An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 124

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 124
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 124
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 124
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 124

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

On October 12, 1873, Mr. Girton married Miss Lena, daugliter of I. and Elizabeth (King) Hinkle, pioneers of Oregon. The father was a prominent saw- mill man. Mrs. Girton died in August, 1901, leaving five children, James, Lottie Wilson, Carrie, Eliza- beth, Charles. Mr. Girton has three sisters. He is an active Democrat and was chosen by the people as representative to the eleventh territorial legislature. He was also the choice at the second state legislature. Mr. Girton has a good quarter which is embellished

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

with fine and valuable improvements. He remem- bers voting for I. I. Stevens for territorial delegate in 1861, being then at Oro Fino. The territory at that time was Washington.

JACOB C. GARBER is the present incumbent of the postoffice at Grangeville, where he has faithfully and efficiently discharged the duties of that position for some time and is one of the highly esteemed and capable men of the town.

. Jacob C. Garber was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, in 1830, the son of Martin and Magdalene ( Mohler) Garber, natives of Virginia. The father died in Ohio and the mother in Iowa. The paternal ancestors were settlers in Virginia in old colonial days and fought for American independence. When a lad, our subject went to Logan county, Ohio, and there grew to manhood and received his education in the common schools. Later he removed to Iowa and in 1854 we see him in California mining, having come via Nicaragua. He was very successful and spent large amounts in developing prospects ; he finally started the town of Garberville, in Humboldt county, where he embarked in the mercantile business. In 1862 he returned to Iowa and visited his brothers in the Civil war, Silas, Abram, Joseph, Isaac. The first one was governor of Nebraska later and the last one died in the war. Mr. Garber returned to California in 1863 where he mined and did business until 1878 when he sold out and made his way to Idaho county. He took land and farmed near Cottonwood until the early nineties, when he removed to Grangeville. For a time he was bookkeeper in the store of Henry Wax and later was elected probate judge on the Republi- can ticket. After this Mr. Garber returned to his first life of mining and wrought around Florence until 1897, when he was appointed postmaster at Grange- ville and here he has remained since, giving universal satisfaction.

In the year 1868, while in California, Mr. Garber married Miss Julia A., daughter of Nathan and Sus- an (Miles) Wheeler, natives of New England and descended from ancestors prominent in the early Am- erican wars of independence, but are now deceased. Mrs. Garber was born in Columbus, Georgia, and has one brother and four sisters. F. N., Lucy, Adelia, Lyra Garber, Florence Dale. Mr. Garber is a member of the I. O. O. F., joining in 1853. When in Cali- fornia he held the office of county recorder in Nevada county from 1860 to 1868.

HUGH M. MCDERMID. The leading profes- sions are well represented by able men in Grangeville and in no whit behind the most prominent stands Dr. McDermid, the skillfull dentist who has for more than a decade practiced here with that crowning of suc- cess which justly comes to the reliable and expert. Personally Dr. McDermid is a man of patriotism,

geniality and capabilities and he is the centre of a large circle of admiring friends.

Hugh M. McDermid was born in Nicollet county, Minnesota, on September 12, 1858, the son of Peter H. and Adaline (Kennedy) McDermid. The father was born in Glengora county, Canada, in 1827, settled in Minnesota in 1854, was a prominent man in the coun- ty and besides holding various county offices repre- sented the county two terms in the state legislature. He came to Yakima in 1897 and died there in 1902. The mother of our subject was born in Ohio and died in 1881. Her father was in the war of 1812, fighting for the American cause, while her husband's father fought with the English. She also had two brothers in the Civil war. Our subject grew to manhood in Minne- sota and received his educational training in the pub- lic schools and learned his profession by practical ex- perience in the office in constant work there while he pursued his reading, thus gaining the extra skill and erudition to be had in this excellent manner. At the age of twenty-two he went into the battle of life for himself and in 1891, he came to Yakima, where his brother, Albert, dwelt. Thence he came to Grange- ville and opened an office and since that time he has con- tinued here with an ever increasing patronage, and he is the practitioner in the town.

