An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 133

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 133
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 133
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 133
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 133

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).

549

HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

drew and Jane (Chambers) Johnson, natives of Vir- ginia and Kentucky respectively. The father died in 1886. Our subject was brought by his parents to Logansport, Indiana, when he was but an infant. He remained there for nearly twenty-two years and he re- ceived his education there. He saw the first house built in Logansport. On March 15, 1852, he started across the plains with mule teams. In due time he arrived at Placerville, California, and engaged in mining. He prospered and then lost money. Afterward he made more. We sce him next in British Columbia. Then he took a whaling voyage to Behring Sea. After that he came to Idaho in 1861 and took a pack train of 103 mules to Florence. On one occasion he packed a ton of gold out of that camp for the Wells, Fargo Company. Then he went to Montana and mined and packed in the Alder gulch region. Five years later he returned to Idaho and followed packing into all the various camps of Northern Idaho for about twelve years. Then he farmed on Camas prairie, and mined on the Salmon river. Mr. Johnson was here during the Indian war and was on the prairie above Mr. El- fers' place when that unfortunate man was murdered. He saw the shots fired but supposed it was the boys killing coyotes. During the war he scouted for General Howard and was at Bear Paw mountain when Chief Joseph surrendered. He was also in the Sheepeater war under Captain MeKeiver. He scouted for three summers in these two wars. He was standing by when Sergeant Eagan was killed. Mr. Johnson was in at the christening of Vinegar hill and partook of the beverage. He has three brothers, Edward, Andrew and and Richard, the last two being killed in the Civil war, and three sisters: Catherine Graham, Elizabeth White and Mary E. Kinnaman. Mr. Johnson is a Democrat, one of the good old fashioned Jeffersonian kind, who can give a reason for the hope in them.

LUCIUS L. MORTON. of the firm of Morton & Johnston, leading stock and mining men of southern Idaho county, lives two miles southwest of Lucile. He was born in Tennessee in 1832, the son of Elijab and Mary ( Alexander) Morton, natives of New Jersey. pioneers of Illinois in 1833. The father fought in the war of 1812 and also in various Indian struggles in Illinois. Our subjeet was educated and grew to man- hood in the Prairie state, being favored with a course in the academy at Galesburg. His early days were spent in bookkeeping; then he went to Rice county, Minnesota, for three years. Then he came to Illi- nois and thence to Colorado, mining in all the various and leading camps while there until 1860. Next we see him in the Alder gulch country and he dug gold on the site of the Helena before a white man's habi- tation was there. The Idaho camps attracted him next and after that he was in South Pass, Wyoming, in the white pine country, Nevada, and then at Baker City, Oregon. 1882 found Mr. Morton mining in the Seven Devils country, which he thinks to be one of the rich sections of the west. Various other camps were visited

by him and finally in 1893 he discovered the Blue Jacket on the Salmon river. He has done over a thousand feet of work on it. The same year he went into partnership with Revillo Johnston which relation has continued until the present time. In 1894 Mr. Johnston took his present ranch and in addition to the prosperous stock business which they handle they are heavily interested in mining. They own the Golden Crown group and other property. Mr. Morton has never been back to see his people in Illinois since 1860. He has one brother, Charles, in Oregon, and two, Henry and James, in Illinois. Mr. Morton is a Demo- crat. After seeing the various mining countries of the west he is satisfied that Idaho county possesses some of the most valuable mineral deposits known and when transportation facilities are better it will be shown to be one of the greatest mining sections yet discovered.

CHARLES P. CONE has spent practically all of his life in this county ; he is one of the leading men at this time and a heavy property owner, and it may truly be said that he has always labored for the advance- ment and upbuilding of the country and its substantial development.

Charles P. Cone was born in Ossipee, New Hamp- shire, on October 11, 1857, the son of Charles F. and Annie C. (Wood) Cone, natives of New York and Maine, respectively. The father was born on Febru- ary 14, 1827, and died in 1894. He crossed the plains to California in 1850 and in 1863 settled with his wife and two sons in Idaho county. The mother was born in 1841 and died on June 14, 1902. Her father was a pioneer in California and crossed to Idaho in 1861, where his wife joined him the next year. He bought land from the Indians on Slate creek, Chief Whistle Knocker making the transfer for twelve hundred dol- lars. This was the first land secured from the In- dians, and he was a member of the first legislature, when the capital was in Lewiston.

Our subject was reared and educated in this coun- ty, with also a two years' course at Waukegan, Ill- inois. His father and his grandfather, Wood, opened a store, started a postoffice and also raised great num- bers of cattle and horses. Our subject was given stock as soon as he could ride, and since that date he has continued in the industry with good success. He owns now four hundred and eighty acres of good prairie land and also much other property.

