians of good moral character, but as long
as thev left the whites alone the latter were content to
treat them in like manner, and there was peace between
them for many years. The Sheepeaters wintered on
the east fork of the Salmon. During the summer they
roamed throughout that part of Idaho county bounded
on the north by the main Salmon, on the east by Lemhi
countv and on the west by the south fork. An Indian
known as Wrar Jack seemed to be their chief, while
Chuck and Boyer also exercised dominion among the
band James Edwards, who was a resident of Warren
for many vears and to whom we acknowledge indebt-
edness for' much of our information concerning these
Indians, estimates their number at nearlv 150, of whom
perhaps forty of fifty were men.
There seems to have been no excuse for the Sheep-
eaters' taking up arms against the government in
1879. The only reasonable explanation of their con-
duct seems to be that they were incited to the upris-
ing by renegades who joined them after the Xez Perces
war of 1877 and the Bannock campaign in 1878. But
whatever may have been the cause, they commenced.
394
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
early in the spring of ^879, a series of depredations and
murders. In the hostilities which ensued they eluded
three bodies of troops sent against them, defeating one,
and resisted capture until late in the fall, when they
surrendered with all the honors of war — quite a record
considering the circumstances.
Along the south fork of the Salmon there were in
1870 four small farms, all on a narrow strip of land
along the bed of the canyon and each isolated from the
others except l>\ round-about trails through Warren.
From James P. Rain's place, just above the mouth of
the south fork, to Hugh Johnson's ranch, the farthest
up the stream, the distance was forty miles, while be-
tween these two places were those of Sylvester S. (bet-
ter known as "Three- Fingered" ) Smith and A. D.
Smead. Each of these places was, as just stated,
reached by a trail leading from Warren. There were
a few bars along the river where placer mining was
carried on, though even these were for the most part
then deserted. All four of the ranchmen mentioned,
except Johnson, had families.
At Johnson's place the Sheepeaters opened the war
— if the outbreak may with propriety be referred to as
such. Sometime in April, while the snow was yet
hard, they fell upon him in his lonely cabin and killed
him. For what particular reason they chose him as
their first victim it is not known, as he is not accused
01 having ever done anything to arouse their wrath.
They may haw been aware that lie was alone and per-
haps the>- coveted his horses. Peter Dorsey. who was
staying ai the ranch just below, went over to visit
Johnson the latter part of April. He was greeted with
death-dealing bullets and his life blotted out. As Dor-
se)' did not return within a reasonable time, and as
nothing was heard, of Johnson, friends decided late
in May to investigate and accordingly a party con-
sisting of William Kelly, J. Jenkins and A. D. Smead
went to the Johnson home. The)' failed to find anyone
at the house or nearby and saw that the cabin had been
entered and plundered and that the horses were gone.
Fearing that the worst had happened, the part)' went
back to Warren, secured reinforcements in the persons
of George Riebold, P. Beamer, E. Brooks, C. Stark
and C. Johnson ; then returned for a more thorough
search of the premises. They found in a nearby field
the decomposed bodies of Johnson and Dorsey. bear-
ing gunshot wounds. Indian signs were discovered
and all the circumstances warranted the conclusion that
the outrage had been committed by redmen.
The settlers immediately despatched a messenger
to Camp Howard, requesting the commandant of that
post to send a force to protect the community and cap-
ture the Indians. Lieutenant Catley, on receipt of the
news, made preparations to begin a campaign against
the Sheepeaters. By the first of July he set out with
about sixty mounted infantrymen, members of the
Second Infantry, U. S. A., and a large packtrain loaded
with sufficient supplies to last several weeks. Besides
the regulars, several scouts were recruited and these
with the packers brought the total strength of the
column up to about seventy men. The expedition
reached Warren earlv in Tulv and after tarrying there
a short time took up the march into the Sheepeater
country.
For eleven days they traveled eastward across the
south and east forks of tire Salmon toward the mid-
dle fork, but not a sign of the Indians did they see
until the afternoon of Jul)' 28th, when one of the pack-
ers, a man named White, reported to David Monroe,
one of the scouts, that he had seen Indian sign- during
the morning about eight miles below the camp on [jig
creek. This stream heads north of Thunder mountain
and flowing in a northeasterly direction, empties into
the middle fork of the Salmon river. For most of its
length it rushes through narrow box canyons, though
there are a few open and level basins along its banks.
For the details of what followed. — the discovi r
Indians, the attack on the troops, the retreat, the fight
on \ inegar hill and the journey back to Warren — we
shall rely principally on an official report made by
Lieutenant Muhlenberg, a member of the e> edi
to Lieutenant C. M. Rowell, regimental adjutant of the
Second Infantry. This report bears date of < >ctober
28. [879. The co])) before us beli ngs to .Mrs. Matthew
Truscott, of .Mount Idaho. As far as possible the
statements made in the report have been verified by
reference to other authorities.
LTpon receipt of \\ bite's information. Mon
nuimcated the news to Lieutenant Catley, who lis-
tened with impatience to the report, referring
"foolish story." However, on his return to
hour later. Catley had the story told a second time,
then ordered the troops to camp for the night, de-
spite Lieutenant Webster's suggestion that there was
still plenty of time to send out a scouting party. The
following uk ruing between the hours of six and seven
o'clock the troops broke camp and started down Big
creek toward the location of the supposed Indian camp,
leaving Lieutenant Webster and seven men in charge
of tlie pack tram. They marched in single file along
the bed of the canyon, David Monroe and Josl
ler,' volunteer scouts, in the lead. The Indian camp
wa^ reached about ten o'clock and found deserted, the
redskins having doubtless become aware of the | res-
ence of the troops. Judging from all signs it was evi-
dent that the Indians had departed about tv
previouslv.
Catley destroyed what was left of any value and
pushed forward without taking the customary pre-
caution to throw out an advance guard and flankers
on the ridges to his right and left. The troops bad
proceeded in this manner about two miles down the
tan\ on when suddenly from the opposite side of the
creek, about a hundred yards distant, a fierce volley
greeted the little body of men. Following the example
of Lieutenant Catley, who at the first fire leaped from
his horse and sought the shelter of a large u
ing near the trail, the men dismounted and sought pro-
tection from the fire of the enemy. Some stood behind
their horses, others hid behind trees, and still others
went into the brush. Two of their number, Privates
James Doyle and A. R. Holmes, of Company C, were
severeh wounded before the)- could get out of reach
of the galling fire. Catley issued no orders, although
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
395
his men were expecting at any moment to receive the
command to charge or to return the fire. Lieutenant
Muhlenberg hurried to his superior's side to receive
orders, but none were given. First Sergeant John F.
Sullivan then approached Catley and reported, but,
like Muhlenberg, received no reply. The commander
seemed utterly dumb with fright.
Sergeant Sullivan then reported to Lieutenant
Muhlenberg, who oruered that the command prepare
to retreat, pending orders from Catley. The situation
was critical and Muhlenberg feared that the Indians
would cut off their retrat and so completely surround
them. This was the substance of his report to Catley.
Instead of replying, the thoroughly demoralized com-
mander ran from his tree down into the bushes.
Muhlenberg pursued his superior, seeking to gain a
reply from him. After running about sixty yards he
met Dr. Pring, the medical officer with the troops.
This officer, instead of attending to the wounded men,
was also in the rear, and in response to Lieutenant
.Muhlenberg's query as to why he was not with the
wounded, replied that he could get no help. Hasten-
in-' onward Muhlenberg at last cornered his superior
officer and again requested orders. By this time Cat-
ley had partly recovered himself and he ordered Ser-
geant Sullivan to detail five men to bring in the
wounded, which was successfully accomplished. The
command was ordered t" retreat up the creek in the
first clearing and, as might have been expected, ( 'alle\
took his place at the head of the column, although he
was in the rear while the command was going down
the creek. Arriving at the clearing without further
molestation, Catley decided to remain there until the
next morning, while his pack train came up, and ac-
cordingly camp was pitched and a heavy picket line
thrown out. Hall an hour after the camp was made,
Lieutenant Webster and the pack train arrived. The
night passed quietly, the Indians making no further
attacks.
Early the next morning the camp was astir and as
soon as the troops could be fed and the wounded eared
for and placed in a comfortable position for traveling,
the retreat was continued. Catley decided to try to
reach the summit of the high mountain on the n ■ irth
and issued orders for the command to move up a long,
rocky ridge in that direction. The wounded were
placed on horses between the main body of troops and
the pack train, which, under Lieutenant Webster,
brought up the rear. The head of the column had
leached a point about three-quarters of a mile from the
base of the ridge when the pack train in the rear was
energetically attacked. By sharp fighting Webster and
Muhlenberg brought the train safely within the lines.
Meanwhile, however, the Indians had attacked the
head of the column, thus striking from two points at
tlie same lime and holding the troops between a cross
lire. Two small detachments of skirmishers were sent
forward to drive back the redskins in front, but before
they could attack, were recalled by Catley. Again a
spirit of indecision seems to have taken possession of
the commander, for he failed to order a move either
backward or forward, paralyzed apparently with fear.
The Indians fired the brush and grass at the base of the
ridge with the evident purpose of further demoralizing
the troops, but the scheme failed. For fourteen hours
the troops were kept in this position and during the
whole time only live shots were fired by the soldiers,
at least so savs Lieutenant Muhlenberg in his report.
The creek was half a mile away and there being no
other water supply near at hand, both men and ani-
mals suffered the tortures of thirst, that scorching July
day. Eventually, so the story is told, the men broke
into a small keg of vinegar which was found in the
pack train, and with its contents partly allayed their
thirst. From this incident Vinegar hill received its
name.
finally, between midnight of the 30th and two
o'clock on the morning , >f the 31st, the command
moved swiftly down the precipitous hillside on their
left, crossed the creek and ascended the mountain on
that tide. Before the troops stopped that day they had
traveled, it is estimated by Muhlenberg, approximately
forty miles- During the hasty flight of the troops and
in the attack preceding the retreat from Vinegar bill,
the greater portion of the pack train was lost. It
proved a welcome addition to the Indian's supplies,
furnishing them with needed provisions, equipments
and ammunition. They secured two guns left behind
by the two wounded soldiers. While scaling the
heights across the creek, Lieutenant .Muhlenberg was
thrown from Ins horse and one of his knee caps dis-
located. In diis predicament he was found by Private
Jackman. who placed him upon his (Jackman's) horse
and himself walked.
The next morning at two o'clock the forced march
was again taken up and continued until ten o'cli ick that
night, about fifty miles being made. A short march the
next morning brought the exhausted soldiers to War-
ren, where a brief rest was given the men before pro-
ceeding farther from the scene of hostilities. There-
upon Catley set out for Warm Springs, where he met
Colonel Bernard, who, with a small force, had just
arrived from Fort Boise.
Thus ended the ill-fated Catley expedition. [ts
members had gone forth well equipped for the fray
and with high hopes of success. They were defeated in
the first skirmish, then began a retreat, which, it is
hoped, finds few parallels for ignominy in the annals
of the American army. Catley covered, in two days
and a half, a distance that it had taken him eleven days
to traverse by ordinary marches. According to Muhl-
enberg's report, two men had been wounded, and Mr.
Fdwards says that one other was killed. The Indians
bad captured most of the pack train and thereby
strengthened themselves materially for a long cam-
paign. Lieutenant Muhlenberg says of his superior
officer: "Lieutenant Catley, I think, acted as a coward
and is totallv unfit to take command of any bod} oi
troops." Subsequently. Catley was courtmartialed at
Walla Walla on a charge of cowardice. Speaking of
the other members of the expedition. Lieutenant Muhl-
enberg- savs: "As to the conduct of Lieutenant Web-
ster, everywhere I saw him he seemed to be cool and
collected. I never got to see him much, as he was al-
396
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ways behind in charge of the pack train. Lieutenant
Catley's men behaved very well and seemed willing to
obev any order given to them. They did not seem ex-
cited in the least."
On Catlev's arrival at Warm Springs, he was re-
lieved of his' command by Colonel Bernard, and pro-
ceeded thence to Camp Howard. Bernard at once
moved with his force and a portion of Catley's troops
into the Sheepeater country. At Warren he left a
guard of twelve cavalrymen to reinforce the garrison,
for the citizens of that place, about one hundred in
number, having become alarmed after Catley's defeat,
had organized a volunteer company, which they had
placed under command of Captain James W. Poe, and
had taken possession of the old stockade built in 1877.
For some time they posted pickets around the town
ever>- night.
While Colonel Bernard and his force are engaged
in their futile campaign, let us detail the second trag-
edy that was enacted upon the south fork of the Sal-
mon,— a tragedy that set the whole community in a
blaze of righteous indignation and fanned the flames of
the country's passion to such fierceness that had the
Sheepeaters been immediately captured they would
probably have been summarily dealt with. The scene
is laid at the ranch of James P. Rains on the south
fork, about a mile and a half from its mouth. Here
Mr. Rains and his family had lived for a number of
years and by dint of hard work had accumulated a val-
uable property. In earlier times a portion of the
ground along the river had been w*orked as placer
mines and a thriving little camp had sprung up which
was now. however, deserted. So far as is known Mr.
Rains had never quarreled with the Indians and in that
region was held in high respect by all who knew him.
Like manv others he was not apprehensive of
special danger, thinking that any desire the Indians
might have for fighting would be fully satisfied by
Lieutenant Catley. He therefore felt safe in his
home, and was engaged in gathering the year's hay
crop, when Catley's troops came streaming homeward
after the encounters on Big creek and at Vinegar hill.
The jaded troops and excited commander passed the
Rains home, informed the family that they must flee
as the Indians were in close pursuit, then passed hur-
riedly onward, leaving Rains and his wife and two
little children to fight their own way into Warren unas-
sisted, if fight they must.
Having safely sheltered his family within the
stockade at Warren. Mr. Rains, inasmuch as no signs
of the Indians were discoverable in the neighborhood,
got ready to return to his place that he might attend
to several important matters overlooked in the haste
of preparation for flight. James Edwards and Harry
Serrin offered to accompany Rains that he might the
sooner be readv to return to town. Heavily armed and
watchful for the dusky foe. the three set out for the
ranch. Ten days had now elapsed since Catley's re-
turn and Bernard was well on his way into the in-
terior. Rains, Edwards and Serrin reached their des-
tination in safety and immediately set to work taking
care of the hay crop and otherwise looking after the
place. On Friday, August 15th. Albert Webber, a
young brother-in-law of Rains, who lived on Camas
prairie and had come to his aid. joined the party at the
ranch. His companions told him that they would fin-
ish the next day and suggested that he act as cook
while they completed the haying. To this plan Webber
assented. ' The hot August sun beat down fiercely upon
the bed of the deep canyon, so fiercely that the men
usually took a long nooning and to make up this loss
of time commenced work at daybreak and continued
it, with few intermissions, until dark. Everything else
had been attended to and they worked enegetically all
dav Friday and Saturday that they might return to
Warren Sunday. From the first they had worked with
their rifles by their sides. They w^ere ever vigilant,
fi r they were all frontiersmen and well aware of the
dangers around them.
Saturday morning they carried their rifles with
them into the field as usual. Toward noon they re-
turned to the house, where they partook of the midday
refreshments, then rested until about three o'clock.
They discussed the advisability of carrying their
weapons back to the field that afternoon and. unfor-
tunately, decided to dispense with the usual precaution.
Faithfully they worked and at last were pressing
the last bale when from the direction of the cabin a
rifle ball sped swiftly by them. The gathering twi-
light deepened. Distant objects took a shadowy form
and were rapidly becoming undiscernable. The three
men were startled by the close proximity of the shot
and remarked that Webber must be shooting at a
grouse. Hardly had they uttered the remark when a
volley greeted them, several bullets whizzing uncom-
fortably close to their ears. Edw-ards, who was on top
of the press, yelled to his companions to fall behind the
press, then he himself jumped from his exposed posi-
tion.
There was no doubt now as to the source of those
shots. The Indians were at their bloody work. It
was now a fight for life with the odds greatly against
the four men. Between the three in the field and the
house a small creek rushed down from the steep moun-
tain side, cutting its course through a densely wooded
channel forty feet in depth to the river. To this creek
the three made their way as rapidly as they could.
Here they consulted as to the best course to pursue.
The longer they tarried the more probable it was that
they would be completelv cut off from the house and
the weapons and the more nearly certain they were
of death. They decided to make a dash for the house
at all hazards and cautiously climbing up the creek's
bank, they started along the trail. Rains in advance.
About half way between the creek and the cabin a low-
rocky point juts out from the west and over this small
eminence the trail led. All were now running: rap-
idly. "Keep down from the point!" Edwards and
Serrin cried to Rains, but the latter for some reason
heeded them not and kept to the trail, while his com-
panions rounded the point. Just as Rains reached the
summit a gun flashed and the brave pioneer stopped
and staggered. A ball had pierced his right hip.
Another shot rang out, this time from the direction of
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
397
the house. Rains received the leaden missile in the
chest. It tore a frightful wound in his body.
Edwards and Serrin saw him fall ; they saw the
flash of the gun from the direction of the cabin ; they
heard the shooting in many directions, especially on
their right, where it was afterwards learned that Web-
ber had been directing his fire against the Indians.
The two men decided that Webber had been taken and
that they iiad better retreat to the creek canyon. Back-
ward the\- went over their former tracks and reached
the creek bottom unharmed. No safety there. They
must be moving, so up the creek they walked and
crawled and ran until they reached a point where the
stream forks, a place they had never visited thereto-
fore. The night had now descended upon the scene
and not one of nature's beacons shone brightly enough
to furnish a light to their pathway — a fortunate cir-
cumstance. At the forks they again stopped and con-
sidered their situation. The Indians would doubtless
discover that they had escaped to the creek and would
therefore follow them, the men reasoned. Why not
take the illogical course and scale the point between
the two forks ? The Indians would not think that they
had pursued such a course and had the two whites been
acquainted with the nature of the path they took, it is
extremely doubtful it even they in their desperate
straits would have undertaken to climb the precipice be-
fore them. But it was night and they saw not. Hour
after hour they toiled upward over the sharp rocks
and through the scattering pines, now falling, now
slipping, always saving themselves by clutching the
branches and bushes near them, steadily and cau-
tiously moving upward until at least they reached the
top of the ridge. Below them five thousand feet or
thereabouts lav the creek. Soon, on each side of them,
a signal fire blazed forth in the darkness and thankful
then were the two hunted men that they had ascended
the point instead of one of the forks. " They were so
exhausted that they crawled into a nearby thicket and
slept for a short time, little caring what' the redskins
were doing, as long as they were separated from them
b) yawning canyons. At daybreak they awoke and
readily found an old trail which they followed into
Warren, arriving there about seven o'clock. A little
later Webber arrived, much to the surprise of Edwards
and Serrin. His escape had been almost as marvelous
as that of his companions.
As soon as the Indians opened fire on the whites
Webber had grasped the situation and prepared to de-
fend the cabin to the last. He had not done much
shooting, because he expected those who were in the
field to arrive almost any minute. Soon after dark
Rains came to the door and was let in by Webber, who
.laid him upon a couch and ministered as best he could
to his wants. Rains called for water and after drink-
ing a little, moaned in his extreme pain, then passed
awaj peacefully. Webber was now confronted with a
still more serious danger. The Indians lighted several
bonfires around the house for the purpose of better
watching the movements of the man in the cabin. Just
as he was about to despair of escape the fire in the
rear of the cabin became very low. Xow that Rains
was beyond any aid, Webber eagerly grasped the op-
portunity and. taking the best gun of the four, crawled
away into a shallow ravine in the rear of the cabin
and thence to the creek heretofore spoken of. He as-
cended the side of the precipitous canyon below the
forks and after a hard climb finally reached the summit.
From that point he saw the Indians burn the buildings
on the ranch and the few old miners' cabins which also
stood along the river. He estimated the number of the
Indians who took part in this attack as no less than
seven, though he thought there might be more.
At Warren a party of eighteen well armed men,
under the leadership of N. B. Willey, at once took
the field with an idea of pursuing the Indian-. A
messenger. Charles Bright, was despatched with the
news to Colonel Bernard. The little company pro-
ceeded to the Rains ranch and there found the usual
scene of desolation following an Indian attack. In
the ruins of the cabin, where the Rains family had made
their home and where Webber had made his stand,
they found the charred bones of Rains's body, which
were taken to Warren and properly interred. The
damage to the ranch was estimated at $3,000, a sum
which the government was asked to pay to the widow,
but her claim, like all of Idaho county's Indian war
claims, was thrown out by the commission. The vol-
unteers followed the trail of the Indians for several
miles into the interior, but finally gave up the chase
as too precarious and uncertain a venture.
Such is the story of the famous Rains massacre as
told the writer by one who was present and whose
escape has been chronicled, James Edwards, now a res-
ident of Grangeville. His home is brightened by the
presence of a devoted wife, who was formerlv the' mis-
tress of his murdered friend's home. Mr. Rains, an
Oregonian by birth, was one of the pioneers of Idaho
county and a man highly esteemed by all who knew
him. He was young at the time of his death, perhaps
somewhere in the early thirties.
Colonel Bernard remained in the mountains until
early in September. His campaign was not successful
in capturing the warring redskins, though the pres-
ence of the troops doubtless kept the Indians from
committing other outrages. Upon Bernard's return
t<> Boise, Lieutenant Farrow was ordered into the field.
with instructions to commence a fall campaign against
the Sheepeaters, an order which he proceeded to
promptly carry out. Under his command was placed
a force of forty soldiers and twenty Umatilla scouts.
This force proceeded to Big creek over the same route
that its two predecessors had taken. This time the
Indians were located and Farrow succeeded in treat-
ing with them through his Umatilla scouts. Farrow
was energetic and succeeded in impressing the hostiles
with his strength and determination to capture them.
Tt being very late in the season, the Indians, who were
but poorly equipped for carrying on a long campaign,
ultimately decided to surrender to Farrow. Few In-
dians ever surrendered to United States troops under
more favorable conditions. The Sheepeaters were al-
lowed to retain their weapons and property, were ex-
empted from prosecution by the civil authorities and.
39«
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
after being kept at Fort Vancouver for a time, were
placed upon the Fort Hall reservation in the southern
portion of the state. Between fifty and sixty Indians
were in the band, about half of whom were men. By
some this number was supposed to represent their to-
tal strength, while others contend that not one-half of
the Indians surrendered.
Speaking of their capture, the Warren correspondent
of the Lewiston Teller, in the issue of October 8,
1879, says: "Too much praise cannot be accorded
Lieutenant Farrow for his exertions in this affair.
He has been thoroughly in earnest, has persevered
when others weakened, has resolutely faced the inclem-
encies of the season, short supplies, poor and exhausted
stock, and has achieved a complete success ; and in
these expressions of gratitude I but echo the senti-
ments of every one of our citizens. The large scope of
country thus cleared of Indians should recommend
his promotion to a colonelcy." The end of this Sheep-
eater war happily proved the conclusion of Indian dis-
turbances in Idaho countv.
CHAPTER II
CURRENT HISTORY, 1879-1903.
After the close of the Xez Perces and Sheepeater
hostilities, the county settled down to steady develop-
ment, unhindered by opposition from the red men or
other foe to progress. The first few years of the new
decade were a period of rather quiet times. The old
placers had become so thoroughlv worked out that
all but a comparatively few of the Chinamen, even,
had left them, and new placer grounds the prospector
failed to find. The result was no local market. The
lack of cheap and speedy transportation rendered
outside markets unavailable, consequently there was a
local monetary stringency. The increase of popula-
tion in the entire decade between 1880 and 1890 was
only 964, yet at no time was there any stagnation. Cat-
tle and horse raising increased, and slowly the rich
soil of the prairie was subdued by the plow of the
agriculturist, and compelled to yield bountiful har-
vests. A representative of W. W. Elliott & Com-
pany, publishers, writing of the prairie in 1883, says:
"Six years of patient industry have rebuilt the waste
places caused by the war. and made the face of the
country more beautiful than ever. Xot even the farms
of Walla Walla show better evidences of careful agri-
culture than can be seen on Camas prairie at this time.
Hard as were the experiences of this people during the
war of 1877, the results it has brought have advanced
them in the race of life and bettered their condition by
giving them broader views of men and things than are
usually found in communities so isolated. The scars
of the war have been covered with the fruits of peace,
and Camas prairie is now a garden spot, making' mani-
fest the broad difference between the elevating influ-
ences of Caucasian civilization and the enforced deg-
radation by the Government of the Indians on the ad-
joining reservation."
July 20, 1885, the cattle men of Idaho county met
at Mount Idaho, pursuant to call, and organized the
Idaho County Stock Growers' Association, the objects
of which were stated to be "to advance the interests
of stock growers and dealers in live stock in said
county, and for the protection of the same against
frauds and swindlers and to prevent the stealing, tak-
ing or driving away of horned cattle, sheep or other
stock from the rightful owners thereof, and to en-
force the stock laws of Idaho territory." The first
officers were : president. Loyal P. Brown ; vice-presi-
dent, John Coram ; secretary, F. A. Fenn ; treasurer,
H. C. Johnson; executive committee, James Surridge,
C. Overman, James Witt, James McDermott, James
Odle and the president.
It appears that there had been some cattle steal-
ing prior to this time. On the 31st of the previous
May a warrant was placed in the hands of Sheriff
Al. Talking-ton for the arrest of two men supposed
to have taken a band of horses belonging to a Chinese
packer in Elk City. The Chinaman was camped near
Jackson's bridge at the time he sustained his loss.
Talkington traced the thieves with their purloined
stock to the vicinity of the agency grist mill, where
one of the men, whose name was Fox, resisted arrest
and was shot dead. The other was taken into cus-
tody. Both had been residents of Camas prairie but
a short time. A coroner's jury acquitted the posse, in-
cluding the sheriff and Parker, Sutherland and An-
derson, of the agency.
Some excitement was created this year by a pro-
posal to return Chief Joseph and his band of hostiles
to the Nez Perces reservation. Citizens sent a pro-
test through B. F. Morris of Mount Idaho to the com-"
missioner of Indian affairs, suggesting that should
the Indians be returned, quarrels were almost certain
to break out between them and friends and relatives
of those outraged and killed during the war. The
department kindly spared the feelings of the people
of north Idaho and guarded against a possible out-
break by sending the major portion of the band to the
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
399
Colville reserve, though a few were returned to their
Idaho home. It is said that Joseph himself was in
favor of the arrangement, knowing that his return
to the Nez Perces reservation would not be conserva-
tive of the best interests of his people.
By act of the legislature, approved January 21,
1885, the act passed ten years before was amended
so that the boundaries should conform to the follow-
ing description: "Commencing at the junction of
Salmon river with Snake river; thence in a north-
easterl} direction to a point where the Lewiston and
Mount Idaho stage road crosses Willow creek; thence
down the middle of the channel of Willow creek to its
junction with Lawyer's canyon; thence down the mid-
dle of the channel of Lawyer's canyon to its junction
with the Clearwater river ; thence up the channel of
the Clearwater river to the mouth of the north fork
of the south fork of said Clearwater river ; thence due
east to the Lolo fork of the Clearwater; thence up the
Lolo fork to the summit of the Bitter Root mountains ;
thence southeastwardly and southerly, following the
present denned boundary line between the territories
of Idaho and Montana to the northwest corner of
Lemhi county ; thence south to the present line of
Custer county ; thence southwesterly along the pres-
ent line between Idaho and Custer counties to the
present line of Boise county ; thence due west along
the present line between Idaho and Boise counties
to the present line of Washington county ; thence fol-
lowing the present line between Idaho and Washing-
ton counties to Snake river ; thence following the chan-
nel of Snake river to the place of beginning."
The year 1886 witnessed the first legal execution
in Idaho county. It appears that some time during the
latter part of January, a German named Theodore
Warlick murdered his mining partner, Henry C. Sav-
age, on the south fork of the Salmon river, where the
men were at work. During the preceding month the
men had begun quarreling and on December [6th they
agreed to separate, so Savage built another cabin.
Later the quarreling was renewed over the division
of provisions, etc. On the fatal day. Savage came af-
ter his gun anil another article or two of small value.
Warlick had thrown the gun into the river and when
he told Savage of this, the latter, so he says, became
infuriated and ran at him with an ax. Warlick seized
his gun, whereupon Savage turned and fled, but failed
to effect his escape. Warlick shot him through the
left leg. then through the right side and finally in the
neck. He then buried the body. His crime remained
concealed until the middle of March, when the re-
mains of Savage were discovered, having been parti-
ally exhumed by some wild animal. Upon his ar-
rest, Warlick confessed to the homicide, but claimed
in extenuation that it was done in self defense. An
effort was made by his attornevs to show that he was
not of sound mind, a fact which seemed evident from
his talk.
Warlick was tried before Judge Buck in April.
The jury returned a verdict of murder in the first de-
gree, but recommended the defendant to the clemency
of the court. Judge Buck, however, sentenced him to
the extreme penalty, designating June 9, 1886, as the
date for his execution. On that day the sentence of
the court was carried into effect, Sheriff Talkington
officiating.
During the summer of 1886 the Alton mining dis-
trict came into prominence as a promising quartz
camp and elicited no little interest among mining men.
The district lies about thirty miles southeast of War-
ren on Logan mountain near the head of Big creek.
Citizens of Warren subscribed money to cut a trail
from their town to the new camp by way of Elk creek,
making it possible to reach the district from that point
in a day's travel. A rush was precipitated which for a
time left Warren almost without population. The
camp had been discovered bv Luther M. Johnson in
the fall of 1885.
July 16, 1887, a partial organization of the Idaho
County Pioneer Association was eftected. On the 6th
of August following, the society was placed upon a
working basis by the adoption of a constitution and
by-laws and the election of L. P. Brown as president,
M. H. Truscott. secretary, and J. M. Dorman, treas-
urer. The president appointed the following board
of directors : D. H. Telcher, J. R. Adkison, B. F. Mor-
ris, F. B. King and James Witt. Following were the
charter members: J. H. Robinson, C. W. Case, L.
P. Brown, M. H. Truscott, A. Shumway, H. C. Brown,
J. N. Rice, W. C. Pearson, J. J. Manuel, J. G. Row-
ion, M. V. larrett, |. M. Domran, H. C. Johnson, Mar-
ion Smith, F. M. Hughes, B. F.Morris, T.L.Ward,
John Bower, T. J. Rhodes, K. W. White, T. D. Swarts.
A.I.Watson, C. Overman, J. R. Adkison, J. T. Rig-
gins, J. Auchinvole. F. B. King, George Popham,
Andrew Maguire, James Witt, D. H. Telcher, Will-
iam Coram. Albert Weber, James B. Sloan, Louis
Weber, Ernest Smith and John McPherson.
As giving a concise account of the mining condi-
tions of this period and as nearly accurate a one as
is obtainable, we quote here a report by X. B. Willey,
then a mining man at Warren, who later became the
first lieutenant governor and second governor of the
state of Idaho. The report was made in the winter of
1886-7 an<i reads as follows:
"In the Florence district mining is principally car-
ried on by Chinamen and the production has not dif-
fered materially from that of preceding years and may
be estimated at $45,000. The Harpster and Liddle,
a silver ledge four miles south of the town, which was
first opened twenty years ago and abandoned, is be-
ing retimbered and worked. An average, lot of ore
sent to San Francisco sampled 140 ounces. Several
gold bearing veins have been opened near town, two
or three arastres built, and the production from the
extremelv rich surface has aggregated several thous-
and dollars.
"The Salmon river district includes gravel bars
scattered here and there for sixty miles above its
mouth. The leading mine is near Slate creek and is
owned bv Small Brothers & Company of Walla Wal-
la. Tt comprises 100 acres with a depth of 30 to 100
feet. A new ditch bringing waters from Slate creek
has recentlv been completed at a cost of $25,000. Total
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
yield of this district may be estimated at $50,000, one-
third of which is produced by one claim.
"The Elk City district produced more gold in 1886
than for several years previously. Old claims have
been worked with greater vigor and improved appli-
ances, and much new ground has been opened and
worked by both white men and Chinamen. The gold
production may be estimated at $75,000.
"The Warren district is situated on the south side
of Salmon river and comprises the area drained by
Warren creek and its tributaries. Situated at an ele-
vation of 6,200 to 7,000 feet above sea level, the win-
ters are severe and much snow falls, but the district
is well watered during the mining season. As usual,
the placer mining is in the hands of the Chinese. Nine
companies have acquired by purchase about two miles
of the bed of the principal creek and keep 300 men
emploved for seven months each year. The pro-
duction is reported as $96,700. In addition to this
sum small companies and single Chinamen have pro-
duced $12,500. The white placer miners produced
about $26,800. The following quartz mines have pro-
duced these amounts, partly estimated and partly re-
ported : Little Giant, $3,300 ; Knott, $2,000 ; Bulldog
(silver), $523; Greenhorn, $1,250; Keystone, $1,570;
Miscellaneous, $1,000: total, $9,643.
"The production of the county may therefore be
recapitulated by districts as follows : Florence dis-
trict, $45,000; Salmon river district, $50,000; Elk
City district, $75,000; Warren district, Chinese plac-
ers. $95,700: Warren district, white miners' produc-
tion. $26,800; Warren district, deep mines (quartz),
$9,643 ; total production. $303,183.
"The principal feature of interest is the discovery
of extensive ledges of argentiferous ore in the Alton
district, thirty miles southeast of Warren, in the heart
of the Salmon river mountains. The two principal
ore veins yet discovered are named 'Cleveland' and
'Senator Beck.' A shipment of ore to Salt Lake was
made from the former late in the autumn, but the re-
sult is not known. Assays of several samples have
been numerous and large, and some very fine speci-
mens of native silver have been found. Altogether the
prospects of this new district are most encouraging."
Agriculturally, the year 1887 was a very prosper-
ous one for both the farmer and the stock raiser.
Crops were excellent, more grain, hay, fruit, etc. be-
ing harvested than ever before. The stock shipments
were also large, aggregating $32,000 for two months
in the summer. Cyrus Overman, stock inspector of
the county, reported officially that the number of cat-
tle and horses inspected by him between April 1, 1887,
and January 1, 1888, and their average value were
as follows: 900 cattle at $30, $27,000; 612 horses at
$30, $18,360; total, $45,360. The following statistics
concerning the county are from Governor Stevenson's
report for the year 1887, doubtless having been com-
piled in part from the assessor's returns : population,
4,250; value of property, real and personal, $753,403;
production, wbeat, 200.000 bushels ; oats. 50,000 bush-
els ; barlev. 41,000 bushels: llax seed, 5,000 bushels;
10.000; hay. 30.000 tons; gold, $475,000;
silver, $5,000; stock in the county: cattle, 15,430 head;
horses, 12,000; hogs, 4,124; sheep, 9,000.
The people of Idaho county were encouraged not
alone by the abundant crops and the increased volume
of money in circulation, arising from large sales of
cattle and horses, but by the signs of the times, which
indicated that the day of railway construction in Cen-
tral Idaho was soon to dawn, bringing its stimulus
to industry of all kinds. In July a party of men, sent
out by the Union Pacific Railway Company to exam-
ine into the resources of the country between Weiser
and Lewiston, made such a favorable report that the
company forthwith ordered a survey, pushing it with
much energy and vigor. Hopes, however, were
dashed to the ground later by the fact that the Union
Pacific succeeded in effecting an amicable arrangement
with the O. R. & N. Company, by which it secured a
satisfactory outlet to the coast.
The summer of 1888 was a very smoky one on
Camas prairie owing to the prevalence of forest fires
to the southward. Much timber was destroyed by
them, but the bad effect of the fires immediately felt
and of most direct moment to the stockman was the
destruction of the winter range. But despite this
disaster the year was a prosperous one as the price of
cattle was higher than it had been formerly and there
was considerable activity in the Warren, Elk and Al-
ton mining districts. The presence of O. R. & N. sur-
veyors running lines from. the Clearwater to Camas
prairie was also an encouraging circumstance, giving
promise that the isolation of the prairie and the coun-
ty was not to last always. Stock shipments this year
were officially reported to have aggregated $70,140.
In the counsels of the territorial legislation of 1888-
9, Idaho county received not a little attention. By
an act approved February 7th, the northwestern boun-
dary line was changed to conform to the following
description: — "Commencing at the junction of Salmon
river with Snake river, thence up the center of the
channel of Salmon river to the mouth of Deep creek ;
thence up the center of the channel of Deep creek to
the mouth of the right fork of Deep creek ; thence up
the center of the channel of the right fork of Deep
creek to the point where the township line between
ranges one and two west of the Boise meridian crosses
Deep creek ; thence due north along said township
line to a point where the said line crosses Willow
creek ; thence down the middle of the channel of Wil-
low creek to its junction with Lawyer's canyon ; thence
down the middle of the channel of Lawyer's canyon."
etc.. the remainder of the boundary being the same
as before.
Of more vital moment to the county was a legis-
lative enactment providing for the construction of a
road between Mount Idaho and Little Salmon mead-
ows, and the appropriation of $50,000 therefor, but as
this measure came under the head of specific legisla-
tion, the territorial bill had to be submitted to congress
before it could become a law. Owing to the brevity
of the time intervening between its passage in the ter-
ritory and the adjournment of the national law* mak-
ing body, it was impossible to secure the necessary
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ratification at that session, but the measure was rati-
fied in May. 1890, and the contract for the construct-
ion of the road let the ensuing September. The work
was divided into four sections, the first extending from
Mount Idaho to Florence; the second from Florence
to Salmon river ; the third from Salmon river to Warm
Springs ; and the fourth from there to Salmon mead-
ows. The entire contract price was $32,240 or $7,760
less than the estimate of Captain Forse and the sum
appropriated. After some long, tedious delays, the
road was eventually completed, and is proving of un-
doubted advantage.
The year 1889 was, however, a rather gloomy one
to the citizens of Idaho county. It was the second
<lrv vear and the result was great depression among
the white and Chinese miners. Many of the latter
were so hopelessly involved that they were compelled
to quit the business entirelv and seek to retrieve their
fortunes in other lines of endeavor. The drouth was
doubly severe upon the farmer and the stockman, di-
minishing crops, injuring the range and at the same
time, by its effect upon the mining classes, reducing
demand for such produce as could be raised. Another
effect was forest fires which again raged in the sur-
rounding mountains, sometimes threatening serious
damage, especially to the range.
Speaking of the fires in one particular direction,
the Idaho County Free Press, of October 4, 1889,
says :
"The fire in the timber south of town has been
gradually spreading and drawing near to the settle-
ments on the foothills for the past month. On Friday
iast, September 27th, a stiff wind was blowing from
the southwest and the settlers all day long, with the as-
sistance of parties from Grangeville and Mount Idaho,
fought the fire, which was threatening the properties
of Joseph Cash and Mrs. Eastman. The fires in this
neighborhood were gotten under control about night-
fall Friday evening, and then commenced a fight to
save the mill property of W. W. Bowman. About a
dozen men from Grangeville and Mount Idaho were
on the ground to assist the local settlers and all night
long the war against the devouring flames was kept
up. It was thought that the best way to fight fire was
with fire, so back fires were started, which materially
aided in checking the flames. At one time, about three
o'clock Saturday morning, it looked as though the mill
property was doomed. On the west side of Three
Mile creek was a solid mile of fire, with the flames ris-
ing forty and fifty feet high, while the air was filled
with flying cinders and blazing brands. At one time
the old shop at the mill took fire from flying sparks,
but one or two buckets of water extinguished the
fiame. Just as the morning began to dawn the advance
of the fire at this point was checked and the only point
in immediate danger was the property of Green Dal-
las. The fire was gotten under control at this point
Saturday morning. The work of fighting the fire
was rendered doubly hard by the stiff wind, which car-
ried sparks distances of from one quarter to a half
a mile, where they would ignite and spread. Sunday
the welcome rain came and extinguished the fires.
"No houses were burned, but the timber that was
destroyed will be a severe loss to the next generation
if not to this.v
Though mining excitements in north Idaho have
never been an uncommon thing, yet that of July, 1889,
was of sufficient magnitude to merit some mention in
our summary of the year. The site of the reported
placer find was a small creek beyond the Alton quartz
district. The discoverers were McLeod, McDonald
and Three-fingered Smith. Warren was depopulated
as soon as the news became known there and several
parties left Camas prairie for the diggings. The
scene in Warren must have been very similar to those
witnessed the golden days of the early 'sixties, as
appears from the following description from the pen
of one who was there at the time :
"Our camp is deserted : everybody is gone. Rie-
bold's men left en masse. It looked like the excite-
ment of war times ; the streets, from end to end, oc-
cupied by horses, some being saddled; some being shod
by improvised smiths all along the streets; some be-
ing loaded ; then the mounting in hot haste, the brand-
ishing of arms and loud call to start, quickly obeyed,
and in double quick time, with John Crooks to the
front on a charger ; the ever restless pack animals jost-
ling and moving hither and thither." The excitment
proved to be "much ado about nothing," for on the
19th parties returned, reporting that scarcely a color
could be found in the new diggings.
Januarv 2, 1890, Company C, First Regiment, Ida-
ho National Guards was organized at Grangeville with
a membership of forty-seven. E. Beck was elected
captain; C M. Day. first lieutenant; S. E. Bibby, sec-
ond lieutenant. Its civil officers were: president, R.
F. Fulton ; vice-president, T. J. Aram : recording sec-
retary, T. M. Pearson : financial secretary. S. G. Bene-
dict; treasurer. A. F. Parker.
The vear witnessed the survey of the road be-
tween Mount Idaho and Little Salmon meadows be-
fore mentioned, the letting of the contracts for its con-
struction and the inception of work upon it. It was
also a vear of great activity in railway circles. The
expectation that the Northern Pacific would begin at
once constructing a branch line to Lewiston caused
a considerable business revival in this as well as Nez
Perces county. It is stated that farm property showed
a decidedly upward tendency, and that city and town
lots almost doubled during the twelvemonth.
As the time approached for the convening of the
first state legislature. Idaho county got its forces in
battle array to contend for the location within its bord-
ers of the agricultural college and experiment sta-
tion. This institution was entitled to an annuity of
$25,000 from the government and an appropriation
of the state's public lands. Meetings were held at
Grangeville. Cottonwood. White Bird. Mount Idaho,
Clearwater. Keuterville and other points to consider
ways and means of securing the boon. A memorial
was prepared, signed bv more than five hundred per-
sons and forwarded to the legislature. It set forth
among other things the advantages of Camas prairie
as an "agricultural tract, claiming that it was the larg-
402
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
est and best body of farming land in the state. Grange-
ville, naturally, was a leading competitor for the in-
stitution, though several other points on the prairie
held out inducements in the hope that they might se-
cure the prize. Grangeville offered a subsidy of cash,
land and" other property, amounting in value to fully
Si 2,500 in all. including the building and grounds of
the Columbia River Conference Academy, which the
trustees of that institution agreed to donate. But all
these overtures were unavailing. The agricultural
college was eventually combined with the state uni-
versity, located at Moscow.
On die J.Sth of February, 1891, a snow storm set in
on Camas prairie, which, it is claimed, eclipsed all
others that have been experienced by white men in
the length of time it continued without cessation. All
tbat afternoon, all the next day and until daylight of
the day following it continued to snow and snow, until
the old snow was buried twenty-six inches deep under
the large, feathery flakes. There was no wind. When
the downfall at last ceased and the sky cleared, the
temperature fell almost to zero, but stock were in ex-
cellent condition to stand the cold snap, the supply of
feed for them was abundant and no damage resulted
to the cattle man, while the storm was a blessing to
the miner and agriculturist.
At the 1890-91 session of the legislature, the
boundaries of Idaho county were again changed
somewhat. The line is the same as that defined in the
net of 1885 from the place of beginning at the junc-
tion 1 if the Salmon and Snake rivers to the Lolo fork
of the Clearwater, when the description is made to
read : "thence up the middle of the channel of Lolo
creek to the head of Lolo creek, and thence in a direct
line to the Lolo pass at the summit of the Bitter Root
mountains : thence southeasterly and southerly fol-
lowing the present lines to tin- east line of Washington
count} : thence along said line between Idaho and
Washington counties to the head of the falls at the
lower end of Round valley; thence due west to Snake
river : thence following the middle of the channel of
Snake river to the place of beginning."
Considerable attention was paid this year to the
copper prospects on Rapid river. A new townsite,
known as Sherman, was laid out and some other steps
taken toward establishing a great copper camp and
developing the rich ore. It was believed that as a cop-
per district the Rapid river belt would some day rival
(.r surpass the great Seven Devils country, though its
inaccessabdity was against its speedy development.
The vear 1891 was the year of the cricket
scare in the farming districts of Idaho county,
which is here mentioned, not because of its importance,
but because it has somehow come to be an event from
which dates are frequently reckoned. The crickets
were present in great numbers, but they damaged the
crops only in spots, failing entirely to produce the
wide-spread destruction it was feared they would.
The vear was one of good crops, no stock losses, and
much activity in the mines, especially in the Elk City
district, where substantial developments were made
in the opening of quartz claims.
The assessment roll of the year shows a total val-
uation of property of $976,610; that there were four
quartz mills in the county, two flour mills, five saw
mills and twenty-two mining ditches ; that the num-
ber of head of stock cattle was 13.337, of beef cattle,
222, of cows, 974, 39 of which were thoroughbreds, of
thoroughbred bulls, 17: of horses, 8,016, of thorough-
bred stallions, 60; of hogs, 3,121 ; of sheep, 6,555.
Prior to this time Idaho county had never experi-
enced the excitement of a hard fought county seat
contest, but in the spring of 1892 a battle of this ex-
citing and sometimes demoralizing kind commenced.
For a number of years Mount Idaho had been declin-
ing in about inverse ratio to the growth of its sister
town of Grangeville, and the citizens of the latter
place at length decided that on the principle of the
greatest good to the greatest number the seat of gov-
ernment should be changed. The first gun of the con-
test was fired February 26th, when the citizens of
Grangeville met at Grange hall to take formal action
looking toward the removal of the county seat. A com-
mittee was appointed to take charge of the matter, the
personnel of which was Henry Wax, chairman ; A. F.
Parker, secretary ; W. A. Hall, Evan Evans and R.
F. Fulton. Later this committee prepared an address
to the people setting forth the reasons for the removal
in the following language:
"One-third of the total vote of Idaho county is
cast in Grangeville precinct, and a very large propor-
tion of the remainder find Grangeville the most con-
venient point for the transaction of business. Under
present conditions, more than three-fourths of the
population have to pass through Grangeville to get to
the county seat, thus greatly and unnecessarily in-
creasing taxation by adding to the cost of jurors' and
witnesses' fees.
"Grangeville is the largest town of the county,
having the largest and most permanent buildings, is
the center of commercial and mining business and
has more extensive hotel and restaurant accommo-
dations than any other town in the county. * *
"The people of Grangeville will donate to Idaho
county suitable and ample grounds for all county
purposes, with a better court house than the one now
owned by the county, together with a brick jail and
a fire-proof brick vault for proper preservation of
the county records. The monev for this purpose is
already pledged by private subscription, and bonds
will be given in due time to secure the county against
expense.
"Acting on the principle of the greatest good to the
number, the county seat should be removed to Grange-
ville/'
According to the provisions of the constitution,
a vote on the question of county seat removal could
only be had upon petition signed by a majority of
the electors of the county. To succeed the proposal
had to be favored by two-thirds of the electors voting
at a general election and a vote on the subject could
only be had once in six years.
The petition was circulated according to require-
ment. Five hundred and fortv-six names were se-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
403
cured, more than the number necessary to make the
ordering of the election a foregone conclusion. On
the first day of the ensuing term of the district court
the petition was considered, and as the papers were
found to have been made out legally and signed by
a majority of all the voters at the last general elec-
tion, the judge signed an order providing for the vote.
A lively campaign ensued. October 31st, $6,000
was deposited in the Bank of Comas Prairie by friends
of Grangeville, which sum had been subscribed for
the purpose of erecting a courthouse and other county
buildings, should Grangeville be chosen as the county
stat. A bond for ten thousand dollars was also filed
with the county commissioners conditioned upon the
town of Grangeville's carrying out its promises to
the voters.
But at the election ensuing, the people decided
against Grangeville, the vote being 470 favoring the
removal and 375 opposed. Under the law requiring
a two-thirds majority, 564 votes were necessary in
order that Grangeville should succeed in its ambitious
designs. The question was therefore settled in Mount
Idaho's favor for six years.
Another movement which enlisted the attention of
Idaho county's citizens during the early days of the
year 1892, was that for the establishment here of
the state experiment station voted to north Idaho.
As an inducement to its location here the people sub-
scribed as a subsidy one thousand dollars cash and
a quarter section of land. The land was what was
known as the Hard}- place, situated between Grange-
ville and Mount Idaho. The committee appointed
to attend to the matter was composed of Jamc> Witt.
\Y. C. Pearson, Frank Shissler, J. D. Hendren, James
Surridge and L. F. Horning. These gentlemen were
successful in attaining the object set before them,
for on February 26th, the board of regents of the
Idaho State University selected Grangeville as the
site of the north Idaho station. The two stations
in southern Idaho were given to Nampa and Idaho
Falls. The movement for the state agricultural col-
lege 'luring the fall of the same year was not success-
ful, for as has been already stated, this institution was
finally made a part of the state university.
The year now under review was a very prosper-
ous one in Idaho county. Late and heavy rains in
the spring were favorable both to the farmer and
miner, but before results couid be known in either of
these industries, real estate had begun to change hands
rapidly at good prices. Reviewing the twelvemonth
in its issue of December 30th, the Free Press says:
"The year 1892 is a notable one in the history
of Camas prairie, which has made more progress in
t'n. last twelve months than in five preceding years.
The steady advertising of its resources led to the dis-
covery of the country, as it were, and the newcomers
were quick to realize the possibilities which lay be-
fore it. As one result much land has changed hands
at advanced prices, and a very large addition has
been made to our population and to those interested in
the development of our natural resources. New towns
have been started and others projected, with the re-
sult that their occupants have succeeded in making
two blades of grass grow where one grew before. A
real start has been made toward opening the surplus
reservation lands, and while the matter is still in
doubt, its final accomplishment cannot be much longer
delayed. Our mining camps have prospered more
than ever before; new districts have been opened and
much development work is in progress. Our vast
mineral resources have been advertised as never before
and fortune is smiling upon us."
Too bad that the forward movement of the prairie
and county should have been brought to a sudden halt
and a retreat so soon begun, but how different is the
note sounded by this same paper about a vear after-
ward, when is presented the following gloomy picture
of conditions :
"The year 1893 opened with prospects of progress
and development for Camas prairie and Idaho county
that would have sent us to the top notch of pros-
perity if realized. Never did a season open more
auspiciously ; the winter was of unusual length and
many cattle died, but the long wet spring, with its
assurances of bountiful harvests, brought ample com-
pensating advantages. As the season progressed and
the promise of a great harvest became practically as-
sured, and the feverish activity in mining circles and
real estate speculations in town lots and farming lands
developed, it seemed as if the long looked for boom
had come. But then came the panic with its depres-
sion of values, and to cap the climax, the great har-
vest that had been gathered was practically ruined
by the longest and heaviest rainy season known here
since the settlement of the country.
"The one redeeming feature which has kept this
community in a self-sustaining position during the
panic was the fortunate sale of our live stock and
hogs, at ruinously low prices, to be sure, but the ag-
gregate sum was sufficiently large to relieve the
financial stringency. The estimated value of cattle
shipped from Idaho county this year is $160,000, and
the value of hogs is $80,000. But for this one re-
source we should have been a hopelessly bankrupt
community. These are strong words but they are
nevertheless true. Our surrounding mining camps
which usually put much money in circulation, were
this year practically deserted and the output was never
less. The claims which in other days were owned and
worked by hundreds of Chinese and made to yield
thousands of dollars which found its way into the
channels of trade are now owned by white men who
hold them for speculative rather than for practical
purposes, and therefore to-day are idle and unpro-
ductive, to the great detriment of every citizen in the
county. In the spring of the year there were great
hopes that outside capitalists would take hold of some
of the better developed quartz properties in Elk City,
erect machinery thereon and make them productive;
great schemes for the development of the hitherto un-
worked flat placer fields of that same mineral basin
were projected and until the bottom fell out. matters
in that camp assumed a very feverish stage of antici-
pation and excitement. But the year has gone by
404
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
without anv particular change. In Florence and War-
ren the season has been dull beyond precedent. On
Salmon river alone is there an increase of population
engaged in mining.
"On Camas prairie matters are in a state of stag-
nation which will endure until spring. We are just
beginning to feel the pinch of hard times and the
scarcity of money. The proceeds of our cattle sales
are about exhausted, and having paid many debts
here, the money has, in the ordinary course of busi-
ness, been sent below to pay outside obligations. We
are now, figuratively speaking, on the flat of our
backs, and will remain so until something happens to
start up the usual business activity. A boom in the
wheat market will put the lower country on its feet
right away, but isolated community is too far from
railroads to be affected thereby."
But notwithstanding the gloom of this picture it
may be doubted whether Camas prairie or any other
part of Idaho county suffered one half as much from
the depression of 1893-6 as did other sections of the
American union ; certainly the hard times did not last
as long, though there was a condition of things border-
ing upon the industrial stagnation throughout the
whole of the year 1894. There was little activity in
the mines, and though crops in the agricultural dis-
tricts were fairly good, prices were low. The stock
market was so depressed as to render that industry
only moderately profitable. The year saw one im-
portant move forward, however, and that was the
building of two much needed wagon roads. The
legislature which met in the winter of 1892-3 had
appropriated ?8,ooo for a road from Camas prairie to
Elk City and $27,000 for one down Little Salmon
river and Salmon river to the southern terminus of
the wagon road ending at John Doumecq's place.
Those who were residents of the county at the
time will remember that in the summer of 1894 some
remarkable meteorological phenomena were observed.
The first and second days of June were remarkably
sultry and on the evening of the second a southwest
wind sprang up, ceasing about midnight. The next
day at noon another wind started blowing from the
same quarter, a hot wind the like of which had never
before been known in the experience of the oldest
residents of the county or the Indians. The ani-
mometer at the experimental station registered its
velocity as having reached at one time seventy-six
miles an hour, and having averaged fifty-six for four
consecutive hours. At sundown it subsided and was
followed by a comparatively low temperature. The
wind, it is said, whipped trees to pieces, blew over
flues, tore off shingles from houses, overturned light
buildings and fences, stripped trees of their foliage
and caused garden vegetables to wilt as if blighted
with frost. Several structures were moved on their
foundations, among them the new school house at
Mount Idaho. The Salmon river rose thirty inches
in twenty-four hours. Its waters floated away several
riparian buildings, among them a sawmill on the south
fork. Timber in the mountains was blown down in
great quantities. The one advantage of the storm
was that prospecting in the mining district- was
facilitated by the fact that great holes were dug in
the earth by upturned trees.
It may be safely asserted that hard times in Idaho
county terminated during 1895. The opening of the
reservation in the fall brought hundreds of hi me-
seekers into the different towns, giving them an air of
bustle and activity, but better far than any temporary
inflation of population was the prospect, nay the cer-
tainty, that the development of the surplus Indian lands
in the county and the end of Indian dominion would
have an effect beneficial to the agriculturist in bring-
ing the railroad and to the miner in opening the Clear-
water river, the key to the Bitter Root mountain o >un-
The year 1895 was one of great activity in the mut-
ing districts. In speaking of the progress made, the
Free Press says :
"First of all and foremost, the hydraulic elevator
plant of the Idaho Alining & Development Company
on American hill, in Elk City district, is the largest hy-
draulic enterprise ever inaugurated in Idaho county
and certainly the most pregnant in its possibilities.
Next comes the operations of the Relief Milling Com-
pany, in the same district — the pioneer enterprise in
quartz milling and concentrating. On Deadwood
gulch James Witt is opening up the Deadwood basin,
by means of a bedrock flume, at great expense. 1 hi
Crooked creek, in Dixie district, Blaine & Cummings
are also putting in a large bedrock flume. The value
of the newly exploited Moose creek diggings has been
demonstrated this year by Heppner & Richardson,
while various other smaller enterprises throughout the
camps in the Bitter Roots are in process of develop-
ment.
"On the Salmon river waters we find in Florence
a discovery and development of hitherto undreamed
of mineral wealth in quartz, which has so far prog-
ressed that a stamp mill for reducing the same is now
in process of erection. In Warren the operations of the
big Philadelphia Dredge Company will be watched
with keen interest by its stockholders, and if it realizes
the expectations formed of it, will bring to our virgin
placer fields a steady stream of eastern money for in-
vestment in like enterprises."
The year 1806 was also one of great activity in min-
ing circles, Florence being, perhaps, the chief center of
interest. On April 5th the miners of that district, in
mass meeting assembled, decided upon the location of a
new town to be called New Florence. Its site was to
be Summit Flat, situated a half mile southeast of the
old town of Florence. Ten lots were reserved for the
first ten business houses to open in the place : sixty or
sixty-five others were divided among the residents, by
lot. The new town was thought to have been rendered
necessary by quartz development in the district. Elk
City and Warren also made substantial progress. Ac-
tivity in the mines had its beneficial influence upon the
farming communities of course though these were not
to recover fully from the effect of the financial strin-
gency until a little later.
May t-. 1897, a cloud burst visited the Salmon
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
405
river country, doing great damage to roads, ditches,,
flumes, ranches and almost everything in its way for a
distance of twelve miles. The Free Press tells us that
from Freedom to Captain Wilson's, the wagon road
was a total wreck where walls were built; that every
little gully on the south slope ran a torrent, carrying
rocks, dirt and trees on the bottoms below, covering
gardens, orchards and ranches from a few inches to
fifteen feet deep. At White Bird horses and cattle
were swept down into the river. So great was the
damage to roads that wagon transportation of mails
had to be discontinued, pending repairs. Another
cloud burst visited the same region June 21st following,
totally destroying the crops on the Sherwin ranch and
doing some damage to the White Bird townsite.
It was during the early part of this year that the
initial steps were taken toward establishing the Bitter
Root and Priest River forest reserves, the executive
order for the purpose bearing date February 22, 1897.
This order provided that all prospecting should cease
after .March 1. 1808, but fortunately congress modified
this feature, and provided that prospecting might al-
ways be carried on within the reserves under the same
conditions as elsewhere, also that the land might be
taken for agricultural purposes. Patrols are main-
tained, however, to see that the forests are properly
preserved. The Bitter Root reserve, which most
intimately affects our county, is situated in both Idaho
and Montana and covers the entire Bitter Root range.
The mining camps of Elk City, Dixie and Buffalo
Hump are included within its limits.
A sensation was created December 29th of this
year by the news that the incoming stage from Lewis-
ton had been held up on the flat between the Pearson
ranch and the town during the preceding night.
After the two passengers, a miner named Arnold
Gerber and a San Francisco drummer named Ben
Rosenfelt, had been relieved of such money as the rob-
bers could find, the former of twenty-eight dollars, the
the latter of thirty cents, the highwaymen ordered the
driver, Allie Vincent, to throw out the mail sacks.
Vincent threw them the way sack, which had nothing
in it of great value, retaining the through mail. He
was then ordered back to Denver, but after proceeding
in that direction for about one hundred yards he again
headed for Grangeville. Search the next day resulted
in the discovery near the scene of the hold up of a
notice to leave town which had been served on a half-
breed named Charles A. Frush. The result was the
arrest of Frush. One Daniel Hurley was also arrested
ami both men were held for trial at the May term of
the federal court. Frush entered a plea of guilty and
gave such evidence against Hurley that he was con-
victed. Both received life sentences.
Six years having elapsed since the county seat
contest, the citizens of Grangeville assembled in mass
meeting on January 17. 1898, for the purpose of
considering the advisability of inaugurating a new
contest. After considerable discussion it was con-
cluded that it were best not to do so just then, as
the citizens would be expected to furnish a court-
house and they had other matters of more immediate
importance demanding their attention. Florence, too,
had been enjoying a boom in its tributary mining terri-
tory and had become ambitious to get back the county
seat. It was therefore thought that that town might
cause a division in the forces favoring a removal such
as would prevent the securing of the required two-
thirds majority, thus leaving Mount Idaho in posses-
sion of the prize for another six years.
As in all other parts of the great northwest and
the greater American union, so in Idaho county much
enthusiasm was elicited by the outbreak of the Spanish-
American war and a wave of intense patriotism passed
over the people. The county was quick to furnish
its quota of volunteers, indeed the opportunity to en-
list was deemed a privilege and many more would
have willingly gone to the war had the government
required them. Members of the militia. Company C.
were of course given the preference and on the even-
ing of April 28th that company was ordered to the
state rendezvous at Boise. When the fact became
known, a fund was speedily subscribed and hasty
preparations were made to give the boys a hearty
Godspeed. They were tendered a reception in the
opera house the next evening at which patriotic music
was rendered and speeches were made suited to the
occasion by Hon. Wallace N. Scales, Captain D. M.
Hartman, J. F. Ailshie and A. F. Parker.
April 30th they set out in wagons to Lewiston.
They were greeted with hastily improvised demon-
strations at Denver and Cottonwood, at the latter of
which towns they spent the night. They arrived in
Lewiston in due season, where they were given an-
other ovation, proceeding thence to Boise on May
5th. The following is the roster of the boys who
started from Grangeville. Captain J. W. Murphy,
First Lieutenant L. Castle, Second Lieutenant R. H.
Hartman, Privates Frank Ames, H. M. McDermid,
B. F. Knorr, F. McLean, Fred McKenzie. J. A.
Wood, W. E. Cook, Bert Collar, Henry Holz, Will-
iam Bloom, James Graves. Joseph Jones, William
Maxey, WcKee, Charles Smith, Frank Wor-
den, Fred Beck, James Byrom, John Byrom, W. H.
Tones, Joe Jones. W. H. Pearson, Robert Crea,
Richard Crea, F. R. Pearson, H. H. Pogue, Ludwig
Egeler, M. L. Murray, W. C. Rothwell, William J.
Tracv, John Worden, 'Henry Giles, H. Strochan. Ed.
Beck, Fred Ames, Bert Pearson, Henry Crea : also
Ned Green of Cottonwood. Of these the following
were rejected at Boise probably because they could
not pass the physical examination, namely: Frank
Ames Henry Holz, William Bloom. Charles Smith,
John 'Byrom, H. H. Pogue, John Worden, H
Strochan, Ed. Beck, Fred Ames, Bert Pearson and
Henrv Crea. .
The Company C. as it was constituted during the
war, was made' up of the Company C whose per-
sonnel is above given and small companies from
Washington, Cassia and other counties. From the
memorial prepared from the official records subse-
quent to the war we obtain the following informatton:
That the captain at the time of mustering out was
James Graham? the first lieutenant, Richard H. Hart-
4o6
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
man, was in command from August 6, 1898, to March
25, 1899, and the second lieutenant, Edwin M. Hol-
den ; sergeants : Fred N. McKenzie, John A. Wood,
Benjamin D. Knorr, Lee G. B. McDowell, (sharp-
shooter), William S. Maxey ; quartermaster, Warren
E. Cook ; corporals : William C. Rothwell, John O.
Lowe, Thomas W. Parry, Charles H. Abbott, Zabud
S. Starks. Frank A. Warden, Bunker C. Eller, chief
cook ; Forrest E Collins, lance corporal ; musicians,
William W. Adamson, Fred Farr ; artificer, Hubert
H. Anderson ; wagoner, Henry H. Giles ; privates,
Cyrus Albertson, Tim W. Barton, John Bendy, Da-
vid Bjom. Val. Brackenbury, Malcolm Carruthers,
Thos. E. Chidsey, wounded February 5, 1899, James
B. Crea, sharpshooter, Robert Crea, William L. Cun-
ningham. George Cook, Jr., Horatio A. Collar, Lud-
wig Egeler, James C. Graves, Sidney Gray, John E.
Greene, Edward F. Harper, Ellet Hitt, Joseph J. Hor-
lon, Norman W. Jones, Joseph Jones, James W. Jef-
freys, Paul A. Kinzel, Horatio Lowe, Arthur J. La-
brash, George B. Manning, wounded April 10, 1899;
Guy Merritt, Harry Minick, Michael L. Murray,
(sharpshooter), Solon Orr, Frank R. Pearson, Joseph
L. Pope. Edward Patch, Alois L. Price, George C.
Robins ' (sharpshooter), Herman G. Rapp, (sharp-
shooter) ; Frank Riblett, William Resh, James C.
Rich, Thomas Richardson, Jabez Saunders, George P.
Simpson, Frank E. Smith, Orson C. Wixom, Henry
A. Wolfe. Transferred : Quartermaster sergeant,
Hugh M. McDermid to hospital corps; Private Ed-
ward Mason to hospital corps ; discharged, before
mustering out : Captain John W. Murphy, December
21, 1898 ; Musician Fred W. Beck, wounded February
5, 1899, Privates Harry J. Conners, James W. Ryan,
John C. Cliff, Wesley Walton, wounded February 5th,
1899 ; Fred Goodwin, Thomas P. Burke, wounded Feb-
ruary 5, 1899 I Jonn J- Donnelly. John A. Christensen,
William P. Cutting, Leander E. Lamon, Robert
Mills, Irwin Pierson, Fred H. Streeter, wounded Feb-
ruary 5, 1899; Joseph J. Valentine. Roll of Honor:
Corporal William H. Jones, died October 21, 1898;
Private Bird L. Anderson, died June 11, 1898: Private
James D. Jones, died November 1. 1898; Private How-
ard G. Haller, killed February 5, 1899; Private Will-
iam J. Tracy, drowned March 17, 1899.
Record of events: — Left Boise, Idaho, May 10.
1898. Arrived at San Francisco, California. May 22,
and went into camp at Camp Merritt. Embarked on
steamship "Morgan City." June 26th. Left San
Francisco bay enroute to Manila, June 27th. Arrived
at Honolulu July 6th, leaving July 9th. Arrived at
Manila Bay July 31st. Landed August 6th at Para-
naque, and went into camp at Camp Dewey. On
guard and outpost duty until fall of Manila, in which
the Idaho boys took part. Went into barracks at
Malate, August 18th. On guard and outpost duty
until February 4th, 1899. In trenches and on firing
line from February 4th to July 12th. Embarked on
U. S. A. transport "Grant" en route to San Francisco,
via Nagasaki, Inland Sea and Yokohama, July 31st.
Arrived at San Francisco August 29. Went into
Camp at Presidio, August 31st.
Battles and engagements : With Spanish forces —
assault and capture of Manila, August 13, 1898 : with
Philipino insurgents, 1899; battle of Santa Ana,
February 4th and 5th ; battle of Caloocan, February
10th and nth: engagements at Guadaloupe, Febru-
ary 16th, 17th, and 18th : Santa Cruz expedition,
April 8th to 17th; skirmish in the advance on Santa
Cruz, April 9th : battle of Santa Cruz. April 10th ;
skirmish in the advance on Pagsanjan and De
Lomban. April nth: skirmish in the advance on
Paete, April 13th. It should be added that First
Lieutenant L. Castle, of Grangeville, was, on his
arrival at Boise, transferred to the first lieutenancy
of Company E. of which he was in command much
of the time. Later he became captain of Company H,
of Boise, with which he returned to San Francisco.
Everywhere throughout the entire war the Idahos
conducted themselves in such a manner as to reflect
credit upon the state that sent them forth, but per-
haps one exploit in which the Grangeville volunteers
were prominent is deserving of special mention here.
< )n the 10th of April the command went out on La-
guna de Bay to capture towns, in company with the
Fourteenth regulars, the Fourth cavalry and the
North Dakota Regiment of Lawton's brigade. Lieu-
tenant Hartman, of Company C, was in command of
sharpshooters at Santa Cruz and was on the firing
line all the time with forty expert shots scattered out
in line about 400 yards beyond the outposts, where it
was easier to pick off venturesome Filipinos. On
April 9, he created the famous "jackpot of Filipinos."
It appears that he discovered some eighty or a hun-
dred of the enemy lying in ambush for him on his
right. He swung his men around so as to form an arc
of a circle with the Filipinos in the center. Lieutenant
Sims, of Company A, who was on the right, swung
around so as to complete the corral. Then a terrible
fire was commenced and in a few moments the "jack-
pot" was filled with the bodies of slain Filipinos.
October 1, 1899, the Idaho county volunteers re-
turned home. They were greeted with ovations all
along the route and when they reached Grangeville,
the most enthusiastic and cordial reception was ac-
corded them that has ever been given in the history
of the county. Flags were unfurled, strains of martial
music greeted their ears, flattering addresses were
made, in short everything was done that could in any
way emphasize the welcome of the people for those
who had so well represented them in battles with
a foreign foe. The overflowing heartiness of the re-
ception will live long in the memories of those to
whom it was given and of all who participated in
this most enthusiastic of gala occasions.
While the Idaho county volunteers were making
a record to be proud of in a foreign land, event- of
great moment in the country's development were
transpiring at home. It was during the prosperous
year 1898 that the famous Buffalo Hump mines were
discovered and that an excitement was created des-
tined to carry the county forward in population,
wealth production and general development at a rate
never before known since the palmy days of placer
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
407
mining. The story of the discovery is thus told:
Jn June, 1898, a prospector and miner named Charles
F. Robbins, in company with George Mitchell, an-
other devotee of the same calling, went into the
Florence country on a prospecting trip. Thence they
proceded to Warren, returning about July 15th. In
Florence Robbins met another prospector named Bert
Rigley Young. The two men, with Mitchell and a
fourth mining man known as Perry Mallory, formed
a party to go into the Meadow creek country, where
they located some placer property. They worked the
ground for a week, but not obtaining satisfactory re-
sults abandoned the claim and went over into the
Wind river country, where Robbins and Young did
the assessment work on a property. Mallory and
Mitchell here separated from their companions and
returned to civilization. The two remaining pros-
pectors, upon completing the assessment work, re-
sumed their prospecting. The second day out. the
date being the 7th of August, they camped about
seventy-five yards from the ledge of rock upon which
the Big Buffalo claim was afterward located. When
camp had been made, Young (who then went by the
name Rigley) started on a hunt for deer. Return-
ing about six o'clock he passed over the big, uncouth
ledge. His attention was attracted by the character
of the rock. He picked up a piece of quartz weighing
about forty pounds, put it under his arm and went
on with it to the camp, where that night it was put
through the roasting process. The result was satis-
factory and the next day the two men located the
Big Buffalo and Merrimac. On the 10th. the Oro
Fino, a southern extension of the Merrimac, was
staked out. The men worked on the various claims
from the morning of the 8th to the evening of the
nth, leaving next day for Florence for a fresh food
supply. They told the story of their good fortune
and soon the news reached the outside world and a
rush for claims was precipitated. The bonding of
these Hump properties for over half a million dollars
gave to the world sufficient proof of their value.
Speaking of the excitement occasioned by the
discovery to a reporter for the Spokane Daily Chroni-
cle, Attorney Nash said:
"No one has any idea of the enthusiasm that the
Buffalo Hump strike has aroused. It is all and even
more than the locators claimed for it. The assays
run to phenomenal values and none of the returns
have been low. The strike itself is one of the most
phenomenal geological freaks ever discovered. It
consists of a huge vein of ore thrown up on the face
of the plain and for five miles one can ride along
beside it on horseback. In its course the vein runs
straight through the Salmon river.
"For two weeks past men have been flocking from
all directions to the camp. At night the camp fires
resemble those of an army ; for miles around they
leap heavenward. More than two hundred prospec-
tors were living in tents along the vein when I left
Grangeville. Florence and the other camps are almost
depopulated ; men threw up good jobs to get to the
strike ; you meet them on foot, huge packs on their '
backs ; on horseback, two men on a horse ; in wagons
with supplies piled up high; in all sorts of vehicles,
all with but one thought— to stake out a claim before
all are gone.
"The ledge is free milling white quartz. For years
trained and veteran prospectors camped beside it", and
climbed over and around it to get into the renowned
f'-'&g'ngs in Boise basin, in the Florence district, in the
northern counties, into the Seven Devils country and
to dozens of other localities long since forgotten."
A mining boom may be a costly thing for those
who travel long distances and endure great hardships
without being fortunate enough to find any reward
in unearthed treasure, but it probably never has the
deplorable effect upon conditions in the boomed sec-
tion that a real estate boom has. The result of the
sale of the Buffalo mines was a revival of activity in
all the mining districts, and a rush into central Idaho
in midwinter, which called forth words of warning
from the local press. Throughout the whole of the
year 1899, Idaho county was in a state of feverish
excitement. Old undeveloped properties of which
prospectors had known for years began attracting
general attention, and inasmuch as they were new to
the public many of them were looked upon as recent
discoveries. The mining world was astonished at the
discovery of the Buffalo Hump. Mallick, Salmon river
and South Fork mines almost simultaneously, when
as a matter of fact they were not new finds, though
without fame, as their development had long been
rendered impossible by isolation. A mining boom
occasions co-operation in the building of roads and
overcoming of natural barriers, producing results
utterly unattainable by the generally impecunious
prospecting class.
A not unimportant incidental result of the Buffalo
Hump excitement was the bringing into prominence
before the public of the richest and finest agricultural
lands in the state, those of the Camas prairie and
the Nez Perces reservation. Thus the farming classes
profited not alone by the creation of an excellent
home market for their products, but by the inthix of
men looking for homes, the augmentation of the agri-
cultural population and the increased development at-
tendant thereon.
Another cause of excitement during this year was
the railroad activity centering in the Clearwater
country. Both the Northern Pacific and the O. R.
& N. were making surveys in the central Idaho region,
and encouraging the hope that construction of roads
in several different directions would soon begin, but
the railroad situation has been discussed at some
length in a previous chapter and needs no further
treatment here.
Writing in the Portland Oregonian, a correspend-
ent in Grangeville thus summarizes the conditions ob-
taining in Idaho county in the summer of [899:
"This whole country is on the boom. Mineral
strikes and railway prospects are the cause ot it. Buf-
falo Hump being the most important factor. From
Lewiston to Mount Idaho business is showing the ef-
fect of the boom and everybody is confident that it is
408
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
but the beginning of a permanent prosperity. New
towns and new additions to old towns are coming to
the front; the price of real estate is leaping skyward;
everv house of every description is occupied to its full
capacity and large numbers of new ones are under
construction, while many vacant lots serve as tenting
ground for the people who cannot otherwise get
housed. :;: * *
The greatest drawback this country has is lack
of railroads. At present all freight has to be hauled
over a mountain range 5,000 feet high from Lewiston,
seventy miles away. Two cents per pound is being
paid to-day for all freight handled between the two
points. This is a handicap that is discouraging to those
who have to compete with the world, so the competition
from this section has not been worth mentioning.
"Now two lines of railway are projected through
the country. The O. R. & N. has done more than a
make a preliminary survey. It has definitely located its
line and obtained the right of way up the Clearwater
and across the Camas prairie to Grangeville. The
N. P.'s survey clings to the Clearwater river, following
up the canyon on the side opposite the prairie, and
aiming, it is said, for a pass that will allow it to go
through into Montana.
"Gold dust and bullion to the value of about $250,-
000 were sent out of Idaho county last year, fully
half of which was handled in Grangeville. That
yield was much below the average and was
much less than the value of the supplies
taken in for the support of the miners. From Camas
prairie last fall, ten thousand hogs were driven out
to market and about three thousand each of cattle,
horses and sheep. Besides these of course the local
market was supplied. It is not found to be profitable
ordinarily to raise grain, hay or root crops for the
outside market, the cost of freighting by teams over
Craig's mountain being heavy, and the home demand
is so limited that there is small inducement for syste-
matic farming. Scarcely one-tenth of the land that
might be cultivated is now cultivated. The rich alluvial
soil ranging in color from a mole brown to inky black,
occasionally of clayey texture and in a few cases show-
ing a little gravel or sand, is said to be the best known
for barley, and the wheat grown on it is of such qual-
ity that one of the mills at Grangeville sends out a
carload of flour a week to supply a special demand
from San Francisco. Last year Grangeville sold goods
of all kinds to the total of about $750,000."
The same conditions that had brought the good
times of 1899 continued operative during the following
year with the result that that also was very prosperous
and brought substantial industrial developments. < >n
May 26th a delegation from Grangeville's board of
trade responded to an invitation to meet and confer
with President Mellen of the Northern Pacific Rail-
road at Stuart. The railway man opened the inter-
view by emphatically stating that the road he repre-
sented would extend its line to Camas prairie within
a year if nothing unforseen should prevent. He stated
that the truce agreed upon between himself and Presi-
dent Harriman in 1899 had been a blessing in disguise
for Grangeville, inasmuch as the road, if forced to
build at that ime. would have passed up the Cotton-
wood leaving Grangeville side tracked, while now a
plat had been filed of a route touching the town.
In mining circles activity continued, the Hump
being still the center of attraction, though signs of
the coming Thunder Mountain boom were discernable.
Not a little interest was taken in Dewey, a mine located
the previous year on the south fork of the Clearwater,
seven miles from Grangeville. The camp certainly
held forth bright prospects and it had the advantage,
should it prove meritorious, of being easily accessible.
A wagon road was completed into the Hump country
from Grangeville in October. — a splendid monument
to the energy and public spirit of Grangeville and the
prairie, and a great advantage to the farmer and the
miner alike. There was much activity in some of the
old camps.
"With the closing of another year," says the Free
Press, in its issue of December 27, 1900, "the people
of Idaho county can look back over the past twelve
months and point with pride to the splendid advance-
ment made in this part of the state. Immigration has
Unwed into our borders: our mines have been de-
veloped : our crops have been abundant ; our merchants
have enjoyed a lucrative trade, and all well directed
energy has been rewarded."
The year of 1 901 was one of progress in
Idaho county along various lines. High prices
for cattle, sheep and hogs made good times
among the stockmen and farmers, while the
various mines in the different districts were
worked vigorously. The report of the state mining in-
spector stated that at Dixie, in the Hump country and
on the Evergreen and Dewey mines on the south fork
of the Clearwater near Grangeville much development
work was done, and that the results were such as to
encourage the mine owners to hope for the fulfillment
of thdir most sanguine predictions. The general pros-
perity of the country induced not a few industrial pro-
jects of various kinds the boldest and chief est among
which was that for the building of an electric railway
between Lewiston and Grangeville, via Denver, Cotton-
wood and Nezperce. At a joint meeting held at
Grangeville August 12th of committees representing
the Lewiston Commercial club and the Grangeville
board of trade, this project was discussed and it was
decided to organize a company. E. H. Libby, of the
Lewiston "Water & Power Company, argued the prac-
ticability of the scheme, proposing that power be taken
from the south fork of the Clearwater and from the
Grande Ronde river. Engineer Walter H. Hill had
prepared estimates of the cost showing that $900,000
would be required to construct the line, exclusive of
power, power plants, electrical equipments and rolling
stock. The extensive area of agricultural and timber
land tributary to the proposed road, it was argued,
would abundantly justify the venture. It was decided
to raise fifteen hundred dollars with which to make
preliminary surveys, further estimates, etc., but the
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
409
project has never been pushed, though its agitation
may be resumed in future and there is a remote possi-
bility of its ultimate materialization.
The chief sensation of 1902 was the Thunder
Mountain excitement. For several years the existence
there of both placer and quartz gold had been known,
and the district was represented on the records of the
United States assay office at Boise, but owing to its
isolation and the absorbing interest of the Buffalo
Hump and other districts less remote from ordinary
routes of travel, it attracted little general attention.
In 1902, however, he eyes of the public were turned
111 its dirction, no doubt through the extensive adver-
tising of the railroads, and a rush of no small magni-
tude was precipitated. The credit of the discovery
is universally accorded to the Caswell Brothers. "In
1894." sa.vs tne report of the state mine inspector,
"Ben Caswell and Dan. Caswel! first visited the dis-
trict and located several claims, and while the forma-
tion was entirely quartz, there being no gravel carrying
the gold as in placer mining, yet by panning the de-
composed porphyry where upon the surface it had be-
come air slacked, the venturesome prospectors secured-
some $260 in gold. For seven years these men, who
were joined by another brother, W. T. Ritchey and
Mr. Huntley, annually visited the district, and although
their efforts were of the crudest and they were able to
work only two weeks each season, a total of fourteen
weeks, utilizing the water from the melting snow,
within that period of time they secured $20,358.99
in gold, as shown by the receipts of the U. S. assay
office at Boise.
"Among those who had heard of the discoveries
of the Caswells was Ed. H. Dewey, of Nampa, Idaho.
and with characteristic keenness and foresight, Mr.
Dewey was the first to realize the wonderful possibili-
ties of the district and interested his father, Col. W.
H. Dewey, the well-known millionaire mining and
railroad man, in a proposition to purchase the original
Caswell discoveries. The Caswells concluded that an
assured competence was better than even the owner-
ship of a bonanza that would require large capital
to develop. They also had other claims in the dis-
trict and the interesting of Colonel Dewey would mean
the building of roads to the almost inaccessible region
and the enhancing of the value of every prospect. A
deal was quickly made and a bond to dispose of the
claims comprised in the original discovery was entered
into in the sum of $100,000. Colonel Dewey imme-
diately put a force of men at work and sent experts
into the camp. So favorable were the reports of these
experts, men of the highest standing in their pro-
fession, that Colonel Dewey and associates, capitalists
of Pittsburg. Pennsylvania, paid the agreed purchase
price to the Caswells, although the bond was not due
until January, 1903. The Dewey Company has done
a great deal of work, having sent in a ten stamp mill,
which was taken over the Boise-Bear valley route in
wagons and bv oack horses. They have run several
hundred feet of tunnels and cross cuts which have all
been in ore of a free milling character, averaging S-
and upwards per ton."
The knowledge of the facts contained in the report
from which the above extract has been made and the
advertising of the railroad companies, precipitated, as
we have said, a large influx of people into the Thun-
der Mountain district during the mining season of
1902. Travel into the country was divided between
two routes, via Boise and Bear valley and via Grange-
ville, Florence and Warren. Naturally the former
route was the most popular with eastern people on ac-
count of its setting out directly from a transconti-
nental railroad, but there was much travel over the
other route also, and the farmers, merchants and hotel
men of Idaho county derived the advantage.
For two or three years previous to this time, the
matter of removing the county seat from .Mount Idaho
to Grangeville had received some attention and at one
time steps in that direction had been taken, but the
scheme was not pushed to any conclusion. In 1902,
however, it was resolved to bring the matter to an
issue, so a petition was circulated and such other pre-
liminary steps taken as were by law required in order
to secure a vote on the question. The campaign does
not seem to have been a very warm one, owing no
doubt to the fact that citizens of Mount Idaho realized
the hopelessness of their cause. The petition was
numerously signed, and the vote at the general election
was 2,637 in favor of removal, 943 against. ( )n July
15th previous to the election, the people had voted by
a vote of 193 to 13 to issue bonds in the sum of five
thousand dollars for the purpose of erecting a city
hall, the understanding being that it might be turned
over to the county for use as a court house if such
was deemed best. The building was erected and leased
to the county for ninety-nine years at a merely nominal
rental.
We have'followed the course of this cursory re-
view until it has brought us out of the realm of his-
tory and into that of current events. The dearth of
available records and perhaps our own limitations
have rendered it impossible to present as vivid a pic-
ture as we could wish of the county's development
from the time its sands were first found to contain
gold to the present when it is a county of happy homes,
rapidlv developing quartz mines, large live stock inter-
ests, schools, churches, societies, a well organized local
government, good prospects for abundant railroad con-
nections and a bright outlook for the future. Great
as has been the development the past has wrought, a
feeling prevails that the county's industrial history has
just begun, and that the historian of the future will
find a richer field of reseach than we have found, and
events of much greater moment to record. The earliest
pioneers have builded a goodly superstructure upon
with their sons and successors may be trusted to erect,
out of the rich materials that nature has provided with
such a lavish hand, a grand and enduring edifice, such
as will prove a worthy monument to themselves and
their sires and predecessors.
CHAPTER III.
POLITICAL.
Despite a most thorough search through the coun-
ty's archives and diligent inquiry among those most
likely to know, we have been unable to find a trace of
the earliest political records of Idaho county — those
previous to 1869 — and are forced to conclude that they
are lost. This period covers the time when the county
seat was located at Florence, and doubtless in moving
the archives from place to place these valuable rec-
ords have either been left behind or destroyed. There
was not much semblance of law and order in Florence
during the first few years of its existence and but lit-
tle attention was given to the problems of government.
Men were engaged in a mad scramble for gold. There
were no important public works which required at-
tention in the wild rugged country then embraced
within the county's boundaries. The simple wants of
the people were few in number and were attended to
without the complicated system now in vogue.
The early government of Idaho county was identi-
cal in form that of most mining counties, except,
perhaps, that it was less effective. Among the miners
a local government was established which, although
not always according to the laws on the statute books,
nevertheless generally accomplished the main objects
of law in a satisfactory manner. Most of these men, in
fact there were very few exceptions, lived in ex-
pectation of the mines soon becoming no longer pro-
ductive, which meant that the miners must leave, and
they were, therefore, unconcerned in building up a
stable government. This was the general character of
the population of Idaho county during the 'sixties. If
elected or appointed to office, men filled the positions
or not at their pleasure, thus continually disarranging
the mechanism of government. Seldom did an officer
serve two terms and in most instances men failed to
serve out the terms for which they were elected.
This being the condition of affairs for the first de-
cade of the county's existence it need not be surpris-
ing if the records and lists of officers who served dur-
ing this period are occasionally inaccurate, although
we have been very painstaking in our efforts to give a
correct record, it would manifestly be impossible to
give an account of each resignation and appointment,
so the names of those only who were known to have
served or have been elected are given.
Section 2 of the act creating Idaho county reads as
follows :
"Be it further enacted, That L. Lindsey be. and is
hereby, appointed county auditor: Robert Gray. Rob-
ert Burns and Sanbourn be appointed county
'commissioners : Jefferson Standifer, sheriff :
Parker, justice of the peace, for said county, until the
next general election."
This act was passed and approved December 20.
1 861.
The county having been organized and a system of
government established, it became necessary t 1 hold
a term of district court, and so we find that on the 22A
day of September, 1862, Hon. E. P. Oliphant. one of
the three associate justices of the supreme court of
Washington territorv. opened court in Florence. Jef-
ferson J. Standifer was present in his capacity as
sheriff; J. Rand Sanburn. district clerk, was repre-
sented by his deputy, Jonas W. Brown : J. D. Will-
iams and' James Judd were appointed bailiffs, and John
Donovan acted as the court crier. Besides these of-
ficials there were also present several atti irneys,
among whom we find the names of I. N. Smith. C. P.
Sprague. H. L. Preston. J. K. Shafer. Edward Lauder,
W. G. Langford and Daniel E. Smith, all of whom
were admitted to practice. The first official act of
Judge Oliphant was to appoint I. X. Smith prosecut-
ing attorney to fill the vacancy then existing, after
which the grand jury was sworn in. The names of
these first grand jurymen are given as follows: John
Creighton, foreman ; B. M. Anderson, G. YV. Keeler,
William Baird. C. C. Higbv, O. Robbins, T. A. Massev,
T. B. Oldham. T. J. Walker. Charles Baird. R. G.
French. D. H. Alderson. W. T. McMillen. Samuel
Stuart, J. T. Galbraith and George Hardin.
The grand jury reported the following true hills:
William Winters, George Ripperts. L. B. Helm, mur-
der: William Thoman, Daniel Thome, James Wendall,
C.eorge Ivers. assault with intent to commit murder ;
John C. Holgate, counterfeiting gold dust : T. M.
Pooler, James Stearns, larceny : Dick Tregaskis, A. J.
Campbell, Richard Roe. John Smith and John Doe,
obstructing public highways ; and Patrick Layden,
Milner &- Casten, Brown, Ballard & Calhoun,
Howard ,v Howlett. Wallace & Holgate, Kelly
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
(Slate Creek house), A. I. Chapman, Benjamin Sar-
geant. Theodore Shultz, John Goff, Miner,
John Doe (Mountain house), Squire & Adams, Rich-
ard Roe, selling intoxicating liquors.
Holgate's case was immediately tried. J. Harphan,
E. T. Beattv, Hugh Donahue, C. W. Walker, William
High. John G. Babcock. J. W. McBride, George Pop-
ham, f . A. Lowry, William B. Park, C. A. Barnard
and D. W. Curtis comprised the jury. Messrs. Smith
and Sprague prosecuted the case and Lauder and
Langford defended the accused. Holgate was found
not guilty. September 30th Winters was placed on
trial and late the same day the jury returned a verdict
of "not guilty." These were the only important cases
which were tried, the remainder being either nolle
prosequied or continued. A great grist of civil cases
came before the court for adjudication. As indicating
the immense volume of business it may be said that
forty different entries appear on one clay's journal.
Many of the cases were settled by the disputing par-
ties, in some cases decrees were granted, others were
summarily dismissed, while a few were continued.
After being in session twelve days, court adjourned
October 4. 1862. For nearly two years following this
term practically no important business was transacted
by the district court in Idaho county.
From a record of the early water rights granted in
the county we take the following, which appears to
have been the first claim filed :
"We. the undersigned, claim, as per notice posted
on the main Slate creek and two branches on the south
side of main creek, the waters of said main creek and
branches for ditch purposes to be conveyed to the
Florence mines, and the undersigned intend to apply
to the legislature of W. T. for a charter for the said
ditch, situate in Idaho county, W. T.
"D. H. Alderson,
"A. D. Saunders.,
"G. W. Keeler,
"Jos. Hawkins.
"Florence City, July 22, 1862.
"Filed for record this 23d day of July, A. D. 1862 :
7 o'clock and 10 minutes.
"I. H. Hoff, County Auditor.
"By Jonas W. Brown, Deputy."
The only other water right recorded in 1862 was
that of Charles Bennett, who filed a claim to all the
waters of Kelley's creek. This claim was filed Octo-
ber 1 2th.
On March 3, 1863. the territory of Idaho was or-
ganized and under the new regime Idaho county held
its first election that fall. This election was called for
the purpose of choosing a delegate to congress and
representatives to the territorial legislature. Idaho
county cast 346 votes for delegate. To the legislative
council it sent Lyman Standford, and to the house,
A'lonzo Leland and John Wood.
In 1864 S. S. Fenn was elected to the legislative
council, and E. C. Latta and Alexander Blakely were
chosen as Idaho county's representatives in the house.
Other than these three we have been unable to find who
were elected that vear. The following year a special
legislative election was held at which Fenn was re-
turned to the council and Alexander Blakely and J. A.
Ripson were elected representatives, the former suc-
ceeding himself.
A roster of the officers elected in 1866 is as follows :
Councilman. S. S. Fenn ; representatives, J. H. Harris
and A. W. McDonald; probate judge, F. A. Shearer;
auditor, recorder and clerk, E. K. Patterson ; treasurer.
Daniel Courtenay ; assessor, J. Renau ; commissioners,
Conrad Fruth, Thomas Marriott, S. S. Smith ; sur-
veyor, Ed. Hanegan ; superintendent public instruction,
Benjamin Haymond. All were Democrats.
The next election, that of 1868, resulted as fol-
lows : Councilman, S. P. C. Howard ; representatives,
E Mulkey and E. T. Bailey : commissioners, Thomas
F. Marriott, James Morehead. ; pro-
bate judge, ; sheriff. H. B. Sinclair;
auditor, recorder and clerk, Benjamin F. Morris ; treas-
urer, J. J. Manuel; district attorney. James W. Poe;
coroner, C. A. Sears. The commissioners appointed
Alexander McDonald to fill the vacant commissioner-
ship and E. R. Sherwin as probate judge. Both of
these appointees were Republicans, and, with Coroner
Sears, were the only members of that partv repre-
sented among the officers.
At this election the county seat was removed from
Florence, which had been steadily declining, to Wash-
ington, the metropolis of the Warren mining district.
The commissioners met at the new county seat in Au-
gust, 1869, and contracted with F. Shissler and John
Mathison for the construction of a county jail, the cost
not to exceed $2,200. A vacant cabin was rented of
John Wood for use as a court house. On July 14th
the commissioners divided the county into three new
election precincts, whose boundaries were defined as
follows :
"District No. 1 to commence at the wire bridge
across Salmon river and thence southwest to the head-
waters of a stream running from near Marshall's old
Mountain House and following down the line of said
stream to its junction with little Salmon river at the
upper crossing of said Salmon river between Warren
and Warm Spring and thence following flown the said
river to its junction with the main south Salmon and
all the country belonging to said county lying south
of said line including Warren and South Salmon, shall
constitute District No. t.
"District No. 2 shall commence at the north line
of District No. 1 and down the main Salmon river to
the big canyon between John Day creek and Slate
creek, including all of the Payette country with Warm
Springs and Miller's camp and John Day creek, shall
constitute District No. 2.
"District Xo. 3 shall commence at the north line
of District Xo. 2 and all the country belonging to said
countv north of said line, including Florence. Slate
Creek and White Bird, shall constitute District No. 3."
In 1869 Idaho countv had only nine county roads.
The first of these was created May 15, 1862, and em-
braced the streets of Florence; the second road, being
the trail leading from the head of .Miners' street, via
Babboon gulch and the mouth of Slate creek, to the
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
county line, was created at the same meeting, as were
also the third road, formerly the old Milner trail, and
the fourth county road, the trail leading from the
south, end of Miners' street, Florence, to the Salmon.
These were the oldest. The ninth road to be taken un-
der the count) 's fostering care was that between the
Allison place on the Salmon and Florence, via the Flor-
ence quartz mill. This road was created by the com-
missioners on May 23. 1869.
In 1870 Idaho county's officers were as follows:
Councilman, S. P. C. Howard: representatives. I'.
Cleary and Perry Clark ; sheriff, H. B. Sinclair ; audi-
tor and recorder, Benjamin F. Morris ; treasurer, J. J.
Manuel : assessor, Josh Fockler ; probate j udge. John
Keep : commissioners, Harvey H. Hall, Charles Chris-
tie and H. A. Tinkham. Hall and Christie were the
only Republicans.
The official vote cast at the November election in
Idaho county in 1872 was as follows : For delegate,
John Hailey, Democrat. 136, Joseph Huston. Repub-
lican. 92: district attorney, James W. Poe. Democrat,
124, John Clark, Republican, 99; representatives. X. 1'..
Willey and Harvey Hall. Republicans, 137 and 103
votes, respectively, Harry Tinkham and Philip Cleary.
Democrats, 98 and 94 votes, respectively : sheriff, H.
B. Sinclair. Democrat. 113. J. S. Fockler. Republican
nominee, though a Democrat, 106: auditor and record-
er, B. F. Morris, Democrat. 128. I. Orcutt, Republi-
can. 96: treasurer, R. Hurley, Democrat, 142, Leo Ho-
fen. Republican, 82: assessor. Jefferson Rhoads. Dem-
ocrat. 125, Henry Elfers, Republican, 99: probate
judge, Levi May, Republican, 122, John Keep, Demo-
rat. 103: superintendent public instruction, Richard
Saux. Democrat, 128, George Woodward, Republi-
can. S4' surveyor, Charles Schneider, Democrat. 130,
H. Savage, Republican. 43. William Allison, Independ-
ent. 12: coroner, Jesse Farmer, Democrat, 128, C. A.
Sears, Republican. 99: commissioner, second district,
W. 1'.. Holmes. Democrat. 42, W. B. Bloomer, 10.
The election of 1874 resulted in a sweeping Demo-
cratic victory as will be seen from the following vote :
For delegate. S. S. Fenn, Democrat. 163. T. W.
Bennett. Republican, 21, : councilman, S. P. C. How-
ard, Democrat. 146, Alexander McDonald, Republican.
40: representatives. Philip Cleary, George M. Shearer,
Democrats. 117 and 66 votes, respectively, W. H.
Rhett, Thomas Clark. Republicans, 64 and 48 votes,
respectively, Fred Klippel, Independent, 65 ; district
attorney. John Clark, Republican. 102: probate judge.
Peter Grogan, Democrat. 148. C. A. Sears, Republi-
can. 35 : sheriff, C. W. Case, Democrat, 137, G. M.
Dyer. Republican. 45 : auditor and recorder. B. F.
Morris. Democrat, 130, George Barnard, Republican,
51 : treasurer, George Church. Democrat, 124, X. I!.
Willey. Republican. 61 ; assessor, Jefferson Rhoads,
Democrat. 85. John M. Auchinvole, Republican, 99:
commissioners, A. Freideririch. S. W. Carpenter, John
Wood, Democrats, 147, 148 and 85 votes, respectively.
George Woodward. John Draper, Republicans. 1 14
and ^,j votes, respectively : superintendent public in-
struction, J. J. Manuel. Democrat. 103, J. H. Elfers,
Republican, 80.
The official records of the election held in 1876 are
incomplete, giving simply the vote cast in this county
for delegate to congress and district attorney. S. S.
Fenn was reelected to congress and in this county re-
ceived 245 votes, while his opponent, John Clark, se-
cured only 131. James W. Poe, the Democratic nomi-
nee for district attorney, received 301 votes: Jasper
Rand, 39 votes. S. P. C. Howard was returned for
the fifth lime to the council, and Philip Cleary was
chosen as Idaho's sole representative in the lower
house. C. W. Case was elected sheriff. Benjamin F.
Morris was re-elected auditor and recorder. K. W.
White received a majority of the votes cast for the
office of assessor. Frank Oliver became treasurer,
Aurora Shumway was elected probate judge and J. S.
Fockler, D. H. Howser and George Dempster, com-
missioners. As usual nearly all of the men elected were
Democrats. This was the first election held in the
county in which the settlers on Camas prairie partic-
ipated, that section becoming a portion of this county
in 1875.
The names of the victorious candidates in the cam-
paign of 1878 may be seen from the summarized vote
given below : Delegate to congress. George Ainslee,
Democrat. 210, J. W. Brown, Republican. 185; dis-
trict attorney. James W. Poe, Democrat. 221. M. Bel-
lure. Republican, 18: councilman, James Witt, Demo-
crat. 175, X. B. Willey, Republican, 216: assembly-
man or representative, William C. Pearson. Republi-
can. 173. T. W. Girton, Democrat. 169. D. A. Gal-
lagher. 50; probate judge. John Bowers, Democrat.
222, Isaac Chapman, Republican, 170. sheriff, C. W.
Case, Democrat, 228, L. P. Wilmot. Republican. 167 ;
auditor and recorder, W. S. M. Williams. Democrat.
218, Frank A. Fenn, Republican, 176: assessor, W. J.
Rainey. Democrat. 224, J. L. Crooks. Republican, 167:
treasurer, C. B. Wood, Democrat, 152, F. Oliver, Re-
publican, 238 : commissioners, John McPherson, T.
Wall, C. Fruth. Democrats, 216, 210 and 147 votes,
respectively. J. X. Rice, J. B. Chamberlain. Marion
Smith, Republicans, 151, 241 and 210 votes, respective-
ly ; coroner, John Denny, Democrat, 182.
The annexation movement affected politics in Idaho
county fully as much as in other counties *)f northern
Idaho, and the campaign of 1880 was largely influ-
enced by that movement. The people of this county
seem to have been quite unanimous in their belief that
annexation was a wise policy for the northern counties
and at the polls 287 votes were cast favoring annexa-
tion to Washington. Only five cast negative votes.
Brayman, the annexation candidate for congressman,
received 297 votes, George Ainslee, the Democratic
candidate from southern Idaho, received 162 votes,
while Alanson Smith, the regular Republican candi-
date, also opposed to annexation, was given only 29
votes. For district attorney, A. Quackenbush. Repub-
lican, received 270 votes, I. M. Maxwell, Democrat,
215; for councilman, L. P. Wilmot, the Republican
candidate, received 258 votes, J. H. Forney. Democrat,
226; for representatives, T. W. Girton. E. B. True.
Democrats, received 255 and 250 votes, respectively,
George Dempster, F. A. Fenn, Republicans, were given
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
4i3
220 and 233 votes, respectively; for probate judge.
John Bower, Democrat, received 249 votes, W. C.
Pearson. Republican, 237; for auditor and recorder,
W. S. M. Williams, Democrat, received 236 votes,
J. B. Chamberlain. Republican, 249; for sheriff, T. J.
Rhoads. Democrat, received 259 votes, Charles Bentz,
Republican, 231 : for treasurer, William Baird, Dem-
ocrat, received 265 votes, George D. Smith, Repub-
lican, 224. for assessor, W. J. Rainey, Democrat, re-
ceived 289 votes. J. R. Adkison. Republican, 193: for
commissioners. T. Wall, H. C. Johnson and W. M.
McLeanc. Democrats, received 244. 314 and 234 votes,
respectively. D. H. Telcher. James Odle and C. AL
Redman, Republicans, 250, [56 and 255 votes, re-
spectively : for surveyor, F. Cobb, Democrat, received
252 votes. J. H. Robinson, Republican, 228 ; for cor-
oner, Caleb Witt, Democrat, received 236 votes, John
Denny. Republican. 241.
Again, for the year 1882. the official vote as can-
vassed, is missing and we can present only the names
of the successful candidates. For the first time since
the organization of the county the election went strong-
ly Republican in 1882. only four Democrats being suc-
cessful. These were C. W. Case, who was elected pro-
bate judge over George Woodward ; T. J. Rhoads, who
defeated Harry Wilson for the shrievalty ; J. H. For-
ney, who was elected district attorney ; and Delos Carr,
who was elected one of the count)' commissioners.
James Odle was elected councilman ; William C. Pear-
son and Robert Larimer, representatives; J. M. Crooks
and N. B. Willey, county commissioners ; J. B. Cham-
berlain, auditor and recorder; J. M. Dorman. treas-
urer ; D. H. Telcher, assessor : and John Denny, cor-
oner.
The records of the election held in 1884 are also
incomplete, so that only the names of the officers
elected can be given. These were: Sheriff. A. W.
Talkington. Democrat ; treasurer. J. M. Dorman. Re-
publican : probate judge, C. W. Case. Democrat; as-
sessor, D. H. Telcher, Republican; district attorney,
J. H. Forney, Democrat; commissioners. Cassius Al.
Day, John Mathison, C. B. Wood, Democrats; auditor
and recorder. T. J. Rhoads, Democrat ; surveyor. F. 1 \
Turner. Democrat : coroner, John Denny, Democrat.
In 1886 the Democrats secured ten out of the four-
teen officers elected. The campaign was fought on
general party principles. The official vote is given as
follows: For delegate, John Hailey, Democrat, 406,
Fred T. Dubois, Republican and anti-annexationist,
2--; councilman. S. S. Fenn, Democrat. 325, Robert
Larimer, Republican, 354 ; representative. Henry C.
Johnson. Democrat, ,^^(>. Frank A. Fenn, Republican,
346; sheriff, A. W. Talkington, Democrat. 411, J. T.
Aram, Republican. 274: probate judge, C. W. Case,
Democrat. 362, W. C. Pearson, Republican, 325 ; dis-
trict attornev. J. H. Forney, Democrat. 385, J. E.
Beede, Republican, 264; auditor and recorder, T. J.
Rhoads, Democrat. 491. F. B. King, Republican, 188;
treasurer, John Bower, Democrat, 425 : assessor, Al. V.
Jarrett. Democrat. 321, J. N. Rice, Republican, 362;
coroner, O. W. Builard. Democrat. 281, S. E. Bibby,
Republican, 392 ; surveyor, F. P. Turner. Democrat,
401, J. Ft. Robinson, Republican, 277; commissioners,
1st district. James Witt. Democrat. 112, C. Al. Day,
Republican, 79, 2d district, H. S. Jones, Democrat. 172,
William Von Berge, Republican, 161. 3d district. Phil
ip Cleary. Democrat, 07, J. 1!. Chamberlain. Repub-
lican, 65.
The annexation question came strongly to the front
in 1888 for the last time, for before another election
could take place Idaho had donned the garb of state-
hood and taken her place by the side of her sister
states of the LJnion. The movement for annexati< in did
not have as many friends in Idaho county as fi irmerly,
however, for Norman Buck, the annexationist candi-
date for congress, received a comparatively light vote.
Several causes conspired to weaken the annexation
spirit in this county, chief among which was the pro-
posed division of the county should the northern por-
tion of the state be segregated from the southern.
Then, too, the people were weary of fighting for what
seemed to be a lost cause and were apathetic in the
matter. The apparent strength of the movement in
Idaho county at this time will be seen from the vote
for Buck which is given in the official count below :
For delegate, J. H. Hawley, Democrat, 365. F. T.
Dubois. Republican, 252. Norman Buck, Annexation-
ist. 57 ; councilman, T. F. Nelson, Democrat, 376,
N. B. Willey, Republican, 307 ; representative. S. W.
Smith, Democrat, 315. C. Al. Day. Republican. 303;
sheriff, Keith W. White. Democrat, 349, D. H. Tel-
cher, Republican, 334; probate judge, C. W. Case,
Democrat, 363, W. C. Pearson, Republican. 317; dis-
trict attorney. J. H. Forney. Democrat, 400. W. A.
Hali, Republican, 282 ; auditor and recorder, T. J.
Rhoads, Democrat, 481, Robert Larimer. Republican.
208 : treasurer, J. Bower, Democrat, 401 ; assessor, J. F.
McLean, Democrat, 295. J. N. Rice. Republican. 387;
commissioners, 1st district. Thelbert Wall, Democrat.
117, J. S. Kinkaid, Republican, 73, 2d district, J. I',.
Forsman. Democrat. 190, Charles Bentz, Republican,
165, 3d district, S. A.' Willey, Democrat. 53, E. W.
Robie. Republican, jS ; coroner, T. W. Nickel. Demo-
crat, ^,^2. S. E. Bibby, Republican. 345 ; surveyor. F. I'.
Turner. Democrat, 283, E. C. Spedden. Republican,
395 : superintendent of schools. H. Robbins. Democrat.
^Sy. At this election only seven votes were cast in
Florence precinct, at one time the most populous dis-
trict in Idaho.
The first state election passed off very quieth in
Idaho county. The issues were national in character
and too generally known to require discussion here.
The vote cast in Idaho county follows :
Congressman, Alexander F. Mayhew, Democrat.
369, Willis Sweet, Republican, ^j ; governor, Benja-
mm Wilson, Democrat, j,<>^. George F. Shoup, Repub-
lican, 384: lieutenant governor, Samuel Taylor. Demo-
crat. 345, X. B. Willey, Republican, 404: secretary of
state." E. A. Sherwin, Democrat, iJ}. A. J. Pinkham,
Republican. 377: treasurer, Timothy Regan. Demo-
crat. 372, I- rank R. Coffin, Republican. 378; state audi-
tor, j. A. Wickersham, Democrat, 388, Silas W.
Moody, Republican, 348; attorney general. R. Z. John-
son, Democrat, i,-.\. George H. Roberts, Republican.
4i4
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
376; superintendent of public instruction, M. A. Kelly.
Democrat. .372, J. E. Harroun, Republican, 378; jus-
tices of thesupreme court, Hugh W. Weir, F. E. En-
sign. I. X. .Maxwell, Democrats. 372, 373 and 381
votes, respectively, J. W. Huston, I. X. Sullivan, J. T.
Morgan, Republicans, 379, 372 and 373 votes, re-
spectively; judge second district court, James \\ . Poe,
Democrat, 385, W. G. Piper, Republican, 361; dis-
trict attorney, J. H. Forney, Democrat,' 462, E. O'Xeil,
Republican. '280: joint senator, C. W. Case, Democrat,
546, I. S. Weiler, Republican, 396; joint representa-
tive, Ezra Baird. Democrat, 365, J. L. Goodnight, Re-
publican. 277 ; representative, S. W. Smith, Democrat,
353, F. A. Fenn, Republican, 391 ; sheriff, C. B. Wood,
Democrat, 384, J. M. Auchinvole, 345; clerk, T. J.
Riioads, Democrat, 432. J. B. Chamberlain, Repub-
lican. 305; assessor, J. D. Hendren, Democrat, 385,
Evan Evans. Republican, 352, treasurer, John Bower,
Democrat, 412, J. C. 'Gelbach, Republican, 324; pro-
bate judge, Hiram Robbins, Democrat, 358, William
A. Hall, Republican. 381 ; coroner, J. W. Turner,
Democrat. 358, S. E. Bibby, Republican, 384; surveyor,
J. C. Stephens, Democrat. 350, George Woodward,
Republican, 374: commissioners, 1st district, A. Car-
penter. Democrat, 100, J. M. Dorman. Republican, no.
2d district. J. B. Forsman, Democrat, 179, G. H. Heb-
eriing, Republican, 170. 3d district, J. S. Fockler, Dem-
ocrat. 62, W. J. Kelly, Republican, 101.
The campaign of 1892 was enlivened by a county
seat contest. The little town of Grangeville had grown
int" :i -mall city and its inhabitants believed that their
town was the proper place for the county seat. The
friends of the town therefore petitioned the district
judge to order a county seat election, that the voters
might express themselves in the matter of removing
the county seat from Mount Idaho. This order the
judge granted. Had it not been for the fact that Den-
ver and Cottonwood were as ambitious for county seat
honors as was Crangeville, and were as yet afraid to
measure their strength with the metropolis of the
prairie in case the voters should express themselves
as favi >rable to removal, it it quite probable that those
favorable to removing the county seat from Mount
Idaho would have won their point. As it was, how-
ever. 470 votes were cast in the affirmative and 375
in the negative, and a two-thirds affirmative vote be-
ing necessary to remove the county seat, the project
failed. It may be interesting to note the vote recorded
in the different precincts on this question, so we here-
with present the official vote :
Grangeville, yes 163, no 11; White Bird, yes 13.
no iS: Slate Creek, yes 24. "" 1 I Clearwater, yes 16,
no 36; Eake, yes 26, no n : Fairview, >es 35, no 15;
Mount Idaho.' yes 15. no 46; Rapid River, yes 15, no
o: Tohn Dav. ves 8, no 1 ; Cottonwood, yes 16, no 81 ;
Westlake, ves' 14. no 3; Warren, yes 50, no 10: Elk
Citv, ves 2-. no 18 : Denver, yes 21. no 57 ; Keuterville,
yes 5. no 42; Forks, yes 13. no 14; Florence, yes 9,
no o: total, ves 470, no 375.
The Populists entered the political field in Idaho
county in 1892 and made a few nominations for some
^f the more important county offices. Both the Re-
publican and Democratic conventions passed strong
resolutions pledging their support toward the early
construction of wagon roads to Elk City and other in-
terior mining camps. Of course the political parties
all suffered from small factional fights engendered by
the county seat contest. The official vote was as
follows :
For president, Cleveland, 434, Harrison, 391, show-
ing that the county was not far from being equally
divided politically; congressman, E. B. True, Demo-
crat, 430^ Willis Sweet, Republican, 420, James Gunn,
Populist. 27: governor, J. M. Burke, Democrat, 444,
W. J. McConnell, Republican, 414, A. J. Crook, Pop-
ulist" 34; lieutenant governor, G. V. Bryan, Democrat,
438, F. B. Willis, Republican, 415; justice of the su-
preme court, F. E. Ensign, Democrat, 426, I. X. Sulli-
van, Republican, 414: secretary of state, J. H. Wick-
ersham, Democrat, 444, J. F. Curtis, Republican,
411; attorney general, W. T. Reeves, Democrat,
442, G. M. Parsons, Republican, 412; treasurer,
Philip A. Regan, Democrat, 439, W. C. Hill, Re-
publican. 413; auditor, W. J. McClure, Democrat,
433, F. C. Ramsey, Republican, 411; superintend-
ent of public instruction, W. J. Faris, Democrat.
440, B. B. Lower, Republican, 410; joint senator
of Idaho and Nez Perces counties, B. F. Morris,
Democrat, 492, J. F. Ailshie, Republican, 366, J. H.
Robinson, Populist, 24; joint senator of Idaho and
Custer counties, A. F. Parker, Democrat, 74. J. G.
Rowton, Republican, 99 ; joint representative of Idaho
and Xez Perces counties, D. C. Stephens, Democrat,
-1 26, \\. I... Thompson, Republican, 405; representa-
tive. T. W. Cirton, Democrat. 448, R. C. Divine, Re-
publican. 403; sheriff, C. S. Gregory, Republican. 429.
A. W. Talkington, Democrat, 409, William Coram,
Populist. 52 ; assessor, J. H. Wann, Democrat. 440,
C. F, Brown, Republican. 428; probate judge. J. C.
Garber, Republican. 485. Levi Magee, Democrat, 382;
treasurer, John Bower, Democrat, 481, John Gilmore.
Republican. ^~2\ commissioners, Jacob Reibold. Re-
publican, 429. C. W. Case, Democrat, 420, Henry
Meyer. Republican, 430, Delos Carr, Democrat, 419.
J. S. Fockler, Democrat, 479, J. B. Chamberlain, Re-
publican. 375 ; coroner, J. W. Turner, Democrat, 504,
F. B. King, Republican. 349; surveyor. G. M. Rob-
ertson, Democrat. 477, George Woodward. Republi-
can, 380. For the first time since the organization of
the county a Republican was elected sheriff.
By 1894 the Populists had gained considerable
strength in this county and polled a much larger vote
than in 1802. All three of the parties adopted free
silver platforms. Much personality and local strife
marked the election in Idaho county. As will lie seen
from the following vote neither of the leading parties
could claim a complete victory, the count}' offices be-
ing quite evenly divided :
Congressman, J. M. Ballentine, Democrat. 430. Ed-
gar Wilson, Republican, 501, James Gunn, Populist,
170; justice supreme court, J. C. Elder, Democrat. 442.
J. W. Huston. Republican, 506, Texas Angel, Popu-
list, 146 ; governor. E. A. Stevenson, Democrat, 497.
W. J. McConnell. Republican, 479, J. W. Ballentine,
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
4i5
Populist, 141: lieutenant governor. J. B. Thatcher,
Democrat, 463, F. J. Mills. Republican, 497, J. J.
Chambers, Populist, 139: secretary of state, J. R. Hall,
Democrat. 440, J. W. Garrett. Republican, 505, F. M.
Tibbels. Populist, 146; attorney general, W. T. Reeves,
Democrat, 445, George M. Parsons, Republican, 497,
R. L. Spence, Populist, 150; auditor, James Stoddart,
Democrat, 444. F. C. Ramsey. Republican, 503, Frank
Walton, Populist, 145 ; treasurer, J. H. Bush, Demo-
crat. 455, Charles Bunting, Republican, 499, C. \Y.
( ooper, Populist, 145; superintendent public instruc-
tion, J. W. Faris, Democrat, 448, C. A. Foresman,
Republican, 503, M. J. Steele, Populist, 145 ; circuit
judge, second district, S. S. Denning, Democrat- Pop-
ulist, 473. W. G. Piper, Republican, 563 ; district at-
torney. Clay McNamee, Democrat-Populist, 548, James
E. Babb, Republican, 540 ; joint senator with Nez
Perces county, A. F. Parker, Democrat, 538, C. M.
Day, Republican. j~< >. G. W. Hinkle, Populist, 120;
joint representative with Nez 'Perces count}-, K. W.
While, Democrat. 515, W. L. Thompson, Republican.
481, S. D. Strong, Populist, 123; representative, Philip
Geary, Democrat, 439, J. G. Rowton, Republican. 531,
J. A. Goodwin. Populist, 138; clerk. A. W. Talkington,
Democrat, 547, C. S. Gregory, Republican, 428, Henry
Kolb, Populist. 147 : sheriff, Cyrus Overman, Demo-
crat, 554. R. M. Henley, Republican, 365, E. L. Parker,
Populist, 213: assessor |. D. Hendren, Democrat, 427,
M. S. Martin. Republican, 583, C. W. Stewart, Popu-
list, 113; treasurer, W. H. Sebastian. Democrat, 4651,
D. A. Wilson, Republican, 487. W. E. Graham, Pop-
ulist, 142: probate judge. John Bower, Democrat, 485,
J. k. Vincent, Republican. 598, Jacob Vercler, Popu-
list, 233; commissioners, Thomas Surridge, Demo-
crat. 400. W. S. Clark, Republican, 522. Hardin Chen-
oweth, Populist, 154. J. B. Forsman, Democrat, 408,
W. W. Blackburn, Republican, 517. Alfred White,
Populist, 132. J. A. Czizek. Democrat, ^)2, H. W.
Cone. Republican, 571 ; coroner. J. W. Turner, Demo-
crat, 480, F. H. Pearson, Republican, 421, W. F. Shaw-
lev, Populist, 187; surveyor, J. W. Evans, Democrat,
470, J. W. Shannon. Republican, 505, J. W. Hender-
son, Populist, 124.
The campaign of 1896 was as strenuous in Idaho
D unty as elsewhere throughout the Union. The Re-
publicans, Silver Republicans, Democrats and Popu-
lists held their conventions at Grangeville on the same
day. Saturday. September 19th. As was expected the
Republicans had divided on the all-absorbing question
of the free coinage of silver, the regular Republicans
adi pting a gold platform. The three remaining par-
ties attempted to effect a junction. After much con-
ference the Silver Republicans agreed to fuse with the
Democrats, the former being allowed the nomination
of the two representatives, but the Populists and Dem-
ocrats were unable to agree upon a division of the
nominations and nominated a separate ticket. The
fusion party was called the Democrat-Silver party.
At the -tale conventions the Democrats. Populists and
Silver Republicans, under the name of the People's
Democratic party, fused in nominating several officers.
[daho county Democrats presented a strong candidate
for the nomination for governor this year in the person
of Aaron F. Parker, editor of the Idaho County Free
Press. Pie was not the choice of the convention, how-
ever. On election day the silver party carried the
county by a tremendous majority, Bryan receiving
three times as many votes as were given McKinley.
The Prohibition candidate for congressman, James t.
Smith, received lo votes and their candidate for gov-
ernor, Mos.es F. Fowler, 8 votes.
The official vote was as follows: For president,
Bryan, 1120, McKinley, 373; congressman, fames
( iunn, Fusionist. 655, William E. Borah, Silver Re-
publican. 421, John T. Morrison, Republican, 374;
governor, Frank Steuenberg. Fusionist, 1057, David
H. Budlong, Republican, 385 ; lieutenant governor,
George F. Moore, Fusionist, 614, Edward B. True, Sil-
ver Republican, 427, Vincent Bierbower, Republican,
380; secretary of state, George J. Lewis, Fusionist, 620,
Charles Durrand. Silver Republican, 407, Isaac W.
Garrett, Republican, 391 ; auditor, James A. Anderson,
Fusionist, 623, Bartlett Sinclair,' Silver Republican,
416, Elmore A. McKenna, Republican, 386; treasurer,
George H. Storer. Fusionist, 618, Timothy Regan,
Silver Republican, 414. Frank C. Ramsey, Republican,
387; attorney general. Robert E. McFarland, Fusion-
ist, 611, George M. Parsons, Silver Republican, 418,
John A. Bagley, Republican, t,jj ; superintendent of
public instruction, Louis N. B. Anderson, Fusionist,
607, Mathias F. Cowley, Silver Republican, 388,
Charles A. Foresman. Republican, 367; inspector of
mines, Benjamin F. Hastings, Fusionist, 1010, Theo-
dore Brown, Republican. 389; justice supreme court,
Ralph P. Ouarles. Fusionist, 580, Edgar Wilson. Sil-
ver Republican, 429, Drew W. Standrod. Republican,
2,72; state senator. John W. Turner. Fusionist. 701.
James Edwards. Republican, 370, ( )scar C. Sheldon,
Populist, 271 ; representatives. Robert F. Fulton,
Charles E. Holt, Fusionists, 678 and 694 votes, re-
spectively, J. G. Rowton. (diaries Morehouse, Repub-
licans, 401 and 365 votes, respectively, John Cheno-
weth, Alford White, Populists, 345 and 291 votes, re-
spectively; sheriff. W. S. M. Williams. Fusionist, 683,
Charles F. Brown, Republican, 430, Jerry R. Baker,
Populist, 378; assessor, Thomas J. Yandell, Fusion-
ist, 594, John R. McLean. Populist. 673, John B.
Crooks, Republican. 242; treasurer, ( ieorge M. Rob-
ertson, Fusionist, 620, David A. Wilson, Republican,
444, Deles Carr, Populist. ^2j ; probate judge, Wal-
lace N. Scales. Fusionist. 692, Jacob C. Garber, Re-
publican. 504, Jacob Vercler, Populist. 207; surveyor,
John A. Seeley, Fusionist, 515. James W. Shannon,
Republican, 538, Frank Turner. Populist. 342; coroner.
Thomas W. Nickel, Fusionist. 731. Edward W. Ste-
vens, Republican, 440: commissioners, Daniel J. Bing-
ham. Fusionist, 633, Jerry Dorman, Republican. 400,
Andrew J. Williams. Populist, 344. Anton Hendricks.
Fusionist, 507. Henry .Meyer, Republican. 31)3. Chris-
topher B. Knorr, Populist. 461; John E. Briscoe,
Fusionist. 814, John X. Rice. Republican. 4O4. The
amendment to the state constitution, granting the wo-
men full political suffrage, received 427 affirmative
and 320 negative votes in the county.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
The vear 1898 brought forth the bitterest campaign
that Idaho county had witnessed in years. Dissensions
had arisen in all three parties and, strangely enough,
out of it all came fusion between the Republicans and
the Populists. The platform adopted by this unusual
alliance did not mention silver, pledged the party to a
just and honest administration of the county's affairs,
pledged the party to reduce the fees and salaries of the
county officers, to improve the county's roads to the
end that the interior mining region might be more
fully developed, and denounced the present law in re-
gard to distributing liquor license monies. A rupture
between the Democrats and the Silver Republicans
was narrowly averted, the Democrats agreeing to fuse
with the latter by the close vote of 32 to 22. A- in
i8q6, fusion was the watchword of the state conven-
tions, Democrats, Silver Republicans and Populists
combining on several offices, while a portion of the
Populist party maintained the Populist party organiza-
tion and nominated a separate ticket.
The vote cast in this count) was as follows :
For congressman, Edgar Wilson, Fusionist ( Dem-
ocrat-Silver Republican). 969, Weldon B. Heyburn,
Republican. 581. James Gunn, Populist. 257. William
J. Boone. Prohibitionist, 55 ; governor, Frank Steunen-
berg. Fusionist, 1025, Albert B. Moss, Republican,
615, James H. Anderson, Populist, 175. Mrs. Mary C.
Johnson, Prohibitionist, 85 ; lieutenant governor, James
li. Hutchinson, Fusionist, 998, James F. Hunt. Re-
publican, 547. Tannas E. Miller, Populist. 165, Janus
Ballentine, Prohibitionist, 57; secretary of state. Mart
I'atne. Fusionist, 984. Robert S. Bragaw, Republican,
594, Joseph S. Bonham. Populist, 148, John W. Knott,
Prohibitionist. 63 ; auditor, Bartlett Sinclair. Fusion-
ist. 984, James H. VanCamp, Republican. 584. Arthur
G. Whittier, Populist. 160, Mrs. Naomi McD. Phelps,
Prohibitionist, "~ ; treasurer, Lucius C. Rice, Fusion-
ist. 1 151, George W. Fletcher, Republican, 586, John
J. Anthony. Prohibitionist, 59: attorney general. Sam-
uel H. Hays, Fusionist. 1004. Thomas L. Glenn, Pop-
ulist, 166, Frank T. Wyman, Republican, 596, Will-
iam A. Hail, Prohibitionist. 65 ; superintendent of pub-
lic instruction, Perineal French, Fusionist, 1136, Lucy
F. Dean, Republican. 628. Joshua X. Reynolds. Pro-
hibitionist, 62 ; inspector of mines. Jay A. Czizek, Fu-
sionist, 022, John \Y. Stoddard. Republican. 595, Da-
vid Farmer, Populist. 276; justice supreme court,
Isaac N. Sullivan, Fusionist, 1063. Drew W. Standrod.
Republican, 631 ; cirucuit judge, Frank L. Moore. Fu-
sionist. 773, Willis Sweet, Populist. 399, Edgar C.
Steei, Remiblican, 581 ; state senator. Frank E. Fogg,
Fusi >nist. 968, James Woodward, Republican-Popu-
list, 807. Airs. Luella Smith. Prohibitionist, 113; rep-
resentatives. Joseph C. Stephens, Frank E. Johness,
Democrat-Silver Republicans. 1,076 and 1.007 votes.
respectively, Mrs. Mary Bennett, Joseph M. Wolbert,
Republican-Populists. 819 and 614 votes, respectively,
John S. Smith. Prohibitjonist, 96: county clerk. Al-
bert W. Talkington, Democrat-Silver Republican.
1.027. Mortimer S. Martin. Republican-Populist, 993:
sheriff. John P. Harriman, Democrat-Silver Republi-
can. 1)22. John F. McLean. Republican-Populist,
1,080; assessor, Harry W. Cone, Democrat-Silver Re-
publican, 815, Fred White, Republican-Populist. 1,121 ;
treasurer. George M. Robertson, Democrat-Silver Re-
publican, T.107. David A. Wilson, Republican-Populist,
796; probate judge. Lewis C. Arnold, Democrat-Sil-
ver Republican. 756, Joseph K. Vincent, Republican-
Populist, 802, Silas Perkins, Independent. 243 {.super-
intendent county schools, Lewis Elsensohn, Democrat-
Silver Republican. 1,104, George A. Cowgill, Repub-
Iican-Populist, t^JS- James \Y. Phillips, Independent,
54; count}' attorney, Wallace X. Scales, Democrat-
Silver Republican, 1,212. James DeHaven, Republican-
Populist. jj2; surveyor, Rufus Hawley, Democrat-Sil-
ver Republican, 995, Stephen Steininger, Republican-
Populist, 785; coroner, George Stockton. Democrat-
Silver Republican. 947, Henry B. lilake. Republican-
Populist, 835 ; commissioners, Joseph B. Cook, George
W. Petty, John E. Briscoe, Democrat-Silver Repub-
licans. 913, 982 and 1,013 votes, respectively. Andrew
J. Williams, August von Bargen, Joel B. Morris. Re-
publican-Populists, 838, 823 and 769 votes, respective-
ly, Jacob B. York, William R. Pitt. Lorenzo E. Smith,
Prohibitionists, 39, 45 and 42 votes, respectively.
With perfect weather and a vote nearly twice as
large as that polled in 1898, the election of 1900 passed
off in this count}- with the best of feeling and without
the slightest disturbance. The issues were national in
character, generally speaking, and the result showed
that Idaho county upheld the principles advocated by
the Democratic party. In Grangeville, the registration
reached 859 and 767 votes were cast, showing a mar-
velous growth in this precinct. The Democratic ma-
jorities averaged between 300 and 500. A small Pro-
hibition vote, not exceeding 25, was cast.
Official vote : For president, William Jennings
Bryan. 1,884. William McKinley, 1.527: congressman.
Thomas L. Glenn, Fusionist (Silver parties). 1.7S3,
John T. Morrison, Republican, 1,447. John F. Stark.
Populist, 18; justice of the supreme court, Charles O.
Scocksiag?r, Fusionist, 1,745, Edgar C. Steele. Repub-
lican, 1.480, William Perkins, Populist. 20: governor,
Frank W. Hunt, Fusionist, 1,785, Drew W. Standrod,
Republican, 1,447. Jonn S. Randolph, Populist. 24;
lieutenant governor, Thomas F. Terrill. Fusionist,
1.733. Addison A. Crane. Republican. 1.440, Johannes
Flansen, Populist, 19; secretary of state, Charles J.
Bassett. Fusionist, 1.734, Martin Patrie, Republican,
1,432. Melancthon F. Eby, Populist, 46; attorney gen-
eral, Frank Martin, Fusionist, 1,742, George E. Gray,
Republican, 1,726, Clay McXamee. Populist, 23- audi-
tor, Egbert W. Jones, Fusionist, 1.763, Henry J. Syms,
Republican, 1,429, William W. Thorp, Populist. 20;
treasurer, John J. Plummer, Fusionist, 1,732, George
H. Kester. Republican, 1,430, Augustus M. Slatter,
Populist. 44 : inspector of mines. Martin H. Jacobs.
Fusionist, 1.745, Robert D. Bell, Republican, 1,448. Ed-
ward Kimbcrlv, Populist, 17: superintendent of public
instruction, Permeal French, Fusionist, r.808. Jessie
Riley, Republican, 1,402; state senator, Joseph C. Ste-
phens, Democrat, 1,713, Henry B. Blake, Republican,
1,471, Tames A. Goodwin. Populist, 63; representa-
tives, Andrew W. Moore, Louis Smith, Democrats.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
'7
1.751 and t,668 votes, respectively, James S. Parker,
Dio C. Call, Republicans, [..374 and' 1.317 votes, re-
spectively, Benjamin D. Knorr, William 11. Clarke,
Populists, 105 and y^ votes, respectively; sheriff,
Jesse M. Dixon, Democrat, 1,830, M. L. Murray, Re-
publican, r.390, William Pauls, Populist, 105 ; assessor,
John 1. < (verman, Democrat, 1,905, O. C. Lapp, Repub-
lican. 1,402, John F. Stark, Populist, 50; treasurer,
George M. Robertson, Democrat, 1,883, George H.
Michael. Republican, 1,311, William V. Manring, Pop-
ulist. 50 ; county attorney, Wallace N. Scales, Demo-
crat, 1,917, Douglas W.' Bailey, Republican-Populist,
1,370; probate judge, Hampton Taylor, Democrat,
1,860, Joseph K. Vincent, Republican, 1,366; super-
tendent of county schools, Lewis Elsensohn, Democrat,
1,855, Edith B. Craig, Republican, 1,431; surveyor,
Henry H. Pogue. Democrat, 1,633, James Stuart, Re-
publican, 1,514, Edgar E. Douglas, Populist, 54; cor-
oner, Thomas W. Nickel, Democrat, 1.578, Russell
Truitt, Republican, 1,401, A. A. Kincaid. Populist,
112; commissioners, Henderson T. Dizney, Frank G.
Mixoll, Alfred H. Bishop, Democrats, 1,568, 1,714 and
1,773 votes, respectively, Frank Brown, Edward S.
Sweet, Milton S. Mason, Republicans. 1,637, F4&9 and
1,295 votes, respectively. Jefferson Wood. Benjamin M.
Booth, Populists, 58 and"54 votes, respectively.
Idaho county now has thirty-nine precincts and at
the last election polled 3,53.4 votes for the different
candidates for congressman and 3,580 votes in the
county seat contest. It has four members of the leg-
islature and is honored by having James F. Ailshie, of
Grangeville, on the supreme bench. For the fifth time
in the history of the county the people voted upon the
question of removing the county seat. For the second
time the friends of Grangeville worked faithfully for
the establishment of the county's seat of government
at this thriving metropolis and this time they were suc-
cessful. When considered precinct by precinct, the op-
position to the removal is found to be very slight, al-
though combined together the negative vote made a
total of 943. There were 2,637 votes cast in the af-
firmative, however. Grangeville cast 880 votes favor-
ing the removal of the county seat and only 7 negative
votes, thus recording the fact that nearly one-fourth of
the voting population in the county is to be found
within the limits of this city. The issues of the cam-
paign were for the most part national in character and
a perusal of the vote cast shows that neither of the
great parties can really claim Idaho county as its own.
The official returns are as follows: For repre-
sentative to congress, Joseph H. Hutchinson, Demo-
crat, 1,717, Burton F. French, Republican, 1.735; jus-
tice of the supreme court, Frank E. Fogg, Democrat,
1,655, James F. Ailshie. Republican, 1,854; governor,
Frank W. Hunt. Democrat. 1,868. John T. Morrison,
Republican. 1,658; lieutenant governor, William E.
Adams, Democrat, 1,747. James F. Stevens, Republi-
can, 1,682 : secretary of state, Charles J. Bassett, Dem-
ocrat, 1,753. William H. Gibson, Republican, 1,648;.
state auditor, John C. Callahan, Democrat, 1,741, The-
odore Turner, Republican, 1,688; state treasurer, Ed-
ward P. Coltman, Democrat, 1,740, Henry X. Coffin,
Republican, 1,643; attorney general, Frederick D. Cul-
ver, Democrat. 1.774, John A. Bagley, Republican,
1,631 ; superintendent of public instruction, Perineal
French, Democrat, 1,833, May L. Scott, Republican,
1,603; inspector of mines. John II. Xordquist. Demo-
crat. 1,730, Robert Bell, Republican, 1,641; judge of
the second judicial district, Wallace N. Scales. Demo-
crat, 1,955, Edgar C. Steele, Republican. 1,047: state
senator, Levi Magee, Democrat. 1,735, Jacob L. Eck-
ert, Republican, 1,824; representatives. Ferry W.
Alitcheil, Hugh B. Fulton, Avery C. Moore. Demo-
crats, 1,711. 1,512 and r ,7 ro votes, respectively, Dio
F. Call, Fred White, Henry Meyer, Republicans. 1.706,
1,900 and 1,709 votes, respectively; county clerk, John
I. Overman, Democrat, 1,963, Frank Brown, Repub-
lican, 1,752; sheriff, George J. Seay, Democrat. 1,879,
William W. Blackburn, Republican, 1.704; assessor,
William H. Williams, Democrat, 1,50.14. Henry Tel-
cher, Republican, 1,973; treasurer, George M. Rob-
ertson, Democrat, 1,908, Albert M. Baker, Repub-
lican, 1,503 ; prosecuting attorney, Edward M. Griffith,
Democrat. 1.876, Asa S. Hardy, Republican, 1.590;
probate judge. Hampton Taylor, Democrat, r.014. Jo-
seph K. Vincent, Republican, 1,600; county superin-
tendent of public instruction, Lewis Elsensohn, Demo-
crat, 1,991. Charles F. McCarthy, Republican, r.553;
surveyor, William < '. McNutt, Democrat. 1.877. James
A, Carlisle, Republican, 1.589: coroner. John W.
Turner, Democrat, [,824, Russell Truitt, Republican,
1.O44; commissioners, 1st district. Robert H. Farris,
Democrat. 1.756, Arthur Clark, Republican. 1.074. 2d
district, George Simon, Democrat, 1,852, Thomas H.
Thompson, Republican, 1,594, 3d district, Robert 1 Irif-
fith. Democrat, 1.734. Charles E. Holt. Republican,
1,692. A small Prohibition and Socialist vote was also
cast.
CHAPTER IV.
CITIES AND TOWNS.
GRANGEVILLE.
So hopelessly at variance is the testimony of differ-
ent witnesses regarding many of the facts of Grange-
ville's early history and such is the dearth of reliable
printed records concerning the town that it is a prac-
tical impossibility to compile its annals with more
than approximate accuracy. No person can form an
adequate idea of the treacherousness of the memory
of man until he attempts to fix absolutely the dates of
events two or three decades past, depending upon the
concurrent accounts of independent witnesses to estab-
lish the truth beyond question. Not a little effort has
been expended in trying to fix important dates in the
history of Grangeville. The task has proven a vexa-
tious one and the results unsatisfactory, but it is hoped
that the sketch herewith presented will do no serious
violence to truth.
All are agreed that the town owes its origin to
the organization in August, 1874, of Charity Grange
No. 15, Patrons of Husbandry, the effect of which upon
the social and industrial life of Camas prairie has
already been adverted to. Henry Hart Spalding, son
of the noted Nez Perces missionary, was the organizer
of the efficient association and King school house, near
Mount Idaho, its first home. It is stated that the resi-
dents of Mount Idaho gave the grange very little
encouragement, being without sympathy with the prin-
ciples and faith in the efficacy of the movement, and
that its membership was composed almost entirely of
prairie residents.
Immediately after the organization of the order,
J. H. Robinson, William C. Pearson and Nathaniel
Markham were elected a committee to secure ground
in Mount Idaho on which to erect a hall for the use
of the association. These gentlemen waited upon
Loval P. Brown, then the townsite owner, but to their
astonishment they received no encouragement what-
soever from him. Mr. Brown was not himself a be-
liever in the grange. He told the committee so with-
out reserve and said he did not want their hall within
the limits of the town. Mr. Brown was a man of many
virtues, a man whose memory is revered in the county.
He was generally alert to perceive opportunities and
courageous to grasp them as they passed, but in this
instance he made a serious mistake, giving his town
a rival which was ultimately to draw to itself the pat-
ronage of the surrounding country, becoming strong
at the expense of the pioneer town, whose prestige,
sightliness and convenience of location would other-
wise have made it the metropolis of Idaho county.
Upon meeting with this refusal, the committee
went to John M. Crooks, whose large ranch of six
hundred acres was situated on Three Mile creek, and
requested that land be given them for the proposed
Grange hall. Crooks had been approached many times
before by men who wished to establish business houses
upon the creek, and had invariably refused concessions.
This time, however, he changed front entirely, donated
a tract of ground for the hall and gave the enterprise
his enthusiastic support. The building was erected
during 1876, at a cost of about $2,000, which sum
•.vas subscribed in cash, labor and materials by the
members of the grange and friends of the project on
the outside. The old road from Mount Idaho to
Lewiston had passed Crooks's house previous to his
time but it was now changed so as to lead in a more
direct course across the prairie. Upon it the hall
was located, and later it became Main street, Grange-
ville.
Though Mr. Crooks, as we have said, had steadily
resisted the establishment of commercial houses upon
his lands during the early days, when he was converted
to a change of policy, he was converted in good earnest
i and never backslid as long as he lived. He gave not
only the hall site asked for but five acres more and a
water right on Three Mile creek for mill purposes.
The direct beneficiaries of the latter donation were
the Grange Flouring Mills Company, a firm composed
exclusively of grangers. The mill was given prece-
dence of the hall in the time of its erection. Work
on it was begun in the fall of 1875 and continued until
its completion about a year later. The construction
, of the hall did not commence until 1876. John Ranch
supervised the mill construction ; Charles Redman his
assistant. William B. Bloomer and Frank Vansise
were in charge of work on the hall, in the erection of
which, as in that of the mill, several others were em-
ployed, including the donors of labor. Before the
mill was completed the company ran short of funds,
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
419
for money was exceedingly scarce at the time, and in
order to make good the deficiency, J. M. Crooks, W.
C. Pearson, J. H. Robinson and W. S. M. Williams
mortgaged their land. All these mortgages were lifted
during or before 1877, though the public spirited men
who tided the mill enterprise over its most trying
period were not reimbursed until some time later. The
cost of the mill is variously estimated at from $7,000
to $12,000. Mr. Pearson was the first president of
the company, and, ex officio, the first superintendent
of the mill, his successor in both offices being W. S.
M. Williams.
During 1876 and the two or three years following
quite a number of frame structures were erected upon
lots which had been laid out by Mr. Crooks at the time
he made his donations of land. Among these was the
home of John Mitchell, a miller ; a small hotel, [6 by 24
feet, built bv Bloomer & Yansise on the site of the
present Jersey house, which was sold a year later to
William C. Pearson ; a little Chinese store building
on the hillside opposite where the Eagle brewery was
afterward put up; the blacksmith shop of Joseph
Jewell, opposite the site of Atherton's present shop on
E. Main street : the residence of A. L. Gordon, on the
corner east of the Jersey house, of Charles Bentz, a
son-in-law of Mr. Crooks, east of where Freidenrich
& Alexander's store now is, and of a laboring man
named Coon, who built, after the Indian war, on the
corner of Main and what is now State street, which
latter thoroughfare was for many years known by
the name of its first resident. Mr. Coon's house was
the first building on the west side of Dry creek. The
first drug store was a small one on the site of Pfeufer's
present store on Main street, built by Dr. Pring, an
army surgeon and physician.
It is thought that the second merchandise store,
aside from that of the Chinaman, was opened by Isa-
dore Monheimer, as a branch of Rudolph's Mount
Idaho establishment. The building, Mr. Vansise tells
us, stood on the hill above the Chinese store just across
the old mill ditch and is still in existence. This store
was maintained only a short time and is entirely for-
gotten by some of the oldest residents of Grangeville.
When it was discontinued, Nash Crane, a brother-in-
law of Coon, opened a saloon in the building.
In 1878 or 1879, probably during the latter year,
William Hill opened a general merchandise establish-
ment in Grangeville. He procured his goods from
Scott & Vollmer, of Mount Idaho, and has been sup-
posed by some to have represented that firm, though
Mr. Scott tells us that such was not the fact ; that Mr.
Hill acted solely upon his own responsibility in open-
ing the little store. The next mercantile house of
Grangeville was that of Aaron Freidenrich and Joseph
Alexander, who came, it is believed, in 1880.
Previous to the annual meeting of the grange held
in January. 1876, the village was without a name. The
question of a suitable appellation was discussed and
finally settled at that convocation, however. Many
suggestions were made, among them Millville, Grange-
ville and Wheeling, the last after the then capital city of
\\ est Virginia, suggsted by J. H. Robinson. The
name "Grangeville" having received a majority of
one vote in the election was adopted, and by it the
town has been known ever since. The postoffiec was
established about the year 1876, W. C. Pearson being
its first master.
At the time of the Indian war, when there were
not more than thirty-five people in Grangeville and its
immediate vicinity, the hamlet had already begun to
entertain ambitions of becoming the metropolis of
Camas prairie, and General Howard remarks that con-
siderable rivalry had already sprung up between it
and Mount Idaho. It was the center of much atten-
tion during the continuance of hostilities in Idaho
county, and it also took on a martial air for a short
time in 1878, during the continuance of the Bannock
and Piute Indian war in eastern Oregon. Grange
hall was fortified and for a few days occupied, but
happily the scare proved groundless, as the hostiles
never came near, and no disturbances arose among
the Xez Perces.
The first school on Three Mile creek was a log
structure built by volunteer labor in 1868 on the farm
of John Aram. Its first teacher was a man named
McLaughlin, a miner wintering in the neighborhood,
and the second the respected pioneer, James H. Robin-
son. Mr. Robinson informs the writer that the school
was better attended and better equipped than one
would naturally suppose, owing to the fact that the
pioneer people of Camas prairie were more cultured
and educated than are pioneers generally. This was
the school of the district until after Grangeville was
well started. In 1877, however, Rev. J. D. Flenner, a
Methodist Episcopal clergyman, established in the
town a church and an institution of learning known as
the Columbia River Conference academy. This school
held its sessions up stairs in the Grange hall, the free
use of which was tendered as a bonus by the public
spirited organization that built it. For several years
the academy was a thriving institution. Starting with
fiftv-five pupils, it soon had an enrollment of one hun-
dred. The relationship between the public school and
this academy was quite intimate; indeed they blended
together at 'first almost into one institution, for the
same teacher was in charge of both, drawing his
salary out of the school fund each year until that was
exhausted, then presiding as principal of the academy
and charging tuition. The academy occupied Grange
hall for a number of years, but about 1884. as nearly
as can be ascertained, it erected a building of its own
where the Grangeville implement company's store now
stands. The connection between it and the public
school continued uninterruptedly, however, for a few
vears longer.
' Naturally the growth of Grangeville during the
'eighties was quite slow. Isolation and scarcity of
money were militating against it, as against the coun-
try generally, the latter due to the decline of placer
mining before other industries could be dev<
take it's Dlace. Elliott's history, published in 1884. speaks
of the town as a little hamlet on the road leading to
Mount [daho, consisting of a mill and a few shops
and dwelling houses.
420
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Until 1885. Grangeville had never been surveyed
but in the fall of that yea'r F. P. Turner, county sur-
veyor, made a plat of it. which bears date October
30th and was filed for record December 3d. The
plat shows nine regularly laid out blocks two hundred
by four hundred feet, bounded by North Second street.
South street, Mill street and Coon (now State) street.
About 1890 the town took up the forward march
in good earnest and since that time it has maintained
a growth always steady and substantial and at times
rpid; this, too, despite the long period of finncial de-
pression experienced by the country generally, in a
lengthy descriptive article on Idaho county, written
in 1890, that well known and admittedly able journal-
ist, A. F. Parker, gives us a glimpse of the Grange-
ville of that day which is of so much historic interest
that we feel constrained to reproduce it here. He
says :
"Grangeville is comparatively a new town, having
been started in 1874. It has all the elements of a quiet,
progressive center, and is one of the most moral,
orderly and law-abiding towns in America. Every
sojourner is struck by the steady air and self repose
of its citizens. It is not a county seat, and between
it and its near neighbor, Mount Idaho, the most cor-
dial feelings are entertained. It is the commercial
center of Idaho county, being situated in the most
central part of the most fertile and thickly-settled
portion of Lamas Prairie. It is a farmer's, miner's,
stockman's and prospector's trading point and does a
very large mountain trade. It is located on Three
Mile creek, three miles from Mount Idaho. The town
is building up very rapidly. Its business interests
comprise three large stores, carving the heaviest stocks
of goods in Idaho, a fine hotel, two blacksmiths, brew-
ery, two saloons, a weekly newspaper, the "Idaho Free
Press," with job printing office attachment, two con-
tractors and undertakers, one boot and shoe maker,
one furniture establishment, agricultural implement
dealers, two drug stores, three doctors, two meat mar-
kets, harness and saddle manufactory, a saw and shin-
gle mill in the timber two miles from town, and several
dairies in the immediate neighborhood.
"Grangeville is an enterprisng town, and already
possesses the attributes of a place ten times as pop-
ulous, viz.: a high school, a resident minister of the
Methodist church, a fine brass band, a choir and or-
chestra, a Chautauqua circle and other indications
of culture and refinement that are greatly extending
their influence in the community. Churches will be
erected this fall by the Methodist and Episcopal congre-
gations. A very large union Sunday school is organized
here. The Patrons of Husbandry have a strong mem-
bership, own a fine hall, and are a power for good'
in the community. The Odd Fellows also make
Grange\ille their headquarters. A strong military
company (Company C, Idaho Guards), equipped,
armed and uniformed by the state is also organized
here and universally commended for its efficiency of
drill and military manoeuvres. The town is growing
very rapidly and promises to become in the near future
ihr most important town in northern Idaho. Wood
is obtained by hauling from the timber belt two miles
south o' town. Water i^ found at six to twenty feet.
A new schoclhouse is building, its population is fast
increasing, and the formation of a new social and
commercial world is progressing with great rapidity.
It will undoubtedly become the railroad center of the
great Clearwater basin. Present population, 300."
In 1890, F. D. Vansise built for the school district
a school house 22 by 36 feet, costing about S650. Many
thought at the time that this building was inadequate
to the needs of the town and the wisdom of their
councils was soon discovered, for in 1893 a new and
much larger and more expensive building was found
to be necessary. 1890 also witnessed the laying of
the corner stones of the two churches mentioned in
Mr. Parker's article, the Alethodist and Episcopal,
both of which were built in due time. 1892 brought
two banks, the Bank of Grangeville and the Bank of
Camas Prairie, the former being the first institution
of its kind in the town though the mercantile firm of
Vollmer & Scott had for many years discharged some
of the functions of a banking establishment. A second
flour mill, with a capacity which was later increased
to one hundred barrels, was erected in 1892, and a
saw mill near town was also among the new enter-
prises inaugurated during the year.
In 1893 the little frame school house proved inade-
quate and on March 6th the district determined to
order a special election to be held April 3d for the
purpose of voting on a proposition to issue bonds in
the sum of $5,680, with the proceeds of which to
erect a school. The election was held pursuant to
call and resulted in the authorizing of the bond issue
by a vote of 72 to 8. July 16th of the following year
the contract for building the new temple of learning
was awarded to George W. Williams. The contract
price was $4,995, but as usual in such matters changes
were made in the plans necessitating increased ex-
penditures, and bringing the total cos.t up to about
$6,000.
Notwithstanding the hard times of 1894 the town
enjoyed a substantial growth during that year. A tele-
phone system was put in between it and Lewiston, and
a number of new business enterprises were inaug-
urated. The old Grange flour mill passed into the
hands of Scott & Vollmer, who renovated it thoroughly
and increased its daily capacity to forty barrels.
1 i range vi lie's experience during the hard time- g
to prove the statement so frequently made that points
remote from a railroad are less affected by genera!
financial disturbances than those in more intimate
connection with the centers of population and civiliza-
tion. It cannot be denied, however, that Grangeville
felt the hard times and that its growth during t
trying years was much slower than it would have been
had prosperity prevailed generally.
May 13, 1895. the town experienced its first fire of
any consequence, two of the oldest buildings in town
being destroyed. The fire started in an old structure
situated on the corner east of the Jersey house, occu-
pied at the time by one J. P. Fitzgerald. Mr. Fitz-
gerald had arisen at an early hour on the morning
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
421
of the accident and started a fire in his cook stove.
Soon after he discovered that the rooting around the
stove pipe was on fire. He gave the alarm, but before
anything could be done the building was beyond hope.
An effi 'it was made to save the vacant one next to it,
however, by attaching- a block and tackle to it and
dragging it out of danger, but the tackle obtainable was
not strong enough to stand the strain. Giant powder
was tried with no better results and soon the building
was likewise beyond hope. The Schmadeka building
on the north, occupied by W. S. Hogan and family,
was -avid, though only fifteen feet distant, by suspend-
ing wet blankets from' the roof ; the Jersey house was
kept saturated with water, while the foliage of poplar
trees protected D. Sheaffer's drug store building on
the east. Fortunately the day was one of absolute
calm, otherwise the entire town might have been de-
troyed.
For more than the first two decades of its existence,
Grangeville's inhabitants were so quiet and orderly
that the necessity of town government was not felt,
but during 1897 a class of vagabonds entered the
place and for their proper handling as well as to
promote the development of the town, the improve-
ment of its streets and sidewalks, etc., it was thought
best to incorporate. Accordingly on October 8th a
citizens' meeting was held in Orange hall to take the
initial steps in that direction. A committee on boun-
daries was appointed which reported as follows :
"We, your committee, would report the following
boundaries : Commencing at the southwest corner of
Sherwin's addition ; thence north to lane north of
Schmadeka*s residence; thence east to road running
south to Grangeville; thence south to north line of
William Havernick's property; thence east a quarter
of a mile ; thence south to south of Mount Idaho road ;
thence west to near southeast corner of graveyard ;
thence south to section line ; thence west to west of
E. Evan's orchard ; thence north to south line of Lew-
iston addition; thence west to southwest corner of
Lewiston addition; thence north to northwest corner
Lewiston addition; thence east to place of beginning.
•H. Wax,
"P. E. Sherwin,
"K. W. White,
Committee."
A petition praying for the incorporation of the
town with the above described limits was sent to the
county commissioners, which body, on October 15th,
incorporated the town, appointing W. W. Brown,
Aaron Freidenrich, Henry Wax, E. C. Sherwin and
W. F. Schmadeka, trustees. These elected Henry
Wax mayor, John T. Riggins marshal, W. E. Bun-
nell clerk. R. Fulton village attorney. John Norwood
treasurer. At the time of the incorporation, the
Grangeville school district was constituted an inde-
pendent one in accordance with the general laws of the
state providing for the formation of such.
The final month of 1897 witnessed the second seri-
ous fire in Grangeville, a lucid account of which was
given in the Free Press of December 24th as follows :
"Fire broke out in the southwest corner of the
second story of the Eagle brewery building west of
the Free Press office at 12:30 A. M. on the morning
of Sunday, December 19th. In a few minutes the en-
tire building was a mass of flames. The Hanson
photograph gallery on the west quickly caught and
thence the flames easily spread to the adjoining build-
ing owned by Mrs. Crea and occupied by H. F. Shiss-
ler as a restaurant. Meanwhile the tierce heat of the
two-story saloon building had started a fire in the Free
Press building, and for a while it looked as if the en-
tire town of Grangeville was to be wiped out by the
fire fiend. Across the street stood the high walls of
the Grange hall presenting a most seductive mark for
the flames. The heat was intense; but at the height
of the danger, there being at this time more people
aroused, a bucket brigade was quickly formed and a
steady shower of water was thrown upon the exposed
wall. This, together with the melting snow upon the
roof, proved sufficient to keep the flames from spread-
ing east of Hall street ; and when the Free Press build-
ing fell in all hands turned their attention to saving
the west end of the burning block. Here the tire was
roaring merrily and throwing forked tongues of flame
from the west wall of the restaurant across the vacant
twenty-five feet of space between it and O'Kane's tailor
shop. Fortunately the latter is only a small box of a
building, and speedily a corps of workers were astride
its ridge pole spreading blankets and deluging them
with water in the very face of the roaring furnace, and
after thirty minutes of hot work the restaurant col-
lapsed and the danger was over.
"But while all this work was going on the south
side of Main street was also threatened. More than
once the front of the Palace hotel was actually on fire,
and the fact that this block is not now in ashes is
owing solely to the foresight of W. F. Schmadeka,
who had equipped his premises with a fire pump and
250 feet of rubber hose. A steady stream of water
was kept playing on the entire front of the block. So
great was the heat of the fire that although Main
street is eighty feet wide, it cracked the plate glass of
Schmadeka's new brick building and blistered the paint
all along the front of this block. The Jones meat
market was once on fire.
"The conflagration came at a most seasonable time.
There were three or four inches of new snow on- roofs
and streets, and the atmosphere was clear, calm and
cold, so the flames went perpendicularly aloft, and such
firebrands as were carried to a distance by currents
in the upper atmosphere landed on the snow and were
speedily quenched. Such firebrands were discovered
at daylight on the porch of the school house and as far
north as the flouring mills. But for the snow thus
protecting the roofs^ a dozen fires would have been
started in as many different points and the entire town
would have gone up in smoke."
The losses were as follows: William Von Berg,
saloon, loss $250; Hanson, the photographer. 1— $2,-
150. insurance $1,150; Mrs. E. A. Crea. restaurant,
small value, no insurance: bank building, occupied
jointly by the Free Press, small loss; Free Press,
everything except files, ledger, subscription and ac-
422
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
count books, and editorial desk. Insurance on build-
ing and contents. $2,000.
It is said that considerable thieving was carried on
during this fire, and no doubt to give the thugs another
opportunity to ply their nefarious vocation, an attempt
was made a week later to start another one. The ice
house in the rear of and adjoining the Miners' saloon
was saturated with coal oil' and ignited and but for the
fact that a man familirly known as "Mule" Davis was
sleeping in an adjoining room and was awakened by
the flash, the dastardly attempt to set the town on fire
would doubtless have succeeded. Mr. Davis realized
the situation instantly and his prompt action saved the
town, for it is said that had the fire gotten a good
start, no means at the command of the citizens would
have prevented a terrible catastrophe, as a strong chi-
nook wind was blowing at the time. Such was the
indignation incited by this contemptible deed that early
next morning a vigilance committee was organized
and systematic efforts instituted for the expulsion from
Grangeville of the vagrant element which has been ex-
isting within its limits without visible means of sup-
port.
There was much activity in Grangeville during the
year 1898, but the greatest improvement of the year
was the inauguration of an excellent water system.
That fall came W. M. Jack, of Portland, and later of
Los Angeles, who had established water works in sev-
eral western cities and towns; he found the residents
of Grangeville ready and anxious for the improvement
he proposed instituting, and soon had operations under
way. He took the water from a mountain spring on
the old Steve Roster place three and a half miles
south of town, which spring is of enormous capacity
and flows perhaps the best water available for city
purposes in the state. Two large reservoirs were
built and lined with concrete. Their combined capacity
is about one million gallons. From them the water is
conducted to the town in large mains and distributed
wherever needed. Rudolph Bertsch is manager of the
system, which was completed in 1899 at a total cost of
$30,000.
It will be remembered that the great Buffalo Hump
excitement started in the fall of 1898 and continued
throughout the entire mining season of the following
year. It gave a tremendous impetus to the growth
of Grangeville, through which many thousands of peo-
ple passed. The town at times was full of tents and
other evidences of the great migrations passing
through it. Fortunately other developments in the
mining country to the southward, particularly in the
Thunder Mountain region, have kept the town lively
and contributed to its growth ever since until it has
become an entirely different place from the Grange-
ville of a half decade ago. The citizens of the town
are public spirited and alert, ever vigilant to secure to
themselves as large a share as possible of the benefits
accruing from mining discoveries and developments.
To this end they always subscribe liberally toward the
construction of roads, helping the mining men and at
the same time helping themseles by making their town
the best and most convenient trading point. It is
claimed that in no other town in the west is it so easy
to raise money for the promotion of any worthy enter-
prise. Fourth of July celebrations, street fairs and the
like are for this reason almost invariably a success,
reflecting credit upon their promoters and impressing
favorable sentiments toward Grangeville upon the
hearts of those who come as visitors.
No attempt has been made to give an exhaustive
history of the industrial development of Grangeville
thus far and it is thought that such for the last half
decade would be too burdened with detail to interest
the general reader. A review of the present business
establishments, churches, societies, etc., will convey a
sufficient idea of the advancement that has been made
since the inception of the town, now nearly thirty-
years ago. A practically complete resume of the com-
mercial houses and business men includes the follow-
ing: Three newspapers, the Standard, Republican;
the Idaho County Free Press, Democratic ; and the
Grangeville Xews, Democratic; two bunks. Bank of
Camas Prairie, the deposits in which on January 6th
of the current year amounted to $259,151.78, its total
resources at the same time being $338,375.41. and the
Bank of Grangeville, which expects soon to become
a national institution ; six general stores, three of them
carrying as large stocks as are carried anywhere in
the state, Alexander & Freidenrich, Scott & Vollmer,
the Bargain Store, the M. & M. Cash store, Adams &
Wiltse proprietors, Joseph Pfeufer's store, the Big
Buffalo store of which W. F. Schmadeka is the pro-
prietor, and Henry \Vax*s store ; three furniture stores,
Albert Johnson, D. T. Mills & Company and \Y. E.
Graham ; dry goods and shoes. The Burt L. Crosby
Company ; the Grangeville Implement Company. Ltd ,
I. C. Hattabaugh secretary and manager ; two hard-
ware stores, Rudolph Bertsch's and that of the Hohaus
& Hickerson Hardware Company ; two meat markets,
Henry Murray and Foster & Hall ; drug stores, Bone-
brake & Cone, Dr. E. H. Shaeffer. Pearson & Wood ;
hotels, the Jersey House, G. K. Reed proprietor ; the
Revere, Mark Howe proprietor ; the Wiltse, George
D. Smith proprietor, the Hotel Grangeville, J. A.
Daziel proprietor, and George Arnold's boarding-
house: book store, W. S. M. Williams, proprietor,
successor to Everett Gee ; restaurants. W. D. Gillette's
and the Model ; millinery, Mrs. A. C. Hawson ; livery
stables, Boss barn, owned by Edward Price, the Pio-
neer, Henry Elfus & A. C. Laningham. and
the Idaho. West. Hockersmith ; blacksmith shops,
David R. Atherton, Dame & Klaucke, James
Oliver. Rev DePardee and Joseph Sorrow ; planing
mill. W. H. Campbell; city "bakery. W. D. Gillette;
wholesale liquor house, A. C. Hawson & Company;
brewery, the Eagle, William Von i'.erg, proprietor;
six saloons ; feed store, Farnham & Neighbor ; Japanese
and Chinese store, Quong Lung; jewelers, J. W. I '.one-
brake, Robert Dunlap ; photograph galleries, John A.
Hanson's, Walter E. Bunnell's ; assay office. E. Stahl ;
barbers, Frank Hogan, Daly & Allen ; merchant tailor,
A. R. Tonev ; notions and confectionery. Wade Broth-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
42J
ers; cigar store. City Cigar Company, R. Cote, man-
ager ; tobacco and fruits, Levi Castle ; real estate, Iowa
Real Estate Company. Harris & Wright proprietors,
Parker & Young. S. G. Chamberlain, R. R. Hotchkiss :
mining engineers. W. C. McNutt, Hill & Tillson; phy-
sicians, S. E. Bibby, E. H. Sheaffer. T. W. Nickel,
Jessie Clark-Bennett, G. S. Stockton; dentists, H. M.
McDermid, Grant A. Green and H. V. Riggs : law-
yers, Wallace N. Scales, James F. Ailshie (supreme
mdge), Clav McNamee, Robert F. Fulton, J. M.
M'Donald, £. M. Griffith, G. T. McDonald, W. A.
Hall. F. E. Fogg, C. H. Nugent, Lycurgus Vineyard,
W. H. Cassad\\ Levi Magee, A. S. Hardy, George
Young, lohn E. Jacques, George W. Goode, James
De Haven, T. H. Bartlett, T. J. McDuffie. Allen Mil-
ler; painting contractors, Richard H. Hartman and
Alexander Robinson ; contractors and builders, Frank
D. Vansise. Alexander Webber, A. J. Turner ; post-
master, J. C. Garber.
Holtz & Son own a large, well equipped brickmak-
ing plant situated northeast of town : capacity, 40,000
a day. It is to be further enlarged and improved this
coming summer. Grangeville has two flouring mills,
the Grangeville Roller Mills supplied with modern
equipments and having a capacity of about one hun-
dred barrels a day, and the Camas Prairie Roller Mills,
Benjamin D. Knorr proprietor. The latter is the old
Grange mill, built in 1875-76. and since improved and
practically rebuilt by J. M. Crooks and Scott & Voll-
mer. from whom Knorr bought the mill last year.
It is equipped with the Plansifter system and is
operated by both steam and water power, the latter
being taken from Three Mile creek. The mill pro-
duces Extra White Rose flour, graham and farina,
chop and feed, etc.
Though the hopes of Grangeville to some day be-
come a railway center have not yet been realized, it
is already a stage center of importance. Stages leave
for Stites seven times weekly, for Florence three, for
Cottonwood six, and for Meadows six. From Adams'
camp on the Florence road a tri-weekly stage goes
to the Hump. Freeman & White are contractors for
carrying the mail on the Meadows route. W. A. Austin
on the Cottonwood, and Charles F. Leland on the
Stites. Florence and Hump routes, though stages on
these last are maintained and operated bv the Idaho,
Nevada and California Stage Company. Mr. Leland
is also the Grangeville agent, ticket and express, for
the Northern Pacific railway.
The Pacific States Telephone Company maintain
a local exchange in Grangeville, well patronized by
the business men and citizens generally : also a long
distance line to Lewiston giving connection with the
outside world and special lines to all important interior
points. The excellent water system of the town has
been already adverted to. It furnishes not onlv a
cheap and sufficient water supply for domestic uses,
irrigating of lawns and the like but an excellent pro-
tection against fire. To render it available for the
latter purpose two volunteer fire companies have been
organized, and equipped at the town's expense with
hose carts, hose, buckets, ladders, etc. The Grange-
ville Electric Light & Lower Company was organized
in May, 1902, and it pushed to a speedy completion
work on the Clearwater six miles east of Grangeville
in constructing an indestructible dam, headgates,
flumes and canal, etc., in fact everything preparatory
to installing a mammoth power plant. The buildings
and machinery have not yet materialized, however,
so that the far-reaching plans of the company for the
benefit of Grangeville and other prairie towns are still
unexecuted. Nevertheless Grangeville is well supplied
with incandescent lamps, arc lights, etc., furnished by
a small seventy horse-power plant put in by the com-
pany in the fall of 1899.
Citizens of Grangeville have invariably manifested
a deep interest in school work. For many years the
combination of the public school with the Columbia
River Conference Academy gave it educational ad-
vantages such as were enjoyed by few if any other
towns in the territory. When the academy ceased to
exist the public school began a rapid development, and
the town now possesses one of the finest schools in
the state. Pupils who complete its eleven grades are
given diplomas admitting them to the university, and
of the 500 boys and girls in its various rooms it is
hoped that not a few are working to that end. The
budding was erected and equipped at a cost of between
twelve and fifteen thousand dollars. The teachers em-
ployed at present are. principal, P. M. Glanville; as-
sistant principal, C. F. McCarthy; Misses Pauline
Ray. Amy Ellenwood, Helen Fray, .Mary Maxey and
Bloom Taylor, and Mesdames Edith Crosby. Sarah
Spedder and Emma Pogue. Joseph Greenfield is jan-
itor. The school board consists of Edward McBroom,
W. W. Brown. Everett Gee. James Edwards and John
Norwood, and the clerk of the district is W. A. Hall.
Grangeville has the only independent school district
in Idaho county.
Seven churches are maintained in the town, all of
them vital and active and most of them quite well
attended. They are the Methodist Episcopal. Rev.
J. S. Smith pastor ; Protestant Episcopal, Rev. Willard
Roots, rector; the Baptist, Rev. William K. Knox,
pastor ; the Catholic, supplied occasionally by the priest
of Cottonwood ; the Presbyterian, Rev. Fred J. Newton,
pastor, building a church at this writing : the Congrega-
tional. Rev. D. D. Hamblv. pastor ; and the Christian,
Rev. Charles McDonald, pastor. The churches have an
efficient supplement in the Y. M. C. A., which was
organized in the town in October. 1898, maintaining
at first only a reading room in the old Grange hall.
The next winter a small gymnasium was opened under
its auspices in the Wililams building. In 1900 the
institution took quarters in what is now the Revere
Hotel building, but in 1002 the rents became so high
that the association had to move, and it was then it
began earnest work for the raising of a fund where-
with to erect its own home. The people of Grangeville
assisted it with their customary liberality, and on Jan-
uary 17. 1903, the building was dedicated. It is a
two-storv structure, erected at a cost of $4,500. and
is equipped with reading rooms, bath rooms, library,
a very complete gymnasium, auditorium, etc. Grant
424
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
A. Green is its secretary and physical director. An
incumberance of $2,200 is still on the building, but
so easy are the terms and so low the rate of interest
that no apprehension is felt that difficulty may be en-
countered in clearing it off.
Like most western towns, Grangeville is well sup-
plied with fraternal and insurance orders, most of
which maintain flourishing lodges. Those established
so far as known are : Mount Idaho Lodge No. 9,
A. F. & A. M., which owns a brick hall on Main
street: Mountain Queen Chapter No. 11, O. E. S.,
Mount Idaho Lodge No. 7, I. O. O. F. ; Camas Prairie
Encampment No. 18. I. O. O. F. ; Mizpah Rebekah
Lodge No. 12; Idaho Tribe No. 9, I. O. R. M. ; White
Rose Assembly, No. 212, U. A.; Buffalo Hump Lodge
No. 30. K. of 'P.; Star Temple No. 5, R. S. ; Grange-
ville Camp No. 206, W. O. W.; Idaho Circle No. 160,
Women of Woodcraft ; Grangeville Hive No. 14, L.
O. T. M.: Grangeville Lodge No. S.S40. M. W. A.;
Hancock Post No. 28, G. A. R.
Such is Grangeville, past and present. To cast its
horoscope is fortunately no part of our task, but with
its favorable location, the agricultural wealth- of its
immediate environment, and the vast developed and
undeveloped mineral wealth of its more remote tribu-
tary territory, the pasturage of its hills and the timber
of its mountains, with the enterprise and public spirit
of its inhabitants and its prospects for railway con-
nection with the outside world in the near future, we
see no reason why it should not long continue to main-
tain the rapid pace of progress it has so well main-
tained during the past five or six years. In 1900 it had
1 132 inhabitants according to United States census.
In the last election, its citizens cast 576 votes, and its
board of trustees in a resolution adopted March 21,
1903, constituting it a city of the second class instead
of a village, claimed for it a population of 1800. May
a continued growth at the same rate be its portion and
the merited reward of its enterprising inhabitants.
COTTONWOOD.
This historic point was for many years during the
early life of the county an important resting place for
teams traveling from Lewiston to Grangeville. Mount
Idaho and the mines. In 1863 Wheeler & Toothacher
were in charge of the Cottonwood station, situated
where Joslin's shop now is. They were succeeded
about a year later by John Byram, and he by Joe Moore
and Peter Ready, from the latter of whom it passed
to Benjamin Norton, the man who lost his life during
the Indian war. After the cessation of hostilities, L.
P. Brown became practicallv the owner of the town-
site by buying the place of Knighten, Harry Wilson
and others.
A postofhee was established in the early days but
the first business aside from that and a blacksmith
shop was the store of F. B. King, opened about 1880.
Some four or five years later. Charles Wood and A.
A. Harris built a saloon. Robert Nugent tells the
writer that when he came to the place in 1887. he
found '"Judge" Gilmore in charge of the blacksmith
shop, H. H. Nuxoll and Barney Stubert in a car-
penter shop, and the business men just referred to at
their respective places. .Mr. Nugent bought out Wood
X: Harris's saloon. F. B. King's store was transferred
to Weiler & Wax about 1891. Mr. Nugent started a
restaurant in 1893, in which year a pork packing estab-
lishment was also started. Dunham & Company, of
Chicago, ran it for a couple of years, but eventually
failed through mismanagement and gave the farmers a
bill of sale of the property in payment of the sums
due them. At present the building is used as a slaugh-
ter house.
In 1893, the first paper of the town, the Cotton-
wood Report, made its bow. Its first issue, bearing
date January 27th, shows by its advertising columns
that Wax & Goldstone were then engaged in the dry
goods and grocery business ; that C. B. Wood was
proprietor of the Cottonwood House; that Felix War-
ren owned the Lewiston-Cottonwood stage line ; that
Revs. T. L. Buzzell and William Cronger were pas-
tors of the Methodist and Catholic churches, respect-
ively : that Davis & Sweet had a saw and planing
mill ; that F. M. Bridgfarmer was engaged in house,
sign and carriage painting ; that J. W. Gains had a
livery, feed and sales stable ; that J. W. Turner, M. D.,
was practicing medicine and surgery; and that Tan-
natt & Hogan were engaged in the real estate business
and in surveying, also were townsite agents. The
paper shows, too, that a literary society was in ex-
istence, of which E. T. Tannatt was president and
Miss Ettie Simpson, secretary.
In 1895, the town began building rapidly, and it
is since that date that the Cottonwood of today has
come into existence. Without attempting to fix the
dates of the coming of later business houses or the
sequence of their establishment, we summarize the pres-
ent business houses of the town as follows : Three mer-
chandise stores, Samuel Goldstone's, Brown & Brust's
and Harry Nuxoll's ; three livery stables, J. T. Hale's,
C. C. Burge's, and J. M. Eller's; J. W. Turner's drug
store and that of the Idaho Drug Company : the Idaho
County Bank, of which E. M. Ehrhardt is cashier;
the saloons of Lyons & Dixon, John Peterson and John
Funke ; and the brewery of Schobert & Peterson ; the
St. Albert hotel, of which A. B. Rooke is proprietor,
and the Cottonwood hotel (closed at this writing),
owned by John Proctor ; harness and saddles, Schiller
& Simons ; planing mill, sash and door factory, Web-
ster & Wright ; a steam flour mill of twenty-five bar-
rels capacity, J. W. Crawford ; blacksmiths, J. F. Dav-
idson. E. Joslin and S. Saux ; meat market, Simons
Brothers; millinery and dress making, Mrs. William
Bash ; bakery, Mrs. Alice Tipton ; grain warehouse,
Samuel Goldstone ; barber, John Caldwell ; hardware
ami implements, H. H. Nuxoll; printing office (Camas
Prairie Chronicle), Frank S. Wimer, proprietor; fur-
niture, J. N. Moden ; a Chinese laundry. It is said
that a large creamery, capable of handling the cream
from four or five hundred cows, is in project, also a
new brewery. J. M. Wolbert, an attorney, is engaged
in the real estate business, and George W. Coutts is
also engaged in the practice of law. The dentists of
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
425
the town arc Drs. T. W. Bray and J. E. Smith, and
the physicians practicing there are Drs. J. W. Turner
and R. Truitt. Samuel R. Libby, the postmaster, is
a watch repairer and jeweler.
The churches of the town at this time are the
Catholic, Rev. H. A. Kremers, pastor; the Baptist, to
which Mr. Daik ministers ; and the Methodist, without
a pastor at the time of the writer's visit. There is
a large four-room public school in Cottonwood in
which three teachers labor, namely, Prof. E. O. Stein-
inger. Miss Mary T. Hayden and Mrs. Gussie H.
Clark. A Catholic school is maintained by Rev. H.
A. Kremers in connection with the church, intended,
it is said, as a forerunner of a sisters' school. Fra-
ternal orders are well represented, there being sub-
ordinate lodges of the I. O. O. F., Rebekahs, K. of P.,
M. W. A., and K. O. T. M. The first mentioned order
has a large two-story hall with lodge and banquet
rooms above and an opera and dance hall below.
While Cottonwood is as yet without a railroad
it has daily stage connections with Grangeville, Lew-
iston and Keuterville, and tri-weekly with Kamiah.
The O. R. & N. survey passes through the town.
Cottonwood enjoys a very favorable situation on
the creek from which it takes its name. It is conven-
ient to a large stock raising country, and there are
six saw mills within ten miles of the place. The rich
sum 'imding country furnishes the business men of
the town assurance of a reasonably abundant and
permanent patronage, and as the country grows their
business and their number must enjoy a corresponding
increase.
The eastern terminal of the Clearwater Short Line
is Stites, a prosperous, bustling little town of perhaps
three hundred inhabitants. It has enjoyed a phenom-
enal growth during the brief period of its existence,
and the energy, confidence and public spirit of its
people are an abundant guarantee of further develop-
ments to be effected in the future. Stites possesses
an excellent geographical location, and not without rea-
son has it been given the sobriquet of "The Gate City
of Idaho County," for through it must pass by far
the major portion of this region's travel and com-
merce. The entire mining country of the interior is
tributary to it, as is also the southern portion of Camas
prairie. Nearly all of the stock shipments of the
county are made here, constituting it a forwarding
point of no little importance, as is shown by the fact
that in ten days last August $35,000 worth of cattle
and hogs were placed aboard the cars there. Within
the same period 30,000 pounds of wool were shipped.
As will be seen by reference to a map of the county,
Stites is situated within the old Nez Perces Indian
reservation near its eastern edge. Its site was there-
fore Indian land until the opening of the reserve, and
for more than a year after it remained unclaimed, but
in 1897 Jacob Stites took as a homestead a tract which
included the spot upon which the town was later built.
In May. 1899, he relinquished his right to the lower
forty of his homestead with the understanding that
J. M. Shannon, N. B. Pettibone and J. G. Rowton,
who had organized themselves into a firm known as
the Stites Townsite Company, should make applica-
tion to the government to have the tract set asidi E01
townsite purposes. Application was made accordinglv
and not without success. At this time, Kooskia or
Stuart was the railroad terminus, but shortly afterward
Charles Sweeney and W. E. Travis, owners of large
mining interests in Idaho county, induced the company
to extend its road three miles further, though for nearly
a year afterward Kooskia continued to be the general
passenger and freight terminal. Then, however, a
station was built at Stites, which thereupon became
the actual as well as nominal terminus of the road.
In September, 1899, Robert Olcott and M. P.
Strecker erected a small grocery store in the new town
and a little later Duke Robins built a small stand for
the dispensing of soft drinks. Then Dr. E. E. Briley
opened a drug store and a physician's office, Duke
Robins put up the Tanner hotel, Almon L. Young
started a lumber yard, and James Jump established a
grain depot near that of Mr. Sweeney, whose ware-
house was the first building erected at the terminus.
These were the pioneer business houses of Stites.
Others have followed from time to time since until
the substantial little city of today has been built up in
answer to the demands of trade.
One of the largest general stores in the county is
located in Stites, that of A. H. Greving. There are
two other general merchandise establishments, those
of Strecker & Pettibone and H. C. Oliver. The Stites
Trading Company carries a large stock of heavy hard-
ware, machinery, etc. One may take his choice of three
hotels, the Butler, S. Daisley and Mrs. Ruckman,
managers ; the Tanner, owned by Mrs. Martha Euell,
or the Tremont, of which Joseph L. Willson is man-
ager. The Idaho County Patriot, a weekly paper, of
which Frank M. Roberts is editor and proprietor, is a
staunch and able advocate of the resources and ad-
vantages of the region surrounding its home. It
succeeded the Register, the pioneer newspaper of the
town, established February 22, 1901, by W. N. Rob-
inson. Last August, Mr. Roberts purchased the Reg-
ister plant and began utilizing it in the publication of
the Patriot. The remaining business houses are as
follows: Grocery, G. C. Percifull ; drug store, Dr.
E. E. Briley ; meat markets, Week & Burney, Decker
& Tobias ; fruits and notions. P. E. Ellis ; blacksmith
shops, E. W. Williams, J. W. Clayton; harness and
saddle store, Phil Hartman ; barber shop. D. A. Smith ;
real estate agency, Butler & Livick : livery stables,
Underwood & Lamb and Perry Mallory. Three miles
above town is the plant of the Stites Lumber Company,
erected last April. The mill has a capacity of about
10,000 feet a day. The medical profession is repre-
sented by Dr. E. E. Briley, the legal by Ernest Livick,
and that' of dentistry by Dr. E. Beaudette.
The business men of Stites have' recently mani-
fested their progressive spirit by organizing the Citi-
zens' Improvement Club, which boasts a large and
growing membership. The object of the organization
426
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
is expressed by its name. Its president is N. B. Petti-
bone; its vice-president, James B. Schultz ; its secre-
tary. Riley Clemans; its treasurer, P. E. Ellis; and its
trustees, D. C. Howard, J. B. Burney and Duke
Robins.
Stage lines extend from Stites to Newsome and
Elk City and to Camas Prairie, Grangeville and nu-
merous interior points, and the town has, of course,
the advantage of passenger service, daily except Sun-
day, over the railroad to Lewiston and the outside
world.
The people of Stites pay more attention, perhaps,
to the causes of education and religion than those of
most new towns and outfitting points for miners. The
Baptist and the Episcopal denomination of Christians
are both represented, and the former is now engaged
in erecting a church edifice. Rev. J. S. Simmons is the
pastor in charge. Public interest in the cause of edu-
cation was manifested last year by the issuance of dis-
trict bonds and the erection of a commodious frame
building forty by twenty-eight feet in dimensions.
Fifty-eight pupils are now receiving instruction within
its walls from Principal David Story and .Miss Hattie
Percifull.
The town of Stites was summoned into existence
by the Short Line railroad and with truth it may be
said that its future is in the hands of the railway
company. Its situation is a favorable one, and as
long as it remains the terminal it can hardly fail to
continue to be a prosperous little city, but an extension
of the road is looked for in the not distant future, the
effect of which cannot be foreseen.
Kooskia is a thriving little reservation trading
point on the Clearwater Short Line of the Northern
Pacific, three miles from its terminus and just above
the junction of the middle and south forks of the
Clearwater river. A portion of the town really lies
on the middle fork and is known locally as East Koos-
kia. A high hogback from the east runs down nearly
to the junction of the two streams, and it is on the
strip of land between the base of this hill and the
rivers that the town has been built, though a few
buildings lie across the south fork. The main town
is on this latter stream, East Kooskia consisting of only
a few residences. The south fork valley is sufficiently
wide for several miles above its mouth to allow of
cultivation, and a number of ranches and farms lie
within it above Kooskia.
Besides the support which the town derives from
these valley settlements, it receives all the trade from
the communities up the middle fork, and much of that
of the Kitterridge and Tahoe regions east of the south
fork, also is the trading point of many residents of
northern Camas Prairie, known as the Big Butte cattle
country. Last season the Vollmer-Clearwater Company
alone shipped 8'), 500 bushels of wheat from Kooskia.
Kooskia was first named Stuart in honor of James
Stuart, a Nez Perces Indian, who was for many years
a surveyor of lands, and is now a leading merchant
in the town. Upon the opening of the reservation in
November. 1895, George Rowton, who is still a resi-
dent, in behalf of himself and one hundred others,
among whom were Hardin Chenoweth, A. J. Williams,
William E. Graham and George Brown, made appli-
cation to the government to set aside the 104 acres
of vacant land lying along the east side of the south
fork and the south side of the middle fork near the
junction of those streams for townsite purposes. The
application was granted, and in due time patents were
issued to those interested. Of this grant about seventy
acres are hill land.
Immediately upon the filing of this application and
its acceptance at the land office, James Cox erected a
small store ; George Brown and Hurley Stevens opened
another store, Luther Goebel built a hotel and res-
taurant, Frank Zenzinger a furniture store, and Ed-
ward Ames a blacksmith shop. Then Frank Ping
installed a saw mill, William Graham opened a second
furniture store, and Jacob L. Gross another general
merchandise establishment. The town continued to
grow slowly until the Northern Pacific announced that
it would build a line up the Clearwater river when
Stuart enjoyed a genuine boom, its inhabitants at one
time numbering between four and five hundred. March
13, 1899, was a day of jubilee in Stuart, for upon
it the people celebrated the arrival of the iron horse,
which it was thought would go no further for several
years. The people were doomed to disappointment,
however, as the rails were laid another three miles
and Stites became the terminal.
The railroad company named its station Kooskia,
instead of adopting the name of the town, for the
reas, ,11 that there was already one Stuart upon its
lines in this state. Consequently it became necessary
in the interests of harmony for the town to adopt the
name Kooskia, and this was done last summer.
The town was incorporated in the fall of 1901, and
Janus Stuart, A. J. Williams. R. R. Woods, Dr. A. F.
Wohlenberg and C. B. Patterson were .appointed the
first trustees. The present officers are: Mayor, M.
J. Browning; councilmen, James Stuart and Bert
Davis ; treasurer. Hardin Chenoweth ; clerk and attor-
ney, P. W. Mitchell.
A year ago the citizens issued bonds in the sum
of $1,500, with the proceeds from which they erected
a fine school house. The inhabitants take much pride
in their school, claiming that it is excelled in the
county only by that of Grangeville. Miss Anna Mc-
Laughlin is the principal, and Miss Dora Baxster her
assistant.
There are four general stores in Kooskia at pres-
ent, those of Jacob L. Gross. R. R. Woods, the Kooskia
Mercantile Company, and J. H. Hughes. The Idaho
I Unfitting Company, composed of J. S. Adair and J. T.
Wills, handles hardware and implements of all kinds :
the Clearwater Meat & Produce Company and Decker
& Tobias supply the town with meat; J. H. Hovey
conducts the Hotel Stuart and the Red Front feed
stables- James Stuart has a furniture store; J. M.
Robinett is proprietor of the Pioneer feed stables;
A. F. Wohlenberg and R. J. Alcorn are the town's
physicians, the former also conducting a drug store ;
A PORTION OF LAKE PENO OREILLE.
WHITEBIRD BATTLE GROUND
Where Thirty-six United States Soldiers were Killed on June 17, 1877.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
I. B. Hershey owns a blacksmith shop, the only one
in the town ; William E. Cage conducts the Home
restaurant ; Hon. P. W. Mitchell, at present repre-
senting Idaho county in the legislature, is Kooskia's
only lawyer; Dr. E. Beaudette is its dentist and jew-
eler; M. J. Browning is proprietor of the only barber
shop, and A. J. Williams, Jr., owns and operates the
Kooskia Transfer Line. Kooskia also has a weekly
newspaper, the Idaho Mountaineer, of which H. E.
O'Donnell is editor and proprietor. The Mountaineer,
which is four years old. is an excellent country paper.
In East Kooskia Edward and William Young operate
a small shingle mill, and George Rowton a ferry across
the middle fork. Major F. A. Fenn, superintendent
of forest reserves in Idaho and Montana, has head-
quarters in Kooskia, as does also Cassius M. Day,
supervisor of the Bitter Root reserve.
Harpster is the name of an important little town
and trading center situated on the south fork of the
Clearwater river at the old Jackson crossing, about
eight miles northeast of Grangeville, on the road to
Elk City, ami the same distance up the river from
Stites. Like all of the towns along this river, Harp-
ster lies in the bed of the deep canyon, fully sixteen
hundred feet below Grangeville and half that many-
feet below the prairies on the east side of the Clear-
water. The altitude at this point on the river is given
as 1600 feet. Owing to its sheltered location, it re-
ceives the benefit of the warm currents of air which
follow the Clearwater canyons, and on this account
the climate is very mild the year around. The town
receives its support from the mining interests along
the river, especially from the rapidly developing Ever-
green district six miles up the stream, and from the
farming settlements on the prairies lying to the east
and west. The narrow width of the canyon through
here precludes any extensive fanning in the lower
altitude, although some fruit and vegetables are raised
with great success.
There are really two townsites here, neither of
which bears the name of the postoffice, Harpster. The
oldest and most important of these sites, is that of
Bridgeport, whose history dates back to the time when
William Jackson established a small station at this
point on the trail between Camas prairie and Elk City.
This was early in the 'sixties. Jackson built a toll
bridge across the river and continued as the proprietor
of this isolated station until succeeded by Clindinning
previous to the Indian war. Clindinning's place was
burned by the Nez Perces in 1877 and was never
rebuilt. Eventually Loyal P. Brown came into pos-
session of nearly five hundred acres of land at this
point, and in 1893, at the time of the mineral dis-
coveries here, the Clearwater Mining Company pur-
chased eighty acres of the Brown tract and laid oft
a town which they called Brownsville. C. A. Hastings
opened a small store on the old Clindinning site during
the summer of this year. About the same time that
Brownsville was founded, John E. Beede filed a home-
stead claim on the land adjoining the Brown tract on
the north, but made no effort then to plat the land for
townsite purposes. In the fall of 1893 P. L. ( )bannon
and H. C. Oliver erected a store near the Hastings
building and subsequently purchased his stock and
consolidated the two concerns. Then Wellingti m (lark
bought Oliver's interest, and since that time the firm
name has been Obannon & Clark.
The quartz mines opened by the Clearwater .Mining
Company did not prove as rich as expected, and after
sinking a deep shaft and running a drift, the company
abandoned them. Of course this injured the business
of the little hamlet that had arisen, but the loss was
more than overcome by the stimulus given the place
by the settlement of the surrounding country after the
hard times. The Brown property, including the old
site of Brownsville, was purchased by the Surridge
brotheis, James and Thomas, in 1898, and < Ictober
1st the town of Bridgeport was laid out on this land.
The town of Riverside was also laid out by Mr. Beede,
north of Bridgeport, and these two sites exist inde-
pendently today. Obannon & Clark removed their
store to Bridgeport in March. 1899, and at the same
time George Renner opened a saloon there. Since
then O. C. Lapp has erected a building in which he
keeps a general store. C. M. Fagan has established a
blacksmith shop. L. Z. Millott a harness and repair
shop, Surridge Bros, a livery barn. Obannon 6c Clark
a hotel, and Dr. Charles Busey has opened a drug
store. A year ago the postoffice was removed from
Riverside to Bridgeport. It still retains the name
bestowed upon it nearly ten years ago in remembrance
of Abraham Harpster, who was one of the oldest set-
tlers in the county, having come to Oro Fino at the
time of the first mining excitement. O. C. Lapp is
postmaster. H. C. Oliver keeps a general store, and
Joseph Wimpy a hotel in Riverside. The Harpster
postoffice has a daily mail service to and from Stites.
In 1900 a school house was built in Bridgeport In sub-
scription, and a school opened. This school is now
maintained by the district and is taught by Miss
Frances Wilson. The town will soon have an excellent
water system, now under construction by one of the
townsite proprietors, Thomas Surridge. The inhab-
itants are confident that it will not be long before the
Northern Pacific extends the Clearwater Short Line
farther up the south fork, a survey having already
been made to Elk City, and with a healthful location,
pure water, a rich tributary country and a railroad,
feel that Harpster will become a place of considerable
importance and size.
WHITE BIRD.
Situated in the picturesque canyon of White Bird
creek at a point about a mile from the confluence of
that stream with the famous Salmon river is the com-
pact and snug little town of White Bird. Many cir-
cumstances combine to make it noteworthy. On either
side rise precipitous hills, green in spring time with
nutritious "'Hisses, except where the huge columns of
basal; stand out tier above tier, bidding defiance to rain
428
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
and fn ist and all the forces of disintegration, which for
ages have been struggling to reduce them to vegetation-
bearing mould. The environs are picturesque beyond
description ; gigantic in proportions ; rugged in aspect.
The town also is a place of historic interest, for just to
the northward is the spot where the Indians adminis-
tered to Perry a most disastrous defeat in the dark days
of Indian warfare.
But for years after that fatal engagement there was
no town of White Bird, though ownership of the town-
ship had been asserted even prior to the struggle of
1877. The man who exercised "squatter sovereignty"
over it at the time of the outbreak, James Baker, was
killed by the Indians. It later passed to L. P. Brown,
who sold it to S. S. Fenn in 1891. The first uncertain
prophecy of a town had appeared several years earlier
when H. C. Brown opened a store. This, about the
year 1889, had become the property of Frank and
George Fenn.
When S. S. Fenn came in April, 1891, he estab-
lished a stage station and hotel. There was no school
in the place, at this time, but one had been built on the
hill two miles from the present town. The postoffice
was established when the Fenn Brothers took charge of
the pioneer store, F. A. Fenn being the first postmaster.
The town consisted of the business houses here-
tofore mentioned until about 1804, when Charles Cham-
berlain opened a saloon. Another saloon was started
about a year later by A. Cooper, and to him Mr. Cham-
berlain sold his stock and fixtures, purposing to embark
in the general merchandise business. The pioneer
store had passed, during the fall of 1891, into the hands
of A. J. AlcOuade, and he and Chamberlain were the
merchants of the town until the death of the former.
Leopold Freidenrich succeeded Air. AlcOuade in 1897.
During, it is thought, the fall of that year, G. \Y. Cur-
tis bought an interest in Chamberlain's store. In time
he became owner of the entire property, and after run-
ning the business for eight or nine months he moved
his stock to Lucile. The building has changed hands
two or three times since. The Star hotel was put up
by Airs. Dalmage in 1897. and sold the same year to
F. Z. Taylor, who transferred it during the current
year to Airs. Hadorn. In 1897, also, William Whit-
ney's blacksmith shop was opened. Next \ ear it passed
to Ben Davis, who later sold it to John Kevins, from
whom it passed to its present owner, James Jones.
Gordon's liven- stable, across the street from the
Model hotel, was built in the summer of 1899, and sold
recently to Airs. Hadorn, who also has the stage office.
Contemporaneous with the building of the stable was
the opening, by S. Dalmage, of a meat market. After
maintaining this business about a year, he sold to
Wilson & Gregory, who occupy the building as a sa-
loon. The next important business building of the
town was the Bargain Store, erected in December,
1899, by Gordon & Fenn, and occupied first by A. AI.
Baker. Last fall it became the property of Brockman
Brothers. The Model hotel, erected during the fall of
1901, was occupied by different renters until the spring
of 1903. when it was purchased by Airs. Hadorn. Odd
Fellows hall was built in 1902. Its lower floor is at
present occupied by Brockman Brothers. Last year,
Cooper's feed yard was erected, also a warehouse, in
which Air. Cooper handles hay and grain.
Recapitulating, we have the present business estab-
lishments of the town as follows : General merchan-
dise, Leopold Freidenrich, Brockman Brothers ; sa-
loons, A. Cooper. Wilson & Gregory; hotels, the
Model, Airs. Virginia Hadorn; two other hotels in
connection ; liver)- stabie, owned by Airs. Virginia
Hadorn, who also owns the Grangeville- White Bird
stage line ; feed stable, Frank E. Pierce ; blacksmiths.
Jones & Hill ; barbers, Edward Russ and William
Thompson ; meat market, Alichael Murray. Dr. W. A.
Foskott practices medicine in the town ; B\ Z. Taylor is
! Fnited States land commissioner and Miss Effie Taylor
is postmistress.
The town has a two-room school house in use dur-
ing nine months of the year. The teachers are E.
A. Carpenter and Flora Kittrell. The I. C). O. F. is
the only fraternity in White Bird. There is no church,
but a Sunday-school convenes regularly, Airs. W. A.
F iski >tt, superintendent.
SLATE CREEK.
This is a small postoffice station established in
1870. The postmistress at present is Mrs. Josie Irwin,
and the store in which the office is located is con-
ducted by John Irwin. The people in the neighbor-
hood are stock raisers, and three ranches corner at
the town, owned by Joshua Fackler, John Rice and
Walter Rhett. The town is located on the Salmon,
and the public school is about one mile distant, down
the Salmon river.
The townsite of Westlake was located in 1887 by
J. B. Rice as a preemption. There was a general store
at this point in 1889, and the postoffice was established
about ten years ago. At an early period the state road
ran through the townsite, quite a number of people
coming to the place in 1887. Previous to this date
the stock and sheep men controlled Craig's mountain.
The town was named in honor of Mrs. Sarah Rice,
nee Westlake. It was platted in 1896 and a hotel
erected by Charles R. Babcock. In 1896 Adam Ram-
mers started a blacksmith shop. Smith & Horton a
livery barn, and in 1901, (February), Crom & Stewart
erected a store building. They came from Alilton.
Oregon. Previous to the transfer of the townsite
Emmet Putnam had started a store across from the
present Westlake drug store, afterward selling out to
Crom & Stewart. About this period a flour mill of
twenty barrels capacity was erected, Emmet Putnam
opened a furniture store and J. B. Rice a drug store.
William Clausen established a general store in 1896
just outside the town limits, on his own land. The
present business houses comprise the Westlake drug
store; two general stores, Clausen's and F. B. Pen-
nock & Co., the company including Crom & Stewart;
furniture store of Emmet Putnam; blacksmith shop
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
[29
of < hni Eastman ; hotel and saloon, conducted by
Shaw & Neighbor, who have, also, a feed barn in
connection.
The church of Westlake is represented by the
Seventh Day Adventists. A public school with an
attendance of thirty pupils is open six months in the
year. The postmaster is James A. Crom, the mail
coming via the Lewiston-Cottonwood route every day
except Sunday. Westlake is situated five miles from
the Salmon river, from which vicinity it receives con-
siderable trade.
A postoffice was established at Forest about 1892,
in charge of a man named Richardson. Later he
sold out his business to H. J. Vincent, who added a
small store in connection, (about 1892), and there
^was no advance in general business until 1896. Dur-
ing that vear the I. O. O. F. ran up a two-story build-
ing. The present business houses are represented by
the Idaho Store Company, Coffin Brothers ; one black-
smith shop, H. T. Hostley ; feed stable, sawmill, hotel
and bar and a barber shop by Robert Hostley. The
fraternities are represented by the I. O. O. F. and
the M. W. A. J. F Harris is the present postmaster.
The Christian denomination holds services in the town
every alternate Sunday. Mason prairie and the Sal-
mon river country are contributary to the trade of the
town, around which there is quite a flourishing settle-
ment, provided with an excellent public school.
KEUTERYILLE.
July, 1884, the townsite of Keuterville was pre-
empted by Anton Hendricks, and the patent secured
in 1889. The first store was erected by Air. Kuether
in 1888, and this was followed by a blacksmith shop
by John Maugg, in 1889, and in the early '90s came
Henry Greving with a general store. The postoffice
was established in 1888. A Catholic church was
erected in 1885 or 1886, under direction of Father
Diomete, S. J., and the same summer a considerable
immigration of German farmers flowed in. Mr.
Maugg built a hotel in 1898, although boarding houses
had been conducted by Mr. Hendricks and others
prior to that year. The present business enterprises
are Dree's general store, postoffice, Anton Hendricks,
postmaster, John Maugg's hotel, livery barn by Paul
Burgund, who purposes to open a general store, black-
smith shop by Mr. Maugg and a milinery store by
Mrs. F. W. Drees. There are four sawmills in the
neighborhood of Keuterville. from which the town
draws its trade. It also has a share of the patronage of
the Salmon river country. An ungraded public school is
conducted six months of the year, B. L. Hussmann,
teacher. The attendance is about fifty.
1 The townsite of Denver originally belonged to B.
F. Morris. 720 acres, of which 160 are platted. It
was purchased from Morris by the Denver Land and
Townsite ( tompany, consisting of Morris, Voilmer and
Scott, Dernham & Kaufman, Spotswood & Yeach,
and a number of small stockholders. It can be justly
claimed that Mr. Spotswood is the father of the town.
In anticipation of the advent of a railroad considerable
money was expended in "booming" the town, and then
came "hard times," and failure of railroad materiali-
zation, paralyzing- industries. The first residence in
Denver was built bj J. J. Pulse, in 1S92. Previous
to that there were three hotels, the first, the Idaho, by
Shissler & Ingraham ; the second, the Denver, by John
Henderson, and the third by G. W. Cooper, now of
Moscow. In 1893 < \. F. Troeh established a general
store, followed by Henry Kuether, Dernham & Kauf-
man Co., and J. D. Davis & Co., in 1894. A drug
stsre had been established by J. J. Pulse in 1892. Of
the original business men of the place Mr. Pulse is
the only one left. A blacksmith shop was started by
C. W. Miller in 1892. The opening of the Indian
reservation drew a number of business men away, and
the town has never recovered its vitality. At present
it is estimated that there are 900 people in the precinct.
Denver is located ten miles from Grangeville and ten-
from Cottomvood.
At present there are three general stores Henrj
Kuether. L. Spangler and J. DT Davis & Co. J. W.
Dunn conducts a furniture store, J. J. Pulse a drug
store, S. K. Dunn and A. B. Clayton, blacksmith
shops, Isaac Zehner & Son a flouring mill, saloon by
William Von Berge. In April last Mrs. Lottie Har-
per opened a hotel. Rhoads Brothers conduct n livery
and feed stable, and D. H. Bolte an implement house.
The postmistress is Mrs. Lizzie Allen Wood, and the
school teacher Jacob Vercler.
woonsmi:.
The new town of Woodside was promoted by a
man named Marr. the initial enterprise beginning
January 1, 1903. The present business comprises a
general store, a dance hall, postoffice, hotel and
restaurant.
MOUNT IDAHO.
Mount Idaho, the timber covered mountain which
bounds Camas prairie on the south and f
first of that series of rugged ranges which extend far
into southern Idaho, has given its name to the oldest
town on Camas prairie and, with the exception of
Florence, the oldest town in the county. This little
village nestles peacefully among the beautiful pine
groves and intervening parks at the base of the
mountain and at the extreme eastern edge of the
prairie. From this commanding eminence the whole
prairie with its northern background of hills and
mountain ranges and its bordering canyons of the
Salmon and Clearwater rivers becomes at once an
open book whose every page presents an inspiring
and fascinating picture. Through the town courses
a clear mountain stream which bears the unpoetic
430
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
name of Butcher creek. The sight is both beautiful
and healthful and for many reasons well adapted for
the location of a town.
Directly south of the village a broad, deep ravine
or small canyon cuts through the mountain and opens
out upon the town. Up the western side of this de-
pression winds the old Milner trail, now of course a
roadway, which for forty years has been the popular
route to Florence — since the trail was blazed through
the forest through several feet of snow in the spring
of 1862. Many years ago this primitive trail was
converted into an excellent wagon road, which at
present is one of the most important in northern Idaho,
as it is the most direct route to the Buffalo Hump
mines and forms a portion of the state wagon road
between Mount Idaho and the southern part of the
state.
The opening of this historic trail furnished a
sufficient reason for the establishment of a station at
the base of Mount Idaho and the beginning of the
trail and so during the winter of 1861-2 Mose Milner
built a log cabin on the site of the future town. This
cabin was of a type known as a double cabin, a story
and a half high and boasted a puncheon floor. An
addition, which served the double purpose of a kitchen
and a dining room, was attached to one side of the
main building. This pioneer hotel stood on what is
now Florence street, formerly the old trail.
The following spring, that of 1862, Loyal P.
Brown, a Bostonian who had come west to recuperate
his shattered fortunes, while en route to Florence
reached the Milner station with his wife, and so
forcibly did the business opportunity presented by this
trail and station appeal to him that he forthwith joined
with James Odle, another recent arrival, in buying the
property. They took immediate possession and for
three years conducted the business together. Then a
disagreement arose over the establishment of a
saloon in connection with the hotel and Brown bought
Odle's interest. During the forty years this hotel
has been in existence it has been conducted in strict
accord with the temperance policy first adopted by
Brown in 1862. At the time the property was
purchased Brown filed a squatter's claim to the land
on which the station was built and the next year Odle
filed on the claim just west of the Milner claim. On
these two claims the town was built, although most
of the buildings are on the older one.
A few weeks after Brown and Odle purchased the
Milner property, Seth Jones, who had gone into
Florence the latter part of May, returned to the prairie
and with his wife opened a second station at the
lower end of the trail. This station stood on the flat
in the eastern part of the present town. Mr. and
Mrs. Jones conducted their station until the summer
of r863, when Mr. Jones settled on Three-mile creek
and became a pioneer farmer of Camas prairie. As
before stated, Mr. Odle severed his business con-
nections with Mr. Brown in 1865. In 1863, however,
he, too. commenced farming on the claim he had
taken west of the station, closely following Mr. Jones.
Mr. Brown and his wife remained in the Mount Idaho
hotel until the former's death a few years ago, since
which time Mrs. Brown has relinquished possession
of the business and retired to private life in the town
which has so long been her home.
Just who is responsible for the naming of Mount
Idaho is not known. Soon after the discovery of the
Florence mines, however, the mountain was referred
to by that name and in time it was applied to the
little settlement at the foot of the Milner trail.
Because of the very favorable geographical lo-
cation of the place, the little hamlet early became an
important and popular resting place for those travel-
ing to and from the mines and for many years pos-
sessed a very numerous floating population. Especi-
ally was this true during the great rush of 1862 and
1863, when the stations were often totally unable to
provide accomodations for those who wished to avail
themselves of the rude privileges afforded. Quite a
number of the criminal class in the region made the
place their headquarters in 1862 ; in fact for a number
of years the town was considered a sort of a crimi-
nal's refuge, though in justice to those few settlers
who were in business there, it should be said that this
reputation was not of their choosing by any means.
A postoffice, Mount Idaho, was established very
early in the life of the town and Mr. Brown became
postmaster. He also installed a small blacksmith shop
and dispensed provisions and supplies of all kinds to
those who wished to purchase on the prairie. Brown's
station and a few dwellings constituted the town for
the first decade of its existence.
In 1872 came the first store, established by Ralph
Jacobson and his two brothers, in one end of Brown's
hotel. This business venture did not result success-
fully, however, for the owners soon sold to a man
named Rudolph, who was Mount Idaho's only
merchant until 1875. when Yollmer & Scott opened a
branch store there. Wade Rice built a saloon in 1872,
which in 1877 was owned by J. M. Auchinvole and
these three business houses, together with Brown's
hotel, comprised the commercial portion of the town
in 1877, when the Indian war broke out. There were
probably one hundred inhabitants then.
Meanwhile Mount Idaho had become the county-
seat as a result of the annexation of Camas prairie
and the Elk City region to Idaho county. This im-
portant change was made in 1875 and gave quite an
impetus to the town's growth. A handsome county
building was erected in 1878 at a cost of several
thousand dollars and subsequently a jail was added.
These two buildings occopy a block of land on the
eastern side of Florence street, and served the county
until 1902, when the seat of government was removed
to Grangeville. The site of the buildings was donated
by L. P. Brown in 1875 on condition that the owner-
ship of the ground should revert to him in case the
county seat was removed elsewhere, but subsequently,
in 1892, the county was given an additional deed to
the property.
Mount Idaho occupies a prominent place in the
history of the Nez Perces war and throughout the
whole campaign in Idaho was one of the principal
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
43'
bases from which operations were carried on. To
this place the terrified settlers of Camas prairie flocked
on that memorable evening of June 14. and here they
remained until Joseph's hostiles left Idaho. Here it
was that the settlers built the famous stone fort,
within whose protecting- walls they expected to defend
themselves to the last. At one time nearly the whole
population of the prairie, about 250, were assembled
in and around this defense.
The old fort stood on the little hill just north of
town, the site of the present school house, and occupied
a very strategic position. The fortification was in the
form of a circle, perhaps 150 feet in diameter, and
was constructed of two rail fences built parallel with
each other, the intervening space being filled with
rocks and timber. The wall was between four and five
feet high. Entrance was gained through a narrow
passageway on the west.
In the fall of 1878, another mercantile establish-
ment. Grostein & Binnafd's branch store, was added
to those already in the thriving little village. For
several years succeeding the Indian war, the town
grew and prospered, experiencing its greatest degree
of prosperity during the years 1878-79-80. when the
population reached and passed the 200 mark. From
this time on, however. Mount Idaho was outstripped
in the race for supremacy by Grangeville, a rival town
only two miles distant, which was founded in 1875
by the settlers of Three-mile creek. In a hard fought
contest in 1892 over the possession of the county seat,
Blount Idaho narrowly escaped losing this much
coveted honor, and last fall Grangeville finally ob-
tained the prize. The loss of the county seat was a
serious blow to Mount Idaho, though it had been
expected for years.
Mount Idaho's population now numbers one hun-
dred and fifty people. Although of far less im-
portance than formerly the village is still the trading
point of a thickly settled farming community and is
the nearest commercial center to the interior mining
camps. Four miles east of town is the Dewey or
Evergreen mining district on the south fork of the
Clearwater: eight miles southeast are the Cove Placer
Alining Company's extensive placers which have just
been opened ; three miles northeast is the large saw-
mill of Edward Heitzman ; and two miles east of town
Royal Skaggs operates a small sawmill. All these do
a large share of their trading at Mount Idaho, besides
which the town receives considerable patronage from
the travel to and from the Buffalo Hump district.
The O. R. & N. railroad survey passes through the
town and up the canvon through which the Milner
trail led.
At present Matthew H. Truscott conducts a
general store and is the village postmaster; the Ah unit
Idaho hotel is conducted by I. N. Smith; 'Wilev
Knighten has a blacksmith shop ; Herman Brown is
the proprietor of a general store; and there is one
saloon. The small Chinese population in the town is
catered to by one merchant. Sang Yuen. Until about
ten year ago the Mongolian population was much
larger than the white population.
The first school in Mount Idaho was held in a
small frame building erected on Main street in 1867.
Mr. Brown donated the ground and contributed most
of the money with which the school house was built.
Miss I'.iancia Reed taught this school. For several
years this building sufficed and then, for a long time,
the school was held at different places in the town.
Finally, five years ago, the district purchased the hall
erected "by the Masonic fraternity on the hill just north
of the town and in this building between fifty and
sixty pupils are now taught by Miss Margaret Hawk
and Miss Beatrice Ellenwood.
The town has no fraternal or secret orders and,
strangely enough, is without even a church. A six-
times-a-week mail service is maintained and a tri-
weekly service between Mount Idaho and the Hump
and Florence.
Ihe historic town of Elk City is on sloping ground
on the east bank of Elk creek, one and one-half miles
above its junction with the American river. Much
of its history has been given incidentally in connec-
tion with the mining district, which bears its name.
The present town consiste of a miscellaneous aggre-
gation of board and log houses, arranged along a
single street extending in an east and west direction.
Its population in 1900 is given by the official census
as 100, but it probably exceeds that considerably now.
It has all the usual business houses and they are all
doing well at this writing owing to the revival of
interest in the mining district. Being at the junction
of roads leading to Buffalo Hump. Big creek, Oro
Grande, Red river, Ziegle creek, Dixie and Thunder
mountain, it is the natural distributing point for the
entire section between the middle fork of the Clear-
water and the Salmon river and if it ever becomes a
railway terminal it must speedily become a large and
important town. There is a practicing dentist in Elk.
The only lodge there established is the I. < ). O. F.
CLEARWATER.
Was credited in 1900 with a population of 90.
Its principal business houses are a store kept by
Obannon & Clark, a hotel by Harry Baker, a livery
and feed stable, and a postoffice. It' is situated about
twelve miles from the railway terminal. Stites.
DIXIE.
In the center of the mining district of that name
is an old point. It at present consists of .about twenty
or twenty-five buildings arranged along Crooked river.
The principal business establishments are a general
merchandise store, Charles Buer proprietor, a large
hotel and a postoffice.
OTHER 't'owxs.
The towns and points not mentioned in the fore-
432
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
going at which postoffices were established in Janu-
ary, 1903, are : Adams, Callender, in the Buffalo
Hump county: Caniield on Doumecq plains; Con-
cord, population in 1900. ten ; Ferdinand, population,
last United States census, 31 ; Florence, whose early
history has found place elsewhere in this volume,
population 75 : Freedom, postoffice at the mouth of
Slate creek : Glover. Goff, population 25 ; Greencreek,
population 28 ; Gregg, population 57 ; Hump, popu-
lation 51 ; Lorena, Lowe, population 21 ; Lucile, popu-
lation 52 ; Orogrande, Pollock, population 15 ; Resort,
Riggins, Roosevelt, in the Thunder Mountain country ;
Syringa, population 25 ; Tahoe, population 20 ; War-
ren, an old mining center in the southern part of the
country, credited in 1900 with a population of 150;
Woodland.
CHAPTER V
DESCRIPTIVE.
The largest, most varied section of a grandly rug-
ged mountain state, Idaho county presents many
problems to him who essays to describe its
topographical aspect, its diverse elements of
wealth, its industries, its products and its peo-
ple. Bold indeed is he who would attempt
an adequate pen picture of its wondrous con-
formation, the grandeur of its scenery, the mag-
nificence of its lofty, rock-ribbed, snow crested up-
lands, the sublimity of its yawning, deep-cut canyons,
the enchantment of its less rugged valley scenes, the
crystal beauty of its lakes, its swift-flowing rivers and
its mountain torrents, the divine perfection of color-
ing with which nature has added a touch of softness
to its boldest, wildest, most rugged features, the
mystic veiling of giant strength with feminine beauty,
the harmony, the magnificence, the splendor of the
whole. Well might an abler writer shrink from such
a task. In vain would one with no greater gifts at-
tempt portraiture so pretentious. Yet he would be
indeed a craven and derelict to duty who, having
opportunity, would fail to contribute his mite toward
extending public knowledge and deepening public ap-
preciation of a land so picturesque in contour, so rich
in crude elements of wealth, so ready to pour into the
lap of industry an abundant reward.
In this age of scientific research, men are prone to
seek causes for observed effects, and this chapter
would be read with no little interest, could it draw
aside the veil of the past and reveal the solution to
problems which have presented themselves to thous-
ands of thoughtful minds since the entrance of whites
into central Idaho. Why this distribution of rocks ?
How came these canyons? Whence these deposits of
gold? How came they to be distributed thus? Most
important of all, where are the missing mother lodes?
Some of these questions no man can answer. Others
would doubtless yield a ready solution to the investi-
gation of the skilled geologist. For some reason the
geology of central Idaho has received but little atten-
tion from scholars, practically the only investigators
until quite recently being the indomitable gold hunters,
who give themselves slight concern about theories and
generalizations further than those which tend to aid
them in their search for hidden treasuries. Of a like
practical character are the few notices given the coun-
try in the earlier government publications. Never-
theless Idaho county presents an ideal field for the
geologist. Its deep-cut canyons expose the rocks to
a depth of several thousand feet in many places and
to him who can read petrographic language, these
rocks reveal a history of deep and absorbing interest.
They tell a tale of a giant age when the earth was torn
ami twisted by the fire demon, whose spittle was lava
and whose breath was flame ; of a war between him
and the frost king continued through successive ages,
in which the combatants were successively victorious.
They show the efforts of the king of ice and snow to
imprison his enemy under an immovable mass of rock,
and how the powerful foe at length broke through his
prison wall and in his anger spewed forth yet greater
lakes of fiery lava, how the opposing king renewed
the conflict, again forcing his enemy to a retreat in
the caverns of the earth and again weighting him
down under a mass of rock. They show successive
escapes of the demon, each followed by renewed war-
fare and final victory for the king, until at last the
fire gave up the conflict and the frost ruled supreme.
They tell the story of that reign of ice. during which
the lands were being slowly moulded and fashioned to
suit the fancy of its new ruler, and how he at last
grew weary of his task and withdrew to the mountain
heights, where he makes an annual descent that he
may assist the softer forces of water and rain and
decomposition in their benevolent fashioning of the
land for the uses of man. They tell also of these
gentler agencies, which for ages have been noislessly
at work, of Neocene lake beds, of floods, of erosion
and of variations in drainage.
But we leave the details of the story of the rocks
to be developed by those to whom their language is
not so nearly unknown, merely pausing to notice some
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
433
of the observations of Lindgren and Leiberg upon the
geology and topography of our section. The maps
and reports of the former show the southern part of
Idaho county or much of it in the granite area,
while Grangeville and Mount Idaho are known to be
not far from the contact of that formation with the
sedimentary rocks. Florence, Buffalo Hump, War-
ren, Secesh Ridge, Marshall lake, and the country, in-
tervening, together with a strip extending many miles
farther south, as shown to be in areas of granite and
diorite; the Salmon river canyon at the bend of that
river from a westerly to a northerly course, including
John Day, Carver's ranch, Fiddle creek, and consider-
able territory around the confluence of the Little
Salmon with the larger stream of that name is marked
on the map as a carboniferous area of slates, schists
and old effusive rocks, as is also the Seven Devils
region, while the Salmon river country northward
from a line of contact between John Day and Free-
dom is characterized as a Columbia river lava for-
mation. Large areas of country on either side of the
Little Salmon south of Pollock and between the
Salmon and the Snake are marked rugged mountains
or rugged high ridges and their petrographic charac-
ter is not indicated, not having been determined by
the survey.
"The main mountainous complex north of the
Snake river," says Professor Lindgren, "may be di-
vided into three parts. The great central granite
area occupies by far the largest space, extending with
a width of ioo miles from the Snake river plains
northward to the limit of the map. (The township
line north of township 27) . How much farther north
it extends is not known, but probably it ends some-
where in the Clearwater drainage, by junction of the
eastern and western sedimentary areas. As provision-
ally outlined on the map, it forms one of the largest
granite areas in the United States."
With regard to the Seven Devils, Lindgren says
that they "may be considered an outlier of the main
old mountain mass of Idaho, against which successive
fiery flows piled up, until now only the summits pro-
trude above the lava plateau. North of the copper
mines on the western side of the river the contact of
the old rocks with the basalt rises to nearly 7,000 feet,
and the whole canyon is cut in these old eruptives and
allied rocks. But immediately north of this point the
contact again sinks, and heavy basalt flows from the
brink of the canyon continuously down to Lewiston.
Hhus the gigantic trench of the canyon has shown the
structure of the Columbia lava and laid bare the
formation upon which it rests. Below the broad
plateau lies a buried topography — mountain ranges,
deep valleys and canyons, all blotted out by the swift-
ly succeeding flows, only the very highest peaks still
showing their heads. The bottoms of the old valleys
clearly lie far below the deep cut of Snake river, how
far is not known. More detailed investigation will
reveal more of the character of this old submerged
topography."
An immense area in the eastern part of Idaho
county, as well as much of southeastern Shoshone, is
included in the Bitter Root forest reserve. The region
is wild, rugged and in some places grand indeed, be-
ing traversed on the east by the main axis of the Bitter
Root mountain divide between Idaho and Montana,
from which spurs extend far to westward. The rock
of the area is granite and diorite. Until recent years
this was the least known region of the LTnited States,
few having ventured into its remote retreats and for-
bidding depths except the indomitable prospector, and
the various surveying parties sent out to search for
passes through which railways might gain entrance to»
the Pacific states. The establishment of the reserve has
done much to dispel ignorance regarding the country,
and the reports of the various government agents will
soon make it one of the best known areas of the state.
The writer has before him a government publi-
cation of which John B. Leiberg is the author, a few
excerpts from which will serve to convey an idea of
its topographic features sufficient for our purpose.
"The Idaho portion of the Bitter Root forest re-
serve," says this authority, "is situated almost wholly
within the Clearwater river drainage area, a tract
along the southern boundary on the Salmon river slope
being the only exception. The Clearwater drainage
consists of a number of large forks or tributaries, which
divide into an intricate system of long and short can-
yons, mostly narrow and winding. Its main arteries
are the North, Middle, Lochsa, South, Lolo and Sel-
way forks. Of these tributaries the area of the reserve
includes the entire length of the Selway and Lochsa
forks, and a small portion of the southern drainage of
the North fork. The canyon system of which these
affluents from the main trunks, is by far the most note-
worthy and striking feature in the topography of the
Clearwater basins. Its windings and ramifications
are very great. Excluding the Salmon river gorge
and lateral canyons and the small draws or mere
creases in the mountain sides of the Clearwater areas,
1 estimate that the canyon system of the Clearwater
basins within the reserve measures more than 5,000
miles in aggregate length.
"The western slope of the Bitter Root mountains
is primarily formed by a few great branches from the
main range, which in their turn branch out into a
vast mass of curving, winding, peak-crowned spurs,
constituting the water sheds of the Clearwater
basins. * * * The primary divides, together
with the great number of lateral spurs to which they
give rise, form a perfect maze of bewildering ridges.
From the summit of an eminence that commands a
clear view of the surrounding country for many miles
the exact course of even one canyon or spur cannot
be traced for more than a mile or two at most. The
curvings, windings, ascents and descents are incessant
and confusing-, and in every case only actual travel
can determine the precise point at which any particular
canyon or spur originates or ends. The primary
divides vary considerably in their topographic de-
tails, depending on the amount of erosion they have
undergone and the agent that effected it. The lateral
spurs, on the contrary, do not differ much, except
near the main range of the Bitter Roots.
434
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
"It is in the main range of the mountain system
that the most rockv and precipitous areas exist. From
Lolo pass to Xez Perces pass the rock formation is a
massive, hard granite. The crest of the range is a
succession of sharp, craggy peaks and 'hogbacks,' with
long east and west swinging curves alternating with
deep saddles where the larger canyons have their rise.
The peaks attain elevations of 8,000 to 9,000 feet —
in some instances 10,000 feet — while the deeper sad-
dles, which form the passes of the range, have ele-
vations of 5.800 to 6,500 feet. The direct western
slope of the main backbone of the system has been cut
and fissured by great glaciers that have long since dis-
appeared, but' which left behind beetling crags, deep
canyons with precipitous walls, and a general rug-
gedness in the landscape that time has not yet suc-
ceeded in modifying, except in a very small degree.
"The general aspect of the crests of all the pri-
mary divides for distances of forty to sixty miles west
from the main range, indicates the existence of past
glaciers on their summits and upper slopes. The
sculpturing of the slopes and the peculiar recessing
of the heads of the larger canyons into the divides are,
in their general features, precisely the same on the pri-
mary divides as they are on the main range, where no
doubt exists as to the presence and work of big gla-
ciers in past times. The most rugged and elevated
portions of the Bitter Root range lies north of Nez
Perces pass. South of this place the crest averages
1,500 to 3.000 feet less in elevation, and is for the
most part a narrow ridge with rounded outlines oc-
casionally rising into small peaks, but on the whole is
more like the primary divides toward their termination
on the west. The main range of the Bitter Roots north
of Xez Perces pass has always proved a formidable
barrier in the way of travel from east to west in this
region. The difficulty does not lie in the approach
from the eastern side, though this declivity has by far
the shortest and steepest slope. It is the descent on
the western side that presents the chief obstacles. The
immediate slopes from die crest are here very abrupt,
are cut up by immense gorges and abound in preci-
pices and extensive rockslides to such a degree that
they are entirely impassable. The three trails extend-
ing across the reserve, the Lolo trail on the north, the
trail through Lost Horse pass in the center and the
Xez Perces trail on the south, were laid out by the
Indians ages ago and their course was made to coin-
cide as nearly "as possible with the crests of the pri-
mary ridges, the canyons being utterly impassable
without much grading and rock cutting."
With the rock-ribbed Bitter Roots, just described,
on the east and piercing with their rugged granite
spurs the country to westward for scores of miles, with
the lofty Seven 'Devils, spanning, like a Colossus, the
strip between the Salmon and the Snake, with Craig's
mountain forming a northwestern boundary, and with
the Salmon river mountains on the south, with all these
ranges, many of which sent forth huge glaciers in past
ages to plow deep furrows in the bosom of earth and
with the swift flowing streams to continue by their
erosion the deepening of the canyons. Idaho county is
indeed a rough, rugged, prodigious region. It is not
hard to imagine it as having been fashioned by the
hand of a giant architect as a home for a giant race.
The lover of a tender beauty may find here scenes
suited to his taste, but it is to the admirer of a strong,
wild, picturesque landscape that central Idaho will ap-
peal with especial potency. A scenic poem it may be
deni -ninated. but it is a poem replete with epic heroism,
composed in the stirring meter of the Norse Viking's
song of defiance, with a few couplets of a gentler strain,
little of the soft, sweet music of love. It is not, how-
ever, the plan of nature to divorce absolutely mascu-
line strength from feminine prettiness, the sublimely
grand from the delicately beautiful, and there is in the
eternal verdure of the forest, the deep blue of the dis-
tant hills, the paler blue of the summer sky, the rich
141 een carpet that spring time weaves, and the illumina-
tion of the sunlight, power to subdue and soften and
transfigure the most rugged landscape. Here as else-
where may be seen the effort of artistic nature to adorn,
with the clinging ivy vine, the ruins of the feudal
castle.
But it must not be supposed from the foregoing
that Idaho county is all mountainous : on the contrary
there is within its borders one of the finest and most
extensive bodies of agricultural land in the entire state.
From many points in the surrounding mountains may
be obtained a splendid view of a part or the whole of
this grand prairie, but perhaps as good a position as one
mav choose is a station on the side of Craig*s mountain
not far from Foster's grave. As the observer beholds
the beautiful scene which is spread out before him, he
is not surprised that the wild Indian warrior of 1 S77
should have resorted to force and arms rather than
yield the privilege of wandering free over such a
prairie and such inviting mountain uplifts, meekly sub-
mitting to the semi-incarceration of a reserve. It was
the writer's privilege to behold Camas prairie from the
position designated, early in the spring of the present
year. The country had been the scene of a noiseless
warfare for its possession, that between the seasons ;
and the forces of warmth and sunlight had just suc-
ceeded in driving their adversaries, the frost and the
snow, to distant retreats in the heights beyond. The
country was not at its best. It had not yet been clothed
in vernal colors. The labor of the husbandman during
the previous fall had, by turning up the rich black
soil in places, given it a somewhat checkered appear-
ance, and here and there could be noticed the first feeble
efforts of the winter wheat to cover the blackness of its
parent soil, with a carpet of green. The distant hills
wore their perennial timber covering, the verdure of
which was then as always transformed into a dark-
beautiful blue by one of nature's secret processes.
Though the hills to the left shut off the view of the
mountains in that direction, making it impossible to
see the entire farming country, the prairie appeared
crescent shaped, the concave side toward the beholder,
and it seemed to rise by a gradual ascent to the tim-
bered and snow crested uplands beyond. It required
but little effort to project one's self backward through
thirty-five or forty years of time and behold in im-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
435
agination the waving sea of blue camas which de-
lighted the eye of those whose privilege it was to
view the prairie in its virgin state. By a still slighter
effort one might picture to himself the intense green-
ness which is to characterize the country when the
gentle springtime shall have woven to full completion
its crown of verdure.
But why carry this description further when we
have before us one from an abler pen and one which
has come to possess a historic interest, having been
written more than two decades ago? In 1 88 1 A. F.
Parker said :
"The tender light of an afternoon sun bathed the
landscape in mellow tints as we obtained our first view
of Camas prairie from the summit of Cottonwood
hill. The scene spread before us was one of en-
trancing beauty. At our feet lay the prairie itself,
with its undulations and gently rising slopes, soft-
ened by distance into the appearance of a great tran-
quil inland sea; streaching away to the eastward, the
dense greenness of its vegetation merges into the dull
gray of the foothills, which in their turn vanish into
the blackness of the timber clad mountains in the
background. The eye at first rests with feelings of
refreshment upon the luxuriant hue of the vegeta-
tion with which the prairie is decked till the very in-
tensity ( >f its verdure becomes painful and we turn
naturally for relief to the grand old mountain ranges
that form such an appropriate setting for this gem
of the Pacific slope.
"Looking to the southward, the snow-capped
peaks of the Salmon river mountains loom grandly up,
their serrated summits rising tier above tier till they
are themselves overtopped by the weird and fantas-
tic forms of the Seven Devils, whose majestic heights
clearly penciled on the horizon and clad in the chaste
grandeur of glittering snows lend to this enchanting
scene an appearance of awe-inspiring severity that
strangely contrasts with the peaceful landscape repos-
ing at our feet. The rugged vertebrae of the Bitter
Roots rise sharply heavenward and form the eastern
boundary of the prairie, while spurs of this mighty
range stretch far away to the northward and form the
rock-ribbed Coeur d'Alene mountains, behind whose
towering crests rise the pinnacles of other ranges,
priests robed with the snows of eternal age. But the
eye soon tires of the stern grandeur and unutterable
solitudes of these primeval hills, and seeks harmony in
contemplation of the pastures below. The stage road
running the full length of the valley and by its dense
blackness attesting the unexcelled fecundity of the
soil, an occasional cabin, the remnants of a stockade
fort erected in the dark and bloody days of 1877, the
villages of Grangeville. Mount Idaho and Camp
Howard glistening in the sun. nestling snugly in their
respective locations at the far end of the valley, with
the limited area of cultivation, hidden from view, these
are the only evidences of civilization visible on Camas
prairie — the land of Indian romance and of historical
tragedy — the most beautiful, the most fertile country
in the world.
"Nothing in nature is more enchanting than a
view of this romantic spot, obtained at a time when the
green of the prairie is suffused with the golden glow of
a setting sun: and but for the fact that, like Daedalus
of old. on.- wings are of wax and liable to melt if we
soar too near the sun, we would love to linger upon
the beauties of the landscape, to which, however, no
pencil and no brush can do adequate justice. As we
descended the hill to Cottonwood anil traversed the
thousands of acres of fertile soil, untilled and crving
to heaven for the plow, our determination to advertise
to the world the wondrous wealth of northern Idaho
became like cast-iron in its rigidity."
Other agricultural and stock raising sections of
the county are the valleys or canyons of the Clearwater
and Salmon rivers and some of the tributary streams.
Though the area in these suited to farming'is not ex-
tensive, the valleys are of no little agricultural and
horticultural value, for their moderate elevation and
sheltered position give them the advantage of a much
finer climate than the high country between and on
either side of them. The Clearwater valley is tra-
versed by a branch of the Northern Pacific railroad as
far as a town called Stites. It will receive more par-
ticular treatment in connection with Xez Perees coun-
ty, but we may say here that though similar in its
general features to the Salmon river canyon, it is in-
ferior in topographic grandeur. The rivers themselves
are both streams of great beauty, and both noted for
the furious impetuosity of their flow. This it is that
gives them their moderate breadth and depth though
they carry off the waters from so large a scope of
mountainous country, receiving tribute from such a
complex of creeks and rivulets that a blue print map
with the drainage traced in white, presents nearly as
much white surface as blue.
To one entering the Salmon river canyon from the
north during the winter or spring seasons, the scene
is especially entrancing. The deep, sticky mud of
Camas prairie is likely to blind temporarily one who
has toiled through it to the beauty of its topography,
the richness of its soil and the blessings it bestows
so bountifully upon its inhabitants. The climb to the
summit of White Bird divide is sure to be attended
with inconvenience, if not hardship, being either mud-
dy in the extreme or snow-clad, and tne eye and mind
are prepared to feast with especial pleasure on the
beautiful landscape that comes into view, when you
begin your descent of the opposite slope. As you wind
your way down the steep hillside and behold,
stretching away to your right, the narrow valley of
White Bird creek, apparently ending at the I'"-; of a
steep, snow-capped bluff, which is. however, across
the Salmon river, vou are likely to wonder how Colo-
nel Perrv could have dared to lead his men into a
country so favorable for ambuscades and so difficult to
get out of in case of defeat. But there is no danger
now. The work of the Indian warrior is done and
vou gaze without fear upon a landscape at once ex-
tremely rugged and uncommonly regular. The hills
are steep and high to be sure, but their sculpturing is
so smooth as to suggest the work of a landscape gar-
dener, while the numerous cattle paths extending hor-
436
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
izontally across them one above another, would, if a
little more neariy straight, give the impression of ter-
racing. To your right as you pass through the town
of White Bird, looms up a great, precipitous knob of
basalt, much more irregular and rugged than the sur-
rounding hills, castle like columns of undecomposed
lava rock rising perpendicularly in places from its
steep sides. Upon this at the time of the writer's
visit, hundreds, perhaps thousands, of feet above the
valley, well up toward the summit, a herd of cattle
were feeding peacefully, many of them in places
where, it would seem, a mountain sheep would hardly
dare to venture.
Rugged though White Bird canyon is, that of the
Salmon river proper is deeper and more rugged,
though the hills on either side are of the same steep,
comparatively smoothly sculptured character. As
you ascend the river you are continually reminded of
the two main industries of the people. Herds of cat-
tle, feeding upon the precipitous sides of the ver-
dure-clad hills above you, speak of the extent to which
pastoral pursuits engage their energies, while piles
of tailings, huge excavations in the gravel banks of
the river, an occasional ditch far up on the hill side,
here and there a large iron pipe bearing water to some
hydraulic giant and perhaps an occasional miner at
work on his property tell you that the precious metal
abounds, that much energy has been expended in se-
curing it in the past and that not a little effort is still
being directed toward its acquisition. Though smil-
ing spring pays its earliest visit to this land, hoary
winter always takes up its abode not far away, and
the sight of vernal beauty and loveliness at hand bor-
dered by a landscape appareled in robes of snow just
beyond is a common and perfectly normal one. How-
ever interesting to the new comer this illogical mar-
riage between winter and summer, it has long since
ceased to seem marvelous to the eyes of the old
Idahoan.
If you are interested in the past history of the
country, you will find the people more than willing to
point out to you places rendered memorable by the
stirring events of the awful Indian outbreak of 1877.
Though this terrible scourge visited the land so long
ago, its details were so horrible, and shocked the sen-
sibilities of the pioneers so deeply, that the impres-
sions remain vivid to this day, and the story has been
told so many times that even the younger generation
is familiar with the landmarks of the war. They will
point out to you the remnants of Indian fortifications ;
the place where Perry was first attacked : where
Howard crossed the river and where he camped; the
higk bluff upon the summit of which is the prairie
where the Indians from times immemorial were wont
to assemble for councils and for worship ; the place
where Benedict was killed ; the old stone chimneys,
sole remnants of the miners' cabins in which were the
Masons and Osbornes when the Indians attacked
them ; the site of the fort at Slat* creek ; the field in
which were Elfers, Bland and Beckroge when tragic
death overtook them ; and the spot where poor, old,
consumptive Dick Divine was murdered for his gun.
As you ascend the river, the scenery becomes more
and more grand at least as far up as Goff. Beyond
that the personal observation of the writer did not ex-
tend, but perhaps the reader may get some idea of the
topography of this great river canyon throughout the
rest of its course in Idaho county by a perusal of the
following from the pen of J. V. Dwyer, who, in de-
scribing a hunting trip taken by himself and others
last winter, said :
"My brother and myself left Salmon City on the
8th of November on a hunt for big horn sheep, and
descending the Salmon river thirty-five miles to the
mouth of Indian creek, outfitted at the store of the
Kittie Burton Gold Mining Company, which is lo-
cated about five miles up Indian creek from the mouth.
We there bought a flat boat, 36x10 feet in size, and
loading our possessions on this boat, started down the
stream for Big creek, where we camped for a number
of days, hunting the mountain sheep and deer in the
high mountains. We had arranged for Captain
Guleke to join us at Big creek before the winter ice
had formed, but on Thanksgiving day the storm be-
gan in an unmistakable way and we then knew that
if we were to make the river trip it would have to be
made at once.
''November 29 we started down the stream with-
out waiting for Captain Guleke, and reaching Poverty
flat about the middle of the afternoon, fifty-five miles
below Salmon City, found that the river* for a quarter
of a mile was blocked with slush ice. It was right
then that trouble began and we surely had enough of
it within the next week. Going to the foot of the
slush ice gorge we started to clear out a channel
through which the boat could be floated, and by the
time night had come on. we had cleared the channel
with the exception of the last three hundred feet.
This we expected to finish within half an hour the next
morning, but were disappointed in this, as the next
morning we found that the ice flow of the previous
night had again choked the channel worse than ever
before. Three days we struggled with this ice flow,
when we were joined by Captain Guleke and another
day was spent in a last effort to remove the obstruction.
The Captain then advised that a smaller boat be made,
which could be portaged over the gorge on a tobog-
gan. The building of this boat occupied two days,
the tools in use being a dull saw and hand ax, and the
material planks from our larger boat and from the re-
mains of a smaller boat we found stranded at Poverty
flats. A large portion of the supplies were left in the
large boat.
"Once started down the river in the smaller craft,
our troubles may be said to have been over, as there
was never the least doubt about reaching the mouth
of the river, although on several occasions there
seemed to be considerable doubt about our making
the trip alive. The first day after leaving Poverty-
flats and before we reached the mouth of the middle
fork of Salmon river, we struck another ice gorge,
over which we portaged with little difficult}-. The next
day from this we entered the Black canyon, which has a
length of something over ten miles, and which took
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
437
three days to traverse. During these days the hours
were filled with excitement and risk. Seven ice
gorges were met and surmounted. In no case was the
ice solid, the solid ice reaching- out from the shore on
each side and leaving in the middle of the stream a
channel, which was filled up with slush ice, and enor-
mous snow balls, this slush ice and snow sometimes
reaching below the surface to a depth of ten or fifteen
feet. In this stretch of the river there would be a
quiet reach of water, its surface mirroring the en-
folding hills, while below this would come a rapid or
fall, where the water, a sea green color, would rush down
a rocky gorge, on a twenty per cent, grade, or perhaps
fall almost perpendicularly for ten or fifteen feet. The
channel in these swift places would be plentifully be-
sprinkled with huge red and green granite and sand
stone boulders, and the waters would be lashed into
foam. At the foot of each of these falls would be a
combing wave, apparently rushing back up stream,
and on several occasions these waves almost swamped
the boat. But it was not the rushing waters,
alternating with pools of quiet depth, that formed the
greatest charm in the scenery.
"The name Black canyon is no misnomer. It was
and is a black canyon in very truth. Floating on the
quieter stretches of the river and looking toward the
heavens, it seemed as though the scene told its own
historv of the great mountains of granite which had
been reft by the giant hand of the Almighty, raised in
anger against an unworthy world, leaving here a gash
in many places five thousand feet in depth, and which
in many places even the erosion of the ages has not
more than gently scarred, while in others the evidences
of the great convulsion which had split the rocks
asunder were apparently as fresh as on the day when
the cleft was formed. ■ On either side there would be
nothing but the bare rock walls, red and green and blue
and brown, with never a blade of grass or shrub, while
far above, forming a fringe for the clear blue of the
sky, which showed in a thin slit like a silver thread,
was the dark blue of the forest, intensified by the
dazzling whiteness of the snow that sparkled with all
the shades of light that would be given out by a clus-
ter of diamonds. The memory of the three days
spent in traversing this Black canyon will be with me
through the years to come.
"After we had traversed the Black canyon, no other
dangers that the river might have in store for us
could produce more than a pleasurable excitement,
and each rapid and fall was met and conquered with-
out the quickening of a single pulse beat. Beautiful
scenery, sublime in its loftiness, did not end with the
Black canyon, and in many ways the stretch of river
between White Bird and the junction of the Salmon
with the Snake rivers furnished as beautiful scenery
as can be found anywhere on the American conti-
nent. After leaving White Bird, the river, -al-
though wild in its flow, gave evidence along its banks
that man had come here and made this his home.
There were a number of little homes, with vineclad
porches and orchards back of the house. Occasion-
ally there were long stretches where the river ran in
deep gorges and where the sun does not strike the
water during eight months of the year. The walls
of the canyon here are a chocolate colored basalt, and
in many places the columnar basalt stretches from the
water's edge for a thousand feet or more into the air,
the columns rising like cathedral spires. In other
places these cliffs of columnar basalt have been faulted
and the columns, in place of soaring skyward, are
placed at almost every imaginable angle.
"We reached the mouth of the Salmon river Decem-
ber i~th, and two days were occupied in reaching
Lewiston. After leaving White Bird we had been con-
stantly warned to beware of the Wild Goose rapids, and
so much had been told us of the dangers of the passage
there that we had almost decided to line over the rapids,
something we had not done in our whole trip. All
during the forenoon we had been keeping a careful
watch for the Wild Goose, and finally about noon,
unable to stand the suspense any longer, the boat was
pulled ashore near a house, and a farmer asked how
far it was to the Wild Goose. We were much surprised
when told that we had passed the rapids about six
miles."
But we must not allow ourselves to be betrayed
into dwelling at too great length upon the topographic
features of Idaho county, for scenic beauty, though
adding greatly to the charm of any region, is neverthe-
less in this practical age secondary in importance to
numerous other considerations. Though from an
agriculturist's standpoint there seems to be much waste
'and in central Idaho, yet is the country almost every-
where rich in some form of wealth. The palmy days
of placer mining have long since passed, but the re-
vival of the last decade in quartz mining has brought
to light not a few promising prospects and some pro-
ducers, the wide distribution of which, considered in
connection with the evidence of mineralization in many
parts of the intervening country, fosters the belief that
Idaho county is some day again to lead the state, as
it did in the early 'sixties, in the production of mineral
wealth. The season of the year during which this work
is being prepared renders it practically impossible to
visit the mines in person and our lack of mining ex-
perience must of necessity render this description of the
mining industry somewhat superficial, but we shall do
our best with the information at hand.
Among the mining districts which are today com-
manding attention are several the names of which were
household words in the golden days of 1861-2-3. Flor-
ence, which had such a brilliant early history, enjoyed
a very considerable boom in recent years and though
interest has subsided somewhat, it is still among the
important districts of the county. Situated in the vi-
cinity of the Salmon river its environs partake of the
picturesqueness which characterize the canyon of that
stream and country adjacent to it. The general topo-
graphy of the canyon at this point was thus described
m 1885 bv the gifted pen of A. F. Parker:
"Four miles from Florence we strike the head of
the seven mile grade to Salmon river, 'the descent
into hades is not more abrupt and precipitous than the
tortuous trail which winds around the face of the
438
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
mountain and drops the weary traveler finally at the
approaches to the wire bridge. From the summit of
the huge spur down which the trail winds, one can
look for miles and miles over a sea of mountain and ra-
vine, of ragged precipices and stony heights, of barren
wastes and pine-crested slopes. Far below yawns the
black gorge through which the river runs, dwarfed
from our point of view to a mere silver thread. De-
scending, we note that the shelving sides of the canyon
meet at" the bottom until they inclose the turbulent
waters of this dangerous stream. The elements act-
ing on the sides of the gorge have scraped some parts
into precipitous crags and scooped others back, so that
the walls present a series of projecting bastions and
semi-circular recesses, traversed by innumerable ra-
vines. The dark forests of pine that clothe the summits
sweep down to the very brink of the river in scattering
groves on both sides. Such is a general plan of the
place, but it is hardly possible to convey in words a
picture of the impressive grandeur of the scene.
"There are those to whom such a scene is the very
abomination of desolation, nothing present that is not
savage and inhospitable. But to a keen eye it has mani-
fold attractions. Fr< >m the summit the crags and slopes
tower upwards in endless variety and form with the
weirdest mingling of colors. Much of the granite rock,
especially the crumbling slopes, was of a sparkling
white chat dazzled the eyes, and through this ground-
work harder masses of dull scarlet, merging into crag-
gy knolls and pinnacles, shot up in vertical walls. In
the sunlight of early morning the canyon is a blaze of
strange and ever changing color as the shadows recede
from the scarred fronts of yellow, red and black, and
become illumined with the bright rays of the strength-
ening sun. And above all lie the dark folds of pine,
sweeping along the crests of the precipices which they
crown with a rim of sombre green, while far away in
the distant perspective is an endless succession of rug-
ged mountains, priest-robed in the snows of eternity,
or clothed in the sombre hues of the forest. There may
be gorges in the Yellowstone or Yosemite of far more
imposing magnitude, but for dimensions large enough
to be profoundly striking, yet not too vast to be taken
in by the eyes at once, for infinite changes of pictur-
esque detail and for brilliancy and variety of coloring.
the Salmon river canyon is as striking and impressive
as any in America."
The mining district is situated on the north side of
the river on a plateau near the brink of the canyon. Its
elevation is approximately 6,000 feet, so that in winter
snow falls to a great depth. Lindgren estimates the
total production of the camp at between fifteen and
thirty millions. "The production from July, 1868, to
July, [869," he says, "had already sunk to $200,000;
during 1871. only $100,000 were produced; during
1872, $78,000. From this date the camp is rarely men-
tioned in the mint reports, and during many years the
Chinese we're in undisturbed possession, washing old
tailings. The report of 1881 estimates the production
at $45,000; in 1882, it was $35,000; in 1884, $40,000;
in 1885,, $44,003 of gold and $803 of silver; in 1887,
838,440 of gold and Si. 55 1 of silver. Soon after the
camp became practically deserted.
"While it was recognized at an early date that the
gold was derived from quartz veins, these were con-
sidered of little value. The only quartz vein mentioned
in the old reports was the Harpster and Little, located
four miles from Florence on the brink of the Salmon
river. This was a silver vein containing practically no
gold. In i8q6 rind 1807 quartz mining received a great
impetus. Prospecting showed the presence of very
many veins and the district was soon covered by loca-
tions ; several mills were erected and the population in-
creased to about 1,000."
The mining revival in the district resulted not alone
in the building of mills and developing of quartz pros-
pects, but in some attention being paid to placer min-
ing by improved modern machinery. Thus in the fall
of 1898, a dredge of the dipper variety with a daily-
capacity of 2,000 yards, was instituted by the Bucyrus
Dredge Company, of Milwaukee, at a cost of $50,000.
It was operated during two seasons but did not do its
work in a satisfactory manner.
The district furnishes a complicated system of gold-
bearing quartz veins, upon which in 1897 and 1898,
several hundred claims were filed. Assay values are
said to range from $18 to S50. The Hi Yu vein on
Sand creek is a ledge two to four feet wide and is said
by Lindgren to consist of quartz seams separated by
altered granite, which yield gold valued at $14 an
ounce. The vein, lie says, was worked as early as 1872
and in 1897 it had been developed by a drift 175 feet
long. A new mill was erected in 1898, and worked
continuously for a while, but we are informed that the
mine is now in litigation.
A quarter of a mile southeast of the Hi Yu on the
south branch of Black Sand creek is the Banner vein, a
"vein of glassy, pure quartz up to six feet thick, though
ordinarily much less, said to go $50 per ton and to con-
tain 2>2 ounces gold, six to seven ounces silver, very-
little pyrite. Some of the altered granite is also said
to be as rich as the quartz. Several minor faults cross
the vein, causing it to diverge locally from its course."
A Huntington mill was in course of erection in 1897
at the time of Lindgren's visit. It burned in 1899. The
mine was patented and allowed to fill with water and
remain idle until 1901, when it fell into the hands of
the First National Bank of Spokane. John M. Her-
man, of Moscow, organized the Florence Gold Mining
Company for its operation, and in 1902 built and
equipped two Huntington mills, also fitted up the mine
completely, the aggregate expenditure in this manner
being $20,000. It is said that the underground work-
ings measure unitedly 1,200 feet. The mine closed
down last spring and is at present in litigation.
The Gold Bug vein, located a short distance south
of the Banner, belongs to the Banner group. It has
been opened by means of a tunnel, and it is stated that
from it and the Banner, the old Banner company ex-
tracted $50,000 worth of ore. The Blossom vein is
situated west of old Florence. It consists of altered
granite alternating with quartz veins of varying thick-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ness. "This ledge," says the government report, "is
confined between thin layers of soft clayey material,
separating it from the hard country rock. Free mill-
ing gold is said to occur in the altered granite and the
clay — talc, so called. — as well as in the quartz. A con-
siderable amount of gold was obtained from this mine
in earlv days by means of crushing in mortars. The
Blossom is said to be one of the most persistent veins of
the camp, and it can be followed for a considerable dis-
tance. The vein is developed by a shaft following it
and reaching to a depth of no feet from the surface.
The shaft extends 58 feet below the tunnel, which is
220 feet in length." A Huntington mill was erected on
this property in 1897 by the Blossom Alining and Mill-
ing Company. It was never operated, however, and in
1901 became the property of J. M. Herman. The mine
was relocated in the summer of 1902 by Walter Bennett
of Florence.
The Ozark vein is located near the head of Gold
Lake creek, a tributary of Slate creek, at a point about
a mile from old Florence. The government report on
it says : "The deposits consist of one principal vein
averaging 18 inches in thickness and striking south
84 degrees east. A smaller vein, averaging a foot in
width joins the former vein at an acute angle, having
a strike north of 88 degrees east. A number of smaller
stringers run parallel to the latter. The larger vein
cuts off the second as .well as its parallel stringers. In
all, these stringers form a zone up to 50 feet wide,
which is said to contain enough to be milled with profit.
The quartz is of the ordinary glassy kind, seemingly
characteristic of this camp. It contains but little sul-
phurets and shows excellent comb structure. Some
of the altered granite along the stringers carries free
gold and is crushed with the quartz. The mine is de-
veloped by two tunnels 600 feet long, cutting the seam
obliquely and striking about north 62 degrees east.
A five-stamp mill reduces the ore. The Ozark was in
1897 the only producing mine, with the exception of a
small quantity milled at the Hi Yu." It is, however,
stated that the mine has not produced any since 1897
and is idle at present. Its owner is M. J. Shields, of
Moscow.
About a mile west of Florence is the Waverly, a
vein of something near twelve feet width. The develop-
ments reported in 1897 consisted of a shaft 116 feet
deep. I. M. Herman, we are informed, took an option
on it in 1898 and expended $3,000, but gave it back to
its original owners because he could not keep the water
out of the rt-orkings. It is said to be very rich. It is
now the property of the Waverly Gold Alining Com-
pany, a Moscow corporation, who are not operating it
at present. There is a two-stamp mill on the property.
The Poorman vein, three miles southwest of Flor-
ence, was in 1897 reported to have been developed by
a shaft 120 feet deep -and a tunnel, also to consist of
quartz similar to that of the other mines of the district
except that ruby silver and horn silver were present. A
five-stamp mill was erected on this property in 1897,
and run a few hours, after which the mine shut down
and the mill was sold to the Little Giant Company, of
Warren.
I'lie Cubano vein at the head of .Miller creek, half
a mile west of Florence was opened in early days. It
was again located about two years ago by Mrs. Emma
Meinart, of Florence, who is engaged in developing it.
reducing the ore in a two-stamp mill. It is claimed that
the vein is the richest in the camp, the ore assaying
$100 and upwards.
The Gilt Edge, adjoining Florence on the east, has
been developed by a shaft 200 feet deep. A new steam
hoist was installed last summer, and the Gilt Edge
Gold Mining Company, recently organized by R. J.
McLean, of Mount Idaho, is engaged in extending its
shafts and is drifting. The ore is said to assay from
$50 to $70, free gold.
The Bullion, of which Henry Wax. of Grangeville,
is the present owner, was opened as much as a quarter
of a century ago. It was formerly the property of S.
S. Fenn, who used to have its rich ore packed to a rail-
road and shipped. It is a silver proposition. Six or
seven hundred feet of development work have been
done on it. It lies eight miles southeast of Florence.
The Whatcheer vein, seven miles south of Florence
and two west of the Bullion, is now owned by the
Whatcheer Mining Company of Pullman. Washington.
The vein is said to be from one to three feet in thick-
ness and the development work to aggregate six hun-
dred feet. Other valuable veins are the Yakima, four
miles south of town, owned by Flint & Reed, of Grange-
ville ; Snowshoe, near it, the property of W. A. Bennett
and George Connor ; the Coupon and the Caudeleria,
owned by R. J. McLean, and the Anderson Brothers'
mines, a large group, the gold bearing ore from which,
it is said, is soon to be treated in a 20-ton mill. The
great drawback to mining in the district is the presence
of water in such quantities as to flood the workings.
Until this is drained off not much progress can be
made.
On the south side of the Salmon river canyon about
twenty-seven miles from Florence in a southeasterly di-
rection is the Warren mining district, the story of the
discovery of which, with its early history, has been re-
lated heretofore. It is one of the two or three camps
in Idaho county which have been noticed in recent
geological publications, and concerning it Lindgren's
report has this to say :
"Warren is one of the least accessible mining
camps in the west, being about one hundred and thirty
miles by wagon road from the nearest railroad. In
consequence of this, as well as of the short season and
bad roads, expenses of mining are necessarily high.
The road from Weiser, after leaving the plateau of the
Columbia lava at Payette lake, continues up the nar-
row canyon of the North Fork of the Payette until, at
an elevation of 6,300 feet, it crosses the low and
swampv divide between the Salmon and Payette
rivers. ' At this point the character of the country
changes. Down toward the brink of the Salmon river
canyon extends a heavily forested area of compara-
tively gentle relief. The road at first follows the val-
ley of Secesh creek, which has a most remarkable
course, as will be seen from the map. Rising only a
few miles from the great canron of the Salmon, it
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
runs in a southeasterly direction, and finally, thirty-
five miles from its head, empties into the south fork of
the Salmon river, which again empties into the main
river fifteen miles northeast of Warren. This peculiar
course indicates clearly that the plateau and its drain-
age, to the south fork of the Salmon river, are of great
antiquity compared with the latter. The road, leav-
ing Secesh valley, crosses a ridge and descends into
the drainage of Meadow creek, near the head of which
Warren is" located. The character of the topography
about Warren is the same as that of Secesh valley.
Gently sloping ridges rise to about a thousand feet
above' the valley, and a forest of black pine covers
everything. The bottoms of the creeks and streams
are covered with gravel to a considerable depth, and
near the divides little marshes are common. A few
miles north < >f Warren the country slopes precipitously
towards the Salmon river."
Warren has the distinction, notwithstanding its
remoteness from transportation facilities, of being the
first of the old placer camps in which any considerable
attention was devoted to quartz mining. Thus Prof.
Lindgren. deriving his information from the Ray-
mond and mint reports, tells us that in 1869 the prin-
cipal gold and silver veins were known, that the Res-
cue yielded $ 13,000 and was developed by a shaft one
hundred and twenty feet deep; that in 1870 the quartz
mines were averaging $50.00 per ton while the placer
mines averaged $5.90 per day per man during four
months; that in 1871, 1.500 tons of ore were ex-
tracted, averaging S37.00; that from the quartz mines
up to that date g 125,000 had been extracted and that
two hundred and fifty recorded claims were known. "In
1872," continues the extracts, "the gold veins of Res-
cue, Charity, Sampson and Keystone were worked;
of gold-silver veins, Martinace, Hunt and Washing-
ton. In 1873 Rescue and Charity were worked. In
1874 Rescue was idle. In 1875 the placers were near-
ly exhausted. Of the quartz mines the following
were worked : Hie Jacet, Keystone, Knott, Scott, Al-
der, Rescue and Sampson. In 1881 the same mines
and several more were worked with good results. In
1882 the Charity, Tramp and Knott quartz veins were
operated. In 1884 the Tramp, Knott and Little
Giant were worked. In 1897 the Little Giant and
Goodenough were worked and many others pros-
pected; piacer mining by steam shovel was in pro-
gress one mile below Warren. In 1898 the Little
Giant and Goodenough were worked. A ten-stamp
mill had been erected on the Iola and was in opera-
tion."
The largest producer of the Warren district is the
Little Giant vein, situated half a mile south-south-
east of Warren in Smith gulch. The ore consists of
quartz, containing native gold of a rather pale color,
also small quantities of tetrahedrite, galena, brown
zinc blende, arsenopyrite and pyrite. It is stated in
the geological report on the mine that during the
fourteen years preceding 1897, the mine produced
1,665 tons °f ore- which, being milled, yielded an
average of $117 per ton. A ten-stamp mill was moved
from the Poorman mine in Florence onto this prop-
erty in 1900, but it is idle now as the vein has become
involved in litigation. Its present owners are the
Idaho Little Giant Mining Company of Grangeville.
The Rescue is said to be the oldest quartz mine in
north Idaho. Its vein extends at least half a mile, and
upon it are located the Idaho, Goodenough and West
Goodenough. Lindgren's report credits it with a
production, in all the years during which it has been
worked since 1868, of between $100,000 and $150,000.
It was idle in 1897, owing to its having become sub-
ject of litigation, and it is idle at present. "Where
examined," says the government report, "the vein
forms a belt of crushed granite one and one-half to
two feet wide, schistose in places and containing small
veinlets of quartz inclosing minute foils of free gold,
together with a little zinc blende, galena and probably
also tetrahedrite. The average- width of the vein is
said to be three feet, of which about eighteen inches
constitutes the pay streak. In thin sections the quartz
proves to be entirely normal, well crystallized vein
quartz. The yield of ore is from $20 to $50 per ton.
The vein is (1897) opened near the creek by a cross-
cut 475 feet long. Drifts extend 300 feet east and
600 feet west on the vein. East of the crosscut the
vein has been stopped to surface and also for fifty
feet below the drift, while on the west side but little
stopping has been done." On the property is a ten-
stamp mill, operated by steam. The mine is inactive
at present.
The Goodenough vein is said to consist of solid
quartz, two to eight inches wide, with well defined
walls. It is a high grade property, with zinc blende,
pyrite and ruby silver present. Like the other prop-
erties of the company, it is inoperative at present.
Other veins are the Charity, developed by two tun-
nels, the Knott, one of the earliest discoveries, de-
veloped by three tunnels, the Tramp, Hie Jacet, Dela-
ware, Blue Bird, Bull Dog, some of which have been
somewhat developed, the Martinez, Keystone and
Hunt; the Hawkeye and Washington, the Arlise, the
Lucky Ben and the Scott ; the Iola, on which a ten-
stamp mill was erected in 1898, and the Beamish.
The Silver King is the only mine in the district in
operation, all the others, for some reason, being in a
state of suspended animation at this time. It is being
worked by the Silver King Mining and Milling Com-
pany, of which Amber Stewart is manager. A ten-
stamp Frasier & Chalmer mill treats its ore and it has
two Wilfley concentrators. Its deepest tunnel taps the
vein at a depth of 300 feet.
While Warren is, perhaps, one of the steadiest of the
old camps, it is experiencing a period of industrial
quiet at present, no doubt owing in part at least to
the Buffalo Hump and Thunder Mountain excite-
ments. It is said that the district is characterized by
the fact that rich float is frequently found and rich
surface showings which show a tendency to "pinch
out" as greater depth is attained.
The Marshall Lake mining district, northwest of
Warren and south-east of Florence, is the new-
est and one of the most promising in Idaho county.
As yet but litle development work has been done and
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
441
•owing to the character of the region and the compo-
sition of the ores, this district must be slow in coming
forward, although its future appears to be a very
bright one. Since the discovery of the first mines
here over four hundred claims have been located and
more than twenty different veins have been uncovered,
all of which prospect well.
The topography of this region is that character-
istic of the upper Salmon river, high, timbered ranges
or divides separated by narrow, abyssmal canyons
thousands of feet in depth. With the exception of
the state wagon road which crosses the Salmon at the
mouth of French creek, follows this creek for several
miles and then crosses the divide onto Lake and
Secesh creeks, thence to the Salmon meadows, the
country can be traveled over only by tortuous trails
which climb precipitous slopes and dip down into deep
canyons across the roughest of ground. At French
creek the Salmon is about 2,700 feet in altitude. Six
miles from the river on either side, on the north and
the south, the divides rise to a height of 8,000 feet,
while numerous raging mountain torrents leap down
from these lofty ridges through short, dark and deep
-canyons to the mighty stream below. The northern
slopes of these divides are heavily timbered with fir
and tamarack large enough in size for mining and
building uses, while a sparser growth covers the can-
yons to the water's edge. Beneath the roots of this
wild forest lies the mineral wealth which some day
will be taken from nature's hidden storehouse and dis-
tributed among men.
The principal portion of the Marshall Lake dis-
trict lies on the precipitous northern slope of the high
Salmon river-Lake creek divide, between French
creek on the west and California creek on the east, al-
though many good prospects have been found and
several placers are in operation across this divide on
Lake creek and Marshall lake. The official southern
houndary of the district is described as a line running
from the western prong of California creek near Burg-
■dorf's warm springs westward to French creek. The
mineral zone is perhaps twelve miles wide and, so far
as known, about eighteen miles long, the veins run-
ning parallel with the Salmon and at right angles with
the smaller breaks or canyons. However, it would be
erroneous to assume that the district thus described
embraces the entire mineralized section, for every
veteran prospector knows that the whole interior re-
gion is mineralized and that color can be found any-
where in central Idaho. French creek is a stream
carrying fully 2,500 miner's inches of water in mid-
summer and possesses a tremendous fall. This creek
is well favored, at its lower end, with excellent mill
sites and is said to be the best stream in that region
for power purposes. California creek heads on the
Lake creek divide and empties into the Salmon eight-
een miles above French creek, which is the larger
stream. Between these flow Maxwell, Carey, Long
Tom, Fall and Bear creeks, on the last of which are
a majority of the claims in the district including the
developed properties. Bear creek is a very small
stream not more than large enough to run a ten-
stamp mill. Its source is in Twin lakes, two small
bodies of water covering perhaps ten acres each.
They lie, one below the other, just across the summit
of the Lake creek divide and on the Salmon river
slope at an altitude of about 8,000 feet. There are no
fish in their waters and except for a short time dur-
ing the summer, their surfaces are frozen and cover-
ed with snow. Each has an outlet and the two
streams draining the lakes form a junction two miles
lower down, creating Bear creek. Two miles west of
Twin lakes and across the divide at an altitude nearly
two thousand feet lower, is Marshall lake, from which
this district receives its name. This body of water is
a mile long and a quarter of a mile wide and heads in
a deep basin directly under the crest of the divide.
This body of water is the source of Lake creek, which
courses through a beautiful stretch of meadows ex-
tending many miles along Secesh creek, into which the
former stream flows. George H. Connor, who is our
principal authority on the Marshall Lake district, es-
timates that fully 40,000 acres are embraced in this
fertile, natural meadow and says that, besides Fred
Burgdorf, many others have already turned their stock
in upon its luxurious grasses. The waters of the lake
and streams are of crystal clearness. They are the
delight of millions of trout which every year come into
the mountains from the south fork of the Salmon
river into which Secesh creek flows.
The snows are almost perpetual on the summit of
the Lake creek divide, where the altitude is close to
8,300 feet, so naturally these higher regions are ac-
cessible to the prospector for only a short portion of
the year. Lower down, near the Salmon, it is possi-
ble to carry on work for several months each sea-
son if not all winter. Florence is the nearest post-
office to the mines on the Salmon river slope and War-
ren is the trading point and postoffice of those who
live near the top of or across the divide.
As heretofore stated, the principal mines lie on
Bear creek. Here it was that the first discoveries
were made during the summer of 1898 by two pros-
pectors, Isaac Maxwell and a man named McKibbon.
Late in the season these two men opened a rich vein
between Twin lakes and the top of the divide. Speci-
mens from it assayed as high as $19,000, though the
general average was in the neighborhood of $100. The
gold was free milling and was found between alter-
nating walls of schist" and granite. Maxwell and Mc-
Kibbon did the necessarv assessment work on the four
claims taken, which they named the Mountain Chief
group, then sold the property forthwith to Charles
Sweeney, of Spokane, its present owner. Sweeney
kept up the assessment work and that is all. The dis-
covery was not heralded abroad and elicited little gen-
eral interest. During the summer of 1900. however,
A. A. Easton and D.' L. Roy went into the region and
located the Kimberlev group of four claims. They
sank a fifty foot shaft on the Kimberley
and struck a rich lead, sixteen inches wide,
assaying $125.00. This was in September.
The'following May they located four more claims three
miles down " the canyon, at an altitude of about
442
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
4,000 feel. Tins group they named the Jewel.
Three ledges were uncovered, the Jewel, the Mult-
nomah and the Bellorr. The Jewel vein is eighteen
inches wide and assays $75 ; the .Multnomah, a three
foot lead, assays perliaps $40: while the Bellorr vein
is about twenty inches wide and carries values lower
than the Multnomah. At present a one hundred and
twenty foot tunnel taps the Jewel ledge; the Multno-
mah is opened by several surface cuts and on the
Bellorr thirty feet of tunneling has been constructed.
In 1901 a small sampling mill was erected on the
Jewel group and die ores of these veins and those at
the lakes were thoroughly tested by the owners. James
L. Hill, of New York city, purchased both the Kim-
berley and Jewel groups in February, 1903, for $65,-
000. Besides Easton and Roy, the original locators
of the properties, three others, George H. Connor. J.
G. Wright and William A. Scott, as equal partners
with the locators, received shares of this money, they
having furnished the grubstake. Mr. Hill expects to
install a ten-stamp mill on the Jewel ledge as soon as
roads can be built into the district.
Besides these properties several other excellent
prospects have been opened, all of which promise
well. Most of them lie on Bear creek and the high
ridges on each side, and as before stated, the veins
run at right angles to the canyons of these creeks.
Generally speaking the veins dip about eighty degrees.
Thev carry sulphides of iron, galena, zinc and gold,
and from forty per cent, to eighty per cent, of the
values may be secured by milling. The remaining
concentrates are rich, but will require smelting.
Other slightly developed claims of the district are
the Mineral King and Richmond, owned by Rufus A.
Hendricks, which He three-quarters of a mile south of
the Jewel group and on which a two foot vein has been
opened, and the Crescus, owned by J. \Y. Turnbull,
which lies a little farther up the creek and has an
eighteen inch vein. The western slope of Bear creek
canyon is known as Treasure Hill and the most prom-
inent property in this locality is the Treasure Hill
group, owned by Turnbull. Penny and O'J-Cane, of
Grangeville. This vein is fully three feet wide and
assays close to a hundred dollars. The owners are
now busily engaged in further developing their prop-
erty. There are numerous other properties in the dis-
trict, most of them but little developed as yet.
Inasmuch as the Thunder Mountain mining dis-
trict is not yet out of the "boom" period it is difficult
to get accurate information concerning it. No geo-
logical reports upon it are as yet available and many
of the newspapers notices of the country fail to elicit
confidence in their authenticity from the fact that their
representations — though they may be true — seem not
conservative enough for full credence. At this sea-
son of the vear it is impossible to visit the district in
person, but from the accounts of reliable mining men,
we are convinced that it is one of great merit and must
win a place among the leading mineral producing re-
gions of the United States. It is situated in south-
eastern Idaho county, and consists of a territory said
to be about forty miles in length by thirty-five in
width and embraced within the following boundaries,
namely, the Middle Fork of the Salmon river- on the
east ; the Big creek, Elk creek divide on the west, the
Big creek-Salmon river divide on the north and a cer-
tain broken line running through a yellow pine basin
on the south. Heavy bull pine, black pine and red
fir forests cover most of the region. The western
side is quite open, but from Marble creek to the Middle
Fork heavy forests obtain, increasing in density as
one proceeds east. High, bald hills, timber covered
peaks, and box canyons characterize the country,
which, in general, is of a very rugged topography.
The Middle Fork for some distance traverses a deep
gorge, marked "Impassable Canyon" on Rand, Mc-
Nally & Company's map. Little is known of its
character, although it is possible to get down to the
water's edge in places from either side, the difficulty
being that the passes on the east and west do not meet
each other. It is stated that a number have lost their
lives in attempting to go through the canyon in float-
ing craft.
In the Thunder Mountain region the highest moun-
tains are clothed perennially on their north sides with
snow. The district is named from Thunder mountain,
the high timbered divide separating the waters of
.Marble from those of Monumental creek. It is about
thirty-five miles long and the summit of its upper
plateau is covered with a dense forest. It has been
so-called because of meteorological conditions ob-
seved there. Prospectors tell us that in thunder storms,
the heavy detonations are echoed and re-echoed until
the effect is terrific, causing the earth to tremble un-
der one's feet as if disturbed by seismic forces.
Those going into the district must approach by
one of the three principal routes, first, the Boise trail,
entering Idaho county through Bear valley, crossing
the divide to Monumental creek and thence to Roose-
velt; second, the "Warren trail, leading from Warren
eastward to Shaver's ranch, thence across the South
Fork, thence up the river to the mouth of Elk creek,-
thence up that stream to the summit, thence via Smith,
Big and Monumental creeks to Roosevelt, total dis-
tance from Warren, eighty miles ; third, the trail from
Salmon City, which crosses the Middle Fork eight
miles above the ranch of Newton Hibbs, thence over
the divide westward to Marble creek, up that fifteen
miles to Marble City, thence due west over the divide
to Roosevelt ; total distance from Salmon City, one
hundred and twenty miles.
Writers upon the Thunder Mountain mining dis-
trict have almost universally avoided a discussion of its
geology, stating that it is too complex to be described
except after exhaustive and careful research. It is
known, however, that basalt and granite abound. The
formation was not such as to lead prospectors to expect
mineral in paying quantities and for this reason the
region was long neglected. It is stated that the ores
appear to have been scorched, showing the effect of
volcanic action.
"Tn Thunder Mountain." wrote E. M. Reed in the
Spokesman Review, "the formation is volcanic and the.
predominating rock is ryolite of a light color. The
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
443
dyke or reef on which the Dewey and other claims have
been located has been compared with the wonderful
Rand reef in the Transvaal and is strongly suggestive
of Colorado. The ryolite reef is well marked on either
side by walls of birdseye porphyry and an occasional
cropping of barrolt. The reef extends northeast and
southwest and the gold pan test will show color any-
where, while sample pans have produced as high as
ten dollars. Five hundred dollars have been taken out
in four days with one of the old fashioned rockers, but
the average yield is very much less."
In an article published by the Boise Statesman,
Zenas X. Vaughn, C. E., had this to say about the
Thunder Mountain country :
"Pirst I will sav a word about the geology. Were
I disposed to verify the adage that 'Fools rush in where
angels fear to tread' I might enter into a lengthy scien-
tific discussion of this phase of the subject. I shall
be brief but I hope to dispel one illusion. Thunder
Mountain is not all porphyry. It has a goodly sprink-
ling of it, to be sure, but there is room there for almost
evervthing and almost everything is there.
"I entered the district from the Sea Foam side. Up
to a certain point everything had been granite. The
Sea Foam country is granite, though it has immense
upheavels of eruptive rock. A short distance north of
the Middle Fork of Salmon river the granite is replaced
by porphyry formations. Notwithstanding this, within
ten miles of the Dewey mine there are large areas of
granite which carry huge ledges of quartz. This is
pre-eminentlv true of the rock along the southwest fork
of the Monumental. In some places the formations are
very complicated. There are areas of granite, bird's-
eye porphyry, quartz porphyry, quartzite, diorite, phono-
iite, and serpentine mixed up in bewildering confusion.
Perhaps the most common rock in Thunder Mountain
is a sort of phonolite that splits up into characteristic
slabs.
Close to Roosevelt the structures are either por-
phyry, phonolite or some allied eruptive rock. Ten
miles to the northward the geology changes and the
country is granite, quartzite, serpentine or quartz-por-
phyry. To the southward of Indian creek the por-
phyry is replaced by a very beautiful white granite, or
in some places gneiss, which holds its own for many
miles. To the eastward, as above explained, the erup-
tions extend well nigh to the Middle Fork of the Sal-
mon.
"Dangerous as it to do so, it is difficult to refrain
from theorizing on the above conditions. There is
reason to believe, however, that Thunder Mountain and
the contiguous mountains are an intrusion of volcanic
rocks into an area of prehistoric granite. Beyond this
it is nof safe to draw conclusions.
"The mineralization of this district is peculiar. The
ores, tin nigh so widely different in appearance may be
grouped under two general heads. The first one is the
most puzzling and the one which has awakened such
widespread interest in the district. It is generally called
a porphyry or a talc in some places. While there un-
doubtedly are talcose deposits, these ores do not gener-
ally seem, at least to the writer, to be either porphyry
or talc, but a sort of pulverized quartz, which has been
cemented into a coherent mass by infiltration of waters
holding in solution oxide of iron and carbonates of
lime, magnesia, etc. These ores vary in color from
snow white to yellowish, brownish and bluish.
"The second class is quartz, occurring in regular
ledges, generally carrying an abundance of iron, also
carbonate of lime and magnesia, with flarite and other
minerals. Pyrites of iron and copper, with carbonate
and silicate of the latter metal, are very common. Gen-
erally speaking, the quartz ores are more likely to lie
base and the conglomerate ores free, though there are
many exceptions on both sides to this rule. Souk- of
the richest among the conglomerate ores show no colors
in panning.
"Probably one of the most unique discoveries made
in Thunder mountain is a nickel ledge, carrying $2,000
values of nickel, copper and gold, controlled by Mr.
Stonebreaker. This is some distance below Taylor's
cabin and at the side of the Monumental creek trail."
The Thunder Mountain country is usually consid-
ered as made up of two districts, the eastern and the
western. The latter, embracing Big, Smith and Pro-
file creeks, produces gold, silver, copper and lead. On
the northern portion of the basin of Big creek, silver
is the principal metal, while on Logan creek, a tribu-
tary of the stream just mentioned, silver predominates.
On Profile creek lead is found in large quantities.
Gold is quite widely distributed over the entire district.
The values in the eastern district, embracing Monu-
mental, Marble and Indian creeks, are found in a por-
phyritic quartz, covered with a basalt capping, and con-
sist of free gold entirely. It is here that the principal
developments have been made. The oldest group of
claims in the district i^ the Dewey, discovered by Will-
iam, Louis and Daniel Caswell in the early 'nineties,
and worked constantly since. The Caswells were in the
habit cf sluicing the decomposed porphyry, then allow-
ing the solider formation beneath to weather until the
following summer, when it would be found to have
decomposed to a considerable depth and to be ready for
sluicing. Their property was bonded to Colonel E. H.
1 >ewey in August, rooi, for a reputed sum of Sioo.ooo.
It is worked at present by a ten-stamp mill. The entire
property consists of fourteen claims, the Gold Reef,
Goldie, Coal Pit Fraction, Gravel Point. Dollar,
Poorman's Treasure, Fraction. Golden Treasure, Gold
Dust, Golden Wedge. Equinox, Gold Bug, Wonderful
and Buffalo. Most of the development work is done on
the Poorman's Treasure, but as no person, other than
employees or owners, is allowed in the mine, the extent
of the workings and the size of the vein are not known.
It is stated that the company expects to install and be-
gin operating one hundred stamps in the near future.
Another noted mine of the district is the Sunnyside,
purchased from the Caswell brothers for a reputed sum
of $125,000. It is said that this price was paid for the
property before it had been developed any to speak of
and while it was still a prospect. It is located on the
Marble creek slope east of Dewey. It belongs to the
Belle Thunder Mountain Company, who last summer
utilized the labor of some fifteen or twenty men in its
444
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
development. The excavations are said to aggregate
about 1,400 feet.
A third property of note in the Thunder Mountain
district is the Fairview group on Monumental creek
near Roosevelt, owned by the Gold Ridge Mining Com-
pany, a Pittsburg concern. It is developed by two
tunnels. The ledge formation is similar to that of
most of the ledges of the district, — porphyritic quartz.
Values are said to average high, and we are informed
that assays of $100 per ton are not uncommon.
The Tiger group on Marble creek was sold last year
for a reputed sum of $200,000. It is only partially de-
veloped at present, but is a promising property. The
same is true of the Rainbow group west of Roosevelt
and the Grangeville, which joins the Sunnyside on the
north and which was located in 1901 by W. H. V.
Rickards and Albert Tuttle.
Considerable development work in the western dis-
trict has been done on what is known as the Werden-
hoff group on Smith creek, about six miles
from its mouth. The ledge, which is about
sixteen feet wide, consists of free milling quartz
averaging $16 in gold per ton. It is developed by about
400 feet of tunneling and shafts. It is said to have been
sold recently to a Colorado syndicate for $280,000.
The Crown property, owned by the same company, is
located on Big creek between Logan and Smith creeks.
The ledge is said to be sixty feet wide and to consist of
low grade, free milling ore.
The Hogback owned by A. A. Lydon, B. F. Gold-
man. I. C. Hattabaugh, Frank Gardner and other
Grangeville parties, is also on Big creek. It carried
gold, silver, copper and lead, but its values cannot be
secured without smelting. The vein is twelve feet wide
and averages $14.80 per ton in assay values, though
numerous kidneys have been found assaying from $70
to $380
Besides the above there are numerous other proper-
ties in course of development in both the eastern and
western districts and it is claimed by conservative min-
ing men that the showings in most of them are such as
to encourage the belief that the camp has a brilliant
future before it. It has been overadvertised, no doubt.
Stampedes into the country at the wrong season of the
year have been precipitated with the natural result that
disappointed gold hunters have started a reactionary
movement. Booms and their reactions are seemingly
necessary incidents in the development of new mining
camps. Both are temporary in their effects. Both will
soon be of the past in Thunder Mountain and the camp
will settle down to a steadv development of its resour-
ces. That these are numerous and extensive there can
be little doubt, and the man who describes the Idaho
county of a decade hence will surely have occasion to
speak of not a few producers in this isolated region.
The bars of Salmon river have been a source of
revenue to the placer miner since the earliest days.
Thev have probably never yielded immensely large re-
turns for labor, but have furnished a grub stake to
manv a stranded prospector, a good living to miners
whose ambitions were not too extraragant and a few
dollars of readv monev to the farmer and stockman in
the vicinity. Most of the lower bars have been worked.
To secure the gold in the higher ones and the old bed
of the river now far upon the mountain side is a prob-
lem engaging the attention of not a few, but its satis-
factory solution has not yet been found. Quite a num-
ber of individuals and companies are still at work on
the Salmon river placer grounds at least part of the
vear. One company is putting in a dredge to wash the
gravels of Doumecq bar. Robie & Smith are operating
on Mrs. Robie's farm. A company composed in part of
Spokane mining men is doing some work on the fam-
ous Horse Shoe bars and is preparing to install a plant
for the more satisfactory handling of its auriferous
gravels; the Slate Creek Mining Company, operating
near Samuel Large's place, has a ditch out of Slate
creek seven miles long, with a capacity, it is claimed, of
1,600 inches. The Victor Mining Company, in which;
Senator Wilson, of Spokane, is interested, operates a
claim between Slate creek and John Day ; P. E. Sher-
win has a propertv above John Day creek. The claims
of the Consolidated Hydraulic Mining Company are
also above the mouth of that stream, while above the
mouth of Little Salmon there is but one hydraulic mine,
that of William Short. Several placer miners, beside6
those mentioned, are operating in a small way at differ-
ent points on the stream.
In the immediate vicinity of Salmon river are some
very promising copper properties. Four and a half
miles northwest of White Bird are the claims of the
Idaho Mining & Smelting Company, principal among
which are the Indiana, Mineral Point, the Missouri,
the Michigan, the Last Chance, the Idaho, the Poco-
hontas and the Copper King. The Indiana has been
developed by a tunnel 248 feet long cutting almost
squarely across the vein and by a tunnel twenty-two
feet long following a stringer. Superintendent Fred
A. Davis, from whom these data were obtained, informs
us that all indications point toward the existence of an
immense body of ore of average grade, with numerous
high grade shoots and stringers. The values are in
copper and gold, and the absence of zinc is an encour-
aging circumstances. Reduction works and machinery
including- an air compressor, are in contemplation.
Another important propertv of the district is the
Rainbow group, six miles northwest of White Bird.
It consists of the following claims : Rainbow, Domin-
ion, Blue Front, Lone Star and Eddv. Its owners are
S. A. Wilson, J. W. Reid and Ed. Fehan. These gen-
tlemen have expended most of their efforts on the
Rainbow, doing only assessment work on the other
claims. This lead is sixty feet wide. An assay of a
picked specimen from it gave fifty per cent, copper, $34
per ton gold and 14 ounces of silver, and it is said that
even richer specimens might be obtained. The super-
intendent of this mine stated to the writer his belief
that a fair average assay would give seven per cent.
copper.
A district of the Salmon river country, whose im-
portance has long been known, but which has necessar-
ilv been neglected on account of its isolation, is the
Rapid river region. This stream empties into the Little
Salmon six miles above the mouth of the latter stream.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
44 S
Its bed is in the bottom of a high box canyon, which
in one place widens out to form Alliance basin, a bunch-
grass valley two and a half miles long by a mile wide,
whose only inhabitant, we have been told, is H. F.
Johnson, the "Seven Devils poet." Near the mouth of
the west fork of Rapid river, and eight miles from the
mouth of the main stream, are located the Rapid River
mines. It is said that there are a number of good
properties here, but only two are being worked, the
George Hardwick claim, to develop which a tunnel
600 feet long has been constructed, and the claim of
the Irwin Brothers, who have 300 feet of tunneling.
Both are copper and gold bearing properties.
Near the head of the east fork of Rapid river is the
Black Lake district, in which are a considerable number
of claims, but the country is without roads, hence there
is little encouragement to claim owners to make ex-
tensive developments. Notwithstanding drawbacks,
however, Edward Ford & Company have been at work
for four vears, developing their property and blocking
out an immense body of ore. Last summer they in-
stalled a steam mill. In the short time it was operated
they realized very encouraging returns in gold bullion.
The Iron Springs Mining Company are also active in
pushing development work, and, it is stated, intend
building a mill on their property this summer. The
two companies are contemplating the construction, by
their united efforts, of a road down Rapid river to the
state wagon road.
Coming to the Clearwater mines we shall give first
place to Elk City, an ancient camp, the earliest history
of which has already found a place in these pages.
During the four decades since its first discovery it has
been a gold producer almost uninteruptedly, though at
times its product dwindled to insignificance. After the
palmy placer mining days, the district passed into the
hands of the Chinese. A revival of interest in it took
place during the middle 'eighties, when some quartz
claims were taken and since that time white men have
given considerable attention to its wealth of placer gold
also. The first placer mining by improved modern
methods was begun about 1889 by C. D. Gavin, of Chi-
cago. In 1891, the initial attempt at dredging was
made, the machinery for the plant being packed in on
the backs of mules. The dredge was utilized for a time
in working the banks and bed of Red river, but it
proved toe light for its purpose and its use had to be
discontinued. In 1899, Butters Bros., of Michigan,
built another dredge, the use of which, after a couple
of seasons' trial, has also been abandoned. The only
placer mines in operation in the spring of 1903 were the
Gold Hill claims, owned by Cook Brothers & Brownell,
who were operating a No. 2 giant. However, it was
expected that R. D. Leggat, of Butte, Montana, would
operate during the summer his Buffalo Hill claim,
upon which is a large hydraulic plant, and that work
would also be done on the Little Elk placers by H.
Rittenhouse ; on the Tcrnan hill, by Henry Ternan ;
on the Deadwood gulch claims by James Witt, and on
a number of other good properties. No doubt much
placer gold is yet to be garnered in this famous old
camp.
Quartz mining in Elk district dates back to 1884,
when S. W. Smith and H. E. McKinney located what
was known as the Buster group of claims. Since that
many quartz veins have been located and developed to.
a considerable extent. The American Eagle group near
the head waters of Ziegle creek, owned by the Ameri-
can Eagle Consolidated Mining Company, Limited,
consists of eight claims. The vein is twelve feet wide
with a paystreak varying in width from two and one-
half to ten feet, and carrying values of from $5 to
$312 a ton. Its direction is northeast and southwest,.
dip vertical. It has been developed by 1,100 feet of
tunneling on two different levels, a one hundred-foot
shaft and 2,500 feet of drifting along the vein. The
equipment of the mine consists of a ten-stamp mill,
two concentrators, a Blake crusher, and a tramway
3,500 feet long. It was said in April to have produced
since January 1, 1903, $27,500, and fifteen tons of con-
centrates assaying $105 a ton. A cyanide plane is to
be installed in the near future. The Fish Hawk group,
owned by the same company, consisting of nine claims
adjoining the American Eagle, is now in process of de-
velopment.
The Hogan group of claims, situated on Crooked
river, twelve and a half miles from Elk City, gives
promise of becoming the finest property in the dis-
trict and one of the finest in the entire northwest. It
consists of about fiftv claims located on the wooded
hills on either side of the river, and is owned by the
Crooked River Mining & Milling Company. The
ore is described as pyrites of iron in quartz and por-
phyry with granite contact and is said to assay from
$5" to $50. The property has been quite extensively
developed by tunnels, shafts and chutes, and is
equipped with a twenty stamp, water power mill,
the water for which is brought from Crooked river by
a ditch a mile long. A dynamo, operated by this water
power, furnishes electric lighting for the entire plant.
Disinterested mining men have spoken very highly of
the probable future of this property.
The Boyer and Republic groups have stamp mills,
but are being operated at present only on a small scale.
Uther claims in course of development and making
encouraging showings are : the Laurel and West Lau-
rel, situated on Laurel hill at the head of French
gulch, sulphide ores with pockets of free crystallized
gold assaving $16 to $18, ledge six to nine feet wide,
developed by a 27- foot shaft, 250 feet of tunneling and
40 feet of drift : the Blue Ribbon group, on a hillside
between Red Horse creek and Ziegle creek, owned by
Brown, Cook, Brownell and Poyneer, sulphide ores,
assaving $12, developed by 520 feet of tunnels, a 60-
foot' shaft and several cross cuts; the Pacific group,
owned by L. Blomberg; the Champion group, owned
by S. McGibbons, and recently placed under control of
tlie Thunder Mountain Gold Company, of Philadel-
phia ; the Occidental group, owned by Chesbro & Baner :
the Lily Mav, by T- A. Coverly ; the Buster, by S. W.
Smith;' the Cleveland, by Smith, Parker and others;
the Grangeville, bv J. W. Reed, Joe Schoener, Henry
Wax and James Edwards, and other properties. Con-
servative mining men consider the Elk City district as
446
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
a whole as one of the most promising of the old Idaho
county camps.
Following a road leading in an easterly direction
from Elk City across American river and Red Horse
creek, thence southerly, one arrives, after a journey
of twenty-six miles, in the ancient mining district of
Dixie. The first mineral discoveries were made here
in the early 'sixties, but only a small amount of placer
mining was done and by primitive methods. When
Samuel Dillinger arrived in 1865. he found only three
men at work. But like many of the old placer camps
there has been a revival of interest in the district in
iater years. It is, nevertheless, a quiet place at pre-
sent and has been since the closing down of the Corn-
stock mine, though many good quartz properties are
being slowly developed.
One of the earliest placer camps, the Dixie district
is still a producer of gold dust. The Olive Gulch
placers, owned by a man named Hasslett, are a good
paying property. The Crooked Creek placers, owned
by' P. S. Prichard and George Blaine, consist of 153
acres of patented ground along the stream. They are
being operated by a No. 2 giant, with water from a
ditch three and a half miles iong, conveyed to the
giant by 1,600 feet of pipe.
Among the quartz claims of the district, the Ajax,
the McKinley and Roosevelt and the Comstock are
perhaps the best known. The first mentioned was
purchased by Finch & Campbell about two years ago
from James Turner, who had been developing i; dur-
ing the preceding six years. It is located about half
a mile northwest of the town of Dixie. Finch & Camp-
bell built a ten-stamp mill on it and operated the mine
for six or seven months. The results were not satis-
factory, so they sold their mill to the American Eagle
Company, of Elk City district, and abandoned the pro-
pert).
It is understood that the Comstock mine is to be
reopened this summer and the ore from it reduced in
a four-stamp water power mill, now in contemplation.
The property is situated on Rhett creek, four miles
southwest of Dixie, and is owned by the Poole
Brothers.
The McKinley and Roosevelt, owned by Sam Oil-
linger, is likewise situated on Rhett creek. The ore
is galena, assaying about $18. The developments con-
sist of two hundred feet of tunneling, striking the
ledge at a depth of fifty feet, also considerable drift
work along the vein.
To the northwest of Elk City, on the road leading
from that point to Camas prairie, is the Xewsome min-
ing district, another ancient camp, the discovery of
which dates back to the sixties. Rich placers have
been worked there since by white men and Chinese,
but always on a small scale. At the present time, the
Newsome-Leggat Hydraulic Mining Company, Lim-
ited, is operating the Leggat High Bar placers, sii-
uated on the divide between Newsorae and Leggat
creeks at an elevation of 700 feet above the latter. The
company owns three and a half miles of ditch and
flume and intends to utilize two No. 2 giants during
the present season. Besides the property mentioned,
which includes 1,600 acres of ground, this company
owns the ground and bed of Newsome creek from its
confluence with the Clearwater to a point within a
mile of Xewsome station. G. W. Thompson, of Lew-
iston, is president of the firm and James Surridge, of
Harpster, vice president. The Buckeye placers, below
Xewsome station, are being worked under the manage-
ment of C. P. Richardson.
Twelve miles up the south fork of the Clearwater
from Stites is an unorganized mining camp, popularly
known as the Dewey district. It lies on the survey for
an up river extension of the railroad, but even with
the road no nearer than Stites, it is easily accessible,
being only about eight miles from Grangeville. Its
warm climate incident to its slight elevation gives it
an incalculable advantage over most of the other min-
ing districts of the county.
The mining claims of the belt are in a porphyry
dyke ranging in width from 1,000 to 1,500 feet, with
a strike of north fifteen degrees east. The east wall
of the dyke is granite and lime and the west wall gran-
ite and clackite. Through this dyke run six or more
ledges ranging in width from 15 feet to 35 feet, and
of these five are being extensively developed. They
earn- values above water level of $4 to $10 in gold and
below water level where the quartz is replaced by sul-
phide, the values are in gold and copper and increase
perceptibly.
\ ears ago, claims in this district were taken and
abandoned, among them the Evergreen, but it was not
until 1898 that the development of the mines began in
earnest. During that year the Admiral Dewey and
St. Patrick mines were located by J. L. Bishop and
others. In August, 1898, Matthew Jacobs, Otto Ab-
ling, J. J. Marasack and A. A. Kincaid purchased the
property and began developing it by sinking a shaft
and running tunnels. In the spring of 1899 the mine
passed into the hands of the Dewey Consolidated Alin-
ing and Milling Company, which has pushed develop-
ment work with considerable vigor, shipping, so report
has it, $35,000 worth of ore from small space. It is
also said that arrangements have been made for the
disbursement of $100,000 during the current summer in
pushing development.
The Evergreen Eureka Gold Alining Company is
the owner of three claims, the Evergreen, the Eureka
and the General Arthur, situated west and north of the
Dewej group. These claims were likewise discovered
in [898, the fortunate prospectors being Joseph Pfeu-
Fer, John L. Bishop and Xelson Clauser. These gen-
tli men did some work on the property, then sold to
A. A. Kincaid, C. G. Betts. George F. McKinney and
S. \Y. Cope, who held it until September, when the
present company was organized. This mine has a
greater depth than any other in the county and is the
most extensively developed, the tunnels, drifts, etc. ag-
gregating five thousand feet. Its shipments of ore
have been relatively small and confined to the high
grade product, owing to the fact that at present the ore
has to be transported three miles up a mountain side
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
on horses, then hauled in wagons to the railroad. Sev-
eral car loads, however, have been transported to Stites
in this manner and shipped.
Adjoining the Evergreen group on the north are
the claims of the Mount Idaho Gold Mining Company,
Limited, consisting of the St. John, the Pride of the
Clearwater, the Clearwater, the Leroi and the River
Wedge. They were located about the same time as the
two groups last described, by R. L. Smith, Joseph Baker
and others. Recently it has passed into the hands of
the Mount Idaho Gold Mining Company, just men-
tioned, which is pushing developments with four shifts
of men. Several hundred feet of tunnels have been
already constructed. While the mine has done no
shipping, it is claimed that the showings are ex-
cellent. Besides those mentioned, several other pro-
perties are being developed in the district, among them
the Atlanta group.
Near the confluence of the south and Lolo forks of
the Clearwater is what is known as the Lolo or Pardee
mining district. The mines in this vicinity were dis-
covered some four years ago, William Price, Judge
Stearns and the Lafferty brothers being the pioneers of
the region. The presence of mineral in the locality
had long been suspected and the showings exposed by
workmen in constructing a road bed for the Clearwater
Short Line confirmed the suspicion and led to the pros-
pecting which eventuated in the discoveries. The ore
is base in character, carrying more copper than an)
other metal. Considerable development work has been
in progress during the past three years, especially in
1902, and it is thought that this year some ore will be
shipped to smelters.
The property of the Pittsburg-Idaho Mining and
Smelting Company, situated half a mile above the town
of Pardee, has been most extensively developed. Fully
$10,000 has been expended in opening the group and
at present a tunnel is being driven to tap the main ore
body. It is now 250 feet long.
Farther down the river, the Pardee Company is
engaged in opening its property, the Idaho-Empire
group, which is said to give promise of great things
to be garnered in the future. Jack & Macbeth are also
opening a group between the Pardee and the Pittsburg-
Idaho properties.
Some very good placer dirt has been found and
worked on the Clearwater river in the vicinity of the
present Dewey camp, and at the Wilmot and Johns
places. Claims are held at present by Herman and Al-
bert Brown and by a company of which a man named
Fisher is the leading spirit, but though these and other
claims promise well, placer mining on the Clearwater
is not being pushed with great enthusiasm at present.
Not far from the summit of the divide between the
Salmon and Clearwater basins is one of the most
famous, though one of the youngest, mining districts
of the county and the Northwest. The storv of its
discovery has been told on other pages. After giving
an account of the Buffalo Hump discover) substan
tially as it occurs in a former chapter of this work, the
Idaho Free Press, continuing savs :
"A hundred locations were speedily staked and
work commenced. With every foot of development
on the Big Buffalo the ledge got stronger and richer.
On the 24th of August a district was organized ; a band
of determined prospectors met on the south shore of
Buffalo lake; there had been some jumping of claims,
and many matters of interest were up for discussion —
these men who were gathered around the camp fire
that August night were makers of history. It reminded
one of the old councils during the French and Indian
wars, when matters of deep importance were discussed
around a camp fire under the old council trees.
"R. E. Carney was elected chairman and J. C. Moore
secretary. Charles H. Scott was elected recorder and
the district named Robbins mining district in honor of
Charlie Robbins, the discoverer. The limits of the
camp were defined as follows : Commencing at the con-
fluence of Newsome creek and the South Fork of the
Clearwater river; thence southerlv to Fish lake; thence
down Lake creek, the outlet of Fish lake, to its con-
tinence with Crooked creek, thence down Crooked
creek to its junction with the Salmon river; thence
westerly down the Salmon river to the mouth of
Meadow creek ; thence up Meadow creek to Wind
river; thence up Wind river to head of the East fork ;
thence northerly to head of John's creek ; thence down
John's creek to South Fork of Clearwater river ; thence
easterly up said river to the mouth of Newsome creek,
the place of begining."
The country rock, according to experts, is gneiss,
a species of granite, one of the oldest and best known
formations for mineral bearing veins. The principal
\ein of the district is a fissure running- in a northerly
and southerly course, having a width of from twenty
to forty feet. The vein filling is a hard, white, brittle
quartz, carrying about one and one-half per cent, of
pyrites of iron, one per cent, of lead, one half per cent.
of antimony, one half per cent, manganese and a trace
of copper besides the precious metals.
"Samples taken from the surface croppings and the
open cuts over the entire length and width of the ore
body give the following results: The croppings. Si 2
in gold and one ounce of silver, the cuts, the thirty feet
across the Big Buffalo averages one ounce in g
and a quarter ounces in silver, about $21.50 per ton.
Cut No. 2, ten feet in depth on the Merrimac, averages
four-fifths of an ounce of gold and one ounce silver, in
values about $17 for the entire forty feet in width."
"During the past ten years,'' says the expert above
quoted, who was writing in 1800. "I have visited nearly
all of the mining camps of prominence west of the
Rockies, as well as those throughout Montana and
Dakota, and I have never seen anywhere a surface
showing equalling the showing made on the Big Buffa-
lo and Merrimac claims.- * ; Nearly all mining engi-
neers who have visited this district are of the same
opinion, that this is one of the greatest discoveries of
["he streams heading at this Buffalo Hump
district and flowing into the Salmon and Clearwater
rivers were placer mined in the early 'sixties and one
express company — Wells, Fargo & Company — alone
handled over $40,000,000 that was produced out of
the placer mines within a radius of twenty miles
448
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
from this Eldorado. Competent and able mining en-
gineers are of the opinion that this placer gold came
from the ledges traversing the Buffalo Hump region."
The Big Buffalo was sold to the Buffalo Hump syn-
dicate less than a year after its discovery. It has been
developed by a two hundred foot shaft and 1,000 feet
of drifting. The vein is said to be fifty or sixty feet
wide and to carry $11 a ton values of gold and silver.
It is stated that the ore shipments to date have returned
in the vicinity of $200,000.
The Jumbo has the most work done on it of all
mines in the camp. Tunnel No. 1 is 141 feet long; No.
2, 540 feet; No. 3, 860 feet, and there are 600 feet of
cross cuts. The vein averages eight feet in width on
the upper level and 12 on the lower. A four-stamp
mill is already installed on the property and a twenty-
four stamp mill is in course of erection, all the machin-
ery being on the ground. It is said that over $80,000
worth of ore were worked in the four-stamp mill, in-
side of twenty months.
The Cracker Jack is located on a ledge eight to
fourteen feet wide, carrying $1® to $30 in gold and sil-
ver. Over 1,000 feet of excavations have been made
in the development of this property. The equipment
consists of a fine stamp mill, producing from $3,000 to
$6,000 a month, soon to be enlarged by the addition of
ten stamps. The company is also arranging to in-
stall a complete electric light plant. Past shipments of
bullion are claimed to aggregate between forty and
fifty thousand dollars.
On the Atlas mine, six or seven hundred feet of
development work have been done, all on the ore vein,
which is six or seven feet wide, and carries values vary-
ing from $15 to $20. It is expected that a ten-stamp
mill will be installed this year. No shipments have
been made from this mine as yet, but the showing is
excellent.
The Wise Boy has been developed by between a
thousand and fifteen hundred feet of excavation. Its
vein varies in width from 5 to 12 feet and carries good
values. The product of the mine is being handled in
a ten-stamp mill.
Developments on the Mother Lode No. 2, belong-
ing to the Concord Company, expose a vein varying in
width from 18 to 20 feet. The St. Louis, in the same
group, has had over six hundred feet of development
work done on it, and arrangements have been made to
develop it much more extensively during the current
summer. Its ore body is five to eight feet wide.
Besides the properties mentioned above there are
hundreds of prospects in the district, many of which
give good surface indications. It is said that the leads
all run due north and south and all dip to the east ex-
cept the Big Buffalo, which dips west. No loss in value
with depth has been experienced and no faults or
breaks in the veins have so far been found. The camp
certainly promises well, and there are conservative min-
ing men who expect it to prove a permanent and ex-
tensive producer.
The foregoing account of the mines of Idaho county
is not chimed to be exhaustive and its preparation was
undertaken under circumstances rendering absolute
accuracy an impossibility, but care has been taken not
to overstate and overestimate. Though mining
in this part of the state is old, it is yet
young. Few mines have been thoroughly de-
veloped, but the wide distribution of precious
and base metals, the fact that placer gold was
found so abundant and so diffused in early days, and
the showings which have been brought to light by the
relatively meagre developments wrought under great
difficulties are an abundant warrant for the faith of
the people in the future of the mining industry in cen-
tral Idaho.
No more than a general discussion of the stock
raising, agricultural and lumbering industries of Idaho
county is possible from the fact that official figures or
reliable data of any kind are not to be had. The great
Camas prairie, the largest body of agricultural land
in the state, is capable of producing any cereal crop in
great abundance as has been fully proven by experi-
ment. A yield of sixty bushels per acre of wheat is not
an uncommon thing, and oats and barley do propor-
tionately well. It is claimed that as a wheat section the
prairie is not inferior to the famous Palouse country
of Washington, while it has a decided advantage over
that noted belt in that it produces large crops of timothy
hay. But wheat raising as an industry in itself has
never obtained in Idaho county, owing to the absence of
railroad facilities. The wheat and other cereal pro-
ducts are consumed largely in the fattening of cattle
and hogs. Flax, which requires a rich black soil, is
becoming an important source of. revenue to Idaho
county farmers, who frequently secure yields of twenty
bushels to the acre.
Besides timothy, blue grass and clovers are found
to flourish in all the farming areas, except the more
elevated mountain valleys. The fact that these grasses
can be so easily produced, as well as cereal crops for
fattening, has encouraged and will continue to encour-
age the rearing of live stock.
Fruit raising on an extensive scale does not obtain
in the county for the reason that there is no market for
the product other than the local one. It is claimed that
all the hardier fruits are a success on Camas prairie but
there are few large orchards there, most of the agri-
culturists raising only enough fruit for family con-
sumption. In the sheltered valleys of the Clearwater
and Salmon rivers, which enjoy a warmer climate than
the table lands above, owing to their cpmparativelv
slight elevation, the more tender varieties, such as
peaches and apricots, are reared with great success.
While the limited area of these favored sections renders
large individual orchards an impossibility, yet the ag-
gregate acreage devoted to fruit is very considerable.
As the country becomes more fully settled and de-
veloped and transportation facilities of a modern type
become a realized fact, the tendency must be in the
direction of increasing the orchard area 111 these favored
river bottoms. The day is doubtless not so very far
distant when the valleys of the Clearwater and Salmon
rivers will be orchards and gardens from end to end.
Stock raising is still the master industry of Idaho
county. It is the natural business o-f an isolated re-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
449
gion, especially one of an essentially mountainous char-
acter. Central Idaho is almost ideal for the stockman.
The grass clad and wooded uplands furnish an abun-
dance of summer range ; the warm, sheltered river bot-
toms supply a safe retreat for cattle and horses during
the winter months, so that feeding at any season of the
year is only necessary to a limited extent. All the
hardier cattle are usually compelled to subsist them-
selves entirely upon nature's gratuities, and under
ordinary conditions the loss is not greater than two or
three per cent. While the conditions for cattle raising
are excellent, they are not such as to permit the busi-
ness to assume enormous proportions and individual
holdings of more than five or six hundred head are not
common. No statistics are at hand giving the aggre-
gate number of cattle in the county. Perhaps, how-
ever, some idea may be obtained from the assessment
roll, which places the number of common stock at
14.447 head, and of milch cows at 1,503 head. That
these figures are far below the actual, no one with a
knowledge of the weakness of human nature will deny ;
but how far, who can tell ?
The authority just quoted gives the number of sad-
dle horses in the county as 1,385 head, of work horses,
3,664 ; of stock horses, 3,077 and of stallions, 8. That
sheep raising is not neglected appears from the fact
that 18,161 head were assessed in 1902. Hog raising
is an important industry and the recent jump in the
price of pork placed many a farmer of Idaho county
on an excellent financial footing. The number of swine
assessed in 1902 was 8,110 head.
Naturally in a partially developed and somewhat
isolated country we expect manufacturing to be ne-
glected. The possibilities of Idaho county in this di-
rection are great, but they have scarcely begun to be
developed. Only four grist mills are being operated,
according to the assessment roll, in a country where
several million bushels of wheat per annum might be
raised. The establishment of the Bitter Root forest
reserve, must of necessity exert a deterrent influence
in the development of the lumbering industry, but its
possibilities of production despite the handicap are
certainly far from being realized. The assessed saw
mills of the county number 29 ; the planing mills, 8 ;
and the shingle mills. 3.
The character of the people who have discovered
the mineral wealth of the country and wrought its
development thus far is about what we might look for
in a pioneer community whose habitat is a wild, rugged
mountain region. They are an active, independent
class, resourceful in overcoming difficulties, congenial
and approachable, yet able to dispense with society for
months, when their business interests demand a tem-
porary withdrawal into regions far beyond civilization's
outposts. The average of intelligence and knowledge
of general current events is not lower than that of many
more favored communities. A stranger is likely to
notice with admiration the skilful horsemanship of
both men and women and the fearlessness with which
they ride over the winding trails of the steep hill sides
and on the very edges of precipices.
No distaste for culture or disposition to disregard
the amenities of life is observable among this people.
In the large comunities, churches of all the leading de-
nominations are to be found, and they are at least
reasonably well attended and sustained. The fraternal
societies are represented wherever there are sufficiently
large communities to render their maintenance -possi-
ble and the fraternal spirit is as marked as in other
western communities. The pioneers of the county
brought with them from their former homes a love of
the school house on the hill top, and the advantages
it affords the rising generation. Unfortunately the
earliest reports on the public schools are not obtainable,
so that the gradual development of the system cannot
be traced. Even the later reports, those for the year
1893 and succeeding years, are not complete, but they
show in general a tendency in the direction of pro-
gress. The average length of the school term has in-
creased from four and three-tenths to five months,
though unfortunately the number of third grade
teachers is greater in proportion to the whole number
than it was in 1893. The showing in this respect is
not discouraging, however, for of the 28 teachers of
the county in 1902, two were holders of first grade cer-
tificates and 19 of second grade. The number of or-
ganized districts in 1900 was 54, four of which main-
tained graded schools. The number of school houses
then owned by the districts was 42. Eight districts
rented buildings. During the past four years, insti-
tutes have convened annually. While there are no col-
leges or institutions of higher learning within the
boundaries of Idaho county, the youth of that section
is not deprived of opportunity to obtain higher cul-
ture in their own immediate neighborhood as the state
university at Moscow and the state normal school at
Lewiston are both within easy reach.
It will be seen from the foregoing sketch, imper-
fect though it may be, that the largest county in super-
ficial area in the state of Idaho is not the least in im-
portance or in possibilities of development. The coun-
ty is teeming with unappropriated treasure. It holds
a wealth of mineral in its mountains, the extent -of
which is probably but dimly suspected by the general
public, notwithstanding the interest which has cen-
tered in Thunder Mountain, Buffalo Hump and other
mining districts during the last few years. The agri-
cultural possibilities of its great prairie and valleys are
as little appreciated, while its wealth of water power,
now unharnessed, who can estimate? Its enterprising
inhabitants are ready to welcome to their assistance
the laborer, the homeseeker, the capitalist — any who
is able and willing to help in the upbuilding and de-
velopment of the country,— and they do so with the
greater earnestness since they are fully assured that
nowhere in the great west— the home of opportunity— is
the intelligent sower more certain to reap an abundant
harvest.
HENRY J. ELFERS.
[RS. CATHERINE M. ELFERS CLEARY.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
IDAHO COUNTY
HENRY J. ELFERS, deceased. It is very fitting
to grant space in the history of Idaho county for a
memorial of Henry J. Elfers. He was one of the earli-
est pioneers, a man of ability and courage, a loyal and
patriotic citizen, a true friend and a devoted and lov-
ing husband. His untimely end at the hands of mur-
derous Indians is one of the dark spots in the history
of our county. Especial mention has been given of
the matter in another portion of this work but in con-
nection with a brief epitome of Mr. Elfers's life we
shall revert to it again.
Henry J. Elfers was born in Hanover, Germany,
on February 2, 1834, being the son of Burn and Ade-
laide (Bishop) Elfers, natives also of the fatherland.
Henry J. received good training in the old country and
came to California in 1849, where he mined for a num-
ber ' if years. In 1862 he was drawn by the gold excite-
ment to the Salmon country and the next year in part-
nership with Henry Mason and John Wessell he started
a ranch on John Day creek. They kept a general sup-
ply store, operated a good hotel, conducted a dairy of
two hundred cows and ran a pack train into the mines.
Susbequently Mr. Mason sold out, but Mr. Wessell
continued a partner of Mr. Elfers until the former's
death in 1872. In 1870 Mr. Elfers returned to Ger-
many and there wooed and won Miss Catherine M.
Beckroeje, bringing her back to the United States on
the same ship in which he had crossed the seas. At
San Francisco they were united in the bonds of matri-
mony, < ictober 16, 1871. Her father's name was Her-
man IF and that of her mother, Anna M. Lange. In
Germany Mr. Beckroge was a farmer. Mrs. Elfers
was born in Germany August 14, 1845, an^ has one
brother John. They came direct to the John Day ranch
and Mr. Elfers continued his business there. On the
evening of June 13, 1877, three young Indians came
to the Elfers ranch, with whom Mr. Elfers and Mr.
Bland held a conversation. Later the savages went
away and the next morning Mr. Beckroge and Mr.
Bland went after the horses and were killed by the In-
dians who lay in ambush. Two of the murderers
came to the house looking for Mr. Elfers. and the other
stood on guard. Thev went into the office and took a
gun but Mr. Elfers did not see them. Mrs. Elfers was
in the milkhouse just under the bank. Coming from
that she saw the Indians standing in the office door and
turned and went into the house by the back door. Mr.
Elfers, meantime, had started for the field and on his
way was murdered by these Indians. A Mr. Whit-
field, who had been hunting, discovered the bodies and
notified Norman Gould. Victor, a Frenchman, on the
Salmon a few hundred vards below, saw the smoke
of the guns. His suspicions being aroused, he notified
some others and they came to investigate, and Mrs.
Elfers was notified of the death of her husband by
Barney Mallory. Mr. Elfers had held a long council
with the Indians once in reference to Mr. Ott, whom the
savages wanted to kill for having killed an Indian. Mr.
Rhett and Mr. Elfers would not listen to the killing
of Ott and it is supposed that the savages were angry
with Mr. Elfers on account of this. Mr. Philip Geary,
a partner of Mr. Flfers in the mines at Florence, came
out and conducted the business for three years and
then the establishment was rented to E. W. Sherman
& Sons. In 188.S Mrs. Elfers and Mr. Philip Cleary
were married and on November 19, 1895, Mr. Cleary
was called hence by death. Since that time Henry
Elfers has taken charge of the business. Mr. Cleary
was an active and prominent man in politics and was
twice a member of the state legislature. Mr. Elfers
was one of the most prominent men of the county. The
following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Elfers,
Adelaide" L. Lanningham, Henry J.. Catherine Gordon,
Alarie E. Fueling.
Mrs. Cleary is a woman beloved by all who know
her. She has ever manifested a charity and true sym-
pathy to all who were in trouble and her kind acts and
ways are well known by everybody. She is passing the
golden vears of her life amid many warm and devoted
friends in the enjoyment of a competence that is justly
hers.
I R W'K M. HAWK is one of the earliest pio-
neers of this section as also he is one of the pioneers
of the coast country, his parents coming here in the
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
days of weary trail journeys, and it is with pleasure
that we are enabled to grant to this estimable gentle-
man a representation in the history of Idaho county.
Frank M. Hawk was born in Richland county,
Ohio, on November 24, 1844, being the son of John
M. and Matilda (Frampton) Hawk. The father was
born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in 1818, and
died in Olympia, Washington, on January 4, 1883.
The mother was born in Allegheny, Pennsyl-
vania, being of Scotch extraction. Her great-great-
uncle, James Wilson, was a signer of the Declara-
tion of Independence. She died in Portland in 1852.
The grandparents of our subject were also born in
Pennsylvania. In 1846 our subject was brought by
his parents to Dekalb county, Indiana, where he at-
tended district school six months previous to leaving
in 1852 for Olympia, Washington, which trip was made
with ox teams and attended with great danger and
hardships. Frank was educated in the public schools
and in the Wesleyan Institute. When seventeen he
came to Pierce and mined until 1865. Thence he went
across Lolo pass to Montana, mining in the Blackfoot
region for four years. In 1869 he returned to Olym-
pia and opened up a business in shipping oysters and
clams to Portland and other points. He was the first
one who started in this business and for two years he
did remarkably well, but then others started and he
sold out. He took a twenty-mile contract of grading
for theNorthern Pacific from Tenio to Tacoma and
in 1873, owing to the failure of Cook & Company, op-
erations were suspended and our subject lost his cap-
ital, seven thousand dollars. Then he went to Alaska
and Cassiar mines in British Columbia and did well
for four years. Being crippled by rheumatism he was
forced to retire and before he could get cured he had
consumed most of his capital again. With what was
left he bought a stock of goods and went to the Flat-
head country and there opened a store with two part-
ners Two years of successful operations there and
he sold to his partners and was again laid up with rheu-
matism. Again his capital was nearly exhausted in
seeking a recovery. Since that time Mr. Hawk has
been prospecting and mining with headquarters at
Kooskia and he is doing a good business there. He is
considered one of the substantial men of the place, and
is a member of the Washington Pioneer Society of
Olympia. Politically he is a stanch Republican. Mr.
Hawk has two brothers, Melvin F., a farmer at Roy,
Washington; Albert R., deceased. This last brother
took the prize for the best story of crossing the plains.
He wrote of the trip of the Hawk family. This trip
was attended with great trouble and suffering. They
calked the wagon bed and floated two hundred miles
down the river and enroute the mother was so shocked
at the sight of floating bodies of other emigrants, who
had been drowned, that she died in Portland soon after.
northeast from Kooskia, where he has some valuable
saw timber. Abram Coon was born in Wyoming, on
November 14, 1867, the son of Adam and Diana (Lew-
is) Coon. The father was born in Adams county, Illi-
nois, in 1799 and was a wholesale merchant. He par-
ticipated in the Black Hawk war. The mother died
when this son was young. Our subject attended pub-
lic schools in his native place and assisted his father
until 1887, when he went to Utah and took an active
part in the Ute Indian war. Mr. Coon volunteered to
carry messages when no other one would, and his cour-
age and intrepid daring are matter of record in the
history that deals of that period. He was prominently
identified in these wars and did much to assist materi-
ally the whites in repelling the savages. Mr. Coon
also spent one year and eight months in carrying the
United States mails in Wyoming and during this per-
iod also he had many dangerous and trying experi-
ences, which were fully detailed in White's Indian
Wars, and we have the pleasure to remark that in all
these experiences Mr. Coon had always manifested the
same courage and consummate coolness in danger and
trying times that characterized him in the excellent
service in the Ute war. He located in Cassia county,
Idaho, in 1898 and rented land and in 1900 he came to
his present place and took a squatter's right. This was
abandoned soon and he took a couple of other places
successively, selling them, but finally returned to his
present place and here he has continued since. Mr.
Coon constructed a hall in partnership with three oth-
ers for the use of the neighborhood and recently he has
purchased the entire property and it is one of the cen-
tral points of the community. Mr. Coon devoted his
winters to labor in the woods here and the summers
are spent on the prairies handling steam engines. He
has three brothers and two sisters, William H, Adam,
Limial, Matilda, Mary May.
In Utah, on May 2, 1893, Mr. Coon married Miss
Rachel J., daughter of William and Nancy J. (BaliceJ
Darling, natives of Michigan. Two children were born
to this marriage, but they are both deceased. On Jan-
uary 14, 1901, Mrs. Coon was called away by death.
Mr. Coon is a member of the Congregational church
and in political matters he is a Socialist.
ABRAM COON is a man of extended frontier
experience and has made a good record in his career.
He dwells at present on his homestead seven miles
HENRY J. McFADDEN has a beautiful and val-
uable farm about two miles south from Whitebird on
the banks of the Salmon. He is a leader in enterprise
and development and is a man of excellent standing.
Henry J. McFadden was born in Harrison county,
Ohio, on July 25, 1839, the son of Benjamin and Mary
E. ( Wilson) McFadden. The father was born in Ohio
and there remained all his days, passing the river in
1886, aged eighty-three. The mother was born at
Harper's Ferry and was a sister of Colonel Wilson.
who commanded at that point. She died in Harrison
county, aged seventy-eight, it being in 1887. Our sub-
ject is the eighth of a family of eleven and grew up on
a farm, receiving his education in the common schools.
At the first call for ninety-day men he stepped prompt-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
453
ly forward, the only one of his township, and took the
musket to defend our free institutions and the homes
of the Union. He was enrolled in Company I, Thir-
teenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He went in as a pri-
vate and soon rose to first lieutenant. Upon the sec-
ond enlistment in Company D, Forty-third Ohio, un-
der Colonel Wager Swain, Mr. McFadden was cap-
tain of his company. He participated in the battles of
Carnifax Ferry, Island No. 10, New Madrid, Jackson,
Fort Pillow, Pittsburg Landing, was twenty-seven
days in the siege of Corinth, and at the battle of Co-
rinth ; he was wounded in both the siege and battle.
He was also in the siege of Vicksburg, in the battles
of Booneville. Iuka, Jackson, Mississippi, Memphis,
Redbluff, Buzzard's Roost, Atlanta. Resaca, and saw
much other service besides. In addition to the wounds
mentioned, he was knocked down by a shell in the
struggle of Island No. 10. At the close of the war
Mr. McFadden received an honorable discharge, be-
ing now a member of the G. A. R. and receives a pen-
sion from the government. He went to Ohio, thence
to Illinois, and Kansas, handling stock. Next we see
him in San Juan, Colorado, doing placer and quartz
mining. In 1881 he came to the Coeur d'Alene country
and mined until 1888. Then, in company with three
others, he entered the Thunder Mountain district and
did well. This company was the first invaders of that
section. In 1890 Mr. McFadden came to his present
place and now, in company with A. Cooper, he has a
half section. They have a first-class orchard of all
varieties of fruit and nuts, as well as a large vineyard.
He has twenty or more acres in orchard, which is one
of the best to be found anywhere and the skill of our
subject has made and is making a first-class success of
it. He also handles stock.
On April 24, 1897, Mr. McFadden married Mrs.
Priscilla M. (Wilson) Silcott, a sister of Ex-Senator
Wilson, of California. By her former husband Mrs.
McFadden had five children, Joseph A., deceased, at
Dayton, Washington, in 1886 : Louis L. died at Spo-
kane in 1897; Edward died in California, when
seven years old ; Annie Hastings ; and Mariah, who
was drowned in the sinking of the steamer Brother
Jonathan in 1865. Her former husband was a well
known physician, with whom she traveled to various
sections of the United States. Mr. and Mrs. McFad-
den are highly esteemed people and have the good will
and confidence of all.
JOSEPH HIMMELSPAK, better known as Joe
Baker, was born in Baden, Germany, on January 17,
1847. the son of Nebemuk and Katherine Himmelspak,
also natives of the Fatherland. He was reared and
educated in his native place and when fourteen went
to Switzerland. Soon thereafter we find the youth in
Italy, then he journeyed to France, and after that to
Africa. He returned home from the Dark Continent
after five years and three months later came to the
LTnited States. He spent some time in Newark, New
Jersey, and in Philadelphia and then came to Lewis-
ton. This was in 1869 and the following year found
him in Elk City and on Newsome creek, mining.
Three years were spent in the alluring search for na-
ture's hidden wealth, when he returned to Camas
prairie, where he worked until the Indian war of 1877.
He was a volunteer from Mt. Idaho and for six weeks
had charge of a Salmon detachment. When the In-
dians departed over the Lolo trail Mr. Himmelspak
and James Cearly took dispatches, via Elk City, to
Missoula, that the Indians were coming. He went
back over the Lolo trail after the Indians had passed
and met General Howard, for whom he scouted under
Colonel Miller, and bore dispatches from Gibbons bat-
tlefield to Deer Lodge, a distance of one hundred and
thirtv miles and carried return messages to Howard.
At Henry Lake he received his honorable discharge and
returned to Camas prairie. Since that time Mr. Him-
melspak has devoted himself to agriculture and mining
and is prospered in the same lines today. He owns a
fine ranch fitted for vegetables and fruit and supplies
much of the same to Grangeville. He also is owner
of the Maude Randall and the Lone Dutchman claims,
upon which he is doing some development work. Mr.
Himmelspak is also connected with other properties in
the same district. He is a member of the A. F. & A.
M. and is a Republican. He has been much interested
in politics until recent years. On account of a defect
in his hearing Mr. Himmelspak has retired more from
politics lately. He is a man of excellent standing in
his community, being well known and esteemed.
JOHN W. KEITH. One and one-half miles
northwest from Canfield lies the estate of our sub-
ject. It was taken before the land was surveyed, the
year being 1892. and since that time Mr. Keith has
been a steady laborer for the improvement not only
of his land but also for the upbuilding of the country
and for the general advancement and welfare.
John W. Keith was born in Boone county, Missouri,
on May 23, 1857, being the son of George G. and
Maria A. (Willis) Keith. The father was a farmer
and stockman and was born in Boone county in 1828
and died July 31, 1901. The paternal grandfather of
our subject. John H. Keith, received a patent for land
in Missouri, which was signed by John Quincy Adams
as president, and our subject's father has a patent
signed by Andrew Jackson as president. The mother
of our subject was' born in New Jersey in 1829 and
now lives in Nez Perces county. Her parents were
pioneers in Missouri. John W. grew to manhood in
Missouri and there he received his education from the
district schools. He remained with his father until of
age and then clerked in a store in Lexington, Missouri,
for eighteen months and after that took up farming,
which he followed until 18S0, the time he sold out
and moved from Missouri overland with teams to
Walla Walla. Soon he came to where Colfax now
stands and could have taken a preemption there but
preferred other land. He farmed there until 1892 and
then took his present place, as mentioned. He has one
454
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
hundred and fifty acres of good land, substantial im-
provements, and raises general crops and horses, hogs
and cattle.
In i88q, near Colfax, Mr. Keith married Miss
Ethel, daughter of Dr. A. R. and Mary A. ( May )
Morgan, natives of Missouri. They were pioneers in
an early day of Oregon and Mrs. Keith was born in
the Willamette valley.. She has three brothers and two
sisters, Nellie. William. Augustus, Clarence and Ber-
tie. Mr. Keith has the following brothers and sis-
ters, William, Allen. Jesse and Hollis, all in Idaho.
Three children, Joseph. Lillie and Minnie P., have
come to gladden the home of our subject. Mr. Keith
is a member of the M. W. A., at St. John, Washing-
ton. Politically he is a man of courage to carry out his
convictions and he selects the man regardless of the
tenets of party ties.
JOHN LYON resides eight miles south of White-
bird and devotes his attention to raising stock. He was
born Tanuarv 25, 1843, in Grant county, Wisconsin,
the son of Zachariah and Priscilla (Henan) Lyon, na-
tives of Indiana. The father was a pioneer in Wis-
consin and also went to California in 1849 with ox
teams, returning to Wisconsin later. The mother died
in 1863; the father died in Dakota in 1889. Our sub-
ject was reared and educated in Wisconsin and in Jan-
uary, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, Thirty-third
Wisconsin Infantry. He fought in numerous battles,
as Vicksburg, Horseshoe Bend, Olive Spring, the Red
River expedition, Spanish Fort. Nashville, Fort De
Russv, Pleasant Hill Landing and many others, as well
in numerous skirmishes. He was in the midst of many
severe battles but was never wounded. During the war
he traveled about 9,000 miles and endured about all
the hardships that a soldier could ; as his company was
all killed but a few. he was transferred to the Elev-
enth Wisconsin, Company H, and finally was honorably
discharged in August, 1865. He is a member of the
G. A. R. and now has a badge made out of the brass
cannon that was first fired at Fort Sumter. Following
the war. he went to Wisconsin and then traveled over
the country considerably. At Vicksburg he had the
measles, which settled in his throat and affected his
organs of speech, from which he has never recovered.
In Bloomington. Wisconsin, on November 24. 1869,
Mr. Lvon married Miss Arminta J., daughter of James
and Eliza (Higgins) Canter. She was born August
10, 1854. in Grant county. Wisconsin. Her father
was born in Pennsylvania and died in Clermont coun-
ty, Ohio, in 1854. In 1880 our subject moved to Brown
county, South Dakota, and farmed extensively and
successfullv ; then later, on account of failure of crops,
he lost heavily. In 1890 they came by wagon to the
Palouse country and in 1893 to their present place.
Four children have been born to this marriage, Her-
man, in Yuma. Arizona : Nellie E., who has taught
school in this vicinity for five years, was a stenogra-
pher and typewriter in Spokane, cashier and book-
keeper in Yuma, and is now completing her education
in Los Angeles, California : Sherman, who is in part-
nership with his father, has a good bunch of stock and
a well improved place; Margie L. Mr. Lyon has a
large interest in a large copper proposition near his
place, for which they have had flattering offers. It
runs $60 in gold and copper. Mr. Lyon has always
been on the frontier, is a typical pioneer and a first-
class rifle shot. Mrs. Lyon's mother first married
Frank ( )xley, who died from the cholera. Then she
married James Canter, the father of Mrs. Lyon. After
his death she married Aaron C. Stiles. He also died
and in 1900 Mrs. Stiles also died at Mt. Vernon, Illi-
nois, in her seventy-ninth year.
ALEXANDER I. WATSON is one of the pio-
neers of the west and especially of Idaho county, where
he now resides, one of the respected and venerable men
of wisdom ami worth. His home is two miles south
from Grangeville, where he owns a valuable farm,
well improved and a good dividend producer.
Alexander I. Watson was born in Darke county,
Ohio, on June 2, 1830, the son of Robert and Nancy
( Stanford ) Watson. The father was born in Penn-
sylvania in 1789 and died in 1854. He settled in Mi-
ami county. Indiana, in 1838. and his father was born
in Ireland. Our subject's father served his country
as captain in the war of 18 12. The mother was born
in Virginia and died in 1842. Alexander was brought
up in Ohio and Indiana and when eighteen moved to
Iowa. He attended school in the various places of res-
idence and then taught two years. In 1849 he settled
to farming and in 1859 started to Pike's Peak, stopping
but a short time there, he went to Salt Lake City with
a government outfit and thence on to Eldorado county
and was soon engaged in mining. In 1862 he came
thence to Florence country, landing in Lewiston on
May 16, 1862. Not meeting good success in Flor-
ence he went to the Salmon above Whitebird and
mined. He took land on Camas prairie in 1866, which
he sold, and took land again in 1869, selling this in
1885 and bought his present place.
In Iowa, in 1849, Mr. Watson married Mona E.,
daughter of Anion and Sarah (George) Shaul, na-
tives of Virginia and Ohio, respectively. Mrs. Wat-
son was born in Hamilton county. Indiana, in 1833 and
has two sisters and two brothers. Malinda Bentley. Ma-
tilda Shaul. G. I., M. J. Two children have been
born to this couple. Clarissa E., deceased, Alice Over-
man. Mr. Watson is the last one living of eight chil-
dren. He was a memher of the Grange that built the
first building in Grangeville. He is a Democrat and
active. Mrs. Watson is a member of the Methodist
church.
At the time of the Indian war Mr. Watson lived
a mile south of the lake on Rocky canyon. The In-
dians had been holding councils for some time and
on June 13th, becoming suspicious, he, with Cy Over-
man, went with his family to Mt. Idaho. Mr. Watson
had previously refused to sign the petition to place the
Indians on their reservation. He had been notified by
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
455
Galbraith, whom Crooks sent on the evening of the
thirteenth. That was the same evening that Robertson
and Jarrett drove over to Mt. Idaho and the next morn-
ing West and the Indian were sent to Lapwai. The
murders had already been done on the Salmon when
Mr. Watson was coming to Mt. Idaho, but he did not
know it. Three young Indians had stopped at Mr.
Watson's place as they went on their murderous er-
rand. While at his place, after talking, they went into
the bedroom, he thinks to find a gun, and he ordered
them out. One was Mox-Mox. Mr. Watson's home,
Henry Johnson's barn. Mack Williams and Lambert's
haystacks were all burned about ten A. M. on the fif-
teenth for signals.
JACOB STITES was born in Sussex county, New
Jersev, on February 24, 1872, being the son of Samuel
J. and Catherine A. (Winters) Stites, natives of New
Jersey. They were married in New Jersey and now
live in Ewing, Nebraska. In 1733 three brothers, John,
Jacob and Samuel, came and settled in New York, Con-
necticut and Xew Jersey, respectively ; different mem-
bers of the family were prominent in the Revolution
and the war of 1812. The father of our subject was
born in 1837 and served in Company G, Second New
Jersey Cavalry Volunteers, from September 16, 1864,
to May 22, 1865. He was in active service and re-
ceived his discharge in Memphis, Tennessee. The
mother came from a prominent old family of New Jer-
sey, of Dutch and Irish extraction. Our subject was
raised in his native place until eight, the family then
all going to Nebraska, where he was educated in a sod
school house, two months out of each year, until he
was eighteen. Much of his time was spent in working
out for the support of the family. When eighteen he
railroaded in Wyoming, then ranched in Colorado, fol-
lowing which he was engaged in the smelter in Ana-
conda. Montana, then wrought in the quartz mill in
Silver City, Idaho, and finally returned to ranching in
Nebraska for two years. During this last period he
was in the Cherokee strip run, but secured no claim to
suit him. In 1895 we find him in the quartz mill in
( (uray. Colorado. In July. 1896, he came to Genesee
and then to Kamiah, where he labored for Felix Cor-
bett, the Indian who risked his life to save the mis-
sionaries in the time of the Indian war of 1877. He
tried to get the Indians to show him a claim, but they
were reticent. However, when Mr. Stites went to the
mountains and shot a deer and divided with them, they
told him of his present place, adjoining Stites. He
filed on March 24, 1897, on a quarter section, his fam-
ily being the first white people to settle in this vicinity.
He was possessed of little capital, but by hard work
and careful management he succeeded in getting
started. When he was building his house the Indians,
four in number, came with Winchesters and ordered
him off. The carpenter became frightened and ran
away, but Mr. Stites reasoned with them, telling them
to wait a week and survey the land, which they did,
and, finding that he was right, they apologized. In
1899. when the railroad was building, he was troubled
with all kinds of jumpers, who were desiring to pull
his land away from him for a townsite, but he would
yield neither to cajoling nor threats and held firmly to
his right. Finally, those who had jumped it by fraudu-
lent mining locations, withdrew and he was left in
peace. In February, 1900, Mr. Stites sold sixty acres
to Messrs. J. G. Rowton, N. B. Pettibone and J. W.
Shannon, taking an interest in the townsite company
and reserving the privilege of naming the town. He
sold his interest, with the exception of ten lots, and now
owns one hundred acres of fine land, does general farm-
ing, runs a dairy and also an ice business and deals in
real estate. Stites is a thriving town, located near the
battle ground between Howard and the Indians, and is
the supply point for all Camas prairie, Thunder Moun-
tain, Buffalo Hump and other mining countries. Mr.
Stites has a beautiful home place adjoining it. Mr.
Stites has three brothers and four sisters, John W., Ed-
ward J., Harison, Nancy J., Mary E., Hattie Thayer,
Martha ; he has also one half-brother and three half-sis-
ters, Alva, Laura Prine, Emma Clemmens, Amanda
I'ember. Mr, Stites is a member of the A. F. & A. M ..
Mt. Idaho Lodge. No. 9, at Grangeville; I. O. < 1. ! ..
Stites Lodge. No. S-y. while he and his wife belong to
the O. E. S., Mountain Queen Chapter. No. 11,
< irangeville. He is a member of the Baptist church
and his wife of the Christian church.
On February 22, 1899, at Mt. Idaho, Mr. Stites
married Norah M., daughter of Albert E. and Ella
( Emmons i Alexander, now living in Mt. Idaho. The
father was born in Xew York, traversed the continent
and dwelt in various states enroute. finally coming to
Oregon in 1875 with ox teams. He was an Indian
fighter and an intrepid frontiersman. The mother was
born in Ohio and married in South Dakota. Mrs.
Stites was born in ( )regon, on February 16, 1880, and
has one brother and four sisters, Albert E., Laura E.
Smith, Gertrude. Viola, Marietta. Politically Mr.
Stites is independent. He and his wife are leading
people in this vicinity and are of excellent standing,
being capable, genial and possessed of sterling integ-
rity and worth.
A. D. BARTLEY, one of the first pioneers of this
country and a miner who has achieved excellent suc-
cess in many places, is now operating in the Dewey
camps and has interests there in some valuable prop-
erties. He was born in Cleveland. ( Ihio, on March 25.
1832, the son of Joseph B. and Gerushia ( Gilett 1 Hart-
ley. The father" came to the United States, the only
one of his family, and served in the war of 1812. The
mother's ancestors were also prominent in American
struggles. Our subject was left an orphan when four
and was raised by an uncle. He went to Illinois about
that time and was reared and educated there. In
1859 he crossed the plains with his brother-in-law and
they mined in Placer county. California. In [864 be
came to Boise and there he and bis partner cleaned up
about twenty-three thousand dollars. Later they
gained about the same amount in Kootenai county.
Then he purchased a mill, which was later burned with
456
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
al! the lumber and logs. In 1870 he came to Idaho
county and took a preemption just south from Grange-
ville. At the time of the Indian war he enlisted as a
volunteer at Ait. Idaho and was with Howard much of
the time as special scout. He was one of the famous
seventeen and his account is as follows: Perry sent
a dispatch by Crooks that he was surrounded by In-
dians at Cottonwood and wished help. Crooks arrived
in JMt. Idaho the evening of July 4th. The next morn-
ing the seventeen started, commanded by Randall.
Tney descried the Indians and counted them from three
hundred ana thirty to three hundred and thirty-three.
All were in the fight. Randall pressed on toward Cot-
tonwood, and when in a reasonable distance of the
Indians, he halted and asked if any one knew the sig-
nal to fight. Bartley announced that he did and Ran-
dall said, "Give it." Bartley rode his horse in a circle,
and it was at once answered by the savages. He then
rode in a circle three times and the fight was at once
precipitated. One hour and forty-five minutes it raged
and the little band came out with six killed and
wounded. This stand, says Air. Bartley, was their
only hope, as the Indians would have massacred all had
they shown the white feather. Only one man, George
Shearer, came out during the fight. Afterwards a
company of volunteers ran away from Perry and came
to the little remnant. Air. Bartley saw the Clearwater
fight and most of the maneuvers and when the war was
over he returned to his mill and farm. Later he sold
those properties and is now devoting himself to mining.
In 1876 Mr. Bartley married the last time and one
child, Hattie, deceased, is the fruit of this union. By
his first marriage he had two sons, Joseph and Abra-
ham, deceased. Mr. Bartley is a Mason and a Repub-
lican. He is a good citizen and stands well.
FRANK M. POWERS. The industrious and en-
ergetic man of whom we now speak is one of the san-
guine believers in the bright future of the thriving town
of Stites and has wrought with skill and hard labor
here. He owns and operates a good sawmill plant and
planing mill and does a good business.
Frank M. Powers was born in Walworth county,
Wisconsin, on November 4, 1855, being the son of
Oliver and Esther (Owens) Powers. The father, of
Irish extraction, was born in New York state and died
in Minnesota in 1901. He was a carpenter and build-
er. The mother of our subject was born in Canada
and died in 1807. Our subject went with his parents
to Buchanan county, Iowa, when eight, and was edu-
cated in the schools of Winthrop. When eighteen he
learned the carpenter trade of his father and in 1877
went to \ erndale, Minnesota, where he wrought at
his trade for four years. Thence he went to the Black
Hills and freighted and in 1882 settled in Canning,
South Dakota. Two years later he came to Water-
town. South Dakota, and in 1889 to Puget Sound, then
for eight years he wrought in Tacoma. Then came a
trip to Douglas, Alaska, where he did millwright work.
In 1899 he went to Clarkston, Washington, and in
1900 came to Stites. He assisted to build most of the
prominent structures of the town, including Greav-
ing's large store. In April, 1902, Mr. Powers built a
sawmill four miles up the river, where he does a good
business. It has a capacity of twenty thousand feet
per day and is equipped with a twenty-five horse power
engine, planer and is well furnished. He also owns a
residence in town. Mr. Powers is a member of the
A. F. & A. M., Clover Lodge No. 91, in Tacoma, and
of the I. O. O. F.. in Stites. Mr. Powers is a stanch
Republican and has served as school director. He has
one brother and one sister, George, and Elizabeth,
widow of Charles Comfort, and a music teacher in
Lewiston.
In 1899 Mr. Powers married Mrs. Ellen Hunt, a
native of Iowa.
JOHN M. SHISSLER. This enterprising young
man is one of the substantial representatives of the
county of Idaho and is at the present conducting his
father's business of general merchant, postmaster and
rancher at Xewsome. Also he is interested in weighty
mining ventures in Buffalo Hump and Thunder
Mountain, being an experienced and practical miner.
John M. Shissler was born in Idaho county, on
August 24, 1877, being the son of Franklin and Eliza-
beth (Shearer) Shissler, who are mentioned in this
volume. He was reared in this county, attended dis-
trict school until he was sixteen, then took a four years'
course in the State University. Since that time he has
been engaged with his brother, George, in handling
the business mentioned, on account of the poor health
of the father. They are doing well and are up to date
business men, who have the confidence and esteem of
all. Politically Mr. Shissler is allied with the Dem-
ocrats and is a potent influence in the campaigns, be-
ing intelligent in the issues of the day. He is a mem-
ber of the Episcopalian church and is a stanch sup-
porter of the faith. Mr. Shissler comes from an old
and prominent family and has reason to be proud of
his ancestors who will in turn recognize in this scion
a worthv descendant.
ANDREW PERSSON was born in Sweden, on
June 2. 1858, the son of Per and Kjersti Persson, na-
tives of Sweden also. Our subject has three brothers
and two sisters. Johannes, Per, Nils Peter, Elna, Cris-
tina. He attended district school during his school
days and also worked on the farm with his father and
when seventeen, it then being 1875, he came to Cali-
fornia, in the United States, where he remained in
various employments, including farm work, logging
and handling a squad of Chinamen on a reed farm un-
til 1889. Then he migrated to Latah county and
bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which
he cultivated for six years and on account of the panic
lost al! he had but a team, wagon, two cows and a lit-
tle cash. Then he came to his present place, about one
mile northeast from Greencreek, took a homestead and
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
457
built a small house. He returned and brought the
family, having a hard time on account of the inclement
weather, and since then he has continued in the im-
provement of the farm with most excellent results, as
the following will show. He has one hundred and
fortv acres cultivated, threshed last year four thou-
sand three hundred bushels, cut twenty tons of hay and
headed considerable for the hogs, besides having other
crops. He now has a good seven-room house, fair
barns and material for a large new barn, two grana-
ries with thirty-five hundred bushels of first-class grain
in them, good farm machinery, including self binder,
wagons, hacks and other necessities, a fine windmill,
a thousand feet of pipe running the water into the
house, a stone cellar and many general improvements.
Mr. Persson has forty-five hogs, five cattle and ten
horses, and a good orchard, beginning to bear. All
this has been accumulated by his skill and thrift and he
is one of the leading farmers of this section.
On January 10, 1885, Mr. Persson married Miss
Nellie, daughter of Nils Peter and Enger (Jonsen)
Winstrom, natives of Sweden. The wedding occurred
in San Jose, California. Mrs. Persson was born in
Sweden on December 24, 1864, and she has one sister,
Lenda, and one half-sister, Lillie Palsen, and one half-
brother. Janne. Mrs. Persson's mother married a sec-
ond time, her husband being Ola Palsen. Eight chil-
dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Persson, Edven
Walfrid, Carl S.. Arved P.. Elmer A., George G.,
John A., Sadie J., Clara C. Mr. and Mrs. Perrson are
Republicans and take an active interest in the ques-
tions of the political realm.
GEORGE N. CON KLIN, deceased. When the
subject of this memorial passed away recently, it was
known that one of the leading men of this section of
Idaho county had gone to his rest beyond the grave.
He was a man of good habits and fine ability and had
friends from all quarters of the county. George N.
Conklin was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1839 and
died May 1. 1902. He was the son of Henry and
Mary Conklin, natives of the east. The father was a
cousin of Roscoe Conkling, who used the terminal G.
Our subject grew to manhood in Iowa and learned the
trade of engineer. He had received a good educa-
tion in his native place and followed his trade on the
Michigan Central. In i860 he crossed the plains to
Colorado and also mined later in Boise basin. He
owned the first three buildings in Butte and discovered
the Parrott mine. He located the Sweetwater free mill-
ing gold mine for which he received thirty thousand
dollars. He came to Slate creek in 1871, then traveled
some. Later, in 1874. in San Francisco, Mr. Conklin
married Mrs. Julia Ceilley, widow of Isaac Ceilley,
Her parents were Charles J. and Mary (Spencer) Vail,
of English extraction. Mrs. Conklin was born in Bos-
ton and has three sisters. Georgiana Sutherland, de-
ceased, Ella Baker. Hattie Wilcox. Mr. Conklin had
one brother, Alonzo. The following children were born
to this marriage: Edward H, Frederick C, Helen
Frances, Mrs. Pearl Gill, Myrtle, Erne. Mrs. Conk-
lin has two children by her first husband, Charles W.,
George A. Mr. Conklin was an active Democrat. The
summons of death came to Mr. Conklin very sud-
denly. Feeling slightly indisposed he continued to
work and was taken sick in the night, dying of heart
disease, before the light could be lighted. His re-
mains were buried on the farm and he was sincerely
mourned. He had an interest in the Horse Shoe Bend
placer claim and moved down here in 1897. They now
own the old Indian Joe place in this family and are
handling stock and mining.
The son, Frederick, was in the Philippine war,
serving in Company F throughout the campaign. Mr.
Conklin was a member of the A. F. & A. M. from early
manhood.
HON. FRANK A. FENN is one of the most prom-
inent men of the state, having been actively engaged in
various leading capacities since the early days and
being thoroughly posted in the history of the division.
He is a man of marked capabilities, which have been
manifested in a telling manner in times of crises,
while in his every day walk, Major Fenn has always
displayed those qualities of worth, integrity, sagaccit'y,
and substantiality that stamp him a man of progression,
broad mind and fitted for weighty responsibilities.
A detailed account of his life and of the activities and
enterprises in which he has figured prominently would
form a component chapter of Idaho history. We ap-
pend an epitome while in another portion of the vol-
ume will appear a fuller account of those matters more
especially connected with northern Idaho.
Frank A. Fern was born in Jefferson, Nevada
county. California, on September 11, 1S53, being the
son of Stephen S. and Rhoda M. Fenn. The father was
born in Watertown, Connecticut, on March 8, 1820,
whence the family went to Lockport, New York, when
this son was three years old. When twenty he went
to the vicinity of Dubuque, Iowa, and in 1847 married
and in 1850 went to California, crossing the plains. He
settled on the Yuba and took up mining and general
merchandising. The family joined him in 1852 and
there remained until 1862 when a move was made to the
Salmon river mines, where Florence is now. The
father mined and conducted a general store with S. A.
Woodward. From 1867 to 1872, they lived in I ew-
iston and there he was the first register of the land of-
fice, being appointed by President Johnson. Mr. Fenn
was prosecuting attorney for two terms, represented
Idaho county in the legislature five sessions and was
delegate to Congress from the territory, serving from
1874 to 1878. He died on December 9. 1892. The
mother of our subject was born in St. Albans. Ver-
mont, on December 18, 1830. She married in 1847.
and died on June 13, 1884. She was a noble woman
and always engaged in helping the sick and suffering.
She was a skillful nurse and many times has saved
life in the frontier regions by her timely aid. When
crossing the plains she was the only woman in the
train and her two children died of cholera in the Platte
458
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
river. Our subject attended public schools in Nevada
county until the family came to Idaho. There he at-
tended the first school in the territory, it being at
Florence and taught bv Mrs. S. E. Robinson. In
1863 he attended school in Walla Walla and took a
course in the Whitman Academy when it first opened
in the winter of 1865 and 1866. In 1869 he was ap-
pointed bv I. K. Shafer, delegate from Idaho, to the
United States Naval Academy and there sat under the
training of such men as Sampson, Dewey and Schley.
He left the academy in 1872 and returned to Idaho
where he took up teaching. At the time of the Indian
war of 1877, Major Fenn was first lieutenant of
Company B, Second Regiment Idaho Militia and was
also commissioned adjutant of the regiment by M.
Brayman, governor of the territory. He was with Col-
onel Perry at his defeat on Whitebird and took part in
the Cottonwood fight when seventeen whites were at-
tacked by one hundred and forty-two savages. His
horse was shot and his lip wounded, but otherwise
he came out sound from the awful struggle. Follow-
ing this he was in charge of the commissary de-
partment at Mt. Idaho. Then our subject took up
farming five miles north from Mt. Idaho, but later
sold his half section there and raised sheep on the
Whitebird. Selling out this line Mr. Fenn was
admitted at the supreme court in Boise to practice law,
where he resided from 1890 to 1901. Previous to this
Mr. Fenn had been postmaster in Mt. Idaho, deputy
district court clerk of the county and also in 1886 he
was chosen to represent the county in the legislature.
He was also elected again in 1890, the first state legis-
lature, and held the important position of speaker of
the house. From April, 1891, to 1895, he was chief
clerk of the state land board, and in 1896 was chosen
representative from Ada county, being the only Re-
publican in the entire legislature. In 1896 he was sec-
retary of the Republican state committee. When the
Spanish war broke out. Major Fenn offered his services
and was appointed captain of Company H. First Idaho
Volunteers. He was acting major from April, 1899. to
September, 1899, when he was promoted to major. He
took part in the battle of Manila, August [3, 1898.
Santa Anna, February 5, 1899, Colcocan, February 10
and 11, 1899 and in September of that year he re-
ceived an honorable discharge. In June. 1901, the
major was appointed superintendent of the United
States forest reserves in Idaho and Montana and re-
moved to Kooskia, where we find him at the present
time.
On December 16, 1877, Mr. Fenn was married to
Miss Florence E., daughter of Russell and Margaret
K. ( Rice ) Hobbrook, who were born on September 30,
1830, in Ohio, and December 16. 1839, in Missouri,
respectively. The father came to Oregon in an early
day, being an orphan and took up stock raising. He
was in the Rogue river and Modoc wars and is now
living near Whitebird. The mother came with her
parents across the plains in 1844 with the second
Whitman train. Mrs. Fenn's father and grandfather
opened the first livery stable in Portland. She at-
tended school in Idaho, Washington. Her birth place
was near Flillsboro, Oregon, on January 13, 1861, and
she has the following brothers and sisters: Eugene,
Oscar, Ephriam, Carrie Fenn, Nannie Hansen. Mr.
Fenn has the following brothers and sisters : George
G.. Walter A., Stephen's., Jr.. Nettie M. Hansen. To
Mr. and Mrs. Fenn there have been born five children,
Fred D., born September 12, 1878; Homer E., born
June 4. 1881 ; Lloyd A., born November 9, 1884;
Rhoda M., born April 8, 1890; Florence A., born
March 12, 1892.
Major Fenn is a member of the Blue Lodge of Ma-
sons and of the W. of W.. while his wife belongs to
the Women of Woodcraft. Mrs. Fenn and the chil-
dren also belong to the Christian church.
ANDREW J. WILLIAMS, one of the property
owners of Kooskia. is also engaged in farming just
northeast from the town. He is one of the enterprising
men of the section and was one who first came to the
site of Stuart and located. Andrew J. Williams was
born in Grayville, Illinois, on March 6. 1834. being the
the son of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Anderson) Will-
iams, born in 1781 in North Carolina, and in 1789, in
South Carolina, respectively. The father was a pio-
neer in Illinois, served in the war of 1812. and died
in 1839. The mother died in February. 1857. ( >ur
subject was reared and educated at the Skillet forks
of the Wabash and remained with his parent- until
he was eighteen years old. at which time he removed to
Marshall county, Iowa. In this section he tanned
from 184(1 t( [857 and then went to Kansas, remain-
ing until 1851), in which year he was led by the gold
excitement to Pikes Peak. Four years were consumed
in the search for the precious metal, then he returned
to Iowa, settling near Council Bluffs. Two years later
Mr. Williams removed to Buffalo county. Nebraska
and in 1808 he went to Cherokee count}-, Kansas.
It was 1874 that he made the long journey to the Pa-
louse country and there he farmed until 1892, exper-
iencing the dangers and loss of the Indian outbreak. In
the year last mentioned he came to the vicinity of
Grangeville and purchased a farm, which he sold upon
the opening of the reservation. He settled where
Stuart is now and at once opened a livery stable. He
continued in the operation of that with his son until
1900, when he leased it and also other business prop-
erty which he owns there and took up his abode at
Easl Stuart.
( )n November 16. 1850, Air. Williams married
Miss Persis. daughter of Masury and Marx 1 Wright )
Woodward, natives of Vermont, and born March 18.
1802. and September 2^, 1805. respectively. The
father was a pioneer in Ohio, went to Iowa when sixty
and farmed ; he died in 1890, aged eighty-eight. The
mother comes from old Puritan stock, and her father
was a captain in the war of 1812 and died aged ninety-
nine. She died in Council Bluffs, Iowa, in 1890. Mrs.
Wiliiams has the following brothers and sisters : Fay-
ette. Lucius. Lena Householder. The following children
have been born to this worthy couple : Wells R., born
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
459
January 17. 1858, and now in Reno, Nevada; Charles
F., born January 15, 1867, now deceased; Andrew J.,
Jr., born December 24. 1869 : Lew Wallace and Fred
F., twins, born July 7, 1872. Mr. Williams was county
commissioner in Nebraska, and justice of the peace
in Kansas. He is a stanch Republican. Mrs. Williams
is a member of the Congregational church.
JAMES STUART. It is with great pleasure that
we are enabled to place upon the records of the history
of northern Idaho an epitome of the career of the capa-
ble and esteemed gentleman whose labors have accom-
plished so much in Nez Perces and Idaho counties, for
the advancement of these counties, for the uplifting of
the Xez Perces. for the general welfare of all. A mov-
ing spirit in that most important enterprise, both to the
Indians and the other people, the opening for settle-
ment of the reservation, a keen observer of the needs
of the Indians and nerved with a powerful spirit to ac-
complish the provision of these needs, a man of ability
in many lines as will be evidenced, and having the hap-
py ability to accomplish things which will greatly accel-
erate the chariot of progress for all, it is eminently
fitting that Mr. Stuart should be granted representation
in the chronicles of these counties, where he has ac-
complished so much.
James Stuart was born at Spokane falls, in Oc-
tober, 1863, the son of James and Susan (Mitchel)
Stuart. The father was born on March 14, 1832, in
Harrison county. Virginia. His parents, Robert and
Nancy C. Stuart, moved to Bureau county, Illinois, in
1836. Two years later they went to Muscatine county,
Iowa, which was then inhabited almost exclusively by
the Sacs, Foxes, Musquakees. and other Indians.
There James Stuart was reared and educated by his
parents, completing his training in the high school in
Iowa City, in 1848. The father returned from Cali-
fornia and went thither again with his sons, James and
Granville. He returned to Iowa and they mined and
herded stock and fought in the Rogue river Indian war.
Desiring to return to the states, they were diverted
from the trip on account of the Mormon troubles and
went to Montana. They hunted, trapped, prospected,
and the father of our subject was the first man to dis-
cover gold on Gold creek. He was the first sheriff elect
of Missoula county, Washington Territory, and the
first one in the Rockies north of Colorado. As sher-
iff he hung Spellmau, a horse thief, which was the
first legal execution in Montana, then Washington Ter-
ritory. Mr. James Stuart was elected captain, with
power absolute, of the first party of explorers of the
Yellowstone country. The expedition left Bannock
City, 011 April 9, 1863, and returned, having had many
encounters with the Crows, by way of Bridger, on
June 24th. Mr. Stuart was a physician and surgeon
and was always prompt to relieve suffering without
recompense. In 1864 he was elected to represent Deer
Lodge county in the legislature. Mr. Stuart was em-
inently successful in dealing with the Indians, being
equitable, just, gentle and yet possessed of that firm
resolution, iron will and unflinching courage demanded
in those dealings. He spoke the native languages
with ease and skill and stood high in the estimation of
the best men of all tribes where he dealt. Mr. James
Stuart died on September 30, 1873. aged forty-two.
He was a junior of the grand lodge of Masons of
Montana. His brother Granville was minister to Peru.
under Cleveland's administration. The mother of out-
subject was born in 1844. and her mother was a full-
blooded Nez Perces woman, and her father a French
Canadian. She died in April, 1892.
Our subject was reared mostly on the Nez Perces
reservation, was well educated at the government
schools, also learned the cabinet trade there. He at-
tended the school at Forest Grove and took a complete
course in civil engineering. In the fall of 1885 Mr.
Stuart took up farming and stock raising and followed
that until the government undertook the allotment and
then he was interpreter for Miss Alice Fletcher, who
was government allotment agent. This continued un-
til the fall of 1893. Then the government treated with
the Indians and under a clause they were to have a
surveyor and Mr. Stuart was appointed to this posi-
tion. In 1895 he resigned and went to general mer-
chandising. Later he sold out and opened in the furni-
ture and undertaking business in Kooskia. He owns
several allotments, town property, his store ami other
property and is doing a good business. Mr. Stuart
has one half-sister. Nancy Spencer, on the Clear-
water ; two half brothers, Robert and Richard, both
in Montana.
Mr. Stuart was judge of the police court in 1893
and in 1S95 he was interpreter for a party of Indians
who went to Washington, D. C, and in the spring of
1902 was elected by the tribe to investigate all records
concerning treaties and stipulations between the gov-
ernment and the tribe. He ascertained that a balance
of nearly twenty thousand dollars was due and unpaid
on an old treaty and is taking steps to collect this for
the Indians. Air. Stuart is a strong Republican and he
and his wife both belong to the Presbyterian church.
lie fought hard and long for the opening of the res-
ervation and was the first to put his name to the treaty,
although his life was threatened for so doing. He
take-- great interest in building up and forwarding the
interests of the Indians and leading them to better edu-
cation ami more thorough civilization. He has opened
a real estate office in Kooskia for the sale of allotments
of Indians who have died, as the heirs are now allowed
to sell, by a recent law. He is devoting con
attention 10 reading law in addition to his other busi-
ness and is one of the leading men of the county.
MANUEL C. M( >RRIS is one of the industrious
and stirring farmers dwelling about eight mile- north-
east from Greencreek upon a quarter section which he
secured by homestead right and which by his labor and
skill is being made a valuable farm, well tilled and sub-
stantially improved. He was born in Linn county. < >r-
460
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
egon, on November 25, 1864. the son of Nathaniel M.
and Margaret A. ( Propst) Morris. When our subject
was eight the family removed to the vicinity of Farm-
ington, Washington, and he had but scanty opportuni-
ty to attend school. He remained with his parents un-
til the time of his majority and then started to do for
himself. Having a span of horses and harness he went
to tilling the soil of a rented place. He did well in his
venture until the panic struck the country, and, with
hosts of others, he lost considerable, but by continued
industry and persistent efforts, he was enabled to pay
all obligations and in 1896, he came to his present place
and filed. The following harvest found him working
in the Palouse and after the last debt had been squared
he came to his farm with a capital of thirty dollars.
Al! his property at the present time has been secured
by his industry and thrift since. He has his farm all
fenced, owns thirty-five hogs, fifteen horses and twelve
cattle. He cultivates a third of the land, has orchard
and buildings and is on the road to prosperity.
At Farmington, Washington, on February 4, 1890,
Mr. Morns married Mrs. Arminna J. Simmons, the
daughter of William R. and Sarah (Gulliford) Cooper,
natives of Missouri and born on August 8, 1835, and
February 15. 1838, respectively. Mrs. Morris was
born in Oregon, on September 10, 1863, and her first
husband was A. [. Simmons, a bookkeeper at The
Dalles. By her first marriage she has one son, William
S.. born at The Dalles, on January 6, 1884. Mrs.
Morris has the following brothers and sisters : Thomas
J., Jacob W., Zilpha A., Viola J., Mildy, Ida Dell, Ar-
banna B., Maud E. Mr. Morris has six brothers and
three sisters, Henry R., Anthony P., John W., Clar-
ence L., Thomas J., Albert J., Eva M., Minnie M.,
Lucinda A. Mr. and Mrs. Morris are stanch Republi-
cans and take a keen interest in the welfare of the
county and state and its political questions.
EDWIN C. VANDEBURGH resides eight miles
south of Whitebird, where in partnership with his son
Jerry he farms and raises stock. He was born on
July 26, 1840, in Green county, New York, the son
of Peter and Mary J. (Martin) Vandeburgh. The
father was born in Dutchess county, New York, and
enlisted in the Civil war. He served for two years and
was discharged on account of poor health, dying one
year after this. The mother was born at Catskill,
New York, and died in Clinton county, Missouri,
in her ninety-sixth year. The family removed to
Rock Island county, Illinois, when our subject was a
boy. and he remained at home until 1858, and then
started for Pikes Peak, walking as far as Nebraska
City, after which he drove six yoke of cattle on through.
He helped open up some of the first mines on Gregory
gulch, and was successful. In 1861 he enlisted in
Company K, First Colorado Cavalry, under General
Canbv, was sent to New Mexico, and fought in the
battle of Apache canyon on (he Rio Grande. In 1862
he was on the Arkansas river and was in a battle
where about six hundred Indians were killed, all the
savages being killed except one man and two papooses.
The two papooses, a boy and a girl, were sent to
President Lincoln, who placed them in school. Our
subject was discharged from service on October 26,
1865, and on November 10th, following, he started for
Montana, but as the mules died, he went on foot to
Salt Lake, and the next spring went to Aldar gulch.
In the spring of '66 he came through the Salmon river
country, and in 1869 went to Portland.
On August 4, 1870, Mr. Vandeburgh married
Mrs. Elizabeth Brown, who was born in 1842 in In-
diana. Her parents, Dr. J. and Maria J. Clark, were
early pioneers in Iowa, Clarksville being named for
them. The father came west to Portland in 1869 by
team, in 1873 went to Dayton, Washington, and died
in 1895. The mother died in 1875. Both were devout
members of the Christian church. Our subject came
to Dayton, Washington, in the summer of 1871 and
engaged in farming until '93. Then he mined until
1898, when he came to his present place. Four chil-
dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Vandeburgh,
Peter and Jerry, twins; Roxey, wife of Daniel Bow-
man, of Dayton ; Rosa, wife of George Reed, of
Crook's Corral. Peter married Miss Viola Johnson.
Jerry is in partnership with is father in raising stock,
and owns a homestead, which is a fine place, well
improved. Mr. Vandeburgh and his sons own a fine
copper property, which gives promise of great value.
In Dayton, in 1892, Mr. Vandeburgh raised 22,000
sacks of grain.
FRANKLIN P. TURNER is one of the skilled
civil engineers who has labored all over the western
country and has assisted materially in opening the way
for the ingress of civilization. At present he has re-
tired from this line of labor and has given himself to
the art of agriculture, residing one and one-half miles
east from Lorena.
Franklin P. Turner was born in Monroe county,
Indiana, on August 30, 1854, being the son of Andrew
J. and Mary L. (Whitson) Turner, natives of Indiana,
and born in October, 1827, and on March 27, 1827, re-
spectively. They still live in Kansas. The father
came from an old North Carolina family, was a pioneer
to Kansas and in 1854 went thence to Iowa, but re-
turned two years later. He took part in the border
warfare and helped to drive Price out. He dwells
near Ossawattomie. having a good farm there. The
mother comes from a Virginia family and two brothers,
Solon and Numa, fought in the Mexican war. She
was married in October, 1853. Our subject was
brought up in Kansas, took a course in the state nor-
mal and a special training in civil engineering in the
state agricultural institution at Manhattan. In 1870
he went to Colorado, but soon returned to his studies.
He also trained in a drug store. In 1874 Mr. Turner
was again in Colorado, and in 1875 he went across the
plains and in 1877 he was back in the Indian Terri-
tory. He travelled in Texas and Kansas and in 1880
he was in Albuquerque. He did engineer work on
the Rio Grande, saw the Southern Pacific join the
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
461
Santa Fe at Deming, New Mexico, in 1881, then
went thence through Arizona to San Diego and made
his way by steamer up the coast to Tacoma, where
he learned of the assassination of Garfield. On August
30, 1881, Mr. Turner landed on Camas prairie, taught
school, followed his profession later on the Northern
Pacific, also in California and Utah, and did much gov-
ernment surveying near Ft. Mojava, and in April,
1884, he landed again in Camas Prairie. He lived near
Grangeville until the fall of 1889, when he purchased
his present place. Mr. Turner has the following
brothers and sisters: Emma Barber, Margaret Day,
John W., George W., Andrew J., Elsie M. Dillman.
On March 2, 1886, Mr. Turner married Miss
Eleanor M., daughter of Benjamin and Realda (Willis)
Wilmot. Her father was born in Kentucky in 1803,
was reared there and learned the trade of a millwright.
He did labor through the central states, came to the
coast in 1865 and two years later to the south fork of
the Clearwater. In 1870 he settled near Grangeville
and made furniture, the only furniture to be had then.
He died in 1886. The mother of Mrs. Turner was
born in Wisconsin and died in i860. Mrs. Turner was
born on April 8, 1853, in Charles county, Missouri,
where she was raised. In 1881 she joined her father.
She is one of the noble pioneer women of this section
and remained here for more than a year seeing no one
but Indians. She has the following brothers and sis-
ters : Asinith Rig-gins, John W., Emma Caerley,
Thomas, Sarah Bratton, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Tur-
ner have the following children : Wilmot C, Forest
P., Andrew J., Frank R., Mary E. In 1885 Mr. Tur-
ner was elected county surveyor on the Democratic
ticket. He served until 1889. In 1897 he published
the Alta Idaho Area, a Populist organ, which in 1899
became the Socialist exponent. Mr. Turner is a mem-
ber of the Masonic fraternitv.
OSCAR M. EVANS is one of the prosperous and
successful agriculturists of Idaho county. He lives
seven miles south of Whitebird and is a man of good
standing. He was born in Caldwell county, Missouri,
on September 8. 1837, the son of Horace and Candace
(Judd) Evans. The father of Horace Evans was a
native of Massachusetts. The father was born in New
Hampshire in 1810 and the mother was born in Ohio
in 1820. Our subject went with his parents to Illinois
when but a child and from there to Fremont county.
Iowa, where his parents both died. He had received
a good education, then went to Otoe county, Nebraska,
where he was married September 14, 1862, to Cath-
erine E. Jemison, who was born September 1, 1841.
Her parents were John and Catherine Jemison. After
marriage Mr. Evans settled in Mitchell county, Kansas,
and in 1888 they, came to Pullman, Washington, and
engaged in farming. In 1890 he was in Latah coun-
ty, Idaho, and eight years later Mr. Evans entered a
homestead on his present farm. He has good land,
a nice young orchard, plenty of timber, does general
farming and raises cattle, horses and hogs. The fol-
lowing children have been born to this marriage : Oscar
H., near Whitebird; Horace E., near Moscow ; Marion
F., in Mitchell county, Kansas; Mrs. Catherine E. Poe,
near Whitebird; Mrs. Lucinda J. Harper, in West Vir-
ginia; Mrs. Mary E. McBlair, in Mitchell county,
Kansas; Mrs. Lillie D. Burlinghoff, near Whitebird;
Mrs. Eva Eppler, deceased; John D. ; Rosa A. Mrs.
Burlinghoff's husband, Charles B., was killed on
February 10, 1900.
FRANKLIN SHISSLER. It is now our pleasant
privilege to chronicle an epitome of the career of this
estimable and doughty pioneer, whose labors in the
state and territory of Idaho have been of permanent
value to the country where he has wrought ; especially
in Idaho county has he done much to aid in develop-
ment and to open the way for others to come in and
make homes. His name is indissolubly connected with
the county of Idaho in many prominent ways, both
in inaugurating industries, and maintaining the same
with mammoth improvements, which he managed and
completed.
Franklin Shissler was born in Sunbury, Pennsyl-
vania, on October 28, 1830, being the son of Henry
and Anna (Long) Shissler, both natives of Pennsyl-
vania, and descendants of old and prominent Dutch
families. The father's parents were massacred by
Indians : the maternal grandfather was living on the
Brandywine during the Revolution. He was captain
in the war of 181 2, and was detailed with his com-
pany to Blackrock with his men, but as no supplies
were forwarded, they had great suffering. Our sub-
ject was reared at Port Carbon, Pennsylvania, and
finished his education in the Pottsville Academy, after
which he became an expert machinist. He wrought
in New York and New Jersey, and when twenty-two
took passage for Melbourne, Australia, where he mined
for two years, then wrought at his trade, and in 1855
came to San Francisco. He mined in California and
Oregon until 1862, in which year he came to Idaho,
since which time he has been one of the active and
progressive men of this section. He has been occupied
in all the various industries, of packing, sawmilling,
ranching, general merchandising, and mining. He
built the first and for a long time the only sawmill in
Idaho count}-. This was constructed at great effort
and was of untold benefit to the country. Mr. Shissler
built two bridges across the Salmon, and this great
labor has had a wonderful effect in stimulating com-
mercial relations and travel. He raised many race
horses here and also did a general farming business
on his ranch. He was in the Indian war of 1877. and
did excellent work in constructing the fort. Since 1884
he has been postmaster at Rustic and now at Xew-
some, where he also handles a general merchandise
business. Mr. Shissler is a member of the A. F. &
A. M., Mount Idaho Lodge, No. 9, and has belonged
to this order since 1864. He is also a member of the
Idaho County Pioneer Society. Mr. Shissler has one
brother living, Henry, in Pennsylvania, who was in
462
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
the medical department of the Civil war. He also
has some brothers dead, mentioned as follows : Will-
iam, killed in the Civil war: Edward, major in the Civil
war ; George, also in Civil war, both deceased ; John,
in Civil war three years, now deceased.
At Slate Creek on the Salmon, on February 1,
1866, Mr. Shissler married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of
Frederick A. and Susan (Gordon) Shearer. Mr.
Shearer is a native of Frederick City, Maryland, is
a cousin of Admiral Schley, and now lives in New-
some. He was born in 1816, and has three living
generations of descendants. He came to California,
via the Isthmus, in 1852, and was in the mercantile
business in Marysville until i860. Then he went to
Siskivou county, and in 1862 came to Idaho. He was
probate judge for seven years and was always a promi-
nent Democrat. The mother of Mrs. Shissler was born
in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, on March 25, 1818, and
died on her birthday, in 1900. Mrs. Shissler 's two
uncles are in the regular army, one is General David
Gordon, and the other is Captain Charles G. Gordon,
of the Civil war, both retired. Mrs. Shissler has one
brother deceased, George M., who was a major in the
Confederate army, and served on Bradley T. John-
son's staff. He came to Idaho and married a sister of
J. P. Yollmer. The following children were born to
Air. and Mrs. Shissler : Frederick, Harry, George,
John. Susie Ingram, Mary E. Pettibone ; aiso these,
who are deceased: Louisa, Virginia, Elizabeth. Annie
and Edward.
JOHN B. RICE. The subject of this article is a
business man in Westlake, being the owner and oper-
ator of a good drug store at this place. He is num-
bered with the most enterprising men of the section,
and his endeavors have been crowned with the meed
of success.
John B. Rice was born in New York city on June
8, 1867, the son of William M. and Sarah M. ( West-
lake) Rice. The father was born in Troy, New York,
and is now a commission merchant in Seattle. He
was a pioneer of Nez Perces county and was twice
elected probate judge on the Democratic ticket, and is
an influential man in the campaigns. The mother of
our subject was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1849,
and still lives. Her father was a native of Cornwall,
England, and her mother was born in America. Our
subject was educated in his native place and was pre-
paring for Amherst College when the parents came
west and settled at Lewiston in 1882, where he grew
to manhood. In 1882 his father established the first
store on the reservation, at Lapwai, by government
permit, giving our subject charge of it. They also
had a store at Lewiston and another at Juliaetta. Af-
ter this our subject went into Moxley's drug store at
Lewiston and learned the apothecary's art. In 1889
he came to Idaho county and filed on the site of the
present town of Westlake, which was so named from
his mother's ancestors. He and his father secured a
section and in 1895 laid out the town and opened a
mercantile establishment. In 1900 John B. sold out
and opened a drug store, where we find him at the
present time.
On May 16, 1897, in Westlake, Mr. Rice married
Miss Florence, daughter of George and Elmina Bab-
cock, natives of New York and Pennsylvania, respect-
ively, and now living near Forest. Mrs. Rice was born
in Wisconsin, on August 12, 1873, and has two broth-
ers and one sister, — Esther, Charles, Ross. Mr. Rice
has the following named brothers and sisters : Louise,
.Maude, Florence, Grace, William, Archibald, Ernest.
Three children have been born to this union, — Jessie,
Lonita, Dorothy. Mr. Rice is a member of the M.
W. A. of Westlake. Mrs. Rice is a member of the
Seventh Day Adventist church. Mr. Rice is a Demo-
crat and active in political matters. He has control of
the mail route from Westlake to Ferdinand, and also
sells real estate.
GEORGE C. POE resides about eight miles south
of Whitebird, and was born August 19, 1862, in Linn
county, Oregon, the son of William and Jane (Ber-
netta) Poe. They crossed the plains with an ox team
in a very early day, being among the earliest pioneers
in western Oregon, and when this son was very young
they both died. He was the fifth of a family of ten
children, and as far back as he can remember he had
to do for himself. He visited various places and
worked for a salary during the early years of his life
and in 1 88 1 went on the Northern Pacific near Rath-
drum and took a contract of making ties. In June
of that year he was in the little village of Rathdrum
when "Poker Jack" insulted a squaw. She struck him
and he slapped her in return. She immediately gave
the war whoop, and within a very few minutes two
hundred infuriated braves were on the track of "Poker
Jack," and by the mere skin of his teeth he was saved
from their hands. From here Mr. Poe went to Walla
Walla. He started to California and at Polk county,
Oregon, on the way, was taken with typhoid fever.
He was very much depleted by the disease, and when
he was able returned to Walla Walla. Next we see him
in British Columbia, and then near Pullman, Wash-
ington, in which town he was married on October 5,
1890, Miss Katie Evans becoming his bride. She
was born on April 20, 1868, in Otoe county, Nebraska,
the daughter of Oscar M. and Emma C. (Jamison)
Evans. The mother died in 1892 and the father lives
near Whitebird. Our subject came to his present home
in July, 1894. He now owns a half section of good
land, and has it well improved, and also one of the best
residences south of the Salmon. Mr. Poe handles
cattle, horses and hogs. He has four children, —
Claude F., Fred M., Vera and Annata.
GREEN W. DALLAS. This hardy and skilled
prospector and millwright is one of the earliest pioneers
of this whole northwest country and for over
half a century he has wrought in this and
the California districts of minerals. He is a
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
463
man of keen discrimination, boundless energy,
practical judgmnt and a fund of knowledge and
experience that place him undoubtedly in the lead
in his line. His experience would fill a volume, and it
is a matter of regret that we cannot grant greater space
to their detail. However, we will note the more salient
points in his career, and first we record that he was
born in Cooper county, Missouri, on February 13,
1834, his parents being Joshua A. and Mary (Woods)
Dallas. The family was prominent in Texas history,
and the town of Dallas was named from an uncle, who
perished in the Mexican war before the United States
interfered. The father was born in 1799, went early
to Missouri, took part in the Black Hawk war and died
in 1882. The mother was born in 1807 in
west Tennessee and died in Missouri in 1844.
Her ancestors were doughty Indian fighters un-
der Daniel Boone. Our subject was raised and
educated in Missouri and when fourteen began
his western experience by driving beef cattle
for the government to New Mexico, making the trip
on horseback. On September 15, 1853, we find him in
Sacramento, where he diligently gave himself to min-
ing. Later we see him in Florence, and in the break-
ing out of the Boise basin excitement he went thither
with pack trains, and from that time for many years
he followed that adventurous life. He packed to
Kootenai. British Columbia, and all the principal camps
in the northwest in the sixties. Mr. Dallas bought a
livery stable in Lewiston, but the life was too quiet
and he soon sold and went to his pack trains again. He
built the first stamp mill in Warren, the Pioneer, and
aiso the Rescue, then the Hie Jacet. He constructed the
Callender in Buffalo Hump, with the dwellings. In
Elk he built the Blue Dragon, and the Ajax in Dixie.
Mr. Dallas was an active participant in the Indian
outbreak of 1877 fighting the savages and doing ex-
cellent scout work. He has prospected all over the
coast and in 1902 was in the Thunder mountain dis-
trict and believes that the camp is to be one of the great
ones of the world. While there he built the postoffice
and the recorder's office. Mr. Dallas has placer claims
in various sections and is one of the most skilled men
in mining in the state. He has the following brothers
and sisters: Elizabeth Stevens, Caley Morris, Nancy
.Morris, Charles. Susan F., Evelyne, Sarah A., John,
Margaret, Samantha, Melissa. Politically Mr. Dallas
is a Democrat, and is active in the campaigns. He is
one of the landmarks of the country, his labors have
paved the way for civilization, he has shown a marked
and upright walk, he has won the respect and esteem
of all and he has done his part in building up the
county.
WILLIAM: WILSON is one of the well known
early settlers of this section of the country and his
labors have been successful in the line of stock raising
and farming. At present he is dwelling nine miles east
from Kooskia and has a good farm and an excellent
orchard.
William Wilson was born in Switzerland county,
Indiana, on March 25, 183O, being the son of John
and Alahala (Scott) Wilson. The father was born in
Ohio in 1798. He was a successful farmer and stock-
man. In early days he went to Indiana and there mar-
ried, and in 1844 another move was made, this time to
Missouri. It was 185 1 that the long journey to Linn
county, Oregon, was made, where he took a donation
claim. Later he lived near Pendleton and in 1876
he died at the old home in Linn county. The mother
of our subject was born in Scotland, married in 1835
and died in 1S85. William was raised and educated in
Linn county and remained with his parents until 1856,
when he started to raise stock for himself in southern
Oregon and northern California. In 1863 he came
to eastern Oregon and continued in the same business
until March 12, 1875, when he came to the Clearwater
and bought a squatter's right. This was abandoned in
1885 and Mr. Wilson took his present place and has
devoted himself to its improvement since.
In July, 1873, Mr. Wilson married Marv Too-
Ma-Les-Poo, a Nez Perce woman, and one child has
been born to them. Howard, born in 1888. Mr. Wil-
son has the following brothers and sisters: John C,
Prier, Robert E., James. Marion, deceased, George.
Mr. Wilson gives an interesting item gained from
the councils of the Nez Perces, having attended the
same. It is this that if the whites had not shown ter-
ror and became panic stricken, the) would not have
been molested in the last trouble.
BENJAMIN P. BR( IWN. Which one is better
known of the old pioneers who braved the trials of the
early days, faced the dangers incident to invading a
country peopled with savages, endured the hardships
and performed the labor incident to opening up for
civilization the vast country adjacent to the Salmon
river — who, we repeat, is better known among these
pioneers than Benjamin P. Brown. One by one differ-
ent persons have stepped upon the scene oi action, but
now, hale and hearty in the golden years of his life,
Mr. Brown is dwelling upon his ranch sewn miles
southeast of Whitebird, which he took from the wilds
of nature over thirty years ago. "In those days,"
said Mr. Brown, "the luxuriant bunch grass was nearly
to one's waist, and it was a very paradise for all animal
life."
Benjamin P. Brown was born November 8, 1832,
in the southeastern part of Missouri, being the son of
James and Susan (Richardson) Brown, natives of
Kentucky and Missouri, respectively. When Benjamin
P. was but a child his mother was called across the
river to see the realities of the world beyond. The
lad remained with his father, receiving his education
and training until manhood's estate arrived. In 1852
he bade farewell to the scenes and places of his youth,
his friends and loved ones, and commenced the weary
trip across the sands and mountains toward the set-
ting sun. Four months later the sturdy young man
was digging gold at Downersville, California. He
labored in various camps until 1858 and then went to
464
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
San Francisco and by ship to Bellingham bay, whence
he traveled on foot into the Fraser mines. Shortly
he left there and came to The Dalles and the next
spring he went to Oro Fino. The following fall found
him in Florence, and in all the camps adjacent to the
Salmon Mr. Brown has labored. For forty years he
has lived in this section and knows its history from
beginning to end. Since 1871 his headquarters have
been upon his ranch. Mr. Brown has been quite a
hunter in his day and during the Indian troubles of
1877 he was a scout and guide for General Howard.
He participated in the Clearwater battle and in other
of the engagements. Mr. Brown has his place sup-
plied with average improvements, has a good orchard
and is living in quiet retirement. He is the youngest
of a family of seven children and the rest are all dead.
Since sixteen Mr. Brown has faced the realities of the
world upon his own resources. He has done duty on
the frontier of the entire western range, has packed
his blankets over manv a weary trail, has met face to
face the adversities that beset the pioneer and in it
all has manifested a determination, a reserve force and
capabilities that mark him a strong man of courage
and resources.
JAMES S. GUSEMAN lives about four miles
northeast from Greencreek. where he owns a small farm
and is devoting himself to its improvement. He is not
one of the earliest pioneers, but is one of the industrious
laborers for the advancement of the interests of Idaho
county, and stands well in his community. He was
born in Lancaster, Ohio, on December 24. 1849, the
son of George W. and Elizabeth (Evans) Guseman,
natives of Ohio. He attended school during his youth-
ful days and remained under the parental roof until
the estate of manhood arrived. Then he went to In-
diana to visit his sister and later journeyed to Kansas.
In that state he was employed railroading for twenty
years and was an experienced hand in handling a
track. He then traveled to various portions of that
state and later to all the northwestern and western
states and territories and wrought in various capacities
and had much experience in the world. Finally in
1898, Mr. Guseman came to Cottonwood and at once
engaged in threshing and later gave his attention to
farm work and on December 16, 1898, he settled on his
present place. This was taken as a homestead and in
addition to improving the same, he has also given
much of his time in other capacities in this section.
Mr. Guseman is a great reader and a well informed
man. He has one sister, Orpha Ledman, who was
born in Ohio, on February 5, 1848.
CHARLES M. CAMPBELL. Among the many
who have wrought for the upbuilding and advance-
ment of Idaho county, none has manifested more zeal,
interest and skill than has the subject of this sketch.
He is at present doing a general farming business,
together with raising stock, about four miles from
Whitebird. He was born March 14, 1851, in Ray
county, Missouri, the son of Thomas and Melinda
(Snowden) Campbell. The father was born in Indi-
ana and came early to Missouri. The mother was
born in Ray county, Missouri, and both died in 1861.
Our subject was the eldest of a family of five children,
and two years after the death of his parents he went to
Florida with his uncle, L. B. Campbell, who was a
physician. The doctor organized a medicine com-
pany and put his nephew with him, traveling all over
the southern and middle states. This continued for
ten years, and then our subject settled to farming until
1883, when he drove through to Wyoming. He was
stable boss at Twin creek, Wyoming, for two years.
Then he went to Evingston and handled the trotting
stock of A. C. Beckwith for two years. After this we
see him in Anaconda, Helena, and finally in Daven-
port, Washington. In 1899 he came to the Salmon
river country, and while getting out some rock he was
crippled in his right hand for life. In 1902 he leased
a ranch adjoining his homestead, and is now paying
attention to general farming and raising stock. He
has a fine bunch of hogs and his ranch is well supplied
with water and timber. Mr. Campbell is especially
successful in raising hogs, and he has some fine speci-
mens now. Mr. Campbell is a well informed man, and
ever keeps abreast of the times and is a leader in all
that would be for the advancement and upbuilding of
the country.
* « »
EDWARD W. ROBIE, deceased. The subject of
this memorial was born in New York, in 1833, and
died on February 20, 1888, his demise being caused by
heart disease. He was a good man, possessed of ex-
cellent talents and held in high esteem by all. His
parents were John and Sarah (Ladd) Robie. The fa-
ther was born in Vermont of English parentage ; his an-
cestors were pilgrims in the Mayflower and fought in
the Revolution. The mother came of Scotch ancestry.
Our subject grew to manhood in New York, came west
in 1874 to look after his brother's mining interests in
southern Idaho and in 1876 came to Idaho county. He
was a miller by trade and assisted to construct the
Grangeville mill in 1876-77. He was on Camas prairie
at the. time of the Indian outbreak and was commis-
sioned captain by the governor giving him charge of
the Grangeville militia. Mr. Robie served as lieutenant
in Company A, First Missouri Volunteers, for nearly
four years during the Civil war. Following the war,
he and Peter Smith bought the Baker property at
Horse Shoe Bend on the Salmon, raised stock and
mined. This line of work continued until his death.
In 1880, Mr. Robie married Mrs. Isabella Benedict,
widow of Samuel Benedict, and daughter of John and
Sarah (O'DonnelH Kelly, natives of Ireland and de-
scendants of prominent people of Ireland. Five chil-
dren were born to this marriage, Emma, Edward V.,
Alice, and two deceased. Mrs. Robie was married to
Samuel Benedict on February 7, 1863, at Florence,
Idaho, and to that union four children were born,
Grant, Mrs. Caroline Tavlor, Frances I. Shissler, Mrs.
ISABELLA ROBIE.
SAMUEL BENEDICT.
EDWARD W. ROBIE.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
46;
Addie Brown. Mrs. Robie was born on Staten Island,
in 1848. She was at her home just below White Bird
on June 14, 1877, when her husband, Mr. Benedict,
came in wounded in both legs. His horse had been
shot by the Indians also but he secured another at Mr.
Baker's ranch. Another band of Indians came that
evening and murdered him and August Bacon, who
was trying to care for him and beat back the savages.
Mrs. Benedict and the little girls fled into the brush and
darkness. She went to Manuel's house and she and
Mrs. Manuel remained secreted until Friday, when she
started to Mr. Idaho with her little girls. On Sunday
morning she passed the soldiers going to fight the In-
dians and as they returned in retreat they put her on a
horse and took the little girls. Her saddle turned and
she was left in the way She fled to the cover of the
undergrowth and wandered until captured by the pur-
suing Indians, who spared her life at the earnest en-
treaty of the squaws, who knew her well. Mrs. Bene-
dict then wandered until she was found by Mr. Robie,
who had come in search of her. Later occurred her
marriage with Mr. Robie, as mentioned above. Mr.
Robie left a good home and property at his death which
Mrs. Robie is now handling and with her son's assist-
ance is doing well. Mr. Smith, partner of Mr. Robie,
is caring for the mines. Mr. Robie was raised a Pres-
byterian and Mrs. Robie is a Catholic. He was a prom-
inent man, an active Republican and although he served
as county commissioner he nearly always refused office
which was frequently tendered by the people.
ALMON L. YOUNG. This well known business
man is the owner and operator of a fine saw-milling
plant situated four miles south from Stites, where he
does a good business and is favored with a thriving
trade. He is a man of sound principles, manifest
integrity, and stands as one of the substantial and
public minded citizens.
Almon L. Young was born in Stewartstown. New-
Hampshire, on October 4, 1861, being the son of
Charles M. and Nancy (Russell) Young. The father
was born in New Hampshire and died March 3, 1898,
at Nezperce. He was a contractor and builder, a
prominent Republican, and leading citizen in his coun-
try. The grandfather and great-grandfather of our
subject were born in the vicinity of his nativity, and
their ancestors, all being farmers, came from Scot-
land in 1660. The mother of our subject was born
in Vermont, as were her ancestors for six generations
back. The Russells were an old English colonial family.
Her father was a Free-will Baptist preacher of con-
siderable prominence. She died on June 9, 1890,
aged forty-seven. The death took place at New York
Mills, Minnesota. Our subject was educated in the
graded schools until eighteen and then learned the
trade of stationary engineer. He came to Minnesota
when twenty and remained there six years. The next
trip was to Spokane, Washington, and there and in the
vicinity he remained ten years. In 1896, Mr. Young
came to the reservation and took a piece of land. Later
he relinquished this and went into the sawmill business
at Lookout with Mr. Harry I. Stewart, also men-
tioned in this volume. Two years in this line and then
Mr. Young sold out and came to Stites at the opening
of the town. He started a lumber yard and dray line
ami two years later, in partnership with Frank M.
Powers, built the saw-mill which he now owns and
operates.
At Battle Lake, Minnesota, on November 19, 1886,.
Mr. Young married Miss Nellie R., daughter of Asa
S. and Martha (Moses) Winer. She was born in
Perham, Minnesota, and died at Battle Lake, Minne-
sota, on June 17, 1890, leaving one child, which died,
when two years old. Mr. Young is a member of the
I. O. O. F. at Kendrick. He is a Republican in politi-
cal matters and is intelligent in the questions of the
day. On January 12, 1903, Mr. Young sold his in-
terest in the lumber and sawmill business to Mr. E.
E. Leach, and is now devoting his time to his mining
interests.
BARNEY R. ROGERS, who was born May 21,
1863, in Dodge county, Wisconsin, is now one of the
substantial citizens of Idaho county, residing about
three miles southwest from Whitebird on an estate of
one-quarter section. He raises stock, does general
farming, and also pays some attention to mining. Mr.
Rogers's father, Urrin J., was born in Cleveland, Ohio,
and his father, John Barney Rogers, was a native of
New York, and lived to be ninety-three years old.
Orrin J. served in the Civil war two years and had two
brothers, Mathew and Amos, also in that struggle.
The mother of our subject, Emerance Nims, was a
native of the state of New York, and had five brothers
who served in the Rebellion, four of whom were killed.
Her father, Loyal Nims, died at Dayton, Washington,
in his ninetieth year. Her mother akso died at that
place. Our subject's parents were married in Dodge
county, Wisconsin, and in 1874 they removed to Salt
Lake City, locating a ranch of over five hundred acres
close by the city, where they still remain. In [879 "in-
subject came to Boise on horseback and engaged with
Lang & Rhine, largj: stockmen. Later he drove eleven
yoke of oxen into Virginia City, Montana, then went to
Bozeman and freighted with horses. In the spring
of 188 1 we find him in the Wood river country, whence
he went to Sand Creek, Wyoming, in the stock busi-
ness. Then he returned to Salt Lake, later journeyed
to Colorado, drove cattle to Wyoming, went again to
Salt Lake, traveled in southern Idaho, visited the
Yellowstone Park, mined in the Lost River country,
and packed his blankets to various camps in different
sections, during which time he had numerous frontier
experiences and endured many hardships. In 1889 he
located in Uniontown, Washington. The next year
he came to Camas prairie and 1892 marks the date
of his settlement on his present ranch. Mr. Rogers
takes great interest in the educational and general
progress of the country and is an enterprising citizen.
He is a member of the I. O. O. F.
On October 17, 1885, Mr. Rogers married Miss
466
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
.Lodicy, daughter of Charles and Mary (Smith) Now-
lan. The father came from England to the United
States when young, crossed the plains and was one
of the first settlers at Salt Lake, helping to lay out the
town of Salt Lake. He took an active part in the
erection of the Mormon temple, and died six years ago.
The mother was a native of Missouri, crossed the plains
in 1849, and died about eleven years ago. Five chil-
dren have been born to our subject and his wife, Mary
E., Troy B., Hattie E., Orrin K., Afton B. Mr.
Rogers has six sisters, Adeline E., Sylvia A., Clarissa
L., Emma C, Emily M.. Flora E. Mrs. Rogers has
one brother, George F., and one sister, Catherine.
GEORGE W. DUNCAN, a worthy and indus-
trious farmer, dwelling about eight miles northeast
from Denver, has shown himself a capable soldier in
the battles of life. In the days when dark fratricidal
strife lowered over this fair land he was one who
quickly pressed to the front with the fire of youth and
the determination of a strong man to grasp the musket
in defense of the union. He fought as long as there
was a foe to raise a hand against the grand old stars
and stripes and then retired from the field of battle
to become a stanch and substantial citizen of the coun-
try he had assisted to save. A somewhat more detailed
account of his war record is worthy a place in this
volume. In 1862, being then eighteen, he enlisted in
Company H, Thirtieth Missouri Infantry, at Laclede,
Linn county. He was in active service from that time
until April 9, 1865, when he was mustered out, a
veteran bearing the laurels of a brave soldier and de-
fender of the homes of his country. Among the many
conflicts in which he participated, we may mention
Chickasaw bayou, Arkansas Post, Jackson, the siege
of Vicksburg, the second battle at Jackson, Mississippi,
then at Fort Blakely, Alabama. In Columbus, Texas,
he was honorably discharged, and on August 21, 1865,
he wended his way back to his home. He left that
home a vouth and now came back a bearded veteran,
crowned with proper laurels freely given by a grateful
nation to faithful and brave service. He remained in
civil life until June 24, 1872, when he migrated to
Yamhill county, Oregon, and there farmed for six
years. In 1878 he came to the territory now em-
braced in Latah county, which was then Nez Perces,
where he wrought with display of wisdom and enter-
prise until 1902, at which time he sold his property
there and located his present place. He owns a snug
little fruit ranch of sixty acres, and is making himself
a comfortable home place for the declining years of
his life. Mr. Duncan has two brothers am! three
sisters, Thomas M., Benjamin W., Nannie Hoffman,
Margaret O'Bryan, Cornelia E. Crafton.
< In December 22. 1869, Mr. Duncan married Miss
Susan, daughter of John and Rebecca (Carpenter)
Bowen, natives of Kentucky. Mrs. Duncan was born
in Illinois, on June .}, 1852. and has one brother, Will-
iam, and one sister,- Mary E. To Mr. and Mrs, Dun-
can have been born two sons and five daughters.
Thomas M., born in Yamhill county, on November
14, 1872 ; Earl V., born in Latah county, on February
5, 1894; Irene, born in Oregon, on December 25, 1874;
Ora Nancy, born in Oregon, on April 7, 1876; Mabel
E., born in Latah county, December 22, 1879 ; Maggie,
born in Latah county, December 2J, 1881 ; Bessie L.,
born in Latah county, February 28, 1889. Mr. Dun-
can is a Republican and is always found in the front
ranks of those who forward the advancement and de-
velopment of the country. He is a man of good stand-
ing, has shown himself a genial and pleasant com-
panion, a man of worth, a stanch friend, a patriotic
supporter of the government and a good business man.
He and his estimable wife have journeyed on for many
years together, and now as the zenith is about reached,
they have the satisfaction of knowing that a good rec-
ord has been made, that a proper competence has been
laid by and that they have hosts of friends from every
quarter.
CHARLES D. BRACKETT, of Whitebird. Idaho
county, Idaho, is a native of Kansas, having been born
at Larned, Pawnee county, February 25, 1877.
His father, a veteran of the Civil war, was born in
the state of New York; his mother was a native of
Canada, born at Ottawa. Her maiden name was Mary
A. Tierney, and she came to the United States, locating
in Iowa, in 185 1. Herself and children are members
of the Catholic church. Until the age of ten years
our subject was reared and educated in Kansas. In
1888 he crossed the plains with a wagon train, and
after a journey of three months' duration, arrived at
Spokane Falls, Washington. Later he located at Mos-
cow, where he attended school four years. His parents
removed to Whitebird, Idaho, on the Salmon river,
in 1891, where Charles engaged in ranching. But
aside from that industry his pursuits have been many
and varied, including mining, agriculture, freighting
and the cattle business. In 1901 he made a trip of
four thousand miles, visiting relatives, among whom
he numbers man}' of the most highly respected and
influential people of Clinton county, Iowa, including
ex- Senator McGinn, and Dr. Richard Monahan. Re-
turning to the west he engaged in the cattle business,
and later visited the now famous Thunder Mountains,
where, in the spring of 1902, he made a number of
locations.
J( >FI X T. CRAMBLIT. In all the principal camps
of the northwest from the early day until the present,
the subject of this article has wrought with winning
hands many times and always accompanied with the
toil, hardship and deprivations incident to early min-
ing. He is a man of stabilty and substantial qualities
and has a good standing, and has many warm friends.
John T. Cramblit was born in Ohio, on January
16, [836, being the son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Lu-
kens) Cramblit, natives of Maryland. The paternal
ancestors came from Germany. The mother of our
subject died in Tanuan . 1896. John T. was reared
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
467
in Ohio and attended the high school of Senecaville,
from which he graduated in due time. When twenty-six,
he engaged in mercantile pursuits, which continued
for seven years. In 1862 he crossed the plains and
located in Auburn, Oregon, w-here he delved for hid-
den treasure. One year later he was in the Boise
basin, where three years of hard labor were spent.
Then he journeyed to Portland and operated the Farm-
ers' hotel for three years. Next we see him in La-
grande, where, for fourteen years, he operated a drug
store. Then he sold out and returned to his first western
occupation, mining and prospecting. He has several
good quartz claims in the Sumpter district, and. also
has much other mining property. Mr. Cramblit is a
member of the A. F. & A. M. at Lagrande. He has two
brothers and four sisters, Eli, Alexander, Julia A.
Albin, Naomi, Mary J. Albison, Elizabeth.
< hi March 1, i860, Mr. Cramblit married FYances.
daughter of William and Hannah (Huston) Carter.
The father, who was a native of Indiana and an old
Oregon pioneer, is now deceased. The mother also
came from Indiana in 1862 and is now deceased. Mrs.
Cramblit was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, was
married in Portland, and died March, 1900, in Baker
City, Oregon, leaving four children, Rosie G., wife
of E. H. Ruckman. in Stites, where our subject makes
his home most of the time ; Clara, wife of W. M. Moore,
in Baker City, foreman in the Herald office ; John, a
butcher in Baker City, now living in our subject's
old home ; Bertie, in Baker City. Mrs. Cramblit had
one sister, Catherine, wife of W. Caldwell, in Baker
City.
LUCIEN TURMES resides about three miles
south of Whitebird, where he owns an estate of one-
half section, and devotes himself to its culture and
raising stock. He was born in Luxemburg, Germany,
November 6, 1867, being the son of Wenzel and Susana
(Riser) Turmes, natives also of Germany. The father
was a plumber by trade. He served five years as ser-
geant in the regular Belgian armv, and then came to
the United States in 1869, landing in New York. The
next year he came tc Minnesota, and the mother
arrived^ from the old country with the two children.
Our subject was the elder and had one sister, Airs.
Margaret Culom. After a short residence in Minne-
sota they moved to Yankton, South Dakota, whence in
the spring of 1879 they journeyed to Ada county,
Idaho, and in the fall of the next' year they settled on
Shoofly creek in Owyhee county, where they still live.
Six children were born to the parents after coming
to this country. In 189 1 our subject started to seek
his fortune in prospecting. Then he went into part-
nership with Dennis Holland, of Lewiston, and oper-
ated in the Crooks' Corral country with reasonable
success for some time: then sold out. Our subject
then went into partnership with James Powell, con-
tinuing for three years. In the spring of 1901 Air.
Turmes bought Mr. Powell's interest and has continued
since in general farming and stock raising.
On September 5, 1900, Mr. Turmes married Miss
Lizzie M., daughter of Tryon J. and Mary A. (Tier-
ney) Brackett, natives, respectively, of New York
and Canada. Mrs. Turmes was born April 4, 1881,
m Morris county, Kansas. They have two children,
Elmo J. and Aloysius Victor.
JOHN TAYLOR is one of the early pioneers of
the Pacific coast, and his energy and stirring spirit have
made him a leading figure in the various places where
he has wrought, especially in freighting, in mining and
in prospecting. Mr. Taylor was born in Massachusetts,
on June 15, 1836, was educated in Chicopee Falls, and
in 1855 accompanied his father and brother on the
trip to California via steamer, in which the sons had
the sad duty of burying the father at sea. He mined
with his brother in Shasta county until 1859, then went
to Sacramento and freighted. He hauled freight to
Virginia City until the Union Pacific was completed in
1870. He had one of the handiest and most complete
outfits on the road, consisting of eighteen mules and
six wagons. It was of the size to best pay in this
work, and he continued to use this until 1883, trans-
porting goods from the railroad to southern Nevada,
Belmont, Columbus, Belleville, and so forth. In March,
1886, he landed in Idaho county, having also spent some
time in Arizona. He at once secured a homestead
and also a pre-emption where he now lives and has
continued here since. He sold his pre-emption later,
and in January, 1903, Air. Taylor sold eighty acres
of his homestead. He is a strong Republican, is one
of the substantial and highly esteemed men of the
county and has hosts of friends, being well acquainted
with the pioneers of this section. Air. Taylor had
one brother, mentioned in this work, and one sister,
Alary, in Springfield, Alassachusetts.
JACOB E. HOLBROOK is a highly respected
young farmer and stockman of Idaho count) . who
resides five miles southeast of Whitebird. He was
born on January 18, 1876, in Whitman counts, Wash-
ington, die son of Russell and Alargaret K. (Rice)
Holbrook. The parents were very early pioneers of
the west, settling first in Oregon, whence they came to
Whitman county. After some years of residence in
that section they moved to the Salmon river country,
which was about eighteen years ago. Our subject
located his present homestead in 1897 and has about
one hunderd acres of good land, the balance being
grazing. The place is well improved with house, barn,
orchard, etc.. and is annually laid under tribute by
the skill of Air. Holbrook to produce excellent returns
in crops. In addition to this property Air. Holbrook
has a goodly holding of cattle and horses.
On January 16," 1900, occurred the marrinpv of ■
lacob E. Holbrook and Christie Karnes. She was
born Alav 22. 1881, in Whitman county. Washington.
To this union there has been born one child, Uberta
K. .Mrs. Holbrook is a daughter of John and Eliza-
468
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
beth Karnes. Air. Holbrook has labored for himself
since he was twelve years of age and much credit is
due him for the enterprise and energy that he has
manifested.
LORAN D. HOFFMAN dwells about six miles
northeast from Denver on eighty acres which he home-
steaded on March 15, 1902. He has some cattle and
hogs and is engaged in the good labor of improving his
place and raising stock.
Loran D. Hoffman was born in Yamhill county,
Oregon, on June 6, 1876, the son of Andrew M. and
Nannie D. (Duncan) Hoffman. The father was born
in Illinois, on May 13, 1848, and at the time of the
Civil war enlisted in Company I, Fiftieth Illinois In-
fantry, and served during the entire war, being hon-
orably discharged at its close. The mother was born
in Missouri, on November 9, 1847, and her father,
Henry Duncan, was born in Kentucky, in 1807. She
was educated for a teacher and taught in Missouri
during the war. Our subject attended school and
worked with his parents until he was twenty-one, and
on July 11, 1897, went to Goldendale, Washington,
and thence to the O. R. & N. across and into Oregon,
where he worked out. He walked all the way from his
home and returned with five dollars, the same amount
he started with. He attended school some months,
then went to Oakesdale, where he harvested and
worked a time, after which he went to school again
at his home. We next see him in Oakesdale working,
then back to school again at home. He went to work
in Polk county in the hop yards and on July 19, 1901,
went to Latah county, and the following fall, on No-
vember 6, he made his advent into Idaho county, taking
his homestead the following March. Mr. Hoffman has
two brothers and five sisters, Burd O., Sidney \\\,
Grace A., Lela E., Dora B., Jessie O., Leota L. Air.
Hoffman is a member of the I. O. O. F., of the Order
of Washington, and is a staunch Republican. He is
an active member of the Christian church, and stands
well in the community.
JESSE G. AUSTIN. From the fertile prairies of
Missouri to the rich slopes of Idaho county, the sub-
ject has farmed in various places and has always
displayed that skill and thrift which bring about real
development and upbuilding. At present Air. Austin
is dwelling on a farm ten miles north from Clearwater,
and not only handles that but also raises considerable
stock, having now sixty head.
Jesse G. Austin was born in Jackson county, Mis-
souri, on September 28, 1835, being the son of Robert
and Eliza J. (Watkins) Austin, natives of Missouri,
and born in 181 1. The grandparents on both sides were
pioneers in Alissouri ; in 1865 the mother of our sub-
ject was called hence by death. The father sold out
and went to Kansas in 1867, and later to Modoc county,
California, where he now lives. Our subject was edu-
cated in Missouri and remained with his parents until
he was twenty-five. Then came independent action,
and in 1861 he went to Pike county, Illinois, which was
the home until 1867. He then journeyed to Kansas,
Johnson county, where fourteen years were spent.
Thence Air. Austin came to Oregon, then to Whitman
county, Washington. He purchased two hundred and
forty acres four miles northeast from Oakesdale and
farmed there until the summer of 1892, when he sold
the property, and August saw him with his family
on his present place and this has continued to be the
family home since that time. Mr. Austin is prospered
and is one of the respected and leading citizens of his
section. He has the following brothers and sisters :
James T., George E. and William H, deceased, John
H, Sarah, deceased.
On January 29, i860, Air. Austin married Sarah
A., daughter of John and Emilia (Hastings) Sellars.
The father, a brick mason, was born in Pennsylvania,
and settled in Pike county, Illinois. In 1845 he re-
moved to Kansas, but later returned to Illinois, where
he died. The mother of Airs. Austin was born in
Indiana on November 23, 1822, her parents being
pioneers of that state. Airs. Austin was born in In-
diana on Alarch 2^, 1842, and has three sisters : Abbie
\\'., Alelissa Hawkins, Ella Crockett. Five children
have come to bless this household: Christopher C,
born December 26, 1862 ; William A., born May 20,
1865 ; John H, -born July 16, 1867 ; Mary, born Jan-
uary 2, 1874; Robert S., born July 5, 1877. Airs.
Austin belongs to the Christian church. Mr. Austin
is a Democrat and is an advocate of first class roads
and the best of schools.
GEORGE ROSSITER. Five miles east from
Whitebird is the estate and home of the subject of this
review. The place consists of one hundred and sixty
acres of good land, the title to which' Air. Rossiter
secured by the right of homestead in the early nine-
ties. He has a good dwelling, fine orchard, does gen-
eral farming and stock raising. He is one of the re-
spected and esteemed members of society and is a man
of sound principles and integrity.
George Rossiter was born on June 14, 1865, in
Osage county, Kansas, being the son of Samuel and
Alary (Ely) Rossiter, natives of Pennsylvania. The
father came to Osage county in a very early day and
in 1869 removed thence to Jefferson county, Nebraska.
In 1877 he migrated with his family to Pullman, Wash-
ington, and there entered land and engaged in farm-
ing. In 1881 he died, being in his sixty-sixth year.
The mother died in the same year. About this time
our subject started out for himself. He was variously
employed until 1891, when he came near his present
place and entered a pre-emption, which he sold later
and took the homestead mentioned. Mr. Rossiter has
three sisters and two brothers: Mrs. Eliza J. Fisher,
Airs. Mary A. Horstman, Airs. Emma Ashpaugh, Sam-
uel, Stephen.
On August 25, 1891, Air. Rossiter married Aliss
Mattie, daughter of George W. and Ellen Curtis. Air.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
469
Curtis crossed the plains from Kansas with his family
in a very early day. Four children have been born
to Mr. and Mrs. Rossiter: Emma L., Samuel R.,
Myrtle M. and Lulu M.
EDWARD C. SMITH lives five miles southeast of
Whitebird and is one of the substantial stockmen and
farmers of the county. He was born December 15,
1868, in Quincy, Illinois, and is the son of Pleasant C.
and Anna M. (Bidle) Smith. The father was a native
of Tennessee and crossed the plains in the early 'fifties
to California with ox teams, later returning to Illinois.
The mother had crossed the plains and returned to
Illinois, and then went by water to California, ac-
companying her parents on both occasions. Our sub-
ject crossed the plains with his parents in 1870 to
Sonoma county, California; they went thence in 1885
to Whitman county, Washington. From the age of
five until eighteen Edward C. attended school and
received a good education. He followed farming with
his father until 1893, but the fall previous he took his
present place as a homestead and since 1893 it has been
the scene of his labors. Mr. Smith has a nice band of
cattle, a good farm and is a prosperous man. This
speaks well for his abilities and energies, when we
understand that he started in 1893 with no cattle
whatever.
On January 8, 1895, was celebrated the marriage
of Edward C. Smith and Miss Esther Karnes. Mrs.
Smith was born March 3, 1876, her parents being
John and Elizabeth Karnes. In 1876 they came from
Kansas in wagons, to Whitman county, Washington,
and in 1892 they removed to the Salmon river, where
they now reside. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been blessed
by the advent of two children, Lewis C. and Laura.
They are people of excellent standing and have the
good will and confidence of all in the community.
ALBERT CALLAWAY. The subject of this
article is a miner and so successfully has he followed
his vocation that he has secured a goodlv competence
and is now one of the substantial men of Idaho county.
He was born on April 9, 1858, in Monroe county,
Mississippi, being the son of George M. and Louisa
T. Gallaway. In the fall of i860 he came with his
parents to Arkansas and there owing to the fact that
the father took sides with the Lnion cause and enlisted
to fight for his country and flag, the family were forced
to endure great hardships. Our subject well remem-
bers those days of trials and trouble. On one occasion
he was asked by a Confederate soldier what he was.
His reply, "I am a little boy" displayed a presence of
mind and wisdom far beyond his years, but the soldier
was determined to search out the political standing
of the child and said, "What would you be if you were
a man?" Whereupon the lad replied, "I would be a
Fed." The inhuman tyrant said he would kill him
and followed his word by a stroke of the sword which
bereft the boy's hat of the brim on one side and grazed
his shoulder. His prompt action and alertness were
all that saved his life. In 1875 the family came to
Jackson county, Oregon. Our subject, though but a
lad, drove a team all the way and took his share of
guard duty. To test him one night the men drew the
loads from his gun and a man named Church, dis-
guised in a blanket, played Indian. Young Gallaway
promptly exploded both caps and then sprang for
another gun he had held in reserve. Church quickly
called a halt and decided that the lad had courage
enough to attend to guard duty. The family removed
from Jackson county to Yakima county, Washington,
in 1876. Two years later tiiey settled near Palouse,
and in 1882 our subject went, to Missoula county,
Montana, where he was assistant foreman in the con-
struction of telegraph lines for a year and a half.
In December, 1883, he located at Whitebird, his parents
having previously come hither. Mr. Gallaway followed
farming, mining and riding the range and especially
in mining has he been very successful. Since child-
hood Mr. Gallaway has been a real nimrod. The wild
turkeys were the first game that he bagged and the
first winter he came to this county he killed eighty -
seven deer during the hunting season. He also killed
thirteen elk, eleven of them being killed on one day
with eleven shots. His experience in bear hunting,
his narrow escapes and thrilling adventures, would
make a volume in themselves. Mr. Gallaway is now
devoting his attention to the development of mining
property.
STEPHEN K. MAHURIN is not only one of
the enterprising citizens of Idaho county but is also
a veteran of that great struggle wherein he foughl to
preserve the union and our free institutions. He is
a deserving man and justly claims a position 111 this
connection. Stephen K. Mahurin was born on March
14, 1845, in Grayson county, Kentucky, being the son
of William H. and Anne (Dewees) Mahurin, both
natives of the same county. The father was born on
January 28, 1816, and died in his seventy-sixth yeaf in
Graham county, Kansas. The mother was born on
July 16, 1821, and died in her seventy-fourth year in
the same county as her husband. At the age of nine
our subject came to Brown county, Illinois, with his
parents, and thence to Linn county, Missouri. On
October 19, 1863, he enlisted in Company G, Sixth
Iowa Cavalrv, and was sent to protect the traffic on
the Upper Missouri river. On July 28, 1864. he was
in a battle with the Sioux Indians which lasted from
daylight until five P. M., and so fierce was the struggle
that they were unable to obtain any refreshments during
this long and trying period. He was in many other
skirmishes and battles with the savages and had some
very narrow escapes, but was never wounded. How-
ever, he was once struck with a spent ball. At the
close of the war he was honorably discharged and is
now a member of the G. A. R.
On August 17, 1869. Mr. Mahurin married Miss
Anna L., daughter of Obadiah and Jane R. (Clark)
470
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Austin, born in Kentucky on June 4, 1807, and on
August 3, 1810, in Missouri, respectively. They were
pioneers of Henry county, Missouri, and the father
died there on January 14, 1853. Mrs. Mahurin was
born in Henry county, Missouri, on April 15, 1847.
Our subject journeyed with his family to Iowa, thence
to Nebraska and in 1888 he came to the Grande Ronde
valley, Oregon. One year later he moved to St. Marys,
Idaho, and two years subsequently came to his present
home, five miles east of Whitebird. He located a good
homestead and has devoted himself to its improvement
together with handling cattle, horses and hogs. The
place is supplied with plenty of water, has two large
barns and other valuable improvements. Mr. Mahurin
is a staunch Republican and has always taken an active
part in the campaigns as well as in educational matters,
being now clerk of the district. Seven children have
been born to Mr. and Mrs. Mahurin : Sterling P.,
Violet, deceased, Stephen L., James W., deceased,
Thomas C, Ada Bender, and Daniel W.
STONEWALL J. CRAIG. Among the substan-
tial and capable men who have weathered the pioneer
days of Idaho county and whose labors have made her
the prosperous division that she is today, we are con-
strained to mention the subject of this article, who
has a fine farm one-half mile east from Morrow, which
he took in the eighties and has made his home since.
He raises general crops and cattle, horses, and hogs,
being thrifty, industrious and successful in his labors.
Stonewall J. Craig was born in Callaway county,
Missouri, on September 7, 1863, being the son of
Joseph L. and Mary E. (Jones) Craig, who are men-
tioned elsewhere in this volume. His early life was
spent in the native place and there he received his edu-
cation. At the age of twenty- four, it being 1887, he
came west to Spokane and followed the real estate
business for one year, after which he came to his present
place in Idaho county and settled, having explored the
country previous to this. His parents came across
the country the next spring and settled near Cheney,
Washington, leasing land while also they took a place
adjoining that of our subject and remain there still.
Mr. Craig at once took up general farming and raising
stock and has steadily devoted himself to it since. He
had made up his mind to take a further educational
course, but about that time he met Miss Maude W.
Rice, and he changed his mind, and on December 24,
1891, Miss Maude Westlake Rice and Mr. Craig were
made husband and wife. Mrs. Craig is the daughter
of William M. and Sarah M. (Westlake) Rice. The
father was born in Troy, New York, June, 1844, came
to Lewiston in 1882, then on to Idaho county,
and is now operating a commission establishment in
Seattle. In 1894, Mr. Rice established the town of
Westlake, naming it from his wife. His ancestors
were pioneers in Massachusetts and were prominent
in the Revolution. Mrs. Rice was born in New York
city in 1847. Her father was an Englishman and came
to the United States when young. Her mother was a
member of the Quakers and was of Dutch extraction.
Mrs. Craig was born in Brooklyn, New York, on No-
vember 26, 1872, and has the. following brothers and
sisters : John B., Mary L. Harford, Florence M.,
Grace, W'illiam C, Archibald, Ernest. Mr. Craig's
brothers and sisters are mentioned elsewhere in the
volume. Five children have been born to Mr. and
Mrs. Craig: Charles H, Elsie, Joseph L., Jennie A.,
and Mary K. Mr. Craig is a member of the I. O. O.
F. at Morrow and of the M. W. A. in Westlake. He
and his wife are members of the Methodist church.
He is justice of the peace in Westlake township. Mr.
Craig is a true blue Democrat and labors hard for
success in the campaigns. His party desired to nom-
inate him for state senator but he refused and they,
without his knowledge, nominated him for sheriff, but
the ticket went down. He has over a half section of
land and is well-to-do.
EVERETT G. DEARDORFF is a young man
of promise and although he is not one of the earlier
pioneers, still he comes to Idaho county with that
capability and energy which will materially augment
the building force and advancing spirit of the county.
He was born in Callaway county, Missouri, on De-
cember 17, 1879, the son of James R. and Rebecca
(King) Deardorff. The father was born in Ohio, on
October 6, 1859, and is now a farmer, also operates
a saw mill and a grist mill. The mother of our subject
was born in Illinois, was bereft of her parents when an
infant, and she died in 1886. Our subject was a con-
stant attendant on the common schools between the
times of farm work up to 1897. tnen ne went to Illi-
nois, and was rejected when enlisting for the Spanish
war on account of his youth. Returning home he
remained until the spring of 1899, then wrought on
government work on the Mississippi and six months
later went to Chillicothe normal school in Missouri,
then returned to the government work, being foreman
of the cutting crew. Later he served in the capacity
of cook, then wrought in a glucose factory, then re-
turned to the same normal school, after which he
visited his home and on the third day of July, 1902,
he came west, landing in Idaho county, where he
went to work near Grangeville, on a farm. He took
the school examination and securing a certificate for
teaching, chose his first school in the Redrock dis-
trict, and on February 20, he finished successfully a
five months' term. Three days later he began another
term, at the Lamb school near Lowe and is fast making
himself popular as a teacher. Mr. Deardorff has one
brother. Urban, one half-brother, Earl, and one half-
sister, Leota. Mr. Deardorff is a Democrat and active
in the realm of political life. He has made application
for a membership in the I. O. O. F. and is a popular
young man.
GEORGE E. PUTNAM is one of the business
men of Westlake, having now a hardware and furni-
ture establishment, which he is operating with good
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
\7.i
success, and being a man of uprightness, he merits
and receives the good will and confidence of the
people.
George F. Putnam was born in Winnebago county,
Illinois, on July 16, 1857, being the son of Goyne M.
and Lavina (Babcock) Putnam. The father was born
in New York, on January 14, 1822, and died in Jan-
uary, 1902. He was a direct descendant of General
Putnam of Revolutionary fame. The mother was born
in Indiana in 1823 and is now living in Oregon. Our
subject had a great misfortune when he was two years
old that rendered him a cripple all his life, being
obliged to use a wheel chair now. He was educated
in Rock county, Wisconsin, whither his parents re-
moved when he was a lad. He remained with his
parents until thirty and with them came to Milton,
Oregon, in 1889. They settled in the Walla Walla
valley in July, and our subject engaged in the grocery
business. He followed that business there and in
Walla Walla for ten years, and in 1899 came to West-
lake and entered the same business. A short time
subsequent, Mr. Putnam sold out and returned to
Walla Walla, only to return to W'estlake in 1900 and
open his present business, where he has continued since
that date, doing a good business and being one of the
substantial men of the town. Mr. Putnam is still
a jolly bachelor and content with the quieter joys of
the celibatarian. He is a member of the Seventh
Day Adventist church and is a good supporter of his
faith. He is interested in general progress and up-
building, and is a public minded man. Politically he
is a Republican. Mr. Putnam has the following named
brothers and sisters : Florence L. Kelly, Myrtle E.
Stron, Walter E., Harry E., Herbert E.. and Katie
M., with our subject at VVestlake.
CHARLES FLYNN is one of the prosperous and
thrifty farmers and stockmen of Idaho county and
has been for many years, while he also handles mining
interests, being one of the earliest to arrive in these
districts and having remained in this section since
those days of two dollars a pound for flour.
Charles Flynn was born in Prescott, Ontario, Can-
ada, on August 8, 1841, being the son of Benjamin D.
and Margaret (Thistlethwaite) Flynn, natives of Can-
ada. The father was a blacksmith and died on May
24, 1868. and the mother died on February 28, 1892.
Our subject was brought up in his native place and re-
ceived his education from the excellent schools of
Ontario. He left the parental roof when he was
eighteen, and came by steamboat to San Francisco,
crossing the isthmus by pack animals. He was soon
in Columbia and Tuolumne county and spent several
years in the alluring search for the precious metal.
In the spring of 1862, he came by steamer to Port-
land, and thence up the Columbia and so on to Flor-
ence. He prospected there during 1862-63 ar>d the
next year went to Newsome creek and took placer
work in earnest. He was successful and since that
time has been more or less interested in properties
there. When the war broke out with the Indians. Air.
Flynn joined the Mt. Idaho Guards, being at Harp-
ster, and was detailed with others to guard the women
and children, which responsibility was discharged with
the utmost care and faithfulness. In 1883 Mr. Flynn
took up his present farm as a pre-emption claim, it
being two miles north from Clearwater. He has made
this his headquarters since that time and while he
conducts farming and raising stock, still he is inter-
ested in mining. He owns a share in the well known
Robin and Bluebird mines on Newsome, with others.
Mr. Flynn has the following brothers and sisters :
Robert J., Thomas W., Frances Mclntyre, Frederic
E. Mr. Flynn is an active Democrat and is always
allied on the side of improvement, being really one of
the builders of the county, since his labors have been
wisely bestowed here for forty vears.
WILLIAM W. MATTOX, who dwells about four
miles southeast from Lowe on a farm which he secured
under the homestead right, is one of the industrous and
capable farmers of Idaho county and is deserving of
mention in the work that chronicles the history of this
section. He was born in Carroll county, Arkansas, on
June 9, 1857, the son of John C. and Telitha J. (Davis)
Mattox. The father, who was born in North Carolina,
on December 6, 1824, was detailed as blacksmith during
the Rebellion, and was a pioneer in that line in Arkan-
sas. He married on August 21, 1847. The mother of
our subject was born on December 7, 1831, and died on
March 19, 1893. At the age of twenty, our subject
started out to do battle on life's arena alone and was
possessed of the capital of a pair of good stout hands
and plenty of grit and courage. Two years later he
went to Texas and farmed. The next year he and his
father bought three hundred acres, which they sold the
following year, and returned to the native place and
rented land, then bought sixty acres. Eight years later
he sold out and came to Idaho county, landing here
on May 28, 1893. He rented a quarter, later rented
three hundred acres and then had the misfortune to
lose his house and all personal possessions by fire. In
October, 1896, he took his present place as a home-
stead, and since that time has devoted himself to its
culture and improvement. He has nine head of neat
cattle, fifteen horses and other stock and is cultivating
about half of his land. Mr. Mattox has the following
brothers and sisters: John W., O. Monroe, Jamison,
Gillem T., Sarah J., Alice U.
In Arkansas, 'on August 26, 1880, Mr. .Mattox
married Miss Belzora C, daughter of John E. and
Mary F. (Williams) Wallis, natives of Tennessee and
Missouri, respectively. The mother was born in June,
1839. The father was wealthy but lost all in the war.
Mrs. Mattox was born on June 21. 1859, was edu-
cated well and taught in Arkansas. She has one
brother, William W., a lawyer, born in Missouri, on
February 17. 1858, and died December 21, 1901. To
this marriage there have been born four boys and one
girl: Willis L., born June 19. 1881 ; John C, born
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
March 12, 1883 ; Clisha W., born July 29, 1887 ; Ewin
E., born July 20. 189 1 : Mary T., born August 5, 1894.
The bovs were all born in Arkansas, but the girl is
a native of Nez Perces county. Mr. Mattox is a Re-
publican, and he and his wife belong to the Christian
church.
*-►♦
SHERMAN S. GALLAWAY is one of the rising
young men of Idaho county, who devotes his attention
to the production of the fruits of the field and stock
raising. His well kept estate of 200 acres lies five
miles east of Whitebird, and among other improve-
ments which enhance its value, we especially mention
the orchard. It covers seven acres, has been wisely
selected from the choicest kinds of fruit and is prob-
ably one of the best bearing orchards in the county
of Idaho. Mr. Gallaway justly takes a pardonable pride
in this excellent improvement. He was born on May
27, 1870, in Searcy county, Arkansas, the son of George
M. and Louisa f. Gallaway. When our subject was
five vears of age he was brought across the plains by
his parents to Jackson county, Oregon. During the
great Centennial year they made their way to Yakima
county, Washington, and in the spring of 1878 removed
to the Palouse country, then in the spring of 1883
they came to Whitebird. At the early age of sixteen
our subject assumed the individual responsibilities of
life and from then until the present he has devoted
much of his time and energy to rearing stock. In
1893 he located his present place and soon thereafter
bought forty acres more. In addition to this estate
he has a nice band of cattle and horses besides other
stock. The farm is well supplied with water, has an
abundant out range, and is very well situated. Mr.
( ".allaway is a member of the I. O. O. F. and stands
exceedingly well in the community.
Ever since Mr. Gallaway has been large enough
to lift a rifle he has given considerable time to the art
of marksmanship, but not content with that alone he
has penetrated the various forests and mountain dis-
tricts in and adjacent to Idaho county, and many are
the rugged grizzlies and cinnamons which he has met
in mortal combat. Although he has been in extreme
and dangerous positions on various occasions he has
invariably come out on top, the rugged bear biting
the dust. Mr. Gallaway supplies his larder largely
with wild meat of various kinds and is familiar with all
the hunting grounds in this section of the country.
GILBERT N. LAMORE. who has been one of the
leading spirits in the inception and progress of Clear-
water, is residing about one mile south of the post-
office and has a good piece of land taken as a
homestead. He is one of the prominent men of the
community, has manifested integrity and uprightness
and won all as his friends.
Gilbert N. Lamore was born in Eau Claire, Berrien
county, Michigan, on December 30, 1852, being the son
of Louis and Sarah L. Lamore. The father was born
in Canada, on August 14, 1822, of French ancestors.
He came with his parents, Enos and Josephine Lamore,
to Michigan when he was eight, and to use their words,
it was a "howling" wilderness. He went to Buffalo
and learned the trade of ship carpenter, and in 1846,
May 17, he married Miss Sarah Losey. They went
to Pipestone township, Berrien county, bought forty
acres and when he died, January 24, 1899, he had two
hundred acres more. The mother of our subject was
born on January 19, 1823, in New York, went to Mich-
igan in 1836 with her parents, who dwell there still.
Our subject was reared and educated in Michigan and
learned the carpenter trade from his father. On Sep-
tember s, 1876, he came to Portland, thence to Forest
Grove, where he farmed and did carpentering. On
March 12, 1884, Mr. Lamore came to Dayton, Wash-
ington, and soon afterward removed to his present
place and took a homestead. Mr. Lamore now has
one hundred and fifty-eight acres, having donated two
acres for a free cemetery. He raises stock, does general
farming and carpentering, and owns considerable prop-
erty in addition, including lots and store building and
so forth, in Clearwater. Mr. Lamore has the follow-
ing brothers and sisters : Josephine E., Charles L.,
George S., Cornelia E., deceased, Lydia M. Rodell.
On October 17, 1889, in Benton Harbor, Michigan,
Mr. Lamore married Miss Florence E., daughter of
Samuel and Lucy Correll, of Michigan. She was born
on July 16, 1855, and died at Forest Grove on October
r3> l&93- Two children were born to this marriage,
Agnes, who died on December 5, 1890, and Bert, who
died in August, 1892. Mrs. Lamore had two brothers,
Loren and Lloyd. Mr. Lamore is a Republican, and
is always striving for better roads, better schools, and
general improvement. He was the first mover for a
school at Clearwater, with A. W. Williams organized
a literary club, assisted to start a Sunday school, and
in all ways Mr. Lamore has shown himself deeply in-
terested in the welfare and progress of the community.
HENRY R. CALDER, owner and operator of
the sawmill one-half mile north of the town of Clear-
water, and also owner of a good farm which he con-
ducts in addition to the mill, is one of the substantial
and industrious citizens of our county and is deserv-
ing of especial mention in the history of northern
Idaho.
Henry R. Calder was born in Kennebec county,
Maine, on December 12, 1840, being the son of Sam-
uel and Elizabeth (Harris) Calder, natives of Massa-
chusetts. The father was born in 1794, of Scotch
ancestry, was master of a whaler out of New Bed-
ford and in later years moved to Maine and settled
to farming, where he died in 1865. The mother died
in 1845. She was descended from the Pilgrims. Our
subject was educated in Maine and Connecticut, and
when fifteen went to sea as apprentice on the Nesto-
rian. When eighteen he joined the Gnited States navy
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
473
and sailed on board the Dispatch, a steamer engaged
in geodetic survey. Serving his time, he was honor-
ably discharged and returned to Maine. While on a
visit to his sister in New Jersey, Mr. Calder enlisted
in Company C, Twenty-eighth New Jersey Volun-
teers, under Captain Joe C. Leston, the date being
August 30, 1862. He fought in the battles of Acquia
creek, Fredericksburg and under Hooker at Chancel-
lorsville. He was second lieutenant at Fredericks-
burg, where he was wounded in the arm, and first
lieutenant under Hooker. He was discharged on July
6, 1863, then went to Illinois, Kansas, Colorado,
Wyoming, Utah and mined and did various work.
He returned to Kansas and entered the butcher busi-
ness, but later farmed. In 1878 he came overland to
Colfax, Washington, and farmed there for six years.
He went then to the St. Marys river country and in
1893, after having returned previously to Colfax, he
bought his present place. He operated his mill on
his farm until it was cleared and is now doing a good
business where he is located. Mr. Calder had three sis-
ters, now deceased, Mary, Eliza, Emma and one
brother, Josiah.
On November 2, 1870, Mr. Calder married Miss
Mary E., daughter of Israel and Sarah A. Trahern,
natives respectively of Virginia and Pennsylvania and
died in 1854 and 1847. Mrs. Calder was born on
April 29, 1843, m Ohio and has the following brothers
and sisters : Albert P., Adeline Dyer, Wilberforce,
Warren C. Wellington A.. Emma B. Gregg, Jacob.
Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Calder :
Samuel. Ettie and Nettie, deceased, Robert S. Mr.
Calder is a Republican, a substantial citizen, and was
justice of the peace in 1897-8.
JAMES F. THOMPSON, an enterprising and
capable farmer and stockman of Idaho county, dwells
four miles east of Whitebird, where he has a good
ranch, well improved and cared for in a skillful man-
ner. He was born on February 3, 1854, in Linn
county, Oregon, the son of Joseph and Elizabeth
(Donaghe) Thompson. The father was born in Mis-
souri on October 6, 1823, and the mother was born
June 4, 1826. They were married in Missouri and
crossed the plains in 1852, going direct to Linn county,
where they located a donation claim and engaged in
farming and stockraising. The father was very suc-
cessful and accumulated a good property. He was
a prominent man in public affairs and a leading spirit
in the advancement and upbuilding of the county. He
died there February 10, 1872. The mother is now
living there in Linn county and is very hardy for one
of her age. She is a devoted member of the Methodist
church as was also her husband. Our subject was
reared and educated in his native place and on July
15, 1877, he married Rachel E., daughter of Benjamin
and Betsey (Brooks) Olney. Mr. Olney was born
March 9, 1826, in Canada and died July 6, 1884.
Mrs. Olney was born September 17, 1830. and died
January 22, i860. Mrs. Thompson was born April
9, 1859, >n Miami county, Kansas, and crossed the
plains with her father in 1874. Mr. Olney had served
for two years in the Civil war. In 1883 Mr. Thomp-
son moved with his family to Grant county, Oregon,
and engaged in the stock business there until 1891,
when he came to Latah county, Idaho. In 1892 he
removed thence to Camas prairie and in 1893 he
settled on his present place and this has been the
scene of his labors in stockraising and farming since.
The following children have been born to this couple :
Bertha E., deceased; Melissa M., deceased; Joseph
B. : Laura L., deceased; Sarah E., deceased; Alta \ ..
John M., Clara A., Martha C.
The night of January 9, 1894, is the saddest time
in the history of this family. While all were sleeping
quietly in their newly erected dwelling on the home-
stead a thundering avalanche of snow swept down
upon them and Mr. Thompson was barely able to
rush out of the house with his wife before it was
buried completely. As soon as possible it was exca-
vated but four of their girls, aged fifteen, fourteen,
nine and seven, were smothered to death. Alta V.
was nearly dead, but they resuscitated her. This is
one of those sad accidents in human existence whkh
reason can never compass and to which faith can only
bow.
PERRY A. McGLTRE is one of the progressive
and energetic farmers of Idaho county ; last year he
turned off five thousand bushels of oats, twelve hun-
dred of flax and other productions in proportion. He
rents three hundred acres of Indian lands ten miles
southwest from Kamiah and also has some stock.
Perry A. McGuire was born in Platte county,
Missouri, on December 14. 1854, the son of William
and Elizabeth (Barnes) McGuire. The father was
a farmer and in 1857 located the land where Leaven-
worth, Kansas, now stands. Here he was exposed
to a severe cold which caused his death soon after
leaving the farm. The mother was born in Boone
county, Missouri. Our subject received a good dis-
trict schooling and at the age of eighteen he started
in life for himself. He had the wealth of a pair of
willing hands, a good head to direct them and a
courageous heart. He went to Indian territory where
he was teamster one year for the United States, then in
1875 he was in the same capacity in Mexico. Re-
turning to Colorado he prospected and mined for two
vears. Then his next journey was to Durango. where
he freighted for four years, after which he sold his
outfits and bought cattle. He remained in this in-
dustry for eight years and then sold out at a good
figure. His next move was to Tillamook county,
Oregon, where he farmed and raised stock for four
years. Next he went to the Big Bend country in
Washington, and took a homestead and timber culture,
raising horses and farming for six years. Selling his
property there. Mr. McGuire came to Idaho county
on December 25. 1900, and has given his attention to
cultivating a half section of Indian land where he now
dwells. He has been a great traveler, having had
474
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
many and varied experiences in the different localities
in which he has resided, but always manifesting a spirit
of energy and activity. Mr. McGuire has the follow-
ing hall-brothers and half-sisters by his step-father,
Mr. Barnes: Fieiden T.. Thomas. George, Mary,
Martha. By his step-father, Mr. McGuire, our sub-
ject, has three half-sisters : Angaline, Lee, Lizzie.
In Tillamook county, Oregon, Mr. McGuire mar-
ried Miss Mity, daughter of William and Ann
(Lavender) Rhoades, the wedding occurring on Octo-
ber 2, 1885. The parents of Mrs. McGuire were born
in Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. McGuire there has
been born one child, Albert M., in Tillamook county,
on October 23, 1886. Mr. McGuire is a Democrat, a
man of influence and good standing.
DAVID WEDDLE lives twelve miles southwest
from Kamiah and is an engineer by trade. He has
wrought in various places and is a thorough master
of his craft. He was born in Missouri, on Novem-
ber 10, 1848, the son of John C. and Jane (Busley)
Weddle. The father was born in New York city in
1797 and was bound out to a manufacturer of looking
glasses. When the war of 1812 broke out he ran
away and enlisted in the infantry, under Reed, and
served all through the war and five years afterward.
The mother of our subject was born in Kentucky.
Our subject attended school and in 1861 started to do
for himself. He labored at various occupations and
did considerable traveling, being in various states and
territories. In 1892 he came to Moscow and after
some time in working in the town he went to the
mountains to engage in a sawmill. One year later he
went on to a farm and remained six years. He did
not succeed in that undertaking and went into the
timber where he bought forty acres. Later he sold
this and then was engineer in the mills. In 1902 he
came to Idaho county and operated a threshing
machine engine. Mr. Weddle has three brothers and
two sisters: Samuel H., John R., lames H.. Charity,
Telitha.
On December 16, 1881, Mr. Weddle married Miss
Emma I., daughter of Andy and Rhoda McNickels.
Mrs. Weddle was born in Illinois in 1861 and died on
November 11, 1889. Two children were left at her
death: Allie R., born in Illinois on August 9, 1883:
Ida May, born in Missouri on September 22, 1889.
Mr. Weddle is allied with the Democratic party and
takes keen interest in political matters.
THEODORE D. SWARTS is a well known
stockman and farmer residing four miles north of
Whitebird. He was born March 11, 1847, 'n Warren
county, Ohio, the son of John A. and Mary D.
(Leonard) S warts, natives respectively of Virginia
and Ohio. The family crossed the plains with horse
teams in 1852, to Nevada county, California, where
the father did mining. Our subject attended school
until sixteen and then took up mining, which he fol-
lowed for a number of years. In 1864 we find him
thus occupied in Florence and later he came to Camas
prairie, where he carried the express from Mount
Idaho to Warren. He did this business for a number
of years for others and then he bought the line him-
self, continuing the same until 1878, when he settled
at Grangeville. His residence was the third in the
town. The next year he came to his present location
and here he has continued raising stock and farming
until the present time. His estate is well improved and
he is a prosperous man. When the Indian war broke
out in 1877 Mr. Swarts volunteered to come to
Whitebird and fight the Indians. He was in that
battle where the whites were defeated, many of the
soldiers were killed and three citizens were wounded.
Mr. Swarts received a bullet in his hip and laid five
weeks in the hospital at Mount Idaho. G. M. Shearer
was shot in the shoulder and Herman Faxon was shot
in the thigh. The farm of Mr. Swarts is the scene of
a portion of this battle and some of the soldiers were
buried there. The identical thorn tree where the
soldier was mutilated and fastened to the limbs, is
still standing, and Mr. Swarts intends to always pre-
serve it. It is very noticeable that the tree is no
larger today than twenty-six years ago when the hor-
rible act occurred.
On August 21, 1877, Mr. Swarts married Miss
Electa, daughter of John T. and Clara E. (Smith)
Brown. Mrs. Swarts was born December 16, 1858.
Her parents crossed the continent by ox and horse
teams, from New York state to Roseburg in that year.
In 1867 they came to Camas prairie and the father died
there in 1873. The mother is now Mrs. Baldwin,
living near Grangeville. Nine children have been born
to Mr. and Mrs. Swarts: Pearl E.. Lewis J., Marion
E. Newman, Lillian R., Bertram F... Willard A., de-
ceased, Vernon D., T. Sidney. Lulu, deceased. Mr.
Swarts is a member of the A. F. & A. M.. and also
belongs to the Idaho Stock Association.
THOMAS SURRIDGE has won in the race of
business and achievements in handling the resources
of this new country, because of his energy, his sa-
gacity, keen business discrimination and alertness to
grasp the opportunity presented. He was born in
London, England, on August 7. 1849. tne son of John
and Mary (Corcoran) Surridge. The father was born
in Kravestock. Essex, England, on January 12, 1826,
the descendent of sturdy yeomen who were traced
back to sixteen hundred in the ancestral book. He
was educated in his native land, came to the United
States in 1857. settling twelve miles north from Ann
Arbor. Michigan, and farmed until his death, March
20, 1898. The mother was born on May 24, 1826, in
Tralee. county Kerry. Ireland. She went with her
parents to London in 1834, married in May. 1846, and
died on August 19, 1900. Our subject was ten years
old when the family came to Michigan and he gained
his education in London and Michigan. When of age
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
475
he went to lumbering in Saginaw and in 1874 he
came to Grass valley, California. He wrought for the
Idaho Mining and Milling Company in the lumber
department for a time and on May 19, 1876, he em-
barked on the good steamer, John L. Stevens, to
Portland, arriving May 23, thence to Wallula, then by
wooden rail over the Baker line to Walla Walla, and
on May 28th he landed in Lewiston. He came on to
Harpster, taking a section by the different rights. On
June 13, 1877, Mr. Surridge joined Company B,
Second Idaho Militia, and was messenger between
Major Williams and Colonel McConville at the Clear-
water fight. Since that time Mr. Surridge has re-
mained in Harpster, has a one-fourth interest in a
general merchandise store, half interest in the livery,
does real estate and other business and is one of the
leading men of the community. In April, 1898, Mr.
Surridge and his brother bought four hundred and
eighty acres and then platted forty as the town of
Bridgeport. Mr. Surridge handles his large farm to
general productions, raises stock and also handles
mining interests.
On November 27, 1874, Mr. Surridge married
Julia M.. daughter of Charles and Mathilda (Ham-
mond) Pecord, natives of France. The father was
born in 1827. came to Canada when seven years old,
learned the blacksmith trade there with his uncle and
wrought at various places and finally, 1866, came to
Orwell, Vermont, where he still resides. The mother
was born in 1827. came to Canada with her parents
when fifteen, married in 1857 and died in 1893. • Mrs.
Surridge was born in Oswego, New York, on Octo-
ber 3, 1856, and has brothers and sisters as follows :
Mathilda Chamberlain, Joseph, deceased, Fanny
Schakett, Charles, Phoebe Clark, deceased, Wilfor'i
I., Georgia, deceased. Mr. Surridge has the follow-
ing brothers and sisters : James, Eliza Case, George,
Kate Emerson, Annie Cyluff, Joe. Four children have
been born to Mr. and Mrs. Surridge: May Smith,
Kate Lapp, John, Georgia. Mr. Surridge is a stanch
Democrat and a member of the A. F. & A. M.. Mt.
Idaho Lodge No. 9.
WALTER L. BROWN, the senior member of the
firm of Brown & Brust, general merchants of Cotton-
wood, is one of the substantial and capable business
men of Idaho county and has manifested himself a
man of capabilities, worth and integrity, which have
won for him not only the excellent patronage in busi-
ness ways which he enjoys, but also the high esteem
and confidence of the people.
Walter L. Brown was born in Buckingham county,
Virginia, on December 31, 1865, being the son of John
W. and Sarah A. (Miller) Brown, natives of Virginia.
The father was born in 1827 and died in 1887, having
been a merchant. The mother was of Scotch ex-
traction and died in Grangeville. Our subject was
raised in Virginia, received a good education and busi-
ness training: at the age of nineteen he determined
to try the responsibilities of life for himself. He
landed in Lewiston on December 10, 1885, and at once
went to clerking for Mr. Barnett. He also worked for
J. P. Vollmer & Company and then went to Portland
and took a business course. In 1888 Mr. Broun went
to Warren and took charge of a stock of goods for Mr.
Benson. In 1890 he, in partnership with W. J. Kelly.
bought the stock and continued the business until
1892. In that year Mr. Brown sold out and came to
Cottonwood. He engaged . in business with Henry
Wax, which firm did a good business until 1901,
when Mr. Brown bought out his partner and con-
tinued the business until the end of the year alone.
Then he took William G. Brust as partner and since,
the business has been conducted under the firm name
of Brown & Brust. They do a fine business, have a
patronage from all portions of the county and are
capable, upright and reliable merchants. Their stock
is large and selected with the best of wisdom and is
at all times complete and furnishes to the customer
exactly what he wants with the assurance that it is
sold to him as cheap as the markets of the world can
produce.
On June 14, 1899, at Grangeville, Mr. Brown mar-
iied Miss Adda Cable, who had taught school in that
town for several years, being one of the successful
educators of the county. Her parents were born in
Ohio and her father was a Baptist preacher. Mrs.
Brown was born in Ohio in 1872 and has two brothers
and four sisters in California. Mr. Brown has the
following brothers and sisters: Mary, John X.. Nan-
nie, Sallie, William W., Charles' A.. Albert A.,
Robert E., Thomas A. One child has been born to
Mr. and Mrs. Brown. Politically our subject is an
active Democrat and an influential man of the county.
He is always at the caucuses and convention-. i> a
man of sound judgment and his counsels are valuable
to his party.
RICHARD B. HEXLEV is one of the younger
and enterprising citizens of Idaho county and is at
present living upon his ranch, six miles up the White-
bird creek from the town. He was born October 21.
1877, in Allen county, Kansas, the son of Richard A I.
and Martha J. (Strickler) Henley, born in Missouri,
August 15, 1849, and in Indiana, October 21. 1852,
respectively. In 1880 the family crossed the plains in
wagons to Buena Vista, California, and three years
later they returned to Kansas. In 1891 they came to
Camas prairie and our subject worked with his father
at the stock business until he was eighteen years old.
During this time he secured a good education in the
public schools and then started a confectionery store
in Grangeville. In 1901 he came to his present place,
taking it as a homestead and now has it well improved
with buildings and orchards and owns in addition a
nice residence in Grangeville and a band of cattle.
Mr. Henley started out for himself when eighteen and
his stock and capital were plenty of courage and two
good, strong hands, and all that he has gained is the
result of hard labor and excellent management in
financial affairs.
476
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
< hi August 15, 1000, Mr. Henley married Miss
Martha Brusha, daughter of Mrs. Hadorn, of White-
bird. One child, Wallace Burton, has been born to
this couple and they have also adopted two. Alfred and
Frank Soten, sons of Mrs. Hadorn's sister. Mr. Hen-
ley is a member of the W. of W. and a man of enter-
prise and worth.
ROBERT NUGENT, at present handling a bar-
ber shop in Cottonwood, is one of the earliest pioneers
in many sections of the west, but especially so in
Idaho and Nez Perces counties, where he has been
one of the leading miners, stage drivers, and general
progressive pioneers. It will be greatly interesting
to see some of the items of his career and we append
;lie -anie with pleasure.
Robert Nugent was born in Rochester, New York,
on April 7. 1844, being the son of John and Anna
(Frazier) Nugent. The father was born in Troy,
New York, was a pioneer of the west and descended
from Irish extraction. The mother was born in Glas-
gow, of Scotch ancestry. The father went, via the
Isthmus, to California in 1859, dug gold for a time,
then returned to the states for his family, outfitted
with ox teams and made the way to Salt Lake City.
They wintered there and the next year he and our
subject went to Montana. He returned to New York
and Robert made his way to Lewiston. He crossed
the mountains with Jim Flannigan's pack train, froze
his feet and went five days without food. Finally
they secured some camas from the Indians and so
kept alive until they came to Lewiston. This was
December 23, 1864, and since that early time Mr.
Nugent has been identified with this countrv and is
intimately acquainted with its development. He next
went to Mt. Idaho, thence again to Montana and
spent some time in Virginia City, returned again to
Lewiston. went to Florence and wintered in Walla
Walla. In 1871-2 Mr. Nugent held the important
position of road supervisor and collector at Florence.
He mined each year in early spring and summer and
when the water gave out went to other work. In
1877 he carried the mail and pony express from Mt.
Idaho to Warren and on June 13th, of that year, the
Indians broke out. Mr. Nugent was sergeant in the
Mt. Idaho Volunteers under Captain Randall and
Major McConnell. They were across the Clearwater
when General Howard was surrounded by the In-
dians and was later relieved by Captain Jackson. The
Indians attacked the volunteers and stampeded fifty
horses, but were repulsed. A detachment, in which
was Mr. Nugent, went to Mt. Idaho for more horses
and they drove the outposts of the Indians before
them while Howard repulsed the savages on his side.
After this Mr. Nugent drove the stage from Mt. Idaho
to Lewiston, then raised stock with Ben F. Morris
near Denver for six years. Next we see him dealing
in horses in Spokane and later he settled in Cotton-
wood : this was in 1888. and he has been more or less
identified with this place since. In that year Mr.
Nugent married Charlotte Stage and took up the
saloon business until 1895. Mrs. Nugent died in
January, 1896. Since then Mr. Nugent has handled
mining during the water season and operates a bar-
ber shop in Cottonwood. He has three brothers and
two sisters: Dannie, John, Henry, Mary A., Sarah.
Mr. Nugent is a Democrat and has always been
central committeeman, was road supervisor for sevaral
terms, deputy for many years and is one of the active
men in politics and all matters for advancement of
the community.
Mr. Nugent could tell many interesting incidents
of frontier life. One time he received §25.00 from a
merchant for packing him across a swollen creek.
Like all the volunteers, he received nothing for his
services, horses lost or provisions furnished. Once
in early times when Warren was the county seat, there
was great rivalry between that town and Florence.
Our subject was pitted against Charlie Morton, who
was county assessor and lived in Warren, which place
he represented, to ride a race from Florence to War-
ren, July 3, 1872. Distance, fifty miles, and the time.
not to be over five and one half hours and the purse
five hundred dollars. Mr. Nugent made it in five
hours, seventeen minutes and one half, beating Morton
by two and one half hours. Mr. Nugent rode the j
horse back the next dav in seven hours.
CHARLES L. RICE has wrought with display of
wisdom, industry and tenacity in the development and
advancement of Idaho county for years and stands
to-day one of the respected and capable men and a
loyal and upright citizen. He was born in Washing-
ton county, Oregon, on April 1, 1847, the son of James
E. and Nancy (Bair) Rice. The father was born
in Canada in 1812 and died in 1888, crossed the plains
in 1844 and settled in Washington count}-. He
moved to Idaho in 1880 and settled on Camas prairie.
His parents were Americans and the mother was
visiting in Canada when he was born. The mother of
our subject was born in Michigan in 1817 and died
in September 1902. She accompanied her husband
across the plains and endured the hardships of pioneer
life. Our subject was fourteen when the family left
Washington county and settled in Douglas county.
He was educated in these places and remained at
home until 1870. when he came to Idaho county. He
took land and engaged in the stock business until
1890, when he sold out and went to mining at Elk,
where he continued for seven years, sold out and re-
mained three years longer. He did well in this mining
venture. Since then Mr. Rice settled at the Dewey
mine, where we find him at the present time conduct-
ing the boarding house. He also has propertv on the
Clearwater near the Dewey.
In 1897. in Oregon, Mr. Rice married Miss Mar-
garette McCready, whose father, a pioneer in Cali-
fornia, took an active part in the Rogue river war.
Mrs. Rice was well educated and taught some time
before her marriage. She has two brothers and one
sister: Charles, Julia Odle, John R. Mr. Rice has
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
477
three sisters and five brothers : Ann Harness, Eliza
Roan, Mary AIcGee, Hull, John N., Russell H, James
H, Frank W. Two children have been born to this
union: Walter S., James H. Mr. Rice is a stanch
and active Republican.
At the time of the Indian war he was living three
miles north from Grangeville. having just brought his
newly wedded wife home. He was notified of the
threatening attitude of the Indians but did not think
it worth while to move. Frank Fenn warned him
again on the eve of the thirteenth and he at once went
to Mt. Idaho with his wife, and stood guard that
night. Frank Fenn had been picket below Grangeville
and had picked up Hill Norton who had told all. He
turned the boy over to another man who brought him
in and Fenn, Jim Adkinson and our subject rode over
to the wagon, about three and one-half miles west on
the road. Moore and Day were in the wagon, Mr.
and Mrs. Norton on the ground. Mr. Norton was
dead. They did not know Chamberlain was with the
party. They wanted water and immediately Fenn re-
turned for assistance. Mr. Rice at the request of Mrs.
Norton went to search for her sister, Lena. He saw a
horse standing on the prairie a long distance off and
soon became convinced it was an Indian's. He re-
turned to the wagon and asked Adkinson to get the
harness off the dead horses. He went again to look,
and saw Fenn coming and also saw the lone horse
whirl around swiftly which was the signal for the
Indians. He hurried to the aid of Adkinson and they
harnessed their saddle horses in and began the race
for Grangeville. The Indians were a large band and
were coming with swiftness. Had it not been for the
prairie being soft, they would have overtaken the
wagon, but even as it was, the horses, each being rid-
den by its owner, encumbered with harness and
wagon, made the run in time to escape the savages.
They went on to Mt. Idaho and arrived there about
ten o'clock A. M.
WELLINGTON M. CLARKE, of. the firm of
Clarke & O'Bannon, is one of the leading merchants
of the section, and the firm not only handles a first-
class general merchandise establishment in Harpster.
but also operates another in Clearwater, doing a good
business in both places and standing among the lead-
ing merchants of this portion of the countv.
Wellington M. Clarke was born in ' Pickaway
county, Ohio, on November 22, 1855, ar>d a short ac-
count of his parents appears in another portion of this
work. When ten he came with the balance of the
family to Garnett, Anderson county, Kansas, and later
he finished a course in the Geneva Academy in Allen
county, that state. In 1874 Mr. Clarke went to Illi-
nois but returned to Kansas in December, 1876. The
following spring he went with his brother. Arthur, and
sister and her husband, J. G. Rowton. to Mt. Idaho,
via San Francisco, Portland, The Dalles, Lewiston,
having the experience of cars, steamers, portage, stage,
and footing. They completed their journey on April
28, 1877. On June 13, 1877, he answered the call for
volunteers to fight the Indians and with fifteen others,
a troop of cavalry and Perry they scouted to White-
bird, then went to Slate creek, where they were de-
tailed as the guard for the women and children. Later
they joined General Howard in the chase of the red-
skins. After the war Mr. Clarke worked one year for
L. P. Brown and then in 1882 went to the Saw Tooth
range, rode for cattle and later opened a butcher shop
in the mining camp of Vienna. Selling this he took
a homestead in 1884 one-half mile southeast from
Clearwater. Six years were spent on this and then
Mr. Clarke mined in the vicinity of Dixie. He worked
a placer bought from Sam Dillinger for three years,
then took charge of C. A. Hasting's store in Harpster
for a year and then in company with his present part-
ner, Mr. Clarke bought the stock and buildings. They
have a fine establishment now, do a good business and
as stated have also a store in Clearwater. Mr. Clarke
still owns his valuable ranch, and also has various
mining interests, among which is a placer property of
one hundred and twenty acres one mile below Harp-
ster. He is a Republican and is always interested and
influential in the campaigns.
JOSEPH A. McKINNEY lives about one mile
northeast from Lowe, where he has a farm of one hun-
dred and forty-three acres of fine land which is being
improved in a good manner. He has some stock, such
as cattle, horses and hogs. He was born in Jackson
county, Missouri, on April 6, 1835, the son of John
and Anna (Austin) McKinney, born in Cumberland
county, Virginia, on April 6, 1804, and in Indiana in
1806, respectively. The father was a minister and be-
gan his labors when he was twenty. He died June 17,
1888. The mother died in 1847 an<l ^r- McKinney
married Orpha Carter, who crossed the plains with
Dr. Whitman to be a missionary in Oregon. Mr.
McKinney crossed the plains with ox teams in 1847.
Our subject attended district school and then Chapel
college and started out at seventeen without means
save a courageous heart and willing hands. He
packed to California for three years and on one oc-
casion he struck the market just right at Jacksonville,
where he sold four thousand pounds of flour for a
dollar per pound. He bought sheep and handled that
industry for seven years. Then he bought land and
farmed. Later he was in a sawmill, then two years
afterward sold and bought another farm. This he
farmed sixteen years, but as his health broke down
he sold and changed location and bought again, but
lost heavily by fire. Then Mr. McKinney sold and
bought a mill and later lost nine thousand dollars in
another fire. Then he came to Athena and was over-
seer for a company for three years. Later Mr. Mc-
Kinney came to Latah. Washington, and in 1894 to
Idaho countv and bought land on Cottonwood which
he sold in 1902. In 1900 he located on his present
place and since that time has given himself to its im-
provement. He has an orchard of two hundred trees,
some stock, buildings and other improvements.
47S
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
On August 4. 1854, -Mr. McKinney married Miss
Nancy |.. daughter "of John and Hannah (Venah)
Wiseman, natives of Kentucky. Mrs. McKinney was
born in Miami county. Indiana, on January 17, 1836,
was educated in the district schools and crossed the
plains with her father in 1852. Mr. McKinney has
four brothers and four sisters: William, Wilkerson,
John F.. George B., Matilda A., Zerrelda G., Sarah,
Elizabeth J. Mrs. McKinney has the following named
brothers and sisters : Daniel A., Elizabeth, Catherine,
Sarah. Lydia A., and also the following half-brothers
and half-sisters : James B„ John W., William, Hariet,
Mary, Hannah. To our subject and his estimable wife
there have been born the following children : \\ illiam
C, born June 17, 1S55 ; Marion, born on September
8, 1857; John, born March 29, 1868; Zerrilda, born
October 16. 1859; Clara E., born July 29,
i860; Alvareta C, born October 25, 1861 ; Olive M.,
born May 3, 1865: Martha A., born October 24, 1867;
Ida Bell', born May 14. 1869: Ephia. born June 3,
1871 ; Maggie R., bom October 23, 1877 ; Bertha E-,
born February 18, 1880. Mr. McKinney is a free
silver man and his wife is a member of the Republican
party. In church relations they adhere to the Metho-
dist denomination.
HON. WILLIAM C. PEARSON, deceased. No
compilation of the character of our volume would be
complete without especial mention of the noted man
whose name heads this memorial. His labors in Idaho
county testify more eloquently than we are able to do
of his own personal value and the great good that he
accomplished during lifetime. He was a man of in-
trinsic worth, always holding the welfare of the com-
munity uppermost and ever laboring with that untir-
ing zeal and energy that should characterize the real
pioneer and the true builder of free institutions. Will-
iam C. Pearson was born November 25, 1829. in Chau-
tauqua county, New York, the son of Thomas Pear-
son, a native of England, who came to the United
States when young and settled in New York. In
1853 he crossed the plains with ox teams and located
in Washington county, Oregon, where he died in
1856. The mother was born in Philadelphia, in 1809,
and died in Oregon in 1863. They were married in
1827 and at the time they crossed the plains had six
children: Thomas M.. the subject of this sketch,
Henry. John. Frank and Jessie. Our subject went to
California in 1856, but returned to Oregon the fol-
lowing year and finally settled in The Dalles, where he
was married on December 15, 1862, to Miss Isabel
Crooks. She was born June n. 1848, in Boone
county, Iowa. Her father. John M. Crooks, owned
the land where the city of Boonesborough, Iowa, now
stands, and was a prominent man in that section. He
crossed the plains in 1852 with an ox team, bringing
his family to Polk county, Oregon. Later he lived at
The Dalles and in 1862 came to Camas prairie, being
one of the earliest pioneers. He was noted as being
one of the most liberal and enterprising citizens of
this county, his death occurring in 1884. Our subject
came to Camas prairie in 1863 to engage in stock-
raising, and brought his family here in 1866. Mr.
Pearson and his father-in-law, Mr. Crooks, were the
moving spirits in laying out Grangeville and promot-
ing the town, in building up the county and in general
progress. Mr. Pearson participated in the Indian war,
doing some good fighting. He held various county
offices and was chosen by the people to represent Idaho
county in the state legislature for two different terms.
He was a member of the I. O. O. F., and was an
active and influential Republican. On September 30,
1892, Mr. Pearson was called to the world beyond and
it was a time of mourning throughout the entire
county, as he was beloved and esteemed by all. His
widow survives him and is now living with their
eldest son, Thomas M. Pearson, who is a prominent
stockman about three miles north of Whitebird. Nine
children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Pearson : Thomas
M., Mrs. Addie Bibby, John A., Frank R., Mrs. Kate
Mullinix, W. Herbert, Rav I., Isabel M., and James B.
NORMAN GOULD lives ten miles southeast of
Freedom, is a stockraiser and orchardist and one of the
leading men of Idaho county. He was born in Erie
county. New York, in 1831, the son of Reul and Al-
mira (Peck) Gould. The father was born in 1808
and died in 1854 as the result of an accident in one of
his sawmills. His father, Isaac Gould, was a captain in
the Revolution, enlisting at sixteen, and was at the sur-
render of General Burgoyne. The mother of our sub-
ject was born in Connecticut and died before he can
remember. Norman grew up in New York and re-
ceived an academic education. Then. he came west
and began life for himself. He did sawmilling in Ash-
tabula county, Ohio, then went to Indiana, and in 1853
crossed the plains by teams. He mined in California
for eight years, was then in Nevada and in 1863 came
to Boise basin. Prospecting and mining occupied him
there for some time and in 1866 he came to the Sal-
mon river country. He has been on the Snake river,
in the Seven Devils district and in various other min-
ing sections. In 1874 Mr. Gould took the first ranch on
Rapid river, it being where the town of Pollock now
stands. Later he rented the Salmon ranch, then the
Fifers ranch and in 'j6 he operated the Elfers mill.
Being at this place during the Indian outbreak he saved
his life, as all of the men on the ranch were killed. The
scenes of this outbreak are related in another chapter.
Mr. Gould formed one of the party which fortified and
defended Slate creek stockade and was also one of the
party which buried Henry Elfers and his murdered
companions. In 1878 the settlers on the Salmon again
occupied a fort in anticipation of an attack by the Ban-
nocks. Since that time Mr. Gould has continued to
raise stock, farm, raise fruit and operate a sawmill.
Recently he relinquished the latter business.
In 1883 at Lewiston Mr. Gould was united in mar-
riage with Ella, daughter of John and Rebecca (Holt)
Phelon, natives of Kentucky. The father was of
Scotch-English descent, born in England, and died in
NORMAN GOULD.
MRS. NORMAN GOULD.
JAMES .1. REMINGTON.
THEODORE E. DAVIS.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
479
1 85 1. Mrs. Gould was born in Davis; Kentucky, June
I, 1837. She has one brother, James, who at present
resides at Atlanta, Florida. Mr. Gould has one brother,
Isaac Gould, living in Chautauqua county, New York.
In politics Mr. Gould is a stanch and energetic worker
of the Republican party and has served his fellow Re-
publicans as a committeeman. Secure in the pos-
session of his fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres,
one hundred of which is fenced, which has good build-
ings and an excellent orchard, Mr. Gould devotes his
principal attention to raising cattle, hogs and fruit,
and commands the respect and good will of all who
know him.
JAMES J. REMINGTON, who resides at the
Remington ferry on the Salmon, one and a half miles
south of Whitebird, is one of the heaviest taxpay-
ers in Idaho county. He is a man of marked ability
in certain lines and comes from an old and prominent
family which has been noted as possessing some of
the most talented and successful inventors of the
United States. His uncle, Lafayette Remington,
patented the well known Best traction engine and an-
other member of the family invented the noted Rem-
ington rifle. The father of our subject. Yirgilous D.
Remington, who married Clarinda C. Tyrrel, a native
of Ohio, was also a native of Ohio and one of the
earliest pioneers to the Willamette valley. He came to
California in 1853 and while passing through the state
of Missouri, our subject was born on April 10. 1853.
in Schuyler county. Settlement was made near Fol-
som in the Golden state and the}- remained there until
the railroad came in 1858, when they removed thence
by steamer to Portland, which was a small village at
that time. In i860 they removed to Marion county,
remaining until 1871. The father was a noted me-
chanic and manufactured wagons, plows and various
machinery, many articles of which are still in evidence.
Our subject has a plow with which he plowed his
garden in the spring of 1903. which was manufactured
by his father many, many years since. He also owns
various articles of furniture, the handiwork of his
father over thirty years ago. Among other things he
lias a barrel made about 1872. On July 4. 1871, the
father and mother with their family of six children,
DeWitt C, our subject, Ellmore S., Jerome L., Mrs.
Mary Ranch, landed in Cottonwood. Later they re-
moved to Oregon, returned to Idaho, and then the
parents went to Woodburn, Oregon, where the mother
died on July 17, 1897, in her seventy-fourth year, and
the father passed away August 29, 1898, in his seventy-
second year.
On October 11, 1880. Mr. Remington married
Mrs. Cornelia F. (Castle) Eccles, who had three
children by her former husband. They are John M..
Loyal M. and Celestia May Tourtellot. Mrs. Rem-
ington was born November 23. 1851, in Tazewell
county, Illinois, and was the daughter of James H.
and Delilah A. (Kirbv) Castle, natives of Illinois.
Mr. Castle enlisted in Company K. ( )ne Hundred and
Eighth Illinois Infantry, in the fall of 1862 and served
until his death on January 1, 1864, in the hospital at
St. Louis. Mrs. Remington came west with her moth-
er and four brothers. One of them, Levi Castle, was
a captain in the Philippine war. They came to Ore-
gon in 1870 and to Camas prairie in 1871. The
mother now lives in Los Angeles, California, being
in her seventy-seventh year. Our subject went to
Whitebird creek in 1886 and took up stockraising
and saw-milling. In 1894 he sold that place
and moved to his present location. In ad-
dition to his ferry and home farm, which
is embellished with excellent improvements, he
has a quarter section south of the Salmon river, four
hundred acres near Grangeville, goodly bands of
horses and cattle and a very large holding in sheep.
His family enjoys one of the finest residences in Idaho
county and Mr. Remington is justly classed as one of
the most prominent and progressive men of northern
Idaho. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and of
the Woolgrowers' Association. Five children have
been born to this household, Elmer I., James E., de-
ceased, Rufus V., Bertha A., deceased, Bessie A. Like
his ancestors, Mr. Remington is possessed of remark-
able mechanical ability and ingenuity and is able to
manufacture any article of wood or iron. Mr. Rem-
ington was here during the Indian troubles and was
an active participant in the warfare, doing guard
duty, and much work in scouting.
THEODORE E. DAVIS is a woolgrower and one
of the leading citizens of Whitebird. He was born
December 2, 1842. in Marion county, West Virginia,
being the son of Franklin and Jennie E. (Bowman)
Davis, natives of the same county, where also they
were married. The mother died in 1854. Our subject,
who was the eldest of a family of six children, en-
listed in the Confederate army, Company A, Thirty-
first Virginia, 111 the spring of 1861. He fought un-
der General Lee and participated in the following bat-
tles, the two battles of Winchester, Allegheny mountain,
Cross Keys, Port Republic, Cedar Mountain, Sharps-
burg. Gettysburg, the Wilderness. Fredericksburg,
Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor. Lynchburg, Fisher's »
Hill, Five Forks, and finally at Appomattox Court-
house he was one of eight thousand whom General
Lee surrendered to the government. Mr. Davis par-
ticipated in many skirmishes besides these battles and
it is evident that he had both courage and fighting
ability. He was wounded in the Wilderness and at
Port "Republic. After the first year Mr. Davis was a
corporal and he endured in hardships, suffering and
deprivation more than can be mentioned. Following
the war he was employed in various places until 1870
and then came to Vernon county, Missouri. Eight
vears later he went to Colorado and did blacksmithing.
In 1881 he came thence to Almota, Washington, in a
wagon. In 1886 he went to the mouth of Santa creek
on the St. Marys, being one of the first settlers and
stockmen there. In 1898 he came to Camas prairie and
since that time Idaho county has claimed him as one
48o
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
of her citizens. Air. Davis handled sheep previously
and is now the owner of over 3,000 of these valuable
animals. He ranges them on the Salmon in the win-
ter and in the mountains during the summer.
On December 25, 1867, Air. Davis married Miss
Prescitta, daughter of Jefferson Broadwater, a pion-
eer of West Virginia, and a native of Maryland. On
April 26, 1893, in the St. Marys country Mrs. Davis
was called from this life to the world beyond. She
was born June 17, 185 1, at Pennsborough, West Vir-
ginia, and was one of a family of fourteen children.
She bore to Mr. Davis nine children. Walker J., Mrs.
Myrtle Crow, deceased, Mrs. Daisy Renfro, Norval
L. and Creeda, deceased, Russell B.. Grover Cochran,
Essie P., Gertie W.
CHARLES W. DUNHAM was born November 9,
1874, in Walla Walla. His father, Samuel P., was
born in Pike county, Missouri, January 29, 1834. In
'53 he crossed the plains with ox teams, leading a large
train to the Willamette valley, where he located land.
Two years later he sold out and went to Mount Shasta,
California, and took up the stock business with his
brother, Amos. In 1857 he came back to Oregon and
farmed. He was married at Salem, 1861. to Elizabeth
M., daughter of Reuben and Alary Price. Mrs. Dun-
ham was born in Indianapolis, on November 15, 1842,
and crossed the plains with her parents in 1853. Their
train suffered hardships from the Indians, but no one
was killed. Air. Dunham remained in Oregon until
1873 and trien came to Walla Walla. Four children
were born to this marriage, — Dollie, deceased. Arthur,
our subject, and Airs. Eva Lenon, all three living at
W'hilebird. In 1878 Air. Dunham went to Genesee,
Idaho, and in 1884 came to Camas prairie, and in 1893
he settled at Whitebird. where he now resides. It
is interesting to note that in 1862 Air. Dunham, in com-
pany with his father-in-law. brought a band of sheep
into this country and passed through where Whitebird
now stands. Plenty of Indians were there making
ready for winter and the luxuriant bunchgrass was
waist high. They took the sheep on to Florence, where
they were butchered and sold and he made other trips
of the same nature.
Our subject was educated in the various places
where he lived, and after school days began the battle
of life for himself. He took land and raised cattle
and has been very successful in his endeavors until the
present time. He has good bands of stock, a good
ranch and a fine residence property in Whitebird. Air.
Dunham was one of the leaders in organizing the first
Sunday school in Whitebird, in Alay, 1896, and was the
second superintendent. In January, 1897, he was one
of a committee of three who arranged for the erection
of a public school building at Whitebird. On October
26, 1891, Lodge No. 72, of the I. O. O. F., was organ-
ized in Whitebird, and Air. Dunham was initiated into
the mysteries of that order on that night. He has
passed all the chairs and is also a member of the En-
campment. When the Idaho Stock Association was
organized, on Alay 24, 1892, Air. Dunham became sec-
reatry and has served in that capacity since. He also
is on the executive board. He is chairman of the
Republican club and has been a delegate to the various
county conventions. Air. Dunham enjoys the esteem
and good will of all who know him and is a man of
real worth and integrity.
JAAIES SURRIDGE is associated with his broth-
er, Thomas, in a general merchandising establishment
in Bridgeport, also in a livery business, and together
they own the townsite, while also he pays much atten-
tion to a large stock farm of one section, which he se-
cured from the government, and which he is handling
in a skillful manner and with fine returns.
James Surridge was born in London, England, on
July 3, 1847, being the son of John and Mary (Cor-
coran) Surridge, who are mentioned elsewhere in this
work. About 1859 the family came to Alichigan,
where our subject was reared and educated; in 1874
he came west, and two years later he landed in Idaho
county, at Harpster. In 1877 he went back to England
and the following year came again to this section.
In July of that year he took part in the Bannock war,
and then selected his land which he took from the wild
and now owns. Since that year Air. Surridge has de-
voted himself to stock raising, being the first to import
thoroughbred Clydesdale horses into northern Idaho.
He also brought in Durham cattle and Berkshire hogs.
He has been a leader in these important lines and the
country has derived much benefit from his intelligent
endeavors here.
On January 15, 1900, Air. Surridge married Char-
lotte, daughter of Fred C. and Louise (Grondenbergj
Smith. The father was born in Hanswerum, Ost-
friesland, Germany, on June 17, 1829, and his parents
were Conrad and Afargaret (Van Der Velde) Smith.
They came to the United States in 1849 ar>d settled in
Pekin, Illinois. He started a blacksmith and wood
working shop, which later developed into the mammoth
plant of T. H. Smith & Co., wagon works, of Pekin,
with a capital of $200,000.00, and a capacity of eight
thousand wagons a year. They employ one hundred
and fifty men, with a wage scale of over twenty-five
thousand dollars per year. They also operate a bank
and a plow factory. Frederick H. was killed in a rail-
road accident on December 4, 1890, at Jackson, Illinois.
The mother of Mrs. Surridge was born in Dusselldorf,
Germany; on November 18, 1836, and is now living in
Pekin. Mrs. Surridge has the following brothers and
sisters- Frederic F., Conrad F., Lincoln, George,
Louis, Teis, Alargaret Eberham, Charles W., all in
Pekin. Mr. Surridge is a Democrat and his wife is a
Republican, both stanch and well informed upon the
questions of the day. He is a member of the A. F.
X A. Al.. Alt. Idaho Lodge No. 9. Mr. Surridge is
also superintendent of the Newsome & Leggett Mining
Company, of Newsome, Idaho, which has the largest
placer mines in the county and does a systematic min-
ing business.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
JOHN OLSON is one of the skillful and leading
mining men of the northwest. He understands min-
ing from the time of prospecting until the property is
a shipper; all the various stages of development are
familiar to him, and he has been and is in practical
touch with every phase of the industry. He has large
interests in some valuable copper properties on the
east bank of the Salmon within a few miles of
Whitebird. These properties consist of two groups,
one of ten claims and one of six claims. The former
has a ledge of sixteen feet, running sixteen dollars per
ton, and can be tapped at a depth of one thousand feet ;
the other group lies near this and has a splendid show-
ing of a large iron dyke, forty feet wide, which assays
fourteen dollars in copper and gold. The companies
are doing large development work on these properties,
and it is expected that in a short time they will both
be shippers. In addition to this, Mr. Olson is heavily
interested in the Eureka Mining, Smelting & Power
Company, one of the rich and heavy companies of the
northwest. The company owns some very valuable
properties and Mr. Olson is the expert in charge.
John Olson was born on November 22, 1859, on ^ne
island of Eornholm, Denmark. His father is a wealthy
farmer in Denmark, and now living, in his seventy-
ninth year. His mother died in 1895. Our subject
is the fourth of a family of five children. His oldest
brother is in Denmark, one brother is in Clinton county,
Iowa, another is in Australia, while he has a sister in
the old country. Mr. Olson received a good education
in the agricultural college of his native place, then
served two and a half years as bugler in the Royal
Guards. In 1887 he landed in New York, went thence
to Catawba county, North Carolina, and from there to
Clinton county, Iowa. In 1889 he was in Black Hawk,
Colorado, mining. Then he was engaged in the
smelter in Denver and also in the refining works. After
this he was night foreman in the Buckeye mine, then
went to Prescott. Arizona, in the same capacity in the
Diamond Joe mine. Subsequent to this he was timber-
man in the mines in Park City, Utah, then went to
Silver City. New Mexico. After this he worked
at Jerome, Arizona, in the Uni Verdi copper mines.
At this time he made a visit east, and in 1901 came to
Lewiston and took the position which he now occupies.
Mr. Olson became a member of Scandia Lodge, I. O.
O. I7., in Black Hawk, Colorado, and is still in good
standing in this lodge. He is more or less intimately
acquainted with all the mining camps in the west and
is a man of great experience and skill.
PAUL F. CORBETT is a prosperous merchant
and capable business man at Kamiah, where he handles
in addition to his mercantile business a grist mill, saw
mill and ferry.
Paul F. Corbett was born in Kamiah in June, 1877,
the son of Felix and Deborah Corbett. The father
was born at Kamiah in 1838. His father, the grand-
father of our subject, was a Canadian, and came into
this country shortly after the Lewis and Clark expedi-
tion. He was in the employ of the Hudson I !
pany as a hunter and trapper, and married a Nez
Perces woman, who died in 1899, aged one hundred
years. Our subject was raised at Kamiah and in 1891
went to Carlisle and received a good educational train-
ing. He also learned the blacksmith trade and re-
turned to Kamiah in 1896. Two years previous to this
time he had purchased, with his father, the government
ferry which they are still operating. They also bought
the saw and grist mill of the government, and he and
his father operate them now. In addition to this, Mr.
Corbett and his father own one-half of the telephone
line to Stuart. Mr. Corbett also owns twenty acres of
land at Kamiah, where he has a beautiful residence.
He is the possessor of two allotments in addition to
the property mentioned, one at Genesee and one at
Lapwai. Mr. Corbett has two sisters, — Hattie Amara
and Priscilla Frank, — both at Kamiah.
On September 25, 1897. Mr. Corbett married Miss
Lydia A., daughter of Philip and Suzan Smith. .Mr.
Smith was born in Iowa, came to California in 1849,
mined at Florence and other Idaho camps and was a
well known pioneer. Mrs. Corbett was born in Lapwai
on February 17, 1878. She was educated at the Des-
met school by the sisters and then took a course in
Carlisle. She has one brother, William, at Lapwai.
They have the following children : Frank F., born
December 7, 1898; Josephine M., born May 10, 1901 ;
Lillian, born January 28, 1903.
Felix Corbett, the father of our subject, says that
his mother, who was over one hundred years old when
she died, told of a Nez Perces woman, named Wat-
Hoo-Wis, who went to the coast to see the whites and
learn their ways. When she returned the tribe named
her as above, the signification of the name being "Who
returned." This woman was with the greater part
of the Nez Perces tribe on the little Camas prairie on
the Lolo trail, gathering camas, when the Lewis and
Clark expedition came along. The men had beards,
and the Indians were about to kill them, as they
deemed them evil spirits. Wat-Hoo-Wis told them
what good things the whites had, as tea, sugar and
other edibles, and they at once became friendly. The
Indians conducted the expedition down the north
branch of the Clearwater to the main stream, and there
Air. Clark cached a large amount of provisions, and
when he returned a year later all was in good shape.
SAMUEL R. LIBBEY. The important position
of postmaster at Cottonwood is held by the subject of
this sketch, who also operates a jewelry store, being a
skilled jeweler.
Samuel R. Libbey was born in Washington county,
Ohio, on August 7, 1858, being the son of James M.
and Susan (Goddard) Libbey. The father was born
in New York in 1812. The grandfather of our sub-
ject built and operated the first grist mill in Ohio, the
same being on the Muskingum river, in Washington
county. The property is still in the family and has
since been supplied with modern process and is oper-
482
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ated by an uncle. A great-uncle of our subject owned
the noted Libbey prison, which was taken from him
by the south and operated by them, contrary to the will
of the owner. The father of our subject volunteered
to fight for the Union, but was rejected on account of
disability. Tie was present at the capture of Morgan,
the raider. The mother of our subject, who died Feb-
ruary 7. 1901, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1818, of
German ancestry ; her parents settled in Ohio in a very
early day. Our subject was but seven when his par-
ents came to Laclede, .Missouri. Later they went to
St. Catherine, where the father died. The widow
went with her children to Bethel, Illinois. Samuel
labored there and also studied, did carpentering and
then fired on the C. B. & Q. R. R. Later he went to
Keokuk and took up the jewelry business. In 1883
we see him in Ellsworth, Kansas, where he continued
liis trade, operated a grocery store and owned a rock
quarry. In 1885 Mr. Libbey went to Lincoln Center,
remaining seven years. Then he bought a jewelry
store in Plainville, Kansas, and in 1895 he went to
Marquette. There he worked in a drug store, all the
time handling his trade, the last two years did also a
dry goods business, and in April, 1898, he landed in
Lewiston. On June 10, 1898, he located in Cotton-
wood and acted as salesman for S. Goldstone. the well
known merchant, and later opened his present business.
In 1900 Mr. Libbey was appointed postmaster, and
since then he has continued in the office with genera!
satisfaction to all.
In 1876, at Ft. Madison, Iowa, Mr. Libbey married
Miss Susan, daughter of Simon and Caroline ( Weiser)
Broker, natives of Germany. Mrs. Libbey was born in
Scott county. Illinois, in 1859, and has four brothers
and three sisters. Mr. Libbey has the following named
brothers and sisters : William S.. James B.. Henry
H., Ella White, Sarah S. Thompson. Ethel L. Six
children have been born to this couple. — Rosa V., Net-
tie M.. deceased, Nellie G., Harry W., Benoni A., Marie
E. Mr. Libbev is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the
A. O. U. W. He is a Republican and active and influ-
ential in the campaigns, while in school matters he is
an advocate of the best advantages possible and is a
member of the school board. Mr. Libbey is a pro-
gressive and enterprising man and stands well in the
community.
SWEN J. PETERSON is proprietor of the Cot-
tonwood brewery and also conducts a saloon. He
was born in Sweden, in July, 1856 , being the son of
Peter and Hannah (Swenson) Peterson, natives of
Sweden and born in 1824 and 1827. respectively, and
now live in the native place. The father is a prominenr
man and has been sheriff of his division. Our sub-
ject grew to manhood, was educated and learned the
miller's trade in his native land. When twenty-four he
decided to try the new world, and soon was in Chicago.
He took work on a farm in DeKalb county and then
went to the iron districts of Michigan, where he was
fireman for six months, after which he returned to
Chicago and came direct to Portland, Oregon, in 1883.
He soon came thence to Lewiston, and then to Camas
prairie and took land south of Cottonwood. He con-
tinued handling this property until 1896, when he trad-
ed it for the property mentioned above, and which he
is handling at the present time. Mr. Peterson is a
good business man and is one of the influential men of
the town.
In June, 1901. Mr. Peterson married Miss Ella
Carlson, a native of Sweden, where her parents dwell
now. One child has been born to this union, Anna.
Mr. Peterson has the following brothers and sisters:
Sophia, Anna. Malina Gustaf. Politically our sub-
ject is a Republican and takes an active part in the
interesting campaign work. He was sent to the state
convention in the fall of 1902, for his county. He
is an ardent advocate of the best educational facilities
and has been a member of the city council.
JOSEPH M. ELLER, better known as Frank, is
a man of energy, enterprise and sagacity in the affairs
of life, while uprightness and integrity have given him
a good standing among his fellows, and industry and
business push have gathered for him a good holding of
worldly goods. He is one of the substantial men of
Tdaho county, and it is fitting to grant to him a repre-
sentation in the history of northern Idaho. At the
present time Mr. Eiler is handling the Cottonwood
livery stables in that town, and is doing a good busi-
ness.
Joseph M. Eller was born in Buncombe county.
North Carolina, on March 11. 1835, being the son of
Joseph and Sarah (Kirkland) Eller, natives of North
Carolina, and now deceased. The father came of Ger-
man and the mother of English extraction. The
former was born in Buncombe county and was never
out of it but twice in his life. He died in 1862. Our
subject left home at the early age of eleven and went
to Georgia and clerked in a grocery store for three
years. He then went home, and a few months later
went to Tennessee and then to Missouri, Chariton
county. When the war broke out he joined Price's
army and fought under him for several years, or until
the battle of Pea Ridge. He was then under Cooper
and belonged to the cavalry. Mr. Eller was wounded
in the thigh, the side, the head and in one foot. He
was captured several times and escaped every time but
cine. He participated in many battles, among some
of which were Sedalia. Shelby, Lone Jack and skir-
mishes. Following the war he returned to Chariton,
and in 1866 Mr. Eller married Miss Susan, daughter of
James and Tabitha (Ashby) McFerran. Her mother's
brother was Major Ashby and well known. Mr. Mc-
Ferran was born in Virginia, and was a pioneer in
Missouri. The parents are deceased. Mrs. Eller was
born in Chariton county, Missouri, in June, 185 1. Mr.
Filer is the last of fourteen children, being also the
youngest, the others all being dead. After the mar-
riage they lived in Missouri until 1875, then removed
tn Arkansas, remaining there seven years, after which
he came west to Idaho county and took land. Tins
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
483
was the family home until 1900, when Mr. Eller took
the stage contract from Kamiah to Cottonwood
and later took charge of the livery barn where
we now find him. He sold his ranch and stock for
about four thousand dollars and is devoting himself to
his business with good results, having a good patron-
age.
Mr. Eller is a Democrat of the Jeffersonian type,
well established in his belief and is an influential man
in the party. Mrs. Eller is a member of the Methodist
church. They have nine children, — Allie. James N.,
William H., Joseph and Mattie, twins, Henry H,
Charles W., Fannie Y., Thomas Jefferson.
JAMES H. ARAM, who lives about one mile south
from Grangeville, is one of the substantial stockmen
and farmers of the Idaho county, and is really a prod-
uct of this county, having spent nearly all his life here.
He was born in Portland, Oregon, on July 7, 1863, the
son of John and Sarah (Boar) Aram. The father was
born in New York in 1825, and died in October, 1901.
He crossed the plains to California in 1854, settled in
Portland later, and. in 1864 moved to Idaho count}'.
He was a progressive and active man of excellent stand-
ing. The mother was born in Genesee county. New
York, in 1832. She had two brothers in the Civil
war and her parents were pioneers of Ohio. Our sub-
ject was reared and educated in this county, and his
life was largely spent in the saddle in the stock busi-
ness. He was in partnership with his father for many
years. He has three sisters, — Airs. Henry Johnson,
Mrs. Delia Auchimballe and Mrs. Clara Fitzgerald.
He is a member of the W. of W. and an active Republi-
can. Mr. Aram owns six hundred acres of land and
handles stock and does general farming.
.Mr. Aram was fourteen at the time of the Indian
war and remembers the time distinctly. They were
notified about four-thirty on the thirteenth, and went
at once to Mt. Idaho. The Indians had been growing
independent and saucy for a long time, and their acts
were watched'with apprehension. Mrs. Overman was
at the home of Mr. Aram at the time of the notification
and accompanied them to Mt. Idaho. The people were
killed on the prairie on the night of the thirteenth, and
our subject remembers distinctly of their being brought
in on the morning of the fourteenth. Day had gone
before they arrived in Mt. Idaho. The next morning-
after their arrival in Mt. Idaho our subject saw West
and the Indian, Foo-Culla-Ka, start. Mr. Aram is
one of the substantial men of the county, has manifested
commendable skill in his labors and uprightness in his
walk. He has the confidence and esteem of all who
know him.
GEORGE V. HAWLEY resides about one mile
north of Whitebird, on a good farm which he took as
a homestead in 1892, and where he has bestowed his
labors with gratifving results since that time. His
place has a good dwelling, large barn, plenty of out-
buildings, shop, orchards and necessary fencing, and
is one of the valuable estates of this section. In addi-
tion to handling this he devotes considerable attention
to raising stock and owns a band of cattle. George
V. Hawley was born on June 15, 1863, at Buffalo. New
York, the sun of William and Harriette A. Hawley.
William Hawley came to Carbon county, Wyoming,
in a very early day and was sheriff of that county for
two terms. In 1883 he came to Lewiston and engaged
in stock raising. Two years later we see him in
Grangeville. and in 1888 he bought the Jersey house,
operating the same for four years. Then he sold the
hotel and came to Whitebird, where he took up stock
raising, in which he continued until the time of his
death, in 1900. He had a quarter section adjoining
our subject's ranch, and a large band of stock. The
mother is living in Grangeville, and is in her sixty-
sixth year. When our subject first came to this coun-
try he started for himself, and was variously employed
until he took his homestead, as mentioned above. Mr.
Hawley is a member of the W. of W. and his father
belonged to the I. O. O. F.
In 1899 Mr. Hawley married Miss Cleoria Bead-
ford. Her parents came from South Dakota in 1898;
her mother is dead, but Mr. Beadford is living in
Grangeville. To Mr. and Mrs. Hawley have been born
two children. — Alice Irene and George M. Mr. Haw-
ley has one brother living in Grangeville, — Rufus W.
Hawley. His father enlisted in the Twenty-second
Illinois Cavalry and served through the war, under
General McClelland.
NILS PERSON, who now owns a farm about two
miles north from Lowe, has demonstrated himself to
be a man of enterprise and industry, while he has had
broad experience in traveling over this country and
handling various enterprises. He was born in Swed-
en, on March 15. 1864, the son of Per Monsson and
Anna Pearson, both natives of Sweden. Our subject
has two brothers. Per and Magnus, and two sisters,
Elis and Yohanna. Nils attended school from seven
to fourteen and obtained good training, and then start-
ed in to do battle with the world on his own account.
He worked on the farm, then served in the artillery
for three years. In 1880, determining to try his for-
tunes in the United States, he was soon in Boston.
There he sawed wood all winter, then went to New
Hampshire, two months later to Illinois and after a
short service in the Pullman shops came on to Min-
nesota and a little later pushed ahead to the little Mis-
souri, in Dakota. From here he went back to Chicago,
worked in a lumber yard and then migrated to Hebron,
Indiana. Next we see him in St. Paul. Nebraska,
then came a journey to Colorado, ami two years later
he was in the Sunset state fanning. After returning
to Colorado he soon went on to New York, then cross-
ing the ocean to Sweden, he visited old friends and
sought again the scenes of his youth. A year later
we 'see him embarking again for the new world and
his first stop was in Nebraska. He soon came on to
484
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Wyoming, and eight months later we find him in Mon-
tana for two vears railroading. He soon made his
wav from there, at the end of his labors, to Idaho
county and on March 10, 1898, Mr. Person anchored
himself to a homestead, where we find him at the pres-
ent time. On May 13, 1901, he bought forty acres
more, which gives him a fine estate. Mr. Person
has devoted himself to building up his place and im-
proving it in good shape. He has done well and will
soon have a large and valuable farm all under cultiva-
tion. He now has buildings, orchard, some stock and
other improvements, and is one of the reliable men of
the community.
HENRY A. GREYING is a leading merchant of
Idaho county, a heavy property owner in different lines
and a prominent citizen of Stites. where he is doing
business. He was born in Munster, Westphalia, Ger-
many, on May 10, 1851, the son of Henry J. and Ger-
trude (Freckman) Greving. born in Grevenbeck on
October 28, 181S, and at Holthausen on May 17. 1823,
respectively. The father was a prominent citizen and
a leader among his fellows. His death occurred at
Beerlage on June 16, 1900. The mother died on June
24, 1901. Our subject was brought up in his native
place and well educated in the high school. After this
he learned the cabinet maker's trade and then wrought
at this trade and on his father's farm until he came
to the United States. He was twenty-nine when he
landed at Dyer, Indiana, where his uncle, Bernard
Greving, lived. Eight months later he went to Marys-
ville, Kansas, then to Melrose, Minnesota, after which
he visited various places and finally settled at Hanover,
Washington county, Kansas. He bought land, rented
it, wrought at his trade, went to Germany, got married,
then came to his land and for ten years was engaged
in tilling it. In February, 1892, he rented his land and
came to Spokane, then went to Moscow, where he
bought a team and came to Idaho and took a homestead
at Keuterville. after which he built the second store
in Keuterville, and engaged in general merchandising.
On July 1, 1 901, he removed to Stites and opened the
largesl general merchandise store there. He carries
a stock of twenty-two thousand dollars worth 1 if well
assorted goods. His place is headquarters for the
miners to outfit who are en route to Thunder mountain.
Mr. Greving does a fine business, and in addition to
this owns his farms. He has the following brothers
and sisters : A.ntonia, Barney, Max, August, Johanna
Frieling and Anna.
On March 15. 1883. at Boghorst, Germany, Mr.
Greving married Miss Pauline, daughter of Joseph G.
and Anna M. ( Spiekermann) Osterholt, born on Oc-
tober 11, 1814, and in 1818, respectively. The father
died on December 19. 1887, and the mother died in
August, 1891. Mrs. Greving has the following broth-
ers and sisters : Frank, died from wounds received in
the Franco-Prussian war; Anna Broeker; Hobart ;
Bertha, deceased ; Louis ; and Barney. Seven chil-
dren are the fruit of this union. — Lillian, born June 7,
1886; Paul, born February 26, 1888; Johanna, born
February 26, 1890 ; Leo, born October 18, 1891 ; Louis,
born July 18. 1893 ; Amalia, born July 7, 1895 ; Clara,
born October 5, 1896. Mr. and Mrs. Greving are
members of the Catholic church and are of excellent
standing in the community. Mr. Greving is to be
congratulated on the abundant success which his sa-
gacity and enterprise have wrought out in the business
world.
GEORGE W. MOUGHMER. Six miles south
of Keuterville is the estate of our subject, and by his
thrift, industry and sagacity in managing his affairs
he has made it a valuable farm and one of the pro-
ductive places in the community.
George \Y. Moughmer was born in Bedford county,
Pennsylvania, on February 26, 1856, being the son of
David and Sarah (Hamilton) Moughmer, natives of
Pennsylvania. The father was born in Blair county,
in 1825, and died in 1890. He was a blacksmith.
Our subject's grandfather was born in Germany, and
his great-grandfather was also a native of Germany
and fought for the American independence in the Revo-
lution. The mother of our subject was born about the
same time as her husband, and died in 1867. Her par-
ents were also born in Pennsylvania, and their an-
cestors came from Ireland. Our subject was thirteen
when the father removed from the native place to
Trempealeau, where he continued the trade of black-
smith, taking also a farm. George W. was well edu-
cated in the schools of the day, grew to manhood there
and assisted in the care of his father's farm. When
twenty-one he went to farming for himself and con-
tinued uninterruptedly in this occupation until 1897,
when he came to Idaho county, whither some of the
family had preceded him. He selected his present
place and settled to the basic art of agriculture and
since that time has been one of the substantial men
and progressive citizens of the county. Mr. Mough-
mer has never left the charms of the bachelors' life.
He has four brothers and one sister, — Thomas, Louise
Bixel. William. Jacob, David E. Politically Mr.
Moughmer is allied with the Republican party and
takes a keen interest in the campaigns and the questions
of the dav.
FOSTER RICHARDSON is a man of sterling
worth and first class capabilities, as is evidenced by
his career, an epitome of which we are pleased to ap-
pend herewith. The date of his birth was December
4, 1844, and Mercer county. Ohio, his native place.
His parents, Erie and Eva (Grant) Richardson, were
also born in the same county. He went with them to
Clinton, Missouri, when a child, and soon thereafter
went to Fulton, Arkansas. In 1864 he crossed the
plains to Salt Lake City and the next spring returned
to Lee county, Iowa, whither his parents had removed.
In 1869 he crossed the plains again, to Red Bluff, Cali-
fornia, where he did timber work and mining. He
visited several of the mining sections of that state and
was also engaged much in hunting. Mr. Richardson
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
485
has accomplished the difficult feat of starting three deer
at once and killing them all. He is almost a sure shot,
being able to kill birds on the wing with his rifle. In
1S75 we n"d him in Hope county, Nebraska, and the
following year he was in the Black Hills. He soon
returned to Nebraska and remained there until 1885.
In that year he again visited the Black Hills, where he
took up dairying until 1889. Next we see him at Old
Mission, Idaho, and in 1890 he took up a homestead
two and a half miles from Whitebird. General farm-
ing, mining and stock raising have occupied him since
that time. In 1902 .Mr. Richardson purchase. 1 his
present place of one hundred acres adjoining White-
bird. The farm is splendidly improved with buildings
and orchards, and is especially adapted to fruit and
vegetables, being a very valuable place.
On October 15, 1876, Mr. Richardson married
Miss Trinville M., daughter of Captain Preston Berry,
who served as captain in both the Mexican and Civil
wars. The marriage occurred in Hope county, Ne-
braska, and eight children are the fruit of the union,
named as follows: Harry, Mrs. Bertha Lyons, Edith,
Iva, Ethel. Lenly, Edward and Hazel. Mr. Richard-
son is a member of the I. O. O. F. He has always
taken an active interest in religious and educational
matters and is a leading and prominent man of his
community. Mr. Richardson is heavily interested in
mining, both quartz and placer, and has recently sold
some properties but still owns some very good mines.
It is interesting to note by way of reminiscence that
in the fall of 1901 Mr. Richardson had a hand to hand
conflict with a wounded bear and barelv escaped with
his life.
DAVID YATES is an enterprising and stirring
business man of Denver, being now engaged in farm-
ing and stock raising. He was born in Roanoke coun-
ty, Virginia, on August 23, 1868, the son of William
and Eliza (Shafer) Yates, natives also of Roanoke
county, and born in 1842 and 1844, respectively. The
father was an early pioneer in Clinton county, Mis-
' souri, and died in April, 1879, in Ray county, that
state. The mother now lives in Benton county, Arkan-
sas. As the father died when David was young, he
had little opportunity to gain an education, but soon
learned the hardships of work and made the most of
his scanty privileges. In 1886 he left Missouri and
came through Lewiston to Mt. Idaho, where lie worked
for Ben Morris, and in 1890 he took a homtsteaci which
later he sold. He gave his attention to raising and
handling stock and now has about seventy-five head ol
cattle and some horses, owning excellent trotting stock,
has land in Vineland and other property besides. Mr.
Yates has the following brothers and sisters: Lewis.
Charles, Susan, Catherine, Edward, William, Josie K.
Wood and Alice.
On December 7, 1890, Mr. Yates married Miss
Belle, daughter of James H. and Jane (Hagan) Tip-
ton, born in Ohio on March 1, 1844, and in Missouri,
in 1848, respectively. Air. Tipton came to Camas
prairie in 1883 and now dwells at Vineland. Mrs.
Yates was born on June 12, 1872, in Douglas county,
Oregon, and died on April 12, 1902, at Rocky ford,
Colorado. She had one sister, Lizzie Chase, now
deceased. Two children were born to this union, —
Herman B., born September 10, 189] : William, born
January 31, 1897.
-Mr. Vales is an active Democrat and is affiliated
with fraternal orders as follows: I. O. O. F., M. W.
A. and W. of W. He is also a member of the I'res-
byterian church and a good supporter of the faith.
PATRICK E. HAYDIN lives four miles north
from Denver, where he has a generous estate of one-
half section and rents rive hundred acres of land from
the Indians. He is a thrifty and progressive agri-
culturist and stockman and is one of the leading citi-
zens and substantial men of the section. He was born
in Waterford county, Ireland, whence come so many
of our stirring and good citizens. The date of his
advent into life was March 11, 1850. The
father, John Haydin, was born in the same
county in 1825. He came to the United States in 1852
and settled in Iowa, where four years were spent. In
1856 he removed his family to Rice county, Minne-
sota, where he remained until 1878. Then he went to
Bigstone county, the same state, and there on Septem-
ber 22, 1901, he passed from the scenes of earth. Our
subject was brought up in Minnesota and there edu-
cated. He remained with his parents until of age and
then he went to Minneapolis and opened a boot and
shoe store. In 1878 he sold out and went to Bigstone
county and there farmed eight hundred acres until
1893.' In that year he went to the vicinity of Edmund,
Alberta county, where he farmed and raised stock. He
also bought stock for the Kootenai Meat Company on
commission. It was 1808 when Air. Haydin retired
from this business and came to Spokane. December
15th marks the date of arrival there, and he left the
family there until he selected a place. After due in-
vestigation, he located on his present place and at once
opened in the agricultural and stock line, in which he
lias been engaged since that time. Air. Haydin has the
following brother and sisters. Thomas, Ellen. AIul-
vanev, Margaret, Alan.
On September it. 1874. Air. Haydin married Miss
Margaret, daughter of Peter and Catherine (Grady)
O'Laughlui. natives of county Clare, Ireland. The fa-
ther was bom in 1813 and the mother in 1821. The
father came to Alaine, where he took up the lumber
business, which he followed until the time of his death
in [864. I 'he mother was married in Ireland and came
to Cherryfield, Alaine, with her husband, where she
died on February 4. 1894. Airs. Haydin was horn in
Cherryfield, on August 9, 1855, and has two brothers,
Thomas. Patrick, deceased. Seven children have come
to crown this union, May, horn November 5. [875;
Charles E„ born August 25- 1877; Cecelia, born De-
cember 10. 1880: William 1'., born September IO,
1882- loseph, born October 29. 1884; John F., born
Ann' 22. [887 : Bernard, born August 2, 1891. and died
4S6
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
August 10. 1891. Mr. and Mrs. Haydin are stanch
Republicans and have both held various offices. They
arc members of the Catholic church.
FRANCIS D. SPRINGER, who resides one mile
south oi Canfield, although not one of the earliest set-
tlers of this county, is quite deserving of mention in
this volume, both because of his enterprise manifested
in various places and ways and also because of his
substantia! worth and integrity. He was born in Bu-
chanan county, Iowa, on April 3, 1852, the son of
James and Eliza ( Peters ) Springer, natives respective-
ly of Illinois and New York. The family removed to
Franklin count)-, Iowa, when the country was very new
and in 1868 they crossed the plains with teams. In
1870 we find them in California raising stuck. ( >ur
subject had been educated in the common schools and
in due time began life for himself. While in Cali-
fornia he was an expert nimrod and had some very
thrilling experiences with wild hogs and grizzlies. Mr.
Springer resided in various places in California and in
1877 came to the Willamette valley and the following
year to eastern ( Iregon and there participated in the
troubles with the Indians. He was employed variously
until 1S80. when he took up sawmilling in Dayton,
Washington, after which we find him farming near
Pomeroy, and in 1890, like many another one. he was
forced to the wall financially. He replenished his ex-
chequer by raising stock, then went to Huntsville and
later returned to Dayton. Mr. Springer has had great
experience in handling sheep and shearing them, hav-
ing operated all through eastern Oregon, Washington,
Idaho and Montana. In the fall of 1902 he took his
present homestead on Doumecq plains. Mr. Springer
still owns his property in Dayton and has other inter-
ests also.
In January. 1874, occurred the marriage of Mr.
Springer and Miss Ruth Bradley. She was left an
orphan at an earlv age and was reared in the family of
Mr. Mitchel. She was born September 3,. 1858, in
Arkansas and went with the Mitchel family to Texas,
later to Colorado and finally to Tulare count). Cali-
fornia. The following children have been born to this
marriage, Lillie L., wife of William Moody, of Alto,
Washington; Baney D. ; Florence E. ; Guyon D. ; Le-
lis 1'., wife of Len. Jackson, of Dayton; Clinton C. ;
Ruth. Mr. and Mrs. Springer are members of the
Christian church and they are consistent followers of
that faith.
( >n May 2J, 1^07, Mr. Springer was in a railroad
wreck at American Falls in which he sustained si mie
verv severe injuries.
JOHN T. HALE, one of the leading business men
of Cottonwood, is at the present time handling the
livery and feed stables, which are the headquarters of
the Lewiston and Cottonwood stage line. Mr. Hale
owns the property, does a good business and is popular
in the community, being a man of uprightness and
sound business methods.
John T. Hale was born in Kosciusko county. In-
diana, on July 14. 185 1. being the son of Riley and
Maud ( Widopp) Hale. The father was born in Ohio
in 1830 and is now living in Oregon. He was a pio-
neer in Indiana and had two brothers in the Civil war.
The mother was born in North Carolina and died in
1868. Her ancestors were an old family of North
Carolina. Our subject was reared in his native place,
gained a good education and worked on his father's
farm until he arrived at his majority. Then he inaugu-
rated independent action and in 1875 he went to Mich-
igan, after which he spent a year in Kansas and in
1877 was in ( iregon. He visited his uncle, Louis Hale,
who had settled in the Web-foot state in 1853. He re-
mained there off and on for about six years, and in
1890 sought out a place in the vicinity of Moscow,
where he gave his attention to farming until February,
1807. when he came to Cottonwood and for a time took
up farming. In February. 1898, Mr. Hale bought the
barn where he is now doing business and commenced
operations in the livery line. He has had success from
the start. His care for all details, for the comfort and
safety of his patrons, his geniality, his good business
methods have made him popular and drawn to his
stables a first class patronage. He has good rigs, and
the business is well appointed in all departments.
Mr. Hale has the following brothers and sisters,
William. George, Cyrus, Henry, Eliza. Nancy, Maria.
Mr. Hale is a member of the Continental Casualty
Company of Chicago. He has served on the school
board and in politics holds with the Republicans.
OSCAR F. CANFIELD, who lives at Canfield
postoffice. is one of the prosperous and leading citi-
zens of Idaho county, and it is with pleasure that we
are enabled to grant an epitome of his career in this
connection. He was born in Mercer county, Pennsyl-
vania, on March 8, 1838, the son of William D. and
Sallie A. ( Lee ) Canfield, natives of Birmingham couiV-
ty, Vermont. From Mercer county they removed to
Iowa and in 1847 came across the plains with the
largest train that wended its weary way over desert and
mountain to the western Mecca. In 1844 they had
settled in Iowa and laid out the town of Oskaloosa,
where they did a hotel business for some time. The
ancestors were prominent Americans and fought in the
Revolution for independence. They were six months"
journeying from twelve miles west of St. Joseph to
the Whitman, between which places no white persons
were dwelling. The father engaged as a blacksmith to
Dr. Whitman and at the time of the massacre, he,
with one other man and the following children, our
subject, Albert, Ellen, Clarissa. Sylvia A., were all who
escaped. The father was wounded in the back. Then
they went to Polk county. Oregon, and in 1849, niacle
their way to San Francisco. There they mined and la-
ter settled in Sonoma county, where our subject re-
ceived his education and remained until 1880, when he
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
487
journeyed to Colfax. Later he was in the Coeur
d'Alene country, where a butte is named for him. He
came to Camas prairie in 1889 and soon thereafter re-
moved to his present place at Canfield, where he owns
a section of tine land. Mr. Canfield was one of the
very first to settle on Doumecq plains. He has a good
dwelling, fine orchard and other substantial improve-
ments.
Un January 14, 18O8. Mr. Canfield married Miss
Cynthia A., daughter of John and Ellen (Jeffries)
Maple. The father died in 1894 but the mother who
is now living with this daughter, is heart)' and well
preserved at the age of eighty-six. Mrs. Canfield was
born in Ohio.'in 1845, came to tne territory of Iowa and
in 1856 crossed the plains to Sonoma county, Califor-
nia. Seven children have been born to this marriage
Sherman, in Idaho county ; Oscar B., on the Snake ;
Charles O., also on the Snake; Joseph, at Canfield;
Mary R., wife of Wm. Ferrell on the St. Joe; Augusta
L... wife of Isaac Cooper, of Coeur d'Alene: Lottie,
wife of Jasper Booth, of this county. Mrs. Canfield
comes from a family noted for its longevity and they
are both substantial' people of the county. Mr. Can-
field was a soldier in the Cayuse war under Captain
Nesmus. Mr. Canfield's genealogy dates back to 1350
A. D.
SILAS M. CRAMER is a substantial and indus-
trious tiller of the soil, whose, home is five miles north-
west from Kooskia, where he owns a well improved
farm of one hundred and sixty acres. He was born
in Franklin county, Ohio, on May 15, 1843. the son
of William H. and Christine (Fritz) Cramer, who
were born in Pennsylvania on August 24. and April
4, 181 1, respectively. The father was a millwright
and a natural mechanic; on September 8, 1861, he en-
listed in the First Wisconsin Light Artillery and served
eight months, being honorably discharged on account
of disability. Our subject has the following brothers
and sisters : John W., William H., Jacob, Henry F.,
Daniel B., Samuel T., Cicero, Lucinda, Nancy A.,
Alary Ann. Our subject was forced to school himself
and gained his education by hard toil. When the war
broke out he enlisted in the First Wisconsin Light
Artillery and served three years. Returning home after
his service he made a short visit and then enlisted in
the Hancock Infantry and fought for his country a
year more. After the war he went to Minnesota and
farmed and in 1888 he came to Whatcom county,
Washington, and took property in Port Angeles, in
1890. In 1896. he came to Lewiston and wrought at
carpentering, then contracted and did building in
Grangeville and on March 1, 1898, he came to his
present place and located a homestead. In addition to
developing the farm. Mr. Cramer has devoted con-
siderable time to carpenter work. He has a good farm
— the famous Fort Misery being located on his land.
He owns some cattle and horses and thirty hogs.
Un January 13, 1866, Mr. Cramer married Miss
Martha E. Riley, in Houston county, Minnesota, and
to them were born three children : Charles H., born
in Minnesota on January 26, 1870 ; Etta E., born in
Minnesota, on July 17, 1868; Elizabeth, born in Iowa,
on April 24. 1872. Mrs. Cramer was born in Illinois
on December 27, 1850. At Osage, Iowa, on ( >ctober
3, 1876, Mr. Cramer married a second time, the lady
becoming his wife on that occasion being Ida E. Rich-
ards, who was born in Illinois, on June 4, 1858, the
daughter of David J. and Elmira (Riley) Richards.
The father, who was born in Pennsylvania, on Febru-
ary 14, 1832, was a carpenter and was last heard of in
the Klondike excitement. The mother was born in
Ohio, on November 3, 1835. Mrs. Cramer has the
following named brothers and sisters: Corbin E., Jesse
W. S., Charles H, Albert C, George, Frederic J.,
Mary A., Perl J. and Bessie. Mr. and Mrs. Cramer
have two children. Arthur ,P... born in Kansas, on
September 24, 1877: Lottie Bell, born in Nebraska
on December 27, 1882. Mr. Cramer was a Republican
in the time of Mr. Lincoln, but now votes with the
Democrats.
JAMES L. MILLER. This well known and sub-
stantial agriculturist and stockman, whose labors
here for many years have always been lor upbuilding
and improvement, is residing about tour miles north
from Denver, where he has a fine farm and handles
considerable stock. He was born in eastern Tennessee,
on April 2J. 1854. '.he son of Jerry M. and Mathiida
( Hickey ) Miller, born in eastern Tennessee in 1820 and
1824. respectively. In 18' 12 the father enlisted in the
Thirteenth Tenneesee under Colonel J. K. Miller and
rendered excellent service in various engagements, but
while on a furlough at home he was killed by a squad
of rebels, December 24, 18(4. The mother was mar-
ried in 1843 aiK' <-'-'e(l m March, 1899. She was of
English and Irish extraction. Our subject was raised
in his native place and educated there. When eighteen
he went to Missouri and clerked in a drug store until
1875. when he came to San Francisco by rail and thence
by steamer to Portland. He farmed in Polk county,
Oregon, and in 1881 removed to Dayton, Washington.
He farmed there and also engaged in the sheep
industry with his father-in-law until 1884; then he
sold out and came to Idaho county. This was in May
and he took a homestead and purchased as much more,
since which time he has given his attention to producing
the fruits of the field and raising stock. He has a
quarter section, owns a hundred head of cattle, as many
hogs, some horses and also town property in Asotin
and other property. Mr. Miller has the following
brothers and sisters : William R.. Nancy Smith, Betty
Ellis, deceased, Balis K.. Cicero. Kossuth. William
R. is a veteran of die Union army and carries the
marks of a wound which lie received when fighting for
his countrv.
On December 12. 1878, Mr. Miller married Miss
Phcebe. daughter of Jackson and Luvisa (Wilhoit)
Lowe. The" father was horn in 1832. in Illinois, re-
moved to Iowa with his parents, came to Oregon in
1851, remained in Polk county fourteen years and in
180; went to Pilot Rock, Umatilla county; in 1880
483
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
he came to Dayton, Washington. The mother was
born on November 22, 1841. in Missouri. Her parents
were pioneers in the Willamette valley and her father
located the well known Wilhoit soda springs in Clacka-
mas county. Mrs. Lowe was married on August 23,
1857, and' died January 17. 1869. Mrs. Miller was
horn in Polk county, Oregon, on November 6. 1862,
and has the following brothers and sisters : Samuel
W.. Mary L. Pomeroy, Isaiah A., deceased. Lucy E.
Miller. Eight children have been born to Mr. and
Mrs. Miller: The first was born April 4, and died
April 2-, tS8o; Clifton J., born November 8, 1881 ;
Charles P., born August 28, 1883 ; Iva A., born Sep-
tember 1, 1885; Edith, born October 15, 1887; Katie
M., born April 22, 1892; Ruth E., born November 5,
1894; J. Laughton, born November 2, 1899. Mr. and
Mrs. Miller are both Republicans and he is a member
of the I. O. O. F. and the M. W. A. They also belong
to the Christian church. Mr. Miller was census enum-
erator in 1900. He states that he has seen land raise
from a nominal value to twenty or thirty dollars per
acre since coming to Idaho county.
J< ISEPH M. WOLBERT, now handling insur-
ance, collections and loans, in Cottonwood, is a well
known speaker, newspaper man, and politician, whose
influence has been felt over the entire northwest. He
was born in Harrison county, Indiana, on April 20,
[853, being the son of William P. and Louise (Mc-
Mullen) Wolbert. The father was born in Gloucester
county, New Jersey, in 1808, and remembers the sol-
diers of the war of 18 12. The paternal grandfather of
Joseph M. built a house in Gloucester county. New
Jersey, and raised it the day the Declaration of In-
dependence was signed. The mother of our subject
was born in Philadelphia in 181 1 and died in 1885.
Her ancestors were early settlers in the Keystone state
and came of the Scotch and Irish races. The parents
of our subject settled in Indiana in 1S32 and manu-
factured ship buckets. They removed to various places
ami finally settled in Wisconsin, where our subject was
educated and raised. He also learned the carpenter's
trade and studied medicine. When twelve he enlisted in
Company D, Fifty-second Wisconsin Volunteer Infan-
try, as drummer boy and was soon appointed orderly,
being the youngest one in the army. He was mustered
out on July 25, 1865. and returned to Wisconsin and
railroaded. Later we see him as master carbuilder in
Wills. Minnesota, and then he came to Spokane, where
he contracted and did building, then moved to Moscow.
There he organized the Silver Federation which was
used in the silver wave that swept the northwest. Later
Air. Wolbert went to Dayton and took the platform
on political economy and was ? power in politics. In
1895, he came to Cottonwood; bought the Report, a
local paper, and boldly took the stand for reform and
economy in county expenses. He had the satisfaction
of seeing the warrants come from far below par to
par. the indebtedness largely wiped out, and things
reconstructed. His paper was a sheet of marked vital-
ity and distinct merit and wielded great influence. He
was nominated for the legislature in 1898, but did not
take the field and went down with the ticket. Mr.
Wolbert sold the paper in 1901 and has since devoted
himself to his present business with gratifying results.
In 1894, at Genesee, Mr. Wolbert married Miss
Ida, daughter of Leander and Mervina (Kelly) Swift,
natives of Tennessee and Missouri, respectively, and
now living at Johnson, Washington. Mrs. Wolbert
was born in Springfield, Missouri, in 1870, and has
the following brothers and sisters : Harry, Edward,
Airs. Walter L. Hunter, Alary Kollenburn, Nellie
Swift. Mr. Wolbert has four brothers': Henry, Will-
iam R., Acquilla D., James. To Air. and Airs. Wol-
bert three children have been born: Clara, Hal, Ray,
aged eight, >ix and one. respectively. Air. Wolbert
is a member of the K. P., and for twenty-seven years
has done considerable lodge organizing. He is also
a member of the G. A. R., and was adjutant general
of the state of Idaho in 1893-94. He is an active and
influential Republican and has recently been re-elected
to the office of justice of the peace. Air. Wolbert is
also a notary public and is active in the interests of
educational facilities.
JESSE AI. DIXON. In the related occupations
of farming and raising stock, Air. Dixon has been
engaged in different places of the west for many years
and is a pioneer of Idaho county and one of the sub-
stantial men. Recently he purchased a half interest in
the Elite saloon in Cottonwood and gives attention to
managing the business, but he is still engaged in
handling stock and owns the land which he secured as
government land when he first came here. Air. Dixon
also owns residence and business property in Cotton-
wood and is one of the heavy tax payers of the county.
Jesse AI. Dixon was born in Ash county, North
Carolina, on May 27, i860, being the son of Alfred and
Narcissa (AIcAIillen) Dixon, natives of North Caro-
lina and now deceased. The father served in the Civil
war from North Carolina, and later moved to Mis-
souri, thence back to North Carolina. Our sub-
ject grew to manhood and was educated in his
native state. Then he inaugurated independent
action and came to Denver, where he spent several
years lumbering and related occupations. His next
move was to Grant county, Oregon, where he com-
menced raising stock and farming. Five years in
that country and Air. Dixon came with his stock to
Idaho county, where he settled and gave his attention
to handling- his herds. He was successful in his en-
terprises and in 1900, the people called him from pri-
vate life to lake up the duties of the sheriff's office.
He entered that office with the same care and faith-
fulness displayed in his every day walk, and for two
years discharged the responsibilities incumbent upon
him to the satisfaction of a discriminating constituency.
On December 25. 1885, Mr. Dixon married Miss
Lartiah. daughter of James and Elizabeth ( Howell)
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
489
McGuire, natives of North Carolina, where also Mrs.
Dixon was born. The wedding occurred in eastern
Oregon. Mrs. Dixon has one sister, Monrova. Mr.
Dixon has the following brothers and sisters: John,
Nancy Hill. Catherine Williamson, Rena Baker. One
child has been born to this union, Verner, at home.
Mr. Dixon is a true blue Democrat and is an influential
figure in his party and a power in the campaigns.
LAWRENCE C. CHADWICK. superintendent of
the Consolidated Hydraulic Mining & Development
Company, of Lucile, Idaho, is one of the foremost men
of the mining interests of Idaho county and no com-
pilation which represents the people and interests of
this county could well fail to grant consideration to
this gentleman. He was born in Chautauqua county,
New York, July 20, 1858, the son of Benjamin F. and
Maria (Rowe) Chadwick. The father was born in
New York in 1S19 and now lives in Pennsylvania.
His father, Archibald H., was a patriot in the Revolu-
tion and came of English ancestry. The mother of
our subject was born in Warren county. Pennsylvania,
in 1826, and died in 189 1. Our subject grew to the
age of eighteen in New York and worked on a farm
and was well educated and then began teaching, taking
his first school when he was sixteen. He taught then
in Kalamazoo county, Michigan, for two years after
eighteen. Then he was in the general merchandise
business and was postmaster for a time. Later he re-
turned to New York and took charge of the old home-
stead, his father being too old. In 1884, Mr. Chad-
w7ick was installed as head of the Pennsylvania Tract
Company's business and was five years treasurer and
general manager. Then, in 1889, he was elected presi-
ident of the International Tract Company. He had
general charge of twelve hundred solicitors in all parts
of the world and when he entered on the duties of this
important office, he had to handle annual sales of one
hundred thousand dollars ; and two years later, owing
to his successful business methods and vim, he had
brought the sales up to five hundred thousand dollars
annually. He had reorganized the entire business and
put it on a new basis. During this time, Mr. Chad-
wick had visited South America, twenty-four islands
of the West Indies, African colonies, Portugal, Spain.
England, Erance, and many other places, being two
years on the trip. He returned home in 1893 and en-
tered the ministry of the Baptist church and was or-
dained [anuary 31. 1S94. He was pastor for the White
Pigeon church in Michigan until 1899 and then went
to Detroit and took up mission work. One year later
lie organized a successful church there and then on
account of failing health he came west to be out doors
more. He has given his attention to mining since com-
ing here and has organized the present company of
which he is superintendent. They own propertv near
Lucile and also near Freedonia. They have a total
of eight claims in operation at the present time and last
year he expended judiciously twenty-five thousand dol-
lars in the propositon.
Mr. ( hadwick has one daughter by In- former mar-
riage, Mrs. Marie Wolgamwod, of Chicago. In Feb-
ruary, 1902, Mr. Chadwick maried Leona L., daugh-
ter of George W. and Sarah (Rogers) Robbins. The
father and his father were pioneers in Cass county,
.Michigan. Mrs. Chadwick has one sister and four
brothers, Lena, L. G„ L. M., L. H., L. N. Mr. Chad-
•wick has no living brothers nor sisters. Mrs. Chad-
wick was born in Cass county, Michigan, in 1869, is
a graduate of the state normal, spent some years in
teaching and also was three years a trained nurse. Mr.
Chadwick is a member of the Masons, the I. O. O. F.,
the A. O. U. W\, and the Maccabees. He has always
been active in educational work and is a thorough
Republican. Mr. Chadwick has investigated the min-
eral resources of the Salmon river for some time in
a wise manner and he is thoroughly convinced that it
is one of the best mineral deposits in the country,
and believes that in the near future it will be the centre
of great development work.
AMANDUS P. KING. At W Hand, six and one-
half miles northwest from Kamiah, is the home place
of the subject of this sketch, which was taken from the.
wild and is now being improved in a becoming man-
ner. Mr. King has displayed energy and industry,
dominated with wisdom, since coming here and has
wrought well for general improvement as well for the
development of his farm.
Amandus P. King was born in Logan county, Ohio,
on November 30, 1861, the son of Isaac and Rebecca
(Yoder) King, who were born in Mifflin county, Penn-
sylvania, on July 1, 1821, and in Wayne county, Ohio,
on August 21, 1830, respectively. The father came to
Ohio with his parents when he was twelve and in 1867,
he migrated to Missouri, having married in 1850. Our
subject attended district school for a* period of nine
years and when twenty-one started out in life for him-
self, having the capital of two good strong hands and a
courageous heart. He farmed in partnership with his
father for nine years and in 1884 made a trip to the
Willamette valley. Later he returned to Missouri and
remained until 1899. In that year he had the misfor-
tune to lose his health and the doctors advised a change
of climate. Acting- on their advise he traveled in the
various sections of the coast and on June 13, 1899, Mr.
King settled on his present place, a tract of land num-
bering one hundred and twenty acres. The land is all
fenced now and a portion in cultivation, while he has
erected a commodious dwelling of seven rooms, a large
frame barn and made various other improvements.
Mr. King has some stock and is one of the progressive
men of the section. He has two brothers and four
sisters, John M., Isaiah G.. Elizabeth, Miriam, Emma,
Charitv. tt , ,
On December 23, 1891, in Holden, Johnson coun-
ty, Missouri, Mr. King married Miss Mima, daughter
0/ David and Lvdia 1 Stutzeman) Morrell. Mr. Mor-
rell was a Mennonite minister for many years. Mrs.
Kinc; was born in Noble county, Indiana, on September
490
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
18, 1866, and she has the following brothers and sisters,
Emmanuel S.. David M., Anna M., Sarah E., Etta L.
Two children have been born to Mr. and .Mrs. King,
Vera M., born in Missouri, on May 2. 1893; Forest A.,
born in Missouri, on November 30, 1898. Mr. and
Mrs. King are members of the Mennonite church and
stanch people. He votes the Republican tickei and is
well informed on the questions of the day.
JOHN C. DOSS is a prosperous and industrious
farmer and agriculturist dwelling about three miles
south from Denver, where he has a generous estate of
four hundred and forty acres of fertile land. He has
increased his holdings from one hundred and twenty,
which he first took as a homestead, to the present
domain and during the years of arduous and sagacious
labor, has increased his holdings in personal property
in a commensurate manner, having now nearly one
hundred head of cattle, and turning off each year from
oik to two hundred head of hogs besides other stock.
John C. Doss was born in Marshall county. Ala-
bama, on January 14, 1851, the son of Richard and
Theresa (Pearson) Doss, natives of Alabama, and born
in 1812 and 1813, respectively. The father was killed
by guerilla bands in 1863, who were plundering the
country and robbing and murdering. The mother
died in 1859. Our subject was raised in Alabama,
lived with the parents until their death, and then re-
mained on the old homestead and farmed until 1879.
He started out in the world for himself then and
w-alked to Little Rock, Arkansas, and thence to Ft.
Smith. Later we see him in Muskogee, Indian Ter-
ritory, then in Kansas City, San Francisco, Portland,
Vancouver, and finally at Hood river in Oregon. He
herded sheep for Farney, Lamge & Poore, who failed
and thereby entailed on him the loss of his wages and
one hundred and fifty dollars besides, which he had de-
posited with them. In the spring of 1881. Mr. Doss
came to Camas prairie and took a homestead of one
hundred and twenty acres, which was the nucleus of
his present fine estate. Since that ime Mr. Doss has
always been found prosecuting his business with vigor
and skill and is counted one of the leading stockmen
and agriculturists in the country.
Mr. Doss has the following brothers ami >ister> :
Mattie Blackford, Amanda Downey, Victoria Horton,
Missouria Roden, James P., Samuel H., Reuben C.
Mr. Doss is a Democrat and intelligent in the issues
of the day while he is always allied on the side of prog-
ress, good schools, good roads and general improve-
ments.
SAMUEL A. WILS< >N is a genuine westerner, a
typical pioneer and a successful miner. He has de-
voted most of his life to mining and is one of the active
and enterprising ones who have materially opened up
different sections, now promising and profitable camps.
He has followed this occupation most of the time since
and has visited the famous camps of the country. He
has mined in California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mex-
ico, old Mexico. Montana. L'tah and Idaho. From
Wood river he went to the vicinity of Wilbur and took
a homestead. He was one of the first ones to prove up
and had it well cultivated and rented. Mr. Wilson
helped to blaze the trail from Thompson Falls to Mur-
ray and operated there considerably, as also in the other
camps of northern Idaho, where he still has claims.
Elk, Florence, Warren, Buffalo Hump and other camps
have been the scenes of his labor and now he is putting
forth effort at the Rainbow district where he is heavily
interested in some valuable copper claims. The camp
is new, with many good showings in evidence and will
without doubt be one of the prosperous camps soon.
Mr. Wilson is putting out considerable capital with
others in this section and soon there will doubtless be
some shippers. Mr. Wilson is a member of the K. P.,
and is of excellent standing. He has borne the hard-
ships and suffering incident to mining life in the wilds
and also has met many dangers from the Indians but
he is a man whose courage and endurance were always
equal to the occasion.
JAMES E. FERREE. Among the prosperous,
substantial and industrious farmers and stockmen of
Idaho county there should not be failure to mention
the gentleman whose name it at the head of this article
and whose estate of four hundred acres of fertile land
lies about four miles southwest from Denver, where
the family home is at the present time.
James E. Ferree was born in Monroe county, Michi-
gan, on May 6, 18^5, the son of Frederic M. and De-
borah A. (Watkins) Ferree. The father was born in
Maryland in 1820 and removed with his brother to
Seneca county, ( >hio, and then to Michigan, where he
married. He wrought at carpentering and blacksmith-
ing, and in 1865 went to Seneca county again. In
1867 he removed to Ray county, Missouri, and there
farmed. Finally, on account of ill health, he went to
Eureka Springs] Arkansas, and at Berry ville, Mon-
roe county, Arkansas, he died on April 26, 1888. The
mother of our subject was born in Xew York state on
January 18, 1830. Her parents were pioneers in Mon-
roe county. Michigan. She died in Kansas on July
14. 1901 Our subject was reared and educated in the
various places where the family resided, and at the
age of twenty-four went by rail to San Francisco and
thence by steamer to Portland, up the rivers to Lewis-
ion, and by stage to Mt. Idaho. He worked at various
employments for a few years; in 1879 t0°k UP a Pre"
emption, and in the fall of 18S5 he secured a homestead,
where he has dwelt since and has given his undivided
attention to producing the fruits of the field and stock ;
the result is that his skill and arduous labors have
been rewarded with a goodly holding of property. He
handles from one to two hundred head of hogs each
year and also other stock.
Mr. Ferree has the following named brothers and
sisters. Boyd. Mary Odell. Eva, deceased, Hall. Milton
Guv. Annie Tucker.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
t9i
On January i, 1896, Mr. Ferree married Miss Ida
M., daughter of David and Mary E. (Kelly) Nickson.
The father was born in Monroe county, Michigan, on
July 19, 1839. His parents were pioneers from Ire-
land there in 1837. He was reared in Illinois, came to
Oregon in 1869 and after ten years in Benton county,
he came to Camas prairie, took land and farmed until
his death, on November 10. 1890. Mrs. Nickson was
born March 17, 1845, in Vandalia, Illinois, and her
parents were natives of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Ferree
was born February 11, 1867, in Madison county, Illi-
nois, and has the following brothers and sisters, Will-
iam S., John A., deceased, Emma, deceased, Celia,
Clarence D. One child, Edna Margaret, was born to
this couple on May 15, 1897. Mr. and Mrs. Ferree are
solid Democrats and intelligent in the questions at is-
sue. He is a member of the M. W. A. and the I. O.
O. F.
JOSEPH T. MORRISON is the proprietor of the
Cottonwood house, a well appointed hostelry and pop-
ular stopping place for the traveling public, where he
does a good business and has the confidence and es-
teem of all. being a young man of reliability and enter-
prise.
Joseph T. Morrison was born in Lee county, Iowa,
on April 4, 1874, being the son of Murray and Lizzie
(Balm) Morrison, natives of Pennsylvania, and born
in 1830 and 1844. respectively. The father died in
March, 1902, near Colfax, whither he had come in
1890. He was a pioneer in Osborne, Kansas, settling
there in 1878. The mother still lives near Colfax.
Our subject was but four years of age when the family
went to Kansas and there he grew to manhood and re-
ceived his education. He came west to Colfax with
his parents and remained at home until the fall of
1895 when he came to the Nez Perces reservation in
Idaho county and took land. He farmed and improved
that until recently when he removed to Cottonwood
and took charge of a hotel which he has since sold.
Mr. Morrison still owns his farm and oversees it.
On November 27, 1901, near Westlake, Mr. Mor-
rison maried Miss Maggie Milam, step-daughter of C.
B. Fetters. Her mother's name is Lucy (Gamble) Fet-
ters. Mrs. Morrison was born in Knox county. Illi-
nois, on February 22, 1885, and has no brothers nor
sisters. Mr. Morrison has two brothers and one sis-
ter, Lewis E., Laura L. Oliver, Asa F. He is a mem-
ber of the I. O. O. F., Cottonwood Lodge. While Mr.
Morrison is a Republican, still he reserves for himself
the right to choose the man and is independent in
thought.
HON. WILLIAM S. M. WILLIAMS is one of
the intrepid pioneers who footed it from Umatilla to
Lewiston and thence to Florence in 1862, making his
way alone through the wilds of the country. He has
remained in this section since and has been a veritable
builder of Idaho county in several senses. He has
wrought with a show of industry and stability in its
mines, has made a good record in its farming and
stock raising interests, has served faithfully in its of-
fices, and was one of the prominent ones in the legis-
lature to establish its boundaries.
Mr. Williams was born in Monroe county. Tennes-
see, on ( )ctpber [6, 1837. being the son of William and
Sarah M. (Steele) Williams, natives of Virginia. The
mother was of Scotch ancestry and died when our
subject was a lad. Her mother's name was Maches-
ney. The father was born in 181 2, wrought as a car-
penter and cabinet maker, fought the Indians, held
prominent positions in bis county, and died in [876 in
the home county. ( lur subject was reared and edu-
cated in his native place and then began life as a clerk
in a store. In i860 he came to California via the
Isthmus and. went to Dutch Flat, then to Nevada City
and mined. Two years later he heard of the great
Florence and Salmon river excitement and came thither
via San Francisco, Portland, Umatilla, Lewiston and
on to Florence, which, when he landed in May, 1862,
was a town of ten thousand people, the streets being
jammed with gold seekers. Flour cost one dollar per
pound and freight fifty cents per pound, it being
brought largely on snow shoes. When Mr. Williams
footed it from Umatilla to Florence he passed over
thousands of acres all wild, now the richest of farms.
He mined and prospected until August, then went to
Warren, just discovered and did well mining. He
worked there until 187 1 also doing some mining in
Washington and Payette Lake counties. All the
country when Mr. Williams came was Washigton ter-
ritory ami he has seen all the development of the coun-
try and changes wrought by civilization. In 1871 he
came to Camas prairie, took land and commenced to
raise stock. He also mined some and in 1877 he
helped to organize the Grangeville Volunteers to fight
the Nez Perces under Captains Bloomer and Ruby.
He was also first lieutenant with a Grangeville com-
pany that operated with General Howard. He was at
.Misery Hill when the savages made a night attack and
stampeded the horses, thus entailing the necessity of
going after mounts. He was superintendent of the
Grangeville mills and could not in person be on the
field all the time. At the close of the war the volun-
teers kept their guns for fear of other outbreaks and
when the Bannock war came on a stockade was built
at Grange Hall where the women and children were
protected. Even after Joseph's capture the people were
incredulous and for years a sharp lookout was kept.
In the fall of 1878 Mr. Williams was chosen county
recorder and clerk of the board of commissioners and
served two years. He returned to his farm and in
1884 he was elected to the legislature from Idaho coun-
ty and succeeded in getting the boundary of the county
established, also put through some excellent laws re-
garding' hogs. He returned to his farm after the ser-
vice rendered and was then appointed deputy sheriff
under Cyrus Overman, serving two years after which
he was elected sheriff of Idaho county. Following his
term in this office Mr. Williams went to bis old home
in Tennessee after an absence of thirty-nine years. Re-
turning to Idaho county Mr. Williams was appointed
492
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
deputy sheriff under Jesse Dixon and completed this
service in 1902. Mr. Williams has the following named
brothers and sisters. Samuel Y. B., James W. D., Tay-
lor, Gideon, Joseph, Andrew J., Beunavista Bicknell.
Mr. Williams is a Master Mason and a man of un-
questioned standing and ability and it is very fitting
that he should be "especially mentioned in the history
of the county which he has so materially assisted to
build.
JOSEPH S. VINCENT, the faithful and efficient
deputy sheriff of Idaho county, is one of the men
whose life has all been spent in northern Idaho. Born
in Lewiston, on April 24, 1866, and dwelling there
and in adjacent sections until the present time, he has
become so thoroughly associated both with the de-
velopment and the history of the country that no work
of this character would be complete without mention
of him. His parents were Joseph K. and Elizabeth
M. (Leland) Vincent. The father was born in Salem,
Massachusetts, on June 26, 1822, went to California in
1849 and there mined and raised stock. He fought in
the Indian war of 1855 and 1856 and then came to
Lapwai. He mined in all the early camps and was the
first tax collector of Nez Perces county. He held vari-
ous county offices, as sheriff, probate judge and so
forth. After 1886 he came to Idaho county and
operated a hotel in Cottonwood. He was elected pro-
bate judge when no other Republican was elected. He
now dwells at Mount Idaho. Mrs. Vincent was born
in Rhode Island October 8, 1840, being the eldest
daughter of Hon. Alonzo Leland, a prominent Idaho
pioneer. Our subject grew to manhood, was educated,
and learned the printer's business in Lewiston. He
served from nineteen to twenty-three and in 1 89 1 he
started the Gazette at Kendrick. This was the only
Democratic organ in Latah county for a long time and
he conducted it from 189 1 to 1901, making it a sheet
of distinct vitality and merit. In the year last men-
tioned, Mr. Vincent was taken with a severe typhoid
fever which necessitated a change of residence and he
accordingly leased his paper and came to Grangeville.
He was a member of the board of trade in Kendrick,
was appointed by the governor as committeeman to
the exposition and since coming to Grangeville has
been deputy auditor, tax collector, and is now deputy
sheriff of the county.
On June 23, 1892, Mr. Vincent married Miss Alice
R. York, whose father, J. B. Springer, of Salem,
Oregon, is a well known pioneer of the Webfoot state,
and was born in Ohio. He built the St. Charles hotel
of Portland. Mrs. Vincent has two sisters: Mrs. W.
W. Brown, of Grangeville. and Mrs. George H. Lake,
of Lewiston. Mr. Vincent has the following brothers
and sisters : Alonzo P., Letitia R. Scott, Seth E., Alida
Briscoe. Henry G., Tammany C, William. One
child, Katherine M., has been born to Mr. and Mrs.
Vincent, at Kendrick, Idaho, on March 10, 1895. Mr.
Vincent is a member of the K. of P. and the W. W.
He was. chosen grand chancellor of Idaho and has a
magnificent badge presented to him by the state lodge.
He has been a member of grand lodge since 1896.
Mrs. Vincent is a member of the Presbyterian church
and her husband of the Episcopalian. Mr. Vincent
lived within three miles of Grangeville at the time of
the Nez Perces war and was here when the first house,
Grange Hall, was built in 1876.
HENRY MEYER is one of the popular residents
of Idaho county, a heavy real estate owner, a prosper-
ous and enterprising agriculturist and stockman and
an upright and capable man. He was born in Bremen,
Germany, on July 28. 1852, the son of John H. and
Anna (Methameyer) Meyer, born in Hanover,
Germany. The father was a prominent farmer, hotel
man and brick manufacturer. On account of political
differences after the revolution of 1848 he came and
settled in Indiana, then went to Wisconsin and in 1850
returned to Germany and manufactured brick on a
large scale. In 1872 he built a hotel and continued in
its operation until his death, on December 31, 1882.
The mother died in 1852. Our subject was reared in
Bremen and received a good high school education.
In 1873 our subject came to the United States and
settled in Cook county, Illinois. Later he went to
Lake county, Indiana, and then to Iowa, Kansas, Ne-
braska, the Dakotas and thence to California. He
worked in Butte county there until 1879 and with
wagons and teams came to Camas prairie in that year,
passing through southern Oregon, Walla Walla, and
Lewiston. He took a preemption and homesteaded
where he now dwells, about four miles southwest from
Denver. He erected the first house between Cotton-
wood and Grangeville on the prairie, and Cottonwood
was simply a stage station. Mr. Meyer has devoted
himself to his business with an energy and skill that
have given him abundant success, for he now owns six
hundred and ninety acres of fine land, has nearly a
hundred head of cattle, raises annually one hundred
and fifty head of hogs, besides other stock. A com-
modious and handsome residence of eleven rooms and
all modern conveniences is the family dwelling and all
the estate is improved in a becoming manner. Mr.
Meyer has the following brothers and sisters: Herman
C, Catherine R., Ratchgen, Margaret.
On December 21, 1884, Mr." Meyer married Miss
Minnie, daughter of John H. and Sophie (Rathe)
Von Berg, natives of Hanover and born on January 8,
1840, and June 13, 1842, respectively. The father
came to the United States in 1848 with his parents
and settled in Cook county, Illinois, and in 1880 he
came to Camas prairie where he is farming and rais-
ing stock. Mrs. Meyer was born in Cook county, Illi-
nois, on December '15, 1862 and has the following
named brothers and sisters: Henry F., Emma,
Mathilda, Anna, Addie, Emilia McGrane, Helena
Haager. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer have become the
parents of the following children : Metha, born
June 26, 1888; Sophie, born July 26, 1890; Franz,
born September 10, 1892; Carl, born September 17,
1894; Alvina, born July 19, 1900. Mr. Meyer is a
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
493
strong Republican and was county commissioner from
1890 to 1892. In 1902 he was candidate on his ticket
for the state legislature from Idaho county and lacked
only two votes of winning the day. He is a member of
the I. O. O. F. and a prominent and capable man of
excellent standing.
ALONZO Z. RHOADES is interested in agricul-
ture and also in business in Denver where he owns an
interest in the meat market and also owns half of the
livery barn with his brother. He was born in Mercer
countv, Missouri, on February 21, 1868, the son of
Daniel B. and Elizabeth (Odneal) Rhoades, natives of
Missouri and born in 1832 and 1834, respectively. The
father's parents were pioneers in Kentucky with Dan-
iel Boone and came to Missouri in an early day. He
came to California in 1850 with other members of the
family and settled in Sacramento valley. Later he re-
turned to Missouri, via the isthmus, and tiien went
back to California in 1875. In 1880, he came to Spo-
kane and in 1895, to Green creek and took land which
was sold later ; he dwells on the little Salmon now. The
mother died in 1875. Our subject was reared in Mis-
souri and Washington and received a good education.
When twenty-two he went to do for himself and in
1895 be took a home on Green creek, which he still
owns and utilizes for general crops and stock raising.
Mr. Rhoades built a fine residence and good barn in
Denver, in which town he now resides. He has the fol-
lowing brothers and sisters, Rushia, Lafayette, Lee,
Jay, Oscar, Eria, Underwood, Bertha Howell, Bert
and Maud.
On November 14, 1897, Mr. Rhoades married Miss
Clemmy S., daughter of Isaac and Gorilla J. Zehner,
who are mentioned in this work. Mrs. Rhoades was
born in Christian county, Missouri, on January 20,
1878. To this marriage there have been born the fol-
lowing children. Cecil, born October 2, 1901, and died
January 2, 1902 ; Eldred, born February 2, 1903. Mr.
and Mrs. Rhoades are Democrats of the Jeffersonian
type and well informed upon the issues of the day.
They are members of the Presbyterian church.
WILLIAM CORAM has a fine estate of one sec-
tion of land in partnership with his brother, which lies
about seven miles north from Grangeville. He devotes
his attention to general farming and to raising stock
and is very succesful. being counted one of the leading
property owners of the prairie.
William Coram was born in Bristol, England, on
March 29, 1844, the son of William Coram. He came
with his brother and parents to Hamilton, Canada, and
soon went thence to Dawn. The mother died when he
was small. In 1864, our subject went to New York
city and thence via Nicaraugua to San Francisco. He
arrived in that city. January, 1865. Then he engaged
in steamboat engineering and followed it until 1868, in
which year he came to Mt. Idaho. He at once went to
the mining camps and continued there and in packing
much of the time. He was mining at Florence when a
friendly squaw came and told them of the outbreak and
with fourteen companions, Mr. Coram volunteered to
fight the Indians. This was June 14, 1877, and they
then went to Slate creek. On the sixteenth they came
to Mt. Idaho and our subject went with the soldiers to
the skirmish on Whitebird, the first of the war, where
several soldiers and citizens were killed. While there,
a woman came from the brush carrying an infant, and
it proved to be Mrs. Belle Benedict and the child is
now Mrs. Addie Brown. Mr. Coram caught a loose
horse and brought them to Grangeville. He then took
a trip to Lawyer's canyon and then one to Cottonwood.
On the latter trip they found H. C. Brown and his wife
hid in the brush. These were rescued and in all these
undertakings, Mr. Coram faced great danger. After
the war he returned to the mines and in 1884 came out
of the mines and entered in partnership with his brother
and they purchased their present place. They are pros-
perous and do a large business, handling stock and
farming. Mr. Coram started in life with no means
and his success is entirely due to his own energy and
skill. He has endured great hardship in the various
frontier experiences, which have been plentiful in his
life and he has faced them all with fortitude and cour-
age. He has packed his blankets over the snows of
the mountains and faced the savages, and wrought in
many places and ways for general advancement and to
open up the country. In political matters, Mr. Coram
is a Democrat, but is independent in his decisions.
JOHN H. von BAR GEN is one of the early pio-
neers of Idaho county and has labored here with faith-
fulness and sagacity for its upbuilding and improve-
ment and his industry and thrift have given to him the
meed of a good holding in substantial property and
placed him as one of the prosperous men of the county.
He was born in Dornbusch, Hanover, Germany, on
July 7, 1 85 1. the son of Koepke and Rebecca (Schlicht-
ing) von Bargen, born in 1820 and April 10, 1824, re-
spectively, both being native to Hanover. The father
was an ocean sailor and captain later of a river boat.
He died in September, 1872. The mother died in May,
1900. in Hamburg. Our subject was well educated in
his native land and soon began operations on the river
Elbe; five years later, being nineteen, he went to sea,
visiting England, Brazil, Spain, Chile, and other coun-
tries. In 1S78 he left the ocean and became captain of
a craft on Lake Alstar, Germany. In 1880, he came
to America and soon found his way to Camas prairie
where bis brother Herman was. He took a homestead
and at once began farming and stock raising. To these
related occupations he has given his attention since and
has been prospered. He turns off annually about one
hundred and twenty-five hogs and a number of cattle.
His farm is well improved and his residence is of eight
rooms and modern in every respect. When Mr. von
Bargen settled on his place, now about four miles
southwest from Denver, the country was new and his
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
wife was the only woman in many miles. Mr. von
Bargen has the following named brothers and sisters,
Mary Jaenke. Peter. Herman, August.
On" November 2j, 1877. .Mr. von Bargen married
Miss Anna H. C, daughter of Henry and Anna C.
(Dickoff) Schiviebert. "The father, who was born in
1824. in Rottenburg, Hanover, was a carpenter and
cabinet maker. He moved to Harburg in 1865 and died
there in 1867. The mother was born on September 8,
1821, in Rottenburg, and died September, 1901. Airs,
von Bargen was born in Rottenburg, on September 18,
185 1. and had one sister, Marie Stroemer, who died in
Harburg. Germany. The following children have been
born to Mr. and Mrs von Bargen, Anna, deceased :
Peter, born February 17, 1880, now deceased; Ru-
dolph, born September 12, 1882, now deceased; Henry,
burn October 30, 1884. Mr. von Bargen and his wife
are active Republicans, while he is a member of the
I. O O. F., and she of the Lutheran church.
THOMAS W. BALES & ROBERT H. JONES.
In mentioning the salient points in the careers of these
well known and leading business men of Idaho county,
we desire to particularly note the items of importance
in their individual lives and then relate together the
labors of the partnership.
Thomas W. Bales was born in Greenfield, Mis-
souri, on August 28, 1872, the son of Stephen H. and
Matilda C. (White) Bales, natives of Indiana and
Tennessee, respectively. They now both live near
Greenfield. Missouri, aged fifty-seven, and fifty-eight,
respectively. Thomas \Y. attended the public schools
and then spent three years in the Ozark college. At
the age of seventeen, he came west on account of poor
health. He weighed ninety-seven pounds when he
landed in Whitman county, Washington, but now tips
the beam at two hundred and seven pounds. He soon
engaged in farming in Washington and remained there
until he came to Camas prairie in 189 1. Then he took
up stock raising on the Snake and did well. This was
continued until 1899, when the partnership was formed.
Robert H. Jones was born on a farm one mile north
from Grangeville, on August 28, 1872, the son of Seth
and Jane (Castle) Jones, of Grangeville. He attended
the home schools until 1890, when he went east to Lom-
bard university in Galesburg. Illinois, where he took a
three-year course. Upon his return here he bought
and sold stock, and did real well on several train loads
that he shipped to Chicago. On October 9, 1895, Mr.
Jones married Miss Jessie, daughter of John and Jane
Pollock of Lewiston, Illinois. Mrs. Jones died Febru-
ary 11. 1897. at her °ld home in Illinois, leaving one
child five months old, Lillie Esther. On November 9,
1900, Mr. Jones married a second time and on this oc-
casion Miss Pear! Bales, the sister of his partner, be-
came his wife. She died January 3, 1901, at Boise,
Idaho, where she was taken for treatment, leaving one
child three weeks old, named Rolland Robert. Mr.
Jones has his children living with him.
In 1899, Mr. Bales and Mr. Jones engaged in part-
nership in the stock business on the Salmon river and
prosperitv attended them in every detail, having in
December, 1902, sold their large holdings there for
twenty-seven thousand dollars. In December, 1901,
they had bought their present place, a mammoth es-
tate of about fifteen hundred acres eight miles north
from Grangeville. It is all choice land and is one of the
best stock farms in the entire country. They have a
good residence, excellent outbuildings, orchard, and a
barn, second to none in the county. They do a general
tarming business and raise cattle and hogs. They are
raising, buying and shipping more stock than any other
firm in the entire northern part of the state and are verit-
able leaders in the stock business. Mr. Bales and Mr.
Jones are wide awake business men of ability and are of
the best standing, being young men to whom great credit
is to be given for the financial success that they have
achieved. Beginning in the battle of life without any
property at all, they have steadily risen, by reason of
sagacity and industry, to be leaders in this stock coun-
try and are the recipients of the esteem and good will
of all. They were born on the same date and have
made an excellent showing in their careers.
Mr. Jones is to be commended for the manner in
which he has cared for his motherless children.
Through his struggles he has at all times kept his chil-
dren with him, securing a nurse to assist in looking
after their welfare.
HERMAN VON BARGEN. Among the worthy-
pioneers who assisted to open up Idaho county and
bring it to its present state of prosperity we are con-
strained to mention the subject of this article, who is
now one of the heavy real estate owners of the county
and a leading and capable citizen.
Herman von Bargen was born in Dornbusch, Ger-
many, on September 28, 1855, the son of Koepke and
Rebecca (Schlichting) von Bargen. who are men-
tioned in another portion of this work. He was
brought up and educated in his native place and re-
mained with his parents until he was eighteen. In
1873 he bade farewell to the home circle and his na-
tive land and came thence to America. He settled for
a year in Minnesota and then went to Butte county,
California, where he farmed until 1879 when he came
with seven companions overland by way of Goose lake,
Canyon City. Walla Walla and Lewiston to Idaho
county. He took a timber claim and a pre-emption
on Camas prairie and at once inaugurated action in
farming and raising stock. Prosperity came to re-
ward his industry and skill in labor ; in 1896 he bought
another quarter section and in 1900 still another quar-
ter, making him a magnificent estate of one entire
section. This is well improved and is a model farm.
He has two hundred and twenty-five hogs to turn off
annually, raises sixty head of cattle and owns about a
score of horses. Mr. von Bargen is one of the substan-
tial men of the county and a leader in his line of labor.
On November 29, 1889. Mr. von Bargen married
Miss Mary, daughter of Joseph and Anna (Dierks)
Dierks. natives of Germany. '1 he father was born in
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
495
September. 1824. and died in December, 1865. The
mother was born on January 20, 1834. and died on
January 24. 1879. Mrs. von Barren was born in
Herrenburg, near Lubeck, Germany, on October 8,
1864, and has one brother and two sisters, John H.,
Caroline Wortmann, Catherine Timermann. Four
children have been the fruit of this union, named as
follows, Mathilda, born July 5. 1893; Clara, born
April 21, 1895; Otto, born August 9, 1897: Walter,
burn September 3, [899. Mr. and Mrs. von Bargen
are true blue Republicans and well posted in the
questions of the day. He belongs to the I. O. O. F.
and they both are members of the Lutheran church.
MOSES H. RICE. Among the very first to enter
the region now embraced in Idaho county and one who
has continued in this section in labors for its unbuilding
and advancement since, it is fitting that Mr. Rice
should be granted especial mention among the worthy
pioneers who came and opened the way for civiliza-
tion to follow.
Moses H. Rice was born in LaPorte county, In-
diana, on March 23, 1836, the son of James E. and
Nancy ( Bear) Rice. The father was born in Canada,
on February 18, 181 2, and came to the Cnited States
when quite voting. He lived in Indiana and Missouri
and in 1844 came to the Willamette valley over the
Whitman trail and with the second emigrant train.
He settled three miles south of Hillsboro in Washing-
ton county and took a section as a donation claim and
remained there until 1858 when he removed to Doug-
las county, whence he went in 1887 to Camas prairie.
In this last place he remained until his death. The
mother was born in 1818 in Ohio and died on Septem-
ber 4, IQ02, at Mt. Idaho. Our subject was brought
up and educated in the Willamette valley and remained
with his parents until 1858. Then he went to do for
himself and made his first move to Walla Walla and
there remained until 1861 when he was with the rush
into the Florence country. After one year digging
for gold he went to packing and packed from Lewis-
ton, the supply point, to all the principal mining camps
tributary to it. Ibis continued until 1865 when he
sold his outfit and bought sheep. Two years in this
industry and then we see him in 1867 farming in
partnership with Mr. Sam Phiney at Lapwai, contin-
uing until 1873. In 1870 Mr. Rice took a pre-emption
and also a homestead and upon this land he made his
home until 1896. He was successful in farming and
raising stock and in the year last mentioned Mr. Rice
sold his interests in this line and removed to Denver
and retired from more active business to enjoy
the competence which his skill and industry had ac-
cumulated. At present he is dwelling in Denver. He
was here during the Indian war and assisted to guard
Mt. Idaho, being one of the volunteers. Mr. Rice
has the following brothers and sisters, John X..
Charles L., Russell H., James H., Frank W.. Marga-
ret Holbrook. Ann Harness. Eliza Ronn, Nancy Mc-
Gee.
I hi July 28, [872, Mr. Rice married Miss Ellen,
daughter of Alonzo and Rachel 1 Bliss) Leland. Mrs.
Rice was born in Portland. To this couple the fol-
lowing children have been born, Nancy Bowman, in
Denver ; Viola Rhaat. at Stites creek, this county ; El-
freda Hunt, at Lowe. Idaho; Miles II., in Elk, Idaho;
Bailey F., at Lucile ; F. Leland, in Idaho county. Mr.
Rice is a Republican, is a member of the Pioneer As-
sociation at Grangeville and he and his wife are mem-
bers of the Christian church.
ALBERT WEBBER is a prosperous and leading
stockman and agriculturist of Idaho county and his
estate of two hundred acres lies about eight miles
northeast from Grangeville. He devotes his atten-
tion exclusively to general farming and raising stock
and has made a good success because of his wisdom and
thrift. He was born in Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin,
on August 7, 1857, the son of John and Elizabeth
\\ ebber, natives of Germany and now living near this
son. The father came to this country in [856 and is a
veteran of the Civil war. Our subject went with his
parents from the native place to McCloud county,
Minnesota and in 1871 the family went to Madison
valley, Montana. In 1874 they journeyed on to the
Willamette valley ami in May, 1877, they came to
their present place. As they were all the time on the
frontier our subject received little opportunity to ac-
Ojiiire schooling and so gained his education from per-
sonal research and reading. Mr. Webber has one
brother, Lewis, and two sisters. Mrs. Mary Edwards
and Mrs. Matilda Rumpf. When the family arrived
in the Camas prairie country and barely got settled
the Indian outbreak came and they suffered the loss
of all their goods. Despite this, misfortune they went
en and are all now possessors of good properties. The
sons went to raising horses in partnership and since
that time have continued in partnership and are lead-
ing citizens and substantial property holders.
On March 4, 1885, Mr. Webber married Miss Nel-
lie, daughter of James and Elizabeth Allen, natives of
Arkansas and Tennessee, respectively, and now living
at Harpster, this county. Three children were born
to this union, Ralph, born June 14. 1897: Lena, born
March 2, 1899; Mable, born May 14, 1901. Louis
Webber, the brother and partner of our subject, was
born March 24. 1866, in Fond du Lac county. Wisconsin,
and made the various trips with the rest of the family
did and is now living adjoining our subject's farm.
He was married on February 25, 18114. to ( )leva Allen.
a sister of our subject's wife. They have three chil-
dren, Arthur L.. born March 24. [895 ; Man 1
December 31. 1897; Fthe! N., born March 18
ALBERT C. LANNINGHAM with Henry Hi-
rers operates the Pioneer livery barn in Grangeville,
which is the leading' establishment of its kind in the
town and is headquarters for some of the stage lines
496
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
coming to Grangeville. Mr. Lanningham is a man
of thorough business principles, handles his barn in
a first class manner, having fine stock, excellent rigs
and gives careful attention to the comfort and con-
venience of his patrons. All this combines with his
geniality and kind ways to give him a liberal patron-
age.
Albert C. Lanningham was born in Plattsmouth,
Nebraska, on November 28, 1861, being the son of
Henrv and Louise (Cox) Lanningham. The father
was crossing the plains to the Pikes Peak country and
his train was attacked by the Indians and it is sup-
posed that he was killed as he was never heard from
since. The mother died when our subject was small
and he and his sister were taken by Mr. A. H. Dolph,
with whom he stayed until he was fourteen, gaining
a common schooling. He was in Iowa, Missouri,
Minnesota and Kansas and in 1882 came to Idaho. He
took a ranch on Camas prairie near Craig mountain
and proved up on it. He dealt in horses, rode the range
and was interested in stock raising until 1890, when
he went to Spokane. He operated a iivery there
for a short time then went to the coast and final-
ly to Postfalls where he worked in a shingle mill. He
returned to Grangeville in 1892, worked as night
watchman for a time, drove the Salmon river stage
and in March. 1899, in company with Henry Elfers,
bought his present business. Since that time Mr.
Lanningham has devoted himself to the prosecution of
his business with vigor and wisdom and has had the
gratification of seeing it prosper exceedingly.
In .May, 1889. Mr. Lanningham married Miss
Adelaide, daughter of Henry J. and Catherine M. El-
fers, natives of Germany. Mrs. Lanningham was
born on the Salmon river, in Idaho county, in 1873.
She has the following brother and sisters, Henry,
Katherine. Mamie. Four children have been born
to this couple, Clarence, Laura, Lester, May. Mr.
Lanningham is a member of the K. of P. and the W.
O. W. He owns mines on the Salmon river, in the
Buffalo Hump country and in other localities. Po-
litically he is allied with the Republicans but is not par-
tisan.
ED JOHNSON is one of the doughty and courage-
ous men who have pressed into the wilds of the coun-
try to open it for settlement and in his labors for im-
provement and advancement, he has manifested great
enterprise, energy and skill.
Ed Johnson was born in Minnesota, on May 25,
1874, the son of Ole A. and Carrie (Carlson ) Johnson,
horn in Norway on January 6. 1836, and in Wisconsin,
on February 6. 1847. respectively. The father is a
mechanic and farmer while the mother's parents came
to this country from Norway and took land in Minne-
sota where they farmed. Our subject had little oppor-
tunity to attend school and at the early age of fourteen
he conmnenced for himself. After his parents came
west he remained a time with them and in 1888 came to
Palouse where he studied some more. Then he worked
in the sawmills for seven years and on January 31,
1896, he located his present place, three and one-half
miles northwest from Kooskia. He has devoted his
energy to subduing and improving the farm and has
a good showing. Eighty acres were laid under tribute
to crop last year ; he and his brother brought the first
seifbinder and threshing machine into this section. Mr.
Johnson has thirty odd head of cattle, some horses
and colts ; his cattle are good Shorthorn grades. His
nice orchard and good buildings make his place one
of the fine ones of this section. He has six brothers
and four sisters, Carl, Peter, John, Oscar J., Martin
J., Albert A. J., Martha C, Ellen, Mary E. and
Clara,
On April 1, 1900, Mr. Johnson married Miss Gus-
tava, daughter of Cyrus E. and Alary A. (Daugharty)
Kidder. The father is a sawmill man and stockman. He
is now serving as justice of the peace and is a veteran
of the Civil war, serving in Company G, Nineteenth
Wisconsin for four years, four months, and two days.
The mother of Mrs. Johnson was born in Wisconsin, on
August 23, 1849. Airs. Johnson was born in Missouri,
on April 29, 1883. and has the following sisters, Hattie,
Martha M., Cora F., Vennie R. Two children have
been born to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, Esther C, on De-
cember 23, 1900, and Madoline, on May 11, 1903, both
in Idaho county.
JOHN W. TURNER, M. D., is one of the strong
and prominent men of northern Idaho. Without
doubt the issues of life and death are more intimately
handled by the medical fraternity than by any other
class of men and therefore it is that popular sentiment
demands that the physicians of today be men of
ability, probity, unquestioned integrity and thoroughly
fitted for the responsible position to which their pro-
fession calls them. It is well known that Dr. Turner
fulfills these requirements in every particular and his
standing is unquestioned.
John W. Turner was born in Monroe county, In-
diana, on February 12, 1861, while his parents were
visiting there. Flis father, Andrew J., was born in
Indiana in 1828, settled in Iowa in 1854 and in Kansas
in 1856, was a member of the Kansas Militia and is
still living in that state. The mother, Maria L.
(Whitson), was born in Indiana in 1827 and still lives
in Kansas. John W. was raised in Miami county,
Kansas, two miles from John Brown's home. He was
educated in the common schools and from his early
days began the study of medicine. When twenty-
four, he secured a position in a drug store in Osa-
watomie, where he remained two years. Then came a
time of study in the Eclectic Medical Institute in Cin-
cinnati, from which he came to Cottonwood in 188S.
when but four or five houses marked the place. He
returned to the Institute and graduated in the class
of 1891, taking second honors of the class. Dr. Tur-
ner now came back to Cottonwood and took up his
practice, since which time he has continued steadily
with ever increasing patronage, which at the present
time is large and lucrative.
On April 11, 1883, in Indiana, Dr. Turner mar-
JOHN W. TURNER M. D.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ried Mary A. Brown, whose parents, George L. and
Caroline Brown, were born in Indiana. Mrs. Tur-
ner was born there also, the date being 1859. She has
two sisters and four brothers, as follows : William,
Norvetta, Iva, McClelland, Cora and Walter. Dr.
Turner has the following brothers and sisters, Frank,
Andrew J., Emma, Margaret, Florence, Althea.
Three children have come to gladden the household,
Eunice, Maude, Lloyd. Mrs. Turner is a member of
the .Methodist church. Dr. Turner is serving his
third term as coroner of the county and in 1896 was
chosen to the state senate and while there he made his
influence known for salutary laws, being the advocate
of the state medical examing board. He was appointed
a member of the first board but on account of a tech-
nicality the law was declared unconstitutional but the
next legislature promptly passed it and it stands today.
Dr. Turner is a member of the state medical society
and state board of medical examiners, and was ap-
pointed a member of the Idaho advisory council of the
Eclectic school at the World's Fair at Chicago, 1893.
Dr. Turner is a man of ability and sound principles,
has the confidence of the entire community and is one
of the leading men of the county.
MAGNUS J. DURANT. How stirring and event-
ful is the life of the real pioneer, guide, miner, trapper
and with what interest are the accounts of these lines
of life read by all parties. Could the events in the
career of the subject of this sketch be outlined in full
they would doubtless make a very interesting and thrill-
ing volume. It is with pleasure that we append a re-
view of the same.
Magnus J. Durant was born in Muskingum
county, Ohio, on December 29, 1873, the son of Will-
iam J. and Julia (Longstreet) Durant. The father was
a veteran of the Civil war. Our subject had scanty
opportunity for education but so well did he improve
the odd moments that he secured a good fund of in-
formation and needed training. When eighteen he
started to do for himself and worked the first year
for ten dollars per month. In 1892 he came west,
landing in Spokane with seven dollars as his cash cap-
ital. He went into the woods and at that work and
sawmilling he spent nearly three years. Then we see
him in Delta, mining, and in 1895 he came to Brown
creek. Air. Durant always possessed the real frontiers-
man's spirit and he soon gratified his ambitions by
turning from mining to trapping and for several win-
ters he did well in that line. He caught bear, otter,
mink, beaver and other game and continued in this
fascinating employment until 1898. On June 2, of
that year, Mr. Durant bought the improvements of
another man on his present place, which is about five
miles north from Gregg on Rattle Snake ridge and
he at once began to improve the place. He has spent
much of the winters in the mountains and on several
occasions his knowledge and skill in these mighty bar-
riers of nature have been brought into requisition by
tourists and he has guided various parties through the
most intricate regions of the Bitter Roots. He has
demonstrated himself a trusty and skillful guide and
doubtless Mr. Durant will lead many parties in these
entrancing mountains as he is more widely known.
On one occasion when forty miles up the Wetass,
Mr. Durant dug a canoe from a pine log and loaded it
with provisions and attempted the dangerous descent
of the stream. It was too much for mortal to do with-
out accident but although they got wet and suffered
from the cold, he succeeded in getting to the settlement
below. Mr. Durant has six brothers and four sisters^
His farm presents evidence of his labors and he is a
man of good standing. Mr. Durant recently guided a
party through the Locksaw and the Sellway country
and he is a typical mountaineer.
William J. Durant, the father of our subject, was
born in Muskingum county, Ohio, on January 15,
1844. He enlisted in Company H, Sixty-second Ohio
Volunteer Infantry, on September 7, 1861. Being
mustered out on the seventh of the following October,
he reinlisted on January 1, 1863, at Hilton Head, South
Carolina. On August 23, 1865, he was discharged at
City Point, Virginia. During this time he was in a
skirmish at Harrisburg, Virginia, later he was guard
for an ammunition train, after which he suffered from
typhoid fever in the hospital. Following the hospital
days he joined his regiment in South Carolina and took
part in the engagements at Norris Island and Forts
Wagner, Gregg and Sumter. Then he was part of the
victorious army that figured in the last campaigns just
preceding Appottomax Court House. After the war
he returned to Zanesville, Ohio, and remained with his
parents on the farm until March 4, 1867. On that date
Mr. Durant married and began operations for himself.
Mrs. Durant was born in Muskingum county, Ohio,
on August 22, 1843. Jonn Durant, the father of Will-
iam J., was born in Alsace, France, in February, 1809,
and died at Zanesville, Ohio, on August 21, 1891, aged
eighty-two. This venerable gentleman had married
Margaret Zorn, who was born in Alsace, France, in
August, 1821, and died in Zanesville, Ohio, on Octo-
ber 2, 1899, aged seventy-eight.
JOHN W. CREA is one of Idaho county's substan-
tial and prominent stockmen and agriculturists and is
one of the heavy landowners of the county as well.
He is a man of excellent business qualities and in ad-
dition to his business mentioned, lie is a first class
miller and has wrought in this capacity much in this
county and adjacent sections.
John W. Crea was born in Centerville, Appanoose
county, Iowa, on April 12, 1859, the son of James
Crea. The father was born in England in June. 1836,
and came to the United States in 1852 to dwell with
his uncle and aunt, the well known family of Crea in
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. When twenty-one he came
to Appanoose county, Iowa, took a half section of land
and farmed it for seven years. In 1864 he came to
Harrisburg. Oregon, bought land and remained seven
years, in 1871 was in Dayton, Washington, and in
-49 8
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1872 came to Camas prairie. Here he remained until
the time of his death on June 29, 1882. At the time of
the Indian war, he assisted to bring in the bodies of
Norton, Moore, Mrs. John Chamberlain and her child,
■whose tongue had been cut. Our subject was brought
up in the various places where the family lived and
was also an attendant at the school in District No.
2, from which the schoolhouse was moved to
Grangeville. When nineteen he entered the Grange-
ville flour mills and wrought for seven years. At the
time of the Indian war he joined Company B, Second
regiment of Idaho Volunteers and was guard for Mt.
Idaho and Grangeville. In 1883 Mr. Crea took up a
half section west from Denver four miles and now he
has over a thousand acres, owns two hundred head of
cattle and other stock, besides having his farm well
improved and owning property in Grangeville. In
October, 1883, Mr. Crea was miller for the govern-
ment at Kamiah and continued until December, 1886.
In July, 1888, he took a position for the government at
Lapwai as miller and continued until November, 1892,
and from 1897 to 1900 he was in the Denver mills,
but during all this time Mr. Crea has continued his
stock and farming enterprises. He has the following
.brothers and sisters, Thomas D., William, James,
Robert, Henry, Mary Holbrook.
On February 14, 1882 Mr. Crea married Miss
Emma V., daughter of George L. and Mary C. (Mc-
Lean) Bowman. The father was born on November
1, 1832, in Augusta county, Virginia. He lived there
and in Indiana until his death, which occurred in his
native state on September 23, 1861. Mrs. Bowman
was born in Indiana on September 10, 1836. married
August 9, 1855, and died April 2, 1879. Mrs. Crea
was born in Augusta county, Virginia, on September
6, [857, and has two brothers, Francis M. and Will-
iam W. Six children have been born to this union,
James B., born December 20, 1882; Edward B., born
June 20, 1885, and died August 21, 1890; Raymond
F., born August 14, 1887; Rose E., born November
19, 1890; May E., born May 18, 1893; William )..
born July 28, 1896. Mr. and Mrs. Crea are Republi-
cans and he belongs to the I. O. O. F., and the M. W.
-V.. while she is a member of the Christian church.
HOLSEY W1CKAM lives five miles north from
Grangeville upon a good estate which he has caused to
produce the fruits of the field in abundance for a num-
ber of years. He is a man of reliability and is in the
best of standing in the community. He was born in
the vicinity of Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, on October
14, 1850, the son of Holsey and Nancy J. (Manning)
Wickam, natives of New York. The father came to
Pennsylvania, then to Ohio, and thence to Miller coun-
ty, Missouri, and finally to Douglas county, Kansas,
where he enlisted in Company B, Twelfth Kansas In-
fantry and served until his honorable discharge. In
1867 he returned to Miller county and there died in
1878. The mother was married in New York and is
still living in Miller county, being ninety years old and
hearty and strong. Our subject is the eighth of a fam-
ily of twelve children, six boys and six girls, seven of
the twelve now living. Our subject staid at home and
worked with his father and attended school until 1872,
then went to Texas and the next year took back a
drove of cattle. In 1874, he came via San Francisco,
to Portland and on to Douglas county. In 1877, he
settled in Tammanay hollow near Lewiston and in 1889,
he removed thence to his present place. He bought a
half section and has it well improved. A good dwell-
ing, fine barn and out buildings, with excellent forest
grove of ten acres besides orchard and other improve-
ments make the estate one of beauty, comfort and value.
On March 13, 1888, near Lewiston, Mr. Wickam
married Miss Mary S., daughter of L. P. and Rachel
( Baird ) Clark, who came from California to Lewiston.
Mrs. Wickam was born in 1858 and died in June, 1893.
She left one child, Iva F., born February 4, 1889, and
is now living with her mother's parents. She is re-
ceiving a good education and is a bright child.
GEORGE A. COWGILL, the intelligent and lead-
ing agriculturist and dairyman, whose labors in Idaho
county have been conducted with skill and enterprise,
is deservedly classed as one of the substantial men of
the county and a real builder of its interests and wealth.