On December 9, 1883, in Minnesota, Dr. McDermid married Miss Clara, daughter of Wiliam and Thersa ( Chaffee) Goodell, natives of New York. The father pioneered to Minnesota in 1858 and served in the Civil war. Mrs. McDermid was born in Blue Earth coun- ty, Minnesota, in 1862 and she has the following brothers and sisters: Charlie, Inez, Terse, Alice. Ab- bie, Mabel. Dr. McDermid has two brothers and two sisters, Albert, Helen, deceased, May, Joel. One child, Alice. aged seventeen, has been born to them. Dr. McDermid is a member of the Masonic order, Order of the Eastern Star, W. W., the Circle, and the Arti- sans. He is a true blue Democrat and takes the in- terest that becomes the intelligent citizen. Dr. Mc- Dermid owns mining interests and some business pro- perty in Grangeville. He was sergeant in the Idaho volunteer regiment, Company C, at the time of the Phillipine war, enlisting on May 26, 1898 and being discharged on September 25, 1899. His company sailed on June 26, 1898, and arrived in Manila on Au- gust 5. He was transferred on June 14, to the hos- pital corps and although he sought the field he was held in the hospital on account of his profession all the time.

CAPT. GEORGE M. GALLAWAY, the vener- able and esteemed citizen of Whitebird, is one of the substantial and upright men of the county, who has done much here for the upbuilding and growth of the country. He was born in Moulton, Alabama, on Sep- tember 18, 1826, the son of Britten and Anna ( Pon- der) Gallaway. The father was an Irishman, born in Georgia in 1795, and died in 1877. The mother was also born in Georgia and was of Scotch extraction. Her peo- ple fought in the struggle of 1812. Our subject grew to

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manhood and received a good education in his native place, then acquired a thorough training for the medi- cal profession. When twenty he enlisted to fight in the Mexican war and was under captain Joel M. Acker and General Taylor. Eighteen months were spent in that war, when he was honorably discharged and re- turned to Aberdeen, Mississippi, where he practiced medicine for sixteen years. Then came a move to Ar- kansas and at the time of the Civil war he enlisted in Company B, First Arkansas Infantry, under Colonel John C. Brundy, of Chicago. He served through the war and was commissioned captain. Subsequent to the war, Captain Gallaway returned to Arkansas and was elected twice to the state legislature. In 1876 he removed to Oregon, the following year to the Palouse country in Idaho and spent some time investigating the land question there. About 1882, Mr. Gallaway came to Whitebird and took land, where he has spent most of his time.

In 1852, Mr. Gallaway married Miss Louisa T., daughter of Thomas and Malinda ( Ponder) Gilliland, of English and Irish parentage. The following chil- dren have been born to this union : Euprasia Belvadier, now Mrs. Manning ; George W., in Arkansas ; Virginia T. Hador, and Albert B., in Whitebird; Isora I., de- ceased ; Thomas B. and Sherman S., both in White- bird. Captain Gallaway is a member of the G. A. R. and he is spending the golden years of his life in quiet retirement with his children, enjoying the competence that his thrift and wisdom accumulated.

WILLIAM A. HALL. No man is better known in the county of Idaho than the subject of this article, and he is also of excellent standing, as his worth and valuable labors demand.

William A. Hall was born in the vicinity of Lon- Jon, England, on February 15, 1847, the son of Will- iam and Lucy (Atkinson) Hall, also natives of Eng- land. The father was born in 1813 and in 1851 came to Walworth county, Wisconsin, where he died later. Our subject grew to manhood in Wisconsin, and the mother married Win. H. Ambler, who went to fight for the Union, which necessitated our subject to care for the family. This crowded out his chance for an educa- tion but his ambition was strong and after the war he commenced studying under private tutors, until he succeeded in gaining a thorough training. From his youth Mr. Hall had a leaning toward the law and he was constantly reading it. In 1866 he came west to Montana and there farmed, then taught and in 1870, was licensed to preach in the Methodist church. He handled circuits in Beaver Head and Bannock coun- ties and then came to Salmon City, Idaho, always preaching with vigor and telling force. In the fall of 1872, Mr. Hall went to Michigan, attending school for a time and then taught for two years. He was called back to Idaho in 1874 and took charge of a circuit in the Bitter Root valley, Montana, and in 1879. he came to Grangeville upon invitation of the presiding elder to take charge of the Columbia River Conference Aca-