In 1884 Mr. Cone married Miss Belle, daughter of Seth and Jane (Castle) Jones, who are mentioned in this work. Mrs. Cone was born on Camas prairie on November 7, 1863. being the first white child born in Idaho county. Mr. Cone has one brother, Harry W., in Grangeville. Two children have been born to this union,-Alvin F., born February 13, 1886; and Robert H., born July 1, 1887. Mr. Cone is a Mason and a member of the W. W. and I. O. O. F. He affiliates with the Republicans and has fined several offices at the hands of the people. Mr. Cone was with his people on Slate creek at the time of the Nez Perce

550

HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

war, there being himself, his parents, his grandparents, his brother and Josh Fockler. Mr. Cone was familiar with the young Indians, having hunted and compan- ioned with them for many years. Among those whom he knew well are Eagle Caps, (Tip-U-Lahna-Caps Caps), Red Leggings, (Sopses-Ilp-Pilp), No Eye, (Chia-Opsin). Mr. Cone is now one of the substan- tial and public minded citizens, a progressive man and the recipient of the esteem and confidence of all. Mr. Cone has associated himself with Mr. Bonebrake in the drug business, and they are operating this line under the name of The Right Store. Mr. Cone is also a member of the city board of aldermen.

MARTIN WAGNER, who now holds the posi- tion of cashier of the Bank of Grangeville, is one of the substantial and worthy business men of our county, and his efficient labors in various capacities have stamped him a man of capabilities and his integrity and uprightness are patent to all.

Martin Wagner was born in Germany on Novem- ber 29, 1853, the son of John and Katherina (Eich- horn) Wagner, born in Germany in 1826. The father, who followed manufacturing in Germany, came to the United States in 1866 and settled at Portland, where he kept hotel. He died in 1875. The mother died in 1877. Our subject received his education in Port- land, taking a course in a business college, after which he accepted a clerkship in a dry goods establishment. He migrated to Walla Walla in 1878, and a short time later came to Lewiston. Here he took a position with the firm of Vollmer & Scott, general merchants. Later he was in Grangeville, and also in Genesee. It was in 1893 that he accepted the position of cashier of the Grangeville bank, and since that time his energies and talent have been devoted in a successful manner to the upbuilding of the interests of this institution. At the present time he is city treasurer in addition to his other duties. Mr. Wagner is a Republican and a potent influence in the affairs of the political realm.

In 1890 occurred the wedding of Mr. Wagner and Miss Carrie, daughter of Bernhardt and Dorotha (Hellman) Pape, natives of Germany, and now dwell- ing in Portland. Mrs. Wagner was born in Illinois in 1860 and has two brothers and two sisters living in Portland. Mr. Wagner has one brother and one sis- ter,-Peter and Barbara Costendieck, both in Port- land. Two children have been born to this union,- Dorotha and Bernhardt. Mr. Wagner is a member of the A. O. U. W., of the W. W. and of the Women of Woodcraft.

SAMSON DILLINGER, of Dixie, is one of the leading old timers and mine owners of the country and has done a remarkable work in the last fortv-five and fifty years in the various camps of Oregon, Idaho, and California. He was born in Floyd county, Indiana, on January 28, 1839, the son of Miles and Anna (Hick- man) Dillinger. natives of Virginia, and in 1844 and

1842, respectively. they were called hence by death. Our subject was brought up and educated in Orange county, Indiana, and in 1850 he crossed the plains to Oregon City, thence to Portland, whence he soon went to southern Oregon to mine. He was the first dis- coverer of gold on the Rogue river and only one man, Applegate, who was raising stock, was then dwelling in a house in the Umpqua valley. He also struck good pay gravel at Sterling, but they were forced to leave because the Indians were about to break out. He had been advised of this by friendly Indians. Then he went to Siskiyou county, California, and mined, after which he prospected near Yreka, that state and dis- covered the Black Bear mine. In 1853 he went to Boise basin and we see him taking out dust at Placerville, then on the Powder river, and in August, 1865, he made his way to Elk City. In 1867 he was on Gold creek and at that date, only Mr. Wagoner lived on the creek. He also worked at Mallard creek where they took thirty dollars per day to the man, but were chased out by savages. Then Mr. Dillinger returned to Elk and Dixie and he has been here constantly since that date. He gave his attention to placer works until 1890 and since that time he has worked on quartz. He erected the first arrastre in Dixie and he now owns the McKinley and Roosevelt claims, which are promising well. He also has other properties and is one of the best miners of the section. At the time of the out- break in 1877, he was in Dixie and they all repaired to Elk City and there erected a fort which they guarded and remained in until the war ended. Mr. Dillinger is a member of the I. O. O. F. and is a man of excellent standing and enjoys the esteem and good will of all.