He was born in Columbia county, Wisconsin, on Octo-
ber 22, 1861, the son of Abraham and Esther (Roberts )
Cowgill. The father, a shoemaker, was born in England
in 1820, came to the United States in 1853 and settled
in Wisconsin, where he did farming and bred fine
stock. He owns and operates the Sunnyside stock
farm in Wisconsin. The mother was born in England
in 1822 and died in 1866. Our subject was reared in
Wisconsin and in 1885 graduated from the North-
western Business College and Academy. He commenced
to teach in 1880 and continued while studying in the
above institution. In 1885 he went to Jordan valley,
Oregon, to visit his brothers and later we see him in
Pendleton, where he was engaged as salesman with
Dusenberry Brothers. The next spring he took up the
work of the educator at Alba and for three years fol-
lowed it steadily. He had charge also of the warehouse
al Warren, near Pendleton. He reamined here until
iN<)4, and then quit teaching on account of failing
health. After this he came to Camas Prairie and
bought a quarter section, where he now lives four
miles west from Grangeville, later adding two hun-
dred and eighty acres more. He at once took up farm-
ing and stock raising and handles thoroughbred Po-
land China hogs, having about one hundred and fifty.
He also started the Eagle Dairy, which he has made a
paying and popular instituiton. Mr. Cowgill handles
the business with skill and acquired wisdom of the
present day. while his untiring care and modern and
improved methods give the choicest results, which
have made his products sought after in the market.
He has all the best buildings needed in his work and
has made a flattering success. Mr. Cowgill lias four
brothers. William, Thomas R., Mark, lohn C. F. .Mark
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
499
is deceased and the others are in Malheur county,
( iregon.
On January 29, 1893 Air. Cowgill married Miss
Grace, daughter of William O. and Mary (Argo)
Warren. Mr. Waren was born June 9, 1840, in Illi-
nois, of pioneer parents. They crossed the plains in
1853 to the Willamette valley, settling in Linn county.
He was reared and educated there and when eighteen
came to Lewiston and took up prospecting, and was
one of the original discoverers of gold at Florence.
He did mining, raising stock, farming and so forth
at various times and now dwells at Warren, Umatilla
county, Oregon, where he owns half a section of land.
The mother of Mrs. Cowgill was born in Bourbon
county, Kentucky, on February 5, 1843. Her parents
were pioneers in Missouri and later in the Willamette
valley, whither they came in 1852. Mrs. Cowgill was
born in Linn county, Oregon, on May 27, 1869 and
has the following brothers and sisters : Kate McAlex-
ander, Marion, Bert, Georgiana, Fred, Iona. To this
happy marriage there have been born four children,
Myrtle V., born May 19, 1894 ; Clara E., born January
5/1897; George D., born September 5, 1898; Norma,
born March 26, 1901. Mr. and Mrs. Cowgill are solid
Republicans. He is clerk of district No. 3 and is a
member of the W. W.
GEORGE D. SMITH, one of Grangeville's best
known and most substantial citizens, who is now pro-
prietor of the Wiltse house, a leading and popular hotel
of the county, is certainly entitled to representation in
the history of his county, because of his faithful and
wise labors here for its upbuilding, because of the
prominent place that he holds and has held in its
councils and among the people, because of his own
real worth and integrity, having always in his walk
here manifested those virtues of sound principles, in-
tegrity, and uprightness.
George D. Smith was born in Roseburg, Oregon,
on January 4, 1854, the son of Thomas and Arthusia
E. (Lynn) Smith. The father was born in England,
February 12, 1824, came to the United States in 1830,
was in Rochester, New York, Cleveland, Ohio, and La-
porte. Indiana. In 1847 he came to the wilds of Ore-
gon with ox teams, accompanied by his brother Will-
iam. He located the North Umpqua ferry on the river
<>:' that name and took a half section donation claim.
Stock raising and farming occupied him and on Oc-
tober 21, 1852 he married Miss A. E. Lynn, whose
parents were natives of Germany. She started across
the plains with them in 1850, but her father died of
cholera at Ft. Laramie, Wyoming, and she and her sis-
ter walked the balance of the way to The Dalles. This
-was a distance of sixteen hundred miles. The parents
still live in Roseburg and have celebrated their golden
wedding. These venerable pioneers and worthy people
have done much to bring civilization in and bore the
burdens of the day without a mumur. The father
has been probate judge, county commissioner, and
president of the State Agricultural Society of Oregon
and is a prominent and capable man, highly esteemed
by the people and of excellent worth. Our subject
grew to manhood in Oregon and finished his education
in the Wilbur Academy in that state. He spent a short
time in California in 1873 and made his way to Idaho
county on September 5, 1873. Since then he has been
one of the leaders and builders. He engaged in stock
business and in 1878 took land. This was near where
Grangeville is now but no town was here then. Mr.
Smith continued steadily in the stock business until
1897, when he sold out and opened the hotel he now
handles in Grangeville. He also owns other property.
On August 5, 1878 at Roseburg, Oregon, Mr. Smith
married Miss Martha J., daughter of Harden and Iva
J. (Morton) Davis, pioneers of Oregon in 1850. They
have celebrated their golden wedding and still dwell
in Roseburg. Mrs. Smith is next to the oldest of
twelve children and Mr. Smith is the oldest of twelve.
She has seven brothers and three sisters living, all in
Oregon but John N., an attorney in Kansas City. Mr.
Smith as four sisters and five brothers living, Lynn,
Lee, Nathan, Ralph, Thomas, Mary, Emma, Helen,
Grace. Mr. Smith is a Mason and has been master
three times in the Grangeville lodge. He is also presi-
dent of the Pioneer Association. In 1884 Mr. Smith
was nominated for sheriff and although he was a
strong Republican and the county Democratic, he was
defeated by only a few votes. Fie has been supervisor
of the Bitter Root forest reserve. Mr. Smith has nu-
merous mining interests and other property. He is
one of the substantial men of the county, has labored
long and faithfully to bring about its present de-
velopment and prosperity and great credit is due him
for his achievements.
ROBERT N. WALKER is one of the heavy land
owners of the Camas parairie country and is also one of
the leading citizens, being a good substantial man of
capability and integrity. He was born in McDonald
county, Missouri, on March 30, 1852, the son of Robert
F and Mary (Falls) Walker, natives of eastern Ten-
nessee. The father being in the Civil war, was killed
near his home in 1864. The mother died in McDonald
county in 1898. The following children, besides our
subject, were born to this union : William, Hugh L..
Mrs. Carrie Browning, Mrs. M. E. Clark. Mrs. Martha
E. Davis. Robert N. was reared and educated in his
native place and when fourteen went to Fannin county,
Texas, and herded cattle. Returning to Missouri in
1871, he went to Monterey county, California and two
vears later returned to Missouri. In 1S86 Mr. Walker
jorneyed to Whitman county and there farmed until
1891, when he came to his present place, four miles
north from Grangeville, and bought four hundred and
forty acres of good land, which he has improved and
cultivated with skill since that time. He has one of
the finest farms of the section, well cared for and em-
bellished with fine buildings, and other valuable im-
provements, as eight-room residence, good wind mill,
plenty of running water which is piped into the house.
500
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Mr. Walker started the battle of life with nothing and
has now a competence for the balance of life, the result
of his hard labor and skill in management. Mr.
Walker is a member of the W. W.
On June 29. 1873 Mr. Walker married Miss Mary
E., daughter of Robert and Cynthia (Rice) Prater, na-
tives of Morgan county, Kentucky. The father died
July 4, 1896 in his eighty-ninth year. The mother was
"born in 1820 and still lives in her native county, well
and hearty. Mrs. Walker was born in Morgan county,
May 22, 1855. Ten children have been the fruit of this
union, Rosa, deceased ; Frederic, Robert O., Mrs. Lulu
Costly. Cynthia C. William C, Hugh C. Lillian, Nellie,
James.
JESSY B. THOMPSON is a farmer and stock-
man whose well tilled and productive farm lies one
mile northeast from Tolo, was born in Wapello county,
Iowa, on July 15, 1865, the son of David and Marga-
ret Thompson, born in Indiana, on August, 1820, and
in 1827, respectively. They were pioneers of Iowa and
the father died in October, 1888, and the mother died
in 1878. Our subject remained at home until fif-
teen and then went to Nebraska and dwelt with a
brother. He entered the Methodist college at York
and graduated in 1885. Then he came to Camas
prairie via Pendleton, Walla Walla, Lewiston and by
stage the balance of the way. Two years later he took
government land and engaged in farming and rais-
ing stock. Later he sold this property and bought
where he now lives. He owns a quarter section, raises
cattle and hogs and general products.
Mr. Thompson has the following named brothers
and sisters, Oscar, John, Dan, Amanda Barton, Mary
Steers, David, Matheus.
On November 9, 1890, Mr. Thompson married
Miss Melinda, daughter of Joseph and Martha Feh-
ner. Mrs. Thompson was born in Illinois, on July 12,
1871, and she has four brothers and sisters, Lucy
Mitchell, William. Wesley, John N. To Mr. and Mrs.
Thompson there have been born five children, Claude,
born May 8, 1892; Maud, born February 14. 1804;
Roy, born May 5, 1896: Vera, born October 5, 1898;
Winifred, born November 19, 1900; Marvin, born
April 19, 1902. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are active
Republicans and are well posted in the issues of the
dav. He is a member of the W. W.
HARRY V. MARKHAM is a product of Idaho
county that does credit to his birthplace and his up-
rightness and enterprise have won him a good stand-
ing and the confidence of the people. He dwells on
a farm about one mile north from Grangeville and is
prosperous in his labors.
Harry V. Markham was born on the farm where he
now lives, on October 29, 1868, the son of Nathaniel
and Fannie (Smith) Markham. The father was
born in Ohio, in 1830, and crossed the plains with
ox teams to the Willamette valley in 1852, settling
near Roseburg. The mother was born in Laporte, In-
diana, on September 7, 1835, and started across the
plains with her parents. The father died in Saint
Joseph, Missouri, and the rest of the family came on.
Her brothers, Ernest and Marion, took charge of the
journey. She married Mr. Markham on September 3,
1855, and in 1868 they removed to Camas prairie and
settled on the present homestead. Nine children were
born to this couple, Frank, Mary, Alma, Susan. Amos,
Harry, Edith, Robert, Anna. The first and last are
deceased. The father died on February 21, 1898, but
the mother still lives with our subject. The ances-
tors of this worthy couple came from England. Mr.
Markham was an upright, capable and kind man and
had the respect and confidence of all and at his death
the Masons buried him, he being the oldest Master
Mason here. Our subject grew to manhood here and
received a good education and then worked for a New-
York cattle firm on the Salmon and was foreman for
seven years. At present Mr. Markman is not only
engaged in farming but is in partnership with his
brothers, Amos and Robert, in raising stock and they
have a goodly herd. He also owns a good house in
Grangeville.
On October 5, 1890, Mr. Markham married Miss
Mary J., daughter of Charles F. and Mary (Loomis)
Brown, mentioned also in this work. Mrs. Markham
was born in Seward, Nebraska, on October 23, 1870.
Her mother died when she was two years old and an
aunt raised her. When fifteen she accompanied her
father to Grangeville. She has one brother, William
G.. and one sister, Ada F. Keller. Mr. and Mrs.
Markham have four children, Allan R., born Sep-
tember 25. 1891 ; Addie May, born January 5. 1805 ;
Charles E., born October 3. 1897; Oren W.. born
June 24, 1900. Mr. and Mrs Markham are deeply
interested in the religious and educational welfare of
the community and are upholders of all moves for the
general advancement, being progressive and capable
people.
HENRY T. SMITH. Among the pioneers of the
Glover country we should mention the subject of this
sketch, who is one of the enterprising young men
ready to take hold with his hands and perform with
his might the things to be done.
Henry T. Smith was born in DeKalb county. Mis-
souri, on February 16, 1876, the son of Anderson B.
and Fanny (Ashby) Smith, natives of DeKalb and
Grundy counties, Missouri, respectively. The father
was born on April 19, 1836, and served two years in
the Second Missouri Volunteers. He was taken
prisoner at the battle of Vicksburg and after nine
months of this life he took the oath of allegiance and
was released. Mr. Smith had a brother in the same
prison and when they were released from the Chesa-
peake bay prison, they walked almost all the way to
Salt Lake City, Utah. The mother of our subject was
a school teacher and one of her brothers, William
Ashby, was a captain in the Confederate army. Our
subject was trained in the district school and then by
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
501
his own exertions he put himself through a course at
the Northwest and the Wesleyan colleges in Missouri.
He completed these courses when twenty and then
spent two years at home. After this he went to Ok-
lahoma, this being 1898, and for two years he bought
and shipped cattle after which he took the fever and
left that country. We next see him in Kansas City,
whence he came to Spokane and in the spring of 1901
Mr. Smith came to his present place and bought the
improvements of another man. He has devoted him-
self to the improvement of his place since that time
and in time will have a beautiful and valuable farm.
Mr. Smith has some stock and is preparing for fruit
raising. He is a progressive and enterprising young
man and is a strong advocate of good schools. He
has three brothers and two sisters, Ernest A., Ahira
V. J. S., Beatrice, Blanche. Mr. Smith has never
left the charming life of the bachelor and single handed
is righting the battle of opening a farm and making a
home.
DAVID SCHNEIDER is a man whose labors and
skill, coupled with tenacity of purpose and pluck, have
placed him in a prosperous condition. He has a good
farm about three miles northeast from Westlake and
in addition to opening this from the wild sod, he has
done much freighting and is now possessed of a good
property.
David Schneider was born in Russia on June 2,
1850, being the son of George S. and Lizzie (Schick)
Schneider, natives of Russia. The father was born
on January 19, 1818. Our subject has the following
brother and sisters : Kathrena, Susie, Fred. At the
age of twenty-six, Mr. Schneider came to the United
States and farmed for a period of eleven years in Kan-
sas and Washington. In 1880 he went to Los Angeles
and for a time he was in hard financial circumstances
there. Although anxious for work, he was forced to
abandon a job with a circus on account of the rough
crowd. Later he secured employment and then came
to Seattle, where he was soon engaged, as it was im-
mediately after the great fire. He worked by the day
for a time and then took a contract for unloading brick
and made about eight dollars per day. Later he was in
Tacoma and then came to the Palouse country where
he farmed for a time and was swamped by the hard
times and wet of 1893. He clung to the property and
traded until he saved some and at the opening of the
reservation Mr. Schneider removed hither and although
it was a struggle to open up a farm and care for a large
family, he succeeded and now has a good property. He
owns twenty cattle, eleven horses, seventeen hogs, and
one hundred and forty acres of grain. He has com-
fortable buildings and is one of the thrifty farmers of
the vicinity.
On January 8, 1883 Mr. Schneider married Miss
Caritine. daughter of Chris and Lottie Hagen, natives
of Russia and born on August 26, 1835 and July 21,
1833, respectively. The wedding occurred in Marion,
Kansas, and Judge B. T. Broockett officiated. Mrs.
Schneider was born in southern Russia on May 3, 1863
and she has the following brothers and sisters : Lottie,
Katie, John, Lizzie, Mary Nettie, Minnie, Daniel,
Lydia. The first three were born in Russia, but the
rest were born in Kansas. To Mr. and Mrs. Schneider
there have been born the following children: Clara,
horn July 24, 1883 and died February 27, 1887 ; David,
born March 15, 1885; Samuel, born March 1, 1887;
Mattie, born February 17, 1889; Esther R., born Feb-
ruary 15, 1893 ; Mary L., born August 20, 1895 ; Kassa,
born July 24, 1898, and died May 22, 1899; Herbert,
born April 11, 1899. The first three children were
born in Kansas, the next in California, the next in
Washington, and the rest in Idaho. Mr. and Mrs.
Schneider are adherents of the Lutheran church.
HUGH BRADY is one of the thrifty stockmen and
farmers of Idaho county. He dwells about three miles
south of Denver and has a quarter section of land
which he acquired by homestead right.
Hugh Brady was born in Clinton county. New
York, on February 27, 1862, the son of John and Ellen
(O'Mara) Brady, born in county Cavin, Ireland, on
March 12, 1835 and in county Cork, Ireland, in 1841,
respectively. The father came to this county when
a child with his parents and is now a farmer in New
York. Our subject was brought up and educated
in his native place. In January, 1880, he left for Lead-
ville, Colorado, where he worked in the mines for two
years. In 1882 he was in New Mexico and railroaded.
July of that year found him on his way, via San
Francisco, to Oregon and Washington, where he did
railroad work also. He landed on Camas prairie finally
in 1884. After working out at various employment
for a time, he took his present place and since that
time has devoted himself to building a good property
and making a comfortable home and valuable improve-
ments. Mr. Brady has the following named brothers
and sisters: Mark T., William, Phillip, John, Nora E.
Murphy.
On Tune 27, 1895 Mr. Brady married Miss Lizzie
M., daughter of Orren and Bidd'y A. (Johnson) Bent-
lev. The father was born in Illinois in 1841 and served
in the Civil war. He came to Kansas, and in 1884
thence to Camas Prairie. He now lives six miles west
from Tolo. The mother of Mrs. Brady was born in
Illionis in 1847 and now lives in this county. Mrs.
Bradv was born in Illinois on February 20, 1878 and
has the following named brothers and sisters: Hugh,
Viola. Leila, John, Ernest. Minnie. Two children have
been born to this couple, Alta. born June 15, 1896; Ray,
born March 15. 1898. Mr. Brady is a member of the
M. W. A.
CHRISTOPHER F. KEEFER has not been in
Idaho county as long as some of the earliest pioneers
of this section, but his enterprise and stability coupled
with thrift and uprightness, have made him one of the
substantial and prominent citizens of this section. He
was born in Stuttgart, Germany, on November 6, 1867,
502
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
the son of Joseph D. and Appolonia D.(Pfaler)Keefer,
natives of Germany. The father, who was a prominent
man of his section, being chief of police, was a first
lieutenant in the Franco-Prussian war and fought
through the struggle and was wounded. He came with
his family to the United States in 1887, his wife dying
in Chicago the next year; he returned to Germany
with his daughter and there died October 24, 1901.
Four children were born to this marriage, Christopher.
Mary, Charles, Amelia. Our subject was educated in
the various places he lived during his chilhood and
come to Denver in 1891, then journeyed to Montana
and later to Spokane, where he followed the butcher
trade. While in Montana he was one of party of eight
who rescued an emigrant train from the Indians in
the Big Hole basin.
On October 2, 1901, Mr. Keefer married Mrs.
Luella M. Markham, daughter of Myron D. and Martha
J. (Love) Greene, natives of western New York. They
removed to Minnesota and then came to Camas prairie
where they now live. Mrs. Keefer was married to
Frank Markham February 14, 1886, who was an early
pioneer of this prairie. He was born September 3,
1857 and died May 24, 1896. He took the homestead
where Mr. and Airs. Keefer now live. Four children
were born to Mr. and Mrs. Markham, Alma Mable,
born May 11, 1887, and died January 13, 1889; Chester
A., born October 10, 1888; Lora B., born August 10,
1891 ; Eunice L., born December 6, 1895. Mrs. Keefer
has one brother and two sisters, Myron D., Marion
Augusta, Mary Isadore. Mrs. Keefer was born
May 10, 1866, in Dakota county, Minnesota,
was educated in the Hamlin University in St. Paul and
taught for some years. Mr. Keefer is a member of the
I. O. O. F.„ of the Maccabees and the Redmen.
HON. JAMES DeHAVEN holds the position of
United States commissioner, having been apointed in
1897 and reappointed in 1901. He is one of the leading
atorneys of the county of Idaho and has manifested
those qualities of sterling worth which coupled with
capability and carefully acquired erudition have given
him a first class clientage and an unexcelled standing
among the people.
James DeHaven was born in Humboldt county,
California, on June 18, 1854. the son of Jacob and
Elizabeth (Wells) DeHaven, born in Ohio in 1815 and
1823, respectively, and died in 1863 and 1856. The
father was a pioneer in California in 1849 ar>d came to
Boise basin in 1863, where he died. Being thus early
deprived of his parents, our subject was reared by Mr.
and Mrs. G. C. Barber until he was eighteen. He re-
ceived a good education and then started for himself
and when nineteen commenced the study of law. In
1876, we see him in Lane county, Oregon, and two
years later he came thence to Nez Perces county and
took land near Genesee, devoting himself to the basic
art of agriculture and stock raising. In 1892, he could
have sold his property for twelve thousand dollars but
after the panic and flood of 1893, he quit the following
year with two thousand dollars of debt. In 1886, Mr.
DeFIaven was chosen to represent his county in the
fourteenth territorial legislature, which enacted the code
of 1887. the revised statutes of the state. He was re-
elected in 1888 by a satisfied constituency at which
time was passed the Alturas County Bill, which was
later declared constitutional by the supreme court
of the United States. Following the finan-
cial depression of 1894, Mr. DeHaven went to
Lewiston and read law with E. O'Neill and continued
there until April, 1896, but was admitted before the
supreme court in October, 1895. In 1896, coming to
Grangeville he located for practice and here we find
him now, having continued steadily in the pursuit of
his practice with an ever increasing clientage until the
present. At first Mr. DeHaven was associated with
Frank E. Fogg and later with Charles H. Nugent but
in igor. he formed a partnership with Charles T. Mc-
Donald ; in April, 1903, this firm was dissolved by mu-
tual consent.
In 1884, Mr. DeHaven married Miss Kate H,
daughter of Thomas H. and Louise F. (Rouse ) Masi in,
the wedding occurring near Genesee. Mr. Mason kept
the stage station on Mason creek on Craig mountain in
1866 and continued until the Indians drove him out.
Mason prairie is named from him. He was born in
England and died in 1902. The mother was born in
New York and still lives. Mrs. DeHaven had one
uncle, Harry Mason, who was killed by the Indians in
1877. She was born in Albany, New York, and has
one sister, Nellie Shilts, in Roseburg, Oregon. Mr. De-
Haven has one brother, John J., United States district
judge in San Francisco. Six children have been born
to this couple. John, Harry M., Ernest, Mary. Louise
and Francis. Mr. DeHaven is an active Republican
and in 1898 was nominated for county attorney but
went down with his party. He is an influential and
leading citizen .and an upright and capable man and at-
tornev.
JOHN A. SWARTS, familiarly known as "Gov.
Swarts," is one of the leading and capable men of Idaho
county and has lived the life of the pioneer in this and
other western localities and has done a noble part in the
opening and developing of the country. He was born
in Frederick county, Virginia, in the valley of the
Shenandoah, on May 1, 1822, the son of Lewi- and
Elizabeth (Jones) Swarts, natives also of Frederick
county and born March 1, 1800 and 1807, respectively.
The father was a companion of Daniel Boone and died
in 1855 : the mother died in 1862 and both families were
pioneers of Virginia. Our subject there grew to man-
In mil, received an education and when twenty-one went
to Iowa, later he was in Ohio and in 1852 came across
the plains with his wife and two children. He arrived
in California in five months and four days and went to
mining in Nevada county, where he wrought eighteen
years. He did well and in 1862 came with a company
of California miners to Florence. He wrought two
years and then returned home where he remained until
1870. Then came a trip to Oregon and three years
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
5oj
were spent in the Willamette valley. Next we see him
in Idaho county where he took a half section of land
and bought more where he now resides, six miles north-
east from Grangeville. He has devoted himself to
raising stock and general farming, in which he has
prospered.
On June 12, 1845, in Mason, Warren county, Ohio,
Mr. Swarts married Miss Mary, daughter of Lucas and
Maria ( Mason) Leonard, natives of Maine and Ohio,
respectively. The father died in 1832 of cholera. Mrs.
Swarts was born in Warren county, October 24, 1828,
and has two brothers, Francis, deceased, and William.
She has always been careful to minister to the sick
and needy and her skill and kindness have made her a
veritable ministering angel in many places on the fron-
tier, where she is a true mother in. Israel. Mr. Swarts
is the oldest of four children and the only one living.
Four children were born to this union, Delia Gelbach,
in Grangeville ; Bertha Longs, near Grangeville ; Theo-
dore D., and Marion Calkins, deceased, on the Salmon.
Mr. Swartz calls himself a black Republican and urges,
as the reason, that he has been out in the world.
During the Indian war Mr. Swarts was here and the
first intimation he had of trouble was when he was
hauling lumber, he saw an Indian riding swiftly, an-
other one following, and their actions aroused his sus-
picions. Coming home he found Mr. Fenn had been
sent by Mr. Brown of Alt. Idaho to warn them. He
unhitched and later heard horses approaching rapidly,
which proved to be his son and John McPherson. who
called forcibly to him to get to Mt. Idaho at once.
Hurried action soon made them ready and they sped
thence as fast as possible. They took in a neighbor
woman and could see as they journeyed, flashes of
light, which proved to be the Indians shooting settlers.
About midnight they got to Mt. Idaho and the next
morning Mr. Swarts started home, meeting Lena
Bowers on the way who told of the awful murder on
the prairie and as other men rode up, Mr. Swarts sent
her to Alt. Idaho with them, then also returned and as-
sisted in caring for the wounded. Airs. Swarts also
being skilled in nursing, cared for the wounded, until
Dr. Alorris came the next night. Later, when Air.
Swartz and others went to his farm to see about the
crops and goods, a man rode up telling him of the mur-
der of the volunteers on the Cottonwood and they all
sped to Alt. Idaho. When Alaggie Manuel was brought
in Airs. Swarts set her arm, while she told a straight
story of the awful tragedy and how in coming to her
mother she had stepped in the blood with her bare feet.
Air. Swarts is a genial and kind gentleman and he
and his estimable wife are deserving of the high esteem
and respect received by them from all.
FRED TAUTFEST. Russia has contributed
many of her sturdy sons to make excellent citizens of
this fair Republic and among this number we mention
the subject of this sketch, who is a thrifty and well-to-
do farmer dwelling about three miles northeast from
Westlake, where he has made a good farm from the
wild land taken by homestead right and is one of the
leading citizens of his community.
Fred Taut f est was born in Russia on October 24,
i860, being the son of Jacob and Sophia (Huffman)
Tautfest, also natives of Russia. The}- had two chil-
dren besides our subject, David and Jacob, both born
in Russia. Our subject started out a poor boy, made
his way through college in his native land, then came
to America and settled in Kansas where he farmed for
seven years. Next we see him in Oregon, a year later
he came on to Washington and after working at vari-
ous occupations for some time he came to Idah< 1 a flin-
ty and tok his present farm as a homestead. He has
the estate all fenced, half in cultivation, thirty-one head
of cattle, plenty of horses, hogs and so forth and good
substantial buildings. The farm is supplied with fine
spring water in abundance and also has sufficient tim-
ber for use on the estate.
Air. Tautfest married Miss Katie Fischer, who was
born in Russia, on September 21. 1865. The wedding
occurred on December 13, 1883. Mr. Fischer was born
in Russia on March 15. 1843, and took as his wife,
Katie Wagner, who was born on October 12. 1844.
Mrs. Tautfest has the following brothers and sisters,
Lizzie Geis, Adam, John C, Mollie Lawbach, Jacob W.,
one of the Rough Riders in the Spanish war and still
in the service ; Hannah Dumler, Alary. Henry. To Air.
and Mrs. Tautfest the following children have been
born, Emma E., born in Marion county, Kansas, De-
cember 10, 1885 ; Edward, born in Kansas, July 22,
1887; Benjamin F., born in Albina. Oregon. February
15, 1889; George W., born in Walla Walla, on No-
vember 27, 1891 ; William C, born in Walla Walla,
Washington, on May 12, 1893 : Elsie M., born in Walla
Walla, on April 6, 1895; Laura L., born in Idaho
county, March 12, 1898; Alelvina I., born in Idaho
county, May 20, 1900 ; Katie S., born in Idaho county,
May 23, 1902. Air. Tautfest is a strong Republican
and also a warm advocate of good schools.
JOHN M. & FREDERIC BERNTHAL are well
known and prosperous stockmen and farmers in Idaho
county and their present home is on their large estate
of five hundred and sixty acres of land, one hundred
and sixty acres to farm and ttie rest in pasture about
three miles southwest from Denver. Their parents are
Frederic and Alargaret ( Reiff ) Bernthal. The father
was born in Bavaria, came to the United States with
his parents when young and settlement was made in
Frankenmuth, Saginaw county. Michigan, where he
farmed. He learned the trade of tailor in the old coun-
try. Frankenmuth was his home until his death in the
spring of 1861. The mother of our subjects came
to America from Bavaria with her parents and is still
living in Alichigan with her children. John AI. Bern-
thai was born in Saginaw county, on December 22,
1855 and there was reared and attended school. He
remained with his parents until twenty-eight and in the
fall of 1881 went tc Texas and joined his brother. Af-
ter a year or so there, on August I, 1885, he came to
5°4
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Lewiston and two years later came to Camas prairie
where he took land.' Since that time he has continued
here in farming ami stock raising.
Frederic Bernthal was born in Michigan, on May
18, 1858 ami like his brother was raised and educated
in the" native place. He left Michigan in 1881 and
went to Texas. There he followed the bakery busi-
ness which he had learned previously. He remained in
Texas until 1888. On December 15, of that year he
landed on Camas prairie and bought out a preemption.
He at once turned his attention to farming and stock
raising and since that time has continued with good
success. The brothers own five hundred and sixty
acres of land, have twenty-five head of cattle, raise over
fifty hogs each year and are prosperous and well-to-do.
They also own property in Denver. They have the fol-
lowing named brothers and sisters : John W., Len,
Mary Berlein, Maggie Ruprecht, Doering Baldas,
Jacob. Adam, all in Michigan. Our subjects are mem-
bers of the Lutheran church and in political matters are
solid Republicans and active in matters of general
welfare.
WALTER HICKERSON, of the firm of Hick-
•erson and Hohaus, hardware merchants of Grange-
ville, is one of the well known and capable business
men of the county, having wrought here with display
of energy, stability and sagacity, for a decade and being
now established in a remunerative business which is
being handled with manifest ability.
Walter Hickerson was born in Harrodsburg,
Kentucky, on September 16, 1870, the son of George
D. and Maggie J. (Patterson) Hickerman, born in
Kentucky on December 25, 1846 and June 26, 1852,
respectively. The father died in 1880. He was from
Scotch ancestry and his father came direct from Scot-
land to Kentucky in an early day. The mother of our
subject comes from Holland Dutch extraction, her an-
cestors settling in New Jersey in colonial days. She
is still living with her son. Walter. Our subject grew
to young manhood and was educated in Kentucky,
completing his training in the Harrodsburg academy.
At the early age of fourteen he commenced the bat-
tles of life and when eighteen, went into a railroad of-
fice in Florida. In the spring of 1890, he left Jackson-
ville, and journeyed to Denver, whence one year later
he came on to the coast. Later we see him in Palouse
City. Washington, and in January 1892, he came to
GrangeviUe. He at once engaged with Alexander and
Freidenrich, where he continued steadily until June,
1900, when he entered into his present partnership and
opened in the hardware business. The firm started
out well and have done a good business since that date.
On November 29, 1896, at GrangeviUe, Mr. Hick-
erson married Miss Cora, daughter of George and
Margaret (Frise) Bingman, of German extraction and
now dwelling near Kooskia. The father was a pio-
neer here and endured the Indian troubles of the seven-
ties. Mrs. Hickerson was born in Michigan in 1872
and has two sisters, Mrs. Ed Cowley in GrangeviUe
and one in < )hio. Mr. Hickerson has the following
brothers and sisters: Cliff, Mrs. Viola Krakrow, Jose-
phine Graves, a half sister, Robert Graves, a half
brother. Mr. Hickerson is a member of the W. of W.
and he and his wife belong to the Women of Wood-
craft. Mr. Hickerson is a member of the city council
and is an active Democrat, always attending the cau-
cuses ; in 1900, he was sent to the National convention
in Kansas Citv.
CHARLES F. BROWN lives two miles south
from GrangeviUe where he owns a fine farm of a
quarter section, raises general crops, handles stock and
also operates a mill. He is one of the early settlers
here and is a man of industry and good business
ability, all of which have been manifested in the years
of his careful and wise labor in our midst. He was
born in Green county, Wisconsin, on November 15,
1846, the son of William G. and Clarissa (Bartley)
Brown. The father was a millwright, born in Jef-
ferson City. Missouri, and in 1849 crossed the plains
to the Golden state and mined on the Dutch flat until
1879 when he came to Idaho, where he died on Sep-
tember 24, 1898. The mother was born in Ohio in
18 17 and died in March, 1899. Her father was in
the war of 1812.
Our subject went to California at the age of thir-
teen, accompanying his father and there mined. He
enlisted in Company D, Seventh California Infantry,
in October, 1864, and went to the border of Arizona
and New Mexico to resist the French. He was mus-
tered out in May, 1866, then returned to Green county,
Wisconsin, and came to California again in 1876.
Three years later he came to Idaho county and took
land where he is now located. His place has the
first mill built in the countv, which was erected bv
Peter Walters in 1868.
On November 22, 1877, Mf- Brown married Miss
Almira, daughter of Charles M. and Almira (Coch-
rane) Tuck. The father was born in Kennebec
county, Maine, in 1817, of English parentage and the
mother was born in Middlesex county, Massachusetts,
in 1816, of Irish extraction. Mrs. Brown, who was
born in Penobscot county, Maine, in 1849, has two
sisters and one brother, Charles H., Anna Harper and
Martha Pulman. Mr. Brown has one sister and two
brothers, Fardelia Michael, Edwin R., Franklin.
Three children have been born to this union, William
G., Ada Keller, Jennie Markham, all in GrangeviUe.
Mr. Brown is a member of the G. A. R. and is an
active Republican.
BENJAMIN F. ZEHNER. a well-to-do farmer
and stockman dwelling about two miles northeast
from Tolo, is one of the substantial citizens of Idaho
county and because of his worth, industry and public
spirit is entitled to a place in the volume that gives the
history of his county. He was born in Lawrence
county, Illinois, on March 7. 1863. the son of Joseph
and Catherine (McHewen) Zehner. Tlu father was
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
505
born in Ohio on January 9, 1829, and died on May 3,
1898. The mother was born on April 15, 1828, and
died on November 4, 1864. Our subject was raised
in Illinois until eight when he went with the parents
to Missouri and afterwards to Stone county, Arkan-
sas. He remained under the parental roof until he
was eighteen years old, working on the farm and at-
tending school, when he came by wagon across the
country to Pomeroy, Washington, later to Lewiston
and finally on to Camas prairie. The first year he
rented and then took forty acres pre-emption. Since
Mr. Zehner has given his attention to farming and
raising stock and now owns four hundred acres of
land and about forty head of cattle, one hundred hogs
and other stock.
On October 18, 1885, Mr. Zehner maried Miss
Missouri A., daughter of John S. and Sarah (Mat-
hews ) Feaster. The father was born in Washington
county. Tennessee, on August 9, 1821. His parents
came from Pennsylvania and then went to Benton
county. Missouri, where he was raised. He married
and farmed there until 1864, then went to Arkansas
and raised stock until 1898. Then he went to Mis-
souri and in 1902 he came to Denver, this county, and
there lives at the present time. The mother was born
on February 19, 1828, and died in 1866. Mrs. Zeh-
ner was born in Benton county, Mississippi, on De-
cember 8, 1865, and she has the following named
brothers and sisters, Arthur, William, Mollie Miller,
deceased, Nancy E. Derrick, Marinda Sturgis, James,
Jossie Sowvel, Alice Baysinger, Oma Feaster, Frankie
Wall. To this worthy couple six children have been
born, Jossie, born July 31, 1886; Franklin, born De-
cember 29, 1888; Courtney, born February 8, 1891 ;
Nora, born May 8, 1893 ; Elsie, born May 19, 1895 ;
Hazel, born December 28, 1899. Mr. and Mrs Zeh-
ner are good stanch Democrats. They are estimable
people and Mr. Zehner has, because of his skill and
careful attention to business, gained a fine holding of
valuable property.
PETER ASCHENBRENNER has displayed
praiseworhy tenacity and pluck in his labors and has
demonstrated that he is possessed of courage and
ability to surmount obstacles and overcome difficul-
ties and discouragements. He was born in Russia, on
July 14. 1858, being the son of Conrad and Kathrena
(Haan) Aschenbrenner. natives of Russia, but now
dwelling in Idaho. The father was born on Febru-
ary 28, 1827, and the mother on October 15, 1830.
Besides our subject they had the following children.
Kathrena. George H., Cristena, Philip, Lizzie, Con-
rad, William, Benjamin F. At the age of twenty-
two without means our subject started farming for
himself in Kansas where he made a good success for
seven years, then went security for another and lost his
hard earned property. Then he came west to Wash-
ington, secured land and again took up life as at the
start. He prospered for awhile and then the wet
year of 1893 spoiled all and left him broken in fin-
ances again. Not to be daunted, he gathered what he
could together and came to the reservation and se-
lected his present farm two miles west from Ferdi-
nand. He had a family of eight small children and
eight dollars and fifty cents when he landed and the
first three years were filled with great toil and hard-
ship. Mr. Aschenbrenner never wavered but he and
his faithful wife labored on, success finally crowning
their efforts. They have a fine farm now, a
seven-room house, good substantial outbuildings, one
hundred and twenty acres in crops, fourteen head of
cattle, thirteen horses, forty hogs and much personal
property.
Mr. Aschenbrenner married Miss Charlotte,
daughter of Christian and Charlotte Hagen, on No-
vember 3, 1880, in Marion county, Kansas. Mrs.
Aschenbrenner was born in Russia on August 22,
1862. The followig children have been born to this
worthy couple, Joseph, born December 13, 1881 ;
Peter E., born September 11, 1883; Hannah M., born
August 2, 1885; Katie L.. born April 1, 1887; Clara
E., born June 6, 1889; Daniel B., born March 27,
1891 ; William J., born December 11, 1893 ; Reuben H.,
born January 6, 1895; Eddie H., born June 6, 1897;
Lottie D., born May 16, 1899; Goldie, born August 15,
1902. The first four children were born in Kansas,
the next four in Washington and the others in Idaho.
Mr. Aschenbrenner takes an active part in school mat-
ters, and his wife is a member of the Adventist church.
FRANK D. VANSISE. This sturdy and in-
trepid pioneer and Indian fighter has had much to
do both in subduing the enemies of the whites in this
section and also in building up the country, being now
a contractor in Grangeville, where he has wrought for
many years.
Frank D. Vansise was born in Huron county,
Ohio, on January 28, 1850, being the son of David
and Olive (Raymond) Vansise, natives of Pennsyl-
vania, and born in 1815 and 1822 and died in 1857
and 1870, respectively. The father who was of Ger-
man extraction was killed by the bursting of a cannon
while firing a Fourth of July salute. Our subject
grew to manhood and was educated in Ohio. The
mother kept the family together after the father's
death and when our subject was sixteen he went to
sailing on the lakes. . In October. 1868. the family
came, via the the Isthmus, to Portland and there they
bought school land and farmed it until September.
1871. Then it was sold and Frank came to Camas
prairie, where he drove cattle to Warren and did butch-
ering. Later he took land in this county which he
afterwards sold. He followed his trade of building in
Mt. Idaho and in 1885 settled in Grangeville. where he
has dwelt since.
In 1878 Mr. Vansise married Miss Ettie Fountain,
whose father was born in Oregon, where his parents
were pioneers. His brother. Dell Fountain, is a noted
race horse man. Mrs. Vansise was born in Oregon in
1862. Mr. Vansise has one sister. Mary Bartley, in
506
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Mt. Idaho. Mr. Vansise is a member of the I. O. O.
F., has passed all the chairs, was a delegate to the
grand lodge at Pocatello last fall and is now deputy
grand patriarch. Mr. Yansise is an active Democrat,
always at the conventions and has held the office of
constable.
In the Indian war of 1877 he was a volunteer
with the Mt. Idaho local forces to protect their homes.
A. I. Chapman, who raised a company of volunteers,
had an Indian wife and many of them objected to his
position of commander. Consequently a petition was
gotten up among them and presented to General How-
ard to appoint D. B. Randall, a veteran of the Civil
war and lieutenant of the company, commander.
George Riggins and our subject were appointed to
to take this petition to Howard south of the Salmon
from Mt. Idaho. They sent the petition to him from
Whitebird and Randall was appointed. This was July
1. 1877. The next morning seventeen volunteers start-
ed across the prairie to assist Cottonwood and while
on the way one hundred and forty-five Indians under
chief Joseph came up from the gulches on the south
and attacked the seventeen. Mr. Vansise's horse was
shot from under him and H. C. Johnson took him
up behind. They all then charged the Indians and
made a stand on a little knoll. Captain Randall and B.
F. Evans were killed outright at the start of the battle,
D. H. Howser was shot through the body and died
in ten days, a young boy, Leland, was shot through
the leg, and a Swede, Charles Johnson, was shot in the
foot. Eight horses were killed. The volunteers con-
tinued to charge the Indians until they retreated. This
handful were all old plainsmen and fine shots, and
this with their coolness was all that saved them. There
were three companies of soldiers. Captain Perry, Cap-
tain Whipple and Captain Winters, from the First U.
S. Cavalry at Cottonwood at the time of this battle,
but in a most unbecoming and disgraceful manner re-
fused to assist their fellow-s. After the Indians re-
treated, our subject took Howser's horse, rode to Cot-
tonwood and interviewed the troops and it is to be
hoped that his severe reprimand at least brought to
their mind the cowardly acts of the officers. Amuni-
tion was secured and a man. Shearer, went back with
Mr. Vansise, and was wounded in the arm by the skulk-
ing Indians. Wagons took in the wounded and Colon-
el McConville, in command of all the volunteers, hear-
ing the shots came from across the Salmon to assist.
He escorted the handful back to Mt. Idaho the next
day with the wounded.
Alex Foster, a half breed Nez Perces and Charlie
Blewett, who were scouting the day before this battle,
were surprised by the Indians and Blewett was slain,
but Foster escaped to lead back some troops who in
turn were ambushed by the treacherous savages and
all were killed, eleven besides Foster. They made a
stubborn fight, getting into some rocks and only when
their ammunition gave out did the savages come up
and in a hand to hand conflict massacred them all.
Our subject was with the volunteers at the en-
counter on Misery hill when the Indians stampeded
the stock. The redskins encamped across the Clear-
water from General Howard, asked for a peace talk
and then fired at the general and took to the Lo-Lo
trail.
LEVI MAGEE is a stirring business man and ca-
pable attorney at law in Grangeville, where he has been
prominent in these circles as well as in educational mat-
ters for twelve years. He was born in Hamilton, On-
tario, on August 15, 1864, the son of John and Mary
J. (Green) Magee. The father was a farmer, born in
New York, came to the Willamette valley in 1868 and
died there in 1894. The mother was born in Canada
November. 1832. and is still living in Portland. Our
subject was four years of age when the family came
to Oregon and began study in the common school until
1882 then took a seven-year course in the Willamette
University and in 1890 received his diploma, having
taught two years prior to his graduation, and also had
studied law. On August 15, 1890, immediately after
graduation, he came to Grangeville and took charge of
the Columbia River Conference Academy, being princi-
pal. He was first to formulate a complete course and
turned out the first graduates from the institution. After
this he was admitted to the bar in Grangeville and
commenced the practice of law, but receiving the ap-
pointment to the postmastership of Grangeville. ac-
cepted the same and in addition to that put in a stock
of books, stationery and so forth, later adding grocer-
ies, then hardware and general merchandise. For four
years he conducted the office with efficiency and faith-
fulness and then on account of change in administra-
tion resigned. He continued to operate the mercantile
business until 1902. when he sold it and opened a law
office in Grangeville, where we find him at the present
time. Mr. Magee owns business and residence prop-
erty in Grangeville and is building up a good practice.
He was nominated for probate judge in 1893 and for
state senator in 1902, being defeated by a small ma-
jority. Mr. Magee is a strong advocate for the cause
of education and he has stimulated much good action
in this field. He was instrumental in securing the
establishment of a station of the state free traveling li-
brary and other benefits.
In 1890, while in Oregon, Mr. Magee married Miss
Delia H., daughter of John and Mary J. (Connor) Ho-
bart, pioneers to Oregon across the plains. The father
died in 1890 and the mother in 1902. Mrs. Magee was
born in Silverton, Oregon, and there educated and later
taught in Oregon and in Grangeville. She has three
sisters living, Moura Vercler, La Villa McXeal. Alberta.
Mr. Magee has the following brothers and sisters:
William. Joseph. Thomas, Mary E. Mann, Walter D.
Mr. Magee is a member of the I. O. O. F. and is grand
master of the state lodge. He also belongs to the K.
P. and the WT. W. Mrs. Magee is an active member of
the Presbyterian church, the Ladies' Literary Club, and
an active worker in social circles. Mr. Magee has re-
cently been elected to a membership in the world's
fair fraternal building association on the suggestion of
National Chairman Wilkinson.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
507
EDWIN I. CHASE, who is classed rightly with the
leading stockmen and agriculturists of Idaho county,
dwells about eight miles northwest from Grangeville,
where he has a fine estate of two hundred and forty-
acres which is annualy, by his thrift and industry, laid
under tribute to produce abundant returns of the fruits
of the field, while also he handles a hundred head of
well bred cattle and as many hogs, besides other stock.
He was born in the vicinity of Monticello, Illinois, on
October 10. 1862, being the son of Edward and Mary
(Perkins) Chase. The father was born in Maine, in
1838, removed to Illinois with his parents, where he
married and remained until 1862, when he came to
Douglas county, Oregon. He farmed and raised stock
there until 1881 then came to Camas prairie. He was
appointed postmaster at Denver, in 1897 by President
McKinley and the next year opened a general mer-
chandise establishment there. In 1899 he was disabled
by sickness and resigned his position as postmaster.
He was justice of the peace for two years and on De-
cember 17, 1902, passed to the world beyond. The
mother of our subject was born in Illinois and
died in Oregon. Our subject was reared and educated
in the Douglas county home and remained with his
father until fifteen. In 1879 he came to Camas prairie.
He worked for wages until 1881, then took up a quar-
ter as a pre-emption and in 1884 a homestead. Mr.
Chase gave his attention to raising stock and farm-
ing, in which he has made a good success. He has five
brothers, Charles, Oliver, Frank, Albert, William.
On April 9, 1893, Air. Chase married Miss Mary J.,
daughter of John E. and Margaret (Burgin) Briscoe.
Mr. Briscoe was born in Missouri, in 1839, came to Ar-
kansas when a young man and took up farming. In
1889 he came to southern Idaho and thence to Grange-
ville, and since then he has farmed and mined. Mrs.
Briscoe was born in North Carolina in 1837 and now
lives in Grangeville. Mrs. Chase was born in Benton
county. Arkansas, on December 23, 1861, and has four
brothers, John, George B., James P., William. The
fruit of this union is four children, Edgar S., born May
15, 1894; Eva, born May 23, 1896; Effie, born May 23,
1896, now deceased ; Archie, born June 1, 1898, also de-
ceased. Mr. Chase is a solid Republican and his wife
is a good Democrat. They are good people and of ex-
cellent standing. Mr. Chase is a member of the M.
W. A.
JOHX R. ADKISON is a prominent farmer and
stockman of Idaho county and was one of the early
pioneers who opened the country for settlement. He
was born in Fulton county, Illinois, on August 1, 1850,
the son of Elijah and Mary (Eccles) Adkison, born in
Indiana in 1827 and 1829 respectively. They were
pioneers in Illinois. Missouri, California, Oregon and
Idaho. The father died in 1888 and the mother in 1899.
Her ancestors were originally from North Carolina.
The family removed to Iowa when John R. was five,
then went to Missouri and in 1863 went thence to
Shasta county, California. Later they settled in Marion
county, Oregon, and in that state and Missouri our sub-
ject was educated. He farmed in Oregon and in 1871
settled on his present place, two miles southwest fn in
Grangeville. Since the Mr. Adkison has been one of
the leading men of the county and has given attention
to mining, farming, raising stock, and teaching school.
He was here during the Indian war and fought as a
volunteer in Company E, First Idaho Infantry under
Captain McConville. Fie is of the opinion that ( ieneral
Howard was a competent officer and that the Indians
were greatly underestimated as a foe. Mr. Adkison
believes also that the government was largely respon-
sible for the trouble on account of the breach of faith
with Chief Joseph regarding his Wallowa home. Mr.
Adkison was at the Clearwater fight and also went
with J. M. Adkison, Charles Rice, F. A. Fenn, F. A.
Door, J. Crooks, P. D. Adkison, G. Hasshagen on the
morning of the fifteenth to rescue those wounded and
killed on the fourteenth. He remembers the Norton
and Chamberlain murder as on the night of the four-
teenth.
In Douglas county, Oregon, on September 7, 1879,
Mr. Adkison married Miss Hattie S. Brown, whose
father, Hon. H. G. Brown, a pioneer in 184s, was
prominent and wealthy man in Oregon. He repre-
sented his county three times in the legislature. Mrs.
Adkison has one brother, Samuel, and three sisters,
Helen, Carrie, and Mattie. Mr. Adkison has the fol-
lowing brothers: James, Perry, Elijah, and George.
To Mr. and Mrs. Adkison have been born, Henry, in
Idaho county ; Loyal, a member of the class of 1904
in the State University and a leader in oratorical lines,
winning the Brook medal in 1902 ; Normal, at the
high school in Grangeville, and Carrie, aged seven.
Mr. Adkison, who is a member of the I. O. O. F., is
a strong Republican. He missed the representative-
ship by only three votes in 1876 in a county with three
hundred Democratic majority. Mr. Adkison is an
orator in the political campaigns and is well known as
a fluent speaker.
DIDRIECH H. TELCHER, deceased. A biog-
raphy of this pioneer and leading man of Idaho county
in his day is certainly in place in the history of the
county. He was born in Lubeck, Germany, on Feb-
ruary 22. 1835, where he remained until twelve, when
the family came to the United States and settled near
Dellville, Illinois. He lived with his parents until
eighteen and in 1853 went overland to Oregon, settling
on a half section of donation land near Oregon City.
He farmed and raised stock until 1855, when he en-
listed to fight the Yakimas. He was discharged at The
Dalles, from Company C, First Oregon Mounted \ ol-
unteers, on October 13, 1855. He returned to his farm
and in i860 came to the Salmon river mines. He mined
six years in Florence and Warren and in i860 came to
Camas prairie and took land, later took a homestead.
He supplied the mines with beef and vegetables and
continued a lucrative business until 1877, when he re-
moved his family to the stockade at Mt. Idaho and
took part in defending the post, also assisting to remove
General Howard to"the Clearwater from Whitebird.
508
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
After the war he devoted himself mure particularly to
farming and continued in abundant success in that line
until his death on .March 9, 1898, being mourned by all.
He left an estate of one section, property in Grangeville,
eightv cattle, hogs and other property. Mr. Telcher
had one brother and two sisters, Charles, Eliza Weber,
Eureka Ranch, deceased.
On Mav 17, 1870, in Clackamas county, Oregon, Mr.
Telcher married Miss Margaret, daughter of Jacob and
Elizabeth (Anderson) Rauch. The father was born in
Prussia on September 9, 1818 and came to the United
States when he was twelve with his parents. In 1853
he came to die 'Willamette valley, being in the same
train as Mr. Telcher. He retired from active life in
1893 and lived in Oregon City until his death, on May
30, 1902* The mother was born on October 19, 1821,
at sea, while her parents were coming to the United
States from England. She remained with her parents
in Philadelphia until sixteen and then came to St.
Louis where she married and now lives in Oregon City.
Mrs. Telcher was born on July 1, 1848, in Hancock
county, Illinois and has the following brothers and sis-
ters : John, deceased : Hanna, deceased ; William,
Mary Maddock, George, deceased. Five children are
the fruit of this union, Henry \ ., born April 6, 1871,
now assessor of Idaho county ; Charles, born February
24, 1875 and died on December 14, 1889 ; Maggie, born
January 20, 1880: Ralph, born November 1, 1882, re-
cently graduated from the high school in Grangeville ;
Myrtle, born November 6, 1886; now attending the
normal at Lewiston. Mr. Telcher was prominent in
political matters and was a stanch Republican. He was
county commissioner from 1878 to 1882, county as-
sessor from 1882 to 1886. He was commissioner for
the road from Grangeville to the little Salmon country,
connecting the north and the south part of the state.
He was a prominent man of worth and integrity.
MARK HI IWE. The hotel Revere, one of the ex-
cellent hostelries of the county, is operated in a suc-
cessful manner in Grangeville, by the subject of this
article. He is a man of good standing and has won a
first-class patronage for his house and hosts of friends
among the people of the county and the traveling pub-
lic.
Mark Howe was born in Washington county,
Maine, on February 9, 1855, being the son of Mark
and Harriet (Leland) Howe, natives of Maine. The
father, who came from the old Puritan stock of Mas-
sachusetts and followed lumbering, died before our
subject remembers. The mother came from an old
New England family and died in 1895. Our subject
was educated in the common schools of Maine and
followed lumbering in all the prominent camps of the
state until 1881, when he came to Minnesota and there
followed the same business until 1890, when he sold
his interests and came to the Palouse country. He
went into the mines on the head of Bear creek and the
north fork of the Clearwater. He, in connection with
C. T. Cross and Duke Bros., opened the mica mines
but they failed finacially, together with the Palouse
National Bank. Then our subject took a ranch in
the Bear Creek country and in 1896 came to Cotton-
wood and bought the Cottonwood house. He did a
good business there, handling in connection the Lewis-
ton stage from that place. Then Mr. Howe came to
Grangeville and opened the Idaho house and one year
later took charge of the Revere which he has oper-
ated successfully since.
On December 22, 1888, while in Minnesota, Mr.
Howe married Miss Luella, daughter of William and
Mary (Priestly) Johnson, natives of Maine. Mrs.
Howe was born in Wisconsin and taught school for a
term, being in that occupation when she met Mr.
Howe. She has two brothers and two sisters. Ellen
Whitford, Ida Huston, William C, George. Mr.
Howe has one brother, Herbert. Two children have
been born to them, Herbert, Bessie, the latter one de-
ceased. Mr. Howe is a member of the I. O. O. F.
and of the W. W. He is an active Democrat, is al-
ways at the caususes and conventions and is at pres-
ent central committeeman. In addition to his other
property interests, Mr. Howe is still interested in sev-
eral mining propositions.
MORTIMER S. MARTIN. The subject of this
sketch is one of the industrious farmers of the county
and dwells about four miles southeast from Tolo.
He was born in Yates county, New York, on Febru-
ary 6, 1848. the son of Joel D. and Caroline Martin,
mention of whom is made in this volume. When Mor-
timer was ten, the family went, via the Isthmus, to
Marysville. California, in 1864 they came to San
Francisco, thence by steamer, Brother Jonathan, to
Portland and up the rivers to Lewiston, whence they
hurried to Elk and mined. Our subject mined with
his father until 1866, then went back to San Francis-
co and completed his education by a course in a busi-
ness college. On January 1, 1868, he came to Elk
and mined a year. On May 1, 1869, he was appointed
deputy assessor of Nez Perces county. In the fall he
returned to the Elk mines and the following year came
to Camas prairie, where he farmed and raised cattle.
At the time of the Indian war he was living about a
mile south from Grangeville ; he took his wife and
went to Mt. Idaho. Then Air. Martin joined the vol-
unteers under Captain Ad Chapman, later was under
D. B. Randall and then under James Cearley. After
the war, Mr. Martin went to Lewiston and remained
a year, and then in 1880 located on his present place.
He owns two hundred acres, thirty cattle, and other
stock.
On February 9, 1877, Mr. Martin married Miss
Jennie L., daughter of George Freeman. Her par-
ents died when she was small, and she was adopted
into the family of Seth Jones. Mrs. Martin was born
in Siskiyou county, California, on January 18, i860,
and has three sisters, Annie Waters, deceased, Georg-
ia Newbegin. Mary Beeson. To this marriage there
have been born seven children: Herbert J., born No-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
509
vembe'r 9, 1877; Lena C, born November 22, 1878;
Olive J., born February 1. 1880; .Mortimer S., born
January 2, 1882; Elsie E., born September 24, 1884;
Estelle E., born November 26, 1886; Harold W., born
September 18, 1893. Mr. Martin is an active Repub-
lican and was county assessor in 1894.
Mr. Martin was with the twenty-five volunteers
who went to Clear creek to attack thirty Indians. Be-
fore they were ready to make the attack a company of.
regulars came under Colonel Whipple and took the
lead. However, as they were slow, the volunteers
were sent ahead and Chief Lookingglass came for a
parley and agreed to surrender. As this was in prog-
ress, the surrendering to take place in the middle of
the creek, the Indians scattered to the brush and the
fighting began. Three savages were killed and some
wounded but none of the whites were injured.
EVERETT GEE, the well known proprietor of
the news and book store in Grangeville, was born in
Dayton, Nevada, on January 10, 1865, the son of Will-
iam and Celia (Waterman) Gee. The father was born
in Ashtabula, Ohio, in 1826, came to California in
1849, via the Horn, and mined and operated a pack
train. Later he operated in the stock business on a
large scale with headquarters at Sacramento. He was
in the Piute and Digger Indian wars and was known
as a brave and fearless man in danger and a skillful
Indian fighter. In 1883 he came to Walla Walla and
later went to Ashland, Oregon, where he died on Au-
gust 2, 1898. The paternal grandfather of our sub-
ject was noted pilot, captain and Methodist minister
in Ohio. The mother of Everett Gee was born in
Iowa in 1840, crossed the plains with her parents to
California in 1850, met her future husband in Visalia,
and died in 1879. Our subject was six when his father
moved to Sacramento from Nevada, having sold large
possessions there to Adolph Sutro, famous for the tun-
nel and being mayor of San Francisco. Everett was
educated in Sacramento and went to do for himself
at the age of sixteen. In 1883 he came to Walla Walla
and in 1886 he went to Spokane and there operated
an express line. Later we see him in Grangeville
freighting and in 1898 his wife died and he went to
the coast and thence to Nome. Returning from Nome
after one summer, he came to Grangeville in Octo-
ber, 1900, and in May, 1902, he purchased his pres-
ent business and has operated it successfully since.
He is also interested with his brothers in the Grange-
ville dairy.
On February 20, 1900, Mr. Gee married Mrs.
Carrie, widow of Tom Aram and daughter of Joseph
Moore, mention of whose brave deeds will be made in
another portion of this work. He was killed by the
Indians during the war and his widow died in 1890.
Mrs. Gee was born in Oregon in 1865 and- came to
Idaho when nine months old. She has five brothers :
Homer. Harry, Hugh, Cyrus. Merrill, and one half
sister, Belle McPherson, who is living with her. Mr.
Gee has two children by his former marriage, Celia
and Ethel, at home. Mrs. Gee has two children by
her former marriage, Vivian and Chester Aram. Air.
Gee is a member of the W. O. W. and the Circle. He
is constable and in politics is a Republican, active and
influential.
Mrs. Gee's father was born in New Jersey in Ap-
ril, 1831, the son of Jacob and Phoebe (Brands)
Moore, of Scotch and English extraction. He crossed
the plains in i860, settled in Oregon, married in 1863
and came to the Idaho mines at Newsome. In 1875
he came to Camas prairie took a ranch and also op-
erated the Cottonwood house. The account of his
tragic death more properly comes in the historical
portion of the work.
HON. T. W. GIRTON is surely one of the earli-
est pioneers of the western coast and a glance at his
career is convincing proof that he was one of the en-
terprising and active men of the time, which he lias
continued to be since. He was born in West Vir-
ginia, in 1832, the son of Dickison and Carrie
(Green) Girton, natives of Virginia, as also were their
forefathers. The father was a pioneer and operated
a carding machine in Laharpe, Illinois. The mother's
ancestors fought for the American cause in the days
of the Revolution and were true Americans. Our sub-
ject grew to manhood and was educated in Illinois.
In 1852 he crossed the plains with oxen to Portland
and in 1854 was mining in California. In 1857 he
came to The Dalles and at the time of the Fraser ex-
citement in i860 went thither and wrought for the
government. In 186 1 Mr. Girton was in Oro Fino,
the diggings having been discovered the year before
by Pierce, J. Bull, Marion, Moore and Rhodes. In
1862 we see Mr. Girton in Florence and in the fall
came to Camas prairie and worked for Crooks &
Shumway, butchers and stockmen. In June, 1863,
he went to East Bannack, Montana, and discovered
good diggings. He came from Lemhi twelve hun-
dred miles, via Walla W'alla, to Florence to record a
ditch on very valuable property. In 1868 Mr. Girton
came to Camas prairie and the next year we find him
taking his present place, three miles southwest from
Grangeville. Since then he has raised stock and
farmed, making himself one of the prominent men
of the county. He was guard in the Indian war and
remembers the outbreak on June 13.
In 1868 Mr. Girton married Elizabeth Shipton, of
Corvallis, Oregon, who died in 1872. He has one
son, as the fruit of this union, James, in Washington.
On October 12, 1873, Mr. Girton married Miss
Lena, daughter of I. and Elizabeth (King) Hinkle,
pioneers of Oregon. The father was a prominent saw-
mill man. Mrs. Girton died in August, 1901, leaving
five children, James, Lottie Wilson, Carrie, Eliza-
beth, Charles. Mr. Girton has three sisters. He is
an active Democrat and was chosen by the people as
representative to the eleventh territorial legislature.
He was also the choice at the second state legislature.
Mr. Girton has a good quarter which is embellished
5io
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
with fine and valuable improvements. He remem-
bers voting for 1. I. Stevens for territorial delegate
in 1 86 1, being then at Oro Fino. The territory at
that time was Washington.
JACOB C. CAREER is the present incumbent of
the postofhce at Grangeville, where he has faithfully
and efficiently discharged the duties of that position
for some time and is one of the highly esteemed and
capable men of the town.
Jacob C. Carber was born in Rockingham county,
Virginia, in 1830, the son of Martin and Magdalene
(Moiiler) Carber, natives of Virginia. The father
died in Ohio and the mother in Iowa. The paternal
ancestors were settlers in Virginia in old colonial
days and fought for American independence. When a
lad. our subject went to Logan county, Ohio, and
there grew to manhood and received his education in
the common schools. Later he removed to Iowa and
in 1854 we see him in California mining, having come
via Nicaragua. He was very successful and spent
large amounts in developing prospects : he finally
started the town of Garberville, in Humboldt county,
where he embarked in the mercantile business. In
1862 he returned to Iowa and visited his brothers in
the Civil war, Silas, Abram, Joseph, Isaac. The first
one was governor of Nebraska later and the last one
died in the war. Mr. Carber returned to California
in 1863 where he mined and did business until 1878
when he sold out and made his way to Idaho county.
He took land and farmed near Cottonwood until the
early nineties, when he removed to Grangeville. For
a time he was bookkeeper in the store of Henry Wax
and later was elected probate judge on the Republi-
can ticket. After this Mr. Garber returned to his first
life of mining and wrought around Florence until
1897, when he was appointed postmaster at Grange-
ville and here he has remained since, giving universal
satisfaction.
In the year 1868, while in California. Mr. Garber
married Miss Julia A., daughter of Nathan and Sus-
an (Miles) Wheeler, natives of New England and
descended from ancestors prominent in the early Am-
erican wars of independence, but are now deceased.
Mrs. Garber was born in Columbus, Georgia, and has
one brother and four sisters. F. N., Lucy, Adelia,
Lyra Garber, Florence Dale. Mr. Garber is a member
of the I. O. O. F., joining in 1853. When in Cali-
fornia he held the office of county recorder in Nevada
count v from i860 to 1868.
HUGH M. McDERMID. The leading profes-
sions are well represented by able men in Grangeville
and in no whit behind the most prominent stands Dr.
McDermid, the skillfull dentist who has for more than
a decade practiced here with that crowning of suc-
cess which justly comes to the reliable and expert.
Personally Dr. McDermid is a man of patriotism,
geniality and capabilities and he is the centre of a large
circle of admiring friends.
Hugh M. McDermid was born in Nicollet county,
Minnesota, on September 12, 1858, the son of Peter H.
and Adaline (Kennedy) McDermid. The father was
born in Glengora county, Canada, in 1827, settled in
Minnesota in 1854, was a prominent man in the coun-
ty and besides holding various county offices repre-
sented the county two terms in the state legislature. He
came to Yakima in 1897 and died there in 1902. The
mother of our subject was born in Ohio and died in
1881. Her father was in the war of 1812, fighting for
the American cause, while her husband's father fought
with the English. She also had two brothers in the
Civil war. Our subject grew to manhood in Minne-
sota and received his educational training in the pub-
lic schools and learned his profession by practical ex-
perience in the office in constant work there while he
pursued his reading, thus gaining the extra skill and
erudition to be had in this excellent manner. At the
age of twenty-two he went into the battle of life for
himself and in 1891, he came to Yakima, where his
brother, Albert, dwelt. Thence he came to Grange-
ville and opened an office and since that time he has con-
tinued here with an ever increasing patronage, and he
is the practitioner in the town.
On December 9, 1883, in Minnesota, Dr. McDermid
married Miss Clara, daughter of Wiliam and Thersa
( Chaffee) Goodell, natives of New York. The father
pioneered to Minnesota in 1858 and served in the Civil
war. Mrs. McDermid was born in Blue Earth coun-
ty, Minnesota, in 1862 and she has the following
brothers and sisters : Charlie, Inez, Terse. Alice. Ab-
bie, Mabel. Dr. McDermid has two brothers and two
sisters, Albert, Helen, deceased, May, Joel. One child,
Alice, aged seventeen, has been born to them. Dr.
McDermid is a member of the Masonic order, Order of
the Eastern Star, W. W., the Circle, and the Arti-
sans. He is a true blue Democrat and takes the in-
terest that becomes the intelligent citizen. Dr. Mc-
Dermid owns mining interests and some business pro-
perty in Grangeville. He was sergeant in the Idaho
volunteer regiment, Company C, at the time of the
Phillipine war, enlisting on May 26, 1898 and being
discharged on September 25, 1899. His company
sailed on June 26, 1898, and arrived in Manila on Au-
gust 5. He was transferred on June 14, to the hos-
pital corps and although he sought the field he was held
in the hospital on account of his profession all the time.
CAPT. GEORGE M. GALLAWAY. the vener-
able and esteemed citizen of Whitebird, is one of the
substantial and upright men of the county, who has
done much here for the upbuilding and growth of the
country. He was born in Moulton, Alabama, on Sep-
tember 18, 1826, the son of Britten and Anna (Pon-
der) Gallaway. The father was an Irishman, born in
( Ie< >rgia in 1795, and died in 1877. The mother was also
born in Georgia and was of Scotch extraction. Her peo-
ple fought in the struggle of 1812. Our subject grew to
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
manhood and received a good education in his native
place, then acquired a thorough training for the medi-
cal profession. When twenty he enlisted to fight in the
Mexican war and was under captain Joel M. Acker
and General Taylor. Eighteen months were spent in
that war, when he was honorably discharged and re-
turned to Aberdeen, Mississippi, where he practiced
medicine for sixteen years. Then came a move to Ar-
kansas and at the time of the Civil war he enlisted in
Company B, First Arkansas Infantry, under Colonel
John C. Brundy, of Chicago. He served through the
war and was commissioned captain. Subsequent to
the war, Captain Callaway returned to Arkansas and
was elected twice to the state legislature. In 1876 he
removed to Oregon, the following year to the Palouse
country in Idaho and spent some time investigating the
land question there. About 1882, Mr. Callaway came
to Whitebird and took land, where he has spent most
of his time.
In 1852, Mr. Callaway married Miss Louisa T.,
daughter 'of Thomas and Malinda (Ponder) Cilliland,
of English and Irish parentage. The following chil-
dren have been born to this union : Euprasia Belvadier,
now Mrs. Manning; Ceorge W., in Arkansas; Virginia
T. Hador, and Albert B.. in Whitebird ; Isora I., de-
ceased : Thomas B. and Sherman S., both in White-
bird. Captain Callaway is a member of the C. A. R.
and he is spending the golden years of his life in quiet
retirement with his children, enjoying the competence
that his thrift and wisdom accumulated.
WILLIAM A. HALL. No man is better known in
the county of Idaho than the subject of this article,
and he is also of excellent standing, as his worth and
valuable labors demand.
William A. Hall was bom in the vicinity of Lon-
don, England, on February 15, 1847, the son of Will-
iam and Lucy (Atkinson) Hall, also natives of Eng-
land. The father was born in 1813 and in 1851 came
to Walworth county, Wisconsin, where he died later.
Our subject grew to manhood in Wisconsin, and the
mother married Wm. H. Ambler, who went to fight for
the Union, which necessitated our subject to care for
the family. This crowded out his chance for an educa-
tion but his ambition was strong and after the war he
commenced studying under private tutors, until he
succeeded in gaining a thorough training. From his
youth Mr. Hall had a leaning toward the law and he
was constantly reading it. In 1866 he came west to
Montana and there farmed, then taught and in 1870,
was licensed to preach in the Methodist church. He
handled circuits in Beaver Head and Bannock coun-
ties and then came to Salmon City, Idaho, always
preaching with vigor and telling force. In the fall of
1S72, Mr. Hall went to Michigan, attending school for
a time and then taught for two years. He was called
back to Idaho in 1874 and took charge of a circuit in
the Bitter Root valley, Montana, and in iSj<). he came
to Grangeville upon invitation of the presiding elder
to take charge of the Columbia River Conference Aca-
demy, where he was engaged for eight years. Mr. Hall
continued the study of law under the tutorage of Judge
Norman Buck and won good success in this line, be-
ing a capable and apt student. Being admitted to the
bar in 1884 he commenced practice in Idaho county,
Idaho, and is the oldest practioner in the county where
he has a fine clientage. Recently Mr. Hall has been ap-
pointed referee in bankruptcy for the county and has
held various official positions. While continuing in
these lines of success Mr. Hall has not forgotten when-
ever occasion presents, to preach the gospel and his
services are greatly in demand.
On July 18, 1876, Mr. Hall married Miss Susan M.,
daughter of William Haynes, a native of Bath, Maine,
and of Scotch extraction. The wedding occurred in
Deer Lodge, Montana. Airs. Hall was born in Bath,
Maine, on July 18, 1848, was well educated in the semi-
nary and has taught for years. She has the following
brothres and sisters: Stephen, Charles D., Mehitabel
Hogan. Mr. Hall has one brother, John S., and one
sister, Jane Margetts, and one half brother, Robert H.
Ambler. This worthy couple have one adopted child,
Winifred G. Mr. Hall is a member of the I. O. O. F.,
the Encampment, and the Rebekahs, being chief pa-
triarch of the encampment. He is a Republican, ac-
tive in the campaigns and is always at the conventions,
wdiere he is a prominent and influential figure. Mr.
Hall has practiced with Judge Ailshie and is one of the
successful members of the bar here. He was elected
justice of the peace for several years, has filled the
office of probate judge, county superintendent of
schools, and also held these offices in Montana, was
United States commissioner for four years at one term
and in mam ways he has been a prominent and leading
man. He 'is interested in various mining deals and
owns considerable property. Mr. Hall served in the
Indian war of 1877, being orderly sergeant of the vol-
unteers company in Montana.
On an examination in 1902 he received an honorary
diploma from an eastern college with the degree of
Doctor of Law. He also holds a diploma for the four
vears' course C. L. S. C.
CASWELL T. McKINZIE is one of the early
pioneers to the Pacific coast and has figured prominent-
ly in the various movements from that day until the
present; his labors have recently associated him with
the Grangeville country, where he is well and favora-
bly known, being now one of the leading freighters out
of that town to die various mining camps tributary.
Caswell T. McKinzie was born in Grant county,
Wisconsin, on January 23, 1842. the son of Henley
and Lulvisa (Philips) McKinzie. natives of Virginia,
of which state the ancestors were early pioneers. Ine
father was born in 1792, served in the war of 1812. as
colonel, came to Kentucky, later to \\ isconsm, whence
he came with his family to the \\ illamette valley.
crossing the plains, and in 1868, died in < >regon. The
mother died in 1871. Her father was a patriot in the
Revolution. Our subject was but ten years old when
512
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
he came with the family to Oregon and the father took
land where East Portland is now located but later re-
moved farther east. When sixteen, Caswell went to
do for himself by farming and raising stock. He used
his homestead right in 1868 and in 1877 moved to
Walla Walla ; during the Indian war of that year he
was in government employ as a messenger and freighter
under Lieutenant Miller. "in 1879 we find Mr. McKin-
zie freighting into Spokane and the Coeur d'Alene
ci >untry ; in 1880 he hauled the first safe that ever came
into the city of Spokane. He continued the freighting
until 1888 when he removed to Spokane and operated
an express line for seven years. 1895 found him in
Moscow and the following year Mr. McKinzie located
in Grangeville, since which time he has devoted his
energies to freighting, and is one of the leading oper-
ators in that industry.
In June, 1862, at Portland, Mr. McKinzie married
Miss Louise, daughter of Nathaniel and Mary ( Tomp-
kins) Bell, natives of Kentucky. The father was a
butcher and died in 1880. He crossed the plains in
1853, landing in Oregon City, September 10, of that
year. The mother died in 1857. Mrs. McKinzie was
born in Illinois in 1836 and crossed the plains with
her parents. She has one brother and diree sisters,
Captain Bell, Martha Arnspiger, Rachel Arnspiger,
Caroline McKinzie. Three children have been born
to this worthy couple, Simon H, in Grangeville ; Vio-
la Twist, whose husband fought in the Xez Perces
war ; William, in Grangeville. Mr. and Mrs. McKinzie
are members *of the church of Christ. He voted for
Abraham Lincoln and has stood by the same grand old
party since. Air. McKinzie has eighty acres of land
and also owns other property.
By way of reminiscense we note that in 1861, when
Mr. McKenzie was going to Walla Walla, the Indians
waylaid him where Pendleton now stands and stole
his horses, but he succeeded in escaping into the sage
brush and for three days lay secreted, finally going to
The Dalles with a freighting outfit. His brother,
Isaac McKinzie, and John Stevens were instrumental in
the capture of old chief Peu-Peu-Mox-Mox with two
others in 1857. The brother took the beaded pouch
for bullets and also the powder horn and our subject
had them for years. They were serving in Company A,
Oregon Volunteers under Colonel Wilson. In this
campaign they had the distinction of living for one
whole week on horse flesh alone. A noted Indian had
killed Lieutenant Burris, but was afterward killed
by Isaac McKinzie.
ANDREW J. TAYLOR is one of the old pi-
oneers who braved the dangers and endured the hard-
ships incident to opening this vast country and for
many years he was engaged in the arduous labor of
mining, being acquainted with the main camps from
California to British Columbia. At present Mr. Tay-
lor is living two miles west from Tahoe, where he
owns a half section of land and does general farming
and raises stock. He was born in Brighton, New-
York, on May 17, 1832. being the son of Andrew and
Laura (Ellsworth) Taylor. The father was born in
Massachusetts in 1803 and was a prominent man
in his place. His parents and ancestors were pioneers
of that state. The paternal grandfather of our subject
held the rank of captain in the Revolution and was
one of the noted minute men. Andrew Taylor set-
tled early in Ohio and in 1855 started for California
on the steamer, Sierra Nevada, but died on board and
was buried at sea. The mother of our subject was
born in New England in 1807 and died in 1892. Our
subject was raised and educated in Massachusetts and
in 1855 came with his father to California. He had
learned the trades of gunsmith and moulder and when
he landed in San Francisco he went to mining and
prospecting where he operated in Shasta count)-. In
1865 he came to Boise and mined and later was in
Warren and made the trip to Lewiston when the ther-
mometer was forty below. He and his partner, Mr.
Watson, who is now residing on Camas prairie, lo-
cated some fine placers on Allison creek and took
good returns from them for four years. During this
time Mr. Taylor was injured by a falling tree, from
which he has never fully recovered. In 1874 he went
to Dixie and was well acquainted with all the old
timers 'here and for twenty years he was one of the
prominent mining men of that section. In 1877. when
he came to Elk for the mail, he learned of the Indian
outbreak and they all went to the fort in Elk until
the trouble was past. It was in 1879 tnat ^Ir- Tay-
lor located his present farm, taking homestead and
preemption. He is one of the esteemed men and sub-
stantial citizens of the county and has done a goodly
portion for its upbuilding.
PETER KING. A hardy pioneer of the first days,
well acquainted with the mining world, from Cali-
fornia to the Fraser and Kootenai camps in British
Columbia, a faithful laborer in the cause of opening
the country for settlement and civilization, and now
one of the substantial stockmen and farmers of Ida-
ho county, dwelling a mile and a half north from
Clearwater upon a half section of fine land which he
secured by rights from the government, Mr. King is
to be classed with those who deserve representation as
builders of this country and pioneers in the true sense
of the word.
Peter King was born in Germany, on February
22, 1832, being the son of Nichols and Mary (Breit-
wiser) King, natives also of the Fatherland. The
father was born in 1800 and in the fall of 1833 came
to Baltimore, two years later went to Henry county,
Indiana, and in 1840 he settled in Fulton county
and bought eighty acres of canal land, which he farmed
until his death in 18.51. The mother was born in
1810. Our subject was brought up and educated in
Indiana and remained with his parents until of age.
In 1853 ne crossed the plains to California, mined on
Nelson creek, in Eldorado county and various other
places for ten years. He was successful and especi-
ANDREW J. TAYLOR.
PETER KING.
LAWRENCE OTT.
JAMES WITT.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ally so in Sahara county, where he sold the Blue Lead
for five thousand dollars. In 1862 he was in the Cari-
bou regions with the rush, where he contracted
rheumatism and came to Olympia until he recovered.
Thence he came to Pierce and prospected all over this
section of the country. In 1864 .Mr. King went to
Boise on Grimes creek and then north to the Kootenai
river during the excitement. Then came a trip to the
Bitter Root mountains, to the Moose creek region,
but he returned on account of the rough country. Mr.
King continued on the south fork of the Clearwater
until the breaking out of the war and was one of
the brave lads who took up arms and dispelled the
savages, he being especially detailed to guard the
women and children on Slate creek. He was in the
Mt. Idaho Guards under Captain Ad Chapman. Later
he was with Benson's pack train who was supplying
the government troops with provisions. As soon as
the trouble ceased Mr. King, with Smiley, Buchanan,
James Boyd, Bill Tracy and Charles Martin, went to
Chamberlain's basin. They put in a ditch on little
Slate creek and piped dirt for three years with reas-
onable success. In 1881 Mr. King took a preemption
and later a homestead which constitute his present
estate. He has over sixty head of cattle, a fine house,
large barn and other good improvements. Mr. King
has the following named brothers and sisters : Nicho-
las, Jake, Henry, Katie Bunch.
LAWRENCE OTT is a stock-raiser who re-
sides eight miles up the Salmon river on the south
side at what is known as the Horseshoe bend. He was
born February 19, 1836, in Blair county, Pennsyl-
vania, the son of Lawrence and Maria Ott, natives of
the same state. They both died in Blair county. Our
subject remained there until 1856 and then went, via
New York and the Isthmus, to San Francisco. He
mined at Marysville, prospected in different sections
and in 1859 went to Virginia City, Nevada. At the
time of the Piute war he enlisted to fight the Indians
under Meredith and on one occasion half of the little
band of 150 whites was killed, the Indians being ten
to one. In 1862 he started to Warren with a posse of
men and on the head of the Owyhee river they rescued
a man and his wife from a band of Indians by killing
the Indians. Then he came to Auburn, Oregon, later
to Walla Walla, back to Canyon City with supplies,
in (14 went to the Boise basin and in '67 came to War-
ren. He has visited most of the camps in Idaho and
in 1872 located his present place. Since then this
place has been his headquarters. He has followed
farming, stock-raising and mining with good suc-
cess. He now has three hundred and twenty acres
but has retired from active business and is living
upon his income. When the war broke out in 1877
he was in Florence, being sick he loaned his gun and
ammunition to another but as soon as he was able, he
joined Captain Trimble's company. He guided Trim-
ble over the mountains and when they reached Howard
they were sent to do guard duty at Slate creek. He
guarded some wounded soldiers to Lapwai and did
much scouting. Much of his stock was killed at the
time of tli- war. When on the south fork of the John
Day in Oregon, five miners were attacked by the In-
dians and three were killed. Our subject was one of
seventeen who thrashed the Indians and recovered the
miners. Soon after Mr. Ott settled here a few rene-
gade Indians threatened to kill him if he did not
leave . In the encounter which followed he was
knocked down by a stone but owing to his having a
revolver he had the better of the struggle and after
that was left alone. He has been one of the active
laborers to build up this country and is a good, sub-
stantial man. After the war Mr. Ott did special
scouting duty under Captain Lou Wilmot to see that
none of the red men were lurking in the hills, finding
and destroying many of the Indian caches, until as-
sured that all the Indians had gone onto the reserva-
tion.
JAMES WITT. Among the pioneers of Idaho
count) none came earlier, labored with more assiduity,
gained more triumphs because of sagacity ami real
worth, and stand more thoroughly admired and
truly ensconced in the affections of the people than
the subject of this sketch, an epitome of whose inter-
esting career we count it a privilege to place upon
the abiding records of his county history.
James Witt was born in Jefferson county. Ten-
nessee, on July 7, 1837, the son of Caleb and Margaret
R. (Demarcus) Witt. The father was a farmer, saw-
mill man and later a miner. He was born in Tennes-
see, on March 8, 1815, and died in Idaho county 011
February 14, 1882. His grandfather came from Eng-
land and his father was born in Tennessee and fought
in the war of 1812. The mother of our subject was
born in Tennessee on March 15. 1810, and died in
1856. Our subject was educated and when four-
teen worked with his father in the native place. On
March 21, 1859, he came with his father to Iowa and
there outfitted with oxteams for the purpose of cross-
ing the plains. Falling in with others they formed a
train and while they started for Pike's Peak the dis-
couraging reports turned them back toward ( Iregon
and thither they came. The oxen became worn out and
they doubled up until the wagons were crowded. They
crossed the Missouri river at Plattsmouth at the mouth
of the Platte river on May 8th and landed at Jhe
Dalles September 8. James worked at the Cas-
cades a while and then joined his father at Port-
land and in the spring of i860 he went up the Colum-
bia to Isle Le Pierre rapids. It was in the spring of
1861 that Mr. Witt fitted out ox teams and came to
this portion of Idaho. Captain Pierce had married
an Indian woman and she piloted him to the diggings
around Pierce City where Mr. Witt was going. He
came to what is now Greer's ferry and made the rirst
boat for ("I. W. Craig to cross the Clearwater and
used it as a ferry. In the spring of 1862 he went to
Elk City, where rich placers had been discovered by
the overflow from Pierce. Mr. Newsoine after whom
514
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Newsome creek is named, was in the party which made
the discover)'. Mr. Witt reached Elk on May 17 or
27. 1862, going over twenty feet of snow. He went
into partnership with a man who had claims on Ameri-
can river and they made a company and dug a ditch
eleven miles long in the Buffalo Hill country. They
had scanty capital but sold stock and took pay in work
digging the ditch. His father came in about the time
the companv was discouraged and lifted them up.
Many were skeptical but when it was all done it made
a real boom. McGruder, the victim of foul murder
later, was a merchant then in Elk and he assisted the
companv with great credit. The completion of the
ditch assured the success of the camp. In June, 1863,
the water flowed and the spirits of all were exuberant.
Mr. Witt continued with this proposition until 1881,
continually bluing the interests of those going away.
He was the last big mine owner on the ditch. He and
his father took homesteads on Camas prairie in 1876
and held them in addition to mining. Mr. Witt had
also bought the Buffalo ditch and as the ground be-
came poorer he went into the matter deeper, buying out
others. Chinese came in and he finally leased the
various grounds to them and furnished water from
the ditch. In 1881, when he left, there were but eleven
white men in the camp. In February, 1882. Mr. Witt's
father died and he took as partner his nephew, James
B. Sloan.. They held over nine hundred acres of land
and much stock. This industry continued until Jan-
uary 14, 1902. when he sold the entire property and
came to Grangeville to reside, where he has since
been. In 1890 the whites began to jump the claims
and Mr. Witt was obliged to return to Elk to save
his property and he also secured some more valuable
additions. Lately the quartz veins have been discov-
ered and the camp is again coming to the front and is
bound to assume proportions to command attention
and the investment of capital for development. At
the time of the Xez Perces war. Mr. Witt was in the
Elk valley and all the summer was spent in building
fortifications and preparing to resist the Indians, but
General Howard headed the savages off and no fa-
talities occurred. Mr. Witt became a master Mason in
1874 and has frequently been master of his lodge. He
has been county commissioner twice and has since re-
fused to accept the nomination. He is a staunch,
solid Democrat, has always taken a keen interest in
politics and has frequently attended the state conven-
tion. Mr. Witt is a self made man and the educa-
tion of his younger days was limited to careful and
continuous reading. Close research and wise weigh-
ing of the questions of the day have made him one of
the best informed men of the county and his counsel
and his words are heeded in his party by all.
CYRUS M. I.EE. For more than a decade have
the labors of the subject of this article been bestowed
in Idaho count}' with wisdom and telling effect and the
resull is a goodly holding in property and much im-
provement and advancement in the county.
Cyrus M. Lee was born in Taylor county, Iowa, on
March 21, 1867, the son of Richard H. and Susan
(Overman) Lee. The father was born in Cincinnati,
on June 16, 1835, was educated and reared in his native
place and there on August 25, 1861, he married and
came to Iowa when he was twenty-nine. He settled in
Taylor county in 1865, among the first, and purchased
the first threshing outfit in the county, where he still
lives on eighty acres. The mother of our subject was
born in Miami county, Indiana, on May 23. 1841, and
her parents were among the very first pioneers of Indi-
ana. She was the mother of eleven children, and died on
January 4, 1894. She had been a devout member of the
Christian church. Our subject was brought up in
Taylor county and there also received a good common
schooling and remained under the parental roof un-
til he was twenty-two. He followed farming there
until .March 25, 1891, when he came to Camas prairie
and commeneced to till the fertile soii here and to
raise cattle. He dwells now three and one half miles
west from Tolo, and has a good farm, owns about fifty
cattle and as many hogs, besides horses and other
property. Mr. Lee has the following brothers and
sisters. Gladvs M. Wise, Effie M. Roberts, Delia L.
Welch, Charles H, Robert E., William C.
( hi March 4, 1891, Mr. Lee married Miss Martha
E., daughter of George W. and Margaret Ritnour.
The father was born in Pennsylvania in 1835, came
to Iowa in 1874 and now lives in Nodaway, Adams
county, Iowa. The mother was born in Pennsylvania,
in 1838, and died December 23, 1896. Mrs. Lee was
born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, on March 7, 1867, and
has the following brothers and sisters : Harriet Sykes,
James, Ellen Graham. Etta Graham, Henry, deceased,
Susie Bellin, Sadie Blum, Minnie McLoughlin, Jake,
Carrie, George. Five children are the fruit of this
marriage, Charles E., born December 8, 1891 ; Leslie
H, born August 10, 1893; Arthur M., born April 9,
1896; Robert E., born August 31, 1898; William F.,
born June 22, 1900. Mr. Lee and his wife are both
good Democrats and are strongly in favor of good edu-
cational facilities and good roads. Mrs. Lee belongs
to the Methodist church.
FRANK R. PEARSON is in reality a native of
Grangeville, being born September 6, 187 1, on his
lather's homestead, which is the ground where the
north half of the town is now located. This was some
years before the town was located and Mr. Pearson has
spent most of his life in this locality. His father, W.
C. Pearson, was a stockman, born in New York and
died in 1892. He came here in an early day and took
the homestead mentioned above and his father-in-law
took the land where the south half of the town is lo-
cated. He had been in California in the golden days
and it was in the fall of 1861 that he made his way to
Idaho. He settled here and dwelt until his demise.
He was prominent in county affairs and several times
was -cut to the legislature, where he did faithful work.
Being a Republican and the county Democratic, it was
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
5i5
a marked distinction to be thus honored. He was an
active participant in the measures to quell the savages
and was held in high esteem by all. The mother of
our subject was Isabelle Crooks, who was born in
Iowa and crossed the plains in early days with her
parents. Her father was one of the very first settlers
on Camas prairie. Our subject's grandfather was one
of the original owners of trie site of Portland. Frank
R. was educated in Grangeville and took a position in
Dr. Bibby's drug store, where he spent five years, learn-
ing thoroughly the business of the pharmacist. He con-
cluded the examinations in excellent shape and in the
spring of 1891 he bought out the doctor and con-
tinued in handling the business of the drug store un-
til 1898, having as partner, George Bonebrake. When
the Spanish war broke out, he sold his interest to his
partner and volunteered to fight for his country. He-
went to Boise, thence to San Francisco, enlisting on
March 26, 1898. He shipped from the Golden Gate
on June 27, and arrived at Manila on August 6, just
before the Americans took it. He was in that engage-
ment and in all the other leading ones for the year. He
returned to the United States on August 29, 1899, and
arrived at home on October 2, 1899. He then engaged
in mining at Florence for a time and in December,
1901, in partnership with J. A. Wood, opened a drug
store in Grangeville ; he recently bought out his part-
ner and has devoted himself to his business, having a
fine patronage.
PERRY E. SHERWIN, one of the best known
pioneers of Idaho county, is now one of its prominent
and wealthy citizens and during the years from the
early settlers until the present, he has always shown
himself to be a man of energy, wisdom, enterprise and
integrity and it is fitting to recite a review of his life
in the history of the count}- which he assisted to build.
Perry E. Sherwin was born in McHenry county,
Illinois, on September 13, 1858, the son of Edwin R.
and Susan (Benson) Sherwin, natives of New York,
and born on January 26, 1821, and in 1823, respectively.
The mother died in 1898, and Mr. Sherwin died in
Grangeville, February 23, 1903, aged eighty-two. He
had crossed the plains to California in 1861, and was one
of the first settlers on Camas prairie, coming in the
spring of 1862. He was engaged at Lapwai some time
after coming here, then mined" on the Salmon and also
engaged in stock raising until it came time to retire from
the activities of business to enjoy the rewards of in-
dustry. Uur subject was fourteen when the family
came to join the father at Lapwai. He was educated
in the common schools and then took a course in the
collegiate institute at Salt Lake City. When nineteen
he went into the stock business for himself on the
Salmon and with his father and brother he continued
in it, also paying attention to mining. Ah. Sherwin
operated extensively in these lines until last fall, when
he sold much of his stock and mining interests. He has
stock on the range still and also much land in var-
ious portions of the county, while he owns Court House
addition to Grangeville and considerable land adjoining
the city. Mr. Sherwin was here during all the Indian
troubles. They built fortifications on Slate creek and
the families were protected there. Mr. Sherwin was
a warm personal friend of Captain McConville, who had
command of the volunteers.
On May 14, 1891, Mr. Sherwin married Miss Alice,
daughter of J. M. and Martha (Pease) Crooks, natives
of Indiana. Mr. Crooks crossed the plains with his
wife in 1852 and settled near The Dalles. He took part
in all the wars there. In 1861, he came to P'lorence,
bought cattle and operated a butcher shop. He re-
moved his family to the present site of Grangeville in
1865. In the later 'seventies, he, with William Pear-
son, founded Grangeville, the two owning the ground
on which it now stands. He was an extensive cattle
man and also owned a thousand horses. Mr. Crooks
was a noble and prominent man and was never known
to turn a deaf ear to a fellow being in need. He held
different county offices and was a faithful laborer for the
advancement of the county and town. He died,
mourned by all, in 1884. His widow died in 1896.
Mrs. Sherwin was born in The Dalles, in 1802, was
well educated and taught school for years. She was
one of the leading teachers in the .Methodist academy
at Grangeville for three years. She was here during
all the Indian wars and is a true pioneer. She
has the following brothers and sisters: Jacob, Mrs.
Bell Pearson, John, Mrs. Emma Bentz, Charles. Mr.
Sherwin has one sister, Carrie. Five children have
been born to this household, Clair C, Edwin R., Guy
P., Neil, Elbert. Mr. Sherwin is a member of the I.
O. O. F. and he and his wife are both Republicans.
JOSEPH G. GILL is justly entitled to be classed
as one of the pioneers of Idaho county as he has been
associated with substantial improvement and material
upbuilding here continually since his advent, lie now
owns three hundred and twenty acres of good land,
about six miles west from Tolo, handles fifty cattle, six-
ty hogs, twenty-eight horses and with Mr. Ben Zeh-
ner owns a threshing outfit.
Joseph G. Gill was born in Henry county, Ken-
tucky, on June 21. 1843. the son of Washington and
Frances A. (Gibson) Gill, born in Kentucky on Decem-
ber 25, 1806, and September 23, 1817. respectively.
The father, who was of Irish extraction, was reared
and followed farming in Kentucky until 1854. when he
went to Boone county. Indiana, to take two hundred
and forty acres which he inherited from his wife's fa-
ther and where he remained until his death. ( Ictober
^, 1888. being then possessed of an estate of four hun-
dred acres. "The mother's father was a saddle tree
maker and came of Irish ancestry. She was married
March 16. 1836. and now lives in Boone county. < >ur
subject was educated in his native state and Indiana,
until eighteen, then spent his whole time in the as-
sistance of his father until of age. when he settled on
fiftv-four acres given him by his father. He also
worked at the carpenter trade. In September. 1870. he
came to Camas prairie and took a homestead west from
5i6
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Denver. Two years later he took his present homestead.
He has given himself exclusively to farming and rais-
ing stock except for half a dozen summers he has
mined and prospected. Air. Gill has six brothers and
sisters. Alary J. Airhart. deceased, Robert W., George
W., Lucia Reed. Minnie, Samuel.
On November 22, i860, Mr. Gill married Miss
Amanda M., daughter of John McLean. She was
born in Indiana, on July 23, 184!). and died on Novem-
ber 20, 1898, leaving the following children : Cor-
rella AI. Church, born July 17, 1868; John W., born
September 7, 1871; Henry C., born August 9, 1873;
Alary E. Ranch, born June 24, 187b; Charles M.,
born March 14, 1879; Alinnie Al., born February 2,
1882, and died February 7, 1903 : J. Robert, born June
29, 1885 ; Mellvia, born July 9, 1891. Mr. Gill is a
stanch Democrat and active for general improvements.
He is also a member of the I. O. O. F.
CHARLES S. GREGORY is a well known citi-
zen of Idaho county, now residing in Whitebird. where
he is conducting a saloon. He was born in Bureau
county, Illinois, in 1857, the son of Edwin and Cath-
erine Gregory, natives of Ohio. Charles S. came west
when thirteen and settled near Denver. For eight
years thereafter he was occupied in riding the range,
then went to Dakota in the same business and in
1882 came to Idaho county. He engaged in the cat-
tle business on the Salmon for five years, taking up
land, and then he went to mining. He did business on
Newsome creek and in 1899. we find Air. Gregory on
the way to Nome, he prospected a few months and
then returned to Idaho county. He then came to White-
bird and opened his present business, which has since
claimed his attention. In 1892 Mr. Gregory was nomi-
nated by the Republican party for sheriff, and won
the day against A. Talkington, after a hot contest.
The county was decidedly Democratic and it was a sig-
nal triumph for him. Mr. Gregory has also the dis-
tinction of being the only Republican who ever held
this position. After this, he was nominated for county
auditor, Air. Talkington winning the day by a scanty
majority. The entire Republican ticket went down,
with one exception.
In September, 1902. Air. Gregory married Airs.
Katie Greenfield. Air. Gregory is an active Republican,
being a potent factor in the campaigns as well as in
the conventions and caucuses.
WILLIAM H. CASADY. a prominent, and by
many conceded to be one of the best campaign orators
of the entire state of Idaho, is a leading lawyer in
Grangeville. where he stands high in the esteem and
confidence of the people and where he has wrought
much good in promoting improvements and upbuilding
of the different portions of the country.
William H. Casady was born in Warren county,
Iowa, on April 22. i860, the son of Weir and Hannah
I. (Hart) Casady, natives of Indiana. The father
moved to Iowa in 1S47 and died in 1881, aged fifty-
two. His brother was a prominent man in Iowa, be-
ing judge in the district court, member of the state
senate, and register of the L nited States land office in
Des Moines. He also assisted to remove the capital
to that city. The mother of our subject was born in
1829 of German extraction and now lives in Iowa. Our
subject grew up on a farm and after a training in
the common schools, completed a full course in the Os-
kaloosa college and then took up the real estate business
in northwestern Iowa. In 1888 he went to Salt Lake
City, there also taking up real estate and devoting him-
self to the study of the law. He was admitted to the
bar and practiced in that state for some years and in
June, 1899, he came to Grangeville, opened an office
and here he has been in constant practice since. Mr.
Casady has demonstrated himself to be a man of ex-
cellent ability, naturally endowed for his profession,
well fortified by extensive and careful reading, and
possessed of a ready perception, keen and discrimi-
nating, while much experience has placed him master
of the profession and the result is that he is handling
a clientage gratifying in its extent and composed of
the leading substantial men of the country. He repre-
sents several leading mining companies and in addition
to this is city attorney, being given the office without
campaigning, although it is said, in this line of cam-
paigning he is second to none in the state and has spoken
over the state on several occasions. Air. Casady has
also campaigned in Montana and Utah. He was ap-
pointed chairman of the state wagon road commission
and was the moving spirit that secured the Little
Salmon wagon road, also getting an appropriation of
six thousand dollars from the Oregon Short Line and
P. and I. N. R. R. Companies to complete it.
In 1901, Mr. Casady married Mrs. Dora Crawford,
daughter of C. P. Aladson of L'tah. Air. Casady is
the sixth child of a family of thirteen, all living but
one. Fraternally he is affiliated with the K. P., and is
Chancellor Commander of the lodge.
CHARLES W. STEWART is one of the well-to-.
do stockmen of Idaho county, and he also does general
farming and operates a first-class threshing outfit. He
was born in Callaway county, Missouri, on November
16, 1851, the son of James and Gincy (Baker) Stewart,
natives of Tennessee. The father was a pioneer of
Missouri and followed farming and teaching school all
his life. He died in the spring of 1852. The mother
was born in 1810 and died in September, 1893. Her
father fought in the Revolution. Our subject was
raised in his native place until twelve and then took
a trip to Iowa alone. He started out finally for him-
self at the age of eighteen and when twenty-one, he
rented land and farmed it until 1886. On March 1.
1886, he sold out and headed for Camas prairie. He
took a pre-emption on March 6 and later a homestead.
He has paid attention to farming and raising stock
since. In 1887 he started to run a threshing outfit
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
5'7
which he still continues. A few figures show the dif-
ferent standing; of the country then and now. He
bought an outfit in that year, did eighteen hundred dol-
lar?' worth of business and had to borrow two hundred
dollars to make up his first three hundred dollar pay-
ment. Such was the state of collections. Last year
Air. Stewart bought a new outfit and had a run of
thirty-six hundred dollars, of which the cash was all
paid to him in fifteen days. Air. Stewart now owns
a section of excellent land, a good threshing outfit,
some cattle, two hundred and fifty hogs, and other
property to match.
On December 5, 1872, Air. Stewart married Aliss
Elizabeth, daughter of William and Christine (Jay)
Smith. Air. Smith was born in Bedford county, Penn-
sylvania, in 1804 and in 1853 started to Ohio and died
enroute. The mother of Airs. Stewart was born in Penn-
sylvania in 1816 and died in 1853 on her way to Ohio.
Airs. Stewart was born in the vicinity of Pittsburg,
Pennsylvania, in 1850, October 12, and has the follow-
ing brothers and sisters : Frederic, Catherine Poling,
Francis Al., John T., Sarah A. Sawyer, William, all in
Iowa. These children were raised by a bachelor uncle
and maiden aunt of their father. Airs. Smith's grand-
father was in the Revolution.
Air. Smith has two brothers, Jacob and James. P"ive
children have been born to Air. and Airs. Stewart, Oli-
ver P.., born December 24, 1873 ! James L., born Jan-
uary 16, 1875; Catherine, deceased, born January 24,
1879; Ray, born November 14. 1888: Stella G., born
April 19, 1891. Airs. Stewart is a member of the
Alethodist church. Air. Stewart is a prominent and in-
fluential man and his excellent wisdom and qualifica-
tions have been shown in his first class success, which
he justly enjoys, being a man of energy, hard labor and
untiring care of his business.
JAMES R. McCONNELL is one of the men whose
labors are for the general advancement of the county
of Idaho and whose skill and wisdom put forth in
good action, have achieved a gratifying success in the
line 1 if -tock raising and farming. He was born in Clay
county, Illinois, on June 26. i860, the son of Robert
and Elizabeth J. (Morford) McConnell. The father
was born in Portsmouth, Ohio, on July 5. 1828, was
reared there and engaged in mercantile pursuits with
his lather. In 1856 he came to Xenia, Clay county, Illi-
nois, and followed merchandising until 1880 and in
Alarch of the next year he came to Aloscow and on
May 24, opened a store there. In May, 1884, he sold
out and September 20 came to Camas prairie, bought
land and farmed until 1900, when he removed to the
Salmon river, where he raises fruit. The mother of our
subject was born in Jackson county, Ohio, on April
3,1836. Her parents were pioneers of that state. She
was married in Alarch 27. 1856, and still lives on the
Salmon. Our subject was brought up and educated
in Illinois and graduated from Olney College in June.
1870. Then he went into the mercantile business with
his father and since that time has continued with him.
They own jointly, four hundred and eighty acres near
Tolo and a quarter on the Salmon river. He gives his
attention to general farming and raising stock. Mr.
AlcConnell has one brother and one sister. Frank, de-
ceased; Alinnie Barkwell, in Portland, Oregon.
On September 18, 1887. Air. .McConnell married
Aliss Rhoda L., daughter of Seth and Jane Jones, who
are mentioned elsewhere in this volume. She was born
on July 3, 1870, in Idaho county. The following named
children have been born to this union : Alinnie B., born
September 22, 1888: Kennard J., born February 17.
1893; Edna Aland, horn April 1, 1901. Air. and Airs.
McConnell are Republicans and active in the political
realm. He is a member of the W. O. W.
JAMES BUCHAXNl >N, a prominent miner and
stockman at Grangeville, was born in Ireland on De-
cember 16, 1835, the son of John and Elizabeth (Mitch-
ell) Buchannon, also natives of die Emerald Isle. The
father died and then the mother brought her family to
Canada, in 1845, where she also died in 1864. Our sub-
ject was reared in Canada, received his education and
learned the shoemaker trade there. When in [854, In-
had arived at the state of manhood, he went to Roches-
ter. New York, then returned to Canada a year later
and in 1859, came via the isthmus, to the coast and
mined in the various camps. In 1863 he was in Vir-
ginia City, Nevada; in July, 18(4, mined at Boise,
where he did well for two years and then followed the
search in British Columbia, returning to Lewiston and
later went to the Salmon river camps. He mined five
years in Florence, doing well, and in 1887 Air. Buch-
annon came to Camas prairie, bought one hundred and
seventy-six acres and took a homestead adjoining it,
and engaged in raising stock. He recently sold this
property. He has also paid much attention to mining
and now owns some good property. He has one brother
and three sisters in Canada, William, Alargaret. Eliza-
beth, Jane. Air. Buchannon is a member of the Pio-
neer's Association and regarding the Nez Perces war
he relates that he was at Alt. Idaho when the outbreak-
came and assisted to form a company of volunteers un-
der Captain D. A'. Randal, he himself being one of the
company. A company of sixty or seventy was formed
and on July 5, 1877, seventeen of these volunteers un-
der Captain Randall started from Alt. Idaho in re-
sponse to a call from the government troops at Cotton-
wood, over one hundred under Captains Perry and
Whipple, to come to their aid. The seventeen brave
men leaving in charge of the women and children only
about fifty men at Alt. Idaho, started out to assist their
fellow beings at Cottonwood, not knowing the full con-
dition of affairs, but only informed that on the Fourth
of July the Indians had surrounded the troops at Cot-
tonwood and an engagement had ensued. When
these volunteers came within four miles of Cottomn 1.
coming from the southeast, they discerned by means
of a field glass, the Indians coming down Grass creek
towards the Cottonwood and making for the open coun-
try. They pressed towards Cottonwood to assist the
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ones there in entrenchments and when within one mile
of the place the savages burst on them from the south-
west, cutting square across their route. Chief Joseph
was in command of one hundred and fifty Indians. Im-
mediately the action commenced and soon the Indians
had surounded the volunteers, who spread out so as to
avoid bullets as much as possible. The whites were
first-class marksmen and frontiersmen of skill and
courage, else none would have been left to tell the
tale. Instead of the troops coming forth to attack the
Indians in the rear, they lay snugly behind their in-
trenchments and watched proceedings with their field
glasses. Bravely the little band charged and charged
again and so deadly was their aim that the savages re-
coiled before them.' But they were not to escape with-
out serious loss. Their brave captain was killed, as also
were Howser and Ben Evans, while Leland, Charles
Johnson and one other were wounded. The horse of
our subject was shot and also that of Frank Vansise.
Three dead or dying, three wounded, tw-o others dis-
mounted, but nine were left to fight the Indians. But
the deadiv accuracy of these plainsmen was too much
even to satisfy Joseph and he began after the repeated
charges to withdraw his men, who carried their dead
and wounded, which were considerable, but the exact
number has never been found. We should state that
the little handful of whites actually broke through the
line of the savages, then wheeled and fought them back
until, as said, they withdrew. We also shoud state that
during this terrible conflict for life on the part of these
brave men who were coming to the assistance of the
troops in Cottonwood, not one had come to their as-
sistance and the deadly struggle was calmly watched
from behind intrenchments. Later two, George Shearer
and another man, probably not regulars, came to the
assistance of the volunteers. The Indians continued
across the county toward Kamiah and the next day the
volunters took their dead and wounded back to Alt.
Idaho, a sad spectacle of those who in real bravery
would have assisted their fellows who lay behind breast-
works and saw helpers shot down without raising an
arm to repel the foe. Captain McConville came across
the country from the Salmon that very night, having
heard the shots and the next day followed the Indians.
Regarding William Foster, a half breed scout who fell
on the fourth of July while scouting and whose grave is
now marked with a monument a few miles north from
Cottonwood, an account is given in another portion.
ORREN BENTLEY is a farmer and stockman
and lives seven miles west from Tolo. He was born
in Pike county, Illinois, on May 15, 1842, the son of
Gideon and Harriet E. (Wheeler) Bentley. The
father was born in Xew York, on May 4, 1793, where
he was reared. His father was a patriot in the Revo-
lution. Gideon Bentley removed to Ohio, thence to
Pike county, Illinois, where he took a preemption and
farmed. Later he sold out and erected a saw mill,
a grist mill and a carding mill. Later he sold these
properties and went to Perry, Illinois, where he re-
mained until his death on May 20, 1870. The mother
of our subject was born in Maryland, on December
17, 1799, and died August 23, 1885. Our subject was
reared and educated in his native place and when
fourteen went out to work. On August 3, 1861, he
enlisted in Company C, Twenty-seventh Illinois Yol-
unteer Infantry, under Captain L. French Williams,
fought all through the war and was honorably dis-
charged on September 14, 1864. He had been in the
army of the Cumberland and participated in the bat-
tles of Belmont, Union City, Island No. Ten, Cor-
inth. Chickamauga, Mission, Rocky Face, Resaca,
Atlanta and many others besides skirmishes. After
the war he went to the Cherokee strip and returned on
horseback. Then he worked out and later rented land
m Illinois until the fall of 1879, when he went to
Pottawatomie county, Kansas, and settled on school
land, where he remained until April 12, 1885, when he
landed on Camas prairie. He took land, spent two
years in the mountains and then settled to farming.
He now devotes himself to general farming and stock
raising and is prosperous. Mr. Bentley has the fol-
lowing brothers and sisters : Sophrona Conner, New-
man, Harriet E. Love, deceased, Mahlon, Elizabeth,
William, Lvdia A. Hulett. Oscar, Orestus, Lodema
Shelly.
On September 12, 1867, Mr. Bentley married Miss
Bidsey A., daughter of Jackson and Amanda (Bond)
Johnson. Mr. Johnson was born in Yirginia, on No-
vember 14. 1825, removed to Illinois with his parents,
enlisted in Company F, Ninety-ninth Illinois Volunteer
Infantry in 1862, took part in the siege of Yicksburg,
went down the Mississippi to New Orleans, where he
contracted a pulmonary disease from which he died
on June 15, 1885. The mother of Mrs. Bentley was
born January 22, 1829, in Tennessee, Shelby county,
removed to Illinois with her parents and now lives at
Whitebird, Idaho county. Mrs. Bentley was born
on April 13, 1850, in Pike county, Illinois, and has six
brothers and sisters : John. Minerva Cain, Douglas,
Harison. Nellie Thompson, Arminta Schmadeka. The
following named children have been born to this mar-
riage: Viola Sidden, born April 12, 1869; Violetta,
born March 23, 1870, and died October 4, 1886;
Francis H, born October 6. 1872 ; Lelia Inghram,
born May 15. 1874; Lizzie Brady, born February 28,
1878; John A., born April 6, 1880; Ray, born May
10. 1882, died September 27, 1883: Ernest O.. born
August 13, 1884; Harley R., born September 30. and
died January 15, 1891 ; Austin, born September 24,
1889, and died February 5, 1891 ; Minnie, born May.
19, 1892. Mr. and Mrs. Bentley are Republicans and
take an intelligent interest in the affairs of the political
realm. He is a member of the G. A. R. and they both
belong to the Christian church.
TELON E. ECKLAND is one of the leading
stockmen of Idaho county; he has achieved his pros-
perous position by the meritorious labors of his hands
and the industry and skill of which he is possessed.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
519
He was born in Sweden, on May 21, 1869, the son of
Aderins and Nellie (Nelson) Eckland, born in Swed-
en, in 1839 and 1837, respectively. The)- still live
in Sweden. Our subject was educated and reared in
his native land until eleven and then came to America
with an uncle. They located in Iowa, where he at-
tended school for four years more. In the spring of
1884 he came to Camas prairie with his uncle, Nels
Swanson. He took his present place as a homestead
and has added to it until it is three hundred and sixty
acres. Mr. Eckland has devoted his attention to gen-
eral farming and raising stock until the present time.
He has his place well improved and owns one hundred
head of cattle, as many hogs and plenty of horses to
handle his property.
Mr. Eckland has the following brothers and sis-
ters : Ole. Annie, Pearson, Johanna, Swante. Mr.
Eckland is a good Democrat and active in progression
m substantial improvements. He is a real worker
for better schools and roads.
JOHN A. HANSON. For more than a decade,
the subject of this sketch has been in business in
Grangeville operating a first-class photograph gal-
lery here and because of his skill and excellent busi-
ness methods is favored with a thriving patronage.
John A. Hanson was born in Denmark, in 1854,
the son of P. H. and Christine ( Hanson) Hanson, both
natives of Denmark and now living there. The father
was born in 1836 and the mother is now aged seventy-
two. Our subject attended the public school, gradu-
ated from high school and remained in his country
until he had grown to manhood. Then being ambi-
tious for the opportunities to be found in this coun-
try, he came hither when nineteen. Settlement was
made in New York, then a year was spent in La Salle,
Illinois, and in December, 1874, he came to Cali-
fornia. In Oakland he learned thoroughly the art
of the photographer and followed that business in the
northern part of the state for some years. He was at
Susanville and also traveled during the summers. In
1883 Mr. Hanson married Miss Fannie Strehley, born
in Fredericksburg, Virginia. General Hancock had
his headquarters on her father's plantation during the
Rebellion and she experienced the horrors of war. be-
ing in the path of the contending armies. After the
war, Mrs. Hanson spent most of her time in Wash-
ington, D. C. until coming to California. She has
five brothers and one sister, while Mr. Hanson has
one sister and three brothers. In 1890 Mr. Hanson
came to Moscow and there entered into partnership
with Mr. Erickson, the firm being Erickson & Hanson.
They had been in partnership in California under
the name of Hanson & Erickson. In 1891 Mr. Han-
son came to Grangeville, still continuing the partner-
ship and later dissolved the same and opened on his
own responsibility. Mr. Hanson has given attention
to writing for the magazines and has done much work
for illustrating, which gives him a magnificent col-
lection, perhaps the finest in the state. The views are
of the noted places in the northwest, scenes and bat-
tle grounds of the country and are valuable. Mr.
Hanson is a member of the I. O. O. F., and has passed
all the chairs. He was a delegate to the grand en-
campment for three successive years. He is also a
member of the Red Men. Airs. 'Hanson is a member
of the Episcopalian church. Mr. Hanson owns con-
siderable property and is one of the leading business
men of the town and stands well.
JOHN A. WOOD. The firm of Pearson & Wood
is well known in Grangeville, being leading druggists
there. Both of these gentlemen are also natives of
Idaho county and are sons in whom the county takes
pardonable pride. John A. Wood was born at Free-
dom, Idaho county, on March 15, 1877, just prior
to the stirring scenes of tne Nez Perces war. His
parents are Charles B. and Elizabeth (Green) Wood,
natives of Massachusetts and Maine, and born in 1846
and 1852, respectively. The mother came to the west
in the early sixties with relatives and is now dwelling
in Grangeville. The father was a merchant and died
in 1898, an honored and prominent man. In the ear-
ly_ 'fifties he went to California with his father and
mined. In 1862 they came to Idaho, he being then
sixteen. They soon settled at Freedom and he took
up the mercantile business. Mr. Wood, the father of
our subject, was in charge of a companv of volun-
teers at Slate creek and built a stockade, "it was here
that the Nez Perces squaw. Tolo. rendered the valua-
ble service which made her a bright name in history.
She notified the whites at Freedom, then rode to Flor-
ence and brought a squad of sixteen men to assist
m defending the stockade. Our subject's uncle,
Charlie Cone, met the three Indians who shed the
first blood of the war, having killed Elfers and Breck-
inridge at the John Day ranch. They told Cone what
they had done and advised him to go home and mind
his business and he would not be molested. Taking
them at their word, he rode awav and they did not
shoot him in the back, but he was careful to keep an
eye on them. Our subject spent the first seven vears
of his life in Freedom and then the family came to
Grangeville, the father entering business there. He was
a prominent man and in 1800 was elected sheriff of
the county. John A. received a liberal education from
the common schools and the Methodist academy and
at the end of his school days he commenced the fas-
cinating occupation of mining in the Salmon river
country. He was in the various leading camps and
in 1898 came out to enlist in the cause of his country
in the Spanish war. He was in service seventeen
months, being one of the Idaho volunteers. He took
part in the capture of Manila and also was in the
leading engagements during the time he was there.
Mr. Wood was one of the number who held the Guada-
loup church, two hundred and fifty of them
holding at hay three thousand, five hundred
of their enemies. He started home on July
31, t899, •'"''' arrived in San Francis
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
September 26. In December, 1901, Mr. Wood
formed his present partnership and has contin-
ued at this line since. Mr. Pearson is in charge of
the business in Grangeviile mostly while Mr. Wood
devotes his attention "to the mining properties of the
firm. Mr. Wood has two sisters and four brothers:
Anna C. Norwood, Laura E.. James G., Charles H.
Harry E., Prank. He is a member of the K. P. and
also of the Episcopal church. Mr. Wood is an ac-
tive and well informed Democrat.
A. FRED CURTIS. This genial young man, who
is proprietor and operator of the Whitebird ferry, is
one of the enterprising men of the valley, conducts
a thriving business and maintains an excellent stand-
ing in the community. He was born in Riley county.
Kansas, on March 12. 1877, the son of George W. and
Ella (Waugh) Curtis. The father, who was a mer-
chant, was born in New Jersey, in 1852 and now lives
on Rapid river. He crossed the plains in 1879, did
saw milling in Montana, operated a hotel in Prairie
City, Oregon, and later went to raising stock. He en-
listed as drummer boy in the Civil war but his father
took him out of the ranks. The mother was born in
Iowa in 1857. Our subject was with his parents in
their various moves and received most of his educa-
tion in Oregon and Idaho. He settled in Idaho in
1888 and at once went to riding the range for stock.
He selected his homestead, between the ferry and
Whitebird, where he now lives. Mr. Curtis rode the
range for six years and then went to raising stock for
himself. His father established the ferry in 1892,
which in 1898 our subject bought and since that time
he has paid attention to running it. His homestead is
the old worshiping place of the Indians and posses-
ses some ancient fortifications. It is the place where
the Indians crossed when pursued by General How-
ard.
In 1898 Mr. Curtis married Miss Eliza, daughter
of James and Mary Nash, of Irish descent and now
living in Kansas. Airs. Curtis was born in Kansas, in
1SS0. Mr. Curtis has four sisters, Mattie Rossiter,
Elva Dorman, Pearl Irwin, Lulu Caruthers. Three
children have been born to this marriage, Blanche,
Grace, Genevieve. Mr. Curtis is an active and in-
fluential Democrat and one of the prominent young
men of the section.
FRANK Z. TAYLOR, a substantial and capable
business man of Whitebird, is at the present holding
the position of justice of the peace and United States
Land Commissioner, while also he is a notary public
and does a general transfer business.
Frank Z. Taylor was born in Grant county. Wis-
consin, on April 5, 1849, the son of John A. and Sar-
ah (McKanzie) Taylor. The father was born in New
York in 1825 and now lives in Walla Walla. He is
a bridge builder and established a ferry near Port-
land in 1854, which he operated until 1864. when he
established a toll bridge. He represented Washing-
ton county there in the legislature several terms. The
mother was born in 1825 in Kentucky and now lives
in Wallla Walla. The family crossed the plains to
the Willamette valley in 1852 with ox teams and the
younger days of our subject were spent there, being
tilled with worthy endeavor as one will notice when
we understand that he gained a good education, fin-
ishing the same in McMinnville college, and also mas-
tered the brick layers' trade before he was twenty.
Then he got married and settled. He has farmed and
raised stock in various places since then and has been
engaged in different occupations. In 1878 Mr. Taylor
left Oregon and came to Walla Walla. Six years later
he removed to Pomeroy and worked at his trade.
Then we see him in Moscow occupied with mining for
two years. In 1894 he came to Whitebird and took
land. In 1898 Mr. Taylor opened a hotel there and
did a good business until 1903, January 17, when he
sold and since then has devoted himself to handling
his other business. He owns various properties and
some in town.
On August 4, 1869, Mr. Taylor married Miss
Mary M., daughter of Matthew Thompson, a native
of Ireland and a soldier in the Civil war. Mrs. Taylor
was born in Ohio, in 1849. The following named chil-
dren have been born to this marriage: Frank T., Effie,
John M., Walter A., Mrs. Loris Foskett, all in or
near Whitebird. Mr. Taylor has three sisters and
one brother: Mrs. L. L. Kelly, Mrs. Ella Meade, Mrs.
Jennie Wann, John E. A niece. Miss Kelly, is pri-
vate secretary to President Dole at Honolulu. Mr.
Taylor is an active and influential Republican and
always is a leader in the conventions and the cam-
paigns. He was chairmen of the convention and while
he works for his party, has never sought office, the
same coming to him.
BURT L. CROSBY is one of the leading mer-
chants in Idaho county and is carrying on in Grange-
viile the only exclusive store of ladies' and gents' fur-
nishings in this section of the country. His skill and
uniformly deferential treatment of patrons, with stir-
ring enterprise, have placed him in a very successful
position and brought to his door a patronage that is
both gratifying and the proper reward of honest effort
wisely bestowed.
Burt L. Crosby was born in Kasson. Minnesota,
on January 12. 1870, the son of William R. and Julia
E. (Hackett) Crosby, born in New York in 1836 and
in Pennsylvania in 1838, respectively. The father
died on January 12. 1888. He had been a pioneer in
Minnesota and took part in the Indian wars in that
state. His father died in Andersonville prison in the
Civil war and his grandfather, the great-grandfather
of our subject, was a patriot in the Revolution. The
mother of Burt L. died in Minnesota in January,
1898. Her father fought in the Indian wars in Min-
' nesota. being a pioneer ; her grandfather was a native
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
of Scotland. Our subject grew to manhood in his
native place, was well educated and then took a busi-
ness course. Following that he became a salesman in
a general merchandise establishment, then went to Ab-
ercrombie, North Dakota, where he was bookkeeper
for a corporation for rive years. They handled dry
goods, real estate and mining interests. He remained
here until 1898, then came to the coast, after which he
returned to Minnesota and for a time conducted bank-
rupt sales. In 1900 Mr. Crosby established his pres-
ent business in Grangeville with J. Frank Sims. This
was in May and since that time Air. Crosby has con-
ducted a successful business here. Mr. Sims sold out
the first of the year, 1903, eastern parties being the
buyers. Mr. Crosby holds a controlling interest and
is managing the business.
On March 21, iqoo. Mr. Crosby married Miss Jen-
nie M.. daughter of William Henry, a prominent build-
er in Winnepeg and now a well known farmer at
Hoople, North Dakota. The parents are of Irish ex-
traction. Mrs. Crosby was born near London, Can-
ada, on October 25, 1870, and has the following broth-
ers and sisters : George, David, William, Mrs. Char-
lotte Mason. Mr. Crosby has the following brothers
and sisters, Mrs. J. \Y. Auchinviole, Walter, J. M.,
Rov. Air. Crosbv is a member of the Masonic fra-
ternity, of the A. O. V. W.. and of the M. W. A.
Mrs. Crosby is a member of the Methodist church.
They are Republicans in politics and Mrs. Crosby is
thoroughly interested in the business her husband
is carrying on and ably assists him in his labors.
WILLIAM C. McNUTT is at the present time
count}' surveyor of Idaho county, being elected to
that position in the fall of 1902. This was the first
occasion that he ever allowed his name to be placed on
the ticket and it was here on the Democratic list. Mr.
McNutt is a man of great skill and experience in the
intricacies of civil engineering and has held some very
responsible positions in leading companies in the Unit-
ed States. He was born in Craig county. Virginia, on
October 6, 1862, the son of James R. and Ann (Row-
an) McNutt. natives of Virginia and born in 1828 and
1832. respectively. The father died in 1863, being
killed at the battle of Cedar Creek, while serving un-
der Early. Mr. McNutt was of Scotch-Irish extrac-
tion and his maternal uncle, Colonel Hutchinson, serv-
ed with distinction in the Revolution. The mother of
our subject died in 1864. She was of German and
English extraction; her brother. John M. Rowan, was
state treasurer of Virginia for several terms. This
gentleman's son. Andrew S., is now captain in the
Nineteenth U. S. Infantry and won marked distinction
in the Cuban war. Our subject being left an orphan
when two years old, he was reared- and educated by his
paternal grandparents. From the common to the
high school he won his way and then took a thorough
course in the state normal and completed his profes-
sional studies when he was eighteen: however, he has
delved deep into the lore of mathematics since that
time. Mr. McNutt at once accepted a position with
the Nickle Plate railroad, then wrought for the Grand
Trunk, the Michigan Air Line, then with Brown
Howard & Company, and later went on to the Bur-
lington and Northern. After this he was with the
Northern Pacific and with all these companies was a
leading civil engineer, and on the Northern Pacific
had charge of much of their work, under C. C. Van
Arsdal, the entire Palouse branch as to its tracks
and bridges. When this line was completed Mr. Mc-
Nutt went to Pierce, mined and prospected and in
various other districts he continued in this until 1899
and the following year he opened a civil engineering
office in Grangeville and has done work for the leading
companies of the tributary mining camps. In Novem-
ber. io"2, he was elected county surveyor as said and
is giving entire satisfaction in this responsible capac-
ity. Mr. McNutt has two brothers, Robert B. and
Rutherford L. He is a member of the K. P. and has
always been active in politics and in any movement for
the advancement of the welfare of all. Mr. Mc-
Nutt has considerable mining property ; he is a sub-
stantial man and a public minded citizen of excellent
standing.
JACOB L. WEBER, who lives three miles north-
west from Denver, is one of the industrious and intel-
ligent farmers and stockmen of Idaho county. He
owns a half section of fertile land and handles it with
becoming skill and wisdom which give him abundant
annual returns of the fruits of the field. In addition
to the general farming mentioned. Mr. Weber also
raises about seventv head of cattle, fifty hogs an-
nually, besides horses. He is one of the thrifty and
upright men of his section.
Jacob L. Weber was born in Ontario, Canada, on
August 30, 1841, the son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Leh-
mann) Weber, born in Bavaria in 1816 and near
Strassburg in 1817, respectivelv. The father came to
Canada when sixteen, worked at carpentering and
then commenced to gain land. First he had one hun-
dred acres, later two hundred and fifty and then seven
hundred besides fourteen hundred acres in Kansas.
He sold as years went on and now lives retired in On-
tario, aged eighty-six. The mother married in 1840
and died on May ^, 1802. Our subject received his
education in the famous schools of Ontario and re-
mained with his parents until he was twenty-four.
Then he rented land and farmed until 1872, at which
time he came to Marion county, Kansas, and there
farmed and raised stock until 1886, when he made his
way to Walla Walla and a year later went to Pataha,
whence he came to Camas prairie in r888. He bought
a timber claim and homesteaded it and later acquired
more land. Mr. Weber has the following brothers and
sisters: Elizabeth Fischer. John, Catherine. Ging-
rich. Christian. Daniel. Joseph, deceased. Mary Shel-
lev, Louis. Samuel. Menno.
On lulv T4. 1866, Mr. Weber married Miss Caro-
line, daughter of Jacob and Barbara I Studer) Jac-
obs. The father was born in Alsace, in 1820. came
522
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
to Canada in 1830, and to Kansas in 1873. There he
remained in farming until his death, November 9,
1886. The mother was born in 1825, in Alsace, came
with her parents to Canada, married in 1842 and now
lives in Kansas. Mrs. Weber was born in Ontario,
on May 22, 1843, ar,d nas the following brothers and
sisters: George, deceased, Valentine, John, deceased,
Mary, deceased, Diebold, Peter, Henry, deceased,
Mike, Louis. The following named children have
been born to this couple: John L.. born January 4,
1867; Alice L.. born March 8, 1868; George
F., deceased, born February 27, 1870; An-
nie M. Anderson, born January 17, 1872;
Ezra M., born February 16, 1874, and now deceased;
Samuel W., born February 10, 1876, now deceased ;
Elia J-, born January 18, 1878 ; Jacob L., born Novem-
ber 30, 1879 ; Louisiana, born July 20, 1881 ; Edwin
W., born March 30. 1883; Marion, born April 28,
1888. Mr. and Mrs. Weber are members of the Meth-
odist church and are always on the side of better
schools and roads and general progress.
NELS SWANSON has for twenty years been
one of the potent factors in the development of Ida-
ho countv and it is with pleasure that we accord him
representation in the volume that purports to chroni-
cle reviews of the leading citizens of this county. He
was born in Sweden, on November 30, 1844, the son
of Susan Johnson and Bettie (Olsen) Swanson, also
natives of the same country. 1 he father was born in
1823 and died in 1881. He was a farmer and car-
penter. The mother was born in 1833 and died in
1 89 1. Our subject was reared and educated in the
native land and after school days were over he gave
his attention to farming his father's place until 1880.
In that year he determined to leave the native land
and accordingly chose Wapello county, Iowa, as his
destination. For four years he wrought in that county,
and in 1884 made his way to Camas prairie and its
fertility and attractive resources led him to locate.
He took a quarter section three miles southwest from
where Tolo is now situated and since that time has
devoted himself to its culture and improvement. Mr.
Swanson now has a half section, owns a band of cat-
tle from which he turns off about twenty each year ;
he also markets about fifty hogs yearly.
Mr. Swanson has the following named brothers
and sisters: Andrew, John Aderijus, Annie Crun.
Mr. Swanson is a Democrat and is always active for
the general welfare and good schools and roads.
OLOF P. MOBERG is one of the well known and
stirring farmers and stockmen of Idaho county and
now owns a half section about three miles southeast
from Cottonwood, where he pursues these related oc-
cupations with good success. In addition to his own
land, he rents a half section.
Olof P. Moberg was born in Sweden, on June 7,
1842, the son of Jonas and Brita Moberg, born in
Sweden, on January 15, 1805, and in 1802, respective-
ly. The father was a lawyer and died in 1869. The
mother died in 1887. Our subject received a good
education in the common schools of his native place
and remained with his parents until he was twenty-
six. 1868 was the year in which he came to Kansas
City and for four years engaged in operating a sa-
loon. In 1872 he migrated to Colorado, mined at
Boulder and also did a contract of furnishing ties to
the railroad. In 1875 we see Mr. Moberg in Port-
land in the lumber business and on April r, 1877. he
came to Mt. Idaho. He at once bought a sixth inter-
est in the Pioneer Mining Company ten miles south
of Newsome and devoted himself to mining. At the
time of the Indian outbreak, they were warned by
Cassius Day, a good scout, and thus being on the look-
out were not surprised by the savages. Mr. Mo-
berg continued mining until the fall of 1885 ; however,
the family had settled on his preemption and after 1885
he devoted himself to farming and stock raising and
has continued at it since. He has one hundred and
twenty-five cattle, two hundred hogs, fourteen horses
and much other personal property.
On May 15, 1874, Mr. Moberg married Caroline,
daughter of Carl and Ellen (Anderson) Newberg,
natives of southern Sweden and born in 1825 and in 18-
35, respectively. The father was a blacksmith and died
in 1892. The mother still lives in Sweden. Mrs. Mo-
berg was born on November 22, 1852, and has the
following brothers and sisters : Sarah Anderson. Thil-
da Johnson, John M., Sophia Watson, Emma. Gus-
tav. To Mr. and Mrs. Moberg the following chil-
dren have been born : Charles R., born March 19,
1875 > Frederic, born September 28, 1877 ; Oscar, born
October 4, 1881 ; Daisy, born October 4, 1885 ; Addie,
born April 29, 1888: George, born November 19,
1891 ; Lillie, born June 13, 1894. Mr. and Mrs. Mo-
berg are intelligent Democrats and are interested in
good schools and general improvement. He is a mem-
ber of the Maccabees.
BION C. WILTSE is one of the stirring busi-
ness men of Grangeville and has for years been rec-
ognized as one of the promoters in the advancement
and interests of the country and town. He was born
in Saginaw, Michigan, on February 1, 1862. the son
of Jacob and Climena (Frost) Wiltse, born in Michi-
gan in 1841 and Lucas county, Ohio, in 1843. re-
spectively. They still live in Michigan. The father
was one of the first white children born in Saginaw
county, Michigan, and has been a prominent man in
his section, representing his county in the state legis-
lature and holding other offices. The grandfather of
our subject's mother was one of the first settlers in
Lucas county, Ohio. Bion C. was reared and edu-
cated in Michigan and labored with his father until
of age. Starting for himself he took up merchandis-
ing at Ashley, Michigan, where he remained until
1891, then sold out and journeyed to Bridleville, Ore-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
523
gon. In that town he took up the real estate and tim-
ber business and for eight years he was prospered
nicely. Then came another change and he sold out,
making his way to Grangeville. This was in Febru-
ary, 1899, and he at once bought a corner lot on Main
street and built the Wiltse house. For three years
he successful}- operated this hotel, then rented it and
engaged in mining and other business until Decem-
ber 1, 1902, at which time Mr. Wiltse formed a part-
nership with Mr. James Adams and they purchased
the M. & M. cash store, which they are now operat-
ing with display of the same sagacity and winning
methods that have characterized the successful moves
hitherto.
In 1884 Mr. Wiltse married Miss Amy Clark, who
died in 1900, leaving four children, Herna, Nellie,
Gladys, Harold.
In 1901 Mr. Wiltse contracted a second marri-
age, L. Mae Dice, daughter of Frank and Minnie Dice,
becoming his bride. The parents were natives of
Michigan but are now deceased. The father was a
prominent hotel man in his state. Mrs. Wiltse has
two brothers, James and Almon. Mr. Wiltse has two
brothers and four sisters : Ida, Bell, Eva, Blanche,
George, John. Mrs. Wiltse is a member of the Pres-
byterian church and Mr. Wiltse belongs to the Mas-
ons, to the A. O. U. W\, and to the Artisans. He is
a Democrat but not partisan and is an independent
thinker. In addition to his hotel, his mercantile busi-
ness and other property, Mr. Wiltse is heavily inter-
ested in mining and is president of a company.
FRED A. DAVIS, superintendent of the Idaho
Copper Mining & Smelting Company, whose prop-
erty lies four and one-half miles northwest from
Whitebird, is one of the enterprising citizens of Ida-
ho county and his experience in the art of mining all
over the continent together with a generous fund of
natural ability in this line, have made him one of the
best mining men of the section. He was born in
Maine, on January 3, 1873, the son of James and Ida
(Tomlinson) Davis, born in Nova Scotia in 1847
and 1852, respectively. The parents were of English
extraction. The family went to Nova Scotia when
Fred A. was six months of age and there he received
his education and when thirteen went to work in the
mines and continued thus until he was twenty. Then
he came to the western mines, working in the old Blue
Bell, the oldest mine in British Columbia, it being dis-
covered by the Hudson Bay people. Mr. Davis also
wrought in Rossland, Ainsworth. Boundary regions,
and in the Coeur d' Alene section, besides various
places in Washington. He was foreman and also
shift boss i;i different mines, especially the Rambler,
In September, i<)<>2. Mr. Davis came to Idaho and
took the superintendency of the present property,
which is being well improved and skillfully handled
under his wise direction. The mines are gold and
copper producers and are very promising properties.
The company are erecting large improvements in the
way of compressor and smelting works.
At Colville, Washington, on September 10, 1902,
Mr. Davis married Miss Marguerite, daughter of John
and Harriet Acorn. The father is a sawmill man and
a bridge contractor. Mrs. Davis was born in Prince
Edward island and is of Scotch descent. She was
well educated and spent some time in teaching. She
lias four brothers and two sisters. Mr. Davis has
the following brothers and sisters: Blanche, William,
Wesley, Joseph, Fannie, Annie, Bertha, Lewis and
Maude. Mr. Davis is a member of the I. O. O. F.,
Mrs. Davis is an adherent of the Presbyterian church.
Mr. Davis is largely interested in mining properties
on the Salmon and is a leader in mining circles here.
He has spent some time in the past in organizing
unions. He owns one group of mining claims, known
as Number One Group, situated about two miles
north from the Copper Mining and Smelting Com-
pany's property.
HIRAM ROBBINS, deceased. This esteemed
gentleman was well known in Idaho county both on ac-
count of his labors in the educational work and be-
cause of his energy and enterprising qualities of worth
which were demonstrated in a career of usefulness and
intelligent activity. He was born in Watauga county,
North Carolina, on November 2, 1843, the son of Le-
ander and Alvira Robbins. He was reared under the
parental roof until he was fifteen and then went to
do for himself and gain an education. He graduated
from the high school of Boone, his native county, and
at once went to teaching in his state. This was in
1872, and he continued in educational work until the
time of his removal to Idaho county, on May 10, 1884.
Here he took up the same line of work and was known
as one of the leaders in this realm. He also secured
eighty acres of land and devoted part of his attention
to general farming and rasing stock. The family
home is one-half mile south from Cottonwood and in
addition they own property in town. On January 3,
1903, the angel of death summoned Mr. Robbins to
the realities of another world and his demise was a
time of general mourning, for he was beloved by his
friends from every quarter. He had the following
brothers and sisters : Thomas. William. James, Lar-
kin, deceased, John, Mary Downs, Mira Green.
On March 28, 1875. Mr. Robbins married Miss
Etta, daughter of Solomon and Polly (Elrod) Black-
burn. The father, a farmer, was born in North Caro-
lina in 1826, and during the war, as he sympathized
with the union, was shot at his own door. The mother
was born in the same state in 1824. She was a great
student of the Bible, having read it through twenty-
four times. After her husband's death, she removed
with her children to Arkansas and when seventy-two
she went all the way back in a wagon; her death oc-
curred on June 11, 1899. Mrs.'Robbins was born in
Ash county. North Carolina, on May 5, 1857, and has
the following brothers and sisters: William. Louisa
and Emma, deceased, Calvin, Phineas, Lafayette, Cor-
524
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
nelia Herman. Eight children are the fruit of this
marriage: H. Clay, born fuly 15. 1877; Claudius C,
born September 24. 1870; Flora A. Eller, born June
4, 1881 ; Blanche B. Ogan. born April 8, 1883 ; Wal-
ter S., born April 21. 1885; Oscar W., born .May 12,
1890. and died May 3. 1898; Newton I., born June 19,
1893: Ora H., born May 13, 1895. Mr. Robbins has
been postmaster four years in Cottonwood, county
school superintendent two years, and in 1896 was
elected justice of the peace and was also notary pub-
lic. He joined the Masons in 1863. Mrs. Robbins has
displayed great fortitude and courage in assuming the
burdens since her husband's death and is one of the
highly esteemed ladies of the county.
GE< >RGE S. STOCKTON. M. D.. whose skill
and ability as a first-class physician is well estab-
lished, is at this writing county physician of Idaho
county and one of the leading men of the county. He
was born in Brant county. Ontario, on November 8,
1864. the son of Andrew and Charlotte (Rochers)
Stockton, bom in New Brunswick in 1829 and Lon-
don. England, respectively. The father died in Au-
gust, 1898. His father came to New Brunswick at the
close of the Revolutionary war and then moved to On-
tario later and took land. The great-grandfather of
our subject on the father's side was a subject of
George III and received a grant of land in New Bruns-
wick. The family held real estate in Pennsylvania, but
lost all at the time of the Revolution. Our subject's
mother came to the United States with her parents
when quite young, being a descendant of the Tich-
burns, who left a large estate in England about which
there has been much litigation in late years. George
S. received the beginning of his education in the ex-
cellent schools of Ontario and then finished a univer-
sity course in Toronto, commencing it when seventeen.
Immediately succeeding that he took a medical course
in the university of medicine and later a post-graduate
course in one of the leading colleges of medicine in
New York. Being thus well fortified for the profes-
sion. Dr. Stockton settled near Marquette, Michigan,
and began practice. Three years later he came west
and spent some time in travel and finally settled in
Seattle; after securing a good practice he was burned
out in the big fire and lost all. Next we see him in
Spokane, where he did well until 1897, at which time
he located in Grangeville and at once received a good
patronage. He has continued steadily here since and
is one of the established business men of the county
and enjoys a fine practice.
In Chicago, in 1889, Dr. Stockton married Miss
Rena. daughter of Henry and Alice (Robinson) Ben-
ton. The father is a wealthy railroad man, a native of
New York and is descended from an old and prom-
inent family. The mother of Mrs. Stockton was born
in New York, as was Mrs. Stockton also. She is a
niece of Mrs. Ross, from whom Ross park was named
in Spokane. She has one brother and four sisters.
Dr. Stockton has the following brothers and sisters.
Eva, William, Charles, Frances. Maude. Two chil-
dren, Sadie and Andrew, have been born to this cou-
ple. Dr. Stockton is a member of the I. O. O. F.,
the Artisans, the Foresters and the M. W. A. Mrs.
Stockton and her daughter belong to the Episcopal
church. Dr. Stockton is a Democrat and active. He
has been coroner of the county and is always interested
in the welfare of the county and town. He owns min-
ing propertv in addition to his business.
R( (BERT WATSON lives about two miles south-
east from Cottonwood, where he owns a fine quarter
section, which is laid under tribute by his wise labors
to produce bounteous returns each year of the fruits
of the field. He also devotes much attention to rais-
ing stock and is one of the substantial and prosperous
citizens of the county. He was born in Tyrone coun-
ty, Ireland, in December, 1830, the son of James and
Ann (Fulton) Watson, also natives of the Emerald
Isle. The father was a foundryman and our subject
remained at home with his parents until he was twenty.
gaining, in the meantime, a good education in the
public schools. In 1850 he turned his face to the new
world and landed at St. Louis, Missouri, where he
wrought at carpentering for some time. In 1854 he
went by the Nicaragua route to San Francisco. He
was soon thereafter on the divide between the Yuba
and American rivers and his search for the precious
metal was rewarded by finding good placer grounds.
He continued at the occupation of digging gold for
some time and in 1804 came to the Boise basin, thence
by I'owder river to Lewiston, where he wintered. In
the fall of 1865 he went to the Coeur d'Alene country
and prospected. In 1867 he went to Elk City and con-
tinued there until the fall of 1870. At the time of the
Indian outbreak he came to Mt. Idaho with his part-
ner, Allen Hugel. Seeing no Indians they returned
to Elk, but on the way they met thirty of the redskins
with their families and it was only by a skillful parley
that they saved their scalps. Then they proceeded to
Elk and mined until 1879, when Mr. Watson came and
took his present place as a homestead. Since that time
he has continued to devote his attention to farming
and raising stock, with an occasional trip to the hills.
He has a score of cattle, seventy-five hogs, plenty of
horses and is one of the steady and solid men of the
community. Mr. Watson has two brothers and one
sister, Joseph, John. Elizabeth Atwell.
On January 29, 1881, Mr. Watson married Miss
Sophia Newberg, whose parents have been mentioned
in another place in this work. She was born in Swe-
den, in i860. To this union one child has been born,
John, born July 6. 1886. Mr. Watson is a Republican
and interested in the questions of the day.
J( >HN DOUMECO is one of the oldest pioneers
of the Salmon river valley and he is now living three
miles southwest from Whitebird, in about the same
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
vicinity that lie occupied in the early sixties, when
coming first to this country. He was burn in France
in 1845, tne son ot' Peter and Mary (Laffaill) Dou-
mecq, natives 01" France also. The father was a gov-
ernment contractor. He was born in 1816 and died in
1899. ()llr subject received his education in his native
land and in i860 came to San Francisco. He worked
in the mines for some time and at the time of the
Salmon river excitement he came hither. This was in
1803. and since that time Mr. Doumecq has been one
of the steadv and energetic workers for the advance-
ment ami upbuilding of this country. In addition to
mining. Mr. Doumecq has paid considerable attention
to raising stock. His homestead, taken in 1880, is the
old Henry Moon place, in which Mr. Moon suffered
death at the time it was raided by the Indians in 1877.
Mr. Doumecq used to range his stock on the plateau
northwest from his place and it was thus named Dou-
mecq plains. Mr. Doumecq was here at the time of the
Indian outbreak, all his goods being stolen, but the
savages leaving his house. His partner, August Va-
con. who was nursing Benedict, a man having been
wounded by the Indians, was killed, as was also his
charge. Mr. Doumecq, Glatiney. Bachalerie and
Christian were at the place of the ferry, but having no
guns they took to their boat and escaped in the hills.
Camp Howard is just across the river from Mr. Dou-
mecq's place and is a pretty place.
In 1888 Mr. Doumecq married Miss Coleman and
they have four children, Charlie, Willie, Ernest,
Blanche. Mr. Doumecq has one son, John, by a
former marriage. Mrs. Doumecq was born in Mis-
souri. Mr. Doumecq owns a quarter section, has
considerable stock and also mining interests in various
sections. He has a good orchard, a beautiful and well
favored place, so located that a grand view of distant
mountains and the river canvon are to be had.
ANDREW J. CARLSON lives about five miles
southeast from Cottonwood and there owns a quar-
ter section of fine land, which is a good dividend payer,
and in addition to handling that he pays attention to
raising stock, cattle and hogs, having about one hun-
dred head. Mr. Carlson is one of the builders of this
section and has wrought here for twenty years. He
was born in Sweden, on August 9, 1853, the son of
Carl J. and Caroline ( Fled) Carlson, natives of Swe-
den, born in 1818 and 1824, respectively, and now liv-
ing in Kansas. They were married in 1847 and came
to the United States in 1876 and took land in McPher-
son county. Kansas. Our subject was reared and edu-
cated in Sweden and came with his parents to this
country and remained with them in Kansas until Jan-
uary, 1881. Two years later he went to California and
thence to Camas Prairie in 1883. He took his pres-
ent farm as a homestead and has continued in its
cultivation and improvement since that time. Mr.
Carlson has six brothers and sisters, Charles O., Annie
Bergren. Tilda Oak, Gustavus, Johanna, deceased.
Otto.
< )n November 28, 1897, Mr. Carlson married Mrs.
Hilda Erickson, daughter of Franz G. and Carolina
(Pearson) Carlson. The father was born in Sweden.
on March >>. 18311. and lives there yet. The mother
was born 111 Sweden, on June 29, 1845, aU(J died on
November 15, 1889. Mrs. Carlson was born in south-
ern Sweden, on March II, 1869, and she has the fol-
lowing named brothers and sisters. Emma Riddell,
Clara Larson, Carl, Ellen Peterson. Werner, Emanuel,
Jennie, Agnes, Edith. Three children were born to
Mrs. Carlson by her former marriage, Hilga, born
February 8, 1889; Carl, born April 2T>- 1891 : Mary,
born June 4, 1896. Mr. Carlson and his wife are
stanch Republicans and have always shown themselves
to be on the side of progress and upbuilding of the
country. They belong to the Lutheran church and he
is a member of the Maccabees.
ISAAC C. HATTABAUGH is the capable and
efficient secretary and manager of the Grangeville Im-
plement Company, limited, and in this capacity is con-
ducting the company in such a manner as to win for
them a thriving patronage, while he is one of the
prominent business men of the county and of first
class standing. He was born in Salem, Indiana, on
December 24, 185 1, the son of George W. and Sarah
( Doling) Hattabaugh, born in Virginia in 1822 and
North Carolina in 1824, respectively. The father was
a pioneer in Indiana, was of German extraction and
a prominent man in his section. He died in 1898.
The mother of our subject came from a prominent
family that dates back to the Jamestown settlement
and many of her relatives were leading personages
in the various colonies where they settled ; her four
brothers, John, Gilbert, Randolph, and Mark, were
in the Civil war. She died in 1892. Our subject grew
to manhood and was educated in his native place.
When twenty he began doing for himself and en-
gaged in 1he manufacture of draining tiles, owning
the plant. He built bridges also and in 1878 sold out
and came west, settling in Lewiston. He took up the
manufacture of sash and doors, after which he was
elected twice as county auditor. He was deputy two
terms, then deputy sheriff two terms and when the
county was divided he went to Moscow and in Feb-
ruary, 1889, he accepted the district clerkship and
also opened a set of abstract books and made the
transcript of the two counties. In 1892 he was elected
county treasurer, while the county was a five hundred
strong Republican section, and he a strong and active
Democrat. Mr. Hattabaugh was president of the
Commercial Bank and although it pulled through the
panic years it became entangled in 1895 and went
to the wall. Having all his funds in this institution
lie was left without means. Being appointed receiver
he spent eighteen months in settling the affairs of the
bank and then took up the implement business with the
Elder Brothers. In 1899 Mr. Hattabaugh opened a
branch house at Grangeville and is still in charge of
this business. Mr. Hattabaugh was president of the
526
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
board of regents at the time of the completion of the
university buildings and was very active in assisting
the enterprise to a successful completion.
On December 16, 1875, in Indiana, Mr. Hattabaugh
married Miss Allie. daughter of Eli and Maria (Ben-
nett ) Miller, natives of Indiana and Ohio, respectively.
Mrs. Hattabaugh 's mother was born in Indiana. Her
brother was Thomas Bennett, governor of Idaho. Two
children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hattabaugh,
M. Reese, at college in Washington, D. C. ; Zonoma,
born in Lewiston. in 1879, and attending school in
Spokane. Mr. Hattabaugh is past grand master of the
Masonic order and belongs to the royal arch and the
Knight templar and the shriner departments of this
order. He also belongs to the I. O. O. F., the Elks,
the K. P. and was district deputy of the Elks for four
years. Mr. Hattabaugh is a Democrat of pronounced
views and activity, and refused the nomination for
state senatorship last fall.
By way of reminiscence we note that he was a
member of the posse that went from Lewiston and
Grangeville to take the Chinese when they murdered
Frazier at Pierce. They caught the celestials but In-
dians came and wrested them away and hung them
forthwith.
FRANK HOGAN, who, with his brother, op-
erates the Hogan Brothers' barber shop, the oldest
shop in Grangeville, is a leading business man of good
standing, well and favorably known and ahvays allied
on the side of advancement in the development of the
town and the interests of the country. He was born
in Douglas county, Oregon, on November 7, 1865, the
son of John and Ellen (Carlisle) Hogan, natives of
Ireland and Iow^a, respectively. The father came to
the United States when a boy and settled in the mid-
dle states ; in 1862 he crossed the plains to Douglas
county, bought land and still lives there, aged sixty-
two. He fought in the Civil war a while and also
fought the Indians when crossing the plains. The
mother of our subject is also living in the Oregon
home. She had her dress torn from one shoulder by
a shot from the Indians when crossing the plains.
Her mother, who is still living, aged one hundred
years, is of German extraction, while her father was
an Englishman. Frank grew to manhood in his native
place, received his education from the common schools
and in 1884 came to Grangeville. He returned to
Oregon the next spring and in 1892 came hither again
and bought an interest with his brother in his shop.
Since then he has continued here, ow7ning a fine busi-
ness and having a first class reputation.
At Grangeville, on December 26, 1897, Mr. Ho-
gan married Miss Maggie, daughter of Michael Be-
hean, a native of Ireland and now a policeman in
Chicago. He served in the Civil war, then crossed the
plains and was finally at Lapwai. Mr. Hogan has the
following named brothers and sisters, Jennie, Russell,
William S., America, Minnie, King O., Katherine,
John H. To Air. and Mrs. Hogan one child has been
born, Roy F. Mr. Hogan was the first candidate
initiated in the Grangeville Camp of the W. W. Mrs.
Hogan belongs to the Catholic church. He is a Dem-
ocrat and attends the caucuses, but is not partisan and
maintains the right of independent thought. In addi-
tion to his business. Mr. Hogan owns a good residence
in Grangeville and some cattle.
RUSSELL TRUITT, M. D. The prestige en-
joyed by and the confidence reposed in Dr. Truitt is
the result of real merit and manifested skill and in-
tegrity, both in his life as a private citizen and as a
professional man. It is quite in place that a review of
his career be granted space in the history of northern
Idaho. He was born in Montgomery county, Illinois,
on May 2, 1852, the son of Samuel and Cynthia A.
(Carr) Truitt. The father was born in Kentucky in
1820, removed after his marriage in 1836 to Illinois
and in 1849 went across the plains to California. His
train being surprised by the savages, he was wounded
by an arrow7 in the hip. It was impossible to extract
the stone point and the wound healed with it in. He
did well in the Golden state and returned, via the
isthmus, and settled in Illinois, where he farmed, be-
ing prospered. In February, 1863, he went to Mem-
phis to see his son, James Madison, who was languish-
ing in the hospital, and there he fell sick with pleurisy
and died in February, 1863. The mother of our sub-
ject was born in 18 18, in Indiana, was raised in Ken-
tucky, and died June 19, 1894. Our subject was trained
in the public schools, then for three years in Hills-
boro Academy, then a year each in McKendree and
Carthage Colleges. Following this excellent educa-
tional course, he taught for some time and in 1874
came to Dallas, Oregon, and taught for a year ; in 1875
returned to Illinois and commenced the study of med-
icine with M. B. Michael, M. D. Later he attended
lectures in Miami Medical College and finally took his
degree from the Eclectic Medical College in Cincin-
nati, in 1877. He practiced in Illinois, visited the
Willamette valley and in 1880 removed to Walla Walla
and later to eastern Oregon, where he lived until 1895
and then removed to Cottomvood, Idaho. Since that
time Dr. Truitt has devoted himself to the practice
here with a gratifying success and stands at the head
of a fine patronage today, holding the high esteem and
implicit confidence of the people, of which he is wor-
th)- in every respect. The Doctor owns town property
and a small farm just north from town. He also has
some cattle and horses. He has four brothers, Merrv-
field, James M.. deceased, Warren, Charles.
On August 1, 1878, Dr. Truitt married Miss Louisa
A., daughter of John Smith, who was a pioneer in
Linn county, Oregon. Mrs. Truitt was born in
Linn county, Oregon, in 1854. Two children have
been born to Mr. and Mrs. Truitt, Norman M., born
July 20. 1879; Warren, born June 7, 1891. The Doc-
tor and his wife are Republicans and take a keen inter-
est in the questions of the welfare of the county and
state. He is a member of the Masonic lodge and also of
the M. W. A., of which latter order he is medical ex-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
527
aminer and also of the K. O. T. M. He has a license
from the medical boards of Oregon, Washington and
Idaho.
JOSHUA S. FOCKLER was born in Richland,
Ohio, in 1838, the son of Wendall and Elizabeth (Fox)
Fodder, natives of Pennsylvania. The father was born
on February 22, 181 1, and died in 1902. The mother
was born in 1813 and died when our subject was
young. The parents came to Wisconsin when Joshua
was one year old and settled where Janesville now
stands. He was educated in the Janesville Academy
pud in 1854 came across the plains with his uncle to
Eugene, Oregon. Later he went to Corvallis and did
mining in various sections with that as his headquar-
ters. During the Rogue river war, on October 8,
1855, he was twenty-one miles below Jacksonville with
others when the Indians attacked them and murdered
twenty-one. He escaped with his party and then
went to fighting the Indians. Following the war he
went to California and in 1861 came to Idaho. Nine-
teen men went up the Salmon to prospect and finding
the way so rough they became discouraged and four-
teen turned back to what is now Buffalo Hump ; five
went on and John Healey of this five panned the first
pay dirt in Florence diggings, discovering the dust
from the upturned roots of a tree. A rush followed,
in which our subject participated and also mined there
and in other sections until 1876, when he bought a
store, with Charles Woods, at the mouth of Slate
creek. The land there had been bought from "Capt.
John," an Indian, and in 1861 a house had been
erected there by Charles Silverman, and it is believed
that this is the first house on the Salmon river. Air.
Fockler says he had a nice trade with the Indians and
thought them a good class of their people, but they
told plainly that they would fight the soldiers when an
attempt was made to put them on the reservation.
Bands camped there and Mr. Fockler began to feel
uneasy lest an outbreak occur and the settlers suffer.
About four P. M., June 12. 1877, three Indians,
mounted and under twenty-one, came to buy bread
and said they were going to get ready to go to the
reservation. He supposes these went up to Divine's
place and murdered the old man in the night and stole
his gun. Then they came down John Day creek and
lay in ambush and killed Henry Bec'kroge, and
Richard Bland, as they were going to the hayfield. A
little later they killed Henry Elfers, went on down the
Salmon, which they crossed at a breakneck speed on
the cut off, and Mr. Fockler rode to intercept them to
ascertain what the trouble was. They made for a
winter camp, where some sick squaws were being cared
for by others, but got there and left before Mr. Fockler
could catch them. The squaws told him what had
occurred and he hurried back, but Mr. Charles F.
Cone had reached the store before with the news.
Tolo and other squaws told the tale and Mr. Fockler
sent Tolo with the best horse to ride to Florence for
aid. She rode with all speed and got there before dark,
being obliged to walk the last of the way, as her
horse was exhausted. She brought back twelve armed
men and they went to building fortifications at once.
They arrived at break of day on June 14th. That
morning the) buried the unfortunate victims and re-
mained forted up until the war was ended. They were
visited by one hundred and twenty-five Indians after
the victory at Whitebird, who wanted to be allowed to
p;iss. The whites refused and then later granted them
the privilege of crossing the Salmon unmolested. Mox-
Mox told Mr. Fockler at this time that Chief Joseph
killed Mrs. Manuel with a knife, and that Joseph had
been drinking. Mr. Fockler and his partner gave out
about two thousand dollars' worth of goods at this
time and they were about ruined at the close of the
war, but went to business again and remained with
good success until 1902. Then Mr. Fockler sold out
and is now engaged in raising stock at Slate Creek,
where he owns a half section of land and handles con-
siderable stock. Mr. Fockler has one sister, Mrs.
Rosanna Peck, and two half-brothers, Morton and
Delvino, and four half-sisters. Mr. Fockler is an
active and influential Democrat and has been assessor
and county commissioner.
GEORGE SHEER, who is now in the stock busi-
ness with Mr. J. S. Fockler, is one of the early pio-
neers of the country and is a man of energy, having
wrought well in opening the country and building it
up. He was born in Germany in 1827 and came to
the United States with his parents, Michael and Kate
Sheer, in 18.35. They stopped in New York and in
[836 came to Ohio. In 1849 Mr. Sheer went to Kan-
sas 1 iky and there fitted out with horse teams and
came to Hangtown, California, where he mined for a
time. Later he went to the Salmon country in the
north part of the state and later packed from Trinidad.
In 1863 he came to The Dalles and packed thence to
the points in Idaho, Oregon and some in Montana.
He wintered at Walla Walla for some years and then
chose Slate creek as his winter point. In the spring
of 1877 he went thence to Lewiston and was going after
a load for the mines when the Indians broke out and
he gave his train to serve the government and fol-
lowed General Howard. He was at the battle of the
Clearwater, his train being the one the Indians tried
to capture, of which Howard speaks in his report.
Three horses and their loads were taken and two of
his assistants were killed before the Indians were re-
pulsed. Mr. Sheer received the horses and contin-
ued with the army until they reached Judah Basin in
Montana and there commenced his journey back to
Lewiston. He continued his packing business the next
spring and has followed it since. In 1903 he went into
the stock business with Mr. Fockler and gives most
of his attention to that. He still owns the train and
dees some packing.
Mr. Sheer believes that General Howard did as
weil as any one could under the circumstances and he
is of the opinion that the whole matter was handled
well. He is a Democrat in politics and is a man of
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
sound judgment. He has done a worthy part in the
work of the county and has endured much hardship
and danger in his travels and packing.
GEORGE M. WOLFE is one of the industrious
and thriftv stockmen and farmers of the vicinity of
Cottonwood, having a good farm of one hundred and
sixty acres three miles east from that thriving town.
He also owns considerable stock, having from two
hundred head of hogs to twice and three times that
many each year, also handling some thoroughbred
horses. He" now owns two excellent stallions and
pays considerable attention to buying and selling
stock.
George M. Wolfe was born in Pennsylvania, on
May 2. 1837. the son of William P. and Catherine
(Mobley) Wolfe, natives of Pennsylvania; the father
was born in 1804. The mother died in Missouri in
1845. The father, a miner and farmer, went to west-
ern Missouri in 1845. Three years later he went to
California, landing in Hangtown in 1850. He pros-
pected and mined'" for eight years, then went to Men-
docino countv. where he took land and farmed. In
1882 he removed to Camas prairie, landing here Jan-
uarv 20th and on July 5th the same year he went to
his final rest. He was a veteran of the Mexican war.
Our subject was raised in the various places where the
father lived and received his education from the schools
of these places. His lot was cast with his father and
he engaged in the same lines of operation until 1878,
when he came to Camas prairie and took his present
place as government land. He at once took up general
farming and the handling of stock, sheep, cattle, horses
and hogs, and since that time .Mr. Wolfe has continued
steadilv in these lines with the success deserved by the
thrifty and industrious. Mr. Wolfe is a Democrat and
a member of the I. O. O. F.
In 1856 he was at Susanville, Nevada, where he
built the first sawmill and also took part in the move-
ment among the pioneers to quiet the Piute Indians.
Although they chased the savages for some time they
could not get them to stand and fight.
When a lad of twelve Mr. Wolfe engaged in min-
ing in California and has panned out as high as one
hundred and ninety-six in the early fifties. He was in
the Gold Lake excitement, suffering all the hardships
of the early settlers, having paid as high as two dollars
a pound for beef and two dollars apiece for eggs.
In December, 1852, Mr. Wolfe was at the Rich Bar, on
Feather river, when the camp ran out of provisions.
Eighty men tried to reach the outside settlements,
but twenty-eight perished before getting out of the
snow.
JOHN N. RICE. This esteemed gentleman and
worthy pioneer of Idaho is now dwelling on Slate
creek, at Freedom, and is handling stock, while he also
does general farming. He was born in what is now
Washington county, Oregon, on January 16, 1845. the
-on of James F. and Nancy (Bear) Rice, and was the
second white male child born in Oregon. His father,
who was a native of Canada, was born in 1812 and
died m 1886, crossed the plains to The Dalles in 1844.
He was a union man and a Republican. The mother
was born in Michigan in 1817 and died September 4,
1902, being of German ancestry. Our subject grew
to manhood and was educated in his native place and
continued with his father on the farm until he was
twenty-six. Then, 111 1871, he came to Camas prairie
and settler! five miles north from Grangeville, where
he continued farming and raising stock for fifteen
years. In 1890 he moved to Grangeville and engaged
in the livery business, which he sold two years later.
In 1892 he sold his farm and in 1895 again bought the
iiverv. A vear after this Mr. Rice sold the livery and
bought his present place near Freedom. He is paying
attention to handling stock, and has his farm well im-
proved.
In 1875 Mr. Rice married Miss Sarah E., daughter
of James and Catherine (Crusen) Odle. Mr. Odle
was one of the first to break sod on Camas prairie and
was a prominent man in the county for years. Mrs.
Rice was born in Douglas county, Oregon, on Febru-
ary 14, 1857, and has one brother, George, and one
sister, Mrs. Mary A. Baird. Mr. Rice has the follow-
ing brothers and sisters : Moses H, Charles L., Russell
H, James H, Frank W., Margaret K., Anna M.
Harness, Eliza J. Rhone, Mary N. McGee. Two chil-
dren have been born to this union, Charles A., Kath-
erine. Mr. Rice is a Mason and a stanch Republican.
He is active in politics and held the office of assessor
from 1887 to 1890 and was once in the field for com-
missioner. Mr. Rice was living on Camas prairie at
the time of the Indian outbreak and was shearing
sheep when Paddy White brought the news. He im-
mediately left for Mt. Idaho and as he had only a shot-
gun did duty as guardsman, while the men with rifles
went out in the field.
SAMUEL GOLDSTONE. A successful mer-
chant now in Cottonwood, a large real property holder,
a man of substantial qualities and bright capabilities,
one of the heaviest taxpayers of the county and the
real promoter of the town of Cottonwood, such in
brief is the position held today by Mr. Goldstone ; he
is eminently fitted to be placed among the leading and
prominent men of northern Idaho and one also whose
labors for upbuilding have met with brilliant suc-
cess, both as to his own financial advancement and the
good of the community and the county at large.
Samuel Goldstone was born in Hadley, Michigan,
on January 25. 1859, being the son of Harris and
Golda (Rosenberg) Goldstone, natives of Europe.
The father was born about 1809 and died November
4, 1894. He was a pioneer to California in i860,
dealt heavily in real estate and was a leading mer-
chant in Petaluma. The mother died October 3,
1893, aged about eighty-two. Our subject went to
SAMUEL GOLDSTONE.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
529
California with his parents, making the trip via
Panama and was educated in Petaluma. At the early
age of twelve he started as errand boy for a notion
house and then operated in the same capacity for a
photo gallery for a time, but soon was installed with
the house of Feigenbaum & Company, wholesale no-
tions men. This was September 19, 1871, and for
twenty years he held with that house. He entered at
very small wages and when he severed his connection,
he drew the highest salary that the firm had ever paid
for a commercial traveler. His headquarters were in
Salt Lake City, Utah.
On April 29, 1890, Mr. Goldstone maried Miss
Phoebe, daughter of Abram Binnard, of the well known
firm of Grostein & Binnard, pioneers of Lewiston.
The nuptials were celebrated in that city. Mrs.
Goldstone was born in Lewiston, on March 7, 1871,
and was there educated, having taken special courses
in music and fancy work at the Sisters' school. In
[892 Mr. Goldstone settled in Cottonwood, then a
place of about a dozen houses, and went into business
with Mr. Henry Wax. dealers in general merchandise.
( toe year later, Mr. Goldstone went alone in business
and since that time he has prospered greatly and is
now one of the best known merchants of the county.
He has large interests in the town site, owns a ranch
of about one section adjoining town, also other land
throughout the county and a great deal of other prop-
erty in Lewiston, Idaho. Mr. Goldstone is operating
in real estate for Mr. Proctor of San Francisco, who
owns heavy interests in the townsite of Cottonwood.
He has three brothers and one sister, all in San Fran-
cisco. Jacob and Morris, twins, Daniel and Ella Can-
tor. Three children have been born to this house-
hold, Ellis and Bernice, deceased, and Abram Hirsch
Goldstone, living. Mr. Goldstone is an active Re-
publican and is always found in the lead for any
movement that will benefit the town and the country,
being progressive and public minded, and he is highly
esteemed by all.
WILLIAM W. BOWMAN, a sawmill man, resid-
ing at Grangeville, was born in Boone county, Indiana,
Mil August 20, 1859, the son of George L. 'and Mary
C. (McLean) Bowman, natives of Virginia and In-
diana, respectively. The father enlisted in the Civil
war, but died in 1863 before getting into service. The
motherdied in 1870. Our subject was educated and
reared in his native place and when eighteen came with
his mother and. sisters to Colfax, Washington. In
[878 they crossed the big Potlatch and settled, but
the Indians drove them out and in the spring of 1879
they settled in Lewiston and in the fall came to Camas
prairie. Mr. Bowman farmed and bought the old
water mill above Grangeville, which he operated. He
sold this in 1 89 1 and bought a steam mill, which he op-
erated two years, then moved it on the Salmon, where
it is still located. Mr. Bowman was in Oregon at the
time of the Xez Perces war.
On January .4, 1884, he married Miss Maggie,
daughter of John J. and Jennet (Popham) Manuel.
The father was born in Virginia; he crossed the plains
and married in Warren, Idaho. He made good monej
in Warren and later, in 1X73, sold his hotel and other
propert} and went to Whitebird. He bought the old
Chapman ranch there and took up stock raising. Sue-
cess attended his efforts until the Indians broke them
up. Hon. lien;. F. Morris was in partnership with
Mr. Manuel. Mrs. Bowman has one sister. Julia
Knox, of Grangeville. Mr. Bowman has one brother
and one sister, Francis M. and Emma Crea. Five chil-
dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bowman, fulia,
Emma. Frank, .Minnie, George. Mr. Bowman is a
member of the W. W. and in political matters he is
allied will, the Democrats.
Mr. Manuel and his family were the greatest suf-
ferers in the awful Indian outrages and it is well in
this place to give an account as Mrs. Bowman recites
it now. Mrs. Bowman was born in Warren, on Sep-
tember 8, 1870, was four when the family went to
Whitebird and seven when the war occurred.' On June
I3> l&77- tne Indians were encamped on the Whitebird
and ha«l been holding great talks and powwows. Mr.
Manuel with his wife, his daughter, now Mrs. Bow-
man, son John, and also George Popham, Airs. Man-
uel's father, was at his ranch. At that time Pat Price
and old Air. Baker, a bachelor residing near, came rid-
ing hurriedly up and exclaimed that'the Indians had
just shot Sam Benedict. They did not know at that
time that the savages had already killed Dick Divine
and Elfers, and a man nicknamed Bob Long, on that
same morning and prior to the shooting of Benedict.
Benedict was killed that evening while attempting to
escape his murderers, having been wounded in the
morning.
Just as soon as possible Mr. Manuel gathered his
family and started to Mr. Baker's stone cellar, as a
place of protection. Pat Brice and old Mr. Popham
stayed at Mr. Manuel's place and hid themselves. Mr.
Manuel had gone but a little distance with his family
when, upon looking back, Mrs. Bowman exclaimed,
"Oh, father, the Indians are coming." Just then an
arrow struck her in the arm and another in the head,
which latter one glanced and entered her father's neck.
Then the Indians shot her father through the hips
with a ride and he fell from his horse, dragging Mrs.
Bowman with him as she was sitting behind and cling-
ing to him. The horses stampeded and Mrs. Manuel,
who held the baby, was carried in a different direction
from the others and was soon thrown off. Her knee
cap was broken and the baby was injured. At the
beginning of the attack the Indians surrounded Mr.
Baker. One of their number thrust an arrow in his
face and he wrenched it from the savage's hand. Upon
this they filled him with arrows, even shooting them at
him long after he was dead. When he saw his case
was hopeless he called out to Mr. Manuel. "Good bye,
Jack, they've got me," and then died. Mr. Manuel
and his little daughter rolled down hill when they fell
from the horse which had run away. Thus they got
some distance from the Indians ami crawled into the
brush and hid. The Indians continued to shoot at them
and one bullet grazed Mr. Manuel's face. The band
530
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
captured Mrs. Manuel and took her ana the infant back
to the house to compel her to give up the ammunition.
Thev placed her on the horse "to take her back as she
was" unable to walk. Soon they left. Although dili-
gent search was made for Air. Manuel by his perse-
cutors, he succeeded in escaping them and the redskins
moved on. The grandfather found them that night
and brought the mother to them. It seemed best to
leave him there and so they brought bedding, and Mrs.
Manuel went to the house with her infant and daugh-
ter. Mox-Mox came along then and told Mr. Popham
and Mr. Brice to take to the bush or they would still
be killed. He also said that Mrs. Brice would not be
injured in the house. Mrs. Bowman had come to the
house with her mother and that night Joseph came with
his band. .Mrs. Manuel was sitting up in bed caring
for her infant and the little daughter was in another
couch, suffering from two wounds in the head, one in
her shoulder and an arm broken. Chief Joseph came
into the room and this child saw him deliberately stab
her mother in the heart. The Indians then dragged the
hodv on to the floor and killed the infant, with its
mother. The little daughter was taken to another
room and then the Indians left and she went to sleep.
When she woke it was dark and she returned where
her mother had been and lighted a match which re-
vealed her and the infant clasped in death's chilly
grasp. She ran from the house and found Pat Brice in
the bush below the barn ; her broken arm was dangling
by her side as she ran. The}' remained secreted that
night and in the morning the Indians returned. Climb-
in- <>n to the barn the savages descried them in their
hiding place and began shooting at them. Air. Brice
went straight up to them and showed them the cross
on his breast and requested Chief YYhitebird to allow
him to take the little child to Alt. Idaho, promising then
to return if they demanded it. Being allowed, he made
preparations and started, but not until he had gone
into the house and saw the gruesome sight of the moth-
er and child dead. Part of the time Airs. Bowman
walked and part of the time he carried her. They
stayed all night at the Harris place, no one being at
home. Here he fixed the chair spoken of frequently
and they started on their weary journey. From the
thirteenth to the sixteenth they were without food,
but finally they reached Alt. Idaho and Airs. John
Swartz cared for the suffering child and Dr. .Morris,
of Lewiston, dressed her wounds and set the arm.
Air. Alanuel laid out for many days and subsisted
on berries, dragging himself about and dressing his
wounds with cold water. He used his pocket knife to
cut the arrow jut of the back of his neck. He lived
twelve years after that, but never recovered fully from
the wound in his hips. Such, reader, are some of the
' hardships of pioneer life.
in Tennessee, in 1830, the son of Samuel and Elizabeth
1 Worthington) Farmer. The father was born in
Georgia in i8og and died in 1897. The mother was
i.orn in Tennessee in 1812 and died in the seventies.
Cur subject came with his parents to Alissouri when
he was an infant and from there to Arkansas, in which
place he was educated and remained until he was twen-
ty-three. The year of 1859 is the one in which he
crossed the plains with ox teams to California, set-
tling in Tuolumne count}-. He mined for a couple
of years and in 1863 went to Idaho, taking claims in
Warren for himself. He did very well and continued
for fourteen years. James Warren discovered this
cam]! in 1862 and John Ramey was one of the active
men there in early days. Leopold Huff en was one of
the first merchants. In 1877 he went to Miller's camp
eighteen miles this side of Warren and was there for
nine years, being there when the Indians broke out.
They built fortifications at Warren and had no trouble.
In 1890 he came to John Day creek and took up land,
since which time he has been farming and raising cat-
tle. He has his place well improved and a good irri-
gating ditch. Air. Farmer has three brothers, Joseph
C, Robert W. and Randolph L. Politically Air. Farm-
er is a good Democrat, being of the Jeffersonian type.
lie is respected by all ami one of the worthy pioneers
of Idaho county.
JESSE FARMER is one of those genial bachelors
whose good nature and skill have made him many
friends and plenty of money. He resides four miles
north of Lucile on John Day creek. He was born
JAMES WOODWARD. A good business man,
public minded and of first class standing, a patriotic
citizen, who showed his zeal and bravery in military
service feu- the Union for years and now one of the
substantial and respected residents of Grangeville —
such is the subject of this article of whom we are
pleased to speak in the history of his county.
lames Woodward was born in Erie county, New
York, on December 30, 1836, the son of Levi and
Hannah ( Southwick) Woodward, born in Vermont in
1788 ana in Xew York in 1792, respectively. The
father died in 1876. He was of English extraction,
came to western Xew York in 181 1 and was near
Buffalo when it was burned by the English and In-
dians. The mother of our subject died in 1862. She
came from a family of English Quakers. Our subject
was well educated in his early days and when nine-
teen went to teaching in his native state, then in Illi-
nois and finally settled in Lacrosse county, Wiscon-
sin, and taught and read law. Upon the breaking out
of the Rebellion, he enlisted as a private in Company
B, Second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, under cap-
tain Colwell. He was at once sent to the front and
participated in the first and second battles of Bull
Run,. Fredericksburg. Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and
other engagements ; on August 28, 1863, he was pro-
moted as first lieutenant of a colored company organ-
ized in Pennsylvania. At Deep Bottom, Virginia, half
of his company was killed and wounded. Out of
twenty-one officers, seven were killed and seven
wounded. On November 23, 1864, Air. Woodward
was promoted to a captaincy and after the close of the
war was sent with Sheridan to Texas to demand of the
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
531
French the evacuation of Mexico. He remained there
until August 10. 1867, having been in service nearly
seven years.
On November 6, [866, in Texas. Mr. Woodward
married Miss Frances McBride. She was born in
Freeport, Louisiana, and died in 1871, leaving one
child, L. Augustus, now dwelling in Baker City, Ore-
gon. In 1872 Mr. Woodward married Miss Ella
Coates, whose parents were natives of Pennsylvania.
Her father was a member of the famous Berdan sharp-
shooters in the Civil war. Mrs. Woodward was born
in Pennsylvania in 1849. To Mr. and Mrs. Wood-
ward two sons have been born, Claude and Russell,
both in school. In [867 Mr. Woodward went to New-
York from Texas and then we find him in the lumber
business in Pennsylvania, which he sold in 1SS4. and
migrated to Idaho county, where he purchased his
present farm from his brother, having added eighty
acres by purchase since. He devoted himself to rais-
ing cattle and farming until recently he sold most of
his stock. Mr. Woodward has two sisters and one
brother, Eliza Roberts. Lydia Taft, Stephen.
Mr. Woodward has been justice of the peace for
ten years, being now in service. He has devoted some
time to the practice of law. He is a member of the
G. A. R. and is a stanch Republican. In 1898 he
was the nominee of that party for state senator, but as
it was a year of defeat for the party he suffered with
them. He and his wife are members of the Epis-
copalian church.
JOHN B. FORSMANN has achieved a good suc-
cess in at least two different lines of enterprise since
coming to Idaho county, that of sawmilling and farm-
ing and stock raising. He is now the owner of one
section of good land, which he has improved in a be-
coming manner and which bears the evidence of skill
and sagacity in every department. Mr. Forsmann also
owns considerable stock and turns off about forty head
of cattle and one hundred hogs each year.
John B. Forsmann was born in Effingham county,
Illinois, on April 28. 1850, the son of Herman and
Gertrude (Sietman) Forsmann. The father was born
March, 1820, in Hanover, Germany, learned the car-
penter trade and came to the United States in 1844.
He worked at New Orleans and finally came to Illi-
nois, bought land and farmed until 185(1. "hen he went
to Stearns county. Minnesota, and farmed eight years.
He returned to Illinois and in 1886 came to Camas
prairie, where he died November 21. 1894. The moth-
er was born in Prussia in 1828. came to Illinois with
her parents, married there and now lives at Keuter-
ville. Our subject was brought up and educated in
Minnesota and remained with his parents until twen-
ty-three. He bought land then in Illinois and farmed
until [886. when he came to Camas prairie with a saw-
mill, took land and at once went into the manufacture
of lumber. He continued with excellent success and
later bought land for farming, where he now lives,
one mile south from Cottonwood. He added more
land as occasion presented and also kept on with the
lumber interests. In 1902 he sold the latter and now
devotes himself entireh to farming. He has six broth-
ers and sisters, Mary Probst, Catherine Riemon, Annie
i iptmoor, Henry, Anton, ( icrtrude Leitfeldt.
' »n i-pri] 21, [873, Mr. Forsmann married Miss
Elizabeth Striecher. She was left an orphan at an
earl) age, Mrs. Forsmann was born in January, [848,
in Cincinnati, Ohio, and has one sister' Mary Esker.
Ten children have been born to this worthy couple,
Mary Hattrup, born April 21, 1874: John, born |une
2, 1875; Anna Uling, born December 1 8, 1870; lerad,
born January 22, 1878. and died January 29. '1878;
Catherina, born I (ecember 21, 1878;'! ieorge, born Sep-
tember 17, 1880; Joseph, burn August 31, 1882. and
died February (o, [883; Aladelena.'bom November
27. 1883; Frank, born August 23, [886; Clara G.,
born August 13, [889. Mr. and Airs. Forsmann are
Democrats of the Jeffersonian type and are members
of the Catholic church. He was county commissioner
from 1888 to 1892.
LEWIS A. BRUNER, a man of industry and in-
telligence, who dwells three and one-half miles north-
east from Cottonwood, has been a leading farmer and
stockman on Camas prairie for nearly twenty years.
He was born in Logan county, Ohio, on September
27, 18.18, the son of John L. and Hannah (Hall 1 Bru-
ner. The father, who was born in Wurtemberg, Ger-
many, in 1800. April 28th, was a shoemaker and came
to the United States in 1832. He located in Logan
county, Ohio, and later took land. In 1851 he came
to Linn county, Iowa, and took three hundred and
twenty acres, where he farmed until his death on No-
vember 15, 1858. The mother was horn in 1811. in
Pickaway county, Ohio, near Lithopolis, was mar-
ried in 1832 and died on June 26, 1886. Her father
was a prominent business man and a farmer in ( >hio.
Our subject was reared with his parents until ten years
of age and then went out in the world for himself.
He gained a common schooling and in i860 went to
Gage coun« v. Nebraska, where he took land and
farmed until 1875. in which year he went to Chautau-
qua county. Kansas, and engaged in farming until
1885. In April of this year he came on to Mos-
cow, Idaho, and the June following was on Camas
prairie, where he bought a timber claim. He at
once settled to raising stock and general farming and
has now four hundred acres of fertile land and plenty
of good stock. He has fine improvements, such as a
good six room house, tine barns, and other buildings,
as well as orchard and so forth. Mr. limner also has
an acre and a half in the corporate limits of Cotton-
wood. He has one brother and eight sisters. Annie
M. Smith, Christina, deceased. Simon P., Hannah C,
deceased. Laura A., deceased. Lavina J. Campbell.
Elizabeth M., deceased, Alary AI. and Lydia. also de-
ceased.
In Jefferson county. Nebraska, on June 31, 1870.
Air. Bruner married A\l;ss Jane, daughter of William
and Mary E. ( Munroe) Harding. Mr. Harding was
born Line 30, 1828. in Kentucky, came to Iowa before
532
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
the war and in 1861 enlisted in Company F, Eighth
Iowa, fought three years and, being discharged, re-
enlisted and continued in active service to the end of
the war. He was in many battles, among which was
that of Shiloh. After the war he lived in Keokuk un-
til 1869, then went to Thayer county, Nebraska, took
a homestead and at present is retired and living in
Alma, Nebraska. His wife was born in Indiana and
died 'in 1856. Mrs. Bruner was born February 7,
185}. in Washington county, Iowa, and has five broth-
ers" and sisters, Harlan P., Elvira Campbell, Mary C,
deceased, Harriet Edwards, Leonard. Seven children
are the fruit of this marriage, Simon H, born July
15, 1 87 1, and died January 10, 1874; John W., born
August 30, 1873'; Ralph E., born January 15, 1876;
Daisv M. Mobl'ey, born April 15, 1878; Bessie J.,
bom' October 17, 1880; Delia P., born January 4,
1884; Gracie M., born January 24, 1889. Mr. and
Mrs. Bruner are Republicans. He is a member of the
1. O. O. F. and his wife belongs to the Rebekahs and
also to the Methodist church.
CLAY McNAMEE. Among the professions there
is none that has more to do with the issues of the state
and thus with the interests of every class of _ citizens
than the legal. From the earliest records we find men
of the best brain and most substantial qualities in this
important branch of human study and the present day
is no whit behind the most brilliant of the past. As
one of the leading lights of northern Idaho we mention
the subject of this "article and feel sure that the ex-
cellent record this young man has made in at least
three counties justifies the statement.
Clay McNamee was born in Ray county, Mis-
souri, on June 19, 1870, the son of Henry and Jose-
phine (Gilpin) McXamee. natives of West Virginia
and Kentucky, respectively. The father was born in
1836, came west to Oregon in 1876 and still lives there.
He was a carpenter and fought in the Confederate
army, suffered capture, being taken to Texas and at
Lee's surrender went to that state. The mother is
aged fiftv-five ; her father, William Gilpin, of Irish ex-
traction, fought in the Mexican war. Our subject was
with the family on its journey to the Willamette valley
and there was educated, taking his degree from the
Pacific University in June. 1889, having spent six
years in that institution. He came to Moscow in Jan-
uary, 1890. and commenced the study of law with
Freund & Lowry and was admitted to the supreme
court in March, 1893. He at once took up the prac-
tice there and continued the same until 1898, the firm
being known as Claggett, McXamee & Morgan. In
1894 Mr. McXameeWas chosen district attorney for
Xez Perces, Latah and Idaho counties. At the end
of a four-years' term he removed to Grangeville and
opened an "office, where he has been continuously since.
( >r, May 11. 1895, in .Moscow, Mr. McXamee mar-
ried Miss Effie A., daughter of William and Nancy
(Ross) Leasure. The father is a large land owner in
Moscow and is a prominent man in his county. Mrs.
McXamee was born in Oregon in 1876 and was edu-
cated in the university at Moscow. She has one broth-
er and one sister. Frank, Lillie. Mr. McXamee has
one half-sister, Fannie Freund. One child has been
born to this union, Merle. Mr. McXamee is a Demo-
crat and a potent factor in the political world. His
skill and ability in his profession, together with his
painstaking and careful study of the deep questions of
law, have given him a large clientage and he is enjoy-
ing the emoluments of real industry and wisely ap-
plied efforts.
EDSOX G PRICE is the owner and manager of
the Boss livery in Grangeville. He is a man of genial-
ity and good business qualifications and has a fine barn,
well stocked with the best of rigs, excellent horses,
which, with his care for the welfare of his patrons, has
given him a thriving business. He was born on the
Wabash river, in Indiana, on May 28, i860, the son of
William and Lusetta (Brown) Price, natives of In-
diana. The father was born in 1822, of Welsh ex-
traction, and died in California in 1896, having gone
thither in that year. The mother came of German
extraction and (lied in 1885. When our subject was
eleven years of age the family went to Iroquois county,
Illinois, and nine years later they went to Woodland
and thence to Mendocino county. Edson G. received
his education from the common schools and worked
with, his father until 1883, when he came to Moscow.
From that time until 1895 he was occupied variously in
different localities, mostly in Latah and Idaho coun-
ties. In 1806 he came to Idaho county permanently
and took up farming and stock raising until December,
1902, when he purchased his present business and since
that time ha*: devoted himself to its operation.
At Moscow, in April, 1885, Mr. Price married Miss
Anna, daughters of John and Elvira (Howard) Dan-
ly, natives of Xew York and still living there. Mrs.
Price was born in Illinois in i860 and has one brother
and two sisters, Philo, Ella Lyons, Carrie Vanslyke.
Mr. Price has the following named brothers and sis-
ters: Wesley, Ella. Mary, Frances M., Jennie, Sumner,
Vinton. Four children have been born to them,
Clyde. Dirl, Forest. Mabel. Mr. Price is a Repub-
lican, but not partisan and is a man of independent
thought.
V ILLIAM H. HARRIS is one of the real and
sturdy pioneers of the Pacific coast and various sec-
tii 'lis of that country have seen his labors for many
years, while for the last eight years he has resided on
John Day creek, near Freedom. He was born in Ann
Arbor, Michigan, on April 8. 1844. the son of Phiney
and Jane (Smith) Harris. The father was a cooper
and a school teacher, born in Vermont in 1812 and
died in 1867. His father, Xoah Harris, was a patriot
of the war of 1812, came of English stock, his ances-
tors being among the earliest colonists of this coun-
try. The mother was born in Rochester, New York,
in 1826. She comes of Scotch-Irish stock and still
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
533
lives in Dakota. Our subject grew to the age of
twentv in Michigan, where he was well educated. Then
he went to California, by the Isthmus, and mined in
the Salmon river country for thirty years. He made
several large fortunes and lost as many. He was at
the head of some of the largest quartz and hydraulic
properties in that section. In 1893 he came to Stevens
county, where he operated a mining property for four
years' Then he came to his present location. In ad-
dition to his farm he has some fine placer property and
is doing hydraulic mining at the present time. He is
interested in the John Day Mining Company and in
other properties.
In 1873 Air. Harris married Genevieve, daughter
of William and Lucinda (Murphy) Hughes, pioneers
in Illinois. They settled in that prairie country when
Mr. Hughes had the privilege of taking all the land
he could plow around between Joliet and Chicago.
Mrs. Harris was born in Illinois in 1849 and came to
California in 1S71. They have five children. Florence,
Ada M. Larribee, William G. Arthur, Esther J.
Grover C. Mr. Harris has one brother, George \\\,
who has been sheriff in Hughes county. Dakota, for
many years. Our subject is a full-fledged Democrat
and is ever active at the time of the campaign and
ready to give a reason for his position. He has acted
as undersheriff at several different times.
RILEY RICE is the owner of half a section of
Camas prairie fertile land about four miles northeast
from Cottonwood, where he dwells now and pays at-
tention to general farming and stock raising. He has
his place well improved, sells about sixty head of cattle
and a hundred hogs each year and is prospered in his
endeavors.
Riley Rice was born in Putnam county. Missouri,
on November 8, 1S58. the son of Erastus and Amanda
S. Rice. The father was born on June 24, 1818, in
Pennsylvania, left home when young and for many
years followed steamboating on the Mississippi ; he
"fought in the Mexican war, married in 1838 and fol-
lowed farming and milling until his death. April 22,
1887. The mother was born in Osage county. Mis-
souri, in 1824. Her father was a planter and died
January 17, 1872. Our subject was reared in his na-
tive place, gained a good education and remained with
his parents until 1875. Then came a journey to Ne-
braska and Wyoming, where he rode the range until
1883. In that year he came to Camas prairie, took
land, worked for J. L. Eckert, later sold his pre-emption
and bought his present place. Mr. Rice has some
fine blooded stock, among which is a Shorthorn bull
of exceptional value. He has the following brothers
and sisters: William J.. Louise McGee, John W..
lanus V. Mildred M. Way, deceased. Melissa J. Per-
kins and Charlotta R. Carr.
On January 1, 1891, Mr. Rice married Miss Katie,
daughter of loseph P. and Elizabeth (Randall) Code.
Mr. Code was born in Ireland, on March 17. 1843,
came when a child with his parents to the United States.
went to California in i860 and in 1884 settled in the
Palouse country. Three years later he came to Camas
prairie and took land north from Denver. In 1898 he
opened a hotel in Denver and now resides there. His
wife was horn December 13, 1845. in Pennsylvania, and
now lives in Denver. .Mrs. Rice was born March 27,
1869. in San Joaquin county, California, and has four
sisters and one brother, — Mary C. Davis, Cora Hinkle,
Leona Brown, Ruby and Euclid. Four children have
come to bless the home of this worthy citizen, — Arthur
L., born November 25, 1892: Lester F., born Novem-
ber 29, 1894; George D., born January 17, 1897; Eu-
clid born July 2, 1899. Mr. and Mrs. Rice are Demo-
crats and "active in the realm of politics. He is a
member of the I. O. O. F., of the Maccabees, of the M.
W. A., and he and his wife belong to the Rebakahs.
He is grand herald of the grand lodge of Idaho. Mr.
Rice is chairman of the school board.
HENRY TERNAN, one of the notable pioneers
of this section of Idaho, has passed all the stages of the
country from the days of roaming savages to its pres-
ent high state of civilization and advancement. He
was born in Ireland, on July 7, 1837, the son of Greg-
ory and Jane (Blakely) Ternan, also natives of Ire-
land, who, with their family, came to Canada in 1849.
Our subject came to Canada when twelve and there
and in his native place was educated. Then he toiled
with his father until the latter's death and the next
vear. 1868, he came to the United States. Making his
way west, enroute to Elk, he passed through Butte
when there was but one house there. Arriving in Elk,
he worked for a company, of which his brother Will-
iam was part owner, tor two years. He then bought
an interest and steadily kept buying out his partners
until he owned the entire claims. It is known as the
Ternan mine. He did well in his mining and in 1881
came to the Clearwater and took land. He added to
this until he has four hundred and eighty acres of
good soil. Some years subsequent to his settlement
There he devoted himself to stock raising and farming.
Recently he sold his stock and again devoted himself
to his mining interests. He remains in the mines dur-
ing the summers and is to he found at his ranch near
Harpster in the winter. Mr. Ternan has some fine
quartz properties, among which may he mentioned the
General Grant, which he has bonded for Si 5.000.00.
Mr. Ternan was here during the Indian troubles
and was forted up in Elk City. It was supposed that
the Indians would cross on the old Nez Perce trail
which goes through Elk. but < General Howard s timely
interference kept litem, from this. Mr. Ternan was in
the battle of die Clearwater and was one of the party
who notified Captain fackson of General Howards
condition, upon which the captain came to the rescue.
Mr Ternan says that the Indians were strongly in-
trenched in a strategic position between two gulches
and had rifle pits extending in semi-circles around,
making it a difficult position to approach. Finally
General Howard ordered the bombarding of the In-
534
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
dians with the field pieces and this drove them out.
Twelve soldiers were killed and about twenty-six
wounded. Mr. Ternan says it is his opinion that Gen-
eral Howard did the best that could have been done
under the circumstances. He was drilled for a soldier
in bis early life and realizes the obstacles which had
to be overcome. The battle lasted about two hours
and was a fiercely contested struggle. That is, two
hours after Jackson's command came.
Mr. Ternan has two brothers and one sister, Will-
iam, Gregory, Jennie Erwin. He is a member of the
Episcopal church. In early days he was postmaster
of Elk and was also justice of the peace. Josephus
Moore, who was killed in the Xez Perces war, was
his partner, as was also John Baeur, who was county
treasurer and probate judge of Idaho county. Mr.
Ternan is a stanch Republican and one of the substan-
tial men of the county.
MORGAN L. MARTIN certainly deserves to be
ranked with the heaviest real estate owners in Idaho
county and with the foremost stockmen also. He
owns a section of fertile land about five miles north-
east from Cottonwood, handles annually one hundred
head of cattle and about two hundred head of hogs.
He is a man of skill in his lines of business and his
integrity and worth are no less evident.
-Morgan L. Martin was born in Harrison county,
Ohio, on March 9, 1 848, the son of William and Sarah
(Lewis ) Martin. The father was born in the Shenan-
doah valley in 1812, came early to Ohio, and in i860
migrated to Cedar county, Iowa, and raised sheep.
In 1866 he went to Van Buren county, Iowa, and in
1871 he went to Kansas and engaged in the cattle busi-
ness. He was state representative in 1874. He died
in January, 1878. The mother was born in Ohio in
181 7, and died in September, 1886. Our subject was
brought up and educated in Ohio and Iowa. He re-
mained with his parents until August, 1868, then went
to Johnson county, Kansas, for one year, was in Osage
county and farmed until 1870. Returning to Iowa,
he found his father had gone to Cowley county, Kan-
sas, whom he followed, farming and raising stock until
April, 1886. the date of his removal to Camas prairie.
He bought four hundred and eighty acres, later added
a quarter more and now has one of the fine farms of
northern Idaho. Mr. Martin has ten brothers and
sisters, — Isaac A.. Mary A. Wellmann, Sarah E.
Painter, Hertzell H., deceased, Elery C, William E.,
deceased, Emma Hawkins, Minerva C. Garner, Alice
J. Menard. Parker W.
On January 17, 1876, Mr. Martin married Miss
Anna, daughter of Jedediah and Maria (Corman)
Olmstead. Mr. Olmstead was born in 1833, in Indi-
ana, learned the tinner's trade and went to Kansas in
1850 being the pioneer tinner of that place. In 1874
he went to the southwestern portion of the state and
took land, where he abides at present. The mother
was born in Pennsylvania in 1838, the daughter of
John C. and Margaret Corman, and came with her
parents to western Missouri in 1847. She lives in
Kansas now-. Mrs. Martin was born in Leavenworth
county, Kansas, on July 22, 1856, and has the follow-
ing brothers and sisters : Luella Walker, John C. and
Benjamin F. Five children are the fruit of this mar-
riage.— Elery P.. born October 30, 1876; Fred L.,
born May 3, 1878; Archie O., born December 6, 1879;
Gertrude E., born April 18, 1891 ; Carl M., born Janu-
ary 19, 1899. Mr. and .Mrs. Martin are Republicans
and take a keen interest in the measures for the ad-
vancement and progress of the country. They be-
long to the Christian church.
THOMAS W. NICKEL. M. D. It is with pleas-
ure that we embrace this opportunity to relate some
of the salient features in the career of Dr. Nickel. He
has been one of the prime movers in establishing the
first church and the first school in the town of Grangc-
ville, as well as in other lines of endeavor for the gen-
eral welfare and upbuilding.
Thomas W. Nickel was born in Lawrence county,
Missouri, on November 4, 1851 , the son of Thomas
and Jane (Hall) Nickel, born in Pennsylvania in 1812,
and died in 1896, and born in Ohio in 1819, and died
in 1896.. respectively. The father was a pioneer in
Lawrence county in 1833. He had three brothers and
two sons in the Civil war. He came of Irish ancestors,
who settled early in Pennsylvania, and his father mar-
ried Charlotte Diamond in Philadelphia. The mother
of our subject came of Scotch and English ancestrage,
her parents being Joshua and Jane Hall. Mr. Hall
was a captain in the war of 1812. Our subject grew to
manhood in Missouri, was well educated in the public
schools and then completed an academic course. When
eighteen he entered the St. Louis Medical College and
took his degree in 1873. Following this he returned
home and practiced medicine for ten years in Lawrence
county, with the exception of one year in Linn county,
Kansas. In 1884 he came west and located in Mt.
Idaho and began the practice of medicine. In 1885
he came thence to Grangeville, and since that time
he has been a warm and powerful advocate for the
interests of this town and county. Dr. Nickel has
constantly practiced since that date, is at the head of
a fine patronage and is firmly established in the con-
fidence and esteem of the people. In addition to his
medical practice, the Doctor has given considerable
attention to real estate and mining and now has a good
farm and mining property. He was elected county
physician in 1886 and has filled the office most of the
time since, having also been coroner a large share of
the time.
On July 28, 1870, in Missouri. Dr. Nickel married
Miss Marcia A., daughter of VI. W. and Safronia
Spragins, born in Pickins county, Alabama, in 1822
and 1828, respectively. The father died in 1889 and
the mother still lives in Missouri. Mrs. Nickel was
born in Alabama on July 4, 1852, was well educated
and spent some years in teaching. She has the follow-
ing named brothers and sisters : Thomas, Robert,
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
535
William, Jiula, Jennie, Lillie and Effie. Dr. Nickel
has brothers and sisters as named below : James A.,
deceased ; John W., Robert S., Melvina, Sarah, Char-
lotte, Albina and Mary. Five children have been born
to this household : Rosa Bunnell, Clyde, Nona, Lulu
and Elma. Dr. Nickel is a member of the I. O. O. F.,
and he and his wife are members of the Episcopalian
church. Politically the doctor is a solid Democrat,
and is an active participant in this realm. He has
been state delegate several times.
JOHN DEASY is a stock raiser and rancher, liv-
ing a mile and a half up John Day creek from Lucile.
He is one of the substantial, enterprising and capable
young men of the county and has made a good success
of his labors in this section. He was born at Gold
Hill, Story county, Nevada, in 1871, the son of Michael
and Henrietta (Cole) Deasy. The father was a miner,
born in Cork. Ireland, in 1835. He died in 1880. He
went to California in 185 1 and his father, Patrick
Deasy, went there in 1849. The mother of our sub-
ject was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1844, and
comes of a German family. After the death of her
husband, in 1880, she married his cousin, Michael, and
lived with him until his death, in 1902. Our subject
remained in Nevada until eleven years old, where he
received the greater part of his education, although he
also attended school after coming to Idaho. He came
to his present home with his mother and step-father,
where he has since remained, engaged in mining and
ranching. Mr. Deasy has four brothers living on
adjoining ranches, — Michael, William, Harry and
Thomas Jefferson. Mr. Deasy is a bachelor. Po-
litically he is a Democrat, attends all caucuses, and is
at present a member of the county central committee.
The Catholic church claims him as one of her sons,
in which faith he is an ardent believer. Michael, the
older brother, was married in 1894 to Miss Nettie, a
daughter of Benjamin and Agnes Delmage, to which
union three children have been born and are at present
living, — John, William and Jefferson. All are mem-
bers of the Catholic church. Michael Deasy is the
only Republican in the family. He also owns a ranch,
and with his brothers is heavily interested in cattle.
William, Harry, Thomas, who is a half-brother, and
John are all bachelors. The old homestead is a well
improved place and has an especially fine orchard, some
of the trees being twenty years old and looking like
forest trees. With the exception of Michael, the broth-
ers all live with their mother. All are successful and
prosperous in business and are held in high esteem.
HENRY J. ELFERS, Jr., is one of the leading
stockmen of Idaho county. He lives near the Freedom
postofnce. on John Day creek, where he owns a fine
estate of four hundred and eighty acres, besides hand-
ling many acres of unsurveyed land. His skill, enter-
prise and integrity have amassed a good fortune for
him an.! given him a first class standing in the county.
He was born on John Day creek. Idaho, .\la\ 1, 1S74,
the son of Jordan Henry and Catherine (Bei
Elfers, natives of Germany. The father came to the
United States in 1849. participated in the California
gold excitement, came to Elorenec in 1862 and settled
on John Day creek in 1863. He established a way-
station, started a dairy of two hundred cows, operated
a mercantile establishment and a large hotel. He
was very successful and possessed considerable prop-
erty at the time of his death. He was assassinated by
three Indians on June 14, 1877, at the outbreak of the
Nez Perces war. The mother of our subject was mar-
ried in Germany. Mr. Elfers returning thither from
the United States to claim his bride. Our subject re-
ceived a good academic education at Grangevillc. and
has spent his life within the precincts of Idaho county.
He has been at the head of a large business since he
was very young, and has displayed a sagacity and ex-
ecutive ability which are very commendable.
On March 8, 1898, Mr. Elfers married Miss Capi-
tala Brock, daughter of Mrs. Mary Botsford, of Mos-
cow. Mrs. Elfers was born in Des Moines county,
Iowa, on September 16, 1872, and was engaged in edu-
cational work for eight years. She has one sister and
one brother, — Belle E. H inkle and Edward Brock.
Mr. Elfers is a member of the I. O. O. F., and is an
active and well informed Democrat. Mrs. Elfers is
a Republican. They have two children, — Rosemary,
born December IQ, [899 ; and Lois Catherine, born July
17, 1901, and died March 20, 1903.
JOSEPH SORROW. The subject of this article
is one of the foremost mechanics of the county of
Idaho, and is at present operating a shop for blacksmith
and wood work in Grangeville, where he enjo\
patronage.
Joseph Sorrow was born in the province of Quebec,
Canada, on May 1, 1859, the son of Joseph and Ellen
(Lorene) Sorrow, born in Canada in 1826 and 183 1,
respectively. The father, who was of French extrac-
tion, was a blacksmith and died in 1893. The mother
was also of French ancestrage. and died in 1875. Our
subject was educated and learned the blacksmith trade
in his native land, going into the shop when he was
thirteen. When twenty he went to Muskegon, Michi-
gan, and two years later was in Deer Lake, that state,
working at his trade. Later we see him in Hurley,
Wisconsin, then at Ashland, as foreman of the mills,
where he learned the millwright trade. In 1804 Mr.
Sorrow went to North Carolina and followed that trade
for vears at Hub. Then we see him in the west, and
his first venture was to build a dredge near Elk. Fol-
lowing the successful completion of that arduous en-
terprise he located in Grangeville, and barring one
change of location of his shop he has steadily pursued
his trade in the shop since. He is a fine workman and
has the run of a large patronage, which is bringing
him a good income.
In 1882, at Deer Lake, Mr. Sorrow contracted a
536
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
marriage with A'iss Sarah Alaholland. born in Ireland,
but who came to this country with her parents when
quite young. To this union one child was born, —
Josephine. " Three years after their marriage Airs.
Sorrow was called away by death.
In 1897, while in North Carolina, at Hub, Air. Sor-
row was married to .Miss Cora Rodgers, whose parents,
Columbus and Julia (Marks) Rodgers, were born in
North Carolina in 1841 and 1842, respectively. The
father is of Irish extraction, and the mother of Ger-
man and English. Mr. Rodgers was in Company D
of a North Carolina regiment, and fought at Gettys-
burg and other large engagements. Airs. Sorrow was
born in Chatham county. North Carolina, in 1873, and
has the following brothers and sisters : Frederick W.
and Alary L. Mr. Sorrow has nine brothers and sis-
ters,— Edward. Charles, Anna. Virginia, Alary, John,
George, Effie and William. Three children have come
to gladden this home, — William, born April 13, 1899;
Esther, born July 24, 1900 ; and Joseph, born Janu-
ary 2?, 1903. Air. Sorrow is a Democrat and takes the
interest of the good citizen in the affairs of state.
JOHN E. BEEDE, a heavy real estate owner
and leading mining man of Harpster, is one of the sub-
stantial and enterprising citizens whose labors have
done much toward the upbuilding of the county and
whose standing is first-class. He was reared among
the rugged New England hills and received a careful
training from the public schools and the Friends
school in Providence, Rhode Island. After leaving
the training of this good institution, he took up teach-
ing and made a success of this important work.
Later he was allured from this by the opportunities in
the mill business and learned the millwright trade,
which he has followed in various localities of the
United States since. In 1854 Air. Beede bade fare-
well to parents, and the old home place in New Hamp-
shire, and made his way to California, via the
isthmus. He went from San Francisco to Virginia
City, was in Grass Valley and other mining places and
sought the precious metal from the sands of various
camps. He went down to the Isthmus, was at Dry
Town, Eldorado, and had charge of the Seaton prop-
erty in Amador county and then also opened a store
in 1868 ; during this time he had charge of the Havi-
lah property. Later he was in San Jose. Bakersfield,
and then journeyed to Prescott, Arizona, and settled
for a time at Flagstaff, where he was justice of the
peace for two years. In 1883 Air. Beede came north
to Idaho county and he has mined on the south fork
of the Clearwater, at Florence, Elk and other im-
portant points. He had charge of the Bulletin for a
year, worked on the Blue Dragon and put in the first
saw mill near Clearwater. In 1891 Air. Beede took
his present homestead on the south fork, owns business
property in Harpster and various other property,
while also he has mines in the Elk district and in other
places.
On January 11, i860. Air. Beede married Aliss
Eliza Stewart, in Lennox, Ohio. She died in 1874,
leaving two children, William M., a physician, in
Stockton, Califonia; Ida, also in Stockton. Air.
Beede is a staunch Republican, and has been justice
of the peace since 1890. It will be observed that from
the isthmus to the British line Mr. Beede has mined
and followed his trade with other occupations and has
acquired a fund of experience, which added to his
natural sagacity and erudition gained in early youth,
makes him one of the leading men of this section and
his integrity, uprightness and geniality have given him
hosts of friends from every rank. To such brave,
hardy and true men, whose courage was equal to the
awful ordeal of surmounting the difficulties of enter-
ing this wild land, facing the dangers and enduring
the hardships and privations, we owe a debt of grati-
tude which should never be allowed to lapse. It is
with great pleasure that we have been enabled to
grant this slight manifestation of appreciation to the
worthy pioneer and place his name upon the abiding
records of northern Idaho. From the green hills of
New Hampshire came the enthusiastic lad, the strong
young man seasoned by many an encounter with the
stern realities of life in the west, who is now the sage
of the Clearwater, whose labor and worth are appre-
ciated by all and whose standing shows him a man of
capabilities and true principle.
John E. Beede was born in Sandwich, Carroll
county, New Hampshire, on February 2, 1834. His
parents were Eh and Alartha (Hoagj Beede, natives
of New Hampshire and born in 1801 and 1807, re-
spectively. The father was a descendant of the Pil-
grims and died in 1892 after a long and useful life as
a millwright. The mother came from the Quakers of
early days and died in 1839.
WILLIAA1 PAULL, one of the prosperous farm-
ers of Idaho county, who dwells five miles northeast
from Cottonwood, was born in Pike county, Illinois,
on January 27, 1848, the son of John C. and Nancy
( Potter) Paull. The father was born December 10,
[816, at Wheeling, West Virginia, learned the black-
smith trade and came to Illinois in 1838, wrought at
his trade and farmed. In 1865 he went to Kansas
and lived in various portions of that state until 1875,
when his death occurred in Montgomery county. The
mother was born on February 22, 1823. in Pennsyl-
vania, came with her parents to Illinois, where she mar-
ried in 1839, her death occurring in March, 1862.
( )ur subject was educated in Illinois and in 1864 enlist-
ed in Company I. Eighteenth Illinois Volunteer In-
fantry, at Alt. Sterling, and was mustered out in the
fall of 1865. at Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Following the
war, Air. Paull went to Kansas, Wyoming and the far
west and freighted. In 1870 he took land in Osage
reserve. Kansas, later was in Texas, then in Kansas,
Colorado, Wyoming and Utah, also mined in Nevada
and Silver City. Idaho. In the fall of 1876 he was
in the Black Hills, and later returned to Kansas and
farmed until 1880. Then Air. Paull did railroading
JOHN E. BEEDE.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
537
and freighting in Colorado. New Mexico, Idaho and
various other places until 1885, when we see him in
the Yakima country, Washington. In 1889 he came
to Idaho county and located on his present place, where
he has a quarter section and does general farming and
stock raising. He handles about two hundred head
of cattle and hogs and is prosperous. He has a new
•eight-room house and other improvements commensu-
rate therewith. Mr. 1'aull has five brothers and sis-
ters,— Mary A. Toland, Robert, Martha E., Nancy
M. Powell and John F.
On March 12, 1879, Mr. Paull married Miss Emma,
daughter of Ezekiel and Priscilla G. ( Sawyer) Lamb.
Mr. Lamb was born October 11, 1820, in Stockbridge,
Vermont, was married and lived there until 1854.
Then he lived four years in DeKalb and also Douglas
■counties. Illinois, thence going to Coffey county, where
he lived two years. In 1864 he went to Bourbon
count v, Kansas, where he farmed five years. The
year 1869 found him in Montgomery county, where
he was a doctor and farmer. Thence to Eugene. ( )re-
gon, and later went to Nampa, Idaho, where he farmed
until his death, April 20, 1890. The mother of Mrs.
Paull was horn November 27, 1825, in Stockbridge.
Vermont, married June 1. 1842, and died in 189(1.
Mrs. Paull was born February 11, i860, in Douglas
count}'. Illinois ; she has six brothers and sisters, —
Elroy, Loraett Smith. Andrew, Romaine, Elsworth
D. and Charles. Eight children have been the fruit
of this union, — Clarence, born February 12, 1880, and
died February 4, 1881 ; Claudius, born January 20,
1882; Grace, born March 13, 1884, and died November
8, 1897; Lucretia, Stella, born June 27, 1889; Era
born November 9, 1891 ; Madge, born June 6. 1805;
Viola, born October 31, 1898. Mr. and Mrs. Paull
.are socialists and he is a member of the Maccabees.
ELLSWORTH D. LAMB has made a good suc-
cess in Idaho county in the dual occupations of general
farming and raising stock. He has also achieved a
good reputation as a skillful threshing man and now
owns an interest in a first class outfit. He was born
on December 12, 1862, in Douglas county, Illinois, the
son of Ezekiel B. and Priscilla G. (Sawyer) Lamb,
who are mentioned in another portion of this work.
Our subject was reared and educated in Kansas and
remained with his parents until eighteen. He left
Kansas in 1882, came through Wyoming, southern Ida-
ho and on to North Yakima, Washington, where he
farmed for some time, until about 1887. Next we
see him in Walla Walla, and in 1889 he made his way
to Camas prairie and took a quarter section, where
he now lives three and one-half miles north from
Cottonwood, since which time he has devoted himself
to its cultivation and improvement and to raising stock.
In 1898 he took up the added industry of threshing,
as mentioned above, and. like his other endeavors, has
made a good success of it. He has about one hundred
and fifty head of stock and also handles sufficient
horses for his various occupations. Mr. Lamb has
good buildings on his farm and other improvements in
proportion. His brothers and sisters are mentioned
elsewhere in this work.
The marriage of Mr. Lamb and Miss Rebecca P.,
daughter of Morgan and Eliza A. (Powell) Williams,
was celebrated on July 3, 1892. Mr. Williams was
born in Vermillion county, Indiana, on December 31,
1826, his parents being Virginians. In i860 he went
to Arkansas, then to Illinois and in 1873 he removed
to Umpqua valley, Oregon, where he bought land and
farmed. In 1883 he came to Camas prairie, and here
died on February 6. 1001, leaving an estate of three
hundred and sixty acres. Mrs. Williams was born
June 10, 1826, in Montgomery county, Indiana, mar-
ried November 1, 1849, ar>d now uves m
Idaho county, Idaho. Mrs. Lamb was born in
Champagne county, Illinois, on June 3, 1864,
and lias four brothers and sisters, — Mary Pilk-
ington, Lemuel, William A. and Sarah Gorrell.
Four children have been born to Mr. and Airs. Lamb,
— Arthur, born August io. 1894; Cressie, born De-
cember 5, 1896; Bascom, born May I, 1898; Gladys,
born December 6, 1S99. Mr. Lamb and his wife are
members of the socialist partv and he belongs to the
M. W. A.
ERASTUS W. OLIVER is conceded to be one
of the best all round business men in the northern part
of the state, and the continued success that has been
his for years in all lines of enterprise demonstrates this
fact, while as a man of worth and integrity he stands
high among all.
Erastus W. Oliver was born in Putnam county,
Ohio, on February 2, 1841, the son of Richard and
Jane (Harden) Oliver, natives of Ohio and born in
1805 and 1812, respectively. The father came from
pioneers of Virginia, of Scotch extraction, and he was
a pioneer himself. He died on July 5, 1850. The
mother of our subject died in 1857. Her ancestors
also came from Virginia, and were of Scotch extrac-
tion. Our subject grew up in Ohio and all the school-
ing of his boyhood days could be summed up in one
year. Upon arriving at manhood's estate he made a
study of everything that came before him. and the re-
sult is that he is an exceptionaly well informed and
thoroughly practical man. His first job was carrying
water on the Wabash railroad when he was twelve, and
then commenced his independent career. From that
dav to this, while taking up anything and everything
that came to his hand, Mr. Oliver has been successful,
and is now handling stock and real estate in a broker-
age business, does farming, raises stock, deals in hay
and grain, and is interested in mining. \\ hen nine-
teen he was contracting ties for the railroad in Ohio,
later did the same business in Missouri and in 1871
came to Umatilla county, Oregon, and commenced
farming and raising stock. He made a success of it,
although he knew nothing of the business. In 1880
he went to Whitman county, Washington, where he
farmed and dealt in stock on a large scale, and here
he reaped a rich reward for his skill and industry.
533
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
In 1892 he sold some of his property and came to
Grangeville, which he has made his home since.
In 1861 Mr. Oliver married Miss Rebecca, daugh-
ter of John and Magdalene (Nittle) Stalters, natives
of Pennsylvania. -Airs. Oliver was born in Ohio on
January 5, 1842, and has three brothers, — George,
John and Ezra. John was in Andersonville prison ;
and Ezra was also in the war. Mr. Oliver had eight
brothers ; but two are living, — Nicholas B. and Reuben
J. Abraham H. was in the war and received a wound
in the battle of Sandpoint. Alexander U. was also
in the Civil war ; both are deceased. Seven children
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Oliver. — Abraham N.,
in Whitman county; John F., Andrew J., Bert H.,
Abbie J. and Holsclow, all in Idaho county ; ( Hive
Haynes, in Pendleton. Mr. Oliver is a blue lodge
Mason, and also belongs to the Eastern Star lodge.
He is a stanch Republican and has been instrumental
in electing numerous of his friends to office, but never
would allow his name to be put up for nomination.
He is frequently in the state convention, and last year
helped to nominate Governor Morrison and Supreme
Judge Alchie. Mr. Oliver is one of the heavy tax-
payers of the county and is a man of reliability and
excellent standing.
PETER BROCKENGUR resides at the present
time in Lucile, Idaho, but he has been successfully en-
gaged in business in various places in the county ami is
well known, always manifesting good business ability
and substantial qualities. He was born in Germany
on June 1. 1849, the son °f George P. and Gertrude
(Huger) Brockenour, born in Germany, where also
they died in 1864 and in June, 1902, respectively. Our
subject came to the United States when nine, direct to
a brother in Sacramento, California. He grew to
manhood with this brother, Joseph, and when nineteen
went to Colusa county and farmed for ten years. In
the fall of 1878 Mr. Brockenour came to Mt. Idaho
and worked in a livery stable for John McPherson,
later buying an interest in the business. After the
death of Mr. McPherson he conducted the business in
connection with Mrs. McPherson for fourteen years.
He had also taken land and purchased more, and suc-
cessfully managed this property and raised cattle and
horses. In 1892 he went to American creek and, in
partnership with James Buchanan, Peter Beemer and
Joe Hinnelspak, he mined for some time. Two years
later he left that district and mined in the Lake creek
country for four years. He was favored with good suc-
cess in both of these ventures, and in 1898 came to
Grangeville, which was his headquarters for four
years. In the fall of 1902 Mr. Brockenour removed
to the mining town of Lucile, where he has continued
since.
Mr. Brockenour has the following named brothers
and sisters : Joseph, in California : Valentine, a wealthy
man in Sacramento ; Eva, in Portland ; Eredericka and
Katherina, both in California ; Johanna, in Silver City,
Nevada. Mr. Brockenour is a member of the I. O. 0.
F. and Redmen. In politics he is a Democrat and
takes an active interest in the campaigns, being always
at the conventions and caucuses.
GEORGE S. ALKIRE is a well known miner,
stock raiser and orchardist dwelling two and a half
miles north of Lucile. His genial and manly way, his
uprightness, integrity and generosity have commended
him to all who know him, and his success in a business
way speaks for itself. In the two street fairs recently
held at Grangeville his quarter section farm captured
several premiums on fruits and vegetables in competi-
tion with the entire county. Besides this farm, he
owns two placer mines, the "Mountain Queen" and
"Jack Pot,' and one quartz group, the "North Star,"
all of which are very promising.
His father, George Alkire, was a native of Illinois,
where he was born in 1805. After a long and suc-
cessful career as a farmer he passed into the life be-
yond, in February, 1888. He was a schoolmate of
Abraham Lincoln at Springfield, Illinois. Crossing
the plains in 1850, he settled in Lane county, Oregon,
where he took up a donation claim and spent the re-
mainder of his days. In his early manhood he was a
Christian minister in Illinois. George's mother was
Jaily A. Grant, born in 181 2. She died in 1899, after
a long useful life. Our subject was six months old
when he crossed the plains. He was reared in Lane
county and when eighteen went to do for himself. He
mde the range in eastern Oregon and in 1879 went to
Idaho, taking a ranch in Latah county. Two years
later we find him riding the range in Wyoming, whence
he came to Idaho and followed the same occupation.
In 1895 he quit the range and took up mining. The
following year he secured his present ranch and has
combined mining and ranching since.
At Grangeville. in July. [883, Mr. Alkire married
Miss Anna B.. daughter of David and Elva Cully.
Mrs. Alkire was born in Evansville, Indiana, in 1864,.
and has two brothers and two sisters, — LeRoy, Charles,
Laura Roberts and Emma McFadden. Mr. Alkire
has the following brothers and sisters : John, Will-
iam, Isaac, Henry, Robert and Ella Gilbreth. Four
children have been born to this marriage, — Elva Kiel-
ing, George L., Emma J. and Joshua H. Mr. Alkire
is an active and well informed Republican, always in
the lead, and a prominent man in his party. Mr.
Alkire has always been a very great champion of the
cause of education and was the moving spirit in form-
ing this present district; he, himself, got out the logs,
furnished the hardware and windows and assisted to
build the rude log schoolhouse on John Day creek.
He is an enterprising citizen, charitable to his fellow
men, upright and we'll respected.
LEWIS M. SIMPSON was born in Cooper coun-
ty, Missouri, on February 18, 1843, the son of Francis
and Mary A. (Corrumj Simpson. The father was-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
539
born March 4, 1803, in Clark county, Kentucky, came
to Missouri and learned the carpenter's trade. On
April 9, 1850, he left that state for the 'Willamette val-
ley, coming overland with ox teams. He built a saw
mill at Hillsboro, then farmed in Linn county, and in
1871 went to Lassen county, California, and there died
in April, 1873. The mother was born in Cooper coun-
ty, Missouri, in March, 1820, of pioneer parents. Later
they took the land where Leavenworth, Kansas, now
stands. Her father was a veteran of the war of 1812.
She now lives at Pomeroy, Washington. Our sub-
ject was brought up in the Willamette valley and edu-
cated there. When seventeen, in 1861, he came to
Orofino, mining there and in Pierce, Elk, Florence
and Boise basins off and on for the ensuing five years.
Then he bought land in Linn county, Oregon, and
farmed. In October, 1871, he went to Lassen county,
California, and two years later returned to Linn coun-
ty, bought sheep and came to Wasco county. He fol-
lowed that industry for some time, and was finally
constrained to remove to the vicinity of Athena, where
he bought land : later he was in Adams, serving ac-
ceptably as postmaster, also doing a general mer-
chandise business. In 1892 he sold out and came to
Camas prairie. He bought his present farm of one
quarter section two miles north from Cottonwood, and
here has bestowed his labors in farming and raising
stock. He handles about one hundred head annually
and produces good crops. Mr. Simpson has nine
brothers and sisters, — George F., James W., Joseph
H., Alford, Mary E. Smith, Thomas B., Sarah New-
some, Benjamin L., Riley H. Mr. Newsome and his
brother, John, discovered the Newsome creek diggings.
On March 13, 1867, Mr. Simpson married Miss
Emma K, daughter of James and Ruth A. (Boggs)
Cochran. Mr. Cochran was born in Kentucky in
1818, came to the Willamette valley in 1850 and
farmed there until his death, on August 25, 1863.
Mrs. Cochran was born in Missouri on July 2, 1828,
and came with her father to Oregon in 1865. She
now lives in Woodburn, Oregon. Mrs. Simpson was
born on February 29, 1852, in Linn county, Oregon,
and has four brothers and sisters, — Andrew J., Pearn
A., George W.. Elizabeth Settlemiers, deceased. Eight
children have been born to this union, — James F., born
February 16, 1868; Sarah M. Correy, born August
24, 1869; Lewis M., born April 6, 1871 ; Johanna
Miller, born November 15, 1872, and died September
6, 1901 ; Emma E. Winder, born April 22, 1875; John
L.. born December 1, 1877; Nora E., born June 5,
1883; Everett C, born May 29, 1893. Mr. and Mrs.
Simpson are well informed Democrats, and she is a
member of the Baptist church.
DAVID T. MILLS is one of the business men of
Grangeville. being now engaged in handling furniture
and feed. He has manifested good ability and integ-
rity since coming here, and has met with deserved
success in his efforts.
David T. Mills was born in Adair county, Ken-
tucky, on December 19. 1843, the son of Pendleton B.
and Eliza (Tinsley) Mills. The father, who served
in the Civil war, was a farmer and stockman, born in
Virginia in 1812, and died in 1892. The mother was
of English extraction and died when our subject was
eight years old. When David T. was an infant the
family went to Jefferson county, Iowa, and remained
for five years. Then they returned to the Kentucky
home and remained for ten years. Our subject was
educated in the public schools and early went to do
for himself. For a time after his mother's death
he lived with with his grandfather, Edward .Mills.
Later we see him in Kansas City, and in i860 he
crossed the plains to Pike's Peak and soon went on to
California. He settled first in Shasta county, where
he mined and prospected for a time and then gave
his attention to farming until 1887, in which year he
came to Walla Walla. Ten years were spent there
in farming, and in 1897 we see Air. Mills in Grange-
ville and he soon took up his present business. In
addition to the items mentioned, he gives attention also
to handling second-hand goods, and has done well.
Mr. Mills also owns a farm near town. He has the
following brothers and sisters : George, Edward,
Mary J. Williams and Eliza A.
At Grangeville, in April, 1900, Mr. Mills married
Airs. Mary E. Nickson, daughter of Beal and Kiziah
(Harriett) Kelly. The father was a pioneer in Illinois
and died in 1849. He was a native of Kentucky. His
widow was born in Pennsylvania and died in 1857.
She was a pioneer in Illinois and spent considerable
time in teaching. Mr. Mills has the following named
children by a former marriage : Edward C. in Walla
Walla ; Harold E., in Spokane ; Lora Rimmel, in Buff-
alo Hump. He is a Mason, while he and his wife are
members of the Christian church. In political matters
Mr. A [ills is Republican, but never strives for personal
preferment. Mrs. Mills was bom in Fayette county,
Illinois, on March 17, 1845. She was married to
David Nickson in Illinois on April 27, 1864. They
came west to Oregon in 1869 and later to Idaho. Mr.
Nickson was a farmer and died in November, 1890.
Six children were bom to that marriage, named as
follows: William L., Ida M.. John A., deceased,
Emma I., deceased, Celia E., deceased, Clarence D.,
married on June 3, 1900.
H. S. ARBOGAST, the stirring and skill
tractor whose labors in Grangeville for more than a
decade have placed him among the successful business
men of the county, is entitled to representation in the
history of his county, as he has always labored for its
upbuilding and improvement. He is a man of upright-
ness and Integrity and receives the respect of all.
H. S. Arbogast was born in Pendleton count} . West
Virginia, on March 18, 1847, being the son of Jesse
and Susan (Stoner) Arbogast. The father was born
in the same place as his son. the year being 1812. He
was a prominent man and active in business and poli-
tics. He filled all the county offices and was a pioneer
540
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
in McDonough county, Illinois, in 1853. His death
occurred in 1873. Tlie mother was born in Maryland
in 1822, and died in 1892. She came of German ex-
traction. Her brothers were John, a captain in an
Ohio regiment, and Perry, who also served in the
Civil war. When our subject was five the family
went to McDonough county, and there he received a
good education, completing the same in Brant college
at his graduation from that institution. On February
9, 1864, he enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and
Thirty-seventh Illinois. He was veteranized in the fall
in Company C, One Hundred and Fifty-first Illinois,
and served until January 26, 1866, being in the rear
guard of the famous march to the sea. Following the
war, Mr. Arbogast returned to his Illinois home and
did carpentering there and in adjacent places until
1882. Then he came to Chariton, Iowa, and did build-
ing on the railroad and acted as conductor on the C.
B. & O. for a number of years, and then came, in 1886,
a trip to Pendleton, the coast towns and finally to
Spokane., where he worked for one mill company for
some time. In 1891 Mr. Arbogast came to Grange-
ville and started in carpentering, contracting and gen-
eral building, and since that time he has continued here
with success that merit should win.
On January 11, 1870, in Illinois, Mr. Arbogast mar-
ried Miss Monetta, daughter of G. W. and Verlinda
(Ratdekin) Worden, the father a native of New York
and now a merchant in Iowa Creek, Illinois, while the
mother was born and raised in Illinois. Mrs. Arbogast
was born in 1853 at Swan Creek, Illinois, and has the
following brothers and sisters : Joseph, Henry. Liz-
zie. Rosa and Verlinda. Mr. Arbogast has the fol-
lowing named brothers and sisters : Peter, Douglass,
Marion, Sophia, Eliza, Jane, Sarah, Cynthia and
Francis. Three children have been born to this couple,
— Marion S.. in Coeur d'Alene: Ira E. and Donald E.,
in school. Mr. Arbogast is a Mason and commander
of the Hancock post of the G. A. R., in Grangeville.
He is an active Republican and takes a keen interest
in affairs of import, while he wields a good influence.
EBEN W. BUTCHER is an industrious and skill-
ful miner and prospector living two miles north of
Lucile, and is occupied in delving for the hidden treas-
ures. He was born in Macomb, Illinois, on October 1,
1869, being the son of James M. and Lydia (Munson )
Butcher. The father was born in Boone county, Indi-
ana, in 1850. He came west to Moscow in 1886. and
died the following year. The mother of our subject
was born in Illinois in 1847 and is now living in Mon-
mouth, that state. The family came to Carroll county,
Missouri, when our subject was eight years old, and
in that place he received his education and labored
on the farm with his father until he grew to manhood.
Then, in 1886, they came to Moscow. In that city he
learned the trade of the butcher and operated both there
and at Oakesdale. Washington. When twenty he
went to California and mined for six years in the
placers. Then he came to Idaho in 1897, going first
to Elk City, where he located some claims. Two years
later he came to the Bluejacket, on the Snake, and
Salmon rivers, and in December, 1890, he came to his
present place. He bought here the' Zebra and the
Dandy, both good placer mines. Since then he has
been working these mines with good success. Mr.
Butcher has four sisters, — Delia, Lela. Ola and Millie.
Mr. Butcher is a good Democrat.
HIRAM W. STEVENSON resides on his fine es-
tate on the Salmon and Snake rivers, and here he has
followed stock raising for a good many years and has
met with the success that enterprise, skill and close
attention to business deserves, and is now classed with
the substantial and heavy property owners of the coun-
ty. He was born in Hopkins county, Kentucky, in
1838, the son of Samuel L. and Elizabeth (Herron)
Stevenson, born in Virginia in 1805 and 1809, and died
in 1864 and 1888, respectively. They came to Doug-
las county, Oregon, in 1853, landing there in Septem-
ber, 1853. and at once took land and bought land and
donated five hundred dollars to found the Wilbur acad-
emy. He never dabbled in politics, but was always
in the van in any public improvement. Crossing the
plains consumed six months, and being a strong train
they were enabled to beat off the Indians, who were
hostile. The parents came from old Virginia families,
and the mother was of German extraction. Our sub-
ject was reared in Douglas county and received a good
education from Wilbur academy. He remembers dis-
tinctly hearing General Lane's battle with the Indians
on the day they landed in Oregon. In the spring of
1863 Mr. Stevenson came to the Elk and Boise mines
and returned the next year, on account of the death
of his father, which was caused by a horse. He and
his brother, George H, took charge of the estate, which
was large, and he remained there until 1887. Then
he came to the Salmon river country to recover his
health, being attacked with the asthma in the Willam-
ette valley. He located on his present place and at
once started to raise cattle and horses. He continued
in this line with success until the present, enlarging
and increasing steadily.
In 1864, in Douglas county, Mr. Stevenson married
Miss Miranda L., daughter of John and Malinda (Du-
gan) Yokum, natives of Virginia. They crossed the
plains in 1849 ar,d settled in the Willamette valley,
and both are now deceased. The father was a brother
of General Yokum. Mrs. Stevenson was born in Mis-
souri in 1845, and nas the following brothers and sis-
ters : Henry, James. Ruby Burgess, Jacob, Newton,
Calvin. Mr. Stevenseon has eight brothers and sis-
ters.— Elenor, Lane, George, Nancy Party, Mary Rug-
gles. Lizzie Whitelsay, Macey Carland, Frannie Price,
Lydia, deceased. Two children have been born to this
union, — James R. and Samuel, both stockmen on the
Salmon. Mr. Stevenson is a Democrat of the old
type and Jeffersonian doctrine. While he has never
sought preferment, he has frequently been offered posi-
tion, but constantly refuses.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
GEORGE R. GETTY, who dwells about four
miles north from Cottonwood, is one of the industrious
farmers and stockmen of Idaho county, and it is with
pleasure that we accord him a representation in the
work which holds the history of his county. He was
born in Walworth county, Wisconsin, on June 20,
i860, the son of Lewis B. and Helen M. (Brown)
Getty. The father was born in Westmoreland county,
Pennsylvania, on January 2, 1824, came to Wisconsin
in 1846, married in 1852, went back to Pennsylvania, in
1864 returned to Wisconsin, and in 1876 he came thence
to Dayton, Washington. In 1888 he went to Whit-
man county, and 1896 found him in Nez Perces county,
where he died November 19, 1902. The mother of
our subject was born in New York state February 4,
1836, and now lives in Idaho county. Our subject
was educated in Wisconsin and then came, when six-
teen, with the family to Dayton, and remained with
his parents until he was eighteen years old. When
twenty-one he visited Wisconsin, returning to Wash-
ington and the Coeur d'Alene country in 1883. In
1884 he located a quarter and bought as much more,
which was the scene of his labors until 1896, when he
came to his present place. He has one hundred and
fifty acres, good buildings, one hundred and fifty head
of stock and owns part of a threshing outfit. Mr.
Getty has one brother, — Andrew7 G., in Columbus
county, Washington.
On October 25, 1885, Mr. Getty married Miss
Emma S., daughter of Charles and Mary (Benton)
Abraham. .Mr. Abraham was born in London, Eng-
land, in 1827, came to the L nited States when a young
man, followed his trade of tailoring and in i860 came
overland to Oregon. In 1862 he was in Walla Walla
and later took land in Columbus county, where he
dwells now. The mother was born in Michigan in
1833, crossed the plains, married in Oregon and died
December 24, 1882. Mrs. Getty was born in Columbia
count}', Washington, October 6, 1866, and has four
brothers, — Thomas C, James E., Grant and Ray D.
Seven children are the fruit of this marriage, — Marlow
L., born October 2~, 1886: Philip E., born April 22,
1888: Virginia M., born November 21, 1889; Helen
M., born December 8, 1892; Mary E., born October 9,
1894: Lucy Y., born December 10, 1896; Martha, born
May 9, H)02. Mr. (Jetty and his wife are Democrats
of the JcrTersonian type and he is also a member of the
Maccabees.
PATRICK H. LEACH. Although the subject of
this article has not been in Idaho county as long as
some of the worthy pioneers who opened it up, still his
excellent labors during the time of his domicile here
have resulted in such good development and improve-
ment that he is entitled to representation among those
who are the substantial citizens of northern Idaho and
who have made the country what it is now. He was
born in Joliet. Illinois, on March 31, 1867, and his par-
ents now dwell in that city. He grew to rrfenhood and
was educated in his native place, and when eighteen
went to do for himself in the whirl of the world's busi-
ness. He traveled all through Missouri, Iowa, Kansas,
and Nebraska, and in 1890 we find him in Denver and
soon in the mining camps of Colorado, as Leadville,
Creed, and so forth. In 1882 he went to Cripple
Creek and wrought there until the time of the Buffalo
Hump excitement, when he came with a pack train to
Idaho and at once went into that well known camp and
soon had discovered a fine property. He and his part-
ners, John McLean and E. T. Peachey, located a good
group and at once began development work, and they
have showed up fine values and a good body of ore.
In September, 1902, they incorporated it under the
name of the Acacia B. Alining & Milling Company, and
it is being developed in a more extensive manner.
Mr. Leach is a member of the Catholic church, and
in political matters he reserves for his own decision all
questions brought forward, without being tied by any
party bands. He is an independent thinker and a man
of intelligence.
GEORGE W. SLAYTI >N, who dwells three miles
east from Cottonwood, is one of the intelligent and
prosperous farmers of the county and has made a
standing and reputation for himself which are enviable.
George W. Slayton was born in Washington coun-
ty, Oregon, on September 26, 1865, the son of Samuel
R. and Eliza J. (Savery) Slayton. The father was
born in Woodstock, Vermont, on August 27, 1830, re-
ceived a good education, taught school and in 1852
crossed the plains with ox teams. He mined in Cali-
fornia, went to Oregon in 1852, served in the Rogue
river war, came to the Salmon in 1862 and returned the
same year to Oregon. Later we see him in Crook
county, where he still lives, being one of the heavy land
owners and stockmen. The mother of our subject was
born on July 22, 1841, in Marshall county, Mississippi.
She dwelt in Council Bluffs, Iowa, with her parents,
crossed the plains and was married in Oregon on July
1, 1858. She, with her husband, was crossing the
Santiam pass when the horses became frightened at
a falling tree and backed the carriage over a steep
grade into the Santiam river. She was badly crushed,
necessitating the amputation of one limb, from which
she never recovered. Her demise occurred on October
31, 1901, and her remains rest in Lone Fir cemetery,
Portland. Our subject was reared mostly in Crook
county, received a first class education in the common
schools and the agricultural college at Corvallis. He
taught until 1890, mostly in Crook count)', and held the
superintendency of schools of that count}'. He went to
Ann Arbor and entered the medical department of
that institution, but was deterred from completing the
course by ill health. Returning to Crook county, he-
continued to teach there, as well as in Idaho and Texas.
In Tulv, 1805, Mr. Slayton went to the Transvaal,
South 'Africa, and operated diamond drills, having
been a steam engineer previously. On account of the
approaching war there, he returned to this country in
1898, and in the fall of the same year he came to his
present location, which he purchased. Since then Mr.
Slavton has been engaged here with one exception,
542
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
when he operated a diamond drill in Stevens county,
Washington. Mr. Slayton owns one hundred and forty
acres of land, handles stock and is prosperous. He
also has a valuable estate in Crooks county. Mr. Slay-
ton has the following brothers and sisters : Edgar T.,
Robert L.. Ada C. Howard, Jennie V. U'Ren and
Mabel E. Engs.
On March 19, 1899, Mr. Slayton married Miss
Man- E., daughter of Gamaliel G. and Susan (Wood)
Newton. Mr. Newton was born in Ohio on November
7, 1839, crossed the plains with his parents in 1848,
and now lives in Benton county. His wife was born
in Iowa on September 11, 1840, and now lives in Ben-
ton county. She crossed the plains by ox teams in
1853. Mrs. Slayton was born October 4, 1866, in
Corvallis, Oregon, graduated from the Corvallis col-
lege in 1888 and then devoted a number of years to
teaching. She has the following brothers and sisters :
Diana McCoy, Margaret Cooper, Jennie, Alva, Emory,
Cora. One child, Ruth, was born to this couple, Janu-
arv 8, 1901. Mr. and Airs. Slayton are Democrats,
and he is a member of the I. O. O. F., while both be-
long to the Rebekahs.
It is of note that the family of Slayton has been
prominent in this country for generations and seven of
them were in the Revolution and sixty-one were in the
Rebellion. The family dates back in unbroken record
to Captain Thomas Slayton, born in England in 1682.
HARRY SOUTHARD is the postmaster at Lucile
and is a good, substantial citizen and upright man. He
has manifested excellent enterprise and energy in his
efforts in this locality and is also managing a general
mercandise establishment at Lucile. He was born at
Berlin, Greenlake county, Wisconsin, on May 21, 1850,
being the son of Edward and Martha E. (Wallbridge)
Southard. The father was a lumberman. He was
born in New York on June 22, 1818, and died in 1899.
He served in Company G, Fifth Wisconsin Volunteer
Infantry, for three years in the Civil war. participating
in the battles of Fair Oaks, Malvern Hill, Yorktown
and others. The mother of our subject was born in
New York in September. 1819, and died in 1876. Her
father was a patriot in the war of 1812. Our subject
came with his parents to Dubuque, Iowa, and was edu-
cated there and in Wisconsin. At the early age of
fifteen he stepped from the parental roof onto the arena
of life's battle. For a short time he lived in Iowa and
Minnesota, and in 1872 went to Placer county, Cali-
fornia, where he mined and farmed. Three years later
he was one of a party of twenty-nine which went into
the Black Hills. They were promptly removed by Cap-
tain Pollock and paroled. Then he went to British
Columbia and mined for seven years, after which he
went to Nebraska and visited his father. In 1885 he
returned to Mendocino county, California, and oper-
ated an engine. In 1891 he was in Sacramento valley,
whence he went to Portland, remaining there until
1897. The last date marks his advent into Idaho,
and he prospected in Warren, Pierce City and other
mining sections until February 28, 1901, when he was
appointed postmaster at Lucile. He had been the
moving spirit in securing this office and has shown
marked enterprise in many ways.
Mr. Southard has the following brothers and sis-
ters: Lovilla Collinson, Lillie, Fred and Frank. Air.
Southard is a member of the I. O. O. F., and in the
political realm is allied with the Republican party,
being an active and potent factor during each campaign.
In addition to handling his mercantile establishment
and postoffice, Mr. Southard devotes much time to his
mining interests.
J. E. CHAMBERLAIN, who is one of the earliest
pioneers in this section of Idaho, is one of the leading
men of northern Idaho and is well acquainted with
the country from the time the first white men settled
here until the present, having also taken a leading part
in its development and progress. He is a man of fine
capabilities dominated by sagacity and integrity and
possessed of that executive force and keen discrimina-
tion that are so indispensible for one in the prominent
and leading position that he has held.
J. B. Chamberlain was born in North Fredericks-
burg, Canada, on August 24, 1833, tlle son °f J0'111
and Ann (Dettor) Chamberlain. The father was a
prominent man in his section and died in 1869. His
ancestors were natives of Vermont and removed to
Canada in an early day. Our subject received his edu-
cate in in his native place, grew to manhood there and
in 1862 bade the familiar scenes farewell and journeyed
to British Columbia to Caribou gold fields. He came
to Lewiston shortly afterward, and so on to Warren,
which was so named from James Warren, the discov-
erer of the gold there. He took up mining and then
opened a butcher shop and in this industry he contin-
ued for eleven years. It was his fortune then to be
elected auditor and recorder of Idaho county, his name
appearing on the Republican ticket. This occurred in
the fall of 1880, and he took his seat in 1881. It was
a signal victory for Air. Chamberlain, as the county
was strongly Democratic. He was re-elected in 1882.
Following this service, he went to Whitebird and en-
gaged in the stock industry and since that time has
continued steadily in the same business. Air. Chamber-
lain has also been interested in mines and real estate.
In 1885 he went back to Warren and continued there
for ten years, still following his stock business with
his butcher shop. Again he was chosen to fill a public
office, this time serving as county commissioner for two
terms, which also was unprecedented for a Republican.
Air. Chamberlain has two brothers. — S. G. and
John D. He is a member of the Alasonic order. In
political matters he is an active and influential man
and always adheres to the Republican policy. In early
days Mr. Chamberlain taught school at the Aram
school house before Grangeville was founded.
Air. Chamberlain was at Grangeville when the war
occurred, and in reference to it he states that it was
caused by some stockmen petitioning to have the
government transfer the Indians to the reservation.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
543
This being attempted, the savages broke out and mur-
dered many of those who had signed the petition. Mr.
Chamberlain refused to sign the petition, and he says
that many of those who refused to sign it were warned
of the impending outbreak. Those signing the peti-
tion claimed that the Indians were troubling their
stock and killing them. The Indians had been holding
dances and councils at Polo lake and on June 13 they
killed Richard Divine and took his gun, then dispatched
Henry Elfers and John Beckridge. This was in the
morning, and as they came down the Salmon they killed
William Osborne, then Henry Mason and a French-
man named Francois. In the evening they killed Mr.
Samuel Benedict, having wounded him in the morning.
They supposed they had killed him in the morning,
but only shot him through the legs. He crawled to
the house and warned his wife and begged her to go
and hide, but she bravely remained with him until the
savages came in the evening, and she ran away into the
brush with her two little children, and for four days
was without food. Mr. Benedict crawled out of the
house into the yard when he heard the Indians coming,
and there they despatched him. Mr. Chamberlain has
passed through all the dangers and hardships and de-
privations of the frontier life, has nobly done his part
and is now one of the substantial men of the county,
and enjoys in full measure the confidence, esteem and
good will of all the people.
~*
WILLIAM G. BR( )WN is the efficient and faith-
ful marshal of Grangeville at the present time. He
is a man of excellent abilities in a number of lines,
being especially endowed with mechanical talents and
having also achieved a good success in farm-
ing and raising stock. He was born in
Brownstown. Green county, Wisconsin, on De-
cember 25, 1868, the son of Charles F. and Mary
(Loomis) Brown, natives of Wisconsin. The father
who was born in 1846, is a millman and miner. His
parents were pioneers in Wisconsin and he came to
California in the seventies and to Camas prairie in
188 1. The mother died in 1872, aged twenty-
six. Our subject grew to young manhood in
his native state, gained a good common school-
ing and it early developed that he was nat-
urally endowed with the mechanical ability-
possessed by his father and his grandfather before him.
When eighteen he came west to join his father in Idaho
county and worked on the farm, then did butchering.
Three years later he was in the Dixie mines, then down
on the Salmon in different mines and then took up stock
raising with mining. This continued until 1895. when
he came to Grangeville and engaged in carpentering.
He spent some time also with his father in the saw mill,
and was made night watchman ; in the spring of 1902
he was mads trnvn marshal.
At Grangeville, on September 25, 1892, Mr. Brown
married Miss Addie, daughter of Samuel and Isabelle
(Kellev) Benedict. The father was born at Shannon-
ville, Ontario, and came to Idaho in 1862. He was
in the early camps and operated a store in \
Mrs. Benedict was born at Staten Island,
New York, on November 2j, 1848. Mr. Benedict
was at Whitebird during the time of the Indian war in
1877 and met his death at the hands of the savages.
The mother was captured by the redskins. Mrs. Brown
was born on Slate creek, in this county, in 1875, and
was eighteen months of age when the massacre oc-
curred, and she was with her mother in hiding four
days and four nights in the bushes without shelter.
She has the following brothers and sisters: Grant,
Frankie Schisler, and four half brothers and half sis-
ters,— Emily, Edward, Alice, Robbie. Air. Brown has
two sisters. — Ada Keller and Alary J. Markham. Four
children have been born to them, — Hazel, Ralph, Fran-
cis and Dale. Mr. Brown is a member of the W. O.
W., and the K. P. Airs. Brown is a Catholic. Air.
Brown owns town property and in political alliances
he is an active Republican.
LEVI SHARP is one of the well known and good
citizens of Idaho count}-. He operates a hotel at Lu-
cile and also does considerable mining. He was born
in Delaware, on September n, 1838, being the son
of John T. and Elizabeth (Murphy) Sharp, both na-
tives of Delaware. The father was of Scotch par-
entage, was born in 1815 and died in 1891. The
mother died when our subject was very young. Levi
was reared in Ohio where he received his education
and worked with his father. When eighteen he went
to Iowa and one year later to Linn county, Kansas.
< In * ictober 12, 1861, Levi Sharp enlisted in Company
H, Seventh Kansas Cavalry. He was honorably dis-
charged on December 31, 1863. He reenlisted Jan-
uary 1, 1864, in the same company and was discharged
September 3, 1865, after a long and faithful service in
defense of the Stars and Stripes. He fought at Cor-
inth, Tupolo. Mississippi, was under Grant at Holly-
Springs and participated in much hot skirmishing. At
the close of the war he returned to Kansas where he
lemained until 1879. Then came a journey to Lead-
ville, Colorado, and at Eagle River we find him later
operating a store. He was in Red Cliff, at Glenwood
Springs and at Aspen, following various occupations
and mining. In the last city he was police magis-
trate for two years. In 1898 Air. Sharp traveled
with his wife to various localities until June 2, 1899,
when thev settled in their present location. Sometime
was spent prospecting and mining, then the present
hotel was built and since then he has devoted himself
to conducting it and to mining.
At Leadville, Colorado, on August 15, r88o, Mr.
Sharp married Miss Margaret Hollesten, daughter
of John H. and Tabitha ( Koger) Orr, natives of
Lancastershire, England, and Kentucky. The father
was born in 1813, came to California in 1849, died in
1895. Mrs- Sharp was born in Davis county, Mis-
souri, December 14. 1857. and has the following
brothers and sister-: John S., Thomas L., Robert J.,
lane. Mary, Catherine. Letticia, Hester. Air. Sharp
544
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
has five sisters ; Mary, Kittie, Emma, Fanny, Safrona.
Mr. Sharp is a Democrat and deputy mineral recorder.
He is a member of the G. A. R. and a man of first class
standing.
THOMAS B. GALLAWAY, who has made a
commendable success in his endeavors in Idaho county,
now dwells four miles northeast of Whitebird upon
an estate of three hundred and twenty acres. He has
improved his laud in first-class shape and in addition
to general farming, raises considerable stock. Thomas
B. Callaway was born in Conway county, Arkansas,
on February 12, 1866, being the son of George M.
and Louisa T. Callaway. When a child he was taken
with the family to Searcy county, Arkansas, and in
1875 they crossed the plains by team. On account
of the hostility of the savages, constant guard duty
was required but they arrived at Jackson county in
safety. In 187(1 t,K'.v went t0 Yakima county, Wash-
ington, and two years later to the Palouse country,
in 1883 they came to Whitebird and our subject toiled
with his father until 1892, when he inaugurated inde-
pendent action. This was a difficult time to start in
life owing .to the panic which then had just begun
to sweep the country. However, young Gallaway was
equal to the occasion and laid his plans wisely and
well. His mode of operation was to take a preemp-
tion, where he now lives, and continues in a small
way to raise cattle. He had no capital whatever, but
he determined to make a success and a success he has
made no doubt. He added another quarter section to
his estate by purchase and in addition to his land has
fine bands of stock.
Like his brothers, Mr. Gallaway is an expert with
a rifle. From infancy he has handled firearms and
has gained such a skill that no game can escape him.
On three different occasions he has killed two deer
with one shot. He has killed numerous elk and deer,
besides one moose, and his fights with grizzlies and
cinnamons are too numerous to mention in detail, but
suffice it to say that Mr. Gallaway never brought his
game to the camp alive and never ran away from a
bear.
ROBERT M. BIBB has labored for many years
in Idaho county both for the development of its re-
sources and the augmenting of his property holdings
and success has smiled on him in all these endeavors
and he is now one of the well-to-do and prosperous
farmers of the section. He was born in Scotland
county, Missouri, on December 26, 1854, the son of
David and Nancy (Ewing) Bibb, born in Kentucky,
in 1807 and in 1829, respectively. The father died in
i860 and the mother in 1868. Their ancestors were
among the earliest pioneers of Missouri. Our sub-
ject was brought up in his native place and after a
good common schooling finished his education in
Lagrange college. He left the home state in 1874 and
journeyed to Battle Mountain, in Nevada, where he
clerked in a railroad hotel for a year. Next we see
him at the Cornucopia mines in Nevada and in 1876
he returned to Wayland, Missouri, where he engaged
in general merchandise for seven years. Then he sold
and removed to Keokuk, Iowa, and was salesman in
a dry-goods house for some time. In April, 1883, he
removed to Dodge City, Kansas, then came to the
coast a year later and in April, 1885, he landed on the
fertile Camas prairie. He took a homestead on Craig
mountain and five years later sold it. Then in 1892
after two years of renting he bought land where he
now dwells, about four miles west from Grangeville.
He now owns two hundred and forty acres of fertile
land, well improved, has one hundred and twenty head
of graded Shorthorns, one hundred and twenty-five
hogs and also other stock and property. Mr. Bibb
has one brother and one sister, Mattie Taylor, John
W., both in Missouri.
In Clarke county, Missouri, on November 29,
1881, he married Mrs. Mary E., daughter of Abel L.
and Mary (Jeffries) Morris. The father was born
in Clark county, Ohio, on February 20, 1827, came
with his parents to Indiana, thence to Missouri and
farmed until his death, July n, 1890. The mother was
born in Kentucky, in 1823 and died in February, 1865.
Mrs. Bibb was born in Clarke county, Missouri, on
July 11, i860, and has the following named brothers
and sisters : Robert M., Cornelius, Lizzie Barnett,
Dorothy Dimond, Sue Biggs, Margaret Longanecker.
To this marriage there have two children been born,
Lawrence F., born September 23, 1882, and a child
died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Bibb are Democrats
of the old school. Thev also belong to the Baptist
church. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and the
W. O. W.
MARK V. JARRETT, deceased. Among the old
timers and hardy pioneers of this section there is none
better known than was Mark V. Jarrett, who passed
from the toils of earth to the realities of another
world on August 25, 1900. He was born in Kanawha
county. West Virginia, on July 22, 1834, the son of
Squire and Sarah (Price) Jarrett. The father was
born in the same county, on January 6, 1812, was a
prominent man of his place and died June 7, 1887.
The mother was born in A^irginia, in 1815, married in
1832 and now lives in Kanawha county. Our subject
was reared and educated in his native place and was a
well informed man. He engaged in mercantile busi-
ness and was also a natural mechanic. At the out-
break of the war he enlisted in the Nineteenth Vir-
ginia Cavalry and served throughout the war without
a wound. He was first lieutenant of Company G.
After the war Mr. Jarrett came to Montana and thence
to Warren. In 1868 he came to the prairie and
worked for L. P. Brown, then took a preemption and
later returned to West Virginia, where he was mar-
ried, and returned with his bride to the west. In
T872 he took up a general farming and stock rais-
ing and prospered. During the Indian war he took his
familv to Mt. Idaho and was himself one of the volun-
Ik
THOMAS B. GALLOWAY.
ROBERT M. BIBB.
MRS. ROBERT M. BIBB.
!RS. MARK V. JARRETT.
MARK V. JARRETT.
JOSEPH W. DUNN.
MATTHEW H. TRUSCOTT.
ISAAC M. IRWIN
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
545
teer guards. Mr. Jarrett left an estate of a half sec-
tion, well improved and stocked, besides some prop-
erty in Grangeville. He had the following brothers
and sisters: James M., Edward, French, Mathilda,
Minerva Levett, Betty Jackson, Kate Berchie, Levy,
deceased.
On October 30, 1871, Mr. Jarrett married Miss
Rebecca A., daughter of William W. and Martha H.
(Littlepage) Mann. The father, who was born in Vir-
ginia, in 1800, was a cabinet maker, removed to White
Sulpher Springs, West Virginia, and there died in
1862. The mother was born in September, 181 7,
raised a family of seven children, which entailed much
hardship and deprivation after her husband died. She
died on November 19, 1879. Mrs. Jarrett was born
on July 7. 1845. at White Sulpher Springs, in Green-
brier county. West Virginia. She has seven brothers
and sisters, Francis Carr, Mary C. Porter, Nancy
Thayer, Ella Punderson, Virginia Reece, Martha
Moore, deceased, William H. Five children survive
Mr. Jarrett, Mattie C, born September 12, 1872; Sarah
F. Pugh, born December 12, 1873 ; Mont M., born
September 21, 1875: Wallace I., born February 22,
1879; Maria A., born July 7, 1881. Mr. Jarrett was
an active Democrat and his wife is of the same politi-
cal faith. She is a member of the Methodist church.
At the time of the Indian war, Mrs. Jarrett and
Mrs. Hanson cooked for the soldiers and fed all hun-
gry men that came to the fortifications and her hus-
band furnished the beef. Hour, and so forth. She was
a pioneer here in 1872 and was one of the earliest
women on the prairie. Mrs. Jarrett has nobly taken
up the burdens since her husband's death and in man-
aging the estate in a commendable manner.
JOSEPH W. DUNN is a stirring business man of
Denver where he bandies a furniture store and by his
enterprise and skill, with deferential treatment of all,
he has gained a thriving patronage. He was born in
Louisa county, Iowa, on October 15. 1848, the son of
John and Mary J. (Hiatt) Dunn.' The father was
born in Ohio, in 1827, his parents being pioneers of
that state. He dwelt in Iowa and Illinois and in 1884
went to Kansas and took a homestead in Sherman
county. There he died in the fall of 1890. The moth-
er was born in Kentucky, of Welsh extraction, and
she died in the spring of 1866. Our subject was edu-
cated in the public schools and remained with his par-
ents on the farm until twenty-two, then he visited his
uncle in Missouri, returning, he married and settled
on his brother-in-law's farm. In the fall of 1877, lle
removed to Decatur county, Kansas, and took a home-
stead. He farmed it for thirteen years, also operating
a feed store in Oberlin. In connection with these lines
of business, Mr. Dunn operated a steam threshing out-
fit. His health broke down there and he came to the
coast. He found relatives in the Willamette valley
from searching the donation claim records as thev
had been there since 1852. Then he set on a search
for a brother who had been swallowed up in the west.
Failing he returned to Salem and in the spring of 1892
came to Moscow, thence to Denver, where by acci-
dent he discovered the brother. Mr. Dunn assisted
in the construction of some of the first buildings in
1 )enver and then in 1893 opened a barber shop. He
conducted this until January, 1902, when be opined
;i furniture store and has since devoted his attention
to its development. He owns a house and lot in
1 )enver, business property in Oberlin, Kansas, and also
a farm there. Mr. Dunn has one brother, John, and
one sister, Josephine, deceased.
On January I, 1875, Mr. Dunn married Miss
Sarah R., daughter of Joseph and Martha Wassen.
She was born in 1858 and died May 21. 1877. Mrs.
Dunn had two brothers and one sister: John, Thomas,
Albina. To Air. and Mrs. Dunn one son was born,
on May 6. 1877, Alfred A. He lives in Iowa with
his mother's" parents. Mr. Dunn is a member of the
1. O. O. F., while in political matters he is a Popu-
list.
MATTHEW H. TRUSCOTT is one of the earli-
est pioneers of this country and one whose labors for
all the intervening years have been for general ad-
vancement. In the leading industries of Idaho county,
he stands today one of the prominent and respected
men and the fact that for may years he has held the
important position of postmaster of Mt. Idaho signi-
fies the implicit confidence reposed in him by the peo-
pie.
Matthew H. Iruscott was born in England, in
J845, and came to the United States in 1863. His
parents, Matthew and Elizabeth (Coad) Truscott,
were natives of England and died in 1874 and 1863,
respectively. In 1861 Mr. Truscott went to Chile, be-
ing then but a lad, and mined there for two years. The
year 1863 marks the date of his advent into California
and after two years of mining there and in adjacent
districts, he came to Elk City, Idaho, where he fol-
lowed the same occupation until 1870, Mt. Idaho be-
ing his postoffice. Then he took up the sawmill busi-
ness and after twelve years in it he turned bis atten-
tion to keeping hotel. In 1886 Mr. Truscott was ap-
pointed postmaster. In 1893 he added general mer-
chandising to this and now handles a stock of well
selected goods. Mr. Truscott was one of the volun-
teers who fought in the Nez Perces war and also did
guard duty at Mt. Idaho. Mr. Truscott coincides with
Mr. Rice that the murder of Norton and Chamberlain
occurred on the night of June 14.
In June, 1900, Mr. Truscott married Mrs. George
M. Shearer, widow of Major Shearer of the Nez
Perces war. It was Major Shearer who went to meet
the seventeen volunteers at Cottonwood. Mrs. Tru-
scott has one brother, John P. Vollmer, of Lewiston.
and one sister, Mrs. A. W. Kroutinger, of Lewiston.
Mrs. Truscott was born in Indianapolis, in February.
i860, being the daughter of Philip Vollmer. a native
of Germanv. She was well educated and came first to
Idaho in 1873. She returned east in a year and in 1881
came hither again. She married Mr. Sbearer in Decent-
546
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ber, 1883, and to them were born three children : Eliza-
beth V., Philip A., Virginia. Mr. Truscott is an
eighteen degree Mason. Mrs. Truscott is a member of
the Episcopalian church. Neither one takes active
part in politics but still are well informed on the ques-
tions of the day and always allied on the side of good
government.
ISAAC M. IRWIN is one of the leading farm-
ers and stock men located at Riggins. He pays at-
tention to mining also and is a man of enterprise and
ability. He was born in a house that was located on
the line between Washington and Oregon, the date of
this important event in his life was February 27, 1878.
His parents are Isaac and Mary (Riggle) Irwin. The
father was born in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1825, came
west in a very early day and now resided at Grant's
Pass. Oregon. Our subject's parents left Washington
and Oregon when he was an infant, settling in Idaho.
Boise was the home for two years, then they came to
the Salmon Meadows, where the father raised stock
for ten years. Our subject was educated in the various
places where the family lived and during vacation
he broke horses for his father's ranges and for other
stockmen. On June 1, 1893, they settled where Rig-
gins now stands, taking a squatter's rights. The father
remained there until 1902, and since then the man-
agement of the estate has been in the hands of the sub-
ject of this article. He and his brother, Noah, have
been operating in general stockraising and farming.
In 1900 they built a fine residence at Riggins which
was the start of the town. Since then they have put
up a hotel and blacksmith shop.
On May 16, 1901, Mr. Irwin married Miss Pearl,
daughter of George W. Curtis, a merchant at Riggins.
Mrs. Irwin was born in Applegate. Oregon, on No-
vember 2, 1S83, and has one brother and three sis-
ters: Mattie. Helen, Lulu, Frederick. Mr. Irwin has
the following brothers and sisters : Rebecca, Henri-
etta. Emma, John, William, David, Richard, Byron,
George, Noah. Mr. Irwin is a man untrammeled by
party ties and tenets and solves the important ques-
tions of the day best suited to his own judgment. He
owns a quarrer section of land, part of it being the
town site, has thirty acres irrigated, raises fine alfal-
fa, and is a prosperous man. He and his wife have
one child, Gladys, born May 14, 1902.
Mr. Irwin also devotes considerable time to por-
trait and landscape painting, in which he is very pro-
ficient, and as his property holdings will now permit,
he intends to take up his art and make it his profes-
RICHARD P. COOPER has resided in Idaho
county for nearly a quarter of a century and much
earlier than that did he first come to this favored sec-
tion, and he should surely be classed with the build-
ers if '.he county and its wealth. He was born in
Kentucky, on April 15, 1841, the son of Covington and
[1 upin) Cooper, natives of Kentucky and
born in 1805 and 1810, respectively. The father came
to Missouri in 1843 and farmed there until his death
in 1850. The mother died in California in 1890. Our
subject was educated in the public schools and in 1854
crossed the plains to California, the family all coming
then. The next year he started the battle of life for
himself and continued to work for wages until he
was twenty. Then he took up stock raising and in
1862, he came to Florence, it being the time of the gold
excitement. Returning to California he took a pre-
emption and raised sheep until 1880, when he sold out
and came thence to Camas prairie. July 17, of that
year he landed here and bought a quarter section north
of Crooks creek. He sold to Seth Jones in 1885 and
removed north from Keuterville, and spent the sum-
mers there but the winters on the Salmon. Finally he
bought his present place, one mile northwest from
Keuterville. Mr. Cooper has two hundred and eighty
acres of land and he does a general farming busi-
ness and raises stock. He makes a specialty of sheep
and has some fine specimens, especially of the Ram-
bouillet breed. He has three hundred and fifty head
of choice animals and eighty of registered bucks for
sale. Mr. Cooper has two rams of this well known
breed that are as fine as any in this section of the
country and he takes great pains to raise the best of
animals and is successful in his efforts. Mr. Cooper
has the following brothers and sisters : John, George,
Robert, deceased, Joseph, Mary Silvers, James, Adam.
On August 7, 1888, Mr. Cooper married Miss
Lodema, daughter of Gabriel and Mary G. (Brown).
Church, born in Wilkes county, North Carolina, in
1823 and 1825, respectively. They were farmers in
that state and the father died in 1885 and the mother
on February 10, 1881. Mrs. Cooper was born in
Wilkes county. North Carolina, on July 7. 1855, and
has the following brothers and sisters : Martha Brown,
Levy A., Mary J. Vanoy, Alzina Filer, Ely, Emeline.
Six children were born to this union: Mathilda A.,
born February 26, 1867; Mary E. Rogge, born Janu-
ary 10, 1870 : Benjamin R.. born July 6. 1875 ; Ida
B., born April 6, 1877 and died in October, 1883 ;
Peter R., born October 6, 1879; Matie D. Andrews,
born February n, 1881. Mr. Cooper and his wife
are strong Republicans and he is a member of the
I. O. O. F.
SETH JONES has the distinction of being a
leader in many lines in this section and he is. without
doubt, one of the first and most stanch pioneers of
Idaho county. He was born in Allegany county,
New York, on April 6, 1833, the son of Stephen and
Lydia (Lampheer) Jones, natives of New York. The
father died in 1842 and was one of the first settlers
in Illinois, coming thither in 1838. The mother died
111 1843. Being thus left an orphan early, our subject
went to live with his brothers. Phenis and Conley.
When sixteen he started in to do battle with the world
for himself and was engaged at verious employments
until 1853, when on April 3, he started across the
plains. Portland was reached on August 10. and he
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
547
wintered at Jacksonville; the next spring was in
Siskiyou county, where he mined for four years and
then returned home. He married and two years later
started across the plains again. On Goose creek,
Utah, Indians stole their fine horses, taking fifty out
of seventy-five. Five days were spent in following
the savages, but no horses were recovered and they
then made arrangements with another train to have
their wagons pulled at twelve dollars per day. Settle-
ment was made in Scott's valley, California, and two
years they dwelt there. On June i. 1862, they arrived
at Florence and came out over the Morse Milner trail.
Mrs. Jones was the first white woman over the trail
and the gallant Milkier would take no fees from the
entire train when he knew of her presence. In March,
1863, Mr. Jones settled on Camas prairie; the first
logs sawed at the Pete Walters mill made the lumber
which Mr. Jones used to build the first settlers cabin
on the prairie. Mr. Jones went to general farming
and stockraising and has prospered steadily up to the
present. At one time he sold six hundred and fifty
head of stock for the Montana market and has always
had large bands of cattle and horses. He owns nearly
thirteen hundred acres of fine agricultural land, has
a splendid residence and seven acres in Grangeville,
which is the family home, owns excellent stock, hav-
ing one horse that cost three thousand dollars, and
other property in proportion. Mr. Jones is one of the
most substantial men of the county and may be rightly
classed as one of the real builders. He refused to
sign the petition to have the Indians set onto the reser-
vation and so was unmolested. He passed through
two large bands of the savages in full war paint on
June 13th and was unmolested. Charley Horton was
with him and the next day that unfortunate man was
slain by the savagres about two miles west from
Grangeville. Mr. Jones says the war started on June
13th by the killing of Dick Divine, Henry Elfers,
John Beckridge, Benedict, Baker, William Osborne,
Henry Mason, and Francois, the last three being
mining men. Mr. Jones took his family to Mt. Idaho
for two months during this trouble.
On December 13, 1858, in Illinois. Mr. Jones mar-
ried Miss Jane E., daughter of Samuel and Jane
(Eddy) Castle, natives of Canada and New York,
respectively. Her father was in the Civil war and
her grandfather was a patriot under George Wash-
ington during the Revolution. Mrs. Jones' father died
in 1877. She was born in New York in 1837 and
has the following brothers and sisters : Orville, Sam-
uel, Louise, Victoria, Melissa. Mr. Jones has the fol-
lowing brothers and sisters : Albert, Samuel, Hannah,
and Caroline. To this worthy couple and stanch
pioneers have been born the following named children,
all solid Republicans in good standing: Asa. Ella.
Bell, wife of Charles Cone, and the first white child
born on Camas prairie, Samuel, Seth. Rhoda, Robert,
William. Jennie Martin, adopted. Mrs. Jones is a
member of the Baptist church.
By way of reminiscence it is interesting to note
that in early days Mr. Jones had to go to Walla Walla
for all supplies and the distance being one hundred and
fifty miles it was a hard and tiresome undertaking.
Also we wish to note that Mr. Jones was with the
party that met the soldiers at the Manuel place after
the house was burned.
ADDISON D. SEWELL resides across the river
from Lucile and devotes his attention to ranching,
stock raising and raising fruits. He was born in
Marion county, Oregon, on May 25, 1857, the son of
David T. and Elizabeth Morrison Sewell. The
father was born in Pennsylvania on November 14,
1814, and was killed by a falling tree on December
3. *857- He was a music and school teacher and
crossed the plains from Des Moines, Iowa, to Salem,
Oregon, in 1851. The mother was born in Pennsyl-
vania on August 1. 1824. and died October 4, 1878.
Her father was a native of Connecticut; came of the
Shaker people. She crossed the plains with her hus-
band in 1S51. Our subject grew up in Oregon and
received a good education and also learned the carpen-
ter's trade. When twenty he came to Whitman coun-
ty. Washington, where he resided from 1877 to 1893.
He did duty against the savages in the Indian out-
break, and at the date last mentioned came to the
Salmon river and there leased the Sherwin mine with
his brother. He lived on the Elfers place for a year
and a half and in 1894 took his present ranch, where
he has remained since.
On December 6. 1885, in Whitman county. Wash-
ington, Mr. Sewell married Miss Arrinda, daughter
of Jasper and Sarah (Black) Seat. The father was a
native of Missouri, came to Oregon in 1865, thence
to Cheney, Washington, where he died. The mother
was also born in Missouri. Mrs. Sewell was born
April 23, 1861, in Missouri, and has four brothers and
one sister: Margaret Scott, Wesley, Henry, William,
Adam. Mr. Sewell has one brother, Newton, and one
sister, Mary Grim. They have three children : Earl,
attending school at Spokane, Hubert and Wardford,
at home. Mrs. Sewell belongs to the Baptist church.
Mr. Sewell is a Republican and a strong one, too. He
is always on hand in the campaign and takes a keen
interest in affairs. He has a quarter section of land
and in addition to general farming is paying much at-
tention to fruit.
EDMOND FITZGERALD, who lives about five
miles southwest from Cottonwood, on a go
is one of the leading farmers of his section and has
demonstrated his enterprise and skill in handling the
resources of the county for twenty years. He was
bom in Ireland on May 27, 1832. the son of Nicholas
and Bridget (Butter) Fitzgerald, natives of Ireland.
The father was born in 1758. He was a patriot in the
revolt against the oppressions of England in 1798,
which was led by the noted and beloved Emmett. He
died on .March 10. 1858. The mother died when this
son was young. Edmond was educated in his native
548
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
land and in 1852 came via the Isthmus to California
and was soon in the mines on American river. In
1856 he came to southern Oregon and on April 21,
1862, he made his way to Walla Walla, whence he
went to Florence and then to Elk City. He mined
in these places and on Clearwater and during the
Indian was was in Elk. where the families were all
forted up. After the war he mined here and in Cali-
fornia and in Arizona and Montana. In 1885 Mr.
Fitzgerald came to Camas prairie and took land and
engaged in farming and raising stock. He has his
farm well improved and owns two hundred acres and
is a leading agriculturist of the county. Mr. Fitz-
gerald pays considerable attention to buying steers and
fattening for the market. He also raises other stock
and does general farming. Mr. Fitzgerald has one
sister. Mary Wolfe, in Ireland.
On September 22, 1881, Mr. Fitzgerald married
Miss Katie, daughter of Edward and Kattie (Sulli-
van) Carmody, natives of Ireland. Mrs. Fitzgerald
was born in County Kerry, Ireland, on August 3,
1843. Mr. Fitzgerald and his wife are strong Demo-
crats and are devout members of the Catholic church.
BENJAMIN D. KNORR is one of the younger
and popular business men of Grangeville and has
manifested his ability and executive force in his oper-
ations in our midst, being now owner and operator
of the Camas Prairie Roller Mills at Grangeville. He
was born in Adams county, Illinois, on August 13,
1874. the son of Christopher B. and Wilhelmina
( Borcherding) Knorr. born in Germany on October
2, 1842, and January 26, 1856, respectively. The
father came to the L'nited States in 1848 and to Idaho
county in 1888 and is a heavy real estate owner and
stockman. The mother came to the L'nited States in
1867, and they both dwell in Idaho county now. The
family went to Grayson county, Texas, when our sub-
ject was a lad and in 1888 came here and finished
his education in the Columbia River Conference
Academy in Grangeville. On April 26, 1898, Mr.
Knorr responded to the call and enlisted in Company
C, First Idaho Volunteers and went to the Philippines.
He participated in the battles of Manila, Santa Crus,
Guadaloupe and many other engagements. He was in
the interior of the Luzon and during the year in ser-
vice endured great hardships and deprivations. He
landed in San Francisco on August 26, and proceeded
to his home. On account of the hardships endured he
was unable to do any work or business for a year after
landing here. In 1901, he bought his mill and since
that time has given his attention to its operation and
has achieved a good success in this line.
On June 11, 1902, Mr. Knorr married Miss Mar-
tha, daughter of P. I*. Grote, a lumberman in Denver,
Colorado, where the wedding occurred. Mrs. Knorr's
parents are natives of Germany and are now both liv-
ing in Denver. She was born in Denver, on January
19, 1884 <i"d has two brothers and four sisters. Mr.
Knorr has the following named brothers and sisters:
Amelia Matrox. Edward, Fred. Wilhelmina, Matilda,
Walter, Clara, Dora, Christina. Mr. Knorr is a mem-
ber of the I. O. O. F., the W. W. and he and his wife
are adherents of the Lutheran church. He was a
candidate for representative to the state legislature in
10,00 on the Populist ticket but suffered defeat with the
other members of the ticket. At the present time Mr.
Knorr is an active Democrat.
PHILIP S. PR1CHARD is one of the earliest pi-
oneers to the Elk City country and he has also been in
all the prominent camps in the northwest, while ever
he has manifested those qualities of enterprise and
worth which so commend the sturdy pioneers to all
people. He was born in Davison county, Tennessee,
on July 17, 1837, the son of Samuel Prichard. The
father was born in Louisiana and in 1810 went to Illi-
nois and followed civil engineering. He went to Ten-
nessee in 1830 and in 1852 returned to Illinois. He
farmed, then went to Nebraska and finally returned to
Illinois. Our subject was reared and educated in
Tennessee, and in 1858 crossed the plains with teams
to Douglas county, Oregon. He mined there and in an
early day, just after the discovery of the camp, in July,
1861, he came to Elk City. In the fall of 1862 he re-
turned to Eugene and soon went thence to the Boise
basin, visiting the various camps of the region. In 1863
he took a ranch and while that was his headquarters he
was engaged in mining in various sections. En 1866
he was with the scouts who issited Crook to subdue
the Indians in southern Oregon. In 1868 Mr. Prich-
ard went to Jordan creek and mined and in 1872 we
see him in Willow creek camp and Eldorado, in south-
ern Oregon. In 1874 he was in the Pioche excite-
ment in Nevada, and in 1876 he went to the Black
Hills, in Dakota, and took part in Crook's campaign
against the Sioux Indians. He mined and prospected
there also, and in 1876 was in the Big Horn mountains
in Wyoming, prospecting. From 1878 for three years
he prospected in Lemhi county, on the Wood river,
and in the Saw Tooth range. In 1882 Mr. Prichard
returned to Idaho county and ranched for two years,
and then came to the Elk basin, and here he has
operated since. He has interests in many paying prop-
erties, and some of them are Laurel Hill group, the
Highland group, Number One, Number Two and
others. Mr. Prichard is a solid Democrat, and in
1900 he was road supervisor. He stands well and is
a man of integrity and worth.
JOHN T. JOHNSON is one of the worthy
pioneers who has labored long for the development
and upbuilding of Idaho county and is deserving of
much credit for his enterprise and sterling qualities.
He is now following the dual occupation of mining
and farming, owning a ranch two and a half miles
south from Lucile. He was born in Fayette county,
Kentucky, on December 7, 1824, being the son of An-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
drew and Jane (Chambers) Johnson, natives of Vir-
ginia and Kentucky respectively. The father died in
1886. Our subject was brought by his parents to
Logansport, Indiana, when he was but an infant. He
remained there for nearly twenty-two years and he re-
ceived his education there. He saw the first house built
in Logansport. On March 15, 1852, he started across
the plains with mule teams. In due time he arrived
at Placerville, California, and engaged in mining.' He
prospered and then lost money. Afterward he made
more. We see him next in British Columbia. Then
he took a whaling voyage to Behring Sea. After that
he came to Idaho in 1861 and took a pack train of 103
mules to Florence. On one occasion he packed a
ton of gold out of that camp for the Wells, Fargo
Company. Then he went to Montana and mined and
packed in the Alder gulch region. Five years later he
returned to Idaho and followed packing into all the
various camps of Northern Idaho for about twelve
years. Then he farmed on Camas prairie, and mined
on the Salmon river. Mr. Johnson was here during
the Indian war and was on the prairie above Mr. El-
fers' place when that unfortunate man was murdered.
He saw the shots fired but supposed it was the boys
killing coyotes. During the war he scouted for Genera!
Howard and was at Bear Paw mountain when Chief
Joseph surrendered. He was also in the Sheepeater
war under Captain McKeiver. He scouted for three
summers in these two wars. He was standing by
when Sergeant Eagan was killed. Mr. Johnson was in
at the christening of Vinegar hill and partook of the
beverage. He has three brothers, Edward. Andrew and
and Richard, the last two being killed in the Civil war,
and three sisters : Catherine Graham, Elizabeth White
and Mary E. Kinnaman. Mr. Johnson is a Democrat,
one of the good old fashioned Jeflersonian kind, who
can give a reason for the hope in them.
LUCIUS L. MORTON, of the firm of Morton &
Johnston, leading stock and mining men of southern
Idaho county, lives two miles southwest of Lucile. He
was burn in Tennessee in 1832, the son of Elijah and
Mary (Alexander) Morton, natives of New Jersey,
pioneers of Illinois in 1833. The father fought in the
war of 1812 and also in various Indian struggles in
Illinois. Our subject was educated and grew to man-
hood in the Prairie state, being favored with a course
in the academy at Galesburg. His early days were
spent in bookkeeping; then he went to Rice county,
Minnesota, for three rears. Then he came to Illi-
nois and thence to Colorado, mining in all the various
and leading camps while there until i860. Next we
see him in the Alder gulch country and he dug gold
on the site of the Helena before a white man's habi-
tation was there. The Idaho camps attracted him next
and after that he was in South Pass, Wyoming, in the
white pine country, Nevada, and then at Baker Cit\ ,
Oregon. 1882 found Mr. Morton mining in the Seven
Devils country, which he thinks to be one of the rich
sections of the west. Various other camps were visited
by him and finally in 1893 he discovered the Blue
Jacket on the Salmon river. He has done over a
thousand feet of work on it. The same year he went
into partnership with Revillo Johnston which relation
has continued until the present time. In 181)4 Mr.
Johnston took his present ranch and in addition to the
prosperous stock business which they handle they are
heavily interested in mining. They own the Golden
Crown group and other property. Mr. Morton has
never been back to see his people in Illinois since i860.
He has one brother, Charles, in Oregon, and two,
Henry and James, in Illinois. Mr. Morton is a Demo-
crat. After seeing the various mining countries of the
west he is satisfied that Idaho county possesses some
of the most valuable mineral deposits known and when
transportation facilities are better it will be shown to be
one of the greatest mining sections yet discovered.
CHARLES P. CONE has spent practically all of
his life in this county ; he is one of the leading men at
this time and a heavy property owner, and it may truly
be said that he has always labored for the advance-
ment and upbuilding of the country and its substantial
development.
Charles P. Cone was born in Ossipee, New Hamp-
shire, on October 11, 1857, the son of Charles F. and
Annie C. (Wood) Cone, natives of New York and.
Maine, respectively. The father was born on Febru-
ary 14, 1827, and died in 1894. He crossed the plains
to California in 1850 and in 1863 settled with his wife
and two sons in Idaho county. The mother was born
in 1841 and died on June 14. 1902. Her father was
a pioneer in California and crossed to Idaho in 1861,
where his wife joined him the next year. He bought
land from the Indians on Slate creek, Chief Whistle
Knocker making the transfer for twelve hundred dol-
lars. This was the first land secured from the In-
dians, and he was a member of the first legislature,
when the capital was in Lewiston.
Our subject was reared and educated in this coun-
tv. with also a two years' course at Waukegan, Ill-
inois. His father and his grandfather. Wood, opened
a store, started a postoffice and also raised great num-
bers of cattle and horses. Our subject was given
stock as soon as he could ride, and since that date he
has continued in the industry with good success. He
owns now four hundred and eighty acres of good
prairie land and also much other property.
In 1884 Mr. Cone married Miss Belle, daughter of
Seth and Jane (Castle) Jones, who are mentioned in
this work." Mrs. Cone was born on Camas prairie
on November 7, 1863, being the first white child born
in Idaho county. Mr. Cone has one brother, Harry
W., in Grangeville. Two children have been born to
this union, — Alvin F.. born February 13. 1886; and
Robert H. born July 1, 1887. Mr. Cone is
and a member of the W. W. and I. O. O. F. He
affiliates with the Republicans and has fined several
offices at the hands of the people. Mr. Cone was with
his people on Slate creek at the time of the Nez Perce
55o
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
war, there being himself, his parents, his grandparents,
his brother and Josh Fockler. Mr. Cone was familiar
with the young Indians, having hunted and compan-
ioned with them for many years. Among those whom
he knew well are Eagle Caps, (Tip-U-Lahna-Caps
Caps), Red Leggings, (Sopses-Ilp-Pilp), No Eye,
(Chia-Opsin). Mr. Cone is now one of the substan-
tial and public minded citizens, a progressive man and
the recipient of the esteem and confidence of all. Mr.
Cone has associated himself with Mr. Bonebrake in
the drug business, and they are operating this line
under the name of The Right Store. Mr. Cone is also
■ a member of the city board of aldermen.
MARTIN WAGNER, who now holds the posi-
tion of cashier of the Bank of Grangeville, is one of
the substantial and worthy business men of our county,
and his efficient labors in various capacities have
stamped him a man of capabilities and his integrity
and uprightness are patent to all.
Martin Wagner was born in Germany on Novem-
ber 29, 1853, the son of John and Katherina (Eich-
horn) Wagner, born in Germany in 1826. The father,
who followed manufacturing in Germany, came to the
United States in 1866 and settled at Portland, where he
kept hotel. He died in 1875. The mother died in
1877. Our subject received his education in Port-
land, taking a course in a business college, after which
he accepted a clerkship in a dry goods establishment.
He migrated to Walla Walla in 1878, and a short time
later came to Lewiston. Here he took a position with
the firm of Vollmer & Scott, general merchants. Later
he was in Grangeville, and also in Genesee. It was in
1893 that he accepted the position of cashier of the
Grangeville bank, and since that time his energies and
talent have been devoted in a successful manner to the
upbuilding of the interests of this institution. At the
present time he is city treasurer in addition to his other
duties. Mr. Wagner is a Republican and a potent
influence in the affairs of the political realm.
In 1890 occurred the wedding of Mr. Wagner and
Miss Carrie, daughter of Bernhardt and Dorotha
(Hellman) Pape, natives of Germany, and now dwell-
ing in Portland. Mrs. Wagner was born in Illinois
in i860 and has two brothers and two sisters living in
Portland. Mr. Wagner has one brother and one sis-
ter,— Peter and Barbara Costendieck, both in Port-
land. Two children have been born to this union, —
Dorotha and Bernhardt. Mr. Wagner is a member of
the A. O. U. W., of the W. W. and of the Women
of Woodcraft.
SAMSON DILLINGER, of Dixie, is one of the
leading old timers and mine owners of the country
and has done a remarkable work in the last forty-five
and fifty years in the various camps of Oregon, Idaho,
and California. He was born in Floyd county. Indiana,
on January 28. 1839, the son of Miles and Anna (Hick-
man) Dillinger. natives of Virginia, and in 1844 and
1842, respectively, they were called hence by death.
Our subject was brought up and educated in Orange
countv, Indiana, and in 1850 he crossed the plains to
Oregon City, thence to Portland, whence he soon went
to southern Oregon to mine. He was the first dis-
coverer of gold on the Rogue river and only one man,
Applegate, who was raising stock, was then dwelling
in a, house in the Umpqua valley. He also struck good
pay gravel at Sterling, but they were forced to leave
because the Indians were about to break out. He had
been advised of this by friendly Indians. Then he
went to Siskiyou county, California, and mined, after
which he prospected near Yreka, that state and dis-
covered the Black Bear mine. In 1853 he went to Boise
basin and we see him taking out dust at Placerville,
then on the Powder river, and in August, 1865, he
made his way to Elk City. In 1867 he was on Gold
creek and at that date, only Mr. Wagoner lived on the
creek. He also worked at Mallard creek where they
took thirty dollars per day to the man, but were chased
out by savages. Then Mr. Dillinger returned to Elk
and Dixie and he has been here constantly since that
date. He gave his attention to placer works until 1890
and since that time he has worked on quartz. He
erected the first arrastre in Dixie and he now owns the
McKinley and Roosevelt claims, which are promising
well. He also has other properties and is one of the
best miners of the section. At the time of the out-
break in 1877, he was in Dixie and they all repaired
to Elk City and there erected a fort which they guarded
and remained in until the war ended. Mr. Dillinger is
a member of the I. O. O. F. and is a man of excellent
standing and enjoys the esteem and good will of all.
HON. JAMES F. AILSHIE. True merit wins
the race. It is pleasant to trace the successful career
of a man of ability and sagacity and we greet with zest
the opportnuity to recount the salient points in the life
of the well known and highly respected gentleman,
whose name initiates this paragraph.
James F. Ailshie was born in Greene county, Ten-
nessee, on June 19, 1868, the son of George W. and
Martha (Knight) Ailshie. The father, a farmer, was
born in Kentucky. His parents were natives of Ten-
nessee, his mother being descended from Pennsylvania
Dutch and his grandfather from Scotch extraction.
George W. Ailshie, who was in the Fourth Tennessee
Infantry, received a wound in the shoulder and had
one finger shot off. He was in the siege of Yicksburg
and saw much hard service. The mother was born in
Tennessee and died on October 11, 1901. Her an-
cestors were natives of the same state for some gener-
ations back. Her father served in the Civil war and
fell a victim to disease contracted in that service. Her
mother still lives. Our subject grew up in his native
state and after the common school training, took a full
course in the Carson & Newman College, coming west
in 1887, he took the degree of Ph. B. Then Mr. Ail-
shie entered the law school of the Willamette uni-
versity and completed that course. In 1891 he opened
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
an office in Pendleton immediately upon taking- his de-
gree. Shortly afterward, Mr. Ailshie seeing the ad-
vantages of Grangeville, came hither and openeed an
office. This has been his residence since, where he
at once took his proper position as a leading member
of society and a prominent man in the business realm.
He was appointed regent of the state university when
the buildings were being erected and proved himself
invaluable to the interests of that institution. Mr.
Ailshie has always been the head of the minority party,
the Republican, in his county and has always been in
attendance on the conventions. He was a delegate to
the National Republican convention in Philadelphia in
1900 and participated in the nomination of McKinley
and Roosevelt. In 1902 the party placed his name in
nomination for the supreme bench of the state and a
handsome majority in his favor testified the people's
pleasure at the polls. Judge Ailshie has taken his po-
sition with a preparation and dignity that becomes a
man of deep erudition, manifest talent and complete
fitness for the responsibilities of this most important
office of the state. He still retains his home and in-
terests in Grangeville and in addition to his town prop-
erty he has various farm interests.
In 1894 occurred the marriage of Judge Ailshie and
Miss Lucie, daughter of Rev. J. B. and Angeline Bund-
ren. The parents are of French extraction and the
father is a noted preacher of the Baptist denomination,
in Tennessee. The wedding occurred in Spokane and
Mrs. Ailshie was born in Dandridge, Jefferson county,
Tennessee, in 1868 and was* well educated in the
Newman seminary at Mosey creek. She has one
brother and two sisters : William, Vallie, Virginia.
Judge Ailshie has the following brothers and sisters:
Stephen A., Andrew, Ernest, Alice Haun, Annie Haun,
Lilly Bible, Laura, Jessie. Two children have been
born to this union: Lucile and Jammie F. The Judge
affiliates with the I. O. O. F., has been through ali the
chairs and is also a member of the grand lodge. He
also beongs to the W. W. and he and his wit'.; are
adherents of the Presbyterian church. Judge Ailshie
is also president of the Grangeville Electric Company.
JOHN C. YOUNG, the well known dairyman and
farmer of Elk City, is a man of good standing and_
has long and active experience in various sections of
our frontiers. He was born in Monroe county, In-
diana, on September 22, 1830, the son of Joseph and
Barbara (Whisenand) Young. The father was born
in Virginia and came with his parents to Indiana
in 1820. and in 1844 he passed the river of death.
The mother was born in Pennsylvania in 1800 and
died in Illinois in 1896. Our subject was reared
and educated in Indiana and on March 28, 1852, he
set out across the plains for the land of the setting
sun. He made a successful journey, and soon we
see the sturdy pioneer lad in the placer fields of Plumas
county, California, searching for hidden wealth. He
wended his way to different camps in that state until
1864, and then turned towards the north. He was in
southern Idaho, Virginia City, Montana, in Owvhee
country, Oregon, on Wildhorse, in British Columbia,
thence to Lewiston, and later he was digging
the Salmon. He was in Florence and adjacent camps,
in Leesburg, Lemhi county, and in 1872 he came to
Elk City and took up a farm. Since then Air. Young
has devoted himself to dairying and general fanning
and now has a g00d plat of land, several buildings
in Elk City, and is one of the prosperous citizens of
the section. He has one sister, Martha Straighter, and
one brother, Joshua.
In Elk City in October, 1876, Mr. Young married
Eliza E. Marston, who was born in England in 1823.
She was left an orphan at an early day and for some
time was in the family of Lord Byron. She has spent
most of her life on the frontier, 'and since 1862 Elk
City has been her home. Mr. Young is a solid Demo-
crat and is a man of influence and worth of char-
acter.
CYRUS ( IVERMAX, whose magnificent domain
in Idaho county proclaims him a man of fine business
ability, is now dwelling at his family residence in the
vicinity of Tolo. He is rightly classed with the pio-
neers of the county, and is to be congratulated on the
successful and happy results of his labor both in per-
sonal acquisition and in the development of the re-
sources of the county and its upbuilding.
Cyrus Overman was born in Ottumwa, Iowa, on
April 2, 1851, the son of John and Elizabeth (Hoddy)
Overman. The father was born in Indiana on Sep-
tember 17, 1816, and still lives in Ottumwa. He came
west to Nevada in 1859 and took up mining. He
located the Overman mine on Gold Hill near Virginia
City, which is one of the leading mines there. He
was married at Ottumwa, and after five years returned
to Iowa, where he has remained since. The mother
died when our subject was four years old. Cyrus
grew to manhood and was educated in Iowa. In 1871
he came west and landed the third day of September
on a portion of his present estate and here he has
remained since that time devoting 1 naturally sagacious
mind and energetic body to the acquisition of a beau-
tiful and valuable estate, which is now nearly fourteen
hundred acres. It is divided into two excellent farms,
and each is well provided with proper buildings and
handled in a commendable manner.
In this county in the year 1874 Air. Overman mar-
ried Miss Melinda A., daughter of A. I. and Alaria
(Shaul) Watson. The father was a nativi
diana and came to California in 1859 ar>d in 1861 he
was in Florence. The following year he was on the
prairie and took as a homestead the land now used
as the experiment station. This he sold in 1871. He
was an active participant in the Indian war and is
still living in the county, retired from active business.
ATrs. Watson also dwells here. Mrs. Overman was
born in Indiana in 1854, came west in 1871 with her
mother and Mr. Overman, whom she married after-
wards. She has no brothers and sisters. Mr. Over-
man has one half-brother, J. Al. Overman.
552
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
children have been born to this union: John I., present
auditor and recorder of the county; Owen H., Arthur
V., Reuben W., attending the university, and a leading
debater there; Alva, Cyrus, Jr., Susan M. Mr. Over-
man is a member of the I. O. O. F., and of the W.
U. \Y. In 1895 .Mr. Overman was elected sheriff on
the Democratic ticket. He was president of the Co-
lumbia River Conference Academy for four years.
He has also been on the school board for twenty years.
He was present during the Indian war and the savages
were camped on his ranch at the head of the Rocky
canyon, where they had all their councils and dances.
He took his wife and child to Mr. Aram's place, and on
the night of the thirteenth came in himself to warn the
settlers that the Indians were on the war path and he
then joined the volunteers and took an active part in
the suppression of hostilities.
HON. JACOB L. ECKERT has never been what
is termed a politician, but the people of Idaho county
determined that they wished to be represented in the
state senate by a solid and successful business man,
and so in the fall of 1902 they placed Mr. Eckert's
name in nomination on the Republican ticket for this
position and although the county went Democratic on
this occasion, Mr. Eckert was elected by a good ma-
jority, thus demonstrating his popularity and paying a
tribute to his worth in a very emphatic manner.
Mr. Eckert is one of the heaviest property owners
in the county, having over eleven hundred acres of
fine land under cultivation just north from Cotton-
wood, where he carries on diversified farming and
stock raising. The estate is improved in a very skill-
ful manner, having plenty of commodious buildings.
Mr. Eckert was one of the first to place a windmill
on Camas prairie. In addition to this magnificent
holding, Mr. Eckert has a ten room residence on Nor-
mal hill in Lewiston, fitted with all modern conven-
iences, which is the family home during the school
season. Mr. Eckert and his wife also own about one
thousand acres of valuable land in Kansas, in addition
to other property in various places.
Jacob L. Eckert was born in the vicinity of Lan-
caster, Ohio, on December 17, 1845, being the son of
Henry S. and Ann M. Eckert. both natives of the
same place. Jacob grew to manhood on a farm and
received his education. In 1868 he came on the first
excursion train over the Kansas Pacific railroad to the
terminus, Sheridan. He had much experience on the
frontier, in his cowboy days ; later he hunted buffalo
and many of the noble animals, as well as deer and an-
telope, fell before his trusty rifle. Many times, Mr.
Eckert says the buffalo mixed with their herds and
caused considerable trouble. On January I, 187 1,
Mr. Eckert went to the Little Arkansas river and en-
gaged himself with the stockmen, being installed after
one year's work as foreman of the Twenty-one ranch.
Five years were spent in this occupation. Then Mr.
Eckert went to Wilson, Kansas, where he did a pork-
packing and butcher business in company with 0. B.
Goffe. In 1881 he came, via San Francisco, to The
Dalles, bought a band of cattle and drove them to
Cheyenne, taking five months on the road. In Feb-
ruary, 1882, he came to Kelton, by rail, and thence
on the stage to Walla Walla, having a very rough trip.
Thence he made his way to Lewiston and went to rais-
ing stock and has been there and on Camas prairie,
continuously since. Mr. Eckert has manifested rare
wisdom and skill in manipulating his mammoth in-
terests and his unbounded success has been but the
sure result of such talent and activity. He has intro-
duced excellent Galloway and Shorthorn cattle, and in
fact was the pioneer in that line, the county being
greatly indebted to him for this excellent labor. While
the estate produces much grain, Mr. Eckert is of the
opinion that it pays better to keep stock to consume it
rather than sell the grain, which he accordingly does.
In mentioning the improvements of his fine estate, we
should not fail to mention the commodious dwelling
of eleven rooms and the excellent system of water
works which he has put into use, and which supply
both the house and the barns. In fact, his farm is
one of the finest in the state and it reflects great credit
on the owner. Mr. Eckert is a member of the I. O.
O. F. at Cottonwood. In political matters he has al-
ways been informed so as to decide the questions of
the day with keen intelligence, but the demagogue's
methods are entirely unknown to him and the people
of Idaho county are to be congratulated in securing
the services of a straight-forward and substantial busi-
ness man whose integrity and capabilities are beyond
question.
On December 12. 1882, Mr. Eckert married Miss
Sarah M., daughter of Frederick Shaeffer. a native
of Pennsylvania and one of the first to settle in Lan-
caster, Ohio, and take up his business. Three children
have been born to this happy union, Helen M., Nell
L., and Goffe C.
Mr. Eckert and his cultured wife, who presides
with gracious dignity over their elegant home in Lew-
iston, are among the leaders in that wealthy city and
hosts of admiring friends are on every hand. Mr.
Eckert has always been an active and aggressive man
on the frontier and it is greatly to his credit to say
that he has kept aloof from all the vices of the rough
oioneer, although he has ever been in the lead for ad-
\ancement and upbuilding, while his reputation is
unsullied and his standing is of the verv best.
AMOS CARVER hails from the old Pine Tree
state, where he was born on August 3, 1838, the son of
Blaney and Sarah (Staples) Carver. The father was
a farmer, born in 1796, and died in 1880. The pro-
genitors of the family came to the colonies over two
hundred years ago. The mother of our subject was
born in Massachusetts in 1800 and died in 1844. She
also came from an old and prominent American family.
Our subject attended school until he was twelve year^
old and then followed the instincts of his juvenile mind
to try the world for himself. He went to sea for four
HON JACOB L. ECKEI
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
553
years and visited Cuba, and many other places, includ-
ing Honolulu, where he ate in the king's palace. He
finally came to California in 1857 and mined at Eldo-
rado. In 1862 he came to Idaho and mined in the
various camps for two years. He was personally ac-
quainted with the discoverer of the Warren diggings,
and for fifteen years he mined in that camp. The best
ground was uncovered in 1864, six miles from the
original discovery, and was located by James Warren
and Rube Bassey. The camp progressed until 1870
and then began to retrograde. About 1868 our sub-
ject was working gravel that paid two dollars per
minute per man. In 1877 Mr. Carver's partner, Will-
iam Osborn, was killed by the Indians while he was
mining on the Salmon. Mr. Carver was at Warren
during the excitement, forted in the fortification of
that place; then he came to the Salmon river claim,
and later bought Dick Divine's place, where he raised
stock and mined until recently, when he has given
his entire attention to stock raising. Mr. Carver has.
one sister. Mary J. Allen. He is a strong Republican
and voted for Lincoln when it cost him a great deal to
do so.
Air. Carver said that in 1864 while he and Tom But-
ler were mining on Rabbit creek a bear stole meat
from their keg. They hid that and the bear came and
carried off the camp kettle while it was hot. Later he
came and stole the gold pan off the keg of meat in the
tent. They barricaded with brush. The next time
the bear came right through the brush and was making
off with his booty when Butler shot him. The report
of the gun awoke Mr. Carver just in time to realize
that a dead bear was lying- across him ; he awoke
and began to yell and scramble out of his trap. Butler
made a noise in the brush, and Mr. Carver supposing
it to be another bear, called Butler, telling him that the
tent and woods were full of bears. Neither one knew
the bear was dead that was in the tent, and so to
make sure they carefully lighted a candle and held it
inside until they could put another bullet in bruin's
brain. In his anxiety to hold the light so that it
would shine on the bear Mr. Carver had gotten too
close to the muzzle of the gun and was severely burned.
He supposed he had been shot and more yells followed.
The camp finally induced him to keep quiet. As no
other bears in the woods were on to the ropes like the
dead one Carver and his partner were not bothered
anv more.
JOHN I. OVERMAN is a product of Idaho county
and a son of enterprise who has done credit to his
birth place and one in whom the county may take real
pride. He has shown his ability and substantiality
in his career thus far and is destined to come to the
head of important measures and may reasonably be
expected to make a name for himself in circles far in
advance of clerical.
John I. Overman was born in Idaho county on
May 10. 1876, the son of Cyrus and Alice M. (Wat-
son 1 Overman, who are mentioned elsewhere in this
work. His birth occurring one year prior to the im-
portant event of the Indian outbreak, he is unable to
relate any incidents from personal memory. He grew
up in the county, attended the common schools, took
a course in the academy in Grangeville, then studied
in the university in Moscow, and finally completed
his training in the Blair Business College in Spokane.
At the close of this study he went into the Fall creek
mines for a year in 1899, and the following year his
name appeared on the Democratic ticket for assessor
of the county, and the voters of the county liberally
confirmed the judgment of the convention and he
served for two years with acceptability in this ca-
pacity. Last fall Mr. Overman was nominated for
clerk of the district court and ex officio auditor and
recorder of the county; on January 12 he assumed the
responsibility of these offices, and in the efficient and
faithful discharge of the duites there incumbent on
him we find him at this time. He is noble grand of the
I. O. O. F., and a member of the YY. W. Mr. Over-
man always attends the caucuses and conventions and
is a potent factor in the same. He owns town property
and stock and is one of the bright and substantial young
men of the county who has the good will of all and
richly deserves the esteem and confidence with which
he is favored.
CHARLES E. HOLT. The subject of this brief
review is one of the most successful business men and
highly respected citizens in Idaho county. He has
won his way to his present high position through sheer
pluck and energy, and as a result is today a partner
in the largest cattle raising firm on the Salmon
river, Holt & Rhoades, and holds a place of affluence
in his county. At his fine estate of three hundred and
twenty acres on Race creek, half a mile west of Goff.
he is building the best residence on the Salmon, and
besides building up a valuable property in both real
estate and stock, he is enjoying all the comforts of a
pleasant, congenial home. He is a son of Jame^ ami Sa-
rah (Pilkinton) Holt, natives of England .and was
born at Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1855. Hi-
father died in 1854. Charles grew to manhood in
Utah and received his education in the common
schools, the Deseret University and Morgan Busi-
ness College. When twenty years of age he took
up the struggle in the outside world, going first to
Wyoming, and in 1877 to Butte. .Montana. Thence
he' came to Idaho, to Ross Fork, where lie was
clerk at the Indian agency for two years. This
was on the Fort Hall reservation in southern Idaho.
He then formed a partnership with W. X. Shilling
and engaged in the mercantile business at Ross Fork,
where he remained three and a half years, finally
selling out and coming to Cottonwood, Idaho county,
in December. 1884. Here he engaged in the stock
business with his brother James, who died a year later.
The business was continued by Charles until 1890.
when Joseph Ingram became associated with him. Mr.
Holt went to Nevada, leaving Mr. Ingram in charge
of the ranch at Cottonwood. This partnership was
brought to a sad end in 1893 by the death of Mr.
554
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Ingram in a train wreck, after which Mr. Holt re-
turned and took up the management. In 1897 he again
formed a partnership, this time with J. O. Rhoades.
They bought their present property on the Salmon,
where they have since operated. They own eight hun-
dred head of cattle, and last season fed two hundred
and fifty tons of alfalfa, a new departure in this region,
where free range has always been so plentiful.
In 1898 Mr. Holt was united in marriage with
Rosa A., daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Belknap,
whose father was a Methodist minister in California.
Mrs. Holt was born in Oregon in 1862, was educated
at Los Angeles, California, and was a school and music
teacher for many years. To this union have been born
two children, Cora and James F., the former of whom
will be sent to school at Salt Lake City. Mr. Holt
has six brothers and sisters, William, John Cook, a
half-brother, Wadington, Eliza Wade, Eveline Pratt
and Clara Perks. He is a member of the A. O. U. W.
and of the W. of W. In politics he has always been
very active and very potent, identifying himself with
the Republican party. In 1896 he was elected to the
legislature on the Silver-Republican ticket, and last
year was a candidate for commissioner, a position he
missed by the narrow margin of forty votes. Mr.
Holt is justly entitled to representation in this com-
pilation, as few have been more active and successful
in this life than he.
RICHARD L. IRWIN, of the firm of Irwin &
Pipes, sawmill men on Race creek, is an enterprising
and successful business man who, in addition to his
sawmilling, does general farming and stock-raising.
He was born in Nebraska on August 1, 1866, his
parents being Isaac and Mary (Riggles) Irwin. The
father was a sawmill man, born in Kentucky in 1829.
He was a pioneer in Nebraska, Kansas and Montana.
Later he came to Idaho and represented Washington
county in the first state legislature. He filled the office of
sheriff in Kansas and held many other responsible
positions. He is a strong Democrat. The mother was
born in Indiana in 1839 and is still livng in Jackson
county, Oregon. They removed to the Pacific coast,
and from San Francisco to Walla Walla when our
subject was five years old, thence to southern Oregon,
later to Boise and finally to Washington county. Rich-
ard L. was educated in these various places but when
he arrived at man's estate he went into the mines 011
Wood river. Next he sought treasure in the Warren
camp, and should have the credit of locating the first
claim on Rapid river. Later he mined on the Salmon
and after a visit to Oregon took up his present place.
He has a quarter section of land and the firm owns a
mill that cuts eight thousand feet a day.
On February 22, 1897, Mr. Irwin married Miss
Leona, daughter of Jesse and Julia (Triplett) Pipes,
natives of North Carolina. Mr. Pipes was drafted into
the Confederate army contrary to his desire, but soon
succeeded in getting into the ranks where he could
light for the Stars and Stripes. Mrs. Irwin was born
in North Carolina, October 1, 1877. She has one
brother. Ollie, and one sister, Martha Hawkins. Mr.
Irwin has the following brothers and sisters : Rebecca
Clay, Etta Phillips, John, William, David T., Byron,
Emma Wisdom, George, Noah, Isaac. Mr. and Mrs.
Irwin are members of the Baptist church. He has
been justice of the peace several times and is so dom-
inated by sound principles and uprightness that he has
the respect and confidence of all.
HARRY D. POYNEER was born in Marshall
county. Iowa, on December 23, 1867, the son of David
H. and Margaret (Rice) Poyneer. The father is a
physician, living in Pomeroy, Washington. The mother
was born in 1842 and is still living. Our subject was
reared and educated in Indiana, whither the family
removed when he was three years of age. He re-
mained under the parental roof until nineteen, then
stepped forth to do for himself in the battle of life.
In 1886 he came to Pierce and Elk City and prospected,
where it was his good fortune to discover the Badger
group and also other good properties. He prospected
for some time, and in 1899 bought out the Elk Club
from Jake Anderson. To the operating of this estab-
lishment, since that time, Mr. Poyneer has devoted
his energies. He has one sister, Myrtle, in Pomeroy,
Washington.
On July 15, 1899, Mr. Poyneer was united in the
holy bands of matrimony with Bertha Stolsz, a native
of Kansas. Mr. Poyneer is a member of the K. P.,
Garfield Lodge, No. 25, in Pomeroy. He is an active
Democrat and always manifests a keen interest in the
campaigns.
HERSHEL H. CLAY, who lives three miles up
the north fork of Race creek from Goff, does general
farming, raises stock and freights. He is a good sub-
stantial citizen and has the respect of all his fellows.
He was born in Washington county, Ohio, on October
8. 1853, the son of Nicholas and Lydia (Richards)
Clay, natives of Ohio, and born January 1, 1825. and
1828, respectively. The mother died in 1872 and the
lather in 1900. The father was a soldier in the Civil
war, enlisting April 1, 1861, in the Thirty-sixth Ohio
Volunteer Infantry, and served three years. He fought
under General Grant at Yicksburg and on many other
hotly contested occasions. The paternal grandfather
of our subject was in the Revolution. Our subject was
educated and grew to manhood in Montgomery county,
Kansas. At the age of nineteen he commenced life for
himself, but remained in Kansas until 1873 and then
removed to Fremont county. Iowa. The next year
finds him in Walla Walla freighting and in 1876 he
went to Rogue River valley, Oregon, and did placer
mining. In 1881 he was back .in Walla Walla, and in
1882 he was in the Wood river excitement. Four
years later he settled on the Salmon meadows in Wash-
ington county, Idaho, where he raised stock and did
dairying. A quadrennium sufficed for that business
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
555
and we next find him digging gold on Short's bar on the
Salmon. In 1900 he bought his present place of John
Knox and has devoted himself as stated above.
On November 14, 1872, in Kansas, Mr. Clay mar-
ried Miss Rebecca, daughter of Isaac and Mary (Rig-
gles) Irwin, who are mentioned in another portion of
this work. Mrs. Clay was born at Greencastle, In-
diana, on March 8, 1853 : her brothers and sisters are
mentioned in another portion of this book. Mr. Clay
has one sister and three brothers : Frances Veters,
Ezra, John, Daniel. Five children have been born to
bless this household : Maggie Rhoades, Harry, Carrie
B., Emma, Loren. The first lives at Pollock, Idaho,
and the others are at home. Mrs. Clay is a devout
member of the Baptist church. Mr. Clay is a strong
Republican and takes an active interest in the affairs
of the county. He has his farm well improved, and
last year from ten acres of land he raised sixty tons
of alfalfa, which he sold at ten dollars per ton.
MARCUS E. GAGE is a very prosperous and
successful sheep raiser living two miles west of Rig-
gins, where he owns a quarter section of fine land but
controls many more acres. He has some of the finest
alfalfa fields in the country, as well as excellent or-
chards, and is situated in one of the best sheep coun-
tries in the northwest.
Marcus E. Gage was born in Polk county, Oregon,
on Februarv 23, 1856, the son of William and Louise
(Gilliam) Gage, born in Missouri in 1826 and 1828,
and died in 1891 and 1875, respectively. They came
to Oregon in 1844 with old Colonel Gilliam, after whom
Gilliam county is named. Colonel Gilliam was killed
at the time of the Whitman massacre by the accidental
discharge of a firearm. Our subject was educated in
the common schools of Polk county, Oregon, and
assisted his father until twenty years of age, learning
thoroughly the stock business. Then he went to do for
himself in Douglas county, later removed to Pendle-
ton, and in 1878 went to Walla Walla, whence he
journeyed to the Palouse country and took land. Three
years later he was in Crook county, Oregon, then in
Grant county for six years in the sheep business. After
this he raised cattle in Long valley, Idaho, but met
with reverses, losing heavily in the cold winters. He
removed to Indian valley, and two years later came
to Idaho county, settling on Squaw' creek, near the
mouth of the Little Salmon. He took up cattle raising
again but sold that stock and went to raising sheep, in
which industry he has continued since.
In Grant county, in the year 1883, Mr. Gage mar-
ried Mrs. Josephine Reeves, the daughter of Ellery A.
and Cynthia (Sweet) Aldrich. Mrs. Gage was born
near Oregon City in 1855. One child, Pearl E., is the
fruit of this marriage. Mrs. Gage also has children
by her first husband. Mr. Gage is a strong Republican
of protective tariff policy. In reference to the section
where Mr. Gage lives he remarks that the country is
especially adapted for sheep, raises the best of alfalfa
and produces fruit finelv.
ALEXANDER A. WEBER. This leading archi-
tect and builder of Idaho county is a man of skill and
a thorough master of his business, as the following
outline of his life will show. He was born in Switzer-
land in 1868, the son of Rudolf and Anna (Probst)
Weber, born in Switzerland in 1817 and 1847. re-
spectively. The father died in 1891 but the mother is
still living in Bern, Switzerland. The father was a
civil engineer and took an active part in the Revolution
and was exiled in 1847 DUt was allowed to come back
in 1857. Our subject grew to manhood in his native
land and was well educated in the schools of the place.
He received a technical education in architecture in
Germany and became master of the science. In 1890
he was led by the great opportunities and advantages
in this land for an energetic man to come to the United
States, and he at once associated himself with such
leading architects as Hons Haimer and H. H. SchickiL
the former being the man who constructed the capital
at Madison. In 1891 Mr. Weber came to Portland and
for seven years that city was his headquarter.-. He-
was in the construction department of the O. R. & N.
railroad and put up some of the steel bridges on their
lines in Washington. In 1898 he went to Spokane
and took a position with the X. P. It was 1900 when
he came to Grangeville and opened a shop, and since
that time has been identified with the town and its
interest, making himself a first class citzen and a pro-
moter of the welfare of the country. He has devoted
himself to general contracting and building with archi-
tectural work and has done well. Mr. Weber handled
the court house, making all the plans and supervising
the work. In church relations our subject is affiliated
with the Catholics, and in political alliances he is a
Republican.
CAPT. JOHN D. WOODEN is one of the most
enterprising mine operators in Idaho county. His In ime
at the present time is at 817 Fifth avenue, Spokane,
Washington, but his interests in mines are largely in
this county. He was born in Owen county, Indiana,
on March 4, 1842, the son of James and Susan ( Shive-
ly) Wooden. The father was born in Booneville, Ken-
tucky, in 1793. His father fought the Indians with
Daniel Boone. James, the father of our subject, took
part in the war of 1812. Following that war he en-
gaged as pilot on the Mississippi until 1830. In [831
he took land in Owen county and in 1848 crossed the
plains to Oregon, and died in Polk county on March
14, 1872. The mother of our subject was born in
1803 in Cincinnati, and died in Indiana on Ma) 6,
1844. Our subject was reared and educated in Oregon,
and when fourteen he went to mining. He learned the
carpenter trade about this time, and in 1858 and '59
fought the Piutes under Capt. W. W. Kellogg and
Kit Carson. In 1861 he was one of a party to explore
northeastern Nevada and Idaho, and in 1863 started
east to enlist for his country, but instead joined the
Second Regiment of Cavalry in California to repel the
Apaches, Snakes and Piutes, serving until 1865. Then
he went to the Boise basin, returned to Polk county.
556
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Oregon, and in 1872 came to the Salmon. He worked
in all the prominent camps here and in December, 1876,
hearing a rumor of an Indian outbreak in the Black
Hill-. South Dakota, he joined a company of volunteers
in the hills. After this he was employed by Frazier
& Chalmers to superintend the construction and
afterward to run the Boyle forty-stamp mill. He con-
tinued in the quartz mill business in the Black Hills
for eighteen months. Then he went to the New York
market and sold mines. In 1880 he came to the North-
west and operated in various sections of the United
States and British Columbia. In 1883 he went into
the Coeur d'Alene country, later took land in the Cah-
spell vallev and in 1901 removed to his present resi-
dence in "Spokane. He had in the meantime taken
great interest in the mines in Idaho county, and has
extensive interests in various sections. Mr. Wooden
has the following brothers and sisters :• Henry S., Isa-
bella Lawson, deceased. Mary Stedwell, deceased. Rob-
ert M., Anna YVoolf, deceased.
On lanuarv 23, 1881. Mr. Wooden married Miss
Addie, daughter of Cornelius and Emma (La Tourette)
Bergen, the wedding occurring in Rathdrum. Mrs.
Wooden was born July 30. 1844. in New York. Her
father was born in New York in 1831. a descendant of
the earlv Dutch settlers of Jersey City. He was an in-
ventor and mechanic. In 188 1 he went to Oregon City.
The mother was born in New York on February 6.
1819. Mrs. Wooden was highly educated in Elmira
and Cortland Academy, at Homer, Xew York, and
is a lady of excellent' literary attainments, her pro-
ductions finding their way into the leading journals of
the northwest. She is of Holland Dutch and French
Huguenot descent.
THOMAS H. CAROTHERS. Four miles up
the Little Salmon from Goff is the home place of the
subject of this sketch, who devotes his energies to
raising sheep. He was born m Shelby county, Mis-
souri, in 1849. His parents, Armstrong and Eliza-
beth H. (Christian) Carothers, were natives of Penn-
sylvania and Kentucky, respectively. Flic father was
born in 1815 and died in i860; the mother was born
in 1838 and died in 1891. Thomas H. was brought
up and educated in his native place. He was still
% ruing when his father died and the responsibilities of
life thus came early upon his shoulders. He continued
to assist in supporting the family until twenty years
of age and then went to do for himself. His attention
was turned to farming, after which he settled in Shel-
bina, Missouri, of which he was marshal for nine
vears. In 1891 he came to Idaho, making his way to
the Seven Devils for the purpose of locating mines.
Being deterred from this purpose, he went to Garden
Valley and operated a threshing outfit. Sometime was
spent at Boise; then he came to the meadow, after
which he took land on the Little Salmon above Goff,
sold it and took a ranch on Race creek. This in turn
was sold and then he bought his present farm and
engaged in wool growing. The year 1896 marks the
date of this venture and since then he has continued
successfully at the same business. He owns
one hundred and sixty acres but controls much more.
Mr. Carothers has done some fine improving since
coming here, among which may be mentioned a bridge
across" the Little Salmon which was built and owned
by him.
In 1868 occurred the marriage of Thomas H.
Carothers and Amanda J., daughter of William and
Avarilla Gear. The father is a merchant, farmer
and stockman. Mrs. Carothers was born in Grundy
county, Missouri, 1851^ She has three brothers, Rich-
ard H, Benjamin and Milton. Mr. Carothers has
the following brothers and sisters : William, Margaret,
Susan and Sarah. Seven children have been born to
our subject and his esteemed wife: Nora, deceased;
Ollie Irwin, at Clarkston, Washington ; Willie and
Nellie, deceased, Charles and Ernest in Idaho county;
and Frank, at home. Mr. Carothers is a good Demo-
crat and active. In addition to his landed property
he has seven thousand, three hundred sheep and in the
seven years in which he has handled sheep here has
fed them but ten days.
GEORGE F. WASSEM. Many of our most sub-
stantial and capable citizens come to us from the land
of Germany. Among that worthy number we are con-
strained to mention the subject of this article, whose
labors and integrity have demonstrated him one of the
leading men of his section. Mr. Wassem dwells three
miles northwest from Denver, where he owns a mam-
moth estate of four hundred and eighty acres, which
his skill, industry and untiring care have made one
of the fine farms of the state. He handles about one
hundred head of cattle, raises annually as many hogs
and does a general farming business, wherein pros-
perity has been constantly attendant upon him.
George F. Wassem was born in Hessen, Darm-
stadt, Germany, on December 1, 1836, the son of Lud-
wig and Elizabeth (Knlp) Wassem. The father was
born in 1800 and remained in Germany until his death
on December 25, 1854. The mother was born in
1797, married in 1830 and died in February, 1879.
Our subject was reared in his native place and re-
ceived his educational training there. He remained
with his parents after school days until July, 1864,
when he came to the United States. Six months
were spent in Illinois, then he went to Wright
county, Iowa, where he bought a hundred ac-
les of land for eight hundred and fifty dol-
lars. Twenty-five years were spent there and
in the winter of 1889 he sold out. came to Uniontown,
Washington, whence he went to his present place,
which he secured by purchase. Since that time, Mr.
Wassem has continued steadily in the pursuit of farm-
ing and raising stock. He lias one brother and one
sister, Elizabeth Nichte, deceased. John E., deceased.
On November 4, 1870. Mr. Wassem married Miss
Sophie, daughter of Zad and Sophie (Nicholaus)
Ricklefs. The father was born April 10, 1812, and
THOMAS H. CAROTHERS.
MRS. GEORGE F. WASSEM
GEORGE. F. WASSEM.
JOHN J. PULSE.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
557
died on April S, 1S77. His native place was Olden-
berg, where he was a merchant. The mother was
born i" Uldenberg, on March 24, 1818, and died in
the spring of 1879. .Mrs. Wassem was born in Olden-
berg on July 6, 1845, and has two brothers and one
sister, Herman, Theodore, Hermina. The following
children have come to bless this household: Mary
Thiessen, born December 24, 1872; George F., born
May 11, 1873: Herman, born September 20, 1874;
Elizabeth Thiessen, born April 3, 1876; Franz, born
January 1, 187S ; John, born March 12, 1881 ; Kate,
born December 30, 1883; Theodore, born December
4. 1886. Mr. Wassem and his wife are active and
solid Republicans and also belong to the Evangelical
church.
JOHN J. PULSE, the well known druggist in
Denver, is one of the enterprising men of Idaho county
and has done a large amount toward the upbuilding
of the town and county. He is a man of fine capa-
bilities and public spirit and has been a moving spirit
in the good work of gaining first-class educatonal fa-
cilities as well as for general progress. He was born
on May 8. 1862, in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of Will-
iam H.'and Maria A. (Bader) Pulse. The father was
born in August, 1833, in Mecklenburg, Germany. He
came with his parents to Cleveland, Ohio, and has been
for thirty years at the head of a large wholesale millinery
store in that place. The mother was born in Brooklyn,
Ohio, in 1833 and died on May 8, 1862. Our sub-
ject was raised in his native place and after finishing
his public school course, he entered the Cleveland
school of pharmacy, from which he graduated in 1884.
He also studied medicine under Dr. Powell for three
years and took lectures in the medical college. In
1885, after an extensive trip through Arizona, New
Mexico, California and Alaska as far as Juneau, hav-
ing intended to go to Circle City, he retraced his steps
to Portland and clerked in a drug store in Oregon
City and in Portland. Later he was in Colfax, Wash-
ington, and in 1888 he operated a drug store in Ward-
ner, Wallace, and Burke, taking considerable interest
in mining properties. In 1891 Mr. Pulse removed
with his family to Denver and opened a drug store
where he has continued since. He has a thriving pat-
ronage, a good business building besides residence and
other property in the town and also some valuable
mining interests in the Coeur d'Alene country.
On August 22, 1889, Mr. Pulse married Miss Ma-
ria L., daughter of Thomas and Lucinda Wilkinson.
She was born in Oneida, New York, on March 5,
1862, and has the following brothers and sisters : John,
deceased; Thomas, Joseph, Sarah Edwards, Hannah
Bowley, Ellen King. Mr. Pulse is an active Demo-
crat and was on the board when the first school was
opened in Denver. This was in 1891 and he was a
prime mover in gaining for the town its present sub-
stantial school house. Mrs. Pulse is a Republican and
well posted in the political questions of the day. Mr.
Pulse is a member of the M. W. A. and the W. W.
He is a man of marked capabilities in business lines,
is a stirring factor in the realm of improvement and
advancement and is a leading citizen of the county.
ELIJAH ADSLEY, of the firm of E. Adsley &
Son, general merchants and hotel keepers at Pollock,
Idaho, is a man of broad experience, first-class execu-
tive ability and with resources both financial and natural
which have placed him in a leading position both here
and in other localities where he has wrought. Mr.
Adsley has also the distinction of being a staunch
veteran of the Civil war. Elijah Adsley was born in
West Kent, England, on May 7, 1849, tlie son ot John
and Anna (Boylan) Adsley. The father was born in
West Kent, England, in 1813, came to the United
States in 1853, settling in Oakland county, Michigan.
October 13, 1902, he was cailed away by death. The
mother was a native of England and died in that coun-
try in 185 1. Our subject accompanied his father to
this country and was educated in the common schools
of Michigan, and during his youthful days learned the
trade of brick and stone mason. On February 7, 1864,
when but fourteen years of age, he enlisted in Com-
pany A. Nineteenth U. S. Regulars. He was at Chatta-
nooga, at the battle of Janesboro, and also served clear
through the reconstruction period until February, 1867,
when he was honorably discharged. He returned to
Michigan and then until he was twenty-six he traveled
all over the United States. After this he did contract
work in Michigan, Dakota, Minnesota and Chicago.
In the latter place he built the Devoe block, four stories
and basement, with all modern improvements, in six
weeks' time. He followed the grocry and butcher
business in Chicago for a time and then went to Mich-
igan, returning to Chicago in 1895 he engaged in
the same business until 1901. In that year he came to
his present location, founding the town of Pollock.
The postoffice had previously been at Tom Pollock's
ranch up Rapid river. In addition to handling his
general merchandise establishment, the hotel and the
postoffice, he is deeply interested in mining and is re-
corder of his district. Mr. Adsley also, as occasion
requires, preaches the gospel.
On February 21, 1895, Mr. Adsley married Miss
Pauline, daughter of Samuel and Olive (Madden) Hol-
lingshead. The father was a farmer, born in Ontario,
Canada, and died in 1893. Mrs. Adsley was born in
Oakland county, Michigan, in 1856, being an only
child. Mr. Adsley has three brothers, Alfred, Schuy-
ler, Almon. Two children, Ernest and Warren, have
been born to this couple. Mr. Adsley is a member of
the G. A. R.. and he and his wife are devout mem-
bers of the Baptist church. He was elected deacon
of this denomination twice before he became a member.
Mr. Adsley is also a Prohibitionist.
Warren Adsley, the son of our subject, enlisted in
the Twentieth United States Regulars in the Spanish
war. He had gotten as far as Fort McPherson. at
Atlanta, Georgia, when he was stricken with the yellow
fever. For weeks his life was despaired of. His
mother hastened to his bedside and nursed him until
558
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
he was able to be brought north. Later he came to
Idaho, and in 1901 his father came, as stated above,
and thev have continued in business together since.
RUSSELL H. RICE is at the present time keeper
of the poor farm, one mile north from Mt. Idaho. He
was born in Washington county, Oregon, on December
18, 1852, the son of James E. and Nancy (Bear) Rice.
The father was born February 4, 1812, in Canada,
came to the United States when a child, crossed the
plains in 1844, and took a donation claim in Washing-
ton county, where he raised stock and handled a livery.
In 1 86 1 he went to Douglas county, and in 1888 retired
from business, dying the same year. Our subject was
educated in Douglas county, where he was reared, and
when twenty-two came to Idaho county and rode the
range. He operated on Camas prairie and in the
Salmon region, and in the spring of 1875 he returned
to ' Iregon. In 1S80 he came again to Camas prairie
and rode for L. P. Brown, engaging in stock raising
and farming for himself in 1888. This continued until
1897, when he received his present position. Mr. Rice
still owns his stock place on the Salmon river, and is
one of the prosperous men of the section.
On January 11, 1881. Mr. Rice married Miss Jannie
M. Hogan, whose parents are mentioned in this volume
elsewhere. Mrs. Rice was born February 25, 1862.
One child has been born to this union, Gertrude Olive,
born in Douglas county, Oregon, on October 4, 1882.
Mr. Rice is a strong Republican, and is a member of
the W. AW
1 90 1 he opened his present shop and from the start he
was favored with a good patronage, owing to his skill
and dispatch in his craft.
In 1896 Mr. Departee married Miss Emma Cotter,
from which marriage one child was born, Amy. In
1 go 1 Mr. DePartee married Miss Agnes, daughter of
Samuel and Amanda Hamill, who live near Grange-
ville. Mrs. DePartee was born in Iowa and has five
brothers and three sisters. Mr. DePartee has one
brother, W. J., and three sisters, Lorette Roland, Pearl,
Maude. He is a Democrat and active in the political
field and takes a keen interest in the affairs of the
county and state.
ROY DePARTEE is one of the leading mechanics
of Grangeville, having doubtless the best shop in town
and doing a business equal to the best. He does gen-
eral blacksmithing and also wood work, and has dem-
onstrated himself to be a skillful artisan and a man
worthy of confidence.
Roy UePartee was born in Latah county, in April,
1875. the son of James C. and Elizabeth (Holden)
DePartee. The father is a blacksmith and was born
in Council Bluffs, Iowa, in 1845, and came west to
Latah county in 1874, and then took land and farmed,
but later followed his trade. The mother was born
in Sioux City, Iowa. Our subject grew to young man- |
hood in Moscow and learned the blacksmith trade with
his father. Then they removed to Salt Lake City.
and he there finished his education in a two years'
course in the schools of that place. Then they all
went to Pullman and the father operated the largest
shop there for four years. Then our subject went to
Asotin and worked at his trade for a year. Next we
see him in Dallas, Texas, and later in St. Louis, work-
ing at his trade, and then he migrated to Montana.
After that he was in Wallace for a year, then in Ken-
drick. and in 1896 Mr. DePartee opened a shop in
Cottonwood. Subsequently to that venture we find
him in Xezperce. later in Kendrick again, and in 1899
lie came to Grangeville and engaged 'at his trade. Ir
ALLEN L. RIGGLE lives one-half mile west of
Goff postoffice, and is one of the thrifty and successful
young stock raisers of Idaho count}-. He was born in
Thurman, Fremont county, Iowa, on November 21,
1875, the son of Enoch and Lavicia (\Y00drum) Rig-
gle. The father was a harness maker, born in Indiana
in 1833, and now lives in Shenandoah, Iowa, in which
state he was a pioneer. The mother was born in Ohio
on November 22, 1836, and died in 1893. Her mother,
Xeaty Woodrum, died April II, 1903, aged ninety.
Our subject received a good high school education and
learned the harness maker's trade in Iowa. Not being
able to stand the indoor work, in 1894 he came to
Meadows, Idaho, and took up mining in the old Jen-
nings diggings, Ada county, continuing the same for
two years. Then he worked for Thomas Clay at the
.Meadows, and in November, 1900, came to Goff and
took up his present claim and began to raise cattle. On
March 20, 1902, at Goff, Mr. Riggle marired Miss
Ella, daughter of J. O. and Sarah (Cox) Levander.
The father is the promoter of Goff. Mrs. Riggle was
born in Boise valley in 1877 and has the following
brothers and sisters: Edward, Emma Hart, Anna
Mover, Homer, Virgil, Celestia. Mr. Riggle has six
brothers and sisters: J. C, Elmer, Ezra, Clarence,
Pert and Belle. Mr. Riggle is a member of
the Eagles and is a strong Republican, being
always at the caucuses and conventions. He has one
of the best ranches on Race creek and can irrigate
forty acres.
LYCURGUS YIXEYARD. A leading attorney
in northern Idaho, a man of capabilties and erudition
that have placed him in a prominent positon in his
profession, it is fitting that the subject of this article
should be granted representation in the volume that
chronicles the history of northern Idaho.
Lycufgus Vineyard was born in Clay county, Mis-
souri, on May 17. 1846. being the son of Elisha and
Kliza 1 Harrington) Vineyard. The father was born
in Virginia in 1823. He was a prominent educator and
cousin of B. W. Vineyard, who established the Pleas-
ant Ridge College in Piatt county, Missouri, and later
was superintendent of public instruction in Kentucky.
The father came to Oregon in an early day and was
prominent in educational work there, where he now
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
559
dwells. The mother was born in Missouri and died
in 1850. Her father, who was a pioneer in Kentucky,
fought Indians with Daniel Boone and lived to a good
ripe age. The family were pioneers for generations
back. Our subject was bereft of his mother when very
young, and as his father came to the coast he was
left with an uncle to be raised. This uncle was a veteran
of the Mexican war and also of the Rebellion. Lycur-
gus was educated at William Jewell College and then
went south and fought with the Confederates until
the capture of General Kirby Smith's command, with
whom he fought. After the close of the war, in May,
1865, Mr. Vineyard read law a year and then crossed
the plains to Oregon. He studied under Judge Strahna
and was admitted in 1868. He at once commenced
practice and was also superintendent of schools. Then
he removed to Corvallis and practiced until 1879. Two
years were spent in California, and next we see him
in the Wood river country. He participated in the
mining excitement and then made Boise his headquar-
ters and commenced practice. He was in several places
in the southen part of the state, being called out by
his practice ; in 189Q he settled in Grangeville. Since
that time Mr. Vineyard has been engaged in practice
here and is one of the leading attorneys.
In 1888 Mr. Vineyard married Miss Sadie, daughter
of Relf Bledsoe, a mining man and a native of Ken-
tucky. He was an early pioneer of Oregon and Idaho,
and was also sheriff of Ada county and also in Wash-
ington. He is now bailiff in the supreme court in
Boise and is a prominent man in mining circles. Mrs.
Vineyard died in 1893, leaving two children, Richard
R. and Sadie B., both with Mr. and Mrs. Bledsoe.
Mr. Vineyard has passed all the chairs of the I. O. O.
F. He is active in politics and is of the Jeffersonian
Democrats. Mr. Vineyard is influential and a leading
figure in the caucuses and conventions. He was a
member of the constitutional convention in August,
1889.
It is of interest that Captain Bledsoe, the father-
in-law of our subject, was a captain in the Rogue
River war, and did some brilliant work, as is well
known to those who are familar with the history of
that struggle. At the time of the Civil war he 'was
offered a colonelcy bv President Lincoln in the regular
army, but he refused.
MURAT W. .STOKES located in Pollock. Idaho,
in 1901, for the purpose of following his profession,
that of dentistry, and also that he might have the
opportunity of paying attention to mining in connec-
tion therewith. He is a skillful and finished dentist,
having received his degree at the University of Mich-
igan at Ann Arbor in 1890. Dr. Stokes was born near
Greenville. Michigan, on January 22, 1861, the son of
Daniel F. and Lois A. (Godfrey) Stokes, natives of
Michigan. The father was born in 1835, served in
Company G. Tenth Michigan, during the Civil war.
and still lives in the state of Michigan. The mother
was born in 1840 and died October 28, 1899. She
was of English-Irish extraction, and her husband was
of English descent. Our subject remained with his
lather attending school until he arrived at manhood's
estate, then took his degree from Ann Arbor, after
ivhich he located in Fremont, Michigan, and practiced
dentistry for ten years. Then after one years' prac-
tice in Greenville he came west and located as states'
above.
On October 19, 1879, Dr. Stokes married Miss
Clara, daughter of Henry B. and Mary E. (Ammer-
man) Carter. Pier father was a carpenter, born in
New Jersey in 1837 and died in 1891. He was a '49er
to California, but later returned east. The mother, a
native of New Jersey, was born in 1839, and still lives,
being of Dutch, Scotch and English extraction. Mrs.
Stokes was born in New Jersey August 3, 1862, and
has one brother, William, and one sister, Louisa. Dr.
Stokes has one sister, Jennie Hanson. Four children
have been born to this marriage : Blanche E. Hollings-
head, in Pollock; Leonard D., at home; Leona E.
Carothers, Dalton R. Dr. Stokes is a member of the
Masonic order and is a Democrat. He is interested in
the Rankin General Milling Company, which purposes
to reduce ores by the nitric acid process. The- process
is unique and has already created quite a sensation
:n mining circles. They are now putting the process
t«' a practical test in the development of mines on Rapid
river. Mrs. Stokes and daughter were the first ladies
in the Rankin camp, and Dalton R. was born there,
6,500 feet above the level of the sea. When the Doctor
came in he traveled on snow shoes for twenty miles.
Dr. Stokes is a man of good ability, genial and affable
and is a real pioneer and an enterprising citizen.
J( iHX T. HOLLENBEAK resides one mile south
of Pollock postoffice, and is a very successful wool
grower. He was born in Davis count}-, Iowa, in 1853,
the son of Benjamin O. and Melinda (Wilkeson) Hol-
lenbeak. The father was born in Indiana and died
in 1 88 1. He was a pioneer in Iowa and came to
Shasta county, California, in 1864. The mother was
born in 1823 in Virginia and is still living, being of
Scutch and Welsh parentage. Our subject came across
the plains with his parents and assisted his father in
general farming and cattle raising. When sixteen he
went to do for himself by shearing sheep.. He con-
tinued in that country until 1888, then sold out and
came to Washington count}-, Idaho, and went to ranch-
ing. A decade was spent there and then, 1898, he sold
out and came to Idaho county and located his present
place. He started to raise sheep on a small scale and
now has nearly two thousand five hundred head.
< in July 29, 1877, in California, Mr. Hollenbeak
married Miss Mary I'... daughter of William and Sarah
(Hutchison) Vestal. The" father came to California
in '51 and settled near Sacramento, where he still lives.
He was born in 1823 in North Carolina. The mother
of .Mrs. Hollenbeak was born in Missouri in 1835. Mrs.
Hollenbeak has six brothers and /five sisters living
and two dead. Mr. Hollenbeak has two sisters and
560
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
five brothers. Eight children have been born to this
marriage : Artie, born in 1878 ; Elgie Gotzinger, born
in 1879 ; Cleveland, born in 1884 ; Loyola, born in 1890 ;
William, born in 1897; Teddy R., born in 1901, and
two deceased. Politically Mr. Hollenbeak has always
been active and is an out and out Republican. He owns
a half section of land in addition to his stock and has
ascertained that many of the biuffs that are too steep
for cattle and which raise the best quality of blue
bunch grass, are admirably adapted for sheep raising.
He had to pack ail his supplies into the place until
September, 1901, when a wagon road was built.
On January 28, 1902, while Mr. Hollenbeak was
blasting out his irrigating ditch, a sack upon which
he had some dynamite caught fire, and in attempting
to stamp out the blaze he struck a piece of dynamite,
which exploded and destroyed one of his eyes. Soon
thereafter through sympathy the sight of the other
eye was lost also. In firis unfortunate condition Mr.
Hollenbeak is still managing his business, his brave
spirit and courage causing him to be cheerful and full
of hope for the day when darkness shall be done away
and there shall be all light.
JOHN HADORN, deceased. In mentioning the
leading citizens of Idaho county, we are well aware
that the subject of this memorial is to be classed
high in the roll of honor. He was a business man of
excellent ability, a citizen of patriotic spirit and a
man of integrity. John Hadorn was born in Kiel,
Germany, in 1844 and when eighteen came to this
country with his parents. He stopped a time at Coun-
cil Bluffs, Iowa, and then settled in Colorado, taking
up the stock business. He did well there until 1880,
when he made his way to Idaho county and engaged
in the same industry on the Salmon. He took land
across the river from Whitebird and there he met and
later married Mrs. Virginia Brusha. The wedding oc-
curred on March 4, 1886. Mrs. Hadorn was a leader
in business herself and managed the four hundred and
fifty acre ranch, thus leaving her husband free to at-
tend to the stock. They did well, their wealth increas-
ing until they are considered among the most prosper-
ous people of the county. In March, 1899, pneumonia
marked Mr. Hadorn and in a few days he was claimed
by the angel of death, his spirit departing on March
15, 1899. The responsibility of their great business
fell on Mrs. Hadorn, in which she soon proved her-
self equal to the emergency, conducting all so well
that a good increase followed. On January 18, 1903,
she bought the two hotels in the town of Whitebird
and merged the properties, also bought the livery barn
in connection with the hotel. After operating the
business in a first-class manner, she rented the same
and has moved back to the ranch. Mrs. Hadorn had
previously married Jacob P. Brusha, April 28, 1878,
and to that union three children were born, Harriett
T. William, Martha J. Henly. Mary E. Canfield. To
the second marriage two children were born, John M.,
and Archie, both at home. Mrs. Hadorn was born
in Monroe county, Mississippi, April 7, 1857, her par-
ents being George M. and Louisa T. Gallaway, men-
tioned in this work, as also are her brothers and sis-
ters. Mr. Hadorn was a member of the Lutheran
church and both himself and Mrs. Hadorn active Re-
publicans.
ROLLIN C. BROWN is a prosperous farmer and
stockman residing about two miles north from Mt.
Idaho. He is the owner of a half section of fine land,
well improved and stocked with a good band of cattle
and some hogs and horses. Rollin C. Brown was
born in Oregon on March 12, 1856, the son of Loyal
P. and Sarah I. (Crusen) Brown, who are mentioned
in another portion of this work. Hon. Loyal P. Brown
is one of the best known and highly esteemed pioneers
of all northen Idaho, and his memory is held dear in the
hearts of all who knew him. His widow is no whit
behind her husband in noble qualities and is one of the
beloved people of the county. Our subject was raised
in this county and here received his educational train-
ing, and in 1876 he commenced the occupation of rais-
ing cattle. He took a claim where he now lives and has
added since one quarter more, which makes the excel-
lent estate mentioned. At the outbreak of the war,
he was shearing sheep, and upon hearing the. tidings
he turned the stock loose and went to Mt. Idaho. Mr.
Brown took part in the struggle in standing guard at
Mt. Idaho, in building fortifications and in fighting the
Indians. Mr. Brown has two sisters, Ada Hovey,
Daisy Smith.
( )n November 12, 1878, Mr. Brown married Miss
Elizabeth J., daughter of Joseph and Lucinda (Slater)
Harrison. The father was born in Yorkshire, Eng-
land, on December 6, 1822, came to the United States
in August, 1847, mined in Wisconsin until i860, dien
came as one of the first pioneers to the Idaho country,
being on the Clearwater during the war. He took
land on the prairie and in 1877 sold his mining inter-
ests and devoted himself exclusively to farming until
his death, on February 24, 1901. The mother was
born in Missouri on March 1, 1831, married October
14, 1855, in Wisconsin, and died May 12, 1899. ^rs-
Brown was born in Iowa county, Wisconsin, on No-
vember 5, i860, and had the following brothers and
sisters: Mary L., Rosetta E., Christopher J., Lilly, all
deceased. Three children are the fruit of this union:
Loyal P., born May 21, 1882; Rollin H, born Sep-
tember 12, 1887; Alonzo F., born J-anuary 15, 1895.
Mr. Brown is a strong Republican, a man of excellent
qualities and worth and is highly esteemed by all.
CAPTAIN LEVI CASTLE. Western energy,
pluck and fixedness of purpose are typified in the sub-
ject of this biographical sketch. Levi Castle, captain
of Company H, First Idaho Volunteers, in the Spanish
war, is now an esteemed business man of Grangeville.
He is distinctively a self-made man. He was born
near Springfield. Illinois, on March 4, i860, the son
JOHN HADUKN
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
56"i
of James H. and Delilah A. (Kirby) Castle. The father
was a native of New York and early moved to Illi-
nois. He enlisted in the One Hundred and Eighth
Illinois Volunteers in 1861 and served until 1863, when
he died from the effects of a severe wound. The mother
was born in Kentucky of a prominent family and now
lives with her son. Lyman W. Castle, in Santa Monica,
California. Her father was a veteran of the Mexican
war. After her husbands death, she struggled "hard
to keep the children together and finally in 1871 came
to Douglas county, Oregon, where she succeeded in
raising and educating them all. In 1875 sne married
Deloss Carr, and two years later they all moved to
Idaho county. Mr. Carr was always a wise coun-
sellor, a warm friend, and a devoted father to the
children. Soon our subject was pushed out by an ad-
venturous spirit to undertake for himself, and he at
once began to manifest that talent which is useful in
this world, namely, the ability to acquire good prop-
erty. He has now one of die best farms on Camas
prairie and is a prosperous and respected citizen of the
county.
On November 25, 1882, Mr. Castle married Miss
Martha J. Turpin, and one sen was born to them. In
April, 1884, the young mother was called hence by-
death, and the following October her infant was laid
by her side.
On August 16, 1887, Mr. Castle married Miss
Anna Belle, the accomplished daughter of Richard M.
Henley, a pioneer of this country. Seven children have
been born to this union: Edith, Alvin, Chester, Ben-
jamin, Ethel, Lora, Lawton. Captain Castle was one
of the first to come forward when the late war with
Spain was on. He was a private in Company C of
the Idaho National Guards at that time, and he rose
rapidly from that position to first lieutenant, then to the
command of Company E, with which he fought all
through the Philippine campaign. He held the com-
mand of that company until transferred to the cap-
taincy of Company H. Among the engagements may
be mentioned: Manila, August 13, 1898; Paco, Feb-
ruary 4, 1899; Santa Ana, February 5; Calocan, Feb-
ruarv 10 to 12; besieging Maloban, from February 28
to March 27; with Lawton to Santa Cruz, April 8
to 18, besides many others. He was mustered out with
his regiment at San Francisco September 25, 1899.
Returning home he settled on the farm until, to accord
his children better educational facilities, he came to
Grangeville, where he is engaged in mercantile pur-
suits. Captain Castle is an unswerving and strenuous
Republican, and always on hand for the best interests
of the community in political issues.
J< >SEPH H. VICORY is one of the leading farm-
ers and mining men of the vicinity of Mt. Idaho who
has labored in these sections since the earliest days
of mineral discovery and is a man of great experience
and worth. He was born in Clark county, Ohio, on
June 29, 1834, the son of Anson and Hannah (Treat)
Vicory, born in New York state in 1787 and 1789,
respectively. The father was a millwright and one of
the first settlers of Ohio. He went thence to Indiana.
Laporte county, in 1835, and died there in 1853. The
mother accompanied her husband after marriage am!
died in Iowa in 1879. Our subject was educated in
Indiana and there spent his childhood days. When In
was seventeen he went to the prairies -of Illinois and tw<
years later returned to Indiana. In i860 he crossed the
plains to Shasta county, California, mining and farming
on Pitt river. In 1862 he came to Linn county, Oregon,
and the next spring came to Florence and then to
Warren. Later he returned to Oregon and in [863,
brought a bunch of cattle here. He wintered in Lew-
iston and Walla Walla as occasion served and mined.
In 1865 he was operating a hotel for John Silverwood.
In 1867 Mr. Vicory mined in British Columbia and
all of the leading camps of northern Idaho and the
northwest. In the Indian outbreak of 1877 he did
duty against the savages. He was messenger in vari-
ous trying times and always showed courage and forti-
tude. In October, 1879, Mr. Vicory took his present
land, a fine estate about one mile east from Mt. Idaho,
and he has devoted his attention to farming and min-
ing since. He has some valuable interests near New-
some and also has his farm well improved. Mr. Vio iry
has two brothers, Hiram and Levi.
On January 13, 1873, Mr. Vicory married Miss
Lyda M., daughter of William and Julia A. (Bilyeu)
Kinder. The father was born in Illinois on June 29,
1814, crossed the plains in 1852 to Douglas county.
0fhere he took a donation claim. In 1864 he removed
to Linn county, where he died April 19, 1894. The
mother was born June 13, 1825, in Illinois, and is now-
living in Linn county. Mrs. Vicory was born in Doug-
las county on April 24, 1856, and she has the following
brothers and sisters : Alva, Lucinda A. Derr, Mary A.
Brummer, Hannah Ray. Mr. and Mrs. Vicory have
two children, Herick F., born December 10, 1873 ;
Julia Brown, born June 21, 1875. Mr. Vicory and
his wife are Democrats. Mr. Vicory was one of the
four men to. go to meet Pat Price when he was bring-
ing in Maggie Manuel.
D. C. VAN BUREN, manager and sec-
retary of the Grangeville Electric Light &
Power Company, is a young business man of
energy and push and a progressive spirit which
are dominated by sagacity and keen discrimination.
He was born in Ingham county, Michigan, on De-
•cember 14. 1864, the son of Martin and Cynthia (Dix)
Van Buren, born in Michigan in 1837 and 1843. re-
spectively, where they still live. The paternal ances-
tors were originally from Holland and were early
settlers in New York. Our subject's grandfather was
a pioneer in Michigan, settling there in 1830. His
great-grandfather was a patriot in the war of 1812
Our subject's paternal grandmother was formerly Miss
Wright and came from Yankee stock. Her father,
Daniel Wright, was in the war of 1812 also. Presi-
dent Van Buren and the great-grandfather of D. C.
562
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
were cousins. Martin Van Buren, lather of D. C.
was in Company H, Fifteenth .Michigan Infantry, un-
der John A. Logan. The mother of our subject was
from a Xew York family, who were pioneers in Mich-
igan. D. C. Van Buren was reared in Michigan, and
at the early age of seventeen taught his first school.
He was successful and soon was in the state normal,
whence he graduated in due time and then took up
teaching in Montana, where he was superintendent
of the schools in White Sulphur Spring, for two years.
Then he was superintendent of the city schools in Poca-
tello for two years. During these years Mr. Van
Buren was making the subject of electricity a careful
study, and he succeeded so thoroughly in mastering
what is known of the subtle power that tie was casting
about for a place to start a plant. Grangeville pre-
sented the proper conditions, and in partnership with
W. L. Kimmel he erected the first plant. This was
completed on January I, iooo, and one year later he
bought out his partner and since that time has per-
sonally managed the business. In June. 1902, the
Grangeville Electric Light and Power Compam was
incorporated, with Mr. Van Buren as manager, secre-
tin and chief stockholder. They are now putting
in a water power establishment on the Clearwater.
six miles east from Grangeville, which will give them
twelve hundred horse power, which they expect will
furnish power and light to various places on Camas
Prairie.
On July 6, iyo_\ at Grangeville Mr. Van Buren
married Miss Lyda Castle, wlmse parents are dwelling
in Iowa. She was born in that state in 1S76 and has
been engaged in teaching. She has two sisters and
one brother. Mr. Van Buren has three sisters. Nellie,
Marion, Lorena. Mr. and Airs. Van Buren are active
members in the Baptist church, and he is a trustee and
prominent in Sunday school work. Mr. Van Buren is
a strong advocate of progress in educational facilities
and is a friend of good schools.
WILLIAM HOGAN is the owner and manager
of the Hogan group of mines on the Ore Grande and
much credit is due to his enterprise and skill in the de-
velopment of the country and in bringing to the front
good properties. He was born in Chippewa county,
Wisconsin, on November 10, 1864, the son of John
and Bridget (O'Hern) Hogan, born in Ireland in
1830 and 1832, respectively, and still living in Wiscon-
sin. The father came to this country in 1848 and the
mother came with her parents and was married in- Ohio.
Our subject received his education in his native state
and until he was eighteen he remained with his par-
ents. Then he took up the lumber business and in
[892 he went to .Montana. He followed mining in
various places for some time and in 1899 Mr.
Hogan made his way to Idaho county. He located
first on the Whitebird near the Salmon, and then ex-
plored the Buffalo Hump country. Later he came on
to Elk City and here he went to prospecting with the
happy result that he is now possessor of the promising
and valuable Hogan group of mines. His brother
promoted the mines and milling company on the
Crooked river, and he has been prominent in mining
since. Mr. Hogan has the following brothers and
sisters : Mary Sheehy, Johanna, deceased, Patrick R..
'Michael, John C, Emilia Manning, James M.. de-
ceased, Thomas S.
On November 2~ , 1900, Mr. Hogan married Miss
Luelta, daughter of Albert and Louisa (Lane; De-
Borde, who now live at York, Montana. The father
was born in 1849 in Illinois, and the mother was born
in Iowa on November 10, 1S59, and was married in
January, 1878. Mrs. Hogan was born in Nebraska
mi March 5, 1880. She has the following named
brothers and sisters : Jesse, Gladys Williams, Leon,
William, Mary, Athea, Carroll, Annie, Earl. On Aug-
ust 29, 1 901, at Elk City, a daughter, Helen, was born
to Mr. and Mrs. Hogan. They are members of the
Catholic church and are of excellent standing in the
ci immunity.
AARON FOSTER PARKER was born in the
city of Wells, Somersetshire, England, on March
16, 1856, and was educated in the grammar schools
of the city. At an early age he left the parental home
and started on a seafaring career, which he pursued
for six years, when increasing deafness compelled him
to relinquish his adopted calling. His life on the high
seas was mainly spent along the south Pacific coast,
near the West India Islands and along Central Amer-
ica. In 1876 he left Liverpool for San Francisco, en
route to Idaho. Arriving in Baker City he made his
way into Idaho territory by the way of the old Brown-
lee ferry, on Snake river, below the mouth of the
Powder, and for the following months engaged in
mining and prospecting until the Indian war of 1877
compelled the residents of the mountains to go into
the settlements. For the next few years Mr. Parker
served the government in various capacities during the
Nez Perces, Bannock and Sheep Eater campaigns.
In 1880, after some years spent in mining in eastern
1 »regon, Mr. Parker took charge of the Nez Perces
News, at Lewiston, but sold out in 1883 and joined
the stampede then in progress to the Coeur d'Alene
country, and was one of the first twenty-five men to
invade the fastnesses of Pritchard creek. He served
as deputy mineral recorder during the boom and was
also postmaster at Eagle City, the first town projected
during the rush. The following spring Mr. Baker
started the Coeur d'Alene Eagle and continued its pub-
lication until the fall, when with the collapse of the
mining boom, he left the camp. In 1885 he again
assumed the editorial management of the Nez Perces
News and continued it until June, 1886, when he com-
menced the publication of the Idaho County Free
Press, which has ever since been one of the foremost
advocates of the best interests of the state, and has
been a power for good in all directions.
In his public capacity Mr. Parker has served as a
member of the board of regents of the state university,
and at the date of this writing is one of the Idaho
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
S63
state commission to the St. Louis exposition, from
which, however, he expects to resign. In 1896 he was
a prominent candidate before the Democratic state con-
vention for the nomination for the governorship of
Idaho, and has always been an unbending Democrat
of the Jeffersonian school.
In 1890 Mr. Parker was married to Mary Scott
Newman, of Omaha. Nebraska. Four children sur-
vive, two of them twin girls.
JAMES E. PERKINS is an industrious and suc-
cessful agriculturist and stockman of Pollock. He
was born on the Boise river, Idaho, on November 4,
l866, the son of Basil I. and Eliza (Williams) Per-
kins, and was the first white child born on the Boise
river. The father was a stock raiser and a native
of Iowa. He was murdered for his money in 1878
by a desperado in Pine valley, Oregon. In 1849 ne
came to California and in 1864 settled at Boise basin
and was a volunteer in the Indian war of 1866-67.
The mother was born in Kentucky in 1843. and her
parents were pioneers in California. Our subject went
with his parents to Umatilla county when young and
three years later moved to the Grande Ronde valley,
where they lived until 1878. Then they moved to the
Payette valley, Idaho. Our subject was educated in
these various places and also learned the barber trade.
The mother had married in the meantime Mr. Thomas
Vest. When he arrived at manhood's estate, James E.
followed his trade and later went to the Indian valley
country. In 1890 he came to the Salmon river and
took up land. He and his brother secured the con-
tract to furnish all the specimens for the Idaho state
house museum at the Columbian Exposition and were
successful in gathering a very fine collection. At the
time of the opening of the Nez Perces reservation he
took a squatter's right, which was sold later. Then
he took land on Rapid riser, which he recently sold.
In 1897 Mr. Perkins married Miss Sophronia, daugh-
ter of James and Sarah [aggers, who now live on the
Clearwater in Xez Perces county. Mrs. Perkins, who
was born in Illinois in 1880, received a good high school
•education. She has two brothers and one sister,
George, Joseph and Chloe Riggs. Mr. Perkins has two
brothers and one sister, Thomas, Frank and Rilla
Clark. One child has been born to this marriage.
Alma. Mr. Perkins is a Democrat and a good sub-
stantial citizen.
CHARLES F. BROWN devotes himself to farm-
ing and raising cattle and at the present time is dwell-
ing on his estate about four miles east from Mt. Idaho.
He was born in Covington. Kentucky, on June 14.
1856. the son of John I. and Clara E. (Smith) Brown,
natives of Boston, Massachusetts. The father's an-
cestors were patriots in the Revolution. He crossed
the plains with L. P. Brown in 1859 and settled near
Roseburg, Oregon. In 1861 he packed merchandise
into Elk and continued there until 1808 when Ik came
to Mt. Idaho and later took land north of town, re-
maining there until his death, on October 11, 1874.
The mother Mt our subject is still living on Camas
prairie. Our subject came to Camas prairie in 1868
from Roseburg, ( Iregon, and finished his education at
Seattle University, Washington, in 1870. In 1S75
he went from here with a government pack train to
Cheyenne, and there joined General Crooks to tight
the Sioux Indians. After serving as pack master for
General Crooks he was promoted to chief pack master
and master of transportation for General McKenzie at
Fort Clark, Texas ; anil later under General Lawton at
Santa Fe.
He returned to Denver, then went to Wisconsin and
later settled in Chicago. In 1885 he came to Camas
prairie again and farmed. In 1892 he rented the Mt.
Idaho hotel, later he bought the building and operated
it until 1898. Then he bought the farm where he now
lives and has given himself to raising stock. He has
throe hundred and twenty acres, an orchard thirty-five
years old. a good bunch of stock and is prosperous.
Mr. Brown has the following brothers and sisters:
Lulu Swarts, Sidney B., Horace V., Lily M. Wag-
goner.
On December 25, [883, Mr. Brown married Miss
Jennie R., daughter of Andrew and Mary (Higgins)
Manahan. The father was born in Ireland in 1814,
fought in the Seminole war in Florida and died on
May 3, 1880. The mother was born in Ireland on
February 23, 1820, came to the United States in 1847,
rgarried the following year, and died July 10, 1902.
Mrs. Brown was born in Waterloo, Wisconsin, October
31, 1862, and has the following brothers and sisters:
Sarah A. Dunn, Mary C. Tool, Julia, Margaret, Ellen
Reynolds. Alice, Elizabeth Higgins. Three children
have been born to this union: Edna M., born No-
vember 29. 1885, in Chicago: John I., born February 4,
1887, in Idaho county; Helen M., born November 29,
1895. Mr. Brown is a Republican and belongs to the
Cnited Artisans. He and his wife are members of the
Catholic church.
JAMES X. OLIVER is a leading mechanic of
Grangeville and operates a blacksmith and wood work-
ing shop, where he enjoys a thriving patronage because
of his skill and close attention to business.
James X. Oliver was born in Green county, Wiscon-
sin,' on September 8. 1854. the son of Milton and
Kiziah (Haggard) ( Iliver. The father, born in Penn-
sylvania, was a pioneer in Missouri and fought in the
Confederate army. He was severely wounded but sur-
vived the ordeal. The mother of our subject was born
in Tennessee and in 1871 passed to the world beyond.
The family removed to Texas in 1863 and settled in
Wise county and engaged in stock raising. Our sub-
ject spent the years there until 1872. gaining his edu-
cation and learning the blacksmith trade from his
father in the meantime. Then he went to Springfield,
Missouri, and two years later came to Boise. He was
with a regular wagon train Mi' one hundred and eighty
teams. Xext we see him in Walla Walla and then in
564
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Pomerov ; in both places lie wrought at his trade. He
also spent some time farming. In 1886 he moved to
Genesee and opened a shop, making the anvil ring to
honest industry and business for nine years. He also
operated a farm there. In 1895 he went to Juliaetta,
then returned to Genesee and in 1898 Mr. Oliver re-
moved to Grangeville and opened a shop, since which
time he has been one of the leading mechanics of the
place and is respected and of good standing.
In 1874. while in Missouri, Mr. Oliver married
Miss Mary, daughter of John Storky, a native of Mis-
sissippi. He was a Confederate soldier. Mrs. Oliver
was born in Mississippi in i860 and has one brother,
Samuel and one sister, Sallie Smith. Mr. Oliver has
one brother, Campbell B., in Walla Walla. Five chil-
dren have been born to this marriage, James N., Ola,
Eva. Grace, May. Mr. Oliver is a member of the I.
O. ( I. F.. of the K. P.. and of the Redmen. He was
one of the trustees of Genesee for years. Politically,
Mr. Oliver is a Democrat, but does not seek personal
preferment.
ISAAC ZEHNER was born in Lawrence county,
Illinois, on February 20, 1853, the son of Joseph
and Catherine (McEwen) Zehner. The father was
born in Ohio, on January 9, 1829, and removed to
Lawrence county in 1849. Here he farmed and
worked at the carpenter's trade until 1867, when he
removed to Stone county, Missouri, and bought one
hundred and twenty acres of land, which he farmed
for twelve years. In 1879 a move was made to Ben-
ton county, Arkansas, and in 1889 he came to Camas
prairie and took a half section, devoting himself to
farming and stock raising until his death on May 3,
1898. The mother was born in Illinois and her par-
ents came from Ireland in early days to that state.
Our subject was educated and reared in the various
places where the family resided and remained with
his parents until twenty-four. Then he went to Chris-
tian county, Missouri, rented land and three years later
went to Benton county. He purchased land there and
farmed until 1886. when he came to Pomerov, Wash-
ington, landing August 11, 1887. The following No-
vember he came to Camas prairie and took a half sec-
tion of government land. Mr. Zehner gave his atten-
tion to farming and raising stock until 1894, when he
added the industry of threshing, handling a good outfit.
In the spring of' 1902, Mr. Zehner bought the roller
mills in Denver and he now owns them in addition to
his farming interests, while also he has a residence and
lots in town. Mr. Zehner also raises many hogs and
a goodly herd of cattle. He has the following broth-
ers and" sisters: Anna E. Reynolds, Benjamin, Owen,
Lucy Mitchell, Melinda Thompson, William, Wesley,
John.
( )n December 7, 1876, Mr. Zehner married Miss
Corilla J., daughter of Thomas and Cecilia (Rhoad-
es) Howard, born July 4, 1823. in Tennessee, and in
1825 in Kentucky, respectively. The father was a
member of the home guards in the time of the war and
he wrought at his trades of blacksmithing and car-
pentering. His death occurred on May 22, 1893. The
mother died on September 12, 1865. Mrs. Zehner
was born in Stone county, Missouri, on March 15,
1856, and she has the following named brothers and
sisters : Mary E. Clayton. Delia Fanning, Elizabeth
Long, Thomas, John, Bertha Gill, William, Lucy, Rob-
ert, Fred and Maud. Three children have come to
crown this marriage, Clementine Rhoades, born Janu-
ary 20, 1878 ; William H., born December 10. 1879 ; Hat-
tie, born December 2, 1883. Mr. Zehner is a Jeffersonian
Democrat and his wife is a true blue Republican. He
is a member of the M. W. A. and Mrs. Zehner is a
member of the Presbyterian church. This worthy
couple have done much for the advancement and up-
building of this county and section and are highly es-
teemed and of excellent standing, being people in
whom are manifest the virtues of integrity, upright-
ness and real worth, while their capabilities are patent
to all.
PETER H. READY. This well known pioneer
and substantial citizen of Idaho county should truly
be classed as one of the builders of the county as he
has made a record that is enviable and which mani-
fests great capabilities and real worth.
Peter H. Ready was born in Detroit. Michigan, in
November, 1849, tne son 0I Jonn Ready. The father
was born in Ireland and was a pioneer in Michigan.
He married Miss Smith and in 1856 was called to pass
the river of death. The mother died in 1854. Our
subject was raised by his stepmother until quite a lad
and then went to do for himself. He is a self made
man and secured his early education by hard applica-
tion. His first work was in the woods of Michigan
and in 1864 he came to Denver, Colorado, and operated
in the mines. In 1865 he came to Montana after his
labors in Colorado, and participated in the excite-
ment in the Alder gulch region adjacent to Virginia
City. He remained there until 1869 and the following
year came to Camas prairie. In 1872 Mr. Ready took
a preemption claim and later a homestead adjoining
it, where he gave his attention to farming and rais-
ing stock. Later Mr. Ready sold this land
and has bought and sold considerable land in
the county since. He has also given much
attention to raising cattle with the farming
and is now more retired from active business,
dwelling in Grangeville. He is now loaning money
and also interested in any kind of enterprise that com-
mends itself to his judgment. Mr. Ready has one
brother, John, and one sister. Mary A. Hickie. For-
merly he was a member of the I. O. O. F. and was
representative to the grand lodge but is not a member
now. Mr. Ready was constable of his precinct and
has always manifested a good interest in the affairs
of the county and state ; in political alliances is with
the Republicans. He was an active participant in the
Indian war and was at that time engaged in freighting
from Lewiston to Mt. Idaho. His wagons were cap-
ISAAC ZEHNER
PETER H. READY.
NATHANIEL B. PETTIBONE.
JOSEPH PFEUFER
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
565
tured and robbed, he took his leaders and made for his
ranch to secure arms when he discovered the Indians.
In other parts of the struggle he was prominently con-
nected and a full account of it is given in the work
elsewhere. Mr. Ready is a man whose life of upright-
ness and good business enterprise has commended
him to the people and he has hosts of friends from
every quarter and the confidence and esteem of all.
NATHANIEL B. PETTIBONE is the. senior
member of the firm of Strecker & Pettibone. general
merchants of Stites, and in his capacity he is well
known ; he is also prominent in the townsite company
which located and started Stites, being now one of
the leading and prominent men of the thriving town,
which he established.
Nathaniel B. Pettibone was born in Warsaw, Illi-
nois, on July 10. 1868, being the son of Cephas and
Amelia (Belcher) Pettibone. The father died when
our subject was four years old. The mother was a
native of Cork, Ireland, and died in 1890. in Jack-
sonville, Illinois. Our subject was the youngest of
ten children and was reared in Sciota, Illinois, where
he graduated from the high school when he was nine-
teen. Then he went to New Mexico and mined for a
time, coming thence to Idaho, where he wrought in
Elk City district. He opened up the Iron Crown and
paid dividends for a number of years. He has been
interested in some of the leading properties of Idaho
and is now owner and part owner of many good prop-
erties in Buffalo Hump, Thunder Mountain, Elk, and
other districts. He gave himself to mining until 1900
and then organized the townsite company which lo-
cated and started the town of Stites. He opened the
first business house in the town in 1900. Then Mr.
Pettibone formed a partnership with Mr. Strecker and
they have operated a general merchandise store since.
Mr. Pettibone is also in partnership with James Jump
and Len McGill, both of Peck, and together they built
the telephone line to Grangeville. Mr. Pettibone has
four brothers and one sister living: Henrv, Hurlev,
Lee C, Rufus, Ella Mecham.
At Mount Idaho, on July 7. 1897, Mr. Pettibone
married Miss Mary E..' daughter "of Franklin and
Elizabeth (Shearer) Shissler, who are mentioned in
this volume. Mrs. Pettibone was born in Mount Ida-
ho, on July 27, 1879, and has the following brothers
and sisters: Frederick, Harry. George, John, Susie
Ingram. Two children have been born to this couple,
Franklin T.. Levi N. Mr. Pettibone's father was in
the Mexican war and received a wound at Buena
Vista. Mr. Pettibone is a member of the I. O. O.
F., Stites Lodge. No. »7, also of the W. W. Mr.
Pettibone is one of the reliable and substantial busi-
ness men of the county, is respected and esteemed by
all and is enterprising and up-to-date: he and his ex-
cellent wife are leading members of society and have
the good will and admiration of a large circle of
friends.
J( >SEPH PFEUFER is a leading merchant of
Grangeville and has for nearly a decade conducted
a successful business here, has made for himself a
first-class standing and is a man of ability and stirring
energy.
Joseph Pfeufer was born in Comfort, Texas, on
April 28, 1859, the son of Veit and Eugenia (Jocke)
Pfeufer. natives of Bavaria and born in 1829 and
1834, respectively. The father died in November,'
1902. He was educated for the priesthood but
changed his mind and came to the United States and
took up stock raising in Texas. He sympathized with
the Union in the Civil war and rendered it material
aid. He settled in Texas in 1854 and became a promi-
nent man in his section, both as a leader and an edu-
cator. The mother still lives in Texas and is a woman
of culture and excellent education, coming from a lit-
erary family. Her father was a prominent editor in
Bavaria. Our subject grew to manhood in Texas
and received his early education there, being also well
trained by faithful instruction from his parents. He
followed stock raising with his father until he was
twenty-three and then took up the merchanfs life,
in 1891 he came west and visited various sections, re-
turning home in 1893. The next year he came to
Grangeville, opened a general merchandise business
and here he has remained since, devoting himself to
his business with an assiduity and skill, coupled with
uprightness and kind treatment to all, which have
brought to his door a thriving patronage. Mr. Pfeu-
fer is one of the substantial men and has always la-
bored for the advancement and growth of the town
and country.
In the fall of 1894, occurred the marriage of Mr.
Pfeufer and Miss Barbara, daughter of C. and Anna
YVunder, natives of Bavaria and now living in Seat-
tle. The father was a pioneer of the Pacific coast,
settling in Seattle in 1875 ■ he. conducted a furniture
business until his death. Mrs. Pfeufer, who was a
teacher, was born in St. Paul. Minnesota, in 1869
and has two sisters, Rosa and Gertrude. Mr. Pfeu-
fer has one brother and two sisters: Alfred, Rosa,
Lina. Two children have been born to this couple,
Philip and Rosa. Mr. Pfeufer is a member of the I.
O. ( ). F. He is an active Republican. Mrs. Pfeufer be-
longs to the Catholic church and Rebekah Lodge. In
addition to his business, Mr. Pfeufer owns the Ever-
green mines on the Clearwater, and also other prop-
ertv.
LINCOLN L. PHILLIPS has spent most of his
life in northern Idaho and is practically a product of
the section. At present he is dwelling in Grangeville
and owns and operates a wood saw and a merry-go-
round. He is an engineer and pays especial atention
to his trade in various capacites. He was born in Blue
Earth, Minnesota, on Februarv 22. 1868. the son of
William and Fanslina (Merrill) Phillips. The father
was born in New York in 1827 and was a pioneer in
both Minnesota and Idaho. He enlisted in the Civil
war from Minnesota and participated in the wars with
566
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
the Sioux under General Sibley; in one engagement
they fought three days and were entirely surrounded
by the savages. He is living at present in Lewiston.
The mother of our subject was bom in Xew York in
1837 and died in 1875. Our subject came to Nez
Perces county with his parents in 1876 and here was
educated ami grew to manhood. The father was a
railroad engineer and our subject learned the art
from him. They settled near Genesee, and during the
Indian troubles went to Lewiston. Our subject came
to Grangeville in 1890 and since that time he has con-
tinued here, following his trade and doing machine
work.
On November 25, 1891, Mr. Phillips married Olive
Short, the daughter of John and Amelia (Combs)
Short. The father was 'a miner born in Ohio and
a soldier in the Civil war. He was wounded in the
service and died in 187 1. His widow died in 1887.
She was a native of Connecticut. Mrs. Phillips was
born in Utah in 1867. .Mr. Phillips has one sister,
Mrs. Alice T. Cox. The following named children have
been born to Mr. and Mrs. Phillips: Emma. Josephine.
George, Williams, Clark, John. Mrs. Phillips has
one son, Frank ( ('Conner, by her first husband. Our
subject and his wife adhere 'to the Seventh Day Ad-
ventist denomination. Politically he is a Republican
and active in the interests of advancement and pro-
gression.
WILLIAM VON BERGE is one of the substan-
tial and active men of Grangeville and has displayed
excellent ability to make a thriving and prosperous
business from a small start. He is handling the brew-
ery plant which he owns, while he also has five hun-
dred and fifty acres of land in the fertile sections of the
prairie. Mr. Von Berge also conducts a brewery sa-
loon in Grangeville and one in Denver. He was born
in Cook county, Illinois, on March 16. 1852, the son
of Frederick and Magdalena (Rodehorst) Von Berge,
natives of Germany. The father was born in 1S01, set-
tled where Chicago now is in 1846, and died in 1891
in Idaho county, whither he had come in 1880. The
mother was born in 1814 and died in 1880. Our sub-
ject grew to manhood in Illinois, where he was edu-
cated. He worked with his father and brother in the
omnibus business and were getting wealthy and had a
a fine business but street car opposition broke them up
and from 1874 to 1878 they lost over one hundred
thousand dollars in clean cash. Our subject came west
in 1878 with a capital of three hundred dollars which
he had gathered from the wreck. He took land on
Camas prairie and now own the fine estate men-
tioned. He at once went to work raising the fruits of
the field and stock which continued until 1889. In
1887, Mr. Von Berge saw a first class opportunity to
start a brewery in GrangeviHe. To see for him was
to act and in 1889 the business had assumed such pro-
portions that he retired from his farms and rented
them to give his entire attention to the business in
town. He is now placing in his plant an additional
steam engine and an ice machine.
In 1887 Mr. Von Berge married Kate Smith, a
native of I Germany and they have the following named
children. Amil. Rudolph, Esie, all attending school. Mr.
Von Berge has one brother, J. H. Von Berge. in this
county. He is a member of the Red Men and in poli-
tics is a stanch Republican. He was nominated by his
partly for county commissioner and only lost the day
bv eleven votes, but the entire ticket was defeated.
HON. HANNIBAL F. JOHXSOX is a miner
and a poet living ten miles up Rapid river from Pol-
lock postoffice. He was born in Owen county, Indiana,
on November 20. 1830. the son of Gabriel and Martha
! Jackson) Johnson. The father, who is a physician,
born in Kentucky in 1803 and died in 1886, came to
Oregon in 1853 and settled near Eugene. His people
were patriots in the early American wars. His mother,
who was born in Kentucky in 1803 and died in 1881,
had accompanied her husband across the plains. Our
subject's parents built the first house in Carthage. Mis-
souri, where this son grew to manhood and received
his education. He studied medicine with his father but
not liking the profession abandoned it. He crossed the
plains with his parents, mined in southern Oregon and
fought in the Rogue river war in Company E, under
Captain Robert Williams. After his first term of en-
listment, while he and five others were returning to
re-enlist, they were surrounded by one hundred and
twenty-five savages ; they all succeeded in escaping but
one poor unfortunate who was killed. In 1858 Mr. John-
son mined in the Fraser river country, in 1862 he was
in Florence and in the same year participated in the
first Buffalo Hump excitement. He then went to
Warren and thence to Walla Walla and with his cousin
and cousin's partner. Daniel Jackson, bought a pack
train and took a load to Auburn. Oregon. After this he
packed to the Boise basin, over which road he freighted
until 1865. In the fall of '65 he loaded twenty-eight
animals and went to Blackfoot, Montana. He sold out
and went to mining on Carpenter's bar and in Califor-
nia gulch. He says that Mr. Edwards took out $150,-
OOO, and the Chaney brothers $400,000 from Confed-
erate gulch. In 1868 he went to Leon creek, then to
Robinson bar on the Salmon after which he returned
to Shasta, from thence to Willamette valley where he
farmed until 1884. Then he came into the Sewn
Devils country and located the Golden Eagle from
which was exhibited the richest ore at the World's
Fair. He then made another trip to the Willamette
valley, and stayed with his father, who died in 1886.
Subsequent to that he returned to the Seven Devils
country and in 1892 was elected senator from Wash-
ington county by an overwhelming majority. That
same vear he located the Ablative and Fisher mines
from which he has taken assays from twenty dollars to
twenty-one thousand, three hundred and eighty-four
dollars per ton. He has been offered thirty-six thou-
sand dollars for the claims but refused it.
Mr. Johnson has the following brothers and
sisters : Mary J. McDaniel, Mahalia Jackson,
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
567
David A., Pleasant W., Sarah E. Rampy,
Pamelia Edwards. Mr. Johnson is a member of
the I. O. O. F., and is a free lance in politics. We
wish to remark also, as is well known, that Mr. John-
son has achieved considerable distinction as a poet.
He is familiarly known as the "Poet of the Seven
Devils," and his productions have found their way into
some of the leading journals of the country. Mr.
Johnson relates that in the early days when men made
rich strikes some very ludicrous things occurred. He
remembers a man named Wiser who struck it rich in
Florence, taking out six thousand dollars and more a
day for a time, as being an example of this class. Mr.
Wiser hurried to Portland with his new wealth, char-
tered a ship, hired singers at eight dollars a day and
struck for the open seas. Later Mr. Johnson saw the
same man packing his blankets back to Florence to
seek dust for a grubstake.
JAY O. RHOADES is one of the most prominent
stockmen on Salmon river and lives at his fine ranch
on Rapid river, a mile above its mouth. Mr. Rhoades
was a native of Missouri, having been born in Mercer
county on October 31, 1865, and is a son of Daniel B.
and Elizabeth (Odneal) Rhoades. The father was a
farmer and a native of Pennsylvania, where he was
born in 1834. He early emigrated to Missouri and was
one of the pioneers of Mercer county. He went to
California in 1851, at the age of seventeen, and entered
mines, where he speedily acquired a fortune Thence
he returned east, via the isthmus and went to Missouri
where he invested heavily in land, owning three thou-
sand acres at one time. In 1877, 'le crossed the plains
to the scene of his first mining work, remained there a
short time and in 1881 went to Spokane county, Wash-
ington. At present he is living with his son jay. The
mother's folks were also pioneers of Mercer county
and originally came from the eastern states. She de-
parted from this life in 1878. Our subject received a
good education in the schools of Missouri and at the
age of seventeen began working for himself. For
several years he busied himself in various occupations,
but in 1884 commenced driving stage between Mount
Idaho and Lewiston, a position which he filled with
credit for four years. Then he entered the stock busi-
ness, taking- up land on Camas prairie near Cottonwood
and herding his cattle on this fine range. In 1896 the
settlement of the reservation forced him with others to
seek a less popoulated district, and after traveling
through Montana and other famed stock regions, he
decided to settle on the Salmon and accordingly, with
C. E. Holt, bought the old Hickv McLee place and on
his own account took up his present home on Rapid
river. Since 1897 he has lived on the latter place,
which he has placed in a fine state of development.
His herd of cattle numbers between 1.000 and 1,200.
Mr. Rhoades is very sanguine over the resources and
prospects of his home and believes that there is no finer
fruit, stock, alfalfa and mining section to be found than
that on the Salmon. He is one of the largest stock
owners in central Idaho and has shipped as many a*
1,500 cattle at one time.
July 1, 1900. marks the date of his marriage to
Maggie Clay, whose father. H. H. Clav, is a well
known stockmen, farmer and freighter living on Race
creek. He is a native of Washington county, ( >hio,
where he was born October 8, 1853. Her grandfather,
Nicholas, also a son of Ohio, the'place and date of his
birth being Columbiana county, January 1, 1825, was
a pioneer of Montgomery county. Kansas, a veteran of
the Civil war. His father was a patriot of 1776. The
maiden name of Mrs. Rhoades's mother was Rebecca
Irwin, and the date of the daughter's birth is 1880, the
place being Oregon. Mr. Rhoades's brothers and sis-
ters are as follows, Dr. R. R., Lafayette D., Lee, Lon,
Erie Underwood, Oscar, Pollock;" two half-sisters,
Bertha Howe, and Maud, and one half-brother, Bert.
Mr. and Mrs. Rhoades' home has been brightened by
the advent of a daughter. Thelma Ruth, who is five
months old. He is a member of the W. of W.. ami a
very active and prominent Democrat, attending- all the
caucuses and conventions of his party. At present he
is serving as a member of the centrafcommittee. Suc-
cessful and respected. Mr. Rhoades is happy in his
hue home beside the Salmon and takes life philosophi-
cal! v.
JOHN (i. LEVANDER, who is postmaster and
merchant at Goff, on the Salmon river, is one of the
earliest pioneers and formost men of Idaho and is in-
timately acquainted with all the early excitements and
the inception of government in the territory. He was
born in Sweden, on December 27, 1837, 'the son of
Gustave and Jane (Kay) Levander. The father was a
civil engineer, born in Flanders. France, and went to
Sweden with Bernadotte, who became King Charles
XIV of swe.len and Norway. He was closely asso-
ciated with the king and held a high position 'in the
army. The mother of our subject was born in London,
in 1796, June 24, and is now deceased, as is also her
husband. Her father was a lieutenant in the British
army. 1 >ur subject was educated in Sweden and after
his college days he went to sea with his brother-in-law,
when he was fourteen. When sixteen he came to the
United States and went to Illinois to visit his brother,
who was a California miner, having dug gold on Span-
ish bar. American river. Our subject studied still
further in Illinois am! became a bookkeeper, then went
to Iowa and in 1859 he fitted out six yoke of oxen and
started for Pikes Peak but came on to the Willamette
valley. He had a hard fight with the Snake Indians at
the Malheur river, near the present agency. Later Mr.
Levander drove cattle to California, returning to Doug-
las county and later went to Pierce at the time of the
excitement. He mined for Captain Pierce, who dis-
covered the diggings, and then went to Boise basin.
He was on the stage with Governor Wallace and at-
tended the first county convention ever held in Idaho,
at Pierce ; he refused to act as delegate to the territorial
convention at the .Meadows. At Boise, Mr. Levander
freighted and also located a ranch. Three years later
^68
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
he quit freighting and raised stock. In 1884, he re-
moved to the Meadows for his wife's health and there
raised stock. He was county commissioner for one
term and was a member of the first state convention.
In the spring of 1893 he moved to his present location
where he secured a postoffice and established a mer-
cantile house, and a road station. Mr. Levander was
prominent in getting the wagon road to the little Sal-
mon, building- part of the road by his own contribu-
tions. He has an excellent stopping place, and is a
popular resident of the county.
In 1864. at Boise. Mr. Levander married Miss
Sarah E. Cox. of Gentry county, Missouri; this was
the first marriage celebrated in the Boise valley and oc-
curred in a tent. Mr. Cox was a pioneer of Oregon.
Mrs. Levander has the following brothers and sisters,
John, Jesse. Oliver, Elvira Prosser and Martha Teal.
Mr. Levander is the youngest of this family and his
only brother, Charles A., died recently. Mr. Levander
and his wife are members of the Christian church. He
is a strong Democrat and from the early days of the
'sixties has always been active in political matters, al-
ways being a delegate to the conventions. In 1882 he
was chairman of the Washington county convention.
IVAN D. LYOX is a well known business man of
Cottonwood and is now in partnership with Jesse Dix-
on, ex-sheriff of Idaho county, operating the Elite
Resort, a well appointed saloon. Mr. Lyon has seen
much experience in the frontier regions of the United
States, especially in the cattle towns and in the cattle
business : he has shown himself a man of energy, in-
dustry and sound principles.
Ivan D. Lyon was born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania,
on September 15, 1844, being the son of Daniel and
Elizabeth (Weibly) Lyon, natives of Pennsylvania.
The father was born in 1797, and died in 1893. He
was a machinist and served in the Mexican war. He
descended from German parentage. The mother died
in 1844. Our subject grew to the age of fifteen and
received his education in the native place. On the
fifteenth day of August. 1862. he joined Company K,
Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry and immediately went
to the front under General Greeg, Colonel Robinson,
and Captain Day, and as his record will abundantly
testify, he was at the front all through the awful strug-
gle. Among the many battles in which he fought,
we may mention. Malvern Hill, Antietam. Wilderness,
Cold Harbor, Pittsburg Landing, Gettysburg, Cedar
Creek, the capture of Richmand, Sussex Courthouse,
and numerous others. He was captured at Gettys-
burg and held three clays. He was wounded at Mal-
vern Hill and had a horse shot from under him. He
was mustered out between the sixth and the tenth of
June at Lynchburg and received his discharge at For-
tress Monroe. He immediately went home and in the
spring of r866, went to Kansas, thence to Texas and
for twelve years rode the range and was personally
familiar with the earlv cattle towns and the ways of
the west; he knew Buffalo Bill, Wild Bill and other
border celebrities. Mr. Lyon also engaged in the cat-
tle business himself and in 1878 went to Arkansas
and handled a large ranch for six years. Then came
a trip to Idaho and in 1884 he settled in Cottonwood,
where he raised cattle for several years and also engag-
ed in the livery business : in 1900 he purchased his
present business.
In 1877, in Arkansas, Mr. Lyon married Miss
Josephine Wood and to them were born one son and
"four daughters: Lee, deceased, Ollie Robbins, Myr-
tle, Laura, Minnie. On October 20, 1893, Mrs. Lyon
was called from her home and family by death. On
November 27, 1902, Mr. Lyon married Mrs. Alex-
andra E. (Kelly) Woods, who was born in London,
England. She has two children by a former marri-
age, Charlie and Gertrude. Her father, John Kelly,
Esquire, was a publisher at 1617 Paternoster Row,
London. Tbis publishing business was bequeathed
to him by alderman Kelly, Lord Mayor of London.
He walked into London with a pack on his back. His
wife was Caroline Child. This daughter was born
on the day King Edward VII married Princess Alex-
andra, of Denmark, March 10, 1863. Mrs. Lyon was
highly educated, being a graduate of Queen's College,
London, after which she spent two years in Germany
and one in Paris, taking special courses in music, in
which art she is highly talented. In addition to these
accomplishments, Mrs. Lyon is a fluent linguist, speak-
ing German, French and English. She came to the
United States in 1892. Mr. Lyon is a strong Demo-
crat and an influential man in his party. Although
his services amply demand it, still he has never applied
for a pension from the government.
WILLIAM H. SHORT lives two and one-half
miles up the big Salmon river from Riggings and de-
votes his attention to mining and stockraising. He was
born in Massachusetts. August 16, 1833. the son of
Henry Summer and Clarissa (Richmond) Short, na-
tives of Massachusetts. His father was a machinist
and also a minister in the Baptist church. The ances-
tors of the family were patriots in the Revolutionary
war. The Old Bay state remained the home of our
subject until he was twenty-one years old. during which
time he had received a good education and learned the
trade of a ship carpenter. In October. 1853. he crossed
the Isthmus of Panama to California and mined in
Placer, Siskiyou. Klamath and Trinity counties. In
1863 he went to Canyon City, Oregon"; thence to The
Dalles and the next year came to Warren and engaged
in mining. He also delved for gold in Florence and
then returned to Warren until 1872 when he journeyed
to British Columbia, and mined three vears. He spent
three winters in Sitka, one winter in Victoria, and one
in Portland. In T876, when he was going to Sitka to
winter, the the rest of his party went to San Francisco
in the ship Northern and all were lost at sea. In the
fall and winter of 1877 we find him in Santa Barbara,
California. The next year he returned to Florence and
mine: I. In the fall of 1879 he came down the Big Sal-
IVAN D. LYON.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
569
mon and bought his present mining claims, which he
has worked since. Late years Mr. Short has raised
considerable stock. He was part owner in one mine in
Warren that produced three thousand dollars a week,
for some weeks. He says Bemis, Sanderson Rice and
Culver took out more gold than any one else in the
early days.
In 1893 Mr. Short married Miss Samantha A.,
daughter of Thomas B. and Catherine (Cartwright)
Curtis. The father was born in Tennessee and lives
in Meadows, Idaho, where also the mother is living.
Mrs. Short was born in Arkansas in 1876 and has five
brothers. Charles, James, Richard, Arthur, Samuel.
Mr. Short has two brothers, James M. and George R.
Two children are the fruit of this marriage, Martha,
aged nine, and Clarissa, aged seven. Mr. Short is a
Republican and votes it straight. He has one hundred
and sixty acres of placer ground and other property.
In the fall of 1865 Mr. Short, James Stratton and
Michael Deasy bought the claim where Mr. Short now
lives. They started down to John GofFs place, where
Goff is now built, and it being the year of the deepest
snow known, there were many slides. Messrs. Strat-
ton and Short were in the lead and they slipped down a
little pit and just then a snow slide came that caught
James Stratton and carried him nearly across the Sal-
mon river. He arose to the top of the snow, faced and
then sank to rise no more.
RICHARD L. RIGGINS is proprietor of the Rig-
gins Hotel, conducts a blacksmith shop, runs a feed
barn and is postmaster at Riggins, Idaho. He was born
near Grangeville, Idaho, May 21, 1876. His father,
John T. Riggins, a native of Missouri, was a
farmer and blacksmith, who came to Camas prairie
in 1869. The mother of Richard was Asenath (Wil-
mot) Riggins. The native place of our subject
was the scene of his early studies and there he re-
mained until manhood's estate was reached. He spent
two years in the state university at Moscow, preparing
himself for a civil engineer, but owing to stringent
financial conditions he was obliged to abandon his
project before receiving his degree. In 1895 he went
to driving stage on the Salmon route ; then farmed and
freighted until March, 1901. when he came to his
present location, secured a postoffice and started a
town.
On June 13, 1897, Mr. Riggins married Miss
Ethel Jones. Her parents, Henry S. and Nancy
(Crow) Jones, resided near Tolo and were natives of
Virginia. Her father served in the Confederate army
and died July 29, 1901. The mother is still living.
Mrs. Riggins was born in Oregon in 1878 and has
three brothers and one sister. Mr. Riggins has one
sister and three brothers: Allie McCready, Fred.
Arthur, Carl. One child. Henrietta, has been born to
-our subject and his wife.
Mr. Riggins is a member of the K. of P.. is a
justice of the peace and in politics is a Republican.
He hauled the first wagon load of freight ever brought
into Florence for Fitzgerald, the discoverer of the
Ozark mine. Mr. Riggins is a member of the Pioneer
Association at Grangeville and is a good and sub-
stantial man.
ALBERT F. NURSS is the well known ice man
of Grangeville, who also owns a good farm, which is
the spot on which Howard erected headquarters in
1877 and a part of the edifice is used by Mr. Nurss
as a residence. He was born in New York in 1855,
and is the son of Jard and Hulda J. (Blakesley)
Nurss. The mother was born in 1836 and died in
1902. The family removed to Illinois when our sub-
ject was young and he was raised mostly by his rela-
tives. When twenty-three he went to Kansas and
worked for a year, then he went to Nebraska and one
year later found him in the famous Wood river coun-
try of southern Idaho. When he came here in the fall
of 1882, there was still excitement regarding the In-
dians. After renting land and selling the crop he
wrote to the land department of the Linked States
regarding this famous camp Howard and finding it
subject to entry he took it as a preemption and later
filed a homestead right on it. For seventeen years
Mr. Nurss has been in the ice business in addition to
handling his farm, now having a regular wagon and
delivers to the people of Grangeville, enjoying a thriv-
ing trade.
In Illinois, in 1877, Mr. Nurss married Miss Nora,
daughter of J. M. Davis, a pioneer of Illinois. Mrs.
Nurss was born in Illinois in i860 and has two
brothers and three sisters, who are all living in the
east except one, in Idaho county, who came as a
pioneer here in the early sixties. Mr. Nurss has five
brothers and sisters all deceased. The following
named children have been born to them : Roy E.,
Mary McLean, Dora, Gracie Bickford, Allen, Harvey,
Effie. Mr. Nurss is a member of the W. of W., of
the I. O. O. F., and is a Democrat. He was a member
of the school board for seven years. Mrs. Nurss is a
devout member of the Baptist church.
EDGAR W. LEVANDER lives at Goff, Idaho,
where he does a general farming business, also mines,
manages a ferry and runs a blacksmith shop. Mr.
Levander is a busy man, one of the prosperous citi-
zens of the county and in excellent standing with all
who know him. He was born in Umatilla county,
Oregon, on April 16. i86q. the son of John O. and
Sarah (Cox) Levander. The father is the postmaster
at Goff and devotes his attention to mining. He was
a pioneer to Oregon in 1861 and the following year
mined at Oro Fino and in 1865 in the Boise basin.
He is a native of Sweden and settled in his present
location in 1894. The mother was born in Missouri
and still lives at Goff. Our subject was but an infant
when the parents moved to Idaho the last time, and
spent the first fifteen years of his life in the Boise
basin, where he gained his education. Then they
570
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
moved to the Salmon meadows in Washington county,
where he assisted his father in handling cattle. When
he became of age he commenced operations inde-
pendently with a fine start of a good bunch of cattle.
In 1893 he came up the Salmon and took a claim near
Slate creek, where lie devoted himself to general farm-
ing and stock raising until 1899, in which year he came
to Goff and put on the ferry that he is now operating
here. .Mr. Levander also took a mining claim and
built a blacksmith shop.
On Inly 2, 1891, Air. Levander married -Miss May,
daughter of John A. and Minerva (Whited) Richard-
son.'" The father was a stockman and a native of
Illinois. He was one of the early pioneers to the coast
and mined in Florence, Warren and other Idaho
camps. His death occurred in 1900. The mother is
still living. Mrs. Levander was born in Baker county,
Oregon, in 1872 and has four brothers and one sister:
George, Clarence, Harland. Clara, Wallace. Mr.
Levander has the following brothers and sisters:
Emma, Eva, Anna, Homer, Ella, Vergil, Celestia. Mr.
and Mrs. Levander have four children : Edith, Edna,
Lerov, Hazel. In political matters our subject is a
strong Democrat. In addition to his holdings at
Goff he has a fine ranch of one hundred and sixty
acres near Slate creek besides other property.
ALFRED H. BISHOP is one of the prominent
mining men of Idaho county, being president of the
Mikado Mining and Mill Company and also interested
in many other propositions in Florence and other dis-
tricts, the properties including both placer and quartz.
He was born in Carroll county, Indiana, on October 27,
1839, the son of Walker H. and Rachel (Clark) Bishop.
The father was born in Alabama in 18 12 and died in
1897. He was a pioneer in Iowa in 1853, Butler coun-
ty, and participated in the Black Hawk Indian war. He
was sheriff of Butler county Eor twelve consecutive
years. The mother was born in Ohio in 1815 and died
in 1888. She came of Irish ancestry and her father
was born in Ireland. Our subject went to Butler coun-
ty with his parents, and in that Iowa home he secured
Ills main education and also learned the art of the
carpenter and builder. In 1861 he pressed to the front
for the defense of his country and enlisted in Company
I, Third Iowa Infantry, on June 10. He went in as
private and served until February to, 1863, and re-
ceived an honorable discharge. He enlisted at once in
Company G. Thirty-second Iowa, where he served until
July 20, 1865 He was promoted to sergeant in 1863
and to first sergeant soon after. Mr. Bishop served
faithfully through many battles and was active during
the whole period. Following the war he returned to
his home and remained in lnwa until 1874, traveled
around some and went to Dakota and in 1S81 he lo-
cated land at Dayton, Columbia county. Washington.
Mr. Bishop farmed and did contracting there until
1895, when he made his advent to Idaho count)-. He
at once gave his attention to mining and at this indus-
try he has continued since. In 1900, Mr. Bishop was
elected cotmtv commissioner on the Democratic ticket
and gave a good administration.
In 1862, Mr. Bishop married Miss Rose Poisall,
who was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. Her
father, Peter Poisall, was chosen as a juryman to try
John Brown, he having removed to Harper's Ferry
about the time of the John Brown raid. But Mr. Pois-
all refused to act. To Mr. and Mrs. Bishop there were
born three children, Bell M. Skelton, in Mt. Idaho;
Bessie Nesbon . Harry, an electrician in Alaska. Mr.
Bishop has the following named brothers and sisters,.
William C. Charles, Philander, Sophia Sherburn. Mr.
Bishop is a man of excellent qualifications, has had a
large experience in the affairs of the business world
and is one of the substantial and leading citizens of the
county.
JUDGE JOSEPH K. VINCENT, ex-probate
judge of Idaho county and one of the well known and
Lading figures in the northern part of the state for
vears, is now dwelling at Mt. Idaho, where he enjoys
the distinction and prestige due for years of meritor-
ious service and an honorable upright walk. He was
born in Salem, Massachusetts, on June 26, 1822, the
son of Joseph and Lettie (Pease) Vincent, natives of
the Bay state also. The father, who was a sailor, was
murdered in the West Indies. The mother died in
Massachusetts. The ancestors of both sides of the
house were of the stanch Yankees who formed and sus-
tained this great nation. Our subject grew to man-
hood in his native place, received educational training
from the public schools, and also learned the art of
printing and carpentering there. In 1849 he. came to
California, remaining until January, 1855, then he went
to the Sandwich Islands, thence to Oregon, where he
mined and then joined the volunteers to fight the Rogue
river Indians. The savages held him captive five days
before he was rescued when it was found that his feet
and legs were badly frozen. At the time of the Civil
war he enlisted again and was stationed at Ft. Lap-
wai where he did duty for three years and three
months. In 1865 we find him in Lewiston, then he was
post sutler and later police judge at Lewiston. At the
time of the Indian war he volunteered and fought tin-
der General McConville and later was provost judge
under one of the commanders. In 1888, Mr. Vincent
came to Cottonwood and operated the hotel for a couple
of years and in June, 1891, came to Mt. Idaho and here
operated a hotel for six years. Here he was elected
probate judge for two years and was nominated again
later but went down with his party. For forty years
Mr. Vincent has been justice of the peace and was
bailiff of the court for several years.
On December 25, 1865, Mr. Vincent married Miss
Elizabeth M., daughter of Alonzo and Rachel (Bliss)
Leland. The father was an old Oregon pioneer and
was editor and postmaster in Portland for years. He
came to Lewiston in 1861 and was a prominent man
there. He was born in Vermont and died in March,
1898. Mrs. Leland was born in Rhode Island and died
in 1895. Mrs. Vincent was born in Pawtucket, Rhode
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
57i
Island. She has one brother, Charles F., in Grange-
ville. The following children have been born to Mr.
and Mrs. Vincent, foseph S., William H., in Mt.
Idaho ; Alonzo P., in Seattle ; Lettie R., in California ;
Edward S.; in Grangeville; Charles F., deceased;
Harry G., Alida M., Tamany C, all in Grangeville.
Mr. \ incent belongs to the G. A. R., and he and his
wife affiliates with the Episcopalian church. He is an
active Republican and an influential spirit in the politi-
cal realm. Mr. Vincent had the contract to transfer
the bones of the soldiers to Walla Walla. The remains
were exhumed and transferred in the fall of 1890. He
believes fifty-six soldiers and three officers were killed
in the Indian war.
WILLIAM J. WILSON, a miner at Freedom
postoffice on the Salmon, is one of the well known
and highly esteemed veterans and pioneers of this
country. His career shows ability, courage and in-
tegrity and he has ever manifested that uprightness
and manliness which commend him to all lovers of
good. He was born in Londonderry, Ireland, May 24,
1819, the son of John and Martha J. (Wilson) Wilson,
natives of Ireland and Scotland respectively. The
father was a stockman on Belahand mountains and he
and his wife came to New Brunswick in 1829, both
being long since deceased. Our subject was reared
and educated in the North American home and in due
time was apprenticed to a marble cutter. Just before
he finished this trade he came to the United States and
enlisted in Company E. Second Missouri. Light Ar-
tillery, in 1863, and was mustered out at Washington
at the time of the grand review in 1865. Mr. Wilson
is rightly a great admirer of the noble man, Lincoln.
At the close of the war he came to Montana, then
on to Wild Horse, British Columbia. In 1876 he came
into Florence and was there at the time of the Indian
outbreak the next year. He was one of the twelve men
who came with Tolo to the rescue of the settlers on
Slate creek. Among others in the company were
Philip Geary, Jim Carey, Ike Orcutt, I. T. Johnson,
Griffith Roberts, Mike Deasy, and John Hickey. Our
subject is justly called Captain Wilson, for at this
critical time he outlined the fortifications which he
assisted to construct on Slate creek, which afterward
were very well spoken of by military men and owing
to their strength doubtless kept the Indians at bay.
Mox Mox and Captain John tried to inspect the forti-
fications, but they were not allowed to do so. Old Air.
Shoemaker brought Mrs. Osborne s child here on his
back and told them that Mrs. Osborne and Mrs. Walsh
were making their way toward the fort. Captain Wil-
son immediately volunteered to go and meet them ;
later Sam Pell went with him and after they had gone
a short distance, the others coming to their assistance,
they rescued the women. An account of this was pub-
lished in one of the Walla Walla papers and reflects
great credit on Captain Wilson. Mr. Wilson is credited
with having discovered the Slate creek mines which
yielded twenty-five thousand dollars. He is still min-
ing, having a good quartz claim in Florence, besides
other property. He is a Republican and receives from
the government a slight acknowledgment of his faith-
ful services in the Rebellion in the form of a pension.
ANDREW HANSEN. Three miles down the
river from Lucile, Idaho, is the home of the subject of
this article. He is one of the successful miners of
Idaho county and in addition to handling this industry,
is the official road overseer of his district. He has in
charge twenty-three miles of road and twenty miles of
trail. Andrew Hansen was born in Denmark, 1835,
the son of Hans and Mary (Nelson) Hansen, both na-
tives of Denmark now deceased. When Andrew was
twelve years of age he left his home and took up the
rugged life before the mast. He sailed in every clime,
on all seas and when in Lima, Peru, he heard of the
death of his father. His education was received by
close personal application in various places of the
world. He was in Greenland and in 1849 came thence
to the United States. For three years he had head-
quarters at Cincinnati and operated a river steamer.
In 1854 we find him digging in the golden sands of
Placer county, California, and they held his labor un-
til 1858. Going to Navada, he worked in the Corn-
stock mine until i860. We next find him in The
Dalles, Oregon, and in the spring of 1861, he, with
others, crossed the I Hue mountains to the Burnt river
district, which he says was the hardest trip he ever ex-
perienced during his extensive pilgrimage, at one time
paying one hundred dollars for a sack of flour. Then
came the pilgrimage to Florence and later to Warren,
where he remained until 1871. Mr. Hansen, in part-
nership with Tom Pollock, was very successful in his
mining ventures in Warren. In 1871 he came to Col-
tax, Washington, and bought six hundred acres of
land. He farmed until 1893, in which year, like all the
others, his finances were depleted. To add to his dis-
comfort in this trying year, he broke his leg and be-
fore the complicated facture was well it had cost him
two thousand dollars. Then Mr. Hansen turned his
land over to the mortgage company, disposed of his
two bundled head of horses and turned his attention
to prospecting at Buffalo Hump. He also mined two
years in Florence and in 1896 came to the Salmon
river. Mr. Hansen is a member of the Lutheran
church and a good solid Democrat.
PHOENIX R. BRIGGS. A well and favorably
known citizen of early days, a prominent miner at the
present, and one fitted "for representation in the history
of his county, such is the subject of this article. Phoe-
nix R. Briggs was born in the vicinity of Philadelphia
on December 21, 1837. the son of Thomas and Mar-
garet (Hamilton) Briggs. The father was of English
extraction, born in Ireland, came to the United States
in his boyhood and settled in Mercer county, Illinois,
in 1842. He died in Kansas in 1887. The mother, who
is of Scotch ancestry, is also deceased. Our subject
572
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
went to Illinois with his parents and there received his
education, learned the carpenter trade and grew to
manhood. At the breaking out of the war. he enlisted
in Company C One Hundred and Second Illinois Vol-
unteer Infantry, First Brigade, Third Division, Twen-
tieth Corps, in August. 1862. He immediately went
south and engaged in hot encounters in Kentucky and
Tennessee with Bragg and .Morgan, being under Buell.
He fought at Chattanooga under "Fighting Joe"
Hooker and went on the famous march to the sea.
He was mustered out in 1865, after the grand review
at Washington. He returned to Illinois, and a year
later went to Omaha.
In Illinois in 1868, Mr. Briggs married Miss Mar-
tha Van Meter, daughter of Asa and Elizabeth \an
Meter. The following children have been born to this
union: Martha Enders, Harry S., both in Nebraska;
David and Thomas, both conductors on the B. & M.
railroad. Mr. Briggs has the following brothers and
sisters: M. M., D. B., George C. Elizabeth Shull. Airs.
Briggs was born in Illinois. They migrated from Illinois
to Iowa, later journeyed to Holt county, Nebraska, and
ten years later went thence to the Sound and Portland.
Then we see them in Umatilla county, Oregon, later
in Okanogan county, Washington, and thence in 1895
thev came to Idaho and for two years Mr. Briggs
prospected near Mt. Idaho. He located claims in Mar-
shall lake district and in the Bear creek camp. He
has two groups, the Sherman and the Mt. Marshall.
Mr. Briggs also has placer claims, the Gipsy and the
Agate. Mr. Briggs is a member of the G. A. R. and
of the I. O. O F. He was elected county coroner, but
refused to serve. He is allied with the Democratic
party and while in the army was corporal and ser-
geant.
STI.AS O. WHITING has mined in all the prom-
inent camps on the Salmon and while he has property
interests in various places especially around Florence,
he has his permanent headquarters at Mt. Tdaho. He
was born in Somerset county, Maine, between Augusta
and Bangor, on April 14. 1837, the son of Leonard
and Hannah (Dyer') Whiting. The father, who was
born in Maine in 1808, was a stone cutter and his
father was a native of Massachusetts, settling in Maine
among the first pioneers and was also a patriot in the
Revolution. Leonard Whiting came to California in
1852 and settled in Nevada county, where he mined
and operated mills for many years. The mother of
our subject was born in Maine and died in 1839. Silas
O. was educated in his native place and worked on the
farm until he was twenty-two. when he came to Cali-
fornia, Nevada county : there he remained for thirty
years, freighting and mining.
In 1889 he came to the vicinity of Cheney, Wash-
ington, then to Spokane and engaged in lumbering three
years. In 1895 he removed to Idaho county and went
to mining in the Pierce district. Then he came to Ca-
mas prairie and rented a farm near Grangeville. Two
years later we find him in Florence, where he has op-
erated much of the time since. He was watchman of
the Poorman mine and was one year and one-half at
the Blossom. In the meantime he was interested in
Bear creek country and had a share in the famous Kim-
berlv and Jewell, which recently sold for $65,000. He
now owns independent claims in the Jewell group. He
also has property on one of the best leads there, has a
third interest in the Gold Lake placer in Florence.
In 1864, in Nevada City, California, Mr. Whiting
married Miss Maria Buzzell. who was born in Penob-
scot county, Maine. Four children were born to this
union, two of whom are still living. Bertrand D. and
Nellie Everland, both in San Francisco. Mr. Whiting
is a master Mason, joining the lodge in 1864, and is a
Republican. Mr. Whiting has had much experience
in the various camps of California and he believes
the Bear creek district is ahead of any of them.
EDWARD S. SWEET is justly entitled to the po-
sition of one of the real builders of this county and
the town of Grangeville. While not here as soon as
some of the early pioneers, he has manifested since
coming an enterprise, tenacity and skill in business
lines which have brought to him a gratifying com-
petence and stimulated much action in others through-
out the county.
Edward S. Sweet was born in Whiteside county,
Illinois, on February 3, 1859, the son of James A. and
Judith (Green) Sweet The father, of Dutch extrac-
tion, was born in Chautauqua county. New York, in
1816, and died in 1891. He settled in Illinois in 1836
and remained on the old pre-emption claim until the
summons came for his departure to the other world.
The estate is still held in the family. He was sheriff
of his county and also held other offices. The mother
of our subject was born in Massachusetts in 1826. and
died in 1878. She was left an orphan when very young
and was raised by Mr. and Mrs. Scott, the parents of
the noted missionary of India fame. Mrs. Sweet
came of Scotch-Irish extraction. Our subject grew to
manhood in Illinois and was educated in the common
schools, then finished in college. He had a practical
training in handling stock and farms in his youth,
from a wise father, and for a number of years managed
the family estates. In 1892 Mr. Sweet came to
Camas prairie, began to buy land, did a general farm-
ing business and raised stock. In addition to this, he
owned a saw mill and during the hard times that came
after that he was enabled by good business tact and
skill to keep the mill running, much to the advantage
of the settlers, for it was the only mill in the vicinity
that was operated. He was faced with many hard
problems and much difficulty in these trying times,
when so many good business men went to the wall, but
Mr. Sweet was enabled by his practical ability and keen
foresight and executive force to weather the storm, and
now he is one of the heaviest taxpayers in the coun-
ty. He has a thousand acres of land, leases as much
more, has much town property, raises a large band of
cattle on the range and is also heavily interested in the
Bargain Store Company in Grangeville. Mr. Sweet
KDWARD S. SWEET
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
573
is a progressive man and his business energy has done
much for the county and towns.
While in Illinois, in 1880, Mr. Sweet married Miss
Elizabeth J., daughter of David and Nancy (Lamb)
Miller, natives of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Sweet, who was
born in Illinois in 1859, was well educated, and fol-
lowed teaching for a number of years. Her father died
in 1 90 1, but the mother is still living. She has four
sisters and two brothers. Mr. Sweet has three sisters
and two brothers, named as follows: Sarah. Maggie,
Emma, Hiram and Ernest. To Mr. and Mrs. Sweet
one daughter has been born, who is now preparing for
higher education in both literary lines and in music.
Mr. Sweet is a member of the W. of W. and of the A.
O. U. W. He was nominated by the Republicans for
county commissioner in 1901, but as the entire ticket
went down, he was sacrificed with it. At present
Mr. Sweet is a member of the board of town trustees,
and in this capacity, as in all of his labors, he brings
an aggressive policy well tempered with a conserva-
tive spirit and due knowledge of existing conditions.
He is one of the heavy operators in this part of the
state and the success that is his to enjoy demonstrates
better than aught else could do his wisdom and worth.
In his standing Mr. Sweet is highly esteemed and his
friends are numbered by legions. In 1903 Mr. Sweet
was appointed by the governor as regent of the State
University of Idaho.
WALTER S. RHETT is a native of Idaho county
and a son of which the state may be proud. He is one
of the enterprising and successful young stockmen on
Slate creek near Freedom postoffice. On September
25, 1874, he was born in the house where he now lives,
the son of William and Mary (Turner) Rhett. The
father is a native of old Virginia, born in 1845. He was
a pioneer in the early Florence and Warren excite-
ments and was an active man during the campaign
against the Indians in 1877. He secured the horse on
which Tolo rode to Florence and as she ruined the ani-
mal, he was obliged to pay one hundred and fifty dol-
lars for it. The mother of our subject was born in
Oregon in 1842, the daughter of the earliest pioneers
of that state. Our subject grew to manhood in his
native place and was educated in the public schools ad-
jacent, and in the higher institutions at Lewiston and
Baker City. Returning from his studies, he engaged
in the stock business, which he followed successfully
for a number of years, then sold out. Three years
later, 1897, he took up this industry again and has
continued the same with his usual success until the
present time.
On October 17, 1896, Mr. Rhett married Miss Ola.
daughter of Moses H. and Nellie (Leland) Rice. The
father is a stockraiser and one of the earliest pioneers
in northern Idaho. He is a native of Ohio and served
here during the Indian war. The mother of Mrs.
Rhett was born in Oregon and died in 1888. Mrs.
Rhett was born on Camas prairie on November 27,
1875, and has three brothers and two sisters, Miles H.,
Bailey F., Leland F., Nancy, and Elfreda. Mr. Rhett
has one brother and two sisters, Albert W\, Clara J.
Grostein, Carrie F. Greer. Three children are the
fruit of this marriage, Chester H, Myrtle K., Wallace
W. Mr. Rhett is a Republican. He owns a good quar-
ter section, raises alfalfa, has a fine orchard and raises
stock. He is a member of the Pioneers' Association at
Grangeville and is a good substantial man.
JOHN NEVIN, the popular merchant at Freedom,
Idaho, is a bright son of the Emerald Isle, the date of
whose birth is April 13, 1871. His parents, James and
Nancy (Dempsey) Nevin, were both natives of the
same country, where they live now. The first seven-
teen years of John's life was spent in his native land
in the pursuit of knowledge, gained in both the public
schools and in the law university. In 1883 he abandoned
the legal lore, bade farewell to his loved ones and left
the native land for the United States. He worked two
years in an iron smelter in Pennsylvania, and one year
in West Virginia in the coal mines. In the spring of
1 89 1 he came to Idaho county and settled on Slate
creek, where he did placer mining. He also packed to
the mines and worked in Josh Fockler's store at Slate
Creek. Then he spent two years in Freidenrich's store
at Whitebird. In the spring of 1902 Mr. Neven bought
Mr. Fockler's place on Slate creek and since then he
has devoted himself to doing a fine general merchandise
business.
On April 15, 1903, Mr. Nevin married Miss Jennie,
daughter of W. A. and Mary E. Newman. The father
is a stockman on the Salmon. Mrs. Nevin was born in
Dayton, Washington, in 1881. She is well educated and
spent some time in instructor's work. She has one sis-
ter and three brothers, Bertha M. Davis, Homer, Gro-
ver C. Milo. Mr. Nevin has the following brothers
and sisters: Daniel, James M., Thomas, Annie, An-
drew and William, all in the old country. Mr. Nevin
is a member of the Masonic order and is an active
and influential Republican, being central committee-
man. He owns a fine business, comfortable residence,
some land and is enjoying a thriving patronage. Mr.
Nevin was naturalized in 1893 at Mount Idaho.
GEORGE R. ODLE is practically a product of
Idaho county since he came here with his parents when
six months old. He is a son in which his county may
well take pride, since his walk has been upright, his
labors dominated with wisdom and consummated with
skill and enterprise and his standing is justly of the
best.
George R. Odle was born in Douglas county, Ore-
gon, on January 22, 1862, the son of James and Cath-
erine (Crusen) Odie. The father was born in Ohio,
on July 10, 1823, and died in 1898. He was a "Forty-
niner" in California, afterward going to Douglas coun-
ty, Oregon. In January, 1862, he came to Idaho in the
Florence excitement, where he took land and broke the
574
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
first furrow near Mt. Idaho. He was married August.
3, 1S54. His wife was born 111 Illinois and crossed the
plains with her parents, who settled in Douglas county,
where the marriage occurred. Mr. James Odle was
twice representative to the legislature of Idaho. He
also held county offices and fought in the Nez Perces
war. Our subject came to Idaho county with his
mother in June.' 1S62, the father having come in the
lanuarv preceding. He grew to manhood on the old
homestead, where he now lives, received here his edu-
cation and has been one of its substantial citizens for
years. When he was of age he took a half section of
land on Camas prairie and since has continued farming
and raising stock. Mr. Odle remembers well the Nez
Perces war, being then fifteen. He saw the destruction
after the battle on the Clearwater, the effects of the In-
dians being confiscated and destroyed. At one time a
scouting party of Indians came within a half mile of
Alt. Idaho.
At Mt. Idaho on March 19, 1890, Mr. Odle married
Miss Julia, daughter of James R. and Hannah (Coch-
ran) McCurdy. The father was born in Ireland, came
to the United' States in his youthful days, and settled
in California in 1857, having married in Pennsylvania
on March 30, 1852. The mother of Airs. Odle was
born in Pennsylvania on November 29, 1833. Her first
husband died, and in 1874 she married Mr. William R.
Smith and came to Idaho county in 1881. She died
February 7, 1895. Mrs. Odle was born in California
on Februarv 3. 1868, and has three brothers and one
sister, William E., deceased; John R., Charles S., Alar-
garetta Rice. Mr. Odle has three sisters, Alice Baird,
Elfreda Rice, Emma Rice, deceased. Two children
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Odle. Alethea, and
Margaretta. Mrs. Odle is a member of the Christian
church. Mr. Odle is a Democrat and also a member
of the Pioneers' Association.
SAM LARGE, who lives at Freedom, is one of the
earliest miners in Idaho county and since the first days
of fabulous wealth flowing from the hills of the Sal-
mon, he has continued until the present in mining and
is now one of the prosperous men of the section. He
has a comfortable home on the banks of the Salmon
ami a tine ditch for placer mining. Sam Large was
born in Ireland in 1841, the son of Benjamin and Jane
(Clunnen) Large, natives of Ireland, where they both
died. The father made a trip to the United States but
returned to his native country. Our subject received
his education in his native country and came to the
United States in 1855. In 1857, he made his way to
the Golden state and mined in Tuolumne county until
1 86 1, when he came on the first crest of gold excite-
ment into Idaho. He was personally acquainted with
the five men who discovered the Florence diggings and
was one of the first ones in the Warren camp. He
owned some of the best claims in the camp and con-
tinued making money fast until 1875. In 1864 they
had a famine and for many days lived on nothing but
beans, without even salt to eat. One wag. old Jimmy
loah, became so set against the beans that he seasoned
them with spoiled grease which gave them another taste
and odor, too. In 1875. Air. Large bought his present
place and since then has devoted himself to working
this one claim. He was on the place at the time of the
Indian outbreak and went to Slate creek to the forti-
fications there. Indians came to see how well they
were manned but they were warned off. They were
forted up rive weeks in this place and then three weeks
in Alt. Idaho, where he went to buy supplies. Mr. Large
has the place where Tolo was with the sick squaws.
On November 4. iS8_i. Mr. Large married Mary
Porsell, a native of Ireland. Her parents were natives
of Ireland, also. The father died there, the mother
and this daughter coming to the United States. Mrs.
Large has two brothers, John and Patrick. The fol-
lowing named children have been born to this union,
Alary. Thomas. Benjamin, John and James. Air.
Large is a Alason. He is also a member of the Cath-
olic church. Politically he is an active Democrat. In
early days he remembers one man, Air. Knotts, selling
potatoes to the miners at seventy-five cents per pound.
1'iii- was with the clay on and when they were washed
half was taken off in dirt. They were so small that
thev became famous to every old timer as "Knotts'
pills."
HON. LOYAL P. BROWN, deceased. No man
was better or more favorably known in Idaho county
than the esteemed gentleman and leading citizen men-
tioned above and it is fitting that a memorial of him
be incorporated in the history of northern Idaho.
L. P. Brown was born in Stratford, New Hamp-
shire, on September 26, 1829. He removed to Boston
when sixteen and engaged in a mercantile establish-
ment. In 1849 ne joined the Alassasoit company that
fitted and went to California, via the isthmus, arriving
in San Francisco on July 12. 1849. Mr. Brown at once
went to milling on the middle fork of the American
river at Rector's bar and did well. The next spring
he went to the mines on Trinity river and opened a
store, continuing until 1852. Then he went to Scotts-
burg, < >regon, and followed merchandising for three
years. Then, in response to Governor George L.
Clearey's call for men, in 1855, joined the ranks as
quartermaster at Roseburg, in the Rogue river war.
Then he farmed in Douglas county until 1858 and took
his family back to New Hampshire. A year later he
fitted out horse teams and made the journey across the
plains, being accompanied by many of his relatives. He
settled in the Umpqua valley and raised stock until the
breaking out of the Salmon river gold excitement, when
he came to Idaho county and settled at what is now Mt.
Idaho, on Julv 18, 1862. He laid out the town and has
fostered it since until it became the county seat. This
was his home until the time of his death. He followed
farming, raising stock, milling, operating a hotel and
other tines of business. Air. Brown was a member of
the Territorial Council and in 1875 was instrumental
in arranging the boundary of the county so that Alt.
[dahol lie county seat. He was one of the lead-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
575
ing men of the county, always wrought with wisdom
and his counsel was instrumental in doing much for
Idaho county. Mr. Brown was a moving spirit in the
time of the Indian war here and his house and purse
were open to sufferers, as scores of benefitted set-
tlers who were forced to flee to Mt. Idaho for refuge
will testify. Mr. Borwn wrote the message securing
quarters at Lapwai for the refugees and did much to
alleviate suffering. Mr. Brown was an ardent Re-
publican and was the most powerful and influential
member of his party in the county, but he never let
politics interfere with social life.
On October 24, 1854, in the Umpqua valley, Ore-
gon, Mr. Brown married Sarah T., daughter of
George \Y. and Sarah A. (Ridgeley) Crusen. The
father was a native of Virginia and crossed the plains
with his family, one of which was Mrs. Brown. The
mother of Airs. Brown was born in Maryland and died
November 4, 1886, aged seventy-nine. Airs. Brown
crossed the plains with her husband, after returning
east by water. She has one sister, Airs. C. L. Odle,
in Lewiston. Air. Brown had one brother, Alonzo
Brown, in Oakland, Oregon. Four children have
been born to Air. and Airs. Brown, Rollin C, in this
county ; Helen K., deceased ; Ada Hovey, in Lewiston ;
Daisey Smith, at Whitebird. Air. Brown was called to
the world beyond on April 9, 1896. He was univer-
sally mourned and tributes of respect were offered by
FRANK L. TAYLOR is one of the prosperous
and leading stockmen of the Salmon valley. He owns
a tine ranch three miles down the river from Fr.ee-
doom and also handles nearly three hundred head of
cattle. He was born near Tipton, Iowa, on April 18,
1868. the son of Benjamin F. ami Judith (Bradley)
Taylor. The father was born in Ohio in 1834, came
to the Palouse country in 1872 and had served three
years in the Civil war, where he received a serious
wound in his thigh. The mother of our subject was
born in Iowa in 1845. Frank L. was taken with his
parents to Oregon when four years old and was reared
and educated mostly in Pullman. Washington. When
nineteen he went to do for himself and when twenty-
one bought a farm near Guy. He continued there for
the intervening years until 1891, then came to the Sal-
mon country and bought his present place of Josh
Fockler. He has devoted himself to general farming
and raising stock since that date and has been -well
prospered.
On December 22, 1896, Air. Taylor married Miss
Alary C. daughter of Samuel and Isabella (Kelly)
Benedict. The father was a rancher and merchant 'at
Whitebird. He was born in the province of Ontario,
Canada, and was killed by the Indians on Time 14,
1877. The mother was born on Staten Island and is
now Mrs, Robie, mentioned in this work elsewhere.
Airs. Taylor was born in Lewiston, in 1866. Mrs.
Taylor's brothers and sisters are mentioned elsewhere
in this work. Air. Taylor has two sisters and one
brother, Charles, Alary j„ Phoebe Bloom. Three chil-
dren have been born to them, Addie Maurine, Lester
B., and Samuel II. Politically Air. Taylor is a Repub-
lican. He owns a fine place and is one of the sub-
stantial men of the county. Airs. Taylor and her
brother, Grant, were attending school at the time of
the Indian outbreak and went to Grangeville, which
was near to the residence of Win. Pearson, thence to
Alt. Idaho where they were taken care of in the house
of Air. H. Rice, until the mother came.
PMiTER SAIITH is one of the early miners who
has continued in the same occupation which was so
popular in the balmy days of gold excitement. He is
now located eight miles up the Salmon from White-
bird and is partner in the firm of Robie & Smith. He
w^as born in Gotland, Sweden, on the Baltic sea, in
1832, the son of Olif and Anna (Oman) Smith.
The father spelled his name Smitt and was a master
workman in a shoe factory in 'his native land. The
mother was born in Gotland. Our subject received his
education there and when twelve went to sea and was
in various parts of the world. He came to the United
States when he was sixteen and in 1857 went to Cal-
ifornia and mined in Eldorado and Placer counties.
In the spring of 1862 he came to the Salmon country
and dug gold at Florence ; at Warren he was one of
the owners of the great hydraulic plant. Seventeen
years were spent there successfully and in 1877 he
sold out and came to the Salmon and bought his
present place. He also bought a ranch in connection
with Air. Robie, who was his partner in all his trans-
actions. Air. Robie conducted the ranch until his
death, while Air. Smith still operates the mine. When
Air. Robie died his wife went on with the ranch. Mr.
Smith is a Alason and a good, solid Republican of
worth and influence. He lias kept little or no cor-
respondence with the old country and therefore
knows little of his relatives there ; the father died
when the son was a lad and the mother marrying again
he has half-sisters and half-brothers. Air. Smith has
one full sister, Albertina Fredricka. About three
years ago Air. Smith had a runaway and was thought
to be dead, his head being badly cut. He was taken
to Grangeville and lay senseless until the physician
lifted the skull where it was pressing on his brain.
He recovered rapidly and was soon at his post in the
mines again.
FRED C. BURGDORF is proprietor of the popu-
lar and widely known hot springs at Resort, Idaho
county, which he has handled since 1870. having the
place now provided with all comforts and roomy
apartments. The springs are justly famous, being
noted for the curative properties of their waters and
the place is filled with guests all the time. Air. Burg-
dorf also owns two or three ranches in addition to this
and three hundred head of cattle as well, having, too,
some extra fine Hereford males, and he has prospered
and met with good will and esteem on every hand be-
576
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
cause of his skill and wisdom and because of his geni-
ality and stanch worth.
Fred C. Burgdorf was born in Germany on Novem-
ber 22, 1839, being the son of Hans C. and Lena
(Kohrd) Burgdorf, natives also of the fatherland,
where they remained until their death. Our subject
grew up in the parental home until sixteen, having ac-
quired a good education, and then went to sea. He
was shipwrecked near China and being picked up by
an American steamer, he came to San Francisco in
1863. He was very sick and the kind captain placed
him in a hospital and secured a doctor. In 1864 Mr.
Burgdorf came to Warren and dug gold for three
years. Then he spent eighteen months in Lewiston and
later returned to Warren. Having loaned $800.00
on the warm springs, he took them on August 20,
1870. to pay his claim and since that time he has de-
voted himself to handling the property with his other
intersets and he has made a brilliant success in finan-
cial matters.
Mr. Burgdorf has an excellent building of twenty
and more rooms and the place is liberally patronized.
The springs flow six thousand gallons per hour. He
was here during the Indian war but was unmolested
by the savages. On July 28, 1902, Mr. Burgdorf mar-
ried Janette Foronsard, from Denver. The wedding
occurred at Resort. Mr. Burgdorf has one brother in
Germany, Conrad, a retired sea captain. Mr. Burg-
dorf is a solid Republican and committeeman for his
precinct. He and his wife belong to the Lutheran
church. On his river ranch, known as the Raines
ranch. Mr. Burgdorf raises all kinds of fruit. Mr.
Raines took it in an early day and the Sheepeater In-
dians killed him. The Indians were named from their
propensity to eat mountain sheep. The mines adjacent
to Resort are being developed and it is one of the prom-
inent mining sections of the county.
WINFIELD S. REYNOLDS is well known as
the ferryman at the old state bridge near Florence
and has been engaged in various other callings in Ida-
ho county. He was born in Virginia in 1848, the son
of Stephen J. and Elizabeth (Lohr) Reynolds, born
in Virginia in 181 2 and 1818, respectively. They
still live in their native state. Our subject grew to
manhood there and remained with his father in busi-
ness until he was thirty-five. He was in the Con-
federate army and had one finger shot off. The father
was also in the struggle. In 1896 Mr. Reynolds came
west and after a time to Grangeville, he went on to
Elk City where he engaged in the stock and butcher
business. After two years at this he came to Grange-
ville and with his brother, Alex T., he opened a large
distillery and they operated it for one year. Then
Mr. Reynolds went into the saloon business, where he
continued for two years. After this venture he came
to his present location and started the ferry that he is
now operating.
In Virginia, in 1877, Mr. Reynolds married Mel-
vina Fox, daughter of William and Peggy (Hodge)
Fox, natives of Virginia. Mrs. Reynolds was born in
Highland county, Virginia. Mr. Reynolds has three
brothers and four sisters, and is a strong Republican.
He owns the ferry where he is living and also a fine
farm near Grangeville. He is a man of broad ex-
perience and has made good success since coming to
this country.
LIEUT. RICHARD H. HARTMAN is both a
first-class business man and a man of excellent mili-
tary qualifications, having demonstrated his ability in
both lines, the former in many places and especially
in Grangeville, where he has followed painting, deco-
rating and paper hanging, while in the latter his re-
cord in the Spanish war leaves no doubt as to his
worth and standing.
Richard H. Hartman was born in Saxony, Ger-
many, on August 22, 1864, the son of Richard H. and
Martha (Wolf) Hartman, born in Saxony in 1828
and 1832 and died in 1898 and 1891, respectively.
The father's ancestors were natives of the same place
for generations preceding. He participated in the war
between Austria and Saxony in 1866. Our subject
remained in his native place acquiring a good educa-
tion until fifteen and then started out for himself. He
travelled one year in Germany and then came to the
United States. He spent some time in New York
and three years in Pensylvania, then went to Montana,
the Coeur dAlene country and on to Spokane. This
was in the spring of 1884, the city then being small.
He was soon in Portland, whence he went to San
Francisco and in 1886 came to Rock Springs, Wyom-
ing, and was there during the Chinese excitement.
After three years he traveled in the east, visited Chi-
cago, St. Louis and other places, then came to Pendle-
ton and finally settled in Grangeville on August 4,
1891. He took up carpentering and later went at
his trades of painting and decorating. Mr. Hartman
joined the Idaho National Guards on May 15, 1897,
as second lieutenant of Company C, First Idaho. On
April 28, 1898, he joined the Volunteers and was
mustered in on May 13, 1898, as first lieutenant. He
left San Francisco on June 27, arrived at Manila on
July 31, 1898. He participated in the capture of that
place and was given command of his company, the
captain having retired, and continued in that capacity
until just before his departure. He fought in the bat-
tles of Manila, August 13, Santa Ana, February 4,
5, 1899, Coloorcan, February 10. 11, Guadalupe, Santa
Cruz and in many skirmishes. He was offered a com-
mission in the United States regulars, but as the cli-
mate did not agree with him he refused. When he
got out of the hospital he weighed one hundred and
twenty-nine pounds. He was discharged on Septem-
ber 25, 1899, at San Francisco and returned to Grange-
ville on October 4, 1899. again taking up his business,
since which time he has devoted himself to it with good
success.
Mr. Hartman is a perfect master of the English
and also of the mother tongue. He has three brothers
and three sisters in Germany. His brother, Emil, is
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
577
sergeant major in the German army. Mr. Hartman
is a member of the Red Men and took the first degree
of Masonry in Manila. He is an active Republican
and influential in political circles.
RICHARD E. PELL, who resides near Clearwater,
owns land but devotes himself almost entirely to
freighting. He has become expert in this line of busi-
ness and has handled goods from Lewiston before the
railroad came but now handles form Stites to Elk, Buf-
falo Hump,' and other places. He is a man of enter-
prise in his labors and does a good business.
Richard E. Pell was born in Linn county, Oregon,
on November 24, 1870, the son of John G. and Nancy
(Tinley) Pell. The father was a farmer and was born
in Clarke county, Missouri, in 18,39, January 8. He
was a pioneer in Linn county, came to Idaho in 1878
and now lives in Clearwater. The mother was born in
Linn county, Oregon, in 1849. His parents crossed
the plains in 1848. Our subject come with his parents
to Tammany hollow, near Lewiston, in 1878, there re-
ceived his education and remained until he was nine-
teen. He learned the art of cooking and followed it in
various places. In 1889 he came to Clearwater, in Ida-
ho county, and took a homestead. In 1895 he went to
Montana and cooked for two years, but returned to
Idaho county, as he was taken sick. Later he retired
from the kitchen altogether and gave his entire atten-
tion to freighting. At the early age of eleven, Mr.
Pell commenced to do for himself and he has been
hustling since that time. In politics he is allied with the
Democrats, but is not an office seeker. He is one of the
substantial wealth makers of the county and has made
a good record.
ALVIS A. KINCAID is a miner in the true sense
of the word. He knows the business from the time
of locating all the way through, and he has given him-
self to it in later years to the exclusion of all other
business. He is a man of deep study in these lines and
has accomplished a good showing for the time he has
wrought in it. Alvis A. Kincaid was born in Kentucky
in 1858, the son of James M. and Olivia (Moss) Kin-
caid. The father was born in Kentucky, in January,
1830, and died on April 17, 1897. He went to Califor-
nia in 1865, located in Solano county, where he farmed
and raised stock. He came to the Palouse country in
1877 and remained until death. He had fought in the
Confederate army and was of Scotch-Irish ancestrage.
The mother of our subject was born in Tennessee and
still lives in Palouse. Our subject was but seven when
the family took the long journey across the plains and
mountains to California. The time of the burial of a
baby brother is distinctly imprinted on the mind of Mr.
Kincaid and he well remembers the deep grief of the
mother at leaving her babe in the dreary spot. Our
subject was educated in Monmouth, Oregon, and in
California, and for sixteen years after the school days
were ended, he kept books. He has always been in
close touch with his family and is looking after his
mother now. Mr. Kincaid came to Palouse with the
family and did bookkeeping and also was salesman,
but during all these years he was more or less inter-
ested in mining and made it a careful study. He had
purchased stock in various companies and in 1898, he
stepped forth and invested lor himself on the Clear-
water and since then he has been giving his time to the
prosecution of the industry of mining. He is superin-
tendent of the Evergreen and Mt. Idaho Mining Com-
pany and they are doing some good development work.
In 1878 Mr. Kincaid married Miss Josephine,
daughter of Rebecca Davis, of Farmington, Washing-
ton, the wedding occurring in Palouse. Mrs. Kincaid
was born in Lane county, Oregon and was well edu-
cated. Air. Kincaid has the following brothers and sis-
ters: William M., James M. Jr., John C, G. D., Jo-
seph E., Elizabeth, Lawrence. Five children have been
born to Mr. and Mrs. Kincaid, Mary O., Elbert A.,
Olivia, Florence, Frank. Mr. Kincaid is a Republican
since Mr. Bryan has been shaping the tenets of the other
party. Mr. Kincaid has gone into mining to follow it
the rest of his life and is putting that fund of wisdi >m,
skill, and enterprise into it which has brought him suc-
cess in other lines.
WILLIAM H. V. RICKARDS is one of the most
stirring and skillful mining men of Idaho county, as is
evidenced by what he has accomplished in that line.
He has been instrumental in bringing many different
properties to the front, and also in interesting capital
in this section, which has done much for its advertise-
ment and substantial upbuilding.
William H. V. Rickards was born in New York
city on February 4, 1853, the son of Peter H. and Re-
becca (Perry) Rickards. The father, who was a sailor,
was born in Virginia in 1814, came west to Iowa in
1857, and died in 1892. His father was English and
his mother French. The mother of our subject was born
in Philadelphia on February 14, 1833, and died in 1892.
She came of Dutch extraction and her ancestors came
to the new world in colonial days. Her father was a
patriot in the Revolution. Our subject was brought to
Iowa by his parents when four years old and there
he grew to manhood and received his education at Bur-
lington. He learned the art of cooking and followed it
for years in Burlington and Kansas City. Then he rail-
roaded on the Burlington road for years in various ca-
pacities. In 1 89 1 he came to Dayton, Washington,
landing there on April 12, where he continued to live
for six years, being engaged in threshing for a time
and then sold sewing machines. In 1893 Mr. Rickards
engaged in mining at Dixie, Elk and adjacent centers.
He made the first discoveries on the Clearwater in 1893
and in these places he continued until 1896. Then he
brought his family to Greencreek, Idaho count} , went
to Moscow and' formed the Greencreek Mining
& Milling Company and in 1898 he removed
to Spokane. He continued to locate and im-
prove properties in the sections mentioned,
578
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
formed a company in Spokane and the next
year brought his family to Grangeville, where they
have been since. In 1900 Mr. Richards went to Thun-
der mountain, also located more on the Clearwater,
secured seme asbestos property and later sold the
Thunder mountain property to eastern capital. He has
mines at Buffalo Hump and in other prominent dis-
tricts of this favored mining country.
On April 3, 1881, Mr. Rickards married Miss
Laura L., daughter of P. S. and Louise (Cocaine) Orr.
The father was a pioneer of Iowa, came to Butte, Mon-
tana, in 1862. He comes of Irish extraction. The
mother was born in Iowa and her father in Wheeling,
West Virginia. Mrs. Rickards was born in Iowa in
1865 and has five brothers and one sister, William,
Samuel, Elijah T., James, Mary and Charles.
Mr. Richards has five brothers and sisters,
Cordelia, Nettie, Mary, Rose, Harry. One child,
Charles H., aged eighteen, has been born to
this marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Rickards are
members of the Methodist church and of the Y. M.
C. A. He is an active Republican. Mr. Rickards is
one of the substantial men of this section and receives
the respect and esteem of all.
HON. ANDREW W. MOORE is one of the
prominent men of Idaho county in various lines. He
is a heavy mine owner and has some properties well
under way towards being the leading shippers of their
respective sections. He is an able man in the field of
politics, although not a politician in the sense of the
word usually considered. He is a man of integrity
and worth and holds a prominent position among
the people of this division, being also of note in the
state, as his name is mdissolubly connected with some
of tin- best improvements of the entire state.
Andrew W. Moore was born in Belmont county,
Ohio, in 1839, being the son of Allison and Elizabeth
H. 1 West) Moore. The father was born in Belmont
county also and his ancestors came from the sturdy
Scotch, and were among the earliest settlers on the
Atlantic coast. He died in 1855, aged fifty-five. The
mother was born in Ohio in 1806 and died in 1902.
She came from Scotch ancestry who were among the
colonists of the new world. Our subject was edu-
cated and reared in Illinois and in 1859, aSed twenty,
came to the Pacific coast and sought his fortune in the
golden sands of California. He was among the first
quartz miners of that favored mining section and was
successful. Later he met with the same good success,
owing to his skill and sagacity, in Montana. He was
the principal owner of the Silver Bell mine at Missoula
and is still handling a controlling interest. In 1861
Mr. Moore returned to Illinois and enlisted in Company
G, Seventh Illinois Volunteer. He went in as a pri-
vate and was soon chosen for ' first lieutenant. He
fought all through the dark and fierce struggle,
went nil the march to die sea and participated in the
grand review in Washington. He was in the active
service three vears and seven months. In 1866 he re-
turned to California and in the fall of 1877 he came
to Idaho. He operated in the Salmon district, organ-
ized the Idaho Copper Mining and Smelting Company,
put in a diamond drill in the mines of the Miller Point
and Indiana groups and has also operated in other
mines. Mr. Moore has also charge of the Wise Boy,
in the Buffalo Hump country, of which he owns a half
interest and his son owns one-eighth interest. This
property is now supplied with a ten-stamp mill, is
lighted with electricity and will be shipping in April,
1903.
On May 1, 1874, in Chicago, Mr. Moore married
Miss Frances E. Clark, a lady of culture and educa-
tion and to them have been born four children, Avery
C, in the legislature from Idaho county; Wilber E.,
manager of the Wise Boy ; Grace E., in Stanford Uni-
versity ; Andrew, Jr., in business college in .Spokane.
.Mr. Moore has three brothers and one sister, Avery,
David F., William S., Clara Filkins. Mr. Moore is a
member of the G. A. R., while his wife belongs to the
Methodist church. Mr. Moore is an active and influ-
ential Democrat and in 1900 he represented Idaho
county in the state legislature and he drew the bill and
pushed it to a successful passage which made the ap-
propriaton for the Salmon river road. He never as-
pired to office before, but saw the chance to do some-
thing for the advancement of the county and the wel-
fare of the people and so did it.
JOHN MACKIE is one' of the active and capa-
ble mining men of Idaho county and has done much
for the development and bringing to notice the
wealth of mineral in this county. He was born in
Port Huron, Michigan, on February 18, 1869, the son
of Thomas and Helen (Stone) Mackie, natives of New
York and Canada and born in 1834 and 1835, re-
spectively. They both still live in Port Huron. The
father served in a Michigan regiment all through the
war and participated in the battle of Jacksonville, be-
sides many others. He is an active and influential
G. A. R. man. Our subject grew to young manhood
and received a good common school education in his
native place. When twenty he came to Denver and
thence to Boulder, Colorado, where he mined for two
years. Then he went to the Salmon City country and
for years he prospected there and believes it is a good
counry. In 1893 Mr. Mackie was prospecting in
Montana and then was in the Fort Steele country. In
1894 he came to Warren and spent four years there.
He located some good properties and organized the
Fair View Mining Company for development of the
prospects. In 1898 Mr. Mackie sold out these interests
and went to Buffalo Hump country, he having been in
there in the previous year. He was one of the first
locators in this district and believes it one of the very-
best that he has ever visited. He located the Banner,
now called the Wisdom, but he sold it before discov-
ering its true value. Mr. Mackie has the following
claims : Phoenix, Atlanta, Woncas, Rainbow, Lone
Star, besides others and he is now organizing a com-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
579
pany to develop them. Mr. Mackie is a Democrat on
the money question, but is independent in all the ques-
tions of the day otherwise. He has one brother and
two sisters, Thomas, Lizzie Johnson, Emma Kennedy.
Mr. Mackie is well known and is a man of skill in his
calling and has demonstrated himself thus.
JOHN C. HALL is one of the proprietors of the
Idaho market and in addition to doing a general butch-
ering business and operating a first-class market, they
buy and sell stock for and on the markets. He is a
business man of good ability and pays strict attention
to his affairs, which gives him the meed of good suc-
cess.
John C. Hall was born in Des Moines, Iowa, on
August 6, 1867, the son of John and Johanna (Grif-
fin) Hall. They were born in Ireland in 1827 and
1828, respectively. The father died in 1897. He was
a pioneer in Iowa, settled where the city of Des Moines
is now and he owned considerable property there and
in other places in the state. 1853 marks the date of
his immigration to the United States. The mother
still lives in Sibley, Iowa. Our subject grew to man-
hood in his native place and acquired a good educa-
tional training from the public schools. When twenty-
two he stepped forth from the parental roof to do for
himself and farming was the occupation that attracted
him. He continued at it there until 1893, when he
made his way to Seattle and worked for wages for a
time. Then he went to Walla Walla and operated an
electric light plant for a time. Later we see him in
Klickitat county on a homestead and in 1896 he came
to Idaho and devoted himself to mining in and about
Dixie. He prospected and mined for three years and
still has some fine properties adjoinging the Apex. In
1899 Mr. Hall came and took part in the Idaho market
and since that time has devoted himself continuously
to its success and operation.
Mr. Hall has four sisters and three brothers, Mag-
gie E., Thomas and Mary, twins. William, James,
Lizzie, Alice. He is a member of the K. of P. and the
United Artisans. In political choice Mr. Hall is allied
with the Democratic party.
ALBERT D. FOSTER is a well known and a
prominent man in Grangeville, where he has done a
successful business for a number of years. He is at
present one of the proprietors of the popular Idaho
market and enjoys a liberal patronage from the peo-
ple of the town and surrounding country. He was
born in the vicinity of Syracuse, New York, on Aug-
ust 26, 1857, tne son °f James S. and Frances (Rip-
ley) Foster. The father was a real estate dealer and
commissioner of immigration for Dakota for years and
also held other important offices. He was acknowl-
edged one of the most spirited and enterprising work-
ers in the state. He was born in 1827 in Salisbury,
Connecticut, and died in Dakota in 1892. The mother
was born in New York in 1833 and now lives in Da-
kota. She, as also her husband, were descended from
Scotch ancestry and her forefathers were among the
first settlers in the United States in colonial days.
Our subject came to South Dakota in 1864, when the
family came, and here attended school, and grew to
manhood. He followed surveying for many years and
was also engaged in raising and handling stock. He
followed that business in the state for many years and
met with flattering success until the panic of 1893
drove him to the wall, as it did all others. Then
he spent some time in traveling in the west and in
British Columbia. In 1894 he decided to locate in
Grangeville. He opened a restaurant and operated
it successfully until 1902, when he sold it. During
this time, Mr. Foster had also been conducting a
butcher shop but in 1901 he sold that also. The next
year he bought an interest in the shop again and in this
position we find him at the present time.
In 1882, while in South Dakota, Mr. Foster mar-
ried Miss Hattie, daughter of Orville and Eliza (Sut-
ton) Wheeling. The father was a blacksmith and
farmer. He was born in the same place and the
same date as the father of our subject. He
served in the Rebellion, enlisting from Iowa, was
wounded in the battle of Shiloh and died in 1902.
Mrs. Wheeling was born in Kentucky. Mrs. Foster
was born in Iowa in 1864 and taught school before
she was married. Mr. Foster has four sisters and one
brother, Carrie Carney, Cora Miner, Fannie Foster,
T. Maxom. Two children have been born to Mr.
and Mrs. Foster, Fannie E. and Clara B., both at-
tending school. Mr. Foster is a member of the M.
W. A., is chairman of the city council and is an in-
fluential and active factor in the political realm, be-
ing a solid Democrat.
FRANK BROWN is manager of the famous
Jumbo mine of Buffalo Hump and is one of the best
posted and most skillful mining men in the county.
He was born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, November 1,
1861, the son of Michael and Anna (Steffins) Brown.
1 he father was a shoemaker and a native of Germany.
He came to the United States when young and served
his country in the war of the Rebellion. He went in-
to service in 1861, was taken prisoner and knew the
horrors of Libby. He continued until the war closed
and then went to Colorado and has since remained
there operating in mines. The mother was born in
Wisconsin in 1840 and died in May, 1878. Her an-
cestors were among the first settlers of Wisconsin.
Our subject went to Colorado with his parents when
he was six and there grew up and was educated. He
earlv began the industry of mining and in 1882 he went
to Wyoming and Montana where he mined for two
vears.' He was interested in the Cumberland, which is
iiow a great mine. He spent two years in the Blue
Point mines in California and in 1890 he came to
Idaho. Before coming hither he had had much ex-
perience in the places mentioned and also in New Mex-
58o
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ico and Arizona, and he is an expert in judging ores
and handling mines. Mr. Brown was one of the
first at Buffalo Hump and handled a store to furnish
supplies to the prospectors. This was in 1898 and in
1900 he sold the store and has since devoted himself
to mining. He has a heavy share in the famous
Jumbo and also has interests in thirty other prospects
and mines in the district.
In 1894 Mr. Brown married Miss Florence, daugh-
ter of William and Mary Marlatt. The father was a
native of France and mined here in Florence in early
days. Mrs. Brown was born. in Dayton, Washing-
ton, in 1874, and has nine brothers and three sisters.
Mr. Brown has the following brothers and sisters:
John W., Mary McCullough, Lizzie Moffitt, Katie
Adams, Maggie Moore. Three children have been
born to this marriage, Lottie. Florence, Benjamin.
Mr. Brown is a member of the W. W. and was county
commissioner for two years of this county. He was
condidate for auditor in 1902 but the Democratic
majority of the county was not quite overcome. He
is a strong Republican and has always been a wheel
horse. Mr. Brown lives in Mt. Idaho and in addition
to his mining interests he owns property in Lewiston
and in the Hump.
FRANCIS E. McMILLEX. A real westerner in
the true sense of the word, a man of experience equal
to the famous characters of frontier literature and one
whose constant life of prospecting, mining, hunting,
guiding, and out-door existence has conformed to the
real things of life and made him one of the most sub-
stantial and stanch citizens of the state of Idaho, — such
is the subject of this article and it is with unfeigned
pleasure that we are pivileged to chronicle the points
of his interesting career.
Francis E. McMillen was born in Jefferson county,
Ohio, on November 5, 1864, the son of Robert T., and
Matilda E. (Miller) McMillen. The father was born
in Harrisonburg, Pennsylvania, in 1828 and died in
1886. His father was in the Revolution and he having
a large government contract at the time of Civil war
was freed from military service. The mother of our
subject, born in Virginia in 1832, still lives in Ohio.
Her ancestors, as were her husband*s, were of the
sturdy Scotch and served in the Revolution, being
some of the earliest settlers in the new world. Our
subject attended school in Ohio until thirteen and then
came overland to Boise in 1877. He handled the bell
mare of the train that went into Warren and he mined,
and later went east, returning to Tuscarara, Nevada,
where he sold a mine. The next we see him in the Boise
basin placer mining and selling claims. He did well
and in 1883 he w-as in the Indian war at Bruno. He
was shot through the thigh and several of the others
were wounded by the Indians. He was under Captain
Mitchell. A Mr. Hawes and Mrs. George T. Miller
were massacred by the Indians. Mr. McMillen mined
south of the Humboldt mountains, then came to the
Wood river district and did well. In 1883 he wintered
in Boise and then came north into Idaho county. He
was in search of the famous Gates mine, from which
Mr. Gates took rich ore in the time of the Sheepeater
war. Before the excitement into Thunder mountain,
Mr. McMillen located claims there. In 1885 he was in
the Sea Foam camp and a prominent locater there. He
located property in all the leading camps of this sec-
tion and now owns good property in all the camps in
this county and in many others. He was also one of
the diligent searchers for the lead which produced the
float which has led so many in tours, but Mr. McMillen
thinks it came from the Kimberly group. Mr. McMil-
len is still searching the mountains, which he knows as
the seaman does the sea, and still takes great pleasure
in the invigorating and stimulating trips to the fast-
ness of nature's treasure vault. In all this time, he has
also spent many seasons in trapping and hunting and is
a skillful hand in these lines.
Mr. McMillen has the following brothers and sis-
ters : Elmer, John, Clarence, Charles, Dora Montgom-
ery, Martha Coston, Ida Easters. He is a member of
the K. P. and W. of W\, at Walla Walla. In Feb-
ruary, 1894, Mr. McMillen went to the far away fields
of Alaska and returned in the following June. Fie went
again in the spring of 1898, but was forced out by pneu-
monia. Mr. McMillen is a firm Presbyterian and a
man of honor and integrity.
PART IV.
HISTORY OF LATAH COUNTY
CHAPTER I.
SETTLEMENT.
The history of Latah county as a political divi- |
sion of Idaho begins in 1888; the history of the peo-
ple now living within its legal boundaries, of their
commercial, industrial and educational institutions, is
almost coeval with that of Idaho itself. The ter-
ritorial government was formed in 1863 at Lewiston,
which was even then a growing frontier town. Just
across the river on the north, rise the hills of the Pa-
louse. While it was at first thought that these hills
were worthless except as grazing lands, it was not
many years before settlements were made in some of
the small valleys and as early as 1878 Asbury Lieu-
alien had established a postoffice at Moscow, thirty
miles north of Lewiston. The first agricultural set-
tlements made in the county were about Genesee and
Moscow in 1871 and 1872. Before its removal to Mos-
cow. Lieuallen's postoffice had existed for some vears at
what was called Paradise City, one mile east" of the
present business center of the town. There were
pioneer settlements also farther south. The Hall and
Caldwell cattle ranch was occupied in 1868; Jacob
Kambitsch settled on Cow creek very near the present
site of the town of Genesee in 1871 and in 1872 there
was quite an immigration of settlers into this valley,
the town of Genesee starting but three years later. In
the northern part of the county William Ewing set-
tled on Palouse river in 1869 engaging in the cattle
business. There are but a few of the earlier settle-
ments. Others coming into Paradise valley about the
same time or a little later were G. W. Tomer, \Y. J
Hamilton, Bennet Summerfield, William Frazier,
James and Albert Howard, James Cox, John Russell,
Silas Imbler, James Montgomery. This is not the
entire list but these are well known to all early set-
tlers as men prominent in the affairs of those times.
Latah being a portion of Nez Perces county until
1888, its early history will be told in the chapter on
Nez Perces county, but we will review in this chapter
those incidents which have direct bearing on Latah's
future development and are of local interest to those
who made early settlement within its present boundar-
ies and are still active factors in progress.
No sooner had the first locations been made than
there was a demand for a postoffice, which was estab-
lished early in 1872 at the point described above and
V. Craig received the appointment as postmaster. A
mail route was at once established between Lewiston
and Paradise City postoffice and John Denny was the
first mail carrier. It was a pony route and Paradise
City was its terminus until about 1875, when it was ex-
tended to Farmington. In a short time regular
stages were put on the road and such noted characters
as Major Wimpsey, Joseph Cox. Felix Warren and
Tom La Dow were for several years drivers over this
route as well as over routes established to the mining
regions on the northeast and east. While stage driv-
ing here in early days was not fraught with so many
of the dangers that lurked in the way of the stages
in many other far western regions, yet the roads were
not infrequently cut at dizzy heights along the de-
clivitous sides of gulches and canyons ; highwaymen
were sometimes met with, and the stage driver had
necessarily to be a man of courage and skill. Travel
over these routes was never seriously interfered with
by Indians. For some time during the Indian scare
iii 1876 and 1877, travelers entered the stage with more
or less apprehension and precautionary measures were
taken to insure the safety of passengers and the safe
deliverv of mails. Drivers were well armed and
guards at times accompanied them, especially when
582
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
packages of great value were being carried. Although
the Indian scare and the highwayman are both prac-
tically things of the past, some of the old stage routes
are still in use, not by pony riders and stages, but by
farmers and travelers across the country. They have
not yet lost all of their primitive characteristics and
the tenderfoot rounds their curves and goes down their
sheer declivities with emotions that are more easily
experienced than described. Notable among these old
highways is the road now in use from Genesee via
Uniontown, down the Snake river breaks to Lewiston,
where a descent is made from an elevation of over
2,500 feet to an elevation of 600 feet in about four
miles. Citizens of Genesee will remember a ride taken
over this road a few months ago by two of their num-
ber who had recently arrived from an eastern state
and settled in their midst. Before starting they were
advised bv some of their friends who knew the road, to
be very good to the driver as there were some steep
hills to descend and they would want him to drive
slowly. The "friends" had been specific in their ad-
vice and consequently when the party started the new-
comers had with them two quarts of whiskey with
which thev at once began to treat the driver. The
driver appreciated this unusual kindness, became very-
much devoted to the bottles and by the time they had
reached the breaks was in condition to face any dan-
ger and take any risk. Before commencing the de-
scent he took a "'long puli" at the stimulants, rose in
his seat, and, to the consternation of his passengers,
swung the whip across the backs of his horses, gave
a wild "whoop" and plunged down the canyon road
at break-neck speed. No amount of entreaty or per-
suasion could induce him to slacken speed. Dan-
gerous curves were rounded in a flash, the
hack bounding over rocks and swinging danger-
ously close to the edge of the almost perpendicu-
lar walls falling down from the roadbed ; steep
descents and ascents were made with the same reck-
less speed and there was not a moment's pause
until the ferry over the Clearwater river was reached
at the bottom. The passengers clung furiously to the
sides of the hack allowing their hats and parcels to
sail away into the air and roll down the rocky canyon
sides hundreds of feet to the bottom. In the begin-
ning they rent the air with yells of terror and appre-
hension but the latter half of the wild ride was taken
in death-like silence and when the river level was
reached they had to be assisted from the wagon.
Once more finding themselves on terra firma they re-
fused to accompany their driver further but found
other conveyances into Lewiston, returning eventually
to Genesee by another road.
The early mails over these roads were irregular. In
the beginning, where everything was carried on horse-
back, the trips were only made weekly and for some
time after the extension of the line to Farmington the
weekly schedule was continued. During the summer
and fall months the mails came and went with a con-
siderable degree of regularity, but when the muddy
or stormy winter season overtook the country Gene-
see and Paradise valleys were sometimes without mail
for two or three weeks. In a speech recently delivered
before the Pioneers" Association of Latah county,
pioneer A. J. Green, of Moscow, told of the difficulty
in getting mail across the Clearwater river at Lewis-
ton. When storms prevented the operation of the
ferrv, mail was sometimes placed in a basket and
hung on the the ferry cable, when it was drawn over
the river bv a rope kept in place for the purpose. The
mail service did not improve much until some time in
the 'eighties. As late as 1881 the service was far
from being in a state of perfection. When President
Garfield was shot in 1881 it was two weeks before the
people of Paradise valley were generally apprised of
the assassination. The news reached the village of
Moscow through a chance traveler from Lewiston;
farmers who happened into the village carried it home
to neighbors and thus it was gradually spread. With
easy means of travel and communication now on every
hand it is difficult to realize the full measure of incon-
veniences and hardships with which the early settlers
had to contend. Until 1879 Walla Walla, one hundred
miles away, was the supply point for all the Palouse
country. Lewiston was nearer but it was next to in-
accessible ; it was not a produce market and prices were
next to prohibitive on every article of merchandise the
Palouse farmer needed. Enormous crops of grain and
vegetables were raised in 1879 anc^ 1880, but every-
thing had to be hauled to Walla Walla, or to Waw-
awai and shipped by boat to Portland. The cost of
transportation was very great and the margin of profit
to the farmers was correspondingly small. A trip
to Walla Walla sometimes occupied weeks ; the far-
mer could not leave his crops except at a time when
the roads were in bad condition ; yet for years, from
1871 to 1879, he must take this long journey annually,
for flour, sugar, tea, coffee and other necessities, pay-
ing 50 cents per pound for sugar, $1 per gallon for
oil, 16 cents per pound for flour, etc. Some of these
articles were regarded as luxuries and then the set-
tlers did not always indulge themselves.
In 1876 a sawmill was built by parties named
Stewart and Beach at a point about six miles north-
east of the present site of Moscow: this was the first
sawmill brought north of Snake river. It was a small
affair and was only in operation a few months when
it was sold to parties at Colfax and taken out of the
country. In 1877 R. H. Barton came to the Palouse
country and with him were S. J. Langdon and Zack
Kump. They came all the way from Corinne, Utah,
with an ox team, bringing with them a portable saw-
mill. Mr. Barton settled at the edge of the timbered
foothills, six miles northeast of Moscow, and here on
the southeast quarter of section twenty-six, town forty
north, range five west, the sawmill was put in opera-
tion in the fall of 1877. Zack Kump eventually sold
his interest in the mill to Hiram Epperly, and for
eighteen months Messrs. Barton, Langdon and Ep-
perly conducted the sawmill, furnishing all the lum-
ber used in Moscow, including that used in the con-
struction of the first hotel, the Barton House.
In a work of this scope there is not space for many
interesting details associated with the growth of a set-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
533
tlement or with the development of an industry, de-
picting individual successes and failures and dwelling
on the virtues or vices of the numerous characters in
the tragedies, comedies or pastorals of every day pio-
neer life. This is rather the function of the biographer
than of the historian. However, as the history of a
community or of a state is the history of its people, the
citizen must of necessity be associated in his indi-
vidual capacity with the history of the industries and in-
stitutions of the community in which he resides or has
resided. The pioneer of husbandry, of commercial in-
dustry, of political or educational institution is held in
high esteem by his followers and is entitled to a place
in the records of his commonwealth. From various
sources we have gathered detached items of information
that are worthy of record in the annals of Latah county,
showing as they do the spirit of the people and associat-
ing individuals prominently with the pastoral, social and
educational life of the early days. At a Fourth of July
celebration held at the foot of Moscow mountain in
1878, S. J. Langdon was president of the day: Mrs.
Fpperly, Mary and George Langdon furnished music
for the occasion, while speeches were made by R. H.
Barton, S. J. Langdon, G. W. Tomer and Dr. Blake.
At this meeting it was stated by one of the speakers
that the first Paradise valley school house was on the
southeast corner of the preemption claim of L. Haskens
and the first school was taught by Noah Lieuallen. The
building was put up in 1871. During a speech made
by R. H. Barton before the Pioneer Association in 1892,
the speaker exhibited a stool used by the teachers in
this school house; it was all that was saved when the
house was burned in 1880. The stool was made from
a section of tree split in half.' In one of the halves had
been fitted three pegs which served as legs. It is still
preserved by the Pioneers' Association. Quoting from
this speech of Mr. Barton's, we learn that William
Ewing located on the Palouse river in the northern part
of the county in 1869 and a year later Thomas Tierney
located on Thorn Creek. These were among the very
first settlers in the county. Quoting from a speech
made before the Pioneers' Association December 28,
1894, by J. L. Naylor, of Moscow, we learn that Dr.
Blake and G. W. Christie were pioneer justices of the
peace and that William Groat, S. J. Langdon, William
King and G. W. Tomer were pioneer members of the
territorial legislature. The first frame houses in the
county were erected by Henry Trimble, David Allen
and E. N. DeLong, near Moscow, and the first sod
turned over with a plow in this great agricultural coun-
ty was turned a few miles southeast of Moscow by
Henry Trimble.
The following is an extract from a speech made at
a pioneers' meeting June 14, 1893, by Hon. Willis
Sweet : "I remember well the ruin of the stockade that
stood back of Charles Moore's place. In the earlv
'eighties it was a conspicuous relic of the exciting days
when Joseph and his hostiles carried ruin and death
to so many homes in northern Idaho. That cruel ex-
tremity you were spared ; but your hardships were mam-
compared with the surroundings you now enjoy. You
traveled to Walla Walla for your flour and many other
household necessities. And such roads !" The follow-
ing is the history of the stockade : In June, 1877, came
the Joseph Indian war. At the first alarm the settlers
with their families sought safety in temporary forts
and stockades that were hastily constructed as a pro-
tection against the raids of the treacherous redskins.
The first stockade was built near the residence formerly
occupied by J. S. Howard, who died in the early
'eighties. The permanent stockade was built where
part of Moscow now stands, back of the residence of
John Russell and now the residence of Mrs. Julia A.
Moore. The stockade was built of logs from six to ten
inches in diameter, set on end in the ground close to-
gether. They were hauled from the mountains six
miles distant and at a time when it was taking a man's
life in his hands to make the trip. These old posts may
yet be seen along the road to the south of the Moore
residence. Here about thirty settlers and their fam-
ilies spent many anxious days and night. The greatest
danger was from the Coeur d'Alene Indians of the
north joining their forces with those of the wily leader
of the Nez Perces and making a raid on the settlers
who were very poorly supplied with arms and more
poorly supplied with ammunition. But through the ef-
forts of their chief, who was always peaceably disposed
towards the whites, and the timely assistance of the
good Father Cataldo, the mission priest, they were held
in check. In the meantime the United States troops
and volunteers pressed the hostile Joseph and his war-
riors so hard that they retreated across the old Lolo
trail to Montana, where they were finally captured.
The very scarcity of settlers in this section caused the
savages to turn their attention southward towards
Grangeville and Mt. Idaho, where there were more
scalps and plunder to be obtained. Greater alarm than
would perhaps otherwise have existed was caused by
the killing of John Richie, who was shot by an Indian
while standing in the doorway of his house in Pine
Creek. This apparently confirmed the report that the
Spokane and Couer d'Alene Indians would join the
Nez Perces in a general war against the whites.
At the time of the Bannock Indian war in 1878,
Latah county citizens prepared for emergencies by or-
ganizing two companies of volunteers who held them-
selves in readiness to respond to any call that might
be made for their services. Moscow had a company
of forty or fifty men, officered by W. D. Bobbins, cap-
tain, and Henry McGregor, first lieutenant. At the
sawmill northeast of town was another company equally
as large of which S. J. Langdon was captain; R. H.
Barton, first lieutenant; H. S. Epperly, second lieu-
tenant, and J. L. Naylor, orderly. Guns were secured
from Lewiston for which happily there proved to be no
need, as the Indians did not appear in this part of
the country.
To show something of the rapidity with which the
Palouse country was settled during the 'seventies, we
reproduce some correspondence taken from an issue
of the old Lewiston Teller, dated June 9, 1881. The
author of the correspondence was the editor of the
Teller at the time and was on an overland trip from
Lewiston to Spokane. The camping places referred to
584
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
were along the Idaho-Washinglon state line north of
Moscow. "It is hard to describe the changes that have
taken place since I camped here nine years ago (1872),
when not a solitary habitation could be found within
many miles of this place. At that time we had been
riding north from Lewiston to find settlers to sign a
petition for a mail route from Lewiston north to Spo-
kane Bridge. We crossed at the forks of Hangman's
creek then turned and went down the north side and
about every half mile found a statue with a .shingle
nailed to it. upon which was written the name of some
man with the announcement that he claimed a tract of
land at or near that point. Until we went down the
creek about eight miles we found no settler. Then we
found the savage family. Further down we found fif-
teen or twenty persons camped, among them Major
Wimpy. They were cutting hay and getting timber in
the mountains and making other preparations for the
beginning of permanent homes. On our return we
found six or seven log structures completed and occu-
pied. We now find almost the entire section within
a radius of eight or ten miles absorbed by settlers, save
the railroad reserves, and many of these have been
occupied and much improved. Good homes have been
built, good fences and extensively improved fields are
everywhere visible and the acreage under cultivation is
large.
A gap in the divide between the two mentioned
creeks led us by a good wagon road into the Rock creek
valley, which now contains from 125 to 140 voters with
their families, which ought to give a population of
from 700 to 1,000. When we passed through this
country nine years ago over the Indian trails leading
from Lapwai to the Spokane, not a solitary habitation
was visible throughout the whole vast extent of prairie
land from Moscow north. Now Genesee valley, Paradise
valley, Strawberry valley and Rock creek valley are
settled and the greater portion of the lands occupied."
At the second session of the territorial legislature
which convened at Lewiston, November 14th and ad-
journed December 23d, 1864. the following act was
passed and approved : "An Act creating the Counties
of Lah-toh and Kootenai. Be it enacted by the Legis-
lative Assembly of the Territory of Idaho as follows:
Section 1. That all that portion of Idaho Territory
embraced within the following described boundaries,
be and the same is hereby created into, and shall be
known as the county of Lah-toh, to wit : Beginning
at a point in the main channel of the Snake River at
its junction with the Clearwater River; thence running
due north along the dividing line between Washington
and Idaho territories, to the forty-eighth degree of
north latitude : thence east with said degree of latitude
until it interesects the boundary line of Shoshone coun-
ty : thence south with the boundary line of said county
to the middle channel of Clearwater river ; thence with
the channel of said river to its junction with the Snake
river to the place of beginning ; and the county seat of
said county of Lah-toh is hereby located at Couer
d'Alene."
At the fourth session of the territorial legislature
which convened at Boise December 3, 1866, and ad-
journed January 11, 18G7. an amendatory act was
passed redescribing the boundaries of Kootenai county
and repealing section 1 of the act of 1864, which created
Lah-toh county. In the fall of the year 1878 the peo-
ple in and around Moscow, and in the northern part of
the county determined to organize the county of Lah-
toh under the assembly act of 1864. They were for
some reason without knowledge of the amendatory leg-
islation of 1867. Meetings were held at Moscow and
elsewhere, a petition having the required fifty signatures
was secured and forwarded to Governor Brayman with
the request that he appoint commissioners. By the
old act the 48th parallel of latitude was named as
the northern boundary and Coeur d'Alene as the tem-
porary county seat. Governor Brayman had also over-
looked the repealing act of 1867 and granted the re-
quest of the petitioners, going so far as to appoint com-
missioners in the persons of Messrs. Canfield, Rankin
and Martin, residents in the vicinity of Coeur d'Alene.
Governor and people were not long in discovering their
mistake, however, and the movement to organize Lah-
toh county was for the time dropped. Again in 1881
a petition and communication were forwarded from
Coeur d'Alene to Governor John B. Neil asking for the
appointment of commissioners for the county of Lah-
toh. This the governor replied he could not do under
existing laws and cited the petitions to the acts of 1864
and 1867. As the northern boundary line of Nez Perces
county had been in the meantime established on the di-
vide between Hangmans' creek and Palonse river by
the government survey of the Coeur d'Alene Indian
reservation, and as the act of 1867 described Kootenai
county as embracing all territory north of Nez Perces
county, the petitioners found that they were no longer
in the Lah-toh county described by the act of 1864.
Upon the return of the papers from Governor Neil,
therefore, they substituted the name of '"Kootenai" for
"Lah-toh" and at once sent them back for his recon-
sideration. The following extract from a letter pub-
lished in the Lewiston Teller explains the action of the
petitioners at Coeur d'Alene: "Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Ty., July 22, 1881. A. Leland Esq.: Shortly after
you left here we received a letter from Governor Neil
disapproving of our county organization under the
name of Lah-toh. We at once took the necessary legal
steps to organize as Kootenai county. The territorial
officers have acknowledged us and we are now a de
facto and de jure government under the name of
Kootenai, etc.," Messrs. Canfield, Rankin and Martin
became Kootenai county instead of Lah-toh county
commissioners.
In September, 1885, the O. R. & N. railroad reached
Moscow, which has remained the terminus of the road
since that date. During the summer of 1883 commit-
tees from Colfax, Pullman and Moscow visited the
farmers along the proposed route of the railway and
secured the right of way. All the country needed in
order to make it exceedingly prosperous was transpor-
tation facilities. It is not our purpose to recount here
the history of the building of the railroad. In another
portion of this work a special chapter has been devoted
to railroad schemes and railroad construction and in
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
535
this chapter the reader will find details concerning the
O. R. & N. and N. P. Railroad. The O. R. & N.
reached Moscow about the middle of September and
the first cars crossed the Idaho- Washington line and
ran into Moscow on the 23d of the month. There was
general and great rejoicing; salutes were fired, whis-
tles blown, and speeches made. Wednesday, the day
of the arrival of the first train, witnessed a grand cele-
bration and on Friday a grand ball was held which was
attended by hundreds. The results following the com-
pletion of the road can never be properly estimated.
They were not all manifested in a year or in a decade ;
they are accumulating still and must ever continue to
accumulate for the agricultural resources of the county
are practically inexhaustible and all industrial interests
must grow and keep pace with the gradual develop-
ment of these resources.
There is an interesting reminiscence entitled to a
place here, in explanation of the old railroad grade
which runs through the north end of town, but which
has never been used. At the time the O. R. & N. was
projected. Miles C. Moore, of Walla Walla, and Charles
Moore, of Moscow, were joint owners of a tract of
land on the north side of Moscow and they induced the
company to build their grade through this tract, giv-
ing them the right of way. In return for this conces-
sion, they demanded exclusive warehouse privileges for
a term of years. W. J. McConnell, W. W. Baker, A.
A. Lieuallen and others living in the north end of town
were also desirous, because of their property holdings,
that the road should use this end of town for their
terminal equipment. There were those in the south end
of town who were not averse to having the road cross
their property and as the company was loathe to grant
exclusive warehouse privileges to anyone, circumstances
rather favored the southenders. Both Field Engineer
McClellan and a new chief who had just come upon the
ground favored the south end, claiming that if the
company ever wanted to extend the line east they could
not get out of town by the north end route. The chief
and his assistants were boarding at the Barton house
at the time and R. H. Barton, accidentally learning
their views, at once took steps to push matters to a
conclusion. Henry McGregor and James Deakin were
the owners of land on either side of the present main
street in the south end of town. It was night, but Bar-
ton hurriedly summoned M. J. Shields, Henry Durn-
ham and John Kanaley to a special meeting to be held
on the bridge south of town. He then located James
Deakin and Henry McGregor and piloted them to the
bridge. Here the situation was explained to the land
owners, and after some vigorous characteristic speeches
by Shields and Barton, and promises of an equal dis-
tribution of their loss involved in the concessions de-
sired, they readily consented to give the railroad any-
thing they wanted in the way of right of way through
their places, provided they would change the route.
The party then disbanded and Mr. Barton informed
the engineers that if they wouid survey the line through
south Moscow they could have all the land needed
there for tracks, depot, etc. The offer was at once com-
municated to the officials at Portland with the rec-
ommendation that it be accepted. On the following
day M. C. Moore was in Portland and repaired to the
offices of the railroad company to press his claim for
warehouse privileges. The officials were independent
and refused to make any concession of this character,
^ome "puts and calls" were exchanged and at the close
of the argument, a message was sent to the engineers
at Moscow to survey the new route. This was at once
done and the old grade was abandoned. This was the
sequel to the midnight meeting on the bridge.
Turning again to an earlier period in the history
of the county, let us record briefly the work of those
who followed the argonauts of the 'fifties, 'sixties and
seventies in their quest for golden treasure. These
men were not in search of pastoral lands, and had they
been, they would not have builded their homes in the
Palouse country, for it was riot thought possible in
those days to produce crops on the hills of Genesee and
Paradise valleys, nor on the ridges of the Potlatch.
Ten years before a new one considered the Latah coun-
try adapted to agricultural pursuits, mining was car-
ried on in various parts of the county. As far back
as 1862 placer claims were worked along some of the
water courses. Besides the deposits of gold and silver,
mica and opals were found in several localities. The
exhibit of Idaho opals at the World's Fair in Chicago
in 1893, came from Latah county. In 1881 a mine of
mica was discovered about thirty miles from Moscow
by J. T. Woody, and in a short time a number of other
locations were made in the same vicinity. The prin-
cipal placer mines in the county are situated in the
Hoodoo district which has been worked for the last
thirty-five years. Other mines worked successfully are
on Jerome creek. Swamp creep, Gold creek and many
others, and in Howard gulch, Garden gulch, Crum-
rine gulch and others on Moscow mountain. The first
quartz mill in the county was operated on a ledge on
Moscow mountain and owned by Dr. Worthington and
D. C. Mitchell. In 1896 a mill was started in the Daisy
mine on Jerome creek, which is now on a paying basis.
On Ruby creek is a most valuable gold and silver mine
called the Silver King. For years gold has been taken
from the ledges of Moscow mountain by the "arrastre"
process and if this mountain of wealth w7ere situated
in some remote locality, difficult of access it would be
considered a veritable Klondyke. The Gold Bug,
Golden Gate and the Big Ledge are the principal mines
worked there in recent years. The Golden Gate Com-
pany has a 200 foot tunnel, and contemplates putting
in a mill. Adjoining the Golden Gate is the White
Cross mine which has a fine stamp mill.
The Hoodoo mines have had seasons of ups and
downs ; worked successfully for a time in the early
sixties, they experienced a long season of inactivity
during the late 'sixties and the 'seventies. Again in
1885 and 1886 there was a season of excitement, many
flocking there from all directions with the hope of
improving their fortunes. What are known as the
Hoodoo mines, comprising four gulches that empty
into the Palouse river about 30 miles northeast of Mos-
cow, were first discovered and worked in the vears
586
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1862 and 1863 and paid all the way from $20 to $100
per day to the man. At that time all provisions, tools,
etc. were packed into the mines on ponies over a very
difficult and almost impassable trail from Lewiston, a
distance of about eighty miles, which was the nearest
trading point. The" high prices that were then paid
for merchandise in Lewiston, together with the high
price also charged for packing, compelled miners to
work onlv claims that would yield the precious dust
in abundance. Alines that would not pay at least $20
a dav were not considered worth taking. About the
time the Hoodoo mines were being worked, there was
great excitement raging in the northwest over new dis-
coveries of gold in Montana and thousands of miners
packed their blankets and picks and started eastward
toward the new Eldorado. The Hoodoo miners, not
making any new discoveries on the Palouse, one by
one, gathered up their luggage and silently took their
departure, following the chant of excitement. Thus
Hoodoo was vacated. The pioneer prospectors left
their little gold field that but a short time before was
rich in its deposits of mineral wealth. Nothing more
was heard of the Palouse as a mining district until the
year 1870 when gold was discovered on Jerome, Ca-
mas and Gold creeks, tributaries of the Palouse. These
creeks were worked with very little excitement, and
paid equally as well as the old Hoodoo mines. From
that time mining has been carried on by a few in-
dividuals, more or less, down to the present time. The
Coeur d'Alene excitement brought hundreds of pros-
pectors to this region and the result was the redis-
covery of gold in the old Hoodoo district. Many
claims were opened and the side gulches which were
easily mined proved far richer than was expected.
Many will remember the excitement about Moscow
during the summer of 1881 over the Roland quartz find
in the mountains east of the town. Roland had
guarded his secret carefully but while in town for
supplies confided in a few personal friends and by the
time he was ready to return to the mountains, several
parties were ready to follow him. His secret soon be-
came common property and scores of claims were taken
up in the vicinity. Assays from Roland's claim re-
turned three to four hundred dollars per ton. A good
deal of the development work has been done on this
and other claims in the region but thus far no heavily
producing mines have resulted.
Prior to the building of the Northern Pacific
railroad, Lewiston, the county seat of Nez Perces
county, of which the present Latah county was a part,
was a very inaccessible point for citizens of Moscow
and of all points north of the Clearwater river. The
distance is about thirty miles and the roads in those
days were, during a portion of every year, next to im-
passable. It was necessary to go down the Clearwater
breaks which is, even today, after years of work on
the roads, an undertaking accompanied by a element
of risk and danger. Since the building of the rail-
road to Lewiston it is still necessary to travel fifty-
three miles to reach the town from Moscow, making
a semi-circle via Troy, Kendrick. Juliaetta. etc. Un-
der the^e conditions it is not surprising that the citi-
zens of the north half of the county should conceive
the plan and endeavor to execute it. of removing the
capitol of the county to Moscow. In 1882 a determ-
ined effort was made to accomplish this end. first by
seeking to create a new county north of the Clearwater.
Petitions were formulated which were numerously
signed, and a bill was introduced in the legislature
providing for the creation of Latah county with Mos-
cow as the county seat. The bill was introduced by
William S. Taylor in the council and vigorously sup-
ported by G. W. Tomer in the lower house. It was
found, however, that the legislature was powerless to
act in the matter owing to the existence of a recently
passed congressional act forbidding special legislation
bv the territorial legislature, creating new counties or
changing the boundary lines of old ones. Disap-
pointed "in this effort Mr. Taylor introduced another
bill providing for a special election, submitting the
question of relocation of the county seat of Nez Per-
ces to a vote of the people. This election was held in
June, 1883. and Moscow, through her citizens, worked
hard to secure the coveted prize. She was doomed to
a second disappointment, however, as Lewiston was
selected bv a vote of 922 to 642. At this time the cit-
izens of all this region were praying for annexation to
Washington and expected confidently that the union
would be speedily consummated. During the county
seat contest the friends of Lewiston worked diligently
among the voters north of Moscow and inspired them
with the belief that when annexation was accomplished
there would be a readjustment of the county lines, in
which case Palouse City, nearer their section than
Moscow, would in all probability be chosen a county
seat of some new county. When election day came.
therefore, voters in the north end of the county voted
with Lewiston and against. Moscow, this giving the vic-
tory to Lewiston. In another chapter will be found the
history of the annexation movement. It is only
necessary to state here that the citizens of Latah were
almost unanimous for political affiliation with Wash-
ington. The principal causes of this unanimity of
sentiment was the difficulty experienced in reaching
Boise, the capital of Idaho, and the fact that Washing-
ton was about to become a state while the prospects for
Idaho remaining indefinitely a territory were at that
time excellent. It is interesting to note, in looking
over the files of newspapers printed during the time of
the agitation of this question and after its settlement,
up to and after the date of the organization of the
state, that sentiment has gradually changed until, at
the present time, it would be difficult to find anywhere
in the Panhandle, a prominent advocate of annexation.
The efforts a few years ago to revive the question by
the introduction into the Washington legislature of a
bill requesting the appointment of a joint Idaho-
\\ ashington commission to consider the question met
with no supporting sentiment in northern Idaho and
was ridiculed mercilessly in the editorial columns of
the press, one edition stating that the panhandle would
never again support any move to dismember the proud
"Gem <>f the Mountains." In a speech recently made
by A. J. Green, a pioneer attorney of Moscow, at a
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
587
pioneers' reunion near Moscow, he gives a reason for
the final settlement of the question of annexation. We
quote his words: "In the early days there was great
agitation of the question of annexing to Washington
what is known as the panhandle of Idaho. This agita-
tion continued for years and finally both houses of con-
gress passed a bill annexing the panhandle to Washing-
ton. Had it not been that President Cleveland vetoed
this bill by putting it into his pocket and refusing to
sign it, we would now be in the state of Washington
instead of in the state of Idaho. The people of Mos-
cow and Latah county, as I have said before, have al-
ways been very ambitious. At the time to which I re-
fer we had a new county and a new county seat, but
we were not satisfied. The annexation scheme having
failed and the question having been settled, as we be-
lieved, for all time, we set about getting something for
the new county and Moscow. The state university was
to be located somewhere and by hard work we secured
its location at Moscow. Southern Idaho having more
than twice the population of northern Idaho, had al-
ways fought the annexation of any part of the terri-
tory to Washington ; so when a bill was introduced into
the territorial legislature to locate the university at
Moscow, all southern Idaho came to our support and
assisted in making the bill a law, thinking that it
would forever settle the question of annexation. And
it did; when the university was located at Moscow the
annexation question was finally settled."
Before closing this chapter it may be well to men-
tion briefly the last effort on the part of the citizens
of Moscow, prior to the creation of Latah county, to
secure to their town political honors, and to themselves
some of the conveniences enjoyed by the citizens of
Lewiston and of all that portion of Nez Perces coun-
ty south of the Clearwater river. In 1886 an effort
was made to secure the passage of an act permitting
the county to elect two sets of officers. It was de-
sired only that there be two treasurers, two auditors
and two tax collectors, one set with offices at Lewiston
and one with offices at Moscow. The citizens of Mos-
cow and of the north end of the county agreed to fur-
nish suitable buildings for the accommodation of the
extra officers, free of expense to the county. These
were to include a jail and court room as it was pro-
posed to hold a summer term of court at Moscow and
a winter term at Lewiston, or vice versa. The scheme
was poorly supported, however, and came to naught.
Details concerning subsequent action looking to the
establishment of a new county will be considered in
another chapter.
CHAPTER II.
ORGANIZATION AND SUBSEQUENT EVENTS.
Three times the citizens of northern Nez Perces
county had failed in their efforts to lessen the incon-
veniences to which they were subjected on account of
their geographical position with reference to Lewiston,
the county seat, and in their efforts to secure to the
growing town of Moscow deserved political honors.
But they were undismayed and never for a moment
rested from their labors. The congressional enact-
ment referred to in the previous chapter forbade them
to hope for relief from the territorial legislature. Their
last and successful fight was made in the national
legislature. Congressman Fred Duboise of Blackfoot,
Bingham county, was induced to champion their cause
in the lower house of congress, and through his in-
fluence Senator Mitchell, of Oregon, looked after their
interests in the senate. In the winter of 1887 a bill
was introduced in the house of the Fiftieth congress by
Mr. Duboise, creating from a certain described tract
in the northern part of Nez Perces county, the new
county of Latah. The residents of Lewiston and vi-
cinity made a vigorous defensive campaign and sent
Attorney J. W. Reid to Washington to oppose the leg-
islation and the consequent segregation of the county.
The interests of Moscow and the north were repre-
sented at Washington by Charles Moore. The bill met
with but little opposition in either house of congress
and by the signature of President Cleveland became a
law May 14, 1888. This is the only instance where
a county in any state or territory has been formed by
act of congress. The following is the text of the act :
PUBLIC ACT NO. 91.
AN ACT TO CREATE AND ORGANIZE THE COUNTY OF LATAH.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States of America in Congress assembled. That
all that portion of Nez Perces county, in the Territory of
Idaho, lying north of the following line, to-wit: Commencing
at a point where the middle line of township thirty-eight north
intersect-; the line between Nez Perces and Shoshone counties
in said territory; thence west to Big Potlach creek, where it
tirst intersects the middle line of township thirty-eight:
thence down said creek southwesterly to a point where it inter-
sects the middle line of township thirty-seven: thence due
west to the line between the Territories of Idaho and Wash-
ington be, and the same is hereby, formed and organized into
a county, to be known and designated as the county of Latah,
with all the rights, powers, and privileges of counties under
the existing laws of the Territory of Idaho.
Sec. 2. That W. W. I-angdon, J. L. Naylor. and William
Frazier are hereby appointed commissioners of said county of
Latah, and their annual compensation shall be the same as
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
now provided by law for the commissioners of Nez Perces
county.
Sec 5. Thai the county commissioners above named are
hereby authorized, within twenty days after the approval of
this act. to qualify before a justice of the peace and enter
upon the discharge of their duties as such commissioners,
and are hereby empowered to appoint all necessary county
- to perfect the organization of said county of Latah
under the laws of the Territory of Idaho, and the said county
commissioners and other county officers appointed as afore-
said shall hold their offices until the next general election pro-
vided by the laws of said Territory, and until their successors
are elected and qualified according to law.
Sec 4. Tiiat the justices of the peace, constables, road
supervisors and other precinct and school officers heretofore
elected and qualified and now acting as such, residing in said
county of Latah, are hereby continued as such officers in said
county of Latah until the next general election aforesaid
and until their successors are duly elected and qualified.
Sei S That the county of Latah shall pay to the county
Perce a just proportion or the net indebtedness of
said Xez Perce county, the same to be determined as follows,
to wit : The county treasurer, recorder, and the present
comity assessor of Nez Perce County are hereby constituted
a board of adjusters, who shall proceed to ascertain the
net indebtedness of said county of Nez Perce, which shall
be done as follows, namely: Ascertain all the county justly
owes in warrants, scrip or other just debts, which amount
shall constitute the gross indebtedness of said county, from
which deduct the amount of the unpaid portion of the
assessment roll of eighteen hundred and eighty-seven and the
amount of all delinquent assessment rolls which are considered
collectable up to that date, and the amount of all moneys and
other credits due the county then ; and the balance so found
shall constitute the indebtedness of said county of Nez Perces;
and the net indebtedness of said county of Nez Perces ascer-
tained as aforesaid, shall be divided equally between the coun-
ties of Nez Perces and Latah in proportion to the taxable
property of the counties as it legally appears on the assessment
roll for the year eighteen hundred and eighty-seven, and the
said county of Latah shall cause a warrant or warrants to be
drawn upon its treasurer payable to the county of Nez Perces.
which said warrant or warrants shall take priority in payment
over all other warrants, scrip, or other indebtedness of the
said county of Latah.
Sec. 6. That the county commissioners of Nez Perces
countv are hereby authorized and required to furnish to the
county of Latah transcripts of all records, indexes and docu-
ments and other papers on file and of record in the offices
of Nez Perces county, which may be necessary to perfect the
records of Latah county. They may contract with the auditor
of Nez Perces county to make the above-named transcripts,
the compensation for which shall be in addition to his regular
salary. The necessary books for the aforementioned trans-
cripts shall be furnished by Latah county, and the expense of
making the said transcripts shall be paid by the counties of
Nez Perces and Latah equally. Certificates of the correctness
of said records, made as aforesaid, shall have the same legal
effect as if made by the auditor of Nez Perces county.
Sec. 7. That the county of Latah is hereby attached to
Nez Perces County for judicial purposes until tbe next meet-
ing of the judges of the supreme court of Idaho Territory,
when it -hall be the duty of said judges to fix a time for hold-
ing court in said county of Latah as proyided by the laws of
said Territory for the other counties thereof. Thirty days
after tbe time of holding said court is fixed as aforesaid, the
said county of Latah shall assume and be vested with all the
judicial rights, privileges, and powers of a county under the
laws of the said Territory of Idaho.
Sec. 8. That the countv of Latah shall remain with Nez
Perces county for legislative purposes until otherwise pro-
vided In- law.
Sf.c. o. That the county seat of Latah county is hereby
t the town of Moscow in said county.
Sec. 10. That the commissioners of Latah county be.
and they are hereby, authorized to issue bonds to an amount
not exceeding twenty thousand dollars, of denominations not
less than one hundred nor more than one thousand dollars,
running tor a !■ rm of not less than ten nor more than twenty
years, bearing interest at a rate not exceeding eight per centum
per annum, with interest coupons attached, which bonds shall
be signed by the chairman of the board of county commis-
sioners and 'the auditor of said county, and be authenticated
by the seal of said county.
Sec. 11. That the said board of commissioners are hereby
authorized to make sale of said bonds and apply the proceeds
thereof to the erection of a court-house and jail, and such
other public buildings as may be necessary; Provided, That
no bond shall be sold by said commissioners for less than its
par value
Sec. 12. That the said board of commissioners and their
successors in office are hereby empowered and required to levy-
such tax as may be necessary to promptly pay the interest on
said bonds, and' also to levy such tax as may be necessary to
pay the principal of said bonds as the same shall become due.
Sec. 13. That in the event said board of commissioners
shall issue' said bonds as hereinbefore authorized, the interest
coupons thereof shall be receivable in payment of the county
taxes of said county.
Sec. 14. That the commissioners of Nez Perces county
be, and they are hereby, authorized to issue bonds to an
amount not exceeding thirty thousand dollars, of denomina-
tions not less than one hundred nor more than one thousand
dollars, running for terms of not less than ten nor more than
twenty years, bearing interest at a rate not exceeding eight
l>er centum per annum with interest coupons attached, which
bonds shall be signed by the chairman of the said board of
commissioners and county auditor, and be authenticated by
the s^al of said county.
Sec. 15. That the said board of commissioners are hereby
authorized to make sale of said bonds and apply the pro-
ceeds thereof to the erection of a court-house, jail, and such
other public buildings as may be necessary, and for the build-
ing of necessary bridges ; Provided, That no bond shall be
sold by said board of commissioners for less than its par
value.
Sec. 16. That the said board of commissioners and their
successors in office are hereby empowered and required to levy
such tax as may be necessary to promptly pay the interest on
said bonds, and also to levy such tax as may be necessary to
pay the principal of said bonds as the same shall become due.
Sec. 17. That in the event said board of commissioners
shall issue bonds as hereinbefore authorized, the interest
coupons attached to said bonds shall be receivable in payment
for the county taxes of said county of Nez Perces.
Sec. 18. That the county of Latah shall not be entitled
to any portion of the property, real or personal, of the said
county of Nez Perces.
Sec. 19 That all acts in conflict with any of the pro-
visions of this act lie. and the same are hereby, repealed.
Sec. 20. That this act shall be in force from and after its
ratification.
Approyed, May 14, 1S88.
That conditions fully warranted the organization
of the county at this time is shown by a statement is-
sued December 13, 1888, by County Auditor W. B.
Kyle, showing the financial conditions. By this state-
ment it appears that the total revenue, both county
and territorial, amounted to S40.783.54 : total amount
of warrants drawn, §33, 130.84, including $20,000 in
bonds lately issued under the creating act for build-
ing purposes. The $33,130.84, amount of warrants
drawn, included warrants for $17,000 issued in favor
of Nez Perces county in payment of Latah's propor-
tion of Xez Perces county's indebtedness. The new
county was about thirty-six miles square and had a
population at that time of 10,000. The number of
persons assessed in 1888 for poll taxes was 1629. The
division of a county not infrequently inflicts griev-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
589
ous burdens upon the citizens of the new political
body through the necessity of special taxes for the sup-
port of new officials, the erection of new buildings, etc.,
but in this case the necessity for the existence of the
new county had been of long standing and the people
were prepared for the new financial burdens. The new
order of things went into effect without disturbance to
the affairs of Nez Perces county and Latah at once
took rank among the leading wealth producing coun-
ties of the territory. The total valuation of property
for purposes of assessment in 1888 was $1,168,255,
including Moscow's valuation, which was $356,998.
The creating act became a law May 14, 1888, and
on May 28th the steps were taken to complete the or-
ganization. Minutes of these proceedings are as fol-
lows : In accordance with an act of congress approved
on the 14th day of May, 1881, entitled, "An Act to
create and organize the county of Latah in the Terri-
tory of Idaho; appointing W. W. Langdon, J. L. Nay-
lor and Win. Frazier, commissioners of said county
of Latah ; the said W. W. Langdon, J. L. Naylor and
Wm. Frazier, met at the office of Moore & Langdon
in the town of Moscow, I. T., on Tuesday the 28th
day of May, 1888, at 9 o'clock a. m. and proceeded to
organize the said county of Latah. Each of the afore-
said appointed commissioners qualified before Jus-
tice of the Peace John Moore, by subscribing to the
oath of office, and the necessary bonds as by law pro-
vided for : each was approved and filed by the said
Justice of the Peace John Moore on this 28th day of
May, 1888. J. L. Naylor was elected chairman and
W. W. Langdon, clerk pro tern of the board of county
commissioners in and for the said county of Latah
and Territory of Idaho.
May 29, 1888, the board made the following ap-
pointments for county officers : Auditor and recorder,
W. B. Kyle; probate judge, Louis Jain, Genesee; treas-
urer, W. W. Baker, Moscow ; sheriff, Robert Bruce,
Deep Creek ; district attorney, C. B. Reynolds, Mos-
cow ; assessor, L. C. Roberts, Viola ; surveyor, S. L.
Campbell, Moscow; school superintendent, J. W.
Lieuallen, Moscow ; coroner, William Gray, Bricka-
ville. For a board of pharmacy the following named
physicians were appointed ; A. E. Sanders, Moscow ;
W. C. Cox, Genesee; E. E. Watts, Juliaetta. June
4th, Robert Bruce of Deep Creek declined by letter
to act as sheriff and recommended R. H. Barton of
Moscow, as his choice for that office. The board ac-
cordingly appointed R. H. Barton sheriff. June 7th,
Louis Jains of Genesee declined by letter to act as pro-
bate judge and recommended Roland Hodgins for ap-
pointment. The board accordingly appointed Roland
Hodgins probate judge. It was ordered that the sal-
aries for the county officers appointed by the board of
commissioners for the remaining tenn of 1888 be fixed
as follows: sheriff, $1,200 per annum; recorder, $600
per annum ; assessor, 12 per cent on per capita tax and 5
per cent on all other taxes as provided by law : probate
judge, $200; district attorney, $600; treasurer, $300,
and school superintendent, $200 per annum. On July
1 6th the board created ten election districts as follows :
Genesee, Thorn Creek, Moscow, Four Mile, Palouse,
Pine Creek, Gold Creek, Bear Creek, American Ridge,
Little Potlatch. August 2d, R. S. Browne was appointed
treasurer in place of W. W. Baker, resigned. Sep-
tember 29th the contract for a court house was let to
the Pauly Jail Building & Manufacturing Company,
of St. Louis, through their agent, James T. Jones, for
820,000. On November 2d the twenty bonds, each of
one thousand dollars, bearing interest at eight per cent
annually, were sold to the estate of Dorsey S. Baker
for $21,700 cash. These bonds were dated November
2, 1888, and were drawn payable twenty years from
date. Ten were made payable to M. C. Moore or bear-
er at the Importers and Traders National Bank, New
York City. They were delivered to the First National
Bank of Moscow as agents for the estate of Dorsey
S. Baker.
The first county officers, appointed by the commis-
sioners served until their successors qualified after
the first general election in November, 18S8. During
this campaign there were three parties in the field,
Republican, Democratic and Independent. As this
was the first election held as a new county, national
politics were not so prominent throughout the campaign
as were local affairs. Conventions were held late in
the summer and for the more important offices each
party nominated a full ticket. The Republican can-
didates were : For the legislative council, J. W. Brig-
ham, of Moscow ; for the assembly, A. S. Chaney, F.
E. Mix and J. H. Irvine; for district attorney, A. J.
Green of Moscow ; for probate judge, William Wilson
of Potlatch ; for sheriff, R. H. Barton, of Moscow ; for
coroner, C. C. Carpenter ; for assessor, G. J. Parker, of
Moscow ; for surveyor, S. L. Campbell of Moscow ;
for recorder, W. B. Kyle of Moscow ; for treasurer, R.
S. Browne, of Moscow ; for school superintendent, T.
N. Creekmur, of Moscow ; for commissioner, first dis-
trict, F. L. Bell ; 2d district, J. L. Naylor ; 3d district,
S. D. Oylear.
The Democratic party placed in nomination, for the
legislative council, C. A. Leeper of Nez Perces county :
for the assembly, James D. Haven, W. T. Thompson
and H. J. Bundy; for district attorney, J. C. Elder of
Moscow; for probate judge, Roland Hodgins of Mos-
cow ; for sheriff, George Langdon of Moscow ; for cor-
oner, J. L. Brown, of Moscow ; for assessor, Frank
Jones of Genesee ; for surveyor, Arthur Colburn ; for
recorder, C. L. Roberts of Moscow; for treasurer,
Henry Dernham of Moscow ; for school superintendent.
J. W. Lieuallen of Moscow; for commissioners, first
district, J. S. Randolph ; second district. A. Elliott of
Genesee ; third district, William Gray of Potlatch.
Those running independent were, for district at-
torney, C. B. Reynolds of Moscow; for sheriff. W.
A. Galbreath ; for assessor, D. J. Wilcox ; for recorder,
W. A. Elyea ; for treasurer. W. W. Langdon of Mos-
cow ; for commissioner of the second district, T. F.
Maher of Moscow.
The official report of this first election is as follows :
Latah's vote on delegate to congress stood; Fred T.
Dubois of Blackfoot, Republican, 341 ; Norman Buck
of Lewiston, Independent. 864; Jas. H. Hawley of
Boise, Democrat, 237; Buck's majority in the county,
59°
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
286. For the legislative council, J. W. Brigham re-
ceived 1,428 votes and C. A. Leeper 5, Brigham's
majority 1423. For the legislative assembly, F. E. Mix
received 1138 votes. A. S. Chaney 1406, j. H. Irvine
1244. |as. D. Haven 194. W. T. Thompson 13, H. J.
Bundy 13. J. T. Mitcham 251, and H. B. Blake 21. For
district attornev A. J. Green received 627 votes, J. C.
Elder 528. C. B. Reynolds 280, Green's plurality 99.
For probate judge \\ illiam Wilson received 670 votes
and Roland Hodgins 752, Hodgins' majority 82. For
sheriff R. H. Barton received 448 votes, George Lang-
don 657, W. A. Galbreath 338, Langdon's plurality 209.
For coroner J. L. Brown received 464 votes and C. C.
Carpenter 394, Brown's majority 70. For assessor G.
J. Parker received 709 votes, Frank Jones 498, and D.
J. Wilcox 237, Parker's plurality 211. For school su-
perintendent T. N. Creekmur received 672 votes, J. W.
Lieuallen 615, and H. W. Grubb 156, Creekmur's plu-
rality $y. For commissioners, first district, F. L. Bell
received 2J2 votes, and J. S. Randolph 76. Bell's ma-
jority 196 ; second district, A. Elliott, received 322 votes
J. L'. Naylor 340, and T. F. Maher 63, Naylor's plu-
rality 18 : third district, S. D. Oylear received 233 votes,
and William Gray 115, Oylear's majority 118. For
surveyor S. L. Campbell received 1008 votes and Ar-
thur Colburn 437, Campbell's majority 571. For re-
corder W. B. Kyle received 764 votes, L. C. Roberts
471. and W. A. Elyea 211, Kyle's majority 82. For
treasurer R. S. Browne received 671 votes, Henry Dern-
ham 395, and W. W. Langdon 349, Browne's plurality
276. The proposition to annex the panhandle to Wash-
ington was supported by a vote of 252 for and one vote
against.
There was no cessation of activity in Latah county
in 1889. The country increased rapidly in population
and the towns were growing and becoming more im-
portant as business centers. Since the completion of
the O. R. & X., Moscow's progress had been continuous
and rapid. In 1888 the Northern Pacific from Pullman
was completed to Genesee and in 1889 Genesee was
ready to incorporate. In the spring of 1889 the court
house was completed and accepted by the county com-
missioners. The full amount realized from the sale of
the bonds, $21,700, was expended in its erection.
The total valuation of property for purposes of
taxation in 1889 was $2,798,603.
The census of 1890 credited Latah county with a
population of 9,176, making it the most populous conn-.
ty in the state. In the work of framing the state con-
stitution and in transforming the territory to a state,
the county was represented by XV. J. McConnell, H.
B. Blake and W. D. Robbins. In September of this
vear considerable excitement was occasioned by the dis-
covery on the farm of William Leasure, north of Mos-
cow, (if a stratum of rock bearing fire opals. The dis-
covery was made while a well was being dug on the
farm. The stones were found in pockets, in a porous
lava formation, and. on subjection to scientific tests,
were found to be genuine fire opals worth from $100
to $500 per ounce. There was, of course, a rush of
prospectors to Mr. Leasure's farm and it was soon
staked )ff into more than one hundred claims. As Mr.
Leasure had made final proof on his homestead, how-
ever, it was not thought that the claims could be held.
There was no contest in this matter; considerable
prospecting was done and quite a number of stones of
value found ; but the mining did not prove profitable
and the claims were eventually abandoned. Some of
the stones mined at this time, as heretofore mentioned,
found place in the Idaho exhibit at the World's Fair
in Chicago in 1893. During the years 1889 and 1890
the Farmer's Alliance became a formidable organiza-
tion, including in its membership rolls the majority of
the farmers in almost every community. At a meeting
held in Moscow on November 22, 1890. they decided
to establish an alliance store. Of this organization at
the time. J. L. Naylor was president, A. T. Lane vice
president, C. A. S. Howard secretary. The plans of
the organization were never consummated ; a ware-
house was afterward erected which eventually passed
to individual ownership. In the 'nineties the organi-
zation became defunct, its members scattering to the
Populist and Free Silver parties, whose platforms en-
dorsed the fundamentals of the alliance.
On the admission of Idaho as a state, Moscow was
chosen as the place for holding sessions of the United
States court. James H. Beatty has sat as judge of
this court since its first session in 1890, and A. L.
Richardson has served as clerk. The first United
States district attorney was Fremont Wood, who
served from 1890 to 1894. Mr. Wood was followed in
this office by James H. Forney from 1894 to January
io, 1898, when Robert V. Cozier, the present incum-
bent, entered upon his first term. Marshals who have
served this court are Joseph Pinkham, 1890 to 1894 ;
James F. Crutcher, 1894 t0 1898; Frank C. Ramsey,
1898 to 1902 : Rural Rounds, 1902 to the present time.
In 1892 a session was held at Coeur d'Alene to try the
union labor cases which grew out of the riots in the
Coeur d'Alene mines. Among the important cases
tried at Moscow was that of the United States vs.
James Eddy; John Eddy, Newt. Eddy, Emmett Taylor,
Charles Scroggins. Frank Freligh, Ike Splawn and
Stan. Splawn for counterfeiting five, ten and twenty
dollar gold coins. This case was tried at the May
term. 1897. The crimes were committed in Idaho
county during the summer of 1896. James H. Forney
conducted the case for the United States. Attorney's
employed by the defendants individually and in parties,
were McNamee and Morgan, Lot L. Feltham, Den-
ning & Truitt, and James W. Reid. James and John
Eddy and Emmett Taylor were fined on one count Si 00
each and sentenced to ten years at hard labor ; on an-
other count they were each fined $100 and sentenced
to six additional years at hard labor. Charles Scrog-
gins was fined $100 and sentenced to six years at hard
labor ; Ike Splawn received a sentence of eight years
at hard labor ; Newton Eddy was fined $1000 and sen-
tenced to twenty months without hard labor ; Stanford
Splawn was fined $1000 and sentenced to two years
without hard labor. Another important and
famous case tried at Moscow was that of the
Bunker Hill and Sullivan Mining and Concentrating
Company vs. the Empire State and the Last Chance
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Mining Companies, for the possession of a triangular
body of ore valued at $100,000, the same overlapping
the line dividing the properties owned by the two com-
panies in Shoshone county. Attorneys that appeared
were, for the plaintiffs. Curtis 11. Lindley, John R.
McBride, Myron A. Folsom, Albert Allen and James
H. Forney : for the defendants, W. B. Heyburn, Lyttle-
ton Price, E. M. Heyburn and A. L. Doherty. The
suit was entered in September, 1889, and a final de-
cision was handed down by Judge Beatty, July 3d of
the present year, in which he found for the plaintiffs.
In this case the court sat as a court of appeals. The
majority of the cases heard in this court came from
the Indian reservations and are trials on charges of
petty offences committed by both Indians and whites.
It was the original intention of John P. Vollmer
and the officials of the Northern Pacific railroad, to
conduct the road via Genesee to Lewiston. But when
Genesee was reached it was found that the original
plans were impracticable owing to the topography of
the country. The difference in elevation between
Genesee and Lewiston is upwards of 1500 feet while
the distance is less than fifteen miles as the crow flies.
These obstacles in the way of a direct line could not be
overcome and the plans of the promoters were aban-
doned. Two years later, in 1890, the road was extend-
ed from Pullman to Lewiston via Moscow, the Pot-
latch canyon and the Clearwater valley, and this be-
came the main line while the road from Pullman to
Genesee became the branch line.
After the completion of the road Vollmer (named
later, Troy), Kendrick and Juliaetta, with their indus-
trial and educational institutions, sprang into exis-
tence, developed into populous towns and became sup-
ply points for extensive and rich agricultural and tim-
bered areas. Following the completion of the Genesee
branch in 1888, Genesee valley and the town made rapid
progressive strides. The Genesee valley, Paradise val-
ley, and the Potlatch ridges are now famous the coun-
try over for their production of cereals and fruits.
The credit due the railroad for this wonderful meas-
ure of progress can only be fairly estimated and ap-
preciated by a comparison of present conditions with
those of the early eighties.
In the political campaign of 1890 the two old par-
ties had the field all to themselves, national issues fur-
nishing the principal topics for discussion at the sever-
al political meetings. Republican nominees were as
follows : For judge of the second district, W. G. Piper
of Moscow ; for district attorney, E. O'Neill of Lewis-
ton; senator second district, J.'M. Wells, of Kootenai
c< .unty ; fourth district, William Wing of Nez Perces
county ; fifth district, J. W. Brigham of Moscow ; for
representatives of Latah county, K. O. Skatteboe of
Moscow and J. C. Martin of Genesee; for representa-
tive of Latah and Kootenai counties, A. J. Green of
Moscow; sheriff, F. E. Mix of Moscow; "clerk of the
district court, William B. Kyle of Moscow; probate
judge, T. N. Creekmur of Moscow ; county treasurer.
Robert S. Browne of Moscow; assessor, J. George
Vennigerholz of Genesee; surveyor. E. T. Tannatt of
Pine creek; coroner, Warner H. Carithers of Mos-
cow; commissioner first district, J. D. Wilco:
district, C. C. Carpenter of Thorn creek; third dis-
trict, A. N. Roberts of American Ridge.
The Democrats nominated for judge, second dis-
trict, J. W. Poe of Lewiston ; district attorney, James
H. Forney of Grangeville; senator, second district,
Lewis .Miller of Latah county; senator, fourth dis-
trict, Barney Rohenkohl of Nez Perces county ; sena-
tor, fifth district, Samuel J. Langdon of Moscow ; for
representatives of Latah county, John H. Irvine of
the north side, and A. B. Crawford of Potlatch ; for rep-
resentative of Latah and Kootenai counties, A. S. Cha-
ney of the east side; sheriff, W. T. Griffin of Moscow ;
clerk of the district court, Eugene Buchanan of Mos-
cow; probate judge, Roland Hodgins of Moscow;
county treasurer, William Hunter of Moscow; asses-
sor, Albert McKee of Bear Ridge; coroner, C. E.
Worthington of Moscow; commissioner, first district,
D. C. Tribble of north side; second district, David
Spurbeck of Genesee; third district, D. J. Ingle of
Bear Ridge.
The official record of the election is as follows :
I "or governor, the Republican candidate, George L.
Shoup, received 1063 votes, a majority of 354 over the
Democratic candidate, Benjamin Wilson, who received
709; for representative, 51st congress, the Republican
candidate, Willis Sweet, received 1099 votes, while the
Democratic candidate, Alexander E. Mayhew, received
u55 votes; for represeitative, 52d congress, Willis
Sweet received 1097 votes and Alexander E. Mayhew
666; for judge, second district, W. G. Piper received
1072 votes and J. W. Poe 693, Piper's majority 379 ;
for district attorney, E. O'Neill received 955 votes and
J. H. Forney 809, O'Neill's majority 146; for senator,
second district, J. M. Wells received 1045 votes and
Lewis Miller 712, Wells' majority 333; for senator,
fourth district, William Wing received 1041 votes and
Barney Rohenkohl 712, Wing's majority 329- fur sen-
ator, fifth district, J. W. Brigham received 1023 votes
and Samuel J. Langdon 747, Brigham's majority 276;
for Latah county representatives, K. O. Skatteboe re-
ceived 1033 votes, J. C. Martin 1073, John H. Irvine
098, and A. B. Crawford 731, Skatteboe's majority 335,
Martin's majority 342; for representative, Kootenai
and Latah counties, A. J. Green received 968 votes and
A. S. Chaney 761, Green's majority 207; for sheriff,
F. E. Mix received 940 votes and W. T. Griffin Sjy,
Mix's majority 1 13 ; for clerk of the district court, Will-
iam B. Kyle received 1126 votes and Eugene Buchanan
636, Kyle's majority 490 ; for probate judge, T. N.
Creekmur received 895 votes and Roland Hodgins 863,
Creekmur's majority t,2 ; for treasurer, Robert S.
Browne received 917 votes and William Hunter 838,
Browne's majority 79; for county assessor, J. George
Vennigerholz received 1 150 votes and Albert McKee
618, Vennigerholz's majority 532 ; for surveyor, E. T.
Tannatt received 1077 votes. Mi. Tannatt was the
onlv candidate in the field for the office of surveyor.
For coroner. Warner H. Carithers received 1059 votes
and C. E. Worthington 708, Carithers' majority 351 :
for commissioner, first district. J. D. Wilcox received
592
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
[67 vi ites and D. C. Tribble 198, Tribble's majority 31 ;
for commissioner, second district, C. C. Carpenter re-
ceived 498 votes and David Spurbeck 355, Carpenter s
majority 163; for commissioner, third district, D. J.
Ingle received 214 votes and A. X. Roberts 325, Rob-
erts' majority in.
June 1, 1 89 1, in the G. A. R. hall at Moscow, the
Latah County Pioneer Association was formed. At
this preliminary meeting John Russell was chosen
chairman and Henry .McGregor secretary. At a late
meeting the first regular officers of the associaton were
elected as follows: G. W. Tomer president, Bennet
Summerfield first vice president, Silas Imbler second
vice president, James Johnston treasurer and J. L. Nay-
lor secretary. This organization has been faithfully
kept up during the succeeding years, and each year it
has held one or more reunions, thus keeping alive the
incidents of early associations and preserving reminis-
cent and historical matter for the information and in-
struction of generations that may people the country
in the future. The first annual reunion and picnic was
held Wednesday, June 15, 1892, at the pioneer picnic
grounds at the foot of Moscow mountain, northeast of
Moscow. At this meeting George W. Tomer was
chairman and J. L. Naylor secretary. R. H. Barton
was orator of the day. the last meeting was held four
miles north of Moscow on the school section near the
Beaslev place, June 19, 1903. At this meeting C. W.
Farmer was chairman, J. L. Naylor secretary and A.
J. Green, a pioneer of 1877, was orator of the day.
As a matter of record and for the benefit of future
historians, we give below the names of the pioneers
of Latah county as taken from the books of the associa-
tion, and where we have been able to obtain the in-
formation, the date of their settlement. While there
were scattered individual settlers as early as 1869, the
home builders began to come in 1871. Those who made
settlements in that year were as follows : G. W. To-
mer, William Frazier, W. J. Hamilton, William Groat,
William Taylor, A. A. Lieuallen, Murdock Cameron,
W. R. Tomer, J. S. Frazier, Angus McKenzie, Donald
McKenzie, E. N. Beach, J. T. Taylor, David Allen,
Charles W. Tomer, L. H. Collins. The year 1872 wit-
nessed the arrival of John Russell, J. S. Howard, Henry
McGregor, Arthur Gosselin and Martin Anderson. In
1873 came Silas Imbler, J. G. Edmondson, Bennet
Summerfield, Joseph Cox and G. W. Lowrie. In 1874
homesteads w:ere taken by B. A. McGuire, W. I i.
Ritchie, T. T. Suddreth, C. W. Palmer and C. C.
Palmer, Pioneers of 1895 are J. A. Bundy, A. B. Estes.
J. W. Wolf and George W. Wolf. Those
of 1876 are J. H. McCallie, W. A. Robi-
nett, Charles Kelly, O. H. P. Beagle, S. F. Luper,
Rilev Knight, J. H. Galbreath, M. A. Corry, Charles
Shearer, J. L. Gilbreth, Joseph Gilbert, G. W. Stew-
art, T. S. Edmundson, G. B. Christie and Joshua Hol-
den. In 1877 the following became settlers : J. Wilson,
John Heick, J. L. Naylor, "R. H. Barton, John Holden,
S. 1. Langdon, Jasper W. Wilson, X. M. Hawley. A.
T. Green. Y. T. Beall, S. L. Langdon, Abraham Mat-
this, Charles H. Kelly, John A. Marlatt, Julius Cher-
pillod, C. T. Stranahan, C. M. Bowers, J. M. Garri-
son, Jonathan Johnson, George J. Xeighbors, C. H.
Oderlin, Henry Cummings and William P. Lagan.
These were followed in 1878 by James Johnson, W.
S. Craig, R. Beasley, A. J. Pledrick, George Langdon,
John Paulson. J. H. Maguire, George A. Gilanore, W.
J. McDonnell, V. Bartle, M. J. Shields, S. D. Oyler,
Robert Purnell, Iver Burke, William Kilde, W. M. Bu-
chanan, W. H. Hooper, Ransom Warren and
Charles S. Simonson. Arrivals of 1879 were
11. M. Rogers, L. Hawley, E. C. Fisher, G.
Webber and E. B. Harrison. Later arrivals who
are classed with the pioneers are Walter McClin-
tic, who came in 1881, and John Grimes, who came in
1882. John H. Buchanan is said to have come here
in 1865, and is probably the earliest settler in Latah
county.
The following pioneers have not registered on the
books of the association the dates of their arrivals :
A. N. Miller, G. W. Oglesby, John Roberts, J. H. Ir-
vine. W. B. McKenzie, Thomas A. Nixon, Benjamin
F. Shaw, Silas Shaw, W. D. Craig, William F. Dale,
C. F. Groat. X. Rowlev, William P. and L. M. Mc-
Clintic, David McCurry, W. D. Robins, A. A. J. Fry,
W. C. Campbell, William Zeitler, Daniel Cameron, W.
O. Campbell. F. M. Johnson, John Cummings, A. R.
Crow, Ira Knight, Xelson Madesen, W. H. Bundy,
Barney J. Olsen, M. L. Dillman, E. X. DeLong, E.
F. DeLong. William King, E. C. Fisher, Jefferson
Wood, J. W. Ellis, H. L. Land, John Moss, John E.
Randall, W. M. Carter, S. H. B. Denny, J. N. Mar-
quis, 'Germand Olsen, J. W. Clark, L. D. Jameson,
Julius Cenduet, C. H. Jones, L. Stanus, Eli Spittler,
Ben A. Gorgan, Nathan Buchanan, D. B. Fleener,
A. W. Miller, W. H. Leasure, Hiram R. Russell, G.
M. Tomer, J. H. Fleener, F. C. McLean, H. K.
Moore, D. L. Bangs, S. M. Bangs, Eugene J.
Bonhore. G. N. Parker. J. Woodworth, John C. Miller,
Joseph W. Huston, Solomon Hasbrouck, P. L. Orcutt,
T. A. Staner, J. G. Vennigerholz and Thomas Big-
ham.
The following are the names of the women who
braved the hardships of the pioneer life and who came
to Latah county in the seventies with their husbands,
parents, or other relatives and who are members of
the Pioneer Association.
Mesdames E. B. Frazier, R. M. Groat, Mary E.
Imbler, Sarah C. McCurry, Sarah Bundy, Carrie
Tomer-Hayes, Mary A. McClintic, Lizzie McClintic,
Rebecca A. Naylor, Sarah E. Beasley, Fanny Hawley,
Evaline Wilson, L. Robins, Mary Fry, Julia E. McCal-
lie, Margaret Russell, Sarah Lieuallen, Clara L.
Campbell. J. R. Staner, C. J. Knight. Sarah Goede.
Carrie Olsen, Jennie L. Cox, Nancy DeLong, Olive
Fisher, Mary L. Buchanan, Alice ]'. Wood, Amanda
Gilbreth, Jennie Paulson, S. E. Clark, E. B. Tomer,
Massia Edmundson, Thyrza C. McGregor, Martha
Cary, S. A. Kelly, Addie Denny, Lucinda Jameson,
Margaret Vennigerholz, E. F. Tomer, Jennie
Burke, Maggie S. Collins, Amanda Wolf, Mary L.
Buchanan, Cary Kilde, Susan Matthis, Diana Bu-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
chanan, L. L. Ricksicker, .Margaret L. Hooper, Millie
F. Tomer, Eliza J. Garrison, D. J. Wilcox, Sarah
Johnson, F. C. McLean, Ella Johnson, Luella Parker,
Lillie Woodward, Donald Ryrie, Luella Durham, Em-
ma Edmundson, Dora Summerfield, Louise Lang-
don Barton, Viola Knight, Lillie Lieuallen, Hattie
Jones, Ninia Jones, C. L. Holden, Fanny Langdon,
Julia A. Summerfield.
Misses Maude M. Barton, Maggie B. McCallie,
and Anna DeLong.
The assessor's report for the year 1S91 showed the
county to be in a very prosperous condition. The to-
tal valuation of property for purposes of taxation was
$3,610,596. There were in the county 8,141 horses
and mules, 9,183 cattle, 7,705 sheep and 1.47s hogs.
This does not of course fairly represent the extent of
the stock industry as the assessor very rarely finds
all that are grazed" or fed m the county. All industries
of farm and city were prosperous this year and many
new settlers located in all parts of the county. In
[890 Nez Perces county made demands on Latah for
about 82,500 in claims as balances due them, and
which they claimed had been withheld at the time of
organization, when Latah's proportion of the old coun-
ty's organization had been cancelled. The commis-
sioners of Latah county refused to allow the amount and
the matter was referred in regular form to Judge Pip-
er's court. August 8. 1891, Judge Piper sustained the
commissioners in their action and Xez Perces county
did not press the demands further.
At the session of congress creating a United Slates
court for Idaho, the state was divided into three dis-
tricts and a place named in each at which sessions
of the court should be held. The counties of Idaho,
Nez Perces, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone consti-
tuted one district and Moscow was named as the place
for holding court in this district. In August, 1802.
Judge Beatty called a special session of the court at
Coeur dAlene City for the purpose of trying the un-
ion labor strikers from the Coeur d'Alene mining re-
gions. This action on the part of Judge Beatty stirred
up a good deal of feeling among the citizens of Latah
county as it was thought if he had the authority to
hold court where he pleased Latah county might lose
the prestige gained by the selection of Moscow as the
court center of the judicial district. Newspapers and
attorneys of Latah county found expression of their
views and their dissatisfaction in many ways and while
there was no interference with the session at Coeur
d'Alene City there was never afterwards any dispo-
sition shown to hold the sessions of the court else-
where than at Moscow, where all the regular and spec-
ial sessions have since been held.
In 1892 the People's party entered the political
arena and with the new issues brought forward for
discussion there were lively times throughout the
campaign. In this campaign Latah county was rep-
resented on the state ticket by the successful candi-
date for governor, Hon. W. J. McConnell, of Mos-
cow-, and on the congressional ticket by the successful
candidate for congress, Hon. Willis Sweet, also of
Moscow. The Republican county convention was held
at Mo-cow. August lilli. with Dr. W. \Y. Watkins as
chairman and G. \\ . Coutts, secretary. This was the
first county convention of the Republican party in
Latah county. There was a decided lack of harmony
in the convention, owing to strife between factions
of the partw but a full ticket was eventually chosen
and by the time the campaign was well under way,
harmony was restored and the candidates received the
loyal support of all factions. After declaring for pro-
tection to American industries and for the restriction
of immigration, and after endorsing the records of
Hon. W. J. McConnell as governor and Hon. Willis
Sweet as congressman, they inserted the foil. .wing
paragraph in their platform : "We demand the free
and unlimited coinage of gold and silver and we de-
mand that each and every paper dollar issued upon
either metal shall, with said metals, be a full legal
tender tor all debts, public and private."
The following ticket was placed in the field : For
sheriff, John L. Naylor, Moscow; treasurer, Robert
S. Brown, Moscow; probate judge, Harvey R. Smith,
Moscow; assessor. David Fairburn, Moscow: coroner,
I. Edwin Hughes. Moscow; surveyor, S. L. Campbell,
Moscow; clerk of the court and auditor, I!. F. Cone,
Palouse precinct; representatives Latah county, S. A.
Anderson, Swan Creek, and Henry II. Bang-. I roj ;
joint senator Latah and Nez Perces county, I. Morris
Howe, Lewiston ; representative Latah and Kootenai,
Henry J. Harper. Palouse precinct ; representative
Latah county, J. I. Micham, Kendrick ; commission-
ers, 1st district, William Kincaid, Palouse precinct,
.?d district, E. T. Piatt, Genesee, 3d district, A. N.
Roberts, American Ridge.
The Democratic convention assembled in Moscow
July 30th. J. M. Walker of Kendrick was elected
chairman and J. Woodworth, of Moscow, secretary.
After endorsing the Chicago platform as adopted June
24th. the convention proceeded to place the following
ticket before the people: joint senator, Latah and
Kootenai counties, William J. Quirk, Kootenai coun-
ty : joint senator, Latah and Nez Perces count}. Thom-
as F. Nelson, Cornwall; senator, Latah count}-, Joe
M. Walker. Kendrick; joint representative Latah and
Kootenai counties, John Donahue, Kootenai county ;
representatives. William J. Seat. Troy. George W.
Wilton. Palouse precinct; commissioners, 1st district,
Dudley C. Tribble, Starner, 2d district. Jerry R. Bak-
er, Moscow, 3d district, WXman Crow, Kendrick;
clerk and auditor. William M. Payne. Moscow;
sheriff, Harvey J. Bundy, Genesee; treasurer. Isaac
C. Hattabaugh, Moscow; probate judge, W. 1.. Cul-
bertson, Moscow; assessor, L. D. Martin, Moscow-
coroner, Charles E. Worthington, Moscow ; surveyor,
William P. Nichols, Kendrick.
The People's partv convened at Moscow. August
13th. Hiram Eperlv was chosen chairman and T. E.
Edmundson. secretary. The Omaha platform was en-
dorsed, including the sub-treasury plan and other
natural innovations proposed in the national conven-
tion. The ticket nominated was as follows : For joint
senator Latah and Xez Perces county, John Cheno-
weth. Xez Perces county; senator Latah county. Mar-
594
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ques S. Smith. Genesee: representatives. Aaron T.
Lane and George W. Tomer. Moscow; commissioners,
ist district. George W. Griner, Palouse precinct, 2d
district. Dudley J. Hammond, Moscow, 3d district,
Axel ( llsen, Troy; clerk and auditor, Frank W. Web-
ster, Palouse precinct; sheriff, C. A. S. Howard. Mos-
cow ; treasurer, John Gilstrop, Moscow ; probate judge,
William A. Comer, Cora; assessor, Thomas L. Chil-
ders. Moscow ; coroner, Anion K. Biddison, Troy ; no
candidate was nominated for surveyor.
The following is the official record of the election
which took place November 8th: The vote of Latah
county for congressman stood, Willis Sweet. 1.420,
E. B.'Trne. 622, James Gunn, 722, E. R. Headley, 51.
Sweet'- plurality, 698. The vote for governor stood,
W. J. McDonnell, 1.397, J- M- Burke, 694, A. J. Crook,
726,' Joseph A. Clark, 46, McConnell's plurality, 671.
For legislative and county officers the vote was as fol-
lows : Joint senator Latah and Kootenai counties, Ber-
gen. 1,327, Quirk, 937, Bergen's plurality, 390; joint
senator Latah and Nez Perces counties, Howe, 1,225,
Nelson, 768, Chenoweth. 731, Howe's plurality. 457;
senator. Micham, 1,183. Walker, 783, Smith, 762, Mic-
ham's plurality, 400; joint representative Latah and
Kootenai counties, Hopper, 1,323, Donahue, 931, Hop-
per',-, majority, 393; representatives, Anderson, 1,212,
Bangs, 1,153. Seat, 711, Wilton, 588, Lane, 600, To-
mer, 770. Anderson's plurality, 501. Bang's plurality,
y:)?; commissioners, Kincaid, 1,203, Piatt, 1,159, ^",l"
erts, 1.345, Tribble, 870. Baker, 790, Crow, 629, Gri-
ner. 675, Hammond, 695, < Usen, 684, Kincaid's plur-
ality, 33. Piatt's plurality, 369, Roberts' plurality, 661 ;
clerk and auditor. Cone, 1,251. Payne, 858, Webster,
653, Cone's plurality, 393 : sheriff, Naylor, 905. Bund}',
906, Howard, 94S. Xavlor's plurality, 17; treasurer,
Brown, 994. Hattahaugh, 1,152, Gilstrop. 665. Hatta-
baugh's plurality. 158: probate judge, Smith. 1.240.
Culbertson, /2/, Comer. 668, Smith's plurality. 513:
assessor, Fairburn, 1,156, Martin. A2J. Childers, 750,
Fairburn's plurality, 329; coroner. Hughes, 1.128,
Worthington, 81 13, Biddison, jj}, Hughes's plurality,
265; surveyor. Campbell, 1,389, Nichols, 925, Camp-
bell's majority, 464.
The year of 1893 was one of great disaster to
Latah county. The story of the financial panic of that
year is too familiar to require detailed repetition here.
The failure of large banking institutions in the money
centers of the east and west involved those of lesser
magnitude in smaller towns and these failures brought
disaster to farmers, depositors and to those who needed
money to conduct or pay for their farms. Many of the
large" and small commercial houses all over the west
went to the wall and the forced payments of accounts
by the small debtors had its influence in bringing
about oppressive conditions. Latah county escaped
none of the disasters and experienced one special dis-
aster that brought many of the farmers to the verge of
ruin, from which it took years of patient toil and great
is I" escape. The most important failure in
Latah county was that of the McConnell-Maguire
Company in Moscow, wholesale and retail dealers in
general merchandise. This house closed its doors in
April. The immediate cause of the failure was the
sale of the McConnell, Chambers & Company store at
Pullman to Maguire & Browne of Moscow, in which
McConnell and Chambers held shares. The Pullman
house had invested heavily in wheat and the great de-
pression of the market caused them to sustain heavy
losses, which, involving the Moscow house, compelled
it to close. The assets of the firm were $280,000, with
liabilities footing $216,000. The First National Bank
of Moscow immediately got out attachments for $22,-
343.68; the Moscow National Bank, attachments for
$26,343, and other creditors ran the attachments up to
880,839.68. The firm filed papers of insolvency to
protect its creditors and its affairs were eventually
settled to the satisfaction of all, but the business was
never reopened.
In addition to the financial troubles Latah county
suffered the loss of almost its entire crop of grain,
which was exceptionally abundant, by heavy rains that
came during the harvest and before any threshing had
been done. This was an unusual occurrence, unheard
of before and not repeated since. The grain crops
rotted in the fields, almost none being harvested and
sold, so that the farmers were placed in the most de-
plorable condition from which they were many years
in recovering. Conditions in 1893 and in the three or
four years following can only be realized by compari-
son with the present conditions. It is doubtful if in
any other section of the country there is a more no-
ticeable change during the last ten years than in Latah
county. It might almost be termed an advance from
poverty to affluence, from depression to prosperity,
from general despondency to universal hope, elation
and contentment.
Ten years ago the entire country was complaining
of hard times, and Latah county was about as hard hit
as any other section that found itself hard up and with
no apparent way of getting out of the difficulty. The
people had little or no money, their farms were mort-
gaged, back interest was due, small debts had ac-
cumulated, their products found poor markets and it
was an unusually sanguine man who could see daylight
ahead. The land of those who would sell went
begging; there was no demand for it. If real estate
transfers were reported, it was not because the pur-
chaser wished to buy but because he was forced to do
it if he would get what was coming to him. Since that
gloomy period the heavy skies have lifted and for
several years fortune has favored those who struggled
with so much determination against the adversity that
spared so few. Many of those who succeeded by great
effort in holding their farms have been able not only
to raise their mortgages and get square with the world,
but also to increase their property and reap larger
profits than ever from greater acreage. It is not now
a question as to who will buy but as to who will sell.
The farmers do not as a rule wish to part with their
holdings, but are anxious to add to what they already
have. They have done well with their crops and home-
seekers from the east, having learned of it, are eager
to acquire Latah county land. As a result there is a
more genera! improvement of farms and a more solid
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
595
movement in farm property than Latah county has
witnessed for many years.
There were no changes for the better in the general
conditions that prevailed during the year 1894. If any-
thing, the effects of the financial panic and crop fail-
ure were more seriously felt than in the year previous.
The crops this year were good but the prices were not,
and obligations could not be cancelled. The year
closed with all lines of business comparatively at a
standstill.
While there have been crimes of greater or less
magnitude committed in Latah county, there has never
been a legal hanging or murder in the first degree and
there have been no lynchings. On Tuesday, October
5, 1804. a terrible crime was committe din the county
jail, an insane prisoner killing his cell mate in a hor-
rible manner. A soldier named Roberts had, a year or
two previously, been arrested at Fort Sherman for
killing a brother soldier. He had afterward been ad-
judged insane and had since been confined in the Latah
county jail awaiting the pleasure of the United States
marshal. He was not considered a dangerous man and
was therefore allowed free intercourse with other pris-
oners in the corridors ef the jail. At this time there
was but one other prisoner, a quiet, inoffensive young
man about twenty years old. named John Witte, who
was awaiting trial in the United States court on the
charge of selling liquor to the Indians on the Coeur
dAlene reservation. For more than a year Sheriff
J. L. Naylor had been trying to induce the United
States marshal to take Roberts out of his custody. No
attention, however, had been paid to his requests and
for about eighteen months he remained the charge of
the Latah county officials. On the date mentioned
above, during tile absence of Jailer Donahue, Roberts
attacke. 1 Witte while the latter was sleeping and after
crushing his skull with a stove lid, literally hacked his
victim to pieces with some dull instrument which could
not afterwards be found. On the day following the
crime the United States marshal started with Roberts
for Washington, D. C, and his victim, being without
friends or relatives, was buried in potter's field.
Some time in 1892 George N. Hinckley became
deputy auditor of Latah county. He had no sooner
acquired a knowledge of the work of the office than
he began "raising" county warrants whose face value
was a nominal sum, to hundreds of dollars, disposing
of the same and appropriating excess amounts to his
own personal use. During a period of less than two
years he "raised" warrants of a total face value of
about $500, collecting thereon about $20,000, which he
used in living a high life generally. His operations
were discovered in August, 1894, and on a charge of
forgery preferred by County Auditor B. F. Cone he
was arrested by Sheriff J. L. Naylor and held for
trial. His success in continuing these operations for
so long a time without detection resulted from the fact
that he had absolute sway in the auditor's office. He
kept the bank account, receipted for all fees, made out
all warrants, made out all certified lists of warrants
transmitted to the treasurer, and in all cases where
comparisons were made between the records of bills
allowed and the warrant book he held the warrant
book and reported an agreement of the accounts. His
embezzling career was brought to a speedy termina-
tii m by the action of Auditor Cone. On September
6th Hinckley pleaded guilty to the charge brought
aginst him before Judge Piper and was sentenced to
twelve years at hard labor in the penitentiary, from
which, however, he was pardoned before the expira-
tion of the sentence.
In the political campaign of 1894 the Republicans
endorsed the national platform adopted at Minne-
apolis in 1902, declared for protection and bi-metallism
and for the restriction of immigration. The Democrats
endorsed the Chicago platform of 1892 and declared
for the free and unlimited coinage of silver and for the
repeal of the McKinley tariff law. The People's party
endorsed the Omaha platform. The Democrats and
People's parties fused in this campaign, nominating
the same candidates except for one or two offices. The
chairmen of the Populist and Democratic central com-
mittees issued a joint announcement of the fusion of
these two parties. At the election which took place
November 6th, the fusion party was successful, giving
their candidates majorities ranging from 13 for as-
sessor to 388 for representative. The Republicans
convened August 1st, selecting F. A. David for chair-
man and W. P. Cattron, secretary. Following are the
nominees of the convention : For representatives, Dan-
iel Gamble, Moscow, and Alfred Colburn, Palouse pre-
cinct ; sheriff, Charles F. Burr, Genesee ; clerk and
auditor, Benjamin F. Cone, Palouse precinct; probate
judge, Harvey R. Smith, Moscow; assessor, Rodney
P. Drury, Big Bear ridge ; treasurer, LaFayette Will-
iams, Moscow ; coroner, William Groat. Moscow ; sur-
veyor, William H. Edelblute, Palouse precinct; com-
missioners, 1st district, William M. Kincaid, Palouse
precinct. 2d district, John Paulson, Thorn Creek, 3d
district, Richard Ring, Bear Ridge.
The Populists convened July 18th and the Demo-
crats July 27th. For clerk and auditor the Democrats
named Jay Woodworth, of .Moscow, and the Populists,
Charles A. Niles, of Potlatch. Other candidates on the
two tickets were as follows : For representatives. John
S. Randolph and John C. Waite ; sheriff, Frank Camp-
bell, Palouse precinct; probate judge, Willis X. B.
Anderson, Moscow ; assessor, Carrie B. Hammond,
Moscow: treasurer, John Gilstrop, Moscow; coroner,
Charles S. Moody, Kendrick ; surveyor. Samuel L.
Campbell, Moscow; commissioners, rst district. Will-
iam W. Young, 2d district, William H. Leasure. Mos-
cow, 3d district, Mamford W. Harlan. Bear Ridge.
William G. Piper was the Republican candidate for
judge and Stewart S. Denning the Democratic or
Fusion candidate. James E. Babb, of Lewiston. was
the Republican candidate for district attorney, and
Clay McNamee, of Moscow, the Fusion candidate.
For state senator, James C. Steele, of Kendrick. was
the Republican nominee, and Tannes E. Miller. Gen-
esee, the Fusion nominee. For joint senator of Latah
and Kootenai counties the Republicans nominated
Robert S. Brown, of Moscow, while the Populists nom-
inated Thomas F. Nelson, of Moscow. For joint sen-
596
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ator Latah and Nez Perces counties the Republicans
were represented b> Daniel C. .Mitchell, of Moscow,
and the Populists by Henry Heitfeld, of Lewiston.
Record of votes cast at the election of November
6th is as follows: For congressman the vote of Latah
county stood. Edgar Wilson, Republican. 1,253, James
Ballentine, Democrat. 304. James Dunn, Fusionist,
[,168, Wilson's plurality, 85; governor, W. J. Mc-
Connell. Republican. 1.215. Edward Stevenson, Demo-
crat, 423, James W. Ballentine, Fusionist. 1,194, Mc-
Connell's plurality, 21; district judge. William G.
Piper, Republican. 1.399. Stewart S. Denning, Fu-
sionist. 1.279, Piper's majority, 120: district attorney,
James F. Babb, 1,241, Clay' McNamee, 1.575, Mc-
Namee's majority, 334; senator, Steele. 1.335. Miller,
1.398. Miller's majority, 63; joint senator Kootenai
and Latah counties. Brown, 1,205. Nelson, 1,288,
Brown's majority, 7: joint senator Latah and Xez
Purees counties, Mitchell, 1,360, Heitfield, 1.44S, Heit-
feld's majority, 88: representatives. Gamble, 1.325,
Colburn, 1.085. Randolph, 1.473. Wane. 1,195, < .am-
ble's majority, 130, Randolph's majority, 388: joint
representative Latah ami Kootenai counties, Henry,
1. 312, VanGasken, 301. Catlow, 1,128, Henry's plur-
ality, 184; sheriff. Burr, 1,364, Campbell. 1.453, Camp-
bell's majority. 89; clerk and auditor. Cone. 1,194,
Woodworth, 1,308, Niles, 354, Woodworth's plurality,
114; probate judge. Smith, 1.315. Anderson, 1.497,
Anderson's majority. 182: assessor, Drury, 1,319,
Hammond, 1,412, Hammond's majority, 13: treasurer,
Williams. 1,527, Gilstrop, 1,496, Gilstrop's majority,
[69 coroner, Groat, 1,203, Moody, 1,484, Moody's
majority, 221 ; surveyor, Edelblute, 1,266, Campbell,
1.485. Campbell's majority, 219; commissioners, 1st
district. Kincaid, 1.256, Young, 1.534, Young's major-
ity, 278, 2d district, Paulson, 1.251. Leasure, 1,501,
Leasure's majority, 310, 3d district, King, 1,280, Har-
land, 1,511, Harland's majority, 231.
In 1895 the outstanding warrants of the county
amounted to $54,000. It was desired to get this obli-
gation in better business form and the proposition was
therefore submitted to a vote of the people at a special
election to authorize the count}- commissioners to is-
sue bonds to the amount of the outstanding warrants.
The election was held August 19th, at which time 480
votes were cast in favor of the bond issue and 279
votes against it. As the law governing the issue of
bonds required a two-thirds vote favoring the issue
the efforts to so cancel the warrants failed and it was
left to future action to dispose of the matter.
At the general election of 1894 John Gilstrop was
elected county treasurer. The board of commissioners
required of him a bond of $80,000, which he had great
difficulty in securing. Eventually he made an arrange-
ment with the Moscow National Bank and the Com-
mercial Bank by which they agreed to go his bond
provided he would deposit the county money equally
between the two banks. The arrangement consum-
mated, the bond was presented to the commissioners
and accepted.. In March. 1895, the Commercial Bank
failed and through its failure $12,776.95 of the county
funds were tied up. Under the law this made the
county treasurer a defaulter. The commissioners at
once entered suit against Mr. Gilstrop and bondsmen
for the amount of the funds he could not produce,
but had no intention of pressing the suit so long as
there was any probability of the recovery of the funds
kept by the Commercial Bank. Treasurer Gilstrop
had entered suit against the bank and had attached the
bank building to protect the county from loss. The
state of affairs was such as to cause a panic among the
sureties who had signed the bund with the bank and
they withdrew their names. The commissioners then
demanded another bond and having every confidence in
the integrity and honesty of Air. Gilstrop. required of
him the minimum bond allowed by law. $10,000.
After several months' effort, Mr. Gilstrop furnished
the bond, but it was found on investigation that only
$4,000 of it was good. The commissioners therefore
declined to accept it and on September 12, 1895, de-
clared the office of treasurer of the county vacant.
Mr. Gilstrop 'made a statement to the board of com-
missioners to the effect that he had taken none of the
county's money for personal use: that the failure of
the commissioners to allow his salary had caused him
grievous embarrassment and even suffering : that he
had no other source of income than the meagre salary
of the office. S83 per month, and being denied this, had
been compelled to deprive his family of many of the
necessaries of life and had caused them much suf-
fering. This statement was known to be true and
there was much genuine sympathy with the treasurer
on account of the embarrassing circumstances with
which he was surrounded. The commissioners, how-
ever, wen? justified in the course they pursued: it was
their first duty to protect the county's funds and there
was no course of action left open to them other than
the one they followed. The office of treasurer remained
vacant for some time, but at a meeting in September
the commissioners appointed Burt O. Winslow to fill
the unexpired term of Mr. Gilstrop.
Educational matters have always received special
consideration from the citizens of Latah county. When
the county was formed in 1888 there were in exist-
ence fifty-eight districts, in all of which were school
buildings. In some of the outlying districts the build-
ings were of logs, but were commodious. The first
schoolhouse north of Clearwater river was erected just
east of the present town of Moscow on what is known
as the Haskens place, in August, 1879, by George W.
Tomer, A. A. and Noah Lieuallen and'L. Haskens,
who hauled pine logs from the mountains, and them-
selves did the work of construction. Xo lumber was
obtainable for flooring, so the first school was taught
during the fall and winter of 187 1 by Noah Lieuallen
on a dirt floor. Mr. Lieuallen received fifty dollars a
month for his services. The first school board in this
district was composed of A. A. Lieuallen, L. Haskens
and George W. Tomer. In order to show the extent
of progress made in school work we have compiled
some statistics from the annual report of School Su-
perintendent L. N. B. Anderson for the year 1895.
According to the school census, as enumerated July 1,
1895. there were in Latah county 4.787 children of
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
597
school age. There were 84 districts, two of which
were independent and five of which were graded. The
schoolhouses numbered 81, all but one of which were
owned by the districts. There were thirty male teach-
ers at an average wage of $35 per month and forty fe-
male teachers at an average wage of $34 a month. The
total amount paid teachers this year was $24,858,
which was a greater amount than that paid by any
other count) in the state. The total expenditures for
school purposes for the year, including the cost for
new building and site-, was S34.019. The bonded in-
debtedness of the district amounted to $60,050 and the
total value of school property was estimated to be
$94,177- . ,
The event of 1896 in Latah county, as in the whole
country, was the great national political campaign in
which the Bryan forces entered the held, dividing the
Democratic party and bringing forward as a para-
mount issue the free coinage of silver at the ratio of
16 to I. Viewed from a present day standpoint the ex-
citement attending that campaign, when we consider
the issue, may be said to be phenomenal. Although there
are still a few who advocate free coinage, it has ceased
to be an issue between the great political parties and if
we would refresh our minds on the views of the poli-
ticians on this question, we must dig up the old files
of newspapers and read the editorials of 1896. At the
present day the only visible reminders that tell us of
the unparalleled enthusiasm aroused by the silver is-
sue, are occasional signboards on the street, such as
"The Free Coinage INI eat Market, the Sixteen to One
Livery Stable, or the Free Silver Saloon."
Three county conventions were held in Moscow,
Wednesday, September 23, 1896, and two county tick-
ets were put in the field. The Democrats and Popu-
lists nominated a joint ticket. Conference commit-
tees were appointed soon after the conventions were
organized and it was agreed that the Democrats should
name two members of the legislature and the county
treasurer, while the Populists should name the balance.
This arrangement was ratified by both conventions.
Nominations were made in separate conventions and
were afterward ratified in joint session of the two
parties. This joint ticket was known during the cam-
paign as the People's-Democratic, and was composed
ot the following candidates : For representatives, John
S. Randolph, Pine creek, John C. Waite, Potlatch,
William M. Morgan, Moscow, J. W. Seat, Troy, and
John C. Elder. Moscow ; sheriff. William Hunter,
Moscow : treasurer. Frank E. Cornwall. Moscow ; pro-
bate judge. William Perkins. Moscow : assessor, Per-
sifer L. Smith, Genesee; coroner, Samuel T. Owings ;
surveyor, Samuel L. Campbell, Moscow ; commission-
er?, first district. Marques L. Smith, Palouse precinct,
2cl district, Hans Knudson, Thorn Creek, 3d district,
Manford W. Harland, American Ridge.
The Silver Republicans in G. A. R. hall chose Dr.
Harvey, of Genesee, chairman, and George W. Coutts,
Kendrick, secretary. The beliefs of the party were
embodied in the following resolution, which was unan-
imously adopted ■
"Believing firmly that the prosperity of the nation
depends upon the immediate restoration of silver to its
old place as constitutional money and demanding that
the coining of silver should be free and unlimited at
the mints of the United States, we favor the election
of William J. Bryan as president of the United States.
We indorse the action of Fred T. Dubois and other
silver senators in denouncing the national Republican
convention at St. Louis, which convention violated all
former financial pledges of that party."
The following candidates were placed in nomina-
tion for the various county offices : For representa-
tives, Rodney P. Drury, Hear creek, Lindol Smith,
Moscow, Leonard J. Harvey, Kendrick. Franklin C.
McLean and Peter Hoidal, Troy ; sheriff, Henry H.
Bangs, Thorn creek; probate judge. John B. Easter,
Moscow : assessor, Ulysses S. Mix, Mix: coroner. Wy-
lie Lauder. Moscow ; surveyor, Henry L. Colts, Mos-
cow; commissioners. 1st district. Homer W. Canfield,
Palouse precinct. 2d district. George Tegland, Thorn
creek, 3d district. John Magee. Kendrick. The Silver
Republicans named no candidate for treasurer, but
gave their support in the campaign to Burt < >. Will-
iams. Kendrick. who ran independent for this office.
The regular Republican convention was held Sep-
tember 30th. Resolutions were adopted along old,
party lines and the St. Louis platform endorsed.
While there was little hope of success at the polls, it
was desire.! to keep the county organization alive and
a full ticket was nominated as follows: For repre-
sentatives, diaries J. Munson, Moscow. Mark A.
Means, Genesee, George G. Strong, Cora. Albert J.
Green. Moscow, Burtis L. Jenkins, Kendrick; sher-
iff William X. Buchanan, Moscow: treasurer, George
W. Daggett, Genesee; probate judge, John J. Swartz,
Moscow ; assessor. Archibald Gammel, Juliaetta ; cor-
oner, Louis A. Torsen, Moscow; surveyor, Theodore
P. Calkins. Collins: commissioners, 1st district, George
A. Sawyer. Palouse precinct, 2d district. Hans C. J.
Tweed, Genesee, 3d district. ( (scar Larson. Troy.
State and congressional candidates this year were
as follows : For governor. David H. Endlong, Repub-
lican, Frank Steunenberg, People's-Democratic and
Silver Republican, Moses F. Fowler. Prohibitionist.
Candidates for congress were John T. Morrison, Re-
publican, James Gunn, People's-Democratic, William
Borah, Silver Republican, James T. Smith, Prohibi-
tionist. For state senator the Republicans nominated
John W. Brigham, the People's-Democratic party nom-
inated Thomas F. Nelson, and the Silver Republicans
nominated Frank A. David.
The results of the election, at which the People's-
Democratic party won a decided victory and which
took place X< ivember 3d, follows : For congressman,
Morrison, 1.003. Gunn. 1 .440. Borah, 389, Smith, 21,
Gunn's majority in Latah county, zj : governor, Bud-
long. 1,007. Steunenberg, 1,820, Fowler, 21, Steun-
enberg's majority, 702: state senator. Brigham, 961,
Nelson. 1,560, David, 245. Nelson's majority, 354;
representatives. Munson, 988, Mean-. 074. Strong, 964,
Green, 948, Jenkins, 054. Randolph. 1.372. Waite.
1,353, Morgan, i.;wi. Seat. 1.398. Elder. 1.477. Drury,
452,' Smith, 538, Harvev. 421. McLean. 398. Hoidal,
598
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
331, Randolph's plurality. 384. Waite's plurality, 379,
Morgan's plurality. 427, Scat's plurality, 450, Elder's
plurality. 523; sheriff, Buchanan, 1.004, Hunter, 1,266,
Bangs, 610, Hunter's plurality, 262; treasurer, Dag-
gett, 858. Cornwall, 1.263, Winslow, 639, Cornwall's
plurality, 405 ; probate judge, Swartz, 949, Perkins,
1.540. Easter. 499, Perkins' plurality, 391; assessor,
Archibald Gammell, 989. Smith. 1.300, Mix, 515.
Smith's plurality. 311; coroner, Torsen, 1,081, Owings,
1,190, Lauder, 444, Owings' plurality, 109; surveyor,
Caulkins, 044, Campbell, 1,446, Coats, 330, Campbell's
majority, 172; commissioners, 1st district, Sawyer,
947, Smith, 1,369, Canfield, 404, Smith's majority, 18,
2d district, Tweed, 999, Knudson. 1,388, Tegland, 434,
Knudson's plurality, 389, 3d district, Larson, 963, Har-
land, 1,367, Magee, 448, Harland's plurality, 404.
By the year" 1898 the effects of the panic had in a
large' measure disappeared, though many mortgages
were still held by loan companies on farms and city-
real estate in Latah county. There was a time when
the Northwestern Hypotheek Bank, of Spokane,
owned property, obtained by foreclosure proceedings,
in almost every township in the county, besides busi-
ness buildings and other holdings in nearly all the
towns. But the obligations of the farmers and others
had been gradually lessened during the preceding two
or three years and some measure of former prosperity
had returned. In 1898 there were 346,938 acres of pat-
ented lands in the county valued for purposes of tax-
ation at $1,556,336, which was of course far below the
market value. The total value of real property, town
and country, was placed at 82,237,268. Assessment
was made on 1,252.200 bushels of grain. 119 tons of
hay, 651,000 feet of lumber, 20 flour and sawmills and
on 16,117 head of stock, which included 4,040 hogs.
The wheels of progress were turning with tireless en-
ergy and the future held every promise of speedy re-
turn to the conditions of 1891 and 1892.
In December. 1901, the Moscow Business Men's
Association began the agitation of the proposition to
construct and operate the Moscow & Eastern Rail-
road from Moscow to the white pine timber region in
eastern Latah county and in Shoshone count}-. The
road was promoted in 1898. Preliminary surveys were
made and considerable right of way granted, but for
some unknown cause operations ceased in the winter
of 1898 and since that time no work has been done on
the line. Such a road would prove of great advantage
to this section, particularly if pushed through the
mountains, making connections with eastern lines. The
immediate object is, however, to furnish an outlet for
the white pine and other saw timber, of which there is
an almost inexhaustible supply that the road would
make directly tributary to Moscow. The officers of
the road were George Creighton, president; Thomas
Grice, vice president ; C. O. Brown, general manager ;
R. V. Cozier, le.sjal adviser ; and F. A. Gilbert, treas-
urer. The first survey was run from Moscow forty
miles east U> what is known as 'Warren's meadows,
near Collins, on the Potlatch river. Later a branch
was surveyed from Warren's meadows down the Pot-
latch to its forks, thence up die east fork to the mouth
of Ruby creek, thence up Ruby creek and over the di-
vide into Elk Creek basin, fifty-five miles from Mos-
cow. The construction of the road would mean the
erection of sawmills here at its junction with the two
roads now converging at this point. This is a work of
great importance that in all probability will be pushed
to completion in the near future.
When war was declared against Spain in the spring
of 1898 there was an unusual expression of patriotism
and loyalty by the citizens of Latah county. A com-
pany of Idaho National Guards existed at Genesee and
at the Stale University at Moscow was a company of
cadets. When the call for Idaho troops was made in
April by President McKinley, both companies ten-
dered their services to the governor and were accepted.
That the reader may appreciate the true spirit of the
Latah count}- volunteers and know the full history of
their enlistment and service, we reproduce here the
story of the University company, written by one of the
cadets, and that of the Genesee company, written for
the North Idaho Star :
It is difficult to determine just what it is that impels men
to go to war. Whatever it be that inspires men with courage
to face hardship, privation, death if need be, appeals to the
higher self — the noblest characteristics a man possesses. War
times, if they be not times that try men's souls, are certainly
times when men's souls are raised to their higher possibilities;
they are the times that make men truer, braver, nobler. True
patriotism is a noble unreason, it accepts whatever comes but
scorns to consider issues. When a man volunteers his ser-
vices to his country he does not think of the dangers he may
meet; or if he does, he outsiders them as possibilities only.
He is as invulnerable as Achilles. If he should be among
those left on the field — that is well enough, too.
When the war broke out in the spring the boys in the
University like the boys throughout the length and breadth
of the land, were filled with a desire to enlist in the army for
the invasion of Cuba. As the days passed and the regular
troops were hurried to the south, and the country was one
blaze of excitement, many of the boys, impatient to see ser-
vice, contemplated enlisting in the regular army. The presi-
dent's call in the latter part of April, however, made this un-
necessary. As soon as it was known that Idaho had been
called upon for troops, the boys immediately tendered their
services to the governor, which offer was accepted. A meet-
in- was called for the purpose of forming a University com-
pany, and when the meeting adjourned, it was found that
m ail v every able bodied cadet was a member of the organ-
ization
A physical examination was held to determine the fitness
of the volunteers for the hard work they should be required
to perform. Many comical incidents are related of tricks re-
sorted to by some to pass the requirements. It is on record
that one boy who was several pounds under weight, went
home on the morning of the examination and ate heartilv of
baker's bread and drank as much water as he could hold.
When the time for examination arrived his weight recorded
three pounds on the safe side. When this cadet arrived in
■Boise lie was rejected on account of being under age.
Hie successful volunteers met at the Grand Army hall in
Moscow to enroll their names. Mr. F. E. Cornwall of that
city bad charge <>l the matter and enlisted the following uni-
versity students: Edward Smith, George A. Snow. Charles
11. Armstrong Clement L. llerburt, A. J. Macnab. O. S.
Hagberg, \V M. Rowland, T. E. Jewell, B. E. Burk, E. S.
Maui.' G. W. Kavs. T. L. Rams, C. Macnab, W. E. Reed, E.
P. Martin, P. (.,. Craig, 1.. \\ Nixon, 1. T. Burk. E. I. Foss,
R. B. McGregor, P. Teagur, S. P. Burr, W. Tavlor. J. Gibb,
O. L. Brunzell, A X. Brunzell, J. M. Herman. X. C Sheri-
dan, W. S. McBride, E. E. Oylear, E. M. Snider, S. Corn-
stock. I. Smith, E. L. Barton, C. Henry, W. Boemeke, I. D.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
599
Schuh. From the town of Moscow the following were en-
listed- J. R. Willard, J. DePartee, F. C. McFarland, A.
Hagstrom, W. Harris T. T. Thornton, R. Isaacs, B. Juvenal.
Ir was a warm, sunshiny dav in May when we marched
down the mam street of Moscow between rows of people who
cheered and waved as long as we were in sight. Flags floated
from every building, and at every corner the university yell
indicated 'that the institution was well represented in the
crowds. At the depot Hon. R. V Cozier delivered an eloquent
address At its close he presented a beautiful flag which was
gracefully accepted by Clement L. Herburt in behalf of the
company Rev. Mr Ghormley then uttered a fervent invo-
cation. 'None of those who were present will forget the scenes
that occurred as the cadets bade farewell to their relatives and
friends and filed into the car.
On arrival at Boise we went into camp on the outskirts
of the city. For the first week little attention was given to
military discipline and we did just about as we pleased.
On May 17 we underwent a second physical examination.
This was a rigid one. but all the Moscow boys succeeded in
passing the requirements Several, however, who were under
age, were rejected and returned to Moscow. Soon after this
examination we were mustered into the service. About this
time the regimental and company officers were named and
commissioned and the formation of the regiment actively
begun.
It was early discovered that the cadet company as a dis-
tinct organization could not stand. Idaho had already fur-
nished more than twice as many soldiers as her quota called
for, so the proposed eight-company regiment could not be in-
creased. This was a great disappointment to the cadets at
the time, for we had hoped as the representatives of the state
university to have a university company. The cadet corps
under the direction of Lieut Edward R. Chrisman, U. S. A.,
had long had the reputation of being the best drilled body in
the state. When it was found necessary to combine the cadet
company with the state militia company of Genesee the Mos-
cow boys readily assented to the new arrangement, and though
it was a great lisappointment at the time, experience has
proven that the change w^as not without advantage. That the
Moscow boys were not subjected to a less satisfactory arrange-
ment is entirely due to the tireless efforts of Mr. F. E. Corn-
wall of Moscow, whose influence and kindness m behalf of the
company are gratefully remembered. The company as now
formed was as follows :
Captain. Edw. Smith, Moscow; 1st lieutenant Wells E.
Gage, Genesee; 2nd lieutenant, James K. Bell, Genesee; 1st
sergeant, Charles II. Armstrong; Q. M. sergeant, Frank C.
Harris; 2nd sergeant. Ole G. Hagburg; 3rd sergeant. George
A. Snow; 4th sergeant. William Burr; 1st corporal. B. E.
Burk; 2nd corporal. J. E. Jewell; 3rd corporal, E. S. Mautz;
4th corporal, J. B. Bell; 5th Corporal. C. L. Herburt; 6th
Corporal. T. M. Osburn; Privates: Rowland, Nelson, Addi-
son, Baduin. Burk, Burr, Carnahan, Caulheld, Comstock, Cor-
ran, Craig. Cummings. DePartee. Derbyshire, Foss, Galloway,
Gugatt, Ganong, Griffin, Hanson, Harris, Hagstrom, Hays,
Herburt, Huber, Isaacs Jacobs, Johnson, Jottin, Juvenal, Kays.
Kennedy, Koenigs, Lansdon, Lillis Mallory Malloy, Martin,
McBride, McFarland, Melntvre, Miller. Moore, A. Morton,
T. Morton, Nixon, Oylear, Rains, Reed. Richardson. A Rick-
etts, T. Ricketts, Sheridan, Simms, Senter, F. Snider, Seelig,
D. Snider. F. Smith, L. Smith, Teagur, Thornton, Tucker.
Vallet, Willard, Wyckoff, Yager.
After the regiment was formed, military rule was in-
stituted and we began the military life in earnest. Some of
us were temporarily outfitted from the stores of moth-eaten
uniforms in the =tore house at the capital building. These
uniforms were of such ridiculous cut and make that the caps
were about the only part of them that fitted. Big men
squeezed into coats that were but half their size, and others
donned trousers that made hazardous any movement from the
perpendicular. Very few men succeeded in getting both
trousers and coat, in fact it did not matter much just so he got
some piece of military insignia. We had no guns except when
on guard, and these were cavalry guns that had evidently
not been burdened with care, and whose chief usefulness was
for ornamental purposes. Fortunately our turns at guard
duty came but seldom.
On May 18th amidst the wildest enthusiasm ever known in
Boise the regiment left for San Francisco where it was to
form part of the expeditionary forces to Manila. We armed
in San Francisco on Sunday, May 22d, and went into camp at
the old Bay District race track, at that time called Camp
Merritt.
The history of Company D and the list of engage-
ments in which it took part, written for the North Idaho
Star, is as follows :
Among the many cities in Idaho, which, at the call for
volunteers for the Spanish-American war. sent forth a mili-
tary organization, Genesee has no small place. Tin. martial
spirit seems to have prevailed in it from the commencement.
Four years previous to the organization of Company "D."
Company "L." was organized with 55 members and the fol-
low ing officers :
Captain, A. A. Haymond ; first lieutenant. Bert Winslow;
second lieutenant, A. J. Craig.
It saw active service in the Coeur d'Alene region at the
time of the strike, in 1802. Thirty -three of its members were
there for the period of sixteen days. With all military com-
panies of the state it was disbanded in 1893.
In the summer of that year Company "D," its
and in which many of its members were included, was or-
ganized, with the following officers : '
Captain, Charles H. Hough: 1st lieutenant, J. L. Conant;
2nd lieutenant, P. W. McRoberts
Later on Conant was appointed major and regimental
surgeon, and McRoberts regi
Gage and J. M \n anl v 1
offices vacated bv said appo
The fourth year -1" the
quartermaster ; and W. E.
ed to fill the respective
having expired 111 18
1898 with the followi
first lieutenant. W. E. Gage;
rmountable difficulties in the
it was reorganized in the wini
officers :
Captain, P. W. McRoberts
second lieutenant, J. K. Bell.
in spite of the almost ins
way of the maintenance of a military organization in a small
center of population and without aid from the state it sur-
vived.
At the commencement of the war E. A. McKenna, one of
its members, was lieutenant colonel of the First regiment of
Idaho; and at San Francisco, on the eve of his departure to
the Philippines lie was appointed by the government to the
office of captain in the United States Volunteer signal corps.
At the reorganization at Boise. E. D. Smith, of Moscow,
was appointed captain of Company "D" 111 the place of Mc-
Roberts, wdio was appointed captain of Company "A."
The morning when the company left Genesee for service
in the war with Spain will be long remembered.
had seen its members during the winter, meeting weekly for
drill, and had wondered if they would be so entl
called on lor active service, were agreeably surprised at their
eagerness to be at the front.
Bidding adieu to relatives and townsmen they marched
away to Moscow, to receive recruits from among the cadets
of the State University, and to go whithersoever Old Glory
should lead.
Their famous charge over the rice fields of Luzon. 111 which
fell the gallant McConville, whose career was on that ad-
vancing crest of battle ended in a blaze of glory, to the
admiration of bis comrades in arms, and the grateful remem-
brance of his state and nation, is a matter of perpetual record.
The company returns from over the sea with none lost in
battle and but two by disease, namely Ole J. Hagberg and
Tames Ganony. Its record is without stain. Genesee, the place
of its origin," and Moscow, which sent so many of its brave
sous with it. await its coming, to express in a suitable manner
their appreciation. .
1 he First Idaho Volunteer Infantry, to which Company D
belonged, wa organi ed and mustered into service of the
6oo
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
United States at Camp Stevenson. Boise, Idaho, during the
\pril and May. 1S0S. being formed with the Idaho
National Guard as a nucleus.
The regiment left Boise on May 18, 1898. and arrived at
San Francisco Mav ->i. marching to Camp Merritt. where it
remained equipping and drilling until June 27. June 27, em-
barked on the U. S. transport Morgan City for the Philippine
Island-. Landed at Honolulu July 6. and was entertained by
at the -Queens Palace" July 7. Reei.nbarked July
q an 1 arrived in Manila Bay lulv 31. August 6 landed at
Paranaque, P. 1., and inarched to Camp Dewey. August 9 and
io were 111 the trenches, and on August 13 took part in the
assault and capture of Manila. Were quartered at "Quartel
e," Manila, from August 13, 1898, to February 4,
1899 On October n the and battalion changed quarters to
the exposiion building, Manila, and on January 2. with Co.
"F," changed quarters to the "Cockpit," Paco, Manila, where
regimental quarter- were maintained until July 29.
~ From August 13. 189S, to February 5, 1899. the regiment
did outpost duty at Frimta. Paco. Singalon and blockhouses
Xos. 11. 12 and 13. During this time the regiment was drilled
and performed the regular routine duty of barrack life.
On the night of February 4- the regiment was 111 the sup-
port at blockhouse No. 11. and on February 5 took part 111 the
battle of Santa Ana. Companies "F," "H' and "D, under Ma-
;0, fig 'in- going to the right 01 the San Pedro Macau road
and '-G," "C" and "B," under Major McConville, going to the
left. "A" and "F" being on provo duty in Malate. but joined
the regiment on February 7.
On February 7 Companies "A," "C" and "B" took part in
pedition several miles in front of San Pedro Macati.
On February 10 the regiment took part in the battle of Caloo-
can, and on February 11 and 12 was engaged before Malabon
and returned to quarters February 13. On February 14 Com-
panies "D" and ' C" were ordered to San Pedro Macati. and
on Februan 15 took part in a scout in front of Guadaloupe.
('" were engaged at Gaudaloupe February 16, 17
and [8, 'mum under c mtinuous lire for over sixty hours.
ruary ig Companies "A," "C." "D," "F," "F," and
"H" were moved to (.umbo Point, where they constructed
trenches and remained until June 25. occupying different posi-
tions on the line. During this time the regiment was exposed
to an irregular (ire and took part in several skirmishes.
ues "B" and "G" were on provo duty at San
Miguel. Manila from February 13 to March 19. when they
joined the regiment at Gumbo Point.
On Apiil 8 Companies "D," "F." "C" and "A" and forty
picked sharpshooters accompanied Gen. Lawton on the Laguna
de Hay ,-xpedition and took part in the assault and capture of
Santa Ana April 8 and 10 and engaged in skirmishes at Pan-
gastau. April II, Pangas April 12, and Paete. April 13.
On June 25 the Idaho regiment moved to the trenches
near San Pedro [nacate and on July 12 was ordered to Manila
to prepare io return to the United State-
Embarked on the U. S. A. T. Grant. July 29 and -ailed by
way of Japan and Inland Sea, July 31.
On the return of the company to Latah county, they
were given a titling reception. There was the wildest
enthusiasm over the boys who had helped to win for
the Idaho volunteers, by fearless and patriotic service,
a name that was given a place of honor in the annals
of the war department and shall never perish from the
memories of those who cheered them on their de-
parture and again cheered them on their return.
About seven o'clock P. M., December 15, 1899, oc-
curred one of the worst railroad wrecks in the acci-
dent history of the Northern Pacific Railroad Com-
pany. The scene of the wreck was Kendrick, twenty-
six miles southeast of Moscow. From Howell's sta-
tion to Kendrick and beyond that town there is a four
per cent, grade, a decline of four feet in every one hun-
dred. I >n the date above mentioned an extra "double-
header" train was sent over the road from Spokane,
under charge of Conductor W. E. Galbraith, of Spo-
kane: Engineers A. J. Ogden and A. E. Pain: Fire-
men Earl Pradshaw and Mr. Peterman; Prakemen
Benjamin Baker, John Budge and F. O. Lemons.
The train consisted of eighteen cars of steel rails, gross
weight of each thirty-three tons, one car of gas pipe,
about the same weight, and the caboose, twenty cars
in all. It was snowing and the snow was melting.
making the tracks slippery, and a short distance out
of Troy the crew lost control of the train. Conductor
Galbraith and Brakeman Paker were in the caboose
and when they saw that the train was entirely beyond
their control, in order to save their own lives, they
1 mlled the coupling pin and cut the caboose from the
train six or seven miles below Troy. The remainder
of the train dashed on down the canyon at great speed
and left the track, plunging into the Potlatch river at
the curve just above the depot at Kendrick. Here
locomotives and cars were piled up in an indescribable
mass and here engineers, firemen and brakemen met
a sudden but terrible death, the two members of the
crew who were with the caboose alone escaping with
their lives. One brakeman was taken from the debris,
torn and mangled but still alive, and removed to a
hotel, where he died a few days later. The bodies of
the remainder of the crew were rescued a few hours
after the accident, with the exception of that of Fire-
man Bradshaw, which was not recovered until the 22d,
when it was found beneath one of the locomotives.