demy, where he was engaged for eight years. Mr. Hall continued the study of law under the tutorage of Judge Norman Buck and won good success in this line, be- ing a capable and apt student. Being admitted to the bar in 1884 he commenced practice in Idaho county, Idaho, and is the oldest practioner in the county where he has a fine clientage. Recently Mr. Hall has been ap- pointed referee in bankruptcy for the county and has held various official positions. While continuing in these lines of success Mr. Hall has not forgotten when- ever occasion presents, to preach the gospel and his services are greatly in demand.

On July 18, 1876, Mr. Hall married Miss Susan M., daughter of William Haynes, a native of Bath, Maine, and of Scotch extraction. The wedding occurred in Deer Lodge, Montana. Mrs. Hall was born in Bath, Maine, on July 18, 1848, was well educated in the semi- nary and has taught for years. She has the following brothres and sisters: Stephen, Charles D., Mehitabel Hogan. Mr. Hall has one brother, John S., and one sister, Jane Margetts, and one half brother, Robert H. Ambler. This worthy couple have one adopted child, Winifred G. Mr. Hall is a member of the I. O. O. F., the Encampment, and the Rebekalis, being chief pa- triarch of the encampment. He is a Republican, ac- tive in the campaigns and is always at the conventions, where he is a prominent and influential figure. Mr. Hall has practiced with Judge Ailshie and is one of the successful members of the bar here. He was elected justice of the peace for several years, has filled the office of probate judge, county superintendent of schools, and also held these offices in Montana, was United States commissioner for four years at one term and in many ways he has been a prominent and leading man. He is interested in various mining deals and owns considerable property. Mr. Hall served in the Indian war of 1877, being orderly sergeant of the vol- unteers company in Montana.

On an examination in 1902 he received an honorary diploma from an eastern college with the degree of Doctor of Law. He also holds a diploma for the four years' course C. L. S. C.

CASWELL T. McKINZIE is one of the early pioneers to the Pacific coast and has figured prominent- ly in the various movements from that day until the present : his labors have recently associated him with the Grangeville country, where he is well and favora- bly known, being now one of the leading freighters out of that town to the various mining camps tributary.

Caswell T. McKinzie was born in Grant county, Wisconsin, on January 23. 1842, the son of Henley and Lulvisa ( Philips) McKinzie, natives of Virginia, of which state the ancestors were carly pioneers. The father was born in 1792, served in the war of 1812, as colonel, came to Kentucky, later to Wisconsin, whence he came with his family to the Willamette valley, crossing the plains, and in 1868, died in Oregon. The mother died in 1871. Her father was a patriot in the Revolution. Our subject was but ten years old when

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he came with the family to Oregon and the father took land where East Portland is now located but later re- moved farther east. When sixteen, Caswell went to do for himself by farming and raising stock. He used his homestead right in 1868 and in 1877 moved to Walla Walla; during the Indian war of that year he was in government employ as a messenger and freighter under Lieutenant Miller. In 1879 we find Mr. McKin- zie freighiting into Spokane and the Coeur d'Alene country ; in 1880 he hauled the first safe that ever came into the city of Spokane. He continued the freighting until 1888 when he removed to Spokane and operated an express line for seven years. 1895 found him in Moscow and the following year Mr. McKinzie located in Grangeville, since which time he has devoted his energies to freighting, and is one of the leading oper- ators in that industry.

