An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 121

Author:
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: [S.l.] : Western Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1524

USA > Idaho > Kootenai County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 121
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 121
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 121
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 121

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MAGNUS J. DURANT. How stirring and event- ful is the life of the real pioneer, guide, miner, trapper and with what interest are the accounts of these lines of life read by all parties. Could the events in the career of the subject of this sketch be outlined in full they would doubtless make a very interesting and thrill- ing volume. It is with pleasure that we append a re- view of the same.

Magnus J. Durant was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, on December 29, 1873, the son of Will- iam J. and Julia (Longstreet) Durant. The father was a veteran of the Civil war. Our subject had scanty opportunity for education but so well did he improve the odd moments that he secured a good fund of in- formation and needed training. When eighteen he started to do for himself and worked the first year for ten dollars per month. In 1892 he came west, landing in Spokane with seven dollars as his cash cap- ital. He went into the woods and at that work and sawmilling he spent nearly three years. Then we see him in Delta, mining, and in 1895 he came to Brown creek. Mr. Durant always possessed the real frontiers- man's spirit and he soon gratified his ambitions by turning from mining to trapping and for several win- ters he did well in that line. He caught bear, otter, mink, beaver and other game and continued in this fascinating employment until 1898. On June 2, of that year, Mr. Durant bought the improvements of another man on his present place, which is about five miles north from Gregg on Rattle Snake ridge and he at once began to improve the place. He has spent much of the winters in the mountains and on several occasions his knowledge and skill in these mighty bar- riers of nature have been brought into requisition by tourists and he has guided various parties through the 32

most intricate regions of the Bitter Roots. He has demonstrated himself a trusty and skillful guide and doubtless Mr. Durant will lead many parties in these entrancing mountains as he is more widely known.

On one occasion when forty miles up the Wetass, Mr. Durant dug a canoe from a pine log and loaded it with provisions and attempted the dangerous descent of the stream. It was too much for mortal to do with- out accident but although they got wet and suffered from the cold, he succeeded in getting to the settlement below. Mr. Durant has six brothers and four sisters. His farm presents evidence of his labors and he is a man of good standing. Mr. Durant recently guided a party through the Locksaw and the Sellway country and he is a typical mountaineer.

William J. Durant, the father of our subject, was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, on January 15, 1844. He enlisted in Company H, Sixty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, on September 7, 1861. Being mustered out on the seventh of the following October, he reinlisted on January 1, 1863, at Hilton Head, South Carolina. On August 23, 1865, he was discharged at City Point, Virginia. During this time he was in a skirmish at Harrisburg, Virginia, later he was guard for an ammunition train, after which he suffered from typhoid fever in the hospital. Following the hospital days he joined his regiment in South Carolina and took part in the engagements at Norris Island and Forts Wagner, Gregg and Sumter. Then he was part of the victorious army that figured in the last campaigns just preceding Appottomax Court House. After the war he returned to Zanesville, Ohio, and remained with his parents on the farm until March 4, 1867. On that date Mr. Durant married and began operations for himself. Mrs. Durant was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, on August 22, 1843. John Durant, the father of Will- iam J., was born in Alsace, France, in February, 1809, and died at Zanesville, Ohio, on August 21, 1891, aged eighty-two. This venerable gentleman had married Margaret Zorn, who was born in Alsace, France, in August, 1821, and died in Zanesville, Ohio, on Octo- ber 2, 1899, aged seventy-eight.

JOHN W. CREA is one of Idaho county's substan- tial and prominent stockmen and agriculturists and is one of the heavy landowners of the county as well. He is a man of excellent business qualities and in ad- dition to his business mentioned, he is a first class miller and has wrought in this capacity much in this county and adjacent sections.

John W. Crea was born in Centerville, Appanoose county, Iowa, on April 12, 1859, the son of James Crea. The father was born in England in June, 1836, and came to the United States in 1852 to dwell with his uncle and aunt, the well known family of Crea in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. When twenty-one he came to Appanoose county, Iowa, took a half section of land and farmed it for seven years. In 1864 he came to Harrisburg. Oregon, bought land and remained seven years, in 1871 was in Dayton, Washington, and in