There were two inquests held, one on the 16th over
the remains of those first recovered and one on the
22d over the remains of Earl Pradshaw-. The inquests
were held by Coroner Samuel T. Owings, of Mos-
cow, in the city hall at Kendrick. The first jury was
composed of Charles Hamlin, D. E. Thames. VV. ( >.
Long Lewis Hunter. J. H. Ellis, S. Mellison and W.
G. Campbell. This jury termed the wreck an un-
avoidable accident. The Pradshaw jury was composed
of L. L. Carmean. Math. Jacobs. John S. Crocker,
S. A. Kerr. J. Kasper, T. H. Powell and John Mark.
Their verdict was that the deceased came to his death
through negligence on the part of the employees of
the railroad company. There has always existed a
difference of opinion as to where the responsibility for
the wreck should rest. The railroad is censured for
running such a heavy train down so steep a grade in
such weather as was prevailing and with crews that.
although they had been over the division a few times
previously, were not regularly on this branch and
therefore could not have realized as fully as would a
regular crew the risks they were facing. The com-
pany discharged Conductor Galbraith and Prakeman
Baker, on the grounds that had they not cut off the ca-
I se the speed of the train would not have been so
great on reaching the Kendrick curve and would prob-
abh have passed it in safety. While a number of
minor accidents have since occurred to freight trains
on this grade, this is the only one of great magnitude
since the building of the road in 1890.
The Prohibition party entered the political cam-
paign of [898 and nominated candidates for most of
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
the ci lunty i iffices. A mass convention was held at the
court house, September 17th. E. R. Headley was
chosen chairman and W. T. Matthews, secretary. At
the afternoon session the ticket was nominated as
follows: Auditor. Airs. Sarah O. Creekmur, Mos-
cow; sheriff. Henry Nelson, Genesee; assessor, H. M.
Asbury, Moscow; school superintendent. Airs. Cora
Greenstreet. Troy; probate judge, William Perkins,
Moscow; treasurer. Airs. M. Ida Moody, Moscow;
Coroner, Alexander A. Campbell. Moscow ; sur-
veyor, George Campbell, Moscow; state sena-
tor, Edwin R. Headley, Aloscow; representa-
tives, Warren B. Carruthers, X. Beardsley, William P.
Matthews, Charles S. Puntenney and Rev. Hewey ;
commissioners, 1st district. Herbert Ilaskel, 2d district,
II. C. McFarland, 3d district, Charles Yockey. Of
those nominated, Henry Nelson, for sheriff, was the
candidate on the Populist ticket and George Campbell,
for surveyor, was on the same ticket. The nomina-
tion for county attorney was left open and a committee
appointed to till the vacancy at a later day. Resolutions
were adopted condemning the present license system
and recommending prohibition laws in county, state
and nation.
The Populists refused to fuse with the other par-
ties as they had done in 1896, but met in convention
in July and nominated a full ticket. The Democratic
and Silver Republican central committees met June
yth and passed resolutions advocating the fusion of
all the silver forces and later nominated a full fusion
ticket. The officers of the July Populist convention
had certified their ticket to the county auditor as the
"People's part) ticket." The Democrats and Silver
Republicans claimed that their fusion ticket was the
People's party ticket and insisted in so certifying it to
the auditor. As two sets of candidates could not le-
gall) enter the field under one party name, the filing
could not be allowed. The candidates on the Populist
ticket were then invited to resign, which they de-
clined to do, The law governing resignations from
tickets is as follows :
'Sec. 38. Whenever any person nominated for any
public office as in this act provided, shall at least
thirty days before election, except in the case of mu-
nicipal elections, in a writing signed by him, and cer-
tified to by the registrar of the precinct where the per-
son nominated resides, notify the officer with whom the
certificate nominating him is by this act required to
be filed, that he declines such nomination, such nomina-
tion shall be void."
None of these of the July convention having re-
signed and the time in which they could legally" take
their names off the ticket having expired. Auditor
Woodworth refused to take off any of the nominees
and fill the vacancies with the fusion nominees. He
wrote the attorney general for advice, but not receiv-
ing it in time, it was finally decided that the matter
should be submitted to Judge Piper on a writ of man-
date. So on Wednesday, October 12th, Auditor
Woodworth, with S. S. Denning for counsel, and Clay
McNamee and Willis Sweet for the writ, repaired to
Lewiston. Judge Piper granted a hearing that night
and with scarcely any deliberation at all ordered the
writ to issue in defiance of the plain provision of the
statute quoted above. The result of Judge Piper's de-
cision was that the fusion names go upon the Populist
ticket. The ticket known in the campaign as the Fu-
sion ticket was as follows :
For count) attorney, Cla\ McNamee, Moscow;
state senator, Frank C McLean; representative-, Ian
dol Smith, Aloscow, George W. Courts, Kendrick,
Manford W Harland, Kendrick, David Spurbeck,
I renesee, and William J. Seat. Troy; clerk and auditor,
William H. Clark, Aloscow; commissioners, 1st dis-
trict, Alexander A. Anderson, Palouse precinct, 2d
district Orton W. Beardsley, Moscow, 3d district,
Nicholas Brocke, Troy ; sheriff, James D. Hunter,
Aloscow: treasurer, Frank E. Cornwall, Aloscow; pro-
bite judge. Ralph T. Alorgan. Aloscow; superintendent
of schools, Aliss F.ffie F. Plummer, Kendrick: asses-
sor, John F. Brown: coroner. Adolph F. Wohlenberg,
Genesee; suveyor, Daniel W. Hannah, Aloscow.
The Republican convention was held at Aloscow,
September 6th, Judge Truitt, chairman, and Dr. Pem-
berton. of Kendrick, secretary. After passing reso-
lutions endorsing the administration of President Ale-
Kinley and pledging the party to the support of the
Republican national doctrines and a wise administra-
tion of count) affairs, the convention nominated the
following ticket: County attorney, Harvey R. Smith,
Aloscow; representatives, Burton L. French, Juliaetta,
Charles J, ALunson, Moscow, Robert Bruce, Palouse
precinct, Adrian Nelson. .Moscow, and George W.
Daggett, Genesee; clerk and auditor. 'Oscar Larson,
frov ; commissioners, 1st district. John H. Horton,
Palouse precinct, id district. Hans C. j. Tweedt, Gen-
esee. 3d district. A. H. Charles, Troy; sheriff. William
Buchanan, Cornwall ; treasurer. Elmina E. Fry, Alos-
cow; probate judge, J. R. Strong. Cora ;. superintend-
ent of schools, Alattie Heading. Aloscow; assessor. A.
Gainmell, Juliaetta; coroner, James Johnson. Aloscow;
surveyor, Theodore P. Caulkins, White Pine. Congres-
sional, state and judicial candidates were as follows:
Congressman, Edgar Wilson. Democrat, James Gunn,
People's party, Weldon B. Heyburn, Republican, Will-
iam J. Boone, Prohibition ; governor. Frank Steunen-
berg, Fusion. James H. Anderson, People's party, Al-
bert B. Moss, Republican, Airs. Mary C. Johnson, Pro-
hibition: judge second judicial district, Frank L.
Aloore Democrat. Willis Sweet, Silver Republican,
Edgar C. Steele. Republican.
The following is the record of votes cast at the
election, November 8th : For congressman, Wilson
870, Gunn 628, Heyburn 1,599, Boone 198, Heyburn's
plurality 729; governor, Steunenberg 869, Anderson
565, Moss 1.096. Airs. Johnson 229, Moss's plurality
817: judge second judicial district. Aloore 869, Sweet
SSo. Steele 1.422. Steele's plurality 530: county at-
torney, McNamee 1.421. Smith 1,811, Smith's ma-
jority 390: stave senator. .McLean 1,315, Brigham
1,528, Headlev 320, Brigham's plurality 213: repre-
sentatives. Smitli 1.45''. Coutts 1.377. Harland 1,427,
Spurbeck 1,372, Seat 1,321, French 1.879. Munson
1 1.538. Bruce 1,347, Nelson [,508, Daggett 1,518. Car-
602
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ruthers 209, Beardslev 250. Puntenney 282, MattheWs
268, Towne 269, French's plurality 423, Munson's
plurality iji. Brace's plurality 20. Nelson's plurality 61,
Daggett's plurality 71 : clerk and auditor, Clarke 1,385,
Larson, 1.743. .Mrs. Creekmur 215. Larson's majority
57; commissioners. 1st district, Anderson 1,366, Hor-
tcn 1,552, Haskell 225, Horton's plurality 186, 2d dis-
trict, Beardslev r,459, Tweedt 1,520, McFarland 238,
Tweedt's plurality 61, 3d district, Brockel 404, Charles
1,552, Yockev, 1,512, Charles' plurality 148; sheriff.
Hunter 1,353,' Nelson 533, Buchanan 1,539, Buchanan's
plurality 186: treasurer, Cornwall 1.394. Fry 1.769.
Moody 176, Fry's majority 199; probate judge, Mor-
gan 1,135, Strong 1,410, Perkins 705. Strong's plur-
ality 75; school superintendent. Miss Plummer 1,314,
Miss Headington 1,989. Miss Headington's majority
675; assessor Brown 1.384. Gammell 1.587, Asbury
270. Gammell's plurality 203; coroner. Wohlenberg
1,276, Johnson 1,633, Campbell 254. Johnson's ma-
jority 103; surveyor, Hannah 1,409, Caulkins 1.464.
Campbell 1.326, Caulkins' plurality 55.
By an amendment to the school laws the offices of
probate judge and superintendent of schools were sep-
arated and at this election the first regular county su-
perintendent of schools was elected in the person of
Miss Mattie Headington. The election was a decided
victor) for the Republicans, showing that many had
already left the ranks of the free silver advocates and
had returned to former party affiliations.
According to the census of 1900 Latah county had
a population of 13,451. The total valuation of prop-
erty in 189c; was $4,011,387; this was reduced in 1900
to $3,810, [20. The thirty-six miles of railroad in the
county were assessed on a total valuation of $233,625 ;
113 miles of telegraph and telephone lines were as-
sessed at 55,574; grain and hay at $2,452; live stock
at $221,698 ; lumber, saw logs, wood and ties at $8,852 ;
and twenty-seven flour and sawmills at $19,285. In-
dustrial enterprises enjoyed .a season of prosperity,
crops were good and prices fair, and the county had
by this time recovered almost entirely from the dis-
aster of the early 'ninties. A combination of warm
weather and Chinook winds early in March precipi-
tated the snows in the mountains, causing a sudden
rise in the Potlatch and other streams in the southeast-
ern part of the county and resulted in the loss of a few
bridges, some damage to mills and dams, and con-
siderable damage to the road bed and tracks of the
Northern Pacific Railroad, both above and below Ken-
drick. A large force of men were set at work in the
canyon and the grade was raised above high water
mark, since which time no flood disasters have been
experienced.
Every year has witnessed an increase in the atten-
tion given to educational matters. The annual meet-
ings of the teachers' association have been events in
which all classes have manifested special attention. On
April 7. 1900. a convention was held at Kendrick for
the purpose of discussing educational affairs. At this
convention papers were read by professors from the
State University and from the high schools of the
count v, as well as from teachers in the district schools.
By the discussion and comparison of methods, ines-
timable good has been accomplished and the schools
of the county have been raised to a standard of perfec-
tion unsurpassed by those of any other county in the
state. The enrollment for 1900 was 5,290 pupils, for
whose instruction 139 teachers were employed at a
cost to the county of $26,540. In the libraries of vari-
ous schools there were 1,000 volumes. The bonded
district indebtedness was $41,625, on which interest
was paid to the amount of $9,275. The total expendi-
ture for school purposes this year was $46,848.
The history of the rise and fall of Populism in
Latah county covers the years 1892 to 1900. inclusive.
The following in 1900 was comparatively small, how-
ever, and in the selection of candidates by the fusion
conventions the Populists had but little voice. There
was in the political campaign of 1900 a Fusion ticket,
a Republican and a Prohibition ticket. The remnants
of the Silver party and that of the Populist- joined
forces with the Democrats and placed a full ticket in
the field. The election resulted in a victory for the
Republicans, although not complete, as the Fusion-
lsts elected state senator, three representatives, county-
attorney, commissioners in the first and second dis-
tricts, and surveyor. The Republicans elected two rep-
resentatives, commissioner in the third district, sher-
iff, treasurer, probate judge, school superintendent,
assessor and coroner. The following are the names of
those who appeared on the Fusion party ticket: State
senator, Frank L. Moore, Moscow; representatives,
Anderson B. Crawford, Little Potlatch, John F. Og-
den, Troy. 'William Hunter, Moscow, Henry H. Bangs,
Thorn creek. Porter D. Sardam, Palouse precinct ;
county attorney, George W. Coutts, Kendrick; com-
missioners, 1st district, Landon C. Irvine. 2d district,
Orton W. Beardslev, Moscow, 3d district. Frank Ben-
scotter. Bear creek; sheriff, Michael Driscoll, Amer-
ican ridge; treasurer, Levi T. Hammond. Moscow;
probate judge, William T. Griffin, Moscow: school su-
perintendent. Effie E. Plummer; assessor, William R.
Belvail; coroner, Peter S. Beck; surveyor, Daniel W.
Hannah. Moscow.
The following were the nominees of the Prohibi-
tion partv: State senator, Charles E. Gibson. Mos-
cow; representatives. Jennie G. Headlev. Moscow,
James VV. Carrick, American ridge, Ernest Thorn-
quest, .Mansfield, C. McGrew, Kendrick, Ida Moody,
Moscow; commissioners, 1st district. Andrew Smith,
Palouse precinct, 2d district, Wvlie A. Lauder, Mos-
cow, 3d district. Charles W. Yockey, Little Potlatch;
sheriff, Henry M. Asbury, Moscow; treasurer, Ella T.
Anderson, Moscow; probate judge, Henry C. McFar-
land. Moscow; school superintendent, John J. An-
thony, Moscow; assessor, Golden B. Sanders; cor-
oner. William E. Talbott ; surveyor. Gilbert Hogue,
Moscow.
The Republicans convened September 5th and
placed the following candidates in the field: State
senator, William C. Fowler, Genesee ; representatives,
Burton L. French. Juliaetta, Charles J. Munson, Mos-
cow. Thomas H. Brewer, Genesee, D. W. Driskel,
. C. L. Kinman, Palouse precinct; county at-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
603
torney, Harvey R. Smith, Moscow ; commissioners, 1st
district, John H. Horton, Palouse precinct, 2d dis-
trict, Hans C. J. Tweedt, Genesee, 3d district, A. H.
Charles, Troy ; sheriff, Joseph R. Collins, Juliaetta ;
treasurer, Elmina E. Fry, Moscow ; probate judge,
J. R. Strong, Cora ; school superintendent, Hattie
Headington. .Moscow : assessor, B. J. Jones, Palouse
precinct ; coroner, L. D. Jameson, Moscow ; surveyor,
Benjamin E. Bush, Moscow.
Congressional and state candidates were as fol-
lows : Congressman, John T. Morrison, Republican,
Thomas L. Glenn, Fusionist, John F. Stark, Populist,
Amanda M. Way, Prohibitionist; governor, Drew W.
Standrod, Republican, Frank W. Hunt, Fusionist,
John S. Randolph, Populist, William J. Boone, Pro-
hibitionist.
The offiicial account of the election, which occurred
November 6th, was as follows: Representative in
congress, Morrison 1,996, Glenn 1,920, Stark 34. Miss
Way 145, Morrison's plurality in Latah county 76;
governor, Standrod 1,981, Hunt 1,934, Randolph 56,
Boone 158, Standrod's plurality 47; state senator,
Fowler 1,920, Moore 2,049, Gibson 154, Moore's plur-
ality 129; representatives, French 2,112, Munson 1,977,
Brewer 1.864, Driskel 1,952, Kinman 1,885, Crawford
1,879, Ogden 1,938, Hunter 2,113, Bangs, 1,962, Sar-
dam 1,934, Miss Headley 144, Carrick 141, Thorn-
quest 140, McGrew 143, Miss Moody 146, French's
majority 89, Munson's plurality 39, Hunter's major-
ity 109, Bangs's plurality 10, Sardam's plurality 49;
attorney, Smith 1,944, Courts 2,091, Coutts' majority
147; commissioners, 1st district, Horton 1,935, Irvine
1,948, Smith 160, Irvine's plurality 13, 2d district,
Tweedt 1,870, Beardsley 2,059, Lauder 157, Beards-
ley's majority 32, 3d district, Charles 1,972, Benscot-
ter 1.936, Yockey 148, Charles's plurality 36; sheriff,
Collins 2,024, Driscoll 1,970, Asbury 158, Wild Davie
5, Collins's plurality 55; treasurer, Fry 2,178, Ham-
mond 1,825. Anderson 123, Miss Fry's majority 230;
probate judge, Strong 2,112, Griffin 1,809, McFarland
141, Strong's majority 162; school superintendent,
Headington_2,i47, Plummer 1,887, Anthony 115, Miss
Headington's majority 145 : assessor, Jones 2,036, Bel-
vail 1,916, Sanders 138, Jones's plurality 120; cor-
oner, Jameson 1,962, Beck 1,933, Talboot 134, Jam-
eson's plurality 29; surveyor, Bush 1,906, Hannah
1,994, Hogue 144, Hannah's plurality 88.
About nine o'clock Sunday morning, August 4,
190 1, Moscow was the scene of' a tragedy fearful in its
conception, terrible in its execution. Tliat it was con-
ceived in deliberate thought by a responsible being,
however, cannot be confirmed with any degree of cer-
tainty. As the perpetrator of the crime was not known
to have cause for the acts committed the most charita-
ble view that can be taken of the matter is that the
criminal was temporarily insane. On the morning
named, William Steffen. who lived with his mother
just out of town, rode in on horseback and meeting
Dr. W. W. Watkins on the street, drew a revolver
from his pocket and shot him through the body, killing
him almost instantly. A moment later Steffen shot
George V. Creighton in the right arm, and but a few
moments afterward, seriously wounded Deputy Sher-
iff W. E. Cool, who was attempting to arrest him,
and who died a few hours later from the effects of the
wounds. Leaving Cool, he rode on toward the court-
In luse. Just beyond the courthouse square, Steffen was
accosted by Sheriff Joseph Collins, who for some rea-
son permitted him to escape. A little further on, Stef-
fen encountered Sherman Mix and a running fight
ensued, Steffen shooting at Mix four times, missing
him, while Mix took several shots at Steffen with equal
lack of success. The last shot struck Steffen's horse
in the hind leg, breaking the bones. He then de-
serted his horse and ran to his mother's house, which
was within a quarter of a mile. The house in which
he had taken refuge was quickly surrounded, while
Sheriff Collins went for rifles and more men. Within
an hour there were at least fifty men about the place,
all armed with rifles and an attempt was made to ad-
vance in a body. Steffen then began shooting, the
bullets passing within close proximity to the heads
of several of the sheriff's posse. Although the posse
was driven back to a distance of four or five hundred
yards. Steffen for a time continued his fusilade. which
was replied to by many of the posse and it is thought
that at least 200 shots were fired into the house.
After a time, no further firing being observed from
the house, a part of the posse was formed into a
charging party and the house was rushed. Steffen's
dead body being found in the upper story lying on a
floor near the window. It was supposed that, realiz-
ing the hopelessness of any further attempt to escape,
he shot himself in the left breast, the powder scorched
clothing and skin, furnishing evidence of self destruc-
tion. At the coroner's inquest held on the body of
Steffen, evidence was found that leads to the belief
that Steffen had intended to kill not only Watkins, but
also a number of others. Written in ink on the envel-
ope on his pocket were the names W. W. Watkins,
George Langdon, August Held and E. E. Jolly. Cm an-
other envelope Steffen had written with pencil. "If the
inevitable comes. I want to rest in Pullman." On
still another envelope he had written in large letters,
"I didn't get the right ones after all."
Just prior to the killing of Dr. Watkins, Dr. Francis
J. Ledbrook located in Moscow. He came here the
first time about a year previous from Lakefield. Minne-
sota. Shortly after his first visit to Moscow, he bought
some land on Camas prairie and spent a portion of his
time attending to property interests there. He had
not yet rented an office and settled down to practice
his profession when Dr. Watkins's tragic death oc-
curred in August, 1901. He then rented the office that
had been occupied b) Dr. Watkins and at once stepped
into his large practice, most of which he continued to
hold. He came highly recommended as a man and
phvsician, was an active worker in the Methodist Epis-
copal church and rapidly grew in the public esteem.
Persons who had known him since boyhood said that
up to the time of his settling in Moscow there had
been no blot upon his name. On May 12, 1902, this
man committed a crime that horrified and mystified
the community as nothing had ever done before or has
6o4
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
done since. Although a man of family, with a devoted
wife, he enticed, by deceit and misrepresentations, one
of the most estimable young ladies of Moscow, over
whom he exercised hypnotic influence, to Orofino,
where, on .Monday morning, May I2th, he murdered
her by iniecting 'morphine into the arteries at the
loposedly while she was under the influence
of his hypnotic power. After the commission of this
fearful crime. Dr. Ledbrook then died by his own hand
and in the same manner that he had murdered his in-
nocent victim. It will he many long years before the
citizens of Moscow can forget this appalling bloody
murder that removed from their midst so suddenly and
under such, mysterious and unfortunate circumstances.
a hitherto respected citizen and physician and a much
loved and greatly esteemed member of the young peo-
ple's religious and social circles.
\\ e have vet to record one more fatality to a prom-
inent physician of Moscow, this time and accidental
death. A few months after the suicide of Dr. Led-
brook, Dr. C. D. Parsons came to .Moscow from Mich-
igan, -etthng here in the practice of his profession and
occupying the same down town office that had been
occupied by Drs. Watkins and Ledbrook. In the
latter part of May, 1903, a party consisting of Dr.
C. D. Parsons. James Canham, G. A. Rubedew and
others of Moscow, and Ramsey Walker, of Kendrick,
went to Pierce City, and there securing saddle hor-
ses, went one day's ride northeast of Pierce into the
timbered section for the purpose of locating home-
steads. G: A. Rubedew was the locator in charge of
the party. On an early morning, after having se-
lected a claim. Dr. Parsons, wishing to hasten back
to his practice in .Moscow, left the remainder of the
party and started alone on the return to Pierce City.
When about an hour out of camp he was met by a
pack train going into the timber with supplies. When
hailed by the driver of the train he was apparently
aroused from a stupor and fell from his horse into the
brush by the side of the trail. When he was picked
up. he was in a dazed condition, evidently not realiz-
ing what was happening about him, and a deep cut
above one of the eyes showed that he had met with a
serious accident previous to meeting the pack train. It
developed later that some rime after leaving cam]), and
before being seen by the driver, he had in some manner
been thrown from his horse and in falling struck his
head against a log or stone and as shown by the autopsy
had fractured the skull bone just above the eye. He
was first taken back to camp and. the following day,
the partv started with him to Pierce City, occupying
two days in making the trip. Doctors Carruthers and
Gritman of Moscow met him at Pierce City and per-
formed a surgical operation in an effort to save his life.
It was ineffectual, however, and, after suffering for
full) a week following the date of the accident, the
doctor died at Pierce City.
By the year 1002 the days of fusion in political mat-
e over. The two old parties had absorbed the
- of the "new issues" of the 'nineties and were
hack in the tracks they had traveled "since the war."
each of course expressing platform opinions on the is-
sues of latei days that resulted from the breach with
Spain in 1898, as well as on the tariff and currency
questions. While there was a Populist candidate
for governor this year, the county organization of
that party had been abandoned and there was no
Populist ticket in the field. During the years 1899
and 1900 the Socialists had been agitating the question
of organization and in 1902 they were to place a
ticket in the field, which they did.
Their candidates for the various offices were as
follow 3 : State senator. Peter S. Beck; representatives,
Samuel R. Greenwood, Hear creek; Aage M. Hoidale,
Troy; Alexander A. Anderson: clerk and auditor,
William Perkins. Moscow; sheriff. Anion K. Biddison,
Juliaetta; treasurer. Belle Anderson. .Moscow; assess-
or, Sylvester G. Curtis. .Moscow: probate judge. Will-
iam W. Witham, Moscow: school superintendent,
Anna Clyde, .Moscow ; coroner, Thomas J. Bray. Troy;
surveyor, Evelyn H. Swan. Moscow; commissioners.
1st district. Porter D. Sardam. 2d district, George
Sievers, 3d district. Peter Mattson. Troy.
Democratic nominees were: State senator. Will-
iam Hunter. Moscow; representatives. Henry H.
Bangs. Thorn creek. David Spurbeck, Genesee. Will-
iam W. Young. I'alous precinct: clerk and auditor,
Samuel R. H. McGowan, Moscow ; sheriff. James K.
Keane Genesee; treasurer. Anna Tierney ; assessor,
Robert G. Plunket, Troy; probate judge, Manford W.
Harland. Kendrick : school superintendent. Emma
Maude Mix. .Moscow, county attorney. George W.
Coutts, Kendrick; coroner, William P. Lumpkin. Mos-
cow: surveyor, Daniel W. Hannah. Moscow; commis-
sioners. 1st district. Albert E. Daily. Palouse precinct;
2d district. Peter Hagan. Thorn creek: 3d district,
Allien C. White, Kendrick.
Candidates of the Republican party were as fol-
lows: State senator. J. W. Brig-ham, Little Potlatch ;
representatives. Francis Jenkins. Moscow. Richard
Price, Princeton. James A. Nelson, Bear creek; clerk
and auditor. Axel P. Ramstedt. Moscow; sheriff,
Jesse E. Randall : Little Potlach : treasurer, Pauline
Moerder. Moscow: assessor. James Langdon. Ken-
drick; probate judge. Charles M. Lukins. Kendrick;
school superintendent, Clara Ransom. Moscow; coun-
ty attorney, William P. Stillinger, Moscow; coroner,
L. D. Jameson. Moscow; surveyor, Benjamin E. Bush,
Moscow : commissioners. 1st district. George W. An-
derson, Palouse precinct. 2d district. Rees Pickering,
Genesee; 3d district. LaFayette Keene. Kendrick.
State, congressional and judicial candidates of the
various parties were as follows : Congress. Burton L.
French, Republican, Joseph H. Hutchinson, Democrat,
John A. Davis, Socialist. Albert H. Lee. Prohibition-
ist ; governor. John P. Morrison, Republican, Frank
W. Hunt, Democrat. Augustus M. Slatterv. Socialist,
DeForrest H. Andrews, Populist. Albert Gipson, Pro-
hibitionist; judge second judicial district. Edgar C.
Steele, Republican, Moscow. Wallace X. Scales,
Grangeville, Democrat.
Following is the official record of the election oc-
curring November 4, 1902. at which time the Repub-
licans were victorious, but one office, that of sheriff,
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
605
being held by a Democrat : Representative in con-
gress, French 2.423. Hutchinson 1.183. Davis 218,
Lee 59, Frenehs' majority in Latah county, 963; gov-
ernor, Morrison 2,168, Hunt 1,364, Slattery 217, An-
drews 10. Gipson 76, Morrison's majority in Latah
county, 501 ; judge second judicial district, Steele
2,550, Scales 1,036, Steele's majority in Latah county,
1,514; state senator Brigham 2,024, hunter 1,558,
Beck 217, Brigham's majority, 248: representative.
Jenkins 2,076, Price 2,029, Nelson 2,089, Bangs
1,417, Spurbeck, 1394, Young 1,362, Greenwood 223,
Hoidale 231, Anderson 222, Jenkin's majority, 436;
Price's majority, 404; Nelson's majority, 405:
clerk and auditor, Ramstedt 2,138, McGowan 1,428,
Perkins 220., Ramstedt's majority, 481 ; sheriff, Ran-
dall 1.732, Keane 1,868, Biddison 163, Poyeson 1 In-
dependent) 21, Keane's plurality. 136; treasurer,
Moerder 2,177, Tierney 1.387. Anderson 224, Miss
Moerder's majority, 566; assessor, Langdon 2.092,
Plunkett 1,371, Curtis 243, Langdon's majority 478:
probate judge, Lukins 2,003, Harland 1.458, Witham
227, Lukins' majority, 318: school superintendent,
Ransom 2,189, Mix T-38o, Clyde 220, Miss Ransom's
majority, 589; county attorney. Stillinger 2,216,
Coutts 1.404, Stilinger's majority, 812; coroner,
Jameson 2,113, Lumpkins 1,367. Bray 22X. Jameson's
majority, 518; surveyor, Bush 2,062, Hannah 1,440,
Swan 219. Bush's majority 403; commissioners, first
district, Anderson 2,025, Daly 1.428, Sardam 220, An-
derson's majority, 377 ; second district, Pickering
2,035, Hagan 1,388. Sievers 226, Pickering's major-
ity. 421 : third district, Keene 1,915, White 1,498, Matt-
son 2~,~, Keene's majority, 160.
In closing this chapter it is a pleasure to state
that a more prosperous condition than that now en-
joyed by the citizens of Latah county could scarcely
be anticipated if desired. Public spirited capitalists,
business and profesional men have planned for the
future advancement of the general interest of the
people. There are railroad schemes and factory plans
and mill projects that promise consummation and that
will add to the wealth, comfort and happiness of the
citizens when perfected and put into execution. But
all are to be congratulated on the present propitious
state of affairs m the commercial, industrial, rural
and educational pursuits. There are 416,469 acres of
land now patented in the county, the greater por-
tion of which is under cultivation. There are up-
wards of 25,tjoo head of livestock being fed or grazed
in the county. There are twentv-six flour and saw-
mills in operation. The total valuation of property
is now S4.238.S45. County Auditor Ramstedt reports
that during the first quarter of the present year end-
ing April nth, there were received for record in his
office over one thousand instruments, the auditor's of-
fice receiving in fees §1,415. During the fiscal year
ending April nth, warrants were issued aggregating
§120,080. Warrants were redeemed during the same
time to the amount of $107,003. At the end of the
year there was cash on hand in the treasury to the
amount of $30,741. Of this amount. $25,783 was
credited to the school fund. From School Superin-
tendent's Mattie Headington's annual report for the
year ending August 31, 1902, we learn that the en-
rollment this year was 4,676 pupils in the schools of
the county. The teachers of the county were paid
$32,727 ; on school bonds and interest there were paid
$6,164; the total expenditures during the year for
school purposes were $51,410. Everywhere we find
figures that represent progress and a ven great de-
gree of prosperity.
The pioneers of the 'seventies in Genesee and
Paradise valleys and in the Potlatch country can con-
template with pride the wonderful development of
this great agricultural and fruit raising county. They
did not bring with them the capital that built the rail-
roads, the business houses, the mills, the schools and
church edifices and the palatial homes of the present
day. They brought with them few of the comforts
and none of the luxuries by which they are now sur-
rounded. They came to perform a most difficult and
trying task, to open up ami make habitable a new and
untried country. Willis Sweet in addressing the
pioneers of Latah county in 1893 said. "Every age.
every nation, every state is the creation of the com-
bined courage, hope and sacrifice of its pioneers."
The decade of the 'seventies was a period of experi-
ment, fraught with dangers and fretted with poverty
and crude appliances. But those who came at that
time had the courage of the adventurer together with
the determination of the builder. The prosperity of
today is based on the work of the pioneers of the
'seventies ; they contributed to the civilization of to-
day years of sacrifice, years of suffering, years of toil ;
they gave the vigor and daring of their youth and the
strength of their manhood to the development of this
magnificent county which 20,000 people now call
"Home."
All honor to the pioneer.
CHAPTER III.
CITIES AND TOWNS.
The pioneer is as a rule not a city finder. He is
frequently given to platting townsites but commerce
and industry usually ignore his accommodations and
busy themselves at other points. Usually they rea-
soned on conditions that changed with the flying years ;
they could not foresee the advent of railroads and the
distribution of products and merchandise along arbi-
trary lines and to markets which then did not exist.
In almost every county in the state may be found rem-
nants of towns, perhaps but a single ruined shack,
about which have centered at one time the business
energy and social life of a pioneer community. The
railroad eventually came through the county, left the
village a few miles to the right or left, the business
houses and the homes moved to the railroad, and the
shack alone is left as a reminder of the townsite pro-
ject of the pioneer.
The locators of Moscow must either have been
wiser or more fortunate than the ordinary pioneers.
The site was chosen after due deliberation and much
discussion. No railroads were pointed in this direction
and there were no prospects of railroads. When
'71 was in its infancy a man in the prime of life left
the gold field of the land of sun and flowers for the
unsettled plains of Idaho to make a home and grow
up with the country. Fate directed him from Lewis-
ton and on a dreary, stormy day he landed and located
in Paradise valley, known a little later as "hog heaven."
With logs hauled from the mountains on the east, a
commodious cabin was hastily erected for the accom-
modation of his family. Within sight of the cabin was
one other, two miles up the valley was another, and
five miles down the Palouse was a third. There were
no fences, no schoohouses, no churches, no fields of
grain, no roads, nothing but the Indian trails that
wound over the rolling hills and through the valleys
covered with bunchgrass from a foot and a half to two
feet high that waved and tossed like the sea in a wind.
Indians roamed over the country on the wiry cayuse
decked in primitive picturesque fashion, some of them
friendly and sociable, other solemn and stoical, resent-
ing in look, if not act, the coming of the white settler
to their forage and hunting grounds. A short distance
down the valley was their race track, and at nearly
all times could be seen their tepees or wickiups in
clusters or groups on either side of the valley at the
foot of the hills. The prospects were not inviting, but
the heart of the sturdy pioneer did not fail him. He
had turned his back on the pleasant environments of
youth and early manhood, not because he did not love
them, but because the promise of better things held
out to him by the new west had charmed him from
the old haunts and made of him at first an argonaut and
eventually a homeseeker. He had put his hand to the
plow and nature had so endowed him with the sterner,
better qualities of the human kind that there was no
thought of turning back. It was the typical honored
pioneer, who, undismayed by his isolated location, no
railroads in the country, thirty miles from a post-
office and supply point, broke the sod and made his
home three miles east of the site of the present city
of Moscow.
Asbury Lieuallen was the first man in the valley,
coming in the summer of 1871. A little later a num-
ber of families found their way to locations along
Paradise creek, and by fall there were several cabins
within sight of each other a few miles east of the
Moscow of today. Among these, beside Mr. Lieu-
allen, were George W. Tomer, L. Haskens, William
Ewing, John Russell, Henry Trimble, James Deakin,
Henry McGregor. Thomas Tierney, William Taylor,
Noah Lieuallen, William Calbraith, John and Bart
Xiemyer, James and Albert Howard, Reuben Cox,
O. P. H. Beagle and James Montgomery. Lewiston
was the nearest post-office and was reached over the
worst roads that could be imagined. A deter-
mined effort was made in the summer of 1872 to se-
cure the establishment of a post-office in the valley.
About this time A. Leland, afterwards the publisher of
the Lewiston Teller, drove across the country from
Lewiston to the Spokane bridge, obtaining signatures
to a petition praying for the establishment of a mail
route between these two points. In the same summer
a post-office was established and George W. Tomer
was appointed postmaster, but not wishing to serve,
he secured the appointment of V. Craig in his stead.
The office was named Paradise, or some say Paradise
Citv, and had an official existence of about three vears.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
607
During the winter of 1874 and 1875 the question of es-
tablishing a store was agitated in the settlement. The
sehoolhouse built in 1871 on the Haskens place was
used for all public gatherings of the community, and
here the question of location was frequently discussed.
Some favored the Paradise post-office location and
others a site farther down the valley as being more
central to the homes of the settlers. On the west side
of what is now Main street the land had been taken
as a homestead by William Neff. Mr. Neff had
opened a small stock of goods late in 1874, but he did
not attempt to supply the demands for general mer-
chandise, and the store was unsatisfactory. In the
spring of 1875 Asbury A. Lieuallen purchased Mr.
Neff's land, put up a small store building and, going
to Walla Walla, purchased a small stock of general
merchandise with which, in the latter part of May, he
opened the pioneer store of Paradise valley and of
what is now Latah county. At the time the store was
established, or shortly afterwards, the Paradise post
office was moved over, Mr. Lieuallen was appointed
postmaster and changed the name to Moscow. The
pioneers tell us that an ordinary shoe box was used
as the receptacle for the mail, and from this box set-
tlers helped themselves when coming to the store.
The energy of man rightly applied can overcome all
obstacles and make a prosperous community in the
midst of a desert, or make a barren waste blossom
like a rose. When the same energy is aided by nature
the result is the same in a much greater degree, for
man naturally is better repaid for his labor through
being relieved from combating sterile surroundings,
and consequently finds more in life to enjoy. The
ever living energy of man who settled on broad acres,
reclaiming them from the wilderness, has made thou-
sands of homes and millions of wealth. Moscow be-
gan in a small way. Two wagon loads of merchandise
constituted Mr. Lieuallen's stock. But his patrons
did not have to waste their energies in the cultivation
of a desert, and the rose bloomed by its own efforts.
There were difficulties to overcome, but there was
energy to perform the task. The Paradise valley
settler was full of energy and his farm was phenomen-
ally fertile. The transformation of an unbounded
wilderness, a vast, almost unknown expanse, the abode
of savagery, the hunting grounds of the nomads of
the plains to happy homes, blessed abundantly with the
fruits of honest toil, was rapid, but not without its
equivalent in the development of Moscow. In one
brief decade the character of the immediate surround-
ings was totally changed ; the tepee of the Indian was
swept away to make room for the business house, the
sehoolhouse and the church.
The Lieuallen store and post-office had no sooner
been established than Moscow began to grow. The
following from the Lewiston Signal, issued August
8, 1874, shows that conditions were improving stead-
ily and prospects were bright, even at that early date:
"From a gentleman who lives in Paradise valley we
learn that Henry McGregor, John Russell and S. M.
Neff have donated thirty acres of land, one mile from
the site of the present post-office (Paradise) for a
townsite, and that already there is one store located
there and other parties will soon construct a number
of buildings. The inducements offered to business
men are very flattering and cannot help attracting
attention. The town is to be called Moscow, and it
is destined to be the business place of the valley. Our
informant says new settlers are constantly arriving,
and he knows of many more who will come within the
next year. Messrs. Neff, Lieuallen, Russell and C.
A. Howard afterward became owners of the townsite.
Building material in the early days was furnished
for a short time in the spring of 1877 by the Stewart
& Beach sawmill, northeast of town, and later by the
mill owned and operated by R. H. Barton, S. H. Lang-
don and Hiram Epperly, also northeast of town. Mr.
Barton erected the first hotel in Moscow, in the spring
of 1878, with lumber from this mill. In an address
before the pioneers in June, 1903, A. J. Green stated
that when he came here, in 1877, Moscow was "just
a lane between two farms, with a flax field on one
side and a post-office on the other." This state of
affairs must have been speedily changed, as a Mos-
cow correspondent of the Lewiston Teller, in an issue
dated June 14, 1878, said:
"As proof of the fact that Moscow is fortunately
situated, look at the advanced condition of the town
within the past five months. At the beginning of that
time we hath only one sloiv and a blacksmith shop;
now, in addition to these, we have a general merchan-
dise establishment, McConnell & Company; also one
in course of construction ; a hardware store, a liquor
store, three blacksmith shops, a carpenter shop, two
butcher shops and two hotels, owned by W. J. Ham-
ilton and Henry Warmouth."
In 1880 Moscow had a population of 300, business
had doubled within the year and real estate values
were high. Nothing can give the reader a better idea
or more' accurate information concerning the develop-
ment period than articles published in the newspaper
of the time, and we will quote once more a communi-
cation dated Moscow, May 5, 1881, and published in
the Nezperce News :
"Moscow is nicely and advantageously situated in
the heart of Paradise valley, on the banks of Paradise
creek, and one mile from the south Palouse. Above
and below the town stretch the meadows that here
skirt the banks of the two streams. The town was
laid out four years ago by A. Lieuallen and John
Russell; it has been growing ever since, it is growing
now and will grow bigger with the development of the
country. Its growth has been mainly since last fall;
today it numbers a population of 350 souls and is the
trade center for the best portion of the Palouse coun-
try. The town is located two miles from the bound-
ary, twenty-five miles north of Lewiston, twenty-five
miles southeast from Colfax, ten miles south of Pa-
louse Citv and about twenty-seven miles from Wawa-
wai. the shipping point for this burg. Quite an ex-
tensive trade is centered here and every branch of
trade and industry is ably represented. The business
establishment at present comprises three general mer-
chandise stores, two hotels and livery stables, two
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
butcher shops, two saloons, two agricultural imple-
ment warehouses, one hardware store, one drug store,
one watchmaker and jeweler, two blacksmith shops,
one physician, one dentist, one lawyer, one steam
flour mill. etc. McConnell & Company is the leading
firm : A. A. Lieualleu, one of the founders of the town
and the first settler in the valley, carries a full line
of goods and is postmaster, the only Democrat holding
such a position in North Idaho: Hayes & Dupuy
opened a merchandise stuck last November. The two
implement houses are run by \Y . D. Robins ami X. J.
Shields. W. W. Langdon is the hardware man, and
also the Wells. Fargo & Company agent. The Barton
House and Fry Hotel monopolize the boarding busi-
ness. T. J. Craig runs the drug and notion store ;
C. Weber carries a full stock of saddles, etc.; R. H.
Piarton runs the feed stable, while J. S. Peterson and
True run the two butcher shops. Howard Olsen has
his hands full disposing of jewelry and notions, while
Doctor Reecler. Doctor McCully and Judge Kribs rep-
resent the medical and legal professions. There are
more families settled within a radius of ten miles of
Moscow than there are in a similar scope of country in
the Walla Walla valley. Two churches ami four or-
ganizations of different denominations are supported
by the families of Paradise valley. Last year they
subscribed 16,500 bushels of grain as a bonus to M.
C. Moore & Company to build a flouring mill. This
enterprise started running November 15th of last year
and has a capacity of seventy barrels.
"Seven miles from town a sawmill is located on
the South Palouse in a belt of timber which extends
back northeasterly into the Coeur d'Alene mountains
for a distance of 100 miles. The timber embraces all
varieties of pine, cedar, fir and tamarack. The mill
has a capacity of 15,000 feet a day and is owned by
Northup & Company. .Moscow is a lively, thriving,
enterprising, progressive place, and will take a boom
this summer. The people are never tired talking of
the Paradise country and they are right, for if there
is a better country in the world we have never seen it."
As a matter of special record we will list the pi-
oneers in the various industries now so well repre-
sented in .Moscow. The first merchant was William
Neff, who sold to A. A. Lieuallen. the latter being the
first postmaster. The first physician was Dr. H. B.
Blake; the first school teacher. Noah Lieuallen. who
was also the first Baptist minister ; the first mill in the
Palouse country was owned by J. C. Davenport and
built at Colfax : the first mill in Moscow was built in
1881 by M. C. Moore & Company; the postmaster
at Paradise was D. Craig; first Methodist minister,
F. W. D. Mays; first blacksmith shop, built by A.
Lieuallen and leased bv a man named McDougall;
first bank, by Baker &' Clark, of Walla Walla; 'first
contractor, brick mason and builder, William Taylor ;
first meat market, John Henry Warmouth ; first drug
store, S. G. Richardson ; first saddle and harness shop.
G. Weber; first dentist, J. H. McCallie; first hotel,
R. H. Barton, who was followed shortly afterward in
this business by J. H. Hamilton and Henry War-
mouth.
In 1X7S Mr. Curtis, of the Curtis-Maguire firm,
sold his interest in the business to W. J. McConnell,
afterward governor of Idaho, who visited Moscow at
this time, becoming at once greatly impressed with the
richness of the country and its future possibilities.
A store building was erected, 120 feet deep with a 30-
foot frontage, and stocked with $50,000 worth of
goods. This building still stands, facing First street.
The people in the surrounding country were greatly
encouraged by the establishment of this mammoth
store and from that time on the town began to grow
rapidly. When this store was opened Moscow had a
population of 25. The news of the great store at
Moscow spread everywhere and people from all parts
of the Potlatch and Palouse country flooded to Mos-
cow to do their trading, and it is no exaggeration
to say that to no men living in Moscow is the town
more indebted for its present size and flourishing con-
dition than to Ex-Governor W. J. McConnell and J.
H. Maguire. Moscow has twice furnished the suc-
cessful candidate for governor of Idaho, and the first
United States senator from Idaho, Hon. William J.
McConnell. was Moscow's merchant prince.
The story of the Indian scare of 1877 and of the
stockade in which the settlers took refuge is told in
another chapter. Much interest has always centered
about this fort, and many incidents are associated with
its construction and occupation worthy of record in
the annals of the time, but space does not permit the
telling here. It is a pleasure to state that there were
no tragedies connected with its history. G. W. Tomer
says: "We fought the Indians to a finish without the
loss of a man or the death of an Indian."
It is seldom that a town is more prosperous than
was Moscow from 1885 to 1892. In 1885 the O. R.
& N. railroad came and in 1890 the Northern Pacific.
The period from 1890 to 1893 will long be remem-
bered as the time during which Moscow reached the
high water mark of prosperity. Everybody made
money and everyone had money, and the volume of
business transacted here was enormous. Among the
great business enterprises which were rapidly building
up fortunes for their owners at that time may be men-
tioned the elegantly furnished and palatial store of the
McConnell-Maguire Company; the magnificent estab-
lishment of Dernham & Cauflann, carrying at that
time a $100,000 stock, the largest amount of goods in
any store in the Palouse or Potlatch country ; the mam-
moth business of M. J. Shields & Company, which
taxed to its utmost capacity their three-story brick,
with its 160- foot frontage. This companv was also
the owner of the electric light plant, which lighted the
city, the Moscow planing mill which gave employment
to fifty skilled mechanics, and was, besides, interested
in five large grain warehouses outside of Moscow.
The Chicago Bargain House was an exclusive dry-
goods store, owned by George W. Creighton & Com-
pany, who had just moved into new and commodious
quarters. The plant of the Moscow Mirror was at
this time valued at $15,000. It gave employment to
fourteen men and had in stock about three times as
much printing material as is now needed to conduct
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
609
the paper. It was then owned by Jolly Brothers,
Elmer E. Jolly being the editor. Many other lesser
business houses and corporations were flourishing,
and all combined to make Moscow one of the wealthi-
est cities of the Northwest. But, as it is with indi-
viduals, so it is with cities, a truism, that prosperity
is not a test of stability, and it was destined that Mos-
cow should pass through the final and crucial test of
adversity, crop failures and business depression, before
it could be proven that the superstructure that had
been reared was as solid and permanent as the founda-
tion laid by the pioneers of the 'seventies. Jn the
fall of 1893 a long continued wet season caused almost
the entire loss of the wheat crop, and to make matters
worse there was a complete demoralization of prices
on all products. Wheat dropped from 85 cents to 50
cents per bushel, then down lower and lower, until it
seemed to be a drug on the market. Debtors were
absolutely unable to meet their obligations ; the farmer
had no money to pay his bills, the smaller concerns
could not settle their accounts with the wholesale
houses and money could not be borrowed, even though
gilt-edged security was offered. A number of the
Moscow business houses were driven to the wall, but
the most far-reaching failure of all was that of its
largest and most important establishment, the Mc-
Connell-Maguire Company, of which there is a full
account in the previous chapter.
In 1894-5 wheat was quoted in Moscow as low as
23 cents per bushel, and it seemed as though universal
bankruptcy was inevitable, but future events proved
that the pendulum of adversity had reached the lowest
point of its arc and was slowly but steadily swinging
onward and upward to better prices and better times.
Since 1896 crops have been abundant and prices fair
and prosperity has returned in full measure. Along
all lines there is now unusual activity, old debts have
been cancelled, old scores straightened up, new busi-
ness houses opened and old ones have enlarged their
quarters. Moscow has truly proven that, unspoiled by
prosperity, she can withstand the "slings and arrows"
of adversity Nowhere in the Northwest can be found
a more thriving city. It now has a population of
about 5,000. Its location is favorable to its rapid
growth and development, having a site that is both
healthy and accessible to the surrounding country.
The principal business center is on Main street. Stand-
ing at the north end of this principal street and look-
ing southward, without having a definite knowledge of
the population of the city, one would suppose, judging
from the substantial brick business buildings in sight,
that it might be a city of ten or fifteen thousand people.
Moscow has never suffered to any great extent
from disastrous fire and flood. In June, 1890, a fire
causing the loss of probably $10,000 visited the city,
occurring on the 6th of the month. The fire started
in the rear of Hamlin's building at nine o'clock,
P. M., and destroyed Hamlin's hall. E. Mather's bar-
ber shop, F. Yengie's tailor shop, the butcher shop kept
by C. H. Jones, the Morris building, occupied by the
telephone office and the commission store occupied by
H. Fallon, the photograph studio of H. Erickson and
the J. W. Lieuallen grocery stock and building. These
were all frame buildings and a more disastrous spread
of the flames was averted only by the greatest effort.
The water works system now in use had just been
completed and to this fact alone the salvation of the
business part of the town was due. The fire was
supposed to be of incendiary origin.
Educational matters have from the first been given
special consideration by the citizens of Moscow. In
1 87 1 school district No. 5 was organized in compliance
with a petition circulated by George W. Tomer. A
history of the log school building first erected in this
district has been given in another chapter. This
building was located near the post-office of the old
town of Paradise. After Moscow was named the first
building used for school purposes was known as de-
Daniels' Hall. It was built in 1878 and was used for
church gatherings, schools and public meetings of all
character. In 1880 John Russell donated a -piece of
ground and the first city school building was erected
on the site now occupied by the Russell school. It
was not long, however, until the young and growing
city found that this building was entirely too small,
and about the first work of those interested in the wel-
fare of Moscow was the planning and erection of a
public school capable of accommodating the school
children then residents of the village, making allow-
ance also for a constantly growing population. A
second building, accommodating 120 pupils, was erect-
ed in 1883, on a site in the northeast part of town,
donated by Silas Imbler, one of Moscow's most beifi-
cent citizens. The site was and is centrally located,
and was admirably suited to the convenience of the
residents. In the meantime reports concerning the
richness of the country and the productiveness of the
soil began to go abroad, with the result that the coun-
try commenced to settle up rapidly, and Moscow began
to take a leading place among the cities of northern
Idaho. In 1889 the trustees of the public schi « il Ei iund
it necessary to secure additional accommodations.
They immediately set to work, had plans prepared and
soon the contract was let for the erection of the pres-
ent Russell school. The cost of this structure was
$16,000, and including all furnishings, the total cost
was run up to $22,000. No pains were spared to
make this not only a commodious but a modern school
building. The furniture was all of the most modern
and approved patent. The interior of the building was
so arranged that each department could !
with the least possible confusion. The different rooms
are so located that each grade can depart from the
building without coming into contact with the pupils
from other departments. That this has been a suc-
cessful arrangement is evidenced by the fact that the
entire school." numbering over 400 pupils, can vacate
the building in less than thirty seconds. Moscow con-
tinued to grow so rapidly that during the seven months
of the last school term of 1892 the board w,
pelled to rent a church building and to utilize it for a
school in which to place fifty pupils. It was supposed
that this state of affairs could not continue longer than
the end of the term, but on the reassembling of the
6io
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
school in the fall it was found that the same state of
affairs existed, making it necessary for the trustees
to secure another temporary building. A room was
fitted up in a building afterward occupied as a photo-
graph gallery on Main street, and was occupied dur-
ing the" winter of 1893-4 by one of the grades. In
1894 it was clearly seen that one of two things had
to be done, either to overcrowd the present school
room, making it impossible for teachers to work ad-
vantageously, or to purchase property and erect an-
other "building to serve the purpose of a high school.
They chose the latter course, and having viewed vari-
ous properties which were offered for a site for the
new building, they eventually purchased a tract of
land on Third street, for which was paid $4,000. The
plans had alreadv been prepared, and the contract for
the building was let for 820,000. exclusive of furni-
ture ami heating apparatus. The high school build-
ing is of red brick, with stone foundation. It is fitted
up with the most modern improvements, both for sani-
tary arrangements and ventilation. The heating ap-
paratus is of the latest design and cost upwards of
$3,000. Although the capacity of this school is 425
pupils, the old trouble confronted the trustees before
the close of the year 1900. All buildings were crowd-
ed to their utmost. The enrollment for 1899 was 900.
To provide further accommodations for the growing
school population the Irving school was erected in
1901 The school buildings now in use in Moscow
are the Russell school, built in 1888. the high school,
built in 1802. ami the Irving school, built in 1901.
Besidi - these public school buildings, there is the Mos-
cow Business College, under charge of Professor
William Perkins : the state preparatory school and the
University of Idaho. Teachers thus far employed for
the coming school year are Miss Clara Wethered, Miss
Amanda Moerder. Miss Whittmore, Miss Maude Mix,
George Fields, Miss Cole, Mrs. Clyde, Mrs. Marcy,
Miss Cram. Miss Dixon, Miss Ora Cooper, Miss Daisv
Booth, Miss Ranch. Miss VVhittworth, Miss Gillette
and Miss Hammond. Moscow's school history is not
complete without mentioning of the Moscow Academy,
which was opened November 6, 1883, with an enroll-
ment of 106 pupils. The first term was reasonably
successful, but the town was not quite ready for a
-ck'ol of this grade, and after a second term it was
discontinued.
There are nine church organziations in Moscow.
The Baptists were organized in 187O by Rev. Noah
I.ieuallen. who was followed in the earlier days by
Rev. S E. Stearns and Rev. 1). W. C. Britt. The
Christians, organized in 1883 by Rev. D. B. Matheny,
disbanded in 1885. This church was reorganized in
1888 by Rev. William McDonald and a church build-
ing was erected in 1891. The Swedish Lutherans
were organized in 1*80 by Rev. P. J. Carlson, and a
house of worship erected in 1889. St. Marks Episco-
pal organization dates from 1888. Rev. Gill was the
first minister, and the building now occupied was
erected in 1802. In 1882 Father Teomitie organized
the Roman Catholics, who erected a church building in
1886. In 1888 a church building was erected by the
Norwegian Methodists, who were organized by Rev.
Carl Erickson in 1886. The Presbyterian church was
founded in Moscow in 1880. The first minister of this
denomination was Rev. Paul Gamble. He was fol-
lowed in 1883 by Rev. H. H. McMillan, during whose
pastorate the present church building was erected.
The Methodist Episcopals were organized in 1881 by
Rev. Calvin M. Bryan. The first Methodist church
building was erected in 1883. This building was torn
down and the present building erected in 1887. This
building has proven too small for the accommodation
of the growing congregation, and there is now in prog-
ress of erection a stone church which will cost, when
completed, $25,000. Besides these, there are organiza-
tions of the Adventists and the Norwegian Lutheran.
The lodges of Moscow are : Knights Templar,
Royal Arch. Masons, Masonic Blue Lodge; Eastern
Star. I. O. O. F.. Elks, Knights of Pvthias, Macca-
bees. M. W. A.. W. of W., A. O. U. W., Rebekahs,
G. A- R., Artisans, Foresters and Red Men.
At the head of Idaho's educational system stands
the State University, located at Moscow. The insti-
tution is fortunate in that it combines the work of a
state university proper with that of a school of agri-
culture and mechanic arts. Hence it is that the insti-
tution has been peculiarly prosperous, as its work ap-
peals not alone to the classical student, but to the
farmer, the professional man and the tradesman. The
institution receives the direct support of the United
States government from two funds, $25,000 annually
from the Morrill fund and $15,000 annually from the
Hatch fund, in addition to generous appropriations
by the state legislature. New buildings are erected
by the state as the growth and needs of the university
furnish the occasion, and an ample provision and safe-
guard for the future is found in the 286.000 acres of
public land set apart for the endowment of higher edu-
cation in Idaho. Some of this land has been located
in heavily timbered townships, and the moneys received
from the sales of the timber are invested by the state
for the benefit of the university. The land itself can-
not be sold at less than $10 an acre, and the fund
created by the sales of land constitutes an irreducible
fun>! for the permanent endowment of university edu-
cation in Idaho. In no state has this land endowment
been more wisely conserved or more carefully ad-
ministered, and this gives asurance that Idaho's uni-
versity is presently to become one of the most potent
forces in the educational circles in the West.
A movement having for its object the annexation
of the "Panhandle" of Idaho to Washington is re-
sponsible for the location of the university. The
needs and demands of this, the richest section of Ida-
ho, had been ignored for many years, but when the
annexation idea was projected Southern and Eastern
Idaho became alarmed. As a result the legislature
of 1888-9 passed a bill locating the university at Mos-
cow and providing a building fund of about $65,000.
This bill was approved by the governor January 30th,
1889. The original bill vested the government of the
university in a board of nine regents appointed bi-
enniallv bv the governor for terms of two years. In
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
6n
1889 the terms of regents were lengthened to six
years and appointments were so arranged that one-
third of the board should be renewed bi-ennially. By
recent legislative enactment the number of regents
was reduced from nine to five. October 3, 1892, the
institution was opened to the reception of students.
It opened in the unfurnished and unfinished wing of
the main building, which stood in the midst of a
plowed field. It had a faculty of but one professor
and the president, and was without a book or piece of
apparatus of any sort. It had not a student in the
college grade, but about thirty students appeared to
enter the preparatory school, some of whom had come
long distances to enter the institution.
The act of 1889 for the establishment of the uni-
versity provided :
"The college or department of arts shall embrace
courses of instruction in mechanical, physical and nat-
ural sciences, with their application to the industrial
arts, such as agriculture, mechanics, engineering, min-
ing and metallurgy, manufactures, architecture and
commerce : in such branches included in the college
of letters as shah be necessary to a proper fitness of
the pupils in the scientific and practical courses for
their chosen pursuits ; and as soon as the income of the
university will allow, in such order as the wants of
the public shall seem to require, the said courses in
the sciences and (heir application to the practical arts
shall be expanded into distinct colleges of the uni-
versity, each with its own faculty and appropriate
title. The college of letters shall be co-existent with
the college of arts, and shall embrace a liberal course
of instruction in languages, lierature and philosophy,
together with such courses or parts of courses in the
college of arts as the regents of the university shall
prescribe."
In June. 1002, the regents, acting under this law.
placed the organization of the university on a collegiate
basis. The university now comprises : The college
of letters and sciences, the college of agriculture, the
school of applied science or school of mines, and
the preparatory school. The faculty of each college
or school is composed of the president of the uni-
versity and professors, acting professors and assist-
ants giving instructions therein.
The following courses are accordingly offered,
leading to the corresponding degrees : In the College
of Letters and Sciences — The classical course leads to
the d.egree of Bachelor of Arts ; the scientific course
leads to the degree of Bachelor of Sciences ; the course
in music and the allied subjects leads to the degree of
Bachelor of Music. In the College of Agriculture —
The course in agriculture and horticulture leads to
the degree of Bachelor of Science. In the School of
Applied Science — The course in civil engineering leads
to the degree of Bachelor of Civil Engineering, and
the course in mining leads to the degree of Bachelor
of Engineer of Alines. In the Preparatory School — ■
the classical and scientific courses prepare for admis-
sion to the corresponding courses in the college; the
English course prepares for admission to the College
of Agriculture and the School of Applied Science.
The experimental station, operated under the
Hatch act. has been a department of the university
since 1892. The original idea was to conduct the ex-
perimental work on farms in different parts of the
state. Three tracts of 160 acres each were secured
by donations from citizens near Grangeville. near
Nampa and near Idaho Falls. Later, at the sugges-
tion of the national authorities, these were ordered
abandoned by the regents in 1896. That year citizens
of Moscow purchased a farm of 90 acres near the
college, and donated it to the school for use as an
experimental station. June, 1902, the regents adopt-
ed the policy of separating so far as possible the work
of the experimental station and that of the colleges.
It was decided to separate the duties of the president
and director of the experimental station and appoint
one of the officers of the station as director, which was
done. A feature of the work of this portion of the
institution is the conduct of farmers institutes in the
different parts of the state. Publications are also
issued covering the results of experiments and re-
search, which give information of great value to the
farmers and fruit raisers. Students of the college of
agriculture do all the practical work on the farm and
are paid for their services. The farm is equipped with
barns, buildings and implements suitable for experi-
mentation and instruction. In one building is a butter
making room, a cheese room, a laboratory for testing
milk, an engine room and cheese testing rooms. And
in addition to these are store rooms for seeds, grains
and vegetables. A model greenhouse, of glass and
iron, 18 by 50 feet in size, is connected with the agri-
culture building.
The faculty of the university now consists of 14
professors, two associate professors, 1 1 instructors and
two student assistants, or 29 in all, representing in
their collegiate and university training 25 of the lead-
ing colleges and universities in the United States. The
growth in the faculty has kept pace with the growth
of the student body. From an enrollment of 30 in
1892 the number of students increased to 248 in 1897,
and the enrollment for this year exceeds 400. In the
present enrollment 14 counties of the state are repre-
sented by students and five other states have also sent
pupils. The university alumni includes four gradu-
ates of 1896. five of '1897, eight of 1898. seven of
1899, ten of 1900 and 24 of 1901. It is worthy of
note that 30 students of the university enlisted in
the army during the Spanish war. a larger number
in proportion to enrollment than of any other uni-
versity in the United States.
The faculty of the university consists of the follow-
ing: Tames 'Alexander MacLean, president. B. A.,
University of Toronto, and M. A. and Ph. D.. Co-
lumbia • Louis Fourniquet Henderson, professor of
botany, Ph. B., Cornell; John Merton Aldrich, pro-
fessor of zoology and curator of museum. B. S. and
M. S., South Dakota Agricultural College, and M.
S.. University of Kansas: John Edward Bonebright,
professor of physics, B. S.. Northwestern University;
.Alfred Stanley Miller, professor of mining and metal-
lurgy, A. B. and A. M.. Leland Stanford, Jr.. L'ni-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
versity, E. M., School of Practical Engineering, San
Francisco, Ph. D., Heidelberg University, Ohio ; Fred
A. Huntley, professor horticulture, B. S., Michigan
Agricultural College; William W. Baden, professor
of Greek and Latin, A. B. and Ph. D., Johns Hopkins,
LL. B., University of Maryland ; D Arcy P. Parham,
professor of English, M. A., Randolph-Macon, Va. ;
Jay G. Eldridge, professor of modern languages, B.
A.' and M. A., Yale; Charles A. Peters, professor of
chemistry, B. S., Boston University, and Ph. D., Yale ;
Charles N. Little, professor of civil engineering, A.
M., University of Nebraska, Ph. D., Yale; Isaac J.
Cogswell, associate professor of music, B. M., Chi-
cago Musical College; Nina A. Wilber, associate pro-
fessor of oratory and physical culture, A. B., Uni-
versity of Michigan ; W. S. Morley, A. B., College of
Emporia, A. M., Princeton; Hal T. Beans, instructor
in chemistry, B. Sc. and M. A., University of Ne-
braska ; Miles F. Reed, principal preparatory depart-
ment and instructor in pedagogy. B. S., University
of Idaho ; Sarah E. Poe, B. L., Wilbur College, Lew-
iston, Idaho ; Florence P. Moore, instructor in mathe-
matics and German, B. S. Northwestern University ;
Agatha J. Sonna, instructor in Latin and history, B.
A., Wellesly; Mrs. M. E. Young, preceptress and
director department of domestic science ; Herbert T.
Condon, B. S., University of Oregon, LL. B., Uni-
versity of Michigan, registrar and secretary of fac-
ulty : Margaret Bryan McCallie. librarian, B. S., Uni-
versity of Idaho.
The university is situated on an eminence overlook-
ing the city of Moscow from the southwest and com-
manding one of the most attractive prospects of moun-
tain and valley in the Palouse country. The situation
is ideal for an educational institution. At an alti-
tude of about 2,700 feet, the air of the locality is pure
and invigorating and the climate is healthful. The
winters are neither severely cold not prolonged ; the
climate is favorable to effective study. Students
from higher altitudes, from dryer regions or from the
more humid climate of the coast find the climate of
Moscow agreeable and promotive of work. The uni-
versity campus, comprising 20 acres, is crossed from
the direction of the city by a winding driveway. The
part of it in front of the university is devoted entirely
to lawn ; other parts are used for an athletic field and
drill ground. The main or administration building is
an attractive and commodious structure of three sto-
ries and high basement, finished in California red-
wood and native tamarack, supplied with artesian
water and electric lights and heated by steam. It
represents a cost of about $200,000. The school of
mines is three stories high, built of brick, with a
ground plan of 60 by 10S feet. I )ne side of this build-
ing contains a mining laboratory, assay rooms, bal-
ance rooms, private laboratory and office for the de-
partment of mining and a museum, laboratory, lec-
ture rooms, library and office for the department of
geology; while the other half of the building is de-
voted to machine and wood working shops for the
department of mechanic arts. In other rooms are
the boilers and engines which supply power and heat
to the building. The dormitory is a three-story brick
with basement, finished according to the most ap-
proved plans. It contains two reception halls, 35
dormers, study halls, sewing rooms, gymnasium, a
dining hall for 100 boarders, apartments for the pre-
ceptress, an infirmary and many other features con-
ducive to the health and comfort of the young women.
The building is heated by steam and electrically light-
ed. It has an abundance of baths and other con-
veniences. A wooden building 50 by 125 feet, known
as the annex, is located about 100 feet behind the
main building. It is used as the armory and for
other purposes'. East of the main building is the
greenhouse. The library, including six departmental
libraries, contains about 4,000 bound volumes and a
number of pamphlets. The general library occupies
a large and well lighted room on the first floor of the
administration building and contains works in history,
literature, philosophy, art, etc. About 50 of the lead-
ing periodicals of the L'nited States and foreign coun-
tries are subscribed for and the newspapers of the
state are donated and kept on file. The nucleus for
the museum was the collection of Idaho minerals,
etc., exhibited in the Idaho buildding at the World's
fair in 1S93. This was donated to the university at
the close of the fair. The J. Rand Sanborn was
purchased by the state for the university and there
have been other important acquisitions, including
Philippine articles presented by students who served
in the army there. There are about 2,500 specimens
in the mineral collection. The animal collection is
a large one, and the museum also contains 175 species
of birds. Under the act of congress providing
the land grant for the university, military drill is re-
quired of all male students except juniors and seniors.
Each cadet is required to provide himself with the
prescribed uniform. The equipment of the cadet
battalion includes 100 Springfield rifles, two field guns
and ammunition and target materials furnished by
the war department. Camp equipage is provided by
the state. Efforts are made for an annual encamp-
ment, during which the instruction is entirely mili-
tary and practical and the cadets are put through all
the duties of camp life. The three cadets in the gradu-
ating class who have the highest grade of merit for
the entire course are reported to the war department,
where their names are recorded in the adjutant gen-
eral's office and published in the Army register for
that year. In making appointments to the regular
or volunteer army from civil life preference is given
to those who have their names so recorded.
Among the student organizations are the Alumni
Association, which has an annual meeting and ban-
quet commencement week ; Young Men's Christian
Association and Young Women's Christian Associa-
tion, oratorical associations which participate in con-
tests and debates with similar associations of other
schools of Idaho and Washington ; two literary soci-
eties, the Websterian and Amphictyon ; an active ath-
letic association, with departments devoted to football,
baseball, tennis and track athletics, and the following
musical organizations : Philharmonic Club, which
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
613
renders monthly programs, the mandolin and guitar
club, two glee clubs of men's and women's voices, and
the university band and orchestra.
The university publications include the annual re-
port of the regents to the governor, the annual cata-
logue, the annual report of the agricultural experi-
ment station, frequent pamphlets and press bulletins
from that station and the Farmers' Institute year book,
the students' handbook, published by the Y. M. C. A.
and Y. W. C. A., and the Argonaut. The university-
Argonaut was established during the administration
of President J. P. Blanton in 1898-9. At his sug-
gestion a meeting of the student body was called and
a committee was appointed to investigate the cost and
to draw up a constitution and by-laws. The commit-
tee's report was adopted at the next meeting. Guy
W. Wolfe, a senior, was elected editor-in-chief and
business manager. The paper was named "The Uni-
versity Argonaut," and was published as a monthly.
Mr. Wolfe is now a practicing attorney at Moscow.
The next year the offices of editor and business man-
ager were separated and Burton L. French and G.
(3. P. Mix were elected to the respective positions.
The}' were both seniors ; in fact, it has become al-
most an unwritten law to elect members of the senior
class to these positions. Mr. French is now con-
gressman from Idaho and Mr. Mix is a successful
Moscow business man. In 1 900-1 the paper was
issued as a weekly, with Jesse L. Rains editor-in-chief
and Claude W. Gibson business manager. Next year
Henry M. Lancaster, editor-in-chief, and Fred H. Mc-
Connell, business manager, got out a twice-a-month
edition. Miss Nellie B. Ireton was elected editor-
in-chief for 1902-3 and John W. Shepperd business
manager, and a weekly was issued. During the lat-
ter part of the year a change was made in the consti-
tution, and the offices of associate editor and assist-
ant business manager were created. Officers are
elected in March of each year. The editor begins his
duties ' immediately, but the business manager does
not take up his work until the following fall under
the new arrangement. The officers for 1903-4 are
Benj. W. Oppenheim, editor-in-chief, and T. R. Jones,
associate editor: J. Loyal Adkison, business man-
ager, and Floyd D. Angel, assistant business man-
ager. Besides these, the editor appoints a staff of four
from the college to assist him. The paper is now es-
tablished as a weekly and will probably continue as
such. It will thus be the college newspaper. With
the growing needs of the college a monthly magazine,
under a separate staff, will be established, devoted to
literary subjects exclusively.
The present board of regents of the university con-
sists of President John B. Goode. of Rathdrum ;" Vice-
President Mrs. Win. H. Ridenbaugh, of Boise ; Sec-
retary George C. Parkinson, of Preston ; Henry E.
Wallace, of Caldwell ; and George Chapin, of Idaho
Falls. William L. Payne is treasurer. President
Goode and Secretary Parkinson are the executive
board. All are of high standing and wide knowledge
and are laboring enthusiastically and earnestly toward
the upbuilding of the institution. The universitv of
Idaho was placed at the outset fairly and squarely upon
four foundation piers, viz: Free tuition, sufficient
material resources, severe educational requirements .
and a distinct ethical purpose, consequently the per-
manence of the state university is almost as well as-
sured as the permanence of the state itself. The state
university will live and grow and prosper because it
ought to live and grow and prosper forever.
The present city officers of Moscow are: Mayor,
J. C. Wolf; Clerk^ H. H. Robinson: treasurer, Mrs.
Emma Edmundson ; police judge, John Craig; en-
gineer, Benjamin E. Bush ; councilmen. A. M. Ander-
son, R. D. Carter, W. O. Griffin.
In 1901 there were shipped from Moscow 759
cars of grain, 150 cars of hay, 56 cars of fruit, 20
cars of stock ; total of 940 cars. The business inter-
ests of the city are represented by five dry goods
stores, three hardwares, four drugs, thirteen groceries,
three banks, two railroads, two jewelers, three liver-
ies, four hotels, four newspapers, two harness shops,
two bakeries, three meat markets, four implement
houses, one cigar factory, three millinery stores, five
grain warehouses, one steam laundry, one foundry,
one gents' furnishing store, one shoe store, one furni-
ture "store, two planing mills, one flour mill, one saw
mill, one hospital, electric light works, and waterworks.
The contract has been let for a new system of
sewerage; a brickyard has just been established by
Frank White and W. C. Laude, east of the Northern
Pacific depot ; articles of incorporation of the Inter-
state Co-operative Telephone Company have been
filed, capital stock, $10,000 ; a bill has been introduced
in the United States senate providing for an appropri-
ation of $25,000 to be expended in the erection of a
federal building at Moscow ; a free delivery system has
been established with three carriers ; the postal re-
ceipts at Moscow for 1901 were $10,942.83.
Never in the history of Moscow has there been
such a demand as now for business locations. For a
year past there has scarcely been an available loca-
tion to be had. The town's growth has reached a
point where Main street will no longer suffice for
its business needs, and side street locations are com-
ing into demand. The prosperous condition of the
town has brought substantial results and merchants
are preparing "to enlarge their stocks, while many
new buildings are under consideration, some of them
now in process of erection. This last tact is con-
clusive evidence of the substantial growth Moscow
has experienced during the past three years The
demand for residence property is no less marked. Al-
though building material was scarce, over one hundred
new "residences were built in 1902 and the first halt
Of 190^5. , . rC
Everv citv reflects the character ot its citizens. It
the latter are active, wide awake and full ot public
spirit it is prettv certain that the place in which they
reside is progressive, enterprising and up-to-date. It
the people of the citv are concerned only with their
individual private affairs, and are too selfish to give
a thought to the welfare of the community as a whole,
one is apt to find in that city stagnation, lack of enter-
614
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
prise and municipal lethargy. It is a fine public spirit
that has made Moscow what it is today. No city
thrives without this spirit and nothing can interfere
with the growth of the city that possesses it. No city
in Idaho has better prospects today than has .Moscow.
The sources from which it will draw its support in the
future are next to inexhaustible; its citizens are pro-
gressive and united in their efforts to advance the
general welfare : it is a city of homes, a city of schools,
a city of churches, a city of wealth and refinement, and
a city where commercial institutions are on a solid
basis ; it is a most desirable place of abode, either from
a commercial, educational or social standpoint.
Kendrick, the metropolis of the Potlatch empire,
is located on the Palouse branch of the Northern Pa-
cific railway, at the junction of Bear creek and the
Potlatch river, on the south boundary of Latah county,
and in the center of the Potlatch district. With her
strongest competitors. — Moscow. 25 miles northwest,
and Lewiston, 30 miles southwest — Kendrick must re-
main for an indefinite period of time the metropolis
of some of the finest agricultural, timber and mineral
country in the northwest. In no country can a more
enterprising class of people be found than those of
the Potlatch. Between the citizens of the town and
those of the country the best of feelings exist which
harmonize all the plans that enter into the progress
and welfare of the Potlatch empire in general. Scarce-
ly had the outlines of the town that was destined to
become the keystone of the Potlatch assumed shape ere
the energv and enterprise that have characterized its
existence were asserted by the building of roads to
the various ridges. Today Kendrick's location, with
roads leading in from all sides, might well be com-
pared to the hub of a wheel that holds its position
through the spokes. Each serves as an avenue of
resource which year by year strengthens with the de-
velopment of the country and contributes toward the
healthy progress of the town.
With such a scope of fine agricultural land at her
doors, which is the basis of all manufactures, the
question of power, space and shipping facilities nat-
urally conies up, and finds answer in the force of her
position. Just above the town Bear creek, a beautiful
stream of clear water, which has its source in the
mountains, enters into Potlatch river. The Potlatch,
with its numerous tributaries, taps valuable forests of
timber. Fir, cedar, yellow and white pine timber
tracts line the banks of both these streams. The cur-
rent of the river is strong ; the waters have about 30
feet fall in every 1,000 yards. Along the banks of
the streams are many splendid sites for mills. In the
corporate limits of the town the river has a fall of 38
feet for the 1,000 yards, which, with the body of water
that runs continually the year round, would furnish
power to operate a number of mills. With the ex-
penditure of a little money the stream could be cleared
sufficiently to drive logs down to mills where shipping
facilities can be had over the Northern Pacific. With
such a water power and with mill sites in abundance,
Kendrick offers advantages to manufacturers superior
to any town in the country. A flouring mill and a
tannery are among the successful industrial enter-
prises established at Kendrick.
Another important and attractive feature of Ken-
drick's location is in respect to her superior advantages
for maintaining a system of water works. \\ ith a
gradual slope toward the west, the lay of the ground
furnishes a perfect system of drainage and sewerage.
Kendrick has reason to be proud of her public
schools and her houses of worship. The public schools
are chief among the hopes and aspirations of the peo-
ple and today her schools stand in the highest rank
of the educational institutions of the state. The high
standard that the public school has attained has been
one of the potent factors in making Kendrick a town
of homes. There are now 220 pupils enrolled in
the public schools. The school property is valued at
$5,000. The teachers include J. P. Barrackman, prin-
cipal ; Maud Brilhart, Arsella Emerson and Lucile
Fisher, assistants. The school board consists of E.
P. Atchison, A. P. Hamlev and Rev. J. A. Hedges.
There are four churches, each of which has an edifice.
These include the Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist
and United Brethren. The secret societies are well
represented. The Odd Fellows have purchased a
site and propose to erect a two-story brick building,
the upper floor of which will be used by the order and
the lower floor rented for store purposes. The sub-
ordinate lodge has about 75 members and the encamp-
ment about 30 members. The Rebekah lodge has 100
members and is the banner lodge of the state. The
Masonic lodge has a large membership and is also dis-
cussing building.
The town was founded by Thomas Kirby, the first
postmaster, in 1889, who named it Latah. In May,
1900, an arrangement was made that the Northern
Pacific would build to the town, and on a guarantee
that the road would be built there by January I, 1891,
Thomas Kirby gave the railroad a deed to one-half
of the townsite of 240 acres. The town was then
named Kendrick, in honor of the chief engineer of the
Northern Pacific. May 8. 1890, the town was platted.
October 15, 1890, the town was incorporated, with
the following trustees: Thomas Kirby, J. M. Walk-
er, N. C. Normoyle, Volley Nichols and N. Kaufman.
Captain Walker was president of the Hard-
ware & Implement Company, and one of the most
progressive citizens; Mr. Normoyle was then propri-
tor of the St. Elmo hotel, Mr. Nichols was propri-
etor of the Pioneer city dray and is now at Nezperce ;
\!r. Kaufman is of the well known firm of Dernham
iS: Kaufman, and is now manager of their large main
store at Moscow. These practical business men
held the reins of the city goverment and wisely guided
its infant steps so that it has been kept free from debt
in assuming premature improvements. The advan-
tages of the location for a town were recognized 1>\ Mr.
Kirby from the beginning, and he displayed his good
judgment in his selection of associates to join with
him in building the hub of the Potlatch. Aside from
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
615
the officers of the Northern Pacific, his associates in-
cluded G. E. Potter of Colfax, since deceased, G. Hol-
brook of Colfax, Hon. J. C. Lawrence of Waterville,
W. White of Colfax, J. P. Vollmer of Lewiston, R.
D. McConnell and James Grimes of Moscow. A
board of trade was organized on the start. By mid-
summer of that year the town was in a prosperous
condition. Building was going on apace and all lines
of trade were represented. The railroad was pushed
forward that winter and February 4, 1891, the first
train reached Kendrick.
August 16, 1893, came the first big fire. It wiped
out 31 business structures and caused a loss of about
$100,000. The chief losers and the amounts of their
losses follow, the second figures being insurance car-
ried, if any: Advocate office, $3,000; M. C. Nor-
moyle, $7,000, $2,000: L. D. Shattler, $1,000, $600;
Joseph Jarred, $200: Win. Crews. $300, $200; First
National Bank. $6,000, $2,500; John Grimes, $2,000,
$1,500; A. W. Taygard, $250; G. H. Sutherland,
$1,500, $1,000; A. C. White, $4,500, $2,000; Hamley
& Co., $2,500, $1,000; G. E. Porter, $1,000. $600;
Hamlin & Co., $4,500, $4,300; McCrea Bros., $4,800,
$3,500; J. F. Carlton, $1,000, $500; Lincoln Bros.,
$6,000, $4,500; C. H. Dodd & Co., $2,700, $1,000;
J. M. Walker, $4,500, $2,500; J. R. Hall, $1,500, $500;
Thos. Kirby, $5,000, $3,900 :"L. L. Crocker. $1,500,
$1,000; C. Kail. $900, $400; W. A. Rothwell, $100;
Dernham & Kaufman, $23,000, $20,000; M. S. Free-
man, $2,000, $1,000; Jacobs & Toole, $200; Joseph
Bryden, $800, $500; Dr. Justice, $100; J. H. Morris,
$300; Martin Larson, $400, $300; Chetham. Baker
& Co., $1,000, $800; C. A. French, $200; T. Atkinson,
$300; Francis Labode, Jr., $1,800, $1,200. These fig-
ures are as given in an article in the North Idaho Star,
August 19, 1892. Fire could not subdue the energy
of the citizens and three months later nine substantial
brick buildings had arose from the ashes. January
1893, was marked as the time when the electric light
plant opened up for business. In the panic of 1893 the
citizens redoubled their activities, determined that the
future must be one of progress. An immigration bu-
reau was organized to bring the advantages of the
Potlatch country before homeseekers and investors.
The fruit growers also organized the Potlatch Horti-
cultural Association. The same indomitable spirit
was evident when, in the spring of 1894, two fires,
within a week, destroyed much valuable property, only
U> witness larger and better buildings rise in the stead
of those wiped out. A fire this year will probably
have a similar sequel. Kendrick 'is a pull-together
town. There are no discordant elements and no legiti-
mate enterprise there has ever gone begging for sup-
port. ^ November 18. 1895, 750^000 acres of lands on
the Nez Perces Indian reservation were thrown open
to _ entry. Kendrick is one of the nearest railroad
points to these lands and has profited greatly from the
influx of settlers to that rich district and the bringing
of the lands there under cultivation. In 1894 $27~,ooo
was spent for fruit trees for the Potlatch country. ' In
1898 there were 300 acres of bearing orchards "about
Kendrick. That latter year the assessed valuation of
property at Kendrick was $96,980 and the tax levy
was eight mills. In 1898 one hundred and twenty-
seven car-loads of fruit were shipped from Kendrick.
This has more than doubled since.
The adaptability of the soil and climate to fruit
raising has been taken advantage of. The elevation
is lower than the Palouse country. High mountains
to the north afford protection from the cold winds
while the warm winds from the Columbia and Clear-
water valleys are an advantage. Potlatch fruit is
famous. Irrigation is unnecessary. The fruit from
the Potlatch has won first prize at the Spokane inter-
state fair. At the world's fair at Chicago a medal and
diploma were awarded John Hepler for the best ex-
hibit of pomaceous fruits, eight varieties of apples
free from blemishes and defects. Apples, prunes,
cherries and the berry crop do especially well al-
though all fruits give immense yields.
The soil is a rich black loam from eighteen inches
to four feet deep, underlying which is a stratum of clay
which keeps the moisture from seeping away. Corn
does well, sorghum sugar cane and all vegetables thrive.
Wheat yields from 35 to 40 bushels per acre. One
tract of 80 measured acres returned an average of 60
bushels per acre. Oats, barley, rye and flax return
immense crops. Many have already made fortunes
on the farms and orchards of the Potlatch country and
the district has not begun to be developed. Rich min-
ing and timbered districts to the east are also tribu-
tary to the town. A recent summary of the distribu-
tion of crops in the country tributar) to Kendrick
follows : Wheat acreage, 28,000 ; barley. 5.000 acres :
oats, 5,000 acres; flax. 2,000 acres; corn. "1,000 acres;
beans, 1.000 acres; other vegetables, 1.500 acres; ap-
ples, 3.316 acres; prunes, 684 acres; peaches, 1S5
acres; pears, 292 acres; grapes, 75 acres; plums, 92
acres ; strawberries and other small fruits, 104 acres.
Naturally with such a rich tributary country the
business institutions of the town are in a prosperous
condition. One of the chief instituions is the flour
mill, which comprises a plant valued at $30,000. It is
owned and operated by the Vollmer-Clearwater Com-
pany and has a large output which finds a read}
ket. There is a bank, organized in 1890 by Capt. T.
M. Walker and .his son, R. M. Walker. It was first
called the Bank of Kendrick and was run by them until
July, 1892, when it was absorbed by the First Na-
tional Bank of Kendrick. capital $50,000. organized
under the national banking laws. F. X. Gilbert was
president and Math Jacobs, cashier. The institution
May r, 1899, surrendered its charter, preferring to do
business as a state bank and has since operated as the
Kendrick State bank. Its officers are Math Jacobs,
president; F. N. Gilbert, vice-president. A. Gordon,
cashier and P. R. Jacobs, assistant cashier. H. P.
Hull conducts a large general store, with complete
lines such as are usually found in an interior depart-
ment store. The telephone office is located in that
store. Mr. Hull is also a notary public. There are
two large hardware and implement stores, each of
which is enjoying a large trade. One is conducted
bv the Lincoln Hardware & Implement Company and
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
the other by McCrea Bros. & Company. D. J. Row-
lands has a large general merchandise store. Hun-
ter Brothers are the leading furniture dealers and
have an undertaking establishment in connection.
There are two large stores devoted to drygoods and
clothing. One is run by Haizlep & Norman and the
other by M. C. McGrew. Beth carry large stocks
and enjov a prosperous and growing business. The
hotel business of Kendrick is in the hands of Mrs. C.
S. Miller. She has leases on both the Pacific and St.
Elmo hotels. The Star restaurant is conducted by
Mrs. Mamie Murphy. Hamley & Co., dealers in har-
ness and saddles, carry one of the largest stocks in
those lines of any store in Idaho. A large butcher
shop is conducted by the Idaho Meat and Provision
Company, of which J. M. Wild is proprietor. Other
lines of business are represented as follows: .An-
drew Hill, dealer in fuel, ice and shingles, who oper-
ates a dray and express line ; Kendrick livery stables.
Charles Chandler, proprietor; William Hunter, black-
smith ; Star barber shop, W. B. Crews, proprietor ; A.
W. Cobb, barber ; Kendrick lumber yard, D. S. Hun-
ter, proprietor, recently burned but will be rebuilt ;
The Palace meat market: Lorang & Wolhtmann,
dealers in tobacccos and cigar manufacturers : The
White drug store, C. A. White & Co., proprietors ; A.
P. Hamley, photographer; J. T. Moser, dentist; John
Benjamin, livery and feed stables; L. A. Kerr, jewel-
ry ; Kendrick brick yard : Potlatch Land Company,
real estate. I i. W. Suppinger and H. E. Wessels, pro-
prietors: C. M. Lukens, real estate, notary public and
justice of the peace ; Kendrick Realty Company, C. W.
Suppinger, attorney-at-law ; St. Elmo bar, O. E. Wey-
mouth, proprietor. Large grain warehouses are
owned by the Tacoma Grain Company and Ketten-
bach & Co., Ltd. There are two excellent papers.
The Canyon Echo is owned and edited by E. E. Al-
derman. Mackintosh & Weber are owners and pub-
lishers of the Kendrick Gazette.
The present officers of the town are as follows :
Mayor, j. I. Mitchem and J. S. Crocker, J. T. Bibb,
H. 'P. Hull and H. N. Xe'lson, trustees ; Miss Cora
Crow, treasurer : Charles Weber, street commissioner ;
and D. B. Mackintosh, clerk. The salary of Post-
master Hamley has been recently i increased from
$1,000 to Si.ioo per annum by reason of increased earn-
ings of the office. Notice has been received that two
free rural deliveries will be established this vear run-
niing from Kendrick. The present vear has been one of
great growth and prosperity. New buildings to a
considerable number have been erected. C. W. Van
Pelt, proprietor of the Leland flour mills, is figuring on
putting in a water power plant at a point a few miles
up the Potlatch from Kendrick, where he will install
electrical machinery and produce current to furnish
light and electric power for Kendrick and neighbor-
ing towns. This industry will probably be the fore-
runner of many others which will make use of the
abundant water power. In closing it is proper that
mention should be made of the Kendrick Business
Men's Association, to which great credit must be
given for the past growth of the town and its terri-
tory and who are active, enthusiastic and determined
to continue the good work. The officers of the as-
sociation are, president, G. W. Suppinger ; vice-presi-
dent, M. C. McGrew ; secretary, L. F. Hare ; treasurer,
A. W. Gordon. The executive committee consists
of M. C. McGrew, L. F. Hare, H. P. Hull, T. A. Hun-
ter and M. C. Normoyle. There are subcommittees
on immigration, roads, mines and manufacturing,
statistics, etc. With such an organization, with its
commanding position with regard to the rich terri-
tory of which it is the center and trade metropolis, the
future of Kendrick seems assuredly a prosperous one.
GENESEE.
Genesee, probably the greatest wheat market in
the famous Palouse country, is located at the termi-
nus.of the Northern Pacific Railway. 113 miles south-
east of Spokane. Built on a hill overlooking the
Genesee valley, the "Garden Spot of the Palouse,"
it commands a view of the snowclad mountains of
three states. Its location is healthful, natural drain-
age perfect, water abundant and of excellent quality.
The population is 1,200 and is steadily growing.
Most of its business blocks are substantial brick struc-
tures. It has excellent schools and churches, a city
park, telephones locally and with long line connec-
tions and a franchise has been recently granted for an
eiectric light plant. An active Chamber of Commerce
looks after the material advancement of the city and
under its stimulus street paving and other improve-
ments are projected. There are excellent advantages
offered for the starting of new enterprises such as a
fruit cannery, straw board factory, paper mill, cracker
factory and a starch factory.
The Genesee valley lies directly north of the Lew-
iston valley. Speaking of the naming of this beau-
tiful little vale of Latah county, Idaho, John P. Voll-
mer, the Lewiston banker and merchant said : "Dur-
ing the summer of 1870, Alonzo Leland, later editor
of the Lewiston Teller, a man named Stone, who was
the O. R. & N. agent for their steamboat line, and
myself went one day for a drive over the high
prairie north of the Clearwater river. There was but
one habitation in all that vast country then, Cald-
well & Hall's cattle ranch at the summit of the Clear-
water bluff. As we drove along we passed down Cow
creek and through a sequestered little valley still in
its natural state, Stone exclaimed : 'This reminds
me of my old home, the Genesee valley in New York
state.' The suggestion was made that we so name it
and from that time on it bore that name. When Le-
land started his newspaper he always referred to this
valley by the name of Genesee and so it became uni-
versally known by that appellation. Some time in
T871 Jacob Cambitch took a ranch on Cow creek, so
that he may be termed the pioneer of Genesee.
"Settlement was slow until 1872 and in that year
quite an immigration to this prairie country took place
and the first large settlement was made. From that
time on scores flocked to the 'Hog Heaven' country, as
the country around Moscow was known in earlv davs,
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
617
and soon Nez Perces county north of the Clear-
water numbered several hundred people. In 1875
Curtis started a town about a mile east of the
present town of Genesee, which soon became a
thriving village. Our company established the first
general store there. Just who owned this townsite I
do not remember, as it stood near the corner of four
sections, but probably R. H. Beeman, James Hansen,
John H. Evans and Air. Curtis were the men. In
1886 A. M. Cannon, A. W. Newberry, Paul F. Mohr,
myself and others organized the Spokane & Palouse
Railway. That year the road was constructed to
Belmont. Then it was pushed to Marshall Junction
and in 1888 we built our terminus at Genesee. About
the time we decided to extend the road to Genesee
that townsite fell into the hands of Jacob Rosenstein
whom, we thought, asked too much for right-of-way
privileges and grounds. We naturally objected and
the result was that I purchased a tract of forty acres
from J. H. Evans a mile west of the old town and
laid out the new town, calling it Genesee also. When
the railroad came through, it stopped one mile west of
the old town. This immediately broke up the old
town and Jacob Rosentein headed the removal to the
new town by moving his store over on wheels. Soon
the old town was a relic of the past. Our company
re-established our store in the new town, the railroad
company built a roundhouse and laid out quite a yard
system and the population of the town jumped to sev-
eral hundred people within a comparatively short time."
Two pioneers of the old town not mentioned in the
above, were A. Levi, who established a general store
in 1878, and E. T. Piatt who was the pioneer attor-
ney and was also justice of the peace.
The first business structure in the present town
was put up by J. S. Larabee, hardware dealer and the
second by W. J. Herman, general merchandise. J.
J. Owen moved a 16x24 frame house there from Mos-
cow, which was the first shingle roof house in the
town. William Brown with his own labor put up a
building and opened the pioneer barber shop. C. F.
Burr was the pioneer real estate dealer there and
George Stelz the first building contractor. All are s'till
residents of Genesee. The first school was established
in the old town in 1879. D. Spurbeck, Mr. Mark-
ham and William Evans were the first board of direc-
tors and Mr. Dent was the teacher. The latter was
paid $150 for teaching a three months' term. The town
was incorporated October 23, 1889. with the following
first trustees: J. C. Martin. W. C. Cox, W. J. Her-
man, J. J. Owen and E. S. Cameron. The metes
and bounds description of the townsite is as follows :
Commencing at the northeast corner of the northeast
■quarter of section 14,1 in township 37. north of range
5 west of Boise meridian ; thence running south 3.300
feet ; thence west half a mile ; thence north 530 feet ;
thence in a southwesterly direction 1,520 feet; thence
north 1810 feet; thence east 140 feet; thence north
140 feet; thence east 1380 feet; thence north 1110.95
feet; thence east half a mile to place of beginning.
The city's finances are and have ever been in first-
class condition, and civic improvements have kept
pace with the steady growth of the town. As a home
city Genesee possesses many advantages. Climatic
conditions are almost ideal. Its location is about
2,200 feet above sea level, but mountains in all direc-
tions keep out the storms and cold indigenous to less
favored regions and at the same time render the air
absolutely pure and wholesome. The population is
mixed, consisting of large settlements of Germans,
Scandinavians, Irish and native born Americans.
The public schools of Genesee are among the best
in Idaho. There are 376 pupils enrolled. A large
school house was built in May, 1891, to which an ad-
dition was made ten years later. Prof. Hattzell Cobb
lias been principal of the schools since 1894. His as-
sistants are Miss Bessie Wilson of the grammar de-
partment; Mrs. C. Spurbeck. third grade; Mrs. Mary
Cool, fourth grade; Miss Lulu French, fifth and six
grades, and Miss Maud Burdick, primary department.
The salaries paid are $92.50 per month to the princi-
pal, $55 in the grammar grade, $50 in the primary
department and $47.50 in the grades. The total valua-
tion of public school property is $7,000. A private
school is also conducted by Sisters of the Catholic
church. The University of Idaho and the normal
school of that state and the Agricultural College of
Washington are all within 30 miles of Genesee and
readily accessible to those desiring the benefit of
higher education. The Genesee schools are in charge
of the following board : President, Dr. P. S. Beck ;
secretary. Herman Nebelsieck ; William Smolt, Fred
Nagel, George Mochel and Paul Cann. Genesee is
also favored in the matter of church privileges. It
has six church organizations, each of which owns its
own edifice and whose congregations are active in
religious work. The pulpits are filled by able men.
These churches are the Catholic, Methodist Episcopal
Church South, Christian, Congregational, Norwegian
Lutheran and German Lutheran. Sunday schools
and the various young peoples religious societies
have good memberships. Fraternal and social
organizations are well represented, there being
prosperous lodges of the following orders : Ma-
sons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Wood-
men of the World, Maccabees, Red Men, Ar-
canum, Rathbone Sisters, Rebekahs, Ancient Order
of Pyramids and Young Men's Institute. There is
also "a G. A. R. post with the following officers:
P. C. J. J. Owen; S. V., Pat Ryan: J. V., George
Daggett, and adjutant, J. E. Reed. There is also a
Woman's Relief Corps. An excellent weekly news-
paper, the News, has aided materially in the growth
of the city. It was established in 1889. Charles
Powers, the present editor, took charge in 1892. From
a small beginning Mr. Powers has built up an excel-
lent paper and has a first class equipment to handle
all kinds of printing. The paper is Republican in
politics.
Genesee derives its support from the rich
agricultural and horticultural districts surround-
ing it. Its growth has been coincident with
the development of these natural resources. The
same appearance of thrift and prosperity which
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
characterizes the town and its schools, churches,
handsome residences and substantial business
structures is apparent in a marked degree in the
country. Nice farm buildings are the rule rather than
the exception. The Genesee valley is embraced with-
in the eastern pan of the famous Palouse district and
in extent and production easily takes first rank. The
territory tributary to Genesee embraces a considerable
area of the best lands on the Nez Perces Indian reser-
vation. This is due to the topography of the country,
a long, high hill on the north and deep river canyons
to the east and south acting as natural barriers. The
country is rolling but nearly all is capable of culti-
vation and of great fertility. The lands of Latah
county produce enormous crops of wheat, oats, barley
and flax and almost every variety of tree and small
fruits. In the production of apples no section can
excel this and few equal it. The trees bear regularly
and are loaded with fruit. Size, color and flavor are
perfect and make them in great demand for shipping.
They find a ready demand in the markets of Mon-
tana and further east and at remunerative prices. All
kinds of vegetables do equally well with the fruits
and cereals. Dairying and poultry raising are sources
of great revenue. Of late stock raising has been
taken up and with such success that it is growing
to be an important industry.
Natural rainfall is sufficient for all purposes. Lit-
tle rain falls from June until September, but the
spring rains have never failed to insure bountiful
harvests. No crop failure has ever been known in
the Genesee valley. The farmer expects 40 or more
bushels of wheat to the acre as his right and is not
disappointed. Sandy soil is unknown ; so is waste
land. The soil is a rich black loam of volcanic origin,
lava mixed with clay, a combination which 30 years
of severe trial has demonstrated to be of unrivalled
productiveness and practically inexhaustible quality.
It covers the country, a mantle of fertility from 18
inches to six feet in depth even to the tops of the
highest hills. Every parcel of land for miles around
can be cultivated and this without irrigation, as the
great capacity of the soil for retaining moisture en-
ables it to produce and mature enormous crops even
in the dryest years. For all the diversified products
of the surrounding country Genesee affords an excel-
lent market. Through it, annually, 1,500.000 bushels
of wheat, large quantities of hay, fruit and vegetables
are shipped. To handle these shipments there are
ten grain warehouses, one hay storage and one fruit
warehouse.
Genesee has many business institutions, all of
which have a prosperous and growing trade. Its two
banks are among the leading financial institutions of
the state. The FTrst Bank, of which John I'. Voll-
mer is president and P. W. McRoberts is cashier,
has resources of $1,000,000 and was established in
1892. The Exchange National Bank, capital $25,000
and with $9,000 undivided profits, was organized in
1897. It has brandies in Troy and Nez Perces,
Idaho. E. J. Dyer, president of the Exchange Na-
tional Bank of Spokane, is president of the institution
and Thos. H. Brewer is the cashier. It owns the best
safe in the state, a Corliss burglar proof, fitted with
a Greenleaf time lock. Among the pay roll institu-
tions of Genesee are two flour mills, a creamery, and
the Genesee brewery. Follett & Knapp run one of the
hour mills and report an excellent trade. The other
mill, which has an elevator and two warehouses in
connection, is owned by C. P. Porter and is conducted
with ever increasing profit by E. C. Wood. The cream-
ery since it was established a few years ago has en-
joyed a profitable growth. There is a ready market
for the product at good prices. The output is being
gradually increased. The brewerv is also most pros-
perous.
In addition to his interests in the First Bank and
his ownership of several large warehouses at Genesee
John P. Yollmer is the owner of the largest general
merchandise store in the town. From the date of the
organization of the town the store has kept pace with
the growth of Genesee. The stock carried is a mam-
moth one. A local managen is in charge, Mr. Voll-
nier's residence being at Lewiston. He is of the
wealthiest and most progressive citizens of Idaho and
has diversified interests all over the state. \Y. J.
1 [erman, the pioneer hardware and furniture dealer,
in June, 1903, disposed of the hardware stock to H.
A. Morgan, who is continuing the business as the
Cash Hardware store. Mr. Herman retained his
furniture business and carries a large and complete
stock. Mr. Herman has always been prominently
identified with the growth and development of the
town since its incorporation and served one term as
mayor. He recently erected a $5,000 business struc-
ture for use by his store. Another former mayor
and pioneer business man is Jacob Rosenstein. He
was postmaster of the old town in 1884-5 and moved
to the new town when it was started. He has in-
creased his stock steadily to keep up with growing
business until today he has one of the largest stocks
of general merchandise in Latah county. Alexander
& Co. also have a large general merchandise stock.
The business was established in 1892 with Joseph
Alexander, of Lewiston, J. H. Gaffney and Edwin
London as partners. They built a large iron store
building which they occupied until 1896, when they
were compelled to erect their present large two story
brick building to accommodate their increased busi-
ness. The iron building is used by the firm for stor-
age purposes. In 1896 George H. Hobson bought
out the business of the Genesee Mercantile Company,
which he has since been conducting with much profit
as the I lee Hive store. George Stelz. who started
first in 1888 as a building contractor, has been con-
ducting- a large general merchandise store since 1893
en Main street. R. E. Follett, the pioneer harness
maker, is still in business. He carries a large stock
ami still makes and repairs harness. There are two
excellent drug stores. In one of the handsomest
buildings in the town, Conant & Conant have a store
which would be a credit to a city many times the size
of Genesee. The other, the Pioneer Drug Store, was
an institution of the old town, established bv Cox
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
619
& Hodgins, from whom T. Kennedy, the present man-
ager, bought the business in 1888. The store carries
a complete line of drugs and druggist sundries. Fol-
lett Bros., who have been in business many years,
carry a complete line of groceries, confectionary and
stationery. Driscoll & Thomas opened up in business
in 1898, buying out the Bressler & Scroggins hard-
ware stock and have met with great success. George
Jamieson, who built the first blacksmith shop in the
old town, is in the same business in the new .city.
Another pioneer is Henry Nebelsieck, a tailor who is
still in business. He is secretary of the school board.
The leading hotels of the city are the Genesee house,
conducted by O. F. Surby, which caters particularly
to the traveling trade, and the Grand Central hotel,
run by F. A. Robinson. . Both supply comfortable
lodging and excellent meals. Other prosperous busi-
ness enterprises include the following: The Fair,
F. A. Marquardsen, proprietor : Cash Bargain store,
Guillen & Co., proprietors ; John Meyer, dealer in
farm implements : T. Driscoll. dealer in barbed wire,
etc. : James K. Bell, hardware, harness, implements,
etc. ; City meat market, Fred Nagel. proprietor ; Miss
E. E. Borg & Co., millinery ; William Smolt, cigar
factory and dealer in cigars and tobacco ; \Y. L.
Biram, drayman: William Hickman, livery barn;
George Stelz, undertaker; George L. Mochel, livery
barn ; Home bakery, Kemp & Stadler, blacksmith ;
Rees Pickering, real estate and insurance ; Genesee
bakery and restaurant, William Brown, barber shop ;
Clarence Jain, barber; Star and Monarch saloons.
The professional field is well represented. Among the
phvsicians are Dr. R. S. Beck, the former mayor;
Dr. H. T. Smith, Dr. W. H. Ehlen, Dr. J. L. Conant,
Jr., and' Dr. W. C. Cox. The dentists include Dr.
C. A. Follet and Dr. J. L. Hayes. Among the at-
torneys are Hans Bugge, who makes a specialty of
land office practice and who is secretary of the cham-
ber of commerce, and P. W. McRoberts.
The present town board consists of the following:
Mayor, Dr. J. L. Conant, J. K. Bell. C. E. Wood,
W. M. Thompson, D. Scharnhorst ; clerk, C. F. Burr,
who is also justice of the peace, and treasurer, F. A.
Bressler, who is vice president of the Exchange Na-
tional Bank. Among the postmasters of the town
have been E. R. Wiswell, who was succeeded in 1897
by J. J. Owen, who held the office until recently.
Mrs. Owen is now postmistress.
The future of Genesee appears bright. Conditions
which have brought it up from a small village to a
thriving prosperous town will continue to all to its
growth and importance. With the greater develop-
ment of its tributary territory will come a correspond-
ing increase in its size, its business and its importance.
Fifteen years ago the present town site of Troy
was known as Huff's Gulch. It was a deep, dark can-
yon, so densely covered with forest growths that the
sun's rays only penetrated to the net work of under-
brush in occasional spots. Only the feet of the ven-
turesome hunter or those of his prowling foe had ever
trod the winding trails of the canyon or clambered up
its rocky slopes. As soon would one have thought of
building a town on the precipitous sides of the Rocky
Mountains as in this dismal, inaccessible canyon. But
towns are not always built in the fittest, most desira-
ble locations. The new town sprang into existence in
1890, under the name of Vollmer, called for John P.
Vollmer, who was instrumental in bringing the' North-
ern Pacific railroad through the Palouse country to
Eewiston.
In July, 1890, A. T. Spottswood, Fred Veach, I.
C. Hattabaugh and H. Hamlin, of Moscow, knowing
that the railroad ran down Huff's gulch and realizing
that there would be need of a supply point at this dis-
tance from Moscow, purchased from J. W. Seat the
quarter section of land on which the town is now situ-
ated and in the fall of the same year formed a town-
site company and platted the town. Later J. \Y. Seat
and John P. Vollmer became interested in the com-
pany. Spottswood and Veach erected the first store
building, leasing the same to W. H. Smith for two
years at fifty dollars per month. Mr. Smith at once
put in a stock of general merchandise. J. W. Seat
built a sawmill and also a store building, became
postmaster in 1891, and the history of Vollmer began.
Vollmer was incorporated April 19, 1892, and the
following citizens were appointed trustees : S. A. An-
derson, A. H. Charles, P. J. Scallon, F. H. Finsen, L.
Moore. A description of the original townsite is as
follows : Commencing at the northwest corner of the
south half of the northwest quarter of section seven ;
thence running- east on a line between the north half
and the south half of the northwest quarter of sec-
tion seven, 250 feet to a point where said line inter-
sects with the center of Chesnut street; thence south-
east on a line through the center of said street to a
point where the center of said street intersects the cen-
ter of Eighth avenue ; thence southwest to a point
where said avenue intersects with the line between the
south half and the north half of the southwest quar-
ter of section seven ; thence west on said line to the
southwest corner of the north half of the southwest
quarter of section seven; thence north on township
line to place of beginning, as per recorded plat of the
Town of Vollmer ; and also beginning at the northeast
corner of lot four in section seven, thence running
south 40 rods on a line between the southeast quarter
and the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of
section seven ; thence west 80 rods on a line between
the south half and the north half of the southwest quar-
ter of the southwest quarter of section seven, thence
north 40 rods on township line to the southwest cor-
ner of the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter
of section seven; thence east 80 rods on a line be-
tween the northwest quarter and southwest: quarter of
the southwest quarter of section seven to point of
beginning, being part of Daniels addition to Vollmer,
all of the above described land being in township
thirty-nine north, range three west of the Boise me-
ridian.
At an election held September 6, 1897, to change
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
the name the result was as follows: For the name
"Troy" 29 votes, for the name "Vollmer" 9 votes. It
appearing that the name Troy received a two-thirds
vote, the Board of Commissioners on Sept. 13, 1897,
ordered that the name of the corporation be changed
from the "Town or Village of Vollmer" to the "Town
or Village of Troy."
The present board of trustees consists of O. A.
Johnson, Olaf Olson, chairman, William Duthie, E. E.
Jolly, F. H. Christie, B. S. Nelson, clerk, August John-
son, treasurer.
Among the pioneer merchants who, realizing the
rich and varied resources of the country surrounding
the town and the bright prospects in store for it, in-
vested their money in goods and opened stores of gen-
eral merchandise, were : W. H. Smith, who started the
first store in 1891 ; T. H. Christie, who built and opened
the second store in 1892, and O. A. Johnson, whose
business was established in 189.3. ^ was probably
about this time that Vollmer of the M. & M. Co. in-
stituted the saw mill which was recently sold to Watt &
Bussong of Sprague, Washington. Two saw mills
were erected in 1892 by J. W. Seats and Vincent &
Boe, both on the creek out of the town. Even in these
early days the public spirit of the town was indicated
by the sustaining of two vigorous newspapers, both
Republican in politics. The Vedette, edited by T. E.
Edmondson, was established in 1891. The Vollmer
News, now known as the Troy News, began publi-
cation in 1894. Charles Moody, editor. He was fol-
lowed in succession by J. C. Peterson, A. G. Greer,
John E. Hoffman and J. C. Peterson. The present
editor and owner is B. S. Nelson.
The pioneer school house was built in 1893. It is
now a prosperous institution with an enrollment of
11 ,10 pupils. The school board consists of T. H. Chris-
tie, Olaf Olson and Mr. Greenstreet. Three teachers
are employed at present, viz : Prof. T. O. Green, prin-
cipal, Miss Antoinette Halverson, intermediate depart-
ment, at a salary of $45.00 per month, and Miss Alta
Cole, primary department at a salary of S45.00 per
month. The school grounds are located in section
thirty-one which belongs to the Stale University. An
addition is promised to the school building this sum-
mer. The property is valued at $1,800.
On February I, 1893, a serious fire occurred at
Troy, involving a total loss of $24,000. Lieuallen &
Lestoe's loss alone footed $10,000 on which there was
some insurance. Erickson & Company's loss on their
building was $10,000.
Again on a Saturday night early in June, 1893, Troy
was visited by another disastrous fire. Starting in the
drug store of C. W. Vail, it was soon beyond control
of the firemen. Everything in the block was burned
with the exception of the Vollmer Milling and Mercan-
tile Company's store, which was saved by the great
efforts of the fire department, whose equipment con-
sisted of an old fashioned engine operated by eight
men and with which water was pumped from the creek
some distance away. Losses sustained were as fol-
lows: C. W. Vail, $2,600: Johnson Lumber Mill Com-
pany, $300: H. E. Jacobson, $700: Dr. Butler. $250.
Buildings and goods were partly insured. The block
was soon rebuilt and business resumed by former oc-
cupants.
A little over a year ago, this thriving little village
had less than 300 inhabitants. Today it boasts a popu-
lation of 500 and is building up rapidly, a number of
new houses being now in course of construction.
Troy rejoices in an equable climate, experiencing
no extremes of heat or cold. Situated about 12 miles
from* Moscow, on the Spokane-Lewiston branch of
the Northern Pacific railroad. Troy comes within the
famed agricultural territory of the Palouse country
whose rich soil of black loam, ranging in depth from
one to six feet, yields bountiful productions of grains
of all kinds and fruits of all varieties, for which is
found good market, both at Moscow and in the mining
camps of the Cedar mountains. What are known
as the "Canyon lands" contain valuable timber, pine,
fir, cedar and tamarack. On these lands, too rough for
cultivation stock graze for several months in the year
without other feed or care.
The present business directory of tne city includes :
L. D. Strahl, J. P. Vollmer, T. H. Christie and O. A.
Johnson, who conduct stores of general merchandise;
C. A. Sullivan and Reitman. meat markets ; confec-
tioners and cigar store ; Miss Anna Kuntzer, milliner ;
Jno. H. Bolton and O. Olson, hardware; Mr. Olson
is also postmaster ; drug store, Dr. Nest and Alex
Charles ; the Troy Boarding House, Jno. Peterson,
proprietor; and Hotel Reitman; jewelry stores, J. F.
Knott and Eric Anderson; blacksmiths, John Simp-
kins and B. J. Strickling; livery stable, Shepherd &
Stoops ; two barbers, Hays Brothers and A. F. Hegge ;
Dr. Olson, physician ; Scott Ogden, attorney-at-law.
There is a local and long distance telephone exchange ;
a water system is under discussion. The Bank of Troy
has a capital of $25,000, E. J. Dyer, president; Fred
K. Bressler, vice-president ; Thos. H. Brewer, cashier.
It was established March 1, 1891. Scott Bergen
is engaged in the real estate and insurance business, as
are also Alex Olson and Ogden & Greear. M. Ber-
gerson and W. C. Reitman are interested in buildings
and lots, owning considerable property. J. A. Bjork-
lund deals in farm implements ; E. E. Cooper sells
ilour, feed, wood and posts ; there are four warehouses
for grain storage, owned by Jolly Bros., Tacoma Gran-
ite Co., W. C. Reitman and William Duthy. A cold
storage plant accommodates farmers in storing their
fruit; the Jacobson Mill began cutting lumber in
April of this year; D. A. Wood owns a saw mill.
The steam roller process flour mill, owned by J- D.
Jolly & Co., is of great advantage to the town and
convenience to the farmers, as an immense amount
of grain is milled here and shipped out as flour. It
has a capacity of 40 barrels per day. The mill is located
at the forks of Bear creek, just below town. Lodges
and churches are exceptionally well represented in this
place, there being three churches, the Swedish Luth-
eran, the Methodist and Christian, and six lodges : the
I. O. O. F., K. of P., W. of \\\. M. W. A., Veoman,
and Women of Woodcraft, all of which have a good
membership.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
621
Centrally located, the headquarters and nearest
supply point for the white pine belt which extends
across the famous Potlatch-St. Mary's region to the
St. Joe river, Troy will soon out-class many of the
larger and older towns of the Palcuse country.
JULIAETTA.
Juliaetta is a thriving town of about 500 population
on the Spokane and Lewiston branch of the Northern
Pacific railway., about 20 miles from Lewiston. It
;s beautifully situated on the banks of the Pothcch
river amid the wooded hills, which add to its healthful-
ness and picturesqueness. It receives its support from a
wide range of excellent agricultuial lands, on which
large crops of wheat, oats, flax, hay and fruit are
ra;sed each year. The town was founded and platted
by R. Schupfer, who in 1878 filed on a quarter section
of land there. The home he built in the improvement of
his farm is about one-quarter of a mile from the pres-
ent business center of town. In 1882 Mr. Schupfer
opened the first general merchandise store. Charles
Snyder, a pioneer rancher in that vicinity, succeeded
in having a postoffice established on his farm, which he
named Juliaetta, in honor of his daughters, Julia and
Etta Snyder. Later, when Mr. Snyder moved his
store and postoffice to the present town the name
Juliaetta attached to the village. Later Mr. Snyder
built the first hotel there, the Snyder house, which is
now known as the Grand Central. In 1885 N. B.
Holbrook, attracted by the excellent water power,
established the pioneer flour mill. It is still in opera-
tion by Mr. Holbrook and his son and the product is
shipped as far as Portland and San Francisco. In
early days the only transportation was by stage to
Moscow. In the winter of 1890-91 the railroad reached
Juliaetta. John P. Volimer and Chief Engineer Han-
sen of the road were given a half interest in the town-
site for bringing the railroad. The grade between
Juliaetta and Troy is 160 feet to the mile. With the
advent of the iron horse the village began to take on
size and importance.
April 19, 1892, the town was incorporated with the
following trustees: Charles Snyder, Jr., Rupert Schup-
fer, H. Nichols. T. R. Carithers and F. P. Zeigler.
The description of the townsite follows: Beginning
at the point where the south line of section 9, township
37, north range 3 west of Boise meridian intersects
the big Potlatch river ; thence running in a northeast-
erly direction along the county line to where said coun-
ty line intersects the middle line of section 34, township
38, north range 3 west of Boise meridian; thence
north to the center of said section; thence west one
mile; thence south one-half mile; thence west one-
half mile ; thence south one-half mile, thence east one-
half mile ; thence south one-half mile ; thence east one-
fourth mile; thence south one mile; thence east to
place of beginning. Lately an addition of 40 acres
has been made to the townsite under the name of
Vineland.
The first school was a frame structure called Har-
mony hall. It was built in 1885 right on the banks
of the river. January 10, 1900, when warm rains and a
Chinook wind brought on a freshet, the school was
washed away. That same high water washed out a
number of bridges along the stream, carried away the
mill dam and did great damage to the railroad grade.
Last year a fine new school house was erected at a
cost of $3,000. The present enrollment of pupils is
about 130, but this number is expected to be increased
to 175 by fall. This will require the construction of an
addition of two rooms to the building. The school
board consists of: President, N. B. Holbrook: sec-
retary, H. N. Smith, and treasurer, F. J. Fox. Mrs.
Mattie E. Headington, formerly county superintendent,
is in charge of the schools. The other teachers are
Miss Flora Waite and Miss Sophia Schupfer. Four
churches are represented in the town. The Catholic
and Presbyterian congregations own neat structures.
Services are also regularly held by pastors of the
German Lutheran and United, Brethren denominations.
Secret societies and fraternal orders are represented by
lodges of Masons, Odd Fellows, Rebekahs, Knight's
of Pythias, Woodmen of the World and Star of Beth-
lehem.
The abundant water power of the Potlatch river
is used to some extent. The stream there flows swiftly
in a narrow channel, affording easily developed power
for all demands which may be placed upon it by future
industrial enterprises. The Holbrook flour mill, where
is manufactured the celebrated brand of flour, "Pride
of the Potlatch," is operated by power derived from
the stream. A new sawmill has just started up at
a location three miles above the town on the river.
The lumber yard, which will have a capacity of 1,000,-
000 feet, will be on Main street in the town. The en-
lire output of this mill for some time to come will
be required to meet the demand in Juliaetta and vicin-
ity, caused by the construction of many new buildings.
A brickyard is also in operation and finds a ready
market for its product. Seven wagon roads run from
Juliaetta up the hills to the farming ridges surround-
ing the town. There are four grain warehouses. One
of these is at the flour mill. Lawrence & Porter, grain
buyers and bankers, own the others. One of them
is situated at the top of the hill on the edge of the
grain growing plateau. This is connected with an
elevator on the town level by an aerial tramway for
lowering the grain This same firm conducts a private
banking business. There are two excellent and pros-
perous general merchandise stores in the town, con-
ducted, respectively, by Fox & Debaum and by Kite
& Shull. Both carry large stocks. J. G. Redberg
has a large store devoted to hardware, stoves and im-
plements. H. G. Schabbel has a well supplied furni-
ture stock. Other stores and business men include the
following: U. G. Marsh, who was postmaster in
1885-86, druggist ; B. N. Trout, dry goods and no-
tions; J. L. Whitted, barber: Trout & Roberts, paint-
ers and paper hangers; Star Meat market, wholesale
and retail, W. C. Joslin, manager ; I. X. L. Stables,
S. T. Dunlap, proprietor ; B. F. Bowers, shoes and
millinery ; Henry Kennedy, blacksmith ; Dr. G. A. Mc-
Kay, optician ; T. J. Stephens, blacksmith ; E. Mertha,
622
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
meat market; Dr. J. C. Waite, physician; Dunlap &
McKay, real estate. There are two excellent hotels,
the pioneer hostelry, the Grand Central, conducted by
Mrs. Wm. Kalke, and the Palace hotel, occupying a
new brick structure, and run by Taylor & Fox. The
town boasts of a first class weekly newspaper. It is
Republican in politics. The publication was started
Feb. 5, 1903, as the Register by D. T. McMackintosh
and H. W. Weber, of Kendrick. Under the manage-
ment of W. A. Turner, local editor, a bright, readable
publication is being issued and is helping wonderfully
in attracting people to the town and developing its
resources.
Juliaetta has every reason to expect a bright future.
With the development of the agricultural and horti-
cultural regions surrounding it the town is sure to
grow. The semi-tropical climate makes possible the
cultivation of vineyards, a field which promises great
development. The pioneer vineyardist is realizing an
annual income of from $2,000 to $2,500 from four
acres. All the cereals and all the fruits of the tem-
perate zone yield abundantly. Almonds are raised
with success. Irrigation is not needed. The present
town trustees are Chairman E. W. Porter, S. T.
Dunlap, Daniel McGlinn, John Whitted and J. G.
Rheberg. B. N. Trout is clerk. Mr. Dunlap is also
justice of the peace. The town officials are active in
assisting the upbuilding of the town. At a recent
session an ordinance was passed providing for the
establishing and maintenance of a water system, for
which a company has asked a 50 years' franchise.
CHAPTER IV.
DESCRIPTIVE.
— " 'Tis the land that lies
'Neath the summer skies
In the heart of the happy hills."
The hills of the Palouse have a charm for all who
see them in their glory of grain and hay fields ; of
groves and orchards sloping up their sides or outlined
against the sky on their rounded tops ; of villages and
cities with their terraced and shaded lawns and beau-
tiful homes. There is no land where the summer sun
paints and decks more lavishly than in this well favored
country. Latah county lies in the southeastern por-
tion of what is known as the Palouse country. Its
northern half is drained by the Palouse river and its
tributaries, the main stream rising in Township 42,
range 2 west of Boise meridian. The South Palouse
river also rises in Latah county a few miles north-
east of Moscow. This and Paradise creek are the
principal streams which, with their confluent branches,
drain what is known as Paradise valley. The streams
of the < lenesee valley are Cow creek, Thorn creek and
the sources of the Little Potlatch, the two former
flowing south and west into the Snake river, and the
latter flowing southwest to a junction with the main
Potlatch. The main stream of the Potlatch country
is the Potlatch river, the east and west forks of which
rise in the eastern part of the county. Tributaries of
this river from the north are Little Potlatch, Middle
Potlatch, Bear creek, Pine creek, Hog Heaven creek
and smaller streams ; from the east Cedar creek, Elder
creek and Ruby creek. The area of Latah county is
1.080 square miles. It lies between parallels 46T/2 and
47 north latitude, the 47th parallel intersecting its
irregular northern boundary. The 117th meridian of
longitude west of Greenwich passes east of Moscow.
About one-third of the county on the east, northeast
and north is very heavily timbered with white and
jellow pine, cedar, fir and tamarack. Within the
county limits the Potlatch Lumber Company owns
4^.674 acres of deeded timber lands and 39,480 acres
of timber purchased from the state, from which the
company is allowed twenty years to remove the tim-
ber. These 82,154 acres have been valued this year
Cor assessment at S251.000. Outside the holdings of
this company, the remainder of the lands of the county
both timbered and agricultural, are owned mostly by
resident occupants, either as unimproved homesteads or
timber claims or as improved farms and stock ranches.
In many parts of the county are valuable mineral de-
posits. In another portion of this work will be found
the early and late mining history of the count}'. That
these mines will some day be worked with profit there
is no doubt. At the present time transportation facil-
ities are lacking in some locations, in other localities
improved methods and machinery are needed and in
all sections there is a lack of capital that will some
day be supplied, and when that time comes mining will
become one of the leading industries of Latah county.
The mean annual precipitation, rain and melted
snow, ranges from twenty-five to thirty inches, accord-
ing to elevation and proximity to the mountains. With
this precipitation distributed to every month of the
year crops seldom suffer from lack of moisture. While
there is only a slight precipitation during July, August
ami September, cultivated crops will thrive and grain
m it suffer.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
623
The mean temperature of summer is not too high
for comfort and yet is high enough to bring a rapid
development in al! farm crops adapted to this region.
Severe thunder storms, cyclones and tornadoes are un-
known. Severe wind storms seldom occur and are
never known to have done any considerable damage to
property. Extremes of heat and cold are unknown.
The soil does not freeze to any considerable depth in
the fields. Vegetables, such as carrots, potatoes and
parsnips, remain in the ground all winter with little
danger of injury from frost. Snow falls to the depth
of six to fifteen inches ; but seldom remains more than
four weeks, except in the higher and timbered por-
tions of the country where the inhabitants enjoy sev-
eral weeks of good sleighing each winter. Plowing and
seeding is often continued in the farming sections
until Christmas, and again taken up in February and
March for spring crops.
The winters are tempered by the chinook winds,
and settlers rely more upon these winds in the spring
than upon the rains to precipitate the snows from the
higher altitudes and take the frost front the soil.
We have been fortunate in securing from the weather
bureau at Portland a scientific explanation of the Chi-
nook winds, which we reproduce as follows :
The term "Chinook wind" had its origin from the tribe
of Chinook Indians (now almost extinct, but which was
very strong and powerful some sixty to seventy-five years
ago), that had its home in the southwestern portion of Wash-
ington, on the Columbia river. Local historians relate how
the northwest wind in the winter season, being the harbinger
of fair weather, was called by the trappers at Astoria "the
As the trappi rs scattered to the east of the Cascades, they
occasionally encountered a warm southerly wind which grad-
ually assumed the name of Chinook wind. It was so named
from its mildness, resembling to an extent the mild, balmy
wind from over Chinook camp. As the trappers spread over
the northwestern portion of the United States, the warm
southerly wind of winter continued to be called by them
"Chinook wind," until the term becoming common, was finally
accepted by meteorologists.
1 be term was fust used, so far as is disclosed by research
among the files of the .Monthly Weather Review, published by
the U. S. Meteorological Service, Washington, D. C, in con-
nection with the warm, south, southwest, west, northwest and
sometimes north, winds m Montana.
To The earlier extension of the military telegraph lines in
Montana than in Washington and Oregon, is due the fact that
the term Chinook was first applied to the warm winds of
Montana. The operators or observers employed on these tele-
graph lines used the local common name applied to the wind
by the stockmen in their reports.
The name was thus first applied to the wind in Montana,
and yet to a large extent some meteorologists are of the
opinion that the Chinook winds are only east of the Rocky
Mountains, and the name is erroneously applied to warm
southerly winds in winter to the west nf the Rocky .Mountains
As the term had its origi
really to the w es1 of the ( "a-
the term "Chinook wind" ca
the warm southerly winds 01
Cascade Mountains The CI
in Montana and to the north
■w,
westerly,
d is
temperature and the
Chinook, though ma
Rocky and west of tl
served In the Ame
469, is to lie found
-Mountains,
nntains that
.' applied to
r west of the Rocky and
is more readily observed
, due to the preceding low
ked rise produced by the
temperature west of the
imtains are frequently ob-
ogical Journal, Vol. 3, p.
definition" of a Chinook:
therlv winds, occurring on the
is of the Northwest, beginning
at anj hour of the day, and continuing from a few hours to
several days." This definition is perfectly correct so far as it
goes ; lint the writer's idea of the definition of a Chinook is:
A warm, dry, or moist wind from the southeast, south, or
southwest west of the Rocky Mountains, and from the south-
west, west, or northwest, to the east of the Rocky Mountains,
beginning ,it am hour of the day or night, and continuing
from a tew hours to several days. Such definition is more in
accord with ti,,- causes winch produce these warm winds and
agrees with the original application of the term as understood
Chinook winds, according to the writer's definition of the
term, only occur under our kind of atmospheric condition,
and without this connection Chinooks are impossible.
Preceding a Chinook, by from two to six days, an area
"t low barometric pressure is along the Washington and Ore-
gon coast, and an area of high barometric pressure overlies
.Montana and the British provinces to the north. This area
of high pressure has low temperatures, from 10 to 20 degrees
below zero, the position of these two opposite atmospheric
conditions produces north to east winds over Idaho, Wash-
ington, and Oregon, and the temperature decreases and snow
falls to the east of the Cascades, extending over Idaho and
Montana, and sometimes to the west of the Cascades. At the
end of about thiee days the high pressure moves southeast-
ward to the Northern Mississippi Vallev. thence to the Great
Lakes and on eastward. When the high pressure begins to
move, the low pressure along the coast advances northward
to about the 50th degree north latitude; thence along that
parallel, or near to it, across British Columbia and Saskatch-
ewan; thence towards the Great Lakes. Coincident with the
northward movement of the low pressure along the coast,
there appears along the Central California Coast an area of
high pressure which rapidly increases in density and moves
east and northeastward to Northeastern Nevada, Northern
I tab. and Southern Idaho, where it becomes central by the
time the low pressure is moving eastward over British Co-
lumbia. The low pressure on the north and its passage east-
ward causes the air to move from the high, central about Salt
Lake, to the low. These are the conditions from which a Chi-
1 k results.
Many persons, residents of the country affected by Chinook-
winds, are of the opinion that they come from the warmth of
the Japan Gulf currents, but such is not the case. Chinooks
are not warm winds from the ocean, but are formed according
to the writer's idea, in the manner outlined above.
Situated as Latah county is! almost at the foot of
the magnificent Coeur d'Alene mountains, nature seems
to have made of the whole section of the country of
which it is a part a veritable earthly paradise, for
here the breezes from the mountains sweep across the
hills, bringing in their embrace an invigorating tonic
that gives renewed energy and a wealth of health to all
animal life and to plant life as well.
In soil as well as in climate Latah county has much
to contribute to the natural resources of the northwest.
The study of the soil of the county is of rare interest
to both student and agriculturist. The Latah county
hills and valleys are different from those seen anywhere
else in this country. The hills are gradual in ascent,
with the tops gently rounded. There is nothing abrupt
or bluffy about them. Another strange fact is that the
hilltops are richer than the valleys. The Palouse
country appears to have been formed by the wind
or, as it may be termed, the aeolian process of nature.
This is where the entire country, hills and valleys,
is formed by the wind carrying particles and depositing
624
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
them. Aeolian is sometimes very fine, sometimes
course, but in the same section it is always of the same
fineness. The particles of dust being carried forward
by the wind, the heaviest naturally fall first. It is
in this way that the desert sections are formed. The
finer particles of dust may be carried hundreds of
miles further than the coarser ones, and when they
are deposited, make rich and practically inexhaustible
soil. This is the nature of the soil in Latah county.
It is, as all know who have closely examined it, very
fine, very soft and absolutely free from grit. Another
reason for believing that the soil here is of wind forma-
tion is this : In a country formed by the action of water
the hills will often have a hollow on top, which is
sometimes filled with water. Examples of these nill-
top lakes are quite common in the west. There is
only one other place in the world where there is a soil
similar to that of the Palouse country, and that is in
northern China in the provinces of Shanshi and Shen-
^ii, which lie to the west of Pekin. The soil of China
is remarkably fertile, and although it has been culti-
vated and cropped for over four thousand years, it
remains to this day unchanged. Scientists who have
carefully studied the problem, basing their estimates on
the extent, durability and productiveness of the soil,
say that fully one hundred times as many people can
be well and comfortably supported in the Palouse
country as now live here. Another characteristic of
the soil of Latah county is the small amount of rain-
fall needed to grow and mature crops. This is due to
the compositon of the soil, it is a volcanic ash having
the peculiar property of tenaciously holding moisture
and giving it up as needed by vegetation during the
growing season. The rolling lands of the county fur-
nish ideal conditons for drainage and yet the soil does
not erode or wash as in those sections where it is
composed of drift. After a rain in Latah county the
farmer does not go out to see how long and deep are
the "gullies" down the hillsides of his fields of growing
grain.
Scientists have not explained to us how the ancient
winds formed these hills nor shall we attempt to in-
form the reader. We know the mountain ranges were
thrown up by subterranean disturbances and that the
level plains and many of the level valleys were
smoothed out by the action of mighty glaciers from the
north ; but of the action of the winds that rounded the
hills of the Palouse country we can only speculate, and
in the light of common knowledge that a straight wind
would not likely perform such a wonderful work we
may naturally suppose that the winds of the formative
period had ways mysterious and peculiar to the at-
mospheric conditions of the age in which they blew-.
Americans laugh at the ignorance of Europeans
concerning this marvelous land, but is it not just possi-
ble that the "American ignorance of America" is quite
as fruitful a subject for mirth? There is truly a dense
ignorance — north and south — of the north in regard
to the south and of the south in regard to the north.
However, the great Civil war was a wonderful school-
master for both of these sections of the United States.
Quite as inexcusable is the ignorance of the east in
regard to the west. Half of the world, a mighty hemis-
phere, incomparable in grandeur, incomputable in
wealth and illimitable in possibilties, lies west of the
average eastern geography. What they are pleased
to term in derision the "wild and woolly west" is in
reality the section where are found the fields of grains
and grasses, orchards, vineyards and gardens, prairies
and pastures with countless flocks and herds, forests
of timber, quarries of stone, mines of gold, silver, cop-
per, iron, lead, coal and mica that contribute almost
exclusively to the wealth and comfort of the east.
Almost in the center of this mighty westland lies the
state of Idaho. Its resources, possibilities and develop-
ment are quite the same as those of her sister states,
with this great exception that Idaho possesses more
natural resources and them in greater abundance and
riper and fuller measure. Idaho has more timber than
Michigan, can raise greater crops of cereals than Iowa
per acre ; can produce better and cheaper pork than
Kansas, has a better climate even than California.
A spirit, of unrest pervades the east. Scores and
hundreds' are taking to themselves that sage advice
of Horace Greeley : "Go west, young man." "West-
ward ho!" is the rallying cry of the investor, the busi-
ness man and the homeseeker. Almost countless num-
bers have determined to cast their fortunes with the
country of boundless resources and prospects and come
west. Nature has strewn rich things and tempting
opportunities all over this section, but to certain parts
more lavish has she been with her benefactions. This
is true to a marked degree of the famous Palouse
country, of which Latah county is a prominent part.
Here the soil is the richest and most productive in the
United States ; here crop failures are unknown ; here
irrigation is unnecessary ; here climate is mild and
equable. It is a country practically without any win-
ter, without thunder and lightning, without tornadoes
or cyclones, and where sunstrokes are unknown.
Latah county is nearly in the productive center of
the Palouse country. More acres of tillable land are
found within its borders than within those of any
other county in the commonwealth. When a crop is
matured it can be harvested without fear of constant
rains rotting it in shock or stack. There is no govern-
ment land in the county. All grazing and agricultural
lands are in actual use and occupancy. Yields of
grain and fruit are so large that the tenderfoot can
hardly believe their reports, even when they are backed
up by the national department of agriculture. Neither
can they be blamed for their incredulity. In 1S91
Idaho had the highest average wheat yield of any state
in the union according to government reports. In
many of the eastern agricultural states where wheat
was formerly the chief crop the soils have become ex-
hausted, but the wheat lands of Latah countv stand
ready to rescue the o untrv from a bread famine. Their
yield has steadily increased under cultivation ami the
wheat has steadily improved in quality. The govern-
ment crop reports show that the average yield of the
Palouse country has advanced from 17.7 bushels per
acre during the three years 1892-94 to more than 25
bushels since 1899. A comparison for die same period
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
625
shows a decrease from 14.6 bushels in Michigan to
nine bushels, from 15.7 to 10.3 bushels in Indiana,
and other similar reductions in Illinois, Ohio and Cali-
fornia. The remarkable increase in the Palouse coun-
try yield is doubtless due in part to the larger rain-
fall following a wider cultivation, but nevertheless the
figures bear striking testimony to the strength of the
soils and indicate the endurance that may be expected
from them under a proper rotation of crops. To show
the value of this soil as a permanent resource, the most
authoritative statistics are those given in the year book
of the department of agriculture for 1901. Take the
three most important grains and these records show-
that in wheat the Palouse yield per acre was 29.1
bushels and the general average for all states was
15 bushels; in barley the yield was the largest in the
union, an average of 43.5 bushels per acre as compared
with general average of 25.6 bushels for the whole
country, and in oats the district also leads all districts
of the union with an average of 39.58 bushels as
against a general average of 26.87 bushels per acre
for all the states. These figures are ten years' averages.
The same methods of comparisons applied to other
agricultural products, including fruits and vegetables,
would give results equally satisfactory. The depart-
ment reports the average yield of potatoes in this dis-
trict in 1902 at 136 bushels per acre, while the average
for the entire country was only 94.5 bushels. The
Palouse average for the ten years from 1892 to 1901
was 124 bushels, and that for the whole of the United
States was 75.9. If carried out to the production of
fruits the same test would without doubt be still more
favorable to the soils of this district, for they contain
mineral salts essential to successful fruit culture that
are found in equal abundance in no other state of the
union. These official returns justify the claim that
in no other part of the world does farming find a more
substantial and enduring basis in the fertility of the
native soils.
The character of the country in Latah count}- is at
first a surprise. Knowing its reputation as a grain
producing district one expects to find level prairie
lands. Instead he sees a succession of long, softly roll-
ing hills and high bench lands, separated by deep
gorges in which the principal streams run. These are
the agricultural lands and comprise the western and
southern portions of the county. To the north and
east are the forests. Here are found what timbermen
claim are the finest bodies of white pine and cedar vet
standing in the United States. A railroad route has
been surveyed to these timber lands from Moscow,
which line will be built as soon as the lumbermen begin
operations. Some of the largest timber companies of
Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota have made large
investments in these timber lands and will begin to
operate in the near future. The rolling prairie lands
are all under thorough cultivation. Of the soil much
has already been written, but no writer, however pro-
lific in style or diction ; no scientist, however learned
in chemical analysis, nor farmer, however rich in ex-
perience or in the knowledge of soils, is able to de-
scribe this wonderful fertilitv as do the fields of waving
40
grain, the berry patches, and the orchards, or the fat
hogs, cattle and horses that roam the hills all silent
but none the less impressive testimonials of the land
of milk and honey to which the aboriginal has attached
the name of Palouse.
The water supply is natural, unlimited and easily
obtained. The hill tops are as fertile as the valleys.
Everywhere the soil is inexhaustible in its fertility
even under methods of farming that in older states
would justly be deemed unscientific and shiftless. Many
farms in the sections earliest settled have been cropped
continuously in wheat for 20 years or more without
the use of a fertilizer, and, notwithstanding this was
wasteful agriculture, these same farms are still pro-
ducing from 25 to 40 bushels to the acre. This Pa-
louse country is the only one known where three or
four crops of wheat are sometimes harvested from
one sowing. In one instance from a single sowing a
farmer harvested ^7 bushels to the acre the first year,
30 bushels the second year, 20 bushels the third year
and nearly 12 bushels the fourth season. Four years'
harvests of golden grain, amounting to 99 bushels per
acre, from a single sowing!
Nor is this all. The seasons are conducive to good
health as well as to abundant crops. To the north the
timbered hills and the mountains form a bulwark
against the cold winds. From the south and west
come the balmy breezes of the ocean up the Columbia
river valley. Off the mouth of the Columbia, where
ihe Japanese current makes its westward turn in the
Pacific ocean, the famous Chinook wind originates.
This mild, warm wind, moisture laden, blows inland
and tempers the climate for hundreds of miles. In
winter this same warm wind sometimes travels far into
Montana and the Dakotas, and under its warmth winter
snows melt visibly. Many feet cf snow are melted
in a few hours. This evidences the strange power of
this most unique wind, whose influence for good ex-
tends over a wide territory. In the Palouse the rains
fall gently, without driving winds, and the hill
not wash. The cool nights of the summer always
insure the rest required to the day's labor and no
matter how warm may be the sunniest day the nights
require a blanket covering to insure comfortable sleep.
The winter? are short and not severe. Any time in the
winter the eastern tourist may find herds of stock and
cattle on nearly every farm, that are living out in
the open and subsisting only on the bunch grass oi the
hills and the strawstacks of the wheat field.-, a condi-
tion found impossible in other sections of the United
States of similar altitude.
Farming in Latah county has been relieved of
much of its unpleasantness by the use of modern and
cheaper methods. A leading grain grower has pro-
duced figures to show that he raises wlieat. threshed
and in warehouse, at an average expense of not to ex-
ceed 15 cents. This is done by making use of labor-
saving machinery. There are no boulders or "nigger
heads" to contend with, so gang plows pulled b) eight
and ten horses are used. Gang harrows, pulled by
as many horses and driven by a man rid-
1110- horseback are also used. When harvest
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
time comes the laboi* of five men is done
by one, for combine machines are used, drawn
by sixteen and 20 horses. These machines start
through the fields of waving grain and in their wake
wheat sacked is left. The machine cuts the heads from
the grain, threshes and conveys the cleaned berries
into sacks which are sewed and dropped from time
to time. Any person knowing of the usual methods of
grain growing can readily estimate the saving the use
of this plan makes over the old style.
In past years the principal agricultural industry
has of course been the growing of cereals, but with
the opening of markets for stock, garden truck and
fruit there has come a change in methods. The larger
farms are being divided into smaller tracts, fruit
trees are being set out more extensively and thousands
of acres are being put into meadow every year while
a number of those .who were formerly engaged only
in grain growing are now engaged in fine stock rais-
ing. Large herds of registered Shorthorns and Here-
fords and droves of Berkshire, Poland China, Duroc,
Jersey and Tamworth hogs can be found. A summing
up of the products, agricultural and otherwise, of this
rich country, indicates its diversity of natural re-
sources. 'Wheat yields from 30 to 60 bushels per
acre and commands a cash market. Oats yield as
high as 80 bushels per acre and weigh about 36
pounds to the bushel and the crop is in demand.
Barley yields about 60 bushels per acre of fine quality,
well adapted for brewing purposes as well as for
feeding. Flax is an abundant producer and yields
from 20 bushels per acre up and never sells for less
than $1. Rye makes a good crop and is disposed of
in the local market. Buckwheat farming has been tried
sufficiently to establish it as a standard crop. Fifty
bushels per acre is an average season. Speltz, the
new rival of the feed cereals, has been grown here
experimentally, and has shown the phenomenal result
of 85 bushels per acre. Hay finds a ready maiket at
prices from $10 per ton upwards. White beans are a
good money crop. In vegetables there is no class
which does not beat every eastern record for quantity
ami quality. Potatoes will produce 400 bushels to the
acre, carrots 30 tons per acre, cabbages make big
solid heads, and artichokes do well. Sugar beets pro-
duce immense crops and the product shows a greater
percentage of saccharine matter than is to be found
in like products of any other locality. All manner
of garden truck grows to perfection. From the days
when William Taylor, Silas Imbler and Joseph How-
ard set out the first orchards and the trees came into
bearing the fruit of this favored country has enjoyed
an ever increasing fame. Fruit from here won the
first prize at the World's fair at Chicago. Every-
where it is shipped it attracts the purchasers and the
quality and flavor establish a permanent market. Fruit
is shipped regularly in season to the states of the
middle west and Montana and brings most remunera-
tive prices. The Palouse leads California for apples,
pears, prunes and cherries in quality of the product and
bearing capacity of the trees. The orchards show a
vigorous, healthy growth and begin bearing at four
years. If not taken care of the trees will break down
under their loads. An orchard can be started any-
where in the county and it will thrive. The winter
apple, "the big red apple of the Palouse," is the most
favored fruit owing to its excellent flavor and keeping
qualities. The demand for that product has always
exceeded the supply. Of small fruits the blackberry,
raspberry and currant are great yielders with a fine
local market at good prices. Through the tendency
to diversified farming, stock is gradually being in-
creased. Blooded cattle, hogs and sheep are to be
found on every thrifty farmer's place. There are no
animal diseases to bother and all thrive. They can be
raised cheaply and bring high prices at all times.
Chickens, ducks and geese find a ready home market.
Eggs never go below 10 cents and often in winter are
quoted in markets as high as 60 cents, with never a
supply in excess of the demand. Dairying is a grow-
ing industry and a profitable one. The Moscow cream
station, which started June 1, 1901, the first month
paid $315 to 14 farmers for cream. In June, 1902,
89 men were selling cream there and were paid $2,515
that month. Estimates show returns from $5.60 to
$7 per cow for June, 1902. The great crops of tame
grasses, especially of red clover, the food of all foods
for the dairy, makes this location especially desirable
for creameries. The fall pasturage in the clover fields
runs well into December in the ordinary years. In
the few months when it is desirable to have other
crops than clover and grass to feed, the demand is
met with corn, millet, rye, rape, sorghum, peas and
soy beans, which produce abundantly.
Latah county was created May 14, 1888. Its west-
ern boundary is the state line between Idaho and
Washington. North of Latah is Kootenai county, and
south of it is Nez Perces county. Shoshone county
lies to the east. In 1900 the number of acres of pat-
ented land was 347,316, valued at $1,725,224, and total
assessed valuation of all property in the county was
$4,011,387, being the second county in the state in
wealth. The stock statistics for 1900 show 1,105
horses, 2,004 nead of cattle and 5,027 sheep. There
are 35.85 miles of railroad in the county, the lines
represented being the Northern Pacific and the Oregon
Railway & Navigation Company. There are three
leading farming districts. These are the Paradise
Valley, as the country about Moscow is called; the
l'otlatch country and the Genesee valley. The Moscow
country consists of the magnificent valley formed by
the south Palouse river and Paradise creek. In the
l'otlatch country the Potlatch river, with its many
branches, and Bear creek are the streams. In the
Genesee country Cow creek is the chief stream. Mos-
cow is the county seat. The other important towns in
the county are Genesee, Juliaetta, Kendrick and Troy.
There-are five smaller villages. Throughout the county,
as well as in the towns and villages, are excellent
schools and churches. The bulk of population is in
the southern and western part of the county. To the
north and east are the vast timbered areas, which when
cleared of their present forest will also become rich
agricultural lands.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
627
It is difficult to procure accurate statistics on the
crop products of Latah county for the reason that
much of them are shipped from Washington railroad
points, but a few miles away. For instance, in 1902
Latah county products shipped from Palouse City,
Washington, are estimated as follows : Oats, 80,000
bushels ; wheat. 40,000 bushels ; hay, 3,000 tons ; ap-
ples, six carloads ; potatoes, three carloads.
The Paradise valley, or Moscow country, produces
all of the crops mentioned heretofore and in abundance.
Grain and hay, of course, are the chief products, but
fruits are exported in quantities and the live stock in-
dustry in that district is an important and increasing
source of wealth. Shipments from Moscow for the
year 1901 included 759 carloads of grain, chiefly wheat ;
105 carloads of hay. most of which was timothy ; 56
carloads of different varieties of fruits, in which apples
predominated; and 20 cars of live stock. All of these
shipments brought most remunerative prices. The
1902 shipments were proportionately greater in all lines
and the future promises a steady and prosperous
growth in exports.
Southeast of the Moscow country lies the famous
Potlatch. Draw a circle with a radius of seven miles
from Kendrick and you include the territory known
as the Potlatch empire, being about evenly divided
between the counties of Latah and Nez Perces. No-
where are people more favored than those of the
Potlatch, with its rolling fields of rich, black soil and
invigorating climate. The gentle zephyrs that steal
across the hills to kiss the waving fields of grain are
purified and scented by occasional belts of tapering
pines that stand as barricades to moderate the hot
winds and allow him who toils to reap. Less than 20
years ago the hardy pioneer drove his team across
these hills in search of a better land rather than take
these rolling prairies, that now annually blossom with
the luxuriant crops that have made this section famous.
The Potlatch knows no crop failure and her people
appreciate the fertility of its soil. But little more
than ten years ago the whistle of the iron horse first
broke the sombre stillness of these hills and prairies
to furnish the transportation facilities for the ship-
ment of her produce to the markets of the world.
'Die thrift and energy of the people soon asserted it-
self and the fields that once fed bands of cattle were
transformed into waving fields of grain. In the spring-
time the scene on the various ridges is one of unusual
splendor with the fields robed in green stretching out
to the distant foothills.
The climate is exceptional. High hills protect from
the winds. The summers are delightful. The days
from twilight to sunset lengthen to about 16 hours.
With the going down of the sun a refreshing breeze
blows across the country to fan the brow of the weary
toiler. The winters are free from severe blizzards, so
common to other parts of the country, and last onlv
from eight to ten weeks. Mountain ranges protect it
from the chilling blasts from the north, while the warm
southwest winds sweep across the country, melting the
snows, which soak into the soil for the summer moist-
ure. Here is where the man who toils may sleep with
comfort, for the summer nights are ever cool and re-
freshing.
Almost through the middle of the Potlatch country
flows the Potlatch river, one of the branches or feed-
ers of the Clearwater. Emptying into the Potlatch
from the north are a number of small, clean streams.
These streams flow through gulches which divide the
country into what are known as the Potlatch, Ameri-
can, Big Bear, Little Bear, Texas. Fix and Cedar
Creek ridges. These ridges are considered the most
valuable agricultural and horticultural lands of the
north. The section has been hidden to some extent
by the large amount of advertising given to other
parts of the northwest, but it has needed little more
than the practical demonstration of its possibilities to
give it proper prestige among the farming sections of
die country. Farmers who have come to this district
from other parts of the United States and who have
seen with their own eyes what it will grow on its fertile
fields have lost no time in selling their eastern places
i' 1 take up their abode in a region where a clause
guaranteeing success can almost be incorporated in
the deeds of conveyance. Here is a section, of which
there are few in the far west, where corn will grow
both for the table and for feeding purposes. Ears 12
and 14 inches are the usual lengths. In much of the
upper country the nights are too cold for the proper
maturing of corn, but here the nights are neither hot
nor cold but seem to maintain an even temperature
that develops the growth not only of this cereal but of
all others.
Wheat here grows to a height of five feet, carrying
some of the largest heads that can be found anywhere,
with firm, large berries. Potlatch wheat has a repu-
tation second to none. It is first sold on the market
because of its fine grade and early harvest. A Pot-
latch farmer received at the World's fair at Chicago
a gold medal for having the finest wheat grown in the
world, which, when considered, is an astounding show-
ing for a small district far off in the west. Oats yield
here the largest crops of any part of the state <>r of
the world and grow tall and luxuriant. Timothy grows
six feet tall with heads 12 inches long, while alfalfa
with its immense yields without irrigation testifies to
the adequate moisture contained in the soil, which is
the inundation for the successful growing of all vegeta-
tion. Flax will run on an average over 25 bushels to
the acre of a special grade that brings an extra high
price. Tobacco does well, as experiments have proved,
but has not been raised commercially as yet.
The fruits of the Potlatch country have a national
reputation. Apples that are a credit to any community
are shipped out in quantities and form a conspicuous
part of the wealth of the country. Last spring X.ooo
boxes of these apples, which had been stored from the
previous harvest in warehouse at Kendrick. were re-
packed and shipped. The loss from wither and rot
from the time the fruit was first stored was shown to
be less than two per cent., which is considered a re-
markable showing, even for Potlatch apples, which are
noted for their keeping qualites. These apples grow
large and red and possess a flavor which brings for
628
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
them the highest prices in the eastern and middle
western markets. Some of these apples won the first
prize at the Chicago fair. There is such a demand for
this fruit that it is no common thing for buyers to
purchase the fruit on the trees. One orchard of no
acres of six-year-old trees produced a crop for which
a buyer paid' $8,000 on the trees, and such instances
are not uncommon. Cherries that compare favorably
with the California product in size and flavor, are
shipped in quantities. All the small fruits thrive and
produce in abundance. Strawberries two inches in
diameter are common and are solid and sweet to the
center and juicy as can be wished. They lose nothing
m flavor by reason of their immense size, an acre of
strawberries netting the owner $200 often, and under
favorable circumstances and careful cultivation often
producing more. Grapes do excellently and vineyards
of large size are being planted. At a Spokane fruit
fair one year a grape grower of the Potlatch made
an exhibit from his vineyard which was an object
lesson to all who saw it. From the department of agri-
culture he secured colored pictures of two varieties
of grapes, showing the ideal bunch of those varieties
of the fruit. He framed these pictures and beside
them in his exhibit he suspended two bunches of
grapes he had grown in his vineyard. In size, shape
and coloring the Potlatch fruit showed up better than
the ideal picture.
Vegetables of all the usual varieties are cultivated
and yield abundantly. These products find a ready-
market in the towns and in the markets of the trib-
utary and mining districts. Dairying, live stock,
poultry and kindred pursuits affiliated with agricul-
ture are engaged in to some extent and tiring excellent
returns. Greater attention is being paid to these
branches of late as their possibilties are becoming bet-
ter known and as the markets for the products are
increasing. Lumbering is already an important in-
dustry and promises to become a source of immense
wealth. The great forests lie along the streams just
to the north and east of the Potlatch country. As the
timber is cut the logs are floated down the streams
to the railroad shipping points in the Potlatch country.
Here there is abundant water power available and
mills are established to turn the logs into lumber and
this lumber is then placed on the railroad cars to be
transported to market. The three saw mills on Pot-
latch creek above Kendrick have about 2,000,000 feet
of logs in their boom. Another mill, five miles up-
stream has 900,000 feet, and another mill further up
the creek has 400,000 feet of logs for sawing. There-
are two other mills in the district. Others will be
established ere long as lumber is in great demand.
Three lively towns divide the trade of the Potlatch
country. Kendrick is the largest of these. By reason
of its location in the center of the district and the
further fact that the natural contour of the country
makes it easier to haul products to it than to other
shipping points, it has become the metropolis of the
Potlatch, a position it seems destined to maintain.
Juliaetta, in the southwestern part of the Potlatch, has
an excellent and prosperous tributary country, while
Troy in the northwestern part of the district also en-
joys a large and rapidly increasing trade.
The towns of the Potlatch country are situated
hundreds of feet below the level of the grain producing
ridges, in the canyons of Potlatch river and Bear
creek, through which is built the Northern Pacific
Railroad. While there are many good wagon roads
built from the town, up to the farms, the grades are
steep, too steep for ordinary use in hauling grain and
other products to the railroads for shipment. In
getting grain dowm to the warehouses, tramways or
inclined cable roads on various plans are used. Ware-
houses are built both at the tracks of the railroad
company and at the upper end of the inclined way for
the convenience of the farmers. The use of tramways
in the Potlatch country has encouraged the farmers to
raise more grain and to utilize more of their lands
for other produce, as they have proved very success-
ful in expediting the handling of all commodities.
Many of the tramways already built are being taxed
to their utmost to carry down the supplies delivered
to their upper terminals and still more is coming to
be handled. The success of this manner of handling
farm produce and getting it to transportation points
has also stimulated other sections to introduce and
maintain tramways. It was at first thought that their
operation would be unsuccessful owing to the bad
working of the first one built. Improvements having
since been made, it is found they save long hauls in
getting the grain into the canyons where the railroads
have their houses and tracks and so much time is saved
as well as wear and tear on teams and wagons. An-
other item in favor of the tramway is that they are
built and operated af very little expense and in most
cases by the farmers who have subscribed and have the
privilege of sending down their grain in this manner.
The first large movement toward the establishing
of orchards in the district was in 1894. when $27. 000
was spent for the purchase of trees. By 1898 there
were 3,000 producing trees in the orchards about Ken-
drick and 127 carloads of fruit were shipped from that
point. In 1890 the total shipments of cereals from
the Potlatch were 50,000 bushels. In 1898 the ship-
ments had increased to 800,000 bushels, of which
275,000 bushels were of wheat. Shipments in later
years have grown to immense proportions.
There is a significance attached to the nomen-
clature of Idaho districts which is of interest. Para-
dise valley is a most appropriate title to apply to
Mich a beautiful and bountiful land. Potlatch, which
is a Chinook (Indian) term meaning free giver of
free gift, is most appropriately applied to a district
where nature is so lavish in her benefactions. In an-
other chapter of this work we have quoted an inter-
view with John P. Vollmer, of Lewiston, in which
Air. Vollmer tells how the Genesee valley came by
its name. It was during the' summer of 1870 that
Air. Vollmer in company with Mr. Stone and others
took a drive from Lewiston through the breaks and
over the hill country north. Mr. Stone, who was at
that time agent of the O. R. & N. steamboat line at
Lewiston. was a native of New York, and during the
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
629
drive remarked that the valley reminded him of his old
home, the Genesee valley in New York state. Alonzo
L.eland. afterwards editor of the Lewiston Teller, was
of the company and in descriptions of the country in his
paper referred to it always as the Genesee valley and
the name has ever since clung to it.
The Genesee valley lies to the north of the Lewis-
ton country and adjoins Whitman county, Wash., the
original center of the Palouse country, of which this
valley is a part. The valley is part of the territory
drained by the Clearwater river, and Cow creek, its
principal water course, is a tributary of that river.
The general character of the country is similar to that
in other parts of the Palouse — long rolling hills, which
vre tillable at their highest points; whose gentle slopes
are almost as easily farmed as a level country, and
retain moisture better than flat plains. The benches
are broken through by deep gulches, in which the
creeks and streams run. Generally this part of the
Palouse is less broken and contains fewer untillable
breaks than other parts of the county.
The productiveness of the soil was in evidence when
the first settler arrived as the rolling hills were covered
with a wealth of native grasses. Stock raising was
the pioneer industry. With an influx of more people
attention was given to agriculture and from that day
the returns from crops and cereals have been the ad-
miration and delight of the land owners and others.
Nowhere in the famous Palouse is produced better
quality of grains or more abundant yields. A few
words regarding methods of cultivation here, as well
as in other parts of the Palouse; may not be amiss.
Farms are generally large and many horses are re-
quired. The machinery employed embraces single and
gang plows, section harrows, drills and broadcast har-
rows and combine headers and threshers. Following
the old biblical custom of the time of Moses the
farmers as a rule let half their lands lie fallow each
year. Summer fallowing is generally practiced, a
plan which experience has proved wise and profitable.
A few years ago it was the practice at harvest time
to use a header, with three header wagons and using
from 13 to 30 horses in all. Some times the headed
grain was stacked but often it was threshed as soon
as headed. Not every farmer owns a header, man)'
hiring the work done, as well as the threshing. Today
the combine does the work of both machines. Big-
farmers own their own combines. Others hire the
work done. Usually as the grain is threshed it is
hauled to the warehouses in the city and stored, ware-
house receipts being issued and a small charge being
made for the handling and storage. This leaves the
grower free to hold his crop as long as he chooses
and take advantage of any fluctuations in prices.
The comparatively slight labor and more than
generous returns from cereal crops have made that
branch of agriculture the chief one in the Genesee
country. In later years the advantages of the country
as a fruit growing section became known and more at-
tention has been paid to horticulture. The rich soil,
which is permeated with moisture during growing
season, the warm sun and mild breezes combine to
give the fruit of this section a size, color and flavor
which is excelled nowhere. In no other place are the
yields more abundant. In consequence the fruit grow-
ing is fast becoming one of the most important indus-
tries of the district.
As the district grows in population the tendency
is toward smaller farms and more diversified and in-
tensive farming. Dairying, which offers most re-
munerative returns, is being more and more engaged
in, a business which is made unusually profitable by
reason of the adaptability of the soil for the growth
of large crops of tame grasses and all varieties of
forage plants and the abundance of fresh and pure
water. These same factors contribute to making the
raising of live stock a profitable industry. Small
fruits yield large crops of choice quality, as do all the
vegetables. Large revenues are received by those who
devote parts of their lands to these products. Poultry
raising is another branch of farm work which is a
money maker.
A new industry in this vicinity is the growing of
grain seed. The reputation of Genesee vegetables has
become so pronounced that eastern seedsmen have
urged that a seed farm be started. Mayor Hermann
of Genesee has decided to devote a 100-acre farm to
that purpose next season. He will produce seeds of all
the usual varieties of vegetables and has already re-
ceived orders for more than his possible crop. An
Iowa farmer secured some Idaho seed oats and this
year planted a strip of his oat field with them. The
result is that farmers from miles around have viewed
that field and have sent orders out west for more
of that seed. The Idaho oats stand up about two feet
above that raised from Iowa seed, are earlier and carry
a heavier berry and more to the stem. The seed in-
dustry promises a bright future in the Genesee country
as well as in other parts of the Palouse.
In 1888 shipments of cereals from the Genesee
country were estimated at 800,000 bushels. The
growth in diversity of products and otherwise is shown
by the fact that in 1892 the shipments from the dis-
trict were 1500 carloads of grains, 60 carloads of live
stock and 15 carloads of fruit. Those do not take into
consideration the large amount of farm and orchard
products sold in local markets and at tributary mining
and lumbering districts, nor do they include shipments
of dairy products, poultry, eggs, vegetables, etc. This
rear's products will show a large increase in volume,
diversity and value over former years.
It is rather peculiar that a pioneer industry of the
Palouse country which was abandoned to a large ex-
tent lias been taken up again with promise of greater
profits than the pioneers ever dreamed of. This is
the live stock industry. The earliest stockmen raised
cattle and horses, letting them run wild over the plains
where they fed on the rich bunch grass of the uplands.
For their market they drove to the small towns or
to the more distant mining camps that were springing
up -ill over the territory west of the Rockies. As a rule
no effort was made to secure good breeds of animals,
as a result of which the stock was scrubby and of
comparatively little value. In the hard times of 1893
630
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
the stockmen suffered with the rest of the country
and the industry was almost abandoned. Then came
an influx of new settlers into the country, taking up
farms, and the horsemen found that farm animals were
in demand, and few to be had. With the new popula-
tion came a demand for tame grasses and for the first
time experiments were made which determined, as
might have been expected, that lands which produced
such bountiful crops of native grass would yield equally
large returns of the tame grasses and of fodder plants.
The stock industry was revived. From the first
there was a desire to secure blooded stock, animals
which would give the largest returns for the labor and
money invested. This idea was aided and made gen-
eral through the efforts of the agricultural colleges
and the results have been more than satisfactory. Many
extensive breeders have visited this section, have seen
what can be grown in grasses and grains and have
been eager to predict that the Palouse country will
soon be furnishing the breeding stock for the far east,
where now eastern buyers secure their stock across the
ocean. They base these predictions upon the climatic
conditions and what is produced here for develop-
ing. That this idea is reasonable is evidenced from
the fact that an Inland Empire calf, shipped from the
Palouse country, at Chicago recently stood first in
his class and was sold for the highest price in his
class. One reason for the great success of the industry
has been that the stockmen appreciate that the best
breeds mean the largest returns. Cattle can be raised
here cheaper than anywhere else. For at least ten
months of the year cattle feed and fatten rapidly with-
out cost to the farmer. They are placed on the sum-
mer fallowed lands, where immense crops of weeds
and wild oats spring up, which is excellent pasturage
but which would injure the land if the farmer was not
able to turn his stock upon it. The stubble of the
wheat fields afford good grazing and then for the few
weeks when the cattle have to be fed in winter there
is an abundance of alfalfa and other grasses and fod-
der plants readily raised in great quantities. Horses
do equally well. Heavy draft and general animals, of
thoroughbred breeds, are raised in numbers and find
an ever widening market. It cattle Herefords and
Shorthorns are the more popular breeds, although
many others are represented, such as Jerseys, Dur-
hams, etc. Percheron horses have been bred in
the Palouse country for years. Sheep raising has long
been a profitable industry, but is not progressing in
recent years because 'of lack of range. The great
American hog is the big money maker in the Palouse.
With agriculture began hog raising, and the industry
grew with the growth of the grain farms. For a time
it afforded the most profitable outlet for the wheat
and barley. Government experts in this section have
developed by long and careful experiment that wheat
fed to hogs in the Palouse will return better than $1
a bushel and the industry is attracting many, and is
already, a source of great revenue, which will increase
from time to time. In this industry as in others the 1
growers insist upon only the best breeds. A potent |
factor in educating growers to the value of blooded
stock has been the Inland Registered Stock Breeders'
Association, covering a territory comprising eight
counties in eastern Washington and five in Northern
Idaho. At a recent meeting the Latah county breeders
present and the lines in which they are specialists in-
cluded Prof. H. T. French, Shorthorn cattle and Po-
land-China hogs ; Theo. Reed, Hampshire and Dorset
sheep, Duroc-Jersey and Tamworth swine ; and B. T.
Byrns, Shorthorn and Hereford cattle.
Dairying is an important and growing industry in
this section. The abundance of cheap and excellent
feed, and the further fact that there is a great de-
mand at large prices for the cream to be shipped to
large creameries at Spokane have attracted many to
engage in this industry with resulting profit. One
Falouse farmer five years ago started out with five
cows, shipping his cream. Today he milks 50 cows
and owns 640 acres of land, all paid for out of his
profits from cream.
When one considers that it was but a comparatively
short time ago when the first tame grass seed was
planted in an experimental way in Latah county it is
surprising to learn that in the spring of 1902 estimates
made showed that within a radius of ten miles of
Moscow there were 10,000 acres in timothy, alfalfa,
red clover, orchard grass, tall meadow, oat grass, bro-
mus inermis and other cultivated grasses. Vet in-
dications are this large acreage will be doubled within
a year. The development of this branch of farming
has come within the last five years and during the
same period the stock industry as practiced in sections
where no public range remains has been inaugurated
and is gaining more and more of a foothold.
M. J. Shields, who has an 1800 grass seed farm
near Moscow, has made a success feeding sheep for
market, pasturing them on the farm. For feeding the
sheep he uses spelts, the grain which is extensively
raised in Denmark, which resembles barley in char-
acter and produces abundantly in the Palouse coun-
try. The straw after threshing is almost as good feed
as grain hay. All grasses thrive in this favored land.
Clover is the basis of all the grasses and five varieties
have been grown successfully — common, mammoth
red, white, Alsac and alfalfa. Two crops are har-
vested each year, in June and September, respectively.
Tall varieties grow to more than six feet high. They
are hardy and are valuable for early spring pasture
and return a second heavy crop. The orchard grass
keeps green winter and summer if grazed down : stands
frost and has proven a fine grass in that soil. Samples
are shown often five feet tall. The average in the
Palouse is about four feet. Meadow fescue, or Eng-
lish blue grass, grows to a height of three feet. It is
fine, nutritious, hardy and will grow anywhere. It
yields four tons per acre and is ready to cut in July.
The Russian brome grass yields usually five tons to
the acre. It makes good summer pasturage. Rye
grasses make excellent pasture but are not heavy hay-
producers. Two varieties have been tried, the Eng-
lish and Italian. Canadian blue grass also makes a
good pasture grass and stays green until the snows
fall. Men familiar with the states named declare that
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
63r
grasses of these varieties do better in the Palouse than
in Michigan, Iowa, Indiana and other states.
There are some large grass farms near Moscow.
M. J. Shields & Co. have the largest, 1800 acres be-
ing devoted to raising various varieties of grass seed
for which there is ready market. At this place 200
acres are devoted to raising alfalfa seed alone. A new
cereal the firm is handling is corn wheat. The kernels
are much like wheat, except they are twice as large
and the yield runs as high as 70 bushels to the acre.
Mr. Shields has raised as high as 128 sacks weighing
120 pounds each from only two bushels of seed.
Practically the same kind of meal can be made from it
that is made from corn-meal that is palatable and has
superior fattening qualities. Even the straw after
threshing is found to contain fattening qualities to
such an extent that stock thrive on it almost as well as
on hay. The firm one year received more than 300
orders for the seed, coming from all parts of the coun-
try. Minneapolis parties recently contracted for 1,000
acres for the growth of garden peas. Many of these
contracts were made in the Kendrick neighborhood,
where peas, corn and beans have long produced large
crops. The peas run from fifteen to thirty bushels to
the acre and bring from $2.00 to $2.50 per centel.
Dairying is made profitable by the excellence and
abundance of milk producing grasses and fodder.
Nearly 150 farmers are engaged in the business to a
certain extent. Hand separators are used and the
cream is delivered to Moscow to be shipped to the big
Spokane creamery. About $30,000 per annum is paid
for cream here. The average price in 1901 for butter
fat was 25%-cents; in 1902 was 26^4-cents and dur-
ing December last was 31^-cents, which is nearly
double that paid by eastern creameries.
Nothing demonstrates more conclusively the rapid
development of this county than some comparative
figures from the assessor's returns. In 1890 the total
valuation of property was $2,798,603 ; valuation of
1902. $4,238,845, an increase of $1,440,242. The
whole number of acres of patented lands in 1890, as-
sessable and non-assessable, was 298,354; for 1902, it
was 416.469 acres, an increase of 118,115 acres, and to
this must be added in 1903, 82.154 acres, on which the
Potlach Lumber Company pays its first taxes. No
lumber was assessed in 1890; in 1902 assessment was
made on 15,699,000 feet of lumber and saw logs. No
mills were assessed in 1890. In 1902 assessment was
made on twenty-six flour and saw mills.
In all essentials of an ideal home Latah county is
rich. Draw an air line from Steptoe butte in Wash-
ington to Kendrick, Idaho, and it will pass through the
heart of the greatest agricultural wealth producing
country of the northwest, as fair a land of vales and
hills as ever the sun shone on. There is just enough
winter to suggest ideas of the Arctics and just enough
summer to suggest ideas of the tropics. The golden
wheat shares its reign with many rolling fields of other
tall grains and grasses, holding the tares in subjugation
and beautifying the land with their varied shades of
coloring. The groves in the lowlands shade the homes
in summer and turn aside the wintry winds, while the
orchards on the slopes give abundantly of their fruits
and add a peculiar charm to the strange beauty of the
landscape. Midsummer scenes are the ones that tel!
more plainly than all else the secret of the prosperity
that reigns in this favored land; the busy crews in
the full ripe grain, the stacks of grain and the bales
of hay, the forming fruit, the flocks and herds, all
tell a tale that he who runs may read. The gates of
care were once ajar on the borders of this fair land,
but the time of sore trial has been forgotten in the
peace and plenty of today. Fortune awaits here all
who come, who will to do, and to improve with dili-
gence the rare opportunities the country offers. Pros-
perous, contented and happy are those who dwell
"In the heart o'f the happy hills."
DANIEL CAMERON.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
LATAH COUNTY
DANIEL CAMERON is one of the oldest pio-
neers of this country now living in Latah county, and
he has been a potent factor in the development of the
resources of the county and in its upbuilding from those
early days until the present, being now one of the suc-
cessful &nd intelligent farmers. His estate lies three
and one half miles north from Moscow. Daniel was
born in the highlands of Scotland in 1843, being the
son of Finlay and Ann Cameron, natives of the same
country, where they labored as agriculturists until the
time of their demise. For twenty-five years, our sub-
ject labored with his father, and then, led by an ad-
venturous spirit, came to America, where he took up
the responsibilities of life for himself. His arrival
here was about 1866, and on the upper Hudson in New
York state he labored for a time, then went to Pennsyl-
vania and worked in a tannery for a year. After this,
he crossed the plains to San Francisco, and thence to
Walla Walla, where he labored on a farm for a time
and then came to his present place in 1871, being ac-
companied by his brother, and they were among the
very first settlers of the territory now embraced in
Latah county. He took a homestead and at once en-
gaged in the commendable work of improving it and
raising stock. He has labored faithfully all these years
and has been attended with good success, ever mani-
festing sagacity and a public spirit in all his endeavors,
while he has done much for the advancement of the
county's interests. Mr. Cameron is entitled to the es-
teem and confidence of his fellows and this is bestowed
in generous measure and he is considered one of the
most substantial men of the countv.
HARVEY J. BUNDY is a well known representa-
tive of the pioneer class in Latah county, and as a
business man and enterprising spirt in the development
of the county he has done a commendable work, while
also in the literary line he has produced a fine volume,
entitled, "The Last Voice from the Plains," being
the life of W. F. Dranan, the companion of the fa-
mous Kit Carson.
Mr. Bundy was born in Washington county, Illi-
nois, on December 16, 1854, being the son of Alexander
and Elizabeth (Breeze) Bundy. The father was born
in Marion county, Illinois, and is now living at Day-
ton, Washington, while the mother was a native of
Jefferson county, Illinois, and died in Washington
county, when Harvey J. was three years of age. When
he was ten he had the unique experience of traveling
with an ox train from the states to Washington, land-
ing in the vicinity of Walla Walla. They chose a sec-
tion southwest from Dayton, now known as Bundy
Hollow, where our subject received his education from
the common schools. In 1876 he took land in Nez
Perces county, in the vicinity of Genesee, there being
no town there at that time, and he engaged in raising
stock. Three years later he went into t"ie big Potlatch
country, and four years after that he was back again
in Genesee. That continued to be his home until 1895,
when he came to Moscow and since that time he has
been engaged in mining operations. He is a skilled
prospector and his continued study and association with
mining in all its phases have made him an expert
and his knowledge is utilized to advantage in many
sections. He is interested in the well known Buffalo
Hump and also in the Moscow mountains. He is
general manager of the Providence Milling and Mining
Company, and does commendable work in handling
its affairs. In 1886 Mr. Bundy was elected county com-
missioner from the second district, and he served for
two years ; while from 1894 to 1896 he was deputy
sheriff under Frank Campbell. In 1892 Mr. Bundy
bed run for sheriff on the Democratic ticket, and al-
though far ahead of his ticket, he suffered defeat.
The marriage of Mr. Bundy and Miss Sarah L.,
daughter of John and Polly (Maxwell) McCall, was
solemnized in Waitsburg, Washington, on November
3. 1878, and they have become the parents of two sons:
Lyman A., at Granite Falls. Washington; Francis M.,
clerking in Moscow. Mr. McCall died in Dayton,
Washington, in 188S, having come hither from his
native state. Indiana. His wife was also a native of
Indiana, and she is deceased. It was in 1893 that Mr.
Bundy took up literary work, and wrote the work
634
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
above mentioned, which has been copyrighted and
contains many good things, being a production of
merit. Mr. Bundy was beaten out of the work by its
being copyrighted by another. Rhodes, McClure &
Company of Chicago have published the fifth edition,
and it is sad that the author should not have the re-
turns of his labor.
JAMES H. COLLINS. This well known and
representative business man of Latah county is at
present the proprietor of the saw mill which he owns
on the mountain seven miles northeast from Moscow,
where he manufactures a goodly amount of fine lum-
ber, also having a shingle mill in conjunction with the
other plant. James H. was born in Cass county, Mich-
igan, on April 30. 1848, being the son of John and
Louise Collins. The father was county treasurer of his
countv and quite active in politics. Our subject re-
mained' in Cass county until 1864 attending public
schools. At that time he went with his parents to the
vicinity of Elkpoint, South Dakota, where they took
up land and were occupied in farming and operating a
saw mill. In 1877 he left that country and came to
Washington, settling on a pre-emption in Whitman
county, just west of the state line and adjacent to
Moscow. Mr. Collins states that at that time he could
have hauled all of Moscow at one wagon load. He
sold his farm in 1900. In 1892 Mr. Collins started a
shingle mill at his present place and this grew to the
present plants, where he manufactures timber products.
He is now removing his mill to a place one mile further
up the mountain and there expects to do more business
than heretofore.
On December 25, 1868, at Elkpoint, Dakota, Mr.
Collins and Miss Hattie E., daughter of John R. and
Eveline C. (Palmer) Wood, were married, and they
have become the parents of the following children :
William H., a farmer and stockman on the Nez Perces
reservation ; George H., married to Mamie Frazier,
and with his father in the mill; Mattie L., at home.
Mrs. Collins' father was a farmer in Dakota and served
in the Civil war as first lieutenant under Captain Tripp
and General Dulley, being in the service for three
years. Mr. Collins is a member of the fraternal order
of the Royal Arcanum. He is one of the real builders
of the county's present enviable commercial standing
and development, having displayed great wisdom and
energy in his labors here for years, while at the present
time he enjoys the esteem and confidence of his fel-
lows.
HANS J. LESTOE is the senior member of the
firm of Lestoe & Sherer, one of the leading mercantile
firms of Moscow, and handles a large business. Mr.
Lestoe is a representative citizen of the county, and
a man of keen business ability and possessed of affabil-
ity and integrity in a happy degree. The birth of
Mr. Lestoe occurred in Lolland, Denmark, on April
28, 185 1, his parents being Peter and Annie (Peter-
son) Lestoe. The father was a shipbuilder and they
remained in their native land until the time of their
death. Our subject was educated in the public schools
and labored on a farm in the vicinity of his home until
he was twenty years of age, then stepped from the
parental roof, and turned toward the new world, de-
termined to seek his fortune there. 1871 was the year
in which he landed in Wisconsin and for four years he
labored there at different undertakings, then in 1875
came to Portland, Oregon, remaining there until 1878.
At the last date mentioned he came thence to Idaho and
took up a homestead, where his labors were bestowed
for six years. In the fall of 1883 he went into the
employ of some general merchants in Genesee, Idaho,
and two years later he engaged with Dermhan &
Kaufmann, general merchants of Moscow, continuing
there until 1891, when he opened a store for himself
in Troy, this state. In 1893 he sold that business and
came to Moscow, where in company with W. H. Clark
he started a hardware store. They did a good business
from the start, and in 1809 Mr. Clark sold out his in-
terest to J. W. Sherer, and the firm is now known as
Lestoe & Sherer. They handle all kinds of hardware,
also paints, oils, crockery, and all accessories, also
being agents for some leading heavy hardware houses,
thus being able to supply all wants in any branch of
business that needs hardware. Of late they have been
increasing their stock and their store is today one
of the best stocked houses in the entire Palouse country.
On January 25, 1885, Mr. Lestoe married Miss
Helena Thompson, a native of Wisconsin, and to them
have been born the following children : James C, Henry
A. and Frederick. On June 12, 1894, Mrs. Lestoe was
called from her home and family by death, and her
remains lie buried in the Moscow cemetery. She was
beloved by all and her death elicited sincere mourning
in a large circle of friends. On August 25. 1898, Mr.
Lestoe married a second time, the lady being Elizabeth
( Taylor ) Johnston, and the wedding occurring in Mos-
cow. Mrs. Lestoe is a native of Oregon. Mr. Lestoe is
a member of the I. O. O. F., the Artisans, and the
Foresters of America. He owns one hundred and
sixty acres of good farm land. He is one of the lead-
ing business men of Latah county and is the recipient
of the esteem and confidence of his fellows.
WELLINGTON L. ELY. Among the younger
business men of talent and enterprise who have domi-
ciled in Moscow, there should not be failure to mention
the gentleman whose name is at the head of this article,
since he has manifested during his stirring career
of commercial activity ability and wise management
of the resources at his hand which have justly placed
him as one of the leaders in the commercial realm of
bis county, while also his unswerving integrity and
stanch qualities of worth have bequeathed him a legacy
of prestige that is enviable and of distinct merit.
Wellington L. Ely was born in Stockton, New York,
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
635
on November 24, 1877, being the son of Mortimer and
Genevra (Cooley) Ely. His early life was largely-
spent in the pursuit of knowledge, and to his credit
be it said with such application and precocity that at
the age of fifteen years he graduated from the local
schools. In 1895 we find him in Pasadena, California,
attending the Troop Institute, whence the following
year he returned to Stockton, New York, and engaged
as salesman in a general merchandise store, where
he acquired practical training and valuable knowledge
for one year. Then observing that he would be better
fortified for the battle of life if he had more educational
discipline, he repaired to the Westfield Academy and
applied himself once more to the lore of books for a
time. Then he launched forth on the sea of life's
activities, and next we find him in the bright little
town of Moscow. A time was spent in the loaning
office of B. T. Byrns, about one and one-half years.
Following that period he formed a partnership with
F. A. David, and together they opened a general mer-
chandise establishment in the city of Moscow. The
enterprise was launched with due counsel and manipu-
lated with excellent wisdom, while the push and energy
and sterling business qualities of our subject were fully
brought into requisition and there could but be the
brilliant success that has attended this venture. They
have a store well stocked, and skillfully managed,
while the liberal patronage which they have won speaks
loudly both of their business ability and upright
methods.
The marriage of Mr. Ely and Miss Louise E.,
daughter of James and Akan Cheney, was solemnized
on June 14, 1900. This young couple are valuable
acquisitions to the social realm and they are highly
esteemed and have the encomiums and good will of
ail.
_ THOMAS S. POINDEXTER. The subject of
this article is a native of the Occident, and has spent
most of his life beneath its stars, preferring it to the
congested centers of the east. His home is at the
present time on a quarter section of fine land two miles
northeast from Farmington, which has been the family
home for some time. The land has been farmed for
sixteen years and is only now open to homestead entry.
He raises the cereals and brome grass, with stock,
and has a fine orchard. The birth of Thomas S. oc-
curred on May 4, 1863, in Benton county, Oregon, be-
ing the son of Thomas S. and Mary E. (Coffey). The
father was born in Kentucky in 1821 and died in 1887
and the mother was born in Kentucky in 1842. At the
age of eleven our subject went to Macoupin county,
Illinois, making his home with his Aunt Louise J.
Bronaugh. a sister of his father. He did chores and
attended school and the east was his home until he was
twenty, and then he longed for the scenes of his native
place, and accordingly came thither, landing at Eu-
gene, Oregon. One year later he came to Latah county
and in 1885 he worked in the Coeur d'Alene mines and
in 1886 he bought the interest of the man who lived
on his home place and he then settled on the farm
and that has been his home since that nine. He has
now homesteaded the land.
The marriage of Mr. Poindexter and Mis- Sedalia,
daughter of Squire and Sarah E. (Stittwell) Thomas
was solemnized in Latah county on April 13, 1887, ami
to this union there have been born six children : Alaxie
A., Arrah B., Lean C, Thomas E., Charlotte. I albert,
aged respectively fourteen, eleven, nine, six. three,
and the baby. Mr. Thomas was born in Illinois in
1841, is a farmer living at Whatcom, Washington,
while the mother was born in Indiana and died in
1882. Mrs. Poindexter was born in California on
August 17, 1 87 1, removed to Oregon when a child,
and thence to Latah county in 1878, and she has
brothers and sisters as follows : James H., in Hooper,
Washington ; Arthur L., in Colorado ; Deborah 1 '.. wife
of Andrew Smith, now deceased; Eliza E.. wife of
William D. Haynes, in Whatcom, Washington ; Still-
well, at Whatcom; Newton, in Latah a mi;: h
Poindexter has brothers and sisters as follows : Poena,
wife of William Morgan, in Tacoma ; one half-brother,
Byrin Coffee, at Kalama, Washington. Air. Poindex-
ter is a member of the I. O. O. F. and of the Macca-
bees in Farmington. He has given his service.- on the
school board for years, while in political matters he is
allied with the Democratic party.
ALMON A. LIEUALLEN, deceased. One of the
earliest pioneers that broke sod in this section of the
country, a man of whom all spoke well, and one who
wrought here continuously from the inception of his
career in this region until the sad day of his demise with
manifestations of wisdom, stability, enterprise and dis-
play of those manly virtues and an intrinsic worth that
characterize the typical man, the subject of this sketch
is eminently deserving of this memorial which it is our
privilege to grant to him.
Almon A. was born in Tennessee on September 10,
1842, being the son of Paton and Jemima (Smith)
Lieuallen, farmers of that state and Iowa. Our sub-
ject went in 1858 to where Princeton, Missouri, now
stands, remaining until i860, when he moved to Iowa,
whence he crossed the plains in 1867 to Walla Walla
and there engaged in stock raising and freighting.
He did a large business in the latter industry, handling
as high as twenty outfits from The Dalles to the interior
mining camps of Idaho, and continuing the same until
1868. In this last year he disposed of his freighting
business, repaired to Oregon, founding the t< iwn of
Centerville, and there and at Walla Walla gave his
attention to raising stock. In 1871 he brought forty
thousand dollars' worth of cattle to the region now
embraced in Latah county, taking a pre-emption four
miles east from where Moscow- now stands. Success
attended his wise business methods, and he owned land
in different bodies all the way down to the Snake.
He had vast herds of cattle, and he was always a pro-
gressive, public minded man, ever laboring for the
636
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
welfare and progress of the country where he was
domiciled. At one time he owned between two and
three thousand acres of land in Washington and Idaho
and one-half section in California. He homesteaded
the land where Moscow is now built, taking it in 1875,
and opening up a general merchandise store there. He
was the first postmaster of Moscow and held the office
until he sold his store. In 1881 he sold the mercantile
interests, platted the town site of Moscow, and devoted
his energies to placing the young city on a proper basis
and to building it up. He was one of the main factors
in the development of the country, in establishing the
city, in forwarding its growth, and in the general
progress of the county's interest, and no man was better
known in the country than Mr. Lieuallen. On No-
vember 4, 1898, he was called from the scenes of his
worthy labors to the realms of another world, and
with appropriate ceremonies his body was laid to rest
in the Moscow cemetery. He had been a faithful mem-
ber of the Baptist church since sixteen years of age,
displaying the virtues and graces of the Christian, and
his example was bright and good, and his death was
sincerelv mourned throughout the entire county.
The marriage of Mr. Lieuallen and Miss Sarah A.,
daughter of William E. and Mary J. (Holloway)
Good, was solemnized on July 4, 1871, and there were
born to them the following issue: Mary A., died De-
cember 15, 1877, aged five and one-half years; Lillie
Irene, wife of Jay Woodworth ; John T., died at the
age of eighteen; William B., died January 5, 1888,
aged eight years, all buried beside their father. Mrs.
Lieuallen is a native of Iowa and her parents were na-
tives 1 t Ohio, but removed to Iowa in an early day,
and there remained until the time of their death, Mrs.
Lieuailen is a member of the Presbyterian church and
has always been a leader in the noble work of mission-
ary undertakings and charitable labors, while the
bright Christian life that she has maintained has been
the means of doing much good. She is also a member
of the Women of Woodcraft. Moscow Circle, No. 192.
She owns eighty acres of the old homestead and an
elegant residence, which is. as it always has been, the
center of refined hospitality, and a model Chris-
tian home, presided over by a lady of gracious
personality, with manifestation of those lovable
grace- and characteristics of the real Christian.
In addition to this valuable property. Airs. Lieu-
allen has a fine farm of four hundred and
twenty-four acres, which she manages with discretion
and sagacity.
ROBERT H. BARTON. This worthy pioneer and
veteran of many a struggle on the fields of battle, both
in the Civil war and on the scenes of life's industries,
is now the postmaster of Moscow and he has won for
himself the esteem and confidence of all who may know
him. He was born in Perry county. Ohio, on Feb-
ruary 1. 1842. being the son of Andrew and Elizabeth
(Biddison) Barton. The father was born in Balti-
more in 181 t. being the son of Robert Barton, who
emigrated from the north of Ireland to America. The
mother of our subject was a native of Baltimore and
a daughter of William Biddison, a soldier of the war
of 1812. The parents came to Perry county, Ohio, and
settled on a homestead. They had twelve children,
eleven of whom grew to maturity, and six are now
living. Robert H, their fifth, acquired his education
in the public schools and in the Ohio University at
Athens, and in 1861 he left college to enlist in Com-
pany D, Seventeenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry He
served four months under Rosecrans and then the regi-
ment disbanded. He re-enlisted in Company B, First
Ohio Cavalry Volunteers, and served with the Army
of the Cumberland. His regiment did escort duty with
General O. M. Mitchell and later with the cavalry in
General Buell's command. Subsequently they were
with General Rosecrans at Stone River and until after
ilie battle of Chickamauga, and during the Atlanta
campaign were at General McPherson's headquarters
until that commander was killed. He saw the genral
fall and caught his horse. Later he was at General
Howard's headquarters in the same capacity, and after
the capture of Atlanta was sent with his regiment on
the Wilson raid. They were at Macon, Georgia, when
the news of Lee's surrender gladdened all hearts, and
on the twenty-fifth of September, 1865, he was hon-
orably discharged at Hilton Head, South Carolina.
On July 2, 1862, at Russellville, Alabama, Mr. Barton
was shot in the corner of his mouth and lost the teeth,
upper and lower, on the right side of his face, and
suffered a fracture of the jaw. This occasioned six
weeks in the hospital.
After this creditable military record Mr. Barton
returned to his home and taught school during the
winter of 1865-66, then went to Kansas and
took and taught school during the winter
months. He was later chosen county assessor
and recorder of deeds in . that county for
six years. He removed to Utah in 1875 and taught
school, and in 1877 we find him in Moscow, where he
operated a saw mill, which he had brought with him.
He was in this business for three years, and in 1881
he built the Barton hotel, which he conducted until 1891,
when it was burned, entailing a loss of fifteen thousand
dollars. He then erected the Moscow at a cost of
thirty-five thousand dollars, but on account of the
financial panic he was forced to part with this prop-
erty on account of an incumbrance of twenty thousand
dollars. This is a fine property and a credit to the
town. He was appointed as postmaster of Moscow
under Harrison and again under McKinley, and is serv-
ing with acceptability now. For eight years he was
also deputy sheriff of Nez Perces county, and was also
the first sheriff of Latah county.
The marriage of Mr. Barton and Miss Lettie Lang-
don, a native of Illinois, was solemnized in 1869, and
to them have been born two children, one deceased,
the other, Ed T., deputy postmaster. In 1872 Mrs.
Barton died and in 1875 Mr. Barton wedded her sister,
Louise Langdon. by whom he has five children : Maude
M., attending the university ; Earl S., also in that in-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
637
stitution; Louise E., at the high school ; Faith S. She
was named by the Idaho Department of the Grand
Army of the Republic during its encampment in Mos-
cow, at which time her birth occurred, and the soldiers
presented her with a silver set. .Mr. and Airs. Barton
are active members of the G. A. R. and its auxiliary,
respectively, and he is past commander and department
commander, and she is past secretary and president
of the Idaho department. In consideration of his serv-
ice to Major Anderson Post No. 5, he was presented
with a sword by its members, which hangs with his
blade which did valiant service for the Union. He
has a fine residence in Moscow and he is esteemed bv
all.
Mr. liarton is a Republican in politics, having cast
his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. He takes a great
deal of pride in the fact that he was a personal friend
of William McKinley, and was the first one in Idaho
to advocate his nomination at the St. Louis convention.
He sought to be a delegate to that convention, but
the strong sentiment in favor of free coinage of silver
in the ratio of sixteen to one shut him out. He has
been a member of every Republican convention since
Idaho became a state.
ALBERT DYGERT. It is proper that in a list
of the leading business men of Latah county the name
of the subject of this sketch should appear, both be-
cause of his success in the realm of mercantile life,
being one of the largest farm implement dealers in the
county, and also because he is one of the heaviest
real estate holders and prominent agricultural men and
is a man of high standing among his fellows, being
possessed of good abilty, enterprise, integrity and sound
principles.
Our subject was born in McHenry county, Illinois,
on May 13, 1855, being the son of Abram and Phcebe
(Snooks) Dygert, natives of New York but farmers
of Illinois, where the father died in 1899, on February
3, his remains resting at the Woodstock cemeterv. Al-
bert was well educated and then taught school at his
native place for three years, and in 1877 went to Modoc
comity, California, engaging in the stock business for
live years. In 1882 he sold out and came to Idaho,
purchasing a farm six miles south from Moscow. He
gave his attention strictly to general farming and stock
raising and the original quarter was added to until he
now has the princely estate of eight hundred acres in
one body and excellently improved. Eight years were
spent in this place and in 1890 he went with' his family
to the old home place in the east, and after visiting
for a time returned to Moscow, taking up his abode in
the city, where he has an elegant residence. In 1900
he opened an implement house and he does a good busi-
ness, having one of the leading establishments of the
city. He carries a complete assortment of all that is
used in the way of farm implements, vehicles, machin-
ery and so forth. Air. Dygert has the farm, also city
property that he rents, his commodious home, his
business, and much other property, thus demonstrating
bis ability in the financial world.
On October 15, 1881, Air. Dygert married Miss
Flora T., daughter of Ursemus and Luanda 'Jack-
son) Beardsley. She was a native of AieHenn county,
Illinois, and they were schoolmates. When the time
for marriage came Air. Dygert sent for his bride, and
she came to Reno, Nevada, the nearest city to hi- stuck
ranch, and there the ceremony was performed. < >ne
child, Leslie, has been born to them, his birthday being
July 3, 1886, and his native place Latah county. Air.
Dygert is a member of the M. W. of A.. Paradise
Lodge, No. 5356. He is identified with the Republican
party, and he and his wife are members of the Aletho-
dist church. They are prominent members ol ciety
and capable and worthy people.
GEORGE LANGDON, one of Moscow"s best
known and popular business men, is deserving of men-
tion in the volume that has to do with the history of
Latah county, since he has been intimately connected
with the development and progress of it since its or-
ganization and was a potent factor in the section before
that event, being at the present time in the responsible
position of chief of police of the city of Moscow and
also conducting a real estate office.
Reverting to his personal history, we find that
he was born in McLean county, Illinois, on February
15, 1856, being the son of Samuel and Alartha V.
(Wilson) Langdon, natives of Ohio. His first educa-
tion was obtained in his native place and later he com-
pleted the normal course in the state institution, and
thus fortified for the battles of life he stepped forth,
taking up the work of the educator. In 1878 he came
west to Moscow, his father having preceded him across
the plains in 1873. He turned his attention here to
logging, then taught, then worked at logging again,
and later engaged in the saw mill business, and in 1884
was appointed deputy sheriff for the county, where two
years were spent in the faithful discharge of the duties
there devolving upon him. In 1886 he was appointed
deputy sheriff, serving under Ezra Baird, and then was
deputy sheriff under Sheriff S. J. Langdon. In 1888
he was elected the first sheriff of Latah county. The
county was considered Republican by over one hundred
majority, and our subject was a Democrat, but the man
proved too much for the politics and he polled the
handsome vote of four hundred majority, five hundred
ahead of his ticket, being one of two elected on that
ticket that year. Thus was demonstrated the popularity
of Air. Langdon. He served faithfully his time and
then went into the fire insurance business for
and in 1892 was appointed chief of police. In 1893
he went to the World's fair and returning accepted
a clerkship in the postoffice, and one and one-half
years later took the deputy auditorship. where he
wroked for four years, then went into the real estate
business, and in 1901 was again appointed chief of
police, where we find him today, quietly and efficiently
638
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
discharging his duties. In addition to dtese enter-
prises he is interested in stock raising.
In February, 1881, Mr. Langdon married Miss
Fannie, daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Shuck) Haines,
of Dundee, Oregon, and to this union there have been
born the following children: Willis, Mattie, Elma,
Gracie and Frances, all going to school. Mrs. Lang-
don's parents came to Oregon across the plains in 1856,
being among the earliest settlers of Oregon. Our sub-
ject is one of the substantial and capable men of the
county and is secure in the esteem and confidence of all.
LANDON C. IRVINE. On February 6, 1842,
in Amherst county, Virginia, to John R. and Lucy
(Hobsons) Irvine, was born the gentleman whose
name appears above. The father was a merchant and
farmer, born in Lynchburg, Virginia, in 179c), and the
grandfather of our subject, Samuel Irvine, was born
in Dublin. Ireland, and one of the early pioneers of
Lynchburg, advising Billy Lynch to start the first store,
which, failing to do, Samuel Irvine did himself. At the
time of the conflict of 1812 he advised his son, John
R., to be ready to enlist, which advice was obeyed, al-
though the lad was but thirteen years of age. Luckily
the call did not come. The wife of Samuel Irvine was
Mary Rose, born in Amherst county, Virginia, of Scot-
tish descent. The mother of our subject was Lucy
Hobsons, born in Bedford county, Virginia, in 1804,
and her father was Benjamin Hobsons. who married
Miss Moore, both natives of Virginia. Our subject
remained at home until nineteen and then joined the
Confederate forces and fought under the noted Stone-
wall Jackson and R. E. Lee. He was in most of the
heav) battles, being an artilleryman. At the close of
the war he returned to the home place and desolation
was spread around. The mother died in 1861 and the
father died in 1867. He and his brother and brother-
in-law commenced at the bottom again. He soon came
to Missouri, landing there in 1867. He settled in Pike
county and remained until September 26, 1869, when
he came to California, being in and around San Fran-
cisco until 1872, when a trip was made to Puget Sound.
Not liking the country he started to return but swerved
from his course to Latah county and in Latah county
lie has been since. Mr. Irvine settled on Silver creek
on April 1, and in 1876 he bought his present place, two
miles northeast from Farmington, which consists of two
hundred acres of good land and is one of the best of
the county. He has fine improvements, two story
house, commodious fruit house, milk cellars and houses,
and fine barns. His house and fruit storage building
are both supplied, as also the milk house, with fine
water piped from a never failing spring, and his prem-
ises are up to date in every particular. Mr. Irvine has
forty acres of timothy and will seed more. He has fifty
acres of orchard, one of the largest in the county, and
it is a fine dividend payer. Mr. Irvine assisted to build
the stockade at Farmington at the time of the Indian
trouble and one of his neighbors was killed by the
savages.
The marriage of Mr. Irvine and Miss Adelia,
daughter of James F. and Sydnah (Leuty) Ladd, was
solemnized on October 26, 1878, in Walla Walla, and
they have five children: Fred, Lucy R., Sydnah G., at-
tending normal school at Lewiston ; Landonia, attending
school; Frances C. The first two and the last are
deceased. Mr. Ladd was born in Louisville, Ken-
tucky, on February 19, 1815, and his father was Thomas
Ladd. The mother of Mrs. Irvine was born in Ray
ccunty, Tennessee, in 1825, and her mother's name was
Mary Roddy. Airs. Irvine was born in Ray county,
Tennessee, in April 12, 1858, whence she came to
Walla Walla and then to Latah county on June 20,
1875. She has sad recollections of the Civil war as
well as her husband. Her brothers and sisters are:
Thomas F., in Walla Walla ; Mary E., wife of Elliott
Perkins, in Spokane : Hannah E., wife of Joel Mc-
Pherson, in Tennessee; Lida, wife of M. N. Johnson,
Charleston, Washington. Mr. Irvine has the following
named brothers and sisters : Samuel, in Missouri ;
Elizabeth M., deceased ; Frances, deceased, was the wife
of John Pleasants, in Amherst county, Virginia ; John
l!.. 111 Washington; Robert, in Montana. Mr. Irvine
is a Mason, and in 1900 he was nominated without his
asking for county commissioner, and was promptly
elected by an appreciative public. When he asked the
Fusionist convention why he was nominated they re-
plied because he was the right kind of a man and could
be elected, which was proved at the polls. Previously
the county warrants were never at par but he has been
enabled with his colleagues to bring up the credit of
the county and has served the public well.
THEODORE CLARK. This well known gentle-
man is one of the leading horticulturists and small fruit
growers of the vicinity of Moscow, having labored here
lor a decade with excellent success, his home being in
the southeastern portion of the city. Mr. Clark was
born on July 7, 1841, in Van Wert county, Ohio, being
the son of Joseph and Nancy (Ankrom) Clark, natives
of Ohio. When our subject was three months of age
his father died and he was left in the hands of strang-
ers, being raised by them. At the early age of eight
years he began to do for himself on the farm, thus
learning the hardships and burdens of life while a
child. He continued at various employments until
April, 1861, when the call came for troops to repel the
invasion of Rebellion's minions, and he promptly re-
sponded to the first invitation, enlisting in Company
1), Twenty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for three
months, and at the expiration of that time promptly re-
enlisted in the Seventy-third Ohio Infantry, Company
A, for three years, being in the Army of the Potomac,
He was wounded in the battle of Bull Run, and again
at Gettysburg, and he was one of the noble veterans
who fought with courage and intrepidity until the
struggle was ended. Being mustered out in June, 1864,
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
639
at Cincinnati, he went thence to Piatt county, Illinois,
and engaged in farming there until 1873. then removed
to Iroquois county, the same state, remaining there until
1882, when he again removed, this time to Republic
county, Kansas. He bought a farm there and tilled
it until 1891, then migrated to the west, settling in
Latah county, purchasing a tract of land in the south-
eastern part of the city of Moscow, where he is residing
at the present time.
Mr. Clark was married in Iroquois county, Illinois,
in 1874, to Surfroma Grobner, a native of Ohio, and
to them were born four children : Thomas K., de-
ceased ; Courter, deceased ; Grace, and Bertnell.
In March, 1884. Mr. Clark contracted a second mar-
riage, the lady becoming his wife on this occasion being
Jennie Maples, and the nuptials were celebrated in Car-
hie. Illinois. Mr. Clark is a prominent member of the
G. A. R., Major Anderson Post, No. 5. He also affili-
ates with the I. O. O. F., Lodge Xo/96, in Belleville,
Kansas, being a member of the Rebekah order as well.
ORTON W. BEARDSLEY. Among the pros-
perous and enterprising agriculturists of Latah county,
we must not fail to mention the intelligent and influen-
tial gentleman whose name is at the head of this article,
since he has wrought out a success here in the line
which he has followed that demonstrates his ability ; and
also he is one of the men who has been selected t<>
handle the responsible affairs of the county, being thus
honored by his fellows, a distinction which is in no way
undeserved, and the fulfilment of the responsibilities
thus incurred are discharged with an acumen, faith-
fulness and dispatch that demonstrates the ability of the
man and conserve the interests of the county.
Orton W. was born at Crystal Lake, McHenrv
county, Illinois, on July 27, 1861, being the son of
Orsemus and Lucinda (Jackman) Beardslev, who are
mentioned in another portion of this volume. Our
subject remained with his father until twenty years
had rolled by and then in 18S1 he started for himself,
raising stock in Modoc county, California. In the
spring of 1884 he came thence to Latah county, pur-
chasing a quarter section of fine land two miles north
from Moscow, where he settled and devoted his ener-
gies to farming and stock raising. He was rewarded
with success, having now a farm of three hundred and
fifty acres, well improved and producing abundant re-
turns in crops and having fine buildings, which make
it in every respect an up-to-date estate.
The marriage of Mr. Beardsley and Miss Phcebe,
daughter of Archibald and Sarah Estes, was celebrated
on June 2. 1886, in Latah county. Mrs. Beardslev is
a native of Arkansas, and a detailed account of her
family appears in another portion of this work. Mr.
Beardslev is a member of the Masons. Paradise Lodge,
No. 17, while his wife is affiliated with the Presbyterian
church. He is identified with the Populist party, and
has been since its formation, at the present time
serving as countv commissioner from his home dis-
trict. The date of his election was November, 1900.
Mr. Beardsley is a man of sound principles, and is
dominated by a high sense of honor, being possessed
of wisdom and good practical judgment, and he is
highly respected by all, being a patriotic citizen and
an exemolarv man.
WILLIAM CARTER. This well known repre-
sentative citizen is justly entitled to space in the his-
tory of Latah county, since he has labored here for
many years, and also because at the time when
fratricidal strife lowered over this land he gave him-
self for the retrievement of the flag from insult and
the defense of the beloved institutions of the Union,
and fought bravely until the last gun ceased to sound
out treason.
Mr. Carter was born in Ashland county, Ohio,
nn July 24, 1830, being the son of John and Hannah
(.Figtey) Carter. He was taken by his parents to
Illinois when quite young, Peoria county being the
place, and there he received his education in the
country schools, attending them in the winter and
working on the parental farm in the summers. This
routine continued until he had attained his majority,
when he purchased a farm for himself and gave his
attention to its cultivation. Live years later he sold
out and went to Kansas ami there purchased a farm
and settled down until 1861, when he quickly re-
sponded to the call for men, enlisting in the Sixth
Battalion. Six months later he enlisted in Company
i'i, Fifth Missouri Cavalry, serving three years and
more until the regiment was mustered out, being in
arduous service and participating in the battle of Lex-
ington, Lone Jack, Sibley and several other engage-
ments. At Sibley, the enemy's bullets tore some of
the hair from his head, but further than that he was
untouched by war's dangers. He was almost con-
stantly in engagement from the time of enlistment
until discharged, being among Missouri bushwhack-
ers what time he was not in the other battles men-
tioned. Soon after being mustered out, in 1865, he
crossed the plains and settled in Grande Ronde val-
ley, Oregon, but soon removed to Linn county, the
same state. Six years later he came to Whitman
ci unity, ^Yashington, where eight or nine years were
spent, and then journeyed to Moscow, where he has
resided since. For twenty years he has held the office
of constable, and for three years has been city coun-
cilman, being the incumbent of both offices at the
present time. Mr. Carter is active in political mat-
ters, being allied with the Republicans, and in 1898,
was the only one of that party elected in the county,
the Populists gaining the others.
In 1856 occurred the marriage of Mr. Carter and
Miss Elizabeth Bruce, daughter of Robert Bruce, of
Peoria, Illinois, and ten children were born to them,
four of whom are living, a- follows: G. W. married
to Viola Thurston, living in Moscow and running
?. drav line: Ray P.. single and clerking in the Moter
640
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Wheeler store, where he has been for five years;
Emma E., married to N. Haynes, living on a farm in
Whitman county: Perry !'».. single, living with parents
and driving delivery wagon for Wolfe & Co. Mr.
Carter is a member of the Major Anderson Post of
the G. A. R. in Moscow, while Mrs. Carter is a mem-
ber of the W. R. C. and both belong to the Methodist
Episcopal church.
Mr. Carter and William A. Ladd built the Com-
mercial hotel of Moscow, then rented it and finally
sold it. Since his birth, which was on the frontier,
Mr. Carter has always wrought among the pioneers
of the country and he has done his work faithfully
and stands well in the estimation of all.
NIELS J. YISBY. Xot a few noble and stanch
men have come to our borders from the small .-ea-girt
land of Denmark, and they are among the best of those
who hold aloft the flag of freedom. As a capable rep-
resentative of this honored class, we are constrained to
mention die gentleman whose name is at the head of
this article, who is numbered with Latah county's lead-
ing farmers, having one of the finest farms in the
county, it being located between Moscow and Genesee,
and four miles north of the latter town, and being on
the rural free delivery, route No. 1. The estate con-
sists of two hundred acres of fertile soil, well tilled and
handsomely and tasefully improved with good orchards,
buildings, and so forth. This is the family home and
it is indeed a scene of thrift and happiness.
Mr. Visby was born in Thisted, Denmark, on De-
cember 25, 1837, being the son of Johannes Jensen and
Karen Marie (Nelsen) Yisby, natives also of the same
country, where they spent their days, being now interred
in the Thisted cemetery. Our subject received a com-
mon school education, and at the early age of fifteen
years started for himself. He had a decided talent for
music and during the winter months taught in the sur-
rounding country and thus accumulated a goodly sum.
In i860 he enlisted in the army and fought against Ger-
many, serving part of the time as corporal and once
being wounded in his right arm, the date being March
17, 1864 at Dopple Bank. After his time for recover-
ing had been spent in the hospital, he rejoined his com-
pany and fought until the close of the conflict, being
then honorably discharged, the date being 18(14. In
1866 he bought a farm and tilled the soil until 1872,
when he came to the United States and settled in Michi-
gan, working for a time in the Calumet and Hecla cop-
per mines in that state, then migrated to Moody coun-
ty, South Dakota, where he spent ten years in the cul-
tivation of the soil and then came to Latah county. He
bought a quarter section three miles north from Gene-
see and sixteen years this was the family home, then
lie sold it and purchased his present place as described
above.
In 1877 Mr. Visby married Miss Oline C, daughter
of Martin and .Marie Olsen, natives of Denmark. Three
children were born to them, Martin B., Johannes C,
and one deceased. In 1882, Mrs. Yisby passed away
and in 1884. Mr. Visby contracted a second marriage,
the lady of his choice on this occasion being Olena
Johnson, the daughter of John and Jansen Wold. To
this happy union there have been born the following
children: John O., Karen M.. Boord S.. Solang A.,
Emma C, Nellie O., Selmer O., Ludvig M., Viola V.,
and May A. This worthy couple are members of the
Norwegian Lutheran church, and are devout sup-
porters of the faith, being also highly esteemed mem-
bers of society and patriotic citizens.
ROBERT J. BELL One has but to observe the
tidy and excellent premises of the subject of this
sketch, which consist of eighty acres of fertile soil
one-half mile northeast from Farmington, to realize
that the owner is one of the mc>st enterprising and
thrifty farmers of the entire county of Latah. Mr.
Bell believes that what is worth doing at all is worth
doing well, and he practices his belief in a very ex-
emplary manner. Robert J. was born in the county
of Perth, Ontario, Canada, on March 17, 1861, be-
ing the son of Alexander and Margaret (Parr) Bell.
The father was a farmer and merchant in Canada,
born in 1833, whose father came from Scotland and
mother from Ireland. The mother of our subject was
born in Ontario in 1842, and her father, John Parr,
was born in England, and her mother in Ireland.
Our subject received his education in the excellent
schools of Ontario, and at the age of sixteen years
came to Manitoba and worked in the Canadian Pa-
cific and one year later he took a homestead and
settled to farming in Assiniboia. At the age of
twenty-three years he operated a steam pump on the
Great Northern, then wre find him in Seattle railroad-
ing and later in Spokane operating a saw mill engine
near there. He went later to Sprague, Washington,
and commenced to wipe in the rounanouse and was
soon promoted to fireman on a switch engine and then
to fireman on the road and after eight years he was
running an engine on the road, and at this he con-
tinued until 1807, when he quit of his own accord and
went to farming, purchasing his present place. In
addition, he has a quarter section in Canada. He has
fine buildings on his home place and his farm is a
veritable model in every respect. Mr. Bell quit the
road with a clean record and because he preferred
fanning.
On October 3, 1894, in Farmington. Washington.
occurred the marriage of Mr. Bell and Miss Minnie
J., daughter of John W. and Harriet (Parvin) Brink,
and they have one child, Minnie, born July 20, 1895.
Mr. Brink was born near Chicago, July 23, 1845,
and his wife was born in New Jersey, May 12, 1849,
and her mother, Mrs. Parvin, still lives in Hastings,
Nebraska. Mrs. Bell was born in Bunker Hill, Kansas,
on May 12, 1878, and she has the following brothers
and sisters : Luella, wife of Charles Moulton, in Farm-
ington; Sarah A., wife of I. S. Stewart, in Farming-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
641
ton; Ora M., wife of William Gumni, in Whitman
county ; Lila B., wife of Hiram Lance in Wardner,
Idaho; John S.. in Whitman county. Mr. Hell has the
following named brothers and sisters: Eliza J., wife
of Fred J. Tripp, in Spokane; Cornelius J., deceased;
David, in Wingham, Canada; Marshal J., in Canada;
Solomon, engineer on Northern Pacific, living in Spo-
kane ; Maggie, deceased ; Hiram, deceased ; Albert, in
Canada; Walter, in Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Bell are
members of the Methodist church. Mrs. Bell's father
served in the Civil war. enlisting for two years from
Illinois. Mr. Bell has fine blooded stock, chickens,
cattle, and so forth, and a choice orchard and is one
of the most thrifty and up-to-date farmers.
CHARLES W. YOCKEY. The enterprising
gentleman whose name initiates this paragraph is
one of the leading men and agriculturists and fruit
growers of the county of Latah, being a man of
stanch qualities of moral worth, and happily possessed
of fine business qualifications, as his possessions
abundantly testify.
Mr. Yockey was born in Monroe county, Ohio,
on February 7, 1853, the son of Lawrence and Sarah
A. (Weaver) Yockey. The father was a native of
Germany and died about eight years since, while the
mother was a native of Pennsylvania and is still living
in Rinard, Illinois. While our subject was a small
child of three years, his parents removed to Johnson
county. Iowa, and when he was twelve they removed
to Wayne county. Illinois. He was educated in the
various places where the family lived, and grew up on
a farm. When he had reached the age of majority
he began farming for himself and for five years he was
numbered with the thrifty tillers of the soil in Wayne
county. Illinois. It was in 1881 that he came to Latah
count)', and he soon homesteaded a quarter section
five miles south from Troy, where the family home is
at the present time. Mr. Yockey has demonstrated
himself to be a capable orchardist, having thirty-five
acres devoted to choice fruits and he is making a bril-
liant success in this line, as also he is in all lines in
which he operates. He has two acres planted to cher-
ries and it is a goodly sight to see the lucious fruit
in ripening. The balance of the orchard is devoted
largely to winter apples. Air. Yockey's residence is
the finest in tins section, and doubtless the most im-
posing and beautiful and tastily arranged for both
comfort and convenience with beauty, that is in the
county of Latah. His whole premises manifest the
thrift of the owner and his good judgment is appar-
ent at every turn.
The marriage of Mr. Yockey and Miss Armilda,
daughter of Thomas and Rachel (Southerland)
Greear, was solemnized in Rinard, Wavne county,
Illinois, on February 12, 1874, and they now have three
children: .Minnie, wife of Zo Krisher, living in Latah
county; Myrtle and Lawrence, at home. Mr.
Greear was a native of Tennessee and died in Illi-
nois, while his widow is residing with her son. Mr.
and Mrs. Yockey are members of the Bethel church on
American Ridge, it being a class of the Methodist
church, South.
GEORGE \\ . GALE. No compilation whose
purview is to give mention of the leading citizens of
Latah county would be complete without an honor-
able representation of the esteemed and well known
gentleman whose name is at the head of this article,
and who operates the Del Norte hotel, the leading
hostelry in the city, where he manifests the commend-
able qualities of worth of which he is richly possessed.
Mr. Gale was born in Portland, Maine, on October
II, 1859, being the son of James and Ellen (Page)
Gale, of Both well, Canada, whence they moved to
Portland when our subject was young. He was de-
nied the privilege of schools, but made up for that
by careful and tenacious study at home in the even-
ings and by judicious reading. At the age of thirteen
he was driving a lumber team, and in 1878 he hired
as second cook in a Wisconsin lumber camp. He was
an apt pupil and soon had the art well learned and
he followed this in the logging camps for fourteen
years, and in 1892 took a boarding house where he
did business for one year, then he sold that and bought
a grocery store where he was found for two years,
the location being Washburn, Wisconsin. In 1897 he
came to Moscow and took a homestead, and also
clerked in the hotel for three years, then went to
Everett, Washington. One year later he came back
to Moscow and rented the hotel Moscow, where he is
doing a good business at the present time. Mr. Gale
brings to the business a fund of knowledge gamed
from practical experience in all departments of the
hotel business and he is a host very popular with the
traveling public, maintaining a house that is first-class
:n every particular and that gives good satisfaction,
while his untiring care for the welfare and comfort
of his guests has won him many friends and patronage
that is lasting.
In 1880 Mr. Gale married Miss Hannah L., daugh-
ter of George and Katherine (Tynieke) Leslie, of
Thorp, Wisconsin, and they have become the parents
of three children: Maude AL, wife of G. Mix, an
implement dealer in the city of Moscow : Mabel L.,
living at home; James F., with parents. Mr. Gale
affiliates with the M. W. A., and the order of Elks.
while Mrs. Gale is a member of the K. X. of a.
-•
CHARLES W. McCANN. The enterprise and
sagacity of the subject of this sketch is manifest in
the manner in which he has labored and handled his
business affairs since coming to the west, and he is
today one of the substantial property owners of Latah
county, having four hundred and eighty acres of
fine land three and one-half miles southeast from
Farmington. The estate is one of great value both
on account of its pristine fertility and because of the
excellent manner in which .Mr. McCann has im-
642
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
proved it, having comfortable buildings and an orchard
of twenty-five acres of choice trees. Mr. McCann
-was born in Ogle county, Illinois, on September 28,
i860, being the son of Richard and Susan (Kidd)
McCann. The father was a stone cutter born in
Montreal. Canada, in 1832, and died in 1886, while
the mother was born in West Virginia, in 183S.
Charles W. remained with his parents until he was
eighteen years of age. gaining a good education and
then he came west, landing first in Sparta, Oregon.
He labored there on an irrigating ditch, but on account
of the hostilities of the Indians, he was obliged to
accompany General Howard to Walla Walla for
safety. He there spent three and one-half years at
bridge work for the O. R. & X. railroad, learning the
trade. In 1881 he went to John Day river, took a pre-
emption and proved up on it and two years later sold
it He continued in the stock business in Walla Walla
county until 1 89 1 and then traded stock for a farm
in Latah county. He had in 1883-4 taken a trip to
Illinois through Arizona, visiting also the New Or-
leans expedition. In 1897 Air. McCann sold the half
section of land he had bought in Latah county and
bought four hundred and eighty acres described above.
On account of school facilites, Mr. McCann has re-
moval his family to Farmington. going thence on
November 20, 1899.
The marriage of Mr. McCann and Miss Katie,
•daughter of Elias R. ami Isabella (Douglas) Sweet,
was solemnized in Spokane county, on January 1.
1887. and they have two children : Leroy O., Gladys.
Mr. Sweet is a carpenter, born in Ohio in 1830, and
his wife was born in Indiana in 1838. Mrs. McCann
was born in Agencv City. Iowa, on October 6, 1866,
receiving a common school education, and her broth-
ers and sisters are named as follows : Vinn, living at
Saint Marys river; Mary, wife of Charles Miller,
at Waverly; Anna, wife of John Lathrum, at Oakes-
dale: William, George, Dee R., at Waverly ; May,
wife of Albert Long, at Spokane. The brothers and
sisters of Mr. McCann are named as follows: Lucy,
at Polo, Illinois ; Emma, in the same place ; John, in
Alaska. Mr. McCann affiliate- with the Masonic fra-
ternity and the Eastern Star, at Farmington. He was
elected mayor of Farmington, but on account of busi-
ness interests in Latah county did not qualify. He is
a Republican, stanch and true, having never swerved
and has been central committeeman for six years.
Mrs. McCann is a member of the Baptist church.
CHARLES H. GOWER. To the industrious and
enterprising gentleman whose name is at the nead of
this article we grant space for a review of his life's
career, being assured that he is one of the substantial
and capable men of Moscow and has always mani-
fested moral qualities of intrinsic wortn.
Charles H. was born in Janesville, Wisconsin, on
February 6, 1862. being the son of George and Eva
(Frances) Gower, of Rock county, Wisconsin. In
his native city he was favored with a good education
and at the age of twenty was out in the battle of life
for himself, going first to Kansas wtiere i»e rented
land for a time, farming also his father's land, tlrn
went to teaming around Russell, continuing therein for
two years when he removed to Janesville, Wisconsin.
1 nere he was engaged m raising tobacco for two years
when he came to Dayton, Washington, the date being
1889, and for seven years we find him teaming and
draying there, after which he repaired to Moscow and
embarked in the stagp business, operating a i,ne from
Moscow to Lewiston and continuing therein for four
years when he sold out in 190 1 and purchased two lots
with their buildings in Moscow, which he still owns.
In 1882 occurred the marriage of Mr. Gower and
Miss Sarah, daughter of Frank Russell, and four chil-
dren were the fruit of this union, as follows, Delbert
V., Ella M., Lillie and Etta, all at home. ,n 1890 Mrs.
Gower was called from her home and family by death.
In iS<)2 y[r. Gower contracted a second marriage, the
lady being Lulu Ashby. the daughter of George and
Jane (Smith) Ashby. Mr. Gower is a member of the
M. W. of A. and is well esteemed in the community,
being a capable and faithful citizen.
CHARLES W. SHIELDS. There is no better
known business man in the county of Latah than the
subject of this sketch and he is one of the largest
property owners as well, having exerted in the last de-
cade a wonderful influence in the business realm of
the county and today being one of the firm of the
Moscow Hardware Company, which is the largest
establishment of its kind in this part of the country.
Referring more particularly to the personal history
of Mr. Shields, we note that he was born in Davidson
county. North Carolina. July 25, 1861, being the son
of Henry H. and Mariam M. (Hill) Shields, natives
of North Carolina and farmers of that state. Our
subject's father died in the battle of Winchester in
the Civil war. 111 1864. being in the Confederate army,
and the mother died in 1863 and is buried in For-
sythe, North Carolina. After these sad events, our
subject was taken by his grandparents, remaining
with them until their death, he being seventeen years
of age. He had then finished the public school course
and at .mce set himself to work his way through the
college course. In 1883 he accepted a position as
bookkeeper with the Holt Manufacturing Company,
cotton dealers, and spent two years, then resigned to
accept a position in a tobacco firm in Winston, North
Carolina, where he remained until 1887, then came to
Moscow, engaging with M. J. Shields, taking charge
of the office work, and in 1890 went into partnership
with his employer. They did the largest hardware
and implement business in the county, and this ar-
rangement continued until 1897. Then the partnership
was dissolved and two years later, when the business
was settled up. our subject took as partner, C. A.
Frantz, formerly of Boise, and the firm is known as
the Moscow Hardware Company, and in addition to
genera! hardware thev carrv building material and
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
643
plumbing goods, running a plumbing shop also.
They have commodious quarters, and carry the largest
stock of the kind in the entire county, and do a mam-
moth business, which is entirely merited by their up-
right methods and the capable manner in which they
handle the affairs of the company. Our subject and
M. J. Shields were the founders and are now owners of
the .Moscow electric light plant, the latter being presi-
dent and C. W. Shields secretary and treasurer. This
plant was started in September. 1889. In company
with W. L. Payne, our subject has three hundred and
twenty acres of land in the edge of the city and han-
dles much stock. In the days in which he labored with
M. J. Shields, they had a large saw mill that supplied
much of the lumber which builded a great portion of
Moscow.
Alt. Shields married Miss Marv AlcConnell on
August 2. 1893, at Moscow. Mrs. Shields is a daugh-
ter of R. D. and Ann (Nickle) McConnell. and a
niece of 1 iovernor McConnell. Her parents were na-
tives of Michigan and came to this country in 1888.
Mr. Shields is a member of the M. W. of A.. Moscow
Camp. His wife is a member of the Presbyterian
church. Mr. Shields is one of the most eminently
successful men of the count}-, and the reason is evident
from his excellent ability, untiring care of the details
of business, wise management of the larger interests,
and keen foresight, while his affability and genial per-
sonality have won him friends on everv hand.
HON. ALBERT J. GREEX. This able attorney-
at-law and estimable citizen of Latah county is a liv-
ing example of what pluck, perseverance, and an in-
domitable will can accomplish. He has achieved a
brilliant success in various lines, having wrought it
out by his own endeavors, while he has also done
much for his county in many ways. Mr. Green was
born in Tipton county, Indiana, on November 1, 1852,
being the son of William and Mary E. (Chodric)
Green. In the spring of 1853 the family migrated to
Appanoose county, Iowa, and farmed there until 1862
when they removed to Sacramento, California, and
thence to Lane county, Oregon. The parents removed
from that place to Rathdrum, Idaho, and there the
father died in 190 1. The mother is still living there.
Our subject remained with his parents, receiving a
good education, until he was twenty-four vears of age,
then married and came to Whitman county, taking
a homestead where he engaged in farming until 1885,
also taught school and took a leading part in the poli-
tics of the county and its advancement. He also had
paid much attention to reading law until that time
and in 1885 moved his family to Moscow and estab-
lished a home there. Then he went to Chicago, where
he entered the Union College of Law, graduating
therefrom in 1887 and then returned home. The fol-
lowing spring he was elected city attorney, being the
first of the newly incorporated city of Moscow. In the
fall he was elected prosecuting attorney of the countv
of Latah, being the first incumbent of this office, the
county having just been organized. In the fall of
1890 Mr. Green was elected to the state legislature to
represent Latah and Kootenai counties, it being the
first legislature of the state. He was chairman of the
ways and means committee and was a prominent ngure
in the house, while also he secured the appropriation
which enabled rhe new university buildings to be erect-
ed. In 1892 he resumed the active practice of law,
and soon. 1895, he was appointed secretary of the
board of regents of the state university. In' [897 he
closed his office in Moscow and went to Dawson, but
as it was Canadian territory he was unable to practice
law. so vvent to mining with rich success, returning
home in the fall of the same year. The next spring he
took his family to Dawson and remained there two
years, prosecuting his mining with generous returns.
In the fall of 1899 he went to Nome, where he prac-
ticed law and also did mining, coming out on the
Valincia, the last boat out, in the fall of 190 1. He has
now brought his family to Moscow with the intention
01 making his home here. Mr. Green will doubtless
make some more trips to Nome to attend to his mining
interests there.
The marriage of Mr. Green and Miss Mary E.,
daughter of Allen and Rachel (Robinson) Bond, and
a native of Lane county, Oregon, was solemnized on
December 10, 1876, in Lane county. Mrs. Green's
parents were natives of Indiana and came to Ore-
gon in 1853, settling on a donation claim near Eugene,
where the mother died in September. 1900. The
father is still living there, having mercantile interests
in Irving and being one of the representative men of
Lane county, which also he represented in the state
legislature. Mr. Green is fraternally affiliated with
the I. O. O. F., Moscow Lodge. No. 31. and with the
11. P. O. E., Lodge No. 24.9, being past exalted ruler
in this last order.
ANDREW E. HALLIDAY. This well known
and representative agriculturist ami fruit grower of
Latah county, has also a good reputation as an edu-
cator, having filled the responsible position of instruct-
ing the young in different places while in district thirty-
four hi this county, he taught steadily for eight win-
ters, making a record for efficiency and faithfulness
thai is seldom exceeded, and that marks him a man
of capabilities, integrity, and thoroughness, coupled
with a fine fund of erudition, and dominated with sa-
gacity and executive force.
Air. Halliday was born in Clinton county, Indi-
ana, on December 20. 1861, being the son of Samuel
B. and Emma E. (Avery) Halliday. The father and
mother were also natives of Indiana, the mother dying
in 1864, but the father remains at the same place a
respected and prominent citizen. Our subject gained
ry education from the indispensable common
schools and then completed a course in the Ladoga
Normal school at Ladoga. Indiana, and the famous
school at Lebanon, Ohio. He gave himself to teach-
ii ■■; : r three years subsequent to his literary course,
and then, in 1886. he came to the west. He first pre-
644
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
empted forty acres north from Troy, later selling it
and in 1S88. he homesteaded where the family resi-
dence is at the present time, six miles south from
Troy. He now has two hundred and forty acres of
fine land, well improved, and sixty acres of this estate
is (levied to a fine orchard. He has one thousand
pear trees and the balance of the mammoth orchard
is planted to choice winter apples.
The marriage of Mr. Halliday and Miss Alary E.,
daughter of Frederick and Paulina (Gotch) Hinst,
was" solemnized on American Ridge on August 21,
1887. and they have become the parents of the fol-
lowing children: Fred E., Clarence, deceased, Mary
Audrey, Lylyan N., and Id. Mr. Hinst lives in this
county, north from Cornwall. Mr. Halliday is at
present clerk of the board of school directors of his
home district and he is an ardent advocate of first-
class schools and he has done much for the advance-
ment of the cause of education. Fraternally Mr. Hal-
liday is affiliated with the M. W. A., and the W. of
W., Lodge Xo. 248, both at Troy.
WILLIAM W. YOUNG. The well known and
popular gentleman whose name is at the head of this
article is one of the substantial men of Latah county,
having demonstrated his ability to handle successfully
his own private business enterprises and also discharge
the duties of public life which his fellows called him
to, and it is with pleasure that we accord him repre-
sentation in this volume. He was born in Lafayette
county, .Missouri, on ( (ctober 10, 1853, being the son
of Charles M. and Yeleria A. (Mahan) Young. The
father was a farmer and burn in Lafayette county,
Missouri, on September 11. 1827, and is still living in
( >regon, while the mother was born in Albermarle
county, Virginia, in 1S37 and died in 1870. The parents
moved from the old home place in Missouri to San
Francisco in 1873. and thence to Sonoma county and
then to Santa Clara county and later we find them in
Mendocino county, and our subject worked in a saw-
mill and then later in the quick silver mines in Napa
county. He finished his education in the Napa Col-
legiate Institute by a two years' course. In the spring
of 1879 he went thence to Colusa farms and operated
a threshing machine for an old schoolmate, then spent
a time in San Francisco after which in 1883 he went to
Los Angeles and there sowed ten acres of alfalfa and
planted six thousand grape vines. Six years later he
sold this land, which cost thirty dollars per acre, for
one hundred and twenty dollars per acre. He made a
trade for his present place and came thither, the same
being a quarter section of good land two and one-half
miles southeast from Farmington, which is well im-
proved and handled in a skillful manner. He has one
of the finest barns in the entire county and a choice
orchard, and this place has been his home since his
residence in the county. Mr. Young has brothers and
sisters as follows, Jefferson D., living in Whitman
county and owns one-half section of good land ; Mary
E., wife of John H. Crawford and living in Oregon ;
Alexander, deceased : Iva L.. wife of John H. Smith,
living in Missouri. The father of our subject was a
soldier in the Confederate army. Our subject is al-
ways interested in political matters and has always
been a Democrat until recently, and now he laconi-
cally remarks that in politics he is an American citi-
zen. In the fall of 1894 he was nominated against his
wish by the Populist party for county commissioner
and without campaigning he was elected, running
ahead of his ticket, and then he set himself to fit him-
self for the office, and so well did he succeed that he
has been known as the attorney general by his asso-
ciates. Mr. Young has retused the office of justice
of the peace several times. He is zealous in the cause
of education and respected and esteemed by all.
ARCHIE B. ESTES, deceased. We are pleased
to grant to the representative and esteemed gentleman
whose name appears at the head of this article a mem-
orial in the abiding chronicles of this county, since he
was one of the real builders of the county and wrought
always with wisdom and enterprise, leaving a record
behind him untarnished and bright.
Mr. Estes was born March 2, 1828, near Xash-
ville, Tennessee, being the son of Thomas and Martha
Estes, natives of Xorth Carolina, who were farmers
of Tennessee and later spent twenty-four years in the
state of Arkansas in the same occupation. Until he
was twenty-one years of age our subject was occupied
with his father on the farm and in acquiring a good
education, then in the memorable year of 1849, moved
by the rumors of gold in the regions of California, he
came thither and engaged for two years in the pur-
suit of mining. After this time he returned to Ar-
kansas and settled down in Sharp county and engaged
in farming until 1874. at which time he came to Idaho,
with ox and mule teams, consuming six months on
the journey and homesteaded his present place four
miles north from Moscow. Here he devoted his
energies and time to the development of the estate and
in the noble efforts of upbuilding the county, which
was organized after that date. He also taught the
first public school in the AIoscow district. On Febru-
ary 28, 1890. the angel of death summoned Mr. Estes
to the world beyond. Air. Estes was a. noble and con-
sistent Christian and had lived a life devoted to the
service of the Savior of men, and his death was but the
passing of a soul to the joys awaiting on the other
side. The remains were interred in the AIoscow ceme-
tery.
A widow. Airs. Sarah Estes, who was married to
Air. Estes in Sharp county. Arkansas, in November,
[856, and nine children, Calvin, Laura, John, Fannie,
Thomas, Jasper. Phoebe, Alary and William, are the
immediate relatives left to mourn the demise of the
good man of whom we write. Airs. Estes' parents
were Calvin and Nancy (Crumback) Pine, natives re-
spectively of Xew York and Pennsylvania. Mrs.
Estes lives on the old home place and her son, Jasper,
is attending to the culture of the farm. She, as also
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
645
was her husband, is a member of the Baptist church,
and lives a devoted life in Christian walk, spending
now the golden years of a long life in the quietness of
the old homestead, a light to all, and esteemed and ad-
mired bv a large circle of friends.
NORMAN A. STANFORD. Any list of the lead-
ing citizens of Latah county would be sadly deficient
were there failure to add the name of the subject of
this sketch and it is with pleasure that we are en-
abled to chronicle the salient points in his career.
Norman A. was born in Clay county, Illinois, on
November 21. 1856. being the son of David and Mary
A. (Miller) Stanford. The father was a preacher
and also handled a farm. He labored in the spiritual
realm among the South Methodists and about thirty-
two years ago he was called hence to his reward. The
mother was born in Virginia and died in Illinois about
five years since. Our subject was reared on a farm
and educated in the schools of his native place and
remained there until 1880 when he migrated to Sanga-
mon county, Illinois. He took up farming near
Springfield and remained there until 1883 when he
decided to come west. He landed in Idaho in due
time and sought out a pre-emption about three miles
north from his present place and the following year he
took his present home place as a homestead. He now
has three hundred and twenty acres of land five miles
south of Troy. The estate is well improved, has a good
orchard of seven acres of winter apples, comfortable
buildings, and Mr. Stanford is one of the substantial
men of the county. He handles two hundred acres
under the plow and the balance of the land to pasture
and so forth.
The marriage of Mr. Stanford and Miss Lily B..
daughter of William and Catherine (Riggles) Kitley,
was solemnized on December 9, 1884, in Moscow, and
to them have been born four children, Eva, Bessie,
Otto, deceased, and Otis A. Mrs. Stanford was born
in Clay county, Illinois, and came west with her parents
in 1883. The mother is deceased, and the father is
living north from Moscow. Air. and Mrs Stanford
are members of the Bethel church, it being a class of
the Methodist church. South. They are worthy and
good people -and stand well in the community, being
kind neighbors and dominated by sound principles
and integrity.
HENRY ERICHSON. This representative and
well known business man of Moscow is at the present
time the leading photographer of that city, having a
fine gallery on one of the principal streets and doing a
lucrative business, and being a man of capabilities and
excellent qualities of moral worth. Mr. Erichson was
born in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, on December
21, 1856, being the son of Andrew and Anna Erich-
son, natives of Germany. The father was a wagon
maker and farmer and remained in his native land
until the time of his death. 1876. the mother having
died a decade previous. In 1871, in his fifteenth year,
our subiect came to America, going first to Ann Arbor,
Michigan, and remaining there or in that vicinity for
four years. He gained a good education during his
younger years, and also became proficient in the pro-
fession which he follows now. In 1875. he went to
California, remaining in Red Bluff for six months en-
gaged in the photographic business, having a gallery
of his own and for nine years traveling over the entire
northwest, in the photographic business. In 1884, Mr.
Erichson settled in Moscow, and at once opened up a
gallery, where he has done business since, now having
one of the best established businesses in the county. Mr.
Erichson is a leader in the art of photography and has
devoted himself to it with energy and assiduity and has
wrought out a commendable success.
i'h.' marriage of Mr. Erichson and Miss Jennie,
daughter of James and Ellen 1 Smith | Fairbanks, na-
tives of Scotland, was solemnized on November 2,
1885. and they have become the parents of two chil-
dren. Henry Oran and Ward Andrew. Mrs. Erich-
son is a native of California and comes from the fam-
ous Scotch Fairbanks family. Mr. Erichson is a mem-
ber of the K. O. T. M., Perkins Tent, No. 12; of the
Women of Woodcraft, Circle No. 192; W. of W .. Alt.
Moscow, No. 228: Brotherhood of American Yoe-
men. No. 860. Mr. and Mrs. Erichson are members
of the Presbyterian church and are highly esteemed in
society. Mr. Erichson is a member of the city council,
and is always interested in the political affairs of the
county and state. He owns the building in which he
does business and also a fine residence which is the
family home.
Mr. Erichson is president of the Photographers
Association of the Northwest and is a popular and
leading man in his profession, not only with the pub-
lic but among his professional associates as well.
HON. WILLIAM H. LEASURE. The subject
of this sketch, doubtless the largest farmer in the
county of Latah, is accorded representation in the his-
tory of his county both because of his business ability
and success as well as because of his stanch qualities
of real worth and uprightness, being one of the leading
men of the county and esteemed and admired by all.
William H. Leasure was born in Little Rock, Ar-
kansas, on September 28. 1845, being the son of
George and Elizabeth ( Crofford ) Leasure. who
crossed the plains from that state to Marion county,
Oregon, in 1851, settling on French Prairie. The
mother died soon after this and the father died in 1874,
having labored faithfully as a blacksmith and agricul-
turist. The school facilities in that new country were
limited and our subject had scanty opportunity to
learn from books, but wisely improved all he had. In
1864, he went on foot from the home farm to Boise,
Idaho, crossing the summits of two mountain ranges
in the dead of winter, paying one dollar and fifty cents
for each meal and sleeping in blankets wherever night
overtook him. He worked in the mines ab
646
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
for one year and then returned to the farm, assisting
in caring for the younger members of the family and
operating the farm. Three years later he started for
Boise again, and then stopped to work in a saw mill
for eighty dollars per month, later returning to Benton
county and buying one half interest in a tannery, which
he sold two years afterward and purchased a "band of
sheep. He started with a thousand and five years
later sold six thousand. Then he came to Moscow,
buying a quarter section and adding by purchase until
he has a magnificent estate of one thousand acres,
where he gives his attention to raising grain and good
draft horses. He has been blessed with excellent suc-
cess, having as high as twenty-five thousand bushels
of grain to market in one year, besides fruit and vege-
tables and stock. Mr. Leasure rightly considers the
soil about Moscow the very best of the famous Palouse
country.
In 1874, occurred the marriage of Mr. Leasure and
Miss Nancy L., daughter of George and Lucinda
(Ligit ) Ross, of Benton county, Oregon, who crossed
the plains in 1853. Three children were born to this
union, Frank YV.. married and living on farm: Effie
L., married and living in Grangeville. Idaho; Lilly,
single, living with parents and attending the univer-
sity where she is making a commendable record. In
the political affairs of the county, Mr. Leasure has
always been active, and his popularity is attested in
that when he was nominated for the legislature on the
Peoples ticket against John Paulson, Republican, Mr.
Leasure being also endorsed by the Democrats, lie won
the day by a large majority. And it may be said, that
Mr. Leasure has always fought for the man and not
for the name of the party. Mrs. Leasure is a member
of the Christian church. It is with pleasure that we
have been enabled to epitomize the career of this
capable and efficient business man, being assured that
his iife of enterprise and integritv entitled him to a
permanent place in the annals of the county, where he
has labored wisely and long for its upbuilding and
advancement.
JENNIE PAULSON. It is quite in accord with
the purview of this volume that representation should
be granted to the estimable lady whose name ini-
tiates this paragraph, since she has been a resident of
the county for some time and has maintained a bearing
and position quite commensurate with her rare endow-
ments, being highly esteemed by all.
La Crosse, Wisconsin, is her birthplace and A. R.
and Jane (Andrew) Olsen her parents. The father
still lives at Cashton, Wisconsin. Our subject received
her education from the schools of her native city and
at the age of fifteen was married to John Paulson, a
hotel keeper of that city. Two children were born to
this union, Elmer M. Paulson, attending business col-
ege in Moscow : Mabel H. E., attending die university.
In 1880. .Mr. and Mrs. Paulson moved to Lewiston
where they remained for two years and then went onto
a homestead seven miles south from Moscow, which
was then but a hamlet, the streams of the countv also
being unbridged and all trips were made with the in-
convenience of fording them. Thrift and good man-
agement brought success to the family and soon the
estate began to grow by purchase until it is now of the
fine proportions of five hundred and sixty acres, yield-
ing as high as twelve thousand bushels per year. Mr.
Paulson was a man of activity and energy and took a
leading part in the affairs of the county, holding many
offices of trust, and being ever characterized with faith-
fulness and efficiency. Airs. Paulson is a member of
the Rebekahs, No. 15. and also affiliates with the
Methodist church. In addition to the fine estate which
is well improved and adorned with fine and convenient
buildings, she has one of the most elegant homes in the
city, being a structure of modern architectural design
of fifteen rooms and tastefully furnished. Mrs. Paul-
son is a woman of gracious personality and presides
with dignified grace over the handsome home, which
is a center of refined hospitality and she hold- with
becoming sagacity and modesty her position among
the social leaders of Moscow.
FRANK L. LEONARD. One mile southeast
from the thriving town of Farmington, resides the
subject of this sketch, owning there a fine farm of one
hundred and twenty acres, and just south another
farm of one quarter section. He has a comfortable
home, a good orchard and raises diversified crops,
being a thrifty and enterprising farmer and substan-
tial citizen. He was born in Boone county. Illinois,
on February 7, i860, being the son of Jonathan F.
and Fannie L. (Nettleton) Leonard; the father was
a farmer, born in New York, in 1832, and died Au-
gust 28. 1890, while the mother was bora in 1837,
in the Empire state, and her grandfather, Danforth
Nettleton, lives in Whitman county. The children of
the family, besides our subject, are Leroy, deceased;
Byron C, in Whitman county ; Effie, wife of W. E.
Thompson, in Whitman county ; George A., also in
Whitman county. Our subject was brought to Osage
county, Kansas, by his parents when he was six years
of age. He was reared there and gained his educa-
tion from the public schools and remained with his
parents until they came to Whitman county in 1889,
the next year being the date when he started for him-
self. The father bought a farm in Whitman county
and remained there until the time of his death. Our
subject went to work for the different ranchers and
then bought his present home place, which he has
handled in a skillful manner since that time, being
one of the prominent farmers of the vicinity.
Mr. Leonard married Miss Sadie, daughter of
Luther and Almira (Stearns) Thompson, in Whit-
man county, Washington, on July 13, 1893, and one
child has been born to them, Mildred E. Mr. Thomp-
son was born in Newfield, York county, Maine, in
1832, and his parents, James and Sarah (Moore)
Thompson, were born in the same place and the fath-
ers of this couple were soldiers in the Revolution.
Airs. Leonard was born in Newfield, Maine, on July
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
647
15, 1859, and was educated in the common schools.
She came with her parents to Kansas in 1878, and she
has taught school for fourteen years. Mrs. Leonard's
mother was born in Maiden, Massachusetts, and raised
in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and the parents of
this lady were born in Newfield, Maine, and the great-
grandmother of Mrs. Leonard was named Hill. Mrs.
Leonard has brothers and sisters as follows, James,
deceased; William E., in Whitman county; Leroy,
Osage City, Kansas ; Luther, there also ; Marian, wife
of O. J. Swanson, in Blackwell, Oklahoma; Ethel,
■ wife of N. B. Rettinger, near Bossburg, Washington ;
Guy, deceased. Mr. Leonard affiliates with the W.
W. at Farmington. Two of his uncles on his mother's
side fought in the Union army and one gave his life
for his country.
JAMES T. WILSON. This gentleman is one
of the leading stock fanciers of the northwest, and
owns some of the finest stock that has ever been ex-
hibited here. His farm is about one mile east from
Moscow, which is his headquarters, and he is well
known throughout the entire region, both for the
success he has achieved in the line mentioned as well
as for the real qualities of moral worth that are ex-
hibited in his daily walk.
James T. Wilson was born in Rockcastle, Ken-
tucky, on February 13, 1850, being the son of Charles
and Mary A. (Wylie) Wilson, who removed to Car-
thage, Hancock county, Illinois, while the son was a
child. There he was favored with a good high school
education, and at the age of nineteen went to Kan-
sas, where he soon took a pre-emption and gave his
attention to farming for two years, when he removed
to Stockton, California, and engaged in the stock and
dairying business for one year. Then he repaired to
San Luis Obispo, in the same state, and took up the
dairying business for fourteen years. He finally sold
this business and went to Kansas, farming for two
years, then removed to Fort Scott, taking up the
wholesale flour and feed business, after which he went
to Atchison county and took up the life of a stock
fancier. Then he removed to Moscow, purchasing
eighty acres as stated above and this has been his
headquarters for his business since. He also owns
a quarter section four miles northwest from Moscow,
which is being stocked and put in shape for a fine stock
fancier's operations. Mr. Wilson has the finest Eng-
lish Shire horse in the west, also a magnificent Short-
horn bull, thoroughbred, which are for stock purposes,
and he also has some good Poland China hogs, and he
usually has a limited number of fine animals for sale.
It is worthy of credit to Mr. Wilson, that he has
labored so faithfully and well for the advancement of
the stock interests of the county, and surely he has
done much in this line, being recognized as one of the
leading stockmen in the country.
In 1884 Mr. Wilson married Miss Laura Grewell,
and one child was born to them, Claude S., now about
to graduate from the high school. In 1884 Mrs. Wil-
son died, being deeply mourned by all who knew
her. On May 25, 1888, Mr. Wilson married again,.
Miss Julia, daughter of Fred and Sarah Loring, of
Carthage, Illinois, becoming his bride, and to bless^
the union, two children have been born, Ruth, going
to school, and the other deceased. Mr. Wilson is a
member of the M. W. A. and his wife of the R. X. V.
and they both affiliate with the Methodist church,
being stanch supporters of their faith, and valuable
members of society.
JOHN J. HEICK. Among the representative ag-
riculturists and substantial citizens of Latah county,
we must not fail to mention him whose name appears
above, and who has labored here before the organiza-
tion of Latah county for the development of nature's
wilds and the upbuilding of the country. In the little
land of Denmark, whose sturdy and sagacious citi-
zens have maintained a separate state among the
great powers of . Europe for an indefinite time, the
subject of this brief review was born, the date being
July 17, 1853, the place, Agerskov, and his parents,
John and Annie (Bunedesen) Heick, natives of the
same country, and occupied in farming. Our subject
was educated in the schools of his place, and at the
age of sixt^n years went out from the parental roof
to undertake the battle of life for himself, being oc-
cupied in working for wages on the neighboring
farms until 1875, when he was twenty-two years of
age, then embarked for America. He first settled in,
Chicago, and one year later went to California and
t< 10k up farming for one and one-half years in Mon-
terey county. Thence he migrated to Yamhill coun-
ty, Oregon, and from that place came to Whitman coun-
ty, Washington. In the fall of 1877, he homesteaded
his present place, three miles north from Moscow and
there he has bestowed his labors in producing the
fruits of the field and in raising stock, with the success
that properly belongs to thrift and enterprise and wisely
directed efforts. He has good improvements and a fine
five-acre orchard.
Mr. Heick was married in Latah county, on May
7, 1881, to Mary E., a native of Oregon, and daugh-
ter of Henry M. and Pauline Rogers, mention of
whom is made in this volume. To this worthy couple
were born the following children. Cora, Chester A.,
Rena and Ruth. Mr. Heick is a member of the A. O.
U. W., and is one of the substantial and progressive
men. taking an active interest in the political affairs
of the county and the welfare of all, while commenda-
ble sagacity has been displayed in the management of
his business interests.
JAMES L. MILLER. As a pioneer of this sec-
tion of the west, as a farmer and stockman and es-
pecially as a hotel man. the subject of this sketch is
well known and he now operates one of the best houses
648
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
in the city of Moscow, the Commercial Hotel, where
he does a thriving business and merits the rich pat-
ronage that he receives, because of his affability and
careful attention to tbe comfort of his guests.
Air. Miller was born in Dauphin county, Pennsly-
vania, on October 3, 1845, being the son of Joseph
and Catherine (Chive) Miller, of Pennsylvania. His
education was received in the common schools of
his native place and at the age of twenty-one he
started in life for himself, working first on his father's
farm and in the vicinity until he became desirous of
seeing the west and then he started to Iowa, whence in
1875 he came to Portland, remaining there one and one-
half years. The next move was to Colfax. Washing-
ton, and from there he went to Palouse, where he
built the first hotel of the place, naming it the Pioneer.
This was in the fall of 1877 and in 1881 he sold out
and removed to Cove. Idaho, thence to Princeton,
•where he took land and later added by purchase until
he had a fine large farm. This was his home until
February, 1900, when he traded the land for the Com-
mercial Hotel in Moscow, where he is installed at the
present time. The building is eligibly situated and
has forty bedrooms, besides the living rooms, offices,
dining room and cuisine. The establishment is
handled with skill and is one of the popular places of
the country.
.Mr. Miller was married in 1873, on March 6, to
Miss Mary J., daughter of John A. and Experience
(Redford) Davis, of Indiana, and to them eight chil-
dren have been born. Alfred H. married to Emma
McCoy and living in Moscow: James L., living in
Everett, Washington ; George O., at home with his
parents; Joseph L., married to Venia McCoy and liv-
ing in Moscow ; Winifred, deceased : Sanford P., at-
tending school ; Pearl B., going to school ; an infant
deceased. Mr. Miller takes an active part in the local
politics and affairs of the community, being always on
the side of advancement and progress. He is affili-
ated with the I. O. O. F. and is highly esteemed by
his fellows, and his commendable manner in handling
his business affairs has placed him in a substantial
position of competence.
JAMES R. STRONG is at present holding the re-
sponsible position of probate judge of Latah county,
-where he discharges with efficiency and faithfulness the
duties that devolve upon him. He was born in Sulli-
van. Ashland county, Ohio, on September 24, 1849,
being the son of Oren R. and Amanda (Gibbs) Strong,
natives respectively of New York and Illinois. The
father farmed in < )hio, Illinois, and Kansas, then served
three and one half years in the Fourth Missouri Caval-
ry, Union army, for his country, after which he retired
to farm life in Missouri. Atchison county, that state.
was the scene of his endeavors as a farmer and dairy-
man until 1876, when he removed to Kansas, and in
1892, came to Idaho, settling in Latah county, but now
has retired from active life and lives at Garfield, Wash-
ington. The subject of this sketch remained with his
father until twenty-one years had rolled by, then en-
gaged in farming for himself in Fremont county, Iowa.
In 1X7(1 he sold out there and went to Illinois, being
married in that state, then repaired to Riley county,
Kansas, where his father dwelt. Eight years were
spent there as salesman in a general merchandise es-
tablishment, and in 1890, we find him journeying to
Idaho. He settled in the northern part of Latah coun-
ty where he has a good farm at the present time. He
taught school for some time and then entered the lum-
ber business, being eight years thus occupied. Then
he was called by the voice of the people to the office of
probate judge of the county, where he is now filling
Wis second term with acceptability. His residence is
in the city of Moscow.
On December 15, 1876, Mr. Strong married Miss
Mary M. Putman, a native of Illinois, the nuptials oc-
curring in Canton, Fuller county. The fruit of this
happy union is as follows : Alvah, Eunice, Ettie, Alice.
Mtfs. Strong's parents were George C. and Charlotte
( Crosthwaite) Putman, farmers of Illinois. Mr.
Strong is a member of the I. O. O. F. Mrs. Stronf ;s
affiliated with the Methodist church.
JOSEPH R. COLLINS. The subject of this
sketch is one of the most popular citizens of Latah coun-
ty, having demonstrated his ability and integrity in a
successful and active business career within its pre-
cincts, and his faithfulness and efficiency in discharg-
ing in a commendable manner the duties that devolved
upon him from the public offices that have been com-
mitted to his care by the people. Mr. Collins is a native
of Union county. South Dakota, being born on April
T2, 1868, to Lycurgns H. and Margaret S. (Wood)
Collins. The parents came to that section in 1859, set-
tling where Elk Point is now, and in 1877, they came to
this county, bringing the subject of this sketch. The
lirst winter was spent in fort Crumrine west of Mos-
cow, and in the following spring the father took up
farming in Whitman county, Washington. Joseph
lv. assisted his father on the farm and labored as-
siduously in the acquisition of an education, being suc-
cessful in both occupations. After reaching his ma-
jority, he was engaged in buying wheat through the
Palouse country until 1894, then he came to Juliaetta,
this county, and there established himself in the mercan-
tile business, handling a general line, also farm imple-
ments and grain. He was successful from the be-
ginning and made a record for business that was com-
mendable, and his patronage continued to grow until
he decided to sell, which was in the early part of 1899,
and in November of that vear he was "elected sheriff
of Latah county on the Republican ticket against M.
Driscoll, of Genesee. He made a fine officer, carrying
the same uprightness and energy into the discharge of
die public duties entrusted to him that was character-
istic of him in his own private business operations. He
has won friends from every part of the county and his
JAMES R. STRONG.
JOSEPH R. COLLINS.
ELMINA E. FRY.
MRS. MATTIE HEADINGTON.
JAR LARSON.
BENJAMIN J. JONES
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
649
sound principles, good ability, discretion, and faithful-
ness are deserving of the encomiums bestowed and
the honors given by the franchises of the people.
Mr. Collins was married in Colfax, Washington, on
April 6, 1893. tne lady tnen becoming his wife being
Miss Avis E., daughter of J. A. Hastings, and a native
of California. To this happy couple there have been
born the following offspring : Harold F. and Kenneth
II. .Mr. Collins is a member of the K. of P., Eureka
Lodge, Xo. 24: of the W. of W., Clearwater Camp,
No. 203: and of the Moscow Circle, No. 192. Women
of Woodcraft. Mr. Collins is a good citizen, a thorough
and keen business man, and a highly respected member
of society.
< )SCAR LARSON. Descended from the world
wide famous stock which first discovered the new-
world, the subject of this article has demonstrated the
force of his nature in the admirable work which he has
acci implished in Latah county, being a leader among the
business men. while also he has discharged the public
trusts imposed upon him by the franchises of the peo-
ple, in a manner befitting the high honor of his per-
sonality and the commendable characteristics constant-
ly bestowed by him.
Oscar was born in Waseca count}-, Minnesota, on
September 5, i860, being the son of John and Christina
(Peterson) Larson, natives of Sweden, who came to
this country in 1853, settling first in Indiana and then
removing to the above place in Minnesota. The mother
died in October, 1900, but the father is still living at
the home place. Our subject received a good education
and assisted his father on the farm until he had arrived
at twenty-four years of age, then went onto a farm for
himself, laboring until 1887. then migrated to Moscow,
where he engaged as salesman in a general merchan-
dise establishment. In 1889 he went into business with
< >. A. Johnson at Moscow, continuing in the same until
1892, when he organized the Yollmer Milling and Mer-
cantile Company, establishing himself at Troy, Idaho.
In 1898, Mr. Larson was called by the franchise of
the people to accept the office of county clerk, auditor,
and recorder, and for four years he was found in the
efficient and faithful discharge of the duties thus in-
cumbent upon him, all being done to the entire satis-
faction of an intelligent public. In 1899. ^r- Larson
sold out his interests in the business at Troy, to his
partner, Mr. Johnson, and is at the present time living
in his elegant residence in the city of Moscow. Mr.
Larson has a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres
seven miles west from Moscow, and he gives his atten-
tion to the superintending of this.
The marriage of Mr. Larson and Miss Hilda M.
Larson, a native of Sweden, was celebrated in Waseca
county. Minnesota, on June 4, 1884. and they have he-
come the parents of three children, Esther E., Elsie
C. and J. Clarence. Mr. and Mrs. Larson are mem-
bers of the Lutheran church and are among the most
substantial and popular citizens of the county.
BENJAMIN J. JONES. One of the efficient coun-
ty officers of Latah county, a capable business man, be-
ing engaged in general farming and stock raising, the
subject of this article is well known throughout the
county, and deserves a place among the real builders of
the county in its history. His birth was in Yadkin
county. North Carolina, and the date was April 1, 1865,
his parents being Benjamin F. and Mary (Chauser)
Jones, natives of the same state, his ancestors for four
generations being prominent and capable citizens also
of the Old North state. Our subject remained with his
father until 1888, when he came to the west, .settling
in Latah county. Shortly after his advent here, he
engaged with the < ). R. & N. Company, remaining six
months in their employ, then he accepted the manage-
ment of a sawmill company, and for six years he
wrought steadily there. In 1895, he purchased forty-
acres of his present farm ; in 1896 one hundred and
sixty acres ; in 1899, forty acres ; in 1900, two hundred
acres; in 1901, three hundred and twenty acres. It is
an estate of seven hundred and sixty acres, eighteen
miles north from Moscow, being composed of fine farm-
ing and timber land. Here he gave his attention to
general farming and raising stock with creditable suc-
cess, until November, 1900, when his name appeared
on the Republican ticket as assessor and tax collector
for Latah county, and the people of the county prompt-
ly elected him to fill that position. He is engaged in
this labor at the present time, having transferred his
residence to the county seat.
On October 14, 1895, Mr. Jones married Miss Eva
Johnson, a native of Missouri, whose parents died when
she was very young. At the time of her marriage she
was living with a married sister in this county. They
have become the parents of two children. Opal and
tienevieve. Mrs. Jones is a member of the Christian
church and Mr. Jones affiliates with the W. of W., Pa-
louse Camp, No. 97. Mr. Jones is a capable and good
man, a kind and genial neighbor, an efficient public
officer, and is highly esteemed by all, and has mani-
fested a commendable sagacity and thrift in all of his
business affairs.
HENRY HOWELL. The subject of this article
is one of the doughty pioneers and intrepid frontiers-
men who heat back the savages and gave this country
to the redemption of civilization, being also himself
one who has wrought for its progress, and develop-
ment with wise and vigorous labors. He resides five
miles southeast from Farmington, where he has a
fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres of good
land, well improved. Mr. Howell was born in East
Tennessee in 184.2, the son of Duke and Margaret
(Loomis) Howell. The father was a tailor and native
cf New York, while the mother was born near Knox-
ville. Tennessee, and her parents were Henry and
Lizzie Loomis. The other children of their family
were Samuel, in Tennessee: Sarah, wife of William
( (wens; Harriett, wife of Alex Carnes : Nancy, all in
Tennessee.
650
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Our subject remained in his native state until
thirteen, when he enlisted in the regular army and
was sent across the plains into Nevada, then to Fort
Craig, New Mexico, where two years were spent.
The next move was to Fort Thorn, on the Rio Grande
river, whence he went to Fort Tehone, California,
and then to Walla Walla, Washington, and was dis-
charged one year after his arival. At the breaking
out of the war he enlisted in Company F, First Ore-
gon Infantry, and served until the 20th of July, 1866.
He was engaged in fighting the Nez Perces and Couer
d'Alene. Indians. Following this service, he started
for Tennessee but stopped at Portland and returned
to The Dalles, whence he went to Vancouver and
thence to Linn county, Oregon. He worked out there
and then bought land and farmed until 1882, when
he sold and came to Latah county. He took a home-
stead and lived on it for twelve years and then bought
his present place, which has been the family home
since that time.
On September 18, 1875, Mr. Howell married Miss
Margaret, daughter of Jackson and Elizabeth (Wit-
ten) Oueener, and to them have been born seven
children, Elizabeth, deceased ; Mary, in British Co-
lumbia ; Anna, in British Columbia ; William, in Brit-
ish Columbia; Charles, at home; Eva, wife of Clay
Noble, living near Tekoa ; Clabe. at home. Air.
Queener was born in Tennessee in 1814, and his wife
was born in the same state in 1818, and her parents
were Elijah and Sarah (Stover) Whitten. Mrs.
Howell has brothers and sisters named as follows. Al-
bert, deceased ; Martha, wife of Joseph Hill, in Nez
Perces county: Mary, deceased; Hukla. wife of Ben-
ton Hill, at Kendrick: James, at St. Maries: William,
in Oregon: George, also in Oregon; Sarah, wife of
John Morris, in Oregon ; Claburn, in Oregon ; Bell,
wife of Charles Caldwell, in Latah county. Mr.
Howell is a member of the G. A. R. and his wife is
a member of the Seventh Day Adventist church. It
is of note that Mr. Howell was with General Wright
and helped in the execution of fifteen Indians, ten
miles from Spokane, Washington, on a creek that is
named Hangman creek from that occurrence. In the
battle before this there had been killed about fifteen
hundred ponies and twenty-one Indians.
MURDOCK CAMEROX. To the highlands of
Scotland we have to go to find the birthplace of Mr.
Cameron, and 1849 was the date of this event, his par-
ents being Finlay and Ann Cameron, natives of the
same country. Our subject is the brother of Daniel
Cameron, mention of whom is made in this volume.
In 1866 he came to this country with Daniel and they
were together in the travels and labors outlined here-
tofore, and in 1871, together, they made their way into
the territory now embraced in the county of Latah.
They took homesteads, our subject now living on his
four miles north from Moscow. He has added by
purchase to the original place until he has four hun-
dred acres of land, which make one of the typical farms
of the entire county, being handled in a skillful manner
and annually producing abundant returns of good
crops. Mr. Cameron has always taken the part of the
wise and interested citizen in the affairs of the county
and state and has done much for the upbuilding of the
same, while he has prosecuted his own private enter-
prises with vigor and sagacity. He has a fine house,
commodious and substantial out buildings and barns,
and his farm bears the imprint of good management
and thrift in every department.
In iSg.T Mr! Cameron made his way back to the
land of his nativity, and there on March 15, of the
same year, in the town of Roshshire. he married Miss
Annie, daughter of John and Maggie McKenzie, na-
tives of Scotland, the daughter also being native to
that land. Their bridal trip was the journey to the
western home provided by the sturdy labors of Mr.
Cameron and here they have been blessed by the ad-
vent of four children, Ann, Maggie, Christina and
Finlay. Mr. Cameron and his wife are members of the
Presbyterian church and are faithful exponents of the
faith thev hold, while thev are valuable members of
societv and esteemed bv all.
MARQUES L. SMITH. This representative
agriculturist dwells seven miles northeast from Gar-
field and owns one hundred and sixty acres of land
well improved. He raises a diversity of crops and
fruits and also cattle and horses. Mr. Smith was born
m Marion county. Indiana, near Indianapolis, on Sep-
tember 8, T839, the son of Simeon and Hannah (Mc-
Coy) Smith. The father was a blacksmith, born in
Lincoln county, Kentucky, on March 6, 1810, and died
in March, 1876. The grandfather, Hezekiah Smith,
fought under George Washington, for six years in
the Revolutionary war. The great-grandfather,
Hezekiah Smith, was murdered by the Tories and In-
dians while Ins son, Hezekiah, was fighting for the
independence of the colonies. Our subject learned
the blacksmith trade and worked with his father and
attended subscription school. He remained at home
until twenty-two years of age. The father went to
Fremont county, Iowa, in 1857 and opened up a
blacksmith shop and there wrought until his death.
When the war broke out Marques L. enlisted in Com-
pany A, Fourth Iowa, and served two vears. Fol-
lowing this he returned to his old home and farmed
there until February, 1877, when he removed to Yolo
county, California, and there engaged in blacksmithing
until 1880. Then he came to Latah county, having
explored it in 1877. visiting in the fort at Moscow and
Palouse during the Indian outbreak. He took a farm
in Whitman county, just across the line from his-
present farm. Later he bought his present place and
has resided there since that time.
On December 23, i860, Mr. Smith married Miss
Sarah ].. daughter of McCoy and Sarah (Jones) Mal-
com, and to them have been born eight children, as
follows: Charles S., in Latah county; Carleton R., in
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
65 ]
Latah county ; Thomas, in Whitman count}', Washing-
ton ; Peter, at home ; Harrison, deceased ; Elberta, wife
of J. T. Green, in Farmington; Louisa M., wife of
Joseph Martin, in Latah county ; Clara, wife of L. E.
Harrington, in Nez Perces county. Mr. Malcom was
born in Wayne county, Indiana, in 1818. and his wife
was born in Clinton county, Ohio, in 1819. Mrs.
Smith was born in Delaware county, Indiana, on Feb-
ruary 1, 1842, and her brothers and sisters are as fol-
lows : James, deceased, and the others are all in Iowa,
John, Isaac, Albert and George. Mr. Smith had one
brother, Andrew, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are
members of the United Brethren church at Cedar
creek. Mr. Smith was nominated by the Populist
party for state senator and came within nine votes of
being elected. He and his wife were delegates to the
national Populist convention in Omaha. In 1898 Mr.
Smith was elected for county commissioner on the Pop-
ulist ticket and discharged his duties with credit to
himself and benefit to the county. He is always ac-
tive in politics and is ever laboring for the progress of
the countv.
JOHN E. GRINER. This enterprising and intel-
ligent farmer resides on two hundred and forty acres
of fine land seven miles east from Garfield, Washing-
ton, where he raises abundant returns of diversified
crops, having his farm well improved and cultivated.
John E. was born in Butler county. Pennsylvania, on
February 22. 1859, the son of John and Elizabeth
( Carnahan ) Griner. The father was a farmer, born in
1835, the son of Jacob Griner, while the mother was
born in the Keystone state in 1839, and her parents,
Samuel and Susan, were born there also. Our subject
gained his education from the common schools in
Pennsylvania and Kansas. The family removed to
Kansas in 1870, settling in Pottawatomie county,
where they farmed and raised stock for sixteen years,
then decided to come west and landed in Spokane, over
the Northern Pacific road, on February 22, 1886. A
short stay there sufficed and then the father came to
Latah county and took land which he farmed until his
death in 1899. Our subject bought a quarter section
of land, mentioned above, and to the improvement and
cultivation of this he has assiduously devoted himself
that time.
Mr. Griner married Miss Maggie Bills, on October
23, 1884. in Kansas, and to this union, four children
have been born, Nellie, Grace, Earl and James. Mrs.
Grmer's father, John Bills, was a miller born in In-
diana, in January, 1829. and her mother, Julia (Hill)
Bills, was born September 12, 1846 in Ohio. Mrs.
Griner was born in Indiana, on March 18, 1862, and
she has the following brothers and sisters : Wilber,
in Kansas : Allie, wife of George Griner, in Latah
county: Ola. wife of John Conkling, in Oklahoma;
George, in Kansas : Josie, wife of Elmer Mark, living
in southern Kansas. Mr. Griner has the following
named brothers and sisters : Henry, in Garfield ; Josiah,
deceased ; Oliver, deceased ; George, in Latah county ;
Marv, deceased : Hettie, wife of Columbus Cockrell,
in Latah county; Phillip, on Camas Prairie; Maggie,
wife of E. C. Covey, in Washington ; Pollard, de-
ceased ; Bertha, wife of William Hayden, in Latah.
Mrs. Griner is a member of the Methodist church.
Mr. Griner is one of the substantial men of the county
and stands in esteem among his fellows.
JAMES D. KUNES. This enterprising and
substantial farmer and intelligent citizen of Latah coun-
ty is rightly classed among the prominent and progres-
sive men of his section and as one of the real builders
of the county and developers of the same, he is entitled
to representation in this volume of its history, being
also a man of excellent personal qualities and of a good
standing among his fellows.
Mr. Kunes was born in Centre county, Pennsyl-
vania, on June 10, 1841, being the son of Jacob and
Hannah (Lucas) Kunes. He was educated in his na-
tive state and there remained engaged in farming and
lumbering until 1878. He was determined then to see
the west for himself and to investigate its resources.
He accordingly came to Oregon and after one year
spent there he made his way to Idaho. He went to
work at lumbering on the Clearwater, and there and in
other sections lie was engaged until 1886, when he took
his present place, as government land. His farm lies
twelve miles northeast from Kendrick. being near
Linden, and in addition to the quarter section in the
home place he has eighty acres of land near by, making
a total of two hundred and forty acres. He devotes
himself to general farming and also has a good
orchard, having his farm well improved.
In Cameron county, Pennsylvania, occurred the
marriage of Mr. Kunes and Miss Sarah Lupro, the
nuptials occurring in 1870, and to them has been born
one child. Maud, wife of George Welker, living in
Latah county.
Mr. David Kunes. a brother of our subject, lives
with the latter. David Kunes was born in Centre
countv, Pennsylvania, on August 25, 1836, and heand
his brother have been together most of their lives.
David was married in Pennsylvania, but his wife died
in the earlv seventies. He has one son, George Kunes,
living in Pennsylvania. These brothers are well
known and highly respected men and have always con-
ducted themselves in a commendable manner, with
manifestation of uprightness and goodly virtues.
CHARLES B. TOWNE. This representative
citizen and capable agriculturist, and substantial and
upright man is entitled to a place among the leading
citizens of Latah county and it is with pleasure that
we accord him such in this volume, being assured that
he is one who has labored faithful and wisely for the
upbuilding of this county and to make it what it is at
this time, one of the leading counties of the state.
Charles B. was born in Clayton county, Iowa, on Jan-
uary 7. 1855, being the son of Ethamer S. and Ellen
652
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
L. Towne, natives of New York and farmers there until
they came west to Iowa and Minnesota, whence in
1876. they went to California, and eight months later
came to Idaho, selecting a homestead adjoining that
now occupied by our subject, which is five miles north
from .Moscow. Here the father farmed until 1891
when he retired from active work and is now living
with his son, Albert, in the vicinity of Moscow. Our
subject took his present place at the same time his fa-
ther homesteaded the adjoining quarter. He had re-
mained with his father up to that time and then he
continued to live with the parents, working both places
until 1887. when be removed onto his own and there
he lias dwelt since that time. He has devoted his
entire attention to farming and stock raising and he
has achieved a good success, having ttow two hundred
and forty acres, well improved and stocked, which
produce abundant returns in crops.
On May 14. 18S4, Mr. Towne took unto himself a
wife, the lady of his choice being Miss Jennie E., a
native of South Dakota, and daughter of Hezekiah
and Mary" J. Townsend. natives of Pennsylvania, but
now farmers of South Dakota. To this amiable and
happy union there have been born two children. Edgar
ami Xettie. Mr. Towne is a man of good ability and
he has manifested commendable wisdom in the mani-
pulation of his business affairs while also he has not
failed to evince an active interest in the political mat-
ters and local doings, and he has ever shown a broad
public spirit and characteristic uprightness and in-
tegrity.
M. J. SHIELDS was born in Lockport. Niagara
county. New York, on September 15, 1852, being the
son of John and I'.essie (Tyan) Shields. His earlv
schooling was received in his native place and later he
studied in Rochester. New York, but at the age of six-
teen went into the sterner duties of life. In 1870, he
removed to San Francisco and remained there until
1S7S. then came to Moscow. He first started as a
dealer in implements, also handling mill machinery,
and for a time he had the largest distributing wa re-
house in the entire Palouse country. He established
saw mills in addition to this mammoth business and
his usual success attended him in this venture, and he
handled the products of the forest from the rough logs
to the finest finishing material, having the necessary
.saw and planing mills for the manufacture of all this.
In [899 he confined his efforts to implements alone and
growing and handling grass seeds of all kinds. He
owns twelve hundred acres of fine land which he de-
votes to this purpose, and the seeds from this excellent
farm find their way all over the country. He handles
about two hundred head of cattle on this farm, which
are fed from the remnants of the seed productions.
The farm has the capacity of five hundred head and he
will soon add this number. For the selling of the pro-
ductions, he has a three story brick building in the
center of the city, with ground plan twenty-five by
one hundred feet. In addition to his fine business. Mr.
Shields owns and operates the electric light plant of
the city and also operates a retail store for electrical
furnishings.
The marriage of Mr. Shields and Miss Sarah A.,
daughter of John E. and Mary Henry, and a native of
Thomaston, Maine, was celebrated in 1886 and to
them have been born four children, namely: Fred M.,
Madeline M., James H. and Louis H. Mr. and Mrs.
Shields are members of the Roman Catholic church,
while he affiliates also with the Elks.
HENRY C SMITH. This capable and substan-
tial agriculturist and stockman is one of the prominent
men of Latah county and deserving of mention in this
volume of his county's history, and it is with pleasure
that we accord him consideration. Henry C. was born
in Clark county, Ohio, on January 3. 1845, :ne son °f
Peter and Plvxbe (Judy) Smith. The father was a
school teacher and real estate dealer, born in Cincin-
nati, Ohio, in 1802. The mother was born in Ohio, in
1807, her parents being John and Phcebe (LaMasters)
Judy. In addition to our subject, this worthy couple
had other children, as follows : Elizabeth, deceased ;
Orlanda. deceased : Ellen, deceased ; Matilda, de-
ceased; Alonzo in YVardner, Idaho; Nancy A., wife of
Captain E. C. Davis, in Sumner, Illinois ; John J., died
in service, during the Civil war ; Mary, wife of H. H.
F.urbank. deceased : Rhoda T., wife of George Heath,
deceased; Peter J., with the county commissioners of
King county. Washington: Samuel M., in Latah coun-
ty: Phoebe C, wife of Harrison Combs, in East St.
Lottis. In 1840, the parents took our subject to Law-
rence county, Illinois, and he remained at home until
1870, then went to work for himself, engaging in the
manufacture of lumber, which occupied him for four
years. This labor was in Jasper county, and in 1875
he took a contract for building bridges, and in the fall
of that year he came to Puget Sound. He engaged in
farming until 1878. when he came to the territory now
embraced in Latah county. He bought the right of
another man and homesteaded his present place, six
miles east from Garfield, and this has been the family
home since that time.
The marriage of Mr. Smith and Miss Narcie,
daughter of Lorenzo D. and Lucinda (Ray) Jameson,
was solemnized on January 23. 1879, in Latah county,
and the following named children have been born to
them; Phoebe L.. an educator in Whitman county;
Harry C, attending the university at Moscow: Henry
M., at home: Minnie, attending the university at Mos-
cow. Mr. Jameson was a native of Tennessee and his
wife was born in 1840, while Mrs. Smith was born in
Arkansas, in 1862, and died on September 10. 1888.
Her brothers and sisters were named as follows- Za-
relda. wife of S. M. Smith, in Latah county: Sarah,
wife of J. H. Horton, in Latah county: Cordelia, de-
ceased: Charles, in YVardner. Idaho: Margaret, wife
of Thomas J. Woods, in Whitman county ; Rebecca J.,
wife of F. S. Heath, in Latah county: Ralph R., in
Mullan, Idaho, an engineer and assayer ; Arthur, in
Nez Perces county. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
653
of the United Brethren church and he has been justice
of the peace for sixteen years. He is active in politics,
being allied with the Republican party. He is also a
member of the school board and is always laboring for
the betterment of educational facilities. The farm of
our subject embraces one quarter section and is well
tilled and a model, producing abundant crops of di-
versified grains and grasses, while an orchard of five
hundred choice trees adds great value to the place.
The father of our subject was a man of strong feeling
for the Union cause and he labored faithfully for the
principles that triumphed. He served as revenue col-
lector in the eleventh district under Lincoln.
WALTER W. LEAN. In Rock county. Wiscon-
sin, on February 17, 1858, Walter Bean was born to
Edward and Alary (Vaughn) Bean, the father a
farmer and native of Vermont. The parents died
when this child was small and he went to live with his
brother-in-law. Orin Vilie. He attended school and
worked for Air. Vilie until his fourteenth year, then
started the battle of life for himself. However, when
Air. Vilie moved into Lodi and took up the harness
business, our subject worked at harness making for a
time and then went to the lumber regions of the north.
Later he spent one year with the home people and then
bought a ticket to Kelton, Utah, and thence he came
by stage to Walla Walla, and from there direct to
Latah county, to his brother James, whose place is just
south of that owned by our subject. It was December
15. 1871), when Air. Bean landed in Walla Walla and
since that time he has steadily labored for the de-
velopment and progress of Latah county. In 1883 he
squatted on his present farm, seven miles east from
Garfield, being just in time to save it from falling into
the hands of the railroad as lieu land. He has now
one-half section well improved, and skillfully tilled,
it being one of the excellent farms of the county. He
has good buildings and orchard and raises the cereals,
hay and stock.
On March 18, 1883. he married Miss Louisa A.,
daughter of Robert and Eleanor (Hughes) Dailev, the
nuptials occurring in Latah county, and to them' have
been born three children, Elsie. Itha J., Charlie W.
Mr>. Bean's father was a farmer, born in Pennsyl-
vania on 1 ictober 17, 1828, and his parents were natives
01 A irginia. Her mother was born Februarv 9, 1838.
111 Pennsylvania, and her mother was Louisa' (Strong I
Hughes. Airs. Bean was born in Illinois, on Septem-
ber 13, j8(>o, and educated in the public schools. Her
brothers and sisters are named as follows. lames, in
Latah county; John L.. and Hughes I., both in Nez
I'erces county; Anna, wife of W. W. Davis; Robert
R.. Charles AI., the last three in Latah county. Air.
Bean has the following brothers and sisters, 'Enoch,
deceased; James, in Latah county, was an old soldier;
Elizabeth, wife of Air. Warner,' in Portland; Sarah,'
wife of Oran AI. Vilie; Edward, deceased, was a sol-
dier; Hepsie, wife of Benjamin Howard, in Asotin
county; Ira. in Wisconsin; Ellen, in Latah county;
Elsie, in Nez Perces county; Hulda, wife of Air. Spen-
cer, in Asotin county ; Willie T., in Nez Perces countv.
Air. Bean is a strong believer in the virtues of tem-
perance and a strict adherent of his faith, while he and
his wife are members of the Christian church, in
Palouse. He has been on the school board for eight
years and evinces an ardent interest in the betterment
of educational facilities.
WILLIAM P. DALE. This well known and rep-
resentative business man of Moscow who is handling
a first-class dray, bus and mail line is deserving 0*1
much credit for the faithful way in which he has
wrought not only since coming to Latah county but
since he came to the western regions, which 'dates
back for many years, he haying passed a life full of
the stirring experiences incident to pioneering and
hardships that make the frontiersman self-subsistent
and fearless.
William P. was born in Nicholas county, Ken-
tucky, on October 9, 1847, being the son of' Joshua
Dale, now of Ray county, Missouri. His parents re-
moved to this latter place while he was an infant and
there he received his education in the common schools,
and at the early age of fifteen started for himself!
laboring in a manufactory and salesroom of a tobac-
co house for two years. Then in 1865 he set out across
the plains with a mule team. The trains preceding and
following his were much troubled by the Indians and
many were the gruesome sights of corpses, burned
wagons and decaying animals that met their gaze as
they journeyed, and at Fort Laramie some detestable
white men rigged themselves as Indians and stole
the stock. In due time he arrived in Walla Walla
and immediately set out driving seven yoke of exen
from that city to Rockv bar in Idaho, hauling the ma-
chinery for a stamp mill. Three months were con-
sumed in the trip and the dead of winter was on them
before they reached the end and our subject suffered
terribly, freezing his feet, from which he did not re-
cover for six months, in fact they trouble him to this
day. Later he bought mule outfits and freighted to
Boise and Silver City until 1868, then to Orofino for
one year, then sold the teams and repaired to the ter-
ritory now embraced in Latah county. He took a pre-
emption and homestead, and one year later went to
packing from Lewiston to the mines, and then fol-
lowed a mining excitement to the Swauk, where he
lost one thousand dollars and gained nothing but ex-
perience from which trip he returned to Wallula and
went to work for Dr. Baker. Soon he came on to
Lewiston where he packed for Grosteen & Benard, and
in 1877 came back to Latah county where he has re-
mained since that time.
Air. Dale and Martha C. Robie were married in
1886. He affiliates with the Royal Arcanum. It is
of note that Air. Dale assisted materially in building
the fortifications here during the Indian trouble, and
654
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
at one time, he and three or four others were sur-
rounded by two hundred Indians who demanded their
execution on a rumor that one of them had murdered a
squaw. Mr. Dale, being able to speak their language,
succeeded in staying their murderous designs until an
investigation could be held when the charge was shown
to be groundless. Mr. Dale has labored in all the
various and arduous callings of the frontiersman, and
has certainly done a noble part in the opening up of
this country, and he deserves the honor bestowed upon
the pioneer, and he is esteemed and honored by all.
RICHARD BEASLEY. It is with pleasure that
we accord to the representative agriculturist, and capa-
ble and substantial citizen and stockman whose name
initiates this paragraph, since he has labored here
from a time previous to the organization of Latah
county with display of energy and assiduity and has
accumulated a generous portion of this world's goods
as a recompense for his thrift and industry, while com-
mensurate with these excellent qualities are his in-
trinsic moral worth and unswerving integrity that have
constantly been in evidence since that time.
Richard was born in Schuyler county, Missouri,
on November 10, 1845, being the son of William and
Dulcena (Westrope) Beasley, natives respectively of
Tennessee and Kentucky. They went to Missouri in
1840 and farmed there until 1865, when the family
came across the plains, settling in Umatilla county,
Oregon. Our subject and the father engaged in
the stock business together until 1878, when he bought
the son's interest. In the same year, Richard came
to Idaho, settling in Paradise valley, where he pur-
chased a quarter section and homesteaded another.
Here he engaged in farming and stock raising until
1890, when he sold that property and bought a place
live and one-half miles north from Moscow. This
farm contained two hundred and sixty-seven acres.
Recently he sold it and moved to Moscow. The
father remained in Oregon until 1884, and then sold
and came to Latah county, living with his children
until the time of his demise, which occurred in 1891,
the mother also passed away in 1894. Both are buried
in the Moscow cemetery.
On August 5, 1872, in Umatilla county, Oregon,
Mr. Beasley married Miss Sarah E. Looney, a native
of Oregon, and to them have been born eight children,
as follows: Ida V., Miles M., Robert L., Lizzie J.,
Alice E., May, Winnefred A., and Bessie B. Mrs.
Beasley's parents, William and Jane (Nail) Looney,
were natives respectively of Tennessee and Arkansas.
and came to Lane county, Oregon, in the early 'fifties,
but afterwards moved to Umatilla county, where they
reside at the present time. Mr. and Mrs. Beasley
are members of the Baptist church and are devoted
and ardent supporters of their faith, while in general
walk they are faithful and given to hospitality and
labors which redound to the good of all.
JAMES W. CLARK, better known as Bay Clark,
is proprietor of the leading livery and feed stable in
the city of Moscow, where he does a thriving business,
also buying and selling horses. He holds rank among
the leading business men of the city, being capable,
upright and enterprising. He was "born on July 3,
i860, the son of A. V. and Sarah E. (Hilliard) Clark,
his native place being Bond county, Illinois. At the
age of five he was brought across the plains by his
parents, making the trip with horse teams and settling
in Lafayette. Oregon. There he attended the public
schools, then came to Walla Walla in 1875, taking
there an additional course in educational training. He
soon moved to Whitman county and was there during
the Chief Joseph Indian war, assisting to build the
forts that sheltered the people until the trouble abated.
Then he started in life for himself, being eighteen
years of age, and rented a farm until he became old
enough to take land, then took a preemption, and a
number of years later sold it and went into the livery
business, also buying and selling horses. He has also
farmed some since but has given most of his time with
horses, and he is one of the most expert horsemen in
this section of the country. In 1898 he went to Pull-
man, Washington, fitted out a livery and operated it
for three years then sold out and came to Moscow,
where he purchased the Commercial livery which he is
handling in a skillful and successful manner at the
present time, haying fine turnouts, safe and stylish
horses, and bestowing an untiring care for the com-
fort and safety of his patrons that merits the liberal
patronage that he is enjoying now. Mr. Clark takes
especial interest in political affairs, was appointed de-
puty United States marshal in 1892, and deputy
sheriff in 1889 under George Langdon, and under F.
M. Mix in 1890.
The marriage of Mr. Clark and Miss Lizzie M.,
daughter of D. M. and Susan Halley, of Bond county,
Illinois, was celebrated in 1891. and to them have been
born five children, Roy, Earl E., Hollice, Hazel, and
Mary A., the baby. Mr. Clark is a member of the W.
of \V. and he ;- one of the influential and leading men
of the county, having so conducted himself in all his re-
lations, both in public office and private business enter-
prise, that he merits the esteem and confidence that is
generously bestowed upon him, and it is with pleasure
that we are enabled to grant him representation in this
volume of It's county history.
JOHN MANWARING. To this venerable and
talented gentleman, who is one of the leading citi-
zens of Latah county, it is with pleasure that we grant
a representation in his county's history, and attempt
to briefly outline the interesting and active career that
he has spent in various business ventures, wherein he
has demonstrated both his abilty and sagacity with the
substantial qualities that have characterized him. 'Our
subject was born in Brenchley parish, county of Kent,
England, being- the son of' Thomas and ' Elizabeth
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
655
(Barton) Manwaring, and the mother lived to be
ninety-seven. The date of this birth was September
27, 1824, and for ten years he sought wisdom in
the common and high schools of his land, then assisted
his father four years in the mill, he being a practical
miller, and then the intervening time until he was
twenty-one was spent in the employ of a tradesman,
learning, as he deems it, "'The tricks of the trade"
which were to dampen the tobacco and moisten the
si-gar, for which his father paid seventy pounds. He
quit the business when his apprenticeship expired,
and returned to his father and wrought in the mill
until he was twenty-three, then hired as a commercial
traveler for two years, after which he came, as do the
leading spirits, to America to try the new world. Three
years were spent in Xew York in flour milling, then
he repaired to Madison, Indiana, and engaged in the
manufacture of starch for five years. Following this
we find him in Knoxville, Tennessee, in the flour
milling industry again, and one year later, he removed
to Georgia and in different portions of that state and
at various occupations he was employed until the
war was in full force, when he again ventured into
the starch manufacturing business. But on account
of hostilities, the governor of Georgia ordered all
aliens into the trenches or to leave the state, and he
chose the latter, going with his family to Richmond,
Indiana, where he visited with a minister by the name
of Wakefield, then took up milling again until the
close of the war and at that time returned to Geor-
gia and sold his property and placed a sixty-three
thousand dollar claim against the federal government
for provisions and mules furnished, fur which he re-
ceived one thousand dollars. After this be removed
to Woodham, Canada, and followed the manufacture
of rlour for five years, then came to Moscow, where
he engaged in the same business with the Moore
Brothers for six years. He now owns the brewery
plant and leases it.
Air. Manwaring was married to Miss Mary, daugh-
ter of George and Rebecca (Booth J Wilkes, and she
is now deceased. Mr. Manwaring is a member of the
1. O. O. F., being the oldest member in Moscow, and
also he is identified with the Episcopalian church.
He is one of the prominent and distinguished business
men of the count}' and is secure in the esteem and
confidence of his fellows.
HENRY M. ROGERS. One of Latah county's
venerable and enterprising citizens whose career has
been fraught with activities of a commendable nature
in various portions of the country is mentioned at the
head of this paragraph and he is today one of the rep-
resentative agriculturists and substantial men of the
county. Henry M. was born in Wales on November
25, 1827, being the son of Thomas and Elizabeth
Rogers, natives of Wales, and the father was a mer-
chant in that country. In 1832 they came to America,
remaining in Xew York for six months then settling
in Delaware county, Ohio, where they followed tilling
of the soil until 1838. The father passed away in
1832. From Ohio they removed to Iowa, settling in
Lee county, farming until 1847, then came to Oregon,
later to California. The mother returned to Iowa
from California and there died in 1889. Our sub-
ject came to Lane county, Oregon, in 1853, engaged
in farming there until 1878, then he migrated to
Idaho and homesteaded his present farm, which is two
and one-half miles north from Moscow. He has be-
stowed his labors here since and he has a finely im-
proved farm, with necessary and comfortable build-
ings and with one of the finest orchards that graces the
county of Latah, all of which demonstrates the ability,
skill, industry and wisdom of the gentleman who has
wrought it out.
Mr. Rogers married Miss Pauline, daughter of
Ephriam and Elizabeth Whited, natives of V irginia,
their daughter being born in Indiana, in March, 1852,
the nuptials occurring in Des Moines county, Iowa,
and eleven children have been born to them as follows :
James E., Elizabeth, deceased; Marion, M. Eliza, Ma-
tilda J., deceased; Milwood, Lucinda, Thomas, John-
son and Minnie. On September 23, 1898, death came
to the happy home of Mr. Rogers and took thence the
beloved and life-long, faithful helpmate who had
traveled with him for nearly one-half of a century.
Her remains were interred in the Moscow cemetery.
Mr. Rogers and his wife were both identified with the
Christian church and they have manifested the virtues
of their faith in a true Christian life, and today he is
quietly spending the golden days of his lengthened
pilgrimage in the retreat of the home which his wisely
bestowed labor has builded. and his son Thomas is
carrying on the farm in a commendable manner under
the supervision of his father.
REES PICKERING. This well known and rep-
resentative citizen and enterprising business man of
Latah county, conducts a real estate office in Genesee,
handling also insurance and doing a general loaning
business, in all of which capacities he is faithful, up-
right, and manifests commendable zeal and ability.
Mr. Pickering was born in Belmont county, Ohio, on
May 3. 1842, being the son of Elisha and Mary
(Berry) Pickering, and in his native place he was
educated, but at the age of eighteen he was summoned
by the call of patriotism to the stern duties of mili-
tary life, enlisting in the Fifteenth Volunteer Infantry
under Captain Halloway in the Army of the Cumber-
land, the date of this act being September, 1861, and
the time of his discharge December, 1865, making a
service of four years and three months. In the bat-
tle of Stone River he was taken prisoner and suffered
the horrors of Libby for two months, then was ex-
changed and soon was in the Chickamauga conflict.
He fought at Missionary Ridge and at Franklin and
Nashville, and participated in the major portion of the
Atlanta campaign. Then he was sent to Texas and
656
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
there at the date named was mustered out in San
Antonio with the rank of captain, having entered
as private. Thus was fulfilled one of the excellent
military careers that demonstrates the sound patriot-
ism which stirred our subject in his noble undertak-
ings Following this he returned to Ohio and em-
barked as a merchant, whence two years later he went
to Iowa and farmed for ten years, removing then to
Nebraska where he soon was installed as clerk in the
Indian department of the Otoe reservation. Later he
went to Indian Territory, having charge of the Paw-
nees for three vears, then returned to Nebraska, the
year being 1885, and there he remained until 1889
when he migrated to the Grande Ronde valley in Ore-
gon. He remained there with a brother-in-law for
tour months then came on to Genesee, where he has
wrought in the business world since, having also held
many" responsible public offices and is at the present
time doing the duties of the city clerk.
Mr Pickering was married in 1867 to Miss Sarah
£.. daughter of Filo and Maria Mead and seven chil-
dren have been born to them, six of whom are living,
as follows: Fred S., married: Marie, married to G.
I Ingraham and living in Spokane, Washington;
Anna, wife of Charles Power, living in Genesee : Edna,
with parents: I. L., living in Genesee; A. F., going to
school. Mr. Pickering is a member of the Masonic
fraternity, and he is a man of great faithfulness and
manifests integrity and becoming ability in all his
walk in life, and 'is secure in the esteem and confi-
dence of his fellows.
WILLIAM M. HEADIXGTON. deceased. The
esteemed gentleman whose name is above is eminently
entitled to representation in the history of Latah coun-
ty, and we grant this memorial, being assured that his
life of worthy activity well deserves a permanent place
in the county annals.
William M. was born on December 6, 1857. in Ml.
Vernon, Ohio, and early began the noble work of in-
struction. Even before his college course was done,
he had gained a good reputation as an educator. He
was a graduate of the Holbrook Normal School at Le-
banon. Ohio, also took a degree from the Poughkeep-
sie Law School at Poughkeepsie, New York. In 1883,
he went to Iowa, teaching there for a short time, then
repairing to Osage county, Kansas, in which place he
was principal of the schools until he came to Colfax,
Washington in 1892. Two years were spent as prin-
cipal of the high school at that place and then he took
up his residence in Moscow, and the work of the edu-
cator in Latah county, in 1898, he was admitted to
the bar, and gave promise of a good career, but on
April 25. 1899, death summoned him from earth. He
was highly esteemed by all. and was a noble and good
man. Mr. Headington was a member of the Moscow
Camp of the W. of W., having been secretary of it
since the organization. He was also a member of the
I. O. O. F. at Mt. Vernon, Ohio.
The marriage of Mr. Headington and Miss Mattie,
daughter of Joseph and Martha (Luther) Grant, was
celebrated on August 22, 1889, in Osage, Kansas, and
one child. Sarah Grace, born January 14, 1893, was the
fruit of this happy union. On February 13, 1900, the
little one died, and her remains lie buried beside the
father's in the Moscow cemetery. Little Sarah was an
unusually bright and attractive child and won the
hearts of all who came in contact with her. Mrs. Head-
ington was born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, on Jan-
uary 7, 1863. her parents also being natives of that
state. Her father was a farmer and stockman, and
came to Kansas in 1872, he now being retired from ac-
tive business and living in Osage City, Kansas.
Mrs. Headington is a graduate from the State Nor-
mal, at Emporia. Kansas and has taught school since
she was twenty years of age. Since her marriage, she
was also active in teaching and at Colfax, Washington,
she was the principal of the primary department. For
four years, she taught in Moscow, and then was elected
to fill the office of the county superintendent of schools ;
a second term was given her, and in that office she is
laboring at the present time, being one of the best edu-
cators of the region and highly esteemed by all who
know her. Mrs. Headington is a member of the Pres-
byterian church. She is also affiliated with the O. E.
S., Ruby Chapter, No. 9; with the Star Lodge, Order
of Rebekah ; with the Artisans ; and with the Moscow
Circle, No. 92. Women of Woodcraft.
WILLIAM M. WELCH. At the present time the
subject of this sketch is handling a sewing machine
agency and operating the Grand Central hotel, the
leading hostelry of Genesee, and an up-to-date and first
class house in all its appointments and service.
William M. Welch was born in Milwaukee, Wiscon-
sin, on March 24. 1857, being the son of Lewis and Mary
(Shea) Welch, and when a child he went with his
parents to St. Cloud, Minnesota, where he attended a
German school as no other was in reach. At the age
of fourteen he was thrown out in the world on his
own resources, then went to Cady, Wisconsin, and
worked in the woods for one winter, after which he
used this money to attend school at Hammond, Wis-
consin, working his way along for five years when he
took up teaching for three years in St. Croix, Wiscon-
sin. Then he entered the River Falls Normal, where
three years were profitably spent. Following this
period, he again took up the work of the instructor
and taught for four years in St. Croix, then repaired
to the St. John's College and there completed both the
commercial and classical courses, also carrying off the
prize for oratory. Succeeding this. Mr. Welch entered
the law offices of Clapp & Woodhard. at Fergus Falls,
Minnesota, and three years later completed the course
in the office of D. W. Brockhard. of St. Cloud. Minne-
ri .ia. b< ing then admitted to the bar. At this time, Mr.
Welch turned toward the west and next we find him
in the chair of the instructor in Whitman county,
Washington, also taking an active part in the politics
of the county and delivering speeches in the campaigns.
In 1896 he was appointed chief deputy in the assessor's
WILLIAM M HEADINCtTON.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
657
office in that county. Subsequently to this term of
service, we find Air. Welch in Spokane attending the
Casin-Blair commercial college and there he mastered
shorthand and typewriting, and then went to teaching
for a time. In [898 he came to Genesee and took up
the sewing machine business until 1901, when he de-
cided to take up the business of the public host and so
rented the Grand Central hotel. But as this does not
occupy his entire time, he also attends to the sale of
machines as heretofor. In 1899 and 1901, Mr. Welch
took the stump in behalf of the reformed forces and
did good work for that cause.
Air. Welch married Miss Alary T. Keane, in Gene-
see, on July 5. 1898. Mrs. Welch, prior to her mar-
riage, had been a teacher of excellent success and
much experience, but at the time of her marriage she
was operating a millinery shop in Genesee.
JOSEPH M. GREEN is one of Latah county's
enterprising and industrious agriculturists, having a
good farm seven miles east from Genesee where he has
fine improvements and conducts a modern and up-to-
date farm, everything manifesting the thrift and en-
terprise and skill of the owner, while his personal
characteristics have been such as to win for him the
confidence and esteem of his fellows. Joseph M.
was born in Chillicothe, Ross county, Ohio, on April
8, 185 1, being the son of T. S. and Nancy (Hurdle)
Green, who removed to Sangamon county, Illinois,
when their son was small. Our subject gained his
first schooling in this Illinois home and later studied
winters and worked on the farm in the summers until
the age of nineteen and then worked out to gain enough
money to take one year's course in the Wesleyan Col-
lege near his home. Following this he assisted his
father in the support of a large family until twenty-
one and then stepped forth in the battle of life for
himself, renting a farm for three years, at the end of
which time he had accumulated one thousand dollars.
The second thousand he gained in managing a farm
for George Flint, in McLean county. Illinois, then he
decided to get married and did so, and rented a farm
for two years more, and the third thousand had been
earned. For seven years more he rented in Illinois and
then sold out and moved to Dayton, Washington,
whence one year later he came to Genesee, renting a
farm from J. P. Vollmer for eight years, handling a
half section. Then Mr. Green took as a homestead
his present one hundred and eighty acres, seven miles
east from Genesee. He has five acres of orchard,
good buildings and everything comfortable and in
good order. Air. Green is active in the welfare of his
county and has several times acted as delegate to the
Populist and Democrat conventions.
The marriage of Mr. Green and Aliss Alice, daugh-
ter of Charles and Ellen (Sutherland) Rodgers, was
solemnized at Belleplain, Illinois, in 1875, and ten
children have been born to them: Thomas, living at
home ; Alattie E., wife of Granville E. Evans, living
in Riverside, Okanogan county, Washington ; Walter
C, living with his parents; Ella, at home; Frank O.,
Clara, Wesley I., Alelisa, Dick, the last four going to
school, and Marie, the youngest. Air. Green is a
member of the Free Alethodist church and is a man of
stanch qualities of worth, and manifests a commenda-
ble life, being dominated by sound principles, and led
in the paths of sagacity and uprightness.
J. NICHOLAS HASFURUHER. Among the
substantial and prominent agricultural population,
mention should be made in this volume of Latah coun-
ty's history of the esteemed and enterprising gentle-
man whose name is at the beginning of this review,
since he is one of the large property holders and has
manifested since coming here commendable ability in
business affairs, conducting himself in a manner to
command the respect and win the confidence of all.
Our subject was born in Germany, on September 10,
1835, being the son of Nicholas and Margaret Has-
furdher, natives of Germany, where also they lived un-
til the time of their death. At the age of eighteen
years, this son had finished his education in the schools
and started on the path of life for himself, farming in
the vicinity of his home for fourteen years, then em-
barking for America. He settled first in Chicago and
worked for eight years in the foundries there and then
removed to Carroll county, Iowa, where he purchased
land and gave his attention to farming for fifteen years.
He was numbered with the prosperous and leading
men of that county and in 1890, he desired to see more
of the west and accordingly sold his farm there and
migrated to Latah county. He selected his present
place one and one-half miles north from Genesee, and
now has a fine total of two hundred and eighty-
acres of fine farming land. He gives his entire atten-
tion to farming and stock raising and has a success
befitting the industry and thrift manifested by him.
while his land is excellently tilled and well improved.
In the fall of 1864, Air. Hasfurdher married Aliss
Catherine, daughter of .Michael and Barbara Huslen.
natives of Germany, the wedding occurring in ( ler-
many, and to this union were born the following chil-
dren : Pauline, Victor, Joseph, .Andrew, Martin, Mary,
Annie, George and Alaggie. Air. Hasfurdher and his
family give adherence to the Catholic church, and are
devoted supporters of their faith. < )n August 28,
1896. death seized the loving mother and faithful wife,
and her remains are buried in the cemetery near the
home place. Mr. Hasfurdher takes an intelligent in-
terest in the affairs of the county and state, and is a
broad minded and liberal man, being a stanch sup-
porter of our free institutions, and a loyal and capable
citizen.
WILLIAM L. BIRAM. This well known busi-
ness man of Genesee is deserving of representation in
the historv of Latah county, since he has wrought
faithfully in the material development and substantial
progress of the same, manipulating the business enter-
65S
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
prises that have come to his hand with execution and
wisdom, being at this time operating the leading livery
and draying barns in the city. Mr. Biram was born in
Winona county, Minnesota, on October 5, 1856, being
the son of J. and Margaret (Welden) liiram, natives
respectively of Ohio and Pennsylvania. They farmed
in Minnesota for fourteen years and then removed in
1869 to Nebraska, where they remained until the time
of their death in 1893. Our subject commenced the
labors of life for himself at the age of fourteen years,
fanning in Minnesota for one year and then going
with his parents to Nebraska, occupying himself there
on the range handling cattle from Texas to the Da-
kotas. becoming familiar with all the skill and lore of
the real cowboy until 1874. when he returned to Min-
nesota, settling in Steele county, where he farmed un-
til [891, at which time he came to this county. He was
occupied in different undertakings until 1900, when
he started a draying outfit, and later opened a first class
livery barn, both of which businesses he is still con-
ducting in a successful manner, having the bulk of the
draying business to handle, and doing a fine business
in the livery department. Mr. Biram has fine stock
and handsome and up-to-date rigs and exercises an
untiring and constant care for the welfare and inter-
ests of his patron.-, which have given him a good trade.
( hi .March 18, 1881. in Waseca county, Minnesota,
Mr. Biram married .Miss Katie, a native of Wisconsin
and daughter of Rudolph and Emma Babbler, farmers
in Minnesota. To this marriage there have been born
four children, Rachel, Arthur, Clark, Mable. Mr.
Biram is a member of the Roval Arcanum, and also of
the Red Men. Xez Perces Tribe No. y?. Mrs. Biram
is a member of the Congregational church.
MARION F. MUNCEY. Among the enterpris-
ing citizens of Latah county should be included the
name of the subject of this' article whose worthy la-
bors here have made him a forceful fact. >r in the sub-
stantial progress of the county. Marion F. was born
in Harrison countv, Missouri, on September 10, 1868,
being the son of' Lafayette and Elizabeth (Moore)
Muncey. The father was born in Illinois in 1838,
and the mother was born in 1835. in the same state,
and her father, Samuel Moore, was born there also.
The parents removed their family to Silver creek,
Washington, in 1872, and there the father died on
March 22, 1879. At that time William, an older br< ith-
er of our subject, took charge of the farm and Marion
labored out and gained what education he could. It
was 111 1897 that they removed to Garfield, Washing-
ton, and there our subject worked until the mother
bought the present farm of eighty-five acres seven
miles east from Garfield. He has a comfortable
home and the land is well tilled and produces abund-
antly.
On April 26. 1801, Air. Muncey married Miss
Sarah E.. daughter of John E. and Elizabeth ( Carna-
han) Griner, the father" a farmer in Latah county, now
deceased. To this union there have been born live
children, Pollord R.. Eugene, Elsie M., Charles W.,
Elizabeth \\, all at home. Mrs. Muncey was born in
Pennsylvania on November 25, 1871, and she has the
following named brothers and sisters, Henry in Wash-
ington ; Joseph, deceased ; John, in Latah county ;
George, in Latah county ; Mary, deceased ; Nettie, wife
of Columbus Cockrell, in Latah county ; Maggie, wife
of E. C. Covey, Ballard, Washington : Phillip, in Nez
Perces county ; Pollard, deceased ; Bertha, wife of
William Hayden, in Latah county. Mr. Muncey has
the following brothers and sisters : William, in Latah
county; Miranda, deceased; John F., at Everett, Wash-
ington; Mary S., wife of Pollard Griner, but now a
widow. Mr. Muncey is a member of the W. of W.
He always devotes time and attention to the affairs of
politics, being allied with the Democratic party. He is
a man well respected and has the good will and es-
teem of his fellows.
JACOB L. HARRISON is one of the worthy pi-
oneers who assisted to open up Latah county and he
has also, since his settlement here in 1883, steadily
labored for its improvement and development, having
wrought with commendable zeal, wisdom, and thrift,
as his fine farm of sixty acres, seven miles west from
Kendrick, on Big Bear ridge, testifies, being an estate
well improved and giving annually handsome returns ;
while personally, Mr. Harrison is a man of integrity
and worth and is dominated by sound principles and
a discriminating perception and practical judgment
that have brought his fine success. In addition to do-
ing a general farming business, he handles some stock
and has a good orchard of ten acres.
Mr. Harrison was born in Fayette county, Ohio,
on June 25. 1847, being the son of George and Lavina
(Collow) Harrison. While still a child he came with
the balance of the family to Huntington county. In-
diana, where he grew up, gaining a good education
from the common schools and assisting on the farm.
When he was fourteen years of age, another move was
made, this time to W'hiteside county. Illinois, and
there he remained with his parents until the time of
his majority. He stepped forth from the parental
roof then for the battles of life on his own resources
and as the west gave great indications of opportunity,
he made his way to Marshall county, Kansas, took a
homestead and for fourteen years we find him toiling
in the art of the agriculturist in that locality. It was
1883 that lie sold his possessions there and came to
Latah county, as stated above, and since that time
die has been one of the subsantial and patriotic citi-
zens of this county and a valuable addition to its so-
ciety.
The marriage of Mr. Harrison and Miss Flora,
daughter of Elias and Julia Smith, was solemnized
111 Marshall county, Kansas, in September, 1873, and
they have become the parents of six children, as fol-
lows : Lily, Rose, Ivy, Pearl, Mamie, deceased, and
Ernest M. Mr. and Mrs. Harrison are members of
the Christian church and are faithful supporters of
their faith, being exemplary citizens and good people.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
659
XAVIER HEINRICH. While the section where
our subject lives was but wild prairie and only oc-
casional settlers were here and there in the territory
now embraced in Latah county, he came and settled
on his present farm, five miles northwest from Gene-
see, and began the excellent work of development and
upbuilding which he lias followed with wisdom and
assiduity since, having now the proper reward of such
enterprise and thrift. Xavier was born in Germany,
the land whence come so many of the best American
citizens, being the son of Martin and Mary
Anne (Kempt) Heinrich, and the date of his
inception of life's career was September 24,
185 1. His parents were natives of the father-
land, and there lived and labored until the
time of their death. Our subject was a dutiful son
beneath the parental roof until twenty-one years had
rolled by, and then he stepped forth to do for himself.
He first bade farewell to loved ones and native land
and embarked for America, where he went to work in
Newark, Xew Jersey, in a bakery for two years. Then
he went to California and operated a dairy for three
years, after which, in 1877, he came to Idaho, settling
on his present place, and securing title to a half section
through the homestead and pre-emption rights. He
has purchased more until he now has four hundred and
forty acres of fine land. He has devoted his attention
to farming and stock raising constantly since that early-
day and he is now one of the prominent and wealthy
men of the count}'. His farms are well handled, In-
stock is profitable, he has fine improvements in build-
ings, orchards and so forth, and an air of thrift is
evident everywhere. In addition to this fine holding,
Mrs. Heinrich owns three hundred and twenty acres
adjoining her husband's estate.
The marriage of Mr. Heinrich and Mrs. Cather-
ine Greiser, was solemnized in Lewiston, this state,
one June 30, 1880, and they have become the parents
of one child, John M., born March 18, 1881. They
are all members of the Catholic church. Mr. Hein-
rich has seen much of the hardship incident to pio-
neer life, and has demonstrated his ability in the
solution of the intricate problems that come before
the early settler, by wisely handling the resources at
hand and in displaying commendable business ability.
GEORGE TEGLAXD. This representative and
intelligent agriculturist of Latah county is well en-
titled to consideration in this volume and is accorded
such since he is a man of sound principles and good
ability, which has been manifested lure for twenty
years. He is now the owner and manager of a fine
estate of three hundred and twenty acres, five miles
north from Genesee, where the family home is.
George was born in Kendall county, Illinois, on De-
cember 3, 1855, being the son of Ole and Isabella
(Marcus) Tegland, natives of Norway. The father
emigrated from Norway in 1848. settling in Ken-
dall county, Illinois, where he engaged in farming
until 1872, being also married there, in which last
year he removed to Story county, Iowa, farming there
also until of late years he has retired from active
labors and lives with his son in that county. The
first twenty-two years of our subject's life were spent
in service with his father and then he took up rail-
roading for a year or so, after which he married and
settled down in Story county, Iowa, where' he pur-
chased a farm and devoted himself to producing the
fruits of the soil. In 1882, lie sold his property there
and migrated to Latah county, taking a homestead
wdiere he now lives. Later he purchased another quar-
ter. He has given his entire attention in the manage-
ment and improvement of his farm and the result is
that he has a fine property, well improved, while he
is a man of good reputation and is highly esteemed
throughout the neighborhood.
On February 28, 1882. in Story county. Iowa,
Mr. Tegland married Miss Jennie Borgen. a native
of Norway, and to them have been born the follow-
ing children: Oscar T., Alvin D., Nellie M., Arthur
O. and Jessie L. twins, the latter of whom died; the
youngest child is also named Jessie L. Mrs. Tegland's
parents were, Amund and Dortha (Herselberg) Bor-
gen, natives of Norway, but immigrants to this coun-
try in 1869. The father lives here and is a member
of the Lutheran church, but the mother died on De-
cember 22, 1897, and is buried in the Lutheran cem-
etery. Our subject and his wife are members of the
Lutheran church and he is one of the substantial and
well-to-do men of the section.
GEORGE L. MOCHEL. This well known busi-
ness man has been a familiar figure in Genesee for a
number of years and is one of the leaders in the busi-
ness realm, at the present time operating in partner-
ship with his brother, Benjamin F., mention of whom
appears in another portion of this volume, a first
class livery and feed stable in the city, having fine
rigs, good stock, and manifesting an untiring zeal
for the safety and welfare and comfort of his patrons,
who are numbered by many scores.
George L. was born in Johnston county. Indiana,
on February 5, 1855, being the son of George L. and
Elizabeth (Lenertz) Mochel. While a child, he came
with his parents to Maryville. Missouri, and there
until he had reached the age of twelve, received his
schooling from the common schools of the land. At
that young age, he started for himself in life, work-
ing as a laborer until 1873, then rode the range in
the Cherokee nation for one year. Then his adven-
turous spirit led him to the west, Seattle, Washing-
ton, being the point first selected. There he wrought
at the carpenter trade, which he had mastered in his
minority, for six months, then came to Columbia;
county in that state, there taking a homestead, which
he subdued, improved, and sold in the year 1889. He
next brought a herd of cattle to the Big Bend coun-
try in Washington, and on account of the hard winter,
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
lest the entire amount, entailing a financial loss of
over two thousand dollars. Following this disaster,
he came to Genesee, arriving here on August I, 1S91,
and rented a large piece of farm land, paying three
dollars per acre, and he did well. Then he bought
eight acres of land in the city of Genesee and builded
him a house, the same being his family home at the
present time. In 1900, his brother died, who had
established a livery business in Genesee in 1893, and
our subject took charge of the same, and is operating
it now with good success, it being the leading barn
in this section, and handled in a becoming manner
with skill and business ability. Our subject soon took
in his brother, B. F., and they are proprietors of the
business at this time.
The marriage of Mr. Mochel and Miss Lottie
S., daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Cope) Billings,
was solemnized in Maryville, Missouri, in 1878,
and three children have been born to them : Eliza-
beth G., wife of George Bolliow, and living in Troy,
Idaho; Claud J., in Genesee; Charles F., with parents
and attending school. Mr. Mochel has served as con-
stable of the home precinct several terms in an ac-
ceptable manner, having also been marshal of the
city for a term of two years. He takes an active part
in politics and displays zeal for right principles. Fra-
ternally, .Mr. Mochel' is affiliated with the I. O. O. F.,
both the subordinate and the encampment branches,
having passed all the chairs in both departments and
also has been delegate to the grand lodge from both.
He is also a member of the M. W. of A., having been
elected first V. C. of Genesee Camp, Xo. 6^03, and
re-elected three times since, also being sent by this
camp a delegate to the state convention in icoi.
FREDRICK P. KRESSELT. This substantial
and enterprising farmer of Latah county is a native
of Germany, being born on July 31, 1875, the son of
Frederick C. and Amelia, both natives of Saxony,
Germany. Our subject remained at home until four-
teen years of age, gaining his education from the com-
mon schools, and then was apprenticed to a cabinet
maker where he served for three years, his father
had died when this son was an infant and his mother
had married again. After three years of the cabinet
work, Mr. Kresselt decided that America was the place
for him and accordingly he came to New York and
thence to Palouse, getting here in December, 1892.
He worked at odd jobs for a time and then bought
a piece of land in 1897. He has sold and bought sev-
eral pieces of land and he purchased his present farm
of one hundred and sixty acres, one mile west from
Cora, in March, 1902, having also thirty-five acres
of land besides. He has a good farm, well improved
and is now handled in a skillful manner.
The marriage of Mr. Kresselt and Miss Rosa,
daughter of Julius H. and Laura L. (Gates) Fessen-
den, was solemnized in Latah county, on February
23, 1897, and to them has been burn one son, William I'..
■ I 1 ne daughter, Minnie Amelia, who died February
1. U102. Mr. Fessenden was born in Indiana, on Novem-
ber 10, 1848, and was captain and engineer on a steam-
boat for many years, but is now farming in Latah
county. His wife was born near East PortlarM. ( »re-
gon, May 5. 1854. Mrs. Kresselt was born near East
Portland, January 5. 1880. and was educated in the
common schools. Her brothers and sisters are Edna,
wife of Milton Fennimore, at Mountain Mew. Cali-
fornia ; Laura, Dolly, Earl, George E., Robert, all at
home, and Addie, .Mamie, Xora, Willie, deceased.
The brothers and sisters of our subject are named as
follows, — Ernest, in Latah county ; Max, in Germany ;
Birdie, wife of Paul Rotjig, in Germany. Mrs. Kres-
seit's father enlisted in the Civil war but was too
young and so was refused. He had two brothers.
Major and John Fessenden. who fought for their
country. Our subject raises the cereals and fruits and
is a progressive and thrifty farmer.
WILLIAM A. COMER. The birth of this es-
teemed gentleman occurred in Hocking county, Ohio,
on September 18. 1843. His father, Charles, was a
millwright, born in Ohio, in 1817, his grandfather was
born in Vermont and his great-grandparents came
from Ireland. The mother of our subject, Sophia
Roush, was born in Ohio in 1817, and her mother,
Eva Harsh, was a native of Pennsylvania. Mrs.
Harsh's father was a soldier in the Revolution, moved
to Ohio in 18 10. and died in 1856, one hundred and
six years of age. while Mrs. Harsh lived to be ninety-
six years of age. The father of our subject died two
months before the latteCs birth and his mother died
when he was five years of age, so his early life was
spent with his grandmother. He remained with her
laboring and attending school until eighteen years of
age and at the breaking out of the war, he enlisted in
Company D, Seventeenth Ohio Infantry, under Cap-
tain Charles Rippiey. He was sent to the Army of
the Cumberland under General Thomas and partici-
pated in the battle of Mill Springs when Zollicoffer
was killed in 1862. He fought at Stone River. Chick-
amauga, Atlanta. Jonesborough, and in many other
engagements. At Chickamauga a rebel hit him over
the head with a musket, his clothes were shot full of
holes, his canteen was shot away and he was wounded
in the leg. He was stricken there with paralysis and
was discharged, but the doughty and intrepid man was
ii' >t thus to be deprived of fighting for his countrv and
his interminable grit pulled him through and as soon
as he was presentable again he promptly came to the
front and reenlisted and staid with the conflict until
the close of the war. being in the Fifty-eighth Ohio,
Company A. Following the war, Mr. Comer went to
farming in < Ihio, ami in 18OS he went thence to Coles
county, Illinois, then to Edgar county, where he farmed
and worked at carpentering for five years, and in 1874
we see him in Shelby county, and thence he
went to Kanasas in the fall ' of 1885, settling
in Jackson county. Two years later he went
to Logan and there homesteaded land. It was
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
on June 15, 1889. that he landed at Garfield and came
over into Latah county, and here he lias remained
since, except for two years and one-halt, when he was
excursioning through Utah. Nevada. Arizona, and
southern Idaho, returning here in the condition ex-
pressed by the laconic epithet "Broke." He went to
work and now has one hundred and sixty acres of as
fine soil as is in Latah county and located one mile west
from Cora. He devotes himself to farming and stock-
raising, mostly the former.
Mr. Comer married Miss Nancy R. Shoff on Sep-
tember 27, 1867, and she died in 1884, leaving the fol-
lowing named children, Edwin L., in Sioux Falls,
South Dakota ; Almeda V., wife of Andrew Smith,
in Kansas ; Eva M., deceased : Lydia E., wife of
Charles S. Smith, in Latah county; Jeremiah E., de-
ceased ; Laura E., deceased ; Nellie A., deceased ; Is-
aac H., deceased.
The second marriage of Mr. Comer was celebrated
on March 19, 1886, in Kansas, Alice E., daughter of
Martin L. and Abby A. ( Brinkerhoff ) Hickman, de-
scendants of the early Dutch stock that colonized New
York, at that time becoming his wife. To this union
there have been born the following issue : John A.,
Jesse H., Lee M., Ruth U. Mr. Hickman was a car-
penter, born in Virginia in 1832 and his wife was'born
in New Jersey in 1838, while the daughter, Mrs. Com-
er, was born in Grand View, Illinois, on June 23, 1855.
Her brothers and sisters are named as follows : Anna
J., deceased ; Rachel J., wife of Earby Miller, in Chi-
cago; Lydia B., deceased; Sarah M., in Chicago;
Olive E., deceased ; Orlo S., deceased ; Owen G., in
Chicago. Mr. Comer is assistant state lecturer for
northern Idaho for the Alliance and is active in poli-
tics. He was candidate for state legislature in Kansas
on the Union Labor ticket and for probate judge in
Latah county in 1892 on the Populist ticket. In addi-
tion to his farming Mr. Comer devotes much attention
to artist's labors, having gained commendable skill in
this line.
■♦ « »
ULRICH C. RIETMANN. As one who has con-
served the industrial and commercial interests in La-
tah county, and wherein he has made a brilliant suc-
cess, we are constrained to mention the gentleman
whose name appears above. Mr. Rietmann is an en-
ergetic, capable, and progressive business man and
manages a first-class butcher shop in Troy, owns and
leases the large brick hotel known as tlie Rietmann
House, buys and sells stock of all kinds, has a fine
farm near the town, and also handles fruit, and oper-
ates a fruit dryer and cold storage plant, besides a
number of large warehouses, being one of the leading
men of the county and recognized by all as a power
in the business world.
Mr. Rietmann is a native of that stanch little re-
public. Switzerland, and was born in Canton, July 4.
1853, the son of Henry and Babete Rietmann. The
parents remained in the native country until the time
of their death, highly respected and influential citi-
zens. Our subject received his early education there
and at the age of fourteen went to Brazil, South
America, and there labored for three years with an
uncle, who was a surveyor in that country. After the
expiration of that period, Mr. Rietmann came to our
western coast but soon went thence to Switzerland, re-
maining there until 188 1. In that year he came and lo-
cated in San Francisco, taking up the butcher busi-
ness. It was 1890 when Mr. Rietmann sold his in-
terests in California and came thence to Latah county.
He sought out his present location and opened a shop
and in the prosecution of that business he has stead-
ily continued with the addition of the industries
mentioned above, thus making him one of the lead-
ing business men of the county, which is amply dem-
onstrated by the skill with which he handles the many
and varied interests that depend upon his manipula-
tion;
The marriage of Mr. Rietmann and Miss Fannie
Hilfecker, a native of Switzerland, was solemnized
at Troy, in 1893, and to them have been born two
bright and promising boys. Carl and Max. Mr. Riet-
mann is a practical man and is training his boys to
the intricacies of business which will doubtless make
them able to carry forward with skill and safety even
larger interests than their lather has thus far done,
although he is considered the leader in his vicinity.
JOHN B. YARBROUGH. In Washington
county, Oregon, on January 6, 1845. the subject of this
sketch first saw the light and he has been a typical
westerner since that time, ever laboring for the welfare
«f the sections where he has bestowed his labor and
doing a lion's share in this good work. His parents
are James M., born in Kentucky in 1820, whose father,
John, with his wife, were born in Virginia. The mother
of our subject is Mary E. Smith, born in Carteret
county, North Carolina, in 1822. Her father was Lem-
uel, who married Hannah Gilicon, both natives of
North Carolina. John B. remained with his parents
until twenty years of age and then started for himself.
He was educated in the common schools of the day.
His parents removed to Linn count)- when he was one
year old and took donation claims, remaining there
sixteen years. Then they sold out and went back to
Washington county. Six years later they went to Cres-
cent City, California, but in two years were back in
Douglas county, Oregon, and eight years after that
they sold again and came to Latah county. The father
died here in 1896. When he left home. John B. rented
land in Yarn Hill county then went to southern Ore-
gon for eight years in the lumber business, where he
was successful. One summer was spent in the Klam-
ath country and then he returned to the Willamette
valley in T876, and in 1880 he came overland to Latah
countv and preempted a quarter section nine miles
east from Garfield, where the family home has been
since that date with the exception of the years between
1896 and 1901, which were spent in the Couer d'Alene
country.
Mr. Yarbrough was married to Miss Samantha,
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
daughter of John and Margaret (Baker) Long, on
August 2, 1867, and the following children have been
born to them: Chrystina, wife of W. W. Messinger,
in the Coeur d'Alenes ; John \\\, in the Coeur d'Alene
district; Addison, in Latah county; Eli O., in Coeur
dAlene; Lottie, wife of Calvin Farnum, deceased;
Mona, wife of J. Ross, in Coeur dAlene; James, in
Latah ; Margaret E., wife of Lew Solley, deceased ;
Herbert, in Coeur d'Alene ; Homer, at home ; Leonard,
deceased ; Gladys, at home. Mrs. Yarbrough was born
in Virginia, on March 21, 1852, and her father was
born in Pennsylvania, in 181 5, and the mother was
born in Virginia, on February 17, 1828. Mrs. Yar-
brough's brothers and sisters are Napoleon B., de-
ceased, Christopher C, Mary, Ella, America, de-
ceased, Emma, and John. Mr. Yarbrough has broth-
ers and sisters as follows : Andrew J., in eastern Ore-
gon ; Sarah J., wife of D. W. Hayden, in Latah county ;
Martha J., wife of John Woodfin, in Latah county;
Mary, wife of Levi Mohr, deceased; James, killed by
a saw in a mill in Oregon; Thomas J., in Spokane,
Washington; Lafayette, in eastern Oregon. Air. and
Mrs. Yarbrough are members of the Universalist
church, while he is socialistic in politics and a member
of the school board where he labors ardently for good
educational facilities. The farm is well improved and
a model place, being an abundant producer.
BENJAMIN F. MOCHEL. The subject of this
article has always been a man of great energy and ac-
tivity, as is shown by his life of enterprise and adapta-
bility, while at the present time he is one of the firm of
Mochel Brothers, who operate the P. G. livery, feed
and sale stable in Genesee, having a fine property and
doing a successful business.
Our subject was born in Maryville, Nodaway
county, Missouri, on February 8. 1867, being the son of
George L. and Elizabeth (Lenartz) Mochel. While
still a child, his parents came to California, thence
to Bellingham bay, Washington, and then to Seattle,
where this son received his first schooling. But fort-
une had decreed that he should not stay long there,
and soon the family were in Dayton, Washington,
whence they removed to Marengo, and thence to Wal-
la Walla, then to Pataha City, where the school days
of Benjamin F. were completed. Then at the age of
nineteen years he started for himself, renting a farm
of two hundred and forty acres for two years, after
which he went to Lake Clielan, and thence to Genesee.
In 1880 he worked on a farm for ten dollars per month,
then went to Troy. Idaho, working at the carpenter
trade and in the harvest fields, after which he rented
eight hundred acres with his brother and father. He
bought property in Genesee that he still owns. In 1893
he went to Cornwall, Idaho, and there his father died,
and he handled the farm for two years alone, then
returned to Genesee, working for a time in the livery
for his brother, then going to the Nez Perces reserva-
tion where he took a homestead. Four years later he
sold this property and returned to Genesee and since
that time has been in the livery business with his
brother.
In 1885 Mr. Mochel married Miss Sarah J., daugh-
ter of Harris and Angeline Fuller, and they have six
children, Cora M.. Ellen E., Leonard E., Henry A.,
Louis, and a baby unnamed, all at home and attending
school. Air. Mochel is a member of the M. W. A. He
is a man of sound principles, has displayed commenda-
ble zeal in the discharge of the responsibilities of life
that have rested upon him, while in his business ven-
tures he has shown good ability, wisdom, and enter-
prise, which have given him both the confidence of his
fellows and a good competence.
MARTIN BECHTEL was born in Knox county,
Ohio, near Mt. Vernon, on January 19, 1837, being the
son of John and Esther (Movers) Bechtel. The
father was a cooper and farmer, a native of Pennsyl-
vania, as were his parents, while the mother of our
subject was also born in Pennsylvania, in 1804, and her
parents were early settlers in Pickaway county, Ohio.
The other children, in addition to Martin, were Abra-
ham, soldier in the Mexican and Civil wars, now de-
ceased; Samuel, deceased: Mary, wife of Dr. Fletcher,
in Ohio; John, deceased; Emanuel, in Illinois ; Sophia,
wife of R. B. Williams, in Garfield; Esther A., wife of
Mr. Jackson, in Missouri. At the age of eight years,
our subject was left fatherless, and when he was thir-
teen, the mother sold out and came to McLean county,
Illinois. There he attended school and labored on
the farm. Mr. Bechtel remained at home until 1861,
then responded to the call of patriotism and enlisted
in Company C, Twentieth Illinois Infantry, under
Captain John O. Pullen, his company organizing at
Bloomington, and the regiment at Joliet. They went
lo Alton, Jefferson barracks, Cape Girardeau, and
after scouting for four months took to winter quarters
in Birds Point. Then they fought Jeff Thompson and
were victors, at Fredericktown. In 1862 he was or-
dered to Forts Henry and Donelson and fought in both
battles, then at Pittsburg Landing, when they were at-
tacked by Johnson and Beauregard, then he fought
at the battle of Shiloh. After this he went into camp
at Jackson and later was in the following engagements :
Britton's Lane, Willow Spring, Champion Hills, Ray-
mond and Vicksbnrg, at which place he was wounded
in the ankle and had his hearing impaired and eye
hurt. He fought also at Kenesaw mountain and at
Atlanta, at which place he was captured and spent one
month and eight days in Andersonville. He was then
taken to Charleston, South Carolina, thence to Flor-
ence, when he made his escape and was recaptured,
then escaped a second time. In February. 1865, he
went home and after reporting, he was honorably dis-
charged. For his faithful service and injuries he re-
ceives the small pension of twenty-two dollars per
month. Fie was mustered out at ( rainesville and dis-
charged at Chicago and went to McLean count}- and
there remained until 1879. when he removed to his
present place in Latah county, eight miles east from
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
663
Garfield. His wife owns eighty acres of good land
here and he practices diversified fanning.
Mr. Bechtel and Miss Alice Smith were married
in Illinois, on October 8, 1865, and they have the fol-
lowing children : Shelton, in Nez Perces county ; Ida,
at Blackfoot ; Noah, in Nez Perces county : Martin, at
Blackfoot ; Sophia, wife of George Wesley Bird, in
Latah county. Mr. Smith was born in Kentucky
and married Miss Sarali Currey, a native of Indiana,
and their daughter, Mrs. Bechtel, was born in McLean
county, Illinois, in April, 185 1. Mr. Bechtel is a mem-
ber of the G. A. R. and while in Illinois was county
commissioner of his county, and he has always taken
an active part in the affairs of the country and is an
advocate of good schools. He made a commendable
record in the Civil war and it was such noble and brave
men as he who fought out the awful battles that saved
the Union from dismemberment and preserved to pos-
terity the free institutions that are now our pride and
joy.
ISAAC S. MILLER. This capable and enter-
prising agriculturist lives eight miles east from Gar-
field and has a quarter section of fertile land well im-
proved, and producing, under his skillful husbandry,
abundant crops of the cereals and hay and fruits,
while also Mr. Miller handles considerable stock. He
is the son of Hamilton and Sarah A. (Hunt) Miller,
and was born in Jay county. Indiana, on November
16, 1845. The father, a Mexican war veteran, was a
farmer and born in Fayette county, Ohio, in 18 18,
being the son of Hugh Miller, who served under
Jackson in the war of 181 2 and whose father was a
native of Ireland and a soldier in the Revolution, be-
ing wounded at Bunker Hill. The wife of this veteran
of colonial days was a native of Scotland. The mother
of our subject was born in Green county. Kentucky,
in 1818, and her father, Isaac C. Hunt, was a Metho-
dist preacher, born in Vermont, being the son of G.
M. and Polly (Squire) Hunt, natives of New Jersey.
Our subject was taken with his parents to Mercer
county, < Ihio, when four years of age and five years
later went thence to Page county, Iowa. That was
the home for ten years, or until 1864, he being a mem-
ber of the Home Guards, and would have gone to the
front, but was too young. At the date last men-
tioned the family came to the Willamette vallev and
took land and erected a saw-mill. The father con-
tinued there until the day of his death. March 27,
1872. Isaac S. had done for himself from his ma-
jority, and in 1878 he came to Latah county, and on
October 5th of that vear he took his present farm
and this has been the family home since that time.
On April 19, 1866, he was married to Miss Hannah
N., daughter of Benjamin and Ellen ( Armstrong)
Kinyon, the nuptials occurring in Polk county, Ore-
gon. < >ne child. Hattie Benson, was born to that
marriage. Mrs. Miller was born in 185s. and died in
1872.
Mr Miller contracted a second marriage, the date
being February 5, 1874. at which time Eliza H,
daughter of Levi and Sarah (Edes) Burden, became
his wife. This wedding occurred in Yam Hill county,
( Iregon. Mr. Burden was born in Illinois in 1826
and his wife was born in Missouri in 1830. Mrs.
Miller was born in Polk county. Oregon, on February
21. [85,6. The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Miller
are Henry, deceased: James R., in Wardner, Idaho;
George L., in Latah county; Isabelle, deceased; Abra-
ham L., in Latah county; Minnie, wife of George
Davis, in Latah county; Thomas, William, Jasper,
John, in Latah county; Effie and Edward, twins, the
latter deceased and the former the wife of Jefferson
I'oe, in Latah county: Lulu, wife of James Davis, in
Latah county; Ennis, deceased. Air. .Miller has
brothers and sisters as follows : Lewis H., in Yam
Hill county. Oregon ; Mary, wife of James Berry, in
Oregon ; Hugh T., a member of Company F, Twenty-
ninth Iowa Volunteers, and was killed in the battle
of Lincoln Ferry, Texas, in May, 1864; Robert L.,
in Oregon; Margaret, wife of W. Smith, in Latah
county; Hamilton, in Latah county; John C. and Isa-
belle, twins, the latter deceased and the former in Ore-
gon ; Rhoda A., wife of W Downing, at Weston,
Oregon; Ella, deceased; Lulu, deceased. The chil-
dren born to Air. and Airs. Miller are Elmer, in Latah
county : Estella. wife of Frank Adair, in Latah coun-
ty; Lottie, at home; Esther E.. wife of H. Gilmore,
of Nez Perces county. Air. Miller and wife are mem-
bers of the United Brethren church and he has been
a member of the school board, and was president of
the Alliance Industrial Union.
It is of note that the ancestors of Air. Miller's
mother came over in the Alavflower.
HANS C. J. TWEEDT. The large real estate
owner and prominent agriculturist of Latah county
whose name initiates this paragraph, is one of the best
known men of the county, and has been eminently
successful in his business endeavors in this section,
which demonstrates his ability, industry, and enter-
prise, while his uprightness and integrity have as
fully been manifested. Hans C. J. Tweedt was born in
Bergen, Norway, on November 29, 1846, being the
son of Christian I. and Anna (Seim) Tweedt. large
farmers in that country. Our subject received a good
education and at the age of seventeen years started for
himself. Three years later. [866, he came to America,
and spent two years in the vicinity of Madison, Wiscon-
sin, working and then went to Wausau, in the same
state, where four years were spent in the timber. In
1874 Air. Tweedt came to Marion county, Oregon,
purchased a farm and tilled the soil there until 1877,
when he came to his present location, one and one-half
miles northeast from Genesee, this being Nez Perces
county then. He took a homestead and soon began
to add further land by purchase until he now owns live
hundred and sixtv acres, which is abundant in pro-
ducing crop-, giving as high as eleven thousand bush-
els in one year. Air. Tweedt has a fine twelve room
residence, large barn, forty by eighty, with plenty of
664
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
substantial out buildings, and a blacksmith shop, while
a fine orchard and other tasty and valuable improve-
ments make his home one of rural beauty and com-
fort. ( )n an adjoining farm he has good buildings
also. Mr. Tweedt has thirty head of cattle and plenty
of stock and utensils for his large estate, and is one
of the most progressive and skillful men of the county.
In political matters. Mr. Tweedt has always taken an
active interest and in 1898 the people called him to
serve in the responsible position of county commis-
sioner, running on the Republican ticket against A.
t leardsley on the Fusion ticket and gaining the day
by a handsome majority. Also the school interests
have gained by his service on the boards.
In 1872 Mr. Tweedt married Miss Susana, daugh-
ter of John and Amelia Nelson, of Waupaca county,
Wisconsin, and they have become the parents of fifteen
children, five of whom are dead and ten living, as fol-
lows: t'arl J., living in Nez Perces county
on a fine farm of one quarter section ; Emma
B.. attending the normal and at present teach-
ing school ; Louis A., a student at the Idaho
University. from which he will graduate in
1903 ; Christ G., at home : Fred, at home ; Annie
C, a student at the university ; George E., Henry E.,
Sarah M., Earl A., the last four also at home. Mr.
Tweedt is a member of the K. of P., while he and
his family are members of the Lutheran church. Air.
Tweedt is well known and well liked throughout the
county, and his labors here for years have resulted in
much good to the county and its institutions, and he
enjoys the confidence of all, which is justly merited.
THEODOR KLUSS. The subject of this article
is one of the first settlers in this section, being here
long before Latah county had an organization, and is
now one of the prominent farmers of the county, well
to do. and a man of ability and uprightness in all
of his ways, as has been patent from his business enter-
prises and success here in our midst. He was born in
the province of Schlesien, Prussia, on August 15. 1K54.
being the son of Thomas and Barbara Kluss, natives
of the same place, and farmers. The mother died the
same year our subject was born and his father was
called hence by death in 1867. and both are buried in
the home land. The year following the death of the
father, Theodor being then fourteen years of age, ap-
prenticed himself to a machinist and learned the lock-
smith trade. He traveled over most of Germany. Switz-
erland and Austria, laboring at his trade, and in 1873
longed for new fields, and accordingly came to America.
He settled in Madison county, Illinois, and engaged
in farming for three years, then sold out: and migrated
to San Francisco, thence to Portland, and Port Towns-
end, working for a short time in the latter places, and
in the fall of 1877 made his way into the section now
embraced in Latah county. He selected a homestead,
the place where he now lives, settled upon it, and since
that time has been one of the progressive, energetic and
intelligent farmers of the country. He has added
as much more land to his homestead, giving him one-
half section now, which is well improve.], and pro-
duces abundant crops. The estate is the family home
place, and lies four miles north from Genesee. Air.
Kluss is a true representative of that noble and sturdy
class known as pioneers and he does credit to himself
in the way in which he has demonstrated his ability to
aid in the development and advancement of the
country.
On August 4, 1887, Mr. Kluss married Miss Mary,
daughter of Andrew- and Mary Stritzlc, and a native
of Austria, where also her parents were born and are
now living. This wedding took place in Lewiston,
Idaho, and the fruit of this union has been four chil-
dren, as follows : Annie, Rudolph, Mary and John. Mr.
Kluss is well to do, having received the proper reward
of his faithful labors, and he is active in the matter
of politics, taking the part of the intelligent citizen, and
he receives the esteem and confidence of his fellows.
JAMES HUTCHISON. Among the leading fruit
growers of Latah county must be mentioned the sub-
ject of this article, and also it is right that the faithful
labors which he has performed for the substantial prog-
ress of this county should receive proper consideration.
Mr. Hutchison was born near Cape Vincent, New
York, on February 23, 1855, being the son of James
and Jane ( Mores ) Hutchison. The first twelve years
of his life were spent in Rome, New York; then in
company with his parents he came to Waverly, Bre-
mer county, Iowa, where twelve years more were spent
in farming, the father being a railroad man. It was
in 1881 that our subject came west and settled first
on the Snake river, and one year later came to American
ridge. After several years of residence there he came
to his present home place on Fix ridge, three miles
west from Juliaetta. The year 1887 was the date that
settlement was made on this place, and the estate shows
enterprise and industry on the part of the owner. Mr.
Hutchison has fifty acres of orchard, thirty of which
is devoted to prunes and the balance to different fruits.
He owns one hundred and twenty acres on Big Bear
ridge, also a dwelling and several lots in Port Angeles,
Washington. He handles considerable stock in addi-
tion to his fruit and farming and is one of the leading
men of his section.
The marriage of Air. Hutchison and Aliss Sophia,
daughter of Rev. Peter and Sophia (Dushing) Des-
granges, was solemnized on Alay 22, 1882, in Moscow,
Idaho, and eight children have been born to them :
Wallace and Walter, twins, the latter dying when he
was five years of age ; John and Jane, the former died
at the age of seventeen; Caroline, Lottie, Howard,
George, all at home. Airs. Hutchison was born and
educated in the state of New York. Air. Hutchison
is a man of ability and commendable activity in his
business enterprises, as his accumulations manifest, and
he is esteemed and respected by all.
THEODOR KLUSS AND FAMILY.
JAMES HUTCHISON.
JOHN H. HUTCHISON.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
665
JOHN H. HUTCHISON is one of Latah county's
most enterprising and capable men, being the largest
fruit grower in the county at the present time, and
having abundant success in his endeavors because of
his skill and wisdom and energy in handling the busi-
ness, which has grown under his care and direction
to the proportions of a business that may well be a
source of pride to the entire county.
Reverting more particularly to the personal history
of our subject, we note that Air. Hutchison was born
on March 16, 1857, in Steuben county, New York,
being the son of James H. and Jane (Mores) Hutchi-
son, natives, respectively, of Scotland and New York
state. The father was a bridge carpenter and wrought
on structures for railways. When John H. was very
young his parents removed to Rome, New York, re-
maining there until this son was eleven years of age.
There also the father died and the mother with her
children removed to Iowa, settling near Waverly, Bre-
mer d mm. where the son remained about thirteen
years, being occupied in gaining an education and also
in the good work of instruction in the schools. He
came west to Whitman county, Washington, in 1880,
and for two years he raised sheep there and then re-
tired from that industry and removed to Latah county,
where he purchased a right to the quarter section
where his house now stands. To that he has added
until he owns four hundred and forty acres of fine
soil. Mr. Hutchison has improved his estate in a most
commendable manner, having an elegant residence,
barns, outbuildings, and all conveniences to handle a
general farming business. He has an orchard of
forty acres, set entirely to prunes, and twenty acres
more given to a variety of fruits. His fruit products
alone amount to a large industry. He has an evaporat-
ing plant one hundred and twenty-eight feet by twenty
feet in dimensions, also a large storage house and com-
modious apartment house for the men, of whom he em-
ploys nearly fifty in the busy seasons. Not only does
Mr. Hutchison excel in producing large quantities of
fruit but at the Spokane fruit fair he won the gold
medal in 1894 and also he has won the same at the
Kendrick exposition. His work is highly commend-
atory to him and a source of credit and pride to the
entire county.
Fraternally Mr. Hutchison is affiliated with the
K. of P. His marriage with Miss Clara E. Barker was
solemnized at Moscow, Idaho, on June 23, 1890. She
had come from Wisconsin, her native state, with her
parents. William F. and Helen M. (Blount) Barker,
to Waverly, Iowa, where she was principal of the pri-
mary schools and kindergarten for four years after
the date of their arrival there, which was 1862. She
had also taught in Wisconsin and her entire teaching
experience dates over a period of sixteen years. Her
father was a general merchant at Waverly for twentv
years. After Mr. Hutchison came here he taught one
the first schools that was held in the new building on
of American ridge. He was the first president of the
Potlatch Horticultural Association, also of the fruit
fair at Kendrick. In addition to the exhibt which Mr.
Hutchison took to Spokane, when he secured the gold
medal, lie has made tour others, and has won various
prizes there and elsewhere.
THOMAS H. CHRISTIE. The subject of this
sketch is one of the enterprising and progressive busi-
ness men of Troy, in Latah county, and it is with
pleasure that we grant him space in 'the historv of his
county, since he has labored here faithfully and has
done much for the upbuilding of the county. Mr.
Christie is a merchant, handling a mammoth stock of
general merchandise in Troy, and he has secured by his
sagacious business methods and uprightness, a large
patronage.
Recurring to the personal history of our subject,
we note, that as so many of our progressive citizens,
he came from Norway, his birth being in Christianna,
<>n March 6, 1863, being the son of Halvor and Man-
Christie. He came to this country in 1869 with his
parents and settlement was made in Jackson county,
Minnesota, wdtere he was brought up and educated,
laboring also on a farm. It was in 1881 that he came
to this country settling first in Lewiston, where he la-
bored for one year. Then he returned to Minnesota
and farmed until 1886 when he made a second jour-
ney west, that time going to Tacoma, where he labored
for the Pacific Elevator Company for one year. In 1887
he came to Genesee. He clerked in a general mer-
chandise establishment there for one year and then
opened a retail liquor store, which he operated for
four years. 1S92 marks the date of his removal to
Troy and then he opened his present business, which
he has steadily prosecuted since that time with fine
success. Recently, Mr. Christie sold his farm inter-
ests and is devoting himself to the store altogether.
On February 15, 1892, Mr. Christie married Miss
Maggie, daughter of John and Annie Raun, who re-
side north from Troy, and two children have been born
to this union, namelv, Mildred and Edna. Fraternally.
Mr. Christie is affiliated with the I. O. O. F., Lodge
No. 29. in Troy and with the Elks of Moscow, Lodge
No. 249, and with the K. of P., Lodge No. 11, in
Troy. He is a popular citizen and has a good stand-
ing among the residents of his section.
PETER JOHANN is one of the prominent men
of Latah county, distinguished alike for his enterpris-
ing 'labors and stanch characteristics and intelligence
in the affairs of business and the questions of the day.
being occupied in the art of agriculture and stock
raising, wherein he has made a commendable success.
Many of the sturdiest supporters of the stars and
stripes and the warmest friends of the principles
which they stand for have come to us from the land
of Germany, and in the Fatherland the subject of this
sketch was born, the date being January 15, i860,
and his parents were John and Anna M. (Shoemaker)
Johann. Peter received a good education in the
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
village schools and grew up there until the age of
thirteen years had been reached. Five years previous
to that time the father had died and the widowed
mother came with her family to America, when this
son, the oldest, was thirteen. He was faithful in his
care of the family that thus early cast responsibili-
ties upon him and he continued in that noble work un-
til he had reached the age of twenty-six. When
twenty-one he came at the request of his mother to
seek a place in the west, but failing to find what he
desired, he returned and remained in the east until
1887. when he again made a tour of the west, on this
occasion settling for a time in Union, Washington,
whence two years later he came to Latah county and
purchased a farm which he tilled for four years.
He then sold that property and came to Genesee,
purchasing a quarter and renting another and then
later purchasing the second quarter, which gives him
the fine estate of one-half section, one mile west
from Genesee. This property is one of the most thrif-
ty arid well kept farms in the county, it being laid out
with skill, and improved with taste, and stocked with
display of wisdom. His home is a rural retreat of
comfort and taste, with a fine residence, good barns
and outbuildings, a well selected orchard and every-
thing that could gladden the heart of a lover of home.
Mr. Johann has been road supervisor for a series of
years and his public life, in which he has done much
as delegate to the Bryan conventions in the county,
has always been characterized with the same display
of acumen, vigor and uprightness that are found in
his private walk.
In 1883 Mr. Johann married Miss Johanna,
daughter of George" and Katherine (Bruits) Bromel-
ing, of Carroll county, Iowa, and five children have
been born to them: Annie, Pauline, John M., Mary,
and Johanna, deceased. Mrs. Johann was called by
death" from her happy home and loving family on
October 14, iqoi. The oldest daughter is keeping
huu.se and the family are kept together in the home
place, despite this sad loss. Mr. Johann is a mem-
ber of the Catholic church and in a devoted manner
brings his family under the benign influence of his
faith. He is a potent factor in the church and labors
ardentlv and wisely for the advancement of its in-
terests.
GEORGE W. GRINER. Eight miles east from
Garfield lies the beautiful estate of the subject of this
sketch. The home place consists of one hundred and
six acres of good land well cultivated and handled to
diversified crops, with orchard and fine improvements.
while in addition Mr. Griner farms two hundred
acres of rented land.
Reverting to the personal history of our subject
we note that he was burn in Butler county. Pennsyl-
vania, nn May 8, i860, the son of John G. and Eliza-
beth (Carnahan) Griner. The father was a farmer
and stockman, born on January 6, i$33, in Pennsyl-
vania, and died March 13. 1900. He served in the
Union army under Captains Hayes and Hutchinson.
His father was Jacob Griner, a blacksmith, who mar-
ried Maria Step, born in eastern Pennsylvania. The
mother of our subject was born in Allegheny county,
Pennsylvania, on August 5, 1836, and her parents
were natives of the same state. In addition to our
subject, this worthy couple had children as fellows:
William H., in Whitman county; Samuel ]., de-
ceased; Oliver, deceased; John E., living in Latah
county; Mary, wife of Aaron Fields, now deceased;
Susan H., wife of C. J. Cockrell, in Latah county ;
Maggie J., wife of E. C. Covey, near Seattle; Phillip
S., in Idaho county; Pollard R., deceased; Elizabeth,
wife of Marion Munsey, in Latah county: Bertha E.,
wife of William Hayclen, in Latah county.
George W. worked on a farm and attended school
in Pennsylvania until fourteen years of age and then
came west in March with his parents to Pottawat-
omie county. Kansas. He also attended school in
Manhattan. Kansas, and the family remained in that
state until 1886, when they made another move,
coming first to Spokane and thence to Latah county.
Our subject bought his present place and then home-
steaded it, having litigation with the railroad com-
pany but beating them.
On September 12, 1884. in Kansas, Mr. Griner
married Miss Charity A., daughter of John and
Julia A. (Hill) Hills, and to them were born the fol-
lowing children: Ernest, Alberta, John I.. Elizabeth,
Letha, Neva and Georgia A., all being at home ex-
cept Letha, who is with her grandmother. Mr. Bills
was a native of Ohio and his wife was born in that
state in 1846. Mrs. Griner died June 13. 1807. Mr.
Griner was married a second time on August 5. 1900,
in Moscow, the lady becoming his wife being Evabell
(Williamson) Foley. Her parents were William W.
and Manan (Myers) Williamson, the father being
a railroad engineer, born in Ohio in 1832. and the
mother born in Buffalo. New York, in 1832. while
Mrs. Griner was born in Wisconsin, on December
2. 1863, and she spent some years in teaching school.
Her brothers and sisters are Gertrude, wife of Frank
R. Porter, in Illinois ; George H., in Fort Dodge,
Iowa, operating as a railroad engineer; Alta M.. wife
of Mr. Smith, at Fort Smith, Arkansas. Mr. Griner
is a member of the I. O. O. F. at Garfield, and has
been affiliated with the W. of W„ the A. O. U. W., and
the Maccabees. They are members of the Methodist
church. In 1892 Mr. Griner was nominated by the
Populists for county commissioner, but while he ran
ahead of his ticket, he suffered defeat with the entire
ticket. He takes a zealous interest in educational mat-
ters and is at present endeavoring to arrange for a
new school house.
JOSEPH GEIGER. The well known and rep-
resentative business man whose name appear- at the
head of this article is one of the prominent men of
Genesee, where he owns and operates a fine brewing
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
667
plant with an output capacity of three hundred barrels
per year, and which he handles with skill and display of
talent and good business ability. He was born in
Baden. Germany, on July 28, 1853, being the son of
Joseph Geiger. In the fatherland he was educated
in the fine schools to be found there, and at the age
of eighteen bade farewell to school-mates, home and
native land and launched out into the world for him-
self. With stout hands and a courageous heart, he
was prepared to do good work, and when he landed
in America, after a short time spent in visiting friends
in New York, we find him busily engaged in rail-
roading in Texas, whence two years later he went to
Iowa. Farming engaged him there for a time and
then he went to Milwaukee, where he learned the
brewing and malting arts, working there until he was
a master hand in the science. Then he came to Idaho,
took up a homestead and pre-emption, and for twelve
years he wrought for their improvement and in the
production of good crops. Then he sold out and put
up the brewing and malting house that he now owns
and operates in Genesee. He has been at this busi-
ness since 1888, and has accumulated a goodly com-
petence of this world's property owing to his skill and
industry, and he is one of the substantial men of the
county.
Mr. Geiger married Miss Meta Smith in 1889,
and one child was born to them, Anna Geiger. In
1890 Mrs. Geiger was taken from her home and
family by the cold hand of death.
In 1893 Mr. Geiger contracted a second marriage,
the lady of his choice on this occasion being Char-
lotte Prager, and two children have been the fruit
of this union, Matilda, going to school, and Freddie,
the youngest. Mr. Geiger takes an active part in the
local politics and matters of government, and is al-
ways allied on the side of sound principles and prog-
ress. He affiliates with the Catholic church and is a
stauch supporter of his faith.
ALEXANDER H. , CHARLES. This well
known gentleman is one of the prominent citizens of
Latah county and a man who is worthy of the trust
of his fellows, having been repeatedly called to serve
in public office, and to his credit it is to be said that
in all this service he has evinced a faithfulness to the
trust imposed and for the welfare of the people that
has enabled him to discharge in a conscientious and
capable way all duties.
Mr. Charles was born in Vernon county, Mis-
souri, on February 26, 1862, being the son of Benja-
min and Rachel '(Zellar) Charles. He was left an
orphan at an early age and secured an education by
dint of hard labor, and also mastered the carpenter
trade, a goodly showing for one thus thrown (Hit
in the world. He followed farming mostly until
1890, when he came to Troy and took up building for
a time, lie continued at the same for four years and
then determined to launch into the mercantile realm.
and accordingly he learned the apothecary's art and
opened a drug store. He has a fine stock of drugs,
paints, oils, stationery, and so forth, and does a good
business and is one of the leading mercantile nun of
the county. In addition to this business, Mr. Charles
has a well improved farm one-half mile south from
Troy, which supports an orchard of twenty-five acres.
Mr. Charles married Miss Martha, daughter of
John and Julia (Summers) Daniels, in Vernon coun-
ty. Missouri, and they have two children, Maud and
Edith. Fraternally Mr. Charles is affiliated with the
K. of P., Lodge No. n, and with the W. of W.,
Lodge No. 248, both at Troy. Mr. Charles is very
active in the political realm, and is now serving his
second term as county commissioner from the third
district, while also he has served a number of terms
as city councilman. Me is allied with the Republican
party and is faithful in the discharge of duties of
both a public character and in business enterprise.
Mr. Charles held a captain's commission in Com-
pany M. Idaho National Guards, for three years.
WILLIAM N. THOMPSON. Five miles south-
west from Cora, Idaho, is the estate of the subject of
this sketch. He bought it some years since and has
constantly farmed it, raising abundance of various
crops and horses, cattle and hogs. William X. was
born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, on Septem-
ber 17, i860, being the son of John E. and Easter
A. (Love) Thompson. The father was born in the
same county in 1837 and his father, Edward Thomp-
son, was a native of Ireland, and the wife of that
gentleman was Jeannie Carnahan. The mother of
our subject was born in Butler county, Pennsylva-
nia, in 1837, and her father was William Love and
her mother Mary Thompson. Our subject was edu-
cated in the common schools and remained with his
parents until he was twenty-one, then migrated to
Pottawatomie county, Kansas, and farmed and raised
stock. He landed there on March 6, and seven years
to a day after that he came thence to Spokane, Wash-
ington. He drove a team for the C. & C. Mill Com-
pany of that city for a time and then came to Latah
county and settled on a piece of land which he after-
ward abandoned, because it was lieu land. In 1S92
he purchased his farm, as described above.
The marriage of Mr. Thompson and Miss Anna,
daughter of John and Martha (Carnahan) Dial, was
solemnized in Pottawatomie county, Kansas, on X' >-
vember 6, 1884, and they have six children. Millie.
John, Orville, Ruth, Elsie and Inez, all at home. Mr.
Dial is a farmer and a large operator in stock and
was born in Ohio on October 14. 1833, while his wife
was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, on No-
vember 21, 1840. Mrs. Thompson was born in Pot-
tawatomie count)', Kansas, on October 4, 1864. and
was educated in the public schools and the Manhattan
high school. Mrs. Thompson has brothers and sisters
as" follows: Lewis, in Latah county; .Millie, wife of
668
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Elmer Whitmore, in Spokane, Washington; Mary,
wife of Shafer Carnahan, in Kansas; Samuel, in Ok-
lahoma: Haley, wife of Eli Carnahan, in Kansas;
John, in Manhattan, Kansas; William, in Kansas:
Grace. Jesse, Lihl and Charles, all in Kansas. Mr.
Thompson's brothers and sisters are named as fol-
lows: Margaret I., deceased; Sarah J., wife of Will-
iam Moody, in Pittsburg. Pennsylvania : Edward U.,
in Kansas'; John F., in Latah county; Mina B., de-
ceased : Mary I., wife of Lewis Diel, in Latah county ;
Agnes, wife" of John Lindsay, on .Meadow creek, in
Latah county; Robert and Harry, on the Nez Perces
reservation: George, in Latah county. Mr. Thomp-
son is a member of the I. O. O. F., and was delegate
to the grand lodge in Spokane in 1901 from Empire
Lodge. Xo. 51, at Garfield. He was a member of the
board of education and of the Mountain Home district
and succeeded in establishing a fine school. His
father's brothers were all Union soldiers and the
father was rejected on account of a defect in hear-
ing! His mother had several brothers in the war also.
NAPOLEON B. LONG, deceased. Our volume
would not be complete were there omission of a
memorial of the good man whose name is at the head
of this page, and because of his faithful labors, his
worthy life and his own real worth of character and
uprightness we with pleasure accord space to him.
Air. Long was born in Buchanan county, Missouri,
on April 7, 1844, being the son of John and Mar-
garet (Barker) Long. The father was born in Penn-
svlvama. in 181 5. and the mother was born in West
Virginia, on February 17. 1828. Besides our subject,
they had children as follows: Samantha, wife of
John Yarbrough, in Latah county; Columbus C, in
Arizona; Mary, wife of John Butts, in Arizona;
Ella V., wife of George Wikoff, in Oregon ; America,
deceased: Emma, wife of Simon Elcoks, in Oregon;
John J., in California.
While our subject was a child the family came
to Iowa and shortly came west, settling in the vicinity
of The Dalles, Oregon. Napoleon B. enlisted for
three years in the First Oregon Infantry. Company
< ,, under Captain A. J. Barland. to fight the Indians,
lie was a drummer boy, and after eighteen months'
service he was discharged. Following the Indian war.
the family went to Salem, and thence to Modoc coun-
ty, California, and there our subject took a mail route
from the Rogue river across the mountains, which
was a very dangerous employment, especially during
the A 1 1 "loc Indian uprising. Two years later they re-
turned to Linn county. Oregon, and there engaged in
farming and labor in the timber. It was in ( )ctober,
1883. that Mr. Long came to Latah county, his
parents having preceded him hither. He purchased
a farm and homesteaded a forty, the place being seven
miles east from Garfield, where the family now reside.
The marriage of Mr. Long and Emma (Blalock)
Seits was solemnized on November 29. 1876, in Mo-
doc county. California, and the following children
have been born to them: Freddie O.. deceased;
Minnie, at home; Jesse A., married to Amanda
Augir, and residing at home ; George E., Anna E.,
Henry L., Robert E., Charles A., Vina E., deceased,
Mary M., deceased. Mrs. Long's parents were Abra-
ham and Mary Seits, the father a farmer and born in
Pennsylvania in 1810, and the mother born in Mis-
souri in 1831. Mrs. Long was born in Buchanan
county, Missouri, on March 30, 1841, and has brothers
and sisters named as follows : Nancy, living in Ore-
gon ; Henry, in Oregon ; Mary E.. deceased ; Frances,
in Oregon; Elizabeth, wife of Samuel Heath, in
Okanogan county. Washington; Josiah, deceased;
Harriett, deceased ; Lincoln, in Oregon.
Mr. Long was not a politician and would never
accept office at the hands of his fellows. He was a
member of the Farmers' Alliance and of the Farm-
ers' Club. His fine farm of two hundred and forty-
acres was well kept and he was skillful in his labors.
He was an active member and worker in the United
Brethren church and was always zealous in the prog-
ress of the faith. The death of Mr. Long came sud-
denly, on May 3, 1902, falling from sudden failure of
the heart. He stood beside his faithful wife and as
the spirit took its flight he fell forward into her arms.
To the ones left behind there is much comfort in the
thought that while it was death here, to this noble
Christian man it was but "absent from the body,
present with the Lord." The One whom he had
served so long and faithfully called to the eternal re-
wards his child, and hope may well brighten the
darkness of the valley of the shadow of death.
JAMES E. DAILEY. The esteemed pioneer,
whose name heads this article, is one of the substan-
tial men of the county and a leader in many lines, and
is accredited with the distinction of living 'longer in
Latah county without using whisky than any other
man in the Palouse country. He is a man of sound
principles and unswerving integrity and is highly
esteemed by all of his fellows. James E. was born in
La Salle county, Illinois, on April 16, 1858, the son
of Robert and Eleanor (Hughes) Dailey. The father
was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, in 1826,
and is now living in Latah county. His grandfather,
James Dailey. was a native of the same place and died
there. The mother of our subject was born in Greene
county in 1836, and is now living in Latah county.
Her father, John Hughes, was born and died in
Greene county, Pennsylvania, and his father was killed
there by the Indians in an early age. Our subject's
parents removed to Story county, Iowa, in 1864, and
four years later went thence to Hamilton county and
farmed. Our subject attended school and later came
with his parents to San Francisco, thence to Port-
land by steamer and on to The Dalles, whence they
made their way by teams to the Palouse river, there
being no Palouse Citv then. They took land and at
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
669
the age of twenty-one James took a portion of his pres-
ent place, seven miles northeast from Palouse. Since
he has purchased more and is one of the substantial
farmers of the county and raises abundant crops of
hay and the cereals from his half section of fine land.
He took part in the defense of the settlers at the time
of the Indian outbreak. He was packing to Camas
prairie at the time and assisted to take all his people
to Colfax.
The marriage of Mr. Dailey and Miss Ida, daugh-
ter of Talbott and Sarah ( Haynes ) Ingraham, was
celebrated on January 1, 1882. They have five chil-
dren: Blanche, deceased; Ward E., deceased; Robert
T., at home; Maud I., and Sarah Odna, at home.
Mr. Ingraham was a farmer, born in Ohio on May 6,
1833. His grandmother was Jemimah Birch and his
grandfather Ingraham was born in Wales. Mrs.
Dailey was born in Knox county, Illinois, on No-
vember 23, 1864, and gained her education in the
public schools. Mrs. Dailey has brothers and sisters
as follows : Warren S., in Pennsylvania ; Eliza J.,
wife of Bert Trownfelter and living in Lewiston ;
Daniel S., deceased. Mr. Dailey's brothers and sis-
ters are named as follows: Louisa, wife of Walter
Dean, in Latah county, John L. and Hughes I. on
Nez Perces reservation; Anna E., wife of W. W.
Davis, of Latah county ; Robert R., at home in Latah
county: Charles M, also at home in Latah county.
Mr. and Mrs. Dailey are members of the Christian
church and he is a member of the school board. It is
of note that six uncles of Mr. Dailey fought in the
Civil war, one. I. I. Hughes becoming captain. .Mrs.
Dailey had five uncles in the Civil war and three died
there, one in Andersonville prison. They were fifers
and one was a drum major. In 1875 .Mr. Dailey car-
ried the mail from Lewiston to Spokane. Lewiston be-
ing the distributing point then. And it is of note that
at that time J. M. Glover kept a little store in a box
house in Spokane and there was no accommodation
for a horse to be found and Mr. Dailey was obliged to
feed him on a picket rope.
EDWARD T. PLATT. No man is better known
throughout Latah county, both for the ability in busi-
ness matters and the sound principles that dominate
a faithful personal walk, than the subject of this
sketch, to whom we grant a representation in the vol-
ume of his county's history. He is one of the heavy
property owners of the county, has a fine estate of four
hundred acres adjoining the town of Genesee, main-
tains a large and fine orchard, has all kinds of im-
portant and comfortable improvements, and is one of
the up to date and intelligent and progressive business
men of this section of the country.
Edward T. was born in Highland, Iowa county,
Wisconsin, on November 1. 1852, being the son of Ed-
ward and Susanah ( Jones ) Piatt. He received his
early education in the native place and at the age of
twenty entered the state normal at Platteville, Wis-
consin, where he completed a two years' course. He
then followed teaching for two and one-half years in
the vicinity of Lemars, Iowa, whence he then went to
Allentown, Dakota, and in the spring of 1881 took a
trip to his native place. Then he went to Omaha. Ne-
braska, bought a ticket for Lewiston, Idaho, and at
that time a train of sixty-five cars, bringing sewn
hundred people to settle in that country, came through,
consuming one month on the road. This large rein-
forcement arrived in Lewiston on October 9, 188 1, and
soon after we find our subject in the vicinity of < ien-
esee, where he engaged to work for John Evans and
in the spring of the next year he entered into partner-
ship with this man and together they wrought for five
years. Then Mr. Piatt bought the James Hansen
farm, which he still owns and where the family home
is. His residence is one of the most sightly and ele-
gant of the city, overlooking the town and his farm,
which comprises four hundred acres and is handled
half for stock, of which he owns three hundred head,
and half for farming purposes. He has an excellent
orchard of one thousand trees, and his buildings, as
barns, outbuildings, and. all necessary equipment for
the farm, are all of the best, and commodious and com-
fortable. In March, Iy02, Air. Piatt sold from his
herds two thousand five hundred dollars' worth of
fine beef stock, and he is one of the heaviest stockmen
in the county. In political matters he has also been
a leader and in 1892 he was nominated by the Repub-
lican party for county commissioner and was elected
by a handsome majority. He has served as justice of
the peace and in numerous other offices. In 1889 he
was instrumental in assisting to lay out the town of
Genesee and handled much of the property. He was one
of the organizers of the Genesee Bank and acted as its
vice president. He also owns four houses and lots,
besides his elegant home, in addition to the other prop-
erty mentioned.
Air. Piatt married Miss Carrie, daughter of John
M. Harris, of Mineral Point, Wisconsin, on
November 6, 1875, and the fruit of this union is as
follows: John, born April 5, 1877, married and liv-
ing on the Salmon river, in the stock business; Laura
born December 24, 1878, wife of W. Dorchester, also
residing on the Salmon river ami in the stock business;
Susie, born May 27, 1881, wife of W. Hickman, op-
erating a livery in Genesee : William, born July 14,
1884, going to school. Mr. Piatt is a charter member
of the Genesee Lodge of the K. of P. and has passed
all of the chairs. He is also a member of the Free
Methodist church, and is a man with the courage of
his convictions, both in religious life and business en-
terprise, while his walk is one of exemplary worth and
he is entitled to the generous bestowal of confidence
and esteem which he enjoys from his fellows.
HARTZELL COBBS. Doubtless no profession
to which the lot of man has fallen is so productive of
good or evil as that of the instructor, hence it is that
popular sentiment demands, and rightly, too, that the
men who fill these responsible positions should be the
6;o
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
choicest in demeanor, integrity, ability and sound
principles. As one of the leaders in this line of work
in this comity, we are bound to mention the subject
of this article, whose work is in every respect of high
order, and has placed him in the enviable position of
one of the most prominent educators in this section of
the country.
Mr. Cobbs was born in Mahoning county, Ohio, on
August 2, 1865, being the son of Amasa and Annie
M. (Schaeffer) Cobbs, now deceased. Our subject
received his primary education in the schools adjacent
to his native place and then he took a term in the Da-
mascus Academy and one year at the Hiram College.
He completed his education at the Northeastern Nor-
mal College, at Canfield, Ohio, in 1887, then inaugu-
rated his career of teacher in the public schools. Two
years were thus spent in the country schools and three
years in Petersburg. In the fall of 1889 he came
west, teaching first in the country schools, then taking
the position of principal of the Russell school in Mos-
cow. Following this he came to Genesee, assuming
the principalship of the city schools. This was in the
fall of 1894 and since that time he has continued in
that department. ■ The work that came to his hand was
to grade and properly arrange the rooms and grades
for the three hundred pupils that were under his
charge, also map out the work for the five teachers
who assisted him. This was completed in a fine man-
ner and the Genesee schools are as well graded and
in as good shape as any in the entire county. Air.
Cobb- has done a fine work and much credit is due to
his faithful efforts. As a sample of his faithfulness
in instruction, eight of his pupils applied to pass the
examination for teachers' certificates. Five of this
number received second grade, one first grade and
two received standing for the second grade, but on ac-
count of their age were unable to have a certificate.
These have made successful teachers and are doing
l work in the count}-. It is the intention to handle
the school as a preparatory course to the freshman
class of the State University. The school property in
< lenesee is well furnished, admirably located and under
the charge of their efficient and capable principal is a
busy and bright place for the assembled youth of the
city.
WILLIAM W. DAVIS. An enterprising and
capable agriculturist and patriotic citizen, the subject
of" this article is deserving of consideration in the his-
tory of his county, since also he has labored here faith-
fully for many years in the upbuilding and improve-
ment of the same and doing labors which deserve
much credit. Lie was born in Lane county, Oregon, on
May 18. i860, the son of James G. and Martha 1 Mc-
Culloch) Davis, born respectively in 1S26 and in ( »hio
in 1823. William W. remained with his parents until
he had reached the age of eighteen years and then
went to work for himself. He had acquired a good
education from the district schools and his first move
was to Latah county, where he squatted on a piece of
land until he was twenty-one and then he took the
same as a homestead. Lie worked for neighboring
farmers and also conducted a stock ranch in Lincoln
county, Washington. This latter industry he with-
drew from in 1892 and put in his first crop in Latah
county. Since that time he has continued here en-
tirely and has a fine farm, with good orchard, and
which produces abundantly. His farm is located four
miles northeast from Palouse.
The marriage of Mr. Davis and Miss Anna, daugh-
ter of Robert and Ellen (Hughes) Dailey, was sol-
emnized on July 3. 1893, in Latah county. They have
two children, Rosco J. and Roy R. Mrs. Davis' fa-
ther was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, in 1826
and the mother in the same county in 1836. The fa-
ther is a farmer now in Latah county. Mrs. Davis
was born in Story county. Iowa, on October 29, 1869,
and was educated in the public schools. Her brothers
and sisters are named as follows : James E., in Latah
county: Louisa A., wife of Walter Bean, in Latah
county ; John L. and Hughes I., in Nez Perces county;
Robert R. and Charles M.. in Latah county. Mr.
Davis has the following named brothers and sisters :
Nancy A., wife of James Fairchild, in Whitman coun-
ty, Washington; Joseph H, in Colfax; Angeline, wife
of W. J. Breeding, in Palouse. Mr. Davis is a mem-
ber of the Woodmen of the World and he and his wife
are members of the Christian church. He is active in
politics and holds the principles of the stanch old Jef-
fersonian Democracy. In school matters Mr. Davis
is also zealous and always laboring for the best. His
mother's brother was Captain McCulloch, in the Civil
DANIEL LACKNER is one of the leading farm-
ers in the vicinity of Princeton, his fine estate of three
hundred and sixtv acres lying one-half mile east from
the town. In addition to his farming Mr. Lackner has
also operated as a blacksmith for many years here and
he is well known all over this section of the country as
a fine workman, a capable and upright man and a loyal
citizen. His birth occurred in Ontario, Canada, on
December 23, 1866, being the son of Conrad and Caro-
line (Leusing) Lackner. The father was born in
Baden, Germany, in 1824 and the mother was born in
Germany in 1835. Her mother died in Ontario, Can-
ada, in 1899, being aged eighty-nine years. In addi-
tion to our subject, this worthy couple had other chil-
dren as follows: Henry, in Ohio; Catherine, wife of
Henry Sinkpiehl. living in Ontario, Canada : Lucy,
wife of Sam Stauffer, of Ontario: William, in Golden,
Oregon; John, in Ontario; Mary, wife of Mr. Purdy,
of Ontario; Lydia, in Ontario. When quite young,
Daniel was apprenticed to a blacksmith and he worked
at that trade until [883, when he came to the United
States, landing first in Detroit, where he labored at his
trade for a time. In 18S8 we find him in Palouse,
whence he came to Princeton and opened a shop for
himself. He soon had a good trade and he pur-
chased land until he has the fine estate which was
mentioned above. In 1 901 he dropped shop work and
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
67j
retired to the farm, where he makes his home at the
present time.
On February 7, 1893, at Moscow, occurred the
marriage of Mr. Lackner and Miss Dura, daughter of
Frank and Mary (Austin) Bull, and four children
have been born to them: Nellie, eight years ..Id;
Percy, seven years old; Jesse, six years ..Id; and Ber-
tha, four \cars old. -Mr. Bull was a preacher in the
Christian church and was born in Ohio in 1856 and
is now living at Eugene, ( )regon. Mrs. Lackner was
born in Anoka county, .Minnesota, on ( (ctober 14,
1875. She is a member of the Christian church.
IVir. Lackner has brothers and sisters as follows:
William : Etta, wife of Clinton Trotter ; Sarah, wife of
Bert Scott; Ivan, with parents: all living in Jasper,
( Iregoh. Air. Lackner is a member of the school board
and "has been for many years and always labors for the
betterment of educational facilities. -Mrs. Lackner's
uncle, D. Austin, and her grandfather, Isaac Mem
denhall, were both soldiers in the Civil war. Mr.
Lackner is a man of sagacity and industry and he has
.'.one much for the substantial improvement of the
countv.
OLOF OLSON. This esteemed and capable busi-
ness man of Latah county is senior member of the
firm of ( )ls<m & Johnson, hardware and furniture mer-
chants of Troy, Idaho, which is one of the leading
mercantile firms of the county, and they handle a full
line of general and building hardware and house fur-
nishings, being enterprising and wide awake business
men, whose deferential tratment of patrons and wise
handling of business with strict integrity and upright-
ness, have given them the reward of a large trade from
the surrounding country.
Mr. Olson was born in Norrland county. Sweden,
on January 10, 1855, being the son of John and Mar-
tha < Hsori. His early education was gained in his na-
tive land and in 1870, with the balance of the family,
he came to the United States. They settled in Pike
countv. Pennsylvania, and two years later they mi-
grated to Tennessee, and in 1874 a move was made to
Pawnee county, Kansas, where they remained, farm-
ing. Our subject left that place in 1882, coming to
Washington, and labored one year at the carpenter
trade, which he had learned previously. This was in
Tacoma, and in 1883 he came to Moscow and there
operated at contracting and building until 1891, when
he came to Troy, as a member of the Vollmer Mercan-
tile and Milling Company. In 1898 this concern dis-
solved, and with his partner, Mr. Johnson, Mr. ( >lson
benight their hardware stock. To this they have added
a complete line of house furnishings, besides making
the stock of full assortment. Mr. ( )lson has consid-
erable farm land south of the town and also a fine resi-
dence in the town. He has been the postmaster for the
past three years and he has discharged the duties of
that important office with capability and in a manner
Pleasing to all patrons.
The marriage of Mr. Olson and Miss Amanda.
daughter of Andrew and Charlotte Johnson, was sol-
emnized in La rued, Kansas, in 1880, and they have
been blessed by the advent of five children, named as
follows: Alma, wife of Peter Olson; Edla, wife of
August Johnson, partner of Mr. Olson; Hilda, Nora
and Elof. Mr. and Mis. ( )lson are members of the
Lutheran church ami they are exemplary people and
valuable members of societv.
THOMAS STINSI >N. The varied and excellent
talents of our subject have found ample opportunity
for operation in the resourceful country of our county
and he has put to good use the abilities with which
nature has endowed him, as will be seen from the fol-
lowing. Mr. Stin son was born in Tuscola county,
Michigan, in 1851;, April 29th, being the son of Will-
iam and Eliza (Brophy) Stinson. While still a child
he went with his parents to the province of Ontario,
Canada, where the family remained until Thomas was
eighteen years of age. He labored on a farm and
gained meanwhile his education from the excellent
schools of that country. Then they removed to Doug-
las county, Minnesota, and for eight years our subject
operated a threshing outfit, being excellently fitted for
it and making, therefore, a good success of the enter-
prise. It was 1886, when he headed toward the west
and settlement was made in Latah county, a homestead
being selected one-half mile east from where Troy now
stands. He improved the farm in an excellent manner
and in addition to that labor he also operates each
year in the proper season, a threshing outfit, and at the
present time he has about the finest outfit for this
purpose that is in the county of Latah. He has become
an expert in separating the golden grain from the
chaff, which also characterizes Mr. Stinson in all of his
business dealings, for he is a man of keen perception
and sagacity and has had ample and broad experience.
In addition to the callings mentioned above, we must
add another to have the full quota of Mr. Stmson's
labors, for he is proprietor of the Hotel Rietman, in
Troy, and handles it in a becoming manner.
The marriage of Mr. Stinson and Miss Crace,
daughter of Albert and Mattie (Stitt) Parker, was
solemnised in Troy, on July 17. [889, and they have
one child, Roy 11.' Mr. Stinson is a member of the
W. of W., Lodge No. 248, in Troy. Mr. Stinson is a
man of excellent standing among his fellows, has la-
bored faithfully here for the advancement of the in-
terests of the count)- and is highly esteemed and re-
spected by all. being a man deserving and dominated
by sound principles.
SAMUEL T. CHAMBERS. The great-grandfa-
ther of our subject was a soldier in the Revolutionary
war. as were also his nine brothers, and the same
spirit of patriotism and loyalty stirred in the heart
of this, his great-grandson, for when the call came for
men, stanch and true, to defend the flag and save the
Union. Samuel T. was ready and quickly signed the
672
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
roll and seized the musket which never left his hands
until the entire work was done and well done. He was
a member of Company E, Twenty-sixth Indiana In-
fantry, and was ordered to Missouri to reinforce Mulli-
gan, who stood against Price. < >ur subject fought at
Prairie Grove, Utonia, Springfield, Keatsville, and
other engagements, and then was sent to Mississippi,
where he participated in the siege of Yicksburg un-
til the place capitulated in 1863. He then fought
at Yazoo City, Milligan's Bend and at the siege of
Mobile. At the battle of Prairie Grove a man was
killed on either side of him and one behind him and
a bullet took a piece from his ear, but he did not stop
fighting. He was mustered out on January 22, e866,
serving about four and one-half years. Following this
excellent service, he went again to private life and its
duties, visiting Indianapolis first and then his old
home, where he went in farming. He remained in
Knox count) and shipped stock until 1872 and then,
having met with reverses, he decided to migrate, and
we next find him at Walla Walla, Washington, in
1872. He settled six miles above Colfax, there being
but one family where the city of Colfax now stands.
He took land and sold and removed three time- before
18S3, when he came to Latah county and took his
present place, three miles east from Princeton. He has
a quarter section of good land and raises hay and stock
and is numbered with the leading men of the section.
Mr. Chambers was born in Knox county, Indiana,
on June 20, 1832. the sun of Levi Chambers. The fa-
ther was born in 1796 and married Miss Beverton, a
native of England, who died July 1, 1832. After the
death of his mother, Samuel was sent to live with his
uncle, James Chambers, and at the age of sixteen he
was left alone in the world by the death of these rela-
tives also. He worked on the farm until 1861 and then
commenced the military record which we have briefly
outlined and which is a credit to him and his family.
Mr. Chambers was married on March 22, 1866, in In-
diana, Joanna Bell becoming his wife, and they are
the parents of the following children : Eudorus and
Ulysses, twins; Orpha, wife of G. T. Cochran, in
Latah county; ( )sela, deceased; Corinne, wife of G. F.
Bay, in Latah county ; Joe, at home. Mrs. Chambers
was born in Knox county. Indiana, on October 4,
1839, the daughter of William and Nancy (Lemon)
Bell. The father was a farmer, born January 22,
1813, in Harrison county, Indiana. The mother was
born in Sullivan county. Indiana, on April 4, [820,
her father's name was Friend Lemon and he was born
in Kentucky in 1783. The brothers and sisters of
Mrs. Chambers are: F. L. Bell, living in Garfield;
Mary E. Stephenson, deceased; Achsah Shields, de-
ceased; Kittie, deceased. Mr. Chambers' brothers are:
William C. deceased; Levi, in Missouri. Mr. and
Mrs. Chambers are members of the Christian church
and he has been a director in the school district for
many years. He is a member of the G. A. R. at
Palouse and is a highly respected man and citizen.
For his excellent service for his country Mr. Cham-
bers draws a modest pension.
CHARLES E. BOWMAN. The thrifty farmer
whose name appears here, is the possessor of a fine
estate in Latah and Xez Perces counties, and is living
at the present time one mile east from Genesee, where
he has a good farm, well improved and produtcive of
abundant crops. His real estate holdings amount to
over four hundred acres and one year's crop has
amounted to more than ten thousand bushels of wheat,
besides other productions, thus demonstrating the rich-
ness of the land and the skill of its owner. He has
a fine home, good outbuildings, well selected orchard
of choice varieties, plenty of stock and much other
property. Mr. Bowman took a homestead in the Nez
Perces reservation in 1805. proving up on the same in
1902. thus adding another quarter to his valuable prop-
erties.
The birth of Charles E. occurred on June 8. 1857,
in Oregon City, Oregon, he being the son of Joshua
and Emaline (Loveiand) Bowman, natives, respect-
ively, of Pennsylvania and New York. The father
died in 1877, aged sixty-seven years, and the mother
is still living in Genesee, at the age of seventy-nine,
and is weii and smart. Until he was thirteen years of
age our subject attended the schools in Oregon City
and then the father moving farther out. where there
were no schools, he was denied any futher schooling,
except what was gained from the school life, in which
he has manifested a precocity, however, that has
given him the meed of fine success and sagacity. The
first eighteen years ot Mr. Bowman's career were spent
in the service of his father and then he started in the
battle of life for himself. He bought eighty acres of
railroad land and for five years farmed it. then sold
out and removed to (ienesee. Idaho. Here he rented
his father-in-law's place for eight years and then pur-
chased one hundred and twelve acres where he now
resides, one mile east from Genesee. In addition to
the other items mentioned in his industries, Mr. Bow-
man devotes much attention to handling and raising
cattle, of which he has a large number at the present
time.
On June 16, 1881, Mr. Bowman married Miss
Emma A., daughter of Daniel B. Markham and a na-
tive of Marion county, Oregon, and they have been
blessed by the advent of -the following children: Roy
D. and Rolla E., twins; Clayton C, Hattie M., all liv-
ing with their parents. Mr. Bowman is active in po-
litical matters, being allied with the Democratic party
and a great admirer of Bryan and his methods, while
also in local matters he is intelligently active and pro-
gressive. He is a member of the W. of W. Both he
and his family are members of the Methodist church.
South, and they are stanch supporters of the faith.
JOHN C. MILLER. Erom Germany, whence come
so man\- of our most thrifty agriculturists, hails the
subject of this sketch, and with industry and wisdom
he has labored in his chosen land with manifestation
of talent that has brought a bright success in his ef-
JOHN C. MILLER.
£RS. JOHN C. MILLER.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
673
forts, proving himself to be a capable and worthy citi-
zen. Mr. .Miller was born in Wurtemberg on April
1, 1840, being the son of Frederick and Christiana
(Wurst) .Miller. The parents were farmers of Ger-
many, and our subject received a good training in the
agricultural art and a common school education, and
011 April 25. 1867, we find him in New York ready to
seek his fortune in this new world. He went direct
to Detroit, Michigan, and thence to the copper mines
on Lake Superior, where he labored three and one-
half years. Next he removed to Joliet, Illinois, and
worked in the coal mines for two years, then in the
vicinity of Peoria he labored on a farm, and in 1872
he went back to Germany and the following year re-
turned to the United States and labored at Chico, Cali-
fornia, and later in the mines in that state until Sep-
tember, 1879, ne came to Latah comity. He
searched the country and finally took as a pre-emption
his present place and added one half section by pur-
chase, of which he has recently sold one hundred and
sixty acres. He improved his farm in a becoming
manner, follows the diversified plan of cropping, has
erected an elegant residence and commodious barns,
with all the accessories needed on a first class estate.
He is sowing grasses at the present time and is in-
tending to raise much stock. The town of Viola was
located on Mr. Miller's land, the name being first,
"Four Mile."
While in Germany in 1872, Mr. Miller met Miss
Loeffler, who came to America with her brother at
ilie time Mr. Miller went to California, and the ac-
quaintance ripened into a courtship which on September
29> I8/3. resulted in the happy marriage of Mr. Miller
and Miss Katherine Loeffler, in Sacramento, California.
The parents of Mrs. Miller. Emmanuel and Chris-
tiana, are farmers in Germain-. The following children
have been born to Mr. and .Mrs. .Miller: Fred C, who
has attended the university at Moscow ; John H. : Clara
I'., attending the university at the present time; Louise
K., at home; Balee, died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs.
Miller are members of the Lutheran church, and he
has served for a number of years on the school board.
'I here is no more thrifty and enterprising farmer in
the county than the subject of this sketch, as his ex-
cellently kept farm shows, and he is a man of honor
and dignity and is the recipient of the esteem and con-
fidence of his fellows.
CHRIS 1 IAN WAHL, deceased. It is very fitting
that a memorial of the esteemed gentleman and faith-
ful citizen whose name appears above should be
granted place in the history of Latah county, since he
was one of the sturdy men who wrought here for the
development of nature's resources and assisted ma-
terially in building up the county, being also wise and
enterprising in his own business ventures.
Christian was born in Baden, Germany, on Feb-
ruary 14, 18,31, being brought while very young to
America by his parents, who settled in New York
where our subject received a fine education, which
was very useful in after years. At the age of his ma-
jority he started for himself and in i860 he came to
California, via Panama, and for two years he taught
school in the in. Men state. Following that labor, he
and his brother engaged in hop raising for five years,
then he farmed for two years, after which he moved
to Petaluma and did surveying for a number of years.
rims did his early education, which was thorough,
stand him well in hand. In 1872 he came to Lane
county, Oregon, farmed there for three years, then
moved to Harrisburg, remaining two years, then came
to eastern ( >regon, spending one year. Later we find
him on McKenzie river, ( )regon, fanning and making
shingles, alter which he was in Whitman county,
Washington, and in 1880 he came to Genesee. He
took a timber claim of one hundred and sixty acres,
seven miles east from Genesee, and devoted his atten-
tion to farming and raising stock. He wrought faith-
fully until the time of his death, which occurred in
1887, and his remains lie buried in the Genesee cem-
etery.
Mr. Wahl married Miss Mary, daughter of John
and Caroline ( Jagar) Churchman, natives, respective-
ly, of Pennsylvania and New York. Eleven children,
as follows, were born to this union : Ada C, wife of
\. Maxwell, living near Johnson, Washington; John
C, deceased ; Sherman L., living in west Latah coun-
ty and a member of the W. of \\ . ; Phillip G., living in
Ferdinand, Idaho county; William H., living in Latah
county; Saloma A., deceased; Diantha F, living at
home; George A.; Edward E. and Edna M., twins;
Mathias W., the last three going to school at the uni-
versity. The family are adherents of the Methodist
church and are faithful supporters of the faith.
CYRUS L. KINMAN. William Kinman was
born in Fort Knox, on May 6, 1812. His father, Levi
Kinman. was born in North Carolina and his mother
was a native of Indiana, born in 1794. William was
in the Black Hawk war, was a captain in the Mexican
war and served in the Civil war as lieutenant colonel
until his death, which occurred on September 20, 1863,
being killed at the battle of Chickamauga. William
Kinman married Miss Ann Shinn. who was born near
Camden, New Jersey, on October 20, 1812. Her fa-
ther was a Merhodist preacher and her mother's name
was Lipencott. To this marriage of William and Ann
born tiie subject of this sketch, on August ,31,
1839. in Pike county. Illinois, and Rose, deceased;
Milton, deceased: Sue, living in Morgan county, Illi-
nois; Clarissa, in Canada: Warren, deceased; Newton,
deceased; Jennie, in Morgan county, Illinois: Rachel,
deceased; William, deceased; Edwin, in Illinois. The
parents removed to Jacksonville. .Morgan county,
when Cyrus L. was fourteen years of age. and they
farmed there until the father went into the war in
1862. In April, 1861, our subject enlisted in Companj
L., Tenth Illinois Infantry, serving four months, until
his discharge, and then he re-enlisted as captain of
674
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Company I. One Hundred and Fifteenth Illinois Vol-
unteer Infantry, in 1862. He was in the Army of the
Cumberland, under Rosecrans, and fought in the bat-
tle of Chickamauga, where his father was killed. In
October, 1863, he was discharged and went home to
settle up his father's estate. Later he removed to
Johnson county, Missouri, and there farmed and raised
stock. Nine years later he sold out and went to
Sonoma county, California, thence to Oregon and in
1876 he landed in Latah county. He settled six miles
east from Palouse and lived there for fourteen years.
Then he sold out and bought a section of land near
his present home ; hard times coming on he lost all but
one hundred and seventy-five acres. It was in 1890
that he removed to his present place, seven miles east
from Princeton. He raises hay and stock and has a
fine home, a commodious barn and is one of the pros-
perous men of the section.
The marriage of Air. Kinman and Miss Jennie,
daughter of William R. and Elvira (Carlock) Smith,
was solemnized on August 14. 1862. in Morgan coun-
ty. Illinois, and they are the parents of six children,
as follows: Xellie, wife of O. B. Danborn, in Spo-
kane ; Fredrick, in Latah county ; Albert, at Crafton,
Washington ; Maude, wife of A. E. Daily, in Latah
county : Gustave, on Puget Sound : Claude, at borne.
Mrs. Kinman was born in Morgan county. Illinois, on
July 22. 1844, an'l the other children in her father's
family are: Malinda, Elvira, James, all deceased, and
Henry. Her father was a carpenter and farmer and
was born in Indiana.
Mr. Kinman is a member of the G. A. R., at Pa-
louse, and was at one time a member of the Grange.
In 1890 he was nominated by the Republicans for rep-
resentative to the state legislature and made a fine
lace, being beaten only by eight or ten votes. He is
an ardent advocate of good schools, is always active in
the cause and gives his time for the service of the
board. He is one of the leading men of the com-
munity and is highly esteemed and respected by all.
FRED W. JONES. It is with pleasure that we
are permitted to grant to the estimable gentleman
mentioned above a representation in the history of
Latah county, since he is one of the largest property
owners of the county, being one of the heaviest grain
raisers in this section, since also he is a man of good
business ability, which has been demonstrated in the
manipulation of resources in this county, since also
he is a man of stanch and unswerving integrity and
upright character. Mr. Jones lives one-fourth of a
mile east from Genesee, or rather in the eastern out-
skirts of the town, having a good farm, with an extra
fine residence, commodious barns, and all necessary
outbuildings and improvements incident to a first class
establishment. His land is level as a floor and pre-
sents an interesting and striking view when waving
in bounteous crops of grain, of which an annual out-
put will reach many thousand bushels. He devotes a
portion of the estate to stock in addition to his grain.
The entire premises of Mr. Jones present an air of
thrift, care and attention and wise handling. He is
one of the most thorough and up-to-date farmers in
the countrv.
The birth of Air. Jones occurred in Oregon City,
Oregon, on January 28, 1862, and his parents were
Charles and Margaret (Bowman) Jones. The father
was a native of Pennsylvania and died in 1883. being
buried at Silverton, Marion county, Oregon, while
the mother was born in Illinois and still lives with her
son, Fred \V., in Genesee. The parents removed to
Portland, where our subject received a good educa-
tion before he was sixteen years of age. Then the
family removed to Scott's mill, where they remained
eight years and then our subject came to Genesee, Ida-
ho, where he purchased the land before mentioned
and turned his attention to farming and building up
the county and its interests. In political matters Mr.
Jones is always active and allied with the side of right.
( In November 7, 1888, Mr. Jones married Miss
Ethzelda M. Gentry and they have one child, Bessie
M.. attending school. Mrs. Jones' parents, John and
Mary (Simmons) Gentry, were natives of Indiana and
Iowa, respectively. The mother died in March, 1901,
and the father is still living on his farm close to Gen-
esee. Mr. Jones affiliates with the W. of W. and he
and his wife are members of the Methodist church,
South. Airs. Jones is the Sunday school superin-
tendent in her church and takes a prominent part in
church work, as does Air. Jones, who teaches in the
same school and also acts as steward of the church.
They are prominent and intelligent people, dominated
with wisdom and geniality and are highly esteemed
and beloved bv all.
CHARLES F. SAIITH is one of the leading and
progressive farmers of this section of Latah county,
his estate lying seven miles east from Princeton, and
consisting of one quarter section, which is mostly de-
voted tc hay. Air. Smith has also a dairy and owns
his own separator. He is prosperous and one of the
prominent men of the community. His birth occurred
in Mecklenburg, Germany, on October 25, 1852, be-
ing the son of John and Christina (Otto) Smith. The
lather was a drayman, born in Germany in 1822 and
came to America in 1856 and is now living in Michi-
gan. The mother was born in Alecklenburg, Germany,
in 1827 and, died in 1895. The children of this worthy
couple, in addition to our subject, are named as fol-
lows: Minnie, wife of Gotlieb Ewald. living in Lud-
ington, Michigan; Sopha, wife of Horace G. Nichols,
living in Grand Haven, Afichigan ; William, living in
Grand Haven, Michigan, also: Harry, died in 1872;
Edward C. proprietor of the Palm Garden in Grand
Haven. The parents came to America in 1856. landed
in New York and then at once removed to the mouth
of the Grand river, near Grand Haven, Alichigan.
Work was obtained at the sawmills and later the" fa-
ther started a dray line. Charles F. received his educa-
tion there and assisted his father until the vears of
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
675
majority had arrived and then he went to logging.
This was continued until 1879, when he became fore-
man of the mill yard for the Grand Haven Lumber
Company. It was 1886 that he started west, coming
by train to Colfax, Washington, where he landed on
September 25th and went thence by team to Latah
county. He took a preemption at the mouth of Big
Creek and for five years we find him toiling here and
then he sold out. He had also kept postoffice, hotel,
and packed supplies to the miners. In 1891 he pur-
chased the farm where he now lives, but sold it later
and went to Palouse and took up drawing. In 1893
lie sold that business and went to logging but after a
couple of years or so he saw the value of his present
place, which lies seven miles east from Princeton, and
purchased it hack again and Mr. Smith says that if
he is living one hundred years from now it will be on
this place, so well is he satisfied with the country.
The farm is a model of industrious activity and thrift
and is well improved in every way.
The marriage of Mr. Smith and Miss Annie C,
daughter of James and Susan Welch, was celebrated
in Grand Haven, on October 22, 1879. and the}- are
the parents of four children : Forrest S.. at Moscow,
attending commercial college ; Gracie P>.. died April
27, 1883: Harry S. and Elva M., at home. Mrs.
Smith's father was born in England on Januarv 1,
182(1, and came to America in 1847, settling in Cana-
da, whence he removed to Michigan in 1877. The
mother was born in Canada on April 3, 1833, and
Mrs. Smith was born May 25, 1852, in Ontario. Can-
ada, and received her education in the famous schools
of that province. Her brothers and sisters are named
as follows : Naoma, wife of Solomon Fess, living in
Lakeview, Michigan: William, in Grand Haven, Mich-
igan; James, at Spring Lake, Michigan: John, at
Grand Haven, Michigan; Samuel, at Lakeview. Mich-
igan: Joseph, deceased: Mary I-"., wife of Benjamin
Brough. at Minica, Michigan. Mr. Smith is a mem-
ber "f the Masonic fraternity at Palouse, Lodge Xo.
49, and also of the M. \Y. of A. He has served on
the school board for many years and is a zealous ad-
vocate of good schools. Mrs. Smith is a member of
the Eastern Star.
ENGEL C. SWEXSON. Many of the most sub-
stantal and thrifty citizens of the United States are
the people that come to our borders from the old his-
toric land of Xorway, whence the earlv explorers of
this country sailed. Thither came the father and
mother, Colbern and Mary Swenson. of the subject of
this sketch. They settled in Wisconsin, then removed
to Cottonwood county, Minnesota, and are now living
in Latah county, the mother aged eightv and the fa^
ther seventy years of age. 1864 was the date they
landed on American soil. It was during their resi-
dence in Cottonwood county, Minnesota, that the im-
mediate subject of this article was born, the date there-
of being March 15, 1868, and there also he received
his education in the country schools. At the age of
sixteen years he came west, working as a farm hand for
six years. Then he purchased the land where he
now lives, having a quarter section at first and later
selling a portion. His farm lies four miles east and
one-fourth of a mile north from Genesee, and he is
one of the thrifty and progressive farmers of the sec-
tion. In political matters .Mr. Swenson is active, and
always allied on the side of good men and sound prin-
ciples. He has served as road supervisor at different
times, and all his public duties are performed with the
same thoroughness and dispatch that characterize him
in his private efforts.
The marriage of Mr. Swenson and Miss Emma,
daughter of Stiner and Annie P. Knudson, was sol-
emnized in 1896, and they have two children,— Altha
E. and Cordelia S. Mr.-. Swenson 's parents came
from their native land, Xorway, to this country in
1807, first settling in Kansas, then migrating to Latah
count}- in 1878. and thence to Xez Perces county in
1897. where they dwell at the present time. Mr.
Swenson is a member of the W. of W. and he and his
wife are members of the Lutheran church. Mr. Swen-
son is a man of good ability, sound principles, and has
wrought here with display of acumen and wisdom, and
is entitled to the esteem of his fellows, which he richly
enjoys
HOMER W. CAXFIELD. Six miles east from
Princeton we are greeted with the elegant home of
Mr. Canfield. it being a commodious structure of nine
rooms, of modern architectural design and tastily set,
while about it are the well kept acres of his estate,
which produces abundance of tame hay. fruits and
grains. Mr. Canfield devotes much attention to
handling stock, and is one of the leaders in his com-
munity.
The family history of our subject is as follows:
Marcus R. Canfield was born in Berkshire county,
Massachusetts, mi August 23, 1824. the son of Gideon
Canfield. who was born May 14, 1770. M. R. Can-
field grew up and enlisted in the Civil war. Twenty-
seventh Massachusetts, in 1861, and fought bravely
for the subjugation of rebellion. Being wounded, he
was sent to the hospital and later became hospital
steward. He married Miss Margaret A., daughter of
Hiram Meacham, she being born in Ashby Falls. Mass-
achusetts, Berkshire count}-, on October 7, 1834, and to
them were born the subject of this sketch, on De-
cember 22. 1S58. in the home county, and also Ellen
A., wife of Mark Hartwell. who is now dead: Ray-
mond R.. in Xew Hampshire: Clara I., wife of Walter
Dunbar, at Pittsfield. Massachusetts. Our subject was
educated in the public schools and the South Berkshire
Institute, having also spent some time as clerk in a
druo- store at Rockland. In 1877 he came to Bakers-
field. California, and worked in a dairy and then went
at the business for himself, and one year later sold out
and came to Walla Walla, taking up the same busi-
ness. One year there and then lie became a real cow-
boy for a time, enjoying it hugely. Xext we see him
assisting in the construction of the O. R. & N. and the
676
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
N. P., and he helped to raise every trestle from Sand
Point to Ainsworth. Next he was on the Palouse,
where he took up a half section of land and logged,
but becoming tangled in a joint stock mill, he lost
twenty-five hundred dollars and then took his present
place.' He is doing well now, for energy and wis-
dom are bound to succeed.
On November 1, 1885, at Deep Creek, Nez Perces
county, occurred the marriage of Air. Canfield and
Miss Rhoda L. Peterson, and they have five children,
— Kate. Oroha, Cecil, Ruby and Maude Mr. Lo-
renzo Peterson was a farmer, born in New Jersey.
His wife died when Mrs. Canfield was an infant, and
she was raised in her uncle's family, that of Frank
Peterson, now living in Latah county. Mrs. Can-
held was born in Newport, Cumberland county. New-
Jersey, on September 10, 1864, and her brother and
sister are: Rosella, wife of Frank Cosier, in New
Jersey ; George, living in New Jersey. Mr. Canfield
is a zealous advocate of good schools and is a member
of the board. In 1896 he was a nominee for county
commissioner on the Free Silver Republican ticket,
but while that ticket made a good race it was defeated.
JAMES R. VASSAR. This veteran of many
struggles on the field of battle in the Civil war, as well
as in the battle of life, is now one of the respected and
influential citizens of Latah county, living on a farm
two miles east from Princeton. He was born in Gen-
try county, Missouri, on July 14, 1845, being the son
of Joshua and Nancy (Summers) Yassar, natives of
Cannon county, Tennessee, and dying, respectively, in
1862 and in 1857, the mother being in Barry county,
Missouri, at the time of her demise. The parents
removed to Newton county, Missouri, when our sub-
ject was eight years of age, and in 1856 they went
thence to Barry county, having also spent some time in
Franklin county, Arkansas. In July, 1864, our sub-
ject joined the army. Company G, Fifteenth Missouri
Cavalry, serving until the close of the war, being mus-
tered out on July 30. 1865, at Springfield, Missouri.
Subsequent to this, he went to Neosha, Newton county,
Missouri, worked on a farm and farmed for himself.
In 1867 he came to Barry county and followed agri-
cultural pursuits, and in 1886 he came to Spokane,
and then to Princeton, where he landed on February
14, 1886. He farmed for a time and then went to
Shoshone county and took government land, which he
sold later and then bought on Bear creek, and since
that time he has traveled some, lived with his son.
Thomas, and is now located as described above.
The marriage of Mr. Yassar ami Miss Ollie, daugh-
ter of Thomas and Susan (Green) Crumley, was sol-
emnized on New Year's day, 1869, and they have
become the parents of the following children : Eliza-
beth, deceased ; Nancy, deceased ; Thomas J., living in
Latah county where his father lives, which place the
father presented to his son. Mrs. Yassar was born
in Georgia in 1840, and died July 16, 1888. The
brothers and sisters of Mr. Yassar are Mary M., wife
of George Hoatch, in Kansas ; Levi, living in Latah,
on Crane creek ; Thomas L., living in Barry county,
Missouri. Mr. Yassar was a member of the Union
League at the close of the war, and is now a mem-
ber of the G. A. R. He is also a member of the Meth-
odist church and in politics he is a Republican, vot-
ing it straight. Mr. Vassar is the recipient of a stip-
end from the government for his faithful service and
he is a man of uprightness and is respected by all.
JOHN B. HAON is a son of the bright land of
France, being born in Lardeche department in 1831,
where he passed his youthful days, and where also his
parents were born and died, the father being John B.
and the mother Janne. The father was a blacksmith
and died in 1862. In 1855 our subject migrated to
England from Paris, and thence to New York, landing
on September 18, 1856. The next spring he was in
Chicago, and worked there at brick making. Thence
he went to St. Louis, then to Leavenworth, Kansas,
and one and one-half years later we find him in St.
Joseph, Missouri. In i860 he started for Pikes Peak,
driving team, and mined there for three years. From
there he went to Montana, mining there until 1867.
After that he mined a couple of years on Napah creek,
Idaho, then on to California and back to Montana.
It was September, 1870, that he came to Lewiston.
He worked at placer mining in the Moscow mountains
and in 1871 came to Jerome creek, and there mined.
He says that while on this creek at work the Indian
outbreak of 1877 and 1878 occurred, and the Indians
came by and talked with him, and the Chinaman and
others ran to the timber, but he remained and con-
versed with the savages and was unmolested. In
1878, when the country was surveyed, he took
his present place one and one-half miles east from
Princeton. He has devoted his attention to mining,
farming and stock raising since that time. He has a
quarter section of good land and raises much hay,
which he sells and feeds to his stock. Mr. Haon is
a man of vigor and capabilities that tell in pioneer
work, and he is deserving of much credit for the way in
which he has labored for the upbuilding of the country.
THOM ANDERSON. Although Mr. Anderson
has not been in Latah county as long as some, still he
is one of the younger men who add life and energy
to its development, being one of the force of agri-
culturists who have wrought out the wealth of the
county and are at the present time pushing it on to
greater commercial prominence in the west. Mr. An-
derson was born in Norway, whence come so many of
the stanch citizens of this free land. His parents were
.Andy and Anna Mary (Thomson) Peterson, natives
of Norway and land owners there, where also both
passed away in the fall of 1885. The date of the
advent of Thorn into mortal existence was September
3, 1862, and the first sixteen years of his life were de-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
677
voted to assisting his father on the farm and in ac-
quiring the lore of school books. At the interesting
age mentioned he hired out as a sailor, and for seven
years followed the sea, then in 1885 he came to Ameri-
ca, settling in Manistee, Michigan, where two years
were spent, whence he came then to Tacoma. He
drove team for a time, then went to Seattle and shipped
on board the steamboat Union. He worked on this
coast plying boat until 1893, then went home to Nor-
way, spending six months in seeing old acquaintances
and living over again the joys of childhood. Return-
ing to Seattle, he went to Alaska, and for t-wo years
he placer mined for himself in the vicinit) of Circle,
doing well. Then he went to Dawson and mined with
three others on a claim that they purchased, and there
they also did well. He returned to Seattle then and
sold his dust, then came on to Spokane, and it oc-
curred to him that the best way to save the money was
to purchase a farm, and accordingly he came to Gen-
esee and bought eight}' acres where he lives at the
present time, two and one-half miles northeast from
Genesee. He has a fine farm, all finely improved, ele-
gant residence, large barn and outbuildings and every-
thing in first class shape. He raises wheat and oats
and is prosperous and a leading figure in the com-
munity to which he is a valuable acquisition. Es-
pecially in politics is Mr. Anderson interested and is
always laboring for measures of general benefit and
men of sound principles.
On March 31, 1900, Mr. Anderson married Miss
Mary, daughter of Andrew Asplen and Anna (Peter-
son) Anderson, natives of Norway. The father died
in that land in 1901, but the mother still lives there,
aged sixty-seven years. One child has been born
to our subject and his estimable wife, — Theodore E.
HAMLIN McCOY. One mile northeast from
Princeton is the fine home of Mr. McCoy. It con-
sists of a good farm of one-quarter section of fertile
land, well improved with good buildings and product-
ive of various crops, as grasses, grains and fruits. Air.
McCoy also handles a first class orchard. He was
born in Guernsey county, Ohio, May 7, 1852. the son
of Benjamin and Mary A. ( Ballard)" McCoy. The fa-
ther was a farmer and a native of Guernsey- county,
Ohio, born in 1808, and he died in 1875. His mother's
name was Sherrick. The wife of Benjamin McCoy
was Miss Ballard, born in Guernsey county, Ohio, in
1812, and her death occurred in 1867. Our subject re-
mained with bis parents until the father's death, in
1875, and just previous to that he had purchased land
with his father and brother, James H. He sold this
land in 1875 and removed to West Yirginia, where he
purchased land and remained until 1888. Then he
sold and removed to Latah county, getting here in the
spring of that year. The following summer he bought
his present place and has resided there since.
The marriage of Mr. McCoy and Miss Phoebe,
daughter of Andrew and Drusilla (Forrest) Boyd,
was solemnized in the home county in Ohio, on Sep-
tember 9, 1875. The following children are the fruit
of this union: Mintie I'.., deceased; Emma P., wife
of A. H. Miller, living near Moscow; Venia I., wife of
J'. D. Miller, in Moscow. -Mrs. McCoy was born in
Guernsey county. Ohio, on March 23, 1855, and she
has the following named sisters and brothers: George
G., at the native place ; Mary, wife of George AlcPeak,
in Ohio; Isaiah, died March 5, 1902; Elizabeth, de-
ceased; Jane, deceased: Emma, wife of Thomas
Daugherty, in Ohio. The brothers and sisters of Air.
McCoy are named as follows: Samuel, deceased;
Cornight C., deceased; Benjamin F., in Cole county,
Missouri; John T.. died at Chambersburg, Pennsyl-
vania, during the war; James H., deceased; Stephen,
in Ritzville, Washington; Phoebe J., deceased; Henry
W., in West Virginia; Mary A., died in Alissouri;
Joshua, deceased; and William R.. deceased. Air. Mc-
Coy has five brothers who fought in the Civil war
with distinction. One of them. Henry, being a mem-
ber of Company B, Fifteenth Ohio, received a wound,
which disability caused his discharge. Air. AlcCoy
is a member of the Alasonic fraternity, Lodge No. 46,
in Palouse. He and his wife are members of the
Alethodist church. Air. McCoy has always been zeal-
ous for good schools, serving as president of the board
in West Virginia, and also on the board much in
Latah county.
HERBERT L. HAWKINS. Buell J. Hawkins.
a farmer, born in Ohio in 1824. whose father was
Amos Hawkins, married Aliss Alary A. Custard, and to
them were born the subject of this sketch, in Craw-
ford county, Pennsvlvania, on July 9, 1853, and also
the following children : Charles, deceased : and Rufus,
who is living at Aromas. California. Air. B. J. Haw-
kins took his family to Crawford county. Kansas, near
Ft. Scott, in 1858, where he took up land and farmed.
He joined the Home Guards during the war and did
good service, but in 1863 his wife died, and after the
war lie married a second time. Our subject remained
with his father until he had reached the age of four-
teen, and then started out for himself, having gained
his education from the district schools previous to that
age. Fie worked for wages at farming, riding the
range and other labors until he reached his majority,
then went to farming for himself, also mined for coal.
He was a resident of Kansas until 1870. then sold
out and went to Redwater. Michigan, where he
worked at saw milling for four years. The next move
was to the vicinity- of Spokane, Washington, in 1883,
and three years later he came thence to Latah county.
He preempted land on Bear creek and gave his atten-
tion to handling it until the present time, having also
a hotel at Princeton, now in connection with his farm.
Flis home is now at Princeton, and he has also the
mail route from Palouse to Princeton.
On March 7. 1876. occurred the marriagre of Mr.
Hawkins and Aliss Alary E., daughter of William N.
and Arilda (Green) Green, and they have been blessed
by the advent of the following children: Afirance,
attended school two years at Pullman, and now living
67l
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
in Moscow; Cha Nez Perces reservation:
Elsie, wife of Alexander Black, of Princeton; Ethel.
Maude, Stella and Herbert, at home. .Mrs. Hawkins
was born in Springfield, Illinois, on January 15, 1857,
and her father was a farmer, born in Ohio in 1823.
He was a veteran of the .Mexican war, and also served
three and one-half years in Company A, One Hundred
and Sixth Illinois Infantry, during the Civil war. Her
mother was born in Illinois 111 1835, the father of this
lady being William Green, and his wife, Mary
(Hogge) Green. The brothers and sisters of Mrs.
Hawkins are Lizzie, deceased; John, deceased; Abra-
ham, in Texas ; Agnes, deceased; Mary, deceased;
William, in Texas ; Millie, wife of Elijah Saunders, of
Oklahoma.
Mr. Hawkins is a member of the American Yeo-
men, and he and his wife adhere to the Baptist church,
their membership being at the Fine Grove church. He
has been a member of the school board for twelve
consecutive years and is always laboring for the wel-
fare of both school and state.
NICHOLAS OLSON. It is a pleasure to grant
to the subject of this sketch a representation in the
history of his county, for he justly deserves it, having
labored faithfully here for many years, being a man
of ability and energy, and having maintained a walk
of unswerving integrity and uprightness. Mr. Olson
is one of the real builders of Latah county, and is one
of the heavy property owners in it today, having five
hundred acres of land eight miles west from Kendrick.
which his skill and energy have made one of the choic-
est farms of the section, and an abundant producer of
valuable crops. His farm is improved in a skillful
manner and manifests the taste, wisdom and thrift of
its owner at every turn.
Reverting to the personal history of our subject,
we note that he was born in the land of Norway, near
Burgen, on April 12. 1852. being the son of Ole and
Sarah Olson. Norway has furnished some of the
most sturdy and patriotic citizens within the border of
our free land, and much is due the arduous efforts of
this worthy class of people for the development and
upbuilding of the country. For twenty years Nich-
olas remained in his native land, gaining a good edu-
cation and laboring for his parents on the home farm.
Then he bade farewell to the home land, friends and
relatives and embarked for America. He labored in
the lumber woods of Minnesota and Wisconsin until
1879, when he came to Latah county, or the territory
embraced in this county, it being then Nez Perces
county, and after due search he selected a homestead,
which forms a part of his mammoth estate. He went
to work with a will and little by little he added land
until the property now is as stated above, one of the
finest estates of the count}-. Mr. Olson has an or-
chard of thirty acres, and is one of the leading fruit
growers of the county.
Fraternally Mr. Olson is affiliated with the A. O.
U. W., being popular there as in his other walks of
life. It has never been a part of Mr. Olson's conquests
to vet sail the matrimonial seas, having always pre-
ferred the quieter and more peaceful joys of the celi-
batarian.
ANDREW LYND. One of the capable and pros-
perous farmers of Latah county is named at the head
of this article, and it is with pleasure that we are en-
abled to incorporate an epitome of his career in this
volume, since he has labored long for the upbuilding
of the country and has conducted himself in a com-
mendable manner. Mr. Lynd was born in Lawrence
county, Ohio, on September 21, 1848, being the son
of Samuel and Elizabeth (Tipton) Lynd, the father a
native of Ohio, born in 18 16, and the mother born in
Virginia in 1820. Mr. Tipton was born in North
Carolina in 1807 and died in Latah county. The
parents of our subject removed to Illinois when he was
a lad of five, and thence they went to Ringgold coun-
ty, Iowa, took land and farmed for three years and
then removed to Andrew county, Missouri. Three
years were spent there, and then they went to Wash-
ington county, Kansas, and in 1858 took a homestead.
Our subject attended school there and worked with
his parents, also doing freighting on the plains. The
family home remained in that place in Kansas until
[883, when the father sold out and migrated over-
land to Latah county. He took up the farm where
Andrew now lives, ten miles east from Palouse. The
next year our subject came to Latah county and pur-
chased a piece of land near Palouse and farmed it for
eleven years. When the father died the old home-
stead was sold, and seven years since the subject of this
article purchased it. It consists of one hundred and
seventy acres, and is well improved, and produces
abundance of timothy hay. Also Mr. Lynd owns
another quarter section of good land.
The marriage of Mr. Lynd and Aliss Mary M.,
daughter of Henry and Rebecca (Harlan) Gray, was
solemnized on November 16, 1873, and they have be-
come the parents of the following children : Alice E.,
deceased : Albert J., deceased ; Millie, teaching in Latah
county; Francis M., deceased; and the rest are all at
home, — Elsie, Seth J., Harvey H., Reuben E., Flomer
J.. Mary B. Mrs. Lynd was born in Putnam county,
Indiana, on October 1, 1856, and she had one brother,
Andrew, now deceased. Her father was born in Put-
nam county, Indiana, on June 9, 183 1, and her mother
was also born in Indiana, her birthday being Janu-
ary 11, 1832. The brothers and sisters of Mr. Lynd
are as follows : Jane, deceased ; Mary A. wife of
William Bastow ; Amanda, wife of P. Hanshaw, of
Salem; Charles, in Ellis county, Kansas; Rebecca,
wife of Ralph Traver, in Oregon ; Elizabeth, wife of
F. H. Brown, in Whitman county ; Julia, wife of Da-
vid Cover, in Oregon; Phoebe; Celia, deceased: Effie,
wife of J. J. Hafer, in Latah county ; Laura, wife of
Theo. Smith. <»f Oregon; Samuel, in Walla Walla ;
Massam, in Walla Walla: James, in Palouse. Mr.
and Mrs. Lynd are members of the Baptist church at
Palouse, and for that institution he liberally gave two
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
679
hundred dollars in gold for the first building. He
has always been faithful in the support of the faith.
Politically Mr. Lynd is always active and is also a
member of the school board. He believes in diversi-
fied farming and each year he clears upward of three
hundred dollars on his hogs alone, being also pros-
perous in other lines as well.
JAMES W. ROSS. Ten miles east from the town
of Palouse lies the estate of the gentleman whose name
is at the head of this article, the family home having
been here since 1883. James W. was born in Page
county, Iowa, on October 9, 1847, the son of James
and Rachel (Jones) Ross. The father was born in
Jackson county, Missouri, and his father was a native
of Kentucky. The mother died in Wilson county,
Kansas, in 1858. In 1857 the parents removed to
Missouri, and thence to Wilson county the following
year, taking up land where Coyville is now located.
Our subject was reared on a farm, attended school a.nd
when the terrible strife that rent our land in twain
was precipitated he joined the forces of the Union and
fought for the country that he helped to save from
destruction. 1863 was the year, and James was but
sixteen years of age. He enlisted in Company M,
Ninth Kansas Cavalry. He was ordered to Kansas
City, where he was stationed a few months, and then
went to Lawrence, and he was there taken with the
smallpox, and this prevented him from going south,
but was out and able to chase Price the last time he
ventured into Missouri, and at the end of the war
was honorably discharged at Leavenworth, Kansas.
He then went to Allen county and shortly afterward to
Wilson county, and took up farming, continuing the
same there until 1883, at which time he sold out and
started overland to Latah county, landing here on Sep-
tember 23, having been four months on the road. He
purchased the farm above mentioned and has con-
stantly remained here since.
On December 20, 1865, occurred the marriage of
Mr. Ross and Miss Rosanna, daughter of Abijah and
Nancy (Oaster) Hampton, in Allen county, Kansas,
and the following children have been born to them:
Nancy E., deceased ; Mary L., wife of James Lynd, of
Palouse; Anna N., wife of Joe Davis, in Missouri;
Albert F., on the Nez Perces reservation; Jordan J.,
at Wardner, Idaho; Charles E., at Chattaroy, Wash-
ington ; Lottie V., at Milan, Washington ; Minnie, de-
ceased; Daniel E., at home; Gertie M. and Bertie J.,
twins, also at home. Mrs. Ross was born in Noda-
way county. Missouri, on November 13, 1847, and has
the following brothers and sisters: Leonard, de-
ceased • Luanda, wife of E. E. Howard, in Iowa ;
William, deceased : Joseph, in Iowa. Mr. Ross has the
following brothers and sisters : Nancy J., deceased :
Elizabeth, deceased; John A., deceased': Benjamin F.,
in Idaho: Louisa, deceased; George W., in Latah
county. Fraternally Mr. Ross is affiliated with the I.
O. O. F., while he and his wife are members of the
Christian church. He served on the school board for
a term and has always manifested a great interest in
the advancement of educational facilities, as well as
the general welfare of the county.
JOHN W. PLEDGER. This enterprising agri-
culturist is one of the substantial men of Latah county,
capable, upright and ever displaying wisdom and
vigor. His estate lies three miles northwest from
Princeton, contains one hundred and sixty acres, is well
improved and presents a very thrifty appearance. The
buildings of all kinds are tasty and commodious, while
the land produces abundantly of the cereals and tim-
othy, and Mr. Pledger also devotes much attention to
feeding hogs.
Noticing more particularly the personal history of
our subject, we see that he was born in Bellville, Can-
ada West, on May 20, 1839. being the son of Charles
and Rebecca (Wessles) Pledger. The father was
born in London. England, on March 8. 1817, and the
mother was born in the Mohawk valley, Xew York,
her parents being John and Elenor Wessles. In 1853
the family removed to Dane county, Wisconsin, where
they gave attention to farmnig. Our subject attended
school and remained with his parents until 1861, he
being then twenty-two years of age. Then he re-
sponded to the call of his country and enlisted in the
Third Battery of Wisconsin Light Artillery. He was
ordered to Louisville, Kentucky, and the first engage-
ment was at Fort Donelson. After this he partici-
pated in the battles of Stone River, Nashville. Pitts-
burg Landing, Tennessee, and Corinth, besides several
others. He served his three years and then received
an honorable discharge at St. Louis and immediately re-
enlisted in the Forty-seventh Wisconsin, serving there
until the close of the war. After his discharge at
Nashville he went to his home in Wisconsin and one
year later went to Kansas on the government survey of
Osage reservation. After two years of this work he
bought a tract of land near Fredonia, Kansas. Later
he sold out and went to South Dakota, and there
farmed until 1887, the year in which he came to Latah
county. He first bought land on Palouse river, and
then sold and purchased his present farm, which has
since been the family home.
The marriage of Mr. "Pledger and Miss Rachel,
daughter of James and Tolly Gardner, born, respect-
ively, in Maryland on January 24, 1804. and in Ohio
on September 22, 1813. was solemnized on January
12, 1875, and they have bf come the parents of the fol-
lowing children: Martha, deceased; Wallace and
Walter, twins, at home: Gertrude and Grace, twins,
deceased; John W.. at home. Mrs. Pledger's brothers
and sisters are as follows : Honor, in Wilson county,
Kansas ; John, also in Kansas : Joshua, deceased ; Lo-
renzo D., in Kansas; Elizabeth, deceased; Nancy, de-
ceased: Mary, in Kansas; Samantha, at Moscow. Ida-
ho: Lovisa and Louisa, twins, deceased; David, de-
ceased; James B., deceased. Mrs. Pledger was born
in Moultrie county, Illinois, on October IO, 1844. The
brothers and sisters of Mr. Pledger are named below:
68o
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Mary A., deceased; Ruth, living in Minneapolis;
Elenor. at Oregon, Wisconsin ; Elizabeth, deceased ;
Mahalah, at Bellville, Wisconsin; Sabra. at White
Rock, South Dakota; Joseph, in Wisconsin. Air.
Pledger is an Odd Fellow, holding his lodge relations
in Fredonia, Kansas. He and his wife are members
of the Methodist church and they are highly respected
people and valuable members of society.
FREDRIC F. BURDIC. A worthy scion of
a stanch family who braved the storms of ocean in
the little Mayflower to settle among the wilds and sav-
ages of the new world, and the descendants remain-
ing in Massachusetts and Vermont until this day, the
subject of this sketch has also had a part in the opening
of this vast country to the settlement of those who
sought homes, and he has manifested the same worthy
qualities that were so commendably displayed by his
ancestors. Our subject was born in Vermont, Wind-
ham county, on February 19, 1835, being the son of
Jerread and Leurancy (Franklin) Burdic, also natives
of the Green Mountain state, who emigrated to Indiana
in 1837. in Steuben county, of which state they both
passed away in the spring of 18S2, and are now buried
in the Jamestown cemetery. Fredric F. was educated
in the public schools in the interims between labors on
the farm, and at the age of twenty-two went to Ne-
braska, where he worked on a farm for one year and
then returned to Indiana and took up study in the
school again, realizing that he needed better fortifica-
tion for the battles of life. After completing his edu-
cation he went to work on a rented farm and five
years later he had been successful enough to purchase
the same. He continued there until 1871, then went to
Nebraska, purchased a farm in Washington county
and to farming and buying and shipping cattle he
devoted his energies until 1895, when he desired to
search the west further, and accordingly he sold his
entire property and came to Latah county and pur-
thased a farm, which he sold two years later, buying
where he is at the present time, two miles east and
three-fourths of a mile north from Genesee. He has
a good estate, fine residence, large barns and con-
venient outbuildings, with over six hundred apple-
trees, besides pears, plums, prunes and all other kinds
of fruits that flourish here. In political matters Mr.
Burdic has always been active, being allied with the
Democratic party. He has served as county assessor
and in other capacities in Indiana. Once he received
the nomination for the legislature, there being two
counties in the district, and three men in the field, and
although his county was five hundred Republican he
carried it by three hundred and eighty-four majority,
but the other county changed the vote.
The marriage of Mr. Burdic and Miss Nancy A..
daughter of Major Benjamin and Catherine (Jackson)
Pratt, was solemnized on December 22, 1857, and they
have trod a happy journey together for nearly one-half
a century. Mr<. Burdic was born on March 29, 1840,
her father being a native of Vermont, and her mother
of Ohio. Our subject and his wife have become the
parents of four children, as follows : Elvie M., wife
of John C. Nordby and living in Genesee; Eugene
W., married to Cory Rose, and being a stock and grain
buyer of Nebraska, having headquarters in Washing-
ton county ; Ruric L., married to Mae Sampson, living
in Ashland, Oregon, where they own two thousand,
eight hundred and sixty acres of land and a fine saw
mill : Maud L... teaching school in Genesee. Mr. Bur-
dic is a member of the I. O. O. F., and in religious be-
lief is allied with the Unitarians. Mr. Burdic and his
estimable wife, who has been especially helpful and
gracious in all the walks of life, are valuable additions
to the society of Latah county, and they are highly es-
teemed bv all.
JOHN S. SULLIVAN. From the far away, fa-
mous Emerald Isle, whence comes some of the most
enterprising and plucky men that ever stood beneath
the stars and stripes, hails the subject of this article,
and his career here has fraught with numerous inci-
dents of interest, and has ever manifested that genuine
grit, sagacitv and energy which characterize his race,
while his indivudual exemplification of sterling virtues
lias placed him among the most substantial and capable
men of this section, where he has labored with com-
mendable zeal in the affairs of business, gaining a
proper success as the reward of his wisely bestowed
labors.
Mr. Sullivan was born in county Kerry, Ireland,
in 1847, being the son of John and Mary Sullivan.
He spent the earlier years of his life much as the youth
of his land do, laboring faithfully and gaining also
a good common school education ; but when manhood's
years began to dawn.it was evident from the extra ways
of industry and wisdom that our subject manifested
that he was possessed of no ordinary abilty. In 1880
he put into execution a long desired plan, that of
coming to the United States. He located in Michigan,
and by hard labor and careful attention to business,
accumulated a good start, then went to California,
hut not finding conditions there as he desired, mi-
grated to Latah county in 1884. He bought eighty
acres, and later took forty as a timber culture, where
he now lives, eight miles west from Genesee. He put
forth the accustomed labor and skill that he was wont
to do and soon the place became a fertile farm and a
good home. In 1802 he bought two hundred and
twelve acres of land, and raised as high as ten thousand
bushels of grain in one year. In 1893. the noted year
of flood and water fall, he was destined to lose the en-
tire crop and this misfortune paved the way for him
to lose this fine land, for which he had paid as high
as fifty-eight dollars per acre. Not t» be daunted,
however, Mr. Sullivan, in 1896. bought one hundred
and sixty acres, paid for it, and in 1900 he purchased
lour hundred and fifteen acres more, which gives him
the large estate of five hundred and seventy-five acres
of land, which he holds in company with his boys,
and one hundred and twenty acres in his own right.
This mammoth domain produces abundant crops, and
JOHN S. SULLIVAN.
[LLIS .1. McBANK.
BENEDICK B REKDAHL.
[RS. BENEDICK B. REKDAHL.
CASPER JOHNSON.
MARTIN ANDERSON.
GOSWIN SIEVERT.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
63 1
gives annually a handsome return for the labor be-
stowed.
The marriage of Mr. Sullivan and Alary Sullivan
was celebrated in 1870, and they have been blessed
with five children, four of whom are living, as men-
tioned in another portion of this work. Mr. Sullivan
and his family are deserving of great credit for the
faithful and persevering manner in which they have
labored and endured the hardships of starting in this
western country, and the fine stretch of fertile land,
well tilled and productive, is the reward of this care-
ful and continuous labor. And this bespeaks the keen
Foresight of our subject, and the careful planning and
skill to accomplish the desired end. which demonstrates
him of fine abilty and equal energy and executive
force.
GILLIS J. AIcBAXE. To this esteemed and well
known business man of the city of Moscow, we are
constrained to grant a representation in the history of
Latah county, since he has wrought here with energv
and skill for the development of the county for many
years, and has doubtless, as much or more than any
other one man, assisted in the upbuilding of the city,
having been a practical builder and painter, while also
lie has displayed those qualities of moral worth and
stanch characteristics that have commended him to the
esteem of his fellows.
Gillis J. was born in Logansport. Cass county, In-
diana, on December 30, 1829, being the first child born
there, and the son of Gillis and Elizabeth McBane.
The father was a farmer and the first representative
from his county to the state legislature. The subject
of this sketch received his education in the schools of
Logansport, and then learned the carpenter trade, and
to this he has devoted the major portion of his life,
becoming an expert builder and skillful artisan. In
addition he learned the art of painting and wrought
at that in connection with building. At the time of
the outbreak of the Civil war, he was one of the brave
boys who shouldered the musket and fought back the
hordes of rebellion until their last gun was silenced
and then returned to the quieter walks of industrial life.
He enlisted in 1862 as sergeant in Company G, Seventy-
third Indiana Volunteer Infantry, which was a part of
the Army of the Cumberland. He participated in the
battles "f Stone River, Decatur, Perryville, Athens, and
many skirmishes, being in all the action wherein the
regiment participated. On December 30, 1862, Air.
McBane was taken prisoner at the battle of Stone
River and placed in Libby prison. He was there for
three months, and when finally released was nearlv
starved to death. Many died from exposure and starva-
tion. The building \rM\ no windows and the men were
obliged to run and exercise to keep from freezing. In
1864 he was promoted to the rank of sergeant-major,
and after the war returned to Logansport and worked
at his trade. In 18S2 he came to Walla Walla, where
he spent one winter, coming on to Moscow in the
spring. He took a piece of land on Potlateh creek
and sold it when proved up on. Then he transferred
his residence to Moscow, and here he has remained
since. He has a fine home of eight rooms, situated
so that it overlooks the city park, and there he is
.spending the golden days of his career, having retired
from the activities of business, and enjoying the com-
petence that his skill and industry have wrought out
of him. Air. AIcBane is a member of the I. O. O. F.,
Lodge No. 36; of the Crescent Encampment, , No. 12;
of the Rebekah Star, No. 15; and also of the .Major
Anderson Post, No. 5, of the G. A. R. Air. AIcBane
has always enjoyed the quietude and retired pleasures
of the celibatarian and has never ventured on the sea
of matrimony, and he is now among the most highly
respected and esteemed citizens of the county, being
the recipient of the confidence and good will of all.
BENEDICK B. REKDAHL, deceased. The sub-
ject of this memorial was one of the first settlers in the
district where the widow resides today, four miles north
from Genesee, and he was a true pioneer in the full
sense of the word, and he was a potent factor in de-
velopment and laboring for the advancement of the
country, while his life was always with that stability
and uprightness which characterizes the true man. His
demise was sincerely mourned wherever he was known.
On September 18. 1848, in the far-away land of
Norway, our subject was born, his ancestors also being
natives of that stirring land. He remained under the
parental roof until 1866, being then eighteen years of
age, then sought the new world, and bravely started
out to seek his fortune in the industries of the lumber
woods in Alichigan. Later we find him in Nebraska
farming, whence he went to South Dakota, and in
iS/7 he migrated to Portland, Oregon. In that city
he worked one year in the ship yards, then came to
Idaho and homesteaded the place where his family re-
sides today. The estate is one-half section of rich soil.
four miles north from Genesee. He improved his land
and spent each summer working in Portland, until the
date of his marriage, then settled on the farm for good,
giving his entire attention to the improvement and
cultivation of the farm. He was successful in these
pursuits and his farm became one of the best handled
in the entire section.
The marriage of Air. Rekdahl was solemnized in
Portland on August 23, 1881, Miss Martha < runderson
becoming his bride at that time. She is a native of
Norway, as also are her parents, Goodwin and Johana
Gunderson. Four children were born to this happy
union, as follows- Adolph G.. who died on November
8, 1901, aged nineteen years : Belva J. : AIrn B. : Agnes
M., who died on June 28, 1901. On November 11,
1886, death came into the household and took thence
the father and husband, and his remains are buried in
the Lutheran cemetery near the home place. The
remains of his children have since then been interred
beside the father. The death of Air. Rekdahl was a
severe blow, but the widow has nobly taken up the
682
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
burdens of life and the added responsibilities and has
demonstrated her abilty to handle them in a commen-
dable manner. She and her husband were members to-
gether of the Norwegian Lutheran church, and they
ahvavs manifested a true devotion to their faith, ihe
husband was here during all the Indian troubles, and
was also one of the first to break sod in the virgin soil.
CASPER JOHNSON. This well known and rep-
resentative agriculturist of the county of Latah is a
man of fine capabilities, a citizen of patriotism, and
withal a good neighbor, affable and genial, and indus-
trious and sagacious in the prosecution of the enter-
prises that come to his hand. Mr. Johnson was born in
Inherit, Norway, on October 31, 1840, being the son
of Joe and Martha (Roli) Johnson, natives also of
Norway, where they remained until the time of their
death, the father passing away aged fifty-five and the
mother living to be eighty-seven. Both are buried in
Hanning cemetery. Our subject received a good edu-
cation in the country schools and at the age of eigh-
teen years started out for himself. 1866 marks the
time of his advent into this country and settlement was
made at St. Croix, Wisconsin, where for four years
he labored faithfully in the saw mills of the country.
Then he bought a farm and for six years he tilled this
one hundred and twenty acres. Then he sold his
property there and came to Latah county, Idaho, or
the territory that is now embraced in this county. He
selected a homestead three and one-half miles north-
east from Genesee and settled down to make a home
and a fine farm, which he has accomplished in a very
commendable manner, having now well tilled fields,
good comfortable buildings and a nice orchard and is
reckoned with the leading men of the community.
Mr. Johnson raises wheat principally and is very suc-
cessful in its culture. In political matters, Mr. John-
son always evinces the interest of the intelligent citi-
zen, has allied himself with the Republican party and is
active in the promotion of all things that are for the
welfare of the county and its inhabitants.
The marriage of Mr. Johnson and Miss Bertina,
daughter of Tena and Engabore Raiten, natives of
Norway, occurred in 1872. Mrs. Johnson's parents
came to America in 1871 and located in St. Croix
county, Wisconsin, where they now reside. To Mr.
and Mrs. Johnson there have been born the following
children: Martin, living in Nez Perces county, Idaho;
Otto, married to Manda Peterson, and living in Idaho
county, Idaho; Charley, living with his father; Oscar,
married to Ionia Alexander and living in Latah county.
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are devout members of the
Norwegian Lutheran church and are estimable people
and stand high in the community.
MARTIN ANDERSON. One of the oldest pi-
oneers of the section now embraced in Latah county
is named at the head of this article and it is fitting
that he should be granted representation in the volume
that has to do with the county where he has labored
so long and faithfully, being now one of the best
known men of the county, and favored with an envia-
ble standing wherever he is know, being a man of
excellent ability and sound principles, while he has
done much for the upbuilding and advancement of the
country.
Mr. Anderson was born in Sweden, on June 13,
1846, being the son of John and Mary Anderson, na-
tives also of the same country and farmers there, where
they remained until the time of their demise. At the
early age of fifteen years he started for himself in the
activities and cares of life, going first to sea, where
he continued for three or more years when in 1865
he landed at- Boston, remaining a short time, when
he embarked in the coast service on the Atlantic where
six years were spent, half of which time was on a
United States revenue cutter. In 1871. Mr. Anderson
came west to Portland, spending one winter in Oregon,
then migrated to Idaho, taking a preemption six miles
north from where Moscow is now standing. One
year later, he sold this property, and took a homestead
where he now lives, nine miles northwest from Gen-
esee. Here he has bestowed his labors in the art of
agriculture and stock raising continuously since that
time being crowned with abundant success. He has
an estate of five hundred and twenty acres of land, well
improved and adorned with comfortable and substan-
tial buildings and completely stocked. Mr. Anderson
also owns a good residence in the city of Moscow.
Mr. Anderson married Miss Eva C. Peterson, a
native of Sweden, in Moscow, on December 13, 1878,
and they have been blessed by the advent of seven chil-
dren, Laura, Alfred, Hattie, Oscar. Mary, Clarence,
and Printiss. all of whom have been well educated.
Mrs. Anderson's parents, Eric and Christina Peter-
son, were natives of Sweden. Mr. Anderson and fam-
ily are identified with the Methodist church, and are
devoted supporters of their faith, while he is consid-
ered one of the leading men of the county, having
manifested intrinsic moral worth, and a noble charac-
ter in all his ways, and being really one of the promi-
nent builders of this county, having labored long even
before the county was organized.
By way of reminiscence it is interesting to note
that Mr. Anderson built a fort on his farm during
the Indian war of 1877 and remained there all the
time. Manv deserted their places and abandoned all
their improvements.
Gl iSWTN STEVERT. Like many of the most
thrifty and substantial citizens of free America, the
subject of this article was born in Germany, but trans-
ferred his residence to the new world and here he
has wrought out a competence, becoming one of the
prominent and prosperous citizens of Latah county,
where he owns a half section of rich land three and
one-half miles northwest from Genesee. The birth
of our subject occurred on November 28, 1838, and
his parents were Frank and Mary (Pieper) Sievert,
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
natives also of Germany, where they tilled the soil until
the time of their death. When a small boy, Goswin
started to learn the cabinet maker's trade, and he be-
came master of it in every department, manifesting- ex-
cellent skill and industry. He wrought at this until
1873. when the time came for him to try his for-
tune in the new world, and hither he came, landing
in Philadelphia, where he took up his trade for a
short time, then he made his way to Chicago and there
wrought for one and one-half years. Later he worked
in Davenport, Iowa, at the same business for six
months, then he came to Portland, Oregon, and there
six months were spent with the tools of his craft.
In the spring- of 1876, he came to Idaho and after
investigating- the merits of the various parts, took
a homestead and preemption where he now resides,
and has been since that date. For over a quarter of a
century he has wrought with display of the substan-
tial qualities of industry, thrift, wisdom, and energy,
of which he is happily possessed. He has made his
estate one of the best improved in the county, and it
annually returns abundant crops as a revenue. Mr.
Sievert is one of the oldest settlers in the section now
embraced in this county and he is deserving the title
of real builder of the county and pioneer of its terri-
tory. He is a member of the German Lutheran church
and a stanch supporter of the faith. In political mat-
ters, Mr. Sievert is active and takes the part of the
intelligent citizen, always allying himself with the
measures that are for advancement and the benefit of
the people. He holds with the Republican party and
while he labors for good men to hold office, he has
constantly refused any preferment for himself.
Mr. Sievert has two sisters and one brother, all
living in Germany. It is interesting to note that Mr.
Sievert is a thorough military man and has had much
experience in handling arms on the field of battle. He
was in the Prussian army in 1864 against Denmark,
in 1866 against Austria, and in 1870-1 against France,
and in all this arduous and faithful service he escaped
without being wounded.
NILS P. PERSEN. This capable and enterpris-
ing agriculturist is one of Latah county's leading citi-
zens, having wrought within its precincts his present
wealth and prominent position. His fine large farm
of one-half section is located about four miles north-
east from Genesee, and it is one of the best improved
and kept farms in the entire county, being embellished
with proper and comfortable buildings, and all con-
veniences that make a rural home both comfortable and
valuable. Mr. Persen was born on June 24, 1855, be-
ing the son of Per and Karstna Persen. natives of
Sweden, our subject also being born in Skone, that
country. The parents remained in the native country
until the time of their death, the father passing away
at the age of ninety-two and the mother at the age of
seventy-six, and both are buried at the Grefvie ceme-
tery. Ten children were the offspring of this worthy
couple. Our subject received his education at the
common schools in Grefvie Skone, and at the age of
nineteen severed the home ties and started in life for
himself. He scon bade good-bye to home, loved ones,
friends, and native land and embarked for America.
He first went to California, thence to Nez Perces coun-
ty, now Latah county, in 1879. ^e selected a good piece
of land and used his timber culture right on it and the
adjoining quarter he pre-empted and then went to work
to make a home. The unbounded success that has
crowned his efforts shows the exceeding skill, industry
and sagacity that have been bestowed. Mr. Persen has
a fine home and in addition to raising cereals, fruit
and vegetables he also handles considerable stock, in
which line he has made his usual success.
In 1885 Mr. Persen married Miss Johanna A.,
daughter of Andrew and Mary Ruberg. She was born
in Sweden and came to this country when she was
young, the marriage occurring in Latah county. The
following children have been born to them : William
C, Naeme L., Walter E., Esther M., Adolph N., Edla
C, Clara J., Joseph E. Mr. Persen and his estimable
wife are members of the Swedish Lutheran church
and are devout followers of the faith. Mr. Persen is
one of our contented citizens, being well satisfied that
he is in one of the best of countries, and he determines
to make this his home until the time of permanent de-
parture. Mr. Persen recently purchased another fine
farm, the same being on Burnt ridge, four miles south-
east from Troy, and this place is to be the family home,
and he is fitting it up in excellent shape.
LOUIS B. McCOWN. deceased. This faithful
and capable gentleman was for a long time one of the
leading citizens of his portion of Latah county, being
an enterprising agriculturist and an upright and faith-
ful member of society, and it is with pleasure that
we accord to him this memorial. His birth occurred
in Henry county, Missouri, on March 2. 1840, being the
son of William and Jerusha (Kuntz) McCown. The
father was a farmer and a native of Virginia. The
mother died in H^nry county. Missouri, in 1853. In
1859 the father died also. The other children of the
family are : Clark. Lovel, Mary E., John, Adron and
William. Lovel is in California. Our subject re-
mained at home until the death of the father, and then
went to St. Louis, living with his uncle Kuntz for two
years, when he returned to the home place and farmed
until 1861, in which year he joined the army, enlisting
in the first six months' volunteers. He went to Man-
hattan. Kansas, and in 1863 and 1864 he handled a
government wagon to Fort Laramie. After the close
of the war he returned to the home place in Missouri
and farmed until 1870, in the spring of which year he
went to the Willamette valley, Oregon, purchased land
and farmed for twelve years. Then he sold and re-
moved to Wasco county, thence to Walla Walla and
then came over into Latah county. The first settle-
ment here was made at the Cove and one year or so
later a move was made to Deep Creek, and in 1884 a
residence was established on the present home place,
684
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
a quarter section four miles northeast from Freese.
He took it as a homestead and there devoted his labors
until the day of his death. He was a capable man,
a good neighbor, and beloved and esteemed by all.
It was in 1897 that he was taken sick with neuralgia
of the heart, and after four months of suffering he was
called to lay down the burdens of life and enter the
realities of another world. A wife and the follow-
ing children were left to mourn his decease : John
H., in Latah county; Dora E., married to Mr. Hop-
kins, and now deceased; James A., in Latah county;
Albert E., at home; Holly O., at home; Frank L., at
home ; Louise F., deceased.
Mrs. McCown was born in Simpson county, Ken-
tucky, on July 1, 1844, being the daughter of James
and Mary (Hudson) Caldwell. The father was a farm-
er, born 111 Virginia in 1804, and the mother was born in
North Carolina in 1803. The children of this worthy
couple, in addition to Mrs. McCown, are : Henry,
who served under General Price; Susan; Elizabeth;
Nancy; Melvina; Lucinda ; Mary; Sarah L. ; Jesse;
and William, who also served under General Price.
Mrs. Violet J. McCown remained with her parents
until the date of her marriage, which was October 3,
1867, the same occurring in Missouri. Since the death
of her husband Mrs. McCown has taken up the burdens
of life in a commendable manner, and still presides
over the family home, while her three sons handle the
estate.
JOHN REAM. On January 1. 1844, in Mifflin
county, Pennsylvania, the career of the subject of this
article was inaugurated. His immediate ancesti >rs were
Phillip and Christina (Schrull) Ream, born, respect-
ively, in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1813, and
in Little York. Pennsylvania, in 1816. Our subject
remained at home until 1861, and then responded to
the call of patriotism, enlisting in Company B, One
Hundredth Pennsylvania Infantry, and was at once sent
to South Carolina. He participated in the battle of
James Island and then was placed in the army of the
Potomac, and there engaged in the battles of second
Bull Run and Chantilla Court House. In this last
engagement, as he was in the act of firing, he received
a minie ball in his left eye. The missle ranged down-
ward and lodged in the left tonsil. Three weeks later
it was taken out. At this engagement he was taken
prisoner, but was exchanged, and it was six months
before he was able to be sent home from the hospital.
After getting reasonably well he returned to the front
and received his discharge. His brother, David R.
Porter Ream, was poisoned by drinking water from a
well which the rebels had poisoned. After his dis-
charge our subject went to California and there, in
Butte county, he mined and prospected, and also in
( 11. for some twenty years, then returned to Penn-
sylvania in 1884. and the following year he came west
again, and settled on his present place, four miles east
from Freese. He has one hundred and sixty acres of
good land, and it is well improved. Mr. Ream re-
marks that he tried to raise hogs on grass and pine
cones, but the scheme did not work. But today he
is one of the prominent men of his section and has a
good showing in the agricultural line. His brothers
and sisters are named as follows : Anna M., widow of
Milton Ray, of Newcastle, Pennsylvania: Sarah C,
wife of James Elder, in Lawrence county, Pennsyl-
vania : Christiana, deceased ; Hanna. deceased ; Jane,
deceased; Melissa, in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania,
wife of William Love ; Phillip M., in California. The
brothers and sisters of Mrs. Ream are Hamilton, de-
ceased : William, deceased; Catherine, wife of John
Bonner, and living in Ohio: Matthew, living in Pu-
eblo, Colorado. To Mr. and Mrs. Ream one child has
been born. Mary, now deceased. Mr. Ream owns
two hundred and forty acres of fine land, has it im-
proved in an excellent manner with buildings, orchards
and all accessories that are necessary. He is promi-
nent in politics, being allied with the Republican party,
and is a member of the G. A. R., while he and his
wife affiliate with the Methodist church. Among the
fine homes of Latah county there is none that shows
more taste and skill and thrift than the comfortable
premises of the subject of this sketch.
LLOYD D. COPELAXD. Among the noble
band of men who left all and fought through blood
and danger to save our union we should mention the
subject of this sketch. From Minnesota, where he
enlisted in 1862, in Company C, Sixth Minnesota In-
fantry, to the gulf of Mexico he fought and rendered
excellent service. He assisted to thrash the bloody
Sioux Indians, who were murdering settlers, the battles
being Birch Cooley and Wood lake. After this he
was taken to Helena, Arkansas, and there fought
Price. Later he was at New Orleans, Mobile bay,
Fort Blakeley. at which place there were thirteen holes
put in his clothes by bullets, and then on until the
close of the war. He was honorably discharged at
the close at Montgomery, Alabama, three thousand
five hundred miles from home. Returning home, he
was so worn out by terrible hardships and exposure
that he did not recruit for many months. At the
present time he is receiving a stipend for injury to
his eyesight. Mr. Copeland remained at home until
he was thirty-five, purchasing land in the meantime.
Tn February, 1882. .Air. Copeland married Miss Ida
L., daughter of William and Elnor (Finch) Wickson,
and to them were born William T., attending school ;
Royal, at home; Lula F.. attending school at Moscow.
Mrs. Copeland was born in Minnesota in 1859. and her
father was a carpenter. Mr. Copeland remained in
Minnesota until 1886, and then came to Medical Lake,
Washington, for his wife's health, but after a few
months there he died and he returned to Minnesota
with his family. Two years later he came to Latah
county, and in December, 1888, he took land, where
he now lives, and has remained ever since. His farm
is a quarter section and lies ten miles east from Pa-
louse. The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Copeland
are named as follows: John, a soldier in the Civil
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
685
war ; William, also a member of the Fourth Minne-
sota; Martin; Rose M., wife of Hawley White, who
was a soldier ; Emma, wife of George Scribner, an old
soldier; Josephine, wife of Nual Woods, an old sol-
dier; and one more sister, married to David Lowton.
The other children in Mr. Copeland's father's family
are: Parrion L., deceased; Loyal A., in Elk River,
Minnesota ; Elington G., in Brooklin Centre, Minne-
sota; Agernon f., in Latah county; Ortigal L., de-
ceased. Mr. Copeland is a member of the Methodist
church and of the G. A. R., and is a respected and
capable citizen. Referring now to his early history
we note that Mr. Copeland was born on December 10,
1843. ul Cattaraugus 'county, New York, to Samuel
T. and Lenora (Morton) Copeland. The father was
a farmer, born in Utica. New York, in 1814, and was
a member of the state militia. His mother was also
a native of New York, being born near Lake Cham-
plain, and her father, a carpenter and joiner, was Ly-
man Morton. The family came to Columbus, Colum-
bia county, Wisconsin, in 1854, and two years later
went to Anoka county, Minnesota, where they pre-
empted a place and later removed to the town of
Anoka, where our subject was educated and worked
until the time of his enlistment.
ANDREW D. WILLIAMS. A potent factor in
the development of the county of Latah, having brought
• two farms out of the wilds of nature and fitted them
for productiveness, while he still manifests energy and
skill in the agricultural art, the subject of this sketch
is entitled to representation in this volume. He was
born in an emigrant wagon on October 3, 1862, in
Illinois, while his parents. Zebadee and Sarah M.
(Warren) Williams, were en route to Missouri. The
father was a native of Tennessee, born in 1819, and
died in 1891. March 12. The mother was born in
Virginia in 1840. and her father was Andrew W.
Warren, a farmer. In 1862 the family came to Wood-
son county, Kansas, where they took land and farmed,
our subject attending school. In 1877 tne father
came west with his family, landing in Dayton, Wash-
ington. They wintered there, and the sadness of
standing by the grave of the mother and wife was
theirs to endure that first year in the west. Eight
children were left motherless. The father then came
to Latah county and selected the place where our sub-
ject now lives, and there lived until the time of his
death. Andrew D. went to work for himself at sev-
enteen, and in 1884 he took a pre-emption, which he
sold later: then in 1887 he took a homestead, which
he sold in 1S91. and in 1898 he removed to his present
place, the old family homestead. He raises wheat
now. hut is fast turning toward the diversified plan,
which is becoming more popular among the leading
farmers.
The marriage of Mr. Williams and Miss Mabel,
daughter of Frank W. Webster, a farmer of this
county, was celebrated on January 31, 1886, and they
have become the parents of the following children:
Fred E., deceased ; Iva V., at home; Roy D., at grand-
father Webster's home; Bessie O., deceased; Frank
N. and Leo C, at home. Mrs. Williams was born in
Washington county, Oregon, on March 8, 1871. Her
father is now interested in the mill business as well as
farming, and was born in Pennsylvania in 1850, and
his parents were Milo and Adaline Webster. Mr.
Williams' brothers and sisters are named as follows:
Harriett, deceased; William Z., at Waha, Idaho;
.Martha M., wife of James Silvey, of Palouse ; Minerva
E., wife of George Layton, of Palouse; George A.,
at Palouse; Reuben D., deceased; Atha T., wife of
Charles Berrv, of Melrose, Idaho.
GEORGE W. MICHAEL. From a family of
stanch patriots comes the subject of this sketch' and
it is with pleasure that we are enabled to rank him
among the prominent and influential men of Latah
county where he has labored long and faithfully, ever
manifesting those rare qualities of unswerving' integ-
rity and worth that commend him to the good will of
all upright men. George W. was born in Wilson
county, Kansas, on April 4, 1868, the son of William
H. and Cordilla (Williams) Michael, born respec-
tively in 1835 and m 1849, in Indiana. The father
fought the battles of the Union for three years and
six months, and his brother also did the same. The
brothers, John and William, of the mother were also
participants in retrieving our flag from insult and
preserving the Union from dismemberment, while
the latter one gave his life for the cause of his countrv.
The father of our subject died in Kansas in 1873 an<i
in 1877 the family, the mother having married A. A.
Anderson, came across the plains to Latah county.
Our subject remained at home attending school and
assisting on the farm until he was eighteen years of
age and then started for himself in the struggle of
life. He worked for wages and in 1888 bought a farm,
where he lived until 1894. when he sold out and re-
moved to his present place, a farm that lies seven
miles east from Palouse, and which he purchased in
X889. This farm consisted of one hundred and sixty
acres. Mr. Michael sold it and bought back eighty
acres which is the home place now.
On July 26, 1891, Mr. Michael married Miss Ollie
B. Thomas, who died on March 7, 1895, leaving one
child, Charles L., now living with his grandparents
in the Grande Ronde valley, Oregon. On December
7, 1898, Mr. Michael married a second time, the lady
being Jennie Ullery, and to this union there have been
born two children, S. Angelo and Warren E. Mrs.
Michael is the daughter of Samuel and Ellen (Poe)
Ullery, natives respectively of Oregon and Kansas.
The father was born in 1853 and farmed near Viola,
Latah county, where he died June 2, 1902. Mrs. Mich-
ael has brothers and sisters as follows : Oliver, attend-
ing business college at Spokane; Clarence, Nora, de-
ceased, and Floyd, at home. Mr. Michael was one of
three children, the other two being Henry, deceased,
and Etta, wife of J. L. Dickenson, of Melrose, Idaho.
686
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Mrs. Michael is a native of Latah county, being born
on October 10, 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Michael are mem-
bers of the Methodist church and he is superinten-
dent of the Sunday-School. Mr. Michael advocates
the betterment of educational facilities and also the
taxes sufficient to pay for them and he is an active and
enterprising citizen.' In addition to the farm home,
Mr. Michael has a good residence property in Viola.
OLIVER S. PETERSON. The building of Latah
county has required much diversified talent and ener-
getic effort on the part of the hardy and faithful pion-
eers who came here when it was raw and wild wastes,
and who have continued in constant and arduous la-
bors since, with the happy result that this is now one
of the leading counties of the state, and ranks well
with sister political divisions in the west. Promi-
nent among that band of intrepid builders, stands the
well known and capable gentleman, whose name in-
itiates this article.
Mr. Peterson is a native ot the land whence came
the discoverers of the new world and he is possessed
of a goodly share of the daring and adventursome
spirit that characterize this hardy race of people, coup-
led with which he had a fine fund of practical wisdom
and keen foresight, which, dominated with excellent
executive force, have made him a forceful and leading
man in the county. He was born in Sweden, on Au-
gust 13, 1845, being the son of Swan and Cecilia
Peterson. He remained in his own country, gaining a
good education, until he w<as twenty-three and then
set out for America with the determination of making
a place and name for himself in the wide domain of
that land. He spent several years in Utah and then
travelled up and down the Pacific coast at different
occupations and finally in 1879, came to Moscow, lo-
cating at once, as he saw the possibilities of the coun-
try. He opened a butcher shop, it being the first in
the new town, and to the careful and vigorous prose-
cution of this business, Mr. Peterson devoted his ener-
gies until 1890, when he sold out the entire business.
It is needless to say he had success, for the stirring
qualities, tireless energy and wisdom of our subject
are bound to bring success, and that too, in no small
measure. He had been busy in the prosecution of his
business but he had also been carefully and wisely in-
vesting and now he is one of the wealthy and heavy
property owners of the county. He has several busi-
ness properties in Moscow, which are good dividend
payers, and also much other property in different lo-
calities, while his residence in the southern part of
the city of Moscow, is one of fine proportions and
value and is one of the many elegant homes of the
thrifty city, having spacious grounds, with choice
orchard and tasty ornamental surroundings.
The marriage of Mr. Peterson and Miss Eugenia
Montgomery was solemnized in Moscow, in Novem-
ber, 1880, and they have three children. Milliard, Oli-
ver, and Mamie, all at home. We desire to mention
also that Mr. Peterson owns heavily of dwelling prop-
erty in Moscow. He is esteemed as one of the lead-
ing men of the county, and his wisdom, integrity, ac-
tivity, enterprise and skillful management of business
enterprises, amply justify the statement and it is with
pleasure that we grant him space with the prominent
pioneers of the county.
OLIVER W. KNOW LES. The prosperous and
intelligent citizen, whose life's review it is our pleas-
ant task to chronicle, is a native of Ohio, being born
on August 17, 1866, the son of Markis E. and Ann
(Hubble) Knowles. The father was a farmer, born
in 1826, and served as a soldier in the Rebellion. The
mother was born in 1836. Our subject remained at
home until nineteen years of age, working on the farm
and acquiring a good education, then started for him-
self. In 1877. before this, however, the family had
removed to Wilson county, Kansas, and thence in
March, 1888. our subject started westward with Lat-
ah county as the objective point. In due time the
destination was reached and after a couple of years
he took his present place as a homestead. It was
timber land and Mr. Knowles has done much hard
labor to fit it for crops. In addition he has gained an
eighty of prairie land and raises oats and wheat prin-
cipally.
On December 7. 1898, occurred the happy event
of the marriage of Mr. Knowles and Miss Minnie,
daughter of Joseph and Almeda (Williams) Merica,
born respectively in Indiana in 1842, and in 1856 in
the state of Missouri. Mrs. Knowles was born in
Latah county, on May 7. 1882, in the present home
neighborhood. Her brothers' and sisters are named
as follows : Edward, in Latah county ; Essie and
Millie, near Princeton. Mr. Knowles was one of a
family of twelve children, the others being named
thus : Lafayette, in Michigan ; Dana ; Mary, wife of
John Smith and living in Chicago; Eva; John, near
Moscow ; Ira ; Nettie ; Nina ; George ; Frank and
Maude at Bozeman, Montana. To Mr. and Mrs.
Km iv, les one child has been born, Lucille. Mr. Knowles
is a member of the Farmers Club and is an active mem-
ber of the community in all that is for the general
welfare.
JAMES D. BERRV. In Montgomery county,
Illinois, on September 15, 1826, James D. Berry was
born, his parents being natives of Kentucky. He was
a soldier in the Rebellion and acquitted himself in a
becoming manner. In due time this gentleman mar-
ried Ali^s Elnor Granthum, who was born in Mont-
gomery county, on September 17, 1828, and her father
;:ii(l iii<>Lher were born in Fennsvlvania, and one grand-
father was a native of England and one grandmother
a native of the Keystone state. To this marriage
were born the subject of this sketch on June 20, 1856,
in Albany, Gentry county. Missouri; William H., on
the Xez 'Perces reservation; Mary J., wife of Oscar
Craig and living in Bossburg, Washington ; Jacob N.,
at Palouse : Thomas H., on Xez Perces reservation:
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
687
George R.. a preacher in the Congregational church
in Ohio and interested in Nome mines ; Lowery L.,
on Nez Perces reservation. At the age of twelve, our
subject began to work out and returned his wages to
his parents. In the winter he attended school and he
continued with his parents until of age and then went
to farming and working at the carpenter trade, which
occupied him for six years. Desiring to come west,
he sold his property and migrated to Potter county,
near Gettysburg, South Dakota. He took a farm and
tilled it four years to a day, and being burned out
completely with prairie tires, he sold what little he
had left and journeyed from that land a sadder and
poorer and wiser man. He made his way westward
amid much misfortune and discouragement and in
September, 1887, he landed in Latah county. Sick-
ness had to be battled with and he knew what it was
to labor against the tide. In 1891 Mr. Berry bought
forty acres of land which he tilled until 1897. when he
sold it and purchased his present place of eighty acres,
seven miles east from Palouse. His farm is well im-
proved and handled in a becoming manner.
Mr. Berry married Miss Cynthia E. White, in
Gentry county, Missouri, in 1S77, an<I to them were
born three children, Arleany F., wife of Roscoe Green
and living in Latah count}-; Cyrus C. and Nash X.,
both at Hatten, Washington. Mrs. Berry died in Da-
kota in 1883. The second marriage of Mr. Berry was
celebrated in Dakota in 1887, Ida B. Wallace becom-
ing his wife then and one child blesSed the union, Anna
E., at home. In Latah county, on September 24,
i88y, Mr. Berry was called to mourn the death of this
good woman. On June 7. 1891, Mr. Berry contracted
a third marriage, Lauraney E. Williams, daughter of
Manassa and Mary E. Camp, being the lady led to
the sacred altar this time. Her father is a farmer in
Latah county and was born in New Jersey, on July
16, 1816, while the mother was born on October 1,
1821, in Tennessee. Mrs. Berry was born near Hills-
borough, Illinois, on August 22, 1848, and the chil-
dren in the family are named as follows : Susana, John
W., Thomas R., George W., Jacob R., James W.,
William A., Elva M., Edward R, Cilia N., Mary C,
Monassa J. Mrs. Berry is a member of the Methodist
church and Mr. Berry is a stanch worker in the cause
of prohibition.
ELI M. JOHXSOX. This intelligent, enterpris-
ing and industrious farmer and stock raiser has a fine
body of land consisting of two hundred and fifteen
acres five miles north from Genesee, where he is con-
stantly demonstrating his ability as a producer of the
fruits of the field in a paying manner and in handling
stock, being also a man of integrity and uprightness.
Eli M. was born in Blaking, Sweden, on February
24, 1 85 1, being the son of Johns and Bangta (Ols)
Johnson, natives of Sweden, where also they remained
until the time of their death. From the common
schools of his native country, he received his educa-
tion and at the age of eighteen immigrated to Ameri-
ca. He landed in Chicago, May, 1868, and soon en-
gaged on the railroad and spent three years in that
labor and in 1871 he came back to Chicago and took
up carpentering, that being the year of the great fire,
and one year later he installed himself as a retail liquor
dealer, following that avocation for four years. Then
he came west, landing in Port Townsend, Washington,
where he engaged in a saw mill. Two years later,
he started out to find a place for a home and Latah
county was his final choice, where he located a quar-
ter section under the homestead right, the same land
being part of his estate at the present time. He has
his land all under cultivation, house, barn, and all
outbuildings necessary, good orchard, and a nice
bunch of catt're, iron, which he sells about ten head
every year. He produces about three thousand bush-
eis of good grain each year, operates about eleven
head of horses for the farm work and is withal a pros-
perous farmer, intelligent citizen, an upright man,
and good neighbor.
In 1872 occurred the marriage of Mr. Johnson
and .Miss Maria Martins, daughter of Martin and
Botella (Carlson) Swenson, natives of Sweden. They
have one child, Berna S., now the wife of Dr. William
Xoblet, and they live in Honolulu, where they expect
to make their permanent home. Mr. Johnson is a mem-
ber of the W. of W. and is active in the matters of
progress and advancement of the interests of the com-
munitv and countv.
GUSTAV DAXIELSOX. Although the subject
of this article has not been in the county of Latah as
iong as some, still he has made a commendable show-
ing in his faithful labors and marked industry which
have characterized him here, while in his personal
qualities of worth and integrity, he is none the less
prominent. Mr. Danielson was born in Stavanger,
Norway, on June 24, 1862, being the son of Daniel
Christensen and Elizabeth (Oleson) Danielson, and
the other children of the family are Maline, in San
Francisco ; Minnie, 111 Iowa ; Dorotha, at Emmerson,
Nebraska ; Ingeborg, in Omaha, Xebraska : Christian
and Anna, deceased. The father was a blacksmith,
born on February 21, 1836. while the mother was also
a native of Norway, born August 20. 1837. and her
tather was a farmer, but she lived when young with
her grandparents. Our subject received his education
and remained at home until fourteen, at which time
he began a seafaring life which continued without in-
terruption until he was seventeen, when he visited his
old home. Then came the time when he bade farewell
to home, friends, and country for good, and went
again to sailing the high seas. He visited various
points in the world, among them the leading ports
on the western continent, then came to Nebraska in
1882, remaining until 1886. Again the desire for
the sea became too strong to subdue and he returned
to his first love for three and one-half years, visiting
this time the western ports, among which were Hono-
lulu. San Francisco and others. He then returned to
Madison countv, Nebraska, and farmed for one year.
Then he determined to try the west and accordingly
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
came to Palouse and in 1892 lie took up his present
place, seven miles southeast from that city. On April
6, 1893, he settled there with his family and since that
time has made it the family home. He has forty
acres of fine land, well improved and provided with
good buildings, and the annual income from the farm
under his skillful management is a handsome divi-
dend.
On February 15, 1890, Mr. Danielson married Miss
Amela, daughter of Conrad and Gurine (Rasmusen)
Aamensen, and they have been blessed by the advent
of one child, Mary £., attending school. Mr. Aamen-
sen was a blacksmith on Utsire island, Norway, being
born there on February 15, 1842, and he married Miss
Rasmusen, whose father was a pilot at the same isl-
and, and the wife of our subject was born on that isl-
and, on October 9. 1868, and came to America in May.
1889. The other children in her father's family were:
Martha, living in Wardner, Idaho; Julia, in Wallace,
Idaho; Karine and Regina, in Norway. Mr. and Mrs.
Danielson are members of the Lutheran church, and
he is active in politics and especially zealous for good
schools, while he has so conducted himself that he en-
joys the confidence and respect of his fellows.
ANGUS McKENZIE. This well known and en-
terprising citizen of our county has wrougnt for the
advancement of Latah territory since before the or-
ganization of the county, and has the distinction of
being one of the very first settlers here, having done
much since that time to develop the country, and
conducting himself with manifestation of sound prin-
ciples and integrity and faithfulness. We have to
cross the wide Atlantic to the stanch land of Scotia
to find the birth place of our subject, Rosshire being
the spot and the date being March, 1855. His par-
ents were William and Isabella McKenzie, who
brought their family to the land of the new world,
and settled in Stark county. Illinois. There they la-
bored until 1863, when they undertook the trying and
dangerous trip across the plains, the father walking
from Omaha to the Grande Ronde valley in Oregon,
where they settled until 1871. when they came to this
region and took the place where the son now lives,
two miles south from Moscow. The father passed
away in the "eighties, being aged seventy-five, and
the mother died in February. 1891. aged about eighty-
years. Our subject has constantly remained on the
homestead, and has it developed into a fine estate now.
In addition to the farming, Mr. McKenzie operates a
first-class threshing outfit, having done business for
several years in this line with excellent success and
.satisfaction to his patrons.
.Mr. McKenzie is an elder of the Presbyterian church
and is a worthy supporter of the faith and liberal do-
nator to the church, while in private and public life
he has demonstrated the virtues of that which he pro-
fesses. Mr. McKenzie is one of the substantial citi-
zens of the county, has done a large amount for its
welfare, has demonstrated himself a capable and pro-
gressive business man, and has the confidence and
esteem of all. He has never yet taken to himself a
companion for the journey of life, preferring the celi-
batarian enjoyment to further responsibilities of the
connubial relation.
JACOB H. MILLER. The enterprising gentle-
man, whose name is at the head of this article, is one
who has promoted the growth and development of the
country by his faithful and wise labors and is one of
the substantial men of the community. Jacob H. was
born in Henry county, Iowa, on March 25, 1849, be-
ing the son of Henry and Martha (Allen) Miller,
natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Tennessee.
While a child, his parents came to Monroe county,
Iowa, and there he was educated in the common
schools. When he had reached the age of eighteen
years, he left the parental abode and launched forth
on the sea of life for himself. He bought a farm of
eighty acres and for five years he produced the fruits
of the field there and then sold and turned his energies
to railroad grading and for six years we find him
contracting in this line. Afterward he turned his at-
tention to farming again and thus was occupied until
he came to Latah county. First, however, he came
west to Pullman, Washington, in 1881, and then in
1890, he came to this county, settling where we find
him at the present time, about seven miles north from
Genesee. He handles about two hundred acres of land,
has a number of horses and is one of the skillful agri-
culturists of the section. In political matters, Mr.
Miller is allied with the Republican fold and is active
in local affairs and is ever on the side of progress and
advancement. He is a member of the K. of P. and in
this capacity he is popular and well thought of and
so conducts himself that he has the regards and es-
teem of all who know him.
ANDREW J. SMITH is one of the enterprising
and well known agriculturists of Latah county, whose
estate is situated one mile north from Freese post-
office, and consists of one hundred and sixty acres of
fertile land which is well improved and provided with
modern ami commodious buildings and all necessaries
for a first-class farm. He was born in Rockingham
county, Virginia, on" January 10, 185T, his parents,
John Y. and Susanna (Thomas) Smith, being natives
of the same county, and born on January 5, 1827 and
February 9, 1829, respectively. The father was a
cooper and a man of prominence in his county, being
assessor for a number of terms. The mother was de-
scended from German stock, her father, Peter Thomas,
being a farmer. The family came to Iowa in 1855,
settling in Dewitt. Clinton county, where the father
took a soldier's right, and then went to farming. Our
subject worked on a farm and attended school until
he was twenty-two years of age, when he went to
Monona county and took up farming for himself. Two
angus Mckenzie.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
689
years later he returned to the old home and then in
1875 came to Oregon, settling in Benton county. After
one year of general work, he took charge of a farmers'
warehouse, and at the end of 1878, came to Latah
county just in time to assist in the construction of the
fortifications and stand guard.
The marriage of Mr. Smith and Miss Deborah
C. Thomas was solemnized in 1879, at Walla Walla,
Washington, and she died on June 3, 1888, leaving no
children. Mr. Smith was married a second time,
the lady becoming his bride on this occasion, being
Gallic E. Johnson, daughter of James and Elizabeth
(Hubbard) Johnson, and the nuptials occurred on
August 18, 1889. Mr. Johnson was a soldier in the
Civil war and his health was broken through the ar-
duousness of his service. He was also a native of
Arkansas. Mrs. Smith was born in Greene county,
Missouri, on June 14, 1870. Her brothers and sisters
are, Albert, in Kansas, and Eva, wife of B. J. Jones,
county assessor of Latah county. Mr. Smith's broth-
ers and sisters are named as follows : Rebecca, de-
ceased; Amanda B., Isaac, Katherine, Frank, Will-
iam, John, Addison, Virginia, Cornelius, Daniel, Eliza-
beth. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith has been born one
child, Ruby M., at home. In 1900 Mr. Smith was
nominated for county commissioner but did not make
a canvass. He and his wife are members of the
Christian church, while in educational matters he
is always zealous for good schools and strives for the
same.
FRANK W. WEBSTER. This capable gentle-
man is one of the leading men of our county, being
favored with an executive ability that has enabled
him to manage the resources placed in his hands in
such a masterful manner that he is blessed with abun-
dant success at this time, having a farm of two hun-
dred acres, eight miles northeast from Palouse, Wash-
ington, where the family home is now and which is
one of the excellent estates of this section of the
county. Mr. Webster is a native of Canton, Bradford
county, Pennsylvania, being born on June 21, 1850,
the son of M1I0 and Adeline (Bartlett), natives re-
spectively of New York and Pennsylvania. In 1862
the parents removed to Nicollet county, Minnesota,
taking up land and devoting themselves to farming.
Our subject attended school and remained with Ins
parents until he had attained the age of twenty, when
he stepped out from under the parental roof and faced
the battles of life for himself. It was in 1870 that he
decided to go west and soon we see him in Portland,
Oregon. One year was spent there in general labor
and then he took up land for himself. Six years were
spent in tilling this, then he sold out and migrated to
Latah county, settling on a preemption in 1877, which
was his home for eleven years. Selling this Mr. Web-
ster embarked in the saw mill business. For twelve
years he continued at the lumbering industry and then
bought his present farm, described" above, and turned
his attention to farming. He still retains an interest
in the mill, however.
The marriage of Mr. Webster and Miss Lizzie
S., daughter of Samuel H. and Dersey (Bean) Foster,
was solemnized on January 11, 1870, and one child
has been born to them, Alabel, wife of Douglass Will-
iams and living in Latah county. Mrs. Webster was
born in Maine, the native state of her parents, in July,
1850. The other children of her father's family are
named below, Homer, deceased, Lawrence, Martha,
deceased, Benton, deceased, Ruth, Mason, Lendell,
Effie. Mr. Webster has the following brothers and
sisters, Delancey, Oscar, Ardell, deceased, Arvilla,
Minnie, Jesse. Mr. Webster is active in the political
realm and labors zealously for the promulgation of
the principles which he believes for the betterment of
all. In 1892 he was nominated by the Populists for
auditor of the county and he made a fine race, being
defeated by only a very small majority. In educa-
tional matters, Mr. Webster manifests a zealous inter-
est and believes in good schools.
WILLIAM W. THARP. Seven miles east from
Garfield, Washington, lives the subject of this arti-
cle on a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres
which he took from the raw sod by a government
right and has developed as one of the excellent rural
abodes of this portion of the country. William W.
was born in Callaway county, Missouri, on April 13,
1829, being the son of Stephen H. and Maria (Alc-
Clure) Tharp, natives respectively of Madison and
Montgomery counties, Kentucky, and the father was
born in 1807. At the age of fourteen years, our sub-
ject went to live with his grandfather McClure and
three years later he was apprenticed to a blacksmith,
completing the trade at the age of twenty. At that
time he returned to his grandparents and soon took
the gold fever and on April 24. with good mule out-
fits, he crossed the Missouri at Nebraska City and
eighty days later, on July 14, he pitched his tent in
Placer county, California, and immediately went to
mining. He continued at that until 1852. and then
went to the territory now embraced in Douglas county,
Oregon, and there located a donation claim and set
to work to make a home. Twelve years were spent
in the labor of tilling the soil there and then he sold
the property and moved to the Grande Ronde valley,
Oregon, where he bought land and fanned for six-
teen years. It was 1880 that he sold and made another
move, this time coming to Latah county, then a por-
tion of the Nez Perces county. Here he bought the
right of another to the quarter where he now resides
and there he went to work to make the third home he
had established in the west. He has been successful
in his labors and also has always labored for the up-
building of the country and the advancement of its
welfare.
On November 1. 1854, Mr. Tharp married Miss
Lucv A. Miller, in Douglas county, Oregon. Mrs.
Tharp is a native of Pennsylvania and was born in
1832. Mr. Tharp's brothers and sisters are named
as follows : John W., Mary A., deceased, George W.,
690
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
living near Eldon, Iowa. -Mr. Tharp has done his
share in pioneer work, and is entitled to the enjoyment
of the competence that his skill and labors have gath-
ered. He remembers when Oregon and Wash-
ington were one division and he voted on the Oregon
constitution. In political matters, he is active, being-
several times elected justice of the peace. He organized
the first greenback club in the Grande Ronde valley,
and was "the first populist elected to office in Latah
County. This year he has been notified by the chair-
man of the national committee of the "Middle-of-the-
Roaders," Joe A. Parker, that he has been chosen
committeeman on this important branch. In school
matters, Mr. Tharp is also zealous and labors for the
betterment of facilities and the cause in general.
WILLIAM R. BEL VAIL is one of the substan-
tial men of Latah county, being an agriculturist of
good possessions, having one quarter section where lie
resides five miles east of Palouse and another not far
distant. Mr. Belvail is a native of Jo Daviess county.
Illinois, being born near Galena, on June 1. [861, to
foseph and Sarah (Mader) Belvail. The father was
a native of Canada and a stockman. In 1861. he went
to Pike's Peak and was killed on the North Platte by
Indians. The mother was born near Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania, in 1836, whose father, Abram Mader.
was a shoemaker and farmer. After the father's
death, his widow married again, and our subject re-
mained under the parental roof until sixteen years of
age. when he went to work in the pineries above
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Four years were spent
in the woods and then he operated a camp for him-
self and rafted in the spring and summer. In 1882
Mr. Belvail went to Minnesota and one year later
he was visiting his native place. 1885 marks the date
when he set out for Nebraska and settlement was
made in Boone county, where he bought land and
tilled it for seven years, then sold out and came west.
He first bought land on Camas prairie, near Grange-
ville. Idaho, then sold it one season later, wintering
in Pullman. Washington, whence he came to Latah
county and purchased a farm. It was in 1897 that
he purchased his present place, which he devi tes to
to the production of the cereals principally.
Mr. Belvail married Miss Florence, daughter of
James and Hell Talbott. The father is a cabinel
maker and farmer and was born in Pennsylvania in
1829, and the mother was born in Illinois in 1843.
Mrs. Belvail had one brother and one sister, both de-
ceased, namely Raymond and Alma. Mr. Belvail's
immediate relatives not already mentioned were two
sisters, both deceased. The following children have
been born to .Mr. and .Mrs. Belvail: Rosco A., Alma
and Wallace L. Mr. Belvail affiliates with the V O.
U. W. and the Woodmen of the World, both at Pa-
louse. He is also active in the realm of education,
having been a member of the board for nine consecu-
tive years, and ever laboring for the advancement of
the can-.- and the betterment of facilities. In 1900
Mr. Belvail received, entirely unsolicited, the nom-
ination for county assessor, but was defeated by only
a small majority. He holds with the Democratic
party and has always labored for the proper admin-
istration of affairs of government.
BENJAMIN F. CONE is one of the capable and
prominent men of Latah county, having displayed
those qualities that make the true man and the stanch
and patriotic citizen. At present he is engaged in
tilling the soil of his fine farm seven miles east from
Palouse. handling it in the diversified manner and
having it well improved with orchard ami buildings,
and so forth. Mr. Cone is a native of the Occident,
being born in Marion county, Oregon, on Septem-
ber 24. 185 1. the son of Gustavus A. and Emma R.
(.Her) Cone. The father was a stockman, farmer
and general business man, born in Rush county, In-
diana, on November 21, 1823. came to Oregon, land-
ing there on November 6, 1847, was one 0I the forty-
niners of California and on December 26, 1898, he
died, being a man of means. The mother was a native
of Ohio, born in 1834, to James and Marie Her. Our
subject remained with his parents until he was eight-
een years of age, having attended school and worked
on the farm with his father. In 1869 he went to
clerking and was soon appointed postmaster of
Butteville. which incumbency he retained until 1 88 1,
in the spring of which year he went to Portland and
in November journeyed to Latah county, settling-
near Princeton. March 8, 1892, he was appointed to
the office of district clerk, filling the unexpired term
of W. B. Kyle, which was completed ten months later,
and then was nominated on the Republican ticket and
promptly elected to the same office. At the expira-
tion he was again nominated by his party, but the
combination of the Fusionists and Democrats defeated
him with the balance of his ticket. Just before going
to Moscow he had purchased his present place, and
after his retirement from office he returned to it and
here he has remained since that time, being numbered
with the leading agriculturists of the county.
The marriage of Mr. Cone and Miss Nancy J.,
daughter of Alpheus and Zibah I". (Evans) Jones,
was solemnized on February 22, 1875. Mrs. Cone
was born in Franklin county, Iowa, in 1856, her
father being a contractor and farmer, and her brothers
and sisters are named as foilows : Elbert W.. living
in Nez Perces county ; Ernest A., also living there :
Flora R., wife of Charles L. Williamson in Moscow ;
Cora N. living in Latah county. The children of our
subject's parents besides himself are named also:
Louise M.. wife of John Murrav, of Aurora, Ore-
gon : Laura B., wife of J. W. Long, at Silverton,
Oregon; Heman B., at Portland; Mary A., wife of
A. L. Rice, of Silverton, Oregon ; Gustavus A., liv-
ing near Butteville. Oregon. To Mr. and Mrs. Cone
there have been born the following children : Ernest
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
69.
E., in Latah county: Lewis C, at Princeton, [daho;
|ohn M., at the same place; Herbert F., at home.
Mr. Cone is a member of the Masonic lodge at Mos-
cow and his wife adheres to the Christian church.
OLE OTNESS. Our commonwealth is debtor
much to the strong arms and brave hearts of the
true and devoted immigrants who hail from the land
of Norway, whence comes the subject of this article.
He has displayed in this land the same character-
istics which make his people a thrifty and leading
nation in their domestic and commercial relations.
Mr. Otness was born in Walsofjord, in his native
land, on February 18, i860, being the son of Ole O.
and Julia Otness, also natives of that country. The
mother died in Norway, being interred in Walsofjord
cemetery, but the father came to America and lo-
cated in Genesee, where he was called to pass the
river of death. Our subject was educated in the com-
mon schools of his native land, attending also the high
schools, and at the age of twenty-two came to this
countrv. locating first in Minnesota, where he gave
his attention to farming for seven years, then re-
turned to Norway and for five years was numbered
with the tillers of the soil there. Also during that
time he experienced a happy event of his life, his
marriage with Miss Gertrude, daughter of Ole and
Ellen 1 Walso 1 Olsen, the nuptials being celebrated
in 1889. After his marriage Mr. Otness came to
Latah county, purchased one hundred and twenty-
two acres of land and commenced his career as«a
western farmer and stock raiser. While he has been
successful in handling stock, still he has devoted
most of his energies to the culture of the cereals and
in this line he has been especially favored. He has
a choicely selected orchard and his farm is in a high
state of cultivation. Mr. Otness has good barns and
outbuildings and is planning for the erection of a
fine dwelling. We find in the subject of this sketch
one of those substantial men who form the real bone
and sinew of our commonwealth and it is his pur-
pose to continue in the improvement of his fine farm
and remain here the balance of his davs. He is active
in the realm of politics, being allied with the Repub-
lican party, and also he takes a commendable interest
in the affairs of education.
To Mr. Otness and his worthy wife there have
been born three children: Oscar R, going to school,
Ellen G. and Olga. Mrs. Otness' parents were na-
tives also of Xorwav and there they lived until the
time of their death. Mr. and Mrs. Otness are devout
members of the Norwegian Lutheran church, and he
is a respected and leading man in his community.
JOHN J. HAFER. Among the representative
agriculturalists of Latah county there should not be
failure to mention the subject of this article, whose
wisely bestowed labors have done much for the gen-
eral welfare of the county, being a man of sound
principles and uprightness. His farm lies six miles
east from Palouse, and is well supplied with tine
buildings and produces abundantly the diversified
crops, while also Mr. Hafer raises cattle and hogs.
Regarding his personal history, we note that he
was born in the vicinity of Cleveland, Ohio, on Feb-
ruary 8, 1850, being the son of Andrew and Rosa
(Wing) Hafer. The father was born in Wurtem-
berg, Germany, in 1827, and after coming to this
country he served in the Mexican war. The mother
was also a native of the same place in Germany.
Our subject remained with his parents until twenty
years of age, they moving from Ohio to Michigan,
thence to Iowa, and in 1870 the family, except our
subject, went to Texas. In Iowa Mr. Hafer re-
mained until 1873, then determined to come to the
west and accordingly we soon see him in San Fran-
cisco, whence he came to The Dalles, thence on to this
county. In 1876 he took up a pre-emption on the
Palouse river, where he farmed until 1890. Then a
move was made to another farm two miles east. In
[897 Mr. Hafer sold this property and bought a farm
in the Potlatch, which, however, he sold in six months
and returned to the vicinity of his first place and
bought his present farm six miles east from Palouse.
During the Indian outbreak of 1877-8 Mr. Hafer as-
sisted to build the fortifications in Palouse and did his
share of watching in the nights for the savages.
The marriage of Mr. Hafer and Effie (Lynd)
Hamilton, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth ( Tip-
ton) Lynd, was solemnized on June 22, 1884, in Latah
county. They have two children, Henry and Ethel,
while by her former marriage Mrs. Hafer has two
children, James and Robert Hamilton, on the St.
Marys river. Mrs. Hafer has one brother. James
Tipton, living near Grangeville, Idaho, and Mr. Hafer
has the following brothers and sisters- George,
Caroline, Rosa, Henry, all in Texas. Mr. Hafer al-
ways takes an active interest in the political matters
of the county, and has served as justice of the peace
and also he is zealous in the cause of education, being
school director. He affiliates with the I. O. ( ). F at
Palouse and Mrs. Hafer is a member of the United
Brethren church.
HENRY HANSON. To the labors of the
stockmen and agriculturists of Latah count} more
credit is due for the development of the resources of
the county than perhaps to any other class of men,
and it is with pleasure that we accord to this member
of that class a representation, being assured that he
is one of the substantial and capable men of the coun-
try. Henry Hanson was born in Winnebago county,
Wisconsin, on May 17, 1863, being the son of Knute
and Betsey Hanson, natives of Norway, who came
to America, settling in the county above named in
1862. The father promptly enlisted in the army.
Thirteenth Wisconsin Regulars, to fight the battles
692
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
of the Civil war, and, being taken prisoner, he lan-
guished in Andersonville until death relieved him of
his terrible sufferings, thus giving his life for his
foster land. The mother still lives in Winnebago
county, being sixty-six years of age. Our subject
received his education in the common schools, and
being the only son of the family the support of the
family devolved upon him, and in a manly manner
he took up the burden and did it thoroughly, being
twenty-five years of age when he started for him-
self. At that age he came west to Walla Walla,
worked there for one year and then made his way
to Genesee, where he worked out for two years. At
that time occurred the happy event of the marriage
of Mr. Hanson and Miss Bell, daughter of Eric and
Olea Flamoe, natives of Norway, who immigrated to
America and are now living in Genesee. Immedi-
ately subsequent to his marriage Mr. Hanson rented
a farm for one year, then bought a farm and two years
afterward sold it again, renting for the next two
years. After this he spent one year in working for
others and then purchased a farm for himself, where
he lives, four miles north from Genesee, being in-
cluded in the rural free delivery route, No. 1. Mr.
Hanson has his farm well improved, it being in a
high state of cultivation. He has good buildings,
a fine orchard, and a nice band of cattle. In politics,
our subject is always active and displays that patriot-
ism and intelligence which are the part of every true
citizen. He is allied with the Republicans. To Air.
and Mrs. Hanson there have been born the following
children: Clara, Palma, Nora, Roy and Helma. Mr.
and Mrs. Hanson are faithful members of the Nor-
wegian Lutheran church and they are people who are
deserving and enjoy in a good degree the confidence
of their fellows, while they have always displayed
industry, uprightness and integrity.
JOHN HJELM. This esteemed gentleman is
one of the well-to-do and industrious farmers of
Latah county, having a good farm of eighty acres
four and one-half miles north from Genesee, where
he has bestowed his labors in a commendable manner
in raising the cereals, fine fruit, and handling all with
skill and thrift. Our subject, as many of our most
substantial citizens, was born in Norway, Throndhjim
being the spot, and November 14, 1844, the date,
while his parents were Iver N. and Gunelje Hjelm,
natives of Norway also, who died there. John was
educated in the schools of his native place, and re-
mained with his parents until the age of twenty, then
started in the battle of life for himself and took up farm-
ing until 1882, when he came to the United States and
located in Nez Perces county, Idaho, purchasing a
quarter section of land. This continued to be the
family home until 1890, when he sold it and returned
to Norway, where he remained for one and one-half
years. At the end of that period he came to this
country again, this time locating in Latah county,
and purchasing his present farm. He has demon-
strated himself to be a capable man, a good citizen,
a genial and affable neighbor, and has manifested in-
dustry and good judgment in all his ways.
Mr. Hjelm married Miss Mary, daughter of
Thorsten and Kanie Milling, natives of Norway also,
To this happy marriage there has been born the fol-
lowing offspring: Charles T., working in the mines
at Burke, Idaho; Ida M., married to John Mortinson
and living in Latah county. Mrs. Hj elm's parents
came to America and remained for ten years, then
returned to Norway, where they are living at the
present time. Mr. and Mrs. Hjelm are members of
the Norwegian Lutheran church and are exemplary
people and highly esteemed.
JOHN P. FREEZE is one of the oldest pioneers
now in Latah county, coming here long before Latah
was thought of as a county and even before its
county seat had an existence as a village, there being
at that time one log cabin in which a few groceries
were retailed where Moscow now stands. John P.
was born in Salisbury, Rowan county, North Caro-
lina, on February 10, 1833, being the son of George
and Sophia (Bost) Freeze, natives of Rowan county,
North Carolina. The father was a farmer and tan-
ner and was born in 1801 ; the mother was born in
1803, and her father, John Bost, was a cabinet
maker. Our subject remained with his parents until
1858, then started in life for himself. He had gained
his' education from the public schools and at the
time of his start in life he migrated to Woodruff
county, Arkansas, near Augusta, and there farmed
and raised hogs. In 1870 he moved to Benton county,
and in 1873, w'm a train of friends and relatives,
started across the plains on April 5, reaching Walla
Walla on August 4. They started with twelve out-
fits, but at Big Thompson creek, west of Denver,
they joined David Notman's train and traveled to-
gether the remainder of the way. Mr. Notman came
direct to his present home in this community and
our subject went to Yakima river and mined, then on
to Seattle, and later returned to Walla Walla and thence
to what is now Latah county. He took a claim on Cedar
creek and returned to Walla Walla to bring his stuff
and a person had jumped it when he returned, so after
due search he selected his present place in the vicinity
of Freese postoffice. He has a quarter section of
good land well improved and which produces abund-
ance of timothy hay. In 1877 the Indians stole their
horses but did no further depredations. He assisted
to build the fort at Palouse at this time and the fol-
lowing year he assisted to build the one near his
place.
When the Civil war broke out Mr. Freeze en-
listed in Company G. Arkansas Infantry, but was dis-
charged on account of sickness, but upon his re-
covery he enlisted again, this time in Company A,
Arkansas Cavalry, and in this he served until" the
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
693
close of the war. In the battle of Big Creek, near
Helena, Arkansas, he was wounded through the
hips and for five months he languished in bed and for
seven months after that he was bound to crutches.
Mr. Freeze has brothers and sisters as follows : Eliza-
beth, wife of John Yost, in North Carolina; Anna,
wife of Daniel Corral, in North Carolina; Caleb M..
living on the home estate ; Panelope P., wife of Cor-
nelius Overcash, in Arkansas ; Alary, deceased ;
Sarah, wife of William Goen, but now deceased;
Margaret, wife of William Perkins, in Arkansas;
Monroe, in Texas ; Flora, deceased ; Jacob, deceased.
Mr. Freeze is a member of the Lutheran church and
is well esteemed among his fellows.
MICHAEL C. FREEZE. The gentleman whose
name appears at the head of this sketch needs no in-
troduction to the dwellers in Latah county, since he
was one of the first to settle here and has spenc
the intervening years in noble labor both to develop the
resources of the county and to elevate all in moral
and educational lines, having been the promoter of
both schools and churches, and being a man of prom-
inence and ability in the community.
Mr. Freeze was born in Rowan county, North
Carolina, on February 19, 1859, the son of John
and Betsey (Lipe) Freeze, both natives of North
Carolina and born in 1829. The father was a farmer
and Michael has always followed that basic industry.
When a child he was brought by his parents to Wood-
ruff county, Arkansas, where the father bought land
and farmed for eleven years, our subject attending
school. In 1870 a move was made to Benton county,
and one year later they sold out and provided teams
for the long overland journey to Washington. Day-
ton was the objective point, which was reached four
months after starting, but in 1876 they decided to
make another move and came to the territory now
embraced in Latah county, it being then Nez Perces
county. The father took the quarter where he now
lives, just north of our subject's place, and he lives
there still. Michael remained with his father until
the time of his majority and then took the pre-emp-
tion where he now lives and bought another quarter
section. During the Indian scare of 1878 a fort was
built near the residence of Mr. Freeze and he assisted
in the construction and the settlers were fortunate
in getting through the trouble with no fatalities.
The marriage of Mr. Freeze and Miss Matt!e,
daughter of Benjamin F. and Ann (Powell) Peter-
son, was solemnized on August 7, 1881, and they have
become the parents of the following named children :
i-stelle, John F., Daniel, deceased, Anna, all at home.
Mrs. Freeze was was born on October 17, 1861, near
Newport, New Jersey, and had one brother, Daniel
J., deceased. Her father was born in New Jersey,
on June 27, 1839, and farmed in that state. The
mother was born in New Jersey, on August 29. 1841.
Mr. Freeze has brothers and sisters as follows:
Xalvin E., living near Freese; Mary, deceased; Dan-
iel, deceased; Sarah, wife of Wilber Watkins, and
living in Texas; Caleb, deceased. Mr. Freeze now
has a farm of two hundred and twenty-seven acres,
well improved with fine buildings, orchards, and so
forth, and it produces abundantly of timothy and the
cereals. He has always been active for the advance-
ment of educational facilities, and was one who led
in securing a subscription of fourteen hundred dollars
which erected a union meeting place in the neighbor-
hood, which is open to all denominations.
JOHN A. STARNER. The well known busi-
ness man whose name is at the head of this article
has been prominent in business in different localities
of Latah county for a number of years, and now holds
the important office of postmaster at Freese, at which
place he gained the establishment of the office. He is
also carrying on a general store and does a good busi-
ness from the surrounding country.
John A. was born in Wayne county, Ohio, on May
9, 1837, being the son of Samuel and Elizabeth
( Byers) Starner. The father was a blacksmith and
native of Pennsylvania, being born in 1806, and the
mother was born in the vicinity of Gettysburg, Penn-
sylvania in 1817. Until fifteen years of age our subject
was with his parents acquiring a good education, which
he finished later, as will be noted. Leaving home, he
went to work on a farm until 1856. Then two years
were spent in attending school, after which he joined the
ranks of the educators, and on January 15. t86o. he
migrated to Salem, Illinois, and taught school. He
went to Stephenson county after this and attended com-
mercial college, and then went to teaching again. Next
we see him in Dixon, and afterward in Central City,
Colorado. Eight months were spent there in mining,
and then a move was made to Virginia City. Montana,
where he mined also. In 1865, at Blackfoot. Montana,
he was crippled while operating in the placer mines,
and the next place we find this traveller was in Uma-
tilla county, Oregon, whence he went to Walla Walla,
and then to Dayton. Washington. He taught school
and engaged in business, and in 1878 he was selected
probate judge of Columbia county, and so well did
he discharge the duties of that office that he was
promptly elected his own successor. He took govern-
ment land five miles from Dayton, gaining the third
patent issued for timber culture and the first in Walla
Walla county. In April, 1886, he went to Fndicott.
Whitman county, and in 1888 he came to Latah
county. He prospected for a time, and in 1890 went
to the vicinity of Princeton and started a general mer-
chandise establishment. He was enabled to gain
a postoffice for that place and there he did business
for nine years. It was 1899 when he came to his
present place, opened a store, and on June 22, 1900,
gained a postoffice. which he handles now.
On March 27, 1873. in Columbia county, Mr.
Starner married Miss Bell, daughter of Hugh and
694
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Jane Glen. Mrs. Startler's lather was a weaver and
worked in the factories in Xew York and Illinois.
She was born in Delhi, Xew York, on July 16, 1835.
Mr. and Mrs. Starrier have one foster son, Stanley
( Matthews) Starrier, a farmer in Latah county. Mr.
Starner was a member of the Maccabees, and his wife
is associated with the ' Congregational; church. At
present Mr. Starner is also justice of the peace. On
May 19, 1902, Mrs. Starner was called from her
home and family by the cold hand of death, and her
remains lie buried in the Deep Creek Union church
cemeterv.
RICHARD F. RICHARDSON. This industrious
and enterprising gentleman is one of our substantial
citizens, having a fruit farm in Genesee, where he
does also a garden business. His possessions are
ten acres of this valuable land, and it is improved in
good shape and handled in a creditable manner. Rich-
ard F. was born in Myricks, Massachusetts, on March
20, 1859, being the son of Steven and Orisa (Ham-
mar) Richardson, natives, respectively, of Maine and
Xew Hampshire. The father lived to the age of sixty-
six and the mother died at a ripe age. Our subject
was educated in the village schools and remained
with his parents until he was twenty years of age,
and then went to California, where he remained for
one and one-half years. Following that period he
went to Nez Perces county, Idaho, and there took a
homestead near the city of Lewiston. 1879 was tne
date of this venture, and in 1882 he sold the prop-
erty and bought a quarter section close to Genesee,
which in turn was sold in 1895, and a trip was made
to California. Six months later he returned to Gene-
see and bought the land where he lives at the present
time, as described above. In politics .Mr. Richardson
is with the Republican fold, and he displays a com-
mendable activity and zeal in the affairs of county and
state.
The marriage of Mr. Richardson and Miss Lucy,
daughter of Cyrus and Mary Southard, natives of
Maine, was celebrated in 1886, and they have become
the parents of eight children, as follows : Grace,
Maurice S., deceased, Helen, Cornelia, Blanche, Lucy,
Esther and Richard. Mr. and Mrs. Richardson are
members of the Methodist church and are generous
supporters of the faith and maintain a wise and un-
sullied life in their walk, both public and private.
I< IHN A. ANDERSON. As this work purports
to chronicle the lives of the leading citizens of Latah
county, it is quite fitting that mention be made of the
industrious and enterprising gentleman whose name is
at the head of this article, since he is one of the
worthy farmers and stockmen of the county, living
about four miles northeast from Genesee, where he
handles three hundred and twenty acres of land, rais-
ing principally the cereals. John A. was born in
Sweden, northern part, being the son of Andrew and
Ellen Anderson, and the date of his advent into this
life was January 22, 1864. His parents were natives
of the same country, and the father died there at the
age of fifty-nine and the mother is still living at the
age of seventy-two. When he had arrived at the age
of twelve years our subject was sent out into the
world to stem the tide of existence for himself. He
worked in the woods and learned the art of the axe
and saw. as well as developing a good physique. In
.1883 he came to America, and the first location was
in Minnesota, where he labored seven years on a farm.
The date of his advent into Latah county, was 1890,
and here he worked on the railroad foi a time and then
labored for wages on a farm until 1898, when he
rented a farm of one-quarter section, and three years
were spent in the cultivation of that place, with suc-
cessful results, when he added as much more land,
all of which is in a good state of cultivation, and he
is the recipient of abundant harvests for the skillful
labor bestowed. Air. Anderson uses eleven head of
horses for the cultivation of his farms, having also
cattle for domestic uses. He raises as high as four
thousand bushels of wheat besides other cereals and
fruits and vegetables.
The marriage of Mr. Anderson and Miss Carrie
Wuensen. a native of Sweden, was celebrated 111 1898,
and to them have been born two children, Carl E. and
Helma. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are worthy members
of the Swedish Lutheran church, and they are good
citizens and excellent people.
DAVID NOTMAN, Jr. As one of the earliest
settlers of the territory now embraced in Latah coun-
ty, as a man who has always been foremost and active
in the upbuilding of the country, as one who has al-
ways maintained an untarnished reputation, receiving
the approval of his fellows, and as one of the sub-
stantial and capable men of the county of Latah at
the present time, we are glad to accord to the subject
of this article representation in this volume.
David Notman wras born in Scotland, ten miles
distant from Glasgow, on April 24. 1840. being the
son of David and Christina ( Kirkwood) Notman.
The father worked at the trade of calico printing, but
after coming to America worked in the lead mine- and
then farmed. The maternal grandfather of our sub-
ject was James Kirkwood. When the lad had readied
tin- age of eight he accompanied his parents to this
side of the Atlantic, and a settlement was made in
Wisconsin. At first all hands earned money as wages
and then purchased a farm, where they devoted their
energies to tilling the soil. David was educated in
the schools in Wisconsin and in Scotland. He re-
mained at home until the war broke out and their
enlisted in Company D. Thirty-eighth Wisconsin Vol-
unteer Infantry, and at once they were ordered to
Virginia, arriving there in time to assist in finishing
the battle of Cold Harbor. He was with the armv of
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
695
the Potomac and engaged in the siege of Petersburg,
and served until the close of the war. being honorably
discharged at Madison, Wisconsin, in August, 1865.
The father had sold the Wisconsin property and mi-
grated to Colorado, whence went the young soldier,
joining his loved ones on Big Thompson creek, fifty
miles north from Denver, where the home then was.
He engaged with his father in stock raising until
1873. then sold out and came to the territory now
embraced in Latah county. He was accompanied on
this trip overland with teams by John. Peter and
Michael Freeze, who remained at Walla Walla, but
he came direct to his present place, at Freese. landing
here in August of that year. He took a pre-emption
and afterwards a homestead, and to the cultivation "i
this land he has devoted his energies since. He has
it well tilled, a fine house and barn, and is a well-to-do
and prosperous farmer. During the Nez Perces war
he and a neighbor built a small log fort and remained
on their farms while all the others went to the fortifi-
cations at Palouse. The Nez Perces Indians passed
by with their families en route to the Coeur d'Alene
reservation to leave the families, but no harm was
done to our subject or his friend. He was the first
settler on Deep creek and has done much to build
up the country since that time. He is a member of
the G. A. R., has served on the school board, and
always conducted himself in a commendable manner.
Before Latah county was cut off Mr. Notman was
elected county commissioner of Nez Perces county,
and such was the satisfaction with his official acts
that he was elected a second term. .Mr. N'otman is
affiliated with the Methodist church ami a faithful
supporter of the faith.
AUGUST JOHNSON. One of the men who
have wrought here for the development of the countv
is mentioned at the head of this article, and he is a
citizen of capacities and good standing, while he is
also an enterprising farmer, owning eighty acres of
good land six miles north from Genesee and renting
one hundred and forty-five. Mr. Johnson was born
in southeastern Sweden on February 28. 1859, being
the son of Swan and Cecelia ( Swanson) Johnson, also
natives of _ Sweden, where the father s'till lives, the
mother dying while our subject was voting. August
was educated in the common schools' of his native
place, and at the age of twenty-one he bade the land
of home and friends farewell and came to the United
States, locating first in Prospect Grove, Xew York,
where he labored for four and one-half Years, when
a removal was made to Kansas, where he remained
three years, at the expiration of which time he' came
direct to Latah county. Here he rented a farm until
he was satisfied that this was a country to settle in
and then he purchased his farm of eight'v acres. Mr.
Johnson produces about four thousand bushels of
grain each year, besides having much fruit, some stock,
and other general productions of the farm. Politically
Mr. Johnson is allied with the Democrats, but at
the time of the election of the late William Mckin-
ley he voted for that good man. Mr. Johnson always
evinces a good interest in the politics of the land and
is ever on the side of progress.
The marriage of Air. Johnson and Ida M.. daughter
of John and Margret (Johnson) Johnson, was cele-
brated on February 4. [885. Mrs." Johnson's parents
were natives of Sweden, where also she was born, ami
they came to this country in 1877, locating in Brook-
lyn. Xew York, where she was educated. Our worthv
subject and his estimable wife are the parents of
the following children: Pearl E., Olof Y. and Mary
C, twins, Ethel E., Mabel L.. llattie 11.. George 11.
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are members or the Norwegian
Lutheran church, and are generous supporters of this
denomination as of the faith in general.
PETER CLYDE. This enterprising and pro-
gressive agriculturist is one of Latah countv's estab-
lished and capable citizens. His family home is on
his estate of three hundred and twenty acres which
lies eight miles east from Palouse. He has a valua-
ble farm, in a high state of cultivation, and handled
after the plan of the diversified farmer, and the build-
ings are excellent and commodious and altogether it
is one of the attractive rural abodes of the countv. Mr.
Clyde was born in Ontario. Canada, on September 22,
1859. having six brothers and sisters as follows :
Katherine, Joseph, Grace, deceased. Robert. Mary, and
Wilfred T., the parents being Alexander and Anna
B. (Graham) Clyde. The father was a native of Ire-
land and came to America at the age of twentv-one.
The mother was born in Scotland and came to the
new world when small. Her father was James Gra-
ham, a farmer and stonemason. At the age of fifteen
years, our subject left the parental roof and -ought
a place in the world for himself. He first went to
Michigan and worked for a time on a farm and then
made It's way to Truckee, California, in 1876, asso-
ciating himself with a half-brother, Andrew Clyde,
in the lumber business. In 1X71) he left there and
came to the Palouse country, working for a time
on log contract. He filed a" homestead right on a
quarter section in 1883 and that, with as much more
which he had purchased formerly, makes the home
place.
On May 2j. 1885. Mr. Clyde married Miss Mary
L., daughter of Francis M. and Martha J. (Seal-
lions) Adair, and they have the following named chil-
dren, Ellen, Mary M., Addie B., and Joseph Elwyn.
Mrs. Clyde's father was born in Alabama in 1831,
and the mother in Arkansas in 1850. She was born
in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, on June 26, 1869, and the
other children are named below. Francis. Matilda L.,
Benjamin F.. John S.. Itha I'... Clara A., Edgar M.,
Mattie, and Freddie, deceased. Mr. Clyde is a mem-
ber of the Masonic fraternity. Palouse Lodge. Xo.
46. He is also one of a committee of five who have
696
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
erected a church for union services in the neighbor-
hood. He always takes an interest in church work,
in the general welfare of all and manifests it by wise
counsel and faithful labors. Air. Clyde has been road
overseer for two terms, and is zealous that the high-
ways be in good condition, a very worthy labor. He is
also director of the schools and evinces great interest
in furthering the cause of education.
WASHINGTON WOLHETER is descended
from a line of ancestors who have all been devoted
Americans. His grandfather, George Wolheter, was
born in Pennsylvania in 1790 and died in 1853. He
married Barbara Cop, who was born in Ohio and out-
lived him some years. To this worthy couple were
born seven children, the third of whom was George
Wolheter, the father of our subject. George was born
in Pennsylvania on October 22, 1814. and was a car-
penter and cabinet maker. His brothers were all
good business men. At the age of twenty-one he
married a widow with three children and to this union
three children were born. Upon the death of his first
w ife, ' leorge Wolheter married Mrs. Susanna ( Myers)
Falons, who had two children by a former marriage.
To this last union, our subject was born in Hancock
county, ( )hio, on July 2. 1844. He has one brother.
Israel E., in Latah county, and one sister. Airs. Viletta
Lamb, in Lowe, Idaho. The mother of our subject was
one of a family of eight children, her father, Mikel
Myers, being a patriot of the war of 1812. She was
born in Marion county, Ohio, in 1812 and died in Cir-
cleville, Kansas, on January 2, 1876. When our sub-
ject was seven years of age his father went to Cali-
fornia and searched for gold two years. In 1857 the
family went to Jackson county. Kansas, where the
father wrought at his trade. Washington was edu-
cated in the public schools of that frontier region and
in 1862 enlisted in Company B, Eleventh Kansas In-
fantry and eighteen months later was transferred to
the cavalry. He participated in the battles of Tea
Ridge, Maysville, Prairie Grove, Cane Hill, Lexing-
ton. Westport, Big Blue, and many other battles and
skirmishes. Mr. Wolheter was cue of the boys who
chased Ouantrel out of the country. After that Mr.
Wolheter went with his regiment to the west and
fought Indians. These experiences were times of
great suffering from cold, hunger and arduous marches.
In one battle he was one of seventy-five soldiers who
fought off the savages for three days and at the end
of that time found forty of their number either dead
or wounded. Following this service he was mustered
out and in 1867 went to Nevada mining.
I »n September 14, 1871. in Circleville. Kansas, Mr.
Wolheter married Sara (Elliott) Price. Mrs. Wol-
l'.eter's paternal grandparents were Samuel and Mar-
garette (Styles) Elliott, born in New York city on
September 4, 1770, and in Paris France, on Septem-
ber 1. 1772, and died on September 24. i860, and
August 4, i860, respectively. To this worthy couple
thirteen children were born and to each the father, who
was a patriot of the war of 181 2. gave a quarter
section of land. James, one of these fortunate chil-
dren, was born in Shelby county, Ohio, on December
31, 1828, and chose to carve out his own fortune. He
was the father of Mrs. Wolheter, and married Miss
Anna- Moore, in Jefferson county, Iowa, on July 8,
1849. The Moores were a prominent family and Dr.
Black, one of the family, as well as others were noted
men. Mrs. Wolheter was well educated in the var-
ious places where her father's family lived and in
1865 married Mr. J. W. Price. To that union one
son, George, was born on August 9, 1867. He is now
living near Nezperce. In 1870 Mrs. Price went to Cir-
cleville. Kansas, and there occurred her marriage
with Mr. Wolheter. In 1874, after the great grass-
hopper raid, Mr. Wolheter came west and lumbered
:n Santa Cruz county. California, for three years, af-
ter which he came to the Paluose country. On July
9, 1877, he came to Latah county and took his pres-
ent place five miles northeast from Palouse. He has
nearly a section of fine land and the industry, skill
and wise business methods of Mr. and Mrs. Wolheter
have given them a goodly competence. They have one
of the finest residences in the county and other build-
ings to match. Mrs. Wolheter is a member of the
Christian church and he is affiliated with the G. A.
R. To Mr. and Mrs. Wolheter have been born three
children. Estella, born at Felton, California, on March
24, 1876, and now the wife of Dr. J. T. Moser, of
Kendrick ; Lulu, born on the farm on December 3.
1881, and now married to Dr. J. E. Prencel, of Day-
ton, Washington ; Mildred, born on the farm on Julv
29, 1888.
ALFRED COLBURN is one of the earliest set-
tlers of the section now embraced in Latah county and
lie has been one of the hard workers to make it one
of the leading counties of the state as well as gain for
himself the handsome holding that now belongs to
him. His fine farm of two hundred and forty acres
lies seven miles east from Palouse, is now the family
home and is improved in a very tasty and wise man-
ner. He has all kinds of stock, raises various crops,
has excellent buildings and good orchards. Mr. Col-
burn was born on March 25, 1834, at Lyme, New
Hampshire, being the son of Abel and Martha (Rice)
Colburn. The father was born in 1792 and he and
his wife travelled the pilgrim way together for sixty
years, passing away at a good ripe age to the reward
laid in store for them in another world. The mother
was born at Brattleborough, Vermont, in 1794. Our
subject was well educated in his youthful days and in
1852 was making ready to come west when his parents
decided to come also and together they journeyed to
Wisconsin, settling in Waupaca county, being the
second family in the township of their home. Alfred
secured a piece of land which he deeded to his parents
and there they lived until death. He secured this land
by working on the river to earn the purchase price.
In 1858 he removed to Isanti county. Minnesota,
and there was elected county surveyor. In 1861, No-
Residence ot Washington Wolheter.
WASHINGTON WOLHETER.
MRS. WASHINGTON WOLHETER.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
697
vember 4. Air. Colburn enlisted in Company K, First
Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and being wounded at
the battle of Fair Oaks, he was discharged August
9, 1862, in New York harbor. But on August 28,
1864, he sought the ranks again, enlisting in the Sec-
ond Battery of Light Artillery, where he served until
the close of the war, being honorably discharged on
August 16. 1865, having left a military record which
deserves great credit. After the war, Mr. Colburn
was elected by his fellows as county surveyor and for
sixteen years he filled that important office. In 1875
he came west, settling at Stayton, Oregon, where he
operated a saw mill and later built a flour mill at Oak-
land. In 1878, during the Indian outbreak in north-
ern Oregon, our subject was on his way to Latah
county with his family and a band of five hundred
sheep. His travelling companions took refuge at The
Dalles but Mr. Colburn pushed ahead regardless of the
Indians and arrived at his destination in safety. He
took as government land his present place already des-
cribed, and here he has labored since. Before Latah
count}- was set off from Nez Perces county, Mr. Col-
burn was elected county surveyor and with credit to
himself he discharged the duties incumbent upon him
in that capacity.
In May, 1866. Mr. Colburn married Miss Mary
M. Henry, who died on February 8, 1871, leaving
two children Ruth E., now dead, and Harriet M.,
a teacher living at home. On November 28, 1873,
Mr. Colburn contracted another marriage, Mrs. Cas-
sandra (Whitaker) Morton becoming his wife at that
time. To this union were born Effie B. and Pearl V.,
deceased ; Grace L., a graduate from the Pullman
College, at Pullman, Washington, and now assistant
principal of the Waitsburg high school. Mrs. Col-
burn had four children from her former husband,
named as follows : Clara E., living in Spokane : Cora
M.j m Latah county; Ellen E., living in Pullman,
Washington ; Calvin EL, also living in Pullman. In
political matters, Mr. Colburn always takes the part
of the intelligent citizen, and is ever found registered
on the side of progress and good government. He
and his wife are members of the Baptist church and he
affiliates with the G. A. R. Mr. Colburn is now en-
joying the golden years of a well spent life and is
secure in the good will and admiration of his fel-
low-, while his life is exemplary in all respects.
JAMES GRANT is one of Latah county's sub-
stantial and well respected agriculturists, being a man
of great industry and thrift and bestowing his labors
with wisdom and discretion. During the early days
of this county he labored with great zeal, carrying
at times flour fifteen miles on his back while he made
shingles in the woods. This being but a sample of the
arduous labor undergone by the pioneers, such as our
worthy subject. The birth of Mr. Grant occurred in
Inverness county, Scotland, on April 5, 1845, being
the son of Donald Grant, a cabinet maker. James
secured a good education from the common schools
and in 1870 came to America, landing first at To-
ronto, Canada, whence one year later he came to the
United States. He worked in the steel mills in Chi-
cago for two years, then came to San Francisco in
1873. Three years were spent in various labors in
the Golden State and then he made his way to Ore-
gon in 1878. That was the year when also he came
to the territory now embraced in Latah county. He
filed a preemption and afterward a homestead on his
present place, which is one quarter section of good
land five miles east from Palouse. It is now the family
home and there Mr. Grant has labored faithfully for
the years succeeding his advent here. He has a good
place, fine house, and commodious barn, well selected
orchard, and raises timothy, the cereals, and also
handles some stock.
On June 10, 1888, in Latah county, Mr. Grant
married Miss Ella, daughter of Abijah and Rhoda
Whittenback, natives respectively of Indiana and
Pennsylvania, and whose children, in addition to Mrs.
Grant, are named as follows: Emma, Alma, William
and Mary. Mrs. Grant was born October 11, 1854.
To Mr. and Mrs. Grant there have been born two
children, Rhoda, at home, and Harry, deceased. Mr.
Grant had one sister, Jane, wife of W. F. Johnson,
editor of the Banffshire Advertiser, at Buckie, Scot-
land. Mr. and Mrs. Grant are members of the Metho-
dist church, at Palouse, and are substantial in the sup-
port of their faith in precept and example and con-
tributions. They are highly respected and esteemed
people and maintain an enviable standing among their
fellows.
THEADORE RILEY. It was in the year 1886,
that the subject of this sketch made his way into the
territory of Latah county and after due search, found
the spot where his home is at the present time, home-
steading a quarter section to the cultivation and im-
provement of which he has devoted his time since.
His farm is located seven miles northeast from Ken-
drick and produces diversified crops.
Reverting to the personal history of Mr. Riley, we
note that he was born in Jackson county, Kansas, on
August 9. i860, being the son of Allan and Elizabeth
(Kline) Riley. The "father was a farmer in that state
and the family remained there until 1875. when they
made the journey to Washington, landing in 'Whit-
man county, where Pullman now stands. The father
took land there and he has lived on it since that time.
being one of the real builders and pioners of Whit-
man county. Our subject remained at home, being
educated in the schools of Kansas and Washington
until his majority, when he started for himself.
On December 30, 1882, Mr. Riley married Miss
Eva, daughter of Jacob and Barbara Hull, the
nuptials occurring in Moscow and the following
named children have been the fruit of the union :
Jesse, Frank, Mathews, Harry, John, Daisv, Alva T..
Gilbert, and May. Mrs. Riley was born in Kansas and
her parents were early settlers in Whitman county,
Washington, where her father resides at the present
6p S
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
time. Mr. Riley has labored here for many years and
much credit is due him for the faithful manner in which
he has performed the duties of the pioneer, and he is
secure in the esteem and respect of his' fellows.
OSCAR V. MOREY. Among the sturdy sons
of toil, who have made Latah county to enjoy her
present state of prosperity and enviable standing in
the state, we are constrained to mention the gentleman
whose name initiates this paragraph and who is one of
the substantial agriculturists of the county, owning
a quarter section of fertile land seven miles north from
Kendrick. which is the family home at the present
time.
Mr. Morey was born in Henry county, Illinois,
near Rock Island, on August 7, 1859, being the son of
Oscar and Anne (Wolsey) Morey. For ten years he
remained in his native state and then the family re-
moved to Bates county. Missouri, where they farmed
until our subject was twenty-one years of age. Then
he stepped forth from the parental roof to encounter
the battles of life on his own resources. He first came
to Idaho in the fall of 1880. locating at Bear Ridge,
on a preemption one-half mile east from his present
home and later a homestead a little farther east from
that. He improved and tilled them until 1892. when
he sold them both and purchased his present place.
He has as fine improvements as are on the ridge and
he is one of the thrifty and enterprising farmers, as
his premises indicate, gaining good dividends of crops
from his skillful management of the soil and being a
man of unquestioned integrity and standing among
his fellows. Mr. Morey has a good orchard of three
acres but devotes his land mostly to the raising of
wheat.
The marriage of Mr. Morey and Miss Emma,
daughter of Adam and Augusta Alber, was solemnized
on April 18, 1894, on Bear Ridge, and they have been
blessed with the advent of four children: Clarence
C. Rena. Ollie, and Clara. Mr. Morey is a man who
takes the part of the intelligent citizen in the affairs
of the countv and in the betterment of educational
facilities, and is a valuable member of societv.
Christian hanson. it is with pleasure that
we are enabled to grant to the estimable gentleman
and industrious farmer and patriotic citizen of this
county a representation in the volume which chronicles
the events of Latah county, since he has wrought
here with faithfulness and display of wisdom and
thrift, having accumulated a goodly holding of prop-
erty by his hard labor and careful management. Mr.
Hanson was born in Lowland. Denmark, on October
13. 1851. being the son of Hans Jacobson and Enger
Hanson, both natives of Denmark, where also they
died. Our subject commenced to work out at the age
of nine, having gained considerable schooling previous
to that time. He would come home each night. But
when he was thirteen years of age, he worked where he
could only come home once each week. He continued
this life of industrv and hard labor until the time of
his departure for this country, in 1892. He came di-
rect to Latah county, where he worked out for two
years and then bought eighty acres of land and in
1902 bought ninety-three acres more, his estate being
six miles north from Genesee. Mr. Hanson has a
good orchard on the place and a good residence and
out buildings, as barns and so forth, which make his
farm one of value and it is handled in a skillful man-
ner and produces abundant crops.
The marriage of Mr. Hanson and Miss Johanna,
daughter of Swen and Christen Johnson, was consum-
mated in 1880. Mrs. Hanson's parents were natives
of Sweden, where also they are buried. Mr. Hanson
is a man of industry and good capabilities and also
his wife is a true helpmeet, having wrought out much
income for the home by her industry in the manu-
facture of butter and cheese and so forth. Mr. and
Mrs. Hanson are not allied with any denomination.
believing in the scriptures as the divine word and
guided in all their ways by its precepts alone and their
lives are as lights in the community, being faithful,
kind and substantial.
ALBERT HOWELL. This intelligent agri-
culturist has added his faithful and wisely directed
labor for the advancement of the interests of Latah
county, while he has wrought out for himself in the
business world a good success. Mr. Howell was born
in Morgan county. Indiana, on August 22. i860. His
father, William D. Howell, married Miss Sarah J. Oil-
ley, a native of Indiana, and to them were born:
Dora A., deceased: Edwin, living in Latah county;
Franklin, also living in Latah county : these in ad-
dition to our subject. Mr. Howell enlisted . in the
Union army and in 1866 was taken sick in the army
and died. The mother married Mr. Rudd. and to
them were born: Charlie, deceased: Lethia J., wife
of Birt Crooks, in Latah county. Following this
last marriage the family removed to Indianapolis and
remained there two years and then a move was made
to Tipton county, where eight vears were spent, after
which, in 1877, they all came to Kansas and settled in
Wilson county. There they engaged in farming and
remained for ten years. Our subject remained on the
farm with his step-father. In 1888, they all sold out
and came west, landing first in Colfax. Washington,
whence they removed to Palouse. About that time,
our subject took a preemption claim which has been
his family home since. It lies four miles southeast
from Palouse and is well improved and produces
abundant crops under the wise husbandry of the owner.
Mr. Howell raises cattle, horses, and hogs, practices
diversified farming, raising alfalfa and brome grass,
having also a good orchard. His place has comfort-
able buildings and is one of the fine farms of the
section.
On January 1. 1882, at Coyville, Kansas. Mr.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
699
Howell married Aliss Alary L., daughter of Napoleon
and Alary L. Sharrai. The father was a carpenter and
Mrs. Howell was born in Topeka, Kansas, on May
22, [866. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Howell
are named as follows: Nettie M., Ada E., Dora A.,
deceased, Eva J., Bertha A., Alary, Etta O., Josie,
Willis, deceased. Ralph, Alva, Hatt'ie, Albert C. The
children are at home and attending school. In the
winters Air. Howell moves to Palouse for school ad-
vantages. Mr. Howell is a member of the W. of \\ '.,
Star Camp, No. 97, at Palouse, and his wife is a
member of the Circle. Air. Howell pays much atten-
tion to the advancement of the educational interests
and has given faithful service on the school board.
He is a man of -careful and wise ways, possessed of
vigor and enterprise and is one of the respected and
substantial citizens of the countv.
ISAAC W. LAZELLE. In numbering the lead-
ing farmers of Latah county, there must not be fail-
ure to mention the estimable gentleman whose name
appears above, since he has labored here for many
years and his wise efforts of industry have been fit-
tingly crowned in abundant success in financial hold-
ings, while he stands high among his fellows as a
man of integrity and sound principles. Isaac W. was
born in Cattaraugus county, New York, on Alay 15,
[858, being the son of Sumner C. and Malinda
( Angle ) Lazelle. The father was born in Vermont
in 1819 and is now living in Latah county, in his
eighty-fourth year. The mother was a native of New
York and was born in 1825. The other children of
this worthy couple are named as follows : Inez E.,
at home with her father in Latah county ; Cynthia AL,
wife of \Ym. Eddy, in Whitman countv, Washington;
Charles F., on the old home place: Oscar W.. in
Okanogan county, Washington. Isaac W. remained
in New York with his parents until 1873, then the
family came to Nevada county, California, where the
father engaged in lumbering and our subject worked
with him until 1877, at which time they bought teams
and came overland to Latah county. The father took
his present place as a homestead and in 1880 Isaac W.
preempted his place. It lies three miles east from
Palouse and consists of one quarter section. In 1882,
he proved up on the place and since that time it has
been his home.
On January 8, 1888, Air. Lazelle married Miss
Ruby, daughter of Walter and Caroline AIcLani. re-
tired farmers living in Palouse. To this happy union
there have been born the following children : Walter,
Hazel, and Warren H.. all at home and attending
school. Airs. Lazelle was born in Isabella county,
Michigan, on September 12, 1862, and she has brothers
and sisters as follows: Evaline, wife of A. Harvey,
and living in Latah county; Frank C. Irving in Pa-
louse ; Ella, wife of A. W. Littke, living ;n Palouse.
Air. Lazelle is a member of the AW of W. In school
matters he is much interested and has served on the
board of directors for three terms. The farm of our
subject is one of value and is handled in a capable
and excellent manner, and produces abundant returns
of the cereals and fruits. In 1884 Air. Lazelle made
a trip to Humbold county, California, and fi r nine
months there he was attending to his interests in the
lumber woods. He is a man of stanch worth of
character and has always maintained an untarnished
reputation and been faithful in laboring for the general
welfare of the county.
GEORGE W. ANDERSON. Three and one-half
miles southeast from Palouse is situated the fine farm
of the subject of this article. It consists of one hun-
dred and twelve acres of fertile lands which is pro-
ductive of rich returns in crops, because of the skill-
ful husbandry of the proprietor. The residence is an
elegant structure of modern design and conveniences,
while commodious barns, out buildings and so forth
add beauty and value to the establishment. Air.
Anderson has fine orchards, practices diversified farm-
ing and is setting much of his ground to grasses.
George W. Anderson was born in New York, near
Alalone, on November 12, 1858, being the son of
Rufus and Amelia (Freeze) Anderson. The father
was a native of New York, born in 1827, gave his at-
tention to farming and now lives in Palouse, Washing-
ton. The mother's parents are both dead and we are
not favored with their names. To this worthy couple
there have been born, in addition to the subject of this
article. Amelia, wife of George Degowin ; Rufus J.,
living at Weippe, Idaho: Enos, living at Alalone,
New York ; Ruth, at Westville, New York ; Edward,
m Palouse. Our subject remained at home with his
parents until 1872, then farmed for himself and in
1888 went to Michigan. In 1883, the parents came
to the vicinity of Palouse and settled and in 1891,
George W. came west and engaged in farming and in
1896 he selected his present place, three and one-half
miles southeast from Palouse. Here he has bestowed
his labors since that time, doing both general fanning
and fruit raising, handling also stock.
On December 10, 1882, Air. Anderson married
Aliss Emma Degowin, in New York, and they have
become the parents of one son, Russell E. Airs. Ander-
son was born in Constable, New York, on April 28,
1855, being the daughter of William and Alary
Degowin, farmers of New York state. Her brothers
and sisters are named below. Harriett, living in
Sheboygan, Alichigan ; George in Palouse : William
A., in 'Constable, New York: Fred, in Chicopee Falls,
Alassachusetts ; Carrie : Elmer : Isaac : John, in Con-
stable, New York. Air. Anderson is active in politics
but does not desire public office, for being
justice of the peace in iqoi he refused to qualify, but
has served as' road supervisor. He and his wife are
members of the Alethodist church in Palouse and are
highly esteemed there as in all their as-
Air. Anderson is greatly interested in school advan-
tages and always advocates the highest tax
thering them.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
CHARLES CHANDLER is the senior member of
the firm of Chandler & Davis, liverymen, of Kendrick,
who do a thriving business and handle a full equip-
ment of fine rigs and horses. They are especially
zealous in the care of their business that their patrons
should receive proper attention and are solicitous to
this end by wise management and providing the best
equipments and horses. The immediate subject of this
sketch was born in Delaware county, Ohio, on Sep-
tember 19, 1871, being the son of Stephen H. and
Josephine (Klapp) Chandler. The father was a
farmer and remained in the native place until the death
of his wife, which occurred when Charles was twelve
years of age. Then the family removed to Howard,
Elk county, Kansas, and four years later they went
thence to Sedgwick county, in the same state, and
there our subject remained, laboring at farming un-
til he was twenty-one years old and then he came to
Latah county. He engaged in farming here, renting
land, until the fall of 1901, when in company with
S. ■ Davis, he purchased the livery barn above
mentioned, from J. S. Crocker. They are doing a
splendid business and arc building up a large patron-
age.
In fraternal relations Mr. Chandler is affiliated
with the I. O. O. F., Nezperce Lodge No. 37. As
yet, Mr. Chandler is quietly pursuing the way of the
celibatarian, having never launched on the sea of
matrimony. He is one of the most substantial men
of the town, and is highly esteemed by all, being pos-
sessed of fine ability, good executive force, and domi-
nated by a keen sagacity and sound principles, while
his geniality and affability have won for him many
friends.
LIVEY J. CHANEY. Who have contributed
more to the wealth of Latah countv than the farmers
and fruit growers? Of this worthy class the sub-
ject of this sketch is a representative, having a fine
farm six miles southeast from Palouse, where he raises
fruit from twenty-five acres and grain from the
balance. His place is well improved and handled in
a skillful manner. March 1. 1864, marks the date of
the birth of Livey J- and his parents were Lewis S.
and Martha (Sly) Chanev. The father was born in
1833, in Indiana and his father, Lewis Chanev, was
a native of Maryland. The mother of our subject was
born in Ohio, in 1838 and her father, George Sly. was
a farmer of that state. In 1872 the family came to
Kansas, and in Greenwood county they bought land
and farmed until 1879. Livey J. attending schools
meantime. Then the father sold the farm and spent
one year in Colorado in hunting. 1880 was the year
in which they came to Latah county, settling on their
present farm, purchasing the right of a former resi-
dent. In 1886 our subject went to Shoshone county
and preempted a quarter, which he afterwards sold.
Aside from that venture he has nearly always made
his home with his parents, and has given attention to
farming and fruit raising.
Tn 1889 occurred the marriage of Mr. Chanev and
Miss Minnie, daughter of Louis Reed, and one child,
Jesse L., was born to this union. Jesse is now living
with his grandparents in Oregon. Mr. Chanev con-
tracted a second marriage, the lady becoming his bride
being Perlina, daughter of Eli Burcham, a farmer,
now deceased. The nuptials were solemnized on July
4, 1891, and they have become the parents of five chil-
dren : Emery O., barah E., Edith M.. Dewey C, Silvey,
all at home. The brothers of Mrs. Chanev are named
below : Eli, Milton, John, and Thomas. Mr. Chaney's
brothers and sisters are : George, living in Latah coun-
ty; Sarah, wife of Abraham Dewese. living in Pa-
louse; Douglas, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Chanev are
members of the Methodist church. They are valuable
members of society, have always labored for the up-
building of the community and have the respect and
confidence of all who know them.
HOMER A. THOMAS. To this veteran of many
conflicts on life's battle field, and pioneer worker in
Latah county and many other frontier places, we are
constrained to grant a representation in this volume,
since he is one of the men who have made good suc-
cess in labor. He has always maintained an unsullied
reputation and is one of the highly esteemed men of
the community. Homer A. was born in Allegany
county, New York, being the son of Edward and Polly
(Bacon) Thomas, natives of Vermont. The date of
our subject's birth was December 7, 1835. The par-
ents removed to Richland county, Ohio, in 1845, and
thence to Platteville. Wisconsin, in 1851. The father
farmed there and was one of the leading men of the
section. There the mother died in 1888 and in 1897,
the father also died, aged ninety-two years, and they
sleep in the Platteville cemetery. Homer A. was edu-
cated in the common schools in the various sections
where he resided and at the age of twenty- four left
the parental roof for the wide and unexplored west.
A train of seventy-five wagons and one hundred and
fifty persons was formed to go to the Salmon river
mines, in Idaho. This was in 1862 and Mr. Thomas
was one of the number. They became lost and hired
a man for one hundred and fifty dollars to pilot them
out of the wild territory to Deer Lodge, Montana.
They finally arrived there and thence to Walla Walla,
arriving in September, having crossed the Rockies
three times on the trip. From Walla Walla Mr.
Thomas went to San Francisco and worked for one
year in a grist mill, then freighted for a year and
rented a farm which proved unsuccessful. Then Mr.
Thomas took up the operation of an eating house on
the overland stage line, continuing in the same for two
years. Then he ran the Wayside house at Soledad
for six years, afterwards kept a boarding house in San
Luis Obispo for a year and then we find him again
in Walla Walla, where he worked for one year in a
grist mill. Following this he spent one winter in Se-
attle and visited Goldendale, Washington, and there
painted for two years. Thence he came again to
Walla Walla and later took a homestead where he now
RESIDENCE OF HOMER A. THOMAS.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
resides, six miles northeast from Genesee. This set-
tlement was made in 1882, and six years later he
bought an additional eighty. He has a fine farm, well
cultivated, embellished with excellent residence and
all good substantial out buildings and barns that are
needed, orchards and so forth. Mr. Thomas has fine
cattle, horses, and hogs, having the Jersey breed of
cattle, Norman horses, and Berkshire hogs. He is a
leader in the realm of stock raising and farming and
is one of the leading citizens of the county.
Mr. Thomas was married to Miss Sarah J.
Dagget, daughter of Acel and Eliza (White) Dag-
get, natives of Vermont, whence they came to Illinois
and thence to Wisconsin, where they died. Mr.
Thomas is a member of the I. O. O. F.,' and for three
terms was elected justice of the peace and then he was
obliged to refuse a re-election, being determined to
rest from the more active public duties. Mr. Thomas
is a man who has labored very much for the welfare
and progress of the county, has always been upright
and faithful, and now as the golden years begin to
run apace he is enjoying the fruits of his labors, the
respect and admiration of the people and is to be
commended on the wisely spent years of a useful
career.
BENJAMIN F. ALDRICH. The venerable gen-
tleman,- of whom we now have the pleasure of writ-
ing, is one of Latah county*s early settlers and has la-
bored here continuously since, in the good work of
development and upbuilding, being now one of the
prosperous agriculturists and orchardists of his sec-
tion. He was born in Springfield, Vermont, on March
13. 1822, the son of Benjamin and Hannah Aldrich.
The father was a tiller of the soil and this son re-
mained at home busied in the invigorating labors of
the farm and in acquiring a good education until he
was twenty years of age and then his adventurous
spirit led him to go on a whaling voyage. After the
thrilling and arduous experiences of that trip had
whetted his appetite for further acquaintance with the
sea, he went into the merchant service, where he com-
pleted a nine year ocean service. In 1852 he came
to California and for four years he mined and pros-
pected and then went back to Wisconsin and thence
soon after to Minnesota, settling near Austin, Mower
count}-, where he farmed for twenty-one years. At
'.he expiration of that time he came west to The
Dalles and one year later from there to Latah county.
Two years after his first settlement here he came to
his present place, the year being 1880, and home-
steaded a quarter section. This land lies one mile
west from Juliaetta and in the intervening years Mr.
Aldrich has improved it in good shape, erecting build-
ings and cultivating it, while also he has planted a fine
orchard of ten acres, which is an excellent dividend
producer.
The marriage of Mr. Aldrich and Miss Almira,
daughter of Jonas and Catherine Boyer, was sol-
emnized in Milford, Wisconsin, on September 9, 1851,
and they have become the parents of the following
children : Francis L., Harvey C, Allan F., Edward,
deceased, Willard X., Mary A., Nellie, Fred B., Anna
L. and Rose B. Mrs. Aldrich is a native of New York
state. This venerable and worthy couple have long
trod the pilgrim way of life and are now enjoying the
golden time of life amid the good things that their
faithful labors have provided and also they rest secure
in the esteem and good will of all who may be favored
with their acquaintance, being good people, upright
and kind.
HEZEKIAH M. SMITH. A resident of the
thriving village of Juliaetta, and one of the men whose
labors have made our county what she is today, the
subject of this article is deserving of mention in any
work that purports to give biographical review to the
leading citizens of the county. Mr. Smith is a native
of Pennsylvania, being born in Elk county, on May 12,
1847, tne son 0I Benjamin and Eliza (Micks) Smith.
The father was a farmer in that section and our sub-
ject received his education from the common schools
of that place and remained on the home farm until
he had reached the age of twenty-three. At that time
of budding manhood, he made a journey to the west,
finding no stopping place until he came to Columbia,
Oregon. One year later he came thence to Idaho and
in 1871 he came to Lewiston and for the next seven
years he followed rafting and lumbering on the Clear-
water. 1878 marks the date when he retired from that
line of enterprise and went to work in a butcher shop
in Lewiston. Four years was the time of his service
there and in 1882 he came to Cedar creek, now in
Latah county, and there acquired title to one-half
section by preemption and homestead. Upon this
piece of land he bestowed his labors for a score of years
and then sold out his entire interests, including stock,
of which he had raised much. In January, 1902, he
came to Juliaetta and purchased his present home in
the village. He has a fine residence and a small tract
of land and he devotes his time to gardening, retiring
from the more arduous duties of the stock ranch. He
lias a tract of land adjoining the town, which he in-
tends to use for the garden purpose. His family came
to Juliaetta in April. 1902.
Mr. Smith married Mrs. Mary Hilt, a native of
Connecticut, in August, 1894, at Kendrick, Idaho, and
they have one child, Lane. Mrs. Smith had three chil-
dren by a former marriage.
AMON K. BIDDISON. This enterprising and
well known gentleman is one of the leading vine dress-
ers in this section, having a vineyard of two and one-
half acres, besides considerable more that is being
started. He dwells in the village of, Juliaetta. owning
a block upon which is a fine residence, also has an-
other block that is not improved and twenty acres of
fine vineyard land that adjoins the town. Mr. Biddi-
son is a native of Ohio, being horn near Wilmington,
in Clinton county, on September 18, 1852, the son of
7o:
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
John and Nancy (Martin) Biddison. His parents re-
moved him to Iowa when he was two years old and
settlement was made in Appanoose county, near Cen-
terville, where iie remained with them until his twen-
tieth year. In 1874 he went to Kansas and settled in
Coffey county, near Neosho Falls, and there he re-
mained until 18S2, when he sold his property interests
there and came to Idaho. He located two miles north
from where Troy now stands and in partnership with
his brother purchased a sawmill that had just been
built there. It was the second mill erected in that sec-
tion. For four years we find him there in the man-
ufacture of timber products and then he went to farm-
ing on Big Bear creek. He remained there until 1897,
when he again sold out and went to Columbia county,
Washington. He devoted his attention to raising stock
there until very recently, when he sold his entire inter-
ests there and came to Juliaetta, wdiere he purchased
the property above mentioned. In addition to handling
his vinevard, he devotes much time and attention to
raising vegetables for the market and he is one of the
prosperous men of this section. Mr. Biddison has al-
ways taken a lively interest in political matters, and
while on Big Bear creek he served as deputy assessor
for the years 1805-6-7. Fraternally he is affiliated with
the A. F. & A. M., at Pomeroy, Washington.
Mr. Biddison married Miss Nevada, daughter of
William and Nevada Fowler, at Centerville, Iowa, on
December 24, 1882, and they have the following chil-
dren : Crayton S., Elmer F., Noyes A. ami Olive.
Mr. Biddison is one of the men of vigor and thrift
wdio have done much in the real building of our county
and he is deserving of great credit for his wise and
vigorous efforts in this line, while he has alsu exem-
plified in his life those rare virtues of worth and qual-
ity that characterize the real man of principle and the
patriotic citizen.
AUGUST AND CHRISTIAN NELSON.
Tl esi worthy and industrious men are brothers and
are leading agriculturists of Latah county, where the)
have displayed in the past years commendable zeal,
enterprise and wisdom in the prosecution of their busi-
ness, in which their thrift and sagacity have brought
them good success. They are located on a farm sev-
en miles north from Genesee and have a fine 1< a of
horses and sufficient stock for the use of the farm.
They are the sons of Nels and Pemilla (Jenson) Nel-
son, natives of Sweden, where also they remained un-
til the time of their death, being buried in the W.
Kasup cemetery. Christian was born July 22. 1800,
and August was born February 1, 1871, both being
natives of W. Kasup. Sweden. At the age of sixteen
Christian started for himself and in 1892 he bought his
lather's farm. At the age of sixteen, also, August
started in life for himself and in 1891 he came to
America. He soon discovered that this was the place
for one to do well and accordingly wrote to his brother
to come hither, which he did in 1893, after renting the
old home place, which was his by purchase, as stated
above. They both located in the vicinitv of Genesee
and for several years they worked for wages. In 1898
they rented two hundred and twenty-four acres of
land, which they still occupy and farm. In 1901 they
raised four thousand bushels of wheat in addition to
what they had of other productions. In addition to
these brothers there was one sister in the family, Han-
11a Liberg, married and living in the old home place in
Sweden and she is the mother of five children, Nils
Theadcre, Martin W., John W., Anna L.. Lars J.
Christian still owns the farm in W. Kasup. These
brothers are highly respected citizens and are among
the leaders in the art of farming successfully, having
demonstrated both their capabilities in this line as
well as the stanch qualities of integrity and worth of
which thev are happily
NOYES B. HOLBROOK is one of the earliest
pioneers to this section of the west, and since his ad-
vent here he has been a constant and prominent figure
m the development of the various resources of the
country and in the management of the political affairs,
in which he has always evinced a great interest, and
today he is one of the heaviest property owners of
Latah county and a leader in its business world, al-
though of late years he has retired more from the
activities and cares of business, still at present he is
in charge of the large flour mill at Juliaetta and also
] ersi mally supervises his various estates and proper-
ties. Mr. Holbrook came from far away Connecticut,
being born in Derby, New Haven county, cm March
29, 1830, the son of Thomas C. and Maria B. (Ben-
ham) Holbrook. The father was a farmer and our
subject remained with him, assisting on the farm and
gaining a good education from the public schools un-
til he had reached the age of seventeen and then he
went to Bridgeport in the same state and there learned
al! the branches of the mason's trade. He followed
this trade in various parts of the state until he was
twenty-three and then came to California, via the
isthmus. He mined, contracted and worked at his
trade for eight years in Marysville, California, and
then in 1862 came overland to this country, making
his headquarters in Lewiston. He mined and pros-
pected in Montana and Idaho until 1871, when he took
up the livery business at Lewiston and for fourteen
years he followed that. Then he retired to look after
his property interests in various portions of the coun-
try. Fie had much live stock, two good farms, seven
dwellings and much other property. In 1896 he came
to Juliaetta and took charge of the grist mill there.
He built the mill, it being the first "building in the
town, and sold it but it came back into his hands and
he devotes himself to its management. It is a mill' of
full roller process equipment, of fifty barrels capacity
per day and is run by water power . "
As stated before. Mr. Holbrook has always man-
ifested great interest in politics. He was mayor of
Lewiston for a term, during the Nez Perces war in
1877; he has been deputy sheriff for two terms; sher-
iff one term : count) commissioner two terms; and has
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
"03
always been elected on the Democratic ticket. Mr.
Holbrook has been married twice, the first time being
in 1880. at Lewiston, .Miss Eliza Armstrong becoming
his bride at that time, but she lived only two years.
in iS. in he contracted a second marriage, the lady of
his choice being Mrs. Eliza Colwell, and the wedding
occurred in Vollmer. Mrs. Holbrook had three chil-
dren by her former marriage, two married daughters,
and •iii1 son, Fred C, at the present in the mill. Mr.
Holbrook handles much wheat, buying and storing
and shipping. He stands as one of the leading busi-
ness men of Latah county today.
JOHN HALVERSOX. Surely any compilation
having the province of portraying the lives of the
leading citizens of Latah county would be seriously
at fault were there failure to incorporate within its
pages an account of the leading and estimable gentle-
man whose name is at the head of this article and who
has demonstrated in such a commendable manner his
ability as a wise husbandman, upright man and patri-
otic citizen. Mr. Halverson was born in Sand, Nor-
way, on August 3, 185 1, being the son of Halverson
and Engeborg (Johnson) Halverson. natives also of
Norway, where the father died, being buried at the ol I
home place. In 1890 the mother came to the United
States. ( lur subject was educated in the common
schools of his native town and at the age of fifteen
went to sea. following this vigorous and hard) life of
freedom for five years, when he came to America,
landing on Chicago soil, whence he soon went to sail-
ing on Lake Michigan, following it for three years.
At the expiration of that time he came to Astoria,
in ( Iregon, and the occupation of fishing engaged his
energies for nine rears. Then he came to Latah coun-
ty and took a homestead five miles north from Gen-
esee, lie devoted himself to the cultivation and im-
provement of this farm in the years that followed and
the excellent results that he has achieved speak loud-
ly oi in- energy, wisdom and untiring care for busi-
ness. In 1899 Mr. Halverson bought a quarter section
aero-- the road from Ins original farm and now he has
a fine estate of three hundred and twenty acres, all
paid for, improved in a becoming manner, and each
farm having fine barn... houses, outbuildings and or-
chards. Mr. Halverson is the most successful farmer
of In- section, having as high a yield as seven and one-
half thousand bushels for one year's harvest of wheat,
besides other products of the farm. He has a goodh
number of cattle, horses and hogs. Mr. Halverson 's
good management is manifest in the fact that he has
accumulated such a fine holding without a dollar's
incumbrance of any kind.
The marriage of Mr. Halverson and Miss tenger,
daughter of Jacob and Julia Johnson, natives of Nor-
way, was celebrated in 1882. and to them were born
six children, as follows: Henrv I.. Engle M., fennie A.,
Anione ( ).. Ida J. and Eddie C. In March, 1900, Mr.
Halverson was called to mourn the death of his faith-
ful wife. 1 )ur subject is one of the leaders of the -1 c-
tion, a man of wisdom and is deserving of much cred-
it for the skill ^n^i enterprise manifested in the conduct
of his business, as weli as for the energy manifested
in the accomplishment of measures for the upbuilding
and development of the county, and the natural result
is. that lie is highly esteemed by his fellows and is
rightly looked up to bv all.
GEI IRGE 11. SAWYER. This thrifty and enter-
prising farmer and gentleman is a valuable citizen of
Latah county, being both a man of fine capabilities and
of good business talent, and also one of those who have
labored well here for the advancement of the coun-
ty's interests and the development of its resources.
His father, Mark Sawyer, was born in South Carolina
on September 28. 181-;. and died in 1884. He was a
county commissioner of Yam Hill county, Oregon,
where he did good work for the advancement of the
country. This gentleman married Miss Susana James,
a native of Indiana, born October 22, 1821, and died
m 1895. To this union were born our subject, on No-
vember 20, 1847, in Linn City, ( Iregon ; Ellis, wife of
M. B. Hendrick, and living in McMinnyille, Oregon;
Margaret, now deceased, being formerly wife of Dan-
iel Osborne: Almira, widow of Truman Sherwood,
and now living in Eugene. < iregon; Jordan, deceased;
John R., in Portland: Andrew J., at Philomath, Ore-
gon: Evangeline, wife of John Smith, in Yam Hill
county, Oregon ; Jane, wife of George Michael, in
Yam Hill county; Franklin L., deceased; Arthur \\'.,
deceased; Damon; Mark E., deceased; Emmet, de-
ceased. < >ur subject came with his parents to Yam
Hill county, ( Iregon, in [847, and the father took up
donation land there in 1849. George H. remained in
the Web-foot state until 1883 and then removed to
Latah county, taking government land, to which he
bought the right of another. He has resided on this
land continuously since that time and has it well im-
proved. He has added by purchase until he owns
one half section. 'Wheat and oats form the staple
crop and three orchards produce abundant fruit, w,. ie
iiis barns, residence and all about the premises pro-
claim the proprietor a man of thrift and care and in-
dustry.
Mr. Sawyer married Miss Itha Cant, on October
30, 1870, in Yam Hill county, Oregon, and they have
been blessed by the advent of the following children :
Laura B., wife of Enoch S. Reeves, living in Peck. Id-
aho, and mother of the following children. Millie M..
Pearl A., Rubena M.. Enoch L., Elmer S., deceased,
who had one child, Jessie I-;., having married Edith
.Miller: Charlie P., attending high school and uni-
versit] at Moscow. Airs. Sawyer was born near Sher-
idan. Yam Hill county. ( Ictober 14, 1853, and she has
brothers and sisters named as follows : John W., in
Yam Hill county; Martha A., wife of W. ]. Sargeant,
of Yam Hill county; Sarah J., wife of T. B. Mitchell,
and living in Chehalis, Washington; Mary E.. wife
of John Hinkle, in Portland; Henry, living at Elk,
Washington : Carmy and Albert, deceased. Mr. and
704
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Mrs. Sawyer are members of the Christian church at
Palouse. and are forward in supporting the faith. Mr.
Sawyer takes an interest in school matters, always la-
boring for advancement in educational facilities, while
in political matters and all that pertains to the welfare
of the county, he is ever active anil shows, both by
thrifty example and wise counsel, the proper walk and
wise methods, both of business enterprise and public
concern.
JOHN H. HORTOX. A man of a goodly prop-
erty, possessed as well of ability and executive force
which have made him a prominent citizen in the county,
while his walk has manifested uprightness and sound
principles and a worthy integrity, the subject of
this sketch is eminently fitted for representation in
this volume of Latah county's history. .Mr. Horton is
a native of Wayne county, Tennessee, being born on
December 4, 1854, the son of George and Jane (Pigg)
Horton. The father of John H. was a farmer born
in Tennessee in 1820, and his father was a native of
England. Mrs. Horton was born in Tennessee in
1822. The family came to Searcy county, Arkansas,
in 1859, shortly after which event the father was called
hence by death. The mother bravely held the little
flock together, providing for them until they were
able to meet the responsibilities of life for themselves.
Our subject remained there, gaining an education and
laboring with the others until 187b, when he started
out across the plains with a train of twelve teams for
the west. Part of the time they were alone, he and his
brother-in-law, Xeal Bohanan, but they had no trouble
with the Indians although they met many of them.
April 8 was the day they started and July 11, the day
when they came to Latah county. John H. bought
the improvements of a settler to the land which is now
his family home and placing a homestead right on it
he at once set about building a home and making a
farm from the raw sod. His industrious labors have
met with proper reward for he now owns a fine es-
tate of four hundred and thirty acres of fertile land,
well improved with orchards, buildings, and which pro-
duces abundant crops of the cereals.
On February 23, 1875, .Mr. Horton married Miss
Sarah, daughter of Lorenzo D. and Lucinda Jameson,
natives respectively of Missouri and Arkansas. Mr.
Jameson was a prominent man of his section, being
sheriff of Searcy county for two terms. To this mar-
riage there have been born nine children, Mattie. de-
ceased, George E., Cordelia, deceased, Ralph, attend-
ing the university at Moscow with George ; Jennie,
Carrie, Lucy, Edna M., John, at home. Mr. Horton
has brothers and sisters as follows : Nathaniel, Sarah,
Mary, Ellen, Martha, all in Arkansas. Mr. Horton is
an advocate of good schools and labors for that end,
being also prominent in political matters. In 1898.
he was nominated for county commissioner on the
Republican ticket and was elected with a good major-
ity ; he was renominated after a faithful service of
two years but on account of the fusion he was de-
feated, but by only thirteen votes. He is a member of
the Farmer's Club, while he and his wife are also mem-
bers of the United Brethren church. Mr. Horton
does not believe in going in debt and does not prac-
tice it, consequently he is free from all worry and det-
riment from that quarter.
JASPER P. SHARP. This enterprising gentle-
man is one of the leading farmers of Latah countv.
His estate lies five miles east from Palouse and is one
of productiveness and is handled in a becoming man-
ner to a thrifty western farmer of energy and capabili-
ties. Mr. Sharp has done his part in the development
of the country since his advent here in 1887 and is
one of the substantial citizens of the county. The an-
cestral history of our subject would be interesting,
consequently we append a portion. In 1808 Andrew
Sharp was born in New York state and he married
Miss Hester O. Hubble, a native of Pennsylvania and
whose father was a farmer. They removed to Wis-
consin in 1850 and settled in what is now Green Lake
county, taking a preemption. In the spring of 1859
they sold out and moved to Woodson county, Kansas,
taking up land and giving attention to tilling the soil.
On July 12, 1864, while the father was enroute to the
Black Hills in a wagon train, he was massacred by the
Indians. At this same time Fannie Kelly was taken
prisoner by the savages and detained some time and
after her release wrote an account of the thrilling ad-
ventures that befell her. Our subject was with his
parents until their move to Kansas, gaining an edu-
cation at the various public schools. He remained
with the mother until he had reached twenty-one. He
enlisted in what was known as the "Irregulars," troops
responding to the call of Governor Lane, and to use
Mr. Sharp's own words, "We stole horses from the
Cherokees and Missourians and raised 'commotion'
and then the company busted." He continued with
the army until the close of the war, at which time he
look up land on Elk river, Kansas, and went to farm-
ing.
On September 21, 1862, Mr. Sharp married Miss
Emma, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Neely)
Murden, and to them have been born the following
children : Cyrus A., Alice, Charles, Minnie, all de-
ceased ; Nettie O., living at St. Marys ; Myrtle, wife of
A. D. Smith, in Latah county. Mrs. Sharp has the
following brothers and sisters : Rowland, deceased ;
Nancy, living in Iowa ; Elizabeth, deceased ; Frances,
living in Missouri ; Aris, deceased ; William, deceased ;
Scott, in Oklahoma. Mr. Sharp has the following
brothers and sisters : Delila A. and Pernina, deceased ;
Ihirbridge D.. an old soldier, now deceased : Agnes,
deceased : Letta. living in Moscow, Idaho ; Lemuel.
Pearl and Jaymon. all deceased. In 1873 Mr. Sharp
sold his place in Kansas and went to Coffey county in
the same state. Buying land he tilled it until 1887. at
which time he came to Latah county. Here he bought
his present place, five miles east from Palouse, where
he is doing commendable work in the agricultural art.
Mr. Sharp was born in Knox county, Ohio, on March
JOHN H. HORTON.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
705
21, 1 84 2. He had been an Odd Fellow for years, be-
liever, in good schools and holds with the Socialists.
His wife is a member of the Methodist church and
they are both highly esteemed people.
FRANKLIN M. BERRY. A good citizen, a capa-
ble man and an enterprising farmer and stockman, the
subject of this article is worthy of representation in
this volume and we accord space to him with pleasure.
Mr. Berry is one of a family of ten children, the date
of his birth being April 24, 1841, and the others
named as follows: Amanda E, married to Bert Craig,
but now dead; Matilda, wife of Benjamin Skallions,
and living on Deep creek; Thomas, died in 1870;
Anna E., wife of James Carr, and then of Colonel
James Shadrick, of Arkansas ; Ira J., in Arkansas ;
Felix, in Arkansas; Minerva J., married to Green
Brummett, who was killed in the war, and his wife is
now also dead; Reddick H., died during the war;
Rachel, wife of Joseph Favors, of Arkansas. Our
subject's parents. Andrew and Minerva W. Berry,
were natives of Virginia, the father a farmer and the
mother being born in 181 1. and her mother's name was
Rachel Wiley. In 1851 our subject removed with his
mother to Arkansas, settling twenty miles south from
Pine Bluff, in Bradley county. That continued to be
the family home until 1874, when our subject came to
the west, locating first in Yam Hill county, Oregon,
where he was a tiller of the soil. The mother joined
him in 1875. In 1879 he sold out his property in Ore-
gon and came to Latah county, taking his present
place as a homestead. His farm is located four miles
east from Palouse and is well improved, having excel-
lent buildings, good orchard and produces abundant
crops.
On March 6, 1864. in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Mr.
Berry married Miss Missouri A., daughter of James
Willson, a farmer and carpenter and a native of Hen-
derson county, Kentucky. The other children of Mr.
Wills' in- family were Samuel and John, both died in
the war: Emma, wife of Fred Powell, a merchant in
Henderson county. Kentucky ; Nancy, wife of Mr.
I). \Y. Chance, now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Berry
have been born the following children : James, living
on Bear creek in Latah county and the father of four
children; William H., living near Moscow and the
father of four children ; Charles, living on Bear
creek: Frank I., living near Garfield, Washington;
Emma, wife of J. Campbell, and living in Latah coun-
ty; Minnie, wife of G. Campbell, and living in Latah
county : Moses, at home. Mr. Berry is a member of
the Masons and of the A. O. U. W. He takes an
active interest in politics, being allied with the Demo-
cratic party. In educational matters he is always labor-
ing for the best and votes for tax sufficient to make
good schools. For nine consecutive ye?rs he was a
member of the school board. He and his wife are
members of the .Methodist church and are faithful
supporters of the faith, being well esteemed and re-
spected bv all.
45
PORTER D. SARDAM. The representative
stockman and farmer whose name initiates this sketch
is one of the enterprising men of Latah county, own-
ing a half section of good land five miles east from
Palouse, where he does a general farming business,
handling also considerable stock. He believes in di-
versified farming and produces everything on the farm
that is of profit in this section. His estate is well im-
proved and kept and he is a man of uprightness and
good ability. In 1816 William H. Sardam was bom
in Litchfield county, Connecticut, and he married Miss
Delia Sardam, daughter of Solomon Sardam, also a
native of Connecticut. .Miss Delia was born in Litch-
field county in 1 818. To this union were born our
subject, on January 18, 1853, and also three others,
who are dead, named as follows : Martin. Philander
and Darius. Porter D. was born on the same farm
where his father was born. Our subject was educated
in the common schools and at the age of sixteen went
to rustling for himself, his parents both dying at that
time. He worked on the neighboring farms until he
was twenty-one, and then started for Nebraska, settling
there in 1874, in Madison county. For eight years
he tilled the soil, and then sold out and came to Pa-
louse, via San Francisco and Portland. One year
after landing in Palouse we find Mr. Sardam in Spo-
kane, and six years were spent there by him in the
lumber business, after which he came to Latah county
and selected his present place. He bought a quarter
section at first, and later has added as much more.
1887 was the year when he first moved onto this farm,
and he has lived continuously ever since, gaining a
good success in his endeavors all the time.
< )n November 26, 1881, in Spokane, Washington,
occurred the marriage of Mr. Sardam and Miss Kate
A., daughter of John and Alice Conner. Her father
was a merchant and farmer and a native of Ireland,
where also he married, his wife also being a native
of the Emerald Isle. To them were born Ellen, de-
ceased : Julia, living with Mrs. Sardam ; Mary, living
in San Francisco; Martin, deceased; William, in the
Hoodoo mines; Margaret, deceased; and Mrs. Sardam,
who was born in 1854 at Dobbs Ferry, on the Hudson.
To Mr. and Airs. Sardam have been born two children,
— Gertrude M. and Walter R., both dead. Mr. Sar-
dam has been justice of the peace for ten years, and he
has always been active in the political matters of the
county, while in educational affairs he is a warm
advocate of the high tax for long and good schools.
In religious persuasion he is identified, as also his wife,
with the Catholic church, and they attend in Palouse.
Mr. and Mrs. Sardam raised four children who were
her sister's. Mrs. C. W. Kimball, and they are named
as follows: Alice M., now Mrs. T. F. Russell,- of
North Dakota; Charles J., John C. and Gertrude Kv
all at home.
PETER PAULS. The land of the hardy Norse-
man has furnished the United States not only the true
discoverer of the western continent but many of our
best citizens, among whom must be mentioned the
706
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
estimable gentleman whose biography it is now our
pleasant privilege to transcribe. Mr. Pauls is one of
the substantial farmers of Latah county, as well as be-
ing one of the oldest pioneers, and at the present time
he is living on the original homestead that he took be-
fore Latah county had a separate existence, the same
having been increased to the generous dimensions of
three hundred and sixty acres of fertile soil. The
family home is on this estate, which is located three
miles' northeast from Genesee. Mr. Pauls has a fine
farm in every respect, good land, well cultivated, prop-
erly laid out: good buildings, plenty of stock, such as
horses and cattle, having especially fine horses and thir-
ty-five head of meat cattle, while everything about his
abode marks the thrift and wisdom and industry that
have been manifested by him in the years wherein he
has labored not only for "the accomplishment of the good
purpose of making a fine home, in which efforts he has
been eminently successful, but also for the amelioration
of the condition of his fellows, the building up of the
country, and the advancement of the interests of the
county.
Reverting more particularly to the personal his-
tory of our subject, we note that he was born on Aug-
ust' 7. 1848. to Nels and Truen (Nelson) Pauls, na-
tives' of Sweden, where also Peter was born. In their
country the parents spent their lives, and they now
sleep in the Vestre Kaups cemetery, there. At the
age of fifteen Peter started a sea faring life, and soon
he had experienced all the dangers, hardships and
freedom of a position before the mast. On one trip
he landed in San Francisco, and after a stay there he
came to the Columbia river, and thence in 1877 to the
territory now embraced in Latah county. He took
a homestead, as mentioned above, and then, fourteen
years later, bought one hundred and sixty-six acres
more of land adjoining, and this he has made into
one of the finest estates in the county.
In 1886 Mr. Pauls married Miss Emely, daughter
of Ole P. and Johanna Nelson, natives of Sweden,
and eight children have been born to them, as follows:
Arthur L., attending the normal school in Lewiston ;
Jarl T., Bror A.. Edward P., Halmer A.. Clarence R„
Erne! V. and Oscar F.
BIRT CROOKS. This enterprising and capable
agriculturist is one of the substantial men of his com-
munity and a faithful laborer for the advancement of
the interests of Latah county, where he has put forth
good efforts for a number of years. His farm of
three hundred and. twenty acres is situated about six
miles east from Palouse, and is well improved and one
of the good places of the vicinity. He is putting out
a good orchard, raises abundance of the cereals and
is one of the thrifty and capable men of our county.
In addition to his farm he handles land a mile east
from Palouse.
Mr. Crooks was born in Cattaraugus county, New
York, on August 23, 1865, being the son of Albert and
Miranda (Spalding) Crooks. The father was born in
January, 1841, and did valiant service in the Civil
war. The mother was a native of Cattaraugus county,
being born in 1845, and ner father was one of the
thrifty farmers of that section. Pirt was educated in
the public schools and at the age of sixteen years
started for himself, going to Pennsylvania, where he
labored in the mills for three years. Returning to
New York, he remained until 1889. working in the
mills, and then came west, landing first at Palouse. He
worked on the adjacent farms for two years, then took
the position of sawyer in the mills, and in 1891 se-
cured a homestead and pre-emption on Bear creek.
He bached there for two years and worked his place,
and then, on December 24. 1893, he took as wife Miss
Lithia J. Rudd, the wedding occurring at Princeton.
Mrs. Crooks' father, Bryant Rudd, is a farmer living
at the Cove, Latah county, and by his first wife. Sarah
I., there were born to him two children, — Mrs. Crooks.
and Charlie, deceased. Mrs. Crooks has the following
half-brothers : Albert Howell, Ed. Howell. Frank
Howell, James, Tamsy and Alexander Rudd. Mrs.
Crooks was born in Tipton county. Indiana, on Decem-
ber 20, 1876. Mr. Crooks' brothers and sisters are
named as follows : Ella : Cora, deceased : Riley, in
Idaho; Minnie; Lee, deceased: Lynn, Geniae, Lyman,
Lydia, all in New York who have not otherwise been
located. To Mr. and Mrs. Crooks have been born
two children, — Orville and Ployd. Mr. Crooks is a
member of the Masonic fraternity, Palouse Lodge, No.
47. In addition to his general farming as mentioned
he also handles a threshing machine in the fall of the
year, and is a skillful hand in this line.
JOHN H. HARRELD. About four miles east
from Palouse we come to the home of John H. Har-
reld, which is one of the finest in every particular that
is to be found in the county of Latah. The farm
is especially valuable on account of a meadow that
is subirrigated and produces abundant crops of fine
timothy, and also on account of the fertile fields and
extra good buildings that adorn and make the place
valuable. The residence is one of elegance, being a
structure of modern architectural design of nine rooms
and finished in the most desirable manner, while the
entire premises manifest the thrift, good judgment and
enterprise of the worthy owner.
Mr. Harreld is the son of Cyrus H. and Rebecca
( Dunn) Harreld, and was born in Marion, Grant coun-
ty, Indiana, on July 31, 1861. His father was born in
Pennsylvania in 1839 and in 1863 enlisted in the Union
army, and died in a hospital in North Carolina in
18(14. Our subject's mother was born near Marion.
Indiana, in 1841. and died in 1876. Her father, John
Dunn, was a native of Massachusetts, and during the
famine in Indiana he freely gave corn both to whites
and Indians. John H. was educated in the public
schools ami staid with his mother until her death, and
then went to live with an uncle, who removed to
Kansas in 1879, taking this nephew with him. When
our subject had arrived at the age of majority he went
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
707
to Puget Sound and there purchased land, which he
farmed until 1892. when he sold out and went on a
tour, landing in Latah county, and bought his present
farm. As stated above, it is subirrigated from the
Palouse river and is a very valuable piece of land.
Success has crowned the efforts of Air. Harreld on
account of his thrift and industry, and he is blessed
with a good competence, being one of the most sub-
stantial men of the community.
On September 10. i88y, at Puget Sound, Air. Har-
reld married Miss Alice, daughter of David and
Frances Fulk. and to them have been born three chil-
dren,— Burr. Howard and Lawrence, all at home. Airs.
Harreld was born near Fort Wayne. Indiana, on May
21, 1873, the other children of her father's family be-
ing: Delia, Minnie, Ad, George, Pearl, Nettie and
Puget. Mr. Harreld had one sister, Delia, wife of
Thaddeus Shaw, living near Alarion, Indiana. Air.
Harreld is a member of the W. of W. and of the Fra-
ternal Union of America, while he and his wife are
members of the Christian church at Palouse. Mr.
Harreld takes an active part in church work and has
served as member of the church board, where he does
efficient work, being also a liberal supporter of his
faith.
A. HEXRV R( >BERTS. A capable and upright
man, skilled in various callings in the industrial and
commercial world, in which he has had abundant suc-
cess, and possessed of those qualities of worth that
make the leading man. the subject of this sketch is
justly entitled to representation in this volume, and
we accord him such at this time. A. Henry Roberts
was born in Bloomington, Macon count)-, Alissouri,
«.n .March 4, 1850, being the son of Charles and Eliza
( Hull ) Roberts. The father was a farmer and died
when our subject was three years of age. Then in
company with his mother and brothers he was taken to
Shelby county, Iowa, where the family resided for ten
years, when another move was made, this time to
\\ ashington county, Kansas, where they remained for
three years, and then the mother died, in 1867. After
that sad occurrence he went to Iowa, whence a couple
of years later he went to Dallas, Texas, and from 1871
to 1873 he was engaged on the Texas Pacific railroad
there. After that service he returned to Iowa once
more, farmed a couple of years there and in 1875 came
west to Portland. Two years were spent there in a
shingle mill ; then in company with his brother, John, he
bought a steamboat, the Rescue, and one year they
operated it between Portland and Lewis river, then
they sold out and for a time thereafter he was acting
in the capacity of purser on the Gazelle, another boat
that ran from Portland. He also farmed for one vear
at about this time, and then he brought into requisition
his knowdedge as a carpenter and went to contracting
and until 1888 he was steadily engaged at that in Port-
land. In the year last mentioned he came to Latah
county, purchased forty acres where he now lives, four
miles west from Kendrick, and has devoted his time
and energies to fruit raising since that time. He has
added forty acres more to the land and he has a fine
orchard of twenty acres, and his farm is well improved.
In fraternal relations Air. Roberts is affiliated with
the W. of W., at Juliaetta, Lodge No. 203. He and
his wife are also members of the United Brethren
church on American ridge.