In June, 1862, at Portland, Mr. McKinzie married Miss Louise, daughter of Nathaniel and Mary (Tomp- kins) Bell, natives of Kentucky. The father was a butcher and died in 1880. He crossed the plains in 1853, landing in Oregon City, September Io, of that vear. The mother died in 1857. Mrs. McKinzie was born in Illinois in 1836 and crossed the plains with her parents. She has one brother and three sisters, Captain Bell, Martha Arnspiger, Rachel Arnspiger, Caroline McKinzie. Three children have been born to this worthy couple, Simon H., in Grangeville ; Vio- la Twist, whose husband fought in the Nez Perces war : William, in Grangeville. Mr. and Mrs. McKinzie are membersof the church of Christ. He voted for Abraham Lincoln and has stood by the same grand old party since. Mr. McKinzie has eighty acres of land and also owns other property.

By way of reminiscense we note that in 1861, when Mr. Mckenzie was going to Walla Walla, the Indians waylaid him where Pendleton now stands and stole his horses, but he succeeded in escaping into the sage brush and for three days lay secreted, finally going to The Dalles with a freighting outfit. His brother, Isaac McKinzie, and John Stevens were instrumental in the capture of old chief Peu-Peu-Mox-Mox with two others in 1857. The brother took the beaded pouch for bullets and also the powder horn and our subject had them for years. They were serving in Company A, Oregon Volunteers under Colonel Wilson. In this campaign they had the distinction of living for one whole week on horse flesh alone. A noted Indian had killed Lieutenant Burris, but was afterward killed by Isaac McKinzie.

ANDREW J. TAYLOR is one of the old pi- oneers who braved the dangers and endured the hard- ships incident to opening this vast country and for many years he was engaged in the arduous labor of mining, being acquainted with the main camps from California to British Columbia. At present Mr. Tay- lor is living two miles west from Tahoe, where he owns a half section of land and does general farming and raises stock. He was born in Brighton, New

York, on May 17, 1832. being the son of Andrew and Laura (Ellsworth) Taylor. The father was born in Massachusetts in 1803 and was a prominent man in his place. His parents and ancestors were pioneers of that state. The paternal grandfather of our subject held the rank of captain in the Revolution and was one of the noted minute men. Andrew Taylor set- tled early in Ohio and in 1855 started for California on the steamer, Sierra Nevada, but died on board and was buried at sea. The mother of our subject was born in New England in 1807 and died in 1892. Our subject was raised and educated in Massachusetts and in 1855 came with his father to California. He had learned the trades of gunsmith and moulder and when he landed in San Francisco he went to mining and prospecting where he operated in Shasta county. In 1865 he came to Boise and mined and later was in Warren and made the trip to Lewiston when the ther- mometer was forty below. He and his partner, Mr. Watson, who is now residing on Camas prairie, lo- cated some fine placers on Allison creek and took good returns from them for four years. During this time Mr. Taylor was injured by a falling tree. from which he has never fully recovered. In 1874 he went to Dixie and was well acquainted with all the old timers there and for twenty years he was one of the prominent mining men of that section. In 1877, when he came to Elk for the mail, he learned of the Indian outbreak and they all went to the fort in Elk until the trouble was past. It was in 1879 that Mr. Tay- lor located his present farm, taking homestead and preemption. He is one of the esteemed men and sub- stantial citizens of the county and has done a goodly portion for its upbuilding.

PETER KING. A hardy pioneer of the first days, well acquainted with the mining world, from Cali- fornia to the Fraser and Kootenai camps in British Columbia, a faithful laborer in the cause of opening the country for settlement and civilization, and now one of the substantial stockmen and farmers of Ida- ho county, dwelling a mile and a half north from Clearwater upon a half section of fine land which he secured by rights from the government, Mr. King is to be classed with those who deserve representation as builders of this country and pioneers in the true sense of the word.