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{872 came to Camas prairie. Here he remained until the time of his death on June 29, 1882. At the time of the Indian war, he assisted to bring in the bodies of Norton, Moore, Mrs. John Chamberlain and her child, whose tongue had been cut. Our subject was brought up in the various places where the family lived and was also an attendant at the school in District No. 2, from which the schoolhouse was moved to Grangeville. When nineteen he entered the Grange- ville flour mills and wrought for seven years. At the time of the Indian war he joined Company B, Second regiment of Idaho Volunteers and was guard for Mt. Idaho and Grangeville. In 1883 Mr. Crea took up a half section west from Denver four miles and now he has over a thousand acres, owns two hundred head of cattle and other stock, besides having his farm well improved and owning property in Grangeville. In October, 1883. Mr. Crea was miller for the govern- ment at Kamiah and continued until December, 1886. In July, 1888, he took a position for the government at Lapwai as miller and continued until November, 1892, and from 1897 to 1900 he was in the Denver mills, but during all this time Mr. Crea has continued his stock and farming enterprises. He has the following brothers and sisters, Thomas D., William, James, Robert, Henry, Mary Holbrook.

On February 14, 1882 Mr. Crea married Miss Emma V., daughter of George L. and Mary C. (Mc- Lean) Bowman. The father was born on November 1, 1832, in Augusta county, Virginia. He lived there and in Indiana until his death, which occurred in his native state on September 23, 1861. Mrs. Bowman was born in Indiana on September 16, 1836, married August 9, 1855, and died April 2, 1879. Mrs. Crea was born in Augusta county, Virginia, on September , 1857, and has two brothers, Francis M. and Will- iam W. Six children have been born to this union, James B., born December 20, 1882: Edward B., born June 20, 1885, and died August 21, 1890; Raymond F., born August 14, 1887; Rose E., born November 19, 1890; May E., born May 18, 1893; William J., born July 28, 1896. Mr. and Mrs. Crea are Republi- cans and he belongs to the I. O. O. F., and the M. W. A., while she is a member of the Christian church.

HOLSEY WICKAM lives five miles north from Grangeville upon a good estate which he has caused to produce the fruits of the field in abundance for a num- ber of years. He is a man of reliability and is in the best of standing in the community. He was born in the vicinity of Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, on October 14, 1850, the son of Holsey and Nancy J. (Manning) Wickam, natives of New York. The father came to Pennsylvania, then to Ohio, and thence to Miller coun- tv, Missouri, and finally to Douglas county, Kansas, where he enlisted in Company B, Twelfth Kansas In- fantry and served until his honorable discharge. In 1867 he returned to Miller county and there died in 1878. The mother was married in New York and is still living in Miller county, being ninety years old and

hearty and strong. Our subject is the eighth of a fam- ily of twelve children, six boys and six girls, seven of the twelve now living. Our subject staid at home and worked with his father and attended school until 1872, then went to Texas and the next year took back a drove of cattle. In 1874, he came via San Francisco, to Portland and on to Douglas county. In 1877, he settled in Tammanay hollow near Lewiston and in 1889, he removed thence to his present place. He bought a half section and has it well improved. A good dwell- ing, fine barn and out buildings, with excellent forest grove of ten acres besides orchard and other improve- ments make the estate one of beauty, comfort and value.

On March 13, 1888, near Lewiston, Mr. Wickam married Miss Mary S., daughter of L. P. and Rachel ( Baird) Clark, who came from California to Lewiston. Mrs. Wickam was born in 1858 and died in June, 1893. She left one child, Iva F., born February 4, 1889, and is now living with her mother's parents. She is re- ceiving a good education and is a bright child.

GEORGE A. COWGILL, the intelligent and lead- ing agriculturist and dairyman, whose labors in Idaho county have been conducted with skill and enterprise, is deservedly classed as one of the substantial men of the county and a real builder of its interests and wealth. He was born in Columbia county, Wisconsin, on Octo- ber 22, 1861, the son of Abraham and Esther ( Roberts) Cowgill. The father, a shoemaker, was born in England in 1820, came to the United States in 1853 and settled in Wisconsin, where he did farming and bred fine stock. He owns and operates the Sunnyside stock farm in Wisconsin. The mother was born in England in 1822 and died in 1866. Our subject was reared in Wisconsin and in 1885 graduated from the North- western Business College and Academy. He commenced to teach in 1880 and continued while studying in the above institution. In 1885 lie went to Jordan valley, Oregon, to visit his brothers and later we see him in Pendleton, where he was engaged as salesman with Dusenberry Brothers. The next spring he took up the work of the educator at Alba and for three years fol- lowed it steadily. He had charge also of the warehouse at Warren, near Pendleton. He reamined here until 1894, and then quit teaching on account of failing health. After this he came to Camas Prairie and bought a quarter section, where he now lives four miles west from Grangeville, later adding two hun- dred and eighty acres more. He at once took up farm- ing and stock raising and handles thoroughbred Po- land China hogs, having about one hundred and fifty. He also started the Eagle Dairy, which he has made a paying and popular instituiton. Mr. Cowgill handles the business with skill and acquired wisdom of the present day, while his untiring care and modern and improved methods give the choicest results. which have made his products sought after in the market. He has all the best buildings needed in his work and has made a flattering success. Mr. Cowgill has four brothers, William, Thomas R., Mark, John C. F. Mark

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is deceased and the others are in Malheur county, Oregon.