Air. Roberts was first married in 1880, August 22,
Aliss Samantha, daughter of Price and Alartha Fuller,
becoming his wife then, the nuptials occurring in Port-
land, and to them were born two children, — Odessia
and Ralph, both at home. In 1889 Air. Roberts was
called to mourn the death of his wife. On April 16,
1891, occurred the marriage of Air. Roberts and Miss
AJelinda. daughter of Charles and Christina Hicken-
bottom. and they have become the parents of four
children,— John, Ada, Daisy and Vinnie. Air. and
Mrs. Roberts were married in Glenco, Oregon. They
are highly respected people and stand well in the com-
munity, being enterprising and wise.
PALL SCHARBACH. The brawny Teutons built
from the wilderness of central Europe one of the
grandest empires now upon the face of the earth,
and many of the sons of this strong land have found
their way to the various sections of the United States,
and among the descendants of this number is to be
numbered the worthy subject of this article, who is
today one of the stanch citizens of Latah county, be-
ing a capable man, ever displaying integrity, indus-
try, and real worth of character. Paul was born in
Milwaukee county, Wisconsin, on January 25, 1863,
his parents, Joe and Appelona Scharbach, natives of
( iermany. having come thither in an early day and
then later transferred their residence to Oregon, where'
also they were called to pass the river of death. Our
subject came to the Web-foot state, having first re-
ceived an education from the country schools of his na-
tive county, landing in Alarion county in 1884. having
also been working out on a farm in Wisconsin since
his fifteenth year, thus being rugged and replete with
valuable experience in how to manage a farm. He
worked in Oregon, purchased a farm, tilled the same,
until 1887. then sold and went to one of the prairies
of the western part of the state, and then used his
right to take a homestead, which he improved, and
where he resided, raising stock and devoting himself to
general farming, until i8qS. This last date marks the
time of his advent into Latah county, where he first
rented a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. Some
vears later he rented two hundred and forty acres,
where he lives at this time, six miles north of Gene-
see. He raises abundant crops on this farm, has a
good holding of stock, is well-to-do in the line of all
necessary equipment for the farm and is one of the
progressive men of the county.
In 1887 ATr. Scharbach married Aliss Anna M.,
daughter of William and Henriette (Mellmann)
Baumgartner, and a native of Germany, as also her
parents were. The latter came to Alinnesota and in
188^ came to Latah countv. where thev live at this
70S
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
time. To our subject and his estimable wife there
have been born the following- chidren : Hubert P. N.,
Henriette T., Alfred W., Dora E., Matthew I. and
Caroline F. Mr. and Mrs. Scharbach are devout
members of the Roman Catholic church and are sub-
stantial members of society, being esteemed by all who
mav have the pleasure of their acquaintance.
WILLIAM BARTROFF. The sturdy and inde-
pendent nature that led our subject to break the re-
straints of the contracted conditions of the native land
has made his life one of success and enterprising labor
in this country, where he has prospered on account
of his wisdom and industry and skill, being also a man
of sound principles, and dominated with a sagacity that
is becoming, and possessed of a keen discrimination.
William was born in Bavaria. Germany, on April 8,
1842. being the son of John A. and Dora Bartroff, na-
tives also of that land. At the early age of fourteen
years he came from the old country to New York,
where he learned the carpenter trade, at which he
worked until the time of the Civil war, when he prompt-
ly manifested the devotion he possessed for his foster
land by enlisting in Company E, Forty-fifth New York
Volunteer Infantry. He was at Baltimore when the
mob occurred in 1861, and was at the second battle of
Bull Run, and also fought at the great struggle at
Gettysburg. Then he was transferred to the western
army and went to Atlanta with Sherman, and after
that returned to Nashville, being in Tennessee until
the end of the war. After an honorable discharge he
returned to New York, and in that city labored at his
trade until 1891. That was the year in which he came
to the west, locating in Latah county. He purchased
forty acres where he now lives, three and one-half
miles west from Kendrick. and here he has devoted his
energies mainly to raising fruit. He has fifteen acres
entirely given to fruit trees, and his annual return
from this orchard is good. He has good buildings
and his place is a model of thrift and industry.
Mr. Bartroff married Miss Emma, daughter of
Adolph and Terisa ( Barner ) Luger, in New York, on
May 10, 1870, and they have been blessed by the ad-
vent of five children, — John W., a miner at Republic ;
Clara, Lizzie, Mamie and Sophia; also Katie, who
died at the age of fifteen. Mr. Bartroff made a mili-
tary record that is a source of pride to him and his
family, rising from private to corporal, and later he
was sergeant in the Forty-fifth regiment.
ROBERT S. WHETSTINE. In a work of the
defined province of the history of Latah county there
should be accorded consideration to the gentleman
whose name is at the head of this article, and it is with
pleasure that we are enabled to grant this epitome
of his career. Robert S. was born in Washington
county, Iowa, on February 16, 1858, being the son
of John and Mary J. (Norman) Whetstine. The
father was a farmer and dwells at the old home place.
Our subject received a good education in the district
schools and remained with his father in the farm
work until eighteen years had elapsed, and then he
started in life for himself. He first came to Oregon,
where he remained for four years, visiting different
portions of the state, then in 1880 he came to the re-
gion now embraced in Latah county. He settled
north from Troy and engaged in saw milling for six
years, and most of the early houses built here were
from the output of this mill. In 1888 he sold out his
plant and bought the farm where he now resides, three
miles northwest from Kendrick, where he owns one
hundred and twenty acres. He does a general farm-
ing business and raises considerable fruit, having six
acres devoted to orchards.
The marriage of Mr. Whetstine and Miss Jennie,
daughter of George and Mary J. (Mooney) Price,
was solemnized on December 20, 1887, at Moscow.
Mr. and Mrs. Whetstine are upright and capable peo-
ple, well liked in the community and are leaders in
substantial qualities and virtues, while the}- are ever
on the side of progression in the affairs of the county
and those things which will benefit the people.
BARNEY BROEMMLING. This capable and
enterprising gentleman whose works in this county
have demonstrated him to be one of the substantial
and wise citizens and leading agriculturists, is emi-
nently deserving a representation in this volume, and
it is with pleasure that we accord such to him. Mr.
Broemmling was born in Albany, New York, whither
his parents came from Germany, their native country.
The date of this birth was July 8, 1853, ar>d tne Par_
ents, Rodger and Katherine (Bruntz) Broemmling,
soon removed from Albany to Kenosha, Wisconsin,
where the father bought and sold wood and ties for
five years, when they removed to Winneshiek county,
Iowa. Thirty-one years were spent there in farming
and raising stock, when another move was made, to
Latah count}-, and here the father died in 1896, seven
years after coming hither. His remains are interred
in the Catholic cemetery in Genesee. The mother is
still living in Genesee, with a daughter. 1853 was
the date when the parents came to America, and 1889
the time of the removal to Latah county. Our subject
was educated in the village schools in Winneshiek
county, Iowa, and there remained working with his
father until he had attained the age of twenty-seven,
when he determined to try the west, and accordingly
went to California in 1882. He was busied with
various avocations for a time, and then came north to
Whitman county, Washington, taking a homestead
and timber culture claims, which he soon sold, as the
drouth was too severe to permit of raising crops. He
came thence to Latah county, rented land for a time,
then bought eighty acres, after he was satisfied that
the country was good. For four years he farmed this
tract and then sold it to his brother and bought an
adjoining quarter section, where he still lives, six
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
709
miles northwest from Genesee. He has a good farm,
well tilled and finely improved. Mr. Broemmling
has demonstrated that he is a capable farmer, and
he enjoys annually bounteous crops. His brothers
and sisters are named as follows : Herman, married
and living in Genesee : John, married and living in
Genesee ; Gerhard, married and living adjoining the
farm of our subject; Katie, married to John Johann
and living in Genesee; Johanna, married to Pete John-
son, who is now deceased. Mr. Broemmling's broth-
er. Gerhard, came west with his parents in 1889,
bought the quarter section where he now lives, and
where he has since operated a first class farm. He
was married in 1804 to Mary Brachtendorf, a native of
Germain', and four children have been born to them :
Rodger, going to school : Lizzie, Regeana and Peter.
As is our subject, so this brother and his family are
strict adherents of the faith and belong to the Roman
Catholic church. Our subject and this brother are
closely allied in their work and dealings and have
wrought thus together for many years, and they are
both capable and upright men and valuable additions
to the society and citizenship of Latah county.
FRANK MAY. This gentleman has been a great
traveller, and consequently his career is filled with
many incidents of interest and covers a wide range
of information, of which he has taken great advantage.
Mr. May is a man of great capabilities, and has mani-
fested in a becoming manner his ability to gain the
wealth of this world. He came to this section of the
country, took a pre-emption, and with his own hands
improved it. He now is the proprietor of eight hun-
dred acres of fine soil, which he lays under tribute to
produce handsome dividends annually. Mr. May was
born in Port Washington. Wisconsin, on November
17, 1850, being the son of Peter and Mary (Mass)
May. The father was a farmer and our subject re-
mained with him until the age of sixteen, having ac-
quired meanwhile a good education from the district
schools, and then he started out for himself. He first
went to Waubeek, Wisconsin, and there learned the
trade of the shoemaker, in which he became very
proficient. With this as his capital he began a tour
of travels and investigation and before 187 1 he had
explored twenty-nine different states and territories.
At the date mentioned above he found himself in Al-
bany, Oregon, and there he remained for eight years,
or until 1878, when he again made a move, this time
to the fertile region now embraced in Latah county.
He came to the spot where his home now stands, and
pre-empted the place, and as stated above, the pre-
emption has increased to the princely domain of over
eight hundred acres of land. This is five miles north-
west from Kendrick. Fifteen acres are devoted to
fruits of various kinds, and the balance of the land
is given to the production of grains.
Mr. May married Miss Elvira, daughter of Mark
H. and Martha N. (Geer) Hobart. on August 20,
1882, in White Pine gulch, and they have become
the parents of three children, Archie A., Warren H.
and Dora G.. all at home. Mrs. May is a native of
Illinois, and her father was one of the early settlers
of this county. To Mr. May there is much credit due
for the faithful labors and wise counsels that have
emanated from him for the last quarter of a century
in his endeavors to assist in the upbuilding of this
section of the country, and he has been eminently
successful in all this as in the business enterprises that
have been the work of his hands.
FRANK CAMPBELL. The subject of this
article is one of the leading men of the county, a large
real estate holder, a capable and enterprising business
man and highly esteemed and popular throughout the
entire county, having held the office of sheriff for
two years subsequent to 1894, being elected on the
Populist ticket. In this position he gave efficient and
satisfactory service to all. Mr. Campbell has a farm
of four hundred acres three miles east from Palouse,
and has it well improved with good buildings, and as
fast as possible he is turning the entire estate into
the production of general crops, rather than farming
to wheat alone. For a number of years Mr. Campbell
has been a member of the school board, and he always
votes the highest tax for the assistance of the cause
of education.
The birth of Mr. Campbell occurred on May 3,
1842, in Sangamon county, Illinois, being the son of
Robert and Mary (Hill) Campbell. The father was
a blacksmith and farmer, born in South Carolina on
January I, 1 800, while the mother was a native of
North Carolina, born in Cabarrus county. He re-
mained with his parents until 1866, and then went to
Wilson county. Kansas, and the following year his
parents came there also. He took one claim and gave
it to his brother and then secured a farm which he
tilled until 1889, when he sold out, chartered a car
and brought his goods to the west. He landed at
Pullman, then went to Palouse, renting a farm for
one year, and then in the fall bought his present place,
and has lived here ever since.
The marriage of Mr. Campbell and Miss Kate,
daughter of Richard Bradley, a farmer of Kansas,
was solemnized on October 27, 1869, and in 1876 Mrs.
Campbell was called to pass away, leaving the follow-
ing children: George, married to Minnie Berry and
living in Latah county; Mary, deceased. On March
12, 1878, Mr. Campbell contracted a second mar-
riage, the lady being Miss Millie, daughter of James
C. "Hall, a merchant at Springfield, Illinois, and to
them there has been born one son, Walter, working
on the farm. Mr. Campbell has the following broth-
ers and sisters: Samuel, deceased; Wiley, at Pull-
man: Nancy J., married to W. Williamson, and liv-
ing in Kansas; Green L.. deceased; James H. lives
in Kansas; John H. and Robert C. twins, both of
whom are dead. Mrs. Campbell's brothers and sis-
7io
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ters are named thus: Henry, John. James. Walter,
Albert, Charles B., Cora, Clark. Mary and Lizzie.
Mrs. Campbell was brim in Sangamon count}', Illi-
nois, on May 26, 1844. At the time of the Civil
war Mr. Campbell enlisted in Company A, Tenth
Illinois Cavalry, on August 16, 1862. He did some
hard fighting, "was at the siege of Vicksburg, went on
the Louisiana raids, was on the Little Rock cam-
paign, and in June. 1865, he was mustered out at Xew
Orleans, having the satisfaction that he had faithfully
served his country, made a fine record and had as-
sisted to stem the tide of treason. Mr. Campbell
is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Palouse Lodge,
No. 47. where he is as popular as in his standing
throughout the county.
LEWIS SISK is one of the earliest pioneers of
Latah county, coming here in 1877, and locating, on
J11K 25 of that year, a pre-emption, and later he added
another quarter section by the homestead right, where
he now lives, ami the home place is one-half section
of very valuable land, well improved with good resi-
dence, barns and out buildings and orchards, and all
accessories that make a rural abode a place of comfort
and valuable dividend producer. In addition to this
half section Mr. Sisk has enough valuable land to
make eight hundred acres, which he oversees and han-
dles himself. He is one of the heaviest land owners
of the entire country, and his wisdom and careful
management make him a man to whom his neighbors
look for advice and in whom they confide.
Alexander Sisk, a farmer and stockman, born
near Newport. Tennessee, in 1828, married Miss Mary
Netherton, born at the same place in 1833, whose
father, James Netherton, was a Tennesseean, and oc-
cupied in stock raising and farming. To them wras
born our subject on October 14, 1833, also near New-
port, Tennessee, and James P.. married and living
in Latah county ; Joan, deceased ; Lafayette, deceased ;
Andrew, living at Newport. Tennessee, on the old
homestead: Cordelia, deceased. Our subject remained
at home until 1875. attending school, then went to
southern Oregon, and engaged in farming near Oak-
land, and from that place he came to Latah county as
stated. When he came here one could ride many
miles without seeing even a log cabin, and now the
portion of Latah count}- where he lives is equal to
the best.
On June 4, 1884. Mr. Sisk married Miss Cora
M., daughter of Calvin and Cassandria (Whitaker)
Morton, distant relatives of Levi P. Morton. Mrs.
Sisk is a native of Wisconsin, born June, 1864, and
the other children in the family are: Clara, wife of
William McCune, living in Spokane: Ellen, wife 01
A. White, and living in Pullman ; Calvin, living in
Pullman. To Mr. and Mrs. Sisk there have been
born the following children : Delia I., deceased ; Nellie
M., deceased; Allen, deceased: Stella, at home; Lewis,
deceased; Alexander, at home. Mr. Sisk is a member
of the .Masons. Palouse Lodge, No. 46. In political
matters he has been active, and in old Nez Perces
county he was deputy sheriff for six years. He is
at present a member of the school board and takes
great interest in the advancement of the cause of edu-
cation, while in every respect he is an exemplary
citizen.
AU< iUST BECKMAN. This gentleman is one of
Latah county's well known and capable men, having
demonstrated here as well as elsewhere his ability to
cope successfully with the forces of the world and
bring success as the reward of his faithful and wisely
bestowed labors, while also he has been a potent
factor in the upbuilding of the county. Mr. Beckman
is a native of Ontario, Canada, where he was born,
October 22. 1852. being the son of John and Wil-
helmina ( Gergus ) Beckman, natives of Germany, and
coming to this country in 184S and 1849, respectively.
Our subject received a good education from the ex-
cellent schools of Ontario, and in 1 87 1 was permitted
by a wise father to try for himself in the affairs of
life. He worked in the lumber woods for a time,
about seven years, and then had accumulated sufficient
to purchase a farm, which he did, got married, and
settled down to build a good home. This he accom-
plished, and in 1 88 1 his residence and all he had were
consumed in a conflagration. Such a catastrophe
would have overwhelmed a more irresolute spirit,
but our subject was not to be daunted thus, and so
he soon sold his farm and came to Dakota, and for
seven years he farmed there, then rented his farm
and came to Oregon, settling in the Willamette valley,
and went thence one year later to eastern Oregon,
where he remained for two years, and then in 1893
he came to Latah county. He rented a half section
for about four years, and then bought a quarter, where
he now lives, five miles east from Genesee. He has a
good farm, a nice orchard, comfortable improvements,
and is displaying excellent abilty in handling the
same. Mr. Beckman has forty head of neat cattle,
fifty hogs, and horses sufficient to handle the entire
estate.
In 1878 occurred the marriage of Mi-. Beckman
and Miss Emma, daughter of John and Dor-
othy (Stetck) Dibbem. natives of Germany, but im-
migrants to Ontario, where the father died in 1882,
and the mother was called hence in 1888. Our sub-
ject and his wife have seven children: Albert F.,
William H., Emma O.. Clarence ().. Emil A., Ruben
D. and Clara M.
In the political world Mr. Beckman has alwavs
been active and displayed the intelligence that be-
comes the patriotic citizen. He was appointed assessor
in 1884 in North Dakota, serving two years, and in
1886 he was elected county commissioner on the in-
dependent ticket, then later was appointed justice of
the peace, was a member of the school board, and also
111 this county he has filled that office for three years.
He is a member of the W. of W., while he and his
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
7".
familv are members of the German Lutheran church.
Mr. Beckman is a capable and wide awake business
man, a good citizen, and always displays integrity and
force of character.
LEWIS MICHELSON is one of the younger
men of Latah county, which class have infused new
life and energy into the channels of development and
progress throughout the entire county and have nobly
done the part "of the work that has fallen to them
from the older and earlier pioneers of this favored
section. He is one of the substantial farmers of the
county, living at the present time on a ranch six
miles north from Genesee, where he manifests that
commendable zeal and vigor and wisdom that have
stamped him as one of the leading tillers of the soil
in the section. He produces as high as seven thousand
bushels of wheat in one year, has plenty of horses
and cattle to stock the farm, and is prosperous and
well liked in his community.
The birth of our subject occurred in Kallunbarg,
Denmark, on July 14, 1872, being the son of Chris-
tian and Sophy (Anderson) Michelson. The father
was an educator in his native land, and there they
reside at the present time. Our subject was well
educated in the village schools, and at the age of nine-
teen bade farewell to parents, associates and native
land and embarked for the land of the setting sun.
He had an uncle in Latah county and he naturally
came thither. For the first few years he worked for
the farmers and then bought a team and for three
years was diligent in freighting and then he rented
the farm where he is now living, as mentioned above.
The ranch contains two hundred and forty acres, ami
is handled in a commendable manner, which accounts
for the abundant returns in crops.
In 1895 Air. Michelson married Miss Mary, daugh-
ter of Peter and Marie (Johanson) Gerther, natives
of Denmark, where the mother died in 1899, but
the father is still living. To our subject and his
esteemed wife there have been born three children,
Roy, Marie L., and Sophie. Mr. Michelson is a
member of the M. W. A., while he and his wife
affiliate with the Lutheran church. Among the younger
men of Latah county there are none that surpass our
subject in thrift, wise management and careful in-
dustry, and the results are apparent in the goodly
holding that he has accumulated as a direct result of
this enterprise, and he is justly numbered with the
leading men of his section.
JOHN I. ANDERSON. About six and one-half
miles east from Palouse we find the fine farm of the
subject of this sketch. The estate consists of two
hundred and forty acres of valuable land, which he
settled upon in 1878, it then being raw timber and
prairie land, and by the industrious labors and careful
management of Mr. Anderson this has been trans-
formed to a beautiful farm, well improved aim pro-
ductive. Mr. Anderson believes that wheat is the
staple of this section, still he rotates his crops and
raises stock, and has a fine orchard.
Mr. Anderson's father was James L., a fanner in
Cumberland county, Kentucky, and born in 1X28.
being the son of James C, a Virginian, and he mar-
tied Miss Martha Ross, who was born in Kentucky
in 1829. Miss Ross's parents were Martin ami Betsey
(Winfrey) Ross, and the father was a farmer To
this marriage were born A. A. Anderson; Martin,
deceased ; James, deceased ; Fannie, wife of L. C.
Roberts, in Pierce City, Idaho ; and our subject, who
was born in Cumberland county, Kentucky, 1 m No-
vember 4, 1857. He came with his parents to Kansas
in 1868, returning again to Kentucky, and in 1869
migrating again to Kansas, settling at Abilene. Dick-
inson county. The father took up farming there and
died in 1873. Our subject received his education there
and also spent considerable time in hunting buffalo,
securing many. In 1877 he started across the plains,
the journey beginning in the early part of May and
continuing for five months. He was in company with
his brother A. A., and the first winter was spent in
Walla Walla, and the following spring he took the
land above described. His faithful labors here and his
steady endeavors for the upbuilding of the county's
interests have justly entitled him to the i>!ace of one
of the real builders of this county.
On October 20. 1886, in Latah county, the mar-
riage of Mr. Anderson and Miss Pell, (laughter of
Enoch and Matilda ( Gordy ) Reeves, was solemnized
and they have become the parents of the following
children : Eva, Fay and Flossie, twins, all at home
attending school. Airs. Anderson's parents were
farmers, her mother being a native of Ohio, and their
children are named below, Mrs. Anderson, born near
Toronto, Kansas, in 1867: Enoch, married and living
at Peck, Idaho ; Anna, deceased ; Ora, at home with her
parents, who live in Latah county. Mr. Anderson
is always actively interested in politics, being allied
with the socialistc teachings, and in the matter of
educational progress he shows zeal and great interest.
He is one of the capable and faithful citizens of our
county and is justly deserving of the esteem and
confidence of the people, which he generously receives.
MARTIN V. TIP (MAS. There is real and proper
admiration for the man who can take hold with his
bands and by genuine wisdom and industry work out
a fortune for himself from the raw resources of na-
ture, as has done the subject of this sketch, who is
one of Latah's heaviest property owners, having over
eight hundred acres of fertile farm land in the vicin-
itv of American ridge, about four miles west from the
town of Kendrick. It is interesting to note the per-
sonal history of such a man, and we turn to that
chapter in his career. He was born in Yancey county,
712
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
North Carolina, on January 12, 1854, being the son
of Nathan and Obedience (Forbes) Thomas. The
father was a farmer there and in 1865 he came with
his family to Kentucky, settling near Barboursville,
in Knox county. Four years later the family removed
to Howell county, Missouri, settling near West Plains.
There our subject remained until 1877, when he came
to Idaho and pre-empted a piece of government land
five miles west from Genesee, also taking a timber
culture claim. In 1888 he sold that land and bought
a half section on American ridge, to which he has
added until he has a mammoth estate, as mentioned
above. He gave his personal attention to the im-
provement and cultivation of this fine body of land
until the fall of 1900, when he removed to Kendrick
with his family in order to school his children. Since
that time he has leased the land and oversees the
property. He has thirty acres of orchard and his
farms are well improved. Mr. Thomas has a fine
residence in Kendrick and there the family abide at
ihe present time.
The marriage of Mr. Thomas and Miss Lucy E..
daughter of John and Sarah (Zumwalt) Lemons, was
solemnized at Moscow on February 14, 1888, and
they have become the parents of three children, as
follows : Walker, Elsie, and the baby not yet named.
In earlier days Mr. Thomas gave much attention
to buying and selling cattle, and has dealt much in
all kinds of stock, but at the present time he does
not devote so much time to this industry. He is one
of the wise, enterprising and substantial men of the
county, and is secure in the esteem and confidence
of all'
CHARLEY J. SCHARNHORST. Without per-
adventure there are within the borders of Latah county
some of the finest farmers that can be found any-
where, which demonstrates both the excellency of the
country and the ability of these indivduals, and among
this worthy class must be mentioned prominently the
subject of this article. Although a young man, still
there is no doubt in the mind of any one who will
look over his fine estate that Mr. Scharnhorst is one
of the most thrifty, careful, judicious and enterprising
agriculturists and stockmen that are to be found.
Charlev J. was born in, Keokuk county, Iowa, on
October 13, 1871, being the son of Christian and
Frederica (Neighbour) Scharnhorst, natives of Ger-
many, who came to this country in 1862, locating in
Iowa, whence ten years later they went to Kansas,
where one year was spent, and then another move
was made to Oregon, 'and settlement made in Eugene,
whence they came to Latah county, where they reside
on a fine farm now. Our subject received his school-
ing from the districts of Latah county and the wise
training of a sagacious father in the art of agriculture
and thrift. He remained with his father for twenty-
three years, and then was presented by the generous
parent with a fine large farm, which he added to
until it is of the broad proportions of four hundred
and ten acres, and lies five and one-half miles west
from Genesee. The estate is provided with an elegant
residence, commodious barns and all needed out build-
ings, and is most carefully attended and skillfully
handled. A fine orchard also beautifies the premises
and provides fruit for use. Plenty of stock for use
are at hand, the fields all fenced and cross-fenced,
and all presents one beautiful picture of prosperity
and thrift and happiness.
In 1895 occurred the marriage of Mr. Scharn-
horst and Miss Mary G., daughter of John and Mar-
p-iret (Brandt) Bottjer, and a native of Germany.
The parents of Mrs. Scharnhorst were also natives
of Germany, and the father was a sailor. Eight chil-
dren were born to them : Mary C. Louise, William
J., Henry G., Johanna J., Margaret C. Henriette
A., and Johan H. Mr. Scharnhorst is an active par-
ticipant in the realm of politics and there as every-
where he is characterized by display of the same
sagacity, keenness of perception, wealth of resource,
and thoroughness in execution that have brought him
his unbounded success. He and his wife are mem-
bers of the Lutheran church, and they are generous
supporters of the faith and lead an exemplary life in
all their walk, being highly esteemed and respected.
HORACE E. GILBERT. We are pleased to grant
to Mr. Gilbert a representation in the history of Latah
county since he is one of the real builders of the county ;
being a man whose life here has always been spent in
laboring for the advancement of the county's interest,
and having displayed great sagacity and enterprise
in these labors, much credit is due him for the bene-
fit that has accrued from his efforts, and while this is
true it is no less true that he is possessed of the happy
qualities of worth, affability, uprightness, and integrity
that find pleasant exemplification in his daily walk. He
was born in Bremer county, Iowa, on January 25,
1858, being the son of John S. and Maria S. Gilbert,
farmers. He remained at home until twenty and then
set out to seek his fortune in the west. He came via
the Union Pacific to San Francisco and thence by
ocean steamer to Portland and soon he was in Junct-
ion City in the Willamette valley, where a few months
were spent, when he came to Moscow. He soon se-
lected a homestead near where he now lives and set
to work to improve it in good shape. In 1891 he
traded that place and $r8oo for the farm where he now
lives, three miles northeast from Moscow. His
present farm is one of the finest kept estates in the
county of Latah, an air of thrift and business enter-
prise being patent everywhere. He has a nine-room
residence of modern architectural design and tastily
kept, is building a large barn, has some fine herds,
and everything that would make a rural home profi-
table and comfortable. Mr. Gilbert has one hundred
and two acres set to timothy and intends to put the
balance of the home quarter to clover. He takes great
interest in the production of grasses, and also has a
HORACE E. GILBERT.
HON. CHARLES J. MUNSUN.
WILLIAM M. FRAZIER.
JOHN FREEZE.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
7i3
fine large orchard. In addition to this farm Mr.
Gilbert possesses as much more land about one and
one-half miles north from the home place.
October 12, 1886, was the date of the happy oc-
casion when Mr. Gilbert took to himself Miss Florence,
daughter of Lewis and Sarah Miller, as wife, and to
this union have been born Jessie, deceased, and Eva,
rive years of age. .Mrs. Gilbert's father was a promi-
nent citizen in his home county in Illinois, being
justice of the peace and county commissioner for years.
His great work in life was along the lines of church
work, being allied with the Baptist denomination. He
was a real philanthropist and spent much time and
money in assisting the poor. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert
are members of the Baptist church, affiliating with the
Moscow congregation, and they are faithful in the
support of the gospel. In the person of Mrs. Gilbert
we have a lady of true devotion and dominated by a
gracious spirit, being given to hospitality and mani-
festing a refined dignity in presiding over her house-
hold. Mr. Gilbert is one of the up-to-date men of the
county, active and prudent in business, far sighted in
matters of importance and withal thrift}- and careful
in all his enterprises.
HON. CHARLES J. MUNSON. Like so many
of the successful business men of Latah county, the
subject of this sketch was born on a farm, reared amid
its healthful exercises, gaining his education from the
public schools. When man's estate arrived he was
well fortified in bodily vigor and mental training to
take up for himself the duties of life. His parents
were Peter and Mary Munson, natives of Sweden, and
he was born in Attica, Fountain county. Indiana, on
August 14, 1861. When nineteen years of age he
struck out into the western world, landing first at the
Rockies in Colorado, where he mined for two years,
then prospected in Utah and later in Butte, Montana,
whence, in 1883, he came to the Coeur d'Alene
country. The year following found him in Latah
county and in 1890 he purchased the farm where he
now resides, four miles east from Moscow. The
estate is well kept, consists of one hundred and sixty
acres, and is the home place of the family. In 1898
Mr. Munson was nominated on the Republican ticket
for representative to the state legislature and promptly
elected, and in that body he acted on the ways and
means committee, and also on the committee on roads,
bridges, and ferries. So faithful and efficient was the
labor performed, that at the expiration of this term,
he was electee! by an appreciative constituency to
serve another term, and this time he acted on the com-
mittee on public bridges and had to do with the special
road tax on real estate. Mr. Munson made a com-
mendable record in the fifth and sixth legislatures of
the state.
On December 28. 1890. Mr. Munson married Miss
Clemma E. Roadruck, and they have become the par-
ents of four children : Oscar C, Vivien O., Goldie E.
and Burton L. Mr. Munson is affiliated with the I.
O. U. F., Lodge No. 31, of Moscow, and is popular
among his associates as well as throughout the coun-
ty, having in his long residence here manifested stanch
qualities of worth and uprightness, and showed excel-
lent wisdom in the affairs of life and commendable
skill in the management of business.
Mr. Munson has always been a warm friend of
the cause of education and he has labored faithfully
for its advancement. The State University has been
the recipient of much favor from him and through his
efforts the appropriation lias been more than trebled.
WILLIAM M. FRAZIER is one of the oldest
pioneers of Latah county, an esteemed citizen, a promi-
nent and capable man, and one of the substantial and
well to do farmers and stockmen of this section and
is eminently fitted for representation in the history of
his county.
Entering at once into the details of his life's career,
we note that he was born in Jackson, Cape Girardeau
county, Missouri, on June 27. 1844. being the son of
Peter and Lucinda ( Providence) Frazier, now of
Sacramento, California. While an infant he was taken
by his parents to Grundy county. Missouri, where he
went to school in the winter and toiled on the farm
in the summers. At the age of nineteen he was ready
to start for himself and for three years he worked on
adjacent farms and then joined his fortune with an
ox train and began the weary journey toward the
Pacific coast. He brought mule teams with him and
settled in eastern Oregon, taking a claim. For five
years he worked there, then spent one year in Cali-
fornia and then came to Moscow, arriving here on
May 5, 1871, taking the place where he resides to-
day, about three miles northeast from Moscow. He
devoted himself to farming and raising stock and suc-
cess attended his efforts from the start. He pur-
chased a half section in 1885. and sold a quarter in
1901, still having a half section, well improved and
producing abundant crops.
In 1864 Mr. Frazier married Miss Lucinda, daugh-
ter of Henry and Sarah (Collins) Warmoth, and two
children were born to them : John S., married and
living near Moscow ; Annie, wife of Homer E. Burr,
and living four miles northeast from Moscow. In
1869 Mrs. Frazier was called away by death.
In 1876 Mr. Frazier contracted a second marriage,
the lady then becoming his wife being Mrs. Elizabeth
P. Dilman, widow of William Dilman, and she had
one child, Sarah, by her first husband. To our sub-
ject and this wife there have been born eleven children,
nine of whom are living, as follows: Ada M., wife of
Amos R. Greer, living near Moscow; William F.,
married and living near Moscow; Daisy M., wife of
George Collins, living near Moscow; Effie, with par-
ents; Marion M. ; Edna; Charles L. : Harry: Olive.
The last five named are attending school. At the
time of the division of Latah county from Nez Perces,
Mr. Frazier was appointed one of the commissioners
to effect this. He has for years been a member of the
714
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
A. O. U. W. and in religious persuasion, he is affili-
ated with the Adventist church. .Mr. Frazier is richly
deserving of great credit for the commendable and
sagacious manner in which he has walked in the years
of his labors here and he receives the confidence and
esteem of all.
JOHN FREEZE. To the labors of such worthy
pioneers as the subject of this article, Latah county
ows her present prosperity and prominent position
among her sister counties of the state and it is with
pleasure that we embody a brief resume of his life
in the volume of his county's history. Mr. Freeze was
born in Rowan county, North Carolina, on May 4,
1828, being the son of Caleb and Polly (Willhelm)
Freeze. The father was a tanner and farmer and a
native of the home county. The mother was the
daughter of Louis Willhelm, a cooper and farmer.
Our subject remained with his parents until he was
thirty years of age and then started for himself. He
was educated in the subscription schools, the public
schools not being introduced until he was a man, and
then he assisted to lay out the districts of his county.
He moved to Arkansas soon after 1858, living in both
the southern and northern portion of the state. In
1873 he sold his interests there and came overland with
a train of twelve outfits of friends and relatives to
Walla Walla, falling in by the way with the train of
David Notman, a near neighbor now. On August 3,
1873, they camped at Walla Walla and Mr. Freeze
went to vacant land near Waitsburg, Washington, and
farmed for three years, when he sold out and went to
Deep creek, then Nez Perces county, having explored
the country the year previous. In April, of the Cen-
tennial year, he took his present place in the vicinity of
Freeze postoffice. He has a farm of one hundred and
sixty acres well improved. When he settled, Walla
Walla was the trading post and one week was con-
sumed to travel the one hundred and ten miles and re-
turn. He assisted to erect the forts in 1877 and 1878
and when they were done, the Indians retired and the
people went to their homes.
In 1849, while in North Carolina, Mr. Freeze mar-
ried Miss Elizabeth Lipe, and six children were born
to them, three of whom are living and named as fol-
lows : Sarah. Calvin, Michael. Mr. Freeze was mar-
ried a second time. Miss Polly Lipe becoming his
wife on that occasion, and she died in Arkansas in
1891. having left no children. On September 7, 1892.
Mr. Freeze went to the sacred altar for the third time,
this time leading Mrs. Addie (Woodard) Bates,
widow of John Bates. This lady had two children by
her former husband ; they are Willard, who died in
Ohio, in 1895, and Estella. wife of A. M. Grinnell,
now living at Washington, Michigan. Mr. Willard
Woodard. father of Mrs. .Freeze, was born near
Montreal and her mother, Mona Woodard, was born in
New York, while her birthplace was Romeo, Michi-
gan, and the date 1841, and 1884 was the time when
she came to this state. Mr. Freeze is a member of the
Lutheran church, while his wife affiliates with the
Methodist. He is a member of the Farmers Club and
also of the school board, having served in this latter
capacity for a number of years. He was on the first
school board of his district.
SAMUEL P. CALLlSi >N. This well known
gentleman and enterprising ariculturist of Latah coun-
ty is one of the men whose skill and industry have
given to him a goodly competence, so that he is justi-
fied in retiring from the more active parts of business
and giving himself to the oversight of his property.
He has a comfortable home in Kendrick. a farm of
two hundred and forty acres on American ridge, four
miles west from Kendrick, besides other property.
Mr. Callison was born in Adair county, Missouri, on
January 11, 1850. being the son of John and Mary
(Page) Callison, and one of eighteen children, nine
of whom are living. The father was one the earliest
settlers in Adair county and built the first frame house
in Kirksville, the county seat of Adair county. He
was the proprietor of a fine, large farm, and he and
three of his sons fought in the Civil war. The first
seventeen years of our subject were spent at the home
place in the acquisition of a good education and in
learning the art of agriculture, then he journeyed to
Hancock county, where he lived with an uncle for
.mx years. Then he went to Elk county, Kansas, took
a pre-emption and tilled it for six years ; after that time
he removed to Linn county, the same state, and spent
eight years in ranching there. 1888 is the date when
he came to Idaho and he at once purchased a ranch
of one-quarter section, where his farm is now. and
settled there until 1900, when he removed to Ken-
drick, where he resides at the present time. His farm
is one of the well tilled estates of the section, is a
fertile piece of land and is well improved, having
about twelve acres of orchard.
Mr. Callison is a member of the I. O. O. F., Lodge
No. 2,7- at Kendrick, also of the encampment at the
same place, and of the Rebekahs. The marriage of Mr.
Callison and Miss Louisa, daughter of James J. and
Margaret Rush, was celebrated in 1850, August 6,
near Racine, Linn county, Kansas. Mrs. Callison
was born in Kentucky, and her parents removed to
Kansas, where she was married. Two children have
been born to our worthy subject ami his wife. Olive,
wife of Frank W. Roberts, living on one of her father's
farms; Benjamin, married to .Minnie Thomas, living
on his father's farm.
ALMARIXE A. ANDERSON. This leading and
enterprising farmer is one of the heavy property own-
ers of Latah county, owning at the present a fine es-
tate of five hundred and twenty acres, having also
sold a quarter section recently. 'His estate lies" eight
miles east from Palouse. and' is partly rented and all
well improved. He is about to erect a commodious
barn, and his enterprise and industry with wise man-
agement have gained him the reward that becomes-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
7i5
thrift and has placed his name among the prominent
men of the county. Entering more especially into
ancestral details we note that our subject's paternal
grandfather, James C. Anderson, was a Virginian,
and his sun, James S., the father of our subject, was
born in 1828. was lieutenant in the army, and married
Miss Martha A. Ross, the daughter of Martin Ross,
a farmer and stockman in Kentucky, whose wife was
Miss Betsey Winfreg. Their daughter, Martha A.,
was born in Kentucky in 1829. To the marriage
ol" James S. Anderson and Martha A. Ross, were born
the following children : Almarine A. Anderson, the
subject of this sketch, born December 28, 1849, m
Cumberland county, Kentucky; Martin P.; James S. :
John I. ; Fannie B. Our subject's parents removed
"from Kentucky to Kansas in 1868, returned to the
Blue Grass State and settled on Green river in a short
time, only to go back to Kansas in 1869. this time
settling in Abilene, Dickinson county. There they
farmed, and there the father died in 1873. Almarine
A. worked for himself until 1877 and then started
for the great northwest on May 3, and landed in Latah
county on October 8, making the trip with team-, lie
took a' homestead which forms a part of his present
estate and continuously he has resided here since.
The marriage of Mr. Anderson and Mrs. Cordelia
(Williams) Michaels, daughter of Edward and Jane
(Craig) Williams, was solemnized on March 7, 1874,
at Fredonia, Kansas. Mr. Williams was a native of
Tennessee, born in 1815, and was a carpenter. Mrs.
Williams was also a native of Tennessee, being born
in 18 1 7. Mrs. Anderson was born in Illinois, near
Hillsborough, and her brothers and sisters are named
as follows : Thomas. Alfred, William, Robert X.,
Nelson, John M., Nancy J.. James F., Edward P.,
Allen N., and Almeda. To our worthy subject and
his estimable wife there have been born the following
issue : Ona, wife of Charles E. Ferry, and living on
the Nez Perces reservation: John F., at home; Fannie
J., deceased ; Martin A. Mr. Anderson is a member
of the school board and has been for a number of years
and his policy is always to vote the highest tax for
the advancement of educational interests. In the gen-
eral welfare of the country he always manifests com-
mendable zeal and is foremost in advancement and
good government.
STEPHEN A. BOWERS. This well known and
representative agriculturist and patriotic citizen is one
of the early settlers of the territory now embraced
in Latah county, and his labors here for the general
progress and development have been faithful and de-
serving of much credit. Stephen A. was born near
Watseka, Illinois, on December 21, 1858. being the
son of John and Phebe Bowers. The father was a
native of Maryland, born in 1808, and a farmer and
stockman of Illinois. The mother died when our sub-
ject was one month old, and the other members of the
family are as follows : Caroline, wife of Martin Fos-
ter, of Latah county ; Sylvester, government • agent
among the Indians, and also a soldier against the
savages, and now drawing a stipend from the gov-
ernment for his faithful and valuable services. Our
subject remained in Illinois until twenty-one years
had elapsed since his birth, having also taken care of
himself from the age of sixteen years, his father dying
at that time. By a former marriage of his father our
subject had the following half-brothers: Jacob. John,
William, Charles, all soldiers in the Civil war". In
[879 \lr. 1 lowers came west and took a pre-emption
in Latah county, and in 1881 he went to the Snake
river country and took a homestead, but one year
later he sold it and returned to the farm in this county.
He remained on this until 1896, when he sold it and
bought his present farm of one hundred and sixty-
acres, which lies six miles east from Palouse. Mr.
Bowers pays much attention to raising hogs and gen-
eral farming and gains abundant success in these
lines.
In August. 1877, Mr. Bowers married Miss Julia
Davis, daughter of Henry and Mary Davis, farmers of
Illinois. The wedding occurred in Illinois. In the
same state also Mrs. Bowers was born on April 25,
1859, and there she gained a good education. The
other children in her father's family were Mary, wife
of Henry Hickman, and living in the Snake river
country ; George, married to Sarah Hickman, daugh-
ter of Richard Hickman, and living on the Snake
river; Carrie, deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Bowers
there have been born the following children: George,
married to Lizzie Craig, and living at Myers Falls :
Walter, Jesse. Claude, Cora, and Nellie, at home.
Mr. Bowers is a member of the W. of W., at Palouse.
He takes a great interest in educational matters, hav-
ing served on the school board for many years. Mrs.
Bowers is now a member of the board. She is also
a member of the Christian church. They are both
upright and highly esteemed people, and much credit
is due their enterprising labors for the welfare of the
communitv and countv in sfeneral.
LILES A. HOPKINS is one of the sturdy pio-
neers who have made Latah county prosperous and
wealthy. He came here in an early day when settlers
were few and the wilds of nature were unbroken.
1876 was the year when his conveyances brought his
family from Kansas to where Pullman. Washington,
now stands, and the following spring he hunted out
a homestead and settled upon it, having been living
on the same place ever since, it being four and one-
half miles east from Palouse. He has given his atten-
tion to both stock raising and farming. He has a
fine bunch of stock at the present time, but had the
great misfortune to lose forty-five brood mares in
Montana last year. His farm is half in timothy and
the remainder raises oats and wheat.
Reverting more to the personal history of Mr.
Hopkins, we notice that he is a native of Missouri,
7i6
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
being born in Phelps county, on May 8, 1843, to Eh
and Susan M. (Dodd) Hopkins, the father a native of
North Carolina, and having two sisters and three
brothers. Andrew, Liles and Sandy. The mother of
our subject was born in Tennessee, near Knoxville,
whose brothers and sisters are named as follows : Rob-
ert Monroe, Caroline, Mary, and Louise, and whose
mother was born in Wales. Our subject was taken
by his parents to Lafayette county when six years of
age and remained there for five years, then removed
to Shawnee county, five miles east from Topeka,
Kansas, and here 'he attended school at Tecumseh.
He remained with his parents until he was of age,
and then bought a farm for himself, which he sold
in 1867 and removed to Chautauqua, where he bought
land and settled down to raising stock, but on account
of losing valuable Shorthorns by the Texas fever, he
sold this property also and started across the plains as
mentioned above.
The marriage of Mr. Hopkins and Miss Olive J.,
daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Jones) Smith.
natives of Tennessee, was solemnized on September
8, 1864. The father was an Indian trader, and his
children, the brothers and sisters of Mrs. Hopkins,
are named as follows: Clarinda, wife of Wm. Bar-
low, and living in Joplin, Missouri ; Elizabeth, wife of
M. Tunnel, deceased; George, deceased; John B.,
whose address they have lost; Samuel, married and
living in Joplin, Missouri. The brothers and sisters
of our subject are also named as follows : Josiah
T.. at Rossville, Kansas; Elisha, deceased; George,
deceased ; Sarah E., wife of W. M. Ingham, of Hutch-
inson, Kansas; Polly L., wife of George Allen, in
Cuba; Susan M., wife of Nesbith Elmore, in Kansas;
Anna, wife of Mr. Mix, living near Tecumseh, Kansas.
To Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins have been born the follow-
ing children: Charles M., in Spokane; Thomas, in
Spokane; William, deceased} Eli, married to Etta
Billows, in Latah county; Liles, living in Latah
county ; Arthur, at home ; Marion, at home ; Cheyenne
W., wife of Calvin Gallop, in Palouse ; Bessie, wife of
Roy Wallace, in Latah county. Mr. Hopkins is one
of the leaders in the stock business and is one of the
substantial men of the county, having conducted his
business in a commendable manner with the crown
of success deservedly his at this time.
GEORGE H. BRILLHART. On American ridge,
three miles from Kendrick. is the farm and home of
the subject of this article. Mr. Brillhart has been one
of the faithful laborers of this part of Latah county,
not only devoting his attention to general farming,
but also has built most of the farm houses in this
section of the county. The birth of George H. was
on November 27, 1844, in Coshocton county, Ohio,
being the son of John and Jane (Hall) Brillhart,
natives of Pennsylvania. The father was a farmer and
cur subject was drilled in the agricultural art and in
the schools of his section until 1863, when the call
of patriotism led him to enlist in Company I, Fifty-
first Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was under Sher-
man until they came to Atlanta. He was wounded
in the battle of Resaca but was soon at the front again
and after the fall of Atlanta he was under Thomas
and participated in the battles of Franklin and Xash-
ville. In 1865, when the strife had ceased, he was
honorably mustered out and went to his home place
and took up the work of the carpenter. He worked
at the trade in Spring Mountain until 1872, then went
to Hopkins, Missouri, and for five years wrought
there at the same occupation. In 1880 he came to
Walla Walla and worked on a ranch for one year and
then came to Latah county, taking the homestead
where he now dwells. He has improved his ranch
and added to it until he now owns the generous estate
of two hundred and sixty-seven acres. He does a
general farming business, raises some fruit, and works
at the carpenter trade considerably in the neighbor-
hood.
The marriage of Mr. Brillhart and Miss Sarah
A., daughter of Nelson and Sarah ( Ayres) Bartelett,
natives of Ohio, where her parents are farmers, was
solemnized on May 1, 1870, and two children have
been born to them, one of whom is living, Alberta B.,
attending school at Kendrick. Mr. and Mrs. Brill-
hart are members of the Methodist church and are
exemplary members of society.
DAVID J. WILLCOX. The subject of this
sketch manifests in a practical manner the success
that can be attained by one of genius and enterprise,
who will take hold with his hands to manipulate the
resources of this country, since he is blessed with
bright success and has made it all by his industry and
wise management since first coming to Latah county.
David J. was born in Larignal, Ottawa, Canada,
on January 1, 1850, being the son of Edwin and
Cynthia (Cass) Willcox. The father was a carpenter
of Irish extraction, and his grandfather was a phy-
sician. Mrs. Willcox was born January 31, 1828,
in Ottawa and died July 8, 1895, being one of a family
of five boys and ten girls. Her father, Joseph Pome-
roy Cass, was born in 1764, and was an English sol-
dier under George Third in the Revolutionary war.
He received for his services a grant of land in Canada
and our subject now possesses his discharge papers.
Our immediate subject had but one brother, Henry
W.. now living in British Columbia. David J. was
taken by his parents to Winnebago county, Wiscon-
sin, when he was but one year of age, and they took
up land and remained there twenty-three years farm-
ing. He attended public school and worked on the
farm until sixteen years of age and then learned the
tinner's trade. Later he went to Minnesota and trav-
elled until 1875 for a wholesale house, at which time
he migrated to California and thence to Coos county,
Oregon, and engaged with a saw mill company for three
years. During that time, in 1877, he came to Latah
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
county and selected his present place, four miles east
from Palouse. He returned to Oregon and the fol-
lowing year brought his family to the farm. He has
made of the raw piece of land, where he landed with-
out a dollar, a fine farm of two hundred and forty
acres, which produces abundant crops of the cereals
and is improved in every way possible to make it
a valuable rural estate. He has a fine house and
doubtless the finest barn in the county of Latah.
It cost about three thousand dollars, and has all
the conveniences known to modern architecture in
barns, with a capacity for stabling thirty-six cows,
some horses, seventy-five tons of hay, wagon and
carriage rooms, and so forth.
Mr. Willcox and Miss Ollie Ross Johnson, adopted
daughter of John L. and Viletta Johnson, were mar-
ried on August 4, 1877, at Marshfield, Oregon. Mrs.
Willcox has the following brothers and sisters : Joseph
Ross, married and living at Markham, Oregon ; Mary,
wife of James Markham, at Markham, Oregon ; Rob-
ert Ross, married and farming near Dayton, Wash-
ington ; George Ross, married and living in Palouse ;
Clara, wife of George Foster, and living in Portland.
To our subject and his wife there have been born
the following children : Edna V., now wife of Fred
R. Vowell, she formerly taught school in Latah coun-
ty, her home now being Easton, Oregon, Alex post-
office ; Edwin R., living at home and attending school
in winter. Mr. Willcox is affiliated with the A. O. U.
W. and is one of the leading and substantial men of the
countv.
FRED SCHARNHORST. The subject of this
article is practically a product of Latah county, hav-
ing spent the major portion of his life here and he is
today one of the substantial and progressive men of
this section, having a fine holding of one half section
of fertile land, and being one of the men who make
the real strength of the community, while he has dis-
played both wisdom and integrity in all his ways,
thus demonstrating him a leader and one to be repre-
sented in the volume that has to do with his county's
history. Our subject was born in Keokuk county,
Iowa, on March 15, 1869, being the son of Christian
and Frederica (Neighbour J Scharnhorst, natives of
Germany, but immigrants to America while young.
They located in Iowa and thence they went to Kansas
and in 1872 came to Oregon and two years later to
the territory now embraced in Latah county. Our
subject received a good common school education in
the county and remained with his father until twenty-
two years had rolled by. At that time the father gener-
ously gave him a half section of fine land six miles
west from Genesee, where the family home is at
present. Our subject manifested his proper appre-
ciation of this handsome legacy by handling it in a
first class manner, producing as high as ten thousand
bushels of wheat in one year. He has fine buildings,
a good orchard, and plenty of stock to handle the
farm, and everything about the premises manifests
that scrutinizing care, thrift, industry and wisdom
that characterize Mr. Scharnhorst in all of his ways.
In politics he is with the class of citizens who are
always laboring for real progress and advancement.
The school interests have profited by his wisdom for
a number of years, he being director.
In 1 89 1 occurred the marriage of Mr. Scharnhorst
and Miss Rosa, daughter of Mike and Barbara
(Schlee) Hoyer, natives of Wurtemberg, Germany,
where the father died in August, 1889, and the mother
came later to America and is now living in Union-
town, Washington. To this union there have been
born six children : Louisa ¥., Barbara F., Carry C,
Christ F., George F., Fredrick. Mr. Scharnhorst and
his family are allied with the Lutheran church, and he
is one of the substantial and prominent men of the
country, being accorded this position because of his
worth and his capabilites that have wrought so well
in our midst.
JAMES M. KINCAID. Among the enterprising
farmers of Latah county who have made it a wealthy
and leading political division of the state of Idaho,
we are constrained to mention the subject of this
article, who is the owner of a fine farm five miles
east from Palouse, where he produces excellent crops.
of the cereals, fruits and vegetables, raising also some
stock and having his estate well improved. James
M. was born in Cumberland county, Kentucky, on
February 17, 1861, being the son of James M. and
Oliva (Moss) Kincaid. The father was a native
of Tennessee, and was a farmer and county commis-
sioner in Whitman county, Washington. The other
children of this couple are : Wm. M., living in Idaho
county; Alvis A., in Grangeville; John C, living in
Pomeroy, Washington: Garrett D., at Palouse; Ben-
jamin F.. deceased; Joseph E., in Lewiston; Law-
rence K., Palouse; Sarah E., at home, Palouse. The
parents journeyed to St. Joseph, Missouri, in 1864,
thence to Iowa, and one year later crossed the plains
with ox teams to Utah, where they settled in Proro
City and followed freighting for three years. Thence
they went to Suisun City, California, and farmed, and
then removed to Shasta, same state, and devoted them-
selves to raising stock. Later, we find them in the
vicinity of Roseburg, Oregon, farming, whence they
went to the Willamette valley and one year later, 1877,
came to the Palouse country, the father taking up what
is now the old homestead of the family.
Reverting more particularly to the personal history
of the subject of this article, we note that he attended
school until he was thirteen and then assisted his
father in the various employments at hand, remaining
with the parents until he was twenty-four years of
age. On February 7, 1886, he married Miss Anna,
daughter of William L. and Rebecca (Davis) Powers,
Mr. Powers being a saw mill man and Mr. Davis a
farmer in the vicinity of Colfax, Washington. Mrs.
Kincaid was born near Eugene, Oregon, on May 3,
1868, and has the following brothers: Benjamin W.,
7i»
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
John F., Clifford and Willis. To our subject and his
wife there have been born the following children:
George R., James V., deceased; Herbert A., Virgil
C, Frederick M., Ethel. Allen, deceased; Clarence,
Florence, deceased; Grace, deceased: Floyd T. Mr.
Kincaid's farm consists of one hundred and sixty acres
and produces diversified crops. He is much interested
in good schools, and for six years he has been on the
school board. Mrs. Kincaid is a member of the
Christian church and they are both highly esteemed
people.
SUMNER C. LAZELLE. The venerable gentle-
man, capable and enterprising, whose name is at the
head of this article, is one of the early pioneers of
Latah county and is one of its prominent citizens at
the present time. He was born in Windham county.
near Dover, in Vermont, on March 6, 1819, being the
son of Isaac and Lucy Lazelle, natives, respectively, of
Menden and Pelham, Massachusetts, the father being
of English descent and born in 1787. Our subject was
reared in his native place and well educated in the
public schools and the academy. He remained at home
until 1840 and cast his first vote for William Henry
Harrison for president of the United States. He also
voted for Fremont and has always been allied with the
Republican party. In 1840 he went to Weston, New
York, and there taught school, being also county su-
perintendent of instruction in Cold Springs. New-
York. He taught and gave some attention to farm-
ing in the state of Xew York until 1873, being one of
the successful educators of the state and time. In
1873 he came to Nevada, California, there taking up
the lumbering business until 1877. at which time he
came to the territory now embraced in Latah county,
and after thorough search selected his present home-
stead and settled down to its improvement and to the
substantial progress of the country. In both lines he
has succeeded admirably, having a fine farm and being
one of the respected men of the community. Mr. La-
zelle had the following brothers and sisters, but they
are now all dead : Houghton, Isaac W., Harriette,
Abigail and Melintha.
On May 15, 1846, occurred the marriage of Mr.
Lazelle and Miss Melinda, daughter of John N. Angle,
a captain in the army and a farmer in Randolph, Xew
York, where the wedding occurred. To this happy
union there have been born the following issue : Inez
E., widow, living with her father; Cynthia M., wife
of W. K. Eddy, near Palouse ; Irene E., deceased ;
Isaac W., farmer near Palouse; Charles F., married,
but now a widower; Oscar W., married and living in
Okanogan county, Washington. Mrs. Lazelle's broth-
ers and sisters are named as follows: Nicholas and a
half-brother Oscar died in the army ; Elonor, wife of
Rufus Spalding ; Almira, wife of A. T. Covert, but
now deceased ; Eliza, wife of E. Brace, living in Cold-
springs. New York : Lucindia, deceased; Phoebe, de-
ceased; Adella, wife of Mr. John Huff, and living in
Flourfield, St. foe county. Michigan. Mr. Lazelle is
one of the pioneers of this section, the country being
all government land when he came. He has now an
estate of one hundred and sixty acres, well improved
and cultivated after the diversified plan, and with
good buildings.
BRYANT M. RUDD. About five miles east from
Palouse lies the farm of the subject of this sketch. It
is one-quarter section, well improved, having elegant
new house, good outbuildings and barn, with large or-
chard. Mr. Rudd practices diversified farming and
from the time that he settled here, 1877, until the
present, he has been one of the leading men of this
section, one of the prosperous farmers and one of the
substantial and patriotic citizens, having continued on
his place, which he secured by the right of homestead.
Bryant M. was born in Hendricks county, Indiana,
twenty-five miles west from Indianapolis, on Decem-
ber 27, 1837, being the son of Ausbun and Elizabeth
(Tisher) Rudd, natives of North Carolina. The fa-
ther's father was a Spaniard and a farmer, while the
mother's father was also a farmer. The brothers and
sisters of Bryant M. are as folows : Sarah, Colvin,
Daniel, James, Nellie, John, Louise J., Hutson, Mellis-
sa, John and Mary A. Our subject left home at the
age of sixteen and labored in various occupations until
he had reached the age of twenty-three, attending also
the public schools at times. At the age of twenty-three
he bought a farm at Martinsville. Morgan county, In-
diana, and went to tilling the soil for himself. On
July 7. i860, he married Miss Sarah, daughter of
Louis Meridith, and seventeen years later he was
called upon to mourn the death of his wife. Mr.
Rudd removed from Indiana to Wilson county, Kan-
--is. and there bought a farm and gave his attention to
raising cattle, horses and hogs until 1877. when he
sold his property also and came to Latah county, as
mentioned above.
( In March 5, 1879, m Morgan county, Indiana,
Mr. Rudd contracted a second marriage, Mrs. Sarah
(Dilley) Howell becoming his wife then. She is the
daughter of Arthur M. and Elizabeth E. (Mclnturf)
Dilley. natives, respectively, of Ohio and Tennessee.
The father was active in the realm of politics, labored
"at the carpenter's trade, was a member of the Meth-
odist church and a leading citizen of his community.
To this marriage there have been born the following
named children : Charlie, died on November 5, 1879 ;
Letha J., wife of Birt Crooks, living one and one-half
miles east from Palouse, and the mother of two boys,
( Irville and Floyd. By her former marriage Mrs.
Rudd had the following named children : Albert. Ed-
win and Franklin. Mr. Rudd's children by his first
wife are named as follows: Tyrannas, deceased:
James H, married and living near Fredonia, Kansas :
Tamsy, also married and living in the same place :
Alexander S.. married and living at Portland, Ore-
gon. In the time of the civil strife Mr. Rudd enlisted
in Company B, One Hundred and Forty-eighth In-
diana Infantry, and did faithful service until the time
of his honorable discharge. Mr. Rudd is a member of
the G. A. R. and in political matters he is always active.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
being allied with the Republican party. He and his
wife are devout members of the Methodist church in
Palouse and he is one of the highly respected men of
his ci immunity.
JOSEPH DAVIDSON. Since the days of 1879
Mr. Davidson has labored and toiled in this section
of the country, having done commendable service as
a citizen and tiller of the soil. His estate of one-quar-
ter section lies three miles west from Kendrick. He
homesteaded the land in 1879 and it has been the fam-
ily home since that year. Mr. Davidson was born in
Colechester county. Nova Scotia, on June 20, 1848,
being the son of Thomas and Sarah (Fulton) David-
son. His mother died when he was ten years of age.
Three years subsequent to that sad event the father re-
moved with his family to Marin county. California,
settling near Petaluma. Our subject was educated
in his native place and in California he assisted his
father in the business of dairying, which the elder
Davidson had taken up, remaining with him until he
had reached his twenty-second year, when he started
in business for himself, taking up the dairying busi-
ness on an adjoining ranch and following it for eight
years. During this time he took a trip to Nova Scotia
and in 1879 he came to Latah county territory and
took as a homestead the land where he dwells today.
This lies three miles west from Kendrick and is well
improved, having comfortable buildings and an or-
chard of twelve acres which is devoted mostly to
prunes.
The marriage of Air. Davidson and Miss Margaret
E., daughter of George and Margaret (Howard)
Rutherford, was solemnized on June 6, 1879, in Cole-
chester county, .\ova Scotia, she being a native of
that county and where her parents are farmers. To
Mr. and Mrs. Davidson there have been born the fol-
lowing children, George T., Rilla M., bred F., Bertha
M., Byard and Clifford. Mr. Davidson and his wife
are members of the Methodist church on American
ridge and they are good citizens and have the con-
fidence and regards of all who know them, being affa-
ble and genial neighbors, upright in their walk and
capable and enterprising in all tlieir business relations.
JAMES M. EMERSON, deceased. The good
men who assisted to build Latah county are passing
away and notable among that number is the subject
of this memoir. He was a noble and good man, al-
ways allied on the side of progression and right, and
being one of the brave defenders of the Hag at a time
when treason would have sullied its fair folds. James
M. Emerson was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, on
May 2, 1839, a son of Brown and Lucinda Emerson.
He was educated there and part of his time was spent
in clerking in a grocery store and part on the farm
with his father. When the civil strife lowered, and
the call came for men, brave and true, to stand for the
honor of the country and the defense of our homes,
young Emerson was quick to respond and enlisted in
Company I, Fifty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry and
for three years he served faithfully, being in Sherman's
army. He was captured in the battle of Stone River,
but was soon exchanged and continued in the service
until 1864. Then he returned to Keene, Ohio, and
there entered the mercantile business which occupied
his attention until 1870, the date when he migrated to
Elk county, Kansas. In that state he farmed until
1882 and then sold his possessions and came hence to
Latah county. He homesteaded the land where the
old home place is and there bestowed his labors and
skill until the time when the summons came for him
to pass within the veil that divides this world from that
which is to come. He died as he had lived, a Chris-
tian and devout man. He was a faithful member of
the Methodist church and his life was an example to
all. The sad day of his departure was March 11,
1890.
Mr. Emerson left a wife and four children to
mourn his demise. His marriage was celebrated on
Septembers. 1865. Miss Martha IBrilhart becoming his
wife at that time. Her parents, John and Jane (Hall)
Drilhart came to Coshocton county, Ohio, from Penn-
sylvania, her native state, when she was a babv. The
children mentioned are Eugene, born June 22, 1866, at
Spring Mountain, Ohio, married Miss India Bogue,
a native of Canada, and he makes his home with his
mother still ; Arsella, Carrie and Edgar. They are all
at home and the aggregate real estate holdings of the
family amounts to ten hundred and forty acres of fine
land.
JOHN SULLIVAN. To this enterprising and
capable gentleman whose name heads this article we
are pleased to grant a representation in this volume of
Latah countv's history since he is one of the prominent
citizens of today and has labored in the years past with
assiduity and sagacity both for the prosecution of his
business enterprises and the upbuilding of the county,
being also a man of integrity and worth and one of the
heavy property owners of the county.
Mr. Sullivan was born in county Cork. Ireland, in
December. 1875, being the son of John and Mary Sul-
livan, also natives of the same country, whence they
came to America, settling first in Michigan, then mi-
grating to California and in 1884 coming to Latah
county. Here they bought a man's right on a timber
culture and filed a pre-emption, later taking a timber
culture where they still live. Our subject came to
America with his mother, his father having come some
six years previous, and he remained with his parents
untii 1892, then entered partnership with his father
until 1900. at which time he bought two hundred and
fortv acres of land, six miles west from Genesee, where
he lives at the present time. His farm is well improved
with buildings and so forth and is one of the finest
pieces of agricultural land in the entire county, pro-
ducing as high as ten thousand bushels of grain in one
year. Air. Suilivan raises considerable stock, as cattle,
hogs and horses. He is also interested much in the
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
local and state politics, always manifesting the con-
cern that becomes the intelligent and progressive citi-
zen. Mr. Sullivan has one sister, Mary Jacobs, living
with him, and two brothers, Tim Sullivan, married to
Loudena Reilly and living in Nez Perces county, and
Dan Sullivan, living with his father. Our subject is
affiliated with the Roman Catholic church and is a
faithful adherent of the faith and supporter of the
same.
DAVID R. -DAVIS. The subject of this article,
as will be seen by the outline of his life, is a man of
great enterprise and energy, being dominated by a
high order of wisdom and possessed of excellent prac-
tical judgment in all the business affairs that have
been prosecuted by him in his eventful career, and he
is now one of the leading agriculturists, stockmen,
and fruit producers of Latah county, in many par-
ticulars taking the lead of all others. David K. was
born in Denbigh, North Wales, on March 28, 1845,
being the son of John and Elizabeth (Roberts 1 Davis.
The parents were natives of Wales, and the mother
died there at the age of thirty-six and the father
passed away in Corwin, Wales, being aged seventy.
Our subject received a good education in the practi-
cal lines and at the age of twenty-one started on a
career for himself, emigrating first to America, where
he followed mining for many years in various places
and under various conditions. He mined coal in Vir-
ginia first, then two years was spent in the same work
in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, three years
were spent in Akron, Ohio, and one year in the coal
mines at Murphysboro, Illinois. Then he turned to the
west and mined for precious metals in Central City,
Colorado, one vear, then a year and one-half were put
in at Rock Springs. Wyoming, mining coal, then we
find him in Eureka, Nevada, digging silver two years,
then to Butte county, California, mining for gold
one year, and finally, in 1878, he came to Genesee,
Idaho. He took a homestead six miles east from
Genesee, and split rails to fence it with. He broke
twenty acres the first year, and added some each year
until "the farm was well under cultivation. It has a
hog tight fence all around it, and is cross fenced in
the same way. He sells annually about forty hogs,
having the finest breeds ; markets three thousand
bushels of grain each year, and a car load of dried
prunes besides much other produce and fruit. The
farm is laid out with excellent wisdom, planned and
improved with a skill and taste that manifests rare
ability. A fine residence is first to mention, then we
find commodious barns and out buildings and every-
thing that is use.ful and that adds comfort and attrac-
tiveness to a rural estate. Mr. Davis has a fruit dryer
thirty-six by fifty-six with twenty foot posts, which
handles a car load of dried fruit in less than a month.
He has eight hundred and fifty Italian prunes, five
hundred assorted peaches, cherries, pears, apples and
al kinds of fruits indigineous to this latitude.
Mr. Davis is a power in politics and gives strong
adherence to the tenets of the Republican party, hav-
ing done good work in its ranks. He has acted dif-
ferent times as road supervisor and has done a giant's
portion to assist in the development of the county.
Socially Mr. Davis is affiliated with the I. O. O. F.
and is highly esteemed by all.
CHRISTIAN SCHARNHORST. This worthy
and venerable pioneer and substantial citizen of Latah
county is eminently fitted, both because of his real
worth as a man and because of the excellent work that
he has done here for the development and upbuilding
of the county, to be prominently represented in the
volume that has to do with its history and we accord
him space for the events of an interesting and well
spent career, assured that no more worthy citizen can
be portrayed in this work since his labors speak out
his worth. Christian was born in Germany on Sep-
tember 26, 1834, being the son of Christian and Dor-
othy (Krager) Scharnhorst. They came to this coun-
try in 1844 and settled in Keokuk county, Iowa, where
they tilled the soil until the time of their death, both
being buried in the Methodist cemetery in Harper,
Iowa. Our subject was educated in the schools of
Germany and in Iowa, and remained with his father
until he had attained his twenty-third year, then
rented a farm there until 1872, when he went across
the plains with mule teams to Oregon, intending, how-
ever, to go to California, but being turned toward the
Willamette valley by favorable reports on the road.
The train of sixteen wagons was five months on the
road, and then he rented a farm for two years in Ore-
gon, after which he came to Latah county and home-
steaded and pre-empted a half section, broke it all up
and then took eighty acres as a timber culture claim.
He added an adjoining half section to his fine body of
land by purchase then and later enough more to make
seven hundred and eighty acres in all. When his
boys came of age he gave them one-half section each,
as stated elsewhere in this work, retaining only eighty
acres for himself, which the boys farm.
In 1856 Mr. Scharnhorst married Miss Frederika,
daughter of Carl and Charlotta (Krouse) Neubauer,
natives of Germany, but migrating to America in 1856
and locating in Iowa where they rest at the present
time in the Lutheran cemetery near Sigourney. To
our worthy subject and his estimable wife there have
been born the following children, — Dora F., married
to Herman Xablsick and living in Genesee : Louise,
married to Mathias Carbuhn, living close to Union-
town. Washington: Dedrick J„ married to Minnie
Oldah and living in Genesee ; Tenie F., married to
Frank Sclator and living in Spokane county, Wash-
ington: Caroline L., married to Jake Scley. living
close to Uniontown, Washington; Mary D., married
to Henry Herman, residing in Latah county : Freder-
ick, married to Rosa Haire, living in Latah county;
Charles J., married to Mary Rurchett. living in Latah
county. Air. Scharnhorst is a member of the Lutheran
church as is his wife also. His brother is soon com-
ing from Germany and they are representatives of a
FARM OF DAVID R. DAVIS.
DAVID R. DAVIS.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
721
good family that has manifested great zeal and energy
in labors for the good of their fellows and in building
up and progress. Mr. Scharnhorst is one of the sub-
stantial men of Latah county and he is justly deserving
of the honor that is due the true pioneer, the capable
citizen, and the good man, and it is with pleasure that
we have been enabled to give this epitome of a useful
and interesting life.
VIRGIL RANDALL. It is exceedingly pleasant
to be able to chronicle the points of the interesting
career of the estimable and enterprising gentleman,
whose name appears above, having come of a noted
family and having fully sustained the reputation of
his ancestors for skill and talent, both by his capable
efforts in his labors and in working out the bright
success that is now crowning his pathway.
Mr. Randall is one of the large farmers of Latah
county, owns five hundred and forty acres five miles
southeast from Palouse, upon which stands the first
frame and painted building in northern Idaho. He
has at present a new and commodious structure as the
family home. His farm is well tilled, produces abund-
ance of the grasses and cereals while also he raises
considerable stock. The original quarter section of
the farm was taken as a homestead by Mrs. Randall,
who rode through a hostile Indian country forty miles
on horseback to Lewiston to make the filing. The
marriage of this worthy couple occurred on the farm
adjoining the homestead, which also they now own.
the date of the happy event being April 14, 1878. and
to bless the union there have been born to them the
following children, Dora and Cora, twins, Cora being
a graduate of the Moscow high school and now at-
tending the normal at Lewiston ; Fannie, teaching ;
Grover, at home. Turning more particularly to the
early personal history of Mr. Randall, we note that he
was one of a family of eight children, his brothers and
sisters being, Michael A., Elizabeth, Euler, Raphael,
Euclid, Mary, and Emily. Our subject was born on
July 13. 1843, m Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, near
Harrisburg, at Anchor Tavern, a noted tavern of that
country and run by his father. His parents were
Reuben W. and Katherine Randall. The father was
a man of great erudition, but possessed of becoming
modesty that always precluded ostentatious effort for
personal preferment in public, although he was offered
the chair of mathematics in a number of institutions
of higher learning. Such men as McCreary, Belknap,
Story and others of Grant's cabinet were warm per-
sonal friends of Mr. Randall. Commodore Foote, a
noted mathematician, frequently wrote to Mr. Randall
for assistance in various problems, and the subject of
this article has at the present time these letters' which
came to his father. Our subject came from a family
of poets. His father published mathematical works
and his grandfather was the author of several books
of poems. Our subject came with his parents to St.
Louis when three years of age and in 1847 the family
went to Keokuk. Iowa. Twenty vears thev lived there,
46
the father being engaged in mercantile pursuits. Vir-
gil was educated in the common schools and in 1864
made a trip to Virginia City, Montana. He drove
four yokes of oxen and from the train one or two men.
were killed by the Indians. Later he returned to Iowa
and ran on a steamer from Keokuk to St. Louis and
in 1867 went to New York and took steamer via Pana-
ma to California. From San Francisco, he went to
San Joaquin and six years later went to Butte county,
being engaged in farming in both places. After that
he came to the territory now embraced in Latah coun-
ty, stopping first with a brother whose farm adjoins
that of our subject, then later taking the farm as above
mentioned.
Mrs. Randall was formerly Miss Dora F. Walker,
being the daughter of Harvey' S. and Lavisa (Morse)
Walker, the mother being a distant relative of the
great electrician Morse. The father and mother were
natives of Xew York, and came from their farm in
that state to California in an early day. Airs. Randall
was born in Dodge county, Wisconsin, and went with
her parents to California. She has one sister, Susan,
who is now deceased. Mr. Randall is a member of the
A. O. U. W., joining in 1892. His wife is a member
of the Christian church. He ran for the office of
county commissioner and by only seventeen votes did
his opponent win the day. His farm is one of the
best and finest in the county, has fine buildings, twenty
acres of orchard, forty of meadow, and produces
abundant returns.
CHARLES H. ODERLIN. In every particular
the fine premises of Air. Oderlin manifest the proprie-
tor of the estate a man of thrift, enterprise, and in-
dustry, while his capabilities and uprightness are no
less manifest among his fellows, being a man of un-
tarnished reputation and one of the substantial and
leading citizens of the entire county. Charles H. was
born in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, on August 28,
1849, being the son of Nicholas and Katherine < Iderlin.
The father was a stone mason and a native of the old
country and the mother also was born in Switzerland.
At the age of five years, Charles was brought by his
parents to Plainfield. Illinois, where the mother died
in 1857. The father worked there at his trade until
1865, the son meanwhile attending school, and then a
move was made to Woodson county, Kansas. The fa-
ther bought a quarter section and went to farming.
Our subject remained there until 1869, then farmed
for himself until 1872, in which year occurred the
happy event of his life, namely his marriage with Miss
Malissa Dee. daughter of Jeremiah and Louise Dee,
natives respectively of Ohio and Scott county, Illinois.
Airs. Oderlin was born in Hancock county, Illinois.
Subsequent to his marriage, Air. Oderlin rented his
father's place and farmed it for two years, then raised
stock and farmed until 1877, in which year he sold out
and started on July 6, for Idaho, arriving here four
months later. After due exploration and investigation,
he selected his present place, five miles east from Pa-
722
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
louse. He pre-empted and then homesteaded and for
twentv-five years he has been laboring for the improve-
ment of his estate, for the advancement of the county,
and the upbuilding of all its interests. He owns two
hundred and forty acres of land, has an elegant resi-
dence, fine barns and the entire estate is tasty, attrac-
tive and valuable.
The following children have been born to our
worthy subject and his estimable wife, Bert C, edu-
cated in the public schools and the university at Mos-
cow; Katie, died in 1878; Iva, died in 1882; Ethel C,
who will graduate from the university at Moscow in
1903. Mr. Oderlin always takes a great interest in
politics, having been central committeeman for five
years, and always laboring for good men in office, but
ever refusing the offers for political preferment for
himself. He has been urged to run for county com-
missioner but steadily refuses. In educational mat-
ters, Mr. Oderlin has always been zealous and active,
believing in good schools and willing to pay the taxes
to secure them. He is highly esteemed by all and a
worthy citizen.
JOSEPH L. McCLELLAN. This capable and
enterprising farmer, whose life has been filled with
worthy labors for the upbuilding and advancement of
the sections where his lot has been cast, was one, too,
who quickly responded to the call of patriotism and
gave his services faithfully for the defense of the
country, in a time when fratricidal strife was rending
the fair republic in twain.
Joseph, L. was born in Noble county, Ohio, near
Sharon, on December 3, 1847, being the son of John
and Sarah E. (Smost)' McClellan. "The father was a
locomotive engineer and was killed on the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad in 1855. Then our subject went to
live with his grandmother Smost in Lawrence, Kan-
sas, where he attended the public school until he was
fifteen years of age, at which time he enlisted in Com-
pany A. Ninth Kansas. He participated in the battle
of Fayetteville, Arkansas, and his company was the
first that went into Van Buren, Arkansas. He served
over three years and was mustered out at Duval's
bluff. Arkansas, in June, 1865. He returned to Law-
rence and purchased a farm four miles from the city
and devoted his energies to tilling the soil there for one
year and then sold and went to Clinton, working in a
flouring mill for two years. In 1868, he went to
Quincy, Missouri, and two years later he returned to
Clinton and worked in a mill, then went to Chautauqua
county, Kansas, and took up a preemption and for
eight years he raised stock and worked in the mill, and
handled the land. 1878 was the date he started for
Idaho with mule teams, being one hundred and six
days on the road. On August 6, he landed in Pull-
man, Washington, and after due exploration he took
his present place four and one-half miles southeast
from Palouse, where he has lived ever since, being
one of the leading farmers and respected citizens.
On January 11. 1866, Mr. McClellan married Miss
Sarah, E. Bell, daughter of Alexander and Bashabee
( Pell ) . the father being a farmer and sheriff of his
county, and both being natives of Virginia. To this
union there have been born two children, Kate A. and
Evart A. In the fall of 1804, Mr. McClellan con-
tracted a second marriage, the lady being Amanda
Brown, daughter of Zena and Mary Edwards, natives
of Union county, Tennessee. Her father was a wagon
maker and her grandfather was also a Tennesseean and
a blacksmith. Mrs. McClellan had four sisters and
three brothers and by her former marriage she has the
following children, Minnie, married and living in Pa-
louse; Thomas belongs to the regular army in Mis-
soula, Montana ; Joseph, Frank, Effie and Roy at home.
Mr. McClellan has two brothers, William J. and Fin-
ley W. Mr. McClellan is a Republican and active in
politics and in his business enterprises he has shown
marked enterprise and sagacity, having now a good
estate well stocked and excellently handled.
ELMER P. PALMER. This real pioneer and
builder of the county is eminently fitted for representa-
tion in any work that has to do with the leading citi-
zens of this section, being a man of fine capabilities |
and having maintained an unsullied reputation
through out his interesting career. Mr. Palmer is a
native of Indiana, being born in St. Joseph county, on
March 17, 1854. the son of Asher H. and Nancy Pal-
mer. The father was born in Fredonia, New York,
in 1801, and was an active pioneer, as was his father
before him. The mother was a native of Erie county,
Pennsylvania, born in 1818 of Dutch lineage, and her
father was merchant from New Amsterdam. The
parents removed from Indiana, the birth place of our
subject, to Minnesota when he was an infant. Set-
tlement was made in this last state in Fillmore county,
where a homestead was taken and there they farmed
for about eighteen years. Then the father sold out
and went to Nebraska, remaining two years, and in
1873 our subject came to Portland. One year later
he came to the section where he now lives, it then be-
ing Nez Perces county. He settled on his present place
and his brother, C. W.. also came here at the same
time. The first winter was very severe, and the game
was slaughtered mercilessly by the settlers. At that
time Walla Walla was the principal trading post of any
importance and no settlers were between the high hills
south of where Viola now stands and the Palouse river
with the exception of three. Mr. Palmer and his
brother still live on their original farms and they have
been prospered. Our subject ships fruit and has for
ten years and now has a large young orchard of about
forty acres. He is at present milking fifteen cows and
ships cream to the Hazelwood company at Spokane.
Mr. Palmer has a fine farm adjoining Viola, an ele- j
gant residence, and is one of the most prosperous men
of the section. He does not raise much wheat, but is
sowing much clover for the use of his cows.
The marriage of Mr. Palmer and Miss Rosa L., :
daughter of James and Lucy Maxwell, was solem-
nized near Whelan, Whitman county, Washington, ;
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
723
and they have become the parents of the following
children^ Harry. Al.. !■'. Glen, and Claude E., all at
home. .Airs. Palmer's father is a farmer near Whelan
and served in the Civil war under Sherman for three
years, being now the recipient of a pension for the
valiant and hard service which he did, which broke
down his health. Mr. Palmer is a firm believer in
good schools and is an advocate of having them
well supported by taxation. He and his wife are raera-
bers of the Adventist church. They are leading peo-
ple of the community and are well liked by al.
GEORGE H. DOUGH ARTY. The thrifty and
enterprising farmers and fruit raisers of Latah county
have made her what she is today, one of the leading
counties of the state ; and among this number who
have thus worthily wrought, we are glad to mention
the name of the gentleman of whom we now now have
the privilege of writing. He has been here since the
earlv days, being a pioneer when the stretches of
wildwoocis and prairies were to be seen on every hand,
and he has steadily labored here since and justly de-
serves the place among the real builders of the county
where he stands.
Mr. Dougharty was born in Amador county, Cali-
fornia, on December 24, 1855. being the son of Will-
iam and Elizabeth (Brown) Dougharty. The parents
came to California from Illinois in 1850, and when
George H. was four years of age, they removed from
Amador county to Contra Costa county, sixteen miles
from( Oakland, and there they remained until our
subject was twenty-three years of age. He was edu-
cated there and assisted his father in the work on the
farm. In 1878 he came to the territory now embraced
in Latah count)-, and at the spot where we find the
family home at the present day, he took a homestead
and his skill and industry and thrift have been dis-
played here ever since with the result that he has one
of the well paying and highly cultivated estates of the
county. It is located three miles west of Kendrick
and in the finest fruit belt in the west. He has twenty-
five acres devoted to apples and some few trees of
other fruits and his orchard is a handsome dividend
payer.
Fraternally Mr. Dougharty is affiliated with the
\\ . of W., Lodge No. 204, at Kendrick. His marriage
with Miss Dora, daughter of Tilman and Angeline
(Turner) Jennings, was celebrated at Moscow, on
October 31, 1884, and they have three children, Arie,
Clarence and Lawrence. Mrs. Dougharty's father was
one of the pioneers of this section and still lives in the
vicinity of Genesee.
SAMUEL T. SILVEY is one of the enterprisnig
men of the vicinity of Yiola, Idaho, and a leading
stockman, agriculturist and orchardist. He was born
on October 4, 1861, in Marion county, Indiana. His
parents were Presley A. and Diana [White ) Silvey.
The father was a blacksmith at the home place, and
was born in 183 1, forty-five miles south from Indian-
apolis. He was drafted but never sent to the front in
the Civil war. The mother was born in Ohio, in
1837, and came with her parents in early Indian times
to Indiana. Her brothers were all soldiers in the
Civil war and one perished there. Our subject re
mained in Indiana for eleven years and then came with
the family to Lafavette count}-, Missouri, where the
father followed his trade and Samuel T. learned car-
pentering. Fourteen years later the parents returned
to Indiana, and this son came west to Hutchinson,
Kansas, working one year there at his trade and then
in 1887. he journeyed to Idaho, settling at Viola.
Saw milling engaged him for two years and then he
turned again to his trade, working also one year on the
Nez Perces reservation, erecting houses for the In-
dians. About 1898 he settled on his present farm,
one mile south from Viola and has given his attention
to farming. Mr. Silvey practices the diversified plan,
but derives his greatest revenue from stock and intends
to soon raise much of the finer breeds. He also gives
attention to the production of fine grasses, experiment-
ing much with various kinds. Air. Silvey has also
a fine ten-acre orchard from which he derives a good
revenue.
On July 23, 1898, at Moscow, occurred the mar-
riage of Mr. Silvey and Hattie A. (Harrison) Hol-
brook, the daughter of E. B. and Jane (Sherer) Harri-
son, who lives one mile east from "Viola. To this union
there has been born one child, Earl. By her first hus-
band, Mrs. Silvey has three children, as follows : Silas
H., Roy H. and May A. Mrs. Silvey has been a
teacher for a number of years and taught one of the
first schools at Viola. Fraternally Mr. Silvey is a
member of the Maccabees, Viola Lodge, No. 14. He
was elected justice of the peace of his precinct, but not
desiring public honors, refused to qualify. Air. Sil-
vey has always been active in the matter of educa-
tional affairs and strives for the betterment of the
schools. Politically he is identified with the Demo-
cratic party. He is a progressive, enterprising and
energetic man and good citizen and does much intel-
ligent labor in his experiments for the betterment of
the condition of all. He receives the esteem and con-
fidence of all of his fellows.
RUFUS M. BOWLES. No citizen is better
known and more highly appreciated and esteemed by
the public in general about Yiola than the gentleman,
of worth and honor, whose name heads this article,
being a general merchant at that place and postmaster.
Mr. Bowles was born in Frederick county. Alary-
land, on November 4, 1855, being the son of Captain
Samuel and Mahala (Gaver) Bowles. The father was
a prominent man of that section, being representative
from his county to the state legislature and captain
of the home guards during the Civil war. Our subject
724
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
remained there until he was nineteen years of age,
receiving a good education in the public schools and
the academy, ami a business training. 1874 was the
date when he left the native place and went to Spring-
field, Ohio, acting as salesman in a store there for one
year, then continuing his westward journey to Sioux
City, Iowa, where he worked for two years and then
went to Portland, Oregon, in 1877. He remained there
until 1884. He taught school in The Dalles and went
thence to Puget Sound, taking a timber claim in Lewis
county and in 1889 he sold it and came to Spokane,
Washington, arriving there two days after the fire.
One year was spent there running a restaurant, then
he sold out and came to Viola, opening up a general
store here, succeeding Mr. J. H. Gilbert, whose store
had been destroyed by fire. Mr. Bowles also was
appointed postmaster as successor of Mr. Gilbert, and
since that time he has steadily served in that important
office, always laboring to conserve the interests of the
people and for good service. Mr. Bowles does a
thriving trade and is highly esteemed by his patrons
for his uprightness and integrity.
The marriage of Mr. Bowles and Miss Melinda,
daughter of James and Melinda Hurst, was celebrated
near The Dalles on November 15, 1880. Mrs. Bowles'
father was one of the earliest settlers in that section,
coming there in 1859 and settling on Ten Mile creek,
where he is one of the leading stockmen of the country.
To our worthy subject and his estimable wife, there
have been born the following children : Samuel C.,
atending Moscow high school and assisting his father
in the store during vacations ; Archie E., also attend-
ing the high school at Moscow ; Alvin H. and Edward,
at Puget Sound at present; Floyd A., at home. Mr.
Bowles is a charter member of the Knights of Macca-
bees, being record keeper in Viola Tent. No. 14. He
is greatly interested in political matters, being fre-
quently delegate to the count}- conventions, while in
school matters he is enthusiastic in the endeavors for
betterment of the schools, improvements on all lines of
education, and is forceful in assisting these good
causes. He has served six years as school clerk and
devotes much talent and energy to this cause.
MICHAEL EVITS. This well known and repre-
sentative agriculturist and stockman is one of the
leaders in the county of Latah in his line of business,
being also one of the early pioneers and a feal builder
of the county, having labored faithfully here long
before there was a Latah county organization, and
being now one of the heaviest property holders of the
entire section, having about eight hundred acres of
fine land, six hundred of which is under cultivation,
and producing many bushels of grain each year.
Mr. Evits was born in Austria on September 15,
1837, being the son of Martin and Mary (Scholer)
Evits, who were also natives of Austria, being buried
in the old church yard there now. Our subject re-
ceived a good common school education and at the
age of eight went to herding sheep and cattle in the
summers and continued this enterprise until he was
fifteen, when he learned the carpenter trade, laboring
at the same until he was a score of years old. He was
then put to serve his term in the Austrian army and
nine years were spent in this occupation, four of which
were as corporal. He was a participant in the French
and German war of 1866. After leaving the army he
came to America and located in St. Louis, where he
was busied in driving an ice wagon for two years.
Then he came to Latah county, by way of Panama,
arriving here in 1870. He labored for wages for two
years, then took up a pre-emption of one quarter sec-
tion, and in 1873 t0°k a timber culture of eighty acres.
In 1885 he bought three hundred and twenty acres,
in 1892 bought another quarter, and in 1896 bought
an eighty. With one continuous round of success, Mr.
Evits has gone steadily forward, his prosperity being
the legitimate result of his boundless energy, wise
management and keen foresight, backed by a fine
executive force, all of which are happily resident in
his make up.
He has raised much stock, but now handles the
land largely to grain. He has an elegant residence,
costing over five thousand dollars, a barn, sixty by
eighty, a granery that will hold seven thousand bushels
of grain, and all other improvements in proportion,
making his estate one of the most valuable, beautiful
and homelike in the entire country. Mr. Evits is justly
reckoned as one of the leaders among men in both his
business ability and in his exemplary walk as an up-
right man and patriotic citizen.
Mr. Evits married Miss Katherine, daughter of
Mat and Maggie (Everts) Kambridge, also natives
of Austria, where they sleep in the home church yard.
Four children have been born to our worthy subject
and his faithful and estimable wife, namely : Katie,
married to Joseph Springer, living in Latah county ;
Louisa, married to William Teamer, living in Latah
county ; Mary, married to Pete Jacobs, and living in
Whitman county, Washington ; Annie, single and liv-
ing with her parents. Mr. Evits has served two years
as road supervisor in an acceptable manner to all.
He and his wife are members of the Roman Catholic
church and manifest a deep interest in the support of
the faith. It is a matter of great credit to Mr. Evits
to note that when he came to this county he labored
two years for wages but is now one of the leading
property owners and farmers of the whole country,
having gained it all by wise investment of the hard
earned money which his industry brought him and at
the same time maintaining not only a reputation that
is unsullied but also a standing for wisdom and enter-
prise that have always caused him to be consulted by
his fellows and gives an enviable prestige in the com-
munitv.
JOHN BOTTJER. Among the representative
property owners and leading agriculturists of Latah
county there should not be failure to mention the sub-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
725
ject of this sketch, since he has faithfully done the
work of the pioneer here, manifesting zeal, ability and
wisdom in the course of his pilgrimage, and withal has
shown his financial ability in the fine accumulation of
property with which he is blessed now, and which is
handled in a becoming manner with wisdom.
The birth of Mr. Bottjer occurred on September 29,
1839, being the son of Henry and Louis (Luckan)
Bottjer, natives of Germany, and being now buried
in the Bloomingtauh cemetery, that town being the
native place of our subject. John was favored with a
good education in the common schools and at the age
of fourteen years started to learn the trade of ship
carpenter. For thirteen years we find him apt and
successful in this craft and then he came to America,
locating in New York, where he labored for seven
years. Then followed a journey by Panama to Cali-
fornia where he resided for four years and whence he
came to the place where he now lives, the country
then being in Nez Perces county. Two years were
spent at the carpenter trade and then he homesteaded
his present place, later taking a pre-emption of eighty
acres. He has added by purchase since that time until
he has four hundred and twenty-five acres of fine soil,
which is embellished with a fine residence, a good
barn and plenty of outbuildings, a choice orchard, the
place being one of the elegant and home-like estates
of the county, every portion of it bearing the marks
of a wise owner and thrifty husbandry, which have
brought the reward of honest labor, which is a goodly
competence of worldly property.
In 1870 Mr. Bottjer married Miss Margaretha.
daughter of John H. and Margaret Brandt, and eight
children have been born to them, namely: Mary, mar-
ried to Charley Schamhorst and living in Latah
county; Louise, married and living at home; William,
at home; Henry G., Johanna J., Margaretha C. Hen-
retha A.. Johan H. Mr. Bottjer is a member of the
I. O. O. F. He and his wife are members of the Ger-
man Lutheran church. Mr. Bottjer is one of the
prominent men of the community, has done much in
the years that are past for the progress and upbuilding
of the county, and is a genial, affable and well liked
neighbor and gentleman.
JOSEPH SPRENGER. While the subject of this
sketch has not been in Latah county so long as some,
still his handiwork is manifest in a commendable de-
gree, since he has always labored for the advancement
of the interests of the county as well as laving and ex-
ecuting commendable plans for his own prosperity.
Mr. Sprenger was born in Germany. Madfelt, the date
of this event being February t, 1865, and his parents
being Frank and Josephine (Sebers) Sprenger, also
natives of the fatherland, where thev reside at this
time. In his native village Joseph received a good
education and learned thoroughly the carpenter trade
before he was twenty-one years of age. At that im-
portant age his budding spirit looked for larger fields
and more excellent opportunities and consequently he
came to America, locating in Iowa, where he labored in
the car shops for two years, utilizing his fine trade, in
which he was especially skilled. Following that
period he came west to Spokane, Washington, the
year being 1889, and two years were spent in that city
at the trade and then in 1891 he came to Uniontowri,
Washington, and two years there he wrought at the
same trade. Then for three vears he toiled on the
farm of Mr. M. Evits, after which he purchased one
hundred acres of land for himself, where he now lives,
five miles west from Genesee. He erected with his own
hands a fine residence, barns and out buildings, so
that his place is finely improved and is a scene of thrift
and bears the marks of wise planning and faithful in-
dustry. He has the farm all under cultivation, han-
dles a small bunch of stock and is in all respects a
well to do farmer, and among the leaders in skill and
execution of good methods.
In 1893 occurred the marriage of Mr. Sprenger
and Miss Katie M. Evits, whose parents, M. and
Katherine (Kimbetch) Evits, are residents of this
county and are specifically mentioned in another por-
tion of this work. To our subject and his estimable
wife have been born the following children : Katie M.,
Mary J., Theresa A, and Gertrude L. Mr. Sprenger
and his wife are adherents of the Roman Catholic
church.
DANIEL HUNT lives five and one-half miles
northeast from Moscow on a generous farm of two
hundred and forty acres, which his skill and industry
have wrested from the wilds of nature and have trans-
formed into a fertile and abundant producer of the
cereals, fruits and stock. He is one of the leaders in
this realm of development, and has wrought out his
present goodly competence from the resources placed
in his hands in this country. Mr. Hunt was born in
Chautauqua county, New York, on November 2, 1845.
being the son of Seneca and Julia Hunt, farmers of
that state. At the age of seven he was brought west
by his parents who settled in Cresco, Howard county,
Iowa, where he received a fine education and then
devoted himself for ten years to teaching school, hold-
ing a first class certificate. 1880 marks the year in
which a move was made to Council Bluffs, in the
same state, and there he gave his attention to farm-
ing for two years and then turned toward the west
to gain both health and wealth, having lost them both
in an uncertain struggle in Iowa in the endeavor to
raise wheat profitably. When he landed in Latah coun-
ty he at once sought out the homestead where he now
lives and settled down. Raw land, a frontier country,
poor health, depleted finances and many other de-
pressing circumstances thronged him, but despite it
all his courage was as bright as ever and he started
in to settle the question of existence. He began with
the arduous labor of cutting and hauling wood, gained
strength and later went to laying brick and plastering,
which he had learned younger ; he also logged for the
mill companies and mined s»me and kept steadily im-
proving his farm. The result was that he began to
726
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
prosper at once, gained slowly, improved his farm
until he has now a model place and an abundant pro-
ducer, well improved and handled in a cemmendable
manner, while he enjoys a fine residence, commodious
barn and all the accessories that make rural life profita-
ble and comfortable. In 1873 he took a journey
through Washington and taught school where Slaugh-
ter now stands.
On October 26, 1876, at Arcadia, Wisconsin, Mr.
Hunt married Miss Pruda I\L, daughter of Alva and
Pruda Yarrington. The father was sheriff of Han-
cock county, Iowa, was active in politics and an early
settler there. To Mr. and Mrs. Hunt there have been
born the following children : Bertha E., wife of Luther
Lowry, of this county; Meritt T... a school teacher;
Almon D. ; Katie E., deceased ; Amabel M., Harvey
E., and Bessie E., the last one being an adopted child.
Mr. and Mrs. Hunt are members of the Methodist
church and are liberal supporters of that institution.
Politically Mr. Hunt has been active, being a candidate
for assessor in Iowa, and making a good race on the
Republican ticket. He takes a great interest in edu-
cational matters and politics as becomes everv loyal
citizen.
WILLIAM S. MAGUIRE. Latah county is well
supplied with stanch and enterprising agriculturists
and one among this worthy number it is now our
pleasant privilege to give consideration in this volume
of the county history. Mr. Maguire is a wise and
skillful farmer and also handles some stock and does
mining. He was born in the city of New York to
James and Catherine Maguire, on December 12. 1843.
The father was a manufacturer of edged tools and re-
moved his family to Cleveland, Ohio, while our sub-
ject was still a small boy, and there the latter received
some schooling and the father followed his trade. In
185 1 the father removed to Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania,
and there prosecuted his trade for seventeen years.
William S. completed his education in that city and also
learned the sheet iron trade. It was in 1868 that he
began to look toward the west and soon he was on his
way to Iowa where he farmed in Harrison and Cass
counties for several years. Thence he went to Port-
land, Oregon, arriving at the time the captured Snake
Indians were hung for massacring the whites. He was
soon in Walla Walla, Washington, and a little later
he took up his present farm which is four and one-
half miles northeast from Moscow, and the date when
he settled was 1874. He was one of the oldest settlers
in this section and he has the distinction of being one
of the real builders of this county, having always
wrought with energy and wisdom. Mr. Maguire pays
attention to raising the king of cereals, wheat, almost
entirely, also handling cows and horses.
It was in April, 1888, that Mr. Maguire and Miss
Aphelia, daughter of Elijah and Anna C. Wilson,
farmers near Beatrice, Nebraska, were married and
they have become the parents of two children, Edwin
and Bertha M., both at home. The wedding of our
subject and his wife took place at Beatrice, Nebraska.
Mr. Maguire is a member of the K. of P. He and
his family are not members of any denomination, pre-
ferring the real scriptural ground of simple belief in
the Saviour of men and a close walk with Him rather
than in human organization. Mr. Maguire is a man
of good ability and sound principles and he has the es-
teem and confidence of his fellows.
CURRENCY A. GUM MERE. A stanch veteran
of the Civil war, where he shouldered the musket of
freedom and did the service of a patriot, shedding blood
for the cause, and later assisting in various places to
develop and build up the country that he had helped
to save, and now one of the substantial and leading
agriculturists of this county, we are pleased to grant
to this gentleman a representation in his county's his-
tory, where he is eminently entitled to consideration.
Mr. Gummere was born in Clarke count}'. < >hio,
on March 22, 1842, being the son of Harlan and Mary
A. Gummere. The father was a carpenter and in pol-
itics an active Republican. The family removed to
Indiana soon after the birth of Currency and there he
received his first schooling, wdience later they removed
U > Jefferson county, Iowa, and two years later to Oska-
loosa, farming in both places. In 1859 they returned
to Illinois. In 1861, at the age Of nineteen, our sub-
ject enlisted in an Iowa regiment, having been twice
rejected previous to that in Illinois on account of his
size, or rather lack of size. His was the
Sixth Iowa Infantry and he was soon
plunged in the famous battle of Shiloh, where
a musket ball pierced his lung and he was placed in
the hospital for recovery but soon he was out and with
the boys again handling the weapons of warfare as
skillfully as before. At Kenesaw Mountain he stopped
another Rebel bullet, this time in his left shoulder,
and again he was sent for healing in the weary war
hospital. He seemed to devote his energies to healing
for soon he was out and this time just soon enough to
join his command in the famous march to the sea.
He staid in the conflict until the conflict was no mure
and then received an honorable discharge at Louisville,
Kentucky. And for this loyal service he is now draw-
ing a pension of seventeen dollars per month, which
is dearly bought money. He left the ranks fur the
prairies of Illinois and two years later, at Champaign,
in that state, he married Miss Elizabeth Huston, the
date of that happy event being March 14, 1867. Six
years later they removed to Aurora, Nebraska, and
farmed a homestead for ten years, after which they
went to Valley and did well in the stock business and
farming for six years and then sold out and went to
Sheridan county, and pre-empted a quarter and thence
in 1893, they came overland to Latah count}-. He has
a good farm six miles northeast from Moscow, and
raises oats, hogs and horses and is prosperous am! well
to do.
The subject of this sketch and his estimable wife
have become the parents of eighteen children, twelve
of win >m are living, as follows: William H. married
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
and in Oklahoma ; Sheridan A., in Nebraska ; Lottie,
wife of Harry Hodden, in Colorado ; Orison O.. in
Alaska; Anna M., wife of A. J. Draper, of Moscow;
Daisy, wife of Oscar DePartee, in Moscow: Nellie,
wife of Frank Frazier in Latah county; Currency I.
in Whitman county, Washington ; Ida, wife of Gene
DePartee; Frank R., in Montana; Mabel H. and Leon-
ard R., at home.
THOMAS TIERNEV. Few men have passed a
more eventful and varied career than the subject of
this sketch, a son of the Emerald Isle, and possessing
all the fire, energy, skill, sagacity and brightness char-
acteristic of his race, which has been manifested in
various channels of his stirring walk through some of
the most exciting regions of the world, the western
part of the United States in the last fifty years. Our
subject came to light of day on May i, 1836, in county
Galway. Ireland, being the son of Martin and Mary
(Fahy) Tierney. He was educated until eleven years
in his native land and then came with an uncle to
America where he attended school for some years
more and at the age of eighteen started for himself.
He commenced operation by working in a brickyard,
then worked on the Erie canal during the time of the
iast enlargement of that waterway. Two years at
that and then we find him in Iowa, later in St. Louis,
then in Mexico, laboring at various occupations, then
in the time of the gold stampede to Pikes Peak he was
with the first. After the excitement he went to Salt
Lake, driving cattle, thence to Kansas, where he farmed
a time and then he hired out to ride the famous Pony
Express, riding from Marysville, Kansas, to Pig
Sandy, No. 3. Six months sufficed him in this dan-
gerous and stirring occupation, then for one year he
was at the no less hazardous work of herding horses
in that country. Next we find young Tierney freight-
ing from Kansas City to Colorado, and his energy was
manifest in that he gained twenty-five thousand dol-
lars in this business, which after the war, however,
depreciated nearly fifty per cent. At this time he went
into partnership and lost the major portion of his
hard earned money. It was a great lesson and he
collected his remnants together and came west to
Nevada, thence to California, on to Oregon, and finally-
landed in Lewiston in 1870. After spending seven
thousand more in these trips he went prospecting, then
bought a team and hauled wood, and finally came to
the place where he now lives and squatted on a quar-
ter section of land, which he homesteaded, then con-
tinued to reside there and improve the same from that
time until the present, purchasing additional pieces of
adjoining land until he has four hundred and eighty-
seven acres of fine, fertile land, which is mostly rented,
Mr. Tierney retiring more from the ardous labors of
the farm. It is of note that Mr. Tierney was one of
the builders of the first telegraph line to Ft. Scott.
In 1866 Mr. Tierney married Miss Maria Beck
in Kansas and four children were born to them,
Thomas M., married and living in Ohio; Gerome, mar-
ried to Nora Butler and living in Latah county ; Anna
M., wife of Dan Haley, and living in Genesee ; William,
married to Louise Jivits and living in Latah county;
Mrs. Tierney died in 1873. Mr. Tierney married again
in 1896 and in the same year he was' called upon to
mourn the death of his second wife. In 1898, in
Howard county, Iowa, for the third time Mr.
Tierney approached the sacred altar, this time
leading Anna Drew, and to them have been
born one child, Michael J. In early times
Mr. Tierney was active and for a season served as
postmaster, continuing in that capacity about four
years. He affiliates with the Catholic church, and is
one of the leading men of his section, being possessed
of those happy qualities of genialty and real worth.
JOSEPH C. DePARTEE. This enterprising far-
mer and miner of Latah county is located six and one-
half miles northeast from Moscow where he has a
fine farm and manifests diligence and vigor in the care
of his property, being a man whose life has been
crowded with adventure, since he has wrought much
in the mines of the different frontiers. Joseph C. was
born in Pottawattamie county, Iowa, near Council
Bluffs, being the son of James and Mary Ann (Schley)
DePartee. The date of this event was October 8,
1844. The father was a farmer and went to Califor-
nia in 1850, also served in the Civil war and while in
Arizona was killed by the Mexican bushwhackers.
Our subject was taken at the age of two to Rockport,
Missouri, remaining there until iS(u. when he came
across the plains with his uncle. Daniel Fuller, his
mother, and brother James, and sisters Angeline and
Elizabeth. They travelled with the ox team of the
day and stopped at Salt Lake, where the family re-
mained for fourteen years. Our subject farmed there
for one year and then went to the mines in Montana,
near old Virginia City and Bannock, returning to
Utah and recrossing the plains as wagon guard in iSnT>.
He came back and again went to mining but later as-
sisted to take a band of cattle to Nevada for one, Mr.
Hughes. In Utah Mr. DePartee saw the finishing of
the first great transcontinental line of railway. In
1873-4 he mined at Pioche, Nevada, then returned to
Utah and mined at Nebo and finally in 1876 came to
Colfax, going to Dayton to winter and the following
year came to the Latah country. He settled about one
mile from his present place at the mouth of Gnat
creek. He remained four years and then was tempted
to the mines in the southern part of the state and also
made a trip to Utah, whence he returned again to this
section, taking his present place, six and one-half miles
northeast from Moscow, as a homestead. In 1895 he
made a trip to California which consumed one year.
Upon his return to this country he followed mining
principally, although he has a first-class farm and has
developed it in good shape.
Mr. DePartee married Miss Jane, daughter of
William R. and Jane (Gustin) Holden, farmers, on
November 5, 1866. the nuptials occurring in Utah.
The following children have been born to them : Jos-
728
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
eph X.. married to Dollie Roland and living in the Xez
Perces reservation; I Iscar F., maried to Daisy Bartill
and living in Moscow ; Charles E., married to Ida Gum-
mery and living on the home place. This one was a
soldier in the Philippine war; Tillie. married Al
Draper and living at Orofino. Mr. DePartee is a Dem-
ocrat of the old Jeffersonian type and is active in the
realm of politics. He practices diversified farming,
having also a fine orchard. While in Utah Mr. De-
Partee assisted to put down the Ute Indian uprising
which was known' as the Black Hawk war. This
occurred in 1864-5. He was not allied with the Mor-
mons in their religious belief in Utah and hence he
preferred to leave their section.
X. M. HAWLEY. The gentleman whose name
is at the head of this article, is one of the sturdy
pioneers who opened this section to settlement, and
he has labored continuously here since that date, build-
ing up and developing his properties, and augment-
ing the wealth of the county, being now one of the
prosperous and progressive agriculturists, who form
the substantial citizenship which has made the county
what it is today.
Mr. Hawley was born in Knox county, Illinois,
on January 9, 1843, being the son of Ira and Elvira
(Riley) Hawley, the father a native of New York and
the mother of Indiana. The latter's parents came to
Illinois shortly after the Black Hawk Indian war.
The father came to Illinois in 1835 and engaged in
farming until 1850. when he was lured to the Golden
state by the gold excitement, but returned home the
next year. Then he sold out, and the next year crossed
the plains with his family to Lane county, Oregon,
taking there a donation claim of one half section, and
purchasing from the government land until his home
place was of the generous acreage of eleven hundred,
and another place contained seven hundred acres.
He was a prominent man in that section, and there in
August, 1 901, he passed to the other world, and the
mother followed in December of the same year, and
both are buried on the old homestead. Our subject
remained with his father until he was twenty years of
age and then went to farming on two hundred acres
that the father had given him. Eight years he farmed
there in Linn county, and then after the loss of his
first wife, he went to railroading on the construction.
Later he put his farm into the hands of his two oldest
sons and went to Lake county. Oregon, and for five
years raised stock. Then he returned on a visit to his
sons, settled matters up regarding tne estate, after
which he came to Idaho in 1877, settling on a home-
stead adjoining his present place and until 1893 he
engaged in farming there. He then bought one hun-
dred acres just north of Moscow, where he lived until
1901. In that year he returned to his old home place,
where he is living at the present time. He has sold
the property near town and has purchased a half
section adjoining his present home place.
On September 17, 1863, in Lane county, Oregon,
Mr. Hawley married Miss Arzella, daughter of John
and Martha Willis, natives of Tennessee, who came to
Oregon in 1855. This lady was a native of Mis-
souri, and she bore three children : Lawrence, Will-
iam H, and Walter R.
Air. Hawley contracted a second marriage on
January 13. 1884, in Moscow, and the lady then be-
coming his wife was M. Fanny, daughter of Archie
B. and Sarah Estes, whose sketch is in another portion
of this work. To this happy union there have been born
three children: Ella, Eugene and Archie. Mr. and
Mrs. Hawley are members of the Baptist church and
are exemplary persons in every respect, being highly
esteemed and having maintained an untarnished repu-
tation. Mr. Hawley is one of the leading citizens of
the county, has always labored for its advancement,
is an enterprising and capable man, and has demon-
strated his ability in the business world to be of a
high order.
EDWARD P. ATCHISON. This well known
and representative business man is proprietor of the
Kendrick warehouse system which has its headquarters
in Kendrick. He is a business man of keen descrim-
ination. and careful yet vigorous methods, and has
achieved a success that is quite satisfactory and grati-
fying. Air. Atchison was born in Jerseyville, Jersey
county. Illinois, on January 15, 1866, being the son of
Edward and Elvira (Blay) Atchison. He was reared
on a farm until his parents died, which was while he
was very young. From that time onward, he made his
way in the world alone, working at what he could find
to do and attending school in the winters while he
worked for his board. At the age of sixteen, he quit
school and went to Parsons, Kansas, where he rail-
roaded for about eleven years, much of the time be-
ing section foreman in Burton, Kansas, and also yard
foreman there, on the St. Louis and San Francisco
railroad. He came west in 1892, landing in Kendrick.
where he worked in the Farmers' warehouse one sea-
son and then went into business for himself, which he
prosecuted for two years. Then he bought the Gar-
field storage and elevator plant at Garfield, Washing-
ton, and for four years he was operating that estab-
lishment. In 1899. Mr. Atchison came again to Ken-
drick and purchased an interest in the plant of the
Kendrick warehouse with M. C. McGrew. and one
year later bought the latter's interest, becoming sole
owner of the system, which embraces a warehouse 54
by 140 in Kendrick, connected by a wire rope tramway
of two thousand and eight hundred feet to a ware-
house of 36 by 100 feet on the hill above Kendrick, one
warehouse at Clyde spur 32 by 80 feet, and a hay
warehouse 36 by 100 near the large w-arehouse in Ken-
drick. This system, Mr. Atchison manages, having a
force of seven men and handling about one hundred
and fifty thousand sacks of wheat each year in addi-
tion to hay and other grains. His business is increas-
ing and he contemplates erecting other houses. His
contrivance for handling the grain down the hill saves
the farmers much heavy hauling. In addition to this
N. M. HAWLEY.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
729
business, Mr. Atchison manages a farm of two hun-
dred and thirty acres of wheat land adjacent to Ken-
drick He owns a fine residence in the eastern part
of the city, also a residence and store building: in Gar-
field.
Mr. Atchison was married in Burton, Kansas, in
1888, to Vesta Howerton, a native of Wisconsin, who
is deceased, leaving- two children, Edward and Vesta,
at home. In 1896 Mr. Atchison again approached the
sacred altar, this time leading as his bride, Miss Anna.
daughter of Angus and Anna McCleod, the nuptials
occurring in Kendrick. Mrs. Atchison's parents live
on a farm in the vicinity of Kendrick. Fraternally,
Mr. Atchison is a member of the I. O. O. F., Nez
Perces Lodge, No. yj, and also of the encampment ;
and of the K. of P., Lodge No 31, of Garfield. Wash-
ington: and also of the W. of W., White Pine Camp
No. 204 ; and of the Rebekahs in Kendrick.
NELSON HART. In at least two distinct lines
of industry has Mr. Hart succeeded in this county and
at the present time he owns a fine farm six miles north-
east from Moscow, where he not only raises the fruit of
the soil, handles stock, maintains a fine orchard, but also
is operating a good placer mine, having taken from
the ground three thousand dollars already and he has
just begun the operation of mining. He is to be con-
gratulated on his good fortune in having these prop-
erties thus combined and he is a wise manager of his
interests.
The birth of Mr. Hart occurred in Windsor, Nova
Scotia, on July 19, 1840, being the son of William and
Elizabeth Hart. The father was an old soldier in the
British armies. At the age of fourteen he removed
to Caribou, Maine, and there attended school, re-
maining there for twelve years. He enlisted in the
Second United States Sharpshooters, afterwards being
transferred to the Seventeenth, where he did valiant
service in the Civil war. participating in all the
battles of the Wilderness, and at the present time he
is drawing a monthly pension of sixteen dollars for
his labor and suffering in that awful struggle. In
1866 he went to Wisconsin, taking up lumbering and
farming, and in 1876 came west, landing first in
Tacoma. From that point he went to Walla Walla,
Washington, and lumbered in the adjacent forests for
two years and then came to Colfax, taking a home-
stead of one hundred and twenty acres, which he sold
two years later and moved to Latah county, settling
at Viola, in 1882. Thence he came to his present
location in 1888, homesteaded twenty acres and bought
eighty more and devoted himself to the improvement
of his ranch.
In 1868 Mr. Hart married Miss Rosina Duel and
to them were born Rosetta, Mary E., John N. and
Cora E., all of whom are deceased. On January 1,
1877, death also claimed Mrs. Hart and the sorrowing
husband laid to rest his noble and loving wife. On
October 14, 1877, Mr. Hart contracted a second mar-
riage, Jemima Meredith then becoming his bride. Her
parents were James and Ann Meredith. To this sec-
ond marriage there have been born. Kate E., James W.
and Everard W. The first two are dead and the
latter one is attending business college at Moscow,
having been well educated in the public schools also.
Mr. Hart believes in and practices the diversified plan
of farming, handling aiso stock and hogs. He is very
successful in all these lines of industry and manifest's
commendable wisdom in the manipulation of his busi-
ness ventures. Mrs. Hart is a member of the Advent
church.
Mr. Hart is now erecting a beautiful home which
when completed will be both commodious and com-
fortable as well as of excellent architectural design.
GEORGE E. YOUNG. This well known business
man whose activities have placed him in a leading po-
sition in the business world of Latah county, is a man
of excellent ability and in his chosen line of lumber
merchant and general transfer business in Kendrick,
he has made a good success. George E. was born in
Washington county, Iowa, on February 21, 1863, be-
ing the son of James N. and Martha J. (Cones)
Young. The father was a leading man in his home
place, being a representative to the state legislature
from his county. He owned a large tract of land,
but later sold it and went to Howard county, Kansas,
where also he was called upon to represent his county
in the state legislature, being elected on the Republi-
can ticket. He was also count)' superintendent of
schools for his county for a series of years, having
then removed to Elk county. In Elk county he finally
resided and there in 1897 he was summoned to the
world beyond, the wife following in about one week.
Our subject received his education in Elk county and
remained with his father until he had attained his
eighteenth year. His first venture was in farming
and that he followed until he came to Latah county,
the date of his migration being 1893. He also was
numbered with the agriculturists here for a time, then
devoted a year to carrying mail from Southwick to
Kendrick, then prospected, labored in a warehouse,
and then clerked in a store until he determined to
start a business for himself, this being in 1896. He
opened a dray and transfer business in a small way.
soon increased, added the sale of lumber and building
material, lime and coal, and now he handles the repre-
sentative business in his line in the town. Inlying for
this vear's trade already nearly half a million feet of
lumber. Mr. Young has a fine residence, which he
erected, also a good farm of one-half section of land,
part in Latah county and part in Nez Perces county.
Fraternally, Mr. Young is affiliated with the I. O. O.
F., Nez Perces Lodge, No. 37. at Kendrick. He
was married in Elk county, Kansas, on February 28.
[889, Miss Annetta VanBuskirk becoming his bride at
that time. The father of Mrs. Young is a carpenter
and her mother is a native of Indiana. Mr. and Mrs.
Young has an adopted child, Grace Gaynell Young.
Mr.Yi mng has won for himself a success here that dem-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
onstrates his ability and keen discrimination and good
practical judgment, and he stands in favor with all who
know him.
JOHN ROBERTS. This capable and thrifty
agriculturist and fruit raiser of Latah county lives
about four miles west from Kendrick where he owns
a fine estate of three hundred and sixty acres of fer-
tile soil, which is farmed in a most excellent manner,
and returns handsome dividends to its prosperous
owner. Mr. Roberts was born in Macon county, Mis-
souri, on November 15, 1848, being the son of Charles
and Eliza A. Roberts. The father was a farmer and
died when this son was eight years old. The mother
then removed with her family to Shelby county, Iowa,
settling near Harlan, and there our subject received
his educational training, also studying some in Wash-
ington county, Kansas, whither he went with the fam-
ily in his fifteenth year. In Kansas he worked at farm-
ing for three years then returned to Missouri for one
year, after which time we find him again in Kansas,
where three years more were spent. Then he took a
trip to his old home in Iowa and worked there for
two years. 1875 marks the year in which he came to
the coast and he was engaged in the shingle trade for
one year at Portland, then he purchased a steamboat
and for one year he was occupied in steamboat ing on
the Columbia. In 1878 he came to the territory now
occupied by Latah county and settled on the place
where the family home is today, which land he pre-
empted, and since has added two hundred acres by
purchase. He has the farm in a high state of culti-
vation and in addition to general farming he produces
abundance of fine fruit. Twenty acres are devoted to
the production of the leading fruits and his success in
this line marks him as one of the leading fruit raisers
of the county. In early days Mr. Roberts raised and
handled many cattle and horses.
Mr. Roberts was married where Kendrick now
stands, September 30. 1880, Miss Louisa, daughter of
Benton and Hulda ( Sweener ) Hill, early settlers of
this section, becoming his wife at that time. Five
children have been born to this happy household, as
follows : Henry, Elva, Harvy, Cora and Gertie, all at
home and attending school.
JOHX S. CR( >CKER. Xo one about the town of
Kendrick is better known than the subject of this
sketch, he being a representative business man, having
now retired from the more active business and han-
dling his various properties in a capable manner, hav-
ing gained a goodly competence from his keen dis-
crimination and energy in his business course. Mr.
Crocker was born in Butler county, near Butler. Penn-
sylvania, on March 26, 1848, being the son of William
and Alice ( Sprott ) Crocker. The father was a farmer
and passed away there but the mother is still living in
the native place. There our subject received his edu-
cation from the district schools and labored with his
father until he had reached the age of majority when
he went into the labors of life on his own account,
farming there until 1878, when he sold out and went
to Cass county, Missouri, purchasing a farm where he
remained for sixteen years, in the vicinity of Harrison-
ville. It was in 1893 that he came to Latah county,
and in Kendrick he soon purchased the two livery
barns and operated them very successfully until re-
cently, the fall of 190 1, when he sold the stock and
rented the buildings, retiring from the more active
parts of business. Mr. Crocker handled many horses
during the time he was in business, buying and selling
numbers of them and also now he is dealing some in
horses. He owns a blacksmith shop and considerable
residence property in the town of Kendrick, all of
which is rented and he is one of the prosperous and
well to do men of the town.
In Centerville. Pennsylvania, he was married to
Mariah L.. daughter of Milton and Virginia (Seth)
Cook, in 1869. Mrs. Crocker was a native of Penn-
sylvania and her father was a tailor in the town where
she was married. To Mr. and Mrs. Crocker there have
been born the following named children, Frank D.,
married to Jessie Lockins and a carriage maker; Fred
D. living at Everett. Washington : Iva, in Spokane,
Washington ; George married to Trina Cragger and
living in Everett. Washington; Lauren L., married to
Jessie Steele, and living in Everett. Washington;
Winona, at home: Earl, attending the Northwestern
Business College in Spokane,. Washington. Mr.
Crocker is a man with much energy and possessed of
fine executive ability, which is dominated with keen
sagacity and has led the w-ay in his successful business
ventures and given him his goodly competence.
CHARLES E. RAY. The genial and hospitable
gentleman whose name appears above is one of Latah
county's prosperous and progressive farmers and stock
raisers, having wrought here for many years and now
owning one quarter section six and one-half miles
northeast from Moscow, where he puts forth com-
mendable effort in the production of the fruits of the
soil and has the place well improved and one of the
finest orchards in the county, which consists of ten
acres set to the choicest varieties of all kinds of fruits
that are indigenous to this section. Charles E. was
born in Iowa, near Oskaloosa, on January 1. t866,
being the son of John M. and Jane M.. farmers of
that region, and both now living with this son. When
Charles was an infant, the family removed to Belle-
ville, Kansas, whefe they took up fanning and stock
raising. During their stay there occurred the great
Indian raid of that country wherein much suffering
was endured. In 187(1 they crossed the plains to Port-
land. Four years were spent in that section and then
another move was made to Walla Walla, Washington,
whence after one year's farming there, they came to
the Palouse country. The father sought out a place
of government land and settled on the farm now owned
by our subject. He filed a pre-emption and later re-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
73i
linquished it in favor of his son. This has been the
family home since that time. In addition to handling
the farm. Air. Ray has paid considerable attention to
mining in different localities of the state. He has
operated around Florence, was in the Buffalo Hump
excitement, and has done considerable work in the Mos-
cow mountains, where he is busied at the present time.
He has worked at the White Cross mine in this last
vicinity, which is a promising property. Thus far in
life Mr. Ray has decided to enjoy the pleasures of
the celibatarian rather than gather the responsibilities
of domesticity around him. He is a man of sound
principles, dominated by wisdom and integrity and
enjoys the esteem of all who have the pleasure of his
acquaintance.
JACOB KAMBITCH. It now becomes our
pleasant privilege to chronicle the career of the esti-
mable and doughty pioneer named at the head of this
article, and we feel assured that to no more worthy
builder of Latah county and substantial citizen of the
same at this time could there be given due recognition
of merit and labors since it has been the lot of our
subject to have always been faithful in labor, upright
in walk of life, and patriotic and brave in the defense
of his chosen country in time of danger, and he is now
worthy of the place of prominence that he is accorded
among his fellows and in the recognition of a grateful
people.
Our subject was born in Hungary, Austria, on
July 20, 1 83 1, being the son of Mat and Mary Kam-
bitch, who were natives of that country and lie buried
there now. He was educated in his native place and
at the age of twenty years entered the army, serving
five years, then returned to his father's farm where he
remained one year and then came to America, in 1857,
settling in St. Louis where he drove team for four
years. Then came the trying time of the Civil war
and young Kambitch manifested the metal of which he
was made by offering his services for the mainten-
ance of the Union, by shedding blood if need be, be-
ing a volunteer in the Second Light Artillery under
Captain Stanga. and three years and three months he
served in the cause of freedom and good government
to put down forever the menace of treason. Fol-
lowing this time, he was promoted to the rank of cor-
poral and served until the close rvf 1864, when he was
honorably discharged. He was in the battle of Pea
Ridge, Little Rock, Blue Field, Greenville, besides
several others. He was a gunner and received a slight
wound in the hand. After the war he teamed until
1867, then went on a steamboat to Fort Benton and
there operated as a freighter from that place to Helena,
handling seven yoke of oxen and two wagons. On
account of the hostilities of the Indians, he resigned
this position and went prospecting. Later he started
to Bitter Root valley and thence to Walla Walla and
lost his way and finally brought up at Lewiston, hav-
ing been three days without food. He received food
from the hotel in that town and went to work thresh-
ing, having nine days of this labor, it being the en-
tire season at that time. He worked at various oc-
cupations until he had secured a stake of two hundred
dollars and then he sent for his family and took a
claim and farmed for one and one-half years, selling the
land at that time for seven hundred dollars.
In 1872 he took a homestead where he now lives,
four miles northeast from Genesee, and built a house
and settled down, and here he has been ever since
that time engaged in tilling the soil, becoming one of
the prominent men of the county. He has an estate
of four hundred and eighty acres all tilled and well
improved. He sells annually over ten thousand bush-
els of grain. For fifteen yea'rs, until the railroad came,
he hauled all his grain to the river for shipment.
In 1865 Mr Kambitch was married to Miss Ther-
isa, daughter of Simon Geiger, a native of Baden,
Germany. The parents died in their native place and
the daughter came to St. Louis in 1859, where also
the wedding mentioned occurred. Eight children have
been born to this worthy couple, six of whom, as fol-
lows, are living: Emma F., married to John Jacksha
and living in this county ; Anna, married to Frank
Bruegemann, living in this county ; Mary T., married
to Joseph Shober and living in Cottonwood. Idaho ;
Joseph S., single and with his father; Louise M., sin-
gle and with her parents; Clara C, married to John
Hardeman and living in Latah county. Mr. Kam-
bitch is a member of the G. A. R. of Genesee. He is
a devout member of the Roman Catholic church as
also are the members of his family. It is of note that
in 1875 Mr. Kambitch lost twenty-eight head of cattle
by freezing to death, the snow that year being five
feet deep on the level.
MICHAEL C. NORMOYLE. One of the heaviest
property holders and ablest business men of Latah
county is named at the head of this article, and he is
eminently deserving of mention in the volume that pur-
ports to chronicle the history of his count}-, both
because of the excellent success that he has achieved
and because of the intrinsic worth of his personality.
Michael C. was born on September 8, 1853, >n Trow
New York, being the son of John and Bessie (Clancy)
Normoyle, natives of Ireland. They came to the
United States in 1834, and the father worked at his
trade of stone cutting in Troy, until he was aged forty-
three, when he was called away by death. The mother
died in October, 1890, being nearly four score years of
age, and a devout member of the Catholic church. Six
children were the offspring of this worthy couple and
three are living.
Returning more particularly to the subject of this
article, we find him at the early age of ten years oper-
ating as a bell boy in a leading hotel in Washington,
D. C. He was educated in Denver, Colorado, working
bv day and studying in the night schools. This was
continued until he was eighteen years old, when he
went to Fairplay, Colorado, remaining until 1876.
732
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Then he went to the Black Hills and returned in 1880,
to take charge of the Lindell hotel in Denver, where
he labored for five years, and was also proprietor of
all the eating houses on the Denver & Rio Grande rail-
road, five years being his allotted time in this capacity.
Later he was in Palouse, Washington, and operated
the St. Elmo hotel there. 1890 was the date of Mr.
Normoyle's arrival in Kendrick. He erected the first
hotel in the place, and for two years did a thriving
business, and then the structure, being frame, burned
to the ground, entailing a loss of fourteen thousand
dollars. His enterprise was not to be thwarted and tor
a time succeeding this catastrophe, Mr. Normoyle
cared for his guests in tents. Men of means had con-
fidence in our subject and advanced him money to erect
the present St. Elmo hotel and St. Elmo block, the
former being a fine two-story brick with excellent
parlors, office, cuisine, and twenty-four sleeping apart-
ments, while the latter is a two-story brick structure
used as a double store below and as an opera house
above. Mr. Normoyle is an experienced host and han-
dles his business in a most commendable manner, hav-
ing friends in all the traveling public as well as all who
know him. He is also president of the Kendrick water
works, the supply coming from springs on his farm,
a one-hundred-and-forty-eight-acre tract adjoining-
town. He is also president of the Coeur d'Alene
Inn Company, operating the Coeur d'Alene Inn at
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
In 1872. at Denver, Colorado, Mr. Normoyle mar-
ried Miss Mary Azra. One son came to gladden the
happy union, and he is a member of the Montana legis-
lature. Mr. Normoyle was called upon to mourn the
death of his wife in 1885. In 1891 he married a sec-
one time, the lady of. his choice being Arra Nichols and
they have become the parents of two sons, George W.
and Edwin M.. and a daughter, Ruth. Fraternally
Mr. Normoyle is affiliated with the Masons, Kendrick
Lodge, No. 26, being past master and now secretary ;
also with the Eastern Star and the I. O. O. F. Polit-
ically he is one of the stanch old Jeffe.rsonian Demo-
crats. It is gratifying to have in our midst a business
man of such capacity, vigor and sagacity and Kendrick
is to be congratulated in that Mr. Normoyle is domi-
ciled within her borders.
ARTHUR A. DOBSON has the reputation of
being one of the mast progressive farmers and stock-
men in the county of Latah, and sure it is that he has
a fine bod)- of land and does commendable work in
these lines, while also it is interesting to note that he
has led a life filled with adventure and energetic act-
ivity in various parts of the world, being what is
termed bv'the English, a colonial, since he was born in
Hobart, Tasmania island. His parents were Edwin
and Caroline Dobson, the father being a magistrate in
the native land. After seven years in attendance upon
a private boarding school young Dobson at the age of
thirteen scented adventure ahead and ran away from
home and went to sea. He went to London, England,
thence to New Zealand, north island, then returned to
London. Soon out on another trip which took him to
Port Chalmers, New Zealand, south island, he then
returned to England and afterwards to Hong Kong,
China, and again to England and out to Calcutta,
thence to Wellington, north New Zealand, and thence
finally to Portland, Oregon. Then he left the sea and
went to work on a farm. Later he went to San Fran-
cisco, then returned to Oregon with a pack train, and
had a pow wow with the Modocs whom he charged
with stealing an animal, which they found for him
later. And two weeks after this exciting time that
fierce tribe were pouncing upon the defenseless natives
in bloody war. From the Willamette valley he came to
Grant county and took up stock raising, later he went
to Couer d'Alene with a band of horses and afterward
to Colfax and in August, 1881. he came to Latah
county and at once devoted his energies to logging for
Northrup & Moore. In 1891 he took a homestead
six miles northeast from Moscow and on December 12,
1899, he purchased his present place four miles north-
east from Moscow and there he has been living since
that time. Mr. Dobson owns three hundred and sixty
acres of desirable land and practices diversified farm-
ing but is gradually placing his land all to the differ-
ent grasses and handling stock.
The marriage of Mr. Dobson and Miss Callie M.,
daughter of Sherman and Caroline Finch, of St. Paul,
Minnesota, was solemnized on March 23, 1889. Mr.
Finch was sheriff of Blue Earth county, Minnesota,
and chief of police in Mankato. that county. Mrs.
Dobson attended school at Carlton College, North-
field, Minnesota, having as classmate Miss May Hay-
wood, the daughter of Mr. Haywood, the cashier of
the bank, shot by the famous Younger brothers. Mr.
Dobson is a member of the Elks, Moscow Lodge, No.
249, aiso of the W. of W. He and wife are members
of the Episcopalian church. In political matters Mr.
Dobson is active and always allied with the Repub-
licans.
JOSEPH C. JOHNSTON. In the course of the
development of Latah county, how much faithful labor
has been performed by the agriculturists and stockmen,
and the present commercial importance of this county
in the state is largely due to these same wisely be-
stowed labors. Among those who have done this com-
mendable work is to be mentioned J. C. Johnston,
whose life's career it is now our pleasant task to outline
in brief review. Joseph C. was born in Iowa, on May
27, 1849, being the son of Bryan and Delilah (Phil-
lipps) Johnston. When he was four years of age, the
family removed to St. Clair county, Missouri, later
to Warren county, in the same state, and then about
1868, they removed back to Vernon county. Another
migration was made, this time to Woodson county,
Kansas, where our subject remained until 1882, engaged
in the basic art of tilling the soil. At the date last
mentioned, Mr. Johnston determined to try the west
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
733
and accordingly came to Latah county and took as
homestead his present fine farm of one hundred and
twenty acres, which is three miles west from Troy.
He has transformed the wildness of the face of the
land into well tilled fields, has comfortable improve-
ments, a good orchard and is one of the substantial
and prosperous men of the community.
Air. Johnston married Miss Martha A. Rodgers in
Woodson county, Kansas, and they have become the
parents of three children, William F., Charles F.
and Estella M.
GEORGE W. P. HILL. Among the younger
men who are making Latah county what she is to-
day, a leader in the state, is the gentleman mentioned
above. He is one of the band of enterprising agri-
turists who labor for' the welfare of the county, the
promotion of good schools and government, and the
enhancing of his financial standing in a commendable
manner and with wisdom and vigor. George W.
was born in Nevada City, California, on May 8, 1867,
being the son of H. D. and Martha (Price) Hill.
The father was a carpenter and our subject was about
the country considerably with him until the date when
he migrated to this county, 1885. He was with his
mother, who took a pre-emption for two years and
then farmed around Juliaetta for four years, after
which he was similarly engaged in Whitman county
for one season, and then he made settlement where
we find him at the present time, one mile south from
Cornwall. He has there a good farm of one hundred
and sixty acres improved in a good manner, and a
fine orchard of three hundred and sixty choice varie-
ties of fruit. In addition to general farming, Mr.
Hill raises stock and he is one of the prosperous men
of the community. Fraternally, Mr. Hill is a member
of the M. W. A.. Cornwall Lodge, No. 9645. In this
capacity Air. Hill is a popular associate, and he is an
affable and genial gentleman and a skillful husband-
man.
The marriage of Mr. Hill and Miss Martha,
daughter of J. R. and Adella Dunham, was celebrated
near Cornwall, on April 8, 1894, and to them have
been born the following children : Walter, Blanche
and Glen.
HENRY FLOMER. As many of the substantial
and leading citizens of the United States, the subject
of this sketch came hither from Germany, being born
in Driftsethe, Hanover province, on December 22,
1867, the son of John F. and Meta (Spering) Flo-
mer. The father is still living in the native country,
but the mother died there. Our subject was educated
in his native village and at the age of eleven began to
work out for the farmers of his vicinity and this con-
tinued until he was sixteen, at which time he bade
farewell to the fatherland, to home and relatives and
embarked for New York. Landing there in good time,
he engaged in a grocery store, where he clerked for
four and one-half years. At the expiration of that
interval he bought an interest in the store with his
brother and for one year operated the establishment,
then sold out and came hence to Latah county, land-
ing here in 1880. He immediately engaged in labor
for the farmers, continuing it for three years, then
bought his present place, two miles west from Gen-
esee. He bought one hundred and twenty at first and
later added forty more, giving him a full quarter at
the present time. Mr. Flomer has manifested great
industry, skill and wisdom in the management of his
estate, having it well tilled and improved with excel-
lent buildings, as residence, barns and outbuildings,
having also a good orchard and a general air of thrift
pervades the entire premises, manifesting the untir-
ing care and enterprise of the proprietor. Mr. Flomer
has a number of head of stock and. is one of the most
prosperous farmers in his vicinity.
In 1895 occurred the marriage of Air. Flomer and
Miss Eliza T., daughter of Louis and Sophie (Bor-
tels) Oldag, natives of Germany, who came to Amer-
ica in 1869, locating in Chicago and later coining to
Latah county, where they reside at the present time.
To our subject and his estimable wife there have
been born three children, Clarence L., Carl H. and
William D. Air. and Airs. Flomer are members of
the Lutheran church and Air. Flomer also affiliates
with the M. W. A. He is a man of enterprise, fine
capabilities, and is highly esteemed in all his relations
among his fellow men.
JOHN D. JOHNSTON. Two miles west from the
thriving town of Vollmer we find the home and fine
farm of Mr. J. D. Johnston, one of the leading men
of the community. His farm is of the generous pro-
portion of two hundred and forty acres, one hundred
and sixty acres of which he took from the raw sod as
a homestead, and added eighty more by purchase.
He has transformed it to its present high state of
cultivation by his industry and skill, building one of
the fine homes of the county. John D. was born in
St. Clair county, Afissouri, on October 27, 1861, being
the son of Bryan and Delilah (Philipps) Johnston.
The father was a farmer, and when this son was nine
vears of age the family removed to Woodson count}',
Kansas, where the succeeding nine years were spent.
Another move was made at this time, the objective
point being the vicinity of Central City, Colorado,
where the "time was largely spent in mining for three
years. He then returned to Kansas, and then made
the trip in 1883 to Idaho, locating his present farm.
He at once set himself to make a fine home, which
he has accomplished in a becoming manner, and in
addition to handling the work of this fine estate Air.
Johnston has also done much carpenter work in dif-
ferent portions of the county, having learned the trade
in younger years. He erected with his own hands
his residence, and much is in evidence of his handi-
work in the craft on the farm. Air. Johnston has al-
ways manifested a lively interest in the affairs of the
county and especially in educational work, which has
734
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
profited much by his service as trustee of his district
for many years.
One of the happy and important events of Mr.
Johnston's life occurred on April 7, 1889, when he
led to the altar Miss Yolumnia, daughter of Thomas
and Leannah (Julian) Woody. Three children have
made their advent to the happy household, namely:
Clarence E., Ethel E. and Leannah M. Mrs. John-
ston is a native of Iowa, and Mr. Johnston has the
distiction of being related to Daniel Boone, the famous
Kentucky frontiersman.
EZRA L. COLE is one of the prominent men of
Latah county, especially active in the industrial world.
He is a manufacturer of lumber and timber products,
having at this time a saw mill located five miles north-
east from Moscow, where he has a good plant and
three fourths of a section of timber land and some
farm property.
The birth of Ezra L. was on June 17, i860, in New
York, near Rome, his parents being Gideon and Ann
Cole, the father being occupied in saw mill work. The
family removed from Rome to Nebraska in 1871, set-
tling twenty-five miles south from Yankton, near the
town of Hartington, Nebraska, and there the father
took a homestead and remained for twenty years. Then
a trip was made to the west, our subject landing in
Spokane, after which he went to Loon Lake and spent
one year. Then came his advent to Moscow where
he worked for some years and then bought his pres-
ent place, it being one quarter, to which he added a
half section since. Mr. Cole has an excellent run of
business and has a fine plant, supplying the country
adjacent with manufactured timber products.
The marriage of Mr. Cole and Miss Anna R.,
daughter of William D. and Ellen Burch, was sol-
emnized in St. Helena, Nebraska, in February,
1883. To this happy union there have been born tlie
following children : Claude B., Grace E., Violet M.,
the second one attending school in Moscow. Mr.
Cole is a member of the W. of W. and he and his wife
are members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Cole
is not desirous of personal preferment in the politi-
cal world and while he takes the interest that every
intelligent citizen should, still he does not count him-
self a leader in this realm. He has a fine home, it being
a residence of nine rooms and excellently appointed.
GEORGE SIEVERS. Although not one of the
pioneer settlers of Latah county, still the subject is a
pioneer in the realm of progress, being one of the
intelligent and enterprising agriculturists and stock-
men of the county, and displaying the skill and sound
judgment, of which he is so happily possessed, in the
affairs of his business. He was born in Wisconsin,
on November 20, 1870, being the son of Clauss and
Margaretha Sievers. The father was an old soldier of
the Civil war and a participant in the battle of Chatta-
nooga, and also marched to the sea, being in all the
campaigns from Louisville, Kentucky, to Goldsboro,
North Carolina. Our subject remained at the place of
his nativity for eighteen years attending school, both the
public and also at the Oshkosh normal, then a season at
the Valparaiso Normal in Indiana, then spent two years
teaching at Cedarsburg and four at Meggers. He also
took up law at that place, but on account of his health
breaking down he was obliged to forego the pleasure
of further pursuit of his chosen studies. In the sum-
mer of 1895 he traveled through the north central states,
visiting Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Ne-
braska and South Dakota. In 1897 he determined to
try the west and accordingly came to Moscow. He
soon went to Kendrick and taught school for a term and
then bought in the spring of 1898, his present place,
three miles east from Moscow, where he devotes him-
self to the art of agriculture, being much benefited in
health by the bracing atmosphere and salubrious and
mild climate of this region. Mr. Sievers pracitces the
diversified plan of farming and has had abundant suc-
cess and now contemplates putting out a large orchard.
He owns a quarter section and has it finely improved.
In the beginning of 1898 Mr. Sievers returned to
Wisconsin to claim the bride that was awaiting his
coming out of the west, and on February 22, 1898, he
was united in the holy bonds of matrimony with Miss
Agnes Luedke, at Kiel, Wisconsin. Mrs. Sievers'
parents are Henry and Gustine Luedke, the father being
a carpenter and farmer. To our subject and his estima-
ble wife there has been born one child, Edna, three
years of age. Mr. Sievers is a member of the school
board and has served as justice of the peace. He is
actively interested in educational matters and also in
the improvement and progress of the county and does
a goodly share towards this praiseworthy end.
HERMAN W. MALLERY. The subject of this
article is one of Latah county's stalwart and enter-
prising farmers, being a man of energy and ability, and
having a fine home farm place four miles east from
Moscow, where he does commendable work in the line
of general agriculture and raising stock. Herman W.
was born in Monterey, Allegan county, Michigan, on
August 13, 1859. and his parents were Andrew J.
and Amanda Mallery. The father was a blacksmith
and an active participant in political affairs. He died
when our subject was seventeen years of age. Her-
man then remained at home until his twenty-fifth year
came, learning and working at the blacksmith trade
and supporting the family. He wrought still three years
after that time at the trade and then turned his eves
to the west and came hither over the Northern Pacific,
landing in Spokane on March 4, 1887, and from there
came to Moscow. He looked over the country and
finally located on his present place, four miles east from
Moscow, taking it as a pre-emption. He has devoted
himself to the culture of the farm and development of
the same, having it now well improved and a fine home
place.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
735
The marriage of .Mr. Mallery and Miss Clara E.
Casson was solemnized on November 27, 1885, at Way-
land, Michigan. Her father, Edward Casson, was a
plasterer and brick mason in the home state. The
mother was Mrs. Amelia Casson. There have been
born to our subject and his wife the following chil-
dren: William A.. Zelma, and Perry E., all at home.
Mr. Mallery is a member of the A. O. U. W. and
takes an active part in the political affairs of the county
and state and manifests an intelligent interest in the
welfare of his country. In many minor offices he has
done excellent service, using the same care and con-
cern in the discharge of these duties as those of his own
business. In school matters Mr. Mallery has evinced
a great interest and the district has profited much by
his labors on the board for twelve years and more. He
is highly esteemed by all and enjoys the confidence of
his fellows.
CHRIST BURGER. The gentleman whose name
heads this sketch stands as one of the pioneers of Latah
county, and as one of the leading farmers of today, hav-
ing labored faithfully here in the cause of advancement
and progression and development wherein he has had
remarkable success owing to his industry and sagac-
ity, being also a man dominated by true wisdom and
sound principles of integrity and uprightness. He was
born in Germany, Thierstein, on March 9, 1836, being
the son of Lawrence and Anna (Bergmann) Burger,
also natives of Germany, and who now sleep in the old
home cemetery, the father dying in i860 and the mother
in 1858. Our subject was educated in the village schools,
including a course in the high school, until he was
fourteen and then he learned the butcher trade, taking
two years and one-half in steady work at it. He then,
as was the custom with the German youth, took a trip
abroad, making his way for a time in the world apart
from home influences, and then returning home, the
father relieved him from going into the army, and he
labored for him and the surrounding farmers until
he was thirty years of age. At that time he embarked
for America. Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, being the object-
ive point. He went into the butcher business with his
brothers and there operated for two years, then sold
out and travelled from place to place, and finally in
1877, came to Calfornia and there earned at his trade
about seven hundred dollars. Then he went to Port-
land, where he fell in with a man wishing to start the
butcher business, and went into partnership with him.
Our subject had not learned the English language at
that time and his partner took advantage of him and
gained the entire capital, and Mr. Burger was forced
out with nothing. He then came to Waitsburg, Wash-
ington, and there worked at the butcher business for
one year and in 1879, came thence to Latah county,
locating a preemption of one quarter section, then a
homestead of fifty acres. This he has transformed into
a fine farm and a good family home, the estate being
situated seven miles west from Genesee. He has good
land, well improved and it produces fine crops.
The marriage of Mr. Burger and Miss Bertha,
daughter of Henry and Amelia (Nosa) Burgwitz,
natives of Germany, was celebrated in 1877 and they
have become the parents of the following children:
Emma M.. married" to L. F. Boyer and living in Cali-
fornia : ( Ittelea L., married to Eugene Boyer and liv-
ing in California; Henry, William G., Ludwig J., Clara
G., and Malinda E. Mr. and Mrs. Burger are members
of the Lutheran church and are highly respected citi-
zens of the county, being capable and substantial.
HOMER E. BURR. Our subject lives four and
one-half miles northeast from Moscow on a fine farm,
which he took from the wilds of nature by the home-
stead right and has made into one of the most fertile
and productive farms of the section, having it well
improved and an exceptionally fine orchard on it,
selling from the same last year five tons of bartlet
pears. It is evident that Mr. Burr is one of the lead-
ing agriculturists and orchardists of the countv and
is also one of its most substantial men, skillful, sa-
gacious and dominated by sound principles and an un-
swerving integrity. He was born in Clarke county,
Iowa, on October 14, 1857, being the son of Alvin and
Nancy Burr. The father was a saw mill man and
stock raiser and died when Homer E. was seven years
old. From that time until he was twenty, our sub-
ject remained with his mother and assisted in the sup-
port of the family. While he was an infant, the fam-
ily had removed to Knox county, Missouri, whence
in 1872, they went to Chautauqua county, Kansas,
taking government land. In 1877 young Burr deter-
mined to seek his fortune and accordingly allied him-
self with a neighbor and drove a team overland to this
country, getting here at the time of the Nez Perces In-
dian war, but being unmolested enroute. Two years
were spent in a sawmill and then Mr. Burr took up
his present home as a homestead. He built a log
cabin thereon and enjoyed the life of a bachelor during
the time he was endeavoring to improve the
place. He saw the advisability of having a
competent helpmate in his life of toil and so sought
the hand of Miss Ann, daughter of William and Lu-
anda (Warmoth) Frazier in marriage and on Novem-
ber 20 the happy ceremony was solemnized, and since
that time they have wrought together with great joy
and success in the lines of their labors. Mr. Burr
has bought and sold many pieces of land in the time
he has lived here but still owns the old homestead.
This estimable couple have become the parents of
the following children : Ella, wife of Sherman Towne
of this countv; Alvin, Audrey. Edwin A., Carl V.,
Amos B. andLeland C. In church and political re-
lations, Mr. Burr is not particularly allied, being a man
of independent thought and searching out for him-
self the various problems of existence. He is a dis-
ciple of diversified farming and shows forth great
skill in producing practical proofs of this line, as well
as in the orchardist's line, having made some com-
mendable showings in that realm. Mr. Burr is a mem-
ber of the W. W.
736
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
JAMES A. WOLFENBERGER. The capable
and enterprising agriculturist whose name is at the
head of this article is one of Latah county's substan-
tial citizens, and a man of integrity and uprightness,
which qualities have characterized him in all his ways.
James is a native of Tennessee, benig born in Granger
county, on January 26, 1840, and the son of Peter and
Lucin'da, the latter having died in 1861. The father
was also a native of the same state and remained there
until 1882, when he came to this county, homestead-
ing the place where he and his son now live, two
miles east from Troy. He first preempted the land
and later used the homestead right. He is now ninety
years of age, having been favored with a long life and
much blessing. Our subject remained at home with
his parents until the time of the Civil war, when he
enlisted in the Second Tennessee Cavalry, the year
being 1862. He participated in many skirmishes, but
in no heavy battle except Chickamauga, yet he was in
constant military duty until 1865, when he was dis-
charged and returned to his home. He remained with
his father on the farm until 1882, the date of the im-
migration to these sections. He took a quarter section
adjoining his father's and then sold it in 1890. The
home farm is well improved, has a fine orchard and
is productive of abundant crops. They also own
another quarter two miles south from the home place.
In 1883, at Cornwall, occurred the happy event of
the marriage of Mr. James A. Wolfenberger and Miss
Sarah E., daughter of John and Rebecca Branson,
and the union has been blessed by the advent of two
children, Hattie R. and Peter L. Airs. Wolfenber-
ger's father is dead but the mother is still living. Mr.
Wolfenberger is a man of industry, and patient en-
deavor, which have given him a goodly portion of the
property of the world, while he has always manifested
those qualities of uprightness and sound principles
that have given him the meed of the confidence of his
fellows.
MOSES VANDEVANTER. The subject of this
article is at the present time one of the business men
of Cornwall, where he operates a general merchandise
store, being a substantial and highly respected citizen
of that town and a capable business man. Moses was
born on May 28, 1861, in Guthrie county, Iowa, being
the son of Israel and Rachel (Moore) Vandevanter.
He remained with his father until twenty-two years
had passed, gaining a good education at the country
schools and sound principles of business operation from
a wise father. At twenty-two years of age. Mr. Van-
devanter came west and selected Union .county, Ore-
gon, as the place for his operations, engaging there
in the vicinity of the town of Union in the manufact-
ure of lumber with his brother, where he continued
until 1890, when he came to this county and took up
farming. Later he left that occupation and opened
a general merchandise store in Cornwall and in that
place he has done business since. He carries a good
stock of well selected merchandise, and his kind and
courteous treatment of his patrons has increased his
trade to goodly proportions and he is building up a
fine business.
Fraternally, Air. Vandevanter is associated with
the M. W. A., Camp No. 9645 at Cornwall; also with
the Mox Mox Tribe of Redmen in Moscow ; with the
Mystic Workers of the World, Lodge No. 281 of
Cornwall, and in all of these relations Mr. Vandevan-
ter is highly esteemed and well liked. He has never
ventured onto the sea of matrimony, being in the quiet
enjoyment of the celibatarian's life.
GEORGE W. WALKER. Among the very lead-
ers in enterprising and progressive labors in the coun-
ty, having done especially good work in the line of hor-
ticulture and in the instructor's chair, the subject of
this brief article is eminently fitted to be accorded con-
sideration in the history of his county, and it is with
pleasure that we grant him such. George W. was
born in Dearborn county, Indiana, on September 23,
1855, being the son of Alexander and Elizabeth Walk-
er. He was well educated in the public schools then
attended Moore's Hill College for one year, then at
the age of twenty went to Butler county, Kansas, near
Eldorado and commenced his career as school teacher.
Three years and one-half were spent thus and also
in attending school at Eldorado, Augusta, Douglas,
and Winfield schools, after which he returned to his
native place, teaching there one year. Then he went
to Grinnell, Iowa, and there attended Newton school
in 1880, also teaching some. He was at Grinnell dur-
ing the memorable time when the cyclone tore things
to pieces. In 1883 Mr. Walker went to Kansas, pur-
chased a quarter section near Kingman, taught one
term there and then returned to his native place to take
to himself the wife of his choice, the lady being Miss
Estelle, daughter of a prominent Baptist minister there,
and a school mate of our subject, her parents being
Allen A. and Sarah Anthony. Together they returned
to the Kansas home and there wrought with faithful-
ness until an attack of asthma, in 1888, permanently
threatened the health of Mrs. Walker and they sold
cut and came to Latah county, where happily occurred
the entire recovery from this painful malady. They
landed in Moscow on October 18, 1888, and soon
bought a quarter section on Big Bear ridge and home-
steaded another, the same being thirty miles east from
Moscow. He remained on the farm eleven years en-
gaged in horticulture, apple raising, and general
farming, besides teaching school. His place is im-
proved in splendid shape and is one of the most pro-
ductive in the country. In June, 1899, they sold some
of their property there and came to their present place,
two and one-half miles northeast from Moscow which
he bought and where he has made a home since. Mr.
Walker has made a special study of fruit raising and
he intends to put out twenty-four acres of apples in
the spring, using Gano and Roman Beauty varieties,
believing these the best for this section.
Three children have been born to this worthy
couple, as follows: Ray A., educated at the state uni-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
737
versify, is now the possessor of a county certificate
good for three years, and is teaching school ; Edna
S., attending school at Moscow ; Glen S., going to
school. Mr. Walker came to his present place to edu-
cate his children. He and his wife are members of the
Methodist church and are active workers in this realm,
he having been converted at the age of twenty. He
is a stanch supporter of this faith. Mr. Walker was
a settler on Big Bear ridge before Kendrick was
started and had to come all the way to Moscow to
do trading:.
WILLIAM A. BUCHANAN. This gentleman is
one of the well known and representative business
men of Latah county and at the present time has the
mammoth warehouse at Joel where he does a good
business storing wheat for the farmers of the vicin-
ity, while also he has a comfortable residence there.
William A. Buchanan was born in Lee county, Iowa,
on August 5, 1863, being the son of William H. and
Phoebe (Short) Buchanan. His people removed to
Newton county, Missouri, when our subject was a
small boy, remaining there until he had reached the
age of eight. At that time they removed to Oregon,
settling east of Portland, where the family remained
nine years. The father followed farming and after
the residence at Portland, as mentioned above, he re-
moved with the family to the Potlatch country and
took a homestead, remaining there until the time of
his death in 1886. Our subject operated the place at
home for a number of years and then took a homestead
in the same vicinity in 1889, remaining there for four
years, and then he w:as appointed postmaster at Corn-
wall which he held for two years. Subsequent to
that time he went to Moscow where he staid until the
spring of 1898, being occupied in the grain ware-
houses. In 1898 he came to Joel and built the ware-
house mentioned above. It is two hundred and sev-
enty-six feet long and forty feet wide and is patron-
ized in a generous measure. Mr. Buchanan is a mem-
ber of the Modern Woodmen of America, Camp No.
9645, at Cornwall. Socially he is highly esteemed
and is an affable and amiable gentleman of worth and
culture.
The marriage of Mr. Buchanan and Miss Lettie
Alderman was solemnized on July 4, 1887, at Moscow,
and they have become the parents of one child, Otis.
Mrs. Buchanan's parents are E. W. and Joanna (Eliis)
Alderman and her father has been a farmer for years
in Idaho and at the present time is living on the reser-
vation in Nez Perces county. Mr. Buchanan has dis-
played in the time of his residence in this county an
ability and energy and uprightness that commend him
to the confidence, good will and respect of all.
GEORGE W. HADLEY. Among the farmers
of Latah county, there should not be failure to menton
the capable gentleman whose name is at the head of
this article, and who. although having been within the
precincts of Latah county but a short time, still has
so identified himself with the interests of it that he
is one of its substantial and enterprising citizens.
George W. was born in Michigan, on March 8, 1848,
being the son of Joseph and Julia (William) Hadley,
natives respectively of England and Wales, who came
to America in 1848, locating first in New York as
farmers. They came west to Colorado in 1862, and
thence in 1866, across the plains to Walla Walla, where
the father identified himself with the agricultural
population until the time of his death, which occurred
in 1899. The mother died in 1879, and they both are
buried in the Protestant cemetery in Walla Walla.
Our subject received his first schooling in Denver,
Colorado, being eighteen years of age when he started,
and then in Walla Walla he also attended school some.
He worked on the farms in the west until 1883, having
come overland with his parents, then he bought a farm
near Walla Walla for himself, raising wheat there
until 1896, when he sold and came to Whitman county
and from there to Latah county in 1901. Here he
rented six hundred acres, seven miles west from Gen-
esee and the first season he raised eight thousand
bushels of wheat from two hundred acres of land. Mr.
Hadley has twenty-seven head of horses and thirty-
four cows and is well provided with all accoutrements
to carry on the large estate that he handles.
In 18S3 occurred the marriage of Mr. Hadley and
Miss Anna, daughter of Robert and Jane (Scobil)
Mathews ; the mother died in 1873. but the father still
lives in Lake county. California. "Seven children have
been the fruit of this happy union, as follows : Mar-
garet J., married to J. P. Tady, living in Whitman
countv. Washington ; Frederick W., married to Annie
Klein, living near Uniontown, Washington; Emma,
wife of D. C. Trimmer, living near Uniontown ; I >( >ra.
Fay, George W., and Arthur. Mr. Hadley is a mem-
ber of the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 90. in Uniontown,
and Mrs. Hadley affiliates with the Rebekahs, Lodge
No. 100. in Uniontown. They are both members also
of the Methodist churcn and are good citizens, faith-
ful and dominated by sound principles and sagacity
and integrity.
HON. DANIEL W. DRISKEL. This well known
and representative stockman and agriculturist is one
of the substantial men of Latah county and has
wrought here with manifestation of ability and enter-
prise. His farm is located three miles northeast from
Moscow and is handled in a commendable manner. He
was born in Porter township, Cass county, Michi-
gan, to Dennis and Mary Driskel, early settlers of the
state. He remained on the farm with his parent^ until
he was of age. attending the public schools, complet-
ing his education in the Constantine high school. At
the age of twenty-four, in 1874, he bought a farm in
the home neighborhood, tilling the soil there until
1883. Then he went to Monmouth, Oregon, pur-
chased a farm and tilled the same and raised stock.
He was overtaken with much misfortune here and the
sad event of the death of his wife also occurred while
738
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
he was there. In the tall of 1888, he sold the farm and
came to Latah county, purchasing the farm where he
now lives, three miles northeast from Moscow.
The marriage of Mr. Driskel and Miss Nellie,
daughter of Zachariah and Lucretia Denio, was sol-
emnized on April 8, 1875, and two children were born
to them ; Fannie, wife of T. J. Taylor of Salmon,
Idaho ; Zach D., graduate of the high school and now
assisting his father on the farm. On October 18,
1887, Mr. Driskel contracted a second marriage, the
lady of his choice on this occasion being Emma N.
Neims. and the nuptials occurred at Farmington,
Washington. Mrs. Driskel's parents are, Henry P.,
a minister of the Methodist church and a farmer, and
Sarah A. Mr. Driskel is a Republican and an en-
thusiastic worker in the realm. In 1900 he was nomi-
nated for the state legislature and was elected by a
handsome majority. But on account of his party be-
ing in the minority in the house, he was unable to do
much legislation, although he was instrumental in as-
sisting to gain an appropriation for the state univer-
sity which enabled them to erect a girl's dormitory and
the hall of science. Also, Mr. Driskel assisted to gain
the passage of the bill providing for the property road
tax which has been very beneficial to the country. Mr.
and Mrs. Driskel are members of the Christian church
and he holds the position of elder in the Moscow con-
gregation. He has also been clerk of the school board
for a number of years. Mr. Driskel is a firm believer
in the diversified plan of farming and proves its value
in practical work. He has improved his farm in a
fine manner, has a commodious barn, good out build-
_ ings, and a fine residence. In the fall of 1901, he
'went to -Michigan, called thither by the death of his
father. He settled the estate and brought his aged
mother home with him, where she lives at the present
time. Mr. Driskel is one of the capable and progres-
sive business men and has the esteem of all.
CHARLES HOBART. This gentleman is justly
entitled to consideration in the history of Latah county
since he assisted to open this country for settlement,
has labored faithfully for its progress since that date,
and has been a prominent citizen of the county, being
a man of capabilities and integrity. Mr. Hobart was
born in Licking county, Ohio, on November 17. 1845,
being the son of Jonathan and Charlotte Hobart, who
brought their young children to Iowa when he was
ten years of age, settling in Fayette county. In that
section our subject remained, acquiring an education,
also gaining good exercise on the farm, until 1861.
when he enlisted in Company C, Ninth Iowa Infantry
and at once took part in the Civil war. He was with
Curtis in the Arkansas campaign and participated in
the battle of Pea Ridge, where he was wounded. He
•was at the siege of Vicksburg, also at Jackson, then
in the battle of Chattanooga. When his time was
completed he returned to Iowa and at once reenlisted
in the same company and regiment and went to the
sea with Sherman and remained with him until the close
of the entire conflict. Returning to Iowa he farmed
in Fayette county for about ten years, then went to
Adair county, near Creston and farmed and raised
stock for four years. Then he removed to north-
western Kansas and remained there until 1882, when
the journey was made to Idaho. Arriving here, he
selected a farm four miles east from Moscow and
there settled to work, producing the fruits of the field
and raising stock. Eighteen years were spent in this
work, and then Mr. Hobart removed to his present
place, seven miles east from Moscow. This farm has
two hundred acres and is well improved. In addi-
tion to this labor, he has operated a threshing outfit for
nineteen years, having had success in this line as in
his other labors.
On January 27, 1868, in Macomb, Illinois, Mr.
Hobart married Miss Lavina, daughter of James and
Elizabeth Lenington, and the following children have
been born to them ; James L., married to Elizabeth
Decker in Nezperce ; Edwin, married to Adella Denny
also in Xezperce ; Jacob I., married to Elvira Dollar-
hide and living in this county ; Leona, wife of Francis
Hill, in Xezperce ; Clifton, at home ; Nellie, wife of
John K. Bruce. Mr. Hobart is one of the esteemed
citizens of the county, has an enviable standing and re-
ceives the confidence of all.
THOMAS A. SMITH. One of Latah county's
prosperous and enterprising farmers is mentioned
above and it is with pleasure that we are enabled to
grant him a representation in the county history since
he has wrought with the true spirit of progress and en-
ergy that have made these vast regions the abode of
civilization. He was born in the grand old country of
England, in Leicester county, on March 8, 1836, being
the son of Thomas and Ann Smith, the father being a
farmer, baker and brewer. Thomas A. was an inmate
of the parental household until the time of his majority
came and then he started for himself, coming di-
rect to the new world. He accompanied a neighbor
and family, and it was their lot to land the day the
famous battle of Bull Run was fought. From New
York, he went to Illinois, and engaged in farming,
but soon removed to Oceana county, Michigan, and
farmed there for seventeen years. In that time he
cleared one hundred acres of land from heavy timber
and set it to orchard and produced the fruits of the
soil. He then sold this property and came to Chi-
cago and started a meat market. During the years
in which he operated that, the great Chicago fire oc-
curred, but he did not suffer from that conflagration.
Soon after this event, 111 fact his ceritficate of marri-
age was the second recorded after the fire, Mr. Smith
married Ann, daughter of William and Mary John-
stone, on October 12, 1871. Soon after this important
event, they decided to come west and so took passage
over the Union Pacific railroad to Washington, coming
via Sacramento. Twenty-one days later, they landed
in Lamota. and came thence direct to Whitman county.
Mr. Smith bought a farm near the Idaho line in the
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
739
year [887, and in 1890 he added another quarter sec-
tion just across the line into Idaho, where he removed,
renting the former land. Since that time, Mr. Smith
has made Latah county his home and expresses a de-
sire to pass the remainder of his days within its pre-
cincts. Mr. Smith has a very productive farm and in
addition to the abundant crops of wheat, oats, and
barley, he markets a great deal of fruit and vegeta-
bles. Mr. Smith is never forward in the political
arena, being disposed to quietly pass his time in the
prosecution of his private industries. He "and his es-
timable wife are members of the Church of England,
and regular attendants in Moscow.
SAMUEL H. TRITT. The subject of this article
was born in Newville, Pennsylvania, on February 14,
1852, to Samuel and Julia A. Tritt. He received his
education in the native place and was reared on the
old homestead, where the father died when this son
had reached the age of majority. This sad event
transferred the responsibility of the control of home
affairs upon Samuel for two years, when death claimed
the mother also. The farm was then disposed of and
the orphaned children were scattered. In the spring
of 1876, Samuel H. came to Michigan and worked for
his brother-in-law in a flour mill for two years, then
went to Kansas, bought a quarter section near Rus-
sell, farmed it for two years, then sold out and went
to Manhattan. Kansas, taking up the stock business.
In 1883 he went to Ellis county, took government land
and farmed for seven years, proving up on his land
in the meantime. Selling out, he returned to Manhat-
tan and two years later was determined to see the west
and accordingly chartered a car, filled it with house-
hold goods, several head of extra fine Jersey cows, a
team, and some farm implements and came direct to
Latah county. He settled on eighty acres on Ameri-
can ridge, but sold it in one year later and took charge
of the poor farm for three and one-half years. After
that period he bought the farm where he lives now,
four miles northwest from* Moscow, it being a wild
piece of land at that time. He has manifested great
industry, wise management, and skill in the care of this
land and has transformed it into one of the best farms
in the county. He has fine buildings, as residence, out
buildings, barns and so forth, while he has abundant
returns from the crops each year. His herds are made
up of excellent Jerseys and he does some skillful work
in handling the different trasses as brome-grass. tim-
othy, red clover, and so forth. He sold the seed of one
and one-half acres of the first crop of brome-grass for
thirty dollars, reserving the hay for himself.
Mr. Tritt has a very able assistant and sympathetic
associate in his progressive farm work, in his wife,
Catherine C. (Juvenal) Tritt, to whom he was united
in marriage on June 3, 1880, at Russell, Kansas. The
fruit of this marriage is Grace P., married to Lewis
Kitley and residing in Moscow ; Ladessa E., Erma H.,
and George G. Fay P., the fourth child, died in May.
1901. Mrs. Tritt is the daughter of J. C. and Martha
Juvenal, of Russell, Kansas. The father was a suc-
cessful stockman, handling immense herds of cattle
from Texas to the interior states, which was a very
profitable business. He was also a large owner of
Kansas realty. Air. and Airs. Tritt are valuable ad-
ditions to the residents of Latah county, and have done
excellent work in the development of the resources
of the county ami in augmenting its wealth.
CANUD MADISON. It is pleasant to have the
opportunity to speak, though necessarily in brief, of
the career of the esteemed gentleman and loyal citi-
zen, whose name initiates this paragraph, since he
has been faithful in labor, wise in business, kind and
considerate as father and husband, and loyal and pa-
triotic in the defense of his chosen county. From no
spot on the earth come more loyal souls than from the
far-away land of Norway, in Bergen district of which
country our subject was born on April 28, 1833, being
the son of Mathias and Susan Madison. For seven-
teen years, the youth remained under the parental roof,
and then bade good bye to home, relatives and native
land, and embarked for America. He settled in Le-
land county, Illinois, and straightway learned the car-
penter trade and began the good labor of upbuilding.
He continued at that for a number of years where
he lived and then offered his services in Company D,
Fifty-third Illinois Infantry in i86r. He was in the
western army and did much hard fighting. He was in
the battle of Shiloh, at Tallahassee, participated in the
siege of Vicksburg, then on to Atlanta. Being taken
a prisoner, he was thrown into the horrors of Ander-
sonville, and for six months languished in that vilest
of modern dens of suffering. Then being paroled,
he again joined his command, was wounded at the
battle of Tackson, being shot through the thigh, was
sent to Illinois on a furlough in 1864, then went to
St. Louis where he was discharged. Such in brief
is the praisworthy military record of this patriotic
veteran and all- honor be given to those who bore the
flag, undimmed in its pristine glory, through those
long years of internecine strife. Immediately follow-
ing his discharge, young Madison returned to Leland,
Illinois, and in 1868 came to Vermillion. Dakota, and
there took a preemption and homestead and gave his
attention to farming for eight years. Then came the
long removal to Portland. Oregon, where one \ear
was spent at the carpenter trade, then we find our
subject making his way into the regions of Latah
county. He took up a timber claim seven miles south-
east from where Moscow is now and bought another
quarter and settled down to farming and he has stead-
ilv pursued this faithfully until of recent years he has
retired from the activities of the field to enjoy the hard
earned competence with which he is blessed.
Mr. Madison married Miss Ellen Iverson, in 1866,
at Leland, Illinois, and they have become the parents
of the following children: Benjamin O., at home;
L'lyses W., at home; Franklin P.. married to Adelia
Palmer; Sarah, wife of A. Bow; Stella, wife of C.
740
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Symonson; Etta, wife of M. Madison; Clara, wife of
E. Anderson; Frances, wife of J. Geer ; Ellen, Ollie,
and Eleda, the last three at home. Mr. Madison
is a member of the Major Anderson Post, No. 5, of
the G. A. R. at Moscow. He is a man who has the
confidence of his fellows and is looked up to and
greatly respected in the community.
CHARLEY EBEL. Five miles northwest from
Genesee, we find the well kept farm of
Mr. Ebel. It consists of two hundred broad
and fertile acres, and is adorned and embellished
with a good residence, barn, outbuildings and
other improvements of a permanent and valuable
character, and produces annually a handsome
return to the careful husbandry of the proprietor, who
is a man of ability, energy and enterprise, being well
known and highly esteemed for his substantial quali-
ties. Mr. Ebel was born in Germany, April 19. 1839,
being the son of Christopher and Sophia (Ouetso)
Ebel natives also of the Fatherland. The father was
born there in 1797, and died in 1874, the mother dying
when she was young, and both are buried in Mackel-
besh. Charley was educated in the village schools of
his native place and at the age of fourteen years left
the school house to participate in the labors of his
father's farm, continuing thus until he had reached his
majority. Then he repaired to Berlin, Germany, and
learned the brewer's trade, laboring for twelve years
steadily at it, when he started a retail liquor store
which he operated for four years. 1876 marks the time
of his advent to America. He landed in New York
and soon hired on board of ship to go to Savanah,
Georgia, where he was occupied in fishing for two
years. After this period, he came to the territory now
embraced in Latah county, and he preempted a quarter
section where he now lives and soon added forty more
by the timber culture right. He settled down to im-
prove his land in a becoming manner, building good
house, barns and other necessary improvements and
since that time until the present he has steadily pur-
sued his way and has prospered in his labors.
In 1 87 1 occurred the marriage of Mr. Ebel and
Miss Francisco, daughter of Gearhard and Adelheid
(Kreabich) Wilhelm, natives of Potsdam, Germany,
where the father lies buried now. the mother being
interred in Belgium. Three children have been born
to Mr. and Mrs. Ebel, namely : Charles F., married
to Freda Mathonse. living in Latah county; George,
living with parents; Max, married to May More, liv-
ing in Ritzville. Washington. Mrs. Ebel is a member
of the Catholic church.
NIELS MADSEN. This intelligent and capable
agriculturist is one of Latah county's progressive citi-
zens who has done a goodly portion toward the devel-
opment of the county, having a fine farm of one hun-
dred and sixty acres, seven and one-half miles south-
east from Moscow, and also another quarter of good
farm land near by. Mr. Madsen was born in Den-
mark, on July 22, 1852, being the son of Mads and
Johana Madsen. where he lived until 1871, at which
time he bade homeland and all its associations farewell
and turned his way to the land of America. He had
been reared on a farm and naturally he went to work
on a farm in this country, spending one year in Wis-
consin, then removing to Clay county, South Dakota.
In 1877 he migrated from that place to Oregon and
lived in that state one year and in 1878 we find him in
the territory that is now embraced in Latah county.
He immediately took land where he now lives, and he
has carved out of the wild land a fine farm. He has
good improvements and everything about his prem-
ises bears the air of thrift and industry. Mr. Madsen
has been chosen road supervisor for a number of terms
in his district and he has displayed the same tireless
care for the welfare of all in his hands in that position
as for his private enterprises.
On November 17, 1880, Mr. Madsen married Miss
Harriett, daughter of Ira and Sarah Lyon. The wed-
ding occurred in the neighborhood where they now
live. Mr. Madsen is a man entitled to the esteem and
and respect of his fellows and he enjoys it in a gen-
erous measure and he is counted one of the promi-
nent citizens of his communitv.
FRANK RAYBURN. The subject of this re-
view has been intimately connected with the business
world in Latah county for sometime, being allied with
the mercantile branch in various capacities in Moscow,
and having manifested both good ability and faith-
fulness that have given him a prestige among his
fellows that is pleasant and a proper recognition of
worth and integrity. Frank Rayburn was born in
Keokuk, Iowa, on October 1, 1847, being the son of
Stephenson and Rebecca J. Rayburn. The father was
born in Frankfort, Kentucky, in 1819, moved to Illi-
nois, thence to Iowa, and then to Salem, Oregon,
across the plains with ox teams in 1852, that being
the year of the cholera plague. He settled with his
family at Maryville, now Corvallis, then the capital
of Oregon. He wrought at the carpenter trade there
until 1899, then came to Latah county, where he died
in 1900. The mother had died in 1875. The immedi-
ate subject of this sketch came across the plains with
his father, remaining with him in Oregon until 1878,
when he set out on a traveling expedition that led
him over the states of California. Oregon, Washing-
ton, Idaho, and Montana, but finally, in 1882, he came
to Moscow, being m the employ of McConnell & Com-
pany, dry goods merchants. Four years he was en-
gaged with them, then two years with Durnham &
Koffman and one year with James Shields, all in the
mercantile business.
The marriage of Mr. Rayburn and Miss Lillian
O., daughter of Charles V. and Lydia Vandenvalker,
living near Moscow, was celebrated on September
25, 1887, and to them has been born one son, Charles
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Franklin, attending school. Mr. Rayburn was chief
of police in Corvallis for two years and deputy sheriff
of Benton county for eight years. He is a member of
the K. of P. at Pendleton, Damon No. 4; of the Unit-
ed Artisans, Columbia 104; also of the Royal Arca-
num. Mr. Rayburn has seen considerable Indian fight-
ing, also much of their depredations. He was scout
in the Modoc Indian war in California in 1872. All
the families in the neighborhood where our subject's
father lived were massacred, with the exception of
Mr. Rayburn's family.
JOHN J. OWEN is of English and Welsh an-
cestry and was born in Birmingham, England, Janu-
ary 30, 1843, a son of John and Matilda (Jordan)
Owen. In 1849, when he was six years of age, the
family came to America. It consisted of Mr. and
Mrs. Owen, John J. and two sisters. Charles, an
older son, had been lost at sea. W. H., the youngest
of the family, was born after the others came to this
country. He is now living in Minnesota. The fam-
ily settled at Jacksonville, Illinois, where the father
found work as a tinner, a trade which he had fol-
lowed in England. Later the family lived in Mason
county, and then in Iroquois county, Illinois. In the
latter place John Owen died at the age of seventy-
seven, having survived his wife several years. They
had been reared in the Baptist faith, but later in life
allied themselves with the Seventh-day Adventists. The
two daughters married well.
John J. Owen was educated at the Grand Prairie
Seminary in Illinois, and at Milton Academy, Milton,
Wisconsin. He was in school when the war began,
and threw down his books to respond to President Lin-
coln's first call for troops. He enlisted in Company
C, Fifty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, while yet
a boy in his 'teens, served with his regiment until the
term of his enlistment had expired, and was the only
member of it who made himself a veteran by re-enlist-
ment. As a member of Company I of the same regi-
ment he served until the close of the war. His regiment
was attached to command of General John A. Logan,
who was in charge of the Western Department and
young Owen fought at Fort Donelson, Altoona Pass,
Gold'sboro. Shiloh, Corinth. Buzzard's Roost creek, Bee
creek and Resaca. After that the regiment was trans-
ferred to the command of General W. T. Sherman and
followed him on his famous march from Atlanta to the
sea. When the war was at an end he participaetd in
the grand review of the victorious army at Washing-
ton. He received an honorable discharge from the
service and was mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky,
and returned to his home, a victor and a veteran, and
at once settled down to the peaceful vocation of a tin-
ner and a hardware dealer.
From 1868 to 1876 he farmed in Nebraska, then
after a two years' residence in Sacramento, California,
he went to Astoria. Oregon. The steamer Republic,
on which he had taken passage with his wife and two
daughters, was wrecked. The disaster occurred unex-
ectedly at four o'clock in the morning, when all the
passengers were asleep in their staterooms. They
were kept one day on the wreck before being rescued
by life boats. He lost his entire possessions that were
aboard, but escaped with life and family. He went to
Knappa, Oregon, and thence in 1885 to Moscow, Idaho.
Two years later he went to Genesee, then a town of one
shanty, and he purchased a lot and erected the first
building that had a shingle roof in the town, and there
he kept hotel for four years, being then appointed in-
structor in the Indian Industrial School, which was
discontinued two years later, when Air. Owen returned
to his hotel and operated it until he sold the property.
In 1807 he was appointed postmaster in Genesee and
since that time he has faithfully fulfilled the duties of
that office, giving the best service of mails the town
has ever secured.
In 1867 occurred the marriage of Mr. Owen and
Miss Thalia L. Krunn, a native of Ohio, and they
have become the parents of three daughters, — Mattie,
wife of A. W. Conway; Nettie, wife of Captain A.
McKenna, of the L'nited States signal service in the
Philippines; Carrie Matilda, at home. Mr. Owen
affiliated with the I. O. O. F.. the G. A. R. and the
K. of P. Mrs. Owen is a member of the Relief Corps
and of the Rathbone Sisters. Mr. Owen has always
been allied with the Republican party and has served
as city marshal of Genesee and was a member of the
first city council. Mr. and Mrs. Owen are among
the leading people of the city and are esteemed by a
large circle of friends and respected by all.
ELIAS TCCKEY. Among the leading agri-
culturists of Latah county may be mentioned the sub-
ject of this sketch. He has labored long in this sec-
tion and may really be classed as one of the builders
of the county, having wrought faithfully for advance-
ment and progress, displaying meanwhile enterprise
and commendable zeal and wisdom. On May 3, 1847,
Elias Tuckey was born in Bangor. WaleS, to John and
Sarah Tuckey. The father was a stone cutter, and a
native of Wiltshire, England, being born in 1804, and
dying in Montana in 1884. The mother was born in
Somersetshire, England, in 1800. The father came to
New York, thence to Wisconsin, and on to Iowa, in
1865, to California in 1874, and in 1876 to Idaho, this
county, then Nez Perces. He worked on the first
Potan'ia bridge, across the arm of the sea in Wales, it
being the first suspension structure in the world. He
took government land near Lenville, Latah _ county,
assisted to erect the first saw mill in the section, and
also had many fights with the hostile Indians.
The immediate subject of this sketch came to this
county in 1878. assisted his father in the improvement
of the latter's farm, then returned to Iowa, and two
years later came again to this section. He now owns
a farm three and one-half miles northeast from Len-
ville, in Latah county, and is numbered with the pros-
perous men of the section.
On March 14, 1877. Mr. Tuckey married .Miss
742
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Carrie, daughter of Daniel and Carrie Stout, farmers
of Iowa, the wedding occurring in Waterloo. Iowa, and
three children have been born to the happy union, —
Frank J., Sarah M. and Alice J. Airs. Tuckey's par-
ents died aged eighty-seven and eighty-eight. In
political matters Air. Tuckey is affiliated with the Re-
publican party, and takes the interest incumbent on
every good citizen in the affairs of the county. He
has had many trying times in the business and in-
dustrial world, but it may be said that he has mani-
fested commendable wisdom and enterprise in the man-
agement of his business affairs and his life displays
the stanch worth of character and uprightness that
are pleasing and praiseworthy.
HON. DANIEL GAMBLE. Although the sub-
ject of this sketch is at the present time one of the
successful and prosperous agriculturists of Latah coun-
ty, vet he has served in various other capacities, as
in the professional field and also as representative of
his county in the state legislature, while he has ever
manifested those qualities of worth and stability which
have characterized his walk both in public service and
private enterprise.
Daniel Gamble was born on October 24, 1857. in
Milford. county Donegal, Ireland, being the son of
Daniel and Hester Gamble. At the early age of fif-
teen he came to America, and for two years was em-
ployed in the chemical works in the city of Phila-
delphia. Thence he went to San Francisco in 1874,
where for three and a half yearsjie pursued classical
and scientific studies under the immediate direction of
Professor John Gamble, B. A., Ph. D., Queen's Uni-
versity of Ireland, and Professor John Murphy, M. A.,
of Trinity College, Dublin. In January, 1878, he en-
tered the San Francisco Theological Seminary, and
graduated from that institution at the head of
his class, on April 29, 1880. On the same day
he was licensed by the Presbytery of San Fran-
cisco to preach the gospel, and on the recom-
mendation of the faculty of the theological semi-
nary was at once commissioned by the Presby-
terian board as their missionary to the new regions of
the northwest. In January, 1881, in connection with
Rev. T. M. Boyd, he organized the First Presbyterian
church of Moscow, and in the following spring ob-
tained as a gift from Mr. John Russell the site on
which the church now stands. A year later he was
called to the First Presbyterian church of Victoria,
B. C, where his labors were so successful that during
his pastorate it was found necessary to enlarge the
house of worship to twice the original size. While
in Victoria he acted as chaplain of the Royal Hospital
and also of the House of Parliament of British Co-
lumbia.
In 1884 Mr. Gamble returned to the United States
in response to a call from the Presbyterian church of
Goldendale, Washington. There he labored for five
years, during which time he enlarged the house of
worship to twice its original size, and also organized
the Presbyterian church of Centerville. In connec-
tion with his regular work as a pastor Mr. Gamble la-
bored extensively as an evangelist throughout < .'re-
gon, Washington, Idaho and British Columbia, until
his incessant labors finally broke down his health, forc-
ing him to retire from the work of the ministry to the
quiet of his home at Moscow.
In 1894 Mr. Gamble was nominated by the Repub-
lican convention for state representative from Latah
county, and was the only nominee of the convention
who was elected. As a legislator he left an indelible
impression on the statute books of Idaho. He intro-
duced and succeeded in having passed a bill making a
farm laborer's lien a preferred claim, and what is
known as the Gamble exemption bill, granting to the
citizens of Idaho such liberal exemptions as few other
states can boast. He also led the fight against what
is known as the validation bill, which was finally de-
feated, after a prolonged and bitter struggle.
On July 14, 1884. Air. Gamble was married to
Miss Isabella, daughter of James and Alargaret Smith,
of Victoria, B. C, and they have become the parents
of four sons. — Daniel R., James R., Gustavus A. and
William J., and two daughters, — Alargaret Hester and
Lola.
Air. Gamble is one of the influential men of the
county and has always been an active laborer for its
advancement. He is highly esteemed by all who know
him and, surrounded by his growing family and hosts
of friends, he has just cause for abundant happiness
and contentment with his earthly lot.
DAVID CHAPAIAN. The venerable gentleman
whose name appears at the head of this article is one
of the esteemed and substantial citizens of Latah coun-
ty, having labored here for the general welfare and
advancement of the interests of the county, and he is
now one of the heavy property owners, and is highly-
respected by all, since he has displayed commendable
enterprise and stanch integrity and sound principles
in the affairs of public life and private business.
Air. Chapman was born in Yorkshire, England, on
December 14, 1829, being the son of William and
Rachel Chapman. He spent the years of his minority
in his native place, then in company with two broth-
ers, at the age of nineteen, came to Ogle county, Illi-
nois, settling in 1850, and engaging in farming. He
was occupied there until 1866, then removed to Mo-
nona county, Iowa, taking a homestead of eighty acres
where his home was until 1882, when he again re-
moved, this time to Woodbury county, taking up car-
pentering, and in 1884 he came to Idaho, purchasing
a farm of one hundred and sixty acres four miles north
from Aloscow. He also owns a quarter section in
the Big Bend country, Washington, and a fine resi-
dence in the northwest part of the city, which is the
family home. Air. Chapman recently sold a Latah
county farm.
Air. Chapman was married in January, 1854. in
Ogle county, Illinois; the lady then becoming his wife
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
was Miss Lydia A., daughter of John and Theresa
Herrington, and a native of Pennsylvana, and they
have become the parents of three children, living, —
Melvin L., Miles W. and Theresa A.; and four who
died in infancy.
In 1882, in Woodbury county, Iowa, Mr. Chap-
man married a second time, Mary Ann Thomas be-
coming his wife at that time.
In 1861 Mr. Chapman enlisted in Company H,
Forty-sixth Illinois Infantry, under Captain John
Steven, in the Army of Tennessee. He fought at Fort
Uonelson, Shiloh, Pittsburg Landing, siege of Corinth,
Vicksburg, Atlanta and many other battles and skir-
mishes, until 1864, and was then honorably discharged,
having made a military record of which his family
and he may well be proud. And it is to such devoted,
brave and intrepid men that we owe the preserva-
tion of the Union in those dark days of internal strife.
Mr. Chapman is a man of excellent business ability,
stanch character, untarnished reputation, and is a de-
voted supporter of the faith, being a devout member
of the Baptist church. Now, in the golden time of his
career, he is retired from the activities of business life,
superintends the estates from his Moscow residence
and quietly enjoys the fruits of his industry and thrift,
being secure in the good will, esteem and confidence of
his fellows.
JOSEPH RIELLY. In the grand old city of
Dublin was born the subject of this sketch, and amid
the beauties of the Emerald Isle were passed the days
of his childhood, 1832 being the year of the inception
of his career on this earth, and his parents were James
and Mary Rielly, the father a printer, and passing
from earth's cares in 1862, the mother also dying in her
native land. At the budding age of twenty Joseph
came to the new world, settling in Providence, Rhode
Island, where he wrought at the machinist's trade for
two years, after which, in 1856, he came to San Fran-
cisco, via the Isthmus, going thence to the mines in
Plumas county, where he delved one and one-half
years in the search for gold. He returned to Rhode
Island then, and in 1859 was found again in Cali-
fornia, whence he came to Boise, mining there for a
time, also several years were spent in Montana in the
same work. In 1879 he came to his present place, one
and one-half miles north from Moscow, where he
homesteaded a quarter section, and now owns a fine
farm of two hundred and eighty acres. Mr. Rielly
gives his attention to farming, raising stock, raising
fruit and mining, being 'a man of energy and fine
capabilities.
In 1854 Mr. Rielly married Miss Lucy Lyons in
Fall River, Massachusetts, and one child graced the
happy union. Tn infancy the child was taken by death,
and Mrs. Rielly, also, was snatched from her home
by the monster, leaving her husband to mourn her sad
demise. Mr. Rielly has stood against the storms
of a buffeting world for three score and ten
years, manifesting those stanch qualities of worth and
integrity that only the brave and typical man can
produce, and now, as the golden years of a very active
and adventurous career are drawing on apace, he main-
tains the same dauntless spirit and faithfulness toward
his fellows, and is justly entitled to the enjoyment
of the fruits of his worthy and ardous toils, while he
is esteemed and highly respected by all. Mr. Rielly
has never displayed any desire for personal preferment
in the lines of politics, nor has he allied himself with
any of the religious denominations of the day. It is
of note that he trod the ground where Moscow
now stands in 1866, when there was not a hou.se be-
tween Lewiston and Spokane river, and from Spokane
ferry to Bitter Root valley no civilized abode was
found. Thus did the pioneer enter these solitudes of
nature's wilds, and by faithful toil and daring intrepid-
ity face the dangers and endure the toil to pave the
way for the settlers of later date. Much honor and
credit are due such as our subject for these trying
and praiseworthy labors, and it is with pleasure that we
are enabled to incorporate this review in the abiding
history of Latah county.
GEORGE W. TUCKER. The subject of this
sketch is one of the enterprising and progressive citi-
zens of Latah county, being a leader in the praise-
worthy labor of introducing fine stock into the county,
having today one of the finest Percheron horses in the
northwest. Mr. Tucker is also a farmer, and handles
to advantage his fertile farm three and one-half miles
southeast from Moscow. His birth took place in
Winchester, Scott county, Illinois, on December 27,
1832. his parents being Thomas and Esther Tucker.
In 1849, m company with his father, he made the
trip across the plains to California with ox teams, and
for two years they were busied in the search for gold.
In 1851 they returned to the home place, via water.
Soon, however, we find young Tucker again on the
plains, this time headed for Salem, Oregon, where he
arrived in due time. He soon was enlisted in Com-
pany A, First Battalion, Regiment of Oregon Mounted
Volunteers, commanded by Colonel Rob Williams, and
he received his honorable discharge on February 6,
1856, having made a commendable record fighting the
Indians in the Rogue river war. He participated in
the hotly contested struggle at Hungry Hill, and also
in several skirmishes. In 1855 he located in Lane
county and there engaged in farming until 1878. when
a move was made to Washington, whence in 1886 he
migrated, to Idaho, settling three and one-half miles
southeast from Moscow, where he resides at the pres-
ent time, owning here one hundred and twenty acres of
fine soil, which is well improved and carefully tilled.
Mr. Tucker takes a great interest in blooded horses,
and had, some fine specimens, among which is Poitiou,
Jr., an excellent graded Percheron, being the finest in
the county. On his farm Mr. Tucker has three acres
of choice varieties of fruits.
Mr. Tucker was married to Miss Sarah H.. daugh-
ter of Hiram Lemon, in 1858. and they became the
parents of seven children, — Ella, Mary H, Alice T.,
744
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Lily M., T. F.. H. Elmer and George. On June 12,
1888, Mr. Tucker contracted a second marriage, the
lady of his choice on this occasion being Mrs. Rebecca
Wood, and the nuptials occurred in Ritzville. Adams
county, Washing-ton. Fraternally Mr. Tucker is
affiliated with the A. F. & A. M., Paradise Lodge, No.
17. He is among the substantial and enterprising
men of the county, well known and universally liked,
while his demeanor is such that he has won as friends
all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance.
THOMAS CROWLEY, deceased, was one of the
earliest pioneers of this section, settling here long be-
fore Latah county had a separate existence, and labor-
ing faithfully during the days of his sojourn for the
upbuilding of the country and for general progress,
always manifesting himself as a good, loyal citizen, and
man of uprightness and integrity, while his industry
and enterprise were patent to all, and it is with pleas-
ure that we accord to his memory this review.
The birth of Mr. Crowley occurred in the Emerald
Isle, in 1825, and while still a small boy he came to
America, and for a good many years he traveled in vari-
ous parts of the country, visiting about every state in the
Union. Finally he came to this country and settled on
government land three miles southeast from where Mos-
cow now stands. He bent his energies to opening up
a farm and improving the same, and his success is well
manifested, for at the time of his death he left a fine
estate of four hundred and eighty acres. He settled
here first in 1872, and death called him away in 1889.
Five sons are living on the place, the oldest, Frank
Crowley, being born on January 27. 1876. and he now
has charge of the farm, which is operated by him and
his brothers, who are William, James, Joseph and John.
The father was a successful raiser of stock, and the
sons run a threshing outfit. Frank having managed one
for the last five years. The estate is still undivided,
and the sons are handling it together. The widow was
married a second time, and is now living in Seattle.
Mr. Crowley was a man of excellent qualities, and
he wrought with a display of skill and good judgment,
while his energy and capabilities in handling business
affairs was manifest to all. He was well known and
universally beloved and the day of his death was a
time of sincere and wide spread mourning.
C. V. VANDEWALKER. Among the thrifty
orchardists of Latah county must be mentioned the
enterprising and wel! known gentleman whose name
is at the head of this article, and who has spent a num-
ber of years in laboring for the development and ad-
vancement of the county, while his personal walk has
been commendatory and fraught with expression of
uprightness and faithfulness.
Our subject was born in Belvedere, Boone county,
Illinois, being the son of Tuttle and Finetta Vande-
walker. When this son was twelve vears of age the
parents removed to Cumberland county, Illinois, and
there he labored with his father on the farm until he
had reached the time of his majority, when he re-
moved to Pope county, Minnesota, taking up the oc-
cupation of the agriculturist for fourteen years in that
state. In 1877 a move was made by wagon, in four
months, to Dayton, Washington, and freighting was
his labor until 1880, when he returned to Minnesota,
by wagon, whence three years later he came to Spo-
kane, Washington, and in 1884 made his way to Mos-
cow. Different labors were engaged in for a decade,
ami then Mr. Vandewalker purchased his ten-acre
orchard situated two miles southeast from Moscow
He has a fine orchard and comfortable buildings, and
he annually markets a nice quantity of fruit.
The marriage of Mr. Vandewalker and Miss Ellen,
daughter of Amos G. and Margaret F. Lacey. was
solemnized in Cumberland county, Illinois, in 1865,
and the children born are as follows : L. Olive, Car-
rie B., Franklin P., Margaret F., C. Henry and Amos
G. Mr. Vandewalker is one of the substantial, faith-
ful and public minded citizens of our county, and he
is well liked and esteemed by all.
GEORGE M. BOOTH, D. D., is the pastor of
the M. E. church at Moscow, Idaho, and is a man of
sterling qualities of worth and integrity, having labored
in the vineyard for many years, preparing himself
when still a youth for this responsible and praiseworthy
calling, and it may be said that now, as the zenith of
life's walk is drawing nigh, that he is a man who has
achieved success in the real meaning of the word, and
a retrospective investigation but presages a line of
accomplishment with riper years and more mature
talent from rich experiences and constant mental ac-
tivity that will be a fitting crowning to a useful and
highly commendable life.
George M. Booth was born in Des Moines, Iowa,
on January 2, 1852. being the son of Robert and Mary
Booth, both still living at Grants Pass, Oregon. The
father was a Methodist preacher for fifty years, doing
noble and faithful service in the ripening fields where
his labor was bestowed. The father was a native of
England and came to this country in 1830. The
mother was a native of Indiana. Our subject was edu-
cated at the Wilbur Academy, at Wilbur, Douglas
county, Oregon, attending college also for three years
at Ashland, in the same state. 1873 was tne >-ear m
which he retired from the collegiate course, and in
1882 he began his life's work by preaching the gospel,
the inception labors being at Waldron, Oregon, where
three years were spent. Two years were consumed in
proclaiming the message at Columbus, Washington,
and then he stepped aside for a time from the direct
preaching of the gospel to accept the presiding elder-
ship of the Columbia district, wherein he was retained
for nine consecutive years, closing his services in that
line in 1896. and then removing to Moscow, where he
has been since as pastor of the church of his denomina-
tion.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
The marriage of Mr. Booth and Miss Clara E.
Staats was celebrated on January 3, 1878, and they
have become the parents of the following children :
Daisy, in the university ; Winifred, teaching at Ken-
drick : Augusta, Wilford and Warren, the last three
attending school also. Mrs. Booth was educated in the
Willamette University, Oregon. Her father, Hon.
Stephen Staats, came to Oregon in 1847, and was twice
state senator from Polk county, in that state, also rep-
resented the county several times in the lower house,
serving later as county judge. Mr. Booth has had
the title of Doctor of Divinity conferred upon him,
through meritorious labors and manifestation of ex-
cellent ability, and he has displayed commendable zeal
and energy in the cause, being a man of fine address
and talent and taking a firm hold on the hearts of his
people, with whom, as with all, he is very popular.
Mr. Booth has been twice elected to represent his con-
ference at the general conference, and by the latter
body he was chosen a member of the Book Committee,
where fourteen constituted the bodv of the committee.
HON. JOHN S. RANDOLPH. The subject of
this article is well known throughout the entire coun-
ty of Latah, being one of the most influential men
and prominent citizens of the county, while in his busi-
ness enterprise of farming and fruit raising he has
won commendable success, being personally a man of
attractive and upright characteristics, having main-
tained an unsullied reputation and has done much
for the advancement of the county's interests.
John S. was born in Bloomington, McLean county,
Illinois, on June 15. 1832, being the son of Gardner
and Betsey Randolph. The father was a farmer in
that vicinity and the son remained with him until the
age of twenty-nine had been reached, when he started
for himself in the battle of life. He had been fortified
by a good education in the district school, which was
finished by a course in the Wesleyan University at
Bloomington. In 1861 he removed to Riley county,
Kansas, where he was numbered with the prosperous
agriculturists until 1875. Then a move was made
to California, and after two years of farming there
he went thence to Oregon and farmed for a time, and in
1880 he came to Latah county. He purchased a farm
twenty-five miles north from Moscow, and to the culti-
vation and improvement of this he devoted his atten-
tion, except during the time from 1894 to 1898, in
which years he was representing his county in the state
legislature, being called, as was the noted Roman of
old. from the plow to the halls of legislation. And
it is to be said to the credit of the subject of this
sketch that, as the Roman did, so did he, standing
there, as in all his life, for the principles of right and
progress and upbuilding of the country. Also in
Kansas he had been probate judge. After this extend-
ed service in the legislature Mr. Randolph purchased
his present place of forty acres, two miles southeast
from Moscow, where he resides, having an ideal home.
Politically he is identified with the Populists, and in
fraternal affiliations he has been with the I. O. O. F.
In religious persuasion Mr. Randolph is a member of
the Methodist church, South.
The marriage of Mr. Randolph and Miss Man
Ann, daughter of William and Mary Tate, farmers of
Nebraska, was celebrated in Perin, Nebraska, in 1861,
and they have become the parents of the following chil-
dren: Joshua A., Belle, Lily, Edith. Ora, Britton \V.
and Anna.
Mr. Randolph was in the legislature during the
most terrible panic that has swept the western country.
He introduced a bill to lower the freight and passenger
rates in the state, as well as introducing many others
for the amelioration of the condition of the people.
Mr. Randolph has the distinction of having been a
member of the convention in Kansas which formed
the La Compton constitution.
RAY WOODWORTH is one of the thrifty and
enterprising agriculturists of Latah county, having
a valuable piece of land one-half mile east from Mos-
cow, where his commodious and elegant residence
forms the family home, whence also he directs the im-
provements and culture of his land. Mr. Woodworth
was born in Williams county, Ohio, on December 19,
1836, being the son of Josiah and Mariah Woodworth.
There he was educated in the public schools, and from
the age of seventeen to twenty-three he was engaged
in the manufacture of potash. Following this period
he migrated to Pikes Peak, the Mecca of that time,
crossing the plains in 1859 with ox teams. From
that date until 1863 he was taken up with mining and
freighting, then he went to Virginia City, Montana,
and engaged in stock raising. He also built a flour
mill nine miles from where Bozeman is now situated,
which he sold later, and then went to Wyoming, with
a large herd of cattle, selling them at camp Brown.
1878 marks the date of his advent into this section,
his first settlement being at Genesee, then, afterward.
he operated a general merchandise establishment at
Uniontown, Washington, following which he went to
farming on a large scale on the Snake river, where
also he built a flouring mill worth twenty thousand dol-
lars, which was destroyed by fire. Then he came to
Moscow, the year being 1897, and purchased the farm
where he now resides, and since then he has given his
attention to general farming and fruit raising.
The first marriage of Mr. Woodworth occurred in
Bryan, Ohio, on February 27. 18(17. the lady then be-
coming his wife being Miss Martha Snyder, daughter
of Samuel Snyder. Two children were born to them.
— Jay, who was county auditor here for four years
and is now deputy auditor at Wallace, this state ; and
Grace, teaching school in Spokane.
On February 14, 1881. Mr. Woodworth contracted
a second marriage, the lady of his choice on this oc-
casion being Arphema Starr, and the nuptials being
celebrated at Bryan, Ohio. Two children have been
the fruit of this union. — Maud, teaching school: and
Rov. attending school in Moscow. Mr. Woodworth
746
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Lodge No. 5. He
is a man who has the confidence of his fellows, has
made a good record in the years of his active life, has
gained success and has conducted his business enter-
prises with commendable wisdom, while his personal
walk has been such as to manifest the public spirit and
integrity that are happy characteristics of his per-
sonality.
EDWARD L. BURKE. It is a pleasure to have
the privilege to incorporate in the history of Latah
county the life's record of the gentleman whose name
is at the head of this article, since he is one of the
noble men who fought for the flag in the days of re-
bellion's woe, and since he has shown himself a worthy
citizen of a grand nation that he assisted to establish
secure for years to come.
Edward L. was born on June 30, 1848, in Adams
county, Illinois, near the town of Ouincy, being the
sun of Hiram and Rebecca Burke. His father was
a farmer and he remained at home on the farm and in
the pursuit of knowledge until February, 1865, when
he enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Forty-
eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, under Captain
Welsh, and served until after the close of hostilities,
in 1865. He did duty in Tennessee, but was not in
any heavy battle. Subsequent to the close of the war
he returned to Ouincy and there engaged in farming
until 1879. at which time he migrated to Walla Walla,
and thence a short time afterward to Lewiston, Idaho.
In the vicinity of that city he was engaged in farm-
ing and stock raising for fifteen years, then removed
to Moscow in 1896. In this city he selected a residence
in the western part, purchased it, together with ten
acres of orchard and five of garden, and here he resides
at the present time. He devotes himself to market
gardening and the duties of the orchardist. having
excellent success.
The marriage of Mr. Burke and Miss Laura B.,
daughter of Benjamin T. Nelson, a farmer near Ouin-
cy, was celebrated on December 5, 1867. The fol-
lowing children have been born to this happy union :
Cora E., wife of David Stevens, living in Lewiston ;
Lawrence, at home; John T.. civil engineer; Daisy,
wife of Joseph Knudson, agent of the Hazelwood dairy
in Portland; Edward A.; Ralph E. Air. Burke is a
member of the G. A. R., Major Anderson Post, No.
5. He is a man of commendable energy and wisdom,
having conducted himself in a loyal and patriotic
manner, and demonstrated the ability with which he
"is happily possessed in good endeavors in the business
world.
WILLIAM C. LAIDER. The representative
and well known citizen whose name is at the head of
this article is one of Moscow's leading builders and
stone contractors, being a man of great experience and
skill in this line of business, while personally he is
marked by a public spirit and a progressiveness that
have done much for the upbuilding of Latah county.
The birth of William C. Lauder occurred in Hor-
nellsville. Steuben county, New York, on November
II, 1855, he being the son of William and Mary Laud-
er. The father was a lumberman and farmer. When
the son had arrived at the age of fourteen he went with
his father to Readsville, North Carolina, and there
assisted the latter in the culture and manufacture of
tobacco, remaining engrossed in that industry until
1881. Then he came west and went to work for the
O. R. & N. Company as superintendent on the grade,
remaining in that capacity until 1883. Two years
later he superintended the putting in of the entire
road from Old Mission to Wardner, Idaho, the same
being the first railroad in that section and made for the
Coeur d'Alene Railway & Navigation Company.
From this he retired to Colfax, Washington, and en-
gaged in stone contracting and the manufacture of
brick until 1892, which is the date of his advent to
Moscow. He does a general contracting and building
business, and is also street commissioner of Moscow.
While in North Carolina Mr. Lauder served in the
United States revenue force. He is affiliated with
the A. O. LT. W., Moscow Lodge, No. 13, also with
the Mox Mox Tribe. No. 7, of Redmen.
The marriage of Mr. Lauder and Miss Emma
Briggs, a native of Westmoreland county, Pennsyl-
vania, was solemnized on December 25. 1876. and
they have one child, Margaret, now attending the
University of Idaho. Mrs. Lauder's parents, Abner
and Ann Briggs, were farmers of her native count)'.
Mr. Lauder is an enterprising and industrious man,
with excellent executive force and marked by his keen
foresight and good judgment, while his business suc-
cess stamps him a wise and capable man. and he is
entitled to and freely receives the respect and con-
fidence of his fellows.
BAYARD T. BYRNS. Any compilation pur-
porting to give the history of Latah county and men-
tion of its leading citizens would be open to serious
criticism were there failure to incorporate within its
pages a summary of the career of the representative
business man and capable citizen whose name appears
above, and who has done much for the advancement of
the interests of the county, both in financial matters as
well as in introducing excellent breeds of stock and
many kinds of tame grasses for pasturage and mea-
dows, and it is without hesitation that we proclaim
that to AFr. Byrns very much credit is due for his
untiring and wise efforts in these lines mentioned.
Bayard T. was born in Allegany county. New
York, on June 9. 1854, being the son of Dr. W. and
Priscilla Byrns. While he was still an infant the fam-
ily removed to Bronson, Branch count}-, Michigan,
where he resided until he was twenty-six years of age,
receiving his elemental education in the common
schools and then attending the Freewill Baptist Col-
lege at Hillsdale, and spending some time in the Bap-
tist college at Kalamazoo. At the age of seventeen
Mr. Byrns had the distinction of operating a seven-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
hundred-acre farm, doing the same with credit to him-
self. At the age of twenty-six he went to Oswego,
Kansas, purchasing a large tract of land and devoting
himself to raising and shipping cattle. He was soon
engaged in the loaning business, in company with the
Neosha Yallay Investment Company, in Chetopa, and
later was in the employ of the Winton & Diming Loan-
ing Company, which afterward reorganized into the
Diming Investment Company, at Oswego, Kansas.
In 1889 he came to Walla Walla, Washington, for this
ompany, placing farm mortgage loans. In 1891 the
office was removed to Colfax, and in 1897 he left the
company and engaged in the same line for himself,
locating in Moscow. At the present time he owns
about two thousand acres of good land in Latah, Whit-
man and Spokane counties. In addition he has a
farm of two hundred and fifty acres one and one-half
miles south from Moscow, known as the Meadow-
brook stock farm, where he pays especial attention
to handling thoroughbred Shorthorn cattle, and breed-
in- the same, also handling Berkshire and Poland-
China hogs. He has about two hundred fine cattle,
twentv-five head registered, and he constantly keeps
excellent animals for sale. Mr. Byrns pays much
attention to the culture and introduction of grasses
adapted to the climate, and great good has resulted
from his efforts in both of these lines. In addition to
all this enterprising agricultural and stock raising
labor, Mr. Byrns finds time to conduct a loaning busi-
ness under the firm name of Bayar'd T. Byrns & Com-
panv. the offices being located in Moscow, and he does
an extensive business, being one of the leading finan-
ciers of the county and in fact of the entire state.
Mr. Byrns is a progressive and public minded citizen
and has manifested marked energy and intelligence in
prosecuting successfully the various enterprises which
have come to his hand, and he has always maintained
a leading position in these lines, accomplishing much
for the advancement of the interests of the county and
of his fellows. In political matters he is a Republican,
and in 180.Q he was the popular choice of the people for
mayor of the city of Moscow, no one taking the field
against him.
In Chautauqua county, Xew York, at Stockton, on
Ocober 10, 1895. Mr. Byrns married Miss Harriet,
daughter of Mortimer and Genevra Ely, and a native
of New York, and two children have been born to
them, — Margaret and Mariorl.
O. BEARDSLEY. This gentleman is one of the
heavy land owners of Latah county and has been an
influential citizen in the advancement of the county's
interests, while his own business enterprises have been
conducted with admirable sagacity and practical judg-
ment with the certain result of a good success in finan-
cial affairs. Mr. Beardsley was born in Genesee
county. New York, being the son of A. W. and Mary
Beardsley, and the date of his birth was January 15,
1826. While a small child his parents removed to
Crystal Lake, Illinois, where his childhood days were
passed and he acquired the education that fortified him
for the batties of life. In 1848 he settled on a farm
in McHenry county, Illinois, in the vicinity of Crystal
Lake, the town where his father did business as a gen-
eral merchant, and to the occupation of general farm-
ing and stock raising he devoted his entire energies
with the brilliant success that was to be gained from the
fertile soil of Illinois prairie. The labor continued
steadily until 1882, when Mr. Beardsley determined to
view the west for himself, and accordingly he sold
his property and came to the vicinity of Moscow, and
he purchased a farm. One year was spent in the labor
of farming and then he rented this property and re-
moved to town to live, building a fine, commodious
residence, which is occupied as the family home at
the present time. Mr. Beardsley showed his keen fore-
sight, and confidence in the future of Latah county
by purchasing different farms in the county, until
now he owns one section of rich soil, which is rented.
During the interim from 1888 to 1896 he was engaged
in buying wheat, but of late years he has retired from
the activities of this business and superintends his
farms and gives his days to the enjoyment of the com-
petence that his wisdom, thrift and enterprise have
accumulated.
The marriage of Mr. Beardsley and Miss Lucinda,
daughter of William and Julia Jackman, was cele-
brated in McHenry county, Illinois, on March 16,
1848, and three children have been born to them, —
Ella C, deceased, having been the wife of H. L.
Coats, who came to this county with Mr. Beardsley;
Flora, wife of Albert Dygert ; O. W., married to Miss
Phoebe Estes. Mrs. Beardsley's parents were natives
of New York. Mr. Beardsley has been a member of
the city council in Moscow for six years, previous to
1 901, and in all his public service, as in his private
walk, he has been characterized by uprightness, integ-
rity and enterprise, while he has displayed praise-
worthy ability and has been dominated by sound prin-
ciples; and now, as the golden years of a well spent
life begin to dawn, he is secure in the esteem and con-
fidence of his fellows and may be cheered by the mem-
ory of well spent days of labor and faithfulness.
LOUIS P. SCHUH. In the industrial and busi-
ness world of Latah county the gentleman whose name
initiates this paragraph exerts a potent influence, be-
ing well known and capable, and a master in the art
of building, while also he does a general contracting
business and moves buildings.
Louis P. Schuh was born in Knox county, near
Galesburg, Illinois, on January 25, 1849, being the
son of Eberhart and Eveline Schuh. When a child
of four vears he was brought across the plains in an ox
train by his parents, who settled near Vancouver,
Washington. He passed his childhood days there, on
a large "farm, acquiring a good education, and also
learning the trade of the carpenter and builder. 1871
74»
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
marks the date when he removed to Oregon, locating at
Pilot Rock, in Umatilla county, and there he wrought
at his trade and also engaged in stock raising, until
1881. At that date he removed to Moscow, Idaho,
locating permanently there. He erected a fine resi-
dence in the eastern part of the city and this elegant
dwelling continues to be the family home. Mr. Schuh
has been active in carpenter work and general contract-
ing and house moving, displaying a master ability in it
all and carefully conserving the interests of his patrons,
until he now enjoys the confidence and esteem of the
entire community and is a leader in his line of business.
The marriage of Mr. Schuh occurred in Pilot Rock,
Oregon, in 1874, Miss Martha J., daughter of William
and Martha Looney, becoming his wife at that time.
The fruits of this union is as follows : Charles E.,
Ira D., Elsie, Orlin M.. Elda E., Louis P. and three
infants who died. Mrs. Schuh's parents were stock
raisers in Umatilla county. Mr. Schuh is a member
of the Methodist church and has been for twenty years.
He is a man of broad public spirit, ever in the lead for
progress, and enterprising in the development of the
interests of the county, while his personal walk has
been such that he enjoys an unsullied reputation and
the good will and admiration of all.
During the Indian scare of 1878 Mrs. Schuh went
to Walla Walla, and in that war Mr. Schuh served
under General Howard. He participated in the fight
at Birch creek, but General Howard's command was
one day too late to take part in the Cold Springs fight.
CHARLES B. HOLT. Mention should be made
of this active and well known business man among
the representative men of Latah county, being now
actively engaged in the butchering business on one of
the principal streets of Moscow, where he does a fine
business in partnership with his sons-in-law.
Charles B. Holt was born in Wilton, New Hamp-
shire, on February 28, 1839, his parents being Nathan-
iel and Sarah Holt, both dying before he was eight
years of age. Following this sad event he went to
live with his uncle, who operated a butcher shop in
Chelmford, Massachusetts. There he learned the
trade of the butcher and followed it there and in
Brighton and in Boston, remaining with one employer
for five years. It was in 1866 that he came west, stop-
ping first in Springfield, Ohio, whence one year later
he migrated to Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, where he
remained engaged at his trade until 1877. This year
marks the date of his crossing the plains, and for one
year he was occupied with ranching in Wyoming ;
then he pressed forward to Washington, taking
government land in Whitman county, about ten miles
west from Moscow, which he owns at the present
time. He gave attention to raising grain and
stock, also operated a butcher wagon in the ad-
joining country, selling meat, which continued
until 1884, when he removed to Moscow and
opened a butcher shop. He has taken into the busi-
ness Mr. George Cushing and Mr. Chris Hagen, his
sons-in-law. and together they operate a fine market,
doing a general market business and enjoying a good
trade. Mr. Holt still owns and superintends his farm.
He is a member of the Pinery Lodge, Chippewa Falls,
Wisconsin, also of the Star of Rebekah, Lodge No.
15, of Moscow.
Mr. Holt married Jennie Pike, a native of Massa-
chusetts, in 1865, the nuptials occurring in Manchester,
New Hampshire, and to them have been born one
daughter, — Hattie, wife of Chris Hagen. Phenia, wife
of George Cushing, is a step-daughter. Mr. Holt is
one of the substantial and prominent men of the city
and count}' and has wrought here with energy and
faithfulness and is justly entitled to the confidence of
the people, which he enjoys in a generous measure, and
he can truly be called one of the builders of the county,
for he has done much for the general advancement and
improvement.
CHARLES W. PALMER. As an orchardist, a
stockman and as an agriculturist the subject of this
article has won distinction in Latah county, and is to-
day numbered among the leading men of the county,
having manifested during all the long years in which he
has labored here a high order of ability and an un-
swerving integrity and uprightness that have given him
an enviable prestige among the citizens.
Mr. Palmer was born in South Bend, Indiana, on
May 19, 1838, being the son of Asher and Nancy
Palmer. His early life was spent on the farm and in
the district schools he received his education. At the
age of sixteen he accompanied his parents to Fillmore
county. Minnesota, and in that section he engaged in
farming until 1871, then removed to Nebraska, where
the ensuing two years were spent, and in 1873 he
made his way to the west, settling eight miles north
from Moscow, taking government land, where he now
owns a fine farm of five hundred and fifty acres. Upon
this farm Mr. Palmer has the largest orchard of Latah
county, it covering fifty acres. He has manifested
commendable skill in handling this large enterprise,
and deserves great credit for the benefit it has brought
to his county. In addition to this he has done a gen-
eral farming business, and has also paid attention to
raising horses, for the last twenty years, having in
1898 three thousand head, but now he has sold until
he owns four hundred. Mr. Palmer is living in Mos-
cow, and from that point he superintends his estate
and enterprises.
The marriage of Mr. Palmer and Miss Eliza J.
Martin was solemnized in Fillmore. Fillmore county,
Minnesota, in 1859, and three children were born to
them. — Charles, Alice and Minnie, all living in Wsah-
ington. In 1898 Mr. Palmer contracted a second
marriage; the lady of his choice at this time was Mrs.
Lotta Philliops, of Moscow. Mr. Palmer is affiliated
with the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 31, Star of Rebekah.
No. 15. and with the G. A. R.. Major Anderson Post,
No. 5. He is highly esteemed by all and holds a
prominent place in the business realm of the county,
and bv real merit and faithfulness he has merited this
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
749
position, and holds the same in a becoming manner,
while he enjoys the confidence of all.
Mr. Palmer was in the First Minnesota Cavalry
for fourteen months, and then in the engineer corps for
two years. He assisted to repel the Sioux Indians,
under General Sibley, and in all this service he was
the faithful soldier and the true man.
GEORGE W. WOLFE. One of the highly es-
teemed and influential citizens of Latah county, and
a prosperous tiller of the soil whose life has been
marked with manifestation both of energy and capabil-
ity is named at the head of this article, and it is with
pleasure that we accord to him a representation in
the history of his county.
George W. Wolfe was born March n, 1853, in
Peoria county, near Galesburg, Illinois, being the son
of John and Nancy Wolfe. When he was an infant
of two years his father was taken away by death, and
when he was seven years of age his mother took him,
with the balance of the family, to Kansas, settling in
Brown county, where he spent the time until he was
twenty-two years of age, having acquired an education
from the public schools and giving his time to farm-
ing in addition. In 1875 he fitted conveyances and
crossed the plains with the old "prairie schooners,"
spending the first winter in Walla Walla. Following
this he located in Whitman county and devoted his
attention to farming for twelve years, meeting with
good success. He still owns this estate, comprising
six hundred and eighty acres. It was in 1888 that
he came to Moscow, and here he has since lived, super-
intending his farms from this point.
The marriage of Mr. Wolfe and Miss Amanda,
daughter of Calvin and Nancy Brown, pioneer farmers
of Whitman count}', was celebrated on January 6,
1878, and they have become the parents of three chil-
dren,— Guy \\\, Bertha and Mable. Fraternally Mr.
Wolfe is affiliated with the I. O. O. F., Lodge No.
31, being at the present time one of the grand officers
of the state of Idaho; he is also a member of the W.
of W., Lodge No. 228, holding the office of council
commander of that order. Mr. Wolfe was one of the
very few men who remained at home on the farm dur-
ing the raid of the Indians at Camas prairie, the bulk
of the settlers being huddled into the fortifications at
Moscow and other points. He escaped unharmed and
quietly attended to the interests of the farm until the
trouble had ceased. He is a man of excellent capa-
bilities, and has managed his business affairs with such
discretion and industry that he is the possessor of a
handsome competence and is one of the potent factors
of the countv.
DONALD McKENZIE. Among the business
men of Moscow there should not be failure to men-
tion the gentleman whose name initiates this para-
graph, and who has wrought in Latah county since its
organization and even before, manifesting an energy
and industry with excellent capabilities that have t-
mended him to all, while he has carried on his busi-
ness of farming and later of draying in a manner
that betokens good management and sagacity, which
have given to him the rewards attendant upon faithful
and well directed labor.
We have to revert to Stark county, Illinois, to find
the birthplace of our subject; the date of his advent
into life there was July 10, 1859, he being the son of
William and Elizabeth McKenzie. They crossed the
dreary plains in 1863, using ox teams for conveyance
and settling first in the Grande Ronde valley, where
they engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1871, when
another removal was made, to the territory now em-
braced in Latah county. They took government land
two miles south from Moscow and there gave atten-
tion to farming and raising stock, being attended with
good success. In 1885 the father was called away
by death, and then the mother lived with her son until
1 90 1, when she, too, received the summons to depart
this life. Our subject was educated in the common
schools in the various places where he lived, and also
gave attention to assisting on the farm until he arrived
at manhood's estate, then took up the occupation for
himself. He remained on the farm during the sum-
mer months and then repaired to Moscow in the winter,
where he did draying. During the years of 1894-95
he was night marshal of the city, and in 1898 he sold
his interests on the farm to his brother and removed
permanently to the town of Moscow. He took up
draying and transportation and does a good business,
being favored with the patronage of many. He has
fine equipment for his business and handles it with
becoming energy and wisdom.
On February 14. 1881, the marriage of Mr. Mc-
Kenzie and Miss Mary L., daughter of Samuel J. and
Mary L. Langdon. whose life's history is given in
another portion of this volume, was celebrated, and
they became the parents of three children, — Daisy,
Ho'llis and Alta May. Mr. McKenzie is a member
of the Modern Woodmen of America, and he is highly
esteemed in this relation, as in all the walks of life,
being a man of integrity and real worth, which have
won the confidence of all.
DAVID URQUHART. This capable and lead-
ing business man of Moscow has been actively engaged
in the pursuit of business in various channels here for
a number of years, and is now the owner and manager
of the Moscow brick yards, where he manufactures
an excellent quality of brick and is doing a good busi-
ness, besides which he owns much other property,
which he manages in addition to this enterprise. Mr.
Urquhart is one of the men of ability and energy who
are blessed with a talent of practical execution that
enables one to be successful in various lines, which has
been exemplified in his life, for he has handled in a
commendable manner various undertakings, while now
he takes rank with the progressive and active business
men of the county.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
In Wilkinsburgh. Pennsylvania, on May 12, 1847,
David was born to David and Sarah Urquhart, whence,
while an infant, he was removed by his parents to La
Porte county, Indiana' near the town of La Porte.
There he obtained his education in the district schools
and assisted his father in the work of the farm, until he
was fourteen, when the family made another move, to
Champaign county, Illinois, and there our subject en-
listed in Company B, Second Illinois Artillery, in 1864.
But it was his lot to be confined in the hospital during
the vear and a half of his service, and he never partici-
pated m the stirring scenes of the battlefield. After
the close of the war he went to Joplin, Jasper county,
Missouri, and there devoted himself to lead mining
and freighting for five years, after which period he re-
moved to Elgin, Kansas, in 1870, where he received
the appointment of deputy United States marshal from
General William Britton and continued in this
office for four years. At the same time he
was first lieutenant in the state militia. 1880
marks the date when he came to Moscow, and for
twelve years subsequent thereto he dwelt on his farm
three miles southwest from the town, paying attention
to the production of the fruits of the field. He still
owns this farm, which consists of two hundred and
forty acres, and is rented. In 1891 he removed to
Moscow and opened a real estate office, where we found
him for three years. Also, in 1893, he opened a hard-
ware store, conducting it for one year. Then it was
that he perceived an opening in the manufacturing line
in the city and accordingly opened the brick yard where
he is operating today with excellent success. Mr.
Urquhart is a thorough master of his business, and
has a fine patronage that is fully merited by his ex-
cellent work and careful dealing. He is the possessor
of an elegant residence in the city and is one of the
leading men of the county.
The marriage of Mr. Urquhart and Miss Nancy,
daughter of Joseph and Marie Edmundson, was cele-
brated in Winfield, Kansas, in October. 1874, and they
have become the parents of the following children :
Minneola, Lillian and Earl. Mr. Urquhart is a mem-
ber of the Foresters of America. Moscow Lodge, Xo.
10, also of the Major Anderson Post of the G. A. R.
GOTTFRIED WEBER. The enterprising and
industrious gentleman whose name introduces this
paragraph is one of Moscow's well known and capable
business men, and is conducting a harness shop and
saddlery on one of the principal streets of the city,
where he enjoys the extended patronage that his skill
and affability deserve. We are led across the wide
Atlantic to find the native place of Mr. Weber, it be-
ing in Baden, Germany. His birth occurred on May
4, 1858. and his father was Ignaius Weber, and his
mother died before he can remember. At the early
age of thirteen the lad left the fatherland and the
parental roof and. in company with a cousin, Frank
Weber, of Walla Walla, came to try his fortune in the
new world. The details of the first few vears of his
stay here are not chronicled, but in 187 1 he went with
his cousin, mentioned before, from New York to San
Francisco, traveling by the Southern Pacific. Then
they came up the coast to Portland, thence to Walla
Walla, where he remained until 1873, then returned to
Portland, and in that city he learned his trade, being
especially skillful and apt in all of its branches. He
came to Moscow in the spring of 1879, and immedi-
ately built the building where he is now located and
opened a harness shop and saddlery. Success attend-
ed him and honest treatment and skillful work drew
many of the inhabitants to his shop, and in 1892 he
was proprietor of a shop that handled ten journeymen,
and all was prosperous. Then came the financial crash
that crippled every business man and farmer in the
entire country, and for a time our subject quit the
harness business and embarked in selling implements
until 1896, then returned to his old business in the
original stand, and at once the trade again came his
way with generosity of numbers that soon made the
business one of good proportions and worthy of the
skill and ability of the owner. He has labored stead-
ily on in this line since. He is numbered with the
leading citizens of the county and has served as alder-
man from the First ward for the last three terms, mani-
festing in this public capacity the same energy and
care for the affairs of the city that characterize him
in his private enterprises. Fraternally Mr. Weber is
united with the A. O. U. W., No. 13, also is a member
of the Elks. Xo. 249. In religious persuasion he is
identified with the Roman Catholic church and is a
stanch supporter of his faith.
The marriage of Mr. Weber and Miss Kate X.,
daughter of John and Emmaline Price, early pioneers
to Nevada, but now residing in Moscow, was celebrated
at Lewiston, Idaho, on March 1, 1885, and they have
become the parents of two children, — John and Emma-
line, — both attending school.
CHARLES MOORE, deceased. The distin-
guished gentleman whose name is mentioned above
was one of the well known and capable men of Latah
county, being perhaps, more than any other one man,
influential in gaining for his county a separate organ-
ization, and manifesting during a long life of use-
fulness and faithful labor those qualities of upright-
ness, integrity and ability which ever characterized him
in all his relations, and it is with pleasure that we
are enabled to grant to his memory this humble re-
view of a worthy life, knowing while we recount his
deeds that we are treading familiar ground to every
citizen of the county, for he was well known and be-
loved by all.
Charles Moore was born in Ohio on October 1,
1841, being the son of Amos and Mary Moore, who
removed with their family to Point Bluff, Wisconsin,
and there the young man met and later married Miss
Julia A., daughter of John and Margaret Kneen. She
was born in XTew York, but had been taken by her
parents to Kilbourn City, Wisconsin, where they be-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
75i
came leading citizens. This happy marriage oc-
curred on October 13, 18(14, and the following
spring the young couple made the tiresome and danger-
ous journey across the plains, with mule teams, land-
ing in Walla Walla in the fall, where they both en-
gaged in teaching in the public schools, remaining in
this excellent work until 1869, Mr. Moore being in
1870 appointed postmaster of Walla Walla under U.
S. Grant, which position he held for four years to the
satisfaction of all. During this time he purchased
the old Whitman mission farm and superintended it,
selling the same in 1878, when he removed to Almota,
where he was the agent of the Oregon Steamship
Navigation Company, being also engaged in the im-
plement business. It was in 1880 that he settled in
Moscow, and with his brother. Miles C. Moore, of
Walla Walla, erected a grist mill, the first one in
the city. To the operation of that, together with at-
tending to his farms, he gave his attention until the
close of his life. In 1888 he was very instrumental
in organizing the present Latah county, the territory
being previous to that time a portion of Nez Perces
county. In the prosecution of this work he made a
trip to Washington, D. C, and the labors and care,
together with his business responsibilities, were too
heavy for his strength, and he sickened and was called
from the duties of this world to participate in the
realities of that to come. He was universally beloved,
and his demise was a time of sincere mourning
throughout the entire county, and also in all places
where he was known, for he was a good man, capable
and upright. At one time Mr. Moore was a member
of the A. F. & A. M., in Walla Walla, but after coming
tu Moscow he had dropped the active affiliation with
this order. The immediate relatives left to mourn
his departure were his loving wife and four children,
— Harry K., an attorney at Moscow ; Flora P., in-
structress in the University of Idaho; Fred, a mining
engineer in Wallace, Idaho; Edna L., attending the
Universitv of Idaho.
JOHN L. NAYLOR. A representative and well
known business man of Moscow, where he conducts
a real estate and insurance office, soliciting for some of
the leading underwriting companies, the subject of
this article is eminenly fitted for representation in any
volume that has to do with the annals of this section of
the country.
Mr. Naylor is a native of Washington county,
Pennsylvania, and the date of his birth is April 5,
185 1, being the son of Aquilla and Sarah J. Naylor,
who were numbered among the agricultural population
of that section. He accompanied his parents to Se-
dalia, Pettis county, Missouri, in 1866, and there com-
pleted his common school education, later taking a
course in the Central Commercial College, at Boonville,
Missouri. Subsequent to this fortification for the bat-
tle of his life he turned his attention to the art of mining
and wrought in the lead mines for a number of years.
In 1874-75 he was foreman in the Lamine lead mines
in Co per county, Missouri. In the Centennial year he
made the journey to the coast, stopping the first winter
in southern Oregon and then migrating to Nez Perces
county. Idaho, locating three miles north from .Mos-
cow, where he secured a fine farm. To the cultivation
and improvement of this property he gave his indus-
trious effort and attention until 1892, when he removed
to the city of Moscow and opened an office as men-
tioned above, and since that time he has done' a pros-
perous business in these lines in addition to super-
intending his farms. He was chosen by the people as
county commissioner of Nez Perces county on the
Republican ticket in 1880, and when the county of
Latah was organized, in 1888, he was chosen to a
similar office in the new organization, filling both of-
fices with efficiency and faithfulness. In 1892 Mr.
Naylor was chosen for the office of sheriff of Latah
county, and in this, as in other public service, he
showed both ability and integrity in the discharge of
the duties incumbent upon him. Fraternally Mr. Nay-
lor is associated with the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 31,
with the Crescent Encampment, No. 12, Canton of
Idaho, No. 1 ; Star of Rebekahs, No. 15 ; with the A.
O. U. W\, No. 13; all of Moscow.
The marriage of Mr. Naylor and Miss Rebecca E.,
daughter of David and Diana Allen, who were among
the earliest pioneers of the state, was solemnized in
Moscow on August 7, 1 88 1 , and they have become the
parents of four children, — Ruth, Roy, Ralph and
Neppa. Mr. Naylor has conducted himself in the af-
fairs of life, both public duties and private enterprise,
with manifestation of vigor, enterprise, ability and
integrity, and he has justly earned the competence that
is his to enjoy, as also the confidence and esteem of
the people which is generously bestowed.
H()X. SAMUEL J. LANGDON is one of the
highly esteemed pioneer farmers of Latah county, and
is a native of Ohio, having been born at Granville,
Licking county, on May 4. [829, and being of Scotch-
Irish lineage. His ancestors were .early settlers of
Connecticut and participated in the Revolutionary war
and the events of colonial days. One of the Langdons
served as commander of Ticonderoga at one time.
Jesse Langdon, the grandfather of our subject, was
reared in Connecticut and there married Miss Jewett,
with whom he later removed to Berkshire county,
Massachusetts, following there the art of agriculture.
Thev were members of the Congregational church and
lived to a good, ripe age. Their children were Hiram,
Anson, Richardson, James J., Albert, Betsey and Eunice
H. James J., the father of our subject, was born on the
old homestead in 1795 and when a young man removed
to Licking county, ( >hio, where he was married to Miss
Mary White, a daughter of Captain Samuel White, a
prominent citizen of the same county, having won his
title by commanding a company of state militia. The
maternal great grandfather of our subject was Thomas
Philipps. a native of Wales, who crossed to Phila-
delphia, his son. John II. Philipps, being a member of
752
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Anthony Wayne's staff during the Indian wars. He
removed to Licking county, Ohio, when the war was
over, and there became prominent. Samuel White
married Martha Philipps, daughter of Thomas Philipps,
and in 1810 went to Granville, Ohio. Their daughter,
Alary, became the wife of James J. Langdon, and the
mother of the subject of this sketch. James J. Lang-
don worked at coopering after his marriage until 1840,
then removed with his family to southeastern Missouri.
Five years later he returned to Newark, Ohio, whence
he went to McLean county, Illinois, where he died in
his sixty-fifth year. The wife survived him ten years,
and died in her seventieth year. Their children were
Martha, Mary, Samuel J., our subject, Albert E., Eliz-
abeth D. and Ellen E. Mary, Martha and Elizabeth
have passed away. Albert E. is a resident of Illinois,
and Ellen, now Mrs. Calkins, and a widow, is residing
with her brother, the subject of this sketch.
S. J. Langdon was educated in Newark, Ohio, and
began life as a farmer, and on July 26, 1853, married
Miss, Martha Virginia, a daughter of Isaac Wilson, a
pioneer of Ohio. In August, 1862, Mr. Langdon en-
listed in Company G, Ninety-fourth Illinois Volunteer
Infantry, serving in Missouri, Arkansas, Vicksburg,
and in the Gulf department. Nine battles and sieges,
besides many skirmishes, were participated in by him,
among which are Prairie Grove, Arkansas, Vicksburg,
Mississippi, Fort Morgan, Alabama, and Spanish Fort,
also in Alabama. He was never wounded and he
faithfully fought until the close of the war, then re-
tired with a most creditable military record, having
been promoted to corporal during the the first six
months of service and later attaining the rank of ser-
geant. Returning to his home in Illinois, he farmed
until 1866, then removed to Crawford county, Kansas,
whence in 1874 he crossed the plains to Latah county,
using a team of horses and a team of cows. His wife
and one daughter had died in Kansas in 1872. He had
left his children in Kansas when he started west and
intended to go to New Mexico, but abandoned that
project on acount of hostile Indians, and settled in
Grass valley* Utah, for a year and a half, then was
joined by his children and came on to this country,
spending one winter in Walla Walla, and in 1877 com-
ing to Latah county. He took a quarter section of
government land and embarked in lumbering with
partners, manufacturing most of the lumber that was
used in Moscow in early days. He served as deputy
assessor, later as assessor, filled the office of deputy
sheriff for two terms and that of sheriff for one term
and was a member of the territorial legislature in
1880, having also served in that capacity four terms in
Kansas. He gave his original farm to his daughter,
and now owns three hundred and twenty acres on the
Little Potlatch. He has recently removed to the city
of Moscow, and from there he superintends the es-
tate, which is a bountiful producer of the cereals and
fruits. He has manifested capabilities in the man-
agement of his business affairs, and he is now spend-
ing the golden years of his life in the enjoyment of
a handsome competence and the esteem and confidence
of all. Mr. Langdon was one of the organizers of
the Republican party and held with it until Grant's
second administration and then joined the ranks of
Democracy, remaining there until Cleveland's second
term ; then he went with the Populists, but of late
years he has been independent, voting according to
the question and the man. Fraternally he is identi-
fied with the Order of Pyramids, the Knights of
Pythias and the Grand Army of the Republic, having
served on the staff of two of the national commanders
of the last named order. Mr. Langdon is a loyal
citizen, a genial and affable neighbor, and a true and
substantial man.
GEORGE W. PIERCE. One of the earliest
pioneers of Idaho, and a man who has been acquainted
with the frontier all of his life, having ever displayed
courage and those telling qualities of worth which
have enabled him to carve out a successful career in
the west, the esteemed pioneer and gentleman whose
name is at the head of this article is deserving of es-
pecial mention in the volume of his county's history,
which we are pleased to accord to him.
Mr. Pierce was born in Oxford county, Maine, on
March 20, 1834, and there grew to manhood and was
educated. In 1853 he came, via Panama, to San
Francisco, and mined in Tuolumne county, where he
was successful. Later he perceived the need of further
educational training, and so spent some time at the
Bryant & Stratton College in San Francisco. Then
he went to Virginia City, Nevada, and bought stock
in the Crown Point mines, which he sold later for
fourteen thousand dollars. In 1870 he could have sold
the same amount for five hundred thousand dollars.
Next we see him in South America, prospecting in the
Andes for two years. From that place he came to
Idaho, and was one of a group of men who discovered
the Oro Fino mines. He was the man from whom the
well known point of Pierce City was named. It is
supposed to be the oldest town in Idaho, and Air. Pierce
well deserves the credit and approbation given to the
sturdy pioneer. He has done a lion's share in the
praiseworthy work of developing this county and this
state.
At the present time Air. Pierce is located in the
Hoodoo district, where he has some very fine prop-
erties. He has constantly followed mining, more or
less, since his first trip to California, and he is ac-
quainted with it in all of its phases, and is a practical
man in these lines. Air. Pierce has raised two adopted
daughters. The youngest is married and living in
Greenfield, Massachusetts. The eldest died in her
fifteenth year. He owns a farm of one-half section
in the valley in addition to his mines and other property.
Wherever he is known Air. Pierce is highly respected
and enjoys a very enviable prestige.
PART V.
HISTORY OF KOOTENAI COUNTY
CHAPTER I.
EARLY EVENTS.
Conversing recently with a prominent citizen of
Kootenai county, one thoroughly familiar with its past,
the writer asked him this question : "If you were writ-
ing the history of Kootenai county, to what events
would you give prominence ?" The answer was : "Thus
far, no events worthy of special mention, aside from the
construction of the railroads, have transpired in Koot-
enai county. Its history, as one of the best counties of
the state, is just beginning." In attempting to write a
comprehensive and correct past record of a county
whose history is just beginning, many obstacles have
been encountered. Information concerning the earlier
periods of exploration, road building and Indian mis-
sion work, when no man or woman now a resident of
the county had ever crossed its boundaries, was readily
obtained from the writings of the missionaries, the road
builders and the explorers. Later history has not been
so easily obtained. There are a number of reasons for
this, some of them excusable and others inexcusable.
At the time of the organization of the county there
were barely voters enough to secure county organiza-
tion under the state law. From this handfull of men
great difficulty was had in securing men enough to
fill the various county offices. As there was little or
no promise of remuneration for services rendered, there
were no special inducements for capable men to devote
their time to the management of county affairs. The
few settlers who were in the county were not politicians ;
the field was not ripe for the office seeker; the wonder-
ful timber resources of the country and the supposed
existence of precious minerals had led a few ventur-
some settlers to invade the wilderness in search of
homes and with the hope of acquiring wealth. These
men could only hold office at a sacrifice. Uuder such
circumstances it is not surprising that early official
records were poorly kept at the time, and allowed to
disappear when their immediate purpose had been
served. We have not had the advantage of official
records, covering the earlier life of the county. Usu-
ally the historian gains much valuable and accurate in-
formation from the files of pioneer newspapers. In
Kootenai the early newspapers quit publication before
the county was ten years old, the plants were moved to
other parts of the country, and the files disappeared.
There is not, at present, a newspaper file in the county
that was published prior to the year i8yo. For the
record of the events of the first decade in the official
life of the county we have had to depend largely upon
the memory of individuals, many of whom are now resi-
dents of other counties and other states who are con-
sequently not especially interested in the history of
Kootenai. From some of the pioneer residents who
still make it their home, we gained much valuable
knowledge of early events. To these men we are un-
der special obligations and in the preface of this work
have made mention of their kindly assistance.
Kootenai county has no old settlers' organization and
hence there has been no united effort to preserve the
records historical and reminiscent of the pioneer days.
No provision has been made thus far for keeping an
account of the annual output from the various indus-
tries of the county. In the industrial reports gotten out
yearly by the state, no definite information is tabulated
concerning Kootenai county, and no county official
seem> to have been charged with the gathering of data
of this character. Hence, from no source could we
obtain full and accurate information along these lines.
However, after many weeks of persistent effort, in
spite of innumerable obstacles, and indifference on the
part of a few who were in position to render valuable
754
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
aid along special lines we have secured the necessary
information that enables us to narrate in full the events
associated with the exploration, settlement and develop-
ment of the county.
In another chapter will be found, in detail, the his-
tory of railroad schemes and railroad building in North-
ern Idaho, of the annexation question, and other. gen-
eral matter, effecting the whole territory covered by
this work. In this chapter such matters will be but
briefly mentioned excepting as they have directly
affected conditions of Kootenai county. \\ e will review,
first, the period of early exploration and in direct con-
nection have something to say of the aboriginal tribes
of this section. We will relate the story of the Jesuit
Missionaries and their work among the Indians, and
tell of the first permanent settlements made in the
-county by home seekers. Second, we will write in de-
tail the history of the county from the date of its or-
ganization to the present time.
It is purely a matter of speculation as to the time
when white men first explored the territory now com-
posing the political division of Idaho known as
Kootenai county. Actual records of the presence of
white men on the shores of Couer d'Alene and Pend
Oreille lakes extend as far back as 1842. But those
who came in that year found the agents of the Hud-
son's Bay Company located at various points along the
lakes and rivers, and rude cabins of hunters and trap-
pers were scattered about in remote mountain regions.
There are no available prints telling when this section
was first occupied by the Hudson's Bay Company.
This is not of course a matter of vital importance as the
civilization of today is but remotely the result
of the visits of the fur trader. The first invasions were
no doubt from the north up the Kootenai river. It is
known that fur traders were in eastern Washington in
181 1 and that the Hudson's Bay Company occupied the
lake region of southern British Columbia still earlier
in the nineteenth century, and it would have been very
natural for the trapper to make excursions up the
Kootenai river in the pursuit of game. In a two-days'
journey he would have passed the forty-ninth parallel
of latitude and made his camps in what is now Kootenai
county territory.
Across-the-continent expeditions prior to the year
1853, entered the present state of Idaho through, or
south of, what is known as the Lolo pass. Their
course was down the Snake and Columbia rivers to the
coast, and the extreme northern portion of Idaho was
not visited. Inland excursions made from the Pacific
coast prior to and after this date, did not extend as far
cast as the present Idaho boundaries. Lewis and Clarke
did not explore any portion of the Idaho teritory north
of the forty-seventh parallel of latitude.
Before beginning the history of settlement and de-
velopment by white men, it is appropriate that we
make some mention of the aboriginal tribes that were
the first possessors of the land. There are evidences
seeming to establish the fact of the existence here of a
prehistoric race, although nothing has been discovered
that sheds any light upon its character or customs. On
the rockv shores of Lake Pend Oreille, near what is
known as Steamboat Landing, at the head of the lake,
are some rude carvings which were discovered a few-
years ago by John B. Leiberg, of the United States
Geological Survey. They have apparently been made
to represent the feet and claws or toes of animals and
the forms of birds and beasts. There are also figures
bearing no resemblance to existing forms of animal
life. The present generation of Indians has no knowl-
edge of the meaning or authorship of these figures and
their ancestors have handed down no legends concern-
ing the workmen who wrought so indelibly in the
everlasting rocks. The carvings appear on the face
of granite formations so hard that no metal instrument
of modern manufacture could possibly reproduce them
on the same surface. Simihar evidences of the ex-
istence of an ancient race are found elsewhere but
there is not space in such a work as this for exhaustive
descriptions. There is opportunity here for research
and speculation by the student of the future, and it will
doubtless be improved.
As quite a numerous remnant of the Indian tribes
that occupied this region in the beginning of the nine-
teenth century, still lives within the boundaries of
Kootenai county, it is proper that they should have a
piace in its history. The Kootenais inhabited the most
northern portion of the county and roamed over the
greater part of British Columbia. Writers on the
genealogy of the north-west Indians class the Kootenais
with the Shushwap nation, a general term applied to
all tribes inhabiting the region of the upper Columbia
river and its northern tributaries. The primitive Koot-
enais are said to have possessed many notable traits of
character and there are yet those living at Bonner's
Ferry who had many personal dealings with the good
old Chief Abraham who was ever the steadfast friend
of the whites and who is held in most respectful re-
membrance for his personal traits, his intelligence and
honesty and for his great influence for good over the
members of the tribe. Compared with many other tribes
of the northwest, the Kootenais have fewer repugnant
characteristics. They are brave and of commanding
stature. They are neat and cleanly to a certain degree
and on occasion are sociable and gay, although not lack-
ing in the traditional cold reserve of the red men. They
were once a powerful tribe and were the allies of the
Flatheads in many wars against their common enemy,
the Blackfeet. The Kootenais are the most northern
tribe accustomed to horses. These animals are sup-
posed to have been originally obtained from the Sho-
shones. The latter were old-time allies of the Coman-
ches, to whom horses were traded by the Spaniards in
the Sixteenth century.
The Pend Oreilles and Couer d'Alenes belong to
the Salish family of Indians. This family also be-
longed to the Columbia group, but dwelt south of the
Shushwaps, along the Columbia river and its tributaries
between the forty-seventh and forty-ninth parallels of
latitude and between the Cascade and the Bitter Root
mountains.
The term Pend Oreille, meaning ear-pendant, is
said by some to have been applied to the lake of that
name because of its resemblance in shape to the human
Hieroglyphics on the Shores of Lake Pend Oreille. Scientists have not yet deciphered their meaning.
East View of Clearwater Battle Ground, where Thirteen United States Soldiers and Twenty three
Indians were Killed on July 1 1, 1877.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ear. By others the term is said to have been applied to
the Indian tribe because of the custom of wearing shell
rings in the oars. The Pend Oreille Indians dwelt
about the lake and for seventy-five miles on either side
along the Clarks' Fork and Pend Oreille rivers. But
little has been written concerning the characteristics of
these Indians. They are not classed by early historians
with the more powerful and warlike tribes and scarcely
anything has been told of a creditable nature, of their
personal traits or of their achievements in tribal con-
tests. In physical qualities they are said to have been
inferior to their neighbors and by the early missionaries
they are represented as being untidy even for savages.
One writer tells us that when provisions and other
necessaries were scarce, or when driven to severe straits
bv their enemies, it was their custom to bury the very
young and very old alive because they were unable to
take care of themselves. By the same writer it is said
that the young Pend Oreille, on reaching his ma-
jority, was sent to the top of a high mountain, where
he was compelled to remain until he had dreamed of
some animal or bird, which was through life to be his
medicine. A claw, a tooth, or a feather of the animal,
or bird, was ever afterwards worn as a charm. Al-
though their women were treated more kindly than
those of the other tribes, the standard of the wife's
qualifications was her ability to work.
Some of the Kootenai Indians, and a few of the
Pend Oreilles make their homes in the northern part
of Kootenai county, living by farming, stock-raising,
fishing and hunting: but the majority of the remnants
of these tribes have been removed to the Flathead
Agency in Montana.
The Coeur d'Alenes, although closely allied to the
Pend Oreilles and belonging to the same general fam-
ily, are mentally, morally, and physically their superiors.
This is the only tribe whose primitive hunting grounds
embraced what is now a portion of Kootenai county,
that has a history really worth recording, and as that
history bears directly upon the settlement and de-
velopment of the county, and as the tribe itself has pro-
gressed from a condition of savagery to one of civili-
zation and peace, we will enter more minutely into the
record of its past than we have into that of the other
tribes.
According to the missionaries now in charge of the
DeSmet mission, the term Coeur d'Alene was first
applied to these Indians by Canadian Frenchmen in the
employ of the Hudson's Bay Company. While be-
longing to the Salish family of Indians, their correct
tribal name is Schizuumsh, which means, in the Indian
tongue, "an awl's heart.7' This word by some his-
torians been misspelled "Skizoomish." The Kalispel
Indians call the Coeur dAlenes "Schizui" and the
Yakima Indians call them "Skizimug." These words
have no special meaning, but are simply to point
a distinction between this and other tribes. Our au-
thority for these tribal appellations is Father Joseph
M. Caruana, who has dwelt among these Indians and
studied their language and customs for more than
forty years.
There are several translations or explanations of
the name Coeur d'Alene. One of the earl}- missionary
writers has this to say of the meaning of the term :
"Coeur d'Alene is nothing but a nick-name. The first
immigrants to this region were French Canadians be-
longing to the Hudson's Bay Company. From them
it emanated. The literal meaning of the term is 'the
heart of the owl,' and it was first given to a chief who
was known through life by that name."
A Catholic historian of the present day in review-
ing the history of this tribe in the columns of the Catho-
lic Sentinel refers to them as "the savages whose ex-
cessive cruelty won for them the title indicative of
their character, that of Coeur d'Alenes, Hearts of
Awls."
Another writer gives "stout hearted" as a liberal
translation of the term, claiming the Indians were so
called because of their powers of endurance and their
fearless natures.
A writer in the "Boise Statesman" in 1890 says:
"The Coeur dAlenes were not 'awl hearted,' nor In-
dians with pointed hearts, as some have translated the
term. The Canadian trappers and hunters found a
tribe of Indians inhabiting the country bordering on
the beautiful sheet of water since known as 'Coeur
d'Alene' lake. These Indians were strong 01 limb
and fleet of foot — tireless runners up hill and down hill
and the first white visitor gave them the name of
Coeur A'haleine, meaning strong breathed or long
winded — literally 'hearts of breath.' From this the
word has been reduced to Alene, which, taken alone,
means 'Awl' "
Following the Hudson's Bay Company's agents,
came the Jesuit missionaries to the Indians. It is the
office of the historian to make faithful record not alone
of events which ultimately result in the settlement and
development of a new country, but of all events which
materially affect conditions in the new country. While
the Jesuits did not bring capital, construct railroads,
build cities, and put up mills in Kootenai county, their
work, in another direction, was of very great impor-
tance. The changes in primitive conditions, in the at-
titude of the red men toward the "paleface" intruder,
brought about by these faithful missionaries, were mar-
velous in character and far reaching in results. It is
impossible to estimate the weight of their influence in
subduing savage hatred and thus paving the way for
the civilization that came at a later day. Theirs was
not the work of a day, a year, or even of a decade.
Prior to the year 1880, Kootenai county was practically
an unexplored wilderness. There was not at this time
a single house within its boundaries. Forty years be-
fore this. Father DeSmet began work among the In-
dians on the shores of Lake Coeur d'Alene and along
the Coeur d'Alene river. While the work of the
Jesuits has not been directly associated with the com-
mercial and political evolution of the count)-, their most
effective labors have been with the Indian tribes within
its boundaries, and form an important chapter in its
chronological history. We deem it advisable therefore,
as theirs was the first civilizing influence to invade the
wilderness, to give a detailed account of the work.
The first missionary work of the Catholic church
756
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
in Kootenai county was by the famous Indian mission-
ary, Father DeSmet, who. whilst on his way from St.
Mary's .Mission. Montana, to Vancouver, in the Spring
of 1842, met the Coeur d'Alene Indians at their largest
camp, called Nchim Kilgos, which was located just at
the head of the Spokane river, near the present site of
Fort Sherman. Here was erected a log chapel, the first
mission house built in the wilderness. It was only in-
tended as a temporary building, to serve until a more
central location could' be selected. He found the In-
dians wild and savage, warlike and treacherous, ad-
dicted to all the immoralities and brutalities, super-
stitions and idolatries, characteristic of the "bad" In-
dian. Their hatred of the white man was so inappeasa-
ble that the Hudson Bay Company did not dare to es-
tablish a trading post among them. Their prowess in
fighting their aboriginal enemies is evident from the fact
that they were never conquered by the red man or sub-
jugated by the white man. The subjugation, however,
came not bv force of arms but by the influence of the
Church. These Indians had heard of the arrival of the
"Black Robes" among the Flatheads ; and wishing to
be equally privileged they asked the Father to remain
with them, to teach them all about "Our Maker," as
they called God in their language. Not being able to
comply with their request for a longer time than three
days, he improved the opportunity by teaching the
principal prayers and dogmas of the Church in a man-
ner of his own conception that was very ingenious.
With the aid of an interpreter he translated into the
Indian language spoken by the Coeur d'Alenes the sign
of the Cross." the Our Father and Hail Mary, the
Apostles' Creed, the Ten Commandments, the Acts
of Faith. Hope. Charity, and Contrition. The trans-
lation being completed, he made all the younger mem-
bers of the tribe stand in a circle around him. demand-
ing that they should always take the same places when
meeting for prayer and instruction ; then he entrusted
to the memory of each but one sentence of the prayers,
so that the knowledge he desired to impart would be
divided among them all. Frequent repetition by each
in turn of what he had memorized secured to all in a
few days the knowledge of the prayers in their en-
tirety. In fact, on his return trip the zealous missionary
had the pleasure of ascertaining that a large portion of
the members of the tribe knew the prayers by heart.
Father DeSmet and his followers found some diffi-
culty in teaching the Ten Commandments to many of
the red men, owing to an indisposition on the part of
the Indians to apply themselves studiously to the work
of memorizing. The Indians were all addicted to smok-
ing. The pnests made an effort to break them of the
habit; but finding it almost impossible to do so and
being somewhat discouraged at the progress made in
learning the commandments, they allowed each Indian
to smoke a pipe when he had memorized a command-
ment. This had the desired effect and progress became
more satisfactory.. Because of the inducements held
out bv the priests, the commandments were called by
the Indians. "The ten pipes."
In the fall of the year 1844 Father Nicholas Point
and Bro. Charles Huet left the Flathead Mission in
Montana under the escort of the deputation of Coeur
d'Alenes who had gone there for the purpose of bringing
the promised "Black Robes" to their territory. Father
Point and Brother Huet selected. for their first estab-
lishment a site at the mouth of the St. Joe river and
placed it under the patronage of St. Joseph. St. Joe
river owes its name to that first Catholic mission. Two
log buildings for mission purposes were erected at
this point. Two years later the venerable Father
Joset, whose missionary labors covered more than
half a century joined himself to the mission.
About this time, the fall of 1844, Father
DeSmet converted and baptised a number of
Kootenai Indians and in the spring of 1845 about a
dozen of the Nez Perces tribe, mostly chiefs, begged to
be instructed in the Catholic laith. As the Nez Perces
language differed from that of the Coeur d'Alenes.
which the fathers had already succeeded in learning,
they had to have recourse to a Coeur d'Alene Indian,
who himself spoke the Nez Perces but indifferently,
to act as interpreter. With his aid and that of signs
they succeeded in converting a few of the Indians who
had come to the Mission.
The same year, 1846, the mission on the banks of
the St. Joe river was abandoned because the site, al-
though an ideal one in the fall, was every year flooded
by the spring freshets and consequently rendered un-
suitable for the agricultural pursuits upon which the
Fathers depended so much to civilize their Indian
neophytes. Father DeSmet started out into the wilder-
ness accompanied by some Indians, to find a new and
more suitable location for the Mission. This was found
on the opposite side of the Coeur d'Alene river from
what is now known as Cataldo. Grounds for the mis-
sion buildings were selected on a hill between the river
and the forest, on either side of which was an extensive
prairie. At this point the river widens into a beautiful
bay, making of the location an ideal one for the purpose
intended. It was there that in 1853 was begun by
l-'athers Gazzoli and Ravalli, who had assumed charge
of the mission two years previously, the building of the
first Catholic church erected in Idaho. That structure
still stands, a silent witness to the zeal and energy of
the Jesuit Fathers, about sixteen miles from the Coeur
d'Alene lake, where the steamboats make their upper
landing. There are many stirring events in the history
of the "Old Mission" building which make it especially
cherished in the minds of all early settlers in the north-
west. Beneath its moss covered roof have rested
Generals Sherman, Sheridan, Isaac Stevens and others
prominent in the civil and military history of this sec-
tion. Father Ravalli drew the plans for the imposing
structure which the Indians under his direction and that
of Brother Magri executed. Brother Magri was a
skilled carpenter and engineer who also built a dwelling
house for the Fathers, a horse-power grist mill, a bak-
ery and other necessary small buildings, besides a
large storage barn and stable. The buildings, with the
exception of the church and a small dwelling were de-
stroyed by fire in March. 1867. They were afterwards
rebuilt. The magnitude of the task undertaken by the
Fathers and the untutored savages may partly be real-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
757
ized when one reflects that they had at their disposal
none of the tools and conveniences for building which
are considered indispensable in civilized communities.
They manufactured trucks, harnessed themselves to
them, and brought down the timber, rocks, etc.. to the
spot selected. They had no nails, so they turned out
wooden substitutes which to tins day hold the different
parts of the budding together. The red men of the
forest received no pay and asked none : but worked
sole!}- for the honor and glory of God. Not to be al-
lowed to work on the building was considered severe
punishment, which was sometimes inflicted for dis
obedience to orders to the great humiliation of the
culprit.
That the Jesuits did not always have smooth sail-
ing with their Indian converts is evidenced by the war
made upon the government troops in 1858, in which
the Coeur d'Alenes. in spite of the efforts made by
Father Joset to dissuade them, took an active part. In
consequence of this rebellion the Fathers resolved to
abandon the Mission ; but General Clarke, commander
of the Department of the Columbia, and Colonel
Wright, who had led the expedition against the Coeur
d'Alenes and other tribes, and had defeated them,
urged the missionaries to stay at their posts, saying:
"These Coeur d'Alene Indians will yet become good."
Their present condition fully verifies that prophecy.
Because of the decision of the Department of the
Interior which left the mission outside of the Indian
reservation and because, as the Indians became civi-
lized, there was need of more arable land than could
be found in the region of the old mission, the fathers
removed in 1880 to the spot now known as DeSmet.
DeSmet Mission is situated in the midst of a rich agri-
cultural district about ten miles from Tekoa, Wash-
ington. Anyone desirous of convincing himself of
the success of the Jesuits in civilizing and christianiz-
ing the Coeur d'Alenes has but to pay a visit to that
mission and to the reservation of which it is the cen-
ter. The neat farm houses, the well-tilled fields, and
the, general appearance of prosperity visible every-
where, show that the savages, whose excessive cruelty
distinguished them among the neighboring tribes, are
now peaceable and thrifty farmers, a credit to their
teachers and pastors.
DeSmet is located near Hangman's Creek, on the
slope of a range of hills probably four or five miles
from the southern boundary line of Kootenai county.
The location is a beautiful one and is peculiarly adapted
to the needs of the mission. Since its establishment
in 1880 many changes and improvements have been
made. There is now located here the St. Mary's con-
vent, a school for girls. The educational work
among the Indian girls is under the direction of Sis-
ter Jane de Chantal, who is Mother Superior of the
convent. She has an efficient corps of assistants all
belonging to the order of the Sisters of Providence.
There are at present about sixty pupils attending the
convent. The convent building is a modern structure
with all needed conveniences.
There is also a school for Indian boys under
charge of Father Caruana, assisted by Father Schuler.
Here many of the youths of the tribe are educated, not
a few of them going from this institution to the larger
Indian schools in the east. A good two-story build-
ing has been erected for school purposes. Besides
these two school buildings, there is an attractive
church building 100 by 70 feet, whose foundations
were laid in 1881, and a large house occupied by Fa-
ther Caruana and Schuler and fitted for the accommo-
dation of visiting priests and missionaries. There are
also other structures for use in school and church
work. In addition to the money expended on church
and convent buildings, twenty thousand dollars have
been spent in the other necessary structures. All
buildings have been erected by the church, without any
assistance from the government. All government aid
for the maintenance of the school ceased in 1900. A
short distance from the mission buildings the In-
dians have built a village, the counterpart of which
probably does not appear any where else in the coun-
try. The buildings range from the merest shack or
shed, costing a few dollars, to modern two-story frame
structures, costing several thousand dollars. There
has apparently been some effort to plat the village
with streets, but they have succeeded in forming
only narrow alleys where there is scarcely room for
teams to pass. The houses are crowded together, the
shack beside the more pretentious dwelling, and face
in all directions without regard to the so-called street.
There are, perhaps, one hundred and fifty of these
dwellings in the collection. There are no fences, or
walks, or trees, and the greater portion of the time
there are no dwellers within the habitations. Many of
the Indians live from twenty-five to seventy-five miles
from the mission. During church festival and fast-
ing periods the farm houses are deserted and there is a
concerted movement toward the village. Every year
these people assemble to make novenas for Christmas.
Easter, Corpus Christi, and the Feast of the Sacred
Heart. During these novenas they move their fami-
lies to their mission homes. From hill and valley
w^agons containing the whole household, not excluding
the dogs, may be seen slowly trundling to the mission.
Buggies and other modern conveyances are also to be
seen : the more stalwart and daring of both sexes,
however, come on horseback. The horses are un-
harnessed, hobbled and turned out to graze. Smoke
begins curling out of the cottage chimneys. The si-
lent village suddenly teems with life. For a season
the time is occupied in attending religious exercises
and in the interim, engaging in all sorts of out door
sports and pastimes. The great majority of the
Coeur d'Alenes are members of the Catholic church
and are devout and diligent observers of all its cere-
monies. As an illustration of their strict observance
of these forms and of their faithfulness in living the
doctrines of the church, an incident or two may be
related.
As has been stated, when the village is occupied
during seasons of special religion observances, a por-
tion of the time is spent in social enjoyments and in
games. Base ball is a favorite game with the Indian
youths. One afternoon in the summer of i<)Oj when
75*
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
the tribe was gathered at the village, a sight that
could hardly find its counterpart anywhere occurred
in the midst of an evening baseball game. The batter
knocked a "high fly," and nimble and emulous hands
were endeavoring to catch it, when suddenly the An-
gelus bell tolled. The ball was abandoned to follow
the way of its momentum, and players and spectators,
with uncovered heads and on their knees, devoutly
recited the Angelic Salutation. Some United States
Treaty commissioners, who met the Indians in solemn
council, were surprised to have their deliberations
unexpectedly interrupted by all the Indians, who, with-
out a preconcerted sign, fell on their knees, made the
Sign of the Cross, and spent some time in prayer.
Again it was the Angelus bell.
Their high sense of the purest morality is evi-
denced by an illustration as brave as it is instructive.
One of the half-breeds (there are only about half a
dozen or so on the reservation) deserted his wife,
secured a divorce and married another woman. The
Indians protested to the agent that they would not,
could not, tolerate this on their reservation. The
agent contended that the couple were legally divorced
and could not be molested. The reply was : "A ■
has forsaken his wife and taken up with another
woman ; our children know and see A 's real wife
constantly : they see him living with the other woman ;
we know nothing about the white man's divorce, but v«e
do know that our children see this scandalous example,
and the criminals must leave the reservation." And
they did leave. Sixty years ago these Coeur d'Alenes
were confirmed polygamists.
Since the death of Father Joset, who was for so
many years connected both with the old mission and
the DeSmet mission, Father Joseph M. Caruana has
been in full charge of the work. Father Caruana has
been here and at the old mission continuously since
1880. This, however, is his third period of service
among the Coeur d'Alenes. He came to the old mis-
sion first in 1862, and has spent in all, over forty
years as an Indian Missionary. The Indians hold him
in great reverence, and his influence over them is
wonderful. He has taught them honesty and justice,
and they believe him "implicitly. Thieving is un-
known on the reservation. If anything of value has
been lost and is found by an Indian, the finder takes the
article to Father Caruana and in course of time it is
returned to the rightful owner, as nearly all members
of the tribe pay regular visits to the piiest. If an
article of lesser value be found, such as a halter, a
pipe, a pouch of tobacco, a spur, a piece of machinery,
it is carried to the gate leading to Father Caruana's
house, and hung or placed on the fence, or post, where
the loser eventually finds it.
According to Sub-Indian Agent Charles O. Wor-
ley, there are now on the reservation seven hundred
and seventeen Indians. This number includes a few
Spokane Indians. The present chief is Pierre Wild-
shoe, written by the priests "Weilsholegu," and the sub-
chief is Peter Moctilwa. There is an Indian police
force of ten members, but it is very seldom that their
services are required. About the only offense there
is to deal with is that of drunkenness. On rare occa-
sions an Indian secures liquor at Tekoa or Harrison,
and when such a thing occurs the offender is given
a quick trial and commensurate punishment. All the
reservation Indians are well-to-do, and many of them
are wealthy. Wealth, however, has no influence before
an Indian tribunal. In October, 1902, one of the poorer
Indians accompanied by a wealth}- friend who had a
bank account of several thousand dollars, went to
Harrison, secured liquor and became intoxicated.
They were arrested at Harrison, confined in the city
jail over night and fined for disorderly conduct. After
their return to the reservation Chief Wildshoe heard
of their escapade, sent his police after them, gave them
a trial, and sentenced them to several weeks in the
Indian jail at the mission, and there they stayed,
under guard, the poor and the rich together, until the
expiration of the sentence. Cash fines for such offenses
are not imposed and bail is never accepted.
Criminals or "bad Indians" are almost unknown
among the Coeur dAlenes. They have been a very-
few exceptions. For an outrage committed near De
Smet, Basille Adrain was sent to the penitentiary, where
he died after seven months' confinement. Paul Harry
was another "bad Indian" who made a criminal rec-
ord. In the summer of 1887 he murdered a half-
breed Indian woman, named Mrs. Peavy, and her
child, near Farmington, Washington, on the reserva-
tion. He was arrested and placed in charge of a
squaw who permitted him to escape. After hiding in
the mountains for several months he returned to the
reservation, was re-arrested and jailed at Rathdrum.
After several months' confinement, with the assistance
of a white man who was sharing his imprisonment, he
broke jail and went back to his former haunts, send-
ing word to Sheriff William Martin that he had des-
perate Indian friends with him, and that if he ( Martin )
came after him he would meet a warm reception.
Sheriff Martin went to the reservation, re-arrested
him, single handed and alone, and returned him to the
jail. The Indian was afterwards admitted to bail
in the sum of $100, and, for some unexplained cause,
was never prosecuted for the murder. A few years
after the commission of this crime, however, he was
convicted of horse stealing and died after a few months'
imprisonment in the penitentiary.
Wildshoe succeeded Chief Andrew Saltice. who
died April 20, 1902. The older chiefs of the tribe
in the time of Fathers DeSmet and Joset were Chiefs
Pasha and Vincent. These chiefs were leaders in
many of the tribal wars in early days and in the wars
against United States troops in the 'fifties.
The Coeur d'Alene Indians' reservation originally
extended as far north as the Spokane river, spread
east into Shoshone county, and included the region of
the Coeur d'Alene mines, and west into Washington,
including territory in the region now occupied by
Spokane, Rockford, Tekoa, Farmington and Palouse.
The government seems never to have made any special
acknowledgement of the rights of the Indians to this
territory, although there was a tacit acknowledgement
when Governor Stevens was sent in 1870 and 1871
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
to treat with the Spokane Indians and endeavor to
induce them to move into the Coeur d'Alene reserva-
tion. This was repeated in 1887 when the government
appointed John V. Wright, Jarred W. Daniels and
Henry W. Andrews, a commission to purchase from
the Coeur d'Alenes all of this Washington territory.
A treaty was made, which was not ratified until 1S91,
by which the lands were ceded for a consideration
of $150,000. In 1889 another commission, composed
of Benjamin Simpson, John H. Shoup and Napoleon
B. Humphrey, was sent to treat with the Indians. In
September, 1889, a treaty was signed, ceding to the
government the northern and eastern portions of their
reservation. This included on the west of Lake Coeur
d'Alene all lands south of Spokane river to a line about
eight miles south of the north line of township forty-
eight. It also included the region of the Coeur d'Alene
mines on the east. The consideration was $500,000,
and the treaty was ratified by Congress February 18,
1 89 1. By the terms of this treaty the government
agreed that none of the remaining lands of the reserva-
tion should ever be sold, opened to white settlement or
otherwise disposed of without the consent of the In-
dians residing thereon. The reservation is now wholly
within Kootenai county, and the north boundary on
the east side of Lake Coeur d'Alene is a short distance
below the north line of township forty-seven. This
line leaves the lake less than a mile south of the town
of Harrison. At the time of this sale to the govern-
ment each Indian received as his share of the purchase
money $1,033. Among the Indians, as among the
whites, there are wise men and there are foolish men.
Many of the Indians invested their money in loans, in
stock and in comfortable dwellings. A great deal
of it was invested in wire for fencing. As there has
been no allotment of lands to the members of this
tribe, and as there is a great surplus of land, each
Indian may fence as much as he chooses. In one in-
stance at the time of this sale, an Indian, named Daniel
Ouenemosa, expended the entire thousand dollars in
barbed wire and fenced in several thousand acres, the
greater portion of which he has no use for whatever.
It is said that another member of the tribe had visited
Spokane a number of times and had witnessed funeral
processions headed by plumed hearses with glass sides.
His ambition was to own such a vehicle for a family
carryall. When he received his money he went to
Spokane, paid $900 for a hearse, to which he hitched
his team of cayuses, and into which he loaded his
family, consisting of a wife and several children, and
mounting the seat, drove proudly through the streets
and on to his reservation home.
The Coeur d'Alenes have abandoned all distinctive
features of Indian tribal life, such as the blanket, tepee,
dances, unshorn hair, etc. Indian costumes have long
since been laid aside and the dress of civilization
adopted. In general appearances aside from the rugged
Indian faces they can hardly be distinguished from
their "pale-face" brethren. In the descriptive chap-
ter of Kootenai county will be found information con-
cerning the farming industry as followed by the In-
dians and the results that have been obtained.'
The government looks after the tribe through Gen-
eral Indian Agent Albert M. Anderson. Sub-Indian
Agent Charles O. Worley has been stationed on the
reservation since 1896. He first came here as en-
gineer at the government flour and saw mills north of
DeSmet. Next to the "black gowns" Mr. Worley is
held in highest esteem by the Indians. He is consulted
in matters of business and in all other affairs his au-
thority is universally respected.
There are no authentic accounts of the presence of
white men in extreme northern Idaho during the
forties excepting the fur traders and missionaries.
In April, 1853, Isaac I. Stevens, who had just been
appointed governor of the territory of Washington,
started west from St. Paul to explore a route from
the sources of the Mississippi river to Puget Sound.
In Gov. Stevens's report of this journey, we find de-
scriptions of the Spokane river, Coeur d'Alene river
and lake, St. Joe river, Clark's Fork of the Columbia,
and Pend Oreille lake. This is evidence that he had
his company spent some time in the central portion of
the Kootenai county of today. The Stevens expedi-
tion was in pursuance of the act of congress in the
same year appropriating $150,000 for the exploration
of a northern route across the continent. From the
fact that Air. Stevens was one of the incorporators of
the Northern Pacific railroad in Washington territory
in 1857, we assume that his descriptions of the country
had much to do with the selection of a route for that
road nearly a quarter of a century later, and that con-
sequently his visit and explorations had a very direct
bearing and influence upon the settlement and develop-
ment of the country.
On August n, 1856, a law was passed by Congress
authorizing the appointment of a commission to unite
with a similar commission to be appointed by Great
Britain for the purpose of carrying into effect the first
article of the treaty of June 15, 1846, that was to
determine and mark the boundary line between the
United States and rhe British possessions westward
from the summit of the Rocky Mountains. In Feb-
ruary, 1857, Hon. Archibald Campbell was appointed
commissioner for the United States, and Lieutenant
John G. Parks, U. S. A., was appointed chief astrono-
mer and surveyor. Three commissioners were- ap-
pointed by Great Britain. Captains Prevost and Rich-
ards, of the Royal Navy, were first and second com-
missioners, respectively, their duties being limited to
the determination of the water boundary referred to
as "the Channel which separates the Continent from
Vancouver's Island." In the summer of 1858, Col.
J. S. Hawkins, Royal Engineers, appointed by the
British Government commissioner, to determine the
boundary line along the forty-ninth parallel, arrived
in the United States prepared for field operations. At
a meeting of the joint commission the following agree-
ment relating to the plan of work was entered into:
After discussing plans for determining and marking
the line as far eastward as the Cascade mountains, it
was concluded to be inexpedient at that time, in con-
sequence of the great expense, consumption of time,
and the impracticable nature of the country, to mark
760
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
the whole boundary by cutting a track through the
dense forest. It was therefore agreed to approach
the forty-ninth parallel in accessible regions, and from
fixed points, cut a track through the forest, not less
than twenty feet in width on each side for the distance
of half a mile or more, according to circumstances.
Further, that the boundary be similarly marked where
it crosses streams of any size, permanent trails, or
any striking natural feature of the country. In the
vicinity of settlements it was deemed advisable to cut
the track for a greater distance and to mark the bound-
ary with stone monuments. The work was prosecuted
through the summers of 1858, 1859 and i860, but
owing to the breaking out of the Civil war, all opera-
tions were suspended, and have never been renewed.
The work of running and marking the boundary was
carried on through a country previously almost un-
known. The forty-ninth parallel extends for the
greater part of the distance over rugged and precipi-
tous mountains that attain a great elevation and it
was found impossible to follow it continuously. In
some instances trails were opened from the south to
the boundary, through regions of comparatively low
elevations, involving great labor in cutting, grading
and bridging to make the route practicable for pack-
mule transportation. Water courses were numerous
and rapid, rendering fords frequent and dangerous,
and a slight rise of many of the streams would have
made them impassable but for the timely precaution
of building bridges at small streams and ferryboats
at the river crossings. Many of the trails opened are
now traveled routes to the mines then and since dis-
covered. In this way the boundary was marked from
the Sound east about 400 miles, or to a point in Mon-
tana east of the valley of the Kootenai river. During
the summers of 1858 and 1859 one of these trails was
made through Kootenai county. Its course was from
the old Plante ferry on the Spokane river, via the
present locations of Rathdrum and Seneaquoteen to
a joint on the Pend Oreille river twelve miles below
the Campfield ferry ; thence in a northeasterly direction
to the present site of Bonner's Ferry ; thence down the
Kootenai valley to the vicinity of what is now Port-
hill. This route afterward became known as the Wild
Horse trail. Two hundred yards from the K. V.
railroad depot at Porthill may be seen one of the In-
ternational Boundary stones. The exact line is marked
by a post which is beneath the earth's surface, and over
this is heaped a mound of rough stone. There are two
of these monuments on the Kootenai county Hie, the
one described at Porthill and a similar one where the
Mooyie creek trail crosses the International Boundary,
thirty-two miles from Bonner's Ferry. When we con-
sider the great dangers that were faced and the almost
insurmountable difficulties that were encountered by
the members of the commission in a wild and unex-
plored wilderness, some idea may be had of the her-
culean task performed by these fearless agents of the
government. The mounds and the cleared spaces con-
stitute a magnificent testimonial to the men who ac-
complished the work after "fifty-four, forty, or fight"
had resulted in the Ashburton treaty and something
less than fifty-four forty without a fight.
One of the most important undertakings, and one
whose history is closely interwoven with that of all
the northwest, was the construction, during the years
[859 and 1861. inclusive, of the famous Mullan road.
This highway extended from old Fort Walla Walla,
now Wallula, Washington, to the head of navigation
on the Missouri river at Fort Benton, Montana. While
sections of the road lay across stretches of rolling
prairies where extensive construction work was not
necessary, the greater part of the distance traversed
was one of the most broken and mountainous regions
of the country ; a region which the railroads after-
wards found the most difficult to cross of any be-
tween the Mississippi river and the coast. Over this
road passed thousands of emigrants in the sixties and
seventies, and from i860 to 1881 it was practically
the only highway of travel between Montana. North-
ern Idaho. Washington and Oregon. A book, now
out of print, written by Captain John Mullan. the
builder of this road, and entitled "The Construction
of a Military Road," gives a detailed account of the
expedition and of the great work that was performed.
We have had access to a copy of this old volume
which we found in the public library at Portland.
The road was built directly across Kootenai and Sho-
shone counties, Idaho, entering the state at a point
on the Spokane river a few miles southwest of the
present site of Hauser. known at various periods in
the past as Antoine Plante's Ferry, Cowley's Ferry
and Spokane Bridge, passing the present location of
the town of Couer d'Alene, leaving Kootenai and en-
tering Shoshone county at "Old Mission," near the
present site of the town of Cataldo, on the Coeur
d'Alene river, and leaving Shoshone county and the
state over what was known as Sohon's Pass through
the Bitter Root mountains, near the present town of
Mullan. As the history of both counties is included
in this volume, we will incorporate the story of the
Mullan road in this chapter. We will allow Captam
Mullan to tell the story in his own words. The fol-
lowing paragraphs are excerpts from the volume pre-
viously mentioned :
"On the morning of the 16th of July, 1859, we re-
sumed our march, moving eastwardly for nine miles
over an easily swelling prairie region, timbered for the
last three miles, to a point which I had selected for a
depot camp, while our work was progressing in ad-
vance. We had left the plains of the Columbia proper
and reached the spurs of the Bitter Root mountains,
where our more difficult work commenced. We had
chosen for our location a line which, jutting upon the
southern edge of the Coeur d'Alene lake, would fol-
low up for four miles the valley of the St. Joe river ;
when crossing it would make the most direct line
across the divide of the Coeur d'Alene river; thence
up the valley of that stream to the Coeur d'Alene
mission. Our first work of difficulty was to make
the descent of seven hundred feet from the table land
to the valley of the St. Joe. Several points were ex-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
761
amined, but none afforded a natural descent, and I
was forced to make one over a long spur making
down d» the lake at the juncture of the St. Joe river
with the outlet of the Poun lake. Over the outlet a
bridge of sixty feet was constructed. This piece of
excavation was rocky and difficult, but the bridge was
completed in eight days. I then moved the entire
camp four miles up the valley of the St. Joe to the
point selected for crossing. We immediately set the
whip-sawyers in the timber to get out the necessary
timber, and some men to burning tar; and, being pro-
vided with the necessary oakum, we built two flat-
boats, forty-two feet long, twelve feet broad and two
feet deep, one for the St. Joe river and the other for
the Coeur d'Alene. The latter, when completed, was
rowed down into the lake, ami thence up the Coeur
d'Alene river to the point selected for crossing. While
this was being accomplished the divide between the
two streams was examined, the road marked out, and
several parties placed at work upon it. This work
from the St. Joe crossing involved the building of a
corduroy road four hundred feet long over a wet
section of the river bottom, and a heavy excavation
up a suitable spur in order to gain the divide seven
hundred feet above. This entire work occupied our
force until the 5th day of August, 1859. During this
interval our topographers were engaged in tracing
the St. Joe to its sources in the Bitter Root mountains,
marking its tributaries and defining its boundaries ;
also making a survey of the Coeur d'Alene lake.
"The line to the Coeur d'Alene river being com-
pleted by the 5th of August, I moved the entire train
to its left bank, where it remained in camp until the
9th, when the road, for nine miles up its left bank to
the point of crossing, was completed. This work con-
sisted of a side cut of a fourth of a mile along
a broken, rocky spur, jutting upon the river's edge,
building bridges and cutting through a slight growth
of timber near the point of crossing. Our boat being
in readiness, we crossed the river on the 10th and re-
mained on the left bank until the morning of the
16th, engaged with our entire force in opening the
line thence to the Coeur d'Alene mission, which in-
volved building three bridges, making a cut of one
mile of excavation along difficult spurs, and cutting
through timber for three miles, which, when com-
pleted, gave us an excellent road. On the morning
of the 16th of August we reached the mission, two
hundred miles from Walla Walla. This was one of
our fixed points from which began our mountain work
proper. That this proved a difficult task to handle
our three years labor abundantly proves.
"Reaching the mission we determined to make it
a depot point for our train until such time as our work
in advance should enable us to move forward. Plac-
ing the depot under the charge of Lieutenant White,
we divided our force into several sections and dis-
tributed them along the line of work for ten miles.
This work consisted of timber cutting and clearing,
building small bridges, corduroying wherever the
ground was wet and marshy and making side cuts
wherever it was sidling or where the formation of the
spurs compelled it. Crossing the Coeur d'Alene a
a mile above the mission we lost sight of the river till
reaching the Four Mile prairie, a point four miles be-
yond, and again lost sight of it until reaching a point
we called the Ten Mile prairie. This section of the
road, for the first four miles passes mostly through
a timbered region and along the south foot of the
spurs; making back for the river until it reaches the
Four Mile prairie ; after which it again enters a tim-
bered region till reaching the Seven Mile prairie, and
then again through timber until it reaches Ten Mile
prairie. The work from the mission to the Ten Mile
prairie occupied us until the 17th of August, when
we again brought forward our entire train to the new
depot. Every one was moved except the astronom-
ical party under Mr. Weisner and .Mr. Koleski, who
were left at the mission during a lunation to fix the
position of that point. Cur position at Walla Walla
had alreadv been determined by a six weeks' series of
observation, and our plan was to occupy as many
fixed points as time and circumstances would allow.
"While at the Coeur d'Alene mission we had sent
out two parties to explore and bring back such data
as would guide our judgment in our further move-
ments. The one was assigned to Mr. P. M. Engle,
whose duties were to cross the bed of mountains along
the south fork of the Coeur d'Alene river and strike
the Clark's Fork at or near Thompson's prairie, in
order to see if the country along this route was
adapted to a cheap location. In this undertaking he
was provided with the necessary Indian, guides and
outfits, and directed to pursue his examinations up
the Clark's Fork to the Pend Oreille mission, and
return by way of the Hitter Roots, recrossing the
mountains via Sohon's Pass and thence to our camp.
This was fully and satisfactorily accomplished, and de-
veloped the fact that the features of the mountains
precluded the possibility of securing a line in that
direction. The second party was placed in charge of
Mr. Sohon, with directions to pass rapidly forward
and mark in a general manner the location ; to ascer-
tain the best point of passage over the Coeur d'Alene
mountains, and to continue his examination down the
valley of St. Regis Borgia to the Bitter Roots, and
thence up to the Hell's Gate valley. For this pur-
pose he, too, was provided with the best Indian guides
we could procure, and fulfilled his mission satis-
factorily, returning to camp by the 15th of September.
From my own knowledge of the country, and the ad-
ditional data brought in by Mr. Sohon, I saw that
we had to content ourselves with the cheapest loca-
tion that the peculiar features of the valleys of the
Coeur d'Alene and St. Regis Borgia warranted. Both
of these valleys were densely timbered, with here and
there a prairie affording scanty grass. Both of the
valleys at points verged toward canyons, and their
rivers were serpentine in their course, leaving alter-
nate flats and spurs along their banks ; hence the char-
acter of the streams necessitated frequent crossings
or long and difficult side cuts to avoid them. The
latter was a work of great magnitude, and incompat-
ible with the means at our disposal; hence the former
762
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
was our only alternative. Our work, consequently,
from the 16th day of August to the 4th of December,
1859, consisted in cutting through this densely tim-
bered section of one hundred miles, building small
bridges where required, and grading in thousands of
places, made necessary by the physical nature of the
country. We likewise graded an ascent of one and
three-fourths miles, to the summit of the Coeur d'Alene
mountains. This work was heavy, and in so brief
a report as herewith given justice cannot be done to
the industry and fortitude of the men while mastering
this wilderness section. The standing timber was
dense and the fallen timber that had accumulated for
ages formed an intricate jungle well calculated to im-
press one with the character of impracticability. Suf-
fice it to say that we mastered the many difficulties
with which its construction was fraught and reached
our winter camp in the St. Regis Borgia valley on the
4th of December."
Facts which came to the knowledge of Captain
Mullan later caused him to make changes in the road
during the summer of 1861, of which he thus speaks:
"From what I had seen of the wet and mucky
character of the St. Joe valley in early spring, I found
that we should be compelled this season to cross the
Snake river and skirt the northern rim of the Coeur
d'Alene lake, opening a new section of thirty miles
from the lake to the mission. To this end I had the
line explored in September, 1861, by Mr. W. W.
Johnson. Crossing the Snake by the 20th of May.
we worked the road up the bluffs on its right bank
and gained the table land, where we had no difficulty
in making a camp on the Palouse, fourteen miles from
the former river.
"Leaving the Palouse on the morning of the 21st
of May, we journeyed over the prairie hills to Cow
creek, a distance of eleven miles, having an excellent
road. The Colville wagon road from Walla Walla is
one and the same with our own up to this point ; thence
it tends up the Cow creek, while our own leads to-
ward the east in the direction of Antoine Plante's
Ferry on the Spokane. This ferry is chartered by the
legislature of Washington territory, and. being already
established by a fixed settler, I determined to make
it a point of my route. Leaving the Cow creek on the
morning of the 22nd of May, we moved eighteen
miles over an easy, open prairie country, with light
work . to Aspen Grove : cold springs of water were
passed en route. From thence our next march was
to a chain of lagoons distant two and one-half miles,
for which distance we still had an excellent prairie
road, and from thence to Rock creek, crossing it at
the same point made by our old location. From Rock
creek, in thirteen and one-half miles we reached
Lake Williamson. From Lake Williamson in six miles
we reached Hangman's creek, the valley of which is
four hundred feet below the Spokane plain ; this in-
volved a cut of one-third of a mile, at the end of
which we reached the point selected for the crossing.
This stream was now swollen, and we camped upon
it for four days while building a bridge fifty feet
long. Having improved the road in advance, we
moved on towards the Spokane at Antoine Plante's,
reaching that point on the 1st of June, a distance of
one hundred and twelve and one-half miles from Fort
Walla Walla. At this point we were joined by another
portion of the escort which had marched from Fort
Colville under Lieutenant Harker, of the Ninth In-
fantry : these fully completed the complement of men
originally intended for the expedition.
"The ferry at Spokane is a good one, consisting
of a strong cable stretched across the river and a boat
forty feet long. It is kept by a worthy man. Antoine
Plante, a half-breed Flathead Indian, who speaks both
French and English ; he has a small field under culti-
vation on the left bank near the ferry landing, from
which he obtains corn, wheat and vegetables : these,
with the salmon found in the river, form an abundant
supply for his Indian family. The winters here are
generally mild, and stock range the hills and plains
the whole season, no provision for forage being made.
Small tracts of good soil are found bordering the
river, as well as two or three miles back : several
of these are under cultivation by the Indians, and a
few Frenchmen : one of the finest of these is on the
south bank, about ten miles from Plante's. in a re-
entering angle of the mountains ; here the Coeur
d'Alene Indians have small farms enclosed. Effect-
ing safely the crossing of the Spokane river, which
is here three hundred feet broad and eight deep, with
rapid current and high banks, on the morning of the
3rd of Line we moved up its right bank to a camp
at Seltisse's farm, distant nineteen miles. We had
'.:n excellent road, fifteen miles of which was over
level prairie, and the remainder through a beautiful
open pine forest : work in clearing away the timber
was al! that was required. We passed, during this
march, an Indian burial ground of the Coeur d'Alenes,
where a cross, erected over each grave, testified the
cheering fruits of the labors of the noble Jesuit fathers
in their midst. Seltisse is a worthy Coeur d'Alene
Indian, who has several acres under cultivation, and
while hunting, fishing and tilling the soil, leads the life
of an independent chief. I have always found him
frank, honest and friendly. From his camp we
reached in four miles a considerable creek that drains
a small sheet of water to the mirth, and empties into
the Coeur d'Alene lake ; here we entered a difficult
belt of timber, extending for thirty miles to the Coeur
d'Alene mission. I determined, therefore, to make
this a depot point for such provisions as we had with
us, and sent a wagon train back to the mouth of the
Palouse, where the steamers were to deposit the re-
mainder. Perfecting these arrangements, I set my
men at work, a portion building a bridge over the
stream, and the remainder making a side cut in the
spurs that jutted upon the lake. Mr. Sohon. with a
small party and an Indian guide, was kept in advance
to mark out the road, and give us in full detail the
features of the country. This thirty miles of new
road was a difficult undertaking, and occupied us until
the 1st of August. The country was broken and un-
favorable to our purposes, but we took advantage of
its features as far as possible, following the bottoms
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
763
of small creeks, and only cutting through the dense
timber when it could not be avoided, by these means
eventually securing a fair location. The Wolf's lodge
prairie, with an area of a square mile, occurs midway
between the mission and the lake, and with the fine
grasses on the hills that surround it constitutes a
fixed and favorable camping ground. Traces of gold
are said to have been found in it : and I myself came
across a small camp of men here on my return from the
mission in 1862. Quartz is found on many of the
neighboring hills, and rumor would set forth that this
immediate section was favorable for gold develop-
ments. Reaching the Coeur d'Alene mission, we
united with our old road of 1859."
From Fort Walla Walla to Fort Benton, via the
Mullan road, is six hundred and twenty-four miles.
The object in view in the construction of the road, as
stated by Mr. Mullan, was to open a base line from
the plains of the Spokane, on the west, to the plains
of the Missouri on the east, from which other lines
could subsequently be opened, and by means of which
the correct geography of the country could be de-
lineated. Another object was to ascertain whether
there was a practicable railroad route through the
valleys and a practicable pass through the mountains,
through which a railroad could subsequently
be built. These objects were fully attained
and the road became the most famous of the
early routes of travel, broadening eventually
into a mighty way for a great civilization
from sea to sea. Pioneer newspapers published in the
late seventies carried a standing column which was
headed, "How to Get Here." These papers were sent
east for the benefit of those contemplating emigration
to the west. Several routes were described, among
them the following : To Ogden by rail ; thence to
Walla Walla by wagon road ; thence to Spokane Falls
by the Mullan road to Spokane river. Another route
recommended was by rail to Kelton ; thence by wagon
to Walla Walla ; thence by wagon over the Mullan
road to Spokane. Still another route was up the
Missouri river to Fort Benton, Montana : thence by
wagon over the Mullan road to the plains of Spokane
river. In 1879 the old road was repaired, east of the
Coeur dAlene mountains, by General Penrose, and
west by a detachment under command of Lieutenant
Turner, from Fort Sherman. There were found to
be thirty-eight bridges on the St. Regis Borgia in
Montana, twenty-six of the crossings being made in
a distance of eighteen miles. The road is still in use
through the mountain regions. The old, old wilder-
ness road has had a wonderful history. For twenty
years it was in constant use by hunters, adventurers,
tourists and emigrants, who "stained it with their
blood and tears and lined it with their graves." Were
all the comedies and tragedies enacted along
this wilderness way retold, they would store
volumes with perhaps the most interesting and
at the same time pathetic and tragic incidents
associated with the reclaiming of the great northwest.
The development of Kootenai county may be said
to have begun with the completion of the Mullan road.
Although no material progress was made until two
decades later there were settlements in various parts
of the county in 1863 and 1864. The advantages
offered by adjacent territory were doubtless apparent
to the west-bound emigrants over this route and some
are known tc have returned at a later date and made
permanent homes lure. A. L. Coffey, now living near
Sandpoint, assisted in construction work on this road.
Data in our possession do not show a direct connec-
tion between the settlement of the country and the ex-
istence of the road; but the first comers entered the
county over it and it was no doubt an important factor
in the later process of development. Covering the
period between 1861 and 1881, Kootenai county re-
mained practically an uninhabited wilderness. The
first permanent establishments were ferries over the
Kootenai and Pend Oreille rivers, a pony mail route
station at "Westwood," now Rathdrum, government
steamer service on the lakes, and the location of l-7>rt
Sherman on Lake Coeur d'Alene. We have already
told of the coming of the Jesuit missionaries, an ! of
the work performed by them: we will new write
briefly of the affairs of the sixties and seventies.
The discovery of placer mines in the Wild Horse
country, British Columbia, early in the sixties, re-
sulted in a great rush to that country. Many went
by the Columbia river route, and many others by what
was first called the boundary commission trail and later
became known as the Wild Horse trail, which en-
tered the county near the old Plante ferry on the Spo-
kane river; proceeded via the present site of Rath-
drum and Seneaquoteen to the Campfield Ferry on
the Pend Oreille river ; thence to Bonner's Ferry was
on the Kootenai river and down that stream to British
Columbia. The establishment of Bonner's Ferry was
the first business enterprise within the present a iunty
boundaries ; we will therefore give some of the details
as we have gathered them from various reliable
sources. On July 10, 1902. there died at Missoula,
Montana, one of the wealthiest and most prominent
pioneer citizens of that state. He had lived in the
northwest since 1853 and had been closely identified
with all efforts for its development and advancement.
He took an active interest in trans-continental railroad
construction, and in 1893 xvas appointed one of the
receivers of the Northern Pacific railroad in Montana.
At the time of his death he was Montana's member
of the national Republican committee. We refer to
Edwin L. Bonner, for whom Bonner's Ferry was
named. When the rush to the Wild Horse country
began, prospectors were taken over the Kootenai river
in canoes by old Chief Abraham and other members
of his tribe. In the sur.mer of 1863 Edwin L. Bonner
and his cousin. R. A. Eddy, together with Hiram
Robertson and John Walton, journeying from Walla
Walla to the Kootenai country in British Columbia,
camped on the bank of the Kootenai river at the
point where the gold seekers were rowed across by the
Indians. Circumstances made it necessary for Mr.
Bonner and his party to remain in camp for several
days, and during this stay he conceived the idea of
building and operating a ferry, it being evident to
764
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
his mind from the constant travel this way. that it
would Drove a good investment from a financial stand-
point. Negotiations were at once opened with Chief
Abraham, from whom Mr. Bonner purchased the right
to build and operate the ferry. The ferry was put in
operation in 1864 and Mr. Bonner also established a
trading post in connection. As an interesting item of
information relating to this establishment we print
below an act passed at the second session of the Idaho
territorial legislature.
"Be it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of the
Territory of Idaho, as follows :
"Section 1. That R. A. Eddy, E. L. Bonner and
I. W. Walton, their heirs and assigns, be and they are
hereby authorized to establish a ferry across the
Kootenai river at a point known as Bonner's Ferry
or Chulimtah : and that the said R. A. Eddy, E. L.
Bonner and John W. Walton, their heirs and assigns,
shall have the exclusive privilege of ferrying upon said
river for a distance of two miles up and five miles
down said river, from the above described point of
said ferry, for the term of five years from and after
the passage of this act.
"Section 2. It shall be lawful for the said R. A.
Eddy, E. L. Bonner and John W. Walton, their heirs
and assigns, to receive and collect in United States
gold and silver coin, or its equivalent, the following
rates of toll ferriage across said river, viz : For each
footman, fifty cents: for each man and horse or mule,
one dollar and fifty cents ; for pack animals, loaded,
one dollar and fifty cents : for pack animals, empty,
seventy-five cents ; for loose animals, other than sheep
or hogs, fifty cents : for sheep and hogs, each twenty
cents. Approved, December 22, 1864."
A similar act was passed at the same session
granting like ferry privileges to J. B. Roberts. A. E.
Ridles and J. T. Galbraith. at a point on the Kootenai
river fifteen miles below "Linklighter's Station," but
there is no record of a permanent ferry at this place.
Still another act of this session of the legislature
granted to Charles H. Campfield and associates the
authority to operate a ferry on the Pend Oreille
river for a distance of three miles up and down the
river from a point "twelve miles above the point where
the military or boundary commission road crossed
said river." At this ferry they were authorized to
collect the following tolls : For each wagon and two
animals, three dollars: for each additional span of
horses or cattle, one dollar : for each man and horse,
one dollar and fifty cents : for each pack animal, one
dollar : for each footman, fifty cents ; for loose ani-
mals, other than sheep or hogs, per head, twenty-five
cents : for sheep or hogs, per head, ten cents.
Although some settlements were made later in the
vicinity of the Campfield and Roberts ferries, the
events of historical value and interest associated with
this period are grouped about Bonner's Ferry and
trading post. Mr. Bonner did not take personal charge
of the" business, but employed as his agent, John Wal-
ton, who continued in charge until 1874, when he was
succeeded by Louis Lee. In 1875 Richard Fry came to
Bonner's Ferrv from the Wild Horse country. Mr.
Fry was another of the sturdy pioneers. He crossed
the plains in 1849, and resided until 1858 in Linn coun-
ty, Oregon, serving in the Indian wars of 1855 and
1856 and taking part in the battle of Walla Walla in
December. 1855, at the time the famous old Walla
Walla warrior, Pio-Pio-Mox-Mox, was slain. Rich-
ard Fry, who died at Rathdrum December 15, 1898,
was one of the most prominent and respected pioneers
of Kootenai county. He was a man of strong per-
sonality, generous and just in all his dealings with his
white and Indian neighbors and all who knew him
regarded him as a personal friend. As an incident
illustrative of the esteem in which he was held we
quote the following from an issue of the Kootenai
Herald, dated December 25, 1898:
"An impressive scene was witnessed at the funeral
services of the late Richard Fry. When the lid of the
casket was opened for the last time at the church to
allow the relatives and friends to view the features
of the dead, there filed down the aisle a long line of
Kootenai Indians with slow and solemn tread. Each
touched the casket and made the sign of the cross as
he passed by his dead friend. The confidence of the
Indians in Richard Fry was something marvelous.
For years he had been an adviser in their troubles and
so tempered with justice had been all his dealings
with them that thev had learned to trust him implic-
itly, and their mourning for the dead was no less sor-
rowful than that of their pale face brothers."
Richard Fry leased the ferry and trading post of
E. L. Bonner in 1875 and for many years did an ex-
tensive business with' miners, trappers and Indians, in
the earlier years taking their gold dust and furs in
exchange for goods and supplies. In 1876 his
brother. Martin M. Fry, located at Bonner's Ferry and
assisted in conducting the ferry and post. After the
retirement of Richard Fry in 1892, the business was
continued for many years by Martin Fry and his sons.
The ownership of the ferry eventually passed to Mal-
rom Bruce, from whom it was purchased by the coun-
ty in 1902 for the sum of five hundred dollars. It is
still in operation, but a bridge will doubtless be built
across the Kootenai river at this point in the near
future as the question of its construction is now be-
ing agitated.
During- the seventies mail was received at Bon-
ner's Ferrv once each month. During the summer
months it was carried on horse back from Victoria,
British Columbia, via Fort Hope and Okanogan lake.
British Columbia. Colville. Washington, Seneaquo-
teen, Pend Oreille lake, Bonner's Ferry and on to
Wild Horse, British Columbia. In winter it was car-
ried on snow shoes over the same route. Among the
mail carriers were James Wardell, John Shelton and
Ned Bray, all Canadians; Mr. Shelton. however, made
his home at Colville. Washington. During this period
four pack trains made regular trips through Kootenai
county from Wild Horse, British Columbia, to Walla
Walla. They were owned, respectively, by Galbraith
Brothers and Robert Mathers, of Wild Horse, George
Dacre, of Walla Walla, and Fry Brothers, of Bon-
ner's Ferry. Between the years 1873 and 1884 there
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
765
was but one family of white settlers in this region,
that of Martin Fry. Their only neighbors were In-
dians, with whom they never had =erious trouble.
There was a "scare" in 1878 when the Bannock war
broke out, but no harmful results followed. At this
time the Kootenai Indians became very restless. There
were among them some relatives of Indians who had
been executed for participation in the massacre of
1866 and these sought to lead the Kootenais out on
the warpath. Richard Fry was at Victoria at the
time, with the pack train, and the Indians assumed
such a threatening attitude that Martin concluded it
the better part of wisdom, on his family's account, to
escape to a place of greater security. With the as-
sistance of his wife lie buried the stock of goods from
the store, working nearly all night, and just before
daybreak they mounted mules belonging to the Dacre
pack train, which chanced along on a down trip, and
rode to the present site of Rathdrum, where they
stopped with the family of Wesley Wood until quiet
was restored among the red men. Settlers never aft-
erward had any serious difficulties with the Kootenai
Indians. Most of the Kootenais eventually became
Catholics under the teachings of Father Fouquet of
the St. Mary's Mission near Wild Horse, B. C. In
1889 Major Ronan was sent to these Indians by the gov-
ernment with instructions to offer them a choice be-
tween allotments of land here or residence on the Flat-
head reservation in Montana. Some accepted land and
are now living on their allotments in northern Kootenai
and others went to the reservation, where they still
reside. We have referred to the massacre of 1866, an
account of which will be found in the chapter on
reminiscences.
Early in the seventies a relay station on the pony
mail route from The Dalles and Walla Walla to Mis-
soula, Montana, was established at the Wesley Wood
ranch, where Rathdrum is now located. Details con-
cerning settlements in the central portion of the county
are given in another portion of this volume in connec-
tion with the history of Rathdrum and of Post Falls.
The mail route to which we refer crossed the
county from Spokane Bridge via the Wood
ranch to Steamboat Landing at the head of
Lake Fend Oreille ; thence by government steamers
down the lake to a small settlement near the present
site of Sandpoint : thence in a southeasterly direc-
tion over the mountains to Missoula. It connected
with the Mullan road at Rock creek, fifty miles south-
west of Spokane, and followed it to Spokane Bridge.
From Walla Walla to Missoula the distance as trav-
ersed was four hundred miles. There were twenty-
one stations and twenty-five riders, each rider making
from forty to seventy miles per day, with several re-
lays, carrying mail and small packages of express.
Wesley Wood, now living at Rathdrum, carried mail
over this route for five years. C. C. Huntley had the
star-route mail contract for a term of years with a
yearly compensation of $33,333. To facilitate the
handling of the mails between these two points, and
to the country north, the government constructed three
steamers for'use on the Fend Oreille lake, the first of
which was the Mary Meodv, built at Seneaquoteen
in 1864.
Settlements at Bonner's Ferry, Rathdrum and Sen-
eaquoteen were the first made in the county. They
were followed closely by others in different localities,
but as this period of settlement was prior to county
organization, we have given details in connection with
the history of the various towns as separate corpora-
tions.
The last important event preceding countv organi-
zation was the establishment of Fort Coeur d'Alene,
later called Fort Sherman. While on a tour of in-
spection in 1877 General William T. Sherman came
from Fort Benton, Montana, over the Mullan road,
to Lake Coeur d'Alene. He was on his way to Fort
Walla Walla, but spent some time on and about the
lake, visiting the missions and acquainting himself
with the Indian situation at the various agencies. He
was charmed with the beauty of the surroundings and
his soldier's eye readily discerned the superior ad-
vantages offered as a location for an army post. On
his recommendations a military reservation was created
here containing 999 acres. The site chosen was at the
foot of the lake, bordering on the lake and on the
Spokane river. The reservoir was established in
1878, but the army post was not fully equipped and
officered until the following year. As has been suited
the post was first named by General Sherman, Fort
Coeur d'Alene, but at the time of the General's death
in 1 89 1 the name was changed in his honor to Fort
Sherman.
The first commander at the post was Col. H. C.
Merriam of the Second U. S. Infantry, five com-
panies of soldiers being stationed here in the begin-
ning. Col. Merriam was followed in command by
Col. Wheaton, who in turn was successively followed
by Maj. (now General) Randall, Lieut. Col. Cook,
Col. Carlin, and Col. Hall. The last officer in com-
mand was Col. Thatcher, who had under him five
companies of the Sixteenth U. S. Infantry. The post
was never regularly garrisoned after the breaking out
of the Cuban war in 1898. In the early summer of
1S94 the melting of the deep snows in the Coeur
d'Alene and Bitter Root mountains raised the waters
in the lake and river to such an extent that the post
grounds were flooded and continued so for several
weeks. After this freshet army officers made continued
and persistent efforts to have the post abandoned,
claiming that the site was liable to overflows each
spring. By those acquainted with the situation, how-
ever, it is claimed that the true reason for the desire
to abandon the post was because of its 1
There were no great centers of population within
easy reach, and officers with families desired social and
educational advantages that could not be en:
Fort Sherman. Their influence eventually prevailed
and the reservation was turned over to the interior de-
partment in April, 1901, the post being entirely aban-
doned by the war department in August of the same
year.
At the time of the declaration of war against
Spain there were garrisoned here twelve officers and
766
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
about three hundred and fifty men. With the exception
of a detachment of eleven men under Lieut. B. B. Buck,
this force was ordered to the front. The officers in-
cluded in this order were Col. Thatcher, commander ;
Chaplain Bateman, who was granted special leave by
the war department to accompany the troops ; Co.
C. under command of Capt. L. C. Allen; Co. D,
commanded by Capt. W. T. Morrison and Lieut.
B. T. Simmons ; Co. F, by Capt. T. C. Woodbury and
Lieut. T- E. Woodward ; Co. G, by Capt. W. Lassiter
and Lieut. E. Chandler ; and Co.' H, by Capt. S. R.
Whital and Lieut. J. Irwin. On April 21, 1898, ac-
companied by a band of twenty-three musicians and an
eagle presented by J. R. Sanburn, the force left Coeur
d'Alene on a special train for New Orleans, and Fort
Sherman was practically abandoned as an army post.
Many thousands of dollars were expended here
in the erection of buildings and in the equipment and
care of the grounds. There are fifty-two buildings,
including the commander's and the officers' residences,
which are cared for by John Fernan, who first came
to the post May 26, 1878, and has, since its abandon-
ment, had sole care of buildings and grounds. An
effort has been made by the citizens of Coeur d'Alene
to have the reservation thrown open to settlement, but
without success. A movement is now under way to
secure the establishment here of a national soldiers'
home. The location is an admirable one for such a
purpose. The reserve is a natural park of forest
pines, and with its lake frontage and mountain back-
ground is one of the most beautiful of the many beauti-
ful spots in the lake region of Kootenai county.
CHAPTER II.
EVENTS, 1880-1890— AS A POLITICAL DIVISION OF THE TERRITORY.
The close of the 'seventies, or rather, the opening of 1
the next decade, marks the beginning of the most
important epoch in the history of Kootenai county,
that of organized existence. Kootenai county has had
a creative existence since 1864. At that date her
boundaries enclosed only about one-half of the terri-
tory which they now enclose, but the present lines were
defined as early as 1867. It may be well, before enter-
ing upon these later details to mention a few interest-
ing facts concerning the political affiliations of the
county prior to the creative act of 1864. It first be-
longed to the Oregon country which had indefinite
boundaries; later, as a part of that portion of Oregon
lying north of the Columbia river and the 46th parallel
of latitude, it belonged to Vancouver county, which
was organized in 1845, the name of the county being
changed in 1849 to Clark, in honor of the explorer.
The Columbia river and the 46th parallel of latitude,
east to the summit of the Rocky mountains, consti-
tuted the southern boundary of Washington in 1853,
and Kootenai was a portion of Walla Walla county,
Washington. January 29, 1859, Shoshone county,
Washington, was created including all that country
north of the Snake river, east of the Columbia and
west of the Rocky mountains, embracing Kootenai
county. The county seat was on the land claim of
Angus McDonald, who was the Hudson's Bay Com-
pany's agent at the station where Colville is now lo-
cated.
At the first session of the Idaho territorial legis-
lature, opening December 7, 1863. and closing Febru-
ary 4, 1864, all that territory north of the Clearwater
river, which included all the present counties of Latah
and Kootenai, together with a section of country bor-
dering directly on the north bank of the river was at-
tached to the original Nez Perces county for civil and
judicial purposes, but was without a distinguishing
name.
At the second session of the territorial legislature in
the winter of 1864 the first creative act was passed,
defining the boundaries of Kootenai county. The
following is the text of the act :
Be it enacted by the legislative assembly of the
territory of Idaho as follows :
Section 2. That all that portion of Idaho terri-
tory embraced within the following described bounda-
ries be, and the same is hereby created into and shall
be known as the county of Kootenai, to wit: Begin-
ning at a point on the forty-eighth degree of north
latitide, on the dividing line between Washington and
Idaho territories ; thence north with said dividing line
of longtude to the forty-ninth degree of north lati-
tude ; thence east with the said degree of latitude to
the northwest corner of the boundary line of Montana
I territory ; thence southerly with the boundary line of
said territory to the forty-eighth degree of north lati-
tude, and thence west along said degree of latitude to
the place of beginning ; and the county seat of the
said county of Kootenai is hereby located Seneaquo-
teen. Approved, December 22, 1864.
The forty-eighth parallel of latitude passes through
I Granite ; the territory included within the first estab-
lished lines, therefore, was but little more than half
as great as the county's present area. Section one
of this same act created "Lah-toh" county out of the
country south of the forty-eighth parallel and north
of the Clearwater river and named Coeur d'Alene
as the county seat. No county organization was ever
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
76;
effected under this act but, later, the northern bound-
ary of Xez Perces county was moved north from the
Clearwater river to the irregular summit of the divide
between the Palouse river and Hangman's creek, the
present southern boundary of Kootenai county. In
1867 the present boundaries of Kootenai were de-
fined by amendments to the original act as follows :
Section 2. All that portion of the territory of
Idaho north of the counties of Nez Perces and Sho-
shone shall comprise the county of Kootenai.
Section 3. That whenever the inhabitants, to the
number of fifty or more of the said county of Koot-
enai, shall desire to perfect a county organization, they
shall apply by petition to the governor, who,
if he deems it advisable, shall proceed to des-
ignate by appointment three discreet and well
qualified citizens of the county or counties so
applying, to act as a board of county commis-
sioners of such county. The board of county commis-
sioners so appointed, after they shall have qualified
in pursuance of law, and entered upon the duties of
their office, may proceed to fill, by the appointment of
suitable residents of the county, the various county
offices as required by law for other organized counties
in this territory.
Section 4. Whenever the county commissioners
shall be appointed as provided by law, they shall have
power to locate the county seat of said county. As
amended, Act January 9, 1867.
"Fifty or more*' citizens of Kootenai could not be
gathered together to perfect a county organization
under this old act for eighteen years after its passage.
Bancroft says "Kootenai county had almost no white
population until the building of the Northern Pacific
railroad brought people there to perform the labor of
its construction, between 1880 and 1883." Elliot, an
Idaho historian, says of Kootenai county in 1882 : "It
is a wild, unsettled country of lakes and grand scen-
ery." With the advent of the railroad came the desire
for county organization. In July, 1881, M. D. Wright
and George B. Wonnacott called a meeting of all the
settlers known to be in the county for the purpose of
discussing the question. Two or three meetings were
held and much canvassing was done before the required
number of petitioners could be obtained. Two of
these meetings were held at Mr. Wonnacott's store
two miles west of Fort Coeur d'Alene and the third
meeting was held at Rathdrum, then called Westwood,
where the organization was finally completed in Oc-
tober, 1881. From the petitioners it was a difficult
matter to secure men enough to fill the various county
offices, owing to the fact that most of the settlers had
business affairs of their own to attend to and the
offices were not especially desirable either because of
the emoluments attaching or because of the honor they
conferred on the individual. Appointments, however,
were eventually made by the governor and the follow-
ing have the distinction of being the first officers of
Kootenai county : Sheriff, Fred Haines ; recorder,
George B. Wonnacott ; assessor and collector, M. D.
Wright; treasurer. Max Weil; probate judge, Charles
Chilburg. Mr. Chilburg did not qualify and A. L.
Bradbury was appointed in his stead. Mr. Bradbury
soon resigned and was followed by Henry Melder.
Sheriff Haines died before his term had expired and
the commissioners appointed Bregg Parmenter to fill
the vacancy. R. W. Cochran and C. W. Wood were
appointed justices; J. L. Steen and Michael Martin,
constables. Commissioners appointed by the governor
were, O. F. Canfield, J. T. Rankin and William Mar-
tin. The officers were sworn in by Justice Frank
Points, a noted character who lived on Deep creek in
what was then the northern part of Nez Perces county.
At the first regular election which was held in 1882,
George B. Wonnacott was continued in office as re-
corder, Max Weil as treasurer, and Henry Melder as
probate judge and ex-officio superintendent of county
schools. Charles Hampton was elected sheriff, and
Robt. Wicks, Louis Lee and O. F. Canfield, commis-
sioners. Bregg Parmenter was elected assessor and
collector, failed to qualify and was superseded by ap-
pointment, by A. M. Martin of Rathdrum. Charles
Hampton served as sheriff until July, 1883, when he
resigned in favor of Joseph Brophy. Mr. Brophy
did not want the place and canvassed the county for
signatures to a petition to the commissioners advising
the appointment of William Martin. The request of
the petitioners was granted and Mr. Martin became
sheriff. At the 12th session of the territorial legis-
lature, which convened December 11, 1882, Kootenai
county was represented in the senate, or council, with
Nez Perces and Shoshone counties, by I. B. Cowen,
and in the house of representatives with Shoshone, by
O. A. Dodge.
During the first four years of political life, magi-
cal changes were wrought in general conditions and
numerous thriving towns sprang up along the line of
railroad. The building of the road was of course the
cause of the wonderful transformation. In 1880 Koot-
enai county had a population of 318 including many
railroad laborers who were not permanent settlers; in
1884 the population had increased to 2000. In 1880
there was no assessment roll ; in 1884 the assessment
roll footed $544,138.98. In 1882 there were but 89
taxable inhabitants ; in that year, however, there was
collected a property tax of $558.89, a poll tax of $502,
and $530.60 were collected on licenses, making the
total receipts $1,591.49. After erecting a small jail
and paying the current expenses, the first set of county
officers turned over to their successors the sum of
$90.00. As soon as travel began over the Northern
Pacific and a knowledge of the almost inexhaustible
timber resources of the county reached the populated
centers, immigrants began to pour in and the country
adjacent to the road, along the streams, and about the
lakes was thoroughly explored ; many homesteads were
located, a great deal of mineral prospecting was done
in the mountain regions, and in furnishing supplies
for the nomadic caravan, the towns became exceed-
ingly prosperous and grew rapidly. In 1884 Rathdrum
had a population of over one thousand, exceeding by
two or three hundred, that of Spokane Falls. There
was a special reason, however, for a great deal of this
prosperity, which centered about Rathdrum and which
768
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
was not so great in other parts of the county. The
Coeur d'Alene mines were discovered in 1883. The
region of these mines had been most inaccessible until
the completion of the Northern Pacific railroad, which
opened a camparatively easy route, via Rathdrum,
Lake Coeur d'Alene, the Coeur d'Alene river and the
Mullan road. The rush to the mines during the latter
months of 1883 and for two or three years following,
was over this route, and Rathdrum became an out-
fitting and supply point, and consequently a place of
considerable importance. While some progress was
made during this period at Bonner's Ferry, Kootenai,
Coeur d'Alene and other points, it was inconsiderable
when compared with the growth and development
at and about the county seat.
The first court house was a small store building
at Rathdrum in 1884 and was presided over by Judge
Norman Buck, now a resident of Spokane. The first
cases tried in Kootenai county were from the mines
and were not of great importance nor of general in-
terest to the public, being petty disputes between min-
ers over mineral claims. One of the first cases of
minor importance tried before Judge Buck at this
term of court was brought by Thomas Brophy against
O. A. Dodge, who had built a saw mill in 1882 at the
foot of Fish lake. The plaintiff asked that Mr. Dodge
be enjoined from dumping sawdust into the outlet
of the lake and thereby causing his lands to be flooded
by backwater. Frank Ganalil and J. Hooloman were
attorneys for the plaintiff, C. D. Hyde and M. W.
Musgrove for defendant. The injunction was granted.
A case of real importance, involving the settlement
of a boundary line dispute between Kootenai and
Shoshone counties, and the jurisdiction over the Coeur
d'Alene mines, was tried before Judge Buck at Rath-
drum in June, 1884. This case grew out of the misin-
terpretation of the legal description of the Shoshone
county boundaries. Shortly after their discovery the
authorities of Kootenai county laid claim to jurisdic-
tion over the mines, asserting that the northern bound-
ary of Shoshone county was a small spur of the Hit-
ter Root mountains extending west below the South
Fork of the Coeur d'Alene river, while Shoshone coun-
ty authorities claimed their north boundary to be the
summit of the main Bitter Root mountains where they
turned west and formed the divide between Clark's
Fork river and the North Fork of the Coeur d'Alene,
the spur being known as the Coeur d'Alene moun-
tains. ( Ifficers of Kootenai county attempted to ex-
ercise authority over this mining region by collect-
ing licences and levying other taxes. Shoshone county
officers protested and forbade this exercise of juris-
diction. In order to settle the matter Kootenai count)
authorities brought suit against the officers of Sho-
shone county, seeking to enjoin them from the ex-
ercise of authority over the district, and requiring them
to appear for trial at Rathdrum, the county seat. The
title of the case was William Martin vs. L. A. Dun-
well. These gentlemen were respectively, sheriffs
of Kootenai and Shoshone counties, and the case was
in reality a civil contest between these two political
divisions of the territorv of Idaho. While the real
object of the suit was the settlement of the boundary
questions, it was brought by Martin vs. Dunwell for
the recovery of moneys collected by the Shoshone
county sheriff, for taxes and licenses in the gold field
in and around Pritchard creek. Attorneys Claggett,
Williams, and Musgrove appeared for the plaintiff;
attorneys Elder, Allen, and Moody for the defendant.
Eleven days were consumed in the trial and the costs
fell heavily on the new county of Kootenai. The
plaintiff brought witnesses from Montana and other
distant points ; old histories, old and new maps, legis-
lative acts and other similar publications were intro-
duced as evidence by both sides. The old reports of
Captain John Mullan, of Mullan Road fame, were
read, discussed and offered in evidence. The trial
creaed a great deal of interest and was attended daily
by large crowds. Shoshone county gained the vic-
tory, and, as later developments have proven, untold
wealth from the mountains of precious minerals in the
disputed territory.
During the period of which we write there was an
increasing demand for traveling and shipping facil-
ities on the navigable rivers and lakes of the county.
In reaching the mining regions from Coeur d'Alene,
via the lake, there were but two available steamers
for transporting passengers and supplies ; both were
small and one of them had been built by the govern-
ment for the use of the garrison at Fort Coeur d'Alene.
There was a great deal of travel also, to and from the
British Columbia mining regions and there was need
of transportation facilities in that direction. Several
steamers were built, among them one by C.-B. King,
to ply on the lake between Coeur d'Alene and Old Mis-
sion on the Coeur d'Alene river, carrying prospectors
and outfits. The first steamer taken to the Kootenai
river was built by Baillic Groham. of the Kootenai re-
clamation scheme. It was a small boat, twenty-five
feet long and six foot beam and was shipped to Koot-
enai station on the Northern Pacific railroad, from
whence it was dragged over the trail to Bonner's Fer-
ry. It was christened the "Midge" but came to be
known as the "Mud Hen." Another steamer was
taken to Bonner's Ferry over the same route a few
months later by Lundy anil Wright. It was somewhat
larger than the Mud Hen and was called the "Ozier."
Both boats were put in service on the Kootenai river.
between Bonner's Ferry and the Wild Horse mining
region.
At the first regular election in 1882, party lines
were not drawn : in 1884, however, politics entered
into the campaign and both Republicans and Demo-
crats held a convention and placed tickets in the field.
We were unable to secure official record of elections
prior to 1892 and can therefore give only general re-
sults in the earlier campaigns. Candidates for com-
missioners were: R. J. Weeks, J. H. Masterson, John
Russell, Henry PI. Newhall, George B. Wonnacott,
Tony Tubbs, Thomas Ford, Alex Powers, George
Ellis, O. F. Canfield, J. T. Mulkins, J. R. Masterson,
and John Fernan. Of these candidates John Russell
was elected from the Northern district, George B.
Wonnacott from the central district, and Henry H.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
769
Newhall from the southern district. Candidates for
probate judge were Louis Lee, Democrat, and Henry
Melder, Republican. Mr. Melder was elected. For
sheriff, William Martin was re-elected. Candidates
for district attorney were Mark W. Musgrove of
Rathdrum and Isaac S. Daly of Coeur d'Alene. Mr.
Musgrove won at the polls. W. C. Jackson, Repub-
lican, and Henry Reiniger, Democrat, were opposing
candidates for the office of county treasurer. Mr.
Jackson was chosen. John Fenian, Republican, and
W. J. McClure, Democrat, both of Coeur d'Alene,
contested for the assessorship and Mr. McClure se-
cured the office. S. W. Moody represented Nez Per-
ces, Shoshone and Kootenai counties in the senate and
William King was elected to the house from Shoshone
and Kootenai.
The year 1885 was signalized by a contest on the
county seat question. The creative act of 1864 named
Seneaquoteen as the county seat. The amendment of
1867 vested in the commissioners the power to locate
the seat of government. As has been previously
stated the first meetings for the purpose of county
organization, were held in 1881 at the store of George
B. Wonnacott, about two miles below Fort Coeur
dAlene. This place of meeting was selected as a
matter of convenience and because Mr. Wonnacott
was prominent in the work of organization and was
one of the commissioners appointed by Gov. John B.
Neil. The organization was completed and the officers
appointed in July, 1881. In August of the same year
Mr. Wonnacott moved his store to Rathdrum and
thereafter the business of the county was conducted
at this point. There is no record of any special action
on the part of the commissioners designating Rath-
drum as the county seat, but M. D. Wright, one of
the first county officers, is authority for the statement,
that upon the removal of the Wonnacott store to Rath-
drum in August. 1881, the commissioners agreed
among themselves that this should be the seat of
government. Judge Norman Buck, who tried the
Kootenai-Shoshone boundary case in 1884, states that
the defendant was cited to appear for trial at "Rath-
drum, the county seat of Kootenai county." Had
there been no special action on the question by the
first commissioners, this recognition of Rathdrum as
the county seat by the county authorities in 1884
would seem to have settled the matter. In 1885, how-
ever, a determined effort was made to remove the
county capital to Coeur d'Alene, the commissioners
claiming the right to do so on the ground that they
had never acted on the question as they were em-
powered to do by the legislative amendment of 1867.
H. H. Newhall was at this time commissioner from
the southern part of the county, George B. Wonna-
cott from the central portion, and John Russell from
the northern portion. Newhall and Wonnacott fa-
vored the removal and Russell opposed it. There was
a division of sentiment and opinion among the county
officials and a great deal of feeling between the op-
posing factions both within and without official cir-
cles. The citizens of Rathdrum and of the towns to
the north, rallied to the support of Mr. Russell in his
efforts to prevent the change to Coeur d'Alene, and for
about three months the county records were guarded
by citizens of Rathdrum in anticipation of forced re-
moval. No overt acts were committed, however, bit-
ter feelings engendered in the beginning of the strug-
gle gradually subsided, the guards were removed, ar-
fairs resumed their former peaceful condition, and the
fight, if it may be so termed, came to an end. Rath-
drum has since remained the recognized legal seat of
government.
In agricultural regions a special degree of pros-
perity was not enjoyed in the year 1885, crops were
below the average yield and prevailing prices were
low. But as yet there were not many improved farms
in Kootenai county ; a few were profitably en-
gaged in stock raising, but the majority of the in-
habitants outside the settlements were employed in
the tie, post and pole industry ; the Coeur d'Alene
miners were paying rich tribute to Rathdrum and the
town of Coeur dAlene, and the people all over the
county were fairly prosperous. The total valuation
of property in 1885 was $475,465.68. on which was
collected a territorial tax of $1,189.06, a county tax
of $7,132.06 and a school tax of $1,901.82. Of the
total amount collected, $10,222.94, Assessor McClure
received as his remuneration for the work of assess-
ment and collection, seven per cent, or $715.60. Dur-
ing this year two new steamers were placed in com-
mission on the lakes, a toll wagon road was con-
structed between the towns of Kootenai and Bon-
ner's Ferry by Dr. Hendryx, and in the fall of the year
after the final settlement of the county seat question, a
court house was erected at Rathdrum, costing $3,500.
A United States land office was established at
Coeur d'Alene in 1885 but was not in full operation
until the year following. The first land entry, how-
ever, was dated December 1, 1885. It was made by
Valentine W. Sander, who preempted lots 3 and 4,
section 24, township 50 north, range 4 west of Boise
meridian. The second was a homestead entry made
by Thadius K. Hireen December 21, 1885, on the
southeast quarter of sec. 12, same township and range
as the preemption. These lands adjoin the present
town of Coeur d'Alene. James F. Legate was the
first register and R. £. McFarland the first receiver of
the land office. Mr. Legate resigned and W. I. Mc-
Clure was appointed in his stead. In 1886. three
thousand nine hundred and thirty acres of land were
disposed of and the total receipts of the office were
$3,241.27. Last year, 1902, entries were made on
t 24.468 acres and the receipts for the year reached
$138,641.60. The total amount of land appro-
priated to the close of the year 1902 was 1.177,534
acres and the total receipts were $523,971.64.
In 1886 the question of annexation to Washing-
ton agitated the citizens of Kootenai county in com-
mon with the citizens of all northern Idaho. It is not
our purpose to give the details of this campaign here,
as its full history has been written in another chapter
of this volume. To show the sentiments of the peo-
ple, however, we reproduce below a resolution passed
at a meeting held at the court house in Rathdrmn,
770
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
March 19. Pursuant to a call, the citizens without
party distinction, met to consider the question. Hon.
O. A. Dodge was chosen chairman and M. W. Mus-
grove secretary. After a full and fair discussion.
Judge Henry Melder presented the following reso-
lution, which was adopted: "Resolved, that we, the
citizens of Kootenai county, Idaho territory, assembled
in Rathdrum, our county seat, express it as the senti-
ment of our substantial citizens, that it is of the utmost
importance to the prosperity of north Idaho, that it
be annexed to Washington."
The year 1886 witnessed the building of the Coeur
dAlene branch of the Northern Pacific railroad from
Hanser Junction to the foot of the lake. The imme-
diate effect of the completion of this branch was to
divert from Rathdrum much of the support it had pre-
viously received from the mining camps in the Coeur
dAlene Mountains, and to add very materially to the
importance of Coeur dAlene as a supply point. It
gave an impetus to the tie and pole industry, thereby
adding in a general way to the prosperity of the peo-
ple, besides making the mining regions much more
accessible and supplying needed shipping facilities
for both the mining and the lumber industries in the
lake region.
The question of annexation entered into the elec-
tion of 1886. There was such unanimity of senti-
ment on the subject, however, in all factions, that it
may hardly be said to have been an issue in the cam-
paign. J. M. Manning was elected prosecuting at-
torney. Henry Melder, Republican, was elected pro-
bate judge, his opponent being Isaac S. Daly, Demo-
crat. William Martin and Thomas Hunter were op-
posing candidates for sheriff and Mr. Martin was suc-
cessful in the race. Robert S. Bragaw defeated Fred
Bradbury as a candidate for the office of county au-
ditor. W. C. Jackson, Republican, and H. Reimger,
Democrat, made the race as candidates for treasurer,
Mr. Jackson being successful. John Russell, John
Fernan and Louis Lee were elected commissioners.
Charles Lohr was elected assessor. Alexander E.
Mayhew was sent to the state senate from Kootenai
and Shoshone and John M. Burke was sent to the
house of representatives.
The winter of 1886-1887 was a severe one on
stock ; more snow than usual fell in the mountains and
the temperature during the winter was below the aver-
age. But as the hay crop of the previous summer had
been especially large, stock men suffered but few
losses. Promising mineral prospects were discovered
about the head of the Lake Pend Oreille and in the
region of Granite Creek causing a rush of people into
the country, and a consequent season of business acti-
vity in all the towns. Between one and two thousand
prospectors are said to have spent the summer in the
region of Pend Oreille lake, Heyden lake and Gran-
ite creek. With a population less than 3,000, Koot-
enai was still most sparsely settled county in the
state. It had an assessment roll however of $966,000,
due chiefly to the railroads, and in this respect com-
pared favorably with other counties. Good schools
were being taught in all the settlements and there was
one weekly newspaper published, the Kootenai Cour-
ier, by Mark W. Musgrove, at Rathdrum.
An event of the year 1887 was a serious accident
which occured April 4th above Old Mission on the
Coeur dAlene river. A small boat that had pre-
viously been used as an excursion steamer on Pend
Oreille lake, had been purchased by Nelson Martin,
brought to Coeur dAlene and fitted up for passenger
and freight business between Coeur dAlene and Old
Mission,, and during high water it made Kingston about
twelve miles above Old Mission. Mr. Martin had named
the boat the "Spokane." On the occasion of which we
write the Spokane was on the down trip from Kingston.
Some distance above Old Mission the steamer struck
a pile of drift wood banked against a small island,
swung out of her course, across the current, and cap-
sized, throwing passengers and crew into the water.
There were twenty passengers aboard when the acci-
dent happened, some of whom reached the banks of
the river in safety, while others were drowned.
Among the drowned were Col. N. J. Higgins of Ban-
gor, Me., and J. C. Hanna, former city clerk, and a
business man of Spokane. The accident created a
great deal of excitement at the time owing to the prom-
inence of those who were drowned and of other pas-
sengers who escaped. Captain Martin and the engi-
neer, George Ellis, were arrested but were never
brought to trial.
Party lines were more discernable than heretofore,
in the campaign of 1888, the tariff question being the
chief issue. Official reports of this election were not
obtainable, hence we are unable to give details. A
number of the incumbent officials were continued in
office, among them Robert S. Bragaw as auditor, Hen-
ry Melder as probate judge and William Martin as
Sheriff. A. E. Mayhew and J. R. Sanburn were sent
as representatives to the territorial legislature. As an
incident of this campaign the encounter between Mor-
ris Green and M. W. Musgrove will doubtless be re-
membered by many. Mr. Musgrove had published
some campaign yarns about one of the Republican can-
didates whose defeat he desired, and was taken to task
for it by Mr. Green. Words were soon followed by
blows and Mr. Green was proving the better of the
two in the fistic encounter when Mr. Musgrove sud-
denly drew a revolver and fired point blank at his an-
tagonist, whose face was only about four feet away.
The ball knocked out half a dozen teeth and lodged in
the muscles of his neck. Mr. Green pulled out the
loose teeth and cooly hurled them in Musgrove's face.
This ended the fight.
CHAPTER III.
AS A POLITICAL DIVISION OF THE STATE.
The honors of statehood conferred upon the terri-
tory added dignity and responsibility to the county or-
ganization, and became an inspiration as well to the
private citizen. All classes were prosperous in 1890;
good crops and good prices prevailed ; the mines in the
Pend Oreille region yielded well in gold, silver and
lead, and gave promise of better returns when more
fully developed ; $5,000 were appropriated by congress
for the improvement of the Kootenai river from Bon-
ner's ferry to the International boundary ; the north half
of the Coeur d'Alene Indian reservation was thrown
open to settlement ; the O. R. & N. railroad was built
across the county ; immigration of home-seekers in-
creased rapidly, and all circumstances conspired to-
gether for the general welfare and advancement of the
people. The census of this year showed a population
of 4,108. Kootnai county's representative in the work
of planning the state constitution was Judge Henry
Melder, of Rathdrum.
The Great Northern railroad was built in 1892
and the activity attending its construction counteracted
in a great measure the somewhat depressing effects
of the comparatively short crops of this and the pre-
vious year. The northern part of the county especially
felt the impetus given to the timber and mining in-
dustries. During the past three years fully $700,000
had been expended in the erection of saw-mills on the
lakes and rivers. About this time the lumber trade
began to assume immense proportions and capital
flowed into the county for investment from all the lum-
ber centers of the middle west. A struggle began be-
tween the large lumber companies of Minnesota and
Wisconsin for the possession of the vast timbered areas
of Kootenai county, one company alone securing title
to 60,000 acres in various parts of the county. The
year was fairly prosperous in all lines of business.
In the political campaign of 1892 the People's
party of Idaho made its first efforts to get into power,
and new issues were brought before the voters, such
as the loaning of money by the government direct to
the people at two per cent; the free and unlimited
coinage of silver ; the ownership by the government
of railroads, telephone and telegraph lines and other
well known declarations from the party's state plat-
form. The results of the November elections were as
follows : William J. Quirk, of Hope, Democratic
candidate for joint senator from the second district,
which then included Kootenai and Latah counties, re-
ceived 672 votes, a plurality of 40 votes over those
received by the Republican candidate, Fred L. Rur-
gan, of Harrison; Andrew J. Hopper received 647
votes for joint representative against 632 votes for
John Donahue, of Bonner's Ferry, the Democratic
nominee ; A. A. Crane, Republican ; Albert Hagan,
Democrat, and William Ferrell, Populist, were elected
representative over J. H. McPhearson, H. D. Barber
and Arthur B. Bains ; John J. Costello, of Coeur
d'Alene, Democrat, received 838 votes for sheriff,
against William Martin, who received 755 votes, and
Hiram B. Savage, of Hope, who received 14 votes;
James W. Kennedy, Democrat, of Post Falls, was
elected senator. The vote for probate judge was:
A. K. White, 672; John E. White, 572; Henry Mel-
der, 205 ; candidates for assessor were William Ryan,
of Rathdrum; William A. Reiniger, of Coeur d'Alene;
Silas M. Johnson and A. M. Newson. Ryan received
731 votes, Reiniger 613, Johnson 191, and Newson
13, Mr. Ryan's plurality being 118. For treasurer,
Frank O. Hill, Republican, of Rathdrum, received
779 votes ; Fred H. Bradbury, Democrat, of Rath-
drum, 528; Louis Chambard. Populist, of Rathdrum,
189, and Thornton Wheatly, Prohibitionist, of Post
Falls, 17 votes. Mr. Hill's plurality was 251. The
vote on county surveyor stood: William Ashley, Re-
publican, 812 votes; A. D. Robinson, Democrat, 653
votes. Dr. John Sabins, Republican, of Coeur d'Alene,
was elected coroner by a plurality of 136, his oppon-
ents being T. Martin and James H. Masterson. County
commissioners elected at this time were : J. P. Ouarles,
first district; Charles W. Clark, second district, and
Wilburt J. Pilling, third district. By a vote of 66
for and 678 against, the propositon to incur an in-
debtedness of $45,600 to construct a steel bridge over
the Kootenai river at Bonner's Ferry was defeated.
The year 1893 will long be remembered as a season
of great' financial distress. While this period of de-
pression covered in a gradually decreasing degree the
two or three years following, the shock and the great-
est suffering 'were experienced during the latter half
of 1893. Spokane was the banking point for all Koot-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
enai county towns and the failure of the Spokane
banks paralyzed every industry in the county. Every
communiry, every town, almost every family and every
individual' was brought face to face with ruinous con-
ditions. Details of failures in public and private en-
terprises, of the privations endured in the homes, of the
trouble caused by the inability of the debtor to satisfy
the demands of the creditor, would cover much more
space than we have at our disposal. We will give
a single illustration of the changed conditions brought
about by the financial panic. In the fall of 1892 a
citizen of Kootenai county purchased a team of horses
and a light wagon for $300. He paid in cash $50,
and for the remaining $250 gave an interest-bearing
note, due November 1, 1893, and secured by mortgage
on other horses and carriages. When the note came
due his creditor demanded settlement. The debtor
could raise but $25 in cash, although hundreds of dol-
lars were owing him on account by customers. In or-
der to make settlement, owing to the depreciation in
values, he handed over to his creditor $25 in cash,
returned the team for which he had given the note,
and in addition surrendered another team, harness
and carriage.
The year 1894 is "high water year" in the history
of Kootenai county. Nearly all the towns along the
streams and about the lakes were flooded and a great
deal of damage was done in the river valleys. Bon-
ner's Ferry perhaps experienced more trouble than any
of the other towns, the people being driven from their
homes into the surrounding hills for safety. The Great
Northern railroad tracks were several feet under water
at this point and for a time all traffic was stopped.
The post grounds at Fort Sherman were flooded, the
water covering the lower floors of all the buildings, the
use of row boats being necessary for some time by
officers and men in getting about over the grounds.
Very heavy snows fell in the mountain regions during
the winter of 1893-94, and the following spring being
unusually late and cold the snows remained banked
up in the mountains until early summer, when the
sudden change to warm weather precipitated vast quan-
tities of water into the streams, whose banks were soon
overflowed. Lake Pend Oreille rose 22 feet and
Lake Coeur d'Alene was proportionately high. The
outlets of these lakes are comparatively small, when
we consider the numerous tributaries, and their ca-
pacity is not great enough to carry off the water as
rapidlv as it flows in when the mountain snows melt
quickly. The floods of 1894 resulted from a combina-
tion of these conditons, which very rarely occurs. Sim-
ilar conditions produced the overflow at Bonner's
Ferry, the banks of the Kootenai river being low and
the greater portion of the town being but little above
the level of the banks.
In the political campaign of 1894 about the same
issues were before the people as in the campaign of
1892. The Populists showed more strength than in
the former election, while the Democrats lost ground.
This is accounted for by the fact that a great deal of
the Populists strength was absorbed from the Demo-
cratic party. In the year 1894 Kootenai was the
banner Republican county of the state, giving the
state, legislative and county candidates a good plurality
over Democrats and Populists. The following are the
official returns of the election :
For district attorney, first judicial district, in-
cluding Kootenai and Shoshone counties, Charles W.
Beal, Republican, of Wallace, received 657 votes;
Robt. E. McFarland, Democrat, of Coeur d'Alene,
429; Walter A. Jones, Populist, of Wallace, 363;
joint senator, second senatorial district, including
Kootenai and Latah counties, Robert S. Browne, Re-
publican, of Moscow, received 715 votes, and Thomas
F. Nelson, Democrat, 491 ; joint representative, Sam-
uel E. Henry, Republican, of Bonner's Ferry, received
627 ; William Van Gasker, Democrat, of the same
place, 358, and Sylvania R. Catlow, Populist, of
Clark's Fork, 398 ; county representative, A. A. Crane,
Harrison, Republican, 604; John M. Burke, Coeur
d'Alene, Democrat, 479 ; Charles D. Rowell, Bonner's
Ferry, Populist, 349. Clerk of district court : Robert
S. Bragaw, Rathdrum, Republican, 617; William J.
Quirk, Hope, Democrat, 526 ; Thomas Hydomn, Rath-
drum, Populist, 335 ; sheriff, William Ryan, Rath-
drum, Republican. 673 ; G. W. Brockhagen, Hope,
Democrat, 5 ; John F. Stark, Rathdrum, Populist,
264; William Martin, Rathdrum, Independent, 554.
Assessor: J. P. Ouarles, Lane, Republican, 707; John
J. Costello, Coeur d'Alene, Democrat, 461 ; Louis
Chambard, Rathdrum, Populist, 305. Probate judge:
Henry Melder, Rathdrum, Republican, 629; P. E.
Cusick, Sandpoint, Democrat, 290; James E. Matlie-
son, Post Falls, Prohibitionist, 286; A. K. White,
Clarkia, Populist, 242. Treasurer: Frank O. Hill,
Republican, Rathdrum, 806; L. T. Dittemore, Rath-
drum, Democrat, 413, and as an endorsement on the
Populist ticket, 201. Surveyor, William Ashley, Jr.,
Rathdrum, Republican, 599; William Ashley, Sr.,
Rathdrum, Populist, 442 ; Charles D. Schroeder, Dem-
ocrat, 340. Coroner : John Sabin, Coeur d'Alene, Re-
publican, 658; M. T Loop, Hope, Democrat, 310;
LT. G. Campbell, Bonner's Ferry, Populist, 394. The
commissioners elected were: From the first district,
N. Palmeter; second district, Otis F. Warren; third
district, J. A. Ball, all Republicans.
The assessed valuation of property in 1895 was
$2,232,039.89. Of this amount $1,441,229.64 repre-
sented the value of railroad property for purposes of
taxation. Besides the amount necessary for county
expenses Kootenai was required to raise $17,788.30
for state purposes and was also assessed $700 as its
share of the Idaho Immigration Association fund.
This was a year of short crops, -and as low prices still
prevailed there was but little if any relief from the
depressing conditions of the two previous years. The
county indebtedness at this time was $47,629. A
special election was held August 27, 1895, at which
time 419 votes were cast for and 155 against the
proposition to issue bonds to redeem this outstanding
obligation. The bonds, bearing six per cent interest,
were accordinglv issued, and were sold to Thiers and
Mai-mll, of Spokane, at a premium of $21.
In May of this year, an addition was built to the
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
court house, containing office rooms for assessor, pro-
bate judge, surveyor, and grand jury, the work being
done by Messrs. Smith, Conners and Curry, of Coeur
d*Alene.
Populism reached the crest of the wave in 1896.
In Kootenai county the part}- elected treasurer, assess-
or and representatives to the state legislature. As
free silver was the "long cry" in this campaign, making
many converts from the ranks of the Republican party,
and as there was a certain degree of harmony be-
tween the Democratic and populist platforms, many-
Populists voting with the Democrats, there were re-
sultant gains in Democratic votes. The latter elected
state senator, sheriff, probate judge, and one com-
missioner, leaving for the Republicans the election of
coroner, surveyor and two commissioners.
The following are the official figures : William
E. Borah,' Democratic candidate for 55th congress,
received in Kootenai 794 votes, a plurality of 204
over the candidates of the other parties ; Frank Stun-
enberg, Democratic candidate for governor, received
1356 votes, a majority of 1037 over Budlong and Fow-
ler, candidates of the Republican and Populist parties,
respectively; state senator, William Ryan, Republican,
Rathdrum, 199; S. R. Catlow, Populist, Clark's Fork,
557; S. P. Donnelly, Lakeview, Democrat, 880, ma-
jority, 124; J. I. Barnes, Bonner's Ferry; W. A. Hart,
Rathdrum ; Charles D. Warner, Coeur d'Alene, were
Republican candidates for state representatives;
Barnes's vote was 171, Hart's 181, Warner's 170;
Democratic nominees were H. C. Tait, Coeur d'Alene ;
John F. Stark, Rathdrum; Fred H. Bradbury, Rath-
drum; they received, respectively, 556, 560 and 726
votes ; Populist nominees were N. G. Sisson, Hope,
George R. Gray, Bonner's Ferry, James A. Keat,
Harrison; Sisson received 931, Gray 921, and Keat
782 votes ; sheriff, J. H. Harris, Coeur d'Alene, Re-
publican, 389; George H. Pease, Hope, Democrat,
667 ; J. P. Quarles, Lane, Populist, 661 ; treasurer,
James E. Russell, Coeur d'Alene, Republican, 217;
Thornton Wheatley, Post Falls, Democrat, 637 ; Frank
O. Hill, Rathdrum, Populist, 788; probate judge,
Henry Melder, Rathdrum, Republican, 372; Edwin
McBee, Rathdrum, Democrat, 694; A. K. White,
Clarkia, Populist, 592 ; assessor, Otis F. Warren, Post
Falls, Republican, 328 ; Louis Chambard, Rathdrum,
Populist, 611, John C. Callahan, Bonner's Ferry,
Democrat, 700 ; coroner, John Sabin, Coeur d'Alene,
Republican, 897; E. L. Dennison, Populist, 707; sur-
veyor, William Ashley, Jr., Rathdrum, Republican,
868 : B. H. Williams, Coeur d'Alene, Democrat, 555 ;
A. D. Robinson, Rathdrum, Populist, 201. Commis-
sioners elected were Thomas Smith, Republican, first
district : William H. Cable, Republican, second dis-
trict ; W. B. Dishman, Democrat, third district. A
vote was taken at this election on the following amend-
ments to the state constitution : Shall sec. 2, article VI,
be so amended as to extend to women the equal right
of suffrage ; 633 votes were cast for and 383 against
the amendment. Shall sec. 18, article Y, be amended
so as to abolish the office of district attorney and
create the office of county attorney ; for, 827 ; against.
175. Shall sec. 6, article XVIII, be so amended as
to separate the offices of probate judge and county
superintendent of public instruction ; for, 759 ; against,
213-
February 27th, 1897, President Cleveland issued
a proclamation creating the Priest River forest reserve.
This reserve occupies the northwest portion of the
county and spreads over the state line a few miles into
Washington. It is fifty-five miles long, with an aver-
age width of about twenty miles. It contains 650,-
000 acres, of which, according to government sur-
veys, 10,000 acres are agricultural lands. Prior to the
creation of the reserve about sixty settlers had taken
up homesteads, which are located mostly in the valley
of Priest river. The tying up of this immense area
has proven disastrous to these settlers, who are isolated,
with no prospects of the development of the surround-
ing country and with no opportunities for bettering
their conditons. Progress lias been retarded in the
towns along the north of Pend Oreille lake and river
and in many other respects the creation of the reserve
has been a detriment to the county. The railroads
owned large tract:, of timber land within the reserve,
on which they have paid taxes into the county treasury.
A few years ago the roads accepted script from the
government in lieu of the land and this source of rev-
enue was cut off, necessitating a higher rate of taxa-
tion over the county. From the government's point of
view its action will eventually enhance timber and
agricultural land values in adjacent tracts which are
just beginning the process of development, as water
sources will escape exhaustion and valuable timber re-
sources will be preserved until there is greater need
for the timber than at present. Government surveyors
estimate that only fifteen per cent of the lands of the
reserve is fit for agricultural use even after the timber
is removed. Several efforts have been made to secure
its return to the public domain for purposes of settle-
ment, but thus far these have proven fruitless of satis-
factory results.
The year 1898, an eventful one in the history of
the nation, was also an eventful year in the history
of Kootenai county, inasmuch as the manifested spirit
of loyalty to the government and sympathy for the
Cubans in their struggle against Spanish tyranny, led
many of its citizens to offer their services, and if need
be, their lives, for the liberation of Cuba and for the
punishment of despotic Spain. When the declaration
of war was made and there came a call for troops, in
no portion of the country was there displayed greater
eagerness on the part of the >onng men to enroll them-
selves under the old flag, than in Kootenai county. Nor
was this impatience confined exclusively to the young
men; veterans of the Civil war, both Union and Con-
federate, came forward and expressed their willing-
ness to re-enter the service. The splendid record of
Company B, Idaho Volunteers, made in the Philip-
pines, is well known, and received prominent recogni-
tion bv the state legislature and governor of Idaho and
by the war department at Washington. The company
took part in seven engagements, including those at
Santa Ana, Coolacan and Manila, in none of which
774
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
were they defeated. Of those who went out from Koot-
enai county, Frank Caldwell, of Harrison, and James
Frazer, of Standpoint, were killed ; Frank A. McCall
and Richard B. Jones, of Rathdrum, were wounded.
Air. McCall resigned his position as teacher in the Rath-
drum public schools at the beginning of the war and
enlisted as a private. After the battle of Santa Ana,
February 5, 1899, in which he was wounded, he was
commissioned a lieutenant by Governor Stunenberg.
On his return from Manila he organized Company E,
I. N. G., of which he is now the captain. Political hon-
ors have since fallen to Mr. McCall, and he is at the
present time the probate judge of Kootenai county.
The Kootenai county volunteers of Company B,
numbering fifty-one, left Rathdrum May 12, 1898,
amid "rousing cheers, broken with tears" of friends
and loved ones, the citizens both of Coeur d'Alene and
Rathdrum turning out en masse to bid the young
patriots a sorrowful good-bye and a hearty Godspeed.
They sailed from San Francisco June 27, 1898, on
the transport Morgan City. Many of the volunteers
failed from numerous causes to get into the service and
returned home, but all were fearless, earnest and patri-
otic in their enlistment, and as a roll of honor we
record their names on these pages. Twenty-one of
the number were from Coeur dAlene and vicinity,
several were from Rathdrum, and the remainder came
from various towns over the county. The following is
a complete list : John Wilson, John Frederick, Frank
A. McCall, Robert L. Baldwin, Horace J. Carroll,
William Ritzheimer, Christian Brown, Charles H.
Blakeslee, Herbert M. Caswell, John O. Derr, Horace
D. Vanalstine, Alfred E. Ritter, Walter W. Rhoades,
Frank B. Flora, Stanton P. Jellum, Donald O. Merritt,
Guv Simpson, John F. O'Donnell, George H. Nash,
Frank R. Caldwell, Fred D. Farr, Bert Weeks, Morris
J. Cooney, Guy Overstreet, L. A. Powless, Joseph
Meen, Theodore Link, James Weston, Caleb P. Hann,
Charles W. Alkire, Joseph Stroble, William F. O'Har-
ra, William H. Frederick, William E. Merriam, Frank
C. Duncan, William A. Bennett, Richard B. Jones,
William Hall, Chippear Wilcot, Martin Starling, Her-
man Wilde, J. Robert Ross, Frank Cerveny, Charles
Lebrook, Fred B. McKee, Thomas Martin, H. B. Ford,
Fred W. Soule, J. R. Gross, William Becknell, T. J.
Dendurent,; Samuel Gray, James Frazer. James
Graham, of Coeur d'Alene, went into the service later
and eventually bcame captain of the company.
The returning heroes reached Coeur dAlene via
the O. R. and N. railroad, Harrison, and the lake,
October 2, 1899, and were given a royal reception.
From the columns of the Rathdrum Silver Blade we
quote an account of the great ovation : 'Almost every
section of our county was represented at the grand
demonstration at Coeur dAlene on last Monday in
honor of the volunteers from Kootenai, who returned
on that day from more than a year's campaign in the
Philippine Islands. It was the most beautiful and
eventful chapter in the annals of our county's history,
and will be remembered long after other events are
forgotten. The special train bearing the Kootenai and
Shoshone volunteers arrived at Harrison at 7 130
o'clock Monday morning. Here they were met by
members of the reception committee from the various
towns. They were breakfasted before being taken on
board the barge which was to convey them to Coeur
d'Alene. The journey from Harrison was a pleasant
one. About midway on the lake the steamer Schley,
bearing friends and relatives of the boys, met the barge,
which was being towed by the steamer Elk. The sec-
ond steamer was attached and the trip to Coeur dAlene
was enlivened by the State Line band, which rendered
several selections on the way. The boys were met at
the lake shore by Noble's Dramatic band and Company
E, Idaho National Guards, in command of Lieutenant
Quarles, Captain McCall having been sent to Harrison
as a member of the reception committee.
From the balcony of the Coeur d'Alene Inn C. L.
Heitman delivered the address of welcome. It met with
a hearty response from the vast audience assembled
in front of the hotel. The response to the address
of welcome was made by Captain James Graham, who
spoke with his usual eloquence. At the conclusion of
the response the doors of the pavilion were opened
and the volunteers given seats of honor at the tables
prepared for them. The banquet was the towering
success of the whole occasion. The tables were beau-
tifully spread and the whole affair was one of which
the ladies in charge were justly proud. It is esti-
mated that one thousand people dined in the pavilion
during the afternoon. In the evening the opera house
was jammed to the doors with citizens and soldiers
who assembled to enjoy the exercises. They consisted
of short speeches by J. M. Heaton, of Harrison ; John
B. Goode, of Coeur d'Alene; James A. Keat, of Har-
rison; Lieutenant Heintzleman, of Ft. Sherman, and
Wm. Piplin, one of the returning volunteers. The
speaking was interspersed with a piano solo by Miss
Florence Wright, a clarinet solo by Geo. Donovan,
basso solo by Mr. Renshaw, a solo by Miss Mamie
Bump, and a cornet solo by Mr. Kelser."
In April, 1898, James Meany and William Allen
were convicted in the district court at Rathdrum of
murdering Mike Kidder at a logging camp near Sand-
point. At a recent session of the state legislature a
law had been passed making it the duty of the warden
of the penitentiary, or a guard by him appointed, to
convey all convicted prisoners to Boise. This law was
not satisfactory to Idaho sheriffs, who had counted as
a part of their perquisites the mileage, fees an dex-
pense allowance in taking prisoners to the penitentiary.
Sheriff Pease had already made one effort to have
this law annulled. Two brothers named Valk had been
sentenced to thirty years each in the state penitentiary.
The sheriff notified the warden at Boise, but when he
arrived for the prisoners, Pease refused to turn them
over to him. He then took them to Boise at his own
expense and endeavored to collect from the state, but
his attorney informed him that he had no grounds for
action. Stung by defeat, Sheriff Pease resolved to
put the state to all the expense and trouble possible
in the application of the law referred to. When Meany
and Allen were convicted and Warden Van Dorn came
from Boise for them, Pease employed attorneys J.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
775
L. Crotty and F. C. Robertson of Spokane to institute
habeas corpus proceedings against Van Dorn when he
reached Spokane with the convicts. This was done
and the prisoners were lodged in the Spokane jail
pending trial. Judge Richardson of the Superior
Court of Spokane county refused the writ of habeas
corpus, but also refused to return the prisoners to
Warden Van Dorn, and held them in the Spokane jail
pending an appeal to the Supreme Court of Wash-
ington. In the Supreme Court, Crotty and Robert-
son appeared for the prisoners and Foster and Wake-
field for the Idaho authorities. The case involved the
right of Idaho officials to pass into other states in con-
veying prisoners to the penitentiary at Boise. On the
grounds of public policy and comity between states,
the court sustained that right, and, after spending a
year in the Spokane jail, the convicts were returned
to Warden Van Dorn, who took them to the peniten-
tiary, where they are now serving their terms.
The total assessment of Kootenai county in 1898
was $904,818. It was a fairly prosperous year in all
lines of business. The effects of the financial troubles
of former years were entirely effaced and new capital
was seeking investment in timber lands and in saw-
mills. Efforts to enforce the Idaho alien labor law
caused some trouble along the lines of railroads where
Chinese and Japanese were employed as laborers ; no
serious encounters occurred however, and the endeav-
ors to drive out the foreigners proved futile. During the
summer of this year a bridge was constructed over the
Spokane river about one-fourth of a mile below the
lake. Oliver Bros., of Spokane, were the builders.
The cost of construction was $2,475, °f which the
county provided $1,000, the balance being raised by
subscription.
In the political campaign of 1898 three parties were
in the field : Republican, Fusionist and Prohibitionist.
The Silver Republicans, Democrats and Populists held
separate conventions, but all nominated the same can-
didates fo.r the various offices and placed them before
the people on what was known as the Fusionist ticket.
On this ticket were eight Democrats, four Silver Re-
publicans and four Populists, all of whom were elected.
The Prohibition party placed candidates in the field
for the more important offices and endorsed the Re-
publican candidates for the others. The Silver Re-
publicans, Democrats and Populists all declared for
free silver, making this the paramount issue, but on
Cuban War questions and the tariff they made declara-
tions along old party lines. The Republican party
reaffirmed its faith in the gold standard as the founda-
tion of the national currency, favored a protective
tariff and the retention of territory wrested from Spain.
A vigorous campaign was made by all parties with
results as previously given. We record the official
figures as follows :
For state senator: Otis F. Warren, Post Falls,
Republican, 771 votes; William Ainslee, Bonner's
Ferry, Fusionist, 1069 votes; S. R. Catlow, Clark's
Fork, Prohibitionist, 2 votes ; Ainslee's majority, 296. .
Representatives : Steven Adams, Rathdrum, Republi-
can, 683 ; George W. Lovewell, Harrison, Republican,
685; Otto C. Smith, Hope, Republican, 684; Mrs.
Mary A. Wright, Rathdrum, Fusion, 1123; John C.
Glahe, Hope, Fusion, 1082; Edward McBee, Rath-
drum, Fusion, 1 143; T. G. Hodgson, Coeur d'Alene,
Prohibition, 100; A. M. Martin, Kootenai, Prohibi-
tion, 81 ; Thomas Anderson, St. Maries, Prohibition,
1. Auditor and clerk of court: O. E. Bar, St. Maries,
Republican, 816; John C. Callahan, Rathdrum, Fu-
sion, 1 172; Callahan's majority, 356. Sheriff: Will-
iam H. Cable, State Line, Republican, 737 ; Fred H.
Bradbury, Rathdrum, Fusion, 1172; E. N. lellum,
Coeur d'Alene, Prohibition, 100; Bradbury's majority,
335. Assessor : James E. Russell, Coeur d'Alene, Re-
publican, ju ; Joseph Buckle, Rathdrum, Fusion,
1 174; James H. Kennedy, Post Falls, Prohibition,
47; Buckle's majority, 390. Treasurer: Minnie A.
Rose, Rathdrum, Republican, 927 ; William J. Mc-
Clure, Rathdrum, Fusion, 1014; majority, 85. Pro-
bate judge, A. W. Post, Rathdrum. Republican, 823 ;
John C. Bradv, Rathdrum, Fusion, 1099; majority,
276. County attorney : Samuel E. Henry, Bonner's
Ferry, Republican, 651 ; John B. Goode, Coeur d'Alene,
Fusion, 1209; majority, 558. County superintendent
of public instruction: W. 11. Edelblute, Harrison, Re-
publican, 619; Daniel Van Duzer, Rathdrum, Fusion,
1172; Mrs. M. Matheson, Post Falls, Prohibition, 82;
Van Duzer's majority, 471. Surveyor: William Ash-
ley, Jr., Rathdrum, Republican, 923 ; Joseph C. White,
Clarkia, Fusion, 972; majority, 49. Coroner, Dr. T.
A. Bishop, Bonner's Ferry, Republican, 709: .Mark
T. Loop, Hope, Fusion, 1097 ; E. L. Dennison, State
Line, Prohibition, 67; Loop's majority, 321. Com-
missioners elected: Louis T. Dittemore, first dis-
trict; Aaron N. Tucker, second district; Nathan ( i.
Sisson third district, all Fusionists. Frank Stumen-
berg, Democratic candidate for governor, was given
972 votes in the county, a majority of five over all
other candidates. Edgar Wilson, Fusion candidate
for congress, received 992 votes, a majority of 26 over
all other candidates. The following amendments to the
State constitution were voted upon : Shall sec. 4.
Article 18, be so amended as to prescribe a property
qualification for division and creation of counties : for,
584 votes: against, 158 votes; shall Sec. 7, Art. 18,
be so amended as to provide for the compensation of
all county officials by annual salaries instead of fees,
and for the payment of actual necessary expenses of
such officers, instead of mileage; for, 74(1 votes;
against, 55 votes ; shall Sec. 9, Art. 18, be so amended
as to make it a felony for any county official, or dep-
uty, to neglect or refuse to pay into the county treas-
ury all fees in excess of his actual and necessary ex-
penses ; for, 773 votes ; against, 30 votes.
In the latter part of January, 1899, Sheriff Pease
disappeared from his accustomed haunts without ex-
planation to his deputies or friends and later events
and investigations proved that he had absconded with
several thousand dollars of the county's money. He
has never returned and his whereabouts is still a mat-
ter of conjecture only. In November. 1899, County
Attorney Goode filed an action in the district court
against George II. Pease as principal and W. A. Hart,
776
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Frank Wentz, P.. F. Butler and Henry Reiniger as
sureties on his official bond. The complaint alleged
that "George H. Pease while acting as sheriff of Koot-
enai county did collect and receive between the ist
day of January, 1898, and the 9th day of January,
1899, certain license taxes from divers persons engaged
in the sale of intoxicating liquors in Kootenai county,
state of Idaho, to the aggregate sum of $4,000. and did
receipt for the same as sheriff, and did fail and refuse,
and still fails and refuses to pay the same or any part
thereof to the treasurer of Kootenai county, or to the
auditor of Kootenai county, or to any one at all, as is
by law required, "but has converted the same to his own
use and has absconded from this county to parts un-
known."
The Kootenai Valley railroad was completed from
Bonner's Ferry across the International boundary at
Porthill in September, 1899, the distance being some-
thing less than twenty-six miles. Since 1893 Porthill
has been a port of import, chosen because of its loca-
tion on the trail leading to and from the Wild Horse
mining region in Britsh Columbia. Prior to this date
United States customs officers and immigrant inspec-
tors had been stationed at Bonner's Ferry, which was
also on the old trail and at the head of navigation on
the Kootenai river, up which large quantities of ore
and coal were shipped from the British possessions
into the United States. The effect of the building
of the Kootenai Valley railroad to Porthill and on to
Kuskonook, B. C, on the Kootenai lake, was to divert
the import trade from the Kootenai river through
Bonner's Ferry, to the K. V. railroad through Port-
hill. The road will eventually prove the principal
factor in the development of the Kootenai valley when
drainage systems shall have turned this vast swamp
into an arable area.
The fee system of paying the salaries of county
officers was abolished by legislative enactment in 1899.
The act provided for Kootenai county salaries as
follows: Sheriff, $2,000; assessor, $3,000; auditor.
$2,000; treasurer, $1,500; probate judge, $1,500;
school superintendent, $1,200; surveyor, $800: cor-
oner, $300; commissioners, each, $1,000. From the
assessor's returns for this year we learn that there
were in the county 40,924 acres of patented lands,
assessed for purpose of taxation at a valuation of
$553,353. The total valuation of real and personal
property, including railroad, telegraph and telephone
lines, was $3,168,665.26. The report showed a con-
siderable advance in the stock, and also in the lumber
industry.
In December, 1900, placer mines were discovered
in Camas Cove near St. Maries river, in the south-
east part of the county. The discoveries were made
by James and Henry Tyson and Henry Renfro. The
properties have come to be known as the Tyson mines.
a town so named having grown up about the site of the
original prospect grounds. The region is a promising
one and a great deal of capital is being invested there,
in development work and in the introduction of min-
ing machinery. Further details concerning the mines
will be found in the descriptive chapter of this work
and in the history of the town of Tyson.
In 1891 the total bonded indebtedness of Koot-
enai county was $56,513.31. This had increased by
the year 1899 to $166,623.57, owing to several issues
of bonds for public improvements, including road and
bridge building. In 1887 bonds to the amount of
$12,000 were issued, bearing seven per cent interest;
in 1889 $6,000 in eight per cent bonds were issued; in
1892 $80,000 in six per cent bonds were issued; in
1896 $49,000 in bonds were issued, bearing six per
cent interest. In 1899, while but one thousand dol-
lars of the principal became due, the county had to pay
$9,357.83 in interest and these payments in addition
to the usual amounts collected for current expenses,
constituted a heavy burden, that, but for the large
amounts paid into the treasury by the railroads, could
scarcely have been borne by the citizens. In 1900
railroad property in Kootenai count}- was valued for
taxation at $1,947,695.82, all other property at $1,486,-
238.36, showing the railroad interests to exceed in
value all other] interests combined, by $461,457.46.
That Kootenai county bonds are always at a premium
at a fair rate of interest is due largely to the mills or
railroads that are within its limits, adding as they do
so materially to real values.
As a record to which it will be interesting to turn
in future years when the county shall have become
fully developed and thickly populated, we give the
census report of 1900 by precincts, which is as fol-
lows: Harrison precinct, including the town, 1004.
Coeur d'Alene precinct, including the town, 931 ; Rath-
drum precinct, including the town, 985 ; Athol pre-
cinct, 274 ; Bellgrove, 193 : Bonner's Ferry precinct,
including the town, 594 ; Boulder, 52 ; Boundary, 222 ;
Carlin Bay, 98 ; Clark's Fork, 229 : Cocolalla. 179 :
Elk Mountain, 93; Granite, 230; Hauser Junction,
116; Hope, 316; Indian Creek, 66; Kootenai, 137;
Lake Creek, 70; Lakeview, 84; Markham, 75; Medi-
mont, 157: Mica Bay, 165 ; Mission 336: Naples, 156:
Xorthside, 65 ; Post Falls precinct, including the town,
396; Priest River, 284; Priest Lake, 54; Prairie, 128;
St. Joe, 70 ; St. Maries, 268 : Sandpoint, 507 ; Santa,
143: Seneaquoteen. 170; Spirit Valley, 180; State-
line, 148; Valley, 305 ; Wolf Lodge, 37; Coeur d'Alene
Indian reservation, including Indians and whites, ~~,2;
total, 10,269. Harrison was then the largest town in
the county, with a population of 702; Coeur dAlene
followed with 508. Rathdrum with 407, Bonner's
Ferry with 349, Post Falls with 287.
The political campaign of 1900 was fought on the
same issues, with but little variance, announced in the
platforms of 1898. There were several parties in the
field and four tickets, the Republican, Fusion, Middle
of the Road Populist and Prohibition, the Fusion ticket
being made up of representative Democrats, Silver
Republicans and Populists. The Prohibitionists and
Middle of the Road Populists polled an insignificant
vote. A few Silver Republicans returned to old party
affiliations this year, but there were not enough peni-
tents to enable the Republican party to overcome the
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
777
combined forces arrayed against them and they went
down under majorities ranging from in for county
attorney to 436 received by Dwyer, Fusion candidate
for representative. The election was held November
6, with results as follows : State senator, S. P. Don-
nelly, Fusion, 1799; William F. Whitaker, Republi-
can, 1389; Donnelly's majority, 410; representatives,
Kline Wanamaker, Carrie E. Lieberg and George C.
Thompson. Republicans, 1407. 1350 and 1417, re-
spectively ; J. T. Scott, J. C. White and P. J. Dwyer,
Fusionists, 1796, 1843, 1786, respectively; Fusion ma-
jorities, 389, 426 and 436: sheriff, Edwin Doust, Re-
publican, 1,481: C. W. Dyer, Fusion, 776, majority,
295: treasurer, Frank O. Hill, Republican, 1,418, W.
J. McClure, Fusion, 1,826, majority, 408; probate
judge. A. \V. Post, Republican, 1,418, J. C. Brady,
Fusion, [,798, majority, 380; county attorney, Ralph
T. Morgan, Republican, 1,539, James Graham,
Fusion, 1,650, majority, ill; assessor, Herbert
I )rvis, Republican, 1,467, H. J. Brothwick, Fu-
sion. 1.723. majority, 256; superintendent of instruc-
tion, R. C. Egbers. Republican, 1,461, Daniel Van
Duzer. Fusion, 1.788, majority, 327; surveyor, Will-
iam Ashley, Jr., Republican, 1,596, B. H. Williams,
Fusion, 1.573, Ashley's majority, 23; (Ashley was
the only Republican elected to office) ; coroner, John
Bushy," Republican, 1,520, Dr. G. E. Barker, Fusion,
1,658, majority, 133 ; commissioner, first district
Clem B. King', Republican, 1,390, R. D, McKinnis,
Fusion, 1,774, majority, 384; second district, R. C.
Thompson, Republican, 1,489, J. W. Ryan, Fusion
1,656, majority, 167; third district, George Ross, Re-
publican, 1452, W. W. Bush, Fusion, 1745, majority,
293 ; Thomas L. Glenn, Fusion candidate for con-
gress, received 1,783 votes in Kootenai county, a ma-
jority of 322 over his Republican opponent, John T.
Morrison. For governor, Frank W. Hunt, Fusion
candidate, received 1,809 votes, a majority of 396 over
D. W. Stanwood, Republican candidate.
In 1901 a resolution was introduced in the Wash-
ington state legislature, reviving the question
of the annexation of the Idaho Panhandle to Wash-
ington. It was proposed that committees from
the legislatures of the two states meet and form-
ulate a plan for the cession of the territory by the state
of Idaho to the state of Washington. The newspa-
pers of Kootenai county were outspoken in their op-
position to the scheme, one paper saying editorially
that "That there was a time when the citizens of the
panhandle of Idaho were willing to be annexed to
Washington, but that was about the time when Wash-
ington was admitted as a state and when the chances
of Idaho remaining a territory for many years was
very bright. Things have changed now and it can
safely be said that not one in a hundred in this
county at least would favor being annexed to Wash-
ington. The consent and co-operation of the legisla-
ture of Idaho will never be secured to aid and abet
the dismemberment of our proud 'Gem of the Moun-
tains,' " The efforts of the Washington legislatures
came to naught.
This year development work in all the industries
of Kootenai county made giant strides, in fact during
the two preceding years advancement was rapid.
Many new settlements were made and the commis-
sioners were constantly petitioned for roads and
bridges for the convenience of ranchers and stock-
men all over the county. In compliance with these
petitions the following bridges and ferries were con-
structed at a total cost of $12,192.07: Mission bridge,
at Cataldo, $365.34, Priest river bridge, $1,543.70,
Coeur d'Alene bridge, $3,254.30. Trestle Creek
bridge and road, $2,760.85., Wilson Creek bridge,
$100.00, bridge signs, $15.00, Feeney creek bridge,
Coeur d'Alene river, $272.67, Mission creek bridge,
$100.00, Lane bridge at Lake Killarney outlet
$698.05, bridge near Kootenai, $90.00, bridge, district
No. 13, $54.00, bridge, district No. 43, $40.09, Sand
creek bridge. $70.00, bridge over Baldwin's slough,
$168.16, miscellaneous small bridges and culverts occas-
ioned by the creation of newr roads, $795.50, Harrison
trestle and ferry, Si, 40 1. 80, Lane ferry on Coeur
d'Alene river, $140.73, Clark's ferry, $162. 15, Green's
ferry, Spokane river, $138.82. As an evidence that
a new era of progress began in 1901, we cite a number
of stock companies that filed articles of incorporation
with the county recorder this year : William How-
ard Land and Lumber Company., capital stock
$500,000, Humbird Lumber Company. $500,000,
Cameron Lumber Company, $200,000, Hope Lumber
Company, $25,000, LaClede Lumber Company,
$100,000. Empire Lumber Company, $200,000, Hey-
den Lake Mining and Milling Company, $25',poo,
North Dakota Mining Company, $75,000, Bonner
Mercantile Company, $20,000, St. Joe Improvement
Company, $100,000, Spokane Valley Land and Im-
provement Company, $500,000. In March of this year
a deed was recorded with the county auditor in
which the Northern Pacific Railroad Company trans-
ferred to the Humbird Lumber Company twenty
thousand and eighteen acres of timber land situated
in the Priest River forest reserve. The price paid
was $144,133, or over seven dollars per acre.
We have to chronicle, as a portion of the record
of this year, an event of a tragic and sorrowful na-
ture, one that will long be remembered by the citizens
of Rathdrum in particular, though men's hearts were
stirred throughout the county, and, as with one voice,
an angry cry, tempered with sorrow, went up from
every town, hamlet and home. We refer to the as-
sassination of Judge John C. Brady at Rathdrum on
the night of July 5. 1901. At the time of his murder
Mr. Brady was editor of the Rathdrum Silver Blade
and was also probate judge of the county. In the
summer of 1899 a man named Henry Williambusse
was brought before the Judge on a charge of insanity
and after the hearing was consigned to the asylum
for the insane at Blackfoot. Several months after
he had been an inmate of the asylum he escaped there-
from, and in a few days was apprehended at Ogden,
Utah, and returned to the asylum, and remained an
inmate there until the month of June, 1900, when he
again escaped and made bis way back to Kootenai
county to his home or farm near Rathdrum.
77*
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
The superintendent of the asylum wrote to the
sheriff of Williambusse's escape and requested the
sheriff to keep "an eye on him ;" that if he showed
symptoms of a recurrence of his trouble to take him
in charge and to notify him (the superintendent).
No steps were taken to return him to the asylum, al-
though he made no secret of the deep-seated grudge
he held against all who had in any way been re-
sponsible for his former trial, conviction and incar-
ceration, and made many threats against their lives.
On the night of July 5th he came to Rathdrum with
the evident purpose of executing his threats against
Judge Brady. Shortly after ten o'clock on that eve-
ning he found the Judge at work with the typewriter
in his office. He entered unceremoniously and ac-
costed him in the following language; "How are you,
Brady? How do you feel tonight? " The Judge
looked up, unsuspicious of all harm, and replied
lightly. "Pretty fair; how are you?" The assassin
then said : "Take that in your old face," drew his
revolver and fired ; after which he put out the light
and left the office. The ball struck the Judge in the
face, under the right eye, and went almost horizontally
backward, lodging against the brain. The base of the
skull, as learned afterward, was penetrated and frac-
tured.
Mr. and Mrs. Sheriff Dyer were retiring in their
rooms in the jail building, which is separated by a
small yard, perhaps fifty feet across, from Judge
Brady's office. They heard the shot, but the report
being muffled by the walls of both buildings,
thev were in doubt as to whether it was
a pistol shot or the report of a cannon
fire cracker, the celebration of the Fourth being
scarcely over. They raised a window and peered out
into the darkness. A light was burning in Judge
Brady's office, which flickered a moment and went
out. Then came to their ears an agonized cry from
the Judge: "I am murdered!" "I am murdered!"
Seizing his revolver. Sheriff Dyer hastened to his re-
lief. As he reached his office the stricken man stag-
gered out and fell bleeding to the side-walk. A
figure, supposed to be the murderer, was seen in the
shadows and heard running down by the Catholic
church. The sheriff gave pursuit, but the figure dis-
appeared in the darkness. The deputies were then
summoned and a determined pursuit instituted.
Meantime the wounded man had been taken into the
office of the jail and his wounds dressed by Dr. Wenz,
who had been hastily summoned. Mr. Brady was
able to speak in a rational manner of the terrible
affair, and gave an account of the shooting substan-
tially as above, saying that he had been shot by that
crazy man, Williambusse.
Mr. Brady died at the Sacred Heart Hospital,
Spokane, July 17. after eleven days of great suffering.
Immediately after the shooting Sheriff Dyer offered
a reward of $200 for the assassin, dead or alive, and
a posse of twenty men besides his own deputies
scoured the country in every direction. On Tuesday
evening following the murder Williambusse was cap-
tured, after a terrible struggle, on Howard street in
Spokane, by Police Officer McDermott. He was re-
turned to Rathdrum and lodged in jail. In February,
1902, he was tried in the district court and convicted
of murder in the second degree and on February 27th
was sentenced to hard labor for the rest of his natural
life in the state penitentiary at Boise.
There were three parties in the field in the political
campaign of 1902, Republican, Democrat and Social-
ist. The Republicans held their convention at Sand-
point, August 5th, and placed in nomination John F.
Yost, of that place, for senator; William Ashley, of
Rathdrum, James Reid, of Coeur d'Alene, and War-
ren Flint, of Harrison, representatives ; A. V. Cham-
berlain, of Coeur d'Alene, clerk of the court ; E. L.
Whitney, of Bonner's Ferry, sheriff ; R. C. Thompson,
of Rathdrum, assessor; George L. Fitzsimmons, of
Mica Bay, treasurer; T. H. Wilson, of Harrison,
attorney: John R. Wilson, of Rathdrum, pro-
bate judge; Robert C. F.gbers, of Athol. super-
intendent of schools; W. H. Edelblute, of Lane,
surveyor; T. A. Bishop, of Bonner's Ferry, coroner;
Joseph Fisher, of St. Maries, first district, A. A.
Merritt. second district, Alex Ouirrie, of Hope,
third district, commissioners. The convention en-
dorsed the national administration, and, among other
declarations, favored the opening to settlement of the
agricultural portion of the Priest River forest reserve,
and a portion of the Coeur d'Alene Indian reservation.
The Democratic convention was held at Coeur
d'Alene August 21st and 22nd. The Populists con-
vened at the same time and place. The parties held
separate conventions and adopted resolutions in en-
dorsement of the national platform of each, but nom-
nated a fusion ticket as follows: treasurer, W. J.
McClure, of Rathdrum; auditor, T. L. Quarles, of
Rathdrum : assessor, Charles Waggoner, of Post Falls ;
attorney, James Graham, of Coeur d'Alene ; probate
judge, F. A. McCall, of Sandpoint ; sheriff, F. H.
Bradbury, of Rathdrum ; superintendent of schools,
Daniel Van Duzer- of Rathdrum : surveyor, Oscar
Sheffield, of Rathdrum ; coroner. Dr. O. F. Page, of
Sandpoint; commissioners, first district, R. D. Mc-
Kinnis, of Coeur d'Alene ; second district, S. H. Wat-
kins, of Athol: third district, M. V. Bogel, of Bon-
ner's Ferry; state senator, J. C. White, of Coeur
d'Alene ; representatives, S. A. Frear, of Hauser. W. F.
Ninneman, of Hope, and Charles S. Moody, of Sand-
point. C. S. Moody, of Sandpoint, Daniel Van Duzer,
of Rathdrum, Charles Wagoner, of Post Falls, and R.
D. McKinnis, of Coeur d'Alene, nominees, respectively,
for the offices of representative, school superintendent,
assessor and commissioner first district, were Popu-
lists : the remaining candidates were Democrats.
The Socialists met at Coeur d'Alene September
22nd and nominated for state senator William Piatt,
for representatives, J. R. Danborn, Walter Ellin and
George Wright, for clerk of the court. K. P.rundage,
for sheriff. Andrew Thomas, for school superintendent,
J. L. Kennedy, for coroner. S. A. Stowe, for commis-
sioners, first and second districts. Samuel Reid and
Jerry Crather.
In tin- election, which was held November 4th, the
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Republicans were successful, electing their candidates
to all the county offices with the exception of clerk of
the district court and probate judge, these offices going
to Democrats by small pluralities. B. L. French, Re-
publican candidate for congress, was given a plurality
of 383 ; John T. Morrison, Republican for governor,
a plurality of 404 : Ralph T. Morgan, Republican can-
didate for judge of the first judicial district, a plurality
of 378. The official returns of the county are as fol-
lows :
For state senator, J. C. White, Democrat, 1,677
votes, John F. Yost, Republican, 1,845 votes, William
Piatt, Socialist, 180 votes, Yost's plurality, 168; for
representatives, S. A. Frear, Democrat, 1,561, James
Reid, Republican. 1,930, J. R. Sanborn, Socialist,
229, W. F. Ninneman, Democrat, 1,484, William
Ashley. Jr., Republican. 2,029, William Ellin, Social-
ist, 171, C. S. Moody, Democrat, 1,554, Warren Flint,
Republican. 1.873. George Wright, Socialist, 185,
Reid's plurality, 168, Ashley's plurality, 445, Flint's
plurality, 319; clerk of district court, Thomas L.
Quarles, Democrat, 1,811, A. V. Chamberlain, Repub-
lican, 1,762, K. Brundage, Socialist, 159, Quarles' plu-
rality, 49 ; sheriff, Fred H. Bradbury, Democrat.
1,659, Eugene L. Whitney, Republican, 1,927, Andrew-
Thomas, Socialist, 165, Whitney's plurality, 268 ;
treasurer, W. J. McClure, Democrat, 1.789, G. L.
FitzsimmonS' Republican, 1,862, Fitzsimmons' plural-
ity, 73; assessor, Charles Waggoner, Democrat, 1,698,
Robert C. Thompson, Republican, 1,884, plurality,
186; probate judge, Frank A. McCall, Democrat,
1,825, John R. Wilson, Republican, 1,793, McCall's
plurality, 32 ; county attorney, James Graham, Demo-
crat, 1,268, Thomas R. Wilson, 2,275, plurality, 1,007;
superintendent of schools, Daniel Van Duzer, Demo-
crat, 1,576. Robert C. Egbers, Republican, 1,957, J-
L. Kennedy, Socialist, 170, Egber's plurality, 381 :
surveyor, Oscar L. Sheffield, Democrat, 1,607, William
H. Edelblute, Republican, 1,951, plurality, 344; cor-
oner, O. F. Page, Democrat, 1,537, Thomas Bishop,
Republican. 1.891. S. A. Stowe. Socialist, 161, Bishop's
plurality. 354 ; commissioner, first district, R. D. Mc-
Kinnis, Democrat, 1,607, Joseph Fisher, Republican,
1,880, Samuel Reid, Socialist, 161, Fisher's plurality,
173; second district, S. H. Watkins, Democrat, 1,498,
A. A. Merritt. Republican, 1,957, Jerrv Crather, So-
cialist, 154, Merritt's plurality, 459; third district,
M. V. Bogue, Democrat, 1,433,'AlexQuirrie, Republi-
can, 2,055, plurality, 622.
A few months ago there was organized in British
Columbia the Alberta and British Columbia Reclama-
tion Company, whose purpose was to build dykes along
the Kootenai river in British Columbia in order to en-
close and save from overflow seventeen thousand acres
of land in the Kootenai valley on the Canadian side.
When the work of dyking began it was discovered
by the farmers on the American side of the Interna-
tional boundary that their lands would be greatly
damaged on account of the back water causing a longer
and deeper overflow than they had heretofore suffered
by the usual spring and summer freshets. Protests
proving of no avail, C. S. Smith, representing himself
and sixty other settlers in the Idaho Kootenai valley,
began proceedings by injunction in November, 1902, in
the Kootenai district court before Judge Mayhew, to
enjoin the reclamation company from completing the
dykes. A temporary restraining order was granted
on an ex parte application. Soon afterward the de-
fendants in the suit made a motion to dissolve this re-
straining order. A week was consumed in hearing
the arguments on this motion, and, on account of the
general equities disclosed by the pleadings and evi-
dence and because of the conflicting testimony of the
witnesses examined, Judge Mayhew made a second
order dissolving and vacating the injunction. At the
following term of court, held at Rathdrum in March,
1903, Judge Morgan presiding, C. S. Smith entered
personal suit against the Canadian Reclamation Com
pany for five thousand dollars, on account of damage
done to his land by floods, caused by the dykes. Judge
Alorgan rendered a judgment in his favor for die
amount asked. With this precedent established it is
prohable that other similar suits will follow. The re-
clamation of the lands of the Kootenai valley by dykes,
or some system of drainage, is a question that will de-
mand attention in the future, and the accomplishment:
of the task will require the expenditure of a vast
amount of capital. But the expenditure will prove a
splendid investment, as perhaps the richest agricul-
tural lands in the county are in this valley and they
only need to be properly drained to become highly pro-
ductive.
Advancement in Kootenai county in 1902 exceeded,
if possible, that of 1901. The total valuation of all
property at the close of the year was $4,095,946.40, an
increase of $366,733.89 over the valuation of 1901.
There were 574,997 acres of patented lands, valued,
with improvements, at $1,148,763. This is of
course far below the market value. Twenty-
six saw mills were in full operation and four-
teen steamers plied on lakes and rivers. The Spokane
Valley Improvement Company began the work of
irrigating Rathdrum prairie. The erection of new
saw mills on the lakes and streams, and the building
of stamp mills and smelters in the mining regions
was a feature of the closing months. That the spirit
of progress has not wearied is evidenced in the fact that
during the first three months of 1903 there were 396
deeds, 96 mortgages, 65 mining locations. 76 U. S.
Patents and receivers receipts, 48 possessory risdit
claims, 15 mining deeds and 33 mortgage releases filed
with the county auditor. During this time there were
also filed, articles of incorporation by the Richmond
Gold Mining and Milling Company, capital $100,000;
Conjecture ^Mining and Milling Company, capital,
$62,500; St. Joe Boom Company, capital. $82,000;
Northland Pine Company, capital $100,000: Springs-
ton Lumber Company, capital, $75,000: Wisconsin
Log and Lumber Company, capital $500,000. There
are now more miles of railroad in Kootenai county
than in any other county in the state, the total of the
four main lines and the Coeur d'Alene branch of the
Northern Pacific being 260 miles ; and other lines are
projected, among them an electric road from Spokane
780
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
to Coeur d'Alene, the surveys for which have been
made and the material ordered ; a branch of the O. R.
and N. is contemplated from Farming-ton, Washington,
to Coeur d'Alene, through a heavily timbered section ;
the Spokane and Kootenai railroad, for which surveys
have been made, will run, when built, from Spokane to
Rathdrum ; thence to Sandpoint and north to Bonner*s
Ferrv : thence up the Kootenai to the mouth of the
Movie river ; thence up the Movie to the Canadian
line, where connection will be made with the Canadian
Pacific railroad. With the completion of these roads
the lumber and mining industries of Kootenai county
will be equipped with splendid shipping facilities and
will continue to advance as wealth producers, adding
wonderfully each year to the general prosperity of the
county.
For a number of years Kootenai county made less
progress than did some other sections of Idaho, but her
record in the past four years is unsurpassed and scarce-
ly equalled by that of any other county in the state,
and all her industries are in the early stages of devel-
opment. While we laud the energy and enterprise of
the managers of business corporations that are now-
invading its forests and mining regions with roads
and mills and machinery, building up and beautifying
its towns, planting here and there institutions of learn-
ing and bringing with them the best gifts and the
highest virtues of civilization, adorning the wilder-
ness with the home, the church and the school, we
must not forget to honor the sturdy pioneer who blazed
the way over which have come the forces that vitalize
and energize and enlighten. In Kootenai county
there is no pioneer's association and we are unable to
give a complete list of the frontiersmen who first pen-
etrated the unexplored mountain recesses and went
fearlessly into the depths of the black forest, making
i the slender, winding trail that eventually broadened
j into a highway for the march of advancing civilization.
But there are many of these old heroes in different
I parts of the county and their names will be found in
connection with the history of the various settlements
and towns. They are in every particular worthy the
high tribute recently paid the pioneeers at Edgemont,
South Dakota, by President Roosevelt when he said:
"Honor to all good citizens, but honor most of all to
the men who took the lead in taming the shaggy wil-
derness, to the trail blazers, to the men who marked out
that earliest of highways, the spotted line, the blazed
trail. You belong to that body of men who conquered
a continent for a race and a people and you did your
full share in making the nineteenth century the most
wonderful upon which the sun has ever shown." The
pioneer days are gone but many of the pioneers yet
live. All honor to their sturdy manhood, their fearless
natures and their loftv virtues.
CHAPTER IV.
CITIES AND TOWNS.
RATHDRUM.
In pleasing contrast with the arid regions of Mon-
tana on the east and Washington on the west are the
wooded hills and mountains, the winding, picturesque
valleys, and the beautiful lake regions of the Panhan-
dle of Idaho. The west bound traveler on the North-
ern Pacific railroad is enchanted with the beauty and
grandeur of the vanishing views thrown upon the
vista as the coach speeds along the broken shores of
the magnificent lake Pend Oreille. To the left
spreads the level body of water, in storm lashing its
rocky confines with power and fury, in calm, reflecting
rugged mountains clothed with primeval forests and
crowned with everlasting snows. To the right is a
bold outline of peaks and ridges with intervening can-
yons receding into depths of mystery and gloom.
After an hour's ride amid changing lake and mountain
scenes a level timbered stretch is traversed which ter-
minates at the foothills on the northern edge of the
valley of the Spokane river, termed locally the Rath-
drum prairie.
Here when plain and forest, vale and mountain
meet has been built the village of Rathdrum, one of
the older towns of Northern Idaho, and the present
county seat of Kootenai county. Since the first set-
tlers laid the foundations of permanent homes in this
part of the state less than a quarter of a century ago
Rathdrum has been a town of importance geographi-
cally and politically. In it has centered the political
life and about it have been fought the political battles
of the commonwealth. In 1871, in a cabin which
stood near the present site of the home of Charles
Wesley Wood, the rider on the pony mail and express
route from Walla Walla, Washington, to Misssoula,
Montana, rested for a brief period and made a hasty
meal of venison or bear meat and beans while saddle
and pack were being transferred to the back of a fresh
relay. About the cabin was a small clearing, but be-
yond this the trail wound in either direction through
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
781
a dense forest of pine, primitive and unexplored ex-
cept by wild beasts and savages. Over all of the pres-
ent site of the village spreads this wilderness of pines
and the occupant of the lone cabin was the only
dweller within the present limits of the village.
The close of the next decade witnessed but few
transformations. The cabin was still buried in the
forest. The trail had but recently been widened to a
passable road, and the wild beast and savage still
roamed where now stand the homes and commercial
buildings of a civilized and prosperous people.
The first occupant of the lone cabin was a hunter
and trapper named Connors who squatted on the land
and built the structure in 1861. In 1871 his squatter
rights were purchased by Frederick Post, who, after
the government survey had been made, journeyed by
horse and boat all the way to Lewiston, where a Uni-
ted States land office had recently been established, to
file on the claim. Mr. Post's title to the land was
afterwards transferred to his son-in-law, Charles
Wesley Wood, who still resides on it and who has the
distinction of being the pioneer citizen of Rathdrum.
The greater part of the present town site lies within
the original boundary lines of this homestead, whose
legal description is as follows : Southeast quarter of
section thirty-six, township fifty-two north, range five
west of Boise meridian. Rathdrum was at first called
Westwood in honor of her pioneer. In 1881 a post-
office was regularly established with Zach Lewis as
postmaster. Shortly after its establishment instruc-
tions were received from the postoffice authorities at
Washington to give the office a new name. The rea-
son assigned for desiring a change was the existence
of other offices throughout the territory bearing
names similar to Westwood. Mr. Lewis was unable to
choose one to his own satisfaction and appealed to M.
M. Cowley, ex-president of the Traders' National
Bank, of Spokane, then living at Spokane Bridge on
the boundary line between Washington and Idaho.
Mr. Cowley recited a number of names, among them,
incidentally, Rathdrum, the place of his nativity in Ire-
land. This was selected by Mr. Lewis as a name
likely to be sufficiently satisfactory to the Washington
authorities, and Westwood became Rathdrum. Dur-
ing the 'sixties and 'seventies there were no permanent
white settlers, other than those named, in the vicinity
of the Wood ranch. At Bonner's Ferry and at Senea-
quoteen were fur trading posts, and in the mountains
and along the streams were a few temporary habita-
tions occupied by trappers and hunters. These were
usually squaw men who had taken unto themselves
wives from the Spokane or Kootenai tribes of Indians,
and who took no part in the future development of the
country's resources. There were at this time no ap-
parent causes that would naturally produce a commer-
cial and political center in the wilderness.
The period of transformation came with the dawn-
ing of the next decade. Important events crowded
themselves thick and fast into the early 'eighties. Be-
fore the close of the year 1882 the wilderness of 1879
had been transformed into a town site; a new countv
had been organized ; the steel rails of trans-continental
road had been laid through what had become a grow-
ing village ; a saw mill had been erected and was man-
ufacturing lumber to supply the demands of men
who were building permanent homes ; from a
cabin station on a frontier pony mail route, there
had developed the village of Rathdrum, the county
seat of Kootenai county, and less than two years later
it boasted a population of more than one thousand.
The survey of the Northern Pacific railroad was
made in 1880. Immediately thereafter settlements
began to be made in the vicinity of the Wood cabin.
Aside from the fact that this had been a relay point
on the overland mail route, it afforded no special ad-
vantage as a railroad station or as a location for a
town. But in the minds of the railroad people this
constituted a sufficient reason and when the track was
eventually laid in July, 1881, Rathdrum became a sta-
tion on the road and in consequence the most important
town in extreme northern Idaho. At the time of the
establishment of the station there were not more than
half a dozen men within the present limits of the vil-
lage who had come in quest of permanent homes.
Among these were Louis Eilert, Fred H. Bradburv,
Wesley Wood, J. G. Brophy and M. D. Wright.
Bradbury and Eilert were the first to erect a building
and open a general store. They were followed by
Wonnacott and Sander, who conducted a general mer-
chandise store. George B. Wonnacott followed Zach
Lewis as postmaster. Aside from the advent of the
railroad, the most important events of the years 1881
and 1882 were the laying out and platting of the town
site by M. D. Wright and C. W. Wood in July, 1881,
and the erection of a saw mill by Frederick Post in
1882. In 1882 Henry Reiniger came to Rathdrum
from Calvills, Washington, and built a brewery on
Fish Creek one-half mile from town. The cost of con-
struction was something over five thousand dollars.
In the winter of 1881 and 1882 C. W. Wood erected a
livery barn on the ground now occupied by the office
building of the Panhandle Abstract Company. < >thers
who were in business in 1882 were Lewis Lee. J. ( i.
Brophy and Samuel Hayes.
As has before been stated the present site of the
town was at that time covered with a forest of yellow
pine. It was nearly all saw timber and for several
years the Post mill was kept running to its fullest ca-
pacity in order to supply the local demand for lumber
for building purposes, much of the timber being taken
from the town site. Planing machinery had been in-
stalled in connection with the mill plant which proved
a most profitable investment for its builder and owner.
M. D. Wright came to the county in 1881 and in July
of the same year moved to Rathdruni and purchased
one-half interest in sixty acres of land from C. W.
Wood and thus became interested with him in the
town site. Mr. Wright is an energetic business man
who has the faculty of making everything succeed
with which he identifies himself and to him is due
much of the substantial prosperity of Rathdrum in
later years. Realizing that Rathdrum must eventual-
ly become the center of a prosperous farming communi-
ty, he opened a general store with Fred H. Bradbury as
782
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
partner, the firm name being M. D. Wright & Co.
Later he became sole proprietor. By careful manage-
ment, from a comparatively small beginning he has
built up a trade the most extensive of any commercial
house in" the village.
In the Rathdrum store he now carries a stock of
goods valued at $30,000. In the year 1902 the bus-
iness transactions at this stand and at another store
conducted at St. Maries together footed $120,000.
In 1886 Mr. Wright secured the tie contract from the
Northern Pacific railroad company for the branch road
from Hauser Junction to Coeur d'Alene and ever since
that time he has furnished ties for the company. He
has each year furnished from 150,000 to 300.000 ties
for which he has received an average of about twenty-
six cents each. The company has paid him for ties
furnished in Kootenai county since 1886 about $1,000,-
000. In this work he has added very materially to
the general prosperity of town and county.
The town site was surveyed and platted in July,
1 88 1. and its real history may be said to date from this
event. Almost the first subject to claim the considera-
tion of the community when it consisted of scarcely
more than a dozen families was that of educational
facilities. Realizing the importance of intellectual
training to assure success in the varied walks of life
and being considerate of the needs of the very few
youths whose homes were in and about the village they
soon began preparations for a term of school. This
school was taught in the winter of 1882 and 1883 by
Miss Viola Mulkins in a small building back of the
present site of the Heitman law office. Miss Mulkins
resigned before her term was completed and it was
finished by Miss Kate Powers, who taught until the
fire in September, 1884. when the school house was
destroyed. This was the beginning of the school work
in Rathdrum, in which the citizens have always taken
a special interest, and which has developed into the
public schools of the present day, second to none in the
county in modern appointments and efficiency.
The year 1883 inaugurated a period of marked
prosperity for Rathdrum which lasted through the fol-
lowing three or four years. The Coeur d'Alene mines
had been discovered and there was a great rush of
prospectors into the promising region from all points
of the compass. The most accessible route to the
mines at that time was via the Northern Pacific rail-
road from the east or west to Rathdrum, thence across
the country to Coeur d'Alene and up the lake and the
Coeur d'Alene river. Rathdrum became the outfitting
point for the Coeur d'Alene mines, and as a result many
business houses and residences were erected, all lines
of business enjoyed a prosperous era and the popula-
tion of the village increased and multiplied until it
passed the one thousand mark in 1884. Among the
business men of this period were Wonnacott & San-
ders. Eilcrt & Bradbury, Cominski & Sons. Thomas
Ford, J. G. Brophy, George B. McCabe, who con-
ducted a livery and stage line to Coeur d'Alene ; Levi
Esch, J. S. Woolery, W. H. Cleland, liveries ; James H.
Kennedy and A. M. Martin, blacksmiths; A. W. Post,
justice of the peace, also conducted the saw mill ; Mr.
and Mrs. R. C. Cutting, restaurant. Mrs. Cutting fol-
lowed George B. Wonnacott as postmistress, and
was in turn followed in this office by Mrs. S. F. Smith.
In 1883 Joseph Porier purchased the lot where stands
the present Woodman Lodge building, paying for it
the sum of four hundred dollars. He erected here the
first village blacksmith shop. The building was
burned in August, 1884. Mr. Porier rebuilt in Sep-
tember of the same year on the site which he now occu-
pies and was again burned out in 1886. His present
shop was erected in the fall of the same year. During
these pioneer years a live newspaper, known as the
Rathdrum Courier, was published by Mark Musgrove.
Water works were put in by Frederick Post in
1883. It is a gravity system, the water coming from
Spring Branch, which has its source in the mountains
north of town. A dam in the stream forms a reservoir
from which the water is piped directly to the mains in
the village. In later years a tank was built for storage
purposes with a capacity of eight hundred barrels. Its
elevation above the town is sufficient to produce a
pressure of sixty-five pounds at the street hydrants,
thus giving adequate protection against fire. In 1884
Mr. Post sold the plant to Henry Reiniger, who orga-
nized a stock company for its management and opera-
tion, disposing of a portion of his interest to the mem-
bers of the company. The stockholders are John Rus-
sell, Frank Wenz, estate of Henry Reiniger, Mr. and
Mrs. Joseph Porier, David Holgman and Lorenzo
Nicholson, of Spokane, and Benjamin F. Butler, of
Sandpoint. Mr. Russell is president and treasurer, and
Mr. Wenz is secretary. The first cost of the plant was
seven thousand dollars. Since 1883, however, several
thousand dollars have been expended in improvements
and its present value is more than double the original
cost.
In the summer of 1882 a small school building was
erected back of the present site of the Heitman law
office. It was burned in September, 1884, and during
the winter of 1884 and 1885 a school was taught by
R. D. Robinson in a house which stood opposite the
present site of the Catholic church, and which had been
built for a residence. The next year the building was
purchased from Thomas Ford for school purposes and
it continued to be used as a school house for several
years until eventually purchased by the Catholics and
converted into a church. It was torn down in 1900 at
the time of the erection of the present brick church.
The school term of 1885 and 1886 was taught by Miss
Nettie Pipes. The members of the school board during
this period were Louis Lee, Henry Remiger and Dr.
Masterson, and among the early school teachers not
mentioned above were Miss Paul and Mrs. J. G.
Brophy.
Rathdrum's booming period continued until the
branch of the Northern Pacific was completed to Coeur
d'Alene City in 1886. Up to this time an immense
trade was carried on with the mining camp of the
Cceur d'Alenes and nearly all prospectors who were
bound for the camps came to Rathdrum to purchase
supplies. As is invariably the case during periods of
unnatural building and business activity there were at
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
783
this lime many transients located at Rath. Irani, who,
as soon as the depot of supplies was transferred to the
terminus of the new branch of railroad, and travel to
and from the mines was diverted to the new route,
drifted with the outgoing tide and in a few months the
population of Rathdrum dropped from a thousand to a
few hundred. In the seventeen years that have elapsed
since this reactionary period the village has not re-
gained more than half what it lost in numbers during
the years of 1886 and 1887.
Following this eventful period were several years
of comparative inactivity in business matters. Aside
from the shipment of railroad ties, of lumber from the
saw mill and wild hay from the adjacent prairie there
was little doing in a business way. There were no
industrial demands that could be supplied from the un-
developed resources of the surrounding country.
Some prospecting was done in the foot hills and in
many cases promising assays were obtained from sur-
face excavations. Expectations ran high at times that
Rathdrum was destined to become a great mining cen-
ter, and there are those who still believe that when pro-
cesses for handling low grade ores are cheapened and
capital can be induced to erect mills in the vicinity,
Rathdrum mountain and its lesser neighbors will give
up rich yields of the precious metals. But thus far
none of the prospects have developed into producing
properties. Although there is a considerable area of
agricultural land tributary to Rathdrum at the time of
which we write the farming and stock raising indus-
tries were in their infancy ; but few locations had been
taken up and those that were occupied were yielding
barely enough for home consumption.
Among the obstacles with which Rathdrum has
had to contend have been numerous disastrous fires,
which, although they have in a way acted as a tempo-
rary clog in the wheel of progress, have ultimately re-
sulted in the erection of handsome and substantial
business houses and dwellings over the ruins of the old
structures, thus giving to the village a much better gen-
eral appearance. The first of these fires occurred in
September, 1883. when the school house and some
small structures near it w^ere destroyed. A general
fire occurred in October. 1884, an account of which is
as follows: Fire broke out at ten p. m., the 27th, in
a small unoccupied building in the rear of Rector's
drug store, destroying the entire business portion of
the town — fifty-five buildings. Losses aggregated
$85,000 as follows: Lee & Jackson, saloon. $4x100;
Hanry Gordon, saloon. $4,000; YVonnacott & Glass,
general merchandise, 819,000; J. H. Smith, $3,500;
Dr. C. \Y. Weaver, Coeur d'Alene hotel, including
office and instruments, $4,500; Rector Bros., drugs,
$2,500; John W. Smith, liquors in storage. $2,500;
George W. McCabe, livery and stage companv,
82,500; J. G. Brophy, saloon. $2,000; E. A. Boblett,
American Hotel. S2,ooo: Siblev & Ish, $2,000; C. M.
Benson, $2,000; C. W. Wood', livery, $25,000; John
McCrea, hardware. $2,000; Sun Chung Company,
$2,000: S. C. Cramer, $2,000: Thomas Ford. $2,500:
T. K. Hireen, $2,000: A. P. Powell, $1,000; John Rus-
sell, $1,000; Oliver Edmund. $i,ooo; Henrv Keiser
$1,500: Branch of Sprague Brewery, $1,500: W. A.
Hart, $1,100; George Stafford, $1,000; W. W. iVIus-
grove, residence and office of the Kootenai Courier,
$1,000; and others in smaller amounts. Xo insurance
was carried except on the Wonnacott & Glass property.
Over twenty families were made destitute. Not a bus-
ness house was left in town and no provisions were on
hand. Temporary relief was obtained from Spokane.
The fire was supposed to have been of incendiary ori-
gin.
Again in August, 1886, a similar but less disastrous
fire consumed several structures on the main business
street. May 29, 1890, a fire started in a restaurant
adjoining a saloon conducted by Bradley & Butler.
Although the fire was discovered soon after it had
broken out the flames got beyond control and buildings
occupied as follows were rapidly destroyed : ( Miver
Edmonds' restaurant; Bradley & Butler, two sal is;
George Jacobs, saloon ; W. A. Hart, general merchan-
dise : E. H. Bradbury, groceries ; D. Rodner, boots and
shoes; the Franco-American hotel. The loss at this
time was about twenty thousand dollars.
In 1883 the brewery which Air. Reiniger had built
just out of town two years previously, was destroyed
by fire. In the same year he rebuilt the brewery and
in addition, a commodious and handsome dwelling in
the village, the two costing about twenty thousand dol-
lars. On August 25, 1899, fire completely consumed
both dwelling and brewery, and a general conflagration
was averted only by the most strenuous efforts on the
part of the voluntary firemen aided by citizens.
Although in the earlier days Rathdrum was fre-
quented by a few individual members of that class
which has so often given bad reputations to frontier
settlements, it was never a rendezvous for gangs of
desperadoes. There were a few minor disturbances in
the first years, and even in later years the peace and
quiet of the village has occasionally been broken by
the lawless acts of some irresponsible rowdy, but it
has generally sustained the reputation of a law abiding
community. Burglaries and holdups have been in-
frequent occurrences. The M. D. Wright store has
been burglarized on two or three occasions, the last
time on the night of November 6, 1902, when the
safe was blown open and robbed of $900.00 in cash and
a check for $100.00. The next evening the thieves
were captured at Hope and brought back by Sheriff
C. W. Dyer. In May, 1899, during the administration
of John F. Yost as postmaster, the postoffice safe was
blown open and robbed of one hundred and seventy-
five dollars in cash and fifty dollars in stamps. In
this instance the robbers were never apprehended.
The only real tragedy enacted in the village, which
shocked and cast a pall of gloom over the village and
country, was the assassination of Judge J. C. Brady by
Henry Williambusse Friday night, July ,5, 1901
The general depression produced by the cowardly
attack upon Judge Brady was appropriately expressed
in the editorial columns of the "Silver Blade" on the
following morning in these sentences, — "Words can
not express the sorrow displayed on every hand by our
citizens. It will be many a long day before the gloom
784
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
which now hangs over our city will vanish." A full
account of the murder and the trial and conviction of
the assassin will be found in another portion of this
volume in the chapter on the general history of Koo-
tenai county.
As matter historical it may be well to mention two
defunct enterprises that, during their existence, were
sources of revenue and factors in the general pros-
perity of the town. One of these was the Exchange
Bank conducted by W. A. Hart for a short time during
the middle nineties. The other was the Rathdrum
creamery, which began operations in May, 1895. The
building was located in Ray*s addition, "had a twelve-
horsepower boiler, cold storage and work rooms,
three vats of three hundred gallons capacity each,
cream separator, churn, butter worker and numerous
other appliances and fixtures. Farmer patrons were
scattered from Hauser Junction to Hayden Lake and
were paid an average of about eighty cents per cwt.
for milk. Of the company which owned and operated
the creamery, Henry Reiniger was the president and
Frank Wenz secretary. During this period the main
portion of the court house building was put up at a
cost of $3,500. Vaults and enlargements have since
been made entailing an additional cost of $3,000. The
first work on the court house was done in 1889. The
jail was erected in 1890 and cost about $2,500.
Rathdrum was incorporated in 1891. At this time
the agricultural section on the south and west had been
partially developed and was contributing materially to
the prosperity of the town. C. A. McDonald had
erected and was operating a shingle and saw
mill two miles east of town. Hayden Lake, Spirit Lake
and Fish Lake were becoming popular as resorts and
Rathdrum became temporary headquarters each sea-
son for numerous parties of tourists. A considerable
trade had developed with the mining camps of the
Fend Oreille region. Future prospects were gradu-
ally improving in many directions. In spite of the de-
pressing effects of the financial crisis of 1893 and 1894
Rathdrum enjoyed a fair degree of prosperity. That
the village was growing is evidenced by the fact in
1895 it became necessary to employ a third teacher in
the public schools. Miss Lulu Leonard, of Post Falls,
was given the place. September nth of this year
there were enrolled 111 pupils. From the files of the
Silver Blade for 1895 we learn that Fred H. Bradbury
was at that time postmaster, and it was estimated that
Rathdrum had a population of about four hundred.
In this year the telephone wires were strung to Rath-
drum, the first message being sent to Coeur d'Alene
August 27, 1895.
RATHDRUM IN I903.
The conditions prevailing in Rathdrum today are
decidedly favorable to a substantial growth and to its
continued advancement as a commercial center. The
citizens are a unit in all efforts to further their best in-
terests as a community, public spirited men have the
community affairs in hand and they have the support
of energetic business men and private citizens in all
moves looking to the attainment of a high standard
as a progressive, modern town. The present memibers
of the town board are J. W. Handy, Louis Larsen,
W. A. Hart, Louis Chambard and Robert McCrae.
Jefferson Davis is city marshal.
The history of Rathdrum would not be complete
without a review of the business and professional cir-
cles as we find them today. As a record of present
conditions it will be valuable to those who are inter-
ested in home affairs and invaluable to the future
historians who may assume the task of compiling the
records of events for the benefit of the next generation.
M. D. Wright has been a leading merchant of
Rathdrum for fourteen years. His business was first
conducted in what is now the side store. Later he oc-
cupied a building north of the railroad. In 1900 the
present store building was erected. The firm of M. D.
Wright & Company incorporated in 1900. Incor-
porators were M. D. Wright, B. L. Gordon, of Spo-
kane, Mrs. M. D. Wright, John Sherman and Clyde
Mullidy. Mr. Wright is president of the company,
which is capitalized at $50,000 and the firm conducts a
general merchandise, milling and lumbering business.
It has gained an enviable success over a wide field and
its business transactions are increasing each year in
number and importance. A branch store is conducted
at Post Falls.
Henry Reiniger, who died January 11, of the pres-
ent year, had always been one of the foremost busi-
ness men of Rathdrum. Mention has already been
made of his business ventures in the earlier years.
In 1901 he opened a hardware store which he was
conducting at the time of his death. Mr. Reiniger
came to Rathdrum from Colville, Washington, in
1 881 and up to within a short time before his death,
was engaged in active pursuits and he had built up
quite an extensive trade in hardware, stoves, etc.
John Russell is president of the Rathdrum Mercantile
Co., incorporated. Mr. Russell is a pioneer
merchant of Kootenai county, having engaged in bus-
iness at Sandpoint in 1881. He came to Rathdrum in
1890 and opened a general store in the building now
occupied by the Silver Blade. In 1892 he erected
a three-story brick business building at a cost of $16,-
000, which he now occupies. He has a very large
trade in general merchandise, implements, carriages
and wagons. E. P. Manor conducts a general store
in a substantial and attractive white brick building, 30
by no feet, which he built in 1902. Mr. Manor came
to Rathdrum in 1894 from Hauser Junction, where he
had previously engaged in mercantile pursuits. W.
A. Hart has been in business in Rathdrum continu-
ously since 1884. He built the first brick business
house in the town. He now occupies the lower floor
of the building with a stock of general merchandise.
The upper floor is fitted up as a hall and is used for
public meetings, balls and plays.
Another general store that enjoys a large and
growing trade is that of Larsen Bros., Walter and
Lewis, which was established in 1901. A bakery is
also conducted in the connection with the store. Al-
though their advent into the business circles of Rath-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
785
drum is comparatively recent, the Larsen Bros.' store
is becoming a popular trading place. Lewis Larsen
was formerly a citizen of British Columbia, and Wal-
ter, of Spokane. Grant Vess runs the Rathdrum
meat market which was opened in October, 1902.
A harness and shoe shop was opened in August, 1902,
by Robert Buckley, who came to Rathdrum from Ari-
zona. E. P. Dyer has a jewelry store and is jus-
tice of the peace. Mr. Dyer came from Spokane in
1895. John W. Peters conducts a news and station-
ery store and serves the village as postmaster. C. H.
Peters deals in jewelry and does watch repairing, while
Mrs. Peters has opened a millinery establishment.
W. W. Stoddard runs a barber shop. Mr. Stoddard
came from South Dakota in 1901. An implement
agency is under the efficient management of W. C.
Royce. Mrs. Rozetta Mulledy has a confectionery
and bakery and is the local operator of the Rocky
Mountain Bell Telephone Co. A lodging house
and millinery establishment is conducted by Mrs. W.
C. Rodgers. The Wilson Hotel is owned by B. S.
Wishard, who came here from Coeur d'Alene in 1895.
The Mountain View Hotel was built by M. D.
Wright and Benjamin F. Butler in 1890, at a cost of
$10,000. and was for many years known as the Wright
Hotel. In 1893 Mr. Wright sold his interest to Mr.
Butler, it is a four-story frame structure, at present
the largest and best hotel in the county. It occupies a
location convenient to town and railroad station and
from its upper floors is obtained a good view of the
mountains on the north and the valley on the south and
west. The hotel has changed hands a number of times.
Among its former proprietors were Butler & Bradley,
and Mrs. Laura Herron. In 1898 the hotel was pur-
chased by Mrs. O. Lavin for $6,000. Mrs. Lavin has
had personal charge of the hotel since and under her
management it has become a most popular hostelry and
a valuable property.
The Panhandle Abstract Co., Ltd., was incorpo-
rated November 25, 1901. Its president is A. Cook:
vice-president, J. C. White: treasurer, Ruida Cook;
secretary, Edwin McBee; J. R. Wilson and H. M.
Stontenburg are real estate and loan agents. Mr.
Wilson is also justice of the peace. Another real estate
agency is maintained by M. D. Wright and John Cren-
shaw. Mr. Crenshaw is an early settler, having home-
steaded a claim on Hayden Lake in 1880. Stewart
Young and A. E. Duff are also in the real estate busi-
ness. B. F. Bourn is manager of the Homefind&rs'
Real Estate and Insurance Company. Livery and feed
stables are owned by Levi Esch, W. H. Cleland and
J. S. Woolery. Mr. Esch put up his livery barn in
the fall of 1884 and has been in the business continu-
ously since. Mr. Cleland and Mr. Woolery began busi-
ness in the early nineties. Joseph Porier and George
Umphrey are the village blacksmiths. William Hays
is a house and sign painter: James A. Dyer, con-
tractor and builder; C. W. Wood, general trucking
business : ( i. R. Klopf. furniture and undertaking.
Richard Tautenhaher, brickmaker, yards four miles
west of Rathdrum. The Rathdrum pharmacy is con-
ducted by Dr. F. Wenz, who is the only physician
practicing in Rathdrum ; D. F. Hallister, dentist ;
William Ashley, Jr., civil and mining engineer : R. C.
Thompson, contractor and builder ; James W. Peters,
contractor and builder ; General Sparks, city dray ;
Sidney Vidgers, sawmill, two and one-half miles west
of town: A. W. Post, planing and sawmill. Mr. Post
has applied to the council for a franchise permitting
him to operate an electric lighting plant within the
town limits. Mrs. J. C. Lane runs the Hotel Lane
north of the railroad tracks.
Joseph R. M. and Charles W. Culp are owners and
publishers of the Silver Blade, a well edited weekly
paper, Republican in politics and devoted to the best
interests of town and county. W. A. Logue publishes
the Panhandle News, a live Democratic paper issued
weekly. The pioneer attorney of Rathdrum is C. L.
Heitman. In the person of Judge Edwin McBee the
village has another lawyer. The town council has
granted a franchise to B. O. Graham, of Spokane,
for lighting the streets and dwellings of the city by
electricity. The Fraternity Building Association has
recently been organized with John C. Callahan, pres-
ident. The capital stock of the association is $5,000.
It is proposed to erect a modern city and fraternity
hall on the lot owned by the Knights of Pythias, two
blocks north of the courthouse. On May 1. 1903,
was established the Rathdrum Bank of Commerce.
Of this institution, J. G. Thomas, of Newport, Wash-
ington, is president ; John C. Callahan, of Rathdrum,
cashier, and R. E. Young, assistant cashier.
The fraternal lodges are well represented in Rath-
drum. There are chapters of the Independent Order
of Odd Fellows, Foresters (Rathdrum Court No. 14),
Modern Woodmen of America. No. 6843 ; Rathbone
Sisters, K. O. T. M., Reb'ekahs, Royal Neighbors,
No. 2317; Knights of Pvthias, Panhandle Lodge
No. 13 ; Maccabees, Kootenai Lodge No. 7. Law-
ton Post No. 29 of the Grand Army of the Repub-
lic was organized May II, 1901, with the following
charter members: Ewin B. Marsh, Company B, 62d
Illinois Infantry; John R. Wilson, Company G, 18th
Indiana Infantry ; W. H. Cable, Company E. 12th
Kansas Infantry : W. A. Hart, Company G. 95th Wis-
consin Infantry ; D. McCall, Company E, 921! Illinois
Infantry ; Albert G. C. Slocum, Company C, 78th Penn-
sylvania Infantry; James A. Fisher, Company G,
40th Ohio Infantry; L. A. Berry, Company E. 6th
Michigan Cavalry; Emory B. Martin. Company I,
46th .Missouri Infantry; James H. Kennedy, Elisha
E. Taylor, Anton Builder, A. T. McReynolds. Henry
Geek, Samuel Gambier, Thomas Bronhv, Hamilton
Davis. The ceremonies attendant upon the formation
of the lodge were conducted by Deputy Commander
Charles A. Clark and Assistant Adj. General Darius
F. Baker of Boise. The present officers are: J. R.
Wilson, commander; Thomas Brophy, Sr., vice-com-
mander: L. A. Berry, officer of the day: A. C. G. Slo-
cum, chaplain: John Lyons, adjutant; E. B. Martin,
officer of the guard : R. C. Bothwick, sergeant.
The churches of Rathdrum have done much to
elevate the standard of morals at home and give the
village a good name abroad. There are three church
786
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
buildings, owned by the Presbyterians, Adventists and
Catholics. There is not at present an organization
of the Adventists and the building has been closed
for some time. Rev. C. T. Cook conducts the Meth-
odist meetings in the building once occupied by the
Baptists, whose organization is defunct. The Pres-
byterians have had an organization since 1883. The
building stands on a lot donated by Frederick Post.
Rev. W. C. Beebee was the first pastor of the con-
gregation, coming to Rathdrum in 1884. At that
time there were but five members of the congregation,
A. W. Post and wife, Job Hemick, Mrs. Sarah J.
Milder, and Mrs. Pearl Power. Ministers who have
since been located in Rathdrum are Rev. John A.
McArthur : Rev. Williams Cobleigh ; Rev. Charles
J. Godsman ; Rev. Norman McLeod and the present
pastor, Rev. Eugene A. Walker.
For a number of years the Catholics held services
in a building which had formerly been used for a
school house. In 1901 they erected a neat brick edi-
fice at a cost of about $3,000. At the time of its comple-
tion it was the only brick Catholic church in the state
of Idaho. The church was dedicated by Right Rev.
A. J. Gloreiux, of Boise, to St. Stanislaus Kostka.
Father Thomas J. Purcell has conducted the services
of this organization since its foundation and it was
through his personal effort that the funds were raised
for the building of the church edifice. He is now as-
sisted in his parish work by Father Kelly.
The citizens of Rathdrum are justly proud of their
public schools. They have always taken special in-
terest in school matters, in the selection of competent
instructors, in the proper and generous equipment of
the school room and in educational results. With
such an interest in the work it is only natural that the
schools should attain a high degree of excellence.
Their present standing is such that graduates are
admitted to the State University at Moscow without
special examination. The building is a two-story
frame, with four rooms and was erected in 1890 at a
cost of $5,000. It stands on a commanding site
in the east part of the town and presents an attrac-
tive and substantial appearance. The principal in
charge of the schools at present is Professor D. E.
Danley, who has been exceptionally successful in
his work. He is assisted in the grammar grade by
Miss India Tarkington, in the intermediate, by Miss
Laura Reiniger, and in the priman by Aliss Eliza Ker-
cheval. The principal is paid a salary of eighty dol-
lars per month and the assistants fifty-five dollars per
month. The members of the school board are T. L.
Ouarels, R. S. McCrea and Dr. F. Wenz. During the
last school vear the enrollment reached two hundred
and twelve.
Rathdrum is about twenty-eight miles northeast
of Spokane on the main line of the Northern Pacific
railroad. From a sanitary and scenic point of view,
it is most fortunately situated. It has been built on a
bench of land at the base of a mountain which is
known by the numerous appellations of Rathdrum
Mountain, Kootenai Mountain and Storm King. The
elevation of this mountain is 4070 feet. From
its summit may be seen the Pend Oreille,
the Coeur d'Alene, Hayden, Fish and Spirit
lakes, together with several smaller bodies of
water. A range of hills south of Pend Ore-
ille river hides Priest lake from view, but the
white peaks of the Canadian Cabinets are plainly visi-
ble, although many miles north of the lake. The ele-
vation is 2216 feet in the village, which is perhaps one
hundred feet above the level of the plain on the south
and west. This plain known locally as "Rathdrum
prairie" is a portion of the valley of the Spokane river.
The greater part of it is now under cultivation.
Wheat, oats, hay, vegetables and fruits are the prin-
cipal products of the farm. Stock raising has grown
to be a profitable industry. This section is directly
tributary to Rathdrum.
In the mineral regions in the mountains on the
north, and about Hayden lake there are not at pres-
ent any producing mines, but it is believed to be
only a question of time until mines will be opened here
as there are known to be heavy ore deposits ; but
being of a low grade special machinery is needed to
handle it profitably and capitalists have thus far made
no investigations or investments in the section.
There are heavy forests of yellow pine on the north
and east and lumbering is the principal industry.
There are five saw mills within a radius of four miles
from Rathdrum, having an average capacity of twenty
thousand feet per day. The lakes of Kootenai are
fast becoming famous as summer resorts. Hundreds
of tourists visit them each summer and Rathdrum is
made headquarters for supplies. With an agricul-
tural region on one side which is every year becoming
more productive and which a nearly completed
system of irrigating ditches will make vastly more so
in the future than it has ever been heretofore ; with a
mineral and timber region on the other side with next
to inexhaustible supplies of each product : with the
beautiful lake region on all sides attracting not only
the transient pleasure seekers, but the permanent
home builders, Rathdrum has every reason for faith
in the future. It must continue to be an important
commercial center. It is fast assuming the general
appearance of a prosperous modern town. Frame
structures are giving way to brick on the business
streets. More attention is being paid each year to
the improvements of streets and sidewalks. Her busi-
ness men are progressive and energetic. In her
professional and social circles are men and women of
intelligence, refinement and great moral worth. Here
the home builder may settle amid surroundings and
advantages of an attractive and superior nature.
Here the business man may safely invest his capital,
and the professional man may meet with success in his
life work. Here may always be found those essen-
tials to happy homes and successful lives — attractive
surroundings and good business opportunities.
coeur d'alene.
The site of the town of Coeur d'Alene was one of
the spots first visited by the earliest voyageurs to
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
7*7
Northern Idaho and to Kootenai county. It was here
that the Jesuit missionary, Father DeSmet, first met
with the Indians to instruct them in the Catholic faith,
and it was just a short distance west of the present
city limits where was built, in 1842, the first log chapel
erected as a temporary house of worship by the father
and his associates. The site was chosen at the time he-
cause of its central location with reference to the lar-
ger camps of the various tribes of Indians then occu-
pying this portion of Northern Idaho and adjacent ter-
ritory 111 what is now eastern Washington.
More than a decade later, in 1853, General Isaac
Stevens, while on his transcontinental expedition,
spent several weeks exploring the territory about Coeur
d'Alene lake and he counseled with representative
chiefs of the Indian tribes in camp at its foot. In his
report to the government the General occupied much
space with descriptions of the lake and its surround-
ings, including its outlet, the Spokane river. As he
was looking out a northern route for a railroad across
the Rocky mountains to the coast, his expeditions were
extensive and his descriptions very much in detail. ( )f
the lake itself he says: "One of the most beautiful
features of the country is the Coeur d'Alene lake, which
is embosomed in the midst of gently sloping hills
covered with a dense forest growth ; the irregularity
of its form and the changing aspect of the scenery about
it makes it one of the most picturesque objects in the
interior."
Following General Stevens, the then primeval wil-
derness was next visited by Captain John Mullan in
1861. The famous military road built by Capt. Alul-
lan from Walla Walla to Fort Benton, was at first laid
out around the southern end of the lake to Old Mission,
but, during the summer of 1861, a portion of it was
reconstructed and a new route chosen around the north
end of the lake. Portions of this old road are now oc-
cupied by Sherman street and Mullan avenue, Coeur
d'Alene.
The next prominent visitor to the site of the pre-
sent city was General William T. Sherman, who came
in the summer of 1877 while on a tour of inspection of
the military forts of the northwest. General Sherman
was so pleased with the surroundings that he recom-
mended to congress the establishment here of a mili-
tary reservation and fort. His recommendations were
followed and in 1878 the reservation was platted, bor-
dering on the waters of the lake and on the Spokane
river. It was made to include about one thousand
acres. The fort was regularly established and garri-
soned in the spring of 1879, the first commander being
Lieut. Col. H. C. Merriman, who had under command
live companies of the Second regiment, U. S. infantry.
While the establishment of Ft. Coeur d'Alene. as it was
then called, was not directly connected with the build-
ing of the town of Coeur d'Alene, it was indirectlv re-
sponsible for the early settlements made in the imme-
diate vicinity, and the history of the town may be said
to date from the time the fort was garrisoned.
The presence of the garrison made a supply point
necessary. For two or three years after the arrival of
Col. Merriman and the troops, the post trader, C. F.
Yeaton, had a monopoly of the mercantile business.
During the years 1882 and 1883, however, there was
great activity outside the reservation, and as if by
magic, the wilderness gave place to a thriving village
which has never ceased to grow in size and impor-
tance, and which is now conceded to be one of the best
and most promising towns of Northern Idaho.
A portion of the present town site was purchased
from the Northern Pacific railroad company h\ C. I'.
Yeaton, the old post trader, in 1880. Another portion
is a part of a homestead taken up by Tony Tubbs about
the same time. In the spring of the year 1883 a cen-
sus of the settlers in and about Fort Coeur d'Alene. ex-
clusive of the garrison, would have included Robert
Cochran, John Miner, James Turner and James
Carrol, who lived along the Spokane river road ; John
Clinton, W. H. McLaughlin and Oscar Canfield, lo-
cated out on the prairie; John Fernan and John C.
Costello, at Fernan lake; Tony Tubbs. on the home-
stead referred to ; John Hickey and John Hagar, near
Hayden lake. The discovery of the Coeur d'Alene
mines in the summer of 1883 resulted in a great deal
of travel from Northern Pacific connections at Rath-
drum, via the fort and the lake, to the Coeur d'Alene
mountains ; and the town of Coeur d'Alene naturally
taking the name of the fort, began to build up 111 an-
swer to a demand for a supply point. The Amelia
Wheaton, the first steamer on the lake, had been put in
commission by the government for the use of the sol-
diers, but was extensively used in transporting miners
and their outfits to the head of the lake, on their way
to the mines. We may conclude that the action of the
government in establishing the military reservation,
the excitement attending the discovery of the mines,
the presence of the government steamer, affording
transportation up the lake from the fort, taken in con-
nection with a naturally advantageous site, led to the
preliminary steps in the location of the town.
In the fall of the year 1883, Tony Tubbs staked off
his homestead into town lots, which were sold rapidly.
In the early winter of the same year C. B. King and
James Monagham purchased of C. F. Yeaton the land
he had secured from the railroad company, and im-
mediately platted the same into an addition to the
Tubbs' site. The legal description of the original town
site reads as follows: East one half of southwest one
fourth, and lots eight and nine, section thirteen, town-
ship fifty, north, range four, west of Boise Meridian.
Being the rendezvous for prospectors, tourists and
adventurers of all classes, while it never had the bad
name that has attached to many of the western mining
towns, still during several of the earliest years of its ex-
istence, gambling and dance halls were well patronized
institutions, and though the "wild west" air that per-
meated the streets and lake front was bracing and lurid
it was enough to satisfy wildest revelers. It is not our
purpose, however, to dwell upon the transient element
that bore no part in laying the permanent foundation
of the city, whose energies were spent in the enjoyment
of the present, with no interest in the city's future and
whose "departure only awaited the establishment of law
and order.
788
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
In compliance with the request of the citizens made
by petition in the summer of 18S4, a postoffice was es-
tablished with V. VV. Sander as postmaster. The first
to engage in general merchandising were C. B. King
& Co., Warner and Hart, Tedford and Bleaumer, and
V. W. Sander. John Caveland conducted a drug store.
Hotel d'Landing was the first hostelry and was under
the management of Tony Tubbs. In March, 1880, a
hotel twenty-eight by sixty feet in dimensions and two
stories high was erected some distance east of die gar-
rison on the military reservation. Its first proprietor
was James Smith, who was later succeeded by C. B.
King. In 1884 this building was moved to the town
site, reopened on the lake front, named the Lakeside
and was managed by Vincent Wells. Additions and
numerous improvements have been made to this build-
ing and it is now known as the Coeur dAlene Inn.
The first attorney to settle in the new town was Isaac
S. Daly, who came here from Alassachusetts in 1883,
and who afterward became prominent in the politics
of the country. Tony Tubbs served as the first justice
of the peace. The first case before Justice Tubbs was
a charge of assault brought by one Chinaman against
another. Colonel Nash of Spokane prosecuted and
Isaac Daly defended. Air. Daly's client won. During
the winter of 1884-85, a number of changes took place
in the management of the various hotels. The Hotel
d'Landing closed its doors; John Harrison, Major
Manning and H. L. Bancroft became successively pro-
prietors of the Lakeside ; the Cochran House was built
by Robert Cochran and managed at first by Michael
Martin and later by John Howard. H. L. Bancroft,
who came here in 1883 from Colfax, eventually pur-
chased the Cochran House, re-named it the Bancroft
House and took personal charge. Mr. Bancroft has
continued proprietor of that hotel for twenty years. A.
U. S. land office was established at Coeur dAlene in
1885 with Robert B. McFarland register and James E.
Legato receiver. Mr. Legato resigned and William
J. McClure was appointed in his stead.
The following from the Portland "Oregonian" De-
cember 15, 1883, is interesting as a review of condi-
tions prevailing in Coeur d'Alene at that time.
"Tony A. Tubbs arrived here from lake Coeur
dAlene yesterday morning. He reports great activity
in building and other improvements in the town of
Coeur d'Alene City. Several hotels are projected ; a
large restaurant is being built ; wharves are being con-
structed for the two new steamers which are being
rapidly pushed to completion ; a portable sawmill will
be shipped from here to-day which will be put into
operation immediately ; a large force of men are getting
out saw logs for which they receive good prices ; a
large warehouse is being built near the steamer land-
ing and lots are selling like hot cakes. So rapidly have
they advanced and so valuable have they become since
the Coeur d'Alene mines have proven rich, that Mr.
Tubbs has bought back a large number of the lots he
sold in his town site, in some cases paying $200 profit
to the seller. C. C. McCoy has made arrangements to
start within a few weeks a well equipped line of da'ily
stages between Rathdrum, on the Northern Pacific,
and the Coeur d'Alene mines, via the lake."
Until the winter of 1884-85, the children of the
neighborhood attended school at the fort, where ar-
rangements had been made for the instruction of the
children of officers and men having families, and who
were garrisoned here. In the fall of 1884, however,
through the efforts of Isaac S. Daly, a district was or-
ganized (.the first of the county,) with W. H. Mc-
Laughlin, John German and William Bissel, trustees.
A small house recently built by a man named Hender-
son and vacated shortly after its completion, was uti-
lized as a school building, a carpenter, Samuel Smith,
being employed to equip it with seats and black-
boards. In this building the first two terms of school
were taught by Isaac S. Daly. The pioneers of Coeur
d'Alene cannot look back with tender memories to the
"log school house" of their early youth, but many of
them do have fond recollections of many incidents with
which the first teacher, the first school house and their
school mate chums were associated.
Judge Norman Buck held a term of the district
court at Coeur d'Alene in the summer of 1885. Attor-
neys present were J. H. McNaught, attorney for the
Northern Pacific railroad ; John Allen of Walla Walla ;
Colonel Nash, C. Hyde and Frank Graves of Spokane ;
J. Hollaman and Mark W. Musgrove of Rathdrum ;
Robert B. McFarland and Isaac S. Daly of Coeur
d'Alene. Cases tried at this term were mostly dis-
putes between miners over claims and suits between
miners and the Northern Pacific railroad. The most
important case tried was a suit brought by Levi Esch
against the Northern Pacific to recover damages sus-
tained through the loss of stock killed on the railroad.
In chapter two we have referred to a county seat
contest between Rathdrum and Coeur dAlene in 1885.
In the summer of this year George B. Wonnacott called
a meeting of the county commissioners at Coeur
d'Alene. Mr. Wonnacott was commissioner from the
Central district, while II. H. Newhall represented
the Southern district. Messrs. Wonnacott and New-
hall accordingly organized a regular session of the com-
missioners and selected Isaac S. Daly to act as clerk,
pro tern; John Russell, the commissioner from the
northern district, declining to be present on the ground
that Rathdrum was the county seat. It was the desire
of the two commissioners named to change the county
seat from Rathdrum to Coeur d'Alene, but their plans
failed to materialize.
The Amelia Wheaton, heretofore mentioned as the
first steamboat on the Coeur d'Alene lake, was built
for the government by Captain Sorenson. The second
was named the General Sherman and was built by Cap-
tain Sorenson for C. B. King & Co. The third boat
was built by a Portland company and was commanded
by Captain 1. B. Sanborn. These pioneer steamers did
the carrying trade on the lake until the Coeur d'Alene
branch of the Northern Pacific was built in 1886. The
railroad company then built the Steamer Kootenai,
which was stripped of her machinery and put out of
commission in i8g8. For many years the Kootenai
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
789
transported the bulk of the freight that went to the
mines. The steamer was built to break ten inches of
ice and make good time. It kept lake and river open
all winter. The old steamer Coeur d'Alene was re-
modeled a number of years ago and is now the
Georgia Oakes, so named for the daughter of Presi-
dent Oakes of the Northern Pacific.
Although a great deal of building was done and
there was a great deal of traffic in real estate during the
first three years of the life of the city, it had a bonafide
population of only 150 in 1885. During the summer of
[884 it was a tent town. Many families dwelt in tents :
business houses, saloons and dance halls were some
of them under canvas roofs, and the lake front had
more the appearance of a summer encampment of sol-
diers or vacationers, than of a town. The tents were
only occupied, however, while waiting the comple-
tion of buildings. Lumber was not easily obtained.
The first mill put up was a small one on Sander Beach,
operated by Glassford & Hawley, and was unable to
supply building material as rapidly as it was needed.
During the period from 1883 to 1886, Rathdrum, be-
ing on the railroad, was the real outfitting place for
the mines, and Coeur d'Alene, being enroute between
the two points, was practically only a transfer point
from stage line to steamer, and the merchants did not
carry extensive stocks. All this was changed, how-
ever, in 1886. D. C. Corbin and associates built the
Spokane Falls and Idaho railroad (now the Coeur
d'Alene branch of the Northern Pacific) into Coeur
d'Alene, which at once supplemented Rathdrum as an
outfitting point. From this date the town began to
grow and its progress has been steady and substantial
ever since. Excepting during the period of financial
distress which followed the panic of 1893, there has
been no material diminution of activity in the process
of development. New steamers to supply the grad-
ually increasing passenger and freight business on lake
and rivers have been in constant demand and have
been built ; sawmills have occupied available sites along
the lake : tributary mining and agricultural sections
have been developed : business and educational institu-
tions have become established on sure foundations,
and the town has taken rank among the most popu-
lous, progressive and substantial cities of Northern
Idaho.
In 1887 the village of Coeur d'Alene was incor-
porated under the territorial laws with V. W. Sander,
Isaac S. Daly, C. D. Warner, John Brown and Dou-
glas Mallard as trustees. Mr. Dalv was elected chair-
man and was, exofficio, the first mayor. H. L. Ban-
croft was appointed treasurer and Warren Baldwin,
city marshal. Among the earlv postmasters were:
George B. Wonnacott, Terrance O'Reillv, Major C. D.
Warner and Mrs. C. D. Warner. The present post-
master. David F. Mason, was first appointed in 1898.
In 1889 the town was visited by two small fires. The
second fire occurred Sunday morning November 10th,
destroying the city fail, a wooden structure of one
story, and in the conflagration an inmate, P. J. Breen,
lost his life. Breen was an ex-soldier and prospector,
about forty years of age, who had been incarcerated the
previous evening on some petty charge. From evi-
dence given at the inquest held by Judge J. E. Rus-
sell, the jury rendered a verdict that "deceased came
to his death by his own hands in an attempt to burn
his way out of jail." That most disastrous fire
from a monetary standpoint, which has ever visited
the city, occurred Saturday night. July 6,1895, when the
plant of the Coeur d'Alene Mill Company was de-
stroyed.
As a matter of record and for the purpose of show-
ing the conditions prevailing in the late eighties, we
quote the following paragraphs from a very interest-
ing pamphlet, written in 1889 bv James Graham, who
served as register of the land office under President
Cleveland, has served one term as county attorney
and is now a prominent citizen and attorney of Coeur
d'Alene.
"One of Coeur d'Alene's best attractions is Fort
Sherman, only one mile west. It looks out on a daintv,
land-locked bay where the placid waters leave Lake
Coeur d'Alene and form the mighty Spokane river.
The tourist is charmed by the military drills, parades,
etc., intersperced with sweet strains of music by the
Fourth U. S. Infantry band, and the place itself has
a fine equipoise and is neither disturbed nor disturb-
ing. Its beauties do not command — they implore at-
tention. Lmless the visitor is inclined he is not com-
pelled to lift his eyes and behold the snow glistening
on the distant mountain tops; neither is he obliged to
peer over the picket fences into those exclusive officers'
gardens for the pleasure of beholding flowers of tropi-
cal luxuriance; but he will do so if he stays, and if he
has leisure he will certainly stay, for greater charm of
mountain, river, wood and lake than has Fort Sher-
man, whether for the sportsman, the artist, the idlet
or the dreamer, are seldom found.
"Coeur d'Alene is the headquarters of the Coeur
d'Alene Railway and Navigation Co. ; terminus of the
Spokane Falls and Idaho Railroad Co. ; terminus of the
St. Joe Railroad Co., and also terminus of the Idaho
Navigation Co., with headquarters at Saginaw, Mich-
igan. The steamers Coeur d'Alene, General Sherman,
and Kootenai ply between Coeur d'Alene and Mission.
The steamers Echo, Volunteer, Amelia Wheaton, Kor-
wine, Torpedo and Irene ply between Coeur d'Alene
and the head of navigation on St. Joe river, a distance
of sixty-five miles.
"Coeur d'Alene has a commodious school house, two
churches built and one in contemplation, four general
merchandise stores, one cigar store, two book and news
stores, one hardware, one grocery, one commission
wholesale, two drug stores, four hotels, three restau-
rants, two bakeries, twelve saloons, two barber shops,
two liveries, one photograph gallery, two blacksmith
shops, two paint shops, three butcher shops, three real
estate and insurance offices, one saw and planing mill,
capacity fifty thousand feet per day, one shingle mill,
capacity fifty thousand shingles per day, two brick
yards, a system of water works, cost $20,000, a good
volunteer fire department, one weekly newspaper, the
Coeur d'Alene Times, and a U. S. Land Office.
"The city now has a population of eight' hundred
79°
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
and an assessed valuation of $180,000, both having in-
creased three-fold in two years. The advent of open-
ing 250,000 acres of land on the Coeur d'Alene Indian
reservation, will greatly increase the city's business.
There is timber enough thereon to build" many cities
like Chicago, and all the navies of the world. Its val-
leys are fertile and thousands of tons of hay that now
go to waste will be saved and sold for twenty dollars
per ton. Its mountains are full of precious metals, and
the hearty prospector is camped on its borders await-
ing the action of congress.
•"Coeur d'Alene has a monthly payroll of $25,000:
$7,000 at the post; $6,000 by the Coeur d'Alene Rail-
way and Navigation Co. ; $4,000 by the St. Joe Trans-
portation Company, $4,000 by the Saginaw Mill Co.,
and $3,000 by the Simms Shingle Company. To the
pleasure loving tourist or connoisseur of Nature's
gems, the beauties of Lake Coeur d'Alene and sur-
roundings carry with them a charm and interest in-
tirely unique and excelled by no other wonder of the
northwest."
The above was written thirteen years ago by one
who had unbounded faith in the future of the city and
who prophesied substantial growth in the near future.
A review of the present business and educational in-
stitutions will show how wisely he prophesied.
The city is now lighted by electricity and has a sys-
tem of water works that was constructed in 1889 by
James Monaghan, C. B. King and D. C. Corbin.
Messrs. Monaghan and King are the present owners,
Mr. Corbin disposed of his interests. There are five
miles of mains and the pumping capacity of the ma-
chinery is- 55,000 gallons per hour. The plant is un-
der the management of James Graham.
The present school building was erected in 1890; it
is a handsome two-story frame facing Seventeenth
street and has a campus of one entire block ; the origi-
nal cost was $9,000. The present valuation of school
property is about $12,000. Plans have been made to
double the capacity of the present building, as it is not
capable of accommodating the increasing enrollment,
which, during the past school year, was two hundred
and twenty-five. The present school board counts ,,f
V. W. Sander, chairman. C. L. Deffenbaugh. clerk. 1).
F. Mason, W. B. McFarland, George C. Thompson
and Dr. S. H. McEuen. During the school year just
closed the schools were in charge of Professor Ben C.
Camps, principal ; Miss Bertha Burrows, grammar
grade, Miss Metta H. Miles, first intermediate,
Miss Susie L. Davis, second intermediate, Miss
Lillian Pennington, primary department. For the
coming school year the following faculty has bee en-
gaged: Principal, Prof. W. O. Cummings; assistant
principal. Miss Agnes Maine. Miss Susie Davis and
Miss Lillian Pennington are re-elected to their former
positions. The principal is paid a salary of eighty-
five dollars per month, and the assistants fifty dollars.
The schools have been remarkably successful ; the citi-
zens have taken a special interest and pride in their
progress, and the competent corps of instructors by
enthusiastic endeavor have won the confidence of the
community and accomplished splendid results in the
upbuilding of character and in the right culture of the
minds of the youths entrusted to their care.
The Methodists and Presbyterians have good houses
of worship; the latter erected a building in 1890. and
the former erected one in 1894. Rev. T. G. Hodgson
is the Methodist pastor, and Rev. G. L. Deffenbaugh
the Presbyterian. Rev. C. P. Burnett conducts Epis-
copal services every two weeks. The Catholics are
planning a church building, under the directions of
Father Purcell, who has recently moved to Coeur
dAlene from Rathdrum. Rev. Mr. Deffenbaugh was
the first Presbyterian minister to hold services in Coeur
d'Alene, his first pastorate beginning in 1889. After
an absence of a few years he returned to the city in
1895, and has remained here since. The first Metho-
dist services were conducted by Chaplain McCumber,
of the Post, in 1889. The churches are all in a flourish-
ing condition and are working harmoniously for the
elevation of the standard of intellectual and moral
sentiment in the city.
The fraternal spirit permeates all circles in Coeur
dAlene ; the lodges are numerous and each has a large
membership roll. The following is the list : Koot-
enai Masonic Lodee, E, N. Tellum, \Y. M. : Geo.
Thomas, S. W.; J.'R. White, j. \Y. : William Dollar,
treasurer ; A. Chamberlin. secretary. Kootenai Lodge,
No. 7, Knights of Pvthias; J. T. Scott, C. C. : J. A.
Waters, V. C, Coeur dAlene. I. O. O. F. : j. Y.
Scott, N. G. ; Perry Smith, V. G. ; T. E. Hedel, re-
cording secretary : F. F. Rosen, financial secretary • J.
VY. Wigget, treasurer. Improved Order of Red Men,
Coeur d'Alene Tribe: James E. Russell, prophet : Jos-
eph Burzynski, sachem ; Fred Lange, senior sagamore ;
J. B. Frederick, junior sagamore; J. C. Clark, chief
of records ; Frank Dunn, collector of wampum ; Cle-
ment Wilkins, keeper of wampum. Aldrich Field Hive
Xo. 7, Maccabees : Ella Reynolds, lady commander ;
Jennie Groves, lieutenant commander: Maude Ditt-
more, record keeper. Sherman Tent, No. 1, Knights of
Maccabees : Wm. Fredrick, commander ; Frank Weeds,
lieutenant commander ; Joseph L. Burzynski, record
and financier keeper. M. W. A. : L. S. Ayatte, V. C. ;
G. W. Bradley, W. A. : Leroy Weston, banker : A.
V. Chamberlin, clerk. Royal Neighbors. Ida Wells,
oracle: Mable Barnes, V. O. : Hattie McEwen, P. O. ;
Mary Waters, chancellor ; Eva Hahn, recorder.
The town board is composed of J. C. Thomas,
chairman and ex oflicio mayor of the city, Armand
Perrenoud. C. Chamberlin, W. B. McFarland and V.
W. Sander. C. Clayton is city treasurer ; J. H. Harte,
city clerk, and John Schneider, city marshal. Of the
Coeur d'Alene Fire Department George Groves is fore-
man ; H. M. Thanke, assistant: George Thomp-
son, second assistant ; F. A. Shallis, third assistant ;
James H. Harte, president ; W. B. McFarland,
vice president; T A. Shallis, secretary; D. F. Mason,
treasurer.
The Coeur dAlene Press is an ably edited weekly
paper, which has been under the editorial and business
management of J. T. Scott since 1892. It is Demo-
cratic in politics, but is devoted to the best interests of
Coeur d'Alene and Kootenai county. The Independent
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
791
is also a weekly paper published by C. A. Smith and
O. B. Moon. Its publication began in July. [902. Mr.
Smith and Mr. Moon are recent arrivals in the city,
the former from Duluth, Minnesota, and the latter from
Eagle River, Wisconsin. The paper is independent in
politics, and the editors are making many friends for
themselves and for the city by their progressive and
energetic methods. The business establishments of
Coeur d'Alene are too numerous for detailed mention,
but we will review them at as great length as our space
will permit :
The Idaho Mercantile Co. is a pioneer house, of
which V. W. Sander is president and James Roche
secretary and' treasurer. The company conducts a
general store and enjoys an immense trade. F. U.
Keller & Co. are also general merchants and carry a
large stock: Charles L. Dittmore is associated with
M. Keller in this house. Another general store is
conducted by \Y. B. McFarland, a pioneer citizen.
Fred A. Shallis carries a large stock of groceries.
Armand Perrenoud is the hardware merchant; Mr.
Perrenoud has a branch store at St. Mario. ( )ther
prominent and successful business men are James 11.
Harte. Brennan and Steele, and A. V. Chamberlin,
real estate agents; Thomas E. Hedal, furniture ami
undertaking; M. C. Normoyle, president and manager,
and Felix Le Marinel, secretary and treasurer of the
Coeur d'Alene Inn Co.; Emanuel G. Hoelzele, pro-
prietor of the Sorenson House ; H. L. Bancroft, of the
Bancroft House; Theodore G. Kaesemeyer, city meat
market: W. P. Lumpkin, Lakeside Pharmacy; Robt.
R. Maun and Otto Nikolas, blacksmiths ; Clement
Wilkins, druggist ; Geo. C. Thompson, baker ; The
Wiggett & Empey Co., Ltd., g'enral merchandise;
B. H. Williams, boots and shoes; the Potter general
store ; Stewart the Haberdasher ; the Exchange Bank,
Willliam Dollar, president, Ham A. Kunz, cashier ;
J. O. Jones, tailor, the Ashton Furniture Company,
O. B. Moon, O. M. Sparks and C. A. Smith, of the
Coeur d'Alene Law and Land Co.; Ed. Turner, clean-
ing and repairing: H. W. Frixzel, jewelrv ; John B.
Goode, J. L. McClear, Earl Sanders, H. B. King.
Willis Sweet (recently appointed Attorney General
for Porto Rico). James Graham, attorneys at law; S.
H. McEuen, dentist ; H. R. Elderkin, John Sabin. and
P. J. Scallon, physicians. Among the mill companies
having plants at Coeur d'Alene, or contemplating their
erection, are the Coeur d'Alene Lumber Com pan \ ,
capital stock .$50,000: Herman Swanke. president;
William Dollar, vice-president: Chas. R. Stwer, sec-
retary, and Joseph Roener, treasurer. The Howard
Lumber Co.. of which, E. A. Blackwell is manager,
contemplates the erection of a mill with a capacity
of 250.000 feet per day. The Robins Lumber Co.
has purchased a mill site. The Big Four Lumber Co.,
successors to Lyon Lumber Co., has purchased mill
machinerv to equip a plant with a capacitv of 100,000
feet per day ; H. W. ( iallehee, E. F. Dodd,' W. E. Fore
and Frank Leighton are prominent stockholders in this
company. The Woodruff-McGuire Lumber Co. and
the Starett & Rice Co. will erect mills on the Spokane
river a short distance below the city. The Wever-
haueser syndicate contemplates the erection of a mill at
Coeur d'Alene in the near future. Allen & Gunder-
son have completed a mill with a capacity of 25,000
feet per day.
Besides great activity in the milling business, Coeur
d'Alene has splendid prospects in other directions. It
has always been a favorite summer resort and is each
year receiving an increased patronage from tourists
and sportsmen. Every provision has been made for
caring for the great crowds that yearly come to the
lake for recreation and rest. The Northern Pacific
steamer. Georgia Oaks, makes daily trips between
Coeur d'Alene and Harrison. Other steamers plying
from Coeur d'Alene to the head of navigation on Coeur
d'Alene and St. Joe rivers, are the Spokane. Capt.
J. D. McDonald ; the new steamer Colfax ; the De-
fender, which has recently been rebuilt; the Torpedo,
Capt. Sparks: the Schley, Capt. Joe Cole: the Tele-
phone : the Bonnie Doon ; the Hunter, and a new
steamer, the Idaho, which has accommodations for
1,000 people. Besides these there are sail and row
boats at the command of the tourist.
The business men of Coeur d'Alene have formed
themselves into an association for the purpose of fur-
thering the best interests of the city. The name of the
association is the Coeur d'Alene Commercial Club,
and the officers are as follows: President, J. 1'. Scott ;
vice president, M. C. Normoyle ; secretary, Farl Sand-
ers; treasurer, Otto Schmidt, executive committee,
James Roche, chairman, A. V. Chamberlin. ( . A.
Smith and B. H. Williams. The Cable Milling Co.,
of Postfalls, has been granted a franchise to construct
and operate a new water system in the city and also an
electric lighting plant. New docks and a new station
are soon to be built by the Northern Pacific Co. In
November, iyo2. articles of incorporation of the ' oeur
d'Alene and Spokane Electric Railway were filed at
Boise. The capital stock of the company was placed
at $500,000 ; directors, F. A. Blackwell, William I )ol-
lar. A. Bettis, of Coeur d'Alene: F. S. Rubins, of
Rhinelander. Wisconsin, and C. P. Lindsay, of Spo-
kane. F. A. Blackstone is president ; A. Bettis. general
manager; J. C. White, chief engineer. The road will
be an electric passenger and freight line from Coeur
d'Alene to Spokane; the construction work is well
under way and the road will be in operation in the
fall. Coeur d'Alene is fourteen miles south of Rath-
arum, the county seat, and thirty-three mile-
Spokane : its population is about twelve hundred. Trib-
utary to the city is almost limitless timbered area ; in
addition it must always receive material support from
the mining regions at present in various stages of
development: an extensive agricultural section is fast
developing to the west and north; its natural advant-
ages and beautiful surroundings are becoming widely
known, and it must continue to grow in favi r as a
summer resort; its citizens are a unit in all efl
advance the citv's best, interests. Coeur d'Alene must
for these reasons continue to grow and prosper and
it will eventually become one of the most populous
and wealthy, as it is now one of the most attractive
and progressive cities of Idaho.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
At Sandpoint the Great Northern and the North-
ern Pacific railroads are but little more than one mile
apart. In their course across the western half of the
continent from St. Paul to Seattle this is the nearest
approach to a junction made by the main lines of these
roads except at Spokane. No town in northern Idaho
has undergone more wonderful transformations than
have taken place at Sandpoint. during- the past few
years. In comparison with the other settlements of
this section in point of time, it is a prisoner, but the
period of transformation has extended back only a few
years. In 1900 it was credited with a population of
five hundred and seven. There are now said to be about
twelve hundred people permanently settled within its
corporate limits. From Spokane Sandpoint is distant
sixty-nine miles over the Northern Pacific ami seventy-
four miles over the Great Northern railroad. In many
respects it is most advantageously located. Excellent
shipping facilities are afforded by the two trans-con-
nental roads. It is near the foot of Lake Pend Oreille
and directly on the shores of this magnificent body of
water. Freight and passenger steamers ply the lake
to and from the mining camps in the Lakeview region
at the head of the lake. To the west the Pend Oreille
river is navigable for about thirty miles, as far as the
town of Priest River, making the agricultural valley of
this river in a measure tributary to Sandpoint. The
timber supply to the north and along the streams enter-
ing the lake is practically inexhaustible, insuring the
permanence of the lumber industry which is already
assuming gigantic proportions.
The history of Sandpoint as a settlement dates
back to the year 1880, when Robert Weeks opened a
general store and dealt in furs. At the same time he
conducted a hotel and bar and operated a small saw-
mill. Later a general merchandise store was opened
by his son Barton and the son"s wife. His daughters
were also interested in the business, which was con-
ducted under the firm name of E. L. Weeks & Com-
pany. The survey of the Northern Pacific railroad
was made in 1880, but even before it was completed
the certainty of its coming led a few to make per-
manent settlements and to engage in business. John
Russell, now a citizen of Rathdrum, opened a general
store in 1880. He was followed by James Baldwin,
who owned a restaurant. A little later Harry Baldwin
put up a hotel, the Baldwin House, which afterward
burned with Weeks' store building. The following
year Mr. Weeks erected a saw-mill, in which venture
he failed financially. The town was for a long time
known as Pend Oreille. On an old railroad map we
find it so named as a station on the Northern Pacific
railroad. The first postoffice was at a little settlement
called Yenfon, distant about three and one-half miles
across the lake from the present town. When the
Northern Pacific railroad was completed the town of
Venton collapsed, the postoffice was removed to Sand-
point. or, as it was then called, Pend Oreille, and
shortly afterward John Russell was made postmaster.
The second person in charge of the postoffice was
Mrs. Emma L. Weeks. The name of the railroad sta-
tion and postoffice was changed to Sandpoint about
the time that Mrs. Weeks became postmistress.
Interest in educational matters was manifested
early in the history of the settlement. The first school
was of short duration, lasting but three months, and
was taught by S. L. Smith, familiarly known as
"Pap" Smith, who is now a prosperous rancher and
fruit grower living near Rathdrum. It was a sub-
scription school, as were the schools that followed in
the middle eighties. This first term was held in the
building now occupied by Thomas E. Murphy as a res-
idence. Mr. Smith received fifty dollars per month
for his services. The next school was taught by Mrs.
T. E. Murphy in the same building. Early teachers
who followed Mrs. Murphy were Mrs. Harper. Miss
Gorch and Miss Andrews. Miss Gorch taught in the
old Pend Oreille hotel and Miss Andrews in a church
building.
During the period extending from 1885 to 1893, the
growth of the village was very slow, but there was a
gradual increase in population as the surrounding ter-
ritory was being settled, prospecting was continued in
the mountains adjacent to the lake, and the lumber,
pole and tie industries were gradually becoming more
important. Among the business men of this period
were J. L. Pritchard who conducted a general store
and was one of the early postmasters ; Herron and
Carpenter, and Butler and Culver, general merchandise ;
H. M. Casey, now of Bonner's Ferry, restaurant ; Sam-
uel Hayes, general store ; Harvy Baldwin, hotel. In
1891 Ignatz Weil bought the Weeks store and for
many years was the leading merchant and manager
of the Sandpoint Mercantile Company. Mr. Weil
withdrew from this position in November, 1895, and
was succeeded by W. C. King. He has since been
proprietor of one of the additions to the town site.
The Sandpoint Mercantile Company operated a saw-
mill. Other mills in operation about this time were
the Cannon and Gray mill, in which Mr. Weil was in-
terested, and the Fowle Shingle mill, J. Nesbit, man-
ager, which had a capacity of one hundred thousand
shingles per day. The N. P. Hotel was the main
hostelry and a lodging house was conducted by Airs.
Maloney. C. E. Redman was agent for the North-
ern Pacific. He succeeded Thomas E. Murphy, who
came in 1885 and remained in the employ of the com-
pany for seven years. Mr. Murpliy now ownes and
operates a ranch across the lake and a number of
prospects in the mining regions. The earlier newspa-
per men of the town were L. H. Faust, now a state sen-
ator in the Montana legislature, and J. R. Law, who
came here from Hope, and for a time published the
Sandpoint Journal.
The building of the Great Northern R. R. in 1891-
92 improved conditions very materially for a time, as
it gave employment to a great many and revived in-
terest in the future of the town. New investments
were made by capitalists from the outside and the
fact became established that Sandpoint must eventu-
ally become an important trading, shipping, mining
and manufacturing center. In building to Bonner's
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
793
Ferry the Great Northern cut off from Standpoint a
certain amount of support it had previously enjoyed,
but in the increase of business from other sources, this
loss was scarcely felt.
In 1892 L. D. Farmin came to Standpoint as agent
of the Great Northern. Mrs. Farmin succeeded him in
this position, the two remaining with the company
until recent years. In September, 1893, Mr. Farmin
filed on a tract of land which includes the original
town site. It was at that time unsurveyed and in the
patent the boundary is described as follows : "Com-
mencing at the old Northern Pacific turn table and run-
ning one-half mile west to the line of W. B. Dishman's
land, thence one-half mile east along the old country
road to Sand Creek, thence one-half mile north to the
point of starting." After being surveyed the legal de-
scription of the land was northeast quarter of section
22, township 57 north, range 2 west of Boise meridian.
During the financial panic of the early nineties busi-
ness was at a standstill, as it was every where, but from
this period of depression Sandpoint has rapidly recov-
ered and is now one of the best business points in
northern Idaho. Besides financial troubles, the peo-
ple have had to contend with other disturbing factors
that have from time to time operated temporarily
against rapid progress in business and manufacturing
enterprises. Among these have been several disas-
trous fires that have laid waste the business portions
of the town. The N. P. depot, Mr. Murphy's residence
and the small building next to it are the only buildings-
of the original town that are still standing. In 1887
the Baldwin House and some near-by buildings were
destroyed by fire. In 1892 the old Pend Oreille
hotel, owned by Baldwin and Bradley, was consumed
and with it went some smaller structures. In Novem-
ber, 1895, the town had a narrow escape from total
destruction. Fire originated this time in the Northern
Pacific hotel, which was destroyed. The Fremont House
and the residence of B. F. Butler were also burned.
The most destructive fire occurred in November, 1900.
All that portion of the town east of the N. P. R. R.
track, from the depot to the residence of Harry Bald-
win, was destroyed. The fire started in the Park Hotel
and soon spread to adjoining buildings. The block
was composed of frame buildings entirely and al-
though a volunteer fire department assisted by citizens,
made every effort to stay the work of the flames, the
entire block was razed to the ground. To prevent
the destruction of the residence portion of the town a
dwelling belonging to Mrs. Hines was blown up with
dynamite. The losses in this fire were as follows : B.
F. Butler & Company, saloon and fixtures, $2,000, in-
surance $700: H. Boyle, Park Hotel, $1,200; J. M.
Bradley, saloon and restaurant, $2,500; F. Courtway.
saloon, $1,000; L. Knaak, two buildings. $2,500; I.
Underwood, restaurant, $250.00; H. Sawyer, lodging-
house, $450; Mrs. Hines, dwelling, $450. '
The town site of Sandpoint was laid out in 1898
by L. D. Farmin. Its level is ten feet above the high
water mark of 1894. In this year the water in the lake
raised thirty-one feet and a few houses that had been
built in the flat back of the town were floated away on
the flood.
The damage dune by the water at this time was not
considerable, however, and there never has been a time
before nor since the year 1894 when there has been
danger from high water at Sandpoint. The elevation
of the lake surface at this point is two thousand and
fifty feet at low water stage, while the elevation of the
main portion of the town site is two thousand, one hun-
dred and nineteen feet. At the present time there are
three divisions of the town site within the corporate
limits, the original portion laid out by Mr. Farmin,
1. Weil's addition and Law's addition. Outside of the
corporate limits is what is known as the Mill addition,
containing about eighty residences, which have been
built and are owned by the company and rented to
employes.
Sandpoint was incorporated in 1900. The mem-
bers of the first town board were H. C. Culver, J. M.
Bradley, P. H. Moran, C. F. Ewing and C. W. Wil-
son. The first municipal election was held in 1901.
The members of the present town board are O. F.
Page, chairman, J. F. Yost. O. L. Pea'vy, C. R. Foss
and J. M. Bradley. F. E. Catlin is town clerk. W. F.
Whitaker treasurer and H. Sawyer marshal. In March,
1 90 1, the town council passed the following ordinance
defining the town limits and describing the town seal :
Be it ordained by the board of trustees of the vil-
lage of Sandpoint :
Chapter I. Section 1. The following described
lines shall, for the present and until changed or altered,
be and compose the limits of the territory of the village
of Sandpoint, to-wit : Beginning at the northeast cor-
ner of the northeast quarter of section 22, township
57 north, range 2 west B. M., running thence one-half
mile west ; thence one-half mile south ; thence
due east to the low water mark of Lake
Pend Oreille, thence in a northerly direction along
said low water mark to the section mark to the sec-
tion line between sections 23 and 14 in said town-
ship and range : thence west to place of beginning.
Chapter II. Seal. Section 1. That a seal in cir-
cular form with the words "Town of Sandpoint, Ida-
ho," on the outer circle and the words, "Koonetai
County" and the word "Seal" in center, and the same
is hereby made the corporate seal of the village of
Sandpoint, Idaho, to be used in all cases in which by
the laws of Idaho and the customs of nations it is
necessary to use a seal by a corporation.
The public schools of Sandpoint deserve special
mention. The success which has invariably attended
the conduct of these schools is in a measure explained
by the following remarks recently made by a prominent
citizen in speaking of the conditions prevailing in the
town. He said : "We take special pride in our public
schools. There are none better elsewhere. Our teach-
ers are efficient, enthusiastic and conscientious, and
the school building does the people of the town credit.
'Progress' is our watchword, and we take a keen in-
terest in all that pertains to educational matters." We
have alreadv given some of the very early school his-
7 94
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
torv. After incorporation a small school house was
erected, which was afterward purchased by the Meth-
odist church people, was remodeled and is now used
as a church building. Land for its occupation was
donated by L. D. Fannin. Among those who taught
school here just prior to the erection of this building
were Miss Minnie E. Price, who taught in an old
shack that stood on the Prichard place, and Mrs.
Bellamy, who occupied a former saloon building. In
1897 the present handsome structure was built on
ground donated to the school district by L. D. Fannin.
It is a two-story frame, containing five rooms. The
cost of the building and furniture was about four
thousand dollars. At the time of the organization of
Kootenai county there were but two school districts.
Number one included Coeur d'Alene and all the ter-
ritory south : number two included Rathdrum and all
the territory north. The first district formed after
county organization was number three, which included
the settlement at Sandpoint and a great deal of terri-
tory north and west. It is now known as independent
district number three. The present board of trustees
consists of W. E. Hutchinson, chairman. B. L. Wal-
rad, clerk, and W. F. Whitaker. The enrollment for
the present school year has reached two hundred and
twenty-five. The corps of instructors now in charge
of the schools is made up of Professor F. W. Roberts,
principal, Miss Bertha Huey, Miss Leona Hern. .Miss
Clara Sydow, Miss Carrie Bullock. The principal re-
ceives a salary of seventy-five dollars per month, his
assistants, each fifty-five dollars.
Sandpoint has one church building which is occu-
pied by the Methodists. Rev. J. C. Reed is pastor.
The building was reconstructed from the old school
house. There are other church organizations, but
they have not as yet built houses of worship.
The fraternal spirit pervades all circles at Sand-
point and the lodges are well represented. The fol-
lowing orders have regular chapters and good mem-
bership rolls: Helmer Lodge No. 32, K. of P., S.
G. Yoder, C. C. : L. D. Fannin. K. of R. and S. ;
I. O. O. F., Sandpoint Lodge No. 59, Alex Piatt, N.
G., P. H. Moran. R. S. : Royal Tent. Xo. 23, K. O.
T. M., W. F. Whitaker, Com.. E. A. Sherburne, R.
K.; Mizpah Hive, Xo. 15, L. O. T. M.. Louisa Wil-
son, Com., Blanch Hurd, R. K. ; M. W. A., Sand-
point camp No. 7191, P. H. Moran, V. C, C. R.
Foss, clerk. Lakeside Camp Xo. 2373, R. X. A.,
Mrs. Ella Fannin, oracle. Mrs. Maude Miller, re-
corder. Foresters of America, Pend Oreille, Court
No. 12, Joseph Helms, C. R., Thomas Martin, F. S.
The business houses and manufacturing establish-
ments of Standpoint rest upon a sure monetary foun-
dation. Some of them have had struggles in the past
but they have weathered financial storms safely and
the prospects for the future are as good as could be
desired. A review of these interests is essential and
will complete the history of the growing city.
The absorption of the Sandpoint Lumber Com-
pany in 1901 by the Humbird Lumber Company
was a great thing for Sandpoint. The new com-
pany has practically reconstructed the saw, shingle
and planing mills, installing new machinery that
has more than doubled the former capacity of the
plant. The company also built eighty houses for the
use of its employees, and installed an electric light
plant, which furnishes light for the mill and yard
and also for the town. The sawmill is the largest in
the region between the Rocky and the Coeur d'Alene
ranges of mountains. It has a cutting capacity of two
hundred thousand feet every twenty-four hours,
while the shingle mill output is four hundred thous-
and in a like period. The mill has a most convenient
location on the lake. Recently the company put on
a night shift and are now employing two hundred and
twenty-five men regularly. The company also con-
ducts a large general merchandise store. The mill
was put up in August, 1900, at a cost of two hundred
thousand dollars. The officers of the company are
John A. Humbird, of St. Paul, president ; F. Weyer-
haueser, of St. Paul, vice-president; E. Rutledge, of
Chippewa Falls. Wisconsin, secretary. The mill i^ un-
der the local management of A. E. Rickerd. The trans-
actions of this firm foot up over three hundred thou-
sand dollars yearly. The company employs, on the
outside and "inside, about three hundred and fifty
men. It now operates two steamers on the lake, the
Pend Oreille and the Daisy, and has two others in
course of construction.
B. F. Butler and H. C. Culver constitute one of
the pioneer business firms of the city. Mr. Butler has
been a resident of Kootenai county since 1881. Mr.
Culver came to Sandpoint in 1899. They have an
extensive trade in general merchandise, cedar posts
and poles. They are men of excellent business quali-
fications and have contributed very materially to the
city's growth and prestige.
C. W. Wilson, the present postmaster, has a
stationery, fruit and cigar store. He has always had
faith in the future of the town and surrounding
country and has been identified with all public meas-
ures for the common good and the advancement of
the city's best interests. He was appointed postmaster
in 1900. T. J. Stonestreet is manager, and W. F.
Whitaker, treasurer of the Idaho Cedar Co., which
deals in poles, posts, piling, etc. Mr. Whitaker came
in 1898 as secretary and cashier of the Sandpoint
Mercantile & Lumber Co., now the Humbird Co.
He is now a justice of the peace. Charles R. Foss. the
druggist, opened his present business in 1900. His
establishment is one of the most popular trading
places in the city. Mr. Foss is a member of the city
council. L. D. Fannin and J. O. Burket are pro-
prietors of the Sandpoint Hardware & Furniture
Co., established in 1902. L. D. Fannin. I. Weil, J.
R. Law and the Sandpoint Real Estate Agency, deal
in city lots and outside property. A. R. Sweet has
been established for two years in the jewelry and re-
pairing business. W. H. Wells is a painter and deco-
rator. A livery stable and transfer is conduced by
C. B. LeDean. L. D. Farmin also owns a transfer
line between the two railroad stations. E. J. Cos-
scallen has a good trade in hardware, vehicles and
furniture. T. H. Darrow conducts the Sandpoint
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
795
meat market. Charles Hutchins and Mr. Ewing are
photographers. Ferguson & Morrison deal in gent's
furnishing goods. The Sandpoint Hospital is con-
ducted by Dr. N. A. Goddard, formerly senior
physician and surgeon to St. Joseph's Hospital at
St. Paul. The Peoples Store Co., which has an ex-
tensive general trade and ships poles and timber, is
under the management of Frank Ewing. In the list
of professional men are H. H. Taylor, John A.
Steinlein, Peter Johnson and D. H. Tandy, attorneys ;
Mr. Steinlein is justice of the peace. Dr. O. F. Page
and Dr. Charles S. Moody are physicians and sur-
geons. Dr. J. B. Buchanan practices dentistry. H. E.
Hunt is an undertaker and embalmer. Nelson &
Perkins are proprietors of a new bakery. J. C. Helms
is a contractor. V. M. Underwood & Co., have
a laundry and lodging house. Warren & Richards
deal in gent's furnishings, notions, cigars, etc. There
is an opera house with a seating capacity of about
four hundred. The Bazaar millinery and dress goods
establishment is conducted by Mrs. E. E. Brey. O.
D. Juergs is a practical shoemaker. A cigar factory
is operated by M. J. Krakenburg. W. F. Springer
is proprietor of the Queen barber shop. C. B. Jones
conducts the Jones feed sore. Jack Mullen is a
painter and paper hanger. J. W. Lea is a custom
tailor and has a good trade. W. E. Hutchinson main-
tains an insurance agency. J. H. Ashley is a civil
engineer. The Star meat market is owned by T. D.
Pritchard. The Lumber Jacks eating house is con-
ducted by William Hanna ; the Palace Hotel by Mrs.
J. Maloney: the Pend Oreille Hotel by John Murray,
"and the Baldwin Hotel by Harry Baldwin., Mr.
Murray came to Sandpoint in 1900 ; his hotel is
modern in its appointments and enjoys a good patron-
age. Harry Baldwin was one of the pioneers of the
town, having built the first hotel ; the building he now
occupies is a new twenty-room hotel and is a credit
to the growing city.
Sandpoint has excellent prospects for the future.
For months there has been a rush for business and
residence lots. Seventy-five buildings were erected
from the first of March to the last of July, 1892,
and there has thus far been no material decrease in
the building boom. At the present time the buildings
are with one exception frames. Mr. D. H. Tandy
has the distinction of having erected the first brick
business building. The Sandpoint Brick Co., of
which H. H. Taylor is secretary and treasurer, has
installed machinery with a capaciy to turn out twenty
thousand bricks per day. This is a new industry here
but will doubtless prove a profitable one and brick
structures will no doubt in time replace the frame
store buildings of the present. While Sandpoint has
exceptionally good shipping facilities, mail, telephone
and express accommodations, it as yet has no water
or electric light plant. These modern conveniences,
however, are soon to be supplied. In Sand creek,
three miles from town, there is a direct fall of twenty-
two feet and the volume of water is sufficient to pro-
duce one thousand horse power. The elevation at
the falls is seven hundred feet above the city. The
water rights here have been taken up by Peter John-
son and D. H. Tandy, who propose constructing a
system of water works and putting in an electric
light plant in the near future. Besides the mills
already in operation, the Kootenai Bay Lumber Co.
is constructing a mill on the lake, three miles east
of the city. Their present timber supply is located in
the Pack river district. It is estimated that there will
be almost oik- million feet of logs for the Sandpoint
mills put into the lake during the season. It is be-
lieved it will require thirty or forty years to saw the
visible supply of timber tributary "to this point. In
addition to the agricultural areas now surrounding
Sandpoint there are about six townships on the flat
at the foot of the lake, now covered by a heaw growth
of timber, that will, when cleared, make the best of
farming land. This territory will in the future con-
tribute of its wealth to the further upbuilding of the
city. Material support is destined soon to come from
1 he lake mineral region. A vulcan smelter, costing
about one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, is about
to be built at Sandpoint. The Panhandle Smelting &
Refining Co., of which H. M. Williams, of Spokane,
is general manager, has the matter in hand and pro-
poses to have the works in operation by September
ist. Other officers of the company are president,
Jacob Hines, Minneapolis; vice-president, M. A.
Murphy. St. Paul ; secretary, W. E. Nelson, Denver.
T. W. Teasdale, F. W. Condron, and E. J. Norton,
all of St. Paul, are directors. The plant will be lo-
cated about two miles east of the city and will have
a capacity of three hundred tons of ore per day. The
company has already purchased boats for use on the
lakes and have closed contracts with mines not only
in the Pend Oreille region but along the line of the
Great Northern and the Northern Pacific railroad in
Montana. This enterprise will bring a greal deal
of business to Sandpoint.
In eastern lumber markets Sandpoint is known as
the largest shipper of cedar telegraph, telephone and
electric light poles, and piling in the northwest, the
annual shipments being about four thousand cars.
The development of many of the natural resources of
the surrounding country is still in its infancy, which
assures a continuance of growth and prosperity.
Although much has been accomplished in the lumber
industry it is only partially developed. Within a
radius of thirty miles there still remains 500.000.000
feet of timber, the chief varieties being cedar, white
and yellow pine, fir and tamarack. Dairying and
fruit raising have passed the experimental stage and
are destined to become important industries. Close
by the town, along the lake, are immense beds of the
finest aluminum clay, where brick factories are cer-
tain to be built. As a summer resort Sandpoint pos-
cesses excellent advantages, as Pend Oreille is the
largest and most magnificent body of water in Idaho.
The scenery along its shores is indescribably grand
and beautiful. The lake is over sixy miles long and
has a shore line of more than three hundred miles.
Portions of its surface are shadowed by the most ma-
iestic mountains, and occasional wooded island adds
796
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
its charm to the natural grandure of the surround-
ings and in places long beaches and shallow water
afford excellent opportunities for bathing. Fish are'
plentiful and the wooded shores and hillsides afford
excellent grouse and deer shooting. In the higher
ranges of mountains bear, cougar, and caribou are
found. Steamers run from Sandpoint to Hope, Lake-
view and Idlewild on the lake and as far down the
Pend Oreille river as the towns of Priest River and
Albany Falls. Almost invariably there is a lawless
element in frontier towns and in its earlier days Sand-
point was temporary headquarters for a few individ-
uals of this class. But in the process of development
she has driven this disturbing element to seek other
places of rendezvous and through the efforts 01
efficient executive officers, has become a quiet, law abid-
ing city. The older portion of the town was built
along the Northern Pacific railroad right of way. near
the lake, but the rapid growth of the past few years
has forced it across Sand creek to an ideal site, above
the highest water mark of lake and river, where there
is plenty of room for a very large city.
Much of the prosperity that has come to Sand-
point in the past two years has resulted from the
advertising its advantages have received in the news-
papers and magazines of the northwest, and no small
portion of the credit is due the Kootenai County Re-
publicans, the local newspaper so ably edited by State
Senator John F. Yost. Its descriptive and statistical
matter has been copied extensively by exchanges and
as a consequence the peculiar advantages of the lo-
cation and the wonderful opportunities afforded have
become known far and wide. There is no more
desirable location in the northwest for the business
man, the professional man, the home builder or the
capitalist than Sandpoint, Idaho.
Bonners Ferry is a town about which center the
most interesting reminiscent and historical events as-
sociated with the early history not only of Kootenai
county but of northern Idaho. The trail made by the
Boundary Commission in 1859 when on its expedition
to locate a point on the forty-ninth parallel of latitude
which had been agreed upon as the international boun-
dary line between the United States and British Amer-
ica, led by the present site of the town. The old Koo-
tenai chief, Abraham, and his braves carried the mem-
bers of the commission over the Kootenai river in their
long canoes, entertained them in their tepees and fur-
nished them with guides for the remainder of the
journey. This old trail was used afterward by the
pony riders in the Star mail route service, and was
better known after the early sixties as the Wild Horse
trail. After the discovery of the Wild Horse mines
of British Columbia in 1863 it was used for years by
the great army of prospectors that rushed to that re-
gion from California, Colorado, Oregon and central
Idaho. When the rush to the Wild Horse mines began
Edwin L. Bonner was in the mercantile business in
Walla Walla. From this point the caravan traveled
over the old Mullan road until it joined the Boundary
Commission trail at the Antoine Plante ferry over the
Spokane river at the present site of Spokane bridge.
In company with his cousin, R. A. Eddy, and two oth-
er business associates, Herman Roberts and John Wal-
ton, Mr. Bonner joined one of the northbound parties,
accompanying it as far as the present site of the ferry
over the Kootenai river. He saw the need of a good
ferry at this point and realized that it would prove a
remunerative investment. He at once began negotiat-
ing with Chief Abraham and from him purchased land
on either side of the river for use in establishing the
ferry and a trading post. Following these prelimin-
aries he secured the passage of an act through the Ida-
ho territorial legislature, at its first session, a copy
of which will be found in the first chapter of the his-
tory of Kootenai county, granting him exclusive ferry
privileges at this point and fixing transfer charges.
John Walton became Mr. Bonner's agent and man-
aged the ferry and trading post until 1874, when he
was succeeded by Louis Lee. (Mr. Bonner died at
Missoula, Montana, July 10, 1902.) This ferry and
trading post constituted' the first business enterprise
in Kootenai county and the pioneer establishment of
Bonners Ferry. The ferry and post were leased in
1875 by Richard Fry, who eventually became proprie-
tor. Mr. Fry established a pack train service between
Bonners Ferry and Victoria, British Columbia,
via the Wild Horse country, bringing in supplies which
he disposed of to the prospectors and Indians, from the
former receiving gold dust and some coin, and from
the latter, furs. Besides Mr. Fry's pack train there
were four trains carrying supplies from Walla Walla
to Wild Horse creek. Martin Fry came with his fam-
ily to Bonners Ferry in 1876, associating himself with
his brother Richard in conducting the ferry, the post
and pack trains. From this date until 1884 his was the
only white family in this part of the country. In the
fall of 1S84 a Mr. Stone, with his family, settled near
the river about three nvles below the ferry.
From the beginning Bonners Ferry has devel-
oped, through many vicissitudes, to its present stand-
ing as a progressive commercial center. During the
eighties but little progress was made. It remained a
trading post, but only in a small way did it attempt
to furnish supplies for the mining camps in the north
and the scattered ranchers and stock raisers in the
valley. After the completion of the Northern Pacific
railroad, in 1882, Kootenai became the supply point
for the north. In 1885 a toll road between Kootenai
and Bonners Ferry was constructed by Dr. Hendyrx
ami Bonners Ferry being at the head of navigation on
the Kootenai river it gradually assumed a position of
importance as a transfer point from freight wagons
to steamer and from steamer to freight wagons. In
1888 William Eaton established a general store which
cave an impetus to trade. But is was not until 1892
that the tow n really began to grow. In that year the
tracks of the Great Northern railroad were laid and
immediatelv thereafter people flocked in from all
points and the town began to assume the appearance
of a thriving business center. The town of Kootenai,
A VIEW ON LAKE COEUR d'ALENE.
INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY STONE NEAR PORTHILL.
David McLaughlin, one of the First Settlers in the Valley, and Son of Dr. John
M. McLaughlin, Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
797
having fulfilled its mission as a supply point for the
north country, was abandoned by most of its business
men who came to Bonners Ferry. Among those who
settled in Bonners Ferry about this time we may name
W. L. Kinnear and W. I. Williams, who established
a grocery and provision store with a stock valued at
$20,000; H. W. Gates & Co., stationers and confec-
tioners : W. W. Johnson and son. S. W. Johnson, who
opened a wholesale and retail meat market; John C.
Callahan, who invested in town property and opened
a real estate office ; A. J. Stauffer, a general merchant ;
B. H. Williams & Co., harness and saddles; Branden-
burg & Vangasken, general merchandise ; A. L. Jame-
son and Capt. G. R. Gray, proprietors of the Holly
Hardware Co ; J. F. Cooke, Jr., druggist. General
A. Kaiser built the Palace Hotel at the cost of $10,-
000. H. P. Green became proprietor of the Bonner
House. Among the professional men of this period
were S. E. Henry, Bartlett Sinclair and Judge J. C.
Harkness, attorneys; T. A. Bishop, G. H. Barker and
U. G. Campbell, physicians.
The town was first known as Fry; a post office was
established under that name and Richard Fry was ap-
pointed first postmaster. The old post trading store, not
being fitted, up with mail boxes, a dry goods box was
used as a receptacle for all mail. This portion of the
town afterward became known as Bonnerport. Will-
iam Eaton platted an adjoining townsite, which lie
named Eatonville. In 1899 the two sites were com-
bined under one name, Bonners Ferry. The owners
of the original townsite were Richard Fry and Will-
iam Ainslie. J. C. Callahan was also, at one time, an
interested party.
In 1892 a custom-house was established at Bonners
Ferry, at first through the courtesy of the chief officer
of the district, and later by congressional act. James
E. Dolan and Rufus L. Cheney were the first custom
officers stationed at this port. Three-fourths of the
passenger and freight business to and from the British
Columbia mining regions at this time was via Kootenai
river and Bonners Ferry. The freight was principally
coal and ores. Since the building of the Kootenai
Valley Railroad in 1899 the bulk of the imports and
exports has passed through Porthill. A custom of-
ficer, Judge Henry Melder, is still stationed at Bon-
ners Ferry to look after the business that comes ami
goes via the Kootenai river.
The first steamer on the river was a small affair,
twenty-five feet long by six feet beam, built by Baillie
Gorman and dragged over the trail from Kootenai.
It was named the Midge, but was later known as the
Mud Hen. Another vessel, the Ozier, was brought in
over the same trail a few months later by Lundy and
Wrigbt. The Alton was another of the early boats and
G. R. Gray built still another about 1890, which he
named the Spokane. The largest and finest steamer
engaged in the import and export trade on the Koo-
tenai river was built by the Bonners Ferry and Kaslo
Transportation Co., in which Richard Fry was inter-
ested, in 1893. This vessel was named the State of
Idaho; it was designed and modeled by Capt. H. S.
Depuy and was one hundred and forty-two feet in
length, with a beam twenty-three feet across and a
hold depth of six feet. Its registered tonnage was
two hundred and seventy-two tons and it was equipped
with two high-pressure engines. It still plys the river
between Bonners Ferry and points on Kootenai lake,
British Columbia.
With the advent of the Great Northern railroad in
1892 came a colony of Chinese. The aliens quartered
themselves in a collection of shacks on the outskirts of
town as is usually their custom where they are settled
in numbers. This was about the time the effort was
being made to enforce the alien labor law in northern
idaho and as its enforcement was being resisted by the
lailroad companies there was general and intense feel-
ing against all foreigners of this class. In June, 1892.
the citizens of Bonners Ferry took the law into their
own hands. They assembled by appointment, dis-
cussed the situation, declared the Chinese colony a
nuisance and decided to take immediate action, ex-
pelling them from the community. They marched in
a bod)-, two hundred strong, to the laundries and
dwellings and informed the celestials that they would
be allowed two hours in which to pack their goods and
go. There were fifty members of the colony and they
stood not on the order of their going but immediately
prepared for departure. No overt acts of violence
were committed by any of the citizens ; they furnished
two box cars into which the Chinese were instructed
to pack themselves and their belongings. When all
was in readiness, the engines whistled and the Chinese
train moved out of town amid the wild yells of the
entire populace that had gathered to witness their
departure.
In 1893 Bonners Ferry was visited by a disastrous
fire, which destroyed half the business portion of the
town. For a year or two previous there had been
great activity both in the business and residence por-
tions and many buildings had been erected, some of
them costing several thousand dollars. This fire, com-
ing at a time when the panic in financial circles had
paralyzed all business enterprises, was a very heavy
blow to Bonners Ferry and one from which it did not
recover for years. In addition to losses by panic and
fire, the city has suffered on three occasions from over-
flows of the river. In 1894 the lower portion of the
city was flooded and the people driven from their
homes and places of business to seek refuge in the
higher altitudes on the hillsides. Considerable dam-
age was done to residences, business houses and to
merchandise. A few of the frailest dwellings were
washed away. The postoffice building, which stood
near the banks of the river, was undermined and car-
ried away on the flood and was afterwards found
stranded on the low lands, one hundred miles down the
river. The tracks and small bridges of the Great
Northern railroad were washed out in some places
and badly damaged in others ; traffic was stopped for
almost two weeks while roadbed and track were being
replaced. The year 1898 was another high water
rear in the history of the town. The lower floors of
dwellings and business houses were flooded and the
railroad traffic delayed, but no serious damage was
79»
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
done. Again, in June, 1903, the river overflowed its
banks and swept through the town. The streets and
lower floors of all buildings were under three feet of
water ; sidewalks were floated and many of them car-
ried away ; boats afforded the only means of transporta-
tion about the town : but little business was transacted
and families took refuge in a portion of the town that
is terraced upon foothills on the south, many of them
putting up tents for shelter. The railroad tracks were
under five feet of water ; a number of small bridges
and in places sections of the roadbed and tracks were
washed out. Three engines and a number of cars
were ditched and the Kootenai Valley Railroad bridge
across the river was swung two feet out of place by
the force of the current and driftwood. For a time all
traffic on the railroads stopped and it was several
weeks before all repairs were completed and business
was able to resume its uninterrupted course. The
overflows have never been accompanied by loss of life,
and aside from the damage to the railroads, the de-
struction of property has been comparatively small
when the volume of water and the location of the
business district are taken into consideration. The
sources of the Kootenai river are in the Rocky moun-
tains where precipitation of snow is, during some
winters, very great. When a winter of unusually
heavy snowfall is followed by a late spring, the snow
remains banked in the mountains, and a sudden change
to warm weather in June causes it to melt rapidly,
thus sending down a volume of water that quickly
fills and overflows the low banks of the river. This
is an unusual combination of conditions ; as a rule the
snows are gradually melted during the month of May
and the waters escape without causing overflow ex-
cept in the lower valley where the lowlands are sub-
ject to annual inundation.
Interest in educational matters began early in the
history of Bonners Ferry. The first school was taught
by Airs. Martin Fry in the fall and winter of 1883-
84. Her own children were the only whites in at-
tendance, the remainder being half-breed Indians ;
she had in all. ten pupils. During the winter of 1884-
85 a Mr. Tailard taught a three-months' term, after
which there was no school until five years later, when
Mrs. Fry again taught a short term, this time number-
ing among her pupils the children of white families
that had made their homes in the village. The first
school house was a small log building and Mrs. Fry
was succeeded as instructor by Miss Bell Jones, now
Mrs. Dr. T. A. Bishop. Among other teachers in the
early schools were Miss Christiana Winterbottom,
Miss Jennie Jackworth and Thomas Hydorn. The
present handsome school building was erected in 1894
at a cost of $2,500 ; in addition to this amount there
was expended on furnishings $800 and on text-books
and library $500. The district has no debt. There is
an enrollment of ninety pupils and three teachers are
employed, the principal receiving a salary of sevent)
dollars, and the two assistants each fifty dollars per
month. During the school year just closed the schools
were in charge of Prof. O. R. Shern, principal, and
Misses Bertha Reeder and Viola Macartor, assistants.
These instructors have been eminently successful and
have made the schools a credit to themselves and to the
city. The present school board is composed of James
Dolan, Andrew Kent and John Mulfeldt. ■
There are congregations of the Presbyterian,
Methodist and Catholic churches. The Presbyterian
church was erected some years ago under the pas-
torate of Rev. M. M. Marshall. Rev. John Hope is
the present pastor. The Catholic church was built in
1894 at a cost of $1,200 and was dedicated by Bishop
Glorieux of Boise. Father J. Purcell is the officiating
pastor. Rev. J. M. Eastland conducts services for the
Methodists.
The fi >1!< iwing fraternal orders have well supported
lodges: Utopia Lodge, Xo. 36, 1. O. O. F. ; T. A.
Bishop, X. G. : William Vangasken, Sec. Loval Re-
becca Lodge, Xo. 43, I. O. O. F.; Mrs. Anna Bish-
op, X. G. : Mrs. J. E. Dolan, Sec. Acme Lodge, Xo.
15, K. of P.; John Mulfeldt. C. C. ; S. E. Henry, K.
of R. & S. Crescent Temple, Xo. 10, Rathbone Sis-
ters : Mrs. Ella McLauglin, M. E. C. ; Mrs. Minnie
Little. .\i. of R. & C. Kootenai Tent, Xo. 20, K. O.
T. M. ; S. D. Tavlor, Com. : B. W. Luddington, R. K.
Xorth Star Hive, Xo. 16, L. O. T. M. ; Miss Maude
Collins, L. C. ; Airs. W. R. Eddy, R. K. Xorth Star
Camp, Xo. 6160. M. W. A.; Clarence Collins, V. C. ;
E. R. Little, clerk.
The town was incorporated in 1894. It now has a
population estimated to be eight hundred and is grow-
ing steadily. The present members of the board of
trustees are S. R. Gray, chairman and ex-officio may-
or ; William Eaton. William Elderton, X. B. Williams
and Benjamin Morrow. A. J. Kent is city marshal.
John F. Cooke, Jr., has served as postmaster since 1897.
A review of the present business establishments will
complete this article. Much of the support of the fu-
ture will come to the city from the lumber industry
which is rapidly developing. William Eaton put up
a small sawmill in i8qi and from this beginning there
has been a gradual increase in the production of lum-
ber. The locai demand is now supplied by the mill
of the International Lumber Company, William
1 ('Connell, manager. The Stein Lumber Company of
Glenwood, Wisconsin, has recently purchased of the
Northern Pacific Railroad Company ten thousand
acres of heavily timbered land tributary to the town
and is preparing to expend $200,000 in the erection of
a sawmill. This company is composed of Wisconsin
capitalists. H. C. Stein being manager, and will op-
crate under the corporation name of the Bonner Man-
ufacturing Company. The Bonner Mercantile Com-
pany, established in 1891 and incoporated in 1894, car-
ries a very large stock of general merchandise and im-
plements. Their present store building was erected
in [896. ' If this company E. XT. Kinnear is president;
W. L. Kinnear, manager; E. G. Stuyvesant, secre-
tary, and E. L. Little, treasurer. The C. C. Mercan-
tile Company, Ltd., carries a large stock of general
merchandise. It also handles feed, flour, hay and
grain. William Van Gasken is manager of the Koo-
tenai Trading Company, which also deals in general
merchandise. John F. Cook and T. J. Jones are drug-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
gists. Other establishments are James Egan. restaur-
ant; William Eiberton, bakery and 'livery; Mary Hol-
linger, dry goods; J. G. Jorgenson, shoemaker; T. W.
McLaughlin, confectioner; Charles O'Callaghan, real
estate and C. S. commissioner; John O'Hogge, meat
market; Emery and Cane, barbers. J. Muhlfeld is a
contractor and builder and deals in lumber and all
kin. Is of building material. S. S. Combs is the village
blacksmith. J. P. Beeler is proprietor of the Inter-
national Hotel, and H. M. Casey of Hotel Casey. S.
E. Henry. James E. Dolan, C. H. Merriam and Elbert
< >wen are attorneys. vVallace S. Beebee has estab-
lished a dentistry. G. E. Barker and T. A. Bishop
are physicians.
The Kootenai Herald is a weekly newspaper ably-
managed and edited by S. D. Taylor, who came from
Kootenai with his paper in 1892 and has since been
energetically devoted to the advancement of the best
interests of Bonners Ferry and Kootenai county.
Bonners Ferry is in many ways fortunately located
and it is reasonable to believe that the city will grow
and become populous and prosperous. On three sides
are extensive timbered sections that must contribute
to its growth. The Boulder, Grouse Mountain, Lib-
bv and Ramey creek mining regions on the east and
north, and the Priest river mining region on the
west are tributary to the town. Its elevation is but
sixteen hundred feet and it is in the center of a fruit
and stock raising section that is developing rapidly.
It is at the head of the Kootenai valley, that, when
properly drained, is destined to become the richest
agricultural section in northern Idaho. There are no
extremes of temperature either in winter or in sum-
mer and it is regarded as an exceptionally healthful
location. The site of the Moyie Falls, seven miles up
the river, has been taken up by J. F. Cook, who is put-
ting in a power station with machinery that will har-
ness one hundred and sixty horse power, with which
he purposes to operate an electric lighting plant. The
shipping facilities by rail and water are excellent. In
1899 the receipts of the Great Northern Railroad at
this point were $144,000 : those of the Kootenai Val-
ley Railroad $67,679, and each year shows a material
increase. As the varied industries of the surround-
ing sections are developed, Bonners Ferry must of
necessity develop with them. The standing of the
citv among the advanced and prosperous centers of
northern Idaho is assured.
HARRISON.
Harrison is located on the east side of Lake
Coeur d'Alene. It is within seven miles of the head
of the lake and the mouth of the St. Joe river. On
the northeast the mouth of the Coeur d'Alene river is
bat half a mile away. It is on a branch of the O. R.
& N. Railroad that leaves the main line at Tekoa,
Washington, and runs via Harrison and Wallace to
a connection with a Montana branch of the North-
ern Pacific. Tt is distant about twenty-five miles from
Coeur d'Alene city with which it has direct communi-
cation bv steamers. All Coeur d'Alene steamers from
Harrison make direct connections with a branch of the
Northern Pacific Railroad. Harrison is built on a
hill or rather it may be said to be terraced up the side
of a mountain, residences in the upper part of town be-
ing several hundred feet higher than those on the lake
front In approaching on the lake almost every build-
ing in the city is visible from the deck of the steamer.
It is about thirty miles, as the crow flies, from Rath-
drum, the county seat. According to the 1900 census it
was credited with being the largest town in the county,
with a population of seven hundred and two. The pre-
cinct including the town, at that time, had a popula-
tion of 1004. At the present time it is claimed there
are about twelve hundred permanent residents within
the town limits.
Harrison has developed from a squatter homestead
to a thriving city in about twelve years. In 1891 S.
W. Crane settled on a timbered tract w:hich joins the
present corporation on the south and east. In the fol-
lowing year his sons, A. A., W. E. and E. S. Crane,
settled here. W. E. Crane occupied what is now the
site of the town. Being near the mouth of the Coeur
d'Alene river on which there was a great deal of travel
to and from the Coeur d'Alene mines, a demand arose
for a trailing point and in 1892 S. W. Crane opened a
general store. In 1893 a postoffice was established, the
name was chosen and W. E. Crane became postmaster.
From this date there has been continuous growth, al-
though the period of rapid development did not com-
mence until several years later. W. S. Bridgman and
Company established a general merchandise store in
1893. The railroad was completed to Harrison in 1890
and has always been a prime factor in the development
of town and country. W. E. Crane, with the assist-
ance of R. M. Wark. erected the first building in 1891.
In 1889 the Fisher brothers had put up a sawmill at
St. Marie's which had a capacity of twenty thousand
feet per day. This plant was purchased in 1891 by
Fred Grant and moved to Harrison. It was greatly
enlarged and is now known as the Grant mill. It has
a capacitv of sixty thousand feet per day. In 1893
Mr. Sexton built a mill which he afterwards sold to
J. L. Cameron of the Cameron Lumber Company.
The mill was rebuilt on a much larger scale. The next
mill was put up in 1895 by C. W. Russel. Another
of the earlier business men was W. A. Reinigvr. who
established a general store about 1894. A newspaper
called first the Signal and later the Mountain Mes-
senger was established in 1805 ani1 published in turn
by several proprietors, among whom were S. W.
Crane, Hubbard & Company. Thompson & Biggs and
Thomas Lawson. The name of the paper was again
changed in 1900 to The Searchlight and since April,
U)02~. has been ably edited by S. M. Logan, [t has
aided very materially in the advancement of the city's
best interests
Interest in educational matters began early in the
historv of the settlement. The district. Xo. 29, was
formed in 1805. The first school was taught in the
winter of 1895 and [896 in the M. E. church build-
ing bv Mr. Edelblute. There were at this time fifty-
nine pupils in the district. Among the other early
8oo
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
school teachers was E. W. Burleigh, who conducted
the schools continuously for three years. A school
building was erected in 1896. The Methodists were
the first to erect a church building, which was begun
in 1895, but was not entirely finished and furnished
until the following year.
The town site of Harrison is in the form of a tri-
angle, with the lake front as the base, and it contains
twenty-two and fifty-eight hundredths acres. The
plat was made in 1897, but owing to the fact that it
was on unsurveyed land, until November, 1902. town
property was held only by lease from \Y. E. Crane,
the first settler on the land. Proof on the townsite
was made in November, 1902, and deeds were issued
in February of the present year. From the proced-
ings of the county commissioners in August, 1899, we
take the following:
That the inhabitants of the territory hereinafter
described be and the same are hereby incorporated
into a village to be governed by the provisions
of the laws of this state applicable to the government
of villages, under the name of the village of Harrison.
It is further ordered that the boundaries of said vil-
lage be as follows : Commencing at a point on the east
side of Lake Coeur dAlene in said county of Koo-
tenai, where the north boundary line of the Coeur
d'Alene Indian reservation intersects said lake, thence
east along said reservation line to a stone set by the gov-
ernment surveyors and witnessed by two pine trees, and
designed to make a quarter section corner when said
survey is accepted by the government ; thence north
on what, when said survey is accepted, will be the
north and south quarter line to the southeast corner of
the northwest quarter of section 31, township 48 north,
range 3 west, of Boise meridian ; thence west along
the east and west quarter line of section 36, township
48 north, range 4 west, until said line interesects with
the waters of Lake Coeur dAlene; thence southerly
along the shore of said lake, at the water's edge at low
water, to the place of beginning. And it is further
ordered that A. P. Harris, George E. Thompson, E.
W. Wheeler, George S. Johnson and M. W. Frost be
and the same are hereby appointed as trustees of said
village to hold their offices and perform all the duties
required of them by law until the election and quali-
fication of their successors at the time and in the man-
ner prescribed by law ; and it is further ordered that
the clerk of this board forward a certified copy of this
order to George E. Thompson, one of the trustees
hereby appointed, and also give notice to each of the
other' trustees named of their appointment to such
office. The present officers are Dr. John Busby, O. B.
Steward, E. W. Wheeler. H. A. Laumeister and J. L.
Boutellier.
In August, tqoi, a franchise was granted to parties
from Spokane to put in a system of waterworks and
through the efforts of Village Clerk A. A. Crane right
of way for laying pipes over the city was quickly se-
cured. The cost of the plant was twelve thousand dol-
lars. It is now the property of A. P. Powell. Water
for city consumption is obtained from two sources.
A flowing spring, high up on the mountain, supplies
about ten thousand gallons per day and the balance
is pumped from the lake into two tanks built on the
mountain side above the town. The cost of the
pumping plant was ten thousand dollars. Each of the
tanks mentioned has a capacity of fifty-two thousand
gallons. Pipes from these tanks connect directly with
tlie mains on the business streets below, and the pres-
sure at the hydrants is abundantly sufficient for pro-
tection against fire. A fire company was organized
several years ago and the city owns hose carts and a
quantity of fire hose, which are kept always in readi-
ness for use, in a building erected for the purpose.
An electric lighting plant was installed in 1901 by
Kimmel Brothers, at a cost of eight thousand dollars.
The officers of the light company are G. H. Kimmel,
president ; L. J. Kimmel, vice-president and superin-
tendent : H. 6. Thompson, secretary. Commercial
lighting is furnished at one dollar per light and resi-
dence light at a lower figure.
A telephone line connecting Harrison with various
points up the St. Joe and Coeur d'Alene rivers was
built in 1902. It was erected by the Interstate Tele-
phone Company. The Rocky Mountain Bell Tele-
phone Company purchased the property in the same
vear and Harrison now has long distance connections
with all points. Mrs. A. M. Thanke has charge of the
local office.
All these modern conveniences and improvements
came to Harrison within the short space of a year.
From an editorial in the columns of the Searchlight,
published Fehruarv 14, 1902, we quote the following
words: "In the past year Harrison has made rapid
advancement in the way of public improvements. One
year ago the inhabitants of our town were carrying
water for all purposes from the lake in pails, as it
was absolutely impossible to procure water by sink-
ing wells. Today water is piped to every house and
the hardships that once prevailed in our midst along
those lines have disappeared through the thrift and
enterprise of the Harrison Water Company. Last
fall Kimmel and Kimmel came to our town and ap-
plied to the trustees for a franchise to put in an electric
light plant ; the result is to-day, instead of our business
houses and residences being lighted by the dingy kero-
sene lamp, the button is pushed and the electric light
is on in every corner of the house. We no longer
grope our way through the streets in the dark hours
of the night, but the glare of the arc light has turned
night into day. Up to the present we have had no
mode of communication with the outside world except
by mail or telegraph, today we talk over the line of the
Interstate Telephone Company to people living in the
most remote parts of the county. The crew and ap-
paratus of the Rocky Mountain Bell Telephone Com-
pany are now at Harrison and in less than thirty days
we will have a complete telephone exchange and a
long-distance line connecting us with the outside
world. The Washington Electric Power line passes
through our county within four miles of our town,
affording an opportunity to procure electric power
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
for whatever purpose we may have occasion to use it.
All of this has come to our town in less than one
year."
A review of the business enterprises of the pres-
ent includes the following: No enterprise brought to
Harrison more wealth and greater prosperity than did
the Cameron Lumber Company's mill plant. Although
it has been destroyed, the history of Harrison would
be incomplete without a record of its existence. The
company commenced operations in 1893, when the
Sexton mill was purchased and rebuilt. It eventually
became one of the largest mills in the country. The
entire plant was destroyed by tire on August 27, 1902.
Two million feet of lumber belonging to the company
was burned with the mill. The loss was two hundred
thousand dollars, with twenty thousand dollars insur-
ance. At the time of this fire the town of Harrison
narrowly escaped destruction. Roofs of houses caught
tire all over the city and it was only by united and
continued effort on the part of fire companies and citi-
zens that a general conflagration was averted. The
lire company from Wallace came to the rescue and did
splendid service in keeping the flames confined, to the
mill and yards. The officers of the Cameron Lumber
Company are A. B. Campbell, president ; T. L.
Greenough, vice-president ; C. Herbert Moore, secre-
tary and treasurer; Donald R. Cameron, manager.
The St. Joe Lumber Company was organized in
1901 with a capital of twenty-five thousand dollars.
Three months later this was increased to seventy-five
thousand dollars. The mill was built in 1900 and has
a capacity of fifty thousand feet per day. Fifty men
are employed and the pay roll is about $2,500 per
month. The mill is fitted with planing machines and
dry kilns. The officers of the company are Warren
Flint, president: George E. Thompson, vice-president;
J. H. Barlow, general manager; Fred C. Barlow, sec-
retary and treasurer. The oldest plant is the < Irani
mill, which was established in 1891 by Hogue Fisher,
and purchased in 1894 by Fred Grant. It has been
enlarged to a capacity of sixty-five thousand feet per
day. It is equipped with planers, moulders, stickers
and lath machines and has its own electric light plant.
It employs fifty men besides its logging force. Fred
Grant is owner and manager. The C. \Y. Russell mill
was built in 1895. It has a capacity of twenty-five
thousand feet per day, employs about twenty-five men
and has a month}- pay roll of about $1,200. Planing
and moulding machines are also operated here. The
Harrison Box and Lumber Company mill is owned
and operated by William Gray and Lee Knutson. Its
capacity is twenty thousand feet per day and its month-
ly pay roll about $1,000. It makes a specialty of all
kinds of fruit boxes. William Gray is general busi-
ness manager. The Empire mill is operated by Albert
G. Kroetch and Lawrence S. Kroetch. It has a ca-
pacity of fiftv thousand feet per day. The Eureka
shingle mill is owned by Joseph and Samuel Avery and
Victor Carlson. These mills do a good business. ' The
Lyon Navigation Company operates tugs, barges and
excursion boats and engages in a general freight and
passenger business on the lake and rivers. Anion"
51
others they own the steamer Victoria, which has ac-
commodations for sixty passengers and is the swiftest
boat on the lake. W. E. Lyon is local manager fur the
company, which has a monthly pay roll varying from
$500 to St,ooo. Iln First Bank of Harrison was or-
ganized February 1, 1902, and is capitalized at ten
thousand dollars. ( 1. I',. Steward is president and I >.
E. Barr, cashier. Harrison has a good opera house,
with a seating capacity of four hundred. The build-
ing is one hundred feet long and has a stage 25 by
20 feet in dimensions. It is owned and managed by
B. S. Laferty. Drug stores are conducted by Essig
Bros., George G., Charles C. and Hal H, also by
William Cope and by James M. and John A. Corskie.
The Harrison Hardware Company is managed by W.
• ). Wheeler. Hardware, stoves, etc., are also handled
by E. C. Ribslein. General stores are conducted by
S. P. Lant. John F. Pollock and John 11. Sampson,
the Kootenai Commercial Company and by William A.
Reiniger. A. W. Burleigh and Charles S. .Manning-
deal in groceries. The Harrison bakery is run by
Benjamin S. Lafrerty. J. W. Jamison is proprietor
of the Gem restaurant and hotel. Confectioner) and
fruits are sold by E. V. Fulkerson and by Clarence
Cole. A confectioner)-, book and stationer)- -tore is
conducted by W. S. Logan & Company. The ( )wl
cafe is owned by Otto Warner. M. E. Peterson has
a jewelry store. The Harrison meat market is con-
ducted by E. W . Wheeler. O. B. Steward has a fur-
niture and undertaking establishment. Ike S. Cope-
land has a_boat building plant and conducts a floating-
cafe. Notions are sold by Mrs. H. C. York. Tailor-
ing is done by H. Brink and shoemaking by Frank
Parker. Second hand goods are handled by Alex.
Musser, Barber shops are owned by C. L. Maynard,
William E. Rich and by H. Haskins. John Helms is
the village blacksmith. S. W. Crane has a photograph
studio. W. II. Armstrong and J. C. McElhinnie are
contractors and builders. Busch & Co. are sign writ-
ers and paper hangers. R. K. Wheeler is a notary
public, writes insurance and attends to collections. O.
E. Barr maintains an insurance and investment agency.
Harrison physicians are Dr. John Busby, Dr. Herman
Schmalhausen and Dr. J. C. Dwyer. Dr. Young-
bug practices dentistry. Attorneys at law are A. .V.
Crane, Fred Burgen, f . H. Wilson. The present post-
master is O. J. Butler.
The Methodists erected a house of worship in 1895.
the Baptists in 1900 and the Presbyterians in 1901.
Rev. R. C. Gaily is now pastor of the M. E. congrega-
tion. The Baptists have no regular pastor at present,
but regular services are held each Sunday. The Ad-
vc-ntists have a building, but the society is defunct and
no services are held. The Catholics hold services in
the Adventists' building. The first Presbyterian min-
ister located in Harrison was Rev. J. H. Rodgers ; the
nrescnt pastor i> Rev. I. X. Roberts.
The fraternal orders are well represented. The
following societies have cnapters in Harrison: Harri-
son Lodge No. ;,;. A. F. & A. M. ; A. A. Crane. W.
M. ; O. E. Barr, secretary. I. O. O. F., Harrison
Lodge No. ^4: Ralph Bakkin. X. G.; S. M. Logan,
802
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
secretary. Foresters, Harrison Court, No. 13 ; E. P.
Harris, C. R. ; W. E. Fuller, recording secretary.
-Maccabees. Harrison Tent No. 5 ; William Gray,
Com. ; Louis Stuve, record keeper. Improved Order
of Red Men, Wildshoe Tribe No. 5; O. P. Calef,
sachem; Gilbert Stuve. chief of records. M. W. A.
Camp No. 6676 ; Asa Bowman, V. C. ; L. Stuve,
clerk. Syringa Chapter O. E. Star Lodge; Airs. Ella
Wheeler, secretary. Viola Rebekah Lodge No. 38 ;
E. Mav Gilbert, N. G. ; A. P. Powell, secretary. L.
O. T. M., Lady Orchard Hive No. 11; Mrs. Helen
Wark, Cum.; Miss Minnie Diche, R. K. Harrison
Labor Union No. 253; James Manning, president; B.
P. Rice, recording secretary ; E. R. Jones, Fin. Secy. ;
W. E. Stone, treasurer.
The public school building was erected in 1896.
As the school population has increased, additions have
been added to the original structure, the last being
built in 1 goo. There are now five rooms and the
enrollment" during- the past schi iol year reached two
hundred and twenty-five. Prof. F. E. Ball was in
charge of the schools during the term just closed. He
was assisted by Mrs. Fred Bergan, Miss Eliza Sex-
ton, .Miss Theodora DeSaussure and Miss Emily
Clancy. This corps of instructors proved themselves
eminently competent and the results of their labor
have been satisfactory to the citizens, who have always
laken special pride and interest in educational matters.
The present school board is composed of M. W. Frost,
Louis Stuve and Edward Crane. Al. W. Frost is jus-
tice of the peace.
The nine sawmills of Harrison occupy the avail-
able spaces on the lake front for over a mile and when
all are running to their fullest capacity the daily out-
put is about five hundred thousand feet and the com-
bined pay roll foots about twenty-five thousand dol-
lars monthly. Harrison is a town whose marvelous
Mi-out!) has resulted solely from the development of
the lumber industry, and "this development is not by
any means complete. In the lake and river regions
there are still dense forests of cedar, fir, tamarack and
pine that have scarcely been touched. For all this
wealth of timber, Harrison, with its shipping facili-
ties is the natural outlet. There are also other indus-
tries which in the near future will begin to contribute
iheir support to the growing city. While there are no
extensive agricultural areas in the immediate vicinity,
in the valleys of the St. Joe and St. Maries rivers.
farming, sto'ck and fruit raising are soon to become
leading"industries. This is also true of the Coeur
d'Alene river valley. On these rivers there are im-
mense tracts that will become most productive farm-
in- regions when the forests are cleared away. These
vallevs are ahead) great hay producers, it being esti-
mated that eight thousand tons were raised in [902.
All this territory is tributary to Harrison and will in
time contribute "largely to its prosperity. The entire
section of country bordering on these rivers and on
the lake is believed to be rich in minerals. A great
many claims have been located from which good assays
have been obtained. When transportation facilities
and machinery are at hand, paying properties will
doubtless be worked in many of these localities and
Harrison is certain to reap her share of the harvest
of wealth that inevitably flows from prosperous min-
ing camps.
There is no town in Kootenai county that has fair-
er prospects than has Harrison. Her citizens are pub-
lic spirited and aggressive ; they will allow no oppor-
tunity to pass unimproved to advance their best inter-
ests as a community. The spirit of progress pervades
the business circles. Unity of sentiment and action
on the part of town officials and citizens is a character-
istic to which is attributable much of the prosperity of
the past and it is certain to accomplish much more
in the future. Harrison is one of the coming cities
of northern Idaho.
PRIEST RIVER.
No town in northern Idaho can boast of such rap-
id and at the same time substantial growth as can
Priest River. In the census report of 1900 the entire
voting precinct was credited with a population of but
two hundred and eighty-four, while the town alone
contained but fifty people. The town now has a pop-
ulation of four or five hundred and its period of devel-
opment is scarcely more than begun. What has been
accomplished in Priest River has not been the result
of special boom advertising by townsite owners.
While there has been a boom in the truest sense of the
term, the growth, although rapid, has been natural
and in pace with the development of the surrounding
country.
Priest River is the natural center or outlet of a
heavily timbered section of country lying to the north.
Several years ago a sawmill was built here, but only
during the past two years has the development of the
lumber industry been pushed with vigor and earnest-
ness. The sure foundations for a thriving business
center were laid in the forests and in the mountains
long ago, and as soon as the speculative spirit of man"
invaded the virgin fields with the pick and spade, the
ax and. saw. the town began to grow in answer to an
unmistakable demand.
Prior to the building of the Great Northern Rail-
road in 1891 Priest River had no official existence.
Even then it was not designated as a regular sta-
!ion, being for years only a flag station where occa-
sional stops were made. For ten years after the com-
pletion of the railroad it had no depot. This building
was not erected until late in the fall of 1901. But in
1 89 1 it was made a postoffice, with the late James
Judge as postmaster. Mr. Judge, who was deputy
shcriff of the county from 1897 to 1902, was one of the
first permanent settlers in the vicinity of the present
town. In the spring of 1890 he took up a homestead
at the junction of the Pend Oreille and Priest rivers,
one-half mile from the town. He hail been pre-
ceded, in 1888, by Henry Keyser and in 1889 by John;
Canton, who also took up homesteads on the rivers
named. The Judge and the Canton farms are direct-
ly at the junction of the rivers. The Keyser ranch
joins them on the north. These farms are to la very
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
803
valuable properties, both because of location at the
confluence of these streams and because of natural
advantages as stock and fruit ranches. Among others
who were early settlers are Thomas Benton, J. C.
Finstad, M. S. Lindsey, and C. C Lemley, who came
in 1890, and W. H. Lemley, who came in 1891.
Charles Jackson has conducted a general merchandise
store for ten years. John A. Gowanlock, Mrs. M. P.
Jones and Alears Brothers are also among the earlier
merchants who have not only been exceptionally suc-
cessful in business matters, but have done much in
building up the town and making it what it is today,
a live city with excellent future prospects. Unlike
some of the other towns of northern Idaho, Priest
River has not had to contend with disasters of flood
and flame. While there have been fires and high
waters, they came at a time when there was but little
to destroy, before the present town had been built.
For several weeks in the spring of 1890 snow covered
the surrounding country rive feet deep on the level.
While the section was but sparsely settled, considerable
suffering was caused by the deep snow which stopped
travel of all kinds over the trails and the few roads
that had been made, and a great deal of stock per-
ished. Water was high in the streams when the snow
melted and some damage resulted in a few localities
along the banks, but the snow went off so slowly that
losses were comparatively light. The development of
the lumber industry has come by leaps and bounds in
late years, but very little was accomplished in the de-
cade closing with the year 1900. Some logging was
done up the Priest river before a sawmill was erected
at the town, the first logs being cut on section 12, about
three miles north of town. These were floated down
Priest river to its mouth and towed up the Pend
( )reille river to Sandpoint.
The town site of Priest River slopes from the Pend
Oreille river, north to the crest of a range of hills.
The elevation at the railroad tracks is two thousand
one hundred and seventy feet. On the north limit of
the town it is perhaps two hundred feet higher. The
site is situated in the north half of section 25, township
56 north, range 4 west, of Poise meridian. The por-
tion of the town now occupied by the White Pine Lum-
ber Company's mill and yards, was first owned by
William Raberstock. who squatted on the land before
it was surveyed. Air. Baberstock transferred his
squatter rights to M. P. Jones, who in turn sold to
the lumber company after survey had been made.
The town site proper, including the business and resi-
dence portions, is now owned by Charles Jackson and
M. S. Lindsey. Joseph Horner first held squatter
rights to the property. He sold his interests in 1893
to Mr. Jackson, with whom Air. Lindsey is now in-
terested. .Mr. Jackson- laid out the town in Septem-
ber, 1901. After the government survey, it was found
that a portion of the town was platted on railroad land.
Later this portion was purchased from the company.
The Horner cabin was the first building erected with-
in the present town limits. Although the present pop-
ulation is sufficient to warrant incorporation and to
■entitle the citizens to enabling legislation, for this
purpose, it is not yet incorporated, a majority of the
citizens believing that a city government won
no special benefit under present conditions. Trials
tor offenses against law and order are taken before
Justice J. C. Finstad. Amos McBee serves tin- com-
munity as constable.
From the beginning there has been a commendable
interest in educational matters. The first school build-
ing is now occupied by C. C. Lemley as a residence.
The building now in use for school purposes was
erected in 1893. Among the earlier teachers of Priest
River were J. C. Brady, afterward editor of the Sil-
ver Ulade at Rathdrum, and probate pudge of the
county, and Frank A. AlcCall, the present probate
judge. The schools are now in charge of Miss Sophia
McAbee, principal, Miss Mary Dawson and Aliss Alc-
Dougall, assistants. The members of the school board
are Dr. F. B. McCormick, Charles Jackson and John
Prater. The school district is numbered 25, and was
created in 1891. The school building has already out-
grown its usefulness because of the rapid increase in
school population during the past two years, and it is
the intention to put up a new building next year which
will be modern in all its appointments and a credit to
the town. The school house site occupies an elevated
position in the north end of town from which is ob-
tained a beautiful view of the whole city, the river, the
vallev and the mountain ranges beyond.
A list of the present business and professional men
would include Charles Jackson, general merchandise.
Air. Jackson came in 1891 and has been in business
since 1892. John A. Gowanlock has also conducted
a general merchandise store since 1892. This business
was originally conducted under the Arm name of The
Priest River Mercantile Company. Air. Gowanlock
and Joseph Porier were the proprietors. Air. Porier
sold out in 1897 t0 -^ir- Gowanlock. Charles J. and
Richard M. Alears have an extensive trade in general
merchandise. Charles I. A i ears is postmaster. The
proprietor of the "New Store" is h. T. Winter, recent-
ly from Minneapolis. The "'Welcome" cigar store
and club is owned by FI. Ingamells, who commenced
business January 1. 1903. The Fair, opened July 23,
10.02, is a ladies' furnishings establishment owned by
Airs. H. Childs. Barbers are P. M. Bondanza and
C. H. Boiling. Robert Bragaw, whose headquarters
are here, is supervisor of the Priest River forest re-
serve. The Eagle is a general store and rooming
house conducted by Airs Jones, who settled here in
1898. Dr. F. P. McCormick is the local physician and
Dr. F A Gregory practices dentistry. There is the
Depot Hotel; Priest River Hotel, conducted by Airs.
Baker; a restaurant by Joseph A. Anions and J. W.
Wray; St. Elmo Hotel, by Charles W. I'.eardmore,
and the Western Hotel, by Airs. Callahan.
A Congregational church building has just been
completed." Rev. Chamberlain is pastor. A Catholic
church has also just been finished under the super-
vision of Father Purcell. of Rathdrum. The fraternal
lodges are represented by the Rebekahs : Modern
Woodmen, Camp No. 40. whose officers an sepl
1.' ; August Lartze, W. A.: John Hickman,
804
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
clerk. Maccabees, William Martin, commander:
J. C. Finstad, P. C. ; J. W. Wray, secretary; J. A.
Anion, chaplain. I. O. O. F., Ben Amon, N. G. : Sam-
uel Davis, V. G.; J. W. Wray, treasurer. Foresters,
W. H. Lemley, C. R. ; Harvey Wright, secretary : A.
C. Harris, treasurer. The Priest River Enterprise is a
weekly paper devoted to the best interests of town and
country. It is ably edited by A. B. Hoag, who came
here from Mt. Idaho and commenced the publication of
the paper July 4, 1902.
Priest River's growth is dependent upon the devel-
opment of the lumber industry. Three mills are in op-
eration now and others are expected to locate here in
the futur?. The Graham and Robinson plant is a small
mill erected about two years ago to supply the local
trade. The Priest River Company, whose buildings
were erected in 1901, manufactures red cedar shingles.
It has a capacity of one hundred thousand shingles
per day of ten hours. In the sheds belonging to this
company are stored at the present time five million
shingles undergoing the air drying process prepara-
tory to shipping. The officers of this company are
Francis j. Gillingham, president; D. W. Bergstrom,
vice-president ; W. C. Bergstrom. secretary ami treas-
urer. The White Pine Lumber Company, Ltd., com-
pleted its Priest River mills last summer. It now cuts
between seventy-five thousand and one hundred thou-
sand feet of lumber per day. It will eventually become
one of the largest mills in the state. It is provided with
machinery for turning out shingles, laths and finished
lumber. The boom facilities on the river at this point
are unsurpassed and the drv kilns have a capacity of
forty thousand feet per day. This company owns
twenty-seven thousand acres of timber land in east-
ern Washington and Idaho, and is composed mainly of
eastern capitalists. The local manager and secretary
of the company is A. V. Brodrick. Captain Thomas
Downs is president.
The prospects for the future growth of Priest River
are as good as could be desired. Xew buildings, both
business and residence houses, are going up in all
-parts of town. Good brick clay is plentiful in the
vicinity and a brick manufacturing plant is about to
be put in operation. Frame buildings will in time give
way to brick structures. The south line of the Priest
River forest reserve is but six mile? away. When
this reserve is opened, its development will contribute
very materially to the prosperity of the town. Dairy-
ing and fruit raising are industries that are beginning
to be developed in surrounding territory. Stock rais-
ing and feeding is becoming a remunerative business.
The mineral resources of the region promise much
when mills are built for handling low grade ores. There
are several prospects in the vicinity of the town and
in the Priest Lake section that are considered valuable
properties and only await mills and transportation fa-
cilities to develop into paying claims. There is along
both rivers quite an extensive area of agricultural
land now in a state of cultivation that is tributary to
Priest River, and as the forests are cleared this area
will grow.
Priest River is fifty-three miles from Spokane on
the Great Northern Railroad. From a scenic and san-
itary point of view it has an ideal town site consist-
ing 1 if eight) -seven acres. With its lumber mills an
assured fact, with other industries only awaiting de-
velopment, with excellent transportation facilities,
both by rail and water, with progressive citizens, with
good churches and good schools, there is every rea-
son to believe that it will continue to grow and will
always remain a desirable place to live, and an import-
ant commercial center.
POST FALLS.
From an issue of the "'Spokane Times" dated De-
cember 25. 1879, we quote the following: "Mr. Fred-
erick Post, owner of the grist mill at this place, left on
last Tuesday to go to his old place at what is known as
the Upper Falls. Mr. Post located there some eight
vears ago (1871), and began the construction of a
sawmill at that point. He had the necessary machin-
ery for a grist mill and sawmill. He finally gave up
for the time the completion of his project there, and
moved the machinery for the grist mill to this point.
He now returns to complete the saw-mill partially fin-
ished then. He informs us that there is almost a
natural mill race formed in the solid rock at the side
ot the fall, wdtere. by the use of blasting powder, he
will complete the work of nature."
Although there were but few settlements made at
Post Falls for a number of years later, its history
may be said to date from the completion of this saw-
mill, early in 1880. At this time the northern bound-
ary of the Coeur d'Alene Indian reservation was, at
this point, the Spokane river, and Mr. Post purchased
of the Indians the mill site and adjacent lands. The
mill and townsite proved by later survey to be located
on the northeast quarter of section 3, township No.
50, range 5, west of Boise meridian. As this mill
has been the life of the town, it is appropriate that
we give its history in brief outline. At the time of
its completion Mr. Post had business interests in Spo-
kane that required his attention, and the mill was
leased to other parties for a number of years. It was
first leased and operated by a Mr. Lewis and later by
Fred Bish. These two in turn ran the mill until
1886, when Mr. Post himself took charge of it. He
conducted it for about three years, when it was again
leased to Fred Bish. In the summer of 1892 Mr. Bish
and a companion were working at a boom of logs just
above the falls, in a row boat, which was tied to the
logs. The fastenings broke and the boat and its
occupants went over the falls. Both lives were lost.
After the accident the mill was leased to S. D. Bader,
who operated it until 1894, when Mr. Post sold out
to the Spokane & Idaho Lumber Company, of which
II. M. Strathern was president. The other members
of the company were J. M. and C. Patterson. In
November, 190 1, the Patterson interests were pur-
chased by Daniel McGillis and Chester D. Gibbs, of
Milwaukee. Wisconsin. In December of the same year
the name of the company was changed to the Idaho
Lumber & Manufacturing Company, Mr. Strathern
continuing as president of the company.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
805
The mill plant was destroyed by fire December
30, 1902. As an evidence of the importance of the
mill as a factor in the prosperity of the town it may
be stated that at the time of the fire Post Falls had a
population of six hundred. Two months later the
population was but little more that half that number.
The mill had a capacity of seventy thousand feet of
lumber in twenty-four hours and was valued at eighty
thousand dollars. The company carried fifty-seven
thousand dollars insurance. Although definite ar-
rangements have not been completed for rebuilding
the probabilities are that another mill will be erected.
The site is an exceptionally good one on account of the
immense water power available and the excellent
boom facilities. Just above the falls the river is wide
and deep, with a slow current. Logs are floated down
the river from Lake Coeur d'Alene, and the boom will
accommodate at one time fifteen million feet. It is
considered the finest mill site in Kootenai county. In
connection with the plant was a planing and lath mill
and a sash and door factory.
When Mr. Post sold the mill in 1894 he reserved
the perpetual right to power sufficient to pump water
for town use, having put in a system of water works
in 1885. In 1892 mains of distribution pipes were
renewed. The water works plant now belongs to Mrs.
Alice Martin, a daughter of Mr. Post. Frederick
Post, the pioneer of Post Falls and also a pioneer of
Rathdrum and one of the pioneers of Spokane, where
he built the first flouring mill and where there is a
street (Post) named for him, is still living at Post
Falls with his daughter, Mrs. Martin.
Post Falls has the distinction of having the only
flouring mill in Kootenai county. This mill was
erected in 1889 by Dart Brothers. It was owned and
operated by Dart Brothers and J. H. Sullivan, the
latter a resident of Seattle, until December. 1902, when
it was sold to the Cable Milling Company, of which
E. J. Dyer is president, F. G. Russell, vice
president, B. O. Graham, secretary and treas-
urer, and Leon H. Graham, manager. The mill
has a capacity of one hundred and fifty barrels of flour
per day and operates an electric light plant for lighting
the building. During the year 1900 it ground one
hundred and forty thousand bushels of wheat and ship-
ped one hundred and fifty cars of mill products.
A woolen mill was built here in 1895 by Cane
Brothers from Massachusetts. It was well equipped
with machinery, but never did any weaving. It manu-
factured hosiery principally while running, but has
been closed for sometime and nothing is known of the
future intentions of the owners. It is now the prop-
erty of Mrs. Smith, of Spokane.
Among the early settlers at Post Falls was James
H. Kennedy, who took up a soldier's homiest ead Oc-
tober 17, 1884. The legal description of this land,
which joins the town site, is Lots 1. 2, 3 and 7, section
4, township 50. north, range 5, west of Boise meridian.
Mr. Kennedy opened a blacksmith shop in 1886 and
is still conducting it. M. S. McCrea had a general
store here before the railroad was built, in 1881. Maj.
George A. Manning and son. C. F.. and W. J. Butter-
field established a general store in 1889. Airs. George
Stafford, the wife of the Northern Pacific section fore-
man, handled United States mail in 1888. through an
arrangement with the railroad company, but she was
imt a regularly appointed postmistress. The post-
office was regularly established in 1889. with W. S.
McCrea as postmaster. Among the other early post-
masters were C. F. Manning, A. M. Martin and
Charles McCrea. all of whom conducted general mer-
chandise stores. C. H. Walizer opened a real estate
agenc) in 1890 and H. L. Tauton a hardware store
in the same year.
School matters early engaged the attention of the
settlers at Post Falls, and they succeeded in securing
the formation of a district (No. 7) in the summer of
1886. The first board of trustees were James H.
Kennedy, John Green and J. R. Compton. The first
term of school commenced November 22, 1886. It
continued three months and was taught by Oliver L.
Kenedy. This term was taught in a building that
had been erected by James H. Kennedy and J. R, Comp-
ton, as a residence for William Dillard, with the under-
standing that it could be used two years for a school
house. The second term in the same house was taught
by Laura Agnew. The first school house, which is
now used as a wood shed for the present school, was
built in March, 1888, and Blanche Parsons was its
first occupant in the capacity of teacher. She was
followed by F. D. Cook, ' Mary Baslington, Mr.
Sprague, Frank Reeves and Mrs. Frank Reeves. This
school house was built by subscription and by dona-
tion work. For furnishings money was raised by giv-
ing dances. They were well patronized and funds
were soon collected and the house properly equipped.
An election, at which bonds were voted for the erec-
tion of the building now in- use, was held June 15,
1890. In the present building Warren Lucas and
Miss A. E. Nichols were the first instructors. The
cost of this building was four thousand dollars in
1890. The school property, including grounds, build-
ing and furniture, is now valued at about three thou-
sand five hundred dollars. The members of the present
school board are S. Young, chairman. A. M. Martin,
clerk. H. M. Strathern. treasurer, and A. J. Shanks.
! luring the past school year the schools were under the
charge of W. O. Cummings, principal, salary eighty-
five dollars : Pearl Boleman, intermediate department,
salary fifty dollars ; Bertha Ross, primary department,
salary forty dollars. Miss Ross has an assistant in
Cora Kennedy. All these instructors are efficient
workers and the schools are a credit to the town.
There are two church organizations at Post Falls,
—the Methodists tinder the charge of Rev. H. Hud-
son, and the Presbyterians, with Rev. D. D. Allen as
pastor. Both denominations have good houses of
worship, _ .
By an act of the county commissioners May 28.
1891," the town was incorporated and the following
board of trustees appointed. Thomas Ford, W . J.
Butterfield, C. M. Brown, C. H. Walizer and H. L.
Tauton. On the fourth of June in the same year
an organization was effected by the election of C. H.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Walizer chairman of the board and H. L. Tauton
clerk. The first town election was held April 4, 1892,
at which time the same board was elected, with the
exception of W. J. Butterfield. C. H. Clayton was
elected in his place. Until 1901 the corporation was
never able to enforce any of its ordinances, owing to
the fact that legality of the incorporating- act was
questioned. In 1901 the legislature passed a special
act legalizing the corporation and the acts of its sev-
eral boards of trustees. The present town board con-
sists of S. FT. Smith, chairman; S. E. Bennet, clerk;
H. M. Strathern, treasurer; A. T. Manor and Captain
James Fisher. The city marshal is S. A. Irwin. A.
J. Manor has been postmaster since 1901.' and James
H. Kennedy is serving his third term as justice of the
peace.
• Beside the destruction of the sawmill. Post Falls
has had one other fire. This occurred in December,
1895. McCrea Brothers' livery barn was destroved :
loss, eight hundred dollars. The second storv of the
barn was owned and occupied by the Knights of
Pythias. This story, with furnishings, cost about six
thousand dollars, and was insured for one thousand
dollars. A blacksmith shop was also burned.
A review of the business houses of the present day
includes the following: A. J. Manor, general mer-
chandise, established 1898. General stores are con-
ducted by George A. Manning, G. L. Scott, \Y S
Butterfield. M. D. Wright and C. W. Brown. The
Post Falls Mercantile Company was established in
December, 1902. by G. O. Dart and John Young. A
meat market is conducted by N. C. Ballard ; a general
store by J. F. Enders ; blacksmith shops by lames H.
Kennedy and J. \Y. Jamison; a general store by A.
N. Tucker, established 1890; a real estate agency by
C. H. Walizer: a hardware store bv H. L.^Tauton;
hotels by Samuel Young and \. H. Daner ; a livery by
H. W. Enders; a barber shop by A. L. Hawthorne:
C. H. Warren and John Mitchell are painters and
paper hangers. Lodging houses are kept by M. S
Warren and L. A. Dillard. For use in protection
against fires the town owns a small chemical engine.
Long distance telephone lines connect the town with all
outside points.
Post Falis is located on the Spokane river and on
the Coeur d'Alene branch of the Northern Pacific rail-
road, eight miles south of Rathdrum and twenty-five
miles east of Spokane. It is in the center of quite an
extensive agricultural, stock and fruit region, that is
every year becoming more productive. An irrigating
ditch from Heyden Lake to the Spokane river at
Trent, a small town eight miles from the state line in
Washington., will pass near Post Falls in traversing
the valley and will add verv materiallv to the pro-
ductiveness of the section. The falls' in the river
were formerly known as Little Falls, and Upper Falls :
but the name was changed to- Post Falls in honor of
Frederick Post, the builder of the mill and founder of
the town. The power generated bv the falls is next to
incalculable, and this force will doubtless be utilized
in the future. There is no better site anywhere for
mills and factories, and when there is added to this
advantage of location, the unfailing support that it must
always receive from the surrounding farming com-
munity, one cannot but realize that the citizens of Post
Falls have good grounds for faith in the future pros-
perity of their town.
ST. MARIES.
One of the most delightful summer resorts in
Idaho is found at St. Maries, on the St. Joe river, and
at the mouth of the St. Maries. Until about three
years ago its popularity rested almost entirely upon its
healthful climate, its beautiful surrounding and its
summer hotels. But shrewd business men have lately
noted its central location in a vast and heavily timbered
region, and its accessibility from points on the O. R.
& N. and the Northern Pacific railroads. They have
noted the fact that it has the peculiar advantages nec-
essary to commercial centers, and these discoveries
have worked wonderful transformations in and about
the village. In the future it must attract both the
business man and the tourist, and on this double
foundation it may safely hope to become a populous
and prosperous city.
The census of 1 900 credited the settlement with a
population of seventy-five. It now has at least five
hundred permanent residents, and is growing rapidly.
Joseph Fisher, now one of the county commissioners,
came here in 1888 and settled on land which includes
the present townsite. The land was leased at the
time by Mr. Fisher from Monroe Duggett. who
claimed it as a part of a ranch to which he held squat-
ter's rights. When the section was surveyed it was
found that the land belonged to the Union Pacific rail-
road, and Mr. Fisher then purchased it from the com-
pany. In 1889 William, John and Jesse Fisher lo-
cated here, shipping in and putting up a sawmill.
This mill had a capacity of twenty thousand feet per
day. It cut a great deal of the timber used by the
O. R. & N. in construction work, and nearly all the
ties and timbers used in the bridge and trestle at
Chatcolet. The mill was sold in 1891 to Fred Grant,
who moved it to Harrison. Its capacity was enlarged,
and it is now known as the Grant sawmill. Among
others who were early settlers in this vicinity are
James Nevins. who came in 1889, R. B. Dickenson,
who came in 1894, C. F. Montandon, Eugene Gay
and F. G. Scott, who came in 1895. The history of
the town may be said to date from July, 1889, when
a postoffice was established here, with Joseph Fisher
postmaster. Mr. Fisher retained the office for six
years. Joseph Fisher, F. W. Haveland and M. A.
Phelps laid out and platted the townsite, Mr. Have-
land and Mr. Phelps having previously purchased one-
third interest each in the railroad land bought by Mr.
Fisher.
For a number of years there was but little progress
made in building up the town, but the country up and
down the rivers was gradually developing. During
the rush to the Coeur d'Alene mines in 1884 and for
several years following, there was a great deal of travel
up and down the riv-rs and some prospecting through
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
807
the country. In this way the timber and mineral re-
sources and the natural advantages of the country<
with its water ways and railroad prospects, became
generally known, and since that period there has been
slow but substantial improvement. About the vear
1899 St. Maries began to assume the appearance of
a thriving town, and since that time development has
been rapid. The principal cause of her growth has
thus far been her advantages as a summer resort, but
with the opening of ranches, of stock and fruit farms
and dairies, and with the establishment of logging
camps, new and better inducements have been offered
the business man, and today it is a thriving business
center at all seasons of the year.
The following is a review of the business inter-
ests of St. Maries at the present time. The St. Maries
Hotel is owned and managed by William McCarter.
It is modern in all its appointments and is considered
one of the finest hotels in northern Idaho. It is on
the river front and commands a fine view of the coun-
try for miles around. It is three stories, with eighty
rooms, and is lighted by electricity. The hotel Moun-
tain View occupies a commanding site on the crest of
a hill overlooking the river and the broad meadows
beyond. Joseph Fisher is proprietor of the Mountain
View, which was the first hotel erected in the town.
The Hotel Butler was opened in July, 1902, by Jerry
Butler. It is two stories, has thirty rooms, and is
located in the central portion of the town. Besides
the hotel Mr. Fisher has a general merchandise store.
The Perrenoud Company carries a large stock of hard-
ware and miners' supplies. Skelton & Warren have a
general store. Another general merchandise estab-
lishment is conducted by Winship & Henderson, who
recently purchased the business from M. D. Wright.
J. Lindstrum runs a meat market. The St. Maries
Livery, Feed and Sale stable is owned by Trueman &
Wunderlick, who also operate stage lines to Santa,
Fernwood and Tyson. J. E. Williams & Company
conduct a real estate agency and deal in timber lands.
E. Compo has a shoe and harness shop. Samuel B.
Grimsrud is the village blacksmith. The St. Maries
Townsite & Improvement Company deals in town
property. The steamer Schley makes scheduled trips
to Harrison and Coeur d'Alene. A United States mail
boat plying between St. Maries and Chatcolet and mak-
ing connections with O. R. & N. trains, carries mail,
passengers and express and is managed by J. Schaaf.
There is a sawmill and manufacturing plant with a
capacity of twenty-five thousand feet per day. Will-
iam McCarter is local manager. Smith & Eno have
a jewelry store. The St. Maries drug store is man-
aged by A. C. Scurr. St. Maries has an opera house
and a newly organized band. William and Joseph
Cole and Joseph Fisher own and operate a creamery
and cheese factory with a capacity of six hundred
pounds per week. The Silver Brand cheese has a wide
reputation and this is one of the most remunerative
businesses of the town. It has been in successful opera-
tion for five years. The Interstate telephone line con-
nects the town with outside points. The local physi-
cians are Dr. G. S. Thompson and Dr. C. E. Wilber.
The St. Maries Hospital is a new institution that is
well patronized. Thomas B. Rollins and E. Compo
are justices and J. E. Williams is a notary public. A.
C. Scurr is the present postmaster. The St. .Maries
Courier is a semi-weekly publication, established Feb-
ruary 19, 1 901, by E. Deuerslie. It is well edited
and is doing much in the interests of St. Maries and the
surrounding country. Rev. J. H. Martin is pastor of
the M. F. congregation, which has a neat church build-
ing and parsonage, built in 1898. The first log school
house was erected in the fall of 1888 by subscription,
and the first term of school was taught by .Mrs. P. E.
Girard. In the summer of 1901 the present two-story
frame school house was built, at a cost of fifteen hun-
dred dollars. The estimated value of school prop-
erty, including building, grounds and furniture, is
about three thousand dollars. The school board is
composed of A. A. Darknell, chairman ; John Fisher,,
clerk ; and George Mutch. During the past year the
schools have been conducted by Prof. A. F. Burton,,
assisted bv Miss Etta M. Andrews. There is a Chap-
ter of the I. O. O. F. and of the M. W. A. Officers
of Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 32, are John W. Fisher,
N. G., Levi Nussbaum. Secy. A bridge has been
constructed across the St. .Maries river here, at a cost
of five thousand dollars. Including the approaches
it is twenty-eight hundred feet long.
St. Maries is about forty miles southeast of Rath-
drum, the county seat, and about twelve miles from
Harrison, on Coeur d'Alene lake. The town site is on
a slight elevation, above the river, and is surrounded
by scenery as beautiful and grand as may be found
anywhere in Idaho. Hunting, fishing and boating are
sports that may be indulged in to the heart's content.
To the lover of the grand and beautiful, to the tourist,,
and also to the business man, St. Maries and the sur-
rounding country offer inducements and opportunities
rarely found. Timber resources are almost inex-
haustible, the agricultural areas will increase as the
forests are cleared arid there are good reasons to be-
lieve that paying mining properties will develop in
many tributary localities in the not distant future. St.
Maries is the natural distributing point for an immense
territory, whose resources are just beginning to be
developed. Its business enterprises are on a solid
financial basis. Substantial business blocks and dwell-
ings are being erected. A system of water works has
been installed. Nearly all the lots in a town site of
forty acres have been sold. The citizens have faith in
the future of the town and work together for the suc-
cess of all public enterprises. St. Maries is destined
to become an important commercial center, as it is
now one of the most popular summer resorts.
ST. JOE AXD FERRELL.
Sixteen miles above St. Maries, at the head of
steamboat navigation on the St. Joe river, and about
sixty miles from Coeur d'Alene, is located the settle-
ment of St. Joe. Just above it has been platted the
new town of Ferrell, by William Ferrell, who settled
here in 1884, taking up a ranch of three hundred and
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
twenty acres. There are fifty or seventy-five perma-
nent residents at St. Joe at the present time, and new-
arrivals are buying lots and building residences. Mr.
Ferrell is the pioneer resident of the town and sec-
tion, and was the first postmaster. In 1884, with two
companions, he traveled over the trails from Ward-
ner in order to locate the ranch which is now the most
valuable on the river. He has from time to time been
followed by other home-seekers, until at the present
time the St. Joe valley is entirely occupied by ranch-
ers, their buildings appearing all the way up the river
about one miie apart. The E. Deighton ranch of three
hundred and twenty acres, which joins Mr. Ferrell's
townsite, was also located in 1884. It consists princi-
pally of meadow land, although it includes about sixty-
five acres of heavy timber. It produced three hundred
tons of hav in 1892- and is stocked with a herd of
ninetv Jersey cattle. The ranch is now valued at
Si 4,000' The valley of the St. Joe is about a mile
wide. It is practically a long narrow meadow, whose
soil is rich, and very productive. The river being navi-
gable, these farms are each year becoming more valua-
ble. About three hundred settlers on these valley
lands do the most of their trading at St. Joe. making
it an important center. The Warner store does an
extensive business of a general character. William
Ferrell also has a general store and a very large trade.
Airs Mildred Girard is the present postmistress. J.
11. Wagner is kept constantly employed as a contractor
and builder. The Interstate telephone line connects
St. Joe with other points. A good school is main-
tained. The St. Joe hotel is owned by William O'Neil.
It is a two-story modern building, built for winter or
summer occupation, and accommodates seventy-five
guests. G. B. May, located at this hotel, rents row
boats to campers and excursionists. The Elk House
is owned and managed by William Ferrell. It is a
three-storv frame building and accommodates one hun-
dred guests. Mr. Ferrell has recently erected another
hotel." The St. Joe Budget was established in Decem-
ber. 1902, and is ably conducted by Will E. Dockery.
While campers and boathouse dwellers are found
the whole length of the St. Joe river during the sum-
mer season, the Mecca for most vacationists is St. Joe.
It is surroxmded by natural camping grounds. Ex-
quisitely set in a natural vale and sheltered by encir-
cling mountains. St. Joe is favored with wonderful
scenic attractions. At the foot of the rapids is fine
tnmt fishing. A boat trip up the swift waters and
the tributary creeks is a most enjoyable experience.
Game, including deer and bear, is plentiful back in
the mountains, making the location an ideal place for
either a summer sojourn or a fall hunting trip. But
St Joe is not alone a pleasant resort. Back of it is
an area of forty square miles covered with dense for-
ests of fir, cedar, tamarack and pine, where almost
no development work- has been done. Only during the
past year or two has timber been taken from this re-
gion.' It is estimated that there was driven down
the St. Joe river in 1892 seven million feet of logs,
ten thousand cedar telegraph poles and one hundred
thousand posts. The mineral resources of this sec-
tion are yet to be developed. The Manhattan mine,
eight miles from St. Joe, is considered a valuable silver
and lead property. The owners are expending con-
siderable money in development work. On Marble
creek, further up the river, a large deposit of silver
and lead has been discovered. A fine grade of marble
has also been discovered here, and a company or-
ganized to develop it. The district is in the same
mineral belt as the producing Coeur d'Alene mines,
on the opposite slope of the Bitter Root mountains,
and it is believed the St. joe slope will eventually be
a mineral producing region.
A stage line is operated between St. Joe and St.
Maries and the steamers Spokane and Colfax make
regular trips from St. Joe to all points on the lake,
making railroad connections at Chatcolet, Harrison
and Coeur d'Alene. With so many advantages as a
summer resort and surrounded as it is by vast forests
of saw timber and mountains of minerals, St. Joe is
certain to develop into one of the important towns of
Kootenai county.
Picturesquely situated on the north shore of the
beautiful Pend Oreille lake is the town of Hope,
a divisional point on the Northern Pacific railroad,
being the end of the Idaho and the beginning' of the
Rocky Mountain division. It is fifty-eight miles north-
east of Rathdrum, the county seat, and eighty-four
miles east of the city of Spokane, and is connected with
Sandpoint and Eakeview by three lines of steamboats.
On its terraced site overlooking the broad waters of
the lake, its appearance recalls a tourist's description
of Seattle, which he writes "Clings to a steep hillside;
a little shake, it seems, would send it sliding down
into the water."
Although typical of railroad life, the town is also
a summer resort of considerable prominence. Estab-
lished here are several good hotels ; sail and row boats
are furnished for the accommodation of guests ; the
lake is well stocked with trout and other fish, and in
the surrounding mountains is plenty of large game to
attract the adventurous sportsman.
The history of Plope begins with the construction
of the railroad, in 1882. The town is said to have
received the name of the veterinary surgeon. Dr. Hope,
who cared for the horses of the contractors during
the building of the road, and whose advice was often
sought in matters of importance.
The legal description of the townsite is as follows :
southeast quarter of section 10, and southwest quarter
of section n, township 57. range 1, east of B. M.
When the government survey was made, several years
after the town was built, it was discovered that one
section was on railroad and one on government land.
In 1888 O. C. Smith attempted to homestead a por-
tion of the townsite, but the townsite people objected
and appealed to the Department of the Interior.
Smith was represented by Attorneys Sweet and Mor-
gan, ( bar'es L. Heitman and George Lamar, and the
townsite people by Attorneys Edwin McBee and Copp
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
809
■& Duckett. But although Mr. Smith was ably de-
fended and the case carried to the highest tribunal, the
matter resulted in a final and decisive victory for the
townsite claimants. The town was eventually platted
by the government in 1896. In April, 1903, a peti-
tion for incorporation was signed by a majority of
the taxpayers, and by order of the county commis-
sioners it was duly incorporated. K. Wanamaker,
H. L. Bidwell, John Larsen, L. H. Jeannot and J. M.
Jeannot were appointed trustees. In 1888 W. J.
Quirk held the office of postmaster. He afterwards
opened a general store, but was burned out in 1889,
and removed his residence to Spokane. Amongst
other early settlers who contributed to the advance-
ment of the town was Dr. Tallyrand Martin, who
settled in Hope in 18S8, conducted a drug store and en-
gaged in various other enterprises. In 1890 a news-
paper the Hope Prospector, was established by J. F.
Yost, but ceased publication in 1894. Air. Yost was
one of several publishers. Kline Wanamaker was the
proprietor of the first hotel, called the Pend Oreille.
after the burning of which he opened a general store
and is still in business. N. G. Sisson also had a store
of general merchandise and continues in that business.
Another pioneer was Alexander Ouirie, who in 1890
took up a homestead, three miles west of the town, at
the mouth of Trestle creek. For eight years Mr.
Ouirie kept a dairy, but is now engaged in the stock
business.
In April, 1900, Hope was devastated by a dis-
astrous fire which started in S. N. Chase's saloon.
From that place the fire spread to the buildings on the
-west, consuming in its rapid progress the store and
warehouse of W. J. Quirk, and all other buildings on
Main street as far as K. Wanamaker's store. On High-
land avenue the only residence burned was Mr. Chris-
tenson's. George Weigle's house caught fire several
times, but he had fortunately supplied himself with a
water hose which saved his residence. To stay the prog-
ress of the flames, several buildings, including the Con-
gregational church, Spence Homing's residence and the
building occupied by A. Jenkins were blown up with
giant powder. An easterly wind and the splendid
water supply of the Northern Pacific was all that saved
the upper part of the town. At the first shot of powder,
Harry Auxer. a miner who was assisting at the work,
was struck in the throat by a flying piece of timber.
A fatal accident and one which plunged the community
into sorrow, was the accidental discharge of a revolver,
causing the death of William Monroe. He, with
several other boys, was looking over the ruins and
found a revolver which was still hot from the fire.
In handing it to one of his companions it exploded.
The ball entered his right breast just above the heart.
He was taken to a house, where he died in a few
minutes.
A serious accident on the Northern Pacific railroad
occurred on March 25. 1890, two miles east of the
town. Train No. 2. consisting of eleven coaches, was
thrown from the track by a broken rail. Seven cars
were ditched, the mail and express, the baggage car.
and one first class coach burned. C. S. Miles, of Bald
Mountain, messenger of the Northern Pacific Express
Company, met a frightful fate, being caught between
the rods of his car and burned to death. Three tramps
were killed and many others injured.
The school district is No. 13, and the first school
house, which is still the only school building. 'was built
in 1890. It consists of two rooms. The first teacher
was Miss Haines. The present teachers are .Mrs.
Piersons and Miss Barbara Hage. The school board
consists of H. L. Bidwell. John Larsen and Moses
Cookson. There is one church, the Congregational,
of which Rev. Victor Roth, of Clark's Fork, is the
pastor. The different lodges are well represented
in Hope. They are as follows : Foresters, M. W. A.,
I Irder of Pindo, Hope Federation of Labor, (Chas.
Smith, president), the I. O. O. F. 1 I. W. Ramsav,
N. G. ; E. T. Phelps, V. G. ; H. L. Bidwell, secretary ;
Alex. Ouirie. treasurer), the A. O. U. W. (H. L. Bid-
well, P. M. ; E. H. North, M. W. ; D. C. Rowell, re-
corder; H. L. Bidwell, financier), D. of H. (Emma
Sherman, P. C. of H. ; Nettie Hooning. C. of H. ;
Mabel Crandall, L. of H. ; Mamie Rowell, financier;
Ella Brewer, recorder), the Rebekahs (P. N. G.,
Emma Wanamaker; N. G., Ella Brewer; V. G., Mabel
Crandall : secretary, Thomas Thompson ; treasurer, K.
Wanamaker).
The citizens and business men of Hope are enter-
prising and they take a deep interest in all matters
tending to promote the welfare of their town. The
business directory of the town at present would include
a postoffice. John Larsen, postmaster ; two hotels,
Prescott House, Mrs. Thomas Davey, and the Lake
Side X. P. railroad hotel, Charles J. Jenkins, man-
ager : two restaurants, Jos. Jeannot and Edwin Leet ;
three barber shops, H. L. Bidwell, who owns a shop
and employs a barber, Jef . Tigue and James C. Davis ;
meat market, Fred Hartman ; general store, L. H.
Jeannot, who kept a restaurant until 1893 ; Lumber
Company blacksmith shop ; drug store, A. H. Allen ;
shingle and lath mill. ( ). W. Perkins & Company ;
Mark T. Loop is the only physician ; Robert W. Mor-
ris is the railroad, express and telepraph agent ; Grant
Sherman and J. Sladin are expressmen ; Nathan G.
Sisson and Kline Wanamaker have general stores ;
Twin Woo Company. Chinese goods, Donavon. Hop-
kins & Nineman are general dealers ; Frank Albaugh
will soon put up a building for a meat market ; H. L.
Bidwell and John Dooley are justices of the peace.
The establishment of the Hope Lumber Company
in 19x11 infused new life into Hope. The company,
composed of experienced lumbermen from Michigan,
got the mill in operation in November. The plant is
conveniently located on the lake just east of the sta-
tion, and is a band saw mill, with lath and planing
mills. In its construction the most experienced mill-
wrights were employed, and most modern and labor-
saving machinery used, and the result is the model mill
of the country. The planing mill, as a protection
against fire, is detached, power being transmitted from
the engine house by means of steel cables. The whole
premises arc lighted by electric lights. The company
started up the mill with a stock of over twenty million
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
feet of logs in the pond. They have now five million
feet of lumber, of which three million is white pine.
One hundred men are regularly employed. A night
crew has been put on and one hundred thousand feet
of lumber is turned out every twenty-four hours. O.
M. Field is the president of the company ; W. F. Nin-
neman, secretary and treasurer ; Will Ninneman, man-
ager.
Considerable prospecting has been done in the vicin-
ity of Hope, and valuable discoveries made in the Black
Tail and Lakeview districts, which are located from
fifteen to twenty miles to the south, and also in the
mining regions of Trestle creek and Granite creek.
The Panhandle Mining Company, the Park River Min-
ing Company, the Pend Oreille Mining Company
and Tilsey & Tanner Mining Company own mineral
properties in this vicinity.
Hope has a population of about five hundred, but
with mineral wealth susceptible of great future de-
velopment and exceptional railroad facilities, it is des-
tined to become a supply point of considerable im-
portance.
clark's fork.
In a fertile valley between the Cabinet mountains
on the north and the foothills of the Coeur d'Alene
range on the south is the thriving little village of
Clark's Fork. It has an elevation of two thousand
feet, fine climate, good soil and good water. Two
beautiful creeks flow through the suburbs of the town,
which in time will furnish large supplies of water for
the future city. Gardening is successfully carried on,
a variety of fruits extensively raised and farms are
cultivated along the banks of the river, the farmer
finding a home market for all his products. But this
region is as prolific in mining and lumfber as in agri-
cultural products. There are millions of feet of the
finest timber, composed of pine, fir, cedar and tamarack,
growing along the streams and on the mountain sides,
and within a radius of twenty-five miles are many
valuable mines. In 1890 the trail over the Cabinet
mountains to Madison on the upper Kootenai river
opened up new mineral prospects, where was found fine
galena ore. The mines on Mosquito creek were also
vigorously worked and large shipments of valuable
ore sent to Helena smelter with good returns.
Amongst the names recorded in the earliest annals
of the town we find that of J. G. Nagel, who was first
postmaster in 1884; later, in 1891, Xagel, Whitcomb
& Company had a sawmill and general store, and in
1897 Mr. Nagel put up a shingle and planing mill,
which was run by steam power. In 1884 two shingle
mills were owned and operated by Casey & McHugh
and James Ewart. A. B. Railton and M. P. Steys-
haus were early settlers who did much to attract home-
steaders to the vicinity. A contest between J. E.
White, who took up a homestead in 1895, and the com-
missioners of the general landoffice, was decided in
1899, in favor of White, and entitled him to his home-
stead entry on land now embraced in the town of
Clark's Fork. A list of the present business houses of
the town would include the following: Two general
merchandise stores, those of John W. White and Whit-
comb Brothers, the last mentioned being a two-story
building, of which the upper part is a hall ; two hotels,
John Reed and Gordon Dougherty : the Columbia Min-
ing Company ; the Copper King Mining Company ; the
Grand Copper Mining Company ; the Leona Mining
Company. There are two religious organizations, the
Free Methodists and the Congregationalists. The
former have a church building and Rev. H. S. Yockey
is the pastor. The latter worship in the school house
and Rev. V. W. Roth is the pastor. Mrs. Roth is the
present postmistress. A good school is well sup-
ported, the school building having two rooms below
and a hall upstairs. Two teachers are employed,
Coral Paxson and Miss Rosa Kennedy.
The present population of the town is about two
hundred. It is situated three miles from Lake Pend
Oreille, ninety-five from Spokane and sixty-five from
Rathdrum. the county seat.
It has been said of Clark's Fork that "it is a good
place for both rich and poor to live in," a sentiment
readily understood by those who are acquainted with
its resources and the enterprise of its citizens.
PORTHILL.
Porthill is the most northern station on the
Kootenai Valley railroad in the United States. It is
about twenty-five miles north of Bonner's Ferry and
about one hundred and thirty miles northeast of Spo-
kane. It is distant from Rathdrum. the county seat,
about one hundred and twenty-five miles. The inter-
national boundary line separating the United States
and British Columbia runs about two hundred yards
north of the postoffice and general store building of
French & Barnes. The town was formerly known as
Ockonook (the Indian name for rocky point). This
name was given it by Maj. J. I. Barnes in 1893. In
the spring of that year the United States government
established a port of import here, and Major Barnes
was sent as a customs collector. The postoffice was
established the same year, and Major Barnes was
made postmaster. He afterward opened a general
merchandise store, which he conducted until the time
of his death, in 1898.
David McLaughlin, a son of John McLaughlin,
in early days governor of the Hudson's Bay Co., and
closely identified with the first settlements of "Old
Oregon," squatted on land here over forty years ago.
The present townsite occupies a portion of the old
McLaughlin claim. Mr. McLaughlin until recently
lived in a log cabin close to the boundary line, and
about one-fourth of a mile from the Porthill postoffice ;
he died May 5th, of the present year. In 1892 C.
P. Hill located a mineral claim on the McLaughlin
place, and the townsite was laid out on this land, a
one-third interest in which was given to Mr. McLaugh-
lin.
Porthill is located on what was once the Hudson's
Bay Company trail from Bonner's Ferry to Ft. Steel,
B. C, afterwards the trail used by the miners in the
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
rush to the Wild Horse mines in British Columbia,
in the early sixties. The town occupies a table land
on the slope of the foothills of the Cabinet range of
mountains, and is on the east bank of the Kootenai
river. At the present time it has a population of
less than one hundred, and immediate prospects of
substantial and material growth are not especially good.
It has real advantages of location, however, that will
in the future be improved. The site is a good one and
there is room in abundance for a large city. There
are good mineral prospects which, when transportation
facilities are provided, will be tributary to this point.
Within a radius of twenty-five miles from Porthill
there are a number of promising mineral claims, among
them what is known as the Continental mine. Ores
have been mined showing assays of fifty dollars per
ton in silver and lead. But transportation facilities
are lacking, and the development of the mineral re-
sources must await the investment of capital in rail-
roads. The soil of the valley of the Kootenai river is
rich and very productive. In this valley are immense
areas of agricultural land that will some day be put
under cultivation, and when that day comes Porthill
will be the center of an extensive and wealthy farm-
ing community. At the present time the Kootenai
river overflows the whole valley each year, and this
great area is practically useless, except in some loca-
tions for the production of hay. Porthill occupies a
central location in a section, part of which is in the
United States and the remainder in British Columbia,
that is wealthy in resources, and when their develop-
ment begins the town will begin to grow.
Among the-early settlers here, besides those already
named, were William Hall, who took up the place
known as Hale's Rranch, where it is said a distillery
was operated in early days, supplying the miners and
others with stimulants; and Airs. M. C. Barnes, the
present postmistress, who came here with her husband
in 1893. For two years Mrs. Barnes was the only white
woman in the settlement. A. P. Whitney came here
in 1897, from Bonner's Ferry, and opened the Whitney
hotel. A little later the Montgomery brothers, —
Marion, Thomas and Z. — settled here. G. H. Finrow
& Company also opened a general store. The Ocko-
nook general store was established by Maj. J. I. Barnes
in 1892. H. A. French and Mrs. M. C. Barnes now
conduct the business. Mr. French is justice of the
peace.
A school house was erected in 1896 and the first
school term was taught by Miss Agnes McRay. At
present the school is in charge of Prof. Thomas Hy-
dorn, who has about thirty pupils enrolled. The mem-
bers of the school board are C. S. Smith, chairman;
Airs. M. C. Barnes, clerk; and E. Osborn.
The officers in charge of the United States customs
station are Otis F. Warren and William Ryan. Mr.
Ryan was formerly sheriff of Kootenai county. Will-
iam B, Thews, United States immigrant inspector, is
also stationed here. The principal imports on which
duties are collected at Porthill are coal, coke and ores.
Some idea of the receipts of the customs office may be
had from a knowledge of the fact that in April and
May. 1900. duties were collected on $311,949 worth
of lead ore alone. Before the construction of the K.
V. R. R., in 1899, from Bonner's Ferry to Kusko-
nook, B. C, these shipments entered the United
States by way of the Kootenai river, and the duties
were collected at Bonner's Ferry, which is at the
head of navigation on that river. When the railroad
was built the company named the station Porthill, and
in 1900 the postoffice name of Ockonook was dropped
and Porthill substituted. Mail is still carried by stage
to and from Bonners Ferry.
Interest has but recently developed in the resources
of this section. But very little has yet been accom-
plished by agriculturalists, and less by miners. Prog-
ress has thus far been very slow, owing to discourag-
ing conditions, which still exist. A good many In-
dians from the Kootenai and other tribes occupy some
of the lands, and while a few of them cultivate farms
in crude fashion and engage in a small way in stock
raising, they accomplish but little in the production of
wealth and in the substantial development of the sec-
tion. Present conditions, however, cannot long re-
main unchanged, and the time will doubtless come in
the near future when capital and the accompanying
forces that revolutionize conditions, people the rural
districts and build cities, will invade the boundary
region. When these things take place Porthill will
become a populous and thriving city.
LA REVIEW.
Lakeview is one of the older mining settlements
of Kootenai county. The history of the mines of this
region will be found in the descriptive chapter. The
first were located in 1888 by William Bell and others,
who had been outfitted by Fred Weber and S. P. Don-
nelly. The town started about the same time. The
townsite locaters were Archie O'Donnel, Robert Roch-
eford, George Macer, S. P. Donnelly and Fount Per-
ry. It is situated at the head of Lake Pend Oreille,
a little back from the shore. Its elevation is two
thousand two hundred and eighty-five feet. A post-
office was established in 1892, with Ernest Rammel-
meyer as postmaster. He served in this capacity until
1896, when he was succeeded by the present post-
master, W. H. Lyon. A general merchandise store
was established in 1888 by a Mr. Shelton, who sold
out to Robert Baldwin in 1890. Mr. Baldwin in turn
sold out to G. B. Bannatter in 1896. Mr. Bannatter
was succeeded in 1899 by Louis Eilert, who sold June
1, 1900, to W. H. Lyon, who still conducts the busi-
ness and serves as postmaster.
School district number thirty-seven was formed
here in 1896. and the first school board, appointed by
Judge Melder, was composed of W. H. Lyon. Will-
iam Preston and Robert Baldwin. There is a good
school house and a good school is maintained each
year. In 1900 Lakeview had a population of eighty-
four. There are now something over one hundred and
fifty residents. Boats ply from this point on the lake
to Hope, making connections there with the Northern
Pacific railroad. Boats also, carrying mails and
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
passengers, run daily to Steamboat Landing (now
called Idlewilde) on 'the west, and from this place a
stage line is operated to Athol, eight miles across the
country, where connections are made with Northern
Pacific trains. Lakeview is in the center of an ex-
tensive mining region and does an immense amount
of business in general merchandise and miners' sup-
plies. The mines are becoming each year more pro-
ductive. machinery is being introduced, shipping facili-
ties, via the lake to Hope and Sandpoint, are being im-
proved, and the town has every assurance of perma-
nence and prosperity as a mining center.
Athol has been platted on school section No. 16,
township 53, range 3, W. B. M. The town was laid
out by the state and as yet the citizens have no titles
to their property. This is a matter that will soon be
adjusted, however, and has in no way interfered with
the progress of the town. In 1900 it was credited
with a population of forty-eight, which has increased
to something over one hundred. Athol is a station
on the main line of the Northern Pacific railroad, ten
miles northeast of Rathdrum. It is eight miles from
Steamboat Landing, on Pend Oreille, on the east,
and about the same distance from Spirit Lake, on the
west. The surrounding country is heavily timbered
and will make excellent agricultural land when eventu-
ally cleared. Grains, vegetables and fruits grow
abundantly where clearings have been made. Stock
raising is also a profitable industry. Lumber manu-
facturing is now the chief industry. A sawmill was
built here in December, 1902, by Hackett & Wilson.
In January, 1903, Huber Rasher and Charles King-
man bought an interest in the plant. It is now owned
and officered by Huber Rasher, president, R. L. Hack-
ett. vice-president, and Charles Kingman, secretary.
The mill has a capacity of twenty-five thousand feet
per day.
A store of general merchandise is owned by S.
H. Watkins : Butler Bros, conduct a drug store ; the
Pacific hotel is owned by George Baiters : Horsier &
Wike have a general store; Snyder & Williams run
a blacksmith and wood shop ; James J. Dumar is post-
master ; R. N. Studley has a restaurant ; J. A. Williams
is manager of the Athol Mercantile Company ; a feed
barn is owned by Hilbert & Studley ; a hall has been
erected by the Athol Improvement Company, in which
the I. O. O. F. have a controlling interest. The Meth-
odists have a good church building, which was put
up in 1900; Rev. C. T. Coon is pastor of the congre-
gation; the Baptists are about to erect a building;
their services are now conducted by Rev. C. M. Hurt
and Rev. C. C. Hand. The public schools were taught
the past year by Professor Daniel Van Duzer. former-
ly county superintendent of schools.
The first settlers at Athol were the railroad sec-
tion foremen. S. and P. L. Bennett, who were sent
here shortly after the track was laid. Aside from
these the first permanent settler was A. H. Noble, who
took up a homestead, which adjoins the townsite, in
iSc)2. The postoffice was established in 1895, with I.
F. Irons, postmaster. The pioneer business man is S.
II. Watkins. who opened his store in 1895. A school
house was built in 1902; before its construction school
was taught in the M. E. church building, the first
teacher being a Miss Moss. The first minister located
at Athol was Rev. Hobson, now of Coeur d'Alene.
Early in the history of the village lodges of the I. O.
O. F. and M. W. A. were organized, and they now
have a membership of eighty and forty, respectively.
Athol is far enough removed from the neighboring
business centers — Rathdrum and Sandpoint — to make
a good town. There are extensive heavily timbered
areas all around the town and the development of the
timber industry is certain to bring men and mills to
the locality. Its shipping facilities are good and in
time it will receive splendid support from the farming
areas which are yearly becoming more extensive and
more productive. Athol is certain to grow into a
thriving business center.
Hauser is the junction of the main line with the
Coeur d'Alene branch of the Northern Pacific railroad.
It is twenty-one miles east of Spokane and six miles
southwest of Rathdrum, the county seat of Kootenai
county. It is in the Spokane valley, or what is termed
locally Rathdrum prairie, about midway between Mud
Lake on the north and Spokane river on the south.
The surrounding lands are largely agricultural and
some of the best ranches in the county are in this
vicinity. Its proximity to Post Falls, which is only
about five miles away, has retarded progress at Hauser
in a business way, but to the north and west is quite
a large expanse of territory that must when fully set-
tled become in a measure tributary to the town, and
consequently there is reason to believe that it will
in the future become a thriving village.