Peter King was born in Germany, on February 22, 1832, being the son of Nichols and Mary (Breit- wiser) King, natives also of the Fatherland. The father was born in 1800 and in the fall of 1833 came to Baltimore, two years later went to Henry county, Indiana, and in 1840 he settled in Fulton county and bought eighty acres of canal land, which he farmed until his death in 1851. The mother was born in 1810. Our subject was brought up and educated in Indiana and remained with his parents until of age. In 1853 he crossed the plains to California, mined on Nelson creek, in Eldorado county and various other places for ten years. He was successful and especi-

ANDREW J. TAYLOR.

PETER KING.

LAWRENCE OTT.

JAMES WITT.

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ally so in Sahara county, where he sold the Blue Lead for five thousand dollars. In 1862 he was in the Cari- bou regions with the rush, where he contracted rheumatism and came to Olympia until he recovered. Thence he came to Pierce and prospected all over this section of the country. In 1864 Mr. King went to Boise on Grimes creek and then north to the Kootenai river during the excitement. Then came a trip to the Bitter Root mountains, to the Moose creek region, but he returned on account of the rough country. Mr. King continued on the south fork of the Clearwater until the breaking out of the war and was one of the brave lads who took up arms and dispelled the savages, he being especially detailed to guard the women and children on Slate creek. He was in the Mt. Idaho Guards under Captain Ad Chapman. Later he was with Benson's pack train who was supplying the government troops with provisions. As soon as the trouble ceased Mr. King, with Smiley, Buchanan, James Boyd, Bill Tracy and Charles Martin, went to Chamberlain's basin. They put in a ditch on little Slate creek and piped dirt for three years with reas- onable success. In 1881 Mr. King took a preemption and later a homestead which constitute his present estate. He has over sixty head of cattle, a fine house, large barn and other good improvements. Mr. King has the following named brothers and sisters: Nicho- las, Jake, Henry, Katie Bunch.

LAWRENCE OTT is a stock-raiser who re- sides eight miles up the Salmon river on the south sicle at what is known as the Horseshoe bend. He was born February 19, 1836, in Blair county, Pennsyl- vania, the son of Lawrence and Maria Ott, natives of the same state. They both died in Blair county. Our subject remained there until 1856 and then went, via New York and the Isthmus, to San Francisco. He mined at Marysville, prospected in different sections and in 1859 went to Virginia City, Nevada. At the time of the Piute war he enlisted to fight the Indians under Meredith and on one occasion half of the little band of 150 whites was killed, the Indians being ten to one. In 1862 he started to Warren with a posse of men and on the head of the Owyhee river they rescued a man and his wife from a band of Indians by killing the Indians. Then he came to Auburn, Oregon, later to Walla Walla, back to Canyon City with supplies, in '64 went to the Boise basin and in '67 came to War- ren. He has visited most of the camps in Idaho and in 1872 located his present place. Since then this place has been his headquarters. He has followed farming, stock-raising and mining with good suc- cess. He now has three hundred and twenty acres but has retired from active business and is living upon his income. When the war broke out in 1877 he was in Florence, being sick he loaned his gun and ammunition to another but as soon as he was able, he joined Captain Trimble's company. He guided Trim- ble over the mountains and when they reached Howard they were sent to do guard duty at Slate creek. He 33

guarded some wounded soldiers to Lapwai and did much scouting. Much of his stock was killed at the time of the war. When on the south fork of the John Day in Oregon, five miners were attacked by the In- dians and three were killed. Our subject was one of seventeen who thrashed the Indians and recovered the miners. Soon after Mr. Ott settled here a few rene- gade Indians threatened to kill him if he did not leave. In the encounter which followed he was knocked down by a stone but owing to his having a revolver he had the better of the struggle and after that was left alone. He has been one of the active laborers to build up this country and is a good, sub- stantial man. After the war Mr. Ott did special scouting duty under Captain Lou Wilmot to see that none of the red men were lurking in the hills, finding and destroying many of the Indian caches, until as- sured that all the Indians had gone onto the reserva- tion.