On January 29, 1893 Mr. Cowgill married Miss Grace, daughter of William O. and Mary (Argo) Warren. Mr. Waren was born June 9, 1840, in Illi- nois, of pioneer parents. They crossed the plains in 1853 to the Willamette valley, settling in Linn county. He was reared and educated there and when eighteen came to Lewiston and took up prospecting, and was one of the original discoverers of gold at Florence. He did mining, raising stock, farming and so forth at various times and now dwells at Warren, Umatilla county, Oregon, where he owns half a section of land. The mother of Mrs. Cowgill was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, on February 5, 1843. Her parents were pioneers in Missouri and later in the Willamette valley, whither they came in 1852. Mrs. Cowgill was born in Linn county, Oregon, on May 27, 1869 and has the following brothers and sisters: Kate McAlex- ander, Marion, Bert, Georgiana, Fred, Iona. To this happy marriage there have been born four children, Myrtle V., born May 19, 1894 ; Clara E., born January 5. 1897 ; George D., born September 5, 1898; Norma, born March 26, 1901. Mr. and Mrs. Cowgill are solid Republicans. He is clerk of district No. 3 and is a member of the W. W.

GEORGE D. SMITH, one of Grangeville's best known and most substantial citizens, who is now pro- prietor of the Wiltse house, a leading and popular hotel of the county, is certainly entitled to representation in the history of his county, because of his faithful and wise labors here for its upbuilding, because of the prominent place that he holds and has held in its councils and among the people, because of his own real worth and integrity, having always in his walk here manifested those virtues of sound principles, in- tegrity, and uprightness.

George D. Smith was born in Roseburg, Oregon, on January 4, 1854, the son of Thomas and Arthusia E. (Lynn) Smith. The father was born in England, February 12, 1824, came to the United States in 1830, was in Rochester, New York, Cleveland, Ohio, and La- porte, Indiana. In 1847 he came to the wilds of Ore- gon with ox teams, accompanied by his brother Will- iam. He located the North Umpqua ferry on the river of that name and took a half section donation claim. Stock raising and farming occupied him and on Oc- tober 21, 1852 he married Miss A. E. Lynn, whose parents were natives of Germany. She started across the plains with them in 1850, but her father died of cholera at Ft. Laramie, Wyoming, and she and her sis- ter walked the balance of the way to The Dalles. This was a distance of sixteen hundred miles. The parents still live in Roseburg and have celebrated their golden wedding. These venerable pioneers and worthy people have done much to bring civilization in and bore the burdens of the day without a mumur. The father has been probate judge, county commissioner, and president of the State Agricultural Society of Oregon

and is a prominent and capable man, highly esteemed by the people and of excellent worth. Our subject grew to manhood in Oregon and finished his education in the Wilbur Academy in that state. He spent a short time in California in 1873 and made his way to Idaho county on September 5, 1873. Since then he has been one of the leaders and builders. He engaged in stock business and in 1878 took land. This was near where Grangeville is now but no town was here then. Mr. Smith continued steadily in the stock business until 1897, when he sold out and opened the hotel he now handles in Grangeville. He also owns other property.

On August 5, 1878 at Roseburg, Oregon, Mr. Smithi married Miss Martha J., daughter of Harden and Iva J. (Morton) Davis, pioneers of Oregon in 1850. They have celebrated their golden wedding and still dwell in Roseburg. Mrs. Smith is next to the oldest of twelve children and Mr. Smith is the oldest of twelve. She has seven brothers and three sisters living, all in Oregon but John N., an attorney in Kansas City. Mr. Smith as four sisters and five brothers living, Lynn, Lee, Nathan, Ralph. Thomas, Mary, Emma, Helen, Grace. Mr. Smith is a Mason and has been master three times in the Grangeville lodge. He is also presi- dent of the Pioneer Association. In 1884 Mr. Smith was nominated for sheriff and although he was a strong Republican and the county Democratic, he was defeated by only a few votes. He has been supervisor of the Bitter Root forest reserve. Mr. Smith has nu- merous mining interests and other property. He is one of the substantial men of the county, has labored long and faithfully to bring about its present de- velopment and prosperity and great credit is due him for his achievements.