Settlements were made here as early as 1880, but
in 1900 it was credited with a population of only
thirty-eight. E. P. Manor, now of Rathdrum, was
one of the early settlers and business men. He moved
his business to Rathdrum in 1894.
The main line of the railroad and its branch afford
great shipping facilities. John Cogan is the present
postmaster. He also conducts a general merchandise
store. The town is pleasantly situated, with the prairie
stretching away to the east and west and the mountains
rising on the north and south. There is an abundance
of timber land to the north that is valuable not alone
for the timber, but for its productive qualities when
cleared. It is a desirable location for home builders,
and adjoining lands on all sides are being rapidly
settled.
CAMAS COVE, TYSON, SANTA, FERNWOOD, EMID \
AND CLARKIA.
In 1895 the Tyson brothers, James, Henry and
George, located in the southeastern part of Kootenai
countv, on land which now includes the town site of
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
813
Tyson. Their property is located on Tyson creek, for-
merly known as Ridue creek. The Tysons purchased
the land of S. B. Richie, who had several years previ-
ously taken it up as a homestead. The surrounding
country is now known as the Camas Cove mining
district. It is a sheltered cove in the mountains about
rive miles square, and took its name from the camas
root, whch is abundant here. It is on the southern
slope of the mountain range which forms the divide
between the St. Joe and St. Maries rivers. Here
the Tyson brothers engaged in stock raising for two
years before having any knowledge of the presence
of gold on their land. In 1897 Burt Renfro found on
the place a piece of float that contained gold. After
this find James and Henry Tyson began prospecting.
Their first discovery was the War Eagle, now one of
the richest mines in the district. A little later rich
placer discoveries were made, causing a great deal
of excitement and resulting in a rush of miners and
prospectors. A large camp was soon formed, and since
that time there has been continued development of the
mining properties and the establishment of a thriving
mining town, which was very naturally named Tyson.
Tyson is located about eighteen miles southeast
of St. Maries in the heart of the mining district. In
five years it has developed from a stock ranch to a
well populated town. The placer mines have yielded
many thousands of dollars to their owners and the
development of the quartz claims is well under way.
Stores and hotels have been opened. There is a post-
office and a good school. A saw mill has been erected
and a stamp mill is contemplated. Regular stages run
between Tyson and St. Maries, and a telephone line
connects the town with outside points. Among those
now residing here who were here when the first mineral
discoveries were made are the Tyson brothers, Burt
Renfro, H. Desgranges, Joe Dugan, A. C. Schrader,
C. J. Cole, J. W. McNeil and Peter DesgraSges. There
are now about two hundred people in and about the
town.
The most valuable claims now being worked are
the War Eagle, Gold Nugget and Sixteen to One,
located by James Tyson. The Gold Nugget has yielded
to date upwards of seventy-five thousand dollars. There
are also the Bluebird, Topping's Ironclad, and the Kelly
Corbin claims. The Richmond Group consists of five
claims, owned by the Richmond Gold Mining and Mill-
ing Company, of which J. W. McNeil is manager.
The Ironclad is owned by Charles Topping and W.
II. Haverland.
The town of Tyson is in a beautiful valley and
has many advantages of location which insure its per-
manence. The town site was patented by James Tvson
in January, 1901, and the lots have nearly all been
sold at prices ranging from forty dollars to one hun-
dred dollars each. An addition to this original site
has been platted and is now being sold out. Ex-
perienced mining men have invested here and have
faith in the future of the mining industry. Every
indication is that Tyson will grow in population and
in importance as a mining center.
Santa is three miles north of Tyson, fifty miles
south of Rathdrum, and twenty-five miles east of Farm-
mgton, Washington. It is connected by stage with
St. Maries, fifteen miles down the river. It has a
population of about fifty. It is a distributing point
for logging camps located in the surrounding forests.
The saw mills of Harrison and Coeur d'Alene have
installed logging camps in this section that give em-
ployment to upwards of one thousand men. The St.
Joe Improvement Company has built a dam on the
St. Maries river four miles below Santa, which has
greatly increased rafting facilities. About one hundred
thousand dollars have been spent in river improve-
ments in this region, and last season's output of logs
amounted to about twenty million feet. Ranchers are
settled all along the St. Maries river and many of them
trade at Santa. A town site has been platted bv S. T.
Renfro. H. H. Renfro is postmaster, and has a general
store. The Elk Hotel is conducted by W. Jones and
Everett Markham. There is also a blacksmith shop
and livery barn owned by B. Walkup. The timbered
areas are immense here and there is also a good deal
of agricultural land, and as the territory needs the
town as a dstributing point, Santa is likely "to grow and
become prosperous. Fernwood is a settlement four
miles west of Santa. C. D. McGregor has secured a
town site patent. It is in the midst of a splendid forest
of saw timber. J. K. Honl has established a gi neral
store, and a hotel is conducted by Mrs. Blair. Game
is plentiful here, including bear, cougar, deer, elk,
grouse, and pheasants. Emida is a small settlement ten
miles west of Santa. There are about fifty people here.
A general store is conducted by Hugh East. Clarkia
is anodier small postoffice in the extreme southeast
corner of the county. It is on the upper St. Maries
river, sixty miles southeast of Rathdrum.
SMALL STATIONS AND POSTOFFICES ON THE NORTHERN
PACIFIC RAILROAD.
Granite is eighteen miles northeast of Rathdrum'.
It is a heavily timbered section. What is known as
the Severance sawmill is near here at King's Spur.
It uses a forty-horse power boiler and employs a
crew of about sixty men. Miss Carrie B. Jordan
is postmistress at Granite and conducts a general store.
Mrs. Leadbette is proprietor of Hotel Leadbette. Ram-
sey is about midway between Rathdrum and Athol:
prospecting and logging are the chief industries. When
the timber is eventually cleared away a considerable
amount of agricultural land will come under cultiva-
tion and contribute towards the building of a pros-
perous village at this point. The present merchant
and postmaster is Frank Tripp. Cocolalla is twenty-
eight miles northeast of Rathdrum. It is on Lake Coco-
ialla, from which it takes its name. Immense quarries
of the finest granite are being opened on the shores of
this lake. Algoma is about six miles south of Sand-
point. Settlements were first made here in 1900.
Nathan Powell is postmaster and has a general store.
Sagle is a star route postoffice between Algoma on
the N. P. railroad and Lake Pend Oreille. Pan-
handle is a new town that has been platted about two
814
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
miles east of Sandpoint, where the smelter is being
erected. The proposed new railroad, the Spokane and
Kootenai, will run near the site. Kootenai is four
miles northeast of Sandpoint. This was once a thriv-
ing town of about one thousand people. It had a
newspaper and supported several stores and supply
houses. It was then the shipping point for freight and
supplies by wagon to Bonner's Ferry on the Kootenai
river, and to points north. In 1892, when the Great
Northern railroad was completed to Bonner's Ferry,
the people, newspaper, business houses, etc., followed
the new road or sought other localities and the popula-
tion dropped to less than one hundred. It is on the
shores of Lake Pend Oreille and is surrounded by
timber and mineral lands. Its proximity to Sand-
point will probably prevent material growth. Oden
is three or four miles east of Kootenai and is also
on the lake shore. Pack River is five miles northwest
of Hope. It is on the shores of the lake and at the
mouth of the river bearing the same name. A good
deal of prospecting is being done up this river. Black
Tail is a mining settlement fourteen miles from Hope,
from which place it is reached by steamers. Thornton
is a flag station four miles southeast of Hope. Cabinet
is seven miles southeast of Clark's Fork and close to
the Montana state line.
SOME GREAT NORTHERN AND KOOTENAI VALLEY RAIL-
ROAD STATIONS.
Leonia is on the Montana state line about fifteen
miles southeast of Bonner's Ferry and ninety miles
from the county seat. It is the center of a fine lum-
bering region. Lena Mervin is postmistress. E. E.
Gilson runs a hotel. The Leonia Mercantile Company,
of which W. E. R. Brewster is manager, has a large
general store and a good trade. Katka is the next sta-
tion west, distant six miles from Leonia. Crossport
is a small station four miles east of Bonner's Ferry.
Moravia is about the same distance southwest of Bon-
ner's Ferry. Naples is the next station south. The
White Mercantile Company has a general store here.
Elmira is about fifteen miles north of Sandpoint. Col-
burn is about half way between Sandpoint and Elmira.
Urencoe Station (or Markham postoffice) is west of
Sandpoint at the extreme foot of Lake Pend Oreille.
La Clede. on the Pend Oreille river, is twenty-eight
miles north of Rathdrum. It has a population of per-
haps one hundred and fifty. Mining and lumbering
are it- industries. Jerome M. Bunker is postmaster;
a blacksmith shop is owned by Charles Bradbury ; a
general store is conducted by Mrs. B. Cass : A. Chris-
tenson has a general store and ships poles ; R. H.
Graves runs a restaurant; Fred Burdick is justice
of the peace ; the town has a good hotel, the La Clede.
The large general store of the La Clede Lumber Com-
pany, of which J. M. Bunker is president, William A.
Burdick, secretary, and Mr. McKinney manager, was
totally destroyed by fire in the early morning of March
15, 1903. The store also contained the postoffice and in
the upper story was a large public hall. The loss on
the building was about twenty thousand dollars. The
stock of general merchandise, which was almost en-
tirely destroyed, was valued at six thousand dollars.
Albany Falls is about two miles from the Washington
state line. It is about thirty miles northwest of Rath-
drum and four miles west of Priest River. This will
develop into a thriving place in the future, as the falls
in the Pend Oreille river will furnish immense power,
which will no doubt be utilized sooner or later by mills
and factories. On the north bank of the river and ex-
tending three miles to the east, is an immense deposit
of aluminum clay, from which the finest grades of
brick may be manufactured. The settlement is in school
district No. 24, which was organized August 30, 1892.
The present valuation of the school property is about
eight hundred dollars. The settlement has good pros-
pects. Newport is but two miles west of Albany Falls
and is directly on the boundary line between Idaho
and Washington. A portion of the town is in each
state. It is surrounded by rich mineral lands, fine
timber belts and numerous valleys of fertile agricultural
lands. It has in addition peculiar advantages as a pleas-
ure resort. The scenery is enchanting and the excellent
hunting and fishing afforded by the nearby mountain
valleys and streams, and the Pend Oreille river, make
the locality truly a sportsman's paradise. It has gen-
eral stores, long distance telephone connections, good
schools and churches, and will grow in population and
importance, as the surrounding country is developed.
Copeland is a station on the Kootenai Valley rail-
road, north of Bonner's Ferry. The International
boundary line is about seven miles directly north. It is
about ten miles southeast of Porthill, seventy miles
northeast of the county seat and one hundred and eight
miles northeast of Spokane. The postoffice was estab-
lished July 1. iqoo, with L. P. Cole as postmaster. Mr.
Cole 1-- also manager of a general store, conducted un-
der the firm of L. P. Cole & Company. Among
the prominent settlers of this locality is Charles F.
Fischer, who is interested in the reclamation of the
swamp lands of the Kootenai valley, and in the develop-
ment of other resources of the country.
• '. R. & X. RAILROAD STATIONS.
( !ataldo is on the boundary line between Kootenai
and Shoshone counties. It is thirty-five miles south-
cast of Rathdrum. There is a sawmill here owned by
Roland and Burris. A general store is conducted by
A. E. Frost and another by W. P. Dwyer. C. j.
Cole and Son are loggers. It is on the Coeur d'Alene
river in a heavily timbered section. Mission is a flag
statir^ii a few miles west of Cataldo. Dudley is the
next small station west. Lane is a station of greater
importance a short distance west of Dudley. It has
a population of about one hundred. There is a hotel
here kept by H. Roden. P. L. Zimmerman has a large
general store. Another general store has recently been
put in by the Kootenai Commercial Company, formerly
engaged in business at Harrison. Medimont is about
nine miles east of Harrison. Titus Blessing and Jona-
than Mauk took up homesteads here several years ago,
and in 1895 a town site was laid out on their land.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
This resulted in a contest between the homesteaders
and townsite people before the Coeur d'Alene land office
and the Interior Department. The townsite people
won, but generously gave to Blessing and Mauk all the
land not used for townsite purposes. A patent to the
townsite was issued to the probate judge of the county,
who conveyed the 'lots to the occupants. The name
Medimont was coined from "Medicine Mountain," a
local land mark. There has been a settlement here
since 1890. It is the center of a mineral district. There
is also a good deal of farming land along the river in
this section, and the stock industry has developed to
good proportions. J. W. Slayter is postmaster. A
hotel is conducted by Robert P. Short, and a general
store by Mr. Slater. About seventy-five people are
permanent settlers in the town. Anderson is a station
a short distance east of Harrison. Its postoffice name
is Springston. Mining and lumbering are well devel-
oped industries. D. B. Stowell is postmaster. Nathan
R. Bowers runs a blacksmith shop. Stowell and
Shingstead have a general store and a sawmill. The
Waters Mining Company, of which N. R. Bowers is
president, and P. T. Wagner secretary, owns several
good prospects in the vicinity. Lacon is a flag station
seven miles south of Harrison, on Lake Coeur d'Alene.
Watts is a station in the Coeur d'Alene Indian reserva-
tion, ten miles east of Tekoa, Washington.
SOME INLAND AND LAKESIDE SETTLEMENTS.
Steamboat Landing is a settlement at the extreme
southern point of Lake Pend Oreille. Boats ply from
this point to Lakeview and stages run to Athol on the
Northern Pacific railroad. It is about eight miles east
of Athol. Squaw Bay is a settlement on an arm of
Lake Pend Oreille about two miles north of Steam-
boat Landing. It has become a summer resort and the
name has been changed to Idlewilde. Hotels and cot-
tages have been erected. It is a beautiful location and
the scenery is especially grand. It has excellent ad-
vantages as a resort. Weber is a mining settlement
fifteen miles south of Hope on the lake shore. It is
teached from Hope and Lakeview by steamer. The
Weber Milling and Mining Company have valuable
properties here. Mica is a postofnce in the western
part of the county, fifteen miles south of Rathdrum,
and nine miles south of Coeur d'Alene City. It is near
the west shore of the lake. Len Landing is a postoffice
and steamboat landing on the west shore of Lake Coeur
d'Alene, about midway between Coeur d'Alene City
and Harrison. Lumbering, dairying and fruit
growing are profitable industries "here. A stage
runs to Bellgrove on the west. Len H. Nichols is
postmaster. Mr. Nichols also handles general mer-
chandise, farm products and lumber. Eli Stinson con-
ducts a grocery store. Bellgrove is a postoffice near
the Washington state line, in the western part of the
county, directly west of Len Landing on the lake. Will-
iams was formerly called Coolin. " It is west of the
foot of Priest Lake, about twenty-five miles north of the
town of Priest River, and is in the Priest River forest
reserve. It has a population of something more than
one hundred. Stages convey mail and passengers to
and from Priest River. Lee Downey is postmaster.
A general store is conducted by A. Coolin. Farming,
stock raising, and dairying are carried on to a con-
siderable extent in the surrounding country. Further
development of the town is prevented by its location
in the government reserve, but when this is thrown
open to settlement it must become an important busi-
ness center, for it is surrounded by timbered and agri-
cultural lands that when taken up and improved by
settlers, will contribute very materially to the growth
and prosperity of the settlement. Seneaquoteen is one
of the oldest settlements in the county. The Hudson's
Bay Company had a trading post here in very early
days, and in 1864 when the act was passed by the
territorial legislature creating Kootenai county, Senea-
quoteen was named as the temporary county seat. No
county business was ever transacted here, however, and
the settlement has remained a small trading point.
It is thirty miles north of Rathdrum and seven miles
southeast of La Clede. Andrew Christenson is post-
master and proprietor of a general store. A saw mill
is operated here by the La Clede Lumber Company.
The population is about twenty-five.
CHAPTER V.
EDUCATIONAL.
In this particular instance "Education" by local
application may be defined as the foundation upon
which rests the magnificent superstructure of Kootenai
county's commercial, political, educational, religious
and social institutions. This is true in a double sense.
The journalists, the managers of the greater industrial
corporations and the lesser mercantile companies, the
professional men, the leaders in social life and religious
work, are men and women of education. Coming to the
county from educational centers in various sections
of the east and west they have conquered the wilder-
ness and formed other and new educational centers bv
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
the .shores of its lakes and rivers and in the midst
of its valiey plains. Knowing much of the power of
education and realizing the need of intellectual train-
ing in the varied walks of life, their best thought and
their best energies have been directed toward the early
and permanent establishmnt of good common and
high schools.
In this age as well as in all ages of the past, many
of the leaders in commercial, industrial, political and
even professional life, are. and have been, self-made
men ; men who in their early manhood were deprived
of scholastic advantages. In the active affairs of man
the failure of many who have had every advantage
of intellectual training has led some to decry educa-
tion. Extremists have gone so far as to declare that
some men have too much education. But as the ma-
jority of us are practical men in this age and not
philosophers, we do not waste much time theorizing
on the advantages or disadvantages of education, but
get it if we can. The efforts of instructors in pursuing
"fad" methods may at times be misdirected and con-
sequently fail in producing satisfactory results in the
training' of the student. Again the student may be
in school solely because of parental command or en-
treaty, with no aim or ambition to accomplish anything
further than the completion of the course of study in
any manner that will speedily bring his school life to
a close. Xo one should expect such a student to suc-
ceed in after life. The right instructor can accom-
plish wonderful results with the right kind of material.
Kootenai county is an industrial community. The
spirit of the day there as in many other localities is
commercial. Many have come to believe that the
capacitv to make and the genius to use money consti-
tute the full man : but there are many also who believe
that these are not all the things that the fullness of life
holds. In the ultimate judgment it is not wealth, it
is not power, it is not even that which the world calls
success that really counts. Character is die touch-
stone that makes true greatness. The best citizens are
the men of character, and when these men have had
the advantages of education they have lived powerful
and influential lives. While the industrial and com-
mercial interests of Kootenai county are great and the
citizens are deeply absorbed in the material develop-
ment of its varied resources ; yet in the rush and under
the weight of business cares the common and the
high schools have not been neglected. In every com-
munity special pride has manifested itself in the con-
duct of the school. The qualifications of teachers have
always been a matter for special investigation and as
a consequence there exist as good schools in Kootenai
county as may be found anywhere in the Northwest.
Education in Kootenai county began at a very early
date. The first school in the county was conducted at
the foot of Lake Coeur d'Alene, near the present site
of Coeur d'Alene City, in 1842. It was in truth a
sectarian school and in fact a promulgator of the
dogmas of Catholicism : but it was nevertheless a
school. The pupils were Indians and the teacher a
Jesuit missionary. Father DeSmet. In the first chap-
ter of the historv of this county will be found the de-
tails concerning this school. From 1842 to the present
time the Catholics have continuously maintained good
schools among the Indians, and at DeSmet on the Coeur
d'Alene reservation, there is now both a boys' and a
girls' school, where both Indian and white children
may obtain a good education under the guidance of
priests and sisters of the Order of Providence. Out of
an Indian population of 495 on this reservation, about
300 have received a fair education, can read and use
enough English to carry on an intelligent conversa-
tion. These results have been obtained after sixty
years of earnest work on the part of the missionaries.
lint the Indians on the reservation do not enter
into the intellectual life of the county and it is only
as a matter of record that we note the foregoing facts.
The first school taught by a white person was at
Rathdrum during the winter of 1882-83. Miss Viola
Mulleins was in charge and she therefore has the dis-
tinction of being the pioneer teacher of Kootenai coun-
ty. As Miss Mulkins resigned before the completion
of the term and was succeeded by Miss Kate Powers,
the latter is entitled to share with her the honor, espe-
cially as she continued to conduct the school until the
building was destroyed by fire in the fall of 1884.
The traditional log school house has not played a very
prominent part in the school history of Kootenai coun-
ty. There have been a few, particularly in the northern
part; but the saw mill was a pioneer institution in
many of the settlements and the necessity for the
log building was obviated.
In November, 1883, one year after the beginning
of the first term of school at Rathdrum, then called
Westwood, a school was opened at Bonner's Ferry
b) Airs. Martin Fry. Mrs. Fry taught ten pupils dur-
ing this term, three of her own children and seven half-
breed Kootenai Indian children. The term lasted nine
months, and was taught without compensation. In the
winter of 1883-4, children of the new town of Coeur
d'Alene attended school at Fort Coeur d'Alene, and
in the winiser of 1884-85, Isaac S. Daly taught a term
of school at Coeur d'Alene. These w^ere the beginnings
of the common schools of Kootenai county.
Among the first acts of the county commissioners,
after county organization, was that of creating school
districts. The count}- was divided approximately in
half. Coeur d'Alene and all territory south of it was
called dstrict No. I ; Rathdrum. vicinity and all terri-
tory north was called district No. 2. In 1885 the first
of the new districts was formed, No. 3 at Standpoint,
and S. L. Smith was its pioneer teacher.
Among the early school superintendents were Mark
AI. Musgrove, Henry Melder and Miss Agnew. In
the early 'eighties a territorial law made the probate
judge ex officio superintendent of public instruction.
Under this law Probate Judge Henry Melder served
almost continuously as school superintendent from
1886 to 1898. At the general electon of 1896 Kootenai
county cast 759 votes for, and 213 votes against the
proposition to amend Art. XVIII, Sec. 6, of the state
constitution so as to separate the offices of probate
judge and county superintendent of public instruction.
The amendment carried throughout the state, and in
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
817
1898 Daniel VanDuzer was elected the first county
superintendent under the new law. The first county
institute was held at Rathdrum November 4th to 8th,
1895. At this time a Kootenai County Teachers' Asso-
ciation was formed, with Henry M elder, president ; T.
N. Creekmur, first vice president ; Louise Allbaugh,
second vice president; Christine Winterbottom, third
vice president; W. E. Edelblute, secretary. At the
first institute the following teachers were in attendance :
A. E. Torelle, T. N. Creekmur, J. C. Brady, Marx-
Spencer. Grace Burns, Louise Allbaugh, Margaret
Buckly, Agnes McRae, F. V. Yeager, George W.
Hayes, Christine Winterbottom, \Y. S. Walker, Oscar
Sheffield, Bessie Butterfield, Mvrtle Andrews, T. H.
Wilson, W. H. Edelblute. Mildred Humes, Hattie I.
Smith, Eliza Kercheval, Anna Bothwick, Louise Pres-
ton, Thomas Hvdorn. Ida Bush, Mrs. Jennie White,
Minnie E. Price, C. P. Hartley, Mrs." W. Wright,
Lena Boyce, Mary Crockett, Mrs. A. Pierce, Marie
Wheatly, Lulu Leonardy.
The early school records of the county having been
burned with the court records in the Rathdrum fire
of 1884, we were unable to secure statistical informa-
tion concerning the early schools. The records cov-
ering the period from 1885 to 1893 were poorly kept,
being confused with those of the probate judge, and
it was impossible to gather reliable figures from them.
Even the state superintendent's office could furnish no
information covering the period prior to 1893. The
school census of Kootenai county, taken July 1, 1893,
showed a school population of 1,462: boys, 735, and
girls, 727. Of these, 906 were enrolled in the schools
of the various districts, which numbered at that time
29. At that time there were five graded schools in the
county, located at Rathdrum, Coeur d'Alene, Sand-
point, Bonners Ferry and Post Falls. Twenty-three
of the twenty-nine school houses occupied were owned
by the districts ; the remaining six were rented build-
ings. Forty-one teachers were employed in the schools
of the county at an average salary of $51 each per
month. Of the forty-one teachers, twelve were gen-
tlemen and twenty-nine were ladies: salaries paid to
gentlemen averaged $53 per month, and to ladies $49
per month. Of the twenty teachers' certificates issued
in 1893, three were first grade, twelve second grade and
the balance third grade. In the school year ending
August 31, 1893, Kootenai county paid to its teachers
$10,167: for libraries and apparatus, $955; for fuel,
rent, and incidentals, $5,608: for repairs and furniture,
$1,536, a total expenditure for the year of $18,266.48.
The receipts for the year were as follows : On hand
at the beginning of the school year, $3,947.14; collected
from all sources, $22, 197.59; total receipts. $20,144.73.
Although the county was but ten years old. it stood
seventh in the state in point of amounts collected and
expended for school purposes. Although during the
next school year beginning September I. 1893, all the
industries and commercial institutions of Kootenai
county were paralyzed by the panic in financial centers,
there was no material decrease in the receipts and
expenditures forf school purposes, and the average
amount per month paid to teachers was increased one
52
dollar. The enrollment was somewhat less owing per-
haps to the hardships individual homes were forced to
endure, or to removals from the county because of the
depressing effects of the panic upon various industries ,
but on the whole the school year was a successful one
and results were not noticeable below those of the year
previous. Ten new districts were formed during the
year and $1,695 expended for new school houses and
grounds in rural communities. The total valuation of
school property this year was $33,690.
There are but two independent districts in the coun-
ty, those of Rathdrum and Sandpoint ; but in all the
larger and in some of the smaller towns excellent
school buildings have been erected, some of them at a
cost of many thousands of dollars, and courses of study
have been established, the successful completion of
which admits the graduate to the lower classes of the
state university at Moscow without examination. The
fact that many enter that institution direct from the
public schools of Kootenai county, is a splendid en-
dorsement of the work of its teachers and an evidence
of the high standing of the common schools of the
county in the long list of educational institutions in the
state. It is a matter of common remark by visitors
that the schools of Kootenai county would be a great
credit to a much older community and one much more
densely populated.
Since 1893 forty-seven new districts have been
formed, making in all seventy-six districts at the close
of the school year in 1902. For comparative purposes
we will give statistics for the year 1902, showing '.hat
advancement is being made, in keeping with the gen-
eral progress that has been made by all industries in
the county during the past few years. There are now
seventy-four school houses in the seventy-six districts,
in nine of which graded schools are taught. The
school census of 1902 shows a total school population
of 3,149; of this number 1,571 are boys, and 1.578 are
girls. The increase since 1893 is 1.687. showing that
the school population has more than doubled in the
last ten years. The enrollment for the year ending
June 30, 1902, was, in all the schools, 2.821, showing
that 328 of school age were not enrolled. Thirty-five
male and eighty-five female, or one hundred and twenty
teachers in all, were employed at a total cost to the
county of $31,142.23, an increase of $20,975 over me
amount paid teachers in 1893. Text books cost the
county $1,378.50 and libraries $668. During this year
there were received from all sources $73,899.42, of
which $3,113 were raised by the sale of bond- issued
for building purposes. The total bonded indebtedness of
the county for school purposes was $18,750: estimated
value of school houses and sites, $59,488: of school
apparatus, $5,410; of school libraries. $1,502, and <<\
all school property, $81,378.86.
The railroad mileage in Kootenai county is greater
than in any other county in the state and the numerous
school districts through which the roads run are con-
sequently greatly benefitted by amounts paid as taxes
and through the lessening of the burden of taxation
borne by settlers on partially developed ranches or
homesteads. The railroads are directly benefiting the
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
schools also by developing the varied industries of the
county, making it possible for settlers to occupy the
outlying sections and by making all parts of the county
accessible to the homeseeker and investor who comes
-with his family and with his worldly possessions to
become a citizen of the county and a patron of its
schools.
A state law makes it obligatory on the part of
teachers to attend the institutes which are held an-
nually in various parts of the county. Much of the
success which has always attended the schools is no
doubt in a large measure due to the training instruct-
ors receive at these gatherings. The Kootenai county
institute for the year 1902 was held at Coeur d'Alene,
beginning August 1 8th and continuing throughout
the week. Seventy teachers were in attendance and the
session was successful from a teacher's standpoint.
Interest in educational matters in Kootenai county is
not war.ing, on the contrary greater efforts are being
continually put forth to raise the standard of perfection
in teacher and student ; while primary work is not
being neglected, the higher education of the youth is
receiving more attention than heretofore, it being con-
sidered desirable to afford them home advantages
rather than to allow it to continue necessary for them
to go away from home for the higher work. The
public schools are turning out young men and women
who are taking positions of trust and responsibility
at home and in other localities, and these positions are
being filled with credit and in a manner to credit greatly
the institutions in which their holders have received
their intellectual and moral training. Having been
well founded and having the intelligent support of
all good citizens, the schools of Kootenai county are
destined to accomplish much for the intellectual and
moral advancement of its citizens.
CHAPTER VI.
DESCRIPTIVE.
In area Kootenai county is fourth in the state, with
5.600 square miles. From its most southern point to
the International Boundary, it is approximately 140
miles long with an average width of 40 miles. Its
southern boundary follows the summit of the divide
between Palouse river in Latah county and Hangman's
Creek in Kootenai county. On the east, the line be-
gins on the north slope of Beal's Butte at the eastern
terminus of the Thatuna Hills, a low mountain range
extending east and west through Latah county. From
this point it dips into and crosses the valley of the St.
Maries river, rising again on the north to the summit
of the divide between the St. Maries and St. Joe
rivers. From this divide to the crest of the Coeur
d'Alenes, it alternately rises and falls in crossing the
valleys of the St. Joe and the Coeur d'Alene rivers
and the dividing ranges. From a point on the 48th
parallel of latitude, it moves southeast for about fifteen
miles, along the summit of the Coeur d'Alene moun-
tains, to the Montana state line, when it again turns
north, crossing the valley of Clark's Fork, the crest
of the Cabinet mountains, the valley of Kootenai river,
and intersecting the International Boundary a short
distance west of the 116th meridian of longitude. In
traversing this region the eastern boundary line crosses
one of the most mountainous and broken sections of
the northwest, reaching its lowest elevation at Leonia.
on the Kootenai river, and its highest on the crests
of the Cabinet and the Coeur d'Alene mountains. At
Leonia is located one of the boundary stones between
Idaho and Montana, a stone pillar six feet high, and
ten inches square at the top. On the east side is
chiseled the word Montana, and on the west side,
Idaho. The elevation of this stone is 1833 feet, and
its distance from the International Boundary is 26.64
miles. Fifty-four miles south of the boundary is an-
other Idaho-Montana monument, on the summit of
the Cabinets, with an elevation of 6,780 feet. July
9, 1898, a state-line monument was erected on the
summit of the Coeur d'Alene mountains, 70.72 miles
south of the 49th parallel. It has the same dimensions
as the others but is in ten sections, the sections having
been taken up the trails on pack animals, and after-
ward cemented and bolted together. The elevation
here is 4,850 feet. There are ninety-two monuments
and posts between the International Boundary and the
summit of the Coeur d'Alene mountains, a distance
of little more than seventy miles, four stone monu-
ments and eighty-eight iron posts. Directly on the
boundary line is a stone monument and the elevation
given at this point is 4,505 feet. The survey of this
portion of the Idaho-Montana line and the erecting of
the posts and monuments was accomplished by Rich-
ard U. Goode of the United States Geological Survey,
in the summer of 1898.
In passing from east to west, the Internationa!
Boundary, which forms also the north line of Kootenai
county, crosses the valley of the Kootenai river and
lies for the remainder of the distance along the north
slope of the Cabinet range, known locally as the Priest
River mountains. The point of intersection with the
Washington state line is about two miles west of the
117th meridian of longitude; the north half of the
county is, therefore, one degree of longitude in width.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
819
South from the International Boundary, the west coun-
ty line follows the Pend Oreille range of mountains,
whose greatest elevation is between 6,000 and 7,000
feet, to the valley of the Pend Oreille river. South
of this river the divide between Pend Oreille and
Spokane river is crossed, after which a semi-moun-
tainous tract is traversed until the hills of the Palouse
country are reached, where the line returns to the
point of beginning, a few miles north of Farmington,
Washington. The distance around the county is fully
375 miles, "as the crow flies ;" following the line in its
numberless and sharp depressions and elevations, it is
much farther. Except at intervals along the south and
east boundaries, the course is through a densely tim-
bered area, much of it uninhabited, some of it almost
inaccessible, where there are no roads and but few
trails, a series of wild, canyon-cleft ranges, relieved
only by narrow river valleys, and an occasional plateau,
differing from the higher elevations in primeval en-
vironments only in the absence of the gorge and the
eternal snow.
Everywhere apparent is the geological fact that
Kootenai county has had a most wonderful physical
history, beginning thousands of years ago, at a period
when the titanic forces of nature were holding high
carnival in the region now occupied by the states of the
Pacific Northwest. Geologists agree that at one time
the foothills of the Rocky Mountain range formed the
shore line of the Pacific Ocean. In time the Cascade
Mountains were thrown up, at first in the form of a
long, low dyke, but, by successive upheavals and erup-
tions, to the present elevation. There was thus formed,
between the Cascade and the Rocky Mountains, a vast
inland sea, extending from the ice fields of the far
north to the open sea in the far south. Dr. Thomas
Condon, Professor of Geology, University of Oregon,
in a recent work entitled "The Two Islands," asserts
that the Coeur d'Alene and Bitter Root mountains
formed the east shore of this inland sea. The pres-
ence of water-worn pebbles and shells on the slopes
of the Cabinet and Coeur d'Alene mountains verify the
Doctor's statement.
During this period, then. Kootenai county must
have been just "off shore," a portion of it, in fact,
forming the pebbly beach or the rocky shore of the
sea. The presence of the worn pebbles and shells
high up the mountain sides may not be understood to
indicate that the waters approached the present eleva-
tion of the mountains. During a long period of in-
activity, the fierce internal fires were but gathering
energy for mightier work. In time the placid sur-
face of the adjacent sea became a surging, boiling-
tempest, the mighty waves receding farther and far-
ther from the former shore line, as the earth's crust
was thrown up in giant folds, higher and higher, until
the Rocky Mountain system, embracing its western
spurs and ranges, attained its present elevation. During
this eruptive period occurred the greatest lava flow
of all the ages. Not only were the snowy peaks of the
Cascades built up, but the flow extended inland, to the
south and to the north, over the vast plains of the
Columbia, covering an area of 200,000 square miles
to an average depth of 2,000 feet. The life of the
inland sea was at an end, and in its stead was a vast
desert-waste of lava. By the lifting of tin 1
range the warm Japan current, which had previously
washed the Rocky Mountain slopes in its passage to
the north, was turned from its course and the inland
areas experienced a radical change in temperature. A
glacial era followed and in many places are discernable
the paths of these mighty ice-floes, as in their slow
but irresistible movement from north to south, they
furrowed and planed down the broken face of the
earth's crust, scarring the mountain sides, filling in the
intervening depths, and forming the level and beau-
teous valleys of the present. Far extending moraines
and wide glaciated surfaces tell plainly the story of this
era. The path of the glacier is well marked in Koot-
enai county. From north to south, through the central
portion of the county are found the deposits and ac-
cumulations peculiar to this period. From the moun-
tain tops at the head of Lake Pend Oreille, the path
of the ice mass is plainly visible, and some idea may
be had of its gigantic proportions when it is known that
beneath the surface of Rathdrum prairie the moraine
has a depth of between two and three hundred feet.
There is not space here for a technical description
of the structure and elemental constitution of the
mountains of Kootenai county. They are of volcanic
origin and many of the loftier peaks are extinct vol-
canoes. The period of volcanic and seismal distur-
bances in this region is comparatively recent, as evi-
denced by the presence of volcanic ash on the mountain
summits, and, in places, the distibution over wide areas
of boulders and fragmentary rock that have been hurled
from the mountain sides. There have been no special
geological surveys of these mountains, but in a general
way government geologists have reported on their
structure as a part of the Rocky Mountain system and
to these works the student reader is referred for tech-
nical information.
The mountainous regions of Kootenai county have
been a help and at the present time a hindrance to its
development. Not many years ago the greater portion
of the county might well have been described as a
region of wild and beautiful scenery, untouched by the
industrial hand of man. The mountains were for a
long time, "and. in locations, are still a hindrance to
development, as they have delayed road and railroad
building. For this reason many localities are difficult
of access, are cut off from good markets, and progress
along all lines is consequently slow. The mountains
have, however, been a help in other directions, because
of their mineral deposits, which have attracted many
-ettlers : because of the game in their forests, the fish
in their streams, and the deep snows on their rugged
crests. The game and the fish of the mountain regions
have induced many to locate in the nearby valleys, and
the snows have been made to serve practical purposes
by the construction of canals through which the waters
of the resultant streams are carried to the agricultural
lands for purposes of irrigation. Two decades ago
when the Northern Pacific was pushing through to the
coast, agriculture was in its infancy in Kootenai coun-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ty. Some stock ranged over the valleys and in the
mountains. Here and there along the streams might
be found a small farm with a very few acres in grain
and potatoes. But even these small farms were widely
separated by unoccupied tracts, and it was not thought
possible to cultivate any but the lands directly adjacent
to the waterways. A revolution has been wrought in
these twenty years. During the first decade progress
was slow, but in the last ten years great strides have
been made : it has been demonstrated that the low lands
and the foothill slopes of Kootenai county are rich
in productive qualities, and that climatic conditions
make easy of production all kinds of grains and grasses,
fruits, berries and vegetables. In proportion to the
aggregate timber, lake, and mountain areas, the per
cent of agricultural lands the county over is com-
paratively small, a liberal estimate by the best informed
being about one-fifth of the total area of the county.
Agriculture is not and probably never will be the chief
industry, but good markets in ihe mining and timber
regions and in the numerous populous towns make
farming a profitable industry and there are farm lands
enough to support a large population. The soil in the
smaller valleys is of volcanic and alluvial origin, very
deep near the mountains, in many places of a black
loam color and sufficiently rich in the potashes, phos-
phates and silicates to assure success in the cultivation
of grains, vegetables and fruits. In the larger valleys,
such as that of the Spokane river, a soil composed of
vegetable mould, silt and wash from the adjacent
mountains, rests upon a moraine accumulation of great
depth. Above the glacial deposits the soil varies in
depth, over many wide areas the gravel and stones ap-
proaching within two or three feet of the surface. In
favorable seasons excellent crops are produced on the
moraine prairies, but thus far efforts to irrigate them
have not met with decided success.
Climatic conditions in Kootenai county are as fa-
vorable to health and to the production of crops as
anywhere in the northwest. The winters are not severe
even in the most northern portions of the county ex-
cept in the high mountain altitudes, which are unin-
habited. Ice goes out of the lower Kootenai river
early in February ; except in the shallower portions
Lake Pend Oreille never freezes, and it is only dur-
ing a short period each winter that steamers do not
ply from Coeur d'Alene up the lake and the St. Joe,
St. Maries and Coeur d'Alene rivers. The valleys
are protected by high mountain walis on either side and
the warm winds coming at intervals from "over Chi-
nook Camp" crowd many a spring-like day into the
wintry months. Pansies are frequently seen blooming
on the lawns at Christmastide and it is only upon the
smaller lakes, with considerable elevations above the
valleys, that ice merchants can depend for the summer's
supply of the natural product. There is always an
abundance of snow in the mountains, the greatest pre-
cipitation occurring on the Cabinet mountains, on the
lofty crests at the head of Lake Pend Oreille, and on
the mountain divides between the Coeur d'Alene, St.
Joe and St. Maries risers. The presence of the snow
banks tempers the heat of the summer months, which
is never oppressive. The valley and lake elevations
are comparatively low and this fact accounts in a
measure for the pleasant winters. They are sufficiently
nigh, however, to insure the absence of sultry heat
in the summer, making of almost every town in the
county a delightful summer resort. Lake Coeur
d'Alene has an elevation of about 2,000 feet. Lake
Pend Oreille 1,456 feet, the town of Bonner's Ferry
1,600 feet, Sandpoint 2,119 feet, Ratbdrum 2.216 feet,
the town of Priest River 2,170 feet.
The development of the agricultural resources of
Kootenai county began about Heyden lake in the early
'eighties. Locations were made previous to this time,
but the presence of heavy forests and the absence of
good markets forbade the tillage of large areas. A
little later the coming of the railroad, the establishment
of the mining camps, and the influx of tourists, sports-
men and lumber companies, stimulated the farmer to
activity ; forests were cleared, the sod of the prairies
was turned, each year seeds were sown over an in-
creased acreage and the harvests began to return richer
rewards to homesteaders. John Hager, now of Coeur
dAlene, took up a soldier's homestead on Heyden lake
in 1878; C. B. King, of the same place, located in
the same region at an early date, and his place, known
as the Avondale farm, is now one of the best im-
proved and most desirable homes in the county. The
old Heyden place, at the lower end of Heyden lake,
was perhaps the scene of the first attempts at systematic
farming in the count). This farm was taken up by
Matt Heyden, for whom the lake was named, in 1879.
A year or two later the Gleason brothers. John, James
ami Mathew, located in the same neighborhood.
Among others who located early in the central portion
of the county we may name John Fernan. on Fernan
lake, just east of Coeur d'Alene, 1880; Edwin Crockett,
near Coeur d'Alene, 1880; Oliver Edwards, stock
farm, eighteen miles north of Rathdrum, 1882: S. L.
Smith and John Crenshaw, north of Rathdrum. 1S88;.
Frank Buckle, east of Rathdrum, and M. 1'.. Iviss.
near Post Falls. In the northern part of the county,
Richard and Martin Fry engaged in agricultural pur-
suits in the early days near Bonner's Ferry, and twenty
miles down the Kootenai vailey from Bonner's Ferry.
Z. Montgomery and a few others had hay and stock
ranches and cultivated small patches to supply local
demands for vegetables. In the earlier days the only
markets were the military posts at Fort Colville, Fort
Walla Walla and Fort Coeur d'Alene. In 1880 the
following prices were paid for supplies at Colville and
Coeur d'Alene: Oats. 2.^/2 cents per pound; hay. S16
per ton; straw, $12 per ton; barley, one dollar per
hundred pounds ; dry wood, $3.35 per cord ; green
wood, $2.95 per cord. In 1885, according to the as-
sessor's summary, the value of homesteaded and pat-
ented lands in Kootenai county, together with the
improvements thereon, was placed at $205,693.50, and
the total tax collection for the year was $10,222.94.
In 1887 the assessment roll had increased to $966,000.
This increase, however, was not due so much to ad-
vancement of farming industries as to the increase of
railroad mileage and the establishment of saw mills.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
The advance in agriculture and stock raising may
be better appreciated by the review of some statistics
taken from assessor's returns for later years. In 1898
there were in Kootenai county 4,567 cattle, -',430 horses
and 1906 sheep. In 1899 there were 40,924 acres in
farms and stock ranches, patented, and valued for
purposes of taxation at $608,037. The value of sheep,
cattle and horses in the county was $169,482. In 1901
the taxable value of stock, which was far below the
actual market value, was $184,058. This increased in
1902 to $213,310. In this year there were 820,771
acres of patented lands, valued with improvements at
over one million dollars. There were 6,812 cattle and
2,474 horses. No record has been kept of the aggre-
gate yield of grains, vegetables and fruits for any year,
hence we are unable to give accurate information con-
cerning the yearly output. From the report for 1900
by C. J. Bassett, Commissioner of Immigration for
the State of Idaho, we learn that the county produced
50,000 bushels of grain. This was an estimate only,
but is probably approximately correct. Agriculture
and horticulture have kept pace with the stock industry
and there has been a constant increase in acreage de-
voted to the production of grains and fruits with a
proportionate increase in returns.
Interest in fruit culture began almost contempora-
neously with the breaking of the sod for grain and
vegetable raising. In the valley lands and on the slopes
of the foothills, fruit does exceptionally well, and its
culture is fast becoming one of the leading industries.
Within a radius of ten miles from Coeur d'Alene, up-
wards of 30,000 trees are growing and bearing. On the
C. H. Back place alone there are over 7,000 trees.
There are one hundred orchards in the county con-
taining more than 500 trees each. The peach orchard
of B. M. Ross, near Post Falls, contains 1000 trees.
Among other bearing orchards are those of S. L.
Smith, 2,600 trees; D. W. Ross, sixty acres; John
B. Leiburg, 3,000 trees ; Thomas Fitzsimmons, 18
acres; A. D. Robinson and M. Bacon, 20 acres. These
are only a few of the many orchards in the central
portion of the county, on the prairie and on the shores
to Lake Pend Oreille, Heyden Lake, Fish Lake and
Lake Coeur d'Alene. In the valley of the Pend
Oreille river orchards are owned by Henry Keyser,
Lyman Markham, Mrs. Cramer, John Fox, J. C. Fin-
stead and others. In the Kootenai valley : Z. Mont-
gomery. W. T. McNear, Fry Bros., Charles Edwards,
Empey Bros., and a number of others are engaged in
fruit culture. In the valleys of the St. Joe and St.
Maries rivers there are several orchards, and each year
witnesses additions to the acreage so cultivated. Soil
and seasons are favorable in Kootenai county to di-
versified farming and scarcely any of the farmers are
confining themselves to specialties. As an example of
the possibilities of the soil we may cite the exhibition
made by Clem King at the market fair held at Coeur
d'Alene, October 23, 24, 1895. It consisted of varieties
of apples, plums, pears, peaches, strawberries (ripe
and still clinging to the vines), currants, grapes, pre-
serves, butter, eggs, cheese, vegetables, pumpkins,
squashes, hay, straw, wheat and oats.
Dairying has always been a profitable industry in
Kootenai county and is becoming more so as the towns
build up, the other industries are developed and the
markets and transportation facilities improve. There
is a number of dairies along the west branch of Priest
river, about Coeur d'Alene lake and on the St. Joe and
St. Maries rivers. A cheese factory has been in suc-
cessful operation for a number of years at St. Maries
and is now owned by William and Joseph Cole and
Joseph Fisher.
Besides the government mill on the Coeur d'Alene
Indian reservation, there is but one flouring mill in the
county. It is located on the Spokane river at Post
Falls. Full particulars concerning this enterprise will
be found in the article on the history of that town.
The effects of irrigation have not thus far been
fully demonstrated in Kootenai county. Many farmers
have irrigated small tracts from private ditches, in
some cases obtaining satisfactory results, and in others
failing on account of the near approach to the surface
soil of the gravel beds into which the water filters
rapidly. Since 1899 systematic efforts have been made
to irrigate portions of Rathdrum prairie. In July,
1899, three water rights were filed with the county
recorder by W. L. Benham, of Spokane, and a party of
civil engineers was placed in the field to make pre-
liminary surveys. D. C. Corbin was behind the enter-
prise which was promised good support by the settlers
on the prairie. The rights embraced the water of Hey-
den, Fish, and Sucker lakes. The ditch from Heyden
lake was to be fifteen miles in length with a capacity
of 500 cubic feet of water per second. The surveyed
route for this ditch was west from the lake along the
dividing line between townships 51 and 52 north,
range 3 west of Boise meridian, and it was proposed
to irrigate lands on either side of this line. The line
surveyed for the Fish lake ditch was twenty miles long
and it was proposed to irrigate with it the two lower
tiers of sections in township 52 north, range 4, west of
Boise meridian. The capacity of the ditch was to be
the same as that from Heyden lake. From Sucker
lake it was proposed to construct a canal with a ca-
pacity of 200 cubic feet of water per second. It was
to be ten miles long and to irrigate a region west of
Rathdrum. Meetings of citizens of Rathdrum and
farmers of that vicinity were held, committees were
appointed to confer with the ditch company and with
settlers along the routes surveyed; great interest was
taken in the enterprise which promised early and suc-
cessful consummation. Various circumstances have
interfered with the completion of these canals, but
plans have not been materially changed and many be-
lieve that complete success will crown the efforts to
irrigate the prairie. Irrigation is not necessary here
to the production of fair crops in favorable years and
in some seasons precipitation is sufficient for the pro-
duction of excellent yields of grains and vegetables. If,
however, an unfailing supply of water can be brought
to the prairie if will insure enormous yields and will
double land values through the whole valley. The
Fish lake ditch is now five miles long and work on it
is being continued. The Heyden lake ditch is also
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
under way. The company owning these ditches, and
of which D. C. Corbin is president, is known as the
Spokane Valley Irrigation Co. Another company has
recently been formed, the Valley Improvement Co.,
which proposes to irrigate a tract of over 6,000 acres
on the Rathdrum prairie, north of the Spokane river
and joining the Washington state line. The men be-
hind this enterprise are J. K. Smith, president of the
Washington Grain and Milling company; Charles W.
Clark and Jas. C. Cunningham, all of Spokane ; PJ. S.
Wadsworth. vice-president of the Franklin county
bank at Connell, and J. H. Edwards, vice-president of
the Conrad Xational Bank of Kalispell, Mont. Mr.
Cunningham is president. Mr. Wadsworth. vice-presi-
dent, and Mr. Clark secretary and treasurer of the
company, which has a paid in capital of $60,000. It
is proposed to bring water to this section from Fish
lake through the ditch now being constructed by the
Spokane Valley Irrigation Co. As has been stated
there are differences of opinion among the farmers as
to the possibility of irrigating the prairie, but if ex-
periments soon to be made prove successful, this will
speedily become one of the richest valleys in the north-
west.
Perhaps the richest agricultural lands in Kootenai
county are found in the Coeur d'Alene Indian reserva-
tion. In this tract are approximately 400,000 acres,
the greater portion of which is cultivable. It is occu-
pied at present by a total Indian population of 717,
divided as follows : Adult male Spokane Indians 46,
female Spokanes 37, children of the same tribe. 12:
adult Coeur dAlene male Indians 250, female Coeur
dAlenes 245, Coeur d'Alene children. 127. Besides
the Indians there is a small number of whites, mis-
sionaries and sisters of charity engaged in church and
school work at De Smet. Charles O. Worley, I". S.
Sub Indian Agent, also resides at De Smet. Of the
reservation lands 101,000 acres are under fence and
over 30,000 acres are under cultivation. The Coeur
dAlenes are good traders and average farmers. Statis-
tics show that 130 of their number can read and 160
can use enough English for ordinary conversation.
Two hundred and thirty-two frame dwellings are oc-
cupied by the Indians and their families. In 1902
there were actually cultivated by the Indians 30,750
acres, from which they produced 122.000 bushels of
wheat, 130,000 bushels of oats, barley and rye, 18.000
bushels of vegetables, and 3.000 tons of hay. There
are owned by the Indians, 2,760 horses, 1,540 cattle,
1,100 swine and 2,800 domestic fowls. In 1892 the
government erected a saw mill and flouring mill about
ten miles northeast of De Smet and six miles east of
the Washington state line. These mills cost about
$14,000 and were erected expressly for the Indians,
where all their sawing and grinding is done free of
charge. The expense of running the mills is paid from
funds in possession of the government belonging to
the Indians. The flouring mill has a capacity of
twenty-five barrels and the sawmill ten thousand feet
of lumber per day. They are operated by steam and
have thirty and twenty-five horsepower, respectively.
From the statistics given above, which are taken from
the government reports, it will be seen that fully
seventy-five per cent, of the lands of the reservation
is unoccupied by the Indians. In his last report to the
government, U. S. Indian Agent Albert M. Anderson
says : "The Coeur dAlene tribe is comparative!} well
advanced and well to do. The reservation which they
occupy is a fertile and valuable piece of territory sur-
rounded by a progressive white community. These
Indians should have their lands allotted to them in
severalty and be thrown on their own resources as
promptly as possible." While the tribe is self support-
ing, receiving no aid whatever from the government,
the unoccupied portion of the reservation should cer-
tainly be thrown open to the homeseeker as the Indians
do not need it and cannot possibly utilize it. Doubt-
less it is only a question of a short time until this
action will be taken, thereby adding very materially to
the agricultural wealth of Kootenai county.
Kootenai county's greatest source of wealth is the
lumber, pole and tie industries. In the northern part
of the county is one of the greatest areas of unbroken
timber ever found on the continent. It covers
2.600 square miles. Other areas of dense
forests are found in the valleys of the Priest and
Pend Oreille rivers, along the St. Joe, St. Maries
and Coeur dAlene rivers, and upon the uplands bor-
dering all these valleys and surrounding all the lakes
in the county much of this timber is far back from
present railway lines, lumber mills and markets. It
is estimated that it will require at least forty years to
manufacture into lumber the forests of Kootenai
county. Small saw mills were put up in the county
very early in the eighties, the first being those of O.
A. Dodge at the outlet of Fish lake and Frederick
Post at Rathdrum, both built in 1882. For more than
a decade following the organization of the county the
lumber industry made but little progress. During the
past four or five years, however, it has pushed t" the
front by leaps and bounds. Besides several small mills
that supply local demands there are now upward- of
twentv large mills, some of them capitalized at $500,-
000. The larger mills are located at Coeur dAlene,
Harrison, Sand Point. Priest River and Bonner's
Ferry, and have various capacities, ranging from 2^,.-
000 to 150,000 feet of lumber per day. These mills
have been built by eastern capital principally although
considerable stock is held by citizens of the various
towns where they are located. Each company has
secured title from the Northern Pacific Railrord Co.,
and from private individuals, to immense ar-as of
timber land, insuring permanency of the industry and
with improved facilities for handling logs, a continual
increase in the mill products. Among the larger cor-
porations are the Weyerhaeuser Syndicate, operating
principally at Sandpoint and Priest River, the Stern
Lumber Co. and the Bonner Co.. at Bonner's Ferry;
the Coeur d'Alene Lumber Co.. the Howard Lumber
Co., the Empire Lumber Co.. at Coeur d'Alene: the
Grant and the Cameron Cos., at Harrison ; the Priest
River Co. and the White Pine Co.. at Priest River : and
the Idaho Lumber and Manufacturing Co., at Post
Falls. In the histories of the various towns of the
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
county will be found particulars concerning these and
other plants. In order to facilitate the handling of
logs from the heavily timbered sections a number of
franchises have been granted companies for the im-
provement of the streams. Among these is a franchise
granted the Weyerhaeuser Co., for the improvement
of Priest river, and another to the St. Joe Improvement
Co. for clearing Santa Creek, St. Joe and St. Maries
rivers of obstructions, thereby opening a passage way
for logs into Lake Coenr d'Alene from the timbered
region in the southeastern part of the county. There
is everv indication that the lumber industry will con-
tinue to grow in Kootenai county, and its growth will
not only keep a vast amount of capital in circulation,
thus bringing prosperity to the people of the numer-
ous communities where mills are operated, but it will
clear and open large areas of valuable farming and
grazing lands for profitable development.
That there are rich deposits of the precious metals
in Kootenai county is a well established fact, although
there are at present but few producing mines. Much
of the county is vet a mountain wilderness which none
but the early argonaut has penetrated. The ranchers
have made their homes in the valleys : the lumbermen
have visited the low foothills of the ranges, which are
covered with merchantable timber, but the higher al-
titudes of the rugged fastnesses yet remain to be ex-
plored by the prospector. On the slopes of the lower
timbered foothills, however, and along the margins of
the valleys, many discoveries have been made of great-
er or lesser value. The first discoveries were made
many years ago. It is said that French Canadian
trappers found gold in the Pend Oreille river in
1852, and in 1854, we are told, gold was found near
the same place, by General Lauder while exploring a
route for a military road east from the Columbia river.
The first authentic record is that of discoveries made
by members of the party who assisted in the con-
struction of the Mullan road in 1858 and 1859. In a
letter dated Washington, D. C, June 4, 1884. and ad-
dressed to A. F. Parker, now of Grangeville, Idaho,
Captain Mullan says: "I am not at all surprised at
the discovery of numerous rich gold deposits in your
mountains, because both on the waters of the St. Jo-
seph and the Coeur d'Alene, when there many years
ago, I frequently noticed vast masses of quartz strew-
ing the ground particularly on the St. Joseph river,
and wide veins of quartz projecting at numerous points
along the line of my road up the Coeur d'Alene. all of
which indicated the presence of gold. Nay, more: I
now recall quite vividly the fact that one of my herd-
ers and hunters, a man by the name of Morse, coming
into camp one day with a handful of coarse gold,
which he said he found on the waters of the north
fork of the Coeur d' Alene river while out hunting for
our expedition. This was in 1858 or 1859. The mem-
bers of my expedition were composed very largelv of
old miners from California, and having had more or
less experience in noticing the indications of mineral
deposits, their universal verdict was that the entire
country, from Coeur d' Alene lake on toward and in-
cluding the east slope of the Rocky mountains, was one
vast gold bearing country, and I was always 1 ervous
as to the possible discover)' of gold along the line of
my road ; and I am now frank to say that I did nothing
to encourage its discovery at that time, for I feared
that any rich discovery would lead to a general stamp-
ede of my men from my expedition, and thus destroj
the probable consummation of my work during the
lime within which I desired to complete the same."
Since the discovery of gold in the Coeur d'Alene
mountains in 1883 many sections of Kootenai 'county
have been thoroughly prospected. The most promis-
ing and valuable mines are located near Lakeview on
Tend ( Ireille lake; in the Black Tail mountain re-
gion east of Sandpoint ; on Boulder creek in the north-
east part of the county, and near Tyson in the south-
east. In other regions, however, good assays have
been obtained, and development work continues.
Among these locations are Porthill. Mica Bay, Ander-
son mountain. Priest River. Medimont, Wold Lodge,
Rathdrum mountain and Heyden lake. In the Lake-
view region the Weber. Keep Cool and Conjecture
mines are well known properties. The Weber mines
were discovered in 1888 by Billy Bell and others while
prospecting for Fred Weber and S. P. Donnelly. The
Keep Cool, now owned by Thomas Griffith and others,
Spokane, was discovered in 1888 by W. Franklin and
Marry J. Steffey. The Conjecture was located in 1894
by Charles Graham. These have all been paying en-
terprises and it is said that $75,000 were taken from
I he Keep Cool in three years' development work.
Silver, copper and gold are found here. In 1890 C.
P. Price discovered a mine of free milling silver ore
on the west side of Pend Oreille lake from which
one specimen assayed 400 oz. and another 128 oz. per
ton. The propertv was sold to Joseph Clark, a mining
man of Butte. Montana, for $20,000. In the Black
Tail region, northeast of Sandpoint, the Mexico, owned
by Wisconsin people and managed by James Fergu-
son, is a valuable mine +*rom which assays have been
made showing upwards of $80 per ton in silver and
gray copper. From the B. F. & H. mine in the same
iocality, J. A. Evans, the owner, netted from one ship-
ment of 18 tons of silver ore. $6,000. and from another
shipment of 16 tons, $3,280. Other claims here are
bringing in fair returns. In the Yank mining district
in the northern part of the count}-, are the Buckhorn,
Hoosier Boy. Boston. Keystone. Scout. Lucky Three,
and other mines. In February, 1901. the Buckhorn.
owned by I. J. Brant. Joseph King, Charles Ewing
and David Langley, was sold to G. P. Mulcahy of
Spokane, and associates, for $100,000. On Boulder
creek, eight miles above Bonner's Ferry, some placer
mining was done bv returning Wild Horse prospectors,
as early as 1867. 'in 1884. Ft. H. Markley. of Cedar
Falls, Iowa, had the placer grounds thoroughly tested,
but found they could not be worked at a profit be-
cause of immense boulders, difficult to handle. He
then located some quartz claims. In the spring of the
same vear Sandy Morrow discovered the Eureka and
the Kate Frv claims which he sold to Richard Fry.
Considerable wire silver and galena ore have been
taken from these mines and from the Homestead and
824
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Ebba, located later. In the winter of 1888 the Granite
creek mines were discovered and a great deal of de-
velopment work has been done there. The mines yield
a high grade of galena ore and have assayed besides,
eight to twenty dollars in gold. Last winter John
Edgar and Retzer Bros, bonded the Independence
group to Glass and Winthrope for $35,000. Near
Clark's Fork there are several good silver and lead
prospect.-. North and East of Hope considerable pros-
pecting has been done and some promising claims lo-
cated. A prospect discovered by Harry Oxer fourteen
years ago is now being developed by Mr. Oxer, Brandt
Bros., and others who have organized the Concord
Mining Co. The Coeur d'Alene Mining Co., of which
J. W. Phillipps is president, F. H. Bradbury, vice-
president, and S. G. Soule, treasurer, has done some
development work on a group of claims near Heyden
lake. The group includes five claims, Phillipps No.
]. Phillipps No. 2, Daisy. Ellen and Gordon, from
which assays have shown from $11 to $16 per ton in
gold, besides a small per cent, of silver. Claims were
located here fifteen years ago but until recently not
much work has been done on them. Good assays of
gold and copper have been obtained from prospects in
Rathdrum mountain. In December, 1902, Samuel
Gompers, living two miles east of Rathdrum obtained
an assay of $60 in gold per ton, from a sample of
black -and taken, at a depth of seven feet, from the
side of a well that was being dug on his place. In the
Mica Bay mines, seven miles south of Coeur d'Alene,
assays running from $5 to $60 per ton in gold and
silver, have been obtained. In the Priest River dis-
trict G. YV. Armstrong, C. D. Cunningham, A. L. and
A. J. Marsten. J. E. Peterkin and others, own claims
north of. the town. The Medimont district on the
Coeur d'Alene river has been prospected for 10 years;
but little work has been done here, however, until the
past two years ; splendid assays have been obtained in
gold and silver and it is regarded as a promising dis-
trict. At Anderson mountain, a few miles east of Har-
rison, severaL mines have been opened, the Waters
Mining and Manufacturing Co. owning twenty-two
claims. Of this company. Nathan Bowers of St. Paul,
is president and P. T. Wagner, secretary. The latest
discovered and probably the most valuable mines are
on Santa Creek, in Camas Cove, in the southeastern
part of the county. This is known as the Tyson min-
ing region and particulars concerning discovery and
development wil be found in the chapter on towns.
Other prospects have been opened on Hagus creek,
twelve miles above the head of navigation on St. Joe
river by Daniel Davis and others. For handling ores,
mills are being put up in the Tyson region and at
Lakeview. At Sandpoint. on a site just east of the
Humbird Lumber Company's mill, preparations are
being made for the erection of a smelter to handle the
ores from the Lakeview, Black Tail and other regions.
H. M. Williams is the promoter and general superin-
tendent of the enterprise. Other officers are Jacob
Hines, Minneapolis, president: M. A. Murphy, St.
Paul, vice-president ; W. E. Nelson, Denver, secretary
and manager : Paul Johnson has the contract for the
building of the works. Two hundred and fifty thou-
sand dollars will be expended on the smelter, and in the
purchase of boats and tugs for handling the business
from the mines. Several groups of mines have also
been purchased by the company which will be ready by
fall to commence operations. The erection of this
smelter will aid very materially in the development of
all mining properties in the north end of the county
and will make of many a prospect, a valuable mine.
Owing to the remoteness of several mineral loca-
tions it will be some time before all sections reach the
highest state of development as the cost of transport-
ing the ores at the present time is too great to admit of
profitable investment in such properties. Although
transportation facilities are lacking in a few sections,
the county as a whole is remarkably well equipped with
means of reaching the markets and mills not only with
the products of the mines, but with those of all other
industries. There are 256 miles of navigable lakes and
rivers. These include Lake Pend Oreille, Lake
Coeur d'Alene, the Coeur d' Alene river from Harri-
son to Cataldo or Old Mission, the St. Joe river from
its mouth to St. Joe, and the Kootenai river from the
International Boundary to Bonner's Ferry. In the
matter of railroads Kootenai has more than any other
county in the state, aggregating 260 miles, divided as
follows : Great Northern, 81 miles ; Northern Pacific,
84 miles; Couer d'Alene Branch, 14 miles; O. R. &
N., 55 miles; Kootenai Valley, 26 miles. There are
250 miles of Western Union telegraph, and about 125
miles of telephone lines. In addition to the railroads
already built across the county, several others are
projected. Last winter the Spokane & Kootenai
Railroad was incorporated by D. C. Corbin and ex-
Senator George Turner, of Spokane, Jacob Furth,
president of the Puget Sound National Bank, of Seat-
tle, and Charles S. Bihler, of Tacoma, formerly
assistant chief engineer of the Northern Pacific rail-
road. The capital stock of the company was placed
at $3,000,000. The route to be followed by this road,
over which some preliminary lines have been run, is
from Spokane to Rathdrum : thence north to the
Seneaquoteen ferry on Pend Oreille river; thence to
the town of Priest River ; thence northeast to Bonner's
Ferry and up the Kootenai river to the mouth of Moyie
creek; thence up Movie creek to the International
Boundar) . This route is over the old historic trail
used forty \ears ago by placer miners on their way to
the Pend Oreille country and to the Wild Horse
region in British Columbia. Another line is said to
have been surveyed by the O. R. & N. from Rockford,
Washington, through the thickly timbered land section
in the western part of Kootenai county to Coeur
d'Alene. The Coeur d'Alene and Spokane Electric
Ry., of which F. A. Blackwell is president and A.
Bettis manager, is already under headway. The sur-
veys- have been made by Chief Engineer J. C. White
and the contract for the grading of the road bed has
been let to M. D. Wright and S. A. Eslick, of Spokane.
The road will be ready for use early in the fall. It
will do both a freight and passenger business.
Kootenai county is becoming famed as one of the
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
825
scenic regions of the northwest. For rugged snow-
clad mountains, for misty waterfalls and roaring cat-
aracts, for a picturesque profusion of evergreen trees
and fern-like shrubs, it is unsurpassed. The greater
portion of the surface is broken and extremely moun-
tainous, belonging in reality to the great mountain
range which forms the backbone of the western conti-
nent. It is rich in mountains, in valley lands, and most
fortunately too, in waters. The rushing mountain
streams and placid mountain lakes of Kootenai coun-
ty, complete, by contrast with the wild wilderness en-
vironments, one of the most fascinating pictures to be
found in western wonderland. A brief description of
the principal water courses and lakes, with the regions
drained, will give the reader a more vivid conception
of the diversified character of the surface. Of the Lake
Coeur d' Alene basin the St. Joe river is the largest and
drains the most extensive area. About forty miles
from its lake outlet it forks into three streams, two of
which head in Shoshone county, in the ridges which
form the divide between the North Fork of the Clear-
water and the Coeur dAlene basin. The third heads
in the Bitter Root range a short distance south of
Stevens" Peak. This latter is the longest of the tribu-
taries and may be regarded as the continuation of the
main stream. Regarding it as such the river is 137
miles long. It empties into Lake Cseur d Alene at
the southern extremity, and is navigable for lake steam-
ers a distance of 26 miles from its mouth. The area
covered by its basin is in the form of a trapezoid. The
elevation of the upper portion of the valleys of the vari-
ous forks is, in mean, 4.900 feet, and of the valley
at the head of navigation, 2,198 feet. From the head
of navigation to the outlet the fall is but 23 feet. Fif-
teen miles from its outlet it receives its largest tribu-
tary, the St. Maries river. The east fork of the St.
Maries rise? in the Clearwater divide in Shoshone
countv. and the west fork near the source of the Pal-
ouse river in the extreme southeastern corner of Koo-
tenai county. The upper portion of its valley has a
mean elevation of about 3,400 feet. At its junction
with the St. Joseph the elevation is 2.200 feet. The
lower and navigable portions of the St. Joseph, and
also of the Coeur d' Alene river, have but a slight fall
and a deep channel. This is due to the fact that this
portion of their course is cut through a deep diluvial
soil, clearly the old bottom of Lake Coeur dAlene,
which, not so very remotely in a geological sense, was
far larger and extended well up into what is now in
part the valleys of Coeur d' Alene and St. Joseph rivers.
Above the navigable portions, the streams are clear,
the valleys rise rapidly, the mountains close in. and the
current becomes swift.
The Coeur dAlene river empties into Lake Coeur
d'Alene about twenty miles from the north end of the
lake. Forty miles from the lake it divides into two
streams, the North and South forks. The North Fork,
which is the larger of the two, heads in the Coeur d'
Alene mountains near the south end of Lake Pend
Oreille. This branch is about no miles long. The
elevation of the valley is 3,900 feet in the upper portion
and 2,200 feet at its junction with the South Fork.
The South Fork heads in the ridges of the Bitter
Roots some distance north of Sohon\ Pass. The ele-
vation of the upper valley is 3,478 feet. The Coeur
d'Alene is navigable in high water, to the junction of
its two forks, a distance of four miles from
its outlet. During the summer and fall stages of water,
steamers do not ply farther than Did Mission, a dis-
tance of 29 miles. The total fall of the river from the
head of summer navigation to the lake, is only sixteen
feet. A multitude of canyons and ravines branch off
from the larger stream valleys in all directions, each
with a swift-flowing stream "at the bottom, which in
its turn is supplied by the springs that break out at
frequent intervals from the inclosing ridges along their
course. The mountain ridges in this portion of the
county are extemely serpentine in their course, swing-
ing often from east to west and from north to south,
and vice versa. These twisting and turning divides,
with their deep saddles and corresponding rises, dense
forests, long, steep, tortuous ridges, deep, narrow can-
yons and rushing roaring streams, enclose a region of
pristine wilderness, charming* beauty and exceeding
grandeur.
Lake Coeur d'Alene is about thirty miles long anil
averages two miles in width. Its elevation is 2,175
feet and its depth in some portions is said to be 18s
feet. It fills a gorge in the mountains whose pine cov-
ered slopes are reflected most beautifully in its clear
waters. On a cloudless summer dav the lake presents
a picture of rare beauty that appeals at once to man's
love of nature and to his poetic fancy. From the crest
of the ridges at the north end of the lake there is af-
forded a most entrancing view of a landscape that rolls
for miles in every direction, embracing a pleasing va-
riety of wooded and snow-clad peaks, "of sunlit vallevs
and somber dells, of grassy slopes and rugged points.
Below, and sweeping far away into the mountain re-
cesses, lies the clear, blue lake, the matchless gem of
the mountains, and winding away toward the valley.
is the river, on its way with the waters of the lake, to
the great Columbia. And yet, with all the matchless
beauty of the prospect, a subtle charm is wanting, a
crowning glory is lacking for it all ; the associations of
history are not here ; as yet no poet's wand has touched
this seme and invested it with that absorbing interest
which Scott has given to the lochs of Scotland and Ir-
ving to the terraced slopes of the Hudson. Some day.
when the passion for gold and power shall have a little
abated, there will arise, perhaps from the secluded
haunts of the prospector or the shepherd, a flame of
poetic genius, that will supply this subtle charm and
weave a garment of fancy that will complete the fas-
cinating beauty of the scenic environments : but not
while town lots ami material resources are the sole
topic of conversation and brick blocks and golden treas-
ure the supreme aspiration of the people.
The channel of the Spokane river, the outlet of
Lake Coeur d'Alene. is not wide and deep enough to
carry off the waters of the lake as rapidly as they are
poured into it by the numerous mountain inlets, hence
the back or slack-water that renders the Coeur d'Alene
and St. Joseph rivers navigable. Should this outlet
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
channel be deepened or should the surface of die lake
be lowered by any other means steamers will probably
cease to ply to Old Mission and St. Joe. The Spokane
river is not navigable. In its course through Kootenai
county is winds through stretches of prairie land and
plunges down rocky inclines of narrow canyons and
great^ ravmes. About eight miles below the lake, at
Post Falls, the river has a total fall of 42 feet, and,
below the first fall, all its waters are crowded into a
narrow channel, scarcely thirty feet wide, while on
either side rise the perpendicular walls of a box canyon.
Along the river's course are many charming views of
landscape scenerv. There is a pleasing vista of rolling
peak-like foothills. The level meadow and the bor-
dering slopes are gray or green or white as the case
may be. The distant hills lie whitened in the midst of
a wintry morning or outlined in green against a sum-
mer sky, and on the loftier peaks the dazzling white-
ness of the eternal snows affords at all seasons of the
vear, a pleasing contrast to the prevailing tones of pine-
ii-reen and rock-gray and sky-blue. That portion of the
"Spokane valley lying in Kootenai county, and called
locallv Rathdrum Prairie, is fifteen miles long, and in
places, ten miles wide, is nearly level throughout its
course and in the upper part, is covered with a forest
of pine.
In the central portion of the county are a number
of small lakes that are becoming famous tourist resorts
because of delightful summer climatic conditions and
enchanting surroundings. They are isolated though
not far distant from Northern Pacific railroad stations
and the drives across country are pleasant and inter-
esting features of a visit to any of them. The road,
:n man\' instances lined on either side with stately pines.
cedars and tamaracks, so tall and dense that the sun
cannot be seen at mid-day, winds through dense for-
ests on the mountain sides, and at times drops into
deep, shadowy canyons, where the rumble of a moun-
tain stream adds its charm to the journey through the
solitudes of nature. Again it skirts a minature valley
or runs out upon the prairie amid the fields of grain
and by the orchards and groves of the rancher. Sur-
rounding the lakes are dense forests on sloping hills or
precipitous mountains. Rare and delicate flora grow
here in profusion, dipping gracefully into the water
along the shore and forming at times a dense under-
growth in the forest above, contrasting strangely with
the giant pine that casts its shadow over all. Among
these water jewels is Fish lake, sometimes called Twin
Lakes, because formed by two water bodies connected
by a narrow channel, is three miles north of Rathdrum.
The lake is five miles long and has a considerable ele-
vation above the prairie. Tesemini, or Spirit lake,
three miles north of Fish Lake, is seven miles long and
in its widest portion, one mile across. Heyden lake is
seven miles north of Coeur d'Alene and twelve miles
east of Rathdrum. It is about eight miles long and. in
places, two miles wide. In the extreme northern part
of the county is Sullivan lake, four and one half miles
long by three fourths of a mile in width. Other
smaller bodies of water are Hoodoo lake, east of Gran-
ite; Cocolala lake, at the town of the same name, on
the Northern Pacific railroad ; Mud lake, two miles
north of Hauser, and a number of small lakes in the
valley of the Coeur d'Alene river.
Clark's Fork of the Columbia river, named for the
famous explorer William Clark, rises in Montana, and
from its source to its union with the Flathead river is
known in different sections as the Deer Lodge river,
Hellgate river and Missoula river; formerly through-
out its length, it was known as Clark's Fork. This
name now applies to it from its junction with the Flat-
head river to where it pours its waters into Lake Pencl
Oreille. From the lake to the Columbia it is known
local!) as the Pend Oreille river. It is about twelve
miles from the point where the river crosses the Koo-
tenai county line to its mouth at the lake. Fed. in its
upper valley, by numerous large tributaries, which in
turn have their sources in the everlasting snows of
the Rocky mountains, it pours into Lake Pend * >re-
i'le immeasurable quantities of water, which, during
the freshet season, the outlet of the lake is unable to
carrv off with equal rapidity. This results from the
shallow channel of the outlet river and from the addi-
tional quantities of water that are emptied into the lake
by numerous other streams. These conditions cause
an annual rise of the waters of the lake of from fifteen
to thirty feet. It never rises sufficiently high, however,
to cause overflows, owing to its uniformly precipitous
walls and to the deep channels of all inflowing streams.
The Pend ( >reille river is in reality only a contin-
uation of Clark's Fork which flows through the lake.
For twenty-five miles its course lies southwest and
west in Kootenai county, through a rugged, mountain-
ous region timbered with pine and tamarack, with some
cottonwood. poplar and maple along the banks. Priest
river joins it seven miles east of the Idaho-\\ ashing-
ton boundarv line. The total drainage area of Pend
Oreille river, including the water sheds draining
into Clark's Fork, from its primary source in the
Rocky mountains, to the Columbia, is 15,000 square
miles. The upper river, or that portion of it between
the lake and the mouth of Priest river, is from one- to
three thousand feet wide, with a depth of from twenty-
five to fifty feet at extreme low water. Five miles be-
low the mouth of Priest river and two miles east of the
Idaho- Washington line, are Albany falls. Here the
river is divided by a rocky island, 'having an area of
Ave acres, the summit of which rises sixty feet above
the water level. On either side of this island the falls
have a descent of about seven feet. The Great North-
ern railroad crosses the river immediately above the
falls, passing over the island referred to. From the lake
to the state line the valley is not over one mile wide,
is comparatively level and, in places, heavily timbered.
On either side of the valley rise the forested foothills
of the Priest river and Pend Oreille mountains.
Lake Pend Oreille is the largest lake in Kootenai
county and the largest in the state of Idaho, its area be-
ing 180 square miles. The extreme length from Steam-
boat Landing in the south, to the outlet, in the north, is
about sixty-five miles and its shore line is over
three hundred miles. It is fifteen miles across in its
widest portion. A few miles out from the town of
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
I27
Hope, soundings have been made to a depth of 2500
feet. Its low water elevation is 2050 feet, which is
raised fifteen to thirty feet in the spring- and early sum-
mer months. It never freezes except in the north
where the waters are shallow. It was first known as
Kalispelm lake, but later the name was changed to
Pend Oreille, meaning ear pendant. Some writers
state that it was so named because of its peculiar form,
somewhat resembling in its windings the shape of an
ear pendant worn by the aborigines ; others, that it
look the name of the Pend Oreille Indians who were
so called by the French Canadian trappers, because
1 if their custom of wearing rings to which various or-
naments were attached, in the lobe of the ear. In the
lake are a number of islands, the largest of which con-
tains one hundred and sixty acres. This island is about
one mile from the town of Hope and is the property of
General Warren, who took it up in 1888- receiving a
government patent in 1890. He has built here a
palatial residence and makes it his summer home. A
number of streams flow into the lake besides its chief
inlet, Clark's Fork, the largest of which is Pack river,
heading well up in the Cabinet mountains of the north,
and entering the lake near the town of the same name.
On all sides are lofty ranges of mountains, the Coeur
d'Alenes on the south, the Cabinets on the east and
north and the Granite range on the west. These
ranges enclose a deep mountain gorge, which forms
the bed of the lake, and about which are grouped,
rounded hills, lofty, rugged peaks and sheer declivities
which, for miles in portions of the lake, rise almost
perpendicularly from the water. Along the south
shore are precipices having a slope of over eighty de-
grees and a height, above the water level, of two thou-
sand, eight hundred feet. Pend Oreille lake
like a broad and winding valley in the mountains,
filled to the brim with gathered waters, with its tor-
tous shore line and imprisoning mountain walls,
charms and bewilders with its rare beauty and its
majestic grandeur. In all the northwest there is not
afforded a better conception of the beautiful and the
mighty and wonderful in the works of nature than is
found on the bosom and on the surrounding heights
of this magnificent lake.
The Kootenai river pursues an erratic course ; ris-
ing in British Columbia, not far from Kootenai lake,
into which it eventually empties, it flows first in a
southwesterly direction to Jennings, Montana, where
it makes an acute angle curve to the northwest ; enter-
ing Kootenai county, it flows for fifty miles through
the northeast portion, re-entering British Columbia at
Porthill Another peculiarity of this stream is that
near its source it flows due south, while over a low di-
vide, only five miles away, the Columbia river winds
its way northward. The river is navigable for one hun-
dred miles, from the lake to Bonner's Ferry. From
Bonner's Ferry to Jennings, Montana, a distance of
sixty-two miles, obstructions prevent navigation. Al-
most every year, from May to July, the vallev of this
stream is covered with water. This condition is
caused by the inability of the lake below to discharge
the great volume of water as rapidly as it is poured
into the lake. Because of the low banks and many
curves of the river, the water is more easily forced
out upon the vallev lands. On account of this great
yearly overflow, the land is rendered valueless For the
production of any crop except the native grasses. The
valley is the old bed of the lake, which at one time
extended as far north as Bonner's Ferry. Charles I'.
Fisher, of Copeland, is conducting a scheme to con-
struct straight, lateral ditches on either side of the
river from Bonner's Ferry to Kootenai lake, thus giv-
ing the accumulated waters swift passage down the
valley, preventing overflows, and reclaiming seventy-
five thousand acres of rich farming land. The lower
valley is heavily timbered. On the west are the Priest
River mountains, and on the east is a high and broken
divide projected south from British Columbia.
The Priest River Forest Reserve, occupying the
northwest corner of the county, contains six hundred
and fifty thousand acres. It consists of the drainage
basin of Priest river, which has its ultimate head at, or
slightly beyond, the forty-ninth parallel and (lows in
a southerly direction to a junction with Pend I Ireille
river. The greater portion of this reserve is in
Kootenai county, only a small part of the western area
being in the state of Washington. It is essentially a
mountain region, the approximately level tracts not
forming more than fourteen per cent, of the whole.
Its greatest length is fiftv-five miles, and its average
width twenty miles. On the east is the Pend Oreille
range of mountains and on the west are the Priest
River mountains. The elevations vary throughout the
reserve from three thousand feet on the surface of
Priest lake to eight thousand feet on the higher ridges
of the western range of mountains. Priest lake is di-
vided into two portions, the upper and the lower, con-
nected by a tortuous channel, named the Thorofare,
two miles long and varying in width from seventy-five
to one hundred and twenty feeet. The upper lake is
a shallow body of water two miles long and one mile
wide. Lower Priest lake is eighteen miles long and
from one-half mile to five miles in width. The eastern
shore is bold and rocky, rising rapidly by steep es-
carpments and spurs to the summit of the main divide.
The spurs and ridges of the western shore are mostly
low, and broken at frequent intervals by broad valley
openings and swampy areas stretching westward. The
outlet is Priest river, which leaves the lake through a
channel four hundred feet wide and about three feet
deep. On its way to the Pend Oreille river it is
joined by a number of tributaries, the most important
being the lower West Fork and the East Fork. Ami mg
the many beautiful spots in the lake region of Kootenai
county there are none more attractive than the region
about Priest lake. It is essentially a forest-covered
region. There are but few tracts within the boundaries
of the reserve that do not support a dense, magnificent
forest. Besides the young growth and fire-damaged
trees, it is estimated by government survey that there
are 4,833.600,000 feet of merchantable timber. The
government supervisor is Robert S. Bragaw. who re-
sides at the town of Priest River. Under Mr. Bragaw
are six forest rangers whose duties consist in patroll-
828
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ing the reserve, preventing forest fires and unlawful
timber cutting.
A paradise for hunters, fishermen and tourists lies
in the mountains, lakes and rivers of Kootenai county.
There are fish in every stream ; on the valley prairies
and in the grain fields are varieties of grouse and other
birds ; in the higher altitudes, back in the wilder moun-
tain sections, are deer, bear, caribou, moose and moun-
tain lion. Nowhere will be found a region more de-
lightful and more satisfying from a sportsman's stand-
point. From the wild ranges in the upper St. Joe re-
gion to the wilder confines of the Priest river reserve
is one continuous game preserve where the bravest
may find a "foeman worthy of his steel" and where
the more timid may gratify his love for the chase to
satiety.
Climate, soil, forests, mineral deposits, lakes and
rivers unite in making of Kootenai county one of the
most favored sections of the northwest. The valley
and mountain streams, and lakes possess a rare beautv
of lofty, broken crests and peaks and densely wooded
slopes. There is, too, a pastoral charm of grain fields
waving by the water's edge or out upon the plain, of
orchards sloping up the hill, or grouped about the
ranchman's home, all telling of a prosperous and happy
people. In addition to its charm of mountain, wood
and plain, Kootenai county offers to the investor and
the homebuilders opportunities rarely found elsewhere,
in the development of its mining industry, its great
lumber industry and its agriculture, dairying and
stock-raising. There is every reason to believe that
the unparalleled prosperity of the past few years will
continue and that the county will remain one of the
richest and most progressive in the state.
m-
j%r
4S*
FREDERICK POST.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
KOOTENAI COUNTY
FREDERICK POST does not need to be intro-
duced to the people of northern Idaho by words. He
has earned the encomium lavished by President
Roosevelt on a leading citizen of the United States,
"He is a man who has done things." Perhaps no man
in this part of the inland empire has a better right
to the leading place in the realm of real benefactor of
the country than Frederick Post. He is a man of
great ability, and is possessed of wonderful perception
with unerring discrimination, while his executive force
and exhaustless fund of practical sagacity have made
him a man whose impress has been left for good in
the institutions of this rich country and whose life
of integrity and moral uprightness has been entirely
commensurate with the giant achievements that it
has been his good fortune to bring to a successful
culmination.
With this brief introduction to the life of one of
the leading and distinguished men of the northwest,
we will enter more into detail regarding his personal
career. From the land whence have come so many
•powerful men who have allied their lives with this re-
public, also comes Mr. Post. It was on Sepember 16,
1821, that he first saw the light, the place being
Herburn, Germany, and his parents were Frederick
W. and Ida E. (Sneider) Post, natives of Germany,
where they remained until called to the eternal rest
of another world. The father wrought at the cooper
trade and the mother's brother was a statesman of
note in his countrv. Our subject received a good
education in his native land and at the age of four-
teen went to work in the mines. At the age of twenty
he was compelled to serve in the military, as was the
custom for young men in his country. Seven years
were spent in this service, the last portion of which
was in the capacity of lieutenant of the rear guards,
1 where he was granted considerable privilege. Sus-
ceeding his army career, which was one of credit and
distinction, he was placed in the position of oversee-
ing officer of the German English Mining Company,
where four years were spent. In 1848 he was mar-
ried and in 1850 he resigned his position and came
with his wife to America. They settled in Kendall
county, Illinois. His vigor and stirring qualities were
engaged in farming, constructing lime kilns, handling
a stone quarry, operating a saw mill and also a flour
mill. He constructed a water power at Black Hawk
cave on the Fox river, which bears his name at the
present time. In 1871 he severed his connections
with Illinois and his businesses were disposed of and
he came to the boundless west. He first selected the
northern part of Idaho, and had soon purchased from
the Indian chief two hundred and ninety-eight acres
where Postfalls now stands and at once began extensive
improvements. He dammed the Spokane river at the
falls which bears his name, erected there the first saw-
mill in that portion of the country and then he was
forced to buy the land again from the government.
This was done by special act of congress, as he had
put on such a large amount of improvement. Mr.
Post purchased forty acres from James Glover which
included the large falls in the Spokane river in Spo-
kane and he platted what is now known in that city
as Post's addition. He erected the first flour mill in
Spokane and did business there for ten years. He
then sold his entire property there for ninety-seven
thousand three hundred dollars. Immediately suc-
ceeding that he came to Postfalls again and continued
the sawmill business here on a larger scale. He was
active in this until 1898, when he retired from busi-
ness. He now owns many lots in Postfalls and two
hundred acres adjoining the town.
In 1848 Mr. Post married Miss Margaret, daugh-
ter of Philips and Catherine Hilt, natives of Germany,
where they died. This wedding occurred in Germany.
To Mr. and Mrs. Post there were born six children,
t\yo of whom are still living: Henrietta, wife of Her-
man Linke, a retired farmer living in Spokane ;
Eliza, wife of A. M. Martin, a popular resident of
Postfalls Mr. Post and his estimable wife are worthy
members of the Presbyterian church and in all their
brilliant success they have not forgotten the genuine
faith of the Christian and they are now in the golden
years of their life cheered and sustained by that hope
which is as an anchor. Mr. Post has always been a
temperate man. using intoxicants only when demanded
»3Q
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
as a medicine, never allying his influence with the
saloon. It is exceedingly gratifying to find one who
has been so prominent a figure in the northwest, who
has been crowned with brilliant success as charming
and generous as one could wish, who has steadily lead
the way in building the country up to its present pros-
perous condition, who has been a stanch supporter
of the faith that makes faithful, who has made an
example worthy for the rising generation to follow, —
it is a great pleasure, we repeat, to see such a one
now enjoying the ripe age that Mr. Post has at-
tained to, in peace, happiness, and in the secure
esteem, admiration and love of his fellow men. He
has done his part nobly, he has always been a bene-
factor to his race, and it is fitting that he be accorded
a prominent place in the history that succeeding gen-
erations will read with ever increasing interest, when
they see more and more the beneficent results of his
wise labors and the salutary influence of his noble and
upright life.
LORENZO D. CORZIXE. This industrious agri-
culturist of Kootenai county is located about two and
one half miles north from Sandpoint, where he has
taken a homestead which he is transforming into a fine
farm, utilizing the timber as he clears it.
Lorenzo D. Corzine was born on June n, 1871, in
Montgomery county, Illinois, being the son of Francis
M. am! .Mary A. (Clifton) Corzine. natives of Illinois
and Tennessee, respectively. In 1873. they removed
to Sumner county, Kansas, the seat of the family home
for twenty vears, the father dying there in 190 1. The
mother had died in 1892. They were the parents of
four children, Lorenzo D., our subject; George R.,
married and living in Oklahoma ; John C, living in
Oklahoma, now visiting our subject; Myrtle, in Mont-
gomer) county. Illinois. There is one half brother,
William 1., living in Montgomery county, Illinois.
Lorenzo was two years of age when the family went to
Kansas and there he received his education. He
worked with his father until sixteen and then started
for himself. Two years were spent in general work
and then he went to Portland, Oregon, and was en-
gaged for two years there on a dairy farm. Another
move was made, this time to Astoria, and in fishing jn
summer and working in the woods in the winter, he
was occupied until 1896, when he came to Colfax,
Washington, then worked in various places until 1897,
the year in which he came to Sandpoint. He worked
for a time in the woods and then being sick spent a
month or so in the Sacred Heart hospital in Spokane.
After that he made a visit to his people in Oklahoma
then returned and took his present place. He has
given his attention to its improvement and also to
working in the timber since that time and he is pros-
pering.
In August, 10.01, Mr. Corzine married Miss Vella, a
daughter of John and Sarah (Casey) Fouty, natives
of Wisconsin and West Virginia, respectively. They
came to Kootenai county in 1898 and the mother died
here. The father is living with our subject at this time.
Mr. Corzine is a Democrat in politics and active in
local questions. He is a member of the I. O. O. F.,
Sandpoint Lodge, No. 59, also of the M. W. A., Sand-
point Camp. Xo. 7191.
WILLIAM E. SISSON. This enterprising pio-
neer in northern Kootenai county is one of the well
known and highly respected citizens, both because of
his excellent worth in personal qualities and because
of his faithful work in the pioneer lines. An account
of his career fittingly forms a part of the county history
and will be interesting reading for all.
William E. Sisson was born in Buffalo county,
Wisconsin, on December 18, 1863, being the son of
Ezra and Amelia (Plemori) Sisson, natives of New
York and Canada, respectively. The mother came to
the United States with her mother when she was
young, locating in Baraboo, Wisconsin, where she met
Mr. Sisson and was married. Then they removed to
Buffalo county, where the family home was for many
\ears ana then another move was made, this time to
Dunn county. In 1880. they came west, settling in
Latah count}- and there farmed for ten years. Thence
they went to Lewiston, where the father died in 1898,
leaving a widow and six children.
William E. was educated in Buffalo and Dunn
counties and when fifteen started in life for himself.
He worked in the woods, on the drive, railroading, and
saw milling until June, 1887, when he came west to
Spokane. He farmed near Latah for a number of
years and in 1891, he came to his present location, two
and one half miles northwest from Kootenai. He took
a homestead, built good buildings, and since that time
he has been raising hay, doing general farming, and
timber work.
In 1885. Mr. Sisson married Miss Cora M. Butter-
field, whose parents were natives of New York, but
pioneers to Wisconsin. Her father died when she was
four years old. They lived in Cedar Falls, and Lochiel-
and now the mother lives in Minocqua, all in Wiscon-
sin. To Mr. and Mrs. Sisson there have been born
eight children. Harrv W.. Ralph E.. Lora M., Harland
G., Bert C. Charles" P., Hazel F. and Hester G. Mr.
Sisson is a member of the school board and has been
for some time. He is a member of the F. of A.. Court
Xo. 12. at Sandpoint. He is a man of integrity and
has always labored for the welfare of the country where
he has resided, being a valuable citizen in this county.
MARTIN L. PIATT. Although the subject of
this article has not been in this section of Kootenai
county as long as some, still, he has performed excel-
lent labors of development while here, and his achieve-
ments with his personal worth entitle him to represen-
tation in the history of this county.
Martin Piatt was born in Washington county. Ohio,
on December 4. 1866, being the son of William and
Ann V. (Truax) Piatt, natives of Ohio, but pioneers
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
33>
of Wisconsin. They farmed for many wars in Wis-
consin and then.- the father died in 1884. The mother
still lives in Knapp, Wisconsin, aged sixty-five. Their
ten children are mentioned elsewhere in this volume.
Our subject was educated in the schools of Wisconsin
and when eighteen he started in the battle of life on his
own responsibility . Various occupations engaged him
for two years and then he went to Cloquet, Minnesota,
in the lumber woods for a time. Then he returned to
Wisconsin and remained until 1897, when he deter-
mined to try the west, and accordingly came to north-
ern Idaho. He selected Sandpoint as the place of his
operations and soon began logging, taking contracts
from the different millmen. He has a fine outfit for
this purpose and is one of the most expert men at the
business in these woods. Mr. Piatt has one team that
weighs thirty-three hundred and forty pounds. They
are doubtless the finest span of draft horses in the
county. Mr. Piatt has his headquarters one mile west
from Kootenai and is well known over the country in
his line of business as a faithful man, an excellent hand
tn accomplish his undertakings and possessed of skill,
wisdom, and executive ability, while he stands well
with all.
In 1890, Mr. Piatt married Miss Emma, daughter
of Henry and Catherine (Clingman) Humphrey, na-
tives of Indiana, and pioneers to Wisconsin. They
settled in Dunn county and there remained until their
death, the mother's occurring in 1883, and the father
passing away in 1895. The happy union of Mr. Piatt
and his estimable wife has been blessed by the advent
of seven children ■ James, Julia A., William H, Martin
Luther, Elizabeth C, Virginia and Benjamin. Mr.
Piatt takes an intelligent interest in the political ques-
tions of the day and local matters, being allied with
the Democrats in principle. He is a charter member of
the Sandpoint Lodge, No. 59, I. O. O. F., and also
belongs to Panhandle Lodge, No. 22, of the Encamp-
ment. Mrs. Piatt is a member of the R. N. of A., of
Sandpoint. Mr. Piatt is a man of business enterprise
and ability and his stanch character and reliability have
made him a host of friends.
AARON W. PALMER is one of the younger
men of the vicinity of Sandpoint and has manifested
an industry and enterprise that bid fair to make him
one of the prominent men of this section. His farm
is located three miles from Sandpoint and was taken
from the wilds as a homestead. Mr. Palmer has been
devoting his energies to its improvement and is making
a good home place.
Aaron W. Palmer was born in Monroe county,
Michigan, on August 10, 1870, being the son of James
K. & Nancy (Lambkin) Palmer, natives of Michi-
gan, where they now live, being farmers. They have
four children: Minnie M., wife of Eli Collins; Aaron
W.. our subject: Willis S., married and living
in Michigan; Goldie A., single and teaching
school. Our subject received his education in
the native place, going to school in the win-
ters and working with his father in the balance
of the year. At the age of seventeen he started to
do for himself, and for three years he was occupied
in the lumber woods. In 1892 lie went to George Bay
country and later went to Saginaw, where he spent
that summer on the boom and then he made Menom-
onie, Wisconsin, his headquarters, working five winters
in the woods and the summers in the Dakota harvest
fields. It was 1898 that he made his way to the Sand-
point country and being enamored of this region, he
determined to make it his home, and accordingly he
look the homestead mentioned above and to the im-
provement of this and general timber contracting he
has devoted his energies since. He has a portion of
the farm in hay and grain and has horses with which
he does teaming. Mr. Palmer is liberal in political
matters but leans toward the Republican principles.
He is a man of good standing and has the confidence
nf his neighbors.
ABRAM M. PIATT. In the worthy labors of
developing the country and bringing out its resources,
the subject of this article has had a goodly share. He
is a man of stable qualities, enterprising and capable,
and is well known for his executive ability and stirring
energy.
Abram M. Piatt was born in Monroe county, Ohio,
mi April 3, 1 87 1, being the son of William and Vir-
ginia (Truax) Piatt, natives of Ohio. They came to
Dunn county. Wisconsin, in 1882, and there the mother
still lives, the father having died in 1883. The mother
conducted the farm for thirteen years after her hus-
band's death, but is now retired. She had twelve chil-
dren, ten of whom live, as follows: Margaret, wife of
William Chickering, in Knapp. Wisconsin ; Alexander,
in Sandpoint; Martin, married and living in Sand-
point ; George, married and living in Clarkfork; Abram
M., the subject of this article; David, married and liv-
ing in Sandpoint; Julia, wife of William Oldham, in
Knap]), Wisconsin; Jennie, wife of L. Workman, in
Sandpoint; Rosa, Ida. both single and living in Sand-
point. Abram received the major part of his school-
ing in Knapp. Wisconsin, and when eighteen started in
life for himself. He worked in the iron mines for two
years, then on the farm, in the woods, on the railroad
and so forth, until 1897, when he came to Sandpoint.
The first year he worked for his brother and then lie
look a contract of furnishing three thousand poles.
About this time he took a trip to Knap]). Wisconsin,
and remained for eight months. Then he returned
to Sandpoint and his devoted himself to contracting
logs, poles and timbers for the Sandpoint company,
1 hitler & Company and others and in this business he
is still engaged.
On April 3. 1897. Mr. Piatt married Miss Ella,
daughter nf Samuel and Sarah | Bowersack) Thatcher,
natives nf Ohio, but pioneers to Wisconsin, and they
still live in Dunn countv. that state. Mrs. Piatt was
832
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
born there. Mr. and Mrs. Piatt have one child, Velma.
Politically our subject is allied with the Republicans
and is active and interested in this field and the ques-
tions of the dav.
JOHN NELSON resides three miles north from
Sandpoint where he has a fine estate of two hundred
acres of land, having acquired it by homestead and pur-
chase. He is a man of reliability, integrity and sound
principles, and is the recipient of the respect and good
will of his fellows.
John Nelson was born in Vermland, Sweden, on
November 3, 1858, being the son of Nels and Martha
Pearson, also natives of Sweden, where they died some
years since. Two sons and one daughter were born to
them besides our subject, Ole, living in Rock Springs,
Wyoming; Andrew ; Betty, married to Mr. Greenwold,
in Ogden, Utah. John received a common schooling
and when ten went to work out. Two years later he
went to Stockholm and learned the harness trade. In
1881 he came to America, May 29 being the exact date
of landing. He made his way to Salt Lake City,
Utah, where he wrought for the D. & R. G. Railroad
and then mined for five years. Next we see him in
Leadville. Colorado, then in the Black Hills, South
Dakota, then in Ogden, Utah, and later in Portland.
Oregon. Thence he went to the Cascade mountains
and in 1894 Mr. Nelson came to Sandpoint and located
on his present place, which has been his home ever since.
He has good buildings and a fine orchard and does
general farming in addition to timber work, having con-
tracted piling and such timbers. Mr. Nelson is an ac-
tive Republican and is always ready to do his part to
forward the welfare of the county. He is a member "f
the Lutheran church and a man of good standing. Mr.
Nelson has never seen fit to quit the peaceful life of the
bachelor for the uncertain seas of matrimonial ex-
istence and seems quite content with the celebatarian's
life.
JUDGE A. K. WHITE, deceased. No man
was better or more favorably known in the southern
part of Kootenai county than the subject of this
article, and it is fitting that memorial to his name be
granted in the volume that has to do with the historj
of this section.
A. K. White was born in Port Deposit, Maryland,
on May 8, 1834. His mother died when he was a
child, and he was taken by his father to what was
known as the "Brick Meeting House," in Cecil coun-
ty. There he remained until fifteen and finished liis
education in an academy in Pennsylvania. Follow-
ing this he was engaged in keeping books for a num-
ber of years, then came to Peoria, Illinois, where he
acted as salesman and also studied law. In Febru-
ary, i860, Mr. White married Miss Frances Giles,
daughter of Joseph and Susana (Redfern) Giles,
both English, "and to that union were born two chil-
dren : Lota Alice, deceased ; Joseph C. married to Miss
Hattie Whitmore and now living in Coeur d'Alene,
where he is engaged in civil engineering. Following
his marriage Judge White removed to Nebraska and
then to Colorado, where he practiced law. In 1887
he came to Farmington, Washington, and practiced
law, and in 1890 made his way into the then unsettled
region of St. Maries, near the north fork, Clarkia
postoffice. One man. Captain James Wells, after-
wards World's Fair commissioner, was dwelling here
then. The Judge took land near the mouth of the
Emerald creek and at once devoted himself to raising
stock. The ranch is known as Meadow Lodge. He
was successful in this venure and although he came
here with limited means, he was soon among the
prosperous citizens of the county. He was popular
and served one term as county superintendent of
schools and one term as probate judge, having also
been judge of Clearcreek county, Colorado, for two
terms. The Judge was called to depart this life on
November 26, 1901, and was sincerely mourned by
a large circle of true friends. He was a member of
the Masonic order at Harrison, Idaho, and also of
the G. A. R., having been a brave and faithful soldier
for his country. Mrs. White was postmistress at
Clarkia for four years, but has now resigned the po-
sition, rented her fine esate of nearly five hundred
acres and removed to Coeur d'Alene, where she re-
sides with her son.
Judge White was in Company F, Nebraska
Second Cavalry, and served two years, when he was
wounded and honorably discharged. Nellie Kemble,
a niece, who lived with the family for a number of
years, is married and living at Oakesdale, Wash-
ington.
DAVID E. BIGELOW is one of the well known
and. respected citizens of Sandpoint. being a skilled ar-
tisan in wood work and building, while he also owns
a fine farm of one hundred acres, which he has im-
proved in a becoming manner.
David E. Bigelow was born in Milwaukee county,
Wisconsin, on August 9. 1852, being the son of Joseph
and Rose (Sweet) Bigelow. natives of the same county
in Wisconsin. The father went to dig gold in Cali-
fornia in 1855 ancl died the next year; the mother over-
come with trouble and hardship succumbed to death
soon after. Then the children were taken by relatives
and our subject knows nothing of his parents. Two
sisters are dead and one brother was a noted scout and
was one who hunted the James boys, but no tidings
from him have ever come to our subject. David was
taken by an uncle to Manitowoc, Wisconsin, where he
remained until eighteen, having gained a common
school education. Then he went for himself and la-
bored to get means for an education, and when he was
twenty-one he had graduated from the high school.
Then he sailed on the lakes for two seasons, after which
he took land in Clark county and eight years later sold
that and removed to Ashland. Wisconsin, where he
did carpenter work for thirteen years. It was 1898
that he came to his present location, bought one hun-
dred acres from the railroad company and in addition
JUDGE A. K. WHITE.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
833
to improving it in good shape, he has also done car-
pentering.
In 1876 Mr. Bigelow married Miss Gertrude Smith
and to them were born four children, Raymond, Fay-
ette, Floyd, and Mabel, all living in Wisconsin. Later
Mrs. Bigelow was taken away by death.
In 1901 Mr. Bigelow married Mrs. Nettie Cole,
daughter of Able S. and Marie Thompson, residents
of Garfield, Washington, who in 1902 celebrated their
golden wedding. Mr. Thompson is a druggist and
a prominent citizen of the town. Mr. Bigelow is an ac-
tive Republican and is zealous for the advancement of
the interests of the country. He is a member of the
K. of P., Helmit, Lodge, No. 36, while he and his wife
belong to the Methodist church, being devout sup-
porters of the faith.
WILLIAM H. LEMLY is a man of enterprise,
integrity and fine business judgment, as is evidenced
thoroughly by his round of successful achievements in
financial matters, while also he has ever maintained
an unsullied reputation and displayed a stanch char-
acter.
William H. Lemley was born in Eugene, Oregon,
on September 3, 1859, being the son of Pleasant G. and
Nancy (Fletcher) Lemley, natives of Alabama and
Arkansas, respectively. In 1853 they crossed the plains
with ox teams to Benton county, Mr. Lemley swim-
ming the streams with his stock. The next year they
went to Lane county, which was the family home until
1878. Mr. Lemley was appointed county judge, being
the first incumbent of that office, and served for four
years. Then he was county commissioner for four
years, then county treasurer for two years, also deputy
sheriff for four years. He operated a large farm for
six years and in 1878 he came to Farmington, Wash-
ington, where he remained until 1895, whence he re-
moved to Priest river, where his sons were. There he
died in May, 1902, his wife passing away in April,
1902, he being eighty three and his wife seventy-seven.
Reverting more particularly to our subject, we note
that he received his education from the public schools
and when eighteen he started for himself in life. He
learned the butcher trade and followed it steadily for
ten years. He operated shops in Farmington, Oakes-
dale, and Rosalia, Washington, and the last year he
was there he shipped three thousand hogs. In 1889
Mr. Lemley sold out his entire business and went to
California and Oregon. One year later, he came to
Priest River and to Albany Falls. One year later, he
sold out and went prospecting. He prospected for a
number of years in Idaho and Montana, being the dis-
coverer of the Silvernight, in Montana, in 1896, of
which he has sold an interest, still retaining some.
In 1899 he returned to Priest River and took up general
merchandising and continues in that business until the
present time.
On June 25, 1900, Mr. Lemley married Miss An-
nie Alberts, whose parents, natives of Sweden, came to
this country in 1883, locating in Minneapolis, Min-
53
nesota. In 1895, they came to Priest River and are
conducting a boarding house there now. Mr. Lem-
ley is a member of the I. O. O. F., Banner Lodge, No.
67 at Priest River, also of the F. of A., Priest River
Court, No. 18, being chief ranger of the latter order.
Fie has held all the chairs of both lodges and in 1902,
was deputy grand master. Mr. Lemley is a Democrat
and active in politics. He was chosen justice of the
peace in 1900 and was deputy sheriff of Whitman
county in the 'eighties. He is a man of reliability and
displays commendable zeal for the upbuilding of the
country and in his business enterprises.
CHARLES JACKSON is one of the best known
business men of the Priest River country, having
come here among the earliest pioneers and continued
his labors here since. He is a man of intelligence and
good business ability as has been manifested in his
achievements, now owning a large general merchan-
dise establishment in Priest River, where his standing
is of the best.
Charles Jackson was born in Wilkinsburg, Pennsyl-
vania, on March 1, 1849, being the son of Andrew and
Caroline Jackson, natives of Pennsylvania, where they
remained until their death, the father passing awav in
1870, and the mother in 1878. The father was a cabinet
maker. He had the following named children : Mary,
Charles, our subject, Caroline, Chris, Louise. Amelia,
Christian, and Andrew. Charles received a common
school education, being really a self educated man, as
he had to strive for his training. At the age of sev-
enteen, he went to Minneapolis, Minnesota, joined a
surveying party for some years, then went to Bismarck,
North Dakota, thence to the Black Hills, where he
prospected until 1888, when he came to the lake Pend
Oreille county and there prospected until 1891. This
was the year of the entrance of the Great Northern to
the Priest River country and he came thither with a
large canoe and transported freight, doing well. The
next spring Mr. Jackson married Kate Neilson. This
lady enjoyed the distinction of being the first white wo-
man that crossed the Chilkoot pass to the Yukon. She
went to Forty Mile creek and remained one summer,
taking a supply of trinkets for the Indians and articles
for the miners. She did well in the trip and left Alaska
in 1890, having been there seven years. She has one
son. now twenty-five years old. Mr. Jackson married
in 1892 and his wife died in 1899. In 1902 Mr. Jack-
son married Emma Griswold. widow of Charles (iris-
wold, and daughter of George Knowlton. She has
four children, Bessie, Hazel, Halley, and Rena, all at
home. In 1892 Mr. Jackson started a saloon, but in a
short time he saw the need of a general merchandise
establishment and so opened the same. This has grown
until he has one of the largest stores in the town. Mr.
Jackson owns the town site and one of the streets is
named for him. He has always shown a public spirit
and labored assiduously for the improvement and
upbuilding of the town and county. In politics Mr.
[ackson is Republican, having formerly been Demo-
834
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
cratic. but changed at the time of Bryanism. He has
been prominent in the county conventions and is an in-
fluential man. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., be-
ing an organizer of Banner Lodge, No. 67 and has
passed all the chairs. Mrs. Jackson is a member of
the Rebekahs, Banner Lodge, No. 52, she also has
passed the chairs. Our subject and his wife are promi-
nent people of Priest River and enjoy the regard and
good will of all. They have one child.
THOMAS BENTON is one of the intrepid men
who have taken the prospector's pick and pack and
delved into the fastnesses of the remote regions, thus
opening to less courageous ones the wealth of the moun-
tains, and it is but right that to him should be granted
great credit and praise for these worthy labors, which
in reality are the opening of the country. Too little has
been said in favor of such men, and much has been
written of the great achievements of great companies.
Hut let credit be where credit is due and we boldly say
that no class of men have had the hardships to endure,
the exceedingly arduous labors, to perform, with more
discouragements to meet and trying obstacles to over-
come than the intrepid, courageous and noble men who
go forth single handed to meet and overcome in na-
ture's wilds.
Thomas Benton was born in the vicinity of Fort
Wayne, Indiana, on February 22, 1844, being the son
of John and Mary (Bools) Benton, natives of North
Carolina and Kentucky, respectively. They were mar-
ried in Ohio, moved thence to Illinois, then to Iowa
and afterwards to Missouri, where the father
died in 1880. The mother then returned to Mont-
gomery county, Iowa and lived with our subject until
her death in 1886. Thomas was educated in Illinois,
and when nineteen, enlisted in Company K, Sixteenth
Illinois Cavalry, under Colonel Smith and Captain
Gudnow. After a short time at Camp Butte, near
Cincinnati, his company was taken to the front and
with three other companies his was detailed for scout
duty. He participated in the battle of Jonesville. Vir-
ginia, when five hundred noble men were numbered
among the dead. He was captured, taken to Richmond,
thence to Andersonville, then to Savannah, from there
to Miles. Georgia, returned to Savannah and there he
was paroled on November 25, 1864. Returning to
Nashville, he joined his company and remained with
them until he was discharged on August 25, 1865, be-
ing pai i off in Chicago. He farmed for one year in
Illinois, then went to Iowa where he worked in a mill
at the wage of two dollars and fifty cents per day foi
nine years. In 1890 he came to Colfax. Washington,
thence to Colville and soon we see him with the pros-
pector's outfit in the mountains. Mr. Benton has a fine
claim with a thousand dollars of development work
which show up in good shape. He reached Priest River
in [890, and since that time, this has been his head-
quarters. Mr. Benton is road master and has been for
some time. He also does a great deal of road con-
tracting and now has a fifteen mile road to build, called
the West Branch County road.
In 1868 Mr. Benton married Miss Mary, daughter
of Bailey and Jane Cozad, natives of Kentucky, whence
they came to Iowa, where they died.
On October 15, 1890, at Colfax, Air. Benton was
called to mourn the death of his beloved wife, and her
remains sleep there to this day. She left the following
children : John, married and living in British Colum-
bia ; Court, living in central Idaho ; Nettie, wife of John
Prator, in Priest River ; Effie, wife of James Frator,
in Priest River. Mr. Benton is a Republican in poli-
tics and is active in the interests of the county and all
questions of import. He is a man of uprightness and
integrity and commands the respect of all.
MAHLON P. JONES is one of the intelligent and
industrious citizens of Priest River, where he is well
known and highly respected, being a man of integrity
and sound principles, always manifesting a genial
spirit, and maintaining the good will of all who may
know him.
Mahlon P. Jones was born in Emporium, Pennsyl-
vania, on January 1, 1852, being the son of L. B. and
Emeline ( McCoy) Jones, natives of Vermont. The
mother came to Pennsylvania in the early days and
married there in the 'thirties. Mr. Jones was a railroad
contractor and lumber dealer and in 1846, he removed
his family to Pennsylvania, where he did lumbering
and farming until the time of his death, which oc-
curred in 1878, the mother having passed away in
1872. They left ten children, named as follows: Mar-
tha, wife of Ambrose Fuller, in Pennsylvania ; Loren
Maud, living in Pennsylvania; Byrun, married and
living in Pennsylvania; Don, killed in the Civil
war : Warren, married and operating an engine
i'ii the Great Northern ; Mahlon P., the subject
of this article : Alma, wife of Silas Wheaton in
Pennsylvania; Jenette, wife of Phinome Ames, in
Pennsylvania; Louisa, deceased, wife of John Bell,
also in Pennsylvania : Gusta, deceased, wife of Forest
( iarett, deceased.
Our subject received a common schooling in his na-
tive place and then on account of failing eyes he was
obliged to be content with that. When fifteen, he
went into the woods and for twenty years he wrought
at that labor. Then he spent five years in railroading,
after which he made his way to the west, settling in
Priest River. Here he railroaded for a time and then
took charge of the railroad pumping station in Priest
River and there he is engaged at this time. Mr. Jones
has taken a homestead and improved it in good shape
ami his wife and daughter are operating a fruit and
confectionery store in the Priest River. They are meet-
ing with good success and are popular with the trade.
On December 24, 1880 Mr. Jones married Miss
Elna Kaufmann and to them have been born the fol-
lowing named children: Elsa M.. Eva E.. Stanley W.
and Warren P.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
835
Mr. Jones is a member of the K. O. T. M.. Spokane
Tent, No. 15. He and his family are adherents of the
Congregational church and they are highly respected
people of the town.
HENRY KEYSER is one of the oldest pioneers
■of Kootenai county as well as having the distinction of
being the man to open various sections of that county
and adjacent ones, while in all his career he has shown
forth the real frontier spirit of progress and courage.
An account of his life fittingly is placed in this volume
and will be acceptable reading to all.
Henry Keyser was born in Hochstadt, Germany,
on January 6, 1839, being the son of John and Eliza-
beth (Heider) Keyser, natives of Saxony, Germany.
Thej were wealthy people of that country and the
father died in 1892 and the mother in 1891. Our sub-
ject studied in the public schools until fourteen and in
1857, he came to America. He worked for three years
in Chautauqua county, New York and then removed
to Illinois in i860, and the following year enlisted in
the Fox River company which was later changed to the
Thirty-sixth Illinois Volunteers. There being too many
men, he was sent home and then got a pass from secre-
tary Seward to go to Germany but was unable to get
out of the country until 1866, when he went to help
his mother in that country. Mr. Keyser still has the
pass. Returning to the United States, he located in
Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and then went
to Kendall county. Illinois. In 1871 he went to San
Francisco, Portland, and then to Walla Walla, where
he hired a team and drove to Rathdrum, finding Mr.
Post the only settler there, Messrs. Still and
Newman being respectively five miles west from
Rathdrum and on Newman lake. After one year's
work for Mr. Post, Mr. Keyser removed to
Spokane and took a squatter's right on the land
where Union Park is now located. J. Scranton
and James Downing were the oldest settlers of that
now populous city and Mr. Keyser came next. The
former men sold to J. Glover. Mr. Keyser has the
distinction of having the first white child born into his
famih that was born in Rathdrum and the Indians
were especially proud of that child. In 1874 Mr. Key-
ser sold out and removed to Trent where he took land
and remained for fifteen years. In 1889 he removed
to Priest river and located a homestead and to this he
has added betimes by purchase until his estate is now
four hundred and forty-six acres of good land. He
has fine buildings, as barns, outbuildings, residences,
and so forth. He raises considerable hay and handles
about one hundred head of cattle each year, turning off
about thirty annually. Mr. Keyser has the distinc-
tion of starting the town of Priest River. In 1902 he
built a business block in the town, also he has a resi-
dence there which he rents, and he is in the mercantile
business in town, in addition to his farm and stock.
In 1869 Mr. Keyser married Miss Emma Eresch
who died in 1883, at Spokane, Washington, leaving
two children. Louisa, wife of W'enzel K. Koreis and
living on Spokane Prairie, Washington; Malinda, the
first white child born in Rathdrum, now married to M.
Bonne, at Latah, Washington. In 1885 Mr. Keyser
married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph and Eliza-
beth Fuschs, native- of Germany, and now liv-
ing on Spokane Prairie. Washington. To this unii m
three children have been born, Henry J., Anna, and
John. Mr. Keyser is liberal in politics. He is a mem-
ber of the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 67, at Priest River.
He and his wife are members of the Catholic church
and they are highly respected people.
KRESZENZ KRAMER. This well known and
enterprising business woman is deserving of especial
mention in this volume of Kootenai county's history
since she is one whose labors have accomplished much
for the upbuilding of the country, and her integrity,
sound principles and unswerving loyalty to right have
given her the untrammeled admiration and esteem of
all who may have the pleasure of her acquaintance.
Mrs. Kramer was born in Wurtemberg, Germany,
on February 25, 1862, being the daughter of Joseph
and Elizabeth (Kolb) Fusches, natives of Germany,
coming to America in the fall of 1884, whither this
daughter had come in the earlier part of the year.
They now live on Spokane prairie and own nine hun-
dred acres of land, handle much stock and are wealth}'.
Our subject received her education in the Sisters
schools until fourteen years and then attended Sunday
school for four vears. After leaving the academy,
she worked out until twenty-three, giving her wages
to her parents. In 1886 she met Franz M. Kramer in
Chicago and after their marriage they came to the
Pend Orielle river, locating a farm, which she still
owns. It was 1889 that they came here and soon after
Mr. Kramer was taken sick and for ten years he was
unable to work and the entire responsibility fell upon
Mrs. Kramer and during this time she operated a
wholesale butcher shop, supplying the north country
and she did much of the slaughtering herself. Thus
was her stability and courage manifested to meet the
hardships and labors of life in this frontier country.
Mr. Kramer died in 1902, leaving his widow and one
child, Theresia, now going to school in Spokane at the
Sisters academy. In 1902 Airs. Kramer started a hotel
in Priest River, which she is operating at the present
time. The hotel is having a good patronage and is
building up a fine business. In addition to this. Mrs.
Kramer handles a nine hundred acre farm, which she
owns three and one-half miles up the Priest river.
This fine estate has one hundred acres under cultiva-
tion and Mrs. Kramer handles about fifty head of cat-
tle annually. Airs. Kramer is a member of the Catho-
lic church and is a stanch supporter of the faith. Mrs.
Kramer has the respect and esteem of all and she has
manifested a truly noble and courageous spirit in the
conduct of her business and in bearing up against the
hardships and labors that have fallen to her lot. It
manifests great skill and good business ability that in
all of this 'she has won a success that would do credit
836
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
to a first class financier and it is all due to her good
management and fine practical judgment coupled with
executive force and wisdom. On August 11, 1902,
Mrs. Kramer married Mr. Samuel Rowsell and they
now live on their farm.
WILLIAM E. REIXHART, who in partnership
with his brother is operating a sawmill on the North-
ern Pacific, is one of the industrious young men of
the county and is accomplishing a good work in his
enterprise, having always demonstrated himself to be
capable, upright, and dominated by sagacity.
William E. Reinhart was born in Faribault, Min-
nesota, September 19, 1872, being the son of William
D. and Emaline (Smith) Reinhart, who are men-
tioned in this work. William was educated in Min-
nesota and Dakota, having come to the latter state
in 1880. In 1888 he came to Kootenai county, Idaho,
and since that time has identified himself with the
interests and development of the county in a very
efficient and becoming manner. He and his brother
were the owners and operators of a threshing outfit
for many years and in 1900 they erected their present
mill, which is a first-class plant of fifteen thousand
feet capacity. They are occupied most of the time in
sawing ties for the Northern Pacific and are doing
a good business. Mr. Reinhart is a man of excel-
lent standing and has friends from every quarter.
He is active in the realm of politics and is an inde-
pendent thinker.
LOUIS CHAMBARD. In energy, sagacity,
enterprise, courage and geniality, together with up-
rightness, the subject of this sketch stands exception-
ally well among his fellows, being a man whose labors
have been felt to the remotest parts of the county and
one who has done much for its upbuilding.
Louis Chambard was born in Fayette, Fulton
county, Ohio, on January 27, 1855, the son of Peter
F. and Irene (Baker) Chambard. natives respectively
of France and New York. The father came to
America in 1835, locating in Wayne county, Ohio,
and he still lives in Fayette, that state, at the age of
eighty. The mother died in Fayette in 1878, being
buried there. Our subject was educated in the com-
mon schools of his native place and then spent two
years in Cornell University. He worked in a grocery
and in other capacities about six years and then mar-
ried and settled to farming. It was 1887 that he
came to Kootenai county and took a homestead three
miles east from Rathdrum, also purchasing a quarter
of railroad land This is the family home today and
it is well improved with good buildings and residence,
and grain and hay are the principal crops. Mir.
Chambard has a good orchard, a number of cattle and
various other propertv. In the Buffalo Hump excite-
ment he took a leading part in the opening of the
country, building the first house in the camp and now
owns good property there. Mr. Chambard has the
distinction of being the real originator of the Popu-
iist party in he county, being the first central com-
mittee chairman and doing much to get the movement
started. He received the nomination for county
treasurer against Frank O. Hill, but as the
county is Republican he was defented by a small ma-
jority. Again, in 1896, he was nominated against John
C. Callahan, who was a man of both the old parties,
and Mr. Chambard was beaten by only sixty votes. Mr.
Chamberd was also the moving spirit in the organi-
zation of district fifteen, of which he has for a long
time been director.
It was in 1882 that Mr. Chambard and Miss
Emma, daughter of Fred and Amanda (Herrick)
Allen, natives of Ohio, the father deceased, but the
mother still living in Kenton, Ohio, were united in
marriage, and to them have been born two children :
Fredrick B., going to school in Rathdrum ; Kirtie I.,
going to district school. Mr. Allen is buried at
Swanton, Ohio, having been dead some time. Mr.
Chambard is a member of the K. of P., Panhandle
Lodge No. 13, and his wife is a member of the Rath-
bone Sisters, Syringa Temple No. 4. Mr. Cham-
bard is one of the leading and prominent men of the
county and is highly esteemed wherever he is known.
SAMUEL L. SMITH. Numbered among the
leading citizens of Kootenai county is the subject of
this aricle, and his family home is on a fine farm
two miles south from Rathdrum, where he has made
a commendable showing, having an excellent house,
commodious barn and out buildings, with an orchard
of sixteen hundred trees of all varieties of fruits that
grow to perfection in this climate. Air. Smith is one
of the leading men of the county and popular in every
way. This is evidenced, as in 1890 he was nominated
on the Republican ticket for county commissioner
and in every precinct he received a handsome ma-
jority, swelling his total majority to a fine showing.
He has been justice of the peace, being the first in-
cumbent of that office in Rathdrum. In his business
career, Mr. Smith has been enterprising, dominated
with sagacity and vigor and has gained a good suc-
cess.
Reverting more particularly to his personal his-
tory, we note that he was born in Tioga county, New
York, on June 15, 1832, being the son of Selah and
Sally (Roggers) Smith, natives respectively of Con-
necticut and Maine. They married and lived in
New York, where the father was known as Squire
Smith, being a prominent man of his section. He was
a farmer and lumberman and is buried in Tioga
county, New York, while the mother rests in Dodge
county, Wisconsin. Our subject studied in the pub-
lic schools and then entered the New York Central
College, at the age of seventeen. He studied a time
there and then a maiden stole his heart and he dropped
the dry books and got married. He then taught
school and also writing school for four years and then
went to railroading. He continued at this for thirty-
WILLIAM E. REINHART. MRS. LOUIS CHAMBARD.
LOUIS CHAMBARD.
SAMUEL L. SMITH.
MRS. SAMUEL L. SMITH.
JOHN H. DANNER.
THOMAS N. FEELY.
MRS. THOMAS N
FEELY. ERNEST E. REINHART.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
837
five years, running on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St
Paul, then took the first company train into Cheyenne,
Wyoming, in 1867, and the next year the first train
into Laramie. Then we find him on the railroads in
Wisconsin, then on the Union Pacific, then on tin
Northern Pacific, and in 1884 he invested his hard
earnings, which amounted to more than nine thousand
dollars, and in September, of the same year, all
was burned to the ground. Mr. Smith determined
not to be thwarted in this line and so went to work
and took a homestead where he now lives, the same
having been the scene of his labors since. He made
a good record on the road, being one of the most
trustworthy men in the service, and now he is enjoy-
ing the second fortune that he has wrought out.
The marriage of Mr. Smith and Sarah L. Purdy
was solemnized in 185 1, and she died in 1858, and
was buried in Dodge county, Wisconsin, leaving two
children, Sarah F., married to S. M. Lehmer, of
Cheyenne ; Lottie, wife of Ames Halley, of Rapid
City, South Dakota. In 1862 Mr. Smith married
Jeanette Herrick, daughter of Job and Hannah
(Cummings) Herrick, natives respectively of Con-
necticut and Vermont. The father is buried in
Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania, and the mother in
Dodge county, Wisconsin. To this happy union there
have been born seven children, named as follows :
Maud, wife of A. D. Robinson, living in Spokane ;
Carroll, married to Mary Woods, living in Hot
Springs, South Dakota ; S. Burton, married to Cora
Watters, living in Ouray, Colorado; Lulu N., married
to Monroe Kanouse, living in Madison, Wisconsin;
Stella E., wife of C. L. Heitman, in Rathdrum ; Addie,
wife of F. B. Allbaugh, in Spokane ; Halley R., at
home. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the
Presbyterian church, and they are worthy citizens and
have an enviable standing in the community. Mr.
Smith is a stanch Republican and was one of the
organizers of that party in his home town in Wiscon-
JOHN H. DANNER. This enterprising young
gentleman is one of the substantial and influential
citizens of Kootenai county, and is at present handling
a farm two and one-half miles east from Postfalls,
which is the family home at this time.
John H. Danner was born in Ionia, Michigan, on
September 30, 1866, being the son of Simon and
Christinia C. (Heydlauff) Danner, natives respective-
ly of Pennsylvania and Michigan, their parents being
natives of Germany. They came to this country in
1837 and settled in Michigan when it was a territory.
Our subject's father was a farmer in Ionia county,
and had one of the finest farms in the entire state.
He died in 1897 and the mother is conducting the
estate now. John H. gained his primary training
from the common schools and then went to Poucher
Business College, graduating therefrom in 1889. He
then came west to Postfails and worked at carpenter
work for a time and in 1892, went to Chicago College
of Pharmacy, but on account of failing health, he was
obliged to forego the course that he had expected
to take, and in 1895 he came back to Postfalls. He
bought eighty acres from the railroad company and
a once went to improving it. He moved on to the
place in 1898, and he has it well improved now. He
has a good house, fine .barn, poultry house, a good
orchard, one-half acre to berries, and the place well
fenced and cross fenced. He also has ten head of
cattle and horses sufficient for the operation of the
farm. Mr. Danner also has some property in Post-
falls.
On December 29, 1890, Mr. Danner married Miss
Soviah H, daughter of George W. and Hattie ( Dill )
Knox, natives of Maine. They came west to Spo-
kane, Washington, in 1887, and now live at Zillah,
Washington. To Mr. and Mrs. Danner there has
been born one child, Robert E. Mr. Danner is actively
interested in political matters, being allied with the
Democrats. He is a member of the I. O. O. F.,
Imperial Lodge No. 134, of Spokane; and of the M.
W. A., Camp 7228, at Postfalls.
THOMAS N. FEELY. This gentleman is a
good example of industry, thrift, and perseverance,
and to these qualities, dominated by keen sagacity
gained through practical experience, he owes his suc-
cess, which is gratifying and substantial. He owns
three hundred and twenty acres of good land, three
miles south from Rathdrum. which is a model farm,
being improved with fine residence, good barns, out-
buildings and fences and so forth, while he has a fine
orchard and two cisterns holding two hundred bar-
rels each. Altogether his estate is not only a good
dividend producer but is a comfortable and enjoyable
rural abode. He has forty-five head of stock, sells
about one hundred tons of oats each year, besides
much hay and considerable other grain and farm prod-
ucts. He is one of the well-to-do and prosperous
farmers of the county and is deserving of the pros-
perity that he enjoys, being always alert to care for
his business and look after details.
Noticing the personal points of detail in his life
we note that Mr. Feely was born on July n, 1846.
but was left an orphan at nine months of age and he
knew but the hand of strangers to guide and shape his
life. Umphry May raised him until eleven and then
he went to work for James H. Garner, in the vicinity
of Chicago, where he was born, and to this last man
much credit is due, for Mr. Feely says, "He raised
me and made a man of me." Ten years were spent
with this good man and then young Feely went to
Iowa. He had received but little schooling and has
had to gain his knowledge by careful personal obser-
vation and digging in the books alone. He worked
eleven years in Iowa and married Miss Alice M.
Kemp in 1875. She was raised by an uncle and knows
but little of her parents, so when this worthy couple
started out in life it was pretty well alone and they
had learned to prize a good home. Mr. Feely rented
land in Iowa and then bought eighty acres in Shelby
county, and two years later sold it and came to Wash-
838
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ington. He located at Rockford on a homestead,
where he was for eight years. Then he sold and
came to Kootenai county. He located first on the
Pend Oreille river and for five years tried the stock
business, but not being successful, he came to Rath-
drum prairie and rented land. Later he bought his
place described above and he has gained his present
holding by his faithful labor and wise management. To
Mr. and Mrs. Feely there have been born eleven chil-
dren, named as follows: James J., Charles W., Clar-
ence H, Effie L., Irvin E., Gracy G., Adda A., Cor-
bon P., Austin L., Guy R. and Irma G. All are single
and live at home or in the vicinity.
ERNEST E. REINHART is a promoter of sub-
stantial industries in Kootenai county, having been
handling a steam thresher for some time, while also
he has a fine sawmill six miles east from Rathdrum,
and also gives considerable attention to lumbering in
the woods. He is one of the first-class men of the
vicinity, has done good work and is held in esteem
and approval by all the people, having displayed both
commendable characteristics in the business world,
while his integritv and uprightness are manifest to
all.
Ernest E. was born in Pine Island. Minnesota, on
August 3, 1868, being the son of W. D. and Emeline
(Smith) Reinhart, natives respectively of New York
and Ohio. They came to Minnesota in i860, remain-
ing there until 1879. Then they removed to North
Dakota and in 1888 they came to Kootenai county.
Thev purchased two hundred acres of good land one
and' one-half miles east from Rathdrum, where they
live now and where also are the headquarters of our
subject. Ernest E. began his educational training in
Pine Island and completed the same in Wilmot, South
Dakota. He remained with his father until he was
thirty years of age, then started threshing with his
brother, which they have followed since that time. In
1900 they erected a mill known as the Reinhart saw-
mill, six miles east from Rathdrum. He employs
eighteen men and cuts as high as forty thousand
ties in one year, besides other lumber and timbers.
Mr. Reinhart is one of a large family of children,
named as follows: Isabel, wife of H. E. Thompson,
in Raleigh, North Carolina ; William E. ; Eva, wife of
C. A. McDonaald, in Rathdrum ; Cora, deceased ;
Mvrtle, Ida, Delia, Gertie, Lila. Roy, Ethel, Vivian,
and Ernest E., the subject of this sketch. Mr. Rein-
hart is a member of the I. O. O. F., Rathdrum Lodge
No. 73. He is allied with the Democrats in political
affairs and is keenly interested in the issues of that
realm. He is a man of activity, good practical judg-
ment, sound principles and has conducted himself in
a becoming manner before his fellows.
ing and improvement, because he is one of the sub-
stantial and reliable man of this section, and because
he is possessed of integrity and sound principles.
Chancey Guthrie was born in Tama county, Iowa,
on July 31, 1879, being the son of R. J. and Eliza J.
(Poland) Guthrie, who are mentioned elsewhere in
this volume. While our subject was still young he
was taken with his family to Boulder, Montana,
where he received a good high school education, grad-
uating from that institution in 1897. Following that
he was salesman in a store for two years and then
he came to this county. He at once homesteaded the
land where he is now located, one mile north from
Copeland. He has a quarter section, half meadow and
the balance upland. He has an orchard of two hun-
dred and fifty trees and raises considerable stock.
In 1901 Mr. Guthrie married Miss Anna L.,
daughter of V. W. and Anna (Siverson) Washburn,
mention of whom is made in this volume.
Mr. Guthrie is fraternally affiliated with the M.
W. A. at Porthill and in this as among his fellows
generally he stands well.
CHANCEY EDWIN GUTHRIE. This young
and enterprising farmer and stockman of the vicin-
ity of Copeland is entitled to representation in the
county history on account of his labors for upbuild-
ARTHUR E. BUNTING. Among the earliest men
to penerrate the wilds of the lower Kootenai valley,
we must mention the esteemed gentleman whose name
appears above. Mr. Bunting is one of the real pioneers
of this country and has been one of the vigorous men
whose labors have transformed it into the abode of
civilization. He is of exceptionally good standing and
is a man of sound principles and deserving of the
encomiums of an appreciative people, which he en-
joys in generous measure.
Arthur E. Bunting was born in Woodstock, New
Brunswick, on December 29. 1855, being the son of
Robert and Mary A. (Weatherbee) Bunting, natives
of England and New Brunswick, respectively. They
are mentioned in another portion of this volume. Our
subject received a good common school education in
his native place, remained on the farm with his father
until twenty-one and then removed to Rat Portage,
and thence, in 1884, to the Kootenai valley. He at
once entered the employ of the well known pioneer,
Richard Fry, as salesman in the latter's store. He
soon occupied the position of general manager of the
establishment, and remained thus employed for four
\ears. Then he took a homestead where he now re-
sides, one and one-fourth miles west from Bonners
Ferry, it being the first homestead taken in this portion
of the valley, and Mr. Bunting was the pioneer of the
important industry of farming in the now wealthy and
fertile valley of the Kootenai. He has a fine place,
raises hay and handles stock and also raises consider-
able fruit.
In 1885 Mr. Bunting married Miss Christine,
daughter of Richard and Jestine (Ira) Fry. especial
mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume.
Mr. Fry was a thorough frontiersman in the true
sense of the word and that means in addition to cour-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
age, physical powers of endurance, skill, wisdom and
excellent practical judgment, a large heart and frank-
ness, with a firm adherence to the principles of right.
The mother of Mrs. Bunting is a descendant of the
Colvilles and a beautiful romance attaches to her life
in connection with her husband. His brother had been
kdled by the Indians and he was in great danger of
being massacred, in fact, it was surely contemplated,
and this faithful woman took a canoe and risking her
own life, warned Mr. Fry of the impending danger
and thus he fled and saved his life. He sought the
noble woman who had thus befriended him and soon
made her his wife. Mrs. Bunting is the oldest daugh-
ter of Mr. Fry and she accompanied her father on
many trips in the wildness of the country and has seen
all the hardships and dangers of real pioneer life. Mr.
and Mrs. Bunting are among the leaders in this sec-
tion and are prominent people, while their worth and
integrity are well known to all. They are members of
the Episcopal church.
GEORGE B. WHITNEY. One of the leading
farmers and stockmen in the vicinity of Copeland, a
man of intelligence and enterprise, this subject is ac-
corded representation in the history of his county
and we append an epitome of his career.
George B. Whitney was born in Marshall, Michi-
gan to Kootenai valley in 189 1. The father located
and Ida (Ansley) Whitney, who came from Michi-
gan, to Kootenai valley in 1891. The father located
on a homestead in the valley and in 1898, he removed
to Porthill and is now engaged in operating a hotel
there. Our subject received his first educational
training in his native place and then graduated in
1886, from the Detroit Business University. He
came to this valley in 1891, located on unsurveyed
land, which proved to belong to the railroad, and then
he bought it and homesteaded another piece. In ad-
dition to this half section, he owns in company with
his father another quarter, making him a fine estate
of four hundred acres. This land is devoted to gen-
eral farm products, hay and the pasture of stock.
Mr. Whitney owns and handles from twenty-five to
fifty head of stock. He is a man of enterprise and is
counted one of the substantial men of the valley.
In 1896 Mr. Whitney married Miss Nellie T.,
daughter of Volney and Anna (Siverson) Washburn,
natives of New York and Norway, respectively. Mrs.
Washburn came from Norway with her father in 1852,
aged twelve, and met her husband in Illinois. After
marriage they came west in 1884 and after a decade
in Wardner. they removed to Kootenai valley, where
they now live. Mr. and Mrs. Whitney are the parents
of two children, one of whom is living, Hazel L.
Mr. Whitney enjoys the good will and confidence of
his fellows and is to be credited with much done to
improve and develop this country. He is a man of
energy and has labored with assiduity and real perse-
verance since coming here.
GE( >RGE E. ANDREWS is one of the leading
men of the vicinity of Copeland, being located about
two miles north from the village and the proprietor of
seven hundred and sixty acres of fine meadow and up-
land. This fine estate is the acquisition of his skillful
and well bestowed labors, and is handled in a becoming
manner. Mr. Andrews is personally a man possessed of
a genial and affable spirit, dominated with a wisdom and
keen perception which place him among the best finan-
ciers of the valley and he numbers his friends from
every quarter.
George E. Andrews was born in Exeter, Maine,
on April 2, 1867, being the son of Elkana and Subrina
(.Whitaker) Andrews, also natives of Maine. The
mother died in 1880, and the father the following
year. Our subject was thus early left to his own re-
sources. He had received a good' schooling at Levant,
whither the family had removed after his birth, and
thus fortified, he went forth to do for himself. He
wrought in the saw mills and spool factories for five
years and then spent two years in a pulp mill. It
was in 1892 that he came to the west," locating first
in Spokane, whence two years later he came to his
present place. He purchased railroad land, and then
added continually each year more by purchase, also
taking a homestead, until he has the 'mammoth estate
mentionel above. He cuts about three hundred tons
of hay annually, raises one hundred head of cattle
and does a general farming business. Mr. Anderson
lias manifested his skill and ability in the management
of his interests here and is one of the leading spirits of
the valley.
In 1901 Mr. Andrews married Miss Maggie ].,
daughter of Malcolm and lzabella ( Roberts ) Gillis,
mention of whom is made in this volume, elsewhere,
ami to this happy union one child has been born,
George W. Mr. Andrews is a member of the I. O.
O. F. at Milo, Maine. He is a man whose life com-
mands the respect of all and he has done very much
for the advancement of the interests of this coiiutrv.
JOHN CALDWELL is one of the men who has
recenth been attracted to the fertile valley of the Koote-
nai, where lie is now located on a homestead, about
two miles northeast from Copeland. Mr. Caldwell is
one of the substantial men of the valley, has demon-
strated his ability and shown marked integrity and
real worth of character and is held in high esteem by
his fellows.
John Caldwell was born in Rochester, New York,
or, February 16, 1867, being the son of Joseph and
Sarah (McClain) Caldwell, natives of Ireland and
Scotland, respectively. Thev came to America when
young and lived in Xew York state for forty years.
Then they went to Manitoba, in 1898. where the fa-
ther diet! in 1809, the mother preceding him. Our
subject was raised in Rochester, and there gained a
good city schooling and at the age of sixteen went to
do for himself. He went to Michigan and engaged on
S40
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
the railroad. He fired for two years then operated an
engine for five years, holding positions on the Duluth
and Lake Shore', and Northern Pacific. Later he went
to North Dakota and acted as expert for the Doyle &
Smith Threshing Machine Company. In 1898, we find
him in Lewiston in a similar position for the W. Codd
company. He then came to the Kootenai valley and
freighted for the construction of the K. V. railroad
after which he took his present farm as a homestead.
He handles some stock, puts up hay, does a general
farming business, and is making a good orchard. Mr.
Caldwell has done well in improving his farm and is
one of the enterprising men of the valley. He is a
member of the M. W. A. at Port Hill, being banker
and manager of the Camp, and he is also Camp lect-
turcr. .Mr. Caldwell is still in the thraldom of bachelor-
dom, being content with its quieter joys rather than the
uncertainty of the matrimonial sea. He is a man who
is entitled to the respect of his fellows and it is but
right to say that in a generous measure he enjoys it as
well as the admiration and good will of all.
MALCOLM GILLIS. It is a pleasure for us to
grant to the esteemed and capable gentleman whose
name initiates this paragraph, a representation in the
history of his county, since he has done much for the
development- of the same, has maintained an untar-
nished reputation and is one of the public minded and
stable men of the Kootenia valley.
Malcolm Gillis was born in Cape Breton, Nova
Scotia, on February 15, 1854, being the son of Archie
and Catherine (McKinnon) Gillis, natives of Cape
Breton, where they still reside on a farm. Our sub-
ject has two uncles who are editors of literary journals
in Scotland, one cousin who is a member of the par-
liament from North Territory and another cousin who
is editor of the Scotch Echo, in Sidney, Cape Breton.
Our subject received a common schooling in his native
place and he remained with his parents until he was
twentv-seven years old. Then he railroaded in Nova
Scotia for three years, after which he followed the
same business in Winnepeg for three years. Returning
to Nova Scotia, he bought land and farmed for four-
teen vears. His next move was to Colorado, where he
mined six years and then we find him in Kablo, British
Columbia, acting on the police force. He was on the
Crow's Xest Pass railroad for two years and in 1899.
he came to the Kootenai valley and after one year on
the railroad, he located his present place, two miles
north from Copeland. To this land he added one hun-
dred and twenty acres of meadow land and he handles
stock, putting up the hay on this land for them. Mr.
Gillis is active in political matters and in Cape Breton
he was county commissioner for five years and in
Kaslo was a member of the police force.
In 1882, Mr. Gillis married Miss Isabella, daughter
of Duncan and Margaret (McDonald) Robertson, na-
tives of Capt Breton, where they still live. To this
happy union there have been born four children, John
A., living in Coeur d' Alene ; M aggie J., wife of George
E. Andrews, in Kootenai valley ; Annie and Collin H,
both at home with their parents. Our subject and his
estimable wife are members of the Presbyterian church
and are reliable and highly respected citizens, being
esteemed bv all.
CHARLES B. WILLIAMSON was born in Ber-
gen, Norway, on December 14, 1847. His father was
a merchant near that place. The son was educated
in Bergen and then went to sea, which he followed four
years, commencing as a green hand and working up
to the position of first mate. In this arduous under-
taking, he manifested great skill and talent and
worthily gained the prominent position on board ship
which he held at the time he quit the sea. He has
personally visited every port of any importance in
the known world and has had great experience among
all nations. In this long seafaring life, Mr. William-
son had many thrilling adventures and some exciting
times. Dangers of all kinds have confronted him and
hardships have been endured. Once on the coast of
France, while sailing in a Norwegian vessel, he suf-
fered shipwreck with total loss of the ship. Once on
the coast of Oregon, he was wrecked. This last oc-
curence was in 1884 and he was sailing in the steamer
Victoria. At this juncture, Mr. Williamson deter-
mined to quit the dangerous life of the sea, and so
came to Riparia, Washington, and there went to herd-
ing sheep. Thence he came to his present location,
two miles above Emida, on Santa creek, where he took
a homestead and commenced to raise stock. Mr.
Williamson had never been favored with any experi-
ence in this enterprise and therefore he had much to
contend with, but despite all that, he has gone forward
with great wisdom and has been successful. He has
a fine holding of stock, owns a quarter section of good
land, mostly timothy land and has eighty acres of
timber land. Mr. W'illiamson began his land career
with but little of this world's goods, but has now in-
creased until he is one of the substantial men of this
community.
THOMAS F. WILLIAMSON, who is now
numbered among the prosperous farmers of the Saint
Mary's river valley, lives one mile southeast from
Emida, where he has a quarter section, which he se-
cured bv homestead right and which is improved and
made into a model farm, producing large quantities
of timothy. Thomas F. Williamson was born near
Bergen, Norway, on November 8, 1850, being a de-
scendant of the fearless Vikings of historic fame. The
father was a merchant and this son was reared and
educated in his native place. When fifteen years of
age he was apprenticed to a ship building company to
learn the machinist's trade, completing the term when
he was twenty-one. Then he took a position in the
merchant marine as fireman and by his close attention
to business and merit he won by steady degrees the
responsible position of assistant chief engineer and in
this capacity he served for six years, visiting nearly
CHARLES B. WILLIAMSON.
THOMAS F. WILLIAMSON
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
841
every known port of any importance in the world.
Then he left the sea and came to New York, taking a
position as machinist, resigning six months later to
accept a position with the Northwestern line as ex-
pert in their engine shops. Sixteen months later we
see him in Carthage, Missouri, in charge of the en-
gine. department of the Cartage woolen mills. After
the mills burned down he went to the Indian Terri-
tory and was engineer on the M. K. & T. line, where
he remained until he came west. Mr. Williamson
visited Portland first then bought the ferry at Eureka,
Washington, which he operated for a year. Selling
at that time he came to his present place and took the
homestead mentioned and since Mr. Williamson has
devoted himself exclusively to improving and han-
dling his farm. He has the place well stocked and re-
ceives annual returns in abundant crops, principally
timothy. Mr. Williamson has manifested great wis-
dom and industry in his labors and in the good work
of making his land a valuable farm and he is to be
congratulated on his success. He is one of the sub-
santial and popular men of the neighborhood and is
in first-class standing.
JAMES H. GUTHRIE. This substantial and well
to do agriculturist and stockman has a good estate one
mile north from Copeland, where he is engaged in gen-
eral farming and raising stock and also does dairying.
He is a man of energy and good ability and has made
worthy achievements since he settled in this county.
James H. Guthrie was born in Iowa City. Johnson
county, Iowa, on February 6, 1863, being the son of
R. J. and Eliza J. (Poland "l Guthrie, natives of Ohio
and West Virginia, respectively. They came to Iowa
in 1852 and later lived in Montana for sixteen years
and then came to this valley, where they now reside.
They were the parents of thirteen children, six of
whom are living. James H. received a good common
school education in his native place and remained with
his parents until he was seventeen years old and then
went to work on the neighboring farms. He remained
thus engaged for five years when he removed to Boul-
der. Montana, and there served one year as apprentice
in a blacksmith shop. After that, he did contracting
for ties, lumber and so forth with his brother. In
189:, they came to the Kootenai valley and engaged in
the butcher business. Later he bought out his brother
and took W. A. Nail as partner, conducting the shop
until April, 1902. In May, 1892, Mr. Guthrie located
the quarter section where he now resides, and since
that time he has continually been adding improvements
and now has a fine farm. Part is meadow and part is
upland. He has a fine orchard and raises about thirty
head of cattle.
In 1894, Mr. Guthrie married Miss Martha A.,
daughter of V. N. and Anna (Sievert) Washburn, na-
tives of New York and Norway, respectively. The
mother came from Norway with her father, her mother
having died in that country. The father later came to
Kootenai valley and died here in 1901. To Mr. and
Airs. Guthrie there have been born five children,
Chaney E., Delia R.. James H.. Eliza J., William R.
Mr. Guthrie is a member of the M. W. A. of Porthhill.
He is not connected with any church but practices the
rule of doing to others as you would wish them to do
by you.
MARION GUTHRIE. Among those who have
opened the way into the wilderness of nature in the
Kootenai valley portion of our county, we are con-
strained to mention the estimable and industrious
young man whose name is at the head of this article.
He dwells adjacent to the village of Copeland, where
he is improving a piece of land which he has taken
with bis homestead right from the government.
Marion Guthrie was born in Tama county, Iowa,
on February 17, 1870, being the son of R. J. and Eliza
J. ( Poland ) Guthrie, natives of Ohio and Virginia,
respectively. The mother came to Ohio when young,
then she and her husband came to Iowa. Thence they
went to Montana, where they dwelt for sixteen years
and in 1899 tne.v came to the Kootenai valley, where
they now reside, being with their son, the subject of
this article. Marion received the beginning of his edu-
cation in Iowa and after the move to Montana, he was
favored with four years of good training in the public
schools. He has always remained with his parents,
being thus far in his career content to quietly follow the
celebatarian"s life, rather than venture on the matri-
monial sea. He does considerable traveling in the
course of his labors, having been twice to Oregon in
the last year. Upon coming to the valley, Mr. Guthrie
took land which later proved to be an Indian
allotment, and then he took the land where he now re-
sides adjoining the town of Copeland. In addition to
this, he and his brother have bargained for four hun-
dred acres of railroad land.] Air. Guthrie has four
brothers and one sister, M. J., living in Union, Oregon ;
John W.. living in Montana ; Emma B., wife of Perry
Teft't, of Boulder. Montana : Henry, living in Cope-
land; Chaney E., in Copeland. Air. Guthrie takes an
active interest in die questions of the day and is allied
with the Democrats in political matters.
HENRY R. EDWARDS is one of the younger
men whose labors are developing the fine natural re-
sources of Kootenai county and he is an industrious
and upright citizen, his home being one and one half
miles north from Bonners Ferry, where he has a fine
piece of timber. He is devoting his energies to its im-
provement, also placing on the market ties, poles, and
so forth.
Henry R. Edwards was born in Woodbury county,
Iowa, on March 14. 1872. being the son of John J. and
Harriet (Said) Edwards, who removed to South Da-
kota in IQOI, where they reside now. They were the
parents of twelve children, eleven of whom are still
living, named as follows: Mary, wife of John Kee-
gan. in South Dakota: Matlida. wife of James Rich-
842
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ards. in Iowa: John M.. single, living- in South Da-
kota ; Lizzie B.. single and also living in South Dakota :
Edgar, there aiso ; Bessie: Raymond: Rosemond; Cy-
rus": Christian : Henry, the immediate subject of this
article. Henry received a good common schooling in
Iowa, utilizing the winters for that training while his
summers were spent in vigorous exercise on the farm
with his father. When he reached his majority, he
rented a farm in Woodbury count}- for two years, but
success did not crown his efforts as he desired, and so
he went to work by the month, continuing in that line
until 1899. In that vear he determined to see the west
for himself and accordingly set out. He landed in
Kootenai county in due time and after proper explora-
tion and investigation, he settled on his present farm.
To the improvement and clearing of this, he has de-
voted himself since that time and is one of the respected
and promising citizens of this wealthy county.
It is interesting as a reminiscence that Mr. Ed-
wards" maternal grandfather was a prisoner in the
Black Hawk war. His mother had two brothers in
the Civil war and his father had many relatives in the
same conflict.
JAMES A. GRAHAM. Two and one-half miles
east from Porthill lives the subject of this article. Mr.
Graham has shown the spirit and sturdy qualities of
the real pioneer, has hewed his home out of the forests
of nature and has made all the improvements of his
place with his own hands. This land was taken as a
homestead from the government. It was not his first
choice, however, as he settled in 1891 on an unsurveved
quarter, but finding later that it was railroad land,
he vacated it and took the present place. Mr. Graham
does general farming, raises some stock and pays con-
siderable attention to fruit. He is one of the intelli-
gent and influential men of the community, is always
active and takes an interest in the affairs of govern-
ment and local matters. Mr. Graham finds the Demo-
cratic partv to be more nearly allied with his views
than anv other and therefore he is numbered among
them. He was a delegate to the county convention
at Coeur d'Alene this past year and is always found
in the ranks working with zeal and enthusiasm.
Reverting more to his early history we note that
James A. Graham was born in Blanket Hill, Penn-
sylvania, on April 16, 1854. being the son of William
and Catherine (Blaney) Graham, also natives of the
same place, where they remained until the time of
their death. The mother passed away in 1S71 and the
father followed in 1894. The grandfather of our sub-
ject was a veteran of the war of 1812. James re-
ceived a good country schooling in the native place
and remained with his parents until he was twenty-
two. Then he migrated to Illinois and toiled on a
farm for a couple of years, after which he traveled
over the entire south. Not finding the country to
his fancv. he came to Ogden. Utah, in 1878. Later
he was in Helena, Montana, until 1883, and then
found his way to Coeur d'Alene in the time of the gold
excitement. There he prospected until 1886 and then
came to Kootenai county. He labored there and in
Washington until 1891 and then settled on the land as
stated above.
In fraternal affiliations Mr. Graham is united with
the I. O. O. F. Mr. Graham has four sisters and five
brothers and the following ones are living: Nancy J.,
wife of W. A. Blose, in Blanket Hill; Margaret J.,
wife of W. J. McConal, in Minnesota; William A.,
married and residing in Pittsburg. Pennsylvania ;
David A., also married and dwelling in the same place ;
Joseph B., in Kalispell, Montana ; Harry A., in
Kootenai vallev.
HENRY WAXDEL lives five miles east from
Porthill on a farm that he took in 1898 as a homestead
and which he has improved with his own labors un-
til he has a fine orchard and a comfortable home. Mr.
Wandel has always manifested industry, thrift and wise
management that are characteristic of his race and the
result is that he is one of the prosperous and substan-
tial citizens of our county who has won and retains
the good will and esteem of all who know him.
Henry Wandel was born in Beyran, Germany, on
May 17, 1870, being the son of Joseph and Anna
( Buckberger) Wandel, natives of the fatherland
where they remained until the father died in 1883.
The mother is now retired and lives in Beyran, a°fed
seventy years. Our subject received his education
from the schools of his home place and remained with
his parents until he was twentv and then entered the
army, serving two years. In 1803 ne cut aH restraints
that bound him and made his way to America, locat-
ing in Chicago for four months. Then he went to
northern Wisconsin and for seven years he was occu-
pied there. It was in 1808 that he made his way to
Kootenai countv and the advantages offered here led
him to take a homestead as stated above. During the
years since that time. Mr. Wandel has devoted him-
self with assiduitv and enterprise to make a sfood farm
and a comfortable home from the wilds of the new
country and he is to be credited with much worthy
labor accomplished. He also handles some stock.
In ISO.; Mr. Wandel married Miss Marv, dauehter
of Albert and Maggie Colbach. natives of Germany
and Wisconsin, respectivelv. The father came to
America in T86q and located in Wisconsin and he and
his wife remain there until this time. To Mr. and
Mrs. Wandel there have been born three children,
Henrv, Joseph. Rudolph. The family adhere to the
Catholic church.
ROBERT BUNTING resides one-half mile west
from Bonners Ferry, where he owns a fine farm and
devotes himself to gardening and sreneral farming.
He is a man of integrity and good habits and stands
well with all who know him.
Robert Bunting was born in Ashover, England, Feb-
ruary 2. 1826, being the son of John and Mary (Cook)
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
843
Bunting, natives also of England. The father was a
tailor and conducted a business there until the time
of his death, which was in 1887, the mother passing
away in 1890. Our subject learned his trade and also
attended school in his younger days. When twenty
the father gave him the opportunity to go for himself,
wishing him well in his labors. From that day for-
ward Mr. Bunting has been actively engaged in busi-
ness and has done well. He farmed for a time in
England and in 1850 came to Canada, settling in New
Brunswick, where he was an industrious citizen until
1880. In that year he came to Rat Portage, Ontario,
continuing there for nineteen years. It was 1899 that
he came to the Kootenai valley, locating on his present
farm. He owns forty acres of fine garden land and is
doing a good business.
In 185 1 Mr. Bunting married Miss Mary A.,
daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Wright) Weather-
bee, natives of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, re-
spectively. They came to the United States in 1848,
locating in Boston, Massachusetts, where both died.
Mrs. Bunting has two brothers who were in the Civil
war, one of them being lieutenant. Mr. and Mrs.
Bunting have become the parents of ten children,
named as follows : John S., married and living in
New Brunswick ; Arthur E., married and residing in
this valley: Mary E., deceased; James R., married and
living in Rat Portage ; William H., living with parents ;
Alice, deceased ; Annie E., wife of Nelson Mc-
Cracken, in Seattle; Benjamin T., deceased : Evelin, de-
ceased; Aubrey A., maried and living in this valley.
Mr. Bunting has always taken an active part in
local politics. He and his estimable wife belong to
the Episcopalian church and are devout supporters of
the faith. Mr. Bunting has a good home place pro-
vided with good buildings and fitted in an excellent
manner, everything displaying good taste and thrift.
The golden years of his life are now beginning to run
apace and he is secure in the esteem and confidence of
all who know him.
RUDOLPH DRAVES is one of the agriculturists
and stockmen of the county of Kootenai, his home and
farm being three miles east from Porthill, where he
has good improvements and is prospering. His birth
occurred in Mishicot, Wisconsin, on May 11. 1858,
his parents being Fred and Annie Draves. natives of
Germany. They came to the United States in 1852,
locating in Mishicot, and in 1861 the father enlisted
in the Civil war, where he did brave and faithful serv-
ice for three years. After the war he worked in the
saw mills for fifteen years and then bought eighty
acres of land which he has farmed since, both he and
his wife living there now. There were the following
children in the family : Henry, married and dwell-
ing in Mishicot ; Richard also married and living
there; Josephine, married to August Stick, living in
Cooperstown. Wisconsin ; Rudolph, the immediate sub-
ject of this article : August, married and living in
Mishicot; Otto, married and living in Cooperstown,
Wisconsin: Annie, married and living in Mishicot.
Our subject was educated in the common schools of
Mishicot and remained with his parents until he was
seventeen and then he learned the harness trade.
Three years were spent in this and then he went to
Medford, Wisconsin, and there wrought in a harness
shop and a saw mill for four years. Selling out there
he went to Eagle river, into the lumber woods. He
also worked as cruiser for seven years for a company
and then later kept a hotel. At Tomahawk lake he
kept a hotel for four years and in 1897 came west.
He located in Porthill and in the fall of the same year
took up his present home place as a homestead. In
addition to other industries he is raising many flocks
of different varieties of poultry, wherein he is
fill.
Mr. Draves married Miss Frances Buckbager, a
native of Germany. He takes part in political matters
and while in Wisconsin he served as road supervisor
for three years, and also as assessor, when in Eagle
rh'er. Mr. Draves and his wife are members of the
Presbyterian church.
JOSEPH SMITH. The list of early pioneers to the
lower Kootenai valley would not be complete without
mention of this esteemed gentleman, whose labors have
been wiselv bestowed in the development of this
country and the advancing of his own business in-
terests.
Toseph Smith was born in Canada in 1848. be-
ing the son of Prespere and Harriett fjollie) Smith.
natives of Canada, where they remained until their
death. The father was an engineer on a steamboat
from Montreal to Quebec. Our subject was educated
in the schools of his native place and at the age of
fourteen vears he started from the parental home and
made his way to the United States. He went to
Massachusetts and worked in a shoe factory for ten
vears. In 1878 he came thence to California and there
wrought at his trade and driving team until 1886,
when he came to Spokane. Farming occupied him
for a couple of years and then he took one hundred
head of cattle from a stockman on shares. Each was
to have half at the end of five years. The first winter
was disastrous, as it was hard and scanty feed could
be cut. Mr. Smith was forced to face the hardship
of seeing many of his cattle die. However, he be-
gan to prosper after that but the stockman with whom
he dealt came and took two hundred and fifty head
of stock in three years from the beginning of their deal
and two vears later came and took the entire number,
two hundred and fifty, remaining. Thus Mr. Smith
was left with but one lame cow and all his work and
hard labor was stolen by another. He did not lose
courage, but went to work putting up hay and getting
stock as he could and he prospered well, for last year
he sold forty head. He has some stock left, owns
nearly three hundred acres of land, raises hay and also
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
does a general farming business and raises fruit. Mr.
Smith is one of the substantial men of the community
and has always manifested good industry and worthy
qualities. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. at
Porthill and also of the M. W. A. of the same place.
In church relations he is an adherent of the Catholic
church and is a constant communicant.
VOLNEY W. WASHBURN, deceased. It is
quite fitting that a memorial of the distinguished citi-
zen of our county whose name appears above should
be granted space in this volume of history since he
was one whose labors accomplished much in the de-
velopment of the country and who was a leader among
his fellows.
Volney W. Washburn was born in New York on
June 15. 1849, being the son of Luman and Temperan
(Horton) Washburn, natives of New York. They
removed thence to Illinois and later to Iowa, where they
died. Our subject received a common school educa-
tion and at the age of fourteen enlisted in Company
G. Twenty-first Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was
honorably discharged on October 10, 1865. Return-
ing to Illinois after the war he worked out until
twenty-one and then married. In 1879 he removed
to Grant county. Dakota, and in 1881 to Ottertail
county, Minnesota. It was 1886 that the family all
came to Wardner, Idaho, and nine years were spent
there. In 1894 he came to this valley and located on
railroad land where the widow now resides, two miles
north from Copcland. The estate consists of two
hundred and eighty acres of good land, fine buildings,
good orchards and stock sufficient for the place. On
August 24, 1901. Mr. Washburn died, and he was
sincerely mourned through the entire valley as he was
a good man and had scores of friends.
The marriage of Mr. Washburn and Miss Anna
Siverson, daughter of Sever and Martha (Olsen)
Siverson. was solemnized in 1871. Mrs. Washburn's
mother died in Norway, the native land, when this
daughter was four years old. The father came to
America and settled in Iowa, where he remained un-
til the time of his death in 1902. Mrs. Washburn has
one brother. Ole, in Iowa, and one sister, Anna, wife
of William Girrard, near Fenan lake, in this county.
To Mr. and Mrs. Washburn there have been born nine
children, as follows: John L.. with his moher; Noah
H., married to Angeline Kerchival ; Martha A., wife
of H. Guthrie ; Nellie T., wife of George B. Whitney :
Annie L.. wife of Chauncey Guthrie ; Volney W..
Bertha May, Harvey H. and Eva V., with their
mother : the others are all living in the valley.
Mr. Washburn was a prominent member of the I.
O. O. F., having been a noble grand and also organ-
izer for the order. He was a Democrat in politics
and active. In Dakota he was sheriff of Grant county
and in Wardner he was constable, having also held
this last office in Iowa. He was a man beloved by
all and much credit is due him for the worthy labors
he accomplished. Mrs. Washburn is nobly taking up
the added burdens of life and has reared her children
in the paths of good morals and she is highlv respected
by all.
JOSEPH ANDERSON. One of the younger men
who are achieving success in raising stock and farm-
ing in the fertile Kootenai valley because of industry
and thrift is named at the head of this article and it
is right that to Mr. Anderson we should accord a
special representation in the history of the county, for
he has done much for the upbuilding and advancement
of the county, being a substantial man and good
citizen.
Joseph Anderson was born in Welland, Ontario,
on February 10, 1872, being the son of James and
Ellen (McGivney) Anderson, natives of Canada,
where they are now living. Our subject has the fol-
lowing brothers and sisters : Fred, in Buffalo, New
York ; James, in Welland ; Ada J., wife of Leonard
Matthews, in Port Dove, Canada ; Mary, single and
living in Buffalo, New York ; Nellie, single and living
in Tilsimburg, Ontario ; Sarah, in the same place ;
Minnie, also in the same town. Joseph re-
ceived a good education in the excellent schools
of Ontario and when sixteen years of age
he went to work for the Michigan Central railroad,
where he spent one year and six months. The next
six months were spent in the employ of the New York
Central Railroad Company, and then he returned to
the Michigan Central and one year later migrated to
the Northwest Territory. He worked for the Re-
clamation Company for six years and then came to
Kootenai county in 1892. He fired on a steam shovel
for the Reclamation Company for a time and then
in 1897 came to his present location immediately
south from the town of Porthill. He has one hundred
acres of land, most of which is into hay. He handles
about thirty head of stock and also does a general
farming business.
In 1897 Mr. Anderson married Miss Daisy V.,
daughter of Jacob and Louise (Klein) Sloop. The
parents are mentioned in another portion of this work.
One child, Nellie, has been born to this happv union.
Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are devoted members of the
Lutheran church.
BARBARA ERLENWEIN. It is with pleasure
that we are enabled to grant to the estimable lady
whose name initiates this paragraph a representation
in this volume, since she is one of the capable and
worthy residents of Kootenai valley and deserves men-
tion in the history of her county, having wrought
here with manifestation of wisdom, industry and ability
for a number of years, achieving a good success in
material things.
Barbara Erlenwein was born in St. Louis, Mis-
souri, on March 24, 1857, being the daughter of Jacob
and Christine (Fisher) Erlenwein, natives of Ger-
many. They came to this country in 1857 and settled
in Wisconsin. In Shelbv, that state, she received a
VOLNEY W. WASHBURN.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
845
good schooling and grew to womanhood. At the age
of nineteen she married Mr. Frank M. Lucas, a butcher
by trade. They removed to North La Crosse and there
he did business for a time. Mr. Lucas was a man of
such terrible temper that it was dangerous to be around
him, and so our subject was forced to secure a di-
vorce after enduring life with him for nineteen years.
In 1891 she came to Kootenai county and located a
homestead and since that time she has taken care of
all her interests in good shape herself, manifesting both
great perseverance and courage, as well as excellent
wisdom and skill in the management of her business
affairs and the conduct of her estate. She has a good
bunch of stock, milks five cows and raises a great deal
of poultry. In addition to the homestead, she has one
hundred and fifteen acres of railroad land which she
purchased and which is fine hay land.
One child was born to our subject in her marriage,
Isabella, now the wife of Donald H. Chisholm, men-
tion of whom is made in this volume. Miss Erlemvein
is a lady whose upright life and excellent ways have
commended her to the good will and esteem of all her
neighbors and acquaintances and she has hosts of
friends.
CHARLES OLDS resides three miles south from
Porthill on a half-section of land which forms the home
estate and which he is handling to general farming
and hay. He owns a score or more of cattle and is
numbered with the intelligent and prosperous men of
this portion of the valley, being also a man of good
principles and so conducting himself that he is re-
spected and commended by all.
Charles Olds was born in Des Moines, Iowa, on
December 25, 1863, being the son of Luther and Caro-
line E. ( Ransome) Olds, natives of New York. They
came west to Oregon in 1864, crossing the plains with
teams, and located in Humboldt, Oregon. Later they
removed to California and then returned to Portland,
thence they migrated to Whitman county, Washington.
In that county the father lived until his death in 1890.
The mother then sold out and came to dwell with the
subject of this sketch, where she is at the present time.
Our subject was but four months of age when the
parents came across the plains and in all of their jour-
neys he was one of the party. He gained his educa-
tion from the schools of Portland before he was four-
teen and then worked for his parents until he was
twenty-four years of age. Then he bought a band of
sheep and continued that industry for four years ; he
had the misfortune to lose his whole band during a
bad winter. After that heavy loss Mr. Olds came to
the Kootenai valley, in 1893. He prospected for six
years, but did not find any properties that paid. He
then turned his attention to farming and in 1898
bought a quarter-section from the railroad and then
took a homestead, where he now lives. As stated
above, he now devotes his attention to the farm and
stock.
In 1898 Mr. Olds married Miss Iva V., daughter of
J. A. and Louise (Kline) Sloop, natives of Missouri.
They came to the Kootenai valley in 1893 and there
the mother died in 1898, but the father still lives on
his farm near Porthill. Mr. and Mrs. Olds have one-
child, Marjorie. Mrs. Olds has three sisters; Clara,
wife of C. D. Black, living in the Kootenai valley;
Daisy, wife of Joseph Anderson, near Porthill ; Ruby,
single and living with her sister, Mrs. Olds. Mr. Olds
has one brother and two sisters : Augustus, married
and living at Harrison Lake, British Columbia ; Ella,
wife of William Gilmore, in California: Mary, wife
of N. P. Heim, in Coeur d'Alene. Mr. Olds is a good
man and has the confidence of his neighbors and ac-
quaintances and is one of the sturdy men who have
built up the valley.
JAMES R. ECKERT. This well known agricur-
turist and stockman of the Kootenai valley has a fine
estate of over three hundred acres one-half mile west
from Copeland, where his family residence is located.
He handles about three hundred acres to general
farming and cuts annually two hundred tons of hay,
raising one hundred head of cattle. He has good im-
provements and an estate that is very valuable.
James R. Eckert was born in Lancaster, Fairfield
county, Ohio, on February 8, 1857, being the son of
Henry S. and Mariah ( Shafer) Eckert, natives of
Ohio, where they farmed until their death, the father
passing away in 1881 and the mother in 1885. Our
subject received a good common schooling and re-
mained at home with his parents until he was twenty-
four and then came west to Idaho county, Idaho, in
1886. He remained there for three years and then re-
moved to Porthill, where he and his brother lost nearh
a thousand head of cattle. After this severe setback
Mr. Eckert went to butchering for the Great North-
ern for one year and then he located his present place.
He took a homestead and bought railroad land and
settled down to raising stock and farming. He has
made a fine success of it and has a comfortable home
and is one of the leading and substantial men of this
section.
In 1892 Mr. Eckert married Miss Kittie R. Kil-
bury, a daughter of Ruth A. Thompson, mention of
whom is made in this volume. Mr. Eckert has had
three brothers and six sisters, three of whom are liv-
ing; they are: J. L., living in Idaho county. Idaho:
George D.. on the old homestead in Ohio: Henry >..
in Ohio ; Catherine E., married to E. Fields, in Lan-
caster, Ohio ; Mary E., wife of E. C. Pierce, in Ohio :
Clara, wife of John Rosenburg, in Clermont, Florida.
LOUIS W. ERLENWEIN is a prosperous and
thrifty farmer and owner of stock who lives about
three and one-half miles south from Porthill. He is
one of the men whose faithful labors have improved
the valley and made it one of the rich portions of
the stated and he is now devoting his attention to the
care of his stock, of which he has nearly fifty head, be-
846
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
sides also doing a general farming business. He
raises fruit, having about four hundred choice treees
Louis W. Erlenwein was born in La Crosse, Wis-
consin, on November 30, 1867, being the son of Jacob
and Christine (Fisher) Erlenwein, natives of Germany.
Thev came to this country in the early 'fifties, locating
in Wisconsin, where they farmed until the time of their
death. The father died in 1874 and the mother in
1889. Our subject was educated in La Crosse and re-
mained with his parents until their death, he then be-
ing twenty-three years of age. He worked in La
Crosse some time after this and alSo went into business
there for five years. In 1891 he sold his interests there
and then came west, locating in the Kootenai valley,
where he has resided since. Mr. Erlenwein took a
homestead and in addition purchased railroad land
until he has over one-half section. He also owns two
hundred and seventy-five acres in partnership with his
sister. He utilizes one hundred and fifty acres for hay
and the rest of the land for pasture, for general farm-
ing and for fruit.
In 1896 Mr. Erlenwein married Miss Minnie Pol-
zin, whose parents were natives of Germany. They
came to America in early days and located in Wis-
consin, where they tilled the soil many years and then
removed to Minnesota, where they now live. Mr.
Erlenwein and his estimable wife have three children,
Erwin, Louis and Minnie. Mr. Erlenwein has dem-
onstrated his industry and capabilities to handle the
resources of the country in a successful manner and
he is one of the substantial and respected citizens and
is entitled to much credit for the part he has taken in
the excellent efforts of development.
DONALD H. CHISHOLM is a representative
stockman and farmer of the Kootenai valley. His
estate of over one section of land lies two and one-half
miles west from Copeland and he has it well improved.
He handles from fifty to one hundred head of stock,
puts up considerable hay, does a general farming busi-
ness and is one of the reliable and progressive men of
the valley.
Donald H. Chisholm was born in Cape Breton,
Canada, on May 4, 1867, being the son of Colin and
Anna (McKinnon) Chisholm, natives of Scotland, but
immigrants to Cape Breton country when young.
There they remained as tillers of the soil until the time
of their death, the mother's occurring in 1884 and the
father passing away in 1889. Donald H. was educated
in the common schools and remained at home a dutiful
son until he was twenty-two years of age. _ Then he
came to Montana and located in Livingston.
One year later he removed to Sun River. Montana,
and there bought a team and went at public work.
He increased his teams and took up freighting, at
which he labored for four years and then sold out and
came to the Kootenai valley. In 1891 Mr. Chisholm
located a homestead, where he now lives, and since
that time he has devoted his efforts to improving his
estate and raising stock. He first bought twenty-two
head and from that start he has sold many head and
now has over fifty cattle besides his other stock.
In 1895 Mr. Chisholm married Isabella Lucas, a
daughter of Frank and Barbara (Erlenwein) Lucas,
natives of Wisconsin. They came west in 189 1 and
now reside in the Kootenai valley. Four children,
named as follows, have come to bless the home of our
subject: Annabell R., Donald H., Colin Ulysses and
Vivian Veloid. In political matters Mr. Chisholm is
allied with the Republicans and always evinces an act-
ive interest in the affairs of local import. He is a
member of the M. W. A., at Bonner's Ferry, while
Mrs. Chisholm is a member of the Methodist church.
In the conduct of his business enterprises Mr. Chis-
holm has shown commendable wisdom and has ac-
cumulated a handsome holding, while in his personal
walk he has always manifested integrity and is a man
of reliability and uprightness.
BENJAMIN F. GRACE. This pioneer and
worthy representative of the agricultural interests of
Kootenai county has a fine estate of nearly three
hundred acres four miles north from Bonners Ferry,
where the family residence is at present. He has two
hundred acres in hay, a fine ten-acre orchard, garden,
and so forth, making him a valuable place, which in
the present market ruling would be well worth five
thousand dollars. It was in 1892 that Air. Grace came
to this section and took a quarter section as a home-
stead, purchasing one hundred and twenty acres later.
He is one of the thrifty and prosperous farmers of the
section and is well respected by all.
Benjamin F. Grace was born in Hinesburgh, Ver-
mont, on March 4, 1852, being the son of Harrison
and Hannah (Mosier) Grace. The father was a na-
tive of Bangor, Maine, and died in 1864 in the state
of New York. The mother then lived in Clinton
county. New York, where she raised her family of
four children on a farm. In 1879 she came to Lead-
ville, Colorado, later went to Basalt, in that state and
there she remained with her son, L. F., until the time
of her departure to the world beyond, in July, 1902.
In Ellensburgh, New York, our subject received a com-
mon schooling and he worked and gave his earnings
to his mother until he was twenty-four years of age.
He spent two years in mining at Leadville and then
bought a freighting outfit and freighted along ahead
of the railroad until 1888, at which time he sold out
and settled to farming for two years. Selling again,
he came to Mullan, Idaho, and worked on railroad
construction for two years. His next move was to
Bonners Ferry, as stated above, this being in 1892.
In 1879 Mr. Grace married Miss Ida, daughter of
James and Sophia (Wiggins) Hodgson, natives of
Xew Brunswick. They came to Colorado in 1878,
settling at Aspen, later going to New Castle, and now
live in Marble, Colorado. To Mr. and Mrs. Grace
there have been two children born, Eva M. and Sophia
M. Mr. Grace is a member of the I. O. O. F. at
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
847
Bonners Ferry and his wife is a member of the Re-
bekahs there also. They are both members of the
Methodist church. Mr. Grace and his faithful wife
have wrought well in the building up of this section
and have gained not only a good property holding
but also the good will and esteem of all who may
have the pleasure of their acquaintance.
J( >HN P. DUNN was born in Perry county, Ten-
nessee, on May 5, 1857, being the son of Bolden and
Catherine Dunn, natives of Tennessee. On the same
day in 1865. the father and mother died of that dread
disease, smallpox, and were buried the same day. Two
boys and one girl were left orphans by this sad event
and our subject was placed in a Catholic orphanage.
One year later he was given to Mr. McAtee, and soon
after that he went to Callaway county, Missouri.
where he remained until he was twenty years old. He
lived in Arkansas one year, then removed to Fay-
ette county, Illinois, after which he went to Texas.
Returning to Arkansas he later went to Missouri and
in 1888 he came thence to Oregon. Soon he was in
Spokane, later returned to Oregon and in i8go he
came to his present place, which lies five miles south-
west from Bonners Ferry, near Moravia. He settled
on unimproved land and had a family of wife and
three children. Mr. Dunn commenced operations
here without a dollar of capital and his energy, thrift
and sagacity in handling his business affairs have
conserved his interests so well that at the present time
he is worth, upon a conservative estimate, at least
ten thousand dollars. He does a great deal of gar-
dening and operates in the lumber industry as well,
while he handles considerable stock, too.
In 1883 Mr. Dunn married Miss Nanny Hicks.
who died one year later. In 1885 he contracted a
second marriage, Isabella Barr becoming his wife on
this occasion. Her parents were Henry and Louisa
Barr, natives of Indiana. They came to Missouri in
an early day and the father died several years ago,
but the mother still lives in White Oak. Missouri.
Mr. and Mrs. Dunn are parents of nine children,
seven of whom are living as follows : Nana Perl,
Charles W„ Cora C, May B., Harry P.. Alice B..
Fffie D. Mr. Dunn is a Democrat in political mat-
ters and he has been a member of the school board
since his advent into the country. Eight years steady
he has served as clerk and he is a prominent figure in
the promotion of good schools and is always on the
side of advancement and progress.
MARTIN PETERSON. This substantial and
upright citizen is a resident of Kootenai county, his
home place being a farm two and one-half miles west
from Bonners Ferrv. He has a good house, barn, and
other buildings which he erected with his own labor.
His place is fenced and partially under cultivation.
He handles about fifteen head of cattle and some
horses and does a general farming business.
Martin Peterson was born in Wanjan, Sweden,
on July 27. 1S57. being the son of Peter and Annie
(Peterson) Peterson, natives of Sweden, where they
remained until the time of their death. Martin was
reared on a farm, gained a common school education,
and remained with his parents until he was eighteen
and then he worked in the lumber woods until 1880.
in which year he made the pilgrimage to the United
States, locating first in Minneapolis, where he worked
for the Standard Flour Mill Company for one year.
Next we see him in Bismarck. North Dakota, where
he took up a homestead and, in company with his two
brothers, he farmed there for seven years. He sold
out then and went to Great Falls, Montana, and
wrought at the stone mason trade for eleven /ears,
doing well. In 1897 he visited the home of his child-
hood, making a visit of six months. His family ac-
companied him on this trip, and upon his return he
brought his wife's parents to America with him. Air.
Peterson then came to his present location, the year
being 1898. purchasing a quarter section from the
railroad company.
In 1885 Mr. Peterson married Miss May. daughter
ter of Olof and Mary ( Erickson) Olson, natives of
Sweden. They now live with Air. Peterson. To Mr.
and Mrs. Peterson there have been born five children.
August, Mary, Fred. Eddie and Harry, all at home
with their parents. Mr. Peterson is a member of the
1. O. O. F. at Bonners Ferry, and also of the M. W.
A. He and his family affiliate with the Lutheran
church. Mr. Peterson is one of the respected and
thrifty citizens of the county and has gained by his
uprightness the esteem of all, while his business capa-
bilities have made his present good holding in prop-
erty matters. In political matters Mr. Peterson is a
Republican.
B. NELS PETERS* 'X. This enterprising gen-
tleman is one of the leading property owners and suc-
cessful stockmen of the county of Kootenai, his fine
estate of four hundred acres being located at Moravia
station, five miles south from Bonners Ferry. Upon
his land Mr. Peterson has an imposing residence cost-
ing nearly two thousand dollars, out buildings and
barns that are needed, a fine orchard of three hundred
trees of different varieties, and everything in tiptop
shape. Nearlv all of this land is under cultivation and
Mr. Peterson reaps annually lucrative returns from
his bounteous crops. In addition to the general farm-
ing that he does, he handles stock, having in the
neighborhood of fifty head now, including all kinds.
When one considers "that Mr. Peterson came here but
a few years since and took this land in the raw. his
achievements are indication of excellent thrift and
wisdom.
Turning more to the details of his career, we m .te
that Mr. Peterson was born in Wanjan, Sweden, on
June 8. 1851. bein? the son of Peter and Anna Peter-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
son, also natives of Sweden. They were thrifty far-
mers there and remained until their death. B. Nels
was educated in his native land and there remained
with his parents until twenty-one. Then he worked
out until twenty-eight and at that time built a fine
home and got married. In 1881 he left this home and
came to America. At first he located in Minneapolis
and there remained over one year, and then he jour-
neyed to Bismarck, North Dakota, and took a home-
stead. Seven years were spent there and finally the
drouth drove him out. He took his stock and pre-
pared wagons and drove to Great Falls, Montana.
A short stop was made there and then he came to his
present place, still making the journey with teams. He
located on a piece of land and later bought a squat-
ter's right, which was purchased later from the rail-
road, and also he purchased two hundred and forty
acres in addition, to this, making a total of four hun-
dred acres of fertile soil. It is mostly under cultiva-
tion and produces great crops of hay and other prod-
ucts. The entire estate, with its valuable improve-
ments, is conservatively estimated to be worth at least
ten thousand dollars.
In Sweden, in the year 1879. Mr. Peterson mar-
ried Miss Anna, daughter of Olof and Mary (Erick-
son) Olson, natives of Sweden. To this happy union
there have been born seven children, Frank, Selma,
attending school in Great Falls, Montana ; Freda,
Minnie, Albert. Edwin and Willie. All the children
are at home. Mrs. Peterson's parents live with Mr.
Peterson, and his brother, Martin, another son-in-
law. Mr. Peterson is a Republican and is active in
the local affairs. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. in
Bonners Ferry, and his family with him are mem-
bers of the Lutheran church. Air. Peterson has made
a fine record here in business matters and he stands
well socially and his reputation is untarnished.
RICHARD W. BURKE. To the noble men who
pushed into the fastnesses of the mountains, unlocking
the vaults of nature's treasure house : who blazed the
way through the wilderness to build homes in this
wild country ; who have steadily pursued this worthy
course without murmur or flinching ; to such, we say,
let all honor be paid as true pioneers and worthy of
the pioneers' tributes of praise. Such an one is the
subject of this article and it is a pleasure to epitomize
his career in the history of his county.
Richard W. Burke was born in Keeseville, New
York, on February 25, 1850, being the son of John
and Mary (Hayes) Burke, natives of Ireland. They
came to America in 1851, locating in Xew York, where
they remained sixteen years. Then they came to Osh-
kosh, Wisconsin, where they now live, the father being
a retired merchant. When Richard was an infant the
family went to Plattsburg, Xew York, and there he
was educated. He remained with his father until he
was twenty-nine years old and then came to Mon-
tana, and in the National Park country he prospected
for ten years making some good locations and sales.
In 1889 he came to the Coeur d'Alene country and
there, and later in the Flathead country, he prospected
and worked for three years. It was in 1891 that he
came to Bonners Ferry. He took a squatters right
and improved the place, but later sold his right and
located where he now lives, one and one-half miles
south of Bonners Ferry. He has a good place, well
improved by his own labors and it is now productive
of good returns in crops. He has house, barn, land all
fenced, and a fine orchard which produces abundantly.
Mr. Burke has done much prospecting in addition to
his other arduous labors and he has three claims ad-
joining the Keystone mine, besides other properties.
He spent one year prospecting in British Columbia. In
addition to the other items mentioned, Air. Burke cuts
annually about forty tons of hay and handles some
stock.
The brothers and sisters of our subject are named
as follows : Kate, wife of Charles Cans, in Missoula,
Montana ; Annie, married and living in Oshkosh. Wis-
consin ; Maggie, living in Missoula, Montana ; John,
married and living in Oshkosh, Wisconsin: James,
single, now in Alaska ; Daniel, living in Iowa ; Will-
iam, at Sandpoint ; also Mr. Burke has a nephew, Ed-
ward L. Burke, living in British Columbia, and oper-
ating as conductor on the C. P. railroad. A niece of
our subject lives in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, named
Mamie Burke. Mr. Burke is a member of the Cath-
olic church. He is a man who receives the respect and
esteem of his fellows and is a substantial citizen.
RUTH A. THOMPSON. There are few m the
lower Kootenai valley that are not acquainted with
.Mrs. Ruth A. Thompson, the subject of this article.
She is a woman of remarkable business ability, and has
seen not only the hardships of the pioneer's life in the
new sections of the west, but she has also been called
upon to endure the trials and misfortunes that fate
oftentimes places upon members of our race, seem-
ingly selecting, as in this case, those who are filled with
courage and determination to win despite the obstacles
and barriers.
An account of Mrs. Thompson's life will be inter-
esting to the readers of the history of our county and
therefore we append an epitome. She was born in
Senaca county, Ohio, on May 22, 1830, being the
daughter of Lieutenant John and Mary M. (Curtis)
Whiteside. The father was a native of Dublin, Ireland,
and came to Americt in 1810, locating in southern Ohio.
He had the distinction of being a lieutenant in the war
of 1812. The mother was born in Virginia and went
to Ohio in 1825, and there married Mr. Whiteside in
1828. Later they settled in Madison county, that state.
and there in 1844 Air. Whiteside was drowned. Then
Airs. Whiteside removed to Indiana and remained there-
until her death in 1882. Our subject had but little
opportunity to gain an education, there being no schools
in these new countries. At the age of seventeen, it
being 1847. she married Air. O. C. Kilbury. a farmer
and blacksmith. Ten vears thev remained in Ohio
MRS RUTH A. THOMPSON
JACOB A. SLOOP.
HON. JOSEPH I. BARNES.
JOHN LeHUQUET.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
849
and then removed to Iowa, later coming to Illinois.
In 1872 Mrs. Kilbury was forced to take up dressmak-
ing to support her three children. Six children had
been taken away by death previous to this. She was
crowded into this work by the shiftlessness of a hus-
band who refused to support his family and in 1873
she secured a divorce and since that time she managed
to support herself and children in a good manner, even
accumulating some property besides. In 1876 she
came to Deadwood, South Dakota, and there she sewed
and later kept boarders. She manifested the true spirit
of courage in this place in a gracious act that few
would have done. A wife died who left four children,
one only two weeks old, and as this lady had a mother
in Pennsylvania. .Mrs. Kilbury took upon herself the
task of taking these helpless children across the conti-
nent to their grandmother's home. The trip from
Deadwood to Cheyenne, Wyoming, had to be made in
a freight wagon and it was in winter. Mrs. Kilbury
was equal to the occasion and safely took her charges
to Pennsylvania and then returned to Cheyenne and in
the spring to Deadwood, where she married Jesse
Thompson, on August 13, 1878, a miner. They opera-
ted a hotel and in 1883 came to Montana and farmed
for four years. Then a move was made to Spokane
and later they came to their present location, one-half
mile west from Copeland, at Thompson's landing. Mr.
Thompson bought an interest in a steamboat and Mrs.
Thompson bought seventy head of cattle. They soon
turned their attention to the cattle and during this time,
Mr. and Mrs. Thompson gave their attention to herd-
ing them together and handling the hay for them. Mrs.
Thompson remarks that those days of riding after the
stock were among the happiest ot her life, and the
fifteen years spent with Mr. Thompson is the crown-
ing portion of her career. But in 1892 Mr. Thompson
was called away by death and since that time the en-
tire management of affairs has devolved upon Mrs.
Thompson. She has manifested excellent judgment
and execution as always in her labors and she is now
the owner of a section of land, about seventy-five head
of cattle, plenty of buildings and improvements and
does a dairying business. Almost all of this land she
has bought since the death of her husband.
Mrs. Thompson is a member of the Methodist
church and is well respected and highly esteemed for
her worth and excellent qualities, being a woman of
integrity and faithfulness and sound principles. She
has done much hard work, has managed her business
affairs with commendable wisdom and is to be credited
with much accomplished for the upbuilding and
improvement of the country.
JACOB A. SLOOP. The worthy and faithful la-
bors, the upright and commendable life, the stanch and
stable character, and the untarnished reputation and
excellent standing of the gentleman whose name in-
itiates this paragraph entitles him to an especial repre-
sentation in the volume which chronicles the history of
his county.
In giving an epitome of his career, we note first that
he was born in Schuyler county, Missouri, on April
1, 1845, 'he son of Nicholas and Elizabeth
Sloop, natives of Switzerland. They came to the
United States in 1837, settling first in Pittsburg, Penn-
sylvania. Two years were spent there ni honest labor
at the wagonmaker's trade and then they came to
Marion county, .Missouri. In that place he wrought
at his trade and also did farming. Four years later,
the family went to Schuyler county, Missouri, and there
our subject was born, as stated above. The father conr-
tinued at his trade and farming until his death in e86i.
After that the mother remained a time in Schuyler
county and then removed to Kansas in 1876, and the
year following passed to the world beyond. Jacob was
educated in the country schools of his native county and
labored with his parents until he had reached his ma-
jority. At that important age he and his brother
built a combined flour and saw mill and operated the
plant for twenty years. When that long period had
elapsed, Mr. Sloop sold his mill and went to Queen
City, Missouri, and took up general merchandising for
two years. In 1892 he came west, and after due de-
liberation he located in Kootenai county, near where
Porthill is now situated. He helped build a diking
machine for a company diking the river on the Cana-
dian side and for four years he wrought for that com-
pany. Then he took a squatter's right on unsurveyed
land, which later proved to be railroad land. He
bought it and has taken a homestead and bought since
that time until he has a fine estate of four hundred acres
and more. He handles considerable to hay and pasture,
raising forty and more cattle each year, while also a
portion of the land is devoted to general farming and
fruit raising. Mr. Sloop has some fine trees and his
place is one of value and is handled in a commendable
manner.
In 1871 Mr. Sloop married Miss Louise, daughter
of Peter and Louise (Piper) Klein, natives of Ger-
many. They came to this country in 1826, located in
Pennsylvania, where they were married, and then went
to Schuyler county, Mis'souri, where the father is still
living, aged ninety years. To Mr. and Mrs. Sloop,
there were four children born, Clara V., wife of C. D.
Black, in Kootenai valley ; Daisy V., wife of Joseph
Anderson, living near Porthill ; Iva V., wife of Charles
Olds, in the valley ; Ruby V., single and living with her
father. Mr. Sloop is a member of the I. O. O. F., at
Porthill. He is a member of the Lutheran church and
is a mar. who stands well among his neighbors and is
reliable and upright, Mrs. Sloop died at Porthill,
April 20, 1898.
MAJOR JOSEPH I. BARNES, deceased.— The
death of this honored and distinguished citizen of
Kootenai county, at Rathdrum, in December, 1898, re-
moved from life's busy turmoil one of the most highly
respected, worthy and well known men in north Idaho.
He came to Kootenai county during the early 'nineties
and during his residence there, achieved for himself a
reputation for sterling character, business ability and
popularity such as falls to the lot of few.
850
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Major Barnes was a native of Lewis county, New
York state, having been born there in 1839, and when
very young commenced his westward journey, going
first to Ohio, then to St. Joseph county, Michigan, and
from there to Neenah, Wisconsin, where he grew to
manhood. When the call came for volunteers, in 1861,
young Joseph immediately responded by enlisting in
the Twenty-first Wisconsin Infantry, in which regi-
ment he served until 1864 when he was transferred to
the First U. S. V. V. engineers, with whom he re-
mained until the close of the war. He participated in
the battles of Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga,
Chattanooga, Missionary Ridge and Lookout Moun-
tain and in return for his services was rewarded with
an officer's stripes. After the war Mr. Barnes settled
in Brown county, South Dakota, remaining there until
his appointment as immigration inspector in Kansas
City, by President Harrison. Previous to this, how-
ever, he served with honor in the South Dakota legis-
lature. From Kansas City he was transferred to Bon-
ner's Ferry, Idaho, and later was stationed as an in-
spector of customs on the northern Kootenai boundary
line. A change of administration in 1893 caused his
retirement from office, as a result of which he engaged
in mercantile pursuits at Ockonook, where he lived un-
til his death. As a member of the Republican party
he was very active and influential and was chosen
chairman of the state league of Republican clubs at
Boise in 1892. Subsequently he was prominently men-
tioned for the office of lieutenant governor, was one
of the leading reorganizers of the party in 1896 and
was a candidate for the legislature that year. He de-
clined a like honor in 1898, owing to failing health.
In 1867, Major Barnes was united in marriage to
Miss Alary C. jaquith, who survives him.
JOHN LeHUOUET. This capable and genial
gentleman, whose enterprise and industry have placed
him in a good position in the county, is a man of great
experience in the different walks of life and has a fund
of practical wisdom that, coupled with his native execu-
tive ability, has enabled him to consummate some ex-
cellent achievements.
John LeHuquet was born at Gaspe Bay, Canada,
on August 1. 1840. being the son of Philip and Mary
(Galeshau) LeHuquet, natives of Jersey Island. The
ancestors, as is noted in French "history, were titled
people, possessed of great estates and a castle in France,
which were forfeited in the time of a rebellion. The
parents of our subject came to Canada in 1830, locat-
ing at Gaspe Bay, where the father carried on a fishing
and farming business. He died in 1870, and the mother
passed away in 1881. They were the parents of three
boys and five girls. John remained at home laboring
with his father and going to school in the winter, until
he was twenty and then started for himself. He fished
and then bought a little farm, and in i860 married and
settled down. His wife died the following year and he
sold his farm and began traveling from place to place
and was in various employments. He was in New-
foundland, fired on a steamer, returned to Quebec and
shipped on a steamer that was wrecked two hundred
miles below Quebec, losing all the cargo. Then Mr.
LeHuquet shipped at Kingston for Chicago, helped
build the union stock yards, then logged m Michigan
and in 1866 calked boats at Escanaba. Return-
ing to Chicago he spent two years as foreman at the
dock and carfal works. Then he did bridge work, being
expert as a framer and on construction. About 1870
he went to Alabama and contracted in railroad work
and for two years did exceedingly well. In 1873 he-
started a general store in Cullman, that state and at
this and handling a vineyard he spent seven years. In
1883 he made a trip to New Brunswick, then journeyed
to Iowa, thence to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, then
next season to Pierre, and in 1892 he came to Sand-
point. In 1893 he located his present place, two miles
north from Sandpoint and he has made of it a beautiful
and valuable farm. He has a good orchard, does gen-
eral farming and timber work. Mr. LeHuquet has an
acre of the finest strawberries that one could find, while
his orchard is of the very choicest varieties.
In 1868 Mr. LeHuquet married Miss Mary,
(laughter of Joseph Fenn, a native of Switzerland.
They came to America and located in Galena, Illinois,
then went to California, returned to Galena, where the
father died, and then the mother went again to Cali-
fornia where she taught school until 1868, the time of
her death. To Mr. and Mrs. LeHuquet there have
been born six children : Josephine, wife of Mr. Martin,
a preacher in the Methodist church and living in Hel-
ena, Montana ; John A., with parents ; Frank M., at-
tending Normal school in Lewiston; Gertrude and
Pearl, both having taught school in Kootenai county,
but now attending Normal school at Lewiston ; Car-
iie, attending high school at Sandpoint. Politically,
Mr. LeHuquet is independent and active in the ques-
tions of the day. He has served as school trustee and
is an advocate of good schools. Mr. LeHuquet is a
member of the A. F. & A. M., in Cullman, Alabama ;
also he is a charter member of Lodge No. 33, of the
K. of P. in the same town. Mr. LeHuquet was a mem-
ber of the order of Haymakers in Cullman. Mr. Le-
Huquet is a member of the Episcopal church and his
wife is a Methodist.
PETER A. FERBRACHE. It is with pleasure
that we are permitted to speak of the life's career of
the subject of this sketch, since he is a man of talent,
energy and uprightness ; since he has wrought in faith-
fulness in augmenting the wealth of this county ; and
since he has always conducted himself in a becomimg
manner to a professional man and a true gentleman.
Peter A. was born in Preble county, Ohio, on Jan-
uary 14, 1831, being the son of Peter and Elizabeth
(Frum) Ferbrache, natives, respectively, of Guernsey
Island and Virginia. Our subject received a good
education and worked for his parents until he was of
age. He taught school successfully from the age of
nineteen to twentv-four. Then he took a course in
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
851
dentistry and from 1855 to 1888 he practiced his pro-
fession with credit to himself in Elpaso, Illinois.
Then he came to Granite, Kootenai county, and for
two years, 1891-2, he practiced in Rathdrum and in
Granite. He then, with his sons, operated a tie camp
for a time and in 1898 he came to the vicinity of Bon-
ners Ferry. He located a homestead about three miles
northwest from the town and that is the family home
at this time. He pays considerable attention to fruit
and gardening, raising over five hundred boxes of to-
matoes alone and other things in proportion.
In 1856 Dr. Ferbrache took the hand of Miss Han-
nah C. Ray in marriage and to them have been born
-eight children : Anna, married and living in Pullman,
Washington; Lincoln, married and living in Vancou-
ver ; George, married and living in Nebraska; Thomas,
married and living in Pullman, Washington ; Henry,
married and living in Kootenai county; Mary, de-
ceased; Willie, James, both single. Mrs. Ferbrache's
parents were Joseph and Gilberta Ray, natives, re-
spectively, of Indiana and Ohio. Dr. Ferbrache is lib-
eral in politics and fraternally is affiliated with the
I. O. O. F.
THOMAS W. MILLS was born in Stratford, On-
tario, Canada, on November 15, 1862. being the son
of Robert and Mary (Armstrong) Mills, natives of
Canada. They came to the United States in 1864, lo-
cating in the vicinity of Detroit, Michigan, where they
remained on a farm until the time of their death.
The mother died in 1874 and the father in 1883. Our
subject received his education from the common
schools near Detroit and remained with his parents
untii he was twelve years old. Then he spent two
years in the blacksmith trade and later went to work
on a farm. He came west to Lesueur Centre, Minne-
sota, and there remained on a farm for six years. Then
he went to Canada and worked on the Canadian Pacific
lor two and one-half years, later returning to Bis-
marck, North Dakota. Three years were spent in the
employ of the government at Fort Lincoln, and in
1886 he came west to Washington. He worked for
Brickie for a couple of years in the lumber business,
and five years later, in 1892, he came to Bonners Fer-
tv. Later he went to the northwest territory and also
mined on the Saskatchewan river, where he did very
Avell. He returned to this section of the country and
took eighty acres as a homestead, one mile northwest
from Bonners Ferry, and bought as much more and
there he is dwelling today. He has a fine hay farm and
-also does considerable general farming, while he also
pays attention to raising stock.
In 1883 Mr. Mills married Miss Sarah, daughter
of Allen and Christie Bruce, natives of Canada. They
came to the United States and located in Minnesota,
but returned to Manitoba, where the father was
drowned in the Mud river. The mother is living in
Bonners Ferry. To Mr. and Mrs. Mills there have
been born seven children, named as follows : Nellie,
wife of Thomas Hooker, in this county ; Delia, Maude,
Robert, Lorney, Lillie, Vine. Mr. Mills is Republican
i'1- politics and is an active worker for the principles of
his party. He has been elected road supervisor a cau-
ple of terms and is serving with credit in that capacity
now. He is i member of the M. W. A. and of the
I. O. O. F., both in Bonners Ferry. He and his es-
timable wife are members of the Presbyterian church
and are valuable additions to the society and com-
munity. Mr. Mills has always preserved an untar-
1. idled reputation and has so conducted himself that he
receives the good will and esteem of his fellows for his
integrity, uprightness, morality and unswerving prin-
ciples of rectitude and soundness which characterize
him.
JAMES G. FERBRACHE. This young man is
one of the enterprising citizens of Kootenai county in
the vicinity of Bonners Ferry. He is an upright, capable
and thriving farmer whose property is located two
and one-half miles northwest from' Bonners Ferry,
and there he has bestowed his labors with a sagacity
and industry that have given him the meed of a fine
and productive property.
James G. was born in Elapso, Illinois, on Novem-
ber 17, 1872, being the son of Peter A. and Hannah
(Ray) Ferbrache, natives, respectively, of Ohio and
Indiana. They came to Illinois and remained there
for thirty-five years. They they came to Granite, Id-
aho, in 1887 and in 1897 came' to their present place
in this county. Our subject was well educated in his
native place, having the advantage of a high school
training. He remained with his parents until he was
twenty-one and then came to the west with them. He
took a contract of furnishing ten thousand ties to the
Northern Pacific and in 1893 he came to Bonners
Ferry and took his present place as a homestead. He
has improved it with good buildings, fences and so
forth, and annually puts up about eighty tons of hay
in addition to the other products of the field. Mr.
Ferbrache also owns some mining property in the vi-
cinity of Granite, known as the Galena mine. In polit-
ical matters he is allied with the Democrats and is
bright and active in local matters and in disseminat-
ing the principles he believes to be for the advantage
ot" all. .Mr. Ferbrache is a member of the M. W. A.,
North Star Lodge No. 6160, of Bonners Ferry, and has
been one of its officers since it started. Mr. Ferbrache
has brothers and sisters as follows: Lincoln R., in
in Proebstel, Washington ; Annie M., wife of John
Brooks, of Pullman, Washington: George W., in Ne-
braska ; Thomas J., in Pullman, Washington ; Henry
C. and William W., 111 Bonners Ferry.
LOUIS McLENNAN is a man of great experi-
ence in the ways of the different industries of the
world and this acquired skill and knowledge, together
with an active talent and an adaptability which en-
ables him to enter intelligently into any labor, have
given him great opportunities and fitted him to be-
come eminently successful in any line. He has, how-
852
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ever, chosen that of raising stock and farming, in
which he has gained a fitting prominence and has
placed him among the leading and prosperous men of
Kootenai county.
Louis McLennan was born in Cape Breton, on
November 20. 1844, being the #on of Miles and Mar-
garet (Urquhart) McLennan, natives of Scotland, but
immigrants to Cape Breton in 1842. The father died
in 1S71, but the mother is still living in Richmond
county. Cape Breton, aged ninety. Our subject re-
ceived a common school education and worked for his
parents until he was nineteen, when he came to the
United States and enlisted to fight the battles of free-
dom. He was in the Thirty-third Xew Jersey Infan-
try, Company E, under Captain George M. Harris.
They went to Chattanooga, being a little too late to
join Sherman on his march to the sea. His company
acted as guards that winter, then fought Hood and
later went to West Virginia and North Carolina, chas-
ing Johnson. Then came the surrender and they
marched to Washington, where he participated in the
grand review. Being honorably discharged his com-
pany went to Newark and disbanded. Then Mr. Mc-
Lennan went to sea and sailed all over the world, fin-
all v leaving the ship in Bombay, India. He also op-
erated as diver for bridge construction. Then he went
to Australia and sailed for six vears more. Later we
see him in Xew Zealand contracting in bridge and road
work. In 1888 he was in San Francisco and in 1891
came to Tacoma and the Sound country, doing work
in the coal mines. In 1892 he was in British Kootenai
country and in Idaho. It was in 1894 that he came to
his present location, four miles west from Bonners
Ferry. He came without money and now is one of the
well-to-do men of the valley, having as fine stock as is
to be found in the valley anywhere. He raises large
amounts of hay and handles stock.
Mr. McLennan is one of nine children, six of whom
are living: Philip, with our subject: Margaret, wid-
ow, living in Tacoma ; Alexander, in Middleriver, Cape
Breton ; Ellen, married to John McKenzie, living in
Nanaimo, British Columbia: Willina, wife of Dan
Mclntvre, in Richmond county, Cape Breton. Mr.
McLennan is a member of the G. A. R., Garfield Post,
San Francisco. California.
PAYTON W. OWEN. No more sturdy and wi >i -
thy pioneer is in the precincts of Kootenai county than
the subject of this article. He has labored in the de-
velopment of the country here for many years and is
now one of the substantial and prosperous men of the
county.
Payton W. Owen was born in Caldwell county,
Missouri, on June 1, 1850, being the son of Frederick
M. and Susannah ( Barron) Owen, natives of Indiana
and Tennessee, respectively. They came to Missouri
in 1842 and in 1882 to Clarkfork, where the father
died in 1898, aged eighty-four, but the mother still
iives there, aged seventy-five. Our subject was reared
in his native place and there educated in the com-
mon schools. At his majority he bought a farm and
settled to its culture for four years. Then he made a
move to Boise City, Idaho, and kept a toll road for
two years, after which he went to Texas and six
months later came back to Boise and -did gardening
work for four vears. His next move was to Ains-
worth. Washington, where he wrought in the car
shops one year and then came to Spokane, entering
the dairv business in 1881. Next he did labor along
the grades of the Northern Pacific, then settled on un-
surveyed land near Clarkfork. He sold his improve-
ments and came to his present location and settled on
unsurveyecl land. He found after the survey that he
was on railroad land and so bought the land and an-
other quarter. Later he homesteaded a quarter two
miles distant from this home place. The half section
first gained is a fine farm, nearly half being good hay
land. He has a fine orchard of eight hundred trees
and does a general farming business and raises stock.
His hay crop alone is over one hundred tons annually.
In 1871 Mr. Owen married Miss Isabella Hatfield,
a native of Iowa. She came west with her husband
and accompanied him in many of his travels. She was
the third white woman in the entire Kootenai valley.
Many were the hardships that were placed in the path
of this worthy pioneer couple and they have done in
a commendable manner in overcoming them. Two
children have been born to them : Elbert Wesley, who
enlisted in Company A. First Washington Volunteers,
to fight for the freedom of Cuba. Later he went to
Manila and served until his company was mustered
out. He then enlisted in the regular army, being com-
missioned sergeant. In 1809 he was taken sick and
discharged, as his health forbade further military serv-
ice. The second son is Ernest Walter, now aged twen-
tv-one and he is at home. Mr. Owen is a member of
the I. O. O. F. and the K. O. T. M., in Bonners Fer-
ry, while his wife is a member of the Rebekahs and
the L. ( ). T. M., of Bonners Ferry. They both are
members of the Methodist church.
HENRY TANK. The industrious farmer of
whom we now have the privilege to speak is one of
the men whose labors have assisted materially to bring
the wild of Kootenai count} to productive fields and he
has also made a name for himself among his fellows
that places him in their esteem and makes him the
recipient of their confidence.
Henry Tank was born in Mecklenburg, Germany,
"ii April 4, 1866, his parents being George and Caro-
line (Jacobs ) Tank, natives of the same country,
where also they died, having been farmers. Henry was
educated in the public schools, worked with his father
until nine and then went to work for neighbors herd-
ing stock. When fourteen he worked on a large sheep
ranch and finally, in 1885. he came thence to the Uni-
ted States. He worked six months in the vicinity of
Chicago and then came to Iowa and spent a like time
there on a ranch. When he had spent a like time in
die western part of the state he came thence to Ritz-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
853
ville, Washington. A short time after, he made his
way to Cocolalla, Idaho, and he contracted timbers
for the railroad for four years. He made a visit to
Bonners Ferry in 1890, returning again to Cocolalla
and in 1891 he determined to again visit the Bonners
Ferry country. He soon selected a quarter section,
which he purchased from an Indian for a rifle and
fifty rounds of ammunition. This land is four miles
east from Bonners Ferry and the industry and skill
of Mr. Tank have made it a fine farm. He has about
thirty acres under cultivation and they produce in
abundant measure of the fruits of the field. He does
a general farming business and handles considerable
garden stuff. Mr. Tank has bestowed much labor in
a wise manner and the result is a good return each
year in marketable stuff, which makes him a fine in-
come.
In 1896 Mr. Tank married Miss Minnie, daughter
of Fred and Mary (Dahnke) Jacobs, natives of Ger-
many. They came to America in 1882, locating in
Benton county. lowo. and later removing to Nebraska,
where the father died in 1898. The mother still lives
in Telden, Nebraska. To Air. and Mrs. Tank there
have been born -two children. Bertha and Emma. In
political matters Mr. Tank is allied with the Democrats
and he is active in putting forth the principles of his
party. He is a member of the K. of P., in Bonners
Ferry. The familv affiliate with the Lutheran church.
GABE H. HOOKER. Five miles east from Bon-
ners ferry is the home place of Mr. Hooker. It is an
estate of two hundred acres of good soil, which has
nearly one million feet of fine saw timber. From the
wilds of the rugged country Mr. Hooker selected his
homestead of one quarter section and later completed
the two hundred acres by purchase. He has given his
time to handling stock, clearing and improving his
place, doing a general farming business and is one of
the industrious, capable and thrifty men of the county.
Gabe H. Hooker was born in Patrick county, Vir-
ginia, on November 14, 1858, being the son of Samuel
and Lucinda (State) Hooker, natives of Virginia.
The family was one of four children. The father died
in 1900 and the mother is still living in the home
place. The father was a blacksmith and he wrought
at the forge until four or five years before his death.
Our subject was educated in the public schools of
bis native place, worked for his parents until he arrived
at the estate of a young man, then married and went
to farming. He continued steadily at this occupation
until T893. when he sold his stock and land and came
west to Klickitat county, Washington. Three years
were spent in that section and then he crossed the Co-
lumbia river into Oregon and engaged himself for
thirteen months with the sheepmen. The next move
was to Kootenai county and the homestead spoken of
above was selected and Air. Hooker settled down.
In 1875 Mr. Hooker married Miss Miccry Ander-
son, daughter of Dave Anderson, a native of North
Carolina, and to them have been born three children :
Thomas, married and living in Kootenai county ; Lue,
wife of Harry Corbett, in Klickitat county, Washing-
ton; Alary, wife of Jim Alorris. in this count)-. Mr.
Hooker is a firm Republican and labors actively in lo-
cal matters for the principles of his party.
JOHN McCUNE is one of the industrious and
substantial farmers and stockmen of the county of
Kootenai, living two miles east from Bonners Ferry,
where he has a fine farm of one hundred and sixty
acres, which is practically all under cultivation ami
produces abundant crops of hay and grain. He han-
dles considerable stock and is one of the leading
wealth producers of his section.
John AlcCune was born in ATonroe county, New
York, on Alarch 16, 1851, being the son of William
and Mary (Taylor) McCune, natives of New York.
The father farmed there until his death in 187S. The
mother removed to Ohio and there died in 1883, aged
sixty-eight. John was educated in his native county,
attending schools in the winter and working on the
farm in the summers until he was fourteen and then
he came west. He located in Alinnesota and drove
logs on the river for ten years and then he went to
Leadville. Colorado, in 1876, where he mined and
worked in the smelters for two years. In 1886 he
came west to Spokane, Washington. He at once took
a contract to make ties and for five years he wrought
at this industry. Tt was 1891 that he came to Koot-
enai county and he at once located his present land
as a homestead. His father's family consisted of four
children, as follows : James, married and living in
( )hio; Mary, wife of William Everett, in New York;
Sarah, wife of John Conklin. living in New York;
John, the subject of this article.
In political matters Air. AlcCune is allied with the
Republicans and is very active in the affairs of the
county and state. He is a member of the Alethodist
church. Air. AlcCune is a real pioneer of this section
and states that when he first came to this country that
it was verv wild, uninviting in many respects, but
through the labors of the husbandmen and the stock-
men, it has become to be a rich and attractive place.
It is of note that the father of our subject .enlisted
in the One Hundred and Fifty-second Ohio Infantry,
under Colonel Putnam and Captain Fuller. He was in
the battle of Lynchburg and was mustered out on
September 20. 1864.
JOHN H. DOBSON. No compilation that has
within its province to "rant representation to the
leading men of Kootenai count) would be complete
were there failure to accord special representation to
the esteemed gentleman and capable business man
whose name initiates this paragraph.
John H. Dobson was born on August 28. 1870, be-
in--" the son of William and Alary (Garry) Dobson,
natives, respectively, of New Jersey and New York.
854
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
They were married in i86g, Mrs. Dobson's parents be-
ing Richard and Mary (Odennelo) Garry, natives of
Ireland. In 1868 William Dobson came west to Col-
orado across the plains. He had served in the Civil
war as gunner on one of the men of war, participating
in the battle of Fort Fisher. In Colorado he worked
at his trade of carpentering in Denver, Central City
and other places. It was 1879 that he came to the
Coeur d'Alene country and with his partner, Tom
Erwin, discovered the first gold in that section. He
worked on and owned the Goldsmith, a property that
sold later for fifty thousand dollars. Then he went
to Anaconda, Montana, in 1884, remaining two years,
when he returned to the Coeur d'Alene country. In
1892 he purchased a man's right to an eighty of un-
surveyed land, which he improved in good shape and
in 1902 he sold it to the subject of this article. In ad-
dition to this piece John Dobson owns land to the
amount of two hundred and forty acres, which is one
of the finest farms in the entire county, being im-
proved in a very excellent manner and producing
many tons of hay and other fruits of the field. Mr.
Dobson has sixty head of cattle and he handles from
one to two hundred tons of hay annually.
Returning to the personal history of our subject,
we note that he was born in Central City, Colorado,
and that he received his first education in Plume, Col-
orado. Later he went to Janesville, Wisconsin, and
there was well educated. Returning to Colorado after
this time of educational training was consummated he
came with his parents to the west and three years
were spent in the study of dentistry, under Dr. H. P.
Wilcox, in Spokane. Then he came to Kootenai coun-
ty and located where he now lives. He is one of the
substantial and leading citizens of the county, being
possessed of real worthy qualities and he is a man of
influence and culture. He is a member of the Catholic
church. It is of note that William Dobson was the
first elected surveyor in Kootenai county, and instead
of availing himself of the emoluments of the office he
turned it to Judge Milder.
MRS. JAMES T. BALDWIN is one of the well
known and highly respected citizens of Sandpoint, be-
ing in charge of a stock raising and farming business.
Mrs. Baldwin is the daughter of Andrew and Mary
(Wilson) Lucas, natives of England. They came
when young to America, locating in Cincinnati, Ohio,
where the father conducted a wholesale leather store
until the time of his death in 1S72. The mother died
in 1895. Mrs. Baldwin was born in 1840, February
22, and in addition to a public school education, she
spent three years in a girls' seminary at Cincinnati.
In 1855 occurred her marriage with Davis Evans, a
horseman from Philadelphia. The next year they came
to California via Panama and spent two years in San
Francisco, then a move was made to Jacksonville, Ore-
gon. Here Mrs. Baldwin experienced the terrors of
the fierce Rogue river Indian war. With about thirty-
families she was cooped up in a fort for fear of the sav-
ages and the times were trying indeed. Many were
killed and in 1865 she returned tc San Francisco and
there remained until 1881. In i860 Mr. Evans was
killed by the Indians and in 1865, Mrs. Evans married
Mr. Baldwin. In 1881 they came to Sandpoint and
Mr. Baldwin operated a stage and express line until
1890. Then he took a homestead and in 1895 he was
called hence by death. Since that time, Mrs. Baldwin
has conducted the farm and business and is now liv-
ing in town. She owns the farm and about fifty head
of stock, besides other property. By her former hus-
band, Mrs. Baldwin has two children. Harry L., mar-
ried and living in Sandpoint ; Hattie M., deceased.
Mrs. Baldwin is a member of the Episcopalian church
and is a lady of excellent virtues and graces and is
esteemed by all who know her.
FRANK A. DAVIS. Few men display more ac-
tivity and stirring qualities than has the subject of
this sketch, as he has wrought in all the important
places of the west and has gained great experience in
traveling and meeting persons engaged in the various
industries in this western country and the middle
states.
Frank A. Davis was born in Byron, Illinois, on
February 6. 1866, being the son of J. C. and Julia
(Hall) Davis, natives, respectively, of England and
Canada. The father came to America when he was
ten and the mother to the LJnited States when she
was thirteen. They were the parents of six children ;
the mother died in 1896, but the father is still living
in Chicago, a retired farmer. Our subject received
his elementary education from the schools of his native
place and later completed his business training in a
commercial college in Rockford. Illinois. Then he
traveled to Minnesota and a short time later went to
Michigan and in two years was back to his home. In
1890 he went to Oregon, returning from this trip to
Illinois. Four months later he visited Oregon again,
locating in the mining district adjacent to Baker City
until the fall of 1891. Then six months were spent in
southern Oregon on the coast. A visit to Seattle was
made at this time and we next see Mr. Davis in east-
ern Oregon again, and then in Rathdrum. In the
spring of 1894 he went to British Columbia for one
summer and then returned to the mines of the Baker
City region. Next he visited in Portland, later was at
Sacramento, California, and in three months from
then was at Bisbee. Arizona. Three months there and
he was off for New Mexico; he then returned to Ari-
zona, visited New Mexico again and came thence to
Colorado. Four months after that he was in Salt
Lake City, Utah, whence he came to Pendleton and
from there to the Coeur d'Alene country. We next
see this industrious traveler in Anaconda, Montana,
at Butte, in the Elkhorn mountains, then in Helena
and finally he came back to the Coeur d'Alene mining
district. But his journeys were not ended yet and he
repaired to Pendleton, returning to Coeur d'Alene,
whence he went to Sandon, British Columbia. After
fir
N
MRS. JAMES T. BALDWIN.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
355
a year's sojourn there we find him in the Sound coun-
try and later at Walla Walla. Portland was
visited again and Baker City was then able to keep
him one and one-half years. He gravitated to Spo-
kane and in 1901 the fertile region three and one-half
miles east from Bonners Ferry was able to capture this
elusive explorer for a permanent citizen. He bought
land and is dwelling in prosperity there now.
In 1899 Mr. Davis married Miss Lizzie, daughter
of Thomas and Emma Huntington, both natives of
England. No doubt this happy alliance led Mr. Davis
to select his home place and settle down, and Koo-
tenai county is to be congratulated in securing a good
citizen and capable man.
WILLIAM H. BROWN. Among the sturdy men
whose labors have opened up the rich sections of the
west and especially portions of Kootenai county, the
subject of this article is to be granted specific mention
in the history of this county, and surely he is to be ac-
credited with much worthy achievement. At the pres-
ent time Mr. Brown is living on his farm, one mile
west from Copejand, which is utilized as a hay ranch
and also in addition to this he is giving attention to
mining, having three claims that are considered good.
William H. Brown was born in Rochester, New
York, on April 8, 1858, being the son of Edward and
Sarah Brown. His mother died when he was born and
he was raised by his grandmother. His father was a
native of England and his mother of New York. Her
grandfather Green was a captain in the Revolution,
under General Stark, and one time, finding his barn
filled with red coats, he fired it, being determined to
fight for country rather than preserve private property.
The grandfather Murdock of our subject was a soldier
in the war of 1812 and lost one limb in the struggle.
William H. was schooled at the Orphans' Home in
Canandagua. New York, and when he became twelve
years of age he preferred the freedom of the world to
his grandmother's tuition and therefore started out
alone. He drove on the Erie canal, worked on the
adjacent farms and in this vigorous way spent the
years until young manhood. In 1874 he went to
Michigan and three years later went to Iowa. He
mined in the Black Hills, Dakota, worked in the woods
in Minnesota and in 1886 came to Spokane. He rail-
roaded for McCoy as foreman, having previously
worked for Signer, handling five yoke of oxen. He
went to California for one year, then returned to Spo-
kane and during the chloride excitement on Lake Pend
Oreille he gave his attention to prospecting. Then
he steamboated on the lake and in 1891 operated a
boat for the Great Northern on the Kootenai. The
next move was to the Cascades and later he was again
in California, where he worked for the Arrow Lake
Company and also operated at Prescott, Arizona. In
J893 he was at the World's Fair in Chicago and thence
came to Bonners Ferry. He then settled on his home-
stead and to the improvement of that and to mining
he has devoted his energies ever since.
Thus it will be seen that Mr. Brown has done a
lion's share in the good work of developing this west-
ern country and is a man of courage, ability and has
the true qualities of the pioneer, and in the life of the
frontiersman he finds the sweet charm that always
lures him to its enjoyment.
LOUIS AMERMAN. At the present time this
gentleman is operating a dairy and doing general farm-
ing, being one of the substantial men of the county
and a patriotic and good citizen. He was born in Bay
City, Michigan, on July 8, 1868, being the son of
Thomas and Rosetta (Janes) Amerman, natives of
Canada. They came to this country in i860, locating
in Michigan. The father was a mill man. The mother
died in New York in 1872 and the father came to
Canada, west, in 1870, locating in Moosomin. In
1890 he came to Bonners Ferry, where he died in
1900. Louis received a common school education and
at the age of seventeen stepped forth for himself in the
realities of life. He worked on a farm for wag - Eor
two years in Canada and then rode the range for two
years. He then returned to Canada and remained
there for two years and in 1890 he came to Bonners
Ferry. He was in the employ of his brother-in-law
for one year here, in a butcher shop. Then he went
to Manitoba and in 1891 he came again to Bonners
Ferry. He took a homestead and went to logging.
In 1902 he purchased eight cows and started a dairy.
He is doing well in this last venture and is improving
his place.
In 1893 Mr. Amerman married Miss Elizabeth,
daughter of Isaiah and Elizabeth (Brentnall) Causton,
natives of England, mention of whom is made in an-
other portion of this work. To Mr. and Mrs. Amer-
man there have been born four children, named as
follows : Everilda, deceased, Violet J., Thomas G.
and Frederick, all natives of the United States. In
political matters Mr. Amerman is allied with the Re-
publican party and he always evinces a marked inter-
est in the affairs of local moment. He is a member of
the I. O. O. F., Utopia Lodge, No. 36, and also of the
M. W. A., North Star Lodge, No. 6. Mrs. Amerman
is a member of the Rebekahs, Loyal Lodge, No. 43.
GEORGE FRY. If the accounts of the life of
Daniel Boone were interesting to the people of this
country, surely an epitome of the subject of this arti-
cle in his pioneer life as also the labors and adven-
tures of his father would be intensely interesting, and
it is with regret that we are not favored more with
the details of his career, that we might embody the
same in the history of the county.
George Fry was born on March 2. 1862. in Marcus,
Washington, being the son of Richard and Justina
(Hang) Fry. There were twelve children in the fam-
ily and eight of them are still living. The father was
one of the most intrepid and sturdy pioneers and In-
856
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
dian traders that ever set foot in this western country.
He wrought and traded and traveled all over the north-
west of this country and he has done much for the
cause of civilization in opening the way for others to
follow. It was in 1876 that he came to the Kootenai
valley and there traded with the Indians, buying furs
and handling a pack train. He operated a pack train
from Pend Oreille lake to Fort Steele from 1870 to
1880. He bought the ferry across the Kootenai when
lie first came to the country and operated it for six-
teen years. He freighted from Pend Oreille to Bon-
r.ers Ferry also, and handled furs out and brought
supplies back, taking as high as five and six thou-
sand pelts out at one time. Richard Fry married in
1858 and in 1888 he bought a quarter section, where
the family now live, two miles west from Bonners
Ferry. He died in 1897, full of days and having
made a worthy record in pioneer achievements. The
widow still lives on the home place with three of her
children-.
Reverting to the personal history of the immediate
subject of this article, we note that he was brought up
in Marcus and other frontier places and so was but
little favored with opportunity to gain an education.
He always accompanied his father on his long and
arduous trips when he became old enough. He could
tell of many thrilling escapes from wild animals, hav-
ing been penned in trees and so forth by them. He
has suffered the trying ordeals of many trips over the
mountains in the dead of winter, often sleeping on the
snow, which was thirty feet deep. All the hardships
known to the pioneer and frontiersman have been ex-
perienced by our subject and now he is one of the
capable, industrious and thrifty farmers of Kootenai
county.
He was married in 1880 to Kate Burloin Dang,
and one child. Robert, has been born to them.
DAVID K. SMITH. This gentleman is one of the
early pioneers in Harrison and he has been a constant
resident of the town since the date of his arrival, being
now one of the respected and well known business men
of the town. He was born in Fountain county, Indiana,
on August 18. 1845. The father died when he was
very young and the mother when he was fourteen
years old. He gained his education by attending the
common schools and working for his board, receiving-
three months schooling each year. He labored on the
farms adjacent to his native place and in February,
1865, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Fiftieth In-
diana, Company I. He was in the Shenandoah valley
and served until the close of the war, being honorably
discharged on August 17, 1865. He returned to his
old home in Indiana and in the fall of 1866, he went
to Fort Scott. Kansas and there followed various call-
ings until the spring of 1874, when he went to Denver,
Colorado, and there lived until 1888. Then he came to
Latah, in Washington, purchased railroad land and
gave his attention to its improvement until the spring
of 1802, when he sold it and came to Harrison. He
immediately took up draying. being the first one to do
any dray work in the town and for four years he was
without opposition. Air. Smith has done a good busi-
ness and has some fine business property that is a good
dividend producer. Mr. Smith is still operating a good
dray line and does a thriving business. He is one of
the substantial men of the town, a good citizen and re-
spected by all. Mr. Smith belongs to the Redmen and
to the Union and is a charter member of the Macca-
bees. Harrison Tent No. 5, which is the banner tent of
the state.
EDWIN DOUST is well known, highly respected
ami recognized as one of the capable business men and
substantial agriculturists of Kootenai county, where
he has wrought as a millwright and contractor in addi-
tion to his labors on his fine farm.
Edwin Doust was born in ( hiondaga county, New
York, on January 12, 1850, being the son of Una and
Elizabeth (Heath) Doust, natives of England. They
came to this country in 1845, farmed eight years in
Xew York, where our subject was born, then returned
to England to look after an estate and there died in
1873. Edwin was educated in this country and in
England and at the age of thirteen he" shipped on the
Paraguay as ship carpenter and did faithful duty for
six years. On April 26, 1869, he landed in New York
and went thence to Syracuse to visit a brother. Two
years were spent there and he married during this time.
In 1872 he went to St. Louis and for five years labored
at his trade there. In 1877 he went to Leadville, Col-
orado, and mined and built mills until 1883. Then he
came to the Coeur dAlene country and soon returned
to Leadville, whence he traveled in Mexico and in
1887 came to Washington. A year later he returned
to Colorado and in the fall of 1889 he came to Idaho
and since that time he has remained here.
Mr. Doust is a Republican and was appointed dep-
uty sheriff of Kootenai county in 1891, under W. J.
McClure. Democrat, and two years later he was reap-
pointed by John J. Costelo, Democrat, serving two
vears each time. At the end of this service he was
appointed by W. Ryan, Republican, and served two
years. He then bought his present place, a farm of one
hundred and sixty acres. This was raw land when he
took it and he has built a fine house and other buildings
and improved it so it is one of the handsomest places
in this section. In 1900 Mr. Doust was nominated for
sheriff of the county against Charles Dyer, Democrat
and Fusionists, and he was defeated, and since that
time he has given strict attention to his business. In
September, 1901, he went to Oregon and built a twen-
ty-five stamp mill, returning in February, 1902.
In 1871 Mr. Doust married Mrs. 'Martha Oger,
widow of James Oger and daughter of Hezekiah and
Mary McDonnell, natives of Ireland. Mrs. Doust had
two children bv her former husband, James D. and
D. W.
Mr. Doust had the distinction of boarding the
Kearsarge three days before she sunk the Alabama.
He was shipwrecked in 1868 in the German ocean and
DAVID K. SMITH.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
the same year he assisted to save the crew of a German
ship which had foundered at sea and for this brave
act he carries a silver medal presented by the German
government.
R \SMOS CHRISTENSEN. Among the pro-
gressive and industrious agriculturists of Kootenai
count}- is to be mentioned the gentleman whose name
appears above and who has wrought for a number of
years in this good calling with a gratifying success.
His estate of one quarter section lies four miles west
from Bonners Ferry.
Rasmos was born in Denmark, on .March u, [845,
being the son of Christ Hansen and Sophia Rasmossen,
natives of Denmark, where they remained until the
time of their death. Our subject received a common
school education and at the age of fourteen went to
work for himself. He wrought on the farm for wages
until he was twenty-six and then came to America in
1871. He located in Moline, Illinois, for one year and
then went thence to Wisconsin, where he worked in the
woods and at sawmilling for two and one-half years.
He was in Minnesota a short time after this and then
went to Nebraska, where he remained three years. In
1879 we see him in Salt Lake City, where he wrought
in the smelter for five years. Another move was made,
this time to San Francisco, where he remained one
year and then came to Seattle. For five years he was
occupied in the woods and sawmills adjacent to that
place and then he went to Helena and Butte, where he
labored in the mines for five years or so. It was in
1892 that he came to his present place, taking his land
as a homestead. Mr. Christensen has remained here
since that time and has devoted his efforts to improv-
ing his place and raising stock. He has gained a good
success and has well earned the competence that he
enjoys. In 1892 he had the distinction of riding on the
first train from Bonners Ferry to Sandpoint, taking
seven hours to make the trip. Mr. Christensen is act-
ive in political matters and especially so in the local
affairs, being a Republican. He has six brothers and
four sisters. He is a member of the Danish Lutheran
church and is highly respected by all, being upright
and possessed of integrity and sound principles.
THOMAS J. JONES. A representative business
man of Bonners Ferry, a good and respected citizen,
patriotic and public minded, a pioneer of this portion
of Kootenai county, the subject of this article is em-
inently deserving of a representation in this volume,
both because of the points mentioned and also because
of his own intrinsic worth as a man. He is in charge
of a good drug business, which he owns and wherein
he has achieved a good success.
Thomas J, Jones was born in Marion county, Iowa,
on November 22. 1864. being the son of A. J. ami
Mary E. (Starbuck) Jones, natives of Indiana, and
who are mentioned elsewhere in this volume. Thomas
J. was educated in the high school at Riverton, Fre-
mont county. Iowa, and he remained with his father
until eighteen years of age. Then he started the bat-
tle of life for himself and taught school for two years
in the country and then one year in the graded -■ 1 1
at Riverton. Then he went to Kansas, acted as sales-
Man am! taught school and was bookkeeper in a lumber
office. Later he was bookkeeper in the Alton City
Hank and in 1880 he came with his people to Kootenai
county. He was bookkeeper and manager for William
Eaton for five years and then entered the employ of
the Bonners Ferry Mercantile Company, where he did
excellent service for six years. It was in 1899 that
Mr. Jones opened a drug store in Bonners Ferry and
since that time he steadily prosecuted this business
with a gratifying success. He has, by his geniality,
uniform treatment of customers and skill in his busi-
ness gained a lucrative trade and he is one of the sub-
stantial business men of the town today. Mr. Jones
also has eighty acres adjoining town, which is planted
to different varieties of fruit and also he owns consid-
erable town propertv.
In October. [896, Mr. Jones married Miss Am-
brosia, daughter of William and Amelia (Cox) Eaton,
an account of whose lives appears elsewhere in this
volume. To this happy marriage there have been born
two children, Vera and Hazel. In political affairs Mr.
Jones is a stanch Republican and is always active in
local matters, as well as in state and national politics.
He was elected clerk of the town board in 1892 and
served until 1895, an'l again in 1896 he was chosen to
the same position and served until 1898.
ANDREW J. JONES. This gentleman is one of
the pioneers of the fertile region adjacent to Bonners
Ferry; in 1889 he had a hotel there, which was built
of logs and was about the first in that section. He has
been identified with the progression and advancement
of the county since his advent and is a highly respected
citizen who has gained a becoming success in his la-
bors.
Andrew J. Jones was born in Vigo county, Indi-
ana, on October 27, 1830, being the son of Horatia and
Rachel (Rust) Jones, natives of Indiana and Pennsyl-
vania, respectively. The father died in Indiana in
1830. The mother died in Iowa. Our subject's pa-
ternal grandfather was employed in the Revolutionary
service as a gunsmith. Andrew J. received the educa-
tion to be had from the training given in the primitive
school of his time and gave himself to assist his
mother in the support of the family. They had re-
moved to Fountain county, Indiana, and there he re-
mained until twenty-four. Then he bought one hun-
dred and forty acres of land, which he brought to a
good state of cultivation and then sold. He purchased
another piece in the same county and sold it in 1865.
Then he' came to Missouri and three years later went
thence to Fremont county. Iowa. He freighted for
two years, worked a farm one year and then went to
Riverton and worked in a lumber yard for six years.
858
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Next we see him in Kansas and for two and one-half
years he worked for one man there in a lumber yard.
It was thence that he came to Kootenai county and
erected the hotel that we have mentioned above. He
operated it for two and one-half years and then moved
one-half mile out and took a homestead of forty-nine
acres, which he has planted to fruit and vegetables.
In 1852 Mr. Jones married Miss Maryetta, daugh-
ter of Shubel and Mary (Yates) Starbuck, natives of
Indiana. The mother died when Mrs. Jones was young
and the father some time later. To our worthy sub-
ject and his estimable wife there have been born four
children : Constante. married and living in Fremont
county, Iowa ; Volentis, married and living in Ne-
braska ; Thomas, married to Ambrosia Eaton, living
in Bonners Ferry ; Annabel!, wife of Dr. T. A. Bish-
op. Mr. Jones is a member of the A. F. & A. M.
ISAIAH CAUSTON. This respected citizen and
well-to-do agriculturist of the vicinity of Bonners Fer-
ry has had an interesting career and as he is one of the
substantial and capable men of this section he is en-
titled to representation in his county history, inasmuch
also as he has done much toward the development of
the resources of the county and its material progress.
Isaiah Causton was born in England, at Fobham,
near the Thames, on May 8, 1851, being the son of
Isaiah and Louisa (Moore) Causton, natives also of
that land. The father was a sworn officer in a large
corporation, whose duties were to see that both the
public and the corporation were properly dealt with.
He died in 1892. The mother came to America in the
following year, locating at Philadelphia, where she
died in 1902. Our subject was educated in the com-
mon schools at his native place and at the early age
of seven, he being the oldest of thirteen children, he
went to peddling herrings to the soldiers in the bar-
racks. He bought ten pence's worth of herrings and
sold them so as to realize seven pence profit. This
much he gained each day. This work continued unin-
terruptedly for five years and he had saved a goodly
amount and he enlarged his business and the last year
he did business there he cleared one thousand dollars.
In 1890 he came to Canada, rented a farm and also
did stone mason work. It was in 1894 that he came to
Bonners Ferry and took a homestead, four miles out.
He has done well in his labors and in 1901 he com-
menced the dairy business, in which he has also had a
good success, owing to his care and skill in the prose-
cution of the business. In addition to his farm, his
dairy and other property he has eighteen town lots.
September I. 1873, Mr. Causton married Miss
Elizabeth Brentnall. whose parents were natives of
London, England. To this happy marriage there have
been born ten children, seven of whom are living and
named as follows : Elizabeth, wife of Louis Amerman,
living in Bonners Ferry: Ada, wife of Louis Johnson,
living at Bothwell, near Seattle : Mr. Johnson had the
distinction of driving the outlaw. Harry Tracer, to
the house of Mrs. Van Home, in Woodland park;
George, single, and a member of the K. O. T. M. ;
Harriet!. Emma, Albert and Fred. Mr. Causton takes
an active part in political matters and manifests intelli-
gence and zeal in support of the government. He is a
member of the K. 0. T. M.. in Bonners Ferry, and
his wife is affiliated with the L. O. T. M. of the same
place.
JOHN OHOGGE is one of the vigorous and stir-
ring business men of Bonners Ferry who has made a
brilliant success in his endeavors. He is proprietor of
a first-class butcher shop in Bonners Ferry and one in
Sandpoint. He also has a fine farm of about two hun-
dred acres near Bonners Ferry, one hundred and sixty
acres of which are producing hay. It is one of the
best farms in the valley. Mr. Ohogge has also a cou-
ple of business buildings in Bonners Ferry, two stories
high, besides his shop, residence and a dozen good
lots. Mr. Ohogge is also the possessor of some fine
mines, among which may be mentioned four claims on
Round prairie. These have a ledge seventy-five feet
wide and assays show gold to the value of over nine
dollars per ton. He also has two claims in the Buck-
horn district which show a valuation of thirty-eight
dollars in gold.
Reverting to the initial history of our subject, we
note that he was born in Scotland, on June 11, 1S54,
being the son of W. W. and Anna (Patterson)
Ohogge, also natives of Scotland. They removed to
Canada and in 1868 came to the United States, locat-
:ng in Buffalo, New York. The father was one of the
largest contractors of his time and among the many
excellent works that he executed we note the follow-
ing: He built the fortifications for the Canadian gov-
ernment at Point Libbie, and the Grand Trunk bridge
across the Thames, Canada ; then he built mason work
lor nine miles on the Intercolonial Railroad ; the next
was a large stone church in Guelph, Ontario;
then he built the foundation for the Clark hotel in
Chicago; and at Paisley, Ontario; he erected severaL
large buildings, and in 1898 he died. John was edu-
cated in Scotland, but had very meagre opportunity
for educational training, being obliged to gain most
that he acquired by careful personal research. At the
tender age of seven he went to sea with his brother
and sailed with him for five years. Then he shipped
on another vessel until he was twenty. He had been
quartermaster for five years and for three years he
was mate. At the time of his leaving the sea at twenty,
he had first-class mate's papers. In 1875 he went to
Manitoba and shipped cattle and horses to that coun-
try from Montana and spent fourteen years in this
business. Then he came to Spokane and at Crossport
furnished the Great Northern with meat for the period
of their construction. It was in 1891 that he estab-
lished a butcher shop in Bonners Ferry and since that
elate he has steadily devoted himself to this business,
with the other interests mentioned above, -and he is one
of the respected and successful business men of the
town. He has eighty head of cattle and a good many
horses in addition to the other property mentioned.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
859
In 1886 Mr. Ohogge married Miss Eva, daughter
of Thomas and Rosetta (Janes) Ammermon, natives,
respectively, of England and Canada. They came to
the United States when young, locating in Bay City,
Michigan, where the mother died and the father came
west m 1891. Politically Mr. Ohogge is always act-
ive and is allied with the Democrats. He is a member
of the K. of P. at Bonners Ferry and of the B. P. O.
E. in Spokane. His wife is a member of the Presby-
terian church.
JANET R. SINCLAIR. This well known and
estimable lady lives three and one-half miles west
from Bonners" Ferry, where she has a fine stock farm
and also handles a general farming business. She is
a native of Nova Scotia and came to Washington in
1880, with her husband, Daniel G. Sinclair. They
located in North Yakima and in 1888 came to their
present location in Kootenai county. In 1893 Mr.
Sinclair died and left the wife and three sons. Mrs.
Sinclair has done nobly in managing affairs, and is
very successful in her labors. When they first came
thev bought a quarter section, well improved, and
to this she has added at different times until she now
has six hundred and eighty acres of land. She has
about fifty head of cattle and six horses. In 1901 she
took a homestead adjoining her home place. Con-
siderable of her land is good for hay and she has
abundant crops of this. In the panic of 1893-4 she
lost heavily, having on hand considerable land which
she was purchasing from the railroad. After those
grievous years, which cast a gloom over the entire
land, our subject has done better. She is well re-
spected in the community and beloved, while her prem-
ises manifest thrift and industry.
JAMES E. DOLAN is at the present time in-
spector of customs at Bonners Ferry, and is one of
the substantial and leading citizens of Kootenai coun-
ty, having been influential and prominent in all the
years in which he has been in the county. He was a
delegate to the first county convention that nominated
a straight Republican ticket and he assisted in organiz-
ing the Republican party in the county. He has al-
ways taken a prominent place in active work in poli-
tics until of late : and now the duties of his office
being quite absorbing, he has given himself to them.
James E. Dolan was born in Brooklyn, New York,
on August 1, i860, being the son of James and Bedelia
1 Clancy) Dolan, natives of Ireland. They came to
America in 1855 and ten years later removed from
New York, via Panama, to Oregon City, where they
remained the balance of their lives. The father died
in 1889 and ten years later the mother passed the
dark river, They were the parents of eight children.
Our subject was educated in Oregon City, Portland,
and completed this important branch of his life's prep-
aration in taking a college course at Vancouver. In
1881 he read law one year with E. L. Esthan, in Ore-
gon City, and then entered commercial life for Jacob
Brothers, owners of the Oregon woolen mills in Port-
land. Five years he remained there and then came to
Idaho in the employ of the Kootenai Mining and
Smelting Company, of New Haven, Connecticut, with
whom he remained for five years. In 1890 he was
appointed special inspector of customs for the United
States for one year. In 1892 he was ordered to Bon-
ners Ferry as deputy United States collector of cus-
toms, being the first custom official in Idaho. In
1893 he resigned this position and the following year
he was appointed to his present position.
In 1891 Mr. Dolan married Miss Mary, daughter of
Henry and Augusta Schirmir, natives of Germany.
The father was a sea captain from Hamburg to Liver-
pool, and died in Hamburg in 1879, and the mother is
still living in America. To Mr. and Mrs. Dolan
the following children have been born : Harrison
James, Ella Rose, Willis, deceased, Fred T. Debois.
Mr. Dolan is a member of the I. O. O. F., Utopia
Lodge No. 36, of Bonners Ferry ; of the K. of P.,
Acme Lodge No. 15; of the M.'W. A., both of the
last also in Bonners Ferry. He and his wife are
also members of the Rebekahs. They are highly re-
spected people and are esteemed by all, being valued
members of society.
LOUIS E. BOYKER. This gentleman is a typi-
cal frontiersman and has been a pioneer in various
sections all of his life. At the present time he is
handling a nursery, three miles west from Bonners
Ferry, where he has a choice stock of all varieties of
fruit trees, ornamental trees, shrubs and plants for sale.
He is a thorough nurseryman and already is doing a
good business, having been engaged in this place but
a short time.
Louis E. Boyker was born in Maine on June 3,
1849, being the son of William R. and Elizabeth
(Anderson) Boyker, natives of England and Scot-
land, respectively. They came to this country when
young, locating in Maine, where the mother died. The
"father died in Kent, Washington, May 26, 1903, aged
eighty-four. Our subject was educated in the com-
mon schools in Maine, and started for himself when
fifteen years of age. He went to Council Bluffs,
Iowa, and labored in a tin shop until 1869, then went
to where Denver now stands. He mined on the Platte
river in Colorado for one vear and then went to the
Black Hills, South Dakota, in 1875. He located
claims that made good mines, and in 1878 came to
Montana and mined in that state for ten years. It
was 1892 that he came to Bonners Ferry, where he
has followed mining mostly since. In 1902 he pur-
chased the nursery mentioned above, and where he
now lives. 1
In 1900 Mr. Bovker married Miss Julia E.. daugh-
ter of Richard and' Jestina Fry. In political matters
Mr. Boyker is always active, both in the local affairs
and in state politics' as well. In 189S he was elected
constable for two years, and was also marshal of Bon-
86o
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ners Ferry for two years. He has always given sat-
isfaction in his public services, being faithful and
efficient. Mr. Boyker is a member of the K. of P.,
Acme Lodge. No. 15. of Bonners Ferry.
RICHARD A. FRY, deceased. No compilation
that has to do with the history of Kootenai county
would be complete without an account of the worthy
gentleman and renowned pioneer whose name is at the
head of this memoir. No man was better known in all
this northwest country than Richard A. Fry. He was a
pioneer and frontiersman in the true sense of the word
and was a fearless champion of the cause of right and
an untiring friend to those in distress. We therefore
append a brief recital of the salient points in his
career.
Richard A. Fry was born in Knox county, Illinois,
in March, 1838, and in 1849 he came with his par-
ents to Linn county, Oregon, they having made the trip
across the plains with wagons. He participated in the
Cayuse Indian war of 1855-6 and assisted to capture
the old Indian warrior, Pu-pu-mox-mox. He was in
Company H, Oregon Volunteers, then, and the young-
est member of the company. After the war spoken of
he returned to his home in Oregon and soon left for
the Colville country where he engaged in trapping and
mining. With his brother, he engaged in the merchan-
dising business at the mouth of the Pend Oreille river
and in his absence the Indians killed his brother and
ransacked the store, taking what they pleased. The
British gave him a commission, aided by George Mont-
eur, to order the Indians to desist. He and his'compan-
lon were captured and while the savages quarreled as
to their execution, they escaped and returned to Col-
ville.
Mr. Fry was familiar with every camp from Vic-
toria to the Kootenai region and had prospected on
nearly every tributary of the Columbia.
He came to Bonners Ferry in 1876, settled down
and established a post for trading. He bought the
ferry from Mr. Bonner and operated it for "sixteen
years. He conducted a stage line and pack train from
Walla Walla to Wild Horse, a mining camp in British
Columbia, and was one of the most prominent men in
opening up the country. He was ever on the side of
right and the Indians had implicit faith in him and in
many cases his kindly assistance secured them right
from persecutors.
In 1892 he retired to his ranch below Bonners
Ferry and his extensive lands, all well handled, pro-
claimed his skill, thrift and industry.
On December 14. 1898. while attending court busi-
ness in Rathdrum, the summons came suddenly and
Mr. Fry passed away. His funeral, held in Bonners
Ferry, was one of the greatest concourses of people
■ever assembled there on a like occasion. The Indians
deeply mourned when he passed away. The old pio-
neers, every acquaintance, and all who knew of him
joined in sincere expression of sorrow, for all knew
that a good man had gone to his rest and we would see
his familiar form dispensing charitable deeds on every
hand no more. He was generous to a fault and no man
can say that he ever left the door of Richard Fry with-
out food and the comforts of life.
Mr. Fry left a widow and eight children. George,
Clarence. Frank, Mrs. Arthur E. Bunting, Mrs. I. f.
Brant, Mrs. Charles Ewing, Mrs. George T. Kane, and
little Annie, the youngest.
The country is indebted to Mr. Fry for the intre-
pidity and courage he manifested in his career in
opening the way for others to follow in the develop-
ment of this country, in the worthy labors that he did
for the welfare of all who lived here and in paving the
May for a greater civilization.
JUDGE HENRY MELDER. This gentleman
holds the position of deputy collector of customs at
Bonners Ferry and is well known as a capable, thor-
ough, upright business man and an honorable gentle-
man. Henry Melder was born in Calmar, Sweden,
on January 10. 1830. He came to America when a
child, and received a high school education. At thir-
teen he took a position as cabin boy on a vessel bound
for a three years' cruise around the world. He spent
two years in Peru and Chile and returned to New York
in 1847. He next went to Vera Cruz and thence
to Hamburg, Germany, taking there the examination
in navigation which gave him first mate's papers. Re-
turning to New Orleans, he made the leading ports of
the world and later coasted out of New York. In
1850 he started, via Panama, to California, arriving
in San Francisco in April. 1850. He sailed on the
bay for a year, then bought a small schooner and
operated it until 1854. Then, on account of sickness,
he sold his property and went to Iowa. In the winter
of 1854 he bought a hotel in Calmar, enlarged it,
started a town site and did a big business until 1857.
Then we see him in Freeborn county, Minnesota,
where he bought a farm and was elected justice of the
peace and tax collector. He had the first white child
born in his family that was born in that county. In
1 861 he was forced from that place by the Indians,
and he went to Chicago and sailed on the lakes for
three years. He enlisted in a company for the war,
but was rejected on account of poor eyesight. In
1867 he went to Minnesota, sold his farm and the next
year went to California. He was attorney and deputy
county surveyor of Sonoma county for eight years,
and in 1879 ne came to Spokane. He practiced law
there for a time, and in 1881 he came to Rathdrum
and opened a law office. He practiced there with
good success until 1898, when he received his present
position and came to Bonners Ferry. He was the
first probate judge of Kootenai county, was a member
of the constitutional convention in 1889 and in 1892 he
was nominated by his party, the Republican, for pro-
bate judge, but at that time the party was defeated.
Judge Melder has the distinction of casting his first
vote for Fremont and has staid with his party since
that time.
RICHARD A. FRY
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
861
In 1856 Mr. Melder married Miss Sarah J., daugh-
ter of Harris and Ledia (Lunt) Bloggett, natives, re-
spectively, of Vermont and Maine. To this happy
union there have been born the following children:
Oscar F., married and living in this county; Henry
L., single and living in Rathdrum ; Fredrick E., mar-
ried and living in Spirit valley ; Gustave E., single,
living on 1'riest river; Minnie A., wife of Ed Rose,
in Spokane : Clara H., wife of Robert Bragaw, at
Priest river: Mary E., wife of A. J. Young, at Twin
lake.
Judge Melder is a member of the Masons, Coeur
d'Alene Lodge, No. 34; of the I. O. O. F., No. 36,
and (if the Rebekahs, No. 43, both at Bonners Ferry;
of the A. O. U. W., Spokane Lodge, No. 16, of Spo-
kane, being the organizer of this lodge in 1881 ; of
the Rathbone Sisters. Mrs. Melder is a member of
the Rathbone Sisters, at Rathdrum, Idaho, and of the
Rebekahs, No. 43. in Bonners Perry. She is also a
member of the Presbyterian church.
WILLIAM R. ELSASSER. One mile north
from Sandpoint is the farm of our subject. He pays
especial attention to fruit raising and mining, and has
done commendable labor in the upbuilding and sub-
stantial development of this portion of the county,
being a man of deep resources and an adaptability that
enables him to take advantage of the opportunities of
the day.
William R. Elsasser was born in Chicago on March
11, 1864, being the son of Jacob and Catherine
(Trimpy) Elsasser, natives, respectively, of Germany
and Switzerland. They came to this country when
young and located in Chicago, operating there a cigar
factory and general store. In 1884 they removed to
Sanger, Texas, where they live now, retired. They
were the parents of five children, — Kate, with par-
ents ; Anna, wife of James Perry, at Valley View,
Texas: J. Fred, married and living in Sanger, Texas;
John T., married and living in Sandpoint; William
R., the subject of this review. William R. was edu-
cated at Three Oaks and in 1884 went with his par-
ents to Texas. At eight o'clock, P. M., on August
8, 1888, Mr. Elsasser and his brother, John, started
for northern Idaho for the purpose of trapping and
hunting. They were led to make the trip on account
of poor health. Upon landing here they found that
more money was to be made in timber work and con-
tracting, and therefoce went at it. They made from
five to eighteen dollars apiece, each day all season,
and the next year they did better. They contracted
telephone and telegraph poles for the Rock Mountain
Bell Telephone Company. In 1890 they made a trip
to British Columbia, prospecting, and were among the
very first to penetrate the Kootenai lake district. In
1 89 1 they returned to Texas and purchased four hun-
dred acres of land, expecting to farm it, but on ac-
count of poor health they were again forced to leave
that country, and so came to the vicinity of Sandpoint.
Our subject took his homestead, and to the improve-
ment of it and in general timber work and mining he
has been engaged since. He has thirteen and onedialf
acres of orchard, it being exceptionally fine. He has
fine buildings, having built three houses, — the first in
1889, the next in 1893 and his present tasty residence
in 1897. Mr. Elsasser is a man of enterprise and
ability and has accomplished much in the development
of the country, while his geniality and warmhearted-
ness have won him hosts of friends.
JONAS P. PEARSON is one of the substantial
and industrious men who has wrought in Kootenai
county for its- material progress and development and
is entitled to a place in its annals as one of the real
builders of the county. He is a man of integrity
and good principles, stands well among his fellows and
manifests integrity and reliability in his walks.
Jonas P. Pearson was born in Bracke, Sweden, on
May 28, 1862, being the son of Per and Christine Mat-
son, also natives of Sweden. They were thrifty farm-
ers of their section, and the mother died in 1889, but
the father is still living, aged eighty-four, and is hale
and hearty. They were the parents of six children,
five of whom are living, as follows : M. J., living in
Australia ; Ole, Leander, Stena B. and Jonas P., the
immediate subject of this sketch. Jonas studied in
the common schools until seventeen years and then
went to work for himself. He worked for a farmer
for one year and then rented his father's farm for
three years, after which he went to work in a store.
Three years were occupied in that employment and three
more in a paper mill as foreman, when in 1891 Mr.
Pearson came to America. He located first in Min-
neapolis for a short time and then came to Montana
and later to Spokane, where he railroaded for a time.
Then he went to the woods, and lumbering and rail-
roading engaged his attention until 1897, when he
purchased a man's right to the land where he now
lives, two and one-half miles south from Sandpoint.
He has nearly one quarter section and devotes his
attention to general farming and also to logging. Mr.
Pearson has some fine orchards and he is steadily im-
proving and clearing the land for crops. He owns his
own logging outfit and does considerable of this labor
for others, on contract.
Mr. Pearson is a charter member of the M. W. A.,
Sandpoint Camp, No. 7191. He also belongs to the
Lutheran church. He is a man of good habits and
wisdom and has manifested his ability to transform
the resources of this section into good property.
JOHN T. ELSASSER. In the fruit and farming
industries of Kootenai county the subject of this article
takes a good rank. He has a fine farm about one
mile north from Sandpoint, where he is handling about
fourteen acres of orchard and also doing a general
farming business. In addition to this, Mr. Elsasser
has a fine mine about two miles from the farm, which
862
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
he and his brother own in partnership, while also in
Buffalo Hump and Republic countries he owns min-
ing interests.
John T. Elsasser was born in Chicago on Novem-
ber 18, 1862, being the son of Jacob F. and Catherine
(Trimpy) Elsasser. natives of Germany and Switzer-
land, respectively. They came to America when about
fifteen and located in Chicago, it being then a very
small town. The father operated a cigar factor}- and
store and remained there until 1869, about twenty
years. Then a move was made to Three Oaks, Michi-
gan, and in 1884 they went to Texas, where they pur-
chased a farm of two thousand, one hundred and thirty
acres. They now rent this and are retired from ac-
tive life. In the great Chicago fire they lost three
houses and then sold their real estate. John T. was
educated in Chicago and in Michigan and when
.eighteen quit school and devoted his whole time to
laboring with his father. When twenty-six, in com-
pany with his brother, William, he came to northern
Idaho to trap and hunt, but finding an opening in the
pole business, they went at it, and on one contract
they realized eighteen hundred dollars' profit. In
1890 they went to British Columbia and prospected,
being among the first ones in the Kootenai Lake dis-
trict. In 1891 they returned to Texas and bought
a large farm and settled down, but failing health drove
them hence again, and they returned to their claims,
which adjoin in the woods north from Sandpoint.
The house where they had stored all their tools was
burned and they rebuilt. Since that time they have
given their time to mining and fruit culture.
In 1891 Mr. Elsasser married Miss Ollie Campbell,
whose parents live in Texas, and to this happy union
three children have been born, — May, James T. and
Lora. Mr. Elsasser is a man of good principles, is
a fine neighbor, a loyal friend, a true and upright man
and a patriotic citizen, having gained the good will
and esteem of all.
ROBERT S. BRAGAW. Few men are better
known in Kootenai county than the subject of this
sketch. Having come hither in its early days, he has
so identified himself with its interests and development
that he is rightly esteemed by all as a leading and
substantial citizen.
Robert S. Bragaw was born in New London, Con-
necticut, on October 1, 1851. His parents, now both
deceased, were born on Long Island. Our subject
was educated in the public schools of his native place
and when nineteen went to New York city and ac-
cepted a position in a wholesale grocery house. In
the spring of 1874 he went to Colorado, and for a
decade thereafter he was engaged in clerical work
and mining. In the winter of 1883-4 Mr. Bragaw
came with the wave to the mines in Shoshone county,
near Murray. The following summer he came from
that section to Rathdrum, Kootenai county. From
October 16, 1884, to January 12. 1899, fourteen years
and three
months, Mr. Bragaw was clerk of the district
court and recorder of Kootenai county, residing dur-
ing this time in Rathdrum, the county seat. This
extended service to the people of Kootenai county was
wrought with excellent execution and entire satisfac-
tion to all. On May 26, 1899, Mr. Bragaw was ac-
corded a position in the Forest Reserve force of the
United States, and was installed as supervisor of the
Priest River Forest Reserve in Idaho and Washing-
ton, in which capacity he has continued since. His
office and headquarters are at the town of Priest River.
On December 31, 1885, Mr. Bragaw married Miss
Clara H. Medler, whose parents reside at Bonners
Ferry, her father being deputy collector of customs
there. Mrs. Bragaw was born in California on April
13, 1869, and came to Kootenai county with her
parents when she was eleven years of age. On May
2, 1889, Robert S. Bragaw, Jr., was born to this mar-
riage. He is now in the high school in Spokane.
MARCUS D. WRIGHT is truly one of the build-
ers of Kootenai county. He was a prime mover in its
organization in 1881 and was its first assessor and
collector. In July of the same year he assisted to
plat the town site of Rathdrum, being half owner. In
the same year he established a general merchandise
store there and has continued it until the present, being
now one of the leading merchants of the northern part
of the state. He has a branch establishment in Post-
falls, and did own one at Saint Maries. Last year
his business in the merchandise line footed one hundred
and twenty thousand. In addition to this Mr. Wright
has bought and sold much land and now has ten
thousand acres in Kootenai county alone. Half of
this vast estate is agricultural and the balance timber
land. From 1880 until the present Mr. Wright has
also been doing a large business in handling ties for
the Northern Pacific. During these years that com-
pany has paid him over one million dollars for ties
alone. At the present time Mr. Wright is handling,
in addition to the mammoth enterprises mentioned, a
large grading contract on the electric line from Spokane
to Coeur d'Alene. These facts at once convey to the
mind that the gentleman of whom we now have the
pleasure to speak, is one of the heavy operators in
various leading business lines in the northwest, and
the unstinted success wrought out in every department
of his large enterprises is due solely to the executive
force, keen discrimination and sound methods of busi-
ness possessed and used by Mr. Wright.
Reverting to the personal matter of his career we
note that Marcus D. Wright was born in Kentucky on
April 16. 185 1, and is the son of John W. and Mary
(Gipson) Wright, also natives of Kentucky. They
were the parents of seven children, and six of them are
still living. The father died in Illinois, aged sixty-
four, but the mother is still living in Germantown,
Kentucky. The first seventeen years of life were
spent by our subject in his native state, and the edu-
cational training so useful in life was there obtained
from the public schools. Then came a journey to
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
863
St. Joseph, Missouri, where he made his home until
his majority. In 1871 he went to Montana, and six
years later went thence to Spokane, Washington. In
1 88 1 he was found in what is now Kootenai county,
and his career here has been one of leader all the
time, wherein he has ever manifested both sterling
worth and integrity, ever allying himself with those
measures and movements which are for improvement.
In 1881 Mr. Wright married Miss Bertie Piper, a
native of California, and to them were born eight chil-
dren,— Florence A., wife of M. F. Darling, of Dayton,
Washington; May W.. Elida R., Zella Z., John J.,
Bertie £).. Stella H. and M. Gordon. On February
9, 1900, Mr. Wright was called to mourn the death
of his faithful wife, and her remains rest in Pine Grove
cemetery at Rathdrum, Idaho.
On September 20, 1902, Mr. Wright married Mrs.
Marie W. Bennett, stepdaughter of the late A. M.
Cannon, of Spokane.
Politically Mr. Wright is allied with the Demo-
cratic party, and. while ever active in bringing good
men to the front and in forwarding those measures
which are for the general welfare, he has never ac-
cepted office since the county got- well under way.
JOHN S. WOOLERY. This enterprising busi-
ness man is one of the potent factors in the political
life and development of Kootenai county, being at the
present time managing a first-class livery and feed
business in Rathdrum. while also he is devoting con-
siderable attention to buying and selling horses. He
was born in Matilda, Ontario, on June 3, 1856, being
the son of J. M. and Margaret (Coons) Woolery, na-
tives of Canada, where the mother died in 1862, being
buried in the Matilda cemetery. The father brought
his family to Faribault county, Minnesota, in 1864,
and there he died in August, 1901. Our subject re-
ceived his education from the common school in that
county and at sixteen devoted his whole attention to
assisting his father on the farm until his majority,
when he went to the Red River valley and took a pre-
emption, tilling the same until 1880. Then he took a
timber claim, and three years later his health failed and
he sold and removed to Rice county, Minnesota.
Later he went to contracting on the Great Northern
and did well for three years. He then gave his atten-
tion to buying and selling horses until 1892, when he
came to Rathdrum and opened his present livery busi-
ness. Mr. Woolery has always been successful in all
of his business ventures, because of his energy and sa-
gacity. In political matters he has ever been active and
his first ballot was cast for R. B. Hayes.
On November 29, 1881, Mr. Woolery married
Miss Katherine, daughter of John and Julie (Bowen)
Cleland, natives of Canada, and to them have been
born three children, Edna E., deceased ; Alton L.,
going to school : and Faetta. Mr. Woolery has four
brothers ami two sisters, C. H., farming in Marshall
county, Minnesota; Alpha, engaged in flour milling in
Rice county, Minnesota ; Gardner, farming in Fair-
bault, Minnesota; Harris, there also; Mary, wife of
John Palon, living in Dundas, Rice county, Minnesota;
Mr. Woolery is a member of the K. of P., Panhandle
Lodge, Xo. 13; also of the K. O. T. M. Mrs. Wool-
ery is a member of the Ladies of- the K. O. T. M.
Mr. Woolen's father was a noted Methodist preacher,
having joined that church when he was sixteen. He
studied for the ministry, was ordained at the age of
twenty-one, and preached continuously until his death.
He was an exceptionally gifted extemporaneous
speaker, never being known to read his sermons. His
career was fraught with much faithful effort that
resulted in accomplishment of untold good.
WARREN A. HART. This genial gentleman is
proprietor of a large general merchandise establishment
in Rathdrum, where he does a fine business, having by
his close attention to his business and kind treatment
of patrons established a fine trade from the surround-
ing country, being also a man of ability and upright-
ness, while he has mack hosts of friends throughout
the country.
Mr. Hart was born in Onondaga county, New
York, on October 19, 1842, being the son of Orren
and Clarissa (Cornwell) Hart, natives, respectively,
of New York and Connecticut, the mother being de-
scended from the Pilgrims of the Mayflower. They
were married in New York, and in 1856 moved to
Sauk county, Wisconsin, and farmed there for ten
years, then came to Olmstead county, Minnesota, and
tilled the soil there for twenty-four years. The father
died in the winter of 1891, at Pleasant Valley, Minne-
sota, and was buried by the Masonic fraternity, hav-
ing been a popular member of that order. The mother
is still living, aged eighty-two, at Alden, Minnesota.
Our subject was with the parents in these various
moves and he gained his schooling in Wayne county,
New York, and also in Wisconsin, and at the age
of eighteen years he was stirred by the patriotism of
his loyal spirit to enlist in the Eleventh Wisconsin
under C. L. Harris, where he served his term of three
years. Then, being honorably discharged, he imme-
diately re-enlisted in the Ninth U. S. Veterans, First
Army Corps, Company C, under General Hancock,
where he served for one year, being discharged as
sergeant, and having entered as private. He served
in the siege of Vicksburg, fought at Sabine cross
roads, was in many skirmishes, and assisted to build
tke Red river dam under General Banks. At Sabina
cross roads the fight was severe. Out of twenty-four
pieces of artillery they lost twenty-two. and from
six thousand men four thousand were captured. His
entire service was four years and six months, and he
saved seven hundred dollars. Following the war, Mr.
Hart went to work as a hod carrier for a year in
Minnesota, then took a homestead in Freeborn county,
that state, and farmed for ten years, then rented thf
land and came to Kootenai county in 18S3. He
wrought as a carpenter for a year, putting up his
present fine store building. He went into mercantile
864
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
pursuits and now his sagacity and industry have ac-
cumulated a fine fortune of many thousand dollars.
In addition to the store, which is a large and well
stocked one, Mr. Hart has a fine real estate holding
of seven farms, and he has also started a bank, which
his excellent business ability and financiering amply
fit him to operate in a successful manner. He has
recently builded a stone business block adjoing his
store, with sixty foot frontage, and this is rented. In
1890 Mr. Hart lost two thousand dollars in a fire.
He is now one of the leading men of the county and
has well earned the place by display of sterling worth.
The marriage of Mr. Hart and Miss Arlitta M.
Cross was solemnized in 1878, and they have two
children, Helen A. and Clarissa, both married. Mrs.
Hart is a native of New York ; her father died when
she was young and her mother in 1888. Mr. Hart
is a member of the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 73, in
Rathdrum, and is noble grand at the present time.
He also affiliates with the Masonic fraternity. In
political matters Mr. Hart is a stanch Republican,
and has been a delegate to three state conventions, as
well as serving in the county conventions. His daugh-
ter Helen was delegate to state convention in 1900.
In addition to all of his arduous and manifold duties
of business and the responsibility of managing his
large concerns, Mr. Hart is also a man of aesthetic
taste and finds time to enjoy a fine gasoline launch
that he owns on Fish Lake. This is utilized for ex-
cursions, and he is a gracious and popular host. The
boat is a beauty and gives great pleasure to him and
Ins family.
SAMUEL YESSER. The excellent county of
Kootenai contains many men of true qualities of worth
who have labored here to make this a place of beauty
and wealth, and a capable one among them is the sub-
ject of this article, who lives about seven and one-half
miles northwest from Coeur d'Alene, where he has a
fine farm of two hunderd and forty acres, which he
operates together with eighty acres of rented land. He
was born in Bath county, Kentucky, on February 18,
1862, being the son of John and Ann i Wilcox ) Vesser,
natives of Kentucky. They came to Missouri in 1880,
where they now live farming. Samuel was educated
in Clark county, Kentucky, whither his parents had
gone after his birth, receiving most of the training at
the hands of his parents, at home. At the age of
twenty-five, he married and started to do for himself.
He rented a farm in Saline county, Missouri, and then
came west and located in Kootenai county. He worked
for wages for eight months and then went to Whitman
county, where he bought a quarter section of railroad
land. Six months later he sold it and returned to
Kootenai county, working again for the same man he
did before. One year later, he rented two hundred and
fifty acres of land, tilling it for three years. Then he
took up his present place, or eighty acres of it, as a
homestead and bought a quarter, which gives him the
fine estate mentioned above. It requires twelve horses
to handle his land and he lays it tinder tribute to pro-
duce annually bountiful crops.
In 1887 Mr. Yesser married Miss Marion !'».,
daughter of Edwin and Jessie (Reid) Crockett, natives
respectively of Maine and Scotland. They came west
to Missouri in 1881, and in 1891 they came to Koote-
nai county where they are now farming. To Mr. and
Mrs. Yesser have been born six children, named as
follows : Edwin, Jessie, Mary, Samuel, Jean and John,
all at home with the parents. In political affairs, Mr.
Yesser is allied with the Republicans and does good
work in the campaigns. He has given of his wisdom
and time to the school work on the board for six years.
Mr. Yesser is a thorough convert to the excellencies
of the county of Kootenai, believing it to be one of the
finest climates in the United States, and he intends to
make this his home for the balance of his davs.
JOHX LARSON, the popular and efficient post-
master at Hope, is a man of sterling worth and integ-
rity and has demonstrated himself a man of good busi-
ness ability, while in "his social life he is genial, popular
and possessed of hosts of warm friends. He was born
in southern Sweden, on February 25, 1858, the son of
Lars M. and Mary (Peterson) Johnson, natives of
Sweden, where the father now lives. The mother died
in 1872. Mr. Larson has one brother, Lars P., in Swe-
den. Our subject was well educated in his native land.
After passing the public schools, he attended a nor-
mal and in 1882 came to America, landing in Minne-
sota, where he at once went to railroading. He fol-
lowed this in various places and in all lines of it from
the construction up, being in Minnesota, Canada, Wis-
consin, Montana and other places for many years.
1887 marks the date of his entering Montana and
there he was in charge of the boarding car for special
gangs on the Northern Pacific and in 1892 he came to
Hope. Here Mr. Larson gave his attention to railroad-
ing and also mining and prospecting and is one of the
well known men who have been crowned with success
in his efforts. On October 17, 1900. Mr. Larson re-
ceived the appointment of postmaster at Hope, which
demonstrates his popularity among the citizens. Since
that time he has given his attention to the proper ful-
filment of the duties devolving upon him in this incum-
bency and the result has been and is the general satis-
faction of all the patrons of the office.
In 1892 Mr. Larson married Miss Matilda Ander-
burg. a native of Sweden and to them one child has
been born, Ethel M.. a bright girl. Mr. Larson ;s ,1
member of the A. ( K U W., the I. O. O. F., the De-
gree of Honor and is a popular man in these relations.
He is a Republican and his wife is an ardent supporter
of that party. Mr. Larson was brought up in the
Lutheran faith but is now an adherent of the Congre-
gational church. .Air. Larson and his estimable wife
are leading members of society and are well posted in
the questions of the day and manifest an intelligent in-
terest in the welfare and progress of the county and
state.
SAMUEL VESSER.
JOHN LARSON.
A I
BRANSON M. ROSS.
MRS. JOHN LARSON.
MRS. BRANSON M. ROSS.
IRS. PERCY J. BENNETT.
PERCY J. BENNETT.
JOHN FERNAN.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
865
BRANSON M. ROSS. To such men as Branson
Ross, Kootenai county owes its present good develop-
ment. He has done a' great amount toward placing the
county in a progressive and prosperous state. Not
only does his fine large farm show his industry and
wisdom, but the example that he has placed before his
fellows has stimulated them to extra effort and an un-
told amount of good has been the result. He does a
general farming business, and doubtless has the finest
orchard in the county today. He has been exception-
ally successful in this line because of the care and wise
effort bestowed.
Reverting more to the details of his life, we note
that .Mr. Ross was born in Mercer county, Ohio, on
April 10, 1834, being the son of James and Elizabeth
(Parrott) Ross, natives respectively of Tennessee and
Ohio. The parents removed to Van Buren county,
Iowa, in a very early day, and thence to Mahaska
county, Iowa, where the father died in 1843. being aged
fifty-five. He was operating a flour and saw mill and
a large farm of several hundred acres at the time of
his death. The mother conducted the business until
the time of her death in 1853. Our subject and two
sisters survived. Branson M. had received his educa-
tion in the various places where they had lived and at
the age of fourteen years, he started for himself. He
worked for his board and attended school and also
worked out for wages. At the age of twenty-two, he
farmed for himself and when twenty-six he went to
Colorado and worked in the mines two years. At the
time of the Civil war, Mr. Ross attempted to enlist, but
as his health was poor, he was rejected. After the
trip to Colorado, he returned to Iowa, married and set-
tled down to farming until 1864. Then he removed
to Harrison county, Missouri, and followed farming
there until 1887, at which time he came to Kootenai
county, Idaho. He took a homestead, where he now
resides, two and one-half miles east from Postfalls, and
to use his own words, "I built a shack and tried to
make a living, but the soil was too dry and I had to
work out." He finally got some of the land into culti-
vation and began to raise vegetables and then turned
his attention to raising fruit. He has eight hundred
peach trees, one hundred prune and plum trees, some
nectarines, some apricots, and enough apples to make a
total of thirty-six hundred trees all told. His orchard
is a model in every respect and Mr. Ross is to be great-
ly commended in working out the fruit problem and
demonstrating for the benefit of others the advisability
of prosecuting this great industry. His place is known
as Peach Hill, and is a model farm. He has increased
the acreage to nearly five hundred and has a fine
modern residence, good barns, all out buildings and
fences and other accoutrements needed on a first class
farm and fruit ranch. Mr. Ross has two hundred acres
especiallv adapted to the'culture of fruit. He has also
considerable town property in Postfalls, and it is very
pleasant to note the transformation of the wild home-
stead with the little shack to the model farm, em-
55
bellished with fine buildings and all comforts of a rural
abode.
In politics. Mr. Ross is active and influential. He
cast a vote for Fremont, his first ballot, and since that
time he has been closely identified with the Republi-
can party. He has frequently been offered official po-
sitions but constantly refuses, with the exception of
school directors, where he labors for the advancement
of educational facilities.
In 1862 Mr. Ross married Miss Susan A., daugh-
ter of Steven and Mary (Mann) Terhune. The father
was a local Methodist preacher, but would never accept
a circuit. He was a native of Kentucky and came to
Iowa in 1851, to Missouri in 1863, and' to Kansas in
1870, where both he and his wife died. To Mr. Ross
and his estimable wife there have been twelve chil-
dren born, ten of whom are now living, named as fol-
lows : Stanton D. L., married and living in this county ;
Emma, wife of Jacob Rego, in Kittitas county, Wash-
ington; Nora, wife of Benjamin Carder, in Union
county, Oregon; Susa, wife of Benjamin Stockwell,
in this county; Naomi, wife of Freeman Luddington,
in this county ; William, widower, in this county ; Osee,
wife of Stephen Steward, in EHensburg, Washington :
Effie, wife of William Royce, in Rathdrum : Robert,
married to Rosania Newsom, in Spokane ; Bessie, at
home.
PERCY J. BENNETT is a well known and in-
fluential man in Kootenai county, having been active
in political matters and ever on the side of improving
the affairs of government and in upbuilding the county
in general. He is at present and has been for twelve
years in charge of the section running east from Athol
on the Northern Pacific, while also he owns a farm, a
part of which he has platted into town lots, at Athol.
He is active in school matters and also is a regular
delegate to the county conventions, where his wisdom
and good counsel are approved.
Percy J. Bennett was born in Ashton. Illinois, on
June 12, 1859, being the son of Samuel and Harriet
(Cantelo) Bennett, natives of England and the Isle of
Wight, respectively. They came to the United States
in 1856 and settled in Ashton. Illinois, remaining there
until 1871, and leaving on the night of the Chi
for Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In 1879 they moved to Colo-
rado and in 1880 they came to Church Butte. Utah,
and in 1880. they came to their present place in Athol.
The father now' has charge of the section west from
Athol and is about seventy years of age. Our subject
received his education in the various places where the
family lived and when he was nineteen he went to
breaking on the railroad. He operated out ot Trim-
dad for" three years, then out of Chicago for one year
and then Denver. Colorado, was his headquarters tor
two vears. The next move was to open a store in Or-
chard, where he did well for a period of three years.
\fter that Mr. Bennett freighted in the Rockies until
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
i, sip, when he came to Athol and since that time he has
been here, giving his attention to the management of
the section and also to handling his farm.
In 1896 Mr. Bennett married Miss Mary E., daugh-
ter of S. T. and Mary (Ludwig) Wilburn, natives of
Maryland and Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Ludwig were
married in Maryland, then went to West Virginia, later
were in Arkansas and then came to Colville, Washing-
ton, where they reside now. The father is aged sixty-
nine and the mother fifty-eight. Two children have
been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bennett, Frank C. and
Louis J. Mr. Bennett is a Democrat and active in the
support of his belief. He is a charter member of the
M. W. A., Lodge No. 8388, at Athol; also of the I.
O. O. F., Pine Lodge No. 75, at Athol; also of the
K. of P., Panhandle Lodge No. 13, in Rathdrum, while
his wife is a member of the Rebekahs, Evergreen
Lodge No. 51. They are members of the Methodist
church. Mr. Bennett is well respected, has displayed
commendable wisdom in his affairs and is a man
worthy to receive the confidence and esteem of all.
JOHN FERNAN. This venerable and worthy
citizen and early pioneer to Kootenai county is now one
cf the respected citizens of Coeur dAlene and a man
in whom safely is reposed the confidence of the people
and who justly receives approbation for his worthy
and upright walk in this country, while he is at the
present time entrusted by the government with the
oversight of the buildings in the post at Coeur d'Alene.
Mr. Fernan was born in Elkton, Maryland, on May
15, 1846, being the son of John and Mary (Cruthers)
Fernan, natives also of Maryland, where they re-
mained until the time of their death. John was edu-
cated in the public schools, and at the tender age of
fifteen, he was found, enlisting in Company G, Sixth
Maryland Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel J. C. Hill.
His first battle was at Winchester, where he was cap-
tured and sent to languish in Libby prison. Later he
was sent to Bell Island and after seven months was ex-
changed and sent to his regiment. The next engage-
ment was the awful battle of the Wilderness, and
there he was wounded and lay in the hospital seven
months. After this, he again joined his regiment and
fought in the final series of battles that closed the ter-
rible struggle. Then he was mustered out at Wash-
ington, D. C. He straightway re-enlisted and served in
the regular army for ten years. During this period
he came west in 1878 with the Second Infantry, and
in 1880 he was honorably discharged on account of
disabilitv, at Coeur d'Alene. He took a homestead on
v hat was named from him Fernan lake, and se: to make
a delightful abode. This was done in a very successful
manner, for he had one of the most charming resi-
dences in the entire county. He had a goodly portion
under cultivation, planted a fine orchard and in Janu-
ary. 1902, he sold the entire property. Since that time,
he has been living in Coeur d'Alene.
In 1872 Mr. Fernan married Miss Mary Presley.
Her parents, William and Mary (Walker) Presley,
were natives of Georgia, where they remained until
death, the mother being buried at Atlanta and the
father sleeps at Douglas. To our worthy subject and
his estimable wife, there have been born seven chil-
dren, named as follows : Minnie E., wife of George
Ege, living near Fernan lake ; John M., in Wardner ;
.Arthur, Frank D., Kate, wife of F. B. Swafford, in this
county; Jessie, and Amy. Mr. Fernan was appointed
by the commissioners the first sheriff of this county
but refused to serve. He was elected the following
term. He is a member of the G. A. R., McReynolds
Post, No. 19. Mrs. Fernan is a member of the Pres-
byterian church and assisted to organize' the local
body here. Mr. Fernan is one of the highly respected
citizens of the county and is an influential and public
minded man.
WILLIAM H. CLELAND. A man of stirring
activity, with fine executive ability and practical in-
sight into affairs of life, while he is dominated by a
dauntless and upright spirit, the subject of this article
is a man of worth and good standing and is emi-
nently entitled to representation in his county's his-
tory. William H. was born in South Mountain, On-
tario, Canada, on October 30, 1853, being the son of
John and Julia C. (Bowen) Cleland, natives of Can-
ada, but immigrants to the United States in 1871,
where they located in Rice county, Minnesota, and
bought a farm of four hundred and seventy-nine acres.
He was one of the leading and prominent agricul-
turists of that stection. He died at the age of sixty-
four and is buried in Northfield cemetery. The
mother died at Dundas in 1901. Our subject was well
educated, and at eighteen quit school and worked
with his father until twenty-seven. Then he bought
a quarter section in Lyon county and farmed until
1883, when he came to Spokane. He scored timbers
for a bridge and then went to carpentering for F.
Post, of Postfalls. He assisted to build the Postfalls
mill, freighted from there to Spokane, built a saw
mill for Mr. Post, operated the mill the next year,
and in 1886 he went back to visit his parents. The
next spring we find him west again driving a brewery
wagon to Postfalls and Coeur d'Alene from Rath-
drum. Three years later, in 1890, he went back to
Minnesota and took charge of his father's farm, his
health having failed. Two years were spent there
and then he settled the estate and came west again,
leaving the mother and two younger brothers in Dun-
das. He came to Rathdrum and in 1893 opened a
livery stable in Rathdrum, also a horse market, as
he buys and sells many head of stock. He has a
well appointed stable and furnishes rigs of all kinds
with safe and good horses, and his business ability
has been manifest in his success.
On January 1, 1900, Mr. Cleland married Miss
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
867
Mary L. Gill, daughter of John and Malinda Gill,
natives of Tennessee, but immigrants to Missouri
and thence to Washington. The father has passed
away but the mother still lives in Rathdrum. Mr.
Cleland was one of seven brothers and five sisters,
some of whom are mentioned : Elizabeth, deceased ;
John G., in Portland, Oregon ; Kate, married to J.
S. Woolery, in Rathdrum ; Dave and Dan, twins,
the former living in Coeur d'Alene, the latter in
Tulare, California; Peter, having charge of the block
system on the railroad; Charley, on a farm in Rice
county; Andrean, on the old homestead in Minne-
sota. " Mr. Cleland affiliates with the K. of P., Pan-
handle Lodge, No. 13, and with the Rathbone Sis-
ters ; also with the M. W. of A., No. 6843 ; and the
F. O. A., No. 14 ; and the I. O. O. F., No. j$. He
and his wife are members of the Episcopalian church,
and Mrs. Cleland is a member of the R. N. of A.
JOSEPH POIRIER. The excellent ability and
wisdom of this gentleman, manifested in various ways,
which have given him an unbounded success in the
financial world, also his industry and vigorous prose-
cution of business, will be manifested from the ap-
pended review of his career, and it reflects great
credit upon him. He was born in Sant Jant Bap-
tiste, Canada, on June 8, 1852, being the son of Ed-
ward and Dorothy (Wilcott) Poirier, natives of Can-
ada, where the father now lives. The mother died in
1872, being buried in the Catholic cemetery of Sant
Jant Baptiste. The following are members of the
family : Edward, John, Dorothy, deceased ; Madule,
Arthur, Louise, Albene, Israel, Louis, Maderise, Ec-
tor and the subject of this sketch. Joseph grew to
manhood in his native place, and his schooling was
scant, as he always preferred the harness of manual
labor to study. He put his time to good use in
acquiring various mechanical knowledge, which has
made him many a dollar since. It was 1S76 that he
came to Aklen, Freeborn county, Minnesota, and set-
tled to farming. In Fairbault county he started a
blacksmith shop in connection with his farm, having
picked this trade up in his youthful days. Three
years later he shipped from St. Paul to Bozeman,
Montana, the terminus of the road, then unloaded his
goods and drove to Horse Plains, and shipped thence
to Rathdrum. He has been here since that time with
the exception of a period when he took a pre-emption
in the Big Bend country, which property he sold later.
In 1884 he built a blacksmith shop and has conducted
it since, adding a plumbing shop and also doing a
general contracting business. He has four hundred
and eighty acres of timber and agricultural land,
owns thirty lots and seven dwellings in Rathdrum,
forty acres of land on Priest river, two business
blocks in Rathdrum, and property in Postfalls, while
he is erecting an elegant brick residence at a cost of
three thousand dollars. Mr. Poirier is one of the
wealthiest men of the city.
In 1893 he married Miss Eugenie, daughter of
Meddaugh and Amelia Amom, natives of Canada,
where the mother lives, the father having died many
years since. To Mr. and Mrs. Poirier one child has
been born, Romeo, now attending school. We also
note that Mr. Poirier and his wife each own a share
in the Rathdrum Water Power Company, valued at
one thousand dollars per share. He is manager, col-
lector and vice president of this company, and is one
of the most thorough and capable business men of the
city. Mr. Poirier is a member of the K. O. T. M.,
and carries three thousand dollars in the F. O. A. He
and his wife are members of the Roman Catholic
church.
JOHN CRENSHAW. Among the leading men
of Rathdrum is the gentleman of whom we now
speak, being a real estate dealer, in which line he lias
manifested great activity and skill, buying and selling
for himself as well as on commission, while also he
handles a large dairy farm and superintends a gen-
eral farming business.
Mr. Crenshaw was born in Waldron, Arkansas, on
October 23, 1857, being the son of Overton and Har-
riett (Boltenhouse) Crenshaw, natives of Illinois. The
mother died in Lakeport, California, being buried
there, and the father is still living in Arkansas, aged
eighty years. Our subject went to California with
his parents when six months of age, and there in the
common schools he studied, finishing his education in
the Healdsburg Academy. He was nine when his
mother died, and he became self-supporting at that
early age. At eighteen he bought an outfit and freight-
ed. It was in 1879 when he came to Dayton. Wash-
ington, and one year later left on account of failure
of crops. He took a timber claim in Washington,
and in 1880 he took a homestead in the vicinity of
Rathdrum. Seven years he lived on the homestead
and then sold it. He went to Minnesota, bought a
farm, but soon returned to Rathdrum. He bought a
farm one-half mile from the town, which is his family
home now. He improved with good buildings and
added a half section more, which he sold, however,
later. He bought a section near Hauser and sold it
in 1902. He now owns four lots in Spokane, a num-
ber of lots in Postfalls, with some dwellings, and
does a general real estate business. He has forty cat-
tle and twenty-seven are milch cows. He owns
twenty acres south from Rathdrum that is being put
to fruit.
In 1890 Mr. Crenshaw married Miss Cora, daugh-
ter of Robert and Mary J. (Hicks) Borthwick, na-
tives, respectively, of Prince Edward Island and .Min-
nesota. To Mr. and Mrs. Creshaw have been born
six children: Jesse H., Nellie H.. Francis M., Robert
O., Herbert R. and Mary A. Mr. Crenshaw takes
an active part in politics, being allied with the Demo-
cratic partv. and he has been delegate to many con-
ventions. He was nominated for county commis-
sioner in 1896. but as the county is Republican, he
was beaten, vet only by sixty votes. He is a mem-
ber of the A. H. T. A. He is also a member of the
868
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Christian church, and his wife is affiliated with the
First Day Adventists. Air. Crenshaw is interested in
mining in Montana and has some excellent claims
in the Saltese district, which show fine values.
ARTHUR H. GRAHAM. About three miles
southwest from Athol is situated the estate of the sub-
ject of this article, and he has the generous proportions
of two hundred and forty acres of good land, which
he is tilling, having sufficient stock for it and good
improvements. Mr. Graham is a man of energy and
industry, and one of the enterprising and substantial
citizens of Kootenai county. He was born in Craw-
ford county, Wisconsin, on April 23, 1858, being the
son of John H. and Annie (Dibble) Graham, natives,
respectively, of Scotland and Ohio. The mother died
in Livingston county, Michigan, and is buried in
Hartland, while the father is still living in Ashland,
Wisconsin, aged seventy-two. Mr. Graham has two
sisters : Ella, widow of Willie Brand, and living in
Two Harbors, Minnesota ; Jennie, wife of Charles
Rorbach, living in South Lyons, Michigan. Our sub-
ject gained his schooling in the places where the par-
ents lived, and at fourteen started for himself. He
. worked on the farm in summers and went to the pin-
eries in the winters, continuing this for six years.
In 1878 he came to Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico,
old Mexico, and mined, and then returned to the
mines of Wisconsin on Lake Superior. It was 1888
when he came to Kootenai and wrought in the tie
camp for a time and then took a homestead, where
he now lives, having added more by purchase.
In 1890 Mr. Graham married Miss Laura, daugh-
ter of Milo Farnsworth, a native of Scotland. The
mother died in Las Vegas, New Mexico, in 1875, but
the father still lives here, having been an immigrant in
1855. To Mr. and Mrs. Graham have been bom live
children: Charles II.. Laura G., Frank E.. Arthur,
and Florence M. Mr. Graham affiliates with the I.
O. O. F., Pine Lodge, No. j$ : with the Rebekahs,
Evergreen Lodge, No. 51; and with the M. W. of
A., Athol Camy.). No. 8388. Mrs. Graham is a mem-
ber of the Rebekahs.
LOUIS E. EILERT. The career of this well
known citizen has been active, enterprising, and pro-
ductive of a fine fortune, which he is enjoying and
handling now in a becoming manner. He is proprietor
of a retail liquor store and carries a good stock of
choice wines and tobaccos, while he also devotes much
attention to mining, having properties in Buffalo
Hump and in the Saltese and Hayden lake districts,
and then he finds time to attend to a large hay farm,
besides other business.
Our subject was born in Hanover, Germany, on
April 5, 185 1, being the son of Ernest and Mary
Eilert, both natives of Germany. They came to
America on the ship Great Eastern in 1852. and set-
tled in Waukasha county, Wisconsin. The mother
died at sea, but the father died in 1886, and is buried
in Waukesha cemetery, Wisconsin. Our sub-
ject had but three months' schooling in his life,
half in the English and half in the < ierman.
He assisted his father on the farm until fifteen and
then went to work for himself, going to San Fran-
visco, via the Isthmus, and thence to Nevada, where
he worked in a quartz mill for four years. Then he
went to Virginia City, Nevada, and mined for two
years, after which we find him making timbers in the
redwood forests of Califonrnia. It was 1880 that
he came to Spokane and thence soon to Rathdrum,
where he built a store and hotel, which he operated
for two years, and then lost the entire property by
the pressure of the hard times, but he had the satis-
faction of paying every dollar that he owed in the
world. Then he took a homestead, which he sold two
years later. His next move was to build in Rathdrum,
and start his present business, wherein he has con-
tinued with success since that time. His farm con-
sists of one-quarter section and a half interest in two
hundred acres. In 1889 Mr. Eilert took a trip to
Nome and remained for four months prospecting, and
as he did not discover anything that was valuable,
he returned. The trip was attended with much hard-
ship, but also it was enjoyable to so rugged and ad-
venturous a person as our subject.
In 1882 Mr. Eilert married Miss Abby Brad-
berg, a native of Canada. Politically Mr. Eilert is
allied with the Democratic party and is active. He is
a member of the K. of P. and of the F. O. A., and a
popular man of good standing.
LYMAX F. MARKHAM is one of the earliest
settlers in Kootenai county and has constantly striven
for its advancement and development since those early
days, being a man of energy, enterprise, and execu-
tive force, while the keen wisdom, uprightness, and
sound principles, which have dominated him in his
career, are of the highest order, and he stands today
one of the foremost men in that portion of the county
where he is domiciled.
Lyman F. Markham was born in Knox county,
Illinois, on August 9, 1845, being the son of Simon S.
and Cynthia (Fry) Markham, natives of Ohio and
New York respectively. They crossed the plains in
1848 to Albany, Oregon, and there remained for twenty
years. A move was then made to Washington and
later they repaired to Forest Grove, where the father
died in 1899. aged eighty years. The mother, who is
in her eightieth year, is still living there. Our subject
remembers a birthday anniversary he had while cross-
ing the plain, also remembers the herd of buffalo which
they encountered and Joe Meek, who was on his way to
Washington, as representative from Oregon. Lyman
F. was educated in Albany, remained with his father
until twenty-one. then farmed for a couple of years, af-
LYMAN F. MARKHAM.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
869
ter which he went to Gray's Harbor and taught school
for a term. Next we see him in the stock business,
which he successfully followed for a decade and in
1880 Mr. Markham came to Kootenai county. He
settled on unsurveyed land and for two years traded
with the Indians and then opened his present place,
which lies about one mile east from Laclede. The
place is provided with fine barn, house, orchard, and all
other improvements that could be suggested for the
benefit of the estate, and Mr. Markham cuts about one
hundred and fifty tons of hay annually, handles about
one hundred head of cattle and is one of the leading
men in the stock industry in this section. For four-
teen years he was postmaster and only resigned when
Laclede started up. He has been committeeman in his
precinct since its organization and has also served on
the school board since the district opened up.
On August 4, 1901, Mr. Markham married Lucy
J., daughter of Elias B. and Nancy J. Edwards, who
settled in Indiana in earlv days and died in 1891. Mr.
Markham is a stanch Jeffersonian Democrat and a man
with the courage of his convictions and the ability to
propound the principles which he holds. Mr. Mark-
ham is a charter member of the F. A. at Priest River,
Court No. 18. He and his wife are members of the
Christian church and are highly respected people of
real worth of character, while they have hosts of friends
in everv section.
SIMON BECK. To this skilled and expert me-
chanic and well known and popular citizen and suc-
cessful business man, whose life is one of virtue and
sound principles, we are constrained to grant consid-
eration among the other pioneers of Kootenai county,
since he has wrought for the advancement and up-
building of the counntry with a firm hand and mani-
festation of wisdom that won for him the approba-
tion of the people and a generous competence for him-
self. Mr. Beck was born in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania,
on August 2, 1850, being the son of Wilson and Mary
M. (Snyder) Beck, natives of Pennsvlvania. The
father died in 1897, and is buried in Centre county,
Pennsylvania, but the mother is still living. Simon
was educated in the common schools and at the age of
fourteen took up the millwright trade, finishing the
same in two years. At the age of nineteen he took up
the blacksmith and wagon makers trades and learned
them perfectly, thus accomplishing a fine showing
in the mechanical line. He then started a shop for
himself, continuing the same for one and one-half years,
after which he rented for one year and he and his
brother bought his uncle's shop. After two years we
find him in northern Michigan, where he worked a
short time carpentering, then did blacksmithing. The
next move was to Grant county, Wisconsin, where
he operated a blacksmith shop for one year, after which
he worked in a repair shop and also started one of
his own for a time. Then Mr. Beck came to Rathdrum
opened a shop and two years later he built a large
shop, where he is doing business at the present time.
In addition to this, he does plumbing and also oper-
ates a first-class undertaking establishment. He has
the only hearse in the county, one that he made with
his own hands, and it is a fine piece of workmanship.
Mr. Beck is doing a large business and he manifests
commendable wisdom in overseeing it and carrying it
on.
The marriage of Mr. Beck and Miss Mary K..
daughter of Ephraim and Hanna Boger, was solemn-
ized in 1874. Mr. Boger was killed thirty-five years
since, but Mrs. Boger lives in Pennsylvania. ' Air.
and Mrs. Beck have become the parents of seven chil-
dren, four of whom are still living. Arthur, married
to Martha Marte, living at Priest River. Idaho: Rufus
S. ; Iva M., wife of John Sheffield, living in Rathdrum ;
Lola E., single, at home. Air. Beck is affiliated with
the M. W. A., K. O. T. M., and I. O. O. F. 1 1, and
his wife are members of the Advent church. In 1898
Mr. Beck was elected mayor of Rathdrum on the Re-
publican ticket against W. A. Hart, and in 1900 lie was
reelected against M. D. Wright, Democrat, by a large
majority. He has given a good administration and is
very popular with the people because of his faithful-
ness, his uprightness, his sound principles and imparti-
ality.
CHARLES W. WOOD is among the very earliest
pioneers of this country and surely one of the most
worthy ones, having manifested in a long life of pion-
eer experiences, hardiness, energy, uprightness, cour-
age and marked ability in all his relations, and dis-
playing calmness, fortitude and true grit in all scenes
of danger, not a few of which have beset his stirring
career. In addition to this general outline, we wish
to more particularly detail his interesting life and we
note that Charles W. was born on May 14, 1843, in
Ogdensburg. New York, being the son of Charles
and Hanna Wood, both natives of Ireland, which ac-
counts for the stirring spirit of our subject. The par-
ents migrated to New York, met in that state and
were married and in 1S49 came to Illinois. The mother
died shortly after this and the father in 1866, both
buried at Lighthouse, Ogle county, Illinois. Charles
W. received his education in Ogle county before he
was thirteen years of age. Then he went to Omaha
with V. W. Parker and at once was engaged on the
stage route to Salt Lake City, called then the overland
route. He worked three years and then drove for ten
years, on ail parts of the line, being an expert and vig-
orous vet careful hand in the business. In 1868 he
drove stage in Montana, continuing the same until
1 87 1. Then he came to Walla Walla and took a po-
sition on the pony express to Missoula, having, how-
ever, spent one winter in Spokane, where the C. and
C. Mill now stands. He continued on the pony express
until 1875 and then bought horses and sheep on the
Touchet river in Washington. In 1876 Air. Wood
brought sheep to the Spokane valley and bought a
farm where Rathdrum now stands. He had also horses.
Mr. Wood platted the land and sold to the citizens
and still has two hundred and forty acres adjoining
the city. He handled stock on a large scale for a long
870
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
time but is at present retired from this and gives his
attention to the management of his estates. He has
also a blacksmith shop in Rathdrum which he rents
and also has considerable other property, and recently
sold his livery barn to W. M. Cleland. He also does
a draying business with the farming.
In 1873 Mr. Wood married Miss Mary K., daugh-
ter of Fredrick and Margret Post, natives of Ger-
man v. Mr. Post built the first mill in Spokane
and is well known all through this country, being a
man of prominence. To Mr. and Mrs. Wood were
born three children. May, deceased; James M., now-
working- in Postfalls; Eva. deceased. James M.
was the first white child born in Kootenai county. Mrs.
Wood died in February, 1881, and is buried in the
Postfalls cemeterv. Mr. Wood is a member of the
F. O. A., Court No. 14. of Rathdrum. He still lives
on the old home place where his son was born and he
is to be congratulated on the brilliant success that he
has achieved and the prestige won by his faithful en-
deavors and uprightness and no one can say that Mr.
Wood ever dealt with him in anything but an honest
and upright manner.
ROBERT C. BORTHWICK. This enterprising
farmer and worthy citizen of Kootenai county lives
two and one-half miles south from Rathdrum where
he has a fine rural home and a valuable estate, while
personally he is a man of good standing among his'
fellows and worthy of the confidence reposed in him.
He was born in Prince Edward Island, on June 22,
1832, being the son of John and Catherine (Glover)
Borthwick, natives of Scotland who came to Prince
Edward Island when they were young and there lived
until their death, being buried at Bedque. The father
was a miller. Our subject was educated in his native
place and his mother died when he was nine and his
father when he was eleven. Then he went to live with
a friend of the father. Two years later he started for
himself, learning the wagon maker trade. After one
year at it, he quit, not liking the business and went to
work on a farm at"eight dollars per month. Then he
went to Minnesota and lumbered for five or six years
then bought a farm in 1857, which he tilled for seven
years. In 1862 he volunteered to fight the Indians in
the Sioux war in Minnesota, and in 1864 he stepped
forward and enlisted in Company G, Eleventh Minnes-
ota, under General Thomas. He served until the close
of the war, about one year or more, doing guard duty
most of the time. Being honorably discharged, he re-
turned to his home and sold the farm and bought
another in Wright county, where he remained until
1888. Then he came to Kootenai, having one son
here, and rented a place for one year. He returned to
Minnesota and sold his farm and then moved to this
county and purchased the farm where he now lives. He
has fine buildings and one and one-half acres into or-
chard. In Minnesota, Mr. Borthwick held the office
of town supervisor and town treasurer for a number
of years. He is a Jeffersonian Democrat, and active
in politics.
In 1862 Mr. Borthwick married Miss Mary J.,
daughter of Harvey and Salley J. (Ellenwood) Hicks,
natives of Vermont and New York, respectively. The
mother died in Minnesota and the father in Rathdrum.
His remains were taken to Otsega, Minnesota, where
they were buried beside his wife. To Mr. ami Mrs.
Borthwick there have been born eight children, four
of whom are living, as follows : Harvey J., married
to Edith J. Green, in Rathdrum ; Cora J., wife of John
Crenshaw in Rathdrum ; William R., with his parents ;
Annie, wife of Benjamin S. Wood, in Rathdrum. Mr.
Borthwick is a member of the G. A. R., Lawton Post,
No. 29, of Rathdrum, and also of the W. R. C. He
and his wife are members of the A. C. church.
AMEL ULBRIGHT. The excellent qualities of
this stirring business man have made themselves felt in
all the lines in which he has operated and he has demon-
strated that he is capable of manipulating the resources
of the country in a successful manner and although
the fiend of flames has destroyed at times much of his
holdings, he immediately set to work with renewed
vigor and has accomplished much in again placing
himself in a leading position.
Mr. Ulbright is a native of Saxony, Germany,
being born on February 13, 1858, the son of Ernest and
Mary (Annstore) Ulbright, also natives of Saxony.
In 1869 they came to America and in 1892 the father
came to Spokane, and in 1895 the mother followed and
they live now in Kootenai county. Amel was educated
in the common schools of Germany and also in Ameri-
ca and remained with his father until twenty-two years
of age. Then he came west and after four years of
labor took a homestead, built fine buildings, a barn,
outbuildings, and a three thousand dollar house, bought
another quarter adjoining and platted it into five and
ten acre tracts and then sold. He had previously sold
portions of the tracts. He then went to the vicinity
of Hauser, seven miles west from Rathdrum and there
bought two hundred and forty acres of land. He
erected a saw mill, bought land at different times until
he now owns the magnificent domain of twelve hun-
dred acres of land, a good saw mill, fine buildings,
and all the improvements that are needed both on
an agricultural as well as timber tract. He has sawed
over three hundred thousand feet of lumber and con-
stantly employs a force of hands. Mr. Ulbright has
a fine orchard with every variety of fruit represented
that will successfully grow in this latitude. He has a
band of stock in addition to all of his other interests.
In 1886 Mr. Ulbright married Miss Mary H.
daughter of Joseph and Margaret Bauer, natives of
the boundary between France and Germany. In 1874
they came to America, locating in Wisconsin, then
made their way to Kansas and in 1882 came to Koot-
enai county, where they now live. To Mr. and Mrs.
Ulbright four children have been born, Amelia, going
to school in Spokane; Amel A., Anna A., and Elsie,
at home. Politically, Mr. Ulbright is allied with the
Populists and served in the county convention in 1896
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
871
and in 1900, while he has frequently been director in
the school district. He is a member of the K. of P.,
Rathdrum Lodge, No. 13, and also of the F. O. A.,
Rathdrum Court, Xo. 14. Mr. CJlbright has made
a commendable record as a business man and has suc-
cessfully acquired property which renders him one
of the prominent and substantial men of the county,
being respected by all.
HENRY YIEBROCK. The industry, energy,
tenacity of purpose and integrity of this well known
young agriculturist of Kootenai county are very com-
mendable and have given him an enviable standing
among his fellows, being classed as one of the most
reliable and substantial of our population. He was
born in Hanover. Germany, on December 5. 1867, be-
ing the son of Thevies and Anna Yiebrock. natives
also of Germany, where they are now farming and keep-
ing a hotel. Our subject was educated in his native
place and then made some personal research on his own
account and at the age of sixteen came to America.
He settled in Polk county, Wisconsin, and worked for
wages for three and one-half years, then went to Mis-
souri and one year later came to Ritzville. Washington,
then to Spokane, where he put in three years in making
brick. Next we see him in Kootneai county, where
he labored for four years and then bought one hundred
and sixty acres of land. He has broken and cleared
half of this and is handling five hundred acres of well
cultivated land besides, which he rents from a neigh-
bor. He raises as much as eight thousand bushels of
grain and over one hundred tons of hay annually, mak-
ing his farm a profitable venture. He is breaking fifty
acres more of his own land and is improving his place
is a good manner. Mr. Viebrock is one of the leading
agriculturists of the county, having demonstrated his
ability to handle very successfully the large bodies of
land that annually return to him excellent dividends
as reward for his skill and industry. He is a member
of the K. of P., Panhandle Lodge, No. 13. and also
of the F. O. A., No. 14. He also affiliates with the
German Lutheran church and is a man of a high sense
of honor and maintains an untarnished reputation.
WILLIAM D. RINEHART. Enterprising, in-
dustrious, possessed of the happy qualities that make
a genial and successful business man. stanch and up-
right, the gentleman, whose name is at the head of this
sketch deserves to be prominently represented in the
history of his county. He was born in Steuben county.
New York, on June 8, 1845, being the son of John
and Liddie (Zemmer) Rinehart, natives of Pennsyl-
vania. They came to Minnesota in 1854. settling in
Goodhue county, where they remained until the time
of their death, the mother passing awav in 1861 and the
father in 1863. They are buried in Pine Island, Min-
nesota. Our subject was educated in New York and
in Minnesota and at the age of eighteen enlisted in
Company H, Eighth Minnesota, under Captain George
B. McCoy. He went on an expedition to quiet the
Indians then returned to Fort Snelling and went south
to Murfreesboro, where he fought in the battle of
that place, also fought in the battle of Gold-
boro, then went to Raleigh, North Carolina, thence
to City Point, then to Chesapeake bay and was hon-
orably discharged on June 15, 1865, having made a
very creditable military record. He returned to Min-
nesota and farmed there until 1880, then went to
Wilmot, South Dakota, and farmed for eight years,
then in 1888 he came to Kootenai county. He worked
for one year and then bought forty acres of railroad
land and in 1893 bought a quarter adjoining. He
built a fine house in 1899 and a commodious barn in
1900 and he has his place well improved and excellently
tilled. Mr. Rinehart has threshed for twenty-seven
years and now his sons are taking up that business
and also saw milling.
On April 18, 1865, Mr. Rinehart married Miss
Emeline, daughter of Charles and Elizabetl-
son) Smith, natives of Ohio, who came to Dakota
in 1880 and to Kootenai county in 1901 where they
now live. To Mr. and Mrs. Rinehart there have been
born fifteen children, the following named 1
living: Ernest; Isabel, wife of H. E. Thompson, liv-
ing in Raleigh, North Carolina ; M. E. ; Eva. wife of
Charles MacDonald, in Rathdrum; Mvrtle, Ida,
Gertrude, Lila, Roy, Ethel, Vivian. Mr. Rinehart is
one of the substantial men of the county, is well and
favorably known and his friends are numbered from
among all classes and he enjovs the confidence of all.
JOSEPH W. HANDY. This gentleman is one
who has done much work to promote the advancement
and the development of Kootenai county, taking out
of the primitive forests much of their wealth and pre-
paring the virgin soil to produce abundant crops. He
resides at the present time three miles east from Rath-
drum where he has one hundred and sixty acres of
land all fenced, with good buildings and productive
of abundant crops. He owned a homestead at first,
which he improved in good shape and' then sold, pur-
chasing a farm on rim rock, which he also sold after
improving it in good shape and then bought his pres-
ent home, in the meantime keeping up a constant labor
in the forests, producing timbers, ties, wood and saw-
logs.
Speaking more particularly of the domestic chap-
ter in Mr. Handy's life, we note that he was born in
Gentrv countv, Missouri, on January 11. 1850. being
the son of John W. and Alzada A. (Redford) Handy.
natives respectively of Illinois and Wisconsin. They
removed to Missouri in an early day and in 1849 tne
father went to California and made a fine fortune and
then lost the same on an investment. He tusseled with
the fates there until 1871 then returned to his family
and died five vears later in Gentry county. Missouri,
where the mother died in 1898. Our subject received
but scant opportunity to gain an education; however
he improved what he had until fourteen and then
872
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
started the battle of life for himself. He did various
kinds of work and contracted until 1889. when he
came to Kootenai county and allied himself with its
development as stated above. Mr. Handy has always
been an industrious man and has done a lion's share
in the hard labor incident to the development of the
county.
In 1876 Mr. Handy married Miss Margaret F..
daughter of John and Mary A. (Ross) Shaffer, natives
of Vermont and Ohio, respectively, who removed to
Gentry county, Missouri, where they both are buried
in the same cemetery. To Mr. and Mrs. Handy there
have been born eleven children, ten of whom are liv-
ing, as follows : John M., married to Arena Vels,
and living at Fish lake, Idaho; Joseph H, with par-
ents ; Cora D., wife of James Morris, living on the
rim rock: Rosa A., Maud M., Zilla, Gertie A., Dora
A.. Richard, Arthur W.. all at home. Mr. Handy is
a member of the I. O. O. F„ Rathdrum Lodge, No.
JT,, and is a good solid Republican.
WALTER R. TOWLE is a venerable and highly
respected citizen of Kootenai county, living about one-
half mile east from Kootenai, where he has a good
home, a fine orchard and does a general gardening
business. He is a man of substantial qualities and of a
stanch character, possessing many virtues and dis-
playing integrity, uprightness, and wisdom.
Walter R. Towde was born in Rochester, Vermont,
on February 23, 1832, being the son of Samuel and
Lucinda (Washburn) Towle, natives of New Hamp-
shire and of Vermont, respectively. They came to
Iowa in 1869, locating in Sac county, where they were
farmers until their death, the father's being in 1890.
and the mother departing this scene in 1896. They
were the parents of seven children, Truman. Ezra,
Walter R.. our subject, Hannah, Harry, Percis and
William W. Walter received a good schooling in his
native place and remained with his father until he
reached his majority. Then he worked out a year and
the desire to see the west and try his fortune in the
golden sands of California led him to take the trip,
via the Isthmus to San Francisco, where he landed on
February 4, 1854. He mined until 1862 and then en-
listed in Company G, Fourth Regiment of Volunteer
Infantry, under Colonel Foreman and Captain Grant.
Thev went to southern California and thence to Ari-
zona, in which place they fought the Indians. He
served in the United States army fifty-two months,
being discharged in 1862, when he made a visit to
Vermont. Six months later he went to Iowa and
farmed until 1878, then went to Stafford county. Kan-
sas, where he was numbered with the industrious agri-
culturists until 1898. In that year he sold out and came
to his present place. He built a fine house, as well as
other buildings and has forty acres in garden stuff and
farm products. He also has some stock. Mr. Towle
is a well-to-do citizen of this county and a good sub-
stantial man.
In 1867 Mr. Towle married Frances E. Taylor,
widow of Levi W. Taylor, rnd daughter of Joseph
Stott, a native of England. Six children have been
born to this happy union, named as follows : Edwin
S., with parents; Harry, deceased; Nettie, wife of W.
N. Shawver, living in Kansas; Minnie, wife of John
Mawhirter, in Kansas; Ch'apin, with his parents, and a
member of the I. O. O. F. ; Lillian, wife of Arthur
Shawver, in Kansas. Mr. Towle is a stanch Republi-
can, having served a term in Stafford county, Kansas,
as chairman of the Republican county central com-
mittee, and has held offices of justice of the peace,
trusteeship on the school board, and road overseer.
His wife is a member of the Latter Day Saint's church.
Mr. Towle is one of the leading men of this section
and is looked up to by all.
THOMAS J. LEMON. The subject of this re-
view is a veritable pioneer of the pioneers and one
whose worthy labors have done much for the develop-
ment of Kootenai county, having been within its pre-
cincts for over twenty-two years. How much credit
should be granted to such as blaze the way and endure
the hardships and perform the labors so that their
fellows may come and make homes and populate the
country. It is with pleasure that we are permitted to
give an epitome of the career of this estimable gentle-
man.
Thomas J. Lemon was born in Monroe county,
Indiana, on June 25, 1850, being the son of W. W. and
Mary E. (Pickel) Lemon, natives of Vermont, but
immigrants to Indiana in a very early day. They came
to Monroe county in 1843 and there lived until their
death, the mother's occurring in 1855 and the father
passing away in 1862. They were the parents of four
daughters and three sons, named as follows : Eliza-
beth, wife of A. Smallwood, in Lawrence. Indiana;
Laura J., wife of M. E. Driscol, in Bedford, Indiana ;
Catherine, wife of A. J. Jones, in Vermilion county,
Illinois ; Millie, deceased ; Lucinda, deceased ; John A.,
in Santa Cruz county, California ; Jones, deceased.
Our subject was educated in his native place and at the
tender age of twelve years started in life for himself.
He worked on a farm for twelve years and then went
to railroading, which he followed three and one-half
years. Then he came west to Clarke county, Washing-
ton, and thence to eastern Washington with Wheaton's
army in 1877. He was at Spokane during the peace
commission and then settled on a piece of unsurveyed
land near Cheney, from which he afterwards removed,
coming to Kootenai county in 1880. He took a con-
tract for making ties for the Northern Pacific, then fol-
lowed hunting and trapping for twelve years. Then
came another tie contract from M. D. Wright this time
and in 1890 he settled on his present place, about eight
miles northeast from Granite. He has a good place
with about eighty acres of natural meadow and he is
now devoting his attention to doing farming and rais-
ing some stock. Mr. Lemon has the respect and con-
fidence of all and stands exceptionally well among the
residents of this vicinity.
WALTER R. TOWLE.
THOMAS .1. LEMON.
WESTOL H. SLUYTER.
WILLIAM EHLERT.
MRS. WILLIAM EHLERT.
MRS. ALFRED BOYER.
ALFRED BOYER.
ALPHONZO A. GREEN
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
873
VVESTOL H. SLUYTER. This venerable pio-
neer of Kootenai county is now living about one mile
west from Granite, where he is engaged in the stock
business. He is a man of sterling integrity and worth
and has always manifested these qualities in his walk.
Westol H. .Sluvter was botn in Oakland county,
Michigan, on March 29, 1830, being the son of Walter
and Nancy Sluvter, natives of New York, but pioneers
of Michigan, where they remained until the time of
their death. Our subject grew up in his native land,
received his education in the public schools and re-
mained with his parents until he was twenty-five. Then
he inaugarated independent action and wrought in
the agricultural art in Michigan until he was forty
years "of age. Then he went to St. Croix, Wisconsin,
and farmed for fourteen years. It was in 1888, when
he pulled up stakes in that place and came with his
family to his present location in Kootenai county.
He 1 1". rated in the timber business for three years or so
and then took up raising stock. This has been his
occupation, with general farming, since that time and
he has a good herd of thirty head.
In 1855 Mr. Sluyter married Miss Welsy A.,
daughter of Nathaniel and Jane Bams, who settled
in Michigan in early days and remained there until
their death. Mrs. Sluyter is a native of New York.
She died in Michigan December 16, 186S. She was
the mother of four g'rls, all living in the country.
WILLIAM EHLERT. This esteemed citizen and
well respected man, whose industry, integrity, and up-
right walk have given him the esteem and confidence
of the people, is a man of great experience in the ways
of the world and has traveled to all parts of the globe.
William Ehlert was born in the vicinity of Stral-
sund, Germany, on September 9, 1858, and before he
was eighteen, had attended school seven years. At
the age last mentioned, he embarked on the Prussis, a
man of war, and for four years was steadily drilled in
all the ways of a sailor, gunner, and other departments
on such a vessel. He drilled with Prince Henry for
two years, and went with him around the earth. They
started from Kiehl, thence to Plymouth, South Africa,
Madiera, Capetown, passed through the straits of Ma-
gellan and was also at St. Helena at the time Napoleon's
remains were taken to France, visited Honolulu. Aca-
pulco, St. Vincent, Valparaiso, also the capital of
Brazil, Yokohoma, Siberia, thence again to Yokohoma,
experiencing a cvclone on this last trip. Then to
Nagasaki, various islands, Singapore, to south Africa
again and so on to their native land. They started out
in October, 1878, and returned in October, 1880. The
trip was a hard one as is seen by the fact that when he
started he weighed one hundred and seventy-five
pounds and when he returned he weighed ninety-four
pounds. He sailed some further and in the fall of
1881, returned to his native place. At that time prep-
aration was being made for war and as he desired to
escape further military service he came to New York.
Thence he came to Lansing. Illinois, and later i<
Louisville, Kentucky, where lie learned the plow mak-
ing trade and assisted to make plows for one of the
world expositions. He traveled to various sections of
the east and then went to Chelsey, Wisconsin, where
he was married to Miss Adelgunde Goltz, on December
6. 1887. After this they removed to North Dakota
and in 1891 to Salem, Oregon. They traveled to Cali-
fornia, thence to Salem again and in the spring of 1898
they went to Sitka and other parts of Alaska where Mr.
Ehlert mined. Returning to Washington, he came to
his present place, one and one'-half miles east from
Lane and took a homestead, eighty acres of which are
good meadow land. Three children have been burn
to this marriage, Arthur, aged fourteen, Emma, aged
twelve, Martha, aged nine. He is now prospecting
for quartz gold in his own place and has fine prospects.
ALFRED BOYER is the present incumbent in
the postoffice at Kootenai, where he has served with ac-
ceptability and faithfullness since the office was estab-
lished. He is a man of intelligence and stability and
has won many friends in all parts where he is ac-
quainted.
Alfred Boyer was born in Scioto county, Ohio, on
April 1. 1854, being the son of Wesley and Elizabeth
(McNalley) Boyer, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio,
respectively. They were married in Scioto county.
and there the father conducted a charcoal business
until 1880, then followed farming until his death in
1899. The mother died in January, 1902. They were
the parents of nine children : David, deceased ; Alfred,
the subject of this article: Calfernia, wife of John
Dressier, in Ohio; Addie B., wife of Jeff Haney. in
Portsmouth, Ohio; Ida, deceased; John, in Kootenai
county; Frank, 111 Lawrence county, Ohio; Alex, living
in Scioto county, Ohio. Our subject attended school
in the winter and labored with his father until he was
twenty-three years old. Then starting for himself
he engaged with a farmer for three years, after which
he spent eight vears in railroading. It was 1889 that
he made his way into the Sandpoint region, being a
pioneer here. He worked a year at tie making and
shingle manufacture and in 1892 took his present
homestead. He has a good orchard and a portion of
the farm under cultivation. In 1895 the postoffice was
established and Mr. Bover was selected as postmaster,
which he has filled in a becoming manner since.
On November 25, 1881, Mr. Bover married Mi^s
Ella, daughter of David and Martha Haney. natives
of Ohio. The father conducted a boiler simp there
until his death in 1881. The mother still lives 111
Ironton, Ohio, being seventy years of age and healthy
and hearty. Mr. Boyer and his estimable wife are the
parents of eight children, six of whom are living, as
follows: Grace V-, Roberta, Charles A.. George V ..
Charlotte I. and Lester. Mr. Boyer is a charter mem-
ber of the Sandpoint Lodge. No. 59, of the I. O. O. t.
His wife is a member of the Rebekahs. They both
874
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
are devout members of the Baptist church and are
exemplary and upright people, being held in high re-
spect and esteem by all.
ALPHONZO A. GREEN. A worthy pioneer of
Kootenai county, whose sturdy and arduous labors
have done much to open the wilderness of this coun-
try, and now one of the prosperous and substantial
citizens, we are pleased to grant him consideration
in the volume of Kootenai's history.
Alphonzo A. Green was born in Allegany county,
New York, on December 14, 1851, being the son of
Harlen C. and Sarah A. (Barnes) Green, natives of
New York. Thev located in Lucas county, Ohio, in
1857, and ten year's later removed to Shiawassee county,
Michigan, and thence to the northern part of the state,
where'die father died in 1885 and the mother in 1899.
Eive children were born to this worthy couple, Sylvia
P., .Mortimer. Harvey E., Marion X.. and the subject
of this article. Our subject received his education in
Shiawassee county and when seventeen he started to do
for himself. He' followed the woods for seven years
and then wrought in the lumber trade for E. B. Ward
until 1886. the year in which he came thence to Wis-
consin. Two years were spent in that state and then
Mr. Green came to Kootenai county. A couple of
vears later he returned to Wisconsin and after four
years in that section he returned to Kootenai county,
and this has been his home since that time. Contract
work in the timber has occupied Mr. Green much of the
time since then. In 1898 he purchased a quarter sec-
tion and then took a homestead, which gives him a half
section in his home place, six miles north from Granite,
where we find Mr. Green at this time. He does general
farming, raises hay and stock and also does timber
work.
On May 4, 1873. Mr. Green married Miss Nancy
L., daughter of Ja'cob Clark, a native of Michigan,
where he died in 1896. In 1883 Mr. Green was called
on to mourn the death of his beloved wife. She left
two children, James A., married and living in Granite ;
Alva N., living at home. Mr. Green is a Republican
of the true blue stripe and is always found in the cam-
paigns for the principles which he supports, active and
intelligent in debate and setting forth the questions of
the day with vigor and convincing weight.
CHRISTEN JENSEN lives about one mile north-
west from Hausef, where he has a fine farm and docs
a general farming business in addition to gardening,
while also he handles successfully a summer resort,
having a fine supply of boats for that purpose. He is
a man of excellent standing, capable and enterprising.
and of a public spirit that has always led him to be
in the front in any measures for the general wel-
fare.
Our subject was born in Juland, Denmark, on
June 27, 1852, being the son of Jens and Christina
(Hansen) Christsen, natives also of Denmark where
the mother died in 1864 and the father still lives. Our
subject was educated in his native place and in 1877
he came to America, locating in Brown county, Wis-
consin. He cut wood, made ties and then went to
Neenah, thence to Stevens Point, and later to Chicago.
He had served as coachman some previous to this last
trip and there did that work for six years. In 1888
he came to Kootenai county, made ties, then took a
homestead where he now lives. He has improved the
place in a fine manner, does a large gardening business,
disposing of his products in Rathdrum and Coeur
d'Alene. He has also a band of fifteen cattle and
other stock.
In 1882 Mr. Jensen married Miss Lina Hansen,
daughter of Hans Jorgensen and Nellie Peterson, na-
tives of Denmark. The father died several years since,
but the mother still lives in Fyn, Denmark. Five
children have been born to our subject and his esti-
mable wife, James C, Harry A., Berty, Erving R.,
and Mita Christina, deceased. Mr. Jensen has been
a member of the school board for many terms and is
now clerk. He is a member of the F. O. A., Rathdrum
Court, No. 14. He is a man of reliability and has
demonstrated his faithfulness, his sagacity and his up-
rightness in all of his ways.
Mr. Jensen has recently built a commodious dwell-
ing with rooms for the accommodation of tourists to
the beautiful lake where he resides.
WILLIAM BASLINGTON is a pioneer of the
region embraced in Kootenai county, and a man who
has displayed the commendable qualities of worth and
wisdom in all his ways, while the crowning of his
labors by a good property holding is just as he has
wrought with assiduity and thrift for many years.
William was born in Whittlesey, England, on August
22, 1846, being the son of John and Ann (Hardy)
Baslington, natives of England, but immigrants to the
United States in 1865. They located in Goodhue county,
Minnesota, where the father died in 1892, being seventy-
seven years of age, and the mother passed away in
1901, aged seventy-eight, both being buried in Pine
Island, Minnesota. William was educated in England
and at the age of fifteen quit school and labored until
eighteen and then enlisted in the English army. He
went in as private and came out nine years later as
sergeant. He was obliged to pay fourteen pounds to
gain his release to come to America. He came direct
to Goodhue county, Minnesota, where his parents were,
then worked a year and went to California. One vear
'later he was in Waitsburg. Washington, in 1876, he
next came to Rockford and in 1878 he entered the
wilds of Kootneai county,, or what is now Kootenai
county. He worked at lumbering for a time, then
squatted on his present fertile farm. He toiled to
bring it from the wildness of nature and has an ex-
cellent estate. The amount of labor necessary to bring
a wild tract to a fertile farm, well appointed, laid out
in good shape and properly improved is far more
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
»7S
than one will imagine, unless that one has had
experience. Mr. Baslington has done a good work.
He does a general farming business, handles stock, and
is a leading citizen.
In 1896 Mr. Baslington married Miss Ann Beck.
He is a member of the F. O. A., Rathdrum Court, No.
14, and also of the Episcopalian church. He is a man
who commands the respect and has won the confidence
of all with whom he has to do.
CHRIST NELSON is one of the younger men
of industry in Kootenai county, living on a good farm
three miles north from Hauser, where he has a con-
fortable family residence, commodious barns and all
out buildings needed, while his land is productive of
excellent returns. Mr. Nelson was born in Waupaca
county, Wisconsin, on May 21, 1873, being the son
of Lars Nelson, a native of Denmark who came to the
United States in the 'fifties and fought the battles of
the Union in the Civil war with distinction to himself.
Christ was educated in his native place and at the
age of sturdy boyhood started for himself and in 1889
we find him in Deep Creek, Washington. He labored
there for two years, then came to Kootenai, locating
his present farm. It was in 1898 that he erected a fine
barn, house and all buildings needed and is numbered
with the thrifty and substantial agriculturists of the
county.
In 1898 occurred the marriage of Mr. Nelson and
Miss Dora White, a daughter of Nicholas White. Po-
litically, we note that Mr. Nelson is allied with the
Republicans and he is active in that realm, ever exert-
ing his influence for the right principles and the best
men. Mr. Nelson has one brother, Peter, living in
Wisconsin, and one sister, Fanny, married to George
Huffcutt, also living in Wisconsin.
DANIEL W. PEARCE. If to the industrious
and thrifty laborers of our land should come a due
reward, then there should be granted by reason of
right this boon to the subject of this article, for he
has manifested in Kootenai county worthy labor and
energy, and it is with pleasure that we accord him
representation in this volume, as he is also a man of
integrity and a substantial property owner.
Daniel W. was born in Sullivan county, Missouri,
on September 9, 1848, being the son of John and Mar-
tha (King) Pearce, natives of Kentucky, but emigrants
to Sonoma county, California, in 1856. The father's
death occurred in Clarke county, Washington, in 1875
and is buried there. The mother died in 1889. in Dayton,
Washington. Our subject was educated in the various
places where the family lived. The parents came from
California to Dayton, Oregon. In 1864 they removed
to Linn county and in 1871 came thence to Dayton,
Washington, also they lived in Whitman county some.
They farmed most of their lives. At the age of twenty-
two, Daniel W. went to Crook county and took up
stock raising. Fourteen years were spent there and
then he came to Whitman county, took a homestead
and bought a half section of land from thi
He farmed there for about fourteen years and then
came to Kootenai county and bought two hundred and
seventy acres of land about two miles northwest from
Hauser, which is the family home now. He devotes
his attention to general farming, raising stock and
lumbering, and is doing well, being a hard laboring
citizen.
In 1887 Mr. Pearce married Miss Mary M. Cisco.
and they have six children, all at home, and named
as follows : John, Rena, Ina M., Hugh, May and Etta.
Mr. W. W. Cisco, father of Mrs. Pearce. married Miss
Mary J. Stevens, both natives of Missouri, and they
came west in an early day and located in Oregon and
lately came to Kootenai county, where they dwell now.
Mr. Pearce is well esteemed by all who know him and
stands well. He is allied with the Democratic party
and takes an active part in politics. He has held the
office of justice of the peace, road supervisor, deputy
assessor, and is now on the school board, in all of
which public service he has manifested faithfulness
and efficiency.
JOSEPH A. BAUER. This gentleman has dem-
onstrated that he is a capable American citizen, a good
business man, a genial and accommodating neighbor.
a loyal friend, and a worthy associate and promoter
of the cause of advancement and the development of
the country. He was born in Berlin, Germain, on
January 17, 1845, being the son of Peter and Elenor
(Lacock) Bauer, natives of Germany and France, re-
spectively. The father died in Berlin, and the mother
in the the province of Luckenberg, but both are buried
in Belgium. Our subject received a good education
in Sedan, France, where the parents lived for a time
and at the age of seventeen, he quit school and went ti 1
learning the trades of wagonmaking and blacksmithing.
Four years later he went to Belgium, became a citi-
zen and labored from 1863 to 1872, then had sufficient
money to come to America. He settled in Greenbay,
Wisconsin, went into business in his trade and one
year later went to Kansas. He bought a team and
wagon and came acress the plains, taking three years
for the trip. He landed in Mission, Idaho, in 187*. and
prospected for a year and six months, then went to
work for F. Post in Postfalls. He labored for this
man for six months and then labored for others for
several years, or until March, 1883. He then located
on a quarter section where he now lives, three miles
north from Hauser. He began at once to raise hay
and to clear his land from timber. He has steadily
pursued his way, making a great success of his labors.
because of his' skill, thrift and industry, with wise
management. He has one of the finest, if not the
finest "house in this section of the country, a good barn,
all out buildings necessary, and in addition to handling
one hundred and twenty'acres in cultivation he raises
considerable stock. Mr. Bauer sells about ten head
of market stock each year, sixty tons of hay, and has
876
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
a good orchard and in every respect maintains a valu-
able and good dividend producing place.
The marriage of Mr. Bauer and Miss Katherine,
daughter of Joseph and Ernestey (Servey) Gofine,
natives of Belgium, where they remained until the
time of their death, was solemnized on May 6, 1867,
and they have become the parents of four children,
Louise, wife of Louis Helby, living in Spokane county,
Washington ; Mary A., wife of Amel Ulbright, of this
county ; Joseph, married to Katherine Eisenhauer, of
this county; Francis, married to Mary Eisenhauer, in
this county. Mr. Bauer was elected justice of the
peace in 1885 by unanimous vote and served with ac-
ceptability. Being offered a second term, he refused.
He served on the school board for many years. Po-
litically he is a social Democrat. Mr. Bauer is affiliated
with the leading labor organizations and with the F.
O. A., Rathdrum Court, No. 14. Mr. Bauer is an
active and capable man, ever striving for the good of
the community, and has done a worthy part in the
labor he has performed within its precincts.
ADAM HAWTHORNE. Among the very first
to locate in the section of the country now known as
Naples, Kootenai county, our subject has the distinc-
tion of being a true pioneer and his faithful labors have
always been for the upbuilding and improvement of
the country while he is one of the well-to-do and lead-
ing farmers and stockmen located in these regions.
Adam Hawthorne was born in Lockport, New
York, on February 27, 1830, being the son of Adam
and Elizabeth (McMollon) Hawthorne, natives of
Scotland The father of our subject had married a
lady contrary to her parents' wishes and therefore he
came to America in 1822. and his wife followed him
the next year. Not knowing that she was coming so
soon. Air. Hawthorne had gone to Quebec to make
arrangements to meet her when she did come and there
they happily met by accident. They lived in Maryland,
in New York, and finally died in Port Hope, Canada.
The father was a blacksmith. Two uncles of our sub-
ject on his mother's side were owners of vessels that
did a silk trade with the Indias. Adam was educated
in the common schools and when fourteen went to rid-
ing with a circus. He rode for the noted Dan Rice,
and also for Barnum, being seven years with the
former and also some time with North & Orton, and
in all these years he was known as one of the best
bareback riders in the ring. In 1858 Mr. Hawthorne
went to buying grain for a Chicago firm and in the time
of the war he was purchasing agent for the govern-
ment handling mules mostly. One item we would
mention in the circus career of Mr. Hawthorne was
that in 1855, ne nad his skull fractured, but he held to
the ring for three years after that. After the war he
went to Michigan and remained until 1888, when he
came to his present location about one mile west of
Naples, where he has a fine farm, one hundred and
twenty acres of which are devoted to hay.
In 1862 Mr. Hawthorne married Miss Jane.
daughter of William and Sarah Bemrose, natives of
Lincolnshire, England. Mrs. Hawthorne was brought
to America when six years of age by her parents. The
father died in England, having returned there, and the
mother died in Michigan. To our subject and his
wife there have been born two children, Wilber A.,
a timber inspector on the Northern Pacific; Sarah J.,
both living with their parents. Politically, Mr. Haw-
thorne is a Democrat and is active in local matters. His'
people were all adherents of the Presbyterian church.
JOHN DUN LAP. This gentleman is one of the
early settlers in Kootenai county and he had previously
been a pioneer to Colusa county, California, where he
had experienced all the hardships and arduous labors
incident to that life, in all of which he has demonstrated
his ability and integrity.
Mr. Dunlap was born in Medina county, Ohio, on
April 6, 1843, being the son of William and Nancy
Dunlap, natives of Ireland and Scotland, respectively.
The mother died in Medina county when John was
nine years of age, and the father was killed in a run-
away. Our subject attended school until i860, then
went via Panama to San Francisco and went at once
to the mines. He was successful from the start and in-
vested his money wisely and continued there for
twelve years in Colusa county. He was elected county
commissioner of that county when he was between
twenty and twenty-one years of age. He mined most
of the time and also worked at the carpenter trade.
In 1880 he came to this county and labored at his
trade for four years, then he took a preemption, which
was his home for three years when he sold it and
worked at his trade for four years more, then he squat-
ted on a quarter and later sold his right and came
where he now lives, four miles northeast from Hauser.
He has eighty acres and raises hay and vegetables,
producing from thirty to forty tons of the former
and many of the latter annually.
In 1868 Mr. Dunlap married Miss Mary Woodruff,
who died in 1879. Mr. Dunlap is allied with the Re-
publicans in politics and takes the part of the intelli-
gent citizen in the affairs of the county and state.
ERNEST P. ULBRIGHT. One of the neat and
attractive homes in the vicinity of Hauser is owned
by the gentleman whose name appears above, and he
also has there, immediately north of the town, an es-
tate of two hundred and forty acres of land. He does
a general farming business, handles some stock, and
sells many cars of wood each year. Ernest P. was born
in Saxony, Germany, in December, 1861, being the
son of Ernest G. and Mollie (Arnstorf) Ulbright.
natives of that country, also. They came to America
in 1869, locating in Missouri. The parents now live
in Idaho. Our subject received but little opportunity
to gain education and so sought it for himself person-
ally by reading and careful observation. He worked
ADAM HAWTHORNE.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
877
for his father until twenty-two years of age and then
went to work out for wages. It was 1S88 that he came
to Kootenai county and soon squatted on a piece of
land. Later he abandoned that and settled on eighty
acres of his present estate, then he purchased one hun-
dred and sixty acres from the railroad company. He
has a fine home, good barn, an orchard of one hundred
bearing trees and some stock. In addition to his farm
labor, he does considerable carpenter work, having
mastered that trade. Mr. Ulbright has four brothers
and three sisters, named as follows : Lena, wife of
F. Enlers, living on Moran prairie, in Spokane county,
Washington ; Amel, married to Mary Bauer, in this
county ; Hugo, in Missouri ; Otto, married to Miss
Johnson, living in Spokane county ; France, married
to Lina Watson, living in Missouri; Selma, wife of
Joe Coffman, living in New York ; Lina, wife of Tom
Watson, living in Missouri. Mr. L'lbright takes an
active part in politics and is allied with the Republi-
cans. He is a member of the Lutheran church.
GUSTAVE W. NICOLAI. The valuable estate
of this worthy gentleman consists of a fine meadow
farm, two and one-half miles west from Rathdrum,
to which he gives his personal oversight, while he is
also a practical brick mason, a contractor and a builder,
giving his attention to this latter principally. He has
a fine home, which cost him, in 1890, three thousand
five hundred dollars, since which time he has added
much improvement, having fine buildings, good or-
chards and having put in a ditch to drain the meadows.
Reverting to the personal history of our subject,
we note that he was born in Holstein, Germany, on
April 9, 1852, being the son of John and Margaret
(Closence) Nicolai, also natives of Germany. They
came to America in 1865, located in Ohio and fol-
lowed farming. Later they went to Indiana and
farmed there until their death. The father died at
sixty-three and the mother at eighty-nine. Gustave
received some schooling in Germanv but finished his
education in this country, in Cincinnati. At the age of
seventeen he went to learn the bricklayer's trade and
wrought steadily at it for six years, giving his entire
earnings to his parents. Then he went to work for
himself, being twenty-three years of age. At the
age of twenty-five he married and in 1878 began to
contract in building. He followed it steadily and came
west in 1889, doing business in Spokane for one year.
Then he came to Rathdrum and purchased his present
home place, one of the finest of the kind in that
vicinity.
The marriage of Mr. Nicolai and Miss Amelia,
daughter of Henry and Adelide (Hunnica) Brink-
man, natives of Germany, was solemnized in 1877 and
they have been blessed by the advent of six shildren :
Theodore, in Kootenai county : Arthur, Carl, Edith,
and two that are dead. Mr. Nicolai is a Republican
in politics and always takes an active part in that
realm. He is a member of the Bricklayers' Association
iif Spokane. He is also a member of the Lutheran
church. Air. and Airs. Brinkman were natives of
Germany, and came to America in 1850. He served in
the Civil war and died in Cincinnati, where he is
buried. The mother came to Spokane in 1889 and
there died, being buried in Greenwood cemetery.
Air. Nicolai is a man of capabilities and stands well
in- the community.
DANIEL ESCH. One of the heavy property
owners of Kootenai county and also one of the leading-
agriculturists of the same, this gentleman is worthy
of representation in the volume of history which has
to do with the leading citizens of this section. He has
gained his fine holding by hard work, wise management,
and careful attention to business in all its detail-.
Daniel Esch was born in Harrison count}. I >hio,
on March 12, 1836, being the son of Christian and
Dorothy Esch, natives of Germanv. Thev came to
America in early clays and settled in Ohio. Later
they removed to Indiana and there they died. Our
subject is one of twenty-three children begotten by his
father, who was married three times. Daniel has four
full brothers and three sisters. Our subject attended
a German school for a short time in Ohio and labored
for his father until twenty-one years of age. Then
he started for himself. In 1885, he came to Wash-
ington to visit a brother but soon returned to Indiana.
He sold his farm there and traveled through portions
of Washington and Idaho and then went to Lane
county, Oregon, and purchased a farm of three hun-
dred and eighty acres which he rents to his brother.
In 1888 Air. Esch bought a section of land in Kootenai
county, where he now lives, about one mile southwest
from Rathdrum. Later he bought four hundred acres
more of land, which makes him the mammoth domain
of over one thousand acres in this county, besides the
fine farm of over one-half section in Lane county. Air.
Esch does a general farming business and utilizes
about twenty head of horses in his work. He has
never ventured on the uncertain sea of matrimony.
preferring the celebatarian's quieter joys and com-
forts. He is a worthy citizen and is capable, industri-
ous and thrift}-, and is respected by all.
DAVID F. FINNEY. In augmenting the in-
dustrial force of Kootenai count}-, where he ha?
demonstrated himself to be a capable man. ;
his entire walk in the ways of life. Air. Finney is
eminentlv fitted to be with the leading men of this
section and is entitled to mention in the history that
has to do with northern Idaho. He was born in
Montgomerv county, Illinois. May 24, 1802. being
the son of 'Jackson and Sarah (Titsworth) Finney,
natives of Illinois, where the father operated a flour
mill and farmed until the time of his death in 1869.
He rests in Kirkland cemetery, in Montgomerj coun-
ty. The mother came west, married in 1874 to James
W. Sackett and died in Kootenai county, in Ala}-.
8;8
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1902, being buried in Rathdrum cemetery. David F.
received his education from the country schools and at
fifteen went to work to assist in supporting the family.
At the age of twenty-five he married and went to
railroading. Three years later he rented a farm and
followed tilling the soil for six years, then he came to
Kootenai county, took a homestead three miles west
from Rathdrum, where the family home is today.
Mr. Finney has given his attention to general farming
since, with the addition to handling much wood, many
ties and also making a specialty of getting out and
selling telegraph poles. He has a comfortable home
and out buildings on the farm and handles some stock.
He also owns a house and lot in Rathdrum and is
planning to live there much of the time for school
facilities for the children.
It was in 1887 that Mr. Finney married Miss
Eliza J., daughter of John \Y. and Sarah (Williams)
Dugan, natives of Illinois. The mother died in 1882
and the father then removed to Arkansas and died
there in 1902. To Mr. and Mrs. Finney have been
born four children: Elmer, deceased, Bertha, Elsie,
deceased, and Bessie. Mr. Finney is a member of the
M. W. A., Rathdrum Camp No. 6843. He is a suc-
cessful business man and is well liked and is a man
of integrity and good standing.
EZEKIEL M. FINNEY is one of the successful
men of Kootenai county, and is a man, as President
Roosevelt remarks, "who has done things." This
execution and energy has been well directed and com-
bined with practical sagacity have given him the
meed due to the exercise of such talents. Mr. Finney
is a native of Montgomery county Illinois, and was
born on February 22, i860, being the son of A. J.
and Sarah (Titsworth) Finney, natives also of Illi-
nois. The father died in 1869 and is buried in Kirk-
land cemetery in Montgomery county. The mother
married James Sackette, moved west in 1898, and died
in 1902, being buried in the Rathdrum cemetery.
Ezekiel gained a country school education and at six-
teen went to work for the farmers and collecting cat-
tie for butchers. At the age of twenty-three he rented
a farm for himself and did fairly well for three years,
then went to railroading for a time. He came west in
1887 and located in Rathdrum. He railroaded a year,
dug the deepest well in Kootenai county, for Henry
Reiniger, which is three hundred and fourteen feet
deep. In 1889 he took a homestead, fenced and im-
proved it and in 1902 sold it. In 1897 he bought the
place where he now lives, three miles west from Rath-
drum. He has one hundred and ten acres, on which
is a large amount of saw timber, telegraph poles and
ties. He also owns considerable stock and intends
to go into stock raising heavily.
Mr. Finney married Miss Rebecca Howell in 1884
and they have four children, named as follows : Leora,
M., wife of J. C. Thomas, in this county: Charles
E., and the other two, Jesse E.. and Ida E., at home.
Mr. Henrv Howell married Nancy Smith, who are the
parents of Mrs. Finney, and are natives of Illinois.
The mother died when Airs. Finney was young, but
the father came to Kootenai county in 1887 and lives
here still. Mr. Finney takes great interest in political
matters, especially those of a local nature. He is a
member of the M. W. A., Rathdrum Camp No. 6843,
and is a man of sterling worth, being happily pos-
sessed of qualities which commend him to the esteem
and confidence of his fellows.
GEORGE W. HOWELL is one of the sturdy and
enterprising agriculturists and timber men who are
doing so much for the development of Kootenai coun-
ty and the upbuilding of her interests. His family
residence is five and one-half miles west from Rath-
drum, and there he owns a quarter section, which he
is now improving with a good house and barn, and
other substantial necessaries, has planted an orchard
and is preparing ties and timber for the market in
addition to doing a general farming business.
George W. was born in Fayette county, Illinois,
on February 29, 1867, being the son of Henry and
Nancy (Smith) Howell, also natives of Illinois. The
mother died in Illinois and the father came west in
1887, locating in Kootenai county, where he is still
farming. Our subject was educated in the public
schools and at the age of twenty started in life for
himself. He bought a farm of forty acres and one year
later sold and came west. He took a homestead in
this county, improved, gained title, then sold and later
bought the estate where he now lives. In addition
to the other property mentioned, Mr. Howell owns
a bunch of stock and pays considerable attention to
raising stock.
In 1886 Mr. Howell and Miss Margaret E., daugh-
ter of William Linton, a native of Illinois, were mar-
ried in that state, and to them have been born eight
children: William H., John A., Gilford A., Icen C,
Lillie E., Freddie H., Ruth, and Clarence D. Mrs.
Linton is dead, but Mr. Linton is still living in Illi-
nois. In political matters Mr. Howell is associated
with the Democratic party and is active in local poli-
tics. He is a member of the M. W. A., Rathdrum
Camp No. 6843. He and his wife are members of the
Baptist church, being devoted supporters of the faith.
ALBERT E. TRAVIS. Six miles west from
Rathdrum, one may see the well kept estate of our sub-
ject, which is the family home. He is a competent man
in business lines, being looked up to by his fellows,
and is one of the substantial men of the section, being
also a man of sound principles and worth and is de-
serving of representation in Kootenai county history.
Mr. Travis was born in Lacrosse, Wisconsin, on
April 12, 1858, being the son of Joseph and Elizabeth
C Lower) Travis. The father was a native of New
York, and the mother of Germany, and came to the
United States when young, with her parents. She
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
879
died in Lacrosse, in 1858 and the father died in
Augusta, Wisconsin, in May, 1902. Our subject was
taken to Fairchild, Wisconsin, when a child and re-
ceived a common school education and at the age of
fourteen years commenced to work in the saw mill.
At first he received twenty dollars per month and
then three dollars per day day. He labored thus for
about twelve years, then came west to Reardan, Wash-
ington. He worked by the month for a couple of years
and then rented a half section of school land and tilled
it successfully for three years, then sold out and came
to Kootenai county. He secured a homestead where
he now lives and at once commenced to improve.
He has it well improved and about thirty acres cleared.
This was taken in 1893 and he had worked in the
timber four years previous to taking the place. Mr.
Travis has an orchard of four hundred and fifty trees,
a good house, barn and outbuildings, and is one of
the well-to-do men of his section. He handles some
stock.
In 1881 occurred the marriage of Mr. Travis and
Miss Theresa, daughter of John and Margaret (Belin-
ger) Laundrash, natives of Canada, but immigrants to
this country in an early day. Four children have been
born to this worthy couple: Grace, wife of George
Reaves, living in Reardan, Washington ; Adelia R..
Joseph E., and Ruby F. Mr. Travis is a free silver
Republican. He is iraternallv allied with the M. W.
A., Rathdrnm Camp No. 6843; with the I. O. O. F.,
Rathdrum Lodge No. 73 ; while Mrs. Travis is a mem-
ber of the R. N. of A., Evergreen Camp. Mrs.
Laundrash died in March, 1862, and is buried in
Mankato, Minnesota, while Mr. Laundrash still lives.
working at his trade of wagon maker. Mr. Travis
is one of the men who have taken hold with a will,
to develop the country and its resources and is doing
well, and holds an enviable prestige among his
fellows.
WILLIAM H. ANDRUS. Although Mr. Andrus
has spent considerable time in Kootenai county, being
really one of the old-timers of this section, he is still
a young man and has manifested real energy and enter-
prise in the labors which he has performed for the
building of a home and the development of the coun-
try. He is a man of integrity and honor and is re-
spected by all who know him, standing well among his
fellows, and is deserving of representation in the his-
tory of his county.
William H. was born in Brighton county, Minne-
sota, on January 15, 1870, being the son of Ezra
and Jane (Chamberland) Andrus, natives respectively
of Vermont and Canada. They were married in
Vermont and went to Minnesota in 1865. The father
served in the Third Minnesota Infantry, in the Civil
war. In 1884 he came west to Spokane and four
vears later settled in Kootenai county, where they
died and are buried in Rathdrum cemetery. William
H. was educated in the schools of the sections where
he lived, and at the age of eighteen started out in life
for himself. He went to the Hoodoo valley in Koot-
enai county, squatting on unsurveyed land and went
to improving it. He sold this latter and moved to the
vicinity of Rathdrum and purchased a quarter, partly
improved. He labored there for three years and sold
it, then bought a quarter of railroad land unimproved.
He fitted it up as he could until he had sixty acres
under the plow, then sold and bought two hundred and
forty acres and later sold an eighty, which leaves him
a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which is the
family home now. It lies two miles west and one
mile north from Rathdrum. He cuts and sells various
kinds of timber supplies and is improving his place
continually.
Mr. Andrus married Miss Mattie, daughter
of G. W. and Eliza ( Famm) Johnson, natives of towa,
who came first to Minnesota and then, in 1890, to
Spring Valley, Washington, where they reside now.
To Mr. and Mrs. Andrus have been born three chil-
dren: Walter H. Ethel P. and Florence A. Mr.
Andrus is a member of the M. W. A., Rathdrum Camp
Xo. 6843. His wife is a member of the R. X. of A..
Evergreen Lodge.
NELS NELSON. Good strong hands directed
by wisdom and practical judgment have wrought out
the success that is now enjoyed by Mr. Nelson, a well
known man of enterprise and integrity, who lives three
and one-half miles north from Rathdrum, on his
estate of one quarter section, which he has improved
in a very becoming manner. He has one of the best
residences of the entire section, with fine mountain
spring water piped into it. a good barn and outbuild-
ings, while an air of thrift pervades the premises,
which indicates the spirit and nature of the proprietor.
Mr. Nelson does a general farming business, sells tim-
ber products and also owns two hundred and eighty
acres of grass land in Spokane county. Washington.
Speaking of the personal and domestic life of Mr.
Nelson, we see that he was born in Littleful. Den-
mark, on October 20. 1864. being the son of Oren and
Christine (Anderson) Nelson, natives of Denmark.
They came to America in 1880. settling in Bear Lake
county, Idaho. The father died there in 18S4. but
the mother still lives there. Nels was educate. 1 in
Denmark and at eleven quit school. He came with
his sister, Caroline M.. to America in 1879. settling
in Box Elder county, Utah. One year later they re-
moved to Bear Lake county, Idaho, and sent for
their parents. In 1883, Mr. Nels Nelson went to British
Columbia and labored for two years, then went to
Spokane, and later we find him in Montana, con-
tracting in ties and timber. He then went to Koot-
enai county, and two years were spent in contract ins
in the same line. Then he married and bought a man's
right to a homestead which he settled upon and made
his home for ten vears. after which he sold out and
went to Spokane county. Washington, spending two
vears there. Then he came to Rathdrum and bought
his present place, which has been the home of the
family since that time.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
It was in 1889 that .Air. Nelson married Miss
Cindrila, daughter of W. M. and Sarah Holston,
natives of Virginia and Indiana, respectively, but
immigrants to Iowa and Missouri. The mother died
in Missouri on April 12, 1898. The father lives near
Neodesha, Kansas. To Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have
been born four children, named as follows: Stacy,
Bernard, Van E., and Joe L. Mr. Nelson is a Demo-
crat in politics and is now serving on the school board
and has been for three terms. He and his family are
adherents of the Latter Day church. Mr. Nelson is
a man who commands the respect of his fellows and
stands well in the community and has manifested in-
tegrity, uprightness, and a public spirit.
WILLIAM S. LANCASTER. In all those experi-
ences which are part arid parcel of the pioneer's life,
this gentleman has had a great share, having crossed
the plains five times, once with two children, one eight
and the other a babe, the mother having died ; and his
life is one of great activity and adventure, with all the
attendant hardships and adventures, which but brought
out his native endurance, courage and sagacity.
William S. was born in Liverpool, England, on
July 25, 1833. being the son of John and Sarah (Slater)
Lancaster, natives of England, the father being a great
land holder there and the mother's people also being
freeholders. They came to America in 1847, located
in Keokuk, Iowa, and the father had a large share in a
companv that owned fifty thousand acres of land there.
He died in 1850. and the mother was killed in 1858 in
a railroad wreck on the Isthmus of Panama, and also
was robbed of seven thousand dollars. After her hus-
band's death she had been settling his estate and had
been to California, also, in the gold mines. Four chil-
dren were the fruit of this worthy couple : William S.,
the subject of this article: Anna, wife of Joseph Lup-
ton, in Iowa: Sarah E„ wife of Joseph Snow, in Lake
county, California; John, who died in 1861, while
crossing the plains. Our subject was educated in Eng-
land, gaining a good college training. He worked on
the farm with the father until the latter's death, and
then helped his mother manage the estate, and upon
her death, he was appointed administrator until the en-
tire business was settled. After the mother's death,
about i860.. Mr. Lancaster went to Pikes Peak, and in
1861 started across the plains with two sisters and one
brother. Thev bought land near Chico, California,
and then went' to Walla Walla, horseback. ( )ur sub-
ject bought mule teams and freighted to Boise. On
one occasion, he paid a man forty cents per pound to
pack sixteen thousand pounds to Blackfoot, Montana,
and then he sold the tobacco as high as five and ten
dollars per pound. He then made a contract with
Moody of the O. R. & N. Co., to freight a steamboat
machinery to lake Pend Oreille, the boiler alone weigh-
ing fourteen thousand pounds. This required thirteen
wagons and over one hundred mules all told. Then in
1869 he returned to Iowa, sold out and went to Mis-
souri and remained until 1889. On this journey lie
took his children, as mentioned above, and on the way
he had great hardship, as they were short of provisions,
and were obliged to live on wild berries. The late
Judge Clagget was one of this party. He also crossed
the plains with that gentleman in 1861. In 1889 he
crossed the plains to Walla Walla and thence to Couer
d'Alene, Idaho. In the spring of 1890, he went back
to the Black Hills, Dakota, and brought out his family.
He purchased a half section where he now lives about
two miles southeast from Rathdrum. He has the es-
tate well cultivated, and improved with good residence,
barn, and other buildings, and is one of the prosperous
men of this section.
In 1858 Mr. Lancaster married Miss Athaliah Mc-
Cleary and three children were born to them : Wiliam
H., married and living in Bellefourche, South Dakota,
is a native of Iowa ; John E., born in Walla Walla,
now married and living in Curlew, Washington ; the
father packed this boy in a box on a horse from Walla
Walla to Helena, Montana, in ten days ; Athaliah. born
in Walla Walla, married to Alex McDonald and living
there now. Mrs. Lancaster died in 1867, and soon after
that Mr. Lancaster took the trip across the plains with
his children.
In i860, Mr. Lancaster married Miss Mary Mc-
Kee, a native of Sharon, Pennsylvania, and seven chil-
dren have been born to them: Prince, born in Iowa;
Josephine, also born in Iowa; Henry, born in Mis-
souri, is now a graduate of the state university and
deputy mineral surveyor in the employ of the United
States government, and in school he was signally hon-
ored by the citizens of Moscow and his class mates by
the receipt of a fine gold watch; Nellie, born in .Mis-
souri, now in Camp McKinney; Lenna, born in Mis-
souri, now at Camp McKinney ; Arthur G., at home ;
Grace, deceased.
BENJAMIN F. STOCKWELL. Four miles
east from Rathdrum one will find the fine farm of
Mr. Stockwell, which consists of one quarter section,
and also one hundred and twenty acres of land that is
rented. The place has not long been under cultivation,
but the owner has made a good showing and has one
of the fine producing farms in this section at the
present time. He is a man of stirring spirit, handles
his business with ability and execution, and is well
thought of by his neighbors and by all who knew him.
Benjamin F. was born in Livingston county. Mis-
souri, on April 19, 1858, his parents being James and
Elizabeth (Gillispie) Stockwell. They came to Mis-
souri in 1842. The father was a carpenter and died
in Harrison county and is buried in Dale cemetery,
near Bethany. This son received his first schooling in
the village of his native county and completed the
same in Harrison county. At sixteen years of age,
he quit school and went to work, assisting his father
on the farm until twenty, then he bought forty acres
for himself and farmed three years. He sold and
worked with his father until 1889, when he came
to Rathdrum after tilling the land three years. Xext
we see him in Postfalls working in the saw mill and
WILLIAM S. LANCASTER.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
there and in Whitman county he continued for about
ten years. His next move was to rent a farm, after
which, in July, igoo, lie bought his present farm.
He has the place well under cultivation and will soon
have it given entirely to the production of the fruits
of the field. He bought eighty acres and in addition
to his own land he rents one hundred and twenty acres
of good grain land. He has a nice young orchard and
some cattle and horses and plenty of machinery to
handle his land successfully. Mr. Stockwell has pro-
duced some of the best crops on Rathdrum prairie
and is a prosperous man.
On March 18, 1886. Mr. Stockwell married Miss
Susan S., daughter of B. M. and Sarah A. (Terhune)
Ross, and to them have been born three children :
Roy O., born February 24, 1887; Montie F., born
February 15, 1896; and Ernest W., born January
17, 1903. Mr. Stockwell is a Republican and takes
interest in local politics. In 1899 ne was elected
justice of the peace but refused to qualify. He is
a member of the school board. Mr. Stockwell is a
member of the K. of P., Post Falls, No. 14. His
wife is a member of the Methodist church ; he is
highly esteemed by all and looked up to as a leading
member of the community.
The father of our subject, James S. Stockwell,
was born in Ohio, on December 18, 1820, and came
with his parents to Indiana, when a boy. He early
learned carpentering and followed it all his life and
was known in Missouri, whither he came, as "Uncle"
James Stockwell. No man in the community was
found as his enemy. He served through the war in
the Thirty-third Missouri Volunteer Infantry. ( )n
Tuesday, March n, 1890, he died in Harrison county,
Missouri, of disease contracted during the war. His
widow died on February 18, 1899, aged seventy-six.
She was born in Indiana on October 3, 1822, and was
married in 1840. She was the mother of nine children,
five of whom preceded her to the grave.
LOUIS T. DITTEMORE. This gentleman is
one of the old settlers of Kootenai county and has
demonstrated in a number of years of faithful labor
that he is a capable, upright and sagacious man.
Louis T. Dittemore was born in St. Joseph, Mis-
souri, on October 29, 1848, to Theodore and Eliza-
beth (Cotter) Dittemore j natives of Indiana, who
crossed the plains to California in 1853 and settled in
Sonoma county. In 1891 they came to Postfalls,
where they now live. Louis T. was educated in Cali-
fornia and at the age' of nineteen quit school and went
to work on his father's farm. At twenty-two he
bought a sheep ranch and followed it for three years.
Then he sold out and bought a small farm which he
tilled until 1876, at which time he went to Washington,
near Dayton, and bought one hundred and sixty acres
and also took a timber claim. He and his father put
up a saw mill which they operated until 1884, then he
rented the farm and took charge of the warehouse of
Dusenberry & Stensel, in Dayton, until 1890, when
he sold his farm and came to his present location,
eight miles north from Coeur d'Alene, where he im-
proved his farm with new house, barn, orchard and
so forth, and it is a very fine place. Mr. Dittemore
sold his farm this spring and has bought lots in Post-
falls, where he is building a house, which will be the
family home in the future.
The marriage of Mr. Dittemore and Miss Marilla
Hall was solemnized in 1868 and to that union were
born five children: Charles L., Hattie J., Perry L.,
married to Maud Morris, and living in Coeur d'Alene,
Jessie E., Mary G. Mrs. Dittemore's parents were
Edward and Eliza (Miller) Hall, natives of Illinois,
but immigrants to California, where they .lied. Mrs.
Dittemore died in 1887 and is buried in Coeur
d'Alene cemetery.
In 1900 Mr. Dittemore married Addie Cox, daugh-
tre of Robert and Luie (Lowney) Cox, natives of
Illinois. They came west to Idaho in 1899, remained
one year and then went to Kansas, where they now
live. To this second marriage there has been born
one child, Mildred B. Mr. Dittemore is a Demo-
crat of the Jeffersonian type and in 1898 he was
elected county commissioner against Robert Work,
Republican, gaining the day by four hundred ma-
jority. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. Mr. Ditte-
more demonstrated in public service that he had the
qualities which win and give satisfaction and he has
always maintained an untarnished reputation and
stands in an enviable position among the people.
JOSEPH G. BROPHY is one of the oldest pio-
neers of this section and was one of the leaders in
developing the region and getting the tide of immi-
gration turned toward the good country adjacent to
Rathdrum, which time was before there was such a
place as Rathdrum on the map. He wrought here
then with good execution and has labored here ever
since and he deserves a good rank with the leading
pioneers of the entire county.
Joseph G. Brophy was born in Cincinnati. Ohio,
on September 6, 1848, and his parents were John and
Elizabeth (Purcell) Brophy, natives of Queens county,
Ireland. They came to the United States in 1847,
located in Kentucky, and in 1857 moved to [owa.
There they died and are buried in Lansing. Joseph
received his schooling in Kentucky and Iowa and at
eighteen began to devote his entire time to the as-
sistance of his father. After the father's death he
remained at home and labored in the support of the
family until he was twenty-seven. Then he went to
Texas and joined his brother and labored at getting
timbers for the railroad, and two years later returned
to Iowa. Thence he went to Colorado and joined his
brother Tom, and assisted to construct the railroad
from Canvon Citv to Leadville during the excitement
of those times. In 1878 Mr. Brophy drove overland
to Walla Walla then came to Rathdrum in 1880. He
immediately went to getting out timber for the \". I'.,
which was built the next year. He took a homestead
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
south from where Rathdrum now is, proved up on it
and sold it, then bought the farm where he lives, five
miles east and two miles south from Rathdrum. He
immediately went to work at improving his place and
building a home. He has a fine house and one of the
best barns in the country, while his farm is well
handled and Mr. Brophy stands a leader among the
developers of the resources of the county. He has a
good orchard and raises considerable stock.
In 1883 Mr. Brophy married Miss Violet, daughter
of Jesse and Violet Mulleins, natives of Iowa. The
father died in 1886 and is buried in Rathdrum, while
the mother died at Pine City, Washington, in 1902,
being buried there. To Mr. and Airs. Brophy have
been born four children: Elizabeth, teaching school.
Thomas J., Belle, and Florence J. Mr. Brophy
is a Democrat and was elected justice of the peace
in 1898 and also in 1900. He takes an active part in
politics and labors for good measures. He is a mem-
ber of the Free Masons, Kootenai Lodge Xo. 24, and
stands high in lodge relations. It is of note that
Mr. Brophy was on the spot before any Rathdrum was
there and when the question came up as to the name
for the postoffice some suggested Woodville, some
Westwood, some Mill Creek and finally M. M. Cow-
ley said call it Rathdrum, the name of the place he
came from, in Ireland, and Rathdrum was chosen.
MARY A. WRIGHT. It is out of the ordinary
to find among the representatives of the people one
so talented and sagacious and withal so successful,
as has been ami is Mary A. Wright. And especially
is this precedented rarely among the ladies. Since
her life is the proof, therefore, we will at once note
some of the eminently successful doings of this promi-
nent lady.
She was born in December, 1868, in Nodawaj
county, Missouri, being the daughter of Rev. J. C.
and Marv (Best) Allen, natives respectively of Indi-
ana and Missouri. The mother died in 1886 but the
father still lives in Madison county, Missouri. He
has been prominent in the United Brethren church for
years. He is also a member of the A. F. & A. M.
Mar) A. was educated in the public schools and in
the State Normal, and at the age of seventeen mar-
ried and in i88q came west, locating in Rathdrum
the following year. In 1893 she began teaching school,
continuing until 1899. In 1898 she was nominated b\
the Populist party for the legislature and gained the
day by three hundred and fifty-six majority. Her
colleagues, Edwin McBee and j. C. Glah, were also
elected. The Republicans that year were George
Levet, O. C. Smith, and Adams. She was appointed
a member of the committee on education and was
chairman of the committee on engrossment and also
served in various other capacities. At one time she
was appointed to preside over the house. Mrs. Wright
is one of the three first ladies to represent her state.
From the legislature she went to teaching school.
She was at one time delegate to the state convention
of her party and as there was a division in the party,
two conventions were held and the matter went to the
supreme court and her side was sustained. She was
also a delegate to the national convention of her party
at Sioux Falls, South Dakota. In January. 190 1, she
was chosen chief clerk in the house and served that
session and it will be her duty to convene the next
session of the legislature in Idaho. She was secretary
of the Pan American exposition committee. Mrs.
Wright acted as private secretary to Congressman
Glenn in 1902, at the fifty-seventh congress.
Mrs. Wright has been the mother of three chil-
dren, and one, Otis A., lives with his mother. She is
a member of the Eastern Star, Queen Esther chapter
No. 96. Mrs. Wright has gotten a firm hold on the
hearts of her constituency and they stand bv her
nobly at all times. She is a woman of unusual ability
and her talents are recognized by all who may have the
pleasure of her acquaintance.
JAMES GLEESOX. It is the lot of compara-
tively few men to have the large amount of traveling
experience that has fallen to the enterprising and
capable gentleman whose name initiates this paragraph
and to whom we accord representation in this volume
with pleasure, since he has done much to assist in the
development of Kootenai county, has shown a public
spirit and has ever conducted himself with sagacity
and display of integrity and sound principles, being a
man of sterling worth of character.
James Gleeson was born in the famous little isle
that has sent her sons to the front of civilization around
the globe and the stanch Irish blood that has done so
much for the race is in his veins. He was born on De-
cember 24, 1839, in Wexford, Ireland, being the son
of John and Mary (Walsh) Gleeson, natives of Wex-
ford also. The father died there in 1861 and the
mother in 1874. being buried at Poulfur. They were
the parents of seven children, of whom our subject is
the oldest : James, John. David, Patrick, Andrew,
Mary and Matthew. James received his education in
the common schools and labored for his father until
he was twenty-four years of age. Then he bade fare-
well to the home land and sailed away to Australia,
where he spent several years in different work. It was
in 1867 that he landed in California and in 1869 he
went to Chile and fired on an engine and later became
engineer and remained there until 1874. He started
back to California, but stopped in Mexico and operated
an engine for a time, visited San Bias, the city of Mex-
ico, Vera Cruz, and then came to -New Orleans and la-
ter did engineer work in Coldwater. Mississippi. Next
we see him in Indiana, then in Arakansas on a planta-
tion, then in Chicago firing on a steamboat. He was
soon in Texas ami later in Dodge City. Kansas, then
he returned to Texas and went thence to Los Angeles,
California, and later was in the San Joaquin valley.
In December, 1880, he started thence to Kootenai
county and the following year he took a homestead
and improved it in good shape and sold it. Then he
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
S83
took his present place as a preemption, eight miles
north from Coeur d'Alene. He has improved it in a
becoming manner, has a good portion cultivated and is
prosperous. Air. Gleeson was chairman of the Farm-
ers' Alliance from 1889 to 1891 and he is popular
among the residents of his section and has always put
himself on record for the advancement of the interests
of the county. Mr. Gleeson is a member of the Roman
Catholic church and he is a man of reliability, carries
the stirring spirit of his race and the good qualities
imbibed in the far away Emerald Isle birthplace, be-
ing genial, affable, a man of sparkling wit and good
practical judgment.
JESSE DENISON. To the industrious agricult-
urists of Kootenai county there is much credit for the
opening up of this country and one among the number
who deserves a goodly share of the encomium is named
above. .Mr. Denison is a native of Allamakee county,
Iowa, being born on November 20, 1859, to Nathan
and Mar) J. (Lusk) Denison, natives of New York
ami Pennsylvania, respectively. They were early pio-
neers to Allamakee county and farmed there for thirty-
years, being buried in Mt. Hope cemetery there now.
Jesse was educated in the schools of that place and at
the age of eighteen took charge of his father's farm,
continuing the same until twenty-two. Then he came
west, Spokane being the objective point. Later we
see him on the California ranch and soon thereafter
he was in Cocolalla, then in Granite for five years.
Then in Kootenai county he took a squatter's right and
five years later sold it and moved to Rathdrum. He
clerked for John Russell, then railroaded a time and
contracted wood and then went to Montana and took
charge of a section on the railroad, after which he re-
turned to Rathdrum and took his present place, three
miles south and four miles east from that town. He
had bought a quarter in the hard times, but was not
able to hold it. He now has a fine farm, all under culti-
vation and producing good returns, stock enough to
operate it well, a good house and barn and is doing
well.
In 1881 Mr. Denison married Miss Fannie Maher,
whose parents were natives of Ireland and came to
America when young, and to this happy union five
children have been born: William, .Mary, James.
Frank, Rosa. Mr. Denison is one of the directors in
his school district and has been road supervisor for a
time. In politics he is allied with the Democratic
party and takes an active hand in the affairs of the
county and of politics in general. He is a member of
the M. W. A., Rathdrum Camp. No. 6448. In church
relations Mr. Denison is affiliated with the Roman
Catholics.
SYLVESTER MILLER. About six miles north-
west from Coeur d'Alene is the residence of the gentle-
man whose life's career is to be epitomized for the
volume of his county's history. Mr. Miller is a man
of good stanch character, is an enterprising farmer and
has established himself in the esteem and good will of
his fellows. He was born in Fayette, Ohio, on < >cto-
ber 22, 1873. being the son of Matthias and Clara C.
(Spencer) Miller, natives, respectively, of New Jerse}
and < >hio. They came west in t88i, locating in Day-
ton, Washington, and thence in the following year to
Kootenai county, where the father did freighting from
Rathdrum to Coeur d'Alene and in 1S84 boughl a
man's right to a homestead and settled there until [897,
moving to Coeur d'Alene. where he died in 1899,
March 31st. The mother had died in 1888 and both
are buried in the Coeur d'Alene cemetery. Our subject
received but little opportunity of gaining an educa-
tion on account of the many moves that the family
made. However, he improved his opportunities
and fortified himself as best he could for the bat-
tle of life. At sixteen he quit school altogether and
assisted his father, remaining with him all the time.
In 1897. when the father removed to Coeur d'Alene.
Sylvester remained on the farm and has continued
there since in cultivation of the same.
In 1893 occurred the marriage of Mr. Miller and
Miss Anna, daughter of John and Arreka Snyder, na-
tives of Germany. They came to America and located
in Kootenai county, later removing to Coeur d' Mene,
where Mr. Snyder is now marshal of the town. Mr.
Miller has one brother. Gilbert, living in Coeur
d'Alene. He aiso has one sister, Alta, wife of George
Childers, in Coeur d'Alene. In politics Air. Miller is
Republican and manifests an intelligent interest in the
affairs of the count)' and state. He has shown himself
faithful and capable and is in good standing among
all who know him.
ALFORD W. HUDL( )W. For a number of years
this gentleman has labored in Kootenai county and is
now located on a quarter ten miles east 'from Rath-
drum. where he has a comfortable place. He is a man
well esteemed by his fellows and has maintained a
clean reputation. Alford W. was born in Dawson
county, Georgia, in August. 1849, where be received
his educational training from the common schools.
His parents, W. B. and Margret (Williams) Hud-
low, were natives of Georgia. In 1885 they came west
and located in Rockford, Washington, and on Decem-
ber 31, 1894, the father died, being buried on Janu-
ary 2, 1895, while the mother still lives on Pleas-
ant prairie, 'Washington. At the age of nineteen Al-
ford W. started for himself. He took a claim and
soon sold and removed to Missouri, where he home-
steaded one hundred and forty-seven acres, and ten
years after his advent there he sold and came to Rock-
ford. Washington. One year there and he went back
to Missouri, where two years were spent. Another
move was made to Rockford and then he made his
way to Rathdrum. where he has been since with the
exception of one vear spent in ( tregon. He is located
in the vicinity of Harden lake, has a comfortable home
and handles timber products in connection with general
farming.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
In 1869 Mr. Hudlow married Miss Rode C,
daughter of Isaac Garoutte, a native of New Jersey.
To this union there have been born the following chil-
dren: Mark, married to Sada Burch. in Kootenai
county : Laura, wife of Silas Evan, in Spokane coun-
ty. Washington; Mat, married to George Grates, in
Spokane; Benman, single; Rus, married to Ida Jes-
tus, in this countv ; Rufus, Ruby and Pearl.
TAMES A. COLMAN. In the course of the com-
pilation of the history of Kootenai county it becomes
our pleasant duty to review the salient points in the
career of the gentleman whose name appears above.
He is a substantial citizen, public minded and of a pro-
gressive turn and has had considerable experience in
various lines in the county.
James A. was born in Roane county, Tennessee, on
October 14, i86q. His parents. Brice and Eliza (John-
son) Colman, were natives of the same state. The
mother died in 18S2. The father came west in 1886
to Kootenai count)' and now lives seven miles east
from Rathdrum and is one of the leading farmers of
the community. In Kansas our subject received his
education and at the age of seventeen came west to
join his father. He worked in a saw mill for a time,
'then bought a team and hauled ties for five years.
He then took a homestead, where he is now located,
ten miles east from Rathdrum. He has built a house
and barn, fenced a portion and cultivates some but
gives his attention to the timber products mostly. He
has an admirable place for a fish hatching establish-
ment and intends to start a trout farm.
In 1895 Mr. Colman married Miss Nellie B.,
daughter of Albert H. and Ellen (Graham) Dingman,
natives of Indiana, who crossed the plains and located
in Latah countv and later came to Kootenai county,
but now live in Oregon. To Mr. and Mrs. Colman
have been born three children, named as follows:
Amos B., Clara A., Lottie. Mr. Colman is an enter-
prising, public spirited citizen and takes great interest
in the" welfare of the county and is a zealous worker
in the Republican fold. He is ever allied with that
which is for advancement and betterment.
CARL NILSON. Although Mr. Nilson has not
been in Kootenai county so long as some of the pio-
neers, still he has made a good showing and is estab-
lished here as one of the real builders of the county,
having put forth the industry and thrift that charac-
terize" his race, being also a man to whom people
readily give confidence and of which he is deserving.
He was born in Varmlan. Sweden, on October 10,
1865. being the son of Nils and Johanna (Anderson)
Nilson. natives also of Sweden. He received his ed-
ucational training in his native land and at the age of
sixteen went to work on a farm and then went to Nor-
way and labored on the road. His father was taken
sick and he returned to take his place on the farm,
where he labored nine months and then went to Nor-
way. One year later he was in America and located
first in Calhoun county, Iowa. He worked two years
and then came to Sioux City, Iowa. In 1889 we find
him in Spokane, Washington, where he labored for
five months, then he returned to Iowa, laboring there
for seven years. Then he went to Sweden to bring
his mother to this country. He returned to Iowa and
one year later came to Kootenai county and at once
bought two hundred acres of railroad land, mostly
timber. He has a fine house, a good barn and has
improved his place in good shape. This estate lies
eight miles east from Rathdrum.
In 1899 Mr. Nilson married Miss Christine, daugh-
ter of Andrew and Kate Anderson, natives of Sweden,
where also they died. Mrs. Nilson came to this
country in 1889. To Mr. and Mrs. Nilson have been
born three children : John V., Ellen S. and Lillie E.
Mr. Nilson takes an active part in political matters,
and he is of independent thought, reserving for him-
self the privilege of voting for whom he chooses re-
gardless of party restrictions. He and his wife are
members of the Lutheran church.
JOHN P. BRENGMAN. This well known gen-
tleman is one of the esteemed men whose pioneer labors
opened this country for settlement and since his advent
here his hand has always been ready to build up and
improve, while his walk of uprightness and faithful-
ness has won for him the encomiums and good will
of all.
John P. Brengman was born in Corydon, Harri-
son county, Indiana, on February 27, 1865, being the
son of Thomas and Alice (Ken'tner) Brengman, na-
tives nf Kentucky and Indiana, respectively. They
were married in the native place of our subject and
there the father enlisted on February 8, 1862, in Com-
pany B. Fifty-third Indiana Volunteers. He was in
Sherman"s army and participated in the sieges of
Yicksburg, Atlanta, Corinth and also marched to the
sea, being altogether three years and eight months in
the active service. He received an honorable discharge
and is now a member of the G. A. R. When John was
eight, the family removed to Mason county, Illinois,
thence they went to St. James, Missouri, where the fa-
ther was superintendent of the live stock for the iron
and steel works. In 1875 tney migrated to Pawnee
county, Kansas, and in 1879 went to Richards county,
Nebraska. Later the father came to Kootenai county
and dwells here now. Our subject is the eldest of ten
children, all of whom are in this county. Our subject
came to Whitman county in 1887 and thence in May
of the same year he came to the St. Mary's valley.
Only several scattering settlers were in the valley and
Mr. Brengman worked in lumbering for some time.
Then he bought one hundred and twenty acres of hay
land a couple of miles above Saint Maries, which he de-
votes to hay. At present he is dwelling on a homestead
twelve miles up the St. Mary's and he and his sister,
Mrs. Emma Sanders, a widow, who is keeping house
JOHN P BRENUMAN.
ARTHUR A. DARKNELL.
FLOYD V. WIKE.
WILLIAM LYONS.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
for him, together own several hundred acres of
land which is utilized for pasture of their herds and is
also valuable for the timber. Mr. Brengman has just
completed a contract of building six miles of road past
his place and is to be credited in" his excellent labors for
improvement. Mr. Brengman is a member of the M.
W. A. and the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 32, both of
Saint Maries. His parents came here in 1898 and have
a good ranch one mile above town.
ARTHUR A. DARKNELL is well known in
Saint Maries and all points adjacent to Lake Coeur
dAlene, being one of the prominent steamboat men of
the lake, as well as a property owner at Saint Maries
and vicinity. He is a man of energy and enterprise,
has good business ability, and is an upright, moral
and stanch citizen.
Mr. Darknell was born in Watertown, Jefferson
county, Wisconsin, on October 16, 1859, being the son
of Henry Samuel and Jane (Alexander) Darknell,
natives of England, but immigrants to the United
States in an early day. The family went to Rochester,
Minnesota, in 1862, and in 1868 they removed to Good-
hue county, in the same state. He grew up on a farm
and was educated in the common schools. On October
16, 1880, Mr. Darknell married Miss Alice C, daugh-
ter of George W. and Lavina Hayward. He farmed
there for three years and then removed to Spokane
county, Washington, taking a homestead near Fairfield.
He impro\ed it and made it his home until 1897, and
then came to Saint Maries and engaged in the stock
business. Three years were spent at this, and then he
sold his stock and bought the steamer, Defender, which
he ran one year and then sold. Then Mr. Darknell
bought a half interest in the Schley, a fine steamer,
which makes daily trips from Coeur dAlene to Saint
Maries. Mr. A. I. Loomis owns the other half of this
steamer and he and Mr. Darknell do business in part-
nership, both being practical steamboat men. This
steamer is fourteen feet by seventy-five and has a ca-
pacitv of thirty tons. Mr. Darknell owns a tract of
land adjacent to Saint Maries, part of the town being
on his land, and also he has a farm of one hundred and
sixty acres of good land on the Saint Joe river. He has
a fine residence in Saint Maries, being a modern struc-
ture of eight rooms and located in a desirable portion
of the town.
Mr. Darknell is a member of the M. W. A., Saint
Maries Camp No. 8555, of the Saint Maries lodge
of the I. O. O. F., No. 32, being a charter member of
the last order and treasurer since its organization,
April 8. 1901. Mr. Darknell and his wife are members
of the Rebekahs. He has always taken an active part
in the upbuilding of the town and the advancement of
the educational facilities, and he has always served on
the school board wherever he has been. He is active
and interested in political matters, always attending the
primaries and conventions.
To Mr. and Mrs. Darknell have been born two chil-
dren, Mildred Lavina and Cora Alice.
FLOYD V. WIKE. This bright and intelligent
young business man has manifested excellent capabil-
ities to secure success in his mercantile establishment
in Athol, as well as in handling his land that he owns
near that town.
Floyd V. W'ike was born in Griggsville. Pike coun-
ty, Illinois, on September 4, 1879, being the son of
William and Elizabeth Wike, natives of Pennsylvania
and Illinois, respectively. Mrs. Wike is the daughter
of George and Julia (Tyler) Wike. natives of Dlinois,
who came west in 1899 aml located near Athol, where
they now live. Mrs. Wike married Sherman Hosier
in Glasgow. Montana, in 1894, and in 1896 they re-
moved to Spokane, Washington, and in 1902 they 'came
to _ Athol, where the)- now reside. Mr. Hosier was a
railroad conductor and has run trains all over the
United States. He was born in Ohio, on October 22,
1864, and he completed his education in Oberlin Col-
lege, that state. He had an unpleasant experience in
the south in undergoing a yellow fever and smallpox
siege. Mr. Hosier is a member of the I. O. < >. F. at
Athol and the M. W. A. at Spokane. Our subject
was educated in his native place and at Colchester and
when twelve went to work in a pottery. Later he
served in a printing office for one year, 'then went to
live with his grandparents, and in 1894 he went to
clerking in Chicago. It was January, 1895, that he
came to Glasgow, Montana, worked in a pumping sta-
tion for a few months and then made his way to Siski-
you county, California. Two years were spent in
prospecting northern California and southern Oregon,
and then he made his way to Spokane. He was at
Buffalo Hump in the excitement there and afterwards
came to Athol and located a timber claim. He has
this well improved and it is a valuable piece of prop-
erty. In 1902 Mr. Wike opened a general mechandise
establishment in Athol and it has been a success from
the very beginning. His patronage, because of his
affability and careful and wise business methods, is con-
stantly increasing and he has recently erected a large
building and increased his business. Politically Mr.
Wike is an active Republican. He is a member of the
M. W. A., Athol Camp, 8388, and of this order he
has been chief forester and is now banker. He is also
a member of the I. O. O. F., Pine Lodge, No. j^. in
Athol ; also of the Rebekahs, Evergreen Lodge, No.
5 1 , at Athol ; and of the K. of P.
WILLIAM LYONS. From the famous Emer-
ald Isle, whence come so many of our best citizens, the
subject of this article hails and he carries the stirring
qualities of his race, being self reliant, capable, ener-
getic and possessed of a goodly store of practical
wisdom and keenness that have enabled him to make
a good career. He is now one of the patriotic and
public minded citizens of Kootenai county and lives
on his farm of one-quarter section one and one-half
miles east from Ramsey.
With this short introduction we will proceed to
detail the personal items of the life of Mr. Lyons, not-
886
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ing first that he was born in Waterford county, Ire-
land, on January i, 1857, being a son of Dave and
[ohanna (Foley) Lyons, natives also of the same
land. When William was but three years of age he
was called to mourn the sad loss of his mother, and she
reposes in the cemetery of the native place. He was
educated in the common schools and in 1868 came to
America with his father. They located in Massa-
chusetts, where the father died, and our subject began
at the tender age of eleven years the battle of life for
himself. He worked on a farm for five years and then
railroaded for all the intervening years until 1892.
Then he came west, locating on his present farm,
which he took as a homestead. Mr. Lyons erected
the buildings on his farm and has done all the im-
proving. He has fifty acres under cultivation, the
farm all fenced and raises some stock. Mr. Lyons has
three sisters, Delia. Mary, Johanna, all married and liv-
ing in Massachusetts. 'Mr. Lyons takes an interest
in local politics and the affairs of the county and the
state, and is an enterprising and progressive citizen.
He is a member of the Catholic church and is upright
and well liked by all.
JAMES T. LAGERS is one of the oldest settlers
in this section of Kootenai county, which is six miles
east from Rathdrum, where he has a fine estate of two
hundred and eighty acres. He has wrought here and
endured many hardships during and since the early
days and he has won a fine success from the continued
labors which he has bestowed with sagacity. He is
of excellent standing in the community, has friends
from every class and is well liked by all.
James T. was born in Albany, Missouri, on Septem-
ber 27, 1858, being the son of Bernard and Mary J.
Lagers. The parents came to Missouri in 1857, and
in 1880 removed to the southwestern part, where they
died. The father was a miller by trade and he al-
so handled a farm. In the native place James was edu-
cated, having only opportunity to attend the common
schools. At the age of fourteen he was obliged to
quit school and assist the father who was sickly. Be-
ing the oldest son, the management of the farm de-
volved upon him and he remained steadily at that un-
til he was twenty-five years of age. Then he farmed
for himself in McDonald county three years, after
which he sold out and came to his present place. He
took a homestead and began improvement. The
country was very wild then and plenty of wild game
abounded, he being able to shoot deer from his porch,
while also bear and cougar were in abundance. Mr.
Lagers labored faithfully in improving his farm, made
ties and other timber products and now he has a fine
house, good barn, and the place is in excellent shape,
being increased by a purchase of one hundred and
twenty acres. He raises abundant crops and his soil
is of the very best.
It was in 1883 that Mr. Lagers sought a wife and
married Miss Sarah, daughter of James and Louisa
J. Cook, natives of Tennessee, who came west in 1887,
"locating in Kootenai county. They remained until
1901, then sold and returned to Missouri, where they
now live. To Mr. and Mrs. Lagers three children
have been born: Abbie K.. James I. and William E.
Mr. Lagers is one of the school board and has been
for eleven years, being clerk now. He is one of the
reliable and substantial men, and is deservedly classed
as one of the leading builders of the county.
ROSS DINGMAN. Practically the entire life of
Mr. Dingman has been spent in Kootenai county, al-
though he looks to Nebraska as his native place. He
is a citizen and product of the county, in whom pride
may be taken for his careful and faithful industry
and because of his real worth, having the confidence
and good will of all. On October 31, 1872, Mr. Ding-
man was born in Phelps county, Nebraska, being the
son of A. H. and Ellen (Graham) Dingman, natives
of Kansas, who came west with their young son in
1877. The Palouse country was their dwelling place
for three years and then a removal was made to Koot-
enai county, in which place Ross received his school-
ing. Later the parents removed to Glendale, Oregon,
where they still live. At the age of eighteen our sub-
ject started in the labors of life on his own responsi-
bility, working for wages until 1897, when he took
a homestead where he now lives, seven miles east from
Rathdrum. He has forty acres producing crops, con-
siderable hay land, and has about seven hundred
thousand feet of saw timber. Also, Mr. Dingman has
fifteen head of cattle, some horses and devotes con-
siderable time to raising stock. He also raises many
vegetables and sells in the markets. He is one of the
well-to-do young men of the community and has made
a fine showing in his labors. He is an active worker in
the political realm, being allied with the Republican
party and he also is interested in those measures that
are for general advancement and development.
Mr. Dingman has six brothers and three sisters,
named as follows: Charley, George, William, Frank-
lin, Harvy, Clifford, Nellie, wife of James Colman,
living at Hayden lake, Minnie and Ruby. Mr. Ding-
man is a young man of great promise and his steady
course, his industry, and his integrity have given him
a fine prestige.
BRICE COLMAN. The subsequent paragraphs
will suffice to show the real grit, courage, reliability,
and intrinsic worth of the estimable gentleman of
whom we now have the pleasure of speaking, and
therefore we will at once enter upon the detail of his
life, which has been an exemplification of priceless
virtues. Mr. Colman is a native of Roane county,
Tennessee, being the son of Daniel and Mary (John-
son) Colman, natives respectively of Tennessee and
North Carolina. April 17, 1845, was the happy day
when this son was born to the above named parents,
being one of seven children, four boys and three girls.
The parents located in Roane county, where the father
gave attention to boating and there they remained un-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
887
til the time of their death, being buried in Point
Rock cemetery there. ( )ur subject was denied the
privilege of attending school, but his perseverance led
him to learn to read and write after he
was married. At the age of sixteen his young
blood was stirred up to join the army and
light for the stars and stripes, and he nobly
did the part of a valiant soldier for the en-
tire period of hostilities. He was in the Second Ten-
nessee, under Captain Amos Marney. He fought in
the battles of West Cross Roads, Pauls River, R< >gers-
ville and November, 1863, he was taken prisoner,
when began the terrible suffering that has never been
fully told out, which many of the Union soldiers
endured. He was taken to Bell Island, Virginia,
and there languished in the war prison from November
11 to March 12, following, then he was placed in
Andersonville, Georgia, and in September he was taken
thence to Florence, South Carolina, and there on
Februarv 27, 1865, he was turned over to the Federal
.authorities. As Mr. Colman says, when he stood a
free man again and looked back over that horrible
time of bondage, he was too happy to speak, in fact,
it was the happiest moment of his life. He went to
Knoxville, thence to Nashville and then, on May 22.
1865, he was mustered out with a very creditable
military record. Mr. Colman is a member of the
G. A. R.. Lawton Post No. 29.
He farmed in Tennessee until 1870, then went to
Anderson county, Kansas, remaining there until 1883.
There, in 1882, Mrs. Colman died and she is buried in
Springfield cemetery. Anderson county. In 1883 Mr.
Colman came to Portland, and in October to Kootenai
countv. The winter was spent in hunting deer and
the following summer in logging. He then returned
to Kansas on a visit, remaining nine months, then came
to Kootenai county and went to work in a saw mill,
where his hand was cut off on July 12. 1887. This
sad accident caused his retirment from work for one
vear. Returning then to the mill he was night watch-
man for seven years. In 1892, he took his present
homestead, seven miles east from Rathdrum, and he
has improved it in fine shape, having good house, barn
and other buildings. He has some stock and a good
orchard.
The marriage of Mr. Colman and Miss Eliza L.,
daughter of G. W. and Biddie (Galliam) Johnson,
natives of Tennessee, who came to Kansas in 1870,
where they died, was solemnized on November 11,
1866. To this happy union there were five children
born: William F., single ;. James A., married to Nellie
Dingman, in this county ; M. E., married to Minnie
Rhodes, in Rathdrum ; Mary J., wife of Charles Ding-
man, in this county ; Fred, single. Also Air. Colman
raised his niece, Josie Williams, whom he took upon
the death of her mother, in 1891, and she is now keep-
ing house for him and teaching school. Politically,
Mr. Colman is an active Republican and he is highly
esteemed by all. He has been school director for
eight years in his district. Mr. Colman affiliates with
the Baptist church and exemplifies the virtues of
Christianity in his dailv life.
SAMUEL F. RHODES. This well known man
has been an active laborer for the development of
Kootenai county for a good many years, and is con-
sidered one of its substantial and capable citizens.
Samuel F. was born in Gentr) county, Missouri, on
September 14, [848, being the son of William C. and
Emily (Ball) Rhodes, natives, respectively, ol
Carolina and Virginia. They settled in Gentn enmi-
ty, where the father died in 1859, being buried in
How^el cemetery, while the mother still lives in that
county. Samuel received a common schooling, and
in 1865 drove a freight team of six yoke of oxen to
Fort Union, Mexico, for the government, then re-
turned to Kansas City and went home, where he la-
bored for his father for three years. He operated a
threshing machine, then went to Texas in 1868 and at
Denton, burned a kiln of one hundred thousand
bricks, which he sold for ten dollars per thousand.
He went to San Antonio, sold his outfit, then hired to
drive cattle, assisting to take eighteen hundred head
to Kansas. He returned home, got married, and set-
tled down to farming. Later Mr. Rhodes bought a
third interest in a saw mill, which he operated for
twelve years. It was in 1885 that he came west,
contracted to cut nine hundred cords of wood for the
Northern Pacific, and then removed to Fish Lake to
get school opportunities for his children. He worked
the next summer for O. A. Dodge in the saw mill,
then cut ties, and in 1888 he took his present place,
seven miles east from Rathdrum. He devotes his at-
tention to general farming, raising stock and hand-
ling timber products.
In 1873 Mr. Rhodes married Miss Emma, daugh-
ter of John and Ellen (Compton) Steel, natives of
Virginia, who came to Albany, Missouri, in the time
of the war, and there remained until their death. To
Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes there have been b< >rn six
children: Minnie, wife of M. E. Colman. living in
Rathdrum ; Leonia, wife of Dave Masterson, in this
county; Ethel, in Leter, Chester and Ruby. Mr.
Rhodes is active in local politics, and he ha- been
school director since the commencement of the school,
and was elected again in the spring of 1902 for three
years more. He and his wife are members of the
Christian church and stand well in the community.
TELL HUGUENIN. It is only necessary to
point to the farm buildings, the large herds of stock,
the industrial plant, the general farming bus
the gentleman whose name initiates this sketch, and
note that they were all gotten by his thrifty labor in
this section, to convince one of the stability and
stanch character of Mr. Huguenin. He is one of
the leading men of this portion of the county, and is
highlv respected, and is one of the real builders of
the countv. Mr. Huguenin was born in Neuchatel,
Switzerland, on Tanuarv 9. 1S57. being the son of
Svlvain and Hortianse (Barbazat) Huguenin. natives
of Switzerland, where the father died in 1874, and the
mother still lives, aged ninety-two. Our subject was
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
educated in the public schools of his native land and
then went to working in the watch factories. His
father kept dairy cows and later he assisted in the
work. At the age of twenty-two he rented land and
farmed it for eleven years and then came to this
country. He chopped wood in Coeur d'Alene for
four years and then bought eighty acres, where he
now lives, six miles east from Rathdrum. In 190.2
he bought ninety-acres more. He has built a fine
eight-room house, a large barn, thirty-five by one
hundred feet, and has improved generally in a very
becoming manner. Our subject owns eighty-five
head of cattle, about fifty of which are milch cows.
He manufactures about five tons of excellent cheese
each year.
In 1S7S Mr. Huguenin married Miss Elisa, daugh-
ter of Francis and Felicie (Allen) Jeannerett, natives
of Switzerland. The mother died in 1899 and the
father still lives in the native land. To our subject
and his excellent wife there have been born the follow-
ing named children: Therese ; Herman, in the Col-
ville valley, Washington ; Ida, in Lewiston ; Alice,
attending school in Seattle ; Edward, Alfred, Francois,
William, Marc and Martha. Mr. Huguenin and his
family are members of the Methodist church. We
wish to add that when Mr. Huguenin came to his
present place he was in debt and had one cow. His
excellent holdings a: the present time are the result
of his faithful and wisely bestowed labors. He has
the finest place anywhere in the vicinity, and he has
reason to be proud' of the worthy results that he has
achieved.
WELLINGTON F. SHARAI. The plain facts
of the career of the subject of this article will speak
more emphatically than words of encomium and we
regret that space forbids greater detail in their re-
counting.
Wellington F. Sharai was born in Berrien county,
Michigan, on January 9, 1845, being the son of Peter
and Eliza Sharai, natives of Michigan. They were
the parents of five children : Dileo, deceased ; Welling-
ton, the subject of this sketch; Eliza, wife of John
Crowder, in Spokane, Washington ; Eugene, in Wei-
ser, Idaho; Emma, wife of E. J. Hart, in Michigan.
The mother of our subject was a distant relative of
Robert Burns, the poet. Our subject received but lit-
tle opportunity for education but improved well the
amount he had. When seventeen he enlisted in the
First Colorado Volunteer Infantry under Colonel
Slough and Captain Sophies. He fought in New
Mexico in Patchin Canyon and also in other fierce
conflicts near. His command was ordered to meet
General Canby and they encountered the Texans en-
route but after a fierce battle all day the enemy retired
in the night. In 1863 the Indians broke out and he
was detailed to fight them. In 1864 a great battle was
fought with them, five hundred of the redskins be-
ing killed. This was at Fort Lyons, Colorado. Be-
ing honorably discharged, Mr. Sharai went to the
mountains with Dave Brinson and hunted. He sup-
plied the markets in Denver and other places for one
year. Then he mined at Lead City and in 1867
journeyed to Green river, after which he went hunt-
ing again ; such was the stirring life of those days. In
1870 the Indian war broke out and he and his brother
discovered a number of Indians driving off a band of
stock and they had a pitched battle ; many shots were
fired and one' Indian was killed, but the balance de-
parted. Mr. Sharai went to the Black Hills in 1871
but returned again to the Cheyenne country. Hunting
and fighting thieving Indians occupied him for a time,
then he went to the Black Hills again and there
killed twenty-three elk in one day. Thence he went
to the Union Pacific railroad and killed eleven hundred
buffaloes, one car load netting him nine hundred dol-
lars. One afternoon he fired two hundred and fifty
shots and killed sixty-nine buffaloes, sixty of which fell
on two acres of ground. He later killed eleven hun-
dred moose in five months in Colorado, and slew sixty
buffalo bulls and ten cows in one day. Then he re-
turned to Michigan and farmed on the old homestead.
for about three years, the father going to Oregon.
In 1878 he came west, having but twenty dollars, so
was compelled to foot it across Nebraska. He fell
in with a teamster going to the Black Hills and there
worked in the mines. While in Michigan Mr. Sharai
had begun preaching the gospel and when he went to
the Black Hills this last time he soon settled on a farm
and all the time there he preached the gospel. In
1888 he was in Spokane and preached for one winter.
In the spring he went prospecting and discovered the
Silver Mountain ledge mines. A company was
formed and Mr. Sharai was chosen superintendent
and work progressed until 1899. Then the company-
refused to spend more money, having laid out twenty-
nine thousand dollars and Mr. Sharai located the
ground in 1892, now owning the entire property. Mr.
Sharai owns fifty-four acres near Hope and has some
fine fruit. He divides his time between the fruit
ranch, mining and preaching. His residence is in
the town of Hope. He is a stanch Republican and
active in the campaigns. A summing up of the tro-
phies of the chase of this real nimrod is about as fol-
lows : Deer, antelope and mountain sheep, four
thousand, two hundred; buffaloes, two thousand, six
hundred ; elk, seventy-two ; bear, thirteen ; Indians, one.
These are what the trusty rifle of this famous hunter
and intrepid fighter has brought down. It is a force-
ful reminder of the mercy of the man that in as many
hard places with the redskins as he has been, he has re-
frained from slaying them, but only once did he cause
one of the savages to bite the dust. Mr. Sharai is a
man of great executive force, keen business ability.
sterling integrity and his friends are numbered from
every walk and every quarter. He is the recipient of
the good will of all and is one of the noted men of the
county.
CLEMENT B. KING. Six miles north from
I Coeur d'Alene, on the banks of Hayden lake, lies the
state of Mr. King. It it without doubt one of the
WELLINGTON F. SHARAI.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
889
finest places in the entire count}- of Kootenai. He
owns eighteen hundred acres of land, a beautiful house
of nine rooms, which is of modern architectural de-
sign, heated with furnace, having two bath rooms,
and is supplied with hot and cold water to all parts.
He has stone buildings for out houses, and commo-
dious barns, that cost a number of thousand dollars,
and the establishment is an ideal home, having alt
the comforts of the city and the retirement of the
rural abode. Mr. King has exemplified his taste, his
sagacity and his ability here, and altogether he is one
of the prominent men of the county, being a leader in
the Republican party, and also one of the oldest pio-
neers to the section west of the Rockies.
It will be interesting to note in detail the life's
history of this worthy man, who, as President Roose-
velt remarks, "Has done things." He was born in
Lee county, Iowa, on March 16, 1843, being the
son of David and Mary (Hinkle) King, natives of
Delaware and Ohio, respectively. They crossed the
dreary and dangerous plains with their little flock
in 1853, "sing ox teams. The father made settlement
in Corvallis, Oregon, and there labored until the
time of his death, in 1890. He had been one of the
leading men of that section and had retired on his well
earned competence for a number of years prior to his
death. The mother still lives in Corvallis, aged
seventy-nine.
Clement B. was educated in the district schools
of his western home and in 1862, being nineteen, went
to the gold strike in Florence. He secured some gold
and went back to Oregon, then we find him at Ya-
quina Bay, then in Walla Walla, and later in Elk City.
He operated a dairy in Elk City and did well, then
brought his stock to Walla Walla. He went the next
year to Bear Gulch near Missoula, across the Bitter
Root mountains. After some time with his dairy
he sold out and came via the Mullan road to Walla
Walla. Then he got married and went to the old
home in Corvallis. Returning to Union flat in Whit-
man county, he located in the stock business. He and
T. J. Smith have the distinction of locating the land
where Colfax stands, but later they gave it up. When
Colfax started to be a town Mr. King opened a drug
store and a livery stable. He secured the contract of
carrying the mail to Colville, Coeur d'Alene and so
forth, and then located a large livery in Spokane.
Four years he continued in these stirring lines, then
sold the entire properties and in company with James
Monaghan bought the traders' stores at Forts Coeur
clAlene and Spokane. Four years were spent in this
and then Mr. King put the first steamers on Lake
Coeur d'Alene. He netted in this as high as three
hundred dollars per day. In 1886 he sold out and re-
moved to Spokane, and with James Monaghan he
later took a contract to furnish all the ties on the
San Francisco & Northern, from Spokane to Colum-
bia river. From 1881 to 1886 Mr. King bought his
present elegant estate, and in 1889 he built his lovely
home. Mr. King is giving his attention to raising
fine horses, having two excellent stallions, one a
draught animal and the other a trotter. He has nearlv
fifty head of fine horses.
In 1867 Mr. King married Miss Mary Cox, and
to them were born two children: Homer B., married
and living in Coeur d'Alene; Jennie, living with her
parents. In 1878 Mrs. King died. In 1880 Mr. King
married Belle Wimpy, daughter of Major and Lidia
Wimpy, natives of Xorth Carolina, and they have
one child.
Air. King is a strong man in the Republican ranks
and is active at all times for the interests of his party.
He is a member of the Elks, Spokane Lodge, No. 228,
being one of the oldest in this section.
NICHOLAS HITE. This veteran of many bat-
tles for his country, as well as the victorious cham-
pion in many struggles on the arena of life's con-
flicts, is a deserving man, upright and faithful in his
labors and in his demeanor toward all has so displayed
the rich virtues of a Christian life that he has won
friends from all classes and parties and is admired
universally by those who know him.
Nicholas Hite was born in Bedford, Pennsylvania,
on July 5, 1837, being the son of David and Margret
(Stevens) Hite. natives also of the Keystone state.
They removed to Benton, Iowa, in 1848, where they
engaged in farming until the time of their deaths.
The father's time came in 1868, and the mother passed
away in 1892, both being buried in Benton. The
children of this worthy couple were six boys and
six girls, all of whom are married and living. Our
subject was educated in the common schools and re-
mained with his father until twenty-one. Then he
rented a farm for himself and when the war broke out
he patriotically pressed into service, enlisting in the
Twenty-eighth Iowa Infantry, under Captain S. P.
Vennata. At Iowa City they went into camp, and
after a time at Davenport went to Helena. Arkansas, t. 1
cut off Price's retreat from Holly Springs. They made
different expeditions in Arkansas and Mr. Hite was
taken severely with rheumatism. He was so sick that
he was unconscious for two weeks, and his entire body
was wrapped in cotton batting, and this was saturated
with turpentine, which blistered him from head to
foot. He suffered terrible agony. When better, he
was transferred to Keokuk, Iowa, and when well
enough was set as night watch, but being unable to
sleep in the day time he was soon in the hospital again.
Later he rejoined his regiment in Algeirs and Berwick
City. Later under General Banks he fought on the
K.ed river for two days, and they were obliged to re-
treat, covering themselves in rifle pits and damming
the river to let their boats down. He fought in many
engagements there and then was transferred to Wash-
ington. The ship was out of water on the gulf and
much suffering was the result. They were soon in
Shenandoah, however, and participated in the battle
near Winchester, also in man}- skirmishes and con-
tests in that region. He was later attacked with the
890
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
rheumatism and was sent to Davenport, Iowa, and on
May 3. 1865. he was honorably discharged. He re-
turned home and settled there until 1886, when he
came to the west. A short stay was made in Spo-
kane, and then he was looking in Kootenai county
until he found his present home place, which he took
as a homestead. It lies one and one-half miles east
from Hauser and consists of eighty acres, which is
well improved. He has a good orchard and buddings
and handles some stock.
It was in 1871 that Mr. Hite married Mrs. Nancy
Simmons, widow of James Simmons and daughter of
J. D. McLaughlin, a native of Indiana. To this union
were born six children: Nettie M., wife of William
Wylie, in British Columbia; Dora, wife of Austin
Denney, in Davenport, Washington; Arthur P., Will-
iam T.. Elmer, Robert C. Mr. Hite is a Prohibition-
ist in politics and has been the nominee of his party
for county commissioner and assessor in 1898 and
1900. He has been road commissioner for three years.
Mr. Hite is a member of the I. O. O. F., the G. A. R.,
and the Methodist church. He is passing the golden
years of his life in the quiet enjoyment of his portion
with the assurance that in time of war he was among
the first and foremost to fight for the banner of free-
dom and has always held the esteem and good will
of all who have known him in the walks of life.
GEORGE E. COLEMAN. We now have the
pleasure of recounting the salient points in the career
of one of Kootenai county's substantial and leading
young farmers and stock men. He lives one-fourth
of a mile north from Hauser on a fine estate of two
hundred and eighty acres of land, which his skill and
husbandry have made well improved and productive
of fine crops.
Mr. Coleman was born in Williams county, ( )hio,
on September 19, 1865, being the son of John and
Lena (Cassle) Coleman, natives of Pennsylvania. Af-
ter their marriage they came to Williams county,
Ohio, and seventeen years later they removed to Rich-
land county, in the Buckeye state, where the father
died in 1900; but the mother still lives there. The
move to Richland county occurred when George was
six years of age. He therefore got his education in
the latter county, going to school in the winter and
working on the farm with his father in the summer.
He also attended the Savannah Academy for a couple
of terms. Subsequent to that Mr. Coleman married,
and rented a farm for five years, then he sold out and
came west to Hauser. He rented a farm, bought some
cows and went to shipping milk. He sold in the Coeur
d'Alene mines. He was very successful in his labor,
and soon he bought his present place, a nice large
farm. It is all fenced and in 1900 he built a new
comfortable dwelling, and he has all necessary out-
buildings for the use of the farm. Mr. Coleman has
thirty head of cattle and some horses. He is one of
the most thorough farmers of the community and does
a dairying business in addition to his general farming
and raising stock.
In 1885 Mr. Coleman married Miss Carrie, daugh-
ter of J. H. and Jennie (Fleming) Freeborn, natives
of Pennsylvania. They removed to San Diego, Cali-
fornia, and live there now. To Mr. and Mrs. Cole-
man there have been born five children; Trell H.,
Jennie M.. Harry E., Florence B. and Clifford. .Mrs.
Coleman :« a member of the Methodist church.
WILLIAM C. T. PRICE. There is no doubt in
one's mind when he notes the hardships and depriva-
tions sustained by the subject of this article, with the
arduous labors and the determined effort put forth
to develop the country, that he is a pioneer in
true sense of the word and deserves a prominent
place in the list of real builders of Kootenai as
well as other counties in the Inland Empire. Will-
iam was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on November
3, 1846, being the son of Reuben and Sarah (Ousley)
Price, natives of England and Indiana, respectively.
The father came to America in his childhood days,
being eight years old. In Indiana he met his wife
and married, remaining there until 1849. Then came
a move to Des Moines, Iowa, where the family home
was until 1853, when they took up the weary and dan-
gerous pilgrimage across the plains to Linn county,
Oregon. One year later they went to Douglas county,
and eight years afterward were in Marion county,
whence in the spring of 1872 they came to the Palouse
country, then in Nez Perces county. The mother
died at Farmington, Washington, in 1886, being bur-
ied there. The father still lives in Tacoma, aged
ninety. Our subject received eighteen months of
schooling in Des Moines and three months in Oregon.
The rest of his life has been filled with hard labors.
His parents were poor and he was a right hand help
to his father. He made the various moves with the
parents until he was twenty-two, and then he took a
homestead. He improved, gained title, put out or-
chard and so forth, and sold it and went to California.
He returned to Oregon in 1871 and there married
;md moved to the Palouse country. He had a very
hard time there for a number of years, having such
close contact with the wolf that at times the potatoes
were eaten without salt. All provisions had to be
gotten from Walla Walla, and the trip was hard and
dangerous over the swollen rivers. He went once
when he had no wood to make a camp fire, but brought
an old box to start the green willows. They failed,
and for thirty miles they were without fire and water.
It took them with a crippled horse two days and one
night to make the distance to get wood, water and
food, and this was in the winter. After four or five
years of this starving, he went back to Oregon for
two years, and then went to Whitman county, Wash-
ington. For twelve years he wrought at the carpen-
ter's bench, and then came to Kootenai county. He
rents nine hundred and sixty acres of land, five hun-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
891
dred being under cultivation, and has about forty head
of cattle. Recently he has taken a homestead six
miles south from Seneaguoteen, where his home will
be in the future. He will operate the large farm for
one year more, and then devote his entire time to
the raising of stock.
In 1871 Mr. Price married Miss Harriet J., daugh-
ter of Thomas and Harriet (Downing; King, natives
of Ohio and Iowa, respectively. The mother died in
1859, and the father still lives in Wenatchee, Wash-
ington. To Mr. and Mrs. Price there have been born
ten children: Ethel M., wife of George Peach, in
Island City, Oregon; Edith W., wife of Thomas Tor-
pev, in this county ; Elva L., deceased, September 30,
1888; George N.'; Lonev W. ; Lester W., died No-
vember 20, 1883; Herbert T. ; Mettie M. ; Clara T. ;
and Bennie E. Mr. Price and his family adhere to the
Seventh Dav Adventist faith.
JOHN F. SCHROEDER. As the members of his
race generally, the subject of this sketch has gained
distinction as a soldier. And although America is
his foster land, he has shown his love of country by
an exceptionally long service in the ranks of the boys
in blue, wherein he has evinced qualities of great
worth, and has made an indellible record of great
credit to himself.
John F. was born in Bremen, Germany, on Feb-
ruary 10, 1852, being the son of Dedrick and Adaline
(Myers) Schroeder, natives of Germany, who came
to America in the sixties and settled for a time in
Kentucky, and then returned to the "fatherland." John
F. was educated in the common schools what time he
was not hard at work for his father. At the age of
sixteen he came to America and settled with an uncle
in Louisville, Kentucky. In 1875 ne enlisted in the
regular army, and served sixteen years and three
months, or until 1893. During his long period of serv-
ice he was in many hard places and always showed him-
self made of the true stuff that wins in the soldier. He
fought the Indians on the north fork of the Powder
river, and continued to have skirmishes for several
years. In 1878 he was in a battle with the Cheyennes
in Kansas, being under General MacKenzie, Colonel
Louis, and General Crooks. The Colonel was killed.
Thence they went to Texas, his company having what
is called a roving commission. They had several en-
counters with outlaws and horse thieves, went to
( )klahoma and kept the boomers out of the territory.
He then took his discharge and entered business in
Louisville. Kentucky, for eight months, and in i88r
enlisted in the Second Cavalry. He was ordered to
Montana and thence to Washington, where he was
chief packer until 1887. He was then sent to Ari-
zona for two years, then honorably discharged and
returned to Coeur d'Alene, where he served one year
and four months in the Fourth Cavalry. Then he took
his final discharge and settled on his present place,
nine miles south from Seneaguoteen. He has a home-
stead of one hundred and forty acres, well improved
and mostly under cultivation, and forty head of cattle,
besides hogs, poultry and so forth. He also owns three
lots on Sixth avenue in Spokane, Washingl
some timber land near Newport, Washington.
In 1898 .Mr. Schroeder married Mary, widow of
James Kingen. Mr. ECingen died in 1882 in Indiana.
In political matters .Mr. Schroeder is Republican and
he has been road overseer for three years. He is a
member of the German Lutheran church.
WALLACE 1'. GREEN. Eight miles north from
Coeur dAlene is the residence of Air. Green, which
is one of the neat and attractive places of the country,
manifesting the skill, taste, and industry of the owner.
Wallace P. Green was born in Dayton. .Minnesota.
on February 9, 1865, being the son of John and Jose-
phine M. (Evans) Green, natives of Virginia ami
New York, respectively. The father came to [llinois
and then to Minnesota, where he met Miss Evans and
married her. They lived a few years in Dayton and
then went to Anoka county, seven miles from Elk
River, where they lived for fourteen years. Another
move was made, this time to Wright county, and four
years later they came to Washington, and now live in
Seattle. To them were born the following children,
besides the subject of this sketch: Florence, wife of H.
P.. Stevens, in Kellogg: Edith, wife of H. J. Borth-
wick, in Rathdrum ; Myrtle E., Charles S.. John E..
Edgar L., all in Seattle.
Wallace P. was educated in the common schools
in the various places where his parents lived, and
came west in 1883. He worked for his father until
twenty-one years of age and then worked out for
wages for nine years. He then purchasd forty acres
of land and went to making a home. He immediately
erected a good house, barn and other improvements,
fencing the land and in every way making it valuable.
He has twenty-five acres under cultivation, three acres
of orchard of all varieties, and he raises hay and vege-
tables and is one of the prosperous farmers of the
region. Mr. Green is well contented with the country
and is determined to make this his home. In political
matters Mr. Green is an adherent of the Populist party
and takes an active interest in the politics of the county
and state. Mr. Green has a nice and comfortable home
and is prosperous, but he has never as yet taken to
himself a wife, preferring the quiet of the celiba-
tarian's life of secure comfort.
WILLIAM E. LIBBY. The subject of this
sketch is a practical exemplification of what energy,
wise management and industry can do in Kootenai
county, the place of great resources. He now owns
a half section of land, one and one-fourth miles north
of Hauser, which is the family home, has a large por-
tion cultivated, has thirty head of cattle, does a gen-
892
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
eral farming and dairying business, and is well to do.
A short time since he came here without capital ex-
cept his hands and a good stout heart of courage. He
has made all since that time, which speaks well of his
abilites.
William E. was born in Evansville, Wisconsin, on
August 30, 1866, being the son of William and Julia
(Ricker) Libby, natives of Maine. They came to
Evansville, Wisconsin, in 185 1, where the father fol-
lowed contracting and building. William E. received
his education in the common schools and then spent
a year in the Methodist Seminary. He then went to
w:ork for his father in the building business until
twenty-nine, when he took up the butcher business for
two vears. After this he came to Montana and thence
went to Cranbrook, British Columbia. It was in
1898 that he came to Spokane, where one year was
spent in carpenter work. Then he bought the half
section where he now lives and spent his energies to
make a home and a place of value. He has succeeded
admirably. Air. Libby now has thirty-five head of
cattle, operates a good dairy and also pays attention
to general farming. He has found the place which
he believes will always be his home, and he is fitting
it up in a becoming manner. Mr. Libby is a stanch
Republican, and advocates the principles of his party
with wisdom and energy. He is a school director and
at present is chairman.
In 1887 Mr. Libby married Miss Minnie M.,
daughter of Louis G. and Sabria (McCoy) Foote,
natives of Evansville, Wisconsin. The father died
when Mrs. Libby was young but her mother lives in
our subject's home now. To this worthy couple one
child has been born, Ernest G.. at home. Mr. Libbv
is a member of the M. W. A., Rathdrum Camp, No.
6843, while Mrs. Libby is a member of the R. N. A.,
Evergreen Camp, No. 2317. Mr. Libby has always
been a man of energy and has displayed becoming
sagacity and integrity in his endeavors.
JAMES M. BRADLEY is well known in northern
Kootenai county, being one of the substantial business,
men of Sandpoint at the present time, where he con-
ducts a hotel and retail liquor store.
He was born in county Donegal, Ireland, on April
*5. 1855, being the son of Rodger and Mary (Daugh-
erty) Bradley, natives of the same countv, and there
the father died in 1880, but the mother still lives.
They were the parents of five sons : Dennis, deceased,
who was the father of two children ; Barney, deceased ;
Charles, in Portland, Oregon ; Patrick, in the United
States somewhere ; James M., the subject of this
sketch. James received a common schooling in his
native place and when fifteen commenced the battle of
life for himself. He went to Scotland and worked
in the iron works for five years and in 1877 he came to
the United States. His first location was at Sea-
beck, Washingon, and there he fired a sawmill engine
for two vears. Later he harvested in Walla Walla
county and then went to railroading in 1879. In 1883
Mr. Bradley went into the woods, contracting tim-
bers and in 1885 we find him in Sandpoint in the
saloon business. In 1887 he removed to Rathdrum
but returned to his first choice in 1893 and in addition
to his saloon he now operates a good hotel in Sand-
point.
On December 3, 1898, Mr. Bradley married Miss
Louise Zenter, daughter of Samuel and Dora
Schackender, natives of Germany, who came to
America in 1887, locating in North Dakota, where they
now live. Mrs. Bradley came to Idaho in 1895. She
has two children by her former marriage, William
and Bertha Zenter. To Mr. and Mrs. Bradley two
children have been born, James and Edward. Mr.
Bradley was elected justice of the peace in 1886, serv-
ing four years. Again he was chosen for the same
position in 1898. He is one of the councilmen of the
town and was one of the first trustees of the village.
Mr. Bradley is a' member of the K. of P., Panhandle
Lodge, No. 13, at Rathdrum; also of the F. of A.,
Pend Oreille Court No. 12, at Sandpoint. He and
his wife are members of the Catholic church. Mr.
Bradley is highly respected by all and is in good stand-
ing in the community where his worth is recognized.
ANNIE McGUIRE is the widow of the late
Frank P. McGuire. a man of excellent capabilities,
and who accomplished much in the industries which
followed; and the estimable lady mentioned above
comes no whit behind in the manipulation of the affairs
of business that have fallen to her lot.
Mrs. McGuire was born in county Cavan. Ireland,
on May 14, 1850, being the daughter of Thomas and
Rose (Riley) Morris, natives of Ireland also. They
came to Grant county, Wisconsin, in 1856, and three
years later moved to Fayette county, Iowa, where
they died, being buried in Ossian, Iowa. Mrs. Mc-
Guire was four years old when her eyes first saw
America, and she was educated here in the various
places where the parents lived. At the age of eighteen
she quit school and remained with her parents until
she met Mr. McGuire. Air. McGuire is the son of
Philip and Bridget (McGovern) McGuire, was born in
Middleton. Connecticut, and came with his parents to
Iowa when he was young. At the age of four-
teen he went to McGregor with his parents, and there
finished his education in the high school. At the age
of twenty-six he met Miss Annie Morris, and they
were marrried. He was a farmer and engineer and
they removed to Allamakee county, Iowa, and there
remained three years and then came west in 1878. Set-
tlement was first made in Pataha valley, Columbia
county, Washington. Three or four years were spent
there and then they came to Colfax, where Mr. Mc-
Guire was very successful in the dairy business until
1890, at which time he sold out and came to Spokane.
From that time until 1898, he operated a dairy adja-
cent to that city, and his usual thrift, sagacity and
I AM KS M. BRADLEY.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
89:
industry were rewarded with good success there also.
In 1898 they removed to their present location, five
miles east from Rathdrum. On November 30, 1898,
the angel of death summoned Mr. McGuire from the
walks of life and he was mourned, being a good man
and a kind and loving father and husband. He was
buried in the Trent cemetery. To Mr. and Mrs. Mc-
Guire were born seven children, as follows : John,
deceased ; Frank ; Louis ; Jenny, deceased ; William
A. ; Thomas P. ; and Mary. They are adherents of
the Catholic church. Since her husband's death Mrs.
McGuire has conducted the farm upon which they
then lived, it being rented. In March, 1901, Mrs. .Mc-
Guire bought three hundred and twenty acres of land.
They have ninety acres of this under cultivation in
addition to the quarter that they rent. Mrs. McGuire
has displayed excellent ability and courage in handling
the affairs since her husband's death, and she is es-
teemed and respected by all, which is justly merited.
JAMES J. FEELY. This enterprising and indus-
trious young farmer is one of the substantial men of
Kootenai county, and his labors and management show
him to be possessed of good wisdom and executive
force, while his standing is of the best, and he is known
as a man of integrity and sound principles. He was
born in Shelby county, Iowa, on September 9, 1876,
being the son of Thomas N. and Alice M. (Kemp)
Feely, natives of Illinois. They came to Iowa when
young and married there. In 1881 thy came west
and settled in Rockford, Washington, where they lived
for eight years. Then they went to the Hoodoo
valley, purchased the right of J. Anderson, to a piece
of land and settled on that for five years. That being
sold, they came to Rathdrum prairie and rented two
hundred and sixty acres of land near where the family
home is now. This was tilled with other land for two
years and then they bought their present home place
of one-quarter section, to which they have added forty
acres recently.
Reverting more particularly to the immediate sub-
ject of this sketch, we note that he was educated in
the public schools, his opportunities being very lim-
ited, and the entire amount of his education was re-
ceived in fifteen months' training in the schools of
Spokane county, Washington. The parents being
poor he was obliged to work from the time that he
was large enough. This rugged treatment, however,
developed a solidity and practical wisdom that have
more than repaid. At the age of twenty-one James
started for himself, and. in connection with his brother
Charles, he labored and soon they purchased a quar-
ter section. This was in 1896. and the father held it
for the boys until 1898 when it was turned over to
them. In 1900 they purchased another quarter and
then thev divided, our subject taking the first quar-
ter bought and the brother the last one. James lives
about four miles southeast from Rathdrum. He has
a good farm, well improved and all under cultivation.
He has a good house, barn and out buildings and has
done a commendable work in the art of improving
and developing. He has a good orchard of eighteen
different varieties, has ten cattle and seven horses
Mr. Feely is still a single man, one of his sisters keep-
ing the house. He has six brothers and four sisters,
named as follows: Charles W., Clarence H., Effie
L., Irvan E.; Grace G., Ada A., Corbin T. 1'.. Austin
L., Guy R., Irma G. It is of note that all of these
are single and all live in this vicinity, their farms ad-
joining. Mr. Feely is a young man of great promise
and he has labored faithfully in the substantial prog-
ress of the county and in building for himself a good
home and he is esteemed a good citizen, public minded
and substantial.
JOHN W. SETTLE is one of the leading busi-
ness men of Kootenai county, being located in Post-
falls, where he does a thriving business in real estate
and insurance, besides general conveyancing and
notary business. He is a man of good standing, has
the confidence of the people and is an influential man
in the community.
John W. was born in Canton, Missouri, on July 9.
1867, being the son of John M. and Emily D.
(Downing) Settle, natives respectively of Kentucky
and Missouri. The father came to Missouri with his
parents when he was fourteen years of age, where
he met his wife and married. He is at present living
in Canton, Missouri, and is one of the old and highly
respected citizens, being a leader in politics, in busi-
ness and social circles. He is at present holding the
position of justice of the peace, which, with police
judge, he has held for sixteen years and more. He
is a Democrat, and his business is real estate and in-
surance. John W. was educated in the common schools
and at the age of fifteen learned the printer's trade.
When he was nineteen he went into the real esate
busines with C. W. Munix, in Labelle, Missouri. Two
years later we find him in Bearing, Missouri, in the
same busines and one year there worked on a news-
paper. Returning to Labelle, he spent one year there
in real estate and insurance business. Then he dis-
solved partnership and came west to Spokane, where
he worked on the Spokesman Review and on the
Chronicle. This he continued until 1892. Then a move
was made to Spangle, where he operated the Spangle
Record for one year. Next we see Mr. Settle in Hope.
Idaho, where he worked on the newspaper until 1897,
at which time he removed to Postfalls and opened a
real estate and insurance office as mentioned above.
Mr. Settle is an only child and has never embarked
on the matrimonial sea. He is a Democrat in politics
and takes a livelv interest in this realm.
FRANK RUSSETT. The labors of Mr. Rus-
sett have been long and hard and he is deserving of
much credit for the faithful manner in which he has
S9-
1IIST0RY OF NORTH IDAHO.
continued in the pathway of life, ever taking hold of
the development work to be done and performing a
lion's share of it, while he has also displayed good
principles and integrity. He was born in St. Jock,
thirty-six miles north from Montreal, Canada, on
February 2, 1820, being the son of Charles and Esther
(Lapoint) Russett, natives also of Canada, where they
remained until the time of their death. The paternal
grandfather was a native of France, and came to
Canada when young. Frank was never allowed the
privilege of schooling, being educated to the hard
labor of the frontier from early childhood. He con-
tinued with his father until he was twenty-one and
then came to New York state and chopped wood for
fourteen years, receiving three shillings per cord for
this hard labor. At the time of the Civil war he
tried twice to enlist but on account of one crippled
foot he was refused both times. In 1805 he went to
Kansas, and two years later to Iowa, where he lived
fourteen years. In 1884 he went to Otter Tail county,
Minnesota, and worked for two years in the saw mill
industry. He then came to Coeur dAlene, worked
two years, and then took a homestead, where he now
lives, five miles north and one west from Coeur dAlene.
He has good buildings, which he erected himself, and
his hands have improved the farm in good shape. He
has a quarter section and does a general farming busi-
ness.
Air. Russett married when he was twenty-one and
he has the following named children: Louise, wife of
Fred Lamb, in Iowa : Lerose, wife of Nick Scully,
in Minneapolis, Minnesota; Jennie, wife of Charles
Henry, in Iowa; John, married and in Iowa; George,
married and living in Iowa ; and five that are deceased.
Mrs. Russett died, and by the second wife Air. Rus-
sett has these children : Carrie, wife of Earnest White,
in Spokane ; Edward, in this county ; Cora, single and
living at Spokane Bridge; Emery, single, in this
county.
In 1893 Air. Russett married Airs. Eliza Lerler,
widow of Joseph Lefler. He is one of the substantial
men of the community, has made a good record and is
respected by all.
HERAIAN KNUDSON. To the enterprising and
industrious man there is success, and such has come
to the subject of this article in generous measure,
while he is rated as one of the substantial men of his
section and surely is a man who has gained a good
standing in addition to his temporal prosperity.
Mr. Knudson was born on October 14, 1N57. in
Numedal, Norway, being the son of Knudt Olson and
Ellen Mortinson, natives also of Norway, where they
are buried now in the Nore cemetery. They had three
children, Sarah, Ole and Herman, the subject of this
article, all living in America. Herman received his
education in the religious schools of his native place
and at the age of fifteen left his books for work on
his father's farm. At eighteen he acted as a traveling
salesman through the country, handling clothing and
domestic articles. When he arrived at nineteen he
embarked for the United States and the centennial
year saw him in Clayton county, Iowa. He worked
for wages for one year and then went to Trail county,
North Dakota, and took a homestead, which he com-
muted in two years. He tilled that for six or seven
years and then came to Spokane county, where he lived
one year and then came to Kootenai county and mar-
ried Julia O. Yekan. She had a quarter section to
which Air. Knudson added as much more by purchase,
in 1895. He now owns and farms this half section,
which lies five miles south from Rathdrum. He has
a fine house which he built in 1900, has a good orchard
of two hundred and fifty trees, comfortable barns and
outbuildings and his place shows the marks of thrift
and painstaking care and skill in husbandry. Air.
Knudson also owns a half section in North Dakota.
He has cattle and horses sufficient to handle his place
in good shape.
On October 3, 1900, Airs. Knudson died and is
buried in Evergreen cemetery, in Postfalls, and four
children and her husband survive her. The children
are: Carrie, Albert, Oscar and Emery. Mr. Knud-
son is a Republican and takes an active and intelligent
part in politics. He is a member of the Stockmen's
Association. In religious persuasion Air. Knudson is
a Presbvterian and is stanch in his faith.
THOAIAS E. HOLAI is a native of Norway and
is endued with all the vigor, progressiveness. skill and
sagacity that are characteristic of the people that dis-
covered this continent, and is one of the prosperous
citizens of Kootenai county, and also has gained a
prestige among his fellows that is enviable and worthy
of his commendable efforts and upright life.
Air. Holm was born on February 16. 1858, in
Molde, Norway, being the son of Esek and Alary John-
son, also natives of Norway. The mother died there
in 1902. being buried in the Alolde cemetery, while the
father still lives in the native place. Thomas received
a common school education and at sixteen went to
carrying mail, which occupied him for three years.
Then he came to America, locating at Granite Falls,
Alinnesota. He teamed about the town for three years
and in 1887 he had the distinction of receiving the ap-
pointment of deputy sheriff under Joe Fortier, which
position he filled with credit to himself. Subsequent
to this he came west and he was soon in the employ of
F. Post where he continued for two years blasting rock
and laying pipe. Then he bought a band of cows and
operated a dairy for five years. It was in 1896, that he
bought eighty acres of his present place, unimproved
land, and at once erected good buildings; in 1898, he
purchased one quarter more. He has one quarter un-
der cultivation and in addition to the other improve-
ments a fine orchard of three acres and all the varieties
of fruit thai are indigenous to this latitude are repre-
sented. He has seven horses and ten cows and is one
of the thrifty farmers of his section. His estate is
located about three miles northeast from Postfalls.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
895
In 1885. Mr. Holm married Miss Caroline, daugh-
ter of Xels and Gurtie Johnson, natives of Norway.
They came to United Status in 1882 and located at
Plymouth Rock. Iowa, where they are still living on a
farm. To Mr. and Mrs. Holm six children have been
born, named as follows, Edward N., Josephine, Mary,
Martin, Fred, and Joseph, all at home. Mr. Holm was
town marshal in Postfalls for three years. For three
successive terms he was elected constable of his district
and he has been a member of the school board for
three years. In all this public service, Mr. Holm has
shown marked faithfulness, and efficiency. He is a
member of the A. H. T. A. In religious persuasion,
Mr. Holm and his family are identified with the Nor-
wegian Lutheran church.
CAPT. JAMES A. FISHER. A worthy veteran
of the awful conflict of the Civil war, where he did a
noble part for the flag of the free, serving through-
out the entire struggle with a courage and display of
ability and intrepidity that are characteristic of the
man, a pioneer of this part of Kootenai county, and a
man of good standing, it is fitting that Mr. Fisher be
granted representation in the volume of his county's
history.
James A. was born in Clinton count)-, Indiana,
on April 4, 1837, being the son of John and Martha
Fisher, natives of Ohio and Kentucky, respectively.
The father and his father came to Cincinnati when it
was but a fort. The father was a shoemaker and his
people were farmers. The maternal grandfather of our
subject was a millwright. James A. received his school-
ing in the log school house of his native place until he
was twelve and then his mother died and the father
removed back to Ohio, where James attended school
and at the age of fifteen went to work for wages,
getting twelve dollars on the farm and fifteen per
month for clerking. He was on a produce boat that
plied on the Mississippi and at the breaking out of
the war they flew the one star flag to return to Cairo,
Illinois. The call came for the seventy-five thousand
troops and the places were filled before our subject's
turn came and he answered to the name of one who
was sick, and thus got to go. He was in Company
I, Eleventh Ohio. He was reported hung in the south
and when his time was out he came home and his
people were frightened, supposing him a ghost. He
had been on guard duty on the Baltimore & Ohio road
most of this time. At the expiration of this time, he
enlisted in Company G, for three years, under General
Johnahan Craynor. In their first fight, at Middle-
creek, Kentucky, they defeated the enemy and then
were transferred by boats to Nashville, Tennessee.
He participated in the last day's fight at Stone River,
was at Chickamauga, there being promoted to second
lieutenant. He fought at Chattanooga, at Lookout
mountain and at Missionary Ridge. He also partici-
pated in the battle at Kenesaw mountain and fought
the enemy over a breast work in the night. He fought
at Atlanta and also at Jonesborough, where he was
again rep. rted killed. Then at Franklin and Nash-
ville he fought and at Lynchburg he heard of I
death and Lee's surrender. Then he was orden 1 to
New ( trleans and thence to Texas, and there was
mustered out with a record of which any one might
be proud. He was courageous in battle, faithful in
all his duties as soldier and displayed excellent metal
throughout. He came to Iowa soon after the war,
then to Nebraska, where he lived seven years, then in
1877 he came to Cowley Bridge. He took a home-
stead in this county and after proving up on it sold it
and removed to Postfalls. He purchased a half block
and erected a good residence and in 1901 he purchased
two blocks adjoining. He has a fine orchard and a
pleasant home.
In 1865 Mr. Fisher maried Miss Margaret Brown
and four children have been born to them. William S.,
in Dickson county, Nebraska; Charles \\\, in Sioux
City, Iowa ; George, in Dickson county. Nebraska ;
Rosy, married and living in Dubuque, Iowa. Mr.
Fisher is a prominent member of the G. A. K.. while
in politics he is Republican. For three years he has
been chairman of the town board.
By way of reminiscence it is interesting that when
he came to Portland they missed the boat which they
should have taken and it had not gone one hundred
yards from the mooring before it blew up, and for
the third time Mr. Fisher was reported dead. He is
still in good health and a respected and thrifty member
of the communitv in Postfalls.
CHARLES S. GREEN. About four miles south-
east from Rathdrum is the estate of this gentleman,
and it bears the marks of thrift and industry, while
personally he is a man above reproach, of excellent
standing among his fellows and is one of the sub-
stantial men of the county, which he has helped on
the road toward real prosperity and progress.
Charles S. Green was born in Dayton, Minnesota.
on December 16, 1858, being the son of John and
Josephine (Evans) Green, natives respectively of
Vermont and Pennsylvania. ( )n both sides his parents
were descendants of the earliest settlers in America.
The father came to the present site of Minneapolis in
1849 and located a homestead, which he lost on ac-
count of its then being a government reserve. He then
farmed in Minnessota" until 1883, when he came west,
settling in Rathdrum until 1899, when he removed to
Seattle, where they both now live. Charles S. re-
ceived his education in the common schools of Dayton
and in Anoka county, and at the ace of seventeen
quit study and gave himself to assist his father. Until
twenty-four years of age he could be found faithfully
laboring on the father's farm, and then he went to work
for himself. He rented a farm and took contracts of
getting out timbers in the winter. In 1884 he came
west and engaged in lumbering in Kootenai county.
He also "farmed and took a homestead, where he
now lives. In 1886 he built the buildings and fenced
the quarter. He lays eighty acres under tribute now
896
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
to raise crops and has a fine orchard and his farm is one
of the best in the vicinity. In political matters Mr.
Green takes an active part and in religious persuasion
he is an adherent of the Second Adventist church.
Mr. Green has three brothers and three sisters,
named as follows: Florence, widow of Clarence
Stevens, living in Kellogg; Wallace P., in Kootenai
county : Edith, wife of Harvey Borthwick, in Rath-
drum ; John E., in Seattle ; Edgar L., also in Seattle,
and Myrtle E., in the same city. Mr. Green has been
blessed with generous prosperity on account of his
wise management and industry and he is deserving of
this enjoyment.
O. BOUTON MASTERSON. This young man
is one of the well known business men of Postfalls and
is at the present time operating a retail liquor store
there, carrying a fine stock of goods. He was born in
Sheridan, Oregon, on June 16, 1869, being the son of
James H. and Margret J. ( Copenbarger) Masterson,
natives of Kentucky and Illinois respectively. The
father was a practicing physician and continued at his
profession until the time of his death in Rathdrum in
1894. The mother still lives in Seattle. Soon after
the birth of our subject, the parents came to Spokane
and there he received the beginning of his education.
Later they went to Rathdrum where he completed his
scholastic training. At the age of seventeen he started
for himself and his first occupation was clerking in a
hotel. In 1888 he started a restaurant in the Coeur
dAlene mining district and conducted it for four
years. Then he returned to Rathdrum and clerked
for two years, after which he went to Seattle and was
manager of the Globe hotel for one year. Returning
to Spokane he soon thereafter went to Medical lake
and operated a cigar store for a time, then sold out and
came to Postfalls and opened his present business,
where he is doing well.
Mr. Masterson married Miss Clara A., daughter of
W. A. and A. M. Hart, who live in Rathdrum, where
Mr. Hart does a general banking and merchandising
business, being one of the leading business men of the
county. To Mr. and Mrs. Masterson one child has
been born, Hawley B., going to school.
JOHN W. FREDERIC, one of the business men
of Coeur dAlene, has a record in the military service
in the United States army which is seldom exceeded
both for length of service as well as for faithfulness
and courage in the discharge of his duties. He was
born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on November 11, 1846, the
son of Adam and Catherine (Humbach) Frederic,
natives respectively of Germany and Pennsylvania,
and now deceased. The father fought in the Mexi-
can war and received a wound in the service. Our
subject was educated in the schools of his native town
and at the beginning of the Rebellion he laid aside
the books and stepped from the school room into ser-
vice for his country. He was in the Fifty-fourth
Ohio Volunteer Infantry, of the Twentieth Corps and
First Division. He fought in the battle of Shiloh and
at the battle of Yazoo Pass. He was in the siege of
Yicksburg where he was wounded on May 23, 1863,
by a spent ball, then he was transferred to the gun-
boat Louisville, and was with Banks in the Red river
expedition. On April 12, 1865, he was discharged
at Cairo, Illinois, and arrived home on the night of
Lincoln's assassination. Mr. Frederic re-entered the
service on June 6, 1866, joining the Seventeenth United
States Infantry. He was on the frontier of Texas and
New Mexico fighting the Indians and June 6, 1869, re-
enlisted until March, 1870. He was transferred to
Dakota where he was discharged on April 14, 1871.
He re-enlisted on August 18, 1871, in Company G,
Seventh Infantry, and served ten years. He was in
Montana against the Sioux Indians, fought the Black-
feet and also the Nez Perces. At Big Hole, Mon-
tana, he was shot through the shoulder. On August
18, 1881, he was discharged as sergeant of Company
C. During the Spanish war, Mr. Frederic re-entered
the service and went to Manila in Company B, First
Idaho Volunteers. He was discharged at Manila on
account of disability on February n, 1899, and re-
turned home.
While in Montana, in 1877, Mr. Frederic married
Miss Annie Hahn, a native of Pennsylvania, and
daughter of Joseph and Caroline Hahn, natives of
Germany. To this marriage two sons have been
born, John B. and William H., the latter having been
with his father in Manila. Both are located in Coeur
dAlene now. Mr. Frederic is a member of the G.
A. R., A. T. McReynolds Post, No. 19, and also of the
Redmen.
JOHN HAGER. It is certainly very gratifying
to have the pleasure to chronicle the events in the life
of this worthy veteran and esteemed pioneer and
resident of Coeur dAlene where he has demonstrated
as he did in manv ways and times in the past his faith-
fulness, his ability, his courage and real worth.
John Hager was born in Baden, Germany, on
April 11, 1830, receiving a good common schooling
and in 1848 enlised in the volunteer force that resisted
the German government. He was on the defeated
side and to avoid the vigilance of the government he
went to Switzerland for some months and then re-
turned home and in 1850 came to America. He lo-
cated in Xew York, later in Philadelphia and in 1853
he enlisted in the regular army, being in the First
Dragoons. He was in Minnesota and went thence to
New Mexico and was garrisoned on the Rio Grande,
then went to Arizona in 1856, from that place to Cali-
fornia and thence to Walla Walla, where he did ser-
vice and in the surrounding country until the time of
his discharge in 1858. He was with Colonel Step-
toe in the memorable defeat of that officer and also
fought under Wright in various places. In i860 the
military spirit of our subject would again lead him to
I
* m
JOHN W. FREDERIC.
JOHN HACiER.
IAMES E. RUSSELL.
IAMES H. KENEDY.
MRS. JAMES H. KENEDY.
LEVI ESCH.
LEVI YOTHERS.
THOMAS BROPHY.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
897
enlist and so he was enrolled with Company C, First
Dragoons. He was stationed at Lapwai to watch
the Indians. Sibley Johnson, a rebel at heart, was in
command of the department of the west and ordered
them all to Texas, but he being relieved about that
time the order was countermanded and tfie Dragoons
were ordered to Washington, D. C. Going on horse-
back to Vancouver, they took a steamer to Washing-
ton and soon were in the heart of the fight in the east.
Words are futile to express the excellency of the ca-
reer of this gentleman and the ardor, the valor and the
courage displayed and we append the most eloquent
tribute we know, which is a list of a portion of the
battles where he fought with spirit. Many others were
in the list but they are too numerous to mention.
Skirmishes were continually going on and we could
fill a volume were we to recount all the incidents that
befell this veteran in his career. On May 4, 1862, he
was in the battle of Williamsburg; on June 27, he
fought in that sanguinary struggle known as Gaines'
Mill ; on June 30, 1862, he participated in the bat-
tle of White Oak Swamp; on July 1, at Malvern Hill,
and 'in March 17, 1863, he fought at Kelly's Ford;
on April 20, 1862, he was in Stoneman's Raid ; on
June 21, 1863, at Upperville, he did valiant service: on
September i_j. 1863, he fought at Antietam ; and on
May 9, 1864, he participated in Sheridan's raid. At
Cold Harbor he was in the awful fight on May 20,
1864, and there lost his hearing ; he participated in the
battle of the Wilderness on May 7, 1864 ; fought at
the battle of Winchester, also at Fisher's Gap and
Cedar Creek, and many others. Where will we find
a military record like this? Really, it seems the most
brilliant and worthy of any that it has been our priv-
ilege to observe. As soon as the war was over, he en-
listed again and was stationed at Atlanta, Georgia.
At the expiration of his time, in 1870, he bought a
farm and tilled it for a while and sold then and went
into the drug business, then he worked for the street
car company for three years and in 1877 came to Fort
Custer, and in 1878 we find him in Couer d'Alene. He
worked for the government six months and then took
a squatter's right on land near Hayden lake, which
was his home for twelve years, then he sold and came
to Coeur d'Alene. He has a good farm which he
rents, has a good residence in the town and also two
other dwellings which he rents. He also has other
property.
In 1863 Mr. Hager married Mrs. Christine Clark,
of Washington, D. C, where the nuptials occurred.
Mrs. Hager's former husband was killed at Brandy
station, being a comrade of Mr. Hager at that time.
To Mr. and Mrs. Hager there have been born five
children : Frederica, wife of William Kipp, in Coeur
d'Alene; William, in the employ of the government
at Fort Wright, Washington, having been thus en-
gaged for twenty years ; Mary, wife of Isaac Busby,
in Wardner, Idaho; Charles, married and living at
Fort Wright, where he is employed by the govern-
ment; Maggie, wife of George Joyce, in Belgrade,
Montana. Mr. Hager is a member of the G. A. R.,
and he and his wife are members of the Episcopa-
lian church. It is very pleasant to contemplati the
worthy veteran residing quietly in the land he fought
to defend and enjoying the fruits of his faithful labor,
while all admire and esteem him.
JAMFS F. RUSSELL. Henry Russell was bom
in New York and 111 Syracuse of that state, he met
and married Miss Mariah Mann, a native of Penn-
sylvania, who died in 1844. In 1846 he married a
second time and remained in New York city, whither
he had removed from Rochester and whence he went
in 1855 to Chicago. Three years later lie removed to
St. Louis, where he remained until his death, agi I
ninety-five years. During the Civil war Mr. Russell
worked for contractor Eads, building gunboats for
the government, and he made the remarkable record
of working seven days in each week, Sunday counting
one and one-half davs, for every week in five years
and in all this time he never lost one day, a most re-
markable record.
Returning more particularly to the immediate sub-
ject of this sketch we note his birth occurred on Janu-
ary 10. 1839. in Rochester, New York. He went
with his father to the various places where that gen-
tleman lived and gained a good education froi 1 the
various public schools. At Chicago he started for
himself. He went to Waterford, Minnesota, and
worked for wages and also attended school some, con-
tinuing the same until 1861. Then he enlisted in Com-
pany G, First Minnesota, under Colonel Gorman. His
regiment was soon sent to Virginia, the only Minne-
sota troops sent east. His first engagement was tin
battle of Bull Run and there he was shot through the
shoulder. . He was taken to Libby and later to Tus-
caloosa, Alabama, and eleven months was the time
he languished in a horrible southern prison pen. He
was later exchanged and reported to his regiment for
duty at Falmouth, Virginia. He was in time to go
in the battle of Fredericksburg. He was then dis-
charged and went to Troy, Pennsylvania, and soon
he re-enlisted in the First New York Veteran Cavalry,
Company L. He served in this capacity until the close
of the war, participating in numerous skirmishes and
some engagements, being once shot from his horse.
He was mustered out "in West Virginia, in July,
1805. and went thence to Rochester, New York, where
he was paid off. Next we see Mr. Russell, having
completed a remarkable and brilliant military career,
in Kansas on the plains. In 1869 he went as cow boy
to South Dakota and later took a pre-emption and got
married and settled down. In 1883 he sold his prop-
erty and came to Kootenai county, Idaho. He
operated as building contractor until 1890 when his
ability was rewarded bv being appointed register of
the United States Land Office at Coeur d'Alene.
Four years and three months of efficient and faithful
service was rendered there. In 1897 Mr. Russell
bought twenty acres adjoining the town and he has
made it a beautiful residence place, well improved.
In 1900 he took a timber claim, which he still owns.
89S
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO. -
it being a valuable place. Mr. Russell states that in
i860 he voted for Abraham Lincoln and he has never
had occasion to change his politics. He was elected
justice of the peace in 1886 but resigned it in 1890 to
accept the position in the land office. He was deputy
sheriff under William Ryan and during the silver
craze in politics he was nominated by his party for
treasurer of the county but was defeated on account
of that issue. Later he was placed in nomination for
assessor but the same cause defeated the entire ticket.
In 1875 Mr. Russell married Miss Mary J.,
daughter of Samuel and Hannah (Pine) Henderson,
natives of Wisconsin. Death took this lady in 1880.
In 1882 Mr. Russell married Miss Margery M.,
daughter of James and Jane Pine, natives of Prince
Edward island. To Mr. and Mrs. Russell and his
estimable wife six children have been born: .Minnie,
M., wife of George H. Ritchey, in Coeur d'Alene ;
George; Ida M., who died February 6, 1898, aged
eighteen years, eleven months and twenty-four days;
William }., Henry P. and Cora J. Mr. Russell is a
member of the A. F. & A. M. Kootenai Lodge, No.
24 ; also of the G. A. R., McReynolds Post No. 19.
He is past master of the lodge and was the first com-
mander of the post. He is also sachem of the I. O.
R. M. Mr. Russell is a prominent and capable man
as is evidenced by his military career and his excellent
public service in* positions of responsibility, while as
a citizen he is influential, public spirited and stands
with enviable prestige.
JAMES H. KENEDY. Among the early pio-
neers of Kootenai county is to be mentioned the gentle-
man whose name initiates this paragraph, who is one
of the substantial men of Postfalls, being a blacksmith
and doing a good business, while also he has consider-
able property and is an influential citizen, a good man-
and highly esteemed by all.
James' H. was born in Adams county, Illinois, on
September 7, 1846, being the son of William and Sarah
(Richardson) Kenedy, natives respectively of North
Carolina and Kentucky. They were married in Illinois
and the father was a blacksmith, doing business for ten
years in Liberty, of that state. Our subject's paternal
grandfather was a shoemaker and that venerable
gentleman's father was a soldier in the Revolution.
Mr. Richardson moved to Illinois when our subject's
mother was fourteen years old and her brother William
was a captain in the Black Hawk war and also captain
of the train when they crossed the plains. In 1852
Mr. Kenedy, the father of James, crossed the
plains with ox teams and located one section of
donation land in Polk county, Oregon. Later
he removed to Palouse, Washing ton, where he
died on April 20. 1900, but the mother still lives
there, aged eighty-three. Our subject was with
his parents in coming across the plains and in Polk
county he gained a good education and at the age of
twenty quft school and went to work for his father in
the blacksmith shop. When twenty- four he went to
Colfax. Washington, and operated a shop and thence
went to Spokane county and farmed and did black-
smithing for a time and then sold out and came to
Kootenai county in 1884. He took a soldier's right on
a homestead on land now in the city limits of Post-
falls and there he erected a blacksmith shop and did
business continually until the present time. On No-
vember 16, 1864, Mr. Kenedy enlisted in the First Ore-
gon Infantry. Company A, under Captain C. Layfoll-
ette and he served for one year, seven months and
fourteen days, doing garrison duty most of the time.
He was discharged on July 1, 1866. On Janwary 7,
1870. Mr Kenedy married Mrs. Eliza J., widow of
Joseph Abernathy, and daughter of Rev. James E and
Elizabeth (Thompson) Cash, the mother being a
daughter of Dr. Jesse Thompson. Mr. Cash was a
noted business man and powerful preacher. fo Mr.
and Mrs. Kenedy there have been born eight children:
Lorettie M., deceased; Ruth A., wife of T. P. Yager,
in Walla Walla county, Washington; Vlma A., wife
of M. E. Swick, in Hoquiam, Washington; William
R. C, in Seattle; Cora A., with parents; Henry 11.. at
home ; Evangeline, wife of C. F. Manning, in Post-
falls ; James C.; in Wadsworth, Nevada. In political
matters, Mr. Kenedy is a strong Republican and does
good work in this line. He has been justice of the
peace for four years and school director for a long
time and road supervisor for two years. Mr. Kenedy
is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Hiram Lodge No.
21, in Colfax, Washington. He is a charter member of
the Post falls lodge of the K. of P. ; is a charter mem-
ber of the Good Templars, being especially active in
prohibition movements. He is also a charter member
of the K. O. T. M.
Mr. Kenedy is re-elected justice of the peace. He
was a member of the George Wright Post of the G.
A. R. until it disbanded and is now a member of the
Lavvton Post, No. 24, at Rathdrum.
LEVI ESCH. This well known business man is
one of the prominent citizens of Rathdrum, where he
has conducted a fine livery business for eighteen years,
being also a buyer and seller of horses. At present he
has a barn filled with fine driving and saddle horses,
plenty of first-class vehicles, and he exercises an untir-
ing care and vigilance to make everything comfortable
and safe for his patrons, which has given him a first-
class trade. In addition to this, Mr. Esch has some
mining claims north from Rathdrum and also a timber
claim one mile north from town.
Reverting to the early history of our subject, we
note that he was born in Elkhart, Indiana, on April
4' 1859, being the son of Jacob and Katherine (Miller)
Esch, natives respectively of Ohio and Indiana. The
mother died when Levi was seven years of age but the
father is still living in Otis, Washington. The parents
came to Davis county, Iowa, when this son was six
years of age, and he received a good schooling, attend-
ing in winter and working on the farm in summer.
At seventeen he gave all of his time to assisting his
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
899
father. They removed to Missouri at that time and
our subject remained with his father until twenty-one
and then on account of the ague of that countr) came
west for his health. He travelled for two years and in
1882 came to Rathdrum and took a homestead and
timber culture. He proved up on these in due time
and improved them in good shape with buildings and
fences, and so forth. In 1S84 he built the livery barn
in Rathdrum and started in business. From the first
it was evident that Mr. Esch knew a horse and he
bought and sold continually with his livery business
and he has done well. During the year of 1893 he
sold his real estate and put his whole attention to the
business and this has enabled him to broaden and ex-
tend his trade.
Mr. Esch has a brother in Cape Nome wdio has
mining properties of great value. His name is Peter
Esch. Samuel Esch. another brother, lives in ( 'tis
with the father. Our subject has three sisters: Polina,
wife of George Hostetter, in Cass county, Missouri ;
Lizzie Esch, living in Kootenai county and owning
two hundred and forty acres of well improved land
two and one-half miles from Rathdrum; Ella, wife of
George Stout, living at Newman Lake- Washington.
Mr. Esch is a devout member of the Presbyterian
church and greatly interested in its welfare. He is
■esteemed by all. In politics Mr. Esch is a stanch Re-
publican, but has never sought preferment at the hands
of his party.
LEVI YOTHERS. This wide-awake, industrious
and substantial citizen is one of the heavy property
owners of our county and dwells on his estate of four
hundred and forty acres of fine land six miles east
from Rathdrum, where he does a general farming busi-
ness, has a good band of stock and handles consider-
able fruit, having an orchard of seventeen varieties,
while everything represents his thrift, sagacity and in-
dustry. Mr. Yothers is also a man of good principles
•and does much for the cause of education, as well as
for the general progress.
Levi Yothers was born in Center county, Penn-
sylvania, on August 3, 1847, being the son of Benja-
min and Katherine (Wells) Yothers, natives of Penn-
sylvania. They removed to Illinois, where the father
died in 1882. and the mother came to Kootenai county
where she passed to the world beyond in 1897. Levi
had but little opportunity to attend school, being fav-
ored only with a few months in his thirteenth and four-
teenth years. This was on account of his father being
absent fighting the battles of the nation in the Civil
war, and this son was obliged to support the family.
When the father came home he was wounded and
could not work for some time, so the burden remained
on these young shoulders. Mr. Yothers has mani-
fested considerable zeal, for in 1900 he went to the
Moscow University, taking the shorter course which
the state had wisely provided for just such cases. He
•came with his parents to Illinois at the age of eleven
and before he was twenty he was doing for himself.
He studied for the ministry under Elder Terrill for
two years, but being without means to complete this
he was obliged to abandon it. Then he married and
came to Iowa, working in an elevator there for three
years. Then he came to Custer county, Montana, and
raised stock for sixteen years. His 'wife was taken
sick and he went to Ellensburg, Washington, where
she died on April (>. [889. Then Mr. Yothers
his present location, taking first a homestead, to which
he has added by purchase until he has a fine estate.
He has much timber to sell, and intends soon to ereet
a new house.
By his first wife Mr. Yothers has six children:
Alfred, a capable young man, living in < (regon ; \\ ill
iam W.. who has attended the State University
years, with excellent results, and will graduate in 1903,
and is now fruit inspector of Kootenai and Shoshone
counties; May, living in Spokane; Merill, who has
taken a four-years' course in the university, and will
doubtless pursue his studies further: Maud, now at-
tending the university and has been for three years ;
Oakland, deceased.
On June 27, 1890, Mr. Yothers married Mary L..
daughter of Luther and Mary (Smith) Wood, natives
of Vermont. To this union there have been born seven
children- mentioned as follows: Samantha. Mable,
Lucy, Edna, Ruth, Florence and Emma. Mr. Yothers
is allied with the Peoples party and is active, having
attended three county conventions in succession. He
was also active in this realm in Montana. He has given
of his time and wisdom on the school board for nine
years, ever laboring for good educational facilities.
He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Oakland Lodge, X' >.
242, in Iowa; also he belongs to the M. W. A., of
Rathdrum. He and his wife are members of the
Dunkard church and are devout in the support of their
faith.
THOMAS BROPHY. Deservedly numbered
among the worthy pioneers of this section and the
builders of Kootenai count)-, it is fitting that the sub-
ject of this article should be granted space in the his-
tory of the county, being a man of energy, industry
and intelligence. Thomas Brophy was born in Queens
county, Ireland, on September I, 1845, being the son of
John and Elizabeth (Pursell) Brophy. natives also of
the same county, but immigrants to America in 1847.
They located in Kentucky, where our subject received
his first education, then the family came to Iowa, the
vear being 1857, and there the father died in 1
the mother in 1889, being buried in the cen
Lansing, Iowa. At the age of eighteen young Brophj
enlisted in the Union army, in Company B, Ninth Iowa
Cavalrv, under John Flick. He served two
five months, being discharged at Little Rock. Ar-
kansas, March 23, 1866. He was wounded in the right
arm and right side. During all these months he was
almost constantly on scout duty, being oppose 1
army of Price. After a worthy military r>
went home and worked on his father's farm until [869
then went to Louisiana and wrought in tit
business. Two years there and then we find li
900
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
same business in Texas. There he continued until
1878, when he took teams and came overland to Rath-
drum, or where the town now stands. W. J. McClure
was his traveling companion from Texas. Mr. Brophy
took a homestead where he now resides, about two
miles north from Rathdrum, and he engaged in its
improvement and also in handling timber. He has
been numbered with the agriculturists of the county
since that time and has now a fine house, barn and
other outbuildings, with good orchard and all im-
provements that make his place valuable and comfort-
able. He also handles many head of stock.
In 1882 Air. Brophy married Miss Fanny, daugh-
ter of John and Malinda Gill, natives of Tennessee,
who came west and located in 1884. The father died
in 1897, and is buried in the Rathdrum cemetery, but
the mother still lives in Rathdrum.. To Air. and Mrs.
Brophy there have been born five children: Mary.
Jesse, Elizabeth, William, Jr., and Joseph. Mr.
Brophy has always demonstrated his interest in the
affairs of government by taking an active part in the
politics of the day, being allied with the Democrats.
He is a member of the Roman Catholic church, and
a citizen well respected and of excellent standing in
the communitv.
WILLIAM H. CABLE. John W. Cable was born
in the District of Columbia in 1819 and was a prominent
and enterprising man all his days and did excellent
service for his government in various capacities. At
the age of twenty-two he went to Allegheny. Penn-
sylvania, and worked in the arsenal, then moved to
Louisville, Kentucky, and he was a warm personal
friend of Henry Clay. In 1845 he enlisted in the
Mexican war and was assigned to General Taylor's
army in the ordnance. He was all through the war
and participated in the battle of Monterey, where the
people were driven to the cathedral. General Taylor
had tried two days to dislodge them and then ordered
Cable to do so. He trained a gun on the spot and ex-
ploded his first shell in the building and it caused the
immediate surrender of the hold. Subsequent to the
war he returned to the arsenal in Allegheny and in
1856 removed his family to Kansas. At the breaking
out of the Civil war he returned to Pennsylvania and
was appointed by Governor Curtin as inspector gen-
eral of Pennsylvania and in 1862 was transferred to
the western department and had charge of the ordnance.
At the close of the war he returned to Kansas and in
1870 the mother died and in 1876 he went to the Black
Hills, in South Dakota, and in 1890 he came to Idaho
where the subject of this sketch had preceded him.
On June 7, 1902, this good man was called to his final
rest, being at that time on a visit to his youngest son,
X. Cable, in California.
Reverting more particularly to the immediate sub-
ject of this article we note that he was born on July
13. 1844, in Louisville, Kentuckv. being the son of
John W. and Mary (McConnell) Cable. The mother
was a native of Pennsylvania. At the age of eighteen
William had finished his schooling and he promptly
enlisted in Company E, Twelfth Kansas Volunteer
Cavalry, under Captain Steele and Colonel Adams.
He was most of the time guarding the border of Mis-
souri. He did excellent service in that deadliest of
all fighting in the Civil war, the putting down of the
guerrillas. He fought against Ouantrell and Bill An-
derson, the latter being killed at Sedalia, Missouri. In
1863 he went south under General Blunt. The fol-
lowing year he was ordered to make a junction with
Banks under Steele. They fought the doughty Price
and did exceedingly hard work. For nine days they
covered Banks retreat and at Jenkins Ferry they had
the fiercest struggle in the entire war. For nine days
they were without rations, except four hardtack.
Three years and six months were consumed in the ser-
vice, wherein a most commendable record was made,
and then Mr. Cable was honorably discharged at Little
Rock. Arkansas, and returned to Kansas. June 27,
1 Si >5 . was the day of his discharge.
In 1876 Mr. Cable was one of those who pressed
into the Black Hills and for twelve years he was min-
ing there. In 1S88 he came to Spokane Bridge and
for a period of about two years he was on the old
Liberty place at the lake of that name. He made the
first location on the Couer dAlene Indian reservation
where he now lives, three miles south and one-fourth
of a mile east from Spokane Bridge. He has a good
home place, comfortable buildings and other improve-
ments.
On August 12. 1875, Mr. Cable maried Miss Mar-
tha Sharp, whose parents were natives of Tennessee
and came to Kansas in i860 where they died. To
this happy union there have been born four children:
Herbert A., in Colorado; William A., at home; Harry
I., at home ; Thomas M., attending college in Spokane.
In political matters Mr. Cable is always active and is
a member of the Republican party. In 1896 he was
elected county commissioner for two years and did
good service. Mr. Cable is a member of the G. A.
R., Lawton Post, No. 29, and is past commander. He
is also affiliated witn the I. O. O. F., and is popular
in all these relations.
Mrs. Cable's father, Mr. Sharp, was born on May
30, 1809, and his wife was five years younger. Mr.
Cable's father. John Cable, received a medal for brav-
ery in the Mexican war. This is now in the possession
of our subject and is justly prized very highly by him.
JAMES TYSON. The town of Tyson is located
on the land formerly owned by the subject of this
article and it is he who, with his brother, discovered
the famous diggings that brought the influx of gold
seekers to the camp in 1900 and in 1901.
James Tvson was born in Lane county. Oregon,
on November 12, 1807. being the son of James B. and
Mary (Price) Tyson, natives respectively of Indiana
and Iowa. They were married in Iowa and in 1855
came across the plains with ox teams, having a great
deal of trouble with the Indians. They located at
Council Bluffs, California, and several vears later went.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
901
to Lane county. In 1877 they canle thence to Farm-
ington, Washington, which was then only a hamlet of
a couple of houses or so. The father participated in
the Indian wars of 1878 and was a real pioneer of the
country. Our subject grew up on a ranch and when he
began to inaugurate independent action he came from
Whitman county to his present home in 1895. His
brother, John Tyson, was the only settler in the vicinity
and they labored on as ranchers and did good work
in improving their places. In 1897 our subject came to
the conclusion that there was gold here and, in com-
pany with his brother and J. B. Renfro, he went to
digging and soon they discovered the dust. In De-
cember, 1900. it got out that great discoveries of gold
has been made and so the excitement commenced. In
the spring of 1 90 1 the town was platted and a store,
postoffice and other business started. November, 1901,
was the date of establishing the postoffice. Mr. Tyson
is vice president of the Richmond Gold Mining & Mill-
ing Company. Limited, and one of the heavy stock-
holders. He and Henry C. Tyson and J. B. Renfro are
ov/ners of Gold Nugget, the Sixteen to One and other
claims that made the country famous. Mr. Tyson is
also' interested in the War Eagle. Green Mountain and
Bluebird quartz claims, which are valuable prospects.
Mr. Tyson has the office of justice of the peace of his
precinct and also holds the mail contract between Ty-
son and Santa. He has been for the last few years,
a great prospector in various places on the Clearwater
and also in the British Columbia country and is well
known in these places. Mr. Tyson is married and has
one child.
JASPER COOPER. This well known and rep-
resentative business man of Couer d'Alene is operating
a first class livery, feed and sale stable where he does
a thriving business, having a dozen or more first-class
rigs, with plenty of fine stock in adition to about fifty
head on the range. Mr. Cooper was born in Marion
county, Oregon, on June 4, 1859, being the son of
James and Catherine (Moorley) Cooper, natives of
Iowa and Illinois, respectively. They crossed the
plains in 1852 and located in Marion county, where
they operated a hotel and flour mill until 187 1, when
they came to Walla Walla. Soon after the came to
Whitman county and located a pre-emption where Col-
fax now stands. This was sold in due time and they
went thirty miles west and started in the stock busi-
ness. This was a prosperous venture and continued to
be the occupation of all until 1888, when Mr. Cooper
came to Couer dAlene and opened a Hvery stable.
This was conducted in such a manner that he won
good patronage and he continued the proprietor until
1899, when he sold to his son, the subject of this
sketch, who has handled the business in a creditable
manner since that time. Jasper was educated in the
public schools in the various places where the family
lived until seventeen, when he bought a team and
started the battle of life for himself. He earned good
wages and also worked for his father some and then in
1885 he took a pre-emption claim in the Palouse coun-
try, which later he sold and bought cattle and entered
into stock raising with his brother, ( George. This con-
tinued until 1892, when he was engaged variously un-
til 1S9S, when he made the purchase of the livery men-
tioned above.
On December 10. 1901, Air. Cooper married Miss
Maud, daughter of Edward and Mary Empy, natives
of Canada, but immigrants to this country 'and they
now live in North Dakota. Mr. ( ■ pi 'per is a member of
the M. W. A.. Couer d'Alene Camp, No. 8227. lie is
one of the enterprising, public minded men of the
county and is ever allied on the side of prog
advancement.
V W SANDER. No man is better known in
Coeur d'Alene than the subject of this sketch. He is
an influential man, possessed of manifest business abil-
ity, a good citizen and is esteemed by all. He is at the
head of the largest general merchandise establishment
in the town, and as laconically expressed by him. they
sell everything from a paper of pins to a threshing ma-
chine. His uniform treatment of customers, always
being deferential, accommodating and reliable, has won
for him a large trade and the confidence of the people
in generous measure, which he justly deserves.
It will lie interesting to note the details somewhat
of this successful life and accordingly we append the
following. V. W. Sander was born in Hanover, Ger-
many, on February 4. 1857. being the son of Henry
and Henrietta i ( )thmar t Sander, also natives of Ger-
many. In i860, they came to America and settled in
Muscatine, Iowa, where his parents remained until the
lime of their death. Our subject was favored with a
partial high school education and at the age of fourteen
was employed by the large mercantile house of General
Gordon, continuing there six years. At the age of
twenty came west to California, where he lived for two
years and then came to Whitman county, Washington,
where he took a government claim and proved upon it,
holding the same until this day, which is an index of
the character that has gained such signal success
amongst us. It was soon thereafter that we find him
in Kootenai count) and his sagacity soon observed an
opportunity to make a good start. He was offered
the major part of what is now the town site of Rath-
drum for two thousand dollars. Not having the money
he associated with himself a man of some means who
furnished the required capital. Within two months
they cleared about four thousand six hundred dollars.
Mr. Sander came to Coeur d'Alene a little later and
started a small store with G. B. Wonnacott, who died
in 1896. They did a good business from the beginning
and when the partner died, Mr. Sander organized the
Idaho Mercantile Company, of which institution he is
the president and manager. This, as said before, is
the largest mercantile establishment of the kind in this
portion of the county.
On May 18, 1886. Mr. Sander married Miss Lulu
F., daughter of Carl and Dorothy Lohmann. natives
ofGermanv. Thev came to America and located in
Burlington,' Iowa, where they still live. Mr. Lohman
902
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
is editor an if the \ oiks Freund Tribune,
a German paper of merit.
.Mr. Sander built a commodious residence of twelve
rooms, with all the modern conveniences, which is the
family home, where his estimable wife presides with
gracious dignity. To Mr. and Mrs. Sander there have
been born five children. William E., Henrietta C,
Dorothy L.. Carlton A. and Gerald B. Mr. Sander is
a member of the K. of P., Kootenai Lodge, No. 7. He
and his worthy wife are also members of the Presby-
terian church, being liberal supporters of their faith.
GEORGE COOPER. Notwithstanding the fact
that the subject of this article lost a fortune in one
blizzard in Washington, he has since that time mani-
fested real grit and determination which have given
him the reward that belongs to the industrious, and he
is at the present time one of the prosperous business
men of Couer d'Alene, owning a good livery, feed and
sale stable in that city.
George Cooper was born on the Green river, while
his parents James and Kate (Moorley) Cooper, were
crossing the plains. The date of this birth was June
22, 1852. The parents were natives of Iowa, came to
Silverton. Oregon, in 1852. with ox teams and took a
section of donation land. In 1871 they came to Walla
Walla and soon thereafter to Colfax, where they lived
until 1897. Then they sold out and came to Couer
d'Alene. The mother died February, 1900, having
been married fifty years to a day. Our subject was
educated in the public schools in Oregon and then
spent two years in Sublimity Seminary. At the age
of nineteen he started for himself, taking a squatter's
right to land which he homesteaded later. In 1883 he
rented it and moved to Colfax, Washington, taking
up the livery business. He sold that and his homestead
in 1887 and bought cattle. He had fine success until
one blizzard killed four hundred head. Then he
turned his attention to farming, after which he bought
the liverv business in Couer d'Alene, where he is do-
ing a good business at the present time, having been
prospered here.
In 1876 Mr. Cooper maried Miss Mary A., daugh-
ter of Nelson and Elizabeth (Bond) Davis, natives of
Tennessee, who crossed the plains in 1853, locating
in Linn county, Oregon. The mother died there in
1870, but the father lives in Colfax, aged seventy-six.
Mr. Cooper has the following brothers and sisters:
Mary, \\ illiam, Isaac, Walter, Jasper,, James and
Frank. He is a member of the K. P. and he and his
wife affiliate with the Order of Washington. His
wife is also a member of the Baptist church.
It is of note that when our subject's parents were
crossing the plains, they were frequently attacked by
the Indians, and many times the savages would shoot
their wagon covers full of arrows. On one occasion
a man was riding a pony a little in the rear and some
Indians sprang out and lassooed the animal. The man
succeeded in escaping, but the pony was never re-
covered.
HON. JAY RAXD SAXBURX. The life of this
well known business man has been full of varied ex-
periences and activities on the frontier, and in it all
lie has shown forth the real pioneer spirit, ever mani-
festing therewith integrity', capability, and faithful-
ness. Jay R. was born in Illinois, on May 12, 1833,
being the son of earlv pioneers of that state, and at
Knoxville he was educated. At the age of twelve he
started in life for himself, and the first venture was to
learn the harness maker's trade and saddlery. He fol-
lowed this for five years and then took up the printing
business in which he also became proficient. Four
\ears after that, he came across the plains, driving five
yoke of oxen all the way. He landed in Trinity county,
California, and the same winter went into the butcher
business. He mined and sold goods until 1858, then
went to Frazer river in British Columbia, where he
visited the Cariboo mines. In i860, he went to Oro-
fino, the next year to Florence and in 1862, he was in
Boise basin. California was the destination again in
1864. and in 1870 we find him engaged on the locks at
Oregon City. Returning again to California, he
worked for six years in the Turkish baths there. Then
he came to Shoshone county, and in 1890, he traveled
to Coeur d'Alene. In 1890, he was appointed receiver
to the United States land office in that city and for
four years we find him in faithful discharge of the du-
ties of that incumbency. Since that time until 1899,
Air. Sanburn has been engaged in various lines of busi-
ness and in the year last mentioned he retired from the
more active walks of life to enjoy the competence which
his skill and labor have accumulated for him. How-
ever, he is still interested in mining and has some good
properties.
Politically, Mr. Sanburn had always been an ardent
Republican until 1896, when he voted for Bryan and
since has been a Socialist. He -voted for A. Lincoln
and every Republican candidate until the one men-
tioned. In 1888, Air. Sanburn was elected as repre-
sentative to the state legislature from Kootenai and
Shoshone counties. It has always been the lot of the
subject of this sketch to sail his bark on the more
placid waters of celibacy and he is now enjoying the
golden years of his life in this line and is highly es-
teemed by all being one of the influential and substan-
tial men of our countv.
JOHN H. DUNCAN. This well known business
man of Coeur d'Alene, where he operates a dray and
express line, doing a good business, is one of the sub-
stantial residents of the city and is a man of the real
bone and sinew of the community, never accepting
public preferment, although frequently offered, but al-
ways striving for real advancement and upbuilding.
John H. was born in Trimble county. Kentucky, on
October 28. 1840, being the son of Francis and Pa-
leman ) Duncan, natives of Kentucky, who
came to Missouri and settled in Gentry county where
the father died in 1872 and the mother in 1878, both
being buried there. Our subject came with them to
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Missouri and there received a good common school
education and also attended Albany college for one
year. He farmed and raised stock until 1863, then
taught school for one year then continued farming un-
til 1888, at which time he came to Whitman county.
One year was spent there when he removed thence to
Coeur d'Alene, where he has resided since that time.
He soon opened a dray and express business, which he
has prosecuted with vigor since. He has good stock
and eouipage and also a comfortable residence and
two lots.
In 1869, Mr. Duncan married Miss Cordelia,
daughter of Isaac Wood, natives of Missouri, where
the parents remained until their death. The father
conducted a farm and was circuit judge from i860,
until his demise. To .Mr. and Mrs. Duncan there have
been born five children, named as follows, Katie, wife
of F. F. Wilson, in Cceur d'Alene ; Will W., married
to Ora Koontz, in Bossburg, Washington ; Frank C,
who volunteered in Company B, First Idaho Infantry,
which went to the Philippine war, where he did com-
mendable service; Mary V., Ernest, fourteen in Au-
gust, 1902, who has already earned two diplomas for
Hterarv work. Politically, Mr. Duncan is allied with
the Democrats and is active in working in this realm.
He is a member of the I. O. O. F.. Coeur d'Alene
Lodge No. 34, also of the K. of P. ; and of the Western
Federation of Labor. Mrs. Duncan is a member of
the Rebekahs, Naomi Lodge, and was a delegate to the
grand lodge in Wardner. She is a member of the Pres-
bvterian church.
GEORGE L. EGE. This young and enterprising
agriculturist and orchardist has made a commendable
success in his labors in Kootenai county. He has now,
one mile east from Coeur d'Alene, a farm of forty
acres, for which he refused recently four thousand
dollars. This shows the quality of his land and the
value of the improvements that his skill and industry
have made upon it. He has eighteen acres planted to
fruit and has every kind represented that grows in
this latitude. The balance of the farm is utilized in
raising vegetables, for which he finds a ready market.
Mr. Ege is one of the substantial men of the county
and his hands have wrought out all of his success and
gained his fine holding.
On September 29, 1870, in Cerro Gordo county,
Iowa, George L. Ege was born to Charles and Mary
( Young 1 Ege, natives respectively of Ohio and New
York. They came when young to Wisconsin, where
the father did milling and lumbering. Next they re-
moved to Minnesota, thence to Iowa, later to South
Dakota, and finally to Spokane, where they now live.
George L. was educated by a first class high school
course and at the age of sixteen had completed this and
was ready for life's battles. He learned the art of the
typographer and continued at it for three years. In
1889, he came to Coeur d'Alene. He at first went to
steamboating for the Northern Pacific and seven years
were consumed in that labor. In the meantime, he
bought the forty acres where he now resides, which he
has made a very valuable estate and a pleasant rural
abode.
In 1894, Mr. Ege married Mi-> Minnie, daughter
of John and Mary J. (Presley) Ferman, natives re-
spectively of Maryland and Georgia, now living in
Coeur d'Alene. To Mr. and Mrs. Ege there have been
born three children, two of whom live, named Charley
and John. Mr. Ege is active in local politics and edu-
cational advancement. Mrs. Ege is a member of the
Methodist church.
WILLIAM 11. ROBACHER lives two miles
north from Postfalls, where he rents a quarter section
of land, and while he pays attention to general farm-
ing he also is greatly interested in stock, having about
one dozen cattle and some extra fine blooded horses.
Of the training and raising the latter, Mr. Robacher
makes a specialty and he has been very successful in
this line heretofore. He has nine fine horses, and
nine colts, and six of the horses are full blood Hamblc-
tonian. Among the best ones may be mentioned Sub-
traction, a fine stallion sired by Attraction, and whose
dam was Young Bashau. Also he has Pacer Octov,
sired by Gov. Brown, who was the son of Onward,
and the dam of Pacer was by Swygard. He has a
fine brood mare by Gov Brown, four colts by Sub-
traction and an excellent stallion three years of age.
These are some of the excellent animals owned by
Mr. Robacher and he has gained a good reputation as
a fine trainer and breeder of good blooded stock.
Reverting more particularly to the personal career
of Air. Robacher we note that he was born in Albany
county, New York. November 30, 1851, being the son
of Richard and Elizabeth (Goff) Robacher, natives
of New York, who came to Wisconsin in 1852. The
father farmed and raised stock there, in Waupaca
county until the time of his death and he and his
wife rest in Pleasant Valley cemetery. William H.
was reared on a farm and until twenty-four he was
found every summer assisting his father. He at-
tended schools each winter until eighteen and then
the winters were spent in the woods. At twenty-
four he bought a farm and worked for himself until
1888. when he came to Dakota and farmed there for
eight years. He then started a training stable in
Devil's' Lake, which he conducted three years. Next
we see him in Minnesota, where he spent two years
training horses and in all this labor he had good suc-
cess. He collected some very fine horses and in 1900,
he came to Spokane and one year later he came to
his present place. Mr. Robacher is making a spe-
cialty of breeding and handling fine horses and is al-
ready achieving a good success in this new land.
In 1876 Mr. Robacher married Miss Frances King,
who died in 1891, leaving one child, Delia, who is now
living with her grandmother in Wisconsin. In 1895
Mr. Robacher married a second time. Mayfred,
daughter of Gard and Margaret (O'Brien) Towner,
becoming his wife at that time. Mrs. Robacher's
parents were natives of New York and came to Min-
904
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
nesota, where they now live. One child has been
born to this happy union. Ralph A. Mr. Robacher is
a member of the A. F. & A. M. and the Eastern Star.
While in Dakota he was deputy sheriff for two years
and he always takes an intelligent interest in politics
and the welfare of the community.
WILLIAM GEKRARD. One and one half miles
cast from Coeur d'Alene on the bank of Furnan lake
is the pleasant rnral home of the subject of this article.
He has one hundred acres well improved with good
house, barn, and orchard, while he has also a large ice
house and keeps main- boats and fishing tackle for the
use of guests, who liberally patronize him.
Mr. Gerrard was born in Madison county, Ohio,
on April 2. 1840. being the son of John and Lerah
(Busic) Gerrard, natives respectively of Ohio and
Maryland They were farmers in Madison county and
raised a family of eleven children. The mother died
when sixty-five and the father was aged seventy when
he passed away. William was educated in the public
schools and when he had reached his majority he
started for himself. He contracted in most of the
southern and western states and prospected much of
Ihe time. He was where Denver now stands in 1865
and in the Black Hills in 1877. Then he came to Mon-
tana and then to Mission, Idaho. In this latter place,
he rented a portion of the mission grounds and raised
vegetables. He took a homestead right there and
raised hay for twenty-three years. He handled from
one hundred to three hundred tons each year. Lately
the concentrates from the mine have destroyed much of
the value of the land. He removed to his present
place in 1902, and purchased one hundred acres. Mr.
Gerrard has a large ice house that will hold five hun-
dred tons of ice, and he supplies the city of Coeur
d'Alene.
In September, 1889. Mr. Gerrard married Mrs.
Anna Fetterley. widow of Homer P. Fetterley, and
daughter of Seven! and Martha (Olson) Severson, na-
tives of Norway, who died when this daughter was
young:. By her first marriage, Mrs. Gerrard has two
children, Fred L.. who pays much attention to the boats
and is also a boat builder ; Adelia, wife of Howard Ely,
at Wardner, Idaho. To Mr. and Mrs. Gerrard there
have been born three children, two of whom live, as
follows. Helen G., Francis M. Mr. Gerrard is a Demo-
crat and active in politics. He was appointed county
commissioner in 1888, and so faithfully did he fill the
unexpired term that he was elected in 1890. In 1892,
he was nominated for county assessor, but was de-
feated. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., while he
and his wife are members of the Methodist church.
EM< >RY B. MARTIN. This well to do agricul-
turist and capable citizen of Kootenai county has a
fruit and vegetable farm three miles northwest from
Rathdrum. He is the . son of Ezekiel and Nancy
( Boughman) Martin, natives of Tennessee, and was
born on March 10, 1848. The parents removed to
Arkansas in an early day and the father served in the
Mexican war, where he contracted a malady from
which he died later. Emory B. was denied the privilege
of schools in early life, as he was always on the
frontier, but has gained a good business training
from practical contact in active life. He en-
listed in 1864 in Company I, Forty-sixth Mis-
souri, under Captain Piland, this being in the vol-
unteer infamtry, and on May 12, 1865 he was mustered
out. He went home and farmed and then later came
to Missouri, where he tilled the soil for thirteen years.
Again he went to Arkansas ami for three years was
numbered with the farmers there. In 1886 he located
in Rathdrum and in 1888 he took his present place.
He has a quarter section and in addition to general
farming he raises stock and his orchard is finely se-
lected and contains three hundred trees.
In 1873 Mr. Martin married Miss Margret M.,
daughter of John and Louisa (Watts) Adkins, na-
tives respectively of North Carolina and West Vir-
ginia. The father was a volunteer in the Union army
in 1863 and in October, 1865, he was honorably dis-
charged, having spent much of the time on the plains
in fighting Indians. After his discharge he went to
Missouri, where he farmed until 1887, then came west
to Kootenai county the same year. He died here in
1889 and is buried in Pine Grove cemetery at Rath-
drum, having survived his wife about six years. Mrs.
Martin was born on October 14, 185 1, in Tennessee
and came to Kansas, where she was educated, also
gaining much of her training by careful study at
home. To Mr. and Mrs. Martin there have been
born seven children, five of whom are living, named
as follows : Felix E., married to Mary J. Bateman,
living in Coeur d'Alene ; David E., with parents ;
Martha K., wife of A. W. Beck, at Priest River;
Thomas E., Bertha H. Mr. Martin is a member of
the G. A. R. and he and his wife are members of the
Church of Christ. Mrs. Martin is a member of the
school board, and has been for two years.
WILLIAM M. McCARTER is one of the best
known and most successful hosts in the state of Idaho
and is now operating a first-class and excellent hotel
on the banks of the Saint Joseph river in the town
of Saint Maries. An epitome of his career would be
properly placed in the history of his county and there-
fore we append such.
William M. McCarter was born in county Kent,
Canada, on July 27. 1872, being the son of Jeremiah
and Catherine (Lints) McCarter. He grew up on
a farm and attended the public schools and at the
age of seventeen he started out for himself, going first
to Humboldt county, California, where he labored in
the woods for six years. In the fall of 1894 he came
to the Coeur dAlene country and there also took up
lumbering until 1899. In the last year mentioned he
came to Saint Maries and opened a hotel. He
WILLIAM M. McCARTER.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
905
started in a small building having but five bed rooms.
But it soon became evident that no ordinary hotel man
had taken up his abode in Saint Maries. ' His genial
and affable ways, his kind and painstaking efforts for
the comfort anil accommodation of guests, his excel-
lent management, his wise methods of executing all
things pertaining to the house in an orderly and com-
fortable manner, all combined to make Mr. McCartcr
one of the most popular hotel men in this western
country and the result was as could be anticipated, his
house was speedily too small to accommodate the im-
mense patronage that began to set in. In the spring
of itjor he began the erection of a fine two-story
building on the banks of the Saint Joseph river. This
contained a large office, dining room, kitchen, and so
forth, with sample rooms and seventeen commodious
sleeping apartments. A year later he was forced to
build again and this time he erected a three story
structure, the lower floor containing a general mer-
chandise establishment and the upper stories being
divided into fifty-nine bedrooms. This gives him
seventy-six sleeping apartments, while another two-
story "building which he has constructed is used for
a bar and the upper part for lodge rooms. Thus Mr.
McCarter has one of the largest and best equipped
houses in the state. Every part is nicely and newly
furnished and all is operated with the finest manage-
ment for comfort and convenience. Mr. McCarter has
also a nine room dwelling where his family resides.
On June r. IQ02, Mr. McCarter married Miss Ella
Sparks of Rathdrum. He is a member of the E'ks
in Spokane and of the Redmen and Foresters in Har-
rison. Mr. McCarter's father died in 1882, in Can-
ada. On June 24, 1886, Mrs. McCarter married again,
George Keeley becoming her husband. They re-
moved to Vermillion. Ohio, that year and also lived in
different states until 1899, when they came to Saint
Maries and are connected with our subject in handling
the hotel. Mr. McCarter has his own water works,
operates his own electric light plant and in every re-
spect his house is a first class hotel where comfort-
able and excellent accommodations are furnished the
traveling public.
RICHARD TAUTENHAHN. The pluck, per-
tenacity, industry and real worth manifested by Mr.
Tautenhahn are exceedingly commendable, and he is
esteemed by all who know him. having made a bright
success in this county, where he had previously suf-
fered the loss of everything. Richard was born in
Schneeberg. Saxony. Germany, on March 22, 185 1,
being the son of August and Augusta (Boomer)
Tautenhahn. also natives of the fatherland, where they
lived on a farm until the time of their death. Our
subject received a good education and at the age of
fifteen vears apprenticed himself to learn the shoe-
maker's trade, which required three years. One year
was then spent working for wages and then he learned
to make lace and embroidery, at which he labored for
twelve years. It was in 1879 that he came to the
United States, locating in Pepin county, Wisconsin.
Me worked at his trade for one year and came to
Minnesota, where he opened a shoe shop. Three
years later he came west and for six months he
traveled all over the coast and finally located in Rath-
drum. He opened a shoe shop and did well but soon
had the misfortune to lose all his earthly wealth by
a disastrous fife. Then he came to his present place,
four miles west from Rathdrum. and took a pre-emp-
tion. He was so closely burned in the fire that he did
not have a dollar. He brought his victuals with him
and labored almost day and night until he had a little
cabin for his wife and five small children. To a less
resolute man this would have been a discouraging
proposition to support this household with no start.
Rut Mr. Tautenhahn never knew what defeat meant
and he put his shoulder to the work and is today one
of the prosperous and well-to-do men of the county.
He has two hundred and forty acres of good land,
handles a brick kiln each summer, has a fine orchard,
does general farming and also raises stock.
In 1874 Mr. Tautenhahn married Miss Anna,
(laughter of Antone Mockel, a native of Germany,
where he remained until the time of his death. To
this happy union there were eight children born:
Martha, wife of Fred Reiniger. living in Silver Bow,
Montana; Hattie. wife of William Miller, living in
Butte, Montana: Oswald, living with parents; Flora,
wife of Joe Alexander, in Spokane, Washington;
Francis, Anna, Richard and Clara. Mr. Tautenhahn
is a member of the A. O. F., Court 14, Rathdrum, and
he and his wife belong to the German Lutheran
church.
MICHAEL A. HICKEY. This well known and
influential gentleman is one of the leading men of his
community and has long been a stanch laborer in
various sections for general advancement and upbuild-
ing, while since his advent into Kootenai county he
has been a potent factor in its progress and is a man
of real worth and wearing qualities, being highly es-
teemed and respected.
Michael Hickey was born in the northwestern part
of Oneida county. New York, on January 1. 1852,
being the son of Patrick and Bridget (Noonan)
Hickey, natives of Ireland, whence they came to Que-
bec, in 1846. and to Oneida county. New York, later,
where they farmed until their death, the father pass-
ing away in 1802 and the mother in 1865. They are
buried in Weston, New York. We see in the an-
cestry of our subject the secret of his stirring and
influential career. He attended school in the winters
and worked on the farm in summers until seventeen,
when the summers were spent on the canal, then four
years were spent in a grist mill and a grocery <tore.
When twenty-one he came to Monroe county. Michi-
gan and engaged in a bending factory, where all
kinds of woodehware and so forth were bent for use.
He worked two years in the woods in Montcalm
county, then labored on the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road in Indiana, then returned to Michigan and in
906
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1896 we see him headed west: he labored on the cut-
off from Wallace to Mission, then went to Portland,
where he operated on the Southern Pacific for a time.
After going to Spokane he finally took the homestead
where he now lives, about two miles southeast fcrom
Spokane Bridge. He has a good farm, well improved
with good house, barn, orchard and fifty acres under
cultivation. In 1898 he went to Republic, Washing-
ton, where he took three mining claims and still has
a portion of them, being a member of the company
that owns the Spokane Queen and Poorman, and is
director.
In 1879 Mr. Hickey married Miss Sarah, daugh-
ter of William and Rebecca (Vanliew) Tubbs, natives
of Ohio. The wife died one year after the marriage.
Mr. Hickey is a gold Democrat, but on account
of the high feeling in the silver times he held to the
principles mentioned and that placed him on the Re-
publican side of the fence. He was nominated in
1898 as justice of the peace, and as his precinct was
strongly Democratic and the fusionists were rampant
there was not a ghost of a show for him to be elected,
being nominated on the Republican ticket, but to his
great surprise a count of votes revealed that he was
justice of the peace. This was repeated at another
time, when he and the county surveyor were the only
officers elected on the Republican ticket in the entire
county. This remarkable record demonstrates con-
clusively the popularity of Mr. Hickey among his
fellows and it is cause for pardonable pride. He
has been chairman of the school board for three years
and road overseer for one vear. He is a member of
the A. O. F.
HIRAM HERRING. About three miles south of
Spokane Bridge is located one of the best farms of
the vicinity, being an attractive and valuable place,
and the owner of it is the subject of this article. This
land was acquired by Mr. Herring from the govern-
ment by homestead right in 1892, and since that time
it has been the family home and is now producing an-
nually a fine return in fruits and vegetables, while also
Mr. Herring does some general farming, handling
some stock too. He is a man of uprightness and good
ability and has made a clean record during his stay
here as he has also heretofore. Hiram was born in
Putnam county. Missouri, on January 25, 1859, being
the son of John and Mary (Moore) Herring, natives
of Missouri. The father gathered his substance to-
gether and started across the plains with his family in
1866, but fate decreed that he should never see the end
of the journey and he sleeps by the old emigrant trail
of manv vears ago. The mother took up the sad bur-
dens of life in this hard place and came through to
Linn county, Oregon, where she married John Garrett
in [869 and they now live in Brownsville. Our subject
gained his education in Brownsville and started out in
life for himself early. At twenty-one he married and
settled on a farm, until 1885, when he removed to
Spokane. For six years he was head sawyer for Car-
ter Brothers, and then in 1892, as spoken above, he
took his present place as a homestead and here he has
bestowed his labors with wisdom and faithfulness
since, as the enth»e premises testify.
In September, 1878, Mr. Herring married Miss
Emma, daughter of Cal and Elizabeth (Blue) Hodges,
w hi ' were among the very first emigrants that braved
the dangers and hardships of the earliest trips across
the plains in the early forties. They located in Linn
county, Oregon, and now live at Canyonville, Oregon.
To Mr. and Mrs. Herring there have been born ten
children, named as follows: Altie I., Lottie T., Gladys
J., Grover C, Hugh F., Johnnie H. and Elvin. These
are all at home with their parents. The three deceased
are, Goldie. who died in infancy ; Freddie, who died
when eighteen months old; Marcellus who was killed
by a falling tree, March 6, 1901, aged eighteen years.
In political matters, Mr. Herring is a Democrat and
takes an active part in this important work. He has a
nice home and is one of the enterprising men of the
county and it is with pleasure that we have been enabled
to accord to him and his estimable family a representa-
tion in this volume.
JOHN THERLEEN has made a commendable
record as an orchardist on his fine farm which is lo-
cated four and one half miles south from Spokane
Bridge, its altitude being one thousand feet above Spo-
kane ; he has an excellent orchard of six hundred trees,
besides much small fruit. He has raised apples that
weigh twenty-two ounces each and strawberries that
measure six and one-half inches in circumference ; the
farm produces fruit in abundance. Mr. Therleen has
labored with great industry and wisdom and his place
bespeaks his thrift and care. In addition to this fine
showing, he operates a blacksmith shop on the farm,
and does a good business.
John Therleen was born in Yath, Sweden, on Feb-
ruary 16, 1861, being the son of Peter and Catherine
(Johnson) Therleen, also natives of that country,
where the father did a tailor business. The son was
educated there and learned the tailor trade with his
father, then went to sea for two years, after which he
worked for his uncle and in 1881 came to Stillwater,
Minnesota. He farmed in the summers and went to
the woods in the winters, continuing this for seven,
years. Then he went to Montana and handled stock
lor a time, after which he worked on the railroad, and
m 1890, engaged in a shingle mill. Then he took
charge of Kilpatrick's farm for one vear, then rented
it and in 1891, he worked for Kilpatrick at Hope,
Idaho. In 1895, he took charge of Dr. Lieberg's
farm, on Pend Oreille, then went to Rathdrum and
took a position in E. Manor's store. From this he
handled a peddling wagon in share with Manor until
[896, when lie purchased a man's right to the place
where he now lives. He has bestowed his labor here
since that time and has made a good home of this place.
He has it well improved and also raises some blooded
stock.
In 1S93, Mr. Therleen married Miss Barbara,
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
907
daughter of Michael and Maria Barbara Dill, from
Niederrimbach. natives of Germany, where they now
live. Mrs. Therleen came to Spokane in 1891, and
there met Mr. Therleen and their wedding occurred in
Hope, Idaho. They have two children, George L. and
Alice L. In 1898, Mr. Therleen was elected central
committeeman for his precinct : he is an ardent sup-
porter of the principles of the Republican party. He
and his wife belong to the Swedish Lutheran church.
GEORGE S. TITUS is one of the industrious
farmers whose skill and labors have given him a good
competence in worldly property ; his family home is on
his farm two miles south from Spokane Bridge. He
has one hundred and sixty acres, does a general farm-
ing business, raises stock, and has a good orchard.
Mr. Titus was born in Delaware county, New York,
on December 12. 1861, being the son of Stevens and
Mary ! Bush) Titus, natives of the same county. In
18S1, they came to Colorado and there farmed until
their death. They had three sons and one daughter,
named as follows, Clark, a farmer in Colorado ; Willit,
a graduate of Harvard college, and died in Colorado
in 1878 : Fanny, wife of Walter Freeman, in Chicago ;
George S., the subject of this article. He was educated
in the country schools in his native county and came
with his parents to Colorado, where he farmed for
seven years. Two years were then spent in Los Ani-
mas, Colorado, and then he came to Spokane, about
1890. He worked some and purchased forty acres
near Chester. Washington, which was the home for
three years. Then he sold and took his present place
as a homestead.
In 1883. Mr. Titus married Miss Marila Work,
whose mother was a widow living at Longmont, Colo-
rado. They were natives of Pennsylvania and came to
Iowa where the father died and then they removed to
Longmont. To Mr. and Mrs. Titus, there have been
born four children, as follows. Raymond L., Ralph,
deceased, Myrtle and Grace. In 1892 Mrs. Titus died
and is buried at Saltese Lake. Mr. Titus is a member
of the I. O. O. F., Eric Lodge. No. 46, in Colorado. He
has been road overseer for two terms and also on the
school board for two terms. Mr. Titus made a trip to
Colorado since coming here, where he remained one
and one half years. Upon his return, he was so well
pleased with the climate and general resources of
Kootenai county that he determined to remain here the
rest of his life, believing this to be far ahead of even
the famed Colorado.
WILLIS CARTER has had a career well filled
with various and stirring business ventures, which
display the talent and energy of which he is happily
possessed. At present he has a fine home two and
one-half miles south from Spokane Bridge, where he
has an orchard that numbers sixteen hundred trees of
all the leading varieties of apples and other fruits
this latitude. He also handles some stock and oper-
ates a saw mill. Mr. Carter was born on January 10,
1842, 111 ( intario, Canada, being the son of William and
Sally (Tower) Carter, natives of Canada, where they
farmed until their death some years since. Willi- was
educated in the common schools and at the
nineteen, started for himself. He purchased a farm
and sawmill from his father and operated them four
years, then came to the United States, locating in Ne-
vada. Two years later, he went to British Columbia,
and thence to Spokane, Washington, where be ami his
brother started the first machine shop and ton
that place. He purchased the plant from a man who
had just erected it ; it also contained a good blacksmith
shop. .Mr. Carter did the first casting ever done in
Spokane, and operated this establishment for ten years.
Then he sold and went to California, where he took up
fourteen hundred acres of land, but sold his interest
before he proved up. His remuneration for this was a
house and lot in Jefferson City, Pennsylvania, which
he had never seen. He returned to Spokane, bought
saw mill machinery and traded some property he had
on Main street in that city for one hundred and twenty
acres where he now lives, two and one-half miles south
from Spokane Bridge. He operated the sawmill
steadily for three years and then turned his attention
more to improving his farm. As stated above, he has
an excellent orchard which is a source of good divid-
ends annually. At one time, Mr. Carter had interests
in mines in Rossland which he sold for fifteen thousand
dollars. Mr. Carter is one of the leading men of his
section and has done business in a commendable man-
ner for the years in which he has operated.
His father's family consisted of seven boys and one
girl, named as follows. David, married and living in
Minnesota ; John married and living in British Colum-
bia ; George, married and living in Toronto, Canada ;
Willis, the subject of this sketch ; William, single and
living in Spokane; Lyman, married and living in Spo-
kane ; Levi, a widower, living in Kootenai county ;
Mary, single, living in Spokane.
of
of I
JOHN W. WILLIS. About two miles east from
Spokane Bridge is located the home of the subject of
this article. It is a good farm and Mr. Willi- i- one
of the younger men of Kootenai county who has
gained here a fine success both as a general farmer
and especially as a breeder of fine stock. He has a
thoroughbred Norman stallion weighing sixteen hun-
dred pounds, Echo Eleven. He also has about twenty
head of splendid horses, some cattle and fifty Berk-
shire hogs, one of which number is a fine male.
It will be interesting to trace the personal career
of this man and we note that he was born in Oregon
City, Oregon, on Tanuary 25, 1873, being tne son of
Andy and Mary' fBeecham) Willis. The father
came with his parents to Oregon when he was about
(wo vears of age. His father died there; the family
has remained twenty years in that place. The father
of our subject started a livery stable in Oregon City
So8
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
and also raised blooded horses. He was very skill-
ful in this line, as his son is also. He raised Emegon
Dick, Mark Hanna. Timbuck and others, all running
horses of note. He also had some very excellent
stallions. He now lives in Sherman county, where
he is still engaged in raising stock. Our subject was
educated in Oregon City, Portland and The Dalles
and at the age of seventeen he started for himself.
He freighted from The Dalles to Canyon City and
raised stock for seven years, then sold out and bought
a livery stable in Portland. Two yeai« he devoted
himself to handling- that property and then sold it
and same to Kootenai county. He bought the quar-
ter where he now resides. He has a fine orchard,
about one-third of the land under cultivation and does
a good business in handling stock and general farm-
ing.
In 1898 Mr. Willis married Miss Helen E. Lewis,
whose parents were natives of Germany. They came to
Minnesota and there farmed until the death of the
father in 1884. The. mother still lives in Cold
Springs. Minnesota. Two children have been born to
Mr. and Mrs. Willis, namely: Leo A. and Norman
E. In political matters Mr. Willis is inclined to
liberal views, reversing his judgment for the man and
his principles rather than tying to a party. He dis-
plays commendable activity in furthering the cause
for which he stands. He fraternizes with the Red-
men. Minnehaha Lodge, in Portland. Mr. Willis, as
his father before him, has already made a good record
in handling- stock and we man look for further and
excellent results from his skillful work.
AUGUST OAKLAND. Some of the most sub-
stantial of Kootenai county's citizens have made their
worldly wealth since coming hither and among this
number of successful men we are constrained to men-
tion the subject of this article, who is located one
mile southeast from Spokane Bridge and has a good
farm, well improved with good buildings, as house,
barn, chicken houses and outbuildings of all kinds
needed, while he cultivates seventy-five acres and has
an orchard of four acres of all the leading varieties
of fruits. Mr. Oakland is one of the enterprising and
influential men of his section and the success that he
has wrought out does him great credit.
He was born in central Sweden, on February 7,
1855, being the son of John O and Matilda (Lun-
green) Oakland, natives of the same country. They
came to America and located in Burnett county, Wis-
consin, in 1868. and the father was three weeks in
cutting the road from the bay to his place. He has
now one of the finest farms in that county and raises
considerable stock. August was educate! in his na-
tive country and in America and at the age of fifteen
went into the pineries and in that capacity and on the
drive he worked for nineteen years. Then he bought
a forty and as he was unable to make a living on that
amount of land, he borrowed fifty dollars and came to
Spokane, landing there on the last day of February,
1890. He worked on the foundation of the Traders
National Bank and harvested in the Palouse and then
returned to labor on the Rookery in Spokane. Then
he sent for his family and they sold the forty and
came to him. They bought a squatter's right to the
place where he now lives, it being one hundred and
forty acres of good land. He purchased a building
from the Indians and moved it on the ground and then
went to work to make a home and a valuable farm.
He has accomplished this in a first class manner and
his estate returns him good annual dividends. He has
nine head of neat cattle and six horses.
In 1878 Mr. Oakland married Miss Grace, daugii-
ler of Olif and Engebore Nelson, natives of Sweden,
who came to America, locating at Wood Lake. Bur-
nett county, Wisconsin, in 1869, where they died. To
Mr. and Mrs. Oakland there have been born seven
children, Adelia. married to Jerome Manor, in Post-
falls , Effie. George N., Maud. Walter, Sydney and
Harold. Mr. Oakland has been school clerk for one
year and road supervisor for the same length of time,
and was elected justice of the peace in 1902. It is
very creditable that coming to this country with no
means and in debt, he has made him a comfortable
home, gained a good competence and is now one of the
worthy and leading men of his community. Mrs. Oak-
land was the first woman elected to office in Kootenai
county. She was elected school director in 1890 and
again in 1892 and is now serving as clerk of the board.
CHARLES HORN. To be a veteran who fought
for the stars and stripes in the days of internecine
strife and rebellion is to be pointed out as a man who
deserves the praise and approbation of his fellows.
To have been a pioneer in the various places of the
west, striving against the many forces which were at-
tempting to overwhelm the invader of nature's do-
main, is to be stamped as a man of nerve, stamina and
ability. But to have been in both of these meritor-
ious positions as has the estimable gentleman whose
name is heading this paragraph, is to oe a conspic-
uous figure in every line in which patriotism and en-
terprise can distinguish a man.
Charles Horn was born in Germersheim. on the
Rhine, in Germany, on April 8, 1839, being the son of
Francis and Mary (Koontz) Horn, both natives of
Bavaria. They came to America in 1868, lived one
year in New York and returned to Germany, where
they died in 1878. Our subject was reared in his na-
tive place and there received his education. When
fifteen he learned the stone mason trade and in 1859
he came to the United States, landing in New York
in June. In April. 1861, he enlisted in the Forty-
fifth New York Volunteers under General Sigel and
served for four years and four months. Mr. Horn
was a man of courage, which he displayed on many
a hard contested field. At the battle of Gettysburg he
was shot through the leg and also had one eye put
out by a shell. He lay in this distressed condition on
the field for two days before the rescuing parties
AUGUST OAKLAND.
iHARL.ES HORN
JOHN D. CARROLL.
WILLIAM H. LYON.
WILLIAM EATON.
DAVID PHIFER.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
9o*
found him. For five months he languished in the
hospital before being able to again join his command.
Then he served under Hooker at Lookout Mountain
and also at Resaca as well as in many other con-
flicts. On October 15, 1865, he was honorably dis-
charged and returned to his home in New York.
Later he settled in Brooklyn and remained until 1871
when he came to Chicago and in 1873 to St. Paul
and also to other places in Minnesota until 1879, fol-
lowing his trade in each place. Then he went to
Otterail county and took a homestead. In 1883 he
was in Richmond, Virginia, then two years in Balti-
more, one year again in Ottertail county, a year in
Texas, two years in St. Louis, again in Minnesota in
1889, and finally in 1893 Mr- Horn came to Kootenai
county. His present home is two miles north from
Valley and here he is handling a farm.
On November 5, 1865, in Brooklyn, Mr. Horn
married Theodora, daughter of Charles and Hellina
(Dick) Gertum, natives of Germany, mention of
whom is made in another portion of this work. Mrs.
Horn is one of a family of five children. To Mr. and
Mrs. Horn there have been born children as fol-
lows : Mary, wife of Louis Wilson, in Kootenai
county; Charles, married and living in this county;
Frank, married ; George, married, both being in
Kootenai county; Lena, wife of James McClelland, in
Asotin county, Washington ; Josie, wife of George
Tanner, in Asotin county, Washington ; Edward, with
his parents. Air. Horn is a member of the G. A. R.
and a charter member of the F. O. A., at Priest
River. He and his family affiliate with the Catholic
church and are well respected people and substantial
citizens of this county.
JOHN D. CARROLL is one of the typical pio-
neers and frontiersmen of the northwest, having made
his way into the fastnesses of every state and ter-
ritory west of the Rockies and being in this section
nearly forty years ago. He has experienced all the
various ups and downs of the miner, making much
money and investing in various undertakings, while
in it all he has gone through the hardships that only
the sturdv and unflinching pioneer knows about or
can undergo. He is a man of the true metal and has
shown his courage and spirit in hundreds of trying
places.
A brief outline of this adventurous career will be
interesting reading for the history of Kootenai county
and therefore we append it. John D. Carroll is of
pure Irish blood, and this speaks volumes in explan-
ation of his stirring career on the frontier. He was
born in Dublin on January 5, 1832, being the son of
James and Sarah (Dolton) Carroll, both natives of
that famous island also. The father was a tanner by
trade and died in 1858, and the mother died in 1886,
both being buried in Dublin. John D. went at the age
of fourteen on a seafaring trip in the Mediterranean
and in 1849 on the crest of the mining excitement in
California we find him and as a presaging omen of
his career, he made a success from the begining. In
1858 he was in the Fraser river country and one year
later was mining in Plaza country, California. In
i860 he started for some of the p'romising fields in
Oregon and a little later we see him in Orofino, Idaho.
He also dug the shining metal in Florence and there
paid two dollars and fifty cents for a pound of flour.
He made a trip to San Francisco about this time and
then returned to the pick and shovel in Silver City,
Idaho, where he prospered for one and one-half year's.
In 1864 he came to the Bonners Ferry country and dis-
covered the diggings on Wild Horse creek and in three
weeks washed out nearly four thousand dollars of
dust with a pan. He sold and went to San Francisco
and then mined in Nevada and three or four years
'later was following his chosen occupation in the fa-
mous Bodie country. Two years there and he went to
Sonora, Mexico, and spent twenty-seven months in
that republic. Then he mined in San Bernardino
county, California, then in Utah, then on Wood river,
Idaho, and more or less he has kept it up until this
date. Mr. Carroll has universally been blessed with
success, has made plenty of money and has had a wide
range of experience in all these lines of frontier work.
In 1889 he operated a ferry for a year and a half in
Montana at Thompson Falls. In 1891 he located on
his present homestead, three miles south from Cope-
land. He cuts sixty or more tons of hay each year,
raises cattle and does a general farming business.
In 1893 Mr. Carroll was appointed city marshal of
Bonners Ferry and in defending the jail against a mob
he was treated to a bullet in his head, which is still
lodged there. In 1893 a widower brother of Mr.
Carroll came to his place and soon died, leaving one
son, whom Mr. Carroll has raised, he being now
eighteen years of age. In political matters our sub-
ject has always evinced an active and intelligent in-
terest and he is one of the progressive and capable
citizens of the countv.
WILLIAM H. LYON. A continuous residence
of thirteen years at Lakeview entitles Mr. Lyon to be
classed with the pioneers of Kootenai county. He has
witnessed and assisted in its progress, especially in the
development of the mineral resources.
The original head of the family, as far as ancestral
recerds show, was James Lyon, an Englishman, who
came to America in 1660, settling in Connecticut and
engaging in shipbuilding. To him was born Na-
thaniel, who also followed shipbuilding. His son,
James, became an expert shipbuilder, and in 1800 he
located in Kingston, Canada, and eventually owned
and operated a large line of lake vessels. He repre-
sented Northumberland county in the Canadian par-
liament in 1812, having defeated the popular Sir Al-
len McNabb, against whom it was said no other man
could have won. On February 20, 181 5, at Kingston
was born William, son of James Lyon. He became a
marked student and finished an extensive course of
studv in the fine institutions of Europe. At Brigh-
<jio
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ton, Canada, in 1832, he married Miss Catherine El-
lis Elrod, daughter of Dr. John E. Elrod, of Toronto.
To this couple were born ten children, our subject be-
ing the third. Shortly after the marriage just men-
tioned William and his father James joined the Cana-
dian rebellion against English authority and the re-
sult was they were exiled and their property confis-
cated. Later James petitioned his government from
the United States whither he had fled and secured a
reinstatement to his position and property. The son,
William, went to Cincinnati and became prominent as
a professor in the Curtis Medical College. Later he
established himself in Warren, Trumbull county,
Ohio, where our subject was born on September 24,
1837. He was educated and reared in his native
place and in 1858 went west to seek his fortune. In
1859 at St. Louis he married Miss Sarah, daughter of
John Cowdrey, of Booneville, Missouri, who was killed
at the battle of Bull Run, being captain of a Confed-
erate cavalry. Mr. Lyon went to New Orleans and
engaged in commercial pursuits and when the war
broke out came north but was unfortunately landed at
Memphis where he was forced into the Confederate
ranks. Obtaining a three days leave of absence he
stole out of the city and came to Cairo and there en-
listed with Major Warren Stewart's battalion, which
was later joined to the Thirteenth Illinois Cavalry.
He was wounded at Shiloh and mustered out, being
partially paralyzed from the effects of the wound.
Recovering his health, Mr. Lyon enlisted in the Six-
teenth Kentucky Infantry, on January 1, 1864, and
after being gathered to Atlanta was sent under Thomas
to Nashville and participated in the battles of that
year wherein his division was engaged and served
with great credit to himself and profit to the cause.
On August 26, 1865, Mr. Lyon was honorably dis-
charged. His wife had died during the war at her
father's home in Booneville, Missouri, and on April 5,
'871, Mr. Lyon took a second wife. Miss Cecelia
De Ash became his bride on this occasion. Her
father, a colonel of the Second Louisana Infantry, was
killed at Bull Run. Mr. Lyon was plantation agent
for a time after the war and in 1876 went to the Black
Hills and in his own words "left his money there."
In 1878 he operated in mining in Colorado and did
well until 1882, when he removed to Arizona. In
1886 he went thence to California and there pros-
pected and operated a hotel in different leading places
in the state. Mrs. Lyon, the second wife, died in
1876, shortly after their trip west. In his stay in
California Mr. Lyon had contracted rheumatism and
travelled extensively to secure aid, going even to
South America and Asia and leading points in other
countries. In 1890 he returned to the United States
and at once came to Kootenai county and located the
Cape Horn ranch at Lakeview and although a life-
long Republican he received the appointment of post-
master from Cleveland. Mr. Lyon has a good ranch,
handles the mail and does mining and prospecting.
He has been engaged in general merchandising busi-
ness since January 1, 1901. He has three valuable
claims, the El Capitan, going over one hundred dol-
lars in silver : the Trinity, which runs well in both
silver and gold, and the Big Six, which also runs in
both precious metals. Mills are needed to further
develop these properties. Mr. Lyon is a prominent
G. A. R. man. belonging to John Lawton Post, No.
29, at Rathdrum.
WILLIAM EATON. This venerable gentleman is
one of the honored citizens of Bonners Ferry, having
until recently been engaged in active mercantile life,
wherein he achieved a good success, while also he has
always stood well among the people and is highly re-
spected and esteemed at this day.
William Eaton was born in Newark, New Jersey,
on October 13, 1830, being the son of William and
Eunice ( Perce 1 Eaton, natives of Vermont and Mas-
sachusetts, respectively. They removed to Iowa in
1840, remaining until 1856, when they went to Mis-
souri, where the father died the same year, aged fifty-
six. The mother returned to Iowa and lived until 1862,
dying- then, aged seventy-three. They were the parents
of eleven children five of whom still live. William
was educated in Iowa, having but scanty opportunity
for schooling. At twenty years of age he started for
himself in life's course. He hired to an Indian trader
and operated in southwestern Iowa for one year, then
returned to his home and remained four years. Going
again to southwestern Iowa, he took raw land, made a
good farm, and in 1877 sold it and went to Kansas,
where he bought one-half section, put two hundred
acres under cultivation and then sold it. He purchased
a nine-thousand dollars stock of goods and for one
and one-half years did business in Kansas and then
came to Bonner's Ferry in 1888, bringing his goods
with him. He at once opened a store and since that
time he has been numbered with the leading merchants
of the county until he retired in 1902.
In 1851 Mr. Eaton married Miss Caroline Green,
and to them were born eleven children, of whom the
following are still living: Orson, married and living
in Utah ; Amanda, wife of Walter Sweet, living in
this county ; William, married and living in this coun-
ty : Fannie, wife of William Halbrook. in Kansas :
Harry, married and living in Kootenai county : Addie,
wife of William Hopper, in southern Idaho. In 1877
Mr. Eaton married Miss Amelia Cox and by this mar-
riage he has three children : Robert C. ; Ambrosia, wife
of Thomas Jones, in Bonners Ferry; Reta, living
with parents and teaching school. Socially, Mr. Eaton
is affiliated with the A. F. & A. M., and the I. O. O. F.,
at Bonners Ferry. In political matters he is liberal
and in 1897 he was elected mayor of Bonners Ferry,
and so well did he please the people in his administra-
tion that he succeeded himself three times.
In 1862 Mr. Eaton enlisted in Silver Creek
Mounted Volunteers under Captain Darling, as sec-
ond lieutenant, and he served until 1864. He was
constantly fighting Ouantrell, Price and Bealer. For
this service he has never received a dollar from the
government. He furnished his own clothes, horse- and
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
911
equipment and still holds his commission which shows
he was never discharged.
In 1848 Mr. Eaton made a trip into Colorado and
into the Smoky mountains and later into the Rio
Grande valley, trading with the Indians.
FRANCIS M. MARKHAM. To such men as
this estimable and capable gentleman there is great
credit due for the intrepid courage, energy and pro-
gressiveness manifested in coming into these sections
of wilderness in early days to open them for the set-
tlement of men, and it is with pleasure that we have
the privilege to chronicle a review of his career in the
history that has to do with Kootenai county.
Francis M. Markham was born in Knox county,
Illinois, on December 12. 1847. He is the son of Simon
S. and Cynthia (Fry) Markham, who were teachers
in New York, where they were married and then
moved to Illinois. In 1S48 the family crossed the
plains to Albany, Oregon, and there the father was a
general merchant. Our subject grew to manhood and
was educated in Albany. \\ hen in young manhood
he learned the carpenter trade from his father. Later
he went to blacksmithing, which he had learned in his
youth. He also followed farming for ten years and
in 1883 he came to Kootenai, pushing out into this wild
country. He bought the right to his present place,
one-half mile south from Laclede, at what is known
as the Seneaquoteen crossing. He secured it and the
ferry from Richard Fry & Company, and since that
day lias operated the farm and ferry and raised stock.
Mr. Markham is a well-to-do and substantial citizen
and a leader in the industries which he follows. In
the political world he has also been active and influen-
tial, has been delegate to the Populist conventions, is
school director and has been since the organization of
the district. His farm has a good house, fine barn
sixty by sixty-five, orchard and other improvements
and produces much hay each year. Recently Air.
Markham tore down a building erected by the Hudson
Bay Company.
On May 16, 1869, Mr. Markham married Miss
Elmina, daughter of Creed T. and Nancy (Lane) Big-
gers, natives of Virginia and Kentucky, respectively.
The mother was a second cousin of Joe Lane, who
ran for vice-president with Breckenridge. Mr. and
Mrs. Biggers crossed the plains in 1853 and he died
in Scio, Oregon, and the mother at Lebanon.
Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs.
Markham. six of whom are living: Melvin C, mar-
ried and living at Seneaquoteen ; Edith, wife of
Thomas Campbell, in Laclede ; Loren and Lester,
twins- with parents; Lena, wife of Charles Horn, in
this county : Grover C, with parents. Mr. and Mrs.
Markham are people of excellent standing in the com-
munity and are deserving of much commendation for
the worthy pioneer labors that they have done here
and for the exemplary manner in which they have al-
wavs conducted themselves.
DAVID PHIFER. With a very creditable mili-
tary career which extends over many years, b
a man of capabilities and a stanch character, the sub-
ject of this article is one of the substantial and leading
men of the county and is deserving of representation
in its history.
David ! 'Infer was born in Riplej county, Indiana,
on July 4, [853, being the son of Philip and Louise
Phifer, natives of Germany. They came to America
in early days and located in Indiana. The father en-
listed in the Union army and was killed in the battle
of Pea Ridge. The mother also died when he was
small and he was raised by an uncle, John R. Heim,
in Indianapolis, Indiana. He received a good school-
ing and at the age of twenty-one started for himself.
One year was spent in railroading and in 1870 he en-
listed in the regular army, Company H, Fourth In-
fantry. He was at various places, among which was
Niobrara and Sanders, forts in Wyoming' and in [886
he came to Coeur d'Alene with the army. The fol-
lowing year he was honorably discharged and at once
went into business in Coeur d'Alene. He first com-
menced to cook and operated a restaurant and he has
been in business for the entire time since that date. He
owns a fine building on Sherman street and also a good
residence. Mr. Phifer is considered one of the reliable
and substantial men of the town and is one of the old
settlers. He has always manifested a public spirit
and is ever ready to take hold of any enterprise tor
the general good.
It is of note that the ancestors of Air. Phifer were
all very long lived. His maternal grandfather lived
to be one hundred and twenty years of age and that
venerable gentleman's wife was one hundred and ten
when she died. Many of the other ancestors on both
sides of the house lived to be over one hundred years
of age.
In 1891 Mr. Phifer married Miss Maggie Will-
iams, whose parents were natives of Wales. To this
couple has been born one child, Elva. Mr. and Mrs.
Phifer are members of the Lutheran church, and he
also affiliates with Tribe No. 2, of Red Men, at Coeur
d'Alene.
WILLIAM FREDERICK PLONSKE. The
brain and brawn of Germany's sturdy men have
wrought much for this nation and among the number
of worthy immigrants who have made this their home
and justly belong to the progressive and thrifty class
of citizens, we mention William Plonske. of whom
we essay to speak at this time. He was born in Ger-
many, on November 5, r86g, being the son of August
and Henrietta (Kollonowske) Plonske. who also
were natives of Germany. The family came to Amer-
ica in 1875, locating in Waupaca county. Wisconsin,
later going to St. Croix county. In 1895 they came
to Kootenai county, where the father now lives, the
mother dying in 1900. William was educated in the
various places where the parents lived and at fifteen
went to work for himself. In 1890 he came to Aber-
912
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
deen, Washington, and worked in the lumber woods
for two years and then came to his present place in
1893. His farm is located three miles west from
Postfalls, and consists of one hundred and eleven
acres. This is improved with comfortable buildings,
a •blacksmith shop and so forth, and is devoted to rais-
ing vegetables and stock.
In 1894 Mr. Plonske married Miss Virginia B.,
daughter of George and Mary Knowlton, natives re-
spectively of Illinois and Oregon. They now live in
Spokane. To Mr. and Mrs. Plonske two children
have been born, Pearl E., Fred W., deceased. In
1897 Mrs. Plonske was called from her husband and
familv by death and her remains sleep in the Saltese
cemetery", Washington. Mr. Plonske is a member of
the German Lutheran church. He is a worthy, in-
dustrious man and stands well among the people of
his community.
Mr. Plonske was elected justice of the peace on
the Democratic ticket in 1902 and was one of the
three Democrats elected in Kootenai county at that
election.
LEVER ITT V. LYON. This gentleman has
spent considerable time in the various callings of the
frontier, and especially in prospecting and mining, in
which latter he has been successful, having at this
time some claims of good value on the north half
of the Colville reservation in Washington. He has
put three thousand dollars in them and is pressing
the development of them with vigor and skill at this
time. He also has a fine home two and one-half miles
from Postfalls. The estate at this point consists of a
quarter section of good land. It is fenced and a good
portion of it under cultivation, having eight acres to
orchard and handling much small fruit and vegetables.
He has a good, comfortable house and other buildings.
It will be of interest to add a detailed account of
the career of Mr. Lyon. First we note that he was
born in Petersburg, New Brunswick, Ganada, on April
13, 1863, being "the son of William and Matilda
(Sleep) Lvon, natives of New Brunswick also. The
father died in 1872, but the mother stili lives in the
old home. There were four children in the family,
mentioned below, Bradford, married and residing in
Eureka, California ; Leveritt. the subject of this article ;
Ludlow, living in Bolster, Washington: George, liv-
ing in Petersville, New Brunswick. Our subject's
paternal grandfather was a native of New York, and
his maternal grandparents were born in England.
Leveritt was educated in his native place and at six-
teen years of age went to Pennsylvania and worked
in the coal mines. Two years later we find him in
Nevada, laboring in the quartz mines, where one year
was spent and then he went to the Black Hills, South
Dakota. In 1883 he came to Spokane, Washington.
Going to the Big Bend country he was one of thirty-
two men who went in a body to prospect and two
vears were spent in the Okanogan district, exploring
the country. Then he came to Kootenai county and
took the land spoken of above. He has an excellent
home and intends that it shall be his home the bal-
ance of his days. In political matters Mr. Lyon is
liberal and reserves his judgment for the man and the
principles rather than confining himself to the dema-
gogues of party restriction. He stands well in his
community and is one of the substantial men of the
county.
■+-++■
AUGUST PLONSKE. This worthy farmer of
Kootenai county was born in Germany, Soldin, on
May 7, 1843, being the son of Fredrick and Chris-
tina (Dettner) Plonske, natives of German)'. The
mother died in 1862 and the father in 1867, being
buried in the native place. August received a com-
mon schooling and at fourteen began to work out.
At twenty-one he served in the German war with
Austria and with Denmark for three years, being
mustered out in 1866. In 1870 he went to fight in
the Franco-Prussian war and saw terrible warfare
and great hardships for one year. After that war he
w:orked at various occupations until 1875, when he
came to Wisconsin and settled in Fond-du-Lac couifty,
whence he removed in three years to Baldwin, in that
state. Seven years were spent there and then he went
to Hammond, Wisconsin, and lived eight years. Then
he came to Kootenai county and took a homestead
where he now lives, three miles south from Spokane
Bridge. He built a good house, has seventy acres
under cultivation, a good orchard and is one of the
prosperous farmers of the section.
In 1868 Air. Plonske married Miss Hennathe
Kollmowske, a native of German}', and to them have
been born ten children, as follows : William, married
to Jennie Knowlton, she being now deceased; Charles,
a physician in St. Paul, Minnesota ; Amelia, wife of
Frank Conrad, in Hammond, Wisconsin; Otilda, wife
of Julius Conrad, -in Hammond, Wisconsin; Mary,
wife of Robert L. Hudson, in Spokane, Washington ;
Albert, with parents; Anna, wife of Louis Stingle,
in Postfalls ; Emma, single, living with her sister in
Hammond, Wisconsin: Edward, with father; Clara,
with her sister in Hammond, Wisconsin. Mrs. Plonske
died in 1900. Mr. Plonske is a devoted member of the
German Lutheran church.
ZACHARIAH and THOMAS E. MONTGOM-
ERY. These stanch and successful business men and
heavy real estate holders of the lower Kootenai valley
are located adjoining the town of Porthill, where they
have extensive interests as well as being heavily inter-
ested in mining properties in northern Idaho.
They are the sons of Samuel and Nancy J. (Par-
ker) Montgomery, natives of Kentucky and North
Carolina, respectively. The parents removed to Mis-
souri and there were married and then located in
Buchanan county, where they remained for forty years.
In 1887 they went to Riley county, Kansas, where they
are now retired farmers. Zachariah was born March
10, 185 1. and Thomas was born December 19, 1853.
ZACHARIAH MONTGOMERY.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
9i3
both being natives of Buchanan county. Missouri, and
there received a common schooling. Zachariah com-
menced a college course and his health failed and con-
sequently he was forced to forego this pleasure. He
remained at home with his parents until he was twenty-
four and then went to Brown county, Kansas, and
raised and bought cattle for twelve years. Then, on
account of poor health, he came to the west in 1880
and traveled quite extensively in various portions. Re-
turning to Kansas, he again undertook the stock busi-
ness and for three years he was occupied in it. It was
1891 that he came to his present location and took a
homestead. He cleared fifty acres of heavily timbered
land and put it into fruit and he has the finest orchard
in northern Idaho. He gathers as high as four thou-
sand boxes of apples in one season, besides other fruit.
Mr. Montgomery has fifteen hundred acres of land, all
under cultivation but a few acres, much of it being
utilized for hay. He also has nearly six hundred
acres in company with his brother Thomas. He also
has about twenty mining claims and part of them have
been placed in the hands of the Kootenai Mining and
Smelting Company and the stock of them is selling at
twenty-five cents per share, thus signifying that these
properties are very valuable. Air. Montgomery is a
member of the I. (J. O. F., Lodge No. 292, of Mil-
ford, Kansas.
Thomas E. worked with his parents until he was
twenty-one and then went to Kansas and one summer
later returned to Missouri. In 1878 he went to Mon-
tana and for one year he did the vigorous labor of
cutting cordwood. Then we find him driving a team
and working in the mines until 1893, the time when he
came to this valley. He had been here in 1891. In
1893 he located his present homestead and in addition
has purchased land until he owns eight hundred acres,
besides some in partnership with his brother. He
handles stock and does general farming and owns
mines, having been quite successful in his ventures.
In 1894 Mr. Thomas Montgomery married Miss
Artimesa, daughter of George and Julia (Roll)
Holmes, natives of Kentucky and Missouri, respect-
ively. Mr. and Mrs. Holmes were married in St.
Joseph, Missouri, and in 1890 came west to Spokane.
Mrs. Holmes died in 1893, but the father still lives in
Spokane. Four children have been born to Mr. and
Mrs. Montgomery, Bertha, Fred A., Elsie and Mamie.
Mrs. Montgomery is a member of the Baptist church.
These brothers are among the leading men of this
portion of the valley and they are progressive and en-
terprising men whose labors have resulted in much
good for the advancement of the country and they are
highly respected and stand well, having hosts of
friends.
MALCOLM BRUCE. This successful business
man and public minded citizen of Bonners Ferry has
done a good work in the development of Kootenai coun-
ty and is at present engaged in operating a ferry
across the Kootenai river at Bonners Ferry. He was
born in the countv of Bruce, Ontario, Canada, on Au-
gust 15, 1855, being the son of Allen and Christian
1 McKenzie) Bruce, natives of Scotland. The) came
to Canada in an early dav and settled on a' farm,
where the father died in 1884, but the mother still
lives in Bonners Ferry. Malcolm received his educa-
tion in the justly famous schools of Ontario and at
fourteen quit studying and gave his time to assisting
his father on the farm. This continued until he was
twenty-two and at that time he inaugurated indepen-
dent action. We see him next in Manitoba and there
he assisted to run the boundary line between the Uni-
ted States and Canada in 1872. He worked at vari-
ous callings there until 1886 and then he went to Bis-
marck, North Dakota. He remained three years and
then came to Spokane Bridge, where he lived three
years on a farm. It was in 1891 that he came to Bon-
ners Ferry, bringing with him a fine dairy, which he
operated altogether for ten years, making a first-rate
success of it. He sold it in 1899 and bought the ferry
across the Kootenai, which property he sold ti> a com-
pany in 1902 and hired to them to operate it. In that
capacity, we find him at this time.
In 1882, Mr. Bruce married Mi.s.s Maggie, whose
parents, Robert and Mary (Armstrong) Mills, came to
Canada in an early day from their native country, Ire-
land. To Mr. and Mrs. Bruce there have been born
five children, named as follows: John, Dollie. Robert
B., Ellen F. and Yerna M. Politically, Mr. Bruce is
allied with the stanch Republican party and is active
in local matters. He is a member of the M. \Y. A.,
North Star Lodge, No. 6160; of the K. of I'.. Acma
Lodge, No. 15; Rathbone Sisters, of which latter his
wife is also a member. They are both member- of the
Presbyterian church.
FRANCIS M. WAGGONER. Surely this enter-
prising agriculturist of Kootenai county has had 3
career in which has been crowded some great hard-
ships, but his patience, his fortitude, his tenacity and
courage have surmounted them all and ha1
him a good success in this land. He lives now about
one mile south and one mile west from PostfallSj
where he has two hundred acres of nine land, well
improved and supplied with buildings, stock and neces-
sary implements in a degree that shows both the pros-
perity of the owner as well as his skill in husbandry
and in business enterprises.
Mr. Waggoner was born in Gilmer county, Vir-
ginia, on March 7, 1848, being the son of John and
Jemima (Collins) Wagoner, natives also of Virginia,
but immigrants to Wisconsin in 1855 and to towa in
1867, where they now live. The father is eighty-
two and the mother seventy-five. Their farm is in
Guthrie county, near Menlo. Francis was educated at
the country schools in the various places where he lived
until fifteen and and then assisted his father until
twenty-four. He was then engaged as overseer of a
sixteen-hundred-acre farm for Joseph Kenworthy,
where he remained nine years with fine success. He
then entered into partnership with the owner and in
9H
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
one year he lost four thousand dollars. Then he went
.to Kansas, bought a farm and had the burden of losing-
two crops in succession. Then he sold out and went
to Iowa, and farmed there for five years. He returned
to Kansas in 1SS5, bought eighty acres and remained
there rive years, when he came to Spokane county,
Washington, settling near Chester. Four years later
he removed to Kootenai county, securing his present
place, making it larger in 1898, by the purchase of forty
acres. He has the entire estate producing and all nicely
fenced and improved as mentioned before. He has
nine cows, ten head of smaller stock, plenty of horses
for the farm and does a prosperous business.
In 1872 Mr. Waggoner married Miss Ida V.,
daughter of James and Sarah (Root) Dwig-
gins. natives of Ohio. Mrs. Waggoner had six
brothers in the Civil war, all of them com-
ananders. while her father had four brothers
in the war. Some of these veterans live in Illi-
nois and some in Iowa. To Mr. and Mrs. Waggon-
er there have been born four children, as follows : Char-
les F., married to Eva Fleming, in this county; Oscar
J., married to Kittie Knoble, living in Kootenai coun-
ty; Stella, wife of Henry Enders, in Postfalls ; Flor-
•ence J., with parents. Mr. Waggoner takes an in-
telligent and active part in politics, refraining from
■accepting office, although pressed by friends to do so.
He has given his time to the handling of school affairs
and has been an ardent supporter of educational facil-
ities. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., and he
and Mrs. Waggoner are members of the Christian
church and are devout supporters of their faith.
EUGENE L. WHITNEY. It is quite in place
that there should be incorporated in the history of
Kootenai county an account of the career of this esti-
mable gentleman and stirring business man. who is
well known in the northern part of the county and is
now located in Bonner's Ferry, where he does a general
dray and transfer business.
Eugene L. was born in Canaseraga. Allegany
countv, New York, on September 12, 1854, being the
son of Melvin and Eliza (Hooker) Whitney, also
natives of New York. The father was a miller and a
millwright and this he followed until the time of his
death at a good ripe age. The mother died when aged.
They had been the parents of six children, five boys and
one girl. Our subject was educated in the district
sch' poI and in 1879 completed a course in bookkeeping
also. At the age of thirteen he met the responsibili-
ties of the world on his own account,- going first to
Pennsylvania, where he followed lumbering for four
year-. At the age of nineteen, he went to Kansas and
engaged in hunting buffalo and farming until 1876.
then&went to Fort Hayes and operated a livery for a
time, and later did the same business at Bull City,
Kansas. Then he sold and took up the hardware bus-
iness. Next we see him in Osborne, buying stock and
grain for the First National Bank of that place. He
resigned in 1880. taking up the management of a lum-
ber industry for Hall Brothers, where he continued for
eleven years. It was in 1891 that he severed his con-
nections with this business and came to Kootenai coun-
ty. Bonners Ferry was fortunate enough to secure
his esttlement and he took up sawmilling. His firm
was known as Whitney, Braden & Company and under
this style they did business for one year and then he
went into partnership with W. W. Bush and they did
business transferring ore and freight from boat to
train at Bonners Ferry. They continued together for
one year and Mr. Whitney had been in this business
ever since. He has good equippage and also a good
residence in Bonners Ferry and about twenty good
town lots. His residence he built in 1894.
In political matters, Mr. Whitney is active and a
thorough Republican. He was president of the Mc-
Kinlev club in 1896. He was marshal of Bonners Fer-
ry and councilman in Eaton. He is also a member
of the school board and labors for the furthering of
educational facilities. In 1876 he was delegate to the
Republican county convention in Osborne county and
in 1902 he was delegate in Kootenai county and was
nominated for sheriff of the county. He gained the day
by a handsome majority.
In 1880 Mr. Whitney married Miss Bessie, daugh-
ter of William and Sarah J. (Taylor) Braden, natives
of Iowa and Kentucky respectively. They came to
Kansas in early days and remained there until their
death. To Mr. and Mrs. Whitney there have been
born three children as follows : Bertrice, wife of Bart-
lett Sinclair, now living in Passig, Philippines ; Stella,
Helen, both with parents. Mr. Whitney is a member
of the K. of P., the I. O. O. F., and the K. O. T. M.
Mrs. Whitney is a member of the Rebekahs. Both
of them are members of the Presbvterian church.
ANDREW J. KENT. A real frontiersman and
a pioneer who has wrought in different places in the
west. Mr. Kent is now living in Bonners Ferry and
is one of the substantial, influential and prominent
citizens of Kootenai county. He was born in Osceola,
Wisconsin, on December 8, i860, being the son of An-
drew and Esther (Hill) Kent, natives of Scotland and
Pennsylvania, respectively. The father was born in
1819 and came to America in 1820. He remained in
New Brunswick until 1833 then went to Maine where
he remained until 1850. Then he went to Osceola,
Wisconsin, and in 1853 to California. He returned
by way of Cape Horn but when opposite southern
California the boat sank, taking all the treasure with
iu but all hands were saved. Mr. Kent lost
forty-four thousand dollars. He returned and
went to Pike's Peak, but not discovering gold
there, he came to Osceola, Wisconsin, where
he lived until 1901. when his time came to
pass the river of death. He. with four broth-
ers, put the first saw mill on the St. Croix river. The
mother lives in Osceola now. Our subject received a
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
common schooling in his native place and in 1876 he
took a normal course at River Falls, Wisconsin. In
1879 ne came to Missoula, Montana, and then went
to Philipsburg and worked in the Granite mine for one
year. It was 1883 when he came to Murray, that being
the time of the gold excitement. Seven years he la-
bored in the Coeur d'Alenes and he was among the lead-
ing mine discoverers there, for he located the Fifield
group, the Evolution, and others in close proximity to
the famous Bunker Hill mine. In 1891 Mr. Kent came
to Bonners Ferry district as an expert for Loran and
Clark. Since that time, he has made his home here.
He owns three hundred and twenty acres of land,
which he bought from the railroad, also twenty-eight
lots in Bonners Ferry and other property. In 1901 Mr.
Kent took a contract to build eight miles of road for
wagons to the Buckhorn mines from Bonners Ferry.
In 1890 Mr. Kent married Miss Nellie E. Welch,
in Coeur d'Alene, and to them have been born five
children : Leslie, Zoe E.. Fay I., Howard and Theodore
Roosevelt. Mrs. Kent's parents, E. R. and Hattie
E. (Sargent) Welch, are natives of New York and
now live in The Dalles, Oregon, whither they came in
the 'seventies. Mr. Kent is an active participant in the
realm of politics, both county and state. In 1896 he
was elected justice of the peace and succeeded him-
self in 1898. In 1900 he was chosen constable, which
office he now holds. He has frequently been delegate
to the county conventions and has served on the board
of councilmen for Bonners Ferry. He has also given
his time and wisdom on the school board frequently
and is so serving now. He is a member of the K. of
P., Acma Lodge, No. 15. Mr. Kent is the possessor
of some valuable mining property in the Buckhorn
district and is a promoter of these, while also he labors
for progression and advancement in all lines.
JOSEPH C. PARENT. This gentleman has done
much toward the upbuilding and development of Koot-
enai county, laboring with energy and zeal and accom-
plishing worthy results in many capacities, especially
in handling the lumber products of the country. He was
born on May 2, 1859, on Star Prairie, Wisconsin,
being the son of Charles and Delia (Picard) Parent,
natives of Canada and Michigan, respectively. The
father left Canada for the United States at the age of
eleven years. He located in Detroit and remained
there for twenty-two years and then went to St. Croix
county, Wisconsin, in 1855, where he lives now, re-
tired, being aged eighty. He is a worthy citizen and
holds a goodly competence for the labors of his hands.
His first wife was Delia Picard and by her he had
seven children. She died in 1869. His second wife
was a widow with six children and by her he has two
children. Our subject received his education on Star
Prairie and in Somerset. He remained on the farm
with his parents until twenty-one. He farmed until
1889, when he came west, locating in Montana, where
he remained until 1891, and then came to Kootenai
county. He freighted on the Kootenai river with
canoes for one year, receiving as high as two dollars
per pound for freight from Crossport to Kootenai
falls. In 1893 he located a homestead of sixtv-three
acres and proved up. In 1901 he took the balance of
his right, and his place is located four miles north
from Bonners Ferry. This he is improving in good
shape, and is devoting attention to raising blooded
hogs, of which he has some fine specimens. In 1894
Mr. Parent took a contract of furnishing the Great
Northern with ties. The next year he contracted to
furnish five hundred thousand feet of log-s to the Kaslo
saw mill. In 1896 he took another similar contract
and in 1897 he contracted for seven hundred thou-
sand feet. In 1898 he contracted to furnish tin- Sav-
ward company one half million feet and this entire
amount was lost by the boom breaking. In 1899 Mr.
Parent freighted on the K. V. Railroad and the nexl
year he began improvements in earnest on his ranch.
In 1881 Mr. Parent married Miss Adalim- .\L,
daughter of Dominick and Adaline (Pearson) Gen-
erous, natives of Canada, but immigrants to Osseo,
Minnesota, where they live on a farm. To Mr. and
Mrs. Parent there have been born four children, three
of whom are living, named as follows: Abraham J.,
at home; Angeline M., wife of Edward V. Greenleaf,
in Star Prairie, Wisconsin ; Charles F, with father.
Mr. Parent is always active in political matters and
displays the interest of the intelligent citizen. He and
his family affiliate with the Catholic church.
GILBERT F. OSLER. Although the subject of
this sketch has recently come to this county, he has
made himself one of the substantial citizens of it in
this time and is actively interested in its upbuilding,
while he has shown forth uprightness and sound prin-
ciples in his walk, thus commending himself to all
lovers of good and those who desire the advancement
of our county.
Gilbert F. was born in Logan county, Illinois, on
October 14, 1856, being the son of Basell and Dorcus
(Norton) Osier, natives of Indiana. The father died
in 1863. Having been a good business man, he left an
estate of twenty thousand dollars. The mother re-
moved to Pottawattamie county, Iowa, and by her
excellent management has made a fine fortune of twice
that amount. These worthy people were the parents
of seventeen children, eight of whom are now living.
Our subject went to Iowa with the rest of the family
and there received his schooling. At the age of seven-
teen, he started out for himself, purchasing a farm,
which he worked for fourteen years. This was in Io-
wa, then he went to Nebraska and purchased a farm,
and for thirteen years he tilled that. Then he deter-
mined to see the west and accordingly came to Koot-
enai county. This was in 1901. He took a homestead
and bought a half section more, one quarter of which
was hay land. That he sold and now he is doing a
saw mill business, one and one-half miles southeast
from Bonners Ferry, where his land is located. In
addition to this. Mr. Osier has some stock and devotes
considerable attention to that.
916
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
In 1877 Mr. Osier married Miss Malissa, daugh-
ter of Cephas and Rachel Ellis, natives of Ohio, who
came to Iowa in an early day and in 1887 removed to
Nebraska, where they now live. To Mr. and Mrs.
Osier there have been born three children, Myrtle L.,
teaching school ; Earl C, and Ratie M., at home. Mr.
Osier is active in local politics and also in all measures
that have for their aim the betterment and advancement
of the country and county. He is a member of the M.
W. A., and of the K. O. T. M.
CHARLES O'CALLAGHAN. This prominent
business man of Bonners Ferry is a man of good stand-
ing and manifest ability and has so conducted himself
that he has the confidence and approbation of the peo-
ple, in whose esteem he stands very high. He is a
thorough gentleman, having a high sense of honor and
integrity, is a loyal friend, holds a pleasant distinction
in the social world and is a capable, upright, and effici-
ent business man and loyal and patriotic citizen.
Charles O'Callaghan was born in Buckingham, near
Ottawa, Canada, on December 12, 1852, being the son
of P. J. and Mary (Cox) O'Callaghan, natives of
Ireland and Canada, respectively. The mother died
when Charles was four years of age. The father came
to Norway, Michigan, in 1875, where he now lives,
aged ninety.
Our subject was educated in the common schools
until twenty and then went to Oshkosh, Wisconsin,
where he entered and graduated from the business col-
lege, and then he entered the state normal school, from
which he graduated also in 1878. Being thus well
equipped in the line of education and business knowl-
edge, young O'Callaghan started in the labors of the
educator in Michigan. He taught for two years and
was also interested in lumbering, being bookkeeper for
a large lumber firm, and also buying and selling lum-
ber at this time. This latter continued until 1887,
when Mr. O'Callaghan had the misfortune to lose his
health. He was filled with courage and spirit and was
determined to conquer and so came to the west and took
up stock raising in Kootenai county. Idaho. Four
years he labored at this and then sold out and came
to Bonners Ferry, taking up real estate business. He
has done well in this line since that time, having ac-
quired title to a considerable property both in the
country and in Bonners Ferry. He is an active parti-
cipant in politics, being a strong Jeffersonian Demo-
crat. In 1899 he was appointed United States commis-
sioner for Idaho and does a good business in this line
now. In 1896 he was elected justice of the peace, and
twice he has succeeded himself, so well are the people
pleased with his impartiality and faithfulness. He
holds the office now. He was chairman of the city
council for two terms up to 1898. Mr. O'Callaghan
is a good business man, faithful and efficient, and is
admired by all.
In 1900 Mr. O'Callaghan married Miss Delia E„
daughter of P. and Mary (Mead) Sullivan, natives
respectivelv of Ireland and Canada. They came to
die L'nited States when they were young. To Mr. and
Mrs. O'Callaghan there have been born three children,
Vina E., Claude V.. and Lillian M., all of whom were
born in Bonners Ferry. Mr. O'Callaghan and his
wife are devoted members of the Catholic church and
they are valued members of society.
WILLIAM ELDERTON. No citizen of Bonners
Ferry is better known than the estimable gentleman
whose name is at the head of this article. He is one
of the leading business men of the town, having both
a fine blacksmith shop and a livery and feed stable, in
both of which lines he does a good business and dur-
ing his residence in this section he has displayed a pro-
gressive and enterprising spirit and he is always found
ready to assist in any measures that are for the general
advancement and welfare of the town and its citizens.
William was born in Wayne county, Ohio, on Jan-
uary 29, 1849, being the son of James and Sarah
( Smedley) Elderton, also natives of Ohio. The father
died in the same year that this son was born and the
mother handled the farm until her death in i860. Be-
ing thus left an orphan, our subject went to live with
his grandmother. He received a common schooling
and soon learned the blacksmith trade. In the art of
this leading trade he has been constantly active until
the present time. He went to Illinois in 1879 a°d two
years later we find him in Del Norte, Colorado, where
two years were spent. In 1881 he removed to New
Mexico and two years afterward went to old Mexico.
In a year he was back to New Mexico, Socorro, and
there remained until 1893. Then he came to Bonners
Ferry. He immediately bought three lots, built a good
house and improved his property. Also he purchased
a quarter section of timber land. He now owns one-
half interest in a business building in town, handles
a livery and feed stable and also a blacksmith shop.
Mr. Elderton was one of four children as follows :
Francis, deceased ; Henry, married and living in Kan-
sas ; George, married and living in Illinois : William,
the subject of this article.
In 1886 Mr. Elderton married Miss Margret A.
Burton. In political matters, Mr. Elderton is an active
Democrat and he has frequently been called to act as
delegate to the county conventions, and in 1900 he
served in that capacity at Coeur d'Alene. He joined
the I. O. O. F. in 1879. at Ashland, Illinois, being as-
sociated with Lodge No. 341. In 1901 he left that to
become a charter member of LJtopia Lodge. No. 36,
here in Bonners Ferry. He has passed through all
of the chairs and at present is noble grand. He is
also a member of the M. W. A. at Bonners Ferry, and
of the Knights of Honor, at Ashland, Illinois.
WILLIAM E. CISCO. Four miles south from
Ramsey is the farm of the subject of this sketch, which
consists of one hundred and twenty acres, where he has
resided for the years since 1897, and his parents also
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
917
reside there. William E. was born in Corvallis, Ore-
gon, on October 4, 1858, being the son of William W.
and Jane (Stevens) Cisco, natives respectively of Ohio
and Vermont. The mother crossed the plains in 1845.
Her mother died, she being seven years of age, on the
trip, and with her father she completed the tedious
journey. The father of our subject came across the
plains to Oregon in 1852, and in Corvallis met his
future wife. There they were married and shortly
afterward they removed to King county, Washington,
where they have made their home for twenty years.
Then they removed to Whitman county, the same
state, where ten years were spent. Then they came
to Kootenai county and in 1898 they came to their pres-
ent home with their son. Our subject was educated
in King county, being favored only with a common
schooling, and he has since that time remained with
his parents, doing faithfully the duties of life that
have come to hand. In 1892 he came to Spirit valley
and in 1898 bought his present place. The parents
have come to live here and they have a good piece of
land and twenty acres under cultivation. He has four
head of horses, nine cattle and other property. Mr.
Cisco has one brother, Eugene, married to Mattie
Eaton, and living in this county ; also he has one sis-
ter, Mary M., wife of Daniel W. Pierce, in this county.
Mr. Cisco is a well liked man, upright and dominated
with integrity and good principles, while he has the
esteem of all who know him. He has never seen fit
to embark on the matrimonial sea yet, preferring to
enjoy the quieter satisfaction of his life of celibacy.
NORMAN McKINNON. The years in which
Mr. McKinnon has been domiciled in Kootenai county
have been years of industry and energetic labor for the
improvement of his fine place, which is located about
three miles southwest from Athol. He has shown him-
self in his career a true pioneer and is a public minded
and loyal citizen.
Norman McKinnon was born in Park Hill, Canada,
on January 22, 1859, being the son of Donald and
Elizabeth (McLeod) McKinnon, natives respectively
of Canada and Scotland. The mother came to Canada
when seven years of age and they both came to the
United States in 1872, locating in southern Michigan.
Later they returned to Canada, and finally in that
country the father died, but the mother is still living
in Detroit, Michigan. Our subject was educated in the
common schools and at the age of seventeen started
in to work for himself. He took up bridge work and
for fifteen years followed it in various parts of the
country. In 1886 we find him in California at Madi-
son and Santa Barbara, where he remained a time and
in 18S8 he came to Kootenai county. He cut ties for
the X' >rthern Pacific, then went to the Coeur d'Alene
mines and took a contract of getting out mining tim-
bers. In 1889 we find him on the Sound and in 1890
he went to Minnesota and operated a hotel. It was
1897 that Mr. McKinnon came to his present place and
took a homestead, putting up buildings and taking up
the commendable work of improvement. He has suc-
ceeded well, has forty acres under cultivation, consid-
erable saw timber, a band of stock and various improve-
ments that make the place attractive and valuable.
Norman McKinnon is one of ten children, five boys
and five girls, named as follows: Mary A., in Detro
Michigan; Sarah, also in Detroit; Mamy, deceased;
Maggie, in Detroit; Malcolm, married and living in
Toledo, Ohio; Norman, the subject of this article;
Charles, married and living in Seattle: John. in De-
troit. Michigan; Michael James, deceased. In politi-
cal matters, Mr. McKinnon is allied with the Republi-
can party, and always manifests an active interest
in these affairs, being influential in his section. He is
a member of the I. O. O. F., Pine Lodge Xo. 75, of
Athol. He is also a member of the Catholic church.
HIREM YATES. The excellent financiering that
this gentleman has accomplished in his career stamps
him as possessed of a high grade of ability in this line
and he is surely one of the substantial men' of the coun-
ty of Kootenai. He owns a farm of one quarter sec-
tion at Ramsey, and in addition to doing general
farming, he raises stock and is also greatly interested
in mining, having some very promising properties of
his own.
Hirem Yates was born in Tioga, Illnois, on April
22, 1862, being the son of Henry and Sarah (Coon)
Yates, natives of North Carolina and Germany, respec-
tively. The mother came to America in 1850, and she
was married in Indiana. They located in Lima, Illi-
nois, and farmed for twenty-five years and then re-
moved to Kansas. There the father died in 1901 and
the mother died in 1892. They were the parents of
the following children: Edwin, living in Illinois;
Thomas, living in Kansas: Margaret, wife of James
Ware, in this county Hirem, the subject of the article:
Lucy, wife of George McColough. in Kansas ; Rachel,
wife of Henry Reed, in Kansas ; Spencer, in Illinois ;
Mattie, single and living in Illinois ; Mary, wife of
James McCoulough, in Kansas : James, deceased ; Rob-
ert, in Kansas. Hirem received a common schooling
and then began at the early age of ten to do for him-
self, being permitted in this course by his father. He
rented a" farm and from one-fourth of the crop he
made three hundred dollars the first two years. Then
he bought ten acres of land. He sold that and went
to Missouri and bought forty acres of land. He farmed
it one vear and then sold for one thousand dollars.
Then he went to Kansas and bought eighty acres
which he sold after two years of farming and realized
seventeen hundred dollars for this. Then he used this
money to buy cattle in Missouri and shipped them to
Butte', Montana, and sold, clearing fifteen hundred
dollars by the transaction. Succeeding this for seven
years he devoted himself to mining with the gratify-
ing result that he cleared up twenty thousand dollars.
He came to Washington and bought a half section of
land for fifteen hundred dollars which he sold -even
vears later for five thousand dollars. Then he came
9i8
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
to Kootenai county and bought a half section where he
now lives. He sold half of this for an advance of two
hundred dollars and has refused two thousand dollars
for the other quarter.
In 1899 Mr. Yates married Dora Ayers, daughter
of Isaac and Meranda Shipe, and widow of John
Ayers. Mr. Shipe is a native of Pennsylvania and
his wife of Illinois. Mrs. Yates has one child by her
former husband, Nina C, living at home. Mr. Yates
is a member of the M. W. A. at Rathdrum, and his wife
is a member of the R. N. A., Evergreen Camp, No.
2317.
HARRY WTLLIAMS. Many noble and true citi-
zens of this country, who are noted for their thrift
and industry, have come from England and among
this worthy number we mention the gentleman whose
name initiates this paragraph, to whom we are pleased
to grant consideration in this volume of Kootenai
county's history.
Harry Williams was born in Manchester, England,
on April 6, 1868, being the son of William T. and
Martha (Anderson) Williams, natives of England,
also. They came to America in 1872, locating at Og-
den, Utah, where the father opened a tailor shop. Four
years later he removed to Dilon, Montana, and there
wrought at his trade for seven years. Then he sold
out and repaired to Ellensburg. Washington, where
he wrought at the same occupation until 1898, and
then a move was made to Spokane, and at 208 S. How-
ard street Mr. Williams conducts a first-class shop at
the present time. He was born in 1838, and his wife
in 1843. Harry was educated in the schools of the
various places where the parents lived until he was of
sufficient age to take up shop work and then he learned
the trade of his father. He labored steadily with him
until 1892, then formed partnership with his father in
the business, which continued until 1901, when he
bought a half section of land where he now lives, one
mile north from Ramsey. He still owns an interest
in the tailoring business with his father in Spokane.
Mr. Williams also owns ten acres in Rexburg, Idaho,
with two residences which give him a monthly income
of fifty dollars.
In 1891 Mr. Williams married Miss Olive, daugh-
ter of Edwin W. and Sarah Craig, natives of Kansas.
The father removed his family to Ellensburg, Wash-
ington, in 1887, and there followed building and con-
tracting. To Mr. and Mrs. Williams, two children
have been born, Coral M., and Deral H. Mr. Will-
iams is a member of the W. of W. and of the Red Men.
He and his wife are members of the Christian Science
church.
JAMES L. WARE. About one mile north of
Ramsey is located the homestead of Mr. Ware, which
he took from the government in July, 1899. He has
since that time done much by way of improvement,
and now has thirty acres from which he rasies many
potatoes, finding them a profitable crop. He also has
some stock. Mr. Ware has a large family of children
and is one of the substantial men who are making the
county an improved and valuable portion of the state.
Reverting to the personal history of our subject,
we note that he was born in Clermont county Ohio,
on March 27, 185 1, being the son of James and Harriet
(Gilven) Ware, natives respectively of Kentucky and
Ohio. The father's father died when his son was
young and the boy was bound out to David Hedelsten
until twenty-one but at the age of fourteen he ran
away from this place and labored for himself. He died
December, 1901, aged ninety, and his wife died in 1858.
Our subject was educated in the primitive schools of
his day, they being maintained by subscription, each
scholar paying a fee of one dollar and twenty-five
cents each month. He remained with his father until
twenty-two and then married and went to farming for
himself. Three years were spent at that and his wife
died and he sold out and worked for wages in Illinois,
and the year following was married again. Then he
rented a farm for eight years, after which he removed
to Kansas and worked in the town for one year. Then
he returned to Illinois and bought a forty and farmed
it until January, 1898, when he sold and came to Lin-
coln county. Shortly after he came to Kootenai county
and took the homestead above referred to. He is doing
a good work in opening up the place and also in ad-
vancing the cause of education, having been on the
board for two successive terms since coming here.
Mr. Ware married Mary A. Carr in 1073 and she
died in 1876. In 1877 he married Miss Margret,
daughter of Henry and Nancy (Coon) Yates, natives
of Indiana, and to this union the following children
have been born : Alfred N., Noah, deceased, Richard
H, deceased, James P., deceased, Mary C, John W.,
Sanford, Ida B., Bertie, Elsie May. All are at home
with their parents. Mr. Ware is allied with the Demo-
crat party and is active in this realm and labors in an
intelligent and vigorous manner for the principles he
belives to be right. He was elected road supervisor
in 1901 and again the following year. His son Rich-
ard is a member of the M. W. A., and Mrs. Ware is
a member of the Christian church.
ROBERT WILSON. While the subject of this
article has not labored so long in Kootenai county as
some, still he has displayed such commendable zeal
and skill in his labors and is withal a man of integrity
and uprightness, so that he deserves mention in the
volume that chronicles the history of this section.
Robert Wilson was born in Dutchess county, New
York, on June 20, 1851, being the son of Robert and
Mary (Dobie) Wilson, natives of Scotland, but immi-
grants to the United States in 1840. They located in
New York where they gardened for eight years and
then came to Chickasaw county, Iowa, where the
father now lives, aged ninety, but the mother died in
1888. Robert received his education in Iowa and at
the age of nineteen started in life for himself. He
repaired to Little Falls, Minnesota, where he labored
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
919
in the woods and in saw mills for three years. Return-
ing to Iowa he purchased a farm in Franklin county
and tilled it for four years. Then he went to Chicka-
saw, remaining four years. The next move was back
to Minnesota and in 1887 we find him in Almira,
Washington. He farmed there until 1898, when he
came to Kootenai county, purchased an improved farm,
one mile northwest from Ramsey, to which he added
a quarter section of railroad land' in 1900. In 1902 he
purchased eighty acres more, making him the fine es-
tate of four hundred acres of fertile land. This he
has improved in a good manner, and is steadily going
on with continued work in this line. He has seventy
acres under the plow and good buildings. In addition
to his general farming, Mr. Wilson raises some horses.
In his father's family, there were six children, three
boys and three girls : James, living in Dakota, being
married ; Mary, wife of A. P. White, in Iowa ; J. B.,
married and living in Franklin county, Iowa ; Annie,
wife of Robert Black, living in Black Hawk county,
Iowa. There is also one more and then the subject of
this article. Mr. Wilson is of good standing in his
section and is a good, substantial citizen of the country.
THOMAS H. SCOTT. The far away state of
Maine is the native place of our subject and his father
was Moses Scott, who died there in 1862. The mother
died when Thomas H. was five years of age. He was
bound out to Alexander Read to remain until twenty-
one, but at the age of sixteen, he ran away and went
to Granman Island, on the Atlantic coast. He engaged
with a fishing schooner for one year and the next year
he operated the boat on shares. Then he returned to
the lumber woods of Maine and there and in other
occupations he remained until 1895 when he came to
St. Paul, Minnesota. He worked in the woods and on
the drive for six years and then took contracts for
three years. Then by the Southern Pacific, he came to
San Francisco, and in 1875 we see him in Rathdrum.
He contracted with Dodge Brothers to furnish them
one million feet of logs annually for three years, which
he successfully completed. Then he worked in the
Wardner mines for two seasons, then did some log-
ging and in 1884 he took up a homestead, nine miles
from Rathdrum on Fish lake. After improving and
proving up, he went to Wardner and labored in the
mines, then went to Montana and was taken sick and
languished in the sisters hospital for seven months,
at Deer Lodge, Montana. We next see him in Asotin,
Washington, then in Oregon for a couple of years, and
then he came back to his present location on Fish
lake.
In 1859 Mr. Scott married Miss Emma E., daugh-
ter of A. L. and Lizzie (Lane) Bradbury, natives of
Maine. They came west in 1885, locating in Spo-
kane county, Washington. To Mr. and Mrs. Scott
there have been born two children, Ansel L., married
to Jessie Tobey, and living in Spokane; Maud, wife of
Paul Voeth, living in Spokane. Mr. Scott has always
manifested an intelligent interest in political matters
and in Maine he cast his first ballot, it bein.
Lincoln, in i860. He is now one of the venerable and
respected men of this section, being a real pit
builder of Kootenai county, where he has «
himself so that he has won the esteem and n
all who may know him.
ANSEL L. SCOTT. This enterprising young
gentleman is one of the property owners of Kootenai
county, having a fine ranch on Fish or Twin lake,
where his father resides at the present time. It is a
fine property and also Mr. Scott has a good residence
and other property in Spokane. He has mastered the
machinist's trade and later in life he learned the art
of cooking, whicn he follows considerably in Spo-
kane.
We will mention an outline of his career and we
first note that he was born in Minneapolis, Minnesta,
on August 12, 1877, being the son of Thomas and Em-
ma E. (Bradberg) Scott, natives of Minnesota. The
father and his family now live in Kootenai county.
Ansel L. received his education from the common
schools and at the age of nineteen was a master me-
chanic. Then, as we have mentioned above, the art
of cooking allured from his first occupation and so
skillful has he become in this line that he is sought
after by some of the leading hosts of this section,
being now in the employ of a large house in -
Mr. Scott has placed improvements from time to time
on his land which he bought from the railroad in 1897,
and is making it a comfortable and attractive home
for his riper years.
In 1900 Mr. Scott married Miss Jessie O. Tobey.
He is a member of the F. O. A., Court Royal. No.
19. Also he is a member of the Cooks' and Waiters'
Union. Mr. Scott is possessed of ambition and spirit
and is making a creditable showing in his labors.
GUSTAV MILLER is one of the enterprising far-
mers who live in the vicinity of Fish lake. Kootenai
county. He has a farm of one hundred and forty
acres which he is bringing under cultivation and he
also devotes some time to raising stock. He i- ener-
getic, possessed of good practical judgment, dominated
by keen sagacity and withal has excellent moral qual-
ities.
Mr. Miller was born in Calso. Germany, on April
8, 1861, being the son of Phillip and Louise ( Mayers)
Miller, natives of Germany. The father died in 1876,
and the mother in 1879, both being buried in the Calso
cemetery. Gustav received common schooling until
fourteen years of age and then clerked for his brother-
in-law until 1880. when he was called by his country
into the militia. One year spent there, and he was
again with his brother-in-law and in 1883 he left Ger-
many, the laws requiring that he remain there.
to America and located in New York on a farm. On
August 6. 1884, he enlisted in the regular army, Nxth
920
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Cavalry, served five years, re-enlisted in Fourth In-
fantry, served five years again, then re-enlisted in the
Eleventh Infantry. He went in as private and was dis-
charged as regiment sergeant major, being too old to go
farther. He acted in this official position in the Span-
ish war. and participated in the Porto Rico campaign.
From 1892 to 1895 he was stationed at Fort Sherman.
in 1898 he was honorably discharged and immediately
returned tc Kootenai county. He first bought sixty
acres of a resort on the lake and two years later bought
his present ranch as mentioned above.
In October, 1898, Mr. Miller married Miss Jose-
phine Eresch, whose parents, Joseph and Margret
Eresch, were natives of Germany and came to Amer-
ica in 18(15. settling in Aurora, Illinois. There they
lived until 1888 and came to Sprague, Washington, and
in 1890, removed thence to Kootenai county. In 1897
the mother died and in 1899 the father passed away,
both being buried at Rathdrum. To Mr. and Mrs.
Miller there have been born two girls, Margaret and
Elizabeth, twins. Mr. Miller stands well among his
fellows and is respected and a substantial citizen of
his countv.
WILLIAM W. FERRELL. In March. 1884, a
sturdy pioneer, William W. Ferrell, on the shores of
Coeur d'Alene lake, near Fort Sherman, built a row
boat and. in company with two others, placed it on a
hand sled and made the trip from that point to the
head of navigation on the Saint Joe river, pulling their
boat all the way by hand on the ice and consuming
twelve days in the trip. One man, Alfred Ritchie,
with his hired hand, George Stewart, was then in that
country and was engaged in making shingles by hand.
Mr Ferrell landed with eight dollars in his pocket,
but he was full of courage, and located a squatter's
right on the unsurveyed land and in the spring seeded
it to timothy. He has improved and grown in his ] Mis-
sessions until at present he has fifteen hundred acres
of land, a fine barn and outbuildings, and also has a
•commodious store and a good saw-mill. He has a fine
large hotel of thirty-four rooms which is generously
patronized in the summer by pleasure seekers in this
beautiful country. Mr. Ferrell is a perfect represent-
ation of that brave and noble class of men who pierced
into the wilds of nature and opened the country for
the abode of man, and his wisdom is manifest in that
he has made a brilliant success, being one of the heavy
property owners of Kootenai county, all of which his
industry and good business ability have gained for him
in this location.
William W. Ferrell was born in Fort Madison,
Iowa, on November 19, 1856, being the son of Joseph
A. and Jane Ferrell. He was reared in town and was
educated at the public schools. He followed steam-
boating, arising to the position of steward, and at the
age of eighteen he was running on a boat from Chicago
to I'.uffalo. In the fall of 1876 we went to Waco,
Texas, and railroaded. The next spring he was in the
thickest of the P.lack Hills gold excitement, and in the
fall of 1877 he went to Leadville and remained until
1881, engaged in mining. Then he went to Hall coun-
ty, Nebraska, and bought a farm. In June, 1883, we
see him in San Francisco and soon after in Portland,
Oregon. Thence he came to Spokane, Washington,
and in December, 1883, he landed in Fort Sherman,
now Coeur d'Alene. The next March he made the
boat spoken of above. Since coming to his present
place, now known as Ferrell 's Landing, he supplied
the post with hay for a number of years and now cuts
about three hundred tons each year. Mr. Ferrell's
place is finely fitted for the accommodation of summer
boarders, having a spacious hall for their amusement
and also boats and everything handy for comfort and
enjovment.
On May 8, 1881, he married Mattie M. DeSpain
in Colorado and two children were born to them, both
of whom died. In June, 1888, Mrs. Ferrell died also.
( >n November 22, 1889, Mr. Ferrell married Miss
Mary R., daughter of Oscar and Ann Canfield, natives
of Pennsylvania and Ohio, respectively. The father's
parents came west with their five children to Walla
Walla in 1847. They were in the awful Whitman
massacre, the father escaping, but the mother and five
children were taken prisoners and detained for thirty
days. The elder Canfield was the only man that es-
caped. After that experience they went to Oregon
City. Mrs. Ferrell was born in California. The
parents both live now in Canfield, Idaho countv, this
state.
ELBRIDGE W. THORP. This worthy pioneer
is eminently fitted for consideration in the history of
Kootenai county, since he has wrought with well be-
st. »wed labors in this section for its development and
for the progress of the county as well as following the
life of the pioneer for many years in adjacent states,
in all of which worthy career he has done creditably,
manifesting integrity, worth and stability.