JAMES WITT. Among the pioneers of Idaho county none came earlier, labored with more assiduity, gained more triumphs because of sagacity and real worth, and stand more thoroughly admired and truly ensconced in the affections of the people than the subject of this sketch, an epitome of whose inter- esting career we count it a privilege to place upon the abiding records of his county history.

James Witt was born in Jefferson county, Ten- nessee, on July 7. 1837, the son of Caleb and Margaret R. (Demarcus) Witt. The father was a farmer, saw- mill man and later a miner. He was born in Tennes- see, on March 8, 1815, and died in Idaho county on February 14, 1882. His grandfather came from Eng- land and his father was born in Tennessee and fought in the war of 1812. The mother of our subject was born in Tennessee on March 15. 1810, and died in 1856. Our subject was educated and when four- teen worked with his father in the native place. On March 21, 1859, he came with his father to Iowa and there outfitted with oxteams for the purpose of cross- ing the plains. Falling in with others they formed a train and while they started for Pike's Peak the dis- couraging reports turned them back toward Oregon and thither they came. The oxen became worn out and they doubled up until the wagons were crowded. They crossed the Missouri river at Plattsmouth at the mouth of the Platte river on May 8th and landed at The

Dalles September 8.

James worked at

Cas-

cades a while and then joined his father at Port- land and in the spring of 1860 he went up the Colum- bia to Isle Le Pierre rapids. It was in the spring of 1861 that Mr. Witt fitted out ox teams and came to this portion of Idaho. Captain Pierce had married an Indian woman and she piloted him to the diggings around Pierce City where Mr. Witt was going. He came to what is now Greer's ferry and made the first boat for Col. W. Craig to cross the Clearwater and used it as a ferry. In the spring of 1862 he went to Elk City. where rich placers had been discovered by the overflow from Pierce. Mr. Newsome after whom

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Newsome creek is named, was in the party which made the discovery. Mr. Witt reached Elk on May 17 or 27. 1862, going over twenty feet of snow. He went into partnership with a man who had claims on Ameri- can river and they made a company and dug a ditch eleven miles long in the Buffalo Hill country. They had scanty capital but sold stock and took pay in work digging the ditch. His father came in about the time the company was discouraged and lifted them up. Many were skeptical but when it was all done it made a real boom. McGruder, the victim of foul murder later, was a merchant then in Elk and he assisted the company with great credit. The completion of the ditch assured the success of the camp. In June, 1863, the water flowed and the spirits of all were exuberant. Mr. Witt continued with this proposition until 1881, continually buying the interests of those going away. He was the last big mine owner on the ditch. He and his father took homesteads on Camas prairie in 1876 and held them in addition to mining. Mr. Witt had also bought the Buffalo ditch and as the ground be- came poorer he went into the matter deeper, buying out others. Chinese came in and he finally leased the various grounds to them and furnished water from the ditch. In 1881, when he left, there were but eleven white men in the camp. In February, 1882, Mr. Witt's father died and he took as partner his nephew, James B. Sloan .. They held over nine hundred acres of land and much stock. This industry continued until Jan- uary 14, 1902, when he sold the entire property and came to Grangeville to reside, where he has since been. In 1890 the whites began to jump the claims and Mr. Witt was obliged to return to Elk to save his property and he also secured some more valuable additions. Lately the quartz veins have been discov- ered and the camp is again coming to the front and is bound to assume proportions to command attention and the investment of capital for development. At the time of the Nez Perces war, Mr. Witt was in the Elk valley and all the summer was spent in building fortifications and preparing to resist the Indians, but General Howard headed the savages off and no fa- talities occurred. Mr. Witt became a master Mason in 1874 and has frequently been master of his lodge. He has been county commissioner twice and has since re- fused to accept the nomination. He is a staunch, solid Democrat, has always taken a keen interest in politics and has frequently attended the state conven- tion. Mr. Witt is a self made man and the educa- tion of his younger days was limited to careful and continuous reading. Close research and wise weigh- ing of the questions of the day have made him one of the best informed men of the county and his counsel and his words are heeded in his party by all.

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An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 124

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