ROBERT N. WALKER is one of the heavy land owners of the Camas parairie country and is also one of the leading citizens, being a good substantial man of capability and integrity. He was born in McDonald county, Missouri, on March 30, 1852, the son of Robert F and Mary (Falls) Walker, natives of eastern Ten- nessee. The father being in the Civil war, was killed near his home in 1864. The mother died in McDonald county in 1898. The following children, besides our subject, were born to this union: William, Hugh L .. MIrs. Carrie Browning, Mrs. M. E. Clark, Mrs. Martha E. Davis. Robert N. was reared and educated in his native place and when fourteen went to Fannin county, Texas, and herded cattle. Returning to Missouri in 1871, he went to Monterey county, California and two years later returned to Missouri. In 1886 Mr. Walker jorneyed to Whitman county and there farmed until 1891, when he came to his present place, four miles north from Grangeville, and bought four hundred and forty acres of good land, which he has improved and cultivated with skill since that time. He has one of the finest farms of the section, well cared for and em- bellished with fine buildings, and other valuable im- provements, as eight-room residence, good wind mill, plenty of running water which is piped into the house.

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Mr. Walker started the battle of life with nothing and has now a competence for the balance of life, the result of his hard labor and skill in management. Mr. Walker is a member of the W. W.

On June 29, 1873 Mr. Walker married Miss Mary E., daughter of Robert and Cynthia (Rice) Prater, na- tives of Morgan county, Kentucky. The father died July 4, 1896 in his eighty-ninth year. The mother was born in 1820 and still lives in her native county, well and hearty. Mrs. Walker was born in Morgan county, May 22, 1855. Ten children have been the fruit of this union, Rosa, deceased : Frederic, Robert O., Mrs. Lulu Costly, Cynthia C., William C., Hugh C., Lillian, Nellie, James.

JESSY B. THOMPSON is a farmer and stock- man whose well tilled and productive farm lies one mile northeast from Tolo, was born in Wapello county, Iowa, on July 15, 1865, the son of David and Marga- ret Thompson, born in Indiana, on August, 1820, and in 1827, respectively. They were pioneers of Iowa and the father died in October, 1888, and the mother died in 1878. Our subject remained at home until fif- teen and then went to Nebraska and dwelt with a brother. He entered the Methodist college at York and graduated in 1885. Then he came to Camas prairie via Pendleton, Walla Walla, Lewiston and by stage the balance of the way. Two years later he took government land and engaged in farming and rais- ing stock. Later he sold this property and bought where he now lives. He owns a quarter section, raises cattle and hogs and general products.

Mr. Thompson has the following named brothers and sisters, Oscar, John, Dan, Amanda Barton, Mary Steers, David, Matheus.

On November 9. 1890, Mr. Thompson married Miss Melinda, daughter of Joseph and Martha Feh- ner. Mrs. Thompson was born in Illinois, on July 12, 1871, and she has four brothers and sisters, Lucy Mitchell, William, Wesley, John N. To Mr. and Mrs. Thompson there have been born five children, Claude, born May 8, 1892; Mand, born February 14, 1894; Roy, born May 5, 1896; Vera, born October 5, 1898: Winifred, born November 19, 1900; Marvin, born April 19, 1902. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are active Republicans and are well posted in the issues of the day. He is a member of the W. W.

HARRY V. MARKHAM is a product of Idaho county that does credit to his birthplace and his up- rightness and enterprise have won him a good stand- ing and the confidence of the people. He dwells on a farm about one mile north from Grangeville and is prosperous in his labors.

Harry V. Markham was born on the farm where he now lives, on October 29, 1868, the son of Nathaniel and Fannie (Smith) Markham. The father was born in Ohio, in 1830, and crossed the plains with ox teams to the Willamette valley in 1852, settling

near Roseburg. The mother was born in Laporte, In- diana, on September 7, 1835, and started across the plains with her parents. The father died in Saint Joseph, Missouri, and the rest of the family came on. Her brothers, Ernest and Marion, took charge of the journey. She married Mr. Markham on September 3, 1855, and in 1868 they removed to Camas prairie and settled on the present homestead. Nine children were born to this couple, Frank, Mary, Alma, Susan, Amos, Harry, Edith, Robert, Anna. The first and last are deceased. The father died on February 21, 1898, but the mother still lives with our subject. The ances- tors of this worthy couple came from England. Mr. Markham was an upright, capable and kind man and had the respect and confidence of all and at his death the Masons buried him, he being the oldest Master Mason here. Our subject grew to manhood here and received a good education and then worked for a New York cattle firm on the Salmon and was foreman for seven years. At present Mr. Markman is not only engaged in farming but is in partnership with his brothers, Amos and Robert, in raising stock and they have a goodly herd. He also owns a good house in Grangeville.