Elbridge Thorp was born in Boone county, Illi-
nois, on March 27, 1844, being the son of Edward and
Martha (Raymond) Thorp, natives of England, but
immigrants to this country in 1830. They settled in
New York, thence went to Pennsylvania, and later to
Illinois, and then to Indiana and afterward to Iowa
and finally to Kansas, where he died in 1868. The
mother died when our subject was young. Elbridge
was educated in the various places where the father
lived and at the age of seventeen he enlisted to fight
for his country in Company F. Ninth Iowa Volun-
teer Infantry, under Captain Miller. He was honora-
bly discharged in 1862. and in 1863 he enlisted for
three years or until the close of the war. He served
until the conflict ceased, participating in many engage-
ments and skirmishes among which we may mention,
Mobile and the charge of Blakelv. He was discharged
at Houston, Texas, and the company disbanded" at
Dubuque, Iowa. In the spring of 1866, he engaged as
cook on an expedition under Colonel Sawyer who was
doing freighting for the government. He came in
this capacity to Montana, and then he prospected and
in 1871 went thence to Washington, locating where
WILLIAM W. FKRRKI
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Sprague is now situated and there handled sheep
for twenty-three years. Then he removed to his pres-
ent place on Fish lake, where he has one hundred and
twenty acres of good land, forty of which are into
hay, and the balance is used for pasture. He has fifty
or more cattle and is one of the prosperous men of the
section.
On November 14, 1881, Mr. Thorp married Miss
Emma M., daughter of David and Caroline (Vanval-
kenburg) Downs, natives of New York. The father
died in 1895 alu' tne mother in 1896. Air. Thorp is
a member of the G. A. R. and he and his wife are
members of the Baptist church and they stand well in
the community, being excellent and upright people.
They have one adopted son, Gustavus. Since the
above writing Mr. Thorp has sold his farm property
and now owns residence property in Rathdrum. where
he lives.
CARL BAECK. A sturdy son of the fatherland,
whence come some of the best citizens that ever walked
under the stars and stripes, the subject of this sketch
is no whit behind in all these choice qualities which
make the patriotic citizen, the typical man, the genial
and affable neighbor, and the true and loyal friend. He
was born in the province of Pahner, Germany, on
July 5, i860, and his parents died when he was very
young and he never had the pleasure of knowing
them. He was educated in his native land and at the
age of fourteen years, he began to learn the brewer's
trade. He followed it until 1881, then came to Amer-
ica. First he located in Chicago and soon went thence
to St. Paul, Minnesota, working there for T. Ham, and
then he went to Fergus Falls, where he engaged in
brewerv work and such was his skill that he was en-
trusted with the management of the entire plant in
the absence of the foreman, and practically he had
charge of the establishment. In 1888 he came to Spo-
kane and at once engaged in the New York Brewery
and here he also had charge of the entire part of the
production of the choice beverages turned out by that
institution. He continued there until the death of the
proprietor in 1896 and then our subject and August
Mauler were appointed administrators. Two years
and nine months were required to settle the large and
intricate estate and then our subject was tired out with
city life and its ceasless activities and cares and so
searched out his present place, on Fish lake, which he
purchased, it being one hundred acres of the choicest
location on the well known and popular place of resort.
He has a gem of an estate, and with his native skill
and taste, he plans to embellish and improve it so it will
be all that could be desired. Mr. Baeck has a creek
coursing through his land that is an ideal place for
trout and those finny beauties abound in abundance.
In all of his labors since 1890 Mr. Black has had
a true helpmeet and an able assistant in his wife, who
has brought to his help a wealth of keenness, taste, and
practical judgment that have been prominent in their
success, which has been bright and becoming.
It was in 1890 that Mr. Baeck married Miss Emma
Comminske, a native of Germany, who came to this
country in 1889. Two children have been born to this
happy union, Henry and Freda, who make their home
bright and pleasant.
Mr. Baeck is also interested in raising stuck, hav-
ing a goodlv band now. He will soon erect an ele-
gant residence and pipe the sparkling spring water
from its native place in the mountains right into the
house. He has an ideal home and is highly esteemed
by all. He and his estimable wife are members of tin-
German Lutheran church and are liberal supporters
of their faith. Mr. Baeck is also a member of the 1\.
of P., and a charter member of the Sons of Hermann,
Lodge No. 9, in Spokane, in which he has held office.
JOHN SHAFER. On the banks of Fish lake, one
of the most charming spots that nature has generously
bestowed in Kootenai county, lies the estate of our
subject. It consists of three hundred and thirty-seven
acres of fine land, well improved and in this ideal place.
Mr. Shafer is now erecting an elegant resort for the ac-
commodation of the many visitors. In addition to
this fine property, Mr. Shafer has some property in
Rathdrum and also mining interests in Buffalo Hump
district. He has one claim also in the St. Reges coun-
try for which he paid two thousand dollars and i; is
of very promising value.
Mr. Shafer was born in Crawford county, Penn-
sylvania, on November 8, 1852. being the son of Philip
and Elizabeth (Knearman) Shafer, natives of Ger-
many, who came to America in 1834. They located in
Pennsylvania and the father bought horses and cat-
tle for the government from 1832 to 1871. He died
in 1884, aged eighty and his wife died in 1882, aged
seventy-four. They had six children, all boys and
our subject the youngest. John was educated in his
native place and at the age of nineteen stepped from
the parental home to do battle for himself in life. He
bought and sold stock in Pennsylvania until 1876, then
went into the livery business in St. Petersburg, Clar-
ion count), Pennsylvania, and remained in that for
three years. His next move was to buy a farm, which
he tilled until 1883. then he sold that also and came to
Rathdrum. He has lived in this vicinity since that time
and is now located as stated above.
In 1873 Mr. Shafer married Miss Fannie L., daugh-
ter of William and Sarah A. (Custard) Porter, na-
tives of Pennsvlvania. The mother still lives there,
being born in 1806. The father died there in the six-
ties. They had eleven children, seven boys and four
girls, Mrs'. Shafer being the youngest, to Mr. and
Mrs. Shafer there have been born two children. Will-
iam P.. deceased ; Sadie E.. wife of Charles Lafavre.
in Wardner, Idaho. In 1890 Mrs. Shafer was called
from home and family by death and her remains re-
pose in the cemetery at Rathdrum.
Mr. Shafer is an intelligent and active participant
in the political realm, being a strong supporter of the
principles of the Republican part}-. He is a member
of the I. O. O. F. and used to be of the K. of P. but
922
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
dropped it when he came to this country. When Mr.
Shafer completes the improvements planned for his
summer resort he will have one of the most attractive
places in this section of the country and will have all
the comforts and entertainments provided that the
most exacting guests could desire, which his geniality
and affabilitv and skill will doubly enhance.
GEORGE BATTERS is a man who has taken
hold with his hands, directed by a native sagacity and
vigor, and has wrought out a good success in the af-
fairs of diis life, being at the present time proprietor
and owner of a good hotel in Athol, also a livery and
feed barn, while he has a nice farm, one hundred acres
of which are under cultivation. He does a good busi-
ness in all lines and handles a hotel, where he gains
the good will and approval of the traveling public on
account of his affability and care for the comfort of
guests.
George Batters was born in Joliet, Illinois, on De-
cember 22, 1854, being the son of Joseph and Cather-
ine (Pilkey) Batters, natives of Canada, who came to
Illinois in an early day and thence later to Little Falls,
Minnesota, where the father handled a hotel until the
time of his death, in 1873, having come there in 1854.
The mother continued the business until she died in
1884, and they both repose in the cemetery in Little
Falls. Our subject received his education from the
public schools, and at the age of fourteen years, started
in life for himself. He worked as assistant cook in a
logging camp and then took charge of that department
and on the drive until 1888, when he came to Spo-
kane, and there operated a restaurant for six months.
Selling out, he came to the old town of Athol, worked
for a sawmill outfit and then for Prickett & Warner
for three years on a farm. Then he took a homestead
and proved up on it, embellished it with buildings,
fences, orchard, and so forth, then purchased some pro-
perty in Postfalls, and in 1902, he bought the hotel
in Athol, as mentioned above.
In 1880 Mr. Batters married Miss Ellen, daughter
of William G. and Sarah (Swatz) McEwen, natives
of New York and Germany, respectively. They came
to Wisconsin and there the mother died and the father
went to Nebraska and there he passed away in 1899.
To Mr. and Mrs. Batters one child has been born,
George E., with his parents. Mr. Batters is a member
of the I. O. O. F., Pine Lodge No. 75. His son be-
longs to the same lodge and also to the Rebekahs,
Evergreen Lodge, No. 51, and to the M. W. A.. Athol
Camp. No. 8388. Mr. Batters is a man of sterling
worth and has hosts of friends wherever he is known.
HARVEY J. SWOFFORD. This well known
gentleman is one of the heavy property owners of
Kootenai county, his estate of six hundred acres being
located about four miles northwest from Coeur d'Alene,
where he does a general farming business and raises
stock. His land is about half under cultivation, and
he has a fine orchard of all varieties, good buildings,
and all about him testifies that he is a man of sagacity
and industry.
Harvey J. Swofford was born in St. Clair county,
Missouri, "on April 13, 1843, being the son of Harvey
J. and Nancy (Murphy) Swofford, natives of Illinois,
but farmers of Missouri. In 1845 they removed to
die vicinity of St. Louis, where they remained until
the time of their death. Our subject received a good
schooling and at a young age went to work for him-
self. The mother died when he was ten and his father
married a second time. When he had worked
out eight vears, he came home and assisted
his father for two years. Then he bought a
farm and gave his attention to tilling it until
1888, when he came to the west. He purchased a por-
tion of his present estate, it being unimproved, and in
three years he had it all broken and good buildings
erected. The rest of the land has been purchased later.
He has considerable stock in addition to his other pro-
perty.
In 1878 Mr. Swofford married Miss Sarah J.,
daughter of Thomas and Sendy (Davenport) Goodin,
natives of Tennessee, and to this happy union seven
children have been born: Frank, married and living in
Coeur d'Alene ; Leonard, Thomas, Mary L., Ellen,
Wallace, and Lee A. Mr. Swofford is an enterprising
business man and has achieved a good success and is
counted one of the substantial and leading men of his
community.
CHARLES WAGGONER is one of the younger
men whose lot has been cast in the fertile regions of
Kootenai county, and he has made a success here that
does him real credit, while also he stands well among
the people of his community. He lives two miles west
and one mile south from Postfalls and owns two hun-
dred acres of good land. He has nearly one hundred
acres in cultivation, good improvements, as buildings,
fences, orchard, and so forth. He does a general farm-
ing business and has some stock on the place.
With this brief outline, we will notice the details of
his life. His birth occurred on January 14, 1874, in
Dale, Iowa, and his parents were, Francis M. and Ida
\ . Waggoner, natives of Virginia and Ohio, respec-
tively. They are mentioned in another portion of this
volume. Charles was educated in Iowa and in Kansas
and at the age of seventeen started out for himself. He
came with his parents to Washington, and at Chester
he served on the school board and then came to his
present place. He took one quarter as a homestead and
bought one forty afterwards.
In May, 1895 Mr. Waggoner married Miss Eva M.,
daughter of Isaac and Martha (Blackburn1) Fleming,
natives of Ireland and England, respectively. The
mother died while Mrs. Waggoner was young. In
1890 Mr. Fleming came to Washington, but lives now
at Stockbridge. Massachusetts. To Mr. and Mrs. Wag-
goner there have been born three children, Glenvs I.,
Dora F., and Charles M. Mr. Waggoner is a member
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
of the K. O. T. M., Tent No. iS, in Postfalls. He is
with the Populist party in political matters and was ap-
pointed deputy assessor in this county for two years,
in 1901 and 1902. He is active in this realm and takes
a keen interest in the affairs of local and state politics.
He is a young man of good standing and is one of the
public minded and capable citizens of the county.
JOSEPH PROVOST is one of the sturdy pioneers
of Kootenai county and his hands have wrought a good
work in opening his present farm, three miles east from
Coeur d'Alene, which worthy labors have augmented
the wealth of the county and done much in the upbuild-
ing and development of the new country.
Joseph Provost was born in St. Julienne county,
province of Quebec, Canada, on June 2, 1863, being the
son of Peter and Netellei (Brunelle) Provost, also na-
tives of the same province. The mother died in 1865
in Saint Julienne county and the father died in 1869 and
is buried in Rouville county, Canada. Our subject was
educated in Saint Damase, in the public schools and
when seventeen came to Rhode Island where he worked
one year in the cotton factories. Then he returned to
the Ottawa river in Canada, and eighteen months later
came thence to Portland, Oregon. He soon came to
Kootenai countv and in 1887, he located his present
place. He cultivates fifteen acres, has good improve-
ments and owns one million feet of good saw timber.
On Julv 15, 1902, Mr. Provost married Miss Res-
ser D. Graves, whose parents were natives of Wis-
consin. Mr. Provost is a member of the Catholic
church, and his wife is a member of the Methodist
church. Politically Mr. Provost is allied with the
Peoples party, and is active and influential in local
politics.
FRANK RUSSELL is one of the early pioneers
of Kootenai county and his worthy labors in the up-
building of the county's interests and augmenting its
wealth, his own intrinsic wotth and unswerving integ-
rity, are reasons sufficient to warrant a detailed account
of him in the volume that chronicles the lives of the
leading men of the county and its annals.
Frank Russell was born in the province of Quebec,
Canada, on May 1, 1832, being the son of Frank and
Mary A. (Wolrick) Russell, natives of Quebec, where
they remained until their death. Our subject was not
favored with the privilege of attending public schools
and he was obliged to gather his education from the
books he could obtain and by utilizing his odd moments
in this good labor. The first time he entered a school
house was when he was elected school trustee in 1872,
in Michigan. Frank worked for his father and the
neighbors until he was fourteen and then went into
the lumber woods. He has followed this business more
or less since that date and is a skillful and capable man
in this line. He came to Maine with his parents, who
returned to Canada, but he remained. He worked for
one man a number of years and when he came to Mich-
igan our subject came with him and remained in his
employ for ten years. Then the employer
from the country and our subject went to worl
other company. In 1882 he went to logging for him-
self and in 1886 he came to Idaho and located on ln~
present place, three miles northeast from Coeur d'Alene
and has devoted himself to improving his ranch ami to
logging in the different sections adjacent. .Mr. Rus-
sell has a good house, barns and other buildings and has
some fruit trees and also cultivates sixty acre,
also about fourteen head of stock. The first apple
grown on the ranch was preserved by Airs. Ru
they keep it as the first fruits of their endeavors in the
west.
On July 30, 1870. Mr. Russell married Mrs. Bar-
bara, widow of Absalom Turner and daughter of \oha
and Mary (Hill) Noble. Her parents were natives
of England and came to Canada in 1835, locating in
Gosfield, Essex county, West Canada, where they re-
mained until their death. Mr. Russell has served as
school trustee for nine years and also as n 1
seer. They are members of the Methodist church and
are stanch and upright people. Four children have
been born to them. Frank E. ; Isabell M.. wife of John
Rodjene: Sophia J., widow of Tom Lewis, now in
Butte, Montana; Grace E., with parents. Mrs. Rus-
sell had three children by her first husband. Amelia l\,
wife of James Horner, in Coeur d'Alene: Mary E.,
wife of W. L. McKibben; William Turner, in this
countv.
JONAS G. PETERSON. About three miles east
from Coeur d'Alene lies the estate of Mr. Peterson.
It consists of two hundred and forty acres of good
land, eighty of which he bought from the railroad and
one hundred and sixty he gained by homestead right.
He has over sixty-five acres under cultivation and
raises considerable hay and handles some stock. He
is one of the substantial men of this section and has
labored for many years to develop and build up the
country.
Jonas G. Peterson was born in Ylengerstorp. Swe-
den, in 1850. being the son of Peter and Christine
(Eungren) Peterson, natives also of Sweden, where
the mother died in 1855 and the father in 1887. Our
subject was educated in the parish school until sixteen
and then went to work on the railroad. He wrought
at this in the summers and worked for his father in
the winters until he was twenty-five. It was 1875 that
he came to the United States, locating first in the state
of Wisconsin. He came on to Washington :< [876,
making the trip, via San Francisco and Portland. He
wrought in the saw mills at Tort Gamble, and then
returned to San Francisco, thence going to British
Columbia, where he prospected for some time. He
returned to the Golden Gate and later we find him in
Arizona, where he labored in the woods for eleven
years, also spending part of the time in mining. In
1880 he came to his present place and settled on un-
surveved land, which was found to be railroad land.
Then he bought an eighty of it and hpmesteaded. Mr.
924
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Petersen spent two years logging and then went to
work on his place and he has made some good improve-
ments. He has a fine barn, good outbuildings and
fence, with other evidences of thrift and industry.
In 1894 Mr. Peterson married Miss Telda, daughter
of Arvedson Swenson and Caren (Nelson) Arvedson,
natives of Sweden. They remained in their native
country until their death. To Mr. and Mrs. Peterson
there lias been born one child, Harry R. E. They
belong to the Swedish Lutheran church. Mr. Peter-
son is allied with the Republican party, and is active
and influential in the campaigns. He i
standing and is one of the substantial and capable
citizens of the county.
HEXRY REINIGER. deceased. On the eleventh
day of January, 1903, there passed from the scenes of
earth to the realms beyond one of the prominent and
leading business men in Rathdrum, Henry Reiniger.
He had suffered long from a painful illness and on the
day mentioned, at his residence in Rathdrum, death
came to end it all and he went hence. The funeral was
taken in charge by the various fraternal orders of
which Mr. Reiniger was a member and amid a con-
course of friends, the like of which has not hitherto
been seen in this town, he was laid to rest.
Mr. Reiniger was well known all over this section
and he was as highly esteemed as he was well known.
From all classes came friends to pay their respects to
the deceased and it was known that an influential man,
a patriotic citizen, and a reliable and faithful compan-
ion had gone from our midst. He had the distinction of
being one of the earliest pioneers of this section and
he was instrumental in opening many iterests here in
those days. He passed through the country and camped
on the site of Spokane before any town had been started.
This was in 1876. Mr. Reiniger was then on his way
from Germany to Colville and in that place he took
charge of Hofsteder's brewery. Being an expert
brewer he made a fine success of it, continuing the
same until 1881. In that year he came to Rathdrum
and built a brewery for himself. Two years later he
had the sad experience of looking on his fine property
reduced to ashes. This did not daunt his spirit and
rising to the emergency he built a larger and better
plant than he had before. This was put in successful
operation and did a fine business until 1900, when it
was again destroyed by fire. Mr. Reiniger had bought
a section of land just east from Rathdrum and he su-
perintended this in addition to handling his other busi-
ness. This was continued until the spring of 1902,
when he sold it. Also during a portion of the years of
his residence in Rathdrum, Mr. Reiniger owned a sa-
loon. While operating it he went to California for his
health. This improved him some but did not entirely
free him from his affliction by disease. After return-
ing from California, he sold his business and in No-
vember, 1902, he opened a large and complete hard-
ware store in Rathdrum. This was part of the es-
tate left at his decease and is now operated by his son,
who was foreman of it before Mr. Reiniger's death and
is now managing the same.
Like many of our most substantial citizens, Mr.
Reiniger was born in Germany. The native place was
Wittenberg and the date July 12, 1851. His parents
were Gottlop B. and Mary Reiniger, both natives of
Germany, where also they remained until their death.
The father died in 1898 and the mother in 1900. The
elder Reiniger followed the brewing business and also
operated a hotel. Henry was educated in the excel-
lent schools of his native place and also completed a
commercial course in a business college. He also
'earned the brewing business, commencing when he was
fifteen years old. At the age of twenty, he entered the
army and served for three years, after which he returned
home. It then became his purpose to leave the Fa-
therland and seek his place and fortune in the New
World. This he did in 1876 and came direct to Col-
ville. Before leaving the homeland, Mr. Reiniger mar-
ried the lady of his choice, Anna Foul, whose parents
were also natives of Wittenberg, where they remained
until death. Six children have been born to this happy
union, named as followss: Anna, Henry, Laura, Er-
nest, Max, Paul. Laura is teaching school and the
ethers are engaged variously.
Mr. Reiniger was well known in business circles
and was a power in politics. He was allied with the
Democratic party and capable of giving a reason for
his views. Fraternally he was affiliated with the K.
of P., Chancellor Lodge, No. 13, and with the Rath-
drum Court, No. 14, F. O. A.
ROBERT C. THOMPSON. By a decided choice
of the people, the subject of this article has been called
to discharge the important duties of o
of Kootenai county and it is but right to remark that
in these duties as in all of his life, he manifests the
greatest of faithfulness and care with consideration for
all, which has given him great popularity and a stand-
ing that is enviable indeed.
Robert C. Thompson was born in Wythe county,
Virginia, on June 13, 1857, being the son of Jezreel
and Ally (Lindamood) Thompson, natives of the same
county, where also they died, the mother in 1875 an°l
the father in 1897. They were the parents of ten chil-
dren: Missouri F., Dem'son B., Robert C, Simon H,
Virginia B., Johanna, Franklin K., Irene, Euretta,
and Andrew M. Our subject received his education
in his native place and remained with his parents until
twenty-one. Then he learned the carpenter trade. In
1880 and 18S1 he carried United States mail and in
1883 he purchased a saw mill, which he operated until
1885, and then sold. In that year he came to Wash-
ington and thence to Kootenai county in the same year.
He built a home in Rathdrum and remained two years,
after which he went to Los Angeles, California. In-
side of a year he was in Spokane. He then went to
Stone Switch, this county, and in 1890 filed a home-
stead, the title of which he has perfected, and in 1896
came back to Rathdrum. He established the first post-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
925
office at Athol, Airs. Lydia Irons being first post-
mistress and his wife assistant. While living on his
ranch Mr. Thompson went to work for J. H. Stone
as foreman in his camps and as tie inspector until
1892. In 1896 he came to Rathdrum and operated a
boarding house for two years, then took the foreman-
ship of Pricket & Warner's horse ranch for six months.
Since then he has given most of his time to his trade.
In 1900 Mr. Thompson was nominated for county
commissioner from the second district, but although
lie ran ahead of his ticket, he was defeated. In 1902
he was placed in nomination by acclamation for county
assessor and was elected by a majority of two hundred
and forty-seven.
On November 27, 1884, Air. Thompson married
Miss Laura A., daughter of Augustus and Catherine
(Tartar) Repass, natives of Virginia, as were their
ancestors for generations back to the early settlement
of the colony. They were the parents of eight children,
seven of whom are living : Frank, Rhoda, Caroline and
Alice, twins, John M., Laura A. Airs. Thompson is
a member of the Methodist church, and her father was
a minister in that denomination until the time of his
death, having served for thirty years in the pulpit.
ERNEST VAN CLEVE. The owner and operator
of six hundred and forty acres of land about two
miles north from Athol, an industrious and capable
agriculturist and a public minded citizen, it is fitting
that Air. Van Cleve should be granted consideration
in the history of northern Idaho, being also such an
one as to be reckoned with the real builders of the
county and capable in labor and counsel.
Ernest Van Cleve was born in Jackson county,
Alichigan, on October 7, 1862, being the son of Bar-
ney and Fidelia (Walworth) Van Cleve, natives, re-
spectively, of New York and Alichigan. From Jack-
son county they removed to Gratiot county, where the
mother died in 1866 and the father in 1884. There
Ernest received a common school education and at the
tender age of seven he was cast upon his own re-
sources and from that time to the present he has been
active in labors and travels. He worked at whatever
employment came to hand and when sixteen years of
age he bought eighty acres of land. This was held
four years, and then he sold it for thirteen hundred
dollars. This was an excellent start for a young man
of twenty, especially so when he had earned it all by
his own labors. Next we see Air. Van Cleve in Wis-
consin lumbering and two years after that he returned
to Alichigan. In 1887 he came again to Wisconsin
and the next year he made his way to the coast. He
labored in various capacities until 1895, and then for
two years he prospected in western Washington, Brit-
ish Columbia and Alontana. In 1897 he came to
Kootenai county and made ties for three years. The
next venture in the way of investment was the purchase
of the section of land where Air. Van Cleve now lives.
Since that time he has given himself to the improve-
ment of his place and now has a valuable piece of land
with some good improvements already made and many
more laid out. He is a good, substantial citizen, re-
spected by all and stands well. Air. Van Cleve is a
charter member of the I. O. O. F., Pine Lodge, No.
75. He has two brothers and one sister: William;
Elizabeth, wife of Robert McGregor; Alpine, all in
Alichigan. Mr. Van Cleve's paternal grandfather was
in the Civil war and an uncle on his father's side is
a sea captain on the lakes.
EDWARD BJORNSON. Four miles southwest
from Bonners Ferry is located the home of the sub-
ject of this article. The land was taken under the
homestead right and Mr. Bjornson is giving his time
and labor to making it a good home and a valuable
property. He is a son of Norway, being born in Ber-
gen, on August 31. 1854, and inheriting the excellent
qualities of enterprise and push that made his ancestors
the real discoverers of the new continent. His parents.
Erick and Anna (LeDahl) Bjornson, were natives of
the same country and migrated to America in 1X57.
They located in Dane county, Wisconsin, where they
remained for eleven years and then removed to Web-
ster county. Iowa. This was their home until death
called them thence. Our subject received hi- e luca-
tional training in these localities and remained with
his parents until their death and then came the meeting
of life's responsibilities on his own account. He farmed
for three years and after that gave his attention to
learning the tinsmith trade and more or less he has de-
voted himself to that since. In 1887 he came to I Cali-
fornia and soon thereafter went to Seattle. Washing-
ton, where one year was spent. He then visited Walla
Walla and Pendleton and in 1889 was in Spokane.
In 1889 Air. Bjornson was in Sandpoint and then came
to Bonners Ferry in 1891. He took a squatter's right
and later, when the land was surveyed, he found it was
railroad land instead of government and he bought it.
In 1899 he sold the property and made a visit east,
but returned soon to Kootenai county, settling this
time on his present place. He is devoting himself to
its improvement and development and is one of the
substantial men of this section. Politically he is allied
with the Democrats and is always active in the cam-
paigns. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., being a
charter member of Badger Lodge, No. 482. in Web-
ster county, Iowa. Air. Bjornson is also a member
of the Lutheran church.
COLON SPENCER SAHTH. This esteemed
gentleman is one of the earliest pioneers of the Koot-
enai valley and he had the distinction of beiiu
the settlers here when there were but two houses in the
entire vallev. Since that time, Air. Smith has given
himself to the excellent work of developing and up-
building and he is now one of the prominent and in-
fluential men of the valley.
Colon S. Smith was born in Henderson county,
926
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Illinois, on October 15, 1855, being the son of Midel-
ton W. and Jane (Foster) Smith, natives of Virginia.
They emigrated to Illinois in 1852 and farmed there
six years and then went to Missouri, where they re-
mained until 1870. Then the father went to Colorado
and mined for twelve years. He failed to make a suc-
cess in this venture and so returned to farming. He
is now living near Mount Rose, aged eighty-four, on
November 4. Nine- children were in the family, Will-
iam K, Benjamin F., Granville R., Susan, de-
ceased, Samuel W., Elizabeth Hampton, Mary '
A. Tapping, Colon S., our subject, Charley.
Our subject received his education in the vi-
cinity of St. Joseph, Missouri, and then went
with' the family to Colorado. At the age of seventeen,
he went to mining and in 1881 he came to the Wood
river region in Idaho. Thence he went to Montana
and in May, 1883, he came to Kootenai valley. Thence
he went to Mexico, then to South America, being in
Panama and other points there. From that place he
next went to the Sandwich Islands and later we see
him in Arizona. He mined in all these places and in
1884 Mr. Smith returned to Missouri. Again we see
him in the Kootenai country and he was also one of the
foremost in the Coeur d'Alene excitement. He con-
tinued in the mines there two years and then settled
on the Pend d'Oreille river and raised stock for five
years. In 1892 Mr. Smith located his present home-
stead, three and one-half miles south from Port Hill.
He has a good place and improved in a becoming man-
ner. He has also bought other land and he owns over
half a section. Mr. Smith pays much attention to
raising stock and puts up about one hundred and fifty
tons of hay each year. Mr. Smith grub staked Will-
iam Houston and the latter located what is now known
as the Continental group of mines. This valuable
property is twenty miles west from Port Hill and con-
sists of three claims, of which Mr. Smith owns a one-
sixth interest. The property is bonded for a large sum
and is considered one of the valuable properties in this
country.
On October 29. 1884. Mr. Smith married Miss Su-
sie, daughter of Peter and Margarett (Piper) Klein,
natives "of Germany and Pennsylvania, respectively.
The father came to America when young and now lives
in Schuyler county, Missouri. The mother died when
Mrs. Smith was young. Three children have been born
to this happy marriage, Ethel, Mary L., and Florence
C. B.. all at home. Mr. Smith is a Republican, but
is also an independent thinker and is of liberal turn
of mind. He is active and influential in the cam-
paigns. In Montana, he was elected to the territorial
convention and was also nominated for sheriff, but de-
clined it. Mr. Smith is one of the prominent men of
the valley and is the recipient of the esteem and good
will of all who know him.
DELBERT H. BENTLEY. The young and ac-
tive men who are stepping to the front in the noble
work of developing the almost boundless resources of
Kootenai county are deserving of great credit and
among the number we desire to mention as one of the
most thrifty and wide awake and enterprising, the
subject of this article.
Delbert H. Bentley was born in Emerald, St.
Croix county, Wisconsin, on November 17, 1878, being
the son of Edmond J. and Theoda (Sluyter) Bentley,
natives of Michigan. Later they removed to Wiscon-
sin and about i8qo came to Kootenai county, where
they are numbered among the prosperous farmers now.
Our subject received his education in Wisconsin until
eleven and then came with his parents to Kootenai
county, where he also studied some in the district
schools. He labored with his father until he was about
of age, and then he inaugurated independent action and
soon demonstrated his excellent business qualities and
executive force, both in the achievements accomplished
and also in selecting some fine railroad land which he
bought, which together with a homestead taken, makes
him a fine estate of about one-half section or a little
more. This body of land lies about one mile south from
Granite and is improved in a good manner. The tire-
less labors of Mr. Bentley are making it better each
year and bestowed, as they are, with excellent wis-
dom, it is evident that he will soon have one of the
finest farms of this section. Mr. Bentley is one of the
intelligent and active Republicans of this section, al-
wavs to the front in county affairs and manifesting
a diligence in the investigation of principles and ques-
tions of moment that makes him one of the well posted
men in his community. Mr. Bentley is a member of
the M. W. A., Granite Camp, No. 10875 and is now
holding the office of banker. He has not yet seen fit
to desert the ranks of the jolly bachelors and rejoices
in the quietness and comforts of celibacy. Mr. Bentley
is among the highly esteemed men of this section and
has the good will of all.
JAMES A. GREEN. A capable and enterpris-
ing man whose labors are manifesting a worth and in-
dustry that properly place him among the leading men
of the section, it is fitting to grant especial mention
to him in the history of Kootenai county.
James A. Green was born in Flint, Michigan, on
November 30, 1871, being the son of Alphonso and
Nancy L. (Clark) Green, natives of Michigan. The
mother died in 1883 and the father then went to Wis-
consin and in 1888 came to Kootenai county where he
now lives. Our subject went with his parents to Lud-
ington, Michigan, and there received his education.
When fifteen, he went to do for himself and at once
learned the lumber business. He operated in the woods
in winter and drove in the spring. In 1898 he came
to Kootenai county and took his present place as a
homestead. It lies one-half mile south from Granite
and there Mr. Green devotes himself to general farm-
ing and raising stock.
In 1893 Mr- Green married Miss Alta B., daughter
of William and Levina (Bentley) Starr, natives of
Emerald, Wisconsin, where they now reside and do
farming. Two children have been born to this couple,
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
927
Cora B. and Myrte Y. Mr. Green is a member of the
I. O. O. F., Pine Lodge, at Athol, and of the M. W. A.,
at Granite, being manager.
ERNEST F. FISCHER. Among the enterpris-
ing farmers who are making Kootenai county one of
the prosperous divisions of the state, we are con-
strained to mention the subject of this article, who re-
sides three miles north from Granite.
Ernest F. Fischer was born in Bernick, Germany,
on June 28, 1848, being the son of Ernest and Christina
(Deitrick) Fischer, also natives of the Fatherland. The
father died there in 1887 and the mother came to
America in 1891 and died in 1902. Our subject was
educated in his native place and when fourteen went
to work for himself, farming. In 1868 he joined the
army and went through the Franco-Prussian war. He
received a wound in the eye which necessitated the
taking out of that important member. In 1871 he was
discharged and immediately went to railroading. 1890
was the year in which he came to America and for a
year or so he worked in Oakesdale, Washington,
whence he came to Kootenai county, 1893 being the
year in which he landed here. He soon selected a
homestead, and since that time he has given his atten-
tion to cultivation of the soil and raising stock. His
place is situated well and is good land.
In 1872 Mr. Fischer married Miss Pauline, daugh-
ter of August and Elenora Hofler, natives of Germany.
Four children have been born to this happy marriage,
who are named as follows : Lonie, Amelia, Pauline
and Eliza.
Mr. Fischer contracted a second marriage four
years ago. The lady becoming his wife was Mrs. T.
Kastner, who came all the way from the old country
to enter this relation. Mrs. Fischer has one child by
her former husband.
EDMOND JOHN BENTLEY. This sturdy pi-
oneer is also one of the real builders of Kootenai county
and during his stay here he has manifested the true
nimrod qualities and his trusty rifle has gotten him
many trophies of the chase.
Edmond J. Bentley was born in Jasper county,
Pennsylvania, on March 21, 1854, being the son of
Armis and Minerva (Sharp) Bentley, natives of Penn-
sylvania. Thence they went to New York state, later
to Michigan, then to Hudson, Wisconsin, and finally
to Emerald in the last state. There the father died
in 1886, the mother having died six months previous.
Our subject was educated in Hudson, Wisconsin, until
sixteen and then he spent some time in Boardman,
Wisconsin, where he finished a good education. When
twenty-four, Mr. Bentley stepped forth to do, on the
plain of life's activities, for himself and in the course
of three years he purchased a farm, which later he sold
and came west to Spokane. In 1886 he came to Gran-
ite and made ties for one vear. Then he worked on
the Northern Pacific and in 1888 he went to \\
The following vear saw him in Kootenai county again
and since that date his home has been here. He fol-
lowed contracting in various timber work until [898,
when he bought his present place of one quarter sec-
tion, seven miles north from Granite. The place is
timber and meadow land and is quite valuable, yield-
ing good returns of hay each. year. He does general
farming and also raises cattle. Mr. Bentley also raises
vegetables for the markets and this year had a cabbage
weighing over twenty pounds.
On August 1. 1877. Mr. Bentley married .Miss
Theoda N., daughter of Westol H. and Wealthy
(Barnes) Sluyter, natives of Michigan. The mother
died in Travis, Michigan, in 1866 and the father now
lives in Kootenai county. Two children have been
born to Mr. and Mrs. Bentley, Delbert II., in Granite;
Bertha, wife of O. L. Marrow, in Pennville. Indiana.
Mr. Bentley is a stanch and active Republican and
does good service in the campaigns. He is one of the
trustees and gave money to start the first school in the
district.
By way of reminiscence it is interesting to note a
little fray Mr. Bentley recently had with some bears.
He met a couple of cubs, and having only a small
twenty-two rifle, succeeded in getting one of them
when the dam made her appearance. Even the ammu-
nition of this toy gun was exhausted and the savage
dam was hurrying to the fray. Mr. Bentley remained
calm as the seasoned hunter should and when the brute
rushed upon him. he succeeded in jamming the rifle
barrel down her throat. This was too much, even for
her vigorous palate, and she retreated in disgrace and
Mr. Bentley won the field and the fight.
ABNER CURTIS. The long time which Mr.
Curtis has spent in this section entitles him to the wor-
thy name of pioneer of Kootenai county and as such
we grant him representation in the history of his
county.
Aimer Curtis was born in Shiawassee county, Mich-
igan, on October 2. 1855. being the son of Isaac and
Sarah (Smith) Curtis, natives respectively of Ohio
and Canada. The mother came to the United States
with her parents when seven years of age and in Michi-
gan met and married Mr. Curtis. For fifteen years
they lived in Shiawassee county and then moved to
Travis county. The father died in 1870 and the mother
nine years later. Our subject received his education
in the places mentioned and when fifteen he went to
do for himself. He wrought in the lumber region until
1880, then went to Emerald. Wisconsin, and lumbered
for six years more and then came the journe) to E « >t-
enai county and since the day he first landed here he
has remained. Mr. Curtis contracted ties for four
years and in 1890 he took his present homestead, six
miles northeast from Granite. He has comfortable
buildings, the land all fenced, cuts from eighty to one
hundred tons of hay and does a general farming busi-
ness. Mr. Curtis has introduced some of the finest
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Red Pole cattle into the county that there are in the
west and he has some excellent breeding animals in-
cluding one male that is very valuable. Mr. Curtis
has a dozen or more of these fine animals and also han-
dles about thirty other cattle. He is one of the pros-
perous and well-to-do men of the community.
In 1882 Mr. Curtis married Miss Inez, daughter
of Westol and Wealthy (Barnes) Sluyter, natives of
Maryland. They came west to Kootenai county and
the father now lives on a farm near Granite. The
mother died in 1866. Mr. Curtis is a prominent and
influential Democrat and takes an active part in the
campaigns. He has been school trustee for a number
of years. Mr. Curtis has the following brothers and
sisters living: Adalade, wife of Oren Case, in Travis
county; Milo, in Frankfort, Michigan; James A., in
Ann Arbor, Michigan ; Mary, wife of Charles Welch,
in St. John, Michigan.
ALBERT D. EATON. About three miles east
from Hope is the estate and business place of Mr.
Eaton. He owns two hundred acres of good land and
upon this he does both a general farming business
and also operates a sawmill. He is a man of upright-
ness and good business ability and is doing much to
assist in building up the country and to augment the
wealth of the county.
Albert D. Eaton was born in Maquoketa, Iowa, on
December 1, 1872, being the son of Theophilus and
Angeline (Watrous) Eaton, natives of Indiana. They
came to Iowa in pioneer days and there remained until
1900, when they pressed further into the west and now
dwell in Kootenai county. They had one child, the
subject of this article. Albert received his education
in his native place and at the age of twenty he started
in life for himself. He worked on a farm for five years
and then worked with his father until 1900. In that
year Mr. Eaton bought eighty acres of his present es-
tate from the railroad. The next year he purchased
one hundred and twenty acres more and now has a fine
bodv of land.
In 1899 Mr. Eaton married Annie Gronn, daughter
of F. D. and Amelie (Lucia) Ordway. In political
matters Mr. Eaton is a Republican and is active in the
campaigns.
ALBERT R. CASE. To this intelligent and ex-
perienced gentleman, whose travels and various occu-
pations in the industries and callings of business and
education have fitted him to be a leading citizen, we
accord representation in the history of Kootenai county
and feel assured that a detailed account of his career
will be interesting reading.
Albert R. Case was born in Madison, Wisconsin,
on May 17, 1863, being the son of H. W. and Hannah
(Brink) Case, natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania, re-
spectively. They settled in Madison, Wisconsin, and
remained twenty years. Later they removed to Platte-
ville, ('rant county, the same state, and remained there
until their death. The mother died in 1889 and the
father passed beyond the next year. He had served as
a blacksmith in the Civil war. Our subject received
a liberal education in the state normal at Platteville
and when twenty he took up the educator's calling.
He taught in Lancaster and in 1886 came west to San
Francisco, where he served a time in the freight office
of the Mariposa Steamship Company, having a line of
boats from Sidney, Australia, to San Francisco. Thence
he came to Colville, Washington, where he taught
school and then mined for six years. Returning to
Wisconsin, he taught there and in Illinois and then
he married and farrrfed for four years, after which he
made the arduous journey to Alaska, where he spent
two years in mining after which he returned once
more to civilization, brought his family from Wiscon-
sin and settled in Kootenai county on a homestead,
where we find him at the present time, just south from
Dufort. He built a house, barn, outbuildings, and
other improvements and is devoting himself to general
farming and raising stock.
In 1893 Mr. Case married Miss Mamie, daughter
of George A. and Mary J. (Heard) Utt, natives of
Illinois. They removed to Lancaster, Wisconsin,
where the father died ; the mother now lives in Coulee
City, Washington. One child has been born to Mr.
and Mrs. Case, Ruth. Mr. Case is one of a family of
six children: Asa, Hosea, Charlev, Albert, Eliza and
Rose.
CAPTAIN JOHN J. O'BRIEN. What better
encomium can be given of our citizens than to say that
he has served through the terrible war of the Rebellion
with credit, and for thirty years thereafter he has in
a meritorious manner served in the regular army?
Such is the record of the estimable gentleman whose
name is at the head of this article and it is with pleasure
that we are enabled to grant space to outline his career
in this history of the county of Kootenai.
To Christopher and Jane (Kelly) O'Brien, natives
of Ireland, John J. was born in Kildare county. He
came to America when he was young, and true to the
blood that coursed through his veins, he at once took
part to help uphold the government and wipe out the
insult that had been offered the banner of the free.
He enlisted as a private and so meritorious was his
conduct and marked with such intrepidity and valor,
that he was promoted to a captaincy before the close
of the war. He participated in the battle of Win-
chester under Sheridan and fought through all the
struggle until the surrender at Appomattox Court
House. Being honorably discharged, he re-enlisted
in the regular army as a private and soon was promoted
to a second lieutenancy, and in due time had again
the position of captain, which his worth and experience
and courage demanded for him. In 1886 he came
west from Omaha with his regiment, being located at
Coeur d'Alene. Since that time he has constantly
been in the west. It was in 1896 that the Captain was
retired and since that time he has made his home at
Coeur d'Alene. He has manifested great wisdom1 in
CAPT. JOHN J. O'BRIEN
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
929
the business world as also in his other lines of activity
and is now possessed of a competence of this world's
goods. He has one of the most valuable additions to
Coeur d'Alene. which is known as O'Brien's addition.
The plat contained one hundred and fifty-nine acres
and lie has handled it in a commendable manner. The
Captain is possessed of one gold medal which was be-
stowed by the membership of the McDowel Post and
is a beautiful emblem, which is greatly valued by the
owner not only for its beaut}' but for its association.
Captain ( )'Brien is a member of the G. A. R.. Lafayette
Post, New York. The clays have come when the
golden time of his well spent life is beginning to dawn
upon him and it is with pleasure that amid real friends,
enjoying the meed of his financial sagacity, and with
the memories of a well spent life in valued service for
his country, we can state that Captain O'Brien is
passing the days of his sojourn here in real happiness
and as becomes a retired veteran.
MEAD VAUGHAN. This veteran on life's bat-
tle plain as well as a real veteran of the terrible strife
that rent this fair land in the sixties, is now dwelling
in Kootenai county and is one of the reliable and faith-
ful men, upright, and possessed of integrity and worth.
Mead Vaughn was born in Manchester, Indiana,
on September 17, 1828, where he was educated in the
district schools. He started in life as a farmer and
went to Iowa, remaining until 1859, m which vear he
removed to Illinois. There in 1862 he enlisted in the
Tenth Illinois Cavalry, serving under Colonel Stewart
and participating in arduous and faithful military
duties until 1865, when he was mustered out in New
Orleans. Then he went to southwest Missouri and
mined until 1882, in which year he removed to Fre-
mont county Colorado. In 1885 he went thence to
Silver City, Idaho, and from there later to the coast.
He was soon in Spokane and thence he came to Koote-
nai county, where he has remained since. Mr. Vaughan
has been occupied in farming and is to be credited
with much worthy labor in building up the county.
He is the father of two children, Don F., and Eva,
who died in 1879. Mr. Vaughan is a member of the
G. A. R., is a stanch Republican and takes the keen
interest of the intelligent and patriotic citizen. He
is also a devout member of the Baptist church and a
faithful supporter of the gospel.
FRANK SCHUSSMAN. Everything about the
premises of the subject of this article manifests the
thrift, thoroughness, and wise industry of the pro-
prietor and it is with pleasure that we are enabled to
grant him special mention in the history of Kootenai
county, both because of his real worth and because of
his excellent works.
Frank Schussman was born in Waupaca county,
Wisconsin, on March 14, 1864, being the son of Carl
and Caroline (Bublitz) Schussman, natives of Ger-
many, hut immigrants to America, when- the) settled
in Waupaca county. They still live there and' are the
parents of ten children: William; Carl,
Frank, our subject; Allien, deceased; Emma. \l;n .
Henry; Amelia, deceased; Edward; Carrie. Frank
was educated in his native county and in Calumet,
Fond du Lac county, until fourteen years old and then
he went to work for his father exclusively until lie was
twenty. At that age he started out for himself, work-
ing for the neighbors at common labor. In 1886 he
went to Dakota, thence to Wyoming in a year or so,
where he was occupied in the woods. Next we see
him in Montana, and in [888 Mr. Schussman made
his way to Kootenai county. Here he has remained
since and has bestowed his labors on his homestead.
which he took after he had spent three years in pros-
pecting. His farm lies a mile and a half west from
Clarkfork and has been well improved. Mr. Schuss-
man was a leader in inaugurating the industry of
raising fowls and built the first fine structure for
raising them in this section of the country. As said
before, everything about the farm is done on the
motto of what is worth doing, is worth doing well,
and this is of great importance in building up a country.
Mr. Schussman has some fine fowls, a goodly holding
of stock and also does a general farming business.
Mr. J. Nosker, his brother-in-law, with his family
lives with Mr. Schussman. Mr. Schussman is a mem-
ber of the I. O. O. F., Mvrtle Lodge No. 69, at Clark-
fork.
VICTOR W. ROTH. In at least two distinct
lines of activity has the subject of this article made a
good success, being at the present time a minister of
of the gospel in Clarkfork and Hope, where he dis-
courses words of truth and encouragement to all.
while he also carries on a successful farming business.
Victor W. Roth was born in Baden. Germany, on
December 23, 1853, being the son of Joseph and
Anna (Hirsch) Roth, natives of Germany. The
mother died there in 1858. but the father is still liv-
ing, having been a school teacher for many years.
Our subject received a liberal college education and at
the age of seventeen years started out in life for him-
self. He journeyed to Switzerland and thence to the
United States in 1872, locating in New York. He
went thence to Kentucky and in 1875 to the Black
Hills, where he followed mining and prospecting for
many vears. In 1891 Mr. Roth came to Clarkfork.
and since that time has been in this section. He was
a real missionary in this place and did the first gospel
preaching, and organized the first Sunday school there.
Mr. Roth is preaching both at Hope and Clarkfork.
and is a popular and highly esteemed man. In 1895
he bought a piece of hay land and moved to Hope,
but being burned out there the following year he
returned to Clarkfork, and this has been the family
home since that time.
In April. 1881. Mr. Roth married Florence S-,
daughter of Marion and Mary Fraker. natives of Illi-
nois". Thev came west to Colorado in 1873. where
93o
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
they reside at the present time. Seven children, six
of whom are living, have been born to this happy
union : Charles, Henry, Ruth. Victor, Frederick, and
Marie, all living at home. Mr. Roth is an active Re-
publican and takes an interest in the welfare and ad-
vancement of the country. He is a member of the A.
O. U. W.. Hope Lodge No. 23. In 1901 Mrs. Roth
was appointed postmistress in Clarkford and is hold-
ing the position with satisfaction to all at the present
time.
FREDRICK M. OWEN, deceased. It is emi-
nently proper that in the volume which records the
history of Kootenai county there should be found a
memorial of the esteemed gentleman whose name
appears above.
Fredrick M. Owen was born in Greene county,
Indiana, and thence came with his parents to Mis-
souri when he was eighteen years of age. He served
about four years in the Civil war in the Missouri
militia.. His home was in Missouri until 1883, when
he came to Kootenai county. This continued to be
his dwelling place until his death, which occurred in
1897. Mr. Owen has always been an industrious and
upright man and has made a career which is viewed
with pride by his loved ones left behind. His grand-
father, Thomas Owen, was a soldier under Corn-
wallis, and at Gifford courthouse he was wounded by
the Puritans. His kneecap was shot away. Our sub-
ject married Miss Susanna Barron, who survives her
husband and is now dwelling on the old homestead
west from Clarkfork. Her parents were Thomas and
Nancy Barron and she came to Missouri with them
when she was small. There she met and married
Mr. Owen. Ten children, six of whom are living,
were born to them : Josiah, a geologist for the Southern
Pacific, now being engaged in their coal fields ; T. J.,
P. W., Calvin, Samuel, and Fred W., all in Kootenai.
T. J. belongs to the Phi Kappa Psi college order.
CALVIN OWEN is one of the earliest pioneers
to pierce the wilds around Clarkfork, and since the time
when he blazed the way into this region he has been
constantly in active labor for its development and im-
provement and today is residing on his mother's farm,
about two miles west from Clarkfork.
Calvin Owen was born in Caldwell county. Mis-
souri, on April I, 1863. being the son of F. M. and
Susanna (Barron) Owen, natives of Indiana and
Kentucky respectively. They settled in Missouri in
an early day. remaining there for fifty years and in
1882. they ail came to Kootenai county. Especial men-
tion of them further is made in this volume. Our sub-
ject was allowed but a meager privilege of securing
an education, but what opportunity was offered was
improved in a proper manner. He came with his
parents to Kootenai county, having lived with them
previous to that time. He took a homestead adjoin-
ing that of his father and has improved it in good
shape. At present Air. Owen is dwelling with his
mother and is handling her farm. He also pays con-
siderable attention to raising stock and has now twenty
head besides much other property in the way of im-
provements of the ranches. Mr. Owen is a man who
receives the respect and esteem of all and is a substan-
tial citizen.
ISAAC X. DE1TRICK. Although the subject
of this article has not been so long settled on his pres-
ent place as some in the vicinity of Hope, he is still
one of the pioneers of the county for he settled first
on unsurveyed land and his labors have materially
added to the wealth of the county and have assisted
in building up this section.
Isaac X. Deitnck was born in Hamilton county,
Iowa, on March 23, 1855, being the son of P'hilip and
Martha (Strom) Deitrick, natives respectively of
Pennsylvania and Indiana. They were married in the
latter state and moved to Iowa, where they lived
thirteen years. The mother died there in 1855 and
in 1858 the balance of the family went back to Indiana,
where they remained until 1880, in which year the
father went to California, dying in this latter state
in 1805. He was a commercial salesman. Our sub-
ject received his education in Greencastle, Indiana,
and at the age of seventeen went to work on the farm
for himself. When nineteen, he went to railroading
and that life occupied him for many years. He was
on the Union Pacific for sixteen years, then spent a
short time in California, whence he came to Hope and
entered the employ of the X'orthern Pacific. In 1900
Air. Deitrick located some unsurveyed land and later
bought one hundred and twenty acres of land where
he resides at present, three miles west from Clarkfork.
He has an excellent place for a home and handles
considerable stock, raising about fifty tons of hay each
year and doing general farming.
On December 31, 1883, Air. Deitrick married Miss
Minnie, daughter of L. E. and Alary (Millis) Spoor,
who now live in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The father is
foreman in the Union Pacific shops and has been for
twenty years. One child, Rex E., has been born to Air.
and Airs. Deitrick. Our subject is an active and in-
telligent Republican and always manifests an interest
in local affairs. He has been school trustee of the
Hope district for six years. He is a member of the
Al. W. A.. Clarkfork Camp No. 7617, and also of the
O. R. C. Missoula, Alontana. Airs. Deitrick is a
member of the Congregational church.
STEPHEN P.. HOWES. Without doubt the sub-
ject of this article was one of the first ones to come
to the country in the vicinity of Clarkfork, and since
the early days of his advent here, he has devoted him-
self to worthy labors of improvement and development
and is now one of the substantial men, whose standing
among his fellows is of the best and who has the good
will and confidence of all.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
931
Stephen B. Howes was born in Bourbon county,
Kentucky, on October 6, 1833, being the son of Reu-
ben and Catherine (McNerg) Howes, natives respec-
tively of -Maryland and Kentucky. The father served
as a despatch boy in the war of 1812. Then he moved
to Kentucky, where he married and dwelt for many
years. The mother died when our subject was young
and the father moved to Illinois in 1844, where he lived
until 1868, the time of his death. He was the father
of twenty-four children. Our subject received no
schooling only that which his studious and industri-
ous nature picked out for himself. At the age of
twenty-one he went to New York, thence to Cuba
and Central America and in 1855 he landed in the
golden California. He crossed the plains east in 1857
and in a short time returned to California and in i860
he went to Colorado, where he mined for three years.
During the Civil war he w-as east, but soon went to
Montana, locating in Galatin valley, where he built
the first house in the valley. This was in 1864 and his
residence in that section covers a period of twenty-one
years. In 1876 Mr. Howes went to the Black Hills
via Bismarck, and fought Indians all the way. In 1885
he went to Thompson Falls and resided there for three
years. He had visited Clarkfork before this and in
1889 he came thither and settled, securing by purchase,
title to three hundred acres of land. He sold that
property and now lives on one hundred acres of land
on which he has four mining claims, three miles west
from Clarkfork, where he does a general farming and
gardening business. Mr. Howes has mined more or
less all his life and is one of the most skillful men in
all branches of this industry to be found in the county.
He has some fine properties now which he is developing
and which are showing excellent values in gold and
copper.
In Montana, in 1878. Mr. Howes married Mrs.
Johan Lutton, who died in Thompson Falls in 1889.
She had one son by her former marriage, Walter Lut-
ton, now living in Hope. Mr. Howes is liberal in po-
litical matters. He is a member of the Methodist
church and is one of the upright and exemplary men
of this vicinity.
ROBERT MURRAY. This industrious and sub-
stantial agriculturist and stock man, w-hose home is
four miles east from Hope, on a quarter section that
he secured under homestead right, has labored faith-
fully and well in this section and is deserving of
especial mention in the volume that gives his county's
history.
Robert Murray was born in Castle Douglas, Scot-
land, on April 19, 185 1, being the son of Robert and
Mary (Cowan) Murray, natives of Scotland, where
they remained until their death. The father was a
school teacher and civil engineer. He taught school for
forty vears of his life, thirty being spent in one school.
Our subject received his education in his native place
and in 1869 came to Canada, whence four years later
he went to Texas, where he lived nine years. In 1882
he came to California and eight years were spent in
that state. The next move was 1.1 Washing
year being spent in Seattle, whence he came to Spo-
kane and shortly to Kootenai county, where he lias
labored since. He soon took the homestead mentioned
and there he has made his home. Part of his land is
excellent timber and a portion is meadow. Mr. Mur-
ray handles about thirty head of stock. In political
matters he is allied with the Democrats and always
takes an interest in county affairs. He has been elected
justice of the peace, but 'refused to qualify, preferring
not to take part in public office. Mr. Murra} has
seven brothers and three sisters: James, in Canada;
Adam C, killed in the Civil war while serving under
General Sigel, who wrote the father the sad news
when the son fell at Fort McGilvery; Mary 1'.., living
with our subject; John B., in Scotland; Robert, the
subject of this sketch; George C, William 1'.., .Marion
}.. deceased; and Richard, in Scotland; \.gnes C, and
Mary with our subject.
ELISHA A. CRANDALL is one of tin- solid,
industrious, intelligent, prosperous, and prominent
farmers and stockmen in the vicinity of Hope, his
estate being three miles east from that place, where
he handles a number of fine Shorthorn and Durham
cattle, having also some Jersey and Ayrshire stock,
doing a dairying business in addition to his farming.
Elisha A. Crandall was born in Baraboo, Sauk
county, Wisconsin, on March 15. 1847. being the son
of Dr. Samuel M. and Elizabeth (East) Crandall,
natives of New York and Louisiana, respectively.
They located in Baraboo in 1843 and in 1850 went to
Mississippi, where the father died, and in 1855 the
mother returned to Baraboo, where she died in 1857.
They were both descended from Revolution veterans.
Our subject attended the common schools and finished
his educational training- in ;> collegiate institute. At
the age of sixteen he enlisted in Company F. Twenty-
third Volunteer Infantry of Wisconsin, as a drummer,
under Captain J. Schlick and Colonel J. I. Guppy.
He served thirty months and was mustered out on
March 25, 1866. and received his final disch
April 9th. following. He served much of the time as
scout under the noted Kit Carson and participated
in the following battles: Sabine Cross Roads. Pleasant
Hill, Cain River. Marksville Prairie, Alexandria,
Bayou Teche, Jackson Louisiana, advance on
Fort, Fort Blakely, besides fifteen or more skirmishes.
He made a fine record and one of which any veteran
might be proud. Following the war Mr. Crandall
farmed for a time and then railroaded, first on tin-
Chicago and Northwestern for fifteen years, then with
the Chicago Great Western nearly three years, re-
signing- the latter to take a position with the Northern
Pacific, locating at Hope. Kootenai com,;
August 2^. 18^8, he landed here and his family came
the "next vear. In 1800 Mr. Crandall took his present
home place and has labored here with manifest
wisdom and industry since and has accumulated a tine
holding. He has a fine eleven-room residence, barns
93-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
and outbuildings and other improvements to match
and is one of the prominent men of the section.
On November 8. 1868, Mr. Crandall married Miss
Emma J., eldest daughter of George and Harriet
Capener, of Baraboo, Wisconsin, where the father now
lives, the mother having died in 1865. Three chil-
dren have been born to this union: Walter M., Mabel
G., and Robert E., all at home. Mr. and Mrs. Cran-
dall adopted a son, Daniel H.. now living in Fort
Atkinson, Wisconsin. Mr. Crandall is a solid Republi-
can and has served both as justice of the peace and
as school trustee for a number of years. He is a mem-
ber of the I. O. O. F. and has been district deputy for
six years and also has been delegate to the grand
lodge for the years 1896, 1897, ar|d 1902. He is also
a member of the G. A. R. Mrs. Crandall and her
eldest son are members of the Adventist church. She
is also a member of the Rebekahs. Mr. Crandall is
one of the leading men of the community and has al-
ways been on the side of progress and advancement.
HARRY L. BALDWIN. In every sense of the
word a true pioneer of northern Idaho, a man possess-
ing the stanch qualities of character and worth to
qualify him for the arduous and trying labors on the
frontier, the subject of this article is eminently fitted
for representation in the history that has to do with
the county of Kootenai, and accordingly we grant an
epitome of his life.
Harry L. Baldwin was born in the Rogue river
country, Oregon, on November 7, 1866, being the
son of James T. and Mary W. Baldwin, natives of
Maine and Ohio, respectively. They came across the
Isthmus to Oregon in early days and located in the
Rogue river country. Mr. Baldwin stocked the first
stage in operation for Isch & Haley from Umatilla
Landing to Walla Walla and then went to California,
where he remained until 188 1. In that year they came
overland to Sandpoint and the father started a stage
line from that place to Maher's Camp. Camp Two.
Cabinet Landing, and Rock Island. He died in 1896.
The mother still lives in Sandpoint, being sixty-two
years of age, Harry was educated in San Francisco,
in Sonoma county, Cloverdale, and in San Mateo
county, completing his training in this line in the
latter place. He came with his father to Sandpoint
in 1881. He worked for J. Wicks, Dubois & King
and then freighted for a time. Later he worked for
Quirk & McLaughlin, handling a store for them at
Clarkfork and at Cabinet Landing. In 1885 he bought
a restaurant and after two years in that he built a
hotel, conducting it until 1893, when he secured an-
other, and after fitting it up it was destroyed by fire.
After this Mr. Baldwin contracted timbers and that
has occupied him more or less until the present. In
addition, he has a fine farm and handles stock and does
a general farming business. Mr. Baldwin had the first
mail contract into Bonners Ferry, this being in 1890.
< )n July 1, 1889, Mr. Baldwin married Miss Josie,
daughter of L. M. and Hannah (Galloway) Sallee,
natives of Kentucky. They came to Oregon across
the plains in early days. Later they removed to Cali-
fornia, thence to Washington, and then to Rathdrum,
taking up there the saw mill business. In 1892 Mr.
Sallee removed again to Vancouver, \\ ashington,
where he is now. Mrs. Sallee died there in 1901.
Our subject and his wife are the parents of one child,
Hattie M.
Mr. Baldwin is a Republican, helped to organize
the first Republican convention in this county, was
nominated assessor when twenty and has been active
in politics ever since and he is an influential figure
at the conventions. He has been road overseer and
warden of the county and in 1894 he was deputy
United States Marshall under Charles Sweeney. Mr.
Baldwin is a charter member of the Evening Star
Lodge No. 36, of the I. O. O F., at Postfalls.
It is very interesting by way of reminiscence to
note a hunting and fishing trip that Mr. Baldwin con-
ducted for some of the leading men of the country.
This was in 1887. Among the number were General
Rodney C. Ward. Brooklyn, New York ; Judge Gil-
derslee, also of New York ; Lieutenant Abercrombie,
United States Engineering Corps ; Colonel Hester, one
of the owners of the New York Eagle ; Dr. Hoglan,
one of the proprietors of the Royal Baking Powder ;
Dr. Merrima'n, past physician of Spokane Post and
others, making the total number twenty-two. They
wrote to Mr. Baldwin to prepare for them to go
hunting and fishing and they made up a purse of ten
thousand dollars for the expenses of the trip. He
wisely laid out the route, selected the best places, and
skillfully conducted them for more than two months
and they had a delightful time, killed many deer,
cariboo, and other large game besides taking great
quantities of fish.
Mr. Baldwin is proprietor of the largest and best
hotel in Sandpoint, which is the only hotel in the county
heated bv hot air.
IRVEN J. BRANT. An esteemed and sturdy
pioneer of Kootenai county, a man whose labors have
materially assisted to bring to the front various sec-
tions of the northwest and who is at this time one of
the substantial residents of Hope, it is fitting that the
subject of this article be accorded space in the annals
of his county history.
Irven J. Brant was born in Mason county. Illinois,
on March 12, 1861, being the son of John L. and Har-
riett (Winchell) Brant, natives of Illinois. They came
to Iowa in 1867 and there the mother died in 1869.
The father remained there until 1889, then went to
Kansas, thence to Kootenai county in 1891, where he
now lives. By his first marriage he has four children
and the same number by his second marriage. Our
subject received his education in his native place and
at the early age of twelve began life's activities for
himself. He worked for the neighboring farmers for
the intervening time until he was seventeen and served
an apprenticeship as a carpenter. In 1882 he came
west to California, thence to Yaquinna bay. where
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
933
he prospected a year ami then he came to Washington.
His first setlement was in the Methow country and in
1887 was in Kootenai count}' and since that early
day lie has been one of the developers and builders of
this region. In 1888 Mr. Brant went to Ainsworth,
British Columbia, and located the Galliger group of
mines. He took the first pack train into that country,
made the first trails, did the first mining, shipped
the first ore in car load lots and was one of the real
promoters of the country. He is a man whose skill
and energy gave much to this section and great credit
is due him for his stirring and worthy efforts.
Mr. Brandt sold these properties and in 1897
bought two hundred and sixty-four acres of land.
Later he sold a quarter section and now rents the
balance. In 1901 Mr. Brant moved to Hope, bought
a residence and since that date has made his home here.
He is engaged in mining and farming and also handles
some stock.
In April, 1890, Mr. Brant married Lucy B., daugh-
ter of Richard and Jestina Fry, especial mention of
whom is made elsewhere in this volume. Three chil-
dren have been born to this union, two of whom are
living: Jestenia, Fitzhugh Lee, both with parents.
Mr. Branf is allied with the Democratic party in politi-
cal matters and has been delegate to the count) con-
ventions many times. He is an active advocate of
good schools and gave of his time to serve on the
board for many years, when he was at Bonners Ferry.
Mr. Brant is a member of the K. of P. and the K.
O. T. M. in Bonners Ferry and of the F. of A. in
Hope, while his wife is a member of the Order of
Pendo.
In 1890 Mr. Brant located the townsite of Bonners
Ferry and had it surveyed into lots before there was
a government survey in that section, and built the first
frame house in the town.
HARLAN P. MANNING, one of the prominent
men of the Hope county, was born on October 22,
1848. in Manchester, New Hampshire, being the son
of Isaac and Ann E. (Dodge) Manning, natives of
New Hampshire. The mother died in 1841; and the
father in 1893. He was a prominent man in his state,
and in addition to being member of the legislature for
several terms, he held nearly every office in his town.
Johnson, New Hampshire. He was beloved by all
who knew him and honored as a man of integrity, up-
rightness and probity. Soon after his birth the par-
ents of our subject took" him to Lamoille county, Ver-
mont, where he received his primary education. When
thirteen he went to North Boston, there taking a
literary course and later finished his education in La-
moille county. When seventeen he enlisted in the Elev-
enth Vermont Artillerv under Captain Woodberry,
being in the Second Brigade and Second division and
the Sixth corps. He participated in the battles of
Winchester, Cedar Creek, Fisher's Hill, Petersburg,
Richmond. Muddy Creek and many others. He served
thr& years and four months, being mustered out at
Burlington, Vermont, in June. [865. In the battle
ot Winchester he was knocked down b; a Fell, and at
Petersburg he received a bayonet wound in the neck.
After the war he went to Si. Louis, thence to Mc-
llcnr\ county, Illinois, for two years in the hotel busi-
ness and later we see him in Wisconsin for thn
A visit to Vermont then followed and the nej u
pation was in Iowa, where he entered the civil engi-
neer corps of the Chicago. Milwaukee 6c St. Paul rail-
road. He was with this company for eight years, and
then spent four years in the same capacit) w itli the
Northern Pacific, lie dealt in machinery in Minne-
sota for three years, and in 187(1 he was 111 the I Hack
Hills mining. In 1882 he left that country and con-
tracted ties in Montana. He next participated in the
Coeur d'Alene excitement, and in 1885 he came to his
present place and has been engaged by Small & Ellis
in mill overseeing. He has prospered considerable and
located the North Star and the Queen, noted prop-
erties. In 1897 he bought one hundred and thirty-
four acres of land, and now has this leased, as he
devotes most of his time to mining, having some fine
properties.
On October 8, [891, Mr. Manning married Mrs.
Mary Jackson, widow of Ben Jackson, of Plymouth,
England. Mrs. Manning has one son. Harry, by her
former husband, and he is in England. Mr. Manning
is a Republican and is always interested and active
in the affairs of the country. He is a member of the
I. O. O. F. and a popular and influential man.
ALEXANDER WICKS. It is with pleasure that
we are enabled to grant to the estimable gentleman
whose name initiates this paragraph consideration in
the abiding chronicles of Kootenai county. He is emi-
nently fitted for this place, since he is one of the
earliest pioneers of the section where he lives, six
miles north from Hope, since he has done a lion's
share in the development of the county, and since he
has ever maintained an unsullied reputation, demon-
strating himself to be possessed of excellent executive
force in the accomplishment of his business enterprises
and of sagacitv in all his ways, being also a man of
integrity and sound principles.
Alexander Wicks was born in Nora, Sweden.
where he received a good education from the common
schools. His parents. Alexander and Annie (Ander-
son) Wicks, were native- of Sweden, ano the mother
still lives there, the father dying in 1884. The an-
cestors of our subject were prominent people in the
great thirty vears' war and they have in Sweden mam-
relics, as cups, swords, saddles, and other munitions
of war. which they gained in that struggle. At the
early age of seventeen our subject stepped from the
parental nest into the world on his own responsibilities,
and after some labor in his native place in 187(1 lie came
to America. He worked one year in a saw mill in
Minneapolis, then in the woods for a time ami 111
1878 went to work on the Canadian Pacific. In 1880
he came to Fargo and the following year he was in
934
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Idaho. He assisted to clear the right-of-way for the
Northern Pacific through Kootenai county, and then
went back to Missoula, Montana, where he operated
in the woods. On July -6, 1884, he settled on his
present place, the land then being unsurveyed. Upon
survey he was found to be on railroad land, and he
bought fifty acres, but later bought one hundred and
twenty more. He has one hundred acres of fine hay
land and handles fifty head of cattle. He has a fine
place and his thrift and wisdom have improved it
in a first class manner. Mr. Wicks has the following
brothers and sisters: Charles, in this county, and
mentioned in this volume; William, living in Walton,
Wisconsin ; John ; Helen ; Annie, married and living
in Sweden. Mr. Wicks is a stanch Republican, and
always labors for the success of his party, being in-
telligent in the questions of the day. Mr. Wicks is a
member of the Swedish Brethren in Minneapolis. He
is a man who has the good will and approbation of
all who know him and stands well in the community.
GEORGE HOLTON. Among the pioneers of the
Sandpoint region the subject of this article is to be
mentioned as one of the first, being a man of those
excellent qualities which make the first class fron-
tiersman. And since the time when he first came here
he has steadily engaged in those worthy labors of
improvement and development of the new country
which have resulted in much good, both in what they
have accomplished and in which the}' have stimulated
others to action also.
George Holton was born in Canada, on July 18,
1850. being the son of George and Elizabeth (Bu-
chanan) Holton. natives, respectively, of England and
Pennsylvania. The mother was third cousin to Presi-
dent Buchanan. In 1841 they went to Essex county,
Canada, and in 1854 they came to Michigan, where
the mother died in 1898. The father was drowned
during a water-spout in Texas in 1888. Our subject
came with his parents to Michigan in 1854, and there
he received his education in the public schools, and
when thirteen went out in the battle of life for him-
self. He gave his attention to farming, and in 1886
came to California, thence to Oregon, and on May 3,
1886, he came to Kootenai county, and since that early
day he has been a constant" resident here. In 1888
he took his present homestead, three miles west from
Sandpoint on the Pend Oreille river. For a time
he dwelt in Sandpoint, having a residence there, but
in 1891 he came to the homestead permanently. He
raised the first peaches in this entire section, demon-
strating their adaptability to the latitude, and in many
other lines he has taken the lead. He has comfortable
improvements on the homestead, handles some stock,
and does a general farming business.
In 1877 Mr. Holton married Miss Delia A., daugh-
ter of C. L. and Sarah Horning, natives of New York,
but pioneers to Michigan in an early day, where the
father was killed in 1873, but the mother still lives
there. Seven children have been born to Mr. and
Mrs. Holton, named as follows: Jay, in Sandpoint;
Minnie, wife of Fred Foster, in Sandpoint; Mable,
Georgia, Nellie, Edna and Katie, all with parents Mr.
Holton is a true blue Democrat, and active in the
political campaigns. He has been delegate to the
county conventions almost each electoral year, and was
constable in 1888. He is fraternally affiliated with
the I. O. O. F.
CHARLES G. WICKS. A capable and well-to-
do man, an upright and public-minded citizen and a
farmer whose labors have demonstrated him to be both
industrious and sagacious, and who has done a good
part in developing the county and augmenting its
wealth, it is fitting that the subject of this article
should be accorded space in the volume that chronicles
ike history of Kootenai county.
Charles Wicks was born in Oskevek, Sweden, on
December 21, 1869, being the son of Erik and Anna
(Anderson) Larson, natives of Sweden, where also
the father died in 1884, but ihe mother lives, being
wealthy. Our subject was educated in his nativt land,
remained with his parents until he was seventeen and
then stepped out from the parental roof to meet the
burdens and responsibilities of life for himself. He
worked on the neighboring farms for two years, and
in 1888 came to America, locating in Butte, Montana,
where he chopped cordwood for one year. In 1889
he came to Oden, Kootenai county, and made ties for
one summer, doing the same work in Trout creek coun-
try, Montana, for one year after that. His next work
was on the construction of the Northern Pacific be-
tween Missoula and Wallace one year, after which
he returned to Oden and cut poles for one winter and
then worked on the Great Northern construction for
nearly two years. In 1892 he took his present place
as a homestead, which has been improved with good
buildings and has eighty acres of fine meadow land.
He devotes much attention to raising stock and does
some farming.
In 1898 Mr. Wicks married Miss Sarah, daughter
of Richard and Susannah (Jackson) Palmer, natives
of England, who came to the United States in 1870,
and now live in Kootenai county. Three children have
been born to Air. and Mrs. Wicks : Cicel W., Maud and
Ethel, twins. Mr. Wicks is a stanch Republican and
takes a lively interest in the affairs of the country and
community. He is a member of the M. W. A., of
Sandpoint, Lodge No. 7191.
ROBERT M. GOOBY. About one mile easl from
Kootenai we find the home of Mr. Gooby, which land
he purchased from the railroad company and has im-
proved in a comfortable manner. He has a good
house, barn, out buildings, orchard and other improve-
ments, and does general farming. Mr. Gooby is a
man of popularity in his community, and has been
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
935
for three successive terms elected road supervisor
being at the present writing in that capacity. He is a
liberal Democrat, reserving for his own judgment
ihe decision of men and principles rather than tying
himself under the lash of any party. He is also com-
mitteeman from his precinct.
Robert M. Gooby was born in Littleport, Cam-
bridgeshire, England, on August 17, 1861, being the
son of Robert and Mary (Walker) Gooby. natives of
England, where the mother still lives, the father having
died there in 189 1. He was the owner of several canal
boats on the Ouse river. Our subject was educated
and remained with his parents until 1881, when he
came to America, locating first in Illinois, whence six
months later he went to Colorado. We see him next
in Iowa, then in Dakota, and in 1885 he came west
to Washington, thence to Oregon, remaining in the
last named place until 1891. In that year Mr. Gooby
went to Waterville, Washington, remaining until 1897,
in which year he came to Kootenai county, where for
a time he contracted timber work and then purchased
his present home place, and here he has devoted his
'.abors since that date.
On January 7, 1888, Mr. Gooby married Miss
Ellen, daughter of William and Susannah Smith, na-
tives of Southshield, England, and pioneers to America
in the early seventies. The father is dead, but the
mother still lives. Four children have been born to
this household : Mary S., Robert W.. Clifford and
Bassil. Mr. Gooby is a member of the M. W. A.,
Sandpoint, No. 7191. He is a popular and highly
esteemed man and is one of the veal builders of this
section of Kootenai county.
PETER LINDSTROM. This industrious and
thrifty citizen is now following the calling which, occu-
pied his ancestors for many generations back, that of
tilling the soil. He has added the industry of logging
and is now handling a fine contract of three million
feet of timber and three thousand poles.
Peter Lindstrom was born in Gustrickland, Swed-
en, on June 11, 1861, being the son of John Pearson
and Bretta (Olson) Lindstrom, natives also af Sweden,
where the father is still farming, but the mother has
passed to the world beyond. Our subject received his
education in the schools of his native land and re-
mained working with his father until he was twenty-
five, when he rented land for himself, and in 1891
bade farewell to home scenes and loving relatives and
friends and set his face to the land of die west. He
came direct to Spokane, and spent some time in view-
ing eastern Washington to find a home place for him-
self. In 1892 he decided to settle on his present place,
four and one-half miles west from Sandpoint. and there
he has bestowed his labors with wisdom ever since.
Fie is a man of energy, skill and good business judg-
ment, and the result is that he has been prospered, and
is one of the men whose labors have resulted in de-
veloping the country in a becoming manner. His farm
is well improved, and shows the marks of can and
thrift. He has a fine large house built in 1900 and
some fifteen or twenty head of cattle besidi
stock.
While still in Sweden, in 1886, Mr. Lindstrom
married Miss Anna, daughter of Peter Anderson and
Anna (Pearson) Pearson, natives of Sweden, where
they remained until their death. Six children have
blessed this happy union, namely: Volfred, I Near,
Mark, August, Angus, Iruns. Mr. Lindstrom was
elected on the school board when the district was
organized, and has constantly served since, being an
ardent supporter of good schools.
ORSON WARNER, a man of stability a.;/, self-
reliance, who has made the way of life in a -
manner in the western country, is now one E the
established and thrifty farmers one-half mile west from
Wrencoe. He was born in Fillmore, Millard county,
Utah, on May 15, 1858, being the son of Orange and
Mary L. Tyler, natives of New York. The family-
came to Utah in 1852 and settled in .Millard. The
father died there in 1881 but the mother is still living
there. Our subject received a common schooling and
when sixteen went to mining. He has in almost all
of his labors so contracted that lie has always been
working for himself. In 1876 he went to work at
Fort Hallick, Nevada. Then he took a contract of
cutting wood at Tibo, and later went to Fillmore
again. He did timber work, bought a farm, later sold
and logged, then contracted freighting and grading
on the railroad, after which he went to Bullionville,
Nevada, and did timber work on contract. After an-
other visit to Fillmore he came to Wood river, in
Idaho, in 1885, and thence on to Boise, then to Min-
eral and for a year he prospected in the Seven Devils
country. It was in April, 1892, that Mr. Warner
came to Wrencoe, building the first cabin in the town
and taking a homestead. He has some land under
cultivation, and does a great deal of timber work.
He is making a fine farm, and is one of the prosperous
men of the section. He had been two years in K< » >t-
enai county previous to this time and had taken tie
and timber contracts. Mr. Warner has three brothers
and three sisters: Cyrus A.. Emily M., Rhoda F.,
Jeddiah G., Levi M., and Eliza A. Mr. Warner is a
Democrat in political views, and is active in the cam-
paigns. He was elected to the office of justice of
the peace but refused to quality.
ANDREW LEAF. A pleasant and genial gen-
tleman with a decided turn lor business, who has won
and retains the esteem and confidence of his fellows,
and who is faithfully following the noble work of de-
veloping the country, being now a resident on his
estate of two hundred acres, four miles west from
Sandpoint, the subject of this article is one of the
S>36
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
men whose career should be published in the county
history.
Andrew Leaf was born in Gustuckland, Sweden, on
December 27, 1855, being the son of Andrew and
Christena (Anderson) Leaf, natives also of Sweden,
where the father died, but the mother still lives, aged
eighty-seven. The father of our subject was a ship
carpenter in his young days, and his father was an
officer in the Swedish army for twenty-five vears.
Our subject was liberally educated in his native land,
being a graduate of one of the leading colleges. His
commencement day was in 1877. and then he took a
position as bookkeeper in a commercial establishment.
He also acted as salesman and later farmed his father's
estate for five years. Then he did carpenter work for
five vears. and the last employment in the old country
was piloting on a steamboat. In July. 1891, he came
direct to Spokane, and soon thereafter came to the
vicinity of his present home. He settled on unsur-
veyed land, and when the survey came it proved to
be railroad land, and Air. Leaf removed to the next
section, where be resides now. He purchased forty
acres from the railroad company, and devotes himself
to general farming and raising stock. He has a com-
fortable home and is one of the leading men of his
section.
On April 28, 1880. in Sweden, Mr. Leaf married
Miss Catherina, daughter of Lars and Annie (Olson)
Larson, natives of Sweden, where the father died in
1874. but the mother still lives. Four children were
born to the happv union, namely: Andrew R., Jennie
C, Conrad L. and Annie C. Air. Leaf is a stanch
Republican, and is able to put forth intelligently the
tenets of his party. He is active in county matters
and is frequently on the school board.
CAREY CARR. The subject of this review is
descended from one of the oldest families in the United
States, his ancestors coming hither nearly three hun-
dred years ago. They settled on what was known as
the Yanransler tract of land, securing a lease which
said they were to have possession of the land as long
as water runs and grass grows and they paid a certain
rental of grain. The parents of Air. Carr, Peleg and
Jane E. ( Genung) Carr, met in Ohio and there were
married, later moving to Wisconsin, which was still
a territory. In 1846 they located in Jefferson county,
whence ten years later they went to Sauk county, and
there remained until their death. Our subject was
Lorn on November 15, 1857. in Ironton, Sauk county.
Wisconsin. There he received an education from the
public schools and remained with his parents until he
was twenty-one. His next venture was to work on
a farm and make cheese for eight years, then he went
to Chicago and entered the works of an electric com-
pany. Six months later he started in the coal, wood
and feed business, continuing for one year. In 1888
Air. Carr came to Douglas county, Washington, and
after four and one-half years in that locality made his
way to his present abode, seven miles west from Sand-
point. He settled on unsurveyed land, and is making
a good farm and improving it in a becoming manner.
He does a general farming business and raises some
stock.
• In 1887 Air. Carr married Aiis* Adaline A., daugh-
ter of Roswell and Anna (Bennett) Neff, natives,
respectively, of Pennsylvania and France. Two chil-
dren have been born to this union, Ada E. and Ben-
jamin C. Air. Carr always takes an active interest
in the affairs of the county, and in educational matters
has given <>f his time on the board of trustees, being
an advocate of good schools.
CHARLES SAIITH. In promoting large enter-
prises in the west and successfully carrying them out,
Mr. Smith has certainly shown remarkable talent and
enterprise. As a substantial man, a thrifty farmer, a
public-minded citizen and a stanch, upright man, he
stands well in the community.
Charles Smith was born in Brunswick. Chariton
county. Alissouri. on June 10. 1856, being the son of
John and Alary Smith. The father was an officer in
Company H, First Alissouri Cavalry, in the Federal
army, and among the many battles in which he partici-
pated we may mention Shiloh, Pittsburg Landing, Bull
Run, Gettysburg, Spottsylvania, and the siege of \ icks-
burg, besides many skirmishes. Being so crippled with
rheumatism after a terribly trying and hard service,
he was discharged on account of disability and came
home only to find the bushwhackers destroying every-
thing. One night they surrounded the house and as
he arose to get his gun a shot crashed throught the
door and seriously wounded his brother, win 1 was
sleeping with our subject. Those were trying times
and hard to endure. The family suffered terribly and
lost nearly all they had. The father never recovered
from his sickness and finally died a few years later. Our
subject took a trip when a young man to Arkansas
and Texas and then back to Alissouri. In 1879 he
went to Leadville and there freighted and mined, being
very successful. In 1880 he fitted up eighteen wagons
with eight mules to each one and went to the Black
Hills to freight and did exceptionally well, being
skilled in handling heavy mining machinery. In 1881
he built an irrigating canal, five miles north of Fort
Collins. Colorado, known as the Pooder Valley High
Land Canal. It was forty-five miles in length and opens
up a vast agricultural territory. In 1882 he trans-
ported his outfit to southern Idaho and contracted on
tlte I Iregon Short Fine. In 1884 he came to Rath-
drum and fitted up his mules to pack and operated the
largest train into the Coeur d'Alene country, having
eighty-three head of stock. He handled all the freight
of the Eckard & Wardner Company and did general
packing to Eagle City and Murray. In the spring of
1885 he went to Spokane and contracted to move six
hundred tons of freight from Spokane to the Little
Dalles, on the Columbia river, a distance of one hun-
CHARLES SMITH
FRANK DAHLGREN
TAMES P. CASEY.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
937
dred and fifty-six miles. Then he took a contract of
cutting and baling several hundred tons of hay for the
government at Old Mission. Afterwards he took
another contract of cutting and baling hay for the gov-
ernment. In 1887 he went to farming and opened a
livery stable and in 1890 Mr. Smith came to the reser-
vation and prospected. He located a valuable claim
which, however, he did not develop much until. 1899;
it is known as the Hidden Treasure, and Mr. Smith
own- the controlling interest of stock. In rSoj Mr.
Smith located his present place, one mile below Lane,
on the south side of the river. He does general farm-
ing and handles cattle, being prospered in all his
labors.
FRANK DAHLGREN. This enterprising and
industrious young man has wrought faithfully and
skillfully in an active and stirring career, wherein he
has gained a suitable success to the excellent vigor
and sagacity displayed. He was born in Erbrue Lane,
Sweden, on November 15, i860, being the son of
Charles and Greta (Carlson) Dahlgren, natives of
Sweden, where the mother resides now, but the father
died in 1895. Frank was educated in the schools of
his native place and at the age of fourteen quit school
and went to learn the art of the puddler in the iron
works, confining his efforts to the puddling mill. He
labored at this until he was twenty and then came to
America, landing here in 1881. He at once went to
work at his trade in Trenton, New Jersey, and one and
one-half years later came to Pittsburg, then to Mc-
Keesport. in each of which places he wrought in the
iron works. Next we see him in Des Moines, Iowa,
where he spent one year in the coal mines. Then he
visited Boulder and Denver, Colorado: Salt Lake
City, Utah ; Anaconda and Butte, Montana, then in
1890 he came to Spokane. He labored there and also
prospected on the Colville reservation, then went to
the Palouse country, later to Kalispell. Montana, and
finally came in 1893 to his present location one mile
northeast from Ramsey in Kootenai county. He
took a homestead and bought another quarter from
the railroad and built a house and barn and did other
improving. He has about fifty acres under cultiva-
tion at this time, and has made many improvements
so that his place has enhanced much in value.
In political matters Mr. Dalhgren takes an active
and intelligent part, supporting the principles of the
Republican party. He is a member of the F. O. A.,
Court No. 14. Rathdrum. He is also a member of the
Swedish Lutheran church, and in every way is an
exemplary citizen and an upright man.
JAMES P. CASEY. Few men have the skill to
handle successfully as many industries as the subject
of this sketch carries on, achieving a good success in
them, while also he is a man of good standing and is
one of the leading citizens of the county of Kootenai.
James P. Casey was horn in Waukesha, Wiscon-
sin, on March 19, 1862, being the son of Daniel and
Johanna (Carroll) Casey, natives of Inland, who
came to America in 1840. They settled in Waukesha
and there the mother died in 1872. but the father still
lives on the home place. Our subject was educated
in the public schools of his native place and was reared
on the farm. At the age of seventeen he went to
work for wages and in 1884 he came to Fairfield,
Washington. He worked there for wages some and
then rented a farm for four years. Next we see him
in Kootenai county, and he took a homestead where
he now lives, nine miles north from Coeur d'Alene.
He has improved it in good shape and made it a fine
place. In addition to general farming and raising
stock, Mr. Casey handles a tine steam threshing out-
fit. Also he has a steam hay bailer. In 1899 he boughl
a steam sawmill which he operates at Heyden lake.
All of these enterprises he carries on in a successful
and becoming manner and has manifested great skill
and ability as well as energy and industry in his
career.
The marriage of Mr. Casey occurred in 1897 and
the lady becoming his wife was Mary, daughter of
Edwin and Jessie (Reid) Crockett. The father was
a native of Maine and the mother of Scotland. She
came to America when young and they were married
in Ohio, where they lived for twenty years and then
removed to Missouri. Ten years in that state and we
find them in 1890 locating at Heyden lake in this
county. Recently they removed to Hoodoo valley
and there they reside at this time. To Mr. and Mrs.
Casey there have been born three children. James C,
Hilda A. and Mary. Mr. Casey was called by the
franchises of his fellows to the position of justice of the
peace in i8r>8 which office he filled acceptably for one
term, two years. He is a member of the Catholic
church and is a consistent supporter of the faith.
JOHN W. RILEY is one of the early pioneers
of the northern Kootenai country, and is at the present
time operating his farm, one mile west from Laclede,
being one of the substantial and highly respected men
of this section.
John W. Riley was born in the Willamette valley
on January 4. 18=17. being the son of Joseph B. and
Caroline. (Brewer) Riley, natives of Georgia, but im-
migrants across the plains to western Oregon in 185',.
Shortly afterward they went to Thurston county.
Washington, where the mother died in 1863. The
father moved to Colton. Whitman county, where he
died in 1890. Our subject received a common school
ing and at the age of fifteen started out in life for
himself. He had been raised by his uncle after his
sixth vear. the time when bis mother died. His first
venture on the sea of business was work in a saw mill
for a vear. Then he farmed for the summer an.! went
to the woods for the winter, where he contracted ty-
phoid fever and spent his earnings in recovery. In
1876 he went to Portland to celebrate the fourth of
July, and thence he came to Lewiston to see his father,
whom he had not visited for ten years. He went to
933
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
work on a fruit farm for a year and then with his
father he bought horses and for twelve years he rode
the range. Selling out he went with a partner to
Kootenai valley but stopped in Colville. This was
in 1886. and being taken with the ague he went to
Medical lake to recruit. Thence to Seneaquoteen for
one winter, and in the spring he went with the first
pack train to Priest Lake, but as one man died they
brought him back to Sandpoint. He prospected an-
other season and then took his present homestead,
which has been his home since. In addition to doing
general farming he operates the mail from Laclede to
Valley, having a four-year contract.
Iii 1889 Mr. Riley married Mrs. Mary Schneider,
whose parents were natives of Switzerland, and came
to Wisconsin in i860. By her former husband. Mrs.
Riley had one child. Delia B. By the second mar-
riage there has been one son born, Joseph H. Mr.
Riley is a solid Democrat, and takes an active part in
politics, as each citizen should. He was elected jus-
tice of the peace in 1898, but refused to qualify. He
has frequently been school trustee. At the time of the
Xez Perces war Mr. Riley was a bridge builder with
General Howard, and for the entire service he received
three dollars per day. Mr. Riley is a man of relia-
bility and has the confidence and good will of all.
RUFUS H. GRAVES. This venerable and highly
respected gentleman has been a pioneer in various
sections and has labored faithfully here for a long
time for the substantial development and material
progress of the country. At present he is living in
Laclede and owns a farm of forty acres near by, which
he handles, while also he has various other property.
Rufus H. Graves was born in Hartford. Licking
county. Ohio, on March 8. 1821, being the son of
Claudias and Electia (Rose) Graves, natives of Massa-
chusetts, but immigrants to Ohio, in 1790. where they
lived for forty-seven years. The father was born in
1788 and served in the war of 181 2. His father served
in the Revolution as a teamster. Our subject received
his educational training in the public schools and at
the age of twenty-seven went to traveling to various
sections of the country; he also did considerable raft-
ing. Then he farmed, and in [851 he moved -to Wis-
consin, where he bought a sugar maple farm and did
well on that for all the intervening years until 1885,
when he sold and came to Kootenai county. He used
to make many hundreds of pounds of maple sugar ami
much syrup. In Kootenai county he turned his atten-
tion to raising stock and hay and did well until 1901,
when he sold his place and returned to Wisconsin,
where he visited for one year and then came back to
the west and bought his present place, which he han-
dles now, dwelling in town.
In September, 1850. Mr. Graves married Miss
Hester A., daughter of Henry and Jane Knoll, natives
of Xew York and Canada, respectively. Seven chil-
dren have been born to this happy union, four of whom
are living, named as follows : Henry, married and
living in Laclede ; Effie, wife of John Campfield : Hat-
tie and Nettie, twins, the former married to Lawrence
Lutz, and the latter to Edward Lutz, both living in
Appleton, Wisconsin. Mr. Graves is an active Re-
publican, and always is influential in the campaigns.
He is a man who has won, in his long residence here,
the unbounded esteem and good will of all who may
have the pleasure of his acquaintance, and he and his
gracious life partner are now passing the golden years
of their well spent life in the quiet enjoyment of the
good things which their faithful labors have provided.
ANDREW CHRISTENSON. The town of La-
clede owes its existence to the indefatigable and in-
telligent labors of the subject of this article, and he is
eminently fitted for representation in this volume.
Andrew Christenson was born on the Island ot
Lolland, Denmark, on March 1, 1862, being the son of
Hans and Johanna (Erikson) Christenson, natives of
Denmark, where they remained until the time of their
death. They were the parents of five children : An-
drew, our subject: Martin, in Kansas; Hilda Jorgen-
sen. in Denmark ; Christian, in Denmark ; Thorvald,
on the old homestead in Denmark. Andrew was edu-
cated in the public schools until fourteen and then
worked for his parents until he was eighteen, and
then, it being 1880, he came to the Lrnited State*. He
railroaded for two years, then worked in a store
tor six years and in 1888 came west, and after a visit
to the Sound came to Kootenai county and located
where Seneaquoteen was afterward established. He
started a store in 1891 and was postmaster. For
eleven years he continued there and then sold out and
bought his present place, one-half mile south from
Laclede. Through the efforts of Mr. Christenson the
station was at last established, and he started a saw
mill, which was sold two years later to J. M. Bunker,
and a year or so afterward a stock company was
formed, and Mr. Christenson took a large interest in
it. During 1902 he was manager of the mill, and also
the large store which the company handles in connec-
tion with the plant. They also have a large shingle
mill and are capitalized for one hundred thousand dol-
lars. They are doing a good business and are known
as the Laclede Lumber Company. Mr. Christenson
has a fine residence on his land, which numbers nearly
two hundred acres, and sixty acres are handled to
meadow. In addition to their lumber, shingle, and
mercantile business they deal in poles, piling and all
cedar products, owning their own switch and all con-
veniences for the carrying on of their extensive busi-
ness.
In 1885 Mr. Christenson married Miss Mary,
• iaughter of Peter and Anna Elizabeth Peterson, na-
tives of Denmark, who came to America in 1866. They
located at Alden, Minnesota, and farmed until 1882,
w hen the father died : the mother still lives on the old
homestead with her youngest son. Seven children
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
939
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Christenson: Hilda.
Peter, Andrew, Anna, Olga, Robert A., and Victor.
Mr. Christenson is a Republican and a strong supporter
of those salutary principles. In 1896 he was nomi-
nated against the fusionist, A. N. Tucker, for county
commissioner, but was defeated as were the other'
candidates for office on his ticket. He is a member
of the Masonic and the K. O. T. M. orders. He
and his wife belong to the Danish Lutheran church.
REUBEN J. SAGE. The occupations of farm-
ing, stockraising and logging, have busied the sub-
ject of this article for the years in which he has resided
in Kootenai county and he is considered one of the
leading and successful men of the community.
Reuben J. Sage was born in Grand Haven. Michi-
gan, on September 5, 1863, being the son of James and
Lydia (Budd) Sage, natives of Michigan. The father
was a lumberman and did business there until 1S77.
when he came to Conconully, Washington, and he died
in 1899, July 14. Our subject was educated in his
native place and at the age of ten started out in life
for himself. He learned the bakery business, continu-
ing in it for three years in Marinette, Wisconsin. At
thirteen he went to Matinique. Michigan, and there
learned the blacksmith trade. After eighteen months
at it he quit and went to the woods. He ran a camp
for a Minneapolis house for four years out of Ash-
land. Wisconsin, and in 1892 he came to Kootenai
county. After due search, he settled his present home-
stead, about two miles east from Laclede. He settled
to improving and culturing the same and has a fine
orchard, good buildings and handles considerable stock.
During the winter months Mr. Sage does much logg-
ing, having a fine outfit and being a skillful hand in
this capacity. He puts up about sixty tons of hay each
year and also raises considerable general farm pro-
duce.
In Michigan, on March 12, 1883, Mr. Sage mar-
ried Miss Minnie, daughter of Cuthbert and Catherine
(Monroe) Cournyer, natives of Canada. They came
to Michigan in 1865, where Mrs. Sage was born Aug-
ust 26, 1867, and there the father died in 190 1 and the
mother in 1892. Six children have been born to Mr.
and Mrs. Sage: Nora C, Cuthbert J.. Ruby M., James
H., Lony J-, and Grace. Mr. Sage is liberal in poli-
tics, is an independent thinker and always takes an
active part in the campaigns in the county. He and
his wife are members of the Catholic church and are
devout in their faith.
THOMAS S. CAMPBELL. While the subject
of this article is one of the prosperous farmers of
northern Kootenai county, his land is so situated that
he has the privilege of living in the town of Laclede,
where the family residence is at present. He was born
in Poysippi, Wisconsin, on January 6, 1866, being the
son of Thomas and Kate (Wilson) Campbell, natives
of Ireland and England. They came to America in
1852, locating in Wisconsin where they lived for
thirty-four years, then removed to Sprague. Washing-
ton, where 'they now reside, the father eighty and the
mother seventy. They raised twelve children: Ellen,
wife of (). P. Shepherd, in Hartline, Washington;
Kate S. Hess, in Laclede: Mary Graves, also 111 La-
clede; Luke, in Sprague; Jim, married and living at
Wrencoe; Jane Summers, in Poysippi; II
our subject; William, in Sprague; hrank, in Laclede;
Robert, in Sprague and two that died in infancy. Our
subject was educated in the public schools and when
sixteen started for himself. In 1886 he came to
Sprague and soon bought a dairy, where he did busi-
ness for fifteen months. Then he worked in ill'' rail-
road shops in Sprague and in August, 1890. he came
to Kootenai county. He took a homestead an
thirty- four acres of railroad land. In 1900 Mi
bell sold twenty-five acres to Andrew Christens >n for
a mill site. Mr. Campbell has fifty acres cultivated,
puts up considerable hay and handles some stock.
In 1802 Mr. Campbell married -Miss Edith, daugh-
ter of Francis and Elmina (Biggers) Markham, na-
tives of Illinois and Missouri, whence they came t"
Oregon when young and there met and married. After
many years of residence there they came to Kootenai
county, where they, still live. Five children haw been
born to Mr. and Mrs. Campbell: Mina K. Henry,
died May 16, 1898: Francis A.; James J.; Oscar, died
September 16, 1902. In political matters Mr. Camp-
bell is an active Democrat and was the starter of the
petition that gave them their present school district.
in which he has been trustee since. He is a member
of the K. of P., Red Cross Lodge. Spokane. Mr.
Campbell is one of the substantial and respected men
of this section and stands well with all.
ADOLPH MILLER. Because of the i
such men as the subject of this sketch. Kootenai county
is becoming one of the well settled and thriving coun-
ties of the state and it is with pleasure that we are able
to record these faithful labors.
Adolph Miller was born in Baden, Germany, on
Februarv 29, 1868. being the son of Rudolph and
Elizabeth (Shoepflen) Miller, natives of Switzerland
and Baden, respectively. The father migrated to Ba-
den and there married and settled down to farming
until 1877, when he died. The mother came to America
and died in 1887, in New York. Our subject was edu-
cated in the public schools in his native place and in
1883 came to Erie county. New York, with his mother.
He 'worked on farms until he was of age and then, in
1887, came to Sprague. Washington. He
on a dairv farm for one year and then drove a herd
of cattle to Kootenai county. Then he repaiicd to
Portland and for three years he wrought at bridge
work. Two years following this he worked in a
brick yard, at this time he bought fifty acres of land
near New Fra. Oregon, but later sold it. In t S. ,7 he
came to his present place, about one mile east from
940
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Wrencoe, across the river. He took a quarter section
of government land, improved it with buildings, as
cabin, barn, and so forth and settled down to farming
and raising stock. He now has a good frame house,
barn, sixty acres under fence and cultivation and a
bunch of stock. He has also a million feet of good
saw timber. Mr. .Miller is one of the substantial men
of the community and has been prospered because of
his thrift and industry. He has two brothers and one
sister: Fred. Ernest, Mary, wife of C. E. Barger, in
Kootenai county. Mr. Miller was married in Spokane,
Washington, on December 27. 1902, to Miss Effie M.
Barger. formerly of St. Joseph, Missouri, but lately
employed by the telephone company of Spokane.
CYRUS B. SHEAR. A prosperous young farmer
and stockman, whose labors have demonstrated him to
be possessed both of skill and integritv. while he has
a wealth of executive force, it is quite fitting that he
should be accorded representation in the history of his
county.
Cyrus B. Shear was born in Salt Fake City, on
September 21. 1869. being the son of Edward A. and
Annie (Stewart) Shear, especial mention of whom oc-
curs in another portion of the work. The family went
to Provo City. Utah, when our subject was small and
there he was educated in the common schools and in
tlic Brigham Young Academy. He remained with his
parents in the various places where they lived until the
lime of his majority, when he took up work in the Park
City mines until 1891, then journeyed as far as Koote-
nai county, settling in his present place, two miles south
from Wrencoe. He has one hundred and twenty acres,
well cultivated and improved with good buildings,
which supports a goodly number of stock. He raises
a hundred tons of hay annually and keeps sufficient
stock t<> consume it all.
I 'n November 20. 1890, Mr. Shear married Miss
Louise, daughter of Charles and Mary A. (Essicks)
Cook, natives of England. They came to America in
1873 and after a three years' residence in Chicago
removed to Denver, Colorado, where Mr. Cook died.
Later they all came to Salt Lake City, where the
mother still lives. Five children have been born to Mr.
and Mrs. Shear: William H, Edward C, Joseph E.,
Ralph M.. and Mable L. In political matters Mr.
Shear is a liberal and independent thinker. In June.
1899, Mr. Shear was elected school trustee and called
the first meeting to set off a new district. He is a
supporter of good schools and is a laborer in the line
of general progress. Mrs. Shear is a member of the
Latter Day Saint church.
JAMES NELSI >N. Mr. Nelson has done a lion's
share in the development of the west, laboring with an
energy and skill that have brought their own success.
At the present he is handling his estate on one quarter
section, one mile south from Valley, where he does
a general farming business, raises stock, and is doing a
first-class job in improvement.
James Nelson was born in TornbeSogen, Denmark,
on September 22. 1851, being the son of Neils Jensen
and Johanna .Marie (Micheals) Dater. natives also
of Denmark, where the}- remained until the time of their
death. James received a common schooling, and
worked out from the time he was ten, until lie was
fourteen, going to school, however, in the winters.
When fourteen he went to do for himself, herding
cattle and farming. Mr. Nelson desired to get in
the marine service, but not being tall enough was de-
tailed for the land force. That not being to his taste,
he left Denmark and came to Pennsylvania, thence
to California, then to Fraser river country and at the
time of constructing the Northern Pacific he came to
Idaho and wrought here between Spokane and Rath-
drum for a period. He then took a squatter's right
on surveyed land on Eight-mile Prairie, later sold it
and built a schooner for the Pend Oreille lake and
did freighting for a couple of years. Selling this, he
came to his present place and took a squatter's right
and homesteaded as soon as surveyed. This was in
1887, thus making Mr. Nelson one of the early pioneers
of this section. He has over one hundred acres under
cultivation and raises stock in addition to doing general
farming. Good buildings, orchard, fencing and other
substantial improvements are in evidence on the farm
and testify to the faithful and wise labor of our sub-
ject.
. On June 6. 1888. Mr. Nelson married Miss Emma
B. Long, of Nashville. Tennessee. She came, in 1886.
to Sandpoint, Idaho, where she met and married Mr.
Nelson. Mrs. Nelson has been in the work of the
educator for a number of years, teaching four terms
before she left Tennessee. She also taught two years
m Idaho, and is now school clerk. One child has been
born to this happy union. Grace J., now in school.
Mr. Nelson is independent in politics. He resigned the
office of road supervisor. Mr. Nelson is a member of the
1. O. O. F. Lodge No. 67, at Priest River. Mr. and
Mrs. Nelson are widely known ami highly respected,
being capable, upright and enterprising people of excel-
lent standing.
EDWARD A. SHEAR. As one is known by his
work, so it is right that one's work should praise him.
Surely in this case before us, it is but right to state that
the subject of this article has been one of the most
active and successful mechanical engineers in this
portion of the west and it is with pleasure that we
accord him representation in this volume.
Edward A. Shear was born in Grand Rapids,
Michigan, on January 5, 1850, being the son of John
B. and Ann Robinson, natives of \ ermont and
New York, respectively. They came to Grand Rapids
and later moved to Lowell, where they died. The
father had been a successful operator in the lumber and
general merchandise business. Edward was educated
in Grand Rapids and went with his parents to Lowell.
where he learned well the business of his father and
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
94i
also was well trained in the line of mechanical engineer,
being apt at this calling from the start.- While still
a young man he came to Sedalia, Missouri, and took
charge of a large mercantile establishment, which he
closed out in 1870, for the owners. Next he went to
Texas and shortly was in Salt Lake City with a bunch
of cattle. He soon went to the mines and in that
capacity he has wrought more or less since. He soon
gained the name of the Nevada mill builder. He built
the largest cyanide mill in the world and a thirty stamp
mill in the Custer City district in Idaho. He also
superintended the Raymond, which was twelve hun-
dred feet deep, and Eli mines in Nevada. He built
two mills in the Wood river country and put up the
first mill in the Okanogan country, for ex-governor
Lawton. Mr. Shear also erected the Last Chance mill
in Bingham, Utah, and the Crescent and the Glencoe
mills at Park City, Utah. He did other work at Park
City and also put up the hoisting works of the Lady
of the Lake Anchor mines and the Cactus concentrator
at Copper Gulch, near Frisco, Utah. In 1901 he put
up the works on the Wabash, in Park City and also
the large saw mill at Sandpoint. He erected the
cyanide mill in the Seven Devils country and many
others in the last thirty years. In 1891 Mr. Shear came
to Kootenai county and bought a relinquishment of his
present place in Wrencoe. which he has improved un-
til it is one of the finest places in the entire county ;
he handles many tons of hay and lots of stock each
year. Mr. Shear is also interested personally in dif-
ferent mines and is a man of commanding abilitv and
force in his profession, having demonstrated this in
many excellent works.
In 1874, Mr. Shear married Miss Annie Stewart,
whose parents were natives of Utah. The wedding oc-
curred in Silver City, Utah. Two children have been
born to this union: Cyrus B., married and living in
this county ; William, with his parents. Mr. Shear is
a man whose labors are well known all over the west
and is in demand by the best mining companies, having
made a very enviable record. He is esteemed by all
who know him and is counted in his home place as
one of the best of neighbors and a genuine gentleman,
genial and affable. He is now engaged in a general
merchandise business at Wrencoe, Idaho.
DONALD O. MERRITT, a stirring young gen-
tleman of whom we now speak, is one of the later set-
tlers in Kootenai county, having a farm one and one-
half miles south from Wrencoe. He is a man of
energy and patriotism and is doing a first class work
in the improvement of his place.
Donald O. Merritt was born in Streator, Illinois,
on December 19, 1875, being the son of Jay K. and
Ella (Morris) Merritt, natives respectively of Michi-
gan and Canada. The mother came to the United
States when ten years of age, settling in Streator.
The family remained there until later years when Mr.
Merritt brought them all to the Hoodoo valley in
Idaho, where the parents now reside. Our subject
received his education in Streator mostly, and when
he came west he took hold with a trust) pioneer spirit
and is the proud possessor of a record equal to am.
In 1898 he enlisted in Company 1',, of the Idaho \ olun-
teers, and went to war in the Philippines. He
fought in the battles of Manila. Santa Ana, and
Calookan and was then taken sick and languished 111
the hospital in that tropical climate until July, when
his regiment was ordered home and he was' able to
join them before they sailed for San Francisco. He
was mustered out in San Francisco after a continual
service of sixteen months and came home via Boise.
He was taken sick in May, 1899. left Manila July 31.
and was mustered out on September 29. He wrought
in the woods the following winter and in 1901 bought
his present place, which he has begun to develop in
good shape. He has twenty-five acres under tribute
to crops, comfortable buildings and is handling some
stock.
On December 25, 1901, Mr. Merritt married Miss
Maggie L., daughter of Harry and Ellen White,
natives of Kansas. They came to Spokane Prairie,
Washington, in 1891 and reside there now. Mrs.
Merritt has one sister, Jennie, with her parents. Mr.
and Mrs. Merritt are members of the Seven Day
Advent church. They are young people of good sand-
ing and are a valuable acquisition to the society of the
community.
HANS L. JORGENSEN is an enterprising
agriculturist and stockman and also one of tin lead-
ing citizens of his home community, where he is
highly respected and known as a substantial and up-
right man.
Hans L. Jorgensen was born in Hoithorthrup coun-
ty, Denmark, on November 20, 1850, being the son
of Peter and Esther (Larsen) Jorgensen, also natives
of the same place, where the father died in 1SS7. aged
sixty-four, and the mother in 1898. The father was a
teacher in the public schools and after forty years of
this commendable labor he received a pension from the
government. The paternal grandfather of our sub-
ject, Jens Jorgensen, was also a teacher and pensioned
for his services. King Christian, the Ninth, gave him
a medal of decoration for his long service. He cele-
brated his silver, golden, and diamond wedding in the
same district where he had taught for so long. He
died aged ninety-four and his wife preceded him one
month, being ninty-three. Our subject received a
first-class education and at the age of twenn gradu-
ated from the Royal High Agricultural Sell--! 111
Copenhagen. Then came six months' service in the
armv and after that he was the favored one whose
lot was drawn to be allowed to spend his time at home.
He remained for some years on his uncle's farm.
drilling one month each year in the army and then
operated two years each on two different farm- as
foreman. He also conducted a dairy farm for some
time. In 1880. Mr. Jorgensen came to America.
locating in Muskegon, Michigan, where he wrought
in a saw mill. Then we see him in Racine, Wisconsin.
942
HTSTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
the next spring he went to Duluth, then to Dakota,
where he rented a farm near Valley City for one year.
Next he migrated to Spokane, where two and one-half
years were spent, and in 1890 Mr. Jorgensen same
to his present place, in Valley, where he has dwelt
since. He bought a squatter's right for sixty dollars,
has done fine improving on his land, has a goodly herd
of cattle and raises general produce.
1 'n i ebruary to, 1895. Mr. Jorgensen married Mrs.
Catherine A., widow of Karl J. Agergaard, of Lemrig,
in Jutland, Denmark. He died in Minnesota in [886.
Mrs. Jorgensen was born in Denmark in 1S51. March
14, and there was educated. Her parents, Frederick
M. and Frederica ( Knebus) Becher, were natives of
Denmark, where they now live aged eighty-five and
eighty-four, respectively. After her first husband's
death. Mrs. Jorgensen went to Oshkosh, Wisconsin,
thence to Laramie. Wyoming, later to Walla Walla,
thence to Portland, and finally to Kootenai county,
where she met and married Mr. Jorgensen, as stated.
She has one child by her former marriage, Dana B.,
going to school. Mrs. Jorgensen is a member of
Danish Sisterhood Lodge No. 8, at Oshkosh. Wiscon-
sin. She and her husband are members of the Luther-
an church. Mr. Jorgensen is an independent thinker
in political matters and has been active in the realm
of good government and progression. He was at the
Populist convention in 1894 and in 1902 was elected
justice of the peace by the Republicans. He has also
served on the school board, being a supporter of good
schools.
WILLIAM R. HOAR. This enterprising and
capable gentleman is possessed of more than the ordi-
nary pluck and determination since he has, in spite
of the severest obstacles, wrought his way to success
and shewed his ability to overcome.
William R. Hoar was born in Pointe De Bute,
Westmoreland countv. New Brunswick, Canada, on
April 4. 1848, being the son of Archibald and Miranda
( Wells 1 Hoar, natives of the same place. The mother
died many years since, but the father lived until 1888.
He was a harness maker and owned a shop of his own.
William received a common schooling, spent one year
in Amherst college and then learned the harness makers
trade from his father, which he followed for three
years. Subsequent to that, he went to sea for six years
and then learned the tanner's art, operating a pbnt
of his own for three years and in 1S79 came to British
Columbia and opened a tannery on the Fraser river.
In 1884 he sold out and came to Auburn, King county,
Washington, where he opened a store, also was post-
master and had a telephone office. This occupied him
until 1890, when he sold out and came to Ellensburg,
Washington, from which point he prospected and
worked on the railroad until 1896. During this time,
he had the great misfortune to lose one of his arms,
which laid him up for one year. Arising from this
bed of suffering and hardship. Mr. Hoar again con-
fronted the battles of life and although thus hampered.
he bravely set his face for success. In 1898 he came to
his present place, in Valley, where he bought land
and went to farming and raising stock, rle has made
an excellent showing here and is on the road to a
fitting success.
On January 24, 1876, Mr. Hoar married Miss Mary
!., daughter of Burton and Caroline (King) Chappell,
natives of Nova Scotia, where they remained until the
lime of their death. Three children have been born
to this union : Herbert C, living in Spokane ; William
G., also in Spokane ; Virgil, attending school in Spo-
kane. Mr. Hoar is a stanch Republican and takes an
active part. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M.,
Lodge \"o. 60, at Auburn. Mrs. Hoar is a member of
the F. U. of America.
ANDREW A. MERRITT. In the financial
realm Mr. Merritt is a prosperous farmer and stock-
man. Politically he is influential and a stanch Re-
publican. In 1902 he was nominated by his party for
county commissioner from the second district against
S. H. Watkins. Democrat. He has been influential
since his residence here, in all the conventions and
caucuses and is now one of the substantial and capa-
ble men of this section.
Andrew A. Merritt was born in Lansing, Tomp-
kins county. New York, in i860, being the son of
Thomas and Eliza (King) Merritt, natives of New-
York. In 186.? they removed to Michigan, where the
father died in 1868. the mother residing there a de-
cade longer and then removing to Streator, Illinois.
In 1889 she came to Kootenai county, where she died
in 1895. Andrew received his education in the var-
ious places where the family lived, remaining with his
mother until 1878, when he started in life for him-
self : He married soon and moved to Illinois where he
wrought at the carpenter's trade. Then he went to
Colorado and there wrought for two years. In [883
he was in Colfax and there did carpentering, also
handled a farm and in 1887 he came to his present
place, about two and one-half miles southwest from
Valley. Here he has resided since and in addition
t<> the homestead, he bought a forty acre tract of tim-
ber land. He has improved his place in fine shape ; has
considerable stock and raises much poultry.
In Eaton county. Michigan, in 1879, Mr. Merritt
married Miss Cora E.. daughter of Cyrus and Emma
Cowan. In 1883 he got a divorce and has not mar-
ried since. Mr. Merritt has always conducted him-
self so as to win the esteem and approbation of all who
knew him and is a popular and upright man. He has
been elected road overseer for a number of terms. He
i> a member of the K. O. T. M.
CHARLES GERTCM. Adjoining the hamlet of
Valley lies the estate of our subject, to which he
acquired title by the homestead right and he now de-
votes himself to the improvement and cultivation of
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
943
the farm, having demonstrated himself to be a pro-
gressive, capable and upright man, which has given
him the confidence and esteem of the people.
Charles Gertum was born on June 21, 1851, in
Brooklyn, New York, being the son of Charles and
Helen (Dick) Gertum, natives of Mayence, Germany,
that place being on the Rhine. < >n account of taking
part in the rebellion in Germany in 1848, the father was
forced with Carl Schurz, General Sigel and others to
flee that country. He located in New York and fol-
lowed merchandising and in 185 r went to Brazil where
he did an importing and exporting business until i860,
in which year he returned to the United States. In
1861 he bought a truck farm near Brooklyn and oper-
ated that for two years and then sold out and moved
to Brooklyn where he was elected justice of the peace
and continued in the office for twenty-seven years. He
died in 1894; his wife had died in 1871. Charles re-
ceived his elementary training in the common schools,
then spent three years under private instruction and
in 1867 graduated from Tuner College. Then he took
up the art of the carpenter and builder and mastered
it in due time. In 1884 he came to Minnesota, settling
in Ottertail county, and farmed there for five years. In
1889 he returned to New York to take charge of build-
ing a block and in 1890 he came back to Hubbard
county and wrought at his trade for four years, when
he came to his present location. He has thirty acres
cultivated and his farm improved with buildings, or-
chard, fence, and so forth. He handles stock and puts
up some hay. In political matters Mr. Gertum is a
Democrat and has done good work in promoting the
schools of his vicinity. He is now justice of the peace
and has served six years as clerk of the school board.
Mr. Gertum is a charter member of the F. O. A.,
Court No. 18, at Priest River.
JAY K. MERRITT. The men who open the
country for settlement are the ones who do the hard
work and are called upon to stand all kinds of hard-
ships and endure various deprivations, more than can
be enumerated, and surely are deserving of especial
mention when the history of their county is written.
Our subject was one of this worthy band who opened
Kootenai county and is now living three miles south
from Valley on land that he has cleared and improved
by his own labor.
Jay K. Merritt is the son of Thomas O. and Eliza
M. (King) Merritt. natives of Cayuga county. New
York. In 1S61 they removed to Eaton county, Mich-
igan, where the father died about 1870, and the family
came on to Streator, Illinois. In 1888 the mother
came to the home of our subject in this county and
here she died aged eighty-two years. She had raised
ten children, nine boys and one girl, five of whom are
still living. Carrie, wife of E. ]!. Smith, in Coldwater,
Michigan: Jay K, our subject; Otis and Andrew,
both in this county; Frank, married and living in
Streator, Illinois. Jay K. was born in Tompkins
county, New York, on April (>, 1845, ancl there he re-
ceived a common schooling. He remained with his
mother until he was twenty-seven. In 186] I
to learn the carpenter's trade and in 1808 came to
Streator, where Mr. Merritt followed his trade for
many years. In [889 he came to Kootenai county and
selected his present place. It was wild country' with
no neighbors near. He was obliged to erect his house
and buildings without the aid of a team, later he
bought a pair of bullocks which he broke to harness
and afterwards traded for a span of horses; the joy
of getting his first span of horses to replace the stub-
born and slow oxen impressed itself firmly on Mr.
.Merritt. He has good buildings, fine well, good or-
chard, and all other improvements needed. Mr.
Merritt devoted much attention to raising stuck until
1896, when an under current broke out on his meadow
and since he has been unable to get on it. He con-
templates draining it as it is a very valuable piece of
land.
On October 7, 1873, Mr. Merritt married Miss
Ella A., daughter of Prince W. and Elizabeth (Care) 1
Morris, natives of England. They came to Canada
when young and to the United States in 1851, locat-
ing in LaSalle, Illinois, where the father died in 1858.
having reared seven children. The mother is now the
wife of 'Squire Blakely. Mr. Merritt is an active
Republican, especially in school matters. He was the
first to agitate the question of getting a school and has
since served as director with wisdom. Mrs. Merritt
is a member of the Presbyterian church.
ALBERT H. NOBLE. In the person of the sub-
ject of this article we have one who has weathered the
adversity and panicky times that strewed the coun-
try with so many financial wrecks, and has now come
to be one of the prosperous farmers of northern
Kootenai county, while he started here in the very
midst of these times with no capital except
stock of courage and determination that he would win.
A detailed account of his career will be interesting to
all.
Albert H. Xoble was born in Monroe county,
Wesl \ irginia, on January 20, [852, being the son
of Sepher and Emeline (.Bocok) Xoble. natives of
Virginia. They moved to West Virginia and there
farmed until their death. They raised two children.
The father died when our subject was an infant and
the mother married Joshua Morris in 1854. They
raised five children. Albert received a good common
schooling and remained with his mother in tl
of the farm until he was nineteen and then in [871,
he went to Ohio and packed salt in the works there
for one year. After this he returned to his native
piace in West Virginia and there farmed until [887.
In that year he came with his family to Sprague,
Washington, thence to Wilbur and then Operated a
restaurant in Tyler, h was 1891 when he came to
Kootenai county and for two years he chopped cord
wood. In 1894 he filed on his present place, one-
half mile north from Athol. With his own hands he
944
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
built a house, a barn and out buildings and when they
came to count their assets they found that one dollar
and twenty-five cents was the sum total of cash, and
they had a small stock of provisions. The times had i en
hard and the wages low for wood cutting in the two
years previous and Mr. Xoble had only succeeded in
supporting the family. Xow, a bunch of thieving
tramps stole all the provisions and the cash, when all
chanced to be absent from the cabin and it was evident
that a crisis was on hand. This was the awful time
of panic in this country and Ah. Xoble sought in
every direction to provide for his needs. Soon he
secured a part of a contract from a man to cut w< tod
for the railroad, and with his son, twelve years of
age, he succeeded in getting enough cut and hauled
to weather them through, and little by little he began
to improve his place. He has a good farm, is all
out <>f debt, has some stock and is on the road to a
gratifying competence.
On Xovember 9, 1875, .Mr. Xoble married Miss
Harriet, daughter of Juble and Lucinda Paine, natives
of Virginia, who removed to West Virginia and there
remained until their death. They were parents of
four girls. Air. and Airs. Noble have three children:
Louise, deceased; Albert, married and living in Gran-
ite; Alary, wife of Albert Sniders in Spokane. Mr.
Noble is a Republican and serves on the school board.
He and his wife are devout members of the Baptist
church. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. Pine
Lodge, Xo. 75, in Athol.
ULYSSIS G. SMITH. About one mile south
from Granite one finds the home of Air. Smith, which
is a valuable place, and which he is improving in a
thrifty way, devoting himself both to general farm-
ing and to raising stock, of which he has about thirtv
head at the present time.
L'lyssis G. Smith was born in Huntington. In-
diana, on July 16, 1865, being the son of John and
Elizabeth (McClure) Smith, natives of Indiana, and
later thev moved to Alichigan. where they now live.
Our subject went with the family to the vicinity
of Lansing and there received his education in the
common schools and finished it in a business college.
When eighteen he began labor for himself and for a
time wrought on the neighboring farms and in Lan-
sing. Later he was in Richmond, Indiana, working
for the Adams Express Company. In 1889 he came
to Seattle and there wrought at contracting for a time.
Then he visited Yakima and spent one year on a farm
and also one season on the Yakima reservation farm-
ing. After this he sold his stock and came to Col-
fax and conducted a wood yard for a time. Next
he took a contract of cutting three hundred cords of
wood near Rockford and after completing that he
came to his present place, having also spent some time
in Rathdrum. He is one of the enterprising farmers
of the community and is doing well, while he main-
tains an untarnished reputation among all.
In June, 1900, Air. Smith married Aliss Addie
Sinter, whose parents are natives of Michigan. They
came to Wisconsin and in 1888 made the journey to
Kootenai county, where they now live. One child
has been born to this union, Ivadell T. In political
matters Air. Smith is a firm Republican but is an in-
dependent thinker. He is a member of the Al. W. A.
at Athol.
CAPTAIN PFTERC. SORENSEN. Among the
very first who settled in the vicinity of Coeur d'Alene
and having maintained a steady residence since those
early days, a man who has done a lion's share in the
development of the resources of the county, while also
he has made rapid strides in the business world, where
he has accumulated a fine property, the gentleman
whose name appears above is one to be represented in
the history of his county, since also he is a man of
stanch integrity, and is a substantial and capable citi-
zen, intelligent and upright.
It will be interesting to note the details of his suc-
cessful life so we append the following. Peter C.
Sorensen was born in Krogro, Xorway. on December
25, 1833, being the son of Samuel and .Margaret
( ( hristensen ) Sorensen, natives of Norway, where they
remained on a farm until the time of their death. Six
boys and six girls were the children of this family.
Peter C. was privileged to attend school six weeks
of each year until he was sixteen, when he took up the
stone cutter's trade. He came to America in 1866,
locating in Depere, Wisconsin. There he built two
smelting furnaces and worked for the Fox River Iron
Company for eleven years. Then he came to the
Sound and soon returned to Coeur d'Alene. He built
a steamboat for the government, known as Amelia
Wheaten, the first boat on the lake, of which he was
captain for three years. He named all the points
about the lake, such as Cougar bay, Collin bay, East
point. West point, and many others. He also ex-
plored the Coeur d'Alene river and dug through the
bar that hindered navigation. Then Captain Soren-
sen gave his attention to building ships and more or
less since that time he has labored at this intricate
craft, in which he has done some excellent work. He
built the Spokane a passenger boat, and has just com-
pleted a ship to be known as the Colfax, which was
launched on July 24, 1902. Captain Sorensen has
also constructed for himself a fine hotel of twenty-one
rooms, in the heart of the town, while he has a fine
residence two miles across the lake, which place is
known as Northcape. He has two good cottages,
also six hundred fruit trees. And as an ornament
the Captain has constructed a prohibition church
eight feet square and the same height, entirely made of
bottles of all kinds. He has also constructed a sun
dial, known as the Coeur d'Alene. He has also a
Alarconi wireless telegraphic paraphernalia complete.
These things demonstrate the genius and excellent
taste of the Captain and make his home place one of
the most attractive and pleasant on the lake.
;apt. peter c. sorensen.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
945
In 1854 Captain Sorensen married .Miss Marie,
daughter of Ole and Hilga Olesen, natives of Nor-
way, where they remained until their death. This
estimable lady died in 1861, leaving one child, Chris-
tine, now Mrs. Amanuel Hosle, who is landlady of the
Sorensen hotel. Captain Sorensen is an active and
ardent Republican and for three years, from 1888 to
1891, he was a member of the town board. He is a
member of the A. F. & A. M. and is one of the most
affable and genial men of the county.
SAMUEL H. WATKINS. This well known
merchant of Athol and dealer in lumber products is
one of the real pioneers of northern Kootenai county
and has the distinction of opening the first mercantile
establishment in Athol, where he has continued since,
now doing a fine business.
Samuel H. Watkins was born in Detroit, .Michi-
gan, on March 4, 1850, being the son of Washington
and Mary A. (Hendricks) Watkins, natives of Xew
York. The mother died in Cleveland. Ohio, in De-
cember, 1875, and the father died the following year.
The father had served in the Mexican war and they
were the parents of five children : Steven E., de-
ceased; Benjamin, deceased: Mary H., living in De-
troit ; Sarah B., married to Mr. Stevens, an attorney
in Detroit ; Samuel H., our subject. He was educated
in Detroit and Ypsilanti and then completed a course
in the state normal in 1868. When eighteen he went
to Cleveland and learned the harness trade, following
it until 1872. Then he enlisted in the Fourth Regu-
lar Cavalry and served through the Indian wars in
Xew Mexico and Texas under General McKenzie.
He re-enlisted in the First Regular Cavalry under
General Grover, uncle of Grover Cleveland. Serv-
ing his five years, he came to the coast and then to
Colfax, Washington. From there he went to the
Coeur d'Alenes at the time of the gold excitement
in 1883. Later he went to work on the Northern
Pacific. In 1888 he opened a general merchandise
establishment in Ritzville, Washington, under the firm
name of Bellamy & Watkins, which he continued
until 1895, the time he came to Athol, erected a store
and brought his stock hither. During his stay at
Ritzville Mr. Watkins made a trip to New Hampshire.
On January 16, 1879, Mr. Watkins married Miss
Mattie E., daughter of Jeremiah and Sarah A.
(Brown-) Freeman, natives of New Hampshire,
where they still reside, being in the shoe manufactur-
ing business. They were the parents of ten children :
Charles W., married and living in New Hampshire ;
Lizzie A., wife of George Adam, living in New
Brunswick: Albert, deceased: Frank, married and liv-
ing in Xew Hampshire: Orrin G., married in Mas-
sachusetts: Hattie, wife of Samuel E. Noyse. in New
Hampshire : Bert, deceased : Harry O, single and liv-
ing with parents: Lucius R., married and living in
New Hampshire. Our subject has three children:
Earl F., Mark O. and Glen E. Politically Mr. Wat-
kins is a Democrat and on September 12. T901. he
was appointed by Governor Hunt to the position of
county commissioner. He was nominated for county
commissioner in 1902. Mr. Watkins has taken great
interest in organizing districts forty-nine and sixty-
four in Kootenai county, and is a champion for good
schools. Mr. Watkins is affiliated with the 1. O.
O. F., Pine Lodge, No. 75, of Athol; and is also a
member of the K. P. of Rathdrum. He and his wife
are also members of the Rebekahs, Evergreen Lodge,
No. 51. They attend the Methodist church and are
good people and have done very much for the up-
building of the place and this portion of the county.
IRA L. YOUNG. Deeds speak louder than words
and the best introduction to the life of this enterpris-
ing and successful man is to recount, as fully as space
will allow, his deeds of labor and his achievements.
Ira L. Young was born in Davenport, Iowa, on
May 10, 1863, being the son of Jethro J. and Margaret
E. (Ferguson) Young, natives of Pennsylvania. The
family settled in that colony long before the Revolu-
tion and both the great-grandfathers of our subject
fought in that conflict. His mother's grandfather lost
two children by Indian massacre and all his property,
while the ones suffering in the terrible Gilbert massa-
cre in early days were his relatives. The parents
came to Illinois, thence to Iowa, and later U> North
Dakota, where the mother died and then the father
returned to Jasper county, Iowa, and is living there
now. Ira gained his education from the schools
where the family lived in his minority and when
seventeen commenced working out on adjacent farms
but made his home with his parents until twenty.
Then he went to North Dakota, herded cattle, farmed
and dug wells until 1895, when he went with a good
outfit to thresh and the Great Northern engines set
fire to his property through prairie fires and destroyed
it all. He experienced great inconvenience in the
blizzards in that country also, living one weel
toes, as the weather precluded a trip for supplies. He
took a timber claim there and still owns it. The losses
of nearly six thousand dollars worth of property in
the fire spoken of occurred in 1895, and he went to
work by the day for a time and in 1897 he left Turtle
mountains with a pack train of six horses for Wash-
ington. He left the horses for the winter in Horse
Plaines. Montana, and the next spring went back
from Spokane for them and found they had all been
eaten by grizzly bears and mountain lions. He then
came to Athol, bought a quarter of railroad land and
settled down, hut he had not a dollar and so went to
work to get supplies and then he improved his place
in good "shape. In 1901 Mr. Young went to the
Palouse country and there lost his wife. He then
went to Yakima and there labored and took a desert
claim, which he still owns. In 1902 Mr. Young came
back to his present place, one-half mile west from
Athol and resides there now. He has over two thou-
sand acres of land, which he has accumulated in the
last five vears.
94&
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
On February 9, 1900, Mr. Young married Mrs.
Malissa E. Coursor, of Buffalo, Missouri, and on Sep-
tember 8. 190 1, she died. Mr. Young is a charter mem-
ber of the M. VV. A., Athol Camp, No. 8388. In politics
he is a Republican and active especially in local mat-
ters. Mr. Young was in the government service
freighting when the Sioux broke out from the Pine
Ridge agency in Dakota, and he heard the shot that
killed Sitting Bull, the famous chieftain of that tribe.
On December 29, 1902, Mr. Young married Sally
A. Dula, of Lenoir, North Carolina, who came all
the way from her home to get married. For pastime
Mr. Young has recently taken up photography, and
has taken some very fine views of the country and
logging in his neighborhood.
ROBERT C. EGBERS. Prominent in the edu-
cational circles of northern Idaho, as also he has been
in other places, a man of culture and talent, while also
he has taken hold with a willing hand to do the pio-
neer's noble work, it is proper to place a review of the
life of our subject in the history of Kootenai county.
Robert C. Egbers was born in Hancock county,
Illinois, on March 26, 1866, being the son of Francis
M and Elizabeth (Wilcox) Egbers, natives of Lou-
isiana arid London, England. The mother came to
America in 1847 and located in Illinois, where she was
married, and for twenty years they lived in Hancock
county, and in 1885 came to Ritzville, Washington. In
J901 they came to Kootenai county and now reside
here. Robert received a common school education and
at seventeen started out for himself, teaching vocal
music to pay the expenses of a more extended course
to fit him for his profession. He taught his first school
in Stillwell, Illlinois, in 1885 and since that time he
has been more or less steadily in this line of endeavor.
He removed to Ritzville in 1886 and was soon one of
the board of examiners for Adams county. In 18SS
he was nominated by the Republican party against J.
C. Hoffman, Democrat, for county superintendent of
schools and won the day by ninety-nine votes. In 1890
he won against W. R. Cunningham by the same ma-
jority, and in 1892 he won against B. J. Neare by
thirty-six votes. In 1894 he was nominated for clerk
of the court and was beaten by Louis Walton, fusion-
ist, by a small majority. His wife's health was fail-
ing and he was forced to make another move, and ac-
cordingly he came to Athol, Idaho. He at once went
to teaching and for five years he has taught steadily
in one school, giving perfect satisfaction and doing a
thorough and commendable work. Mr. Egbers has
taken a homestead where he now lives, four miles
southeast from Athol, and he has bestowed much labor
in improving it in good shape In 1900 Mr. Egbers
was nominated by his party for county superintendent
of schools against Daniel Van Duzer and was beaten
by a small majority. Again in 1902 he was nominated
on the same ticket, Mr. Van Duzer being his opponent,
and was elected by three hundred and eighty-one ma-
jority.
In December, 1888, Mr. Egbers married Miss
Rhoda M., daughter of C. R. and Mary Bardwell,
natives of Pennsylvania and Minnesota, respectively,
but now residents of Ritzville, Washington. Air. and
Mrs. Egbers are the parents of six children, four of
whom are living, as follows : Miles F., Mark W.,
Ruth L., Dwiglit S. Our subject and his faithful wife
are members of the Methodist church and are leading
and highly esteemed people. In the five conventions
that nominated Air. Egbers he has never had an oppos-
ing vote.
ANTHONY A. SAGE. Six and one-half miles
southeast from Athol is the estate of Anthony A.
Sage, and it consists of one section of good land,
while his son and daughter own enough adjoining
to make it fourteen hundred acres. Air. Sage is one
of the leading farmers and stockmen of Kootenai coun-
ty, and he is an upright and reliable man of good
standing.
Anthony A. Sage was born in Saratoga county,
New York, on January 24, 1850, being the son of
Xester and Susan (Gray) Sage, natives of New York,
but emigrants to Iowa in 1848. They located at Ana-
niosa and there the father wrought at the carpenter
trade until 1862, when he enlisted in the Thirty-first
Iowa and fought for two years and then died at
Memphis from a disease contracted in his service.
In 1866 the mother married again, I. N. Potter be-
coming her husband and in 1877 he died. She now
lives in Wyoming and last year made a visit to this
son. Anthony received his education in the places
where the family lived and after his father's death
much of the burden fell on him as he was the eldest
son. After his mother's second marriage he again
took up school until eighteen, when he started for
himself. He rented land until twenty-one. and then
married and soon after he was taken sick. By mis-
take he was given a teaspoonful of morphine and the
result, while not fatal, was such as to aggravate the
disease so that he did not recover for several years.
In 1874 Air. Sage bought cattle in Alinnesota and
opened a butcher shop in St. Paul, in which his part-
ner cheated him out of his capital. Then he wrought
1 'it the railroads in different capacities, especially in
the shops, both in St. Paul and in Iowa for a number
of years and then came to Ritzville, Adams county,
Washington. He bought a half section of land and
at once started a nursery, seed farm and experiment
station. This was operated until 1896. when he sold
out and bought his present place. During the stay
in Adams county Air. Sage also operated a butcher
shop in Ritzville and very much credit is due him
for the excellent manner in which he assisted to de-
velop Adams county, both in general labors and in his
experiment station, where untold benefit was done to
the farmers. He now raises hay, does general farm-
ing and handles stock.
In 1872 Air. Sage married Aliss Alinerva A.,
daughter of Lemuel and Caroline (Braybender)
Streeter. natives of Pennsylvania. To this happy
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
947
union there have been born five children : Nester J.,
George L.; married and living at Ritzville; Pearl, wife
of R. E. Butler, in Lincoln county, Washington :
Josie and Paul. .Mr. Sage is an active Republican
and always takes a prominent part in the labors of
the campaign and is an influential figure in the con-
ventions. Air. Sage is a member of the K. P., Ritz-
ville Lodge, No. 36, and is also a member of the
K. O. T. M., also at Ritzville. His people are mem-
bers of the Catholic church. Mr. Sage has manifested
great wisdom and energy in his labors in the county,
and he is one of the substantial men who form the
bone and sinew of the worth of the countv.
ALFRED MARTIN. This industrious and ener-
getic young man is one of the potent factors in the de-
velopment of northern Idaho and he has done a good
part in this work while also he has carefully conserved
his business interests in using his homestead right and
securing a fine piece of land only three-fourths of a
mile south from Elmira.
Alfred Martin was born in the vicinity of Ottawa,
Canada, on April 22, 1873, being the son of Joseph
and Catherine (Duncan) Martin, natives of Canada.
They all came to Chattaroy, Washington, in 1886, and
toiled there for nine years, when they removed to
Spokane. In 1897 the parents came to Kootenai coun-
ty and reside here now. They are the parents of nine
children: John, in Spokane; Alfred, the subject of
this article ; Robert, in Spokane ; Maggie, wife of
Charles Glover, in Spokane ; Nettie, wife of James
Fahey, in Spokane ; Minnie, wife of Walter Geer, in
Spokane ; Lizzie, single, living with her brother Al-
fred ; Harry, living in Elmira ; Nellie, living with her
brother Alfred. Our subject received the educational
training to be had from the public schools and labored
with his parents until twenty-three and then went to
work in the woods, getting out poles, shingle bolts, and
so forth. In 1897 he located the homestead where now
he resides and he has devoted himself to improving it
and tilling it since that time. He made his final proof
in 1902. He has some hay land, a small orchard, and
other improvements. Mr. Martin is a member of the
Baptist church and is an exemplary and upright young
man, who has the respect and esteem of all the com-
munity.
[AMES McDONALD. In many sections of the
west has the worthy gentleman, of whom we now
speak, done pioneer work both in opening the farm
lands and in locating valuable mining properties.
James McDonald was born in Chippewa Falls,
Wisconsin, on January 31, 1858, being the son of
James and Cordelia (Beebe) McDonald, natives of
Vermont. The family came to Chippewa Falls in an
early day and the father operated a large hardware
More there. He died in September, 1871, his wife
having died in March. 1870. They were the parents
of six children Albert, Charles, Clarence, Mayannie,
Julius and James. Al! are deceased except Albert,
who is in Alaska, and the subject of this sketch. James
received a high school education and when his par-
ents died, he being about thirteen, he went int.. the
woods to assist in cooking. Ten or more years were
spent in this work and cooking in a restaurant, and
then he came to the Murray country and took a placer
claim. Selling this he prospected 'in the Priest river
district. He took a piece of land. lint as it was not
surveyed he sold his right and went to the head waters
of the Prascr river and took a mining claim. This
was sold for one hundred dollars and the next year
when he went back to it it was worth fifty thousand
dollars. Some further traveling he did and then came
to his present place, two and one-half miles wesl from
Athol, which he secured as a homestead. Mr. Mc-
Donald has improved it in good shape and last year
he received over two thousand bushels of grain, which
will 1>. increased annually. He has good buildings
and raises some stock.
On July 31, 1896, Mr. McDonald married Miss
Cora M., daughter of James K. and Mary (Ray)
Bailey, natives of Illinois. They came to Washington
in 1885 and located in Eltna, where awful forest fires
raged since, but they escaped. Two children have been
born to Mr. and Mrs. McDonald, Harry and Mary C.
Politically Mr. McDonald is a Republican and is al-
ways ready to bear his part in the labor of the cam-
paigns. He is now clerk of the school board and is
interested in good schools. Recently Mrs. McDonald
was called away from her home and loved ones by
death.
GEORGE W. FLEMMING is one of the leading
lumber men of northern Idaho, having his outfits at
Athol, where he has made a good success in the years
gone by. He is an industrious worker and displays
executive force and skill that have enabled him to
handle other men in the business to a profit to himself.
George W. Flemming was born in Sherburne coun-
ty, Minnessota, on September 10, 1862, being the son of
John and Sarah J. (Christie) Flemming. natives of
Maine and New Brunswick, respectively. They set-
tled in Minnesota in 1856 and there they remained
until the death of the father in 1877. and two years
later the mother passed away also. George was edu-
cated in his native place and in Wright countv. the
same state, whither his parents moved. When fifteen
his father died and he went to do for himself. For
seven years he worked in the woods ami on the drive
and then married Miss Mary J. Borthwick, a daughter
of Alexander and Lydia (Hix) Borthwick, natives of
Prince Edward Island and New York, respectively.
They came to Minnesota and there remained until
their death. In 1888 Mr. Flemming rented land and
farmed until 1802. when he came to Rathdrum. Two
years later he was called to mourn the death of his
wife. Then he returned to Minnesota, spent a winter
hunting in northern Idaho, spent some time in I verett,
Washington, and finally came back to Rathdrum. He
spent a year or so single handed in the woods and then
948
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
bought a four-horse outfit and went to logging. He
has had some fine contracts, for the Rogers & Duns-
more Mill Company to put in all the timber in one en-
tire section, while also for the Phoenix mill of Spokane
he put in seven hundred thousand feet. Prosperity
has attended him and he is now located three and one-
half miles southeast from Athol, where he has prop-
erty.
On Mav 26, 1898, Mr. Flemming married Mrs.
Martha Wacldell, widow of George Waddell, of Rath-
drum, and two children have been born to them, Mary
E. and Cora D. By her former husband Mrs. Flem-
ming has six children. Henry, Ida, Xorah, Willie,
Claudie and Zollie. All are at home with their par-
ents. Air. Flemming was formerly a Republican, but
when the silver issue of Bryan came to the front he
allied himself with it and holds firmly on that line
since. Mr. Flemming is a man of due conservatism
and wisdom, but is dominated by a progressive spirit
and guided with a keen discrimination that have won
for him his present success.
JOHN W. GREAVES. Although at the present
time located two miles southeast from Elmira, the sub-
ject of this sketch is nevertheless a skillful and leading
seaman and has descended from a family that has for
three hundred years back been seafaring people and
has furnished some of the best men in this line in the
world. His people live on the shores of the Baltic
sea and are all sailors, being captains, his maternal
uncle is a teacher in navigation, while several others of
the relatives are also instructors in the naval schools.
John W. Greaves was born in Rigga, Russia, on
November 19, 1865, the son of Michael and Tiney
(Sholts) Greaves, natives of Levonia province, in
Russia. The father is now farming and fishing.
The father was shipwrecked in 187 1 on the coast of
Norway and lost his ship but saved the crew. In 1880
he was wrecked again, this time on the coast of Den-
mark, and the ship went down but the crew was saved.
Then he turned his attention to farming and fishing.
Our subject was educated in the schools of his native
place and took a thorough course in navigation. At
fifteen he went on board as cabin boy and cruised for
three years. He was wrecked on January 14, 1886,
while sailing on the Sir Robert McCluer ; the ship was
a total loss but the crew were picked up by a French
vessel four hours later. Returning to London, he
went on board another ship and came to Oubec, where
he farmed for about one year, then railroaded there
and in Vermont. Next we see him in Boston where
he shipped to Savannah, then he worked in Birmingham
mills for a while, after which we see him successively
in Memphis, Tennessee, Illinois, Louisanna and Utah.
After this he came to Boise, Idaho, and thence to
Portland in 1889. He assisted to build the Union
Pacific railroad to that city, then came to Washington,
and later harvested in Walla Walla. He went thence
to Bonner's Ferrv, then worked in British Columbia
and then returned to Peck river, Idaho, where he took
a squatter's right, but finding it railroad land, he re-
moved to his present place and since that time he has
continued in this place. Mr. Greaves has a fine body
of timber, perhaps as excellent as can be found in the
county. Mr. Greaves has part of his land under cul-
tivation and also raises some stock and pays consider-
able attention to lumbering. He is genial and well
liked and is an upright and substantial man. Mr.
Greaves is a member of the Lutheran church and is a
progressive and capable man.
JOHN McILHARGEY. Among the industrious
and intelligent men of Kootenai county, we are glad
to mention the subject of this article, who is well
known and esteemed by his fellows.
John Mcllhargey was born in Huron county, Michi-
gan, on October 30, 1859, being the son of Charles
and Mary (Young) Mcllhargey, natives of Canada
and Ireland, respectively. The mother came to Can-
ada when five years old and was married there in 1858
and they at once removed to Huron county, Michigan.
In 1882 they removed thence to Duluth, Minnesota,
where they still reside, the father being engaged in
lumbering. John was educated in his native place and
labored in the woods there until 1881, when he went to
Wisconsin and did lumbering work until 1888. Next
we see him in Sandpoint and there he wrought at the
same work until 1898. At that date Mr. Mcllhargey
took his present homestead, two and one-half miles
north from Elmira, and to the improvement and culti-
vation of this he has devoted his energies since. He
has nearly all of the. farm under cultivation, raises
many vegetables for market and handles some stock.
He has good buildings and the farm bears the air of
thrift and painstaking care.
In November, 1886, Mr. Mcllhargey married Miss
Lizzie, daughter of George and Margarie (Brice)
Maxwell, natives of Scotland. The mother died in
her native land while the father came with his family
to Wisconsin in 1884, and there died in 1896. One
child has been born to our subject and his wife. Viola
M. M., now attending school. Air. Mcllhargey is a
Democrat and takes an active part in the affairs of
the county. He has the following brothers and sisters :
Martha, wife of James Lahey, in Kootenai county;
\ iola M., wife of George Conners, of this county ;
Charles E., single, living in Duluth, Minnesota; James
T. L., living in Duluth : Egnitious, married and living
in North Dakota ; William, single, and living in Duluth,
Minnesota.
ROBERT McLELLAN. Three and one-half
miles west from Athol lies the fine estate of Mr. Me-
Lellan. It consists of one-half section of land, half of
which was taken as a homestead. Good buildings and
ail necessary improvements adorn the farm and it is
one of the excellent places in this section. Mr. Mc-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
949
Lellan has shown commendable zeal as well as wis-
dom and skill in making his place one of the best and
among the special features are the large barn forty by
forty-five and a cistern that holds two hundred barrels.
He does a general farming business and also raises
stock.
Robert McLellan was born in county of Lanark,
Canada, on April 3, 1839. being the son of John and
Ellen ( Fleming) McLellan, natives of fScotland and
immigrants to Canada in 1812. Robert received a good
education and then labored on the farm with his father.
clearing the land and making potash. He was skillful
at that and after he had reached his majority he con-
tinued at it for some three or four years. He came to
the United States in 1865 and rafted in Minnesota, then
turned his attention to farming for a dozen years. It
was 1885 that he came to Spokane and worked at the
carpenter trade, after which he did timber work for a
few years and then took the homestead mentioned
above. He has continued here since and is one of the
leading men of the community, a man of substantial
worth. His farm is largely under cultivation and an
air of thrift and excellent taste pervades the entire
premises.
In 1866 Mr. McLellan married Miss Ellen, daugh-
ter of Thomas and Mar}- ( Mathis) Ferguson, natives
of Canada, where they farmed until their death, hav-
ing raised a family of eight children. Three children
have been born to this household, Mary A., wife of
William Ferguson and living in Canada : John, with
his parents: Ellen, wife of Mr. Dote, in Libby, Mon-
tana. In political matters, Mr. Lellan is a liberal
Democrat and always allies himself on the side of
good arovernment.
HEXRY GECK. It is not frequent to have an
opportunity to chronicle the career of one who has
-<> many years in the military service of his
country as has the esteemed subject of this article and
a more minute detaii of the matter will he interesting
to the readers of the history of northern Idaho.
Henry Geek was born in Baden, Germany, on May
18, 1840, the son of Charles and Lizzie (Veidener)
Geek, who remained in P>aden until the time of their
death. Henry was educated in the common schools
of his native place and at the age of seventeen, learned
the baker"s trade, then went to Vienna. Austria, until
he was twenty and at that time returned to his home.
After this he served three years in the German army
ainl then migrated to the United States. He landed
here in 1864 and two days later was in the ranks under
General Burnside in the Forty-sixth Xew York Infan-
try and was fighting for the stars and stripes. He
showed his loyalty in many hard contested fields, be-
ing a participant in the battles of Nashville, Fredericks-
burg, Cold Harbor, the Wilderness. Petersburg, in
which last fight he was wounded three times. Two
months in the hospital and he rejoined his regiment.
September 26, t86s. he enlisted in the regular army
and served for thirty years. He was on the ground
where the brave Custer fell, four days after tin- massa-
cre, being under General Mckenzie. .Mr. Geek has
been quartered in every fort in the United States and
for twenty-three years he was in the Twenty-third
Cavalry. His record is exceptionally good and he has
-Town himself to have been a faithful ami brave sol-
dier, a good and upright man, and loyal and true to the
noble flag of our country.
In 1890 Mr. Geek was quartered at Fort Sherman
and in 1893 he was retired as a veteran on a stipend
for hfe. of twenty-five dollars and twenty-live cents per
month. Mr. Geek has a fine homestead on Fish lake
and spends his time there and in Coeur d'Alene and
Rathdrum. He is esteemed by all and 1- governed by
sound principles and dominated with wisdom in all of
his walk. Mr. Geek is a member of the ( r. A. K., < iar-
field Post, at Rathdrum and is a man of excellent -land-
ing and enjoys the confidence and good will of all who
know him.
DUNCAN S. McKENZIE. A pioneer in many
sections of the west where he has followed the ardu-
ous labor of prospecting and thus opened many sec-
tions to the ingress of civilization, and now a worthy
and enterprising citizen of Kootenai county, we are
pleased to grant to the subject of this article a repre-
sentation in the volume of his count)- history.
Duncan S. McKenzie was born in Detroit. Mich-
igan, on October 7. 1858. being the son of Daniel and
Catherine (Stalker) McKenzie, natives of Scotland.
The parents came to America in 1852 and dwelt in
Michigan for about fourteen years, then migrated to
Kansas and there lived in Rice county until 1896. The
father died in 1890 and the mother moved to Elmira
where she now lives, having married William Scott.
( iiir subject received his education in Detroit and at
the early age of eleven he went to Texas and for ten
years could have been found in the employ of John
King, one of the leading cattle men of the west, where
he became skillful in all departments of the cattle busi-
ness. Then he went to work for McKenny and soon
found that his employer was one of the noted horse
thieves of the state of Texas and so his relations were
forthwith severed. Thence Mr. McKenzie went to
New Mexico. Colorado, Montana, Utah and other
places, prospecting, and during this time he made some
good locations. In 1894 he came to Idaho
his time between prospecting and lumbering until
1899, when he located his present homestead, two and
one half miles south from Elmira. .Mr. McKenzie has
good buildings, and raises considerable hay.
In [890, Mr. .McKenzie married Miss Elizabeth
Cobb, of Pool. England, where her people remained
until the time of their death. To our subject and his
worthy wife there have been born three children. Cath-
erine, John, and Daniel. In political matter-. Mr. Mc-
Kenzie is an intelligent Democrat and always takes the
part of the interested citizen. He has held the office of
school director and is zealous for good facilities in that
line, has frequently been urged to hold other offices hut
always refuses. Mr. McKnezie is a member of the 1.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
O. O. F., North Lodge, No. 81.; and of die M. W. A.,
Elmira Camp, No. 9185. while Mrs. McKenzie is a
member of the Rebekahs at Bonners Ferry. They are
both members of the Presbyterian church and are up-
right and well respected people.
JAMES -M. STONE. In the enterprising little vil-
lage of Elmira is the subject of our sketch located, hav-
ing a hotel, which is handled in good shape while also
he devotes some time to overseeing his ranch property
which adjoins the town site. Also Mr. Stone has in-
vested in other property, having good faith in the coun-
try and is an enthusiastic worker in helping to build it
up ; and it is just such workers that transform the wilds
to rich regions.
James M. Stone was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on
February 6. 1866, being the son of James and Ellen
(Sloan) Stone, natives of England and Ireland, respec-
tively. They came to Canada and located in Sault
Ste Marie and ten years later removed to Cleveland,
where they still live, the father operating a grocery and
feed store. Five children, as follows, were born to this
worthy couple, Daniel, in South America; James A I..
our subject : Jane, married and living in Los Angeles,
California: Alary, Martha, both single and living with
their parents. James studied in the public schools until
seventeen and then worked with his father one year
more, when he went to Colorado and labored in the
mines and in the lumber regions for five years. In
1887 he came to western " Washington and there
wrought, mostly in King county, until 1897, when he
came to his present location. He purchased the relin-
quishment of a settler and since that time has been an
influential factor in the development of this virgin re-
gion. Mr. Stone is doing well and is making his ef-
forts felt in his worthy work of progress.
In December, 1896. Mr. Stone married Mrs. Emily
Dorn, daughter of John and Emily Buchholz, who came
to this country but returned to Dantzic, Germany,
where they now reside, Mr. Buchholz being a mill-
wright. Mrs. Stone was born in Germany. They
have one child, Elizabeth. Mr. Stone is a real Jeffer-
sonian Democrat and takes the part of the intelligent
citizen in the questions of the day.
JOHN C. GRANT. A man of broad and varied
experiences in the affairs of life, successful in busi-
ness, true and loyal as a friend and public spirited and
patriotic as a citizen, the gentleman whom we now con-
sider, is eminently fitted for representation in the
history of Kootenai county.
John C. Grant was born on Faro Island on August
5, 1842, being the son of Iver and Mary (McGovern)
Grant, natives of Scotland, which continued to be their
home until 1868, when they removed to Australia.
The father was a sea captain and followed a seafaring
life for forty-five years. They died in Australia, hav-
ing been the parents of eight children, Emma, Carrie,
Bridget, Arlo. John C, Peter C, Sarah, Valben?. all
deceased except the subject of this article. When
John was a small child the parents removed to Scot-
land and there he was educated and when twelve went
on a voyage with his father around the world. One
year was occupied in this and then he sailed with his
father until twenty. Then he sailed with Captain
Bertrand Wallace three years, with Captain Alfred An-
derson one year, with Captain Travis for one vear, and
with Captain Jordan a short time. Then he made a
trip around the world again with his father and came
back to England, whence he came to his oldest brother
in Wisconsin. Our subject then, it being 1872. took
up railroad contracting and for twelve years he was
busy in Wisconsin and Minnesota, working on every
railroad in those states up to the time he quit. The
next move was to Devils lake, where Mr. Grant took
a preemption and farmed for four years. Then he
railroaded again, Montana being the place, after
which, in 1894. he came to Hope. Idaho, thence to El-
mira, where he settled on a homestead. In Fel
1899, Mr. Grant was appointed postmaster, which im-
portant office he still holds. He also operated as a
general merchant but in 1901 Mr. Grant turned his
whole attention to tilling and improving his home-
stead. He has made it a fine property. Politically,
Mr. Grant is an active Republican and in school mat-
ters he has always been zealous, having been the mov-
ing spirit to establish the first school in Elmira. At
present, Mr. Grant is justice of the peace and is very
efficient in this capacity. Mr. Grant is a man of in-
telligence and stability and is highly respected among
his fellows.
JAMES C. FERGUSON. One-half mile east
from Elmira is located the home of the subject of this
sketch. The estate is now one of value, but was taken
from the wilds of nature as a homestead and upon it
Mr. Ferguson has bestowed much labor and expense.
He now has fifty acres under cultivation, is putting
out a good orchard, has erected a comfortable resi-
dence, good barns and outbuildings and is making
the place a desirable and profitable property.
James C. Ferguson was born in Canada. April 15,
1837, being the son of Hugh and Rose (Colgan) Fer-
guson,- natives of Ireland but immigrants to Canada
in 1824, where they resided for forty years. Then they
removed to Brant, Bruce county and lived there fif-
teen years, the father dying there in 1883. the mother
having passed away at their first residence. James
received a common school education and when nine-
teen married and settled down to farming. Twenty-
two years he farmed in Bruce county and then removed
to Swift county, Minnesota, and tilled the soil for
four years. 1882 was the date of his removal to
Montana and for fifteen years Mr. Ferguson was en-
gaged there in railroading. It was 1887 that he
came to Sandpoint and there resided until 1899, when
he came to his present place, taking it as a homestead,
and purchased more land of the railroad.
On October 6, 1856, Mr. Ferguson married .Miss
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
951
Ann, daughter of James and Catherine (Delemore)
Rilej% natives of Ireland. They came to Canada in
about 1824. and there remained until the time of their
death. Our worthy subject and his estimable wife
are the parents of eleven children, named as follows:
Rose, wife of Alike Hanley, living in Tacoma, Wash-
ington; Kate, married to Tom Cox, at Portland, Ore-
gon; Hugh, killed on the Northern Pacific, in Miles,
Montana : James, living at Blacktail, [daho; Mary, wife
of William Harwood. in Mullan, Idaho; Charlotte,
single and living at Lakeview, Idaho: John, single
and living in Mullan, Idaho; Mike, single and living
in Sandpoint; Hattie, in Portland, Oregon, with her
sister; Thomas and Edna, both deceased. Mr. Fer-
guson is independent politically, and takes a zealous
interest in the affairs of the county. He and his fam-
ily are adherents of the Catholic church. He is a
man of industry and substantiality and is of good
standing among his fellows.
He bought the land now partly occupied by Sand-
point, of the railroad company.
L< >l"IS LA VERGNE. There are no people who
do more to open new countries than the miners. They
have pressed into the fastnesses of the globe, have
climbed its mountains, searched its river beds, bored
the rock-ribbed hills and ransacked nature generally,
and to them is great credit due for the energy, skill and
tireless enterprise manifested in this good work which
not only yields great wealth to the nation but also
opens the way for many thousands of settlers who still
further develop the country. One of the sturdy
western lads who has displayed stanch qualities in this
line of industry is mentioned at the head of this article
and he is deserving of representation in the history
of his countv.
Louis La Vergne was born in Ontario, Canada, on
July 7, 185S, being the son of Bazil and Mary La
Vergne. At the early age of fourteen he took up the
exciting and invigorating life of the rafter on the
Ottawa river, going five hundred miles to the interior
and bringing timber to Quebec, making one trip each
year. It is a life of great hardship and danger. The
last year he went to the woods and worked for nine
dollars per month. In 1877 Mr. La Vergne determined
to seek new fields and accordinglv came to Butte
county, California, where lie mined and remained un-
til he received his citizenship papers. In 1886 while
he was in California his two brothers. Oscar and Fred,
came to Murray and mined and in 1888 he joined them
there taking part in mining also. Our subject was
prospecting at the time of the strike at Wardner.
Since that time he has been active in the prospector's
realm and has searched the country well adjacent to
the Couer d'Alene river. He now has nine promising
claims near Lane and also has an interest in the well
known Hidden Treasure, which is doubtless to be one
of the valuable mines of this district. Some of his
claims are adjoining the Hidden Treasure and are
properties which will doubtless make good pavers
later. Mr. La Vergne is a man who has th<
and confidence of his fellows, has wrought with energy
and skill and manifested integrity and intrinsic worth
of character. He is making his home with his brother,
who has a homestead about one ami one-hal
northwest from Lane.
WILLIS II. CO( >K is one of the men who has
ably assisted to open up this country of northern Idaho
and is now one of the substantial and active residents
of the vieinitv of Llmira. his ranch of one hundred and
sixty acres being located one mile north of town.
Willis II. Cook was born on June [3, [867, being
the sou of John A. and Mary E. 1 IVIorlan I I 00k, na-
tives respectively of Kentucky and .Maryland. They
came to Adair county, Missouri, and there the father
died in June, 1902, but the mother still live- on the
old homestead. The father served in the Civil war.
Children were born to them as follows: George W.,
John. Fenley, Fanny, all in Missouri; Permealy, de-
ceased. Macon county was the native place of our
subject and when young he went with his parents to
Adair county. He obtained his education from the
district schools in the winter and remained working
with his father until twenty-two, excepting some time
spent in working out. In 1885 he went to Colorado
and spent two years on the range, then two years at
home and next we see him in Spokane. He took a
trip hunting and trapping up the Columbia river and
in the spring of 1890, he came to Elmira. He labored
in the woods in the winters and harvested in the
Palouse in the summers, then took a squatter's right
on unsurveyed land. This was sold in 1897 and in 1901
Mr. Cook took his present place, which he has im-
proved with good buildings, orchard and so forth.
On November 7. 18019, Mr. Cook married Miss
Erne, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Allen)
Peasley, natives of Maine. They came t" Wisconsin
and thence, in 1894, to Idaho, settling in Kootenai
county, where the mother still lives. The father was
killed in the gold excitement at Pikes Peak. One
child has been born to our subject and his estimable
wife, John A. Mr. Cook is a charter member of the
M. W. A. at Deep Creek.
JERRY RICHMOND. In the dual occupation of
overseeing his farm and handling a general merchan-
dise establishment at Naples, the subject of this arti-
cle is engaged at the present time, and he has the
distinction of being one of the earliest pioneers of this
section and his hands have done a lion's share in
opening up the country for the ingress of civilization's
benefits.
Jerry Richmond was born in Northumberland,
Canada, on February 21. 1838. being the son of R. C.
and Mary (Alley) Richmond, natives of the same
place. Later they removed to Isabella county. Michigan
and there the father died in 1895. and the mother in
952
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1890, after having raised nine children. Jerry was
educated in the schools available to his native place,
but at the best they were poor, as the country was new
and so personal effort and careful application were
needed to gain this training. He learned the car-
penter trade and working at this and lumbering he
was occupied until twenty-two, then he worked for
himself until 1868 in the same lines and at that date
went to Woodford and operated a hotel for a year.
Retiring from that he went to Mount Pleasant, Michi-
gan, where he bought a very valuable stallion which
he later traded for a forty of land. Selling the land
for five hundred dollars, he drove stage and carried
mail for a year and ten years later he went to Ne-
braska, and soon after came to Idaho. He had also
one time kept hotel. He spent One winter in Bonners
Ferry and waited in a hotel, then made gloves one
winter at Deep Creek, Idaho, and in 1884, Mr. Rich-
mond located on his present homestead. It is the land
where Naples stands and he has laid a portion of the
ground into lots, renting to business men. In 1896
Mr. Richmond opened a general merchandise store
and since that time he has conducted it with his son.
They are doing a nice business and Mr. Richmond
is well liked in all the surrounding country.
In 1868 Mr. Richmond married Miss Anna J. Mor-
row, a native of Orangeville, Canada, where also she
was reared and her parents also died there. One
child has been born to this marriage, William A., mar-
ried and living with his parents, and also is interested
in the store. Mr. Richmond is a Republican and takes
an active part in the realm of politics.
PETER G. JOHNSON. In the development and
progress of northern Idaho, the subject of this article
has done a good part and is now one of the substan-
tial and respected citizens of Naples, in Kootenai coun-
tv. Mr. Johnson has a fine farm of one hundred and
sixty acres which he is fast improving, having a fine
house, good barn and outbuildings, while he is also
handling a considerable orchard.
Peter G. Johnson was born in Kalmar, Sweden, on
February 8, 1851, being the son of Johans and Ava
Johnson, both natives of the same place. The father
died in 1867 and the mother still lives there. Six chil-
dren were born in the family and five of them are
still living. Peter received his education from the
careful teaching of his mother, there being no availa-
ble schools there. At the early age of eleven he went
to work on the neighboring farms and in 1882 came
to Chicago, there being employed until he made his
way to Colorado, whence he came to Soda Springs,
Idaho, and thence to Dillon, Montana. Tn all these
places he was engaged in labor for wages and did
well. In Dillon, Mr. Johnson spent ten years on a
farm and in 1894 he came to Sunset, Washington,
and thence to his present location, where he has pros-
pered, owing to his industry, thrift and wisdom in
handling the resources placed at his disposal.
In 1887 Mr. Johnson married Miss Manda Peter-
son, a native of Kalmar. Sweden. Her father died
there in 1886. and her mother is still living there.
Two children have been born to this happy unit in :
Alfred H. and Edwin, both attending school. Mr. John-
son is a liberal Republican and reserves for his own
decision the questions of the day, not pinning his faith
to the tenets of any man. He is a charter member of
the Northern Lodge. No. 81, of the I. O. O. F., at
Deep Creek, Idaho.
DAVID BROWN. One mile north of Medimont,
on the north side of the river is found the home place
of the subject of this article. He has a fine estate of
two hundred and fifty-two acres of valuable land
which annually returns abundant crops of general pro-
duce, hay and fruit.
David Brown was born in Belleville, Ontario, on
September 18, 1852, being the son of James and
Mary Brown. He was educated in his native place
and there learned the trade of making galvanized
cornice and ornamental work for building. In 1S80
he went to Winnipeg and opened business also han-
dling hardware. He operated here for five years and
then went to Minneapolis, where he went into part-
nership with his brother, Alex F., establishing a good
business. The winter following the big fire in Spo-
kane he came thither and did well at his trade. The
firm was known as Brown Brothers and continued un-
til 1891, when our subject withdrew and came to the
Couer d'Alene county. He located a portion of his pres-
ent fine estate as a homestead and bought the balance of
it later. He has a fine house, large barn, two good or-
chards and is a well-to-do resident, being also a man of
excellent integrity, uprightness and sound principles.
Mr. Brown has some fine, thoroughbred Shorthorn
cattle. He is considered one of the leading men of
the community both as a man and thrifty agriculturist.
In 1900 Mr. Brown took a trip east, going clear to
his native place to see his mother. He visited all the
large cities between here and there and also took in the
Pan-American exposition. He spent considerable
time traveling and then came home satisfied that we
have in this valley one of the best countries he has
ever seen.
WALKER REID DAVIS is one of the substan-
tial and prominent residents of the Couer d'Alene val-
ley and is respected and esteemed by all. He was
born in Maysville, Kentucky, on July 25, 1846. being
the son of Dr. James M. and Catherine (Tebbs) Davis.
The father was a native of Ohio and a graduate of
the medical college of Cincinnati. He at once com-
menced the practice of medicine after his graduation
and located in Maysville. When our subject was ten
the family went to St. Louis where he received a good
academic education and then commenced the study
of law. At the breaking out of the Civil war he en-
listed for three months in a company of the First Mis-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
souri Cavalry in the Confederate army and when those
three months were up he enlisted for three years in
Elijah Gates' regiment. He was in Price's army and
fought in the battles of Springfield, Pea Ridge, Mem-
phis, Iuka and at the siege of Vicksburg. In 1862
he was promoted to corporal and was wounded at the
battle of Iuka. He was also in the battle of Mur-
freesboro. He served faithfully to the end of his
enlistment and in 1864 was captured and taken to
Memphis where he took the oath of allegiance. Then
he went with mule team to Alder Gulch, Montana, and
although the Indians were hostile, he came through
with no loss. He mined for five years and in 1869
went to the Whitepine excitement in Nevada. The
next year Mr. Davis took a position with an art and
music house and travelled all over the west. During
this time he met Miss Josephine, youngest daughter of
Resin and Susan Reed, pioneers of 1847 m Oregon,
who settled on a donation claim where Oakland now
stands. On January 10, 1877, Mr. Davis married this
lady and to them have been born the following named
children : Susan L., teaching in the Coeur d'Alene
public schools ; Martha, attending school in California :
Charles R. and Volney D., in Murray ; Grace, attend-
ing school in Couer d'Alene ; Maud, Mazel, Pritchard.
Mrs. Davis was born on the old donation claim on
July 26. 1858. After marriage. Mr. Davis engaged in
raising horses and in 1879 came to the vicinity of
Farmington, in Idaho. In 1883 he leased his horses
and went to the Couer d'Alene country in the first
excitement. Later he was in litigation with Mr.
Pritchard and afterwards they settled the matter
amicably and became partners. Mr. Davis located the
Occident which he sold well. He is now interested
in the Rising Sun and Denver properties and also
holds a large interest in the Mr.rrav Development
Company. Mr. Davis bought his present place, eight
miles up the river from Harrison, on the north side
of the river, in 1898. He has a valuable farm, good
large residence, two barns and ten acres of orchards,
besides much other valuable improvement. Mr.
Davis also has a homestead near. He does general
farming and raises catle. having some good grades.
Mr. Davis was named after Walker Reid of Mays-
ville, who is his cousin. Mr. Davis is also related to
General Smoothe. of Virginia, and to Colonel John
Reid of Price's army.
TIMOTHY MrCARTHY is one of the well
known men of the Coeur d'Alene country having been
a prominent miner and prospector since the earliest
discoveries here and is still interested in some good
properties as the Flynn group. Mr. McCarthy is now
living on his valuable estate one mile north from Lane
on the north side of the Couer d'Alene river, where he
has a good home, does a general farming business and
handles much hay from his land.
A detailed account of his career will be interesting
to the pioneers of our county and we append the same.
Timothy McCarthy was born in county Cork, Ireland,
in the early fifties. In 1874 he boarded a sailing vessel
for New Zealand and has never seen his native- Ian.!
since. He had a stormy voyage of one hundred and
four days. He spent two years in that land after
which he went to Melbourne, intending to go to the
Hokinson gold fields in Queensland, hut turned aside
to work for Samuel McCaughev. now tin- largest shei p
owner in the world. In 1880 he boarded the sham.,
City of Sidney, and came to San Francisco touching
at Auckland and also at Honolulu, where he went to
see the extinct crater near by. He spent about three
years in California and then came to Rathdrum. ( )n
January 23, 1KX4. he set out with an old miner, Alex-
ander Fraser, with their equipment on sleds to Coeur
d'Alene city. The] packed their blankets to Wolf
Lodge which Mr. McCarthy says he thought the most
dismal place he has seen in his travels and thought at
that time he could not spend more than three months
in the Coeur d'Alene country but he is here yet, — so
much for first impressions — and he likes the country
too. At Old Mission he met Judge Clagget ami other
noted ones of this country, and at Old Mission they
forded the river and before they touched the Evolu-
tion trail they had forded the stream eleven times.
Such were the hardships of the early and intrepid pio-
neers. They fell in with Captain Human's pack train
which was the first to cross the mountains that winter,
and when he got to Eagle City he began the search for
placer, hut later turned his attention to quartz. In the
spring of 1885 he crossed over Sunset peak to where
Burke is situated now. One log cabin adorned the place
and two miners were developing the Tiger mine, the
first lead and silver mine in the Coeur d'Alenes. In
April he located the now well known mine, the Stand-
ard, and for seven years he and his partners did the as-
sessment work and then sold for twenty-five thousand
dollars, which gave him a good start. In May he lo-
cated the Flynn group of twelve claims and still owns
an interest in this property. In 1891 Mr. McCarthy
came and bought his present place of one hundred and
seventy-one acres. It is exceptionally fine land, has a
good orchard and produces abundance of fine hay.
He has raised as high as twelve tons of potatoes to one
acre, so rich is his land. Mr. .McCarthy stood in his
orchard one day and distinctly heard the explosion of
ihe Bunker Hill and and Sullivan mine at the time of
trouble, which is twenty-five miles away. Showing the
amount of hard labor done by Mr. McCarthy ,
that one day in a conversation with Colonel Wallace
he was asked by that gentleman how many claims he
possessed and Mr. McCarthy replied that he owned
fortv-nine claims and seventeen fractions. He and
Larry O'Neal were the locators of the Crown Point.
a portion of which he sold. In this mine occurred the
shooting tragedy in which Jack McCauley was killed
and one man wounded. The Crown Point
owned by Burbridge and Burch. Mr. McCarthy is
one of the most skillful prospectors of this entire coun-
try as his work will show where he is well and favor-
ably known while his standing is of the best. It is his
intention to devote considerable time in the future to
the development of his mining properties in connection
with operating his present home farm.
954
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
WASHINGTt IN SNYDER. In many ways has
Mr. Snyder demonstrated his enterprise and capabili-
ties to build up the west and to make substantial im-
provements in these new sections and as a real pioneer
he deserves mention in the history of the county, be-
ing also a man of integrity and uprightness.
Washington Snyder was born in Lewis county.
New York, on October 18, 1847. being the son of Levi
and Louisa (Helmer) Snyder. When seven he went
with the balance of the family to Fond du Lac, Wiscon-
sin, where he was educated and grew to manhood. In
the spring of 1865, Mr. Snyder enlisted in the Twenty-
second Wisconsin. But on account of the change in
the play of war he was not called from his state but
received an honorable discharge in the summer fol-
lowing. He returned to his home and at once took up
railroading and later learned to be a locomotive en-
gineer. From 1869 to 1884 he followed that stirring
calling and always proved himself a faithful and skillful
engineer. He operated in various sections and on vari-
ous roads and was on the eastern end of the Northern
Pacifie when he resigned his place in 1884. In Febru-
ary, 1884. Mr. Snyder went from Thompson Falls,
Montana, to Murray, Idaho, with a sawmill, making
thirteen camps in the journey and consuming three
months in the undertaking. He succeeded in getting
his mill in place and operated it successfully for three
years and then sold it. During the time of his stay in
Murray he had interests in various fine properties
among which we may mention the Katie Burnette and
the Chess. The latter is now called the Golden Chess.
These properties are well known and valuable. In
1900 Mr. Snyder sold his entire holdings in the mines
and came in the spring of the following year to his
present place, opposite the river from Dudley. He
bought eighty acres of good land and has it well im-
proved with farm buildings, in addition to this Mr.
Snyder has a fine chicken house over one hundred feet
long and devotes much time to handling these fowls,
having several hundred fine ones. He also raises cat-
tle and owns some fine speciments of thoroughbred
Herefords. Mr. Snyder's house and buildings are lo-
cated on a fine spot overlooking the river and valley,
where he has a pleasant and valuable home.
In 1886 Mr. Snyder married Mrs. Lula Sayre, in
Murray. She has three children by her former mar-
riage. William K., Mrs. Jennie Finlayson of Murray ;
Mrs. Lulu Erwin of Wallace.
CHARLES E. KAMLIX. A man of industry
and thrift, a public minded citizen, a good neighbor, a
substantial farmer and capable business man, it is fit-
ting that the subject of this article should be granted
space for an epitome of his career in the volume of
Northern Idaho history.
Charles E. Kamlin was born in the vicinity of
Stockholm. Sweden, on February 19. 1865, being the
son of L. O. and Louisa Kamlin. The father died
when our subject was a boy and in 1880, he came to
the United States with his mother. Thev located in
Burnett county, Wisconsin, where he railroaded and
later farmed until 1890. In that year he came to St.
Louis county, Minnesota, and worked in the iron mines
and at lumbering until 1897. That was the year of
his advent to Spokane, whence he came at once to
Wardner and worked in the mines until the fall of
180,8. In that year he came to the vicinity of Old Mis-
sion and took up logging for a time. Later he bought
Lis present place, one quarter section of hay and
timber land, two and one half miles northeast from
( >ld Mission. Ht pays attention to general farming,
timber work, and handling hay. Mr. Kamlin is a
member of the M. W. A. at Old Mission. He and his
wife are members of the Lutheran church and stanch
supporters of the faith.
On August 29, 1899, Mr. Kamlin married Miss
Maggie Gillies, whose parents live in the vicinity of
Old Mission, and two children have been born to them,
Neal J. and Clarris M.
WILLIAM P. DWYER. At the present time
Mr. Dwyer is conducting a general merchandise estab-
lishment at Old Mission, where he does a good busi-
ness, and also devotes some of his time to the over-
sight of his ranch adjacent. He is a man of upright-
ness and integrity and has won the esteem and good
will of all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance.
William P. Dwyer was born in Grass Valley, Cali-
fornia, on February 18, 1867, being the son of Patrick
M. and Catherine ( Powers ) Dwyer. The father was
born in Ireland and came to the L'nited States with
his parents when five. They located in the northern
part of New York state and in 1850 Patrick M. went
to Houghton, Michigan, and worked there in the cop-
per mines until 1853. Then he came via New York and
Panama to San Francisco and engaged in mining and
the hotel business in Grass Valley. About 1864 he
was married to Catherine Powers, who came to the
United States when ten from her native land, Ire-
land. Her parents brought her to California via Pan-
ama. In i860 the family went back to Buchanan
county, Iowa, and the father took up farming. In
1870 they moved to Nevada, Gilpin county, Colorado,
and mined until 1874, then they all went to Fayette
county, Iowa, and farmed until 1888. Then the
father came to the Geur d'Alene country, bringing
our subject. William P. remained while the father
returned and brought the balance of the family. He
located near Medical Lake, Washington, and our sub-
ject took a squatter's right near Old Mission. In 1892
the father and another son, Hon. P. J. Dwyer, repre-
sentative of Kootenai county in the state legislature
in 1900, came to the vicinity of Old Mission and took
up and bought land. They remained there until 1902,
then sold out and located near Newman's lake, in Spo-
kane county, Washington. Our subject engaged in
the general merchandise business in 1900, has a good
store building and is doing well. He was married on
August 13, roo2, to Catherine F„ daughter of Wil-
liam and Catherine Ryan, near Cheney, who were
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
955
early pioneers m that section. Mr. Dwyer is a mem-
ber of the M. W. A. at ( >ld Mission and is a repre-
sentative man of excellent ability and first-class stand-
ing wherever he has dwelt. The father is a man of
wide experience, of sterling integrity and uprightness
and is a leading man in his community.
FRANK H. QUINN. This enterprising farmer
of the vicinity of Old Mission is one of the sturdy and
intrepid pioneers who pushed into this wild region and
made it the abode of civilization and have since done
worth)- labors in this line of development and progress.
Frank H. Quinn was born in Rockford. Illinois, on
May 1 1. i86l, being the son of Peter and Eliza (Dix-
on) Quinn, natives of New Jersey and early pioneers
to Illinois. Our subject was educated in the common
schools and in Fulton College and then went to Lyons,
Iowa. He learned the carpenter's trade and then
wrought at it for the years of 1877 and 1878 after
which he went to Minneapolis and worked for a street
railway company. Then he was night watchman for
the Milwaukee raidroad and in 1883 he came to Port-
land, going thence to San Francisco on the steamer
Oregon. He followed street railroading there a time
and then went to Los Angeles, after which we see
him in Portland, Spokane and later in Farmington.
Here he went to work in a saw mill and while plan-
ing there he lost one hand in the planer. After this
great misfortune Mr. Quinn aroused his real grit and
tenacity of purpose and renewed the battle of life
with even greater vigor than ever. He came to his
present place, one and one-half miles north from Old
Mission, on the Mullan road. This was in the spring
of 1889, and since that time he has labored with
great tenacity of purpose and courage and now has a
fine home of one hundred and twenty acres of hay
and timber land. He has good buildings and other
improvements, among which is an orchard, which
ground he grubbed clear from the native timber with
one hand. Mr. Quinn was one of the first settlers
here and has always taken a great interest in the
progress and upbuilding of the country. He is also
active in educational lines and has given his time and
attention to the office of director of schools for five
years, always manifesting faithfulness and efficiency
in his labors.
PATRICK J. WHALEN is one of the earliest
pioneers of the Cceur d'Alene valley and is now the
only one of those early days living here. He came
when Father Joset and a Mr. Havden were the only
white people in this section and his neighbors were
the Indians. He arrived here on January 15, 1883.
A review of his career as an old pioneer is deserving
a place in the history of the county.
Patrick J. Whalen was born in Rockland county,
Xew York, on the Hudson river, on July 6. 1850.
His parents were natives of Wicklow, Ireland, and
came to the United States before the steamboats plied
the Atlantic, being six months on the royi
father died v hen our subject was a child an
care of Ins mother. lie follow,,! boating on die Hud-
son, worked at brickmaking and at railroad
September 10, 1S77, Ah. Whalen married Mi
Mabes, of German and Irish descent. She was born
in West Point, Xew York. When Mr. Whalen came
to the Old Mission he at once located a squatter's
right, and when the land was surveyed took a home-
stead, and added as much more b) purchase. He
platted the town of Cataldo, which was named from
an early missionary, and now own- the land where
the town stands, except what he has sold a- 1- 1
Whalen owns and operates a large hotel. In addition
to this he does general farming. In earl) days he
opened (he first ferry across the Cceur d'Ali
and operated it until the railroad went through. Air.
Whalen used to go clear to Spokane for supplies in
early days and has paid as high a- a doll;.,- for one
letter. In 1884 he assisted Colonel Wallaci
to where Wallace now stand.-. A few
Mr. Whalen carm here he sent to Xew V
and brought out his mother and one sister. Another
sister was left there, but she died shortly afterward.
The sister that came here died soon after her arrival
and the mother died in 1896. Air. Whalen has no
uncles, aunts or relatives that he know- of living
except his children. He and his family are members
and supporters of the Catholic church. The follow-
ing named children have been born to Air. and Mrs.
Whalen, and also five who are deceased: Dennis,
Mary, the first white child born on the Cceur d' Uene
river; Patsey D., Thomas F., John Al., Catherine F.
A. and Morris W.
ARTHUR E. FROST is a self-made man and as
Mark Twain remarks, "He did not stop until the job
was finished." He is now a popular and thriving mer-
chant of Cataldo, where he carries a first class stock
of well assorted general merchandise for the trad, and
has won by fair dealing and genial and accommodating
ways the good will and patronage of the people of the
surrounding countrv.
Arthur E. Frost was born in the vicinity of Berlin,
Ottawa county, Alichigan, on .April 8. 1855. being the
son of Oliver and Margaret (Thompson i Frost. ["he
father died in 1863, Arthur being then eight years old.
Practically he began doing for himself then and has
been on his own resources for the intervening- time.
When he was ten, he went to Rome. Xew York, where
he worked for his board at an uncle's place and went
to school for six vears. Then he went to Vicksburg,
Michigan, and worked on a farm until twenty-two. In
the spring of 1877 he made his way to Fort W< irth,
Texas, and railroaded and farmed for three war-, [n
the spring of 1881 Air. Frost came to Walla WalJa
and went on a ranch for one year and then came to
Ellisport. Idaho. Thence in 1883 to Spokane, where
he worked in a lumber yard and then drove stage to
Ft. Spokane. In August, 1880. Air. Frost came to
Old Mission.and opened a general merchandisi est lb-
956
HTSTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
dishment, which he operated successfully until April,
1900, when he came to Cataldo. Mr. Frost was post-
master at Old Mission as he is in Cataldo. When Mr.
Frost came to Cataldo he opened a general store and
has a good building and warehouse well filled with a
choice selection of goods for this section. He al-
so has a residence and is one of the leading men of this
vicinity. „. _,,
On Tune 5. 1893, Mr. Frost married Miss Ellen,
daughter of George and Mary, and to them have
been born five children, Alice M., Arthur E., Marga-
ret, deceased. Mable M., Oliver D.
RICHARD SHARPLEY is a representative citi-
zen and prosperous stockman of the Couer d'Alene
valley where he settled on a homestead in 1891 and has
since devoted his attention to handling stock and do-
ing general farming.
Richard Sharplev was born in Buckingham, Canada,
on April 20. 1844. being the son of Nelson and Jane
(Parsher) Sharplev. among the early settlers of that
section. Our subject was educated and reared in his
native place and there on July 17. 1873, he married
Miss Margaret Ann. daughter of Chancey and Mary
J. (Timmons") Brewer, also early pioneers of that re-
gion. Mrs. Sharplev was born in Buckingham, on July
18. 1850. In 1880 Mr. Sharplev came to the United
States 'and settled in Norway. Michigan, whence in a
short time he went to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and there
worked in the lumber regions logging. In 1888 Mr.
Sharplev came to the Old Mission, arriving in July.
He went to work for salary at once and being so
favorablv impressed with the country he at once sent
for his family and in 1891 located his present home
place, three and one-half miles east from Lane on the
south' side of the river. He has the place well im-
proved with good buildings, orchards, fences, and so
forth, and is one of the prosperous men of the valley.
Mr. Sharplev has always evinced a keen interest in
educational affairs and is ever ready with a helping
hand to aid the cause. Six children have been born
to Mr. and Mrs. Sharplev, Ida Ellen, wife of Wyvel
Mitchell, of Ada, Washington; Emma M. M., wife of
Charles W. Harbor, of Murray, Idaho: Richard J..
deceased: I.illie May, wife of Sylvester Arbogast,
near Lane : Ethel Lur'a, Wilford R.
WILLIAM L. TRIPLETT. As one of the lead-
ing stockmen of the Coeur d'Alene valley and an en-
terprising citizen and upright man, we grant to Mr.
Triplett space for a review of his life in the volume
that chronicles the history of his county.
William L. Triplett was born in Triplett, Missouri,
on Tune 24. 1859, being the son of John E. M. and
Nancy CCawthorn) Triplett. The father was a native
of Franklin county, Kentucky, and came to Chariton
countv, Missouri, in 1844. being one of the first settlers
in that section. He took government la/id, married
there and is now living on the old homestead. He
platted some of his land and named the place Triplett
when a branch of the Wabash came through his place.
The mother died there in August, 1901. Our subject
received his education from the common schools and
grew to manhood there. On January 20, 1890. at Mob-
berly, Missouri. Mr. Triplett married Miss Ella L..
daughter of John and Emma (Wickes) Windel,. living
at Newmarket, Shenandoah county, Virginia, where
Mrs. Triplett was born. The parents died there and
she came to Moberly to live with her uncle, John N.
Kring. who is a retired jewelry merchant. In 1891
Mr. Triplett came to the Coeur d'Alene river and lik-
ing the county so well he selected a place and brought
his family the next year. His farm is south of the
river and two and one-half miles east from Lane.
He has a fine farm of meadow land and cuts many
tons of hay each year. Mr. Triplett has devoted him-
self steadily to raising stock since the time he came
here, being blessed with gratifying success and is now
one of the well-to-do farmers and stockmen of the
county. He bought eighty acres adjoining his home-
stead, besides owning a valuable piece of land of eighty
acres in Missouri. Two children have been born to
this union : Willie K. and Nannie P. Mr. Triplett
has his farm well improved, having a good house,
large barn, substantial outbuildings, excellent orchard
and much other improvement. He is a man of excel-
lent standing in the communitv and having the good
will and esteem of all.
EDWARD C. RAY. Few men have had more
varied experiences in responsible capacities in the
range of the western mining country than the subject
of this article, who is now living a retired life in Lane,
being a man of stanch integrity, fine capabilities, pos-
sessed of worth and sagacity that have been demon-
strated in a long career of activity and faithful walk.
Edward C. Ray was born in Randolph county,
North Carolina, on December 13, 1835, being the son
of Mark and Mary Ray. In '1853 Mr- RaY came
across the plains with a mixed train of mule and ox
teams and loose cattle. They made their way to Placer-
ville, California- and he mined there for two or three
years and then moved to Grass valley and in 1858
came thence to The Dalles. He bought a pack train
and went to Fraser river, after which he went with
Major Garnett to fight the Indians, having charge of
the government herd. He was at various places in the
northwest where exciting times had been had with the
Indians, as near Spokane, where General Wright
killed several hundred of the Indians' horses, and also
in the Okanogan country. He then went to Walla Walla
and rode express to Mullens camp, going through the
Coeur d'Alene country in 1859. Then he speculated
in cattle in California and in 1862 came to the excite-
ment in the John Day country. In the summer of
1865 Mr. Ray was with the Wilson stampede that
came as far as the present site of Wardner, but finding
no gold they were gong to hang Wilson for a false re-
EDWARD C. RAY.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
957
port. Then he repaired to Helena and prospected until
1868, when the St. Joe excitement drew him, thither.
Also, in 1865. Air. Ray was in the Sun river stampede,
wherein ten thousand people were out in the wilds in
the dead of winter and over one hundred were frozen
to death. After the St. Joe excitement he went to
Helena and mined until 1877 and then took charge of
the Silver Bow in Butte. Then he went to the Wood
river country and handled the Elkhorn until 1882.
Next we see him superintending a mine in the Maiden
region and thence he was sent to the Coeur d'Alene
country. In 1886 he returned to the Coeur d'Alene
country and was superintendent of the Bunker Hill and
Sullivan, in 1887 of the Lost Chance, in 1888 of the
Frisco, where he remained until 1891. Then he went
to Nelson, British Columbia, and developed a pros-
pect. All this work was for the same company, known
as the Helena. Montana, Company. In the spring of
1892 Mr. Ray came to the Coeur d'Alene river, where
he bought a ranch and took up raising stock. He se-
cured two car loads of registered Hereford cattle, pay-
ing fifty dollars per head for large and small, lie has
since paid attention to raising stock and is still en-
gaged in this occupation, although he has sold his farm.
Air. Ray is an expert in the science of mining and has
always commanded the best of wages and now in the
golden years of his life he is entitled to the retirement
and enjoyment of the good things which his labor has
provided. In 1870 he went east to see his mother and
his brother, E. W. Ray, arich banker of St. Joseph,
Missouri. He is well liked by all and stands high in
the esteem of the substantial people of the community.
TITUS BLESSING. A pioneer of the true grit
and spirit, a man of sound principles and uprightness,
a public minded citizen of worth and integrity, and
always dominated with sagacity, keen foresight and
manifesting energy and enterprise, the subject of this
article is deserving of consideration in the history of
his county.
Titus Blessing was born in Dubuque, Iowa, on
August 4, 1855, being the son of Frank J. and Helen
Blessing. When a child he went with his parents to
Albert Lea, Minnesota, and when he was ten, they
went to the vicinity of New Ulm. In 1876 Mr. Bless-
ing came to Helena, Alontana, and followed the mason
trade, which he had learned in his youth. Later he
mined and prospected in all the leading camps of
the state. In 1879, May 31. Mr. Blessing married Miss
Anna M., daughter of Conrad and Catherine Hoffman,
seven children having been born to them: Amelia,
Anna K., Rosa E., Walter L., Phillip R, Bessie,
John W. Mrs. Biessing was born in Munster, Ger-
many, on January 19. 1858, and came to California
with her parents and thence by stage and wagon to
Montana to see her cousin, where she met and mar-
ried Mr. Blessing. In 1883 they came with team to
Spokane, traveling over the Big Bend country. Then
M r. Blessing left his family in Spokane and came with
pack train to the Coeur dAlene country, being the
first in there before the rush. He was one who helped
draft the resolution against Chinamen coming into
the Coeur d'Alene country, which is still in force. Mr.
Blessing followed mining and prospecting for Mime
time and then sold out and came to Trent, Washing-
ton, where he went into the stock business and in 1891,
when the reservation was thrown open, he came to his
present place at Medimont and took a ho
He has one hundred and four acres of good land and
is doing well. Mr. Blessing has held the office of justice
of the peace and is an excellent officer, being faith-
ful and impartial. He has been active in the advance-
ment of educational facilities and is a progressive man
in all lines. He has some fine placer ground in the Saint
Joe region and is developing it well. Mr. Blessing
and his wife are true frontier people and. have done a
good work in development and building up the coun-
try. Air. Blessing fought Sitting Bull's band in 1877
and was a private scout under Buffalo Bill, who was
the government scout for General Miles. I I
at Strawberry island and Ft. Peck. When the Nez
Perces war broke out he came with eighty citizens of
Helena to fight the redskins, but the government for-
bade them to do so unless they would enlist and be
officered by the government. They objected and re-
turned.
HON. JESSE P. QUARLES. This well known
gentleman and patriotic and progressive citizen whose
public spirited labors have redounded to the good of
all and the advancement and development of the coun-
try, is well deserving a representation in the history
that chronicles the items of Kootenai county history.
Jesse P. Ouarles was born in Benton county. Ar-
kansas, on November 15, 1845. being the son of Thomas
and Rebecca (Cox) Ouarles. He received his educa-
tion in the log cabin school house of the day and re-
mained with his parents until he had grown to man-
hood. In the time of the war. Air. Quarles acted as
guide for General Phillips and as the danger increased
it was found necessary to remove the fami!
quarters and so they all went to Leavenworth. Kan-
sas, whence they returned after the war to their home
only to find all improvements destroyed. They went
to work improving the place and on Augusl
Mr. Ouarles married .Miss Margaret A. Coonfield. in
1873 they started across the plains with teams and
wagon and landed in Waitsburg, Washington, tour
months later. Soon after that they came to where
Farmington now stands, and there Mr. Quai
a hotel, after having farmed for a time on a piece of
land he bought. His hotel was the first in the ti >\vn and
he operated it successfully for a term of years. He
was elected county commissioner for a period of two
terms and also served as chairman of the board. Then
Air. Ouarles sold his hotel and bought a fa-
in Nez Perces county, where he lived until 1891. He
was elected to represent Nez Perces county in the state
legislature and did excellent service. Fie removed from
that place in 1891 to his present location two and one-
half miles east from Lane, where he took a homestead
95«
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
and has bought as much more land, having now a fine
half section of meadow, being very fertile land. He
has good improvements and is one of the progressive
and substantial men of the section. In 1892 Air. Quar-
ks was elected county commissioner of Kootenai coun-
ty and two years later he was called by the people to
serve as county assessor and tax collector. He has
been a stanch Republican all his life until the division
on silver when he became a silver Republican and is
a potent factor in the campaigns. Mr. Ouarles has
been a .Mason since 1867. holding the master degree
now in the Harrison lodge. Mr. Quarles is always in-
terested in and assists all movements for the advance-
ment of the country and especially is he zealous and ac-
tive in promoting religious and moral institutions and
improvement. Nine children have been born to this
worthy couple : Thomas L., deputy assessor for four
years and later chief clerk in the auditor's office and
count\ auditor and clerk of the district court ; Ora R.,
wife of G. M. Robertson, county treasurer of Idaho
county for six years ; Isaac L., Richard A., of Wardner :
lames X.. deceased: Frank, deceased; William Clvde,
Lula B., Milton Rav.
PAUL L. ZIMMERMAN. To the careful in-
dustry .enterprise and good management of Mr. Zim-
merman, is due the splendid success that is his now to
enjoy. He is a general merchant in Lane and carries
a fine stock of goods, well selected, and by honorable
treatment of patrons he has built up a fine trade, being
one of the successful and substantial men of the county.
Paul L. Zimmerman was born in Breslau, the capi-
tal of Silesia, Germany, on May 31, i860, being the
son of August F. and Agnes (Prang) Zimmerman.
The father was a wholesale tobacconist and did a thriv-
ing business until 1870, when he died. Our subject
attended school in Germany until 1874 and migrated
to the United States with his uncle, Louis Prang,
who is now in business in Boston. He attended col-
lege in New York for one year and then went to
Malvern. Arkansas, to work on his uncle's fruit farm.
Four vears later he went to Lexington. Nebraska, and
there operated a farm for his mother until 1891. Then
purchasing a team and wagon and a stock of dry
goods he started west. He had a fresh supply shipped
to him at convenient places and sold all through the
Palouse country until 1896, in which year he came
and opened a small store in Lane, being the first one
to settle there. He did well from the start and soon
a postoffice was established with Mr. Zimmerman as
postmaster and since that time he has continued in this
capacity to the satisfaction of ali. He has now a large
and well filled store with a good warehouse packed full
and does an extensive business. Mr. Zimmerman
handles feed and flour and has a good trade in cord-
wood and mining timbers with his other business. He
lias a nice residence in the town and has always been
a leader in any movement for the benefit of the coun-
try. He is a member of the M. W. A., Camp No. 928,
of Lane, being clerk of the camp. Mr. Zimmerman is
the oldest of five children, his mother is now living in
lloston with one of his brothers. Mr. Zimmerman is
a member and stanch supporter of the Lutheran church,
being an exemplary man and a first class citizen.
JAMES W. SLAYTER. Doubtless due to the ef-
forts of the subject of this article more than any other
man is the establishment of the town of Medimont and
also the bringing of it to the front. Mr. Slayter is now
the leading merchant of the place, having a fine two-
story structure well filled with a good selection of the
goods needed in the vicinity. Also he owns a com-
fortable residence in the town and is one of the lead-
ing and prominent men of the section.
A detailed account of Mr. Slayter's life will be ac-
ceptable reading for the volume of the county history.
YYe note that he was born in Plymouth, Indiana, on
July 28, 1858, being the son of Abraham and Margaret
Slayter. He attended school in his native place and
then took a course in the Normal Institute and taught
three years before he was twenty. In 1878 he came
with his parents to Polk county, Wisconsin, and en-
gaged as a salesman for a time after which he took up
lumbering. There, in 1884, Mr. Slayter married
Miss Minnie MaGee and two children were born
to them, Winona and Grover. In 1886 Mr. Slayter
came to Rockford, Washington, and after he came here
his wife died in the east. Then he went to Wallace
and took up general merchandising until 1890, when
he located the townsite of Medimont. He at once
established a store and since that time has done an
ever increasing trade. Mr. Slayter succeeded in get-
ting a postoffice established at the time he came here
and he was appointed postmaster. Since then he has
continuously held that office to the satisfaction of all.
Mr. Slayter carries a large, well selected stock of goods
and is popular and stands well with all.
On February 29, 1892, Mr. Slayter married again,
Miss Myrtle, daughter of Charles and Jane Cahill,
becoming his wife on this occasion. Mr. Cahill was a
wealthy farmer of the vicinity of Dayton, Washington,
and later removed to Fairfield, where he died. Mrs.
Cahill lives there yet. To Mr. and Mrs. Slayter there
have been born two children, Stanlev and Dale.
HON. R. KING EMERSON. From the early
days of '49 to the present the subject of this
sketch has been on the frontier in all the leading camps
of the west and is thoroughly acquainted with the la-
bors, hardships, successes and disappointments inci-
dent to this rugged life and it is but right to say that
the result of his labors has been much development and
improvement in the various places it has been bestowed.
At present, Mr. Emerson dwells on a valuable ranch
about one mile south from Medimont and there devotes
much of his attention to general farming and stock
raising.
King Emerson was born in Clark county, Kentuckv,
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
on April 3, 1832, being the son of James and Mary
Emerson. When a child he went with his parents
to Randolph county, Missouri, where they remained
until the spring of 1850, then they started across the
plains with ox teams- in a large train. Indians were
hostile and they were forced to drive the oxen with
whip in one hand and a trusty rifle in the other. The
trip was fraught with great danger, hardship and de-
privation but in four months and six days from the
time of starting they landed in Eldorado county, Cal-
ifornia, and at once went to delving for the hidden
treasures. Later they were in Solano county and fol-
lowed farming and stock raising ; then the parents
returned to Missouri and our subject went back to
Eldorado county. The father died in Missouri, on
December 11, 1863. on his seventy-second birthday.
The mother died three weeks later in Linn county, the
same state. In 1866, Mr. Emerson went to Helena,
Montana, and thence to Jefferson county. He fol-
lowed stock raising and also kept the Emerson hotel.
In 1872 he was elected representative to the state legis-
lature on the Democrat ticket and later was chosen as
county assessor. In 1879 Mr. Emerson came to Butte,
Montana, and there remained until i88i,when he went
to Missoula. In the fall of 1883 he established the
half-way house between Trout creek and Eagle City
and operated the same and prospected through the
Coeur d'Alene country. Following this he was in busi-
ness four years in Wardner ; in 1892 Mr. Emerson
came to the Saint Mary's country, homesteaded and
went to raising stock. Later he sold that place and
bought his present home which is a fine piece of land
where he raises cattle. In addition to this Mr. Emer-
son operated in the mercantile field for two years.
On September 3, 1857, Mr. Emerson married Miss
-Mary A. Douglas, in Solano county, California. One
child has been born to them, Nettie, wife of John Gil-
lie, of Butte.
JOSIAH ROBERTS. This interpid pioneer and
stirring business man is carrying on a farm and also
operating a hotel which is known as the half-way place
between Saint Maries and Santa, on the Saint Mary's
river. Mr. Roberts secured his land by homestead
right and since the date of settlement in 1893 he has
constantly been active in developing the country and
gaining new settlers for this fertile region.
Josiah Roberts was born in Nodaway county, Mis-
souri, on September 10, 1863, being the son of John
and Elizabeth (Corner) Roberts. In 1873 the family
came west to Portland, Oregon, and the father took
a homestead and gave his attention to farming, paying
attention also to stock raising. Our subject was edu-
cated in the public schools and came in due time to the
Inland Empire country, locating his homestead on the
Saint Mary's as stated. When the mining excitement
broke out at Tyson, Mr. Roberts was among the very
first to locate in that section where he secured some
mining claims. He also began to investigate and found
some valuable diggings on his own homestead which
was a surprise to all. Mr. Roberts is a member of
the M. \\ . A. at Santa and is a man of excellent quali-
ties and first-class standing. He has been a great
traveler bavm- made five trips across the plains, three
of winch were made in 1SS5. He has had much troubli
with the Indians and lost one hundred head of stock
besides having some of his men seriously wounded.
He had several narrow escapes from the savages him-
self and the experiences of his travels would make
an interesting volume themselves. He took fifteen
thousand head of cattle to Texas and Old M<
in 1890 finished this work and settled down to farming,
later coming to the favored spot of the Saint Mary's.
Mr. Roberts is one of the prominent men of this vi-
cinity and is a real pioneer with the courage and en-
durance to accomplish the frontiersman's labors.
SILAS REXFRO, deceased. No enumeration oi
the worthy pioneers of the Saint Marys region would
be complete without special mention of the esteemed
gentleman to whom we grant a memorial in the vol-
ume of his county's history.
Silas Renfro was born in Grayson county, Ken-
tucky, on January 25, 1828, and Mrs. Renfro was born
in the same county on July 6, 1848. They removed to
Brown county, Illinois, and then to Linn county, .Mis-
souri, where they were married on July 7, 1862. Mr.
Renfro was in the state militia under Captain Moses
Roush and after his service he removed to Brown coun-
ty, Illinois, and there followed farming until 1865.
Then came a move to Henry county, Missouri, and two
years later they went thence to Jasper county, in the
same state. Later they were in Marion county, Iowa,
and in 1878 came to Lane county, Oregon, where Mr.
Renfro located a homestead. In 1888 they came with
their cattle and drove their teams to Kootenai county
and located near the mouth of the Saint Marys, where
Saint Maries now stands. On January 12, 1889, Mr.
Renfro passed away and the heavy burdens of caring
for the family rested on Mrs. Renfro alone. The de-
ceased was a man of good qualities and received the
respect and esteem of all. doing excellent w;>rk in build-
ing up the west. Mrs. Renfro decided to sell her place
at the first location and did so in May, 1890. Then she
came and took the land where Santa now stands. She
went to work with a will and a keen wisdom and fore-
sight characterized her actions. That she was right
in her calculations is evidenced by the signal success
that has followed her. She soon saw the opening foi
1: hotel on her ranch and built one. She secured a
postoffice in 1804 and has since continued in the dis-
charge of the duties of this office to the satisfaction of
all. She soon sold the hotel, then built her present
store building, having also operated a store before this
was built. She has steadily pursued the way of busi-
ness and is blessed with a good trade in the mercan-
tile line, handles a feed stable, and is one of the leading
personages of the southern portion of the county. In
the spring of 1002 Airs. Renfro platted a townsite and
has sold many lots since that time. She is a capable
business woman, has the good will and admiration of
960
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
all and is deserving of the abundant success and good
things that are hers now to enjoy. Eight children have
been born to this estimable lady, named as follows:
Stephen Edward, Mrs. Rhoda A. Post, John H., James
B.. Clark, Mary E., deceased, Harvey, Mrs. Nora A.
Walkup, Cora.' All the children are at home or near,
except Mrs. Post, who is in Lane count}'. Oregon. In
addition to the enterprises which we have mentioned,
Mrs. Renfro has steadily pursued the occupation of
raising stock and now has a fine band of cattle. In the
fall of 1902 Mrs. Renfro caused to be constructed a
residence in Santa, that has not its equal in the upper
Saint Maries country. It contains seven rooms and is
strictly modern and of neat design.
HENRY R. GRIFFUS. Although the subject of
this article has been but a short time in this section
of the country, still he has identified himself with its
interests in such a practical and strong way that he is
considered one of the substantial and leading men of
the community. Mr. Griffus and son have some valu-
able mining property for which he has refused three
thousand dollars. In addition to this he is a first class
millwright and labors at his trade, being skillful and
capable.
Henry H. Griffus was born in Saginaw county,
Michigan, on February 9, 1856, where he grew to man-
hood and received his education. He learned the
trade in his native place and at once commenced to
labor in it and most of the time since that date he
has wrought with industry and wisdom. On January
11, 1878. Mr. Griffus married Miss Anna R. Smeaton
and to them has been born one child. John W., of
Tyson. Mr. Griffus came to Idaho on September 27,
1901, and soon became interested in mining properties
near Tyson. He has continued here since and has
good properties, being respected and esteemed by all,
a man of abilitv, industrv and integritv. He is a mem-
ber of the I. "O. O. F.', Oakley Lodge. Xo. 198, in
Michigan, and is past grand of the order.
ELISHA J. WILSON resides two and one-half
miles southeast from Santa on the Saint Mary's river,
where he owns a good farm of one hundred and sixty
acres, which he secured from the government by home-
stead right in 1890. The place has some excellent
timber and contains a cultivated portion of twenty
acres. Mr. Wilson has good improvements and is
one of the substantial and progressive citizens of the
county. Mr. Wilson is the son of James and Eliza-
beth (Harboor) Wilson, natives respectively of Vir-
ginia and Ohio. They were married in Champaign
county, Ohio, and there our subject was born on Au-
gust 5, 1832. His great-grandfather on the mother's
side was in General Washington's army and the son
of this patriot served in the war of 1812. When Elisha
was a child the family went to Defiance county. Ohio,
but returned a few years later. In 1841 they went to
Jefferson county, Iowa. In these places this si 11 was
educated and in 1859 ne ^^ home and returned to
Ohio. At the breaking out of the war he was caring
for his grandmother, a woman of ninety years, and
he could not in honor leave her to enlist, although he
desired to do so. At the close of the war this aged
lady passed away and our subject returned to Iowa.
In February, 1867, he married Miss Anna C. Nelson, a
native of Sweden. She came to the United States
when she was nine years old. Mr. Wilson farmed in
Iowa for several years and then removed to Blanchard
county, Missouri. Three years after that he went to
Beatrice, Nebraska, and farmed until 1888, in which
year he located near Moscow. In 1890 he came to his
present place, being one of the first men to settle here.
He has done a noble w-ork in opening the country and
is deserving of the credit always due the intrepid and
courageous pioneer. Air. Wilson does general farm-
ing and raises some stock. He has always been a pro-
gressive and public minded citizen and now in the
■golden years of his life he is entitled to enjov the good
things which his industry and thrift have provided.
Seven children have been born to this household and
they are named as follows : Frank, in Kootenai coun-
ty : Mrs. Leticia Weigle, of this county ; Mrs. Ophelia
McGuire, of Moscow; Edward, of Moscov . Mrs.
Elizabeth Renfro. of Santa, Marion, Clarence.
HON. SAMUEL E. HENRY. This young and
prominent attorney has made a name for himself, not
only in Kootenai county, but throughout the state of
Idaho, which grants him prestige and an enviable dis-
tinction. This has been done by his masterly ability,
not only in the practice of law, wherein he has gained
a brilliant success, but also in the halls of state legisla-
tion, where he has left a record that causes his op-
ponents to fear him and his friends to give warm appro-
bation.
Reverting to his personal career, we note that he
was born in Findlay, Ohio, on December 27. 1865, be-
ing the son of J. C. and Levina (Ferguson) Henry.
natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania, respectively. There
were twelve children in the family, named as follows :
C. W., married and living in Kansas ; Samuel E., the
subject of this article; Cora, married; Daisy, wife of
W. P. Buell. in Shreveport, Louisiana: Maggie, wife
of James McKeever. in Fremont, Nebraska: G A.,
married and living in Missouri Valley. Iowa: Albert,
married and living in Deadwood, South Dakota ;
Francis, married and living in Omaha, Nebraska ; J.
C, Jr., married and living in Omaha, Nebraska;
Laura, married and living in Missouri; Tutsey, de-
ceased : Turwines.
The parents came to Council Bluffs, Iowa, in 1871,
and there the father did business as one of the leading
shoe merchants until he retired. He is now there,
aged seventy-six, and the mother is sixty-four.
Samuel E. was educated in the schools of Council
Bluffs and at Drake University, Des Moines- then
completing his law course in the same university in
HON. SAMUEL E HENRY.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
961
1889. He located in Council Bluffs and practiced un-
til 1890, and then came to Bonner's Ferry and opened
an office, where he has done a lucrative business since
that time.
In 1894 Air. Henry married .Miss Gertrude M.,
daughter of A. F. and Kate Annis, and to them one
child has been born, Patrick Henry.
In the political realm Mr. Henry has done a fine
work and has shown his ability to the satisfaction of
all who reposed confidence in him. He is a stanch Re-
publican and imbued with the patriotism of the prin-
ciples which that party holds forth. In 1894 he was
nominated to represent Kootenai and Latah counties
in the state legislature, and although the Democrats and
Populists combined against him in their candidate,
William Yangaske, he beat his opponent by three hun-
dred. In the house he at once began to act and as-
sisted materially in passing the irrigation bill, which
was strongly opposed. He was the father of the county
division bill, which would have divided Kootenai coun-
ty and made Bonner's Ferry the county seat. The hill
passed his house by twenty-one to eleven but was
killed in the other house. Mr. Henry killed the bill
that would have taken the institution from Moscow
and placed a portion of it at Weiser. The next fight
was between the candidates for United States Senate,
they being Sweet and Shoop. Shoop was finally
elected after a sixty-day fight. In the fight regarding
the changing of the boundaries of the county of Blain
and Logan, Mr. Henry held the house for three days,
the house being in committee of the whole. At the
expiration of that period, the house resumed regular
session and reported progress. Again the house went
into committee of the whole and Mr. Henry was ap-
pointed chairman. I luring this important sitting three
of the most important bills of the entire session were
prepared for passage and practically settled and the
Idaho Statesman, commenting upon it. said if the house
would allow Henry to act as chairman he would have
cleared up the calendar in twenty minutes. In 1899
Mr. Henry was again before the people, but as his
party was defeated, he went with it and since that time
he has been paying his attention closely to the practice
of his profession in which his native acumen, deep
penetration, keenness, excellent fortification by constant
and careful reading have made him eminently success-
ful and he is sought after by a large clientage.
JOHN McLEAN, a farmer and miner near Santa,
is the son of John and Ann McLean, natives of the
highlands of Scotland. They came to the township
of Erin, Wellington county, in the province of Ontario,
in the early part of the nineteenth century, and there
our subject was born on July 18, 1833. He was edu-
cated there and grew to manhood, remaining with
his parents until 1866. In that year Mr. McLean
migrated to Whitecreek, Huron county, Michigan, and
engaged in lumbering. There, on November 2", 1868,
Mr. McLean married Miss Mary Self, who is descended
from German and English ancestry. Thirteen children
were born to this marriage- Charles A.. William |.,
George, Walter, Daniel, Frank, Arthur. Laughhn,
Fred, deceased, llrs. Maggie Trader. Rachel. Mary
and Lorilla. Walter enlisted in the late war from
Michigan, but was mustered out in the south b( ' n h
got into active service. William J. and (ieorge en-
listed in the Philippine war from Washington and wen!
all through the struggle in the Philippine island-.
George is now in Oregon Cit\ and William went to
Great Falls, Montana. Walter' went to Portland, l »re-
gon, after the war and then shipped to Liverpol as a
sailor, having had some considerable experience before
the mast previous to this time. Charles A., the old-
est son, came to Spokane and thence to Camas Cove
mining section and located a claim which he and his
partner sold for four thousand dollars. He also owns
several mining claims with his father and has a tim-
ber claim which is valuable. He is also a heavy stock-
holder in the Richmond Mining Company. < >ur sub-
ject came to his present home in Santa in May, loot.
and located a homestead of one quarter section. He
purchased another quarter and has some valuable prop-
erty. Mr. McLean has always been an enterprising and
progressive man, being one of the men whose labors
count for development and upbuilding in all lines and
whose walk is above reproach, being respected and es-
teemed bv all.
JOSEPH T. DUGAN. No mention of southern
Kootenai county would be complete were there fail-
ure to grant consideration to the well known gentle-
man whose name is at the head of this article, since he
is prominent in educational circles of the county and
also had much to do in opening the Tyson camp and
is a man of ability and excellent standing.
Joseph T. Dugan was born in Bond county, Illi-
nois, on January 3. 1871, being the son of John W.
and Sarah (Williams) Dugan. The father responded
to the first call for ninety-day men and then enlisted in
Company for three years. He served out this
time and then organized a company of Home ( iuards
of which he was captain. In 1881 he went to Fayette
county where he followed merchandising, until i8o/>
and then went to Winslow, Arkansas, where he died
in March, 1902. Our subject gained his primary
education in the common schools and then took his de-
gree from Almyra, now Greenville College, at ( ireen-
ville, Illinois. After this he took a special course in
Vandalia state normal and thus was especially well
fitted for teaching. He followed this important oc-
cupation for four years in Illinois and in June, 1894,
came to Rathdrum, Idaho, where he had two brothers
and one sister living. Mr. Dugan at once took up
teaching there and in the fall of 1900 took charge of the
school between Fernwood and Santa. During va-
cations Mr. Dugan followed the highly interesting
work of prospecting and has various claims in the vi-
cinity. He was one of the very first to call attention
to the pay dirt in the vicinity of Tyson and others
went to work and the discovery was made. He located
some of the first ground in the camp and now has a
962
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
large holding there, including the Pittsburg Jane,
Yandalia, Beauty and others, which he owns with his
brothers in Rathdrum. Mr. Dugan located the Cedar
Creek which he sold to D. C. Corbin of Spokane. Mr.
Dugan has about as heavy interest in the camp as any
individual and is one of the prominent men of the sec-
tion. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Saint Maries
Lodge No. 32, also of the M. W. A. of Rathdrum. Mr.
Dugan is an enterprising and capable young man and
has the esteem and good will of all.
AMOS D. Van ORSDAL. Just south of Tyson is
the home place of our subject. This was acquired
from the government by homestead right and is one of
the choice pieces of land in this vicinity, being both
timber and hay land. Mr. Van Orsdal has labored
here with enterprise and wisdom and has done a good-
ly share in developing the country.
Amos D. Van Orsdal was born in Keokuk, Iowa, on
June 1 1, 1867, being the son of Valencourt and Louisa
(Wright) Van Orsdal. The mother died the year of
his birth. His father was born in Missouri and cross-
ed the plains in the early fifties, taking part in the min-
ing industry in California. He also raised stock and
speculated in stock considerable. He returned to Keo-
kuk via Panama and New York, and there married.
He was one of the early settlers in Keokuk, owning a
farm where part of the city now stands. He operated
a livery there and also had a towing boat on the Miss-
issippi and was well known in Iowa and Missouri
until his death in 1892. Our subject gained his edu-
cation in Keokuk and in 1888 came Jo Baker City,
Oregon and later went on to Malheur county, where
his brother-in-law, Charles Becker, lived near Westfall,
engaged in the stock business. Mr. Van Orsdal rode
the range until 1894 and then came to Grangeville and
followed freighting until 1899, when he came to his
present place, and since that time he has been identi-
fied with the interests of this section. Mr. Van Ors-
dal has good improvements and a valuable home
place. He owns the Goldbug quartz and the Last
Chance placer claims, being deeply interested in min-
ing here. Mr. Van Orsdal is a member of the M.
W. A. of Santa. He is a man entitled to and the
recipient of the respect and confidence of the entire
community.
SAMUEL B. RITCHEY. A well-known busi-
ness man of Tyson, being the pioneer merchant and
hotel man of the camp, while he also now handles, in
addition to these industries, a feed stable and is post-
master.
Samuel B. Ritchev was born in Lane county. Ore-
gon, on May 31. 1S59, being the son of Matthew B.
and Mary G. (Craig) Ritchev, natives of Indiana and
Ohio, respectively. They were married in Iowa and
in 1853 crossed the plains with ox teams and located
on a donation claim in Lane county. There they
remained until their death, the father passing away
m 1891 and the mother in 1899. They v. . ■
the- earliest pioneers of that section and were well
known and highly respected people. Our subject was
educated in his native place and came to Farmington,
Washington, locating a homestead across the line in
Latah county, Idaho. There he resided and did gen-
oral farming until 1901, when he sold out and came
to Tyson, taking up the industries mentioned above.
He has proved himself a capable business man and is
achieving a gratifying success in his labors. Mr.
Ritchev was one of the first locaters of mining prop-
erty here and now has one placer claim, interests in
others and a portion of the stock of the Richmond
Gold Mining and Milling Company. He is a member
of the Maccabees, and when in Latah county was jus-
tice of the peace, and was also constable for three
years.
On December 31, 1889, Mr. Ritchev married Miss
Emma B., daughter of John and Martha Cummings,
who were among the earliest pioneers of Latah county.
They put out the first orchard of that county. At
present their home is in Alberta, Canada. Two chil-
dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ritchev — Melvin
D., deceased : Hettie May. Mr. Ritchey has always
shown himself to be a progressive and enterprising
citizen, and has done a good part in the development
of the country, being a man of public spirit and gen-
erosity. He has several valuable quartz claims and
is secretary of the Miners' Association of the camp.
JOHN O. TYSON. Among the pioneers of
Kootenai county it is right that we should make espe-
cial mention of the gentleman whose name is at the
head of this article, being a man of energy, integrity
and sagacity, as his works and walk will show.
John Q. Tyson was born in Lane county, Oregon,
on January 6, 1866, being the son of James B. and
Mary A. (Price) Tyson. He remained with his par-
ents near Eugene, Oregon, until 1877, and then they
all moved to Farmington, Washington. He was
educated here and in Oregon, and in 1886 took a trip
to Santa Rosa, California, where he lived until 1890.
Then he returned to Farmington and the same year
he came to the section of country where he now
resides. Mr. Tyson was pleased with the country and
at once bought the relinquishment of a man by the
name of Ritchey. who was the only settler here then,
and the country was wild and new. Mr. Tyson went
to work at farming and raising stock, and more or
less he has continued at this since that time. He now
owns eighty acres adjoining the town of Tyson and
has it well improved. In addition to the labors men-
tioned he has paid considerable attention to mining
and was one of the first to locate claims in the now
well known Tyson camp. He has interests in several
valuable quartz and placer claims and was one of the
incorporators of the Wasco Mining and Milling Com-
pany, being one of the enterprising and progressive
citizens of this country whose labors have done a great
deal to bring it to its present development.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
963
On June 10, 1894, Air. Tyson married Miss Mar)
J., daughter of Hughes and Susan East, of Emida.
Three children have been born to them — Guy. Rich-
ard Dewey, Ruth. Mr. Tyson has always been active
in promoting educational facilities, as he has also in
the general progress and building up the country and
he is one of the substantial and well respected citizens.
PETER DESGRANGES, Jr. A miner with the
true spirit of '49, as will be developed in what fol-
lows, a man of energy and ability, well experienced
in the ways of business, a public minded and progres-
sive citizen, one of the leading promoters of the Tyson
mining region, the subject of this article should be
represented in this history and with pleasure we grant
him this consideration.
Peter Desgranges was born in Buffalo, New York,
on May 14, 1858, being the son of Peter and Sophia
(Dushan) Desgranges. Our subject received his edu-
cation in the schools of his native place and in 1870
he came with his parents to Waverly, Bremer county,
Iowa, where he remained until 1880. In that year he
came, via San Francisco, Portland, and Walla Walla
to Rock-ford, Washington, the trip from Walla Walla
being with teams. Two small houses were then the
sum total of Rockford. Mr. Desgranges took a home-
stead and later was connected with his brother, H.
W. Desgranges, in handling a newspaper in Rockford.
At one time they were burned out and securing a small
outfit, they continued the paper without the loss of a
single issue. Mr. Desgranges was active and capable
in the newspaper world and brought out a sheet that
was prized and approved. On March 1, 1900, the dis-
covery of gold was made at Tyson and our subject
promptly locked the door of his office, bestrode a cay-
use, packed another and made his way to the new fields.
He was one of the first on the ground and swam the
raging flood of the St. Marys river in his trip. He se-
cured some of the most valuable claims in the vicinity
and has stayed with the camp since that date. He was
one of the organizers of the Richmond Gold Mining
and Milling Company, it being the first company or-
ganized here. Mr. Desgranes is the heaviest stock-
holder and is also a stockholder in the Wasco com-
pany, which is very promising. The former company
has the original discovery claims and Mr. Desgranges
is secretary and treasurer. Mr. Desgranges is doubt-
less the man whose energy and interest has done more
for Tyson than any other one man and he is deserving
of great credit for his labors. On March 5, 1903, he
married Elizabeth Evans, who was born August 21,
1870. at Belmont, Ohio.
PINK C. MASHBURN. This worthy and enter-
prising citizen, whose labors have wrought out an
abundant success in the financial world of Kootenai
county, is entitled to a place in its history because of
his success, his ability, his standing, and his sterling
integrity and intrinsic worth.
Pink C. Mashburn was burn in Cherokee county,
North Carolina, on July 29, 1849, being the son of
Joshua and Sarah (McMahan 1 Mashburn. The father
died in 1862. Our subject grew up on a farm and was
married February 1, 1SX7. to Miss Allie, .laughter of
Henry and Mary (Hamphill) \\ hitener. The ances-
tors of both Mr and Mrs. Mashburn were early pio-
neers of the county of Cherokee, North Carolina. In
[892 Mr. Mashburn came west with his family, settling
near Oakesdale, Washington. ! >ne year later he came
1o Indian creek, Kootenai county, near what is now
Sanders. He took a squatter's right and improved
the land until 1900, when he sold the propert) and
bought his plesent place, at the mouth of Santa . re< k.
He has a half section of fine land in that place and
enough more in other places to make over seven hun-
dred acres. He raises much hay and also handles and
raises many cattle. Mr. Mashburn is one of the most
prosperous men of this community and it is due to tin-
great wisdom and industry that he has manifested in
the manipulation of his business affairs in the time in
which he has domiciled here. When Mr. .Mashburn
first came to the county, he was possessed of but little
of this world's goods and his entire holding of stock
and land which will doubtless aggregate twenty
thousand dollars, has been gained "here. When in
Sanders, he was postmaster for some time. In politi-
cal matters, he has evinced the interest that is becom-
ing the intelligent citizen and is a progressive and
public minded citizen. Seven children have been born
to our subject and his estimable wife : Charlie, de-
ceased, Florence M., Benjamin L., Luther W., Jessie
L., Ouincv I., deceased, and Olive B.
FRANCIS M. GUNN. In 1897 we find that Mr.
Gunn came to the Santa and since that time he has
been one of the leading stockmen of the country, now
having a large band of cattle, numbering between one
and two hundred. He is a substantial and esteemed
citizen and has the good will of all.
Francis M. Gunn was born in Cass county, Mis-
souri, on September 17, i860, being the son of James
M. and Eliza (Wallace) Gunn. The father, who was
in the Union armv. was killed in battle. Our subject
grew up on a farm and in the spring of 1880, started
across the plains with teams and wagon. His sister
and brother-in-law. Perry Prettyman. accompanied
him. They came direct to Whitman county and lo-
cated near Oakesdale, taking a homestead and engag-
ing in raising stock and general farming.
On February 16, 1882. Mr. Gunn married Miss
Cora, daughter of Nathaniel L. and Angeline Strenge.
who came from the state of Missouri. Mr. Strenge
came to California in 1849. then went to Oregon where
he was married. He lived in Linn county some time
and there Mrs. Gunn was born on April 24. 1864. Soon
after that date the family moved back to Missouri and
later returned to the west by team. Thi> time they
located near Oakesdale where the parents now live,
retired. Our subject remained in the vicinity of Oakes-
964
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
dale until 1897. He was engaged in general merchan-
dising in Oakesdale for a long time and in the year
mentioned he came to his present place on Santa creek.
He is living in the town of Emida and attends to his
stock business from there. Mr. Gunn is considered as
one of the substantial and capable business men of the
country and has always been in the front in any line
of improvement. Four children have been born to this
happy couple. Stella Frances. Maude Pearl, deceased,
Claude Earl, Nina Pearl.
HUGHES EAST. The esteemed and. substantial
gentleman and public minded citizen of whom we now
have the pleasure of speaking was born in Lawrence
county, Indiana, on December 11. 1842, being the son
of Hughes and Rosa East. He grew to manhood and
was educated in his native place. On September 20,
1861, he enlisted in Company F, Forty-third Indiana
Volunteers, going in as a private and rising by merit
to the position of corporal. He first served under
General Buell in the Army of the Tennessee, then was
transferred to Grant's army. He served in the sieges
of Vicksburg and .Memphis, was in the battle of Hel-
ena and many skirmishes in Mississippi and then was
transferred to General Steele's army in Arkansas.
He participated in the battle of Little Rock, fought
Price several times and took part in the Red river ex-
pedition. From Camden his regiment was ordered
to Pine Bluff and there he fought at Mark's Mill and
received a wound in his leg. He languished in prison
for a month and then was paroled. On his way home
he volunteered to assist in driving out Morgan, who
was troublesome, and having done that he went home,
whence he soon returned to the front and served con-
tinuously until June 20, 1865. when he was mustered
out. .Mr. East's first battle was at Madrid. Missouri,
and he also fought at Island Xo. 10, besides many
conflicts not mentioned and numerous skirmishes.
During the war Mr. East was forced to endure great
hardships, was in the heat of battle or on the march
almost constantly and was always found to be a faith-
ful, courageous and unflinching soldier. He is now
a member of the G. A. R. at Garfield.
While on the furlough home .Mr. East married
Miss Susan, daughter of Valentine and Harriet Rain-
bolt, the date of the wedding being July 12, 1864.
Mrs. East was born in Greene county, Indiana, on
February 11, 18-12. In 1867 they removed to Jasper
county, Iowa, then to Shelby county, where they
farmed until 1879. In that year they started across
the plains, having a family of six children. They came
to the Palouse country and camped wmere Garfield now
stands. They located a homestead about two miles
south and commenced to improve. Mr. East, on a
prospecting tour, came to his present home place in the
vicinity of Emida in 1881. Being so well pleased with
it he determined to make it his permanent home. In
the spring of 1885 he came thither with two others
and since that time he has constantly been in the good
work of imoroving and building up the country. He
has a valuable ranch, has handled considerable stock
and is a leading citizen. In May, 1900, Mr. East en-
gaged in general merchandise and in August, 1902,
lie sold out to his partner, Mr. Levi Crow. At pres-
ent Air. East is leading a retired life in Emida and is
fully entitled to enjoy the good things his labor has
provided, for he has materially assisted in building up
this section and was one of its very first settlers. Mr.
and Mrs. East are the parents of nine children : Annie
I.., wife of Joseph Gill, of Kootenai county: Lela,
wife of Edward E. Dawson, of Emida ; Louisa, wife
<>f Guy Davis, of Harrison; Thomas J., married to
Bessie Sherman, of Emida; Luther; Alary, wife of
John Tyson, of Tyson: Katie, Jennie A., Grover. Mr.
and Mrs. East have always evinced a great interest in
religious and educational work and have done much
toward uplifting the community and placing it on a
better plane.
WILLIAM DAWSON. About a quarter of a
mile from Emida postoffice we find the home of our
subject and the thrift and industry that he has put
forth have made the wild a fertile farm and given
him a valuable and comfortable home place.
William Dawson was born in Jasper count}'. Mis-
souri, on March 14, 1866. being the son of Levi M.
and Charlotte (Hays) Dawson. The father enlisted
for a short service in the Confederate army and then
returned to his farm. Our subject grew to manhood
in the native place and received his education there,
as well as a good training on the farm. In 1879. with
his parents, he came to Walla Walla, crossing the
plains with teams. Later we see him in Spokane, and
in the vicinity of Waverly the father took a homestead
and there engaged in general farming and raising-
stock.
On January 19, 1888, Mr. Dawson married Miss
Martha J . daughter of Mordecai and Dora Griffith,
of Rosalia. In the fall of 1890 he came to his pres-
ent place and entered land as a homestead. Few set-
tlers were in this entire region and our subject, being
a real pioneer, was forced to endure the hardships and
perform the trying and arduous labors incident to mak-
ing a fine farm from the wilderness. He has given his
attention to general farming somewhat, but is mostly
occupied in raising hay and stock. He has eighty
acres seeded to timothy and has also some fine speci-
mens of mutton sheep, as well as some cattle. Mr.
Dawson is a member of the M. W. A. at Emida and
is one of the leading and substantial men of this sec-
tion. Four children have been born to this household :
Corrv William, Ollie. Bertha Pearl and Lillie May.
LEVI CROW. This well known business man is
proprietor of a general merchandise establishment in
Emida, where he is doing a thriving business and is
both popular and sustains a reputation which has
given him the confidence and good will of all.
Levi Crow was born in the vicinitv of Carthage.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
965
Missouri, on May 17. 186S, being1 the son of William
and Catherine (Hay?) Crow, natives of Kentucky and
( Ihio, respectively. The father enlisted in Company
E. Thirteenth Kansas Cavalry ami served in Kansas,
Missouri and Arkansas all through the war and was
honorably discharged at the close. He was married
in 1 Si it 1 near Carthage. In 1873 he was killed by the
kick of a horse. Our subject remained with his mother
until her death in 1879 and then in 1881 came across
the plains with his uncle, George E. Ray, direct to
Thurston county. Washington. He attended common
school and finished his education in the Collegiate
Institute at Olympia. Then he bought land and
farmed until February 6, 1892, when he started for
the Santa valley. He entered a homestead about two
miles below the present Emida, where he has about
sixty acres of timothy and here he gave his attention to
raising stock until < )ctober, loot, when he sold his
stock and took a half interest in a general merchandise
establishment with Mr. East. In August, 1902, Mr.
Crow bought the interest of Mr. East and now has a
fine store. The building is 24x40, well filled with
a tine assortment for the trade and the entire establish-
ment breathes of the business spirit and enterprise of
the proprietor, while the community manifest their
confidence and approval of Mr. Crow's methods by
granting him a first-class patronage. Mr. Crow is a
member of the M. W. A., at Emida, and has held the
office of justice of the peace since 1893. He takes an
active part in the educational advancement of the
country and is a public spirited man.
On October 7, 1894. Mr. Crow married Miss Maud
M. Davis, whose parents, Theodore and Sydney Davis,
were among the first pioneers of the Santa valley.
Three children were born to them : William G., Rosa
M. and Myrton E. On June 20, 1900. Mrs. Crow was
called away by death. On May 20, 1902. Mr. Crow
took to himself a second wife, the lady being Mrs.
Eugenia (Garton) Norton, who has, by her former
husband, one child. Orja Norton. Our subject is one
of the real builders of this section and his public spir-
it and enterprise have done a lion's share in pressing
the country to the front and in building it up and
bringing it to its present prosperous condition.
THOMAS H. FEW. A worthy pioneer, who
descended from one of the pioneer families of the
northwest, a reliable and upright man, a public minded
and progressive citizen, it is proper that an epitome of
the career of our subject be granted space in the his-
tory of Kootenai county.
Thomas H. Fenn was born in Springfield. Illinois,
on March 29. 1845. being the son of John and Eliza-
beth (Jory) Fenn, natives of Illinois. In one of the
most noted trips that a pioneer ever took, we refer to
the train that Dr. Whitman led across the plains, our
subject was brought by his parents from his native
place to Oregon City. This was accomplished by ox
teams about 1847. The father made a trio to Cali-
fornia and was one of the fortunate ones in mining.
and, returning, he t< >• >k a donation claim near Albany,
which was the home until the early seventies, when he
came to where Rosalia now stands, took land and
made a home, where he died in 1S77. lb- wa
eran in the Indian fights in ( >regon and had the hard
ships of hauling all his supplies from Walla Walla
wdien at Rosalia. Our subject remained in tin \1c1n
ity of Rosalia until 1887 and then came to the St.
Marys river. The following year he came to the pres
ent site of Fernwood, where he look a squatter's right
and began improving. He continued in raising general
farm products until [902, when he platted a portion
of the land and established the town of Fernwood.
The original name was Fennwood, from Mr. fenn,
but the postoffice department mistook and printed it
Fernwood, and refused to rectify the mistake-. It is
a bright little hamlet and promises a prosperous fu-
ture. Lumbering and mining are the principal indus-
tries and agriculture will be more pronounced in the
future. The little loo cabin where .Mr. Fenn spent
the first few years stands yet. It is a goodly specimen
of the pioneer architecture and with its spacious tire-
place, its smoke-begrimed walls and it- diminutive
size, speaks with eloquent voice of the pioneer's
struggles and the charm even of the bare little hut
which goes by the name of home. Mr. Fenn weath-
ered all the hardships, made pilgrimages to the Pa-
louse countrv. packing his blankets, to earn money to
buy food and is now entitled to the prosperity that has
come and is coming to crown his faithful labors. All
honor to the intrepid pioneers, all honor to the cour-
age that could pass the lonely winter nights and the
ionelier days sometimes, and endure all the hardships
of the rugged frontiersman with never a complaint
or a sigh, that the grand new country could be opened
up to the settlement and for the homes of the more timid
one to follow. Such a worthy labor has been accom-
plished by Mr. Fenn and he is now privileged to see
the crowning of the enterprise by the gathering set-
tlers and opening industries.
CLARENCE CHAMBERS. Anion- those who
deserve mention in the history of Kootenai count)
we are constrained to name the subject of this article
and it is with pleasure that we can speak of him as an
upright, capable and reliable citizen whose labor- have
done" much for the development of the country.
Clarence Chambers was born in Knox county, In-
diana, on lanuary 2, 1870. being the son of William
Carey and Mary '(Maxwell) Chambers, natives of In-
diana and North Carolina, respectively. In the fall
of 1872 the family came to Linn county. < )re|
in the spring of 187- they came to Whitman county.
wdiere the father took land and improved it. This
was near Moscow and in 1888 he sold the farm and
moved to the Hoodoo mines in Latah county. Three
years later he went to California and thence he re-
turned to Palouse, where he remained until hi- death,
November to. 1901. The widow went back to San
Francisco, where she still remains. ( )ur subject early
966
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
went into the lumbering business and also devoted
considerable attention to trapping the various game of
the mountains. He spent three winters thus in the
Clearwater country and was successful in the enter-
prise. Next we see him engaged on the Saint Mary's
river in the same occupation and many is the lusty bear
and cunning cougar that have fallen into his snares.
Mr. Chambers has been speculating in timber and has
gained a gratifying success in this line. He is at pres-
ent living in Fernwood, where he has a comfortable
residence of five rooms and some other property.
On August 13, 1899, Mr. Chambers married Miss
Elizabeth, daughter of William and Annie (Piper)
Rusnell. Mr. Rusnell is now living in Fernwood.
One child has been born to this happy union, Ray,
born March 15, 1900. Mr. Chambers came to this
country when it was wild and uninhabited and has
remained continuously in the excellent labors of devel-
opment and building up with a courage and enterprise
that are worth) to be recognized and which have done
much good for this section, not only in the actual la-
bor accomplished, but in stimulating others to action
and in leading many settlers here.
JOHN C. BOWMAN. Among those who have
done excellent work in the development of southern
Kootenai county we are constrained to mention the
agriculturist and stockman whose name appears
above.
John C. Bowman was born in Stone county. Mis-
souri, on January 2. 1850, being the son of John C. and
Elizabeth (Dewey) Bowman. Our subject grew up
on a farm with his parents and during the awful times
of the war the family were forced to flee from their
home on account of the dire destruction that resulted
from opposing armies, who were sweeping back and
forth over the stricken country. All the settlers of
this region were also forced to flee for their lives.
Our subject and his parents went to Dallas county
and when the smoke of strife ceased they returned to
the farm only to find blackened ruins of all their im-
provements. Two uncles and one brother of Mr.
Bowman were killed in the war. The father settled
on his farm and went to improving it. Our subject
remained there until 1873 and on December 24th of
that year he as married in Taney county to Miss
Mary, daughter of Benjamin and Martha May, who
removed to California, where the father died, but the
mother is still living in San Bernardino county. In
1875 Mr. Bowman started across the plains with ox
teams. His family consisted of wife and one child
when he started and two children when they landed
in Crook county, Oregon, six months after the start.
Soon they went to Lane county and thence in 1877
they journeyed to where Fairfield, Washington, now
stands. He entered a homestead and improved it and
was one of the prosperous farmers there until 1899,
when he went to Mexico for the health of one of his
boys. One winter was spent there and Mr. Bowman
came to Saint Maries, purchasing his present place,
two and one-half miles above the town. He has a
quarter section, comfortable buildings and gives his
attention to general farming and raising stock; Six
children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bowman,
named as follows: Alvin, James Pope, decease'!. Ada,
wife of Levi Laird, an engineer on the steamer Schley ;
William, Elsie, deceased, and Earl. Mr. Bowman
and his estimable wife are important additions to the
society of this region and have made many warm and
true friends and are highly respected, having the good
will of all.
HEXRI ROCHAT is one of the earliest pioneers
of the Saint Joseph river country, coming here in
1884. His fine hay ranch is located nine miles above
Saint Maries on the north side of the Saint Joseph
liver. We are especially pleased to grant him a repre-
sentation in this volume, as he has always been an up-
right and loyal citizen and a valuable member of the
community, having ever voiced and demonstrated the
principles of truth and uprightness.
Henri Rochat was born in Le Pont, Switzerland,
on July 5, 1828. He gained his educational training in
the schools of his native place and then learned the
watchmaker's trade. At the age of fifteen he com-
menced at this trade and more or less since that time
he has continued it. In 1852 he emigrated from Switz-
erland to New York, then went to Virginia, but as the
climate was too warm and he was opposed to slavery
from principle, he returned to the banks of the Hud-
son and there wrought at his trade and also gave much
of his time to the instruction of the free negroes.
Two years later he returned to Switzerland. Soon aft-
erward he came again to the United States, but desir-
ing to seek his life helpmeet from his own country-
women, he returned to Switzerland and there on Sep-
tember 2, 1856, Mr. Rochat married Miss Fanny Ros-
selet. She shared his life and faithfully walked with
him until September 14, 1874, when she went to be
with the Lord. Immediately after his marriage Mr.
Rochat came to this country again and settled in St.
Paul, Minnesota. He engaged there in the jewelry
business and was favored with a fine patronage and
abundantly prospered, but when the wife died he
deemed it best to return to the old country, and, ac-
cordingly, in 1875. he took his little flock of six chil-
dren and made the journey to Switzerland, settling
in his old home place, which was known as the French
Port. About eight years were spent in different
places in the old country and then he brought the fam-
ily back to this country and went to Walla Walla.
His daughter, Matilda, had learned the watchmaking
trade and started a jewelry store in Walla Walla and
Mr. Rochat wrought with her. She was well known
as the lady watchmaker. During that time Mr. Rochat
went to the Sound country, taking his son, Paul. The
latter remained there and the father came back to
Walla Walla. Later he made another trip, taking his
son William that time. As stated above, Mr. Rochat
came to the Saint Joseph river in 1884 an(l >n June,
1885, located his present place, which doubtless is one
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
967
of the best places on the river. He and his two sons
now own one section of land. He has a good six-room
house, large barns and a band of cattle. Mr. Rochat
is one of the thrifty and substantial men of the com-
munity.
The children born to Mr. Rochat and his devoted
wife are named below: Eugene; Mrs. Eva Thonnev,
of Walla Walla; Mrs. Anna Berney, of Walla Walla;
Matilda, now deceased ; Paul, married to Miss Leah
Jacot, to whom have been born five children, Mark,
August, Helene, Rose and Emily ; W illiam. married
to Helene De'Lepine, and to them has been born one
child, Matilda.
Mr. Rochat was formerly a member of the Pres-
byterian church, but being exorcised as to the correct-
ness of denominations, he gave the matter careful con-
sideration in the light of the Scriptures alone and be-
came thoroughly convinced that the church spoken of
in the Bible, "The body of Christ." was a very differ-
ent thing from the sects of man's organization. Be-
lieving this, he was forced to withdraw from his
church membership, and since that time he has been
without the "camp" gathered "unto His Name" alone.
This position has of course brought him face to face
in opposition to the popular teachings in religious mat-
ters of the day. While he firmly believes the truth
of the principles that his stand bears a testimony to,
how faithfully he has made his works show his faith
is a matter in which all who know him may testify.
Mr. Rochat has brought his children up in this faith
of the Bible, always firmlv believing that the Scriptures
meant what they said and said what they meant. He
is held in esteem by all who know him and the golden
days of the vears of his life are being spent in rest on
the strong "Rock" where he lias builded. in the se-
• curity of the "strong tower" wherein he has run, and
in the sweet consolation of the words spoken to the
separated ones, "I will be a Father unto you."
ALBERT B. ALLEN. The valley of the Saint
Joseph and the Saint Maries river has been opened as
has the other frontier countries of the west, by the
hardship and sturdy efforts on the part of the stanch
pioneers who made their way hither in the early days
and who fought and overcame the forces of nature con-
gregated against them. Mr. Allen is one of the wor-
thy number who has a goodly part in this development
work and is to be mentioned with the pioneers of this
section.
Albert B. Allen was born in Piketon, Ohio, on Sep-
tember 24, 1869. being the son of George W. and Cath-
erine (Socks) Allen. The father served in the Union
army. Our subject attended the common schools of
his native place and grew up on a farm. Later he was
favored with the training of the high schools. His
mother died when he was twelve and his father is now
living at Decatur. Illinois. In 1891 Albert came to
Spokane. Washington, and shortly afterwards made
his way to Harrison and thence in January. 1892, came
over the ice to his present place. His farm is located
near Saint Joe and consists of three hundred acres
of fine meadow and timber land. It was a v> •
em country when Mr. Allen tramped over tl
take a home place and hi- labors have madi
change. He has good timothy meadows, fields ami so
forth and his residence is a fine new eight-room house.
He has a large barn and handles Jersey and Short-
horn cattle. Mr. Allen owned and operated
fender in 1898, but sold out.
On May 21, 1902, Mr. Allen married
daughter of Arthur A. and Cora E. Harvey, natives
of Michigan. Mrs. Allen was born at Mapli
Mr. and Mrs. Harvey now live mi the Sain; Joseph
river near Saint Joe. Mr. Allen is a membi
I. O. O. F., Coeur d'Alene Lodge, No. 34. He is a
well respected man and stands well in the community.
GE( )RGE I.. HAYS. The name of Captain Hays
is familiar to all dwellers in the regions of Saint Joe
and the Coeur d'Alene lake. He is favorably known
also wherever lie is acquainted. His home is situated
on the Saint Joseph river, a quarter of a mile al
town of Saint Joe. He has a fine meadow of ninety
acres in timothy, good residence, commodious barns,
and all outbuildings needed, and is one of the substan-
tial and prosperous men of this section. In addition
to the industry of raising hay Mr. Hays has a band of
Jersey cattle.
Reverting to his personal career, we note that it
began in Pike county, Ohio, on September 27, 1834,
his parents being James and Margaret Hays. His
native place was in the Scioto valley. He grew up on
the farm and attended the public schools, some times
held in the log cabins. On August 6. 1856. he married
Miss Emily E.. daughter of Joseph and .Matilda Cole-
man, who came from Virginia to Ohio.
In September, 1862, Mr. Hays enlisted in Com-
pany B, One Hundred and Seventeenth Ohio, and his
regiment was afterwards transferred to the First < >hio
Heavy Artillery. He went in as private, was promoted
to a second lieutenancy in Company B. One Hundred
and Seventeenth Ohio, was mustered out and received
a commission as first lieutenant, was mustered out
again and commissioned captain. He was in the Army
of the Cumberland and served under General Sher-
man most of the time. He participated in the battle
of Wataga river, was in many close places and hot
skirmishes, where he did hard fighting, but was never
wounded. Mr. Hays now has a copy of every return
that he made as a commissioned officer and can crive
an account of every man in his company. He also has
his muster out roll. Three years and twelv
served and then took his honorable discharge and went
to Ohio. He organized a couple of militia companies
and drilled them, holding the position of captain in
each one for five years. At the time of the riot oil
the Haymarket square in Cincinnati his company was
called out to quell the affair. Captain Hayes has
been commander of the Hibbens Post of the G. A. R.
at Piketon, Ohio, for two terms. He is now a member
968
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
of the A. T. McReynold's Post, Xo. 34, at Coeur
cTAlene. In 1856 Mr. Hays was made a member of
the I. O. O. F., Piketon Lodge, No. 323. and since
that time he has held his membership there. He has
never been behind in his dues and has taken a benefit
but once.
In 1872 Captain Hays built a roller mill at Piketon
and operated it until 1883. In 1889 he came to Spo-
kane and in .March, 1890. he came to his present loca-
tion, taking one hundred and forty-eight acres as a
squatter on the south side of the river. Few settlers
were here then and the Captain has been a real pioneer
in this section.
To Mr. and Mrs. Hays there have been born the
following named children: Margaret, wife of John
J. Patterson, of Portland, Oregon: Emily, wife of
John J. Ross, on the Saint Joseph river: Hattie.
wife of Frank Bishop, of Coeur d'Alene ; George W. :
Kate M., wife of Harris McConaughy, of Portland,
Oregon. The Captain and his wife are devoted mem-
bers if the Methodist church and are upright and high-
ly respected people.
GEORGE O. NEWCOMB. The valuable estate
.if Mr. Xewcomb lies on the Saint Joseph river about
two miles above the town of St. Joseph and consists
of something over on half section. It is valuable hay
land and two hundred and fifty acres will raise tim-
othy, "lie hundred acres being now in timothy. It is
one of the fine hay ranches on the river that is noted
for raising excellent timothy. Part of this land lies
in Shoshone county and part lies in Kootenai county.
.Mr. Xewcomb is the son of George O. and Cath-
erine A. (O'Conner) Xewcomb. They were natives
(if Xew York and our subject's grandfather Xew-
comb was a native of Connecticut, while his great-
grandfathers on both sides of the house were partici-
pants in the Revolution. The parents came to Mexico
from Xew York state, thence to San Francisco and
thence to Sacramento, in which last place their son,
the subject of this sketch, was born on March 24. 1S57.
The father kept the Orleans Hotel in Sacramento for
fourteen \ears and also operated the Brooks Hotel on
the beach in San Francisco. Our subject received his
early education in California and soon started in life
for himself. He traveled all over the western states
and many portions of the eastern ones. In 1880 he
went to Oregon, then to Utah and in 1891 he came to
his present place. He took a homestead and added by
purchase until he has his present estate. Mr. Xew-
comb has a comfortable house, large barns, substantial
outbuildings and all the improvements called for on
the ranch and his place bears an appearance of thrift
that bespeaks the industry and good management of
the proprietor. He also owns a band of good graded
Shorthorn cattle. Mr. Xewcomb is a Royal Arch Ma-
son, having been made a Mason in New York. He has
held and still holds the position of justice of the peace
in his precinct.
On March 29. 1898, Mr. Xewcomb married Miss
Rebecca J. Evans, of Buffalo, Xew York, and two
children have been born to them. George Evans and
lid ward Revington.
EDWARD DIGHTOX. Among the prosperous
hay raisers of the St. Joseph valley is to be men-
tioned the gentleman whose name is at the head of this
article. His fine place of one half section is located
on the banks of the river at St. Joe and is one of the
best hay ranches in the state of Idaho. He has three
large hay barns, a good six-room house and all the im-
provements that are needed on the place.
Edward Dighton was born in India, on December
30, 18.51, being the son of John H. and Caroline
Dighton. The father was a captain in the British army
and was stationed in India. He is now retired and
iives in the old home place, known as the Oak House,
in Xewland, Gloucester county, England. The mother
lives there also. When Edward was a child he was
taken to England and educated in some of the leading
colleges of that country. After his school days, he
gave attention to the oversight of his father's estates
until 1879, when he came to the United States. Land-
ing at Xew York he came thence to St. Peter, Minne-
sota, ami three years later went over the Northern
Pacific to Rathdrum. Later he came to Coeur d'Alene
and in 1884 he settled on his present place, taking a
squatter's right. Mr. Dighton's place is not only a
valuable place, but it is also a very beautiful place.
He raises much stock, having some fine blooded cattle
and also some good hordes. Mr. Dighton came to this
country with but very little of this world's goods, but
now he has acquired a first-class holding of good div-
idend paying property.
On April 30. 1893, Mr. Dighton married Miss
Annie Machen, an old acquaintance from the old
country. Mr. and Mrs. Dighton are highly resepected
people and are esteemed by all and have hosts of
friends from all classes and are valuable members of
society.
WILLIAM O'NEAL. At the head of navigation
on the Saint Joseph river, in a spot where the river
forms the boundary of the grounds on three sides,
stands the attractive and tasty hotel and summer re-
sort of the subject of this article. He has a fine two-
story building, twenty-one bedrooms, large and airy
office, excellent cuisine and dining apartments, while
lus parlors are fitted up in exquisite shape and the
buildings are provided with pleasant nooks and
porches and verandas, which offer inviting retreats
of refreshments in this salubrious climate. The es-
tablishment is managed in a first class manner and all
is provided for entertainment and comfort of guests
that can be arranged and it is a pleasant place to re-
tire from the worry of business and gain the joy and
life to lie had in the fresh air and charming surround-
ings.
William O'Xeal was born in Harrisville, Alcona
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
969
county, Michigan, on April 26, t86i, being the son of
Matthew and Catherine (Miller) O'Neal. The father
was a native of Canada and the mother of Germany
and they were married in Monroe, Michigan, and la-
ter removed to Harrisville, being the earliest pioneers
of that section. The father died in August. [898, but
the mother is still living on the old homestead. Will-
iam was brought up on a farm and also followed lum-
bering, receiving, when a boy, a good education from
the common schools. He was in the employ of Alger,
Smith & Company for twenty-five years. Mr. Alger be-
ing the ex-secretary of war. Much of the time he had
charge of a camp and understands the lumber busi-
ness thi iroughlv.
On July i\] 1887, Mr. O'Neal married Miss Mary,
daughter of David and Sarah Ducharme, whose par-
ents were of French extraction and residents of Can-
ada. In 1889 Mr. O'Xeal came to Saint Maries and
opened a hotel and in the spring of 1901 he came to
his present place and purchased something over twen-
t\ acres and built the establishment spoken of above.
He has. in addition, a separate building with a fine
bar stocked with choice wines, liquors and tobaccos.
Tn addition to this fine property Mr. ( t'Xeal has a
timber claim of one hundred and sixty acres. He is
doing a good business and is being prospered.
Mr. ( )'Neal is a member of the Foresters at Harri-
son and is distributing clerk for this precinct.
JOHN W. SKELTON is a prominent business
man of Saint Maries, being a member of the firm of
Skelton &• Warren, general merchants of that town,
and he has made a good record and a gratifying suc-
cess in his business enterprises, while he stands well
and is one of the men whose numerous friends are
numbered from everv class.
John W. Skelton was born in Polk county, Tennes-
see, on November n. i86T. being the son of William
and Jane M. (Hannah) Skelton, natives of Tennes-
see. The father served in the Confederate army, un-
der General Joseph E. Johnston, and the war devas-
tated his property so that in iSfifi he left Tennessee and
went to Washington county, Arkansas, where our sub-
ject was reared and educated. His primary training
was received in the common schools, and then in the
Prairie Grove College he finished his education. He
taught school for a time and in t886 he married Miss
Martha, daughter of Hardv and Elizabeth Warren,
and together they came to Whitman county in 1887.
They located near Oakesdale on a homestead and im-
proved it and it formed the familv home until 1898.
Tn that year Mr. Skelton came to Saint Maries and in
companv with his brothers-in-law, Charles G. and
Tames M. Warren, he started a general merchandise
establishment. At first thev opened on a small scale,
but by kind and deferential treatment of patrons, a
wise and carefid handling; of stock, they have built up
?. laree trade and are leading merchants of the county.
Charles G. sold out to our subject and to James M.jj
Warren and the firm is composed as stated above. *
They carry a large stock of general merchandise and
as well selected and appropriate for the country as is
to be Found anywhere. They also own a large two-
stor) structure t hirt \ by eighty feet, in the first stor}
of which is their business. The second story is used
for a lodge room and an opera house. Tn addition they
have the building used b) them before this was erected.
Mr. Skelton has a fine residence and also other prop-
erty.
Fraternally Mr. Skelton is affiliated with the M. W.
A.. Cam]) Xo. 8555. and with the Saint Maries Lodge,
No. 32, of the T. ( ). ( ). F.. being a charter member
and past grand of the latter order. Mr. and Mrs.
Skelton have been blessed with six children, named
as follows: William Roy. deceased. Elizabeth I.. Lou,
James Robert. Maud and Una. Mr. Skelton has made
a good record in his business career, having been uni-
versally successful since he came west and he ha- ac-
cumulated a goodly holding.
WILLIAM S. COLE. Saint Maries has been
fortunate from the start in getting a class of men who
are enterprsing and have the interests of the town at
heart and are possessed of ability sufficient to carry-
forward the various industries that combine to make
a live and progressive town. Among this number is
to be mentioned the gentleman whose name initiates
this article and who stands at the head of one of the
most important industries of the section, namely that
of cheese making. Saint Maries is, and will be, dis-
tinctively a dairy country and the early inauguration
of home plants to handle the products of the ranches
will be of untold benefit to the community. To the
keen foresight and energv of Mr. Cole is to be credited
the initial move in this direction. A brief review of his
life will be interesting matter in the county history
and therefore we append it.
William S. Cole was born in the vicinity of Spring-
field. Illinois, on December 26, i8;<), beinp the son of
John and Rebecca (Montanye) Cole. While he was
a child the familv went to Scott county. Minnesota,
and he was reared on a farm. They dwelt a time in
Renville county, and when William was twenty years
of age he went to Page county. Iowa, where his parents
had preceded him and in College Springs he appren-
ticed himself to learn the important business of cheese
making. Having perfected himself in this labor he
came west to Portland. Oregon, the date beinc 1887.
The next spring he went to Ritzville, Washington, en-
gaging in grain raising for a time, after which lie
bought railroad land and improved the same. Tn
1890 he went to Postfalls and in the fall of the same
vear he came to Saint Maries. Tie was one of the
earliest pioneers and various labors engaged him until
1896, having in the meantime taken a preemption.
Then he took a trip to his old home in Iowa. Tn the
spring of 1807. accompanied by his brother. Joseph A.,
be came west and together thev built the Saint Maries
cheese factory and in 1898 started the industry. From
the outset, the factory was a success and as the fine
970
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
quality of its productions became more and more
known, there could not enough be manufactured to
allow of shipment, as the home demand was sufficient
to consume it all. Xo higher commendation could be
given in the institution than his. The skill and busi-
ness ability of the management which rests in our
subject are apparent in thus gaining a fine success
from the start. The factory is a story and one-half
structure, the upper part being rented out. In addi-
tion to a two-thirds interest in this business and plant,
the brothers own a hay ranch of two hundred and forty
acres above the town, a five-acre tract in the town,
and a nice modern dwelling of eight rooms, also some
town property. Joseph A. is purser on the Schley,
one of the finest steamers on the lake.
The factory has a capacity of four hundred pounds
per day and we consider it one of the most important
industries in the entire valley. It is decidedly a step
in the right direction and in time, under the skillful
management of the capable overseer, will develop into
a far reaching and very beneficial promoter of the
wealth and advancement of the entire valley.
The parents came west in 1898. also another broth-
er. John. They reside in Saint Maries, being retired.
John owns a hay ranch and town property. Our sub-
ject is a member of the M. W. A.. Camp No. 8555,
and all the brothers belong to the I. O. O. F.. Saint
Maries Lodge, No. 32. He has one sister. Mrs. Mary
P.rummett. in Nodaway county. Missouri. The fam-
ilv are all adherents of the Methodist church and are
devoted supporters of the faith.
SYLVESTER RAMEY. At one time Mr. Ramey
was one of the sturdy pioneers of the west, did a good
share in opening up different sections for the abode of
men, has achieved success in his labors and is now cue
of the retired citizens of Harrison, where he is highly
esteemed and respected for his worth and his integrity
and stanch qualities.
Svlvester Ramev was born in Buchanan county,
Virginia, on April 30. 1847. being the son of Charles
?nd Nancy Ramey. He was educated in Virginia and
at the breaking out of the war he enlisted in the Twen-
ty-ninth Kentucky Cavalry and served eight months
in the Union army. He was on scout duty much of the
time, and being a mere boy he was worn out by his
service and was discharged. He came with his parents
to Minnesota and there in February, 1864, he en-
listed again, this time in the First Minnesota, Com-
pany E, Heavy Artillery, and was stationed at Chatta-
nooga, where he remained until the close of the war.
being under General Curtis. When the war was over
he received his honorable discharge and returned to
Minnesota to take up the civilian's duties once more.
He engaged in farming there and on March 17. 1867.
he married Miss Delilah C. Gilbert. At his home place
Mr. Ramev was supervisor for ten years. It was in
1880 that Mr. Ramey brought his wife and six chil-
dren via San Francisco and Portland to Texas Ferry,
on the Snake river, in Washington. Later he went to
Rosalia, in the same state, and then to Rockford. He
engaged in lumbering there and in 1890 came to the
Coeur d'Alene river, near where Harrison is. He took
up the stock business and also lumbering and he
gained a good success in each line. He gave his undi-
vided attention to the prosecution of his business un-
til 1902, when he sold out and removed to Harrison,
where he has a fine home, his house being in one of the
choice locations of the town and a five room structure
of modern architectural design. Mr. Ramey also owns
some other valuable property in the town and is one
of the substantial men. Mr. Ramey is a member of the
J. B. Wyman Post, No. 44. Department of Washing-
ton and Alaska, of the G. A. R., at Rockford.
To Mr. and Mrs. Ramey have been born six chil-
dren, named as follows : William J., of Nez Perces
county; Mrs. Polly J. Roscoe, of Kootenai county;
Mrs. Roxie VanAmburg, of Harrison; Mrs. Victoria
Bailey, of Harrison; Charles P.. of Nez Perce- coun-
tv ; Mrs. Effie Ribstein, of Harrison.
JOSEPH FISHER is the real promoter of the
town of Saint Maries, now a thriving village, and to
his efforts more than to any other man is due the build-
ing up of the town and the success that has attended
it. He is the pioneer of this section, has always la-
bored for the advancement and progress of the com-
munity and the town and is a public minded and gen-
erous citizen of excellent standing and enjoys the es-
teem of all.
Joseph Fisher was born in Plarrisville. Michigan,
December 25, 1856, being the first white boy born
fhere. His parents were Joseph and Rachel (Taylor)
Fisher. He grew up on a farm and received hi- e lu-
cation in his native place. On September 26, 1878, he
married Miss Addie, daughter of Guy C. and Mariah
Lewis. In 1888 he migrated to Idaho, settling near
his present location. He then took a trip to Oregon
and later, in the spring of 1889, he returned to this
place and purchased a forty-acre tract from the rail-
road. There he located the town of Saint Maries and
he has been one of the enterprising builders ever since.
In the fall of 1889 he sent for his family and in the
same fall he was appointed postmaster, having suc-
ceeded in getting an office established. He held the
office continuously for six years. He was the first one
to open up a general merchandise store there, and
to the upbuilding of his business he has devoted his
efforts with becoming wisdom, to which he owes his
success. In 1902 he was nominated by the Republican
party for county commissioner and was elected by
about 280 majoritv. In January. 1902, the fire fiend
destroyed his entire store and building, but not to be
daunted, he has erected a three-story structure, which
he is finishing in good shape. He is doing a good busi-
ness in the store, earning a full and complete stock
of groceries, feed, provisions, crockery and so forth.
lie rents some of the store rooms of the building to
hardware and furniture establishments. Mr. Fisher
has a good hotel in addition to the mercantile business
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
y7i
and the upper rooms of his store building will be uti-
lized as an extension of the hotel business, making- him,
all told, about fifty rooms, which gives him ample op-
portunity to entertain the increasing travel of that
section. Mr. Fisher owns a third interest in the In-
terstate Telephone Company, a third interest in the
townsite and a third interest in the cheese factory,
and is a real leader in the development of the town.
He is a member of the M. W. A., Lodge No. 8555;
and of the T. O. O. F.,' Lodge No. 32, at Saint Maries.
Mr. Fisher has thirteen children, named as follows :
Mrs. Alice Lindstrom, of Saint Maries; Mrs. Sadie
Brown, also of Saint Maries: Guy, deceased; Ethel,
Bert F., Sherman, deceased. Grant, Edna, Addie, Jo-
sie, Harold, Ray, Fernie and Florence. Mr. Fisher has
displayed commendable wisdom in the affairs of his
business, has conducted himself in a worthy manner as
a man and citizen and he stands well in the community,
being a leading man.
PETER MOC-TIL-MA. It would be interesting
to recount the various adventures and experiences in
the life of this venerable and influential Indian. He
has been one of the keen and energetic men of his tribe
in whose remembrance the important items of pio-
neer history of the northwest have occurred. He is
now considered one of the capable and keen men of the
agency and has demonstrated his ability in numerous
ways and at divers occasions.
Peter Moc-Til-Ma is the son of Old Chief Moc-
Til-Ma of the Coeur d'Alenes and was born in 1840,
where Spokane now stands. His life was spent largelv
with his people and he selected a fine piece of land
at the time of the segregation of the reservation. This
is an estate of four hundred acres of valuable grain
land, about eight miles northwest from Desmet. He has
it well under cultivation and improved in a becoming-
manner. He has enough land in addition to this to
make an estate of two thousand acres. Peter married
Agnes and they have four children, Louie, aged thirty
years ; Bartholemew, aged sixteen ; Ellen, aged four-
teen ; Felician, aged eleven. They are all able to read
and write the English language well and are promis-
ing young people. Peter Moc-Til-Ma is a man held
in high repute among his people and is influential and
substantial.
EDWARD STUVE. It gives us pleasure to be
able to give in this volume of the county history an
epitome of the career of the respected and capable cit-
izen and pioneer of Harrison whose name initiates this
paragraph, both because of the good achievements he
has accomplished in the business world and because of
his own personal worth and integrity.
Edward Stuve was born in Norway, on March 21,
1862, being the son of Howell and Margaret Stuve,
also natives of that land. In 1877 he came to this
country with his parents, having been educated in his
native land. Thev landed in New York and went
thence to Jackson county, Wisconsin, whei
maiiK'd with his parents until [883, when hi
Clarkford, Idaho, and with his brothers established
a sawmill and shingle mill. They did a good business
there until iN<n. when thev removed theii
where Harrison now stand-. Bui verj few people
were here then and their mill was the first shingle mill
and the first industry of the kind in the town. To the
steady prosecution it this business, which was at-
tended with good success. Mr. Stuve gave his undi-
vided attention until 1901, when they sold the entire
business. Since that time he has retired from active
life and is investigating different lines with a view
of again establishing himself in business. Mr. Stuve
has a fine residence in Harrison and is one of the re-
spected and leading citizens of the town.
In 1888 Mr. Stuve went to Jackson county, Wis-
consin, and there married Miss Ellen Erickson, the
nuptials occurring on July 29th of that year. To this
happy marriage there have been born five children,
named as follows: Edna M., Lula L., deceased, Helen
M., Esther F., Howard A. Mr. Stuve is a member
of the Maccabees and he and his wife are members of
the Methodist church. He takes a warm inter* I in
the advancement of educational facilities and he always
is found allied on the side of of sound principles. Mr.
Stuve came to the west without money and by his in-
dustry, his sagacity in business and the wisdom in
handling his interests, he has gained a goodly com-
petence and is a substantial and upright man.
LOLTS STUVE. Among the leading citizen- of
Harrison there should be mentioned the subject of this
article, since he was one of the very first settlers here,
since he started the first shingle industry where the
town now is, since he has always manifested a public
spirit and labored for the general progress, and since
personally he is a man of untarnished reputation, is a
power for good, has arrayed his influence for good
morals and does a worthy part in supporting the
churches and all good institutions.
Louis Stuve was born in Norway, on March 2.
1856, being the son of HoweH and Margaret Stuve.
He was reared on a farm and received his education
in his native land. In 1882 he migrated to the United
States, landing at New York, whence he went to Jack-
son county, Wisconsin, whither his parents had pre-
ceded him. In the summer of 1883 he came to Clark-
fork and there engaged in the shingle business with
his three brothers. In t8qi thev came thence to Har-
rison and located a shingle mill here. Few settlers
were here then and this mill was the first industry of
its kind in the community. They continued in this
business until the spring of 1901. when the)
and since that time our subject has been retired from
business, but expects soon to take up active business
relations again. Mr. Stuve has a fine residence in the
town and is one of the prominent citizens. He has al-
ways manifested an active interest in the welfare of the
town and the educational facilities and other enter-
972
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
prises calculated to benefit all. Mr. Strive is a member
of the .Maccabees ami of the M. W. A.
(in September ii. [897, Mr. Stuve married Miss
Emma, daughter of George W and Samantha C. Glo-
ver, and to them have been born three children : Myr-
tle I.. Lilly C. Roy H.
When Mr. Stuve came to this western country he
came over the Northern Pacific and as the road was
not finished he had to walk from Helena to Missoula.
He helped to make the first wagon road from Sand-
point to ] '.1 'liners Ferry and was with the first party
that traveled on that road. Air. Stuve has the respect
and esteem of all in the community and he is a sub-
stantial and enterprising citizen.
IRAL RIGGS, manager for the Remington Type-
writer Company, covering eastern Washington and
the five northern counties of Idaho, the Kootenai dis-
trict of British Columbia, the state of Montana, and
the northern tier of counties in Wyoming, has his
main office at Xo. no Washington street, Spokane
Club building. He has a force of ten employes,
which is to be increased in the near future, as business
is being rapidly built up. He handles Remington type-
writers, office furniture, such as desks, chairs and ta-
bles, also supplies for all makes of machines. There
is, also, in connection a strictly first-class repair de-
partment. His traveling salesmen cover this territory
regularly :md thoroughly .
Mr. Riggs was born in Springfield, Illinois. June
6. 1877, being the son of George W. and Ann M.
(Ellis) Riggs. who reside at Ceresco, Nebraska. The
father is a rancher. At the age of fifteen our subject
was matriculated in the Nebraska State University,
Lincoln. Nebraska, taking the scientific course, and
remaining three and one-half years. Until the open-
ing of the Spanish-American war he was engaged as
a shipping clerk in Chicago. June 24, 1898, he en-
listed in Company K, Captain Rogers, Twentieth Uni-
ted States Regular Infantry. At Fort McPherson,
Georgia, he did garrison duty until August 15th, when
he was sent to Leavenworth, Kansas, and was dis-
charged ( Ictober 23, 1898. In 1899 he engaged with
the Remington people and had charge of their office
at Lincoln, Nebraska. Later he became city salesman
at ( Imaha and afterward was assistant manager at
that point. In March. 1903, Mr. Riggs came to Spo-
kane and assumed charge of this territory as general
manager for the Remington Company.
Our subject was united in marriage at ( Imaha.
April 15, iqoi, to Miss Jennie Hughes, daughter of
Edward and Mary Hughes. Mrs. Riggs is a native
of New York state. Her father is a building con-
tractor at Lincoln. Nebraska. To Mr. and Mrs. Riggs
have been born two children, Paul H. and Katherine.
The Remington typewriter was first owned and
manufactured by E. Remington & Sons. Wyckoff,
Seamans & Benedict were their sole agents until about
1882. when they took over the entire business and it
was conducted under their name until January, 1903,
when it became known as the Remington Typewriter
Company. The factory is located at Ilion, New York.
The general offices are at Nos. 325 and 327 Broadway,
New York. Offices are located in every important
city in the world. The actual sales exceed two hun-
dred machines a day, and they transact the most exten-
sive business in this line in the world. The Remington
typewriters are used by all nations.
MORRIS ANTELOPE is one of the bright and
enterprising young men of his tribe, being born in 1868,
to Louie Antelope, who is now one of the largest stock-
men of the reservation and resides near Tekoa. Mor-
ris was reared in this section and made his home with
his father until 1900, when he removed to his present
place, a farm of two thousand acres, sixteen miles
northwest from Desmet. This fine estate is all fenced
and Mr. Antelope is endeavoring to make of it one of
the fine farms of the reservation. His aggressiveness
and spirit are shown in that he reads and writes the
English language well, although he has never had the
opportunity of school facilities. For nine years he op-
erated a store in Desmet, but sold out at the end of
that time and has since paid attention to raising stock
and handling wood, being successful in his labors.
Morris Antelope married Mary, now aged twenty-
nine and they have become the parents of three chil-
dren, Louie, aged twelve. Mary, aged five. Annie, aged
BEER BARZA, one of the blacksmiths in the
government shop and the owner of a fine farm of
two hundred acres three miles northwest from Des-
met, is one of the native Coeur d'Alenes, being born
on the reservation in 1868. His father was a sub-chief
and his mother one of the Coeur d'Alene tribe. She
is now living with our subject. Mr. Barza married
Josett. who is aged twentv-seven, and they have five
children, Joseph, age twelve. Lizzie, age ten, John, age
seven, Marv, age five, Madeline, age two. Mr. Barza
has a dwelling in Desmet in addition to the property
mentioned above. His farm is well fenced and im-
proved in a fine shape and he receives good returns
in crops annually. Mrs. Barza is of the Kalispell
tribe, but was born in this reservation. Mr. Barza
had little opportunitv to receive educational training in
the schools during his youth, but his burning desire
to learn the English spurred him on until by careful
personal research, he has enabled himself to read and
write the English language. His ability in mechanics
is evident in his work in the blacksmith shop and he is
to be commended for the progress he has made.
BONA MACHA. Without doubt the subject
of this article is one of the most progressive and ad-
vanced men of his tribe, being of strong determination,
good judgment and ability to grasp and execute proper
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
973
designs. He was born in 1854 in Montana. He is a
descendant of the Coeur d'Alenes and spent his life
in visiting between here and the tribes in Montana
until this reservation was set aside, when he took up
his permanent abode here. He owns one of the best
dwellings in Desmet, and also has a fine farm of one
thousand acres three miles west from town, which is
well improved with good buildings and is handled with
great credit to the owner. In addition to doing gen-
eral farming, Mr. Macha raises considerable stock.
He is captain of the police and has made his name a
terror to evil doers. It is well known that when he
goes after a man, he is sure to bring him and his firm
and determined stand for law and order have done a
great deal to advance the cause on the reservation.
Mr. Macha is a member of the Council and is esteemed
for his wisdom and excellent ways there.
Bona Macha married lsabelle, who is now aged
twenty-four, and they have two children, John, aged
eight and attending the Fathers' school ; Bonamacha,
the babv.
BARNEY CAM ELL is one of the younger men
of the Coeur d'Alene tribe who was born on the res-
ervation in the vicinity of Desmet, the date being 1883.
His parents are Peter and Pauline Camell, who now
live about eight miles northwest from Desmet. The
home estate consists of fifteen hundred acres of fine
land, all of which is fenced and laid under tribute for
pasture and grain. Our subject lives with his parents
and assists in raising horses and general farming.
The father has a goodly herd of horses and handles
considerable grain. Barney was educated in the ex-
cellent school conducted at the mission by the Fathers
and is well versed in the English branches. He gives
promise of being one of the important and influential
men of the tribe and his natural capabilities coupled
with good training have fitted him well for weighty
responsibilities among his people.
WILLIAM RYAN has been in Kootenai county
for a good many years and during all this time he has
been prominent in its affairs and a leading citizen,
while his wisdom and integrity have made him one of
the best of its citizens, in whom the people have con-
fidence. He is at present deputy collector of cus-
toms at Porthill and is an efficient and well liked officer.
William Ryan was born in Cumberland, Alleghany
county, Maryland, on May 15, 1842, the son of Will-
iam and Mary ( Dignan ) Ryan, natives of Ireland.
They came to the United States in 18 18 and 1820, re-
spectively, and were married in this country. When
our subject was four years of age they removed to
Iowa while it was still a territory and there he was
educated, finishing this important part of his life train-
ing in the Table Mound seminary, near Dubuque. In
1859, ^r- Ryan crossed the plains to Pike's Peak,
clerked in a store for one year and returned. After
some time farming in Iowa, he returned to Colorado,
and in June, 1865, went to Montana, where he mined
and freighted for two years. In the fall of [867 Mr.
Ryan descended the .Missouri from Ft. Benton to
Sioux City in a Mackinaw boat and for six years
thereafter he was engaged in fanning and handling
stock in Iowa. He then spent two years in the copper
mines of northern Michigan, mining and butchering.
From 1876 he spent five years in the Black Hills min-
ing and contracting mining timber. Next we see him
in the Puget Sound country and in 1SK7 he made his
way to Kootenai county. He located near Rathdrum
that fall and engaged in lumbering and tie contract-
ing. In 1892 Mr. Ryan was elected county as-
sessor and in 1894 was chosen sheriff. Following this
in June, 1897, Mr. Ryan was appointed a member of
the commission to classify the mineral lands within
the boundary of the Northern Pacific land grant.
March 31, 1900, be was appointed deputy collector ol
customs at Porthill and since that time he has con-
tinued in the office and is now discharging the duties
of that incumbency with discrimination and wisdom.
He is a popular officer and a man of excellent standing.
January II, 1897, at Coeur d'Alene. .Mr. Ryan
married Mrs. Mary V. Bay and two sons have been
bom to them, William and Matthew. They also have
a daughter. Hazel Editha, a child of Mrs. Ryan by
a former marriage. Mr. Ryan is a member of the Ma-
sonic fraternity at Coeur d'Alene.
STANISLAUS ARRAPA. Among the substan-
tial young men of the Coeur d'Alenes we should men-
tion the subject of this article, who has a fine farm of
six hundred acres, three miles northeast from Desmet
and also a dwelling in Desmet. His farm is well im-
proved with good buildings and he does a general
farming business, being successful in his labors. Mr.
Arrapa is a member of the Indian police and is known
by all as a man of integrity and honor, being gifted
in talent and principle. He was born in 1879 the son
of Arrapa and Susan. The father died about twelve
years since and the mother is living with our subject.
The marriage of our subject and Emma, who is one of
the Spokane tribe, was consummated about six years
since and three children have been born to them. Louie.
Gabriel and Damas. Stanislaus Arrapa stands well
with the people of the agency, among his own people
and wherever he is known, being a man who is gov-
erned by principles of honor and right and is a fine
representative of his people.
PETER GIRARD has demonstrated his ability to
so handle the resources of southern Kootenai county
that a good degree of property of a substantial kind
has accrued to him as the reward of his sagacity and
thrift. He is a man whose labors have done much
for the upbuilding of the country and its interests and
he is now possessed of a good farm at St. Joe post-
office which is well improved and productive of fine
974
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
annual dividends of hay and general crops. He also
possesses thirty or more head of cattle, which with
other crops make him one of the substantial and pros-
perous citizens of this section. Mrs. Girard is post-
mistress of St. Joe and is well liked by all the patrons
of the office.
Peter Girard was born in Canada, on March 29,
1874, the son of William and Mary Girard, natives of
Canada. Our subject had but scanty opportunity to
gain education in his youth and he was dependent
upon his personal efforts also after eleven to support
himself in this world. The lines being cast thus in
hard places for him, he developed a self-reliance and
sturdiness that have wrought well for him in later
years. In 1886 Mr. Girard made his way to Spokane
and later came to Desmet, where he worked for eight-
een months. Next we see him in Coeur d'Alene,
where he wrought for two years. His next move was
to his present place, where he located a handsome
homestead and went to raising stock. He has good
buildings and a fine farm in every particular and is
one of the leading citizens of this entire section.
On June 2, 1888, Mr. Girard married Miss Mary
Morens, a native of Canada who died leaving no is-
sue. On January 4, 1897, he contracted a second
marriage with Mildred M. Humes, and to them have
been born four children: William, born October 12,
1897; Marguerite, born April 12, 1899; Pauline, born
January 26, 1 901 ; and Rose, born December 1, 1902.
CHARLES O. WORLEY was born in Peoria,
Illinois, on July 18, 1854, being the son of John J.
and Sarah (Bradford) Worley, natives of Ohio. In
1856 the family went to Plattsmouth, Nebraska, where
the father operated an Indian trading store until 1864.
He was in the Second Nebraska Cavalry under General
Sully and was discharged at the end of nine months
on account of being wounded. In 1865 he crossed the
plains to Montana and remained four years, during
which period he had many fights with the Indians.
In 1864 the family was driven out of Plattsmouth
by the Indians ; the settled in Scioto county, Ohio,
near Portsmouth, until 1869, in which year they set-
tled at Ouenemo, Kansas, it being the Sac and Fox
Indian agency. Our subject assisted his father in
farming here until 187 1, in which year he started out
for himself. He made a trip to Colorado and returned
in the following year. In 1875 he crossed the plains
to California and worked there at carpenter work,
which trade he had learned, until 1877, in which year
he returned to Kansas and was married. He remained
in Kansas until the spring of 1882, where he did car-
penter work and then came to Washington territory.
He located at Rockford and followed his trade until
the spring of 1885 and then made the trip back to
Kansas, where he lived until 1890. In that year Mr.
Worlev came to Rockford again, bringing his parents
with him. The father died in Rockford in 1892 and
the mother the year following and both are resting in
the Rockford cemetery. Our subject had learned en-
gineering in the years previous to this date and when
he located in Rockford this last time he followed this
business in connection with carpenter work, until the
spring of 1896 when he received the appointment as
engineer for the government mills at the Coeur d'Alene
reservation. He continued in charge of the mills until
July 25, 1901, when he was transferred to the position
of sub-agent of the Coeur d'Alene reservation, which
position he has since filled to the satisfaction of all.
Mr. Worley is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Lodge
45 ; of the L O. O. F., Fairview Lodge, No. 40; of the
W. VV\, Camp No. 422, all of Rockford. He and his
wife are members of the United Brethren church in
Rockford. Mr. Worley was always allied with the
Republicans and served as treasurer of Osage county
for two years. He also has been deputy sheriff for
three different terms, has been city councilman and
also city marshal.
At Quenemo, Kansas, on August 22, 1878, Mr.
Worley married Miss Noydee, daughter of Sylvester
and Emmaline (Little) Washburn, who are now de-
ceased. Mrs. Worley was born in Columbus, Iowa,
March 3, T855. Three children were born to this un-
ion : Frank, who died when he was twenty ; William,
deceased, aged twenty-one; Lawrence, aged nine. Mr.
Worley has property in Tekoa and Rockford and also
farm land, all of which he rents.
CHIEF SALTESE, deceased. Among the really
great Indian chiefs of the Pacific Northwest, or of the
entire west for that matter, none deserves greater rec-
ognition than Saltese, the late chief of the Coeur d'Al-
enes, whose mother was a Spokane and his father a
Coeur d'Alene. Few there were among the red men
who could equal this beloved chieftain in physical
courage and strength, moral stamina and intellectual
capacity and none has left a worthier record or a more
potent influence upon his race. Saltese was a vigor-
ous man until the last few days of his life, despite the
fact that he had reached and passed the ripe age of
ninety-two, and until he breathed his last he was an
ardent champion of all that is good and a relentless
enemy of wickedness. Surrounded by the members
of the family at his home near the old Desmet Mis-
sion, in Kootenai county, on April 20, 1902, the aged
warrior, ruler and Christian leader passed over the
great divide of life into the better world beyond, which
tc him meant more than "the happy hunting ground."
His remains were laid at rest at the Mission, a most
fitting place.
From the days of his youth, Saltese was a power-
ful man in the tribe and was renowned for his valiant
deeds in time of war. In council his eloquent voice
was ofter heard. It was he who led the war against
Colonel Steptoe in 1857. When the war councils were
held and the older chiefs opposed hostilities, it is said
that Saltese made the most' thrilling speech of his life,
a speech which was so persuasive that it drew to his
side the younger element and they followed him to a
successful war, driving Steptoe out of the country and
nearly annihilating his little band in a fierce battle on
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
975
the hill overlooking- the site of Rosalia. All day the
battle waged with disastrous results to the soldiers
and at sundown, when the Indians withdrew, there
were only four rounds of cartridges to the man and
many members of this ill-fated expedition had lost
their lives. During the night Timothy, a friendly
Nez Perces, guided the remnant away in the darkness
and they ultimately escaped across the Snake river to
Fort Walla Walla. The next summer Colonel Wright
came northward to punish the Indians, a mission which
he successfully accomplished, subduing them for all
time to come. None among the Indians was quicker
to appreciate the situation than Chief Saltese, who
thenceforth turned his strength and ability toward a
better end and soon became the acknowledged leader
of the more progressive class of Indians. He discarded
the blanket for the white man's dress, acquired a
knowledge of the English language, although he al-
ways preferred to converse in his native tongue, assisted
the agents in carrying out many reforms, fought vig-
orously against the liquor traffic, ruled and advised
his people well and by dint of hard work and un-
usually careful business management finally became
a wealthy man, owning and farming 1,000 acres of the
finest land on the reservation.
In personal appearance Saltese was a magnificent
specimen of manhood and few would have guessed his
age at over sixty. He walked firmly, his carriage was
erect and dignified, and he generally wore a neatly
fitting suit of some dark color, a negligee shirt, neck-
tie and a black derby hat, always commanding the ut-
most respect wherever he went. He made frequent
trips over the railroads and was each year granted
an annual pass by the O. R. & N. Co. M. M. Cowley,
of Spokane, who knew Saltese as early as 1866, in
closing an eulogy on Chief Saltese, recently said : "He
was not the hereditary chief of the Coeur d'Alenes,
but in his younger days was one of the war chiefs,
and when the hereditary chief, Scon Shinn, died Sal-
tese had so risen from the ranks of his tribe that he
was elected to the position, more than a third of a cen-
tury ago. He was a born diplomat.
OTIS F. WARRFN. This gentleman has occu-
pied the position of inspector of customs at Porthill
and Bonners Ferry, Idaho, since 1899 and is an effi-
cient and capable officer whose standing is of the best
and whose friends are numbered by legion from every
quarter.
O. F. Warren was born in Naples, New York, on
July 7, 1839, the son of Elijah and Eliza Ann ( Ful-
ler) Warren, natives of New York and Connecticut,
respectively. The father was a farmer and held va-
rious offices of trust. Our subject is descended from
Mayflower stock on both sides of the house and his
grandfather was a cousin of the General Warren of
Revolutionary fame. In his native place, O. F. Warren
was educated, completing his training in the Naples
Academy ; he came to Wisconsin in 1857. In April, 1861,
he enlisted in the three months service ; the quota of
Wisconsin being full, he re-enlisted for three
owing to sickness was not mustered in. Later in the
same year he was elected register of deeds of Buffalo
county, Wisconsin, and in June, 1862, he entered
Company A, Twentieth Regiment, Wisconsin [nfanti
and served at the headquarters of the military com-
mander of. Wisconsin until ( Ictober 4th, when he was
discharged on account of disability, in November of
1863 he was re-elected register and took the office again
in 1867 and later was in company with his father-in-
law in a flouring mill for ten years. In tile meantime
he took up general merchandising extensively, hut the
crash of 1876 caused him to lose" heavily. From 1877
to 1883, Mr. Warren devoted himself to farming in
Wisconsin. In the latter year he removed to Dakota.
There he was installed in several offices of trust by the
people, among others being assessor of Clark county
for one term. In December, [890, .Mr. Warren came
to Idaho and in March of the following year lie lo-
cated west of Deep creek and farmed. The next year
we see him in Postfalls, being chosen by the Spokane
assessor for much of the intricate work of that county.
Then Mr. Warren embarked in the merchandise busi-
ness again, buying out W. D. Plant. He continued
this until July, 1898, when he sold to A. J. Manor.
He was chairman of the board of county commissioners
from 1895 to 1896. In January, 1899, Mr. Warren
was appointed inspector of customs and has held the
position since, being in Porthill in later years.
On May 14, 1865, at Mondovi, Wisconsin, Mr.
Warren married Hannah Mary, daughter of Harvey
and Hannah (Arnold) Farrington. Four children
have been born to this union, Milton S., a farmer and
hotel man at Postfalls ; Myrtie E., wife of Thomas
W. Foy, a hotel man in Hope ; H. Clay, painter at
Postfalls; Earl B.. in the employ of the Fidelity Ab-
stract Company, Spokane, having graduated from Blair
Business College. Mr. Warren is a member of the G.
A. R. and also of the I. O. O. F. and Knights of
Pvthias.
FRED C. FISHER is the owner and operator
of a saloon in Porthill, where he is doing a prosper-
ous busines at the present time. He also has nu-
merous mining interests and owns a ranch south of
Porthill.
Fred C. Fisher was born in Germany, in 1853, the
son of Christian and Frederika Fisher, both natives ^i
Germany. The father died when this son was five
and the' mother migrated with him and an older son
to the United States when Fred was nine. They lo-
cated in Illinois and there and in Wisconsin Fred re-
ceived his educational training. After school days
were over, he took up steamboating on the .Mississippi
and later learned the stone mason's trade. This occu-
pied him until he came west. In 1888 Mr. Fisher came
to Portland and there wrought until after the Spo-
kane fire, when he went thither and did mason work
in that city for some time. In 1890. he came to the
Kootenai vallev and homestead land four miles
south from Porthill. In 1892 Mr. Fisher went to
976
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Portland and did masonry work. Coming back to his
ranch in the fall of 1895 he opened the International
saloon in Porthill and has continued in this, together
with his mining and farming interests.
In 1887, while in Minnesota, Mr. Fisher married
Miss Kate Bosl, a native of Germany, who came to
the United States in 1881. Mr. Fisher has one brother.
Ernest, a stone mason, living on a farm in Wisconsin.
H. L. GRAVES is a farmer and stockman in
Kootenai comity, whose estate of one-half section lies
about three miles up the river from Laclede, where
he does general farming and is prospered.
H. L. Graves was born in Wisconsin, on Septem-
ber 26, 1S53, the son of Rufus and Ann (Knoll)
Graves, mention of whom is made in another portion
of this work. He was educated there in the public
schools and remained with his parents until 1887, when
he came to Sprague. Washington, and worked in the
railroad shops for a year. In May, 1888, he came to
Laclede and homesteaded a quarter section and also
bought as much more railroad land. Fie has a goodly
portion under cultivation and besides many other im-
provements has an orchard of two hundred trees. In
addition to this property, Mr. Graves has a house and
lot in town. .In the political realm, he is a stanch and
active Democrat of the Jeffersonian type. Mr. Graves
i? a member of the I. O. O. F. and of the Foresters.
On January 9, 1880, at Appleton, Wisconsin, he
married Miss Mary, daughter of Thomas and Kate
(Wilson) Campbell, natives of Ireland and Scotland,
respectively. Mrs. Graves was born in Wisconsin.
Nine children have been born to this union : Gladys,
deceased, Grace, Glenny. deceased. Frank, deceased,
Lillie, Earl, George. Effie, deceased, and Jennie, de-
ceased.
WESLEY SULLIVAN is a veteran of the Re-
bellion, whose faithful service in the cause of the Union
places him high in the esteem of every loyal citizen
of this fair land today. He was in the heat and burden
of the day and three times was wounded and suffered
in the southern hospitals. A detailed account of his
career will be interesting for the readers of the history
of northern Idaho and we accordingly append the
same.
Wesley Sullivan was horn in Ohio, on September
t6, 1840. the son of James and Rebecca Sullivan,
natives of North Carolina. When Wesley was small
the family removed to Ft. Wayne, Indiana, and there
he was educated in the public schools and also worked
on the farm. When eighteen years of age he left the
parental roof and came to Danville, Illinois, where
he wrought until October 3, 1861, then enlisted in
Company F, Thirty-fifth Illinois Infantry. He was
sent first into Missouri, then under Rosecrans in Ten-
nessee and later with Sherman on the memorable march
to the sea. He participated in all the battles of these
well known commanders and was in constant action.
He was mustered out at the expiration of his time and
afterward re-enlisted in Company K, One Hundred
and Fiftieth Illinois for a year longer. He was ser-
geant during this period and at the close of the war
was mustered out, at Springfield in 1865. He then
returned to Danville, Illinois, and there wrought in
the coal mines for twenty years. Next we see him in
the Cascades, where he was in the coal mines for two
years, after which he came to his present place. Here
.Mr. Sullivan cleared the right of way for the rail-
road and made ties. Then he took his present place
two and one-half miles west from Laclede. Mr. Sul-
livan is a stanch and active Republican and is also a
member of the G. A. R. In reminiscence we note that
when Grant and Sherman came to Chattanooga, that
Mr. Sullivan was detailed to fire on the steamboat
Painted Rock, and run the blockade past the old Look-
out mountain, which was done successfully under a
most galling fire.
CHARLES W. FEELY is a man of stability and
integrity, whose skillful labors in Kootenai county
have produced the meed of a valuable holding of real
estate five miles south from Rathdrum, where he makes
his home at the present time. The home place is a
quarter section which is well improved, with good
buildings, orchard, and so forth and is annually laid
ruder tribute to produce abundant returns of the ce-
reals and general crops. In addition to this land, Mr.
Feely owns other land in company with his brothers,
who are all mentioned in this work.
Charles W. Feely was born in Shelby county,
iowa, on February 17, 1878, the son of Thomas N.
and Alice M. Feely, who now reside near this son.
They all came from Iowa in 1881, settling in Washing-
ton, where they continued their residence until 1890,
at which time they located in Hoodoo valley and
thence removed to their present place in 1895. Mr.
Feely, with his brothers and father, has labored stead-
ily in their occupation of general farming and abun-
dant success has rewarded them all. Our subject is
a man of independence and original thought and in
political matters he is dictated by his own judgment
as to the course in casting his vote. He is still un-
married and has one of his sisters to keep the house.
H. E. BURNHAM. As the following epitome
of the career of Mr. Burnham will evidence, he is a
man of energy and enterprise, possessed ot that sterling
quality of executive ability that puts through to a suc-
cessful termination the undertaking to which he turns
his attention. Kootenai county has been benefited
much by his labors in various lines ; at the present
time he is operating a good sawmill about seven miles
east from Rathdrum. where he has a body of two hun-
dred and eighty acres of timber land. In addition
to this he owns property in Postfalls and has also some
in various other places.
H. E. Burnham was born in Dunkirk, New York,
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
977
on March 12, 1854, being the son of Sydney and Lou-
ise L. Burnham, natives of Massachusetts and Penn-
sylvania, respectively. The father was a stockman and
butcher. Our subject worked with his father until
the age of thirteen had been attained and he then
sailed on the lakes for two years. Then came a period
of nine years of railroading from which he was al-
lured by the enticing features of the oil business in
Pennsylvania. Thirteen years he was held in this oc-
cupation and in 1889 made the journey across the con-
tinent to Spokane. A short time was spent in that
centre of the Inland Empire country when he came to
Postfalls, where he purchased property and went into
the grocery business. Later be followed butchering
for two years and then turned his attention to dairying
and stock farming for six years. The next industry
to claim his attention was sawmillilng and in the ma-
nipulation of. a successful trade here we find him at
the present time. In addition to this he is interested
in real estate in different locations.
At Jamestown, New York, in 1877, occurred the
happy event of the marriage of Mr. Burnham and
Miss Phoebe C. Simmonds, a native of New York and
the daughter of Zibe Simmonds. They have one child,
Lyon. Mr. Burnham is a member of the K. O. T. M.
Politically, he is independent and untrammelled by the
party lines of any tenets ; he reserves for himself the
right to choose the man and the principles which his
vote will support.
CHARLES W. GULP, one of the publishers of
the Silver Blade, and of its successor, the Rathdrum
Tribune, a paper of distinct vitality and merit at the
county seat of Kootenai county, is one of the leading
business men of the county and together with his
brother, who is his partner, has conducted the Blade
for some time and wielded an influence for progression
and advancement throughout the county.
Charles W. Gulp was born in Lincoln, Montana, on
January 8, 1879, the son of David W. and Mary J.
(Muffley) Culp. natives of Pennsylvania and still
hving. They were born at Shippinsburg, October 5,
1830, and at Mt. Eagle, February 4, 1846, respectively.
The dates of their removal to Montana are 1865 and
1870, respectively, and they have been on the crest of
frontier life ever since, being a worthy couple in their
endeavors to assist in the progress of civilization. Our
subject was educated at Thompson, Montana, and as
soon as the school days were ended he was apprenticed
to learn the printer's art, which he accomplished in
due time with a skillful finish. He came to Rathdrum
in July. ii)02. with his brother, and purchased the
Blade, which has been as its successor is now. the ex-
ponent of sound principles since and the champion of
the interests of the citizens of the county, while its
clear cut enunciation of the questions of the day and
logical conclusions in reference to the same have made
it one of the leading sheets of the northwest. In its
devotion to the welfare of local interests, the Tribune
has not forgotten to be free from local jealousies and
prejudicies that embitter, and the kindly spirit mani-
fested to all while correcting false moves and general
good will and heartiness always expressed have made
it a favorite and a power fur good.
Mr. Culp has the following brothers and sisters:
J. R. M., his partner; \V. S., in Rathdrum; Thomas
P., deceased; Jennie M. and Elizabeth C, living in
Rathdrum. Mr. Culp is an active and intelligent Re-
publican and with convincing force is able to give a
reason for his political faith. He is an active worker
in the M. W. A. and Knights of Pythias, and his
standing in the county is of the very best. Mr. Culp
and his people are members of the Presbyterian church.
CLARENCE H. FEELY is one of the wide
awake, thrifty and sagacious farmers of Kootenai
county. He is a young man of excellent habits and
sound principles and is a loyal friend and progres-
sive citizen. His estate of one hundred and sixty
acres, lies four miles south from Rathdrum and its
thrifty appearance, well kept and excellent buildings,
choice orchard and broad fields all testify to the abil-
ity and skill of the proprietor. Air. Feely also owns
other land, being interested with his brothers. The
boys and their father own one thousand acres together
and it is one of the finest bodies of land in the county.
Clarence H. Feely was born in Shelby county,
Iowa, on September 6, 1879, the son of Thomas N.
and Alice M. Feely, who are mentioned elsewhere in.
the work. In 1881 the family came from their Iowa
home to Washington, where our subject gained most
of his educational discipline. In 1890 they located in
Hoodoo valley and there the home continued until
1895 when a move was made to their present excellent
location. The brothers have continued in their efforts
together with their father and the wisdom of it is ap-
parent in the valuable holdings now possessed by
them. Our subject is still in the possession of the
charms of celibacy, having never ventured to embark
on the sea of matrimony. He is an exemplary young
man and has wrought in a commendable manner. Mr.
Feely is an independent thinker on all the questions
of the day and his sturdiness of character is mani-
fested in that he is not trammelled or bound by the
tenets of any political party, but votes as his wisdom
dictates.
IRVAN E. FEELY is a native of the Occident,
being born in Washington, Spokane county, ami the
date August 8. 1883. He received his education in that
state and in Idaho and has continued with his parents
until the present time. He came with them to ]
valley in 1800 and thence to the present location in
1895! He is a voting man of good qualities, has prin-
ciples of uprightness and manifests intrinsic worth
and sterling integrity. From his earliest youth he has
been trained in the way of industry and thrift by a wise
father and the result is that a man of reliability and
stabilitv is now the pride of his father and the rich
reward' of the excellent training.
978
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
< )ur subject owns land in connection with his broth-
ers. They have so acted in unison in their business
endeavors that they have conserved their interests in
a remarkable manner and the excellent wisdom mani-
fested in this course is a bright example to all. While
Irvan Feely has not yet passed the mile post of his ma-
jority, still the qualities of a wise and capable man are
manifest and it is to be expected that he will be one of
the leading citizens of this great county for many years
to come, gaining distinction and affluence as the proper
result of his course.
WILLIAM F. ALLBAUGH is one of the lead-
ing business men of the thriving town of Hope, Idaho,
bemg proprietor of the butcher shop there. He is a
man of sterling worth and has manifested excellent
capabilities in his business career.
William F. Allbaugh was born in Keithsburg, Illi-
nois, >>n June 30, 1873, being the son of William and
Martha (Catlin) Allbough. natives of Carroll county,
Ohio, and now living in this county. Our subject re-
ceived his education in his native state and there
learned the butcher business and followed it for some
time. He came west in 1889 and after exploring some
time went to Spokane where he followed the grocery-
business. Three years there and then he came to north-
ern Idaho, where he had previously been, and opened
a meat market in Hope, which he is conducting at the
present time and where he does a good business. Mr.
Allbaugh has been on his own resources since he was
sixteen years of age and has always shown an enter-
prising spirit and a tenacity that has given him the
success that merit deserves.
.Mr. Allbaugh has the following named sisters:
Alice, Laura, Olive and Emma, all deceased ; Carrie,
wife of George Ferris ; Louise, in Hope ; Josephine,
wife of T. C. Peck, in Nelson, B. C. ; Edna, wife of
A. Croy. in Hope.
At Rathdrum, on July 4, 1900, Mr. Allbaugh mar-
ried Miss Addie E. Smith, whose parents are leading
citizens of this county and are mentioned in another
portion of this work. One child has been born to
bless the marriage, Margaret. Mr. Allbaugh is a mem-
ber of the Wr. W. and in political adherence is a Demo-
crat. He is a man of sterling qualities and is one of
the genial and popular citizens of Hope.
ALEXANDER QUIRIE. That the subject of
this sketch is one of the highly esteemed and popular
men of Kootenai county is evidenced by the fact that
in 1902 he was nominated on the Republican ticket
for commissioner of the county and although the coun-
ty is Democratic, he was elected by the overwhelming
majority of six hundred and twenty votes. He is a
man of stanch worth and integrity and the people of
the commonwealth are safe in entrusting the import-
ant interests of the county in his hands.
Alexander ( Hilne was born in Scotland, July 16,
1861, the son of John and Margaret ( Walker ) Quirie,
natives of Aberdeen, Scotland. The father died in 1891
and the mother in 1862, in their native land. Our
subject inherited the stanch qualities of the Scotch
blood and from his youth manifested an integrity and
stability that betokened the strong man of today. He
was well educated in his native place and in 1887
left the scenes of youth and came to the United States.
He landed in St. Paul, Minnesota, and engaged on a
stock farm for two years. Xext we see the adventu-
rous spirit in Washington and for a year he was ex-
ploring the various portions of the northwest. He
finally returned from the coast to Spokane and worked
on a dairy farm for a time. ( )n June 1, 1890, he came
to Hope and for three years he was teaming for H. M.
Casey. Then Mr. Quirie located his present place on
Trestle creek, three miles west from Hope and op-
ened a dairy. He furnished milk, cream and butter
to Hope for eight years and then retired from that
business and devoted himself to raising stock and gen-
eral farming. He has a good place, well improved and
productive of good crops. A fine orchard of one
hundred trees embellishes the place. Mr. Quirie is
a thrifty and up-to-date farmer.
ATr. Quirie has two brothers and two sisters :
George and John, farmers in Scotland ; Mary, wife of
Alexander Aderson. and Margaret, wife of John
I'.-igrie, both in Scotland. Mr. Quirie is a Republican
from principle and in religious persuasion is a Pres-
byterian. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and is a
man in whom his neighbors confide and who is worthy
of the esteem and confidence reposed in him.
WILLIAM T. STONE, who dwells five miles
south from Bonners Ferry, is one of the substantial
and prosperous farmers of his section and a leading
man in the community. He was born in Audrain
county, Missouri, on January 13, 1855, the son. of
Thomas and Kizerie (Cardwell) Stone, natives of
Kentucky. The father died in Oregon in 1898. Our
subject has two brothers, Thomaston and J. D. He
was educated in his native place and in Bedford
county. Indiana, whither the family went when he
was a boy. Later they went to Illinois, and in 1874
William made his wav to Texas. He followed the
basic art of agriculture until 1885 in the great state
and then he was attracted by the varied beauties and
resources to visit California. After one year in ex-
ploring the state he made his way to Oregon, and for
nine years was numbered with the progressive and
enterprising citizens of the Web-foot state. Next he
journeyed on to Washington and a iter due deliberation
he came to Idaho. Search revealed the land now
known as government land and he homesteaded a
quarter. Since that time Mr. Stone has devoted him-
self to the improvement and culture of his land, and
now has a valuable farm. He is one of the stirring men
of the section and takes an active part in the affairs
of the county.
In 1X78 occurred the marriage of Mr. Stone and
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
979
.Mis- Alice Stillwell. The nuptials were celebrated
m Montague county, Texas. .Mrs. Stone's parents
were natives of Virginia and came to Texas in very
early days. Four children have been born to this happy
marriage: Lottie, Robert F., Lulu, and Alice. Mr.
Stone is independent in political matters, as also in
settling the questions of the day he is untrammelled
by the ties of party or sect. He is a man of worth
and integrity and stands high in the esteem of the
people.
JOSEPH M. JEANNOT, a capitalist and property
owner of Hope, is a man whose industry and thrift,
dominated bv sagacitv and keen discrimination, have
given the reward of a fine competence and the good
will of all as well. He was born in Kankakee, Illi-
nois, on May 16, 1858, the son of Joseph and Philo-
mina (Lambert) Jeannot, natives of Three Rivers,
Canada. Mr. Jeannpt has the following brothers and
sisters; F. E., deceased: J. M., died in infancy; J. O.,
in Michigan; L. H., in Hope; G. E.. in Hope; W.
E.. in Wisconsin; Arthur and Thomas, deceased;
Sarah, in Spokane ; Phoebe, Lenora and Georgia, in
Xew York, all married but Phoebe : Susan. Mary,
Angelena, Beatrice, Lorna, all deceased, with twins
who died when infants. Our subject received his early
education in Illinois and there he remained until July,
:Sji, when he took a journey to Kansas, where lie
farmed for ten years. Then he went I.. Colorado and
mined for two years, after which he came to Idaho
and railroaded for some tune, then went to Portland.
Next we see Mr. Jeannot in tin- Sound country, where
he did logging- and after a time returned to Portland
and tended bar for three years. His next move was
to the Coeur d'Alene country, where he operated a sa-
loon and also did mining for three years. At the time
of the chloride excitement he came to the Pend
Oreille country and engaged in steamboating and
other business at Hope. He has also followed mining
since coming here, and is an active and progressive
laborer for the upbuilding and advancement of the
place. Mr. Jeannot has fine business property in the
town and is contemplating the erection of a hr-i-
class hotel here.
In 1894 Mr. Jeannot celebrated his marriage with
Miss Anna Sucker. He is a member of the Elks, the
Foresters, the A. O. U. \Y.. and is a man of in-
fluence and popularity in these relations. Air. Jean-
not is a well informed Democrat and an adherent of
the Catholic church. He has shown marked capabili-
ties in his business career and has made his present
gratifying holding by his own unaided efforts, which
is a real crown of enjoyment.
PART VI.
HISTORY OF SHOSHONE COUNTY
CHAPTER I
CURRENT HISTORY— 1860-1885.
It is a noteworthy fact that the leading county oi
Idaho in its mineral production was likewise the first
in which mineral wealth was found. It was the dis-
covery of gold within the limits of the present county
of Shoshone by Captain E. D. Pierce that stimulated
the first grand stampede into north Idaho and caused
the subsequent settlement and subjugation of the coun-
try. But while Shoshone county furnished the stimulus
to this development, it did share equitably in the
results. Oro Fino and Pierce City did not long re-
main the magic names around which the gold-hungry
population of the Northwest wove bright visions ol
fortunes to be made in a day.. Subsequent discoveries
turned the attention of gold hunters elsewhere, the
mercurial population of the place was largely drawn
away by more alluring prospects in other parts of the
north Idaho country, and the support for a local gov-
ernment was for many years so inadequate that the
question of dismemberment of the county was more
than once mooted.
Prior to the discovery of the Coeur d'Alene mines
the settled portions of this vast political division, im-
perial in its extent, were the country contiguous to
Pierce City, the Moose creek mining country and the
Weippe and Fraser stock raising and agricultural com-
munities. The earliest history of the first mentioned
has already found a place in these chapters. Like the
rest of the old placer fields, its wealth soon began to
show signs of exhaustion and eventually the placer
fields passed largely into the hands of the Chinese.
The white population dwindled to a comparatively
insignificant number, yet there were present always
a few representatives of the Caucasian race, and as
the county-seat was located in their central town, they
were naturally interested to do what they could for
the maintenance of the county organization.
The Moose creek mines were discovered in 1862
by a wandering band of prospectors. They are sit-
uated on the headwaters oi" the north fork of the
Clearwater, many miles to the northeast of Pierce.
They paid their discoverers well for a short time, but
were soon deserted, the rich deposits that attracted
the attention of the first miners being apparently of
limited extent. A second influx of population was
stimulated in the late 'sixties by further discoveries
made by prospectors named Ernest Hilton and
William Shepard and Tommy O'Brien. It is said
that fully two hundred people rushed in. This influx
iesulted in the founding of Moose City, which at one
time had a saloon, restaurant, hotel and three general
stores. For three years the diggings produced well.
supporting a considerable population, but during the
early 'seventies they began to fail again, though a few
continued to mine in the district twelve or fifteen
years longer.
The first permanent settler in the Weippe section,
it is said, was Wellington Landon, who took up his
abode on the present town site of Weippe October 6.
1875. Previous to this, however, there had been a
few settlers, principally stockmen, among them a man
named Petjacle, who kept a station on Ford's creek
during the early sixties; John Wilson, Martin Mauli
and Peter Hour'cade. In 1879 Patrick Gaffney settled
with his family on land contiguous to the Landon
place, and later' came Harvey Setzer, William Gamble,
Levi Goodwin and a family named French. These
were the onlv inhabitants of this rich grazing section
until after the country was surveyed in 1884. when a
982
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
small addition to their numbers was attracted to the
iegion.
What is known as the fraser country lies between
the country just described and Greer, along the brakes
of Lolo creek and the Clearwater river. The earliest
settler in this region, it is thought, was a man famil-
iarly known as "Texas." who lived on a claim about
two miles east of the site of Fraser postoffice. He
took up his residence in these parts about 1863 or pos-
pibly a year earlier. For a few years he kept a station
there, then sold his right and improvements to one
Milo Thomas, who was succeeded some five or six
years later by Mauli & Hourcade, stockmen. The next
settler, probably, was John Alsop, who came about
1872 and located on what is called the Hole-in-the-
ground ranch. In 1874 John D. Reed took a claim
south of the present Fraser postoffice on the brakes
of the Lolo, and some four years later Patrick Keane
took a place half a mile west of the old Texas ranch.
These were the, pioneer settlers of the region and
practically the only residents until the developments
of the. past few years began.
With so few communities to support a local gov-
ernment and these so small and weak, the mystery is
that county organization could be maintained at all.
Much credit is due the pioneer people of southern
Shoshone for their successful fight against political
disintegration. ' Their existence as a separate county
was not maintained without sacrifice, and it is thought
that had not the Cceur d'Alenes been discovered the
struggle would soon have been given up.
The summary of assessments for the year 1865
gives us some idea of conditions obtaining in Shoshone
county at that time. The persons owning assessable
property numbered 273. Forty-six houses were as-
sesed, seven ditches, namely, the Upper Shanghai,
Lower Shanghai, Barclay's gulch. Rhoades creek,
Lower Rhoades creek, McConnel's and George Kleas-
man's; three saloons — D. H. Jaume's, Stanford
Capps's and James Connelly's ; one drug store, Par-
ker's; one saw mill, D. M. Fraser's: one store and
gaming room, D. F. Leonard's ; three general stores,
J. P. Butler's, Levi Ankeny's and Seidner & Loewen-
berg's. The assessed valuation of this property, added
to that of the two horses and 367 head of beef cattle
assessed to A. J. Watson and the horse, wagon and
harness and twelve cows assessed to John Corn,
amounted in all to $41,960. Each of the 273 persons
assessed was required to pay $_] poll tax and $1 mili-
tary enrollment tax.
The revenue collectable from every source was
small even in 1865 and it became much smaller later.
Edward Hammond states that by the winter of 1869-
70 the population of Pierce City and vicinity had
fallen to about a hundred white men, though there were
three hundred or more Chinamen in the camp, many
■ of whom were doing well in their mining operations.
On Weippe prairie were a few farmers engaged in
raising cattle, horses, hay, vegetables, cereals and such
other products as they could find a market for among
the miners.
The people of southern Shoshone count} . like
those in other parts of north Idaho, were greatlj dis-
turbed by the Indian war of 1877. though happily
comparatively little damage was done them and their
numbers were not reduced by the fell wrath of the
red man. The first news of the outbreak was brought
to Pierce City by a friendly Nez Perces squaw named
Louise, who lived on the Xorth Fork. She was at
that time aboul thirty-five years of age. By frequent
visits to Pierce City with vegetables she had become
well acquainted with the white residents of the town,
tor win im she had the kindliest sentiments. The white
miners of Shoshone county had always been friendly
to the Indians, purchasing from them grain and vege-
tables every year. When Louise announced that cer-
tain Indians had taken the warpath they felt they had
nothing to fear from the Kamiahs, North Forks. Lap-
wais or Clearwaters, but they were afraid lest some
marauding detachment from Joseph's band might do
them harm. The inhabitants were in no condition to
defend themselves in case of attack. Their number
did not exceed twenty-five at the time, though they
were reinforced a little later by the arrival of \\ elling-
ton Landon, Patrick Gartney and family, Martin
.Mauli, Peter Hourcade and John Reed from the
Weippe prairie, and D. W. C. Dunwell from his ferry
on the Clearwater near the site of the present Greer.
Ed Hammond and Horatio L. Gray owned the only
rifles in the town : Francis Carle was armed with a
shotgun supplied with only one lock, and a few of
the men had revolvers. The Chinese population was
still more poorly armed and for some reason it did not
seem anxious to prepare for defense.
The white people determined to fortify the home
of Francis Carle, in the lower end of town, and around
it they built a stockade of cordwood eight feet high,
inclosing two wells that they might have an abundant
supply of water. A small log fort was also built just
east of town on the spot now occupied by the school-
house. Guards were thrown out around the town, but
it was the intention of the people to treat for peace
should the Indians appear, as they realized fully their
inability to do more than make a show of defense.
Shortly after the warning had been given the
whites by Louise. Edward Hammond determined to go
through to Lewiston, if he could, and sue for aid.
Starting in the morning, he reached Weippe prairie
early in the afternoon and from a position in the
woods which surrounded the little meadow, he saw
seventy or eighty Indians in council. Their tepees
had been erected and a temporary camp established.
He also saw that Air. Landon's house had been burned.
Hastily returning to Pierce City, Mr. Hammond
informed his fellow citizens there of what he had seen.
The people did not doubt but they would be attacked
forthwith. All was quiet that night. Next morning,
however, two friendly Kamiahs under flag of truce
came into town with a message from Chief Lawyer to
the effect that the hostiles were about to attack the
settlement and that the whites should be on their
guard. The settlers were unable to do more than
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
983
remove their women and children to the woods south-
east of town, as they had already made such meagre
preparations for defense as lay in their power. Fortu-
nately, the Indians never put in an appearance. It
was subsequently learned that they had been dissuaded
from al tacking- the town by those of their own num-
ber who had traded with the whites for years and con-
sequently looked upon them as friends. Many of the
Indians were very much in favor of the attack and
gave it up only after a long and vigorous contest in
the council.
The day following the arrival of the two Kamiahs
with Lawyer's message the whites decided to send a
company of men to Lewiston for arms and ammuni-
tion. Eight men volunteered to go on this dangerous
journey, namely: John Greer, Horatio L. Gray, Elliot
G. Cole, Hiram Nelson, Frank Capps, Patrick Keane,
Lawrence T. Dunwell, Robert Yantis and Edward
Hammond. Setting out from Pierce late in the after-
noon unarmed, for they left their weapons to those in
the fort, they descended to the north fork of the Clear-
water via Quartz creek, crossed the river in a canoe
which they were fortunate enough to find, and pro-
ceeded thence to Lewiston, at which town they arrived
early next morning. They experienced no difficulty
in procuring sixteen rifles and an abundance of ammu-
nition. With these they set out forthwith on the return
journey — all but Hiram Nelson, who went to his home
in Walla Walla. Jacob Schultz, of Lewiston, took his
place.
Being now well armed, the doughty eight did not
fear to return by the main trail to Pierce. At the
Clearwater they found the ferry burned, so were forced
to build a raft in order to cross the stream. They
arrived in town about noon next day after an unevent-
ful journey, and strengthened the defenses by their
presence and the arms they brought, but fortunately,
the rude fortifications of the miners were not put to
the test. The Indians did not attack the town when
they could and opportunity to do so never returned,
for they were soon driven to parts beyond Idaho.
Shoshone county suffered comparatively little from
the outbreak, though several score of cattle and horses
were stolen from the ranges around Weippe. one house
and one ferry were burned, the miners were compelled
to desist from productive employment for several
weeks, and men of all occupations were forced to neg-
iect their usual work. The direct and indirect losses
of the war were considerable.
•In 1881 the assessed valuation of property in
Shoshone county was only $38,981. The condition of
things in the weak and struggling political organiza-
tion may be gathered from the following editorial in
the Lewiston Teller of July 21. 1SK1, based on infor-
mation obtained from Edward Hammond:
Our Pierce City correspondent announces the partial dis-
organization of Shoshone, leaving the people of tiiat county
that county have been compelled to go begging for men to
fill them, and after once being filled, several substitutions
have been made after periods of interregnum. The whole
number of white rc-idents in the countv seldom exceeds sev-
enty-five persons, and is more often less than that. Hence
the burdens of supporting a count) organization have been
quite heavy upon each ini mi time past.
A natural county pride has induced thi 1
up the organization in the hope that immigration 1
reach them and swell their numbers But the 1
there has been any, has been principal^ among 1
who have gone there for mining purpos. and 1
greater portion of the mining ground that had been par-
tially worked by the whites. Little new ground h;
discovered that ottered sufficient inducements for whites to
remain in the county, the latter have gradually diminished
in numbers until the) an now reduced to what
indicated above h is true that on the north fo
Clearwater in said county, a large number of men each year
are engaged temporarily in the lumber business. I ■■; they
do not acquire a bona tide residence or become citizens of
the county.
There are about a dozen men in the cou
ness is agriculture. These are principallj engaged in fur-
nishing supplies for those .who are mining ["hi
ready market for any surplus they could raise, and hence
there is at present little inducement for persons to take up
a residence 111 the county for agricultural purpose*, not
withstanding several townships of the best agricultural land
lie within the borders of the county in its southwestern por-
tion, adjacent to the Nez Perces reservation, which lias no
outlet save across said reservation. We are of the opinion
that the time is not far distant when this land will become
utilized and be of great value, and no doubt thi
hitherto inspired citi ens of thai count) to keep up their
orgai ••■■11 till the tune should arrive when thi
find the organization much easier to maintain. Terms of the
district court are fixed for that county once each year, but
they are very expensive both to the county and to raem-
•bers of the court and bar. There is generally little business
and when there is business to require a grand or petit jury,
the number of citizens in the county is too small to
practicable to secure an impartial jury. Several of the citi-
zens of that county have heretofore expressed themselves
as desirous of abolishing the county organization and be-
coming attached to Nez Perces county, while others have
expressed themselves as against the change. As matters now
stand, the condition of things is anything but pleasant, and
the perplexities that arise are constantly becoming much
more numerous and annoying. But we can see no legal relief
till the next meeting of the legislature.
But the county organization was not given up in
1881, and fortunate it was, for even before that date,
unknown to the residents, forces had been silently at
work which were destined to cause the county speedily
to become populous and to leap at a single bound to
a position of prominence among its sister counties.
From the earliest times the existence of gold in the
Cceur d'Alenes had been suspected. While Lieutenant
Mullan was constructing his well known military road
through the region his men observed indications of
the precious metals, if they did not actually discover
them. His suspicions of the existence of gold in this
legion and elsewhere along the road are frankly ex-
pressed in the following interesting letter:
Washington, IX C, June t. 1884.
Editor Eagle: I have received your rei
ter of May 21, [884. It is exceedi 1 to me to
view and read of the developments that arc now taking place
intry, winch for so many years was
my" camping enumd. and where I became familiar v
of the difficulties of opening up so wild a region of our
mountain system, and particularly when they are set forth in
a sprightly journal like the Eagle, right in the heart oi such
development. I am not at all surprised at the discovery of
984
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
numerous rich gold deposits in your mountains, because both
on the waters of the St. Joseph and Coeur d'Alene, when
there many years ago. I frequently noticed vast masses of
quartz strewing the ground, particularly on the St. Joseph
river, and wide veins of quartz projecting at numerous
points along the line of my road along the Coeur d'Alene,
all of which indicated the presence of gold. Nay. more, I
now recall quite vividly one of my herders and hunters, a
man by the name of Moise, a French-Canadian (the son-in-
law of Louis Brown, then living at Frenchtown, a little vil-
lage about fifteen miles below Missoula) coming into camp
one day with a handful of coarse gold which he said he had
found on the headwaters of the north fork of the Coeur
d'Alene while out hunting for our expedition. This gold
was so pure, so heavy and so free from quartz or matrix
rock and weighing several ounces that it attracted not only
a great deal of attention, but some degree of surprise at the
time. And when he said he had found it his statement was
scarcely credited by anyone then in our camp, because it was
believed that he had traded for this gold with some parties
passing up and down from the Frazier river mines. This
was in '58-9.
Further on in our journey another gold deposit was dis-
covered by a member of my party named Spangler, who was
my assistant wagon maker, and who is still living in the
state of Virginia. This was finer gold and was found on the
south bank of the Bitter Root river, between the summit
of the mountains and the present town of Missoula. But
Spangler, whether justly or not, it is immaterial now to say,
was known in our camp to be a sort of Baron Munchausen,
and hi- statement was not credited, there being then no dis-
position to confirm his discovery and because of the distance
from the line of our road, where the alleged discovery was
said to have been made
ur journey I remember distinctly camp-
lday on Fline creek, a tributary to Hell
ile some of my men were engaged in
-earn 111 order to catch some of the many trout
was known to be supplied, other men went
and taking up several pans of gravel and dirt
me, ami 111 every instance found gold and in
considerable, it being, however, very fine scale
Further on
ing on a certain
Gate river, and
turning the strca
with which it v
to the hillside ar
washed the samt
some instai
gold.
Passing still farther eastward some of my party made the
discovery of gold on what is now known as the American
fork, where I am told extensive placer deposits have been
worked. Passing still farther eastward, an old miner in my
camp, whose name I cannot now recall, made the discovery
of gold on the waters of the Prickly Pear, where since the
rich deposits around Helena have been worked.
The members of my expedition were composed very
largely of old miners from California, and having had more
or less experience in noticing the indications of mineral de-
posits, their universal verdict was that the entire country
from Coeur d'Alene lake on toward and including the east
slope of the Rocky mountains was one vast gold bearing
country, and T was always nervous as to the possible dis-
covery of gold along the line of my road, and I am now
■frank to say that I did nothing to encourage its discovery
at that time, for I feared that any rich discovery would lead
to a general stampede of my men from my own expedition
and thus destroy the probable consummation of my work
■during the time within which I desired to complete the
same. I then regarded it as of the first importance to myself
and to the public to open a base line from the plains of the
Spokane on the west to the plains of the Missouri on the east.
from which other lines could be subsequently opened and by
means of which the correct geography of the country could be
delineated.
My object at that time and the object < >f those whose views
1 w:i~ in the field to execute was not so much to discover gold
as it was for the purpose of ascertaining whether there was
a practical railroad route through the valleys and if there
existed any practicable pass in the main range of the Rocky
mountains through which, in connection with proper ap-
proaches thereto, we could carry a wagon road, to be followed
l>y a railroad line and T did not hesitate to make all other
considerations secondary or subordinate thereto, believing
then, and knowing now, that if a railroad line was projected
and completed through the valleys and the passes of the
Rocky mountains, between the 45th and the 4.Sth parallels of
latitude, that all other developments would necessarily and
naturally soon followd.
I am, therefore, not surprised to-day to see, as I saw
last September, when going out to assist in driving the last
spike on the N. P. railway, countless herds of stock grazing
in perfect security from Indians upon the broad plains of the
upper Missouri and Yellowstone and the entire road dotted
with towns and villages, and being peopled by a hardy pop-
ulation ; not surprised to find my old camp on the Hell Gate,
the site of the beautiful town of Missoula, or to see the broad
plains of the Spokane fenced in and reduced to cultivation, or
the waste waters of the Spokane at Spokane falls, harnessed
to busy the wheels of industry nor to know that the great
waters of the Coeur d'Alene river and lake are being ploughed
by steamers, right in the heart of the Coeur d'Alene moun-
tains ; and the Hell Gate Ronde in Montana and the Coeur
d'Alene lake in Idaho, becoming the sites of two of the most
important military posts along our exterme northwestern
borders, because all these were foreseen and officially reported
by me thirty years ago, and stated as likely to take place. To
me it is peculiarly gratifying to know that I have been enabled
to live sufficiently long to see these various matters fully real-
ized, and I have no envy whatsoever against any of those per-
sons who are now enjoying the partial development of the re-
sults of our early labors.
Your mines, if as rich and extensive as reported, are
destined to build up many important interior centers of trade
and promise to make the city of Portland, Oregon, a greal
and busy mart of commerce and an important center of pop-
ulation and industrial development. Fort Benton and Helena
on your east are destined, too, to be large cities of the plains.
Should your mining camps become even one-half what is
expected of them, I would not be surprised to see the entire
mountain system from Eagle City on the north to Pierce City
on the south, becoming the sites of numerous mining camps
and towns, connected by a system of narrow gauge railroads,
with telegraphs and telephones extending as a network over
a bed of mountains, where for so many ages silence has
reigned supreme, and wdiose industrious residents. 1 hope, may
be richly compensated for their arduous occupations, trials
ami exposures necessarily incident to so rugged a country
and so severe a winter climate.
Very truly yours, etc.,
JOHX MULLAN.
There was a newspaper dispute shortly after the
first rush of gold-seekers into the Coeur d'Alenes and
while some of the earliest discoveries were in litiga-
tion as to who should be credited with the distinction
of having first prospected in this region. Adam Aul-
bach. the editor of the Sun and the champion of those
opposed to A. J. Prichard and his friends, made this
statement : "The first prospector in the Coeur d'Alene
was Tom Irwin, who came to these mountains fully
six months before Mr. Prichard did. Irwin worked
a quartz claim on the Mullan road at a place called
Miners' Cabin as early as the spring of '79. Prichard
made his appearance in that neighborhood in the fall
from Montana, accompanied by William Gerrard, anil
went to Fort Coeur d'Alene. Prichard had no idea of
prospecting, but came into the country to secure a
lumber contract from Cannon, Warner & Company,
of Spokane Falls, to which he gave his attention.
Irwin in the meantime contintied to prospect, going
into the mountains north of Nigger prairie on the south
fork of the Coeur d'Alene. He formed a favorable
opinion of the country and thought that placers ex-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
985
isted, but could not find any that would pay in his
immediate line of search. He, however, repaired to
Fort Cceur d'Alene. where Prichard was logging, and
called the latter's attention to the mineral bearing-
nature of the region he had prospected and made an
effort to induce Prichard and John Dason, a man
working for him, to accompany him on an expedition.
Both declared their willingness to go, but were not
ready at the time. Irwin went back to his cabin on
the Mullan road, accompanied by William Dobson.
and resumed work on his quartz claim. Some time
afterward Prichard came along and signified his will-
ingness to accompany the party, and some prospecting
was done, but nothing of value was discovered. This
was in 1880."
In answer Mr. Prichard said:
"1 came to the Cceur d'Alene country by way of
Montana from New Mexico to Colorado in the fall of
1878, and had never heard of Cannon, Warner &
Company before my arrival at the post. I found the
quartz lead, known as the Evolution lead, on my way
in in the month of November, 1878. On my way I
left the road and followed the ridges, crossing small
tributaries looking for quartz, and one night did not
get into camp until midnight. It being late in the
fall, I went to Post Cceur d'Alene, thence over to
Heyden's lake, where I did some work for Heyden,
and remained until January. \\ hile there, hearing
that Cannon, Warner & Company wanted some logs,
1 went to Spokane Falls to see them and took a con-
tract which was to have been completed by July 1,
'79, that being about the time the water runs down
so as to enable one to prospect, but early in the spring
the unusual high water swept away Cannon & Com-
pany's boom, consequently they could not receive the
logs. The money I brought to the country being
invested in the contract, Cannon & Company sent for
me and I went to the Falls, where they made further
arrangements with me. increasing the contract so as
to give me employment until they could replace the
boom, which they failed to complete until late in the
fall. My first acquaintance with Tom Irwin was in
January, '79, while at the Falls. Finding him gentle-
manly and an old prospector, we talked over the pros-
pects of the country, in which I spoke of my finding
what is now known as the Evolution lead. In the
spring while I was at work Mr. Irwin came up on a
prospecting trip on the South Cceur d'Alene.' The
water being high, he left some of his packs at the
mission and went as far as Nigger prairie with some
men going to Montana, one of whom had been work-
ing for me. They had to take the high water trail,
and it's being blocked with fallen timber and brush,
caused much delay. The men going to Montana being
short of provisions, ate Irwin out. so he had to return,
doing very little prospecting. On his return he found
the lead near A liners' camp, to which he afterward
returned and put up his cabin in the summer of '79.
As the editor claims, with much emphasis, that I did
not come until the fall of '80. I will add that I have a
bill of goods bought of C. F. Yeaton, post •rader ot
the Cceur d'Alene, lying before me dated July 7. [879,
and one of August 1. [879, amounting up to that date
to $610.26. 1 came in the fall before I put up my cabin
at Evolution, the fall of '79, above .Miner's camp and
worked my lead through the winter, doing very little
execution, having no tools to work with and no money
to buy, having only a silver dollar left on arriving,
and in February T commenced prospecting on a small
gulch called Prospect gulch, putting in sluice boxes
in March, and, to my knowledge, taking out the fir>t
placer gold on the Cceur d'Alene. It being a small
gulch, the water did not last long, but I got some very
nice specimens of coarse gold."
No means are available for determining whether
the account of Mr. Prichard is or is not correct. John
P. Vollmer, of Lewiston, stated to the writer that he
and other merchants of that town outfitted a party of
prospectors and sent them into the Cceur d'Alenes be-
fore either Prichard or Irwin had entered ; that the
party returned with some excellent specimens of gold-
bearing quartz', was outfitted again the next season and
sent back to develop further its first discovery; and
that it failed to find either the ledge it had left the year
before or any other prospects rich enough to justify
its return. He asserts that he and his associate^ were
the first to prospect systematically in the present Cceur
d'Alene mining region.
In answer to a request b) mail for further informa-
tion, Mr. Vollmer sent along with a copy of the mining
laws of the Agawam mining district the following let-
ter, bearing date June 14, 1903:
Dear Sir: Answering yours of the 10th in regard to
priority of prospecting the Coeur d'Alene, we can ante-
date Prichard five years. In June. 1873. Frank E. Peck, of
Boston, Massachusetts, and my sell" fitted out a prospecting
party at Lewiston, Idaho, for the purpose of prospecting the
Coeur d'Alenes for gold. The party was made up of the
following members: "Frank E. Peck, of Boston, Massachu-
setts : John O. Barbour, George A. Frost, John Desmukes and
— Delaney, all of Lewiston. On the 1,1th of June all prepa-
rations were completed and the party started. Arriving at St.
Joe in due time they proceeded thence to tin- Mission, thence
to a point where the town of Kingston now stands, thence
along the Mullan road to Mud prairie, thence over the high
water trail of the south fork of the Coeur d'Alene river to
the St. Regis, thence down that river to the old Mullan
camp near which they remained for a number of days They
then proceeded down the Missoula river and to the east side
of Moose creek, thence up Fish creek to Fish lake. They
then began a thorough svstem of prospecting between the St.
Joe on the north and the Clearwater on the south, including
nearly all those parts of the Coeur d'Alene that had until
then not yet been prospected. The party in its search found
numerous prospects and some rock assaying as high
in gold to the ton. Bv tins time winter was coming on and
the partv decided to return to Lewiston, where they arrived
some time between the 14th and 20th of November, 187.;.
The finds of [873 being satisfactory, I decided, with Mr
Peck to have the partv return to the Coeur
and organize a mining district to be called the
Mining District." (t enclose you a copy of the laws there
adopted.) . .
On June 9. 1874. the party set out again from
but though they traveled and prospected about for several
months among the Coeur d'Alene mountains and streams,
they failed to again locate the rich find of the year before and
not deeming the other discoveries sufficiently rich to war-
986
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
rant their being worked under the conditions obtaining in
those days, we decided to abandon further search. I he party
again reached Lewiston about October 1st, 1874. The fore-
going is a brief narrative of that enterprise and is true
Yours truly,
John P. Vollmer.
P. S. — I will state that our Mr. George A. Frost was in
the Coeur d'Alenes in 1872. J. P. V.
But it is almost universally conceded that to A. J.
Prichard rightfully belongs the honor of having made
the discovery that first introduced the region to the
notice of the world. Even Mr. Aulbach, who was an
opponent of Mr. Prichard in the early disputes, has
conceded this, as appears from the following extract
from an article written by him and published in the
Oregonian during the year 1896:
"Gold was discovered in the Coeur d'Alenes in
1882 by A. J. Prichard on what is now known as
Prichard creek, one of the tributaries of the north
fork of the Coeur d'Alene river. In early days, or. to
be more definite, in 1884, some controversy arose as
to whether Prichard should have the credit of the
discovery or his companions. The writer, however,
who came into the Cceur d'Alenes early in 1884, after
considerable research and interviewing, concluded that
Prichard deserved the honor. Prichard was preceded
though by prospectors who left the country shortly
before the discovery of gold. * * * Near the site
of the present Murray the actual discovery of placer
gold is said to have been made, but as the party be-
came separated, it is doubtful who made it. Gelatt or
Prichard. It is, however, certain that the party was
under the direction of Prichard and that if he did not
dig the first prospect hole and wash the first pan of
pay flirt, he was entitled to be considered the discov-
erer of the creek."
Unfortunately, the few extant accounts of the pre-
liminary prospecting which resulted in the discovery
of the Cceur d'Alene placers can not be harmonized.
Mr. Prichard and the men who were with him have
either died or left the country, so that it is impossible
to interview them, and as far as known, they have left
no complete accounts of their doings. Mr. Prichard
prepared a history of his adventures and experiences,
but it was destroyed by fire while yet in manuscript
form. According to the account of Adam Aulbach,
win- claims that his article in the Oregonian was the
result of careful and exhaustive research, made in 1884,
when all the original discoverers could be seen and
interviewed. Irwin traded his stock of provisions in
1 88 1 to W. Edson and Bob Fanning for a horse and
departed for Colorado. Fanning and Edson met
Prichard and arranged with him for an expedition
into the mountains to the north. Proceeding to
Beaver creek, the}- prospected it for several days with-
out finding anything, then returned to Miner's cabin,
about twelve miles distant. They then made a trip
to Canyon creek, at that time named Miller creek,
which they also prospected without success. Dis-
gusted. Fanning and Edson set out for civilization,
while Prichard again returned to the "cabin."
Some letters Mr. Prichard had written to outside
parties either having been too enthusiastic or having
been misconstrued, a Crowd of gold-seekers was in-
cited to rush into the "cabin" and Evolution. When
Prichard could not show them any placer ground they
threatened to lynch him and came near carrying their
threat into execution, but wiser counsels eventually
prevailed.
In June. 1882, Prichard again went to Beaver
creek, accompanied this time by Gelatt and Philip
Markson. In a little gulch near the site of the present
Delta they found an old prospect hole, dug, as was
learned later, by Dawson, Kirby, Dempsey and Perry.
Xo pay dirt was discovered. The party then cut its
way through the forest to the north fork of the Cceur
d'Alene, losing Gelatt en route. The old man, though
sixty-five years of age, was active, robust and inde-
pendent, and it was his custom to separate himself
from his companions whenever he chose. This time
his absence was protracted through several days. The
other members of the partv gave up hope of ever
seeing him again and pushed on up the north fork
through the forest to the mouth of what is now
named Prichard creek, which they resolved to explore,
notwithstanding the fact that their supply of provi-
sions was getting low. At the site of old Eagle City
they stopped to rest and prospect. Here they were
rejoined, to their great joy, by Gelatt, who had been
doing a little prospecting on his own account, but had
found nothing. William Gerrard came into camp next
day with a small supply of provisions, having been
true to his promise to follow up the other prospectors.
This party discovered, it is claimed, some gold near
their camp and one of its members made the discoverv
near Murray which caused the great influx of miners.
The same story is told by Mrs. Prichard, who is
simply rehearsing what her husband told her. in sub-
stance as follows • Prichard remained at Evolution on
the south fork during 1880, developing and prospect-
pecting, but in 1881 he started alone for the north
fork of the Cceur d'Alene on his regular annual pros-
pecting trip. He crossed Evolution mountain north
"i Beaver creek, having to cut his way through the
heavy timber and undergrowth that then covered the
country. From Beaver creek he crossed the low range
on to what is now Prichard creek, then turned up
Eagle creek and ascended that stream nine or ten
miles, or about to the mouth of what later became
known as Tributary gulch. Here he found some
excellent prospects, so good indeed that he remained
until the first heavy snow fell, when he turned his
face toward home. Upon reaching Prichard creek he
found that rain had been falling there instead of snow,
so he determined to prospect in that vicinity awhile,
lie worked the site of the present Murray on one
corner of what afterward became known as Widow's
claim, obtaining excellent results. After six weeks ot
toil he was driven back to Evolution by the heavy
snowfalls. From one pan of Prichard creek dirt he
wasln-d $42.
In 1882 he returned to the north fork, accom-
panied by William Dempsey, Fanning, Gelatt
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
9S7
and Phil Markson. They found some diggings near
the mouth of Eagle creek and spent most of the
summer building and preparing to work the ground.
Prichard for some reason unknown did not lead the
party to his discovery of the year before on Prichard
creek.
In March, 1883. Mr. Prichard located, in the vicin-
ity of the present Murray, the Discovery group, con-
sisting of four claims, one of which was for his son
Jesse, one, the Pacific, later known as the Murray, for
Mrs. C. A. Schultz, of .Michigan: one, the Lane, for
Mrs. Marv H. Pane, of Illinois (this is the claim
which subsequently became known as the "Widow's
claim"), and one for Willard O. Endicott, a son of
Air. Prichard's old lieutenant. In each of these
Prichard was to have a half interest for working and
management. Resides the Discovery group he took
a great many other claims on the creek bank for differ-
ent friends by power of attorney. Gelatt took a claim
which developed into one of the leading producers in
the camp. Dempsey located placer ground about a
mile above Eagle.
Mrs. Prichard gives it as her belief -that there is
no truth in the assertion that the man who afterward
became her husband was threatened with lynching in
1882, or at any other time. Robert T. Horn, who
came to the country in August of that year, believes
the story, however, and William ( Isburn says he was
with the party who threatened to inflict this summary
punishment for an imaginary wrong, but he fixes the
date as May. 1883. He says the gold-hunters came
to Prichard and urged that he show them the place
where he had made his discoveries. The latter expos-
tulated with them that a trip to the place was useless
at that season of the year and very arduous. They
said the journey could not be worse than the one thev
had taken and still urged him to become their guide.
At length he yielded. He led them to the spot where
gold had been discovered, but the ground, was covered
so deep with snow that no prospecting could be done.
The gold-hunters then became angry and talked of
lynching their guide, whereupon William ( Isburn, who
was with the party, called their attention to the fact
that they came to the country against Prichard's
wishes (for he desired to keep his discovery a secret
from all except the members of a certain order of lib-
eralists to which he belonged), that they had been
accommodated by him and that they were utterly with-
out excuse for a display of anger or violence. Appar-
ently they saw the injustice of their position, for they
desisted from further threats against Prichard's life.
As just intimated, Mr. Prichard wished very much
to save the best locations, and indeed all locations, for
his friends of the Liberal League. In 1888 the Spo-
kane Review published what it claimed to be a copy
of one of these letters. Though the writer can not
be absolutely sure of its authenticity, it is here repro-
duced and given for what it is worth:
Evolution . fan. 7, 1883.
Mr. C :
Dear Sir — As I came across your name in the
Truthseeker, I take the libertv of addressing you a
lew lines in hopes of giving my "liberal friend
assistance. ! can not enter into details in a -hurt
letter, but will give enough to give you an urn
ing of what 1 wish and will ask you as a gentleman
and brother liberal not to make it known outside the
1 iberal League and its members.
I have made a discovery of a gold-bearing coun
try thai will give employment to al li
20.000 men. There are two streams that I ha
pected well; one is sixteen to twenty-five miles long,
as near as I can judge: the other twelve to
miles and an average width of sixty to seventx rods;
have found gold on three other streams of near the
same size, but have not tested them enough to know-
how they will pay. The two streams I speak of will
pay their wdiole length and probably the most of their
tributaries, with an abundance of g. » «1 timber and
water. Bedrock from five t.. twelve feet. Gold
coarse and of good quality. There are two •■
natural-town sites where will be built cities repr< sent-
ing thousands in less than two years, and the country
is traversed with hundreds of mineral bearing lodes
of quartz. And now for good reasons which 1 have
not time to explain I would like to see as much of this
go into the hands of the liberals as possible, and also
see them build a cit\ where they can have their own
laws and enough of this vast mining region to sup-
port it, which they can do if they will go at it cool
and work together. I have spent four years here by
myself looking and working it up. I first discovered
and located a lode on the Mullan road, and not having
much means to open it up, I spent al! of my spare
t'me looking for placers, not anticipating finding ex-
tensive mines, only something to help me open my
lode, but I have found a richer and bigger section than
I supposed lav undiscovered in the Rocky range, and
now if you will convey the purport of what I give
you to as many leagues as you can on this coast, and
request them to get together and keep this information
to themselves, they can secure the "lion's share." I am
in the mountains, fifty miles from a postoffice. and can
do but little in winter, for the snow gets from three
to four feet deep here. I will give directions how to
get there and what is needed. My location I call
"Evolution," as that is the name of my lode. It is on
the old Mullan road to Montana. I am fifty miles
east of Fort Coenr d'Alene and twenty-three miles east
of the old mission. The Northern Pacific railroad runs
within twelve miles of the post, where there is a town
called Rathdrum. Parties coming will want pack ani-
mals, as the new mines are back from my place on the
road forty miles in the mountains, with but poor pack
trails vet,' as I have not had time to cut them 1
than enough to get through, and they will want sup-
plies for a month or two. as there will be no chance
of getting anything after leaving the post at present.
Probablv'the best place for those that havi
horses would be to stop at Spokane Falls, Washington
Territory, which is thirty miles from the post, and per-
haps thev might do better in provisions and groceries,
tools, etc.
Now, if there are many that conclude to come
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
they might leave the impression along the road that
they were going to Montana and give as many liberals
as possible a chance to get in before they get up an
excitement.
I shall be down about the middle of April and
that is as soon as they need to get to the post, as they
can't get into the mountains until the water runs down,
and sometimes it keeps up until the middle of May,
so they need not be in a hurry getting an early start.
There are but three or four that have a knowledge of
it (the discovery of gold) here, and that is merely a
suspicion. They have agreed to keep it. I am a little
afraid of one of them or 1 would have waited a little
longer, but shall try to get ready. I wanted to pros-
pect a little more before a rush commenced, for it will
surely come. Now, hoping that my friends may profit
by the knowledge I have given them. I remain,
Yours fraternally.
A. J. Prichard.
Such letters as the foregoing sent to members of
Liberal Leagues in Montana, Colorado and elsewhere
induced quite a stampede into the gold belt of the
Creur d'Alenes in 1883. The secret was not well kept
by the liberal people. The news was spread abroad
and soon reached the miners of the Black Hills, who
began pouring into the new Mecca of the gold-seeker
in June. When they arrived they found that nearly all
the valuable placer ground along the creek had been
taken by Prichard for his friends through power of
attorney. Not to be baffled, they at once began jump-
ing the best claims. Prichard, Gelatt, Fisher and Bob-
lett saw that their locations for absent persons would
not be respected, so they sent to the Palouse country
for friends residing in that farming district. At least
fifty responded, coming in by every species 'of convey-
ance and soon reaching the gold fields, for they had
only a short distance to come. Mr. Horn tells us
that about the same time a third district party of
twenty or thirty, under the leadership of William Stil-
well, Barney McAleer, William Osburn and a man
named Eumas, came in and that the three-cornered
clash naturally arising out of those conditions was the
beginning of the troubles in the gold mining district.
At first claims were held by those who could muster
the greatest show of force to defend their real or pre-
tended rights, but the numerous disputes were later
taken into the courts and made the subject of pro-
tracted and costly litigation.
The rush of the spring and summer of 18S3 was a
small affair compared with that of the ensuing fall,
winter and spring, \mong those whose attention was
attracted to the new mining district by the reports
circulated in the early months of 1883 and confirmed
by subsequent developments was H. C. Davis, of the
Northern Pacific railroad, who saw in the Cceur
d'Alene mining excitement an opportunity to secure
patronage for his line and also perhaps to induce the
permanent settlement of a region contigous to his road.
He therefore caused the circulation of a pamphlet
describing the new mining district in glowing lan-
guage. The Northern Pacific gold circular has be-
come famous in the history of the camp as the chief
cause of that great winter rush of 1883-4. It repre-
sented that $100 a day to the man were being taken
out of the rimrock of the gulches, while in the gulches
S25 to $40 per diem per man were being panned.
"The claims are very rich," says this circular, '"and
are located in the gulches of the north fork of the
Cceur d'Alene river, Eagle, Prichard and Beaver
creeks, streams running into the Cceur d'Alene river.
Rich placer deposits have already been discovered for
a considerable distance on Prichard creek and the same
distance on Eagle creek, the creeks being known by
the latter name from the point where the}' come to-
gether. Nuggets have been found which weigh $50,
$100, $166 and $200. An intense excitement has
sprung up in regard to the quartz deposits of this dis-
trict, the immediate occasion of this being a 'find' of
a valuable quartz lode at the head of Prichard creek.
The vein has been traced on the surface for a dis-
taince of five hundred feet and the outcroppings are
very prominent. The ore taken from the vein shows
a great amount of free gold, in fact, it fairly glis-
tens. * * *
"The most extensive galena belt known at the pres-
ent day is being developed on Beaver creek. The vein
can be readily traced on the surface for five or six
miles, the ore carrying from eighty to ninety ounces
of silver and 35 to 40 per cent. lead. * * *
"Such is a brief sketch of the Cceur d'Alene mines,
which surpass in richness and volume the most fabu-
lous quartz and placers ever discovered, even the
famous deposits of 'Potosi' being inferior to those
which underlie the mountains of the Cceur d'Alenes.
As the mines of the old world, some of which have
been worked since the eleventh century, are still em-
ploying thousands of men, the conclusion to be drawn
in regard to the Cceur d'Alenes, a region far superior
in every way. is that they are inexhaustible, and al-
though thousands may work them, there will still be
room for thousands more."'
Unquestionably the many who poured into the
Cceur d'Alene country over the crests of snow-clad
and forbidding mountain ranges during the memora-
ble winter of 1883-4 knew that the statements of the
circular were gross exaggerations, but they all thought
that without doubt a rich mining region had been dis-
covered, and they accordingly poured into the country
despite the warnings of the press and of experienced
men. It was estimated that there were fully one thou-
sand men in the district by the middle of February.
Of course, there were ambitious towns in Montana
and Washington desirous of gaining as much as pos-
sible by the rush and in a very short time numerous
routes to the mining districts had been constructed
and their promoters were vieing with each other for
public favor. As a matter of historical interest, the
principal routes of travel may be alluded to briefly.
The Jackass trail was one of the best. In order
to take it the traveler left the railroad at Rathdrum,
in Kootenai county, traveled by stage to Cceur d'Alene
City, thence by steamer to Kingston, where a train
of thirty saddle horses were in readiness to convey
passengers to Jackass, a point on the Mullan road
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
989
three miles above Kingston, and from that over the
divide to Eagle City by way of Beaver. It was stated
that by this route passengers reached their destination
in the evening of the day upon which they started
from Coeur d'Alene City.
The Xorth Fork route was over a trail used by the
Indians long before the foot of white man ever rested
on the soil of the Northwest. It was also the high
water trail used in early daj s by packers between
Wallula and Helena.
The Thompson Falls route was in course of con-
struction in the spring of 1884. It left Thompson
Falls, Montana, the most easterly point on the rail-
road from which access could be had to the mines, and
proceeded up Prospect creek to the summit, thence
past the head of Prichard creek and through the
towns of Sullivan City, Raven City and Murrayville
and down the creek to Eagle.
The Belknap trail was an important route, connect-
ing the town in Montana from which it took its name
with Eagle City. It became the mail route as soon
as a postoffice was established in Eagle, and later a
telegraph line between the two towns followed it. The
town of Belknap was favored by the wealth and pow-
erful influence of the Northern Pacific, which of course
advocated the Belknap route.
By no means least in importance, though mentioned
last in this review, was the Trout Creek trail. This
was referred to by the Eagle as "the great snow trail
about which so many columns of description were
written during the winter." "Hundreds of people,"
says that newspaper, "wrote glowing accounts of the
perils of the passage to Eagle City by way of Trout
creek, but never an accident occurred from the time
it was opened until the bottom fell out of it when the
snow went off. During the winter it was the main
inlet and outlet for the mines, and it is reported that
with some little work a good trail and wagon road can
be built into Eagle. Trout Creek is a station on the
railway midway between Belknap and Thompson
Falls and distant from Eagle about thirty-five miles."
The first town laid out in the Cceur d'Alenes was
Eagle City. It took its name from Eagle creek, which
was so denominated, it is said, from the fact that from
time immemorial a certain tree on its bank near the
spot on which the town was built was used by eagles
as a nesting place. The tree was a high cottonwood
without limb or branch below forty feet. At this
height, however, a cluster of limbs branched out, fur-
nishing support for the weather-beaten and time-worn
nest in which the eagles had reared their young, the
Indians said, for at least forty years.
Eagle City was a magic word in the years 1883-4.
The history of the town was that of a pioneer mining
camp ; its decline was as rapid as its rise. We are in-
formed that in March. 1884, town property was in
great demand, lots bringing from $200 to $2.000 ; also
that for one or two established business houses offers
of $10,000 were refused. The Coeur d'Alene Nugget
March 2.2, 1884, tells us that twenty new business
houses were opened in the mining district during the
preceding week. By the same issue we are informed
thai stoves were the highest-priced commodities in
camp, the Sibley variety, which were nothing more
than conical sheet-iron structures, each with, a door
and place for a stovepipe, selling for from $30 to $40 ;
sheet-iron box stoves fur from $20 to $80, and ordi-
nary cook stoves from $75 to $1511; also that Hood &
Company, at an enormous expense and in the face of
tremendous obstacles, had established the first saw
mill in the mines, a steam mill with a capacity of
14,000 feet each twenty-four hours. The mil! was
brought on sleighs through Fourth of July canyon and
by boat up the north fork. It tells us that the Eagle
City Bank had the honor of having brought the first
safe into the mines; a Herring"s fire proof, weighing
about two hundred and fifty pounds. The sate was
dragged in over the Trout Creek trail by twi 1 men.
In the same number appears a fiat, promulgated by
the residents of the district, that no Chinaman shall
ever enter the camp on pain of expulsion or death and
the expulsion of the person importing such Chinaman.
The business directory set forth in its columns is :
Lawyers: S. C. Hyde, W. H. Johnson. ( harles
W. O'Neil, French. Woody & Marshall, William Scal-
lon, W. T. Stall, L. H. Prather, L. B. Nash. J. M.
Kinnaird, Malonev & Trumbull; real estate agents:
L. F. Butler & F. A. Wickersham, A. P. Bent.. 11 &
Company (W. E. Hunt), Charles A. Webster; gen-
eral stores, MacKenzie & Evans, Samuel H. Hays
(First and leading merchant), Shelton & Cunningham;
meat market, Moffitt & Wise; hardware, H. J. Blume;
Eagle City Bank ; saw mill, Hood & Company : for-
warding company. B. C. Eckers & J. F. Wardner; bar-
ber shop, Parker & Bover ; phvsicians, E. Thiele. Fred
Quimby, H. O. Beeson'& P. B'. Williams. J. B. Patter-
son ; restaurants. Matt Brown & Company, the Pioneer,
E. Y. Jeffrey, proprietor; lodging houses, the Coeur
d'Alene, Carey & Carlton, proprietors, the Arlington,
Kuebler & Vedder, proprietors; paints, L. P. Cough-
lin; builders, D. W. Mcintosh, J. A. Rives: mining
recorder and justice of the peace. Frank Points : notary
public, James F. Topliff: saloons, Cole Broth.:!-, the
Daisy, Coy & Hess, proprietors, the Comstock. Fender
& Shaw, proprietors.
"The most aggravating evil which vexes this camp
at. present," says the Nugget, "is not poorly cooked
beans, bad whiskey, dead beats nor the dreadful con-
dition of our trails. All these are bad in their way.
but are glorious when compared to the difficulty and
uncertainty of getting our mail. In the early days of
the camp a weekly mail was established by the way of
Fort Coeur d'Alene. It was brought in on snow shoes,
or otherwise, as the conditon of the trail allowed. Those
who subscribed certain amounts per month, say $30,
received all their mail for this sum. All oth<
fifty cents a letter. This system worked very satis-
factorily to the public and paid very remunerative
wages to the carriers so long as there were only two or
three hundred men in camp. Now that thousand- are
here, and tens of thousands coming, the carriers ma>
be making money, but the public are far from happy.
No contracts can now be made by the month and no
less than fifty cents will secure a letter. This works
99Q
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
a great hardship upon business men. who have lately
established themselves in the mines. The mail comes
very slowlv and with perplexing uncertainty, two weeks
being frequentl} required to bring a letter from Spo-
kane Falls. J !ut this is not all. There is no postoffice
in the mines. (Jut of mere accommodation and without
a cent of remuneration W. J. Shelton & Company have
permitted letters to be left at their store. The con-
stant interruptions and vexations occasioned of late,
however, have caused Mr. Shelton to object, and Kueb-
ler & Vedder have accepted the irksome task of keep-
ing and distributing the mail. Something must be
done and that right speedily. Many a poor fellow is
in camp who cannot pay fifty cents for a letter : many
a one who could do so cannot get his letters with any
degree of promptness or certainty."
But the trouble about mail was of short duration,
for in April A. F. Parker received his commission as
postmaster, also a mail key, supply of stamps, etc.,
and by about the 20th a postoffice, known as Eagle,
was opened for business. Mail arrived and departed
Monday, Wednesday and Friday of each week.
The Eagle, another pioneer paper of the district.
gives us the following picture of conditions in Eagle
City in April. 1884:
At this stage of its growth and development, Eagle
presents the appearance of a "hard" place. Its buildings are
located on lots from which snow to the depth of four feet
has been excavated and dumped into the street, so that be-
tween the buildings and the streets there is a solid wall of
snow. The buildings are composed of logs and shakes.
Great tents with gaudily painted signs loom up in endless
variety before the spectator, while from within come the
sound of revelry and strains of music, the click of chips and
the metallic chink of hard cash as it passes over the bar.
The streets and places of public resort are thronged night
and day with miners and prospectors waiting for the snow
to disappear so they can get off into the mountains on their
annual prospecting tour. Then there are the packers and
transient population, a tough looking crowd, but very or-
derly, who stand around enjoying the luxury of a sun bath.
On the corners are knots of men talking mines and mining,
and criticizing ore specimens that pass from hand to hand.
The stores are thronged discussing the locality and merits
of the last new thing in rich strikes; the centers are strewn
with specimens of quartz from the different districts ; while
on the street there is an ever changing panorama of counte-
nances as the crowd diverts itself. The report of a pistol
•■hot will bring a hundred men t< > their feet for an instant,
and the saloons will disgorge twice as many more in the
same moment, all on the alert to catch a sensation, which has
never occurred yet. Then there are the arrival of pack
trains and toboggans, in a more or less advanced stage of di-
lapidation from hard usage on the different trails. On all
hands carpenters and mechanics are busy erecting shanties
for temporary occupancy, but talk with whom you will you
find that the utmost confidence is expressed in the outcome
of the camp ; that we have the mineral here to make the big-
gest camp in America and that the business men are con-
servative enough not to be guilty of exaggerating the mineral
wealth of our placer fields and quartz ledges in
order to encourage a wild stampede. On all hands
there is a general disposition to tell the truth, to let
the camp sustain itself and to await developments on the more
premising quartz prospects before booming the camp. The
business men of Eagle include representatives of every state
in the union, and it is a promising sign that they are pur-
chasing town property and mining ground and are all prepar-
ing to erect larger and more commodious places of business
as soon as the material can be procured. This is about the
status of Eagle to-day. Every branch of business is well rep-
resented. We have two banks, several stores of general mer-
chandise and more saloons and lodging houses than you can
shake a stick at.
Thousands of dollars worth of real estate transfers are
made and recorded daily, and thousands more are being in-
vested m substantial buildings and other business • enter-
prises. No lawlessness exists.
While in 1883 Eagle City was practically the only
town, the influx that winter and in 1884 gave it nu-
merous rivals and by the fall of that year Murrayville
had gained the lead. Other towns which came into
existence during the twelvemonth were : Beaver City,
which, in April had three stores, two saloons and a
number of dwelling houses: Carbon Citv, six miles
further up Beaver creek, near the -then famous "Sun-
set" galena lode: Butte City, later named Littlefield,
on Prichard creek, about seven miles west of Eagle
City, which contained in May about thirty buildings :
Raven City, on Prichard creek, six miles above Murray-
ville, a way station on the Thompson Falls route, and
supplied in April with eleven saloons, three general mer-
chandise stores, .and a number of restaurants and lodg-
ing houses : and Myrtle, on Trail creek at the inter-
section of Placer and Potosi gulches, containing busi-
ness establishments owned by Wardner & Company,
Coy & Hess. William Osburn, William Buzzard and E.
Bolger. It is probable that other towns were also laid
out in 1884.
The placer mines of the Coeur d'Alenes were really
rich, and while many who flocked in were disappoint-
ed, as is invariably true of mining excitements, many
others reaped a rich harvest. Perhaps the principal
drawback to development was the unfortunate litiga-
tion arising out of conflicting claims to the same ground.
The United States statutes allowed each man to claim
twenty acres of placer ground, and to hold it legally by
doing a comparatively small amount of development
work each year. Many farmers from the Palouse
country and elsewhere and many others whose business
was not mining, took advantage of the law to hold rich
ground, while they gave much of their attention to
other pursuits. Mining men who had come long dis-
tances to secure claims and make a stake working them
were naturallv chagrined at this condition of things
and jumped claims without scruple whenever they
found the letter of the law had not been complied with.
According to established custom among mining men,
miners' meetings were held at different times and laws
gi 'verning the districts were enacted. By this means
11 was sought to reduce the size of a claim to ten acres.
( )f course the I nited States statutes were held para-
mount to any local enactments, where disputes were
taken into the courts, and the original claimant eventu-
alh secured the ground in all cases where the testi-
mony clearly showed priority of location, and a dis-
position to comply with the law in good faith.
One claim which became the subject of litigation
was especially famous in the early days, not alone
for its richness, but because of the wit and humor which
grew out of the trouble concerning it. This was the
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
"V\ idow's claim." heretofore mentioned as having been
located by A. J. Prichard. It. along with other claims,
was jumped b) miners. Perhaps the most persistent
of the willows who claimed it was .Mrs. A. M. Edding-
ton, a woman of about forty-five summers. .Mrs.
Prichard says she was an impostor out ami out; that
she had no right whatever to .the mining claim and no
color of right, and that she sought to secure an interest
in it by inducing .Mr. Prichard to marry her. This
he refused to do. The real widow, the one for whom
tlte claim was taken, was .Mrs. .Mary 11. Lane, of Illi-
nois, who came to the mines in 10X4 and was an im-
portant witness for My. Prichard in his various law-
suits.
Another subject of litigation was the location of the
mining region, jurisdiction over it being claimed orig-
inally by both Kootenai and Shoshone counties. At the
June term of court the case was decided by Judge
Norman Buck in favor of Shoshone county.
The year was one of great activity on the gulches
of Prichard and Eagle creeks in developing placer
mines, and in all parts of the region in prospecting
for both placer and quartz locations. While many
claims yielded an ounce of gold a day to the man and
some others gave even larger cleanups, it was found
that the greatest wealth of the country was beyond
the reach of the poor man and could only be garnered
bv men with capital to install large enterprises. Ac-
cordingly, some effort was made to interest capital in
ditch schemes and other developments, and a few enter-
prises of the kind were begun.
In its issue of May 7, 1884. the Coeur d'Alene Nug-
get gave a general view of activities at that time. As
affording a glimpse of the goiden days, it is here quoted
at length :
All the mines have yielded finely this week. The George
B. Ives. H. E. Wolf and the Widow continue to yield over
an 1 iiince a day to the man. Missoula gulch lacks water, but
is recognized as ranking among the best paying claims. Lucky
gulch and the Gelatt are getting ready to turn out handsome
quantities of dust. This week settles the fact that Eagle
crick is as rich as the most sanguine have predicted. Oregon
and all the side gulches are giving first-class prospects.
Everybody in camp is excited over quartz. Discoveries are
reported dailv that are too fabulous for belief. The rich-
ness of the placers is universally acknowledged and the day
of croaking has passed. .Many an old prospector, however,
has inter'
he bankers and business men of Eagle
and found that exactly 58 1-3 pounds of gold dust were
handled by them in the last two weeks. This is doubtless
only a small part of the dust taken out, most miners preferring
to keep the dust themselves.
Buckskin gulch has given the camp the principal excite-
ment of the past week. Hundreds of men have flocked thither
to witness the very unusual spectacle of men picking gold from
the earth instead of washing it out in a pan. This is about
what they witnessed. Robert Williams, David Bryant, John
F. Hennessy and Frank Barnes own claim No. 3 and upon
striking bedrock got from $2 to $20 to the pan. The entire
bedrock averaged $5 to the pan. One nugget weighed $45-
The excitement was intensified by Nate Vestal at the mouth
of Buckskin finding ounce diggings in the gravel.
Two cleanups «n the Widow this week netted 60 ounces
and 8 pennyweights and 88 ounces respectively. Work has
been commenced on a ditch to be taken from Alder creek.
miles long
w. From tin; V,
oi
ebfoot thus tar has been
' v ill be.tw and
increase the production of til
Gen. \ P. turn if,
at random, 1 he total j i< Id 0
ig 1 >\ ci 71 pi ninds 1 ir
Frank L Robertson's claim in Fancy gulch
worked t>j a force -1 eight men. Fancy gulch is a tributary
i" F.agle creek and flows in mi the east side about a mile
I In- gold 1- identical in appearance with tiiat
taken from Dream gulch. Fancy ami Dream gulches head
ther and flow in opposite directions I lie Ri iberl
sun claim is known as No. 6, being the sixth from the mouth.
J. M. Robinson has X.. 3, but has not yet opened it. \ J.
Prichard located claim Xo 1 111 Fancy gulch. Captain James
A. Fisher, No. 2. Frank Grove, No 1 and C. C. Fink. No. 5.
1 hie of the I. nee 1 [edges yet dis< overed in Hi' di tricl
is the (, ..lden Chief. It crosses Fancy gulch at rigl
and dips to the westward at an angle of about 35 degrees.
It was located in December of last year by James Cronin.
Messrs. Porter & Henderson are the present ov
the mine. It contains free gold in paying quantitii and
carries some silver. The ledge is of mammoth size, cropping
out to a height of ten or twelve feet on one side of the gulch,
and is from eight to forty feet wide. It can be traced read
ily for 1,500 feel. J. B. Stevens owns the southern ex-
tension and C. R. Teems, the northern.
The Xew Comstock, owned by the Homestake Com-
pany, is working four men on its ledge with excellent re-
sults. This mine is in the side of the mountain below Eagle
and can be seen from portions of the town.
Ruby gulch is a tributary to Daisy, which empties into
Eagle creek about a mile above town, [rvin 1! Hopkins. J.
\l. Van! se. George Oswalt, George Wortman, J. J John-
son, Henry Moots and Patrick Sullivan own seven 20-acre
claims in Ruby 'I hey have been working for about eight
weeks. They are dinging ihrough wash gravel and have got
fair prospects from the surface down.
Dr. II. R. Littlefield, T. M. Pugh, M. C. Rudder and J.
F. Calbreath own claim No. 4 on Butte gulch. A force of
i_| men are at work.
The Butte Company is working on bedrock and taking
out good pay. Patrick Flynn, the gentlemanly superintendent,
did not wish the exact cleanups stated, but assured a Nugget
reporter that they were entirely; satisfactory. The Last
Chance is operating a set of dune boxes only a few yards
from the sluices of the Butte Company. No other claims are
being worked so far up Prichard creek.
Prospecting parties were very aggressive through-
out the entire year. Encouraged, it is said, by Mr.
Prichard, a number of men visited Canyon creek in
April. 1884, found what they considered prospects
and staked out claims. Nine-Mile was also prospect-
ed and staked and quite a rush to these canons and
to Nigger prairie was incited. It is stated that some
of the early placer prospectors filed claims covering
the very ground upon which the now famous silver-
lead mines were later discovered, but they were look-
ing for placer gold, and were, perhaps, without much
skill in their business, so failed to see the riches that
lav before their eyes.
It was stated that bv the middle of August two
thousand locations of placer mining ground, embrac-
ing tracts varving from 160 acres to fractions, were
recorded on the 1 ks of the Coeur d'Alene district
alone, and it was only one of five districts then in
existence, the other four being Summit. Heaver, Evo-
lution and Eagle. Of course the usual excitement
and stampeding attended this activity, and tin popu
lation showed itself true to the usual instincts of a
mining class in flocking en masse to each point where
992
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
a find was made or reported. Several discoveries of
real merit were made this year in the now famous
silver-lead belt of the south fork country, but of these
more anon.
The Coeur d'Alenes fortunately did not experience
any such reign of outlaws and desperadoes as did
Oro Fino and Florence placer districts, but there was
some bloodshed during the early days. The first
homicide of the region was committed in April, 1884,
by T. F. Richards, who shot and killed Walter Mc-
Donald. The deed was held justifiable by the coro-
ner's jury, as the killing was plainly in self-defense.
The second, of which record has been found, was
the shooting of Thomas Steele by D. S. Ferguson.
From the testimony adduced by the coroner's inquest
it appears that Steele was ill-treating a drunken
cyprian and that Ferguson interfered in her behalf,
whereupon Steele drew a revolver and struck him a
violent blow over the head. He then stepped back a
few paces and fired at Ferguson, but missed his mark.
Ferguson then shot him. inflicting a mortal wound.
A homicide which attracted wide attention and
roused the community to a high pitch of excitement
was the killing of John Enright by Henry Bernard,
July 2, 1884. The victim was a compositor in the
office of the Pioneer, of which paper Bernard was
editor. It appeared from the testimony at the pre-
liminary hearing that Enright had been discharged
and paid the afternoon of the homicide ; that he came
to the office for his blankets, but instead of taking
them and going quietlv about his business kept com-
plaining to Bernard of the shabby treatment which
he claimed had been given him. Bernard told him to
go two or three times, but he still hung around the
office. Finally Bernard drew a revolver and pointed
it at him, telling him he must leave or get hurt. En-
right received the threats in a jocular manner, and
soon the fatal shot was fired.
By change of venue Bernard was tried at Lewis-
ton in September. The jury found him guilty of man-
slaughter ; Judge Buck sentenced him to eight years'
imprisonment, and he was confined in the state peni-
tentiary for a time, but was eventually pardoned by
Governor Shoup.
Ever since the first settlement of northern Sho-
shone county a natural desire had existed among the
people to have the county seat nearer than Pierce
City. There was some talk of dividing the county,
and giving the southern portion to Nez Perces county,
but objection to this was made by the few residents
still in Pierce and on Weippe prairie. One hundred
and eighty thousand acres had just been surveyed;
of this one hundred thousand was thought to be good
farming land and it was felt that such a rich section of
countrv could not long remain unsettled. The resi-
dents hoped that as soon as it became peopled they
might have a more convenient county government than
Nez Perces could furnish. The matter was finally
compromised by the passage, in the legislature of
1884-5. of a bill providing for the removal of the
ci unity seat temporarily to Murray and for a special
election to be held in Shoshone county the first Mon-
day in June. 1885. for the purpose of selecting a coun-
ty seat. The bill was signed by the governor just
before Christmas, 1884.
At the special election held pursuant to the pro-
visions of this act the vote was as follows : Summit
precinct — Murray, 636, Delta, 31 ; Beaver precinct-
Murray 2Z,, Delta 264; Littlefield precinct — Murray
'70, Delta 14; Myrtle precinct — Murray 100. Delta 77:
Mullan precinct — Murray 121, Delta 2; Canyon Creek
precinct — Murray 19, Delta 5 ; Kingston precinct —
Murray 7, Delta 39; Coeur d'Alene precinct — Murray
42, Delta 1 ; Ellensburg precinct — Murray 53, Delta
3: Big Jam precinct — Murray 1, Delta 6; Pierce pre-
cinct— Murray 1, Delta 15; Murray's total, 1.075;
Delta's, 457. Add to these two votes cast for Beaver
(the former name of Delta), two for Eagle and one
for Littlefield, and we have a total vote in the county
of 1,537-
A comparatively few persons, perhaps 4,000, spent
the cold winter of 1884-5 m tne Coeur d'Alenes. One
rather amusing incident, illustrative of the character
of a mining people, occurred on New Year's day,
when about fifty men concluded they had urgent busi-
ness at the head of Eagle creek. What caused the
stampede none seemed to know definitely, but not-
withstanding the fact that the thermometer's finger
was down below the zero mark and playing around the
figure twenty-five, the miners trudged through two
feet of snow for fifteen miles to locate claims on land
they could not see, much less prospect. Claims were
staked on the main stream and on the various tribu-
taries and the adventurers, having peacefully accom-
plished the object of their mission, returned to Murray.
As the season advanced the camp took on an air
of activity and progress. A correspondent of the
Lewiston Teller, writing under date March 5, 1885,
speaks of the great confidence manifested in the dis-
trict by almost all the miners, and states that he count-
ed eleven buildings under construction in Myrtle,
some of them large ones, that there was a steady rush
to the bars of Beaver creek and Beaver City was en-
joying a healthy boom in consequence. "Murray,"
he said, "is fast building up and assuming the air
of a mining metropolis, and property here has a value
outside of what is justified by present appearances.
Real estate changes hands daily and business pros-
pects are bright. Two shingle mills are the latest
improvements and parties are daily in search of busi-
ness locations. There are twelve stores where goods
of all kinds can be procured, three drug stores, several
restaurants and a hotel."
In the south fork country there was also consid-
erable activity. Only four men wintered on Nigger
prairie, but by April 1st twenty-three were there and
a new town known as McFarland had been laid out.
In a short time McFarland had a rival half a mile
distant, named Mullan from the man who constructed
the military road through the country. The occasion
for the platting of these towns was the discovery of the
Hunter, Evening, Morning and other mines.
While the year 1885 was one of great development
in the gold belt and much mining was done by the
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
993
primitive methods in vogue during the earliest days
of the placer fields, yet it is plainly evident that the
district was in a state cf transition from primitive
mining to more advanced methods. Even in the
creek bottoms, where the gold could be most easily
secured, many of the miners spent the early spring
months in preliminary work, rather than in direct
production, and considerable was this year in-
vested in ditches and other essentials of hydraulic
mining. The Coeur d'Alene Water & Supply Com-
pany was busy constructing what, in its inception, had
been known as the Coulter canal, intended to furnish
water for the supply of Murray and for the working
of hillside claims, also to float to points where needed
along its course mining timbers, lumber, fuel, etc.
In October there were 285 men at work on the bed
rock flume at Eagle, an enterprise which was claimed
to be the most gigantic ever undertaken in the history
of placer mining up to that date. According to con-
tract with miners, the Bedrock Pool, which was con-
structing it, was obligated to put in a bedrock flume
from the north fork of the Coeur d'Alene river at a
point below the mouth of Eagle creek, along said
Eagle creek to its confluence with Prichard creek ;
thence along said Prichard creek to the mouth of
Butte creek, the excavation to be sixteen feet wide
at the bottom.
By November the last pipe on the Beaver and
Potosi ditch was put in place, completing an aque-
duct from the head of Beaver creek to American gulch,
distance thirteen miles. Across Pony gulch 1,584
feet of twenty-inch piping were laid. The mass of
heavy iron was put in place by the aid of water power
so applied as to haul the large pipes up the mountain
side to the places where needed. It was planned to
continue the ditch to Placer and Trail gulches and
beyond. The same company also constructed a small-
er ditch from Beaver creek, below Carbon, to Potosi
gulch.
But while these larger enterprises were being
pushed with vigor, the miner who for lack of capital
must content himself with smaller things was busily
at work. That his labor did not in all cases go un-
rewarded is illustrated by the day book of the Myrtle
Mining Company, consisting of Pat. Mahoney, James
Osborn, Mike Conners, Dick Buckingham and Dave
Alvord. These men, with five or six employees work-
ing with wheel barrows on a claim a mile above Delta,
are shown b\r their day book to have made the follow-
ing clean-ups : March 24 to 28, inclusive, 1885, $495 ;
March 30 to April 4, $1,621.50 (this clean-up included
one nugget worth $165) ; April 7-1 1, $1,054.50; April
14-18. $689.50; April 21-25, $1,158; April 27-May
2, $1,188; May 9, clean-up, $1,010; May 11-16,
$1,690.50; May 19-23, $1,700.15; May 26-30, $905.50;
June 2-6, $585.50; June 8-13, $865.25; June 18-20,
$935 : June 22-27, $2>595 '• June 3°-Jllly 4. $2,282 ; July
6-1 1, $2,040; July 13-18. $1,916.50; July 21-25, $803;
July 27- August 1. S935 ; August 3-4, $168 ; August 29-
September 4. S553.50; September 5-12, $561 ; Septem-
ber 14-20, $2,878: September 21-27, $3,891; Septem-
ber 28- October 4, $4,131.50; October 5-1 1, $2,167;
October 12-18, $1,385; October 19-25, $1,826.50; 1 ic-
tober 26-November 1, $2,814; November 3-8,
$1,896.50; November 9-15, $1,638.50; November 16-
22, $1,030; November 24-29, $1,549.50; Decembei 1
6, $1,131; December 7-11, $707. One nuggel worth
$300 was taken out of this claim.
More important, however, as subsequent events
proved, than all other developments of the year [885
was that of the silver-lead properties of the south
fork. These were found to produce from the surface,
and such large bodies of ore were uncovered by the
small developments resulting from a few months of
effort that the eyes of capital were already turned in
their direction and railway magnates began looking
toward the Coeur d'Alenes as a promising field for
future operations.
One entering the country from the west in the fall
of 1885 with an intention of examining these proper-
ties would doubtless first pass up Milo creek and visit
the Bunker Hill mine. This was the first claim dis-
covered in the district. It was found in the late sum-
mer of 1885 by N. S. Kellogg and Phil. O'Rourke.
The location was filed by O'Rourke September 10,
1885. By November developers starting from the
discovery cut had reached one wall fifty-two feet to the
south, but the north wall of the vein had not yet been
found. On the same ledge with this mine was the
Jackass, with a thirty- foot tunnel. Further down
the creek on the third parallel vein of the system was
the Omaha, located September 18, 1885, by frank
McElroy and Mike McHale, and the Buckeye, an ex-
tension of the Lackawanna, located by the same indi-
viduals. Besides these were the Stemwinder, located
by F. R. Devine, J. P. Smith and C. E. Tyler, and the
Tyler, located by the same persons on the same vein.
On the opposite side of the canyon from the Bunker
Hill was the Sullivan, located October 2, 1885, by
Con. Sullivan and Jacob Goetz, better known as
"Dutch Jake." It was being opened at the lime of
which we are writing, and a vein 28 feet 6 inches
from wall to wall had been uncovered. The Iuka, an
eastern extension of the Sullivan, had been taken by
J. M. Pannel and Albert Allen, and was a promising
prospect. These were the principal mines in what
was then known as the Yreka district in 1885. Ken-
tucky was the name of an ambitious town in the
vicinity.
Proceeding up the river six miles the vision- would
arrive at Evolution, the oldest mining settlement 011
the river, and the first mine to attract his
would be the Polaris, located by W. B. Heyburn, Clem
Matheson and others in May, 1884. Half a mile
south of this, on the same vein, was the Ed
covered in October, 1884. and owned by Brown &
Stringer. Assays of ore from these mines were said
to have given as high as 303 ounces of silver and 60
per cent. lead. In the same vicinity were the Blake
Brothers, the Silver Crown, the Badger and the Gen-
eral Grant, all slightly developed.
Between Evolution and Placer Center 1 \\ allace )
were a large number of claims, among them the Cap.
Place, so named from its discoverer, Captain Place;
994
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
and the George, located November I, 1885, by Lee
George, who took a ranch in .the valley of the river
near his claim. Near the head of Placer creek were
the Silver Tip, located by Messrs. McKinlay, Holohan
and Arthur; the Charter Oak, discovered by the same
persons, ami the Iron King, located at the same time
by the same individuals, with E. J. Livermore added
to their company.
Proceeding up the river nine miles from Placer
Center, the visitor of 1885 came to Hunter creek,
some three or four miles up which was the Hunter
mine, the second claim in the entire south fork sys-
tem to be discovered, Tiger being the first. Its dis-
coverers were J. G. Hunter and F. A. Moore, Montana
prospectors, and the time of its uncovering was May
15, 1884. Tnside of eighteen months it was devel-
oped by a main tunnel 175 feet. Its vein was 57 feet
wide, and its ore was remarkably rich. At this time
the mine was bonded to Franks & Martin for $50,000.
The Yolande was a northwestern extension of the
Hunter, located by the same men June 3, and pro-
ducing similar ore. The Evening lode, an extension
of the Yolande, and belonging to the same group, was
discovered by a sixty-five-foot tunnel.
Returning to Placer Center the visitor would nat-
urally be impelled to ascend Canyon creek to the
Tiger, eight miles upstream. This mine was the first
silver-lead claim to reward the search of the south
fork prospector, being discovered May 2, 1884. John
Carton and Almeda Seymore were the fortunate min-
eral hunters. As soon as they had well opened their
vein they bonded it to John M. Burke, of Murray,
who in turn bonded it to S. S. Glidden, of St. Paul,
for $35,000. In 1885 the mine was Mr. Glidden's
property, with Burke and Carton holding a contingent
interest. It was at that time developed by three tun-
nels. 575 feet long in the aggregate. Eighteen men
were employed in the mine at $3.50 a day.
Directly opposite the Tiger, on the other side of
Canvon creek, was the Lelande, closed in 1885 by liti-
gation. Up the creek from the mines just described
was the Silver Chief, located and owned by the Blake
Brothers. Between the Tiger and the mouth of the
creek, on different sides of the stream, were the Union,
the Diamond Hitch, discovered May [6, 1884, by J. P.
Smith. C. E. Tyler, Frank Bell and John Lennahan ;
tin ( >re-or-no-go, bv Colonel W. R. Wallace, J. M.
Arasmith, Oscar B. 'Wallace, T. H. Doud, J. A. Flute
and Theodore Davis ; the Black Bear, located May 4,
1884, by John Bartlett and W. S. Haskins, R. C. Van-
derford buying on interest later; the Cape Horn, lo-
cated bv same parties May 4, 1885; the Badger, lo-
cated May 10. 1885. by John Bartlett, E. J. Lee, W.
S. Haskins and F. M. Prichard ; the San Francisco
(or Frisco), located May 16. 1885. by Charles A.
Pearson; the Gem of the Mountains, located the same
day by R. C. Vanderford, William Gaugfhn, Thomas
Cavanaugh. R. M. Howell and William Parens.
On Nine Mile, which empties into the south
fork near the mouth of Canvon creek, was the Black
Cloud, located by Oscar Wallace May 7, 1884: the
Ohio, located August 29, 1885. by Benj. McElroy,
John J. Johnson and Scott McDonald ; the California,
located bv Scott McDonald, John J. Johnson and
Benj. F. McElroy August 24, 1885; and' the Contact
and Sweepstakes, located by these same prospectors
May 7, 1884. Between Nine Mile and Canyon creeks
was the Granite, located by Bartlett & Vanderford July
13, 1885, and there were several prospects in the
immediate vicinity of Placer Center.
From the foregoing review of silver-lead discover-
ies on the south fork it will be seen that nearly all
the mines which have since made the Coeur d'Alene
country famous the world over were discovered and
were being developed in 1884 and 1885, the years of
greatest excitement, if not of greatest activity, in the
gold belt of the north fork.
Some other improvements brought by the busy
season of 1885 must now be mentioned. During the
session of the Montana legislature that body empow-
ered Missoula county to levy a special tax of two
mills for the purpose of building a road from Thomp-
son Falls to the Idaho line. In March the Missoula
commissioners visited Murray to confer with the Sho-
shone county board, and the result of their conference
was that a highway connecting the two territories was
constructed. This road is today the only one for
wagons over the Bitter Roots to Montana from this
region, and it is still in use by summer immigrants.
A new road from Lake Coeur d'Alene to Murray
was likewise completed in 1885, and on July 28th the
first stage made a trip over it. Thereafter the mining
district had stage connections with Spokane Falls.
'Idle same morning the first train of freight wagons
came into Murray. It consisted of two four-mule
teams and two vehicles, and belonged to T. S. Smith.
The first stage from Thompson Falls came into Mur-
ray November 16, 1885, and the line from the east
with the one from the west made the isolation of the
region a memory.
The one great tragedy of 1885 in Shoshone county
occurred at Pierce City in September. On the 10th
of that month at an early hour the body of the well
known and respected old pioneer, David M. Fraser,
was found in the deceased's own store, literally hacked
to nieces with axes, hatchets and knives. A bullet,
also, had entered the mouth and passed out through the
side of the neck. An old county safe had been bat-
tered and the lock broken, but Mr. Fraser's own safe
was untouched, as was all the rest of his property.
I'lie body was taken to Lewiston for interment. After
its arrival there twenty or twenty-five citizens left for
the scene to endeavor to find a clue to the murderers
and these were joined by about fifteen from Camas
prairie. Upon their arrival they surrounded the town,
sending in a small posse to learn of the situation.
It was found that the few white men iii camp had ar-
rested eight Chinamen on a charge of complicity in
the crime, including two Chinese merchants of Pierce.
\ preliminary hearing had been given them and five
were held for trial, the others being discharged. It
developed that the crime had been committed fer-
tile, purpose of ridding the town of the only white
merchant, that the Chinamen might have a monopoly
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
995
of the business, also that the Mongolians weir angr) at
Fraser for taking the part of Indians against them
when they had paid the red men in bogus gold dust.
It is said that the evidence upon which the citi-
zens held the Chinamen was obtained by disguising as
an Indian a young man named Sears, who could
speak Chinese. Sears stole up to the courthouse jail
and heard the eight Chinamen incarcerated there dis-
cussing the crime and what were best to do to escape
punishment.
After the departure of the Lewiston and Camas
prairie people the few white men left began asking
one another what was to be done with the accused
Chinamen. It being evidently impossible to guard
them in Pierce until next term of the district curt,
the whites decided to take them to Murray. Seven
men, one of whom was the deputy sheriff, started
with the prisoners. When they were about four miles
out they were met b) a mob, only one member of
which was masked. The mob overpowered the guard,
seized the Chinamen and, notwithstanding the fervent
pleadings of the wretched Mongolians, hanged them
to a pole between two trees. No punishment was ever
meted out to the lynchers, although the matter was
officially investigated by Secretary of State Bayard
in July, 1886, for the purpose of satisfying the Chinese
government.
CHAPTER II.
CURRENT HISTORY— 1886-
The initial month of the year 1886 was marked in
the Coeur d'Alene country by the first fatal snow-
slide in the region. Willow creek, a tributary of the
south fork, was the scene, and Andy P. Richards and
Simon Christenson the victims. At the time the slide
took place the men were doing some work on the
Elder mine, on the eastern side of the divide in Mon-
tana. As the entire region had been burned over
the summer previous, there was nothing to hold the
snow on the steep mountain side. The bodies were
found January 27th by I. C. Sargent and W. S. Har-
ris, who lived near the scene. Harris started at once
for aid, but before he could return with reinforcements
from the Hunter the bodies were buried deep under
another snow slide, so deep that they could not be
exhumed without danger, so they were left in their
sepulchre of snow for the time being.
In April of this year'an important move was made
toward giving the Coeur d'Alene countrv railroad
facilities by the organizations of the Coeur d'Alene
Railwav and Navigation Companv. D. C. Corbin,
Gov. S. T. Hansen A. M. Holter, S. S. Glidden,
James F. .Wardner, James Monaghan and A. M. Esler
were the incorporators and their object was to estab-
lish a railway connecting some point on the main line
of the Northern Pacific railroad with Coeur d'Alene
lake, and a line of steamers to operate between the
railway and the head of navigation on the river.
As the season advanced considerable railway activ-
ity developed, three companies being in the field and
making preparations to build, all of them apparently
in earnest. The Coeur d'Alene Railway & Naviga-
tion Company, with D. C. Corbin at its head, was ad-
vertising for bids for clearing the right of way and
for ties : another company, with Armstrong, Turner
and other heavy capitalists of Montana, was pushing
preparations, though its line had not yet been definitely
located ; and the third, the Spokane & Coeur d'Alene
branch of the Northern Pacific railroad, was purpos-
ing to build, if practicable, a road to leave the main
railway at the Idaho line. Its engineers were in the
field in search of a route. J. J. Browne, of Spokane,
was president of the company in charge of this work.
Later in the year the O. R. & N. entered the field
with its engineers, making a preliminary survey from
Farmington to the mouth of the St. Joe river, and
on to the Montana line. The survey was stopped in
November by the authorities in Washington, D. C,
who objected to further work on the Indian reserva-
tion until permission should be officially obtained.
Operations were pushed by the Coeur d'Alene
Railroad & Navigation Company with unusual energy
and before the end of the year 1886 a road was com-
pleted between Hauser, a point on the Northern Pa-
cific about midway between Rathdrum and the Idaho
line, and Kingston. On November 9th the road from
Hauser Junction and Coeur d'Alene City was turned
over to the operators. Unfortunately, however, the
road did not prove a success at first, as appears from
the following item from the Murray Sun of December
24, 1886:
"We sincerely regret to learn that communication
has not vet been opened up on the Mission-Wardner
railroad, and that the prospects are slim for the early
running of trains over this road. It seems that much
of the iron w^as laid during the first cold snap in
November At the time the embankment was frozen
and looked solid enough. Later the Chinooks came,
and thev have literally melted away much of the road
bed, the black loam 'soil, without gravel for ballast,
996
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
readily yielding. The road, such as it is, is ironed to
Milo, but as it stands is useless. One engine is on
the track between Pine flat and Mud prairie and an-
other between Kingston and the mission, unable to
move. Freighting is being done by team and travel
b'v cayuse. The predicament is an unfortunate one."
However, all such misfortunes, when they come to
an aggressive company, are temporary, and in a short
time the road was ballasted and in operation. The
untenanted wilderness of forest, the complex labyrinth
of mountain solitudes had been penetrated, three short
years after the first great rush of prospectors, by the
mighty arteries of the world's commerce.
May. 1886. witnessed the completion of a tele-
phone system between Thompson Falls, Montana, and
Murray. It was ready for use at 6 o"clock on the
evening of the 24th, and shortly after S. Fuller sent
the first message, a private one. Later the same year
a telephone line was put in between Murray and Delta,
with the intention of extending it to Wardner.
It was reported in July that though excellent clean-
ups were still being made on Trail and Beaver creeks,
the center of interest had shifted to the south fork,
that hundreds of people were pouring into that sec-
tion and that commercial enterprises there were boom-
ins:. Wardner was receiving much attention, also the
Pine creek country, where, it was reported, a rich
silver-lead strike had been made. The original dis-
covery was made by William Reineger, and numerous
other prospects were soon discovered in the district.
In other parts of the Coeur d'Alenes, also, there
was much mining activity during 1886. The second
stamp mill in the district was put into operation at
the Golden King mine, two miles below Murray. No-
vember 7th. It was a ten-stamp mill to be operated
in connection with three Duncan concentrators, the
first thus completely equipped in the region. On
Can \oii creek about fifty men were engaged in devel-
oping the different lodes, pushing work vigorously.
The town of Burke had two stores, one belonging to
Stephen S. Glidden, the other to the Armstrong Min-
ing Company, both of which were doing a flourishing
business. There was one saloon, that of Dick Wilmer.
The Tiger. Union. Black Bear. Diamond Hitch and
Hidden Treasure were the leading properties at that
time. In the Mullan district several of the largest
properties, including the Hunter, the Morning and the
Evening-, were bonded to capitalists, who were devel-
oping them steadilv. though the attention of many of
the holders of undeveloped prospects had been dis-
tracted by the Wardner mines. It is stated that the
first out-and-out, bona fide sale of a property for a
considerable sum was effected this year, though of
course many mines had been bonded. This was the
transfer of the Sunset mine, near Carbon, from Phil,
Mark-son to J. K. and W. A. Clark, Oliver Durrant
and Alexander H. Tarbet for $17,500.
The greatest sensation of 1886 was the trouble over
the Eureka mine, the details of which were given in
the Murray Sun of October ioth. as follows:
The trouble with the Crown Point or Eureka mine in
Government gulch on the south fork culminated yesterday
morning in a bloody conflict in which Jack McCauley was
killed and A. R. Campbell seriously wounded. The facts of
the trouble are related by Bill Payne as follows : It appears
that Pat Flynn and party obtained possession of the prop-
erty last Wednesday, but in what manner is unknown at the
present writing. At any rate Pat Flynn, Ed. J. Lavelle, Joe
Skeffington and Jack McCauley were holding possession of
the mine yesterday morning and were on guard. Early yes-
terday morning these four men were on the alert at the mouth,
of the tunnel. Pat Flynn is said to have declared he saw
some one moving in the thick mist up the mountain side and
Jack McCauley, with his revolver strapped to his side,
climbed the steep hillside to see who it was. Upon arriving,
at the place indicated he stopped and, peering about in the
semi-darkness evidently discovering no one, turned, as though,
to return to the mine when a gun exploded in the mist and Mc-
Cauley fell. A dozen or more shots from unseen parties
quickly followed the first explosion and the three men at the
mouth of the Eureka mine stood by their arms anxiously
waiting. Nothing more transpiring they went up and brought
down McCauley. who lived about forty minutes. , At this
time a constable's posse, hastily summoned at Wardner upon.
a rumor of what was going on, and consisting of Bill Payne,
Jack Currie and Con. Sullivan, headed by Deputy Sheriff Joe
Campbell, rode up to the mine. Payne went up the hill to the
spot where the shooting occurred and behind a stump not
far from where McCauley fell he found a hat and a gun,
which were subsequently discovered to belong to A. R. Camp-
bell, formerly of Campbell & Pease, of Murray, who was
found at a cabin on the road seriously wounded in the left
shoulder. He admitted being in the fight.
A coroner's jury rendered a verdict that Mc-
Cauley came to his death at the hands of a party or
parties unknown. Shortly after the verdict Pat
Flynn swore out a complaint against L. F. Robinson,.
J.'C. Caldwell, Joseph Holly, A. R. Campbell, A.
Small and an old man named Fisher, charging them
with doing the killing. The affair stirred up a serious
factional row on the south fork.
That fall a grand jury indicted J. C. Caldwell, Pat
Flynn, Joseph Skeffington and six others on a charge
of conspiracy, the offense, it was alleged, being com-
mitted in connection with the Crown Point-Eureka
mine trouble, but there was failure at the subsequent
trial to convict any of the accused.
The wondrous developments in the Coeur d'Alene
country were certainly not wrought without great ex-
pense. Though Shoshone county was virtually but
three years old, it was already in debt, including inter-
est, something like $155,000. Three-fifths of this
amount, it was estimated, had been expended by the
commissioners in the construction of roads expressly
demanded by the people. It is related that the Delta-
Kingston road cost $100,000. The remaining two-
fifths was made up by court expenses and other dis-
bursements incidental to the organization of a new
community and the installing of the machinery of
government. Thus the people of southern Shoshone,
who had borne with fortitude the burdens of county
government for so many years, burdens necessarily
heavy on account of the paucity of their numbers, were '
now compelled to pay between four and five per cent,
taxes for improvements from which they could derive
but little benefit. The only noticeable effect upon
them was that their county seat was removed from
their midst to the distant town of Murray, which
could be reached by them only after long and arduous
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
997
travel. It is not surprising- that these people be-
came dissatisfied with their political affiliations and be-
gan agitating for a change. By this time the popula-
tion of southern Shoshone had grown to perhaps 300
or 400. They thought that, few though they still
were, they would rather form an independent county
than put up with existing conditions, so they began
circulating petitions for a new county to include all
of Shoshone south of the north fork of the Clearwater.
The movement was not successful, nor has any such
movement since been.
Unusually heavy snow storms in the early months
sf 1887 brought some inconvenience and occasioned a
snow slide at Wardner which threatened the lives ot
several people, but the opening of the year was a most
propitious one, notwithstanding. In April there was
effected a sale of the Bunker Hill and Sullivan mines,
the Sancho. Important and Bunker Hill fractions,
with the concentrator and a contract with A. M. Esler
& Company, the price being $1,500,000. Of this
Cooper & Peck received $75,000, in consideration of
their dropping their suit for an interest. S. G. Reed,
of Portland, was the purchaser. Naturally a transfer
of such magnitude attracted not a little attention with-
in and without the mining district, those within looking
upon it as an evidence of faith in the camp and a
favorable portent for its future.
In September following another important sale was
made, that of the Poorman mine, at Burke, to Marcus
Daly, Patrick Clark, Ben Kingsbury and others of
Butte and Helena. The purchase price was $136,000.
It was the purpose of the new company to erect, the
following spring, a new concentrator to handle the
ore, the product of the mine in the meantime to be
shipped out for treatment. Much credit was accorded
John M. Burke at the time for his zeal in bringing* the
Canyon creek mines to the front. He, with Vincent
and Frank Lelande, Ed. Benjamin. Alexander Caza
and others, all poor men, received a small fortune
each out of this sale. The costly litigation between
this mine and the Tiger, which is situated on the same
vein, had been settled previous to the date of this
transaction.
The railway situation continued interesting
throughout the year of 1887. A war of no small
magnitude developed between the Northern Pacific
and the Union Pacific, the two great companies operat-
ing in the district under different local names or sup-
porting local companies. The O. R. & N. Company,
the protege of the latter corporation, had been pro-
jecting a line from Farmington to the Montana line,
passing through the south fork country. It was oper-
ating through what was known as the Washington
& Idaho Company. The Northern Pacific Company
was watching the situation with a jealous eye on ac-
count of the coveted Mullan pass. The Coeur d'Alene
Railway & Navigation Company, of which Corbin was
the leading spirit, but which was doubtless under the
protection of the Northern Pacific Company, already
had a narrow-gauge road to Wardner Junction and
was pushing eastward. By July the road had been
extended to Miner's cabin, and the right of way was
cleared to within a few miles of Wallace. The build-
ing of this road occasioned the laying out of a new
town, first called Georgetown, after Lee George, 2
of the owners of the town site. It later became km >\\ 11
by the pioneer name of Osburn. It was expected thai
this would be the Carbon. Delta, Myrtle and Murray
Junction.
Rapidly work on this narrow-gauge was pushed,
and early in September it had reached Wallace, but the
jubilation which greeted its entrance into that town
was premature, for a temporary injunction was grant-
ed by the courts on complaint of the Washington &
Idaho Railroad Company, tying up a mile ami a half
ot its track between Osburn and Wallace. This was
a disastrous coup not alone for the railway but tor the
people of the south fork, for the roads in the bottoms
were wretched: winter was coming on; no ores could
be shipped out and enterprises in the upper mining
country were suffering. Fortunately, on October 29th
the injunction was dissolved by Judge Buck, and this
incubus upon industry was removed.
Another important effect of the decision just re-
ferred to was that it encouraged vigorous work on
the Burke branch. The Canyon Creek Railway Coin-
pan}-, of which S. S. Glidden, of the Tiger mine, was
president, had been working on this short line since
(ulv, but as long as the Corbin road was tied up there
was nothing to be gained by its immediate construc-
tion. As soon as the tie-up was at an end, however,
work was resumed in good earnest, and on December
22d. the iron rails were in Burke. A rousing celebra-
tion was held, attended by delegations from all parts
of the Coeur d'Alenes.
The events of this ' year may be summarized as
follows : Sale of Bunker Hill and Sullivan mine and
effects ; sale of the Poorman and effects ; railway activ-
ity on the south fork ; phenomenal growth of Wardner,
Wallace, Burke and south fork mining camps : placer
outputs begin to decline ; deep interest is felt all
over the United States in the Coeur d'Aiene mines ;
two noted homicides.
From the report of Governor Stevenson it appears
that the population of Shoshone county at this time was
8.500; that the taxable property amounted to $929,680;
that there were twelve concentrators, quartz mills and
arrastres in the county; also twelve towns.
"The Treasure Box Company, on the Mother lode."
continues the report, "has taken inn in six weeks,
with an arrastre, $60,000 in gold. Mother's Boy,
Golden Chest. Buckeye Boy, Occident and Golden
King, on the same vein, are each producing daily out-
puts of gold.
"The" principal placer mining gulches are the
Prichard. Trail. Eagle, Buckskin, Missoula. Pony and
Day. Besides these there are hill diggings which
are being worked with great success by hydraulics;
and a flume costing $500,000 is now being constructed
to work these placer mines."
(in January 12. 1888. at rive o'clock, began what
was classed as the severest storm experienced up to
that time in the Coeur d'Alenes. The wind, which
came from the northeast, was not especially strong
993
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
and disastrous, but it had sufficient strength to pile
the snow up in huge banks in unsheltered places.
Next day the wind subsided, then came a cold snap of
unprecedented severity. At noon the temperature in
Murray had fallen to thirteen degrees below zero ; at
six o'clock it stood at twenty-three degrees; at mid-
night it had reached thirty-four degrees; and at day-
light it was forty degrees. On the morning of the
15th the thermometer again registered forty degrees,
and next morning it fell to that point for the third
time. A spirit thermometer is said to have registered
forty-four degrees on the morning of the 15th. Such
weather was phenomenal in a region, which, though
elevated, usually enjoys comparatively mild climate.
In March of this year the Emma, Last Chance and
Republican Fraction, located northerly from the
Bunker Hill, near Wardner, were sold to a syndicate,
of which A. M. Esler. Charles Sweeney and Frank
Moore were the leaders. The first two, it is said,
were located on the same day, September 17, 1885,
bv John Flahertv, J. L. Smith, Mike Carlin and lohn
M. Burke.
In the mines generally the year was a prosperous
one.. The fortunate jump in the price of lead in
August gave a remarkable impetus to operations in all
the silver-lead mines and prospects. From $3.75 it
rose to $4.75 in two weeks, and it retained its upward
tendency until it reached $4.92^.
According to reports of the United States assay
office at Boise, Shoshone's production of minerals
from November, 1887, to November, 1888, was: Gold,
$350,288: silver, $1,327,500; lead, $1,794,000; total,
$3>47T. 788. The official figures showed that the value
of minerals produced was more than twice as great as
that of Lemhi county, the next in rank among the
political sub-divisions of Idaho. Lemhi, Boise and
Alturas counties were ahead in the production of
gold ; Custer was next below in silver, with a produc-
tion of $1,061,300; and Lemhi was next in lead, with a
record of $700,000.
The mining situation in the country was thus ably
summarized by the Murray Sun of January I, 1889':
The year just closed has not been unkind to the Coeur
d'Alenes. It is true the gold belt has not kept pace with the
silverdead section, yet in the main it has made some progress,
and we think the output will approximate $250,000. But there
has been no special advance. The main enterprise upon
which our people had built some hope, the Prichanl creek
bedrock flume, did not materialize, and so far as the future
may be read by the present state of affairs, there is no likeli-
hood that anything will be done in that line during the en-
suing year. The next best enterprise, the Coeur d'Alene
flume (Coulter's waterway) has remained in a dormant
state, and future prospects are unfavorable. The Idaho mill
from which we expected so much, is still closed down and
this valuable property is practically a nonentity in the affairs
of this camp. The Golden Chest has contributed slightly to
the gold output during the year, but has been no material
agent in illustrating the quartz possibilities of the north
side. The Golden King mill has now something like a small
promise before it. However, it is a mill without a mine,
although there are eight or ten locations in the group. If a
mine can be developed, there is a prospect ahead. The Ophir
hill mines have been the backbone of the north side during
the year and it seems as if we have to depend upon them
for some time to come, as far as our quartz interests are
concerned. Although we have not the exact figures at hand,
we estimate the output of the three arastres at about $50,000
during the year With a ten-stamp water power mill the
product for the ensuing year will reach over $100,000, and at
least thirty men will find steady employment. The California
ditch, with a flow of 300 inches for about eight months in
the year, has proven one of Murray's best friends. The mines
under it have produced steadily. About $10,000 has been
expended for labor and supplies.
Mr. .Mills's flumes on Eagle creek have been important
to our material prosperity during the year in giving employ-
ment to many men. The water flume being finished to Fancy
gulch, the scene of placer operations, will add largely to our
"dust" product and it is also quite probable that the bedrock
flume, near the head of East Eagle creek, will be sufficiently
advanced by spring to contribute some of the yellow metal
and encourage more extensive work by Mr. Mills. These en-
terprises have kept Eagle alive.
On Trail and Bear gulches the march of progress has
been slow, but steady, and this quite often counts far more
than a rush. The placers on Trail have yielded well and their
output in 1889 promises to surpass that of former years.
The most notable improvement in the district has been made
in the quartz belt on Pony gulch, where the Fay Templeton
mine and mill erected this year are giving substantial value
to locations. Should this mill prove a success, the camp's
gold output will be increased $100,000. Sunset peak belongs
to the north side, as its entire territory is drained by streams
which flow into the north fork. Although these mines are
somewhat isolated they have made a sufficiently rich showing
to bespeak for them a "boom" when transportation is fur-
nished.
The phenomenal silver-lead region has made a steady
advance during the year, with nothing to stay its progress
and prosperity except the limited transportation facilities.
Four concentrating mills have been added to the reduction
capacity, making seven in running order with another one
at Mullan in the process of construction, and still another one
in prospect by April or May. The shipments have averaged
600 tons of ore per week, and this year will run up to 1,000.
The extension of one railroad to Mullan and the possibility
of tjie construction of the Washington & Idaho during the
year to the same point will infuse life into every ravine and
give the camp a lift which will make 1889 memorable in local
history.
During the year 1888 postoffices were established
in Burke and Mullan and daily mails to all the towns
except the latter. Fifty miles of telephone lines were
built by the Norman Company, giving Wardner, Wal-
lace, Mullan and Burke direct communication with
Walla Walla, all Palouse country towns, Moscow,
Lewiston and other Idaho points, Fort Spokane and
Davenport, in the Big Bend country, and many other
points, all through the Western Union Telegraph Com-
pany with the entire outside world.
The railroad situation continued interesting
throughout the whole of 1888. In February of that
year Senator Dolph introduced a bill granting the
Washington & Idaho Railroad Company the right of
way through the Coeur d'Alene reservation. By
about the middle of May it became a law, and on June
1st a special to the Oregoman from Farmington an-
nounced that "the first sod of the railway to Spokane
Falls and the Coeur d'Alene mines was broken this
afternoon by Corey Brothers, contractors at this point.
The road to the Coeur d'Alene branches off eastward
at a point ten miles north of Farmington and the con-
tractors are now on the ground looking over their
line for the purpose of bidding on the work."
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
999
By July a large force of graders was at work and
grading was being pushed, except through the reser-
vation, where a gang of surveyors was engaged in
locating the road. It is stated that the company
would have built from some other point than Farming-
ton if the Indians had not raised serious objections.
Many difficulties stood in the way of the road, how-
ever, the greatest, perhaps, being the opposition of
the Northern Pacific Company. Under date of Aug-
ust 7, 1888, the Murray Sun commented on the situa-
tion as follows :
Railroad work is not progressing very rapidly on the
South Fork lines. The Northern Pacific, or Spokane and
Idaho, is said to be doing very little work on the South Fork,
and nothing can be learned as to whether it is doing any in
Fourth of July canyon to connect the Mission and Coeur
d'Alene City by rail. Although the grading contract on the
W. & I. to Mullan is to be finished by January I, 1889, it is
thought to be impossible to carry it out by that time unless
legal difficulties are settled. Several hundred men are tied
up at Farmington and everywhere along the route are small
gangs of laborers occupying disputed ground on which they are
supposed to work. Everywhere along the route the pioneer's
notice that he claims a patent of ground stares the railroader
in the face and the W. & I. is, literally compelled to buy
every foot of ground it wishes to utilize. The appraisers who
have been at work appraising land claimed by the N. P.
have finished their labor and handed their report to the
court. The good land was appraised at $6 and the poor
land at $2.
It must be understood that nearly all the land on the
South Fork and for that matter the largest portion of the
Coeur d'Alenes is claimed by the Northern Pacific Company
as being within their forty-mile grant, and as the Northern
Pacific objects to the W. & I. crossing its territory, the court,
according to the prayer of the plaintiff, appointed a com-
mittee of appraisers to set a value on the land for a right of
way. Since the appraisement it has leaked out that the
Northern Pacific folks claim that the land has been transferred
to the Spokane & Idaho Company, whose line runs, from
Spokane t'o Coeur d'Alene City, and that the W. & I. will
have to commence proceedings against that company in order
to obtain relief. It is alleged that N. P. engineers surveyed
that company's land grant here, eighteen months ago, and
found it entirely within the boundaries.
These difficulties and those over the right of way
across the reservation were finally overcome, and we
are informed that in April, 1889, 2,000 men were en-
gaged in pushing grading work on the reservation.
On December Qth it made its entrance into Wallace,
and needless to say it was received with great re-
joicing.
Just one year, and a few days later, or to be more
specific, on December 22, 1890, a junction was effected
between the Coeur d'Alene Railway & Navigation
Company's line, which had passed into the hands of
the Northern Pacific Company, and the Missoula cut-
off, which it was then thought was intended as the
main line of that transcontinental road. This was,
indeed, a great day for the Coeur d'Alene country, as
it settled in a most satisfactory manner the problem,
important everywhere, but especially so to a mining
community, of railway transportation. Indeed the dis-
trict is to be congratulated on the speed and prompt-
ness with which it achieved the boon which other com-
munities have sought for decades without success.
The phenomenal growth of the South Fork country
occasioned a movement for the removal of the county
seat from Murray, which was then rather quiet, on
account of the gradual decline of placer mining, t"
some point more nearly central to the great body of
the population. Agitation began about the year [888
and continued throughout the next twelvemonth and
the next. Several mass meetings were held in differ-
ent south fork towns, but as is usually the case 111
such matters unanimity of opinion or even an approxi-
mation thereto, could not be secured. Mr. S. \ . \\ .
Osburn made a proposition at one of these meetings
that if the seat of government should be located on
his land at the junction of tin- Coeur d'Alene Railway
& Navigation Company's line with the Murray wagon
road, he would build and rent to the county for tin
dollars per annum a suitable building for court house
purposes. Osburn seems to have been quite favorably
considered by a large number of people at this time.
March 15, 1890, a bill previously passed by both
houses of congress was signed by the president, pro-
viding that the location of the county seat of Shoshone
county, Idaho Territory, be submitted to a vote of the
legal voters of said county, at the next general elec-
tion. In accordance with the provisions of this act,
a vote was taken on the question in October, the result
of which was that Murray continued to hold the hon-
ors. The vote was as follows : Kellogg, 3 ; Wallace,
706; Osburn, 982; Murray, 364; Kingston, 1 ; Gem, 1.
From this it will be seen that Osburn, the favorite
town, lacked 47 votes of having the requisite majority
of all votes cast.
The second month of the year 1890 was marked
in northern Shoshone by a serious disaster at the
Custer mine on Nine Mile creek. Fortunately a few
days previous to the accidenl twenty-five of the forty
men employed were laid off work. About twelve of
the remainder were at supper on the evening of Feb-
ruary 3, in a building on the side of the hill, when an
avalanche started from above. It struck the building
just high enough to send the broken timbers on the
men who were sitting facing the slide, killing three
almost instantly. Those on the other side of the table,
which was parallel to the mountain side, escaped with
a number of bruises. Building and men were carried
far down into the gulch. Some of the living suc-
ceeded in digging their way out and then went to
work vigorously "to succor their less fortunate com-
rades. So great was the danger of another snow slide
that one of the men who came to the rescue took the
names of those at work. After about fifteen hours
of incessant labor all were recovered. The dead were
John Galbraith, fireman; Thomas Sturgeon, miner;
J. Gillbright. miner; Mike I'lwin, cook; Tom Malloy,
assistant cook ; Ole Olson, waiter.
This was the most disastrous of a large number of
snow slides ~that had caused loss of life and property
in the Coeur d'Alenes during the winter of [889-90
and previous years. The contour of the country is
very favorable to such slides, and their frequency
proved a serious drawback to winter mining.
The chief mining excitement of this year on the
north fork was that incited by the news of a mammoth
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
find of lead carbonates on upper Prichard creek, on the
old Thompson road a mile and a half above Raven.
Scores rushed to the new district and the entire coun-
try surrounding was agitated. Before the fires of ex-
citement had begun to subside they received fresh fuel
by the discovery of gold quartz in Cement gulch in
the same neighborhood. It is stated that the carbon-
ate discovery was first made as early as 1884, but was
neglected on account of the fact that everyone had the
gold fever then. It was relocated in 1889, and later
sold for a nominal sum to W. H. Douty and George
Chapman, who sank a shaft, discovered some fine ore
and then quit operations. Though the secret was
carefully guarded, the news eventually reached the
tars of' George P. Carter, one of the discoverers of
the Poorman mine, and Smith Darling, who began
prospecting in the vicinity with great earnestness. As
a result of their labors showings were made which in-
cited the stampede.
Another exciting event of the twelvemonth now
tinder review was the jail break at Murray on Novem-
ber 17th, the details of which, as nearly as can be ascer-
tained, were as follows : When Jailor Ives brought in
the evening meal Nicholas Tully, who was in the habit
of assisting the authorities, caught Ives in the steel
cage, and with the help of another prisoner named
Edward Smith, overpowered, bound and gagged him,
took his watch, money and keys, and locked him in the
cell. He then released four other prisoners, secured
two revolvers and prepared for flight. When dark-
ness came on the six set out to enjoy their freedom.
The escaped prisoners were : Nicholas Tully, held for
assault with intent to kill ; Edward Smith, for highway
robbery; Thomas Ryan and John McEvoy. for grand
larceny ; Henry Goodman, for highway robbery ; and
Peter Snowball, for the murder of John Galbraith, at
Pottsville.
Ives chewed the rope with which he was gagged,
into two, and yelled for aid. Only with great diffi-
cult v was his release effected, for it was necessary to
file some of the bars of the cage. The sheriff was
absent at the time. Commissioner Kraus called for
volunteers to go out and arrest the escaped prisoners.
He received a ready response, William L. Tinker
and Will Hooper set out for Thompson ; O. D. Jones
and George W. Chapman for the south fork. The
latter two discovered at Delta that they were on the
right track. Pushing on to Beaver Station they saw
the fugitives in a field near that point. Securing the
aid of Ed. Clough and the Wallace stage driver, they
started back to the place where the culprits had been
seen. Jones and Chapman rushed ahead and secreted
themselves near the road, onto which the fugitives
soon emerged from the brush. Jumping up suddenly
in front of the sextette, they gave the command to halt
and throw up hands. A fight might have ensued had
not the two men in the rear come up just then with
their shot-guns, arriving in time to satisfy the escaped
prisoners that resistance was useless. The desperadoes
were easily disarmed and returned to their incarcera-
tion.
The United States census of 1890 gives the popu-
lation of Shoshone county by precincts as : Burke,
482; Carbon, 157; Delta, 106; Eagle, 56; Elk, 339;
Kellogg, 324; Kingston, 158; Mullan, 818; Murray,
450; Osburn, 269; Pierce, 238; Wallace, 913; Ward-
ner, 858; Weippe, 156. Total, 5,882. In 1880 the
population of the county was only 469.
On February 16. 1891, a meeting of the mine own-
ers and mine managers of the Coeur d'Alenes con-
vened at Wallace and resulted in the organization of
Mine Owners' Protective Association, claimed to
have been the first of its kind in the United States.
Its purpose was co-operation in all matters pertaining
to mining in the silver-lead district, such as the ad-
justment of freight and transportation rates with the
railways, the handling of labor, etc. The organization,
like the miners' union, which came into being the
previous year, was destined to play a prominent part
in the history of the region.
Railway activity in the county this year took the
form of changing the Northern Pacific cut-off from a
narrow to a broad gauge and the effecting of a like
change in the Burke branch.
August 19 a terrible accident occurred at the Black
Bear mine, on Canyon creek, causing the death of
four men. Two hundred pounds of giant powder,
at the mouth of the lower tunnel, was exploded acci-
dentally, caving the tunnel for a distance of fifty feet.
The result was that G. M. Neil, general manager,
Will Janse, assistant manager. Robert Blackburn and
Alex. Barron, miners, who were working at the breast
of the tunnel, were imprisoned and suffocated by the
gas before help could reach them. A number of oth-
ers were missing, but it later developed that these men
were in another tunnel and out of harm's way. No
blame attached to anyone.
A few months afterward the first fatal accident in
the vicinity of Wardner occurred in the Stemwinder.
A cave- of twenty tons of rock and ore caught Richard
Griffin, a native of Wales, causing his instant death.
Those who were in the Coeur d'Alene country at
the time will remember that as the Northern Pacific
passenger train was approaching the town of Potts-
ville, near the Montana line, on November 19, 1891,
Express Messenger R. R. Case had two unwelcome
visitors, who requested him to unlock his safe, empha-
sizing the request with an ugly looking pistol. After
securing $2,800. destined for Mullan. and perhaps
much more money, the robbers departed. At the point
where the robbery was effected the road makes a long
curve and the grade is heavy, necessitating the slowing
down of the train. It was thought that the robbers
boarded it from ambush, expecting to get the money
that was being shipped in from Montana to pay the
Gold Hunter's men the next day. The affair was well
planned and well executed and the perpetrators of the
crime were never apprehended.
The vear 1891 is noted as being the one in which
the Coeur d'Alene labor troubles had their origin.
Some time in July the Miners' Union at Wardner peti-
tioned V. M. Clement, manager of the Bunker Hill &
Sullivan mines, that the existing arrangement whereby
the miners paid a dollar a month for medical treatment
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
without hospital facilities should cease, and that the
same money should be deducted from each man's pay
and applied to the maintenance of the Central Miners'
Union Hospital at Wallace. Early in August the
company posted notices in prominent places about the
mine calling an election for the purpose of choosing
between these three propositions, viz : To continue
the existing arrangement ; to build a new hospital on
the company's grounds at Milo. the company to give
lumber and sufficient ground for all purposes, condi-
tioned on the men's obtaining sufficient money from
individuals and other local companies to pay other
expenses ; exemption from hospital taxation upon
signing a contract with the Bunker Hill & Sullivan
.Mining Company, releasing them from all liabilities for
sickness or injury while in their employ. (July a few
of the miners voted, and most of these who did favored
the Wardner hospital proposition. The result was
that the company gave notice of its intention to deduct
the dollar a month and that all miners objecting to
this plan should call a once for their time. Most of
the men went out on a strike, causing the temporary
closing of the mine and mill. Strikers demanded
$3.50 a day for all candle-bearers and the privilege of
sustaining with their dollar a month the Central Union
Hospital. I.ate in December the difficulty was ad-
justed by agreement between the local union and
central union of the Coeur d'Alenes. denominated the
"Consolidated Union," on the one side, and the Bunker
Hill company on the other.
CHAPTER III.
CURRENT HISTORY^lMU'-l'.iu:;.
The mine owners were in considerable difficulty
-throughout the entire fall of 1891 and a part of the
ensuing year, not only through differences with their
employes, but on account of disagreements with the
railroad companies about freight rates. By January
15th all the producing mines in the district were closed
except the Hunter, at Mullan, and the mines of the
north side. The former remained in operation owing
to the fact that its contract with the smelter only re-
quired its ore to be delivered at the railway. A mine
owners' committee was sent to St. Paul and Omaha
to arrange, if possible, for lower rates. In March the
differences were settled by the railway company's
agreeing to return to the 1890 rate, which was $2 a
ton lower, and the Mine Owners' Association an-
nounced that on April 1st the mines would be re-
opened. However, they insisted that only $3 a day
should be paid to carmen and shovelers, a proviso
which did not tend to harmonize the strained relations
existing between them and their men.
No attempt will be here made to discuss the rights
and wrongs of this controversy, but -that the reader
may have seme data upon which to found an opinion
of his own, the official statements of both sides of the
case are. here incorporated, as follows-
Spokane^ March 27. 1892. — As there has been some
misrepresentation relative to the proposition of the mine
owners of the Coeur d'Alenes as published on the 19th inst.,
the Association thinks it proper to publish the proposition
again and also to give at length for the information of all
concerned a summary of the present status of affairs in regard
to the question at issue.
The proposition is given below, and what the mine owners
intend as a fair, frank statement of the whole case follows.
It is commended to the careful consideration of every citizen
•of the Coeur d'Alene region :
MINE OWNERS STATEMENT.
The Mine Owners' Association of the Coeur d'Alenes
takes this public method of informing all former employes
of the various mines and mills, as well as the public gen-
erally, that having reached a satisfactory settlement of all
differences with the railway company relative to freight rates
and other matters, that all mines will be ready to resume work
on or about April 1, or sooner if a sufficient number of the old
hands can get back before that date. In order to give them
time to get back it is probable that not more than "tie or two
mines will resume before the date stated, and preference
will be given to all former employes
Believing most earnestly that the advance of the wages
of carmen ami shovelers, which was forced upon the mine
owners during the last year, was unjust and unreasonable,
for obvious reasons t" both employers and miners, the Asso-
ciation begs leave to announce the following scale of wages:
For all miners. $3.50 per day of ten hours ; for carmen and
shovelers, $3 per day of ten hours, except in shaft mines,
where carmen and shovelers will be paid $3.50 per day, or
carmen working in wet places in tunnel mines where gum
clothes are necessary, will be paid $3.50 per day. Where
miners or carmen are put on special eight-hour
wages will be the same as for ten hours.
This scale of wages, after much consideration, has been
determined upon as liberal and fair by the Association and it
is hoped that it may meet the approval of all old employes
as w-ell as the public generally. The Association also an-
nounces that in all tunnel mines where a majority of the men
desire to avoid working Sunday and Sunday night they may,
on giving expression of such desire to the manager, have
Sundav and Sundav night off each week.
The above are the wages that were paid at all the Coeur
d'Alene mines for several years prior to last year, in fact ever
since the mines started. During all those years there were
no unions in this country, and there was never a cut in wages
nor any strike, shut down or trouble whatever.
While we have no objections to miners' unions if they
are governed and conducted by able, sensible, real miners,
it is nevertheless a fact that during the year we have had
unions in this country, there has been trouble somewhere
most of the time: strikes and threats of strikes, committees
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
and delegations continually, to the great annoyance and loss
not only to the miners, but also to the community generally
as well as the mine owners, and we challenge anybody to
show in what manner the miners or owners or the commu-
nity have been benefited one cent's worth for all the trouble
caused, for all the time lost, for all the hard feelings en-
gendered, for the many hard-earned dollars which the work-
ing miners have contributed to the coffers of the unions, ex-
cepting in the matter of the Sisters' hospital, which is a
noble institution and worthy of generous support. These are
facts which are known to all miners who have been in the
country any length of time and too generally known to ad-
mit of any contradiction.
The only men who can be said to have been benefited
at all are the carmen and shovelers, worthy men, no doubt,
but it is well known that any reasonably intelligent men
can learn to do this work in tunnel mines in a few days,
and can it be said that these men are entitled to the same
pay as skilled miners, who have spent years in learning their
trade? We have endeavored many times to learn by what
reason the unions demanded the same pay for these men
that they do for miners, but have failed entirely to get any
good reason. The only reasons given were that the carmen
and shovelers work under ground and run the same dangers
as miners, and also that such was the custom in Butte. The
fact is that carmen and shovelers do not run the same risks
as miners; for one reason they do not handle powder, and it
is well known that more than one-half the accidents in the
country have been caused in one way or another by unlooked
for explosions of powder. Then, too, they work mostly on
the floors and in tunnel levels, while the miner has to work
at the front in new ground and often on staging. Even ad-
mitting that the danger is equal to both miner and carmen
alike, we would ask if the world's work is paid for without
regard to skill ? Does the locomotive fireman get the same
pay as the engineer ? Does the brakeman get the same pay
as the conductor? They also share the same danger. It is
a recognized principle in business everywhere that men must
be paid according to the skill necessary in the vocation they
follow. Were it otherwise there would be no incentive for
men to be anything but laborers.
We have gone into this matter at greater length than
we would have done were it not that this question of wages
of carmen and shovelers has been the cause of endless trouble
between the unions and the mine owners, and it seems to be
the main bone of contention at the present time.
It is true that the mine owners raised the wages of car-
men and shovelers last year at the demand of the unions, but
they did so under protest and with a keen sense of its in-
justice. However, at that time lead and silver were much
higher than at present, and desiring to get along amicably
with the unions and being able to afford it, the wages of
carmen and shovelers were raised. Now the conditions have
changed ; lead is only four cents and tending downward. Sil-
ver is below 90 and going lower, and the mine owners are
therefore under the necessity of the strictest economy.
It is entirely a matter of business. The ores of this camp
are, as everybody knows, low grade, and it requires the closest
management to make the business' profitable and when the
enormous expense of opening and equipping one of the Coeur
d'Alene lead mines is considered it must be evident to anybody
inclined to a fair view that it takes a long time — often years —
to get back the original investment, before any profit what-
ever can be made.
These are facts and we state them at length for the
benefit of the many reasonable, sensible miners of this camp,
who. we dare say, seldom hears matters of this sort discussed
at all in their union meetings.
We wish to inform them also that our interests are mu-
tual : that miners, mine owners and all the people of this
Coeur d'Alene region depend solely upon the mines for sup-
port. There is nothing else, as everybody knows, and when
the mines are stopped everything else must stop.
Now it is equally true that after the prospector, the mine
owners were here first and by means of their skill and capital
opened and equipped the mines and made it possible for not
only the miners but all of the people of the several towns
of this county to live here. Are they not, we would ask irj
common justice, entitled to some consideration? One would
think not to hear the covert threats made by some members
of the unions, and some who are not. Threats of running
them out of the country, of burning their mills, of blowing
up their flumes, of even murdering them, shooting them in
their beds, and so on. Supposing these threats were carried
out and all the mine owners, or a majority of them, were
"killed off," as they say, how would it benefit them of the
community at large? Would it start up the mines imme-
diately or make business active? Certainly not. Would such
a state of anarchy encourage capitalists to come into the
country, to buy and develop the many fine prospects that
are lying idle? We do not think it would be very encourag-
ing. Does this ceaseless strife of coercing men by threats
and force to join the unions encourage married men to come
in here with their families and build up the country? Does
this talk of riot and murder and running people out of the
country do anybody any good? It certainly does not, but 011
the contrary, it does the whole community harm.
What is the cause of it? Simply this: A few agitators,
who are not miners (or if they are, never work at their trade),
desire to terrorize this whole community and they make these
utterances themselves, or induce their friends to do so, with
this end in view, their sole purpose being to keep up a contin-
uous state of turmoil and strife to the end that tribute may-
come in one way or another to them. To show how well
they have succeeded, we may state that the whole community
is terrorized or appears to be so, and in evidence of this is the
fact that while the majority of the business men of th'=
country admit that the mine owners' proposition is a fair one,
and state among themselves that they are surprised that the
unions do not accept it, they dare not say as much in any
public place, nor dare any newspaper in this camp to utter
one word of comment upon the situation. A few men do all
the talking and instead of devoting themselves to a fair dis-
cussion of the vital question of the time and giving every man
a chance to be heard, their speeches are for the most part
a tirade against capital and full of invective against the
mine owners. We would ask if this is sensible and right?
Is there any justification for it? Are any higher wages paid
in any camp in this or any other country where the condi-
tions of living are as favorable as here? Is it not true that
much lower wages are paid in many mining sections of this
country where the conditions are not as favorable? Take
Leadville and Aspen for instance, where the elevation is over
10,000 feet above the sea level, and where the mines are
mostly carbonate, and therefore more or less unhealthy. The
wages there now and have been since the strike of 1880 $3
per day for miners. It may be said that Butte pays shovel-
ers and carmen $3.50 per day, but all the mines in Butte are
shaft mines, and in shaft mines here we offer to pay the same
wages.
Pay days have always been regular here, the men as welt
housed and have good board ; the altitude is low and the cli-
mate pleasant; in short there is not a mining camp in the
country where the conditions are more favorable. These are
facts that are too well known to be gainsaid ; still the cen-
tral committee of the miners' union has served formal notice
on the mine owners that they will not permit any of the
mines to start up on the proposition offered and intimate that
they, the committee, mean to dictate the terms, before any
more work can be done in this camp. While this is the ulti-
matum of the committee, many of the best miners of the coun-
try have told several mine owners and others that their prop-
osition is a fair one and meets their approval; still they fear
to go into the unions and state their honest-convictions. As
it is with tlie business men and newspapers, so it is with
the miners themselves. They all fear to state their real opin-
ions for obvious reasons. We would ask if this is a desirable
condition of things? We hold that this is a free country
and that every man in this community is entitled to express
his honest convictions without being threatened for doing so.
We have an interest in this question, for the living of all
depends upon its solution, and we hold that it is not only the
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
icoj
privilege, but it is the duty of every honest citizen to state his
opinions frankly and freely.
We do not ask anybody to take our side. We leave the
side that they will take to their own good judgment, but we
say they should take one side or the other and express their
views freely and openly with the end in view of securing
what is just and honorable to all concerned. All trust also
that every citizen who has any stake in this community will
appreciate the necessity of discountenancing and opposing
any acts of violence which misguided men, stirred up by se-
ditious talk, may undertake.
We must have law and order, for without them we can
have no prosperity and acts of violence and riot never result
in any good to anyone. We trust there will be no more dis-
graceful scenes such as were witnessed during the strike
at Wardner last fall, when over ioo armed white men waited
at midnight on one lone man, who had a wife and family, and
ordered him to leave the country at once or they would kill
him. This we hold was a high handed and cowardly out-
rage. By what right did those men arrogate to themselves
the authority to order an American citizen to leave this
country? And this is only one instance of many, and we wish
to inform those who are now contemplating similar outrages
that the law provides that such crimes can be punished by im-
prisonment in the penitentiary and we propose hereafter to
see the law strictly enforced, and we think we will have the
active support of every respectable civvzen of this country
in so doing.
It may be said by some that this is no fight of ours;
we have no interest in it. We answer that every man who has
any stake in this community is interested to the extent of
all he has to secure good order and prevent outrages. And
further it may be said" that in case of riot here or the burning
or destruction of any mills or other property, Shoshone
county will have to pay the loss. This precedent was estab-
lished fully at the time of the Pittsburg riots in '77- Alle-
gheny county paid over $3,000,000 to the owners of property
destroyed, and is not this right? What do we pay taxes for?
Can it be said, therefore, that where men are daily talking
outrage and riot and inflaming the passions of men who have
not one cent at stake themselves that the citizens who have
something and pay the taxes have no interest in this affair?
We think every sensible man will say we have a deep in-
terest, and mean to see to it.
Relative to the unions, we would say again that we have
no objection to them if they are conducted by prudent, sensi-
ble miners who work for their living. As long as they devote
their efforts to mutually aiding and benefitting all working
men, by all lawful means we say God-speed them. But when
they undertake to run the whole country; when they undertake
to terrorize everybody and by threats and intimidation, coerce
and force men to join the union whether they wish to or not,
and if they do not join, by force take them from their work
and drive them out of the country; when they talk violence
and undertake to lav down the law to everybody, we say they
are going altogether too far, and moreover, that they cannot
succeed by any such means in accomplishing any permanent
good for themselves or anybody else. They will merely defeat
the ends thev aim at
It will doubtless be said that the unions do not undertake
any of these things. We beg to ask, who were the men
who perpetrated the outrages in Wardner last summer and
terrorized that community for weeks by threats and acts of
violence? Who were the men who drove the two miners off
the Little Chap ground last fall and threatened their lives
if they did not leave the country? Who are the men who have
undertaken by threats and force to make miners at nearly
every mine in the country join the union, and in several cases
have taken them from their work and forced them to leave
the country? It may be answered that the unions are not re-
sponsible for these acts of some of their members. But were
not many of these acts sanctioned by a formal vote- of the
unions and even if they were not, are not the unions respon-
sible for all the acts of their members, which arise out of or
are caused by talk and acts within the unions. We hold that
they are, and moreover that every member of the union,
whether a willing one or forced. 1- responsible foi every act
of his union, lawful or unlawful.
Men cannot associate together and form societies to do
certain things and then because they fail to attend or do not
vote, claim that they are not responsible and that certain two
or three leaders made speeches and motions and carried things
to suit themselves. This has, we think, been the trouble right
along in the proceedings of the unions. Two or three men who
can talk, make all the speeches and all the motions and the
majority of the sober, sensible men, partly through fear and
partly through diffidence, have very little to say about it; in
short, take no more active part in the acts of their unions than
if they were 100 miles away. The votes even do not express
the sentiments of those present, for if we hear them rightly,
they are given orally, vive voce, and not by ballots, with the
result that after two or three inflammable speeches damning
the mine owners have been made, very few have the courage
to vote no. Now, we would ask if any body of men can hope
for permanent success by pursuing any such methods ':
It is well known to those who are acquainted with the
history of the miners' unions that the pursuit of such methods
have been the cause of the ruin and end of many of them.
The leaders, not content with a conservative course and ac-
complishment of the beneficial objects that properly come
within the province of the unions, undertake to run every-
thing and everybody with a high hand, to lay down the law
to the whole community; in short, they use their brief au-
thority to convert the unions they control into great tyrants
which not only grind and terrorize the community, but also
their own members. Such a course, whether pursued by a
miners' union or a government, can end only in defeat and
ruin. It is unnecessary to state instances. There are dozens of
them and old miners can call to mind many within their own
experience. They know of several cases where, urged on by
reckless leaders, the union demanded an advance for miners
from $3.50 to $4 per day, and after a strike which cnst the
miners, mine owners and the community a great loss of time
and money, they ended by going to work at $3 per day. If
the present condition of things is maintained in the Coeur
d'Alenes, we very much fear that after weeks and months of
idleness, turmoil and strife, a similar result will be reached.
History repeats itself over and over again.
It may be answered that the members of the Coeur
d'Alene unions are conservative, prudent and temperate, and
never undertake anything not properly within the province
of any mutual benefit society. We would ask if many of the
leaders have not now made up their minds that if they are
successful in the present conflict, they will within sixty days-
urge a strike for $4 per day for miners, for the closing of all
company boarding houses, for a boycott on all business enter-
prises in which any mine owner has an interest, for a rule
that no miner will be allowed to work Mil any mine 111 the
Coeur d'Alenes over seven days unless he joins the union,
if not freely then bv force, that no mine foreman shall dis-
charge any man under ground until he has given a satisfactory
reason for so doing to the union. Not ony have these
things been talked up. but thev have been voted upon, and it
not definitely determined as yet, it is well known that they will
be when the time is considered ripe.
Suppose under this state of affairs, the mine owners were
to accede at once to the ultimatum of the central committee,
can it reasonably be expected that any permanent peace in our
fair country would be secured? Vain hope! We venture
the belief and we have good grounds for it, that sixty days
would not elapse until trouble would arise somewhere, and
the fiat of the union would go forth and must be complied
with or the offending mine, or all of them, would be closed
down and the men driven out. Under this state of affairs
we the mine owners, think it is about time to call a halt and
we' do so most emphatically: and we think every right
thinking man in the country, be he miner or business^ man,
will sav, "Amen. You are right and we are with you. We
would ask again, was there ever any cut m wages in any camp
in the Coeur d' /Uenes, was there every any strike or any trouble
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
whatever, or any damning of mine owners, nr threats of mur-
der or of the destruction of property before we had the un-
ions? Everybody knows there was not.
There was peace and amity everywhere until the fall of
1890, when the miners' union was first formed, and trouble
began almost immediately and we have had lots of it since
and it has been increasing in volume and violence up to
the present time. It has been said that the mine owners
have broken a contract which they had with the unions to
pay shovelers and carmen $3.50 per day and that the mine
owners should have notified the unions before publishing any
change of wages. We would in answer ask if the unions no-
tified the mine owners last year before they decided on de-
manding a raise in the wages of carmen and shovelers? They
did not, but they simply made a peremptory demand on the
mine owners and said, "Raise these carmen's pay to $3.50
a day or we will on a certain day shut down your mine." and
meeting with refusal in three places, they did close the
mines, to the great loss of all concerned. When the advance
was granted by one mine after another in order to have peace,
we do not remember that there was in a single case any cove-
nant or agreement that it should stand for any specified time.
In short the mine owners had no opportunity to agree and
they were simply held up and told to do certain things, which
they did, and there was no promise or agreement on either
side that it should continue for any specified time, or that
any notice should be given by any one side or the other de-
siring to change it.
To return to the question of the moment. The central
committee has notified us that they will permit no work to be
done at any mine in the Coeur d'Alene excepting at $3.50
per day for all men underground and at short hours, that is
to say, ten hours for the day shift, excepting Saturday — nine
hours — and nine hours for the night shift, excepting Saturday
night— eight hours. Let us take a look over the situation
and see what justice there is in this ultimatum. Is it not
true that the price of silver is 86 cents per ounce and going
lower every day? Is it not true that silver mines in Butte
and in nearly every other large camp are daily shutting down
because they simply cannot afford to run? Is" it not true that
there are from 1,000 to 2,000 miners idle in Butte and vicinity
and many thousands more in other camps all over the coun-
try? Is it not true that copper and iron ore are very low,
and that in consequence there are in the Lake Superior region
thousands of idle miners and laborers? Is it not true that the
miners in that region are working at $2 and less per day of
ten hours ? Is it not true that in nearly every camp in L^tah,
Colorado and California wages are but $3 per day or less?
And notwithstanding these facts we, the mine owners of the
Coeur d'Alene, are being damned and vilified and threatened
for offering to pay the scale of wages stated at the beginning
of this article. We will simply add that we have determined
that the wages cited are fair and liberal, and all we ought
to be asked to pay, Tind having so determined we do not mean
to start up our mines at any higher wages. We will wait until
the 1st of April for our men to make up their minds, and if
they decline to accept, we will have no other course but to
claim the right to work our mines (which we have paid for
and own) outside of any unions, and we are fully determined
in", however tin- right to every person i" demand any price
with tin- rights of others, and we feel confident the law will
uphold us in so doing.
We would ask in conclusion: What is the cause of all
the cursing of mine owners that we hear" What is the cause
of all the misrepresentations, all the covert threats and in-
vectives? Ts there any sense rv reason in it? Have we not
paid everybody regularly all that we owed them? Have we
swindled anybody? Have we wronged anybody in any way'
Was anything of the kind ever heard prior to last year'
We challenge anybody to show any just cause for it.
Would anybody be living in the Coeur d'Alenes if there were
not mine owners ?
Coeur D'Ai.fxe Mine Owners' Association.
THE REPLY OF THE UNIONS.
As miners, we are not gifted with the literary abilities
of the hired attorneys ot the Mine Owners' Association, nor
at the same time with that talent of making statements so
absurd and false as to cause a blush of apology on the cheeks
of Ananias, but as working men we ask a thoughtful and
considerate public to view both sides of the question before
forming an opinion as to the merits or demerits of the case
brought before their notice. Without eulogy or self praise
we can say that the character for honesty and integrity of
those members of the miners' unions who have been in the
past or are now prominently identified with these organizations
in the Coeur d'Alenes, and as officers of the several unions
in the respective communities in which they reside, is such
as to be above and beyond the reproach of the Mine Owners'
Association: they -can certainly lay claim to be practical
miners.
The miners of the Coeur d'Alenes can appeal to the peo-
ple of this section, in whose minds the memory is still fresh
of the course pursued by some of the mine owners when an
endeavor was made to establish the Sisters' hospital in our
midst It is also well known that what they now truthfully
call a "noble institution" formerly they designated a "foreign
and un-American corporation." It is also thoroughly under-
stood that it was the refusal of some Wardner companies to
deduct hospital fees in accordance with the wishes of the
majority of their employes that led to the misunderstanding
of last summer, and that since the local unions have consoli-
dated, the organizations have, in proportion to the amount
of fees collected in dues from their members, cared for their
sick, as well as decently interred their dead, and in sick
benefits have paid as largely as any of the secret benevolent
societies in existence, besides equally establishing better feel-
ings for the welfare of their members and their mutual pro-
tection. When we bear this expense we would like to ask the
Mine Owners' Association and the public whether the tax-
payers of Shoshone county and the individual members of
the unions are benefited one cent's worth by the trouble
caused, time lost or feelings engendered ? We emphatically
say yes, and challenge even our worthy foes to truthfully deny
this assertion.
From items appearing in the public press, gathered from
some of our mine managers by reporters in neighboring
states, we are led to believe that wages cut no figure in the
late shut down, but now the only motive seems to have been
to crush out organized labor and to establish in the Coeur
d'Alenes by importation of contract labor (that curse of
American institutions) a condition similar to that brought
about from this course in some of the older states. That
the question at issue is a mere matter of business no one
seeks to deny, but the fact still remains that nowhere in latter
day; has capital invested in mining enterprise been so pro-
ductive in so short a time as in the Coeur d'Alenes. In proof
of this assertion we have only to quote from the annual re-
ports of some of our mine managers to their directors for the
past year. One of the managers sometime since made a state-
ment, afterward appearing in the public press, that the con-
cess;ons received from the railroad companies would to his
company alone make a difference of $30,000 per annum, which,
taken with the dividends paid during the past year, makes
an immense yearly return on the capital originally invested.
What is true in this case is equally so of the other companies,
except where affairs have, as is generally understood, been
grossly mismanaged.
That the "altitude is low and the climate pleasant" we do
not deny: nor do we feel under any obligations to the mine
owner for this gratuitous gift of Providence, but if at some
of the mines where the companies run the boarding and lodg-
ing houses the condition of^the houses and the quality of the
board were in proportion to nature's gifts in the first in-
stance we would feel that in that matter we were being treated
with only a merited degree of justice. To show how unfairly
the Mine Owners' Association dealt with us, let us review
their assertion that the wages offered in their statement were
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1005
those existing ever since the mines started. We answer that
the statement is false, for in all of the principal mines until the
summer of 1887 the wages for all underground men were
$3 50 per day, when the wages of carmen and shovelers in
some of the mines were reduced to $3 per day. Immediately
after this reduction of wages the first miners' union was or-
ganized, as a natural sequence, and to say that the increase
made last year was paid under protest is also false, as we hold
conclusive proof that in certain mines in this section the addi-
tional wages Acre paid without the solicitation of the miners'
union, much less under protest. The ultimatum of the Mine
Owners' Association conveys the idea that we are nothing
more nor less than a band of anarchists continually threaten-
ing the destruction of life and property, liable at any mo-
ment to carry out such threats if necessary to accomplish our
purpose. This is interesting" news to the people of this sec-
tion. Whatever the effect of such slanders on the outside
may be we have no fear of the result at home. We ask
when, where and by whom were such threats made? When
did the destruction of life by the miners' union begin? When
were the mines of the several companies burned? When were
the flumes blown up and what name did the mine manager
bear when in the flesh who was killed in his boots or threat-
ened with such consequences by any member of the miners'
union? We assert without fear of successful contradiction
that such dire threats were never made by anyone acting
under authority of the union, and we know, as do all the citi-
zens of this section, they were never carried out nor could
they be with the consent of any of the unions.
Of some of the managers it may be said that a change
seems to have come over the spirit of their dreams since
September of last year. On the 24th of that month the then
manager of the Bunker Hill and Sullivan Company, with the
then central union, entered into an agreement in which the
following occurs :
"In consideration of the foregoing concessions the con-
solidated miners' unions of the Coeur d'Alene hereby guar-
antee to protect all the company's property, its agents and
officers, from any acts or demonstrations of violence or
threats from individuals or bodies of its members."
We ask before becoming a party to the statement pub-
lished, did the said manager satisfy his mind as to the date
on wdiich the local or central union violated this or any other
agieement made with him or others? The Coeur d'Alene
managers did enter into written agreements with the union,
their denial to the contrary notwithstanding", in which the
following occurs: "That there shall be no person employed
in our mines at a less price than $3 50 per day until 1 shall first
notify you in writing."
There is-no doubt that the mine owners would not object
to the unions provided they were officered by their nominees,
but to this every member objects, as they should, in order
to maintain some independence that in future as 111 the past
they might be in a position to direct their efforts to mutually
benefit all working men and by lawful means, and to state
that the central or any other local union means in
the future to select a county ticket to be voted on
in the fall is a falsehood without a vestige of truth. The
miners did without doubt at the last election vote for and elect
certain managers and others to the state legislature, but the
record left by some of them was such as not to give much en-
couragement to the people to elect any of them again. The
union as a society did not perpetrate the outrages in Wardner
last summer, but as citizens, perhaps, attended a mass meet-
ing where certain men were forced to leave by the decree of
said meeting. Again, to say armed men forced American citi-
zens to leave Wardner is so tinged with falsehood as to re-
main unanswered. If our local unions sanction the acts of
the central organization it is not by intimidation, as the. pub-
lic would be made to believe. Our constitution is open to the
public and we invite all to study it carefully, as we defy any
one to say we are an unlawful body. As for using coercion
in order to enlist members, the people here know well we
have never used the like with one-half the force the associa-
tion has done to compel outside mines to fall in line. Will
the Mine Owners' Association allow their constitution to be
perused by the public? We think not, because from informa-
tion now m our hands, we know it is so opposed to law and
order that the darkened archives of the association is its
safest retreat.
In conclusion we say that business enterprises have not
been boycotted by the unions here simply because the mine
owners were interested, but in some cases when attempts were
made to force men to trade with such concerns the unions did
interfere, but never without just cause. How has it been with
the Managers' Association? It has continually pursued our
members, and to be an officer in either local or central union
has been for a long time since sufficient reason for the black-
listing of the offending member. In all mining districts in the
west we have miners' unions, but owners in other sections
contrive to get along without a mine managers' association.
We thank the citizens of our respective communities for their
expressions of sympathy and hope alwavs to merit their ap-
proval.
THE CENTRAL MINERS' UNION OF THE
COEUR D'ALENE.
The proposition of the mine owners was finally re-
jected by the Central Executive union and the Coeur
d'Alene Mine Owners' Association issued a manifesto
in which they said, among other things :
"We have made an effort in good faith to resume
work, but cannot do so under existing circumstances.
We could bring in men from distant" mining sections
who would be glad to work for the wages offered,
btit we will not do so except as a last resort.
We desire to announce that we now withdraw the
proposition made, and also that we have decided, as
we cannot work the mines, to reduce expenses as
much as possible and to allow our mines to remain
idle until June 1st, by which time we hope to have
made such arrangements as will enable us to resume
business."
As the first of June approached the mine owners
began bringing in miners from the outside, under
guard of armed detectives. They also sued out in-
junctions in the Federal court and had them served on
a number of different persons, restraining them from
interfering in any way with the operation of the mines.
During the month of June some of the mines were
run by non-union labor, short-handed and intermit-
tently, whereas in others union and non-union men
seem to have been working side by side, the former,
at least, at the old scale of $3.50 a day, and in still
others only union men were employed.
The mines which came under the special displeas-
ure of the union men were the Bunker Hill and Sulli-
van, at Wardner, and the Gem and Frisco, on Canyon
creek. At the Canyon creek mines the feeling be-
tween the union strikers and the non-union men who
had taken their places and were working under guard
was very bitter. Exchange of harsh words w:ere very
frequent and fist fights were not uncommon. These
eventually precipitated an armed encounter on July
nth between union men and the employes and guards
of the Frisco mine. At about five o'clock in the morn-
ing of that day the firing commenced. It is said by
both sides that the shooting was not intended at first
to do other execution than to frighten the men out
of the mine. Soon, however, a pitched battle resulted,
ioo6
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
both miners and guards firing to kill. The strikers
were at a disadvantage, so withdrew up the hills. It
was now that the plan of destroying the mills took
shape in their minds. They came to the end of the
tramway, placed some giant powder in a car and
started it to the buildings on its errand of destruction.
The fuse was too short, so the explosion took place
too soon to do serious damage, though the tramway
was destroyed. Powder was then carried to the flume
and, the water having been first turned off, sent down
the penstock and to the water wheel. The old mill
was thus wrecked, but fortunately most of the men had
withdrawn to the new mill, thus saving their lives.
The men in the mill continued firing a short time, but
soon realizing their hopeless position, surrendered.
Soon the battle began at the Gem. The men in
that mine had made some preparation by erecting
barricades of wood and lumber. As the night shift-
was going off and the day force going on, the firing
began. After a large number of shots had been ex-
changed by the strikers in the town of Gem and
the men at the mine, a conference was held under flag
of truce, in which it was agreed that the non-union
men should surrender if so advised by A. L. Gross,
the only member of the Gem company in the country.
Gross advised the surrender and the men handed over
their arms.
In the two battles two non-union men were killed,
namely, John Starlick and Ivery Bean, also three
strikers, — James Hennessy, Gus Carlson and Harry
Cummings. A considerable number were wounded.
After their victories at the Gem and the Frisco
the strikers proceeded to Wardner, going from a point
outside of Wallace to the junction in two freight cars
propelled by gravity. They arrived after dark on the
night of the nth, took possession of the Bunker Hill
concentrator and placed a ton of powder under it.
Next morning Mr. Clement had the choice of discharg-
ing his non-union employees and sending them out
of the country or having his mill blown to pieces.
Under the circumstances he agreed to send away the
men, which was done.
Many of the non-union men left the country July
12th, going by rail to the Mission and arriving at
that point about three o'clock. The steamer was
transferring troops across the lake and did not reach
the Mission until one o'clock next morning. While
waiting, the non-union men were made the victims
of an outrage which has been condemned by both
parties to the quarrel as a dastardly and utterly inex-
cusable affair. Persons whose identity is unknown
to the writer and perhaps not known with certainty
by many outside of their own number, came down on
a hand car to the Mission and attacked the unarmed
men with guns. The men fled, of course. They were
pursued by the attacking party over the meadow
toward Fourth of July canyon, six miles distant, and
all of them subjected to the hardship of spending a
night in various hiding places. Those who took re-
fuge along the banks of the river either made their
way back to the Mission in small boats or were picked
up by the steamer next morning. From the number
missing it was supposed that many had been killed,
but no bodies were found, although diligent search
was made for them. At least one man, John H. Ab-
bott, was severely wounded in the left breast by a
bullet, so that he was not expected to recover, but
we are informed that he eventually did. The purpose
of the attack was doubtless robbery rather than blood-
shed. Many of the victims had everything in the
world that they possessed taken from them. It should
be added that the miners' union of the Coeur d'Alene
emphatically denied that it or any of its members had
anything to do with this outrage, directly or indirectly.
Martial law was promptly declared, and under the
protection of the soldiers many of the expelled non-
union men returned. With such help, the Bunker
Hill and Sullivan Company had resumed work before
July ist. According to the mining notes in the Coeur
d'Alene Miner of July 30th, the Gem, Granite, Custer
and Sierra Nevada were then all at work and all ex-
cept the Custer with non-union men. The Tiger and
Poorman mines were closed by command of Colonel
J. F. Curtis, on August 20th, also all the saloons in
Burke. The reason was unknown, but it was sup-
posed that the colonel considered the mines and the
saloons as meeting places of those plotting crimes and
breaches of the peace.
Many of those who were most active in the uprising
were compelled to flee from the country ; many others
were placed under arrest, but only a comparatively
few were convicted and punished. Twenty-five were
tried in the Federal court on a charge of violating the
restraining order, and of these Thomas O'Brien was.
sentenced to eight months and F. T. Dean, R. M.
Boyce, Thomas Henney and Thomas Doyle to six
months' imprisonment. A number were tried at Coeur
d'Alene City for conspiracy and four were sentenced
to the House of Correction at Detroit, Michigan, —
George A. Pettibone for two years. AI. L. Devine and
Charles St. Clair, for eighteen months, and John
Murphy for fifteen months.
Gradually the troops were removed, and Novem-
ber 18, 1892, martial law was revoked. Besides the
state militia there were stationed in the Coeur d'Alenes
companies from the Fourth, Fourteenth, Twenty-sec-
ond and Twenty-fifth United States Infantry, all under
command of Genera! W. P. Carlin.
Eighteen hundred and ninety-three, the year of
panic and hard times, was not a prosperous one in the
Coeur d'Alene country. During the spring most of
the mills closed down, throwing hundreds out of em-
ployment. May 1 ith the Small & Colby Lumber Com-
pany, of Kingston, failed, owing $35,000 to employees,
but it did a noble thing. By giving a mortgage on
all its property it raised sufficient money to pay its
men in full, saving, no doubt, a great deal of hardship
and suffering. By September county warrants, which
before the financial crash brought 90 cents on the dol-
lar, had fallen to 40 cents. In the gold belt prospects
were allowed to go without even the performance of
assessment work, and valuable properties were per-
mitted to lie idle. In the silver-lead belt many of the
mines remained inactive during the greater part
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1007
of the year. The railroads offered a reduction
of $2 a ton during the spring, and an effort
was made in July to resume work, but the
mine owners claimed they could not afford to pay
the union scale of $3.50 a day, owing to the low price
of lead and silver, and the miners refused to accept
a less rate. As a result large bodies of men were out
of employment and there was undoubtedly some desti-
tution among their families.
The Murray Sun, which was strongly union in its
sympathies, thus comments on the situation in its
issue of October 13, 1893:
The miners of Canyon creek have made a great and grave
mistake by not accepting, in the first place, the sliding scale
of wages for tunnel mines, and subsequently the tender of
$3 and $3.50 for the same character of mining. As a result
the mills have refused to start and hundreds are out of
■employment. The present unsettled condition of lead and
silver should have been taken into consideration by all intelli-
gent laboring men, who are not bent on destroying the very
industry that upholds all other classes of industry through-
out the civilized world. Labor in the Coeur d'Alenes would
liave achieved one of the greatest victories yet recorded
in the union had either scale been adopted, and set every
mine in motion, the world would have applauded and steady
■employment would have been given under a sliding scale
at least, to every man in the union, although he was on
the black list of the most infamous military rule that ever
cursed civilization. The right against unions had ceased and
they had been victorious.
A new question presented itself. Silver declined and
lead declined in sympathy. The mines could not be operated
successfully without some labor concessions. Although re-
quested, they were refused by the miners of Canyon creek
and Muilan, although at Wardner some of the mills have
been operating. The majority of the mines and mills rein. 1111
idle and hundreds of miners are living upon the charity of
organized labor elsewhere, their families are in need and
the children, we are told, frequently cry for bread. Many
of those who sympathized with organized labor have, though
prosperous eighteen months ago, been reduced to dire straits,
and some have gone to the wall. Indeed the situation could
iiot be more distressing in the face of a long winter. Yet
all could easily be changed and humiliation avoided by say-
ing "We accept the proposed terms solely on account of the
depressed value of silver and lead." It would have been
■dignified and honorable. But another feature is also pre-
sented. The agitation over, wages now being carried on here
is attracting outside attention and laborers have been com-
ing to the south fork by hundreds. These men are nearly
all broke and will demand work in preference to starvation.
What will result? A permanent decline in wages to $3
and $2.50.
However, the silver lining to the dark clouds is
pointed out by the same paper in its issue of December
29th in the following language :
Although dark shadows are thrown across the country
•on the threshhold of the new year, with business stagnation
•everywhere in the land, the people of the Coeur d'Alenes
"have cause, to some extent at least, to congratulate them-
selves that the industrial condition is not so bad here as it
-is elsewhere. Fortunately the mining situation in the gold
belt has greatly improved during the past year and the new
one opens with greater promise of healthy growth than any
-previous one in the history of the camp. During the past
year the Mother lode has made substantial improvements,
increasing its milling capacity from five to ten stamps ; the
Golden Chest has dropped ten stamps regularly and shipped
a large quantity of concentrates and crude ore ; the King
ten-stamp mill has run. a part of the tune; the Lion three-
stamp mill has run most of the year and
into a big ten-stamp mill battery before another
the Fay roller mill on Pony gulch has been running for
some time, off and on; the Ward arrastre at Delta has been
ir months and we may safely estimate tl
l'nl of gold from this source during the year lias been
$200,000. Our extensive placer interests, too, have shown
- ! 'l"'' uh-i ihii.il di-wlopment. The 1- iuhl; pin,. m
our big gulches and on lowei Prichard creek has
stay; large tracts of land are thus turned over and wa lied;
the main creek here and on Trail gulch is being sluiced and
drifted with as good results as ever before, or better, and
no impression is apparent on the great gravel deposits, while
the old channel is still in its infancy of development, yield-
nig its regular output of dust from year to year. The output
of the placers for the past year is estimated at $300,000.
This would give us a total yield of $500,000 from quartz and
placers, 1 healthy state of affairs. One of the incidents of
the year has been the successful experiment of the Golden
Chest property with the new cyanide process of extracting
concentrated sulphurets.
Although the year 1894 had a somewhat unpropi-
tious opening, it brought substantial improvements over
its predecessor in financial conditions. There were s< ime
snow slides in January, in one of which "Doc" Mc-
Grevey and John Bollen. prospectors, lost their lives.
This was in Bowlder gulch, two miles east of Muilan.
In February a serious accident occcurred in the Will-
iams slope of the Bunker Hill and Sullivan mine, by
which Patrick Curran, Adolph Markaite and Frank
Sobalja lost their lives: Peter Overwrader suffered a
compound fracture of the left leg, and Henry Schmell-
ing a double fracture of the leg and a compound fract-
ure of the right foot. The coroner's jury in the case held
the company at fault. During the closing days of
March seven sno-\vslides occurred on Canyon creek,
damaging flumes and railway tracks and by interfering
with transportation causing mining companies to sus-
pend operations. One slide in the vicinity of the Black
Bear mine buried and occasioned the death of the fol-
lowing persons: Stephen Deiro, Mrs. Stephen Deiro,
Victoria Deiro, five years old, Michael Martino, Mrs.
Benjamin Rowe. In May, the entire south fork valley
was flooded, doing immense damage, especially to rail-
roads. Many houses were entirely submerged. At
Harrison the water was at one time twenty-four inches
above the railroad track. From Cataldo to Kingston
there was scarcely any track of either road visible: be-
tween Kingston and Wallace, the Union Pacific track
was badly washed out, and between that point and
Muilan still greater damage was done. On Canyon
creek the railways had been similarly damaged, while
the village of Black Bear was for a time under water
and its inhabitants were camped on the hillsides. Wal-
lace was never in danger of loss of life or great prop-
erty loss, but it suffered considerable damage. No
mail reached the town between May 22(1 and June 5th.
It is stated that at Murray the snow fall during the
winter had been 20 feet 3 inches, and on the higher
altitudes around it was known to have been vastly
greater. The precipitation, rain and snow, from No-
vember 7. 1893, t0 March 31, 1894, was 20.4 inches.
As the season advanced these difficulties passed
away and the damage was repaired, though the Coeur
ioo8
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
d'Alene cutoff was not in operation until late in July.
The second week in August all the Canyon creek mines,
which had been idle, resumed operations, paying $3.50
per diem for all underground workers. The terms of
the agreement between the unions and the mine owners,
under which the work was begun, were thus set out
in writing :
"The present maximum wages of $3.50 per day
shall be paid to all underground men.
"There shall be no discrimination in the employ-
ment of men, the men now in the country shall have
the preference. Xo men shall be imported for the
purpose of working in the mines.
"The men who lately left the employment of the
company, who were objected to, shall not again have
employment in any of the above mines.
"It is hereby agreed by both parties hereto that
should any difference arise between the parties hereto,
that the same shall be settled by arbitration.
"It is the desire of both of the above parties that
the long existing differences be and are hereby buried
for all time ; that henceforth both parties be friends
and work for the mutual benefit of both parties."
This agreement was signed by the Milwaukee Min-
ing Company, the Standard Alining Company, the
Coeur d'Alene Mining and Concentrating Company
by A. B. Campbell and A. L. Gross; also
by Edward Boyce, president central executive commit-
tee Miners' Union of the Coeur d'Alenes.
.Notwithstanding all drawbacks, it is claimed that
times in Shoshone county were better than in 1S93,
and it is certain according to the report of the United
States assay office at Boise the production of mineral
wealth was greater.
The year 1895 was, however, far from being a pros-
perous one in the lead-silver district of Shoshone coun-
ty. The price of lead was low. The union in most
places was successful in maintaining the $3.50 schedule,
though there was much trouble between the labor or-
ganizations and the mine owners, rendering production
fitful and unsteady. Where a community is depend-
ing entirely upon one industry, it can be easily imag-
ined what the effect of having that industry paralyzed
is. All business must become stagnant; all energy is
fettered. It was stated that the price of living became
cheaper during the summer and fall than was ever
before known in the camp.
In October, 1895, there was a slight uneasiness lest
open trouble betwen the contending forces in the labor
disputes should break out. A dispatch was sent to
the governor saying that the Hunter mine was threat-
ened. The governor telegraphed the sheriff to protect
life and property or martial law would be declared.
Fortunately there was no cause of alarm and the sheriff
after visiting the scene, so advised the chief executive.
But while the lead mines were comparatively quiet,
the gold belt of the Coeur d'Alenes was making sub-
stantial progress. "Without noise." says the Sun,
"mill after mill has been erected and the development
work has kept pace with the increased reduction facili-
ties. As no outside capital has been invested, we can
lay claim to superior merit for our prospects and
mines, for the home people are investing from ex-
perience and knowledge of their surroundings. From
two stamp mills two years ago we have increased to
nine and one in course of construction. The high
placers lacked water during the year and did not do-
so well as in previous years, but this admitted of some
development work and the season was not entirely a
blank. The low placers have held their own. Alto-
gether our people should feel grateful toward 1895,
for it has placed the gold belt on the road to success."
The year 1896 brought brighter prospects to the
silver-lead sections. In February arrangements had
been made whereby the following mills were either in
operation or soon to open : Standard, capacity 500
tons of crude ore ; Bunker Hill & Sullivan, 800 tons ;
Last Chance, 150 tons; Stemwinder, 150 tons; Gem,
200 tons ; Helena-Frisco, 500 tons ; Tiger-Poorman,
450 tons; Morning, 300 tons; Hunter, 150 tons. It
was expected that the output of the year would exceed
that of 1891, the banner year in the history of the dis-
trict.
Another encouraging feature was the fact that on
2\Iarch 18th county warrants sold at par for the first
time, it is said, in the history of the county. It was
claimed in January, 1897, that the county's indebted-
ness was reduced, during 1895 and 1896, about $25,000.
The encouraging indications in the early months
of 1896 did not prove illusory, for the mines were
operated extensively throughout practically the whole
of the vear, employing from nine to twelve hundred
men steadily at an average daily stipend of perhaps
$3. The price of lead continued low ; there was talk
at times of a general cessation of operations, but for-
tunately no such thing occurred. In December, ac-
cording to the Wallace Press, the following mines were
running steadily : At Burke, the Standard and the
Mammoth; at Gem, the Frisco; at Mullan, the Morn-
ing and the Hunter ; at Wardner, the Bunker Hill and
Sullivan', Last Chance and Stemwinder; at Murray,
the Idaho, Daddy, Golden Chest and Yosemite. "In
a smaller way," continues the paper, "we find the
Hecla, Gem, Granite. Joe Dandy and Nellie, all under
lease : and in addition to them there are the Tiger-
Poorman, Formosa. Phcenix, Black Cloud and numer-
ous others with small forces at work."
The one disaster of the year was the flood of No-
vember, one unprecedented for that season. The even-
ing of the 15th, Prichard creek broke over the north
bank in the upper part of Murray and the water rushed
down Gold street. Early next morning people were
warned by the night watchman that they were in dan-
ger, and by three o'clock men were astir with lanterns
in the intense darkness and heavy rains. A hard fight
was necessary to save the Second street bridge. Some
other bridges were swept away and much damage was
inflicted upon mining property and that stored in cel-
lars.
On the south fork the loss to property owners was
considerable. Wallace was damaged sixteen or seven-
teen thousand dollars, the small farms between that
point and the lake were inundated, roads were oblit-
erated, bridges swept away, railways washed out. The
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1009
Northern Pacific train from the east failed to reach
Wallace on the 16th, though it got as far as Mullan,
and traffic from, the west ceased two days earlier.
It was claimed by the Sun that November, 1896,
broke three records. It had to its credit the greatest
precipitation of any month since the settlement of the
county, 11,12 inches; the lowest temperature for the
season of the year ever experienced, 8 degrees below
zero ; and the highest water ever known.
Ever since the discovery of the mines, the proposi-
tion of dividing Shoshone count)' so as to give the
southern portion autonomy in local government has
been agitated in some form. It can hardly be deniea
that justice and equity require a different division of
the territory of Northeastern Idaho than now obtains
and that something should be done for the amelioration
of conditions in the Weippe and Pierce City sections.
None have deserved better at the hands of the state
government than these people. For years they main-
tained a county organization, although their numbers
were so few and the revenue so meagre that the bur-
den was a grievous one and could not have been borne
had not the county officers for several years remitted
half of their legal salaries. Then came the discovery
of the mines, the removal of the county seat and the
incurring of a large indebtedness, a proportionate share
of which the southern section was required to pay,
though it was incurred solely on behalf of the Coeur
d'Alene watershed. "The protracted and excessively
costly litigation attending the development of the Coeui
d'Alene mines, as well as the many criminal trials in
the same section, ran the county debt up enormously in
the two years succeeding the discovery. The first term
of the district court in the Coeur d'Alenes was held at
Eagle City in July, 1884, and continued six weeks. The
docket comprised thirty-nine ci\il cases and the grand
jury found six indictments for murder. One of the
latter, the State versus Bernard, for killing Enright,
was transferred to Lewiston on change of venue, and
cost the taxpayers of Shoshone county close upon $20,-
000. None of these cases originated in the Pierce City
country. In the general election of 1884 and sub-
sequently, county commissioners were elected who in-
augurated of wagon roads throughout the Coeur
d'Alene country and thus very largelv increased the
county's debt without benefit to the southern half."
It was natural then that the people who suffered
by the existing arrangement should keep up agitation
for their relief, but the matter did not assume definite
form until 1897. In the spring of that year a bill
was introduced dividing Shoshone county and creating
a new political entity by the name of Clearwater. It
passed both houses of the legislature, but was vetoed
by the governor. The action of the chief executive
was heartily condemned not alone by those who suffered
through it but by the fair-minded and justice-loving
people of the north.
Two unfortunate events transpired during the year,
no doubt arising out of the feeling engendered bv the
labor difficulties. May 14th, about 1 o'clock in the
morning, a number of masked men entered the bar-
room of the Steele hotel, Mullan, and compelled O. S.
Roof, lessee of the bar. to conduct them to a room in
which rifles belonging to the local militia compan) wen
stored, also to the ammunition. Next day Capt. Link,
of Company F, residing at Wardner, in compliance with
telegraphic instructions from the governor, repaired
to Mullan and secured such guns as were in other parts
of the town. He said the stolen guns were in reality
the property of the United States. The number of
men engaged in the robbery is said to have been six.
to the identity of no one of whom has any clue been
found. It is known that, the unfortunate occurrence
prevented the consummation of three different deals
in mining property.
The second event which stained the annals of the
Coeur d'Alenes in 1897 transpired at Gem on the even-
ing of December 23d. Just at Yuletide, when all Chris-
tendom was singing the glad gospel of "Peace on earth.
.good will to men," foul and cowardly assassins to tin-
number of about twenty entered, at the hour of nine
in the evening, or later, the house in which Fred D.
Whitney, foreman of the Frisco mill, was rooming.
They proceeded to Whitney's apartments, forced his
companion, Mr. Weimar, to turn his face to the wall,
while Whitney arose and dressed, then compelled Whit-
ney to accompany them. They took him through the
town of Gem, and when he reached the outskirts of
the village he probably sought to escape by flight,
whereupon a number of shots were fired and he fell
wounded. He was discovered a little later by a man
entering the town, and eventually conveyed to Provi-
dence hospital. Examination proved that he had been
shot through the right thigh, the bullet entering from
behind. The limb was amputated ; the man could not
stand the shock, and on Christmas day he died. He
was a member in good standing of a Montana miners'
union. The perpetrators of the foul deed escaped ar-
rest and punishment, though rewards aggregating $17.-
000 were offered for their apprehension and convic-
tion.
In the mines the year 1897 was one of progress and
prosperity, as appears from the following review from
the Wallace Press of December 29th :
The year 1897 now drawing to a close lias been a most
prosperous one for the Coeur d'Alenes, few regions in the
world showing as decided a move forward and none having
brighter prospects for the year about to be born. At the
present rate of production practically one-half of the lead
product of the United States comes from the northern end
of Shoshone county, and the gold, silver and antimony are
worth little, if any, less than the lead.
The commencement of the prosperous times antedates the
beginning of 1S97, although the greatest strides were made
during the year. When the Tiger- Poorman concentrator
burned, March 17. 1896, it looked as though a hard blow
was struck to the silver-lead belt. The mine wa
down 1.200 feet and was the most expensive one in tin-
district to operate. For weeks it was doubted if the com-
pany would rebuild, in spite of assurances that it would.
When work did begin on the new concentrator larger and
better than the old one. the world knew that the people who
knew the country best had faith in it, and money cautiously
commenced to look for an investment here, and when, in
November, a foreign syndicate sought a controlling interest
in the Helena-Frisco at a price approximating $1,500,000, we
realized that better times were coming, although there could
be no marked change until spring opened. That we were
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
not deceived in this the following summary, necessarily brief,
shows, although many of the minor improvements cannot now
be recalled.
The Helena-Frisco, in accordance with the policy of the
new owners, closed down on the last day of 1896, and until
July employed from 60 to 100 men doing development work
and adding new machinery and additions to the concentrator.
When it was ready to start it had one of the finest plants
ever erected, to which further additions have since been
made. Since starting it has run steadily, averaging about
100 tons of concentrates daily, requiring the labor of 150 men.
The Standard has had its output reduced by serious caves
in the mine some three months ago, but still stands at the
head of the Coeur d'Alenc mines in the value of its product.
Normally it employs from 160 to 175 men, but at present
employing two-thirds that number.
The Mammoth employs .So men. During the summer the
company leased the old Milwaukee null and doubled its out-
put. It is still shipping a large percentage of crude ore, con-
centrated by nature
The Tiger- Poorman did not start its mill until nearly the
end of 1896, since which time it has been operated continu-
ously. One hundred and forty men are employed in turning
out from 60 to 75 tons of concentrates daily.
The Formosa company completed its new mill in the
spring and ran it until two car loads of concentrates were
turned' out. Considerable trouble was experienced with the
machinery. The company was organized late in the summer
and a new tunnel started at the mill level. The mill has
been shut down until next winter.
Development work still continues steadily on the Hecla
and Hercules.
Never before has there been such activity in the Sunset
and Nine Mile district, the property owners there realizing
tliat if a railroad was to come to them it must come because
they showed sufficient ore to justify it. Development work
proceeds vigorously on the Colwyn group, now owned by the
Lenox Lead and Silver Mining Company, the Father lode, the
Chloride Queen Mining Company's claims, Amazon, Man-
hattan Fraction, Blue Grouse, Custer, Granite, Black Cloud,
which was sold during the fall to E. S. McGraw, of New
York state, Atlantic claims, Yellow Jacket, Panhandle and
Contact.
Around Mullan there has never been so good a year for
Larson & Greenbough, owners of the'Morning and *o.
mines. Nearly $100,000 has been spent in improvements on
the mill, railroad and mines and the product has shown a
continuous increase, until the output is from 2,500 to 3,000
tons of concentrates each month. The pay roll carries from
200 to 250 names. The Hunter met with a serious loss in
July, its mill being destroyed by fire. A few men are now
doing development work and a new mill will be built early
in the spring.
At Wardner the Bunker Hill and Sullivan has run stead-
ily during the year, except a short shut-down of two weeks
111 August, employing between 300 and 400 men. About
5300,000 has been spent in improvements, chief among which
is the largest air compressor plant in the Northwest. The
Last Chance lias from 100 to 125 men working steadily. An
important event this year was the bonding of the Nabob Min-
ing .Company's property to F. S. McGraw. A new mill
employing new methods was built for the Antimony mine, em-
ploj ing 20 men.
The gold belt was not behind in the march of progress.
Old properties were successful and new ones came to the
front. Lack of transportation facilities was severely felt,
but with better concentration of the base_ ore several new
mills were added, particularly at the opening of the galena
belt at the head of Pricbard creek. The tonnage was greatly
increased and before long the canyons of the north side will
echo to the locomotive.
The vear 1898 was one of uninterrupted prosperity
in the Coeur d'Alene mining country, and in all other
parts of the county. From official and semi-official
sources the Wallace Press compiled the following -sta-
tistics of outputs of the silver-lead district, the figures
representing tons of concentrates, except where other-
wise stated : Bunkei Hill & Sullivan Mining & Milling
Company, 26,400; Helena-Frisco Mining Company,
.22,550; Morning Mining Company, 16.280; Consoli-
dated Tiger-Poorman Mining Company, 15,350; Stand-
ard Mining Company, 13,460; Empire State- Idaho,
0,650; Mammoth Mining Company, 7,000; Milwaukee
Mining Company (lessees), 850; Hecla Mining Com-
pany, 300 ; Blake Brothers, at Osburn, ore, 100 ; Col-
wyn Alining Company, ore, 60; miscellaneous, crude
ore and concentrates, 500. Figuring 60 per cent, lead
and 35 ounces of silver a ton, the Press estimates the
value of this product at $12,400,000, one-fourth of
which went to labor, one-fourth for freights and
smelter charges, one-fourth for supplies and develop-
ments and most of the remainder to stockholders.
The outbreak of the Spanish-American war was
the occasion for an ebullition of patriotic fervor in
Shoshone county, as elsewhere, and the sons of the
Coeur d'Alenes were ready and anxious to bear their
part in the conquering to their country of a glorious
peace. Tbe Bunker Hill & Sullivan Mining Company
encouraged enlistment among its employes by giving
each one who enrolled for service under the Stars and
Stripes $100 in money and assurances of employment
on his return. The roster of Company F, made up al-
most entirely of Shoshone county men, is as follows :
Company F. — Officers : M. J. Link, captain ; Edgar
T. Hawley, first lieutenant; Isaac M. Busby, second
lieutenant; Alfred J. Dunn, first sergeant; A. H. Rom-
bo, quarter-master-sergeant ; Louis H. Pohle, Thomas
Proctor, Abel R. Knight, Arthur Brown, sergeants;
William S. Smith, Louis B. Beach, Ira S. Milton, Will-
iam A. Walker, Bernard Maxwell, John H. Reed, Fred
C. Skinner, corporals: William J. Buckley, musician;
William G. Kuch, artificer : Gus Becker, wagoner.
Privates: Charles Banky, John C. Bargfield, Al-
bert Burke, Amos D. Burrowsr Fred C. Conklin, Will-
iam Cuffe, Fred L. Fetterly, Peter Ghigliere, Iver
L. W. Griaff, Charles Hartinger, Hugh Hutchinson,
Felix Kcenan, M. W. Koskela, Enoch S. Koth, Charles
S. Lamb, Paul T. Larsen, Robert Lent, Henry Levy,
William H. Luddv, G. Mayiand, Napoleon Martel, F.
Manson, Archie McDonald, Edward H. Parks, John
H. Reynolds, Henrv R. Snider, Bruce Southern, Alex-
ander Steadman, Neil Strom, Marcus B. White, Frank
E. Wood, Fred Worley, Ugile Young.
Discharged : William J. Kipp, first lieutenant, July
31, 1899; Peter R. Nelson, July 30, 1899; Orin Smith,
corporal, July 28, 1899; Stanley Hills, musician, July
2S, 1899; John Anderson, July 23, 1890; Mead Barr,
November 8, 1898; George Babcock, July 15. [899;
Prank Bennefield, July — , 1899; Orville V. Brown,
July 12, 1899; Morris Carlson, July 15. 1899; Jasper
D. Carter, July — , 1899; Charles C. Chambers. July
8, 1899; Thomas Clagett, July 29, 1899; Beinard Dil-
lon, December 28, 1898; Charles Gabriel. July 29,
[899: < ,eorge Lester, July 27, 1899; T. B. Louney,
October 21,, 1898; John C. McBride, December 14,
1898; David McEwen, July 15, 1899; William H.
Moss, September 21, 1898; William Munson, January
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
25, 1899; James Patterson, July 29, 1899; Robert Per-
cival, ; Isaac Peterson, July 15, 1899; Will-
iam Siebert, July 15. 1899; James Whalen, April 23,
1899; Eugene E. White, July — , 1899.
Transferred: William C. Field, to hospital corps;
Harry Hood, to hospital corps; Isaac Troutman. to
hospital corps.
Wounded: Louis B. Beach, in action, February
5, 1899; Hugh Hutchinson, in action, June 6, 1899;
Enoch S. Koth, in action, February 5, 1899; Charles
S. Lamb, in action, February 24, 1899.
Dead : William D. Gillespie, quartermaster ser-
geant, Manila, P. I., December 1, 1898; Charles F.
O'Donnell, musician, Manila, P. L, October 15, 1898;
Adolph Agidius, Manila, P. I., February 23, 1899;
William Beaushene, Manila, July 24, 1899.
Organized at Wardner, Shoshone county, Idaho;
mustered into United States service at Camp Steven-
son, Boise, Idaho, May 7, 1898.
Battles and engagements: With Spanish forces,
assault and capture of Manila, August 13, 1898; with
Filipino insurgents, Santa Ana, February 4-5, 1899;
Caloocan, February 10, 1899 ; Malabon Road, Febru-
ary 11, 1899; Santa Cruz expedition, April 8-17, 1899,
including engagement in front of the city, April 9th,
and battle of Santa Cruz, April 10th.
Mustered out of service at the Presidio, San Fran-
cisco, California, September 25, 1899.
During the early months of 1899 all the indications
pointed toward a season of unusual prosperity in the
south fork mines, but in April clouds began to gather,
and before the month was past an event occurred which
greatly disturbed conditions, materially reducing the
output of the mines for the year. It cannot be denied
that ever since the trouble in 1892 a fight was waged
between union and non-union labor, and that either as
incidents of that struggle or on account of the bitter-
ness engendered by it in the minds of hot-headed and
evil-disposed individuals, several outrages were com-
mitted, one of the most heinous of which was the mur-
der of John Kneebone, on July 3, 1894, and the ex-
pulsion from the country of Superintendent R. K. Neil,
Foreman Crumer, Frank Higgins and Charles West.
It is claimed that some forty men participated in this
crime.
This trouble was brought to a crisis when, on April
23, a demand was made upon the Bunker Hill & Sulli-
van Company by a committee representing the Wardner
miners' union that wages should be increased to $3.50
lor all underground men and that the union should be
recognized. Frederick Burbige, manager of the com-
pany, to whom this committee applied, said he would
submit the matter to other officers of the company. The
company agreed to increase the wages of all laborers
from $2.50 to $3 and of miners from $3 to $3.50 a
day, but the union men nevertheless went out on a
strike. On the 26th the company's tramway was in the
hands of a body of armed men from 10 o'clock in the
morning to 10 o'clock in the evening. It was testified
to afterward in the trial of Paul Corcoran that men on
their way to work were at different times stopped and
turned back after the strike had been declared.
In the same trial it was also testified thai masked
men took possession at Gem of the train from Burke
on April 29th; that they compelled the mi
back the train to the Frisco powder house, where sixty
or seventy-five boxes of giant powder were loaded in
one of the box cars. The train then went to Wallace.
Failing to get running orders there it went on to Ward-
ner anyway, going over the O. R. & N. tracks. It was
testified that a number of men from Mullan got on
the train at Wallace, also that a number from Wardner
met the train a mile out from that town and boarded
it, the engineer having been ordered to stop for tin 111.
It was estimated that by the time these men reached
the Bunker Hill mill there were about a thousand i>f
them, three hundred of whom were masked and armed.
In a few minutes several hundred pounds of powder
were placed under the mill and it was completely de-
stroyed. Witnesses say there were three distinct ex-
plosions.
'"After the terrific shock of the last explosion had
died away in the distant mountains," says the Idaho
State Tribune, "an ominous stillness of a few minutes
followed. The delegation from Canyon creek and Mul-
lan, together with a large portion of the people from
Wardner, were either on or about the train, which con-
sisted of nine cars and two engines. Winchesters and
revolvers were everywhere in evidence. The silence
was broken by a single shot from a Winchester from
some person on top of the cars, followed b- a deafen-
ing fusillade. For five minutes the rattle of musketry
was incessant. It was evident, however, from the be-
ginning of the firing that no harm was intended ; that
the men were simply celebrating the victory they had
secured in the destruction of the Bunker Hill concen-
trator. In the midst of the firing the engines gave the
starting signal and the train moved slowly toward
Wallace, but when about one-half mile from Wardner
was stopped, it being claimed that 75 of the Canyon
creek and Mullan delegation were left at Wardner.
The train slowly backed down to the depot again, and
quite a few more boarded the cars, when it proceeded
on its way to Wallace."
During the excitement subsequent to the blowing
up of the mill, John Smythe, a miner at the Frisco
mine, was shot and killed; James Cheyne, a vanner at
the Bunker Hill mill, was shot through the hip so that
he afterward died, and R. R. Rogers, stenographer for
the Bunker Hill Company, was wounded. It has been
claimed that Smythe was killed purposely by union
men because he was suspected of being a traitor and
spy ; and it was on a charge of having murdered
Cheyne that Paul Corcoran was tried in the district
court of Shoshone county. Incidentally it may be
stated that the trial resulted in a conviction of murder
in the second degree, and that Corcoran was sentenced
to seventeen years' imprisonment in the state peni-
tentiary.
Of' course martial law followed close upon these
warlike events. The governor at once appealed to the
president to call forth the military forces of the Fnited
States to assist in establishing and maintaining order.
The request was complied with and General Merriam,
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
then at Denver, Colorado, ordered to the scene. Nu-
merous arrests were made and the large body of pris-
oners taken into custody on suspicion of being impli-
cated in the blowing "up of the Bunker Hill mill
were confined in a temporary prison which later be-
came popularly known as the "bull pen." All who
were merely charged with minor offenses were in time
released, the county deeming itself unable to individually
try so many different persons, and most of those
charged with major offenses escaped and could not
again be apprehended. Paul Corcoran, however, was
tried for murder, of which he was convicted in the sec-
ond degree, as heretofore stated. He has since been
pardoned.
So many bitter complaints were made against the
soldiers under General Merriam, the treatment of the
prisoners, and the actions of both state and federal
officers, that January 8, igoo, an amended resolution
was passed in the national congress referring the mat-
ter to the full investigation of the committee on Mili-
tary Affairs. As this resolution furnishes a concise
outline of the various charges and complaints, it is
here set forth in extenso:
Whereas it is a matter of general information given out
by the public press and charged by the industrial organization
known as the Western Federation of Miners that United
States troops have been sent into the state of Idaho in de-
fiance of and contrary to the provisions of Article IV, section
4, of the constitution of the United States, in that it was
done at the individual request of the governor of Idaho,
without the authority of the legislature, and at a time when
there was no condition of insurrection or riot, and when
the legislature could have been called together without danger
or delay from any source whatever; and, further, without
even consultation by the governor with the sberiff of Shoshone
county, where it was desired that the troops should be, and
actually were, sent; and
Whereas, in defiance of section 9. article 1, of the con-
stitution, martial law was declared and the writ of habeas
corpus suspended in said county in a time of profound peace,
when there was no condition or rebellion or invasion or any
menace to the public safety ; and
Whereas, it is charged that Brig. Gen. H. C. Merriam,
commanding the troops in Shoshone county, arbitrarily and
without warrant of law, without informing the accused of
the charge upon which they were arrested, and in defiance
of the sixth amendment to the constitution, arrested and
imprisoned hundreds of citizens of the United States and of
the state of Idaho, and held them prisoners under the most
brutal and tyrannical condition--, denying to them their con-
stitutional right to speedy trial by an impartial jury of the
state, which right the constitution clearly guarantees; and
Whereas it is charged that the said Brig. Gen. II. C.
Merriam did, in defiance of and contrary to the provisions
of the fourth amendment of the constitution, subject the
persons, houses, papers and effects of citizens to unreasonable
and arbitrary search and seizure ; and
Whereas it is charged that the said military commander
arbitrarily and in defiance of the civil law. ordered the arrest
of the sheriff of the county and the board of county com-
missioners, and subsequently deposed them from office on the
improved pretext of neglect of duty ; and
Whereas it is charged that the said Brigadier-General
Merriam. immediately upon the arrival of the troops, ordered
the arrest of every man who was a member of the miners'
union, and also of all citizens who were supuposed to sympa-
thize with the cause of organized labor ; and
Whereas it is charged that those citizens were imprisoned
in what was known as the "bull pen," a place unfit for human
habitation, and that so brutal and degrading was the treat-
ment inflicted on these prisoners by Brigadier-General Mer-
riam and the United States troops under his orders that one
unfortunate man became insane, and upon being taken to the
county jail he broke from his guards and jumped into the
river, and a negro soldier, at the command of the Bunker Hill
Mining Company's doctor, fired three shots at him, and he
was dragged from the river dead, and that another unfortu-
nate prisoner, dying in the "bull pen," begged for a priest,
and his dying request was denied; and
Whereas the imprisoned citizens were denied opportunity
to confer with their counsel or members of their families
and were denied the right of speedy and impartial trial, were
held in this vile and inhuman imprisonment for several,
months without charge or indictment against them, although
two sessions of the grand jury were held in the meantime,
and during their confinement were treated by the officers and
soldiers of the United States army as convicted felons and
compelled to work at penal employment; were subjected to
cruel and degrading punishments, such as being compelled to
sleep on bare boards, placed on a diet of bread and water for
ten days, and compelled to stand erect seven hours each day
in the hot sun under penalty of death if they attempted to
move or sit down (these two latter unlawful punishments
were inflicted upon them by the orders of Captain Edwards,
United States army, who amused himself by calling the pris-
oners "cowardly curs") ; and
Whereas it is charged that by the use of the military-
power the writ of habeas corpus was suspended for months
in Shoshone county, and the right of free speech, free press
and 'peaceable assemblages were denied to the peaceable citi-
zens of that community without any excuse or justification
whatever ; and
Whereas when the Industrial Commission sat in Wallace
all union men who had long been residents of the county were
in the "bull pen," and had no opportunity to appear before the
commission ; others were arrested while on their way to Wal-
lace to appear before the commission ; and thrown into the
"bull pen" until after the commission had adjourned; and
Whereas it is charged that the following proclamation,
in gross violation of the constitution of the United States
and of the constitution and statutes of the state of Idaho, was
issued and enforced by Brigadier-General Merriam, to-wit :
"PROCLAMATION.
"Whereas the following notice has been served upon the
mine owners of Shoshone county by the duly constituted
state authorities, by whom martial law has been declared,
to-wit :
"'To the mine owners of Shoshone county:
" 'Certain organizations or combinations existing in Sho-
shone county have shown themselves to be criminal in purpose,
inciting and. as organizations, procuring property to be de-
stroyed and murders to be committed, by reason whereof it
has been twice necessary to declare' martial law in Shoshone
ci unity.
" 'You are therefore notified that the employment of men
belonging to said or other criminal organizations during the
continuance of martial law must cease. In case this direc-
tion is not observed your mines will be closed.'
"Therefore, in order to carry into effect the spirit of the
foregoing notice and restore the industries of the district
as far as possible, it becomes necessary to establish a system
by vyhich miners who have not participated in the recent acts
of violence, and who are law-abiding people, may obtain work,
and that order and peace may be established, the following
is promulgated for the guidance of all mine owners and em-
ployers in the arfected district:
"All parties applying for underground work in any of the
following mines will be required to obtain from Dr. Hugh
France, the duly appointed anl authorized agent for the state
of Idaho for this purpose, or his deputy, at Wardner or at
Wallace, a permit authorizing said person to seek employ-
ment in any of the following mines : Bunker Hill and Sulli-
van. Last Chance, Empire State-Idaho, Consolidated Tiger
and Poorman, Hecia. Mammoth, Standard. Helena-Frisco,
Gem. Morning, Hunter, and such others as may be hereafter-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1013
included in the above list. Parties applying for such permits
must be prepared: First, to den) all participation in the
riots of April 20, 1899, in Shoshone county, and, second, to
denv or renounce membership in any society which has in-
cited, encouraged or approved of said riots or other violation
of public law.
"Mine owners must refuse employment to all applicants
for underground work who do not present a duly signed per-
mit authorizing the same. Such permit will be deposited in
mine owners' office subject to periodical inspection.
"All parties now under employment by any of the mines
above named will be required to procure, within ten days
from this date, the permits above referred to as a condition
to their remaining in the service of their respective com-
panies.
"By order of the governor and commander-in-chief.
"Bartlet Sinclair, State Auditor.
"Examined and approved:
"H. C. Merrjam,
Brigadier-General United States Army.
"Dated May 8, 1899.
"The application for permits to seek employment which
union men must sign is as follows:
" 'Application For Leave to Seek Employment in the
Mines of Shoshone County.
"'To Dr. Hugh France, State Representative.
" 'Sir : I hereby make application for issuance to me of
a permit allowing me to seek employment in the mines of
Shoshone county.
" 'I am a by occupation.
" T am a native of and am a citizen
of the United States.
" 'I last worked at the mine in .
" 'My shift boss was = .
" 'Heretofore I have been a member of Min-
ers' Union.
" T did not participate actively or otherwise in the riots
which took place at Wardner on the 29th of April, 1899.
Believing that the crimes committed at Wardner on said
date were actively incited, encouraged and perpetrated through
and by means of the influence and ^direction of the miners'
unions of the Coeur d Alenes. I hereby express my unquali-
fied disapproval of said acts, and hereby renounce and forever
abjure all allegiance to the said miners' union, of which I
was a former member, and T solemnly pledge myself to obey
the law and not to again seek membership in any society which
will encourage or tolerate any violation of law.
folic
' 'Dated tins dav of — , 1899.'
'The application which nonunion men must sign
" To Dr. Hugh France, State Representative.
"'Sir: I hereby make application for issuance to me of
a permit allowing me to seek employment in the mines of
Shoshone county.
" 'I am a by occupation.
" 'I am a native of and am a citizen
of the United States.
" T last worked at the mine in .
"'My shift boss was .
" 'I have not been for years a member of any
miners' union.
"'[ took no part, either actively or passively, in aiding,
assisting or encouraging the prepetration of the crimes com-
mitted at Wardner on the 20th of April, 1899.
" T solemnly pledge myself to obey the law.
" 'Dated this day of . 1899.'
"At this writing no union men are permitted to work in
the county: the meetings of the miners' unions are pro-
hibited ;" and
Whereas it is charged that during the months when a
great portion of the male citizens of Shoshone county were
thus unlawfully held in imprisonment bj the United States
troops the wives and families of the said citizens were sub-
jected t.i insult and outrage by the soldiers of the United
States stationed in that county; and
Whereas it is charged that the outrageous misuse of the
military power of the United States, hereinbefore mentioned,
was brought about at the instigation and 111 the interest of the
owners of the Bunker Hill and Sullivan mines, who. i) is
also charged, are the owners and manipulators of other simi-
lar trusts : and
Whereas said outrages above described, as perpetrated
by tlie United States army and its officers, are an intolerable
abuse of the right of citizens and a dire menace to the perpe-
tuity of free institutions and the liberty of citizens: Therefore,
Resolved, That the charges herein preferred be referred
to the Committee on .Military Affairs for a thorough and
complete investigation, to determine their truth or falsity;
and said committee shall have the power to send 1
and papers and examine witnesses on oath in relation to the
subject-matter of this resolution.
After an investigation lasting front February 20,
icjoo, to May 8, 1900, in the course of which thirty-
five sworn witnesses gave testimony and various docu-
ments and exhibits were examined, the committee to
which the resolutions were referred prepared an ex-
haustive report. It reviewed each charge in the reso-
lution, and its findings in brief were that none of the
"whereases" were sustained by the evidence. It is
but fair to state, however, that a minority report was
signed by seven members of the committee, namely:
William Sulzer, John L. Lentz, N. N. Cox, James Hay,
Thomas M. Jett, James L. Slayden and Robert F.
Eroussard, condemning the actions of the governor,
the president and General Merriam as in violation of
the rights of free American citizens, complaining that
persons were imprisoned without being charged with
any crime, and recommending the adoption of the fol-
lowing resolution :
"Resolved by the House of Representatives, That
the conduct of the president and of the military forces
of the United States in Shoshone county. Idaho, has
been reprehensible, violative of the liberty of the citi-
zen, and totally unwarranted by the laws and constitu-
tion of the United States."
It is needless to say that the disturbance of 1 rendi-
tions incident to the blowing up of the mine and the
imprisonment for months of a large number of men
had its' deterrent effect upon production, and that the
figures of the United States assay "trice at Bo
not as favorable to Shoshone county as the year be-
fore. However, the district recovered itself with rap-
idity and enjoyed a goodly measure of prosperity not-
withstanding this great misfortune. The leaders 0f the
disturbance were compelled to scatter to different parts
of the United States, leaving the Coeur d'Alene coun-
trv, and as the danger of trouble between employer and
employe has been greatly lessened by their departure,
the district is in a fair way to speedily make up for
losses sustained. It is to be hoped, and perhaps may
be reasonably expected, that the present harmonious
conditions in the district shall continue, and thai never
again shall the occasion arise in the Coeur dAlenes
for warfare between labor and capital — warfare which,
from the nature of things, must prove disastrous to the
interests of both belligerents. The effect of peace was
shown in the production of the year 1900, which, ac-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
cording to estimates probably correct, amounted to
Si 1.500.000. as against $6,500,00 the preceding year.
The author of this estimate, the Coeur d'Alene Mining
Journal, divides credit for this output among the dif-
ferent mines, as follows: Bunker Hill, Si, 750,000;
Standard. $1,600,000; Morning, $1,600,000; Frisco,
$1,350,0000; Tiger-Poorman, $1,350,000; Empire
State, $1,250,000; Mammoth, $1,000,000; Hunter,
$525,000; Hecla, $500,000; Crown Point and Silver
King, $300,000; Sixteen to One, $150,000; north gold
belt mine-. $125,000.
Speaking of conditions in the north fork country,
the .Murray Sun of January 5, 1901, says:
"The chief industrial feature of the county during
the year 1900 was the absorption of nearly all the placer
ground on Prichard creek and its tributaries by the
Coeur d'Alene Mining Company, and the full payment
for all the claims. Perhaps nowhere else in the his-
tory of mining has a deal been perfected which em-
braced si many owners, or which distributed such large
sums to so many persons. Many of the claims had from
two to six owners, and these in the aggregate must
have footed up several hundred. Barry N. Hillard, the
company's manager, accomplished a tremendous under-
taking in bringing all of these claim owners to an har-
monious understanding, that a sale might be consum-
mated, and he did it in an incredibly short time.
"The large payments periodically, there being four
payments, and the gradual release of individual owner-
ship, changed the entire financial and industrial situa-
tion. Old debts were paid, and money became abun-
dant, while all those who desired work, secured it at
ruling wages.
"The company, with remarkable energy, under the
general local management of Mr. Hillard, installed a
hydraulic elevator, put surveyors in the field, bought
and located water rights, commenced the construction
of ditches and flumes, repaired the huge pipe line, built
trails and roads, put in a sawmill, started bedrock
drains, built a new creek channel and allowed not an
hour to go to waste. What would never have been
accomplished by individual effort is now being done by
the company. The progress already made justifies the
belief that placer mining on the most extended scale
may soon be expected. This prosperity will be further
enhanced by the splendid gold quartz prospects and the
developments in our silver-lead and copper districts."
Throughout the entire year 1001 quiet prevailed
and steadily the mines of the Coeur d'Alene poured
forth their wealth. Political interest this year centered
in the southern part of the county, which had con-
tinued to work for segregation and the formation of a
new county. The people of the north did not oppose
their wishes- on the contrary they were favorable to
tin organization of a new political entity, but there was
some opposition from Nez Perces county, a portion
of whi ise territory it was sought to take. Much of the
history of the short-lived Clearwater county, the pass-
age of the bill intended to create it and the litigation
which resulted in this bill's being held unconstitutional
has been detailed in connection with the history of Nez
Perces countv, included in this work. Before the fatal
supreme court decision was rendered the county was
organized and a session of the commissioners, lasting
fifteen days, was held. The board adjourned May 15th
to meet again the 20th of the same month, but the
second session was never held on account of the ad-
verse decision referred to.
A noteworthy event of the year 1901 was the exe-
cution at Boise of Edward Rice, convicted in a Sho-
shone county court of murder in the first degree. The
crime for which he suffered the supreme penalty was
die murder of Matthew Mailley, at Wallace, Septem-
ber 30th of the previous year. The motive was a base
one, and the evidence, though circumstantial, was so
clear that the jury found a verdict in thirteen minutes.
By appeals, the condemned man's attorneys delayed
his execution more than a year. He was hanged No-
vember 30th. There have been numerous homicides
in Shoshone county, but this was the first and only in-
stance where a man convicted of such crime suffered
death. Many of -those accused of taking human life
have been exonerated on the plea of self-defense, some
have been sent to the penitentiary, and one escaped
execution because death claimed him before the date
set.
The annals of the year were darkened by a foul
murder at Mace on November nth, when Eugene
Klein, time keeper at the Standard, came to his death
at the hands of C. E. Shuff, a miner, who had been
;n the employ of the company but was laid off. Shuff
came armed to the office of his victim and demanded
a time check. Henry Lippert, who was with Klein
at the time of Shuff's entrance, was forced to leave
the room. As he retired he heard a shot and a scream.
Forthwith Shuff passed him in retreat, using some
threatening language. Lippert informed Superinten-
dent Moffitt of the shooting; the latter gathered a posse
and set out in pursuit, eventually capturing the fugi-
tive.
It was found on investigation that Klein had been
shot in the back, the ball striking the lower part of the
shoulder blade and emerging under the right nipple.
He never regained consciousness, though he survived
a short time.
Shuff, who was a Missourian, about twenty-four
years old, was tried in April, 10,02. convicted of mur-
der in the first degree and sentenced to death on June
24th. He took an appeal, however, and by dilatory
proceedings has prolonged his life to the present,
though he is still in custody.
The second month of the year 1902 brought one of
tlie worst disasters of its kind in the history of the
Coeur d'Alene. About three o'clock on the morning
of the 25th of February, the large two and a half
story frame structure on Canyon creek, belonging to
Milton Flohr. H. R. Allen, and the White &
Bender Company, and known as the Standard boarding
and lodging houses, were destroyed by fire. The resi-
dence of William Fletcher was also a total loss, having
been blown up by dynamite to prevent the flames from
reaching the Standard works. It is thought the fire
started in the men's drying room of the lodging house.
It spread with great rapidity, and in thirty minutes
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1015
had done its work of destruction. So swift were the
devouring flames that time was not given to arouse all
of the forty-seven men and the help asleep in the build-
ings, and J. W. Edwards, aged twenty-two ; R. D.
Mann, twenty-five; Eugene Bangs, twenty-one, and
M. T. Moore, forty-five, were burned to death. Dun-
can McCallum and John H. D. Bowhay were also so
badly burned that they died later at the hospital, mak-
ing the death list in this terrible holocaust number six
in all. Besides these the following were so badly in-
jured as to require hospital treatment : Thomas Yar-
brough and L. V. Eberhart, seriously burned ; Frank
Townsen, K. Mackenzie, Tom Bowers, R. I\. Brand,
B. J. Bond, John McAulift", J. C. McDonnell, John
Eckland and A. H. Adams, slightly. The only means
of exit from the building was a second story window,
eighteen feet above the ground, -and no doubt some
were wounded in the jump.
In industrial circles the year 1902 was quieter than
its predecessors, owing to troubles between mine own-
ers and the smelter trust. On this account the looked
for increase in the production over that of 1901 did
not materialize, though the differences were settled in
time to keep the output of the mines up to the average.
Whether on account of this difficulty or for some other
reason, there was some complaint among business men
in Mullan, Burke, Gem, Wardner and Wallace during
the summer and fall that trade was unusually dull.
Some of these men were inclined to blame the permit
system, which had been in vogue since the last labor
troubles, and which, they claimed, had a tendency
to keep married men out of the mines or at least to
deter them from bringing their families into the coun-
try. The permit system has since been abolished.
In August of the year under review a company of
Canyon creek and other mine owners was formed for
the purpose of buying out the holdings of farmers on
the rich bottom lands along the south fork, and these
lands were purchased and leased to their former own-
ers for a period of ninety-nine years. The object of
this was to avoid the litigation and trouble incident
to the fact that every flood carried tailings from the
mines over the land, utterly destroying its value for
agricultural purposes.
An exciting event of October, 1902, was the hold-
up on the second last day of that month, of one of
Glen McDonald's livery rigs, while it was conveying
Frank Watson, a mining man ; William Trout, of
Spokane ; W. F. Kuder and A. H. Blankerton, of Cleve-
land, Ohio, from Wallace to Murray. The scene of
the robbery was a point a quarter of a mile toward
Murray from Beaver station. The robber was masked
with a polka dot handkerchief, and he wore gunny
sacks on his feet, while in his hands were two mur-
derous, apparently brand new revolvers. Though evi-
dently a novice, he succeeded in compelling the men
to alight, take off their coats and vests and hand them
over. His crime was rewarded by thus securing $75
in money and watches. By hard begging Mr. Wat-
son prevailed upon the robber to give him back his
watch. The right man was never apprehended, though
two arrests on suspicion were made.
Early in the current year an event occurred in
the southern part of the county, which aroused the
people to a high pitch of excitement. In May fohn
J. McDonough was murdered from ambush in a most
brutal manner. Bis body was found by a young lad
named Amil Hendrickson. who had gone over 1. i
Donough's farm on a visit, lying in the road in front
of the house, by the side of the deceased's wagon and
team. Four builets had entered the body from" behind.
Suspicion of having committed the murder attached
to Frank Peters, who, it is claimed, had attempted
formerly to kill McDonough while the latter was plow-
ing in his garden. Jealousy is the supposed cause.
Posses have been out in search of Peters, but at this
date they have not yet been successful in apprehending
him.
So far southern Shoshone county has not yet at-
tained the boon of autonomy in local matters, though
it made anther effort therefor at the last meeting of
the legislature. It is, however, almost universally con-
ceded that this region cannot much longer be deprived
of the blessings it covets. It has been forging ahead
during the last few years at a rapid rate, and it needs
but the convenience of an efficient local government to
convert it into a prosperous, happy and contented com-
munity.
At this writing conditions in the Coeur d'Alene
country are quite favorable. All the mines are at work
in full blast ; the relations between the employers of
labor and their employees are, perhaps, as pleasant as
they have ever been in the district ; the wheels of in-
dustry are revolving steadily and the rate of output is
greater than ever before. In recent years the list of
producers have been swelled by the addition of one fa-
mous mine — the Hercules. It is said that new locations
of mining properties are being made at the rate of
about a thousand a year. Many skillful miners and
prospectors are at work developing these claims as
rapidly as circumstances and conditions will allow,
and it is no more than reasonable to expect that some
few of them will take their places with the great mines
which have given the district fame throughout the en-
tire American Union. With a united people working
for the common good and with a common end in view,
that of garnering all the wealth of the district, we may
expect that the country, already so prominent among
the mining regions of the world, will more than double
its output, and assume a place of still greater import-
ance as a contributor to the wealth of mankind.
In closing this general review of events in Shoshone
county, it is fitting to refer to an exceedingly pleasant
occurrence of recent date, the reception of President
Roosevelt during his two hours' stay in the central city
of the Coeur d'Alenes. Special trains brought crowds
of people to the scene and it was estimated that by
7:30 o'clock on the morning of the 26th of May, the
dav of his advent into the town, ten thousand people
had assembled to greet him. When the train arrived
every effort was made to do fitting honor to the dis-
tinguished guest, the school children, it is said, strew-
ing" his pathway with bouquets of flowers.
As fitting souvenirs of the occasion the president
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
was presented with a pyramid paper weight made of
lead, copper, silver and gold nuggets from the great
mines of the district, also a bar of pure gold from the
Golden Chest mine at Murray. The large flag floating
proudly over the platform on which the president stood
as he made his timely speech to the citizens gathered
to greet him was said to be the first Union flag un-
furled in this county, having floated upon the breezes
which blew in 1865. It had been sent to Wallace for
the occasion by I. B. Covven, chairman of the county
commissioners.
It is to be hoped that the destiny of this county and
this great mining district may be wrought out in future
in strict harmony with the sentiments expressed by the
closing words of the president's speech. After briefly
referring to the qualities of good citizenship, he said :
"There are two attributes of which as a people we
need to beware more than any of the others ; the arro-
gance which looks down on those not so well off and
treats them with brutal and selfish disregard for their
interests, and the equally base spirit of envy, hatred and
rancor for those that are better off. Either spirit is
utterly un-American, utterly alien to our institutions,
utterly alien to the spirit shown alike by the men who
founded this republic and the men who under the lead
of Abraham Lincoln saved and perpetuated the repub-
lic ; the men who in the Civil war established once for
all in this country the principle that we are a union
in fact as well as in name, and that this is a govern-
ment not of license, but of liberty under and through
the law. The worst foe to American institutions, to
American life, is the man who seeks to cause hatred
and distrust between one body of Americans and any-
other body of Americans. It is just as base no matter
whether the appeal is made to inflame section against
section, creed 'against creed, or class against class; in
any event the appeal is unworthy of American institu-
tions and if listened to will hurt none so much as those
who pay heed to it.
"Any man who endeavors to make you do wrong
under the plea that it is in your interest to follow him
in doing wrong will do wrong to you if the oppor-
tunity arises. The only safe principle upon which to
act is in accordance with the immutable law of de-
cency and fair dealing, to give each man a chance,
to give one man the same justice that you give to any
other, to draw the line not between one class and an-
other on artificial grounds, not between rich man and
poor man, but between the man who is straight and the
man who is crooked, without any reference to whether
one be rich or one be poor. That is the only ground
upon which you can afford to act."
CHAPTER IV.
POLITICAL.
Although Shoshone county was created as early as
1858, a county government does not appear to have
been organized until after the discovery of the Oro
Fino mines, and the settlement of that region. As
noted elsewhere in this work, the county's population
increased from a mere handful of people in i860 to
several thousand in the summer of 1861, necessitating
tlu- immediate organization of a local government.
Thus, in pursuance of the requirements of law, an
election was held July 8, 1861, the only record of
which is as follows :
"f, (ieorge Galbreath, county auditor within and
for Walla Walla county, do hereby certify that the
following named citizens were duly elected to the
several offices set opposite their respective names, in
and for Shoshone county, said territory, by the quali-
fied votes thereof, at the annual election held in and
for said county, July 8, 1861 :county commissioners,
J. Tudor, W. Cardwell, J. C. Griffin; probate judge,
D. M. lessee; sheriff, R. L. Gillespie; auditor, E. L.
Bradley; treasurer. L. H. Coon; assessor, H. ML Bell-;
coroner, D. Bell : constable, Yamastram ( F.
M. Van Nostron). Dated August 20, 1861."
A majority of these men accepted the honor con-
ferred upon them, and forthwith entered upon the
administration of their duties. However, as might be
expected, the quest for gold was far more alluring
than office holding, consequently the membership of
Shoshone county's official family was constantly
changing. Among those who served the county in
an official capacity in 1 861 and in the spring of 1862,
we find, besides those already mentioned, the follow-
ing: J. B. Buker, E. Kinsey, E. B. Stone, D. M.
Boon, George McCully, William James, Thomas
Stringham, Levi Anderson, justices of the peace;
Neil McCHnchey, William Atlee, treasurers; D. H.
Brown, D. M. Boon, Thomas Stringham, S. Leonard,
Charles J. Marvin, Stephen Jewett, county commis-
sioners ; J. IS. Buker, coroner ; Israel Mitchell, survey-
or; J. P. Butler, auditor; J. M. Moore, prosecuting
attorney; Stanford Capps, assessor.
The first regular term of county commissioners'
court opened Monday, September 2, 1861, every mem-
ber being present. After effecting an organization the
board at once proceeded to establish three precincts,
Pierce City, ( )ro Fino and Elkton. The boundaries of
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1017
the first named precinct were fixed as follows : "All
of that portion of Shoshone county north of a line
running due east and west and crossing the Oro Fino
creek about one mile southeast of the town of Pierce
City, at a point near the mouth of what is known as
the canal gulch on the west side of said Oro Fino
creek." The boundaries of Oro Fino precinct were :
"On the north by the Pierce City precinct, on the
south by the south fork of the Clearwater and on the
east by the boundary line of Shoshone county." There
is no mention of a western boundary. Elkton pre-
cinct was made to include all the territory in the coun-
ty bounded "on the south by Snake river, on the
north and west by the south fork of the Clearwater
and on the east by the boundary line of Shoshone
county."
( >n this same day the board, or court, decided up-
on the following official ferry rates for crossing Snake
river : wagon, carriage and other vehicle with ani-
mals, $1.50; pleasure wagon with two horses, $1.50;
additional animals, 25 cents each ; cart, wagon or car-
riage with one horse, 75 cents ; man and horse, 50
cents ; each animal and packhorse, 50 cents ; footman,
25 cents ; loose animal, other than sheep, goats or hogs,
10 cents; sheep, hogs and goats, 15 cents. The ferry
rates for crossing the Clearwater were made consider-
ably lower than those for crossing the Snake.
After fixing the assessment rate at five mills for
all purposes and providing that liquor dealers in the
county should pay the county license of $300 per
annum, the court adjourned to meet in special ses-
sion September 10th. Nothing of special importance
came before the court at this special session, or at
special sessions held on October 7th and 28th.
The discovery of the Forence mines in the south-
ern portion of the county, led the county court, on
January 3, 1862, to create Florence precinct, to which
they gave the following boundaries: "All of that sec-
tion of country west of the dividing ridge between the
south fork of Clearwater and Snake rivers and run-
ning east to the summit of the Rocky mountains."
Thomas Stringham was appointed as the first justice
of the peace in this precinct. A glance at the map
of Idaho will give the reader an excellent idea of the
immensity of this precinct and of the dim conception
which the commissioners had of the region around
them.
At the May term the county court took up the mat-
ter of arranging for a permanent courthouse, a build-
ing of great need, as heretofore the county had been
paying out considerable money,, in rent. Sheriff Gil-
lespie was appointed to draft the plans and Charles
|. Marvin and S. F. Leonard were appointed to se-
cure a site in Pierce City, where a majority of the
sessions had been held. On Tune 7th, the commission-
ers, Stephen Jewett. S. F. Leonard and Charles I.
Marvin, accepted the bid of K. C. Reed and W. Keith
to build a courthouse and jail at Pierce City for $3,700
in county scrip. This building was completed in Aug-
ust and accepted by the county. It served as a court-
house until the removal of the county seat to Murray,
in 1884, when it was sold to Edward Hammond for
less than $75.
Through the creation of Idaho and Xez Perces
counties in December, 186 1, Shoshone county lost two
of its largest precincts, leaving only five, Pierce City,
Oro Fino, Rhodes creek, Placer Flat and Lone Tree.
Election day fell on July 14th. The official returns
are as follows : For representatives, S. S. Slater, A.
B. Andrews, James ( )rr. Unionists, 282, 262, and 268
votes respectively, J. M. Murphy, E. 1'. Bostwick, M.
S. Winkle, Democrats, 164, 137 and 170 votes re-
spectively; county commissioners, S. F. Leonard, D.
M. Fraser, S. Jewett, Unionists, 231. 268 and 279
votes respectively, A. Former, D. Litton and James
Bowers. Democrats, 148, 128 and votes respec-
tively; treasurer, William A. Atlee. Unionist, 292,
J. P. Butler, Democrat, 132; auditor. I'. S. Black,
Unionist, 259, A. Thompson, Democrat. 167 ; assessor,
Stanford Capps, Unionist, 331, ( '.. F. Pearson, Demo-
crat, 94; probate judge, William James, Unionist,
204, |esse Bond, Democrat, 180; prosecuting attorney,
H. Martin, Unionist, 269, J. H. Parker, Democrat,
j 62; coroner, G. R. Sheldon, Unionist, 273, John Cain,
Democrat, 133. Lone Tree precinct did not cast a
single vote for a Democrat. Strangely enough there
appears to have been no contest for the office of sheriff,
R. L. Gillespie being allowed to retain office without
rivalry.
Several resignations were accepted by the board in
the course of the next few months, among them the
resignation of Sheriff Gillespie, who was succeeded by
Thomas Cann and he by W. A. Busey ; that of Com-
missioner Jewett, succeeded by Ed. Harris; that of
Commissioner Leonard, who was succeeded by Sam-
uel Ramsay and Ramsay in turn by J. M. Merrill;
then Harris resigned and was succeeded by William
A. Goulder; Capps resigned the assessorship and
Robert McCullough took the office for a short time,
resigning in April, 1863. Then for a time the county
organization virtually went to pieces, nearly all of the
officers resigning. Several of them, including Fraser
and Harris, donated their salaries to the treasury.
The report of the auditor on March 9, 1863, shows that
the county had issued up to that time $8,834.32 in
scrip, of which $3,013.20 was for building the court-
house and jail; that of this amount $5,845.47 was >'et
unpaid. .
The reason for this almost total dissolution ot tlie
countv is to be found in the phenomenal growth of
the Florence, Elk City. Warren and Montana mining
districts, which drew awav thousands from the Pierce
City district. It would be impossible to accurately
enumerate the different men who were appointed and
resigned offices at this period of the county s history,
but "among them we find J. M. Carpenter, commis-
sioner- William N. Hudson, auditor; John B. Lauck
auditor; E. B. Stone, prosecuting attorney; Elijah
Davidson, sheriff; Levi Ankeny, treasurer; S. M.
Stout assessor; George Moeller, justice of the peace;
I. B.' Cowan, justice of the peace; E. K. Davidson,
coroner; X. M. Pratt, sheriff.
HISTORY OF NORTH TDAHO.
The election of 1864 was held October 10th. There
were only two precincts in the county. Pierce City and
Oro Fino. The polls in the former precinct were
opened at the Pioneer hotel ; in the latter, at Gram's
drug store. As Idaho territory was not created until
1863, this was the first election held under Idaho laws.
The vote cast at this election follows : For delegate,
Samuel C. Parks. 80. E. D. Holbrook, 39; represent-
ative. William A. Goulder, 72, J. H. Parker, 52; terri-
torial auditor, B. F. Lambkin, 75, William McDaniels,
53 ; territorial treasurer, Charles D. Yajen, 54, M.- A.
Kelly, 54; superintendent public instruction, D. M.
Walters, 72, A. Benedict, 35 ; probate judge, Samuel
Ramsay, 67, David Elliott, 38, L. Reed, 8; commis-
sioners. D. M. Eraser, 107, Samuel Walker, 54. Will-
iam B. Perry, 62, William A. Goulder, 48, D. H.
Jaume, 62; treasurer. Levi Ankeny, 110; auditor, John
B. Lauck, j$; sheriff, E. K. Davidson, 118; assessor,
S. K. Waymire, 66, Alexander Damas, 2; justice of
the peace, I. B. Cowan. 121 ; district attorney, *'■• M.
Pomeroy, 75, W. \V. Thayer. 40 ; constable, L. Reed,
41.
But before we enter deeper into the political his-
tory of Shoshone county, it will not be amiss to say
a few words regarding the pioneer district court of the
county. Not until Shoshone county became a politi-
cal division of Idaho territory was the first term of
court held, the day of opening being September 8,
1864, and the place Pierce City. Hon. Alexander C.
Smith, judge of the first Idaho district, presided, Levi
Ankeny was present as clerk, Sheriff E. K. Davidson
attended, and Thomas M. Reed was present in his
official capacity of prosecuting attorney. I. C. Hilde-
brand acted as bailiff. The grand jury consisted of
Francis Carroll, H. Nelson, A. G. Corbett. Jesse
Frickle, Frank Hawk, I. E. Clark, S. K. Waymire.
Samuel Gaton, Julius Mack. R. Filkins, Henrv Mvers,
D. Haneford, William Hackett, Ed. Chatfield,'L. Reed
and D. W. Carty.
There were no important criminal cases tried be-
fore this court ; in fact the session lasted only two days.
The most important jury case was that of John Pont-
ade versus C. Schwindson, Peter Dubaison and Peter
Manett, a suit brought for the recovery of money.
The petit jury comprised Rufus Hardy, foreman,
George Brown, Robert Walker, David Bassey, Peter
Eddy, E. C. Rose, T. Lodgdson, Thomas Giles, Peter
Fisher, Samuel Savers, John Straw, and Samuel White.
The plaintiff was awarded $350 and costs. Shoshone
county was not again visited by a judge until June 27,
r868, when Milton Kelly held one day's court at Pierce
City. At this term no jury was called. When one con-
siders the isolation of this mining district and the law-
lessness which generally prevails in mining camps,
Shoshone county has reason to feel proud of its pioneer
miners. Of the pioneer lawyers who practiced in the
first courts we find the names of onlv E. B. Stone,
A. H. Colvin, Thomas M. Reed and W. A. George,
the two latter being prosecuting attorneys.
The result of the election held in 1866, as shown
by the records, was as follows : For delegate, J. M.
Kirkpatrick, Republcan. received 39 votes, E. D. Hol-
brook, Democrat, 27 votes ; for councilman, W. H.
Hudson, sole candidate, received 51 votes; for joint
councilman, C. T. Nelson, Republican, received 22
votes, I. K. Whitson, Democrat, 13 ; for superintendent
of public instruction. E. K. Davidson, Republican, re-
ceived 49 votes ; for representative in the legislature,
W. F. McMillen, Republican, received 49 votes ; for
sheriff, I. B. Cowan, Republican, received 66 votes;
for probate judge, B. F. Yantis, Democrat, received
50 votes ; for treasurer, G. W. Crampton, received
58 votes ; for auditor, John P. Lauck, Republican, re-
ceived 58 votes ; for assessor, S. K. Waymire, Demo-
crat, received 50 votes; and George Moeller, A. G.
Cowanson and Joseph Fettis were elected county com-
missioners, vote not given. As well be seen from the
foregoing, there was no special party strife, in most
cases only one candidate being nominated. Some of
the men elected served full terms, others resigned
shortly after being sworn in. As an illustration of the
unsettled condition of the county government, we find
that in September, 1867, Samuel Ramsay, C. T. Nel-
son and S. M. Stout were the county commissioners ;
A. T. Currier was county treasurer; and Stanford
Capps was prosecuting attorney.
When the annual election of 1868 came around,
the two precincts that Shoshone county formerly had,
were combined into one. The Democrats were vic-
torious in this county, capturing a majority of the
offices. J. K. Shafer, the Democratic candidate for
delegate to congress, received 44 votes, T. J. Butler,
the Republican candidate. 42 votes; S. S. Fenn, Demo-
crat, was given 44 votes for county attorney, while his
Republican opponent, W. A. George, received 3 votes
less ; for councilman, B. F. Yantis, Democrat, received
a majority of 19 votes over his opponent, W. Hudson,
who received thirty votes ; W. A. Goulder, Republi-
can, was chosen assemblyman, 49 votes being cast
for him and 34 for G. Trook, the Democratic candi-
date ; I. B. Cowan, the Republican nominee for sheriff,
received 54 votes, S. K. Waymire, his Democratic
opponent, only 28 votes ; B. Bowers was elected pro-
bate judge, receiving t8 votes, while C. Ewing, Demo-
crat, received 15; for treasurer. R. L. Yantis received
49 votes. Alexander McGregor, 31, a victory for the
Democrat ; J. B. Lauck was re-elected recorder and
auditor without opposition, his vote being 55 : the
contest for the assessorship was more spirited, the
three candidates and their votes being as follows r
John Ragan, Democrat, 38. Thomas Hudson. Republi-
can, 24, S. M. Ramsay, Independent, 15 ; for com-
missioners, C. T. Nelson. Republican, received 58
votes, Francis Carle, Republican, 45 votes, D. H.
Jaume, Democrat, 56 votes, and David Elliott, Demo-
crat, 30 votes; A. Damas, Democrat,^ was elected
justice of the peace, his contestant being James Bu-
chanan ; and John Rogers, Republican, was victorious
over his opponent, J. C. Hiltebrand, for the office
of constable.
The official vote cast at the annual election held
June 6, 1870, was as follows: For delegate, S. A.
Merritt, Democrat. 102, T. J. Butler, Republican, 56;
councilman, Samuel Ramsay, 31 ; assemblyman, W.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1019
13. Yantis, Democrat. 101, A. McGregor, Republican,
50; probate judge, Alexander Damas, Democrat, 89,
George Moeller, Republican, 64; district attorney,
John Clark, Republican, 59 ; sheriff, Matthew Fettis,
Democrat, S3, I. B. Cowan, Republican, 66 ; auditor
and recorder, Thomas Hudson, Democrat, 69, J. B.
Lauck, Republican, 87 ; treasurer, Robert L. Yantis,
Democrat, 102, D. M. Fraser, Republican, 55 ; com-
missioners, 1st district, D. L. Elliott, Democrat, 101,
Peter Thompson, Republican, 58; 2d district, James
Mclnroe, Democrat, 42, Henry Mauli, Republican,
51 ; 3d district, Allan Boice, 56, W. Price, 58; assessor,
D. W. C. Dunwell, Democrat, 94, John Ragan, Re-
publican, 63.
From' the following official summary, the names of
the successful candidates for office in Shoshone coun-
ty at the election of 1872 may be picked: Delegate,
John Hailey, Democrat, 34, J. W. Huston, Republi-
can 27 ; district attorney, John Clark, Republican, 49,
James W. Poe, Democrat, 9 ; councilman, Stanford
Capps, Republican, 40, Joseph Lees. Democrat, 22;
representative or assemblyman, J. B. Sisson, joint
nominee, 59; probate judge, Philip Streeter, Republi-
can, 32, D. M. Murray, Democrat, 26 ; auditor and re-
corder, D. M. Fraser, Republican, 32, Frank Capps,
Democrat, 26; sheriff, Francis Carle, Republican, 36,
S. K. Waymire, Democrat, 19; assessor, Samuel Ram-
say, Republican, 29, Charles Brown, Democrat, 20, J.
Rodgers, Independent, 8 ; commissioners, D. H. Jaume,
Republican, 59, M. V. Cole, Republican, 31, George
Moeller, Republican, 28, Thomas Hudson, Democrat,
31 (resigned). Patrick Gaffney, Democrat, 29;
treasurer, " Robert L. Yantis, Republican, 42, Joseph
Alexander, Democrat, 17; superintendent of public
schools, Frank Capps, 21, George Lawhow, Democrat,
12; coroner, James Buchanan, Democrat, 29; road
supervisor. John Rodgers, 31, C. Swendson, 30; justice
of the peace, J. C. Hiltebrand, 53. S. Anderson, 31 ;
constable, John Rodgers, 29. In 1873 William V.
Heskett was appointed probate judge and at a special
election held March 28. 1874, George Moeller and
Irwin Anderson were elected commissioners to fill
vacancies.
The official vote at the election of 1874 is missing,
so that we are unable to present anything except a
roll of the officers elected, which follows: council-
man, William A. Goulder; assemblyman, W. B. Yan-
tis; sheriff, John Rodgers; commissioners, . George
Moeller, D. H. Jaume, Swan Anderson; treasurer, R.
L. Yantis: probate judge, William V. Heskett; as-
sessor, Charles F. Brown ; auditor and recorder, D. M.
Fraser; justice of the peace, J. C. Hiltebrand. The
following vear several changes were made in Sho-
shone's official family. John Molloy was appointed
sheriff on October 4, 1875 ; Francis Carle was ap-
pointed commissioner to succeed Swan Anderson, the
date of his appointment being August 21, 1875; like-
wise, I. B. Cowan succeeded D. H- Jaume as com-
mssioner, on October 4th. September 6th, D. M.
Fraser qualified as superintendent of county schools.
The following campaign was marked by a stronger
party organization than had prevailed in 1874, when
considerable apathy was manifested. The canvass-
ing board made the following returns : For delegate,
John Clark, Republican, 39, S. S. Fenn, Democrat, 37 :
councilman, U. W. C. Dunwell, Republican, sole candi-
date, 61 ; representative, Edward Hammond, Republi-
can, sole candidate, 68 ; district attorney, Jasper Rand,
Republican, 46, Janus W. Poe, Democrat, 28; pro-
bate jucl^e. D. L. Elliott, Democrat, 43, J. C. Hilte-
brand, Republican, 22 ; sheriff, John Molloy, Demo-
crat, sole candidate, 68; auditor and recorder, Frank'
Capps, Republican, 37, D. M. Fraser, also Republican,
33; treasurer, Martin Mauli, Democrat, 35, E. H.
Gollings, Republican, 32 ; assessor, C. F. Brown, Re-
publican, 38, George Baraman, Democrat, 31; com-
missioners, R. M. G. Bradley, Republican, 37, I. B.
Cowan, Republican, 34, H. L. Gray, Republican, 34,
W. B. Yantis, Democrat, 38, Herman Loewenberg,
Democrat, 31; coroner, D. H. Jaume, Republican, 7;
justice of the peace, John Kimble, 35 ; constable, C.
Swandson, 37. The following November special elec-
tion, held for the purpose of electing one commissioner,
resulted in the choice of Herman Loewenberg for the
office. Several resignations and appointments are re-
corded during the ensuing few months.
From a vote of 76 for" delegate in 1874 the county's
voting strength decreased to a vote of 30 for the same
officer in 1878, showing a loss of more than fifty per
cent. Under these circumstances it is not strange that
the county had great difficulty in maintaining an or-
ganization during the ensuing six years ; it is not
strange that resignations and appointments became so
numerous as to preclude a complete record of all who
served the county as officers without a very exhaustive
and unsatisfactory search. Frequently the office went
begging for the man, thus rendering party organiza-
tion an impracticability. Under these circumstances
an accurate compilation of political history is a most
difficult task, incomplete records rendering it still more
difficult.
The returns for the election of 1878 show that
George Ainslie, the Democratic candidate for delegate,
received 28 votes in this county ; Jonas W. Brown. Re-
publican candidate, only 2 ; for councilman, W. B.
Yantis, sole candidate, received 39 votes ; for repre-
sentative, Robert L. Yantis, Democrat, received 2T,
votes, Daniel McPherson. Republican, 20 votes; James
W. Poe. Democrat, received 34 votes for district at-
torney; for probate judge, [. B. Cowan, Republican,
received 26 votes, J. C. Hiltebrand. Democrat. 7 votes,
D. L. Elliott, Democrat, 1 vote; Edward Hammond.
Republican, was elected auditor and recorder, his vote
being 37 ; for sheriff. Robert Templeton, Republican,
received 22 votes. Patrick Gaffney, Democrat. 20
votes; for assessor, E. G. Cole, Republican, received
35 votes, being the only candidate ; for treasurer. Mar-
tin Mauli. Democrat, had no opposition, receiving 30
votes : for commissioner, Abe Harpster, Democrat, re-
ceived 33 votes, Thomas Wilson, Republican, 28, John
Molloy] Democrat, 26. and Horatio L. Gray, Repub-
lican, 17; survevor, Pierre Duboison, Democrat, re-
ceived 10 votes ; for coroner, Chris. Swandson re-
ceived the total vote cast, 8 ; John Kemble. Democrat,
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
was elected justice of the peace; and John Evans was
chosen constable.
The vote for officers in 1880 follows: Delegate,
.Mason Brayman, annexationist, 39. George Ainslie,
Democrat, 6; joint councilman. I. B. Cowan, Repub-
lican, 41; representative, William Nichol, Democrat,
27, Robert L. Yantis, Republican, 7, Horatio L. Gray,
Republican, 7 ; district attorney, A. Quackenbush, Re-
publican, 15. I. N. Maxwell. Democrat, 29; probate
judge, Silas W. Moody. Republican. 36. D. L. Elliott,
Democrat, 6 ; sheriff, John Molloy. Democrat, 35 ; pub-
lic administrator. Herman Loewenberg, Democrat, 25 ;
auditor and recorder, Edward Hammond, Republican,
33 ; treasurer, Aaron Kuhn. Republican, 22, Martin
Mauli, Democrat. 20: surveyor. Pierre Duboison,
Democrat, 35 ; coroner, D. L. Elliott, Democrat, 32 ;
assessor, Patrick Keane, Republican, 26, Dominique
Jaume. Democrat. 17 ; justice of the peace, J. C. Hilte-
brand, Republican. 37 ; commissioners, Abe Harpster,
E. H. Gollings, Patrick Gaffney, Democrats, 19, 32
and 4 votes, respectively, Theodore Thompkins, Rob-
ert Templeton, C. D. Jones, Republicans, 19, 23 and
16 votes, respectively ; for annexation to Washington
territory, 45 ayes, no nays. The tie vote for com-
missioner resulted in a special election being held No-
vember 13th, 1880. at which Thomas Wilson received
iq votes and Abe Harpster, 8 votes. Nearly all of the
above candidates for office were placed in nomination
at a citizens' convention held at Pierce City, October
6, 1880. The nominations were made irrespective of
political parties.
A like policy was adopted in 1882, when the coun-
ty's life was at its lowest ebb. As will be seen from the
recapitulation which follows, the highest vote cast was
31. The election was simply a matter of form. Theo-
dore F. Singer, the Republican nominee for delegate
to congress, received 30 votes ; I. B. Cowan, nominee
for joint councilman, received 27 votes; O. A. Dodge,
nominee for joint representative, received 28 votes;
J. C. Elder, nominee for district attorney, received
28 votes ; E. G. Call, nominee for probate judge, L. T.
Dunwell, nominee for sheriff, D. M. Fraser, nominee
for auditor and recorder, P. T. Lomas, nominee for
treasurer, and W. G. Osborne, nominee for assessor,
each received 28 votes; Francis Carle, C. D. Jones and
Patrick Keane, nominees for county commissioners, re-
ceived 27, 24 and 2<\ votes, respectively; J. C. Hilte-
brand. nominee for coroner, received 28 votes, Theo-
dore Tompkins and L. T. Reed, aspirants for the office
of justice of the peace, received 19 and 12 votes, re-
spectively ; and ^ ellington Landon and D. W. C. Dun-
well received 1 vote each for constable.
The discovery of the Coeur d'Alene mines and the
great influx of population into that district in the fall
of 1883 and the succeeding winter and spring, resulted
in the complete transference of political power in the
count\- to the northern end, where the balance of power
still remains. Thereafter the northern portion, or the
Coeur d'Alenes, were in complete control of the coun-
ty's government for many years and only quite recent-
ly has the southern portion acquired such a large pop-
ulation as to return to it in part its old influence.
Thousands flocked into the Coeur d'Alenes, while
scores were settling along the Lolo and Clearwater
and at Pierce. From a position of lowest importance
among the counties of the state, Shoshone county has
become one of the foremost in wealth and population,
in 1882 the county's highest vote was 31 ; in 1902,
4,062 votes, including those of qualified women voters,
were cast.
The influx of miners in 1883 and 1884 necessitated
the creation of three new precincts, Beaver, Summit
and Coeur d'Alene, all in the northern end of the coun-
ty. There were three tickets in the field, the regular
Republican and Democratic organizations and an in-
dependent ticket. The Republicans met at the Masonic
hall in Murray, Saturday, October nth, and placed
in nomination a full ticket ; the Democrats convened
Iwo days later at Murray, and the Independents, com-
posed of ex-members of the old parties, held their con-
vention at Murray on the same day. In making these
nominations the southern end of the county was al-
most entirely unrepresented. Election day passed off
very quietly and was marked by a long, heavy rainfall.
There was considerable scratching of tickets indulged
in by all parties. The largest vote polled in any pre-
cinct was that cast in Summit precinct, of which Mur-
ray was the center of population, 597 ; Beaver precinct
cast 165 votes ; Coeur d'Alene, or Eagle precinct, cast
only 71 votes ; while Pierce City precinct cast about the
same vote as in 1882. The official count gave the
following figures : For delegate, T. F. Singiser, Re-
publican. 500, John Hailey. Democrat, 357 ; joint
councilman, J. D. Wooden, Independent Democrat,
475, Silas W. Moody, Republican, 377; joint repre-
sentative, William King, Republican, 522, Thomas
Bentley, Independent Democrat, 348; district attorney,
Albert Allen, Independent Republican, 471, W. T.
Stoll, Democrat, 398: probate judge, R. E. McFar-
land, Democrat, 408, J. C. Harkness, Republican, 400,
C. P. Tatro. Independent, 56; recorder, X. S. Burke,
Independent, 298, T. E. McLelland, Republican, 297,
Robert Neill, Democrat, 278 ; treasurer, Francis Jen-
kins, Republican. 398. Philip Markson, Democrat,
380. C. C. Higby, Independent, 91 ; sheriff, T. B.
Guthrie, Democrat, 455, William Chambers, Republi-
can, 233, T. L. Dunwell, Independent, 183 ; assessor,
A. Kavanaugh, Democrat, 426, A. Renkert, Republi-
can. 343, D. Doherty, Independent, 108 ; commission-
ers, C. T. V. i'>ass. Independent Republican, 506, M.
C. Human, Republican. 447, Frank Grove, Democrat,
411, Patrick Mahoney, Democrat, 409. William Keeler,
Independent Republican, 372, Charles Grossman, Dem-
ocrat, 322. Edward Moffitt, Independent, 95 ; surveyor,
Jerry Dunlee, Democrat. 446. John M. Marsh. Repub-
lican, 426; coroner, J. McLansing, Independent Re-
publican. 495, J. A. Campbell, Democrat, 372.
In 1886 the main issue before the voter was the
Mormon question, the Republicans being the most
radical against that rapidly growing power. In this
county the Republicans and Democrats divided honors,
ss" will be seen from the following official summary
of the vote cast: For delegate. F. T. Dubois, Re-
publican, 921, John Hailey, Democrat, 893 ; joint coun-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
cilman, Alexander E. Mayhew, Democrat, 972
(elected), W. H. Clagett, Republican, 838; joint as-
semblyman, John M. liurke, Democrat, 951 (elected),
O. A. Dodge, Republican, 835 ; assemblyman, Dr. R.
S. Harvey, Democrat, 977, Albert Allen, Republican,
818; sheriff, Thomas F. Hanley, Republican, 1,000,
T. B. Guthrie, Democrat, 800; auditor and recorder,
Thomas F. McLelland, Republican, 986, Robert Neill,
Democrat, 806; treasurer, John Coumerilh, Democrat,
1,266, Warren Hussey, Republican, 508 ; assessor, J.
B. Fenn, Republican, 1,058, G. Y. Byrnett, Democrat,
743; district attorney, Walter A. Jones, Republican,
925, B. F. Stoll, Democrat, 854 ; superintendent of
schools, W. W. Hammell, Republican, 909, A. O.
Ingalls. Democrat, 894; surveyor, X. S. Burke, Demo-
crat, 904, Frank C. Loring, Republican, 894; probate
judge, G. M. Cone,. Democrat, 916, Henry S. Gregory,
Republican, 887; commissioners 1st district, T. J.
Argyle, Democrat, 345, A. L. Scofield, Republican,
333; 2d district, W. C. Human, Republican, iot, J.
H. Miller, Democrat, 93 ; 3d district, Patrick Mc-
Gowan, Democrat. 516, Robert T. Horn, Republican,
403; coroner, J. C. Bolander, Democrat, 917, W. P.
Couillard, Republican, 873.
The main features of the campaign of 1888, was the
county seat contest, which we will not discuss here,
in as much as the subject has been fully treated in
another chapter of this history. The south fork of
the Coeur d'Alene was rapidly becoming more popu-
lous than the north fork and naturally enough, an
attempt was made to remove the county seat to a
point on the former stream. The attempt failed. The
Republicans held their convention at Wallace, Sep-
tember 20th and adopted a platform in accord with the
national one. They also endorsed Dubois for a second
term as delegate. The Democrats met at Wardner,
Wednesday, October 3d. Their platform was also an
endorsement of the national platform, besides which
it endorsed Hawley for delegate. Both conventions
ignored the annexation question, except in so much
as to declare themselves in favor of statehood for the
territory. The official vote follows :
Delegate, James H. Hawley, Democrat, y^j. Fred
T. Dubois, Republican, r,029, Norman Buck, Annex-
ationist, 35; joint councilman, Alexander E. Mayhew,
Democrat, 992, George T. Crane, Republican, 805 ;
joint representative, John M. Burke, Democrat. 906,
J. Rand Sandburn, Republican, 842; representative,
Robert S. Harvey, Democrat, 794, Isaac C. Sargent,
Republican, 985 ; sheriff, Richard A. Cunningham,
Democrat, 920, Jerry Savage, Republican, 872 ; auditor
and recorder, Frank Tibbals, Democrat, 899, Thomas
E. McLelland, Republican, 890 ; treasurer, David Holz-
rnan. Democrat, 790, George W. Owens, Republican,
964 ; assessor and collector, James Ferguson, Demo-
crat, 550, John B. Fenn, Republican, 1,241 ; probate
judge, George M. Cone, Democrat, 863, John C. Hark-
ness, Republican. 927 ; district attorney. Albert Hagan,
Democrat, 780. Charles W. O'Neill, Republican, 1,008;
superintendent of schools, Albert O. Ingalls, Demo-
crat. 923, O. H. Culver, Republican, 863 ; coroner,
Joseph A. R. Campbell. Democrat, 855, James C. Bo-
lander, Republican, 930; surveyor, Xifery S. Burke,
Democrat, 843, Frank C. Loring, Republican, 952;
commissioners 1st district, Thomas Shuster, Democrat,
(83, Fred A. Weber, Republican, 250; 2d district,
William Gerrard, Democrat, 483, Nelson Martin, Re-
publican, 2O7; P. J. Holohan, Democrat, 296, G.
Scott Anderson, Republican, 302.
- As showing the distribution of the voting popula-
tion of the county at this time we give herewith the
vote by precincts for delegate: Wardner, 399; Mur-
ray, 226; Delta, 71: Myrtle, 21; Eagle, 56; Carbon,
35; Milo, 124; Wardner Junction, 59; Kingston, 94;
Osburn, 74; Burke, 244; Wallace, 202; Mullan, 118;
Pierce, 17: Weippe, 21.
Another county seat contest marked the election
of 1890, with the same result as in 1888, — the county
seat remained where it was, at Murray. Both county
conventions met at Wallace, the Democratic conven-
tion on August 1 8th, the Republican on the 12th. The
platforms adopted were purely national in character.
Below will be found the vote cast at this election in
this county: Congressman, 51st congress, Alexander
E. Mayhew, Democrat, 1,020, Willis Sweet, Republi-
can, 1,149; 52d congress, Alexander E. Mayhew,
Democrat, 1,019, Willis Sweet, Republican, 1,154;
governor, Benjamin Wilson, Democrat, 979, George
L. Shoup, Republican, 1,198; lieutenant governor, S.
F. Taylor, Democrat, 988,' N. B. Willey, Republican,
1,192; secretary of state, E. A. Sherwin, Democrat,
991, A. J. Pinkham, Republican, 1,185; treasurer,
Timothy Regan, Democrat, 992, Frank R. Coffin, Re-
publican. 1,186; state auditor, J. H. Wickersham,
Democrat, 994, Silas Moody, Republican, 1,184; at-
torney general, R. Z. Johnson, Democrat, 1,005,
George H. Roberts, Republican, 1,172: superintendent
of public instruction, M. A. Kelly, Democrat, 996, J.
Harroun, Republican, 1,181 ; justices of supreme court,
F. E. Ensign, H. W. Weir, I. N. Maxwell, Democrats,
1,008. 981 and 992, respectively, Joseph W. Huston,
J. T. Morgan and I. N. Sullivan, Republicans, 1,194,
1,164 a'td 1,190, respectively; state senators, W. W.
Woods, Democrat, 1,008, Robert Neill, Democrat, 979,
J. S. Langrishe, Republican, 1,156, John A. Finch, Re-
publican. 1,182; representatives, J. W. McMullen,
Peter Joyce. M. Maher, William Powers, Democrats,
965, 992, 1.009 and 1,023, respectively, James Cam-
eron, C. D. Porter. A. L. Scofield, John Hanley, Re-
publicans, 1,154, 1,175. 1,195 and 1,141 votes, respect-
ively; district judge, Junius Holleman, Democrat,
1,117, M. C. Athev, Republican, 1,012; district attor-
ney, R. E. McFarland, Democrat, 920, C. W. < I'Neil,
Republican. 1,150; clerk and recorder, Barry N. Hill-
ard, Democrat. 1,432, M. J. Sweeney, Republican, 726;
sheriff, R. A. Cunningham, Democrat, 1,231, George
Hardestv, Republican, 923; treasurer, Fred Dutton,
Democrat. 950, F. F. Johnson, Republican. 1,222: as-
sessor, William Gerrard, Democrat, 938, John B. Fenn,
Republican, 1.227; probate judge, A. O. Ingalls, Dem-
ocrat, 973, H. S. Gregorv, Republican, 1,195; com-
missioners, 1 st district, C. N. Ferguson, Democrat,
152, Camil Kraus. Republican, 173: 2d district, Paul
Hirlinger, Democrat, 253, George T. Crane, Republi-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
can, 315; 3d district, John W. Livers, Democrat, 640,
W.S. Raskins, Republican, 620; surveyor, Jerry Dun-
lee, Democrat. 958, Frank C. Loring, Republican,
1,212; coroner, W. S. Sims, Democrat, 1,094, D. H.
Brien, Republican, 1,084. From the foregoing it will
be seen that the county was strongly Republican.
Still another county seat contest marked the cam-
paign of 1892, in which Murray and Wallace were the
rival candidates. Because of the aspirations of other
towns on the south fork Wallace lost the county seat
for the time being, through a lack of only 25 votes,
as will be seen from the vote given below. In 1892,
also, the Populist party first came into the local field,
although it is true that no nominations for county
offices were made until two years later. The Prohi-
bitionists polled a vote of less than 10 in this county.
Harrison received 936 votes; Cleveland, 971 votes.
The vote for other officers was : For congressman,
Willis Sweet, Republican, 887, Edward B. True, Dem-
ocrat, 796, James Gunn, Populist, 175 ; supreme judge,
Isaac N. Sullivan, Republican, 839, Francis N. En-
sign, Democrat. 865, Thotnas M. Stewart, Populist,
6; state senators, I. B. Cowan, Republican, 808, John
R. Stephens, Republican, 810, Alexander E. Mayhew,
Democrat, 1,030, Robert Neill, Democrat, 931 ; rep-
resentatives, Robert E. Brown, William King, W. S.
Sheill, Henry Drought. Republicans, 837, 935, 869
and 840 votes, respectively, Palmer G. Cartnell, W. H.
Frazer, Charles Heim, Frank Gaffney, Democrats,
898, 834, 873 and 886 votes, respectively, Wilson R.
Stokes, Independent, 65 ; governor, William J. Mc-
Connell, Republican, 198, John M. Burke (one of the
pioneers of the Coeur d'Alene), Democrat, 902, Abra-
ham J. Crook, Populist, 234; lieutenant governor,
Frank B. Willis, Republican, 831, George V. Bryan,
Democrat, 880, Junius B. Wright, Populist, 135 ; sec-
retary of state, James F. Curtis, Republican, 802,
James W. Wickersham, Democrat, 933, Benjamin E.
Chaney, Populist, 113; attorney general, George M.
Parsons, Republican, 830, William T. Reeves, Demo-
crat, 888. John R. Wester, Populist, 103 ; treasurer,
William C. Hill, Republican, 837, Philip A. Regan,
Democrat. 906. Thomas J. Sutton, Populist, 101 ;
auditor, Frank C. Ramsay, Republican, 839, William
J. McClure, Democrat, 878, James H. Anderson. Pop-
ulist, 103 ; superintendent of public instruction, B. By-
ron Lower, Republican, 830, John W. Farris, Demo-
crat, 879, Leighton L. Shearer, Populist, 102 ; sheriff,
Donald R. Cameron, Republican, 1,039, Jonn K.
Waite, Democrat, 919 ; assessor, Charles B. Halstead,
Republican, 723, John T. Argyle, Democrat, 1,161 :
probate judge, Henry S. Gregory, Republican, 1,012,
James E. Gyde, Democrat. 824; treasurer, Frank I".
Johnson. Republican, 898, Harry R. Hall, Democrat,
962 ; surveyor. W. Clayton Miller, Republican, 935.
Isaac S. Daly, Democrat, 874 ; coroner, M. W. Bruner,
Republican, 803, W. F. Herrington, Democrat, 1,011 :
commissioners, 1st district, Fred T. Dutton, Demo-
crat, 268. no opposition ; 2d district, Al. Page, Republi-
can. 390, John Pelkes, Democrat, 196; 3d district.
Marenus Janse. Republican, 415, A. W. Steele, Demo-
crat, 542.
The vote, by precincts, for the permanent location
of the county seat was as follows : Wardner, for Mur-
ray 103, for Wallace 201 ; Wallace, for Murray 18,
for Wallace 457 ; Mullan, for Murray 56, for Wallace
156; Burke, for Murray 41, for Wallace 92; Gem, for
Murray 11, for Wallace 89; Kellogg, for Murray 52,
f.>r Wallace 457; Mullan, for Murray 56, for Wallace
7 ; Osburn, for Murray 76, for Wallace 28 ; Kingston,
for Murray 17, for Wallace 43; Littlefield, for Mur-
ray 36, for Wallace 4 ; Delta, for Murray 72, for Wal-
lace, 6 ; Eagle, for Murray 29, for Wallace 6 ; Lolo, for
Murray 33, for Wallace o; Pierce, for Murray 12, for
Wallace o ; Weippe, for Murray 22, for Wallace 2 ;
Elk, for Murray 6, for Wallace 2; total, 1,884 votes,
of which Murray received 652, Wallace 1,232; vote
necessary to choice, 1,256.
On December 8, 1892, John K. Waite filed a con-
test for the office of sheriff, alleging fraud and corrup-
tion in the precincts of Kellogg, Wardner and Wallace,
that Cameron was not a citizen at the time of his elec-
tion and that money had been used in his behalf for
bribery purposes. At the March term of court, 1893,
Judge Holleman dismissed the case.
Two years later the People's party in Shoshone
county had attained so much strength that it was able
to elect its candidates to every office except two, those
of probate judge and county clerk. Every labor or-
ganization in the Coeur dAlenes endorsed the People's
party platform and nominees. The silver question was
the paramount issue in this county, although the tariff
received no little attention. The main struggle for of-
fice was between the candidates for sheriff, clerk and
state representatives and senators. The People's par-
ty held its county convention at Wallace, July 23d ; the
Democrats convened at the same place a week later;
while the Republicans did not meet until September
25th, holding their convention in Wallace, also. The
official count of the election, held on November 6th,
is given below.
For congressman, James M. Ballentine, Democrat,
232, James Gunn, Populist, 991, Edgar Wilson, Re-
publican, 668; supreme judge, John C. Elder, Demo-
crat, 243. Texas Angel, Populist, 904, Joseph W. Hus-
ton, Republican, 684 ; governor, Edward A. Steven-
son, Democrat, 283, James W. Ballentine, Populist,
930. William J. McConnell, Republican, 608 ; lieuten-
ant governor, John B. Thatcher, Democrat, 260, John
J. Chambers, Populist, 915, Frederick Mills, Republi-
can, 671 ; secretary of state, James R. Hall, Democrat.
195. Frank Tibbafs, Populist] i.toS, Isaac W. Garrett,
Republican, 623 ; treasurer, James H. Bush, Democrat,
245, Callistus W. Cooper. Populist, 929, Charles Bunt-
ingj Republican, 686; auditor, James Stoddard, Dem-
ocrat. 230. Frank Walton, Populist, 970, Frank C.
Ramsay, Republican, 672 ; superintendent of public in-
struction, John W. Faris, Democrat, 240, Major J.
Steele. Populist, 933, Charles A. Foresman, Republi-
can, 683 ; attorney general. William T. Reeves, Dem-
ocrat. 243. Robert S. Spence, Populist, 934, George
M. Parsons. Republican, 677, district judge. Junius
Holleman. Democrat, 243, Alexander E. Mayhew,
Populist. 1.223. James A. Keat, Republican, 481; dis-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1023
trict attorney, Robert E. McFarland, Democrat, 208,
Walter A. Jones, Populist, 957, Charles W. Beale, Re-
publican, 758 : senators, Hugh France, Democrat, 195,
John E. Steen and Edward Boyce, Populists, 953 and
972 votes respectively : William W. Hammeli and Phil-
ip O'Rourke, Republican, 670 and 722 votes respec-
tively : representatives, George H. Coonce, Thomas
Sinister, Frank Gaffney, and Charles Heim, Demo-
crats, 174, 215, 185 and 169 votes respectively, Hur-
ley L. Hughes, Robert Neill, John J. Sanders and
James D. Young, Populists, 911, 992, 917, and 936
votes respectively, George Garbutt, William King, O.
R. Young and Charles T. Tozier. Republicans, 711,
654, 629 and 642 votes respectively; commissioners,
1st district, Frank C. Gordon, Democrat, 233, Adam
Aulbach, Populist, 924, L. M. Parks, Republican, 627;
2d district, Anderson W. Nuckols, Democrat, 216,
James Lyle, Populist, 923. H. L. Day, Sr., Republi-
can, 630 ; 3d district, Richard Wilson, Democrat, 288,
John Stack, Populist, 956, Gus Walgren, Republican,
530; sheriff, Eugene Sage, Populist, 1,1 11, Francis
Jenkins, Republican, 814; clerk, Barry N. Hillard,
Democrat, 1,048. Andrew E. Carlson, Republican, 689;
treasurer, Fred Dutton, Democrat, 249, Charles A. Ir-
vin, Populist, 831. Charles Swain, Republican, 739,
probate judge, James E. Gyde, Democrat, 609, Isaac
H. Kelly, Populist, 598, Henry S. Gregory, Republi-
can, 619: assessor, John C. McDiarmid, Democrat, 524,
Fred W. Walton, Populist, 828, Thomas A. Helm, Re-
publican, 539 : coroner. Charles V. Genoway, Democrat,
266, William F. Herrington, Populist, 886, William
Worstell. Republican, 676; surveyor, W. Clayton Mil-
ler, Populist. 1,130, James M. Porter, Republican, 691.
The memorable campaign of 1896 witnessed the
dissolution of the Republican party in Shochone county
us it did in other counties in the state, also serious di-
visions among contemporary parties. Here as else-
where the silver epiestion was the paramount issue and
as might have been expected of the greatest silver camp
in the Northwest. Shoshone county cast an enormous
silver vote, more than seventy-nine per cent of the total
vote polled. The first division in the Republican party
took place at the convention held at Wallace, August
17th, held for the purpose of electing delegates to the
state convention. The gold wing under the leader-
ship of Weldon B. Heyburn left the convention hall and
■assembled at the Carter house where delegates were
■elected to attend the regular convention at Boise. The
silver wing adopted resolutions announcing its allegi-
ance to the principles of bi-metallism, protection, reci-
procity and restricted immigration, but asserting that
the silver question was the main issue in this county,
in the state and in the nation. At Boise the silverites
•combined their forces and placed in nomination a fusion
ticket under the name of the People's Democratic par-
ty. September 18th. the Populist. Democratic and Sil-
ver Republican conventions assembled in Wallace. It
was considered probable that the Populists and Dem-
ocrats would effect a union of forces, but some misun-
derstandings regarding the distribution of offices arose
and the parties were unabfe to agree. Thereupon the
Populists in iminated a straight party ticket. The Dem-
ocrats then opened negotiations with the Silver Re-
publicans, met with success and a union ticket was
placed in the field. The Populists incorporated an
equal suffrage plank in their platform. Eight days
later the Republican county convention was called to
order at Wardner and proceeded to nominate men
pledged to suport the national platform. Among oth-
er resolutions passed, was one commendatory of Ma-
rion Kramer, prosecuted for perjury in connection with
the trial of Walter A. Jones tor murder. The con-
vention declared him innocent and that he was the ob-
ject of malicious persecution.
The official vote follows : Presidential electors, W.
W. Woods, William F. Smith. Lorenzo L. Evans,
People's Democratic party nominees, 1,760, 1,741 and
1,736 votes each, W. B. Heyburn, James F. Ailshie,
George C. Parkinson, Republican nominees, 407, 493
and 496 votes each; congressman, James Gunn, Popu-
list-Democrat, 1,067, William E. Borah, Silver Repub-
lican, 525, John T. Morrison, Republican, 508; gover-
nor, Frank Steunenberg, Fusionist, 1,533, David 11.
Budlong, Republican. 582 ; lieutenant governor, George.
F. Moore, Populist-Democrat, 967, Edward B. True,
Silver Republican, 558; Vincent Bierbower, Republi-
can, 521 ; secretary of state, George J. Lewis, Populist-
Democrat, 992, Isaac W. Garrett, Republican, 572,
Charles Durand, Silver Republican, 518; auditor,
James H. Anderson, Populist-Democrat, 979, Elmore
A. McKenna, Republican, 566, Bartlett Sinclair, Sil-
ver Republican, 509 ; treasurer, George H. Storer,
Populist- Democrat, 960, Timothy Regan. Democrat,
534, Frank C. Ramsey. Republican, 584; attorney gen-
eral, R. E. McFarland, Populist-Democrat, 941, John
A. Bagley, Republican, 564, George M. Parsons, Silver
Republican, 562 ; superintendent of public instruction,
L. N. B. Anderson, Populist-Democrat, 956, Charles
A. Foresman, Republican, 588, Mathias F. Cowley,
Silver Republican, 496; mine inspector, Benjamin F.
Hastings, Populist-Democrat, 1,479, Theodore Brown,
600; supreme judge, Ralph P. Quarles, Populist-
Democrat, 940, Drew W. Standrod, Republican,
564, Edgar Wilson, Silver Republican, 537; state sen-
ator, James D. Young, Populist-Democrat, 951,
Charles W. O'Ncil, Silver Republican, 632, George B.
Dean, Republican. 536; representatives,' C. C. Fuller,
Thomas Clagett, Ed. J. Flannigan, W. R. Golden-
smith, Populist-Democrats, 887, 877, 864, 86r votes
respectively, Robert T. Horn, John P. Sheehv, Ed-
ward Hammond, Thomas F. Donahue. Democrat-Sil-
ver Republicans, 738, 730, 719 and 717 votes respec-
tively, N. R. Dunn, II. L. Chamberlain. William B.
Sams, W. Scott Landes, Republican. 562, 516,
516 and 512 votes respectively; commissioners,
ist district, M. S. Simmons, Populist-Democrat, 881,
H. H. Hathaway, Republican, 576, John T. Pollock,
Silver Republican, 545: 2nd district, II. L. Day, Sr.,
Democrat-Silver Republican, 1,186, Harry Drought,
Republican. 623, H. L. Day, Independent, 190, James
Lyle, Populist, 19: 3rd district, Frank Ryan. Populist-
Democrat, 880, George W. Moore, Republican, 601,
W. B. Pvper, Democrat-Silver Republican, 580;
sheriff, Thomas Heney, Populist-Democrat, 965,
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Frank M. Rose, Republican. 722, John F. .Murphy,
Democrat-Silver Republican, 585 ; treasurer. William
P. Northrup, Republican. 774, Albert Johnson, Dem-
ocrat-Silver Republican, 681 : assessor, James J. Pur-
cell, Populist-Democrat, 847. Adam Goettge, Republi-
can, 675, C. C. Higby. Democrat-Silver Republican,
594; probate judee, Joseph F. Whelan, Populist-Demo-
crat, 870, M. E. Rogers, Republican, 640, Charles
Heim, Democrat-Silver Republican, 531; surveyor,
George R. Trash, Democrat-Silver Republican, 688,
David A. Porter, Republican, 647; coroner, F. P.
Matchette, Populist-Democrat. 888. Charles V. Geno-
way, Democrat-Silver Republican, 751: amendments,
for' woman suffrage, 625, opposed, 582, for the creation
of the office of county attorney, 670, opposed, 356. for
the separation of the offices of probate judge and super-
intendent of public instruction, 658, opposed, 379. The
Prohibition vote for any one officer did not exceed 10.
Conditions obtained in 1898 similar to those in 1896.
The Democrats and the two wings of the Republican
party held their conventions in Wallace about the first
of September. A long and determined effort was
made by the Silver Republicans and Democrats to
effect fusion, but without success. Finally the Silver
Republicans and the Gold Republicans agreed to nom-
inate a joint ticket, which was done forthwith. The
Democrats adjourned until September 15th when they
nominated an independent ticket. The Populists con-
vened at Mullan September 12th. Among other can-
didates they placed before the people were two women.
nominees for treasurer and superintendent of public
instruction. From the official vote given below, the
political condition may be better judged: For con-
gressman, James Gun'n, Populist. 1.526, Weldon 1'..
Heyburn, Republican, 734, Edgar Wilson, Silver Re-
publican, 968, William G. Boone, Prohibitionist, 22;
for governor, James H. Anderson. Populist, 1,518,
Albert B. Moss, Republican, 733, Frank Steunenberg,
Democrat, 978. Mrs. Marv C. Johnson, Prohibitionist,
33 ; lieutenant governor, Tannas E. Miller, Populist.
1.464, James F. Hunt, Republican, 764, Joseph H.
Hutchinson, Democrat-Silver Republican, 919, James
Ballentine, Prohibitionist. 23 ; secretary of state, Jo-
seph H. Bonham, Populist, 1.472. Robert S. Bragaw,
Republican, 776. Mart. Patrie. Democrat-Silver Repub-
lican, 867. John W. Knott. Prohibitionist, 22 : attorney
general, Thomas L. Glenn, Populist, 1,456, Frank T.
Wyman. Republican, 772, Samuel H. Hays, Democrat-
Silver Republican. 897, William A. Hall, Prohibition-
ist, 18: state auditor. Arthur G. Whittier, Populist,
1,460, lames H. VanCamp, Republican., 781, Bartlett
Sinclair, Democrat - Silver Republican, 886, Mrs.
Naomi McD. lJhelps, Prohibitionist. 30; state treas-
urer, Lucius C. Rice, Democrat-Silver Republican.
2,318, George Wr. Fletcher. Republican. 785, John J.
Anthony, Prohibitionist, 23; mine inspector, David
Farmer, Populist, 1,535. John W. Stoddard, Republi-
can. 767. T. A. Czizek, Democrat-Silver. Republican-
Prohibitionist, 814: superintendent of public instruc-
tion, Perineal I?rench. Democrat-Silver-Republican-
Pop'ulist, 2.002, Miss Lucv F. Dean, Republican,
1,056, Toshua X. Revnolds, Prohibitionist, 20: supreme
judge. Isaac X. Sullivan. Democrat-Silver Republican-
Populist, 1. 194, Drew W. Standrod, Republican. 827;
district judge. Wallace X. Morphy, 1473, Alexander
1-;. Mayhew, Democrat-Silver Republican, 1,371; state
senator, Charles F. Easton, Populist, 1458, Robert X.
Dunn, Republican-Silver Republican, 1,340, Daniel
Harrington, Democrat, 366: representatives, John F.
Stark, Populist, 1,463, Edward Beaudette, Populist,
r.458. William A. Miller, Populist, 1.472, C. S. Moody,
Populist, 1.44.7. George W. Moore. Republican-Silver
Republican. 1317, Henry Drought, Republican-Silver
Republican, 1,258, Alfred Page, Republican-Silver Re-
publican, 1,344, Thomas E. Anderson, Republican-Sil-
ver Republican, 1,244, William O. Early, Democrat.
330, Richard P. Bacon, Democrat, 324, Charles Heim,
Democrat, 319, John T. Molloy, Democrat, 320;
sheriff. James D. i'oung. Populist, 1.5 12, Angus Suth-
erland, Republican-Silver Republican, 1,368, Milton
P. Cheney, Democrat, 474 ; clerk, Edward Boyce, Pop-
ulist, 1. 514. Horace M. Davenport, Republican-Silver
Republican, 1,651, George Miner, Democrat, 162: as-
sessor, Michael J. Dowd, Populist, 1,451, John C. Fee-
ban. Republican-Silver Republican, 1,326, Andrew J.
McClusky, Democrat. 414. treasurer. Mrs. Anna Con-
ner. Populist-Democrat, 1,695, W. P. Northrup, Re-
publican-Silver Republican, 1.546; probate judge. A.
D. McKinlay, Populist-Democrat, 1,690, Henry S.
Black, Republican-Silver Republican, 1,453: county
attorney, Henry F. Samuels, Populist, 1,636. James
E. ( i\de. Democrat-Silver Republican-Republican,
1,565; superintendent of schools. Miss Mary Halpin.
Populist, 1.490. Adelaide M. Vance, Democrat-Silver
Republican-Republican, 1,739; surveyor, David Reese.
Republican-Silver Republican. 1,372, George R. Trask.
Democrat, 679; coroner, F. P. Matchette, Populist.
1,551, Hugh France, Democrat-Republican-Silver Re-
publican, 1.594; commissioners, 1st district, Moses S.
Simmons, Populist, 1,600, Fynis C. Gordon, Democrat-
Republican-Silver Republican, 1.483: 2nd district.
William Boyle. Populist, 1,470, Charles S. Perrin, Re-
publican-Silver Republican, 1,289, George McKinnis,
Democrat, 332; 3d district, William Stimson. Populist.
1,513, Samuel R. Trengove, Republican-Silver Re-
publican. 1.-22S. John T. Argyle. Democrat. 382.
In 1898, also, the county seat was removed from
Murray to Wallace, by the following vote: Murray.
864. Wallace, 2,471.
The campaign of 1900 was not as demonstrative a
one in this county as the campaign of 1896 or that of
1898. The silver question dropped into the back-
ground, its place being taken by those of "imperialism"
and other administration policies. The Silver Repub-
licans in this county disbanded their party organization
and individually joined one of the other parties. The
Democratic party, after adjusting factional differences
between the Clark-Barton and the Murphy wings, fused
with the Populists and nominated a union ticket Sep-
tember 4th. The official vote cast at the election fol-
lows :
For presidential electors, Toshua G. Rowton. Re-
publican, 2,378, George M. Parsons, Republican, 2,360.
Weldon B. Heyburn, Republican, 2,347. James W.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Reid, Democrat, 2,901, Edward J. Dockery, Democrat,
2,868. Samuel J. Rick, Democrat. 2.870 ; congressman,
John T. Morrison, Republican, 2.446, Thomas L.
Glenn, Democrat, 2,654; supreme judge, Edgar C.
Steele, Republican, 2,474, G. O. Stocklager, Democrat,
2,610: governor. Drew W. Standrod. Republican,
2,505, Frank \Y. Hunt, Democrat. 2.791 ; lieutenant
governor. Addison A. Crane, Republican, 2,479,
Thomas F. Terrell, Democrat, 2,759 • secretary of state,
Martin Patrie, Republican, 2,476, Charles J. Bassett,
Democrat, 2,742 ; auditor, Henry J. Syms, Republican,
. 2,454. Egbert \Y. Jones, Democrat, 2.742; treasurer,
George H. Kester, Republican. 2,470, John J. Plumer,
Democrat, 2.739 '• attorney general. George E. Gray,
Republican. 2,571, Frank Martin, Democrat, 2,691 ;
superintendent of public instruction, Jessie Riley, Re-
publican, 2,455, Perineal French, Democrat, 2,737 ;
mine inspector, Robert D. Bell, Republican, 2,457,
Martin H. Jacobs, Democrat, 2,720 ; state senator,
John L. Dunn, Republican, 2.482: Charles S. Moody,
Democrat, 2,773 ; representatives, John Johnston, Isaac
M. Busby, James R. Green, Elias E. Horst, Repub-
licans, 2.540, 2,562, 2,538 and 2,535 respectively,
Glenn P. McKinlay, Edmund R. Oxlev, Thomas Hen-
ley, John Kelley, Democrats, 2.642. 2,636, 2.710. 2,632,
respectively; county attorney, K. X. Dunn. Republican.
2,634, James M. Addle, 2,581 ; commissioners, Albert
Otto, Henry Drought, Israel B. Cowan. Republicans,
2,566, 2,489 and 2,581, respectively. Moses S. Sim-
mons, John M. Elliott, Frank Gaffney, Democrats,
2,607, 2,696 and 2,576, respectively: sheriff, Angus
Sutherland. Republican, 2,807, James Lyle, Democrat,
2.505 : treasurer, Musa K. Howes, Republican, 2,483,
Anna Connor, Democrat, 2,731 ; probate judge, Henry
P. Knight, Republican. 2,596, Alexander D. McKinlay,
Democrat, 2.587 ; superintendent of public insruction,
Charles W. Vance, Republican, 2,610, Helen L. Young,
2,619; assessor. Charles S. Perrin, Republican, 2.349.
George Miner, Democrat", 2,853 > coroner, Abraham L.
Lehman. Republican, 2,490, Tracy R. Mason, Demo-
crat. 2,667 ; surveyor, David B. Porter, Republican,
2.553. John Nordquist, Democrat, 2,574.
The last election is of too recent date to require a
detailed discussion of the platforms and policies of the
different parties. The Republicans met at Wallace
September 16, 1902. They pledged their candidates
for the legislature to support W. B. Heyburn for
United States senator and also to support the move-
ment under way for the segregation of the southern
portion of the county. The Democrats convened at
Wardner, September 22d. They indorsed the Poca-
tello platform, and pledged themselves to economically
administer county affairs should their nominees be
elected. The Populists and Prohibitionists each placed
a ticket in the field, but the support given them by the
voters was immaterial in determining the general re-
sult in the county. The official canvass of the Dem«»-
cratic and Republican votes follows:
For congressman, Burton L. French. Republican,
2,813, Joseph II. Hutchinson, Democrat. 2,oi
ernor, John T. Morrison, Republican, 2,702.' Frank
W. Hunt, Democrat. 2,260; lieutenant governor, fames
M. Stevens Republican, 2.754. William E. Ulams,
Democrat, 2,125; secretary of state. Wilmol II. Gib
son, Republican, 2,776, Charles J. Bassett, Democrat.
2,108: state auditor. Theodore Turner. Republican.