On October 5, 1890, Mr. Markham married Miss Mary J., daughter of Charles F. and Mary (Loomis) Brown, mentioned also in this work. Mrs. Markham was born in Seward, Nebraska, on October 23, 1870. Her mother died when she was two years old and an aunt raised her. When fifteen she accompanied her father to Grangeville. She has one brother, William G., and one sister, Ada F. Keller. Mr. and Mrs. Markham have four children, Allan R., born Sep- tember 25. 1891 ; Addie May, born January 5, 1895 ; Charles E., born October 3. 1897; Oren W., born June 24, 1900. Mr. and Mrs Markham are deeply interested in the religious and educational welfare of the community and are upholders of all moves for the general advancement, being progressive and capable people.

HENRY T. SMITH. Among the pioneers of the Glover country we should mention the subject of this sketch, who is one of the enterprising young men ready to take hold with his hands and perform with his might the things to be done.

Henry T. Smith was born in DeKalb county, Mis- souri, on February 16, 1876, the son of Anderson B. and Fanny (Ashby) Smith, natives of DeKalb and Grundy counties, Missouri, respectively. The father was born on April 19, 1836, and served two years in the Second Missouri Volunteers. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Vicksburg and after nine months of this life he took the oath of allegiance and was released. Mr. Smith had a brother in the same prison and when they were released from the Chesa- peake bay prison, they walked almost all the way to Salt Lake City, Utah. The mother of our subject was a school teacher and one of her brothers, William Ashby, was a captain in the Confederate army. Our subject was trained in the district school and then by

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his own exertions he put himself through a course at the Northwest and the Wesleyan colleges in Missouri. He completed these courses when twenty and then spent two years at home. After this he went to Ok- lahoma, this being 1898, and for two years he bought and shipped cattle after which he took the fever and left that country. We next see him in Kansas City, whence he came to Spokane and in the spring of 1901 Mr. Smith came to his present place and bought the improvements of another man. He has devoted him- self to the improvement of his place since that time and in time will have a beautiful and valuable farm. Mr. Smith has some stock and is preparing for fruit raising. He is a progressive and enterprising young man and is a strong advocate of good schools. He has three brothers and two sisters, Ernest A., Ahira V. J. S., Beatrice, Blanche. Mr. Smith has never left the charming life of the bachelor and single handed is fighting the battle of opening a farm and making a home.

DAVID SCHNEIDER is a man whose labors and skill, coupled with tenacity of purpose and pluck, have placed him in a prosperous condition. He has a good farm about three miles northeast front Westlake and in addition to opening this from the wild sod, he has done much freighting and is now possessed of a good property.

David Schneider was born in Russia on June 2, 1850, being the son of George S. and Lizzie (Schick) Schneider, natives of Russia. The father was born on January 19, 1818. Our subject has the following brother and sisters: Kathrena, Susie, Fred. At the age of twenty-six, Mr. Schneider came to the United States and farmed for a period of eleven years in Kan- sas and Washington. In 1880 he went to Los Angeles and for a time he was in hard financial circumstances there. Although anxious for work, he was forced to abandon a job with a circus on account of the rough crowd. Later he secured employment and then came to Seattle, where he was soon engaged, as it was imn- mediately after the great fire. He worked by the day for a time and then took a contract for unloading brick and made about eight dollars per day. Later he was in Tacoma and then came to the Palouse country where he farmed for a time and was swamped by the hard times and wet of 1893. He clung to the property and traded until he saved some and at the opening of the reservation Mr. Schneider removed hither and although it was a struggle to open up a farm and care for a large family, he succeeded and now has a good property. He owns twenty cattle, eleven horses, seventeen hogs, and one hundred and forty acres of grain. He has com- fortable buildings and is one of the thrifty farmers of the vicinity.

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An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 121

Author: Publication date: 1903 Publisher: [S.l.] : Western Historical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1524

Author:
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: [S.l.] : Western Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1524