2,758, John C. Callahan. Democrat. 2.112; state treas-
urer, Henry X. Coffin, Republican. 2.748, Edward P.
Coltman, Democrat, 2,111; attorney general, John A.
Bagley, Republican, 2,753; Fred D." Culver, Democrat.
2,105. superintendent of public instruction, Major 1..
Scott, Republican, 2,736, Perineal French, Democrat.
2,183; mine inspector.' Robert Bell. Republican. 2,672,
John H. Nordquist, Democrat, 2,206; supreme judge,
James F. Ailshie, Republican, 2,738, Frank F. Fogg,
Democrat. 2,083: state senator, Bernard F. O'Neil,
Republican 2,864, Patrick H. Blake, Democrat. 2,028;
representatives, Ole A. Anderson, James R. Greer,
Howard R. McBride, Alfred Page, Republicans. 2.710.
2.634. 2,763 and 2,641, respectively, Mills W. Hoyle,
Daniel Harrington. .Mis. Mary A. Hutton, Sumner
Rigdon, Democrats, 2,097, 2>x32> I>9^>3' 2-I37; district
judge, Ralph T. Morgan, Republican, 2.649, Liguori
A. Doherty, Democrat, 2,200: county clerk, Stan-
ley P. Fairweather. Republican, 2.759. John P.
Sheehy, Democrat, 2,169; commissioners, 1st district.
Fremont S. Rowe, Republican, 2,715, James J. Pur-
cell, Democrat, 2,118; 2d district, Ewen Mcintosh,
Republican, 2,632, Edward Bolger, Democrat. 2.1 10:
3d district, Israel B. Cowan, Republican, 2,695. Edward
J. Clark, Democrat, 2,108; sheriff, Charles Manley. Re-
publican, 2,940, Thomas Heney, Democrat. 2.042:
county attorney, Robert N. Dunn, Republican, 2,593,
Henry P. Knight, Democrat, 2,290; treasurer. Hans
J. Rice, Republican, 2,521, Mrs. Carrie Shearer. Demo-
crat, 2.357: probate judge. Thaddeus C. Riddle. Re-
publican, 2.758, John H. Wourms, Democrat, 2,062 :
superintendent of schools, Marv O. Wickersham. Re-
publican, 2,627, Mrs. Helen L. Young, Democrat,
2.293 '• assessor, William T. Hooper, Republican.
2,702, Charles Heim, Democrat, 2,117: coroner. D. E.
Keep, Republican. 2.688. Franklin P. Matchette. Demo-
crat, 2.087 '• surveyor, David A. Porter, Republican,
2,736, William A. Hesse. Democrat. 2.112.
At the last session of the legislature Shoshone
county was signally honored by the election of one of
her foremost citizens. Weldon B. Heyburn, as United
States senator for Idaho. This recognition is both de-
served and popular and because of it Shoshone county
will doubtless come into a national prominence in poli-
lics during the next few years as the home oi
Idaho's able senators.
CHAPTER V.
CITIES AND TOWNS.
Congressman Proctor Knott once described the city
of Dnluth, Minessota, as a glorious metropolis, "sit-
ting at the feet of her own possibilities." Far more
aptly would this apply to Wallace, the capital of Sho-
shone county, for the Coeur d'Alenes are her possi-
bilities, and among them she nestles, the prettiest, best
groomed municipality in northern Idaho. To the
Eagle, a small sheet published temporarily at the mining
camp of Eagle, Wallace owes the first notes from the
trump of journalistic fame. ( )n May 10, 1884, the
Eagle said, under headline of "Placer Center:"
"This is the name of a new town started on the
south fork of the Coeur d'Alene, at a point about seven
miles up the road from Evolution. The town is situ-
ated in a good location and commands the Canyon creek
mines and other tributaries of the South Fork, wherein
mining in a small way is going on. The town will be
a good point for prospectors who intend to put in a
summer's work on the range between the Coeur d'-
Alene and St. Joe, and its permanency is assured from
the fact that it is on the Mullan road, which is the main
emigrant road on the P.itter Root divide."
"Placer Center" is the Wallace of today, a city of
handsomely paved streets, substantial business blocks,
elegant, home-like residences, pure water in ample
quantity, and supplied with all modern municipal im-
provements. At a meeting of the Shoshone county
commissioners. May 2, r888, I. C. Harkness presented
a petition from citizens of Wallace praying for in-
corporation of the town, consisting of eighty acres,
originally held by Colonel W. R. Wallace, by virtue
of Sioux half-breed scrip. This petition was granted.
The commissioners named as trustees W. R. Wallace,
D. C. McKissick, Horace King. C. M. Hall and C.
W. Vedder.
The citv of Wallace is located on portions of two
sections. 34 and 2~ . The former section comprised a
part of the original filing for townsite purposes, of
Col. W. R. Wallace : the latter, railroad land owned
by the Northern Pacific railway company. The energy
and patience manifested by Col. Wallace in securing
the townsite of the city which bears his name, was
not rewarded, so far as he was. financially, concerned.
His claim was successfully contested, and he lost the
fruits of his labor. In a letter to the editor of the Mur-
ray Sun, dated March 1, 1889, Col. Wallace recites his
side of the controversy as follows :
For two years I held the land on which the town was
built, on an agricultural location, and with my own hands
split the rails and segregated the land from the public domain,
and when I had secured the title to the same by the location
lit Sioux half-breed scrip, the outside fences were left stand-
ing, and those on each side of the old Mullan road were taken
down, as the title was unquestioned. And from all past pre-
ccdem-. as good as any patent could make it. The depart-
ment never claimed that the scrip was other than genuine,
but in 1NS7 it made, through the general land office, a decision
that, because the scrip had been located by a duplicate in
Dakota, the original and genuine scrip was canceled. I
can prove by the American consul, at Winnipeg, that the scrip
was located by the original owners, Walter Bourke and wife;
that he made oath, and still lives to verify the same; that
he had never parted with the original, and never gave anyone
power to use his name in any other location ; never knew of
any entry of this (his scrip), and under this I felt perfectly
secure that the title would be made to the "Wallace Town-
site Company" instead of the claimants in Dakota, and steps
wire taken to this end last November by D. C. Corbin, who
employed the Hon. Luther Harrison, of Washington, D. C.
* * * * file present jumping of the site is unjust,
and in line with other attempts made in the past to defraud
our pioneers of their property. * * * * I have built roads
leading here, and borrowed money to pay for the same that
the community might thrive. I have lived here through dark
and gloomy days, when none would take part in the present
townsite as a gift, and I have been called a fool and crank
because 1 could see in the future an opportunity to build a
prosperous town, wiiile they could not. But after I have
proven the prophecy of five years ago. by my energy and
work, they would rob me of what little I have left of the
hardships and privations of pioneering. The mob has tried
my case without my being allowed a defense. The higher
courts will ere long decide the validity of the claimants. Re-
spectfully yours, W. R. Wallace.
Results of the decision of the Department of the
Interior were sensational. Incidental scenes were thus
graphically portrayed in the Wallace Miner:
On the night of February 19, 1889, the ground upon
which the town of Wallace now stands suddenly reverted from
patented ground to the public domain, and hundreds who had
paid for government title to lots found themselves with noth-
ing but squatters' rights, * * * * The excitement in
Wallace that night was great — greater than on any other
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1027
former occasion
industry in our n
for a 1 inn-, in Bur
foot of Wallace
hty-acre
ping had grown to be quite an
town of Mullan; it had thrived
1 nan had dared to squat upon a
f-breed scrip had been placed on
iie sole benefit of the half-breed,
Walter Bourke and his heir-, and the government would pro-
tect him in his right and title. W. R. Wallace and his com-
panj owned the land, and they had established an undisputed
ownership.
But when the secretary of the interior decided against
a certain Sioux scrip location, near Glendive, Montana, a few
of our citizens concluded that if that location was defective
this one here must be It was not, necessarily, a logical con-
clusion, but it was sufficient for the purpose. One of the
more daring looked over tile town plat, and finally concluded
that the lots on the corner of Cedar and Sixth streets pos-
sessed superior advantages as a business location, so he
quietly walked over and took possession of it, posting a notice
in a conspicuous place, asserting his claims. This was be-
tween nine and ten o'clock in the evening. This was the
beginning. The corner of Bank and Sixth was next taken.
The jumping became general. Business men, laboring men,
hoboes and rounders all joined the wild scramble for lots.
Choice business locations went first, then outside property.
Excitement was intense. Hurriedly written notices claiming
so many feet of ground were placed on every available lot.
It was astonishing to see how excited some men got over
the affair. A few were cool-headed and quiet in their de-
meanor. Notable among these was Henry Howes, who, view-
ing the wild uproar all around him, quietly said he had been
working here bard for three years, and had finally secured a
place to build a home. D. C. McKissick and C, B. Halstead
were two other cool ones. They quietly took possession of
three line lots, comer of Cedar and Fifth, built a bonfire and
sat up all night.
When morning dawned and our citizens realized the great
change that had taken place in the ownership of property, it
was regarded by some as a huge joke, so great was the con-
fidence in the word of W. R. Wallace. The hobo element was
going to hold the ground, right or wrong. Possession was
all they wanted, and this they had. The conservative element,
which included the mass of the inhabitants, realized that the
state of affairs was a serious thing for the town, so long as
the status of legal right to the ground was unsettled. Mass
meetings were held, records examined and the conclusion
reached that the land was public domain, subject to occupancy
by any citizen of the United States. The secretary of the
interior has just decided that they were right, and the appli-
cations now 111 for a patent will, in all probability, settle the
matter beyond a doubt.
The foregoing article, published in the white heat
of the excitement attending the decision of the secretary
of the interior, must be accepted with due consider-
ation. Many respectable citizens were compelled to
"jump" lots in order to protect their rights and the
homes they had established. In order that a full un-
derstanding of this case may be presented to the reader,
the following ruling by the commissioner of the general
land office concerning this matter is herewith given :
Pages 27 to 32 of the decision of the commissioner (of
Sept. 6) is as follows: By act of congress approved July
17, 1854, this class of scrip was authorized and the commis-
sioner of Indian affairs issued the same. To the said Walter
Bourke were issued five pieces of scrip for 480 acres of land.
Said scrip, numbered 4.30. letters A. B. C. D and E., A and B
for forty acres each, C for eighty and D and E for t6o acres
each.
Upon representation made, that to 4,30 C had been lost,
commissioner of Indian affairs issued a duplicate thereof;
said duplicate was duly located March 9. 1880, and a patent
for the land embraced in the location was properly issued
as hereinbefore sL-t forth. Thereafter, on the fifth of June,
[886, the register and receiver of the Coeur d'AIene land
office, Idaho, allowed a location by W. R. Wallace, attorney in
fact, with the original of -aid piete of scrip, for .
land, and on the seventeenth oi said month transmitted the
paper in the case for the action of this office in the matter.
Said act of congress declares that no transfer or conveyance
of any of said certificates, or "scrip, shall be valid."
In the case of Gilbert vs. Sharpson (14 Alunn. 544) the
court held that a "power of attorney as far as inti
operate as ;, transfer would be of no avail; the right ol the
half-breed in the scrip and the land would remain the same;
it could not be made revocable nor create any intent in the
attorney. Therefore the matter is solely between tin- gov
eminent and scripee it is claimed by the scripee that he did
not locate the duplicate of said scrip and receive a patent for
the laud embraced in the location as herein stated, and the
papers therein appear regular; therefore, it is reasonable to
conclude that the location made with the duplicate scrip was
properly made and that the patent therein was m full satis-
faction of the claim of the scripee against the government as
represented by the piece of scrip.
The government having thus discharged it- obligation
to the scripee, the original scrip was thereby rendered oi no
effect, and the location made therewith was fraudulent and
void in its inception ; and the cancelling of the same by this
office as herein set forth, is authorized by the decision of
the supreme court of the United States in the case of Hark-
ness and wife vs. Underbill (Black, 516) Under date of
March 13, 18S9, the Register reports that Mr. Wallace was
duly notified of the said decision of this office in this matter,
but no appeal was properly taken therefrom. hi view of the
foregoing, and after a careful consideration of the arguments
submitted by the counsel on both sides, I conclude that the
action of this office was properly taken and the petition of
Mr. Wallace is denied. Action is suspended under Rule 80,
of practice.
On June 11, 1892, a townsite patent for the Wallace
location was issued to John L. Dunn, John B. Cameron,
George P. White, Henry E. Howes and Thomas A.
Helm, trustees of Wallace, for the north half of the
northeast quarter of section 34, township 48, north
range 4, east Boise meridian, containing eighty acres.
This tract embraced the greater portion of the present
townsite. The land on section 27, north of an alley
between Pine and Cedar streets, was railroad land.
This has been sold to Wallace citizens, a portion, lying
along the south fork of the Coeur d'AIene river, hav-
ing been donated to the city for park purposes by the
Northern Pacific railway company.
Following the contest on July 12. 1892, was filed
the original town plat, surveyed by J. M. Potter. Ad-
ditions, preceding and subsequent to, the filing of this
plat, are as follows : Mountain View, October -'4.
iSqo: Knob Hill. June 3, 1891 : Sunnyside, July 11.
1895; Huttons, October 1. 1891 ; Teal's, October 14.
1893; Park, June 15, 1899.
In 1889 Governor Stevenson said in his report :
"The town of Wallace, one thousand population,
is situated in a beautiful basin of the South Eork Val-
ley, at the junction of Nine Mile. Placer and Canyon
creeks, and is the supply depot of the great mining
interests of these gulches. It is the railway transfer
point of all the tributaries of the upper south fork and
has many well supplied and substantial business houses
in every branch of trade. It has two first-class hotels,
several societies, good schools, and an able ami enter-
prising tri-weekly paper, the Wallace Free Press.
Wallace will more than double in population the com-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ing year from the fact of its situation and selection as
the division terminus of the through railroad, now
building toward .Missoula, Montana."
The death of Col. W . R. Wallace, founder of the
prosperous city which bears his name, occurred in No-
vember, 1901, at W hittier, California, whither he had
gon in search of health.
During the five years previous to 1893 the town of
Wallace was governed by a board of trustees. In that
year it was organized under a city charter. W. S.
Haskins was the first mayor elected. The succeeding
mayors up to the present period have been Oscar Wal-
lace, son of Col. W. R. Wallace, now a resident of
Spokane, Washington, Jacob Lockman, Herman Rossi,
T. N. Bernard, Frederick Smith, who served three
terms, and T. Connor, present incumbent. At the
present writing, July 1903, the municipal administra-
tive officers of Wallace are, T. D. Conner, mayor ; J.
J". Whalen, city clerk ; H. P. Knight, attorney ; Maurice
H. Hare, treasurer; George A. Cunningham, police
judge; P. F. McGoveru, chief of police; P. F. Smith,
assistant. Councilmen : hirst ward — H. M. Thosten-
sen, W. H. Turner : second ward — John Pressly, Davis
Walford ; third ward — E. Burnham, James H. Taylor ;
fourth ward — John Hogus, Herman J. Rogers. From
the date of the organizaton of the city government, in
1893, until 1900, Wallace contained but three wards.
Jn 1889 an excellent sewer system was added to the
municipal improvements, at a cost of $20,000. The
work was completed under direction of Contractor
Thomas Olson.
The earliest pioneer in Wallace, 111 a business sense,
was Alexander D. McKinlay, who came here April
lb, 1885, accompanied by Peter J. Holohan, a partner
with whom he has been associated twenty-eight years,
in Idaho and other states. Mr. McKinlay recalls the
fact that he was obliged to cross the swampy area of
Cedar street by leaping from log to log and stump to
stump in order to pass over dry shod. In 1886
Messrs. Howes & King located in "Placer Center," and
opened a general store in a log building, having pur-
chased the grocery business of A. D. McKinlay and J.
P. Holohan. E. D. Carter, the same year, erected the
first sawmill, which, as may be readily imagined,
enjoyed a handsome patronage. The initial drug store
was opened by E. A. Sherwin, and the first hardware
concern by J. R. Marks. William Hart, and E. H.
Mofnitt, whose pioneer institution is now the Coeur
dAlene Hardware Company. John Cameron arrived
in the "camp" in the winter of 1886-7, a°d ne became
the proprietor of the original saloon on the townsite.
The first business lot purchased from Col. Wallace was
bought by E. D. Carter, in 1886, <>n which he erected
a frame hotel. The first livery and transfer business
was controlled by Southerland & White. In 1887 Will-
iam S. Haskins arrived from Kingston, with a fair
stock of general merchandise. Subsequently he dis-
posed of his goods and business to O. C. Otterson.
The Dunn Brothers, A. J. and J. L., were the pioneer
editors and proprietors of newspapers in Wallace, their
first venture being the Wallace Free Press. This plant
they sold out and placed the Miner in the field in the
fall of 1890. At present the press of Wallace is rep-
resented by the Idaho State Tribune, edited by J. R.
Sovereign, and the Wallace Press, E. B. Reitzel, pro-
prietor. In December, 1886, the Carter Hotel was
completed and M. D. Flint assumed charge of the same
as proprietor. M nat might be termed the spontaneous
growth of the young city is described in the Murray
Sun, of December 4, 1886:
The town of Wallace is more than holding its own in the
way of solid and rapid improvement. One of the 'finest, if
not the largest blocks in the Coeur d'Alenes is now in the
course of erection by Col. Wallace. It is seventy-five by
eighty feet in size. The ground floor will contain three
spacious apartments finished in the very best manner, and the
second will be devoted to a large public hall. Carter's saw
mill cannot supply the demand for lumber. Flint's hotel is
co be enlarged. George & Human, of Delta, have bought two
choice lots and intend building on them. Charles Seelig has
purchased a location with a view of building a brewery
thereon. Three saloons are doing a flourishing business.
The work of clearing Main street is being pushed with vigor.
The use of giant powder is clearing the town of stumps.
The excellent school facilities at present enjoyed
by Wallace are developed from humble and primitive
origin. In the fall of 1887 the first school was opened
in a log building on the corner of Cedar and Third
streets, with Miss Annie Angell as teacher. Here
school was continued for one year, when a frame build-
ing was exchanged for a log "shack" on Pine, between
Fifth and Sixth streets. One year later the trustees
of the school district erected a building for school pur-
poses which was subsequently converted into a resi-
dence by O. B. Olson.
In June, 1892, the trustees purchased six lots on
the northeast corner of Third and River streets, com-
prising an area of 100x150 feet, and a most eligible
site for school house purposes. The price paid was
$1,750. The same year a handsome brick building,
two stories in height, surmounted by a tower of Moor-
ish design, was erected. During the spring of 1901
an annex to the original edifice was built, somewhat
larger, but of the same style of architecture and general
design. It is, at present, one of the most attractive
structures in the city.
From this institution, on May 17. 1895, was gradu-
ated the first class in the history of the Coeur dAlenes.
The exercises took place at the Methodist Episcopal
church under the direction of Prof. C. W. Vance. The
graduates were Myrta Howes, Nina Hogan, Katie
Hanley, Katie Baldwin and Luneti Worstell. With the
exception of two slight epidemics of diphtheria the
Wallace schools, in District No. 8, enjoyed uninter-
rupted success during term time since 1892. At the
present writing, 1903, the officers and faculties of the
grades are as follows : Superintendent, H. M. Cook ;
principal of high school, Mrs. Edna Clayton Orr;
music teacher. Miss Grace Jenkins ; grade teachers,
Kathryn Cunningham, Mollie Fulmer, Myrta Howes,
Sadie Skattaboe. The high school enrollment in 1903
was, boys, eighteen ; girls, twenty-four. The average
attendance is twenty-nine. During the past nine
months there have been no graduation exercises,
Charles Dunn, eligible to that honor, having been ap-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1029
pointed to the naval academy, Annapolis, and dropping
out without formal graduation from the high school.
The following comprehensive resume of existing
conditions in Wallace in 1900 was furnished by the
Coeur dAlene Mining Journal, of date January 1,
1901 :
The year rcpo gave to Wallace its greatest measure of
advancement for a single year in material improvement and
general enlightment, and her citizens cross the threshhold of
a new year satisfied with the treatment they have received at
the hands of the departed year. * * * * Suffering nearly
total destruction by fire on July 27, 1900, the town has made
better progress than formerly, until it has become what the
severe critic would term an "ideal mining town," possessing
all the embellishments of modern civilization, splendid build-
ings, superb electric light and water plants, all the standard
fraternal organizations and religious societies, good public
schools, a magnificent Thespian temple, etc. The city's popu-
lation today is only two thousand, but the next five years
assures an increase of not less than five thousand, and pro-
portionate expansion along other lines.
Wallace made permanent progress during 1900 in every
commendable respect, truly reflecting the unprecedented pros-
perity in local mining circles. The municipal improvements,
new cross walks, leveling, grading and macadamizing of
streets, made during the year, cost $14,450.29, every dollar of
which was judiciously expended. The city officials, led by
Mayor Smithy have made a splendid record. Municipal af-
fairs have been well managed, and let it be said incidentally
that the city's indebtedness is only $8,000, a bond obligation
created to furnish the city with a first-class sewer system.
And it should also be stated in this connection that the Wallace
Manufacturing, Electric & Power Company has a splendid
combination light and water plant, which has a patronage of
3,000 incandescent and eighty arc lights, and 600 faucet and
surface connections. The double plant is one of the best and
most perfectly equipped in the west, worth $150,000, and is
under the management of H. W. Fellows, the officers of the
proprietary company being A. B. Campbell, president ; Rich-
ard Wilson, vice-president and F. F. Johnson, secretary and
treasurer.
The business of the Wallace postoffice for 1900 was one-
third greater than for the previous year, which very accurately
reflects the general advancement of the community. Ac-
cording to comparative population of Idaho towns, the Wallace
postoffice easily ranks first. But the record of the First
National Bank is another evidence of the permanent advance-
ment of the city. By the official report of the First National,
issued December 13, it was learned that the individual de-
posits were $552,313, against $466,523 for the corresponding
month of the previous year, while the deposits, subject to
check, in September, 1898, were only $272,703. * * * The
First National began business August X, 1X02, and closes the
year 1900 with resources of $784,513.
The building record made by Wallace during tqoo
eclipsed that of any preceding year, the money ex-
pended in the erection of business houses reaching
close to the $100,000 mark, while the erection of dwell-
ings and handsome cottages absorbed about $50,000.
The new business structures included :
Holohan-McKinlay block, two-story brick, with
fine store rooms on the first floor, $20,000: Sunset
brewery, four-story brick block, erected and owned
by ex-Mayor Jacob Lockman and association, $15,-
000; brick warehouse, by White & Bender, $12,000;
Coeur dAlene Hardware Company, warehouse No.
2, fac simile of No. r, $7,000; Furst block, two-story
brick, by John Furst, $7,000; Otterson, two-storv
brick, 50x100, by O. C. Otterson, $12,000; Heller,
two-story brick block, by Mrs. Eliza Heller, $7,000;
Carl Mallon, brick and stone brewery, $6,500; Mayor
P. F. Smith, warehouse, $3,500; Jones & Deane, addi-
tion to second story, $5,000; Coeur d'Alene [ron
Works, two-story frame, 35x100, $3,000; fifty feet
addition, two-story, to Odd Fellows Hall, $3,000;
Wood & Keats, two-story frame, 25x00, $2,500; M.
C. Murphy, lodging house, $2,500; Fred Kelly, lodging
house, $2,500; George F. Moore, improvements on
furniture store, $2,000; total, $97,000. The new resi-
dence buildings included; William Hart. $7,500; E.
Proesting, $6,500; Dan McGinnis, $5,000; Mrs. Mo-
riarty, $3,000; George Garrett, $3,000; W. D. Pow-
ers, $2,000; John Pressley, $2,000.
Among the business houses represented in the Wal-
lace Press in November, 1890, were these :
Hotels: Carter House, E. D. Carter, proprietor ; the
Idaho, N. R. Penny; the Crazy Horse, Simnett &
Webster; Hanley House; American House, George H.
Heller; Michigan House, Charles Mehl. Liveries:
Sutherland & White, Red Front, McDonald & John-
son. Clothing houses : The O. K., Julius Kohn, man-
ager; the Colorado, Sam Heller, proprietor. Res-
uirants: The Cedar Street, Mesdames Hogan &
Place, proprietors; the Frankfurt. City transfer:
Paul F. Smith, William H. Otto. Jeweler : Eli Ritch-
ott. Meat markets : Silver Belt, Barger & Sears, pro-
prietors ; Follet & Harris. Hardware : Holley, Mason
Marks & Company. Furniture and undertaking: \\ 111—
iam Worstell. Bank : Bank of Wallace, Charles Hus-
sey, proprietor, C. M. Hall, cashier. Ice: Carl Mal-
lon. Dry goods, Mrs. A. A. Schofield ; Galland Broth-
ers ; Chicago Beehive. Blacksmith : James Hennessy.
Real estate : N. Witner. Bakeries : City Bakery ;
Muir & Dicks, proprietors; Walalce, Woods & Keats;
Bank Street Bakery, Paul Herlinger & Company. Tin
shop : K. B. Sauter, proprietor. Photography : T. N.
Barnard's Studio. Lawyers : Walter A. Jones and
J. C. Harkness: Henry S. Gregory; W. B. Heyburn;
A. L. Dunn. Building contractors : Fuller &• Warren.
Cigars and tobacco: W. H. Leghorn & Brother. Sash
and door factory: H. Wood. Painters: McFadden
& Langrell. News stand . Tabor & Vinos. Harness
shop: J. M. Carmelius. Justice of the peace: \. I-:.
Angel. Doctors: U. T. Campbell. A. Bost.ni. Engi-
neers^ W. Clayton Miller; George R. Trask. < rrocers:
White & Bender; Howes & King. Tailors: Pfister &
Wassenberg. Wholesale liquors: D. C. McKissick.
Brewery: Carl Mallon. Street lighting: Wallace
Manufacturing, Electric & Water Company. News-
papers: The Wallace Press: the Wallace Miner. Bot-
tling Works: Staley & Zweifel. Harness and saddlery:
J. M. Carmelius. There was also the American Loan
Company. The saloons of Wallace at that period num-
bered twenty-seven. General merchandise
sented by Dobson & Nottingham.
The Wallace Eoard of Trade, in March, 1902, com-
pleted all necessary details for the establishment of a
publicity bureau, taking cognizance of the mines ot
this particular district. To prospectors and small prop-
erty holders blank forms were forwarded, with a re-
qtiesl that as full information as possible lie furnished
1030
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
the bureau concerning mines, prospects and other hold-
ings. Responses have been full and complete, and the
enterprise is a commendable success. Free postal de-
livery is not yet a fact in Wallace, but should the in-
crease in postoffice business for the succeeding two
quarters equal the last two, free deliver)' will, undoubt-
edh be established. The census of 1900 gave Wallace
a population of 2,265, and today it is claimed, on fairly
substantial atuhority that there are within its limits
3.000 inhabitants.
The first serious loss by fire in Wallace occurred
Sunday evening, July 27, 1890. This overwhelming
disaster originated in the Central Hotel, on Sixth
street. When the end came Wallace was, practically,
in ashes. Ten minutes' service by the fire department
resulted in exhausting the water supply, and the young
city was at the mercy of the flames. Fanned by a
stiff gale they spread up Sixth to Cedar street, leaped
Cedar, and in a few minutes later the Hanley House
and Club theater were ablaze. From this period the
fate of the doomed town was assured. With the single
exception of one building six blocks were destroyed.
the one solitary edifice remaining in this section being
the Pavilion, corner of Cedar and Fifth streets. Gian:
powder was brought into service to check advancing
flames by blowing up buildings, but such efforts proved
futile. So rapid was the work of destruction that
absolutely nothing of immense stocks of goods was
saved. One fatality resulted : An Italian, Centimio
Denarco. was burned to death while in a drunken stu-
por in the New State saloon, on Sixth street. Within
the boundaries of Fifth street the river on the east and
north, and the hills to the south, every business house
and residence was destroyed. The loss, as estimated
by the Murray Sun, was $500,000, with insurance of
only $43,750. The business houses and dwellings
burned were :
Sixth street, south of depot — Doell Bros.' saloon,
Denver Shortv's saloon, Central Hotel, tailor shop, Ut-
ley's Hall (I. O. O. F. building), bakery, milliner v
store, office of Grace & Horbress, Wallace Hotel, Han-
ley House, Tim Morcarity's barber shop, Al. McHor-
ter's barber shop. Tabor & Vinas' fruit store, J. M.
Carmelius' harness shop, O. K. Clothing store, Joseph
& Carlson, Julius Kline's saloon, G. H. Leghorn's
cigar store, aHthway building. Flaherty & William-
son's saloon, 'Rayner's saloon.
West side of Sixth street, south of depot — Carpen-
ter shop. New State saloon, Bee Hive clothing store,
Louis Kosminsky. tailor, residence, Sutherland &
White, liverv, Barnard's studio, Eli Rechott, jewelry,
K. B. Sauter, tin shop, shoe store.
Cedar street, from Fifth street east, north side —
Myer's butcher shop, Pennly Hotel, McDonald & John-
son, livery stable. J. B. Cameron's saloon. Jamison &
Horton, saloon, William Kellem, restaurant, Steward
Fuller's saloon. Palace restaurant, two dwellings and
two other saloons.
Cedar, from Fifth street east, south side — Black-
smith shop, two residences, D. C. McKissick, whole-
sale liquors, Barger & Sears' butcher shop, vegetable
store, Liverpool saloon, J. C. Boyer's barber shop, Mc-
Kissick & Fitz's saloon, Club theater, three residences,
Carrie Young's saloon.
Bank street, from Fifth east, north side — W. C.
Human's residence, Wallace block (W. T. Stall's and .
\Y. C. Miller's offices), Portland Manufacturing Com-
pany's office, telephone exchange, McNab & Liver's
drug store, Coeur d'Alene Clothing store, Mrs. Scho-
field's dry goods store, Bolander's restaurant. Lang-
well's residence, William Worstell's furniture store,
ice house and new building.
Bank, from Fifth street east, south side — Scott
Anderson, surveyor, Wallace Free Press office. Drs.
Watkins & Sims' office, C. D. Porter's residence. Bank
of Wallace. George & Human's block, including offices
of Dr. Boston, W. A. Jones, Henry Ford and Henry
L. Gregorv, White & Bender, Howes & King, post-
office, Heller Hotel, Vedder & McElroy, R. M. Dry-
den's saloon, barber shop, Holley, Mason, Marks &
Company, office of sampling works, D. C. Stetson, dry
goods, clothing, etc., E. D. Carter's saw mill.
Hotel street, north side, from Sixth street, east — ■
Coeur d'Alene Miner office, E. D. Carter's office, three
vacant buildings.
South side — Carter Hotel, stables, F. M. Frank s
office, laundry.
Several warehouses, supposed to have been fire-
proof, were, with the single exception of White &
Bender's, destroyed, as were all the records of the
postoffice, registered and ordinary mail, money orders,
etc. Although Postmaster Dunn had removed this
property to what he considered a place of safety, the
flames insiduously crept toward that point and licked
it up. In speaking of the generous proffers of aid
the Murray Sun, of July 30, 1890, said:
"The towns of Mullan, Wardner and Osborn be-
ing on the line of railroad, and in easy communica-
tion with Wallace, sent car-loads of provisions early
Monday morning. Offers of assistance were tele-
graphed from Spokane and other towns, but were de-
clined with thanks, the surrounding towns being amply
able to relieve the temporary necessities of the people.
The disaster was an appalling one, but not enough to
injure the town temporarily, as the work of rebuild-
ing will be on a larger scale than before. Petitions
have been presented to the board of trustees of Wal-
lace, praying that only iron, stone and brick buildings
may be erected in certain down town districts, and
these petitions have been granted. Thus far the Coeur
d'Alene Clothing Company is the only one that has
failed, as a result of the fire."
Early in the morning of November 11, 1898, the
Idaho Hotel, John B. Cameron's and Thomas Rey-
nolds' saloon buildings, all two-story frame structures,
were destroyed by fire, and the Fuller House badly
damaged, involvnig a loss of $12,000, with insurance
of only $500 on the Idaho Hotel's furniture. The
latter property, owned by Glen McDonald, and leased
by Johnson & Wilmot, contained forty-one rooms, all
of which were occupied. In this disaster a rare qual-
ity of heroism was displayed by Gus Enz. the night
clerk. Discovering the fire he ran up stairs and
awakened the sleeping guests, all of whom, with the
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
'031
exception of John F. Moore, a waiter, and W. H.
Dwyer, a cigarmaker, escaped. These two, and Enz,
the faithful, courageous night clerk, were burned to
death, the latter laying down his life to save others,
and thus giving force to the words of the immortal
stanza :
"Whether on the scaffold high,
Or in the battle's van,
The noblest place for man to die
Is where he dies for man."
Mrs. Alice Finnegan, chamber maid, George W.
Mitchell and William Palmer were seriously burned.
As in the case of the great fire of 1890, immediate
steps were taken to repair the damage sustained in
the disaster of 1898. Jn both events Idaho pluck and
energy were in evidence, and scarcely were the ashes
of the 1890 conflagration cold ere temporary build-
ings sprung up to be soon replaced by more substan-
tial structures. The sentiment of the people of Wal-
lace concerning the ramarkable progress in rebuild-
ing the town is fittingly voiced by the editor of the
Free Press in the issue of November 29, 1890:
Yesterday, four months ago, there were few men in
Wallace who looked forward to such a cheerful and happy
Thanksgiving as the one enjoyed on Thanksgiving last. On
the twenty-eighth of July the town presented a scene of deso-
lation. On Thursday last there was a rebuilt city, with sub-
stantial brick blocks and frame buildings from one end of the
burnt area to the other, covering nine squares. In the face of
limited transportation, lack of building materials and labor
suitable for the work to be done, the recovery from a bed of
ashes in so short a time borders on the magic. The trans-
formation is complete. Wallace is today a more substantial
city than before the fire ; more solidly built and more thrifty.
Much of this is due to the handsome brick buildings that have
been erected, which stand as monuments of enterprise in our
pretty mountain home.
Among the most prominent of these edifices are
the Hardware Block, erected by Holley, Mason,
Marks & Company, D. C. McKissick's wholesale
liquor block, Colonel Steward Fuller's new hotel, the
National Bank block, the Bank of Wallace block, L.
Manheim's block, Howe & King's, O. C. Otterson's
White & Bender's and Mrs. A. A. Schofield's blocks.
These are all new brick blocks, modern and com-
pletely furnished. Their cost is not less than $100,-
OOO, which is very good testimony to the vitality of
the business men of Wallace and their unshaken faith
in the grand future of the town.
Following the terrible trial bv fire of July 27,
1890, a new hose company was organized to replace
the old fire department, which had been practically
innocuous since that event. It was named Wallace
Hose Company No. 1, and comprised a membership
of twenty active men, with Adam Aulbauch as fore-
man. It came into being at a public meeting held
November 2, 1890. Of the old department Scott Mc-
Donald had been chief. The new company comprised,
aside from Foreman Aulbach, Scott McDonald, first
assistant, A. P. Horton, second assistant, Julius Kline,
Jacob Lockman. James Hennessy, John Frazer, pipe-
men; Peter Holohan, Jesse Tabor, hydrant men :
George Heller, H. D. Sawyer. Ed Sarbin, Louis Kos-
minsky, Charles Woodman. ( ). C. Otterson, \!
Honeke, Harry Germond. A. H. LJtley, Augustus
Sutherland and' J. M. Carmelius, hosemen. The prcs-
ent organization is partly a volunteer department, of
which Fred H. Kelly is chief and M. C. Murphy as-
sistant. The excellent water system was established
in 1890, water being led from Placer creek, the reser-
voir being on a high elevation south of the city, and
affording a pressure of 450 pounds.
As early as 1889 a company was organized 111 Wal-
lace for the purpose of exploring a system of light and
water works. Some progress had been made in the en-
terprise, but the fire of [890 consumed the rather rudi-
mentary plant, and seriously embarrassed the new or-
ganization. The franchise and such property as re-
mained were secured by E. D. Carter, who rebuilt the
lines and began to develop the system. In 1897 the
Wallace Light & Water Company bought the interest
of Mr. Carter. This companv comprised J. A. Finch,
A. B. Campbell, F. White. Richard Wilson and F.
F. Johnson. At present the company is officered as
follows: F. F. Johnson, president: R. L. Strahorn,
of Spokane, vice-president and manager ; E. J. Dyer,
secretary and treasurer, and D. C. McKissick, local
superintendent. The capital stock is $125,000.
Quoting from the Murray Sun, of March 25,
1893: "The Providence Hospital at Wallace is an
institution which has no equal of its kind in the state
of Idaho, and no superior of its size in the United
States." In May, 1891, a temporary Miners' Union
hospital was located in the American House building
on East Bank street. Its financial condition was ex-
cellent, each miner connected with the various mines,
with the Bunker Hill & Sullivan, having agreed to
pay into the hospital treasury monthly dues of one
dollar each. But at that period plans for a more
elaborate institution were being prepared. On June
0. 189 1, a committee of the Miners' Union and a citi-
zens' committee met with Sisters Joseph and Made-
laine, of Montreal, in the parlor of the Carter House
to consider the question of the proposed new hospital.
The citizens' committee comprised Messrs. McKis-
sick, Gibson and Aulbach. They were asked by rep-
resentatives of the Miners' Union if there was any
valid objection to a transference by the miners of the
hospital scheme to the sisters. There being none, the
plan was consummated, which provided that the Sis-
ters expend the sum of $30,000 in the erection of a
handsome, four-story brick building, with Mansard
roof and a frontage of 100 feet, not including the
verandas. It was provided that the depth of the build-
ing should be from forty to eighty feet, the basement
to be of stone, ten feet high. It was estimated that the
structure would require 250,000 brick. Ground was
broken for the new institution July 9. 1891- Concern-
ing this handsome structure the Murray Sun ol
25. 1893, said :
The origin of thi-; hospital was with the miners' unions.
It had become an imperative necessity Sickness was preva-
1032
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
lent, accidents numerous, and there was no place to take
proper care of the unfortunates under thc'r direction The
large membership of the unions justified the hospital, and in
1891 it was put under way. The generous offer of the people
of Wallace was accepted, and the site located. This created
serious opposition in Wardner, which town also wanted the
hospital, and the friction between the factions led to the
outbreak of the Coeur d'Alene strike in 1892. The miners,
however, ignored the Wardner feud, and a temporary hospital
was established in Wallace and arrangements made to erect
a $10,000 building, this being the agreement made with the
citizens of Wallace. The miners, through the conduct of the
temporary hospital, for seven months, found that it was almost
impossible for them to make a success of it Several meet-
ings of the executive committee were held and it was seriously
proposed to give up the entire project and let each union take
care of its own unfortunates. Then it was decided to enlist
the aid of the sisters of mercy, and accordingly three sisters,
including Sister Joseph, the present Lady Superior of the
hospital, came to the Coeur d'Alenes on a tour of inspection
and decided to accept the offer. The citizens committee of
Wallace transferred the agreement to the sisters. At first
only a temporary building was erected, a large, two-story
frame structure. Finally, after numerous vexatious delays,
work was commenced on the new brick building, pledged to
cost $.'?5,ooo, and this is now a reality. The citizens of Wallace
have turned over a deed for the ground and water privileges.
The building is located on a block in the eastern portion
of Wallace. It is substantially built of brick, with granite
foundation It is practically four stories high, as the base-
ment is lofty and as pleasant as any of the upper three stories.
All the stories are hard finished and divided into large wards
and single rooms, which are as cheerful as it is possible to
make them. The hallways are broad and stair-ways of easy
grade, and a hydraulic elevator is always in operation. Every
modern convenience has been introduced, including hot air
furnaces, dumb waiter-;, electric lights etc. The capacity of
the hospital is about 125 patients. The hospital was only put
in complete running order last week, although occupied for
nearly a year.
On Saturday, September 10, 1887, the first rail-
road to reach Wallace was completed to this point. It
was a narrow gauge line, exploited by D. C. Corbin
and associates, of New York city. At that time, the
Burke extension was contemplated, but right of way
had not been secured. A depot, 24x80 feet, had been
constructed, and regular trains were running to Wal-
lace on September 19, 1889. This road was subse-
quently sold to the Northern Pacific company, washed
out and abandoned in 1890.
The Northern Pacific Railroad Company ran its
initial train from Missoula to Wallace, in August, 1890.
In [900 a new round house, with a capacity sufficient
to accommodate six engines, replaced an inferior struc-
ture. December 29, 1901, the company's officials
first occupied the new depot, an elegant brick and con-
crete edifice, ornate and picturesque, located on Sixth
street, on the north bank of the South Fork of the
Coeur d'Alene river. The concrete, of which the
greater portion of this building is constructed, is com-
posed of "'tailings" from ore concentrators, and cement.
Its cost was between $8,000 and $10,000. A new ad-
dition to this building is contemplated.
On December 9, 1889, the Oregon Railroad & Navi-
gation Company brought its first train in from Tekoa
to Wallace, the terminus of the Tekoa division. At
present, however, O. R. & N. business is carried as
far east as Mullan, by special arrangement with the
Northern Pacific Company. Both the Oregon Railroad
& Navigation Company and the Northern Pacific Com-
pany have standard gauge extensions up Canyon creek
to Burke, a distance of seven miles. The new depot of
the O. R. & N. was built in 1901. G. A. Newell, the
present local agent at Wallace, has been with the com-
panv fourteen years, coming here June II, 1889.
The banking history of Wallace is marked by con-
servatism and business sagacity fully equal to that of
any other town in Idaho, and superior to many. Un-
settled financial conditions in 1893-4, of course, reacted
upon all the banking centers of the Coeur d'Alenes,
but in Wallace, particularly, recovery was rapid and
financial loss far below the average. On January 2,
[891, articles of incorporation of the Coeur dAlene
Bank, of Wallace, were filed in the office of the recorder
of Shoshone county, by virtue of which the institution
was authorized to transact a general banking business
in the state of Idaho. The capital stock was $50,000;
the directors John A. Finch, Amos B. Campbell, Pat-
rick Clark. Charles M. Hall and Joseph K. Clark. In
1893 the bank appears to have passed into the hands
of George B. McAulay and Van P.. DeLashmitt, who
owned, also, the Miners' Exchange, of Wardner. In
April, 1893. the Bank of Coeur d'Alene asked for a
receiver, attributing the cause af failure to bad debts,
universal hard times and closing down of imporant
mines. The liabilities were $70,679.73, of which
$19,014.67 was due depositors, $18,561.25 to creditors
holding certificates of deposit, and remainder to outside
state banks, including $42,429.07, overdraft on Bank
of Wardner. In the Bank of Coeur d'Alene Shoshone
county had on deposit $18,435.22. This was secured
by attaching the bank building in Wallace. Assets
were, personal property, including notes, loans, dis-
counts, etc.. $72,729.20, and bank building at Wallace,
$20. 1 53.92.
In December. 1890, theBank of Wallace had closed
its doors, subsequent to a run which, for the time be-
ing, had been successfully withstood.
August 8. 1892, the First National Bank of Wal-
lace was organized with a capital of $50,000. The of-
ficers were F. F. Johnson, president, Henry White,
vice-president, Horace M. Davenport, cashier'; Charles
W. O'Neil, R. R. Neill, Richard Wilson, Albert John-
son, Henry White, C. E. Bender, and F. F. Johnson,
directors. In 1003 M. J. Flohr succeeded Horace M.
Davenport as cashier. The capital stock is $50,000;
surplus fund, Sio.ooo; undivided profits, $5,148 and
circulation $42,700. President Johnson is treasurer of
Shoshone county, president of the Wallace Light &
Water Companv and cashier of the Bank of North
Idaho, at Murray.
The State Bank of Commerce, successor to the
Bank of Commerce, which was organized in 1901,
came into existence May 1, 1903. It is officered by
Bennett F. O'Neil, president, Maurice H. Hare, cash-
ier. Thomas L. Greenough, vice-president, and Charles
Z. Seelig, assistant cashier. The directors are Thomas
L. Greenough. Albert Burch, Ewen Mcintosh, August
Paulson, G. Scott Anderson. Maurice H. Hare and
Bernard F. O'Neil.
Erection of the Masonic Temple, in 1896, was an
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1033
event worthy of the originators of the project, and the
result creditable to the city of Wallace. Shoshone
Lodge, No. 25, A. F. & A. M., appointed a committee
in May, of that year, to arrange for the building of a
combination temple and opera house. The resultant
organization was known as the "Masonic Building
Association, Ltd." Estimated cost of the structure
was $7,000. half of which amount was pledged by
members of the association. For the remainder bonds
of the denomination of $25, drawing six per cent in-
terest, due in ten years, were issued. The committee
in charge of building operations were, A. B. Campbell,
chairman, F. F. Johnson, secretary, George Steward,
E. H. Moffitt and L. W. Hutton. January 1, 1S97, the
Temple was dedicated with appropriate Masonic cere-
monies by members of Shoshone Lodge and chapter,
0. E. S.. and several officers of the grand lodge of the
state of Idaho. Spokane talent, mainly, was employed
in the construction of this imposing edifice. The build-
ing was erected by Huber & Huelter ; plastering by
John Coleman ; the heating apparatus was provided by
the Griffiths Heating Company ; the painting and in-
terior decorations were the work of John McFarlane;
the scenery was painted by Herman Ludcke, while the
stage mechanism was under direction of F. Thompson.
Electrical appliances were provided by E. C. Morrow,
of Wallace ; 1 'russe & Zittel, of Spokane, were the
architects. Total cost of the building was $20,000.
The seating capacity of the opera house is 660; the
stage is 58x28x45 feet in size, there are seven exits,
toilet rooms, galleries and dressing rooms. The elec-
trical plant consists of fourteen circuits, 350 ten and
sixteen candle power. The second floor is divided into
a lodge room, banquet hall, paraphernalia rooms and
kitchen. Nearly all the fraternal societies of the city
convene here. and. at present, the hall is utilized as a
court room.
During the year 1892 a county seat contest was
sprung, ostensibly between Murray, Osburn and Wal-
lace, but in reality between Murray, the county seat,
and Osburn. Wallace threw the weight of its influence
and votes in favor of Murray, and the contest proved
unavailing. But in 1898, at the expiration of the six-
year limit, provided by law, to intervene between coun-
ty seat imbroglios, the people of Wallace joined in a
petition asking for removal of the capital of Shoshone
from Murray to Wallace. Practically there was no
contest. Sentiment was universal that the county seat
should be located on the South Fork of the Coeur
d'Alene river. Consequently Wallace was the only
real contestant. Of 3.335 votes cast, Murray received
864; Wallace. 2.471.
In December. 1902. the Wallace Public Library.
near the corner of Sixth and Bank streets, was opened
with pleasing social demonstrations. To the efforts
of Rev. I. B. Orr, pastor of the Congregational church,
the foundation and success of this institution are due,
and he, at present donates his services as librarian. At
its inception he paid the first month's rent, $30. On go-
ing to a coal dealer he was informed that the dealers
in the city would undertake to heat the building gratui-
tously. Thus it was with the electric light company,
and Mayor Connor's suggestion that Mr. Orr apply for
aid in paying the rent met with a cheerful response
from the city council. Contributions of books flowed
in, Mr. Orr taking the initiative with a liberal donation
of volumes, and he was followed by the Episcopalians,
who placed a generous addition in the city library. A
free traveling library is sent out from the parent insti-
tution. No fees are charged lor the use of books. Two
committees are assisting in this commendable work,
the male members being representatives of fraternal
societies in the city, viz. : George Warren, Masons ;
Otto Freeman, Odd Fellows ; William Wourms, Wood-
men of the World ; Al. Crawford, Knights of Pythias ;
J. R. Sovereign. Eagles; William Stoehl, Socialists;
Kobert A. .Marshall. Order of Washington: William
Adamie, Shoshone Club. The ladies' committee com-
prise .Mr-. W. W. Wood, chairman; Mrs. A. R. Car-
penter, treasurer; Miss Carrie Sovereign, Mrs. Harry
Wood, Mrs. R. E. Seyster, Miss C. M. Hathaway,
Miss Mamie Turner. Miss Agnes Sutherland. The
library contains over 1,000 volumes, and the patronage
of Wallace and surrounding country is increasing.
In August, 1891, Company A, Idaho National
Guards, a Wallace organization, was mustered into
service by Captain Langdon, of Company C, Moscow.
The company comprised forty-three members, officered
as follows : Captain, Thomas A. Linn ; first lieutenant,
Robert Short ; second lieutenant, E. G. Arment ; order-
ly sergeant, A. D. Short ; second sergeant, William
Hood; third sergeant, A. G. Larsen ; fourth sergeant,
A. H. Utley ; fifth sergeant, Fred S. Bubb; first cor-
poral, Robert Duncan ; second corporal, Hugh Ross ;
third corporal, Jacob Lockman ; fourth corporal, John
Van Dorn. Musicians, William Fitzpatrick. W. B.
McCrary.
In response to a call of the citizens, signed P. F.
Smith, chairman, a meeting was held at Masonic Tem-
ple, Tuly 1. 1902, at which was organized he Wallace
Board of Trade. The following officers were chosen,
who, with the membership, comprise the only board of
trade in the Coeur d'Alenes : P. F. Smith, president;
O. D. Jones, first vice-president ; T. D. Connor, sec-
ond vice-president; Herman J. Rossi, secreary; L. L.
Sweet, treasurer; executive committee — T. D. Con-
nor. W. W. Hart, L. L. Odell, J". R. Sovereign, J. A.
Mien, H. P.. Howes. M. Al. Taylor, M. J. Flohr. Theo.
famison, H. I. Read. O. D. Jones. Harry White,
( ieorge S. Warren. Jacob Lockman, W. A. Jones. The
board has a membership of ninety, meeting the first
Tuesdav in each month at the city hall. Harold J.
Reach, chairman. P. P. Smith and" Herman J. Rossi
comprise a special committee on mining. Among fu-
ture exoloitations contemplated by the board are a
street railwav for Wallace, and electric lines from
Wardner to both Burke and Mullan, requiring forty
miles of rails, together with a wagon road, twenty-three
miles in length, to tap the St. Joe timber belt, extending
up Placer creek, over the divide, directly south of
Wallace. The highest grade, near Summit, is ten per
cent. In this vicinitv several claim owners are now en-
1034
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
gaged in logging. The board has already constructed
six miles of this road at an expense of $3,000. An-
nual dues of members are $10.
The primary church organization in Wallace is the
Episcopalian, the South Methodists coming next, who
in turn, were followed by the Methodist Episcopalians.
Subsequently the Baptists purchased the building of
the South Methodists.
The Congregational church, of which Rev. J. B.
Orr is pastor, is a thriving organization of five years'
growth. Previous to 1898 Rev. Jonathan Edwards, at
that time of Wardner, came occasionally to Wallace
and preached to the Congregationalists, as did, also,
Rev. Samuel Green, state Sunday school superintend-
ent of Washingon. At present the Congregationalists,
are holding services in Masonic Temple and other
halls, but in August they will occupy a new church
building, now in process of erection, corner of Fourth
and Cedar streets, costing $3,500, exclusive of the lots.
One lot is reserved, adjoining the new church, on which
will be erected a gymnasium and bath rooms. The
Congregational Sunday school numbers seventy-five
pupils. On alternate Sundays Rev. Orr preaches at
Kellogg.
Organization of the Methodist Episcopal church
dates from September, 1894, when Rev. J. W. Craig,
appointed to Wardner, Wallace, and at intervals, to
Murray, Kingston, Gem and Burk, held services in
this city. Rev. Craig, also, organized the local Ep-
worth League. Rev. W. H. Selkirk came in 1895, suc-
ceeding Rev. Craig, from Pendleton, Oregon. He was
appointed by Bishop Bowman, the annual conference
sitting at Spokane. Rev. Selkirk was returned the sec-
ond year, and was succeeded by Rev. R. W. Moore. Jr.,
and in turn was succeeded by Rev. M. R. Brown, in
1899. The latter remained in the Wallace field until
1902, when Rev. H. M. Hobbs, appointed by Bishop
Earl Cranston, arrived in Wallace, September 14, and
is the present pastor of the M. E. congregation. The
organization has a pretty and commodious church
building on the corner of Fourth and Pine streets, one
block north from the new Congregational building.
The Catholic church of Wallace, now in charge of
Father Becker, assisted by Father Beusman, was dedi-
cated by Bishop Glorieux, Sunday, October 20, 1896.
This was the second church organization in the county,
of that denomination. The present church edifice, cor-
ner of Pine and Second streets, was built under di-
rection of Father Keyzer, who was the first clergyman
in charge. Father Becker, present incumbent, came to
Wallace, May 11, 1897. The labors of Fathers Becker
and Beusman are not confined to Wallace. They visit
the outlying missions of Wardner, Mullan and Burke.
The church organization of Wallace comprises fifty
families.
The Baptist denomination has a regularly organized
church in Wallace, holding services in what was once
the Methodist Episcopal church, on Bank street. In
1896 it was in charge of Rev. Lewis Smith, of Spo-
kane, assisted by Rev. A. M. Allyn, at that period dis-
trict missionary for Washington and northern Idaho.
Rev. George E. Graves, rector of Trinity Epis-
copalian church. Wallace, assumed charge of this pas-
torate in May, 1902. This church is the primary or-
ganization of the city, having been established in 1890.
The predecessor of Rev. Groves was Rev. Freeman
Daughters, who was stationed at this point four years.
Rev. Groves holds services also in Wardner, Mullan
and Burke The church edifice, corner of Cedar and
Fourth street, as well as others throughout the county,
were built under direction of Bishop Talbot.
In March, 1901, a new brewery, and the only one
at present in Wallace, was thrown open to the public.
The three principals buildings were erected in 1900,
solid, substantial brick structures, located east of the
Carter House, at the termination of the O. R. & N.
Company's warehouse tracks. The office is a single-
story brick building, 27x62 feet in size. The brewery, a
twin building, has a frontage of fifty-six and a depth
of eighty-six feet, and is four stories high. It has an
annual capacity of 80,000 pounds of malt, rice and hops
and, with the adjoining bottling plant, cost $50,000.
It is the property of the Sunset Brewing Company
(Incorporated), and under control of the following
board : David Holzmann, president, Jacob Lockman,
secretary, treasurer and manager, J. Henry Beckman,
Freida Lockman and Joseph A. Rubens.
Since 1892 the prominent mining town of Wardner,
one mile south of Kellogg, has been a point of histor-
ical interest, and a remarkable feature in the "Winning
of the West." The wealth of its surrounding mineral
district, its picturesque location in the lower levels of
a deep canyon, known as Milo Gulch, the sensational
scenes incidental to industrial troubles in the past,
have combined to lift Wardner from the realms of the
commonplace to a position of national significance.
The second largest town in the Coeur d'Alene dis-
trict Wardner ranks next to Wallace. It controls a
lucrative trade from Government Gulch, and mines on
Pine creek and Grouse Gulch, and is a dis-
tributing center for many surrounding mines. Aside
from the business prosperity of Wardner, influenced
greatly by the Bunker Hill & Sullivan and Empire
State mines, the town owes much to adjacent locations
of the Wyoming, Black Hawk, O. K., Stewart and
other great properties in that vicinity. The census of
1900 accorded Wardner a population of 2,000, but
conservative citizens say that the town, at present,
contains fully 2,500 inhabitants.
In 1889 the governor of Idaho, in his report to the
department at Washington, D. C, said :
"Wardner, in Milo Gulch, about two miles from the
South Fork, is the business heart of the great group
of working mines which have gradually opened in that
district since the first discovery of the famous Bunker
Hill & Sullivan. The population is 800. It has
schools, ■ societies, fire department and an excellent
weekly mining journal and newspaper, the Wardner
Xews. Its population will largely and quickly increase
with the advent of railroads."
But the Wardner of 1903 is the "Kentuck" of 1885.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
'035
October 10, 1885, a meeting was held in the cabin of
"Dutch Jake," on Milo creek, for the expressed pur-
pose of laying out a townsite and naming the same.
James Kelly served as chairman and Robert T. Horn
as secretary. There were also present, Philip O'Rouke,
"Dutch Jake" (Jacob Goetz), Jack Fitzgerald, Thomas
Hanley, L. F. Robinson and Thomas Irwin. At this
meeting the name of Yreka was bestowed upon the
district, and "Kentuck," or Kentucky, upon the town,
the latter in honor of the owners of the famous Golden
Chest mine, at Murray, who were Kentuckians.
Near the Last Chance mine James Kelly built the
first cabin in the place, November 1, 1885. A second
and third cabin were run up by "Dutch Jake," and
Mr. Horn, respectively, and the first store building, a
cabin roofed with canvas, was built hastily by Thomas
Irwin and Tony Tubbs. During the succeeding holi-
days a small stock of general merchandise was ex-
posed for sale by them. "Kentuck" grew rapidly.
January 1, 1886, it could boast of one hundred inhab-
itnats; by March the number was increased to 300, and
by July 4, one thousand people, all residents, could
have assisted in celebrating the day. During the
Thanksgiving holidays of 1886 Abe Goldstein opened
a hotel and lodging house, Paul Herlinger was pro-
prietor of the original bakery, and Tom Henly of the
first saloon. Thereafter other business men arrived
rapidly.
A mass meeting of the citizens of Kentucky was
held Sunday afternoon, April 4, 1886, for the purpose
of consultation and heart to heart talks concerning the
necessity of changing the name of the town. This
move was rendered compulsory by the postal authori-
ties at Washington. D. C, who declined to establish an
office there named Kentucky. At the meeting the names
"Irwin," "Bunker Hill" and "Wardner" were proposed,
each finding enthusiastic sponsers, and following a
free discussion of the respective merits of each, it was
unanimousuly agreed that the town should be known in
the future by the name of "Wardner," in honor of
James Wardner, a widely known and popular citizen
who did much toward advancing the prosperity of the
young but ambitious town.
In March, 1886, the editor of the Spokane Review
printed in his paper the following impressions of the
new location :
Some three-quarters of a mile up the gulch (from Milo)
we reached Kc ntucky, or, as it is more familiarly known
among the denizens, "Kentuck." It was the earliest camp in
' the mountains at the time of our visit, but on every hand
men were at work putting up houses, and under the pushing
influence of two mines its growth promises to be phenomenal.
The nature of the ground would hardly hold out inducements
for its selection as a town site, but the presence of mineral
would build a town anywhere. The gulch is narrow, broken
and covered with fragments of broken rock and a labyrinth
of fallen timber. * * * -: There are a few log cabins
covered with shakes, but most of the dwellings are tents, or
log walls with tent roofs. Tom Irwin, whose name has been
closely associated with the Coeur d'Alenes, keeps the only eat-
ing house, and is assisted by Tonv Tubbs, the once land prince
of Coeur d'Alene City. While Irwin's eating house was the
only one in Kentucky at the time of our visit, others were in
course of construction, and the town is full of them by this
time. The lodging house consisted of a double tent, with
a bar in front The night we stayed there every bed and
every floor was covered by lodgers.
Such is a fairly accurate and unbiased account of
the municipal status of Wardner in the earlier days of
its history. In May, 1886, one hundred and seventy
five buildings had been erected, a "Main" street estab-
lished and, in the language of the Murray Sun. "the
town was booming right along." Between Wardner
and the Mission a telephone line was established by
C. B. Hopkins, and the Wardner News had issued its
first number. Thursday, June 24, 1886, was a red
letter day, for it was the date of the successful trial of
the Bunker Hill concentrator, and this event was the
occasion of universal rejoicing and celebration. The
Hank of Wardner opened its doors for business in
November, 1886. The officers were N. S. Kellogg,
president ; J. F. Wardner, vice president ; H.M.Daven-
port, secretary and cashier. The directors were
A. M. Masons N. S. Kellogg, J. F. Wardner, E. C.
Gove, H. M. Davenport and C. T. Crane. On Novem-
ber 1 1, the same year, Wardner polled 462 votes, three
less than the town of Murray, and about this time was
completed the Wardner water works system. December
25, 1886, a postoffice was established and A. B. Gold-
stein appointed postmaster.
March 23, 1887, the Murray Sun claimed Wardner's
population 1,500. Undoubtedly this estimate included
many residents of the gulch whose habitations were
outside the limits of the original townsite. Yet even on
this basis it will be seen that the anticipations of the
pioneers of Wardner were not too sanguine. Lumber
was purchased as quickly as it was available at the
mills ; limits of the business portion of the town em-
braced five blocks, while between Wardner and Milo, a
distance of one mile, cabins lined the roadway. Town
lots that a year previous had sold at from $100 to $200,
were held at $800 up to $3,000 apiece. Yet it was at
this period generally acknowledged that the inflation
of prices was due, largely, to a sudden influx of enter-
prising and ambitious visitors, and encouraging appear-
ance of the adjacent mines. In 1887 the growth of
Wardner was, as claimed by the editor of the Murray
Sun, "ahead of development of mineral resources."
Aleck Monk and Scott McDonald, in May, 1887,
entered into a contract with the town authorities to
replace the original water works with a complete new
system. The contract was given to J. R. Monk & Co.,
of Murray, the estimated cost of which was $10,000.
The new system was named "Silver Creek Water
Works." Of six and five inch mains 2,300 feet were
laid, leading from a supply tank of 50.000 gallons ca-
pacity. There were five hydrants ; the highest pres-
sure attained being 250 feet.
January 4, 1890, the most disastrous conflagration
that had. at that date, occurred in the Coeur <1' Uenes,
broke out in Wardner. During a fateful period of
four hours the fire raged furiously, and within that time
a number of the best business houses and several resi-
dences were destroyed. The alarm met with immediate
response from hundreds of people, including the fire
department, but with the deepest chagrin it was dis-
1036
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
covered that no water was available. And then the
panic-stricken populace began fighting the flames with
snow, which was thrown upon the burning structures.
In a laundry, at the rear of the Mint restaurant, the
fire originated, and it is claimed that, had there been a
water supply the flames could have been checked at
this point. Retarded somewhat in their course by the
small avalanches of snow heaped upon them, the fire
slowly but surely ate its way along the lines of busi-
ness houses, destroying the telephone office, the
Moore block, and, extending up the street, attacked the
main business district of the town. Giant powder was
resorted to for the purpose of blowing up the Grand
Hotel and buildings lower down the street, but this
plan failed of the desired effect, and not until the store
of Samuel A. Fischer was destroyed was the progress
of the fire checked.
It is a pleasing commentary on the intelligence and
good sense of the residents of Wardner that during
this trial by fire the best of order was maintained
throughout the city. Following is a list of the build-
ings destroyed, with approximate losses :
Smith Sisters, building, $1,200; Higby & Boyer,
building and stock, $8,000, insurance, $3,000; C. W.
Weber & Co., building and stock, $2,000; Holley,
Mason, Marks & Co., building and stock, $16,000,
insurance, $8,500; Moore block, four buildings,
$7,000; Al Page, stock and fixtures, $2,500;
Norman's telephone office and fixtures $350;
Mrs. Snyder, building, $300; Mrs. Smith,
laundrv, $150; J. A. Mayer, Grand Central Hotel,
three-story building and furniture, $10,000; William
Bolger, club rooms, $1,200; Charles King, restaurant
fixtures, $150; D. L. Harley, cigar store, $700; Cos-
tello & Sullivan, restaurant, $225; J. A. Currie. two
buildings, $2,000 ; Comer & Parker, building, $2,000 ;
James Colligan, saloon fixtures, $200; William Will-
iams, building. $1,000: Joseph Stehle. beer hall, $600;
B. Flaig, jewelry, $250 : Follett & Harris, two buildings,
$1,500; G. M. Spenar, barber shop, $500; C. T. Ander-
son, tailor, $150; Edward Bolger, sample room, $250;
White House building, $7,000.
■ The buildings partially destroyed were Jacob Abra-
ham's, loss $500; H. Pressy's. $500; and E. Rupert's,
postoffice fixtures, stock, etc., $500.
Among the more enterprising citizens of Wardner
an enthusiasm prevailed for more advanced municipal
features, and on Monday, April 13, 1891. the commis-
sioners of Shoshone county granted a petition, signed
by a majority of tax-paying citizens, asking for incor-
poration. For the first year Alexander Monks, A. E.
Carlson, Charles Sweeny, Al Page and H. Drought
were named as trustees.
Agitation in behalf of a street railway was begun in
November, 1808, but is was without tangible result.
The Wardner-Kellcgg Electric Railway Company
filed articles of incorporation with the secretary of
state, the amount of capital stock being placed at $500,-
000. The board of directors comprised Bartlett Press-
lev, and Margaret Presslev, of Kellogg, Lawrence
O'Neil, of Murray, B. Flaig, of Wardner, and William
Woods, of Wallace. It was the announced purpose of
this company to construct an electric system from Kel-
logg, on the South Fork of the Coeur d'Alene river,
through Wardner to the Bunker Hill & Sullivan mines,
and also from Kellogg to Gevernment Gulch. Owing
to insurmountable difficulty in securing a right of way
the project was abandoned.
On "New Year's Day, 1901, responsible citizens
claimed for Wardner a population of 2,000. Through-
out the year previous the town had forged ahead won-
derfully ; local merchants enjoyed an excellent busi-
ness ; many new buildings were erected and an atmos-
phere of prosperitv prevailed throughout the Yreka
mining district. Although a postoffice had been es-
tablished at Government Gulch, handling a portion of
the business that was formerly controlled by Wardner,
the amount of mail received and dispatched increased
twenty per cent. For the year 1900 the estimated out-
put of the Bunker Hill & Sullivan mine, from figures
compiled by the Coeur d' Alene Mining Journal, was
29,717.66 tons of concentrates and crude ore, contain-
ing 30,000,000 pounds of lead and 606,000 ounces of
silver, valued at $1,750,000. It is only in the contem-
plation of such figures that one can appreciate Ward-
ner's phenomenal development.
Officers of the present city government of Ward-
ner are as follows : Dr. Hugh France, mayor ; W. H.
North, city clerk ; W. J. Baker, city treasurer ; Fred
Decker, chief of police. The councilmen from the'
three wards in the city are : Al Page, Dr. E. W.
Peebles, R. C. Parry, J. H. Collins and Edward Bol-
ger. In the two precincts of the city are four justices
of the peace, viz. : First precinct, R. S. Kelly, Henry
A. Jones; second precinct, John A. Parsons, cnarles
H. Wentz. Fred Decker serves as constable in the
first and J. A. R. Campbell in the second precinct.
An excellent water system has been provided for
Wardner, owned by Alex Monk, at present a resident
of Ireland. The system is under the local manage-
ment of Edward Bolger.
The pioneer church edifice in Wardner is St.
Peter's Episcopal church, located below what is known
as the "old town." It was dedicated Saturday eve-
ning, November 29, 1895, by Bishop Talbot, assisted
by Rev. P. Murphy, rector of St. Mark's church, of
Moscow, and Rev. A. J. Holworthy, of Trinity church,
Wallace. At present there are four church organiza-
tions, the Methodist Episcopal, Congregational,
Fpiscopalian and Catholic, and an Ep worth League
society. Rev. D. W. Raines is the resident pastor of
the M. E. church: Rev. George E. Groves, rector of
Trinity church, Rev. J. B. Orr, pastor of the Congre-
gational church, and Father Becker, of the Catholic
church, all of Wallace, hold service at Wardner on al-
ternate Sundays.
The fraternal societies in Wardner are represented
by the Wodmen of the World; Eagles, Aerie No. 170;
Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Improved
Order of Red Men and Wardner Industrial Union.
PIERCE CITY.
To Pierce City belongs the distinction of being the
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1037
oldest placer mining camp in Idaho. Few places in
the northwest possess such an interesting and re-
markable history. In this section of the west there
are only half a dozen of these historic towns, and
around their misty past have been woven many a ro-
mance, not infrequently containing more solid truth
than fanciful imagination, dealing with the golden
days of old, when Dame Fortune was in a most ca-
pricious mood. Wonderful tales they are, of fabulous
fortunes, the exploits of hundreds of desperadoes who
ruled the region, the free and strenuous life led by these
dauntless gold seekers. One cannot enter the pre-
cincts of these old camps, having read and heard of
their history, without being somewhat awed by the
scenes before him, and when he considers that thou-
sands, perhaps tens of thousands of pioneers have trod
the ground on which he walks, and that millions ot
gold have been washed from the soil beneath his feet
is it strange that his emotions should be stirred?
From the crest of the hill overlooking Pierce City
from the southwest one can view the little valley be-
neath through which courses Orofino creek. This is
the famous stream that drew to its shores the pioneer
miners of Idaho. Half a mile down the creek stands
the cluster of buildings forming the town of Pierce
City. From all sides of the town, except where a
narrow meadow lies along the banks of the creek, pine-
clad hills and mountains rise and fall gracefully back
against the horizon. Here and there can be seen
enormous piles of "tailings," debris of fallen timber in
a gulch whose sides have been eaten away by the ener-
getic toil of the ambitious miner of days gone by, show-
ing where a portion of the millions yielded by this dis-
trict have been secured. A well constructed bridge
crosses the Orofino, the road passing along the bottom
lands, and into town. As is usual in small towns
located in this section, there is but one street 'in Pierce
City, on each side of which are a majority of the
buildings in the place. Several new, commodious
buildings, mostly for business purposes, indicate that
Pierce City is growing, and large stocks of goods tes-
tify that it enjoys a commercial importance. And yet,
on all sides are to be seen many of the picturesque
cabins of pioneers, combining to accentuate the fact
that this is a historical town. On the eastern side stands
the old court house, a substantial, two-story log build-
ing, erected in 1862, and which at one time served as
the county's official building until 1884. It cost be-
tween $3,500 and $4,000; such was the low value
placed upon town property after removal of the county
seat, in the later year, that this "court house" was sold
for less than $50 to Edward Hammond. Financially
Mr. Hammond did well by holding the property until
the arrival of more prosperous times. The altitude of
Pierce City is a little over 3.000 feet ; its normal popu-
lation between 150 and 200.
The town has four large general stores, owned re-
spectively by T. B. Reed & Co., Samson Snyder, W. H.
Dahl and A, M. Roberts; a grocery presided over by
Duck Lee, a Chinaman ; a Chinese store, owned by
Lune Wah ; two excellent hotels, the Pioneer, con-
ducted by John Lane, and the City Hotel, A. S. War-
ren, proprietor ; a well stocked drug store, the property
of C. Smith ; a meat market, belonging to Saling &
King; two blacksmith shops, conducted by J. Barney
Richardson and I. D. Cleek ; three livery and feed
barns, controlled by Col. John Lane, A. S. Warren
and William Curry ; two lodging nouses, kept by
William Dahl and Samson Snyder : a barber shop, the
property of E. B. McElwain ; a postoffice and express
office, under the care of A. M. Roberts ; a saw mill of
5,000 feet capacity, operated by the American Placer
Mining Company, on Canal Gulch, and three saloons.
Besides these business institutions we must not over-
look the Pierce City Miner, a newsy little paper pub-
lished weekly by the Miner Publishing Company. D.
M. Nulty edits the journal and manages the property,
which is creditable to the camp and an excellent ex-
ponent of this section's advantages and resources. All
of these concerns are doing a gratifying business and
sanguinely looking forward to more prosperous
periods than ever before experienced in the later his-
tory of the camp. In 1896 was erected a comfortable
school house, at a cost of $500, in which nine months'
school is maintained. Mrs. Fred Roos is the present
instructor. This building, standing on the hillside,
occupies the site of the old fort built at the time of the
Indian war of 1877. As yet there are no church so-
cieties in the town, but the generous, whole-souled
hospitality and social qualities of the inhabitants in-
dicate a congenial, satisfied and well-purposed com-
munity. And in this Pierce City is but typical of all
mining towns of Shoshone county.
With the outside world Pierce City is connected
with telephone, and also by a passenger and mail stage
making six trips a week between Greer and the former
place, a distance of twenty-nine miles. The telephone
system is a private line installed last year. There is a
wagon road between Orofino and Pierce City, a much
travelled summer route, though not so popular as the
Greer- Weippe road. Four years ago Pierce City suf-
fered a severe loss by fire, flames breaking out in the
store of Lee Duck, a Chinese merchant. This re-
sulted in the destruction of Lee Duck's emporium,
Charles Smith's saloon, Jim Fee's store and two vacant
residences, all on the east side of Main street. For-
tunately there was considerable snow on the ground,
and by keeping William Davis' saloon building wet
with snow and water, progress of the fire was stayed
and the town saved. The log buildings destroyed were
soon replaced by frame structures, and the fire his-
tory of more ambitious towns was repeated in Pierce
City. None of the losses was covered by insurance.
In March, 1903, the store of A. M. Roberts caught
fire and a more serious loss than that of 1899 was nar-
rowly averted. As early as 1865 a fire company was
organized, consisting of between thirty and forty men,
equipped with buckets, hooks and ladders, but this
primevial department has long since passed away, re-
membered only by the earliest pioneers. Another com-
pany on more modern lines will, probably, be put in
the field at an early date.
Until 1894 not sufficient was thought of the town-
site of Pierce City to warrant any one in claiming
io38
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
possession of it. But that year Francis Carle and
Augustus Erickson filed mining claims upon the land,
and subsequently Frank Gaffney entered a portion as
a mining claim. ' In December, 1901, these claims were
platted in a townsite, and in July, 1902, the land was
patented and deeds given the claim owners. Of these
sixty acres only a few acres have been laid out, al-
though all of the land is suitable for building purposes.
The three principal streets are Main, Carl and Court,
the first named being seventy-eight feet wide.
With an enormous mineral body, carrying ores
and placer gold of all degrees of richness, thousands
of acres of the finest white pine, red and white fir,
cedar an dtamarack in the west surrounding the town,
a splendid site and energetic, progressive business men,
Pierce City has before it a most promising future, and
great developments may be confidently expected within
the succeeding few years.
In opening this sketch of Orofino an explanation is
due relative to the inconsistency in the spelling of its
name. The two Spanish words, Oro Fino, mean "fine
gold," and are correctly used as two separate words.
A recent order of the United States postal department
refuses to allow the use of double names for postoffices.
Hence the people of Orofino were compelled to change
the name of their own town or else conform to the
decision of the department. They chose the latter
alternative.
It is the largest town in southern Shoshone county,
situated at the mouth of Oro Fino creek, on the Clear-
water Short Line railroad, four miles from the north
fork, and forty-four miles from Lewiston. The name,
alone, attracts attention, for it was from the auriferous
gravel of Oro Fino creek that the first gold was taken
that set aflame with excitement the country, synchrone-
ous with the attack on Fort Sumter. Fitting it is that
this euphonious Spanish name should be signalized by
the building of a city and the naming of the angry
torrent. To this end nature has contributed by creat-
ing a beautiful site at the mouth of Oro Fino canyon,
which widens into a pretty, park-like cove, extending
inland for, perhaps, a mile. Toward the Clearwater
gently slopes the broad meadow, and the creek and
open parks, and alternating clusters of yellow pines
and budding copses, in garbs of emerald hue ; grass-
clad slopes of the canyon, upon whose summits may
be seen the outer edges of the great Clearwater for-
est : the rushing, tumbling waters of the creek ; the
majestic sweep of the larger stream, all add to the
picturesqueness of the town. Especially is this true
in the springtime when the sharp contrast between the
Clearwater valley and the high, open prairies on either
side is marked." The valley has the superior winter,
the prairies the superior summer climate.
At the head of this attractive cove, then, the town
of Orofino has grown and prospered ; has become the
most important point in the surrounding region. At
one time it possessed the dignity of a county-seat; a
short-lived honor, as the county of which it became
the temporary capital was declared an illegitimate cre-
ation and was dissolved. Previous to the advent of
white man, in 1895, Hale Moody, a wealthy Indian,
was the most prominent resident in the valley. Before
the opening of the reservation he lived for many years
on Oro Fino creek. When the reservation was finally
thrown open to the whites Hale Moody sold his stock,
"Folded his tent like the Arabs,
And silently stole away."
Whence he came and whither he went no one ap-
pears to know. He was not a Nez Perce Indian; he
had come from some portion of Montana. And the
old "Hale Moody" place is now the property of Ben-
jamin Hines, whose wife is a Nez Perce woman. This
tract embraces about one hundred and forty acres of
the best land in the valley and, together with an al-
lotment belonging to an Indian woman named Ka-
las-poo. or Xancy, as she is known by the whites, in-
cludes the major portion of the bottom land, leaving
only a comparatively small tract of deeded land, for
town-site purposes. The Hines place, being inherited
Indian land, the citizens of Orofino are arranging to
purchase a portion, if not all, of it that the limits of
the town may be extended. The tract is an unusually
fine site, the ground lying practically level to the
water's edge. Across the Clearwater a precipitous
bluff rises several hundred feet from the river, pre-
cluding a settlement in that vicinity.
The strip of land along the Oro Fino and Clear-
water, still unallotted when the reservation was opened
on November 18, 1895, was homesteaded by Clifford
C. Fuller, on November 19, and it is on this ground
that the town has been built. Mr. Fuller commuted
his filing in February, 1896, and in 1898 the Clear-
water Improvement Company was organized with Mr.
Fuller at its head for the purpose of laying out a town-
site at the mouth of the creek, building a ferry and
otherwise fostering a settlement at this point. The
extreme northwestern forty of the claim, lying in sec-
tion 7. township 36, north range 2, east of the Boise
meridian, was platted in June, 1898. During the sum-
mer a ferry was built which was placed in charge of
William M. Chandler, and a rough wagon road was
constructed to the top of the western side of the can-
yon. On his homestead Mr. Fuller had established a
small trading post, a few rods from the bank of the
river, above the creek. His successor. Dr. C. S.
Moody, removed the goods to a building near the de-
pot site, and there, assisted by his father, conducted
? drug and general merchandise store. The story of
the establishment of Orofino depends upon the build-
ing of the steamer Hannaford in the spring of 1898
by the Idaho & Washington Transportation Company.
It: was proposed by this organization to run a steamer
line between the mouth of Potlatch creek and some
point on the upper Clearwater, connecting that sec-
tion with the railroad. In order to control this trade
Orofino was founded. But before the Hannaford was
completed the Northern Pacific Railway Company
purchased the boat and began construction of the
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1039
greatly desired radroad up the Clearwater. The Han-
naford made four trips and was then taken to the
Snake river.
To the little hamlet the railroad proved a boon.
Orofino was made division headquarters during the en-
tire period. There were one thousand men on the pay-
roll ; payment of so much money could not fail to at-
tract merchants to the town. First of these, after the
Moodys. was John G. Buescher. He opened his stock
of goods October 1, 1898, in a little building near
Moody's store. Ben Rowland had built a little cabin
ior residence purposes, and these three buildings, to-
gether with C. C. Fuller's home, a warehouse, the
ferry and the postoffice, which had been removed from
Gilbert, at the mouth of the north fork, to Orofino
.May 1, 1897, and Mrs. Lois J. Anderson appointed
postmistress, constituted the town until the spring of
1899. During the following spring and summer
stores were established by Langdon & Downing, Mor-
xill & Woods, Means & McKee, Carlson Brothers,
Horace Noble, William A. Curry, Jacob Moritz, R.
F. Woelk and Anderson & Company, most of whom
are still engaged in business in the town. The same
spring another important project was exploited, the
Orofino Courier, the initial number being' issued May
19, 1899. Its publishers were Horace E. and James
R. Greer. From that time on the outside world was
advised of the existence of Orofino. The pioneer ho-
tel was the Buckhorn, near the Courier office, on the
bank of the Clearwater, E. R. Reed proprietor. It
was abandoned in iqoo. Another hotel was opened
in July, 1890, the Noble House; proprietor, Horace
Noble. At present it is owned by Mark Means. To
< )rofino the railroad was completed September 22,
1899, and a station opened in November, the site being
on a twenty-four-acre tract of condemned Indian land.
The spring of 1899 witnessed the submergence of the
streets of Orofino by the waters of the Clearwater and
the creek.
Never since has Orofino been as populous as it
was in 1899. This is owing to the immense number
•of railroad men there at that period, but its permanent
population steadily increased from the time of its es-
tablishment, and is still increasing. A census of the
town, taken in 1901. revealed 375 people, and this
number has since been perceptibly augmented. In 1902
the comrrtissioners of Shoshone county appropriated
J?i,ooo and the citizens of Orofino $1,500 to build a
road between Pierce City and Orofino. The road was
built and will be materially improved during the com-
ing year. Money has also been expended improving
the grade up the canyon on the opposite side of the
Clearwater.
The business interests of the town are looked
after particularly by the Orofino Commercial Club, or-
ganized in the spring of 1900. The first officers were :
P. H. Blake, president ; E. H. Fuller, secretary ; J. W.
Merrill, treasurer. This creditable association is at
present officered and managed by James A. Parker,
president: Dr. II. M. Cochran, secretary, and J. W.
Merrill, treasurer. Monthly meetings are held by the
club.
Realizing that Orofino could not expand on Indian
land, Ellis Small and J. G. Wright platted Small &
Wright's addition in 1899. At present there are prob-
ably one hundred people living in this portion of Oro-
fino. Tlie two sections of the town are separated by
a strip of Indian land half a mile wide, hut the walk-
is a delightful one; over a new sidewalk recently laid
between the two divisions. There are no business
houses in the new addition, though a saw mill is op-
erated there by Hunsperger & Boehl.
The first school in Orofino convened in a small
frame building on the present depot grounds in the
spring of 1898. The teacher was Mrs. Charles Moody
and the succeeding term was taught by Miss Anna
Tiernev. Last fall a new schoolhousr. a handsome
frame structure, was opened in the main town. To pay
for this building the district issued bonds in the sum
of $1,850. The school is now under the supervision
of Professor I. F. Couch and Miss Jessie Haever-
nick. The enrollment is 113, of whom fifty-seven are
hoys. The Methodist church is on the hill above the
main portion of the town. Rev. T. C. Craig is pastor
and this is the only church denomination represented.
There are three fraternal societies — Orofino Lodge,
No. 31, Knights of Pythias; Orofino Lodge, No. 64,
I. O. O. F., and Orofino Camp. No. 7810, .Modern
Woodmen of America. On the hill above town are a
number of fine springs, and a company is now being
formed for the purpose of putting in a complete water
system. The Cascade Lumber, Light and Power Com-
pany was recently 'organized with a capital of $300,-
000. It has purchased a tract of land lying below the
falls on Oro Fino creek, four miles east of the city,
and here will be established a large saw mill and
power plant. The main thoroughfare of Orofino is
Jackson street, a broad avenue along the entire length
of the town, and here are' located a majority of the
business houses. On every hand may be seen well
built homes, and the people within them possess those
qualities of generosity, hospitality and progressiveness
characteristic of the new West.
The business houses and professional men of Oro-
fino may be listed as follows : General mercantile
stores — J. G. Buescher, J. W. Merrill. Oro Fino Trad-
ing Company, Ltd.; Mark Means, Oro Fino Mercan-
tile Company, Ltd. : Jacob Moritz. Private banks —
Mark Means. Oro Fino Trading Company, Ltd.
Newspapers — The Orofino Courier. Greer Brothers;
Optimist, Charles Hoffstetter, editor and manager, is-
sued by the Optimist Publishing Company. Hotels- -
Noble House, A. J. Payne, proprietor ; Reynolds
House, conducted by Mrs. M. L. Reynolds. Hard-
ware— L. Stannus, successor to Stannus & ( Hcott.
Drug store -Dr. J. E. Beck. Meat market— O. F.
Woelk. Bakeries— Mrs. W. P. Greer, John Taylor.
Livery barn — Clearwater Livery and Feed Stables.
Demarest & Edmonson, proprietors. Feed stable —
Hanks & Phelps. Millinery — Miss Maggie Smith.
Miss Marv Finney. Harness and saddlery — George
W. Moody. Notions — James A. Parker. Cigars and
confectionery — W. A. Curry, F. J. Sisk. Blacksmiths
— Olsen Brothers. Barbers — W. A. Curry. Real es-
1 040
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
tate — Clearwater Real Estate and Loan Agency, Al-
bert L. Morgan and Harry Caufield, proprietors. At-
torneys at law— William M. Chandler, Albert L. Mor-
gan, Frank H. Greenman. Physicians — Dr. J. E.
Beck, Dr. Henry E. Fry. Dentist— H. Miles Cochran.
Postmaster — James A. Parker. A brass band of ten
pieces is being trained under the leadership of a
skilled and painstaking musician.
In his annual report for 1889 the Governor of
Idaho said:
"Mullan, seven miles east of Wallace, has a natural
location of great beauty, and is one of the coming
towns of Cceur d'Alene. It is well built, has two fine
hotels, a public school and a weekly newspaper, the
Mullan Tribune. The population is 800, and it is the
center of a large mining district."
As early as 1885 a town-site company was incor-
porated, comprising Charles J. Best, president, and
John W. Marr, C. A. Earle, Enos G. Good and A. J.
Betaque, directors, for the purpose of laying out and
platting the town of Mullan. August 4, 1888, in the
Shoshone county auditor's office was filed the original
plat. The field notes were filed one month later, de-
scribing the location as Hunter's Mining District,
bounded by Mill creek on the west, the Coeur d'Alene
railway, later the O., R. & N., on the south ; govern-
ment town-site. The original area was 19.045 acres,
on the Mullan road, west of the Idaho and Montana
line, on land once known as "Nigger prairie,"
eighteen miles east of Evolution, "and seven miles from
the confluence of Canyon creek and the south fork of
lhe Cceur dAlene river. In 1888 Mullan contained
twenty log and fifteen frame houses, one saw mill, one
two-story log and one two-story frame hotel and 150
inhabitants. The estimated value of improvements
was $10,000. The same year Mullan was surveyed
by George R. Trask, assisted by Probate Judge Cone,
for patent purposes under the incorporation law of
Idaho. For a short period the Northern Pacific Rail-
way Company ignored the name of Mullan and at-
tempted to rechristen the town Ryan, but this effort
proved futile, although . the citizens acknowledged
themselves deeply indebted to Mr. Ryan for his val-
uable assistance in building up the town. It was Ryan
who purchased the Hunter mine in the infancy of tin-
camp.
During the year t88o Judge Potts, at present a
resident of Mullan, attempted to establish a rival town
three miles east of the latter place. As he himself
expresses his opinion of prevailing conditions at that
period, "There was a wild time in Mullan." Concern-
ing this project a writer in the Mullan Tribune of
September 5, 1889, says:
"Visitors to the Summit on Sunday afternoon,
September 1, were surprised to find a force of men
busily engaged in laying out a town-site on the small
clearing just this side of the south fork, where the
Northern Pacific engineer corps is camped. On Sun-
day morning the engineers surveyed the plat, named
it Tunnel City and began fencing it in at once and by
evening had about thirty acres inclosed. Some Mul-
lanites hearing of these proceedings, early on Monday
morning rode out and each staked off a lot, beginning
at the boundary line of Tunnel City and following the
Mullan road toward town. There are now probably
a hundred lots fenced or located. The railroad boys
are in favor of naming the place Tunnel City, but as
it has been previously christened "Pottsville" by some
ladies, it is thought that the latter name will prevail.
The future for the little town looks quite encouraging.
Messrs. Potts & White are already running a hotel and
general store. Messrs. Lardis & Perkins are fitting
up a restaurant. A blacksmith shop and meat market
are scheduled."
This attempt to establish a rival to Mullan came
to naught, as did the "McFarland" enterprise in 1885.
The latter was an attempt to convert into a town-site
a mining camp about a mile west of the town-site of
Mullan. In October, 1892, Probate Judge Gregory
received a United States patent for 18.874 acres of
the town-site of Mullan. This included the main
business portion of the town, but did not take in the
entire settlement. Several years previous the patent
had been applied for, but owing to differences of opin-
ion among the residents, more land was not included
in the patent. In December, 1888, Mullan was en-
joying a lively boom, accelerated mainly by prospects
of an early completion of a railroad to this place. The
Hunter concentrator, capacity 300 tons a day, was
under construction, there were many strangers in
town, and building operations were in full swing.
Saturday evening, July 24, 1897, occurred the first
serious loss by fire. At 10 o'clock p. m. the watchman
of the Gold-Hunter mill discovered the roof of the
boiler room in flames. There being sufficient steam
left, he immediately sounded the whistle. This sum-
moned Superintendent Curran and a number of em-
ployes, who attempted to connect the hose in the boiler
room. They were driven away by heat. Although
subsequent connection was made with the fireplug,
this proved useless and the entire structure was soon
in flames. From Wallace the Northern Pacific Rail-
way Company sent out an engine to release a number
of cars on the mill sidetrack, which, with the excep-
tion of two, were saved from destruction. • The mill
was burned to the ground. The fire was caused by
sparks from the smokestack and is supposed to have
been smoldering some time previous to its discovery.
The loss was estimated at $50,000, with insurance of
$30,000. By this disaster between fifty and sixty men
were deprived of employment.
Monday, April 18, 1898, the Morning mill was de-
stroyed by fire, involving a loss of $100,000, covered
by insurance of $60,00. From a heating stove, the only
one in the building, the fire originated, spreading so
rapidly that employes had barely time to escape with
their lives. Three hundred men were temporarily
thrown out of work, but the owners of the plant, who
were on the ground, announced their intention of re-
building so soon as the insurance could be adjusted.
At that period the daily output of the concentrator was
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1041
100 tons, and the pay-roll amounted to $35,000 a
month.
Conditions in Mullan during- the year 1900 are
concisely described in the Coeur d'Alene Mining Jour-
nal, of September I, 1901 :
The town of Mullan is located in a stretch of mountain
valley, or canyon, oasis, on the banks of the south fork of the
Coeur d'Alene river, a spacious, beautiful spot for a thrifty
mining town. In other words, .Mullan has room to grow, and
is expanding along desirable lines. Her population is increas-
ing and the trade of her merchants keeping pace with the
renewed activity in adjacent mining camps. The town has
good water service, an electric light plant, a nine-grade public
school, with over two hundred children attending, in charge of
Prof. Conklin, the usual number of religious societies and fra-
ternal organizations, all necessary equipments for a thoroughly
civilized and progressive class of people. The year just closed
gave to Mullan many new residences, besides a three-story
block, 43 by 65 feet, erected by Townsmen Frank Edwards
and Gus Glome. The demand for residences has not been
supplied, necessitating the erection of many dwellings during
the present year. Real estate is rapidly advancing in price.
Thomas Henry, representative-elect, is a large owner of town
realty. Railroad traffic increased fifty per cent in 1900, and the
volume of postofhee business in proportion.
At present the population of Mullan is 1,200. Re-
ligious societies are represented by the Congregation-
alists. Episcopalians and Roman Catholics, all of which
have church organizations and buildings for worship.
Fraternal societies include Odd Fellows, Improved
Order of Red Men, Ancient Order United Workmen,
Woodmen of the World, Foresters, Scandinavian
Brotherhood, Women of Woodcraft and Degree of
Honor. An excellent system of water works is sup-
plied from Boulder and Silver Creeks. The principal
mines adjacent to the town are the Morning, on the
west, and the Hunter, on the east. Aside from these
the Snowstorm, a copper discovery, two miles east of
Mullan, is in a flattering stage of development, a 1000-
foot tunnel now being completed on a level of 1,072
feet. Should sulphite ore be struck in the ledge the
company, represented by Mr. Thomas Donnelly, an
experienced mining man, will erect a smelter. There
are, also, numerous other prospects in the vicinity of
Mullan. including the You Like, Just As, Reindeer,
Silver Cliff, Missoula. Copper King and Copper Plate.
The Evening mine was the first discoverv on Chloride
Hill.
Of the school of Mullan, District No. 12, the county
superintendent's report gives the following figures :
Number of boys enrolled, 38 ; number of girls, 26, to-
tal, 64. Average attendance, 44.11. The teacher is
Beth Moran. There are two school terms of 171 z/>
days each, during the year, and the salary paid the
teacher is S80 a month. t
To chronicle the history of the oldest existing, and,
for years the most important town in the Coeur d'A-
lenes, involves a judicious condensation of much val-
uable information. Were the story exhaustively re-
lated it would occupy a score of pages, or more, in
a work like this, for around and within the limits of
Murray were grouped important and impressive
events; portrayals of early struggles and uplifting of
this region. In earlier years Murray was the abode of
the camp's most notable pioneers. Her earlier history
is woven into the warp and woof of the main narra-
tive of the Coeur d'Alenes, and patiently must these
threads be untangled in one's efforts to present an ac-
curate, yet satisfattory history of the town. It was
named in honor of George Murray, a part owner of one
of the claims on which the town was built.
A typical Coeur d'Alene town, Murray, originally
Murraysville, is situated in a canyon oil Pritchard
Creek, main tributary of the north fork of the Coeur
d'Alene river, about twelve miles due north from Wal-
lace, with which city it is connected by one of the fin-
est mountain roads in the district. Concerning its
earlier history the Coeur d'Alene Eagle, of April 12,
1884, said :
"Murraysville is the name of a town on Prichard
Creek, laid out January 22, last. The townsite is lo-
cated on three creek claims, and next to Eagle it is
the best location in the camp for a town. There is a
surprising activity in building at the present time, and
those who have located there are enthusiastic over the
prospect of its future growth. Every branch of busi-
ness is represented and all are making money. The fa-
mous Widow claim lies immediately above the town
and one mile above the creek is the Mother Lode. The
Murraysville people are active and enterprising and
ialk of making the town a lively rival of Eagle. The
camp, however, is rich enough and extensive enough
to support two or three towns the size of Eagle without
their interests conflicting. Murraysville is headquart-
■ters for Summit mining district, which was organized
February 7, and in which the best quartz and richest
placer claims have been found."
In May, 1885. it is noted in the Murray Sun that
"a year ago a dense forest occupied the townsite of
Murray, so dense that it was with extreme difficulty
that even a woodsman could make his way through
it." Yet in 1885 so industriously had Murray spun
the web of her municipal destiny that she secured the
county seat from Pierce City, and as early as July 10,
1884, her business houses comprised the following:
J. R. Marks & Co., hardware; C. D. Heck with, pho-
tographer; Bass & Ingalls, drugs; C. A. Hoyt, as-
sayer; F. W. Brown, fruits, nuts, etc.: J. L. Benning-
ton, Barrett & Zeigers, G. M. McCowen. restaurants;
A. Erwin, boots and shoes: Brown Brothers, lodging
house; Idaho Sun, Pioneer, newspapers: Benjamin
Eggleston, feed stable; Eugene Kline, successor to
Sinclair & Lockwood, Roderick McKenzie, Wardner
& Co., and Dennell & Co., general merchandise; J.
F. Stevens, J. T. Roberts. < jntractors ; "Dave's Place,"
saloon: Ainsworth. Hawkins & Co., bankers; Lafferty
Bros. & Glick, bakery. J. A. Mattis was postmaster.
Sunday morning, November 2, 1884, the first Cath-
olic mass held in Murray was celebrated, Rev. Louis
racquet, a Jesuit attached to the Spokane Mission on
Peonc prairie, and known by the Indians as "Broken
Arm," leading the services. The first Episcopalian
service was held Sunday, October 25. 1885. in the old
1042
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
court room, at which Right Reverend Dr. Turtle,
Bishop of Idaho, presided. The first M. E. church was
built in 1896. The initial bank in the town was known
as the Bank of .Murray, established in 1884, C. L.
Dahler, president; Charles Hussly, secretary, and W.
Hussly, cashier. During May, 1884, the department
at Washington, D. C, adopted the name of Curry as
the designation of the postoffice, but this was changed
to Murray within a very short time.
A private school was opened September 15, 1884,
by Mrs. Robert Neil, with an attendance of thirteen
pupils. Monday, March 30, 1885, the school trustees
of District No. 3 (Murray), having so ordered, the
first public school taught in the Coeur d'Alenes was
opened with 25 pupils ; fourteen girls and eleven boys.
Miss Selma Talbott had been engaged as teacher at
a salary of $75 a month. During the same year a lot
was purchased for public school purposes and a suita-
ble building erected thereon. The present handsome
building, built in 1897, cost $2,350.
Mr. Adam Aulbach, edior and proprietor of the
Murray Sun, is authority for the statement that in
the winter of 1884-5 there were one thousand people
on the Murray townsite, and fifteen hundred in contig-
uous mines. There were, also, fifty saloons. The
same winter a heav snow storm, which set in on the
afternoon of December 18, wrought considerable dam-
age, crushing four large buildings, and destroying the
roofs of others. The largest of the structures thus
ruined was the Theater Comique. By December 23,
thirty inches of snow had fallen during the season.
A call for a public meeting to participate in the or-
ganization of a fire department was issued in Janu; ry,
1885, pursuant to which the court room of Justice Me--
Kay was filled with an enthusiastic gathering of the
business men of Murray. A volunteer fire company
was rapidly enrolled, and the following officers elected:
J. T. Roberts, chief; J. Marks, assistant; John M.
Burke, foreman ; J. Hackleman, assistant foreman ;
Frank Stevens, second assistant foreman ; M. L. Fein-
berg; G. N. Culver, treasurer. The name of the organ-
ization was Friendship Company, No. 1. The immi-
nent danger from fire was again eagerly discussed
March 11, 1886, at a public meeting held at Union hall.
Before adjournrrient a committee of eleven was named
and instructed to devise some practical plan for pro-
tecting the town from fire. The committee selected
were W. L. Blossom, S. Fuller, W. W. Hart, Warren
Hussly, W. J. Hawkins, Roderick McKenzie, A. B.
Levi. O. D. Garrison, Adam Aulbach and Messrs.
Moffitt and Wolf. The result of the deliberations of
this committee was the establishment of the Murray
Water Company, with a capital of $5,000, divided into
shares of $25 each. This stock was readily taken by
the citizens of the town, and a water right was located
at the head of the cast fork of Alder gulch, and fifty
inches of water were taken.
From the many lot-jumping sensations common to
Shoshone county residents of Murray were not ex-
empt. In January, 1885, a number of unoccupied
lots on lower Main street were jumped. Temporarily
this excited only passing comment, as the owners
were, at the time, out of the county. This served,
however, to embolden others ; the contagion spread
rapidly. Within a remarkably short period every
vacant lot in Murray was jumped. The title under
which the jumpers purposed to hold these lots never
possessed any validity whatever, and was, in the main,
a side issue of the Schultze-Keeler case, adjudicated
several years later. Still it was serious enough to en-
danger a small reign of terror. The climax was
reached at 1 1 o'clock, a. m., January 30, when, ac-
cording to the Murray Sun, one man "planted himself
on the north side of First, at the intersection of Main
street, stuck up a notice that the ground belonged to
him, and with a shovel proceeded to clear away the
snow." This action developed a panic. To protect
the other side of the streets citizens hastily secured
planks and fenced them in. In their raid a number
of the jumpers attacked the "Widow Claim," erecting
fences right and left. These, however, were promptly
razed to the ground by William Keeler, Mr. Cromie
and others. So serious became the situation that, in
response to a petition a public meeting was held at
Smith's hall, and the following resolution unani-
mously adopted :
Resolved, that the streets of Murray, between Gold Run
and Alder Gulch, as laid out by the original locators of the
town, must, and shall be, kept open as public thoroughfares.
At this meeting Judge Claggett, one of Murray's
earliest pioneers, made an earnest and patriotic appeal
lor law and justice to the property owners. To en-
force this resolution, remove obstructions and assume
general charge of the matter, a committee was named
comprising J. R. Roberts, Con Sullivan, William Keel-
er, R. R. Cummins and Adam Aulbach. The spirit of
this meeting was manifested by a motion which heart-
ily prevailed, to the effect that all lots of fifty feet
front and 125 feet in depth, upon which there were
improvements, should be protected vie et armis against
jumpers.
This outbreak was followed by litigation of far
greater significance. It was in 1884 that the famous
suit of A. J. Prichard vs. William Keeler, et al, — a
ci 11 sue celebre — was placed upon the court calen-
dar, there to remain ten years, or until July, 1894.
The original plaintiff, however, had been C. A. Schultze
and the suit involved title to four-fifths of Murray's
townsite. It was finally compromised and the plain-
tiff, Prichard, who had taken up the claim of C. A.
Schultze, M. H- Lane and W. O. Endicott, was per-
mitted to take judgment. Keeler, as it appears from
the records,, was accused of having jumped the claims
of these parties.
Another legal decision has been embalmed in the
archives of Murray, and one which assumed rather
dramatic effects. The storv is well told in the Murray
Sun, of October 27, 1885'.
An unusual incident for a mining camp occurred in Mur-
lasl evening when news that Judge Buck had given his
ion favorable to the Golden Chest Mining Company, a
:ase in which this company's right to the ledge was contested
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1043
by Mur
demons
cheers :
feeling, not c
demonstratioi
<!id honor tc
Preparati
section of M
number of c;
:hed town. History has recorded few such
r such an event. The town resounded with
rs of satisfaction, the Golden Chest whistle
. men shouted themselves hoarse with en-
outcome. It was a genuine outburst of
d to a certain class, but a general, popular
nilicant in its spontaneity, for the people
1 been made to fire a salute at the inter-
First streets, with giant powder, and a
had been prepared and placed in a box.
In lighting the fuse of the first cartridge a spark must have
ignited some of the fuse in the box, fur immediately after the
Just explosion, which was a light one, the fuse in the box
was burning. .Mr. Mountenay yelled to the men to run for
their lives, and then, picking up the box, threw it into the
middle of the street. Scarcely had it struck the ground when
a terrific explosion occurred, breaking every pane of glass
m the neighborhood The Palace Motel front was shattered;
likewise Holzman's front. "Dutch Jake's," Garrison & Strong's,
Bennington's, Coeur d'Alene Brewery Saloon's, Mint Saloon's,
Wallace & Company's and for a block away. Many lamps
were knocked down, but, fortunately, no tires were started.
All damage will be paid for. The rejoicing continued until
past midnight About nine o'clock a procession was organ-
ized, headed by fife and drum, which paraded the streets with
hastily improvised transparencies. No political victory was
ever celebrated with greater enthusiasm than was sho'wn by
this sympathetic community toward the pioneer quartz mill
;.nd the company^.
Most of the more prominent fraternal societies are
represented at Murray. Tuesday evening, November
24, 1885, the first A. O. U. W. lodge in the Coeur
d'Alenes was organized, No. 14, under jurisdiction of
the grand lodge of Nevada. The original officers were :
Richard A. Pomeroy, P. M. W. ; John C. Harkness,
M. W. ; Thomas A. Linn, overseer; Jesse Coulter,
foreman; C. f. P. Bass, recorder; Ernest Rammerl-
meyerj recorder ; Thomas E. McLelland, financier ;
John M. Burke, guide; William P. Conellard, I. W. ;
Andrew Cavanaitgh, O. W. ; John M. Burke, Richard
A. Pomeroy and Thomas F. Hanley, trustees. This
lodge was organized with a membership of thirty.
Coeur d'Alene Lodge, No. 20, A. F. & A. M., was
organized in November, 1886. Canby Post No. 11,
G. A. R., was mustered in at Masonic Hall, Sunday
afternoon, October 3, 1886. Murray Lodge No. 38,
I. O. O. F., with twenty-two charter members, was
organized in March, 1891. Damon Lodge, No. 22,
Knights of Pythias, was among the pioneer organi-
zations in the Coeur dAlenes.
Coulson & Company's express line, the first stage
route between Murray and Wardner, began making
regular trips May 10. 1S86. On March 31, 1891, the
mail contract between Murray and Thompson, Mont.,
was discontinued, since which period all mail has
reached Murray from Wallace, on the south fork. April
1. 1891, the Bank of North Idaho was opened by
Frank F. Johnson, superseding Hussey's bank. Tbe
present officers are L. A. Doherty, president ; C. B.
Craven, cashier.
Sunday afternoon, September 20, 1896, Murray
suffered from the most disastrous fire in her history.
Considering, however, the demoralized condition of
the fire department it was acknowledged by all resi-
dents that they escaped cheaply. This was rendered
possible by absence of high wind. The fire originated
from a panful of lard in the residence of Pascal
Michieu, on Gold street, between First and Paradise
avenues. Five buildings were destroyed and the
dames communicated to Niedenthal & Smith's new
barn and the roof of Coons & Paskill's place. Mich-
ieu, whose residence was destroyed, was badly burned
on one hand and lost $50 in currency. Although the
entire loss suffered by this disaster was not large, it
fell mainly upon poor people who could ill afford
to lose their homes.
Events in Murray during 1898 were sharply ac-
centuated by a homicide, the killing of James Urqui-
hart by Mrs. Thomas Saling. The husband of the
woman was away from home, and Monday morning,
December 5. Urquihart, who was under the influence
of liquor, attempted to break into the cabin. Mrs.
Saling seized a rifle and shot him. The wounded man
was taken to the Providence Hospital, Wallace, where
he died at 4 o'clock, Wednesday morning. Mrs. Sal-
ing was promptly acquitted by a coroner's jury.
Flames again menaced Murray, February 21, 1901,
and it was with no little difficulty that the town was
saved from destruction. The fire threatened seriously
the Coeur d'Alene Company's large warehouse, and
only a desperate half hour's fight kept the flames with-
in bounds. A gasoline lamp explosion, in the rear of
the postoffice building, was the cause of the fire. This
building, with much of its contents, was totally de-
stroyed, with a loss of $2,000, partly insured.
The business enterprise of Murray in .1902 is rep-
resented as follows :
General stores — Murray Mercantile Company, J.
C. Feehan, manager ; M. Prager & Co., Ltd., Louis
Prager. manager. Grocery and bakery — E. W. Bur-
ion. Hardware — Murray Hardware Company. W.
P. Northup, manager. ' Druggist — Dr. George S.
Lesher. Express and postoffice — C. C. Landes. Meat
market — Fuller Bros. Millinery and dry goods — Mrs.
Tena Schmidt ; Mrs. Josephine Erwin. Restaurant —
Mrs. Klepinger and sister. Hotels — Murray, George
Gilpatrick ; Louisville, Charles Manley. Rooming house
Mrs. Martha McCorkingale. Blacksmith — Amos Wat-
kins. Barber shop — Robert Wilkinson. Fruit stand —
Frank Savage. Doctors — G. S. Lesher, Rova Alex-
ander. School teachers — G. H. Dunn and wife. Jus-
tice of the Peace — Dr. G. S. Lesher. Constable — Hen
Schneiderjamm. Livery — McCann ev Dunn. Tailor —
E. G. Tarbox.
The original plat of the town of Kellogg was filed
with the auditor of Shoshone county Jul}' 7. 1893. At
that period the streets were Silver. Mill, Market. Port-
land, First, Main, Fifth and the Mullan road. To Mr.
Robert Horn we are indebted for the following facts
concerning the early history of Kellogg:
In September, 1885, Robert and Jonathan Ingalls
located the flat below Wardner as a ranch four days
after discovery of the Bunker Hill cv Stilllivan mine.
These men were deeplv impressed with the conviction
that the district was destined to increase in importance
1044
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
and in January, 1886, they laid out the town of Milo,
named after Milo creek, along whose banks it was lo-
cated. Of the original town site there were eight
owners, — Robert Horn. Jonathan Ingalls, John M.
Burke, Alfred Brile, Thomas Hanley, John A. Martin,
Jr., Charles Sinclair and Jacob Goetz ("Dutch Jake"),
the latter at present one of the proprietors of the Cceur
d'Alene Theater, Spokane, Washington. The entire
ranch, comprising 160 acres, was divided into town
lots. Within the year following the name "Milo" was
exchanged for that of Kellogg, in honor of N. S. Kel-
logg, discoverer of the Bunker Hill mine. At one
period the town entered the contest for county seat dis-
tinction, but was defeated by Murray which, in turn,
lost to Wallace. The pioneer business man of Milo
was Morris Prager, who brought in the first stock of
general merchandise in May, 1886. During the fall of
1885 Messrs. Horn & Sinclair began work on a hotel
which was completed the following spring. At pres-
ent it is the oldest building in the gulch and is occupied
by the Fair store. Other pioneer business men were
George McGinnis, John Polly, W. W. Calder and Ed-
ward Wilson. The political trend of thought among
citizens of Kellog is illustrated by the fact that of the
ninety-two votes polled in 1886, eighty-eight of them
were Republican. In the summer of 1886 a school
house was erected at a cost of $800. Miss Nettie
Buck, niece of Judge Buck, was the first teacher em-
loyed. In the establishment of the school Mr. Horn
was an important factor, being at that period acting in
the capacity of town site agent.
Kellogg, as delineated by Mr. Horn, has always
enjoyed the reputation of a moral town, the first law
passed b> the authorities prohibiting a "red light dis-
trict," and which has since never been permitted to
be established. Rev. I. B. ( )rr, Congregational min-
ister at Wallace, preaches at Kellogg on alternate Sun-
days.
In iqoi the Hunker Hill & Sullivan mining corn-
pans donated to the town of Kellogg one of the finest
brick school houses in the state, costing $8,000. At
present the enrollment of the district, No. 9, is 107
boys and q6 girls : the total average attendance 166.5.
Four teachers are employed, Alice Tarkington, James
W. Hodge, S. Annette Bowman and Minnie C. Mur-
phy. In [886 the townsite company gave the Oregon
Railwaj & Navigation Company fifteen acres of land
for sidetrack purposes, and secured the road. The
first train steamed into Kellosre in 1888.
If not the oldest, Burke is certainly one of the old-
est mining towns in the Coeur d'Alene country, and is
regarded as one of the most important camps in the
district. Of the more prominent mines Burke is the
home of the Hecla, Tiger-Poorman and Hercules, the
latter being one of the most prominent of recent min-
eral discoveries. There are, in the immediate vicin-
ity of Burke, aside from these great producers, pros-
pect properties like the Sonora, Hummingbird, Burke,
Anchor, Ajax, Oom Paul, Echo, Trade Dollar, Oreans
and others, all in various stages of development and
many of which, it is safe to assume, are destined to
show rich values. Burke is located on Canyon creek,
seven miles from Wallace, with which it is connected
by both the Northern Pacific and the O. R. & N. rail-
roads.
The organization of the town of Burke dates from
June 13, 1885, when at a meeting of Canyon Creek mi-
ners, out of thirty votes cast, twenty-nine were polled
for the name of "Burke." The odd vote was cast for
"Onealville." James Brady and Dan Martin were ap-
pointed to wait upon Mr. J. M. Burke and inform him
of the action of the meeting. Thereafter Mr. Burke
appeared at the meeting, thanked those present for the
honor conferred upon him, and extended courtesies of
a more substantial character to the miners. At that
period the town consisted of twelve habitations, includ-
ing tents, and one store under the management of Ben-
jamin Stringham. Of the new town the Wallace Press,
of January, 1888, said : "The town of Burke has two
mines in operation, one concentrator (Tiger.) seven-
teen saloons, four general stores, one beer hall, two
boarding houses, two hardware stores, one fruit and
confectionery store, one butcher shop, one livery sta-
ble, one lawyer, one physician, one furniture store, one
baker's shop, about 800 inhabitants, a large visiting ele-
ment, the Canyon Creek railroad and not a hotel in
town. There are two lots only that are suitable for
hotel purposes, and these may be purchased in the fu-
ture. From three to five carloads of ore are being ship-
ped daily."
In 1888 Burke could boast of 300 buildings. One
year previous the town had but twenty. In 1888 the
South Fork Lead & Silver Company constructed a con-
centrator under the supervision -of Otto Abeling. The
Burke fire company was organized July 16, 1888, with
twenty-two members and the following officers: J. C.
House, chief ; George Hardesty. treasurer ; George H.
Green, secretary ; J. K. Waite, foreman ; J. Davis, assis-
tant foreman. The same year the Granite mine com-
pany constructed a concentrator, and a branch county
jail was erected, 18x30 feet in size, built of wood and
iron. Quoting from the Murray Sun, of May 17. 1S87 :
Vt a recent meeting of the citizens of Canyon creek,
in the vicinity of the Tiger mine, Sunday, May 15, at
which R. M. Dryden presided, and G. V. Byrnet act-
ed as secretary, a committee was appointed to lay out
a town site, make rules, etc. The chair named Jesse
Tabor, James Brady, Michael Therriault, Theodore
Jacoby and G. V". Byrnet. On Monday evening the
meeting reconvened at McDonald's saloon. They re-
ported substantially as follows, which report was adopt-
ed : That the town be known as Burke; that our main
street lie named Flidden, one cross street O'N'ei'l,
one south side street. Brady; that lots be 50x125 feet
in size: that each lot must be recorded within ten
days from date of location, and a substantial fence
built around it, which shall hold good for sixty days
pending substantial improvements ; that all disputes
shall be settled b\ a citizens' committee of five: rhat
the recording fee be $2 ; that 50 cents shall be col-
lected from each lot owner to defray the expense of
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1045
surveying the tpwn-site ; that no person can take more
than one lot of fifty feet front, and that no location
can be made by proxy, except with the single pro-
vision that those who were absent and had cabins
completed, or nearly so, were entitled to this privi-
lege.
At this same meeting the Lelande Mining District
was organized and G. V. Byrnet was recommended
for the position of deputy mineral recorder. The
same year Burke enjoyed the unique distinction of
being the only mining town known that ever se-
cured a railroad before it had a wagon road. This
year a school district was allotted to Burke, with
William Graham, R. M. Dryden and Dr. J. C. House
as trustees. The town was progressing rapidly and
several hundred men were at work in the mines. The
department grants a postoffice, insisting on calling
it Bayard, and appointing R. H. Kello postmaster.
Subsequently a vigorous protest is entered against
tin's name and it is changed to Burke.
Thursday evening, May 17, 1888, a number of
public-spirited citizens assembled and organized the
Burke Water Power Company, placing the capital
stock at $2,000, divided into shares of $5 each. S.
S. Glidden was selected as president, William W.
Hart, vice-president ; P. O. Weber, second vice-pres-
ident; G. V. Byrnet, secretary, and William Graham,
treasurer. The pipe was furnished by J. R. Marks
& Co., of Murray.
Early Monday morning, September 14, 1896,
Burke was visited by a disastrous fire, entailing loss
of life and destruction of the Tiger-Poorman Hotel.
While the night cook was at work at the range a
quantity of grease ignited and the room was soon
enveloped in flames. Donaldson, the cook, ran up-
stairs, giving the alarm to the sleepers as rapidly as
possible, who rushed forth in their night clothes,
leaping from windows and dropping from the porch
to save their lives. Annie Johnson, an employe of
the hotel, fell twenty feet to the ground, receiving
a bad shaking up, but was not otherwise injured.
William O'Mera was burned to death in his room.
His gold watch was found beside him, but the body
was so badly charred as to be unrecognizable, all but
the thighs being burned to a crisp. He was a pioneer
in the country, about forty years of age, a native
of Ireland, and had no relatives in this section. He
was a member in good standing in the Burke Miners'
Union and was buried by that organization in Union
cemetery, Nine Mile gulch. Others who were in-
jured were: W. P. Fought, badly burned; E. L.
Searles, three ribs broken ; Joseph Coburn, W. P.
Waterman, Pat and Martin- McHale and Thomas
Smith. They were taken to the Providence Hospital,
Wallace. The hotel was completely destroyed. It
was located thirty feet east of a mill, the roof of
which caught fire, and for awhile it looked as if there
would be entailed a loss of at least $100,000. The en-
tire loss was Sio.ooo. of which $5,500 was covered
by insurance.
Educational matters have from the first engaged
the attention of the best citizens of Burke. The
school, which is in District No. 11, is taught by Alice
Fahey, principal, and Miss Dunham, assistant. There
are enrolled fifty-seven boys and forty-four girls, and
the average attendance is sixty-six and four-tenths.
The district supports a nine months' school.
Midway between the towns of Wallace and Burke,
on the same lines of railways that connect the two
places, • is the mountain town of Gem. Here is lo-
cated the great Helena-Frisco mine, and its surround-
ing prospects, many of which are under process oi
development. "For at least half a century to come,"
declare mining experts, "Gem will maintain its stand-
ard among the prominent lead and silver camps of
the Cceur d'Alenes." At present Gem is a lively, en-
terprising town which, although it suffered severely
during the low price of lead and silver, has resumed
its place among the actively energetic output sta-
tions of this wonderful mining district. The town
is situated four miles below Burke, in the same can-
non, and from the Governor's report, in 1889, it is
learned that there were at that period two hundred
people in the vicinity of the new works of the Gem
and San Francisco mines. The excellent water sup-
ply of Gem is obtained from a spring in the gulch
north of the town, the fall of which is three hundred
feet. The school district, No. 16, supports a graded
school of one hundred and ninety-four pupils — Nine-
ty-four boys and one hundred girls — and the average
attendance is one hundred and twelve. The teachers
are Mary E. Halpin, principal : Kathryn M.
O'Rourke, May McKenzie. Two miles above Gem,
toward Burke, is the postoffice of Mace, of which
Miss Clara Hooper is postmistress. This is the home
of the Standard mine, and the shipping point of its
valuable output. The town is situated on the right-
of-way of the oNrthern Pacific and ( ). R. & X. W. rail-
ways, with an immediate and surrounding popula-
tion of two hundred and fifty or three hundred peo-
ple. The hotel is conducted by Charles McKinnis,
and White & Bender and M. j. Flohr are proprie-
tors of mercantile establishments in the town. A sa-
loon is conducted by Friedman & Company.
At the mouth of the north, where it forms a
confluence with the south, fork of the Coeur d'Alene
river, is situated the town of Kingston. As early
as April 28, 18S4, the Coeur d'Alene Pioneer, pub-
lished %at Murray, said:
"At the present steamboat landing in the Coeur
d'Alene river the new town of Kingston is located.
Wagons run along the old Mullan road to Jackass
station, about nine miles distant, where the trail to.
F.agle begins. Kingston contains about two dozen
tents and the same number of log buildings. The
Spokane & Coeur d'Alene Stage Company are run-
ning a line of wagons from Kingston to Jackass sta-
tion, where they connect with saddle trains for Eagle
[046
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
City. The trail is shoveled and graded through
eight feet of snow and the stage company intends to
replace it with a wagon road as quickly as possible."
From the Eagle of the same year we learn that
the new town was enjoying "a tremendous boom
consequent on the report that it is to be the head
of navigation for the present year." Over one hun-
dred buildings were then erected and different busi-
ness enterprises established. In July, 1S88, the atten-
tion of the citizens was directed mainly to the new-
railroad then being graded through the town. Kings-
ton is located on the line of the Northern Pacific,
about one-half mile south of the O., R. & N., the lat-
ter road being at present the only line in operation,
high water having forced the abandonment of the
Northern Pacific. The school report of Kingston,
District No. 5, is as follows : Number of boys en-
rolled, fourteen ; girls, thirteen ; total, twenty-seven.
There are eight months' school, taught by Edwin
Smith. The average attendance is twenty.
Weippe is the trading point of the prairie and re-
gion which bears that name in the southern portion
of Shoshone county. The town-site is on the north-
ern end of the prairie, on Ford's creek. R. J. Ander-
son owns a general store, which, though not on the
town-site, is really a portien of the town; Welling-
ton Landon, the pioneer settler, conducts a small es-
tablishment, in which he dispenses refreshments of
various kinds to the weary traveler ; Frank Gaffney
has a small general store ; John Tory a blacksmith
shop, and W. W. Gardner conducts the Weippe Hotel
and livery barn, and also the postoffice. In 1895 a
comfortable little schoolhoust was erected by the dis-
trict, and here school is maintained for six months
during the year. At the present time there are
eighteen pupils under the instruction of Miss Coontz.
R. J. Anderson's saw mill is near the town of
Weippe, a plant having a capacity of about 16,000 feet
of lumber a day, and employing many men. Three and
a half miles west of town a smaller mill is operated by
the Barry Brothers. Tributary to Weippe is a prosper-
ous stock-raising and farming community, and the
prospect that the town will increase materially in the
future is flattering. It would seem that development
of the vast timber resources in the neighborhood of
Weippe would alone prove an incentive to the growth
of a town of respectable size.
Delta is situated on Beaver, at the mouth of Trail,
creek. There is only a semblance of the old placer
center now left. The Mascot Gold Mining Company
has acquired the ground upon which the town stood,
and is at present engaged in removing buildings,
fences, etc. At one period Delta had 1,060 inhab-
itants, and was a formidable ri\al of Murray, but
with the decline of placer industry in the North Fork
country it steadily fell off until there were left only a
handful of the former population. Two years ago the
dredge company entered the field and acquired the
claims upon which the town is located. Aside from
dredge work there is little to maintain a town at this
point. Individual prospectors and miners go either
to Murray or Wallace for supplies. The mining com-
pany, however, has set aside a small tract of land just
above the old town, and on this ground the few busi-
ness buildings needed in the future will be built. Al-
ready Thomas Shuster, an '83 pioneer, has erected
a commodious and comfortable hotel on the new site
and other business men contemplate a revival of
building. Should future conditions demand a large
town there is no doubt but that the ground can be
secured. Mrs. Emma McNall is Delta's postmistress,
and she, with her husband, also conducts a small
store.
Another of the North Fork's old placer towns is
Thiard, formerly Myrtle, although with the excep-
tion of a few- residences and one business house, noth-
ing of importance remains of a once lively and bus-
tling mining camp. In 1885-6 the population of
"Myrtle" was close to a thousand people, and then:
was more gold dust handled at that point than in any
ether place in the Coeur d'Alencs. The town was
named after the daughter of one of the locators of
the Myrtle claims. Several years ago the postoffice
was abandoned, but subsequently re-established. The
name Myrtle had been taken by another town in the
state, however, so the place was christened Thiard,
in honor of one of its pioneers. Tt is situated on
Trail creek, one mile east of Delta. By numerous
individual miners there are a number of claims still
being worked, and with reasonable success. George
Woods is the postmaster, merchant and landlord.
Another thriving reservation town, situated on the
Clearwater Short Line Railway, in southern Shoshone
county, is Greer. It is the first station below Kamiah
and the first above Orofino, four miles above the
mouth of Jim Ford's creek. The site is similar to that
of Stites in that it is on a narrow strip of land in the
bed of Clearwater canvon, which at this point is pre-
cipitous and narrow-. Greer is the gatewav to southern
Shoshone county ; practically all shipping is .done
from here; here is situated the old Greer ferry, con-
necting the town with Nez Perces prairie. Two
excellent wagon roads climb the sides of the canyon
at this point, neither road having a grade averaging
over 10 per cent. The road into the Weippe and
Pierce City regions is an old one. but the one going
to the prairie was constructed by John Greer, aided by
a few settlers, in 1800.
The settlement at this point of the river dates
back to 1861, when Colonel William Craig and Jacob
Schultz built a ferry here to accommodate travel to
the Oro Fino mines. The Witts, Caleb and his son
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1047
James, conducted the ferry for a time; then Schultz
took over the property and operated it until 1870. He
was followed by John D. Reed, who acted as ferry-
man for four years, after which D. W. C. Dunwcll
purchased the property. The ferry was destroyed at
the time of the Nez Perces Indian war. John Greer
and John Molloy acquired possession of the historic
ferry in the fall of 1877, Mr. Greer subsequently pur-
chasing Molloy' s interest. He is now sole owner. The
boat is first class and is well maintained by its owner,
who is as well known in central Idaho as any other
man in the region.
When the railroad came up the Clearwater in
iSm<; Mr. Greer formed a partnership with John
Dunn and platted a town-site on the north forty acres
of the former's homestead. Seventeen acres addi-
tional were subsequently platted, making the aggre-
gate size of the town-site fifty-seven acres. To the
railroad company a right-of-way fifty feet in width
was donated, together with a tract of land 1,000x250
feet, the latter being for yard purposes. The com-
panj has rewarded this generous action by building
an extensive system of sidetracks at this point and a
commodious depot. Usually a new town's pioneer en-
terprise is a store ; a blacksmith shop led the van in
Greer. William Varner and John Bush built such a
shop on the town-site in the spring of 1889. John
Gamble ran up a livery stable ; in October came E. T.
Lensegraff, John and Albert Carlson, and they opened
a general store under the firm name of Carlson Broth-
ers & Company. Albert Carlson and Mr. Lensegraff
still conduct the business. The succeeding general
mercantile store was that of the Clearwater Mercan-
tile Companv, composed of Edward Crosson and Duke
Robbins. who came to Greer in the spring of 1900.
Later the business was purchased by Means & Bell,
and subsequently the Noble Brothers secured the
property.
This same spring William Davis erected a store in
Greer which he sold to Erb Brothers in 1902. The
first hotel was called the Montana House, and was con-
ducted in a portion of Carlson Brothers & Company's
store building by R. W. Tanner. This hostelry was
established in the fall of 1899. Mr. Tanner was suc-
ceeded in 1900 by Carlson Brothers & Company, and
they in turn by W. P. Wilson. Two years ago the
latter built a new hotel building across the street from
the old one. and subsequently sold it to J. I. Coontz,
the present proprietor. Such is a condensed history
of the beginning of Greer.
In 1902 John Greer presented to the school dis-
trict a site for a suitable edifice, and a small structure
was at once erected on the ground. The first term
was taught by Miss Cora Fabrique. Miss Lulu Pal-
rnerton is the present school mistress and has under
her instruction fifteen pupils. A nine months' schi 11 1
term is maintained. As yet there are no churches in
tlie town, though this step of progress will, doubtl*
shortly be taken by die community. Two large ware-
houses are required to handle the grain which is
shipped annually from Greer, that of the Vollmer
Clei 1 of L< wiston, and Kerr, < lifford
& Company, of Portland. From M. B. Erb.
of the former warehouse, which handles approxi-
mately three-fifths of the business, it was learned that
his house bought nearly $40,000 worth of grain last
season. This firm purchased 5,554 sacks of wheat,
12,271 sacks of flax, 4.3^7 sacks of oats and 4,459
sacks of barley, practically all of which came from
Nez Perces prairie.
At present Greer is an unincorporated villa
taining only about one hundred people, but it 1
ily growing and will, doubtless, continue to grow for
several years, as the country tributary fully warrants
a much larger trading point on the river. !
and importance of the Pierce City mining district also
favor Greer to a great extent. Nearly all the traffic
to that region passes through the town. The Pierce
City Stage Companv operates a six-times-a-week con-
veyance between Greer and Pierce City, the line be-
ing conducted by Samuel Elben. A summary of the
business houses and professional men of Greer closes
this article :
General stores — Carlson & Lensegraff, 1 rh
Brothers, Noble Brothers. Hotel — J. I. Coontz. Drug
store — Harry M. Richardson. Livery barn — Charles
Stenzil. Blacksmith shop — William Varner, John
Greer. Cigars, confectionery, etc. — E. Howard Dul-
mage. Barber — Joseph Bradley. Postmaster — Pat-
rick Keaue. Northern Pacific station agent— J. S.
Hall.
At the mouth of the north fork of the Clearwater
is situated the little trading town of Ahsahka. This
peculiarly named hamlet was called into existence bv
the building of the railroad through the canyon, which
widens out into a miniature valley at this point, and
the erection of McLean Brothers' saw mill near the
junction of the two streams. This saw- mill has a
capacity of 20,000 feet a day, requiring the assistance
of man'v men around the mill, on the river and in the
woods." Vll tillable land is owned by Indians, and
Ahsahka possesses one of the five Indian churches on
the reservation. A. M. Pierce & Son opened a store
here in 1899, which is at present owned and conducted
by T. Y. Cox. Mrs. Cox acts as postmistress and
Frank Surprise conducts a hotel.
CHAPTER VI
DESCRIPTIVE.
Shoshone county is one of the important divisions
of what is colloqually known as the "Panhandle" of
Idaho. From Montana it is separated by its eastern
boundary, the P>itter Root, and their northerly ex-
tending- spurs, the far-famed Cceur d'Alene moun-
tains. These, with Shoshone county's southern boun-
dary, the Lolo fork, and a line northward from the
Clearwater, near the Seventh Standard parallel, to a
point in the immediate vicinity of Lake Pend
Oreille, inclose, in an area of 4,400 square miles,
one of the richest mineral producing- sections of the
United States. The census of 1900 gives -the county
a population of 11,950.
As Shoshone is the oldest county in the state,
created December 21, 1861, so, too, it is the richest
in mineral wealth. Its history, comparatively recent,
when considered in connection with those of other
states, and which is treated in extenso in another chap-
ter of this work, is punctuated with surprising and un-
expected discoveries, mineral strikes under abnormal
conditions, acute and sensational crises in industrial
circles, but always steadily progressive and constantly
developing new and valuable resources.
The general contour of Shoshone county, from the
Lolo fork to its northern limits, is a succession of
mountain ranges, from two to eight thousand feet in
height, seared and seamed with canyons and gulches,
through which wind and twist in innumerable convo-
lutions sparkling streams of the purest water, alive
with salmon and trout and affording the one indis-
pensable requisite to profitable mining. The fauna is
represented by elk, bear, deer, moose and mountain
sheep. Grouse, pheasants and ptarmigan are abund-
ant, and the more ambitious hunter may seek, not un-
successfully, the cougar, lynx and bob-cat. It is still
a wide field for the prospector and the many rumors
of lost mines, abandoned ledges, yet rich with fabu-
lous indications, are never-failing incentives held be-
fore the eyes of enthusiastic explorers.
When more amply developed the lumber interest-;
of Shoshone county will constitute a source of great
wealth. A dense growth of pine, fir, cedar, hemlock
and spruce timber lines the banks of rivers and creeks
and spreads over the flanks of the mountains. Con-
tiguous to the south branch of the 'Clearwater lie
extensive reaches of agricultural and grazing lands,
not thickly settled even at the present day, but which
in the future are destined to become the comfortable
homes of thousands. Since i860 placer mining on
Oro Fino creek has been prosecuted with varying suc-
cess, but activity in the later methods of quartz mining
is constantly increasing.
Climatic conditions in Shoshone county are, prob-
ably, more varied than in any other locality in the
state. Light winters prevail along the Clearwater
river, snow never being sufficient to warrant the pur-
chase of hand-sleds or sleighs. To the north and east
one experiences sharp fluctuations in climate, varying
with the distance traveled and altitude gained. Ten
miles from the Clearwater river there is an abundance
of snow in the winter months, and residents enjoy ex-
cellent sleighing, while a distance of thirty or forty
miles insures sleighing from December until March,
and through the months of January and February se-
vere cold weather prevails, averaging from fifteen to
twenty degrees below zero. Throughout the northern
and eastern portions of the county the winter season
is not so severe as it is on the same latitude east of
the Rocky mountains. Quoting from the North Idaho
Home Finder, published at Orofino: "The summer
nights are comfortably cool, no mosquitoes, and a
shady spot is pleasant and agreeable in warm weather.
There are no cyclones in Shoshone county and a sun-
stroke has never been known. Stock, such as cattle,
sheep, horses, hogs and mules, feed on the river
ranges the year round, and are found in good condi-
tion every month in the year."
The United States Geological Survey of 1900 gives
the various altitudes of Shoshone county as follows:
Osburn, 2,521 feet; Summit (two-mile divide),
4.081 feet: Beaver Station, 2,785 feet; Delta, 2,517
)\et; Murray Summit, 3.321 feet; Littlefield, 2,930
feet; Raven, 3,060 feet; Sullivan, 3,477 feet; Summit
(between Idaho and M.), 4,862 feet; Wallace, 2,728
feet; Gem, 3,197 feet; Burke, 3,736 feet; Glidden
Pass (Bitter Root), 5,768 feet; Dobson Pass (county
road), 4,174 feet.
Writing upon the conditions and possibilities of
the Cceur d'Alenes in 1891, Mr. Ff. W. Ross said:
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1049
As to the permanency of the productiveness of the mines
of the district, it is a matter of great importance and always
subject to considerable discussion. Opinions on such things
are largely a matter of personal judgment, and correct con-
clusions hardly come within the range of human possibility.
The dynamic forces that distributed the mineral wealth of the
earth seem to have acted in few places the same way. Char-
acteristic features that are significant of much in one place
have little significance in another. In this respect Coeur
d'Alene is an anomaly. .Miners who were familiar with tin-
characteristic features of the principal mining camps of the
continent regarded the geological structures and dispositions'
of ores in the Coeur d'Alenes with doubt and unfavorable
opinions. Miners who believed that they had seen all the
conditions peculiar to veins and ore, and entertained the idea
that some of these conditions were essential to profitable
mines, were not the ones who undertook the development "f
the mines of this district, but mostly men whose minds were
not hampered by experience elsewhere, or with fixed opinion-,
that any particular features were essential to mines, except
ore, and it is safe to say that these men have not only been
successful in an ordinary way, but beyond their most sanguine
expectations.
The best judgment on undeveloped prospects is liable to
err. but as developments proceed the predominating tendency
is usually a safe guide. The mineralization of a particular
portion of the earth is usually by the same agency and the
same characttristics prevail throughout. In this respect the
mines of Coeur d'Alene are remarkable. The surface values
were, indeed, meagre, and without many of those conditions
indicating productiveness of ore, and the predominating
tendencies are the expansion of ore bodies and productiveness
of ore, as exploration-- are directed downward. There have
been some remarkable instances of this character in the de-
velopmentof the district's mines, and it is well worthy of
going on record. The peculiar geological structure covers
a large area of country, and the same predominating tendencies
prevail throughout. It is evident that these ores are not
incidental to any other feature, but that they are permanent
and fixed features of the geological structure, and that they
will continue to produce to a depth as far as modern mining
appliances will extract it.
Geologically speaking, the formation is closely bedded
schists of the same general character, occasionally grading
into quartzite. and in places alternating with slate. At one
place in the midst of the district a granite dome seems to
have protruded through the bedded rocks, but no other
eruptive rocks appear in the district. The lines of strike of
these stratified rocks are nearly due east and west and tilted
up to angles varying from forty-five degrees from the horizon
to nearly vertical. The mineralization or deposition of ores
throughout the district is a subject of considerable contro-
versy, some contending that tile or. are contained 111 tilled
fissures, or veins interposed between beds of schistose rocks,
while others argue that but few, or none, of the mines are
veins at all, but simply mineralized country rocks, especially
at Wardner, where the ore-bearing ground is of such unusual
width as to almost preclude any idea of a vein in the usual
sense. The mineralized rock is identical with the country
formation on either side, and entirely conformable to the dip
and strike of the stratification.
The theory is that the minerals were deposited and held
in solution in a gaseous form at the same period as the sedi-
mentary beds, and that the metamorphosis of the sedimentary
materials and mineral matter to a crystaline texture was con-
temporaneous, and by the same agency, and that throughout
subsequent disturbance in mountain making and the tilting
up of these metamorphine beds the ore and rocks retained their
relation to each other ; and that the ore-bearing ground is
but a mineralized zone of indefinite width. Evidence in sup-
port of this is that in places clean r. >.k grade- insensibly into
clean galena within the same plane of stratification, and that
these planes are conformable to the dip and strike of the
country rock. This mineralized zone at Wardner is known to
be 500 feet wide in places, and extends from the Miners' De-
light, near the Sullivan, to the Tyler, nearly one mile in length.
Near the Sullivan two parallel claims are located upon the
zone, each of them with large outcrops of ore. It is also
well demonstrated by underground explorations, through the
Sullivan mine, into the Mammoth, the adjoining claim.
To the admiration-compelling beauties of tin- nat-
ural scenery of the Coeur d'Alenes no pen of the his-
torian can do adequate justice. Innumerable points
of interest arc found by the traveler through the moun-
tains, be lie prospector, pleasure-seeker or emigre.
Temporary hardships incidental to such an enterprise
are rewarded many fold 1>\ awesome sublimities, or
quiet, sequestered landscapes, tinted by the unrivaled
brush of nature. The old Mullan road winds through
the most attractive portions of the Coeur d'Alenes.
This is a government highway, originally constructed
for the purpose of providing transportation facilities
between Fort Walla Walla and Fort Benton, previous
to the advent of the Northern Pacific Railroad. For
many years it was a trail for whites and Indians alike,
and even now it is utilized by the Flatheads in their
annual incursions through the Hitter Km it mountains
and into the interior of northern Idaho.
Included in the list of minerals found in Shoshone
county are: Gold, in placers and quartz; tellurium;
native, crystalized, wire and flaked silver; copper, sul-
phide, arsenical and corbonate ; antimony, sulphide;
magnesia, associated with iron; zinc blende; spathic
iron, in in pyrites, arsenical iron; silver-bearing grey
copper; lead in the following forms — galena or sul-
phide, anglesite, ccrussite. pyromorphite, platnerite—
magnesium ; granite ; talc ; siate ; quartz ; quartzite.
Platnerite. one of the minerals named, is rare, hav-
ing been found in but few places in the United States.
In Shoshone county there are two mines from which
platnerite has been taken in limited quantities. These
mines are the You Like, at Mullan, and the .Mammoth,
at Burke. In 180.1 men commissioned by the Smith-
sonian Institute, Washington, D. C, came to Mullan
and obtained specimens of this rare mineral deposit.
The lead crystals found in Shoshone county are gen-
erally associated with wire silver, and the following
mines have produced some beautiful specimens of this
ore: Custer, Sierra Nevada, Last Chance and Mam-
moth. The Gem mine furnished some fine specimens
of pyromorphite, and a number of rare crystals were
obtained from the Mammoth. The upper workings of
the Frisco contained beautiful specimens of cerussite,
exact duplicates of some found in Bavaria. The Nellie
mine is noted for spathic iron and antimonial copper.
Prom the towns of Murray and Pierce have been se-
cured handsome specimens in the forms of nuggets
and gold quartz. Zinc blende is found associated witli
galena, and, as a rule, is easily eliminate. 1 by concen-
tration. In the North Fork country is an excellent
grade of copper, while along Pine creek is found a fine
quality of antimony.
Wherever mill "tailings," or "concretes.'' impreg-
nate water flowing through producing land, the latter
is reduced to a worthless condition. This is the condi-
tion of the south fork of the Coeur d'Alene river from
Mullan westward. The stream is. also, rendered
poisonous to cattle and other species of stock. In con-
sequence of this a number of lawsuits have been insti-
1050
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
tuted against various mining companies. For the pur-
pose of obviating this incalculable damage, work has
recently been begun on what is to be, eventually, a large
dam across the south fork of the Coeur d'Alene, at the
mouth of Pine creek, seven miles below Wardner. It
is anticipated that by this means the massive affair will
retain all the "tailings" which at present flow down
the river and into Lake Coeur d'Alene, for the suc-
ceeding ten or fifteen years. The work is the joint
enterprise of various mining companies along the
stream. It is sincerel) hoped that this costly dam will
be the means of preventing the destruction of property
m the future. The "tailings" contain values of two
dollars a ton, and it is thought that the enormous pile
of "low grade ores" may be worked to advantage when
more delicate machinery is invented to treat it.
Canyon and Nine Mile creeks, converging at Wal-
lace, and debouching into the south fork of the Coeur
d'Alene river, are wonderful regions when one con-
siders the range of their possibilities, together with
the amount of development and industrial activity al-
ready in progress. In the main the hanging walls of
Canyon creek are more silicious than the foot-walls,
the fissures cutting through the country rock about
north, sixty-five degrees, west, and varying in dip
from vertical to eighty degrees to the north, or south,
cutting the bedding planes on trend and dip. Belts of
quartzite and slate cut through this district. Granite
dykes cut through in the vicinity of Gem.
On Nine Mile creek the geological formation is
mainly slate for the first few miles. The Granite mine
is in the quartzite belt, between two granite dykes,
the only one of its kind in the country. Well-defined
\ 1 ins attain a depth of about 1,000 feet; tunnel mines
and fissure veins, the same trend and dip as in Canyon
creek, and the prevailing ore is the same. The mining
district in the vicinity of Mullan is nearly identical,
geologically, with that of Canyon creek. All sedi-
mentary rock in the Wardner district is plain quartz-
ite (sandstone changed by heat and pressure). The
foot-wall is stratified quartzite; the hanging wall a
blocky and more sandy quartzite. The limits of the
zone are indicated, mainly, by "petering out," and de-
crease of dynamic action which formed the original
zone in which the ore was deposited. The float-wall,
or master fissure, trends north, fifty degrees, west,
and dips from thirty-five to forty-five degrees south-
west. There are continuous ore bodies, with the ex-
ception of intervals, for half a mile along the length
of the vein, in which there are two series of ore shoots,
hanging and foot-ore bodies. Toward the extreme
west of the Wardner belt the master fissure strikes
into, and becomes merged with, slate contact. The
width of the ore body varies from six or eight to sev-
enty feet.
Picturesque north Shoshone county is not, as yet,
a vacation Mecca for the annual tourist. What the
Adriondacks were to the Knickerbocker settlers of
Manhattan a century ago; what the Yellowstone Park
and Yosemite Valley were to the average business
man of the middle west five decades ago, the region
of the north fork of the Coeur d'Alene river is, todav,
to almost the entire world. Writing in his paper, the
Murray Sun, Editor Adam Aulbach says of this erst-
while terra incognita :
"The North Fork river region, although it has
been penetrated by sportsmen and trappers for the past
fifteen years, is still an unknown country — a sealed
book. Even prospectors have very seldom ventured
into the region. * : To a person prepared
with heavily nailed shoes, not high or low gum boots,
the wading in the limpil stream, above its confluence
with Prichard creek, is not disagreeable. The bed is
rocky, mostly round boulders, and very slippery. The
water, in what are termed pools, is seldom three feet
in depth ; the most that is waded in is not over eight-
ten inches, and so clear that every pebble may be seen.
There are frequent pools of considerable depth in
which the forest and sky are perpetually mirrored. In
fact the entire distance we traveled was a succession
of long, shallow rapids, with projecting rocks and
boulders, against which the water dashes in everlast-
ing glee, and long pools as smooth as glass that form
minature lakes in their wonderful beauty. With ma-
jestic sweep the river courses along between low banks
and high, rugged "bluffs, never less than one hundred
feet w ide, but mainly one hundred and fifty. With twi 1
exceptions, the valley, to the mouth of Big creek, is-
narrow, walled in on either side by crooked moun-
tain ranges, unexplored by man. There is fine timber
everywhere, from the water's edge to the mountain's
crest. On the bottom lands are large cedars, many of
them measuring thirty feet in circumference near the
ground. There is a lovely flat at what is known as
Chicago Crossing, extending half a mile back. There
is another at the mouth of Big creek, but densely cov-
ered with timber. It is a glorious stream, and a true
sportsman's paradise."
The north fork of Clearwater river constitutes the
northern boundary of what is termed southern Sho-
shone county. Between that river and the Lolo Fork,
the latter the extreme southern boundary of the coun-
ty, is a vast tract of mountainous, heavily timbered
country, interspersed with meadows whose abundant
resources have as yet hardly been primarily developed.
A portion of the Bitter Root forest reserve lies in
Shoshone county, north of the Lolo Fork and east of
Pierce City. Within and without the boundaries of
this reserve are billions of feet of the finest timber in
the northwest, white, yellow and black pine, white and
red fir, cedar, spruce and tamarack. And lying be-
neath these forests is a vast mineralized region, carry-
ing gold, silver, lead, iron, copper and coal, the sur-
face of which has barely been scarred by the pick of
the miner. Here, too, may be found some of the finest
hay and grain land in the state, and grazing lands for
thousands of head of stock. While it is a country of
varied and magnificent resources they are. as yet, but
feebly comprehended by the less than 2,000 inhabitants
within the limits of southern Shoshone county. The
most ordinary foresight can anticipate the day when
these broad, cavernous canyons will ring with the
stroke of the lumberman's axe and the continuous hum
of sawmills; a time when the sparkling, dashing,
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
[05
mountain torrents, now the habitat of gamey trout,
will be utilized to spin the wheels of industry; when
the, as yet, undeveloped meadow lands will respond
generously to the efforts of the farmer, and the richly
timbered lands shall have been transformed into grain
and stock farms; when stamp mills and hydraulic
plants will be robbing this earth of its mineral for
transformation into the metal of commerce — the cur-
rency- of the world.
Actual sight lends forceful inspiration to a descrip-
tion. And it was this truism that led the writer to
make a reconnoisance into this southern portion of
Shoshone county. This was in April last. It was a
period when the earth was still snowbound, not the
most propitious season in which to "spy out" any land,
and one could hardly hope to view this goodly country
at its be^t. Still, even this invasion was fruitful of grati-
fying results. Ascent to the high table land lying east
oi ( learw'ater river was made from Greer over an ex-
cellent grade, between three and four miles long. On
reaching the summit an inspiring scene was presented.
Fifteen hundred feet below wound the Clearwater, a
silken ribbon between precipitous canyon walls. Scat-
tered along its banks were a few habitations, gardens
and grain fields, and at one point a narrow line of'
huddled frame buildings1 through which ran two
gleaming lines of metal — the village of Greer and its
railroad track. From above the snow-line one could
gaze on the lower altitudes, clothed in garb of brightest
green, prophetic of summer's appearance, and the
charm of the picture was further enhanced by the sight
of butter-cups, violets and other floral offerings of
spring, in bloom along the road to the summit. Far
across the long, serpentine canyon could be seen the
rolling prairies of Nez Perces county, and the heavy
growth of timber lying north of them. In the greater
distance Craig's mountain reared its snow-crowned
peak above the grand undulating prairies at its feet,
and still farther to the west and s< lUth a broken, jagged,
white sky-line marked the location of the Salmon riv-
er and Seven Devils ranges of mountains, the nearest
ot which was sixty miles distant. East of this view
point the landscape sweeps away in long, rolling swells,
parks and meadows alternating.
To the eastward is the Fraser country, so named
after the postoffice established in that section. Mag-
nificent groves of yellow pine cast shadows across the
rich, black loam upon which they thrive in stately
beauty. As one continues along the road numerous
dwellings of pioneers fall into view, accentuated occa-
sionally by improved farms, and not infrequently hid-
eous fields of stumps ; rough, but eloquent testimony of
a partially developed ranch. Included in the Fraser
country is a strip of land about five miles in width,
lying along the north side of Lolo creek for a distance
of twelve miles from its mouth. Here the chief indus-
try is stock-raising, although considerable wheat and
other cereals are cultivated. The rolling hills in this
vicinity are densely timbered and sparsely populated.
Crossing a rather swampy stretch of country, tamarack
being the predominating timber, at the end of a four-
teen mile ride, the beautiful Weippe prairie bursts
upon the view. This, too, is a region of alternating
forest and meadow, although what is recognized is
Weippe prairie proper, lies in the form of a circle
fringed with forest. The prairie is a level meadow,
perhaps two miles in diameter, and through it' sinu-
ously winds Jim Ford's creek. Here have been held,
in earlier days, innumerable Indian councils, and I
years it was their favorite camping ground. In sum-
mer time this historic place was frequented by the Nez
Perces. They erected hundreds of lodges, fished and
hunted in rippling mountain streams and surrounding
game resorts, smoked the pipe of peace or tripped the
hideous measures of the war dance. Reluct;
-wart Indian yielded this spot , ,f beautj to the invad-
ing white man. He called it the "Weippe," signify-
ing a place of tepees, or "wickiups," a camping and a
council ground. And by the name of Weippe prairie
has it ewer since been known.
But the Pierce City mines were discovered. M;
thousands the whites passed through the Weippe.
driving before them the Indians, although for several
years subsequent!) the red man continued to haunt its
preceincts and hold therein annual encampments. In
the latter 'seventies permanent settlers succeeded stock
men, and thereafter population continued to increase
in a gratifying ratio until now it is all under cultiva-
tion and improved, with comfortable farm bruises and
ample barns, corrals ami granaries.
During the year 18X4 tin government surveyed a
large portion of the countn lying between the Lolo
and Clearwater, and the official opening of this terri-
tory was immediately followed by an army of settlers.
Four >ears later, in ioSS. a town was laid out on the
northern border of the prairie, and named Weippe.
Approximate size of the portion which is thickly set-
tled is about twenty-five square miles, although, as be-
fore mentioned, the main Weippe prairie is not more
than half that size. An estimate of the producing ca-
pacity of the land, furnished by farmers in that section.
accords timothy hay the first place, which averages
three tons to 'the acre. Oats yield fifty, barley between
eighty and ninety bushels per acre, while vegetables
and the hardy fruits are raised in large quantities. The
soil, a black, vegetable loam, lies about three feet
deep, upon a strata of clay, and which is considered
an excellent hardpan for the conservation of moisture.
The average altitude of this section, as given by Wel-
lington Landon, pioneer settler and owner of the town-
site of Weippe, is, approximately, 3,000 feet. Two
sawmills, perennially industrious, cut an excellent
quality of jane, fir, cedar, tamarack and less important
woods. Bands of cattle are not large, ranging from
ten to fifty head, but for this number excellent \\:^:<\ is
still found. Jim Ford's creek is named after a pio-
neer wood dealer of Lewiston. Ford came up the
Clearwater to this stream, where he cut logs, floated
them down the river to Lewiston and converted them
into stove wood.. Ford's creek is a broad, swift stream
and a populous haunt of the finny tribe during the
summer and fall. It affords ample water power, and
this is. at present, utilized to a great extent. Two
miles below Weippe prairie the stream is broken by a
1052
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
graceful waterfall whose murmur may easily be heard,
on a clear day, so far away as Weippe. The creek,
after leaving; the prairie, enters a canyon through
which it flows to the Clearwater, debouching into that
stream four miles above Oro Fino. ■
After leaving Weippe prairie the road passes over
small ridges and up several streams, lined with pret-
ty meadows, until a low mountain divide, separating
Oro Fino creek from Ford's creek, is reached. This
is at a point about five miles west of Pierce City. Here
'one enters a portion of the far-famed white pine belt
of northern and central Idaho, and a magnificent piece
of timber it is. .This timber is of the finest grade and
improves in quality and size as the Bitter Root summit
is approached. The Weyerhauser syndicate's hold-
ings, amounting to nearly 100,000 acres of white pine,
lie adjacent to Pierce City. During the past two years
practically every valuable quarter section has been ap-
propriated by scrip filings, and under the stone and
timber act. Last season hundreds went into this dis-
trict and many are still searching for unoccupied tracts.
This timber will run from 1,500,000 to 4,000,000 feet
to the quarter section. As clear pine lumber now sells
at not less than $30 per thousand feet at the railroad,
some idea of the values tied up in this immense timber
belt may be gained. The entire .district is traversed
by streams, man)- of them large enough for logging
purposes. Still, the main timber bodies are destined
to be tapped by railroads in the future. From the
summit of the divide, west of Pierce City, may be
gained a fair idea of the country farther inland. With
the exception of meadows on the creeks a vast forest
covers every foot of the region. From the crest of
French mountain, a high divide separating Oro Fino
from Oro Grande, creek, the summits of this most
rugged and wildest of Idaho mountain chains can be
seen. The altitude of the low divide west of Pierce
City is, approximately, 4,000, while that of French
mountain must be, at least, 6,000 feet. Pierce City is
3.000 feet above the sea level.
It is claimed by residents, and indisputable evi-
dence has borne out the claim, that the meadows along
the creeks of this region produce the finest qualities
of hay. grain and fruit. Frank Carle, owner of a por-
tion of the townsite of Pierce City, has harvested forty
bushels of wheat to the acre, and cuts annually three
tons of timothy to the acre. Oro Fino, Lolo and
Ford's creeks are the largest streams in this section,
their waters flowing into the Clearwater. The Lolo
heads at the summit of the Bitter Root range; the
Oro Fino and Ford's creeks, about forty miles in
length, head further down the slope. All flow west-
ward, the Oro Fino being the most northerly. North
of Oro Fino creek a high divide separates the water-
shed of that stream from the north fork of the Clear-
water, the largest branch of this famous river. From
its headwaters this stream flows, or rather leaps,
through narrow, densely timbered canyons, and hun-
dreds of smaller branches gush forth from precipitous
mountain sides to the very summit of the- Bitter Root
range, contributing their crystal waters to the forma-
tion of the mighty torrent below. Its most easterly
feeders have never been thoroughly explored. Brave
is the man and skillful should be his woodcraft, if he
aims to penetrate the broken wilds, among which are
the hidden sources of the north fork. It is a primeval
region, haunted by moose, elk, bears, cougars, deer
and other wild game, a region of impassable canyons,
stifling, forests and hoary mountain peaks.
Along the eastern canyon of the Clearwater the coun-
try is, for the most part, considerably broken and tim-
bered, mainly with yellow pine, for a distance of eight
or ten miles back, after which an increasing amount of
white pine is found. Practically the canyon bottoms is
all under cultivation, and every tillable spot on the can-
yon's side has been eagerly appropriated by the home-
seeker. West of the town of Orofino there are many
fine farms, the character of the country being similar
to that of the Fraser district, already described. The
principal industry is stock-raising. Six miles west of
Orofino is the postoffice and settlement of Blake, at
which there are a store and postoffice combined, con-
trolled by Edwin Blake. Four years ago, on land
owned by Isaac Gregg, a comfortable school house
was erected. At present it is attended by nineteen
pupils, who are instructed by Chester W. Groves. A
petition has been presented to the commissionrs of
Shoshone county asking for an appropriation of
$1,000 for the purpose of opening a trail on the north
fork, from Ahsahka to Big Island, a distance of fifty
miles. To this fund it is expected that many private
subscriptions will be added, and the trail immediately
constructed. This will afford an outlet to a large sec-
tion of grazing country and several promising mining
districts. ,
The foregoing description of Shoshone county,
cursory though it be in many respects, outlines the
chief characteristics of the northern and southern por-
tions of this minor political division of Idaho's "Pan-
handle." In directing attention to a section whose
principal source of wealth lies in its mineral deposits,
it follows as a corrolary, that the description would
be incomplete and unsatisfactory devoid of a general
review of its
JUNES AND MINING.
Commenting upon the important problem of prac-
tical mining in the Coeur d'Alenes, Mr. W. H. Ross
says :
"The natural facilities offer exceptional opportuni-
ties for economical mining. In most places the angle
of the hills rises abruptly from the gulches, affording
opportunities for deep explorations by tunnels. The
ore, as taken from the mines, is not in marketable con-
dition, but requires concentration. This is done by a
very complete but inexpensive process of crushing,
screening and "jigging." So cheap is the process of
assorting and dressing the ore that but little care is
taken in mining it. The ground is worked in large
breasts and stopes. and everything that contains ore
is put through the mill. In some places large bodies
of clear galena are found, and this is sacked and
shipped direct from the mine, but the bulk of the val-
ues occurs in greater or less quantities of galena, des-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
i°53
seminated through a large extent of rock. These mills
are ingenious and practical contrivances, being almost
automatic. Large quantities of water are used in
dressing the ore, and the mills may be said to be only
huge washing machines. The product of the mills is
called "concentrates," and has a value of about thirty
ounces oi silver and sixty per cent, lead per ton."
Through the northern portion of the county, from
Kingston, a small station on the line of the Oregon
Railroad & Navigation Company's Idaho extension,
situated on the western boundary of Shoshone county,
to the Bitter Root mountains, on the east, extends what
is known as the silver-lead belt, development of which
is still in its infancy. This El Doradian territory lies
between the north and south forks of the Coeur
d'Alene river, whose confluence is at Ena, near the
western boundary of the county. Aside from this vast
reach of untold ore values there are two distinct "gold
belts ;" one north of the south fork, and the other, the
"Pierce City belt," or "Pierce District belt," in the
southern portion of the county. The important posi-
tion of Shoshone county in the mineral group of our
national industries may be satisfactorily estimated by
the fact that its output of lead amounts to nearly one-
half of all the lead mined in the United States. The
following table, showing the amounts and value of out-
put of Coeur d'Alene silver-lead mines for 1902, while
not official, is said by the most prominent mining men
in the district to be, approximately, correct:
Bunker Hill 17. 1151. nil SI .193. sir,. Oil KS6.S3I 5 CJT.lWD.32 SI, 621, 495.32
Standard 12,739.50 891,765.00 891.7(55 CJS.iHT.J0 1.319,812.20
Mornine 12,906.00 903,420.00 619,488 297,354.24 1,200,774.24
Empire State 1 1,000.011 770.000.00 500,000 240,000,00 1,010.000,00
Mammoth 7,514.88 526,041.00 922.951 443,016.48 969,057.48
Tiger-Poorman.. 7,500.00 525.000.00 375.11011 180,000.00 705.000.Oll
Silver King 3,354.00 234,780.00 402,480 192.190.40 426,970.40
Hecla 3,963.00 277.410.00 261,558 125,547.84 402,957.84
Hercules 2,400.00 168,000.00 320,000 153.600.00 321.600.00
Hunter 1,800.00 126,000.00 200,000 96,000.00 222,000.00
Frisco 983.50 68,845.00 55.070 26.536.48 95,381.48
California Consolidated 264.00 18.480.00 12,100 5,808.00 24,288.00
Grand Total 81, 479.38 $5,703,556 00 5.52T. 132 S2.635.578 96S8.339, 134.90
To these may be added the outputs of the Crown
Point, $1,006,047.50; the Golden Chest, in the Murray
gold belt. $100,000. and the Coeur d'Alene placers,
$65,000. In pure lead and silver the output for 1902
was 87,709 tons of lead and 5,512,289 ounces of silver.
The latter figures, obtained from resident officers of
the companies, may be considered accurate.
Within the confines of Shoshone county the authen-
tic original discovery of mineral was made in Eleverton
gulch, near Osburn, in 1878, by Andrew J. Prichard.
The Shoshone county records, however, established the
fact that, as early as November 15, 1865, F. D.
Schnebly and eleven others, filed articles of incorpora-
tion of the Mountain Chief Gold and Silver Mining
Company. These properties were located near Mis-
sion. They may, and may not, have been in Shoshone
county, but it is quite certain they were either within its
territory or contiguous to it. In early territorial days
Shoshone was the only organized county in north Ida-
ho. Naturally this mining company would seek legal
ackncro ledgemenl of their claim at the nearest available
point. Still, it is certain that for fourteen years there-
aftei nothing resulted from the alleged lo
these rather mythical mines. On the wings of rumor
slew the wildest reports all over the northwest, invari-
ably centering at some point near Mission, but noth-
ing was developed; nothing tangible resulted, and the
locators appeared to be fully as elusive as the crew
of the Flying Dutchman. Not until 1883 did mining
operatives enter upon their hegira from California and
Montana to Eagle City, Shoshone county, where the
Mother Lode was exposed and where, at om 1
5..000 people swarmed and toiled: were fired
and sobered by despair.
Of the heaviest mineral producing localities in this
country, undoubtedly Canyon creek, debouching into
the south fork of the Coeur d'Alene, at Wallace, leads
all the rest. At the mouth of this stream is located the
Standard mill, Which treats all ore from the Standard
mine, five miles up the creek. A railway betwei n thi
mine and mill transports about 550 tons of ore a day,
the product of which concentrates in the neighborhood
of 2,200 tons a month. Farther up Canyon creek are
the Formosa mine and mill, located within one mile
of Gem. Next is the Granite, and then the Gem mill,
and as one continues his explorations of the upper
waters of this wonderful stream he encounters the
Mammoth, the Frisco mine and mill, the Black Bear
and, at Burke, the Tiger-Poorman concentrator. Can-
yon creek was the original location in the Silver-Lead
belt of Shoshone county, and it has been a most lib-
eral producer since 1887. Today the deeper levels are
more generous than were the leads nearer the surface.
Identical conditions exist in the Helena & Frisco mine,
a property in the same canyon, now down a vertical
depth of more than 2,000 feet. It remains for the
most conservative deep mining expert to foretell the
future of these Midian properties, and he, too, shall
lay himself open to the charge of extravagance.
The Nine Mile district, deriving its name from
Nine Mile creek, extends in nearly a northerly direc-
tion from Wallace, the stream joining the south fork
of the Coeur d'Alene river at the depot of the Northern
Pacific Railway Company. The most important group
of mines and concentrators in this district are the
properties of the Black Cloud Company. Aside from
these there are the Custer, Tamarack & Chester. Cow-
an, Blue (house and other minor properties. Today
the original discoveries are more liberal producers than
ever before in their history .
On May 7. 1885, Timothy McCarthy, Timothy
Hynes, Frank Hanson and John H. Simmons
the Standard group of claims, all in the Canyon creek
mining district, one mile from Burke. They comprise
the following patented lode claims: Standard. Snow
Line, Banner, Sandwich, Youngstown, Sancho, Par-
allel, Little Chap, Sullivan Fraction. Mammoth Frac-
tion, portions of the Columbia, Crown Point, Tariff
and Tom Reed and the Union millsite, at Wallace.
The capital stock of the Standard Mining Company,
holding patents on all these claims, is $500,000, in
shares of one dollar each. This stock is held, princi-
[054
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
pally, by the Finch & Campbell syndicate, of Youngs-
town, Ohio, Milwaukee and Chicago. It is officered
by Amos B. Campbell, president ; John A. Finch, sec-
retary and treasurer, and E. H. Moffitt, Wallace, Id-
aho, manager. In the fall of 1892 pay ore was struck,
since which period it has been a reliable dividend pay-
er. This silver-lead "proposition," assaying from ten
to fifteen per cent, lead and from twelve to thirty-five
ounces in silver, is one of the best equipped mines, and
from the initial period of its development, was under
the supervision of Archie McCallum until he was suc-
ceeded by E. H. Moffitt. From the mine the ore is
transported six miles to a concentrator, at Wallace, the
capacity of which is 600 tons of crude ore in twenty-
four hours. The original cost of the property was
$38,804.80. It has paid $3,000,000 in dividends. For-
mal incorporation was made in the spring of 1892.
The initial tunnel extended was the Standard, 1,700
feet ; second, Banner, 2,000 feet ; third, Wilson, 800
feet; and the Campbell, 3,300 feet, the latter being
now worked, the others abandoned or leased to the
owners of the Mammoth mine for transportation pur-
poses.
At the terminus of the Campbell tunnel is a shaft
1,050 feet in depth. There are levels at 200, 450, 600,
800 and 1,000 feet; three compartments, steam and
motor hoists, 600-horse-power. Steam and electrical
pumps are employed, the company owning one of the
latter, manufactured by Allis-Chalmers, built in two
units, under a 1,050-foot lift, with a capacity of 250
gallons a minute. This is a "wet" mine, requiring ex-
pensive pumping facilities, one of the pumps alone
costing Si 5.000. An electric railway is provided with
two 50-ton motors, each hauling twenty cars ; capacity-
one and one-half tons each, the ore from which is
transferred to railway cars and hauled to the mill six
miles distant. The company employs 260 men at the
mines and thirty at the mill. J. H. Neil is superintend-
ent and A. D. Marshall mine foreman. The average
capacity of the mill is 550 tons crude ore, concentrating
10 fifty-five or sixty per cent, lead and forty ounces
of silver to the ton. It is a water power mill, supplied
by two flumes, one from the south fork of the Coeur
dAlene, and the other from Canyon creek, the former
for wash and the latter for pressure. Every day in
the year this mill is in operation, with two shifts.
Concentrates are loaded direct on cars belonging to the
Northern Pacific Railway Company.
Air is supplied at the mine by two compressors, one
of the fngersoll-Sergeant patent, capacity 900 cubic
feet per minute; the other an Ingersoll, of 800 cubic
feet capacity, both of them being double machines.
There are two timber hoists in each level, of ten-horse-
power each, using 1,500 lineal feet of stull timber per
day, principally red fir. Electrical appliances have been
supplied by the General Electric Company of Schnec-
tady, New York, including a 2,300-volt dynamo, 300
incandescent and six arc lights. The average ore body
is a fifteen-foot ledge ; one thousand feet the length
of the stope. The total cost of the mine plant was
S>300,ooo. The vein lies east and west, with a dip of
between sixty-eight and seventy degrees north. The
Campbell tunnel was driven in 1895. At each level is
a station twenty feet wide, eighteen feet high and 120
feet long.
The Bunker Hill & Sullivan mine, the "Pandora's
Box" of the Coeur dAlene silver-lead district, is,
without doubt, the heaviest single producer in Sho-
shone county. About eighty claims are embraced in
these properties, lying in the immediate vicinity of
Wardner. At all periods of the year over 500 men are
employed, and many miles of tunnels have been run
into the heart of one of the richest mines in this dis-
trict. The early history of these mines was condensed
by F. R. Culbertson, in 1897, as follows:
In the fall of 1885 the Bunker Hill and Sullivan mines
were discovered at Wardner. The surface showings at the
discovery were so much larger than anything that had been
found up to that time that quite an excitement was created,
and numerous other valuable properties were located. Also,
during the early part of 1885, the Hunter, Morning and
Evening and other properties were discovered at Mullan.
The Bunker ilill & Sullivan property was leased by the
original locators to Jim Wardner, after whom the town of
Wardner was named. Through him some Helena, Montana,
parties were interested in the deal, and a contract was entered
into with the locators for concentrating 50,000 tons of ore,
at $5 a ton, which at this time would be considered an ex-
travagant price. The first concentrator in the district was
placed on the Bunker Hill & Sullivan mine, and was built by
A M. Esler, in the interest of the Helena parties having
the 50,000 ton contract, and was of 100 tons capacity. Before
the expiration of the contract the property was sold to Sim
Reed, of Portland. Oregon, who paid the different parties
interested in the property at that time about $625,000, at that
period considered an extravagant price. Two-thirds of this
money found its way to Spokane, Washington, and helped to
build up the town. Following a long course of litigation, in-
stituted for the purpose of perfecting the title to the mine,
in which a swarm of attorneys are reported to have received
an aggregate amount of $100,000, Sim Reed worked the prop-
erty for several years, selling out to the present company,
who are California parties, and members of the Standard Oil
Company. The property is now under the management of
F. W. Bradley, with head office at San Francisco, California,
and F. Burbidge, of Wardner, is resident manager. The
company has absorbed all the adjacent claims, and now con-
trols something like forty or fifty locations, adjoining and
connecting, and with the exception of the Last Chance Alining
Company's properties, they have about all the desirable loca-
tions near Wanlncr. As a whole it is probably the greatest
lead property in the world, exceeding that of the Broken
Hills mine in Australia, which, heretofore, had been consid-
ered the greatest lead producer.
Many rumors have been current throughout the
Cceur d'Alcnes concerning the discovery of the Bunker
Hill & Sullivan mine. One of the most insistently
urged is to the effect that a 'donkey stumbled in the
snow and revealed the ledge. A quietus is put to this
myth by United States Senator W. B. Heyburn, who
says :
Many fables have been told as to the discovery of the
Bunker Hill & Sullivan mines, and while it is not our inten-
tion at this time to go into the matter in detail, it is sufficient
to say that the story of the jackass is purely a myth. Kellogg,
the discoverer, had been furnished with the jackass to pack
his provisions some weeks before the discovery of the Bunker
Mill, but the animal was not with him at the time, and the
discovery of the Bunker Hill was made by him in the ordinary
process of prospecting and tracing the outcrop of the ledge
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO
1055
from the eastward, across Big Creek. Kik Creek ami into Milo
gulch.
The night before he discovered the Hunker Mill mine
Mr. Kellogg passed at the Polaris cabin, and after breakfast
111 the morning, assisted by Harry Dennis, who was part
owner of the Polaris mine, set up poles along the outcrop of
the ledge on that claim, and taking a line from these poles
nived this outcrop across Big Creek, Elk Creek and into
Milo Gulch, and by so doing found the outcrop of the Bunker
Hill lode, which showed plainly and needed no uncovering
by man or animal. The jackass first came into notoriety in
the litigation of Cooper and Peck, against Kellogg, involving
a grub stake contest, and the mirth of counsel relative to the
mtfit which had been furnished him by Cooper and Peck,
with which to prospect, was, doubtless the original of the
many stories told about this famous animal.
These facts are from one who knows.
Among the more prominent mines on Cany* in creek
Burke is the Tiger, first located in 1884, and which
has proved a steady producer since 1887. John Carton
and Almedos Seymour, the original discovers, bonded
the mine to John M. Burke and S. S. Glidden for
$35,000. Until September, 1887, the only material de-
velopment in this property was a thirty foot tunnel.
During the following winter some work was carried
ii. but owing to the inaccessibility of the mine but lit-
tle was accomplished. The property was thoroughly
examined in 1885 by Mr. Glidden and F. R. Culbertson,
and the latter installed as manager. Trails were cut
to the- Thompson Falls road, and also to Placer Center,
now Wallace, and supplies were packed into the mine
from the Mission. The result of an eighty-ton ore test
at a smelter proved satisfactory and work was prose-
cuted on a wagon road from Burke to the Thompson-
Murray road at the Summit House. In 1881 i a nam iw -
gauge railroad was extended to Wallace and Mr. I Hid-
den organized the Canyon Creek Railroad Company in
1890. This line was subsequently sold to Mr. Corbin.
He disposed of it to the Northern Pacific Railway Com-
i •any by whom it is now owned and operated.
In 1887 construction was begun on the Tiger con-
centrator, and machinery shipped to Thompson, from
whence it was hauled by wagons to Burke. December
15, 1887, the mill was completed and one year later the
Cceur d'Alene Railway, now the Northern Pacific, was
finished to Wallace. In January, 1888, the initial ship-
men of concentrators was made.
Scott McDonald, for himself, W. S. McCune and
A. W. Wertenweiter located the Poorman mine, since
consolidated with the Tiger, and known as the Tiger-
Poorman. one year after the location of the Tiger.
Litigation over this location subsequently ensued, but
was amicably adjusted. The right of the Tiger peo-
ple to the ground claimed as a discovery by Carten was
contested in the courts, involving the best legal talent
available. This complication was adjusted by Patrick
Clark and Simon Healy bonding the interests of the
litigants, and Mr. Clark became manager, remaining
as such until the consolidation was effected, October
15, 1895. The Poorman mill was constructed in 1888
and ran continuously until destroyed by fire, in March,
1896. The lower workings of the Tiger-Poorman
properties are far better today than they were near the
surface. The Tiger and Poorman mines were consol-
idated, under the title id' the Consolidated Tiger & Poor-
man Co., capital $1,000,000 in one million shares,
halt of which are set aside f. ir the stockholders of the
Poorman, and half fur S. S. Glidden, present owner
of the Tiger. The Morning mine, west of Mullan,
was located in 1884 by George Goode. Following the
superficial opening ii was bonded by Lewis Martin,
S. M. Franks and Charles Hussey for twenty-five
thousand dollars, the bond maturing in iSSej. Later
it became the propertj id Waijren and Charles Hussey.
About one-half mile below Mullan, on the narrow-gauge
railway track, a concentrator of two hundred and fifty
tons' capacity was built, ore being conveyed from the
mines by a cable tramway. Later in 1890 the prop-
erty passed into the hands of Receiver Peter Porter
and was purchased by a Milwaukee syndicate. They
organized the Morning Mining & Mill Company.
The same year a new concentrator was erected and a
railroad run to the mine. Two plans of conducting
this mine, one of them co-operative, failed financially,
and in 1895 the property was leased and bonded from
;iie Morning Mining & Milling Company by Peter
Larsen, of Helena, Montana, and Thomas L. Green-
ough, of Missoula, Montana. While being worked in
connection with the You Like mine it was destroyed
by fire April 17, 1898. One week afterward work
was commenced on the present mill, and the concen-
trator put in operation August 15.
Originally the property consisted of the Morning,
Evening, Silver King, Silver Queen and Park mining
claims, to which have been added the Grouse, Noon-
day Fraction. Iron Crown, Lauren J. Fraction and
Iron Crown Fraction mining claims, all contiguous to
the Morning group. The average assay of the ore,
a silver-lead product, is five per cent, lead and one
and a half ounces silver to the ton; the low grade of
ore necessitates handling and working in large quanti-
ties. It is mined by a series of tunnels, ten thousand
feet in length. These are connected with a level of
the railway by a tramway, the railway connecting the
mines with a concentrator, being two and three-quarter
miles in length. It is claimed that this concentrating
plant is the largest in the northwest, and is supplied
with the latest, costliest and highest improved me-
chanical appliances.
What is known as the Paragon group, owned by
the Paragon Mining and .Manufacturing Company, in-
corporated, of which L. W. Stedman is superintendent
and manager, consists of six claims and one hundred
and twenty acres of land, viz: Paragon, Lavanche,
Rhea, Ida,' Bertha and Julia, the Paragon having been
located in 1890 by Charles Tilden and others. Mr.
Stedman located the remainder of the claims from time
to time. They were purchased fur cash by the com-
pany in 180)9. At the time the company took over
the "properties developments consisted of a thirty-two
foot shaft and tunnel. Mr. Stedman continued the
shaft down several feet, in order to secure the trend
of the ledge, and then followed the tunnel until a depth
of one hundred and sixty feet had been attained.
Thence was run a cross-cut which cut the ledge. The
mine was supplied with an air shaft of three hundred
1056
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
and thirty-four feet, and also an exploration shaft.
On the old works eighteen hundred feet were com-
pleted by Mr. Stedman. In order to secure depth
a three-hundred-foot shaft is being sunk, on the com-
pletion of which it will be necessary to cross-cut a
hundred and forty-five feet to catch the ledge. For
shaft purposes the company erected a sawmill and cut
their own lumber. The silver and lead ore lies in
quartzite and slate, the ledge running north of west
and south of east, and dips to the south. The discovery
ore averaged seventy-eight per cent, lead, six ounces of
silver and a little gold to the ton.. At a depth of one
hundred and sixty feet the ore ran from twenty to forty-
ounces of silver. The Paragon mine is located three-
quarters of a mile west of the state line, in Shoshone
county, at an elevation of four thousand two hundred
feet. ' It is connected with the Thompson Falls road by
a private roadway one mile in length constructed by
the company. The air line distance from Burke is
six miles ; seven by trail. Of this property the Murray
Sun of December 7th, 1902, said :
The work now being done, and the extensive improve-
ments being made, by the Paragon company, are the natural
result of developments made by tunnel in the east side of
the mountain. Here exploitation was carried on for several
years under Manager Stedman's directions, in a moderate
way, until finally it was demonstrated by a cross drift that
the company had a ledge fifty feet wide, all but five feet
showing concentrating material, with here and there streaks
of pure shipping ore. The large extent of the ledge was
so clearly proven that the company immediately began ar-
rangements for deeper prospecting on a larger and more far-
reaching scale. Hence the present preparations for the in-
stallment of heavy machinery for sinking to a greater depth
than obtained on the north side.
The Paragon company has large holdings on Paragon
gulch, practically all the ground along both sides, except a
number of claims owned bv Chatles Manley and his associates.
and two owned by Mr. Peterson. Charles W. Tilden and Ole
Larson, the latter joining the Paragon on the west. An
extension of the Paragon on the northwest reaches the claim
of lohn Broderick, which unites the Beartop mines with the
Paragon group. The ore belt is no doubt the same, and
continues westward for five miles. All the Paragon claims
are heavily timbered and there is ample water for concentrat-
ing purposes. The Paragon is an incorporated company.
The capital stock is two hundred thousand dollars, divided
into two hundred thousand shares. The officers are citizens
of prominence in St. Paul and they have all visited the camp
the past summer. Dr. G. P. Sandberg is president, Dr.
George S. Monson, vice-president. F. O. Hammer, secretary
and treasurer, N. W. Dunn, attorney, and L. W. Stedman,
local manager.
The Mammoth Mining Company, Ltd.. is composed
mainly of Coettr d'Alene. Portland, < )regon, and Spo-
kane, Washington, capitalists. The mine, of which
Richard Wilson is manager and James McCarthy as-
sistant, is on Canyon creek, near Mace, between six and
seven miles north from Wallace, the mill being located
at the mouth of the creek, at the latter place. The
Mammoth mine is a silver-lead property, the principal
one of twelve claims and fractions. The working tun-
nel is three thousand five hundred feet in length, tap-
ping the Selkirk, Combination, Etta No. One, Etta No.
Two, Fraction, Tariff and Mammoth. All the ore is at
present taken from the Mammoth, at a depth of eighteen
hundred feet, the daily output being from three hun-
dred and fifty to four hundred tons, and employing
one hundred and seventy-five men. At this writing
it is a dry tunnel mine, but a shaft is contemplated in
the future. Ore is run by electric motors hauling
one and one-quarter ton cars, and dumped into an ore
bin, from which it is transported to the mill, at Wallace,
by the Oregon Railroad & Navigation Company's ore
line. The mine is provided with two six-drill air
compressors, a fifty-horsepower engine to furnish
power for locomotives and lights, and a machine shop
supplied with lathes, planers, drills, press, pipe-cutting
and threading machines, etc. It is the intention of the
company to sink a shaft at the terminus of the three
thousand five hundred foot tunnel.
The mill at Wallace is driven by water power sup-
plied from Canyon creek and the south fork of the
Coeur d'Alene river, and produces eighteen hundred
tons of concentrates per month, which are disposed of
to the American Smelting and Refining Company. The
mill was built in 1899, was nrst operated in January,
1900, and has been in constant use since.
It is provided with the latest inventions in mining
devices, and its slime capacity is greater than that of
any other mill in the Cceur d'Alenes. Its daily capac-
ity is two hundred tons of ore. Work on the structure
was begun in 1897, previous to which only crude ore
was shipped direct to the smelter. Between 1897 and
1900 the company leased the mill of the Milwaukee
Mining Company at Gem. The mine, originally
worked in 1890. has been practically developed since
then.
The Hunter mine, owned and operated by the
Gold-Hunter Mining Company, is one and one-half
miles northeast from Mullan, the concentrating mill
for the same being on the eastern fringe of the town.
The controlling majority of the stock is owned by
.Messrs. Hennessy and Keeley. Among the great
mines of the Cceur d'Alene country it has obtained a
prominent standing, and its owners have a good rea-
son to feel proud of their sagacious investment in its
group of ore bodies. Since the initial period of its
operation the Hunter has produced upwards of two
hundred thousand tons of lead and one million dollars
in silver. Its net profits exceed five hundred thousand
dollars. Under control of the company are large tracts
of mineral lands, all most favorably located and pat-
ented.
One of the best dividend-paying silver-lead propo-
sitions in the Cceur d'Alenes is the Empire State, lo-
cated in the Warclner district, owned by the Empire
State-Idaho Company, which also controls the Tiger-
Poorman at Burke. It is said to be a conservative
estimate that these two mines, the Empire State and
the Tiger-Poorman, produced in 1902 thirty-five thou-
sand tons of ore, running 59 per cent, lead and twenty-
six ounces of silver. In the production of lead and
silver ores the Empire State is quite enterprising. To
the careful and conscientious work of Charles
Sweeney, who up to a year ago was manager, is due
a large share of the success that has attended this
mine.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1057
The Monarch, owned hy the Monarch Mining
Company, Ltd., is located five miles east of Murray,
on the south fork of Prichard creek. The product
is lead and silver ore, the property being a consolida-
tion of the Monarch and Barton groups, the new com-
pany taking possession in January, 1902. It was lo-
cated in the winter of 1897-8. There are six thousand
feet of development work, the mines being opened
principally by cross-cut tunnels and drifts. There are
two veins, the Barton and the Monarch. In Septem-
ber, 1902, the twelve-drill, water-power Leyner du-
plex compressor was installed. A two-thousand-
eight-hundred-foot cross-cut tunnel is now being run,
over eighteen feet of which are completed. It is an-
ticipated that this will open up the Monarch ore body
at a depth of fourteen hundred feet. As outlined by
Superintendent E. P. Spalding, the erection of a con-
centrator will follow the tapping of this ore.
The Hecla mine, located at Burke, is owned by
Finch & Campbell and is at present making a steady
and successful record of shipments. The company
also controls, in connection with the Hecla, the Katie,
May, Consolidated Extension, Ironsides, Mascot, Or-
phan Girl, Orphan Boy, Oronogo, Denver, Leadville,
Leadville Fraction, Muscatine, Muscatine Fraction,
Burlington, Croesus, Star, Fox, Rooster, Hecla Frac-
tion, Climax and Silver Knight. Principal develop-
ments are in the Hecla, Oronogo, Orphan Boy and Or-
phan Girl. The Hecla is provided with three tunnels,
eight hundred, fifteen hundred and twenty-seven hun-
dred feet in length, respectively. The concentrator,
situated at Gem, was erected in the winter of 1893-4.
Originally it was of one hundred and fifty tons ca-
pacity, which has since been raised to six hundred
tons, until ' it is now the third in size in the Cceur
d'Alenes. The mine is run by two ten-hour shifts;
the mill by two twelve-hour shifts ; the lowest wages
being $3.50 and the highest $5 per diem. The output
is seventeen thousand tons per month, the ore running
50 per cent, lead and thirty-five ounces of silver.
The Hercules mine, which has been appropriately
called "the Wonder of the Camp," is situated about
two miles from Burke. It is one of the new develop-
ments of this district, the "strike" having been made
July 2, 1901. Up to that date it had been simply an
encouraging prospect. Its crude product is the rich-
est in the camp and its ore shoots the largest. For
their young bonanza the owners have refused a bond-
ing proposition of $2,000,000. The wonderful produc-
tion of this mine is given elsewhere. The Hercules
was discovered by poor men in this world's goods,
and one of the present owners, G. Paulson, is said
to have secured a half interest in the property for
S750. The mine is owned by H. L. Day, sons Harry,
Jerome, Eugene, Mrs. E. B. Boyce, G. Paulson, Syl-
vester Markwell, C. H. Reeves, L. W. Hutton, Dan
Cardoner, H. T. Samuels and F. M. Rothrock. al!
residents of the Cneur dAlenes. The ore is all clean,
shipping quality, and is sent direct to the Everett
smelter and New Jersey reduction works. The ex-
penses for operation for 1892. according to the Cceur
d'Alene Mining Record, were: Wages, $50,000;
67
freight and treatment charges, $85,000; fuel, timber,
repairs, etc., $15,000; total $150,000. This leaves net
profits of $170,000, the total gross value of output
having been $320,000. This is certainly a grand rec-
ord for a new mine — unsurpassed in the history of
lead mining. The management is now driving a
twenty-five-hundred-foot tunnel that will explore the
mammoth ore shoot five hundred feet below the upper
workings. It is believed this tunnel will open up ore
reserves of the value of $1,500,000, and some local
mining experts prophesy that the Hercules "will make
a $10,000,000 mine." Harry L. Day, Jr., is the man-
ager of the Hercules mine.
On the north fork gi the Cceur d'Alene river, twen-
ty miles above the mouth of Prichard creek, there are
several copper prospects which show up welt. These
prospects, carrying copper, gold and silver, are being
developed. As yet the stratas found are quite small,
not over two or three inches, but exceedingly rich. It
is believed that with depth obtained these strata will
run together. The surrounding country is quite wild
and heavily timbered with white pine, tamarack, fir,
spruce and cedar, the cedar and pine principally being
suitable for lumber. So far this locality has been
prospected only to a limited extent, and is unsur-
veyed.
In the course of the following resume of tin- mines
and prospects in the Pierce City mining district no
attempt is made to recount the history of the early
placer diggings discovered in and around Pierce City
nearly half a century ago. That interesting story is
told elsewhere in this work. Undoubtedly there are
millions of dust in the sands and gravel of this famous
district. Possiblv it may be secured by the indefati-
gable industry of future miners. But the present
prestige of this district rests mainly upon the rich and
extensive quartz ledges. It is of this branch of mod-
ern mining that our description principally concerns
itself.
The first quartz float was picked up by the earlier
placer miners. In those days of primitive mining
methods, however, only deposits of free gold were
sought, and only these were worked. Many stories
are current of fabulously rich float quartz having been
found as early as 1864 near the old town of ( (rofino.
As these stories, however, are rather mythical and
lacking spissitude, it were best to confine our account
within the limits of fact. In 1867 no little excitement
was occasioned among placer miners by reported dis-
coveries of rich ledges on the divide between Canal
gulch and Rhoades' creek, east of Pierce City. For
a short time the secret was concealed, but when di-
vulged a rush to the locality immediately ensued.
More than fifty claims were located, but alas for hu-
man hopes ' Rich quartz failed to materialize : excite-
ment soon wore away; no work was done upon the
claim-. Now, in this connection, it is interesting to
note what those pioneer miners considered "rich
quartz." Some of it, forwarded to Dr. Da;
office in Walla Walla by the Nelson Brothers, a.-sayed
a hundred and eighty in silver and thirty-five dollars
in gold. Stdl. with 'lack of transportation and other
io5i
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
difficulties to overcome, this assay was not considered
sufficiently large to justify working.
Thus remained the status of mining in the Pierce
City district until 1893. Auriferous quartz was be-
lieved to exist in large bodies, but it had never been
discovered in what was considered paying quantities.
In 1803 the old Crescent quartz mine, located in the
middle sixties by James McCarty, and possessed in
turn by Silas W. Moody, who paid $2,000 for it, and
subsequently by I. B. Cowan, was by the latter sold
to R. N., A. L. and John Dunn, brothers. They imme-
diately opened this virtually abandoned property and
discovered a pay ledge which showed flatteringly. A
two-stamp mill was installed and for five years Dunn
Brothers & Carr profitably worked this property, tak-
ing out, it is reported, $50,000. The Crescent Con-
solidated Mining Company, of which Hon. Willis
Sweet is president, secured the property in 1897. They
erected a five-stamp gravity mill, the stamps weighing
nine hundred pounds each. At present the company
lias abandoned the old shaft, and are driving a tunnel
at the mouth of which the mill is to be placed. The
tunnel is -down two hundred and fifty feet and will
cut the ledge at the depth of three hundred and fifty
feet. The vein now being developed is about fourteen
inches wine, lies on an incline of about thirty degrees
west and carries principally free milling ore. The
claims in this group are the Crescent, Bole, Golden,
Columbia, Hoodoo, Bond, Twin, Twin Fraction,
Washington, Wildcat, Best Chance, Magic, Humbug,
and Gem Fraction. They are. situated about three
miles east from Pierce on Bartlett and Clearwater
gulches, tributaries of Rhoades creek.
Commencement work on the Crescent naturally
attracted attention of the mining world. The year
1893 witnessed quite an influx of prospectors. For
two or three years the camp enjoyed a boom, subse-
quently suffering a relapse. Meanwhile a number of
experienced quartz miners located in the district.
Prominent among them were: Dr. H. H. Bole, a vet-
eran miner of Montana ; I. D. Cleek, a pioneer Ida-
hoan, and M. A. Ellis. With indomitable persever-
ance these men continued to work with the gratifying
result that Pierce City now has an established reputa-
tion as a quartz camp. At present the most distin-
guished property in the Pierce City district is the
Wild Rose. It is located on Clearwater gulch, three
apd one-half miles east of Pierce City. The ledge was
found in T901 by W. S. Wilkinson, who owns a half
interest, J. L. Dunn and M. A. Ellis owning one-quar-
ter each. Last year, in an eighty days' run a three-
stamp gravity mill saved $20,000 in gold, aside from
many tons of concentrates, averaging $12 a ton. The
richness of this ledge may be estimated by the fact
that the caoacity of the mill is only two tons a day.
One hundred and ten feet of shaft has been sunk and
about two hundred and fifty feet of drifting com-
pleted. The vein is large, thirty-three feet and six
inches between walls at a depth of one hundred and
ten feet, and contains three principal pay streaks. In
the property are included seven claims and a mill site,
the Wild Rose having attained the greatest develop-
ment.
The Santiago property lies on Rose Creek, three
and one-half miles northeast of Pierce City. By its
owners it is claimed to be the best developed property
in the camp. To this group belong the Sampson,
Schley, Miles, Shafter and Santiago claims, a veri-
table Spanish war aggregation. In these several
claims more than twelve hundred feet of tunneling has
been completed, the principal vein tapped being from
six inches to four feet wide, and carrying ore aver-
aging $15, besides rich concentrates. Three years ago
a two-stamp, triple-discharge Hendy mill was ac-
quired and is now in operation. M. A. Ellis and
James Morrow discovered the Santiago group in 1898.
The latter now owns three-eighths, J. A. Morrow and
J. C. Johnson the remainder.
On French creek, seven miles east of Pierce City,
are located the Golden Gate and Klondyke quartz
mines. The Golden Gate is at the head of French
creek, contiguous to the Fidelity placer and quartz
group on the south. There are thirty-four claims in
the group, most of which were located five years ago
by Horatio L. Gray, a pioneer of Pierce City. He
bonded them to a Cleveland, Ohio, syndicate three
years ago, since which period from fifteen to twenty
men have been steadily at work developing the prop-
erty. A Hendy, triple-discharge, two-stamp mill is
in operation and about two hundred feet of shaft has
been sunk, and seven hundred feet of tunnel driven.
In March, 1903, this group was bonded to a New
York syndicate for $300,000. The veins run from
three to seventeen feet in width. Sample assays have
reached $2,500. The ore is free milling, but it is an-
ticipated that with depth it will become refractory.
The Klondyke is on Bear gulch, adjoining Golden
Gate. There are five claims in this group, on which
more than eight hundred feet of underground work
has been done. The ledge runs north and south, which
is the general trend of all leads in this region. The
ore is arsenical sulphides, and when oxidized becomes
free milling. The property is owned by the Klondyke
Mining and Mill Company. Two years ago a Ham-
mond, self-contained, water power, five-stamp mill and
Bartlett concentrator were erected. In the develop-
ment of this mine I. D. Cleek has been prominent, and
is the principal owner. The Fleetwood, another well
known property in this district, lies three miles east
of Pierce City, in Osborne gulch, a branch of
Rhoades' creek. The ore, which is free milling, is the
same as other ore in the district. A two-foot ledge
has been tapped which assays between $14 and $15.
It was discovered in 1899 by Alvin Arnold, who dis-
posed of it to Mr. Coach, of Michigan. Tn 1901 a
three-stamp Hendy, triple-discharge, seven-hundred-
and-fifty-pound stamp mill was installed jointly by
the Fleetwood -and Santiago companies.
One mile and a half east of Pierce City, on
Rhoades creek, are three groups showing flattering
promise of becoming producing mines. They are the
Ozark, Orion and Homestead groups, owned respect-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1059
ively by Frank and William Gaffney and John Pons,
the Ohio-Idaho Mining and Development Company,
Ltd., and Dr. H. H. Bole. These three groups have
shown exceedingly rich ore, a large proportion free mill-
ing, the remainder containing rich sulphides. Develop-
ment in the Ozark is more advanced than in the other
two. With only a limited mill capacity, consisting of a
steam engine and Bryant rocker, equaling two stamps,
gold sufficient to finance one thousand feet of tunnel,
thoroughly opening the mine, has been extracted. Last
winter the Ozark was bonded to a Spokane company,
at the head of which is Judge L. H. Prather, for
$60,000. From the Ozark vein sample assays have
shown values amounting to $260 a ton, although the
average is below this. The Red Cloud is an extension
of the Ozark group and included in the bond. The
eight claims comprised in the Homestead group are
Homestead, Lookout, .Samson, Outcrop, McCormick,
Big Bar, Overlap and one other. The principal de-
velopment work- has been done in the Lookout, where
five hundred and sixty feet of tunnel has been driven,
the lower tunnel tapping the vein at one hundred and
sixty-five feet, the greatest vein yet attained in the
the camp. The ore body, a large one, is one hundred
feet wide, and high values are found in small streaks
in the enormous ledge, carrying quartz assaying from
$10 to $128. This property, discovered in 1900, has
been continuously developed since. Between the
Homestead and Uzark groups lies the Orion, discov-
ered by Dr. H. H. Hole in 1898, and bonded to the
present owners in 1901.
Completing the list of prominent properties in
this camp is the Dewey, although there are, doubtless,
many others which by the time this article is pub-
lished will have attained to fully as much importance,
since the camp is growing rapidly. The Dewey joins
the Wild Rose group on the north. It is owned by
M. A. Ellis, J. A. Morrow, G. A. Rubeden and R. M.
Walker. Over six hundred feet of tunneling has been
completed and a fine body of ore opened. Forty-two
tons of ore taken from the mine, sampled at a custom
mill, averaged $30 a ton.
The greater portion of placer mining in this camp
js done on French creek, a tributary of the Oro
Grande. French creek, a small stream fifteen miles
long, heads on French mountain, several miles east
of Pierce City, and flows in a northwesterly direction.
The topography of the region is similar to that of
southern Shoshone county in general, densely tim-
bered canyons and ravines running in all directions.
Although in earlier days considerable placer mining
was exploited on French creek, it is universal belief
that only a very small portion of the ground has ever
been worked. At the junction of French and Oro
Grande creeks are Johnson Brothers' group of placers,
comprising six claims. At present they are being
worked by hydraulic process. The gold is coarse and
pure, worth $19.21 an ounce. Adjoining these claims
are seventeen belonging to J. P. Walsh and R. J.
Kellv. It is said that Joaquin Miller, the Poet of the
Sierras, worked these claims as early as 1864, at
which period they were rich producers. Between 1895
and 1900 the Idaho Consolidated Gold Placer Mining
Company exploited these claims successfully.
The next group of placers on French creek is con-
trolled by the Fidelity Placer Mining and. Develop-
ment Company, Inc., of Spokane. In the group are
six placer and. two quartz claims. During the past
winter a bedrock flume was completed, a new ditch
constructed, and in the spring hydraulic operations
were commenced. In the 'sixties the ground paid
$22 to $30 to the man. At present nine men are
employed under management of Christopher C. Garrett,
of Salt Lake. These placers appear to have been fed
by stringers of development quartz at intervals of a
few yards.
Several companies are at work on Oro Fino creek.
The Rich Hill Water and Mining Company, of which
L. T. Culver, formerly of Pasadena, is manager, owns
six hundred acres of ground lying east of Pierce
City on what is known as Rich Hill. Twelve thousand
dollars has been expended in improving the ditch, pur-
chasing machinery, etc. The ground prospects as
high as $2 a yard. The Chicago-Pierce Developing
Company has three hundred and twenty acres on Oro
Fino creek, beginning four miles up the bed of the
creek. The old Gulling ditch, built in the seventies,
has been purchased by the company and is used to
operate a hydraulic elevator, costing $10,000, with a
capacity of two thousand yards a day. Below Pierce
on Oro Fino creek another hydraulic elevator will be
placed in operation this season by the American Placer
.Mining Company, which controls the bed of the
creek for a distance of eight miles, beginning at
Quartz creek. A plant has been installed and a high
line ditch, carrying one thousand five hundred inches
of water, will be constructed. The elevator will han-
dle about two thousand five hundred yards a day. The
Chicago-Spokane Company owns several hundred
acres of land on Oro Fino and Rhoades creeks.
Three or four companies are opening extensive
placers on Snake creek, nine miles north of Pierce.
Most prominent of these companies is the one working
the Y. V. Friedman property. A Cleveland syndi-
cate is building an elevator plant on Cold and the
Kmpire Company is operating on Breakfast creek,
twelve miles east of Pierce City. A Detroit, Michi-
gan, syndicate has recently acquired the Musselshell
Falls group and will do considerable work there the
coming season. Many other smaller concerns and
private individuals are engaged in restoring the Pierce
City district to its primary standing as a placer camp.
Undoubtedly the most potent factor in modern placer
mining is the use of improved machinery, especially
the hydraulic elevator and steam hydraulics. When
the rich ground in the vicinity of Pierce Ciey is worked
by this method and on an extensive scale, it is nol 1
prediction too sanguine to say that the annual yield
cannot be expressed in six figures.
THE MURRAY GOLD BELT.
A synchronous description of the "gold belt of
Shoshone county" would be incomplete did it not
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
slate that its actualities and possibilities are widely
divergent. Lying within an area of twenty miles
square, in the extreme northern portion of the county,
this gold district has witnessed a variety of exciting
and sensational scenes occurring on a variety of dates.
Gold has been found in placers to an almost unlim-
ited amount, but in recent years placer has been sup-
plemented by quartz mining. In earlier .years the lat-
ter method- has been neglected for the more readily
procured and, apparently, more abundant and richer
placer gold. This has been the history of all im-
portant gold regions.
It was during the summer and fall of 1883 that the
gold belt proper of Shoshone county first came into
prominence. Eagle City, which once swarmed with
a population of over two thousand enthusiastic gold-
seekers, is now one of the deserted mining camps of
the district. Yet it was in the immediate vicinity of
Eagle that placer gold was first discovered, on Prich-
ard creek, and, by many, A. J. Prichard, for whom
the stream was named, is credited with the initial dis-
covery of the yellow metal in this locality. By some
this is disputed. However, fabulous reports of the
richness and extent of this gold-bearing district soon
attracted the attention of thousands. Of this excit-
ing period F. A. Culbertson in July, 1898, said :
"In the spring of 1884 there was quite a stampede
into the Cceur d'Alene district, being somewhat simi-
lar to the present excitement over Klondyke. Pros-
pectors for the Cceur d'Alenes from the West out-
fitted at Spokane and proceeded thence by rail to
Rathdrum, by stage to Cceur dAlene City and from
this point on by the old Mullan road (built by the
government as a military road) to Evolution, about
twenty miles above the Mission, and from this point
by trail to Eagle City. Prospectors from tlu- East
left the main line of the Northern Pacific at Herron
and Trout creek and continued thence by trail into
the mines. Stories related by old prospectors of the
difficulties of getting into the country over these trails
remind one of the description and accounts of the
Skaguay trail."
Eagle City, in the spring of 1884, had developed
into a mining camp of two thousand souls, with al!
the usual accessories, saloons, dance halls, the lair of
the "tiger," etc.. and one paid $2 for a meal of bacon
and beans, and $1 for a place to "flop" with one's
blankets. Five miles up Prichard creek the town ot
.Murray, destined to become the county-seat of Sho-
shone county, was laid out in 1884, and the same event-
ful year Thompson Falls, across the line in Montana,
was established, and a trail blazed from there to
Murray.
November 18, 1884, application No. 1 for a pat-
ent to mining propertv was filed at the United States
1 .and ( )ffice, Lewiston, Nez Perces county. The ap-
plicants were George E. Ives and John Silverthorn.
The application was for the Idaho Bar Placer Claim,
near .Murray. Application No. 2 was for a patent on
the Wolf Placer Claim, owned by Hiram E. Wolf,
dated March 31, 1885, and application No. 3 for the
Silver City Placer, owned by William G. Shedd, Wil-
liam A. Earish, Commodore P. Crawford, Thomas
Lyons, Bernard McDonald and Angus Campbell. It
was dated April 20, 1885.
The Mother Lode, one of the richest prospects
ever developed in the gold belt, is thus described by
Mr. Adam Aulbach in 1891 :
The .Mother Lode Company started in 1885 with a Spanish
arrastra to crush their ore. They have since erected a five-
stamp mill, driven by water power, and with these two small
affairs crushing the quartz the members of the company are
realizing big dividends. The last clean-up, three weeks ago,
reached fifty-two pounds of gold bullion, or in the neighbor-
hood of $13,000. This result was from a single month's
run. The mine known as the Mother Lode was one of the
first quartz lodes located in the Coeur d'Alenes during the
rush. It became a great point of attraction and created much
excitement on account of the mass of gold that was visible
in the croppings which were exposed in Prichard Creek at
the foot of a steep mountain. One section of these croppings
revealed a flat portion of white quartz, literally covered with
the yellow metal. For a year the four owners — D. H. Wilsey,
William King, Albert Coolidge and Albert Otto — sat and
watched the golden slab, going hungry at times, but always
courteous to visitors. One handsome offer after another for
this mining property was refused. They were afraid to sell,
for fear there might be more wealth in the mine than the
offer amounted to. At a rough estimate the mine has yielded
$200,000 up to the present date, and is scarcely opened up.
Several rich pockets have been found, one of which gave
up about $2D,ooo. Nuggets weighing as high as twenty and
twenty-seven ounces of pure gold were hammered out of the
quartz, and are still in existence at the Spokane National
Bank, Spokane. Washington.
Aside from the Mother Lode this group contains
the Mother's Boy, Treasure Box, Occident, Chicago,
Red Cloud, Mountain Queen, Lost Fraction, Old
Shape Fraction and Fourth of July. The ore is a
ribbon quartz, carrying considerable iron sulphurets,
free gold on the surface growing baser as the ledges
are followed, averaging $15 a ton, free milling, and
much higher if concentrated and treated. The ledge
runs from four to twenty-four inches in width. It
is a blanket ledge, extending back into the hill, a
peculiar and unusual formation. Quite frequently
pockets carrying from $500 to $3,000 were opened.
The "golden slab" of the Mother Lode was a slab of
quartz sixteen feet square, impregnated with gold to
the depth of an inch. From the Mother Lode up-
wards of $250,000 has been taken and undoubtedly the
group has produced half a million dollars. The vein
lias been followed for about six hundred feet.
Of the group owned by the Paddy Gold Mining
Company, located near Mother Lode Hill, the Daddy
quart/ mine is the most prominent. The company,
comprising Coplen Brothers, of Latah. Washington;
Robert Horn and ( 'harles Mead, own six claims in
the group — the Daddy, Mead, Mead Fraction, Woods,
Daddy's Boy and Mclntee. In October, 1883, the
original Daddy claim was located by B. F. Coplen,
George Bartlett and Robert Horn. Development
work on the Daddy was commenced in 1891, and in
June, 1894, the present mill was erected. Owing to
the great railway strike of the A. R. l:. machinery
was not installed until late in the summer, but from
August 28, 1894, the mill ran steadily three year.-,. In
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1 06 1
1895 the company purchased the Mead and Alead
Fraction for $56,000. In 1898 the mill closed down,
since which period it has, at various times, been op-
erated by lease. It is a forty-horse-power steam plant,
Nagle engine, Frazier-Chalmers mill and amalgamating
plates. Gilpin concentrators. It is provided with an
eighty-light, sixteen-candle-power dynamo, operated
by water power, and also a complete canvas plant, the
only one in the Cceur d'Alenes. It is utilized for con-
veniently and economically handling base ores, and is
the predecessor of the Frue Vanners and Wilfley ta-
bles. This mine has produced $250,000, the ore aver-
aging between $8 and $24 a ton. One pocket yielded
$15,000. In the future the ore, which has become
base, must be worked by the cyanide process, and ex-
periments to that end are now in progress.
The Golden Chest quartz lode, the richest pro-
ducer in the Shoshone county gold belt, is situated at
the head of Reeder gulch, a small stream that empties
into Prichard creek from the north, and a short dis-
tance east of Murray. The owners of this mine boast
of the pioneer stamp mill of the Cceur dAlenes. On
Wednesday, April 15. 1885, it was set in motion. It
is a twenty-stamp mill.
In November, 1900, the Golden Chest Mining
Company made a settlement that removed litigation
that had for several years been pending, and gave the
company possession of the Katie, Dora, Paymaster
and some other properties, together with the Idaho
mill. As expressed by the Murray Sun, this was "a
consolidation that had been hoped for by our people
for years. The company is now fitting up two stamp
batteries, put in some time ago, with concentrators,
and in a short time there will be twenty stamps crush-
ing ore at the mouth of Reeder gulch."
The Yosemite Mining Companv, comprising John
A. Finch, W. W. Hart, E. H. M'offitt and Clarence
Cunningham, of Wallace, are the principal owners of
the Yosemite. This group of mines consists of the Yose-
mite and Denver Fraction claims on Prichard creek east
of Murray and in the immediate vicinity of the
Mother Lode and Daddy groups. The company
erected a stamp mil! in 1895, provided with a superior
equipment. The ore bodies are identical in general
character with those of the Mother Lode Hill.
The most prominent operator on Eagle creek,
which forms a confluence with Prichard creek at the
old town of Eagle, is George F. Viter. It is under-
stood that he controls all available mines on the creek,
including Fancy (and Daisy) gulch, about eight
miles up the stream. At present the company is doing
merely assessment work, but intends to build a hy-
draulic elevator at the mouth of Fancy gulch during
the present year, using the old Mills ditch, taking-
water from Eagle creek, below White Rock. Mr.
Viter succeeds the Sidney Mills Company ; Barry Hill
is local manager of the property.
As practically illustrative and descriptive of the
entire gold belt of northern Shoshone county, the fol-
lowing may prove of interest to all seeking information
concerning this golden region :
Three thousand acres of patented ground on Prich-
ard creek, and along the old wash channel on the
hill to the north are owned by the Coeur <1 Alene
Mining Company. William Q. Brown, an experienced
California miner, is manager; Fred M. Brown, his
brother, superintendent. At present the company is
simply prospecting to test the ground and ascertain
the better methods of mining it. The old channel dig-
gings can easily be worked by hydraulics, and pros-
pecting is now in progress in Nugget, Buckskin and
Drain gulches with encouraging results. Entirely dif-
ferent is the proposition on the creek. Here the
bedrock, except where the rim protrudes, lies from
twenty-five to thirty feet below the surface. Probably
there is no rockier place in the United States. The
ground is one mass of bowlders and gravel ; expensive
to handle and slow of process. Moreover, the bed-
rock lies on an incline ; the gold in seams, sometimes
as deep into the bedrock as two feet. This rock, which
is hard, has to be thoroughly broken up before the
gold can be extracted. The company had at work,
011 the old Gelatt claim, below Murray, a small Evans
elevator. But several months' experience with this
appliance convinced the owners that this method is
impracticable, being slow and expensive. The ma-
chine is now employed in prospecting work. < >n the
ground is machinery for a link-belt elevator. Should
it be found practicable to utilize it the same will be
put in operation. Its capacity is two thousand yards
a day. On these creek claims no pay ore is found until
bedrock is reached, and to clean one foot of bedrock
it is necessary to remove one cubic yard of earth.
Following the installation of a suitable plant several
hundred men will doubtless be employed in sifting
gold from the North Fork country. For the opera-
tion of this elevator water is secured from the old
Coeur d Alene Company's pipe line from Raven;
twenty-two inches in diameter and with a pressure of
1 1 2 pounds to the square inch at the elevator. Water
is supplied to this pipe from a flume extending to
Twin Lakes, east of the Montana divide, in Mon-
tana. As they are at a greater altitude than the back-
bone of the divide the water can be conveyed from
the lakes into Idaho and used on Prichard creek. I )ay
and night several men are employed at the elevator,
of whom S. S. Catching is foreman.
The process of dredging for gold is one of recent
introduction in Shoshone county, but it is claimed by
mining men to be a practical method. Operating on
Beaver Creek, a trifle north of midway between Prich-
ard Creek and the South Fork of the Coeur d'Alene
river, are three dredge companies, the Northern, Delta
and Mascot. The trio is under one management,
Philadelphia capital controlling all of them. J. M.
Savage, of Delta, president of each company, is the
originator of these enterprises. C. S. Crysler is gen-
eral manager. Large quantities of placer gold have
been taken from several tributaries of Beaver Creek,
notably Trail Creek, as well as from the main stream.
It is aid to be a conservative estimate that fully $2,-
000,000 has been taken from Trail Creek alone. Be-
cause the bedrock lies between twenty-five and thirty-
live feet deep on Beaver Creek, it has been, practically,
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
beyond the range of the poor miner. In building their
huge machines, acquiring properties and in preliminary
work, the companies have expended not less than
$200,000. So far, however, but little ground has been
worked.
October 1, 1002, work on the first dredge, that of
the Northern Company, was completed. It is located
on the Prichard group of claims, on Beaver Creek,
two miles northwest of Delta. To the Delta Company
belongs the second machine, erected in May, 1903.
At present it is at work on the Coulson and Hustes
group of claims, one mile west of Delta. The third
dredge, property of the Mascot Company, was com-
pleted in June. 1903. It is on a larger scale than
the two earlier dredges, the hull being longer and
wider by several feet, the ladder ten feet longer, and
capacity four buckets greater. The ground embraced
in the townsite of Delta, at the mouth of Trail Creek,
will be thoroughly worked by the latter machine. The
buildings of this pioneer mining town are being rap-
idly removed. Soon nothing but a large, cavernous
pit, filled with water and "tailings,"' will mark the spot
where was once a thriving city of more than j,ooo
inhabitants.
These three powerful machines are products of the
Risdon Iron Works, San Francisco, California, and
are made under the Postlethwaiie patents. The lumber
utilized in their construction is Oregon fir, first grade,
and about 60,000 feet were required for each dredge.
Their per diem capacity of twenty-four hours is, ap-
proximately, 1,800 yards each ; theoretical calculation
being 2,000 yards. Each is supplied with its own
electric lighting plant ; a fifty-horse-power boiler pro-
vides power to operate the massive machinery. Or-
dinarily two men are required to operate the dredge,
a winchman and engineer, the latter doing his own
firing. There are not so many large boulders here
as there are in Prichard Creek, and the machines
are comparatively easy to work. At mouths of the
gulches gold lies all through the earth from the sur-
face to bedrock. On the remainder of the creek no
values of consequence are found above the fifteen foot
level. Bedrock is termed "soft," and buckets cut into
it to a depth of two feet. As in Prichard Creek there
is a pay streak which must be followed to obtain gold.
The quality of the gold is medium ; the form coarse.
It is not considered unlikely that the Mascot dredge
may uncover some large nuggets, as Trail Creek has
produced many of unusual size. Only a few months
ago a $1,200 nugget was found in this gulch.
Clearly of the highest type and a triumph of mod-
ern mechanism is the Postlethwaite, or Risdon, dredge.
It is the result of years of thought and experience of
the most skilled mechanics in this line of work. For
this dredge a lifetime of fifteen years is claimed by
the manufacturers, which is long, considering the
strain and pressure incident to gold dredging. The
dredge is of continuous-bucket type, with a stiff box-
girder ladder nearly seventy feet in length. Quite
strong are these brackets, with heavy, chilled stee!
lips, which owing to a peculiarity in shape and action
dig into the hardest ground. There are usually thirty-
four buckets, of three and one-fourth feet capacity.
They travel at the rate of fourteen a minute, giving a
theoretical capacity of 100 cubic yards an hour, which
is delivered in an almost continuous stream into a."
perforated revolving screen. The screen is set on a
grade, the heavy material traveling through it and
discharging overboard at the stern of the dredge by
means of an ingenious and perfect stacker. Into the
screen extends a perforated water-pipe, five inches
in diameter, and about twenty-five feet long, convey-
ing water at the rate of several hundred gallons -a
minute, thus thoroughly washing the gravel, and mak-
ing its way with the gold and fine material through the
perforations of the screen into a distributing box.
Thence the gravel is washed onto the gold saving
tables, a set of which is on each side of the screen.
Into sections these tables are divided, covered with
cocoa matting and expended metal riffles, one -of the
notable features of the Risdon machines. Should any
gold escape from the first or lower table it is caught
in the riffles by a long sluice box which carries all
the waste. No quicksilver is used on the Risdon
machine except where there is flour gold in the
ground.
Water is supplied by a centrifugal pump and the
whole of the machinery on the dredge is run by a 100-
horse-power, surface-condensing, compound marine
engine. The winch has six barrels, four of which
control the cable lines running from each corner of the
dredge. One regulates the headline, and the other
raises and lowers the bucket ladders. By means of the
five working lines it is possible to make the dredge
assume any particular, position within a few moments,
the advantage of this over the old method being very
decided. A glance at the enormous pile of "tailings"
left behind the machine affords eloquent testimony
to the immense amount of earth handled by the dredge
as compared to the work of the individual miner with
pick, shovel and hoist. These "tailings'' rear them-
selves to a height of twenty feet above the water, while
underneath it they may be lying on ground thirty-
five or forty feet lower than the surface.
At the present writing the Golden Chest and Gran-
ite Lodes are the only ones being actively worked on
Prichard Creek. Much prospecting, however, is being
done throughout this gold belt. The Granite is the
property of the Granite and Allie Consolidated Min-
ing Company, formerly known as the Granite Prop-
erty Stock Company. This was organized December
18, 1902, with the following officers : John E. Steen.
president; Louis Prager, vice president; Dr. George
S. Lesher, secretary ; B. F. Morgan, treasurer. The
capital stock is divided into 1.500,000 shares, at one
dollar a share. In 1896 a ten-stamp water-power
mill, with concentrating plant, was put into the Gran-
ite mill. By this means, however, the company was
unable to save values, and a forty-ton cyanide plant
was secured. There are in the Granite mine 280 feet
of tunnel ; 100 feet of shaft and cross-cuts, and ore-
tunnel. Values are found in sulphide ore in quartz —
gold ore strictly. The vein runs northwest and south-
east, and is almost vertical, lying bet wen quartzite and
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1063
granite. A large improved cyanide plant, for the
Granite mine, is en route from the east.
In describing individual properties we have, in
the majority of cases, availed ourselves of information
furnished by owners themselves, together with such
other accurate information as could be found, and have
leaned toward conservatism in making statements.
EDUCATIONAL.
Interest in the advancemnt of educational privi-
leges in Shoshone county is constantly increasing. The
general topography of this section renders the crea-
tion of country school districts almost impossible, with
the natural conesquence that, with but few excep-
tions, these districts are confined within the limits of
town organizations.
Edward Hammond, a resident of Weippe prairie,
and a graduate of St. Xavier's College, Cincinnati, Ohio,
was the first school superintendent of Shoshone county.
The first school established in the county was at Pierce
City, in a small log cabin on West Main street, taught
by Mr. Hammond. It was a subscription school, and
the total attendance did not exceed half a dozen pupils.
The second term was taught by Edward Scott, an
Englishman, formerly of Lewiston, and he was suc-
ceeded by Emory Watkins. This was in 1879. In
1883 a school district was created, and in 1895 the
present school house was erected in Pierce City. On
the authority of Frank Gaffney, a resident of the lat-
ter town, it may be stated that the first school taught
at Weippe, a private institution, was in charge of Ed-
ward Hammond, in a small log building beween the
Gaffney and Anderson places, about 1883-84. The
term was three months in length, and Mr. Hammond
was paid by subscription. There were six or seven pu-
pils. M. L. Butler was the second teacher. Of the
Pierce City district, No. 1, in 1879, Patrick Gaffney
and C. D. Jones were trustees.
The growth of the educational interests of Sho-
shone county may be satisfactorily shown by the two
contrasting reports of school superintendents. That
of Superintendent Hammond, from September 1,
1882, to August 31, 1883, the original report of the
county shows, as follows: Total number of children
of school age in the county, 12; girls, 4, boys, 8.
School months during the year, 73^. Number of
scholars, 10 : schools, 1 ; districts, 1 ; buildings, 1 ;
teachers' salaries, $501.25 ; incidental expenses,
$46.45. During the succeeding year the school term
dropped to three and one-half months, ten scholars,
and teachers' salaries of only $273.
The report of Mrs. Helen L. Young, Shoshone
county school superintendent for 1902, is as follows :
Report for the year ending August 31, 1902. The report
for 1903 will show a slight increase all along" the line, but
the following figures are for the year 1902 : Number of dis-
tricts, regular, 29; independent, 2, 31. School houses, 29;
independent, 2, 31. Graded schools, 5; independent, 2, 7.
Ungraded schools, 24; teachers employed — male, 12; female,
41 ; average monthly wages — males, $85.01 ; females, $72.
Number of children between the ages of five and twenty-one
years (white), males 1,252; females, 1,196; colored, males,
2 ; females, 8. Number of children enrolled for the year —
males, 1,112; females, 1,021; average daily attendance for
the year, 1,297; per cent enrolled, 85.1 ; per cent of attendance,
66. Average number of months of school for all districts,
201 ; average number of months of school per district, 6.5.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
SHOSHONE COUNTY
JUDGE ISRAEL B. COWEN. No man in the
entire mining regions of northern Idaho is better known
than Judge Cowen, and surely no man is more popular
and more highly esteemed than is he. Since the
earliest days of discoveries in the Pierce country until
the present he has been more or less identified with
the district and has been in constant public service,
holding the highest offices the people were empowered
to grant. In all this career, both of public service and
private enterprise, Judge Cowen has been characterized
with those moral virtues and the intrinsic worth which
is the part and parcel of the true man and loyal citizen.
Israel B. Cowen was born in Buncombe, Lafayette
county, Wisconsin, on August 22, 1828, the son of
Israel B. and Mary K. (Kinney) Cowen. The father
was of Scotch ancestrage and was born in Vermont
in 1789. The family has been in the United States for
eight generations and noble representatives fought in
the war of independence and the struggle of 1812. The
mother was born in Zanesville, Ohio, in 1800. When
this son was five the family removed to where Warren,
Illinois, now stands, and there he was educated and
reared. On April 13, 1849, our subject left Galena,
Illinois, with a train of immigrants for the west, and
via Council Bluffs, Salt Lake and so forth they made
their way to Webberville. Eldorado county. California,
and young Cowen at once went to mining for himself.
He continued for thirteen years, also teaching school
for three months in 1853. Then he went via steamer
to Portland and Lewiston, landing at the latter place
May 27, 1862. He went over the trail on foot to
Pierce and mined until 1863, when he carried express
tor a year to Lewiston, making weekly trips. Then
he mined until January I. 1866, and the following June
was elected sheriff of Shoshone county. He served
with acceptability for two years and was then elected
his own successor, serving until 1871. During his
administration the foreigners were all taxed five dol-
lars per month to mine in this district. After this
incumbency Mr. Cowen mined until August, 1872,
when he visited his old home in Wisconsin and Illinois
and also went to Indian Territory, Texas and on to
California, then returned to Los Angeles and Prescott,
Arizona, and then made his way to Pierce again. He
went to mining again and soon bought ground and built
a ditch twelve miles long. He continued operating this
property until 1893, when he sold it, and since that
time has devoted himself to quartz mining. In 1875
Judge Cowen was selected county commissioner of
Shoshone county. In 1880 he was elected to the legis-
lature and again in 1884. In 1900 he was elected
county commissioner again, and in 1902 he was re-
elected. He has been probate judge for a number of
years, and also justice of the peace. From 1866 to
1872 Judge Cowen was postmaster at Pierce. It is
significant that Judge Cowen was a Republican in prin-
ciple long before the party was organized. He owns
considerable property in Pierce and other places. Thus
it is seen that he has been one of the foremost and
prominent men of this district for many years and in
various capacities, some of them grave with responsi-
bility, he has served his constituency in faithfulness
and with efficiency, and now, in the years of the golden
period of his life, he is surrounded with many friends
and far and near everyone has a good word for the
venerable judge and wise and patriotic citizen.
JESSE FREEMAX, who is now one of the pro-
prietors of the Senate saloon at Mace, is cue of Un-
skilled and leading miners of the district and has had
ample experience in the science of unearthing the pre-
cious metals from their resting place- to give him the
skill and success he has attained in the art. He was
born in Indiana, on September tt. 1869. the son of
John and Harriet (Raper) Freeman, natives of In-
diana also. The father's parents came of English and
French stock and were native to Virginia. The moth-
er's parents were natives of Maine. 1 lur subject's per-
cnts live in Illinois. He was raised and educated in
Illinois principally, receiving a high school training.
When nineteen he started out in the world for himself
and for a time worked in the Springfield roller mills.
Then he turned his attention to mining and for twelve
vears he followed it assiduously. He has held var-
io66
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ious positions in the work, as shift boss, foreman and
so forth. He was shift boss of the Ibex mine in Colo-
rado two years, superintended the Morning Star mine
in Webb Citv, Missouri, and also the New England
mine in Galena, Kansas. He has also been engaged
in various mining ventures of his own. Mr. Freeman
came to Coeur d'Alene country from Webb City in
1901 and accepted a position in the Standard until
April, 1902, when he entered the saloon business.
Later he sold an interest to Harmon Carlyle and to-
gether they handle the business today. Mr. Freeman
has one sister, Mary E. Houston.
On September 2, 1895, at Webb City, Missouri,
Air. Freeman married Jennie B., daughter of James
and Sarah J. (Hoops) Gunning, natives of Ohio. The
father served three years in an Ohio regiment during
the Rebellion and died in 1899. The mother still lives
in Jasper county, Missouri. Mrs. Freeman has three
brothers and one sister, Clarence E., Seymour, Will-
iam, Annie Jones. Mr. Freeman is a member of the
I. O, O. F. and in political matters he is untrammelled
by the tenets of any party and is an independent thinker.
HON. WILLIAM H. CLAGETT. Perhaps no
one of the early stalwart and worthy pioneers was bet-
ter known and respected than the subject of this arti-
cle. In every line of life. Judge Clagett stood for true
principles and high ideals both in private .and political
life ; at all times, and on all questions he ranked the
purity and integrity of the home and national life as
one. and honesty and justice as their mighty bulwarks.
William Horace Clagett was born in Prince Georges
county, Maryland, September 21, 1838. His ancestors
dating back to the time of William of Normandy were
of ancient English stock. They came to the new
world with Lord Baltimore and received from him a
land grant which included nearly all of what is now
Marlboro and Prince Georges county, Maryland. His
father, Thomas William Clagett, an abolitionist in
advance of his generation, removed to Keokuk, Iowa,
in 1850, and became district judge. Later, as editor
of the Constitution, he dealt forceful blows against
the monster, slavery, and during the Civil war was sub-
jected to mob violence at the hands of southern sym-
pathizers.
The subject of this sketch was educated in Keokuk
and at the Albany Law School of New York, and ad-
mitted to the bar in 1858. In 1861 he crossed the plains
to Carson City, Nevada, and later, in Humbolt, rose
to distinction in his chosen profession. He was a mem-
ber of the Nevada territorial house of representatives
in 1862 and reelected in 1864 upon the admission of
the state.
In 1864 he stumped Nevada on the Republican ticket
which elected William M. Steward as United States
senator and in this campaign made the reputation as a
political speaker which won for him the title of "the
silver tongned orator of the west," which soubriquet
he justly held throughout the whole northwest for
nearly forty years.
In 1866 he removed to Montana and was elected
delegate to congress from that territory in 1870. For
some years he has taken an active political part in the
Mormon question and while in the National Legisla-
ture, thrilled the nation with eloquent speeches against
the Mormon church, against its distinctive religious
tenet of polygamy and against the atrocities committed
in the name of the church upon men, women and chil-
dren. Years after when the Edmunds bill was passed
which abolished polygamy these speeches were re-
called and Mr. Clagett was frequently alluded to as the
originator of the movement which culminated in the
Edmunds law. He was one of the original drafters
of the bill and procured its passage, which established
the present National Park at the head waters of the
Yellowstone. The preservation of this park, now
famous as a land of wonder the world over, should
alone entitle Mr. Clagett to high rank in the history of
the northwest. He also secured the passage of the
mineral land act of 1872 and assisted in other impor-
tant mining laws ; introduced the bill establishing the
United States assay office at Helena and later was as-
sociated with James A. Garfield (afterwards president)
as especial United States counsel in several prosecu-
tions for frauds in the Indian service and in appor-
tionments of Indian reservations throughout Montana.
In 1872 he was a candidate for reelection but was
defeated largely through the hospitality and instrumen-
tality of the Mormons. He removed to Deadwood,
Black Hills in 1877, where for five years he won dis-
tinction as a prominent and most successful lawyer,
winning some of the most noted cases in mining liti-
gation which have ever been appealed to the United
States Supreme Court. After the discovery of gold
in the Coeur d'Alene country in the winter of 1883-4
Judge Clagett, then a resident of Portland, stampeded
into the new bonanza field, locating at Eagle City.
When the rich strikes were made on Prichard creek,
Mr. Clagett's cabin was the first one put up in Mur-
ray. Here ample opportunity was afforded for him to
show forth the rich kindness and generosity of his
nature and many a sick frontiersman owes his life to
the tender nursing and hospitable care received at his
hands. It became a veritable hospital to those suffer-
ing from exposure and deprivation. Possessing some
practical knowledge of medicine, Mr. Clagett was the
first to extend a helping hand to sufferers of that win-
ter, and in their hearts tender memories will ever dwell.
He was president of the Constitutional Convention
of Idaho in 1889 and to his advice is largely due many
of the wisest features of the Idaho constitution. In
1 89 1 he made the fight for United States senator against
Senator Dubois but the latter was declared elected. He
contested Dubois' election, had the privilege of the
United States senate chambers and in his own behalf,
made a speech and argument that astonished the vener-
able senators. Dubois however retained his seat. He
was again candidate for the senate from Idaho in 1895
but was defeated by Heitfeldt. Friends and foes alike
unite in believing he was too uncompromising to suc-
ceed in politics. His motto was "win honestly or die
game;" political intrigue, policy or expediency wen-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1067
unused weapons in his campaigns, and state and na-
tional questions were ever handled by him from the
ethical standpoint instead of along party lines. A nat-
ural reformer wherever he was, he advocated and
fought for changes and measures to make things bet-
ter. His earnestness and sincerity won for him the ad-
miration and devotion of many friends and even his
enemies had for him a genuine respect.
From 1895 to 1901 he traveled much for his health
and practiced law in Spokane, Washington, in which
place he died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Mabel
C. Lucas, on August 4, 1901.
In 1861 Mr. Clagett married Mrs. Mary E. Hart
of Keokuk, a niece of Oliver P. Morton, the famous
war governor of Indiana. She survives her husband
and resides in Portland, Oregon. Of the nine chil-
dren born to this union, eight are living and are named
as follows : Dr. Mary Clagett of Chicago ; Ida B. ;
Emma G. ; Mabel C. Lucas of Spokane, Washington;
Thomas W. of Sunset, Washington ; George D. of
Nome, Alaska; William H. of Wallace, Idaho; Grace
Clagett of Portland, Oregon.
In a tribute to his memory, a friend of forty years
says of him : "He will always be remembered as an
historic character in the upbuilding of the great north-
west and when in future years, the west shall build
a Hall of Fame for her immortals, in a niche where the
sunlight falls softest there should be placed a statue of
William H. Clasrett."
LEWIS L. SWEET, in company with O. M. Grant,
handles the Wallace hotel, the leading hostelry of the
city. His past experience, genial manner, and untir-
ing care for the comfort of guests, enable him to man-
age a popular and first class house, which is appre-
ciated by a traveling public.
Lewis L. Sweet was born in Pennsylvania, on
March 21, 1857, being the son of Ambrose M. and
Maria (Buckbee) Sweet, natives of New York. The
father was engaged by the government to construct
railroads during the Civil war and he was wounded by
guerrilla bands. He died in 1896, aged seventy-rive.
Three of his brothers had sons in the war and one,
Horace, died in Andersonville. The Sweet family
is one of the oldest and most prominent of colonial
f!ays. The mother of our subject was born of English
ancestry and died in 1887. aged fifty-eight. Our
subject was reared on a Pennsylvania farm until twelve
and then went with the family to Michigan. He fin-
ished his education in the graded and the Brighton
Union schools. When eighteen, he entered the lum-
ber business and followed it steadily for six years. In
the spring of 1881 Mr. Sweet came to the Salmon
river mines and did mining, transporting ore and ma-
chinery, handled the amalgamating in a large mill for
ten years and then went to Portland and took up the
meat business for a time. Thence he came to Wallace
with a horse and cart and an invoice showed him pos-
sessed of two dimes when he landed here. This was
in the fall of 1891. Later he opened a saloon in Gem
with Win. R. Stimson as partner, which they closed
when the strike came on. He prospected awhile and
then opened the bimetallic hotel and bar in Wallace and
later operated the old Utley house. In August, [894,
Mr. Sweet went to the Clearwater placers and emu
thence on snow shoes in the dead of winter. He op<
ated a saloon in Kingston, worked for Al Steers, ran
an engine for the Frisco mine, operated a 1
and cigar store in Gem and in 1898 opened a bar and
restaurant in the Jones and Dean block. On April 1.
1901, he sold out and took charge of the \\ allace hotel,
where we find him at present handling a good trade.
Mr. Sweet has three brothers, George W„ Eugene W.,
and Melvin M.
On January 8, 1891 Mr. Sweet married Laura E.
Jones, whose family all live in Detroit, Michigan, ex-
cept her father, who is dead. Mr. Sweet is a member
of the I. O. O. F., Custer Lodge No. 21 ; of th<
Encampment Lodge No. 10; of the Rebekahs; of the
Eagles, Wallace Aerie, No. 54, being past president;
of the I. O. R. M., being past sachem of Lakota Tribe
No. 13: of the Foresters of America, being past chief
ranger of the Coeur d'Alene Lodge No. 9. Mi
Sweet is treasurer of the board of trade and of the tire
department. He is popular and stands well, having
a host of warm friends.
SAMUEL NORMAN is one of the old pioneers
of the Eagle excitement times and has mined all through
tlie Coeur d'Alene country with varying success, while
also he has travelled all over the west and wrought in
various capacities. He was born in New Jersey on
October 31. 1862, the son of Samuel and Emma
(Harker) Norman, natives of Norway and New Jer-
sey, respectively. The father was a machinist on a
Cuban sugar plantation and died just before our sub-
ject was born. The mother then married, when
subject was four, Edward L. Stratton. whose father
was a United States congressman. The mother's en-
cestors were American patriots for generations back,
served in the Indian troubles, fought in the Revolution
and in the war of 1812. Mr. Stratton fought in the
Civil war and lost a leg in the battle of Chancellors-
ville. They now dwell at Mellica Hill. New Jersey.
Our subject was reared in his native state, gained a
public school education and when eighteen came west.
having promised his mother to write to her once every
week and come back when twenty-one. He was in
Colorado, rode the range, went to Montana, was en-
gaged variously, was quarantined for smallpox, which
proved to be chicken pox. then fell in with Hoffman of
Spokane and they rode handcar and walked seeking a
job, worked on a farm and then our subject went home
to redeem his promise and after a two weeks' visil
came back to Montana and in 18S4 came with a com-
pany to Eagle City, hauling freight on a toboggan and
when in Murray, on April 1. 1884. they pitched a tent
and soon had located a claim in Dream gulch, our sub-
ject, Hoffman, J. A. Alger. Beck and another one being
partners. They worked on a ditch to get a start and
later mined and after a summer's work thev cleaned
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
up one hundred dollars. Their claim was jumped but
afterward was returned to them. Our subject then
went to Pendleton, then visited an aunt in Portland and
coming back to Pendleton found some of the old part-
ners and they decided to try the old claim. They refused
to pay a man to show them the pay streak and later
found it and took out as high as one hundred and fifty
dollars per day to the man. Several thousand
dollars rewarded their work that summer and
:hen our subject bought a farm which he sold later
to a good advantage. Since that time Mr. Norman
has given his attention to packing and mining and is
now mining entirely. He is a well known and ener-
getic miner and skillful in the art. He has one brother.
Harry, and one half brother, Edward L. Stratton, also
three sisters, Sarah M. Harley, Deborah H, Emma.
On March 21, 1900, at Wallace, Mr. Norman mar-
ried Miss Annie B., daughter of Gorge and Annie
Johnson, natives of Norway and now deceased. Mrs.
Norman has two brothers, George and Bennett. Mr.
Norman is a member of the K. P., being past chan-
cellor, and of the Red Men and the Miners.
FRED H. KELLY. Wallace is especially favored
with a corps of business men who are thoroughly prac-
tical and of wide experience in the walks of life; one
of the prominent participants in the commercial and
industrial realm here is mentioned at the head of this
sketch and a detailed account of his career will be
quite in place in the history of this county.
Fred H. Kelly was born in Detroit, Michigan, on
April 2, 1870, being the son of Fred H. and Emma
< Hafften) Kelly. The father was born in New York
state and served through the entire Civil war as cap-
tain in the New York artillery, and was active all the
time. He was wounded in the leg and then had charge
of prisoners. He died in Portland, Oregon, in 1885,
aged seventy-two. The mother of our subject was
born in Germany, came to the United States \\ hen
twelve years old, married in New York state, and now
lives in San Francisco. Our subject was educated in
the graded schools and when he was fifteen the family
removed from Chicago to San Francisco and later went
to Portland. He traveled about and wrought in var-
ious capacities on the Pacific coast and in Mexico, also
making three trips to the east before 1895. when he
settled permanently in Wallace. Since that time Mr.
Kelly has conducted a large painting establishment.
where he also deals in supplies in this line. He does
a house and carriage painting business and has done
some of the best pieces of work in Wallace, including
the finest buildings and residences. In season, Mr.
Kelly handles about fourteen men and has a thriving
business. He also does fine sign writing. Mr. Kelly has
two sisters, Mrs. A. E. Raleigh, a widow residing in
San Francisco; Mrs. F. M. Street, in Butte, Montana,
whose husband is an insurance man.
On March 15, 1892. Mr. Kelly married Miss Car-
rie M., daughter of William and Elizabeth Marple, of
Smartville, California. The mother is deceased, but
the father is following his trade of blacksmith in his
home town. He is also a mine owner and crossed the
plains in 1848 with his wife and family. Mrs. Kelly
has five brothers and one sister, Harry, Samuel,
Charles, George, Fred, Mrs. Fanny Hapgood, all in
Smartville. Charles has just returned from Manila,
having been in the Eleventh United States Regular
infantry. Our subject and his estimable wife have
one son, Fred B., aged nine. Mr. Kelly is a member of
the I. O. R. M., Latoka Tribe No. 13, being sachem;
of the Eagles, Aerie 54, being president ; and is the pre-
sent chief of the fire department, having served one
term previous. Mr. Kelly is popular in his fraternal
relations as in general and is one of the substantial and
highly esteemed men of the city.
THOMAS N. BARNARD. A thorough gentle-
man, a fine artist, a substantial and progressive citi-
zen, a man up to the times and handling the leading
gallery with a choice assortment of art goods including
a complete and excellent collection of views of this
coutry which he has made himself, we are consrained
to grant to Mr. Bernard a representation in this vol-
ume as one of the leading men of Wallace.
Thomas N. Barnard was born in Belmont county,
Ohio, on November 30, 1861, being the son of Charles
and Narcissa (Newport) Barnard. The father was
born in the Isle of Wight and came with his people to
Wheeling, West Virginia, when he was eighteen months
old. He grew up there and followed horticulture,
having one of the best and the first nursery in thac
section. The mother of our subject was born in Ohio
and her father and mother were natives of Pennsylva-
nia and Virginia, respectively. They were Quakers
for many generations back, and while the family
would not carry arms, they gave liberally to the Ameri-
can cause and supported it with enthusiasm and dur- •
ing the Civil war were strongly Union. Our sub-
ject was raised in Iowa until nineteen, graduated from
the high school, then went to Miles City, Montana and
worked three years in a photograph gallery. In 1883
he came to Oregon, visiting Pendleton, Portland and
other portions of the Willamette valley, and then set-
tled in the Horse Heaven country in Washington, be-
ing the pioneer of that section. He followed ranching
and contracting in these places and in North Yakima
and in T887 he opened a gallery in Murray. One year
later, he removed to Wardner and two years from that
date he came to Wallace. He opened a gallery and an
art store and in the great fire of 1890, he lost all. But
with enthusiasm he went forward and erected a fine
structure at the corner of Fourth and Cedar streets
and here he is carrying on his business at present. Mr.
Barnard makes a specialty of first class view work and
lias some choice pictures. He has one brother and two
sisters, Charles, in Springview, Nebraska ; Mrs. R. O.
Manson, in Siblev. Iowa; Mrs. Frank Murphy, in Cas-
tana, Iowa.
In March. 188S, Mr. Barnard married Miss Laurel'
Larsen, whose parents died when she was young. She
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1069
has one brother and one sister, Charles, a prominent
builder and lumber dealer in Miles City, .Montana ; Mrs.
L. J. Whitney, in Seattle, Washington. Three chil-
dren have been born to our subject and his wife, Enoch,
Nathan, and William, aged thirteen, seven, and six, re-
spectively. Mr. Barnard is a member of the K. of P.,
Wallace Lodge No. 9, being past C. C. ; of the Elks ;
of the W. W., Wallace Camp Xo. 279. He is inde-
pendent in political faith and binds himself to the tenets
of no party, preferring to be untrammelled in his
thoughts on the questions of the day. Mr. Barnard
has been mayor of Wallace. He is greatly interested
in prospecting and mining and owns valuable inter-
ests in mining properties of merit. He is a popular
business man, handles a thriving patronage and he and
his wife are admired by many friends, being held in
high esteem in the best circles.
ROBERT C. STUART, who is master mechanic
at the Hecla mine at Burke, Idaho, is a native of
Wythe'county, Virginia. In clue time he matriculated
in the Polytechnic college at Blacksburg, in his native-
state. In 1895 he took the degree of Bachelor of Sci-
ence from this institution. In 1898 he came west and
gave himself to his profession of civl engineer. In
various mines and different districts he has wrought
with distinction, and at the present time is holding a re-
sponsible position as stated above.
WILLIAM" J. BRAND is well and favorably
known in the Coeur d"Alene country, is a man of ability
and trustworthiness and has won. by reason of real
worth and meritorious conduct, the esteem and confi-
dence of all who may have the pleasure of his acquain-
tance. He was born in West Virginia on December 11,
1866, the son of John F. and Martha (Deem) Brand,
natives of Virginia. The father served in the Re-
bellion in Company E, Thirteenth West Virginia
Cavalry for three and one half years. He languished
a term in Libby prison and finally escaped. He now
lives in Wood county, West Virginia, where also his
wife still lives. Our subject was educated in the dis-
trict school, then took a complete course in the state
normal. While taking this latter course he spent two
years in teaching and subsequent to his graduation, he
taught for three vears. In 1891 he came to Colorado
and went to mining. Cripple creek was the scene of
his labors for a time and then he took the foremanship
of a large irrigating company for three years. After
that he went to California and for two years had charge
of the London Gold Tunnel Company's works in Shasta
county. Then for two years was hoistman in the
National mine for the same a npany. Next we see
him in the Standard in the Coeur d'Alene country and
for eighteen months he was shift boss and for the past
two and one-half vears he has held the responsible
position of foreman of the Standard mine and in this
capacity has shown excellent skill and ability which
commends him ti> all. while his integrity and upright-
ness are commensurate therewith. Mr. Brand has
rive brothers, Albert, Emery, Samuel, Isaac. !
On April 3c. lqoo, Mr. I Irani! married Miss Nel-
lie, daughter -1 Edwin ami Mary (Hatton) Markwick,
natives of England and now living in Redding. Cali-
fornia, where his marriage occurred. .Mrs. Brand 1- a
native of California and has two brothers and one- sis-
ter, Frederick, Warren, Mrs. Lizzie Tipton. Mr.
Brand is a member of the Elks and is a stanch Repub-
lican and was a delegate to the last county convention.
GEORGE E. HOVEY, an intelligent and indus-
trious young man of Burke, is one of the rising busi-
ness men of the place, and is held in good standing,
while his geniality, capability and close attention to
business commend him to all. He is at the present
time assistant postmaster under Mr. Cogswell, and in
this capacity he transacts the business of the portion
dependent upon him in an efficient manner and dis-
plays those qualities which have made him friends
from all classes.
George E. Hovey was horn in Toledo, Ohio, on
May 9, 1881, the son of George and Lena (Schliff)
Hovey, natives of Ohio. The father died when this
son was an infant, and the grandfather of our sub-
ject fought for the union in the Civil war. The mother
married Clement J. Howell, a contractor and builder
of Spokane, where they now dwell. Our subject has
two brothers. William and Edwin. He was raised in
Toledo until fifteen, attending the public schools of
that city. At that time the family came to Spokane
and he came with them and there he completed in 1900
a course in the Blair College. Immediately follow-
ing that he came to Burke and took a position with
the Tiger mine as bookkeeper, which he held for one
year, and then accepted his present incumbency. Mr.
Hovey is an enthusiastic member of the Elks and the
K. P.. and in political persuasion he is a Republican.
AL C. CRAWFORD is a popular and successful
business man of Wallace, whose affability, integrity
and courteous treatment of all have given him a first
class standing and the reward of a thriving patronage
in his shoe store, where he carries a complete and
choice stock of the best goods.
Al C. Crawford was born in Prince Edward Isl-
and. Canada, on November 21, 1808, the son of John
J. and Matilda (Wallace) Crawford. The father was
born in Prince Edward Island of Scotch descent, and
died in Wallace in 1900. aged eighty-two. The mother
was born in Nova Scotia and died in Prince Edward
Island in December, 1898, aged sixty-four. Mr. Craw-
ford remained at home until eighteen, when he grad-
uated from the high school and then came to Minne-
sota. He was engaged in various employments there
and in Dakota. In^December, 1887, he went to Col-
orado and visited the leading camps, and the following
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
year came on to Portland, Oregon. He was with the
engineer corps on government work for a year there,
and 1889 found him in the Coeur d'Alene country.
He did railroad construction for a year, wrought in
the mines as millwright until 1896, when he went home.
In 1899 he returned to Wallace and bought his present
business. He has done well since that time and has the
leading house in his line in the city. Mr. Crawford
has one brother and four sisters: Ernest E., a min-
ister in the Christian church at Akron, Ohio ; Hattie
M., living with subject; Mrs. R. E. Bagnall, whose
husband is genera! agent for the New York Life In-
surance company in Boston; Mrs. C. D. Bell, whose
husband is an insurance man in Prince Edward Isl-
and; and Mrs. M. F. Callback, in Prince Edward
Island.
Mr. Crawford was married on January 1, 1902,
to Miss Lillian E. Lay, of Tacoma. Her father was
a prominent attorney in Canada and died when young.
Her mother lives in Tacoma. Mrs. Crawford has one
.sister and two brothers: Lucia M., holding the chair
of modern languages in Whitworth College, Tacoma ;
Lynds D., in the office of the auditor of Pierce county,
Washington ; Benjamin S., a fruit raiser near lac una.
Mr. Crawford is a member of the K. P., Wallace
Lodge, No. 9, being past C C. ; of the B. P. O. E.,
Coeur d'Alene Lodge, No. 331 ; and of the Independent
' >rder of Foresters in Canada.
WILLIAM F. FRAZER is the engineer for the
Tiger mine in the compressor department, and is a
substantial and well liked man, capable in his trade
and a skilled mechanic, whose broad experience and
ability vouch the best results of the craft known to
the age. He was born in Watertown, New York, on
November 14, 1848, the son of John and Margaret
( White) Frazer. The father was born in Watertown
and his parents were natives of Scotland. He died
m his native place in 1895, aged ninety-seven. The
mother was born in Richmond, Virginia, and died
at Watertown in 1894, aged eighty-eight. The grand-
father of William F. was a veteran of the war of 1812.
Our subject spent the first decade of his existence in
Watertown, and then went to New Yorlc alone and
sold papers and also followed other occupations until
eighteen. Then he went to Troy, New "York, and
served three vears as apprentice in the Starbuck iron
works, and afterward followed his trade for twenty
years, erecting machinery in Troy and vicinity. After
ibis he went to Morristown, New Jersey, and for six
years was with the Ingersoll steam drill works and
traveled all over the country, installing their machin-
ery in mines. In 1873 Mr. Frazer went to Venezuela
for the Orinoco Exploring and Mining Company as
master mechanic, and spent three vears in that capacity.
In 1876 he returned to eastern Ontario to accept the
position of superintendent of the Mississippi Iron
mines. Three years later, we find Mr. Frazer at Fort
William, Ontario, as assistant master mechanic of the
Canadian Pacific railroads shops. In 1888 he was
chief engineer for the Thomas Iron Company, of Du-
luth, Minnesota, whence in 1889 he came to the Coeur
d Alene country, and since that time he has remained
in this place. He spent two years in the machine shop
and then took his present position in the compressor.
Mr. Frazer has three brothers and two sisters : Robert,
Samuel, James, Mrs. Margaret Burns, Mrs. Mary
Chamberlain.
At Troy, New York, in 1866, Mr. Frazer married
Agnes Hamilton, a native of Scotland. She died in
1873, at Troy, and no children survive. At Morris-
town, New Jersey, in 1875, Mr. Frazer married Kath-
erine E., daughter of John G. and Martha (Stevens)
Schenck, • natives of Pennsylvania and New Jersey,
respectively. The father came from Dutch stock, and
the mother is descended from one of the oldest families
in New Jersey. Her father was a patriot in the war
of 1812. Mrs. Frazer was born in Morristown. Two
children have come to bless this marriage, Florence
E. and Annie E. Mrs. Frazer and her daughters
are members of the Methodist church. Mr. Frazer
has a four-acre orchard in Clarkston, Washington,
and eventually intends to make it the family home.
ALBERT H. FEATHERSTONE. Shoshone
county is not lacking members of the legal profession
who stand with the best in the state of Idaho; the
well known and popular young attorney mentioned at
the heal of this article is one of the prominent and
capable members of the Wallace bar, and during the
time of his practice here he has demonstrated him-
self to be possessed of excellent ability as a first class
lawyer, fortified with a fund of legal lore and given
to deep study, so that he is a worthy antagonist to
the best this country can afford, while his success and
intrinsic worth have given him a fine clientage, which
is constantly increasing.
Albert H. Featherstone was born in Goodhue coun-
ty, Minnesota, on October 27, 1869, being the son of
William J. and Helen (Leavitt) Featherstone, natives
of Canada and Ohio, respectively, and now living in
Featherstone township, Minnesota. Our subject was
reared in his native place, gained a primary education
in the public schools and then completed his literary
training in the state university. Following this he
taught for four years and then took a thorough course
in the university in law, receiving, upon his graduation,
the degree of L.L. M. In 1898 Mr. Featherstone
came to Wallace and at once opened an office, and
since that time he has been constantly gaining a fine
practice and stands today one of the substantia! men,
progressive and patriotic citizens, and leading attor-
neys of this section. Mr. Featherstone has been elect-
ed justice of the peace on the Republican ticket, and
has been deputy sheriff. He has two sisters : Mrs.
H. B. Fryberger, of Duluth, Minnesota; Ora, single,
and teaching languages in the Zumbrota high school,
Minnesota.
On December 11, 1901, Mr. Featherstone married
Miss Grace, daughter of Leonidas and Julia Poe, for-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1071
merly of Cannon Falls, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs.
Featherstone are popular people in the leading circles
of society and are admired by hosts of friends.
JOHN C. BROWN is the popular and efficient
foreman of the Hecla mines, having arisen to that
responsible position by reason of real merit and close
attention to business. He stands well in the com-
munity, is popular and a man of reliability.
John C. Brown was born in Yandalia, Illinois, on
October 13, 1871, the son of John and Margaret (Mc-
Afee) Brown, who now dwell at Usk, Washington.
The father was born in Ireland and the mother in
Ohio, and is of Scotch ancestry. Our subject was
reared in Illinois until seventeen, gained a good com-
mon schooling, and then came west and went to work
in 1889 in the Coeur d'Alene mines. He wrought first
in the Frisco, then in the Gem, and also in different
properties. He held different positions, being shift
boss in the Standard for two years, after which he
accepted his present position, and since has been an
efficient and faithful incumbent. He assumed the
duties of foreman on January 13, 1902. Mr. Brown
has one brother and four sisters : George. Mrs. R.
K. Neill, Mrs. J. H. Neill, Bessie, Margaret.
On August 6, 1896, at Friday Habor, Washington,
Mr. Brown married Miss Lelia L., daughter of L. C.
and Celia Larson, natives or Norway and the United
States, respectively. Mr. Larson lives in Friday Har-
bor, and devotes himself to the culture of fruit. He
is auditor of his county. Mrs. Brown has four broth-
ers and six sisters: Clarence, Loyal, Roy, Curtis, Airs.
Fred Nichols, Edna, Myrtle, Ivy, Beulah, Floy. Three
children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brown:
Sherman L., Margaret M., Myrtle V. Mr. Brown
;s a member of the K. P. and is a man of excellent
standing among the people and has displayed those
qualities of worth which win success in the business
world.
ANGUS D. MARSHALL is one of the most
thorough mining men of the Coeur d'Alene country,
and the outline of his various labors in a long and
active career in this industry will be interesting to
all readers of the history.
Angus D. Marshall was born in Nova Scotia, on
April 1, 1853, the son of John and Wilena (Douglass)
Marshall, natives of Scotland. The father died in Cali-
fornia when this son was young. He was one of the
first pioneers to the Golden state, and wrought at
mining. The mother died in February, 1902, at Far-
go, North Dakota. Our subject was taken to Cali-
fornia by his parents when an infant in arms, going
thence by the Isthmus. In California and Nevada he
was reared and educated. He at once went to mining
on arriving at sufficient age and in all departments
of the art he has continued since. He has mined in
all the prominent districts on the coast and in central
western Uinited States, in Mexico, old and new, and
in all intervening places. In 1880 he was superinten-
dent of the Silver Ord at Leadville, continuing three
years, then held the same position in the Lillian also
in several other properties there. Next we see Mr.
Marshall in Montana superintending the ( Iranite
Mountain mine, where eight years were spent. He
opened up the Monte Chnsto in Washington in 1893
and superintended it one year, then was with the
Marysville mine in Montana, then handled the Drum
Lummond, being in charge of that property for nearlj
seven years. Next we see Mr. Marshal! in Burke,
and for two years he was superintendent of the Frisco.
In January, 1902, he accepted the superintendency of
the Standard, and since that time he has devoted him-
self to this property. He has die following brothers:
Henry, James W., John R., Daniel, George G., U \
ander, Dougall L.
At .Missoula, Montana, in 1890. Mr. Marshall mar-
ried Miss Mary M. dimming, a native of Boston,
Massachusetts. She has one brother, \\ illiam
children have been born to this marriage: \\ ilena D.,
Georgie G., Mildred, John, all at home. Mr. Mar-
shall is a member of the A. F. & A. M., also the R.
A. chapter, the K. T. commandery, the Nobles of the
Mystic Shrine, while he and his wife belong to the
O. E. S. Mr. Marshall is past master. He is Repub-
lican in political persuasion and while not especially
active is interested in the welfare and advancement
of the community and state.
CARL II. MALL< >.\", an intelligent and prosper-
ous business man of Wallace, is proprietor of the Wal-
lace brewery and bottling works, and is also an ice
dealer. He was born January 2, 1844. in Russia, but
was raised in Germany. He took a special course in
chemistry and learned the brewing business. He was
back and forth between this country and Germany until
1870, when he was conscripted in the German army,
and served through the Franco-Prussian war. After
the close of the war he came to the United States and
lived in Chicago for several years, engaged in the
brewing business, and in 1883 he came to the Coeur
d'Alene country. In February, 1884, he opened a
brewery at Belknap, on the state line and it was the
first plant of its kind in this section. In May, 1884,
he removed to Murray and there remained until 1889.
He operated the first brewery and bottling works in
the country. At the last date mentioned he came to
Wallace and here he has done business since, being a
successful man and doing a thriving trade. Mr. Mal-
lon has one brother and one sister, living.
In 1884 Mr. Mallon married Maggie, daughter of
Henry and Marie Holts, pioneers of Montana in 1863,
coming across the plains. To this happy union there
have been born five children: Minnie, Pansy. Rose
Marie, living. One of Mr. Mallon's daughters has
a very valuable stamp collection, worth several thou-
sand dollars. Mr. Mallon is a member of a number
of different fraternal orders, among them being the
Masons, the B. P. O. E., the A. O. U. W., the I. O.
1072
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
R. M.j the Foresters of America, the Fraternal Order
of Eagles. Air. Mallon is very popular in these orders.
as he is in his standing also. He has been chief of
the fire department and also has served on the city
council, being efficient in all these varied capacities.
WILLIAM II. FARRELL is master mechanic at
the Standard mine at Mace, and in this capacity has
rendered excellent service for a number of years. He
was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on April 20, 1863, the
son of Henry and Margaret (Hartrey) Farrell. The
father was born in Liverpool, England, came to the
United States in 1848 with his parents, who located at
Green Bay, Wisconsin. His grandfather was for
many years master mechanic in Liverpool, and when he
came to this country took a homestead at the place
mentioned above. Subject's father went to Cleveland
when eighteen and took up the wholesale oyster busi-
ness, which he has followed for forty-five years. The
mother of William H. was born in Waterford, Ireland,
and now dwells in Cleveland. Our subject was raised
and educated in Cleveland, and when seventeen learned
the machinist trade at the Variety iron works, and then
took die position of assistant foreman in those works,
holding the same three years until 1889. Then he mi-
grated to Phillipsburg, Montana, where he continued
at his trade two years. Then he came to Wallace and
built the Coeur d'Alene iron works there. He managed
them five years, and then leased and later sold the plant
to Taylor & Whitlaw, mentioned in this work. This
was in 1896, then Mr. Farrell accepted a positoin with
the Tiger people, and did machine work for two years.
Then he engaged in his present position, and for six
years has done first class work in the intricate depart-
ment of which he has charge. Air. Farrell has four
brothers and three sisters : Nicholas, Charles, Al-
bert, John, Mary, Margaret Morheim, Ellen.
At Cleveland. Ohio, on May 12, 1887, Mr. Farrell
married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of William and Mary
(Daniels) Morgan, natives of Wales, now dwelling
in Cleveland, retired. The father was a puddler. Mrs.
Farrell has four brothers and three sisters : Thomas,
David, William, Garfield. Rebecca Leidenbach, Mary
Mawby. Sadie Matche. Three children have been born
to Mr. and Mrs. Farrell: Mary, aged thirteen; Ethel,
aged eleven ; William, aged seven. Mr. Farrell is a
member of the K. O. T. M., and a charter member
of the Elks. He is allied with the Republican party
in political belief, but is not desirous of personal prefer-
ment.
FRANCIS M. SALING, a substantial and thrifty
farmer and stockman, residing seven miles north from
Weippe, was born in Missouri on November 17, 1836,
being the son of Rumsey and Matilda (Snow). Saling,
natives of Tennessee, the father's parents being natives
(if Tennessee, but the mother's ancestors were of Ire-
land. They died in Texas. Mr. Francis Saling w-as
reared in Missouri and educated in the district schools.
At the time of the Civil war he was serving in Company
A, of a Missouri regiment of the Confederacy, and
participated in the battle of Lexingon-and also in many
skirmishes. In 1863 he came to Montana and mined,
and the next year he pushed on to Idaho, mining in
Boise basin for two years. Then he returned to Mis-
souri and remained until 1870, when he went to Collins
county, Texas, and dwelt there for nineteen years.
His business was raising stock and farming. In 1888
he came to the Palouse country and the next year
found him penetrating to the section where he is now
living. He pre-empted a quarter section and has since
devoted himself to dairying, raising stock and farm-
ing. He has now thirty cattle, some hogs and horses
and raises much hay. .Mr. Saling has two brothers
and three sisters, — James, a stockman in Texas;
Thomas, in Indian Territory ; Malinda, widow of Will-
iam Moore, in Missouri ; Emily, wife of Frank Dry,
in Indian Territory; Mollie, wife of George Gordon,
in Indian Territory. In 1868, while in Missouri, Mr.
Saling married Miss Susan Snell, who died in Texas
on February 14, 1879, aged thirty-two. Four children
are the fruits of this union, — Ida, wife of Jeff Wilson,
in Texas; Maggie, wife of Hayden Wilson, in Mis-
souri ; Granville and William, with their parents.
Mr. Saling celebrated his second marriage in Texas,
Sarah Burcham becoming his wife this time. Her
parents, Enoch and Permelia (Brooks) Burcham, are
natives of Indiana and are now deceased. Mrs. Saling
was born in Bollinger county, Missouri, on June 5,
i860, was raised principally in Illinois, whither the
family went when she was eight years old. Nora, a
granddaughter of Mr. Saling, has been adopted into
his family and lives with them now. Mr. Saling is a
true blue Democrat and has the courage of his convic-
tions. He is a substantial and reliable man, whose
ways of uprightness and wisdom have given him the
esteem and s:ood will of all.
J. A. BRADY was born in Bollinger county, Mis-
souri, on August 17. 1839. His parents were natives
of Ireland and came to America in 1838. The family
removed to Palo Pinto county, Texas, in 1854 and
took up the cattle business. Our subject had received
his education in his native place and in Texas, and in
that state started out for himself and was soon in the
employ of the Pecos. Land & Cattle Company, with
whom he wrought for seven years, being one of their
most trusted men. He lost heavily in the drouth of
1884 and after that left Texas and went to Woodward,
Oklahoma. After some time there he went to North
Dakota, settling in Dickinson, where he took up the
cattle business. In this place he succeeded well, and
on August 17, 1902. Air. Brady removed to his present
location, having sold his interests in Dakota. He is
on Crain meadow, near Weippe, and is engaged in
farming and raising stock. Air. Brady has shown a
marked spirit of enterprise and he has spent a large
portion of his life on the frontier opening the way for
the civilization of the east to come in.
MRS. FRANCIS M. SALINU.
FRANCIS M. SALINCt.
J. A. BRADY.
JOHN H NORDQUIST.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
'073
Mr. Brady has four sisters, — Sarah Markham, liv-
ing in Palo Pinto county, Texas; Nancy C. Gonce, in
the same county ; Emma .Maxwell, in southeastern .Mis-
souri : Nellie Stephens, in Alvarado, Johnson county,
Texas. Air. Brady is a stanch Democrat of the Jeffer-
sonian kind, and is deeply interested in the welfare of
the county, and especially this community. He is
filled with the spirit and enterprise of his ancestors,
and the genial ways and uprightness which are char-
acteristic of him have made him hosts of friends and he
stands well in the community.
JOHN H. NORDOLTST. In every human breast
there is a feeling of joy to observe true grit and pluck
succeed in encounter with the obstacles of life. Es-
pecially is it gratifying to observe the young man of
willing hands and strong heart set his mark high in life
and then with the labor of his hands accomplish the
noble results. Such a one is the gentleman of whom
we now speak.
John H. -Xordquist was born in Sweden on Sep-
tember ii, 1867, being the son of John and Britta
Norclquist, both natives of Sweden. The mother is
still living there, but the father died in 1877, aged
forty-eight. John H. received a primary schooling
in his own country and at the age of eighteen came to
the land wdiere greater opportunities awaited him. He
worked in Michigan for a few months and then went to
Sandstone. Pine county, Minnesota, where he labored
in the stone sawing mills until 1888, when he came to
the Coeur d'Alene country. He secured employment
in the Gem and steadily followed mining until 1896,
saving his money carefully that he might accomplish
the ambition of his life. In the year last mentioned he
went to a Helena business college a year, and then
made his way to Valparaiso, Indiana, where is the well
known school that stands in its line of work second to
none. He took up a civil engineering course, and his
careful study, backed with natural talent, soon placed
him in possession of the coveted lore. Two years in
that valued institution and he went thence to the
Houghton School of Mines in Michigan, where he com-
pleted his training for a first class civil and mining-
engineer. In 1900 he made his way back to Wallace
and hosts of warm and admiring friends were ready
to welcome his return. He opened an office in partner-
ship with W. A. Hesse, and in the fall he was elected
county surveyor, running ahead of his ticket.
In the spring he was elected city engineer,
and in 1902 he was promptly re-elected. Each
time Mr. Xordquist ran ahead of his ticket, thus
demonstrating his popularity, the last city election go-
ing one hundred and thirty-five ahead. He was nomi-
nated by his party, the Democratic, for state mining
inspector, and although as usual he went ahead of his
ticket, he was defeated.
Mr. Xordquist has two brothers and one sister in
the United States, — Oscar, a millwright in the Stand-
ard mine; Albert, railroading in Utah; and Theresia.
in Montana.
68
.Mr. Xordquist is a member of the A. F. & A. M.,
Porter l.odgv X.. 47, in Valparaiso; Wallace Chapter,
9, R. A. PVI. ; < oeur d'Alene Commandery, EC T., of
Wallace; Scottish Lite, eighteenth degree, Wallace-
Order of the Eastern Star; the 1. O. 0. F., CI
Lodge No. 5, at Valparaiso; the ( )rder of Washington ;
and Scandinavian Brotherhood. lie has been dele-
gate to the state and county conventions and i
the stanch and influential Democrats of the state. Mr.
Nbrdquist has certainly achieved an enviable success,
and his careful labor, wise handling of the resources
placed in his hands, his uprightness and hi
adherence to business, presage a bright future for him.
\t Spokane, Washington, on January 26, 1903, Mr.
Xordquist and Miss Laura Sommers, of Kellogg, Ida-
ho, were united in the holy bonds of matrimony. They
are popular people and have hosts of friends.
AXEL SWAX is an enterprising and energetic
man. as the following will manifest. He was born in
Sweden on May 25, 1S64, the son of Johnson and Lena
fErickson) Swan, natives of Sweden. The father
died in 1884, but the mother still lives in her native land.
She was born in 1834. Our subject was educated in
the public schools, completing a high school course.
Then he worked in his father's brewery until eighteen
when he came to this country. He went to work in
Minnesota for a brick maker at twelve dollars per
month. Later he spent three months working in plas-
tering and then got thirty, then fifty dollars per month,
and finally four dollars per day. Then he commenced
contracting, and the money received from that he used
to purchase well boring machinery, which he used until
18S7. three years, then came to Spokane. He bought
machinery here, 'out it would not work on the gravel,
so he laid it aside and dug by hand, utilizing nine nun.
Among others he dug the Lidgerwood well in Spo-
kane and put in the pumps. Then he sold and opened
a butcher shop, which lost him six hundred dollars.
Then he tried a boarding house for eighteen months
and did well. He took a claim near Moscow and later
sold his right. Then he bought a farm near Sprague
and sold, making five hundred dollars. Xext we see
Mr. Swan prospecting in Slocan, then he bought some
good property in Spokane that brought a rental of
eighty-two dollars per month, but the panic coi
he lost all. After that he came to Gem in 1
worked in the mines until the strike and then was pros-
pecting in the hills for a time, after which he came
to work again in the mines, but later located a water
right and built a mill, which caught fine ore that paid
him and his partner seven dollars each per day. Lead
went down and he sold his mill. Unfortunately for
Mr. Swan he lost his number in the hospital and. so
could not get in the mine, and accordingly he started
a saloon with Gus Carlson, but bought him out later.
He continues this business and owns mining property
in the Stevens peak country, as the Petrolia. Ninety-
six, Trade Dollar. Stanley, The Belle, and the Tam-
arack, besides others. Mr. Swan has the following'
1074
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
brothers and sisters : John, Albert, Mrs. Annie Claw-
son, Mrs. Alma Peterson, Ottillie and Sister.
On July 25, 1892, Mr. Swan married Miss Annie
Anderson, a native of Sweden. Pier parents are both
deceased. The wedding occurred in Spokane, and M rs.
Swan has two brothers and two sisters : Charles,
Eurich, Mrs. Annie Ranstrom, and one in Sweden.
Three children have been born to this union : Dellner,
Elsie, Esther. Mr. Swan is a member of the Red Men.
WILLIAM H. HOOVER, who is one of the
rising young men of Gem, is at this time holding the
important position of bookkeeper for the Frisco mine,
and in this capacity has shown good business ability
and a reliability and efficiency that have commended
him to the company and all who may have the pleasure
of his acquaintance.
William H. Hoover was born in Windsor, Mis-
souri, on July 5, 1879, the son of Winfield S. and
Annie (Fisher) Hoover, who now dwell in Spokane,
and are natives of Maryland and Missouri, respective-
ly. Our subject attended public school in Montana,
whither his parents came when he was young, and
when he was ten the family came to Spokane, and in
this city he acquired his education. He completed
the high 'school course and also a business course and
a training in stenography in the Spokane business col-
lege. Then he accepted a position for the Washington
Mill Company, later was with the Shaw Wells Com-
pany, and after three years in that capacity he was
one year with the union depot company, after which
Mr. Hoover took a position with the Morning Mine
company. Two years and eight months he could have
been found with those people at Mullan as their book-
keeper, and in November, 1902, Mr. Hoover accepted
his present position and since that time he has con-
tinued here. He is an efficient accountant and stands
well in the community and is entitled to and receives
the confidence and esteem of all. Mr. Hoover has one
brother and one sister: Ernest, an electrician in Spo-
kane; Pearl F. Mr. Hoover is an active and enthusi-
astic member of the Elks in Wallace, and is also
always allied on the side of upbuilding and progress.
HARRY P. WARD. This popular and' genial
young business man of Wallace has been a moving
spirit in organizing and promoting the library asso-
ciation and reading- room. He conducts an under-
taking and embalming establishment and is a skillful
man in his profession.
Harry P. Ward was born in Pioche, Nevada, on
February 18, 1874, being the son of Henry and Ade-
laide (LeCount) Ward. The father was bom in Eng-
land, came to the United States in 1862, to the Coeur
d'Al'en country in 1886, and followed the undertaking
and furniture business. He served in the Civil war,
and now lives in Kansas City. The mother of our
subject was born in New York, and died when Harry
P. was an infant, she being then thirty-two years old.
Our subject was raised in Reno and Carson, Nevada,
and received a good education in the public schools,
and completed the same in the B. & S. Commercial
College in P>oston. He also learned embalming in
Poston from the Massachusetts College of Embalm-
ing. In 1890 he came to the Coeur d'Alene country
and joined his father in Wallace, whither he had re-
moved from Wardncr. In 1894 he bought out his
father, and since then has conducted the business here.
Air. Ward has one sister, Mrs. A. W. Allen, Jr., in
Kansas City.
On June 15, 1897, Mr. Ward marired Miss Lizzie
F., daughter of Plarry and Elizabeth Thompson, resi-
dents of Wallace. Mr. Thompson is a prominent min-
ing man, was born in England and came to the LTnited
States when an infant. He has been a prospector for
years in Montana, and is now interested in the Stev-
ens Peak Mines in this section. He is a member of
the Montana Pioneer Society, of the I. O. O. F. Mrs.
Ward has one brother, a mechanic in Wardner, and
one sister, Florence, at home. Politically Mr. Ward
is independent. Fraternally he is affiliated with the
I. O. O. F., Wallace Lodge, No. 33, is past noble
grand, and has attended the grand lodge for four
years; with the Coeur dAlene, No. 331, P. P. O. E.,
being treasurer; with the I. O. R. M., Kootenai Tribe,
No. 3, being past sachem ; with the Foresters of Ameri-
ca, Court No. 9, being past chief ranger; with the
Order of Washington, being treasurer of the Wallace
Union, No. 49: with the K. O. T. M., Silver Tent,
No. 3. Mr. Ward is also a member of the Shoshone
Club, and is a popular and highly esteemed man.
NATHAN WITTNER. This stirring and pro-
gressive business man is conducting a real estate and
mining brokerage business in 'Wallace and is one of
the oldest operators in this line of business in the city,
and enjoys a first rate patronage, while also he is pro-
moting several large mining properties.
Mr. Wittner is a native of Germany, and was there
thoroughly educated in the famous Heidelberg and
Leipsic Universities, taking a special course in chemis-
try. Subsequent to leaving the university he was em-
ployed in a large coalter distillery in Manheim and
later was so engaged in Leipsic. In 1877 Mr. Witt-
ner came to the United States and after a short stay
in New York he pushed on to San Francisco.
There he taught a private school for eighteen months,
and then took up the real estate business. Later he
was in Portland, and in January, 1884, Mr. Wittner
made his way into Eagle City. He prospected until
July and then went to Murray and handled the business
department of the Idaho Sun, a bright newspaper of
the day. Later five years were spent in mining -and
prospecting, and in 1887 he was appointed deputy
sheriff, after which he was constable and also justice
of the peace. In 1889 Mr. Wittner opened a real
estate office in Wallace, and he has transacted business
here since that early day. He has promoted several
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1075
properties during that time and now is heavily inter-
ested in the O. K. Consolidated, Giant Mining and
Development, the Trail Gulch Gold Mining and Mill-
ing and other companies. Mr. Wittner is the only
member of his family in this country. He has demon-
strated himself a keen business man and possessed
of the energy requisite for consummating good enter-
prises.
JOHN W. EVIRS, who is yard foreman for the
Tiger & Poorman mine, is one of the popular men
of Burke, and a man whose experience in various
capacities and in many places in the west has broad-
ened and fitted him for the responsible position he now
occupies. He was born in New Hampshire on April
25» 1853, the son of James and Margaret (Regon)
Evirs, natives of New Hampshire and Canada, re-
spectively. The father came from an old and promi-
nent American family, and died on October 11, 1902.
The mother had died some years previous. Our sub-
ject remained in his native state until 1873, gaining
his education, and then came west. From that time
forward he has been in various capacities, especially
in the manufacture of lumber and has wrought all
through the northwest. He was in Eagle City in
1883 on the crest of the wave, then went to Murray,
later to Wardner, all the time handling saw mills.
in this last place he was in partnership with Messrs.
Cameron, Rutter and Hill, mentioned elsewhere in this
work. Later he sold his interest to Mr. Cameron and
in 1885 went to Ashley, now Kalispel, Montana, where
he remained until 1896. Next we see him in Ana-
conda, and two years later be went to Kaslo and
stepped from the sawmilling business to prospecting
and mining for a year. Thence he went to Philipsburg,
and next to Burke, where we find him at the present
time. For a time after coming here he wrought at
carpentering and then took the yard foremanship of
the Tiger and has done efficient work here since that
time. Mr. Evirs has two brothers and three sisters:
James, Dennis. Mrs. Annie Davis, Mary, Kate.
On September 29, 1888, at Kalispei/Montana, Mr.
Evirs married Mrs. Clara A. Carroll, daughter of
John and Mary Hague. Mrs. Evirs has one daughter
by her first marriage, Dollie. Mr. Evirs is a Republi-
can and while not desirous of personal preferment is
always on the side of advancement and progress.
WILLIAM R. SWICEGOOD. who is shift boss
in the Tiger, is one of the substantial men of Burke,
being a man of excellent qualifications, both by na-
ture's endowment and careful training and is the re-
cipient of the esteem and confidence of all. He was
born in Warrensburg, Missouri, on October 19, 1866,
the son of James and Malkida ( Whitsitt) Swicegood.
The father was born in North Carolina. Four broth-
ers came from Germany to this country in 1674 and
settled in Gilpin county, North Carolina, and our sub-
ject descended from one of them. The family were
all prominent American patriots and fought in all the
struggles for the advancement and independence of the
colonists and in the war of 181 2. Our subject's grand-
father figured in these wars and was a Lutheran
preacher. The father and mother now live in Joplin,
Missouri, he being engaged in mining interests. Ik-
served in the Civil war and was captured by Price
and parolled. Returning to Sedalia, where he enlisted,
he went from Kansas City to Walla Walla with an ox
team, then mined in Alder gulch, doing well. The
mother's ancestors were a prominent American family
and fought in the Revolutionary war and the struggle
of 1812. Four of her brothers fought in the Civil war
for the Union and one uncle was in the Mexican war.
She was born in Missouri and her parents in Ten-
nessee. Our subject has two brothers, James and
John. William R. received a good common schooling,
then went through the high school and business col-
lege, and later took his degree from the Rolla School
1 E Mines in Rolla, Missouri, receiving the degree of
Bachelor of Science in 1890. Following this he su-
perintended the mines at Aurora, Missouri, and later
prospected some and spent several years in Colorado
and Mexico. It was 1899 that he came to Wallace and
was superintendent and manager of the Custer mine fur
three years. On December 1, 1902, Mr. Swicegood
came to Burke and took his present position.
On January 23, 1900, at Wallace, Mr. Swicegood
married Miss Josephine, whose father, William < '. 1 of-
tiu, a native of North Carolina, now dwells in Jasper
county, Missouri. Mrs. Swicegood lias two brothers
and eight sisters: Barney, William, Mrs. Minnie 'lip-
ton, Mrs. Delia Wright, Mrs. Florence Mitchell, Mrs.
Isabel Melton, Chrissie, Celia, Edith, Delia. Mr.
Swicegood is a member of the I. O. O. F., and in poli-
tics is tied to the tenets of no party but is an indepen-
dent thinker.
JEROME F. JACOBS is one of the well known
business men of Wallace and at present is conducting
a popular resort, known as Jerome's place. He was
born in Portland, Oregon, on January 12, 1853. His
parents were Hiram S. and Nancy I < Uds 1 Jacobs. The
father was a native of New York, crossed the plains
with ox teams in 1847 to Portland, and in 1864 re-
turned to New York. He died in the city of Mexico,
in 1900, aged seventy-one. He was a well known
mining man of the early days in Idaho, Colorado,
Utah, South America, and so forth. The mother of
our subject was born in Michigan and now lives in
McMinnville, Oregon. Her parents were early pioneers
of Oregon, crossing the plains with ox teams in 1S47.
She was married in Oregon. Jerome F. was raised in
Portland until 1864 and then went to New York with
his parents, where he completed his education and
studied civil engineering. In 1868 he went to I iolora-
do and wrought in that line and in 1871 Mr. Jacobs
came to Utah and followed civil engineering and the
liquor business for ten years. Thence he journeyed
to Nevada and returned 'to Utah, and in 1884 we rind
him one of the pioneers in the Eagle City countrv.
1076
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Later he went to the Wood river country, and thence
to Fairhaven, Washington, where he remained through
the boom of that country. It was 1892 that Mr. Jacobs
came to Wallace, and since that time he has been
one of the active business men of the place. Mr.
Jacobs has one brother and one sister, Martin H.,
mining inspector of Idaho ; Nettie Ungerman, in Mc-
Minnville, Oregon.
In 1885 Mr. Jacobs married Miss Josephine Wheel-
er at Ketchum, Idaho.
WILLIAM H. SMITH is a leading citizen of
Burke, a successful business man and one of the
progressive factors of this section. He is cashier of
the Bank of Burke, and in addition to this he does
a real estate business and owns and rents nine dwell-
ing houses in Burke.
William H. Smith was born in Portland, Oregon,
on January 27, 1863, the son of George D. and Edith
(Cashow) Smith, natives of Iowa. The father crossed
the plains in 1848 and located on the present site of
Portland. When the excitement of forty-nine broke
out he abandoned his claim and went to California.
Four years later he returned to Oregon and opened a
harness shop in Portland. He moved to Arlington
in f88o and there died in 1889. The mother came
to Oregon around the Horn in the fifties and was mar-
ried in Brownsville. Our subject was reared and edu-
cated in Brownsville and when twelve came with his
mother and step-father, A. A. Keyers, to Palouse,
where he remained until 1895. In 1895 our subject
went to Spokane and a year later came to Burke. He
was in Mr. Cardoner's store for a year and a half,
and then was postmaster for four years, and in connec-
tion with this operated a cigar and stationery store.
In addition to his present business Mr. Smith is secre-
tary of the Benton Mining Company, and a heavy
stock owner in it. He has been three times to the
county convention, and was central committeeman Eor
[our years. Mr. Smith is a member of the Elks, of
the [.O.O. I'".. and of the Redriien, being past sachem
of the last order. Mr. Smith has one brother, Jesupa,
In January, 1889, Air. Smith married Miss Lizzie
daughter of John and Alary Murphy, who dwell in
Burke, the father being a miner. The wedding oc-
curred in Burke; they have one child, Francis. Mrs.
Smith is a member of the Roman Catholic church.
Air. Smith is justice of the peace and lias been for
three terms. He was also notary public.
ELLIS L. HALE is the master mechanic for the
Empire State mine at Burke and Wardner, and is a
man whose natural qualifications and careful training
and broad experience have amply fitted for this re-
sponsible position, which he fills witli acceptability.
Ellis L. Hale was born in Virginia on April 13,
1869, the son of John and Caroline (Osborne) Hale,
natives of Virginia and descended from old and promi-
nent families of that state. The father is now living
in Texas but the mother died in 1900. Our subject
was reared in Virginia and remained in school until
fifteen, then apprenticed himself in the Baldwin Loco-
motive works in Roanoke, Virgina, to learn the ma-
chinist trade. After several years there, he went
thence to Pocahontas, Virginia, to the coal mines,
being in the machinist department, where also he ac-
quired a fine training in mining and was in the ex-
tensive shop where they constructed nearly all the
machinery used in the mammoth establishment. Next
we see Mr. Hale in Bessemer, Michigan, operating a
diamond drill, after which he was in the coal mines
in Red Lodge, Montana, being engineer and electrician.
After this he was master mechanic in the Cumberland
lead mines at Castle Mountain, Montana. In Decem-
ber, 1892, he came to Burke and was master mechanic
seven years in different mines and in October, 1898,
lie retired from this and operated at Leadville, Colora-
do. Eight months later Mr. Hale was back in the
Coeur d'Alene country, and soon held the position
where we find him at the present time. He is a man
thoroughly posted in the intricate problems of his pro-
fession, and is a valuable addition to the Empire man-
agement. Mr. Hale has one sister, Ida Hampton, re-
siding in Virginia.
On July 15, 1892, Air. Hale married Miss Kate,
daughter of Martha Barnes. The father is deceased.
Mrs. Hale is a native of Iowa and has two brothers,
Robert and Arthur, miners in Montana. She also has
one sister, Mrs. Ellen Torphey. One child has been
born to this couple, Ellen. Mr. Hale is a member of
the A. F. & A. M.. of the K. P., of the 1. O. O. F.
He is a Republican and always has been and is a
stanch advocate of principles held forth by that party
and is able to give a reason.
\\ 11 .1.1 AM R. MILLER is the manager and heav-
iest owner of the Burke electric light works, which he-
is operating in a first class manner at the present time.
The plant is one of the latest and is in every respect
up-to-date and first class.
William R. Miller was born in Nova Scotia on
Via) 6, [862, the son of Robert and Jane (Murdock)
Miller, natives of Nova Scotia, and descended from
Scotch ancestry. They now reside at Kamloops, Brit-
ish Columbia, the father aged eighty-two and the
mother aged seventy-five. Our subject received a dis-
trict schooling in his native place until thirteen, then
worked on the farm and at lumbering until twenty-
four. In 1886 he came to Spokane, thence to Wardner.
later to Wallace and then up the canyon to Burke,
where he has been engaged since. Mr. Miller mined
in the Tiger a year, then operated tliL engine until
1892. then went east on a visit of seven months.
Upon his return he operated the engine for the Poor
man until the Tiger was consolidated with it, when he
went to the Frisco and operated the engine there for
a year. While there Mr. Miller became interested
with Norman Fbblev and Harrv Jackman in the pre-.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1077
ent electric light plant, which they erected. Our sub-
ject and Ebbley bought out Jackman before the plant
started and later Mr. Miller bought out Mr. Ebbley
and formed a stock company. This was in 1899, and
since then Mr. Miller has continued in the operation
of the plant successfully. Mr. Miller has the following
brothers and sisters, George, Mitchell, Allen, Hedley,
Mrs. Mary J. Stevens, Mrs. W. 'E. Runner.
At Spokane, on July 22, 1889, Mr. Miller married
Miss Jennie, daughter of Donald and Kate Henderson,
the former deceased and the latter living in Nova
Scotia. Mrs. Miller has three brothers and three sis-
ters: Norman, Daniel, Alexander, Mary Sutherland,
Lizzie McPhail, Christie Crowe. To Mr. and Mrs.
Miller there have been born two children, Drysdale,
aged twelve, and Ronald, aged eight. Mr. Miller is a
member of the K. P., and in political alliance is with
the Democrats, but is never desirous for personal
preferment, although he is at the county conventions
and his influence is always on the side of advancement
and progress.
BENJAMIN F. STRINGAM is well known in
Burke, where he handles a general transfer and teaming
business, utilizing five teams and considerable rolling
stock. He was born in Springfield, Illinois, on March
25, 1851, the son of Jeremiah and Sarah (Bovee)
Stringam, natives of New York, and died in 1898 and
1867, respectively, in Utah. Our subject was raised
and educated in Missouri until he was thirteen and
ihen the family came to Salt Lake City, and later to
Manti, where Benjamin freighted for ten years and
did mining in the coal properties. Then he was in
Salt Lake City, later in Truckee, California, team-
ing, and in May, 1876, he went to Walla Walla and
worked for Dr. Blalock, after which he went to Idaho
Falls, then Eagle Rock. He was with Lang & Ryan
and drove cattle from Pendleton. Later Mr. Stringam
was in Geldale. Montana, and hauled charcoal, split
rails, farmed for Tom Foley, logged, hauled supplies
to the post and in the spring of 1880 he came to Coeur
dAlene and furnished telegraph poles for the govern-
ment with his partner. John McCormick. Then he
freighted from Dillon to Missoula and in 1881 came
back to Coeur d'Alene with Major Robinson repairing
roads. After this Mr. Stringam operated a stopping
place out of Missoula until March, 1S84, when he
came to Littlefield. two miles from Murray, and there
operated a store and saloon, also packed from there to
Thompson Falls, for three years. Then Mr. String-
ham came to Burke and since then has been occupied
in his present business. In addition to teaming he
does also considerable packing as occasion requires.
Mr. Stringam has four brothers: George, William,
Jacob, Jeremiah, and one sister. Mrs. Mary Colby.
All are in Utah.
On August 22. 1881, Mr. Stringam married Miss
Mary J., daughter of John and Josephine Carters, now
living in Missoula. The wedding occurred in New
Chicago. Montana, and the father of Mrs. Stringam is
a well known prospector not only in Montana, but also
located the Tiger in 1884. Mrs. Stringam has one
brother, William, and three sisters. Three children
have been born to this union, Benjamin, Susan, Edna,
all at home. Mr. Stringam is a Republican and al-
ways on the side of progress.
WALTER ALLEN JONES. Among the pio-
neers of the Coeur d'Alene country and as one who has
ever manifested the true spirit of progression and who
has wrought with sagacity and enterprise in material
development of the country, and as one of the leading
property owners and legal lights of the count}-, we are
constrained to mention the estimable gentleman whose
name appears above.
Walter Allen Jones was born in Pottsville, Penn-
sylvania, on May 5, 1855, being the son of Joseph D.
and Catherine A. (Kaercher) Jones, natives of Penn-
sylvania. The father died in 1806, aged forty-six.
His ancestors were natives of Pennsylvania, being
prominent citizens of that commonwealth for two cen-
turies. The mother of our subject died in 1898, aged
seventy-three. Our subject was reared and lived in
Pennsylvania until he was thirty. He graduated from
the high school in due time, then entered commercial
life until he was nineteen, when he commenced reading
law. In 1878 he was admitted to the practice and con-
tinued in the same in Pennsylvania until he was thirty.
In 1886 Mr. Jones came to Murray and there practiced
and later removed to Wallace. He has continued in
this county in active practice since the early days of
his arrival here and is one of the leading attorneys
of northern Idaho. Mr. Jones was elected district
attorney in 1886 and in 1889 he was elected city at-
torney of Wallace, continuing in the same for five
terms. Until 1892 Mr. Jones was allied with the Re-
publican party, but in that year he went with the
People's party and has continued wiLh them since.
In addition to a large practice Mr. Jones is heavily
interested in mining and has some fine properties. He
also owns a half interest in the Jones & Dean block,
a large business structure at the corner of Cedar and
Sixth streets in Wallace. Our subject has one brother
and one sister, Dory S.. a machinist in the Baldwin
Locomotive Works in Philadelphia; Lavinia E., wife
of William H. M. Oram, a prominent attorney in Sha-
mokin, Pennsylvania.
At Kingston, Pennsylvania, on January I, 1880,
Mr. Jones married Frances M. Thomas. She was edu-
cated in Wyoming Seminary in Kingston, Pennsyl-
vania. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are of excellent standing
in the city and are leaders in society and very popu-
lar, being admired by hosts of friend-'.
MARSHALL M. TAYLOR. A prominent and
successful business man, whose achievements have
demonstrated him to be one of the leading manipula-
tors of commercial interests in the county, a man of
integrity and possessed of excellent qualities of worth
1078
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
and uprightness, a patriotic and enterprising citizen
given to generosity and of public mind, it is evident
that no work of the character of this volume would
be. complete without prominent mention of Marshall
M. Taylor. He was born in Iowa on May 17, 1862,
being the son of Stephen L. and Cecelia (Dupney)
Taylor. The father was born in Baltimore, Maryland,
on October 22, 1825, and died on May 9, 1878.- He
was of Welsh ancestrage. The mother of our subject
was born in St. Clair county, Illinois, on November
16, 1836, and died on December 20, 1895. Her par-
ents were natives of Kentucky, descended from the
French Huguenots and were early pioneers of Illinois
and Iowa. Our subject was reared in Iowa until he
was twenty, completing high school and business col-
lege courses, and then came to the Black Hills, South
Dakota. Later he went to Kansas and in 1889 he
came to Washington. At Cheney he opened a general
merchandise establishment, and in 1894 he removed
to Wallace. At the present time Mr. Taylor is senior
member of the firm of Taylor Brothers, the brother,
John 1!., being now a student in the Chicago Univer-
sity. Our subject is managing the store now and
handles a thriving patronage. They have a choice
stock of high grade clothing, gents' furnishings, and
so forth, and carry eighteen thousand dollars' worth
of well selected goods. Their store compares favor-
ably with any in the northwest, and Mr. Taylor is
a leader in the realm of commercial activity. The
firm are agents for the celebrated Knox hats, Man-
hattan shirts, and many other of the leading goods
in their line.
On November 23, 1894, Mr. Taylor married Miss
Edith D., daughter of Horace H. and Harriet Hub-
bard, who now live in Spokane, the father being audi-
tor of Spokane county. Mrs. Taylor was born in Kal-
amazoo, Michigan, on August 11, 1870. Fraternally,
Mr. Taylor is affiliated with the K. P. in Chenev, and
the W.'W. in Wallace.
THOMAS O. GRIFFITH is a miner of the first
class, having spent his entire life, since the school
days of boyhood, in the master-y of the intricate prob-
lems of the art and in becoming skilled in the science
and practice of mining. He is at present shift boss
in the Frisco at Gem, and is held in high esteem by
all, both fellow workmen and those for whom his
services are enlisted.
Thomas O. Griffith was born in Wales, on May
15, 1864, the son of Owen and Mary (Evans) Grif-
fith, natives of Wales. The mother lives there now and
ihe father died when our subject was two years ot
age. Thomas O. was an apt scholar in the public
schools until the age of eleven, and then he went into
the mines and the mines have been the scene of his
faithful and skillful labor since that time and he has
come to know the layers and stratas of the earth as
the farmer knows the familiar stock of his barn. He
wrought in Wales until he had reached his majority,
and then came to the slate quarries in Pennsylvania.
A year later we find him in the coal mines, and one
year there and his adventurous spirit led him to the
treasure fields of Montana, and near Butte he was em-
ployed in mining for eighteen months. In 1886 Mr.
Griffith came to Wardner and in the Sierra Nevada
and the Bunker Hill he wrought for five years. Then
came two years in the Black Hills, in South Dakota.
After that he returned to the Coeur d'Alene coun-
try and wrought once more in the Bunker Hill. A
short time thereafter the reports from Colorado caused
Mr. Griffith to go thence and one year later he re-
turned again to the Bunker Hill. In July, 18Q9, Mr.
Griffith came to the Frisco and was installed as shift,
boss, having also held the same position in the Bunker
Hill. He has continued since in that capacity and has
rendered excellent service. Mr. Griffith has one sis-
ter, Ellen Jones, in Wales.
In Slatington, Pennsylvania, in November, 1890,
Mr. Griffith married Miss Li?zie, daughter of John
W. and Ruth (Williams) Evans. The father was a
native of Wales, and died in Pennsylvania in 1895
but the mother lives in New York. Three children
have been born to this union : Ruth, aged nine, is the
only one living. Mr. Griffith is a Republican and a
man of excellent judgment and sound principles
ANDREW WILMOT is a well known and popular
hotel man of the Coeur d'Alene country, and is one'
of the men whose skill and ability in the line of busi-
ness which he handles have given him an unbounded
success, while he has won friends from all quarters
and has displayed worth and integrity in his career.
Andrew Wilmot was born in Texas on March
j 5, 1867, the son of Frank and Elizabeth (McLain")
Wilmot. The father was born in England and died in
Illinois in 1870. The mother was born in Virginia,
descending from an old and prominent family. She
is a niece of Wade Hampton, and now lives in Rich-
mond county, Illinois. Our subject was reared mostly
in Illinois, and received a good education from the
public schools. When eighteen he went to southeastern
Missouri and sold pianos for eighteen months. Then
he went to Colorado and took up the hotel business
for two years. Next we see him in Montana in the
same business arid also interested in mining. In 1891
Mr. Wilmot came to the Coeur d'Alene country, land-
ing in Gem from Thompson Falls, and the first night
was spent in the house which he now handles, the
Frisco boarding house at Gem. Mr. Wilmot did bak-
ery work for a time and then went to Wallace, and
since that time he has constantly been occupied in hotel
and restaurant business. He spent one year in a min-
ing venture, which was unsuccessful. Mr. Wilmot has
one brother, Samuel. The marriage of Mr. Wilmot
and Miss Anna Johnson was solemnized at Wardner
on June 12, 1893. Mrs. Wilmot was called hence by
death on December 14, 1894, and left one child, Anna,
now aged eight years. Mr. Wilmot is a Republican
and a man of influence and always on the sicle of
progress.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
EDWARD OLSON is the foreman of the Frisco
mill at Gem, and is an efficient and faithful man in
this responsible position. He is a man whose genial
ways, intelligence and upright principles have made
popular with all who know him and he is a loyal and
capable citizen.
Edward Olson was born in Sweden on March <>.
1864, the son of Ole and Charlotte (Larson) Olson,
natives of Sweden alsc. The father died when Ed-
ward was ten years, of age. but the mother still lives
in the native place. Our subject was well educated
in the schools of his home place and in 1882, being
eighteen, he came to the United States. He located
in Wisconsin and there took a position on a farm,
where he could spend his winters in the study of the
English language, the ways of the American people,
and our free institutions. This continued for four
years, and Mr. Olson became well posted in the lines
which he pursued. Then came two years in farm
work in South Dakota, after which he journeyed to
Kootenai county, Idaho, and did lumbering until 1894,
when he came to the Coeur d'Alene country, and since
that time he has been here. Ke took employment at
the Frisco mill, and for the last seven years he has
held the position of foreman of it. Mr. Olson has
two brothers and one siter, Fred, Swan, Mrs. Hulrla
Simpson.
On March 13, 1899, at Gem, Mr. Olson married
Miss Dora Clinesburg, whose parents live in Germany.
Mrs. Olson was born in Germany. Mr. Olson is a
member of the K. P. and is past C. C. He is a Re-
publican and takes the interest due from every intelli-
gent citizen of this commonweatlh. Mr. Olson stands
well in the community, and is a man of real worth of
character.
HENRY FLOYD SAMUELS. Perhaps no class
of men hold a higher responsibility regarding the wel-
fare of the state than do the attorneys and it is well
known that the wisdom and justice of our laws are
dependent upon the erudition, probity, and integrity
of these professional men. The bar of Wallace com-
pares favorably with the balance of the state of Idaho
and well to the head of this important body we find
the subject of this sketch, a man possessed of ex-
cellent natural ability ; a forceful, forensic orator, a
thorough student and especially well fortified in legal
lore, a man of integrity, and a gentleman of honor.
His bright success in his practice here has demon-
strated these excellent qualities and acquirements and
a bright future is presaged for this talented and popu-
lar attorney.
Henry Floyd Samuels was born in Washington
county, Mississippi, on April 4, 1869, being the son of
Floyd and Isabelle (Jenkins) Samuels. The Samuels
family came from the British Isle long before the
Revolution and settled in Virginia. Soon after the
Revolutionary war one branch of the family blazed
the path to Kentucky and was among its first set-
tlers. From there, John Samuels, the great-grand-
father of our subject, moved into southern Indiana, and
was a friend and neighbor to William Henry Harri-
son, and was with him in his Indian struggle' at Tip-
pecanoe. His brother, William, was an officer in the
war of 1812. Their father was one of the patriots
of the Revolution. Floyd Samuels, the father of our
subject, was born in Indiana and reared in Kentucky,
and when Lincoln called for volunteers to save the
Union, he responded by organizing Company E, of
the Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry, being captain. His
brother joined the southern cause. Captain Samuels
with his company was surrounded seven times and it
was a struggle of saber against bayonet. He par-
ticipated in fifty-three battles. The mother of our
subject, Isabelle Jenkins Samuels, was a native of
Indiana, and died in 1873, at the age of twenty-seven
years. Three of her brothers were soldiers on the
Union side during the Rebellion, and when the smoke
of battle had cleared away two of them were sleeping
in unknown graves in the sunny .south. Henry [en-
kins, her father, was state senator of Indiana during
the Civil war. and was a prominent and well-to-do
citizen. The Jenkins family is one of the old American
families and contributed aid in gaining our n :don
from England. Thus we note that our subject comes
from patriotic and strong ancestors on both side-. Mr.
Samuels was raised in Indiana on a farm and received
a common education from the district school. Realiz-
ing much the need of a higher education, he allowed,
no obstacle to turn him from gaining it. He boarded
at home and walked five miles every night and morning
to attend the high school at Leavenworth, Indiana. At
eighteen he started westward, wrought for the sum-
mer as a farm hand in Nebraska, saved his wages,
and started to school in the fall. By working night and
morning he continued paying his expenses as he went
until he graduated at Ulysses, Nebraska. There he
commenced the study of the law with Waldo Broth-
ers. He next went to Ann Arbor to attend the law
department of University of Michigan. While at-
tending there his health broke down and he returned
to the homestead in southern Indian, and as soon as he
recovered secured a positoin with the law firm of
Tracewell & Founkhouser, and continued the study
of the law. He was admitted to the bar in February.
1892, at Leavenworth, Indiana.
•Mr. Samuels, in April of 1892, came to Idaho, and
soon opened a law office at Grangeville. In 1895 he
moved to Wallace, where he soon built a lucrative
business. In 1897 he was chosen attorney for the city
of Wallace, and in 1898 was elected the first county
attorney for Shoshone county. During his term of
office occurred the labor strike of 1899, which brought
with it one of the most trying ordeals that could beta!!
an official, but Mr. Samuels was equal to the occasion,
and his deep love for justice and right characterized
his actions all through his term, and he filled the office
with distinction and credit. Mr. Samuels always hav-
ing a desire to finish the law course he had to give
up ^u account of his health in 1801. in 1901 he took a
post-graduate course at the Columbian University,
Washington, D. C, and received the degree of Master
of Law.
io8o
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Not only has Mr. Samuels been successful at the
practice of the law but mining as well, for he is a
co-owner of the famous Hercules mine, and many
other valuable mining interests, and each year as it
goes by adds to his prestige and wealth.
HENRY L. DAY is one of the prominent and
enterprising mining men of the rich Coenr d'Alene
district, and his skill and sagacity, coupled with long
experience in the business world, have made him one of
the foremost men of the section, and it is with pleasure
that we are enabled to grant to him a representation
among the leading citizens of northern Idaho.
Henry L. Day was born in Washington county,
Maine, on January 28, 1835, tne son OI William and
Sarah (Averill) Day, natives also of Maine. The
father was a lumber man, and died in Maine June 6,
1854. and the mother died in Minnesota December 12,
1864. Our subject was well educated in the public
schools and completed his training in the Iiucksport
seminar}'. He came to California via the isthmus in
1854 and located first near Nevada City. He mined
there for a year and then bought a claim and
did well. The following spring he sold out
and turned his attention to lumbering. For
twenty years Mr. Day was principally engaged
in lumbering, and he wrought in various sec-
tions. Four years out of this, however, he was en-
gaged in butchering in Nevada. Following that he
was in Truckee, and for about twenty years he was
active in lumbering there. During this time his family
was in Sacramento about four years. Then Mr. Day
came to Wardner. and the dairy business engaged him
for four and one-half years. Then he went into the
grocery business until 1902, in which year he sold out
and retired from business. He has a beautiful home
at the corner of Second and Cedar streets in Wallace,
where the family reside at the present time. Mr. Day
has one sister. Mrs. Bernice Robinson, in Minneapolis.
her husband being a retired capitalist.
At Virginia City. Nevada, on December 29. 18(14.
Mr. Day married Miss Ellen, daughter of James and
Mary (McAvit) Powers, and a native of Plattsburg.
New York. The father was a native of Ireland and
came to the United States in 1812, being seventeen
years of age. He came at the time of the battle of
Plattsburg, New York, and was in company with his
uncle. Captain Edward Haves. He died in May, 1865.
The mother of Mrs. Day was also a native of Ireland,
and came to New York state when a young girl. Mrs.
Day has one brother and one sister, — Richard Powers,
an extensive land owner in Plattsburg, New York : Mrs.
Katherine Bancroft, in Westfield, Massachusetts. Mrs.
Day was educated in the public schools and later in
select schools. Mrs. Day is a devout Catholic and an
estimable lady. Mr. Day is one of the principal owners
<>f the famous Hercules, and his son, Harry L., men-
tioned elsewhere, is manager of the same. Air. Day
has always been a stanch and active Republican and
has held many responsible offices at the hands of the
people. He was county commissioner for five years
in California, and for several terms in this county.
He is a man of worth and integrity and has always
been active in business, and now, in tbe golden years of
his life, he is retiring to enjoy the rewards of his enter-
prise and sagacity.
Mr. and Mrs. Day have the following named chil-
dren : Harry L., Eleanor, Eugene R., Jarome J.,
Blanche E. These all own equal shares with their
father in the famous Hercules mine.
JOHN W. WIMER, who is at present the efficient
assayer for the Frisco mine at Gem, is one of the
reliable and progressive business men of the district,
and has demonstrated in long years of excellent enter-
prise here his worth, integrity and skill. He was born
in Eugene, Oregon, on January 14, 1872, the son of
Adam J. and Lydia E. Wimer. The father was born
in Ohio, crossed the plains to California in 1849 and
after six years of mining, came to the Willamette
valley, where he embarked on the mercantile sea. He
now dwells with his wife in Uniontown, Washington,
retired from active business. The mother was born in
Iowa and crossed the plains with her husband and
has been his constant companion since. Our subject
was reared principally in Uniontown, Washington,
and there received a good public schooling. Later he
finished his educational training in the Spokane busi-
ness college, and then commenced as a bookkeeper.
He operated for the White & Bender and the Tiger
stores for four years and then took a position with the
Frisco people, where he has continued for eight years.
He commenced the study of assaying years ago, and
has continued a devoted pupil to the science and has
attained excellent skill and a deep knowledge of it
in the time of his study.
Mr. Wimer has three brothers. Glen, Frank, Ellis.
and three sisters, Estelle Wade, Zola and Bernice. He
is a member of the Elks and the A. F. & A. M. In
political matters he is allied with the Republicans and
is a man of keen perception and weighs the questions
of the day with a discriminating and discerning mind.
OTTO FREEMAN. A man of integrity, enter-
prise and talent, well informed in business and especial-
ly so in his line, which embraces real estate and mining
brokerage, Mr. Freeman is to be numbered with the
substantial business men of Wallace and is transact-
ing a thriving business. A detailed account of his career
will be quite in place in the history of his county and
we append the same with pleasure.
Otto Freeman was born in Sweden on February
19, 1858. being the son of Jeppa Froberg and Anna
(Ofelt) Freeman, natives of Sweden. The father was
born in 18 12 and died in 1899. He was a non-com-
missioned officer for eighteen years in the army and
later was a bookkeeper. The mother's father was also
a non-commissioned officer in the Swedish army, was
HENRY L DAY.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
born in 1815. and died in 1881. Our subject attended
the public school in his native place, and took a Special
course in geometry when twenty. In 1882 he bade
farewell to his native land and came to the United
States In Michigan he did contract work on the
railroad and then spent four years in some of the
leading iron mines of that state. After that he did
various work all the way from that place to the west,
and landed in Spokane, where he remained until May,
1S90, at which date he came to Wallace, and was en-
gaged in various capacities in the different mines of
this section. Mr. Freeman was active in these years
and he became personally acquainted with about every
property of any note in this entire mining region, and
also did considerable prospecting. In April, 1901,
he opened his present office and since that time he has
attended strictly to this line of business and
made a good success. He is prepared to furnish in-
formation regarding any mine in the Coeur d'Alene
district, and handles stock on commission. Last year
he disposed of over fifty thousand shares of the Tar-
box and other mines. He is promoting the Horn Sil-
ver mine, Powhattan, Arlington, Belmont and several
others. He has promoted others and he is considered
an expert in deciding on mining property in this sec-
tion.
Fraternally Mr. Freeman is affiliated with the I.
O. O. F., Wallace, No. 33, being noble grand and
recording secretary. Politically he is a Socialist. He
has the following brothers and sisters : August, a
tobacconist ; Johannes, school inspector in Sweden ;
Nels, station master on the railroad ; Per, baggage-
man ; Carl, switchman ; Elsie Eliason ; Christina, a
widow : Tohanna, a school teacher.
JAMES H. TAYLOR. The Coeur d'Alene Iron
Works, one of the prosperous and large business in-
dustries of the city of Wallace, is handled and owned
by Taylor & Whitlow. The subject of this article
is manager of the establishment and is both a practi-
cal man in all departments of the plant, as well as
a thorough business man. The plant consists of a
first class blacksmith shop fitted to do the largest
work, a fine machine shop and a good foundry and they
are prepared to do any piece of work in their lines
demanded in this section of the country, and are hav-
ing a thriving and ever increasing patronage, owing
to the excellent work turned out and the thorough
business principles upon which the industry is operated.
James H. Taylor was born in Philadelphia on Jan-
uary 13, 1869, being the son of Timothy and Jemima
Taylor, natives of England, where also they were
married. They came to the United States in 1868
and the father wrought at his trade, that of a mill-
wright, until his death in 1898, being aged fifty-four
then. The mother is still living in Philadelphia. Our
subject remained in Philadelphia until he was twenty-
one. During these years he attended common schools,
worked in the woolen mills and learned the mill-
wright's and patternmaker's trades. When twenty-
one he came to Montana and wrought at his trades in
various places and in 1895 he came to the Coeur
dAlene country. He wrought here for eighteen
months and then returned to Montana for one year,
after which he came back to Wallace and leased his
present foundry. In September, 1902, Mr. Taylor
formed a partnership with Charles Whitlow and pur-
chased the plant. Since then they have devoted their
entire attention to the work and have made a good
success of it. They handle as many as twenty-three
men and their business is rapidly increasing.
Mr. Taylor has one brother and four sisters :
Frank, a machinist in our subject's foundry and shop;
Mrs. Clara Guest. Sadie Wickworth, Bessie and Nel-
lie, single, all in Philadelphia. Mr. Tavlor is a mem-
ber of the W. W. and the Elks in Wallace. He is a
Republican and active, having been in the conventions.
Mr. Taylor is a member of the I'.oard of Trade, and
always labors for the general welfare and advance-
ment of the city.
GUS EHRENBFRG. the assistant manager of
the Frisco Consolidated Mining Company, limited, is
one of the capable and thorough mining men of the
northwest, and the position which he now holds,
wherein he has manifested efficiency and a consummate
knowledge of both men and mines, with executive
ability and insight into details, becoming a leader, has
been graced with a completeness in management that
brings satisfaction alike to mine owner and operators.
Gus Ehrenberg was born in Sweden, November
15, 1868, the son of John P. and Bertha (Chris-
topher) Ehrenberg, both natives of Sweden also. The
father died when this son was one year old and the
mother was called to the world beyond when lie was
seven years old. Thus being left an orphan, he re-
mained with his older brothers and sisters and with
them came to the United States when he was aged
ten. They lived in Leadville, Colorado, for three years
and there he attended the district school. Then came
a move to Boulder, Colorado, where he was engaged
in the pursuit of knowledge until 18S5, at which time
he entered Bethany College, at Lindsboro, Kansas,
from which he took his degree in 1888. Ik- returned
to Colorado and soon we find him 111 the office of the
Leadville Mines, limited. In the spring of [889, he
went thence to Sonora, Mexico, with the Santa Anna
Mining Company and was hoist engineer foi
After this Mr. Ehrenberg came on to Montana, where
lie worked under ground in the Clipper mine for a time.
Next he came to Helena and there entered the employ
df the Xorthern Pacific Express Company, remaining
until 1893. He then took a position with Peter Winne,
a real estate and insurance man, where he remained for
one vear and then entered into partnership with him,
the firm being known as Winne & Ehrenbi
continued in this capacity until 1897, then sold hi- in-
terest in the firm and came them r d'Alene
country and at once was installed in charge of the
office of the Frisco mines. He held this position with
disDlay of excellent ability until December, moo. when
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Air. MacDonakl, manager, retired from the employ of
the company, and Mr. Ehrenberg was installed in his
place. Since that time Air. Ehrenberg has conducted
the affairs of the company, both its mines and its mills,
and has shown himself a man of capabilities of a high
order and worthy of the fullest confidence of the
management of the mine. It will be noticed by this
outline of Air. Ehrenberg's career that he has had
practical and full experience along all lines from the
underground work, the management of the office,
the positions requiring technical skill, to the
general management of a large concern, all of
which has amply fitted a man of his talent
to fully discharge his important duties with
becoming skill and sagacity. Mr. Ehrenberg has two
brothers and two sisters, Charles, J. Walter. .Mrs.
Bernard MacDonald, Mrs. Swan Anderson.
Air. Ehrenberg is an enthusiastic member of the
Elks and is also a member of the A. F. & A. M., the
R. A. Al,, the K. T. and the Shriners. He is a Re-
publican and active in the interests of the county and
state. Mr. Ehrenberg has been delegate twice to
tire state conventions and three times to the county
conventions. He is a man of influence, and of de-
cided ideas and is able to give good and sufficient rea-
sons for his acts and belief. In fact, although Mr.
Ehrenberg is a man of excellent spirit and maintains
a high sense of honor, he is strictly governed in all
his business and social life by wisdom and sound
judgment and conserves the interest of right and jus-
tice in all lines.
ARTHUR C. COGSWELL. The natural ability
and real worth of the gentleman whose name is at the
head of this article, brought to the front by a de-
termined will and fitted for the prosecution of a large
business by a careful and thorough training, have
fitted him to hold the leading position in Burke,
where he is operating at this time. . He is postmas-
ter of that town and manager of the Tiger Mercan-
tile Company's establishment in connection. He is
one of the rising men of the district and is popular
and highly respected.
Arthur C. Cogswell was born in Halifax, Nova
Scotia, on April u, 1S68, the son of William H. and
Alary (Woodill) Cogswell, natives of Nova Scotia.
The family is an old English and prominent line and
some of them were the Pilgrims in the Mayflower
while others came and founded Halifax. Our sub-
ject descended from the Halifax line. The father
died in Rockford, Washington, in 1897. The mother
came from an old English family and died in Rock-
ford in 1894. Our subject was reared and educated
in Halifax and graduated from the high school there
when thirteen, having also carried the business college
course in the evenings. When he was seventeen, the
family came to Oregon and four years later removed
to Rockford. Washington, where our subject was
partner with his father in general merchandising. In
[895 Air. Cogswell came to Murray and took charge
of the late Al. Prager's business and continued with
the company for one year. After the death of that
gentleman our subject came to Burke and took charge
of the Tiger Mercantile establishment and has demon-
strated his ability and efficiency here. He has one
brother, Byron F., and one sister, Mrs. Rose, whose
husband is manager of a steamboat company and a
prominent merchant in Dawson, where they dwell. It
is of note that the well known philanthropist, Cogs-
well, now deceased, of San Francisco, is a second
cousin of our subject's father.
In April. 1897, at Rockford, Washington, Mr.
Cogswell married Miss Anna, daughter of Alfred M.
and Regina Rud, natives of Norway, now residing in
Rockford. Airs. Cogswell was born in Elgin, Illinois.
Air. Cogswell is a member of the K. P., being past
C. C, of the Elks and in political matters is a Repub-
lican and active. He has been 'delegate to the state
convention and was secretary of the fifth senatorial
district in Washington several years. He is now a
member of the county central committee.
O. D. JONES, a popular and successful business
man of Wallace, is one of the firm of Hayes & Jones,
leading clothiers, gents' furnishers and shoe dealers
of Wallace. They carry an excellent stuck, both as
to quality and assortment, do a thriving business and
are up-to-date merchants in every respect. Fifteen
thousand dollars worth, and more of well selected
goods are on their shelves at all times.
O. D. Jones was born in Indiana on August 23,
1861, being the son of James R. and Mary A. (Carr)
Jones, natives of Kentucky and Indiana, respectively.
The father was a pioneer in Indiana, served through
the Civil war in an Indiana regiment and died in
1892 at Humansville, Missouri. The mother now lives
in Missouri. Our subject was raised in Indiana and
graduated from the high school at the age of nine-
teen. At that age he went to Missouri and one year
later to Arkansas and in a few months from that time
he was in Pocatello, where on March, 1883, he went to
railroading. He did contract work there and in Pull-
man, Washington, and in February, 1884, he came to
Murray, where he did excellent business in the placer
mines. After that venture Mr. Jones did quartz min-
ing, having an interest in the Occident. He sold that
property in 1892 and about that time he was appointed
postmaster of Murray, which position he filled with
faithfulness and efficiency for four years. During this
time he had been interested with Mr. Smith in the coal
and brokerage business and after he resigned the
postmastership in Murray he came to Wallace and ac-
tively engaged with Mr. Smith. Two years later he
sold out and bought a half interest with Mr. J. J.
Hayes, where we find him at the present time. He
brought to the firm a wealth of excellent' business
ability, enterprise and integrity and they now do one
of the finest trades in the city.
Fraternally Mr. Jones is affiliated with the K. of P.
and the Elks and is popular and highly esteemed in
these relations as also in all his walks. Politically
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1083
he is a Democrat and a forceful factor in the cam-
paigns. Mr. Jones has two brothers and one sister,
W. P., a miner at Wardner: Frank S., a merchant at
Deer Lodge, Montana; Lione J. England, in Missouri.
On February 27, 1894, Mr. Jones married Miss
Ella Stabnenow, whose parents now live in Germany.
The nuptials occurred in Murray and to this couple
tbere has been born one child, Leslie.
JOHN CARLSON, of the firm of Carlson &
Lrickson, proprietors of the Carlson & Erickson sa-
loon, in Gem, is a man of large experience in the
mining world and in addition to his business here
has some fine interests in a promising group of claims
that he assisted to locate seme years since. He was
born in Sweden on December- 30, 1870, the son of
Carl and Lizzie (Swanson) Peterson, natives of Swe-
den. The father is a carpenter and builder ami lives
in Sweden now. The mother died in September,
1002, in her native land. Our subject was educated
in the public schools until he was fifteen and then
came to the United States. He at once took a position
in the mines and in the mining mills in Colorado and
for six years he was found steadih pursuing his way
in these lines and during this time he became a
very skillful miner and a good judge of minerals,
which knowledge has been of inestimable value to him
in his subsequent career. In 1891 Mr. Carlson came
to the Coeur d'Alene country, and for the first eleven
months was engaged in the Frisco. Then in company
with his brother, Andrew Peterson, Gus Nelson and
Gus Peterson, he located the group of claims referred
to and known as the Great Eastern. They are located
near the Mammoth and since their location they have
been pushing development work vigorously. They have
eleven hundred feet of tunneling and the showings
justify the work being done, as the property is one of
the promising mines of the district. And here we wish
to mention that Mr. Carlson is one of the men whose
skilled knowledge tells him that the Coeur d'Alene
country is one of the greatest mining districts of the
world and he manifests his excellent judgment in
unbounded faith in the mineral resources of this sec-
tion, which doubtless are but in their infancy at the
present time. In June, 1898, Mr. Carlson embarked
in the saloon business and since that time he has
conducted the business with his partner in addition
to his mining interests. He has one brother, Gus,
and two sisters, Mrs. Emma Lundine, Mrs. Tilda
Wineburg.
At Spokane, in 1897, Mr. Carlson married Mrs.
Anna Sawyer, a native of Minnesota. She has one
daughter, Maud Conlon, in Rossland, British Colum-
bia. Mr. Carlson is a member of the K. P.
PAUL F. SMITH. When the time was ripe for
the organization of the 'Wallace Board of Trade the
subject of this sketch was a prime mover in the ac-
complishment of the excellent enterprise and to-day
he holds the responsible position of president of that
bod) and skill, executive ability and keen business
discrimination are of inestimable value to the board
and thus to the town of Wallace. Mr. Smith
ducting a prosperous business in the line of grain, coal
and merchandise broker, and his efforts are crowned
with a gratifying success.
Paul F. Smith was born in Adams county, Illinois.
On November 20, 1861, being the son of John P. arid
Janie (Selby) Smith, natives of Illinois and Kentucky,
respectively. Major Robert F. Smith, the paternal
grandfather of our subject, was born in Philadelphia,
of English parentage, and enlisted in the Sixteenth
Illinois Infantry. . He served four and one-half years
and rose to the rank of major general. He had been
in the state militia many years previous to this, and
was engaged in putting down the Mormon troubles at
Nauvoo and Carthage. The mother of our subject
came from an old and prominent southern family, and
died when this son was eight. Paul F. w;
in Illinois, and attended the district schools. When
nineteen he went to Montana and entered the transfer
business, where he operated for several war-, and in
1884 we find him among the early ones in Eagle City.
and in 1889 he settled in Wallace. He at once en-
gaged in his present occupation, and since that time has
given strict attention to business and has achieved a
flattering success in this line. Fraternally Mr. Smith
is a member of the Elks and of the K. of P.. Lodge
No. 9, in Wallace, being past < . '. 1 .
< In November 25, 1889, Mr. Smith married Miss
Mabel E., daughter of Oscar and Minnie Pease. The
father is deceased, but the mother is now residing in
Murray. Two children have been born to this mar-
riage,—Frank, aged eleven, and Clarence, aged nine.
Mr. Smith is one of the leading citizens of Wallace,
and his popularity is unmistakable, for he lias three-
times been chosen chief executive of the city.
ALBERT S. BALCH is at the present time con-
ducting a saloon in Gem, but he is a thorough mining
man, .and has wrought in that line largely, while also
he is now interested heavily in promising properties ol
this district. He was born in Kalamazoo. Michigan,
on April 24, [862, the son of Samuel R. and Elizabeth
(Woods) Balch, native.- of Vermont. The father
came to Michigan in 183*7, and his father was a native
of .Massachusetts. This gentleman entered
ploy of John Adams when he was quite young and
was brought up bv Adams. The first ancestor of the
Balch family known now was one of the first white
children born in Plymouth bay settlements. Samuel
R. Balch died in Kalamazoo. Michigan. Augusl
a°-ed eio-htv-six. He had been a farmer and stockman
afl his life.' The mother of our subject was called from
the scenes of earth on December 25, 1866. She came
from an old New England family. Our subject was
educated in Michigan and remained there until 1S81,
when he migrated to Missouri, doing railroad work
1084
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
there for two years. Then he went to Eldorado,
Kansas, and learned the butcher trade, remaining until
1886. He also operated a meat market in Scott City
for two years. In 1888 Mr. Balch came to Puget
Sound and for eighteen months was in Tacoma, and
then went to Fairhaven, where he continued until 1896.
December 6, of that year, found him in the Coeur
d'Alene country, where since that time he has been.
Mining occupied him until 1900, when he started his
present business. Mr. Balch has four brothers and
one sister, — Herbert M., Elmer A., William A., Uriel
K. and Laura O. Chapman.
On May 7, 1902, Mr. Balch married Miss Josephine
Wandou. the wedding occurring in Wallace. Mr.
Balch is a member of the I. O. O. F., Fairhaven Lodge
No. 79, having been noble grand five terms ; of the K.
P., past C. C, being in the order since 1883; of the
Uniform Rank, being Sir Knight Captain ; of the Elks,
and has been financial secretary of the miners' union.
Mr. Balch was one of the most enthusiastic workers
of the I. O. O. F., and especially of the K. P., in the
Sound country, and was c«e of the most prominent
members of the latter order in that section. He was
a charter member of these lodges and did much for
their advancement.
CHARLES EHRENBERG is a popular man of
Gem, where he has resided for some time. He is now
an efficient shift boss in the Frisco, where he has served
with acceptability for some time. He was born in
Sweden May 10, 1S64, and his parents are mentioned
elsewhere 111 this work. Our subject came to the
United States with his brothers and sisters when young
and settled in Leadville, Colorado, where he attended
district school for some time, later taking a high school
course. In the spring of 1881 he went to Lake valley,
New .Mexico, and mined there for five years. Then
he returned to Colorado and remained until 1889. min-
ing, at which time he made a trip to his native country
and also traveled through the countries of Denmark,
Scotland, Ireland and England. Returning to the
United States, he later came on to Sonora. Mexico,
where his brother was, and there he wrought in the
mines for a time. Next we see Mr. Ehrenberg in
Pony, Montana, and also he visited other places in that
state and was employed in various capacities in the
mines. It was 1 891 that he came to the Coeur d'Alene
country, and for three years he was in the Tiger and
Poorman. and then five years were spent in the hoist,
making continuous service except the time he was at
the World's Fair in 1893. After this long term of
service was expired Mr. Ehrenberg spent six months
in British Columbia and then came to the Frisco, where
he mined six months and then took his present position,
in which he has constantly operated since.
On August 9, 1897, Mr. Ehrenberg married Miss
Freda Larson, daughter of Carl and Ulrika (Peterson)
Larson, natives of Sweden. The father died in Boulder
county. Colorado, in 1885. and the mother lives there
now. Mrs. Ehrenberg was born in Sweden and came
to the United States with her parents when three years
old. Site has two brothers and two sisters, — Andrew
G., Emil, Christine Norberg, Elizabeth Rawley. To
this marriage have been born the following children :
fhelma, aged four, Gladys, aged two, and Helen, aged
six months. Mr. Ehrenburg is a member of the A. F.
& A. M. the R. A. M., the K. T. and the Nobles of the
Mystic Shrine. In political matters Mr. Ehrenberg is
an independent thinker.
ABRAHAM L. LEHMAN, M. D., V. S.. is one of
the leading physicians of northern Idaho and stands
as a most skillful surgeon, having demonstrated his
skill and ability on numerous occasions. He is not
only popular with the people but is held in high repute
among his confreres and is a man of keen ability in
diagonsis and of deep erudition in the medical lore ot
the day.
Abraham L. Lehman was born in New York city,
on April 14, 1865, being the son of David and Rachel
(Burnham) Lehman. The father was a native of
Pennsylvania, and died in 1870, aged forty-five years
and had followed a mercantile life. The mother was
born in Germany and died in 1898 aged sixty-five.
Our subject was raised in his native place and after the
grammar and high school came west, following mer-
chandising in Mullan from 1888 to 1894. He then
spent five years in the University of Pennsylvania at
I 'hiladelphia, receiving his diploma from the medical
and veterinary departments. He commenced prac-
tice in Montana and then came to Wallace, opened an
office and is now at the head of a large and lucrative
practice. Dr. Lehman is surgeon for the Northern
Pacific and the Providence hospital. He is a man of
quick and brusque manner but is possessed of a ten-
der heart and alert sympathy and has rendered untold
benefit in his service to the suffering. He has no
brothers or sisters and fraternally he is affiliated with
the A. F. & A. M., Shoshone Lodge No. 25; and
with the Scottish Rite in the thirty-second degree at
Spokane.
In January, 1889, Dr. Lehman married Miss Han-
nah, daughter of Henry and Fanny Levinger, both
deceased. Five children have been born to crown this
happy union Benjamin, Walter, Fanny. Henry and
Pachel.
ROY H. KINGSBURY, the capable and popular
bookkeeper of the Empire State & Idaho Mining &
Development Company, in Burke, is one of the rising
young business men of this section and deserves repre-
sentation in the history of this county. He was born
in Yankton, South Dakota, on January 19, 1877, the son
of Theodore A. and Frances M. (Hollister) Kingsbury.
The father was born near Utica, New York, and served
in the Civil war, being a surgeon. Following the war
he was in a drug store in Yankton and then acted as
chief clerk in the United States land office at Water-
town of South Dakota. After this he owned and opera-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1085
ted a drug store at Watertown and in May, 1888, he
was called hence by death. The mother was born near
Delavan, Wisconsin, and now lives in Spokane. Her
father still lives at the old home place, a prominent
man and an old pioneer of that state. Our subject's
father and his father's brother, George W., were pio-
neers in South Dakota, and Kingsbury county is named
for them. The uncle has served in the state legisla-
ture and is at present owner and editor of the Press
and Dakotian, one of the leading papers of the state.
Their sister is the wife of Colonel Melvin Griggsby of
the Rough Riders. Our subject remained in Dakota
until thirteen, being in the high school in Watertown
then. At that time he and his mother and sister re-
moved to Spokane where he resumed his studies in the
high school. After the high school course. Mr.
Kingsbury learned bookkeeping and stenography and
occupied a position in the office of the Echo mills.
When he resigned from there he was wheat buyer and
bookkeeper. Then he was with the Washington Mill
Company for a time and in January, 1900, he accepted
his present position with the Empire State and Idaho
Mining and Development Company, and has since that
time steadily continued in the discharge of the duties
incumbent upon him here. He has one sister, Mabel I.,
court stenographer several years in Spokane and now
in Chicago.
On February 20, 1901, Mr. Kingsbury married Miss
Bertha L., daughter of John W.-and Ina A. Hender-
son, natives of Pennsylvania. The father is now de-
ceased and the mother lives at Sprague. Washington.
Airs. Kingsbury was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, and
has one brother, Martin C, and one sister, May. Mr.
Kingsbury is a member of the K. P., while he and
his wife belong to the Episcopalian church.
J. WALTER EHRENBERG is well known as one
of the most skillful wood workers in the Coeur d'Alene
district. He comes from the nation whence came some
of the most skillful mechanics known to the civilized
world, among which is Ericsson, world famous for his
skilled inventions. Our subject was born in Sweden,
February 19, 1856. His parents and brothers and sis-
ters are mentioned elsewhere in this work. In 1879
Mr. Ehrenberg came to Leadville, Colorado, with his
brothers and joined his sister, Mrs. Anderson, already
there. He was well educated in the public schools of
liis native land and served a good apprenticeship in
the wood working craft. He wrought in Leadville on
the new smelter and the Little Chief mine for a year
and then went to Lake Valley, New Mexico, where he
did carpenter work in the mines, his brother-in-law, B.
MacDonald, being there also. Next we see Mr. Ehren-
berg in Boulder, Colorado, visiting, after which he went
to New Mexico again and then visited his native land.
He returned after the summer and wrought in various
mines in New Mexico and Colorado and from Denver
came to Spokane. In the time of the Murray rush, in
1884, he went thither and later went to Montana and
wrought in the Lee Mountain and Cumberland mines.
In [892 Mr. Ehrenberg returned to Denver and
erected a commodious dwelling and determined to re-
main there. But soon his adventurous spirit led him
to the Coeur d'Alene country and he wrought in the
Frisco for six months and then returned to Denver and
married. The lady becoming his wife was Ingard
Johnson, who was born in Sweden, in October, 1870.
Her parents, Magnus and Martha (Gunimerson ) John-
son, were natives of Sweden and now live there. Mrs.
Ehrenberg had one brother, Peter, and two sisters,
Inez and Sophie. On August 20, 1899, death invaded
the happy home of our subject and took hence the be-
loved wife. Typhoid fever was the cause of the death
and it occurred in Spokane. Two children weir left
to mourn this sad loss, Arthur and Ruby, aged now
nine and seven respectively. After his marriage, Mr.
Ehrenberg took a trip to Sweden and also visited
the World's fair with his bride. Then he came to this
district and took a position in the Frisco and, excepting
six months in the Tiger, has been with this compan)
since that time. In 1901 lie was given entire charge of
the carpenter work and is an efficient and faithful man,
deserving of the confidence and esteem that are reposed
in him liberally. Mr. Ehrenberg's children are with
his sister, Mrs. Anderson, in Boulder, Colorado. Mr.
Ehrenberg is a Republican and is also a member of the
Maccabees.
DAVID A. PORTER, deceased. Although Mr.
Porter was no politician in the sense of the word's or
dinary use, and never sought personal preferment, still
in the election of 1902 he was chosen county surveyor
of Shoshone county by a handsome majority, his name
appearing on the Republican ticket. ■
David A. Porter was born in Chicopee, Massachu-
setts, on October 13, 187 1. being the son of James E.
and Eliza F. (Westcott) Porter, both descended from
prominent and old \Tew England families. The
father was born in Maine and his family
dates back to David K. Porter, who came
from Weymouth, England, in 1635. James E. Porter
graduated from West Point in 1869 and was first lieu-
tenant in the Seventh United States Cavalry under
General Custer and was killed in the famous Custer
massacre in 1876. Our subject spent the first thirteen
years of his life in Rhode Island and .Maine and then
came with his mother to California and during the
next ten vears he prepared for and completed a uni-
versity course in Berkelev. graduating as civil engineer
in the class of 1804. lie was then appointed
United States geological survey for southern I
and in the Wodd river country. Idaho. In [895 Mr.
Porter came to Wardner and for five and one-half
years he was civil engineer for the Bunker Hill and
Sullivan mine. In iqoi he came to Wallace. This was
in March and he followed his profession until his elec-
tion and after that he added to his duties th
countv position, in which he was faithful and effi-
cient.' Mr. Porter was a popular young business man
and was recognized by all as possessed of excellent tal-
ent and integrity.
io86
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Fraternally he was affiliated with the United Order
of Junior Mechanics of Wardner ; with the A. F. and
A. M., Shoshone, 25 ; with the Wallace Chapter, R. A.
M. ; with the Delta Kappa Epsilon, a college fraternity.
On Septemebr 11, 1898, in San Francisco, Califor-
nia, Mr. Porter married Miss Augusta, daughter of
Urias S. and Susan H. Nye. The father was a Cali-
fornia pioneer, crossing the plains in 1849. He was
one of the most prominent raisers of fine stock in Cali-
fornia and his large ranch was situated in Glenn coun-
ty, where he lived for many years, but is now de-
ceased. The mother now resides in Willow, Glenn
count)-, California. Mrs. Porter is a graduate of the
Berkeley high school and also took a special course in
the university. Mr. and Mrs. Porter were blessed with
two children, Ernestine, aged three, and James F..
aged two.
On account of his excellent work in the university,
Mr. Porter received the rank of major in the National
Guards. He always displayed those excellent qualities
of worth, integrity and kindness which commended
him to all who had the pleasure of his association. He
rose rapidly in his profession and had he lived, doubt-
less he would have become signally honored for the
excellent work he would have accomplished. The sud-
den and painful taking away of Mr. Porter occurred on
April 18, 1903. He was working hard on a flume line
for the New Jersey mine four miles from Wallace, the
company being anxious to have it in working order
sumi ; Ik- was putting forth every effort to complete the
work in hand. He ate as usual on the night of his
death, wrote until late on his notes and after making
the last entry, "The grade came out fine, will finish to-
morrow," he retired. In the morning he was found
cold in death. Failure of his heart action is attributed
as the cause of his demise.
The funeral was held amid mourning on every hand
fur David A, Porter was a general favorite and was an
exemplary young man. His sorrowing widow and two
children are left to mourn the sad death.
M ICHAEL M AHER is one of the worthy pioneers
of the Coeur d'Alene country and at present a citizen
of Burke, where he handles a cigar store and attends
to the business of justice of the peace, having had the
confidence of the people reposed in him by being elected
to that office. He is a capable and impartial peace of-
ficer and has the respect and esteem of all .
Michael Maher was born in Ireland, on September
28, 1846, the son of Edmund and Margaret (Doyle)
Maher, natives of the Emerald Isle, but now deceased.
Our subject was reared and educated in Ireland and in
1867 he determined to try his fortunes in America and
accordingly came hither. He spent four years in New
Jersey and then journeyed to Sacramento in 1874.
After a few months there he went to Nevada and for
ten years was active in mining, being in the Comstock.
In 1 88 1 he. came to Oregon and did railroad contract
work on the O. R. & N. Two years later he was sim-
ilarly employed on the N. P. and in 1884 he came on
the crest of the Prichard creek excitement to Eagle
City. He operated a general merchandise establish-
ment in Murray for two years, then removed to Mullan,
where he was in the mercantile business for ten years.
In 1897 Mr. Maher came to Burke and opened his
present establishment and has continued in its oper-
ation and the duties of justice of the peace since.
He was justice in Mullan a number of years and has
served in this office for ten years altogether. Mr. Ma-
her is a Democrat, always has been and always ex-
pects to be. He has the old Jeffersonian doctrines well
established in his political belief and is solid. He is a
member of the Catholic church. Mr. Maher has two
brothers, John and Thomas. He has never left the
retirement of the celibatarian and is still blessed with
its quiet joys and charms.
MRS. ELEANOR BOYCE, whose parents, Henry
L. and Ellen (Powers) Day, are well known in the
Coeur d'Alene country, is now a resident of Denver,
Colorado. She was born in Story county, Nevada, on
December 23, 1867. She remained with her parents un-
til she arrived at the age for teaching and then, having
been well prepared by various educational courses for
that important work, she took it up. Mrs. Boyce had
finished the grammar and high schools and had grad-
uated with distinction from the state normal at San
Jose, California, the oldest one in the state, before she
took up her profession and then she entered on the
work with the sense of a first-class preparation and she
made a first-class success in the educator's chair. Shortly
after her graduation, Mrs. Boyce taught school in Spo-
kane and for a number of years was one of the prom-
inent teachers there. Then came three years of devoted
labor in this line in Wardner and two years followed in
Wallace. For five years after that we might have found
her toiling conscientiously in the Gem schools. She is
interested in the mine with her father, brother and sis-
ters. She is at the present residing in Denver, but she
has been closely identified with the Coeur dAlene
country and is highly esteemed here.
JACOB LOCKMAN stands at the head of one of
the larges establishments in Wallace, being manager
of the Sunset Brewing Company and part owner. He
is a keen business man and has manifested his ability
in the affairs of the company and in bringing to the
front the products of the brewery in a most successful
and popular manner.
Jacob Lockman was born in Germany on January
-3> l&57' being the son of Jacob and Rebecca (Pain)
Lockman, natives also of the fatherland. They came
to the United States in 1871, and the father died in
1894 in Benton county, Iowa, having been a farmer.
The mother died in Germany in 1902. Our subject
was reared and educated in Iowa, after coming to this
country, until 1876, when he went to the Black Hills
where he did butchering and mining. In 1880 he went
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1087
td southern Idaho, and in 1886 he came west to Butte,
Montana. He was engaged in various employments
for two years and then came to north Idaho, landing
in Wallace in 1889. He was engaged in the saloon
business with Thomas Mitchell until 1892 when he sold
that business and went into the bottling business and
handled ice. In 1897 he bought out his partner and
on January 1, 1901, he organized the Sunset Brewing
Company, of which David Holzman is president and
our subject is secretary, treasurer and manager. They
have the finest and largest brewery in the northern part
of the state, and it is equipped with the best and latest'
appliances for the manufacture of beer. They have an
excellent large ice plant and do a good business in
that line, as also they do in wholesaling liquors and
bar supplies. The beer made here is justly famous for
it is of the best to be found and rivals any made in the
United States. The plant is of ten thousand barrels
capacity per year. Mr. Lockman is the moving spirit
and really the head of this establishment, and it is due
to his wise skill and energy that such fine success has
crowned their efforts.
In 1893 Mr. Lockman married Miss Frieda, daugh-
ter of John Graf, a prominent farmer in Kootenai
county. Two children have been born to this union, —
Paul, aged nine, and Tilden, aged seven. Mr. Lock-
man is a member of the B. P. O. E., Coeur d'Alene
Lodge, No. 331, being one of the organizers of the
order in Wallace. He is allied with the Democratic
party and is active in all campaigns. Mr. Lockman
has two brothers. — John and Henry, living in the east.
JULIUS BRASS is a prominent and substantial
business man of Wallace and is one of the members of
the board of trade, while his enterprise and sagacity-
have built for him a business of generous proportions
and thriving patronage. He is proprietor of the meat
market where he has been found closely attending to
business for a number of years.
Julius Brass was born in Sheboygan county, Wis-
consin, on May 24, 1868, the son of Cornelius and
Freda (Strassbergur) Brass. The father was born in
Germany, came to the United States when sixteen, lo-
cated in Wisconsin and died in 1881, aged thirty-six.
The mother was born in Wisconsin and now lives on
the old homestead. Our subject attended district
school and labored on the farm until he was fourteen
years of age, and" then he went to Sheboygan and
learned the butcher trade. Following this he spent
three years in Milwaukee and three and a half in Mich-
igan. Next we see him in Seattle, Portland, Spokane,
and in 1889 he located permanently in Wallace. For
six years after coming here Mr. Brass was associated
with Follett & Harris, and then he entered partnership
with Frank M. Rothrock and together they con-
ducted a thriving business until May, 1902, when Mr.
Brass bought the interest of his partner and since that
time he has conducted the business himself. Mr. Brass
has four brothers and three sisters, — Otto, Herman,
Gustave. Cornelius, Bertha Myer, Lena Buscher,
Emma Hahn.
At \\ 'arclner on December 2, 1894, Mr. Brass mar-
ried MTss Anna" daughter of Thomas and Anna
(Owens) Ryan. Mrs. Brass was born in Bloomfield,
Nevada county. California, and she has two brothers.
John and Thomas R., the latter being on the gunboat
Helena in Manila. Mr. Ryan was born in New York,
and died in California in 1888/ He came to the Golden
State in the early 'fifties and followed mining and the
hotel business, and for years was in the employ of
Fair & Mackey and superintended the Comstock and
other of their properties. He had valuable mining in-
terests of his own and was a prominent man in Nevada
county. Mrs. Ryan was a native of Ireland and now lives
in Wallace. To Mr. Brass and his wife three children
have been born, Lester J., Gustav W., Verla A. M.
Mr. Brass is a member of the I. O. O. F., W. W. and
in political alliances is with the Republicans.
DAVID C. McKISSICK, of Wallace, Idaho, is a.
man of first class business qualifications, possessed of a
genial spirit, has had a vast experience in the affairs of
life, and is particularly acquainted with the hardships
and arduous labors incident to frontier existence.
M r. McKissick was born in Jordan, New York, on
February 15, 1853. In 1882-3 ne was superintendent
of a wheat farm in North Dakota, in January, 1884,
came to the Coeur d'Alene country, locating at Kings-
ton, and later he came to what is now known as Wal-
lace and went placer mining on Canyon and Nine-mile
creeks, but met with poor success. In 1886 he was pur-
ser on the Coeur d'Alene steamer, running from Coeur
d'Alene City to Old Mission. The following spring
he opened a wholesale liquor and cigar house,
and did well until the depression of 1893.
vvhen this, coupled with the strike of the year
previous, caused him to suspend business. He had
previous to that time been burned out in the big fire.
Following the strike, Mr. McKissick was engaged vari-
ously until he entered the employ of the Wallace Light
& Water Company, and two years later was placed as
superintendent, in which position he is still engaged.
On September 12, 1892, Mr. McKissick married Miss
Madeline Joe Colburn, a native of Kansas. One child
has been born to this union, Joe Carson, aged five. Po-
litically, Mr. McKissick is a Republican. He is a mem-
ber of the A. F. & A. M., Shoshone Lodge No. 25, and
of the Rose Croix Scottish Rite, also of the Elks Lodge
No. 331, all of Wallace.
CHARLES FRIDSTRAND is well known in
Mullaii and at the present time he occupies the position
of shift bo^s in the Morning mine, in which capacity
he renders efficient service and has the confidence and
esteem of all. He was born in Sweden, on March 28,
1864, the son of Peter and Mary (Erickson) Frid-
strand. natives of Sweden, where the father lives now
io88
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
retired from active work. He was a miner. The mo-
ther died in 1892. Our subject was educated in his na-
tive place and learned thoroughly the mining art from
his father, and in 1890 came the time when he sought
the greater opportunities of the United States. Bid-
ding native land and friends farewell, he came hither,
landing on April 14th of that year. He went at once to
Wisconsin mines and two years later he wrought in the
iron mines of .Michigan. There he remained until
1896, when he came to Mullan and took a position in
the Morning mine. He rose in the esteem of the man-
agement and over a year ago he was appointed shift
boss and in that capacity he is now operating. Mr.
Fridstrand has three sisters. Louise. Jennke, and Eva,
ail in Sweden.
On July 5. [896, Mr. Fridstrand married Miss Jen-
nie Massing, whose parents and brothers and sisters
are mentioned elsewhere in this volume. Four chil-
dren have been born to this union. Hilda. Hannah,
Esther, and Helen. Mr. Fridstrand is a member of the
I. O. O. F. and the Scandinavian Brotherhood. Mrs.
Fridstrand is handling the Golden Rule restaurant and
she and her husband are good substantial people of the
community. Mr. Fridstrand has a good reputation as
a capable and reliable man and is worthy of it.
CHARLES H. REEVES is a leading capitalist and
mining man of the Coeur d'Alene country and has his
headquarters in Wallace, where he devotes himself to
supervising his mining matters and also gives atten-
tion to other property. Mr. Reeves is a man of large
business experience and has demonstrated himself to
be possessed of both executive ability and keen dis-
crimination, while sound wisdom has always character-
ized him.
Charles H. Reeves was born in Illinois on April
22, 1842, the son of John and Elizabeth ( Jennings )
Reeves, natives of Ohio. They both came from old
and prominent American families, the father of English
and the mother of Irish extraction. The father died
in 1897, aged ninety-one, and the mother died shortly
after the war, aged sixty-three. The family removed
to Wisconsin and then to Iowa, and in these states
our subject received his education and was reared.
In 1862 Charles H. enlisted in Company B, Twenty-
first Iowa Infantry, under Captain W. D. Crook.
When he was mustered out he was under Colonel S.
S. Merrill, who afterwards was governor of Iowa for
four terms. Mr. Reeves was active the first winter
after Price, then was transferred to the Yicksburg
campaigns, then participated in the movements and
battles at Jackson, Mississippi. He also was in the
struggle about Xew Orleans, then went to Texas,
helped capture Mobile and took part in the Red River
expedition. At the close of the war Mr. Reeves was
honorably discharged, and having gained a good knowl-
edge of the tonsorial art in the army, he went to work
in that occupation and more or less until seven years
ago he followed it. He operated a shop in Iowa. Wis-
consin and Minneapolis and came to Wallace in 1880.
Here Mr. Reeves opened a shop and did an excellent
business, also handling mines. He owned a half inter-
est in the Hercules and later sold a portion, having
now a goodly portion of it. He has been associated
with Harry L. Day and with him located the Happy
1 >ay gn nip, adjoining the Hercules. He also has inter-
ests in many other fine properties. Mr. Reeves has one
brother and one sister, — Nathan and Mrs. Mary M.
Shattuck. Mr. Reeves is a member of the A. F. &
A. M.j the Elks, and takes an active part in the Wallace
board of trade.
On July 4, 1861, at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin,
Mr. Reeves married Miss Annie, daughter of Joseph
and Elizabeth (Walker) Watson, natives of England.
The father is deceased, and the mother lives in Mason
City, Iowa. Mrs. Reeves was born in \\ isconsin, and
has three sisters, — Mrs. Mary J. Farrell ; Mrs. Louisa,
widow of V. K. Goss; Mrs. Josephine, widow of C.
B. Maben. To this marriage there have been born
fifteen children, ten of whom are living, as follows :
Ella, wife of L. H. Woodcock, a millwright in Wallace ;
Carrie, wife of F. H. Hopper, a prospector in Spo-
kane; Ida, wife of C. E. Brooks, who has charge of
Mr. Reeves' stock ranch at St. Regis, Montana; Lem-
uel C, a barber in Colfax ; Jay A., a student at the uni-
versity in Moscow ; Alice J., at home ; Arthur E., at
home ; Sidro D.. a student at St. Helen's hall in Port-
land ; Harry H, a student at Moscow ; Bessie, at home.
Mr. Reeves has a stock ranch of four hundred acres, be-
sides his other property. He is a Republican, but while
he has frequently been delegate to the conventions, he
does not aspire to political distinction. Mr. Reeves is
a good, substantial man of excellent business ability
and has not only made a first class success in his career
but has so conducted himself that he has won the re-
spect and admiration of all.
EMIL ZEITI-UCHS is one of the leading liquor
dealers of the town of Wallace and he also handles bar
fixtures and supplies of all kinds. He was born in
Germany, on August 24. 1836, and his parents died
when he was small. He received his education in that
country and in 1852 came to the United States. He
landed in Cincinnati and at once begun to learn the
cabinet maker's trade. In 1858 he went to San Fran-
cisco and there wrought at his trade until 1862. Then
came the journey to Portland, where he remained until
1896. From 1862 to 1873. he wa.s at tne head of a
large furniture establishment which was burned in that
year. Vfter the adjustment of the insurance companies
the business was continued and the partnership dis-
solved Mr. Zeitfuchs then bought a farm for five
thousand dollars and after improving it for some time
sold it for fifteen thousand dollars. In 1878 he em-
barked in the wholesale liquor business in Portland and
took as partner, his son-in-law. Carl Seelig. The busi-
ness continued until 1884 when he dissolved partner-
ship and engaged in other transactions. In 1888, with
associates, he organized the Pacific Coast Furniture
Company, being secretary and treasurer and principal
CHARLES H. REEVES
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
stockholder. They did well until the advent of the
Northern Pacific, when the eastern competition closed
their business and he lost fourteen thousand dollars in
the transaction. Our subject remained in Portland,
closing up his various business deals and handling real
estate until 1896, when he came to Wallace and opened
his present business and since that time he has enjoyed
a good patronage. Mr. Zeitfuchs has one brother,
Ulrich.
At Portland, in 1864. Mr. Zeitfuchs married Miss
Carmelita Savedra, a native of Chile and now deceased.
In 1884, Mr. Zeitfuchs married Tillie Stockman, a na-
tive of Germany who came to the United States with
her parents when young. Her father is dead and her
mother is living in Wallace. Mr. and Mrs. Zeitfuchs
have one adopted daughter, that married Carl Seelig,
who is now deceased. Two sons were born to Mrs.
Seelig, Emil and Charles and they live with Mr. Zeit-
fuchs. Emil lias been with White & Bender fur five
years and Charles is assistant cashier of the Wallace
bank. Both young men are prominent in social circles
and are members of the Elks.
JOHN B. JOHNSON. Among the substantial
and capable business men of Wallace, we should not
fail to mention J. B. Johnson who is proprietor of the
Banquet restaurant, one of the finest and most popu-
lar eating places in the northwest. It is especially
noted among traveling men and enjoys a first-class
patronage, which its excellence in appointment, ser-
vice and cuisine richly merits. For twelve years last
passed, this restaurant has been in constant operation
and it is the oldest one in the county. Mr. Johnson
has been in the restaurant business many years and is
skilled in all departments. He is a member of some
of the leading fraternal orders and is allied with the
commercial and general development of the district.
SYLVESTER MARKWELL is one of the hardy
pioneers whose sterling worth and enterprise have en-
abled him to become one of the leading men of the
Coeur d'Alene district where he is of enviable stand-
ing and has wrought well for more than a decade,
leading the good work of developing the country and
building up the industries.
Sylvester Markwell was bom in Indiana, on June
u. [842, the -.hi of Hiram and Sarah 1 Xoggle) Mark-
well. The father was born in Kentucky and served
two years for the Union. The mother was born in
Pennsylvania and his father is a relative of the Hearsts
of Kentucky and the Arbuckles, of New York. Our
subject earlv learned dairying and came to Nodawaj
county, Missouri, and remained there until twenty-five.
Then he went to Alder gulch. Montana, and located
a rich claim, which, however, he deserted on the
strength of richer ones ahead and in the endeavor to
find them they were left afoot by the Indians steal-
ing their horses. Thus handicapped, they made their
way to Denver through great suffering and hardship.
Mr. Markwell went thence to Cheyenne and operated
a dairy, later returned to Missouri, and next we find
him in Nevada. He was engaged in stock raising and
was present in Virginia City when the noted Slade was
hung. fen years in that state and .Mr. Markwell
went to' California and took up the butcher business
for ten years in Healdsburg. In 1890 he came to \\ al-
lace and managed the dairy of Robert Neill. I he nexl
year he bought the business and with his suns continued
it until 1896, in which year he retired. Mr. Markwell
has two brothers, John, James, and four sisters. Maggie
Poatright. Levisa Conklin, Monia Gossett, Mrs.
George Cane.
On June 15, 1866, Mr. Markwell married Miss
Hattie P. Stevens, at Denver, Colorado. Her father
was a Methodist minister and her mother was a
Crocket. Mrs. Markwell has manifested talent in the
composition of poetry. She has three brothers and
two sisters, Charles, Jacob, Andrew. Ella Adair. Mira
Reynolds. Four sons have been born to this couple,
J. Fred, Jesse E.. Prank P., Charles A., and two daugh-
ters, Effie Wilmot, Emma Hardwick. Mr. Markwell
and his sons are interested in the Father Lode, an ex-
tension of the famous Hercules, in which property
also they bought an interest in 1896. They also have
other property and are handling a force of men in
development work. Mr. Markwell served in the I nion
army, is a member of the I. O. O. F., K. of P. and 1 i.
A. R. He and his wife are members of the Methodist
church. For many years Mr. Markwell was a stanch
and prominent Democrat but for the last two years-he
has been allied with the Republicans.
HAROLD J. READ. Among the leading busi-
ness men is to be mentioned the gentleman whosi
name appears above and who is a professional man of
excellent standing and skill, handling a fine patronage
in his dentistry work and being at the head in this
important calling.
Harold J. Read was born in Hudson. Ka
July 14, 1875, being the son of James H. and Laura
j. (Johnson) Read. Mr. James H. Read was a native
of Illinois and a lineal descendant of ( leorge Read, one
of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. He
was a merchant and served through the entire Civil
war. He was captain and escaped from Pibln prison,
and endured all the hardships of that terrible ordeal.
lie was lieutenant of a volunteer o mpanj from Illinois
and died in 1X7. ,. aged thirty-seven. The mother of our
subject is a native .if Portland and lives in Portland.
Oregon. She was married in Kansas and comes from
an old family. Our subject was raised in < bfreyville,
Kansas, until sixteen and graduated from
school. Then he came to Butte, Montana, and entered
a dental office and after completing his coin-
to Wallace, where he has practiced his pr<
since. In 1001 Dr. Read took a supplementary course
in the dental department of Harvard University. He-
is skillful in his profession and has a tine patronage.
1 090
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Dr. Read is a moving spirit in the business realm of
the city and has done a great deal of excellent work
in promoting its welfare. He was one of the leaders
in the organization of the Board of Trade and has
since its existence taken an active part in its work. He
is chairman of the committee on mines and is active and
skillful in the work devolving upon him in this capacity.
Dr. Read is vice-president of the Oom Paul Alining
Company, which owns the extension of the Hercules.
He promoted the company and is also interested in
several other mining propositions.
WILLIAM K. MOE is foreman in the Hunter
mill, a position which he has held for some time and for
which he is well fitted, having worked his way up in
the mining business from the beginning and under-
standing thoroughly the intricacies of the place. He is
a man of ability and good practical judgment and
stands well.
William K. Moe was born in Norway, September
12, 1863, the son of Martin W. C. and Walberg
( Saqueland) Moe, natives of Norway, where they now
dwell. The father is a miller and farmer. Our sub-
ject was educated in his native land and remained
there until 1887 when he came to the United States
tc seek the opportunities and success that were of-
fered here. He located first in North Dakota, then
went to Minnesota, later to Wisconsin and logged.
Then he railroaded in Montana and Utah. His next
enterprise was to take construction work on the North-
ern Pacific and continued with it as it built through
this country. After this he spent a winter in the
Palouse country and in the following spring he came
to Mullan and took a position in the mill. He con-
tinued until the mill closed, then he wrought at Burke
and came to the mill here again when it opened. He
continued until 1893 when it closed again. In 1893
Mr. Moe went to the World's Fair in Chicago and then
returned to the Coeur dAlene country and was en-
gaged in the Frisco mill two years. In 1895 he made
a visit to Norway and then returned to the Frisco
mill. He also wrought in the Tiger. In July, 1901,
Mr. Moe accepted his present position and since that
time has continued here with good success attending
his efforts. He has one brother and one sister, Olof,
night shift boss in the same mill ; Mrs. Lena Dewey, at
Independence, Colorado. Mr. Moe. is a member of the
1. O .O. F. and of the Scandinavian Brotherhood, he
is an independent thinker in politics.
J. FRED MARKWELL is one of the men of pro-
nounced personality, whose business successes have
stamped as a man of excellent capabilities and worth.
He is well known throughout the Coeur oAlene coun-
try and has wrought here with display of keen fore-
sight and sagacity which have brought their due re-
ward of a good property holding and a prestige which
is enviable.
Mr. Markwell is a native of Cheyenne, Wyoming,
and his parents are mentioned in another portion of
this work. He was educated primarily in the public
schools and then took a degree from the Methodist
College at Santa Rosa. He was valedictorian of his
class and carried the college honors for oratory. Mr.
Markwell carries from his classical work the degree of
A. B., and upon completion of this course he entered
the Harvard University of law and took his degree
with distinction from that institution. Mr. Markwell
has never turned his attention to the practice of law, as
he deemed there were better opportunities in the min-
ing world than in the legal profession. Being thus
determined he refused tiattering offers from large firms
m California and came to the Coeur dAlene country
and his unbounded success here has led him not to
regret his choice. He is operating a dairy with his
brothers and in addition to this has large mining in-
terests, among which may be mentioned the famous
Hercules. Mr. Markwell has always been in business
with his father and they have shared together the la-
bors and hardships of handling a large business and
have also reaped together the result of their wisdom and
thrift in good returns.
On June 15, 1901, at Spokane, Mr. Markwell mar-
ried Miss Elizabeth Smith, whose parents live near
Deer Park, Washington. Her mother is from the
Hobart family of which Vice President Hobart was a
member. The maternal uncles of Mrs. Markwell are
prominent in the Methodist ministry. Mrs. Markwell
was reared in Minnesota. She is a graduate of the
state normal and taught in Minnesota, Seattle, Topeka
and Spokane. In 1896 she graduated from the school
of oratory in Washington, D. C. Mrs. Markwell has
die following brothers and sisters, Julia Dollman, Ruby,
Maria Clark, John, William, Edward. Mr. Markwell
is a member of the A. F. & A. M., the R. A. M., the
K. T., the Scottish Rite Masons of Perfection Lodge,
and of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. Mr. Markwell
and his wife are members of the Methodist church.
FRANK P. MARKWELL represents one of the
largest industries of the state of Idaho and the posi-
tion he occupies is held by reason of especial fitness and
ability to handle large and intricate interests. He is
in partnership with his brother Fred and they own and
operate the dairy that supplies the entire Coeur dAlene
country. They milk two hundred and forty-six cows,
having Jersey. Holstein. and Durham stock. From be-
ginning to nnish the entire business is operated with
the best of wisdom anil the latest and most approved
methods and appliances are in use. The executive
ability of our subject is manifest in the discharge of
the responsible duties devolving upon him in the rela-
tion of managing with his brother the concern and
they are to be congratulated on their magnificent suc-
cess, which is the result of enterprise and business
ability. They employ from fifteen to twenty hands all
the time and the dairy is a model of order and cleanli-
ness.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Mr. Mark well is a member of the Elks and is one
of the popular young men of the district. He is a
liberal supporter of the Methodist church.
Air. Markwell has with the rest of the family valu-
able mining interests and among them may be men-
tioned the Hercules.
< .RANT S. POTTER. This well known business
man is one of the leading merchants of Wallace and
one of the esteemed and substantial men of the section.
Grant S. Potter was born in Tompkins county,
New York, on August 21, 1863, being the son of Rol-
and E and Mary A. (Schaeffer) Potter. The father
was a native of North Carolina, from- an old colonial
family and is now a retired farmer in Ithaca, New
York. The mother of our subject is a native of Penn-
sylvania and of German descent. Grant S. was reared
in New York and remained there until 1888. He at-
tended the high school and took a two years' course in
the Cornell University and in 1888 he came to the
Coeur d'Alene country. He did carpenter work in
Wallace and other labors for a time and then opened
a paint and oil store. He carries a fine stock of wall
paper and also handles building material and does a
good business. Mr. Potter has as a partner, G. Scott
Anderson, his brother-in-law.
On July 5, 1897, Mr. Potter married Miss Nora E.,
daughter of Norton R. and Elnora (Atwater) Penney,
who live in Gem. Mr. Penney is postmaster there.
Mrs. Potter has one brother living, Norton, attending
high school in Wallace, and one brother, Theodore, a
graduate of Amherst College, who was drowned in
Massachusetts in 1899. One child has been born to
Mr. and Mrs. Potter, Elnora, aged three years. Mr.
Potter and his wife are members of the Congregational
church and are highly respected and esteemed people.
JOHN L. BAYNE, who at the present writing is
in charge of the Wallace employment office of the Mine
Owners' Association, is one of the well known men of
the entire Coeur d'Alene district and enjoys at this
time an enviable standing and is popular with all.
His duties require an executive ability and discrimi-
nation that make the position trying, but Mr. Bayne
has shown himself master of the situation and has
rendered service that gives satisfaction alike to mine
owner and employee.
John L. Bayne was born in Grass Valley, Califor-
nia, on July 2, 1868, the son of George and Mary
iLyle) Bayne, natives of Scotland and now living in
Corvallis, Oregon. The father came to California in
186 1, mined and later went to farming. Our subject
was four when the family came to Oregon and there
he received a very liberal education, but was prevented
from taking higher courses by ill health. He had
studied in the Philomath college and in the agricul-
tural college of the state. Following his educational
courses, he went to railroading, operating in the bridge
construction department, near Spokane. Then he did
carpenter work for a time and in July, 1895, Mr. Bayne
came to Wardner. He accepted a position in the Hun-
ker Hill mines and for five years continued there.
Eighteen months were spent in the work of the miner
and the balance of the time he was shift boss. In
December, 1900, Mr. Bayne was chosen to handle the
employment office in Wardner and there he continued
until March 4, 1903, when he was transferred to Wal-
lace, where we find him at the present time and in the
discharge of his responsible and trying duties he has
manifested a clearness and keenness in discrimination
and judgment, a thoroughness in handling the details
and efficiency throughout that have commended him
to all concerned. Mr. Bayne has one brother, George
A. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., is a mem-
ber of the Knights of Kadosh and is a Shriner in Spo-
kane. Mr. Bayne is a Republican and has frequently
been a delegate to the count}' conventions but is never
an aspirant for office. He is interested in the Sierra
Mining Company of Sierra county, Camornia, and
also owns other property.
CYRUS J. COLE is a leading and popular citizen
of the Coeur d'Alene country and his enterprise and
sagacity have placed him among the thriving business
men of the district and he is today a heavy property
holder. He is engaged in contracting timbers for vari-
ous mines and also owns a ranch of two hundred and
eighty acres near Cataldo, where he superintends a
general farming business and raises stock. In addi-
tion to these interests. Mr. Cole owns large mining in-
terests, among which we may mention the Banner. Nine
Mile, Happy Day, Kismet and others.
Cyrus Cole was born in Canada, on September 1,
1846. the son of Ethan and Lucretia (Gilson) Cole,
natives of Massachusetts and Vermont, respectively.
The father died in Missouri Valley. Iowa, in January,
1864, aged sixty. He had been a lumberman most of
his life. His ancestors came to the American shores
earlv in the seventeenth century and figured in colonial
days and were prominent in the Revolution and the
war of 1812. The mother was born in 1810 and died
in 1873. Her ancestors were an old family in Amer-
ican matters and served in the Revolution. Our sub-
ject was brought to the United States when a year old.
then came to Illinois and later to Iowa. He received
education from the public schools, the Tabor Academy
and a Chicago business college. In October, [862,
when sixteen, he enlisted in Company D. Second Ne-
braska Cavalry, for nine months on the frontier, but
was kept two months over time. He had hard service
in long marches, scant clothing and short rations. He
foucht the Indians and one especial battle was waged
on June 22. 1863. Being discharged, he returned home
and remained a year, the father having died, and then
enlisted in the Third Iowa Battery of Light Artillery
and served until the close of the war. Following the
business course Mr. Cole sold lightning rods and
then came to the Pacific coast and railroaded
fumps
1092
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
for ten years, being baggageman, fireman, engineer
and so forth. Then he farmed a time and in 1883 came
to Stevens and Spokane counties, Washing-ton. He
took a claim and lost it by mortgage. In 1892 he
came to Kingston and contracted timber and took his
present land and in this vicinity he has been since, en-
gaged in handling the farms and contracting timber
work. Mr. Cole has the following brothers and sisters :
Ethan, Enos, Zerina, widow of Roger Wolcott, Maria
Davidson, living. 1 he following are deceased: Eleazar,
Eliezer, Isaac, John G., Abigal, Lucretia.
On November 19. 1875, at Sacramento, California,
Mr. Cole married Miss Hannah M., a native of Ireland
and daughter of Martin and Jane Sullivan. The fa-
ther is deceased and the mother lives in Ireland. Mrs.
Cole has three brothers and two sisters: Maggie,
Charles, Michael. Thomas and Tilly. Three
children are the fruit of this union, Arthur E., born
November 1. 1876: Roy, born April 24, 1882: Glenden,
born November ij, 1894. Mr. Cole is a member of the
G. A. R. and in political matters he is independent, but
has often been delegate to the Republican conventions.
HERMAN J. ROSSI. The genial, generous, and
popular young man whose name appears above is
doubtless as well and favorably known as any man in
the entire Coeur d'Alene country and his friends are
numbered b\ the scores from every walk in life. A
stirring business man who made his way into the min-
ing country without a penny, endured the hardships
incident in such a position, and by sheer worth and
&agacit\ and deferential treatment of everybody he has
won the esteem of all, gained a business standing of
the besl and is a social leader and a favorite.
Herman J. Rossi was born in Switzerland, January
21, [870, being the son of Gartano and Josephine (Ren-
ner) lv>ssi. The father was born in Italy and was a
noted architect in his country. He built a remarkable
piece of masonry on the Rhine at Basle, Switzerland,
which is one of the noted labors of the country. It ex-
tendi for mile- along the river. He is now retired and
lives hi San Francisco. The mother of our subject was
born in Switzerland and died in 1896, at Wallace, aged
fifty. < >ur subject came to the United States with his
parents in [880, and they Ideated in Napa county, Cali-
fornia, taking up the hotel business. Herman was edu-
cated in the public schools. After this he worked for
a hardware house in San Francisco for years and in
r888, lie came t" Burke. He entered the employ of
S. S. ( Hidden, a general merchant operating in con-
nection with the Tiger. Four years later he went to
work for White and Bender Company and took charge
of their store in Gem on July i-\ 1892. the day after
the Frisco was blown up. He remained there until
ining friends from all by his kind ways and
geniality. In 1896, Mr. Rossi bought out the firm of
Vedder, Sawyer & Herrington, and the company was
known as Herrington & Rossi. They took up insur-
ance and loans and in the former line do a large per-
centagi of the entire business of the Coeur d'Alene
country. They erected a fine pressed brick, two-story
business block in a good portion of the town and half
of the ground floor is occupied with their commodious
offices, while the other portion of the ground floor is
occupied by the Wallace Light and Water Company.
The upper story is rented as offices. At the close of
the year 1902, on account of Mr. Herrington's ill health,
the firm was dissolved and Mr. Rossi handles the entire
business, lie owns property in the various towns of
this section and has many residences. Some time since
an old prospector interested Mr. Rossi in some claims
adjoining the Poorman and the result is the organiza-
tion of a company by Mr. Rossi and twenty claims are
known as the Famous Hummingbird mine, which is
about ready to begin shipping. In this one scheme of
promotion, Mr. Rossi has achieved a good life's work,
for right in the midst of great mines he has brought a
magnificent property that promises to rival the well
known dividend properties of this rich country. Few
would have had the faith to have gone forward as he
has done and it demonstrates his keen insight and prac-
tical judgment. .Mr. Rossi is secretary of the Board
of Trade and was a moving spirit in its organization.
He was elected mayor of Wallace on the Citizens'
ticket in 1898 and was councilman for two years. Mr.
Rossi is past exalted ruler of the Wallace Lodge
No. 331, of the B. P. O. E. ; is a member of the A. F.
A. M., Shoshone Lodge No. 25 ; of the Wallace Chap-
ter, R. A. M. ; and of the K. T.
On February 4, 1894, occurred the marriage of
Air. Rossi and Margaret Lawson, a native of Solano
county, California. They have one child, Justin, aged
seven. Mrs. Rossi is a member of the Roman Cath-
olic church.
JOSEPH E. St. JEAN, M. D, physician and sur-
geon in Burke, is a popular and capable professional
man and is deserving of the thriving practice that has
come to him as the reward of his skill and excellence
as a physician and uprightness and integrity as a man.
He was born in Adamsville, Quebec, on May 30. 1875.
His parents are mentioned in another portion of this
work. When the family came to Anaconda he attend-
ed the common schools a time and then was sent back
to Canada and thoroughly educated in classical train-
ing in the Marysville and Montreal seminaries. Then
lie entered the oldest medical college in Canada, the
Laval, which has branches in both Montreal and
Quebec, and after four years of most careful training,
he was the recipient of his degree with honors. Ili>
entire education has been in French and he sat under
some of the most skilled demonstrators and scientific
men of the age. \ fu r receiving his degree in [896,
he came to Anaconda and practiced eighteen months,
then one year in Mullan, then two in Butte, after
which he located at Burke, where we find him at the
present time. Dr. St. Jean is a member of the W. of
W., the M. W. A. and of the United Moderns, to
which latter order his wife belongs. He also belongs
to the Elks anil the Foresters.
On February t8, 1901, at Butte, Montana. Dr. St.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1093
Jean married Aliss Phedora A., daughter of Joseph
A. and Delia E. Nadeau, natives of Quebec and Swit-
zerland, respectively. They now reside in Butte and
the father is one of the prominent and wealthy citi-
zens of that city. Airs. St. Jean was educated at
Villa Anna, a college at Lachine, Quebec, graduating
in 1S98. After this she travelled in the United Stales,
Italy, Belgium, France, and so forth, up to the time
of her marriage. Dr. St. Jean and his estimable wife
are leading members of society and are widely known
and highly esteemed by all.
ENGELBERT TURK, of the firm of Belville &
Turk, is one of the best known tailors in the entire
Coeur d'Alene country and it is with pleasure that we
are enabled to state that he is one of the finest artists
in his line in the northwest. He is a man of integrity
and sound principles and justly deserves representation
in the history that has to do with northern Idaho.
Engelbert Turk was born in Austria on November
3, 1861, and there received a first-class education and
served in the army three years. After that he was
revenue officer for two years and then for two years
he was clerk in the Vienna postoffice. He learned the
art of the tailor and draper and became master of the
art of handling cloth and making garments of all kinds
and his experience has been unique in that he has
made clothing and uniforms for all nations. In 1889
Mr. Turk located in Columbus, Nebraska, and there
and in Kearney spent some time. He was in various
other eastern places until 1894 when he came to Boise
from Salida, Colorado, being accompanied by his part-
ner, Mr. Belville. They were employed two years by
J. O. Baker and then Mr. Turk returned to Nebraska.
In 1894 they opened a shop in Payette and later were
in Salmon City, whence they came to Wallace and since
that time they have been engaged in handling the finest
trade of the district, which came their way as soon as
their skill became known. Mr. Turk is a member of
the Foresters and the Red Men and in politics he is
independent. Mr. Turk has a sister. Airs. Mary
Wanke, in Nebraska.
MARTIN BELVILLE. Among the genial, popu-
lar and capable business men of Wallace we are con-
strained to mention the subject of this article, whose
career has been fraught with interesting experience
and who has ever manifested that uprightness and in-
tegrity which command the respect and win the con-
fidence of all.
Alartin Belville was born in Italy, on July 18,
1855, and came to the United States in December, 1886.
He attended the common schools in his native land un-
til twelve and then went to the seminary, having been
chosen to fill the priesthood. His education from that
time on was to fit him for that position and later in
life he preferred to take up business instead %of the
clerical orders. From eighteen to twenty Mr. Bel-
ville was employed in a wholesale wine house, after
which came three years in the standing army. ["hen
Mr. Belville went to Marseilles, France, and there
learned the tailor trade, spending four years in it.
Next we see him in Algeirs railroading, after which he
returned to Marseilles and went thence to Barcelona,
Spain. Later we see him in Paris and in these various
places he wrought at his trade and doubtless it may
be asserted without fear of contradiction that Air. Bel-
ville has had experience in making clothes for different
nations and uniforms of various kinds beyond that of
any man in the entire northwest. This has given him a
skill that stamps him a real artist in his pn
Air. Belville has one sister. Alr>. Severma Bonn, in
Wallace. His parents are deceased, as also are those
of his partner. Air. Belville is a member of the
Foresters and of the Red Men and he is independen< in
political belief. Air. Belville is. as is his partner also,
a single man and they may well be termed "Jolly Bach-
elors," as they are both genial gentlemen of excellent
standing in the community and are popular.
EDWARD H. MOFFITT. The energy, capabili-
ties, keen perception and executive force of this gen-
tleman have won him a leading and prominent posi-
tion in the various walks of life. Being one of the
earliest pioneers at the time of the Eagle rush to
Pnchard creek, he has been intimately acquainted
with the Coeur d'Alene country in every respect and
stands one of the promoters of its resources and most
capable business men in northern Idaho. Practical
contact with various lines of business in his earlier
days and rising by reason of his worth and ability to
handle large interests. Air. Aloffitt stands today the
manager of the Standard and Hecla mines, i? director
of the company and operates with some of the heaviest
capitalists in the northwest .
Passing more particularly to the detail- ol his
career, we note that Edward H. Aloffitt was horn
in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, on August 22, 1845, being
the son of Thomas and Maria P. (Patterson) Moffitt.
The father was horn in Washington count}'. Pennsyl-
vania, in 1813. and died in 1878, having been a faith-
ful preacher of the gospel in the Methodist church for
thirty years. The paternal grandfather of our sub-
ject was a native of Scotland and of Scotch-Irish line-
age. The mother of Edward H. was born in Virginia
in i8t8 and now lives with this son. aged eighty-five.
Our subject was reared in In- native place until thirteen
and attended the city school-. In [858 he went with his
parents to Illinois and there attended the public schi » Is-
In February, 1864. he responded to the call of patriot-
ism and enlisted in Company F, Second Illinois Cavalry,
under Captain AI. H. Alusser and Colonel John J.
Aludd. Two years Air. Moffitt served in the arduous
duties of the soldier, participating in the battle of Mo-
bile and much other active service. At the close of his
term he was honorably discharged and returned to
Illinois, where he operated a grocer) for two years.
Then he spent two vears in Kansas and traveled in
1094
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Colorado, Dakota and Utah, mining in various camps.
In 1879 he see him in the Wood river country in Idaho,
where four years were spent in active mining. In Feb-
ruary, 1884J Mr. Moffitt made his way to the Murray
country and in partnership with C. E. Bender, he
opened the first meat market there. He was also in-
terested in some good properties. In 1887 Mr. Moffitt
came to Wallace, where he has resided since. He at
once manifested his worth in the business and politi-
cal world and among the excellent achievements of his
skill we may mention the organization of the Coeur
d'Alene Hardware Company, of which concern he
is an important member. He has been the promoter of
numerous enterprises and in 1898, he became inter-
ested in the Standard and Hecla mines and the follow-
ing year he was chosen general manager, in which po-
sition he has consummated important achievements in
reference to the properties. Mr. Moffitt is also general
manager of the Finch & Campbell properties in the
Coeur d'Alene country and has skill and sagacity and
fine practical judgment have placed him as one of the
leading mining operators in the entire northwest.
Politically Mr. Moffitt stands as one of the potent
factors of the state and has attended all the county and
state conventions since residing in Wallace. He is al-
lied with the Democrats and is a man of great influ-
ence in the campaigns.
In fraternal affiliations. Mr. Moffit is a member of
the Shoshone Lodge, No. 25, A. F. & A. M. ; of the
Wallace ChapterNo. 7, R. A. M. ; of the Wallace com-
mandery, K. T. ; U. D. ; of the El Katif Temple, Mys-
tic Shrine, in Spokane.
Mr. Moffit has three brothers and two sisters:
Thomas M., an artist in Illinois: Grantlv R., in Texas;
Lewis, at Nashville. Tennessee- Mrs. Anna E. Brad-
bury, Canyon City, Colorado; Mrs. Elvira C. Morgan.
in Chicago.
On February 15, 1888. occurred the marriage of
Mr. Moffitt and' Miss Effie J. Colborn, the daughter of
J. F. and Iola Colborn. They were the first settlers in
Iola. Kansas and the place was named from Mrs. Col-
born. The town is an important zinc smelting place
of eight thousand. Air. Colborn is a retired merchant.
Two children have been born to crown this happy union,
Robert C, aged eight, and Thomas E., aged five. Mr.
Moffitt is one of the highly esteemed men of the coun-
ty, while Mrs. Moffitt is a leader in society circles and
presides with gracious dignity over their pleasant
home, which is a center of refined hospitality.
HON. WELDON BRLNTON HEYBURN, of
Wallace, Idaho, was born in Delaware county, Penn-
sylvania, May 23, 1852. His parents were Quakers, of
English descent. He received an academic education
and afterwards studied largely under private tutors ;
was admitted to the bar in 1876 and has practiced law
continuously since that time.
In the winter of 1883-4 he came to Shoshone coun-
ty, and has resided there ever since. Mr. Heyburn
has always voted and supported the Republican ticket ;
was a delegate to the Republican national convention
of 1888, 1892 and 1900; was not affected by the silver
craze of 1896 and was largely instrumental in main-
taining the Republican organization in Idaho during
that campaign, and since, which resulted in the sweep-
ing Republican victory in 1902; was the nominee of
the Republican party of Idaho for congress in 1898,
but was defeated by a fusion of the Democrats, Popu-
lists and Silver Republicans ; was elected to the United
States senate on January 13, 1903, receiving the entire
Republican vote of the legislature to succeed Henry
Heitfield, Democrat, and took his seat March 4, 1903.
His term of service will expire March 3, 1909.
FRANK M. ROTHROCK. a prominent mining
man and capitalist of the Coeur dAlene country, is a
leading business man of Wallace, where his head-
quarters are at the present time. He is well and
favorably, known throughout the district and has
many friends from every quarter.
Frank M. Rolhrock was born in the vicinity of
Wyandotte cave. Crawford count}', Indiana, on July
29, T870, the son of Harrison W. and Alice G. (Miles)
Rothrock, natives of the same vicinity. The father
came from an old Pennsylvania Dutch family of prom-
inence. He was a leading miller. His father located
the famous cave where our subject was born. It is
a famous summer resort and our subject's father re-
sides there now and conducts a large hotel. The
mother died when Frank was five years of age. He
remained at his native place until eighteen, gaining
a good education from the district schools and the
Danville college. Following that five years were
spent as a stock broker at the stock yards in Louis-
ville, Kentucky. In the spring of 1894 Mr. Roth-
rock came to Wallace and shortly afterward entered
partnership with Mr. Brass, who is mentioned alse-
where in this volume. They operated a butcher shop
until recently, when they dissolved partnership and
Mr. Rothrock now devotes his entire attention to his
real estate and mining interests. Mr. Rothrock is one
of the owners of the famous Hercules and also owns
interests in the- Hummingbird and numerous other
mines and prospects. He has one sister, Catherine
Sibert.
On June 26, 1895, at Wallace, Mr. Rothrock mar-
ried Miss Minnie F., daughter of Jesse and Frances
(Mauck) Snyder, natives of Indiana, and now living
at Medimont, Idaho. They are descendants of old
Pennsylvania Dutch families and are substantial peo-
ple. Mrs. Rothrock has one brother, Raymond, and
four sisters : Iona Samuels, Ora, Cora, Ada. One
child has been born to this happy marriage, Zena, born
February 15, 1901. Mr. Rothrock'is a member of the
I. O. O. F. and the W. W. He is a Republican.
Mr. Rothrock is a man of keen discernment and broad
business experience and has made a brilliant success
in his career.
Our subject and his uncle, H. A. Rothrock, are
sole owners of the famous Wyandotte cave, hereto-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1095
fore mentioned in this article. It is a cave of
twenty-three miles of underground avenues and
palaces, a perfect mecca for travelers and sightseers.
LEOPOLD J. St. JEAN is one of the leading
professional men of the countv of Shoshone and has
made a reputation for himself by his skill in his pro-
fession and close attention to business that is truly
enviable. Dr. St. Jean is a dentist of marked success,
which has been achieved as a result of natural ability,
first class training and a love for adherence to his
profession. A detailed acocunt of his life will be
interesting to the residents of northern Idaho. Leo-
pold J. St. Jean was born in Montreal, Canada, on
December 19, 1870, the son of Ludger and Sophie
(Vautrin) St. Jean, natives of Montreal. The father
and his ancestors owned a large part of the site of
Montreal but the property was confiscated by the
English. He now dwells at Anaconda, retired from
active business, having by good business ability se-
cured a generous competence. The mother of our
subject comes from a prominent French family of old
ancestrage and she now resides' in Anaconda. Our
subject was raised in Montreal till fourteen and se-
cured good training in the excellent public schools
of that place, besides a course in the normal school.
Then the family removed to Anaconda, where he also
studied in the schools and then returned to Alontreal
and took a thorough course under private tutors.
Following this Mr. St. Jean entered Laval Medical
College and one year later came to St. Louis, where
he matriculated in the Missouri Dental College, a de-
partment of the St. Louis Medical College. He grad-
uated from this institution in 1894 and returned to
Anaconda and practiced for four years. Then Dr. St.
Jean took up mining in British Columbia, but being
unsuccessful in it he returned to his profession and
located in Mullan. He came three weeks before the
strike in 1899 and as soon as that affair was settled
he at once gained a good practice. The fact that Dr.
St. Jean is a man at the head of the profession has
brought him patronage from every quarter and he
richly deserves it all. as he is capable, skillful and first
class. He has two brothers, Felix L. and Joseph E.,
the former a physician in Anaconda and the latter
a physician in Burke. He also has one sister, Mrs.
T. L. Mitchell, in Spokane. Dr. St. Jean is a Redman
and in political matters is an independent thinker.
F. CUSHING MOORE. Prominent among the
mining men of the Creur d'Alene country, as well as
of wide experience in the various mining fields of the
entire northwest, a man of manifest ability and a mas-
ter of his profession, that of mining and civil engineer-
ing, the subject of this article is deserving of especial
mention in any volume that has to do with the leading
people of northern Idaho.
F. dishing Aloore was born in Walla Walla on De-
cember 3, 1875. His parents, Charles and Julia
I Kneen ) Moore, are mentioned elsewhere in this vol-
ume. The father was really the founder and promoter
of Moscow and one of the prominent men of the state.
He was a native of Ohio, and his ancestors came Iron)
the Isle of Man. He served in the First Wisconsin
Volunteers and was wounded at the battle of Shiloh.
Upon recovering he re-enlisted and served faithfulh
to the close of the war. He died in Walla Walla in
1888 and was a well known and prominent man. inter-
ested in general development, and handled mills, real
estate and did mining. .Mrs. .Moure, his widow, is liv-
ing in Moscow and is a large property owner. < )ur
subject was reared in Moscow principally and studied
in some of the leading institutions of the land. He was
a student in the Northwestern University of Chicago,
at the University of the Pacific, in California, and in
.'899 he graduated from the Idaho University at .\lo.-~-
cow. Following this, Mr. .Moore associated himself
with J. C. Ralston, mining engineer, of Spokane, who
operated in the northwestern camps. He was there
until January, 1901, when he came to Wallace and
opened offices in the Herrington-Rossi building, where
we find him at the present time. During his work with
Mr. Ralston Mr. Moore had charge of the construc-
tion of the cyanide works at Republic for the Republic
Consolidated Gold Mining Company. He also did
some excellent service in charge of the Deer Creek Gold
Mining Company's engineering work in Deborgia,
Montana. He is United States deputy mineral sur-
veyor for Idaho. Montana and Washington, and has
done considerable patent work in these states. Last
summer he did extensive engineering work in the Cas-
cades for the Bonanza Queen Copper Mining Com-
pany. Mr. Moore is a member of the American Insti-
tute of Mining Engineers and is a young man of ex-
cellent qualities and gives himself to his business
strictly, in which he is winning a fine success. He has
hosts of friends and is a genial and affable man. He
is a member of the B. P. O. E., Lodge No. 331, of Wal-
lace, and stands well in fraternal and social circles.
Mr. Moore has one brother, Harry K., an attorney in
Moscow; and two sisters. Flora P. and Edna L.. at
home in Moscow.
FRED W. WALR >N, who is proprietor of the
planing mill and wood working establishment so well
known in Wallace, is a skilled mechanic and competent
contractor in his line and has done, since taking up this
business, a large amount of the best work in the town
and is handling now a thriving patronage. He is a
man of good, substantial qualities and is prominent
in general affairs and popular.
Fred W. Walton was born in Livermore, Maine,
on January 10, 1862. the son of Jeremiah D. and
Beiilah P. (Norris) Walton, natives of Maine and
now living at Wayne, in that state. Our subject was
reared in Maine and there received a good education
from public and private schools and a good training
on the Farm with his father. He had operated suc-
cessfully three large farms before he was of age
[096
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
and at that important time he went into an oil cloth
factory and learned the printing- trade connected with
that business. He spent some years there and in vari-
ous other employments and was also employed in
Boston and in 1886-7 Mr. Walton made his way to
Butte. .Montana. He wrought that summer at Phil-
iipsburg on a ranch, then returned to Butte, where he
worked for the Alice and Moulton Mining Company,
in the amalgamation mills, returning to Phillipsburg
ir 1890. In 1891 he made his way to Wallace and
since then has remained here with the exception of
two car-.. 1895 and 1896, when he was county as-
sessor and resided at the county seat, Murray. Fol-
lowing a successful term of office he returned to Wal-
lace and bought his present business from Lyman
Wood, If. K. Helbostal being his partner. Mr. Wal-
ton bought out Ins partner in January, 1898, and has
since continued the business. He does all kinds of
wood work and has a thoroughly equipped plant, em-
bracing all the latest contrivances for wood and or-
namental work Air. Walton has two brothers,
Charles H. and Herbert N.
In May, 1882. Mr. Walton married Miss Emma
]'. Remich, a native of Winthrope, but this relation
was ended in 189T, by a divorce. Two children were
the fruit of the union, Gertrude E. and Arthur A.
In February, 1892, Mr. Walton married Mrs. Flor-
ence Coon. Mr. Walton is a member of the I. O.
O. F. and of the Encampment, being past grand, also
past chief patriarch. He has been delegate to the
grand lodge for four terms. Mr. Walton also be-
longs to the Carpenter's Union and is one of the
executive board of the American Labor Union. In
political matters Mr. Walton is a member of the
Socialist party and was for years prominently identi-
fied with the Populists. He was chairman of the first
county central committee of that party in Shoshone
county. Mr. Walton is a director in the Granite and
Allie Consolidated Gold Mining Company, owns stock
in several other prominent mining interests. Mr.
Walton is secretary and treasurer of the Tribune Pub-
lishing Company.
JESSE T. WRIGHT is one of the rising young
men of Wallace and is deserving of the popularity that
he enjoys, both because of his geniality and ability.
He is at the present time assistant assayer in the
Standard, llecla and Mammoth mines, with headquar-
ters at Wallace, and he brings to this important branch
of science a well trained mind and fortified with prac-
tical work in various capacities.
Jesse T. Wright was born in Kansas on December
2, 1876, the son of Thomas Wright, who is mentioned
in this work elsewhere. Jesse T. was reared in Kan-
sas and received a common schooling there, and in 1890
he came to Idaho. He studied in the graded schools
in Wardner for six vears and then went to Moscow,
where he entered the State University, and from which
he took his degrees in June, 1902. He spent the years
in careful study and painstaking investigation, espe-
cially along the lines in which he is engaged at present,
and the result is that he is a good chemist, a master of
assaying and skilled in metallurgy.
Mr. Wright is a member of the Elks in Moscow and
also belongs to the Shoshone Club. He is received in
the best circles and is a young man of capability and
has manifested thoroughness and efficiency in his
course.
|( )HN ( rREER. It is with pleasure that we seize
the opportunity to chronicle the career of this estimable
and well known pioneer, whose life on the rugged fron-
tier has demonstrated him to be made of the qualities
that know neither fear nor fatigue and which have left
their mark indelibly on the civilization of the west,
since he has done much in opening the way for his
fellows to follow.
John Greer was born in Westchester county, Penn-
sylvania, on June 16. 1836, being the son of James and
Mary (Patchell) Greer, natives of Ireland. The fa-
ther came to the United States when nineteen, settling
in Westchester county, Pennsylvania, where he married
and later moved to Ohio. He died at Steubenville, in
the latter state, in 1856. aged about fifty-eight. The
mother came to the United States with her parents
when she was fourteen, and died in Fraser, in June,
1893. Our subject was raised in Ohio, and there re-
ceived his education from the common schools, his
parents having come thither when he was six. When
John was nineteen, the year being 1854, he started, on
April 17, with ox teams, to California. He mined at
Placerville. then called Hangtown. Eldorado county.
Then he wrought in Amador and Calaveras counties
until i860, whence he went to Shasta county for two
years. After that Mr. Greer came to the Pierce dis-
trict, and since that time he has been a well known
factor in the development here. He was engaged in
mining until 1870. In 1877. tne tlme °f trie Indian
war, Mr. Greer bought the ferry at Greer from L.
Dunwell, who started it in 1861. The Indians had
burned his property and had set the ferry adrift. Since
then he has been the ferryman and everybody for many
miles distant knows him as an affable and genial gentle-
man. He has a residence in the edge of town and also
has, across the river, a farm of two hundred acres. Mr.
Greer is a stanch Republican and has always been an
adherent of that party. He has three brothers, —
James and Henry, on the Lolo : and William, in Har-
rison county, Ohio. Mr. Greer has a nephew and his
wife living with him, and who keep house for him. He
has been of late years a great sufferer from sciatic
rheumatism, and the riper years of his life have been
spent in much pain, but this has not dimmed his bright
and genial spirit, and he has hosts of friends. During
the trying times of Indian warfare Mr. Greer was one
of the scouts who kept watch of the actions of the red-
skins, thus enabling the soldiers to handle them with
wisdom. It is pleasant to see the hardy men who
braved all the dangers, fought the battles and cleft the
way into the wilderness now enjoying some of the pros-
perity and good cheer of this fertile and wealthy region,
and we know of none who stands higher in the opinion
JOHN GREEK
EDWARD HAMMOND
FRANK GAFFNEY.
JOHN J. GAFFNEY.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1097
of the people and who is more deserving than the sub-
ject of this sketch, and we cheerfully accord to- him
a place among the leaders of the country and feel as-
sured that those who follow will regard with gratitude
the labors he has done in opening this country for
his. fellows. The town of Greer, which was laid out
in 1898. was named after the subject of this article.
HON. EDWARD HAMMOND. No more pleas-
ant task could be assigned to us than to write the salient
points in the career of the well known and highly re-
spected gentleman whose name initiates this paragraph,
since he is a man of integrity and sterling worth, since
he is a true pioneer in every sense of the word, since
he has done a noble work to develop and build up this
section of the Pierce district as well as many others
in the northwest. These and many other reasons en-
title him to especial mention in the history of this
county.
Edward Hammond was born in New Orleans Am
March 1. 1830. being the son of Edward and Mary
( Fox ) Hammond. The father was born in Ireland
and came to the United States in 1824. He was a
stone mason and wrought on the old locks of the Erie
canal. He then moved to Cincinnati and later came
on flat boats, trading on the river, to New Orleans,
where he died of the cholera in 1834, aged fifty-four.
The mother of our subject was born in Worcestershire,
England, and married in England shortly before com-
ing to the United States. After her husband's death
she took her children to Cincinnati and there remained
until her death, in 1875. being aged eighty-seven. Our
subject was raised in Cincinnati and received a thor-
ough education in the St. Navier college of the Jesuits.
Upon leaving the college, at the age of nineteen, he
joined the expedition of General Lopez, a fillibustering
undertaking to Cuba. They were seven hundred and
fifty men strong and went by the steamship Creole.
Theodore O'Hara, author of "The Bivouac of the
Dead," was one of the number. On May 12, 1850.
they landed at Cardenas, General Pickett, of Gettysburg
fame, commanding them. While they were landing a
train was in readiness to go to Mantanzas, and pulled
out. Five thousand infantry were dispatched from
that point by land and the Pizzaro, a man of war, by sea
to intercept and capture the Americans. When Gen-
eral Lopez heard of this he started to return, and at
that juncture three hundred lancers, the advance guard
of the infantry, came up and a battle ensued, wherein
nearly all of the lancers were slaughtered. The Ameri-
cans then took the town, losing fifteen men and having
thirty wounded. Thev were hardly able to bury the
dead before the forces were coming up, and then the
Americans took to their steamer. In attempting to
take the vessel out of a narrow bypath channel it was
grounded, and they were unable to get out for some
time. All luggage was thrown overboard, but to no
avail. The Pizzaro came steaming into the harbor
and, having made the circuit of it and supposing the
filibusters were gone to New Orleans, started in pur-
suit. The Creole had been lying with all lights out
and the men unloading to shallow water. After five
hundred were out, she bore up and, all being taken
abroad, they made for Key West. The Pizarro hav-
ing cruised for them enroute to New Orleans, came
toward Key West, and two pilots came out at the same
time for the two vessels. Thus the Creole was hurried
into the harbor before the Pizarro could fire on them.
The Creole was confiscated, however, but the men made
their escape. The wounded wen- cared for by Gen-
eral Lopez as well as possible.
In 1852 Mr. Hammond came to California, and
after a few months on American river went to Sierra
county. He spent eight years there and during this
time he, in company with Albert Damas, now of Lewis-
ton, sank the first shaft on Holland flat, named from Mr.
Hammond's partner, and bed rock dirt showed up three
dollars and fifty cents per pan. In 185S he went to
Yreka and mined on Scott's bar until i860, when one
hundred of them went to San Francisco to join the
regular cavalry. Not being able to join only after be-
ing distributed in the infantry, about half of them, in-
cluding our subject, came back to Yreka. In the
spring of 1861 Mr. Hammond came to Lewiston and
on to Pierce the same year. A few months later he re-
turned to Lewiston and then went to Montana and Cali-
fornia, and in 1872 came back to Lewiston. He has
followed mining, merchandising and ranching since.
He now has a farm of hay and timber about eleven
miles southwest from Pierce. In 1874 lie was probate
judge, and again in 1880. In 1877 he was called by
the people to represent them in the legislature, and
did his work well and to the satisfaction of all. He-
was also auditor and recorder fur four years.
The last mining that Mr. Hammond did was on
the old Nelson ditch, which he owned. This originally
cost Nelson about twenty thousand dollars. He sold
it to Chinamen and in later years, as they had no legal
right, they sold it for five dollars to Pat Kane, who
leased it to them, thus avoiding danger from jumpers.
Later the jumpers came again, and Kane feared they
might succeed, so he called the neighboring fanners
in to assist him. They all remained at the Chinese
boarding house all summer and spent a tine holiday.
Thev tired of the expense and came to .Mr. Hammond
and agreed that if he would buy the ditch they would
pay him any rental he would choose. He bought it
from Kane for two hundred dollars, and then charged
the Chinamen one hundred dollars per year for it.
This continued for ten years. Mr. Hammond also
had the privilege of taking the surplus water, which
netted him about five hundred dollars per year. Last
vear the lease expired and he sold the ditch to the 1 '.-Id
Hill companv. and the Chinese returned to China.
Air. Hammond had one brother, James, who per-
ished in Andersonville prison during the Civil war.
On January 8. 1884. Mr. Hammond married Mrs.
Mary F., widow of John Carrigan, who was born in
Missouri in 1846. Her father and his family settled
in Oregon when Mrs. Hammond was a child. Air.
and Mrs. Hammond are highly respected people and
have tli.' good will and esteem of all. They are fully
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
entitled to the goodly share of this world's goods which
they have gathered by their industry and are now en-
joying in the golden years of their lives.
HON. FRANK GAFFNEY is one of the best
known men of southern Shoshone county, and he is as
popular as he is well known. When but twenty-six
years of age he was called by a hearty vote of the people
to act as the representative to the state legislature, and
in that capacity, as in all others, he has been found a
man of intelligence, integrity and executive force. He
is now the owner of a fine farm of two hundred acres,
which is well stocked with cattle, horses and hogs,
while also he does a mercantile business in Weippe. He
is a thorough business man and has done a lion's share
in the development of the country.
Frank Gaffney was born in San Francisco, Cali-
fornia, on October 16, 1866, being the son of Patrick
and Bridget Gaffney, who are mentioned elsewhere in
this volume. When nine months of age he was brought
in his mother's arms to Pierce, and here he has resided
since. Before the schools were established his wise
father hired a college graduate for eighty dollars per
month to teach his sons, and the result was that the
boys all have a fine practical education.' Our subject
worked with his father and studied until twenty-one,
and then he filed on a claim adjoining his father's place
and has raised stock and hay since that time. When
the new county was organized he was appointed audi-
tor. It was in November, 3892, that Mr. Gaffney was
called to the legislature, and he has appeared in poli-
tics, always a stanch Democrat, but owing to the Popu-
list movement, he was defeated. Last year he lacked
only five votes of being county commissioner.
On September 24. 1895, Mr. Gaffney married Miss
Belle, daughter of Andrew and Susan (Mitchell)
Steele, natives of Kentucky. The father was a promi-
nent and wealthv stock owner, and died in Woodbine,
Kentucky, on May 9, 1902, aged sixty-nine. The
paternal great-grandfather of our subject was
in the war of 1812. The parents of our
subject's mother were prominent land owners,
and the father was a Christian preacher and influ-
ential man in politics. Mrs. Gaffney was born in
Woodbine, Kentucky, on November 24, 1868. She
was educated in the Cora Institute at Pleasant View,
Kentucky, being thoroughly qualified for the work of
the educator. She taught in Kentucky for two years,
and in 1889 came to Washington and taught, then fol-
lowing her profession in Lewiston and later in Weippe
she taught ten months. Mrs. ( ".affney has two brothers
and one sister, — Edmund and Emby. both in Kentucky ;
Emma, wife of Walter Graves, a merchant in Ken-
tucky. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs.
Gaffney— Frank E„ John P.. Fay S. and Clyde A.
JOHN J. GAFFNEY. It is seldom our privilege
to be able to chronicle the career of one so thoroughly
a pioneer as the subject of this article, as the following
will testify.
John J. Gaffney was born in Barclay's gulch, three
miles east from Pierce, on November 19, 1868, being
the son of Patrick and Bridget (Gaffney) Gaffney,
natives of Ireland, and although of the same name yet
not related. John was raised in the Pierce district,
and thus has known the frontier all of his days. He
was educated in the schools which the wisdom and en-
ergy of his father established, and he was an apt scholar
both in books and in learning the ways of raising stock,
mining and other pioneer undertakings. In 1889 he
filed a pre-emption and later took a homestead, the
half section being near Weippe. He handles one hun-
dred acres to hay and most of the balance is first class
timber. Mr. Gaffney gives his attention mostly to
mining, and is a master hand at that. He owns the
Ozark group of four claims, about one mile southeast
from Pierce, having as partners in this his brother.
William, and John Pond. Our subject discovered the
property in 1898, and they now have a Kendall roller
mill, eight hundred feet of tunnel and have milled
three hundred and six tons, which averaged eighteen
dollars and thirty cents per ton. The milling has all
been done since June. 1901. They use from six to
twelve men when running and the property is now
bonded for fifty-seven thousand dollars. Mr. Gaffney
also has eighty acres within the limits of the Pierce
town site. He also owns the Pioneer hotel, which he
has recently erected in Pierce, and which is doing a
good business. Mr. Gaffney has three brothers. —
Frank and William, who are mentioned in this work,
and Robert, who is operating a farm near Weippe.
Also he has one sister, Mary, wife of Matthew Dowd.
in Tammany hollow. Mr. Gaffney is a stanch Demo-
crat and is generally found at the conventions, and is
committeeman for his precinct.
On January I, 1893, Mr. Gaffney married Mis-
Dora, daughter of George and Harriet (Dorothy ) Har-
rows, natives of Iowa and now living near Fraser.
Mrs. Gaffney was born in Iowa on May 26, 1874, and
has one brother and five sisters, — Emmet, at home :
Fannie, wife of Flemming Smith ; Annie, wife of
Charles Loney : Effie. wife of James Jolly; Jannie. wife
of Charles Mvers, all near Fraser; Arlie, at home. Mr.
and Mrs. Gaffney have two children, — Edwin and Ella.
Mr. Gaffney is a man of intelligence and energy and
has made a place for himself among the leaders of this
enterprising community, where he is recognized as a
man of sterling worth and integrity.
AUGUST PAULSEN. We greet with pleasure
the privilege of recounting, though necessarily in an
epitomized form, the salient points in the career of
the subject of this article. Not alone because he is
one of the leading capitalists in the Coeur dAIene
districts, and has demonstrated himself one of the
keen and far seeing mining men. but because of the
personal characteristics that are manifested in hi-
every day walk and the stability and firmness, domi-
nated \:ith cool reserve and consummate wisdom
which have brought to him his brilliant success.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1099
August Paulsen was born in Denmark on July 29,
1871, the son of Paul and Anna (Andersen) Paulsen,
natives of Denmark, where the mother now lives, the
father having died when August was an infant. Our
subject received an education in his native country
and in iSqi bade farewell to all native scenes and
friends and came to the United States. He landed
in Chicago on June 1st, and followed farm work in
Illinois until September, 1892. Then came a trip to
Spokane where he entered the employ of some of the
leading dairymen and continued steadily at this call-
ing until April, 1894. Then he came to Wallace and
entered the employ of Mr. Mark well, mentioned else-
where in this work. He continued with him until
June, 1896, and during this time he bought an interest
in the Hercules, paying eight hundred and fifty dol-
lars for a fourth of the property. In the summer of
1896 Mr. Paulsen worked in the mine and in the win-
ter returned to the dairy business. He continued this
method until December 12, 1901, ami it is testified
to by all that in all these years of trying labor and
pushing forward under great difficulties the develop-
ment of this property, none manifested such zeal in
the labor, such faith in the property and such steady
determination to reach the goal of' showing up what
the property possessed as did Mr. Paulsen. He was
ready for the hardest part and always willing to take
up the most arduous burden and with vigor and good
will put the work along. Following his labors in
the mine, Mr. Paulsen went to San Francisco and
accomplished a purpose long in his mind, that of get-
ting higher training in the field of education and there
under private instruction he continued his studies with
the gratifying result that he desired.
On September 15, 1902. Mr. Paulsen married
Miss Myrtle White, who was born in Colfax, March
20. 1880. Since that date Mr. Paulsen has been
traveling with his bride and they have visited many
popular and famous resorts. Mrs. Paulsen has three
brothers and one sister : John, Warren A., Edward,
Mrs. Anna Conner. Mr. Paulson has one brother,
Charles, and one sister, Emma.
Mrs. Paulsen is a graduate of the high school at
Colfax and also took a business course in Spokane.
Mr. and Mrs. Paulsen are of excellent standing and
are among the substantial and capable people of the
city of Wallace. Mr. Paulsen has manifested in his
career, when he was facing the wave of a strong bat-
tle, in the industrial world and all along from the
time that he commenced to do for himself, the quality
that won for him his mammoth holding, namely that
of cool and calm deliberation in sagacity and backed
up by an unflinching determination that would sur-
mount any difficulty and unlock the most intricate
problem.
HORATIO L. GRAY. A well known mining man,
a genial and intelligent companion, an upright and
well posted citizen, with public spirit and progressive
ideas, and withal, one of the leading mining property
owners of this section, it is quite fitting that we should
accord to Mr. Gray representation in the history of
Shoshone county.
Horatio L. Gray was born in Maine on January 3.
1838, being the son of Horatio and Eliza (Madden)
Gray, natives of Maine. The father died in 1840, aged
thirty-five. The mother died in 1882, aged ninety.
Our subject was reared and educated in Maine, an-)
when he was eighteen went to New Brunswick and
Nova Scotia, where he did lumbering for two years.
In 1859 he came to California and mined and freighted
and did general merchandising. In 1862 he was in
Pierce and two years were spent in the different camps
and then he went to Eagle creek, in eastern ( (regon,
and there spent six years in mining, merchandising
and freighting. He finally returned to the Pierce dis-
trict in 1870 and located the Agnostic mine and sev-
eral others of the French Creek Mining Company.
which is doubtless a company with some good prop-
erty. Our subject also owns three hundred and eighty
acres of fine placer ground, upon which he operates
about six men in season. In 1897 he located on what
is now known as the Ellis .Small place, and having
commuted, he took an interest in the Wright & Small
addition to Orofino, and there he makes his home in
the winters. Mr. Gray has one-third of this property.
He has two brothers, one half brother and one sister,
named in their order. George, William Craw \ndrev.
White, Martha Cracker.
On January t, 1870. at Lewiston, Mr. Gray mar-
ried Miss Louisa, daughter of Joseph and Louisa
(Morrison) Cox, natives of Pennsylvania and Illi-
nois, respectively. The father came to Oregon in
1847 with ox teams and was a sturdy pioneer. He
died March. 1894. The mother came to Oregon with
her parents in an early day and was married in Yam-
hill countv. Mrs. Gray was born in Silverton, Marion
county. < Iregon, on June 9, i860, and she has four
brothers — Wesley, Leander, Edgar, Ernest — all farm-
ers. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs.
Gray — Mabel. Robert. Joe. Roxie and Martha.
ANNIE SQUANCE. Among the leading busi-
ness people of Wallace there must not be failure to
mention the name of the subject of this article, a lady
whose skill and executive ability have wrought out
excellent success in all her career, which has been an
active one in various large centers of the world.
Annie Squance was born in Devonshire, England,
on December 3, 1865, the daughter of Thomas and
Susan (Lee) Squance, natives of England. The
father died March 23, 1902, and the mother live- in
Exeter, England. Miss Squance was well edu
her native land and in 1S81 landed in New York. Sh<
soon went to St. Paul, Minnesota, and took up the
lodging house business. Later we find her in the same
business in Chicago, whence she returned to New York
and after a time in that metropolis she went to Eng-
land and in London and later in Paris she did good
business in the lodging house and hotel business. Sinct
that time. Miss Squance has crossed and re-crossed
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
the ocean nine times. She settled in California, and for
seven years was prominently identified with the hotel
and lodging house business in that state. Later she
went to Calaveras county and paid attention to mining
for one year. She now owns the Ellen Vunnon, a pay-
ing mine six miles from San Andreas. The mine is
provided with an eight stamp mill and is a paying prop-
erty. On September 18, 1900, Miss Squance came to
Wallace and soon thereafter leased the well known Pa-
cific hotel, one of the leading hostelries in the Coeur
dAlene country. It is the only strictly American plan
house in the town and is one of the popular resorts of
mining men and the public in general. Miss Squance
has put her practical knowledge into execution in this
property and the result is now one of the finest places
for the traveling public in the northern part of the
state.
Miss Squance has the following brothers and sis-
ters : George, Richard, William, Thomas, Henry, Maty
Evarren, Ellen Wright. She has much property in va-
rious places, especially in England, where she owns
twelve fine dwellings. She is a woman of culture and
refinment and withal possesses the happy faculty of
business ability and sagacity which have been demon-
strated in an unbounded success in the financial world.
RODERICK J. McLEOD is at the present time
the efficient and capable blacksmith in the Morning
mine at Mullan and is a man of good standing
and the recipient of the esteem of the people. He
was born in Gelgarry county, Ontario, on October 27,
1854, the son of John and Mary (McDonnell) Mc-
Leod, natives of Ontario, where they now live. The
paternal ancestors came from Scotland in 1786 as also
did the maternal ancestors. Our subject was educated
in the excellent public schools of Ontario and assisted
his father on the farm. When eighteen he came to
Michigan and learned the blacksmith trade, which he
wrought at until 1877, when we see him in Leadville,
Colorado. In 1885 he went back to his native place
and visited for three years and then, it being 1888, he
came to Mullan. From that date until 1894, he was
blacksmith for the Hunter mine. Then we see him
in the same capacity for the New York and Last
Chance until 1896, in which year he returned to Mul-
lan and held the position of foreman of the Hunter
mine for two years. The next year he was blacksmith
for the Morning mine and the two years following that
he was again foreman for the Hunter mine. After
that time had expired he returned again to his
former position of blacksmith for the Morning mine
where he has continued until the present time. Mr.
McLeod has the following named brothers and sisters :
John C, John S., Christopher, Finley, Mrs. Annie
McDonald, Mrs. Jeanette McDonald.
On June 30, 1879. at Leadville. Colorado, Mr. Mc-
Leod married Miss Sarah, daughter of Alexander and
Sarah McPhee. Mrs. McLeod has one brother and
five sisters, Alexander. Mrs. Mary McDonald, Mrs.
Christie Foley, Mrs. Flora McDonald, Mrs. Hattie Mc-
Kay, Mrs. Isabelle Crawford. Six children have been
born to Mr. and Mrs. McLeod, Isabella, Sarah, wife of
Joseph Fay, in Butte, Montana ; Mary, Cassie, John and
Jennet, deceased. Mr. McLeod is "a member of the
W. \V. and the A. O. U. W. He is independent in po-
litical matters and a man of substantial qualities and
always allied on the side of progress and unbuilding.
WILLIAM R. TURNER, of the firm of Turner
P>rothers, is a popular and substantial business man of
Wallace and at his neat and attractive store, where he
deals in confections, stationery and cigars, he is to be
found always attentive to business and characterized
by a geniality and gentlemanliness that have won him
the esteem of all.
William R. Turner was born in Michigan, on Feb-
ruary 19, 1877, the son of Dionysius J. and Eliza J.
(Sharpe) Turner, natives of Ireland and Canada, re-
spectively. The father died in Michigan in 1885 and
had been in the office of the overseer of the Grand
Trunk lines for twenty-one years. The mother lives
in Quebec. Our subject was raised in Michigan until
eight and then went to Canada to dwell with his uncle
on a farm. He attended district school until thirteen
and then commenced his career in a general merchan-
dise store. Five years were spent in this fine training
and then we see him in Butte, Montana, where he was
employed in a concentrating plant. Four years were
spent in that service and in i8iju. Mr. Turner came to
Wallace. Shortly after arriving here he and his broth-
er, Winfield Turner, bought out the business of Hone-
ker & Fordyce, and since that time the Turner Broth-
ers have been one of the prosperous and progressive
business firms of Wallace. Our subject gives his
personal attention to the business and his brother is
now in Montana taking care of other interests of the
firm. They have a nice new store and carry a large
-tuck of goods, of the choicest brands, and their kind
and deferential treatment of all have given them a thriv-
ing patronage. Mr. Turner has one other brother,
Richard J., and two sisters, Theresa A.. Charlotte L.
Eager.
Oh November 14, 1898, at St. Marie, Michigan,
Mr. Turner married Ida M., daughter of John and
Annie (McCutcheon) Craigie, natives of the province
of Quebec. The father is deceased and the mother lives
there now. Mrs. Turner was born in Quebec and has
two brothers, William and Harry. Two children have
been born tp this union, Esther A., born February II,
1900, and Harold D., born August 30, 1901. Mr.
Turner is a member of the I. O. O. F. and he and his
wife are members of the Episcopalian church.
CHRISTIAN D. JONES was born in Swansea,
Wales, on May 7. 1824. being the son of David Jones,
who was drowned at sea when Christian was two years
old. The father was a sea captain. The mother died
when this son was one year old. Left an orphan, he
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
was brought up on board a ship and has visited all parts
of the globe. In 1849 he came as mate on a bark to
San Francisco and went at once to mining, and as he
was successful, he bought the schooner Francis Adams,
took her to Tahita to get oranges, and as he was sailing
to San Francisco he was obliged to beach her to save
the crew. Again he turned to the mines for a stake,
which he made. Then came a trip to Maine to marry
Emma Moody, with whose father he had sailed for a
long time, and whom he had known since they were
children. He brought her to the coast and located
twenty-five miles above Marysville on the Yuba river
and did a butcher business. Then he mined a couple
of years and went to San Francisco and left his wife
and child. Later divorce proceedings came on and he
secured his child, Ida. who is now the wife of H.
Gollings, an inventor in Chicago. She has a practice
in a private hospital, being a skilled physician, having
graduated from Kinsell College, Lewiston, Maine.
After this blow our subject remained in California un-
til 1861, then came to Pierce and Elk Creek. Going
out for supplies, he was snowed out and wintered in
Walla Walla. He then packed, mined and freighted.
He was taken sick with typhoid in Salt Lake City and
upon recovery went horseback to Omaha, thence to
St. Joseph, to see his daughter there in school. In 1865
Mr. Jones went to South America. He prospected in
Peru, Ecuador, United States of Colombia, up and
down the Isthmus region and in Central America and
found g«Id. but was unable to stand the people and
the climate. Then he returned to the United States
and mined and wrought in various sections and finally
drifted back to his present place, one mile east from
Blake, which he took in 1881 He raises stock, winter-
ing as high as ninety-five head. He has given his at-
tention to this labor since his settlement here, and Mr.
Jones is one of the substantial men of this section. He
is passing the golden years of his eventful and active
career alone in the quiet retreat of his home, and labors
on with the gratifying meed of success in financial mat-
ters. He is respected by all. has been a faithful and up-
right man, has hosts of friends and is traveling the pil-
grim journey in the evening of life with an assurance
that he has wrought well.
EDWARD H. WRIGHT, who manages the Pa
cine Hotel in such a skillful manner that he has made
it one of the popular houses of the entire Cceur d'Alene
country, is a genial and affable man, with great experi-
ence in the ways of business, and is a successful and
leading citizen.
Edward H. Wright was born in Wabasha. Minne-
sota, on September 24. 1862, the son of Warren W.
and Mary J. ( Isman j Wright, natives of New York.
The father 'died in January, 1902, and his parents were
natives of Ireland. The mother lives in St. Cloud,
Minnesota. Our subject was educated in Minnesota
and was well trained, having the benefit of a State
Normal course and a special course in Bishop Whip-
ple's school. Shattuck Hall. ( )n leaving his studies he
took up telegraphy and was soon in the railroad serv-
ice, and so faithful and efficient was he in this line that
for twenty-four years Mr. Wright could h
found at his desk in some of the leading positions in
the country. He was. city ticket agent in St. Cloud Eor
twelve years, then chief clerk in the superintendent's
office of the Duluth, Mesaba & Northern, and in [897
lie came thence to Portland, where he was with the ( )..
R. & N. for some time. Following that time Mr.
Wright was for several months engaged in traveling
on the Pacific coast, after which he was agent al Burke
and cashier in Wallace. Xext we see Mr. Wright in
his present position, and since he has devoted his ener-
gies to the interests of the Pacific House, and a flatter-
ing success has attended him, as is evidenced in the
thriving patronage which the hotel enjoys.
M r. Wright has three sisters. .Mrs. J. C. < kide, Mrs.
J. D. Stevenson, Mrs. Charles Oram.
On Januaury 22. 1884, Mr. Wright married Miss
Charlotte, daughter of Henry and Charlotte (Lee)
Brown, natives of England. The wedding occurred at
St. I loud, Minnesota, and there, also, on April 29,
1899, ^rs- Aright was called by death, and she left
two daughters, Charlotte B. and Helen ]., now aged
eighteen and sixteen, respectively. They live in She-
boygan, Wisconsin. ( In December 14, 1901, at Wal-
lace, Mr. Wright married Miss Ellen Squance, a na-
tive of England, whose parents and brothers are men-
tioned elsewhere. Mr. Wright is a member of the A.
F. and A. M.. the R. A. M. and the K. P. Mr.
Wright is a Democrat, but does not participate in pol-
ities Ei >r persi mal preferment.
MAURICE 11. HARE is cashier of tin Hank of
Commerce and in that responsible position he has man-
ifested great skill and fine business ability, while com-
mensurate therewith has been displayed stanch and
unswerving integritv and a faithfulness and uprightness
which have commended him to the esteem and confi-
dence of the entire community.
Maurice H. Hare was born in Greensburg, Pennsyl-
vania, on June 11, 1868, the son of Felix X. and Anna
E. (Cochrane) Hare, natives of Pennsylvania also and
descended from old and prominent families. Th
died in 1898, but the father still lives at Lima, Ohio.
Our subject was reared and educated in his native place
till about thirteen and then he started out in life for
himself and worked at various employments in the oil
regions, never forgetting to keep industrious!) at the
hooks and reading, even to the proem day, which have
furnished his mind with a wide range of knowledge
and information on all subjects of interest and advan-
age. He learned telegraphy and followed it almost
constantly until his acceptance of his present
in November, 1902. He came west in 1888 and until
1892 he was cashier in the N. P. office at Coeur d'Alene
city, in the auditing department in Spokane and agent
of 'the Spokane Falls & Northern. In 1892, Mr. Hare
went to Michigan and was agent foi the C. & W. M. R.
R. at Charlexoix and Petoskey for five years. Then we
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
see him in the superintendent's office of the N. P. in
Missoula. Later he was agent at Burke and after that
he was agent here at Wallace for more than three
years. Mr. Hare has shown efficiency and faithfulness
in all of his career and he is a good man now in a
responsible position. Mr. Hare has the following broth-
ers and sisters : Charles V., Paul F., Olive Fitch, Hel-
en Powell, Katherine.
On September 25, 1892, Mr. Hare married Miss
Ruby, daughter of Willard B. and Julia Field, natives
of Illinois. The father died in Spokane in 1902, but
the mother still lives in that city. They were descended
from prominent and old American families and Mr.
Field was a prominent man in the state affairs of Wash-
ington, having been state senator from Stevens and
Spokane counties. Mrs. Hare was born in Iowa and
her wedding occurred in Lamont, that state. She has
three brothers and three sisters, Orin, Fred, Willard.
Alice Bungay, Mary, Bernice. To Mr. and Mrs. Hare
four children have been born, Bernice, Hellen, Doro-
thy, Maurice. Mr. Hare is a member of the A. F. and
A. M., the R. A. M., of the K. T. and of the Elks. He
is a strong Republican and is treasurer of the city of
Wallace. Air. Hare is interested in mining property
and is treasurer of the Oreano and secretary of the
Comet and treasurer of the Trade Dollar.
EDWIN W. BLAKE was bom in the province of
Quebec on June 15, 1839, being the son of Francis and
Sophia (Brown) Blake. The father was born in New
Hampshire and his father also. He went to Canada
when twenty-one and remained until his death in 1866,
when he was aged eighty-seven years, seven months
and twenty-seven days. He was an officer in the Brit-
ish army, being both major and recruiting officer. He
was prominent in political matters and was county
judge for eight years. The paternal grandfather of our
subject served for years in the Revolution. The mother
of Edwin was born in Vermont from a prominent
family. Her father was in the Revolution and her
brother Moses was a captain in the Civil war. Our sub-
ject was educated and reared in Canada and learned
there the carpenter trade. He worked with his father
until twenty-two and then received land from his father
and that he farmed until the father died. At that time
he moved to New York and wrought' at his trade fur
twenty years. Then he wrought in Sully, South
Dakota, Duiuth. Minnesota, Spokane, Postfalls, erect-
ing a large flour mill in the latter place. He was cap-
tain of a steamboat on Lake Coeur d'Alene for a year,
then built a flour mill at Leland and after a couple of
years farming he came to his present place, at Blake.
Mr. Blake is postmaster. He has one of the best if not
the best place in the vicinity and raises tomatoes and
kindred vegetables and fruits. He has good improve-
ments, a fine supply of pure spring water, does general
farming and stock raising. Mr. Blake has four broth-
ers, Moses, Isaac, Oscar, Ashley, and four sisters, Lu-
anda, widow of N. Wentworth, Nancy Moore, Emily
Lockwood, Mary J. Lippett.
At Gray Eagle, Minnesota, on May 27, 1888, Mr.
Blake married Miss Minnie E., daughter of Alvin P.
and Sarah M. (Ives) Davies. She was born in Man-
kato, Minnesota, on May 2.7, i860. Mr. Davies was
born in New York, on October 30, 1832 and died in
1897. He served in Company E, Ninth Minnesota all
through the war. He was sergeant and refused a cap-
taincy. His father served in war of 1812 and his grand-
father was in the Revolution, crossed the Delaware with
\\ ashington, participated in V'alley Forge sufferings
and served through the entire war. Mr. Alvin P. Davis
came from Wisconsin to Minnesota with ox teams and
was prominent in affairs of the latter place. The mother
of Mrs. Blake was born in New York from a promi-
nent New England family and her father's ancestors
were leading individuals in the Revolution. Six chil-
dren were born to Mr. Blake by a previous marriage,
Charles E., Arthur C, Chauncey W, Henry E., Eva
A.. Ida M. By his present marriage he has six chil-
dren, Francis A., Clyde D., Mabel, Earl, Ruth, Teodore.
Mr. Blake has been a member of the Baptist church
for forty years and has acted as pastor and local
preacher for many years and in many places. He has
also been superintendent of Sunday school for much of
his life, having been engaged thus in some very large
schools. He is a stanch Republican, is justice of the
peace and clerk of the school board. Mr. Blake has
given considerable intelligent attention to rearing trout
and has two fine ponds and is constructing others. He
receives consignments of he small fishes from the gov-
ernment hatcheries and is an expert and quite enthusi-
astic in this line of important industry.
HARRY COLLER. From the noted land of
Greece, born of a family of merchants and prominent
people, comes the subject of this article, who is now one
of the patriotic and substantial citizens of Mullan, Ida-
ho, where in partnership with Fred Greenwald, he con-
ducts the Windsor hotel. This hotel is the leading
commercial and popular hotel of the town, is head-
quarters for mining men and prospectors and is a pop-
ular resort. They maintain a fine exhibition of min-
erals, have a stock quotation board and are one of the
leading business establishments of the district.
Harry Coller was born in Greece, on February 8,
1870, the son of Peter and Mary (Smith) Coller, na-
tives of Greece, where they now reside. Our subject
graduated from the high school of Corfu and came
to the United States in 1891, having also been book-
keeper in Greece a time before that. After a short time
in New York, he came to Seattle and worked in va-
rious hotels until 1893. Then he came to Spokane
and in the Spoknae hotel he was in every capacity in the
kitchen from the broiler to head cook, leaving there
in 1898. The next year he was in the fine seventy
thousand dollar hotel in Grand Forks, British Colum-
bia, and later had charge of the dining room. When
the boom broke, he returned to Spokane, then came to
the Morning mine and worked for Larson & Greenough
for twenty-eight months. After this service, Mr. Col-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1103
ler entered partnership with Mr. Greenwald, who is
mentioned elsewhere in this volume, and they are still
in the management of the Windsor house, which they
have placed as the leading hotel of the section. Mr. Col-
ler has one brother, Fred, in this country, now in the
Morning mine boarding house. He has two brothers in
Greece, Alchibiades, a student in college ; Demitrious,
who is managing the family estate. Mr. Coller is a
member of the I. O. O. F., the Encampment, and the
Rebekahs. He also belongs to the Foresters, while in
political matters he is not bound to any party or under
any dictations, but reserves for himself the right of in-
dependent thought and unrestricted choice.
HENRY GROVES. It is with unfeigned pleas-
ure that we are enabled to give a review of the active
and interesting career of this good man and substan-
tial and intelligent citizen. Henry Groves was born
in Franklin county, New York, on March 13, 1831,
being the son of Thomas and Eunice (Fall) Groves.
The Groves family is an old and prominent New
England house and six generations are buried in the
cemetery at Rrimfield, Massachusetts. Thomas
Groves was born in 1790 and died in i860, the death
occurring in Iona, Michigan. He served all through
the war of 1812 with General Scott, being two years
in active service. Joseph Groves, the grandfather of
cur subject, served seven years, six months, and four-
teen days in the Revolutionary war and was with
George Washington at Valley Forge, crossing the
Delaware, and at the surrender of Cornwallis. He
was broken in health and survived the war only a few
\ears. The mother of our subject was born in Ver-
mont in 1795 and died in Iowa in 1867. Her father
was a sea captain, born in England and died six months
after the birth of this daughter. Our subject was raised
in New York until nine, then went to Michigan and
remained twenty years. He was educated in the
district schools and in i860 he carYie to Iowa with his
mother. Two years later he went to Colorado and
farmed and freighted for five years. A year was then
spent in Chicago in a tannery and planing mill. The
next year he was married and with only a small capi-
ta! farmed near by for a period of two years. Next
with his wife and baby and only a team and wagon
he journeyed to Kansas and took a quarter there,
bought another which in tilling he did well for the
first ten years, when the drought struck the country
and that with bad health ate all his holdings and he
landed in Pullman, Washington, with a few head of
stock and some farm implements. Two years there
and he bought a farm, paying nearly three thousand
cash and giving a mortgage for twelve hundred.
1893 tells the rest and he went to Moscow financially
depleted. He worked out and rented ten acres near
town. In the winter of 1895 Mr. Groves moved to
the forks of the Potlatch, bought improvements on
unsurveyed land and went to dairying, but the failure
of the mines which were his market, spoiled this deal.
Then he went to the Tee meadows, where the snow,
six feet deep, drove him away and he found a place
on Ford's creek ridge in Shoshone county. A year later
he came to his present place, five miles from' Orofino,
which place is owned by his son. They do general
farming, raising stock, dairying and fruit raising, find
a ready market to the miners and prospectors and
are doing well. Their home is called "Fair View
Fruit Farm.''
On November 18, 1870, at Sandwich, Illinois, Mr.
Groves married Miss Mary, daughter of Walter and
Sarah A. (Parks) Whipple. The father was born
of an old family in Chenango county, New York,
being of Scotch descent, and died in Kansas on March
2, 1883, aged seventy-seven. The mother was de-
scended from a prominent English family and was
born in Rochester, New York. She died in the same
state on January 14, 1866, aged- fifty-two. Mrs.
Groves was born in New York, on October S, 1845.
Threee children are living, out of a family of nine
born to this worthy couple, and their names are as fol-
lows: Elson H., who owns the ranch where the
family lives, and who was born in Kansas, Smith
county, on January 8, 1878, and who has constantly
been engaged with his parents and is a faithful and sub-
stantial young man ; Chester W., born November 22,
1882, in Kansas, and now teaching school, being one
"of the promising young men of this section of the
county; Emma G., born December 25, 1881, and is
now the wife of Fred Luttropp, residing on Ford's
creek. They were married on December 25, 1898,
and have three children: Chester A., Effie .\1., and
Austin F.
R. P. HEARD, who is owner and operator of one
of the leading cigar stores of Wallace, is one of the
genial and affiable men who has hosts of friends and
whose ability in the business world has been mani-
fested in a long career of railroading in responsible
positions. He was born in Ontario, Canada, on May
6, 1862, the son of Richard and Celia (Preston) Heard,
natives of England and the province of Quebec, re-
spectively. The father came to Canada, when two
years old with his parents. He died in Minesota in
'1897. The mother died in 1898. Our subject was
reared on a farm until nineteen, having attended the
public schools and then he went to Michigan, farm-
ing. Being taken sick he returned home for a year
and later went to Minnesota and railroaded. He was
on the Milwaukee & St. Paul lines and learned teleg-
raphy and was assistant in the dispatcher's office.
Then he went to Montana on the N. P., and for five
years was operator at Heron. Then he was operator
at Sprague for a time and later returned to Heron.
Next we see him agent in Portland for the Willamette
Valley line, the Southern Pacific and after that he
was on the ( >. R. & X. as operator for eight years
and for about two years he was cashier at Wallace.
He was taken sick and went east for relief but finding
none came back to Wallace, whence he went to Hot
Springs, Arkansas, ami was cured. Then Mr. Heard
came to Wallace and entered partnership with C. A.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Hill in the cigar business. This was in June and in
December of the same year he bought his present
business and has since that time conducted it with
excellent results and now enjoys a thriving patronage.
Air. Heard has three brothers, George, Edward,
Cecil, and two sisters. Annie Bunton, Belle. Mr.
Heard has never quit the charms of the jolly bachelor.
He is a member of the Elks and the Order of R. R.
Telegraphers. He is a Republican but has never
sought for personal advancement in office. He is a
man of frankness and enterprise and is a firm be-
liever in the excellent resources of the country.
HOMER G. BR( >WN. Among the stirring and
enterprising young business men of Wallace, we are
constrained to mention the subject of this sketch who
is to be found in the cashier's office of the Sunset
brewery, which department he handles with efficiency
and display of merit and faithfulness.
Homer G. Brown was born in Pennsylvania, on
September 21. 1866, the son of Andrew and Addie
(Swartz) Brown, natives also of Pennsylvania. The
father is a lumber inspector in Reed City, Michigan,
and his ancestors were the sturdy Scots. The mother
comes from an old Dutch family and lives in Reed
City. Our subject was permitted to finish the high
schools in Michigan whither he went with his parents
when he was six. And when he was sixteen he com-
menced a career of railroading which led him all over
the United States, and in which he has made a clean
record. He learned telegraphy and was operator, cash-
ier and agent in various places in the east and in 1889
was stationed as operator in Orting, Washington.
Later he was with the O. R. & N., at Colfax, Walla
Walla, and on May 10, 1892, he was stationed at Os-
burn. Five months later he was sent to Burke and for
eight years he was in charge of that office. On Au-
gust 14, 1900, Mr. Brown came to Wallace and took
the position of cashier of the O. R. & N. and on March
29, 1902, he accepted his present position. He has two
brothers, Milton N. and Norman O., and two sisters,
Orrel A. Fulcher and Alta C. Ball.
At Wallace, on November 15, 1895. Mr. Brown
married Miss Sophia M.. daughter of John and Cath-
erine (Cyr) Therriault. natives of New Brunswick
and now living in Wallace. Mrs. Brown was born in
Missoula. Montana, on January 2J, 1877, and has one
sister, Alice, widow of Jeff O'Meara. Two children
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brown. Muriel, aged
two, and Dorothy, aged four months. Mr. Brown is a
member of the A. F. & A. M. and the R. A.M. and the
K. T. and the Elks. He is a Democrat and has been
central committeeman for several years. Mr. Brown
is interested in mining and is secretary of the Little
Chief Company.
JOSHUA PANNEBAKER is one of the promi-
nent business men of Wallace and is a leading citi-
zen and an influential man in political matters and the
questions of the day. He is handling a large and lu-
crative business in contracting and building and is
a master hand in this art, having learned it young and
followed it all his life, being also possessed of a high
order of natural ability in the mechanical art.
Joshua Pannebaker was born in Huron county,
Ontario, Canada, on November 25, i860, the son of
Henry and Mary (Jacobs) Pannebaker, natives of
Ontario. The father died in February, 1900, in Mich-
igan and he had followed carpentering and building
all his life. The mother lives in Port Huron, Michigan
now. Our subject was reared in his native place and
had the advantage of the famous schools of Ontario.
When nineteen he went to Michigan and did carpenter
work for three years. Then he wrought in Minnes-
ota and in 1891, we see Mr. Pannebaker in Wallace
where he spent two years prospecting. He then went
to North Dakota and remained for three years. Fol-
lowing this Mr. Pannebaker came back to Wallace
and took up his present business which he has followed
with good success since that time. He is now one of
the leading business men of the town and is substantial
and capable. Mr. Pannebaker has five brothers and
three sisters : Henry, Jacob, John, Daniel, Charles, Re-
becca Hart, Rachel Hart, Mary Neale.
On December 28, 1898, Mr. Pannebaker married
Miss Barbara, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Light-
weiler) Easier, natives of Switzerland and immigrants
to the United States. The father died in Minnesota
in 1852, aged fifty-three. The mother lives in Wis-
consin. Mrs. Pannebaker was four years old when
she came to this country with her parents. She has
three brothers and three sisters: Jacob, Robert, Fred,
Louise Miller, Bertha Burlingame, Lena Smead. Mr.
Pannebaker is a member of the M. W. A. and in po-
litical matters is a strong Democrat. He is member
of the city council and has been delegate to the county
conventions. Three children are the fruit of this mai-
riage, Mary, aged , three, Ralph, aged two and an in-
fant unnamed.
JAMES LEONARD is not only one of the suc-
cessful mkiing men of Wallace, but is also one of the
leading citizens of the Coeur d'Alene country and a
man of excellent ability and unquestioned standing.
He was born in Beaver Meadow, Carbon county, Penn-
sylvania, on March 3, 1855, the son of Bernard and
Margaret (Ryan) Leonard. The father was born in
Ireland, came to the United States when seventeen,
served forty years in coal mining and was disabled by
a blast and died in Jeansville, Pennsylvania, in 1885.
The mother was born in Northampton county and died
when James was five. He was reared and received
a limited schooling in his native place, and when ten
went to breaking coal. Such was the start in life, and
he continued at that work and other employment until
twenty-six. He had become an expert miner and did
river work at Pittsburg, then erected a cofferdam for
the government at Davis island. After this he did
blast furnace work at Miles, Ohio, then was in the
Michigan iron mines and later prospected in Arkansas
and finally came to Montana. He remained there until
JAMES LEONARD.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1105
1886, when he came on to the Coeur d'Alene country,
and here he has been prospecting and mining ever
since. His brother located the Mammoth in 1884, and
lie is now interested with this brother in that mine.
Mr. Leonard also owns several other properties, both
adjoining the Mammoth and in other localities. Mr.
Leonard also owns a home in Wallace and other prop-
erty. He has two brothers, — William and Frank ; and
one sister, — Mary.
January 17, 1900, Mr. Leonard married Miss Anna,
daughter of Patrick and Rose (Farrell) Donnelly, na-
tives of Ireland and now living in North Yakima, where
the wedding occurred. Airs. Leonard was born in
Washington September 16, 1876, and she has three
brothers and two sisters, — Thomas, Peter, Joseph, Kate
and Rose. Mr. Leonard is a member of the Elks.
Mr. and Mrs. Leonard have one child, — Margaret R.,
born January 30, 1901. Mr. Leonard is independent
in political matters and always votes for the man who
will do the best for the country. He is a well informed
and substantial man and has hosts of friends.
CHRISTEN ANDERSEN. About four miles
east from Orofino is located the establishment of the
subject of this sketch. The same consists of a first-
class country hotel, well kept and undergoing all im-
provements to fit it to be a comfortable and attractive
stopping place for travelers. Mr. Andersen is of)
from the reservation and carries a license for the sale
of spiritous and malt liquors and has in stock a choice
selection of these with cigars and tobaccos. His place
is popular and is receiving a good patronage which
is handled in a satisfactory manner by the skillful, gen-
ial and hospitable host.
Christen Andersen was born in Denmark, on July
4, 1854, being the son of Andrew and Carrie Andersen,
natives of Denmark. The father died in 1876, aged
sixty-four, but the mother died after coming to the
United States. Our subject came to the United States
in 1884 and after a sojourn in Wisconsin for three
months, he came to Idaho and worked in the Democrat
mine in the Pierce district. Then he took a claim six
miles out from Orofino and proved up on it and for
fifteen years he did general farming anil raising- stock.
He was very successful in this as also in raising vegeta-
bles and packing to the mines and his financial rating
was of the first-class. Recently, he sold that property
and bought his present place of one hundred and thir-
teen acres, which is well provided with commodious
buildings for the trade, anil which Mr. Andersen is
still improving. Mr. Andersen has one brother and
seven sisters : Nels, Stena. Dorothy. Aleren, Hannah,
Tennie, Sina and Minnie.
In Februarv. 1884. Air. Andersen married Miss
Alary, daughter of Thomas and Matamaria Thompson,
natives of Denmark where they now live. This wed-
ding occurred in Denmark and Mr. Andersen brought
his wife to this country with himself. She has two
sisters, Annie and Mollie. in Denmark. One child
has been born to this marriage. Both Air. Andersen
70
and his wife are members of the Lutheran church. In
political matters he is independent and reserves for his
own decision both the questions of the day and the nun
for whom he will cast his vote, rather than hem- 1 nd
by party tenets. Air. Andersen stands excep
well in the community and has a popular stopping
place.
CI 1 ARLES H. JONES, who is at present a black-
smith for the Frisco mine at Gem, is one of the sub-
stantial citizens of that town and a man of reliability
and good standing. He was born in Houghton, Michi-
gan, on February I, 1873, the son of William E. and
Keziah (Rule) Jones, natives of England. The father
came to this country with his parents while a small
boy and they located in Dodgeville, Wisconsin. Later
he went to Houghton, Michigan, and was foreman in
different mines in northern Michigan for thirty years.
He and his wife now dwell at Iron Mountain, Michi-
gan, retired. The mother came to this country when
five years old, was married in Wisconsin and now
lives in Iron Alountain. Our subject was reared and
educated in the various places where the family lived
during the years in which his father operated in dif-
ferent mines. He was favored with a good high school
education and at Iron Mountain he learned the black-
smith trade. Then he went to northern Alichigan
and operated a diamond drill for a party for two years.
In 1895 he came to Gem and since that time he has
been in this vicinity and has given his attention to
his trade. Air. Jones has the following brother- and
sisters: William H. Obadiah. Edward. Thomas,
Charles, Albert, Joseph, Mrs. Nellie Terbilcox, Mrs.
Bessie Hebbert. Mr. Jones is a member of the 1. O.
O. F. and the Encampment, while in political matters
he is independent.
ELLIS SMALL. The estate of our subject is sit-
uated about three-fourths of a mile northeast from
Orofino and is in fact partly platted for a town, and
J. G. Wright, who is mentioned elsewhere in tin- vol-
ume, is interested in the property with Mr. Small.
Ellis Small was born in Aroostook county. Maine,
on September 16, i85<;. being the -on of John L,
and Jeanette (Stephens) Small, natives of New Bruns-
wick. The father was born on August 24. 1S14. and
died in Lewiston, on March 23, 1901, aged eighty-
seven. His parents came from England and he came
to -Maine when young, thence to Wisconsin and in
1886, to Lewiston. The mother was born on ( )ctober
17, 1821, married October 7. 1839, and died in Lewis-
ton in 1893, aged seventy-two. Our subjeel
cated in the district school until sixteen, then worked
on the farm and in the woods until twenty-one. and
then he left Alaine, coining to Walla Walla, where he
worked in the saw nulls for a year. We next see him in
Spokane in the employ of Ira and David W. Small,
large contractors of the Northern Pacific and cousins
of our subject. After this he worked in Tacoma. then
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
returned to Wisconsin, and in 1885 he came to Lewis-
ton, bought a ranch, married and a few years later came
to his present place. Mr. Small has one brother,
George, and three sisters, Eliza, widow of R. Ingra-
ham; Lydia Smith, Annie E. Cochran. There were
nine children in the family but the others are dead. Mr.
Small is a stanch Republican and is a member of the
W. W., also is vice-chancellor of the K. P., Orofino
Lodge, No. 31.
On October 1, 1887, at Lewiston, Mr. Small mar-
ried Miss Zoe L., daughter of Malcolm G. and Julia
(Johnson) Marsilliot, and a native of Calumet county,
Wisconsin. Mr. Marsilliot was born near Euclid,
Ohio, and shortly after his marriage he enlisted in the
United States army and during the Civil war he was a
marine engineer on the Mississippi squadron. He was
commissioned in the U. S. Revenue service in 1865 and
served for thirty years. He was in Behring sea sev-
eral seasons. Mr. Marsilliot was a man of considera-
ble prominence in marine circles and his death oc-
curred at Port Townsend on April 26. 1895. He was
born on August 29, 1833. The mother of Mrs. Small
was a native of Staten island, New York, born Septem-
ber 21, 1844. and now lives at Asotin, Washington.
Mrs. Small has two brothers and one sister, Verner
L., Malcolm G, Blanch Richards. Mrs. Small is a
member of the Methodist church. She was educated
in the public schools and Wilbur college, graduating
in 1886. When sixteen, Mrs. Small began teaching
and has been engaged in educational work more or less
since. She is now assistant county superintendent
of schools in Shoshone count. Two children have
been born to Mr. and Mrs. Small, Hattie, aged fifteen ;
Jay, aged thirteen..
CHARLES H. BELLMER. This prominent busi-
ness man of Orofino conducts a first-class jewelry store
and is known as one of the early pioneers of this sec-
tion and is established as one of the leading business
men and progressive spirits of the town.
Charles E. Bellmer was born in Bremen. Germany,
on May 17, 1867, being the son of Frederick and Ma-
rie (Essen) Bellmer, natives of Germany. The father
is a wood mechanic and a contractor and lives in the
home place. The mother of our subject died in 1894.
aged forty-nine. Our subject was well educated in his
native place and learned the jeweler trade and had
charge of a large establishment when he left Bremen
at the age of nineteen. He spent a short time in Balti-
more and Chicago and then came on to Iowa. Four
years were spent in Iowa at his trade and during this
time we note the energy of our subject in that he mas-
tered the intricacies of pharmacy. In 1888 he came
to Lewiston and worked a time and then opened a drug
store and jewelry store in Juliaetta. Six weeks later,
this burned down and he was left with a few old
clothes and two dollars in cash. From this stunning
loss, he at once recovered and started in partnership
with Frank Kelley, in Moscow. He did the bench
work and his partner attended to the store. From Au-
gust, 1889, to April, 1890, he wrought there and then
opened a store for himself in Palouse. He did well
for a time and then took a position in a drug store. His
health failing, he went onto the farm of his brother-
in-law and later took to raising stock on his own ac-
count. He settled on Whiskey creek and raised stock
there for four years. At the opening of the reserva-
tion he took one hundred and twenty acres. He ab-
andoned the Whiskey creek place and brought his
thirty head of stock to his homestead. In 1899 Mr.
Bellmer came to Orofino and opened a drug store in
partnership with Dr. Moody. He now occupies a
window in the store, Dr. Beck owning it. He does
a good business in the jewelry line and is one of the
substantial and prosperous men of the town. He also
owns forty acres near town besides other property.
Mr. Bellmer has two sisters, Meta, wife of John Black,
in Leland ; Elizabeth, wife of Mr. Goldman.
On June 6, 1900, Mr. Bellmer married Miss Roset-
ta, daughter of John and Charlotte (Mason) Taylor,
who now reside in Orofino. One child, May, has been
born to this marriage. Mrs. Bellmer was born in La-
tah county, on October 25, 1871, and has the following
brothers and sisters: Alfred, at Grangeville; Ira and
Ernest, in Rosetta ; Elmer, John, and Roy, at home:
Eva, wife of Charles W. Green, in Lenore ; Iona and
Mina, at home.
JAMES BOND, of the firm of Bissinger & Bond,
proprietors of a leading saloon in Wallace, is a man of
wide and large experience in the business and mining
world and is really one of the best expert miners of the
entire Coeur d'Alene country, which is demonstrated
by some of the trying and difficult work which he has
accomplished successfully in the face of great odds.
James Bond was born in England on August 27,
1864, the son of Henry and Ellen (Webb) Bond, na-
tives of England, where the father now lives. The
mother died there in 1864. Our subject was well
educated in his native land and in 1881, he came to
the United States. He was the youngest of thirteen
children and early learned self reliance. In this coun-
try he worked in the New Jersey mines, then contracted
to sink shafts in the Pennsylvania coal fields and then
we find him in the iron mines of the Lake Superior
region. He was one of the first five who went to the
Cascade, called now the Volunteer. He was there
four years, being shift boss. During this time a terri-
ble epidemic of typhoid fever raged and our subject
and the bookkeeper were the only two of the officials
left and they managed by almost superhuman effort to
keep things running, sometimes remaining forty-eight
hours at a time without sleep. He and his wife op-
erated the boarding house there and later sold it and
went to England. They returned to this country and
Mr. Bond was foreman in the Sheridan near McKin-
ley for four years. Then he went to Montana and
there accomplished a timbering of a cave-in of a mine
which was accounted impossible. Later he put into
practical execution the hydraulic drill which was
thought by all to be impractical. He was night boss
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1 107
for a year, then came to the Tiger. Six days later he
hurt his foot and went to the hospital, then went to
work in the Standard after which Mr. Bond opened a
grocery store at Black Bear and conducted it until
recently, and still owns the building, it being rented.
Mr. Bond owns the Anglers' Inn on Lake Coeur
d'Alene and March 14, 1903, he opened his present
business which is thriving because of the fact of his
extensive acquaintance and popularity. Mr. Bond has
two brothers, Ernest, Charles, policeman in Liverpool,
England. He has two sisters, Nellie, Annie.
In England, in 1885, Mr. Bond married Miss Ellen,
daughter of Joseph and Lane Pierce. The father was
killed in a Cornish mine a few years previous to this
marriage and the mother lives in Wales. Mrs. Bond
has four brothers: Alfred, Frank, William, Richard,
and three sisters : Annie Rolfe, Beatrice, and Helena.
Beatrice sang by royal command before the queen.
Mrs. Bond has always been associated with her hus-
band in business, having acquired a good training in
business schools in England. Mr. Bond is a member
of the K. P., of the Foresters, of the Redmen, of the
A. D. K., being oriental guide in the last order. Mr.
Bond is largely interested in the Headlight and the
Surprise and many other leading mining properties.
LYMAN WOOD, a prominent man of Wallace,
a leading and enterprising citizen, has for years and is
now handling a fine building and contracting business.
He is a skilled and capable man in his line of business
and has the confidence of the people and his wisdom
and skill have been active in producing some of the
finest edifices of the town.
Lyman Wood was born in Mercer county, Penn-
sylvania, on March 18, 1852, the son of Eli C. and
Elizabeth (Ross) Wood. The father was born in Ver-
mont and he came from an old New England family of
prominence. He went to Murray in the first rush and
died there in November, 1902, having spent the inter-
vening years there in mining. The mother was born
of a Dutch family in Pennsylvania and died in 1893.
Our subject was educated and reared in La Salle coun-
ty, Illinois, -whither his parents had removed in 1856.
In 1864 he left the parental roof and went to Streator,
Illinois, taking up the carpenter trade, which he had
learned from a skilled father. He followed the trade
in Illinois for the intervening years until he was
twenty-two and then went to Denver, Pueblo, and other
places in Colorado and Kansas. In 1875 he journeyed
to Wisconsin and remained a decade. Next we see
him in Murray and there he remained until 1890. He
followed his trade and in 1890 he wrought in Osburn
and the following year he located in Wallace and this
has been the scene of his labors since. For a time Mr.
Wood operated a planing mill and later built another
but of late years he has given his attention entirely to
his craft. In addition to this, however, Mr. Wood has
large interests in various mining properties, is a trus-
tee for the Comet and acting agent for the Atlas,
whose owners are largely in Boston. The latter is a
Stevens Peak copper property. He also owns prop-
city in Wallace and is a substantial man. Mr. Wood
has three brothers, James R., Josiah, Jesse, and three
sisters, Lydia Dunn, Sarah Ashley and Katherine
Greenman.
On April 16, 1876, at Omro, Wisconsin, Mr. Wood
married Miss Mary J., daughter of John and Eliza-
beth Challoner, natives of England, where they were
married. They came to this country and the father
died in 1897 and the mother in 1894. Mrs. Wood
has one brother, John. Four children have been born
to this marriage, Bessie, wife of G. W. Brown, with
the N. P. in Wallace ; John C, operates the concentra-
tor in Gem ; Edgar, a carpenter in Wallace ; Earl
A., handling a poultry ranch at Tekoa, Washington.
Mr. Wood is a member of the Elks, of the Maccabees,
and in political alliances is with the Republicans.
CHESTER B. BOYDEX is a miner of extended
experience in the northwest and also in southwestern
United States. He was born in Canton, New York,
mi May 18, 1850, the son of William D. and Dolly
(Nash) Boyden. The father was born in Massachu-
setts, coming from an old American family of English
descent. He died in 1882 aged sixty-five. The mother
was born in St. Albans, Vermont. Our subject was
raised and educated in his native place and when nine-
teen he went to Chicago, thence to Pioche. Nevada,
where he spent eight years prospecting, mining and as-
saying. He was in various places in Nevada and
Arizona, then operated a hoisting engine for four
and one half years at Tombstone, Arizona. In 1884
Mr. Boyden started out on a trip to Nevada. California,
Colorado, then to Missouri, and then went east on a
visit. Later we see him in St. Paul, Minnesota, where
he was in a railroad office for eight y<
1896-7 he came to the coast and prospected in
British Columbia, then went to Alaska, going over
the Stickeen pass to Teslin lake and thence down
the river to Dawson. He was taken with typhoid
pneumonia and went down the river to St. Michaels
with four other prospectors in an open boat, dining on
salmon and rice. Then he took passage on a sailing
vessel and in thirty-eight days, after a stormy voyage,
was in Seattle, whence he came to Spokane. The next
spring we find Mr. Boyden in the Buffalo Hum])
country and after some prospecting for that season, he
came to Mullan and since that time lie has b
in mining operations. Mr. Boyden is of the opinion
that this is the best mining section that he has visited
and is satisfied with its promises, which arc daily be-
ing verified into paying mines. Mr. Boyden is inter-
ested in the Boston group, a lead property, abouf one
mile west from Mullan. He also has other properties
and is giving his attention to their development and im-
provement. Mr. Boyden has three brothers, Henry
D., William H Leslie A.
On October 20, 1878. Mr. Boyden married Miss
Delia, daughter of Charles and Angelina Gleason. Mr.
Gleason is dead, but his widow lives in Canton, New
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
York, where Mrs. Hoyden was born. The wedding oc-
curred at Pioche, Nevada. Mrs. Boyden has two sis-
ters, Airs. Hattie Roys, and Mrs. Cora. Three chil-
dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Boyden, Dwight
A., aged twenty; Dollie, aged nineteen; Nellie, aged
nine. Mrs. Boyden and the children are at present
in Canton, New York, but expect soon to come to the
west again. Mr. Boyden is a member of the EC. < >. "1".
M., and a Republican.
N( )RT( IN R. PENNEY is the postmaster at Gem
and also conducts a large mercantile establishment
which, because of his capabilities and enterprise in
this line, has become a leading establishment of the
district and is now favored with a thriving patronage.
Norton R. Penney was born on Eong Island, New
York, on April I, 1840, the son of Manassah F. and
Phoebe (Robinson) Penney, natives of Long Island.
The family of Norton was one of the early families on
Eong Island and prominent in the American cause. ( >ur
subject's paternal grandmother was a Squires and the
family was one of the first settlers on Long Island
and they still retain the old homestead. A cousin of
his grandfather was retained in the Halifax prison
for trying to blow up a British man-of-war in the
time of the Revolution. Joseph Penney, brother of our
subject's father, was in the war of 1812 and was af-
terward a famous sea captain. The father came to
Illinois in [85.5 and died there in 1890, having been
a prominent man of the state. The mother of Norton
R. died in 185.], aged thirty-nine, in Illinois. Her father
came to that state with the Andover colony in the
early part of the nineteenth century. Norton R. was
reared and educated in Illinois, and when nineteen
went to California, it being an extension of a trip to
.Pikes Peak. He located at Poorman's creek and
mined three Years and then returned to Illinois. In
1870 he went to Iowa and in 1874 journeyed to Utah,
where he mined until 1888. Then Mr. Penney came
to Wallace and took a contract on the O. R. & N. be-
tween Tekoa and Wallace and a year later brought in
his family and opened the Penney hotel. This property
was consumed in the big fire of 1890 and then he con-
ducted the Idaho two years, selling to Fred Kratzer
at that time. Mr. Penney operated the Carter a while
and then did a dairy business and in the fall of 1902,
he came to Gem and established the mercantile house
which he conducts at this time. Mr. Penney has three
brothers, Charles, Theodore M., and Warren I)., the
last two being prominent in the Civil war and both
dying in that conflict. He has three sisters, Maria S.
Converse, Rose Jacks, Isabelle Woods.
On January 1. 1866, at Munson, Illinois, Mr. Pen-
ney married Miss Elnora, daughter of Elisha and
Margaret ( Wright ) Attwater. The father was born
in New York, of an American family of prominence.
and served as lieutenant in the One Hundred and
Twelfth Illinois Mounted Infantry. During the French
and Indian war a brig was captured which belonged
to the family and recently Mrs. Pennev received a
check for two dollars and sixty cents as her part of the
reimbursement, the amount being so small on account
of the great increase of heirs. Mrs. Penney's mother
was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and comes
from a prominent family. Mrs. Penney was born in
Rocky Island, September, 1848, and has four brothers
and one sister: George, Robert, John, Frank, Mary
E. Boyd, whose husband is a prominent man in Kan-
sas. Four children have been born to this marriage :
Margaret, wife of J. F. Nottingham, a merchant in
Dayton, Washington ; Nora, wife of Grant S. Potter,
a business man in Wallace ; Gertrude, Norton E., in
the high school: Theodore A., who was drowned at
Dudley, Massachusetts. He was a graduate of Am-
herst and was an instructor in Dudley academy. His
death occurred on August 13, 1900. Mr. Penney is
a member of the K. P. and of the A. O. U. W. He and
his wife are members of the Congregational church.
JOHN C. WOOD is doubtless the youngest fore-
man in the entire Coeur dAlene district, and it is un-
necessary to remark that unusual ability and efficiency
have brought him this position. He is foreman of the
Hecla concentrator at Gem and his career has always
been characterized by wisdom, enterprise and dis-
cretion as have been evinced in the capacity where
we find him at the present writing.
John C. Wood was born in New London, Wiscon-
sin, on January 12, 1880, and his parents and brothers
and' sisters are mentioned elsewhere in this volume,
namely: in the sketch of Lyman Wood. In 1885 the
family removed to Murray and our subject there be-
gan his school course which was finished in the high
school in Wallace. In 1896 he left that pleasant part
of life, the school days, and began the real battle of
business. He was in the employ of Finch & Camp-
bell in outside work about the Standard for three years.
Then he was appointed shift boss in the mill at Wal-
lace, where he did good work for three years. In
July, 1902, he was transferred as foreman of the Hecla
mill and there he is fulfilling the duties incumbent in
a capable and faithful manner. Mr. Wood is inter-
ested heavily with his father in mining properties and
is a stirring spirit in this line. Fraternally, he is affili-
ated with the Elks and the Maccabees and in political
matters he is independent. Mr. Wood is a popular and
highly esteemed young man.
JOHN F. METZ. of the firm of Metz & Mealley,
proprietors of the Idaho resort in Wallace, is an ener-
getic and enterprising business man and is conducting
a popular place of business. He was born in St. Paul.
Minnesota, on September 22, 1869, the son of Charles
and Mary (Grnppel) Metz, who now dwell in St.
Paul. The father was born in Germany and followed
contracting and building. The mother was born in St.
Louis and comes of German ancestry. Our subject
spent the first seventeen years of his life in his native
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
place and acquired a good education and then started
out for himself. He first went to Montana and was en-
gaged in a hotel and later in a restaurant, learning the
business thoroughly. In 1888 Mr. Metz went to
Tekoa, Washington, and opened the Pioneer restau-
rant and conducted it a year. Next we see him in Wal-
lace and for three years he was in the saloon and res-
taurant business. In 1894 Mr. Metz leased the Idaho
hotel and for three years he did a good business and
then sold out and went to Ft. Steele, where he operated
a restaurant for one year. Next he followed the same
business in Saltese, Montana, and also conducted a
saloon. Mr. Metz then turned to prospecting and did
some exploiting in the Buffalo Hump country. He lo-
cated a claim but being short of funds abandoned it.
It was relocated and sold for ten thousand dollars. In
1899 he returned to Wallace and January first engaged
in Its present business with Ed < >'Mally, who recently
sold his interest to Michael Mealley. They conducted
a place which is a popular resort for miners and pros-
pectors. Mr. Metz has five brothers, William, Henry,
Charles, George, Herbert, and one sister, Christena
Hendricks. Mr. Metz is still the possessor of the joys
and quietness of the bachelor. He is a member of tin
Elks and in politics is a Democrat.
FRED C. GREENWALD is the senior member of
the firm of Greenwald & Coller, proprietors of the
Windsor hotel, the leading hostelry in Mullan, and a
house which is a favorite with the traveling public and
the recipient of a thriving patronage.
Fred C. Greenwald was born in Heme, Germany,
on April 1, 1870, the son of Robert and Alwine (Erde-
len) Greenwald, natives of Heme. The father died
in 1892. He had been a soldier in the Austrian and
the Franco-Prussian wars. The mother still lives
in Heme. Our subject was educated in the public
schools and learned the confectioner's art. He wrought
at this industry until he was eighteen, then came to
the United States and located in Hoboken, New Jer-
sey. One year there in a hotel, then to Buffalo, New
York, then in Kansas City, later in Arizona, Los An-
geles and other places in California he wrought in cook-
ing and at his trade. In the fall of 1891, he came to
Spokane and was pastry cook there until June, 1896. in
the Spokane hotel. Then he came to Wallace and
took a position in the Carter house, after which he
was in the Morning mine in Mullan, then cooked at
the miners' boarding house in Burke and in Septem-
ber, 1 901, Mr. Greenwald entered partnership with
Ed Lappat and bought the business of the Windsor
house. Later Mr. Lappat sold to Mr. Coller who is
now in partnership with our subject. Their excel-
lent cuisine, wise management of business, kind treat-
ment of all and genial manner, have won for them a
gratifying patronage and made their house the center
of the travelers for this town.
Mr. Greenwald has four brothers and two sisters
living in Germain', Paul, Ernest, William, Robert,
Adele. Emma. On October 5. 1898. at Spokane, Mr.
Greenwald married Miss Thea C. Carter, who is a
native of Norway. Her parents are both deceased.
Two children have been born to this union. Alma A.
and Clara T. Mr. Greenwald is a member of the Red-
men and is past sachem. He is manager of the Stev-
ens Peak Copper and Gold Mining Company, secre-
tary of the Wellington Copper and Gold Mining Com-
pany and is also interested in several other promising
properties.
ALBERT E. BOOKWALTER is master me-
chanic of the Mammouth mine at Gem and in this ca-
pacity has manifested great skill and execution in his
line and is a popular and substantial man. He was
born in Indiana, on September 7, 1862, the son of Will-
iam H. and Bettie (Flora) Bookwalter, natives of
Indiana, and they now live at Bookwalter, Nebraska.
They came from old and prominent families and are
leading people in their present home. < )ur subject
was educated well and learned the machinist trade
while going on with his school. This was at Pawnee
City, Nebraska. Since that time he has given most
of his time to engineering and machine work. He
followed his trades in Nebraska until 1890 and then
came to Corvallis, Oregon. He was engineer and
master mechanic in the carriage works there for five
years, then went to Salem and took charge of the elec-
tric plant there until August, 1899. At the last date
mentioned, he came to the Coeur d'Alene country and
was installed as master mechanic at the Mammoth
and there he has continued since. Air. Bookwalter
has four brothers and four sisters : Frank. Allison,
John, Joseph, Lilly, Annie, Lida, Bertha.
On August 4. 1883, Mr. Bookwalter married Ma-
linda J., daughter of Charles and Sophia (Clark)
Cruse, natives of Indiana and now living at Liberty,
Nebraska. The wedding occurred in Pawnee City,
Nebraska. Mrs. Bookwalter is a native of Franklin
county, Indiana, and has two brothers and three sis-
ters: Marion, Henry, Elnora Patterson, Elsie Harris,
Lulu Doty. To Mr. and Mrs. Bookwalter there have
been born six children: Vernon. William. Lewis, Flora,
Elnora, Marie M. Mr. Bookwalter is a member of the
A. F. & A. M., of the I. O. O. F. and of the W. W. He
is a Republican and always allied on tin side of prog-
ress and improvement.
JACOB MORITZ, one of the best known mer-
chants of Orofino, is eminently deserving of mention
m the history of northern Idaho, since he has been
more or less connected with the country for a si ore "i"
more of years, since he is now one of the steady labor-
ers for development and advancement, since In- is a
man of integrity, and since he is a popular and capa-
ble man and possessed of a public spirit. Perhaps no
man in the Clearwater valley is beloved sincerely by
more people than the subject of this -ketch and his
affability, kindness, real worth of character, genuine
sympathy with his fellows, and cheering words to all,
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
are some of the reasons that have wrought this state
of affairs and hold his large circle of admiring friends.
Jacob Moritz was born in York, Pennsylvania, on
May 12, i860, being the son of Moses and Henrietta
(Danabaum) Moritz, natives of Germany. The father
was a prominent physician in York and died in Sep-
tember, 1879. The mother died when our subject was
twenty. Jacob had received a good education in the
public schools and high school in York and in 1882
he went to Pueblo, Colorado, to visit relatives. Thence
he made his way to Portland, Oregon, and soon was
installed as steward on one of the O. R. & N. steamers.
For eighteen years he made the Snake river trip and
was known favorably all over the country adjacent to
that run. He is an only child, but has half-brothers
and half-sisters as follows : Frank, David and Pau-
line. In 1899 Mr. Moritz located in Orofino and op-
ened a general merchandise store and has enjoyed a
first-class trade since diat time.
At Lewiston, on August 7, 1S97, Mr. Moritz mar-
ried Miss Hattie M., daughter of Frank and Sarah
(Magnire) Pixley. Mr. Pixley died when Mrs. Mor-
itz was five years old and his widow is now living at
Waha, on the reservation. Mrs. Moritz was born in
Kansas, on February 22. 1877, and has three brothers,
Orrin. in Lewiston; Walter and James, at Waha.
CHARLES E. FORT, who is well known in the
Coeur d'Alene country, is a popular business man in
Gem and is also interested in mining, to which he
gives his attention a portion of the time. He was born
in Rock county, Wisconsin, on February 15, 1867,
the son of Thomas S. Fort, native of New York state.
The father was a pioneer to Wisconsin and died in
Michigan in 1887. Our subject was reared in Wiscon-
sin until twelve, attended district school and then went
to Michigan with the family. There he was a con-
stant attendant in school until he was sixteen when he
learned the baker's trade and followed it in Michi-
gan for some time. Then after his father's death he
was employed in the mines in various places in the
state until 1892, when he opened a cigar and confec-
tionery store in Ironwood, Michigan, and sold out
one year later. He was engaged in the grocery busi-
ness there for a time and in 1897 he came to Gem. He
took a position in the mines and then opened a cigar
and confectionery store. Mr. Fort has one brother,
Edward.
At Hurley, Wisconsin, on January 21, 1889, Mr.
Fort married Miss Lauretta, a daughter of Joseph and
Julia (Johnson) Strike, natives of England and New
York, reespectively. The father lives in Wisconsin,
where he follows blacksmithing. The mother died
April 26, 1902. Mrs. Fort died August 16, 1900,
at Gem, aged twenty-five years, leaving two sons,
Thomas R., and Harvey. On September 26, 1901, Mr.
Fort married Mrs. Mary Lawrence, who is a sister of
his first wife. The marriage occurred in Missoula,
Montana. Mrs. Fort was born in Pennsylvania, Sep-
tember 23, 1872. She has two girls by her first mar-
riage. Clara M. and Olive M. Mrs. Fort has two
sisters living, Sarah J. Jones and Grace, and two
brothers, Harry and -James. Mr. Fort is a member
of the I. O. O. F., Encampment and the K. P. He is
handling a fine cigar store and confectionery estab-
lishment, his wife aiding in this enterprise, while he
also does considerable work in photography and has
some elegant views on sale.
FRANCIS E. GILLICE is one of the young men
of Gem whose popularity is unmistakable, and whose
uprightness and capabilities have hightly won tor him
this enviable position and the confidence which is his
to enjoy in unstinted measure. He is at present the
hoist engineer in the Frisco mine and is one of the effi-
cient men of the district.
Francis E. Gillice was born iir Placer county, Cal-
ifornia, on October 10, 1877, tne son °f Owen and
Ingeberg (Wickstrom) Gillice. The father
native of Ireland, came to California in 1849 and there
followed mining until his death, in 1881. He had come
across the plains. The mother was born in Sweden and
now lives near Salem. After the death of his father
our subject came with his" mother and the balance of
the family to Kansas, whence they went to Oregon.
Mrs. Gillice married Samuel Miles in Kansas, a native
of Indiana, whose ancestors were of the stanch Quaker
stock. Our subject attended the graded and high
schools in Salem and in October. 1898. he came rhence
to the Coeur dAlene country where he at once began
labor in the Bunker Hill and Sullivan. He remained
there until the mines closed in 1899 and after work was
resumed he came to the Frisco and since then he has
been one of the efficient force in that property. He
has held his present position about nine months and is
a capable hand in this responsible place. Mr. Gillice
has one brother. Oscar. Mr. Gillice is a member of
the Elks and popular in this leading fraternal order in
the Coeur d'Alene countrv.
!
HON. CLIFFORD C. FULLER, now conducting
a real estate and insurance business in Orofino. is with-
out doubt one of the leading business men of the Clear-
water valley, as will be evident from a perusal of his
life's review, which we append, deeming it a pertinent
portion of the history of Shoshone county.
Clifford C. Fuller was born in Morenci, Michigan,
on August 21. 186S, being the son of Morris F. and
Mary L. (Page) Fuller. The father was born in New
York State, being descended from a prominent family
of long standing in the Empire State. His eldest
brother, Rev. J. 0- Fuller, was a well known divine of
Atlanta. Georgia. The father is now a retired farmer
in Huron, South Dakota. The mother of our subject
•was born in Fairfield township, Michigan. Her par-
ents were natives of New York State and early pio-
neers to Michigan. They were in Detroit when it was
held by the British. The maternal grandmother of our
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
subject was a Morris and her ancestors were of na-
tional fame in the time of the Revolution, one of
them being a signer of the Declaration of Independ-
ence. Our subject attended school in Morenci until
fifteen and then came with the family to South Dakota,
who wore part of a large colony of Michigan people.
The father took land and our subject completed his
education in a private school and later taught school
for three winters. When he was twenty he engaged
in the real estate business in Huron, and as this was in
the time when the strong fight for the state capital was
being taken up, wherein a quarter of a million was
spent, there was a great boom. When the capital was
iocated Mr. Fuller withdrew from business, as the
boom was over. In 1890 he came to Olympia and read
law for one year, thence to Moscow, where he contin-
ued this reading, and there also he embarked in a
commercial brokerage and collection business in part-
nership with G. G. Pickett. He continued in business
there until the reservation opened up and he came to
the present site of Orofino and filed on one hundred
and fortv-seven acres of land. He erected a store,
fenced the land and made other improvements. He
conducted a general merchandise business. At this
time Mr. Fuller put into execution a plan which he had
long considered feasible, that of running a steamer on
the Clearwater, and the Lewiston was the boat that he
hired for one trip, in which it transported large
amounts of cordwood to Lewiston. This was an ex-
cellent undertaking, and will doubtless result in much
good, as it is demonstrated now that the steamers are
able to make the trips, and when a small amount of
improving is done by the government this waterway
will be opened up and be of uirtold benefit to the sur-
rounding country. And in this connection we are
bound to mention that to Mr. Fuller much credit is
due for his aggressive labors in many lines in this sec-
tion, in addition to this important move, which will be
evident as we proceed. In 1896 Mr. Fuller was nom-
inated for lieutenant-governor of Idaho on the Fusion
ticket, but declined, being too young for eligibility to
the position. In the same campaign, however, he was
nominated for representative to the state legislature
and elected by a handsome majority, having the dis-
tinction of running far ahead of his ticket. In that
legislature he took an important part in the Heitfield-
Dubois senatorial fight. The former being Elected, our
subject was appointed his secretary and served for one
year in Washington, then resigned to return to his
business at Orofino. He had previous to this organized
a company known as the Clearwater Improvement
Company, he being president and P. H. Blake secre-
tary, to which company he had deeded his land. The
company built a warehouse, platted a town-site and did
other improving in 1898. They also constructed a
ferry and the town commenced to grow. It was named
Orofino from the well known creek and a new town
with excellent prospects was launched. The railroad
came in the fall and the town has become well known
and promises great things for the" future. Mr. Fuller
has also been active in the interests of the new county
and spent the winter in Boise in arduous labor for it.
Mr. Fuller is a member of the B. P. O. F... Mos-
cow, No. 249. lie is a stanch Republican and is a
potent and well known figure in the convention-, both
state and county. He has the following brothers and
sisters: James M.. an expert with a threshing ma
chine company in Grinnell, Iowa; Edward II.
buyer in Genesee; Arthur D., a railroad engineer in
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin ; Nelly, a widow : Alice. a
school teacher; Ada, a stenographer, all in Huron.
In February, 1898, Mr. Fuller married Mi^s Matx I
B. Anderson al Moscow. Her father is deceased and
her mother was the first postmistress in Orofino, and
now lives on the reservation. Airs. Fuller was born in
Iowa on August 31, 1875, and is now attending the
State University in Moscow. They have one child,
Lucelle.
STFPHEX V. OSBURN is one of the earliest
and most prominent pioneers of the Cceur d'Alene dis-
trict, and since the days of the Prichard creek excite-
ment until the present he has allied himself with this
section and is one of the best known men of the coun-
try. He was born in Virginia November r, 1835, the
son of Enos and Sarah (Castleman) Osburn. natives
of Virginia. The father was horn in 1796 and died in
1868, had served in the war of 18 12, and subject's
grandfather was a patriot of the Revolution. The fam-
ily started in this country by the emigration of four
brothers from England in 1728. The mother came
from a prominent old Virginia family who were very
wealthy and were leaders in the American cause and
fought in al! the struggles pertaining to it. Our subject
came to Illinois when small with the family and there
gained his education from the public schools. He went
to do for himself when twenty and bought a farm for
one thousand dollars, took two crops off from it and
sold it for two thousand dollars. He then bought a
large farm in Logan county and there saw the hardest
times of his life, corn and wheat selling as low as ten
and forty cents respectively. In February,
came to Montana and mined in Alder gulch, in 1865
went to Butte, at Helena and at other places he mined
unsuccessfully, and finally in 1870 he struck it rich in
Illinois gulch and went east hut stopped at Salt Lake
City to mine, being interested in Dry Canyon. In [876
he went to the Black Hills and to use his ex]
went broke and got in debt eight hundred dollars. He
returned west and visited Butte and other places and
finallv on May 12. 1883, he arrived in the Eagle City
country, fie at once secured a claim, built a hewed loo-
house and brought in a stock of goods and his place
was known as Osburn. March 18. 1886, he took his
present place and secured eighty acres additional as a
townsite. Mr. ( Isburn h is three brothers and four sis-
ters. George, Marion. Thomas. Farrinda, widow of W.
Bone, Lucy Ulett, Laura Nance, Sarah Speers. .Mr.
Speers' mother was captured by the Indians and was
forced to marry an Indian, hut later escaped and mar-
ried. Her daughter by the Indian raised a family of
boys, two if whom became famous preachers.
' At Rathdrum in the fall of* 1888, Mr. Osburn mar-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ried Mrs. .Man M. Smith, a native of Pennsylvania.
Mr. Osburn has heavy mining interests, among which
we mav mention the Mineral Point property, a pro-
ducer, the Terror, the Evolution, which was the first
claim located in the Coeur d'Alene by Prichard, and
many other properties. He is a member of the Elks.
Mr. and Mrs. Osburn are well known and have hosts
of friends in this country and are among the leading
people of the entire district.
|( ISEPH E. BECK, M. D. A representative and
well known business man of Orofino. where the Doctor
does both an extensive medical practice and also is pro-
prietor of a first class drug store, it is fitting that an
epitome of his career be granted among the prominent
men of his town and vicinity.
Joseph E. Beck was born in Armstrong county,
Pennsylvania, on May 5, 1864, being the son of Jacob
P. and Sophia (Saxmon) Beck, natives of Pennsylva-
nia and of German ancestrage. The father is a promi-
nent Republican in his section and is now leading a
retired life from his active labors of a farmer hereto-
fore. The mother of our subject died in September,
1 90 1. Our subject received a common schooling and
then graduated from Dayton Academy, Pennsylvania,
and then entered the state university of Iowa, taking
up the medical course, which he finished with distinc-
tion in 1887. An active practice soon began and he
followed his profession one year in Pennsylvania, seven
years in South Dakota, four years in Kansas, and <<\u:
year in Washington. Then Ik- retired from active prac-
tice for one vear, visiting various places in the north-
west, finally locating in Orofino, where he purchased
his present store from Dr. Charles S. Moody. The 1 )> >c-
tor does a good practice in the town and surrounding
country in addition to handling his store and he is a
leading business man of this section. Doctor Peck has
four brothers. Dr. Peter S. Beck, in Genesee ; Dr. John
A. Beck, in Salinas, California ; Jacob S., a farmer in
Pennsylvania: Christian S., a miner in Pennsylvania.
He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Orofino 64, being
vice grand: of the K. of P., Orofino 3:, being pres-
ent C. C. : and of the M. W. A.
On September 22, 1893, in Chicago, Dr. Beck mar-
ried Miss Delia E., daughter of James Yates, whose
parents were natives of England and were married in
London. Mrs. Peck was born in Tennessee. Her par-
ents now live in Kansas and the father is a retired iron
worker, being a very skillful artisan. Mrs. Beck is
now conducting a drug store in Pasco. Washington.
PETER SCHUE, a genial and affable gentleman
whose uprightness and capabilities have won for him
the respect and confidence of all, is now living at Os-
burn, and is heavily interested in mining properties
that have shown great value. He was born in Indiana
November 10. 1817, the son of Frank and Lucy (Brun-
ner) Schue, natives of Alsace-Lorraine and Switzer-
land, respectively. The father settled in Indiana when
sixteen and was one of the leading pioneers of the
country. He died in 1849, aSe^ twenty-four. He was
a prominent young man. The mother came to the
United States when five years of age, was married in
Dearborn county, Indiana, and now lives in Osage
county, Missouri, the widow of John G. Schwind. Ottr
subject had the privilege of but one term in school and
like many of the hardy pioneers he was obliged to
gather his education from the available means as he
grew up. He remained in Indiana until twenty-six,
engaged in buying cattle and hogs. On May 26, 1876,
he landed in Kansas, returned soon to Indiana, bought
horses and mules and returned to Kansas and broke
prairie in various places, working for Mrs. White, the
mother of Senator White, which person helped him to
break twelve miles of fire breaks in two days. Mr.
Schue farmed and raised stock there until 1889, when
he came to Farmington. Washington. In 1899 Mr.
Schue, with Messrs. F. T. Brown, J. J. Winship, John
McNull, John Flink and Nathan Wittner. advanced
funds and incorporated the O. K. Mining Company.
In addition to this property Mr. Schue is interested in
the Salmon river mines and has some very valuable
property. He has one half-brother and three- half-
sisters, — Louis. Mary Bengel, Barbara Lambert and
Lena Keller.
On September 7, 1899. at Wallace, Mr. Schue mar-
ried Miss Annie, daughter of Peter and Eliza (Mur-
ray) McRedmond, natives of Ireland. The father en-
listed in the Civil war, and died soon after from yellow
fever, when Mrs. Schue was five months old. The
mother died in Springfield, Massachusetts, in January,
1872. Mrs. Schue lived in Westfield, but made several
trips to the west to visit friends. Mr. Schue is a mem-
ber of the I. O. O. F. and the Encampment. Mrs.
Schue is a member of the Catholic church. Politically
they are independent.
OLE H. LINN is a mining man and a leading
business man of Wallace, of excellent standing, and
one of the foremost men in pressing this country to the
front and to the attention of investors. He was born
in Sweden March 20, 1871, the son of Hans and Emma
(Bur) Linn, natives of Norway and Sweden, respect-
ively. Thev came to the Cnited States in 1887, and the
father died in Douglas county, Minnesota, a few days
after his arrival. The mother still lives in Minnesota.
Our subject came to this country two years after his
parents and spent one year in Minnesota and North
Dakota, and then came to the Coeur d'Alene country.
He landed here in March, 1890, and went to work in
the various mines of the district. He invested his
earnings carefully in grubstaking and in stocks, and
the results are that he is now one of the principal men
of the section. He is president of the Nine Mile prop-
erties and manager and director of the O. K, at Gov-
ernment gulch, besides being heavily interested in vari-
ous other properties that are of value. He is handling
a force of eight men in development work on the O.
PETER SCHUE.
OLE H. LINN.
JOHN W. FLINK.
ALLY MilHI.I.IYRAY
FRANK M EDMONSON.
IOHN H. HANSEN.
GUS PETERSON.
CHARLES E. BENNETT. HARRY M. RICHARDSON.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
113
K. and the- property will soon be a producer. Air. Linn
has also an eighth interest in the Sixteen to One
claims. Mr. Linn has the following brothers and
sisters: Michael, Samuel. Andrew, Annie Flink,
Emma Holm. Martha.
On January 22. 1894, at Wallace, Mr. Linn mar-
ried Miss Annie, daughter of Magnus and Mary (Er-
rickson) Mattson. natives of Sweden. The father died
when this daughter was young, and the mother died in
her native land in 1891. Mrs. Linn was born in
Sweden on January 10. 1871, and she has one brother
and one sister, — Charles and Tillie Michael. Mr. Linn
is a member of the A. F. & A. M., of the Elks, of the
K. P. and of the Scandinavian Brotherhood. He is a
stanch Republican and is on the school board and at-
tended the seventh state convention.
JOHN W. FLINK is a leading mining man of the
Coeur d'Alene country and it is with pleasure that we
are enabled to grant an epitome of his interesting ca-
reer in the history of his county. He was born in
Sweden on July 6, 1866, the son of Charles and Han-
nah Flink, natives also of Sweden, where the mother
died when our subject was six years of age. The
father was for many years a non-commissioned officer
in the army, and, as is customary in that country, he
was given a name, when "he entered the army, and they
have retained the name since. He is now retired.
Our subject was well educated in his native land, and
in March. 1887. he came to the United States. He
soon made his way to Minnesota and worked in the
sawmills and at various employments for two years,
when he went to Puget Sound, in the winter of 1889
he returned, east as far as the Coeur d'Alene country
and worked on the railroad between Wallace and Mul-
lan. Next we see him in Stevens county. Washing-
tun, and in Spokane, and in the winter of 1890 he came
to Wallace, and since that time he has been identified
with the mining interests of this district. He did
contract work on prospects and worked in the1 different
large properties and in 1896 Mr. Flink located the
famous Sixteen to One mine. He bonded to Finch
& Campbell, and they paid several payments and then
let it come back on account of litigation regarding sur-
face rights. Mr. Flink still owns three-eighths' inter-
est in the property, which is considered worth mure
than a million. He is also interested in the ( >. K. and
owns heavily in the Nine Mile Company. He is man-
ager of one and holds official positions in the others.
Mr. Flink has considerable other mining property and
also owns considerable residence property in Wallace,
which brings in a steady revenue, and also has some
fine property in Seattle. He has two brothers and
one sister— Johan, Peter and Emily. Mr. Flink is a
member of the I. O. O. F., of the Elks, and of the
Scandinavian Brotherhood. He is a Republican and
frequently is delegate.
On September 0, 1900, in Douglas county. .Min-
nesota, Mr. Flink married Miss Anna H.. daughter of
Hans and Ingeborg Linn, natives of Norway and
Sweden, respectively. The father died a few days
after getting to this country, and the mother lives now
in Minnesota. Mrs. Mink is a native of Sweden and
has four brothers and two sisters, — Michael H., Ole H.,
Andrew H., Samuel H, Ingeborg Holm and Martha H.
ALLY McGILLIVRAY. The real worth, enter-
prise and business ability of the subject of this article
have found fitting expression in his excellent achieve-
ments and various business ventures in and adjacent
to Kingston. He does general fanning, operates in the
mining realm quite extensively, takes and executes
large logging contracts ; handles hundreds of thousands
of feet of mining timbers in addition- to an extensive
pole business. In this latter industry Mr. McGillivray
is one of the leading men of the Northwest. He
drives his products down the tributary of the Coeur
d'Alene river and distributes these poles to all sections
of the United States, shipping as far as New York.
In this alone he handled over one hundred carloads
last year.
Ally McGillivray was born in .Michigan on June 5,
1869, the son of Duncan D. and Emma ( I "den) Mc-
Gillivray, natives of Scotland and Canada, respectively.
The father came from Scotland to Canada, then to the
United States in the early 'sixties, settling in Michigan,
where he died in 1880. The mother still lives at
Nuir, Michigan. Our subject was raised in Michigan,
and there received a very thorough education in the
high school, graduating from the latter in 1887 ; then
he came to Livingston. Montana, whence he soon made
his way to Cataldo, and there and in Kingston he has
continued in the industries as outlined above. Re-
cently Mr. McGillivray bought forty acres of good
tillable land, where he erected his present residence.
He has two brothers, — George H. and Duncan D. ;
and four sisters,- — Edith Toan, Jessie Jones, Ada and
Minnie, teachers in Michigan.
On December 25, 1901. at Kingston. Mr. McGilli-
vrav married Miss Ina P., daughter of Frank and
Elizabeth (Littlefield) Smith. One child has been
born to bless this union. — Edna B.
FRANK M. EDMONSON is a well known and
stirring business man in Orofino. being manager and
one of the proprietors of the Clearwater livery and feed
stable in Orofino. which is handled by Demarest &
Edmonson.
Frank M. Edmonson was born in Newaygo county.
Michigan, on November 22. 1870. being the son of
William P. and Adelia (Fairbanks) Edmonson, na-
tives of New Jersey and Michigan, respectively. The
father's ancestors also were natives of New Jersey,
and he served in the Seventh Michigan for four years,
being in thirteen battles. He was wounded in the
battle of the Wilderness and died at Leland on Oc-
tober 10. 1894, aged fifty-six. The mother lives with
our subject, and. her father and mother were natives of
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
New York and Vermont, respectively. Frank was
raised in Michigan until nine and then came with his
parents to Idaho. He was educated in the district
schools in Michigan and in the Potlatch country. He
remained with his parents until twenty-two and after
his father's death he engaged in a meat market in Ice-
land for two years. At the opening of the reservation
Mr. Edmonson went to Central ridge and took a place,
which he later sold. Then he took another claim,
across the river from Orofino. In August, 1902, in
partnership with Mr. Demarest, he bought his present
business, including stock, stables and some rigs. The
barn will accommodate nearly forty transients, and
they own fifty head of stock. About twenty-five head
of saddle animals have been in constant use and they
also have some first class rigs, and all that care, dili-
gence and pains can do for the comfort and accommo-
dation of their patrons is done, which gives the barn
a fine reputation.
Mr. Edmonson has one brother and three sisters, —
George, who owns a farm adjoining his; Mary E., a
widow, with our subject : Grace and Esther, both single
and with our subject. They are school teachers, and
Esther will graduate from the state normal at the next
term. Mr. Edmonson has never seen fit to leave the
ranks of the bachelors, although many are falling
around him. and he, too, is a first class man who enjoys
the confidence and good will of all. Politically he
is a Democrat and abie to uphold intelligently the
principles of his party.
JOHN H. HANSEN. No more patriotic and true
American citizens come to the shores of the United
States than the descendants of the early discoverers
of this continent. Among this class of sturdy men and
noble women we are constrained to mention the sub-
ject of this article, who is one of the substantial and
leading business men in Wallace, where for more than
a decade he has followed successfully his occupation of
contractor and builder, doing a good business and
erecting some of the best buildings in the city, among
which may be mentioned the Pacific hotel, the Coeur
d'Alene Hardware Company, Einch & Campbell's office
and many others, besides completing much work in the
various mines adjacent to this centre.
John H. Hansen was born in Denmark on Septem-
ber 23, 1864, being the son of Hans and Caroline (Hen-
riksen) Hansen, natives of Denmark and dying in
1900 and 1876, respectively. The father was a con-
tractor and builder, and our subject learned the busi-
ness thoroughly from him. He was also educated in
his native land, and in 1882 he came to the United
States. He wrought first in Watertown, South Da-
kota, then went to Minnesota, and to Spokane, whence
he came to Wallace in 1890. He has made a fine repu-
tation for himself, not only as a first class builder,
but also as a man of integrity and stability, having
demonstrated his intrinsic worth, and he stands well
in the community. Mr. Hansen has no relatives in
the United States, but he has brothers and sisters in
Denmark.
On September 1, 1895, Mr. Hansen married Miss
Christina Christensen, whose parents live in Denmark.
The wedding occurred in Wallace, and they have two
children, — John H, born September 1, 1896; Chester
A., born January 23, 1898. Mrs. Hansen has one
brother, — Rasmus, dwelling near Spokane. Mr. Han-
sen is a member of the A. O. U. W., Mullan Camp,
No. 22. He is an active and progressive member of
the board of trade, and in political matters he is allied
with the Democratic party. Mr. Hansen is president
of the North Star Mining Company, which has a fine
gold and copper property on the St. Joseph river.
He also has interest in the several mines adjacent to
Wallace and is vice-president of the Pretoria Mining
Company.
GUS PETERSON is a member of the firm of
Furst & Peterson, who conduct the Colorado saloon in
Gem. He was born in Sweden on September 22, 1859,
the son of Peter Person and Ingre (Erickson) Peter-
son, natives also of Sweden, where they live now. Our
subject was educated in the schools of his place and
remained in his native country until 1881, when he
came to Chicago. He was soon employed in Pullman,
when there were but fifteen houses there. Later he
did railroad contract work, and then went to Fort
Collins, Colorado, where he worked in the stone quarrv
and later was boss of the quarry for two years. In
1886 he went to the state of Sonora, Mexico, where
he was engaged in mining. Then he worked in the
Gold Hill mines, and mining from that time until 1900
was his constant occupation. He made a trip to the
old country in 1889, and in 1892 Mr. Peterson came
into the Coeur d'Alene country and engaged with the
Tiger, where he remained in efficient labor until 1899.
He was a year with the Frisco people, and then came
the time of starting his present business. Mr. Peterson
has one brother, John N., and four sisters, — Blenda,
Matilda Anderson, Tda and Fea Swanson.
At Helena, Montana, on April 10, 1891, Mr. Peter-
son married Miss Lena Roelson, whose parents dwell
in the Black Hills, where she was born. Her sister is
the wife of Mr. Peterson's partner. Mrs. Peterson
has three brothers and one sister, — Jacob, Ole, Rudolph
and Tena Christianson. Mr. Peterson is a member of
the K. P., of the Scandinavian Brotherhood, and is a
popular man in the district. Three children have been
born to Mr. and Mrs. Peterson, — Myrtle, aged eleven ;
Clara, deceased: Pearl, aged seven. Mr. Peterson is
interested in a number of promising and valuable min-
ing properties.
CHARLES E. BENNETT. Of one it is said "Let
his works praise him in the gates." Surely no greater
praise could be bestowed upon the subject of this sketch
than to properly represent the excellent work he has
done in his profession. He is one of the most skilled
machinists and mechanical engineers in the northwest,
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
and has wrought in the interests of some of the largest
companies, installing intricate machinery in difficult
positions and accomplishing some of the most difficult
operations in the line of mechanical engineering and in
the art of machinist.
Charles E. Bennett was born in Maine on October
16, 1865, the son of Otis G. and Hannah (Bursley)
Bennett, natives also of Maine. The paternal great-
grandfather of our subject came from England to
Gloucester, Massachusetts, was a sea faring man and
fought for the independence of the colonies. The fa-
ther of our subject opened the noted slate quarries of
Monson. Maine, in 1873. He died in March, 1892, at
Tacoma. Washington. The mother of our subject
comes from a prominent and old New England family,
some of the ancestors arriving on these shores in the
Mayflower. She died in May, 1876, in Maine. Our
subject was raised in Maine and received a good high
school course, and before that was completed he took
up the problem of learning the machinist's art, carrying
the two at the same time. Later he went to Cambridge-
port, Massachusetts, where he finished his trade and
returned to Maine. A year later he was in Pennsyl-
vania, then spent a time in Maine, and soon was in
Montana. He was master mechanic in the Empire
mine, then came to Seattle, and traveled some and later
went to the Spotted Horse mine in Montana. Later
he was machinist in Dewev Flat and at the Big Ox
mine, then returned to the Old Empire. Five years
were spent in Helena in charge of the electric plant,
and in 1898 he came to the Frisco. Fifteen months
here and he went to Alaska for the Moore Investment
Company. From there he returned to the Frisco, and
here he has been since. In all these places Mr. Bennett
was handling large and intricate propositions, which
required a master mind and a skilled and experienced
hand, with talent to direct it all. He has been emi-
nently successful in all the lines which he has pur-
sued, and in the undertakings of his hands, and is also
one of the popular men of the district. He is the
centre of a large circle of admiring friends and is
worthy of the esteem and confidence placed in him.
Mr. Bennett has two brothers, Charles S. and Frank B.
On June 6, 1898, Mr. Bennett married Miss Thana
A., daughter of William and Frances (Bolin) Thomp-
son, natives of California. The father died in 1880,
and the mother in 1895. She was among the very first
white children born in Dutch Flat, California. This
wedding occurred in Helena, Montana. Mrs. Ben-
nett has one half-sister, — Mrs. James Conway. Mr.
Bennett is a Republican and a man of square opinions
on the issues of the day.
HARRY M. RICHARDSON. The owner and
proprietor of a first class drug store in Greer, and a well
known and representative citizen of this common-
wealth, it is fitting that we accord to the subject of
this article a consideration in the history of his county.
Harry M. Richardson was born in Cedar county,
Missouri, on March 8, 1870, being the son of Edward
and Milinda (Codrick) Richardson, natives of Ten-
nessee and Illim lis. respectively. The father was a
physician and lives in Lyons, Kansas. He is a promi-
nent man there and in 1890 ran for governor on the
Democratic ticket, and although he ran far ahead of his
ticket, he was defeated by a small majority. The
mother of our subject was descended from German and
English parents and is still living. Harry M. was
reared in Emporia. Kansas, and received a good educa-
tion, finishing in the high school. After that he spent
two years in his father's drug store, and then he came
to Colfax, where he clerked for Dr. Buzzings for
nearly two years. Following this period Mr. Richard-
son came to the vicinity of Nezperce and took an eighty-
acre homestead. After proving up on this he sold
it and came to Greer, where he bought the store and
stock of Dr. Moody, and since that time he has been
identified with the business population of this place.
He is a member of the school hoard and labors faith-
fully for the betterment of educational facilities. Mr.
Richardson is a member of the W. of W. and the Circle,
while he and his wife belong to the Baptist church.
In January, 1000. Mr. Richardson married Miss
Bertha, daughter of John 1'.. and Ellen (Hayden)
Heister. The wedding occurred in Pullman, Wash-
ington. Mrs. Richardson was born in Iowa in 1871,
and she has the following brothers and sisters: Fritz,
a cigar maker in Walla Walla; Eugene, in the United
States army in the Philippines ; Dell, wife of Charles
Elliott, in Kendrick; Edith, wife of John Dunwoody,
at Colfax: Lillie, wife of Louis Siebert, in Marysville,
Kansas. Mr. Richardson has three sisters, — Sarah,
wife of Judge Jarvis R. ('raw ford, of Nezperce; Alma,
wife of Edwin Barber, near Nezperce ; Edna, wife of
Joseph Donaldson, near Nezperce. Mr. Richardson
and his estimable wife have become the parents of
three children, — Monnie, Alvra Fern and Mildred J.
In 1902 Mr. Richardson was elected justice of the
peace, and he is an efficient incumbent.
BARNET l-( )RD. The popular and efficient mar-
shal of Mullan is named at the head of this article, and
the esteem in which he is held is evidenced by the fact
that he is now serving his third term in this capacity.
He is a man of reliability and excellent standing and
is conscientious in the discharge of his duties in his
official capacity.
Barnet Ford was horn in Tennessee on December
2, 1861. the son of Isaac and Harriet (Cabbage) Ford,
native- of Tennessee. The family dwelt near the state
line of Virginia for many years. The paternal grand-
father of our subject was in the war of 1812 and the
father of that patriot came from Ireland. The father
of Barnet was too old to enlist in the Civil war. but
two of his sons fought for the Union. The father gave
his life for the cause, too, as while he was piloting a
party through the mountain- to the Union army, where
they intended to enlist, he was assassinated. The
mother of our subject came from German ancestry.
Barnet was reared in his native place and when
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
eighteen years old came to California and there farmed
for nine years. Then he did railroad contract work in
Washington, and in 1894 he came to the Cceur d'Alene
country and worked in the mines until the time of the
labor troubles, when, as he was a member of the
Miner's Union, he was obliged to retire from that em-
ployment, but was soon appointed night watchman in
Mullan and then elected marshal, where we find him at
the present time. Mr. Ford has three brothers and two
sisters. — Wilson, Thomas. Archie. Mrs. Isaac Huston,
Mrs. John Gregory.
On November 24. 1900. Air. Ford married Mrs.
Hannah Broderick, daughter of Dennis and Sarah
Reardon, natives of the Emerald Isle. Mr. Reardon
has since passed away, but his widow, a lady now
of eighty years, is living with Mrs. Ford. She is re-
markably well oreserved for one over four score years
old and is enjoying the things of life and the hearty
good will and esteem of all. No children have been
born to this marriage, but Mrs. Ford has four bright
children by her first husband. They are named as fol-
lows.— John, aged fourteen. Mamie, aged twelve,
Sadie, aged ten. Frances, aged eight. Mr. Ford is a
member of the I. O. O. F.
ISRAEL St. GERMAIN, well known through-
out the entire Cceur d'Alene country as a pioneer and
an industrious developer of the resources of the coun-
try, is now handling a thriving mercantile business at
Osburn. He was born in Montreal, Canada, on
March 11. 1852. the son of Antoine and Harriett
(Onimett) St. Germain, natives of Montreal. The
father died in Illinois August 9, 1883, aged sixty-
nine, and the mother lives there, aged seventy-seven.
The family came to Illinois when our subject was an
infant and in Kankakee he was educated. The father
operated a tannery in Canada and in Kankakee,
which a son is now handling. When Israel was
twenty-two the father bought him a farm and he
operated it fifteen years, then sold and went to Kan-
sas, Clay county-, where he stayed a year and left be-
cause of the cyclones. Then he came to Portland,
and later was in Vancouver, where he operated a
hotel. Next be went to Spokane and afterward to
the Cceur d'Alene country. He railroaded here and
started a store half way between Osburn and Wal-
lace, when the only settlers were Osburn in the town
of Osburn and some prospectors in a shack in Wal-
lace. Mr. St. Germain bought land three miles be-
li n 1 Isburn and for ten years raised vegetables and
packed to the mines. He did also considerable con-
tract work and put the first mules into the mines.
Later he sold out and went to Black Bear and did ore
hauling by contract. Then he came to Osburn and
started a mercantile establishment, which he is op-
erating. Mrs. St. Germain gives her attention large-
ly to the operation of the store, while her husband is
away attending to contract work. He took out ten
thousand fence posts for the O. R. & N. last winter
;.nd does much contracting. Mr. St. Germain has a
property adjoining the Jersey and also several other
valuable properties. He also owns real estate in Os-
burn. Mr. St. Germain has the following brothers
and sisters : Louis, Roman, Dennis, Adolphe, Hypo-
lite, Matilda Carrow, Mary Kerrick.
On August 26, 1872, at Kankakee, Illinois, Mr.
St. Germain married Miss Victoria M., daughter of
Benoni and Melanie (Bouteiller) Maynard. The
father came from Paris, where he was born, and he
died January 22. 1899, aged ninety-eight. The
mother was born in Arcadia, Canada, and she died
in Montreal July 21. 1897. Mrs. St. Germain was
bom in Montreal Lily 5, 1854, and has the following
named brothers and sisters : Peter, Jacob, David,
Joel, Florence. Trudeau, Prospere Lanier, Doma-
thilde, Remillard, Judith Maynard, Lia Bertrand. To
Mr. and Mrs. St. Germain have been born four chil-
dren— Rosanna, wife of George Demers, a mining
man in Osburn ; Walter, Victor A., Arthur H. Mr.
St. Germain is independent in politics, but his wife
is a Socialist. She is a member of the school board.
AXEL E. HOLM BERG. A popular and well
known business man of Orofino, being a member of
the firm of I. M. Anderson & Company, which does
a fine business in general merchandising, the sub-
ject of this article is deserving of representation in
any volume that purports to grant records of the
leading men of the county.
Axel E. Holmberg was born in Sweden on March
5, 1862, being the son of Gabriel G. and Ebba L.
( Elg) Holmberg, natives of Sweden, and now living
in Saint Peter, Minnesota. The father came to
America with his family in 1864. He filed on a
homestead near Saint Peter and remained on it un-
til 18&2. when he took a position of tailoring in the
State Hospital there. Our subject was reared and
educated in Saint Peter, and when twenty took a
position in the State Hospital as nurse, and then
clerked in the store-room of the institution. Later
lie was salesman for Stark & Davis in Saint Peter,
and also he clerked in Gibbon and Lakefield. near-by
towns. Then Air. Holmberg entered into partner-
ship with Ole A. Anderson, as mentioned elsewhere
in the volume. At present he is conducting a fine
business in Orofino and is very popular and influen-
tial. He has not, as bis partner, taken forward
ground in political matters, but as a substantial busi-
ness man and associate, he is no whit behind in 'gen-
eral popularity. Mr. Holmberg has two brothers and
two sister, Albert J., a merchant in Saint Peter; Mar-
tin A., formerlv in general merchandise business in
Minnesota, but now visiting his brother, the subject
of this sketch; Christena, wife of Louis Oleson, in
Saint Teter : Anna, wife of Peter Adolphson, a shoe-
maker, also in Minnesota.
\t Saint Peter, on May 23. 1886. Mr. Holmberg
married Miss Blenda, daughter of Lars Snygg, a na-
tive of Sweden, and now a retired officer of the army
in that country. His wife was a native of Sweden
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
and died in 1887, aged seventy-two. Airs. Holmberg
was born in Sweden on April 5, 1863. To Air. and
Mrs. Holmberg there have been born three children :
Ebba, aged fifteen ; Mabel, aged thirteen ; Oliver,
aged eleven. Mr. Holmberg is a member of the Oro-
fino Lodge, No. 64, of the I. O. O. F., and has been
treasurer of the organization since its inception here.
Mr. Holmberg is a Democrat and when in Minne-
sota was postmaster of Kinbrae for three years. He
and his wife are members of the Lutheran church.
GIL/BERT THORKELSON is a man of enter-
prise and has displayed commendable energy and
industry in this country and now is the possessor of
some of the valuable claims of the district. He was
born in Itswald, Norway, on January 7, 1846, the son
of Thorkel and Louise (Gilbrunsen) Christiansen,
natives of Norway, where the mother now lives. The
father died when our subject was seventeen. Gilbert
was trained in the public schools of his country and
remained there until 1883, when he came to the United
States and located in Minnesota. He worked on the
farms there for two years and then went to the woods,
where he spent some time logging. After that he
came to St. Paul and took up bridge work and later
we find him in Montana. While in that state a coun-
tryman of Mr. Thorkelson robbed him of one hundred
and fifty dollars in cash and hearing that the thief
was in the Coeur dAlene country he cafne hither in
search of him. So good were the opportunities here
and such resources seemed to invite him that he re-
mained and has since that date allied himself with the
development of the country. He has some valuable
claims and spends his time in developing them. He
is living on the Hopeful but is interested in the Lin-
coln, the Bullpen and the Stockman, Aaron Noling
and Louis Nelsen being his partners in these. Mr.
Thorkelson has one brother and one sister, — Thomas
and Dora Tonsegersen. He is still enjoying the free-
dom of the bachelor and is secure in the confidence
and esteem of the people.
OLIVER S. ROOF is a mining man of Mullan.
who has wrought with wisdom and enterprise to
bring to the front the mining interests of this rich
district, many of who'se properties need but to be
known to be made leading producers by the invest-
ment of capital. He is a man of intelligence in this
line of work and is the possessor of some valuable
and promising properties, such as the Black Traveler
group of copper claims, six miles from Saltese, Mon-
tana; the Stillwater Fraction, the Jersey Miner and
a number of other claims which need but to be
brought to the front to be quickly taken up by search-
ers after wealth producers.
Oliver S. Roof was born in New Jersey on July
25, 1848, the son of John and Mary (Huff) Roof,
natives of New Jersey. Our subject was raised in
New Jersey and attended the public schools until he
was sixteen years old. when he enlisted, the date tir-
ing the sixteenth anniversary of his birth, in Com-
pany D, Fifteenth New Jersey Volunteer Infantry,
under Captain James Cole and Colonel Penroie. He
served the last eleven months of the war and was in
many severe battles, among which may be mentioned
Perryville, Winchester, Fisher Hill, Cedar ( reek,
Gettysburg Yorktown and others. Following the
war he went to various sections and finally settled in
Texas and bought cotton. Five years later he went
to .Michigan and visited with his brother two years,
and in 188 1 he came to Waitsburg, Washington,
whence he came to Wardner in 1885. lie gave hi>
attention to mining and prospecting there for two
years and then transferred his headquarters to Mul-
lan, where we find him at the present time. Air. Roof
has been constantly interested in mining since coming
here, and is well posted throughout the district. He
has various interests in addition to what has been
mentioned and is a substantial man and a citizen of
good standing. He has the following brothers and
sisters: Barnet. Airs. Phoebe Tura, Airs. Xettie
Ayeres. Mr. Roof is a member of the A. F. and A.
M. and in political alliance he is with the Republicans.
Mr. Roof is enjoying the quiet pleasures of the bach-
elor's life, being thus far satisfied not to embark on
the uncertain sea of matrimony.
JAMES LYLE. Few men have had a wider and
more active life in pioneering and employments inci-
dent to that life than the subject of this sketch, who
now is a resident of Osburn and a leading man of the
county. He was born in Glasgow, Scotland, April 1,
185 1, and comes of stanch Scotch ancestry, whose traits
of determination and substantiality are inherited by this
descendant His parents, John and Agnes (Yeats)
Lyle, were born in Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire, re-
spectively. The father died in the parish of Eskine,
Renfrewshire, Scotland, in October, 1902, aged seventy-
eight. The mother lives there now. Our subject was
reared principally in Renfrewshire, and was well edu-
cated. He was then apprenticed to learn the machinist
trade and also shipbuilding. When nineteen, it being
1870, he came to the United States, just before his ap-
prenticeship ended. For six months he traveled and then
located in Virginia City, Nevada, and for some time
worked at his trade with the Comstock people. In
1874 he went to San Francisco, then went to the south
Pacific ocean and visited Australia. New Zealand. Fiji
islands and Sandwich islands and finally came back.
He mined in Butte county and drove nine hundred feet
of tunnel and then sold the mine, which has since be-
come verv valuable. In 1881 Air. Lyle went to the
Wood river country and in 1884 came thence to Mur-
ray, only to return in a few months. He made six
thousand dollars in one summer there and then went
to Scotland. In January. 1886, he came to Kentuck,
now Wardner, and began to build and contract, and
he doubtless put up more buildings in Wardner than
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
any other one man. Mr. Lyle owns many there now
and rents them. He was also in the wholesale liquor
business for eight years and was a prominent man
politically, being road supervisor, justice of the peace
and county commissioner, was nominated for a second
term, but went to Ft. Steele at that time and did not
run. There he operated a hotel and returned to this
country and later was six months in Portland and now
is in Osburn, whither he came from Portland. Mr.
Lyle has some valuable property and located the Snow-
storm. He has three brothers and two sisters, — Will-
iam. John, Alexander, Annie and Jessie.
At Wardner, on November 8, 1892, Mr. Lyle mar-
ried Mrs. Elizabeth J. Hamilton, the daughter of Rob-
ert and Minerva (Kneighton) Walker. The father
was born in Kentucky, coming from an old and promi-
nent American family. He died in March, 1901. He
had crossed the plains in 1847. The mother was born
in Missouri, crossed to Oregon in 1847, where she
was married and now lives at Forest Grove. Mrs.
Lyle was born in Oregon and has four brothers and
one sister, — Robert, Samuel, James, William, Willissa
Armentrout. Mrs. Lyle has two children by her
former marriage, — Charles and Ora Wales. One
child, Agnes, has been born to the present marriage.
Mr. Lyle had for many years been a prominent Demo-
crat, but is now allied with the present .administra-
tion. He ran for sheriff in 1900 and was defeated by
only one hundred and ninety-six.
WILLIAM H. FARRAR is a typical pioneer in
every true sense of the word and is one of the strong
characters, whose labors and daring deeds have been
bestowed and displayed all over the west in addition
to a brilliant career in the Civil war. He is a man
who commands the respect of all and is secure in the
confidence and esteem of the entire country.
William H. Farrar was born in Fulton, Callaway
county, Missouri, on February 18, 1843, the son of
Asa and Amanda (Parker) Farrar, natives of Ken-
tucky. The father's grandfather fought for the Amer-
ican cause in the Revolution and that patriot's son
helped whip the British again in the war of 1812.
The ancestors settled in Boston among the first col-
onists, and the great-grandfather of our subject mi-
grated to Virginia and his son accompanied Boone,
Callaway, Howard, Montgomery and other pioneers
to the wilds of Kentucky, and there he died in 1789,
aged seventy-eight. The mother of our subject de-
scended from the well known and prominent Parker
family, from whom Parkersburg, Virginia, is named.
Her father was Major Gabriel Parker, of the Ken-
tucky militia that did valiant service in the war of
1812. Her mother was a Lightel, which family were
prominent in the Revolution and the war of 1812.
She died at Atlanta, Georgia, in 1880. Our subject
was reared in Kentucky and Missouri until nineteen,
and then left the junior class of Westminster College
to take a position on the Gadsden survey. For about
two years he was interpreter and then went to mining
in California. In i860 he commenced the study of
medicine in San Francisco, but when the Civil war
commenced he went at once to Missouri and enlisted
in the Bledsoe Battery, under Price. He was aid to
A. S. Johnston and Beauregard and Van Dorn and
fought in the battles of Wilson Creek, Carthage, Cane
Hill, Lexington, Lone Jack, Shiloh, Pea Ridge and
Memphis, and was finally taken prisoner in 1862 and
paroled at St. Louis. Then he returned to California
and prospected and soon went to Boise basin. Next
we see Mr. Farrar in Lewiston teaching, being the
second teacher there. After this he was in Warren
and operated the first quartz mill there. The mill
was packed in by mules and one animal carried one
piece, seven hundred pounds, the heaviest load known
to have been carried by one animal. From this place
he went to Douglas county, Oregon, did merchandis-
ing at Canyonville, taught school, farmed and bought
wool. Later, in 1871, he went to Linkville. Califor-
nia, and while camped there the Modoc war broke
out and he carried express for the government for
nine months. In this occupation he had five differ-
ent skirmishes with the savages, and on one occasion
he had a hand-to-hand encounter with one savage.
He was unarmed, but the Indian had a knife and was
about to dispatch our subject, when he was shot by
another express messenger. Mr. Farrar carries a
;iiark of this encounter on one ear. While in Ari-
zona interpreting he was wounded three times by In-
dian arrows. Following the Indian war, Mr. Farrar
took up assaying and mill operating again, being an
expert in this, and followed it in various places, and
in Utah, then in Wyoming, then in Wood river and
finally he came to Fagle, was in Thunder mountain
two seasons, and in 1888 came to Wardner. He took
charge of the Daddy in 1893 and also handled several
other properties in Murray. He now has a bond in
the Vortex, Hornet and 'Wasp, near Osburn, but his
family dwells in Murray, where he owns property.
Mr. Farrar has one brother, Edward, and four sis-
ters, Emma Parsons, Idalette Kendall, Jesamine A.,
Ella.
In Oregon, on August 6, 1869, Mr. Farrar married
Martha Perdue, a native of that state, whose parents
crossed to it in 1849. He was married the second
time on February 23, 1892, at Osburn, Mrs. Eliza-
beth Kelley, a native of Illinois, becoming his bride.
By the first marriage one child was born, Cora Sum-
mers. Mrs. Farrar has the following children by her
former marriage : Addie Burton, Lulu Pritchard,
Mina, Samuel, Ernest. Mr. Farrar is a Democrat,
but independent. He is a member of the A. F. and
A. M., the Maccabees, the Red Men, the I. O. O. F.
and is prominent in fraternal circles.
EDWIN M. HARTMUS, who now holds the po-
sition of night shift boss in the Hunter mine, dwells
at Mullan and is a man of capabilities in his line of
industry and has wrought in the Cceur d'Alene coun-
try for a number of years. He was born in Livings-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ton, Missouri, on .December 3, 1868, the son of
George B. and Nellie M. Hartmus. The father was
born in Virginia and now lives in Portland, having
retired from active business. The mother of our sub-
ject died at Salem, Oregon, in 1892. The family
came to Oregon when Edwin M. was a small boy,
and there he was raised and educated, being a pupil
in the Salem public schools. When sixteen he went
to work on his father's farm, remaining thus engaged
until the time of his majority. Then he took up min-
ing and followed it in various places until 1898, when
he came to the Cceur d'Alene country. He was en-
gaged at Wardner first, being in the Hunker Hill mill
for nearly four years. After the catastrophe of the
explosion he was shift boss for a time, and it was a
perilous position. Following that he came to his
present position and has remained here steadily since
that time. Mr. Hartmus has one brother and one sis-
ter, William E., in the office of the Evening Tele-
gram at Portland : Mrs. Alice I. Ellis, residing at
Portland.
On May 28, 1902, Mr. Hartmus married Miss
Lillie M., daughter of James A. and Polly Richards,
natives of England, who now dwell at Mehama, Ore-
gon, the place where the wedding occurred. Mrs.
Hartmus has two brothers, James A., John R. Mr.
Hartmus is a member of the A. C). U. W. and its
auxiliary, Degree of Honor.
WILLIAM M. CHANDLER was born in Polk
county, Oregon, on September 23, 1858, being the
son of John and Elizabeth (Buff) Chandler. The
father was a native of Illinois and came overland with
oxen in 1849 to California and thence to Rogue river
country in 1855, where he enlisted in Oregon Mounted
Volunteers, under Captain Abel George, to fight the
Indians. Four months at this and then he bought
land in Polk count). In 1878 he came thence to
Walla Walla and four years later to Whitman county.
In the spring of 1897 he came to the reservation
country, and now lives on an eighty which he filed on
at that time. He has always been a prominent Re-
publican, but never sought office. The mother of our
subject was born in Platte county, Missouri, crossed
the plains in 1852 with ox teams. She married in
1857, in Polk county, Oregon. Her father was a
descendant of the Pennsylvania Dutch and his great-
grandmother was one of the damsels brought over in
1600 and traded for tobacco, which unique undertak-
ing furnished the material for Mary Johnston's pop-
ular novel, "To Have and to Hold." The maternal
grandmother of our subject was a Simpson and a
second cousin of General Grant and Jeff Davis. Our
subject has four brothers and five sisters: James
D., at Farmington, Washington ; Asa H. and Clar-
ence, in the Walla Walla valley; Perry A., in Nez
Perces county ; Henrietta, wife of James M. Sanders,
of Orofino, Idaho ; Lena, wife of Joseph A. Ownbey,
of Walla Walla valley; Ida M., wife of J. B. Dick-
son, in Nez Perces county; Mary, wife of J. F. Dick-
son, also in this county; Edna, single, and at home.
William was raised and educated in Polk county, and
when nineteen, in 1877, came to Walla Walla.' For
four years he was employed in riding the range,
ranching and teaching school. In 18S1 he came to
Sprague and in the real estate and insurance business,
handling an agency for Wells, Fargo & Company, and
practicing in the land office, he was employed until
1882. He was deputy county auditor later, and from
1887 to 1889 he was probate judge. Mr. Chandler
also handled the Mail, a newspaper, which he after-
ward sold. He was assistant chief clerk of the house
in the first and second sessions of the legislature in
Washington after it was a state. He was clerk in the
office of the commissioner of public lands in Olym-
pia for a short time and also was deputy in the treas-
urer's office in Thurston county for a year. After
four years in Olympia he came to Whitman and
farmed near Sprague. In 1897 he came with his
father and two brothers to the reservation country,
and in 1900 he came to his'present place, and is now
conducting a real estate and insurance office in Oro-
tino, also does a great deal of practice before the land
office and Department of the Interior.
On October 16, 1883, Mr. Chandler married Aliss
Louisa, daughter of Edwin and Sarah (Phillips)
Dane, a native of Oregon. Her parents are both
dead. Her mother's parents were early pioneers to
Oregon, coming in 1850. Three children have been
born to this union — Edith. Edwin and Eugene. Mrs.
Chandler was born in Douglas county, Uregon, on
September 3, 1S66. .Mr. Chandler is a member of
the I. O. O. F., Orofino, No. 64, and is secretary and
district deputy. He is also a member of the Kamiah
Encampment, and has been representative to the
grand lodge for Washington and Idaho.
JOHN W. EBY. This gentleman is one of the
prosperous and intelligent young farmers of the
southern Shoshone country and has displayed manli-
ness and uprightness in all his ways, while he is also
characterized by industry ami thrift.
[ohn W. Eby was born in Marion count). Kan-
sas, on May 30, 1870, being the son of David L and
Marv L. (Shreeves) Eby, natives, respectively, of
Illinois and Indiana. The father served in the Civil
war and the mother now lives near our subject. When
John was about four the family came to Wyoming,
thence to the Rogue river region, in Oregon, and
about five years afterward they journeyed to Wash-
ington, where our subject received his education in
the public schools. The father worked there at his
trade. When John was eighteen the family came to
Camas Prairie! and in 1889 the mother filed on a
piece of land one and one-half miles west from
Eraser, a part of which was sold to our subject, and
this is his family home now. Mr. Eby has six broth-
ers, Charles, Samuel. Fred, Jess. Dallas and Ray. He
also has one sister, Etta, wife of Stephen Reed, in
Washington.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
On August 7. 1809, Mr. Eby married Miss Mary
S., daughter of John and Mary L. (Minter) Stuart.
Mrs. Eby was born in Missouri, on September 11,
j 878, and she has four brothers and four sisters, named
as follows : Richard, farming near by ; Homer C,
Archie L., Elmer O., Belle H., Clara F., Cora L.,
Minnie E., all at home. One child has been born to
Mr. and Mrs. Eby, Myrtle. Politically Air. Eby is
allied with the Socialists and is a clear expounder of
their principles.
EL1AS E. HORST, who is one of the enthusiastic
mining men of the Coeur dAlene country, has met with
good success in securing some properties of value.
He was born in Pennsylvania on July 20, 1854, the son
of Samuel and Katherine (Schaeffer) Horst, natives
of Pennsylvania. The father died in 1859, the mother
in 1882. Our subject was reared in Pennsylvania,
where also he was educated and when he had reached
his majority he journeyed west through Iowa; later
he went to Minnesota, then to Waitsburg, Washing-
ton, where he filed on a homestead and also worked in
a flour mill. In 1883 he came to Rathdrum and the
next spring on to Kingston. From April to August
of that year he prospected on the North Fork and the
winter was spent in the flour mills of eastern Wash
ington; then he returned to Kingston and since that
time has been giving his attention continuously to min-
ing. He is interested in some valuable properties on
the North Fork and is president of the Horst Powell
Copper Mining Company whose properties are also
located on the North Fork ; they have six hundred feet
of development work done and showings that indicate
some very valuable property. Mr. Horst owns one-
half interest in the Pine Creek, the Eberta and May-
bird; also owns some mining property with T. Brown
and a one-half interest in the Big Gem, besides other
mining properties. Mr. Horst has one brother, John
S., and four sisters, Elizabeth Bittner, Sarah Kreider,
Fanny Bucher, Katherine Bomberger. Mr. Horst is
fraternally affiliated with the Eagles and the Foresters
of Wallace. He is a good solid Republican and has
been a delegate to the county and state conventions ; his
name appeared on that ticket in 1900 for representa-
tive to the state legislature, but owing to the defeat
of the party he was not elected. Mr. Horst is a genial,
capable and popular man and he has great prospects of
being very wealthy with his mining properties.
ELIZA HELLER. The energy, tenacity and en-
terprise manifested in a long career of active business
in the Coeur d'AIene country by the subject of this
article have placed her high in the esteem of all and
have given her the excellent meed of a fine holding in
property.
Eliza Heller was born in the vicinity of Frankfort-
(.n-the-Main. in Germany, on March 31, 1849, the
daughter of Johannes and Katherine (Matthies) Roth,
natives of Germany. The father was in the employ of
the German government for many years and died in
1868, aged forty-eight. The mother still lives in Chi-
cago, aged eighty. Our subject came to the United
States in 1867, lived in New York three years and then
married Frank J. Heller and came to Chicago. Mr.
Heller did upholstering for a time after the big fire
there and then operated a saloon. The next move was
to Denver in 1876, where they lived for some years.
During this time they conducted a hotel and also did
business in Pueblo, Colorado. In Pueblo he operated
the Turner opera house and a large restaurant. Then
they came to Missoula and in the winter of 1884 they
came to Eagle, the father, mother and four children,
the youngest being but fifteen months old. They
camped on the summit in eighteen feet of snow and
drew their supplies on toboggans. They were the first
family in Eagle and the little child was called the
Coeur d'AIene Lilly. For three years they did hotel
business in Eagle and Murray and at Eagie they lost
much by boarders not being able to pa)- through the
failure of the big Hopkins deal. They came to Wal-
lace, it being then but a hamlet of half dozen houses
and Mr. Seelig erected them a hotel building and they
did well and in July. 1890. they were offered eighteen
thousand dollars for it. but the fire came on the twenty-
ninth and took everything but the clothes they wore.
Then they moved into a cabin and Mr. Heller and his
wife determined to separate, believing it best. Mrs.
Heller was penniless, but she bravely took care of her
little famih by washing and soon got started in a
boarding house and soon afterward erected the Pacific
Hotel and later put up the substantial annex, where
she lives now. She rents her property and is retired.
having well earned the pleasure of that life from her
extra industry and labors. She is highly respected. by
all and is a capable and true lady. Mrs. Heller has
two sisters, Bertha Mangier : Dora, who is a graduate
of the college at Rockford, Illinois, and a successful
educator of Los Angeles, where she has taught for
rive years in the Marlborough school. She is now the
wife of Walter S. Heinman. Four children have been
born to Mrs. Heller : George, with White & Bender ;
Frank, a mining man : William, a musician, but blind
since he was one year old ; Lilly, wife of John Curran,
an engineer on the Northern Pacific.
JOHN H. TILSLEY. Although the subject of
this sketch is at the present time living in the city of
Spokane, nevertheless he is deeply interested in the
mining properties of northern Idaho and therefore he
should be represented among the leading citizens and
enterprising developers of this favored region.
John H. Tilsley was born in Newport, Kentucky,
on January 10, 1867, being the sou of Henry and Cath-
arine (Fitch) Tilsley. When a child he came with
his parents to Central City. Nebraska, and a few years
later the family went to Greeley, Colorado, where John
finished his education, graduating from the Greeley
Business College. The father was a carpenter and
brirlge builder and so traveled over the country con-
ELIAS E. HORST.
MRS. ELIZA HELLER.
JOHN H. TILSLEY.
RICHARD H. PASCOE. JOHN C. FURST.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
siderablv and in 1887 they all came to Spokane, Wash-
ington. Our subject was soon installed as night man-
ager of the A. D. T. Company and continued in it un-
til the big fire in Spokane. After this dreadful event
he opened a grocery in a tent on Howard street, near
Sprague Rvenue, and later bought out the C. O. D. gro-
cery on Riverside, which lie operated in partnership
with A. Al. Bibbins. He continued in this until 1898,
then sold out and accepted a position as deputy c< unity
treasurer, undei A. L. Smith, serving two years. At
the expiration of this term Mr. Tilsley took up real
estate and mining and since then has given his undi-
vided attention to this business and has made a good
success in it. Air. Tilsley has handled considerable
property in the Coeur d'Alene region and is interested
there now. His home is at 203 Fourth avenue and he
has his offices at 408 Traders block. Air. Tilsley has
demonstrated himself to be a first-class real estate man
and a first-class promoter of mining properties and the
result is that good financial returns have been his to
enjoy. Mr. Tilsley is a member of the A. F. & A. Al.,
( kriental Lodge, No. 74, also of the Royal Arcanum.
On October 10. 1895. Air. Tilsley married Aliss
Emily, daughter of John R. Armstrong, who is at pres-
ent dwelling in Santa Afonica. California.
RICHARD H. PASCOE is one of the substantial
and popular men of the Coeur d'Alene district and is
a skilled artisan in his line of endeavor. At the pres-
ent time Air. Pascoe is foreman of the Frisco mine at
Gem and in this responsible position he has manifested
those qualities which inspire confidence in the owners
of the mine and respect and esteem from every man
with whom he has to do and his friends are numbered
by legion from every quarter.
Richard H. Pascoe was born in Cornwall, England,
on April 17. 1862, the son of Edward and Emily (Har-
vey) Pa.;coe, also natives of Cornwall, where they now
live. The father is now retired and was one of the
expert mining engineers whose services were sought
after by the leading mine owners of Europe. His an-
cestors were Cornish miners for generations back. The
mother's people were also miners and her brother,
Phillip, is foreman of the famous Batalic mine which
extends far under the sea. Our subject was reared
and educated in Wales and Scotland principally and
when fifteen went to practical work in the mines in
Wales, in 188? he came to the United States and first
operated in the Pennsylvania coal mines. The next
place was Leadville, Colorado, then in Utah. Cali-
fornia and so forth he operated. He landed in the
Golden state in 180 1 and was foreman of the Eureka
Tellurium mine and also was in several other proper-
tics. He was foreman in the ATalvina for two and one-
half years, then came to British Columbia contracting
in flic War Eagle, the Center Star and was in Ross-
land. Three years were spent there and in November.
1902. he came to the Frisco, accepting the position
which he now occupies. Air. Pascoe has one brother.
Arthur, a miner in the Frisco.
At Butte, Montana, in 1889, Mr. Pascoe married
Aliss Edith, daughter of Richard and Mary Hales, na-
tives of England and now deceased. Three children
have beer, born to this happy marriage: Ina and Ka-
tie, two bright and winsome girls, and Edward, the
heir. Air. Pascoe is a member of the A. F. & A. M.
and is an enthusiastic adherent of the order. He is a
Republican but never seeks preferment in political mat-
ters.
JOHN C. FURST is a member of the firm of
Furst & Peterson, who do a general saloon business in
Gem. He was born in Norway, October 23, 1857, the
Mm of Christopher and Anna (Johnson) Furst. natives
of Norway. The father died when John was seven and
the mother died in September, 1902. Our subject
was educated and reared until 1873 in his native coun-
try and then came to the United States, reaching Den-
ver, Colorado, on June 30, 1876. The next year he was
employed as office boy in the Colorado Smelting Com-
pany's office at Blackhawk, remaining until 1879. He
joined the first rush to Leadville and mined there until
1882, when he made his way to Silver City, New Mex-
ico, upon the excitement of Burro mountain. In 1883
he went to California, staging ninety miles through
Arizona from Lordsburg, New Mexico. Upon his re-
turn, his company of five were attacked by three hun-
dred Apaches. Three were killed ; he was wounded in
the leg and with one other escaped in the brush. The
Indians rushed ■ on and left the mule team
plodding on in the road.. The same day they
killed Dr. McComas and wife and stole their
boy. After the rush, our subject came out
of the brush and he and his partner caught
up with the team and rode into Lordsburg. This oc-
curred near the Gila river. He soon went thence to
Benson, Arizona, where he was foreman of the fur-
naces for the Benson Smelting Company. Getting
poisoned by lead, he left there in 1884 and spent some
time in San Francisco, whence he came to Murray,
stayed over night and came to Garrison. Montana,
walking, as there was no railroad. Thence he went
to Anaconda, also afoot, and three months later went
to Arizona and was employed by the Nogales Mining
and Smelting Company as furnace foreman. In 1885
we see Air. Furst in Leadville, Denver. Pueblo, in which
last place he assisted to construct the Philadelphia
smelting works. On April 22, 1887, he took part in
the rush to Oklahoma and later abandoned it, then
went to old Aiexico and later was back in Arizona in
tha Copper Queen. Again he returned to Colorado
and worked in the Ghallager mine and in 1889, after
a long and serious illness, went to Pony, Montana. I [e
mined there and in Granite, then went to Helena,
where he was married and six months later went to
Elkhorn. thence to Castle mountain and in 1892 we
find him in Burke. He operated the pump in the Tiger
until February. 1893, then came to Gem and erected a
two-story building and in company with Gus Peterson
has conducted the business since. He also has a fine
two-story business building in Wallace, and other
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
property. Mr. Furst has three brothers and one sis-
ter : Christopher. Ole, John, Annie.
At Helena, Montana, in 1890, Mr. Furst married
Ingoborg, daughter of Ole and Mary Roulson, natives
of Norway. The parents live in Lead City, South Da-
kota, retired. Mrs. Furst is a native of Norway and
has three brothers and two sisters: Jacob, Rudolph,
Ole, Christena Christenson, Lena Peterson. Three
children have been born to this union : Edward, aged
twelve; Charles A., aged ten; Mabel O., aged eight.
Mr. Furst is a member of the I. O. O. F. and of the
encampment. He always takes an active and prominent
part in the affairs of the I. O. O. F. since he first
joined in Wallace in 1893. He is a Republican.
Mr. Furst is president of the Great Eastern mines
and the property is one of the promising ones of the
district. He also is interested in many others, especially
the Rockford group which joins the Bunker Hill on
the east.
RALPH R. JAMESON, who is at present hold-
ing the important position of assayer for the Hunter
mine, is a native of Idaho, being born April 1. 1877,
in Latah county, near Garfield, Washington. His
parents are Lorenzo D. and Lucinda (Ray) Jameson,
who dwell in Moscow at this time. The father is a
native of Missouri and his father was born in Ken-
tucky. Lorenzo D. Jameson came across the plains
in 1877 with mule teams and located in Latah, county,
and lias been a resident of that place since. The
mother of our subject was born in Arkansas. Ralph
R. was educated in the district schools as regards his
primary training and then attended the graded
schools and finally completed a course in the State
University at Moscow, graduating in 1900. Immedi-
ately upon receiving his degree he went to Isabella.
Tennessee, and accepted a position with the Duck-
town Copper, Sulphur and Iron Company as assist-
ant chemist. He remained in that capacity for some
time, and on August 28, 1900, he accepted his present
position, and has continued here since that time.
ANDERSON W. NUCKOLS, familiarly known
as Judge Nuckols, is one of the best known old timers
of the Cceur dAlene country and is entitled to repre-
sentation in any work that has to do with the leading
men of the district. He was born in Kentucky, Janu-
ary 15. 1834, the son of Milo C. and Louisa (Short-
ridged Nuckols. natives of Kentucky. The father
was born in 1806 and died in Texas in 1882. He was
descended from a prominent Virginia family and was
a successful man. The mother was born in tSii and
now lives in Texas. Our subject came to Missouri
with the family when young and there was reared and
educated. When fourteen he engaged as salesman
and continued until he was twenty-five. He came to
California then, mined and followed merchandising
for eight years. Next we see him in the Fraser river
region, in 1862, packing and selling goods. He re-
turned to San Francisco and came on to Montana and
mined, then was bookkeeper for the C. P. when build-
ing. He was clerk of court in Elko, Nevada, after
which he did mining in various sections and was ac-
countant for several large firms. In the fall of 1888
he came to his present location near Osburn and took
a squatter's right and has since proved up. He has
devoted himself to producing the fruits of the field
for the mining country and has done well. Mr.
Nuckols is school director and justice of the peace
and has always shown marked uprightness and effi-
ciency. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity
and has been for fortv-five years. He has attained
to the fourteenth degree, Scottish Rite. Mr. Nuckols
has four brothers, William L., Milo C, Jr.; George
W., Samuel.
On November 19, 1891, Mr. Nuckols married
Emma Mouza at Osburn. She was born in Texas,
January 22, 1859. Her father was a native of Lou-
isiana, and he was killed in a battle of the Civil war.
Mrs. Nuckols has one sister, Sarah Parish. Mr.
Nuckols is a Democrat, and has been for years, but
is always in voting on the side of the issue which is,
in his judgment, for the best of the country.
CHARLES L. EBY. The enterprising young
man, of whom we have now the privilege of speaking,
is one of the active workers in the lines of improve-
ment in southern Shoshone county and dwells on his
farm, about four miles west from Fraser, where he
pays especial attention to raising vegetables and hogs.
In addition to this labor Mr. Eby owns a one-half in-
terest in the only threshing outfit on the Weippe, Mr.
Thurman being his partner.
Charles L. Eby was born in Marion county, Kan-
sas, in March, 1877, being the son of David L. and
Mary L. (Shreeves) Eby. When our subject was
seven "the family came to the Yakima country, and
for ten years raised horses, the father also doing car-
penter work. Charles was there educated in the pub-
lic schools and in 1887 came with the balance of the
family to Camas Prairie. One year later they came
to the Weippe region and our subject secured his
present place. He has sold portions of the farm and
retains about sixtv acres, which, as said before, is
devoted largely to vegetables. He is one of the pros-
perous men of his section and is the recipient of the
esteem and confidence of all. Politically, Mr. Eby is
allied with the Republicans and is able to give a
reason for his politics.
On Julv 25, 1892, Mr. Eby married Miss Cor-
delia, daughter of William and Christena (Stump)
Knepper, natives of Indiana. The father died on No-
vember 3, 1805. and the mother is now the wife of
Ed Thurman. Mrs. Eby has three brothers and one
sister, Samuel W., John, Jesse W., Luella, wife of
William Morgan, in Adams county, Washington.
When our subject's father left Yakima he had one
hundred and thirty head of fine horses, but they lost
about two-thirds of them. Mr. David L. Eby was in
the Civil war.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1123
Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs.
Eby — Ella U., Ethel A., Jesse L. and Charles Ar-
nold.
HENRY P.ILLBERG, of the firm of Billberg &-
Thennis, who are owners and operators of the Palace
saloon, is well known in Mullan, and has been and
is still interested in various mining properties. He
was born in Sweden on January 22, 1857, the son of
Oloff and Christine (Nystrom) Billberg, natives of
Sweden, and died in May, 1902, and in 1895, respect-
ively. Our subject came to the United States in the
early eighties and located in Murray county, Minne-
sota, on July 4, 1882. Two months were spent on a
farm and then he logged in Minnesota and Wiscon-
sin until the spring of 1890, when he came to Mon-
tana and there was engaged for three years, being
with the Big Blackfoot Milling Company. Then he
was in Anaconda and thence he came to Mullan and
took up his present business. He has two brothers
and one sister, Peter, John, Christine Wilson.
In 1899 Mr. Billberg married Miss Delia McGraw,
whose parents are deceased. She was born in Ire-
land and came to this country when a child. One
child, Oliver E., has been born to this union. Mr.
Billberg is a member of the Foresters of America,
of the Red Men, of the Eagles and of the Scandina-
vian Brotherhood. He is a Democrat, and in 1896
was a delegate to the state convention. Mrs. Bill-
berg is a member of the Catholic church, while her
husband is an adherent of the Lutheran church. Mr.
Billberg is interested in the Snowstorm mining prop-
erty and the Missoula Copper Mining Company and
also in several other properties, and is active in this
line and labors for the advancement and development
of the country.
CLINTON E. PERKINS is one of the leading,
most aggressive and enterprising men of southern
Shoshone county, being possessed of excellent ability
and executive force, while his wisdom and thrift are
apparent in all of his ways. We append, with pleas-
ure, an epitome of his career.
Clinton E. Perkins was born in McHenry county,
Illinois, on November 27, 1862, being the son of Ed-
ward and Jeanette (Atwell) Perkins, natives of Ver-
mont, and now dwelling in Nebraska. The paternal
ancestors came from Scotland and the maternal an-
cestors dwelt in Vermont for seven generations, many
of them being in the war of 1812. Our subject was
reared in Illinois until he was fifteen and also there
secured his education. At the age mentioned he
started in life for himself, and soon we see him in
South Dakota, whence he traveled to Minnesota, Wis-
consin and Nebraska, employed variously. In the
latter state, however, he took a pre-emption and later
sold, coming, in 1888, to Washington. A few months
were spent in that state and Mr. Perkins made his
way to his present place, two miles northwest from
Eraser, taking a homestead. To this he has added
until he now has a farm of four hundred acres, con-
sisting of both timber, grain and hay land. Mr. Per-
kins devotes considerable attention to raising stock
and also to producing vegetables for the markets.
Mr. Perkins has one brother and three sisters, Daniel,
a farmer in Nebraska; Addie, wife of Fred Keltz, a
farmer in Nebraska; Josie, wife of Charles Wood-
worth, a farmer in Illinois; Lois, wile of Elmer
Adams, a Nebraska farmer. Fraternally, our subject
is allied with the K. of P at Kendrick and in politics
he is a Republican.
In December, 1887, Mr. Perkins married Miss
Margaret, daughter of George Barrow, mentioned in
this volume. She was born in Iowa in August, 1869,
and died October 16, 1895, being the mother of three
children. Leon, Leslie and Lloyd.. On January q,
1897. Mr. Perkins contracted a second marriage,
Rhoda A. Wilson becoming his bride at that time.
Her father, William P. Wilson, is mentioned else-
where in this volume, as also are her brothers and
sisters. To this union there have been born two chil-
dren, Holland and Lois. Mrs. Perkins is a member
of the Christian church.
FLOYD M. PRICHARD is one of the substan-
tial and industrious men of Osburn, whose labors
have since the early days of Eagle been bestowed
wisely here in the development of the Cceur d'Alene
country, and who is now owner and operator of a
saw mill and interested in several mining properties
of great value. He was born in Iowa, March 17,
1859, tne son °f John R. and Isabella J. (Fannon)
Prichard. His mother died in 1874 and he lost track
of the balance of the family. He was raised and edu-
cated by an uncle in D'ecorah, and when not in school
was busied in his uncle's store. \\ lien eighteen he
went to work for himself, and later went to Sioux
Falls, South Dakota. After this he was in the famous
Black Hills, and three years later went thence to
Miles City, Montana, and was there and in various
adjacent camps and in Livingston until 1884. when
he pulled a toboggan over the Evolution trail into
Eagle. This was in February, and he and Pec Phelps,
now deceased, started the Beef camp, where they sold
meals and whisky ami donated beds, the floor and pine
boughs, to the weary prospector and did well. In the
spring they split up' and Doc Phelps took the Jackass
trail out and our subject went to prospecting, but had
poor success, then came to Canyon creek and took a
claim adjoining the Frisco. He sold his interest later
for a small sum and it is now very valuable. Since
then he has devoted himself to prospecting and con-
tract work in the mines and saw milling and is now
continuing the same. He is interested with Doc Far-
rar in the Hornet and Wasp properties and has some-
thing valuable. Mr. Prichard has one brother, Henry.
In February, 1892, in Osburn, Mr. Prichard mar-
ried Miss Lulu, daughter of Harrison and Elizabeth
(Slayton) Sisk. Mrs. Prichard was bom-January 14,
1876, in Illinois. To this marriage there have been
II24
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
born two girls, Ethel B., aged nine, and Annie L.,
aged six. Mr. Prichard is a Republican and a strong
supporter of the present administration.
AUGUST CARLSON is one of the good, sub-
stantial citizens of Wallace, whose labors have been
rewarded as honest industry and sagacity should be,
with prosperity in business, and he is now handling a
tine patronage. He was born in Sweden on May 29,
1 868, the son of Carl and Stena (Benson) Palson,
natives of the same country, where they are now
dwelling, prominent and well-to-do people. Our sub-
ject was well educated and worked on the father's
farm and in his brother's grocery. In 1889 he came
to the United States and settled in Sioux Falls, Da-
kota. Later we see him in Utah, then in Missoula,
where he did saw mill work off and on for five years.
In 1896 he came to Wallace and opened a saloon on
Sixth street. Shortly he closed this and went to
Rossland and operated a hotel. Returning to Wal-
lace, he opened a boarding house in Mullan, and then
the next vear, with his brother-in-law, bought the
Western House and business. Afterward he sold
this property and bought the adjoining property and
started a saloon in a building he erected. He leased
the Western Hotel, and is now operating it. In July,
1901, Mr. Carlson leased the Albemarle lodging
house, known as the White House, and is handling
that with his hotel. He is doing a fine business and
is also interested heavily in mines. He owns stock in
the Nine Mile and other Stevens Peak properties and
has interests in several other camps. Mr. Carlson has
four brothers, John, Swan, Peter and Andover, and
one sister, Hannah.
At Rossland, on December 27, 1898, Mr. Carlson
married Miss Celia Johnson, whose parents are na-
tives of Sweden, and live there now, being wealthy
and prominent. Mrs. Carlson was born in Sweden
and has two brothers and two sisters, Samuel, Emil,
Augusta Anderson and one sister in Sweden. To this
marriage thfee children have been born, Jennie, Delmer
and Theodore. Mr. Carlson is a member of the I.
O. O. F., of the Red Men and of the Scandinavian
Brotherhood. He is independent in political matters
and is a progressive and enterprising man.
PETER YOUNG is one of the intelligent and
progressive citizens of the vicinity of Fraser, and has
demonstrated himself to be a stanch and upright
man, capable and possessed of a high sense of honor,
and he has the esteem and confidence of all. It is
with pleasure that we detail his career for the history
of his county.
Peter Young was born in Jackson county, Illinois,
on March 23, 1857, being the son of Joseph C. and
Elizabeth (Pugh) Y'oung, natives of Ohio, as were
also the paternal grandsire and maternal grand-
mother of onr subject. The other grandparents were
born in Pennsylvania. Peter's father served in the
Civil war, near the close. He was born in 1823 and
died in Pleasant Grove, Utah, in 1880. He was a
carpenter. The mother of our subject died in June,"
1901, in Colville, Washington. Our subject was
reared in Illinois until he was fourteen, attended
school there and for four years afterward. The fam-
ily came to Utah when he was fourteen and he mined
and worked in saw mills. When twenty-two he went
to Idaho, what is now Custer county, and mined
and wrought in the saw mills for two years. Later
he returned to Utah, and again came to Idaho, work-
ing in a quartz mill the last time. Then he went to
Arkansas, his mother accompanying him, and there
he fanned for eight years. Then he farmed in Mis-
souri for one year, whence he came to his present
place, about two and one-half miles northwest from
Fraser. He owns forty acres, which he secured under
homestead right, and he devotes himself to market
gardening, doing a thriving business. Mr. Young
has a fine piece of land and the location is a healthful
one. His products are readily sold at a good price
in Pierce. Mr. Young has three brothers and one sis-
ter, Leroy and Friend, both in Utah ; Eugene, in Cal-
ifornia ; Rachel, wife of John B. Fenn, in Colville,
Washington. Politically, Mr. Y'oung is allied with
the Democrats and is a powerful expounder of his
party principles and has a good reputation as a de-
bater, being skillful in forensic oratory.
GEORGE C. BARROW. We are pleased to
mention in the history of Shoshone county the genial
ami pleasant gentleman who is named at the head of
this sketch, and who, with his faithful and good help-
meet, has journeyed on the course of life for many
\ears, making many friends and doing a world of
good in their pilgrimage.
George C. Barrow was born in Tazewell county,
Illinois, on June 12, 1844, being the son of John and
Sarah (Cnllom) Barrow, natives of South Carolina
and Ohio, respectively. The father's ancestors were
of English extraction and he died on February 28,.
1876, having served in the war of 181 2. The mother
died when our subject was fifteen months of age and
he was raised by an older sister, who kept house for
her father. In 1849 the family came to southern
Iowa, Monroe county, where our subject was edu-
cated in the district school and grew to be nineteen
years of age, when he started out for himself, taking
up farm work. He remained there until 1882, and
after his marriage he lived on the old homestead, and
his father was -with him. In 1882 Mr. Barrow came
west to Nebraska, and five years later, having taken
and sold a pre-emption, he came thence to Washing-
ton. He soon found land in Idaho that suited him
and he filed on his present place, three miles north-
west from Fraser. where the family home has been
since. Mr. Barrow has devoted himself in these vears
to general farming and raising stock and has been an
industrious and thriftv man. As the srolden time of
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1125
life is at hand, Mr. and Mrs. Barrow are entitled to
the snug property that their united labors have se-
cured, and it is pleasant to note the especial esteem
and good will manifested to them by all. Mr. Bar-
row has one brother, Luther H., in Andrew county,
Missouri ; he also has one sister, Eliza Dorothy, in
Holt county, Nebraska.
On February 7, 1864, Mr. Barrow married Miss
Margaret H., daughter of Charles and Margaret
(Way) Dorothy, natives of Illinois and Indiana, re-
spectively. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Bar-
row were natives of Kentucky and her mother's par-
ents were born in North Carolina. Mrs. Barrow has
six brothers and three sisters, Elias, in Holt county,
Nebraska; William, Enoch and Henrv, in Ottumwa,
Iowa; Robert, in Klickitat county, Washington; Gip-
son, in Fraser ; Mary, wife of Luther H. Barrow,
a brother of our subject; Semyra ; wife of Mar-
tin Wintermote, in Holt county, Nebraska ; Le-
vina, wife of Jacob R. Dale, in Ottumwa, Iowa. Wil-
liam and Henry were in the Civil war, the former
three years and the latter one hundred days. To our
worthy couple there have been born ten children —
Sarah F., wife of Fleming Smith; Mary A., Effie A.,
Dora E., wife of John Ga fluey ; Maria J., Arlie and
Emmett, at home: Charles, born January 10, 1880,
and died February to, 1883 ; Eva A., born March 27,
1882, and died March 27, 1884; Marquist E., born
August tq, 1869, and died October 26, 1894.
WILLIAM P. WILSON. An active and relia-
ble citizen of southern Shoshone count}', who has done
a commendable wrork in upbuilding the country and
securing for himself a first class holding in property —
such is the subject of this article and it is with pleasure
that we accord to him space in the history of his county.
William P. Wilson was born in Iowa, on March 9.
1846, being the son of John and Rhoda P. (Phinney)
Wilson. William was reared in Iowa and attended
district school and when twenty-one rented land near
his father's. Two years later he married and contin-
ued the farming. Later he bought land in Butler
county and farmed there for six years. Then Mr.
Wilson was called to pass through the sad trial of the
death of his wife and he returned to his father's home
with his little ones. Then he took up the livery busi-
ness in Cedar Falls, with three partners, continuing
this for four years. He then went to LaPorte and'
started a liverv alone. Two years later he went to
Kansas and took land which he relinquished as the
deal was unsuccessful. Then one winter was spent in
Boise and be came thence to Fraser and filed on his
present home place about September, 1899. This place
is about one mile northwest from Fraser and is well
improved and Mr. Wilson handles considerable stock.
On August 16, 1900. Mr. Wilson opened a hotel in
Greer and in July, 1901, he moved into a nice two-story
building which lie had erected and here he did business
until October 7. T902, when he sold the entire property
and came back to his farm, where we find him now.
Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are devout and faithful members
of the Christian church. Politically, he is a prohibi-
tionist and has been justice of the peace and school
trustee, where he rendered excellent service. Mr. Wil-
son married Sarah Hodges, a native of Indiana and she
died leaving three children, Milton S., farming; Rhoda
A. Perkins ; Thomas G, farmer, all living near.
On July 8, 1882, in Cedar Falls, Iowa, Mr. Wilson
married Miss Dell, daughter of Peter and Mary L.
(Busick) Geren, natives of Indiana. The father went
to Iowa from Indiana with ox teams when the country
was sparsely settled and a few years later returned to
Indiana, whence twenty years afterward he went again
to Iowa, where he now lives, a retired farmer. The
mother of Mrs. Wilson died in May, 1894, aged sixty-
four. Mrs. Wilson has two brothers living. Joseph, a
merchant in Des Moines, Iowa ; Edward, a farmer in
Milton, Kansas. Six children have been born to Mr.
and Mrs. Wilson, Ray, Ernest, Mabel, Edith, Rosie,
and Lena. .Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are exemplary peo-
ple and enjoy in generous measure the confidence and
esteem of all who may have the pleasure of their ac-
quaintance.
CHARLES H. WILLIAMS, who is well known all
through the Coeur dAlene country, is now deputy
sheriff and resides at Mullan. He was born in Schuy-
ler county, Missouri, on February 19, 1850, the son of
Nathan and Lucy (Wheeler) Williams, natives re-
spectively of Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. The
father came from Welsh ancestrage, was a farmer and
mechanic and died on February 21, 1865. The mother
died in Iowa on November 27, 1873. Our subject
was raised in his birthplace and attended school until
the bushwhackers burned all the school houses. When
fourteen, he enlisted in Company G, Forty-second Mis-
souri Infantry under captain T. S. Franklin and Colo-
nel Forbes. His father was captain of the home guards
company and resigned to accompany his son, but six
months'later he was taken sick and died in the hospi-
tal. Charles H. continued in the war until its close and
participated in the battle of Nashville and many skir-
mishes, being under General Thomas in pursuit of
bushwhackers much of the time. Being honorably dis-
charged he returned home and the family then re-
moved to Boone county, Iowa, where he remained until
the Black Hills excitement, having attended school in
the meantime. He was one vear in the Black Hills, then
returned to Iowa and remained until the spring of
1896. when he came to Coeur d'Alene country. He
contracted with the Morning mine to furnish timbers
for the Morning nunc and continued in this industry
until the Bunker Hill was blown up and then he went
lo Montana for a vear with cattle. He returned to
Mullan in 1900, and in December of that year he was
appointed deputv sheriff under Angus Sutherland.
This was at a time when anarchy ruled in the country
and for manv months he led a life ot constant peril.
His fearless conscientious work like that ot his super-
ior is now a matter of record. Mr. \\ ilhams has one
brother and one sister. Lawson H., Mrs. Hatt.e Reese.
126
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Mr. Williams is a member of the G. A. R., and the
Good Templars.
In February. 1884. at Des .Moines, Iowa, .Mr. Will-
iams married Miss Susan C, daughter of J. W. and
Maria Alley, natives of Indiana and Iowa, in which lat-
ter place they now dwell-. The father served in the
Eighteenth Indiana during the entire Civil war and was
wounded in the shoulder at the battle of Winchester,
which wound never healed. .Mrs. Williams' maternal
grandfather, Mr. King, served through the war, came
home sick and died soon after. Mrs. Williams was
born in Iowa. Three children have been born to this
marriage, Ralph E., aged seventeen ; Katie C., aged
thirteen ; Mabel, aged ten. Mrs. Williams died March
18, 1903, and her remains were taken to her old home
in Iowa for interment.
During the Tracy hunt. Mr. Williams was engaged
in the same with deputy Dick Adams, who has since
been killed by accident in the Bunker Hill mill. Mr.
Williams is interested in the Copper King property, be-
ing director and he has also mining interests in addi-
tion to this.
WILLIAM T. HALES is known by everyone in
the Coeur dAlene country as one of the foremost
men in developing the country and bringing to the front
properties of value. He has been eminently successful
in raising capital to develop many different properties
and his energy, skill and keen discrimination both in
business matters and in the art of mining and metal-
lurgy are being rewarded by unbounded success, which
is fully deserved by him.
William T. Hales was born in ( )hio, on December 15.
1854, the son of Benjamin and Camillia (Chase) Hales,
natives of Ohio. The father came from English an-
cestry who settled in the Muskingum valley in 1792,
and he followed architectural work and bridge building
till his death in 1893, being aged ninety. The mother
died when William was small. He struck out into the
world when nine, went down the river in a steamer and
made his way to St. Joseph, Missouri. He fell in with
good friends, went on to Omaha, Salt Lake City, Reno
and finally to Virginia City and worked on the Corn-
stock. He did a butcher business there with Mark
Strouse, deceased, and in 1869 went to San Francisco,
thence to Seattle, did sawmilling in old Tacoma and on
February 16, 1870, shipped on the Shikely before the
mast to San Francisco. Arriving in that port, he quit
the sea. He was so active in the following years that
we can hut touch upon the salient points of his career.
He did meat business in various places and finally
went to Virginia City and bought the business of his
old employer in 1876 and continued it till 1883. After
this he operated a hotel in Modoc county. He had been
interested in six placer claims which he sold for five
thousand dollars, which are now worth two millions.
Mr. Hales went to Big Hole basin in Montana, then
to Reno, bonded and worked properties in Humboldt
county, Nevada, then did a butcher business in Sprague,
Washington, and finally in 1890, he came to
Wardner. He took a bond on the Silver King and
after two years when about ready to place it on the
market the troubles of 1893 thwarted it. He leased the
Sierra Nevada from 1894 to 1898, then leased a prop-
erty from the Bunker Hill people and in 1899 went to
Wallace. He located some claims and took a lease on
•lie Panhandle, organized a company and sold the fol-
lowing spring. He organized another company and
bought the Kill Buck, named from a buck being shot
and uncovering ore in his fall. This was sold to the
Clapps of Butte for thirty thousand. Then he bond-
ed the Charles Dickens mine and sold it to John M.
Patterson of Pittsburg. Then Mr. Hales bought a St.
Joe placer property and went to Pittsburg and organ-
ized a company and sold for one hundred thousand, re-
taining five hundred thousand shares. This property
will be operated in the spring. Next this enterpris-
ing promoter bought the Denver & Rock Island prop-
erties in February, 1902. Mr. Hales has recently been
in Pittsburg financing the company and in the spring
this property will also be put on the producing list. He
is also interested in several other properties in the dis-
trict and he is one of the leading mining men of the
northwest. He has one brother, John, and two sis-
ters, Sarah and Margaret.
At Colusa, on October 7, 1877, Mr. Hales married
Miss Carrie C. daughter of Charles and Adelia
(Howe) Corbiere, natives of Vermont and New York,
respectively. The father lives now 111 Yuba, Califor-
nia, and his father fought in the war of 1812 and had
been previously a soldier under Napoleon in France.
The mother of Mrs. Hales died in California on Sep-
tember 6, 1896. Mrs. Hales was born in Colusa county
on August 14, 1860, and she has two brothers, Charles
C, William H, and two sisters, Hattie Braden and Mary-
Ingle. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs.
Hales, William E. and Mabel C, both students in Mos-
cow university. Mr. Hales is a member of the I. O. O.
F., and is a staunch Republican. Mrs. Hales is a mem-
ber of the Methodist church and they are both very
popular and capable people.
WELLINGTON LANDON. This venerable and
well known gentleman is one of the typical pioneers
whose skill, courage, and tenacity have piloted the way
for civilization into the western parts of the country
and to whom this section owes a debt of gratitude be-
cause of these worthy labors. A detailed account of
his life will be a fitting part of the history of Shoshone
county and we gladly append the same.
Wellington Landon was born in the vicinity of
Ogdensburg, New York, being also near the border
of Canada, October 26, 1830, the son of Solomon and
Kate (Fields) Landon, natives of New York. The pa-
ternal grandfather of our subject was General Landon,
who was killed in a battle on the hanks of the St.
Lawrence river in the Revolution and a fine monu-
ment was erected to his memory at the point of the
battle. The maternal uncles of our subject were in
the war of 1812. Mr. Landon's father died when this
son was fifteen and the mother soon after. Wellington
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1127
then started out for himself and was soon in Ohio and
there went at the lightning rod business, which he fol-
lowed successfully all over the east. His home was in
Pennsylvania most of this time. He also learned loco-
motive engineering and followed his trade as he came
west and soon we see him in Colorado mining and
operating a butcher shop. Then he mined in Montana
for about five years and also mined in Elk City and in
the Pierce district. In 1875 ne i0°^ a claim and built
improvements but the Indians in the war of 1877
burned all and killed his stock. He and others were
scouting and at one time were concealed while the red-
skins passed, then they joined General Howard's de-
tachment in pursuit and our subject was field cook.
Mr. Landon has since sold all of his claim but forty
acres, much being platted for the town site. He has
a hotel and feed barn now in operation and also handles
a saloon business. Mr. Landon is very popular and
stands weli with all classes and is one of the real pio-
neers of the west. He has always been independent in
political matters and also has never seen fit to launch
a craft on the sea of matrimony. The courage and in-
trepidity of Mr. Landon is seen in an occurence in
Colorado Some Mexican bandits were murdering
miners, and holding up the stages, while they stripped
their victims and left their naked bodies lying on the
ground. Nineteen were thus killed in four months and
the United States had sent a guard of twenty-five armed
men to attend each stage. Mr. Landon organized a
squad and went after the bandits and killed one and
the other escaped to Mexico where he was later shot.
In this fray, Mr. Landon had a bullet put through his
drinking cup and the fight was sharp and hot.
CHARLES M. JOHNSON, because of his energy,
ability and skill in his endeavors, should be classed
among the leading mining men in the Coeur d'Alene
district and his incessant and wisely bestowed labors
have done much for the development of the country
and are bringing to the front some valuable properties.
He is a man of substantial qualities and has won friends
from every quarter and is now secure in the esteem
and confidence of the people.
Charles M. Johiison was born in Ohio on May 29,
1846, the son of Alexander and Amelia (Patton)
Johnson. The father was born in Ohio and lives there
now, aged eighty-three. He served in the Civil war,
Company I. One Hundred and Seventy-second Ohio
Volunteer Infantry, enlisting about the middle and
serving on through till the end. He comes from a
prominent Virginia family. The mother was born
in Virginia and also came from a leading American
family. She died in December. 1901, aged eighty-two.
Our subject was reared in his native place, received
his education there and remained on the farm until
T864, when he enlisted in the same company with his
father and served until the conflict ended. He re-
turned home and remained until 1868 and then went
to Iowa and farmed until 1871, when he came to San
Francisco and then on to Portland, where he remained
until 1 8X6. For nine of those years he followed dair_\-
ing and in 1887 'le came into the Coeur d'Alene a mntrv
and here he has bestowed his labors since. He at
once commenced to prospect and he has continued more
or less at it since that time and now is associated with
J. A. Kaufman, Hugh Ross, and George Champagne
in several very valuable properties. They are especially
active at this time in developing the Lucky Gem group
which adjoins the Sixteen to One. Our subject is
director of this property and is also heavily interested
in the Treasure Vault group. Both of these are valu-
able properties and in addition to them Mr. Johnson
owns interests in many others. He has two brothers,
William and Sherman, and two sisters, Mar) 1 li. 1
rington, Emma Burnsides.
On October 14, 1896. at Wallace, Mr. Johnson mar-
ried Mrs. Sarah Utely, a native of Rome, New York,
and daughter of James and Angeline (Morrell)
Buck, both natives of Rome also. The father was a
prominent foundry man there and died September 27,
1876. The mother's ancestors were natives of that
place for some generations preceding and she died
October 15, 1896. Mrs. Johnson has one son by her
former marriage, Herbert, now in Belgium but his
home is in Wallace. She has one brother. Fred M..
and three sisters, Fanny Lewis, Etta Jones, and Man
L. Mr. Johnson is independent in political matters
and is a substantial man.
JOSEPH N. LARSON. The tireless energy, con-
stant thrift and keen judgment of our subject have
given him the meed of a goodly possession of property
and he is considered one of the most substantial men in
southern Shoshone county.
Joseph N. Larson was born in Sweden, on Decem-
ber 25, 1865, being the son of Lars and Mary G.
(Johnson) Larson, natives of Sweden. The father died
there on July 5, 1901, aged seventy-six, but the mother
still lives there. Joseph was raised in his native place
and educated in the public schools. When twenty, he
came to the United States and for a number of years
he was a very active traveler and was occupied in var-
ious labors. A short time was spent in New York,
then he came to South Dakota and farmed and dug
artesian wells for nine months. Then came a time in
the logging camps in Wisconsin, then he visited die
Sioux reservation in Dakota, then St. Paul and Min-
neapolis and later Butte. Montana, whence he came to
Coulee City and the big bend country. He was in
Spokane, off and on for three or four years, then in
Moscow and surrounding towns and later mined in
the Coeur d'Alenes. Mr. Larson also took a grading
contract on the Northern Pacific at Sandpoint and
finally in 1892, lie came to his present place, four miles
south from Weippe. Here he filed on a quarter and has
added 1>\ purchase until he has nearly five hundred
acres of valuable land. Mr. Larson devotes his energy
to raising stock and doing a diversified farming. He
has from fifty to one hundred cattle, a goodly number of
hogs and plenty of horses. Mr. Larson is prospered
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ni his labors because of his industry and wisdom and
is developing the country in excellent manner. Mr.
Larson has one sister, Mary, wife of Peter Peterson.
Politically, our subject is allied with the Republicans
but is no politician.
At Spokane, on May 31, 1897, Mr. Larson married
Miss Hannah M., daughter of Joel Anderson, who is
living in Sweden, where he has operated a stage line
mail route for over thirty-three years. Mrs. Larson is
a native of Sweden and was born in December, 1869.
She has three brothers and three sisters, Charles and
Louis in Spokane ; Yerner, in Sweden ; Eles, married ;
Teckla and Christine, both single and both in Sweden.
The latter is teaching school. To Mr. and Mrs. Lar-
son there have been born three children, Eric H., Frank
T„ and Charles A.
THOMAS WILSON. Three miles southeast from
Weippe dwells the subject of this review and he is a
man whose labors have established him as one of the
prosperous and substantial men of this section, while
also his estimable wife has been a worthy helpmeet in
the affairs of life.
Tbomas Wilson was born in Iowa, on May 2, 1850,
being the son of John and Rhoda A. (Phinney) Wil-
son, natives of Illinois. The father lives in Blackhawk
county, Iowa, and will he eighty years old on December
25, 1903. He was one of the earliest pioneers in Iowa.
The mother died in 1882. Our subject was reared in
Blackhawk county and attended school until he was
twenty and then labored with his father for three
years, after which he rented land and then bought a
forty. About 1885 he went to Nebraska and for eight-
een month he tilled the soil there and in 1887 he made
bis way to Poise. After a short stay there he came to
Shoshone county and bought the relinquishment of the
place where he now lives and which has been the family
home since that time. He does general farming, han-
dles stock, having about twenty cattle and a good
bunch of hogs. Mr. Wilson has three brothers and
three sisters, Seth and John, farmers in Iowa ; Will-
iam P. near Fraser, Sarah, a widow in Iowa ; Rhoda J.,
wife of Harrison Crawford ; Maria, wife of Frank
Carroll, all in Iowa. Politically. Mr. Wilson is a man
who reserves for his own thought the questions to be
decided and is not bound by the tenets of any party.
At Cedar Falls. Iowa, on September 15, 1872, Mr.
Wilson married Miss Mary, daughter of Deloss and
Harriet Jordan, natives of New York. The father died
September, 1886, aged seventy-eight. The mother died
at Cedar Falls, in 1898'. They were among the very
first settlers in Blackhawk county, coming in 1852.
Mrs. Wilson was born in Ohio, January 10, 185 1, and
she has two brothers, Henry, in Cedar Falls, and Mi-
chael, in Waterloo, Iowa. Five children have been
born to Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, named as follows : Joel,
residing near his father ; Leroy, also residing near by ;
Lawrence and Harvey S., both at home ; Lillian, wife of
William Teed also living near. Lawrence is only fif-
teen and has been operating on the violin for a number
of years, having gained all his skill without receiving
a lesson. In fact, he learned to tune the instrument
with no assistance. He is deserving of especial oppor-
tunitv to develop this talent. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson
have labored faithfully and are highly respected people.
Mrs. Wilson is a great sufferer from rheumatism.
They are good substantial people and are entirely wor-
thy of the confidence and good will which is gener-
ously bestowed upon them.
HON. OLE A. ANDERSON. A more genial,
gentlemanly and capable business man is not to be
found in Shoshone county than the subject of this arti-
cle. At present he is partner in the well known firm
of I. M. Anderson & Company, general merchants of
Orofino, and who handle one of the largest businesses
in their line in this section. They have a fine store filled
with a seven-thousand-dollar stock of well selected
merchandise and their patrons are numbered from ev-
ery quarter and are constantly increasing. A detailed
account of the career of this gentleman will be accept-
able to the readers of the county history.
Ole A. Anderson was born in Sweden, on January
31, 1862, being the son of Andrew Nelson and Chris-
tena (Person) Anderson, natives of Sweden. They
died in 1874, aged fifty-eight, and 1882, aged fifty-nine,
respectively. Our subjecc was educated in his native
land and came to the broader fields of the United States
in i86t, locating first at St. Peter, Minnesota, where he
clerked and then rented land for three years, after
which he bought land. In T892 he went into partner-
ship with Mr. A. E. Holmberg, one of the present firm,
and did a general merchandise business in Minnesota.
Three years later the firm sold out and went into the
real estate business. Three years later, Mr. Ander-
son and Mr. Holmberg came west and in August, 1899,
they started in their present business in Orofino. He
is also interested in a saw mill, and in mining. Mr.
Anderson has one brother and four sisters, Nels Holm,
in Minnesota; Elna, wife of Andrew Nelson, in Swe-
den ; Malena, wife of John N. Lindstrom, in Sweden ;
Annie, wife of Mr. Christianson, in St. Poul ; Bet-
tie, wife of Charles Smith, in Montana. Mr. Ander-
son is a member of the T. O. O. F., Orofino Lodge No.
64, and he is past noble grand, and a popular associate
in the lodge. He is also a member of the M. W. A.,
Orofino Lodge No. 7810, and is past venerable consul.
On July 19, 1890, in Minnesota, Mr. Anderson mar-
ried Miss Ingred M., daughter of Solomon Johnson
and Christina Solomonson, natives of Sweden. The
father is a business man in Minnesota and one of the
heavy property owners in his section. The mother
died in Minnesota in 1892. Mrs. Anderson was born
in Sweden on October 10, 1866. She has four brothers,
August Solomonson, proprietor and editor of a news-
paper in Twin Valley. Minnesota; Carl, preacher in the
Lutheran church in Longford, South Dakota ; Herman,
a commercial traveler in Hawley, Minnesota; Peter, a
traveling man in Minnesota. Two children have been
born to Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, Hulda J. C, and
Arthur W. Our subject and his estimable wife are
faithful members of the Methodist church.
HON. OLE A. ANDERSON.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Mr. Anderson is a true and tried Republican and
a man of intelligence in the matters pertaining to the
grave issues of the day in government and commercial
relations. At the last election his name appeared on
the Republican ticket for representative of his county
in the state legislature and with an overwhelming ma
jority, he was shown the feeling of the people regard-
ing both himself personally and his ability. He went
far ahead of his ticket and his majority was five hun-
dred and seventy-two. This is a signal victory and
even a conservative estimate of the matter would de-
cide that Mr. Anderson is entirely worthy of it all,
being a man of integrity, keenness, capability and ex-
ecutive force.
E. ALBERT MASSING, of the firm of Anderson
& Massing, is well known in Mullan where he is in
business, handling a saloon in connection with his part-
ner, they being proprietors of the same. He was born
;n Sweden on October 8, 1869, the son of Errick and
Hannah (Larson) Massing, natives of Sweden, where
the father died when our subject was two years old
and the mother still lives. Albert was educated and
learned the art of mining in his native land and then
came to the United States in 1894. He mined in Michi-
gan until 1897 ancl then came to Mullan where he has
been since. He was a miner in the Morning until the
spring of 1900, when he entered partnership with Mr.
Anderson and they have been in business here since.
They are interested in several promising mining pro-
perties and our subject is secretary of the Iron Crown
company. He also has stock in several others. He is
a member of the Redmen, of the Scandinavian Brother-
hood, and of the Miners Union. Mr. Massing has one
brother in the United States, Bengt, and one in Swe-
den, Carl E. He has two sisters in this country, Mrs.
Johanna Freedstrand, and Mrs. Matilda Oleson and
one sister in Sweden, Maria.
In Mullan. in the fall of 1897, Mr. Massing married
Miss Hilda Love, who came to the United States with
her parents when she was an infant. She has one
brother, John, and one sister, Mrs. Annie Larson.
Two children have been born to this couple. Edith and
Elmer, aged four and two respectively.
FRANCIS MARION ROSE is the efficient deputy
sheriff and jailer of Shoshone county at the present
time and for a number of years he has filled this posi-
tion with general satisfaction and has manifested a re-
liability that has commended him to all. He was born
in Carter county, Kentucky, on October 22, 1859, the
son of Jesse and Sarah ( Gibert) Rose, natives of Ken-
tucky, also. The father died in 1864 and the mother
now dwells in Oklahoma with her son, Henry. Our
subject was reared in Kentucky until twelve and then
went to Illinois with his mother and stepfather, John
Price, a native of England. Frank M. was educated
in the public schools and in the early eighties went to
Rawlins, Wyoming, where he was hotel clerk for a time
and in 1885 he went to the Black Hills. He was in
the saloon business there until 1888, when he came to
Burke and in 1890 to Wallace. In 1892 he was ap-
pointed deputy sheriff and one year later he went on the
Wallace police force and was city marshal until 1898.
Then came a year of prospecting and in the spring of
1899 he was appointed deputy sheriff, holding the po-
sition two terms under Sutherland and now under
Manly. Air. Rose lias three brothers, Henry, William,
James, living, and three, Thomas, Jesse. John and one
sister Maiasia, deceased.
On May 11, 1887, at Rapid City, South Dakota, Mr.
Rose married Miss Josephine Anderson, a native of
Sweden. The father dwells in Nebraska and the moth-
er died when this daughter was young. Mrs. Rose has
two sisters, Emily Buffman, Zelma Fruit, and one half
sister, Hannah, and one half brother, Henry. Two
children have been bom to Mr. and Mrs. Rose : Anna M.
born October 16, 1895, and Carl E., born April 7, 1898.
Mr. Rose is interested in several mining properties and
has considerable real estate in Wallace. Mrs. Rose has
a valuable farm near Lincoln, Nebraska. Mr. Rose is
a member of the Elks and the I. O. O. F. Mrs. Rose
is a member of the Lutheran church while Mr. Rose
was brought up in the Baptist faith. He is a solid
Republican and active in the campaigns. His brothers,
Henry and Thomas, served three years in the Union
armv.
COL. STEWARD FULLER, one of the best
known of the pioneers of the Coeur d'Alene country, is
now a mining man of Wallace. He was a veritable
leader in all forward enterprises in the days of Murray
and did his share to develop the country.
Steward Fuller was born in Canadaigua, Ontario
county, New N ork, on June 9, 1838, the son of Eli-
phalet and Louisa (Williams) Fuller, born on the Mo-
hawk in 1800 and 1797, respectively. Three brothers
came across in the Mayflower and from them descended
the strong Fuller family, which has been prominent
in commercial and professional lines since, having able
representatives in the leading professions of the coun-
try. John K, a noted divine, was one of the brothers
and the line from which Col. Steward comes. The
family was foremost in all the American strugg
were 'noble patriots. The father died in Wisconsin in
1866 and the mother died in 1856. She came from
Welsh ancestry direct for two hundred years. The
family came to Wisconsin in 184S and Steward was
with them. There he received a liberal education and
also assisted his father in the hotel business. In [862
he enlisted in Company A. First Wisconsin Light Bat-
tery, and served much of the time in detached action,
being in the force that repelled Early's attack
ington. He was under steady tire for forty-eighl hi >urs.
He was mustered out at Alexandria. Virginia, in [865,
and came to Detroit and entered commercial relations,
then settled in Council Bluffs, handling a wholesale
liquor business until 1871. Then he operated a hotel
in Alta City, Utah, until 1878. when the property-
burned Next we see Mr. Fuller in Idaho Falls in the
H3°
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
wholesale liquor business, then in Missoula, and in the
rush for Eagle City he was on the crest. He operated
as a leader in many lines there until 1889 when he came
to Wallace, opened a wholesale liquor house and also
did mining. In 1890 his liquor house was sacrificed
in the big fire and then he built the well known Fuller
House in Wallace. This he continued to operate until
1900, when he leased it and gave his entire time to the
operation of the Headlight, a promising mining prop-
erty in which Col. Fuller is heavily interested and is
mnaging. Mr. Fuller has the following named
brothers and sisters : George D. ; Albion ; Charlotte ;
John J., sergeant in the Thirty-sixth Wisconsin Infan-
try, who was severely wounded in front of Petersburg,
which resulted in his death ; Elephalet ; Guy W., captain
of Company A, Sixteenth Michigan Infantry, who was
killed by Mcsby's guerrillas in October, 1864, and was
buried by the Masons in Raraboo, Wisconsin, being a
scn-in-law to Judge McWait of that city; Elijah, cap-
tain in the Third Michigan Infantry.
Oo December 15. 1871, at Calhoun. Nebraska, Mr.
Fuller married Miss Margaret A., daughter of Jesse
and Sarah (Arnold) Murphy. Mr. Murphy was born
m Connecticut and died in Omaha, in 1897, aged
eighty. His father was a patriot in the Revolution.
He lived near Bull Run at the time of that awful bat-
tle and later he was incarcerated in Libby prison as a
sympathizer with the Union and for eighteen months
he suffered the anguish of that horrible 'pen. The
mother of Mrs. Fuller was born in Pennsylvania and
now lives in Eugene, Oregon. Mrs. Fuller was born
in New Jersey. January n. 1840. The following chil-
dren have been born to this union : Warrick G., Edith
L., both deceased, Reuben J., Steward E., Jesse, Ethel,
deceased Mr. Fuller is a Republican and is always
interested in the welfare of the country and has been
a Republican since the days of Abraham Lincoln. He
has been councilman in the town, but the colonel is
never desirous of preferment in this line.
E. HOWARD DULMAGE. The fact that Mr.
Dulmage conceived the idea and executed the project
of connecting Pierce and Orofino and Greer by tele-
phone demonstrates that he is a man of keen foresight,
business discrimination and practical judgment. The
enterprise has been a success in every pint of view and
it is owing to the keeness of Mr. Dulmage and his exe-
cutive force that it has been put in position for the ac-
commodation of the mining districts.
Howard Dulmage was born in Clifford, Ontario,
011 June 9, 1878, being the son of Robert W. and Mary
I Mulcaster) Dulmage. The father was born in Can-
ada as was his father, and the grandfather of Robert
W. went to Canada from Pennsylvania in 1812. Our
subject's father is a leading merchant in Northwest
Territory. Canada. The mother of Howard was a
native of England and came to Canada with her parents
who are dead. She married in Canada and lives with
her husband in Northwest Territory. Our subject was
educated in the excellent schools of Ontario, finishing
in the high school. He then entered a pharmacy but
not liking the business he came to Minneapolis when he
was eighteen. Taking a course in a Minnesota school
of business, he then entered the accounting department
of the Minneapolis & St. Louis railroad at Minneapolis.
Two years later he took the position of agent on that
line at Luverne, Iowa, then was stationed at Badger and
later was operator and relief agent for the Northern
Pacific. In January. 1902, he was stationed at Greer
as agent and in July of that year, he resigned to put in
the telephone mentioned above and which connects with
the Pacific States line at Greer. In addition to hand-
ling this business, Mr. Dulmage is conducting a fruit
and confectionery store, in which he is doing a good
business. Mr. Dulmage has one brother and one sister,
the former in the college of pharmacy in Toronto, while
the latter is Esther, wife of Robert B. Ferguson, in the
office of the Delaware and Lackawana railroad in New
York.
On November 14. 1900. Mr. Dulmage married Miss
Florence, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Bur-
goyne) Hawke, natives of England. Mrs. Dulmage
was born in Yorkshire, England, on November 15,
1878, and she has the following brothers and sisters:
Thomas, a butcher; Louise H, wife of Harry Lock-
wood, a butcher ; Mary, wife of Albion Aulker ; Susan,
wife of Harry Mattieson, a policeman ; Katherine.
wife of Thomas Lynes, a florist ; all the above are in
Minneapolis; Laura, single and residing in England.
FREDERICK P. PORTER, the efficient and sub-
stantial master mechanic in the Bunker Hill, is de-
scended from the well known Porter family of New-
England, whose prominence in the affairs of the coun-
try is becoming and deserved. He was born in Strong,
Maine, September 10, 1874, the son of Arthur J. and
Nellie (Fiske) Porter, natives of Maine, where they
still live. The father was a manufacturer of wooden
articles. The great-grandfather of our subject was
Colonel Porter in the Revolution. The mother comes
from a well known family of New England, the Fiskes
being among the first settlers of New England. Fred-
erick P. was well educated, taking a high school course
and when eighteen went to learn the machinist trade.
This was in Lewiston, Maine, and when he had com-
pleted it, he worked in New York and then entered
the navv. He served three years and was discharged in
the fall of 1898. when he came to the Coeur d'Alene
country. He was on the San Francisco in Cuba five
months. Here he took a position in the Bunker Hill
and later in the Poorman. Then he went back to the
marine repair shops for ten years and in October. 1902,
he came to this district and took his present position.
Mr. Porter has two brothers, George G., Arthur, and
one sister, Emma Gilmore.
In October, 1901, Mr. Porter married Miss Jane C,
daughter of Amos and Julia ( Hayden ) Fiske, natives
of Maine. Mrs. Porter comes from another branch
of the Fiske family. The wedding occurred in Rock-
land, Maine, and Mrs. Porter was born in the same
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
H3'
town, October 6, 1876. She has one brother, Fred, and
one sister, Rena Leon. Mr. Porter is a member of the
A. F. & A. M. He is a stanch Republican and is a well
informed and capable man.
HON. ALFRED PAGE is one of the best known
men of the Coeur dAlene country and we are pleased
to be privileged to recount the salient points in his in-
teresting career. At present he is serving in the state
legislature, having been chosen to represent his county,
and in this capacity he is an able and faithful man.
Alfred Page was born in Worcestershire, England,
on December 12, 1852, the son of Robert and Elizabeth
(Greaves) Page, natives of England. The father was
a builder and contractor and died in 1897. The mother
now lives in Scotland. Our subject received a liberal
education in his native land and came to the United
States in 1870. He had learned the butcher trade and
followed it in California, both at San Jose, and Oak-
land. In 1874 he opened a market in the latter place
and in time sold out and started a restaurant, being in
partnership with Harry Baylis. Finally he sold that
and went to Arizona where we find him active in vari-
ous lines. Thence he continued his journey to Nevada
and in 1879, Mr. Page was in the city of Seattle and
there he continued in business until 1883. He was next
engaged in Granite creek mines in British Columbia
and in 1884 came thence to Murray. Finally Mr. Page
came on to Kentuck, now Wardner, and there he
opened a restaurant and from that day to this he has
been prominent in entertaining travelers and is now
proprietor of the well known Page Hotel, one of the
most comfortable and popular places in the entire
Coeur d'Alene country. He has made the hotel the
leading establishment in the town and his untiring care
for the comfort of all and his skill in furnishing the
best to be had in the markets, with careful attendants,
have made his name and hotel leaders in every traveler's
mind who has had the good fortune to be entertained
in the hotel. Mr. Page is a member of the Elks, of the
I. O. O. F. and of the Eagles.
HENRY C. IHRIG, the skillful and popular sign
writer of Wallace, is one of the leading men in his
line of business in the northern part of the state and
is a good substantial citizen and a man of reliability.
He was born in Scott county, Minnesota, on March
2, 1859, the son of Charles and Susannah (Steiner)
Ihrig, natives of Germany, where they were married.
They came to the United States in the early 'fifties,
and the father followed the meat business most of his
life. In 1892 he was called away by death. This
occurred in Dayton, Washington, where he had been
living since 1880. The mother still lives there, aged
seventy-one. Our subject was educated in Minne-
sota and when thirteen entered the Minneapolis Busi-
ness College, where he took first prize for penmanship
and spelling. When sixteen he learned fresco painting
and at the same time assisted his father in the butcher
business. In 1880 he joined his brother in Dayton.
Washington, whither the family came in a few month-.
After a few months Mr. Ihrig went to San Francisci •
and worked at butchering for three years, being also
engaged in operating a fruit store. Then he took tin
foremanship of a large carriage factory in San Fran-
cisco, and in 1883 returned to Dayton. I [e wrote signs
there for two years and came on to Murray, where
he did a good business.' In 1888 he came to Burke
and built the "Nip & Tuck," but as business did not
pan out good he came to Wallace and here has con-
tinued since, doing a good business in his line. Ht-
was here in the great fire and did noble work in rescu-
ing people and saving property. Mr. Ihrig owns a
fine two-story building and handles a thriving trade.
Mr. Ihrig has one brother, George, and three sisters, —
Maggie Erb, Laura Peterson and Bertha Nicholson :
and one half-brother. William, and two half-sisters. —
Eliza Wickmann ami Sophie Bollinger. Mr. Ehrig is
a member of the Eagles, and of the EC. P.
Mr. Ihrig has always been a fine athlete and in
early days got up and carried through one of the finest
fourth of July celebrations that ever made the old
Coeur d'Alene hills echo to patriotism. He has in his
possession eight prizes won at different occasions, the
first being taken when he was but eight years old. ( )n
account of having taken eight prizes in athletic con-
tests in Minnesota, the state sent Mr. Ihrig to Duluth.
where he organized the Turnverein. He recently made
a winning of warm approval in giving an exhibition
for the Elks. He had been some time out of prac-
tice, but was enthusiastically applauded. Mr. Ihrig
is still in the happy days of bachelor life and is also
a stanch Republican. Fie is owner of much mining
stock and has a share in the Happy Day, which adjoins
the Hercules, his stock being in the Amador and other
properties.
JOHN S. OLIN. It is with pleasure that we are
enabled to recount the salient points of the career
of Mr. Olin, since he is one of the expert mining men
of this famous Coeur d'Alene district, as will be seen
from the following. He was born in Ashland. Ohio,
on December 13, 183'). the son of Salathiel and Rachel
(Seger) OHn, natives of New York. Our subject
received his education in Ohio and remained there until
he was nineteen, finishing the academic course that
year. He went to Minnesota and embarked in the
dry goods business for a time, after which, in 1804. he
crossed the plains to Austin. Nevada. He mined there
and in California. Arizona. Utah. Colorado. Alaska.
Montana and ( lid Mexico. Mr. ( >lin was superintendent
of the Segregated Belcher mine at Virginia City in
1880, then was superintendent of the following Other
properties: Cariboo, in Boulder. Colorado, the Menas
Vegas, in Old Mexico, state of Neuvo, Leon, the Brown-
low, in Colorado, the Emmons, on Horseshoe mountain,
in Colorado, the Mavzeppa. also in Colorado. In the
spring of 1893 Mr. ' Olin went to Alaska as superin-
tendent of the' Pino Mining and Manufacturing Com
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
pany and then superintended the famous Bassick prop-
erty, Quireda, in Custer county, then took charge of
the Chicago and Cripple creek tunnel. Following this
long and excellent record Mr. Olin was employed by
some large eastern firms as an expert, and he traveled
over various sections of leading mining districts until
1899, when he came to Mullan and accepted the super-
intendence of the Hunter properties, where he is at
the present time. Mr. Olin has one brother and one
sister, — Mark and Eliza.
In March. 1875, Mr. Olin married Miss Amanda,
daughter of Blake and Emily Swaind. The father died
in Iowa and the mother still lives in Appanoose county,
where she was born and also where Mrs. Olin was born.
The grandparents were from South Carolina and early
pioneers in Iowa. Mrs. Olin has the following broth-
ers and sisters, all living in Appanoose county : Blake,
Junuius, Eli, Levi, Oscar, Jacob, Lewis and Mrs. Sarah
Smith. Mr. and Mrs. Olin have one child, — Mrs. Eva
Danher, residing in Mullan. Mr. Olin is a member
of the I. O. O. F. and of the A. O. U. W. Mrs. Olin
is a devout member of the Methodist church.
GEORGE E. ERB is a thorough westerner in
every sense of the word, being a man of intelligence
and excellent business ability, and withal a potent factor
in the political world of Idaho, while among his fellows
he is of exceptionally good standing.
George E. Erb was born in Lafayette county, Mis-
souri, on April 26, 1866, being the son of Maxim and
Mary A. (Ferguson) Erb. The father was born in
Alsace-Lorraine, and came to the United States when
he was sixteen years old. He located in Illinois and
joined the state militia at the time of the Mormon
trouble at Nauvoo. Then- he enlisted in and served
all through the Mexican war, and after its close he
acted as scout and Indian fighter on the plains until
1856, when he met and married Miss Mary Ferguson,
and settled down in Missouri about twenty miles south
from Kansas City. When the Civil war broke out
he joined the southern army, serving under General
Joe Shelby. He was in the battles of Springfield, Iuka,
Corinth, was taken prisoner at Vicksburg, exchanged
three months later and then served the balance of the
war in Texas. Then he returned to his farm and re-
mained until his death, in 1878, aged sixty-two. The
mother of our subject was born in Missouri, of Scotch
and Irish extraction, and is now living with this son's
family in Lewiston. George was educated in the
schools of his native place and when seventeen came
with his mother, who took land near Weston, Oregon,
where he farmed for three years. He then went to
Wallowa county, Oregon, and in February, 1889, he
came on foot, the snow being too deep for horses, to
Lewiston, and in that city and at his present place he
has been since. Soon after landing in Lewiston he
passed the teachers' examination and taught school un-
til 1892. In August of that year he was nominated
and elected probate judge, also school superintendent
on the Democratic ticket After that term he accepted
the position of deputy county clerk, where he dis-
charged the duties to the satisfaction of all. During
this time he was one term city assessor, and one term
mayor of Lewiston. In 1896 Mr. Erb was appointed
as a member of the board of trustees for the state Nor-
mal school and he still holds that position. In 1899
he was chairman of the Democratic county central com-
mittee, and in 1901 he was a member of the state
central committee for Nez Perces county. In 1901
Mr. Erb dropped all activities in politics and took up
the mercantile business with his brothers in Greer,
where we find him now. They carry a stock of ten
thousand dollars and do a good business. He owns
a fine residence in Lewiston and also a number of
residence properties leased, while also he has a good
farm of one quarter near Lewiston.
Mr. Erb is a member of the W. of W. at Lewiston
and is also past chancellor commander of Excelsior
Lodge, No. 2, K. P., in Lewiston. Mr. Erb also is
past grand chancellor commander of the state of Idaho.
He has held office in the subordinate lodge for ten
years consecutively, and has also attained the position
of lieutenant colonel of the LTniform Rank, being
the highest office in the state. He succeeds Colonel
Ed. McConville, the latter being killed in the Philip-
pines. Mr. Erb is also a member of the Rathbone
Sisters and has been instrumental in organizing the
grand temple of these in the state.
On June 14, 1892, at the Dowd residence near
Lewiston, Mr. Frb married Miss Mary E., daughter of
Michael and Elizabeth Dowd, natives of Ireland. Mrs.
Erb was the first white girl born at Pierce. The fa-
ther was a pioneer in Pierce and wrought at his trade —
that of the blacksmith — and died in 1876. The mother
died at the home of our subject in 1897. Mrs. Erb
was born in Pierce on December 13, 1868, and was edu-
cated in the Catholic seminary in Walla Walla. She
has three brothers, — Harry, Matthew and Charles,
farmers and stockmen on the Dowd estate. Two chil-
dren,— Charles F., aged nine, and Mary E., aged seven,
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Erb. Mr. Erb and
his wife are prominent in the society of Lewiston and
are amog the leading people of the town, while their
friends are numbered as legion. Mr. Erb is chief
deputy in charge of the court department in the county
clerk's office.
THOMAS H. DONNELLY is a prominent and
capable mining man of the Coeur d'Alene country, with
his headquarters at Mullan. He is well and favorably
known, is a man of practical knowledge, skill and
energy, and has some of the mOst excellent property in
this vicinity.
Thomas H. Donnelly was born in England on
August 9, 1847, the son of Joseph and Mary (Costello)
Donnelly, natives of Ireland and now dwelling in Law-
rence, Massachusetts. The father came to the United
States in 1854, and in February, 1862, enlisted in Com-
pany D, Sixteenth Massachusetts. He was wounded
in the battle of the Wilderness, but continued to serve
until the end of the war. and was in the principal bat-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
'33
ties. He now draws a disability pension, having lost
the use of his wounded arm. The mother's brother,
Miles, served in the navy during the Civil war. Our
subject was reared and educated in Lowell, Massachu-
setts, and when seventeen enlisted in the navy. At the
close of the war he came to Chicago and followed steam-
fitting until 1869, then returned to Lowell until 1872,
when he went again to Chicago and wrought at his trade
until 1877. Next we see Mr. Donnelly in Leadville,
mining, and in this business he wrought in New Mixi-
co, Arizona, southern California, Oregon, British Co-
lumbia, Montana, Washington, Idaho and other places.
He passed through the Coeur d'Alene country in 1880
and stayed with Air. Prichard at Evolution, where he
was working on the Goldsmith claim. Mr. Donnelly
came to Idaho to remain in 1887, and since that time
has given his attention to mining. He is the principal
owner of the famous Snowstorm group, which has a
force of men at work and a showing of three tunnels,
sixteen hundred feet, six hundred feet and two hundred
and ninety feet, respectively, with forty feet of ore in
the middle tunnel. It is a copper property and valua-
ble. Mr. Donnelly is vice-president of this company,
and also owns other property in this vicinity. He has
one brother and two sisters, — Edward J., Elizabeth
Houghton and Sarah Hart. Mr. Donnelly is still en-
joying the quiet pleasures and comforts of the celiba-
tarian. He is a member of the G. A. R. and the Red-
men. Politically Mr. Donnelly is entirely independent
and not bound by shackles in any line. In church rela-
tions he is affiliated with the Catholics.
CHARLES STENZEL. This public spirited busi-
ness man of Greer is now operating a first class livery
stable there, in which he does a good business, owing
both to his enterprise and his geniality, being a man
who has labored for the development of the country
and who is well and favorably known.
Charles Stenze' was born in Waushara county, Wis-
consin, on June 20, 1867, being the son of Andrew G.
and Minnie (Koechel) Stenzel, natives of Germany.
The father came to the United States in 1849 anc^
farmed and did merchandising. He died in Platte
comity, Nebraska, January 6, 1895, aged sixty-two.
He served in Company I, First Wisconsin Heavy Ar-
tillery, and was disabled in the war. The mother of
our subject came to the United States about 185 1, was
married in Wisconsin in June, 1861, and now lives in
Nebraska. Charles was raised in Wisconsin until
seven, then went with the family to Minnesota and
Nebraska, in which latter place he attended school for
thirteen years. He remained with his parents until
he was twenty, and then rented land for three years
with indifferent success. In 1891 Mr. Stenzel came
to Shoshone county and did ranch work for four years,
then he operated a stage line from Lewiston to Pierce
and did freighting for six years. His brother-in-law,
George Gamble, was a partner in these enterprises. In
April, 1901, Mr. Stenzel opened a livery stable in
Greer, and since that date he has done a good busi-
ness. Mr. Stenzel has a ranch on the Weippe which
will yield at least two million feet of fine yellow pine,
this being an exceptionally fine piece of timber land.
In Platte county, Nebraska, on February 27, 1891,
Mr. Stenzel married Miss Annie, daughter of Fred
and Minnie Tessendorf, natives of Germany. Mrs.
Stenzel has three brothers and one sister,— William,
in Nez Perces county; Gustav and Albert, in Platte
county, Nebraska; Teenie, wife of John Weisner,
operating a steam laundry in Grand Forks, British
Columbia. Mr. Stenzel stands among the leaders in
progression and upbuilding of the country and has
shown a generous and public spirit in his career, and
the good will and esteem of all are his to enjoy.
ADAM AULBACH needs no introduction to the
people of Idaho or the northwest, and it is with un-
feigned pleasure that we are able to recount some of
the salient points of his active and aggressive career.
Owing to his extensive experience and activity in the
vocations of life, it will be impossible to grant great
detail, but an epitome of Mr. Aulbach's life can but
stimulate others to noble action and emulation of real
triumph and success.
Adam Aulbach was born near Belleville, Illinois,
on December 24, 1846, the son of Adam and Eva Aul-
bach, natives of Aschaffenburg, Bavaria. The father
was a captain in the army many years, came to the
United States in 1842 and located six miles south of
Belleville. Later he moved to Belleville and followed
merchandising until his death, in 1889. He had been
alderman for twenty-four years. The mother was
married in the native land, and died in Belleville in
1887. Our subject received a liberal education, learned
the printer's art and the skill of the editor and re-
porter, perfecting himself in many places. He com-
menced in Belleville, then worked on the Republican, in
St. Louis, and on April 28, 1863, with four others, the
eldest being twenty-five, he started from St. Joseph,
Missouri, with ox teams, to the west. Fighting with
the Indians occurred frequently and the authorities
forbade them proceeding from Laramie until larger
trains came up. He reached his destination. East Ban-
nock, on July 28, the same year. He mined, did mer-
chandising, went to Virginia City, Montana, mined in
Bivens gulch and there was drafted into the vigilance
committee, and it became his lot to witness several of
the earlv hangings. On August 21, 1864, Mr. Aul-
bach enlisted in Company A, First Nevada Cavalry,
and served until July 12, 1866, being then discharged
at Camp Douglas, Utah. Next we see Mr. Aulbach
in the newspaper business in Salt Lake City, handling
the Vedette, which was a fearless organ, as is testified
by the mobbings it received at the hands of the infuri-
ated Mormons. Mr. Aulbach was the only one escap-
ing bodily injury. Later lie operated a daily at Co-
rinne, Utah, then did compositor work on the San
Francisco Chronicle. After one year he returned to
Corinne, and was at the head of a plan to reclaim desert
land, and went to Washington, D. C, with ex-Governor
54
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Stone, of Iowa, to further the business, but was finally
compelled to abandon it. In 1872 Mr. Aulbach was
again in San Francisco, and then wrote the constitu-
tion of the Typograhical Union, which is still in use.
Then we see him in San Jose, publishing the daily-
Herald in the interests of Samuel J. Tilden in the great
campaign of 1876. In the fall of that year he went to
Eureka, Nevada, and edited the Daily Republican.
After one year he returned to San Francisco and
worked on the Chronicle and Post. In 1880 he came
again to Eureka, and for three years subsequent there-
to was connected with the Daily Sentinel. On Novem-
ber 2, 1883, Mr. Aulbach arrived at Herring Siding, on
the Northern Pacific, found the trail blocked with
snow and so went east, where he remained during that
winter. He was occupied on the Philadelphia Record,
New York Herald and other papers. On April 9,
1884, Mr. Aulbach reached Belknap with a complete
printing office, and on July 4 of the same year he
came into Murray at the head of a pack train of forty-
five mules, bringing in his newspaper outfit. On July
8 the first issue of the Tri-Weekly Sun came forth, and
in 1886 it grew to a daily, and in 1888 it took its place
as a weekly and has since continued as such. The
Coeur d'Alene Sun is well known, and it breathes forth
the acumen, uprightness and keen discrimination and
foresight of its editor and owner and has always been
a welcome visitor wherever it has made its way. In
1885 Mr. Aulbach started the Wardner News. In
1889 he purchased the Wallace Press and also started
a paper at Mullan. All of these plants he subse-
quently sold. Mr. Aulbach has always been a promi-
nent figure in the political arena, and while forging out
the policy and placing men to execute it he has taken
but little prominence for himself in public office. He
is now a stanch Republican and hopes to continue so
until his departure. He has one brother, John, and two
sisters, Josephine Beck and Mary C. Stratz.
On February 5, 1888, at Murray, Mr. Aulbach
married Miss Rose, daughter of John and Mary
(Ruben) Zaugg, natives of Switzerland and now de-
ceased. Two children have been born to this union, — -
Nate, a student in Bishop Scott's academy in Portland ;
Ruth, in St. Helen's Hall, Portland. Mr. Aulbach is
a member of the A. F. & A. M., the I. O. O. F. the O.
E. S., the G. A. R. and the Olympic Club. He owns
the Murray water plant and has heavy interests in min-
ing, and is one of the leaders of the county.
GEORGE E. GILPATRICK is one of the early
pioneers of the Coeur d'Alene country and is now-
operating a neat and popular hotel in Murray, while
also he does a general mining business. He was born
in Maine on January 25, 1861, the son of Joseph F. and
Esther (Meader) Gilpatrick, natives of Maine. The
father descended from English parents, and his father
is now living in Maine, aged ninety. The father died
in eastern Washington in 1897. The mother comes
from Scotch ancestrage and is now living at Tyler,
Washington. Our subject was raised in Maine until
nine, then went with the family to Butte county, Cali-
fornia, where he was educated. In 1885 he came to
Wardner and the next year to Murray. He devoted
himself to mining and located several claims, but later
abandoned them. One of them proved upon develop-
ment to be very valuable. Mr. Gilpatrick continued
at Murray until 1890 and then went to visit his people
at Tyler, and spent four years there and one in Walla
Walla, and in 1895 he returned to Murray again.
Again he gave his attention to mining, and then he
began to locate some excellent claims. He located the
Carbonate group, in which he has a large interest now.
He also discovered and located the Tiger group, and
in this also he has a large share. He gave his atten-
tion to developing these properties, and also to further
prospecting, until March 28, 1903, when he opened
the hotel which he is now conducting, and it is one
of the choice places for refreshment in the whole Coeur
d'Alene country and happy is the weary traveller who
is so fortunate as to secure entertainment under the
charge of Mr. and Mrs. Gilpatrick, for they have
made their hotel all that home can afford for com- j
fort and quietness. Mr. Gilpatrick has also done con-
siderable contract work in different mines, and he is
known as one of the leading mining men of the sec-
tion. He has four brothers and one sister, — Fred,
Herbert, Gardner, Henry and Aura Moreland.
In Seattle, on July 4, 1901, Mr. Gilpatrick married
Mrs. Athelia Taylor, daughter of Zephaniah and Mary
(Knight) Perry, natives of New York. The father
died at Tyler on May 28, 1899, and the mother died
in 1891. Mrs. Gilpatrick was born in New York
state in 1867 and has the following brothers and sis-
ters : Fremont, Sherman, John, Burt, Edwin, Mel-
lissa Abbott, Hattie Sisjnor and Alta Watt.
WILLIAM P. NORTHRUP is one of the leading
citizens of the Coeur d'Alene country and is well and
favorably known in this county. He is at present
handling a good hardware business in Murray and is
doing a good business, to which his energy, skill and
uprightness entitle him.
William P. Northrup was born in Wyoming county,
New York, on February 3rd, 1852, the son of Gilbert
S. and Clarinda G. (Gates) Northrup, natives of New
York and Massachusetts, respectively. The father
was a well known Congregational preacher and was-
chaplain of the Ninth Kansas Cavalry, which fought
Price. He contracted pneumonia in the service, and
died in 1864. He came from a prominent and old
Xew England family. The mother descended from the
Gates family, which came to the colonies in the early
part of the seventeenth century. She died in Iola.
Kansas, in 1891. Our subject was educated by his
mother, who was accomplished as an educator, and in
1872 he went to railroading in Minnesota. Later he
went to Poughkeepsie, New York, and took a busi-
ness course. Following this Mr. Northrup was sales-
man in a mercantile house in Chicago, then entered the
employ of his uncle, the leading business man of Iola,
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
"35
Kansas. Next he came to The Dalles, Oregon, and in
1890 to Wallace, and it was his fortune, with others,
to spread the first alarm of the great fire of that year,
and in 180,2 he was a deputy sheriff. Mr. Northrup
was then receiver for the Small & Colby Lumber Com-
pany at Cataldo, and later he took charge of the Coeur
d'Alene Hardware Company's interests in Murray, and
in February, 1902, he bought the business. Air. North-
rup was county treasurer for two years and the com-
missioners commanded him not to pay the interest on
the county bonds, but he did it, as should have been
done, and then was ordered to get greater bonds, and
a personal canvass of the towns of the district gave him
such an overwhelming addition to his bonds that no
further complaint could be lodged.
At Iola, Kansas, on May 27, 1880, Mr. Northrup
married Miss Luella E., daughter of Josiah and Iola
C. Col born, early settlers in Kansas. The town was
named from Mrs. Colborn. The father was a Cali-
fornia miner and did well, and was a leading man in
his section. Mrs. Northrup is a native of Iola, being
the first child born there. She has one brother and
four sisters, — George M., Jennie Moffitt, Madeline J.
McKissick, Alice Scott and Nellie" F. Colburn. Mr.
Northrup is a member of the K. P. and of the A. O.
U. W. He is a man of intelligence and business ability
that has made a success, and he stands today one of
the prominent men of Shoshone county.and deservedly
holds that position.
CLARENCE C. LANDES is the present post-
master of Murray, and it is truly said of him that he
handles one of the best and neatest postoffices in the
state of Idaho. He also operates in connection with
his postoffice a cigar and confection store and is hand-
ling a fine business.
Clarence C. Landes was born in Eugene, Oregon,
on November 21, 1872. the son of Winfield S. and
Mary J. (Goodman) Landes. The father was born in
Iowa, crossed the plains in 1853, farmed near Eugene
and in 1882 came to eastern Oregon and in 1886 to
Murray. In 1900 he retired from active mining inter-
ests and now dwells in Spokane. The mother was
born in Missouri, was married in Eugene, and died
at Eugene in June, 1873. Our subject was educated
in the public schools and the Monmouth Normal. His
mother's parents now live in Eugene and the father
rides a bicycle, and both are strong and rugged and if
they both live until August 29, 1903, they will celebrate
the sixtieth anniversary of their wedding. After leav-
ing the normal Clarence C. came to Murray and joined
his father in mining. In 1896 he went into politics
and was an influential factor in that realm. He was
four months at Boise, in the heat of the campaign, and
then came to Murray and was appointed postmaster.
Eighteen months later he resigned and went to Central
America, seeking a business location, but returned to
Spokane, then went to Thunder mountain before the
boom and located some fine property, which was sold
bv him later to a good advantage. In 1901 Mr. Landes
returned to Murray and upon the resignation of Air.
irvin as postmaster he was appointed, and holds that
incumbency until the present.
On July 18, 1901, at Wallace, Air. Landes married
Aliss Lillian, daughter of William and Ella (Hitch-
ings) Worstell, natives of Indiana. The father is a
pioneer to this district, and is now a retired merchant
in Wallace. The mother died in Denver, Colorado,
on March 10, 1888. Airs. Landes was born in Indiana
on July 22,, 1873, and has three brothers and two sis
ters, — Bruce G, Lawrence, Harold, Luneti and Han-
nah. To Air. and Airs. Landes there has been born
one child, — Virginia. Air. Landes is a member of
the Elks, and his wife belongs to the Episcopalian
church. Air. Landes is greatly interested in mining
propositions in the district and is a promoter of prop-
erties on Bear Gulch.
PATRICK KEANE has won many friends by his
affability and modest bearing, coupled with integrity
and sincerity, which are patent to all who come in
contact with him. He is at present the popular incum-
bent of the postoffice at Greer, where he displays an
ability and spirit of accommodation that gives the ut-
most satisfaction.
Patrick Keane was born in Ireland on Alarch l6,
1844, being the son of Cornelius and Alary (Alonahan)
Keane, both natives of Ireland and now deceased. Pat-
rick came to the United States in 1867, and after one-
year in Boston he made his way to Idaho, Pierce being
the objective point. He is thus one of the oldest
pioneers of this section. He gave his attention to
mining and later took a homestead on the Weippe,
which was the scene of his labors for sixteen years.
This property was sold in February, 1902. For six
years Air. Keane was postmaster in Fraser, and since
July, 1899, he has. been postmaster of Greer. Air.
Keane has two brothers. — Cornelius, on the old home-
stead in Ireland; Dermis, a farmer in the vicinity of
Fraser.
On December 31, 1885, at Greer, Air. Keane mar-
ried Aliss Alary, daughter of James and Mary Greer,
natives of Ireland. Airs. Keane was born in Ohio,
and died in Greer on February 7. 1891, aged fifty-two.
Air. Keane has no children. In political matters he is
a stanch Republican and has been committeeman for
this district. He is a man of excellent information,
and in the issues of the day he is intelligent. Air.
Keane has two buildings in the town, which are rented.
One is that in which the postoffice is located.
AAIOS VV ATKINS is a leading man of Alurray,
being now engaged in blacksmithing. He was born in
Ohio on November 9, [847, the son of Edward and
lane (Williams) Watkins, natives of Wales. They
came direct to ( IhiO from the native country, the fa-
ther landing in the Buckeye state when seven. They
were married there, and there the father died in 1897.
1 1 36
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
The mother died when our subject was twelve. Amos
was educated and reared in Ohio, and in 1875 went to
Missouri, the next year to California and thence by
steamer to Portland, and was soon in Salem. Inside
of a year he located in Colfax, Washington, and in
1879 went t0 tne Leadville excitement, and in May,
1883, he was on the crest of the wave which brought
him to Murray. He packed in over the old Evolution
trail and rested first at Eagle City. He mined until
1887 and then opened his present shop, and since that
time the shop has been his headquarters. Mr. Watkins
is interested in the development of the district, has
various properties and is a heavy owner in the Emmett
& Blaine group. Mr. Watkins has one brother, Ben-
jamin; four half-brothers, John, Evan, David and
Charles ; two sisters, Mary Evans and Catherine Jones ;
and one half-sister, Emma Davis.
On January 12, 1887, at Murray. Mr. Watkins mar-
ried Mrs. Sara E. Haver, who was born in Goshen,
Indiana, on February 29, 1852, the daughter of Jacob
and Susan (Norten) Kinney. The father was born in
Dublin, Ireland, came to the United States when thirty
and was a merchant. The mother was born in Ger-
many, was married in Goshen, Indiana, and died on
November 26. 1871. Mr. Kinney was a leading mer-
chant in Goshen for years. Mr. Watkins is a member
of the A. O. U. W. and is an active Republican.
Mrs. Watkins came to Murray over the trail from
Thompson Falls, landing here on March 17, 1885.
She started a boarding house in Dream gulch and did
well for two years. Her first husband, Fred Haver,
was killed in a powder explosion in 1882. He was
a veteran of the Civil war. enlisting in the First Wis-
consin Battery August 19, 1862, and receiving his dis-
charge on July 18, 1865. He was born in Zanesville,
Ohio, on June 20. 1847, was married in Chicago on
July 18. 1873, and for years was captain in the Chicago
fire department. He did mining in the Black Hills in
1877, then went to Montana and contracted on the N.
P. and there he met his death, as stated. Mr. and
Mrs. Watkins are highly respected people and have
considerable property in Murray and are among the
substantial taxpayers. Mrs. Watkins was junior vice-
president in the Woman's Relief Corps, department of
Idaho, and has been three times treasurer of the local
Fodsre.
DAMTAN CARDONER. This gentleman is one of
the leading business men of the Coeur d'Alene country
and at the present time is operating a first class general
merchandise store in Burke. He "carries a large stock,
aggregating from fifteen to twenty thousand dollars
worth of all kinds of goods needed in this market. In
addition to this, Mr. Cardoner is heavily interested in
mining propertv and is one of the wealthy men of the
country. He was born in San Clemente, Spain, on Sep-
tember 15, 184.}. the son of Joseph and Maria (Vinas)
Cardoner, natives of the same place. The father died
on February 9, 1903, aged seventy-nine and the mother
died in 1897, aged seventy- four. Our subject grew to
manhood in his native place and was engaged in busi-
ness in Basle, Switzerland, from 1868 to 1872. After
this venture he spent five months in his native
place and then his stirring spirit led him to the
United States in 1883. Landing in New York,
he came thence to San Francisco. In 1884 Mr.
Cardoner came over the mountains by Mission to the
Eagle district, carrying his pack. This was in April
and he had the honor of taking the first citizenship
papers there. Mr. Cardoner commenced with hard
labor and he has displayed the most untiring energy
and determination to win in the race in which he has
now made such a brilliant success. He worked in the
mines and after working hours were past, he would sell
fruits and vegetables. Even during the winter he was
active in this line. Later he would pack heavy loads
of supplies to the miners in various sections and some-
times he would quit at night with less than two dollars
earned. In 1885 he started a saloon in Mullan but
soon gave up the business on account of the excitement
dying out. Then Mr. Cardoner prospected but met
with no success. In the fall of 1885 he went back to
Murray with a fifteen dollar stock and opened a cigar.
fruit, and confectionery store. He met with success
and soon had a fine stock. He ventured in mining
and lost fourteen hundred dollars. In 1887 he sent a
cousin to start a store in Burke, having only a six hun-
dred dollar stock. He would make pilgrimages over
the pass in the dead of winter to make his collections
each month and experienced terribly hard usage in the
deep snows and slides and many times came near los-
ing his life. But there was no such thing as fail with
Mr. Cardoner and he pushed steadily along. Later he
brought his stock from Murray and has continued here
in business since. He has a fine patronage now. In
the early nineties, Mr. Cardoner invested in mines
again and lost heavily. But he would not be defeated
and finally Dame Fortune smiled on him in this line also
and. he became a sixteenth owner of the famous Her-
cules, which amply rewarded his former toils and losses.
He is interested in other mining properties and they
are all considered of good worth. Mr. Cardoner has
one brother, Joseph, who is in business in Berne,
Switzerland.
The marriage of Mr. Cardoner and Miss Matilda
Bouvard occurred on July it. 1872 in Strasburg, Al-
sace-Lorraine, and four children have been born to
them, one boy and three girls. Bertha is living at home
and the others are deceased. During the last adminis-
tration of Cleveland. Mr. Cardoner was postmaster
for four years. Mr. Cardoner is now enjoying the
competence that his labors have provided and it may
truthfully be said that few men have wrought with
more arduous effort, skill, determination, with invin-
cible will never to bow to adversity, than has this
wealthy and respected merchant and mine owner.
AMOS M . STRODE, one of the heavy operators in
mining property in the Coeur d'Alene district, is also
constructor, owner and manager of the water works,
and was builder and owner of the electric light plant,
DAMIAN CARDONER.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
in Mullan. He was born in Edmonson county, Ken-
tucky, on March 17, 1849, tne son ot McClung and
Sabrina (Shackelford) Strode, natives of Kentucky
and now deceased. The Mayflower bore to the new
world two brothers, James and John Strode, who later
settled in the James river valley in Virginia, and their
descendants were prominent Americans and patriots
in the Revolution and it is asserted that one of the
family fired the first shot at the British at Lexington.
Amos Strode, grandfather of our subject, settled in
Kentucky and this branch of the family was prominent
and influential. The father of our subject died in
Warren county, Kentucky, on September 7, 1892. The
mother of our subject came from German parentage
and a prominent family, the Shackelfords being leading
members of the bar and prominent judges in many
decades. Our subject was educated and reared in
Kentucky. "When twenty-one he went to Kansas and
farmed and bought and sold land, being also prominent
politically. He traveled for a few years and settled
to operating a coal mine in Missouri. Later he took
a claim adjoining Grand Junction, Colorado, and sold
out for eight thousand dollars. Then he took up min-
ing near Ouray, operated a sawmill, handled a real es-
tate business, and operated the largest placer mine in
that section. He was at Aspen, Glenwood and other
places. In 1888 Mr. Strode entered the Coeur d'Alene
country and had sixty cents capital. He worked in a
mill for a time, then launched into mining, and in 1890
he came to Mullan and erected a seventeen thousand
dollar water plant and electric works costing nine
thousand dollars. In addition to these enterprises M-r.
Strode has done much real estate and mining business
and is now promoting and operating several properties.
He located and incorporated the Reindeer group and is
president of the company. He is also president of the
Stevens Peak Copper Mining Company and president
and manager of the Stewart Mining Company. He
owns the claims covering the mineral zone between
the Morning and the Hunter mines. He also has some
valuable claims west of Mullan, known as the mineral
farm. Mr. Strode has two brothers and four sisters,'
— Milburn J., William H, Nancy B. Philips, Mag,
Mrs. Jennie Schroeder and Mrs. Clara Vernon.
On January 6, 1903, at Denver, Colorado, Mr.
Strode married Miss Alicia F. Jeffrey, whose parents
are deceased. The father was an officer in the British
army and was a native of England. The mother was
from a prominent family, named Harvey. Mrs. Strode
was born in Hauts, Nova Scotia. She graduated from
Mt. Allison college at Sackville, New Brunswick, then
graduated from the medical department of the North-
western University at Chicago, and then was appointed
medical director of the St. Marks hospital in Grand
Rapids, Michigan. Two years later she resigned to
accept the superintendency of the St. Lukes in Den-
ver, Colorado, and after three years of successful work
there took charge of the Mt. Tabor Sanitarium in Port-
land, Oregon. After this long service Mrs. Strode re-
turned to private life. She is a member of the Colo-
rado State Medical Society. She has one brother,
Charles N. F. Jeffrev, an Episcopal clergyman in Win-
72
nipeg. Mr. Strode is a member of the A. F. & A. M.
and is also a Scottish Rite Mason. He is a Democrat,
but not partisan. Mrs. Strode is a member of the
Episcopal church.
CHARLES MELROY, who is now operating a
quiet saloon in Murray, was born in Des Moines, Iowa,
on February 13, 1863, the son of Thomas and Margaret
(Gallagher) Melroy, natives of Ireland. The father
came to the United States before he was twenty-one,
and settled first in Pennsylvania and later went to Des
Moines and there worked in the fort, hauling wood.
After that he bought a farm in Warren county, which
he sold to his brother, John, and then bought the old
homestead in Madison county, where he farmed until
his death. The mother still lives on that place. Our
subject was reared in Iowa, attending public schools
until he was fifteen, when he began to travel, and he
visited South Dakota, Nebraska, Arkansas, Texas, Ari-
zona, Old Mexico and many other states and territories.
He continued thus in various employments until the
fall of 1887, when he came into Murray, and here he
has continued since, with the exception of several visits.
He gave his attention to mining and prospecting until
1895, and then opened his present business. Mr. Mel-
roy took part in the chloride excitement on the Pend
Oreille, in 1888. He has ten brothers and sisters liv-
ing, named as follows : Mark, John, Thomas, James,
Peter, Michael, Frank, Dominic, Nora and Joseph.
On February 6, 1891, at Wallace, Mr. Melroy mar-
ried Mrs. May Summner, daughter of Greenberry and
Hattie Williams. The father was born in Illinois,
and died in 1804. Mrs. Melroy has one brother, John
R. One child has been born to this marriage, an un-
named infant. Mrs. Melroy has two children by her
former marriage, — Minnie and Mable. Mr. Melroy
is a member of the Redmen, and in political matters he
is untrammelled by any party or tenet, but reserves foi
himself the decision of the important questions of the
dav.
HORACE R. NOBLE. A leading and well known
business man and agriculturist of southern Shoshone
county who has always maintained a reputation for in-
tegrity and enterprise and who promotes the welfare
of the country by his aggressive business methods, it
is eminently fitting that a representation of him be
granted in this volume of his county's history.
Horace R. Noble was born in Jo Daviess county.
Illinois, on August 1. 1856, being the son of John and
Sarah (Sumpter) Noble, natives of Kentucky and
Tennessee; respectively. The father died in Anderson
county, Kansas, in 1890, aged seventy-six. His fa-
ther was a native of Scotland and his mother of Ger-
man}'. Tohn Noble served for a time in the Civil
war, near its close. The mother of our subject was
married in Indiana, and died in Fraser, Idaho. Her
ancestors were natives of Tennessee. Horace was
raised in Illinois until he was thirteen, and then the
H38
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
family went to Iowa, thence in one year to Missouri,
and eight years later they went again to Iowa, but
returned shortly to Missouri. Our subject remained
with his parents until the death of the father, and then
his mother resided with him until her death. He
farmed and operated a general store in Kansas, and in
1891 he came to Shoshone county. Mr. Noble soon
secured a homestead near Fraser, which he sold after
he had proved up on it. This was in 1899, and then he
came to Orofino and erected a fine stable and hotel,
which property was successful and he sold it in Sep-
tember 24, 1902. Mr. Noble recently bought a general
merchandise establishment in Greer, and his sons are
operating it under the style of Noble Brothers. They
carry a stock of five thousand dollars worth of well
assorted goods and conduct a prosperous and rapidly
increasing business. Our subject has practically re-
tired from business and is part of the time at his home
in Orofino and part of the time in the store at Greer.
He also has stock in the French Creek Mining & De-
velopment Company, which is valuable. Mr. Noble
and his wife are members of the Methodist church.
On January 21, 1879, Mr. Noble married Miss
Charlotte, daughter of John and Sophia (Hilderbrand)
Stump, who are mentioned in this volume. Mrs. Noble
was born in Indiana on November 29, 1859, and ls an
exceedingly youthful appearing lady, being the centre
of a large circle of admiring friends. To Mr. and
Mrs. Noble five children have been born, as follows :
John W. and William H., merchants at Greer; Dora,
a school teacher, but living at home ; Charles and Vallie,
both at home.
FRANK J. EDWARDS. This gentleman is one
of the pioneers of the Coeur d'Alene country and has
wrought in various capacities here since the year 1887.
At present he is in partnership with Mr. Glowe, men-
tioned in this volume, and they conduct a saloon in their
own building, which is also described elsewhere in the
book
Frank J. Edwards was born in Washington, Wash-
ington county, Iowa, on October 18, 1861, the son of
William A. and Sarah M. (Boyer) Edwards, natives of
Pennsylvania, where the father now dwells, the mother
having died when Frank J. was fifteen. The father
comes from Welsh ancestry and a prominent old
Quaker family. The mother was from Holland Dutch
extraction. Our subject went with his parents to
Pennsylvania when he was six, and in that state he was
educated, completing a course in the Quaker academy
in Pennsville. When twenty-one he went to Michi-
gan and wrought in the lumber woods. The next year
he was in Indian Territory, and labored for the gov-
ernment in the Indian school until 1887. In that spring
he came overland to Pueblo, Colorado, and thence by
rail to Wardner, where he went to work on the railroad.
Later he took up logging, and had to take horses, cattle
and a logging outfit for his pay with Louis Disher. He
bought the latter's interest and freighted from Old
Mission to the railroad camps, and in the fall of 1888
he sold and came to Mullan. He worked in R. J.
Rutter's sawmill, and in 1891 worked in the Morning
mine mill, where later he was night watchman. In
1892 he bought a cigar store and operated the same
until 1897, except during the panic of 1893. Then
he visited in the east, and in 1897 bought an interest in
the Midland hotel, from D. F. Clark, and sold the same
back to him in 1900. In that year Mr. Edwards
bought lots and in partnership with Mr. Glowe opened
their present business. He owns important mining
property with Mr. Glowe. Mr. Edwards has two broth-
ers, Mandes J. and Roy D. ; and one sister, Mrs.
Myrtie K. Raup ; and one half-sister, Elizabeth.
On June 1, 1899, at Missoula, Montana, Mr. Ed-
wards married Miss Selma Peterson, a native of Swed-
en, whose parents are deceased. She has no relatives
in this country. They are the parents of one child, —
Victor E. Mr. Edwards is a member of the I. O. O.
F., being past noble grand. Mrs. Edwards belongs
to the Lutheran church, and Mr. Edwards was brought
up in the Quaker faith.
MARION A. ELLIS. A more enterprising, stir-
ring, and. to use the western phrase, "rustling" man
than the subject of this article would be hard to find,
even in the pushing western camps. Mr. Ellis is a
man of energy and executive force, quick to perceive
a good thing and as prompt to go after it, and to crown
it all he is possessed of the metal that takes a man
clear through and attains the object of action.
Marion A. Ellis was born in Coles county, Illinois,
on February 20, 1869, being the son of John G. and
Elizabeth J. (Checkley) Ellis, natives of Illinois. At
present the father is a newspaper man in Quenemo,
Kansas, owning and editing the Republican of that
city. Ht formerly bought grain and did a general
merchandise business, but of late has devoted himself
exclusively to the newspaper realm and is now mayor
of his home town and a man of prominence and influ-
ence. Our subject's mother is still living also.
Marion A. was educated in the graded schools of
Kansas and at the age of sixteen went out in life for
himself. He came west to Washington and followed
railroading for some years, and then went to buying
grain. He bought all over the western country, and in
the awful panic of 1893 he lost everything and left
Pullman for Pierce, where he has been since. His
stirring nature led him at once to the front, and the
result is that he is one of the largest, if not the largest,
property owner in the entire district. He has a share
in the Wild Rose, owns and operates the five-stamp
mill on the Santiago group of quartz mines, which mill
has constantly been in operation for three years, turn-
ing out a handsome dividend and employing a dozen
or more men. Mr. Ellis is interested in nearly every
working mine in the district, and his energy and skill
have done an immeasurable amount for the advance-
ment of the district and bringing it to the eyes of capi-
talists. Mr. Ellis has three brothers and two sisters,
— Thomas, clerk of the district court in Osage, Kansas ;
Charles, in Kansas ; Roy, U. S. mail messenger; Jessie,
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
"39
wife of John E. O'Brien ; Kate, wife of James Irwin,
both in Kansas. Mr. Ellis is a Republican always
and a man with intelligence and courage to demonstrate
the principles of his party. He is always in the con-
ventions, both county and state,- but never accepts office.
On February 13. 1897, Mr. Ellis married Miss
Adelle M., a native of Danville, New York, and daugh-
ter of Mary M. Newton. Mrs. Ellis has one brother
and one sister, — Charles, residing in Chicago and trav-
eling attorney for Murdoch & Company, wholesale
grocers of that city : Ada, wife of John Roberts, a re-
tired capitalist of Denver, Colorado. Three children
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ellis, — Mildred, Frank
and John. There is doubtless great credit due Mr.
Ellis for the excellent work he has done in this camp
and the record that he has made as a miner and a pro-
moter of properties, and it is with pleasure that we are
enabled to grant to him this slight recognition both of
his ability and his worthy labors.
LAURENCE O'NEIL is a prominent mining
man of Murray, and is now attending to this business
•constantly. lie was born in the Isle of Man on June
22, 1844, the son of Brven and Catherine (McGuire)
O'Neil, natives of Ireland. The father died in 1898,
and the mother in 1891, both in New York city. Our
subject was educated in his native place and in New
York, and when fourteen shipped on the schooner.
Eliza for Capetown, Africa. On their return trip the
vessel was wrecked in the seas off the east coast of
Ireland, and all hands were lost except our subject and
the captain. After this he shipped to Darien on an-
other bark, Eliza, and then went to work on the Nica-
ragua river, steamboating. Six months later he took
the yellow fever, and after four months came thence
to San Francisco, California. He did ranch work,
then went to mining in the Mokel river, after three
years going to White Pine, Nevada. He was in
Pioche, Lake City, Black Hills, and in 1884 came into
Murray. He arrived on the sixth of May and soon
opened a saloon. In 1885 he sold out and prospected
and mined, and in these related industries he has been
■engaged since. Mr. O'Neil located the Bay State
group on September 27, 1885. He located the Apex,
Croen Point, Blackhawk, Alice and others. He is now
interested in several gold and silver propositions and
some silver and lead propositions also. Mr. O'Neill
is a director in the Spokane Mining Company, and also
in assisting to manage others. Mr. O'Neil has one
brother, Michael.
At Spearfish. South Dakota, in 1882, Mr. O'Neill
married Miss Mary Flowton, native of Sweden. She
has two sisters in Montana. Three children have been
born to Mr. and Mrs. O'Neal. — Alice, born August
22, 1884, in Murray, being the first child born in the
town; Leo, born in 1886; and Pearl, born in 1887.
Mr. O'Neil is a member of the Roman Catholic church
and his wife belongs to the Lutheran denomination.
Mr. O'Neil remarks that when he came to the sum-
.mit he was astonished that the men would climb the
trees and cut them so high in the air, some being cut
off eighteen feet from the ground. He discovered in
the winter that one could cut the trees standing on the
snow eighteen feet deep.
JOHN A. CLOWE is the senior member of the
firm of Clowe & Edwards, who operate a,fine saloon in
Mullan, which will compare favorably with any place
in the entire county. They own a three-story building,
forty-eight by sixty-five, and well located. One-half
of the first story is utilized for their business and the
other is rented, while the upper stories are fitted up for
public halls and lodge rooms.
John A. Glowe was born in Germany on August
16, 1859, the son of Martin and Anna (Wiese) Glowe,
natives also of the Fatherland, but now deceased. The
mother passed away in 1898. Our subject was edu-
cated and grew to manhood in his native place and in
1876 came to the United States. He worked at vari-
ous employments in Chicago, St. Paul, New Orleans
and other central points, and in 1886 came to the Coeur
d'Alene country. He at once gave his attention to
mining and prospecting, and is thoroughly familiar
with the various sections of this district. In 1889 ^ir-
Glowe started a shingle mill near Mullan and operated
the same successfully until 1892, when he sold and
took up the saloon business. His partner was Peter
Cahnbley, now deceased. In 1900 Air. Glowe took as
partner Frank J. Edwards, and they erected the build-
ing mentioned. Mr. Glowe is treasurer of the Ameri-
can Commander Mining Company, which owns two
patented claims and a fraction adjoining the Hunter
mines. The company is pushing development work
rapidly, already having over six hundred feet of tun-
neling. The property is considered one of the most
valuable here, and is to be one of the heavy producers.
Mr. Glowe has one brothers and two sisters, —
Adolph, Caroline Greening and Tillie Faust. Mr.
Glowe has never been induced to retire from the sub-
stantial pleasures of the bachelor. He is past noble
grand of the I. O. O. F., and in political matters is a
Republican, but is a very liberal and independent
thinker, not bound by any party shackles, but only-
holding to those tenets which can be established by good
logic.
LOUIS A. NOYES. This well and favorably
known gentleman is one of the substantial and capable
residents of southern Shoshone county whose labors
have done much toward the upbuilding and develop-
ment of the country, while in all lines of progress and
enterprise he is counted one of the foremost and strong
men. . .
Louis A. Noves was born in Ionia county. Michigan,
on January 14." 1852, being the son of Hiram K. and
Susan (Bourn) Noyes, who are mentioned elsewhere
in this volume. Louis was educated in the district
schools of his native place, and his energy led him
to learn the trade of painting while he was still young.
1 140
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Having mastered the intricacies of the art, he wrought
at it in various places. All through the eastern and
southwestern states he did good business, and in 1884
he made his way to Colfax, Washington. In that city
he wrought by the day, and also did much contracting
work. He was well known there and considered one
of the substantial business men of the place. In 1895
he came thence to his present place, seven miles south-
west from Weippe. He has a quarter section of unsur-
veyed land, or rather unplatted land, which he is mak-
ing a good home place. He is frequently found at the
home of his mother. Mrs. Noyes, who dwells near by.
Mr. Noyes is an enthusiastic member of the I. O.
O. F., in Colfax, and stands well there, as also he does
in his present place. He is a man of energy and
enterprise and good qualities of integrity and worth,
while his life of faithful labor and thrift have placed
him as one of the prosperous ones of the community.
As yet Mr. Noyes has not taken his leave of the
ranks of the celibatarians of the county to venture
on the uncertain seas of matrimony. But the bliss of
the more excellent relation is yet for him to enjoy,
having sounded to its depth the life of the bachelor.
CHARLES H. TALBOT was born in Springfield,
Illinois, on May 13, 1845, being the son of William
H. and Matilda (F.nyart) Talbot, natives, respectively,
of Kentucky and Illinois. The father came to Illinois
with his parents, who were natives of Virginia, and he
learned the blacksmith trade and operated a large
blacksmith and wagon shop. He is now dead. The
paternal grandfather of our subject was recorder of
Sangamon county, Illinois, for thirty years. The
mother of Charles died when he was fourteen. He
was educated in the Springfield schools and at the
age of sixteen enlisted in Company K. One Hundred
and Twenty-fourth Illinois Infantry, captained by
Stephen W. Saunders, and whose colonel was John H.
Howe. Mr. Talbot participated in the battles of Ft.
Gibson, Raymond, Jackson, Black River Bridge, Vicks-
burg, Benton, and was in the siege of Mobile. He saw
three years of hard, active service and conducted himself
with display of valor and courage. Following the war
he went to work for his uncle and in 1879 he was in the
vicinity of Joplin, in mining and other enterprises.
In 1893 Mr. Talbot came to Leland and thence to his
present place, where he resides on the farm of his
wife's mother, Mrs. Noyes.
On April 11, 1889, Mr. Talbot married Mrs. Ruby
Baily, widow of Daniel Baily, and daughter of Hiram
K. and Susan (Bourn) Noyes. Mr. Noyes was born
in Vermont, as also were his ancestors, who were a
prominent New England family of Scotch extraction.
Mrs. Noyes was born in Canada on March 28, 1820.
Her parents had crossed the border from Vermont in
1812, the father being a native of Vermont and her
mother of Connecticut. Mrs. Noyes was married in
Potton, Canada, five miles from the boundary of the
United States. She is now living with her daughter
and son-in-law, seven miles southwest from Weippe,
on a homestead which has not yet been platted. Mrs.
Noyes has the following children : William G., in
Missouri ; Sansford W., in Illinois ; Louis A., with her ;
Charles E., in Oklahoma ; Frank W., in Missouri ; Lucy
A., widow of Mr. Young, in Clarke county, Illinois;.
Rosepha H., wife of Asam Baron, in Indianapolis;
Etta M., wife of John Shriner. Mrs. Talbot was bora
in Ionia county, Michigan, on November 16, 1858.
RICHARD P. BACON is one of the old-time
prospectors of the Coeur dAlene country, and is now
devoting his attention to mining and prospecting. He
was born in Arkansas on August 16, 1849, tne son of
John D. and Sarah A. (Brewer) Bacon. The father
was born in Arkansas and comes from an old Virginia
family. He assisted to erect the first house at Hot
Springs, Arkansas. The mother was born in Tennes-
see, and was married in Arkansas. The parents
crossed the plains in 1853 m a train of three hundred
wagons. Our subject received his education and was
reared in the Golden State. He mined with his father
and in July, 187 1, he went to Nevada with cattle and
later returned to California. He followed handling
stock and butchering for five years, and in 1886 came
to the Snake river. He did placer work and was suc-
cessful, and on February 3, 1887, he landed in Murray
with his brother, John. They cleaned up a mile and a
half of ditch and ran a pipe for twenty days and cleaned,
up with nine dollars and fifty cents. Then they went
to Libby creek excitement, and later we see our sub-
ject in Thompson Falls. He worked in a sawmill there
until 1889, and then went to Murray and took part
with Dustin and Cunningham in placer mining. He
also leased the Louisville hotel, and here his family
operated while he was with the placer company, and
for a number of years the mine did well. All told,
the mine turned out about fifty thousand dollars and
then it was sold to the Coeur dAlene Mining Com-
pany. Since then Air. Bacon has devoted himself to
placer mining and prospecting and has been favored
with varying success. He has four brothers, — John
H., William, Jesse, Frank and one sister, — Mary M.,.
deceased.
In Tuscarora, Nevada, Mr. Bacon married Miss
Nellie L., daughter of William and Elizabeth Combs,
natives of Missouri. The father is deceased, and
the mother lives in Eugene, Oregon. Mrs. Bacon
has two sisters, — Alice, wife of John H. Bacon ; El-
freda, wife of George Watkins. Two children have
been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bacon, — Effa, born Janu-
ary 23, 1882; Grace, born February 28, 1884. The
latter is attending school in Eugene, Oregon.
CHARLES F. DICKINSON. This substantial
and thrifty agriculturist dwells on his estate seven
miles southeast from Fraser, which he took as a home-
stead on March 28, 1892, it being then one mass of
wild woods. He has cleared a portion and made a>
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
comfortable and tasty home, while he is also one of the
influential and leading men of this section.
Charles F. Dickinson was born in Cattaraugus
county, New York, on August 22, 1850, being the son
of James W. and Lydia (Jones) Dickinson, natives of
New York. The father served in the Civil war as
one of the Iowa regulars, and was on the memorable
march to the sea. He died in February, 1885. Charles
was reared in New York until ten, when the family
came to Iowa, where he finished his education and
toiled on the farm until 1884. In that year he went to
Nebraska, where he dwelt eight years, and from that
place Mr. Dickinson came to his Idaho home. In addi-
tion to his general farming he raises some stock, and
does dairying. Mr. Dickinson has one brother, Syl-
vester P., and one sister, Levina, both married and liv-
ing in Iowa. Mr. Dickinson is a Democrat, and al-
ways shows a good intelligence and interest in the
affairs of the land.
On June 17, 1875, at Van Meter, Iowa, Mr. Dick-
inson married Miss Velma N., daughter of Loren L.
and Maria (Sylvus) Thomas, natives of Ohio. The
father was in Company A, of the Iowa Volunteers, and
•served for two years, being finally discharged on ac-
count of failing eyes. He died in Iowa in July, 1901.
The mother was married in Ohio, and died when Mrs.
Dickinson was fourteen years old. Mrs. Dickinson
-vvas born on March 27, 1856, and has three brothers and
two sisters, — Leroy D., Isaac W., Franklin D.. Mary
J. Lang, Harriet A. McBride, all in Iowa. To Mr.
■and Mrs. Dickinson there have been born three chil-
dren,— Albert D., born March 16, 1876, now dwelling
on some unsurveved land close by, and a young man of
excellent principles ; Hattie M., born November 29,
1879, now attending business college in Spokane and
giving promise of a successful future ; Gertie E., the
youngest of the family, born August 16, 1882, and now
at home, although she has successfully passed the ex-
amination for teacher's certificate and intends to take up
that worthy labor soon.
BURD P. POTT was born in Pottsville, Pennsyl-
vania, on March 2, 1831, the son of Abraham and
Elizabeth (Christian) Pott, natives of Berks county,
and Reading, Pennsylvania, respectively. The father
■was one of the first to mine and handle anthracite coal.
He built the first railroad in the United States, it be-
ing in 1827, and located at the head of navigation on
the Schuylkill river and went up Black valley three-
fourths of a mile. It was utilized in hauling supplies
to the mines and the coal down, and horses were the
power used. He discovered coal when digging for a
foundation to a grist mill and later discovered many
fine mines and owned fourteen thousand acres of coal
land. The value of the mineral was not then known
and our subject's father, the son of the gentleman of
whom we are speaking, mined it after his father's
death. The family lived at Valley Forge and General
Washington made his headquarters at the house of our
subject's grandfather. He owned a furnace and foun-
dry and made cannon balls for the patriots. He was
a wealthy man in those days and Pottsville, Pennsyl-
vania, was named after him. He was one of the first
iron manufacturers in the United States and some of
his work is on exhibition in the Pennsylvania museum,
and his name, John Pott, 1755, with a German quota-
tion, is cast thereon. Our subject's father was born in
Oley, Pennsylvania, in 1799. and died in 18S2. The
mother of our subject was descended from a prominent
old Dutch family and she died in 1885, aged eighty-
four. Our subject lived in Pennsylvania until twenty-
one, gaining a-good education and learning the black-
smith trade. He crossed the plains in 1852 to Sacra-
mento and wrought at his trade in Carson, a placer
camp. Nine months later he was on Poverty bar, on
the south fork of the American riyer, mining, then went
to the redwoods and wrought in a sawmill, then came
to southern Oregon in 1855. In 1857 he was lieuten-
ant of the militia under Captain O. T. Root and served
seven months in the Second Rogue river war. Follow-
ing this he worked at his trade in Kirbyville, Oregon,
then returned home and married and came to Oregon
in 1858, settling in the Rogue river valley until 1863.
Then he came to Umatilla county and in 1864 went
to Boise, engaging in the merchandise business. Thence
he went east with his family and visited and incident-
ally bored thirteen oil wells and sunk twenty-five
thousand dollars in an unsuccessful search. He struck
one of the best gas wells but did not profit from that.
He worked at his trade again and in 1868 prospected
for coal on the Union Pacific route. He found lignite
but no coal. He worked at his trade in each town as
the road progressed until they hung three men on a
beam of his cabin without his consent, then he re-
turned to Fremont, Nebraska, and wrought at his trade.
Next we see him in Pennsylvania, then in the Black
Hills in TS76, in the Big Horn excitement and in 1878
in Bozeman. Here he wrought for the government
for three years and a half in the shop and in 1884 he
went to Thompson Falls, Montana. He grubstaked
a prospector who located the Morning and Evening
mines in the Mullan district. In August of that year
Mr. Pott came on to look after his property. They
put in a tunnel eighty feel, took out five hundred
pounds of chloride and shipped it to Butte. This went
one hundred and fifty-eight ounces to the ton. After
paving expenses they had two cents left and stopped
work. Mr. Pott went to Butte, came back in the spring
and prospected and discovered the first galena on
Chloride hill. He sent for his partners and they went
in one hundred feet but discovered nothing. They
bonded for fifty thousand dollars with Walker brothers
in Salt Lake City but the death of one of the brothers
put off the deal. Owing to disagreements of different
partners, there being eight, the property was never
sold although bonded many time-;. Finally Warren
Hussey bought the Evening claim outright, securing
each man's "share separately. Our subject realized
eight thousand dollars. Hu«sey bonded the Morning
claim for twelve thousand dollar- and took up the bond
when due. He sold to a Milwaukee company and they
sold to the present owners. Our subject located the
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Independence which he sold for twenty thousand
dollars in 1899. In January, 1903, he sold a fourth
of the Lucky Friday for seven hundred and fifty dollars,
which disposes of'all of Mr. Pott's interest in mines.
He has two residences and business property in Wal-
lace, business property and his residence in Mullan
besides other property. He has three brothers, John,
Zaccur, William and one sister, Mrs. Sarah Deyo.
On March 15, 1858, Mr. Pott married Miss Lydia,
daughter of John and Esther Jones, natives of Breck-
enshire, south Wales. The father was a noted me-
chanic and superintendent of large works in Pottsville.
This wedding occurred in Pottsville and Mrs. Pott
was a native of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Pott has one sis-
ter, Mrs. Mary McGinnis. Mr. Pott is a member of
the K. I'. and his wife belongs to the Episcopalian
church. Mr. Pott is a Republican and is always active
in the campaigns. He was coroner in southern Ore-
gon, postmaster at Mullan, also justice of the peace
and notary here and has several times been to the con-
ventions. ' Mr. Pott has retired from the more ardu-
ous activities of life and is enjoying the competence
that his industry and sagacity have gotten in the busi-
ness world.
HOWARD T. TUPPER is a man who has won
the esteem and confidence of all who know him. while
he has also commanded the respect of every one who
lias the pleasure of his acquaintance, being a man of
sterling integrity and uprightness, which he has mani-
fested in an industrious career among the residents
of southern Shoshone county.
Howard T. Tupper was born in Kalamazoo county,
Michigan, on September 28, 1863, being the son of Nel-
son and Lorena (Lockwood) Tupper, who are men-
tioned elsewhere in this volume. He was raised in
Michigan until school days began and then the family
migrated to Kansas, where he completed his education
and then went to work with his brother in renting
land which they farmed. This continued for about nine
years, when he came "to his present place, about three
and one-half miles southeast from Fraser. He took
his land by homestead, 1888 being the year of his set-
tling here. He has fifty acres cleared and the balance
is good timber. Mr. Tupper also owns half of another
quarter section with his brother. He does a general
farming business and handles some stock. Mr. Tupper
has the following brothers and sisters: Chauncy and
Byron, on the Potlatch ; Adell, wife of John W. Clark,
near Weippe ; Adelia, wife of Samuel C. Feed ; Alice,
wife of Milo L. George ; Ellen, wife of John S. Harri-
son, a farmer in Michigan ; Edwin, at Ypsilanti, Michi-
gan.
On December 20, 1893, Mr. Tupper married Miss
Minnie E., daughter of James T. and Sarah (Burrows)
Ferree, natives of Illinois and England, respectively,
and now living on the Lolo, near by. Mrs. Tupper was
born in Nebraska, in December, 1873, and she has two
brothers and one sister. Edgar. Ernest, Dora, all at
home. Mr. Tupper and his wife have been blessed
by the advent of three children, named as follows:
Warren, Otto and James. Mr. Tupper is a man of
intelligence and reliability and is prospered in his-
labors, because of his thrift, industry and wisdom.
MOSES S. SIMMONS deserves much credit for
the enterprise and energy manifested in his labors for
the development and upbuilding of the Murray country-
and he stands today one of the prosperous mine own-
ers and operators of the section. Moses S. Simmons
was born in Georgia, on April 18, 1844, the son of
Charles and Hulda (Williamson) Simmons. The
father came from a prominent North Carolina family
which did noble work in the Revolution. He died in
Georgia, in 1890. The mother was a native of Georgia
and died in 1861. Our subject was educated in his
native place and in 1872 went to Utah. and did mining
and also handled a mercantile business. He prospered
for ten years there and then went to Montana, but in a
couple of years was back in Salt Lake City. He took
up the sheep business there for a year and in 1887 came
to Murray. Since that time Mr. Simmons has de-
voted himself to mining with an interest and skill that
have wrought a gratifying success and placed: him
among the leaders of the camp. He is associated with
his brother Adam T. and they have bought and sold
much ground in the placer line as well as handling
considerable property in quartz. They, with David
Avery, own the Bear Gulch group, the Bald Mountain
group and much other promising property. In 1896
Mr. Simmons was elected county commissioner and for
three successive terms he served in that office upon the
invitation of the people at the polls. Mr. Simmons
did excellent service and won for himself the con-
fidence and approval of all substantial people of the
county. He has always been an active Democrat but
in one of the campaigns he also received the Populist
vote. Mr. Simmons has one brother besides the one
with him, Vestal L. His brother, Adam T., is a single
man and resides with our subject in Murray. They
are both keen, substantial mining men of worth and
good standing. Mr. Simmons has two sisters, Ophe-
lia Duncan, Ella Woodliff.
In North Carolina, on May 22, 1899, Mr. Simmons
married Miss Frazier Thorne, a native of North Caro-
lina. She died in Murray in 1901, aged thirty-nine.
She was a woman of noble qualities and was beloved
by all. She left one child, Ray, who is a bright boy..
ETHELBERT W. SWAILS, who is doing a good
business as millwright and builder, is one of the lead-
ing business men of Murray and is of excellent stand-
ing among all. He was born in Keokuk county, Iowa,
on August 25. 1865. His parents were natives of Ohio
and pioneers of 'Iowa. The father enlisted in the sec-
ond year of the Rebellion and served in the railroad
repair shops in Marshall, Tennessee. He had three
brothers in active service, one, Darius, carries a bul
let in his head yet. The father died in Iowa, in 1901
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
The mother lives in Iowa now. Our subject was reared
in Sigourney, Iowa, and received a good education
from the graded schools. When eighteen he entered
his father's planing mill, and also learned the trade
that he is now following. In 1887, he went to Kansas
and then on to Denver, where he followed his trade
for seven years. October, 1893, marks the date when
he landed in Murray and since that time he has con-
tinued here with good success in his endeavors. He
owns a fine cottage home and also a good shop and
other out buildings. He is interested in the Daisy
claims and in the Granite creek lead and silver propo-
sition. Mr. Swails also has stock in the Granite Alley
Company and other interests. He does millwright
work all over the Coeur dAlene country and is known
as a skillful and substantial tradesman. Mr. Swails
has four brothers : Loyd A., David, James, Joseph and
two sisters : Laura Rishel, Antoinette Mants.
On December 25, T894, in Spokane, Washington,
Mr. Swails married Miss Mamie Kane, whose parents
were natives of Ireland. The father now lives in Brook-
ville, but the mother died in 1892. Mrs. Swails was
born in Pennsylvania and has one brother and three
sisters, William, Delia Moody, Katie Widen, Nellie.
Two children are the fruit of this marriage, Lloyd E.,
born July 26, 1896 ; Mary L., born June 2, 1899. Mr.
Swails has been school director for two terms and is a
popular officer.
CHARLES W. HARTMAN. A prosperous far-
mer and well known business man, whose place, fa-
miliar alike to prospectors and tourists, lies twelve
miles east from Weippe, on the Musselshell, and is
both a commodious farm place and a stopping place
for the people mentioned. Mr. Hartman also does a
good business in the grocery line and in outfitting pros-
pectors. He handles much stock and does dairying,
while his cattle are of the thoroughbred Durham
breed, and the entire premises and various businesses
transacted manifest thoroughly the ability and enter-
prise of the proprietor.
Charles W. Hartman was born in Baden, Germany,
on March 31, 1865, being the son of Leopold and
Sophie (Grichman) Hartman. natives of Baden, Ger-
many. The father came with his family to the United
States in 1867 and now lives at Falls City, Neb-
raska. The mother died in Falls City, Nebraska, about
1892. Our subject was raised in Wisconsin, where the
family lived the first six years in the United States
and then they all moved to Nebraska. Charles gained
his education in both these places and in March, 1887,
he started out for himself. His first trip was to Spo-
kane, whence he went to Montana for one year and
then returned to Spokane for six years. In April, 1894,
he was found in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, and thence in
1896 he came to his present place, which he took as
a homestead. One hundred acres are meadow and the
balance timber. Mr. Hartman is near the famous
Lolo trail and the regions adjacent to his premises are
noted for excellent game as is the Musselshell for its
abundance of trout.
Mr. Hartman has two brothers and four sisters,
Fred, in Falls City, Nebraska; Henry, in
Mary, wife of Frank Garwick, in Falls (it*
wife of August Zimmerman, in Spokane; Sophie,
wife of Albert Kuhlman, in Falls City; Annie, wife of
Wilhelm Zimmerman, also in Falls City. .Mr. I [artman
and his wife are members of the German Lutheran
church and in politics, he is a Republican.
At Spokane, on April 17, 1894, Mr. Hartman mar-
ried Miss Lena, daughter of Gustav and Frederika
(Zander) Hertel. The father was a native of Saxony,
served in the Austrian war of 1866 and the Franco-
Prussian war, came to the United States in 1880, and
now lives in Lincoln county, Washington, and owns
twelve hundred acres of wheat land. The mother was
born in Prussia, was married in Saxonv and is still
living in Lincoln county. Mrs. Hartman has two
brothers and five sisters, Custav, in Princeton, Idaho;
Alfred, at Edwall. Washington . Ida, wife of Charles
Shy, in Kansas; Annie, wife of Andrew C. Johnson,
in Edwall ; Freda, Lizzie and Ella. Four children have
been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hartman; Clara, Albert,
William and Tohn.
JOHN H. FOSS. one of the leading mining men
of the Coeur d'Alene country, is located at Mullan and
is eminently deserving of representation in the his-
tory of this county since he is a man of personal worth
and ability, has wrought with sagacity and energy to
build up and bring to the front this section, and is
now one of the leading promoters of mining interests
in the state and is operating throughout the northwest.
John H. Foss was born in Norway. January 7,
1863, the son of Hans C. and Ingar (Hansen) Foss,
natives of Norway where they now reside. The father
is a mining man and a dealer in lumber. Our subject
was possessed of the native courage and energy of his
race and early finished a good educational training and
then devoted himself to mining. In 1881 he came to
the United States and after six months in Wisconsin
he came to Montana and went to mining. In that
state and here he has spent his time since. Mr. Foss
is a practical man and goes personally to the moun-
tains and searches for the hidden veins, and in this he
has been successful, and then also he has the ability to
take the prospect and make of it a mine, ready for the
investor. He came to Mullan in 1885 with his part-
ner, George Hammond, now deceased, and formerly
one of the substantial mining men of this section. Mr.
Foss has prospected these regions, located properties
and developed the same and has made some excellent
sales of these properties. He is at present interested
in some copper properties in the Monte Crista dis-
trict in the Cascades, the Alice. Mayflower and the
White Pine group, with H. J. Rice, treasurer of Sho-
shone county. Mr. Foss has three brothers. Peter
H., Christian C Michael.
On December 5, 1890. at Buffalo. New V>rk. Mr.
Foss married Miss Alice C. daughter of Abraham and
Katherine Hammond, both deceased. She has three
1 144
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
brothers, Abraham, Henry, Edward, and one sister,
Mrs. Mary Kelly. To Mr. and Mrs. Foss two chil-
dren have been born, George and Henry, aged eleven
and six respectively. Mr. Foss is prominently allied
in fraternal associations, being past workman of the
A. O. IT. W., a member of the W. W. and of the
Elks. He is a stanch Republican and always takes an
active part in the campaigns and is a familiar and in-
fluential figure in the conventions. He and his wife
are members of the Catholic church.
PETER E. PETERSON is one of the finest speci-
mens of physical perfection that one is able to find,
being a man of strong constitution and having devel-
oped himself in a first class manner. He is at the
present time owner of a good estate, four and one-half
miles southwest from Weippe, where he does diversi-
fied farming and raises stock.
Peter E. Peterson was born in Sweden, on April
21, 1861, being the son of Peter and Johanna (Pierson)
Peterson, natives also of Sweden. The father came to
Quebec, Canada, in 1880, with his family, and thence
to Minnesota. He died on April 10, 180.3, aged seventy-
two. His widow died October 15, 1893, aged seventy-
two. These deaths occurred at Weippe. Our sub-
ject was educated in Sweden and after coming to Min-
nesota attended school for a short time to learn the
English language. In 1888 he came to Spokane, his
parents joining him later. He worked in the C. & C.
mill for four years, and during this time came to
Weippe. At once he was struck with the country, it
being so much like his native land. Returning to
Spokane for a few weeks, he then came and filed on
his present place, to which he soon removed his parents.
Mr. Peterson has three sisters : Carrie, wife of Charles
Dahl, a gardener in Spokane county ; Signa, wife of
Ole Berg, in Minnesota; Annie, wife of Andrew
Hendrickson. near Weippe.
On October 31, 1900, Mr. Peterson married Miss
Maria, daughter of Johann and Gustava (Johnson)
Johanson, natives of Sweden. The father died in
"December, 186S, aged thirty-two. The mother still
lives there. Mrs. Peterson was born in Sweden on
June 10, 1868, and has one brother, Larson, residing
on the Weippe. Five children have been born to this
union: Mav, Signa, Lillian, Ellen, Flossie.
Peter Hanson, first cousin of Mr. Peterson, is a
banker and capitalist in Minnesota, and having served
as secretary of state with such acceptability, he was
nominated this year for the office again, it being done
by acclamation. He is a man of rare ability in financial
matters and business generally, and has gained his
commanding position by virtue of his own efforts and
worth, being a self made man.
he has not been here as long as some of the pioneers,
still his uprightness, his energy, and his native. ability
dominated by sound judgment and integrity have won
for him an excellent standing among the people and
a fine practice in his profession. He was born in Rich-
land, Pennsylvania, on September 11, 1862, the son of
William and Rebecca (Seibert) Lesher, natives of
Pennsylvania and from old and prominent fami-
lies. The father died on January 2, 1897, and had been
for years engaged in wholesale lumber and grain trade.
The mother died in 1877. Her ancestors, as her hus-
band's, came to this country from Germany before the
Revolution. Our subject received a good education
in the city schools of Lancaster and then came to Min-
neapolis, Minnesota. He worked in the Harvester
works, then was salesman m Sterling, Kansas, then in
the foundry in Pueblo, and later we find him in the
Risdon iron works in California, San Francisco. At the
time of the Coeur d'Alene excitement he started thither
but stopped in Spokane. He did saw milling, cut wood,
went to Montana and cut five thousand posts and five
thousand poles with his partner for a large cattle
ranch. Then poisoned Coyotes and in the spring he
helped drive about four hundred horses to Minnesota.
He returned home rich in experience and with nearly
a thousand dollars in his pockets. Mr. Lesher then
settled to the study of medicine, which had been his
life's dream. He soon matriculated in the medical
department of the Pennsvlvania University, the oldest
medical college in the United States. This was in the
fall of 1887 and in 1890 he received his degree of doc-
tor of medicine. He practiced in his native state a
time and then was appointed by the government as
physician on the Ute agency, later was transferred to
Arizona for the Apache reservation, then to the Red
Lake Chippewas in Minnesota, then to the northern
Cheyennes in Wyoming, and finally to the Flatheads in
Montana. On January 3, 1902, Dr. Lesher landed in
Murray and at once bought the drug store and turned
his attention to the practice of medicine and since then
he has done well. He is a public minded man and
always in the lead in matters of improvement.
On March 26, 18S8, at Richland, Pennsylvania, Dr.
Lesher married Miss Catherine, daughter of William
and Jemima (Strickler) Moore natives of Pennsyl-
vania. They are from old Pennsylvania Dutch fam-
ilies and now dwell on the old homestead. Mrs. Lesher
was born in Richland on May 8, 1870, and has one sis-
ter, Clara Brubaker. Dr. Lesher has one brother,
William. They have one child, Rebecca, born Octo-
ber 15, 1889. Dr. Lesher is a member of the A. F. &
A. M., of the R. A. M.. of the K. T. and of the Nobles
of the Mvstic Shrine.
GEORGE S. LESHER, M. D., who is now hand-
ling the drug store in Murray, is one of the capable
physicians of the county of Shoshone and although
WILLIAM COUMFRILH is at present a member
of the firm of Buchanan & Company, hardware and
furniture merchants of Mullan. He is also a mining
man and a mining engineer. He was born in Detroit,
Michigan, on December 14, 1874, the son of John
Coumerilh. The father was a native of France, being
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
'45
born and raised in the Pyrennes. When eighteen he
came to Cuba and there learned the English language.
He had been educated for the priesthood in his native
country. He was an accomplished linguist and was
interpreter for Commodore Vanderbilt when he toured
Mexico and the West Indies. He paid especial atten-
tion to mining and was a thorougly versed man in all
the intricacies of that vast industry. He was on the
coast in early days and participated in the various
stampedes of mining excitements, was in the Pioche
run and pulled his toboggan into Eagle City at the out-
set of the rush. He located in Murray and worked the
-Golden Chest successfully for nine years. Mr.
Coumerilh was one of the most prominent mining men
and operators in the entire Coeur d'Alene country and
was well known, while his standing was the very best,
being a man of integrity. He died on January 15,
1896, aged fifty-four years. He was treasurer of
Shoshone county for six years and in fraternal re-
lations was past master of the Masons and past noble
grand of the I. O. O. F., and past workman of the
A. O. U. W. Our subject has one sister, Cora, in
San Francisco. He was reared in the Black Hills and
in the Coeur dAlene country and was liberally edu-
cated in the public schools and in the state mining
school of Rapid City, South Dakota. In addition to
this, Mr. Coumerilh was constantly associated with his
father and received an invaluable training in practical
working, which has placed him in a leading position
in mining problems. He has followed mining in
various sections and in 1901 he entered partnership
with V. A. Buchanan and since then has given his
-personal attention to the operation of this business.
Mr. Coumerilh is a member of the American Institute
of Mining Engineers, joining in 1895. In 1900 he was
superintendent of the Cumberland mine, resigning the
same for his present business.
On Mav 31, 1806. Mr. Coumerilh married Miss
Laura Mitchell at Billings. Montana. Her parents
are deceased. She has two brothers and two sisters :
Burt, Robert, Mrs. Charles Buell,, Mrs. Walter Smith.
Two children have been born to bless this househoLd:
John W., five years old ; Genevive, aged eighteen
months.
LOUIS A. SCHLESINGER is one of the lead-
ing young mining men of the Murray country, and
it is with pleasure that we are enabled to grant
^an epitome of his career in this connection. He was
"born in Oakland, California, on September 15, 1879.
the son of Louis and Julia A. (Stevens) Schlesinger.
't ne father was born in Liverpool, England, ran away
from home when thirteen and came as a stowaway
to New York, landing there penniless. He married
wiien eighteen and soon had made a fortune of two
"hundred and fifty thousand dollars. He operated
with Jay Gould and Fiske, and gave Fiske his first
start as a peddler. Later he came to California (this
was in the sixties') and did a printing business. He
lias returned to the East since then and still lives.
The mother was born in Iowa and is still living. Our
subject was reared in Oakland and San Francisco
and educated in those cities. He did printing for
some time and then wrought in a hotel, and when he
was eighteen he married and spent one year on the
bridal tour. He then came to Murray, landing here
in March, 1901. He took the secretaryship of the
Prager Mining Company, Limited, and since that
time he has continued in this department. He is one
of the stirring men of the camp and is possessed of
good ability and uprightness. Mr. Schlesinger has
one brother, Wallace.
At San Francisco. California, on May 16, 1900,
Mr. Schlesinger married Miss Ruby II.. daughter of
Lewis Prager, mentioned in this work. She was born
near Portland on January n, 1880. Mr. and Mrs.
Schlesinger are popular residents of Murray and en-
jov the best of standing among all. He is a memher
of' the K. P.
JOHN H. NEWBURY is a well and favorably
known mining man of Mullan and he is entitled to be
represented among the early pioneers of this country
and is one of the real builders of the county. He was
born in Ohio on May 5, 1861, the son of Joseph B.
and Mary A. (Thornbury) Newbury, natives of
New York state and Richmond, Indiana, respect-
ively. On both sides of the house the ancestors have
been patriotic Americans, who have shown their love
of country bv arduous and faithful service in all the
struggles through which the young nation was called
to go. The paternal ancestors came in the persons of
two brothers to the new world in 1659, ar>d they al-
lied themselves with the interests of the colonists, and
the family has been stanch Americans since. Our
subject's great-grandfather fought in the Revolution,
his grandfather took part in the struggle of 1812 and
the father and one son participated in the Civil war,
enlisting in April, 1862, in Company I, Seventy-ninth
Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was mustered out at
the close of the war in Washington, D. C. His son,
Abel T., was in the war also. The mother of our sub-
ject comes from an old Quaker family and her grand-
father was a patriot in the Revolution and her father
in the war of 1812. He also was a noted frontiers-
man and associated with Daniel Boone, Kenton and
other Kentucky pioneers. Mr. and Mrs. Newbury are
now living in White Sulphur Springs, Montana, and
if they live until September 15. 1903, they will cele-
brate the sixtieth anniversary of their wedding day.
Our subject was reared in Ohio and educated in
the district schools and when fifteen went to th
Hills, and then spent four years in traveling about,
visiting different states and territories. In 1880 he
was in Montana, mining and freighting, and January
r, 1SS4. he came to Eagle City. In April. 1885, he
went to Helena, remaining until 1886. when he came
to Mullan, and here he has made his home since that
time. Ha has two brothers, Abel T., Charles B., and
three sisters. Mrs. W. H. Sutherland, Mrs. F. C.
Jones. Mrs. F. E. Lee.
On August 27. 1884. Mr. Newbury married Miss
1 146
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Frances J., daughter of Frederick C. and Hester
(Vertreese) Gremm. Mr. Gremm is an architect
in Helena, Montana. Mrs. Gremm is deceased.
Three children have been born to this union, William
G., Ray E., Joseph B. Mrs. Newbury has four sis-
ters. Mrs. Tames J. Gibbons, Mrs. Charles G. Stubbs,
Mrs'. M. Christen", Mrs. F. Wilcox. Mrs. Newbury
is a member of the Baptist church. Mr. Newbury
is a Republican and has been delegate to several coun-
ty and state conventions. He is at present president
of the Gremm Mining Company, which property
was located on August 25, 1886.
BRIDGET GAFFNEY is the widow of Patrick
Gaffney and the daughter of Bernard and Mary
(Martin) Gaffney. She was born in September,
1833, in Ireland, and came to Boston in 1851 with
her parents, who shortly returned to Ireland. She
followed the art of the' seamstress in Boston until
1859, when she came to San Francisco, via the Isth-
mus, where she remained until 1867, when she came
to Pierce with her husband and one son, Frank. Mr.
Gaffney did placer mining in the Pierce district and
also followed the butcher business. About 1880 Mr.
Gaffney took a pre-emption on the Weippe and later
a homestead, and then he bought a quarter. Mrs.
Gaffney has deeded one-quarter of this to her son
William, mentioned in this volume. Mr. Gaffney
raised stock, as high as two hundred head at one
time, and was a very prosperous and a prominent cit-
izen. He was a native of Sligo, Ireland, and was in-
terested with Mrs. Gaffney's father in a brewery
there. He came to California in 1858 and mined un-
til 1861, and then went to Pierce in the first excite-
ment, which was the fall of 1861, and then he was
also in the Florence stampede. In the summer of
1862 he went to Montana and mined two years in
Virginia City. He was one of twenty who first ex-
plored Yellowstone Park. Then he returned to Cali-
fornia, and thence went to Honduras, and in 1866 he
was again in California, and January of that year
Mrs. Gaffney was married to him. Then they came
to Pierce, as stated, and also Mr. Gaffney was in the
foremost part of the Cceur d'Alene rush. He died
on July 2i, 1896, beloved by all and a highly re-
spected and esteemed man. in- whom all recognized a
person of sterling worth and one whose labors more
than anv one other individual gave the early schools
to the Pierce district and stimulated development
and progress. Mrs. Gaffney has no near relatives
besides her children. Mr. Gaffney was on Camas
prairie at the time of the Indian outbreak in 1878.
His son Frank was with him, and they were expect-
ing to fetch stock. A friendly Indian assisted him to
get started home and took him to the top of the hill
above Kamiah and then returned. While they were
at Kamiah they saw Indians sporting themselves in
war gyrations on the hill and the friendly ones hur-
ried Mr. Gaffnev on. He got to his home at 4 p. m.
and soon all Pierce was deserted and every one was
in the hills. General Howard is said to have preached
to the Indians at Kamiah when these bands were on
the Weippe, killing all the whites they could find and
stealing stock and burning property. Later the
troops pursued and captured them. As soon as the
scare was over the people came back from the hills
and built fortifications, having been in the hills for
two weeks. Friendly Indian women and one man
warned the citizens of Pierce, and thus they escaped.
The outbreak commenced at Whitebird, on the Sal-
mon river, and previous to this straggling Indians,,
under pretense of friendliness, came to Pierce to get
whisky and steal stock, and after the raid had begun
the large band came and camped on the prairie at
Weippe. General Howard's actions of dilatoriness
while the Indians were committing their depreda-
tions caused great bitterness among the people.
Mrs. Gaffney has borne her part in all these hard-
ships of life on the frontier in a noble and courageous
manner and has been instrumental in doing much to
assist the advancement of the country and build it
up. She is now enjoying the golden years of her life
in the possession of the competence which her labor-
provided, and is beloved by all.
THOMAS B. REED, of the firm of Reed & Com-
pany, is the manager and head of the large general mer-
chandise establishment which the company owns in
Pierce. Mr. Reed is handling the largest business in
the town, is a popular and capable man and understands
the art of conducting a successful business, wherein
bis own talents have wrought the gratifying progress-
that has been and is his to enjoy.
Thomas B. Reed was born in Alexander, Missouri,
on October 14, 1876, being the son of James W. and
Kate (Folev) Reed. The father was a native of Ken-
tucky, a prominent attorney and died March 12. 1887,
aged forty. His ancestors were of Scotch and En-
glish extraction. The mother of our subject came front
Ireland, her native country, to the United States when
she was nine years of age. She was married in Mis-
souri and now lives in Boulder, Colorado. Thomas
was reared in Missouri and Keokuk, Iowa, gaining"
his education from the common schools and the St.
Marks College at Keokuk. At the age of nineteen he
took associated press work in St. Louis and followed it
perseveringly for four years. Then nine months were
spent as receiver of the Enoch Book & Stationery Com-
pany. After that, he came to Idaho and soon entered
the employ of J. P. Vollmer at Uniontown, Washing-
ton, as a general merchandise salesman. One year in
that capacity and he came to Pierce. He associated
himself with a silent partner and opened a general mer-
chandise establishment in Pierce and to the manage-
ment and development of the business he has devoted
himself with manifest wisdom and energy. He carries
a stock of about ten thousand dollars and does a fine
business especially in mining supplies. Mr. Reed is in-
terested in some valuable quartz mines and also some
promising placer properties. He has the Queen places
THOMAS B. REED.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
•47
the Dandy and Star quartz claims, also a number of
claims on Deer creek, in Nez Perces county, and some
property near Leadville, Colorado. Mr. Reed has one
brother and three sisters : Charles H., a druggist in Den-
ver; Margaret E., Julia E., Mary K. He is a member
of the I. O. O. F. and the United Artisans, while in
politics he is a Democrat.
On June 25, 1902, at Lewiston, Mr. Reed married
Miss Gracie E., daughter of August and Eliza S.
(Mitchell) PierstorfT, natives of Germany and New Jer-
sey, respectively. The father came to the United States
when twelve and died October 26, 1895, aged fifty.
He served in Company B, Eleventh Wisconsin, in the
last year of the Civil war and there was so broken in
health that he never recovered. The mother of Mrs.
Reed lives in Lewiston with her children. Mrs. Reed
was born on November 26, 1879, an<J his three brothers
and four sisters, John E., Marion A., Willard A., Laura
A., Vinnie I., Nola I., Mary, wife of Frank Eastman,
in Westlake, Idaho. Mr. and Mrs. Reed are popular
and leading members of society and are held in high
esteem by all while they enjoy the fellowship of hosts
of friends.
ALBERT OTTO, a mining man of Murray, was
born in West Virginia on March 1, 1844, the son of
Levi and Fernandes (Wolf) Otto, natives of Penn-
sylvania and West Virginia, and descended from old
and prominent Dutch families of the former state.
The father died September 15, 1872, aged forty. Our
subject was born and reared in West Virginia and
Maryland until thirteen, and in 1857 went to Missouri
with his parents. He lived there until seventeen, and
then ' enlisted in Company I, Twenty-first Missouri
Infantry, and served until February 6, 1865, when the
regiment was all mustered out. In 1879 Mr. Otto
came to Montana and worked at the carpenter trade.
In February. 1884, he came to Eagle City, then went
to Missoula, later was in Myrtle camp and since then
he has given his attention to mining and prospecting.
Mr. Otto was one of the owners of the famous Mother
Lode claim and after they had taken out three hun-
dred thousand dollars of ore they sold it for twenty
thousand dollars. Mr. Otto is interested in many
mining ventures and also in the town-site. He has
a cozy cottage home and other property. In 1892 he
bought the Louisville Hotel and three years later sold
it to William Wylie. Mr. Otto was deputy sheriff in
1892, under Sims, and in 1899, under Sutherland. He
is now road supervisor. Mr. Otto has four brothers,
Edmund, Israel, Franklin, William, and two sisters,
Mary Harned and Fanny Fordner.
On October 9, 1895, Mr. Otto married Mrs. Min-
nie Thompson, born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, on
October 13, 1852, the daughter of Henry and Mary
(Odell) Reynolds, natives of St. Rock, Canada, and
Paris, France, respectively. The father died on
March 28, 1893, and the mother died when she was
aged eightv-three. Mrs. Otto has one brother, Henry.
Mrs. Otto is a member of the Rebekahs and has been
president of the State Assembly. At that time she
was presented with a valuable jewel bv admiring
mends, who appreciated her excellent work in put-
ting new life in the order and in organizing new
lodges. She is a public speaker of power and elo-
quence, and is one of the leading ladies of the state
Mr. Otto is a member of the A. O. U. W., the I O
p. F. and the G. A. R. Mrs. Otto has one daughter
by her former marriage, Mable, wife of Paul F
Smith, of Wallace. Mrs. Otto is a graduate of the
Baptist University at Madison, Wisconsin, and re-
ceived her degree with especial honors, which she had
ROBERT T. HORN is surely to be classed with
the earliest pioneers in the Murray country, and since
the first days he has been one of the leading men and
one of the promoters of the various properties, while
his skill, energy and wisdom have resulted in much
good to the district, and have made him one of the
prominent men of the Cceur d'Alene country. I !<■
was born in Gardner, Maine, on September 14. [850,
the son of James and Sarah (Noyes) Horn. The
father was born at sea, but his ancestors came to this
continent on the Mayflower and were seafaring peo-
ple. Our subject's great-grandfather on his father's
side was in the Revolution and died Augu«* 3. j86i.
in Maine. The mother was a native of Vermont and
her grandfather was a patriot in the War of Independ-
ence. Her father was in the war of 1812 and also in
the Blackhawk under Lincoln. She died July 4. 1872,
in Maine. Our subject was reared in his native place
and received a good education from the public schools
and higher institutions. When nineteen he was rul-
ing the range in Texas, then operated three years a?
assistant superintendent for the St. Louis Beef Com-
pany. Then he visited the home place, and in [879
came west to Washington and was timber inspector
for the Northern Pacific from Wallula to Helena. In
1883 Mr. Horn came up the river to the site -
which was not there then. He prospected in all this
region and found much of the ground located by
Prichard, Boblett, Fisher and Ives. In September of
the year 18S3 our subject assisted to lay out Haves
City, named from .the- packer, Samuel Hayes, and
about twenty prospectors engaged in the work. An-
other crowd came in from the Black Hills and they
insisted on changing the name to Eagle City. To
avoid bloodshed, Mr. Horn consented, and the name
was Eagle City. He also assisted in tal
Prichard away so the others would not hang him for
taking up so much ground. Mr. Horn ami i
ner, Alf Brile, of Spokane, sold the first claim in the
district, it being the Golden Chest. It was
ten thousand dollars, and the Louisville I
bought it. They also sold the Euphemia and the
Idaho, they being in the Golden Chest now. Our sub-
ject, Bill Keeler, Dick Wilson, now of the .Mammoth,
and Jack Fitzgerald, now in southern Africa, laid out
the town of Murray and named it after George Mur-
ray, who located the land of the sire. The land had
been in litigation until the fall of 1902, when all was-
1 148
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
settled. In 1885 Mr. Horn located the town of Kel-
logg with Charles Sinclair and John M. Burke and
he still owns an interest there. Mr. Horn is now
manager of the Daddy mine, and with his partner,
Mr. Copeland has various other valuable properties.
Mr. Horn is one of the large tax-payers of the county
and is a man of heavy property holdings all over the
districts. He is a stanch Republican and has been
prominent in the campaigns. He has three brothers,
William, Bernard E., James C.
On October 22, . 1897, Mr. Horn married Mrs.
Kate Robinson, nee Williams, the wedding occurring
in Davenport, Washington. She was born in Owego,
New York, and her father was a native of the same
place. He served during the entire Civil war and
died in 1901. Mrs. Horn has three brothers, Robert
F., John H., Fred. Mr. and Mrs. Horn are pleasant
and affable people, have the confidence and good will
of all and are of the best standing and prominent in
social circles, as well as otherwise.
SAMUEL ELBEN. At the present time Mr.
Elben is the owner and operator of the daily stage
line between Greer and Tierce, which goes via Weippe
and Fraser. This is a fine line and is handled in a
skillful and wise manner by Mr. Elben. He has plenty
of good stock, excellent rigs and does a thriving busi-
ness. In addition to this Mr. Elben owns a farm,
two miles southeast from Weippe, which is a valua-
ble and well tilled estate. A detailed account of the
interesting career of Mr. Elben will be quite in place
in the history of Shoshone county.
Samuel Elben was born in the vicinity of Newark,
Ohio, on November 30, 1865, being the son of Rufus
and Isabel (Shaffer) Elben, natives of Ohio. The
mother married a second time, her husband being
Morgan Moates, a veteran of the Civil war. They
live near Newark. Our subject was raised by his
grandparents until ten and then worked out for the
farmers until about 1890, receiving his education
from the district schools during this time. In the year
last mentioned he came to Spokane, where he remained
one year variously employed. Then he went to the
Big Bend countrv and later to Kittitas county, near
Roshm, and mined for gold some. Two years were
afterward spent in the Palouse country in the vicinity
of Pullman, and then he came to the Weippe country
and filed on a claim, but as it proved worthless for
agricultural purposes, he relinquished to the govern-
ment and then bought his present place, which is a
valuable piece of land. Mr. Elben does a general
farming business and handles some stock. He handled
a sub-contract on the mail from Weippe to Pierce for
four years, and then took the contract from the govern-
ment'to handle the mail as stated above, and he has
done a fine business in the express and passenger
traffic since. Mr. Elben has no full brothers and sis-
ters. .
On February 20, 1901, Mr. Eben married Miss
Bertha, daughter of Harrison K. and Jennie (Mc-
Lean) Vanartsdalen, natives of Philadelphia. They
now live two miles west from Mr. Elben's place. Mrs.
Elben was born near Columbus, Nebraska, on April
1, 1884, and she has one sister and two brothers,
Eliza, Thompson, Isaac G. Mr. and Mrs. Elben were
married at Pomeroy, Washington. They have one
child.
JOHN W. CLARK. On the battlefield, fighting
•for his country, as well as In the battles of life, where
he has always shown integrity and kindness, with gen-
erosity, the subject of this article has done worthily
and is deserving of mention in the volume that would
chronicle the leading citizens of the county of Sho-
shone.
John W. Clark was born in Wood county, Ohio,
on November 2, 1844, being the son of Adam and
Catherine (Wickard) Clark. The father was born in
Pennsylvania, of Irish parents, served thirteen months
in Company L, Second Missouri Cavalry, Captain
A. E. Preston and Colonel Lewis Merrie. On April
24, 1 90 1, this good man went to his final rest, aged
eighty-two. The mother of our subject was a native
of Ohio, and her parents of Pennsylvania. Her father
was in the war of 1812 and died when he was seventy-
seven. Our subject was reared in Michigan, whither
his parents had removed when he was three years
old. He studied in the winters in the district schools
and labored in the summers. When seventeen he
enlisted in Merrill's Horse Volunteers, which regi-
ment was made up of recruits from Michigan, Ohio
and Missouri, and was called the Second Missouri.
This was the same regiment in which his father served,
and he went in as his father came out. Nineteen
months of this arduous service was given by Mr.
Clark, and then he was honorably discharged. Fol-
lowing the war we have no record of his whereabouts.
At the present time Mr. Clark is residing on his own
place, two miles south from Weippe, and does a gen-
eral farming and stock business.
On September 16, TS74, Mr. Clark married Miss
Adell Tupper, daughter of Nelson and Lorena (Lock-
wood) Tupper, who are mentioned in this volume.
This wedding occurred in Pottawattamie county,
Iowa. Mrs. Clark has three brothers and sisters.
To our subject and his estimable wife there have been
born four children: Elizabeth C, wife of Samson
Snyder; Howard T., residing near by; Minnie B.,
wife of Franklin Harrison, residing near by; Etta
M., single and living at home. Mr. Clark is a member
of the A. F. & A. M.. Climax Lodge, No. 59, in
Kalamazoo, Michigan. He also belongs to the G. A.
R., Atlanta Post, at Platte Center, Nebraska.
JOHN C. FEEHAN, the manager of the Murray-
Mercantile Company, Limited, is one of the leading
business men of Murray, and a man of good ability
and standing. He was born in Iowa, June 24, 1866,
the son of John H. and Julia P. (Brown) Feehan. The
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1 149
father was born in Zanesville, Ohio, as were his par-
ents also. The ancestors came from Ireland. The
father died April 21, 1898. The mother was born
in Iowa, and lives there now. Her father was a
prominent and influential man in Iowa. Her mother
came from an old Virginia family-named Gee. Four
brothers were preachers. Our subject was raised
in Iowa and educated there until 1890. In June of that
year he arrived in Wardner and worked for George
F. Crane & Company, and then was appointed post-
master, holding the same for three years. Then he
came to Murray and did mining in the placers and
later opened in the mercantile business. He started
his present business in 1899 with the firm style of
J. S. Feehan & Company. In 1900 it was merged as
the Murray Mercantile Company, with our subject as
manager, and since then he has continued in that
capacity. Mr. Feehan is interested in mining ventures
in various places and is a man of substantial quali-
ties. He has one brother, Robert W., and four sis-
ters, Alice, Mrs. Lizzie Abbie, Florence Rinehart, and
Margaret Jackson. All are in Iowa.
On April 27, 1890, at Ann Arbor, Michigan, Air.
Feehan married Miss Hattie I. Ferguson. The father
was a grain dealer and died in Iowa in 1883. The
mother died when this daughter was young. Mrs.
Feehan was born in Iowa August 1, 1866, and has
one sister, Clara. One child has been born to this
union, Muriel, born October 21, 1899, in Murray.
Mr. Feehan is a member of the A. F. & A. M., of the
K. P., and in political relations is associated with the
Republicans. He has served as a delegate to the
county and state conventions. Mr. Feehan is a pleas-
ant and affable man, well liked by all and the recipient
of a fine business patronage, because of his popularity
and skill in his lines.
CHARLES HUCKELBERRY. Although the
subject of this article has not been so long in this
section as some, still he has demonstrated such real
integrity and worth of character that he has a warm
place in the esteem and good will of the entire com-
munity. He is a member of the Methodist church,
and is a devoted supporter of the faith and is always
found foremost in church work. He is an apt scholar
in the word and is often found as a teacher in the
class and Sunday school. His farm lies about two
miles south from Weippe, and is a beautiful and
valuable place. It consists of one-quarter section, one
hundred and thirty acres of which is under culti-
vation. The balance is covered with timber. Mr.
Huckelberry is a diversified farmer, and handles some
stock also. He is industrious and skillful in his busi-
ness and is one of the prosperous and substantial
men of the community.
Charles Huckelberry was born in Clark county,
Indiana, on September 30, 1852, being the son of
Peter and Jerusha (Gibson) Huckelberry, natives of
Clark county, Indiana. The father was born on Jan-
uary 25, 1825, and he died on May 15, 1899. His
father was a native of Clark county, and his mother
came from Pennsylvania. The mother of our subject
was of Scotch extraction, and she died on September
15, 1880. Charles was reared in Indiana and educated
in the district schools. After leaving school Mr.
Huckelberry rented his father's farm for a time, and
in 1876 he went west to Missouri and Kansas, where
he did ranch work until 188 1. Then he returned to-
J effersonville, Indiana, and worked in the car shops.
In 1883 he went to Illinois, and on November 10,
1884, he came to Idaho. He settled near Troy, and
during the time of his stay in Latah county, he filed
on a homestead near Kendrick, which he traded fur
his present farm. This was on March 3, 1897, and
since that time Mr. Huckelberry has been a resident
here. He has one brother, George \V., in Indiana. Mr.
Huckelberry is a Democrat and as active as is con-
sistent with his business affairs.
THAD C. RIDDLE, the well known and popular
young attorney, who is now filling the office of probate
judge with efficiency and acceptability, is one of the
leading professional men of northern Idaho, and has
manifested marked ability and erudition in the deep
questions and intricacies of the law, while his integ-
rity and uprightness are patent to all.
Thad C. Riddle was born in Kentucky on Octo-
ber 26, 1869, the son of George W. and Louise (Wise-
man) Riddle, natives of Maryland and Kentucky,
respectively. The father's ancestors were a prominent
family that came with Calvert to Maryland. He died
in Indiana in 1895, whither he had come when our
subject was aged six. He enlisted at the rim call
in Company A, Forty-ninth Indiana Infantry, and
was soon appointed adjutant and was made military
superintendent of all railroads running out of Louis-
ville, then was with General Grant in all of his bat-
tles from Ft. Donelson to Chattanooga, and in 1864
was appointed colonel of the One Hundred and Forty-
fourth Indiana. He took part in the Shenandoah
campaign, and was mustered out in August, 1865,
having served throughout the entire war. The mother
of our subject lives in Kentucky, and she is descended
from an old and prominent Kentucky family, the
grandfather coming there with Daniel Boone. Both
grandfathers of our subject served in the war of 1812.
Thad C. was raised principally in Indiana, and in 1887
he took his degree from Hartsville College, and then
took up teaching and reading law. In the spring of
1890 he was admitted to the bar of Indiana, and in
1891 we see Mr. Riddle in Colfax, Washington, en-
gaged in the legal profession. There and at Oakesdale
he Continued until iSg8, when he came to Wardner,
which was his headquarters until January, 1903, when
he came to Wallace, having been elected as probate
judge of the county, polling a majority of six hun-
dren and ninety-six, being two hundred ahead of his
ticket, the Republican. Judge Riddle has been active
in politics and has made his influence known in the
state and county conventions. He has one brother
1 150
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
and three sisters: J. Morton, Mrs. Katherine Hughes,
Mrs. Celestine Rainforth, Mrs. Nancy Tadlock.
On June 13, 1894, Judge Riddle married Miss
AVenona, daughter of Harrison H. and Irene Sel-
fridge, both well known Oregon pioneers. They
crossed the plains in 1865 and now dwell in Spokane,
where the wedding occurred. Mrs. Riddle was born
in Eugene, Oregon. Admiral Thomas O. Selfridge,
deceased, was a cousin of Mr. Selfridge. Mrs. Rid-
dle was liberally educated in the classics and then
received a special course in music under the tuition
of Madam Capiana in New York. She is a popular
teacher of vocal music in the Coeur d'Alene country,
being skillful and of marked talent in this art. Two
children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Riddle :
Katherine, aged six, and an infant unnamed. Judge
Riddle is a member of the Eagles in Wardner, and he
and his wife are communicants at the Episcopal
church.
ANDREW T. SMITH is the efficient stage opera-
tor from Murray to Wallace, and he also owns the line.
He is a man of pleasant ways, good spirit, and is
well liked and esteemed by all. He was born in Iowa
November 15, 1859, the son of William and Louisa
(Miles) Smith. The father was born in Pennsyl-
vania, served four years for his country in the Re-
bellion, languished in Andersonville's horrors until his
health was broken, and in 1870 he died. The mother
was born in Illinois, came to Iowa when two years
old, after her husband's death married Aaron Webster,
an old Calif onria pioneer, and now lives near Olympia.
Washington. Our subject was reared in Iowa until
after the war, and then they went to Missouri until the
father's death, when they returned to Iowa, and when
he was seventeen he accompanied his mother, her
mother, his two sisters and brother to Portland, and
soon they went thence to Puget Sound. When twenty-
one he left the parental roof and went to Dayton,
Washington, and in the spring of 1885 he came to
Delta, and thence soon to Murray. He mined and
prospected and drove stage, and in 1892 bought an
interest in the line. He operated it with Fred Barton,
deceased, for three years, then sold out. Mr. Smith
then did butchering for a time, mined in Republic,
returned to Murray and commenced driving stage,
and later he operated a stamp-mill with Mr. Burton.
Then Mr. Smith secured the mail contract, and since
has continued to operate the stage line as stated above.
He has one brother, Elmer E., and two sisters, Emina
Ruttidge, a widow, and Dora James.
At Wallace, on July 2, 1893, Mr. Smith married
Miss Alice R., daughter of William J. and Susan
(Tinker) Burton. The father was born in Delaware,
and the mother was born at sea, as her parents were
en route to Australia. Her parents were natives of
England, and she remained in Australia until fifteen,
then married. They came to the United States with
considerable money from Australia, and in 1884 they
landed in Murray, having come in over the Belknap
trail, the family consisting of father and mother and
four children. Mrs. Smith was born in Wisconsin
on February 22, 1877, an<l sne has two sisters, Mary
Scrivens, Emma Beaty. Two children have been born
to Mr. and Mrs. Smith: Mrvtle, born November 11,
1896; Horace, born March 3, 1899. Mfs- Smith has
three brothers : William, George E., Theodore. Mr.
Smith is a member of the K. P.
DAVID F. GOODMAN is one of the well known
miners and prospectors of Murray, and at the present
time he is with the Coeur dAlene Mining Company,
and is also interested in some property with them.
He owns one-third of the Nellie Potter group and one-
third in the Bellamy and Arabia. David F. Good-
man was born in Morgan county, Missouri, on June
12, 1853, the son of John F. and Elizabeth (Hunt)
Goodman, natives of Missouri. The father is an elder
in the German Baptist church in Morgan county,
Missouri. He was one of the early pioneers in Cooper
county, and his father was a companion of Daniei
Boone. The ancestors were prominent in the Revolu-
tion and in Indian wars. The mother's ancestors were
descended from the old Virginia Hunt family and were
prominent. Our subject was reared in Missouri until
fifteen. His mother died when he was one year old.
When fifteen he enlisted in Company E, Nineteenth
Kansas Cavalry, and for six months they were active
in chasing a band of Cheyennes who had stolen two
white women. They captured sixteen hundred of the
savages and secured the women. The soldiers
were about to take summary vengeance on the Indians
when General Custer made a speech telling them that
he would be held personally responsible for the In-
dians by the government, and this deterred the sol-
diers. The Indians were held in a stockade and in a
quarrel they killed their chief. After this the regi-
ment in which Mr. Goodman was disbanded, and he
went to Colorado and mined and prospected from
1874 to 1894. Then he came to the Coeur dAlene
country. He has been in British Columbia, in various
sections adjacent to this district, and of late he has
continued here uninterruptedly. Mr. Goodman has
the following brothers and sisters : William, James,
Charles, Mary Lehman, Margaret, Clavrissa E., and one
unnamed.
MILO L. GEORGE. The subject of this review
is a man of energy and stability and has wrought with
a skillful hand and wisdom in the development of the
country, and is now one of the prosperous citizens and
highly esteemed men of the community.
Milo L. George was born in Crawford county,
Wisconsin, on June 24, 1857, being the son of Hiram
S. and Amelia (Gooding) George, natives of Ohio.
The father was a mining man, and went to Mexico
tc follow his occupation and has never been heard
from. The mother lives with our subject._ Milo L.
was reared in Michigan and there received his educa-
tion and labored in the woods until he was twenty-two.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Then he came to Kansas with his wife, and they took
a claim, which proved worthless for agricultural pur-
poses, and so it was sold to a cattle firm for grazing.
Two years after that Mr. George worked on public
works and then rented a farm for a time, and in 1888
he sold out and came to Idaho. Here he settled on
liis present place, three miles east from Fraser, which
he secured as a homestead. He has improved it in
good shape, and does a general farming business and
raises stock. Mr. George has also bought other land
and besides that which he works he has one million
ieet of the finest marketable timber. He has a forty
iome distance from his present home, which he intends
to improve for the family residence, it being especially
fitted for a home place. Mr. George has one brother,
Prank F., living two miles south. Our subject is a
member of the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 64, at Orofino.
He is a Republican, and has been committeeman and
is active in the realm of politics.
On September 28, 1878, Mr. George married Miss
Mary A., daughter of Nelson Tupper, a native of
Vermont, who died October 1, ]88o, with cholera,
being en route to Kansas from his eastern home. Mrs.
George was born in Kalamazoo county, Michigan, on
July 28, 1853, and she has four brothers and three
sisters : Chauncey, residing near Leland ; Howard,
residing on the Lolo ; Byron, on the Potlatch ; Edwin,
in Michigan ; Adelia, wife of Samuel Teed, near our
subject; Ellen, wife of John Harrison, in Michigan;
Adelle, wife of John Clark, on the Weippe. Mr.
George- is one of the progressive and intelligent men
of the community, and he and his wife are respected
and highly esteemed.
BENJAMIN F. MORGAN is the amalgamator
at the Golden Chest mine, near Murray, and is one
of the substantial and esteemed mining men of the
district. He was born in Marion county, Oregon,
on May 11, 1857, the son of William W. and Lo-
dema (Steen) Morgan. The father was born in New
Jersey, crossed the plains in 1849, when forty years
old, and settled near Salem, where he raised stock and
did carpenter work. The mother was born in In-
diana, crossed the plains with her parents in 1852, was
married in 1854, and died in 1883. Our subject
remained in Oregon until 1862, when the family came
to Walla Walla, and the father was post carpenter
for some time. Later they sold the farm owned on
the state line and returned to the Willamette valley.
In 1873 our subject came to Weston, and worked on the
ranch two years, and then went to Columbia county,
Washington, then Walla Walla county for five years
In the sheep business. He and his brother were in
this business also on the Snake. After that he settled
near Colfax, and for five years tilled the soil, then sold
out and operated a bakery and confectionery store in
Olympia. Next we see Mr. Morgan in San Francisco
en the street cars, then he returned to Weston in
1893, and in 1895 he came to Murray, and here he
3ias devoted himself to mining and prospecting since
that time. He has been in his present positon and
others with this company for three years, and is one
of the capable men in the company. Mr. .Morgan has
one brother, George W.
In 1883 Mr. Morgan married and he has one child,
Ralph S. Mr. Morgan is a member of the A. F. &
A. M., and of the Miners' Union. He is a Republi-
can, and votes for the interests of the country. Air.
Morgan is interested in the Laura Bonanza and the
Dick groups, and in the various properties on Summit
Peak and Beaver districts and also in Bear Gulch.
JOHN T. MOLLOY. The home of Mr. Molloy
is one of the finest spots to be found in Shoshone
county. The view is commanding, the scenery is
inspiring, and the beauty and grandeur of the entire
setting is little short of. perfection. The residence
is a tasty and commodious structure of modern archi-
tecture, with spreading verandas, and is situated on a
beautiful sloping bench, and one may stand and drink
in the beauties of towering mountains, dense wild
forests, harvest fields, fruit laden orchards, and the
dotting residences of the farmers in the valley until
the completeness and beauty of the scene leads one
to forget the tranistoriness of time and sense. A de-
tailed account of Mr. Molloy's life will be interesting.
John T. Molloy was born in Walla Walla on
October 27, 1868, being the son of John and Ellen
(Kehlker) Molloy. The father was a native of Ire-
land, and came to the United States when he was
five years old. He followed the sea for years, then
came to San Francisco in early days, and thence to
Walla Walla in the sixties. He operated a restaurant
in Walla Walla for three years, and when our sub-
ject was six months of age, lie came to 1'itrce with
his family. He carried mail to Pierce, was post-
master there, and was sheriff of Shoshone county for
two years. He was interested in mining and a promi-
nent man in the affairs of the county. At present he
is living with our subject. The mother of Mr. Molloy
was born in Ireland, came to the United States when
young, was married in Walla Walla when young, and
died October 27, 1876, in Pierce. Our subject was
raised in Pierce until he was eight years old, and then
at his present place he took up his abode until this
date. He was educated in the district schools and
under the tuterage of a private instructor. He lived
with Peter Hourcade, who then owned the place where
Mr. Mollov now lives. Mr. Hourcade and Mr. Molloy
and William Gaffney went to hunt stock and in cross-
ing the Lolo, which was raging in a flood, Mr. Hour-
cade's horse stumbled and he was lost in the torrent.
Mr. Molloy being appointed administrator, he bought
the property. In addition Mr. Molloy owns enough
fine land to make a section and does a thorough farm-
ing business, besides handling from one to one hundred
and fifty cattle and hogs, and horses in proportion. He
is one of the substantia! men of the section, has spent
nearly all of his life here, and is well and favorably
known over the entire district. Mr. Molloy is a mem-
1 152
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ber of the M. W. A. in Fraser, and he and his wife
affiliate with the Catholic church. Politically he is
a Democrat and active in the affairs of the county and
state, being frequently called to the conventions of
both.
On May 6, 1896, Mr. Molloy married Miss Viola
Foster, whose parents are mentioned in this volume.
One child has come to gladden the union. Her name
is Gladys. Mr. and Mrs. Molloy are leading people
in this section and have the hearty good will and
esteem of all.
BERNT O. SKONNORD has manifested his deep
interest in the various mining camps of the Coeur
d'Alene and adjacent counties by development work
to the amount of many thousands of dollars and he is
now one of the clever and leading mining men of the
section. He was born in Norway, on June 14, i860,
the son of Ole E. and Beatha (Hoff) Skonnord, na-
tives of the same country. The father died there in
T900 and the mother passed away in 1895. Our subject
was reared and educated in his native land and spent
two years as salesman before coming to the United
States in 1881. He followed clerking in Lacrosse, Wis-
consin, then came to Missoula in the same line, where
he worked for the Missoula Mercantile Company and
Murphy-Warden Company, clerked in the hotel
three years for Captain Rodgers and operated a
restaurant some time. In 1884 he came to Eagle
City over the Trout creek trail, started a hotel in
Murray and placered in Lost creek. Next we
see him mining in Phillipsburg, Montana. Then
he traveled some and later settled in Elkhorn, en-
gaging in the liquor business and also handling mining
and wood. He also secured while there a large interest
in the Mountain View group, which is believed to be
one of the best, having all indications of making a
first class producer. He lost two thousand and more
cords of wood in a large fire, after which he went to
Helena. In the fall of 1894 he came to Burke and
opened the exchange Hotel. On April 29, 1899,
Mr. Skonnord came to Wallace and this has
been his headquarters since, although he has oper-
ated in various mines and prospects all over the
country. He has numerous property and commer-
cial interests, but while these occupy some of his atten-
tion he devotes most of his energies to mining and has
some fine properties. He is sole owner of the Mountain
View properties, a group of fine claims in Jefferson
county, Montana, and has spent over fifteen thousand
dollars on this property alone, in development work.
In addition to this he has stock in the Humming
Bird, is a director of the Trade Dollar, interested in the
Echo, the Blue Grouse and the Oreana and many oth-
ers. Mr. Skonnord is a member of the Redmen. He
has the following brothers and sisters : Edward, Chris-
tian, Peter, Martin, Olaf, John, Hans, deceased, Maria
Oleson, Mathia Quisgart, Olena Landaasen, Anna
Skundburg. Mr. Skonnord is an independent thinker
in political lines as in all others and he is always on the
side of those measures which are for the general wel-
fare and advancement. He is a man of ability and has
clone much for the development of the country.
CARL AMONSON certainly deserves to be ranked
in the foremost rank of men who have done and are
doing a grand work in bringing the famous Coeur
dAlene country to the front as the greatest camp of
its kind in the world. He has brought to bear in this-
work a wealth of natural ability which has been rein-
forced with careful study not only of this country, but
of all principles and knowledge yet brought out in
mineralogy, geology and general mining science.
Carl Amonson was born in Seneca, Crawford
county, Wisconsin, on April 19, 1865, the son of Am-
nion and Petrena (Knudson) Amonson, natives of Nor-
way. The father came to the United States in 1857^.
kept hotel in Lacrosse, Wisconsin, until 1865, then
farmed in Crawford county until 1883, then moved to
Bridgewater, South Dakota, where he is a heavy real
estate owner now. The mother came to the United
States when nine years of age and now lives in Bridge-
water. Our subject was educated in Wisconsin until
seventeen, then took a course in a business college in
St. Paul. On May 6, 1889, we find him employed in
the Poorman in Burke and later he located land seven
miles northeast from Spangle. After gaining title
he went to Burke again, having sold his land, and
worked for the electric company there. Next we see
him in the real estate business in Butte, Montana, and
after that he prospected in the Okanogan country. He
clerked in the Tiger store, went to South Dakota, came
back and entered the employ of Dan Cardoner, con-
tinuing there until the fall of 1898. He located the
famous Hummingbird during this time and incorpo-
rated it in 1898, being president. Mr. Amonson also-
located and incorporated the Echo and is president. In
the fall of 1890 he located the Pearl group and he is
also interested heavily in many undeveloped proper-
ties. Mr. Amonson is one of the most practical and
successful mine operators in the district and is recog-
nized as such. He has three brothers, Oscar, Henry,.
Theodore, and two sisters, Julia and Anna. Mr.
Amonson is a member of the K. P., the Redmen, the
Foresters, the Miners Union, and the Scandinavian
Brotherhood. He is a socialist and active in the in-
terests of the country. Air. Amonson is not satisfied
with his attainments but is constantly devoting himself
to hard study of the basic sciences treating of the earth,
its formation, of mining and mineralogy and he is
especially studying the Coeur dAlene district and in-
tends to devote himself to a continued operation here.
CHARLES SCHILL. The hardy life of the miner
has but few attractions about it except the general
freedom and also the consciousness that when one
gathers the wealth from the wilds of the mountains
it is not stained by the hardship of some down trodden
BERNT O. SKONNORD.
CARL AMONSON.
CHARLES SCHILL.
GEORGE A. MAITLAND.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
i53
creature whose forced toil has produced it. It comes
fresh from the mint of nature placed there for the use
of the intrepid and doughty ones who will face the
hardships of the wilds to gain it. One of these worthy
characters is named in the subject of this sketch, and
it is with pleasure that we accord to him a representa-
tion in the annals of Shoshone county.
Mr. Schill was born in Baden, Freiberg Province,
German}, on February 1, 1868, being the son of An-
ton and Christine Schill. He was educated in his na-
tive land and at the early age of thirteen came with
relatives to America. Three years were spent in Saint
PauL Minnesota, and then he came west to Spokane.
He had mastered the intricacies of the carpenter trail'
and labored at that in Spokane, in the Palouse country
and in Lewiston and vicinity, and then, in 1895. he came
to Kendrick. He at once set about prospecting and two
years later he discovered the Jericho mines, well known
through this section. He has devoted considerable at-
tention to placer mining, and at the present time he is
sluicing about thirty miles east frm Kendrick and six
miles east from the West line of Shoshone county. He
is in what is known as the Burnt Creek mining dis-
trict. We are pleased to grant mention to one of the
sturdy toilers in this section of the county and it is due
that we say that the class of men, whom our subject
nobly represents, are they who opened this country and
pushed back the gates for the less adventurous ones to
follow. And all honor to those who take the pick and
shovel and delve in the depths of the unexplored re-
gions for the development of the same.
GEORGE A. MAITLAND. For more than a de-
cade the subject of this article has been connected
prominently in the business realm in the Coeur dAlene
country and at the present time he is owner and opera-
tor of a first class feed, hay. and grain store in Wal-
lace where he does a thrifty trade and his standing
among his fellows is first class.
George A. Maitland was born in Kilmarnock, On-
tario, on August 28, 1862, being the son of James and
Jane (McRitchey) Maitland. the father was a native
of Canada and born of Scotch ancestry and his father
served in the French and Indian war. The mother of
our subject was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, and her
father also served in the French and Indian war. Our
subject graduated from the excellent high schools in
Ontario and when nineteen came to Winnipeg, where
he spent three years in the employ of a large contract-
ing firm. Then he took a farm in Assiniboia Territory
and after seven years' residence on it, he rented, but
still owns it. He rode the range in Montana for three
years then came to the Coeur dAlene country in 1891.
He wrought on the Northern Pacific for four years ami
then in the mines and in 1897 he opened his present
business and since that time he has devoted his atten-
tion to building up the fine patronage that he now en-
joys as the result of his careful business methods and
kind treatment of all.
Mr. Maitland has the following named brothers and
sisters : Fred H, Peter, John, James I'., Rebecca Mc-
Caw, Sarah A. Fraternally Air. Maitland is promi-
nently associated, being a member of the A. I". & A. M.,
Shoshone Lodge No. 25 : of the R. A. M., Chapter No.
9 : of the Coeur d'Alene Commandery of the K. T. ;
of the Fl Katif temple of Noble- of the Mystic Shrine.
The first three are in Wallace but the latter is in Spo-
kane. Mr. Maitland is an active and progressive mem-
ber of the board of trade and interested in any measure
that is for advancement of the general welfare.
CHARLES MANLEY. A continuous residence
in the Coeur d'Alene country since the palm) days
of Murray placers entitles the subject of this article
to be classed as one of the early pioneers, while his
progressive spirit, his energy, and his activity mani-
fest him as one of the real builders of the section, and
without doubt he is recognized one of the regular
war horses of the Republican ranks, a leader and an
enthusiastic supporter of these sound principles. Mr.
Manley is personally a man of affability, a fine con-
versationalist, and possessed of a high sense of honor,
while his stirring career from the gold dust days of
California to the present time in all the prominent
camps from Mexico to British Columbia has supplied
him with a fund of experience and a store of remi-
niscences highly interesting and of great value.
Charles Manley was born in Maine on June 18,
1842, the son of Albert G. and .Sarah H. (Hill) Man
ley, natives of Maine. The paternal grandfather of
our subject was in the war of 181 >. and the ancestors
were famous in the American cause in the early days.
The father died in 1879, aged sixty-five, at Elko.
Nevada, having come to California. Tuolumne county,
in 1852. The mother of our subject came from a
family prominent in New England for many genera-
tions back, and hearty supporters of the colonists in
the Revolution, and later in the war of 181 2. Our
subject was reared and educated in Skowhegan, Maine,
and when through with the academy course he joined
his father in California. This was in 1858, and he
followed placer mining with him until [864, then
came to Boise, whither the father had preceded him.
In 1865. our subject went to Montana and washed
the golden sands and also held the position of deputy
sheriff under Ed Lovelock, first sheriff of Meagher
county. In 1869 Mr. Manley went to White Pine,
Nevada, thence to Arizona, in government employ.
both in carrying messages and furnishing game meat
for the forces. Again we see him in White Pine.
prospecting and mining. In 1884 he was with the
first wave that rolled into Murray, and he -ought the
nuggets for a year there, then went to Elk creek with
foseph Sweeney, and located the Nellie Wood mine,
which he sold later to James Wardner. Mr. Manley
then became interested in a lead proposition, which
he and his partner. P. Hyde, still own. It is on Elk
creek, near Wardner. In 1895 Mr. Manley returned
to Murray and bought the Louisville house, which was
built in 1884, and after one year in operating the
154
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
same, he leased it and came to Wallace. Mr. Manley
has two brothers and one sister: Horace A., Mark,
Mrs. B. W. Hapgood, a widow.
On December 6, 1888, Mr. Manley married Miss
Minnie F. Grant in Spokane. Her father is deceased,
and her mother lives near Boston. Mr. Manley is a
member of the Elks, and is a popular and influential
citizen. He is a stanch Republican, as stated, and is
now sheriff of the county of Shoshone, and in dis-
charge of his duties there is that same faithfulness,
efficiency and honor manifested that characterize him
in all his business career. He has been and is an
influential figure in the county conventions, and is a
man always laboring for the advancement and wel-
fare of the community.
COLUMBUS B. FERGUSON, who at present is
proprietor of the "Capital," is one of the well known
business men of Murray, and is one of the old timers,
being one whose labors assisted materially in con-
structing the trail into this country in the early days
of 1884. Since that time Mr. Ferguson has always
continued in the mining industry in this district more
or less, and he is at the present time joint owner of a
number of valuable and promising claims, as the
group on Bear Top, those on Summit, a copper prop-
osition on the north fork and a good mill site, while
also he has dwellings and business property in Mur-
ray.
Columbus B. Ferguson was born in Wilkes county,
North Carolina, on June 25, 1861, the son of Samuel
S. and Lucy (Roberts) Ferguson. The father was
born in North Carolina, and comes from the old and
prominent Ferguson family of the south. He served
all through the war in the Confederate army, and died
in 1900 at Truckee, California. The mother was born
in Indiana and now lives in Truckee. Our subject
was educated in Kansas and Missouri, where the
family lived. They went to California from Kansas,
then returned to Missouri, went again to California
and back to Salt Lake City, and then settled perma-
nently in the Golden State. Our subject remained
with his parents until he was past twenty-one, then
went to sawmilling in California, and in 1884 started
for the Coeur d'Alene country, and as said before he
assisted to build the trail until May 10th, and then
turned his attention to prospecting. In 1894 Mr. Fer-
guson opened his present business, and since then he
has conducted this in addition to handling mines. His
place is the headquarters for all old timers, and he
is one of the well known men of the county. Mr.
Ferguson has three brothers: Thomas, James, Ira.
and one sister, Lillian.
On January 15, 1900, Mr. Ferguson married Mrs.
Cassie O'Donald, a native of Illinois, and daughter of
Joseph and Annie E. (Jacobs) Nuss, natives of Penn-
sylvania. The father died in 1877, and the mother
still lives in Illinois. Mrs. Ferguson has the follow-
ing brothers and sisters : Henry, Daniel, Calvin,
Cora Hughes, Emma Davis. Mr. Ferguson is a mem-
ber of the Redmen, and was a charter member of
the K. P. He is a leading Democrat of the county,
and is active in the county and state conventions.
MILTON P. FOSTER. It was in 1890 that Mr.
Foster came to his present place, two miles east from
Eraser, where he took a piece of wild land, which
his labors since have transformed into a first class
farm. This is now rented to his son, who owns a
farm adjoining, and the father lives on his own place,
and devotes his time to the prosecution of his trade,
that of a carpenter and builder. In this line he is
especially skillful, having learned the trade when he
was young and then completely mastered it. For a
long period of years Mr. Foster has devoted himself
to this craft, and is well known all over this section,
as in many other places, where his excellent handi-
work testifies to his ability and industry.
Milton P. Foster was born in Green county, Wis-
consin, on February 4, 1847, being the son of Will-
iam and Delia A. (Wright) Foster, natives of Ohio
and New York, respectively. The ancestors of the
father were of the old Puritan stock, and his father
was wounded at the battle of -Lake Erie in the war
of 1812. The .father of our subject was one of the
pioneer farmers and carpenters in southern Wisconsin.
The mother of Milton P. was descended from a very
old family of New York, and many of her relatives
were in the Civil war. Her brother, Major Squire
A. Wright, was wounded at the battle of Shiloh,
and soon died from the effects. Another brother served
through the entire war. Our subject was reared in
Wisconsin and attended the district schools, and at an
early age began to learn the carpenter trade from
a skillful father. In the spring of 1870 he went to
Iowa, and thence to Minnesota, owning farms in both
states. In 1890 he came to Spokane, and soon there-
after he came to his present place.
In 1873 Mr. Foster married Miss Laura, daughter
of Peter and Jane (McCaughtry) McFarland, natives
of Pennsylvania. The father died at the age of sev-
enty-four, and the mother when she was seventy-two.
The wedding of Mr. Foster occurred in Waucoma,
Iowa. Four children were born to the union- Inez
W., wife of Stephen A. Frans, express messenger on
the O. R. & N., at Spokane; Claire M., lives adjoin-
ing the father's farm ; Viola' A., wife of John T.
Malloy, in Fraser; Susie, wife of Howard T. Clark;
at Weippe. Mrs. Foster was born on December 16,
1848, and died on October 16, 1890. She was a na-
tive of Pennsvlvania, and her death occurred in Spo-
kane. Mr. Foster is a member of the I. O. O. F., and
in politics is a Republican.
FRANK M. TIBBALS is one of the old timers
of the Coeur d'Alene country, and has been interested
in the mines of that section from the first discoveries
until the present. He was born in Michigan on June
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
i55
20, 1856, the son of Benoni O. and Harriet A. (God-
frey.) Tibbals, natives of New York. The parents
came to Michigan in 1833, traveling in ox carts. The
grandfather served in the war of 18 12, and the Tib-
bals family were among the first settlers on the con-
tinent in colonial days. They were always prominent
in the American cause, and many noted members are
now in the leading professions, and in commercial
pursuits in the New England states. The father died
in 1872, but the mother lives in Detroit. Our subject
remained in .Michigan until nineteen, having received
a good education. He expected to enter Ann Arbor,
but owing to his father's death he was obliged to
remain at home. He was on the farm, in a dry goods
store, and in 1876 went to Cheyenne and clerked, until
he joined a party of one hundred men to go to Dead-
wood. He was variously employed in the Black Hills
for four years. Then he went to Gunnison, Colorado,
mining. He was in various excitements there and in
New Mexico, and in March, 1884, he came over the
Trout trail to Eagle City. He did a saloon business
for a time and later he went to Wardner and located
the Keystone and King group. Although they shipped
eighty thousand dollars' worth of ore the vein broke,
and the sheriff finally sold the property for fifteen
hundred dollars. In' 1888 Mr. Tibbals was elected
auditor and recorder of Shoshone county on the Dem-
ocratic ticket, and in 1893 declined to run again. He
was offered the nomination of secretary of state, but
declined. However, thev put up his name. In 1897
Mr. Tibbals sold his saloon interests in Wallace and
prospected in Revelstoke, British Columbia. He had
some claims located there then. In the fall of 1897
he opened hjs present place of business at 117 How-
ard street, Spokane, and his resort is the headquarters
for all Coeur d'Alene miners. In 1900 Mr. Tibbals
sent a man to southwestern Oregon, who located the
extension of the famous Dixie Meadows claims near
I'rairie Citv. He also has a man in Alaska. Mr.
Tibbals has three brothers: Edward, Robert W..
Charles E., and two sisters, Ida M. Anderson, Alice
G. Dusenberrv.
On November 3, 1887, at Murray, Mr. Tibbals
married Miss Mary E. Wallace, and to them one son
has been born. Harrv A., aged fourteen. Mrs. Tib-
bals has one brother, William A., and one sister,
Laura Eastman.
EUGENE S. FRIEND. By virtue of his ability
and industry, the subject of this sketch has arisen
from the position of working for others to that of being
proprietor of a fine general merchandise establish-
ment in Fraser, which he now conducts in company
with Mr. Roberts. Mr. Friend was the one who estab-
lished the business and made it a prosperous concern.
Eugene S. Friend was born in Ft. Smith, Arkan-
sas, on Tanuarv 16, 1874, being the son of Efert B.
and Lou (Decherd) Friend, natives of Tennessee.
The father died when Eugene was six years of age
and the mother died two months and ten days after
her husband's death. Our subject then went to live
with a sister, wife of Prof. Thomas B. Hicks, princi-
pal of the graded schools at Gravely Hill, Arkansas.
Eugene studied in the common schools until lie was
twelve, and then spent four years in the Gravely Hill
Academy. Succeeding that two years were occupied
in riding the range in Indian Territory, after which he
came to Dayton, Washington, where he worked on
a ranch for three years. Then Mr. Friend took up
the well boring business, and for some time did ex-
ceedingly well, but the panic of [893 came along, and
as much of his property was held in the form of notes
from the farmers, he lost heavily. The next move
was mining in the Cracker Jack property in Baker
City district for one year, and then Mr. Friend came
to his present place at Fraser and took eighty acres
of government land. He began to improve the land
and also opened a little store. As time went by he was
enabled to enlarge his stock and also built and pros-
pered continuously. Mr. Friend is a fine salesman,
manifesting the excellent qualities of finding what is
wanted and then furnishing it at the right prices. He
has a nice piece of land, part timber and part culti-
vated. In September, 1902, Mr. Friend took as part-
ner Mr. Roberts, who is mentioned elsewhere, and
they have erected a fine new structure, which is occu-
pied. Above the store is a fine hall used for the
society meetings of the place. Mr. Friend belongs
to the M. W. A., which meets here. Mr. Friend has
one brother and one sister, Herbert, residing in Texas ;
Maria, wife of S. D. Story, in Georgia.
On February 19, 1896, Mr. Friend married Miss
Emma Roberts, a native of Kentucky, and born on
February 3, 1874. Her parents are mentioned else-
where in this work. Two children have been born to
this happy union, Earl Bentley and Ralph. Mr. Friend
is a Democrat and influential in the campaigns. He
is a man of excellent standing in the community and
has hosts of friends, being possessed of the true quali-
ties of worth and integrity.
STANLEY P. FAIRWEATHER is a representa-
tive of the Coeur d'Alene country, who does honor to
his country, and in whom the people have reposed
utmost confidence, induced by an upright life, mani-
festation of integrity, sound principles, and capabili-
ties At the present time Mr. Fairweather is enjoy-
ing at the hands of the intelligent voters of the county
that honor which comes from proper recognition of
real merit and reposing of confidence. At the last
election his name appeared on the Republican ticket
for recorder and auditor of Shoshone county and
ex officio clerk of the district court, and although
he was conceded to have the hardest fight of any man
on the ticket, he won the dav by the overwhelming
majority of five hundred and ninety votes. This dem-
ounted his standing among the people and a popu-
larity which has been brought about by a career ot
uprightness and good business endeavor.
Stanley P. Fairweather was born in Norton, Kings
county, New Brunswick, on August 7, i860, the son
1 56
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
of Thomas and Adeline (BelyeaJ Fairweather, na-
tives of New Brunswick, and descended from loyal-
ists who went to Canada in 1777. The mother died
in 1868, but the father lives in Lowell, Massachusetts,
retired. Mr. Fairweather has two brothers, George
W., Franklin O., and three half brothers, Thomas
I., Lome, Arthur. Our subject was educated in
Petitcodiac, where also he learned telegraphy and at
the early age of fifteen secured a position as assistant
agent in the depot of this town. Two years later he
was installed at Campbeltown, at the end of a di-
vision, and then became relief agent and visited vari-
ous stations. At Metapediac, Quebec, he was agent
and also dealt in general merchandise. Then came a
trip to 'his native province, and he was given the im-
portant duties of paymaster and manager for M. J.
Hogan, contractor on the New Brunswick railroad.
Mr. Fairweather followed railroading in the east in
various places until 1890, when he came to Tekoa,
and in June of the same year he was stationed at
Osborne. About two years later he retired from this
line of work and sold hay and grain on commission.
In 1896 he came to Wardner and opened a hardware
and crockery store, and here he has devoted his ener-
gies in building up a good trade, which his ability
and deferential treatment of all have consummated
in a gratifying manner.
On February 3, 1898. Mr. Fairweather married
Miss Lila Johnson, one of the popular school teachers
of Wardner. Mr. Fairweather is a member of the
K. P. In his present election he was sought after
rather than seeking the office, and the result is that
the people of Wardner are proud to send to the
county seat a representative man, a patriotic citizen,
an advocate of good government, and a master of
sound business principles ; and the county is to be
congratulated to secure such a man to stand at the
head of the offices entrusted to his care. Mr. Fair-
weather has hosts of warm friends on every hand,
who are gratified at "his success, and who are well
aware that the interests of all will be carefully con-
served, by display of equity, thoroughness, and well
balanced justice.
EDWIN SMITH, who dwells in the town of
Kingston, where he has a fine plat of five acres and a
comfortable and commodious cottage, has also a
farm of one hundred and twenty acres adjoining the
town. He handles his farm and does a genral con-
tracting business in timbers and timber work. He
was born in Shirley, Maine, on April 2, 1849, tne
son of David and Margaret (Littlefield) Smith, men-
tioned elsewhere in this work. Our subject received
his education from the district schools, and he walked
three and one-half miles to attend, continuing this for
ten weeks each year. In 1884 he came with his
brother, Frank, mentioned elsewhere, from Cheboy-
gan, to the Coeur d'Alene country. Since then he
has devoted himself as stated above, and is one of
the prosperous men of the section.
On January 10. 1873, Mr. Smith married Miss
Mary, daughter of Daniel S. and Jane Wheelock, and
to this union three children were born : Clarence,
manager of the American Labor Journal, at Butte,
Montana ; Raymond, bookkeeper and stenographer ;
Fannie, wife of Arthur W. Burleigh, a merchant at
Harrison. On January 10, 1899, Mrs. Smith was
called hence by death.
On September 15, 1900, Mr. Smith married Miss
Laura L., daughter of William and Mary (Fuqua)
Canada, natives of Virginia and Kentucky, respect-
ively, and now living in Clinton, Missouri. The
father has been messenger for the bank there for
eighteen years. Mrs. Smith was born in Cooper coun-
ty, Missouri, on October 2, 1869, and she has three
brothers : George, William, John, and two sisters,
Lydia Kidd, Anna Buchanan. Mr. and Mrs. Smith
were married at Wallace. She had conducted a milli-
nery store in Missouri and in Boise for some years
previous to her marriage. Mr?. Smith was well edu-
cated in Clinton, Missouri.
MICHAEL WHITE. When the frosts of four
score years have silvered the locks of the worthy pio-
neer, and his life stretches as a vista in the dim dis-
tance of the past, when his labors and trials and suc-
cesses and achievements have become history, and the
sweet memories bring the heydey times of youth,
while calmer judgment now holds the helm, it is not
infrequent that the eye casts a longing and inquiring
look into the boundless future, and the wisdom born
from experience begins to ask, "what next?" If there
is a man in the state of Idaho who has run the entire
gamut of pioneer and frontier experience in all of
its phases of the true western type, which is largely
an experience to this country, and has outlived the
wear and tear of the hardship, the arduous labors,
the strain of great finds and then of darker days, that
man is the worthy gentleman whose name is at the
head of this paragraph. With pleasure we are given
the privilege of jotting -down the salient points in a
career both interesting and instructive.
Michael White was born in Tipperary, Ireland,
on May 28, 1818, being the son of Thomas and Man
(Hogan) White. The father came from a long lived
family, and he died in 185 1, while the mother also
departed this scene some years since. Our subject
has eight brothers and one sister, with whom he has
had no fellowship for some years, as he has lost
track of the whereabouts of their barks on the sea
of life. He was educated in his native land, and when
he was twenty-two came to the United States. He
commenced his mining career in the Galena district
of Illinois, where he wrought for five years. Then
he steamboated on the Mississippi for three years, and
in 1853 he made the weary trip across the plains to
California, landing in the Feather river district. He
delved on the middle fork and was rewarded with
plenty of "dust." which he ever spent with a generous
and free hand. At the time of the Fraser river ex-
citement in British Columbia, he started thither, but
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1157
stoplped in Portland and took life easy for three
years. On April 15, 1861, he landed in the Pierce
district, and since that time he has stayed with this
part of the country. He has mined and sold mines
most of the time since. He sold his last property
some time since, it being a one-third interest in a one-
hundred and forty acre placer. Mr. White has now a
good hay farm, where he is spending his time. This
was taken up in 1890. Mr. White is well known all
over the entire district, and there is not a man, woman
or child who would not speak kindly of him or do
him a favor, which shows his popularity. He is
spending the golden years of the days of his pilgrim-
age in quietness and in die seclusion of the celiba-
tarian, secure in the esteem and good will of all.
He has made a first class record in his work of de-
veloping and has done much for the Pierce district,
as many properties have been brought to the front
bv his labor and skill.
ABRAHAM L. SMITH is one of the well known
residents of the vicinity of Kingston, and he is now
occupied in handling his father's estate, which lies
across the river from the town. He was born in
Shirley, Maine, "on April 15, 1865, the son of David
and Margaret (Littlefield) Smith, mentioned in this
work. Abraham was raised in Cheboygan, Michigan,
whither the family removed when he was two years
old. In 1882 our subject, with three cousins and his
father, came to Lewiston, Idaho, and worked with his
brother, Walter A., who had settled there ten years
previously. Then they went to British Columbia,
where the father had a saw mill and was cutting for
the C. P. In May, 1883, Mr. Smith went to Port-
land, then returned to Lewiston and assisted his
brother in blasting on government works in the rap-
ids in the Clearwater river. In the fall of 1884 Mr.
Smith came to Kingston and has remained here most
of the time since. He has been twice in the east and
spent two years as marine reporter for the United
News Association at Mackinaw City, Michigan. One
summer was spent in British Columbia prospecting.
Mr. Smith is now operating his father's farm and is
getting good returns from the fertile place.
On October 29, 1889, at Mackinaw City. Michigan,
Mr. Smith married Miss Margaret Kelsey, daughter
of Charles M. and Mary E. (O'Reilly) Kelsey. Mrs.
Smith was born in Jackson, Michigan, and has two
brothers, Roy and Fred, and one sister, Josephine.
Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith,
Guy F., Clayton, Claire. Mr. Smith is a Republican
and takes a keen interest in the campaigns and con-
ventions.
ANNA SCHMIDT is well known in Kingston,
and is at the present time conducting the hotel with
her daughter. They are the recipients of a good pat-
ronage and have displayed excellent qualifications in
the art of caring for the traveling public. Anna
Schmidt was born in Germany on December 14. 1851,
the daughter of Christopher and Anna (Rudolph)
Boehme, natives of Germany. She came to the I nited
States with her parents when she was fifteen
addition to the excellent educational training received
in her native country she took a course in the high
schools here. Following that she taught for tome time
and also became very proficient in music. She was
married in Dubuque, Iowa, in 1869, but later she be-
came separated from her husband, and in 1892 came
to Utah, with three of her children. She did nursing
there and then moved to Montana and later arrived
in Kingston. Off and on she has been in this town
for nine years, and the times when away from here
was in Montana. Airs. Schmidt has purchased her
home here and is now handling a good trade in the
hotel, which is conducted by herself and daughter,
Sophia. This daughter received a good education and
spent some time in teaching in Colorado, where she
was married to Joseph A. Cramlet, on March 25,
1894. Mr. Cramlet has property interests in Wilbur,
Washington, which demand his attention there. Two
children were born to this marriage, Clyde and Theo-
dore. Mrs. Schmidt has three children besides Mrs.
Cramlet, Theodore, Benjamin and Mrs. Wilkinson.
Theodore and Benjamin have property in and about
Kingston and are highly respected young men of good
standing.
CHARLES O. BRAHAM is a young man well
known in Kellogg and the Coeur d'Alene district,
whose standing is first class and who has manifested
good ability and industry here. He is at present en-
gaged in the Bunker Hill mill and has been For con-
siderable time.
Charles O. Braham was born in Iowa, Howard
county, on July 5, 1876. the son of Nels and Gine
(Oleson) Braham. The father was born in Norway,
and now lives in Aurora, South Dakota, engaged in
the stock business and handling farm implements. The
mother was born in Norway and still lives in South
Dakota. Our subject remained in Iowa until six and
then the family went to South Dakota. IK- graduated
from the high school in Sioux Falls, then taught school
for two years. Next we see him in the mercantile
business in Minnesota, and one year later
out and engaged as traveling salesman for the Kim-
ball Piano & Organ Company. Five years w
in this labor, and in 1897 he came to Idaho. Settle-
ment was made in Wardner and then after a year or
so in the aTocerv business there. .Mr. Braham .-old
..ut. and after the strike he entered the Bunker Hill
mill, where we find, him engaged at this time. ( >ne
vear since then was spent in Nevada and California,
where he visited and alsi .-nan-hip of the
mill at DeLamar for four months. Mr. Braham has
five brothers and two sisters: Henry, Nels, George,
Benjamin. Toseph. Bertha. Anna.
At Spokane, on Januan 22, [903, Mr. Braham
married Miss Estella, daughter of Peter M. and Em-
malihe Tohnson, native- of Sweden and Wisconsin,
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
respectively. They now reside at Kellogg. Mr. Bra-
ham owns property in Kellogg, and is one of the sub-
stantial men and progressive citizens. He is a stanch
and true blue Republican, but has never sought pre-
ferment from his party.
EDWARD R. MATTHEW. This energetic and
skillful mining man whose labors have extended over
the entire northwest and who has been instrumental
in locating some of the finest claims in these various
sections, is now a citizen of the Pierce district, and it
is with pleasure that we incorporate a review of the
salient points in his career, especially since he has
been very active and instrumental in building up and
developing this district.
Edward R. Matthew was born in Plymouth. Eng-
land, on August 9, 1863. His parents were natives of
Devonshire, England. The father died in 1882, aged
forty-eight, and the mother died in 1889, aged fifty-
eight. Our subject came to the United States about
1886 and followed blacksmithing and steamfitting,
which trade he had learned thoroughly in the old
country. He also has served as artificer in the British
navy for two years. From Boston, the place of land-
ing, he came direct to Tacoma. and for three years
or so he wrought at his trade. Then he prospected in
the Cascades and soon had the noted Little Fill lo-
cated, whose stock sold at three dollars per share later.
He located claims all through the 'prominent Washing-
ton mining districts, and among these were many valu-
able ones. One a large ledge of antimonal silver, or
dyscrasite, which was very valuable. About this time
it was the winter of 1892-93, Mr. Matthew met with
a serious accident that caused the loss of a portion of
his right hand, it being shot away by the accidental
discharge of a shot gun. The following spring he
came to Pierce and bought an interest in a placer
claim, which he worked for three years. During
the excitement of the opening of the Colville reserva-
tion he went thither and located thirty-one claims,
several among them being valuable. Then he returned
to Pierce again and in the fall of 1900 he located the
Stars and Stripes and the Union Jack, quartz claims,
which he sold to Montana parties. The following May,
in company with W. S. Wilkinson, he discovered the
Wild Rose, a valuable claim. He was grub staked by
M. A. Ellis, and he held one-fourth of the claim,
which he sold later to John S. Dunn for six thousand
dollars. During the present season Mr. Matthew and
his partner, R. J. Kelly, located the Red Cloud group.
This group contains a ledge from fourteen to twenty-
eight feet in width of porphyraceous quartz, which is
free, milling and runs from four to six dollars per ton.
They have run a thousand feet of open cut work, and
have bonded the claim to Spokane parties for fifteen
thousand dollars.
Mr. Matthew has one brother, Richard, a promi-
nent mining engineer at Johannesburg, Africa. He
also had one brother, Thomas, who was a well known
mining man at Johannesburg, but he died in 1899, aged
forty-three. Mr. Matthew also has one" sister, Eliza,
widow of R. J. Richards, formerly foreman on the
dock at Plymouth. Mr. Matthew is in single blessed-
ness and is also a reliable and well informed Demo-
crat. Mr. Matthew has the esteem and respect of
all and has shown himself a man of worth and in-
tegrity.
WILLIAM P. WILKINSON is one of the young
men of Kingston, whose labors have met with good
success and who has so conducted himself that he is
held in high esteem by all. He was born in Lancashire.
England, on October 21, 1870, the son of George and
Mary (Postlethwaite) Wilkinson, natives of the same
place and their deaths occurred in 1892 and 1903, re-
spectively. Our subject was reared in his native land
and received his education in a private school. In 1889,
in company with a brother, he came to the United
States, and after a short stay in New York he went to
Providence, Rhode Island, and wrought in the
shoe business. Later a few weeks were spent
in Nebraska, Texas, Colorado, and settlement
was made in Butte, Montana, where he wrought
for five years as fireman and four years as
engineer on the Great Northern. In 1900
he came to Kingston and settled on school land and
since then has devoted himself to developing and im-
proving his farm and to handling timbers. His brother
is running a foundry in Salt Lake City, at present.
On September 22. 1895, in Helena, Montana. Mr.
Wilkinson married Miss Emma S., daughter of Theo-
dore L. and Anna (Boehme) Schmidt, natives of
Germany. Mrs. Wilkinson was born in Dubuque,
Iowa, on February 24, 1872, and has two brothers and
one sister: Theodore, Benjamin, Sophia, who reside
with their mother in Kingston. She crossed the coun-
try from Iowa to Colorado during the mining excite-
ment in Colorado, with her parents in prairie schooners
and settled in Lake City, where she graduated from the
high school in 1889, after which she taught school in
various parts of Colorado and Montana. Mr. Wilkin-
son is a member of the M. W. A. Our subject and
his good wife are well respected and have many friends
in all sections where they are known.
ELBERT C. ROBY is associated with the French
Creek Mining and Development Company, nine- miles
east from Pierce, and they own one of the promising
properties of this section. Mr. Roby also owns a
quarter section of fine land on the reservation and is
interested further in mining properties in different
parts of the Pierce district.
Elbert C. Roby was born in Landsgrove, Yermont,
on December 10, 1856, being the son of Daniel W.
and Jane (Lampson) Poby, natives of Yermont and
Hartford county, Connecticut, respectively. The father
was a mercnant in Yermont and his father, Moody
Roby, served in the war of 18 12. The father and
mother live in Gilroy, California. Elbert was raised
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
5 •J
in Vermont and New Hampshire, and there educated,
and when he was eighteen he came to Illinois, where
he wrought on a farm for two years, after which he
went to Yamhill county, Oregon. Puget Sound was
the place where we see him next and in i<s6o he came
to Idaho and took up mining. His placer property
consists of one hundred and sixty acres. His farm
lies six miles from Orofino and is rented. He has no
brothers or sisters living. Mr. Roby is affiliated with
the A. F. & A. M., Kendrick Lodge No. 26, and also
with the I. O. O. F., in the same place. Mr. Roby
is a stanch Republican and intelligent in the principles
of his party.
On January 23, 1883, Mr. Roby married Miss
Fmily, daughter of Henry L. and Susan (Campbell)
Patterson, natives of Maine, and also their ancestors
were natives of the same state for many generations.
They now live on Cedar creek, Latah county. The
wedding occurred in Nez Perces county. Mrs. Roby
was born in Maine and has the following brothers
and sisters : James and Edward, in Nez Perces coun-
ty ; Bert F. and Harry, in Boise ; Carrie, wife of Ed-
win Robinson ; Mabel, wife of Elmer Jackson ; Lillian,
wife of Roy Whitinger. Seven children have been born
to Mr. and Mrs. Roby. Pearl, Maud, and Dean be-
ing the only ones living.
Mr. Roby lost heavily in the panic of 1893-4, and
during that time he was also farming extensively in
Nez Perces county.
CHARLES A. LApAVRE is the engineer in the
rockhouse of the Bunker Hill mill in Kellogg. He is
a man of good qualities and a substantial and patri-
otic citizen, always allied with the enterprises that are
for general good and improvement.
Charles A. Lafavre was born in Shelbyville, Indi-
ana, on November 8, 1866, the son of Elias and Ellen
(Adams) Lafavre, natives of Indiana and Illinois,
respectively. The father was a farmer, descended
from the French Hugenots and died in 1892, aged
forty-nine. His father and grandfather were born in
Maryland. The mother of our subject comes from the
noted Adams family of New England, and one of the
most prominent families in the American cause in days
of the formation of this great republic. She died on
December 27, 1875, aged thirty-two, the demise occur-
ring" in Illinois. Our subject was reared in Indiana,
graduated from the schools of his native town and when
seventeen went with his father to Wisconsin, where he
labored on a farm. Later he came with his father,
stepmother and the balance of the family to Montana.
and when they went to Spokane he went to Rathdrum,
where he worked in sawmills for some time. In 1897
he came to Kellogg and since then he has been en-
gaged in various capacities in the mines and mills. Mr.
Lafavre has two brothers and one half sister: Rich-
ard E., Frank B., Mamie.
At Coeur d'Alene, on June 6. 1893. Mr. Lafavre
married Miss Sadie E„ daughter of John and Fanny
Shafer. The father is engaged in farming near Rath-
drum and the mother is deceased. Mr. Lafavre is a
member of the Panhandle Lodge of the K. of P. in
Rathdrum. He is a Republican in political persuasion
and takes an interest in the questions of the day. Mr.
Lafavre owns three dwellings in Kellogg and rents
two. He is one of the industrious and substantial men
of the town and stands well.
' WINFIELD S. WILKINSON, a prominent
mining man near Pierce, and half owner of the Wild-
rose, one of the best, if not the best paying mine in
the Pierce district, was born in Meadville, Pennsyl-
vania, on January 10, 1864, being the son of William
H. and Lucinda (Carmichael) Wilkinson, natives of
Scotland, where also they were married. They came
to the United States in the early sixties. The father
mined in Helena and all over the west until 1885, and
then went to Queensland. Australia, where he is en-
gaged in Placer mining. The mother died on Novem-
ber 4, 1897, at Titusville. Pennsylvania. Hei
were ship builders. Winfield was reared in Meadville
and educated there until thirteen, and then he came to
Fort Benton and commenced his mining career, which
has extended to every camp of prominence between
Mexico and Brittsh Columbia. In May. 1901, he came
to the Pierce district and discovered the Wildrose on
the twenty-fifth. It has a true fissure vein and there
is a streak of six inches to two feet that is extremely
rich. The output up to January 1. 1903. was 825,000.
Mathew, a partner, was grub staked by M. A. Ellis
and so held one fourth of the property. He sold that
for six thousand dollars. John L. Dunn buying. They
have a three stamp mill and are doing well. They
have a shaft one hundred and seven feet deep and two
drifts of one hundred feet each and now are driving
a draining tunnel. Mr. Wilkinson is a stanch Re-
publican and has been deputy sheriff both in Deer
Lodge county, Montana, and in Shoshone county.
On February 8, 1896, Mr. Wilkinson married Miss
Lillian, daughter of Alexander and Emma I Bird |
Mcintosh, natives of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Penn-
sylvania, respectively. The father was of Scotch ex-
traction and came to San Francisco in 185 J and
straightway went to Plumas county mining districts.
where he remained until his death on December 8, 1804.
He was a prominent man and held many public of-
fices at the hands of an appreciative people, being
elected county supervisor the last time just before his
death. He was a member of the \. F. & A. M„ and
master several times of the lodge. The modier of
Mrs. Wilkinson was taken to Fori Wayne with her
parents when she was eight, and her brother was a
drummer boy in the Civil war. Her granduncle,
Tames Bird, was the hero of the famous ballad sung
by everv school boy. Bird had fought with great valor
oil the frontier and supposing the war all over he was
going home and was arrested for desertion. It was
fully established that he was innocent of that crime,
but a iea who feared displacement be-
cause of the promotion of Bird, which was sure to
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
follow, pushed the matter hurridly to an issue and
shot Bird while the bearers of the reprieve were in
sight. Mrs. Wilkinson has the following brothers
and sisters: William, Edward, Melville, Douglas,
John, all in California; Hattie Wilsey, Mary Dorser,
Rosa. Emma, Kate Brown. Mr. and Mrs. Wilkinson
have two children: Annie R. and Emma W.
PHILIP BAUMAN, who is one of .the substantiaf
agriculturists near Kingston, was born in Germany,
September 29, 1851, the son of Christoph and Chris-
tina Bauman, natives of Germany. The father died
when Philip was small. The mother came to the
United States in 1870, and died in Illinois on February
18, 1900, aged eighty-one. Our subject came t > the
United States in 1866, and followed the confectionery
business in St. Louis until 1873, then went to San
Francisco; two years later we find him in Virginia
City, as pastry cook in the International Hotel ; later
he started a restaurant there and afterward went to
Montana, where he did busines for some time. In
1887 Mr. Bauman came to Wardner and opened a
bakery and restaurant, and one year later sold out and
came to Kingston ; soon thereafter he bought a squat-
ter's right on his present place, and he has a fine farm
well improved and productive of good dividends annu-
ally. Mr. Bauman has one brother, Jacob, and the
three sisters, Helen Pagan, Margaret Betz, and Chris-
tina Smith.
On May 0, 1878, at Virginia City, Nevada, Mr.
Bauman married Miss Bertha, daughter of Henry and
Katherina Nickel, natives of Germany, where the
father died when Mrs. Bauman was a child. The
mother came to the Lmited States in 1874, and died
in New York City on January 11, 1875. Mrs. Bau-
man was born in Germany on January 15, 1856, and
came to the United States in 1873. She has five
brothers : Carl, Adolph, Robert, Hermann, Gustave,
and one sister, Pauline Fortried. Fifteen children have
been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bauman, of whom the fol-
lowing are living: Ella Brown. Bertha, Otto. Philip,
Pauline, Robert, Frederick, Thelma, Helen. Mr.
Bauman is independent in politics and a man of good
stanch policy. He and his estimable wife are very
highly respected people and have the confidence and
good will of all.
GEORGE F. BITNER is a heavy property owner
in Wardner and other portions of the Coeur d'Alene
country, while at the present time he is conducting a
wholesale business in Kellogg, handling the goods of
ihe Sunset brewery of Wallace, and being local agent
for Gall & Burke of Spokane.
George F. Bitner was born in Pensylvania on
March 17, 1857, the son of Henry and Nancy (Glass)
Bitner, natives of Pennsylvania and of German ex-
traction. The father served in the Civil war with a
Pennsylvania regiment for nine months. At the second
battle of Antietam we was wounded by a shell. He
fought in many engagements and skirmishes. He was
a prominent business man and for years conducted a
large nursery. He died in Pennsylvania in 1894, aged
sixty-eight. The mother of our subject died in 1882,
aged fifty-six. Her mother lived to be ninety-eight
years of age. Our subject was educated and remained
in his native state until 1877, then came to Ohio and
engaged in various businesses until 1880, in which year
he came west to Colorado. He worked for the Denver
& Rio Grande, on the first line into Leadville and in
1881 opened a saloon in Antonito. This he sold in 1883
and came to Montana in the same business. In 1884
Mr. Bitner came to Murray ana prospected and mined
until the fall of 1889, when he opened a saloon in
Wardner, which he conducted until 1900, when he sold
the business and opened in his present line. Mr. Bitner
took a trip east between selling and opening in this line
and now is devoting his attention to handling the goods
of these breweries, with mineral waters and so forth.
Mr. Bitner owns three business buildings and six dwell-
ings in Wardner, owns business and residence prop-
erty in Kellogg and other property. He has one brother
and one sister: William H, a retired capitalist; Mrs.
Lizzie Collaton.
On October 16, 1901. Mr. Bitner married Miss
Lizzie Krebs, of Wardner. She has three brothers.
Two children, Ella M. and William H, have been
born to this union. Mr. Bitner is a member of the K.
of P. and Eagles, and in political alliance is with the
Republicans.
LOUIE W. STEDMAN. who is well known in min-
ing circles in the Coeur d'Alene country, is descended
from some leading families and is a man of excellent
native ability and is always dominated by skill and 'a
keen sense of honor. He was born in Dixon, Illinois,
on August 27, 1861, the son of Asa W. and Nellie
(Wood) Stedman. The father was born in New York
and was one of the best known traveling salesmen in
Chicago for forty years. His father was a well-to-do
farmer near Owego, Tioga county, New York, and
came from the old Stedman family. His mother was a
Wolverton and came from England, her father being a
son of Lord Wolverton of England. The mother of
our subject lives in Los Angeles, California. Her fa-
ther came from Fayetteville, New York, to old Fort
Dearborn with ox teams in 1830 and located at Oregon,
Illinois, one hundred miles west from where Chicago
is now. He was a prominent politician and stumped
the state with Lincoln, driving by team. He was
president of the Old Settlers' Association at the time
of his death. His father was a prominent man in the
Revolution and the surrender of Burgoyne was on his
farm. The mother of our subject is a leading member
of the Daughters of the Revolution. Her mother,
Sophie Bennett is a first cousin of ex-Governor David
B. Hill, of New York, and is descended from Joel
Barlow, the poet friend of George Washington and our
first minister to France. Mrs. Stedman, the mother
of Louie, possesses the will of this gentleman. She
LOUIE W. STEDMAN.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
was delegate to the last convention of the Daughters
of the Revolution and is a prominent member of the
Colonial Dames.
Our subject was reared and educated in Chicago
until ten, then went to live with his paternal grand-
parents in Owego and later attended the Cornell
Military College in Mt. Vernon, Iowa. In 1878, Mr.
Stedman went to Leadville for his health and mined.
Three years later he went east and for six years was
with the American Rubber Company. After this he
took charge of their store in St. Paul for four years.
Subsequent to this he came west and prospected all
over the British Columbia country and adjacent dis-
tricts. In September, 1898, Mr. Stedman came to
Murray and later organized the Paragon Mining Com-
pany of which he is manager at the present time.
Their property is in the Summit mining district six
miles east from Murray and in addition to this Mr.
Stedman has much other property. Mr. Stedman has
one brother, Homer A.
On February 20, 1897, at Hudson, Wisconsin, Mr.
Stedman married Miss Ida, daughter of August Wille,
who died when she was young. The mother is still
living in St. Paul. Mrs. Stedman was born in St.
Paul on March 29, J 878. She has one brother, Ed-
ward, and two sisters, Ella, Carrie. She also has one
half-brother, Herbert Schmidt. Mrs. Stedman is an
accomplished musician and artist and is a leading and
cultured lady in this section where she has hosts of warm
friends. Mr. Steadman is a member of the Elks, the
K. of P. and the A. O. U. W. He is also a member
of the Republican state central comittee. It is of
note that Enoch Wood, the maternal grandfather of
our subject, brought John Farwell and C. P>. Farvvell,
ex-United States Senator, to Chicago on a load of
wheat.
Mr. Stedman is at the present time managing one
of the best properties of the district, the Paragon, and
is deeply interested in the development and advance-
ment of the surrounding country and is an enterpris-
ing man in this line.
WILLIAM B. WADSWORTH, a successful and
leading business man of Kellogg, and junior member
of the firm of Gilbert & Wadsworth, general merch-
ants of that town, is a young man of fine capabilities,
marked integrity and worth and comes from one of the
most prominent American families. He was born in
Marshall, Missouri, on August 15, 1874, the son of
Burton and Abigail (Crockett) Wadsworth. The
father was born in Maine and came from a very promi-
nent New England family, the progenitors, William
and Christopher Wadsworth, coming to the wild
shores of New England in the good ship Lion, in
1624. They were of the stanch old Puritan stock
and their descendants were prominent in the various
wars, especially so in the Revolution and the war of
1812. The father died in Missouri in 1882, aged forty-
nine. The grandmother of our subject on his father's
side was a" lineal descendant of William Bradford,
second governor of the old Plymouth colony. The
Wadsworth family are leading people in New Eng-
land and in numerous cases have shown themselves
great public benefactors. The mother of our subject,
a native of Maine, now living in Missouri, is also a
descendant of a prominent New England family, Will-
iam B. was raised in Missouri until 1897, having
graduated from the high school in his native place and
also served as salesman in the Bullen department store
in Kansas City. In 1897 Mr. Wadsworth came to
Kellogg and for two years was principal of the town
schools. Then he entered partnership with Henry T.
Gilbert, husband of his sister, and they are now oper-
ating a thriving establishment. .Mr. Gilbert and his
wife and her sister are mentioned elsewhere in this
work.
On June 26, 1902, Mr. Wadsworth married Miss
Edna V., daughter of Wallace and Lenore Anderson,
of Wallace, the wedding occurring there also. They
have one child, Morris B., born March 28, 1903. Mr.
Wadsworth and his wife are members of the Congre-
gational church in Kellogg. He is a Republican and
well informed.
SAMSON SNYDER, Jr. A business man of
ability and keen discrimination that have led him to
succeed well in all his undertakings, and now at the
head and owner of a thriving general merchandise
establishment in Pierce, a public minded and patriotic
citizen, and always ready to aid any enterprise that is
for the welfare of the town or district, and a pro-
gressive and stirring man of sound principles, we with
pleasure accord an epitome of his career space in the
history of his county.
Samson Snyder, Jr., was born in Randolph county,
West Virginia, on August 9, 1868, being the son of
Samson and Elizabeth (Boner) Snyder, natives of
West Virginia. The father was born on August 19,
1835, and now lives retired in Harmon. West Virginia.
He served three and one-half years in the Civil war
and the details of some of his life are intensely interest-
ing. He enlisted in the Home Guards and was elected
captain of his company, having been chief spirit in
organizing it. They enlisted in a body and were joined
to the Thirty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He
had many narrow escapes and was wounded several
times. Once his leg was broken. He was in the bat-
tles of Rich Mountain and Carricks Ford, and in very
many skirmishes. His company was lai
skirmish duty and was under McClellan. He was a
scout for the general on numerous occasions. His
father, the grandfather of our subject, was in sympathy
with the Confederates in the commencement of the war,
but later changed his mind and enlisted in the Union
forces, in his' son's company. He was detailed on
scout duty most of the time and the Confederates had
a heavy reward placed on his head. He was captured
many 'times, but always succeeded in escaping. He
was'a man of intense spirit and rendered valuable
I service to his country. Captain Snyder was captured
I once and was tortured b> being forced to remove his
1 162
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
boots and walk over frozen ground. Captain Hutton, a
Rebel officer, was holding his arm in this barbarous
proceeding, and as they came to the edge of a stream,
Captain Snyder shoved the unwary Rebel down the
bank and took to the woods. More than a hundred shots
were fired at him, but he escaped them all and got
away. But he was in a rebel settlement and had to
go thirty miles barefoot over two mountain ranges to
get to the Union lines. It is of note that Hutton, the
rebel who was tumbled down the bank, is now living
in the same county with Captain Snyder and it speaks
volumes for the honor and noble manhood of the latter
that he is friendly to his former persecuter. The
mother of our subject was married in West Virginia
and came from Scotch ancestry. She is now living,
aged sixty-three. Our subject was raised in his native
place and educated in the district school and later in
the West Virginia University, and was appointed ca-
det by Hon. T. C. Green, regent of the University.
He returned to his parents before graduation and in
1891 came to southern Idaho, spending six months at
]\ampa. Then he came to Moscow and thence to
Fraser, where he homesteaded a quarter section. He
farmed and raised stock until 1901, then opened a hotel
in Pierce and in the fall of the same year started a
miners' supply store, which has become one of the
leading general merchandise establisments ot the town.
Mr. Snyder has seven brothers and four sisters. He
was married on November 2, 1892, at Fraser, Eliza-
beth C, daughter of John W. and Adell (Tupper)
Clark, natives of Michigan, becoming his bride on that
occasion. Mr. Clark and his family now reside at
Weippe. Three children have been born to this union :
Vergie, Erma P.. and Oro Lolo. In addition to his
business, Mr. Snyder has four hundred and eighty
acres of land, of which one hundred acres are hay and
orchard and the balance in fine yellow pine timber. Mr.
Snyder is an active Republican.
THEODORE BROWN has spent a life of con-
stant and stirring activity in various portions of the
west, and the salient points of his career will be inter-
esting to the readers of this history. He was born -in
California, April 1, 1863, the son of Peter A. and
Emma Brown,, natives of Sweden and Germany, re-
spectively, and now living in California. The father
was a sea captain and our subject was contented with
the land only until he was seven years of age, when
he slipped away and became cabin boy on the Blue
Jacket. He sailed the seas until 1876, being in all
portions of the globe ; while on board the Blue Jacket
young Brown learned to read and write and although
he never attended school one day in his life, he suc-
ceeded in securing a very fine education and is a
very well informed man. From 1876 until 1880 he
rode the range for Carr and Tevis : next we see him at
the Placer fields at l!aker City, Oregon, where he lo-
cated a claim from which his partner afterward became
very wealthy. On December 23, 1883, Mr. Brown
landed at Eagle City, and prospected until 1886; he re-
mained there and in the vicinity of Murray doing
mining and prospecting, and on one claim he and his
partners took out twenty-five to fifty dollars per day
for each man ; this continued for a year ; then he
worked in the Golden Chest and afterward came to
what is now Wardner. While working in the Idaho
he grubstaked Ben Thompkins, who located eleven fine
claims in the Libby creek district, in Montana. Mr.
Brown went thither, but as the Indians killed Mr.
Thompkins he was unable to secure the claim. Later
Mr. Brown located some fine properties in Spring
Gulch, also on Flat creek. In Spring Gulch he had a
fraction between the O. R. and N. and the Keystone.
He spent seven thousand dollars in developing this
property, but in the crisis of 1893 lost it all. Then
came a trip to California overland with a photographic
outfit. In 1894 he was again in Wardner, working in
various mines. He has been foreman or shift boss in
the Bunker Hill, Tiger, and Poorman and other prop-
erties of the mines. Mr. Brown is interested in the
Shoup, the Idaho, the High Up, the Teddy and the
Brown Fraction, on Pine creek, while he has a half
interest in nine claims in southwestern Oregon, from
which they have received assays from one to nine
thousand dollars. . Mr. Brown has two brothers : ( t-car,
Harmon, and one sister, Lilly.
On June 22, 1898, Mr. Brown married Miss Ella L.,
daughter of Phillip and Bertha Bowman, natives of
Germany, now living near Kingston. Mrs. Brown
was born in Virginia City, Nevada, on November 14,
1878. They have three children : Theodore. Eleanor
and J. Olive. Mr. Brown is a member of the K. of P.
at Wardner, and a strong Republican.
JOSEPH G. ECCLES. "A competent and ener-
getic man, who knows how and does tl>e intricate work
of his responsibile position in a skillful and quiet man-
ner and who has gained, because of his real worth, the
approbation and esteem of all, it is fitting that he be
accorded space in the history of Shoshone county.
Joseph G. Eccles was born in Lancashire. England,
on February 16, 1862, being the son of William and
Emily (Massey) Eccles. He came to the United States
in 1879, to join his father in Lawrence, Massachusetts,
who had come to this countrv before our subject was
born. Joseph was in Massachusetts for six months
and then came to Chicago, and thence to Colorado,
and from that time to the present he has followed min-
ing. He has operated in Arizona, California, eastern
Oregon and other places, and in 1894 came to the
Pierce district." He soon located a quartz claim on
French creek and has made a one hundred and seventy-
five foot cross cut besides running one hundred feet
on the ledge. In the spring of 1895 he accepted the
position of foreman of the Crescent Consolidated Min-
ing Company, whose property is three miles east from
Pierce. They have a five stamp mill and a shaft three
hundred and seventy-five feet deep besides a thousand
feet of tunneling on each of two levels. Mr. Eccles
was also superintendent of the Red Rover mine- at
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1 163
Ravenna, California, for five years. He was foreman
of the Monumental fourteen months in the Granite
district near Sumpter, Oregon.
Mr. Eccles is still enjoying the quietness of the
celibatarian's life. He has one brother, John, residing
in England. Mr. Eccles is a member of the A. F. &
A. M., in Los Angeles, California. Politically he is
allied with the Republicans and is intelligent in the
questions of the day.
LEROY TUCKER. In the person of the sub-
ject of this article we have before us one of the stirring
and capable young business men of Kingston. His
achievements have manifested his ability in the busi-
ness world, and his clean and upright walk, his in-
tegrity and sound principles.
Leroy Tucker was born in Blair, Nebraska, on June
8, 1874, the son of Erastus F. and Susan (Denny)
Tucker. The father crossed the plains to California
and in 1876 went to Oregon, settling near Prairie City.
The John Day Valley was the scene of young Tucker's
childhood days and after the district school was com-
pleted he received a good course at the University at
Salem. On account of ill health, however, he was un-
able to remain until graduation ; from there he came to
Kingston and soon filed on a homestead two and a half
miles from town, which he has improved in a wonder-
ful manner ; in addition to this he is in partnership with
his brother-in-law, Robert W. Hunt, and together they
do a large business in handling mining timber. Mr.
Tucker is a member of the M. \Y. A. and in political
matters he reserves for his own decision all the ques-
tions of the day ; consequentlv ho is independent.
EDWARD G. STONEBREAKER is well known
in Kellogg, where he is operating a cigar store and
billiard hall, having recently purchased the same from
Price Brothers. Mr. Stonebreaker is also one of the
blacksmiths at the Bunker Hill mill at Kellogg and
while his days are given to his work he spends the
evenings in attending to his business, which is operated
in the day by his clerk. Soon Mr. Stonebreaker in-
tends to resign the industrial labor and devote his en-
tire attention to his store.
Edward G. Stonebreaker was born in Iowa, on No-
vember 30. 1859, the son of Sebastian and Mary J.
( Snyder) Stonebreaker. The father was born in Indi-
ana and died in Kansas in 1897, aged fifty-three. He
was a farmer and came from German ancestry. The
mother of our subject was born in Kentucky of German
extraction and died in 1883, aged forty-five. Our sub-
ject was raised in Kansas, educated there and there
learned the blacksmith trade. When twenty he stepped
forth from the paternal roof and worked in various
parts of the state until 1891, when he came to Seattle
and opened a general shop, which he conducted with
success for three and one-half years. Then he came
to Farmington, Washington, where he operated a
shop for six years. In [900 Air. Stonebreaker came to
Kellogg and took his present position in the mill. I in
January 1. 1903, he purchased his cigar store and is
doing a good business. Mr. Stonebreakei ha
brothers and two sisters: Squire F., Elsie I
Minnear, Hattie Corren.
At Washington, Kansas, Mr. Stonebreaker married
Miss Artie M., daughter of Jacob and Nancy Starcher.
She has two brothers and one sister: Lafayette, facob,
Anna Grow. They have one adopted child, Oxcil
Westbery; now twenty-four years old. Mr. Stone-
breaker is a member of the [."( >. ( ). I'.. of tin- W. W.
and of the Industrial Union. Me is a stanch Republi-
can and takes the part of the intelligent citizen in po-
litical matters and is a good substantial man.
FRED ROOS, Jr., is a westener by birth as well
as in his sterling pioneer qualities. I le was born in
Latah county, near Palouse, on Februar) 4. [876, bi
ing the son of Ferdinand and Katherine 1 Young)
Koos, natives of Germany and now residing in Lewis-
ton. The father resided in England for many wars
and then came to the United States when fifteen, and
was alone on the trip. He was in California
days and in Idaho as early as 1X70. He is a noted
violinist and has a first-class reputation as a musician.
Our subject was raised on a farm near Palouse and
later went to Lewiston, the family moving then-. He
labored with his father for years, studied in the graded
school at Lewiston and in Yashon college and in April.
iqoi, he came to Pierce. He soon bought an interest
with Mr. Gisel and they now do a saloon business
under the name of Gisel t\ Roos. Mr. Rqos i- a mem-
ber of the I. O. ( ). I-"., the Rebekahs, and M:
Mr. Roos married Miss Martha P.. daughter of
Christopher and Nora Held, and a native of Clinton,
Iowa, on April 10, 1901.
ROBERT W. HUNT is one of the leading young
men of Kingston; his property holdings indicate a
wisdom, thrift and enterprise that have always charac-
terized him and which have brought their sure and
gratifying results. He was born in Colfax county.
Nebraska, on February 6, r88o, th< son of Thomas YV.
and Jeanete B. ( Buchanan) Hunt, mentioned in this
volume elsewhere. Robert W. was educated in his
native place and in Hyde county, South Dakota: he
came to Kingston with the balance of the family and
in due time" began operations for himself, his first
venture was to lease a quarter section from John
Whitehead, which land he is still cultivating and in-
tends soon to purchase. He has reaped good returns
for his labor on this land and in addition to handling
that, he has taken a quarter eminent
land near by. which he is improving. Mr. Hun: is
also contracting mining timber and doe- a lai
ness in this line.
On August 4. I'lOT, at his father's home in Kings-
.64
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ton, Robert W. Hunt married Miss Mary E., daughter
of Erastus F. and Susan (Denny) Tucker, natives of
Indiana, and now residing in Salem. Mrs. Hunt was
born in eastern Oregon on January 27, 1883; her
parents had come to Prairie City across the plains in
early days and she spent her childhood days at her
native place and at Salem, Oregon, where she received
a fine education. She has four brothers and three sis-
ters: Leroy, Frederick, Edwin, Harry, Rodence Law-
rence, Hetty, Annie Perry, who died in 1894, aged
twenty-two. Mr. Hunt is a member of the M. W. A.
He and his wife are popular members of society and
of excellent standing in the community.
FRANK S. SMITH, who has a comfortable and
cosy home on the Main street of Kingston, is one of the
bright and energetic young men who have wrought
well since coming to this country; he gives his. atten-
tion entirely to river work, doing both boating and
driving logs. Frank S. Smith was born in Sheboygan,
Michigan, on July 20, 1876, the son of Frank and
Elizabeth (Page)' Smith, mentioned elsewhere in this
volume; he came to Kingston with the balance of the
family in 1885, and has since remained here.
On September 28, 1899, at Kingston, Mr. Smith
married Miss Nora M., daughter of Thomas and
Jeanette B. (Buchanan) Hunt, also mentioned in this
work. Mrs. Smith was born in Nebraska on January
28, 1879 ; two children have been born to this union,
Lester E., aged three, Lloyd Clinton, born May 16,
1903. Mr. Smith is a member of the M. \\ . A. and is
one of the popular young men of this section ; he has
manifested industry and close attention to business,
which have given him the esteem of the community and
a goodly holding of property.
JOHN M. ELLIOTT. This genial and affable
gentleman, who is now deputy sheriff of the Wardner
district, has for a long time been in business in Ward-
ner and is one of the prominent and substantial men
there, while in political matters, although he has never
sought preferment, still he has been placed in various
offices of responsibility by the call of the people, always
running ahead of his ticket.
John M. Elliott was born in Franklin county, Illi-
nois, on April 24, 1870, the son of John ami Matilda
E. (Baldwin) Elliott, natives respectively of Gibson
county and Vincennes, Indiana. The father died in
1881, aged fifty-four and the mother passed away in
1899, both at Dayton, Washington. Mr. Elliott served
four years, five months and ten days in Company E,
Twenty-fourth Indiana Infantry. He was wounded
twice in the battle of Shiloh and languished seven
weeks in the hospital. Later he suffered the horrors
of death in Libby prison for four months and only
his exchange saved his life. He was in the battle of
Gettysburg as also in many other prominent engage-
ments, in fact he was in active service all the time of
his enlistment, except the time of hospital and prison
incarceration. His company, E, was the first one of
Indiana to respond to the call at the commencement
of the war. He finally died from disaDility received
in the war. Our subject was reared in Dayton, whither
his parents had come when he was nine. He graduated
from the high school there when twenty and went to
Seattle and engaged in the restaurant business. Two
years later he was following the same in Yakima and
in 1894 he sold and went to Lewiston. Later we see
him in Pullman in charge of the Union hotel and on
September 12, 1895, Mr. Elliott came to Wardner and
for eleven months he was steward of Page's hotel.
Then Mr. Elliott opened a restaurant and lodging house
and for years this was one of the popular places of
Wardner, under his charge. In May, 1901, he sold
this business to his wife's sister, retaining ownership
of the building and the same is conducted with a good
patronage today. In 1901, Mr. Elliott was nominated
on the Democratic ticket for county commissioner
without the asking and he ran far ahead of his ticket,
and served his time as chairman of the board. At the
last election he did not allow his name to be presented
but was appointed deputy sheriff for this district. He
is a popular and efficient officer and has the confidence
of the people. Mr. Elliott has three brothers : Perry O.,
Arthur and Luther S.
On February 8, 1893, Mr. Elliott married Miss
Julia E. Anson at Moscow. She is a native of Norway
and she has one sister, Mrs. Martha Johnson. Two
children have been born to this union : Mildred and
John M., Jr. Mr. Elliott is a member of the K. of P.,
being past C. C. and delegate to the grand lodge last
year. He is also a member of the A. O. U. W. and
was delegate to the last grand lodge; of the W. W.,
of the Red Men, of the Eagles, of the United Moderns
and is grand organizer for this jurisdiction. Mr.
Elliott is also an active member of the volunteer fire
department. Mrs. Elliott is a member of the United
Moderns, of the Daughters of Pocahontas, of the
auxiliary of the Maccabees, and of the auxiliary of
the A. O. U. W.
JACOB GISEL was born on September 29, 1862,
in Schafhausen, Switzerland, being the son of Jacob
and Elizabeth (Myer) Gisel, natives of Switzerland.
The father lives in the old home place, aged seventy-
three. He has always been a farmer and is a prominent
man. The mother died when our subject was three
years old. Jacob remained at home and grew up on
a farm, gaining his education from the common schools,
and in 1883 he made his way to the United States. He
lived in Iowa for four years, engaged in farm work.
Then came a trip to California and he continued in
farm work there until 1893, when he journeyed on to
Portland and spent fourteen months there in saloon
work. It was in 1894 that he found his way to Pierce
and at once delved into prospecting. This continued
for some time and then Mr. Gisel started a saloon in
partnership with Sam Bloyer, an old time prospector
of this section. Soon Mr. Gisel bought out his partner
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1 165
and continued his business alone. Recently Mr. Gisel
sold half interest in the business to Fred Roos, Jr.,
mention of whom is made in another portion of this
work. Mr. Gisel has had some interest in mining, but
of late he has devoted himself entirely to his business.
He has four step-brothers in Switzerland and one sis-
ter, Louise, in North Dakota. Mr. Gisel has never left
the joys of bachelordom for the uncertain seas of matri-
mony. He k a strong Republican.
FRANK SMITH is one of the capable and suc-
cessful men of Kingston. He has one of the best
residences there and in addition to doing general farm-
ing he handles a great many timbers and does contract-
ing. Frank Smith was born February 5, 185 1. in
Maine, the son of David and Margerite (Littlefield)
Smith, natives of Maine and now living at Kingston.
Frank spent the first fifteen years of his life in Maine,
then went to Michigan, where he remained until 1894.
That was the year of his advent to this country. His
family had all preceded him, but when he arrived he
found them all busy freighting by boat on the Coeur
d' Alene river. They received as high as fifteen cents
per pound for transporting freight on that river. Many
of their boats were large and propelled by poling. In
1887 Mr. Smith filed on one hundred and sixty acres
adjoining the townsite, and he now has seventy acres
of rich bottom land under cultivation.
On November 30, 1873, occurred the marriage of
Mr. Frank Smith and Miss Elizabeth, a native of
Kingsville, Ontario, and a daughter of Gharles and
Margeret (Smith) Page, natives of Canada, now living
in Cheboygan, Michigan, where this wedding occurred.
Ten children have been born of this marriage : Ivory
I.., lumberman at Springfield, Oregon; Frank S.,
lumberman; T. Kingston; Roy A., miner in Alaska;
David M., Charles L., Sidney, Calvin, Chester, at
home; Ina P., wife of A. McGillivray, a farmer of
Kingston. Mr. Smith is a Republican ; he has four
brothers: Edwin, Walter A., Abraham L., Charles, and
six sisters : Laurana Holland, Lewella Overton, Phebe
Sharp, Laura Gaffney, Nellie Stean, Grace Wiley.
Mrs. Smith has three brothers : Walter Gray, Elanen-
der, Alva R., and three sisters: Mary Littlefield. Mag-
gie DeFraine, and Martha Godfrey.
CHARLES H. WENTZ, one of the prominent
business men of Wardner, being at present assistant
cashier of the Weber bank, is a potent factor not only
in the business world, but also in the political arena,
has won signal victories and his standing in the social
realm is of the very best. Mr. Wentz is a man of
marked capabilities, has always manifested sterling
worth and integrity and is well fitted to hold the promi-
nent place which he occupies at this time.
Charles H. Wentz was born in Canal Dover, Ohio,
on July 27, 1870, the son of Valentine and Elizabeth
(Weber) Wentz. The father was born in Germany,
came to the United States with his parents when small,
and learned the millwright trade and later embarked
in the manufacture of fire brick. He is now a retired
capitalist. The mother was born in Canal Dover and
is still living there. Our subject went through
the public schools in Canal Dover, and then
graduated from the Union college at Alliance,
Ohio, in 1887. Following this Mr. Wentz occupied the
bookkeeper's chair for the Wible Enek Company, of
Canal Dover, then held the position of assistant post-
master for two years. From 1889 to 1890 In- was as-
sistant cashier of the First National Hank in his native
town and in 1897 he came to Wardner and accepted
his present position. The Weber brothers are uncles
of Mr. Wentz. Since coming here .Mr. Wentz has
shown a marked interest in the upbuilding of the town,
and has warmly supported all measures of general
good. He is a man of public spirit and enterprise and
to show the appreciation in which he is held, we note
that when his name was mentioned for justice of the
peace, three hundred and eighty-five votes out of five
hundred were quickly cast for him. He has held this
important office here for several terms and he is also
a notary public. Mr. Wentz is a stanch Republican and
his sagacity is timely in the councils of his party. Mr.
Wentz is treasurer of the Kellogg Power and Water
Company and owns one-third of the stock and he is
aiso interested in several mining propositions of merit.
He is a member of the German Lutheran church and
still enjoys the quietude of the celibatarian and the
charms of that life.
LOUIS C. ROBERTS is one of the best posted
men in the mountain regions of Idaho, and is one of
the best guides for these regions to be found in the
central part of the state. He is a typical frontiersman.
being a man of few words, reliable, keen, courageous
and withal possessed of excellent practical judgment
and a boundless store of information relative to these
districts and the business of prospecting and guiding.
Louis C. Roberts was born in Pike county, Illinois,
on November 9, 1856, being the son of Lewis and ! .ydia
• Doak) Roberts. The father was born in I 'ike couh-
tv, Illinois, and was of English extraction. He died
when Louis was one year old, aged thirty-six. The
mother was a native of Virginia and her parents were
of Irish extraction. She died in 1863. aged thirty-
nine. Our subject was reared by his legal guardian
and uncle, James Roberts. He received a good dis-
trict schooling and at the age of seventeen began to
work out. In 1877 he came to California, thence to
Oregon and eighteen months later to Palouse, where
he resided for thirteen years. He took a claim there
and sold it later and in 1892 he came to the Pierce dis-
trict, and has raised cattle and mined here since that
time'. He recently purchased a farm of eighty acres
near Fraser, where the family reside. Mr. Roberts is
at the placer property, five miles north from Pierce.
which he owns with some eastern parties. They have
ei°ht hundred acres and are buying more. He also
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
had a goodly interest in a property that sold for twenty
thousand dollars recently. Mr. Roberts is a reliable
and skilled miner of practicability and also is an ex-
cellent guide in the mountains, having done much of
that work.
Mr. Roberts has one brother and one sister, the
former is in Garland, Oklahoma, being a cattle man
and postmaster; his sister is Mary Hamner, and her
husband was probate judge in Council Grove, Kansas.
At Palouse on August 20, 1882, Mr. Roberts mar-
ried Miss Fanny Anderson, whose father died when
she was young and her mother married Andrew Galau,
a blacksmith and cabinet maker in Palouse. Mrs.
Roberts was born in Kansas in 1865, and her brothers,
Alexander and John, are near Palouse. Five children
have been born to this household : Laura, Louis, Lil-
lian, John and Frank. Mr. Roberts is a Democrat.
Mrs. Roberts was formerly a school teacher and was
county superintendent of Clearwater county until it
was discontinued. Mr. Roberts has done much for the
advancement of this district and is a faithful and wise
worker in the realms where he is operating. Mr.
Roberts and a partner from Detroit, Michigan, bought
the Russell Shells Falls placer and are doing develop-
ment work on it.
THOMAS C. THOMAS is one of the thrifty,
intelligent and progressive miners of Wardner, a man
of excellent standing and influential in political circles.
He was born in Wales, December 25, 1854, the son of
Even and Sarah Thomas, natives of Wales. The father
was killed in a mine in Wales in 1866 and the mother
died in Wales in 1897, aged ninety-four. The parents
came to the United States a few years before our
subject was born but soon returned to their na-
tive land. He was educated in a private school
and also took a fine mining course and remained in
Wales until 1879, having spent the last six years as
foreman in the coal mines. He settled in Iowa and
ipent five years in the coal mines there and since that
time he has continued uninterruptedly in this same
capacity, having been foreman and shift boss in many
mines in Iowa, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.
While in Oregon, Mr. Thomas bought a farm near
Oregon City, which he is now renting. He has one
brother and two sisters : James, Jane Evans, Mary
Perry. Mr. Thomas is now engaged in the Empire
State mine.
On September 27, 1875, Mr.- Thomas married Miss
Elizabeth, daughter of Richard and Sarah Humphreys,
now living in England, where the wedding occurred.
Mr. Humphreys is a preacher in the Congregational
church and has occupied one pulpit for thirty-three
years. Mrs. Thomas has one brother and three sis-
ters: Richard, Sarah Jenkins, Mary Rees, Hannah
Hughes, all in Wales. Five children have been born
to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas : Sarah, widow of George
M. Freeman, with her parents ; Evan R., a blacksmith
in Wardner ; Thomas J., and David H, at home. Mr.
Thomas is a member of the I. O. O. F., Newcastle,
Washington, Lodge No. 8, being past noble grand;
of the Encampment, being past high priest and patri-
arch ; of the A. O. U. W. ; of the Order of Pendo ;
and in all these orders he has filled the various chairs.
Mr. Thomas is an active Republican and has Deen a
uelegate to the conventions of the county and also the
last state convention. Mr. Thomas owns the family
residence and considerable other city property. Mrs.
Thomas is a member of the K. O. T. M. They are
highly respected people and loyal and patriotic citi-
CHARLES D. HUNT was born in Washington
county, Nebraska, on September 28, 1873, the son of
Thomas W. and Jeanette B. (Buchanan) Hunt, is
now one of the prosperous farmers of the vicinity of
Kingston. His parents are mentioned in another por-
tion of this work and he partook in their travels until
they all landed in this section. Charles D. was edu-
cated in Nebraska, Colfax county, and also in South
Dakota. He was one of the ten children who came
across the plains with their parents driving eleven
head of horses. He has continued here since and has a
good body of land.
On May 24, 1896, Mr. Hunt married Miss Frances,
daughter of Frank and Mona (Bedell) Martin, the
wedding occurring in Kingston. Mrs. Hunt was born
111 Lafayette county, Oregon, on October 10, 1880. Her
father was born in Pennsylvania and came to Oregon
across the plains with his parents in 1858. Settlement
was made in the Willamette valley and in 1881 he
came to northern Idaho and also participated in the
gold rush in 1883-4. The mother of Mrs. Hunt was
born in Missouri and crossed the plains in an early
day, coming in over the old Mullan road. She drove
a four-horse team. She was married in Seattle, where
her father was engaged in lumbering. Her mother
died in Rathdrum on May 24, 1886. Mrs. Hunt has
one sister, Leo Williamson. Four children have been
born to Mr. and Mrs. Hunt, Alfonso C, Tracy C,
Thomas W„, Jeanette A. Mr. Hunt is a member of the
M. W. A. He and his wife are among the leading
young people of their section and are of excellent
standing.
THOMAS W. HUNT is one of the heaviest land
owners in the county of Shoshone and he is one of the
men whose endeavors have been rewarded by a good
success. In addition to doing farming he also handles
mining timbers. He was born in Tompkins county,
New York, on July 14, 1846, the son of David and
Mila Ann (Robinson) Hunt, natives of New York.
The father made a fortune from oil at Bradford,
Pennsylvania, and then retired from active business.
His father was a prominent business man of Elmira,
New York, and handled the largest tannery in the
section. The grandfather, being the great-grandfather
of our subject, was governor of New York state.
David Hunt died in 1892, aged seventy-two. The
mother of Thomas died when he was one vear old.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1 167
He was raised and educated in Bradford, Pennsyl-
vania, and vicinity, and in 1862 he enlisted in Com-
pany D, One Hundred and Forty-ninth New York
Infantry, Captain John Gaffney, and Colonel H. A.
Barnum. Mr. Hunt participated in eighteen of the
leading battles of the war, and his regiment went
in with nine hundred and eighty-nine and was mus-
tered out with one hundred and sixty. Among his
battles may be mentioned Lookout Mountain, Gettys-
burg, Chancellorsville. Mr. Hunt was slightly wound-
ed once. In 1866 he went to Montana and freighted
and three years later went to Iowa and settled in
Osage. Then came a journey to Omaha, with ox
teams, the date being 1872. The next year he went to
Colfax county, Nebraska, and took a homestead. In
1887 he went to Hyde county, South Dakota, and
farmed unsuccessfully. In the spring of 1890, Mr.
Hunt with his wife and ten children came across the
country to his present location. He owns four hun-
dred and seventy-two acres of good land, and has
one hundred and fifty cultivated. One son has two
hundred and forty adjoining, and another son has two
hundred acres. Mr. Hunt does general farming suc-
cessfully, and is prospered. He has two brothers,
John H, Charles H., and one sister, Emma Huff.
On December 21, 1869, at Bradford, Pennsylvania,
Mr. Hunt married Miss Jeannette B., daughter of Ar-
thur W. and Adeline (Foster) Buchanan, natives
of Pennsylvania. The father died in 1902, aged
eighty-three. He had lived on the same farm for
seventy-four years. The mother lives in Bradford,
where also Mrs. Hunt was born. The Foster family
were prominent in American wars. Mrs. Hunt has
one brother, Elwin, and four sisters, Irene Whipple,
Florence Barnes, Delia Holcumb, Minnie Schmoller.
Twelve children have been born to this union : Charles
D., Samuel N., Nora Smith, Robert W., Thomas E.,
Mila A., Calvin T., Effie, George B., Arthur W., who
died in Colfax county, Nebraska, aged seven; Orlo
G., died in the same place, aged eighteen months ; Wil-
bur C, died October 19, 1896, at Kingston, aged twen-
ty-four. Mr. Hunt is a member of M. W. A. and the
G. A. R. He is a Republican in political matters, and
interested in the general welfare of the country.
FRANK L. FOREMAN, one of the well known
miners of Wardner, now in the Empire State as tim-
berman, has had a wide experience in the western part
of the United States in various capacities in mines and
in prospecting and is thoroughly posted in his work.
Frank L. Foreman was born in Dover. Delaware,
on June 27, 1854, the son of Joseph and Margaret J.
(Mousley) Foreman, natives of Pennsylvania and
Delaware, respectively, and now both deceased. The
family came to Salt Lake City when our subject was
five years old. He graduated from the graded schools
there and then bought an outfit and freighted two
years. At the age of twenty he went to work in the
mines, and in this capacity he has been ever since.
While in Utah Mr. Foreman would take trips to other
districts and territories and mine and prospect and
return to Salt Lake as his headquarters.
foreman in the old Telegraph mine in Utah for five
years, shift boss in the Bulpion Beck, also the same
at the Continental, and the Eureka for four year-, and
he superintended the Bingham for one year." In Aug-
ust, 1899, Mr. Foreman came to \\ ardner and held the
position of shift boss for the Bunker Hill until De-
cember, 1902, when he resigned and took his present
positon. Mr. Foreman has two brothers and two Me-
ters, Leander, Joseph, Mrs. Eliza Sellers, Mrs. I .a-
vina Montague, all in Salt Lake ( it\.
At Salt Lake City, on March 31, 1876, Mr. Fore-
man married Miss Rachel, daughter of William and
Phoebe Brown, deceased. She was born in Bountiful,
Ctah, and has three sisters, Mrs. Mary Race, Mrs.
Adelia Stanley, Mrs. Naomi Woolsey. Three chil-
dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Foreman, Frank
L., Jr., Jesse, Harvard. Mr. Foreman is a Republi-
can, and while always laboring for the best interests
is not a partisan.
SIM CANMAN. The fact that when seventeen
years of age with a capital of twenty-five cents, die
subject of this article started a bakery business in
Colorado, and made such a success of it that he was
enabled to sell it in six months for eight hundred dol-
lars, is a pertinent index to the enterprise, ability,
energy and business sagacity with which he is pos-
sessed.
Sim Canman was born in Baden, Germany, on
October 18, 1867, the son of Simon and Mina 1 Kahn-
heimer) Canman, natives of Baden, and now living
there. The father is a prominent man and land owner,
and served in the Franco-Prussian war. The father's
brother was lieutenant in the same company, and now
wears the iron cross. The paternal grandfather of
our subject was a very prominent military man. Per-
sonally he was seven "feet tall, weighed three hundred
and fifty pounds, and was one of the officers of the
grenadiers who fought under Napoleon at Moscow.
Later he took the field against Napoleon and
with the Austrian army, and here as in the German
service received important decorations. He was an
important personage in action for the government 111
the German rebellion of 1848 against Schurz, Sigel
and others who were exiled. He lived to the grand
old age of one hundred and one, dying in the 'seven-
ties. He started his military career as a n
missioned officer, and received upon retirement a pen-
sion of eleven hundred marks per year.
Our subject came to the United States when thir-
teen and finished his education, which he had begun
in Germanv. He learned the baker trade in St. Louis,
and when "seventeen started the business in Colorado
which we have mentioned, and which demonstrated
his capacity for business. After selling this business
he wrought in all of the western states. Mexico and
British Columbia, and in September. 1897. he came
to Wardner and entered the employ of anodier baker.
For three and one-half Years he wrought there, and
[68
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
then the proprietor failed. Our subject bought out
another small shop, and being short of capital, took it
on installments. He began a career of success at
once, and now has a fine stock of four or five thou-
sand dollars' worth of the choicest confections and
baker)' goods, and is handling a thriving trade. He
occupies the upper apartments of his building as a
living place, having sold his residence. Mr. Canman
has made a brilliant success in his business, and is of
excellent standing. He has the following brothers and
sisters: Max, Daniel, Leo, Morris, Mrs. A. Schier,
Hannah, Amelia. In Utah, on December 25, 1891,
Mr. Canman married Miss May, daughter of Thomas
and Mary Powell, deceased. Three children have
come to bless the home: Leo, Mamie, Alice. Mr.
Canman is a member of the M. W. A., and in political
matters he is as active as his business will permit, being
a stanch Republican.
WILLIAM H. MYERS. In the various capaci-
ties in which Mr. Myers has wrought in this district,
as in other places also, it is fully demonstrated that he
is a man of enterprise and ability, and in the position
which he now fills with acceptability, that of superin-
tendent of the Morning Mill at Mullan, he has shown
forth a keen discrimination, executive force, practical
and sound judgment which have placed him in the
front ranks of mining men of this district.
William H. Myers was born in Salem, Jefferson
county, Ohio, on January 6. 1850, the son of Andrew
J. and Mary J. (McKee) Myers, natives of Ohio. The
father was in the Civil war, being a member of Com-
pany I, Sixteenth Ohio, and was killed early in the
struggle at the battle of Perryville, Kentucky. The
paternal grandfather of our subject was a patriot in
the Revolution. The mother now dwells in Quincy,
Illinois, aged seventy-six. She comes from Scotch
extraction. Our subject was reared and educated in
Iowa, and after completing a high school course, he
entered a military academy in Fulton, Illinois, whence
he graduated and then removed to Illinois to live. He
took up railroad contracting for five years and then
erected a flour mill in Quincy. This he conducted for
twelve years, then sold out the milling business, went
to St. Joseph, Missouri, and took up railroad . work
again for seven years. After this we see him again in
Ouincy, and in 1897 he came thence to Mullan, where
he wrought as a millwright. In 1900 Mr. Myers as-
sumed charge of the Morning mill and since that time
he has handled the plant in a satisfactory manner.
He has one brother and two sisters, John, Mrs. Harriet
Steele, Jennie M.
On June 8, 1881, Mr. Myers married Miss Mary,
daughter of Robert and Ann Fitzgerald, who are now-
deceased. Mrs. Myers was born in Washington, D.
(.'.. and she has one brother, Robert. Three children
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Myers, Agnes, wife of
Wilbur Greenough, of the Greenough Brothers Mer-
cantile Company of Mullan, Idaho; Rose, attending
college of the Holy Names, in Spokane: Ruth, at
home. Mr. Myers is a member of the A. F. & A. M.,
of the R. A. M. and of the K. T. He is a man of ex-
cellent standing in the community, has shown himself
upright and capable ami has hosts of friends from
every class.
DANIEL McEACHERN is a leading mining man
of the Coeur d'Alene country, and is at present living
at Silver King, where he is following this business
with enterprise and skill. He was born in Prince Ed-
ward Island on January 22, 1842, the son of Donald
and Ellen (McVarish) McEachern. The father was
born in Prince Edward Island and his parents were
natives of Scotland. He went to California via the
isthmus in 1854, and mined until 1861, then came to
Boise basin, and in 1865 returned to his native place.
Afterward he came to the coast for a year, then set-
tled in Cape Breton Island, where he died in 1878.
The mother was born in Virginia, and died at her home
in Cape Breton Island a few months after her hus-
band's demise. Our subject was educated in the pub-
lic schools, and when seventeen went to Massachusetts,
then followed the sea for three years. Later he went
to California via the isthmus, then on to Boise basin,
where he joined his father. He continued mining there
until 1870, then went to Pioche, Nevada, Arizona, Utah
and in 1876 went to Butte. In 1879 he was in Custer
county, Idaho, then Lemhi and other portions of the
center of the state. In 1884 he located at Delta and in
April located the Weiser bar placer. He and his part-
ners spent much time and money on that without suc-
cess. In 1886 he came to the vicinity of Silver King
and here he has been since, continuing in mining indus-
tries. Mr. McEachern has been engaged in most of
the leading mines of the district and is thoroughlv
versed in mining and handling mines. In 1891 he
located the Wyoming in Grouse gulch, and in 1887 he
located the Oro-Dell. He retains interests in all of
these and is vice-president of the Wyoming Mining &
Milling Company. This company has some valuable
property and Mr. McEachern is interested in all their
holdings. He has one brother, — Hugh, and four sis-
ters, Mary A. McDonald, Catherine, Margaret and
Annie. Mr. McEachern has never seen fit to embark
on the matrimonial sea but is still enjoying the quiet
charms of celibacy. He is independent in political mat-
ters and is a man of sterling qualities of uprightness.
He is interested in all of the mining properties and com-
panies adjacent to the O. K.. and is one of the heavy
operators.
ISAAC D. CLEEK. A stirring and energetic
man in the industrial world of Pierce, being now own-
er and operator of the saw mill in that town, while
also he is interested in mining, the subject of this
article is deserving of representation in the history
of his county.
Isaac D. Cleek was born in St. Joseph, Missouri,
on June 30, 1857, being the son of James and Elizabeth
(Reeves) Cleek, natives of Kentucky. The father was
W. H. MYERS.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1169
killed in the battle of Wilson Creek in the Civil war.
He was a physician. The mother was married in
Kentucky and died in Pullman, Washington, on De-
cember 25, T897, ag'ed sixty-two. In 1867 she was
married a second time, becoming the wife of William
L. Ritchey, who was a pioneer in the region of Boise.
He built the first cabin, planted the first potatoes, and
set out the first apple tree in that now prosperous re-
gion. In company with Messrs. Davis and Ellis he
laid out the town of Boise. He now lives in Pullman.
Our subject came to Boise with his mother and uncle
when he was six, and there he gained his education
and also learned mining. He has followed mining in
all the southern Idaho camps, in Oregon. Montana,
and various other places. He came to Shoshone coun-
ty in 1893 and mined and did blacksmith work. He
recently erected a sawmill, capacity eight thousand
feet daily, and he is doing a good business. Mr. Cleek
is one of the owners of the Klondike mine of French
creek, the Oro Grand mine and several other prop-
erties. The Oro Grand is a large low grade proposi-
tion and doubtless is very valuable. Mr. Cleek has
two brothers, Mathew S., an engineer in Palouse ;
Benjamin, farmer in Linn county, Oregon. Also he
has one half brother, George Ritchey, in Pullman.
Mr. Cleek is a member of the K. of P., Banner Lodge.
No. 1, in Ketchum, Idaho.
On April 12, 1886, at Ketchum, Mr. Cleek married
Miss Anna, daughter of William and Ann (Dennison)
Martin, natives, respectively, of Nottingham, Eng-
land, and Toronto, Canada. The father came to the
United States when he was a young man, and died
in Michigan in 1888, aged sixty. Mrs. Martin married
in Canada and died in Michigan on November 1,
1898. Mrs. Cleek has five brothers and one sister.
Franklin, Charles, Arthur, Burton, all in Grand Rap-
ids, Michigan; Fred, living with our subject; Jane,
wife of Charles Anderson, at Grand Rapids. Politi-
cally Mr. Cleek is an independent thinker. In 1891,
one of those accidents which no human reason can
compass, but to which we can only bow, occurred in
the home of Mr. Cleek. His wife became totally blind.
She is a woman of wonderful tenacity of purpose and
skill, for despite this affliction, she attends to her house-
hold duties and displays most commendable skill and
a beautiful spirit. Mr. and Mrs. Cleek are very pop-
ular and are possessed of very many warm and ad-
miring friends.
SAMUEL H. LINN. Among the capable and suc-
cessful citizens of the Coeur d'Alene country we are
constrained to mention the subject of this article whose
labors have always been directed toward upbuilding
the countrv and development of the grand mineral re-
sources which are to be found here. He was born in
Sweden on September 30, 1873, the son of Hans and
Emma (Buhr) Linn. He came to the United States
in 1887, having been well educated in the public schools
of his native land before he bade farewell to its familiar
scenes and turned to seek his fortune here. After reach-
ing Minnesota he spent some time in school and work-
ing on a farm, and in 1889 he made his ua\ t.» Old
Mission in Kootenai county. Saw milling occupied Mr.
Linn for a year, and railroad work then at Wallace for
a time. Next we see him in the Hunker Hill and other
leading mines of the district. Afterward he .
himself with his brother, Ole Linn, and lie 1
this capacity. Mr. Linn is engineer at the O. K. mines
in Silver King, and is a capable and trustworthy man
in this responsible position.
( )n January 5, [900, Mr. Linn married Miss \nnie
E., daughter of Frank and Minnie 1 Peterson) Johnson,
natives of Sweden, and now farmers in Vernon, South
Dakota. This wedding occurred in Alexandria, Minne-
sota. Mrs. Linn has four brothers and one sister, —
Rudolph, Fred, Arthur, Alben, Lottie, all at home in
Vernon. One child has been born to Mr. and Mr*.
Linn, — Herbert, aged one year. Mr. Linn is a member
of the Scandinavian Brotherhood. From 1896 to 1900
Mr. Linn was residing in Minnesota, where he bought
a farm, which is now rented. He is interested in the
Rhode Island group of mines near Osburn.
HENRY H. BOLE. Sometimes the charms of the
miner's calling and the allurement of the quiet of na-
ture's wilderness entice from the professional calling
devotees and successful men, and among this number
we are to mention the estimable gentleman of whom we
now speak. Dr. Bole is a man of culture and excellent
training, being a graduate of both the Bellevue and the
Rush medical colleges, as well as trained in practical
exercise of his profession for many years. At the pres-
ent time Dr. Bole has a fine showing in the mining
world, having a group of claims known as the Home-
stead group, while also he owns a number of miles of
ditch and some fine placer claims. He resides about
one and one-half miles east from Pierce, and is devot-
ing his attention to mining interests. The quartz
claims are valuable property and eventually will return
a tine revenue to the owner.
Henry H. Bole was born in Meadville. Pennsyl-
vania, on January I, 1851, being the son of William J.
and Ellen (Mead) Bole. The father was born in
Meadville. and his parents came from the north of
Ireland. He died at the age of ninety-one in August.
1895, at the home place. He was a large land owner.
The mother of our subject was born in Meadville. and
her parents were descended from the New England
Puritans. Meadville was named after her father,
Darius Mead, who owned the ground on which the city
of Meadville now stands. Henry attended the district
school and then completed his literary training in the
Allegheny College at Meadville. Subsequent to this
he took the medical course mentioned above and grad-
uated with honors. He had spent some time in the
work of the educator during the interim, however.
Until 1882 Dr. Bole was constant in practice and hand-
ling a drug business in Pennsvlvania. and then he did
business in Minnesota, in the Black Hills in an early
dav, and in 1889 he came to Spokane only to have his
entire household goods burned in the depot, with his
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
stock of drugs. Afterward he did business in a tent
with a portion of the stock which had not arrived until
later. But in 1890 the fire fiend devoured all this, and
■ the doctor left Spokane and located his family in Lew-
iston while he went to prospecting in the vicinity of
Pierce. His labor has been crowned with success and
he has some of the most valuable property in the vicin-
ity, being the pioneer locator of quartz in this district.
Dr. Bole has three brothers and four sisters, — William
H., in Warren, Pennsylvania ; Darius W., in Beaver
county, Pennsylvania; David M.,in Warren, Pennsyl-
vania, doing business in oil ; Elizabeth, wife of Samuel
Mead, in Pennsylvania; Mary, wife of Philip Kleckner,
in Bradford, Pennsylvania; Sarah E. and Agnes at
home. Dr. Bole is a member of the Improved Order
of Red Men, and of the A. O. U. W.
On December 14, 1882, Dr. Bole married Miss
Margie A., daughter of James D. and Eliza E. (Miller)
Shields, natives of Pennsylvania. The father was a
lumber merchant and died when Mrs. Bole was four-
teen. His wife died in Pennsylvania in January, 1897.
Mrs. Bole was raised by an uncle and was educated in
the graded schools. She lived in Erie, Pennsylvania,
Cleveland, Ohio, and in Philadelphia. Dr. Bole and
his wife are cultured people and universally beloved by
all who know them, and they are worthy of the excel-
lent holding that they have acquired by arduous labor.
CHARLES S. PERRIN. Early in 1903 Mr.
Perrin took the important position of warden of the
state penitentiary of Idaho at Boise. His home is in
Wardner where he has been one of the leading men of
many years and where his sound and clear counsel in
the meetings of his party, — the Republican — have man-
ifested him to be a man of sagacity, keen discrimina-
tion, good reserve force and real worth. He was born
in Iowa on November 2, 1857, being the son of Caleb
and Mary J. (Uretteer) Perrin, natives of Indiana and
Pennsylvania, respectively. The paternal ancestors
came from Normandy, settled in England in the time
of William the Conqueror, thence to America in 1636,
were prominent in the war of independence and of 18T2.
The father died in August, 1900, in Gilliam county,
Oregon, aged seventy-eight. The mother came from
an old Pennsylvania family, and she died in Gilliam
county in May, 1893, aged sixty-four. Our subject was
reared and educated in Oregon, completing his training
by a three years' course in the university at Salem. The
family left Gilliam county for that place when he was
fourteen. At the age of twenty-four he went to live
in eastern Oregon, and farmed and raised stock. He
was under sheriff of Gilliam county, and was United
States and city marshal in Arlington for three years.
Later he went to Puget sound and did general mer-
chandising . then took up hotel keeping in Fairhaven,
after which he operated in the Monte Christo mining
district. In 1895 Mr. Perrin came to Wardner, and
here he has done contracting for the Bunker Hill mine
most of the time since. From 1898 to 1900 Mr. Perrin
was chairman of the central committee, and he has been
an influential figure in the state conventions. He has
been an active Republican, true blue, since he was
twenty-one, and is a man of great influence and stabil-
ity. Mr. Perrin has the following brothers and sis-
ters,—George L., John P., Frank, Mrs. Phcebe Stinch-
field. Mrs. Mary Eddleman. Mrs. Laura McConnell,
Mrs. Lillie Riser.
In February, 1881, in Linn county, Oregon, Mr.
Perrin married Miss Eliza E., daughter of John B. and
Julatha Trask. the father an early pioneer of Oregon,
and the mother born there. Four children have been
born to this marriage, — Ralph E., died May, 1898, aged
sixteen ; Roy B., aged eighteen ; Fred, aged seventeen ;
George D., aged three. Mrs. Perrin has seven brothers
and one sister, — William H, Lewis, Horace, Augustus,
Edward, Arthur, John, Mrs. Emma Frost. Mr. Perrin
is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Fossil Lodge No.
81, at Fossil, Oregon. He is also affiliated with the I.
O. O. F., and the American Mechanics, and, with his
wife, belongs to the Daughters of America.
EMMET L. VANDERWERKEN is one of the
substantial mining men of the Silver King
camp and his record as one of the early
pioneers shows that he is a man of enterprise,
courage and skill. He was born in Scho-
harie county. New York, the son of John H. and Sarah
A. (LaGrange) YanDerwerken, natives of New York,
and their ancestors came from Alsace-Lorraine. The
grandfather took part in the war of 1812. Our sub-
ject's father died when he was eight. The mother died
in 1899 at St. Louis. Missouri. Our subject was edu-
cated and reared in his native place receiving' a good
academic training. He enlisted in Company F, Second
New Jersey Cavalry, under Captain Mitchell and Colo-
nel Kargee. Companies F and H were ordered to
charge eight hundred enemy at Egypt and they were
repulsed with great slaughter. Then the regiment sur-
rounded the enemy and captured them. It was one of
the bloodiest episodes of the war. Following the war
.Mr. YanDerwerken taught school, and in the early
'seventies removed to Colorado and did mining and
operated in a quartz mill. Then he was in Arizona
and New Mexico, and in 188 1 he was found in Idaho.
and he was one of the first to come to the Cceur d'Alene
country. He operated a hotel at Trout Creek, farmed
on Jackass prairie and later worked in the mines in
Wardner. He did development Work in his own prop-
erties between times and he is now interested in vari-
ous valuable properties. He located his first claim in
Government gulch in 1886, and is now the president
of the Government Mining & Development Company,
Ltd. His son, John Y. is secretary and B. Flaig is
treasurer. Mr. YanDerwerken has one sister. — Emma
Fiske.
On January 1, 1868, at Warrentown, Missouri, Mr.
VanDerwerken married Miss Dorcas Hammontree,
who was born in Blount county, Tennessee, in March
1845. Her father was a native of the same state and
died in Misssouri in 1901. Mrs. YanDerwerken has
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
I three brothers, — William, John, Ellison, and one sis-
ter,— Margaret Logan. Nine children have been born
to this marriage. — Katie, widow of Daniel O'Neil, a
locomotive engineer, who was killed in a holdup on the
Northern Pacific, near Garrison, in 1902; Jennie, wife
I of Peter Kan, of Wallace; John A., a miner in Ward-
i ner ; Emma, wife of Kenneth McLeod, a blacksmith of
Wallace ; Ida, wife of Harvey Hanawalt, a miner in
Wardner; Maud, single; Lillie, Edward E., the first
boy born on the South Fork ; Tillie. The last three are
deceased. Mr. YanDerwerken is a member of the A.
F. & A. M. He is a Democrat and a good solid man
and public minded citizen.
WILLIAM GAFFNEY. Among the popular
young men of Pierce, there is none that stand higher
in the esteem and confidence of the people than the sub-
ject of this sketch, who is a stirring business man and
has wrought here with no uncertain results in his
achievements. At the present time Mr. Gaffney is a
partner with his brother John, who is mentioned else-
where in the volume. They own the Ozark group of
freemilhng gold quartz mines, which are at the pres-
ent time bonded for fifty-seven thousand dollars. In
addition to this, Mr. Gaffney has a one-third interest
in a quarter section of valuable placer ground near
Pierce ; has a farm of one-quarter section of fine farm-
ing land and as much excellent timber near Weippe.
He is still a young man and the accumulations of his
labors show him to have been a good business man-
ager, possessed of keen foresight and thrift.
William Gaffney was born in Pierce on February
14. 1873, being the son of Patrick and Bridget Gaff-
ney. of whom mention is made in this work. He was
Educated in the common schools and by a private in-
structor provided by his father. He is well trained
in knowledge requisite te a first-class business career
and is a stirring man. Politically Mr. Gaffney is .a
Democrat of the Jeffersonian type and capable of de-
fending his position in debate and telling argument.
He is still content to remain in the ranks of bachelor-
dom, as the charms of quiet celibacy are congenial to
his tastes.
WILLIAM M. FALCONER is a highly esteemed
citizen of Silver King, and is the postmaster there. He
i is a man of real worth and stands high with all who
1 know him. William M. Falconer was born in Ontario,
1 on the St. Lawrence, on November 19. 1832, the son
of James and Anna (Hay) Falconer. The father was
born in Philadelphia, and when young was taken to
! Canada where he remained until his death in 1861. The
mother was born in Scotland, and she died when our
j subject was six. William M. was educated and reared
in Canada until eighteen and then he came to the United
j States and labored at bricklaying and marble cutting
until 1863. Then he went to California, via the Isth-
mus, and' worked at his trade and in the mines about
and at the Comstock. Next he was in Minnesota, and
for five years was chairman of the board of county-
commissioners. After this he operated a general mer- .
chandise business in the I Hack Hills, and later in Bis-
marck, North Dakota, then followed farming and rais-
ing stock for five years, after which he operated a hotel
in Bismarck for seven \ears. Thence he came to Kel-
logg in 1888 and did timbering on the Hunker Hill.
He has been postmaster at Silver King since July, 1901,
and his administration has given general satisfaction.
Mr. Falconer is also handling the boarding house. He
has mining interests with his nephew, William J. Mc-
Lean, also other mining property. Air. Falconer has
the following brothers and sisters, — Samuel A., Nor-
man, Daniel. William A., John, Henry, Anna McClel-
lan, Margaret McDonald, Eliza Mac'Nider, Jennie
Cameron, Christena Gilbert, Mary McLean.
On February 9, 1873, Mr. Falconer married Miss
Sadie McTigue, the wedding occurring at St. Paul,
Minnesota. Mrs. Falconer was born in New York on
August 3, 185 1. and death claimed her on October 22,
1889, at Sioux Falls, South Dakota. One daughter sur-
vives her, Edna, wife of Chauncey W. Butler, a dentist
in Independence, Oregon. Mr. Falconer's son, Samuel
\\, died January 21. 1883, at Bismarck, aged seven ;
his daughter, Clara C, died in Wardner September 6.
1897, the result of an accidental gunshot. Mr. Fal-
coner is a member of the A. F. & A. M., and of the
chapter and of the I. O. O. F. He is a Republican and
was postmaster at Bismarck for five years. Mr. Fal-
coner is now clerk of the school board and is justice of
the peace.
JOHN AULD is one of the early settlers of Kel-
logg, and for years has been identified with the country
and the mines. He is a man of substantial qualities
and of excellent standing. John Auld was born amid
the rugged scenes of Scotland and reared and educated
there. The date of his inception in life was January 3.
1850, being the son of John and Agnes (Rodman)
Auld, natives of Scotland. The father was a calico
printer and muslin weaver, now deceased. The mother
died in August, 1902, aged eighty. Our subject came
to the United States in 1880, locating in Randolph
county, Missouri, where he followed mining. Later he
wrought at this occupation in Murphysboro. Illinois.
then went to Tombstone, Arizona, and mined for silver.
Next we see him in Coos Bay country, Oregon, where
he mined coal, and in 1887 he made his way to Ward-
ner. and, after a short time in various employments he
took a position in the Bunker Hill mines and remained
in that capacitv until 1892. Then he was transferred
to the mill at Kellogg and there he has wrought with
display of faithfulness and efficiency since. Mr. Auld
has a 'fine large two story lodging house, and also a
residence, besides other property.
On October 24, 1873, Mr. Auld married Miss
Agnes, daughter of Andrew and Mary Garrett, de-
ceased. Mrs. Auld has two brothers,— James and An-
drew, in Arizona, and one sister, Mrs. Mary Gunnyon,
in Portland. Five children have been born to this
couple.— Marv, wife of Adam Geottge, a miner in
1172
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Wardner ; Agnes, wife of Charles W. Simmons, book-
keeper in the Bunker Hill : Margaret, wife of William
H. Herrick, shift boss in the Empire State; Jamesina,
with parents ; John, a student in the university at Mos-
cow taking a special course in mining. Mr. Auld is a
member of the I. O. O. F., Sunset Lodge No. 5, in
Marshfield. Oregon. He is also a member of the In-
dustrial Union, and in politics he is a Republican. Mr.
Auld has also served as school trustee.
JOSEPH B. KENDALL is foreman of the Coeur
dAlene Development Company's mines at Silver
King. He was born in Mariposa county, California,
on September 16, 1863, the son of Benjamin and
Palmer . ( Vigeraux) Kendall. The father was born
iu Bristol, England, and died in 1902 at Spokane, aged
seventy-one years. He was a blacksmith and came
to the United States in 1850, sent out by a mining
company. He followed his trade and mining all his
days. He was in the Cariboo excitement in the 'six-
ties, then he returned to California, later was in Sil-
ver City, Idaho, and in 1875 was sent t0 New Guinea
for a French mining company. He went to England
in 1900 and upon his return came to work with his
son and was taken with pneumonia and died in the
Sacred Heart hospital on August 2, 1902. The mother
was a native of France and lives in Bodie, California.
Our subject was educated in the district schools in
California and in Virginia City until fourteen, then he
went to work on a ranch in Nevada. He operated in
the mines at Bodie for six years, then followed min-
ing in Virginia City, later he was in the fire depart-
ment there also, after which he prospected in Arizona
and was shift boss and foreman in various places until
1895, when he came to the Coeur d'Alene country. He
was a short time in the Bunker Hill, also in the Last
Chance, being shift boss for over two years. He leased
for some time the mines, and on April 1, 1901, Mr.
Kendall came to his present position and here he has
remained since. He has one brother, Thomas, and one
sister, Helen Duval, and one half-sister, Annie Kelly.
On March \j, 1896, Mr. Kendall married Miss
Mable, daughter of John and Sarah ( Duffy) Bag-
ley, natives pi New York. They have one child, Will-
iam T., born November 16, 1902. The father was a
pioneer to California and was port inspector at San
Francisco under Grant and later at the mint at Carson.
He died in 1883. The mother died at San Francisco
in 1S94. Mrs. Kendall is a native of San Francisco
and lias one. sister, Katie Smith.
WILLIAM H. HERRICK. )R.} well and favor-
ably known in Wardner, where he holds the position
of shift boss in the Empire State mine, is a young man
of capabilities and excellent standing. He was born
in Oswego. New York, on May 3, 1875, being the
son of William H. and Harriet (Mollison) Herrick,
natives of New York. The father descended from an
old and prominent American family and his ancestors
fought for American independence, one of them being
an officer in the Continental army. He is now agent
for the Louisiana Cypress Company in New York. The
mother came from Scotch ancestry, who also were
prominent in the Revolution. Our subject was reared
in Oswego and Lockport until fourteen and then the
family went to New Rochelle. He received a fine course
in the high school in New York and then a scientific
course in the University in that city, paying especial
attention to civil enginering. Completing that, Mr.
Herrick came to Rossland, British Columbia, where he
operated in the mines two years. The next year was
spent in charge of the Stray Horse mine in Republic,
Washington, and in July, 1900, Mr. Herrick came to
Wardner and engaged in the mines. Two months
later he was promoted to his present position and has
done efficient work here since that time. Mr. Herrick
has three brothers and one sister, Gilbert, Harold,
Richard, Lena.
On September 17, 1901, Mr. Herrick married Miss
Margaret, daughter of John and Margaret Auld, who
are mentioned in the work, as also are their children.
Mr. Herrick is a Republican and takes the part of an
intelligent citizen in the political campaigns. He is a
member of the Delta Phi fraternitv.
WILLIAM D. SHAMBERGER is the efficient su-
perintendent of the Ca'ur d'Alene Development Com-
pany at Silver King, and is a well known and capable
mining man. He was born in Baltimore county, Mary-
land, on May 21, 1857, the son of Jacob and Julia
(Beckley) Shamberger, natives of the same county as
cur subject. The father was a prominent preacher in
the German Brethren, and also a leading business man.
He operated farms, saw and grist mills, was president
of a railroad and was a successful man. He died in
1895 on the old homestead. His father, Jacob, was a
participant in the war of 18 12. The mother died in
1891, and came from a very prominent family. Her
brother Daniel is now managing a large paper manu-
tory that his grandfather established. Our subject was
educated in the public and normal schools, and when
twenty-one went to North Dakota. Then we next see
him in Rutte, Montana, foreman of the concentrator
for the Parrott Smelting Company. Under President
Arthur's administration he was appointed farmer on the
Shoshone reservation. Then he was one of the builders
and owners of the Butte Reduction Works, and also
leased mines. Later he was superintendent of the
Young American mine just above Colville, Washing-
ton, and assisted to found Bossburg. In November^
1893. -^'r- Shamberger returned to his old position in
Butte for five years. Then he was manager of the Eva
May mines at Basin, Montana, and in 1899 he came to
Silver King, and since that time he has been in charge
of the Silver King, Crown Point and other properties
of this company. Mr. Shamberger has three brothers
and four sisters, — Daniel, Joseph, John, Elizabeth
Rover, Sarah Barron, Esther Chenowath, Susannah.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
'7i
On October 26, 1896, at Butte, Mr. Shamb'erger
married Miss Maud, daughter of Hugh and Mary
(McLeod) McMillan, natives of Canada. They live
in Butte, but Mr. McMillan is now absent in South
Africa building mills. He is an architect and mill-
wright of note. To Mr. and Mrs. Shamberger there
have been born four children, — John Philip, aged six;
Hugh A. and Ralph J., twins, aged three ; Ruth, aged
eighteen months. Mr. Shamberger is a member of the
Foresters, and of the Junior Order of Mechanics. Mrs.
Shamberger is a member of the Presbyterian church.
He is a solid Republican, and has been to the state con-
ventions. Mr. Shamberger is interested with his
brother in a stock farm at Payette.
WILLIAM P. SWINERTON. A pioneer of
the early days, coming to Wardner, then Kentuck, on
May 3, 1886. in company with J. H. Anderson, the
subject of this review has steadily wrought here since
with assiduity and faithfulness, and is one of the sub-
stantia] and reliable men of the town. Wardner con-
sisted of one tent where the Spokane hotel stands, one
tent opposite, and one log house when Mr. Swinerton
arrived here, and he has seen the growth and improve-
ment that has made this one of the best districts of the
northwest. At first he bonded the Sierra Nevada for
sixty thousand dollars and his partner went east to
raise the funds, but failed until after the bond expired.
Then Mr. Swinerton went to hauling ore for the Em-
pire State, and later contracted for the Bunker Hill &
Sullivan to handle their freight, and since then he has
continued at this business. He has about thirty head
of horses and also does general freighting and con-
tracting. W;e append also a detailed account of the
career of Mr. Swinerton which will be interesting to
all. He was born in Ontario, Canada, on April 29,
1853, being the son of Thomas and Eliza (Parker)
Swinerton, natives of Canada. The paternal grand-
father of our subject was born in Ireland. Thomas
Swinerton was reeve of his county in Canada for
thirty years, the office being the same as chairman of
the board of county commissioners here. He was a
member of the lower house of parliament for four
vears. and in 1849 came to California and built a saw
mill which he operated for two years. Returning to
Canada, he came back to California for one year and
then went home with a good fortune. He owned farms,
a saw mill, grist mill, a general merchandise store and
much other property in Canada. Mr. Swinerton was
a prominent and influential citizen and was also a lead-
ing Free Mason, being past grand master. His death
occurred on December 21, 1893, being aged seventy-
three. The mother of our subject died March 29, 1901.
Her father was a wealthy and prominent man, born in
Ireland. Our subject was educated in the excellent
schools of Ontario, and when twenty-five came to Iowa,
having also been on his own resources since thirteen
years of age. He bought a farm, later sold and en-
gaged in the liverv business, and then sold that and
came with an old' prospector. J. H. Anderson, 'over-
land to Murray in 1885. He mined in this place a little
and then came to Kentuck, as mentioned above. Mr.
Swinerton has two brothers and tun sisters,— James,
Albert, Margaret, Mary.
On February 28, 1879, Mr. Swinerton married
Miss Agnes, daughter of James and Agnes Richardson.
Mr. Richardson owned a beautiful residence in Canada,
known as the Maple Grove. He went to California in
1849 and returned with a good fortune, lie died on
May 26. 1894, in his seventieth year. Mrs. Richard-
son is also deceased. Mrs. Swinerton lias two broth-
ers,— John W., William H. Five children have been
born to Mr. and Mrs. Swinerton, — Mrs. Agnes
Thompson, whose husband is foreman in the machine
shops of the Empire State; Alice. Albert T., both at-
tending the university at Moscow; Wiley and Annie,
both deceased. Mr. Swinerton is a member of the K.
P., of the I. 0. O. F.. and of the Eagles. Mr. and Mrs.
Swinerton are both active Republicans, and he is a
member of the central committee, while Mrs. Swiner-
ton takes as active a part in political matters as the
duties of her household will permit. Tluy are among
the leaders in society and are popular and good people.
Mrs. Swinerton is a member of the Congregational
church.
FRED A. STEVENS is one of the leading, enter-
prising and public minded citizens of ( (sburn, and it is
with pleasure that we are privileged to mention his
career in this connection, especially so as he is one of
the earliest prospectors in this district, and is one of
those whose labors have wrought much for the country.
He was born in England on May 6, [859, the son of
Alfred and Sarah (Denhan) Stevens, natives of Eng-
land, where they still live, now retired. I >uf subject
was well educated in the leading schools, and came to
the United States in 1882. and in May. 18S3. he was
111 the first excitement in the Coeur d'Alene district. All
left again, and the next year as some came out with
dust to buy provisions there was another rush. Our
subject bought a beef animal and hired Indian
it in and sold it to good advantage. Then he bought
another and drove it in and netted one hundred and
ninetv-two dollars beside sixt) dollars [or a load his
horse packed. Then Mr. Stevens weril to packing and
into the meat business and he did well. He also had
prospectors out and he did well in that line, selling one-
claim for seven thousand dollars. Mr. St< \
packed the first ore out of the Bunker and other mines.
In 1886 he bought his present ranch in ( (sburn, and
later added some other land. Then he went into the
meat business, and later added freighting and devoted
himself to these occupations and conducting his farm.
Latterbj he has given himself entirely to handling stock
and to' operating a wholesale and retail marl
has established one of the most excellent places in the
CVeur d'Alene district, it being at Wallace. He is now
1, .cated 1 in Sixth street. Mr. Stevens has thr. - '
and three sisters,— Joseph, Cornelius, Edwin, Sarah
Harding, Mare A. Harding. Florence Purcell.
In October. 1884. Mr. Stevens married Mrs. Mary
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Taylor, a native of Ireland. Mr. Stevens is a mem-
ber of the I. O. O. F., and of the Encampment. He
is popular, both for his stirring qualities and for his
genial and upright ways, and his friends are numerous
from all quarters of the country. Mr. Stevens is a
capable and successful business man, and has mani-
fested real worth and industry in his career.
WILLIAM J. SHEEHY is one of the partners of
the firm of Smith & Sheehy, druggists of Pierce.
He was born in Allamakee county, Iowa, on November
26, 1872, being the son of James W. and Ellen (Mur-
phy) Sheehy. The father was born in Brattleboro,
Vermont, in 1847 a"d died in 1897. He was of Irish
extraction and was prominent in local politics, having
been mayor of his town, Postville, for two' terms. He
followed contracting and building. The mother of
our subject was born in Missouri, and her parents came
from Ireland. She was married in Clearmont, Iowa,
in 1871 and died in 1899, aged fifty years. William
J. was raised in Iowa, received his elementary training
in the district school and afterwards was especially
favored in having a course at the state university and
also at Bayless college in Dubuque. In 1892 he went
to St. Paul with Gordon & Furguson, furriers, con-
tinuing for three years. Then he acted as salesman in
various places in Dakota and in 1901 he came to Idaho
engaging for a short time in Lewiston. Next he came
to Orofino and later entered partnership with Mr.
Smith. In addition to their drug business they handle
a large trade in tobaccos and cigars. Mr. Sheehy
has six sisters, Mayme, wife of George Newburry,
cashier of the First National Bank at Carrington,
North Dakota ; Margaret, Nellie, Kate, Veronica and
Ruth, all residing at Carrington. Mr. Sheehy is a
member of the K. of P. and the M. W. A. at Orofino.
In North Dakota on December 6, 1897, Mr. Sneehy
married Miss Laura A., daughter of James and Mar-
garet (Johnson) Hunt, natives of Canada, and now in
the implement business in Willow City, North Dakota.
Mrs. Sheehy has a common schooling and has two
brothers and two sisters, Harry, Robert, Edith, wife
of Charles Mallory, partner with his father-in-law;
Jessie, single, living with parents. Two sons have
been born to Mr., and Mrs. Sheehy, Harold and Alvin.
Mr. Sheehy is interested in mining in the Pierce dis-
trict.
BENJAMIN C. HAMMITT was one of the first
to invade the Prichard creek country in the early days
and since then he has been associated with the mining
here almost constantly and his enterprise, skill and
assiduity have given him a good success. He was
born in Oregon, December 20, 1859, the son of Norman
P. and Frances (Zumwalt) Hammitt, natives of Ohio
and Missouri, respectively. The father crossed the
plains to San Francisco in 1849, mined about seven
years, then went to the Willamette valley, where he
died on June 6. 1901. He fought in the Rogue river
Indian war. The mother crossed the plains with her
parents in the early 'forties. Our subject was educated
in the public schools and the state university, then was
employed on the civil engineer corps of the 0. R. & N.
and in 1883 came to Palouse, Washington. He came
in August of that year over the Evolution trail to Mr.
Prichard's house, the only one in Eagle and later went
back to the Palouse country. The next year he came
in over the Jackass trail and since then he has been here
constantly excepting some visits to his native place.
Mr. Hammitt sold a quartz claim for two thousand
dollars and he has located, sold and worked in mining
constantly since. In 1891 he bought a fourth interest
in the Myrtle group and since has devoted his energy
to working that group. He also owns an interest in
the Montana bar group and also has several other
claims. Mr. Hammitt has the following brothers and
sisters, George, Marvin, Victor, John, Cloud, May,
Belle Seeley, Fanny Barker, Maud, Grace. Mr. Ham-
mitt is a member of the A. F. & A. M., being senior
deacon. He is a Democrat and has been in the county
convention. Mr. Hammitt is a man of worth and good
character, has many friends and has won confidence
and esteem from all.
LUDWIG NISTLER, who is now mining at Delta
and is one of the well known and popular men of the
district, has had a long and eventful experience that
detailed in full would make an interesting volume.
We append a brief epitome. He was born in Saxe-
Coburg-Gotha, Germany, on April jj. 1854, the son
of Ludwig and Sophie ( Walter) Nistler, natives of the
same place. The father died on May 1. 190 1. He
had been in the United States and had served in the
Civil war. The. mother died when our subject was
fifteen. Ludwig was well educated in literary lines
and in music and also perfected himself in the lock-
smith trade. When twenty-seven he came to the
United States and worked in Missoula, then mined on
Clearwater creek, then wrought variously until Janu-
ary, 1884, when he came to Eagle via Trout creek. He
built houses, laid foundations and did various other
work with his partners and later prospected. Then he
was in the Lolo creek district but returned here "broke."
He sold a mule and got a start, then prospected some
more with the success of finding nothing. Then Mr.
Nistler assisted to erect Brown's brewery, to dig Ham-
mond's big ditch and also did some good performing
on the great Fourth of July celebration well known to
all in early days. Mr. Nistler built a good portion of
the Osburn road, dug on Dutch Jake's bar, where he
made an ounce per day, then mined all summer indus-
triously with his partner and in the fall summed up
their capital into forty dollars of debt and the grub all
gone. They tried it on California bar and hired help,
but after they paid their men found themselves in the
same condition as on the last occasion. Later he bought
an interest in Placer Gulch and sunk a shaft but found
nothing. The next year they ground sluiced and sim-
ply made their board and still Mr. Nistler was not dis-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
175
couraged, his native grit keeping well in play. Then
he returned to his old shaft and twelve feet further on
at last grasped the wing of the elusive fortune and they
made good pay for two years. Next he and his part-
ner located a claim abandoned by the millionaire Chas.
Sweeney, and took out one nugget that netted seven
hundred and seventy-two dollars. This was in July,
1902. Mr. Nistler is still mining and is now well
prospered and Dame Fortune is smiling on his efforts.
He has one brother and one sister, Carl, Rosa.
On November 10, 1895, Mr. Nistler married Mrs.
Paula Rehm, born in Hanover, Germany, on August
12, 1863. Her father, Hans Schroeder, died in Ger-
many in 1882. The mother, Minna (Billerbeck)
Schroeder, died in 1885. Mrs. Nistler came to the
United States in 1891. She has one brother, Louis,
and three sisters, Anna Borchert, Regina Strudhoff,
Marie. Mr. Nistler is a member of the I. O. O. F.
Mrs. Nistler received a fine education in her native
land and she is a sweet singer and an excellent musi-
cian. Mr. Nistler is also possessed of excellent vocal
powers and is skilled in instrumental music as well.
They are entertaining and leading people and are very
popular both on account of their genial and kind ways
and their qualifications.
JOHN P. WHITE. This industrious and enter-
prising gentleman is one of Wardner's well known
business men. He is handling a custom and repair
shop in shoe ware while also he carries a stock of
ready made goods of all kinds of footwear. In addi-
tion to this Mr. White operates a cigar and tobacco
store, thus demonstrating his energy, tact and skill in
the line of business. He is a skilled workman and has
commanded a fine patronage from the beginning.
John P. White was born in Rowlesburg, West
Virginia, on May 15, i860, being the son of Edwin and
Ellen (Freeman) White. The father was born in
Connecticut, springing from a well known old New
England family. When twenty-one he went to West
Virginia and now dwells in Indiana. The mother was
born in Virginia, coming from an old Virginia family.
She died in 1870, aged forty-five. The death occurred
near Haltimore. Our subject was reared in West
Virginia and Virginia principally, remaining there un-
til 1899. He learned the shoemaker trade and be-
came an expert in this line and followed it there. In
the year last mentioned he came to Bonners Ferry and
after a few months there made his way to Wardner and
opened his present shop. He has continued here since
that time with an ever increasing patronage and is now
one of the established business men of the place. Mr.
White has a comfortable home and other property
which his industry and thrift have accumulated. Mr.
White has one brother, Charles, and two sisters. Mrs.
Laura Beavers and Mrs. Olive Shay.
In December, 1879, in Virginia, Mr. White mar-
ried Miss Mary C, daughter of George and Susan
Wiseman, now deceased. ■ Mrs. White has one brother
and one sister, George, Mrs. Belle Baylor. To Mr.
and Mrs. White six children have come for blessing
and comfort. Otto, Laura, Maude, Mabel, Orpheus,
Tulloss, all at home. Mr. White is fraternally affiliated
with the M. W. A. and the K. O. T. M. He is a de-
vout membei of the Congregational church and his
wife of the Lutheran. Mr. White devotes much time
and attention to church work and is known as a man
who practices what he preaches. In political matters
he is a Democrat but not a partisan and always favors
the best man and the wisest principles.
JOHN I. DREW. The Maze saloon is operated
and owned by Drew Brothers, the firm being John I.
and Thomas W. Drew. They also own another sa-
loon in Kellogg. The Maze is the headquarters for
miners and prospectors and is conducted personally by
the subject of this sketch while Thomas handles the
Kellogg property.
John I. Drew was born in Scotland, on February
11, 1867, being the son of James and Mary (Trvin)
Drew, natives of Scotland. They came to the United
States in 1871 and now dwell at Blackfoot. Idaho.
Our subject received his education in Braidwood, Illi-
nois, and Park City, Utah, in which the father followed
his occupation of mining. 1879 was the date the family
settled in Park City, Utah. After a short time in the
schools there John 1. went into the mines and he has
since that time until recently been connected with
prospecting or mining in all the various camps and
districts of the northwest. He came to Wardner in
1898 and in 1900 the brothers opened the present place
of business in Wardner. Thomas W. was born in
Scotland on January 17, 1865. and he has been asso-
ciated with his brother in all the various ventures and
labors and business that have occupied him. They
have three more brothers, William, George, James, and
two sisters, Mrs. Annie Mackie, Mrs. Jessie Murphy,
all in Blackfoot, except the last who is in Nebraska.
At Dubois, Idaho, on January 31, 1892, Mr. John
I. Drew married Clementina Hutchinson whose parents,
Jacob F. and Rhoda J., are farmers near Blackfoot.
Mrs. Drew has four brothers and two sisters. Joseph,
William, Eugene, Dewey, Stella, Lelia, all at' Black-
foot, but the first, who is at Wardner. Mr. Drew is a
member of the I. ( ). < ). F. in Blackfoot and of the
Eagles, being trustee, in Wardner. Mr. Drew is a
Democrat but not a partisan. The Drew Brothers are
well known and are substantial citizens.
ANDREW B. WARD. This pleasant and genial
gentleman is now one of the leading mining men in
Thiard and has the distinction of being one of the early
pioneers to open up this district. He was born in Ran-
dolph county. West Virginia, on July 26, 1855. the son
of. Levi D. and Rebecca ( Wamslev ) Ward, natives of
West Virginia. They both died on the old homestead,
the mother on July 1, 1880. and the father on Septem-
ber 1, 1863. The father had been imprisoned by the
76
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Federal authorities on supposed sympathy with the
south and when he came home he was broken in health
and died in two weeks. The Ward family is prominent
in Virginia, Kentucky and other states and the ancestors
came here in early days. They were well represented in
the Revolution and other wars of the nation. The
mother's people were also prominent in the early days.
Our subject was well educated and taught school for
seven years* and then in the fall of 1882. he and his
brothers Samuel and James came to the Black Hills
country and there spent two years hunting buffalo.
They were very successful in bagging the large game.
Then they came to this district, landing here on March
20. 1884. They went at once to prospecting and located
the Fay Templeton claims and eleven claims at the head
of Trail Gulch. In addition our subject and his broth-
ers own various other claims, quartz and placer. Mr.
Ward has the following named brothers, Samuel, born
May 3. 1852, who returned to West Virginia in 1901 :
James A., born February n, i860; Jacob L., born Jan-
uary 1, 1848. James is here with his brother. Among
other claims Mr. Ward and his brother located the
Wakeup Jim and Charleston groups.
On October 7, 1901, Mr. Ward married Mrs. Char-
lotte Ashman, nee Hutchison. Mr. Ward is a Demo-
crat but is now partisan, for he always reserves for his
own decision the questions of the day and his vote is
cast for the general welfare and the policy that is for
advancement and improvement.
MART1X NO( >\ \X was born in Ireland, on No-
vember 10, 1833, the son of Daniel and Mary 1 Quinn 1
Noonan, natives of Ireland. The father died in Sci-
tuate, Massachusetts, in 1890, and in that city the
mother also died recently. Our subject came to the
United States with his parents when he was sixteen,
remained in East Bridgewater for six years and then
went to Scituate where the parents remained until their
death. He learned shoemaking and his father opened
a business in Irish moss which his grandson is now
carrying on. In [858, our subject left the Old Bay
state for California and mined there until [864, then
came to Boise, and two years later went to Montana.
He has always followed placer mining and is an expert
at the business and is interested in the Myrtle group
and the Montana bar. Mr. Noonan has the following
brothers and sisters. Patrick, Michael. Bridget Quinn.
Mr. Noonan is retired from business now and receives
a good income from his mines.
CLARENCE P. SMITH. This cultured and stir-
ring young business man is proprietor of the Pioneer
drug store at Pierce, which business he has placed on
a good footing, it being one of the established houses of
the town.
Clarence P. Smith was born in Northumberland
county, Ontario, on September 21, 1879, being the son
of Adam H. and Frances (Lankford) Smith, natives of
the same place. The father is a mason and fanner
and a member of the city council in Warkworth. He is
aged fifty-one. The mother is aged forty-seven. Clar-
ence was educated in the high school and then took a
diploma from the Campbellford college. Subsequent
to that. Mr. Smith spent one year in traveling and
finally located in Lewiston, engaging with Ray & Os-
mers, druggists of that place. His technical knowledge
rendered him a valuable assistant in their line and he
soon won distinction as a pharmacist. In April of this
year. Mr. Smith opened the Pioneer drug store, which
was a successful venture from the first.
Mr. Smith has three brothers and one sister, Henry
L.. Richard C, Morley E., and Mary B., all in Canada.
The brothers are successful school teachers in Canada
and the sister is a small girl. Mr. Smith is still quietly-
sailing a bachelor craft. He is popular and has won
many friends, being an upright and genial young man
of sound principles.
LODOW1CK W. GAY, one of the well known
and prosperous business men of Kellogg, comes from a
family of noble birth which landed in Virginia with the
cavaliers in the days of John Smith and have been
stanch Americans ever since. Upon his mother's side
he comes from the Evans family which came hither
from Wale? in the seventeenth century.
Lodowick W. Gay was born in Springfield, Mis-
souri, on August 28, 1848, being the son of Martin B.
and Ann (Evans) Gay, natives of Virginia and Ken-
tucky, respectively. They crossed the plains in 185 1.
settling on a donation claim in the Willamette valley.
The father died there in 1867 and the mother was called
to the scenes beyond in 1874, both departing from the
old home place. Our subject received his education
and was reared in Oregon. He raised stock there and
farmed until 1884 and then came to Eagle City. He
delved for the precious in Potosi gulch and to use his
laconic phrase, "went broke," He quit mining then
and engaged in the grocery business. This was in 1886
and he opened business at Kingston. In 1887 he went
thence to Wardner Junction, and from there in the
same year to Wallace. In 1S88, we see him in Mullan
and in 1889 he returned to Wardner Junction, now
Kellogg, and here he has remained since. Mr. Gay has
manifested great energy and enterprise and his close
attention to business and kind and careful treatment of
all have given him a good patronage. Mr. Gay has
seven brothers and one sister, James W. a farmer in
Lincoln county, Oregon ; Charles F., a real estate man
in Spokane : John W., in Linn county, Oregon ; Evans
S., dairyman and wholesale grain dealer in Kellogg;
Daniel G., farmer in Linn county. Oregon : David G.,
farmer in Lane county. Oregon : William K.. a farmer
in Linn county; Mrs. Martha A. Masterson. in Lane
county.
On June 30, 1879, Mr. Gay married Mrs. Mary A.
Miller, nee Wedding. Her stepfather is Charles B.
Sweet, a well known Oregon pioneer, who crossed the
plains in 1852 and now lives in Lane county aged sev-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1177
enty-eight. Her mother, Elizabeth Sweet, also lives
there. Mrs. Gay has one brother, Grant C. with his
parents. She has one child by her former marriage,
George T. Miller, a stock man in Oregon. Mr. and
Mrs. Gay have two children, Evans, a student at the
Oregon University in Eugene; Leslie, a butcher at
home. Mr. Gay is a member of the Junior Order of
American Mechanics, Washington Lodge, No. i, and
also the Loyal Orange Institution of the United States,
Lincoln Lodge, No. 403.
WILLIAM M. RIGGS. This popular gentleman
and substantial citizen of Kellogg is handling tonsorial
parlors there, being proprietor of the same and is doing
a good business, with everything up to date and handled
in a skillful and pleasing manner.
William M. Riggs was born in Pacific county.
Washington, on May 26, 1861, being the son of Green-
berry and Sarah (Hart) Riggs, natives of Missouri.
The father crossed the plains in the early forties and
located in Polk county where he followed shoemaking
and farming for a number of years. He was also en-
gaged in logging and was all through the Indian wars
of southern Oregon and later in Idaho. The mother
crossed the plains with her people in the forties and
married in Polk county. Our subject was reared in the
Willamette valley and received a good education from
the common schools and the Dallas Academy. Then he
followed farming with his parents and came with them
to eastern Washington, whence they went to Rainier.
Oregon, and then to Pacific countv, Washington. Our
subject remained eighteen years at Rainier, following
the wood business and then barbering. It was October,
1898, that he came to Kellogg and opened a barber
shop. Here he has continued since with good success,
and a fine patronage, merited by his skill and defer-
ential treatment of all. Mr. Riggs has one brother, < r.
Arthur, a barber in Aberdeen, Washington.
On August 16. 1882. Mr. Riggs married Miss
Marie, daughter of Peter and Omerine Parmentier, and
a native of Belgium. Mr. Riggs is a member of the
K. P., and the W. W., both in Rainier. Oregon. Mr.
Riggs is a Democrat but not partisan and reserves for
himself the independence of thought in reference to
man and principles that should characterize ever) true
American citizen. In addition to his business he has
various mining interests in the vicinity.
GEORGE A. WOOD is at the present time post-
master at Thiard, where also he operates a general mer-
chandise establishment and in addition to these occu-
pations does considerable mining. He is a man of en-
terprise and has been connected with the mining indus-
tries in this section for many years. George A. Wood
was born in Rhode Island, on July 29, 184*), the son of
Ransom and Susan (Taylor) Wood, also natives of
Rhode Island, descendants from old colonial families.
The father died on May 12, 1876, and the mother is
now deceased also. Our subject remained in Rhode
Island until six years of age and then went to Illinois
and there attended school and worked on the farm with
his father. In 1872 he left home and came to Mon-
tana and since that time he has devoted himself mostly
to mining and prospecting. On May 31, 1884, Mr.
Wood landed in Littlefield, coming in over the Thomp-
son Falls trail. He at once commenced to prospect and
mine and in the fall of 1887 he came to his present place
and soon bought an interest in the placer ground.
Since then he has continued here and is one of the sub-
stantial men of the section, well known and esteemed by
all. Mr. Wood has one sister, Abbie Combest.
On March 4, 1893, at Spokane, Washington, Mr.
Wood married Miss Kate Cavanaugh, who was called
hence by death on April 23, 1896. Mr. Wood is a
Democrat and is always interested in the welfare and
advancement of the country and has always labored
faithfully for this end. The measure of success that
he enjoys has been entirely merited by his industry,
skill and uprightness.
EMIL E. BROWN was born in Alsace-Lorraine,
under the French flag, on December 22, 1845. the son
of Samuel and Flora ( Houbert ) Brown, natives of
Alsace-Lorraine. Our subject came to the United
States in 1865, was educated in the parochial schools in
his native "land and here assisted his father in the brew-
ery business. Later he was in St. Louis and then after
four years there he went to the west and visited Colo-
rado, Arizona, New Mexico, Montana and other places.
He did brewery business, mined, and freighted and in
the spring of 1884, he came to the Murray country.
With others he built a brewery in Delta, but later
abandoned the project on account of high price of
packing in grain. Since then Mr. Brown has devoted
himself to mining. He has two brothers and four sis-
ters in the old countrv .
In Denver, Colorado, Mr. Brown married Miss
Fiora Andela, a native of Los Animas, Colorado, and
now deceased. One child was born to this union. Mary,
in Denver.
BENJAMIN E. JENKINS, a well known miner
and business man of Wardner, where he is managing
the interests of E. A. Brady, owner of a saloon in
Wardner, was born in Cornwall. England, on Novem-
ber 19, 1869, being the son of John and Lane (Pol-
glase) Jenkins, natives of England. The father is
deceased but the mother still lives there. Our sub-
ject came to the United States in 1889, landing in
Glass Valley, California, where he mined for a time,
then wrought in mines in other portions of the state,
in Colorado, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Montana and
Utah. It was 1896 that Air. Jenkins came to Ward-
ner and took a place in the Bunker Hill and Sulli-
van. He continued steadily in this with the exception
of six months spent in Cripple Creek, where he went
to take a position in the band, until May, 1902, when
i78
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
he accepted the place he now occupies. Mr. Brady
was called away by other business and placed the
management of his property in the hands of Mr.
Tenkins. Mr. Jenkins has three brothers and four
"sisters. William H, a miner in Grass Valley; James
and Nicholas in England; Mrs. Mary Richards in
Coulterville. California; Mrs. Elizabeth J. Jenkins, in
Butte; Emma and Phillipa, in England.
On June 21, 1898, Mr. Jenkins married Mrs.
Grace C. Oscheir in Wardner. Her parents are
deceased. She has two brothers and one sister, James
H., George Hoskens, in Wardner ; Mrs. Jane Van
Gilder, also in Wardner. Mrs. Jenkins has one daugh-
ter by a former marriage. Ruby, a school girl. Mr.
Jenkins is a member of the Eagles and is a skillful
manipulator of the tuba in the Wardner band. In
politics he is a Republican and his standing in the
community is excellent.
GEORGE McKINNTS is one of the old timers of
the Wardner and entire Coeur d'Alene country and at
the present time is operating a saloon in Kellogg. He
was born in Jackson county, Ohio, on October 16,
T848, the son of William and Elizabeth (Hadway)
McKinnis, natives of Ohio. The father is from an
old American family of Scotch extraction and the
ancestors were famous highland warriors for many
generations. The paternal great-grandfather of our
subject fought for American independence, his grand-
father in the war of 1812 and his father and two
lirothers were in the Civil war fighting for the Union.
The father died in 1893. The mother of our
subject died when lie was seven. He was
reared in Ohio and Missouri, whither the
family came in 1854. The two older brothers enlisted,
one in Iowa and the other in a Missouri regiment,
while the father was one of the home guards and
our subject was detailed to care for the younger mer-
bers of the family. Charles was a lieutenant when
mustered out and James had suffered in Andersonville.
Both are now deceased. In June, 1865, our subject
went to New Mexico and freighted for the govern-
ment, making two trips from Fort Leavenworth to
Port Union. One year later he returned home and
in 1870 he went to St. Joseph and engaged with his
brother and brother-in-law in their mercantile house.
At the time of the Black Hills excitement they went
with freighting outfits loaded with goods and sold
them well in the mining camps of that district. Our
subject erected buildings in Crook City and Deadwood
and they remained until 1880. Then the brother went
to Colorado, where he died. George went to Mis-
souri and did mercantile work until 1884, when he
came to Eagle City and prospected and mined. He
came in over the Belknap trail with nine others and
his cash fed them all. Not doing well in the mines,
he worked out at various employments, then went to
Thompson and Butte and cut much wood. He was
back to Murray at the time of the starting of the
bedrock flume and came to Wardner when it was a
town of tents. He bought lots and opened a saloon.
There and at the junction at Kellogg he has been since.
Mr. McKinnis has erected two hotels and other build-
ings in Kellogg and has had the misfortune to lose
much property by fire. He has three sisters living,
Lucinda Frederick, near King City, Missouri: Sarah
Gilbert, Savannah, Missouri, Elizabeth Middlebaugh,
near Kidder, Missouri.
On one occasion Mr. McKinnis joined company
with the famous Kit Carson and it was not infrequent
in his travels that he passed through vast herds of
buffalos. He had numerous fights with the redskins
and on one occasion he pulled fourteen arrows out of
his wagon bed after such a fight.
At St. Joseph, on January 10, 1881. Mr. McKinnis
married Miss Victoria Womach. a native of Missouri.
One son, Armond, has been born to them and he is
an apt scholar in journalism and in mechanics. He
is with his mother in St. Joseph studying at the pres-
ent time. Mr. McKinnis is a member of the I. < >.
O. F., being past noble grand. He is also a member
of the Junior Order of American Mechanics. Wash-
ington Lodge, No. 1. and the Knights of Pythias.
Politically Mr. McKinnis is allied with the Republi-
cans and although not partisan he is well posted and
labors for the best interests.
JEREMIAH M. SAVAGE, who is at the pres-
ent time assistant superintendent and president of the
Northern, Delta. Mascot and Beaver Creek Gold Min-
ing Companies, is one of the most energetic and en-
terprising mining men in Northern Idaho, lie is a
leader in Murray in mining : is prominent socially
and in political circles and is looked up to as one of
the best all around mining and business men in the
northwest. Jeremiah M. Savage was born in Grant
county, Wisconsin, on December 6, 1847, tne son c)t"
James and Ellen (Mars) Savage, natives of Ireland
and England respectively. They both died in 1873.
The father was a farmer and miner in his native
state; our subject received his educational training
from the public schools, gained good discipline with
his father on the farm and in the mines and continued
in his parental home until 1866. That year marks
his advent into Montana, where he engaged with a
will in prospecting and mining, continuing the same in
various sections of the state until 1884. In that year,
memorable to the section of which we are writing,
Mr. Savage came on the crest of the excitement over
the Thompson Falls trail to Murray. He engaged for
a short time in the saloon business, but soon dropped
that and returned to his first love, and so thoroughly
has he devoted himself to mining and mining inter-
ests that he knows the science from the beginning of
the prospector's work to the producing mine, being
also expert in mineralogy and all the attendant mat-
ters of science. He bought an interest in the store
at Myrtle first and also in the old Myrtle placer
claims, which was considered the richest in the dis-
trict and he is still interested in the same property. In
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
179
1901 Mr. Savage went to Montana and interested
C. S. Crister in the Beaver district prospect. Mr.
Crister went east and formed the four companies of
which our subject is now president. The operations
of these companies are more fully told elsewhere in
this volume.
Mr. Savage has two brothers, John V., James S.
and two sisters, Ellen J. and Joanna Dwyer.
On February 10, 1887, at Missoula, Montana, Mr.
Savage married Miss Sophie Sanfason, a native of
Grand Isle, Maine. Three children have been born to
this union : Viola L., aged fourteen, on Oct. 14,
1902: Azalie A., born February 20, 1891; Edward
PL, born March 18, 1900. Mr. Savage is a member
of the A. F. & A. M., and the I. O.'O. F. He is a
Republican of the most strict type and takes a very
active part in all the campaigns. Murray is greatly
indebted to Mr. Savage for bringing its resources to
the knowledge of capital and he is deserving of great
credit for his tireless labor, the skill and enterprise
manifested ami his loyalty to this district and its
interests.
THOMAS SHCSTER is proprietor of the Delta
hotel and is a man who has been intimately acquainted
with this country from the earliest discoveries till the
present time, also having had an active share in the
good work of discovering and working mines here.
He was born in Wisconsin. September 14, 1859, the son
of John and Annie ( Slatner) Sinister, natives of Austria.
The father came to this country in the early fifties
and settled in St. Croix county, Wisconsin, the birth-
place <>f cur subject, and there farmed. Hi' died in
Kent. Washington, in 1898. The mother was married
in Germany and now lives with her son, Joseph, in
Republic, Washington. The father served in the Civil
war. When Thomas was nine the family went to In-
dependence. Missouri, then to Ft. Scott. Kansas, and
he learned the carpenter trade. Later he took land
in Nebraska, and in 1876 crossed the plains to the
Willamette valley, ( )regon. He left there for Golden-
dale, Washington, the next year and in 1880 he came
10 Rathdrnm. He did timber work and steamboating
until September, 1883, when he came to Eagle City
over the Evolution trail with fifteen animals packed
with provisions. He packed and later mined in all the
various sections of this district, some times unsuccess-
ful and some times with good results in dust. On the
Black Hills placer he did poorly at first and then took
out one hundred dollars per day to the man for a time.
In 1891 he bought the Delta hotel and since that time
he has continued here with the exception of one year
in Sumpter, < )regon, where he was engaged in mer-
cantile pursuits. October 25, 1902, was the date he
came here and since then Mr. Sinister has continued in
the operation of the hotel and in mining. He has vari-
ous valuable interests in both quartz and placer. Mr.
Sinister has three brothers, Joseph. John and Frank.
On September 5, 1888, Mr. Sinister married Miss
Winnie Hutchinson, at Myrtle, Idaho. She was born
on December 2. 1866. Her parents crossed the plains
in early days to Oregon and are now deceased. .Mrs.
Sinister has one sister, Charlotte Ward. Mr. Sinister
is a member of the I. O. O. F., and in political mat-
ters he is independent. He is a notary public and is
a man of good business ability and their hotel is a
favorite place for traveling people.
AX DREW M. ROBERTS, a well known and
capable business man of Pierce, and also the worth)
postmaster of that thriving place, was born in Clay-
county, Kentucky, on January 12. 1851, being the
son of Washington and Melinda (Gilbert) Roberts,
natives of Kentucky. The father died in Arkansas in
1894, aged seventy-six. His father came from Vir-
ginia and settled in Kentucky and secured large es-
tates, which are still in the family, which is one of
the prominent ones of Kentucky, and from which have
sprung some of the leading professional men of the
state. The mother of our subject died in Kentucky
on the old homestead in 1878, aged fifty-two. The
Gilberts originally came from Virginia and are a very
prominent family in professional lines and as property
owners. John Gilbert, an uncle of Mrs. Roberts, was
a noted Baptist preacher and died at the good old age
of one hundred and ten. Our subject was reared and
educated in Clav county and then went into the lumber
and logging business for himself at twenty, continuing
in these lines for five years. He had a farm of eighty
acres and in the spring of 1879 he sold this and went
to Lane county, ( )regon, where he rented land for
four years. In 1883 he came to the John Day country
and located, buying a half section of land. As a mer-
chant, farmer and blacksmith. Mr. Roberts occupied
thirteen years there and then sold out and journeyed
to Dayton, Washington, where he conducted a meat
market for one year, after which he repaired to Asotin
and operated a general merchandise establishment for
two years. In 1897 he came to Pierce and opened a
store and was soon appointed postmaster, which office
he has filled since. He has a good store and business
building in Fraser, which is conducted by his son-in-
law and partner. Eugene S. Friend. In Pierce Mr.
Roberts has a large stock and owns the buildings and
lots where he does business and also he owns residence
and other business property in the town. He is agent for
a ditch worth several thousand dollars. Mr. Roberts
has two brothers and three sisters. Swinfield, in Ken-
tucky, who served three years in the Union army in
Company E, Twenty-fourth Kentucky ; John F...
fanner in Clay county; Nancy, widow of John David-
son, in Newton county. Arkansas; Catherine, wife of
Eli Eastep, also in Newton county ; Emily, wife of
John Burns, also in Newton county.
( hi April 14. 1X70. m Kentucky, Mr. Roberts mar-
ried Miss Mary J., daughter of John and Margaret
(Lochart) Roberts, but not related to our subject.
Mrs. Roberts' parents were natives of Kentucky. She
was born May 17, 1855, was educated in the district
schools and has four brothers and one sister. William.
l'harris, Thomas, Felix, America Gav, all in Kentucky.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Roberts :
Emily, wife of Eugene Friend; Orlena, wife of Ed-
ward Turner, farmer near Fraser ; Margaret, wife of
William Davis, wholesale tobacconist in Lewiston ;
Daniel, clerk in the Beehive in Lewiston ; Laura,
George, Baty, Nellie, Felix, all at home.
HENRY T. GILBERT. The firm of Gilbert &
Wadsworth, general merchants of Kellogg, is one of
the leading business houses of the town and is an up-
to-date establishment conducted on sound business
principles. The subject of this sketch is postmaster
of the town in addition to conducting the mercantile
business and is one of the prominent men of the sec-
tion.
Henry T. Gilbert was born in Brainerd, Minne-
sota, on May 30, 187 1. His parents are mentioned
elsewhere in this volume. Our subject was reared in
Minnesota, Bismarck, North Dakota, and in the west.
He was educated in these places, finishing with a
course in the Spokane business college. He spent
sometime in ranching, mining, prospecting, and so
forth, being associated with his father in much of
this and most of the time. In 1895 Mr. Gilbert
opened a store in Kellogg and has by care and skill
gained a gratifying patronage. In 1901 he sold a half
interest to William B. Wadsworth and since that time
the firm has conducted the business. 1898 was the
year Mr. Gilbert was appointed postmaster. In ad-
dition to this business, Mr. Gilbert has some heavy-
mining interests, one with his father and another
with two partners which is bonded for one hundred
and fifty thousand dollars, and a sale close at hand.
He also has several other mining properties and is one
of the careful and skillful operators of the district. Mr.
Gilbert has also been in business with his brother-in-
law. Mr. Sinclair, who is mentioned in this york.
On February 3, 1893, Mr. Gilbert married Miss
Adelaide, daughter of Burton and Abbie Wadsworth.
The father is deceased and the mother lives in Mar-
shall, Missouri. Mrs. Gilbert has one brother,
William B., partner of our subject, and one sister,
Mrs. Geneva Allen, in Marshall. Missouri. Mrs.
Gilbert is a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr.
Gilbert is a stanch Republican and has frequently-
been delegate to the county convention and is one of
the central committeemen.
JOHN PELKES. who is the present owner and
operator of the Milo saloon in Kellogg, is a heavy
property owner in various sections of the Coeur
d'Alene country, both in real estate improved and
mining property. He was born in Luxemburg, Ger-
many, which was the native place of his parents also,
the date being January 27, 1852. He was educated
in his native land and also became master of the
brewer's art. It was in 1878 when Mr. Pelkes came
to the United States and his first location was in Min-
nesota. Then came a journey to Washington and for
three years our subject followed his business in Col-
fax. Then he started a brewery in Palouse in 1884
but sold the same two years later. At that time Mr.
Pelkes came to Wardner and opened another brewery,
which he recently sold and now gives his whole at-
tention to the conduct of his present place of busi-
ness. This was started two years since with a partner,
whom Mr. Pelkes bought out recently. Mr. Pelkes
owns a commodious and up-to-date cottage in Kellogg,
which is the family home. He has no near rela-
tives in this country. The marriage of Mr. Pelkes
and Amelia Goetz was celebrated in Coeur d'Alene on
February 13, 1890. Mrs. Pelkes has one daughter by
a former marriage, now the wife of Dr. Ide, a dentist
in Wardner. Mr. Pelkes is a Democrat and has at-
tended the state convention and has sent his proxy to
the county convention several times. Mr. Pelkes is
past noble grand of the I. O. O. F., Wardner Lodge
No. 29. He is trustee of the Big Creek Mining Com-
pany and is also interested in Saltese, Gold Run, Mur-
ray and many other localities. He has between
twenty-five and thirty different propositions which he
is carrying and his mining interests are among some
of the best undeveloped properties of the district. Mr.
Pelkes owns two dwellings in Wardner, a hotel build-
ing in Wallace, a residence also in Wallace and sev-
eral other properties besides some real estate in Kel-
logg.
AARON S. WARREN. This well known and
stirring business man is now one of the leaders in
Pierce, being proprietor of the City Hotel and also
owner of a fine stock ranch, well equipped and sup-
porting some fine cattle, horses, poultry, hogs, and so
forth, while also he owns some of the finest quartz
claims in this mining district. Among these may be
mentioned the G. A. R., Veteran No. 9, which is sup-
plied with a twelve foot arrastre, and has rock running
over two hundred dollars per ton. Then he owns the
Potlach group, which has just produced an ore chute
that has phenomenal values both in silver and gold.
Mr. Warren's hotel' has a fine patronage, is well
equipped and popular.
Aaron S. Warren was born in Hopkinton, Massa-
chusetts, on July 16, 1846, being the son of William
H. and Betsey E. (Cousins) WTarren, natives of Mas-
sachusetts as also their ancestors were since the land-
ing of the Mavflower. The father operated an ex-
press and dray line and handled a dairy farm and ho-
tel. He died in 1896, aged seventy-two. The mother
died in 1894, aged sixty-seven. Her parents had
nine children and lived and died in Massachusetts.
Our subject was raised in Hopkinton, a suburb of
Boston, and when sixteen he hurried to the front,
enlisting in the Twenty-second Infantry, Company A,
of his state. His captain was Walter A. Sampson
and his colonel, Henry Wilson, afterward vice presi-
dent of the United States. Mr. Warren served
through, the entire war and was in fourteen general
engagements besides many skirmishes. He was ser-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
geant and at the battle of Gainsville he was captured
and languished five months in Andersonville. His
regiment was rank twelve in the death rate of the
war, but he was only slightly wounded in the entire
service, and he has never applied for a pension. Suc-
ceeding the war, Mr. Warren crossed the plains from
Minnesota to Helena, Montana, with a train of one
hundred and twenty wagons. This was in 1866 and
he operated in the mines and did a butchering busi-
ness there for five years, doing well. He was in Con-
federate gulch most of the time. After that Mr.
Warren travelled through California, Arizona,
Nevada, Old Mexico and many other places, mining
and doing contract work. He had a beef contract on
the Southern Pacific when it was constructing and did
well for two years, then went to Virginia City, Ne-
vada, and there opened a large meat market with his
two brothers and they did an extensive business for
three years. After that Mr. Warren went to Idaho
and had a large beef contract with two partners. At
the time of the Clearwater extension of the Northern
Pacific, he did business in the same line and when the
town of Kendrick was started he was one of the pro-
moters and one of the first to start business there.
He operated a meat market there until 1895 and the
following spring he came to Pierce and opened his
present business and since that time he has done a
thriving trade here. Mr. Warren was elected re-
corder for this mining district the first year here and
has been school trustee and director since. He was
the second mayor of Kendrick. Mr. Warren has two
brothers and three sisters, George W., in Boston, who
was in the revenue department for twenty-four years;
James H., a mining man at Butte, Montana; Lucy,
wife of Fred McQuesten, a millionaire lumber dealer
and shipbuilder in Boston ; Eliza J., widow of Lib-
beus Chilson, in Boston ; Clara H., wife of Willard F.
Mason, a prominent lawyer in Cleveland, Ohio. Mr.
Warren is a member of the G. A. R., Sherman Post,
No. 20, at Kendrick, Idaho, and was vice commander
when he left that place.
In San Francisco, in 1873, Mr. Warren married
Miss Mary Tones, a native of Utica, New York, and
she died in Virginia City, in 1878, aged twenty-nine.
At Kendrick, Idaho, on April 22, 1894, Mr. Warren
celebrated his second marriage. The lady becoming
his wife on this occasion was Mary Hutchison,
daughter of William and Elizabeth (Kirk) Hutchi-
son. The father was born in Prince Edward Island
and died in 1895, aged sixty-three. His ancestors
were of English extraction and four generations of
them were born on the same farm where he was.
Mrs. Warren's mother was born in the West Incfies,
being of Scotch descent. Mrs. Warren was born in
Prince Edward Island on December 4, 1868, and lived
there until fourteen, gaining in this time a good edu-
cation from the public schools. Then she went to
Boston and learned dressmaking and tailoring, which
she followed there until 1892, when she came to Ken-
drick and opened a shop. She did a good business
until she was married. Mr. and Mrs. Warren have
three children, Bessie L., George W. and Harrv H.
Mrs. Warren has. four sisters, Flora, wife of John B.
Richardson, a miner and blacksmith in Pierce; Kate,
single and living in Boston ; Jennie E., wife of Alvin
Arnold, a mining man of Lewiston ; Isabel, wife of
John Riley, a Presbyterian preacher in Halifax, Nova
Scotia. Mrs. Warren has one brother, Robert, with
his parents in Prince Edward Island. Mr. and Mrs.
Warren are among the leading people of Pierce and
enjoy the companionship of many sincere friends and
have made for themselves a good name and have
carved a good fortune for their comfort.
DANIEL E. HARBIN, who dwells at Delta is one
of the well known and successful mining men of the
Coeur d'Alene country and has manifested commenda-
ble energy and enterprise in the work of developing and
bringing to the front the vast mineral resources of
these districts. He was born in Missouri, on Sep-
ber 5, 1862. the son of John T. and Elizabeth ( Bailey)
Harbin. The father was born in Virginia and came
from one of the old and prominent families of that
state. He died in 1900, aged seventy-four. The
mother was born in Ohio and lives in California. Our
subject was well trained in the educational institutions
of the Willamette Vallev, whither his parents removed
across the plains when he was young. He graduated
from the Santiam Academy and also had other excel-
lent advantages which were well improved. Follow-
ing this he was engaged in saw milling for three years
and then came to Asotin county, Washington, where
he followed that industry for five years. Then Mr.
Harbin went to prospecting and from Gray's harbor
to southern Idaho he followed that vocation, and in 1892
he came to the Coeur d'Alene country. Later he ran
an engine for a year in Murray and then bought a road
house where he still lives. Mr. Harbin has constant-
ly been interested in mines and is now owner of a
group that is bonded to C. S. Cryster. He is also in-
terested in the Bessie, Lucky Man, Buckeye, Beaver
Creek, all in the Beaver district and has a one-third
interest in the Summit claims adjoining Senator
Clark's mine. Mr. Harbin has the following brothers
and sisters, Joseph T., James, George, Jeremy, Lenora
J. Donaca, Esther, Ellen Floch, Mary Floch, Bertha
Shields, Maud Jay, Alice Ausman.
On April 15, 1896, Mr. Harbin married Mrs. Jen-
nie Mitchell, daughter of William and Elizabeth' In-
graham. Mrs. Harbin has two children by her first
husband, Bessie, aged sixteen ; Hazel, aged fourteen.
Mr. Harbin is a member of the I. O. O. F., and is cen-
tral committeeman on the Democratic side of the house:
He is a man of worth and integrity and is one of the
leaders in pushing this country to a good develop-
ment.
THOMAS GILBERT. The more than three
score years which have passed over the head of this
substantial farmer and mining man of Kellogg have
left little trace and he is as hale and heartv as in the
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
days of yore, while the accumulated wealth of experi-
ence gained in an active life of various occupations, es-
pecially on the frontier, render him one of the saga-
cious and skilled operators in this section.
Thomas Gilbert was born in far away Rhode Island,
on April 30. 1840. being the son of Updyke and Dorcas
(Jakeways) Gilbert, both natives of New England and
descended from old New England families. The ma-
ternal grandfather of our subject was a soldier in the
war of 18 1 2. Thomas was reared in the native place
until twelve and then came a period of seven years of
seafaring life in which he had many thrilling and hard
experiences. In 1859, he came to the Golden State and
prospected and mined in various places for many years,
ihen went to Arizona. Montana, Wyoming and finally
back to Iowa where he farmed and also tilled the soil
in Minnesota. Later we see Mr. Gilbert in the grocery
and meat business in Spokane after which he came to
Kellogg and settled on an unsurveyed eighty which he
later homesteaded and which is now the family home.
He has it well improved, handles general produce and
raises some stock. Mr. Gilbert has also given consider-
able attention to mining and has a fine group with his
associates on Pine creek which show valuable ore. Mr.
Gilbert has no near relatives living.
In June, 1868, Mr. Gilbert married Miss Christena,
daughter of James and Jennie Falconer, natives of
Canada, and now deceased. Mrs. Gilbert has the fol-
lowing brothers and sisters, William, Samuel. Henry,
John, Norman, Daniel, James A.. Mrs. Jane Cameron.
Mrs. Martha White, Mrs. Eliza McNider, Mrs. Mary
McLean, Mrs. Margaret McDonald, Mrs. Annie Mc-
Clellan. Eight children have been born to Mr. and
Mrs. Gilbert, Ida J., wife of M. J. Sinclair; Henry T.,
in Kellogg, being postmaster and member of the firm
of Gilbert & Wadsworth : Mrs. Nellie M. Pettitt, in
Kellogg; Mrs. Lulu Colburn, in Spokane; Mrs. Liz-
zie Turner, whose husband is secretary of the Kendrick
Mercantile Company of Northport, Washington : Mrs.
Mary Rogers, Spokane; Mrs. Jennie Colvert, in San
Francisco; Walter E., school boy at home. Mr. Gil-
bert is a member of the Junior Order of A. M., No. 1,
Washington, and of the Orangemen, Lincoln, No. 403.
GEORGE F. BALL. The self denial, arduous
labor, and hardships undergone by one who presses into
the wild country to make a home are never understood
except by those who attempt it. One of the worthy
ones who have made a first class success in this pioneer
labor is named at the head of this article and we are
pleased to grant him consideration in his county's his-
tory.
George F. Ball was born in Syracuse, New York,
on March 12, 1862, being the son of Francis D. and
Sophia (Ruby) Ball, natives of France. The father
was born November 21, 1832, came to the Cnited
States in 185 1 and now lives near our subject. The
mother was born April 16, 1830, was married in Syra-
cuse, and died on September 21, 1884, in Buffalo, Ne-
braska. George was reared in Syracuse and was edu-
cated there in the graded and private schools until he
was fourteen years of age. Then the family came to
Lincoln county, Missouri, and the father bought land
and farmed. Later they came to Nebraska, the father
continuing farming and our subject taking a position
with a large cattle company. In 1889, he came to the
vicinity of Palousc and the parents took a homestead.
In 1895 George came to his present location, a mile
and a half north from Greer. He came in the dead of
winter, shoveled, deep snow from the site of his cabin
and erected it in that trying season. In the spring he
walked back to Palouse to help his brother bring in
the balance of their stuff. He walked fifty-four miles
ii> one day in going out. The brother came and took
land adjoining that of our subject and the father came
and took a forty near by. The father raises beans
principally, harvesting about seventy-five bushels this
year. Our subject has sixty-five acres fenced and cul-
tivated and the balance of his land is timber. He
raises the cereals and flax, also has some fine blooded
horses, good hogs and is prospered in his labors.
Mr. Ball has one brother, Edward L., and a half
brother, Frank W., and three sisters, Frances, wife of
Louis Swan, a merchant tailor in Syracuse; Jennie,
wife of William Bramer, in Lincoln county, Missouri ;
Emma, wife of William Reed, in Latah county. Mr.
Ball is a member of the M. W. A., Fraser Camp, No.
10360. He is also a member of the Lutheran church.
He has not yet entered the happy state of matrimony,
but is contented with the quiet of his life of celibacy.
Politically Mr. Eall is allied with the Democrats, but
he is not active in this realm. In addition to the other
improvements of good buildings, fences, and so forth,
Mr. Ball has a couple of fine orchards and contemplates
in the near future putting out many more apple trees.
Fruit of all kinds does fine on his land and in this sec-
tion.
DONALD A. FINLAYSON is a mining man and
a millwright in Murray who has won a good standing
because of his faithfulness and his ability in the lines
which engage him at present. He was born in Prince
Edward Island, Canada, on May 10, 1861, the son of
Angus and Jessie (Micholson) Finlayson. The father
was born in Scotland and came to Canada with his
parents and learned the carpenter trade, which he has
always followed. He is now aged seventy-four. The
mother was born in Prince Edward Island and died in
j 868. Our subject remained in his native place until
twenty, receiving a good education and on his birth-
day he went to Boston on business. He worked at
various employments and then went to Baltimore and
built bridges on the B. & O. After this he mined in
Montana, reaching there in November, 1884. In Au-
gust, 1891, he came to Wallace and worked at his trade
of millwright which he had followed in Montana. In
181/), Mr. Finlayson settled in Murray and now he
lives at Littlefield. He is following his trade in vari-
ous portions of the district and is also heavily interested
in the mines of this section. He owns in Lucky Boy,
Powhattan and others, and one of the claims shows two
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
183
feet and six inches 01 solid galena on the surface. Mr.
Finlayson has three brothers. John, Samuel, J. Quincy,
and three half-brothers, Daniel. lames R.. Angus.
On July 15. 1898, Mr. Finlayson married Miss Jen-
nie L.. daughter of Louis K. and Lin (Sayre) Johnson.
Mrs. Finlayson was born in Rockford, Illinois, in 1870.
One child, Lenora, aged three, has been born to this
union. Mr. Finlayson is a member of the A. F. & A.
M., and of the A. O. U. W. He is independent in po-
litical matters and is a man of sound principles.
DANIEL W. PRICE. Among the genial and
popular business men of Kellogg, there certainly
should be especial mention of the deserving and ca-
pable gentleman whose name initiates this paragraph,
who is manager and partner in the Price Furnishing
Company, a new and prosperous concern, which this
company recently purchased from Goddard of Ward-
ner. The house has been established for some time
but this present management has recently taken charge.
Mr. Price was with Mr. Goddard for a number of
years previous to this venture and was well and favor-
ably known and he is manifesting those qualities in the
management of this business which betoken a bright
success.
Daniel W. Price was born in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
on April 7. 1872. being the son of Rees and Ann (Rich-
ards) Price. The father was born in England of
Scotch ancestry and is now in the real estate busi-
ness in Forest Grove, Oregon. The mother was
born in Wales and came to the United States when six
years of age. Our subject was reared in Waukesha
until sixteen and then went to Racine and learned the
carriage trimming art, working for the Racine Wagon
Company. Thence he came to Wardner, worked a time
in the mines, spent some time in prospecting and in
May, 1899, he entered the establishment of W. F. God-
dard. He continued with Mr. Goddard until Novem-
ber 16. 1902, when he purchased the present establish-
ment and entered into business for himself. Previous
to this, he had owned an interest in a cigar store which
his brother operated, but which they recently sold. He
has one more brother, John, a farmer in Wisconsin.
Mr. Price is a member of the K. O. T. M. and in po-
litical matters is allied with the Republicans, but is not
partisan. The firm carry a stock of five thousand dol-
lars worth of well selected goods and are doing a fine
business, which their care for the interest of their
customers, their uprightness and their skill justly merit.
JOHN THYXE is well known as one of the leading
men in handling mines in the Murray country and is
now superintendent of the Golden Chest. He was born
in Massachusetts. February 2, 1854, the son of Ralph
.ind Martha (Lyons) Thyne, natives of Massachusetts.
The father died in 1888 and the mother in 1893. Our
subject was educated in his native place and when
twenty-one came to Colorado. He worked in the mines
111 various parts of the state for a decade and held van
ous responsible positions in these years. In July, the
first day, 1891, Mr. Thyne landed in Wardner and
began work in the 1 Junker Hill. Later he was in the
Tyler, the Stemwinder and in various others until he
landed in Murray. Then he went to the Morning mine,
was afterward in the Gem, and in March. 1894, he
came again to Murray. For two years Mr. Thyne was
in the Daddy, then foreman in the Chest for three vears
and was finally appointed to his present position. He
is a thorough mining man and stands high in the es-
teem and confidence of the people. .Mr. Thyne has one
sister, Lizzie Topliff.
In Sacramento. California, December 21. 1887, Mr.
Thyne married Miss Mary, daughter of James and
Mary Bath, natives of England, where also Mrs. Thyne
was born on May 25. 1858. The parents came to the
United States when this daughter was young and the
father followed mining. He died in Everett, Pennsyl-
vania, in 1898 and the mother died when Mrs. Thyne
was twelve. Mrs. Thyne has two brothers, William,
and John, and one sister, Lizzie Glover. John Bath has
invented the Bath Grinder which has given him both
fame and fortune. Four children have been born to
our subject and his estimable wife, Edward B., aged
fourteen; Florence, aged ten; Violet, aged six; James,
aged four. Mr. Thyne is a member of the K. P. and
is a solid Republican. He is a musician and handles
the violin in the home orchestra and on account of his
affability, kind ways and integrity he has won many
friends.
CHARLES W. VANCE. While the noble men
and women who made the colonies came for conscience
sake to found a free state, still they carried the school
book with the Bible, and contemporaneous with the
house of worship appeared the place of study. Self
sacrificing and wise men and women were not lacking
to take up the arduous labor of properly training the
youth and the days of Yale are well known when the
student took his peck of corn to pay his tuition. Nor
has :t ended there. Many scholars, who instruct in
the wealthier universities receive fitting remuneration,
but the rank and file of the American people are
trained in that home of our free institutions, the com-
mon school ; and here we need now as in the earlier
days, the same self sacrifice, patience, and devotion to
the cause, and happily we can say, it is still supplied by
as noble descendants as were the grand pioneers who
were tossed by the stormy deep and beset by cruel
savages in their attempts to plant the seeds of freedom.
Any community is measured by its schools and the
schools are a success in proportion to the devotion,
self sacrifice, and erudition of the teachers. Measur-
ing by this standard, and it is the true one, although
searching, we are forced to conclude that the gentle-
man whose name appears at the head of this humble
article is one of America's noblemen, for he has so
given his life in this grand calling, that real and true
success of the most exemplary kind, has crowned his
efforts and his fortunate pupils have reaped a rich
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
legacy from the noble inspiration of a true man and
typical instructor. And strange it is that this labor, so
trying, so wearing, and sometimes so little appreciated
at' the time, is by a generally generous public, so in-
adequately remunerated. Such is one of our living
enigmas — who will solve it ?
Professor Vance was born for a teacher ; the
thought possessed him as a boy. it grew as he grew,
he studied for that end. and although he turned aside
to read law and was admitted to practice before the
supreme court of the state of Nebraska, still his first
love reclaimed him and quickly sacrificed to the con-
suming fire of the real teacher all the lore of legal
books, and he was but a better and broader minded
man than before he slighted his real muse. His train-
ing has been ample and excellent. He passed quickly
through the graded and high schools of Hillsboro.
Ohio, then studied at the famous Valparaiso Normal
of Indiana and finally completed his days of abstract
studv in the Ohio University. 'While he had taught
before this, and where is the true teacher that does not
teach from youth up, he now commenced in earnest
his life work and for six years held the principalship
of the Schuyler schools, in Nebraska. Thence he came
to Silver City, Idaho, and then to Wallace. In that
city, Professor Vance was principal of the city schools
for nine years and the excellent work done can hardly
be over estimated. In 1900 he was nominated by the
Republicans for county superintendent of schools and
although he ran six hundred ahead of this ticket, fate
decreed that he should still remain at the desk and
gave the office to his opponent by nine votes. Then
he came to Wardner and is now the superintendent of
the city schools, where he is doing his characteristic
work of faithful, conscientious, and wise instruction.
On August 27. 1880. at Columbus. Nebraska, Pro-
fessor Vance married Miss Adelaide M., daughter of
Sebra G. and Jane F. Inlay, who reside in Glenwood.
Iowa, the father being a retired mechanic. Mrs. Vance
has one brother and three sisters. Lamont, Mrs. Alida
Stevenson, Mrs. Olive Spicer. Mrs. Clara Hooper.
Mr. Vance has one sister. Mrs. Olive Lamar. To our
subject and his estimable wife there have been born
two children. Dorothy, who died March 11. 1900, aged
eleven months and twenty-six days: Harold C. aged
two and one half years. Professor Vance is affiliated
with the A. F. & A. M . the Elks, the K. of P. Mrs.
Vance is a graduate of the Valparaiso Normal and
taught five years in Fremont, six years in Schuyler.
Nebraska and five years at Wallace. Idaho. In 1898
she was chosen as county superintendent of schools of
Shoshone county, the first lady holding the office. She
did efficient work and holds the confidence and esteem
of a discriminating constituency. Professor Vance has
been president of the County Teachers' Association,
also that of the Joint Teachers' Association of Sho-
shone and Kootenai counties combined and of the State
Teachers' Association as well.
Charles W. Vance was born in Newmarket. Ohio,
on August 12, 1858. being the son of Isaac W. and
Elizabeth (Lemon) Vance, natives of Pennsylvania
and Ohio, respectively. The father was a contractor
and builder and is deceased. The mother lives in
Ohio, still occupying the house where our subject was
born.
GEORGE W. COLEMAN. The energy and
adaptability manifested by Mr. Coleman, as will be
noted in outlining his career in this article, are the key
to his success, which has been bright and gratifying-
He is a man of uprightness and of good standing and
is a well known pioneer.
George W. Coleman was born in Bedford. Penn-
sylvania, on September 23, 1858, being the son of
George and Elizabeth Coleman, deceased. The father
was born in Pennsylvania and the mother in Germany.
Our subject was reared on a ■farm and educated in the
district schools. When sixteen, he went to the Black
Hills, Dakota, prospected and worked in the famous
Homestake. In 1880 he went to Miles City. Montana,
thence to Livingstone and engaged in the wood busi-
ness. Hearing of the Coeur d'Alene excitement, he
left his wood, and also a five hundred dollar team in
Butte, which he has never heard from since, and came
as far as the train came toward Eagle and then plodded
through twelve feet of snow the balance of the jour-
ney. He at once went to freighting for Phil. Web-
ber, hauling the freight on a hand sled. He received
thirty cents per pound and made fifteen dollars per
day. His cargo was liquor and when weary, Mr. Cole-
man did not always stir his blood with cold snow water
on the journey. Eagle was a bunch of tents, with one
log eating house, kept by Mat Brown, the first colored
man in this district and now in Wardner. Mr. Cole-
man freighted this way six weeks, then went with the
stampede to Murray, worked as porter and came to
Wardner, then Kentuck. with the first rush and car-
ried the mail from Murray to this place, receiving-
fifty cents per letter. Later he operated a logging
house for A. R. Goldstein, then was porter in a saloon,
receiving two hundred dollars per month. Later he
went on his ranch three miles east fom Wardner. Af-
ter this he managed Al Page's ranch nearly two years,
then did contract work, mined with the Bunker Hill,
and located the Coleman mine. He kept up the assess-
ment until 1902. when Mr. Coleman sold to the New
Jersey Gold Mining Company for ten thousand dol-
lars. He also sold land and mill site additional to the
amount of one thousand more. He is now in the em-
ploy of this company and owns a claim adjoining the
one sold.
In 18S2 Mr. Coleman married Miss Lottie Kelly, a
native of Liberty, Clay county. Missouri. Her parents
live in Leavenworth, Kansas. Mr. Coleman also owns
mining property with Dan Dalton and Richard Toner,
and has a good residence in Wardner.
CHASTINE DUNAVAN has been in the Coeur
d'Alene country for many years and in fact was pne
of the first to invade these fastnesses when the excite-
ment began. He has continued here ever since and is
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1 185
one of the well known and valuable citizens whose
labors have always been for upbuilding and advance-
ment. Chastine Dunavan was born in Kentucky,
March 8, 1829, the son of William and Mary (Mc-
Elroy) Dunavan. natives of Virginia and Kentucky,
respectively. The father was a patriot in the Revolu-
tion. Our subject was raised in Kentucky and in the
Blue Grass state he received his education and when
eighteen he enlisted in the Nineteenth Kentucky Vol-
unteer Infantry. Company K, under Colonel John W.
Tibatts. He served eighteen months, then spent one
year at home and after that clerked in a mercantile
house in St. Joseph for three years. Then came six
years of steamboating on the Missouri, after which he
spent two years more in St. Joseph and in 1863 he
came to Montana and mined. Seven years were spent
in the grocery business then, and two years on a trip
in the east. In 1876 we find Mr. Dunavan in the
Black Hills and he was one of the enterprising men
there until 1884, when he came over the Trout creek
trail to the Coeur d'Alene country. In March of
that year he landed in Eagle City and a few
days later he was in the mercantile establishment of
Hayes & Higby, the pioneers of this camp. Later
wc see Mr. Dunavan in mining and since those days
he has devoted himself to this constantly. He is
one of the prosperous men of the section and has
various properties. Mr. Dunavan is in receipt of a
pension from the government for services in the Mexi-
can war and is one of the patriotic supporters of the
noble stars and stripes. Mr. Dunavan is not in the
hills much but is promoting mines and is now in
partnership with Lawrence O'Xeil, mentioned else-
where in this volume. Mr. Dunavan has one brother,
William, retired in Kentucky. Mr. Dunavan is a
real Jeffersonian Democrat and is sound on the prin-
ciples of government. He is a genial and ■ highly
respected gentleman and possesses a high sense of
honor and of his stewardship.
WILLIAM McDOUGALL. Among the genial,
capable and patriotic men who have charge of the
various interests of the Bunker Hill and Sullivan
properties we are privileged to mention the subject of
this article, who is now foreman in the Bunker Hill
mine. Mr. McDougall is a practical miner, under-
standing the art from the grass roots to the finished
producer and well laid out property in working trim,
and all the methods from the hand drill to the im-
proved machinery of the present day and so is well
qualified to fill the position where he find him, where
his wisdom, faithful work and efficiency have made
him a valuable man to the company and his integrity
and affability have won for him the high esteem of
all his fellows.
William McDougall was born in Minnesota on April
24, i86t. being the son of Duncan and Ellen (Aldvise-
ly ) McDougall. The father was a native of Canada,
of Scotch descent and the mother was born in Eng-
land. Our subject was reared in California, whither
his parents went when he was three years old. His
education was received in the institutions of learning
in Bangor, Butte county. California. At the early age
of sixteen, Air. McDougall commenced his mining
career and since that time he has steadily pursued this
line of endeavor. He worked first in the Abott
quicksilver mines, in Lake county, California. Then
he was in the gravel mines in Plumas county, in the
silver mines in San Bernardino county four years,
then in eastern Oregon as foreman in the Sanger mine
two years, then in the Elkhorn and Baisley in Baker
county and then with his associates he bonded the
Virtue. Later the bond lapsed and he went to Cali-
fornia again and was foreman in the Lone Star in
Eldorado county a short time, after which he was
shift boss in the W. Y. O. D. and Empire seven
years. In 1901 Mr. McDougall came to his present
position and since that time has done excellent work
here. Mr. McDougall has one sister, Mrs. Annie
McCloud, in Cherokee, California.
In 189.3 Mr. McDougall married Miss Belle Allen,
whose parents live in Butte county, California, the
father being a genera! merchant. Two children have
been born to this union, Loyd L. and William S.
Mr. McDougall is a member of the A. F. & A. M.,
in Grass Valley, California ; of the Grass Valley Chap-
ter, R. A. M.; of the Coeur d'Alene Commanderv,
K. T. ; and of the Industrial Union. He is a Repub-
lican and stands well in the community, having many
friends.
JAMES O. THOMAS. This genial and affable
gentleman is one of the best known of the early pio-
neers and his kind and social ways have given him
hosts of friends all through this section and he is
of the best of standing in the district today. James
O. Thomas was born in Ponsett, Middlesex county,
Connecticut, on May 26, 1834, the son of James and
Olivia (Huppard) Thomas, natives of Connecticut.
The father is from an old New England family of
prominence and patriotism and he died in his native
state. The mother comes from a distinguished fam-
ily and many of them are prominent in manufactories,
in the professions and in governmental affairs. Our
subject received his education and was reared in his
native state and in 1854 he came via the Isthmus to
California. He mined two years and then took a
position with the Western Union Telegraph Company
and was with them for nine years. He was in charge
of the gang that closed up the gap on the Central
Pacific between the Atlantic and the Pacific. Follow-
ing that he went on a mining tour to South America,
but finding the climatic and other conditions unfavor-
able to his work in that line he returned to Cali-
fornia at once. Then he fitted out and went to Mon-
tana. He came via Old Mission and followed the
Old Mullan road and at the present site of Wardner
he prospected in the creek beds for gold, little realizing
the immense bodies of wealth now owned by the Bunk-
er Hill and Sullivan were so close beneath their feet.
He went on to Montana, prospected and made his way
1 1 86
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
to Big Hole, famous for the Indian battle there. Later
Mr. Thomas went to the Salmon region, then went to
Lemhi county and finally returned to Connecticut and
remained on the old homestead for five years. In
the spring of 1886 he came to Murray and located a
small piece of garden ground, buying the right to it.
He did gardening for some time and about 189Q he
sold it for six hundred dollars, the price paid. It
has since been sold to the mining company for five
thousand dollars. After selling this land Mr. Thomas
•came to Murray and began in his present business,
handling feed, hay and grain. He has done well
and is carrying on a good business at the present
time. Mr. Thomas has three brothers, Oscar, Edwin,
Wellington and three sisters, Olive Mooney, a widow,
Emily, Laura Killingsworth. Mr.' Thomas has never
seen fit to embark on the sea of matrimony and is
content with the quieter joys of the celibatarian. He
is a good Republican and is always ready to aid
•whatever is for the public good.
JAMES L. SAFFORD. A well known mining
man and promoter of properties, being also skilled in
the science and art of mining and experting mines, and
at the present operating in connection with the Sierra
Nevada, it is quite in place to recount the career of
Mr. Safford in the history of northern Idaho and it is
with pleasure that we are enabled to add that in his
social standing, as well as in other lines he is of the
highest and is characterized by faithful labors in
general advancement and progress. In this connec-
tion also we wish to mention that Mr. Safford does
much church work, especially in the Epworth League
and in local preaching, in which capacities he has
wrought with great faithfulness.
James L. Safford was born in New York state,
on October 17, 1864, being the son of George O. and
Ellen (Strader) Safford. The father was born in
Vermont, has resided in New York for sixty years
and is a well known literary man, whose articles ap-
pear in various leading journals and magazines. Ik-
is credited with the stanzas on our beautiful Coeur
d'Alene lake, which are found elsewhere in this vol-
ume. The mother of our subject was born in Canada
and came with her parents to New York when an
infant. James L. was raised in Canton, New York,
and was there educated. When twenty-two he went
to Minnesota and traveled there and in the Dakotas
for the Pilsbury-Hulburt Elevator Company. Later
Mr. Safford went to Park City, Utah, and engaged in
mining and in that line he has operated since. He is
now doing expert work for several parties in this dis-
trict and is thoroughly familiar with the Coeur d'Alene
country. He has also operated properties in Nevada,
Utah and other sections of the northwest and is a
man of excellent judgment and great keenness in these
lines, being fortified with both practical experience
and a thorough understanding of the works in refer-
ence to his profession. Mr. Safford has one brother
and three sisters, George H, a real estate man in
Spokane : Mrs. Rctta A. Sharp, in Binghampton, New
York : Mrs. Mary C. Grieves, in New York ; Mrs.
Lena F. Clarke, at the old home place in Canton, New
York. Mr. Safford is still enjoying the quiet joys
of the celibatarian. He is, as said before, actively en-
gaged in church work and many of the outlying dis-
tricts have heard the gospel through his faithful
efforts.
WILLIAM D. FULLER is one of the enterpris-
ing business men of Murray, being senior partner of
the firm of Fuller Brothers, meat dealers, and he is
also one of the stanch supporters of the town and is
to be credited with excellent achievement in its
upbuilding and growth. He has devoted himself to
mining here for years and has some fine showings in
that line now. William D. Fuller was born in Carson
City, Nevada, on December 16, 1863, the son of
James M. and Jennie A. Fuller. The father was born
in Michigan, came to Nevada in 1862, did freighting
and then dealt in meat and since 1880 he has dwelt
near Moscow, in Latah county. The mother was
born in Indiana, crossed the plains with her parents
and is still living. Our subject was raised in Nevada
and received a good education in that place. After
finishing school he raised stock, operated a stage for
seven years from Whiterock to Tuscarora, then mined
successfully for a time and in the fall of 1893 he
came to Murray. He at once turned his attention to
prospecting and mining and continued that until March
1902. he opened his present business. His brother,
March H., came down from Alberta and entered
partnership with him and they now conduct the busi-
ness together. Our subject is heavily interested in the
Iron Clad, Luella, Levant, Roy Boy, and also two
placer claims, Fulier and Cornelius, with water
rights. He is doing a great deal of development
work on the Iron Clad and others and on the former
has about three hundred feet of tunnelling. The
property is one of the best of its kind uncovered here
and will doubtless soon be a shipper. Mr. Fuller
has one brother besides his partner, Melvin, and one
sister, Sarah E.
On November 18, 1892, Mr. Fuller married Miss
Mary, daughter of Morgan Shearer. Mrs. Fuller
was born in Chico. California, and she has one brother
Frank, the wedding occurred on the North Fork,
near Murray. The following children have been
born to this union : Floyd L. ; aged nine ; Hazen H.,
aged seven; Cecil, aged five; Howard, aged three;
Clarence, aged seven months. Mr. Fuller is a mem-
ber of the Red Men and of the A. O. U. W. He is
a Democrat. Mr. Fuller is well impressed with the
excellencies of this country and its worth. He is a
man of good standing and has hosts of friends.
THOMAS H. SIMMONDS. The high quali-
fications, worth, stability and patriotism of the min-
ing men of the Coeur dAlene district are evident to
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1187
a casual observer, and it is :i matter of great importance
that men of this character are handling these mam-
moth industries. Especially does this hold true of
those managing the mines and the mining interests.
On every hand we see men of great experience, keen
discrimination, sagacity and practical ability, coupled
with moral qualities, integrity, sound principles and
uprightness that vouchsafe that substantiality, wis-
dom, justice and execution which so happily con-
serve the interests of owner and operator and inspire
confidence in the public, producing general advance-
ment, upbuilding and progress and fostering the love
of home and country, the sure guiding star to every
true man and loyal citizen. We greet with pleas-
ure, therefore, this opportunity to recount, although
necessarily in brief, the salient points in the career
of one who stands among the leading mining men of
this world famous producing district and who is
lacking in none of the qualifications mentioned, and
whose achievements here speak more emphatically
than our words can, being a bright success as re-
gards himself, the men and property under his charge
and the public in general. Mr. Simmonds is a thor-
ough miner in the fullest sense of the word. He un-
derstands minerals, and knows how to wrest them
from their rocky security to replenish the coffers
of the commercial world ; he understands men and is
able, in handling them, to exemplify that justice and
fairness which characterize brother with brother
and man with man : he understands principles and is
able to put them in application from abstract math-
ematics and chemistry to practical concentration and
definite civil and mining engineering, from theoretic
ethics and political economy to that even balance of
the golden rule which wrongs neither the capitalist
nor the least employee. Following the leading of
these salutary principles and this wisdom, nothing
short of success, and that of the most substantial
and gratifying kind, could crown the efforts of Mr.
Simmonds, as has been the case.
Reverting more particularly to his personal life,
we note that Thomas H. Simmonds was born in Eng-
land, on November 29, 1859, and his parents, James
T. and Emmaline (Collins) Simmonds. are also na-
tives of that country and now live there. The father
is a retired mining manager. Our subject was thor-
oughly educated in his native land and when eighteen
came to the United States. He went direct to Kern
county, California, engaging in the mines of Senator
Jones. Later he mined in Grass Valley, then in the
quicksilver mines of Lake and Napa counties for
seven years. He was foreman of the Sulphur Bank
mine in Lake county two years. In 188" he went
to Amador county and held the foremanship of the
Big Bar mine. He was also in the Ziilie and Kennedy
mines then went to eastern Oregon in 1889. There
he held the foremanship in the Bradley properties
and went thence to the Cashier mines in the Exche-
quer district in the Mohave desert. Next we see him
in the Coeur dAlene country and one year later he
went thence to Eldorado county, California, where
he was superintendent for two years in the Taylor
mine. Next he was in the W. Y. O. D. mine in Grass
valley and held the superintendence for six years and
one year in the Empire. Then Mr. Simmonds ac-
cepted the position as manager of one of the mines of
the South Africa Gold Fields Company and went to
England to take the management, but the Boer war
prevented his journey to Africa and hence he re-
turned to the Coeur d'Alene district and in August,
1900, he accepted his present position of superinten-
dent of the Bunker Hill & Sullivan Mining and Con-
centrating Company. In this capacity he has op-
erated since with the best of success attending his
efforts.
On November 6, 1880, Mr. Simmonds married
Miss Annie E.. daughter of Washington and Nannie
Davey. The father is deceased and the mother lives
in San Jose, California. Mr. Davey owned at one
time all the stage lines from Calistoga to Napa, Knox-
ville and all points in Lake county, and was a well
known and prominent man and pioneer. He crossed
the plains in early days and his wife crossed in 1850.
His wife's sister was the wife of Hugh Dimond, a well
known capitalist and a director of the Hibernia
Bank of San Francisco, California. One child, El-
ton J., aged twenty-one, has been born to Mr. and
Mrs. Simmonds. He was educated in St. Mat-
thews College, in San Mateo, California, and is now a
miner in the Bunker Hill. Mr. Simmonds is a mem-
ber of the A. F. & A. M. ; of the R. A. M., Chapter
t8, in Grass Valley ; of the K. T., at Nevada City,
California; of the Elkatif Temple of the Mystic
Shrine. Mr. Simmonds is a Republican and takes the
part of the intelligent citizen in political matters. He
is a man of affability, excellent judgment, stands ex-
ceptionally well among the people and has the con-
fidence of all.
CLYDE S. PARKER. Born in one of the early
towns of the west, raised in the Occident, and a busi-
ness man here since, surely entitles the subject of this
article to be classed as a genuine western man. He is
at the present time carrying on an insurance and real
estate business together with collections and so forth
in Wardner, where he enjoys a good patronage and is
of excellent standing.
Clyde S. Parker was born in Canyon City, Oregon
on May 23, 1866, being the son of Newton O. and So-
phia S. (Cornelius) Parker. The father was horn in
Virginia of an old family and Parkersbursj. West Vir-
ginia, is named from his grandfather. He died on
September 28, 1898. The mother was born in Penn-
sylvania of German ancestrv and lives in Wardner.
Our subject was raised principally in Portland and
there graduated from the high school. Then he went
to Lewiston with J. P. Vollmer & Co., retaining this
place six years. He was manager of the Lewiston and
Genesee stores. Then he was deputy assessor of Latah
county for four years and in 1895 Mr. Parker settled
in Wardner. He was train boss for the Bunker Hill
for a time and then took up the insurance business.
He has been justice of the peace for four years and he
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
has gained a fine business in the lines which he follows.
Mr. Parker has been delegate to all the county con-
ventions except the last one and he is a strong Republi-
can. He has one brother and one sister, Newton F. and
Stella.
On September 22, 1888, Mr. Parker married Miss
Jennie, daughter of Michael and Elizabeth Reddy,
both deceased. Two children have been born to Mr.
and Mrs. Parker, Kelso and Frances. Mrs. Parker
has two brothers and four sisters, Owen, Richard, Mrs.
Marvin Caldwell, Mrs. Katherine Worden, Mrs. Eliza-
beth White, Mrs. Sarah Elliott. Mr. Parker is a mem-
ber of the I. O. O. F., of the Eagles, and of the Junior
Order of A. M. He is a man of affability and is of
first class standing.
CALVIN NUSS. Although the subject of this
article has not been so long in this country as some of
the old timers, still he has evinced such enterprise and
energy in the opening of the district and its improve-
ment that he is entitled to representation as one of the
substantial builders and supporters of the county. He
was born in Pennsylvania on November 25, 1863, the
son of Joseph and Annie E. (Jacobs) Nuss, men-
tioned elsewhere in this volume. Our subject was
reared and educated in the east, principally in Illinois
and there he remained until 1900 when he came to this
country. He at once devoted himself to mining and in
the spring of 1900 he located the Jersey group, on Ea-
gle creek and the Homestead group in Bear Gulch.
Mr. Nuss secured a valuable property when he located
these and he is giving his attention to developing
them. The tunnel showings are in good ore and great
promise is in evidence. Mr. Nuss is a brother-in-law
of C. B. Ferguson, one of the well known pioneers and
mining men of this district. Our subject is a member
of the M. W. A. and is a man of good standing and has
manv friends.
THOMAS WRIGHT, one of the earliest settlers
in \\ ardner, and one who has continued here since, is
well known and has a first class standing. He has
been occupied in mining in all the prominent north-
western camps and has had great experience in the pio-
neer places and early days.
Thomas Wright was born in New York state on
April 26, 1839, tne son °f William and Margaret
Wright, natives of Ireland and now deceased. The
father was a steam engineer and this son also became
skilled in this line. Our subject was reared on the St.
Lawrence across on the Canadian side until thirteen
and then went to Piatt county, Missouri. Two years
later he went to Kansas and there he married when
twenty-four and with his wife crossed the plains in
1862. He located on the Powder river, in Oregon,
later settled in Auburn, then went to Boise basin,
leaving the wife and child in Auburn. He located
some valuable ground and with his two brothers put
in eleven miles of ditch which cost nearly fifty thous-
and dollars. Later he bought out his brothers and in
1S7O he sold the ditch for a small figure and went to
the Salmon river, where he found dirt that paid him
ten dollars per hour with a rocker. Four years were
spent there and then Mr. Wright returned to Kansas
and did saw milling and grist milling for sixteen years.
He built the first house in Longton then spent eight
years in the Cherokee nation. There he operated a
saw mill, handling black walnut. In 1886 Mr. Wright
came to Wardner and here and in the vicinity he has
remained since. He worked for the Bunker Hill for
six years and has clerked for his son-in-law, J. F.
Van Allen, for five years. Mr. Wright has a residence
in Moscow which he rents. He has the following
brothers and sisters : John, William, Rose, Lou, Mar-
garet, Caroline. Four children have been born to Mr.
and Mrs. Wright, Jesse, Charles, Nellie, Hattie. Mr.
Wright had been a life long Democrat, but at the last
election he voted the Republican ticket and now stands,
on that platform.
JOHN F. WAN ALLEN is proprietor and operator
of a fine hardware establishment in Wardner, handling
also all kinds of sheet iron, does tin work and plumb-
ing, carrying a good stock in each line and being one
of the substantial and popular business men of the
town.
John F. Van Allen was born in Morrisburg, Dundas
county, Ontario, Canada, on August 22, 1862, being
the son of Isaac and Mary J. (Morgan) Van Allen.
The father was born in the Mohawk valley, New York,
was a loyalist and went to Canada with a band of
twenty-five thousand loyalists in the time of the Revo-
lution. The mother was born in Canada of English
and Scotch ancestry and died in 1867. Our subject
was raised in Canada and was educated in the excellent
schools of Ontario, which are noted widely for their
superiority. Finishing his high school course he
learned the tinner's trade and in 1885 he came to
Pottsdam, New York. A year later he went to Min-
neapolis and in 1891 he came to Wardner. He en-
gaged with the Coeur d'Alene Hardware Company,
then Holley Mason Marks Co. In [896 this company
removed to Wallace, and Mr. Van Allen bought a
stock of goods from them and opened a store for him-
self. This has been his place of business since and he
has devoted himself to the advancement and building
up of his trade and is successful, being now one of the
thriving merchants of the town. In 1896 Mr. Van
Allen bought a lot and erected the business building
that he now- occupies. He also has a good dwelling
of nine rooms, well appointed and of modern archi-
tecture. Mr. Van Allen has three brothers and two
sisters, Lemuel H, George I., William H. Mrs. Nellie
Garlough, Emma.
In March, 1897, at Wallace, Air. Van Allen married
Mrs. Nellie Poteet, daughter of Thomas and Frances
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1 189
Wright, who reside in Wardner. Her father was one
of the earliest pioneers in Idaho and is said to be the
first white man to enter the Boise basin and followed
placer mining. Mr. Van Allen is a member of the K.
P., the Eiks! the W. W., and Women of Woodcraft.
Mr. Van Allen is a Democrat, but is of liberal and in-
dependent ideas.
JOSEPH A. R. CAMPBELL. No man is better
known in the Wardner country than the subject of this
article and no man is more feared by the lawless and
criminal class of people, for Joseph Campbell is a man
of keen penetration, quick action, fearless and bold,
skillful with weapons, above a bribe, and with a nerve
of steel. His determination to do his duty in the posi-
tion which he holds of city marshal and the integrity
and unswerving adherence to principle which charac-
terize him have made him a power for law and order
and Wardner is to be congratulated that such a man is
handling this department.
Joseph Campbell was born in Davis count}'. Iowa,
on April 22, 1855. being the son of John J. and Alice
(Noland) Campbell. The father was born July 12,
1812, and died on April 6, 1S90. He crossed the plains
in 1858, returned in three years, crossed again in 1862,
located the ground where a part of Baker City stands,
went into stock near Baker City and there died. He
was captain of the train that stopped first at Baker
City. Our subject's paternal grandfather was a patriot
in the Revolution. The mother of Joseph died when
lie was four, and he was raised principally in Oregon,
being in Baker, Umatilla and Polk counties. In 1866-7
he rode the bell animal of pack trains into the Boise
basin, which was a remarkable feat for one so young.
Our subject was educated in the public schools and at
Monmouth College. He rode the range, did sawmill
work and various other work in his early days and
in 1876 took charge of three thousand and seven hun-
dred cattle to Cheyenne. He returned to Montana. In
1877 he bought an interest in a sawmill, the next year
he bought a wood business in Butte and in 187*) he was
chosen chief of police of that city, and that office and
deputy sheriff he held there for five years, lie was
the first chief there. In 1883 he went east lor an op-
eration on his arm, which had received a gunshot
wound in an encounter with a criminal. Mr. Campbell
took his man, however, on this occasion, as on all
others, but sometimes the)' were carried on a stretcher,
and it is well, for the dignity of the law must be obeyed.
In 1884 Mr, Campbell came to Eagle City and engaged
in several placer deals, but was not successful. He
came here ten days after the location of Bunker Hill
and located fourteen claims adjoining. In [885 lie
went back to Eagle and was deputy sheriff at the Hop-
kins boom. The next spring he returned to Wardner
and was constable, .deputy sheriff, and deputy U. S.
marshal, and when the city was incorporated he was
chosen city marshal. Mr. Campbell has four brothers
and one sister: George, Benjamin, Henry, Frank, all
near Baker City, in the stock business- Mrs. Sarah
Thompson, at Ft. Wayne, Indiana.
In 1888 Mr. Campbell married Miss Hebe M.,
daughter of J. J. and Elizabeth Lent, residents of
Wardner, where also the wedding occurred. Two chil-
dren have been born, Arthur D. and Colvin C. Mr.
Campbell is a member of the Junior Order A. M., of
the I. O. O. F., of the Encampment, of the Rebekahs,
of the Eagles, and in politics is a stanch Republican.
He has frequently been to the county conventions and
has also attended the state conventions. For three
years Mr. Campbell represented his lodge of the I. O.
O. F. at the grand lodge for the state of Idaho.
HARRY L. DAY was born December 12. 1865,
at Dayton, Lyon county. Nevada, the son of Henry L.
and Ellen (Powers) Day, mentioned elsewhere in this
work. Our subject was raised principally in Cali-
fornia, whither his parents removed when he was
young. He was educated in the schools of Nevada
and Sacramento counties and then took a degree from
St. Marys College of San Francisco. Previous to this
course he had labored assiduously at various employ-
ments, beginning with selling papers on the streets of
Sacramento. Mr. Day graduated in 1885, then re-
turned to Truckee and worked at bookkeeping and
other employment until he removed to Wardner in
April, 1886. He then prospected and held various
positions in leading mines of this district and also he
and his father operated the first dairy in Wardner,
which their skill and business enterprise made success-
ful. In T889 Mr. Day and his partner, Fred Harper,
discovered the now famous Hercules. This magnifi-
cent property is mentioned fully elsewhere in this work,
but we will say that Mr. Day had faith in it from the
beginning and steadily pursued his labors, having
charge of the books of the company and pressing on
its development constantly. He was employed in vari-
ous sections of the Coeur d'Alene country in prospect-
ing and in the leading mines and mills, and is at pres-
ent manager of the Hercules Milling Company. He
has two brothers. Eugene K., Jerome J., both mining
men of Wallace and both interested 111 the Hercules.
He also has two sisters. Mrs. E. I1.. Royce, who resides
with her husband in Denver: Blanche, single and
dwelling with her parents in Wallace. Mr. Day is a
Democrat and takes a keen interest in the welfare of
the community.
( )n August 13, 1900, Mr. Day married Miss Nellie
]'... daughter of P. M. and Ellen Dwver, who dwell
at Newman Lake. Washington. The wedding oc-
curred at the historical old church, Old Mission, in
Kootenai county. One child has been "born to this
union, Lawrence Y.
MILES RENNICK is operating winch-man on
the Delta Gold Mining Company's dredger at Delta,
and is a highly respected citizen. He was born in De-
catur, Illinois, on November 22, 1868, the son of
George M. and Rachel (Davis) Rennick. The father
1190
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
was born in St. Francis county, Missouri, in 1849, and
now dwells in Sedgwick county, a respected farmer.
His father was one of the oldest pioneers of Missouri,
who married Polly Anne Wilborn, a native of that
state and daughter of early pioneers. She died in
1895. The mother of our subject was the second
daughter of Joseph Davis, who was precluded from
joining the Union army by physical disability. Joseph
Davis married Mary Davidson, a native of New
Jersey, who died ten years since at Doe Run, Mis-
souri. Our subject was reared on a farm, received
a common schooling and at the age of twenty-one
went to do for himself. His first venture was to
Gunnison county, Colorado, where he mined and in
1890 he went thence to the Chickasaw country in In-
dian Territory. In 1896 we see him in Cripple Creek
and there he witnessed the great fire of that place
in June of the same year. After this Mr. Rennick
prospected in the Colorado and San Juan rivers and
later in various sections of the state. In 1900 he made
his way to Washington and also visited British Colum-
bia. Next we see him in Harrison, Idaho, where he
located a homestead. In 1903 he sold the property
and came to his present position. He is a skilled man
in his line and has the confidence of the people. Mr.
Rennick has the following named brothers and sisters :
George, a farmer of Mulvere, Kansas; Clinton, at
Ouray,, Colorado; Ferdinand, of Mulvere, Kansas;
Mrs. Minnie D. Canady, of Oklahoma ; Ruby, at home ;
Bessie Howard ; Mamie, at home.
JOSIAH HILL. When the town of Wardner
consisted of one tent, Mr. Hill was here and has
remained here since that time, thus preeminently en-
titling him to the position of the earliest pioneer and
one of the real builders of Wardner. At the present
time he is handling a livery barn in connection with
his son, Roy, who is a partner in the business, and
is also operating a stage line from Kellogg to Wardner
and does a general transfer business of passengers,
express, mail, freight and so forth. We are pleased
to recount some of the details of Mr. Hill's life, es-
pecially so since he has been an active pioneer since
he was twenty and also since he has been a potent
influence in the advancement of this section for years.
Josiah Hill was born in New Brunswick, on January
18, 1844, being the son of David and Anna (Brown)
Hill. The father was born in Calais, Maine, on July
6, 1806. and died in 1884. His father took from the
government the land on which Calais is built and the
grandfather of our subject was in the Revolution.
The mother of Josiah was born in New Brunswick,
on July 6, 1812, and died in August, 1870, being of
Scotch descent. Our subject was educated and re-
mained in his native place until he was twenty and
then took the long journey to San Francisco, whence
he came to Seattle.' arriving in Port Gamble on the
old bark Ranier. He deserted the ship and went in
an Indian canoe to find his brother at Seattle, whom
he had not seen for vears. A storm overtook him and
his cockle shell craft was about to be swamped when
a passing steamer picked him up and by a remarka-
ble coincidence, his brother was captain of this steamer.
In 1867 Mr. Hill made a trip to San Francisco on a
lumber schooner, thence to Eureka, where he remained
until 1870. He did lumbering, stage driving and
various other labors during these years and in 1870
he started east. He visited Cheyenne, Denver, Kan-
sas City, and also a brother at Atchison, Kansas, af-
ter a while went on back to New Brunswick. Two
years there, in which time he was married, and then
came a journey to Truckee, California, and after some
time in lumbering, Mr. Hill took charge of the freight-
ing stock of Mackey, Fair, Flood and O'Brien, the
men of Bonanza fame. He handled their stock for
three years and then with a partner bought it. three
hundred head, and did freighting from Carson to
Bodie. This was during the excitement of 1876 and
in addition to freighting, Mr. Hill also operated a
sawmill and furnished lumber to Bodie camps. He
was well prospered and in 1881 he sold out and came
again to Seattle. He went later to Portland and
bought one-half interest in the old American Exchange
hotel, but sold again in a year. Next we see Mr. Hill
in Spokane and as the Northern Pacific was then
building, he was soon handling a contract and in
this and logging, he continued until 1886. In that
year he came to the present site of Wardner, did lum-
ber work at Kellogg, erected a sawmill and was one
of the progressive men in opening up this section, be-
ing well acquainted with the pioneer work needed to
accomplish it in a proper manner. He soon com-
menced to handle freight and his business naturally
went into the transfer line which he is and has been
continually operating since that time. As said above,
Mr. Hill is also operating a livery stable in Wardner
and his son Roy, is his partner. He is one of the sub-
stantial young men of the town and is possessed of
the stirring energy and executive force of his father
and holds the esteem and confidence of all, being a man
of integrity and reliability. Our subject has one
brother, Captain John S. Hill, who is living on a ranch
adjoining Kellogg, which was taken by himself and
our subject. They haVe one sister, Mrs. Elizabeth
Hannah, of New Brunswick.
On August 17, 1875, Mr. Hill married Miss Mari-
etta, daughter of James and Salome Polk. This wed-
ding occurred in St. Stephens, New Brunswick. Mrs.
Hill has two brothers, Sidney and Josiah, both sea-
faring men. Mr. Hill is a member of the A. F. & A.
M., Bodie Lodge No. 252. Mr. Hill is a Republican
and has attended the convention and takes the inter-
est of the substantial citizen. He is possessed of some
mining interests and is one of the prominent business
men and of excellent standing and has hosts of friends.
JOSEPH F. STEVENS, one of the earliest pio-
neers of the Coeur d'Alene country, dwells at Mur-
ray, and in addition to handling mining property is
a contracting millwright. He is one of the leading
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
men in both of these lines, and also we desire to men-
tion that Mr. Stevens has always been a promoter of
beneficial athletics, and while not wishing to press
himself forward it is but right to say that he holds the
championship for single drilling in the Coeur d'Alene,
and with Cash Patterson, the team honors. He also
held several field records in recent days.
Joseph F. Stevens was born in Madison, Wiscon-
sin, on February 13, 1864, the son of Joseph and Eliza
E. (Cross) Stevens. The father was born in London,
England, on February 22, 1836, and his parents were
natives of the same place. He came to America when
eighteen, wrought for W. K. Vanderbilt, later went to
Joliet, where he took up building and contracting. He
married there, and after various moves went to Jasper
county, Iowa, where he. is now retired. The mother
was born in London, the daughter of Robert and Mary
Cross, who came with their children to the United
States and settled in Joliet, Illinois, where the father
took up his business of shoe manufacturing. He died
in 1878. Mrs. Stevens is still living. Our subject,
the fourth child of the family, remained in the parental
home until he was seventeen, gaining good educational
training and learning the principles of his valuable
trade, mill-wrighting. At the age mentioned he came
to Eagle Rock, now Idaho Falls. He wrought for the
Utah & Northern and later had charge of a division
on the Oregon Shortline. In the winter of 18S3-84
he came to the Coeur d' Alene country over the trail
from Thompson Falls, packing in two hundred and
forty pounds, using a toboggan and snow shoes. He
landed April 27, 1884, and at once began operations as
a quartz miner. He took out and milled the first pound
of quartz of the district, and has been a leader in these
lines ever since. This inception of mining was on the
Occidental claim. He contracted later for mills and
erected the first four mills on Prichard creek, the Yo-
semite, Daddy, Mother Lode and Golden Chest. He
also built mills in the Silver City district and in north-
ern California. The Cumberland at Silver City, his
workmanship, is said to be the first in the northwest.
Mr. Stevens is now going into the Buffalo Hump
country to build several stamp mills there. In addi-
tion to the industries mentioned Mr. Stevens (luring
the last year bought and sold over seventy-two thou-
sand acres of land in the Big Bend country.
In political matters Mr. Stevens is a strenuous Re-
publican and while always active for the election of
friends and good men he has ever refused nomina-
tion for himself. He is a member of the A. O. U. W.
and the K. P. In religious persuasion he and his wife
belong to the Episcopalian church.
On December 26, 1888, occurred the marriage of
Mr. Stevens and Miss Laura E., daughter of John
and Julia (Johnson) Clark. The wedding occurred
in Murray. Mr. Clark crossed the plains from Indiana
to Oregon in 1863 and landed in the Coeur dAlene
country in November, 1883, and was a locator of the
famous Widow's Mite placer. He is now a mining
man at Applegate, Oregon. Mrs. Clark was born
in LaFayette and is still living. Mrs. Stevens was born
in Carlton, Oregon, on July 10, 1868, and she has the
following brothers and sisters: James, Pearl, Mrs.
Calantha Winters, Mrs. Etta Olds. Mr. Stevens has
brothers and sisters as follows: Robert, killed acci-
dentally in Murray, July 16, 1892; William A., a min-
ing man in New York; Mrs. Carrie Kennedy; .Mrs.
Nellie Clar ; Mrs.. Madge Bergman.
HIRAM BRYANT. How like the patriarchs of
old are the worthy pioneers of today! The esteemed
gentleman of whom we are now privileged to speak is
one deserving especial mention in this history for many
reasons, and the interesting details of his life will amply
bear out this fact.
Hiram Bryant was born in Breathitt county, Ken-
tucky, on January 29, 1847, being the son of Hiram and
Sarah (Millions) Bryant. When twelve he went with
his parents to Morgan county and attended school in
the log cabins. But not until after he was of age did
he succeed in getting the education he desired, and then
he spent some time in teaching, part of which was after
his marriage. Our subject's father was born in
Missouri but was a pioneer in Breathitt county, Ken-
tucky. He was wealthy but suffered the loss of most
of his property from the raids of bushwhackers and
soldiers in turn during the awful Civil war. He had
enlisted for the Mexican war but peace was declared
while he was en route to the front. The mother of our
subject was born in Pennsylvania, her father being a
prominent pioneer of that state and noted as a hunter.
One day when our subject was grinding sorghum he
turned to see the soldiers who were firing on their
turkeys, and the mill crushed his hand, which crippled
him for life. The marriage of Mr. Bryant and Miss
Ellen, daughter of Beson and Martha A. (Murphy)
Oldfield, was celebrated on March 3, 1869. Sixteen
children have been born to this happy marriage-
George R., married to Mary Nichols, in Linn county,
Kansas : William C. on Central ridge ; Sarah Ellen,
wife of William J. Ingram, of Central ridge: James
M., married to Helda Ritchell, of Anderson county,
Kansas : Andrew H. and John M., of Central ridge ;
Reson, Ellsberry, Grover C, Lydia A., Lillie J., Ivory,
Denny H., Elsie, Edgar, and Charles F., al! near Oro-
fino except Lillie J. and Edgar, who are deceased.
Mrs. Bryant's parents were both born and raised in
Kentucky, and in August, 1900, the father died there
in his seventy-first year. The mother is still living
on the home place. Soon after his marriage Mr.
Bryant settled to farming near his parents, and also
near his wife's parents. Later thev went to Menifee
county, Kentucky, in 1874, and that was the home
until 18S5, when he sold his large estate and went
to Linn county, Kansas. He farmed and worked at
the carpenter trade, helping to build the railroad shops
in Ossawatomie. In 1900 Mr. Bryant sold out and
came to Central ridge, where some of his children had
preceded him, and in March, 1901, he took his present
homestead in Shoshone county. It is situated six
miles northeast from Orofino, and is a splendid piece
of timber land. Doubtless it contains a number of
1 192
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
million feet of fine lumber, and Mr. Bryant is im-
proving it in a becoming manner. During tbe school
seasons he removes his family to his residence in
Orofino, where they attend school. In 1869 Mr. Bry-
ant and his wife joined the Christian church, and since
that time they have journeyed on happy in the faith
that makes faithful and in the spread of the gospel,
they have been zealous workers and hearty supporters
of the faith. It is a coincidence that the birthday of
Mr. Bryant and that of his wife fall on the same day
Oi the same month, but he is five vears her senior.
LOUIS F. BECHTEL. To Louis Bechtel, more
than to any other one man. is due the credit of open-
ing the country known as the Big Meadows at the
forks of the St. Marys river and above that place. In
1S86, at Hoodoo mining camps, Mr. Bechtel heard of
the meadows through some old prospectors and he im-
mediately set out to hunt for them. He came in a
buckboard to the head of Santa creek and as that was
the end of the road, he packed his animals and made
his way to the forks of the St. Marys and upon inves-
tigation, he found it as had been represented and he
immediately took a squatter's right. It is the old camp-
ing ground for the Indians for many generations back.
They pastured their animals here when they fished.
hunted and dug camas. Mr. Bechtel went to Palouse
and in company with his mother and brother-in-law,
Mr. Teats, he returned, bringing a mower and hay
rake. They had to cross the river eighteen times and
it required three weeks to get from the head of Santa
creek to their place. It was thirty miles to the near-
est neighbor, where our subject and his companion-
settled. His mother took a claim and in 1895 sold it
and went to Farmington, where she died on July 2~.
1901. Mr. Bechfe! took a homestead as soon as the
land was surveyed, and there he resides at the pres-
ent time, about one and one-half miles down from
Clarkia postomce. He has devoted his energies to rais-
ing stock and has prospered in the endeavor, being
now one of the leading men of this section, both in
standing and in property holdings.
Louis F. Bechtel was bom in Sangamon county.
Illinois, on February 6, 1858. being the son of Abra-
ham and. Rosaiia 1 Bnrk) Bechtel. In 1869 the family
came to Virginia City, Montana, and in 1872 they came
to Colfax. In 1875 our subject started for himself
and he at once returned to Virginia City and there
mined and also in the vicinity of Sharidon for eight
j ear-. Then he returned to Colfax and later to the
Hoodoo region he journeyed, where he received the
information that led to his finding his present home.
After Mr. Bechtel had opened the region, settlers be-
gan to Hock in and he has seen the country grow from
a wilderness to a settled and prosperous place. He has
always manifested an enterprising spirit in laboring
for schools and all improvement-..
On August 2j. 1901, Mr. Bechtel married Miss
Christie Layton, who was born in Marion county, Ore-
gon, on December 25. 1882. She lived near Farming-
ton most of her life until marriage. Mr. Bechtel is a
leading and prominent man in this section and has
been registrar for this precinct for some time and his
faithful labors have done much for its advancement.
EUGENE P. BEARNS is proprietor of the Mint
Hotel, which is well known among the traveling peo-
ple as one of the first-class places to secure entertain-
ment in the Coeur d'Alene country. It is an up-to-
date hostelry and when Mr. Beams finishes the new
structure that he is now erecting he will have one of
the finest modern hotels in the northern part of tbe
state. Being skilled in the hotel business and having
a thorough knowledge of every department, he is in
shape to provide tor the public the best entertainment
to be had. Airs. Beams i> skilled in this business as
well as her husband, and together they are making a
very gratifying success and the patronage that is in-
creasing daily demonstrates the opinion of an appre-
ciative public regarding their efforts to please and se-
cure comfort fof their guests.
Eugene P. Beams was born in Newfoundland, on
December 4, i860. His parents were Thomas T. and
Mice (Thomas) Beams, and they live in St. Johns,
Newfoundland. Tbe father is a native of England and
is a wealthy merchant. The mother was born in New-
foundland. Our subject was raised and educated in
his native place, then came to Omaha, engaged with
the LTnion Pacific, later came on to Salt Lake, op-
erated as agent for the Rio Grande and later traveled
on to California. Two years after this he was in Ari-
zona and thence went to San Diego. He operated a
second-hand store, sold goods through the country of
old .Mexico and in the spring of 1897 he came to Ward-
ner. He opened the New York Kitchen and his tact,
skill and energy soon brought to him a fine trade. He
sold out and went to Spokane and sold dry goods
through the country. Finally he came to Kellogg, then
went to Butte, bought a lodging house and operated
it two years. Selling this, he came to Wardner and
bought his present place. He purchased the lot and
erected the building and opened the Mint Hotel and
Restaurant. It has been operated both on the Euro-
pean and the American plan and has been favored with
a first-class patronage, which his untiring care de-
mands. In all his endeavors since coming to Wardner
first, when he had but little capital. Mr. Beams has
been favored with continuous success and he has now
purchased the lot adjoining his present place and is
erecting a building which for comfort and conven-
ience as a hotel will be second to none in the entire
Coeur d'Alene country. He is handling a free bus to
trains and caters to the best trade that comes to the
Coeur dAlenes. Mr. Beams has three brothers and
six sisters: George E., William, Thomas.
In January, 1895, while in southern California,
Mr. Beams married Miss Mattie, daughter of Samuel
and Mary Cole, who dwell in southern California.
Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Beams,
three of whom are deceased. Mr. Beams is a Demo-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
"93
crat, but not pressing for personal preferment. He
and his wife put their whole attention to making their
business a fine success and they have done so and are
being favored with the patronage that is deserved by
honest and skilled effort to please and provide comfort
for the traveling public.
JOSIAH J. ROBIRTS. In the list of those who
have labored to open this country for settlement and
the ingress of civilization should appear the name of the
subject of this article.
Josiah J. Robirts was born in Macon, Missouri, on
October 22, 1847, being the son of William and Nancy
(Brannon) Robirts, who went, when this son was an
infant, to Atchison count v. When he was seven the
family removed to Otoe county, Nebraska, and when
he was fifteen he started for himself. He went to Ft.
Leavenworth and engaged to Moses Paine to drive
team for forty dollars per month. He was in a train
of thirty-six wagons on the way to Ft. Union, New
Mexico, and all the way the Indians fought them. At
one time they were hemmed in for a month and again
three hundred redskins attacked them. They found
one train of Mexicans who had lost their cattle by the
Indians and one other train which had lost its mules,
and Mr. Paine hauled their wagons back to Ft. Lyons.
Our subject loaded with corn to return. On one oc-
casion they were snowed in and for five days they did
not taste food, being lost. He had three companions
in this tramp and one of them. Xeal (iunn, recently
•died in Oakesdale. He freighted one year more and
then went to farming in Nebraska. For six years Mr.
Robirts served as constable, then went to Johnson
county. Kansas, whence he journeyed to Jackson coun-
ty, Missouri, where he was married to Barbara Lindsy.
They went to Nebraska and then to Council Bluffs,
Iowa, later to Omaha. In 1889 Mrs. Robirts died,
leaving these children : Nancy A., wife of E. L. String-
er, of the Postal Telegraph Company, of Chattanooga,
Tennessee; Edward A., also with the same company
in Birmingham, Alabama.
On April 10, 1896, Mr. Robirts started from Ne-
braska with teams and traveled westward to the var-
ious places and finally settled on his present place.
near Clarkia. He has a good quarter section of land,
mostly hay, and he is making first-class improvements,
being one of the substantial men of this section. Mr.
Robirts packed supplies for the first log drive on the
upper St. Marys and had a hard job to cut a trail along
die river and through the tangled brush. Fie has
shown himself to be a true pioneer and is one of the
highly esteemed men of this section.
ROBERT S. KELLEY, at present the popular and
excellent police judge of Wardner, is one of the sub-
stantial men of the town and has made a record of
dispensing justice without partiality and show of
favor and is therefore, as well as on account of his
excellent worth, integrity and sound principles, held
in high esteem by all and it is his happy lot to have the
confidence of the people in full measure and his friends
are numbered as legion.
Robert S. Kelley was born in Marietta, Ohio, on
March 3, 1858, being the son of Daniel and Mary
( Nichols) Kelley. The father was born in the Emer-
ald Isle, went thence to Canada and from that place
made his way to the United States. He served through
the entire Civil war and demonstrated his patriotism
and loyalty to freedom's institutions by two enlist-
ments and a faithful service. He was in the One
Hundred and Seventeenth New York Volunteers. He
died in 1888. The mother of Judge Kelley was born
in Brooklyn and her grandfather was in the Revolu-
tion, where he did efficient service for the cause of the
colonies. Our subject was reared in New York City
and in other portions of the state, and received a good
common schooling and then launched out in life's
battles for himself. He engaged in various pursuits
and in 1879 came to Montana. He secured a wood
contract, and for eight years he did well in this busi-
ness. Then he came to De Lamar and mined, and
in 1892 he first landed in the Coeur dAlene country.
He operated in the mines until April, and at the first
city election he was chosen as police judge. He is
holding this office at the present time, and his faith-
fulness in administering justice, his uprightness, his
efficiency, have given entire satisfaction to a discrimin-
ating constituency.
Judge Kelley has one brother, a miner in Utah.
He has as yet never embarked on the matrimonial
sea, but is still in possession of the quiet jovs of the
celibatarian. Judge Kelley is a member of the Junior
Order of American Mechanics, and is a trustee of the
Daughters of America, and he also belongs to the
Industrial Union. Judge Kelley is a man of reserve,
without ostentation, and manifests that quiet, kind,
stanch character that wins and retains friends and has a
substantiality that inspires confidence.
B. FLAIG. A genial and pleasant man. a good
citizen, a capable and substantial business man, an
old pioneer and one who has known Wardner for
years, being now owner and operator of a fine jewelry
business and having been identified with the interests
of the city for all the time since his advent, it is fitting
to grant to Mr. Flaig consideration in this volume.
B. Flaig was born in Germany, on January 25,
1852. being the son of Andrew and Christena (Staig-
er") Flaig\ also natives of Germany, where also they
remained until the time of their death, the father pass-
mg away in 1866. The father was in the war with
Denmark in T848. Two brothers of our subject's
mother are in the United States. John is a wealthy
citizen of Svracuse. New York, and Daniel lives in
Seneca Falls, in the same state. Our subject was ed-
ucated in Germany and there learned the watchmak-
er's trade. He came to the United States in 1879 and
from New York city he went to Fredonia. New York,
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
where he worked in the watch factory. He went to
Springfield, Illinois, inside of two years and there
wrought about one year. After this we see him in St.
Paul, where he was in business for himself for several
years. His next move was to Butte, Montana, and in
1889 Mr. Flaig came to Wardner. He bought out
the only jewelry shop here and at once opened a first-
class place and since that time he has continued in the
prosecution of his present business with gratifying
success. Mr. Flaig has won the esteem and the respect
of all by his geniality, kind ways and strict uprightness
and skill in his business relations. Mr. Flaig has one
brother. Andrew, in western Africa, and one sister,
Mrs. Barbara Nitz, in Minnesota.
In 1885 Mr. Flaig married Miss Mary Sneider,
whose parents were natives of Switzerland .and now
iive in West Virginia. Mrs. Flaig has one brother
and one sister, Carl, a watchmaker in Spokane; Mrs.
Emma Doyle. Two children have been born to Mr.
and Mrs. Flaig, Carl and Emma. Mr. Flaig is a mem-
ber of the A. O. D. \Y., Spokane No. 16. He and his
wife are devout members of the Presbyterian church.
Mr. Flaig is treasurer and cashier of the Government
Gulch Mining Company and also owns several claims
in the Pine creek district. Politically our subject is a
Democrat and has served as delegate to the county
convention. In 1891 Mr. Flaig erected a wooden busi-
ness structure and in 1893 it was destroyed by fire.
He has a good residence and is prosperous in his busi-
ness.
GEORGE \V. HARRIS. Among the professional
men of Wardner, who have won first-class success by
their efforts of close attention to business, by their
skill, by their wisdom and by real worth in professional
ljnes, we are glad to mention the subject of this article,
who is now handling a large dental practice in Ward-
ner, while his wife, also a skillful dentist, is doing a
good business in Kellogg.
George W. Harris was born in Charleston, Coles
county, Illinois, on December 10, 1863, being the son
of DeLamar L. and Hannah (Lajara) Harris. The
father was a native of London and a practicing physi-
cian. He was a physician on a man of war for ten
years and is now- one of the leading physicians in
Charleston, Illinois. He has been sheriff of his county
twice and treasurer once. The mother of our subject
was born in Madrid, Spain, came to the United States
in 1854 and married at New Orleans. She met Dr.
Harris while he was in the naval service. She died
in 1864, George W. being six years old. Our subject
graduated from the high school in his native town and
then went to the Northwest Dental College of Chicago,
where he spent four years in close study and demon-
stration. Having graduated with honors, he com-
menced practice in Durango, Colorado, and four years
later he went to southern Utah, thence to Arizona,
where he spent five years. Then came the beginning
of a long foreign trip, which was inaugurated with a
journey to the Argentine Republic, and two years were
spent in active practice in Buenos Ayres, after which
Dr. Harris went to Valparaiso and practiced one year.
Then came a journey from Chile to old Mexico, where
he practiced a time and finally landed in the borders
of the United States and came through Arizona and
Utah, practicing in various places until 1898, when he
came to Burke and opened an office. Two years later
he located in Wardner and since that time he has done
a fine practice and is favored with the esteem and good
will of all. Dr. Harris has one brother and two sis-
ters : Layton, a physician in Cedar Grove, Indiana ;
Mrs. Delia Woodfall ; Mrs. Maggie Cochran.
In Castlegate, Utah, in November, 1894, Dr. Har-
ris married Miss Mabel L. Thompson, whose father
is a prominent dentist in Salt Lake City. One child,
Layton, aged seven, has been born to this union. Dr.
Harris is an active Democrat, was delegate to the last
county convention, was sheriff one term in Gila county,
Arizona, also probate judge. He is a member of K. of
P., the A. O. U. W., the Eagles, and is popular in
these circles.
FRANKLIN P. MATCHETTE, M. D, has been
an active practititioner in the Coeur d'Alene country
for many years and is doubtless the oldest established
physician in Wardner. He devotes his attention exclu-
sively to his private practice, not allowing that to be
interfered with by hospital or outside work, although
formerly he did a large amount of the hospital prac-
tice.
Franklin P. Matchette was born in Anderson, In-
diana, on July 4, 1864, being the son of James and
Sophia (Hilligoss) Matchette, natives of Ohio and In-
diana, respectively, of French extraction, and now liv-
ing at Wallowa, Oregon. Our subject was raised
principally in Butler. Bates county, Missouri, whither
his parents went when he was eight years old. He
attended the high school and in 1881 the family came
across the plains with a colony of forty families. They
settled near Spokane and three years later went to
Eugene, Oregon. Franklin P. graduated from the
university there in 1886 and then at once went to the
American Medical College at St. Louis, from which
institution he graduated with honors in 1890. He
came at once to the Coeur d'Alene country and for one
year practiced with Dr. Herrington in Wallace. They
had all the mining work to do then, being in charge of
Providence Hospital. Following that year Dr. Match-
ette came to Wardner and bought out Dr. Warren N.
Davis and since that time he has been steadily in prac-
tice here. He has a good patronage and is a physician
of experience.
Dr. Matchette has two brothers and three sisters:
George H., a prominent physician in McPherson, Kan-
sas, being retained by two railroads ; Lee, a stockman
in Wallowa; Airs. Minnie Storer ; Mrs. Emma Betty:
Mrs. Sarah Daniel.
Dr. Matchette has been twice married, the first
time being in Missouri and the lady America Borum,
from whom he has since been divorced. The second
marriage was with Miss Willetta Zimmerlee, whose
father is in Phoenix, Oregon, but her mother is de-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
[95
ceased. Mrs. Matchette was burned to death on May
2, 1902, at her home here in Wardner. One child,
Goldie, was the fruit of the first union, and one child,
James M., the issue of the second, both being with
the Doctor at present. Dr. Matchette has long been
an Odd Fellow and is past noble grand of the Wardner
lodge. He also is a member of the A. O. U. W. ; of
the Eagles ; of the M. W. A. : while in political matters
he is a Democrat^and is frequently at the county and
state conventions.
DREW W. PEEPLES, a man of sterling worth
and excellent principles, whose integrity has been dem-
onstrated in this district for more than a decade, is
now foreman for the Empire State mine. In this ca-
pacity Mr. Peeples has- manifested the excellent prac-
tical knowledge of mining, of which he has a large
fund, has shown fine executive ability and by his wise
methods has placed the property in a first-class condi-
tion. Politicallv Mr. Peeples is a Republican, and an
active one, being central committeeman and was a del-
egate to the last comity convention. He is also a mem-
ber of the city council and chairman of the school
board. He has won the confidence and esteem of all
.by uprightness, good business ability, geniality, strict-
ly conserving the interests entrusted to his care, and
by a manly open walk at all times.
Referring to his early history we note that Drew
W. Peeples was born in Murray county, Georgia, on
August 1, 1859, being the son of Mortimore and Mar-
garet (Hossler) Peeples, natives of Georgia. The fa-
ther went to California in 1849 and was successful in
a two-years' placer mining experience so that he en-
tered the commercial life on his return to Georgia.
At the time of the war he enlisted in the Confederate
army as first lieutenant, under General Lee, and was
killed in the battle of Missionary Ridge. He came
from English ancestors. The mother of our subject
died in 1883 and was descended from Pennsylvania
Dutch. Our subject was educated in the academy and
remained in his native place until 1877, then went to
Texas, where after the first year he rode the range
in that state and in New Mexico. Then Mr. Peeples
took up mining in New Mexico until 1890, when he
came to the Coeur dAlene country and prospected.
He next accepted a position in the Stemwinder for a
few months, then in the Bunker Hill and Last Chance
until 1895. Since 1895 he has been with the Clark
Sweeney syndicate. For a time he was shift boss and
in 1900, July, he was appointed foreman of the Empire
State, where he has shown excellent skill since and is
now operating. Mr. Peeples has three brothers and
one sister : Frank. Heristel, Mortimore, Mrs. Flor-
ence Holland. He also has four half-brothers and one
half-sister: Edward, Richard, John, James Hopkins
and Jennie Hopkins.
On June 23, 1897, at Rossland, British Columbia.
Mr. Peeples married Miss Goldie M., daughter of
Joseph and Harriet Davenport, who are now residing
in Wardner. Mr. Davenport is yard master in the
Empire State and Mrs. Peeples' brother, Archie, is
shift boss in the same mine. To Mr. and Mrs. Pee-
ples one child, Edna G., has been born. She is now
four years old. Mr. Peeples is a member of the A. F.
& A. M. and the I. O. O. F. Mrs. Peeples is a mem-
ber of the Christian church and with her husband be-
longs to the Rebekahs.
MARY E. TEATS. Without doubt the subject
of this review has done a noble part in bringing about
the development of the St. Marys country and she is
deserving of especial mention in this volume.
Mary E. Teats was born in McLean county, Illi-
nois, on February 24, 1856, being the daughter of
Abraham and Rosana Bechtel. The father enlisted in
the Union army at the beginning of the war and served
four years, participating in many battles and skir-
mishes and then received an honorable discharge on
account of disability. In about 1870 Mrs. Teats came
with her mother and two brothers to Virginia City,
Montana. The father had died on August 16, 1866.
On June 6, 1871, our subject married Mr. Phillip H.
Teats and they soon came to Colfax, Washington, then
removed to Farmington and in June, 1889, she came
to her present home about three miles above the forks
of the St. Marys, on the south branch. Mrs. Teats
is postmistress of Clarkia. being appointed on August
21, 1902. In 1887 Mr. Teats and the mother of our
subject and one son and one brother of Mrs. Teats
came to this section and they had to cut the road from
Santa creek to their present home, it requiring three
weeks to make the trip. Mrs. Teats has had much
hardship to endure and has done a great deal of trying
and hard work to open this country and she is to be
credited with real pioneer courage and spirit. Her
mother was the first white woman in this section and
the daughter-in-law of that lady being the only wo-
man here when Mrs. Teats came. Mrs. Teats was
obliged to cross the St. Marys eighteen times when
she came in and there were no roads, simply some
trails, in places they had to follow the river bed. Six
children have been born to Mrs. Teats: Louis P., of
Nez Perces county, and he has three children, Mary
Ada, Margaret Ann, Dortha ; John S., deceased ;
George H., of Shoshone county, who has one child,
Cynthia Hazel ; William T. ; Mrs. Rosa I. Adams, of
Gregg, Idaho, who has one child, Lola ; Sylvia E. It
is right in this connection to mention that Mrs. Teats
had to freight her provisions from Farmington in the
early days and this was accomplished with great hard-
ship and was indeed a trying ordeal.
JOEL DAVENPORT. The Empire State mine
finds a capable and efficient yard master in the person
of the subject of this sketch and he is one of the relia-
ble, highly esteemed and industrious citizens of Ward-
ner.
Joel Davenport was born in Indianapolis, on June
10, 1843. His father, Martin Davenport, was a na-
[96
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
tive of North Carolina and raised in Ohio. The pa-
ternal grandfather of our subject was a large planter
and during the time of the Revolution he furnished
supplies for the American cause. At the close of the
war he had ten thousand dollars of Continental cur-
rency, which he left to his son,- Martin. It was kept
in the family until our subject was born and as it was
considered worthless, he used to play with it, and after
it was all destroyed and lost, congress passed a bill
redeeming it. The mother of our subject, Annie
(Byrkitt) Davenport, was a native of South Carolina,
raised and married in Ohio and died in the fall of
1872, aged seventy-five. Our subject was reared and
educated in Indianapolis, finishing the high school and
studying in Butler Seminary. When he was sixteen
the family went to Kansas and there he participated
in the struggles of the early settlers to make Kansas
a free state. He enlisted in the Civil war and was with
the noted scout, General Jim Lane, in various capaci-
ties. In the fail of 1883 Mr. Davenport came to Seat-
tle and there engaged in dairying for four years. He
was in Portland and also in Clarke county, Washing-
ton, where he followed real estate business and general
merchandising. Thence he migrated to Rossland,
British Columbia, and from that point Mr. Davenport
made his way to Wardner in March, 1898. He at
once engaged with the Empire State and has since re-
mained with that company.
On December 22, 1868, in Wyandotte county. Kan-
sas, Mr. Davenport married Miss Harriet, daughter
of Daniel and Anna Helin, natives of Pennsylvania
and of German extraction, but now deceased. Two
children have been' born to this marriage : Archie and
Mrs. Goldie M. Peeples. Mr. Davenport has three
brothers and two sisters: John, Andrew, Noah, Mrs.
Sarah Pile, Mrs. Pracilla Milne. Mrs. Davenport has
the following named brothers and sisters: Christian,
Daniel, Andrew, Samuel, Mrs. Jane Stickney. Airs.
Kate Pence, Mrs. Sarah Kerns. Mr. Davenport and
his wife are members of the Christian church and are
of excellent standing in the community.
WARREN N. DAVIS, M. D., one of the earliest
professional men in the Coeur dAlene country, has,
by excellent wisdom displayed in his practice, by faith-
fid devotion to his patients, by an upright walk and
unswerving integrity, placed himself high in the es-
teem of all and won an enviable position among both
the people and his confreres. It is with pleasure that
we are privileged to recount some of the details of his
active and useful life.
Warren N. Davis was born in Quakertown. Penn-
sylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia, on September 25,
1849, being the son of George W. and Sarah (Mc-
Comb"! Davis, natives of Pennsylvania. The father
was a miller and operated a plant which his father esT
tablished over one hundred years ago. The ancestors
of our subject came to Pennsylvania with William
Penn. The mother's parents were of Scotch extraction
and her father served in the war of 1812. Warren N.
had two brothers in the Civil war, Cyrus C. and David,
both deceased now. Cyrus C. enlisted in Company B,
Tenth Pennsylvania, was wounded at Gaines Mill, on
account of which he was discharged. Recovering, he
organized a company and went as lieutenant of it.
Our subject was raised in his native town until ten,
then went with the family to Philadelphia. After
graduating from the high school, he entered the med-
ical department of the Pennsylvania University, where
he completed a thorough medical course and on March
12, 1872, graduated with honors. He immediately
took up practice in western Pennsylvania and three
years later he went to Portland, Oregon, where he was
active in his profession for ten years. In 1886 he came
to Wardner and was physician for the Bunker
Hill and the Chance mines and his practice took him
all over the entire Coeur d'Alene country. In 1892
Dr. Davis went to Portland and remained until 1900,
when he again came to Wardner and is now devoting
himself to his private practice, being favored with a
good patronage. Dr. Davis has two brothers and one
sister living: Thomas H, James C, Mrs. Martha A.
Finsthwait, all in Pennsylvania.
On December 5, 1878, at Oregon City, Dr. Davis
married Miss Lillie M., daughter of John and Louisa
Barrett. The father was a prominent architect and
contractor but is now deceased. He left a large prop-
erty. The mother is still living in Portland. Mrs.
Davis has two sisters, Minnie, wife of Henry Lov-
eridge, owner of the Portland electric works; Mrs.
Wissie Caftee, whose husband is a prominent politi-
cian and contractor. To Dr. and Mrs. Davis one
daughter has been born, Luzelle C, secretary and
treasurer of the Inter-Ocean Alining Company, whose
property is at Sumpter and their offices in Portland.
Dr. Davis is a Democrat, but never accepts nomination
for office.
JOSEPH E. EORTIN, one of the old pioneers
in this section, is also the pioneer shoemaker in Ward-
ner, since his advent here has steadily pursued his vo-
cation with excellent success, that which honest indus-
try and thrift deserve, while his standing in the com-
munity is first class and he is among the popular and
progressive citizens, public minded and generous.
Joseph E. Fortin was born in Quebec, Canada, on
January 15, 1864, being the son of August and Le-
onore (Morroi) Fortin, natives also of Quebec. The
father was killed in an accident in 1874, aged fifty.
The paternal grandfather of our subject lived to be
ninetv-four, had eight children and at the time of his
death had three hundred and thirty-three descendants.
The Fortins first settled in Canada in 1608, coming
from France, and they were a long-lived family, one
living to be one hundred and twenty years old and two
others lived to the age of one hundred and six. Our
subjects brother now resides on the old homestead
that has been in the family for nearly three hundred
vears ; the first Fortin took it in 1608. Some of the
ancestors fought under Montcalm in the French-Eng-
lish wars of the; eighteenth century. The mother
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
of our subject is still living on the old homestead with
her son. She comes from an old Canadian family,
prominent in early days. Our subject was reared in
his native place and there educated, also learning the
shoemaker's trade. In 1885 he went to Montreal and
wrought at his trade, thence to Ottawa, where he
worked at it for three years and then he came on to St.
Paul and six months later to Butte, whence three
months later he went to Phillipsburg, Montana. Short-
ly after that he was in Wallace and soon in Wardner,
where he has remained since. He does a fine business,
is popular and capable and highly esteemed by all.
Mr. Fortin has five brothers and two sisters : August,
Stanislas, Damacc. Severe Wilfred, Almina Teberg,
Leda, all in Quebec.
On June 20, 1889, at Ottawa, Mr. Fortin married
Miss Agnes, daughter of John and Delphine ( Berner)
McAvoy. Two children have been born to this union,
Ina, aged three, and Yronne, aged eight. Mr. and
Mrs. Fortin are members of the Roman Catholic
church. Politically he is allied with the Socialists and
this fall ran for county commissioner on that platform.
GEORGE W. HARRIS is the managing member
of the firm of Harris Brothers, druggists in Wardner.
He is a man of affability, uprightness and possessed
of agreeable social qualities, while in business circles
he is one of the substantial and competent men of the
city. The firm does a first-class business, handle their
trade with skill and are very popular with a large
patronage.
George W. Harris was born in Pittsfield, Illinois,
on Februarv 18, 1858, being the son of George C. and
Mary J. (Finical) Harris. The father was a prom-
inent physician, born in Emmettsburg, Maryland, and
practiced actively for fifty years. He died in Portland,
Oregon, in the spring of 1885, aged seventy-five. He
had practiced in Oregon for fifteen years and served
for three years as surgeon of an Iowa regiment in the
Civil war. He resigned that position in 1864 and
crossed the plains to California with ox teams. He
had crossed in 1849 and mined in the Golden state for
three years, making a fair fortune, upon which he re-
turned to Illinois and took up his practice until the
war broke out. His father was in the war of 181 2 and
a native of England, but fought for the American
cause. The mother of our subject was a native of
Minnesota and died at Pendleton in the spring of
1892, aged sixty-five. Her father was of Pennsylvania
German stock and her mother was a native of Maine.
Our subject came with the family to Oregon in 1868,
studied in the public schools, at the colleges in Cor-
vallis and Eugene and then took a course in Arm-
strong's Business College in Portland. He graduated
from this institution in 1884 and then studied phar-
macy, which he has followed since. In 1885 he
opened a drug store in Lexington, Oregon, and sold
out three years later. Then he traveled for Frank
Brothers, an implement house of Portland, three years,
after which he was salesman in a Spokane drug store
for six months ; in 1890, came to Wallace, and one year
later he came to Wardner. He worked in the branch,
store of McNab & Livers and in 1897 bought the es-
tablishment and has since operated it with his brother.
It is the first drug store in Wardner and in 1901 Har-
ris Brothers opened a branch store in Kellogg. Mr.
Harris has one brother, Dr. Fred L., his partner, and
a 'popular physician of Wardner. He also has two
sisters, Mrs. Fanny Butler, whose husband, Jay Butler,
is one of the faculty of the State Normal at Monmouth,
Oregon ; Mrs. Hattie Hinkle, at Independence, Or-
egon.
On April 17, 1887, Mr. Harris married, at Lexing-
ton, Oregon, Miss Hattie Towers, whose parents are
deceased. Five children have come to bless this mar-
riage: George, Grover, Shirley, Gordon, Earl, aged
fourteen, twelve, nine, six and three, respectively.
Mrs. Harris has one brother, George, and one sister,
Mrs. Kate Steffis, in Kellogg. Mr. Harris is a member
of the A. F. & A. M., Wardner Lodge No. 34 ; of the
B. P. O. E., Coeur d'Alene No. 331, Wallace; of the
I. O. O. F., Wardner No. 12, being past noble grand;
of the F. O. E., Wardner Aerie ; of the K. P., at Hepp-
ner, Oregon ; of the A. O. U. W., No. 12, Wardner.
Mr. Harris is a stanch Democrat and for five years he-
was postmaster of Wardner.
WILLIAM F. GODDARD, a courteous and pop-
ular resident of Wardner and head owner of the large
gents' clothing and furnishing establishment in that
city, which he is operating with excellent success, hav-
ing achieved the same by reason of excellent business
methods and his deferential and uniformly kind treat-
ment of patrons, is one of the prominent men and sub-
stantial and public minded citizens of Wardner and
quite deserving of representation in the history of
northern Idaho.
William F. Goddard was born in Ontario, Canada,:
on July 4, 1863, being the son of Frederick and Mary
(Lamb) Goddard. The father is a native of Brighton,
England, and now is a merchant in Simcoe, Ontario.
The mother of William F. was born in Ontario and
now is at Simcoe. Our subject was raised in Simcoe
and there received a high school education from the
excellent schools of Ontario, graduating at the age of
sixteen. He clerked in a gents' furnishing establish-
ment there for two years, then wrought .in other Ca-
nadian towns until 1884, when he came to Portland,
Oregon, where he wrought as salesman as also in
The Dalles and several coast towns. In the spring of
1886 he went to Lewiston and in the fall of 1887 Mr.
Goddard came to Wardner. He was salesman for a
large concern for a time and in 1889 he opened a store
for himself. He has made a brilliant success of his
business and is at the present time carrying a stock of
twenty-five thousand dollars. He has carried nearly
twice this amount while conducting branch establish-
ments at Kellogg and Silver King, but recently Mr.
Goddard sold these and now confines himself to the
Wardner house. He owns the one-story brick and
1 1 98
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
stone structure which he erected in Kellogg, also owns
the brick building where he does business in Wardner,
a fine modern residence in Wardner, also several res-
idence and business structures which he rents. Mr.
Goddard has two brothers and two sisters : Andrew,
J. Wesley, Mrs. David Gable, Mrs. William McFar-
land.
On January 7, 1883, at Tilsonburg, Ontario, Mr.
Goddard married Miss Maggie, daughter of James and
Helen Fumerton, now residing in Wardner, the father
being a mill man in the Bunker Hill and Sullivan. One
child has been born to this happy marriage, Mabel A.,
aged nineteen. Mrs. Goddard and her daughter are
among the leading ladies of society in Wardner and
they have a beautiful home, conducted with charming
grace and made a center of refined hospitality. Mr.
Goddard is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Wardner
Lodge No. 34. He is a strong Republican and is
chairman of the city council.
MERREL R. ROBIRTS. This enterprising gen-
tleman is proprietor of the Big Meadow Hotel at the
forks of the Saint Marys river, and in addition to the
business this brings him he is engaged in lumber and
farm labors.
Merrel R. Robirts was born in Sydney, Iowa, on
December 31, 1872, being the son of John J. and Cai-
bela Robirts. The father crossed the plains to Wy-
oming in 1863 and the following year he went to Ft.
Minor, New Mexico, and the next year, 1865. he was
in Denver, making the trip with ox teams. When our
subject was a child his parents settled in Nebraska
City, Nebraska, and soon after went to Peru, Nebras-
ka, where they remained thirteen years, where Merrel
received a good common schooling and acquired skill
on the farm. Then he returned to Nebraska City and
learned the broommaker's trade, which he followed in
different portions of Nebraska. In February, 1901,
Mr. Robirts came to Tekoa and in the following June
he was in the St. Marys region in the lumber woods.
He assisted to bring the first drive of logs down the
river from the upper tributaries. Then he drove team
for the Phoenix Mill Company of Spokane and in the
spring of 1902 he bought eighty acres of meadow,
where his hotel now stands. He has a valuable place
and the hotel is a good sized building, with eleven
sleeping apartments, in addition to the living rooms.
He has also a large feed stable and other improvements
and manifests excellent thrift and industry. Mr. Rob-
irts is a member of the M. W. A. of Cornwall, Idaho.
On July 3, 1897, he was married to Miss Amanda
J., daughter of Peter and Mary Oleson. Mr. and Airs.
Oleson were pioneers of the St. Marys country in
1889, from the vicinity of St. Paul, Minnesota. The
father was accidentally shot by a man who was en-
deavoring to shoot a dog. To our subject and his
faithful wife there has been born one child, Adrain.
By way of reminiscence and to illustrate the trying
times of the pioneers and their skill in meeting adver-
sity, a note in reference to the father of our subject is
quite in place. He went to the Palouse country from
the St. Marys region to work for provisions and he had
a couple of cayuses. He worked for the provisions,
traded his cayuse for a cow, packed two hundred
pounds on the cow's back and so made his way back
home, and the cow was none the worse for the wear.
PHILIP P. WEBER, banker, merchant, mining
man and property owner, is one of the leading and
prominent men of the Coeur d'Alene country. He is
cashier and manager of the Weber Bank and conducts
the large business of the Weber Brothers, leading
financial concern of Wardner.
Philip Weber was born in Ohio, on July 27, 1858,
being the son of John and Mary E. (Wagner) Weber,
natives of Germany. The father came to the United
States in the forties, settled in Ohio, where he farmed
until August 3, 189S, the time of his death, being then
aged eighty-four. The mother was married in New
York state and died in 1872, aged fifty-three. Our
subject was reared on his father's farm, educated in
the public and private schools and at the age of eight-
een went to teaching school. Three years in that call-
ing and then came three in the grocery business in
Canal Dover, Ohio. Next he went to Bodie, Cali-
fornia, where he worked in the quartz mills for a time
and in March, 1884, he was one of the newcomers in
Eagle City. July saw him in Murray, where he erected
several buildings and then went to Butte, Montana.
In 1885 he burned the first kiln of brick in the Coeur
d'Alene , country, handling about one half million.
When the Wardner excitement was on in December he
came hither, this being in 1885. He conducted a real
estate office for two years, also erected many buildings
and rented them. He is an expert in building and
owns many residence and business structures all
through the Coeur d'Alene country. In 1887 Mr. We-
ber embarked" in a general mercantile store in Burke
and sold the same in 1889. Removing then to Spokane
he suffered from pneumonia and went thence to San
Diego, California, and eleven months later came to
Wardner, where he has remained since. In 1893, in
partnership with his brother, Mr. Weber started his
present bank, being now cashier of the institution.
His brother is president and his nephew, C. H. Wentz,
is assistant cashier. The firm also owns a wholesale
cigar and stationery store and do a good trade. Mr.
Weber has three brothers and three sisters : Charles
W., a hatter in Spokane ; Peter, liveryman and stock-
man in Hailey, Idaho; John PI., in the bank; Airs. C.
F. Rudolph, in Kellogg; Mrs. Valentine Wentz. in
Canal Dover, Ohio ; Barbara, single, living in Spokane.
On December 18, 1888, at Spokane, Mr." Weber mar-
ried Miss Lucy, daughter of Samuel and Lydia Too-
ney, of Canal Dover, where the father is a large man-
ufacturer, hut the mother is deceased. Mrs. Weber
was born there. Mr. Weber is a member of the Junior
American Mechanics, of the Eagles, of the. Industrial
Union, and he and his wife belongs to the Daughters
of America. Mr. Weber is prominent in politics,
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1 199
heing an influential Republican, always at the county
conventions and lately at the state conventions, where
he is a potent factor, but always refusing nomination
for himself. The firm own many buildings, are the
heaviest holders of Wyoming stock and the largest
taxpayers of this district. Mr. Weber is popular and
lias host of friends and is of the highest standing.
C. W. MAYS is one of the leading and well known
mining men in the Pierce district and it is with pleas-
ure that we incorporate an epitome of his career in
this history of northern Idaho. He was born in
Starke county, Ohio, on December 28, 1852, the son
of Captain James and Josephine (Grifton) Mays, na-
tives of Pennsylvania and Marseilles, France, re-
spectively. The father was a veteran of both the Mex-
ican and the Civil wars and is now living in Harrison,
Ohio. Our subject went with his parents to San-
dusky, Ohio, in 1865 and later to Chicago and in these
places and in his native place he received his educa-
tional training. In 1876 Mr. Mays went to Brazil,
South America, as a traveling salesman and was ab-
sent for two years. When he returned to Chicago he
followed railroading there until 1890. Next we see
him railroading in Minnesota and in 1894 he started
west. He arrived in Pierce on the fourth day of
March, 1894, and since that time he has identified him-
self with this district. He went to prospecting at
once and soon had located the Dollar Mark and the
Fast Strike, promising quartz claims which he sold
to the Ohio and Idaho company. He now owns
the Outlaw, the Pirate, and Maud M. quartz claims
which he has discovered and developed since that time.
He also owns a half interest in the Ohio and Elkhorn
and has two placer claims, the Sweetheart and Sister
Bell, both good producers. Mr. Mays has one sister,
Belle, widow of L. Streator, now residing in Jeffer-
sonville, Indiana. Mr. Mays is a member of the K.
P. and is a Republican in politics. He is active in
the interests of the county and state and is a man of
excellent qualifications, and has manifested both in-
tegrity and enterprise in his labors here.
JOHN J. TONER. A jocose and genial per-
son, a good business man and the senior member of
the firm of Toner Brothers, general merchants of
Wardner, one of the earliest business men to estab-
lish himself in this camp, and now a leading and sub-
stantial citizen, it is with pleasure that we incorporate
a resume of the career of Mr. Toner. He was born
in Illinois, on December 29, 1849, being the son of
Richard D. and Catherine (Welsh) Toner, natives
of the Emerald Isle. Our subject was educated in
Minnesota in the common schools and then taught
school. After this he completed the high school course
in Fairbault and followed teaching more. He then
turned his attention to other callings and also rail-
roaded in St. Paul for a vear and in 1886, he came to
Wardner and joined his brother, David L., and these
two, with Richard, who came a few weeks later, opened
a general merchandise store and in the management of
this our subject has remained since. Mr. Toner also
has considerable mining interest with his brother.
Politically, he is a Democrat but never takes nomina-
tion or seeks preferment. Mr. Toner is a member of
the Roman Catholic church and it is his pleasure to
still enjoy the quiet comforts of the celibatarian. Mr.
Toner is happily possessed of that wealth of sparkling
wit and humor, the legacy of his people, and he is the
center of a large circle of admiring friends.
HENRY A. JONES, a prominent mining man of
Wardner, is one of the earliest pioneers to the Coeur
d'AIene country and has operated in a leading way in
various properties throughout the district. He came
to Murray in the spring of 1883, abandoning a re-
cently taken ranch on the Mullan road to join the
rush. A hundred or more men camped on Prichard's
ranch, drawn thither by Prichard's glowing reports
and as the snow was deep, nearly as high as a tele-
graph pole, it was difficult locating claims. Mr.
Prichard's piloted the company to the vicinity of where
Murray now stands and our subject secured a claim
close by. After working that out and also one at
Delta, in 1885, Mr. Jones came to Wardner and since
that time he has constantly wrought here with the ex-
ception of three years in Alaska. He erected the
first lumber building in Wardner, and has been active
in building since, owning much property here,
among which are residences and the American hotel.
He has also been active in mining matters and has
interests in many properties and has promoted many.
He was one of the original owners of the Silver King.
Fraternally, Mr. Jones is affiliated with the K. P.,
being past C. C. of Galena Fodge No. 12; with the
Lincoln Lodge of Orangemen ; with the Junior Me-
chanics ; with the Washington Council No. 1, the
first of Idaho; with the Daughters of America. Mr.
Jones has never yet taken to himself a wife and thus
is still enjoying the quiet charms of celibacy.
Referring more particularly to his early life and
his family, we note that Henry A. Jones was born in
Medina county, Ohio, on August 27, 1854, being
the son of Russell A. and Catherine (Woolcott) Jones.
The father was born in Ohio, and his father in Ver-
mont. The family were among the first to invade the
wilds of the western reserve and were prominent
among Ohio pioneers. The father of our subject died
in 1858. The mother of Henry A. was a native of
Portage county, Ohio, and had the pleasure of being
a schoolmate ' of the noted and beloved James A.
Garfield. The Woolcotts were prominent in govern-
ment affairs in early days and Oliver Wolcot, grand-
father of Mrs. Jones, was a signer of the Declaration
of Independence. The name is spelled variously.
Other members of the family were prominent. 1 )ur
subject's paternal uncle was a brigadier general in the
confederate army and was killed in the battle of Balls
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Bluff. He was a wealthy slave owner. Our subject
was reared on a farm in Ohio, received a fine edu-
cation from the public schools, the academy, and the
normal and gave nine years after his graduation to
teaching in Ohio, Kentucky, Iowa and Colorado. Then
he went to the Black Hills with a cattle outfit and in
1878 he was in Butte freighting during those flush
days. Then he spent one winter in the vigorous ex-
ercise of hunting buffalo and later went to placer
mining in Quartz creek in Montana. He took a
claim, for agricultural purposes near the Mullan road
in the fall of 1882 and in the following spring ab-
andoned it to join the rush for Murray. Mr. Jones
is well known all over the district and is a prominent
man, highly esteemed and of unswerving integrity and
real worth.
JOHN C. EDDY is proprietor of the American
hotel of Wardner, which lie has handled with such
skill that it has come to be one of the popular resorts
of travellers. He purchased the furnishings of the
house in 1900, but on January, 1902, he devoted his
whole attention to it and is now doing a fine business.
He and his wife have wrought with skill and thrift
in directing the various departments of the house,
which is both American and European, and have been
rewarded with a gratifying patronage.
John C. Eddy was born in Wyoming county, New
York, on September 12, 1862, being the son of Edwin
and I.orinda (Blood) Eddy, natives of New York
state. The Eddy family is an old American family
of English ancestrage and prominent in professional
and mercantile life in various sections of the country.
They were patriotic and brave, as their faithful serv-
ice in the Revolution, war of 1812, and the Rebellion
testifies. In all these conflicts they were the unfailing
and unflinching supporters of the American cause and
the government. Judge Eddy, the father's brother,
is a prominent man in Los Angeles and a powerful
political orator. The mother of our subject came from
a leading New England family and her brother, Moses,
was in high official circles in governmental affairs.
The parents of our subject still live in New York and
have recently celebrated their golden wedding. Our
subject was reared and educated in his native place and
came to Nebraska when twenty-one. He rode the
range there and in Wyoming for one concern for many
years, then engaged with the government in inspection
"of surveys, then wrought in the mines in Colorado, was
in Butte, later in Buffalo Hump country, at Spokane
and in the various districts adjacent thereto, includ-
ing British Columbia and finally he halted in the
Coeur d'Alene country. He has wrought in the Em-
pire State mine and in January, 1902, left that for
his hotel. Mrs. Eddy had operated the house from
1900 to the time he quit the mine and since then they
have both given their attention to its oversight and
direction. Mr. Eddy has two brothers, Lewis' W.,
Frank E.
On April 2, 1S98, at Idaho Springs, Colorado, Mr.
Eddy married Miss Mary, daughter of Frederick and
Minnie Bertram, natives of Germany. Mr. Eddy is
a member of the A. O. U. W., of the Wardner In-
dustrial Union, and the F. O. E., all in Wardner. He
is a Republican and although not specially active he
has been chosen as delegate to the county conven-
tion.
RICHARD T. TONER, of the well known firm,
of Toner Brothers, general merchants of Wardner,
is a man of sterling worth and excellent business quali-
fications and is one of the popular and leading men
of the town. Mentioning the details of his career, we
note that he was born in Winona, Minnesota, on April
15, 1858. His parents, Richard D. and Catherine
(Welsh) Toner, were natives of Ireland. The father
came to the United States in the forties and died in
Minnesota in 1878, aged sixty-five. The mother was
married in the United States and died in Minnesota
in 1886, aged sixty-eight. Our subject was reared on
his father's farm in Minnesota and educated in the
public schools. When nineteen he went to Montana
where he engaged variously for ten years. In 1886
he came to Wardner, whither his brothers, John and
David L., had preceded him a few weeks and had
opened a general merchandise establishment, our sub-
ject being one of the partners. When this store was-
started there were two others, but they removed later
so this is the oldest general merchandise establishment
in the town. They were pioneers and very little of the
present town of Wardner was then existing. In 1888
on account of the failing health of David, the other two
brothers bought his interest and they continue in the
management of the establishment until this date. Our
subject has three brothers and two sisters, David, a
merchant and mining man in Chewelah, Washington \.
Charles, a contractor in the east; John, his present
partner, and the eldest ; Mercy A. Davidson, in Clo-
quett, Minnesota; Kate, living with our subject.
At Spokane, in 1892, Mr. Toner married Miss
Isabel, daughter of James and Sarah Keenan, who
reside in Ireland. Two children have been born to
this union, Catherine, aged seven; Richard J., aged
five. Mrs. Toner is a native of Ireland and has one
sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Devlin, at Silver King, Idaho.
Air. and Mrs. Toner are faithful members of the Cath-
olic church. He is a Democrat and is frequently a
delegate to the county convention but always refuses
nomination for office. Mr. Toner was chairman of
the school trustees and rendered excellent service. In
addition to his mercantile interests, Mr. Toner owns
an interest in the Blackhawk and Wyoming mines and
also in numerous undeveloped properties.
HEENEN J. ROGERS. The popular O. K. bar-
ber shop needs no introduction to the people of Wal-
lace nor does the subject of this sketch, who is the pro-
prietor in partnership with Edward O. Herring,
since he is well known and of good standing. The
shop is the finest in Wallace, has the best baths with
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
excellent porcelain tubs and is granted a first-class
patronage which its excellent management deserves.
Heenen J. Rogers was born in McGregor, Iowa,
on September 9, 1861, being the son of Jabez S. and
Sarah (Reeves) Rogers, natives of Ohio and Wis-
consin, respectively, and now deceased. They both
came from old American families and the father served
in the Twenty-first Iowa Infantry for three years and
three months. Our subject was reared and educated
in his native place and when fifteen went to work in
a shingle mill. He went to contracting in this busi-
ness later and remained until 1884, when he went to
South Chippewa, Wisconsin, and opened a barber
shop. His skill had been gained in shaving the mill
men and from the first he did well in the shop. On
December 23, 1885, he arrived in Minneapolis and
worked in a barber shop for two years. Then he took
a position with the Minnesota harvester works and
later operated as trainman on the Chicago & Milwau-
kee. In 1890 we see him in his art in Butte, Montana,
and on January 12, 1891, he landed in Wallace. He
wrought at his trade for two years and in 1893 he
bought an interest in the O. K. shop, which he and his
partner are now conducting in a successful manner.
Mr. Rogers has one brother and two sisters, Charles
F., Edith M. Ford, Eva M. Dressel.
On August 15, 1885, at Hudson, Wisconsin, Mr,
Rogers married Miss Sarah J. King, whose parents
dwell in Mauston, Wisconsin. Mrs. Rogers has three
brothers and three sisters, Peter J.. William, Patrick,
Mary Galagher, Eliza and Martha. Two children
have been born to Mr. and Airs. Rogers, James F.
and Verna R. Mr. Rogers is a member of the B.
P. O. E., and the K. O. T. M. He is an active Repub-
lican and wields a good influence in the campaigns.
RICHARD DAXON is heavily interested in min-
ing properties both in the Coeur d'Alene country and
elsewhere and is prominent in mining circles. He is
president of the Tarbox Mining Company of Saltese.
Montana ; is treasurer of the Little Chief Mining Com-
pany, at Mullan ; and is also interested in many others.
Richard Daxon was born in Rock Island, Illinois,
on July 7. 1859, being the son of Pierce and Margaret
(Hyncs) Daxon, natives of Ireland, now living in
Girard, Kansas. The father was a soldier in the
Forty-seventh Illinois Infantry and for many years
was justice of the peace and assessor in Kansas. Our
subject went with the family to Kansas when he was
eleven and he obtained his education from the public
schools. In 1879 he went to Colorado and mined and
in 1883 we see him at Thompson Falls, Montana,
where, with his brother, he operated a saloon. He
came to Murray in the time of the excitement and
opened the Palace hotel. He sold that in the spring
of 1886 and prospected and in the fall of 1888 he and
his brother opened a saloon in Mullan. In 1894 he
sold to his brother and Mr. Daxon went into business
in Wardner. In the spring of 1895 he came to Wallace
and opened the Coliseum, which he sold seven years
later and is now operating the Sunset beer hall. Mr.
Daxon is one of the old timers and is well acquainted
with all the early prospectors and is informed as to
the various properties in this district. Mr. Daxon has
two brothers, William, a large property holder in Mul-
lan; James, a farmer in Kansas. Mr. Daxon and his
brother, William, have a fine farm of two hundred
and forty acres in Kansas, which they rent.
On July 1, 1900, Mr. Daxon married Miss Eliza-
beth, daughter of August and Elizabeth Yeager, re-
siding at Fletcher, Idaho. Mrs. Daxon has the fol-
lowing brothers and sisters, August, in business in
the Philippines ; Christena, whose husband, Fred In-
man, is engineer in the Sunset brewery ; Laura, a school
girl; Emily Goetz, in New York; Anna Smith, whose
husband is with Stewart & Welch, railroad contract-
ors in Spokane ; Emma, a school girl. Mr. Daxon is
a member of the F. O. E., Wallace Aerie, No. 54 ; of
the Coeur d'Alene Court, No. 9, Foresters of America ;
Lakota Tribe, No. 13, I. O. R. M.
FRANK F. JOHNSON. Without peradventure
the financial institutions of our land exert the most
potent influence upon the country as to its standing, its
progress, and its prosperity. Hence it is that public
sentiment demands that men of the finest ability and
unswerving integrity and intrinsic worth be at the
head of these institutions. The gentleman of whom
we now have the pleasure of speaking is and has been
for years among the most substantial of banking men
in the northwest and the magnificant growth of the
First National Bank of Wallace, at the head of which
he stands, being president and prominent stockholder,
demonstrates without uncertainty his ability in the fi-
nancial world. He has built up an institution here
that has the perfect confidence of the entire Coeur
d'Alene country, which stands high among the bank-
ing institutions of the northwest, and that does an en-
ormous business. A detailed account of Mr. John-
son's career will form an important part of Shoshone
county history and therefore we append the same.
Frank F. Johnson was born in Shawano, Wiscon-
sin, on November 15, 1862, being the son of Albert and
Elizabeth S. (Fisk) Johnson. The father was a native
of Massachusetts and came from a prominent* and old
New England family. The mother was born in Wis-
consin but also descended from a leading New Eng-
land family in colonial days. Frank F. was reared in
Colorado, whence his family went when he was five
years old. After a thorough high school course in
Denver, he went to the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology and there took a course in mining engi-
neering. Following this, Mr. Johnson was engaged in
government land surveys for two years and then took
up the cattle business with his father for two years. It
was 1887 that he came to Murray, where for two and
one-half years he was engaged in the bank. Then
Mr. Johnson opened the Bank of North Idaho and in
1892 he organized the First National Bank of Wallace
and since that date he has been at the head of the in-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
stitution. Mr. Johnson has one sister, Mrs. Annie R.,
wife of Dr. W. A. Jones, a leading physician in Minne-
apolis.
On April 17, 1888, Mr. Johnson married Miss Ma-
rie L. Gieson, in Colorado. Her father is a retired
farmer in Wisconsin and her mother is deceased. To
this happy union three children have been born : Al-
bert D., Clara L., Ellsworth E. Fraternally Mr. John-
son is affiliated with the A. F. & A. M., Shoshone
Lodge No. 25 ; with the Wallace Chapter No. 9. of the
R A. M. : with the Coeur d'Alene Comrriandery of
K. T. ; with the B. P. O. E., Coeur d'Alene Lodge
No. 33 1. Politically he is allied with the Republicans
and in 189 1-2 he held the important office of treas-
urer of Shoshone county. Mr. Johnson has given of his
time in the city council for four years and has aided
by excellent sagacity and shrewd business ability to
place its affairs in good shape. In addition to all
these matters mentioned, Mr. Johnson was a moving
spirit in furnishing the city with its excellent system
of lights and water. He and his associates bought
in the stock of the Wallace Manufacturing, Electric
0; Water Company, reorganized matters, placed all in
good shape and sold to the present company, and Mr.
Johnson is retained in the responsible position of pres-
ident. He is also president of the Shoshone Club and
an active member of the board of trade, all of which
profit much by his wisdom and executive ability. In
social circles Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are leaders and
are the center of a large circle of admiring friends.
Their pleasant home is a center of refined hospitality
and is presided over with grace and dignity by his
charming wife, while Mr. Johnson, by his pleasant
ways, kind treatment of all, integrity and sound prin-
ciples, has placed himself in a very enviable position in
the city and wherever he is known.
THEODORE F. JAMESON. The gentleman of
whom we now speak is not only one of the oldest pio-
neers in the Coeur d'Alene country, but is a thorough
pioneer in every sense of the word and well acquainted
with the various districts of the mining part of the
United States and especially the northwest and has
had great experiences in his career on the frontier.
He is a man of geniality and affability and is now con-
ducting a resort which is headquarters for the old
timers of the country and his place is well known all
over this part of the state. Mr. Jameson has a good
bar, always stocked with fine liquors, operates a neat
and quiet billiard hall, and has his place embellished
with valuable curios and collections of minerals.
Theodore F. Jameson was born in Paris, Kentucky,
on November 3, 1843, being the son of William W. and
Nancy (Litckie) Jameson, natives of Kentucky. The
father died in 1853. P>oth the families are of old co-
lonial fame and stanch American sentiment. Our
subject was educated in the public schools and when
he was sixteen the family went to Missouri. He re-
mained on a farm with his parents until he was twent\
and then in 1870 we find him in San Francisco and the
next year in Pioche, Nevada. In 1878 Mr. Jameson
went to Leadville and there and in Rosita he engaged
in the liquor business. In 1878 we see him in the fa-
mous Black Hills of South Dakota and in 1881 he went
to the Wood river country, Idaho. In the fall of
1883 he was in Walla Walla, and in February, 1884,
Mr. Jameson came to Eagle City, Idaho. A few weeks
later he went to Murray and opened a saloon. This he
conducted until 1886, when a move was made to Ward-
ner, whence he came to Wallace in 1889. He then opened
his present place and has since given himself to his
business. He is located near the business center of the
city and his place is orderly and neatly equipped. Mr.
Jameson has no brothers and but one sister, Mrs. M. J.
Cluster, of Mexico, Missouri. Mr. Jameson is a wid-
ower and has no children. He is a member of the
Eagles, being treasurer of Wallace Aerie No. 54. He
is an active member of the board of trade and a pro-
gressive citizen who stands well.
ABRAHAM P. HORTON was born in Canada
about 1856 and was raised in New York state. He
first started for himself in 1870 and had an experience
of losing his money on another man's game in the great
city and he returned to peel hemlock bark for another
start. Later he went to Ontario and in a short time
was in St. Paul, Minnesota, whence he went to the
Black Hiils in 1875, having trouble with the Sioux
Indians. He spent several years digging gold, con-
tracting in the mines and returned to Bismarck and
piloted a train over to the Black Hills, being chosen
captain. In 1880 he fell eighty-seven feet in the King
Solomon mine, and it took him a year to get over the
effects of the accident. In 1881 Mr. Horton went to
Alaska and after great hardships returned to Tacoma,
whence he went again to the Black Hills. In 1883 we
find him in the Wood river country and at the time of
the rush to Murray he was on the crest of the wave
and found good diggings. He was also in the Big
Horn country in 1877, but found no prospects worth
opening. In 1893 Mr. Horton went to the World's
Fair and also made a visit to his old home and returned
to the mines again and since that time has been active
in the various interests of the Coeur d'Alene country.
He is well known and a pioneer, having been connected
with various properties.
JAMES M. ADDLE is a well known attorney at
law in Wallace, where he has practiced steadily since
he came to the city in 1900. Shortly after his arrival
he was nominated for county attorney and failed by
only fifty-three votes to carry the day, being on the
Democratic ticket. He is active in political matters
and is of the old Jeffersonian stamp.
James M. Addle was born in Meadville, Pennsyl-
vania, on October 8, 185 1, being the son of Amandus
and Margaret (Shartle) Addle, natives of Pennsyl-
vania, and the father is living in Meadville now. He
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
served in Company H, One Hundred and Eleventh
Pennsylvania Infantry, under Colonel Kane. The pa-
ternal grandfather of James M. was a patriot in the
Revolution. The mother of our subject came from an
old German family and her father fought for the Amer-
ican cause in the war of 1812. She died in 1893 at
Meadville, aged eighty-six. James M. was raised in
his native town and was educated in Allegheny College
there situated. Thence he went to Texas, read law,
rode the range in that state and in New Mexico and in
April, 1874, in Texas, he was admitted to the practice
of law. He practiced there some and a few years
later we find him in the profession in Great Falls, Mon-
tana, whence he went to the Cripple Creek district in
Colorado and practiced and did a mining business and
in 1896 Mr. Addle returned to Texas, in which state
and in Utah, Wyoming and Arizona he traveled and
did business. In 1898 he enlisted in the Rough Riders,
went to Florida and after discharge he returned to
practice and in 1900 he came to Wallace. In the in-
tervening time Mr. Addle has given himself to the
practice and handling of mining business.
On May 5, 1873, Mr. Addle married Miss Clara
O'Brien, of Franklin, Pennsylvania. Her parents, An-
thony and Sarah O'Brien, are now deceased. Her fa-
ther was a prominent man and was sheriff off and on
in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, for forty years.
One child has been born to this union, Maude, single.
Mr. Addle is a member of the K. P., Manila Lodge
No. 13, in Wyoming, and he is past C. C. ; of the La-
kota Tribe of I. O. R. M., being past sachem.
JESSE W. TABOR is a prominent one of the old
pioneers who came with the first influx to the Coeur
d'Alene country and has made this his home since that
time. He is also a leading business man and an in-
fluential citizen of Wallace, handling at the present
time a large establishment in the Holohan and Mc-
Kinley building, where he carries a choice stock of sta-
tionery, books, toys, novelties, cigars and so forth and
does a first-class business.
Jesse W. Tabor was born in Kentucky, on June
24, 1855, being the son of Henry and Anna (Meri-
dith) Tabor, natives of Kentucky. The father's an-
cestors came from Virginia and he died in 1862. The
mother of our subject came from a prominent and old
southern family and two of her brothers fought with
the Union army. Two brothers of our subject's fa-
ther served in the Union army, although the family
held slaves. Jesse W. was reared and educated in Ken-
tucky and when eighteen went to Texas with his step-
father and mother and the balance of the family. The
stepfather died soon after landing there and the mother
the next year. Our subject took charge of the farm
and held the family together until his sister married
and then he went to high school for nearly two years,
after which he opened a feed corral in Dallas and then
mined in Colorado. In January, 1884, Mr. Tabor came
to Eagle City, did some building, prospected and in
June, 1885, went to work on the Tiger. In 1887 we
find him in the Bell mine and the next year he was in
a grocery in Burke. It was in 1889 that Mr. Tabor
came to Wallace and opened his present business and
snce that time he has been eminently successful and is
favored with a fine patronage. Mr. Tabor has one
brother and one sister, James and Lizzie Pinson.
On January 23, 1894, Mr. Tabor married Miss
Catherine Robertson, whose parents are natives of and
reside in Scotland. Mrs. Tabor has one sister, Mag-
gie, in Spokane. Two children have been born to Mr.
and Mrs. Tabor, George and Catherine. Mr. Tabor
is affiliated with the A. F. & A. M., Shoshone Lodge
No. 25; with the Lewiston Consistory No. 1, of the
Thirty-second degree Scottish rite ; El Katif, Mystic
Shrine, in Spokane; with the B. P. O. E.. Coeur
d'Alene Lodge No. 331 ; and with the K. of T. M.. Sil-
ver Tent No. 3. at Wallace.
ADDENDA
CHAPTER I
THE PRESS OF NORTH IDAHO.
There has been no more potent factor in the de-
velopment of northern Idaho than its press — its news-
papers. With unswerving faith and tireless zeal they
have labored for the settlement and advancement
of this region, ever enthusiastic, never weary of ad-
vertising the region's wonderful resources and possi-
bilities. Who can gainsay the fact that north Idaho
owes to its press and the neighboring press in other
states a debt of gratitude which it can never repay?
The press has been the key that has unlocked the treas-
ure vaults of northern Idaho and exposed their contents
to the world, conveying the information to the people
of other states and lands, drawing them hither. They
read, they came, they have stayed, they have brought
their friends. No other human agency could have
achieved such a triumph as has the press in this civi-
lizing work. At home the disheartened, the discour-
aged, the faltering, the unseeing have been filled with
new life, with enthusiasm. The film has been plucked
from their eyes and the glories and opportunities of
the state revealed to them. By means of the press
the individuals, the communities that make up the
country, have been kept in close touch with one an-
other with the natural result — encouragement, new
ideas, new life, co-operation.
Like most other benefactions, however, the press
is not appreciated by the masses. Because its powers
have been abused by unscrupulous, selfish individuals
and corporations, the press is condemned ; because it
strikes from the shoulder without fear it is branded as
harsh and unfeeling ; because it holds up to the world
a mirror reflecting the wickedness of humanity it is
abused as vile. Its faults, to be sure, are many, but
they should not be allowed to. blind us to its numerous
virtues, its true worth.
To the Golden Age belongs the honor of pioneer-
ship in north Idaho journalism. In fact, it is believed
that the' Golden Age was the first newspaper published
in the interior Northwest. Lewiston was its home,
and August 2, 1862, the date of its birth. It lived in
a golden age, indeed, for the Idaho mines were then in
the zenith of their producing powers. A. S. Gould
possesses the distinction of having been the founder
and editor of this pioneer paper. He was attracted
to -he bustling city of Lewiston by the mining excite-
ment which prevailed in 1862. Mr. Gould, we learn,
remained with his paper only a year, being succeeded
by John H. Scranton the following August. Then
Frank Kenyon assumed charge. But the gold seekers
evidently did not give the paper their support, for the
little sheet finally suspended publication in January,
1865. Ultimately the plant was removed to Boise.
But the field did not long remain vacant, now that
the path was broken, for during the summer of 1865
the Radiator was established at Lewiston by Thomas
Favourite. It was a four-page paper, independent
in politics. It was published until the spring of 1866,
when a mining excitement in Montana induced Mr.
Favourite to remove his plant to a new gold field.
Then for several months, or until the Lewiston Jour-
nal was established on January 17, 1867, north Idaho
was again without a paper. C. G. Kress, of Lewiston,
say that Seth S. Slater and William Mahoney were the
founders of this paper. The following fall Alonzo
Leland & Son were its publishers and editors. In size
the Journal was a five-column folio ; its news matter
was attractively written and set up in type and its
editorials were refreshing and timely. Politically the
Journal was a staunch advocate of Republicanism.
Material and labor were evidently high-priced in those
days, for the Journal sold for eight dollars a year,
or fifty cents a copy, exclusive of postage. Like its
predecessors, it was a weekly.
It is in connection with the Journal that we first
meet Alonzo B. Leland, one of the ablest newspaper
men that northern Idaho has ever had. No man has
been more prominently identified with the upbuilding
of northern Idaho, and none has been more faithful
[206
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
or loval to his home. Born in Vermont in 1818 Mr.
Leland was left an orphan at a very early age and
spent his boyhood upon a typical New England farm.
His early education was such as could be obtained in
country villages in those days, but he labored earnestly,
naking the most of his advantages, and at the age of
sixteen engaged in teaching. Later he entered the
State Academy of New Hampshire, where he spent
three years, after which he entered Brown University,
graduating from that institution in the class of 1843.
While in school he supported himself by working at
the carpenter's trade. After leaving college he taught
for several years in Massachusetts and Maryland.
In 1849 ne was induced to the far west by the dis-
covery of gold in California,' and October, 1850, found
him in Oregon. His first work in Oregon was that
of a civil engineer, and it fell to him to assist in
surveying and platting the present city of Portland.
Subsequently he entered the newspaper field in that
city, founding the Portland Standard in the spring of
1854. In 1858, with an associate named Mallory, Mr.
Leland established Portland's first daily, the Adver-
tiser. Later he became interested in the Daily News
and the Times, in which latter paper he gave not a
little attention to the mining discoveries made in Idaho
in i860 and j86i. In Tune, 1861, he entered the crowd
of gold seekers and became one of the pioneers of
Florence. That fall he returned to Portland, but in
1862 again journeyed to Idaho, where he resided until
his death in 1891. Individuality is stamped on all his
newspaper work. His ability as a writer was much
above the average ; his penetration and foresight were
keen ; his grasp of ever}- situation masterly. No greater
compliment was ever paid to this pioneer editor than
that from the lips of one of Lewiston's foremost citi-
zens, who said: "Mr. Leland's only fault was that
his thoughts were twenty years in advance of the
times."
Mr. Leland was the acknowledged promoter and
leader of the annexation movement and a tireless ad-
vocate of railroad building in north Idaho.
THE IDAHO SIGNAL.
On March 9, 1872, the Idaho Signal flung its ban-
ner to the breeze at Lewiston, succeeding the defunct
Journal. Henry Leland, son of Alonzo, and Robert
A. Rowley were the publishers and editors of the new
paper, but the elder Leland occasionally contributed
to it. The home of the paper was situated on Third
street, between C and D streets, in a small frame build-
ing. The subscription price was fixed at five dollars
a year, or twenty-five cents a copy. The Signal was
a neatly printed, five-column folio, creditably edited.
The editors disclaimed any previous experience in edi-
torial work, saying that their knowledge of journalism
had been gained solely in the composing room.
In saluting the public the Signal says : "We deem
the field a good one in which to test ourself, and wc
enter upon it with a hearty good will toward all who
may become our patrons,, and with a firm resolve that,
if our zeal and energy to meet their wants and reason-
able expectations will make up for what we lack in
experience, that zeal and energy shall be devoted to
our enterprise. We shall be independent on all sub-
jects. Thus we let our Signal be known."
The material used in printing the Signal was the
same as that used in printing the Journal, although
the enterprise was a distinct one. November 1, 1872,
Mr. Rowley was compelled to retire from the business
on account of ill health, his interest being transferred
to John M. Dormer Esq., who assumed editorial charge.
Mr. Dormer remained with the Signal only a year,
when he, too, retired, leaving Henry Leland in full
possession. The Signal was doomed to meet with fail-
ure as had its predecessors, and in September, 1874,
the property passed into the hands of the Idaho Print-
ing & Publishing Company. Immediately W. C. Whis-
ton and J. M. Dormer leased the material and launched
another craft, the Northerner, upon the stormy sea of
journalism. Adversity soon overtook this little craft,
also, for it was wrecked as soon as the "hard times"
squall struck it. Then came the present pioneer of
north Idaho newspapers.
THE LEWISTON TELLER.
Mr. Leland now enters the field in earnest, asso-
ciating with him his son Henry, formerly one of the
publishers of the Signal. The enterprise was engaged
in with great earnestness, and year by year the Teller
rose by sheer force of merit. By this time the country-
was beginning • to settle rapidly, and the field was,
therefore, a larger and more important one than it
had previously been. The first issues of the Teller
were of the same size as the Signal and the Northerner,
but the subscription price was reduced to three dollars
a year. There was no wasted space in the Teller, its
advertising and news columns being full to overflow-
ing. Success smiled upon the venture, and in April,
1878, the paper was enlarged to a six-column folio,
all home print. Through the succeeding decade and a
half the Teller led the van of progress in north Tdaho.
In 1882, the 1st of February, the old fashioned hand
presses were replaced by a power press. In time Henry
Leland withdrew from the paper and was succeeded
by his brother, Charles F., who brought to his work
much energy and ability. For awhile before his death
Alonzo Leland was alone in the management of the
paper. When, on March 1, 1890, declining health and
advancing age forced him to retire, the property passed
into the hands of Carl Foresman, superintendent of the
Lewiston schools.
Mr. Foresman took up his labors with energy and
ability, enlarged the Teller to an eight-page paper,
increased the amount of reading matter and made other
improvements, which bespoke the fact that he was a
capable newspaper man as well as a teacher. The
Teller kept its high standing among the journals of
the state and increased its circulation in the home
field. It also espoused the cause of Republicanism
(jt had been non-partisan theretofore), and has re-
mained true to that party ever since. In 1894 Editor
Foresman was signally recognized by the Republicans
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1207
of Idaho, who nominated him for the office of state
superintendent of public instruction. He was vic-
torious in the campaign which followed, and for two
years held the position with credit to himself and the
state. In i8q6 he returned to his newspaper work.
By December, 1898, the business had grown so as to
warrant a twice-a-week edition, instead of a weekly,
as theretofore.
February 9th, 1889, is the date of a great dis-
aster to the Teller, its old office at the corner
of Main and Second streets being destroyed by fire.
The flames broke through the roof of the one-story
building about half past five o'clock in the afternoon,
and before the alarm was fairly sounded, the enclosed
space in the garret was afire. The fire apparatus
was frozen, and the nozzle of the hose clogged with
ice. Before these difficulties could be overcome the
building was doomed. The office fixtures and stock
were generally saved, though damaged somewhat by
water. Willing hands carried all of the machinery
except the big press and engine out into the street,
so that the loss was not as heavy as it might have
been. Fortunately a portion of the loss was covered
by insurance.
Business was re -opened in the present office on
C street, near the city hall. Here a large cylinder
power press was erected for news purposes and job-
bers, latest improved paper cutter, and other machin-
ery and printing materials were installed, fitting out
the office in a complete and modern manner. The
facilities of the office for job printing are excelled by
none in the city, and the assortment of type is one of
the largest in northern Idaho. During the campaign
of 1900 the Teller issued a daily edition, having ab-
sorbed the Daily Patriot. At present Mr. Foresman
is engaged in making preparations for the establish-
ment of another daily.
THE NEZ PERCES NEWS
Long since laid away in the journalistic graveyard of
north Idaho, was many years the Teller's rival in the
local field. It was established at Lewiston in Septem-
ber, 1880, by a local publishing company, and placed
in charge of W. H. Brooks, an experienced newspaper
man. Brooks became involved in trouble late in the
fall and was forced to leave the country. Then, in
January. 1881. Aaron F. Parker, a brother of Frank
Parker, editor of the Boise Statesman, took charge of
the paper and steered it through the many difficulties
which beset it into a position of influence in the state.
Mr. Parker, who is till living at Grangeville, very
early in his career as editor of the News attained promi-
nence by forceful expressions of his opinions and by
his power in descriptive writing. Not less attentive
than the Teller to the needs of the community nor
less faithful to its public trust, the News rapidly won
its way to a high standing at home as well as abroad.
At first Mr. Parker was an annexationist, but only a
few years elapsed before he took up the battle for a
united territory, and made the News and later the Ida-
ho County Free Press the spokesman of the anti-an-
nexationists in northrn Idaho. Very strenuously did
he apply himself to combating the arguments of the
veteran Lewiston editor, Mr. Leland, on this subject.
In October, 1883, Mr. Parker's interest was at-
tracted to the Coeur d'Alene mining country, and sell-
ing the News to a man named Abbott, he became one
of the pioneers in the New Eldorado, where he en-
gaged in the publication of the Coeur d'Alene Eagle.
Mr. Abbott disposed of his interests in the News to
Messrs. McConkey & Beeson, who published it until
the return of Mr. Parker from Shoshone county in
April, 1885, when he resumed charge. In June, 1886,
Mr. Parker disposed of the property to Adams & Bee-
son, and himself went to the thriving town of Grange-
ville, where he established the Idaho County Free
Press, becoming the pioneer journalist of Idaho county.
Shortly after Messrs. Adams & Beeson took charge
of the News they sold out to Judge Norman Buck and
A. Ouackenbush, who changed the name to the Stars
and Bars. Judge Buck was a power in Idaho politics
at that time, and with such a man at its head the
Stars and Bars quite naturally took a leading position
among its contemporaries, but it failed to give satis-
factory financial returns, and in a short time sus-
pended. In June, 1889, the plant was removed to
Palouse City, Washington.
THE LEWISTON TRIBUNE
Is the only daily in north Idaho, and its permanent
establishment as such was an important forward step
in the journalism of this section of Idaho. In work-
manship, style of make up, typographical appearance,
and the literary ability displayed in both news items
and editorials it takes high rank among the newspa-
pers of the state. Its genial editor, Albert H. Alford,
ex- regent of the state university, and ex-speaker of
the lower legislative body of Idaho, bears the reputa-
tion of being among the foremost editorial writers in
the northwest. He and his corps of assistants have
made for the Tribune an excellent reputation at home
and abroad.
The Weekly Tribune was established at Lewiston
in September, 1892, by two of its present proprietors,
Albert H. and Eugene L. Alford. The office was in
a small, one-story building on Main street. Here,
with limited facilities, these gentlemen began the issu-
ance of their little paper. It was a most vigorous ad-
vocate of Democracy and is today, although more in-
dependent than formerly. During the campaign of
1896 the Tribune was published as a semi-weekly, and
so well was it received by the public that the publish-
ers determined to try a daily. This they did in May,
1898. They met with gratifying success in their enter-
prise, success sufficient to justify their making the
daily a permanent thing. In 1900 Wallace B. Stainton,
who had been connected with the Tribune since its es-
tablishment, became a full partner in the business. The
same year the company secured the Associated Press
morning franchise for Lewiston. Meanwhile the week-
ly publication has been continued. It is an eight-page
paper ; the daily a six-page. From the very first the
Tribune has been an "all home print."
208
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
After occupying several different homes, always
rented ones, the Tribune at, last has its own building,
erected by the company last year. It is a handsome
brick structure occupying a prominent location on
Fourth street in the down town district. In the com-
pleteness of its equipment the Tribune has a great
advantage, its plant and office being superior to those
of any paper in the state. It furnishes employment to
not a few skilled workmen and writers. Mr. E. L.
Alford, who kindly piloted the writer through the
establishment, estimates its value at between $15,000
and $20,000. A. H. Alford is the editor of the Tri-
bune, Eugene L. Alford the business manager, and
Wallace B. Stainton city editor.
THE DAILY PATRIOT
Completes the list of the newspapers which have been
published in Lewiston. This pioneer Lewiston daily
was established September 1, 1897, by Frank M. Rob-
erts and his son, Coral F. Roberts. It was published
for about three years, then, as before stated, was ab-
sorbed by the Teller during the campaign of iyoo. .Mr.
Roberts is now engaged in the newspaper business at
Stites.
IDAHO COUNTY FREE PRESS.
To the Free Press belongs the honor of having
blazed the pathway of journalism in Idaho county,
and no inconsiderable amount of credit is due to this
pioneer paper and its energetic and intrepid publisher
and editor during the first fourteen years of its ex-
istence for the important part they have taken in the
upbuilding of Idaho county. The Free Press has
labored faithfully and well for the people of the region
it represents, and Mr. Parker has wielded a tireless and
skillful pen in his efforts to make the Free Press a
representative newspaper in even, sense of the word.
For many years after its birth, June 18, 1886, the jour-
nalistic field in this sparsely settled and but poorly
developed county was indeed a barren one. but the
country presented vast opportunities, a tremendous la-
tent power, which the pioneer paper has lived to see
only partly developed, and yet of astonishing strength.
It was founded as an independent journal, and has al-
ways retained its freedom of thought on matters af-
fecting the county at large. For several years it was
independent in politics: it then came forth as a sup-
porter of the Democratic party, and has since been the
leading county paper of that faith.
The advent of a newspaper in Idaho county was
hailed with great joy by the inhabitants of that section
of north Idaho. The people of Grangcville made the
printing of the first number a gala occasion, which
will live long in the memory of those who participated.
The brass band honored the publisher with a concert ;
flags were hoisted all over the town, and the first paper
was sold at auction to J. S. Fockler, of Salmon river,
for $50.
During the first three years of its life, the Free
Press was a four-page, six-column paper. In 1880,
however, the columns were lengthened and another
added, and in this size it now appears. For a long
time the two inside pages were "patent," but years
ago the publisher gladly made the change to home
print.
The newspaper met its first Serious reverse on
Christmas Eve, 1897, when the building it occupied
was burned to the ground. Of the contents, nothing
except the files, ledgers, subscription and account
books", and the editorial desk, were saved from the
flames. This loss was a serious one, but Mr. Parker
had faith in the enterprise, and immediately set about
making for his paper a better home than it had ever
had before, with the result that at present it occupies
a sightly, convenient and commodious building on Hall
street, just opposite the old Grange hall. The first
home of the Free Press was in the Harris building
on Main street, about where the present Pfeufer block
now stands. Then it was removed to the building at
the corner of Hall and Main streets, which was de-
stroyed by fire.
The Buffalo Hump boom in 1899 called forth the
Daily Press, the first number of which was printed
January 9, 1899. II. E. Waggoner acted as city editor.
This daily publication, a small half sheet, was regularly
published until December 2d following. During its
brief career the daily was eagerly read, as Mr. Parker
maintained the same high standard in this paper as
he did in the weekly. During March, 1899, a fine,
new cylinder news press, operated by water power,
was installed.
On September 28. 1900. after nearly twenty years
of continuous service, dating from early in 188 1, when
he took charge of the Xez Perces News, Mr. Parker
retired from the field of active newspaper work, and
is at present devoting himself to his real estate, mining
and other business interests in the county where he
has resided for the past eighteen years. He has been
a tireless and successful worker in his chosen pro-
fession, and has left an indelible mark, not alone on
the journalism of north Idaho, but also on its his-
tory.
Elmer McBroom, formerly the business manager
of the Roseburg, Oregon, Review, succeeded Mr.
Parker as editor and publisher of the Free Press, and
the product of his work is creditable to his abilities
as a writer. The Free Press is prosperous and thriv-
ing. It is the official county journal, which adds to
its prestige. The plant is well equipped with a cylin-
der news press, jobbers, paper cutter, news and job
type, etc.
THE CAMAS PRAIRIE CHRONICLE,
Formerly the Cottonwood Report, is the second oldest
existing newspaper in Idaho county, it having been
preceded only by the Free Press and a short lived paper
at Denver. The Report made its bow to the public
January 27. 1893. the Camas Prairie Publishing Com-
pany being the publishers, and Tannatt & Hogan busi-
ness managers. It was published weekly on an army
press. and was a four-page, seven-column paper, all
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1209
home print. Elmer Waldrip served die paper as editor
until the plant was disposed of July 15, 1893, to J. S.
Rhoads and T. W. Turner, when Philip W. Pearson
became the local editor. With the issue of May II,
181)4, the Report passed under the editorial manage-
ment of L. J. Hornaday, and for the first time discard-
ed its independence in politics. Mr. Taylor was suc-
ceeded by J. M. Wolbert in September, 1895, who
letained charge only a few months. Then the publica-
tion was purchased by Rustemeyer & Wimer, they as-
suming the editorial management at die same time.
During their ownership the Report became the Camas
Prairie Chronicle. Last January Mr. Rustemeyer re-
tired from the business, leaving Mr. Wimer the sole
proprietor. The plant is a small one, consisting of
an army news press, an Excelsior jobber, type, etc.
The paer is now twenty-four columns in size, with
"patent" inside. Devoted to the best interests of Cot-
tonwood and Idaho county in particular, newsy and
neatly printed, the Chronicle commands an excellent
patronage from both advertisers and subscribers.
THE GRANGEVILLE STANDARD.
The Standard, the third oldest newspaer in Idaho
county, was established at Grangeville, March 25, 1899,
A. J. MacDonald, editor and manager. Its platform
then is its platform now : "Republicanism, truthful-
ness, reliability on mining subjects, the advancement of
the interests of Grangeville and Idaho county, and the
advancement of the morals of the community." The
management of the paper has undergone many changes.
On May 10. 1899, the Standard Printing Company,
Charles F. Lake, editor and manager, assisted by John
Flittie. succeeded A. J. MacDonald. Editor Lake was
soon succeeded by George \V. Goode, and he in turn by
Frank M. Roberts, the latter taking charge April 27,
1901. In August. 1 901. William Leach, formerly with
the Clarkston, Washington, Chronicle, assumed the
management of the Standard, W. W. Goode being
proprietor at that time. The present owners, C. J.
Lisle and H. L. Brown, purchased the property in
September, 1901, taking charge September 13th. Both
are experienced men, formerly of Butte. Montana.
Air. Lisle was employed on the editorial staff of the
Daily Inter-Mountain.
Although the office was fairly well equipped at the
beginning. Brown & Lisle have made so many changes
and improvements that the plant is now practically
new. No printing house in north Idaho carries a better
line of type, and the Standard is without doubt as neat-
ly and tastily printed a newspaper as there is in the
state. Nor are its news and editoiral columns less
worthy of praise, for they reflect in an interesting and
breezy style the life around and in Grangeville. The
job office of the Standard is very complete and mod-
ern, a new Chandler & Price jobber being among the
recent acquisitions. The newspaper is printed on a
Campbell cylinder, operated by water power. This
press, however, is to be removed soon and a new one
of greater capacity installed in the new home that the
propiretors contemplate for their establishment. The
Standard at present is an eight-page, five-column paper,
all home print. It is not too much to say of the Stand-
ard that it is representative of the best type of the
American country newspaper.
THE GRANGEVILLE NEWS
Is Grangeville's youngest newspaper, having been es-
tablished April 4, 1902, by H. L. Herzinger, a veteran
journalist of the Northwest. All who come in con-
tact with Mr. Herzinger note his strong, energetic and
generous character, and the News itself is the best
measure of his journalistic powers. Although still
very young and forced to compete with two other
strong weeklies, the News is steadily gaining strength.
The plant occupies a commodious office on Hall street,
and is equipped with a Washington hand press, a job-
ber, paper cutter, type and other necessities of the
newspaper and job office. The News is a four-page,
seven-column paper, issued weekly. Tn politics it is
Democratic.
THF IDAHO MOUNTAINEER
Is published at Kooskia, on the Clearwater Short Line,
and is a neatly printed, newsy little weekly, mirroring
the life around its home. The Mountaineer was estab-
lished four years ago, at the time that Kooskia was
being built. H. E. O'Donnell is the proprietor and
editor of this journal.
THE IDAHO COUNTY PATRIOT
Was first known as the Register, under which name
it was established at Stites, February 22, 1901, by W.
N. Robinson. Frank M. Roberts, an experienced news-
paper man, formerly the publisher of the Daily Patriot
at Lewiston. purchased the Register in August, 1902,
and changed the name to the Patriot, its present title.
Mr. Roberts is a strong writer and the Patriot is a
popular little paper. Like the Mountaineer, the Patriot
is printed in folio size.
THE MORTALITY LIST.
The Idaho Gold Miner was the second paper pub-
lished in Grangeville. This short lived paper was
founded by T. E. Edmundson and was published dur-
ing 1894.
On December 4, 1895, the Camas Prairie Cayuse,
a breezy little sheet, was established at Grangeville by
Goodell & Ruggles. Its battles with the waves of ad-
versity was short, and it was soon submerged, never
to rise again.
Another of Grangeville's early papers was the Re-
publican, published in the spring of 1896, by Winfield
Harper. The paper was founded as a political organ.
Col. W. D. Robbins was interested in this enterprise.
The Cottonwood Times made its appearance at
that prairie town during the first week in December,
[898. Messrs. Turner & Short were the publishers.
During its life it was a creditable paper.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Franklin P. Turner commenced the publication
of the Alta Idaho Area at Stuart, now Kooskia, in
January, 1898. The railroad boom passed away within
a few months, however, and with it came the demise
of the Area.
COEUR DALENE NUGGET.
The Coeur dAlene Nugget was the first newspaper
to be published in Shoshone county. This pioneer
journal was called into existence by the settlement of
the Coeur dAlenes and made its bow to the public
at the historic town of Eagle City, March 15, 1884.
At that time thousands of miners thronged the hills
and canyons of the North Fork country, and it was
not strange that the press made its appearance so soon
after the opening of the region, for this has been an
almost universal experience in American history, since
the Civil war at least. C. F. McGlashan and W. F.
Edwards were the publishers of the Nugget. In size
the paper was a five-column, four-page folio, and the
old copy which fell into our hands was unusually well
printed and edited. After an irregular life of several
weeks the Nugget was absorbed by the
COEUR D'ALENE WEEKLY EAGLE.
The second oldest paper in the camp and county. The
Eagle was owned and edited by Aaron F. Parker and
George W. DeSucca, and during its four months' ex-
istence was an able and energetic exponent of the great
mining camp from which it derived its support. Mr.
Parker tells us that the first number was published
April 12, 1884, in a tent occupied jointly by the Eagle
and the postoffice. For this rude home the lessees
paid $75 a month. The postoffice remained in the tent
until the arrival of Postal Inspector General Curry,
who ordered Postmaster Parker to move the postoffice
into a wooden building. This move was necessary
because the moisture during wet weather caused the
stamps to stick together. The Eagle was printed on
four pages of six columns each and a perusal of the
files shows that Messrs. Parker and DeSucca did cred-
itable work upon their journal. On June 12th Mr.
Parker retired from the business, leaving his former
partner in full charge. Subsequently Mr. Parker re-
turned to the paper. In August the last number ap-
peared, the re-action of the boom proving too great
for the paper to withstand.
COEUR DALENE PIONEER.
The next newspaper to appear in the Coeur d'Alenes
was the Coeur d'Alene Pioneer, published first at
Eagle City and later at Murray by the Pioneer Pub-
lishing Company, of which Henry Bernard was the
manager. No. 2 of this paper came into our hands
in the course of our researches, and afforded much in-
teresting material of a historical nature. It bore the
date of April 28, 1884, and was printed at Eagle City.
It was a four-page, six column sheet. In those days
the subscriber had to pay dearly for his paper, all of
the early Coeur dAlene papers selling for twenty-five
cents a copy or six dollars a year. The Pioneer was
a weekly. Not very long after the first number appeared
the editor and manager became involved in a quarrel
with one of his employees and killed him. The murder
was a most dastardly one, and Bernard was threatened
with a popular trial and execution. The Pioneer sus-
pended publication soon after the affair took place.
COEUR DALENE SUN.
Most prominent and important among the pioneer
newspapers of the Coeur dAlenes is the paper of which
we now write. For nearly twenty years the Sun has
regularly appeared, some times daily, at others tri-
weekly, but generally weekly, and a careful,
exhaustive perusal of its files from beginning to
end enables us to judge its merits and few papers
there are which have more accurately and full
portrayed pioneer conditions and recorded the growth
and progress of a great mining camp. First, last
and always the Sun has been an ardent believer in
the greatness of the mineral section which is its home ;
its columns have been freely given to mining discuss-
ions, discoveries and progress, while at the same time
the Sun has gained for itself an enviable reputation for
accuracy in these matters. The Sun has always been
a valiant champion of clean, honest government, and
its voice has been a strong one in county affair*. As
a disseminator of news it early took a leading position
in north Idaho, and as a careful, strong critic of terri-
torial and state affairs it has excelled.
The founder, publisher and editor of the Sun.
Adam Aulbach. began his labors in newspaper work
forty vears ago, and long before he came to the Coeur
dAlenes he had gained an experience and a reputation
which easily gave him a leading position among the
newspaper workers of Idaho when in the winter of
1883-84 he came to this young territory to take up
his labors. He arrived upon the scene early in the
winter and decided the field was a good one for a
newspaper. So he ordered a complete outfit of suffi-
cient size to print a small paper and decided to locte
temporarily at Belknap, Montana. Accordingly on
May 13. 1884, the Belknap Sun. printed on a half
Medium Gordon, made its bow to the world. The
first issue contained fifteen columns of solid reading
matter. At first the Sun was published tri-weekly.
Of course it gave its principal attention to the Coeur
d'Alene mines. As time passed Mr. Aulbach became
more and more convinced that the camp was a sub-
stantial one, and finally he decided that the time had
arrived when it could support a properly conducted
newspaper and prepared to remove the Sun plant to
Murrayville. This was accomplished at great ex-
pense, a large pack train being required to transport
the material over the uncut and snow-drifted mountain
trails across the Bitter Roots. On Tuesday, July 8,
1884, the Idaho Sun appeared for the first time and
at once drew to its support a host of friends. The pub-
lisher promised the Coeur d'Aleners a good paper and
the files show that this promise was very faithfully
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
kept. The first of the succeeding year another change
was made in the name, this time Coeur d'Alene being
substituted for the word Idaho, and the Coeur d'Alene
Sun it has since remained. The field proved to be an
excellent one, and the Sun took every advantage of
the opportunity presented and prospered exceedingly.
One of the results of this prosperity was that on
January i, 1886, Mr. Aulbach commenced the publi-
cation of a daily instead of a tri-weekly edition, which
was continued until June 2, 1888. During this period
of nearly two and one-half years the news service of
the Sun was its strongest feature, and in all probability
there have been few mining camps which have enjoyed
a better service in their infancy. Thence on the placer
camp began to decline, as a result of which the Sun
experienced corresponding hard times. The South
Fork country succeeded to the prosperity which had
once belonged to the people of the North Fork, and
many towns sprang up in that section during the latter
part of the 'eighties and the early 'nineties. To this
new field Mr. Aulbach was temporarily drawn, and in
July, 1890. he turned the Sun over to a syndicate of
Murray business men to conduct while he went to Wal-
lace. Charles Swaine became the Sun's editor and
business manager, and remained in this capacity until
January 1, 1891. when the property was leased to
Charles A. Ervin, who took personal charge of the
paper. Mr. Ervin conducted the paper until April
28th of the following year, when he gave up his lease.
A week later the Sun was indefinitely suspended, Mr.
Aulbach assigning as a reason that he himself was busy
with the Wallace Press and that he could find no one
10 either lease the Sun or conduct it for him.
For six months the Sun remained lifeless. Then
Mr. Aulbach removed to his old home, Murray, and
again took the helm of his first love, applying himself
with renewed vigor to the work. Since then the path-
way of the Sun has been one of alternating smooth-
ness and roughness. At times the shadows have fallen
with discouraging density across the path, but each
'time the Sun has pierced the darkness with unwaver-
ing faith, and still gives forth its messages of encour-
agement and confidence, despite the fact that the sec-
tion referred to is passing through the most trying time
experienced since its settlement.
Typographically the Sun has always maintained a
high standard. The equipment is all that could be
desired in a country newspaper office, the machinery
being operated by water power installed in 1886. Pub-
lished first in a rough log cabin, it soon outgrew these
rude quarters, and the office was removed to the old
Murray bank building, standing on the corner of Sec-
ond and Main streets, where its present home is. The
building is a fine frame structure, one of the best in the
town. In politics the Sun has been strongly inde-
pendent, always supporting the men whom it' has
thought best fitted for office.
THE EAGLE STAR.
This was a short-lived paper, published at Eagle
City in the fall of 1885 by S. E. Dillard. The first
copy appeared on November 21st. While it lived the
Star was an excellent paper, but the camp was unable
to maintain it.
WALLACE FREE PRESS.
On July 2, 1887, Alfred J. and John L. Dunn,
brothers, who came originally from Missouri, com-
menced the publication of the Wallace Free Press in
a little frame building on the site of the present O. K.
block. Their plant was of fair size, including a Wash-
ington hand press, and the brothers threw their whole-
energy and soul into the work with the result that
the Free Press was not long in gaining for itself a
more excellent reputation, both at home and abroad.
It was not our privilege to look over the files of this
pioneer newspaper, owing to the fact that they had
been mislaid, but from notices which appeared in con-
temporary journals and from the lips of those who
read the Free Press we have no hesitation in saying
that it was a first class journal in every way.
Dunn Brothers continued the publication of the
Free Press until the spring of 1889, when they sold
the property to Edward Tibbals and his brother Frank
They changed the name of the paper to the Wallace
Press. Subsequently the business came into the hands
of Adam Aulbach, of the Murray Sun, under whom
the Press enjoyed great prosperity. Among other im-
provements made was the installation of the plant in a
new. two-story brick building on Bank street, between
Fifth and Sixth streets, where it still remains. The
upper story was occupied as a Masonic hall ; the lower
story, jointly by the Press and Easton's jewelry store.
Mr. Aulbach was the proprietor of the Sun until July,
1892, when it was sold to R. E. Brown, better known
locally as "Barbarian" Brown, an amateur journalist
of considerable ability. Under his ownership the name
of the paper was again changed, this time to the Coeur
d'Alene American. H. W. Ross succeeded Brown,
entering upon his management just as the hard times
of 1893 reached the Coeur d'Alenes. The journal
failed to weather the storm, and late in the year sank
beneath the waves of adversity.
The Fourth of July, 1894, marked the reappear-
ance of the Wallace Press on the journalistic stage of
north Idaho, under the ownership of Adam Aulbach.
Patrick Connor acting as manager. A little later
Connor became lessee, and on October 17th George
S. Warren became a joint lessee. At this time the
Press was printed as an eight-page half-sheet, all home
print. Formerly the Press had been printed in quarto.
A change had also been made in the paper's politics.
Under the proprietorship of Dunn Brothers the Free
Press was strongly Republican ; then it became Demo-
cratic, then independent in politics; now it appears as
a Populistic journal.
George Garbutt succeeded Warren and Connor on
March 25, 1896. Just before election day he was called
to his Maker. Mr. Warren, the former proprietor,
again took charge of the paper and remained at its
head until January 1, 1903, when the present pro-
prietor. E. B. Reitzel, acquired possession of the busi-
ness. Mr. Reitzel is an experienced newspaper man.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
and under his ownership and editorship the Press is
one of the leading papers of north Idaho. Since the
campaign of 1896, when the paper supported the Silver
party, the Press has been a stalwart Republican journal,
and is today the leading Republican newspaper of the
countv. The Press plant is quite complete, including
a country Campbell news press, jobbers, paper cutters,
a large and modern assortment of type, etc. The busi-
ness occupies the entire lower floor of the building, the
editorial office being situated in the front, and the com-
posing and press room in the rear of the building.
Irving Wilson is associate editor of the Press. Typo-
graphically and editorially the Press is a credit to
those who are connected with it, and to the metropolis
and county whence it derives its support.
COEUR D'ALENE MINER.
This paper was the second journal established in
Wallace, and is now numbered among those unsuc-
cessful ventures in journalism of which there are
plenty in every section of great wealth and oppor-
tunities. It was established June 6, 1890, at Wallace
by Dunn Brothers, formerly proprietors of the Free
Press. In size it was a five column quarto. The
printing was all done at home, a fine tribute to the
energy of the publishers and the loyalty of the people
to home enterprise. For six years the Miner was pub-
lished by the Dunn Brothers; then Charles E. Angel
look the property. However, the life of the Miner
was destined to be short, for the paper suspended pub-
lication after the election of 1896. Then for four years
the plant was idle. Finally in 1900 E. B. Reitzel and
Harry F. Ingalls resurrected the Miner, and for a few
months published it, after which the plant was con-
solidated with that of the Fress. At present Dunn
Brothers own a half interest in the Press plant, although
the Press itself belongs solely to Mr. Reitzel. Through-
cut its existence the Miner was a strong Republican
paper. During the great Wallace fire on July 27,
i8v-0, the Miner office, building and contents, was
completely burned, necessitating the purchase of a new
plant and the erection of another building. The build-
in was erected on the corner of Bank and Fifth
streets, and is now used as the domicile of the city
postoffice.
This journal was established by a stock company
of Shoshone county Democrats in the fall of 1892, with
M. J. Donnelly as manager and editor. The paper was
printed in a six-column folio form. After being pub-
lished for a little more than a year the paper was dis-
continued, and the plant sold to the Coeur d'Alene
Miners' Union and Knights of Labor, who founded the
On September 20. 1894. For some time organized
labor in this section had felt as if it needed an organ
through which to reach the general public, and the re-
sult of this feeling was that the members of the union
and the knights of District Assembly No. 13 secured
as editor and manager S. Van der Muelen, past master
workman of the Knights of Labor in Iowa, and pur-
chased the old Democrat plant. As the official organ
of organized labor in Shoshone county, the Tribune
was at once accorded a foremost place among labor
journals in the west. Mr. Van der Muelen remained
with the Tribune only six months, when he was suc-
ceeded by R. E. Seysler, who continued to steer the
editorial helm for two years. Upon his retirement
B. R. Creedon took charge and guided the Tribune's
destinies for a year ; then came Clarence Smith, under
whose management $3,000 was expended for a new-
plant, which added greatly to the facilities of the
office and enabled the Tribune to appear in as neat a
dress as any paper in the state. A Cottrell news
press, a large paper cutter, jobbers, type, stones, etc.,
were among the additions to the old plant, rendering
it practically a new one. On June 1, 1898, the Tribune
was accorded the distinguished honor of being chosen
as the official organ of the Western Federation of
Miners, which position it retained for a year. On
October 1, 1898, the Tribune was also greatly honored
by haying chosen as its editor and manager James R.
Sovereign, well known throughout the United States
for his work in the interest of the Knights of Labor,
and labor organizations generally. However, Mr. Sov-
ereign remained in Wallace only a year, and was suc-
ceeded by W. H. Stewart. A year and a half later,
in the spring of 1900, Mr. Sovereign returned to the
Tribune, and has since been its editor. At present the
Coeur d'Alene Unions own the property. In the be-
ginning the Tribune supported the Populist party, but
subsequently gave its allegiance to Bryan and the
Democratic party. The plant and offices are comfortab-
ly housed in a commodious frame building situated
on East Bank street. Like its contemporary in the
Wallace field, the Tribune appears weekly and is print-
ed in quarto form. The workmanship on the paper is
iirst-class, as might be expected in the case of a paper
conducted as the Tribune is.
WALLACE ADVANCE.
In the spring of 1900 Charles H. Stevens com-
menced the publication of a weekly paper bearing the
above name, using the old Miner plant. Its life was
very short — not more than a few months.
COEUR DAI.ENE .MINING RECORD.
The Record is the only strictly class paper in the
Coeur d'Alenes, its object being, as its name implies,
to pay especial attention to the mining industry. For
that matter, however, there is little else except mining
for any of the newspapers in this county to give their
attention to. The Record is also an illustrated paper,
anil its beautiful engravings, wide columns and cal-
endered paper lend to it more the air of a magazine
than that of a newspaper. It appears semi-monthly,
and is printed at the Idaho State Tribune's office. H.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
213
A. Moore, the publisher and editor, is well fitted for
the work he has undertaken — that of advertising the
wonderful Coeur dAlene mines to the world — and
his writings are regarded as semi-official by conserva-
tive mining men. The Record is deserving of much
commendation for its excellent work.
The Record first appeared in 1901 as the Coeur
dAlene Mining Journal, and for the first year was
controlled by a stock company. Mr. Moore took the
paper last year and changed the name to the Record.
BHRKE INDEPENDENT.
Ill 1888. when Burke was in the heydey of its boom
period, M. D. Scott brought to the town the old news-
paper plant at Eagle City and began the publication of
a small sheet known as the Burke Independent. The
initial number appeared Thursday, July 26th, and was
a meritorious publication. The editor came to the
Coeur dAlenes from the Black Hills. The following
December Mr. Scott retired from the business, which
forthwith passed into the hands of Capehart & Brite.
The latter changed the paper's name to the Burke Ga-
lena. Shortly after the Galena came into existence it
succumbed.
THE SILVER STAR.
Published at Burke and Gem, was the next journal
to aspire to fame in the Canyon creek district, but it,
too, lived only a short time. H. L. Hughes was the
Star's editor and C. D. Vaughn its business manager.
THE KINGSTON INDEPENDENT
Is the name of another unsuccessful journalistic venture
in the Coeur d'Alenes. As its name indicates this
newspaper was published at Kingston. The Indepen-
dent was established in 1897. In size it was only eight
by six inches, but the quality of its reading matter
was good. Clarence Smith served the paper as editor.
OROFINO COURIER.
The pioneer newspaper of southern Shoshone county
is the Orofino Courier, published at Orofino by Horace
E. and James R. Greer. The Courier is a newsy,
neatly printed, five-column paper, four pages of which
are home print, and a like number of pages "patent."
All of the local news is fully written up in an inter-
esting style and the newspaper's enterprising editors
are ever keenly alive to the interests of the community
and state in which they live. The first number of this
paper was given to the public May 19, 1899, and con-
sisted of one sheet struck off on an army press, which,
together with a few handsful of type and a small
amount of other printing necessities, were brought to
Orofino in a buggy. The miniature plant was in-
stalled in a corner of the Clearwater Improvement
Company's warehouse near the river's bank, and there
the plant remained until its proprietors were able to
construct a suitable home for it. Into this building the
plant was finally removed and is today being conducted.
As rapidly as possible the owners added to their equip-
ment, increased the size of the paper, and made various
other changes and improvements until the Courier has
reached its present standard. A fine Washington hand
press is in use, an improved Challenge paper cutter,
a modern Chandler & Price jobber, ten by fourteen
inches in size, and a large assortment of excellent
type. The office stands on Main street and here in its
comfortable home the editors and proprietors are ever
ready to extend a cordial hand to all visitors and bid
them welcome to the town. In politics the Courier
is and always has been Republican.
OROFINO OPTIMIST.
The Optimist is also published at Orofino, and is a
sprightly journal, smaller in size than the Courier, but
containing more pages and fully as much news matter.
Its publishers are the Optimist Publishing Company,
composed of several of the leading business men of the
community, and under the management and editorship
of Charles Hofstetter the paper is deservedly popular.
The Optimist was established only a few months ago,
the first number appearing December 5, 1902. The
equipment is both modern and complete for a country
office, comprising presses, paper cutter and a fine as-
sortment of new type.
As its name implies the Pierce City Miner, pub-
lished at Pierce City, is especially devoted to the min-
ing interests of this famous camp, although the Miner
really is interested in the whole community, and does
not hesitate to publish all the news that can be gath-
ered relative to that section of the county. The journal
i.s published in half-sheet size, eight pages, four of
which are printed at home, and it is only just to say
that the paper faithfully represents the section to
which it is indebted for support. Greer Brothers, of
Orofino. established the paper March 2, 1902, and until
April 1st of this year they owned the property. On
that date it passed into the hands of the following
representative Pierce City business men : President.
M. A. Ellis ; secretary and treasurer, Samson Snyder ;
directors, L. F. Culver and Col. W. J. Todd. David
M. Nulty, an experienced newspaper man. originally
from Canada, who had been managing the paper since
November 14, 1902, was 'retained in the capacity of
editor and manager by the new company, and in his
hands the Miner will continue to keep the outside world
posted regarding the development of the Pierce City
district. The office is equipped with a jobbing outfit
in addition to a country newspaper plant.
THE WARDNER NEWS
Represents the metropolis on Milo creek in the Coeur
d'Alen journalistic field. The News is a five-column
folio, neatly printed, newsy and well edited. In poli-
tics it is Republican. Aaron Frost is the present
214
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
publisher. The New? plant is quite complete and
modern, including all the requisites of a first-class
country newspaper and job office, and occupies a com-
modious home on Main street in the heart of the
business center. The News is now in its seventeenth
volume, having been established June II, 1886, by the
Coeur d'Alenes' pioneer newspaper man, Adam Aul-
bach. The paper was published under his management
and proprietorship for some time during the early
years of its existence, but since then its career has
been checkered. It was started as a weekly and is still
published as such. J. S. Langrishe, the veteran come-
dian and newspaperman of the northwest, was among
the early editors of the News. Of him it has been
said that he so conducted his paper that not a harsh
word was ever found in its columns, while at the same
time his work made a lasting impression upon the
people of this section. He died November 30, 1895,
at the age of seventy-four, and was buried the follow-
ing Monday. It is said that his funeral was the largest
ever held in Wardner. In respect for his memory a
majority of the business houses were closed during the
funeral hours. R. E. Brown' was also among the
former editors and publishers of the News, having
acquired the property in January, 1892.
COEUR DALENE BARBARIAN.
This journal, which attained to considerable local
fame in its life, was established as a monthly during
the closing days of the year 189 1, by R. E. Brown,
who, because of his connection with the paper, was
at once given the title, "Barbarian Brown." At first
the paper was published at Wallace; then an edition
was published simultaneously at Wardner and in this
form the Barbarian was published for a long period.
Subsequently a semi-weekly was issued. It passed
into memory a decade ago.
THE WARDNER CITIZEN
Was another of Wardner's unsuccessful journalistic
enterprises, which was established by C. R. Burrus
during the middle 'nineties. The Citizen was inde-
pendent in politics and is spoken of as a well edited
and creditable paper.
COEUR DAIENE RECORD.
The Record was established at Murray in 1886
by G. N. Culver and son, Otis. A six-column folio,
all home print, was published, and is said to have been
a paper creditable both to the publishers and the camp.
At first the Record was a tri-weekly, but later it be-
came a weekly. In politics it was Republican. Imme-
diately after the great Spokane fire, the paper was
discontinued and the plant shipped to Spokane.
MULI.AN TRIBUNE.
The Tribune was established in 1889 by H. C.
Piggott. Subsequently it was sold to Adam Aulbach,
Piggott going to Osborne, where he published the
Coeur dAlene Statesman. Then the Tribune passed
into the hands of F. K. Jerome. During the middle
'nineties it was discontinued, but later revived under
the name of the Mirror. At the time of the labor
troubles in 1899 the Mirror, under the management of
W. H. Stewart, was confiscated by the government
because of its utterances. A portion of the material
vas destroyed, we are informed. The following Octo-
ber Larson & Greenough revived the Journal, and un-
der their ownership it was continuously published until
July, 1903. when it was again suspended. The Mirror
was Republican in politics.
JOURNALISM IN KOOTENAI COUNTY.
What the social, political and financial condition of
Kootenai county might be today had no newspapers
been printed within its boundaries from the date of its-
formation to the present time, it is impossible to tell.
it is not possible to estimate the weight of their in-
fluence in the development won of the past nor in that
of the future. That this influence has been essential
to the attainment of present conditions, all must admit,
and there are certainly none of any degree of intelli-
gence who would expect uninterrupted progress with-
out it. An honest newspaper is a power for good,
a guide for the student 01 local and general affairs, and
in many ways a conservation of the best interests of
its constituents. The power of a newspaper lies not
so much in its purely intellectual power of expression
as it does in the public confidence that its opinions are
honest opinions, unbiased by partisanship or personal
friendship. The public has no use for the opinions of
an editor if it once discovers that he does not discuss
public questions honestly and disinterestedly from the
single point of view of public welfare. An editorial
opinort is worthless to the- public unless there is a man
of good sense and information behind it, who is as
courageous and impartial as a just judge in the trial
of cases in the courts.
A newspaper is at once a private business and a pub-
lic trust. A mixture of motives, all entirely honorable,
may govern and dictate the conduct of newspapers ;
but a newspaper cannot in the long run hold the con-
fidence of its patrons if it fails to discuss public ques-
tions with honesty and disinterestedness. The public
weal must be its point of view if it expects public con-
fidence and respect. The public does not expect that
its editor will always be acute in mind and able in
policy, but it has a right to expect that he will be
upright in purpose and incorrupt in action, and the
influential editor seldom fails his people. Merciless
personalities in politics are sometimes manifested
through the press, just as they are elsewhere in the or-
ganized expression of human thought, feeling and
business, but no newspaper ever rose to influence and
long maintained it whose editor made his private
piques, his unquenched personal animosities, his un-
wreaked personal revenge and unsatisfied private in-
terests the polestar of his working career. The value
of a newspaper to a people and to a community de-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
pends largely also upon its devotion to local interests.
If the editor's energies are expended exclusively for
personal financial success or political preferment, re-
gardless of his obligations, not alone as a moulder of
sentiment, but as a medium through which knowledge
of local affairs and conditions is conveyed to the pub-
lic, he ceases to be a useful member of society and the
usefulness of his paper is lessened to a very great de-
gree.
Kootenai county has been fortunate in that the men
who have come from various parts of the country and
assumed editorial charge of its nwspapers, have come
with a view to becoming permanent residents. They
are men of intelligence, who have made homes in the
various communities, have become imbued with pride
in local and general progress, have become identified
with public works and many of them have become
worthy representatives of the people in places of
honor and trust. The first newspaper men to visit
Kootenai were, like many others, in search of fortune
in whatever form and in whatever place they might
be able to find it. Like the prospector they blazed the
trail, exposed the precious mineral, sold out and moved
on. None of the papers published at the time of the
formation of the county are now in existence, and there
is no paper now published in the county that had an
existence prior to 1890.
The first paper published in Kootenai county was
the Lake Side Leader, its first issue appearing in Jan-
uary, 1882. It was issued at Fort Coeur d'Alene, and
existed but a few months during the summer of that
year. We have not been able to ascertain the name
of its editor. In the fall of the same year Mark W.
Musgrove commenced the publication of the Kootenai
Courier at Rathdrum (then called Westwood). Mr.
Musgrove was a lawyer of considerable ability, who
was connected prominently with the important cases
tried in the early courts, and who was prominent in
the early politics of the country, serving in various
official capacities. For a number of years the Courier
was the only paper in the county. It suspended publi-
cation in 1892 and its editor left the county and state.
Another of the early papers was the Coeur d'Alene
Times, established in 1S89 by C. A. Curtin and Harry
Bronson. In 1892 it was purchased by Earnest Duer-
senler, who took the plant to Rathdrum, where he
continued its publication as the Rathdrum Times, until
the summer of 1893, when he suspended and sold
press and material to a Mr. Cornell. Mr. Cornell
again changed the name of the paper to the Rathdrum
Register. Under this name it ran but two or three
weeks, when it was closed out and ceased to exist.
The Post Falls Post was established in 1890 by A. J.
McDonald. In June, 1893, Mr. McDonald removed
with his paper to Rathdrum, where he issued it as the
Rathdrum Post until April, 1895 : at this date it sus-
pended. The Hope Examiner was another of the
pioneer papers that ran a short time during the late
eighties. The Hope Prospector was established in
1890 and quit publication in 1894. John F. Yost, now
of Sandpoint, was one of its several editors. At Sand-
point the pioneer paper, now defunct, was the Jour-
nal, edited by J. R. Law. L. H. Faust, now a state
senator in Montana, also published a paper a short
time at Sandpoint, which he called the Republican.
Not one of these papers is now in existence and their
files were not preserved.
The Silver Blade was' established at Rathdrum
June 1, 1895, by John F. Yost, as a Silver Republican
paper. February 10, 1897, it was purchased by J. C.
Brady and continued as an organ of the Silver party.
Mr. Brady continued its editor until his death in July,
1901, when it was published for a time by the Silver
Blade Publishing Company. In August, 1901, W. A.
Logue became its editor and manager and so con-
tinued until April, 1902, when he was succeeded by
W. M. Miller. Mr. Miller remained in charge until
the plant was purchased, July 11, 1902, by Charles
\V. and J. R. Culp. Charles W. Culp is a man of
experience in newspaper work, having for a number
of years been connected with various papers in Mon-
tana, among them the papers of Helena, the "Mon-
tanian," and the "Montanian" of Libby. J. R. Culp
fitted himself by study and correspondence for the
work he has chosen. The brothers are both natives
of Montana. In May of the present year they changed
the name of their paper from the Silver Blade to the
Tribune. Since coming to Rathdrum they have fa-
miliarized themselves with political, commercial and
social conditions, and have made many friends by in-
telligent and conscientious devotion to the locality in
which they have made their home and to the best in-
terests of Kootenai county. The Tribune is Republican
in politics and fair and fearless on all questions of
public interest.
The Panhandle News was launched into the news-
paper world August 7, 1902, at Rathdrum. Its editor
and proprietor is W. A. Logue, formerly editor and
manager of the Silver Blade. The News is an ex-
ponent of Democratic principles, and has already built
up a large patronage, which includes not only its
political friends, but some of its political enemies. Mr.
Logue is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, but spent his
youth and early manhood in the Colorado mining re-
gions. For a number of years he conducted the Boul-
der (Colorado) News and was for a time connected
with the Denver Tribune. Before coming to Kootenai
county he was connected with the papers of Baker
City and Canyon City, Oregon. Mr. Logue is an en-
tertaining writer, and' in his editorial columns discusses
the leading questions of the day in an interesting man-
ner. He takes special interest in county and state poli-
tics, and is bringing his paper to the front ranks of
Kootenai county's weeklies.
The Coeur d'Alene Press is one of the oldest pa-
pers now published in the county, having been estab-
lished by its present owner and editor, Joseph T. Scott,
in 1892. From the beginning it has been a leading
paper in all matters pertaining to county and state
affairs. It was started as a Republican paper and so
remained until the great campaign of 1896, when its
editor espoused the cause of Democracy. It has since
that time been the recognized organ of Democracy in
Kootenai county. Mr. Scott is a man of wide experi-
[2l6
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ence in the newspaper field, and of recognized ability
in any intellectual field of endeavor. He is a native of
Ohio, in which state he was educated. His first edi-
torial work was done on the Glendive (Montana)
Times, with which he was connected during the year
1882. For seven years, beginning in 1883, he edited
and published the Dickenson (Montana) Press. Dur-
ing these years he was an active participant in Montana
territorial politics, and assisted in the organization of
the state. In 1900 he was elected a representative of
Kootenai county in the state legislature. He has been
closely identified with all efforts to build up the beau-
tiful city of Coeur d'Alene, and the magnificent county
of Kootenai, and his labors have been fruitful of ma-
terial results. He ^las recently added to his plant a
Babcock cylinder press, which is operated by steam
power, new type, perforating machine, and job press,
made necessary by gradually increasing business. The
Press is one of the substantial institutions of the
county.
The Independent is a politically independent weekly
established at Coeur d'Alene in July, 1902, by Smith
& Moon. C. A. Smith comes from Duluth, Minnesota,
and O. B. Moon from Eagle River, Wisconsin. Both
these gentlemen are experienced journalists, and the
Independent is ably edited. Although, comparative
strangers in Kootenai county, Messrs. Smith and Moon
have made many friends since founding their paper,
and it is receiving the generous support to which the
earnest and well directed efforts of its editors en-
title it.
John F. Yost of Sandpoint began newspaper work
in Kootenai county, at Hope in September, 1891.
Previously for three years he was a teacher in the
Rathdrum schools. He was first editor of the Hope
Prespector in 1891 and 1892. He founded the Rath-
drum Silver Blade in 1895, continuing its publication
until April, 1897. In May, 1899, he established the
Kootenai County Republican at Rathdrum. In July
1901, he moved with his paper to Sandpoint, where
he is now located as its editor and publisher. Mr.
Yost is a native of Ohio, where he received his edu-
cation and learned the printer's trade. He has always
taken a lively interest in Kootenai county politics and
is a hard working Republican. He was postmaster at
Rathdrum during President McKinley's first adminis-
tration. In 1902 he was Republican candidate for
state senator and was elected. Mr. Yost is an able man,
a capable editor, a good public speaker and the Koote-
nai County Republican is one of the leading papers of
the county. •
The oldest editor in Kootenai conuty in point of time
served, is S. D. Taylor, of the Kootenai Herald at
Bonner's Ferry. Mr. Taylor has been continuously
in the editorial chair since Jul} 4. 1891, when he-
established the Herald at Kootenai Station. After
the completion of the Great Northern railroad in
1892. the town of Kootenai was practically abandoned
and Mr. Taylor removed to Bonner's Ferry. The
Kootenai Herald is one of the most successful and
widely circulated papers published in the county, and
its editor is highly esteemed as a man of intellectual
worth, principle and honor. The Herald is Republi-
can in politics. Its editor, while taking an active in-
terest in politics, devotes much space to a plea for the
reclamation of the swamp lands of the Kootenai vallev,
which must eventually become the richest agricultural
section in the county. Mr. Taylor is also after a
much needed bridge over the Kootenai river at Bon-
ner's Ferry. He is a strong advocate of local and
general progress, is energetic and persevering, and
to his paper the people of Bonner's Ferry are greatly'
indebted for its continual efforts in furthering the
city's advancement.
The Harrison Searchlight is owned and edited by
S. M. Logan, who assumed charge in April, 1902. The
paper was first known as the Signal, but we have been
unable to obtain the name of the first editor. It com-
menced publication in 1894. In 1896 S. W. Crane,
the pioneer of Harrison, took charge of the paper and
conducted it until 1898. under the name of the
Mountain Messenger. In May, 1898, the plant became
the property of Hubbard and Co. Since that date
it has had several editors, viz : H. O. Thompson,
W. S. Biggs, Thomas Lawson and S. M. Logan.
The name was changed to the Searchlight in 1900.
Mr. Logan is publishing a Republican paper and is
keeping before the public the advantage of Harrison
and Kootenai counties as a field for investment and the
location of homes. The Searchlight is a credit to Har-
rison and Mr. Logan is a successful manager and
editor.
The Priest River Enterprise is a Republican pa-
per, whose first issue appeared July 4, 1902. Its editor,
A. B. Hoag, before coming to Priest River, con-
ducted papers at Mt. Idaho, this state, and at Leba-
non, Oregon. Mr. Hoag is a native of Minnesota
and a graduate of Bates College at Lewiston, Maine.
After graduation he spent several years teaching in
.Maine and Massachusetts, and the Albion (Idaho)
Normal and in Albany College at Albany, Oregon.
where he occupied the chair of English literature and
elocution. Being a man of extensive and diversified
information, Mr. Hoag is well equipped for the field
in which he has located and the Enterprise is well
started on a career that cannot but prove successful.
The St. Maries Courier is a semi-weekly publi-
cation established February 19, 1901 by E. Deuerslie.
This enterprise was launched about the time St. Marie
began to boom and has kept pace with the rapid pro-
gress made by the town. It is neutral in politics,
is well edited and would be a decided credit to a much
larger place than St. Maries. Mr. Deuerslie is devoted
to the best interests of St. Maries and is doing all in
his power through the columns of the Courier to bring
home builders and capital to the growing town. In
this effort he is meeting with success and the Courier-
is fast progressing toward a position in the front
ranks of the country newspapers.
The St. Joe Budget is the latest birth into the
newspaper world of Kootenai county. Its first issue
appeared December 12, 1902. The Budget is Repub-
lican in politics and is owned by the Budget Publish-
ing Co.. Wil E. Dockeray, editor. The St. Joe country
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
is just beginning the progress of development and
Mr. Dockeray is assisting in a very material way
through the columns of the Budget. The editorials
and the news columns show him to be well fitted for
the work he has undertaken and the publication will
no doubt meet with success to which earnest and
conscientious endeavor is entitled.
LATAH COUNTY PRESS
MOSCOW MIRROR.
From the date of its establishment, July 4, 1882,
the Moscow Mirror has never missed an issue. Hon.
Willis Sweet, now attorney general for Porto Rico,
was the first editor of the paper, and C. B. Hopkins,
now United States marshal for the district of Wash-
ington, was the first publisher. Mr. Hopkins was then
publishing the Colfax Gazette at Colfax, Washing-
ton, and for some time the presswork on the Mirror
was done at the Gazette office. It was at first a small
six-column sheet with patent inside. The subscription
price was $3 per annum and it had a circulation of
about 140. In November, [882, the paper was pur-
chased by C. B. Reynolds, who paid but $400 for the
entire plant. Mr. Reynolds continued the publication
of the paper until June 7, 1889, when it was purchased
by Jolly Bros. Ekner E. Jolly was editor and mana-
ger. His brothers, James D., a printer, and Thomas
H., an attorney, were interested with him in the prop-
erly. The paper is now owned and edited by W.
D. Smith. Mr. Smith has made a number of changes
and improvements in the property. When he first
took charge the paper was a five-column quarto. To
accommodate increasing business the plan of an in-
sert supplement was used for a time. April 16, 1903,
Mr. Smith installed an up-to-date type setting ma-
chine, a Simplex typesetter. This was followed by a
change in the makeup of the paper, which is now
issued as a large eight column folio, all set at home.
The paper not only covers all the news of Moscow
thoroughly and well, but in addition has cor-
respondents in the tributary districts from whom
these localities is secured and published. • Typo-
graphically the paper is most attractive, the adver-
tisements being displayed in a manner which would
do credit to a metropolitan publication. The adver-
tising patronage is so immense as to already crowd the
limits of the enlarged publication. The paper is housed
in a commodious brick structure and the plant is
equipped with new and complete machinery and type.
It is issued every Thursday and is Republican in
politics. As an indication of the growth of the paper
it is interesting to note that from a valuation of $400
and a circulation of 140 in 1882, the paper in 1898
was valued at $15,000 and its circulation had grown
to 1,500. In later years two almost complete plants
were sold from the material in the office. Interest in
the paper's progress lessened and when Mr. Smith
took charge in 1002 the circulation had dropped to
less than 500. During the past seven months the
circulation has been increased to 1,100 and is rapidly
growing. The plant is now valued at $6,600. Mr.
Smith is n native of Princeton, Illinois. In 1887 he
went to Lamberton, Minnesota, where he founded
the Lamberton Leader. He conducted this paper until
June 15. 1893, when he founded the Winnebago
1 Minn.) Enterprise. Under Mr. Smith's management
this became one of the leading Republican papers in
Minnesota and of the middle west, and also one of
the most valuable papers from a financial standpoint.
While conducting the Enterprise, during the years
1893 and TO02 inclusive. Mr. Smith was as'sistanl
secretary of the Minnessota senate. lie was a most
active and influential worker in state and national
campaigns ami had a promising future before him
had he remained in Minnesota. Mr. Smith took
charge of the .Mirror. December 29. 1002. and at once
began improvements in the plant and in the general
tone and makeup of the paper that will give it un-
disputed right to first rank among the weekly publi-
the State of Idaho.
NORTH ID \!l() STAR.
The pioneer Republican newspaper of Moscow is
the North Idaho Star, which was established October
r. 1887, by J. L. Brown. Mr. Brown conducted the
paper successfully for three years when it passed to a
corporation known as the Star Publishing Company.
The companv conducted the paper until October 9,
1893, when it was purchased by Henry C. Shaver, the
present owner. Under the present ownership the pa-
per has grown immensely in business, circulation and
influence.
Mr. Shaver is of the class of newspaper men who
are, alas ! too few in these modern flays. He is not only
an all-around printer, a disciple of the case, but has
had ripe experience in all branches of the editorial de-
partment of the profession, having been connected in
important capacities with some of the leading papers
of the east, and having had many years of experience
as editor and publisher.
Henry C. Shaver was horn in Kendall count}-. Illi-
nois, August 5, 1858. He was educated in the common
schools of Iowa and there learned the printing trade
in the office of the Republican at Waverlv, Iowa. La-
ter he engaged in the publishing business as owner and
editor of the Record, of Cedar Falls, Iowa, his first
business venture of importance. He published the
Cedar Falls Record for four years, when be became
identified with the Daily Leader of Des Moines. For
six years he was editor in chief of that paper, when he
resigned to devote his attention to the Iowa interests
of the Chicago Herald, with headquarters at Des
Moines. From this latter position he resigned in June,
1893, to become the Washington. D. C, correspondent
of the Des Moines Daily Leader. He also served as
correspondent at the national capital at the same time
for the Omaha World Herald and the Indianapolis
Sentinel. In the fall q£ 1893 he came to Latah county
and took hold of the Star. The Star is typographically
an evidence of the thorough knowledge of the art pre-
servative on the part of the owner. It is a neatly
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
printed, well edited eight page folio, six column paper,
a credit to the state and owner and a prosperous busi-
ness property, the value of which is constantly increas-
ing.
Shortly after Air. Shaver purchased the Star he
set about to improve the office equipment. Being a
thorough printer, as well as an experienced editor, he
fully appreciated the importance of a mechanical equip-
ment that would enable him to do all the work re-
quired in a city of 5.000 people, and to print a hand-
some paper as well. All the fashionable and attractive
faces of type were added as they appeared from the
foundry, as well as the labor-saving appliances known
to the printing craft. The latest additions to the office
are a Babcock cylinder press and a gasoline engine,
both new from the- factory. These considerable addi-
tions make bis facilities as complete as any in the state.
enabling him to do a wide range of work, and to pub-
lish as handsome a paper as is turned out in Idaho.
The Star will doubtless continue to maintain its posi-
tion as one of the leading newspapers of Latah county,
a position which has been readily conceded to it up to
the present time.
TIMES DEMOCRAT.
The accepted organ of the Democratic party in
north Idaho was, for a number of years, the Times
Democrat, published at Moscow. The paper was first
established March 1, [891, by William Taylor. He
ran it for four months, when it was turned over to
Samuel T. Owings, who conducted it until October 1,
1 89 1, when the plant was sold to J. L. Brown. April
1, 1892. Mr. 1 hvings again became editor and pub-
lisher and continued in charge until June I, 1899. when
the property was leased by Hon. Samuel C. Herren.
Mr. Owings resumed charge January 1. 1900, and
continued as editor and publisher.
Samuel T. Owings is a native of Baltimore. Mary-
land, born September 1, 1868. He was educated in his
native state and came to Moscow in September, 1888.
He from the day of his arrival has been active in busi-
ness enterprises, public spirited and devoted to the
interests of Moscow, Latah county and the state of
Idaho. He first engaged in the grocery business and
later acquired valuable mining interests in British Co-
lumbia. He has erected several residences in Moscow
and in many other ways has contributed to the devel-
opment of that town. He is a successful and repre-
sentative business man.
The Times Democrat has an excellent plant, valued
at about S3, 500. The paper, which is a five column
folio, is issued every Thursday. It is strictly a home
paper, no plate matter being used. In each issue the
local items of interest are interestingly presented and
the news of the state and of the world is given in con-
densed form. An attractive feature to many readers
is the absence of an editorial page, the editorial ex-
pressions being presented in paragraphic comment witb
the new items." It January, 1903, Mr. Owings changed
the policv of the Times Democrat and it is now issued
as a Republican paper.
KENDRICK GAZETTE.
The Kendrick Gazette, a Democratic weekly news-
paper, published at Kendrick, has a rather interesting
history. Its forerunner was the Kendrick Advocate,
the first copy of which was issued July 4, 1890. In
the absence of a building the printing office was set
up under the shade of a tree and there the first copy
of the paper was printed. H. L. Frost was the pio-
neer editor and he conducted the paper until January,
1891, when he leased the plant to James F. Vincent,
son of Judge Vincent, of Mount Idaho, Idaho. Mr.
Vincent continued the publication of the Advocate for
some time after he had, in January, 1892. established
tbe Kendrick Gazette, when the Advocate ceased to ex-
ist. Mr. Frost, an attorney, was editor of the Advo-
cate, Tuesday, August 16, 1892. Shortly before two
o'clock that morning flames were seen issuing from the
second story of the building in which the Advocate
office and Frost's law office were located. Within half
an hour afterward two blocks had been burned over
and $80,000 of property had gone up in smoke. There
was a rumor that the fire was of incendiary origin and
suspicion rested upon Editor Frost and he was com-
pelled to leave for Moscow for safety. The Gazette
building was destroyed in the fire, but the forms were
saved and the paper did not miss publication. March
16, 1894, the Gazette building was again burned the
night before publication, but enough of the matter was
saved to issue a paper next day.
The present owners of the paper are Mackintosh
& Weber. D. T. A. Mackintosh is the editor and H.
W. Weber is business manager. For many years the
paper was issued as a five column quarto, but this year
die business had increased to such an extent that the
owners doubled the size. It is a clean, newsy paper,
"devoted to the interests of the Potlatch country, and is
enjoying a deserved measure of prosperity."
CANYON ECHO.
The Canyon Echo, a weekly Republican paper, is-
sued at Kendrick, every Tuesday, originally started
out as a Democratic paper under the name of the Ken-
drick Times. The paper was started in 1893 by the
Times Publishing Company, of which Frish Brothers
were the chief stockholders. They had charge of the
paper for two years, when E. H. Thompson was in-
stalled as editor. Air. Thompson was succeeded as
editor by Jesse Collins. In June. 1897, E. E. Alder-
man became editor and publisher. In March, 1898,
the name of the paper was changed to Canyon Echo.
Under Mr. Alderman the paper has become Republi-
can in politics. He is the present editor and proprietor
of the paper. Mr. Alderman is a native of Ohio and
was educated in the public schools of that state and at
Hiram College. He is a lumber manufacturer and one
of the leading citizens of Kendrick. The paper is a
bright and newsy five column quarto and has an excel-
lent circulation and large advertising patronage.
GENESEE NEWS.
Three different names have been given to the pa-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
[219
per now known as the Genesee News, the weekly pa-
per published at Genesee, and while now a stanch Re-
publican organ it was originally started as a Demo-
cratic paper. In August, 1898, J. L. C. Mays started
the paper as the Genesee Advertiser, Democratic in
politics. The early career of the publication was
checkered and October and part of November of that
year no issues were published. In November, 1898,
E. R. Wiswell took hold of the plant and rejuvenated
the Advertiser, but made it a Republican organ. La-
ter Ed Barton became associated in the ownership.
In 1889 the paper was sold to C. M. Poor, who
changed the name to Recorder and made it an inde-
pendent paper, with strong Democratic leanings. In
1891 the papei was purchased by J. W. Hopp and
Charles Power, who changed the name to the Genesee
News and made it a Republican paper. This firm was
more successful than its predecessors in the ownership
of the plant. When they first purchased the paper it
was a five column folio, but they soon enlarged it to
a six column quarto, its present size. Since Februarv,
1892, when he purchased the interests of Mr. Hopp,
Mr. Power has been editor and proprietor. He has
been very successful in his conduct of the paper and
has built ir up to one of the best and most influential
newspapers in north Idaho. The paper is issued even-
Friday.
TROY NEWS.
Flic Troy News, originally called the Yollmer
News, was established in 1894 by Charles Moody.
The pioneer paper in Troy was the Vollmer Vedette,
which was established in 1891 by T. E. Edmondson,
but which only ran a few months. Mr. Moody ran the
News for some time. Later editors were J. C. Peter-
son and A. G. Greer. Mr. Peterson, with John E.
Hoffman, were for a time the owners of the publica-
tion. The present editor and owner is B. S. Nelson.
The paper is issued weekly and is a well printed, four
column quarto. It carries proportionately an immense
amount of advertising, of which government land of-
fice notices form no inconsiderable part. The paper is
in a most prosperous condition and will probably soon
be compelled to enlarge to meet the growing patron-
age.
JULIAETTA ENTERPRISE.
The newspaper graveyard at Juliaetta is a large
one. but, at last, in the Enterprise that town has a
newspaper which will live and prosper. The first
newspaper in Juliaetta was the Gem, which was es-
tablished May '18, 1889, by W. L. Taylor. He was a
lalented young editor and managed to keep the Gem
alive for eighteen months, when the enterprise was
abandoned. The paper was practically resurrected in
the Potlatch, which first came out in June. 1891, with
J. M. Bledsoe as editor and Collins Perryman as busi-
ness manager. They conducted the paper until 1892,
when it was sold to William R. McCracken, who
changed the name to the Juliaetta Advance. After
two years the Advance was discontinued, owing to the
panic and general depression. Later the Potlatch Press
was started there by Alford Bros., later publishers of
the Lewiston Tribune. They sold out after one year
to F. J. Bratton, who published the paper for two
years and then shut down the office, shipping the press
to Spalding. May 1, 1899, M. P. Stevens, an able at-
torney and clever writer, established the Register,
which later passed the way of the earlier papers. This
year The Juliaetta Enterprise was established by D. T.
A. Mackintosh and H. W. Weber, also owners and
publishers of the Kendrick Gazette. W. A. Turner is
local editor and manager of the Enterprise and he is
making a decided success of the property. The paper
is a seven column folio and is issued every Thursday.
It is given a very liberal advertising patronage by the
Juliaetta merchants and has an excellent circulation.
THE PALOUSE EMPIRE.
The Palouse Empire is a weekly recently estab-
lished at Moscow by Will H. Stewart and Oscar F.
De Partee. Mr. Stewart is editor and Mr. De Partee
manager. This paper was started as the "Citizen,"
March 1st of the present year. After running for ten
weeks as a Democratic publication the publishers left
the political field and entered that of the agriculturist,
horticulturist and stock raiser. They also changed the
name of the paper to the Palouse Empire. The field
they have entered is practically unoccupied by a publi-
cation of this kind and as the editor is displaying
marked ability in the discussion of topics on which
the Palouse farmer is always seeking information,
there is good reason to believe the paper will become
one of the substantial institutions of the county. The
publishers contemplate changing the form of the paper
to an eight column quarto. The office and publishing
rooms are in the Business College building.
FIRST PAPER IN THE COUNTY.
A history of the press of Latah county would be
incomplete without mention of the Moscow Argus.
This was the pioneer newspaper of the county. It was
published in the winter of 1878-9 by the Moscow Lit-
erary Society and its editors were R. H. Barton,
George P. Richardson and Dr. William Taylor. They
had no printing press, so the paper was written out
by hand and was read at the regular weekly meetings
of the societv.
CHAPTER II.
REMINISCENT.
Throughout the following- pages are gathered a
few of the current legends, stories and rhymes concern-
ing the pioneer days of northern Idaho. While no one
can vouch for the accuracy of the descriptions, or the
reliability of the relators, the sketches are interesting,
and the local color strongly suggestive of earlier scenes
in the settlement of the territory and state.
A NORTH IDAHO INDIAN MASSACRE.
The following is substantially as related by Martin
Fry, of Bonners Ferry :
"I came to Bonners Ferry in 1876. The story of
the massacre, which I am about to relate, I got from
the whites wen I first came here. But I have also
learned it many times from the Indians, who wit-
nessed all the transactions after the massacre and who
were familiar with the massacre itself. I understand
and can speak the Kootenai Indian language and the
account of the massacre as told to me by several of
these Indians and repeated time after time, has never
varied in any particular.
"In the summer of 1866 a party of five Indians
went, with their families, from this place up the Koote-
nai river to a point near the mouth of Libby creek,
en a hunting expedition. Previous to their going,
earlier in the season, a party of prospectors made a
discovery of placers up Libby creek. About the time
of the arival of the Indians at their camping grounds,
a partv from the prospector's camp started out with
pack horses to obtain provisions. A few days later
they returned, reaching the Kootenai river at a point
opposite the mouth of Libby creek, where the Iidians
were encamped. Some of the Indians appearing on the
banks of the stream, the prospectors called to them and
asked that they bring over the canoes and assist them
in getting themselves and their provisions across the
river. This was done. After reaching the shore,
the provisions were unloaded from the boats to the
backs of the pack animals, and, it being late in the
afternoon, the party proceeded up Libby creek, go-
ing into camp for the night about one-fourth of a mile
from the Indian camp.
"After nightfall the squaws proposed to the bucks
that the latter steal up to the camp of the whites,
frighten them away by some means and get their
stock of provisions. They would later lay the blame
for the theft upon the Blackfeet, who at this time
made frequent raids over the Kootenai country, pilfer-
ing not only from the occasional white settlers, but
from the Kootenai Indians, and not infrequently kill-
ing Indians with whom they came in contact. The
proposal of the squaws met the approval of the bucks
and accordingly, late in the evening, they proceeded
to the camp of the prospectors and told them they had
discovered signs of Blackfeet Indians in the vicinity
and that there was danger of an attack from them at
any moment. A man named Allen was in charge of
the party, which consisted of himself, Joe Herron and
another, whose name I have forgotten. These men
had spent many years in the mining camps and were
accustomed to facing dangers ; they knew the Indian
character well and at once suspected that this was a
ruse to frighten them from their camp and get their
provisions. They consequently paid no attention
to the warnings of the Kootenais, although one of the
party suggested to Allen that it might be well to go
on up the creek to the main camp which was only
a few miles away. But Allen said 'No.' The Indians
went away and the prospectors turned in for the night.
"Foiled in their first attempt to get the stores of the
white men, the Indians returned to their tepees- and
consulted as to what course should next be pursued.
Just before daybreak they returned to where the
miners were sleeping and fired a volley over the camp.
As it was thus far only the desire of the Indians to
frighten the whites away, no one was injured by
the first volley of shots. Aroused thus suddenly from
their sleep, the whites sprang to their feet, but instead
of fleeing, began hurried preparations to move. The
Indians were disappointed by the failure of their ruse
and angered by the actions of the whites in refusing
to be frightened into deserting their stores. Another
volley was fired, and this time Allen and one of his
companions were instantly killed, while Joe Herron
received a shot through the cheek. Realizing his
helpless condition. Herron fled into the brush where
he managed to hide securely from the Indians, al-
though they spent several hours beating the woods in
an effort to locate his hiding place. Had Herron
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
been found he would have been quickly dispatched
and the details of the first act of this tragedy would
probably never have been told, while the second part
would proably never have been enacted. But Her-
ron remained secreted, saw the Indians, whom he
recognized as the party of Kootenais that had rowed
him and his companions across the river on the prev-
ious afternoon, drag the dead bodies of their two
victims away from the camp, carry off the provisions
and lead away the horses. He believed that the
other camp, further up the creek, had also been at-
tacked and feared to move in that direction. After
the Indians had departed, therefore, he came from
his hiding place, made a wide detour through the
woods and struck the Mover trail, several miles above
the mouth of Mover creek. In escaping from the
camp, his gun was left behind : he was also without
provisions of any kind and he knew it would ouly be
by the rarest chance that he might meet or overtake
white men with supplies. Nevertheless- he at once
started on the long journey down the trail and Koote-
nai river for the Wild Horse mining camps of British
Columbia. For twenty-one days he pressed on through
the long tangled grass of the river bottoms, along the
rocky sides of the mountains, through forest, under-
brush and valley swamps, swimming streams and
climbing mountains, enduring the most exhausting
hardships with no food but the berries and roots of
the forest, and for the greater part of the time suffer-
ing intense pain from the shot wound through his
cheek. After three weeks of this wandering, he
reached the camps of the miners, completely exhausted,
his shoes worn from his bleeding feet and his clothes
in tatters.
"Despite his condition, however, he rested but a
few days before organizing a posse to return up the
valley and avenge the death of his companions. One
division of the party went direct to Bonner's Ferry,
anticipating the return of the murderers to their
homes near this place. Another division of the party
went to the mouth of Libby creek, the scene of the
massacre. John Walton, who was E. L. Bonner's
agent in conducting the ferry and trading post, was
the only white man permanently settled in the coun-
try at that time. He knew nothing of the massacre
until the arrival of the posse from Wild Horse. In
the meantime three of the Indians had returned from
Libby creek and two had remained up the Kootenai
river at the mouth of Gold creek. When the miners
reached Bonners Ferry, they found John Walton at
the post and with him was old Abraham, chief of the
Kootenais, who had always been very friendly to the
whites. Walton spoke the Kootenai language and
when told of the massacre, he questioned Chief
Abraham and learned that neither the chief nor the
tribe knew of the murders committed by the hunting
party. The details of the murders were explained
to Abraham and he was told that if he surrendered
the guilty members of his tribe all would be well;
otherwise the miners from Wild Horse and other
regions would swarm the Kootenai country and ex-
terminate his tribe. Abraham promised to produce
and surrender the murderers and at once, proceeded
to the tribal camp, two or three miles down the river.
Summoning the three into his presence, he told them
he knew all about the murder and, furthermore, that
the whites now at the trading post had said if they
would return with them to Libby creek and show them
where they had cached the provisions belonging to the
murdered men, they would be forgiven and allowed to
return home. In this way Abraham induced the three
Indians to go with him to Walton's store at the ferry.
The miners, being apprised of their approach, secreted
themselves in the brush at the roadside near the store.
When Abraham and his companions entered the store,
Walton stepped out, locked the door and signaled the
miners, who at once rushed into the building, over-
powered the murderers, bound them securely, and
placed them under heavy guard until ready for their
departure for the scene of the massacre, where it was
their intention to execute the prisoners.
"Soon afterward the start was made for Libby creek,
the Indians with their hands tied marching in front
of their captors, who were followed by a band of
Kootenai tribe with which were a number of the
relatives of the doomed criminals. Arriving at Mover
creek, seven miles above Bonners Ferry, one of the
white men crossed over and stationed himself as a
guard on the opposite bank. The water was only
about four feet deep and the Indians were instructed
to wade across. They had evidently come to realize
that they were not to be turned loose as Chief Abra-
ham had led them to believe, for one of them, when he
had reached the middle of the stream, succeeded in
loosening the cords upon his wrists and attempted to
gain his freedom by plunging beneath the water, diving
and swimming toward the main channel of the Kootenai
river. A volley of shots from the guns of the miners
put a speedy end to his career and his body floated off
down the river. The other two Indians crossed the
creek and were followed by the rear guard of the
miners. After the attempted escape the miners de-
cided to take no more chances and their two remaining
prisoners were accordingly shot on the east bank of
the Mover, and their bodies left to the care of their
relatives, who were still following, but who had of-
fered no resistance to the miners.
"There were five participants in the massacre ; three
of them had now been slajn. Proceeding on up the
Kootenai river Herron and his posse had no trouble
in locating the two at the mouth of Gold creek. They
were captured, taken at once to Libby creek, the scene
of the massacre, and hanged. Thus was the death oi
the prospectors revenged.
"In all the history of the Kootenai Indians there is
no record of friction between them and the whites
before or since the occurrence narrated above. The
good old chief Abraham, or, as he was called by the
Indians, "Alplam,' died in the summer of 1882, age
unknown, as he was white headed when the first set-
tlers came to the country. Too much cannot be said
in praise of this old chief who was greatly beloved by
all who knew him. He was a welcome visitor in the
homes of all the white settlers and at the time of
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
his death there was genuine sorrow among his white
as well as his Indian friends."
EARLY DAYS OF FLORENCE.
P. W. Gillett, in the Oregonian : The recent dis-
coveries of gold mines in the vicinity, of the Buffalo
Hump, in Idaho, recall to my mind the great rush to
the rich placer mines at Florence City in 1862. These
mines were discovered almost by accident late in the
fall of 1861, so late that but few were able to reach
them that season on account of the great depth of
snow in the surrounding mountains. The news of
this discovery soon spread over the country and from
the first of February until the last of May every steam-
ship from San Francisco to Portland was crowded to
its utmost capacity with gold seekers. Early in the
spring of 1862 people in great numbers from all parts
Oregon, Washington, Idaho and even from British
Columbia, began to roll out for the mines. Farms,
shops, offices and stores were deserted and thousands
left their homes, in great haste to reap the golden har-
vest.
Portland was the grand starting point, and though
only a town of about 2,300, soon put on metropolitan
airs and was the busiest place on the coast. Hotels were
crowded to overflowing, the stores were chock full of
customers, and the storekeepers were so busy and
independent that they hardly had time to see or wait
upon purchasers. These were Portland's palmiest days,
and then she first began to realize that she was a city.
On April 15, 1S62, with sixteen others, I started from
Astoria and joined the great throng. Each one took a
horse, knowing that we would have much land travel
to perform, and probably have our food to carry also.
The Oregon Steam Navigation Company owned and
managed all the steamboats running up the Columbia
river, and consequently made prices of freight and
passengers to suit themselves. Passage from Portland
to The Dalles, less than 100 miles, was $8, and 75 cents
extra for meals. From Portland to Lewiston, 345
miles, passage was $30, meals extra, and freight by
ton, by measurement was only $120. The boat that
carried me to The Dalles was so full of people that it
took all day to serve two meals. We left Portland at
5 a. m. At six o'clock the first table was seated; as
soon as it was empty another was made ready, and so
on as rapidly as possible, until about 12 o'clock, when
we reached the lower cascade landing, all had been
served. Then it took until 6 p. m. on the upper boat
to serve the next meal. This rush was not just for
a day or a week, but it continued for several months.
The Dalles, though but a village, was a busy place
— a regular toll-gate, where all who passed through
had to pay toll in some shape. The town and suburbs
were dotted with tents and wagons and thronged
with busy men, packing horses, loading wagons and
getting ready to start. We left The Dalles with our
horses packed with 150 to 200 pounds of provisions,
camp equipments, etc.
All roads leading up to Columbia were full of peo-
ple, horses, teams and vehicles of every description,
while the steamboats were more than full. It was a
great flood tide of immigration and commerce, roll-
ing up the Columbia valley like an irresistible torrent.
Tie Powder river mines were also newly discovered
and many were headed in that direction.
I must not omit mentioning a very curious and
interesting sight I witnessed as we passed along the
narrow trail, just beyond the mouth of Des Chutes
river. The ground at and near the foot of the high
basaltic cliff was covered with innumerable rocks and
boulders that time had thrown down from the bluff.
All around us, and as far as the eye could see. were
hundreds of rattlesnakes, lazily sunning| themselves
on those rocks. Their dark, sleek bodies could be seen
glistening in the sunlight hundreds of feet away.
They were of all sizes, from medium to very large.
Our presence did not disturb them, as they allowed us
to pass within two or three feet of them without
changing their positions. They were so numerous
that I did not attempt to count them, but there were
many hundreds of them in sight. There must have
been a great den of them in the rocky cliff.
At Umatilla landing we met a number of miners
returning from Powder river, all glad to get back, de-
claring that there was no gold there worth the getting.
At that place we found a tent restaurant, "Meals $1 ;
with dessert $1.75." We all took a full meal of bacon
and beans, hard tack, black coffee and a ■small piece of
the poorest sort of dried apple pie.
At several points between The Dalles and Walla
Walla the ground was strewn with dead cattle which
had starved during the late unprecedented hard winter.
Where the city of Arlington now stands, I counted
150 dead cattle on less than one acre of land. They
had come down that ravine in the winter in quest of
water and food, neither of which they could get, the
river was frozen over and the snow was so deep they
could find no grass.
We passed through Walla Walla on the 9th of May.
It consisted of a row of small houses and stores on
either side of the road that ran through town. The
country around Walla Walla and Lewiston was only
just beginning to be settled. Between Walla Walla
and Lewiston we did not see more than a dozen houses,,
the most of which were in the Touchet, the homes of
pioneer stockmen.
When we reached the Alpowa creek we found In-
dians fanning on a small scale. They were plowing,
one Indian riding the horse, another holding the little
home-made plow. Near the mouth of that creek was
quite a good farm, the old home of Rev. H. H. Spald-
ing, who settled there in 1836. Here I saw a clump of
apple trees in full bloom. This orchard was planted
by Mr. Spalding and, except those at Vancouver
planted by some of the Hudson's Bay people, were
probably the first fruit trees of this sort planted on
the North Pacific coast. Reaching Snake river, oppo-
site the town of Lewiston, we found the bank of the
river covered with hundreds of men, horses and ve-
hicles of all sorts awaiting their turn to get across the
river. We took our place in line, but did not get across
until dark. We put up our tent in the town. During
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1223
the night \vc were disturbed by the firing- of pistols arid
the whizzing of bullets so unexpectedly near that the
next morning we moved further back. Drunkenness,
gambling, crime and murder were in full blast in
Lewiston. I will quote from my diary kept at the time,
which will show the condition of things as I saw them
and how the country appeared at that time :
May 12, 1862 — Lewiston is a brisk place. There
are stores and shops of every sort, law, doctor, dentist
and express offices. The towrn is built of canvas, poles,
logs and split boards. Wood is worth $10 per cord ;
split boards, three feet long, $50 per thousand, and
shingles $25 per thousand. There is a small steam
sawmill here, making lumber of logs floated 40 miles
down the Clearwater river, which sells at $100 per
thousand. Town lots are all the rage. Everybody is
buying lots, selling lots, squatting on lots, jumping lots
and lawing about lots. Yet Lewiston is situated upon
an Indian reservation, and no one has any title to the
lots, save squatter's rights — squatter's sovereignty.
Lots are selling at $50 to $r,ooo.
May 15 — My friend, G. L. Wood, of Yamhill coun-
ty, dined with me today. I borrowed an extra tin
plate, cup, knife and spoon, and entertained him in
fine stvle. He is running the ferry across Snake river
and is making- money. (A few years later he was
elected governor of Oregon). The mighty flood of
human life still rushes on with restless steps and eager
hopes. Pack trains and vehicles of every sort come
laden with provisions, merchandise and lots of whisky.
The town still grows, houses springing up like magic.
saloons and gambling houses are numerous and are
full of people night and day. Here fools and their
money part to meet no more. There is much crime and
frequent murders here.
May 24 — Mounted my horse this morning and
started for Florence City, accompanied by a merchant
from Walla Walla. We passed through a fertile roll-
ing country until we reached the summit of the Blue
mountains, where we found pine and tamarack timber
thinly scattered over a well-tufted surface, making it
resemble an extensive and beautiful park. The trail
follows a broad and almost level ridge that grows
broader as we advance until it seems more like an un-
dilating than a mountainous country. At 6 p. m. we
stopped and "staked out" our horses, made a cup of
tea, and ate our meal of hardtack, cheese and dried
beef. When we awoke our blankets were white with
frost.
May 23 — The scenery along the trail today is the
most picturesque and beautiful I ever saw. The face
of the country is diversified with timber and prairie
happily interspersed, with hills and dales, glens and
glades and dancing streams. At 10 a. m.. as we
emerged from the timber, we came in full view of the
famous Camas prairie, stretching almost from the Sal-
mon to the Clearwater river and about eighteen miles
in width — a sea of verdure and an Eden of flowers.
We descended by a long, sloping point into the prairie,
and found the soil very black and exceedingly fertile,
though inhabited only by Indians and wild animals.
It is too valuable a country to remain long in this use-
iess and neglected condition. It will not be Ion- until
it becomes the home of civilization and a rich agricul-
tural district.
When my Walla Walla companion overtook his
pack train, I had to proceed alone. In passing through
White Bird creek I saw many Indian lodges, tin- most
conspicuous of which was that of Eagle-of-the-Light,
the chief, and a great many Indians, but they did not
molest me, except to urge and almost force me to cross
a rude bridge they had constructed across a small creek
for which they wanted me to pay $1. But I firmly re-
fused and rode acoss the creek below the bridge.
At 5 o'clock' p. m.. I reached a large encampment
of people just below the snow line, and about two miles
this side of the Mountain house, and stopped all night.
Late in the evening news came in that the large gang
of men employed to shovel out the snow and cut and
remove the logs and make a passable trail, had just
completed their work.
May 27 — Mounted my horse at 6 a. m. and started
alone for Florence City. The snow was piled so high
on either side of the trail for several miles that I could
not see over it — in some places it was 10 feet deep. I
reached Florence at 4 p. m. and was the first man to
enter Florence on horseback. When I reached the
mining district and the miners got sight of my horse,
they threw down their picks and shovels, tossed up
their hats and shouted and yelled as if they were crazy
This din of shouts followed me until I reached the
town. The sight of a horse was the announcement of
cheaper food and all sorts of merchandise. All winter
they had paid 40 cents a pound to men to pack in their
supplies of all sorts from the Mountain house, twelve
miles away, on their backs.
June 2 — A continuous stream of people is pouring
into Florence which gives it an exceedingly busy appear-
ance. There is still some snow on the ground, but it
is rapidly melting away. Having never been in a min-
ing camp before, it is very interesting and new to me.
Everyone but the newcomers are as busy as bees, dig-
ging, ditching and washing nit gold in cradles and
sluices. Immense heaps of fresh earth are piled up in
every direction and the whole country is so' full of pros-
pect holes that it seems totally ruined. I spent a day
visiting several claims and found many anxious to sell
out, although all claimed that their properties were
very rich.
June 8. — This morning reports were circulated that
exceedingly rich diggings had just been discovered in
the neighborhood of Buffalo Hump, about sixty miles
in a northeasterly direction from here. A few miners
who seemed to know where the new discoveries are
started off in the night to prevent the crowd from fol-
lowing them. All day people by hundreds, and perhaps
by thousands, are getting ready as fast as possible to
go. Many start with packs on their backs, while others
take horses well laden with food to last weeks.
June 10. — Still hundreds of excited men are rush-
ing off t® the Buffalo Hump. Within two days flour
has advanced from 50 cents to $1 a pound, and almost
all sorts of provisions in like proportion, on aecount of
the extraordinary demand.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Tune 15. — The town is alive with people today.
Everybody goes to town on Sunday to lay in supplies,
see the sights, get and send letters, buy newspapers and
take a rest. Newspapers cost $1 each. I can only
afford three a week. On almost every corner an auc-
tioneer is selling horses, goods and merchandise of
every sort. Great clumps of people stand in the streets
discussing the "new diggings." The saloons are full
of people. Many are gambling, hundreds drinking,
while some are simply idling away the time and listen-
ing to the alluring chink of coin on the gaming tables.
Frequent quarrels occur at the gaming tables which al-
most always culminate in shooting, and often killing.
Not infrequently some drunken ruffian draws his re-
volver and begins to shoot in the midst of the vast
crowd, often- killing or wounding some one and creat-
in a fearful stampede. Such is Sunday in Florence.
Here the congressman, legislator, judge, divine, doctor,
lawyer, merchant, farmer, laborer and sailor mingle
in the same crowd, wear slouch hats, blue shirts and
ragged or patched breeches. Nearly all of this vast
horde of gamblers, roughs and desperadoes are from
California — the remainder, dregs and offspring of
that foul collection of villians that flooded California
in 1849 t0 1^52> ten to thirteen years ago. There is no
law here, or none that sees, abates, retards or punishes
crime. Scarcely a day passes that some one is not
killed or wounded. There has been strong talk of es-
tablishing a vigilance committee, but as yet nothing
has been done. The decent people of Florence endure
these outrages with remarkable fortitude.
June 18. — The price of flour and provisions is go-
ing down. I bought today 50 pounds of flour for
$27.50, and a five-gallon keg of syrup for $25. Fresh
beef, mutton and bacon sell at 50 to 60 cents per pound.
June 21, 1862. — News came in by express today
that both Corinth and Richmond had surrendered and
were occupied by United States troops. The Union
men in our neighborhood assembled at Squire At-
wood's camp (Atwood of the Cascades) to celebrate
the event. The squire has an old-fashioned brass Eng-
lish blunderbuss that would make as much noise as a
modern six-pounder, which he fired after each speech.
At the close of the speaking the old squire was so full
of patriotism that he overloaded the blunderbuss and
blew her into atoms, after which we gave six rousine
cheers for the Union and adjourned. (The report of
the surrender of Richmond was untrue.)
June 25. — Great numbers of miners are returning
from the Buffalo Hump, thoroughly tired and dis-
gusted, having found no gold worth the taking. On
their way there many got lost in the mountains and
wandered around for days, and were followed by others
who supposed they were on the right way to the mines.
Many horses died from overwork and want of food.
July 4. — Ice was frozen last night, and I never saw
so white a frost as covered the earth this morning.
The boom of guns announcing the "Glorious Fourth"
awoke me this morning.
July 6. — Among all of my friends and acquaint-
ances here none are making anything. Great numbers
of people are selling off everything and preparing to
leave.
July 15. — Hundreds of tents that studded the hills
surrounding Florence have disappeared, and are now
deserted and desolate.
July 17 — Scorching frost this morning. Another
man was shot and killed in town today by a brutal
gambler, who as usual was allowed to go unpunished.
July 18. — This morning two new comers took up a
a claim on Sand creek that had been taken and aban-
doned by more than half a dozen different parties, but
those fellows struck the right spot, and found $50 to
$100 to the pan. Another man was killed in town last
night.
Nearly all the rich claims here are in or very close
to Summit flat, and I believe they do not cover two
square miles ; and the entire Florence mining district
does not cover more than four or five square miles.
There are some very rich placer diggings here, and
much gold has been taken out, but I truly believe that
five times as much money has been expended in coming
here and searching for gold and getting back again as
has been or ever will be taken out of these mines.
Excepting the great excitement of 1849 ar>d I^5°
there has never been on this coast a mining excite-
ment equal to that of 1862. I have no means of know-
ing the number of people who went to Florence during
this excitement, but it was very large. Hundreds,
perhaps thousands, had to sponge or beg their way
back home, not being able to find paying diggings or
get employment.
REMINISCENT 1877.
One dark night very early in July, 1877, just two
days before the first victory of the troops over Joseph
in the battle on Cottonwood creek, a courier from Fort
Lapwai galloped into Lewiston at full speed and dis-
mounting in front of General Sulley's headquarters on
Main street, vigorously pounded on the door until it
was opened. The hour was about midnight, and with
the exception of the volunteer guards thrown around
the town, most of the inhabitants had long been
wrapped in the arms of Morpheus.
The general came to the door and learned that the
messenger was from the Indian agent, who had sent
warning that the Indians were crossing the creek near
the agency in large numbers and were apparently head-
ing toward Lewiston. The agent advised the inhabi-
tants to prepare for an attack and, if possible, send
word to the few settlers south and east of the city. At
that time General Sulley, who was an Indian fighter of
note, was stationed at Lewiston in charge of the com-
missary department of the army in this region, and by
virtue of his position and experience practically in
command of military affairs in Lewiston. The old
general expressed his opinion regarding the suspected
attack in most emphatic terms, holding that such an
attack was not reasonable and, moreover, contrary to
the custom of the Indians in that they never attack
large towns or cities. However, to satisfy the populace
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
[225
he sent G. K. Vincent to the sheriff's office, where he
found Under Sheriff Kress and told him the news.
They decided to quietly warn the isolated settlers and
otherwise prepare the town in cast an attack should be
made.
Accordingly Mr. Kress enlisted the aid of James
McCormick, Joseph Yane. Al. Dunwell, Fred Manning
and five or six others, who hastily saddled their ani-
mals and went on their mission of warning the settlers.
Meanwhile, however, the news that the redskins
were coming had in some mysterious manner been
spread abroad and in a comparatively short time all
Lewiston was astir and preparing for the murderous
onslaught. The guards were hastily assembled and
the two cannons in the town, one located about oppo-
site where the Odd Fellows hall now stands, the other
at the west end of Main street, were quickly manned.
Captain Williams took charge of one gun and Knaggs,
the O. S. N. Company's agent here at that time, com-
manded the other squad.
A log cabin, formerly a store building, stood where
the First National bank now stands, and here General
Sulley's headquarters had been established. As the
people became aroused they congregated in large num-
bers in front of this building where all was excitement
and bustle. General Sulley himself hurrying around in
his shirt sleeves and trying to calm the people's fears.
Some were armed, others demanded guns and all were
anxious to assist in the defense of their home.
The Indians not appearing on the scene and scouts
being unable to find a trace of the marauding redskins,
the excitement gradually wore away and the people
returned to their homes. The guards remained on duty
all night but their vigilance was not rewarded by even
a sight of their dusky foes.
In the morning it was learned that the Indians who
were reported as crossing the Laywai and proceeding
toward Lewiston were friendly Nez Perces moving
stock and that their numbers had been greatly over
estimated. It is true that the sympathies of the reser-
vation Indians were with Joseph and it is also true that
many so called friendly Indians afterwards joined the
warriors, so that it can be truthfully said that Lewis-
tonians had reasonable grounuds for their first In-
dian scare.
mooney's adventure.
All old timers well remember the flurry caused in
eastern Washington and north Idaho during the sum-
mer of 1878 by the announcement that the savage
Bannocks had broken loose from the Fort Hall reser-
vation and in company with the equally heartless
Piutes of central Oregon were pursuing a course
directly toward this region. The stories which came
from time to time from the seat of war of cruel mur-
ders and massacres, the sacking and pillaging of prop-
erty, the stealing of stock and the destruction of other
property only added to the apprehension felt by many
in this section and the country was on the alert for
any news pertaining to the warring redskins, though
only a comparatively small number actually feared
trouble. Even after the defeat of the Indians near
Pendleton and the dispersal into small bands, these
fears still continued and had not entirely died out in
1879, tne year 0I our story.
About this time also, there lived in Portland a man
named Mooney, who was a successful fancy goods
merchant. Mooney was not content to deal with Ore-
gonians, only, but as a firm believer in trade expan-
sion, and this explains how it was that one crisp Oc-
tober morning, while vague rumors of Indian trouble
still filled the air, he took his seat in the Lewiston
stage at Walla Walla, his purpose being to extend his
business operations as far east as this north Idaho
town. "Dutch John," a veteran stage driver known
throughout the entire northwest, held the reins and
Mooney's only other companion was a fellow drum-
mer. As the stage rolled rapidly along, the three
men became very sociable, as might be expected, and
soon the passengers were, deeply interested in the
yarns which "Dutch John" spun for their benefit.
John's life had not been very prosaic and what few
hairbreadth escapes and blood-curdling experiences he
had been unfortunate enough to miss, his imagination
readily conceived. With such a foundation to build
upon and with the skill of story telling which he pos-
sessed, partly natural and partly acquired, along with
the companion art of handling a stage coach, it was
not strange that he was able to construct such thrill-
ing and wonderful stories as to hold his audience
completely at his mercy. Soon the theme became the
recent Bannock war and "Dutch John" would appear
to have been one of the foremost men in that affair
and to have been then in possession of the most ex-
clusive news of the redskins' secret movements. This
information was exclusive, probably, in that John was
the only one in possession of these facts. Mooney,
who is described as being of slight build, in the early
'thirties, of a decidedly serious cast of mind and very
impressionable, eagerly swallowed these stories and
the effects produced were easily detected in his nerv-
ous actions. Meanwhile his fellow traveler had joined
forces with the driver and by the time the coach
reached the Alpowa there was a thorough understand-
ing between these two conspirators.
While passing this point, "Dutch John" noticed
that one of the squaws living there was shaking a
blanket in the breeze. Instantly he took advantage
of this exclusive bit of information and turning to
Mooney he cried, "See that squaw up there waving
that blanket? Well, that is the signal agreed upon
between her and the redskins and it means that the
varmits are about to attack us." With that he applied
the lash and quickened the speed of the stage. Mooney
turned excitedly toward the Indian figure outlined
against the sky. The fellow passenger quickly drew
his derringer, took off his hat and dodging down, fired
through the crown. The shot incited the horses to
greater speed, "Dutch John" wildly gesticulated and
yelled, while Mooney, now thoroughly frightened,
crouched down in the bottow of the stage for protec-
tion and there carefully examined his fellow passen-
ger's hat. "A pretty close call," he remarked. After
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
a little, no Indians appearing, the party regained their
composure, though this little incident only brought
forth a fresh deluge of stories from "Dutch John."
With never a stop the stage proceeded at a rapid
speed until Silcott's ferry across the Clearwater was
reached. There the passengers got out and Mooney,
his legs still shaking, sank to his knees and humbly
and devoutly thanked the Father who watches over
all for his narrow escape from a frightful death and
piteously begged that He continue to watch over him
while he was in this wild region.
Arriving at Lewiston about twilight, Dutch John"
drove his stage to the hotel and deposited his passen-
gers and freight. Then he proceeded to carry out the
bold plan which had been slowly maturing in his mind.
Several were let into the secret that the Indians were
marching on the town and that a strong guard would
be necessary to save the inhabitants of this fair city
from instant massacre. Sometime in 1877 a home
guard had been organized and during the early part of
the Bannock war this organization had been partly
revived in case of an emergency call. Charles G.
Kress, the pioneer jeweler, was in command of this
temporarily organized guard and before him 'Dutch
John" laid his plan. Kress consented.
After removing some of the marks of travel from
his clothes, Mooney decided the sooner he had tran-.
sacted his business here and gotten away the better
it would be for his peace of mind. With this idea in
mind he immediately proceeded down the street to
Grostein & Binnard's large store at the end of Main
street and at once entered upon his work of securing
orders. He had not been engaged in conversation
very long before Captain Kress with a squad of a
dozen men appeared at the front door and entered.
He announced that news of a contemplated Indian
attack had been received and that he had called for the
purpose of enlisting a few more men to stand guard
that night. The employes had been taken into the
scheme and immediately they began donning their
coats and securing their guns as if the summons was
a matter of every day occurrence. Mooney hastily
terminated his call and started toward the door. But
he was not to escape so easily for Kress halted him
and requested him to step into the ranks. Mooney
protested that he did not care to fight Indians, that
he had no gun and finally that he had business to
attend to.
"We cannot excuse you," said Kress, "as we need
every man we can muster. We will arm you. You
will have to do the same as the rest and take your
turn at guard duty."
Mooney protested, but in vain. A needle gun and
some shells were given him, and walking with Kress
at the head of the line, the guard marched two by
two up the Snake river and by a trail (which fol-
lowed the line of the present road from Snake River
avenue up on Normal hill) to the top of the hill
overlooking the river. The year previous, 1877, the
citizens had constructed a rude rifle trench here in
anticipation of an attack from the Nez Perces. Here
the line stopped and Captain Kress ordered Mooney
to take his post. Instructions were issued to him
concerning his actions in case of an attack and he was
told in impressive tones that death at sunrise was the
penalty meted out to men who deserted their posts
while on guard. "Lewiston" was the password.
Mooney begged that he be allowed to go to the tele-
graph office and telegraph to Portland concerning his
danger and the disposition of his property in case
he should meet death, but being refused, took the
situation bravely and grimly answered that they would
find him faithful. Then the detachment marched on
across the hill and down a trail where the Fifth street
grade has lately been made to the city. At the Ray-
mond hotel the drinks were passed around among
those who wished to imbibe, and the guards made
merry while tfie lone picket stood faithfully by his post
and patiently awaited the merciless onslaught of the
enemy.
Hour after hour passed and still no movements
in the darkness did he perceive. The intense still-
ness, the suffocating darkness unnerved him and he
was about to cast himself upon the mercy of his white
friends when he was startled into action by a series
of blood-curdling whoops and yells which seemed to
rend the very atmosphere into fragments. It was now
nearly midnight. Louder and louder grew the cries
and nearer and nearer came the enemy. Mooney
bravely stood his ground and sought to penetrate the
darkness around him. Now he could see the skulk-
ing forms. With blankets about their heads, weapons
in their hands and their lips uttering wild cries whose-
meaning he knew not ; he saw them advance toward
his post. Now and then the flash of a gun accom-
panied by the roar which followed denoted the posi-
tion of the hostiles. The whole tribe seemed to be
charging. Mooney tried to sound the alarm but the
trigger fell harmlessly on the cap which refused to
explode. Again and again did he load but fate seemed
to be conspiring against him for the cartridges abso-
lutely refused to do their duty. (Had Mooney in-
vestigated he would have found that the loads had
been carefully extracted from the shells, which were
useless in the first place.)
Suddenly, when within fifty yards of the earth-
works, the enemy drew together for a grand charge,,
and with renewed energy raised their cries and yells
and dashed forward. Mooney could stand the strain
no longer. Coward or no coward he would never stay
to be scalped even though the act did reward him with
a hero's crown. Flinging his useless gun aside, he
fled precipitately down the hillside. At the foot of
the hill or bluff and directly in his path stood Will-
iam Kettenbach's chicken coop, a building of respect-
able dimensions. This structure Mooney cleared at
one leap and then bounded onward toward the Snake
river, preferring a watery grave to death at the hands
of a savage wariror. Just at the water's edge he
ran into three men, one of whom was William Boise,
who is still a resident of Lewiston. Boise grasped
Mooney and together the quartet rushed back to town.
Here his friends assured him that the Indians had
retreated and that the danger was now past. They
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1227
congratulated him on his remarkable escape, sym-
pathized with him and led him away to the hotel
where, they said, he might now rest in peace.
A few minutes later the six or seven white Indians
who had so valiantly stormed the ramparts above
town, the three who had been sent around to inter-
cept Mooney should he attempt to plunge into the
Snake and a score of others who had been let into the
conspiracy met and exchanged congratulations on
their little joke, one of the most successful ever per-
petrated in this region. The joke was too good to be
kept among a few and not many hours passed before
the story was common property. Mooney spent the
next day in Lewiston and it is very probable that he
was told the true history of the Indian scare before
another night shrouded the city in darkness. It is
known that the next stage numbered among its pas-
sengers the hero of the Lewiston Indian scare of 1878.
The following touching story of the death and
burial of "Stumpy" Wicks, one of the early charac-
ters of the Coeur d'Alene district, is told in the Coeur
d'Alene Eagle under date of May 3, 1884. The story
vividly portrays the conditions which then existed in
the Eagle camp.
"over the range."
" 'Stumpy' Wicks was dead. The mountain fever
had killed him. A few days before he started off
into the hills, telling the boys that he would find some-
thing rich, or never go out again. He did not find
anything rich, and he never went out again. The
fever laid its grip upon him, and in three days he was
dead. He had "gone over the range," the boys said.
"It became necessary to bury 'Stumpy' Wicks.
And how was he to be buried? By his relatives?
He had no relatives. By his pard? He had no pard.
By the town ? There was no town. Forty years ago
'Stumpy' Wicks had left his home — no one knows
where — and his people — no one knows whom — to
wander in the west. He died alone. His wife, his
mother, his sister, if he had one, will never know
where he died, or what hands laid him in the grave.
"It was the boys. They got together and made
a coffin out of a box or two, and covered it with black
cloth. They put 'Stumpy' into it, with a clean flour
sack over his poor, dead face. They chipped in and
hired an ex-parson, who for some years had abandoned
his profession to give " 'Stumpy' a send-off." They
dug a grave to a good and honest depth in the tough,
red earth. They went out and found a flat rock for
a headstone, and on it, with an engineer's graver, they
scratched the brief epitaph, ' "Stumpy" Wicks.' Then
they followed the coffin wagon to the grave, walking
through the mud and rain.
"There were forty men in that funeral procession,
and not one woman. Very few were drunk, and nearly
all had taken off their six-shooters. There were forty
men who stood around that open grave, and not one
woman to drop a tear, as the ex-parson read a brief
portion of the Episcopal burial service and offered
a short prayer for the safe journey of ' Stumpy 's'
soul over the range. There was no history of
'Stumpy's' life. No one knew his history. It was
doubtless a sad enough one, full of slips and stumbles,
fall of hope, perhaps before he had finally 'lost his
grip.' They found a woman's picture, very old, and
quite worn out, indeed, in 'Stumpy's' pocket and this
was buried with him. This was probably his history.
"There was not a tear shed at 'Stumpy's' funeral.
Not a sob was heard but neither were there any oaths
or any laughter.
"When the time came to fill up the grave, ready
hearts assisted ready hands, and the experienced
miners quicklv did the work. They rounded up the
mound and fitted up the head-stone. When the ex-
parson stepped back from the grave he stumbled over
the' head-stone of Billy Robbins, the gambler, whom
Antoine Sanchez knifed. There were a good many
of the boys resting there. The bullet, the knife and
the mountain fever had finished them, except those
whom the , committee assisted. It was the committee
who put Antoine Sanchez at the foot of Billy Rob-
bins' grave.
"There was no green thing in this graveyard, no
living plants, no little flowers. It lay red and bare
upon a red and bare hillside. There were no white
stones to mark the homes of the sleepers; those used
were of the rough, red granite.
"The boys were quiet. They were thinking, per-
haps. They looked up at the sky, which strangely
enough, had in it no tint of blue, and the sky. in
pity that no tear was shed, wept some upon them.
"As the procession broke up and moved back to the
saloons, one was heard to say that it was the 'd — dest,
mournfulest plantin' he ever had a hand in.' In fact
the camp did not get back to its normal condition until
the next day. There was something sad even for these
rough souls in the lonely, unwept death of 'Stumpy'
Wicks. It made them think and I wonder if some of
them did not reach out their arms from their blankets
that night and hold them up and call out softly, 'Oh,
Stumpy, Stumpy! What is it you see over the range?
After a wretched, broken life, what is there for a
man over the range ?' "
A SHOSHONE COUNTY HEAR STORY.
The Coeur d'Alene mountains are the natural
home of the north Idaho bear family. Here among
the numberless deep, narrow canyons and the high,
long ridges covered with a dense growth of pine and
cedar, underbrush and berry bushes, where a multitude
of clear, gushing mountain streams may quench the
thirst of man or beast, where for sections several miles
in extent the great forest belongs alone to the animal
world : in this region bruin was lord of the forest un-
til superseded by the pioneer miners and their trusty
rifles. Even at this late day, bears are not infrequently
met with in what is known locally as the North Fork
countrv, meaning the region drained by the north fork
of the Coeur d'Alene river. Some portions of that sec-
lion are still uninhabited and very little traveled except
bv the denizens of the wilderness.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
It was on Beaver creek, a southern tributary of
the North Fork, that the scene of this bear story is
laid and the time of action was in the spring of 1896.
The Coeur d'Alene Sun tells the story in the following
words :
"Charles Eisenstein, the young ranchman living on
the North Fork at the mouth of Beaver creek, is de-
servedly the hero of the Coenr d'Alenes today, for he
has killed the daddy of the bruin family in these parts.
For several years it has been known around Delta that
some wild animal was killing sheep and carrying them
off. Calves were also missed. On Sunday, May 3d, a
cow was killed near the mouth of Beaver creek. All
signs led to the belief that a huge bear was committing
the depredations. Very few men have lost any bear,
but young Eistenstein said he had lost one when that
favorite cow was killed. So late on Tuesday afternoon
he took his Winchester rifle and a little bear dog and
went up the road toward Delta to a point where tracks
had been seen that day.
"He waited until dark at a point half a mile below
town and had just about concluded to go home when
he heard the bear coming down the mountain side.
Suddenly Eistenstein saw a huge, dark object stalking
through the brush. He raised his Winchester and fired
at the advancing animal. A howl and a growl fol-
lowed, while the dog rushed forward and engaged him,
Eistenstein, in die meantime, pumping lead into the
brute from the trusty repeater. Ten shots had been
fired into the infuriated beast without apparent serious
results and only one more cartridge was left when it
pushed through the dense undergrowth and for the
first time his monstrous size became known to the
hunter. The voung man realized that his case was now
a desperate one and accordingly planned with quick
wit. Nearer and nearer the animal came. When with-
in eight feet, with the barrel of the gun almost touch-
ing his lordship, Eistenstein fired his last bullet. The
bear dropped and the hunter hurriedly retreated sev-
eral yards, while the little dog kept up his annoying-
attack. Suddenly the monster reared on his haunches,
uttered a terrible growl and fell forward. Eistenstein
could stand by no longer, but, followed by the dog,
fled to A. J. Prichard's cabin, a mile down the road.
"Eistenstein remained at Prichard's cabin during
the night and on Wednesday morning at daybreak he
again set forth, this time with Mr. Prichard's Win-
chester and plenty of cartridges. But he had no use
for them. The bear was found dead about ten feet
from where he had risen for the last attack upon the
death-dealing hunter. The young man went to Delta,
procured assistance and returned to the scene. Four
men's strength was required to place the carcass in the
wagon, and its weight was estimated by those who
saw it at between 600 and 700 pounds. The species to
which the animal belonged was the common dark
brown family. Thomas Shuster has purchased the
head and skin and will have them mounted. Henry
Oxley, who was at the World's Fair, says that Eisten-
stein's bear is fully as large as any he saw at Chicago.
Without doubt it is the largest member of the bruin
family ever killed in the Coeur d'Alenes, and for the
time being Eistenstein and his faithful dog are the pop-
ular heroes of the county."
THE PIONEER BABY OF FLORENCE.
Regarding this interesting little piece of humanity,
the Idaho County Free Press, under date of July 2,
1897. says:
"Frank Fenn narrates an interesting story respect-
ing the first white child born in the old Florence min-
ing camp. The parents of the child were Mr. and Mrs.
J. G. Foster. In those days, 1864-5, there were very
few families in that section, among them being Mr.
Fenn's parents, Mr. and Mrs. S. S. Fenn.
"When the Foster baby was born there was no
nourishment provided by nature for it. Mrs. Fenn
undertook to sustain the little one's life by rice water
and other crude preparations, but these did not agree
with the infant and it seemed destined to die. At one
time Mr. Foster decided to take his child in his arms
and make a snow shoe trip to a distant point where
there were cows, but it was thought that the child
would perish from the cold, and the scheme was
abandoned.
"At last some one suggested, as a last resort, that
there was a bunch of sheep on Salmon river, nine miles
distant, and it was thought quite likely that among
them might be found a ewe with milk. Accordingly a
man known as 'Flintlock' Wilson volunteered to go
down and see if a sheep could be secured. He found
one solitary sheep, a black one, with a lamb by her side.
Without much trouble he captured the animal, led it
as far as he could and then, swinging her across his
fchoulders. mounted his snow shoes and carried it into
camp. To make a long story short, the ewe's milk
saved the child's life. One of Frank's duties during
that memorable winter was to care for and milk the
sheep.''
PIONEER LIFE IN IDAHO.
The following extract from the annual address de-
livered before the Idaho County Pioneers' Association
at Mount Idaho, July 4, 1891, by the retiring president,
James H. Robinson, of Grangeville, gives so graphic
a picture of life on Camas prairie in the 'sixties, that
we gladly give it a place in this chapter:
"To the pioneers of Idaho county gathered here
today I wish to recall some experiences of early years
on Camas prairie. To those present who have made
homes here later these incidents may serve to answer
the question as to how a handful of people shut out
from the world and dependent entirely upon their own
efforts for sustenance and social enjoyment succeeded.
"A goodly number of those who located here prior
to 1870 had come to the mines of Elk City, Florence
and Warren to make a fortune, which at the end of
one or two years would in most cases consist of a
pair of blankets and a battered outfit of cooking uten-
sils. With these as capital some would build a cabin
in the timber and make rails and shakes, or whipsaw
lumber for the few who were more prosperous ; others
built log houses almost anywhere they pleased on
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1229
the prairie and called it home. But very few families
were here in 1866, but from that time onward the
number slowly increased ; a friendly social feeling pre-
vailed, and when these families came together, as they
often did, to spend an evening, they did not lack for
means of enjoyment. No matter about the convey-
ance; a cayuse with a blanket, a log sled, a bob sled
or perhaps no conveyance at all ; the principal thing
was to get there and forget dull care. Dancing was
a part of the amusement and for the best of reasons,
costumes were a matter of secondary importance. The
ball room dude of today would stand aghast at the
surroundings and dances of 1867. In vain would the
bachelor look for young lady partners : they were not
there except in very short dresses.
"The sight of these embryo women, however, gave
promise of a future when partners would be more plen-
tiful. That time has come. But, alas ! Where are the
bachelors of '67? If, in the meetings of these early
settlers, the surroundings were more crude than today,
their greetings were as cordial, their kindness and
friendship as genuine, and in most cases their intelli-
gence and culture were fully equal to that of the
present. Their eyes were closed and their tongues
silent in regard to the cheap dress of a poorer neigh-
bor. Do not some of you remember those old time
gatherings, one in particular that took place in the old
'mountain house' where now the Chinaman and his
Joss presides? All joined in the pleasures of the even-
ings and good time was kept to 'Money Musk' by
those who would smile to see themselves try it now.
"These early settlers were not saints, neither were
they quite sinners. The man who in those days owned
a wagon was looked upon as a very Vanderbilt in
wealth, and when a stubborn ox would twist 'round a
stump and break that wagon it was considered a proper
occasion to use strong language. Cards were in gen-
eral use. but as an amusement more than for gain.
'Come up and take something?' then, as now, met with
a ready response, but drunkenness was rare and per-
haps in no other settlement founded in the state is
there an instance of a hotel being successfully estab-
lished and conducted for almost thirty years without
the sale of liquors beneath its roof. And yet such
is the record of the Mount Idaho Hotel, conducted
on that principle for all that time by our worthy presi-
dent, Honorable Loyal P. Brown.
"There were few deaths then to sadden hearts, and
is it not significant when we remember that no doctors
were here; neither did we have lawyers to look after
cur welfare — to get us into trouble only to get us out
again. In settling disputes arbitration was resorted
to, or else the quicker mode of knocking down the
aggressor. Ministers, too, were away in pastures
more green.
"During the first ten years of settlement perhaps
the average visit of the minister was one in ten years.
Families would often spend the Sabbath in God's great
temple, under the shade of these lofty pines — a day
of rest indeed — and returning home at evening, each
would feel that the burdens of the coming week would
be lightened by this respite.
"All who were here in these first years will remem-
ber the concert of music in the timber on clear, frosty
mornings. It was more discordant, perhaps, than
that of our excellent band and chorus of the present
time ; yet it was music to those who were building
homes for loved ones. This concert, which is now so
rarely heard, was made up of iiveiy whistling, of the
echo of voices in song and laughter, of the clear ring
of axes along the foothills, while the crash of tailing
trees made an appropriate bass. Then, when the day's
work was done and loads piled high, came the merry
run home with not a fence to interfere.
"Are there any here now who remember John Brown's
big sled, built for pleasure as much as for profit? It
would accommodate several families, and on winter
nights, packed in straw, buffalo robes and blankets,
young and old drove away feeling as happy as though
it were the finest cutter. There are a few here who
attended the raising of the Crooks and Fairfield barns,
great structures they were considered then, standing
for twenty years as landmarks and evidences of enter-
prise in the very beginning of the settlement. When
they were erected every citizen was there, proud and
glad to thus aid in adding permanency to the country's
growth. These buildings, like their owners, have
passed ' away and will soon be forgotten, but long
will the builders live in memory as among the most
worthy men in pioneer days.
"The early settlers attended the elections promptlv,
though there were but few votes to count, paid their
taxes without a grumble and were good, law-abiding
citizens, except when forbearance of evil ceased to
be a virtue. In a very few instances they took the
law into their own hands and punished gross offend-
ers with the penalty due. A few remember 'Shum-
way Jim.' and were present when lie expiated his many
brutal crimes. He was an English speaking Indian,
who delighted in murder, and soon after the death
of his last victim, he was escorted to the timber by
the people one fine morning, and like the ship, 'never
returned.' Such conduct today would be justly con-
demned, but twenty-five years ago it was self -preserva-
tion to do as the pioneers did. They were a little
group of men and women, isolated and almost without
the pale of civil law, and felt that with such characters
as 'Shumway Jim' and Pete Walters in their midst,
they were compelled to be a law unto themselves.
"Schools and literary societies were established
even before houses were built for their accommoda-
tion. The log school house, with its immense chim-
ney and rustic furniture, which stood on the bank of
Whisky Bill creek, near Mr. Aram's home, was the
scene of many an effort at oratory and eloquence in
debate, until a wider field of action was sought in
organizing a sham legislature.
"There are some here who were members of that
body during the winter of 1867 and 1868. It con-
sisted of but one house, with Loyal P. Brown as
speaker, and I. Muncie as clerk; T. L. Ward acted
as governor. Meetings were held alternately in the
old Whisky Bill creek school house and at Mount
[230
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
Idaho. Almost every bill introduced would come iri
conflict with the interests of other members and a war
of words would result. The clerk, not having an
assistant., had much to do, and claimed pay for his
services. The claim was referred and a report brought
in recommending that a gold pen be presented the
clerk by the legislature. The procuring of the pen
was referred to a committee of three, only one of
whom is now living. With zeal worthier of a better
cause, they manufactured a wooden pen twelve inches
long, painting it to appear as gold. The pen was laid
in wool in a neat box and the explosion looked forward
to with interest. The presentation took place in a
room in the old hotel and passed off well until the
box was handed the clerk, and the hoax was discov-
ered. Then there was language loud and wild and the
box was splintered over guilty heads. A new clerk
was elected and the work of making laws went smooth-
ly on until a bill was introduced to change the course
of White Bird creek and bring it onto the prairie,
dropping it into Butcher or Three Mile creek.
"Here came the tug of war and Greek met Greek
when the question came up as to which of these creeks
should receive White Bird. It was a memorable de-
bate. .Members took off their coats, the better to be
heard, stood upon the desks, hurling arguments at
the speaker in behalf of their favorite creek, which,
they alleged, would become the great water power
of the west, by the addition of White Bird's waters.
Confusion became worse confused. The sergeant-at-
arms and the speaker's gavel failed to quell the storm.
The bill never reached a vote, and White Bird today
still rolls majestically onward in its natural channel
to the Salmon.
"No pioneer will forget Bush, the man of oxen and
of wit, humor and jokes. At every house he was wel-
come. Rough he was, but withal genial and kind and
full of that spirit which will not down in adversity.
lie was a strong man physically, but it was his mis-
fortune at one time to suffer for weeks from an aching
tooth — one of those big grinders, apparently sound,
but possessed of a power to make a man wish he had
never been born. There seemed to be no help for
Bush, as doctors and dentists were not yet a part of
our population. In his wanderings from house to
house in search of relief, he found a man who had
picked up in Florence one of those ancient instruments
of torture called a turnkey. It was old and rusty, and
the owner knew nothing of how it should be used ;
but Bush determined at once to stay with the owner
until the tooth was out, if it took all winter. After
argument, entreaty and almost force on the part of
Bush to have a trial made, the gum was cut away with
a knife, and the horrible instrument of torture was
fitted on the tooth. A powerful wrench followed ;
then an involuntary yell from the victim. Again this
relic of the Inquisition was forced down on the tooth
and the operator, with both hands on the handle and
with all his strength, gave a twist that sent the tooth
across the room. With a wild stare Bush's eyes fol-
lowed the tooth as he exclaimed : 'Thank the Lord,
it came out just before I died!'
"As time passed the farms were enclosed, and each
year more land was brought into cultivation. Prices
for all produce were high, and the supply at no time
equal to the demand. Prosperity smiled on the settle-
ment until, through increase of population, over pro-
duction glutted every market. A large-hearted, lib-
eral spirit prevailed with the first settlers here so long
that it became a habit which led to financial disaster
with many of them when the reverses of later years
came. A compliment was paid to the honest endeav-
ors of the pioneers, which came from an unexpected
source. One of the first merchants here, on closing
out his business, made the remark : 'De beoples on dis
prairie scratch harder to pay what dey owe dan any
beoples I ever see. Since I come here I make more
ash $20,000 and I only lose shust $500 in bad debts.' "
A TOUCHING INCIDENT.
George Underwood, in the Lewiston Teller, pub-
lished June 10, 1899, tells a touching story of pioneer
life in north Idaho, which well illustrates the fervent
patriotism which stirred men's souls in the dark days
which followed the close of the Civil war.
"In April. 1865," says he, "a party of twenty min-
ers were working on Jawbone bar, six miles below Lew-
iston, on the Snake river, when one day the steamboat
came around the great bend. From the masthead the
Stars and Stripes floated at half mast. Every rocker
stopped, every shovel supported a man who was speech-
less from the silent message of sorrow. 'The flag's at
half mast.' That sentence, spoken in a low voice which
trembled with emotion, was the only word spoken.
The boat plowed the water. Every pulsation of the
great engine was an imaginary tap of a muffled drum
in a funeral march.
"In the company was a young newspaper man who
had left New York on account of his health. He was
a I "ni< mist of the pronounced type and he was a leader
in every assembly, whether of miners or politicians.
He instinctively took off his hat, and, without knowing
the cause of mourning, his associates silently followed
his example.
"The boat passed on up the river without a word
or sign from a man on board. Only the inanimate
sign of mourning appealed to the sentiments of those
anxious spectators. Quite likely the passengers and
crew took the miners to be only Indians to whom the
news of the day would have been unappreciated. Any-
how the miners were left to work out, unaided, the
problem of the cause of the mourning sign. They
worked it out in silence. The young newspaper man,
si ill standing with bared head, turned as pale as a man
whose heart had ceased, for a minute, to beat. Then
he cried out like a man who had seen a terrible ap-
parition, like a maniac in the throes of fear of the
imaginary horrors of a madman's hell : 'Lincoln is
dead ! Lincoln is murdered !'
"With one accord the shovels fell upon the rocks
and twenty men started to Lewiston. Though the
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1231
hot sun beat upon the sandy road, they won the race
and arrived in Lewiston before the steamer did. The
people of Lewiston heard the message first from the
soul of that young patriot. The miners brought the
message tc Lewiston in advance of the boat and
through them the news of the great national calamity
first reached the ears of the populace, although the
confirmation did not come until delivered by those on
the boat.
"The awful news was received with deep manifes-
tations of sorrow. The public grief found expression
upon every face. There was none who rejoiced in
this section of the territory. The citizens were patri-
ots."
COEUR D'ALENE'S PIONEER CHILDREN.
The best testimony upon this subject accords to
Thomas Argyle, now of Spokane, the honor of hav-
ing been the first white child born in the Coeur
d'Alenes, and to Miss .-Mice O'Neil a like distinction
of being the pioneer daughter of the Coeur d'Alenes.
Thomas Argyle. says the Murray Sun, was born on
Prichard creek above Murray, September 11, 1884, the
son of Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Argyle. Alice O'Neil is
the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Larry O'Neil, of Mur-
ray, and her birthday is but a few weeks later than that
of Mr. Argyle.
INDIAN ELOQUENCE.
Aii event of no small importance occurred at
Kamiah, July 4, 1903. A company of about 800 Nez
I'erce Indians, men, women and children, assem-
bled, with some white people, to do honor to Independ-
ence Day in patriotic celebration. The exercises con-
sisted, of a parade, speeches, singing and the yearly
feast. A liberty car, beautifully draped in the national
colors, carried fifty little Indian girls dressed in white,
who waved flags. Preceding this car marched the
Indian band, which was immediately followed by one
hundred boys in rank. Before the parade, a song serv-
ice was held in the gospel tent, all in the Nez Perce
language. During the day various exercises were
held, such as patriotic and religious speeches, song
services, etc., all in the Indian language.
One of the leading features of the day's celebration
w^as the oration delivered in the English language by
James Stuart, a Xez Perces merchant of Kooskia.
Among other things he said :
"The Nez Perces tribe, once among the fiercest In-
dians of the northwest, now sits in church studying
the Word of God '!; * * Very few persons have
any idea of the progress made by the Nez Perces since
they came under the control of the United States.
Most people think the Indians a worthless lot. and that
it is useless for the government to attempt to make fit
citizens of them.' But I tell you you should consider
the condition they were in a few years ago, and see
where they stand in the world today. * *
The Nez Perces have, in little more than a generation.
become the best and most intelligent tribe of Indians
in this part of the country. * * My people,
the Nez Perces, have made some wonderful strides in
advancement during the past few years. We are still
hopeful that a time is coming when the entire tribe
will not be looked upon as a separate, peculiar people,
but as a new, loyal, liberty-loving community, form-
ing an integral part of this great republic which we
Indians love so well, and of this great day of independ-
ence which we celebrate with such enthusiastic joy.
"My brothers, I care not what your politics may-
have been, let us remember that 'eternal vigilance is
the price of liberty,' and that the prosperity of our na-
tion, of our families, depend upon the protection of the
rights of its people. We, as a part of this great na-
tion, love the song America,' and all the national airs.
We celebrate this day in memory of that glorious
Fourth when first was wide flung the banner of free-
dom and of equal rights. By faith we hear the liberty
bell of 1776 echoing throughout the mountains of the
east and the west, the vales of the north and the south,
reverberating to our very souls. We glory in the
flag of our country, we love her people, we salute the
Stars and Stripes. By the powers that be we swear our
allegiance to her and to her people. For our people
and country we will live and gladly struggle up the
long heights that lead to advancement and refinement,
and if need be we will as gladly die that this oppor-
tunity for freedom shall not be taken away from those
who will follow us.
"( )ur beloved country ! Bound together by the
ties of a common brotherhood, let us live forever as one
people — a free and independent nation, an inseparable
and undivided people."
The occasion served to demonstrate the advance-
ment made by the Indians and it is a source of no small
gratification to all intelligent people to see, in the same
field where less than a quarter of a century ago the
savage bands of Joseph wrought massacre and pillage,
and while that individual is still living, this magnificent
tribute of patriotism and assurance of submission to
the nation's laws, emanating from the Xez Perces
themselves.
PIONEER YULETIDE.
Lewiston Teller: The first Christmas celebration
in the Lewiston valley, of which any living witness
has personal knowledge, occurred at Lapwai in i860.
John M. Silcott, the oldest living pioneer except
one, Thomas B. Beall, was then sub-agent at Lapwai,
under Agent Blake, who was occupied exclusively
elsewhere. Old Uncle John never did things by halves,
even in those days of limited accessories of civilization.
He therefore sent invitations to every white man with-
in fifty miles of his home, and not one of the invited
guests would have sent regrets for any excuse short
of total physical disability. These guests were : Col.
William Craig, Thomas B. Beall, N. B. Dutro, Thomas
Page, Captain M. M. Williams, Doctor Thebodo, Jake
Schultz, Joe Medeau, Henry McXally and the Spanish
chef, Spanish Frank.
The cuisine was elaborate, although a little irresj-
1 232
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
ular. There was no turkey, but a wild goose, which
filled the place very acceptably ; there was no roast
pig, but a -tufted cub bear stood upon the platter;
there was no pumpkin pie, a dish foi which the old
pioneer always felt a longing that was hard to satisfy ;
there was no great variety of confections, nor were
there any fashionable wines, for which every one of
these guests had, perhaps, a longing desire inspired by
past associations; but they did have pure alcohol.
The government had supplied Dr. Thebodo's dispen-
sary with a five-gallon can of this potent drug, and the
seal was intact till that Christmas morn.
There was perhaps not a guest under this hospitable
roof who could not have appreciated the most delicate
bouquet in the best wines of an aristocrat's cellar, but
they were equal to the occasion of enjoying raw alco-
hol with water in no extravagant portions, and each
and every guest did the contents of that sealed can
justice. And further, none ever complained that the
alcohol did not do its expected work.
It is also appropriate to connect this Christmas
dinner with the first New Year's dinner. One was
intimately connected with the other. The alcohol did
not last through the week, but the effects of it did.
Col. Craig invited the guests to come to his home for
the closing act of the holiday celebration. He lived on
what was called Waha creek then, now Sweetwater
creek.
The alcohol being gone, a dire situation arose.
Jake Schultz and Joe Medeau, known as "French"
Joe, appeared on the scene while the smell of alcohol
"was still in the air. They volunteered to make the
journey to Walla Walla for stimulants for Craig's
New Year's dinner. John Silcott furnished the money
to pay for ten gallons of whisky and Col. Craig fur-
nished the horses. The journey of over one hundred
miles was undertaken with only three days in which
to make the ride. They made the trip and broke the
record for rapid freight service. They made the entire-
distance of over 200 miles, going and coming, with
pack horses, in three days. This display of energy
speaks well for the enthusiasm displayed by those who
attended those pioneer celebrations.
Col. Craig had a pretentious dwelling for that day
and age. His house was comparatively a large one and
a smooth floor gave it a position on a par with aris-
tocracy.
The house and the floor, the women (natives) and
the whisky suggested a dance and great preparations
were made for this recreation. These men, who. if
living now. are sedate and bowed down with age, were
then voting and proud and each wanted a partner for
the dance. They used every means of persuasion and
even strategv to secure the attendance of the best look-
ing partners.
The dinner was very elaborate. The whisky,
though milder than the fiery alcohol, induced exuber-
ant of spirits, and there was a flow of soul that was
never forgotten by a single guest. The native girls
were too modest to make lively dancers, but they were
induced to join in the mazy waltz and the bewitching
quadrille while the liquor held out.
Of the participants of this celebration perhaps only
Tom Beall survives. Silcott died in December,.
1902.
NIGGER rRAIRIE.
All pioneers of the Coeur dAlene remember Nig-
ger prairie and the different stories told of how it came
by that strange name. The prairie is in reality only
a small cove in the valley of the South Fork at Mullan
and long ago the pioneer name by which it was dubbed
passed out of general use. In the summer of 1884,
E. S. Topping, a correspondent living in Murray, in
a letter to his paper, the Bozeman (Montana) Courier,
related the following story concerning Nigger prairie.
One pioneer vouches for the truth of the incident re-
lated ; another stamps the story as false. The exist-
ence of an early pioneer's grave at the spot referred to
is undisputed.
"Evety mining camp has its legend of wonderful
diggings, which had been worked in times past," says
Topping, "but which can never be found when looked
for. This camp also has its story, which I shall relate.
During the fall of the year 1866 a negro came into
Missoula with a large amount of gold dust, which he
spent royally, with the remark that he knew where
there was plenty more. The next spring he, with three
horses, went out again and came back in the fall with
a larger quantity of the precious metal than he had
brought in before. The next spring he went out ac-
companied by a Flathead Indian and the two were
seen in July by a party of emigrants going to Oregon
via the Mullan road, living in a log cabin which the
negro had built in a small opening, which is now called
Nigger prairie, it is situated about five miles from
the head of the south fork of the Coeur dAlene. A
week later another emigrant party found the negro
dead, killed probably by a gun. They buried his body
and went on. The next fall the Flathead was seen in,
possession of the negro's horses and it was then sup-
posed that he was responsible for the latter's death.
Those who buried the unfortunate negro placed at his
head a rude cross, and when I was there a few days
ago 1 found that some one had, with more humor than
propriety, piaced a hewn slab at the foot, which bore
this inscription : 'Here lies the coon.' "
EXPENSIVE TERPSCHICOREAN SPORT.
While in a reminiscent mood one evening last win-
ter, at the Jersey House, Grangeville, one of the earli-
est of Idaho county's pioneers related the following-
story of pioneer experiences in the Elk City camp. It
well illustrates the free and easy spirit of those flush
times and also sets forth in bold contrast the bogus
and counterfeit character which was to he occasionally
found among those open-hearted, generous, diamond-
in-the-rough miners. The writer caught the weirds
substantially as follows:
"It was in the winter of 1868 that Elk City an-
nounced to the hundreds of miners throughout that
camp that a big dance would be given at that place.
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1233
All were invited who felt inclined to trip the 'light
fantastic toe,' with oceans of wheat extract and other
drinkables on the side, and mountains of substantial
.yrub to cheer the inner man and sustain him through
the siege of shuffle and whirl which was certain to fol-
low ; for in those clays a dance meant several days and
nights of protracted effort.
"At Station, mi the south fork of the Clearwater,
some sixteen miles below Elk City, the word was
received with rejoicing, rind on the appointed day a del-
egation of eight or ten of the denizens of that enter-
prising camp, under the leadership of George K. Reed,
the leading merchant, and Paddy White, another pop-
ular miner, started up the river on the ice toward the
scene of the intended revelry and feasting.
"In 1868 the climatic conditions were such that a
very little exertion produced extreme thirst. Conse-
quently the boys, on arriving at Elk after a sixteen-mile
tramp, at once repaired to the saloon conducted by the
Hibernian gentleman, Barney Reynolds, to whom still
clung in a pronounced' degree the brogue of the Em-
erald Isle and also the spirit of acquisitiveness.
"Everybody in hearing was called up to the bar,
as was the prevailing custom then, and as all drinks
cost twenty-five cents each, it meant five or six dol-
lars a treat. Gold dust was used as the circulating
medium and had to be weighed, necessitating much
trouble. So Barney, to economize in labor, at once an-
nounced :
" 'Yez boays frim th' Station, Oi knows ye's all;
whin iny of yez traits. Oi chairges thim up to the Sta-
tion, and yez kin all shu're sittle it to onct at the lasth.
Oi'll be aisv on vez, comin' frim the Station as ye do.'
"This was assented to, and the festivities of the oc-
heartiness and spirit, sandwiching in with killing reg-
ularity the drinks with the dancing and eating. I: i-
to be noted that the enterprising Barnej rioted down
these treats with equal regularity.
"At the end of the two days' ami nights' hilarity,
the boys from Station prepared to return home. They
had indulged in wine suppers and other expensive lux-
uries of the kind ; had had a rip-roaring time. They ex-
pected that their bar bill would be considerable, but they
were not counting the cost as one of the things with
which to burden their mind, when a good time was in
the other end of the balance. They headed for Bar-
ney's place to wipe out the score there and start on the
return trip, fortified with a finger of his best. As the
bill was against the "Station,' George Reed was se-
lected to act as spokesman for the crowd. He ap-
proached Barney with a happy spirit and with self as-
surance in his manner.
" 'Well. Barney, what have you chalked down
against us? We're starting for home now.'
" 'Oi tol vez Station boays Oi'd be aisy on yez, an'
Oi will.'
" 'Well, what is it? I've got the dust and want to
get rid of it.'
" 'Oi tol yez Oi'd be aisy on yez, an' Oi'll do it.
Bein's as yez frim the Station, it is only ateen hundrid
dollars.'
"For a moment even the bold frontier spirit was set
back and. the free and easy emissary of the Station
crowd looked aghast. Bui is was only a moment ; the
rich, red blood surged back from the brain to the heart ;
George regained his equilibrium. With a heartv 'al-
right' he whirled about, sought his comrades and to-
gether they scraped up the dust, although it drained
die buckskin wallets of the last one. The $1,800 in
dust was duly turned over to the expert accountant
behind the bar and the boys started down the river,
cracking jokes and recounting the pleasant incidents
of the two-days' lark, incidentally their pocketbooks
were about as light as their hearts, thanks to the nice
bookkeeping of their Irish friend.
"Returning to Clearwater Station, they arranged
for a return dance, sending out invitations to everyone
in the region. A few days later this dance commenced
and today holds the record as the longest dance ever
held in the state. For eighteen days and nights the
riddle did not cease to squeak nor the heels of the
merry dancers to crack against one another and the
floor, For die first few hours the fun was enjoyed by
all; then some of the dancers thought it time to quit
and retired to their cabins. They were allowed a little
rest and then a deputation was sent to bring them again
to the hall, a request which they obeyed, though not
without much grumbling. ( dice upon the floor, how-
ever, the recruits were as jovial as any and were glad
to be the means of prying open the eyelids of their
weary brothers and walking them back to the hall to
keep up the dancing. II v this means the original crowd
of Station boys who went to Elk City reimbursed their
exchequers, besides having another good time. There
were but lew women present at this great dance,
most of the dancing being by the men themselves.
robinson's lost mines.
In its issue of July 16, 1897, the Lewiston Teller
gives the following interesting account of the Robin-
son affair, which at the time and for many years
afterward created much excitement in this section of
the west. There have been many different versions of
the story, but the following is said to contain the
substance matter .of this famous excitement:
"Robinson, the Fraud, occasioned the greatest
quartz excitement that ever prevailed in north" Idaho.
This man was first outfitted by certain citizens of
Lewiston to prosecute an ordinary prospecting tour
in the Bitter Root mountains in 1866. He was a man
of shrewdness and he displayed no little knowledge
of mineralogy. He had been in the quartz mines of
central Idaho and, perhaps, those of California. His
practical experience qualified him for the peculiar
career of fraud that made him famous.
"On the trip of 1866 he was accompanied by rive
or six local prospectors, some of whom are still living
in the vicinity of Lewiston. The route taken was
by way of the head of the Palouse and the Potlatch
to Elk creek and the great white pine belt. When
the party passed beyond the trails they decided that
the}- were lost and gave more attention to trying to
1234
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
discover themselves than to the search for gold. After
a few days of hardships the bewildered party arrived
at the Clearwater at some point on the north fork.
They were confused to such an extent that they did
not know what water course they had found. Con-
tention arose in the company about the course to be
pursued and temporary separation followed. Robin-
son took up the stream course. After a little he re-
turned and descended the stream. It is now believed
that he made the journey up the river in search of a
cache of ore which he had deliberately secreted in
the mountains for the purpose of imposing upon those
who confided in him. But when he arrived in Lewis-
ton he did not disclose his quartz. He passed on
down the river to Alpowa and packed his ore on
horses to Walla Walla. It is now believed that the
ore which caused this rush was assorted from a mine
in Idaho City and packed over to the Clearwater for
fraudulent purposes. The prospecting tour was made
for the purpose of giving weight to the story he told
and the apparently aimless wanderings, while 'lost'
were planned to afford mysterious surroundings for
the false story of a rich strike. Robinson, however,
did not attempt to impose upon his friends in Lewis-
ton. He wisely planned to go farther away from
home to appeal to the credulity of mining men. He
began his confidence game in San Francisco. There
he sought the richest men in the city, men who should
have been proof against the wiles of an adventurer.
Men of prominence were victimized. He told them a
story of hardships, adventure and deep mystery such
as the gold brick swindler tells to his intended victim.
"The man who possessed the secret of a hidden
fortune was made the hero of a secret coterie. He was
a social favorite for a whole happy winter season of
fashion. All could secure an interest in the great
mysterious mine by the payment in advance of a large
sum of money. Robinson accumulated a small fortune
by his fradulent representations during the winter.
In the spring he started to lead the representatives
of the company to the ledge. Among those who be-
gan the journey to the Lldorado was Senator Hearst.
News of the expedition, peddled secretly, gained wide
circulation and an army ol spies followed the trail
of the gold seekers. Robinson took offense at what
he called the betrayal of his secret by members of the
company and sought every opportunity to plead lack
of faith and a forfeiture of contract on the part of
paid-up members of his company. Aside from the
plea of justification for the abandonment of the search
he feigned sickness and discontinued his leadersiy^.
He gave to Senator Hearst and others maps of the
route traveled and the pretended location of the mine.
The journey was undertaken without Robinson, but
it was finally abandoned without results. News of
the great discovery spread widely and an army of men
was abroad all that fall. Every independent party
professed that it knew some secret clew to the exact
location of Robinson's ledge, which in fact never ex-
isted. The parties who 'grubstaked' Robinson on the
occasion of his professed discovery went from Lewis-
ton to claim their rights. They went with evidence
of a partnership and with big navy revolvers to enforce
their rights, made miners' laws by custom. Lewiston
merchants and professional men plunged into the
mountains, organized to protect their mutual interests
in the claims located by their agent the year before.
They never found the claims and Robinson, like the
Arab, stole away.
"This chief of wildcatters next appeared in the
effete east. Among the conservative New Englanders
he found as many and as easy victims as in San Fran-
cisco. He repeated his success and doubled his for-
tune. In the sweet springtime he again entered upon
the work of conducting a company to the lost mines
of the Litter Roots. Again he was followed and
watched. Even the victims of the previous year were
eager to follow their deceiver to a second disappoint-
ment. Again Robinson grew morose and threatening
over the objectional camp followers. His eastern
patrons were more easily controlled than the Califor-
nia company. Robinson could scare them into submis-
sion by the fear of Indians and 'even wild beasts. The
howl of a lonesome coyote or a lost burro would silence
their grumbling like a dark closet will over-awe a
cranky infant. Hon. E. L. True was a member of
Robinson's New England party. He relates a story
of a night of terror. The party was camped one night
on a lonely mountain when a frightful noise was heard.
It came nearer and nearer. If True's account of his
own sensations may be taken as a criterion, the hor-
ror of that night could not be depicted. The un-
earthly noise left no doubt in the minds of the men
from Boston that a terrible mountain monster was
approaching. It came very near and True tried to find
his gun, but he was paralyzed with fright and could
not move. The beast lingered near all night and
terror reigned unabated. In the morning it was dis-
covered that a little Mexican mule had joined the
pack horses.
"Soon after this incident Robinson disappeared,
frightened, probably, not by the voice of the little mule,
but by the mutterings of discontent and hints of threats
of vengeance. He made two fortunes from one sack
of ore and a good story. Hundreds of prospectors
have hunted for the Robinson ledge and they are
continuing the search to this day. The fact is the ore
was taken from a mine near Idaho City and Robinson
never discovered the fabled ledge. "
MOONLIGHT ON LAKE COEUR D'ALENE.
Slow rose the silver moon o'er Coeur d'Alene,
The fairest vision human eye hath seen ;
When nature sits enthroned, sublime and grand —
The sweetest scene from her artistic hand.
Majestic framework bounds the lovely view,
Beneath the canopy of Heaven's blue,
Clothed in the moonlight's soul-inspiring sheen,
And over all, God's ever matchless green.
Slowly, yet higher, rose the full orbed moon
Until, serene, she reached her midnight noon;
The stellar gems their feebler rays withdrew
And left their duty to the brighter few.
Entranced, I listened for the voiceless song —
That hymn of intense silence which the throng
On night's broad plain in concert sing and shine —
"The hand that made us is indeed Divine."
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
1235
Sweet lakelet! o'er thy crystal bosom flies
A radiance that dazzling charms our eyes ;
For o'er thy mountain framework far and wide
Night's glorious queen pours forth her silver tide.
Sanctum sanctorum of great nature's fane
How sweet to stand within these walls again
In night's calm hour and reverently raise
A silent song in our Creator's praise.
— George Stafford in New York Commercia
The following little poem, dedicated to the Coeur
d'Alene's pioneer miners, appeared in the Coeur
d'Alene Sun, nublished at Murray, December 25,
1886:
A CHRISTMAS CAROL.
Build us a matchless, golden craft ;
Rig it with silver sails ;
On Fortune's sea we now sail free,
Wafted by favoring gales.
Build us new lines of travel
To quickly cross the plain ;
We'll load the cars with golden bars, —
The wealth of Coeur d'Alene.
Erect for all a stately hall,
Where labor's sons can rest ;
The old log hut is now too small
To greet each friend and guest.
So, when at Christmas time we're found,
Old friends to entertain,
We'll pass the cheering camp around
And toast the Coeur d'Alene.
Faint heart ne'er won fair lady yet, —
A proverb never old ;
Ambition leads the miner on
When searching for his gold.
Labor is good fortune's key,
Each nerve and sinew strain.
'Twill soon unlock the golden rock
Concealed in Coeur d'Alene.
Our Christmas carol sounds aloud
The miner's just reward;
A mansion now he occupies,
Won by his labor hard.
Emblems of toil adorn his home,
Where peace and plenty reign,
'Tis decked with gold and silver too,-
The fruits of Coeur d'Alene.
-J. S. L.
Charles Mead, a resident of Murray for a number
of years, contributed the following poems to the Mur-
ray Sun, in which they appeared at different times
during the winter of 1901-02. They are considered
of sufficient worth to merit reproduction in this work.
THE MAGIC OF TLACER COLD.
What magic was there that reared in a night
A city of tents and huts.
And gashed the land so fair to the sight
With tunnels and shafts and cuts?
What magic was there that drew such a crowd,
Undeterred by the heat or cold,
The rich, the poor, the weak and the proud —
But the magic of placer gold ?
What lures men away from friends and home
To the perils of land and sea,
Makes most of the wanderers ever to roam
Where the greatest of dangers may be ?
What leads men away in the flush of their
To be prematurely made old,
But the love of adventure and gain, forsooth,
And the magic of placer gold?
imam
plain
RncH
chain
What blazed the trail o'e
To this beautiful west
Smoothing the rough of t
For the following pilgrim band?
What peopled the \Vest with its sturdy race,
But the young, the brave and the bold,
Who quickened the world to its greatest pace,
Through the magic of placer gold?
SONG OF THE MOUNTAINEER.
A life where the mountains range highest,
Close by a snow-crowned peak,
Where the earth and the sky approach nighest,
And the clouds and the world oft meet ;
Where the winds through the pines softly moaning
The song of its long unrest,
And the trees reply ever groaning.
When swayed at the gale's behest.
Way up where the cool, limpid fountains
Gush from the towering crags,
The nectar God gives to the mountains,
Pure and unsullied by dregs ;
Where the odor of balsam and heather
Make fragrant the warm summer air,
And vine-tangled thickets of cedar
Oft hid the tierce cougar's lair.
0 the joy of the long, summer evening,
As the sun sinks down to its rest.
The trees all aglow with its gleaming
And the crags all gilt to their crest.
The moon proudly soars o'er the summits,
The evergreens bask in its light,
And night birds warble sweet sonnets,
Fit requiem to the night.
A home where the deep, mighty gorges
Rend the iron-ribbed cliffs in twain,
And the wild, swirling flood ever forges
Its way to the hot, reeking plain.
Way up where the sky comes the nighest
And man to his Maker draws near.
Up where the mountains range highest,
Is the song of the mountaineer.
SALMON RIVER. — SOUNDS OF THE NIGHT.
Lewiston Teller.
1 heard the tones of voices in the night,
Nor any lips save mine to utter sound,
Beside a river in its flight
Through canyons dark, abysmally profound;
But I may not repeat the words they uttered.
And I may not repeat their whispers fluttered.
And first said I, "It is the river dashing
All fretfully o'er hidden, golden sands,
It is the deep-toned sound of sullen lashing.
Surely o'er treasure out of reach of hands ;
And waters whirling by the deep immersion
Of ponderous boulders from some far dispersion.'
And among the voices interluding
Were the strains of chanting, fine and far.
Chiming, of sweet bells, and then intruding
Came the voices — as a shooting star
Draws the attention from the twinkling mazes
Of slow, moving stars, of one who gazes.
[236
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
[, "It is the pine tree whispers,
>y winds from off yon heights of snow,"
-' chanters, baby lispei s,
i- where great organs blow,
pines when sighing, sighing,
their music dj ing, dying.
I heard the sound of voices in the night;
And ..tlu-rs were calling ever near
Did make of me their subject; left and right
They talked above me. as above a bier.
Friends will exchange expressions of regretting,
Recalling all good, the good the rest forgetting.
Ob, it was not the wail of Banshee weeping,
he wdd hunter's hounds high overhead
ager yelpings in their whirlwinds sweeping,
ll'ing desolation— from the dead!
ere all kindly voices, and the belling,
ftened chanting are all past my telling.
No
With
IV
They
The
Perhaps
is he
nc forever,
a feat-
Admits no place if habitation near;
And they have come to tell that over yonder
I'licy wait with songs when 1 case to wander.
Perhaps it is determined I shall falter
And pause to perish in the rugged land ;
That these were sent to watch from that high altar
Whence every soul receiveth its command.
And they but wait the time like those unsleeping,
Who watch at night and have the dead in keeping.
But, come they hither to receive my spirit,
Or to rehearse to me their heavenly song.
Part of its ecstasy I shall inherit
And while 1 linger, be it brief or long.
And when 'tis bidden, they shall see me dying,
Ready and tranquil, not with tears and sighing.
— L. A. Osdorne.
Salmon River, Idaho.
IriLnil, from
an Unknown Ant)
Lei others sigh
Where warme
The lofty nioiiii
And freedom'
i sigh not for tl
Where tropic
Give me the pin
for orange groves.
■ sunbeams shine,
ains freedom love
choice is mine,
e southern clime
roses blow,
e-clad hills sublime
Here many a crystal streamlet clear,
Flows from its mountain home ;
And on its banks the peaceful deer
Are tree and fearless roam;
And beautiful m evening still,
To mark the sunset glow
Rest on some distant snow-crowned hi
1 hat towers in Idaho.
Though commerce rears no cities proud,
Though wealth has here no shrine,
Though fashion draws no servile crowd,
A prouder boast is thine.
Thy sons are fearless, free and hold.
Thy daughters pure as snow;
For honor, truth and beautj hold
The homes of Idaho.
And I do love thee, mountain land.
Though not a son of thine.
l..r m, thy scenes have something grand
In every rugged line;
For 1 was horn among the hills
And reared where tempests blow.
And so my soul with rapture thrills
To hail "thee, Idaho.
O, may thy children ever be
To one another true.
And, blessed with peace and harmony.
And 'tell whal glory yet awaits
Tin- youthful Idaho.
PIONEER BAR OF THE COEUR D ALENES.
In no pioneer mining camp was there ever gathered,
perhaps, a brighter coterie of men learned in the law
than in the Coeur d'Alenes. The pioneer lawyers were
men of exceptional experience and ability and not a
few among them have won their way into national
prominence because of their unusual abilities. Few-
new camps were more widely or better advertised, and
the result was that scores of exceptional men in almost
every walk of life were carried westward by the newly
constructed Northern Pacific railroad, drawn to the
new gold fields by the irresistible fascination that
placer gold possesses. ■,
As is generally the case in such places litigation
soon arose, an almost certain indication of a wealthy
region, and the services of those *who had toiled over
sinuous, snow-drifted mountain trails and carefully
picked their way through dense forests with perhaps
half a dozen law books and a few dozen sheets of fools-
cap packed on their backs were called upon to adjust
the differences. The Coeur d'Alene Sun says that
the first litigant in the camp was Mark Cooney, who
brought suit in March, 1884, to recover possession of
the Cooney placer, near the King. He was compelled
to leave the camp in search of Judge Norman Buck,
then judge of the first judicial district of Idaho Ter-
ritory. This officer he found at Lewiston, and finally
prevailed upon him to hold a session of court in Sho-
shone county, at Eagle City. As soon as the judge
could make arrangements he came into the camp and
held the session requested. Many cases were tried,
all of them earnestly contested, for legal talent was
plentiful. Cooney, it should be said, won his case.
United States Senator Weldon B. Heyburn was one
of the first lawyers to locate in the camp and none has
been a more familiar figure in this section since. He
has been actively engaged in the practice of law in
Shoshone county for twenty years, and has been identi-
fied with all the important litigation concerning min-
ing titles in the Coeur d'Alenes.
Speaking of his associates in those early days,
many of whom are still in the Coeur d'Alenes, Sen-
ator Heyburn says:
"Hon. William H. Claggett commenced his ex-
perience in Virginia City, Nevada, in the earliest days
of that mining camp. He was an intimate acquain-
tance of Mark Twain, who was at that time a news-
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
paper reporter at Virginia City. Mr. Claggett was
ambitions for the nomination to congress from Neva-
da, but failed in this desire and shortly after his de-
feat removed to Montana, then a portion of Idaho.
The trip was made in the customary pioneer manner,
across the plains and mountains in a rude wagon.
With him went his family, in recognition of his re-
gard for the new home lie named one of his daugh-
ters Idaho. He remained in the portion afterward or-
ganized into the state of Montana, and represented
that territory in congress. Failing of re-election he
next moved to the Black Hills in Dakota, where he
was a candidate for congress against Judge Bennett.
He was unable to receive the party's endorsement,
so ran as an independent candidate, with the result
that he was defeated. Thence he came to Idaho,
having remained a short time in Montana, and visited
Colorado and Oregon with a view of investigating
the desirability of those places as a home. He reached
the Coenr d'Alenes in the early days of 1884 and was
identified with all the heavy litigation concerning the
mines in this section for about sixteen vears. In the
early 'nineties he claimed election to the United States
senate from Idaho, but was not seated. Again he made
the contest, before a legislature composed of Demo-
crats, Populists, Silver Republicans and one Republi-
can. Henry Heitfeldt defeated him, after which his
life was not an active one because of ill health, which
resulted in his death, during the year 1902. in the
city of Spokane.
"Another distinguished member of the bar in the
pioneer days was Frank Ganahl, a man of exceptional
learning and natural ability. A graduate of Harvard
law school, he went to California in the early days,
and was associated with the men and events that made
it famous in the annals of mining and frontier life.
In the spring of 1884 he came to .Murray. Tdaho, and
was actively engaged as attorney in nearly all of the
important litigation in the Coeur d'Alenes almost up
to the time of his death, which occurred in Spokane
in IQOI.
"Another of the more prominent in the legal pro-
fession was the Hon. A. E. Mayhew, who came from
Montana to Idaho in the spring of 1884. He had
a long and active career, politically and professionally,
in Montana, was a pioneer in Colorado in the Pike's
I'eak excitement, and an active participant in the
troubles during the early days of Kansas. After com-
ing to the Coeur d'Alene he immediately took a lead-
ing place and for eight years presided on the district
bench. He still lives in Walalce, where he is engaged
in the practice of law.
"Albert Allen, now a resident of Spokane, was
also one of the pioneers of the Coeur d'Alene country,
i le is a man of keen legal ability and a sound lawyer.
"W. W. Woods was another pioneer lawyer, com-
ing from Salt Lake City. He is a lawyer of distin-
guished ability and high personal character. Mr.
Woods still practices law in the Coeur d' Uenes, re-
siding at Wallace, the county seat.
"These are not all of the pioneer lawyers. Other
men of ability and high character participated in the
legal events of those times and the litigation concern-
ing titles to the mines of the Coeur d'Alenes is among
the most famous mining litigation with which the
courts could have at any time dealt."
EARLY DAYS IN MOSCOW.
The pioneers of .Moscow were a busy people, but
an opportunity to "have fun" at anyone's expense was
never allowed to go unimproved. When there was a
lull in business, diversion in some form was always
found. Illustrative of the manner in which spare mo
ments were sometimes occupied, the following inci-
dent is related by a pioneer of the 'seventies : An
old man named Chapman lived in Moscow, who was
a constant drinker. ( )ne evening he had an alterca-
tion in the office of the hotel with a barber, a recent
arrival, who at this time was somewhat under the in-
fluence of liquor. Words came to blows and in the
"mill" the barber dealt Chapman a blow on the head
which stretched him on the floor. The force of the
blow and the effects of the liquor completely paralyzed
Chapman, and he lay on the floor, to all appearances,
dead. Some one remarked to the barber that he had
probably killed the old man. A few moments later it
was noticed that the barber had disappeared, and it
was supposed that, fearing he had killed Chapman, he
had escaped from town and had probably gone to the
mountains.
A doctor had been hastily summoned to examine
Chapman ; it was found he was breathing, and it was
decided that the combined effects of the blow he had
received on the head and the liquor he had been drink-
ing had put him in a "dead drunk" condition, from
-.vhich he would in time recover. Chapman was put to
bed up-stairs and about this time it was accidentally
discovered that the barber was hiding in the garret
of the hotel. It was concluded to keep him in ignor-
ance of Chapman's condition and a professed friend
made occasional trips to the garret, reporting the in-
jured man's critical conditon. and, thinking for a joke
to keep the thoroughly frightened barber all night
in the garret, reported his victim gradually growing
worse, and, about midnight, reported him dead. At
this the barber of course became thoroughly alarmed.
In the meantime others were being made victims
of the practical jokers. Chapman was regarded about
town as quite a character, and his present startling re-
semblance to a corpse made it an easy matter to
convince any one that he was really dead. Wrord
was quietly sent out that Chapman had been killed by
the barber, whereupon men from the business houses,
from the streets, and from various resorts, dropped
in to take a look at the corpse. Late in the evening
a number of the callers were asked to stay and "sit
up" with the body, which they agreed to do. There
were several composing the party of watchers and
among them a man who was not especially impressed
with the solemnity of the occasion, being at the time
a little under the influence of liquor himself. About
three o'clock in the morning, when all were beginning
to get drowsy and were moving about the room to keep
238
HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.
awake, this man stepped up to the bedside, and, hold-
ing a bottle of whiskey toward its occupant, said:
"Have a drink. Chap?" The supposedly dead man im-
mediately arose to a sitting posture and extended his
hand for the bottle. The consternation of the watch-
ers can be better imagined than described. The bottle
of whisky was dropped from the nerveless grasp of
the man who was offering it and fell to the floor with
a crash, and at the same time there was a mad rush
out of the door and down the stairway. When "the
joke" was discovered, the victims accepted the situa-
tion good naturedly and bided their time to "get even."
On repairing to the garret in the morning to re-
lease the barber from his prison and "calm his fears,"
lie could not be found, and it was afterwards learned
that some time during the night he had slipped down
from his hiding place, hastily collected a few per-
sonal effects, and fled from town. He never did come
back, and no one ever knew how far he ran or where
he eventually landed.
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