HON. JAMES F. AILSHIE. True merit wins the race. It is pleasant to trace the successful career of a man of ability and sagacity and we greet with zest the opportnuity to recount the salient points in the life of the well known and highly respected gentleman, whose name initiates this paragraph.

James F. Ailshie was born in Greene county, Ten- nessee, on June 19, 1868, the son of George W. and Martha (Knight) Ailshie. The father, a farmer, was born in Kentucky. His parents were natives of Ten- nessee, his mother being descended from Pennsylvania Dutch and his grandfather from Scotch extraction. George W. Ailshie, who was in the Fourth Tennessee Infantry, received a wound in the shoulder and had one finger shot off. He was in the siege of Vicksburg and saw much hard service. The mother was born in Tennessee and died on October II, 1901. Her an- cestors were natives of the same state for some gener- ations back. Her father served in the Civil war and fell a victim to disease contracted in that service. Her mother still lives. Our subject grew up in his native state and after the common school training, took a full course in the Carson & Newman College, coming west in 1887, he took the degree of Ph. B. Then Mr. Ail- shie entered the law school of the Willamette uni- versity and completed that course. In 1891 he opened

551

HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

an office in Pendleton immediately upon taking his de- gree. Shortly afterward, Mr. Ailshie seeing the ad- vantages of Grangeville, came hither and openced an office. This has been his residence since, where he at once took his proper position as a leading member of society and a prominent man in the business realm. He was appointed regent of the state university when the buildings were being erected and proved himself invaluable to the interests of that institution. Mr. Ailshie has always been the head of the minority party, the Republican, in his county and has always been in attendance on the conventions. He was a delegate to the National Republican convention in Philadelphia in 1900 and participated in the nomination of Mckinley and Roosevelt. In 1902 the party placed his name in nomination for the supreme bench of the state and a handsome majority in his favor testified the people's pleasure at the polls. Judge Ailshie has taken his po- sition with a preparation and dignity that becomes a man of deep erudition, manifest talent and complete fitness for the responsibilities of this most important office of the state. He still retains his home and in- terests in Grangeville and in addition to his town prop- erty he has various farm interests,

In 1894 occurred the marriage of Judge Ailshie and Miss Lucie, daughter of Rev. J. B. and Angeline Bund- ren. The parents are of French extraction and the father is a noted preacher of the Baptist denomination, in Tennessee. The wedding occurred in Spokane and Mrs. Ailshie was born in Dandridge, Jefferson county, Tennessee, in 1868 and was well educated in the Newman seminary at Mosey creek. She has one brother and two sisters: William, Vallie, Virginia. Judge Ailshie has the following brothers and sisters : Stephen A., Andrew, Ernest, Alice Haun, Annie Haun, Lilly Bible, Laura, Jessie. Two children have been born to this union : Lucile and Jammie F. The Judge affiliates with the I. O. O. F., has been through all the chairs and is also a member of the grand lodge. He also beongs to the W. W. and he and his wife are adherents of the Presbyterian church. Judge Ailshic is also president of the Grangeville Electric Company.

JOHN C. YOUNG, the well known dairyman and farmer of Elk City, is a man of good standing and has long and active experience in various sections of our frontiers. He was born in Monroe county, In- diana, on September 22, 1830, the son of Joseph and Barbara (Whisenand) Young. The father was born in Virginia and came with his parents to Indiana in 1820, and in 1844 he passed the river of death. The mother was born in Pennsylvania in 1800 and died in Illinois in 1896. Our subject was reared and educated in Indiana and on March 28, 1852, he set out across the plains for the land of the setting sun. He made a successful journey, and soon we see the sturdy pioneer lad in the placer fields of Plumas county, California, searching for hidden wealth. He wended his way to different camps in that state until 1864, and then turned towards the north. He was in

southern Idaho, Virginia City, Montana, in Owyhee country, Oregon, on Wildhorse, in British Columbia. thence to Lewiston, and later he was digging gold on the Salmon. He was in Florence and adjacent camps, in Leesburg, Lemhi county, and in 1872 he came to Elk City and took up a farm. Since then Mr. Young has devoted himself to dairying and general farming and now has a good plat of land, several buildings in Elk City, and is one of the prosperous citizens of the section. He has one sister, Martha Straighter, and one brother, Joshua.

In Elk City in October, 1876, Mr. Young married Eliza E. Marston, who was born in England in 1823. She was left an orphan at an early day and for some time was in the family of Lord Byron. She has spent most of her life on the frontier, and since 1862 Elk City has been her home. Mr. Young is a solid Demo- crat and is a man of influence and worth of char- acter.

CYRUS OVERMAN, whose magnificent domain in Idaho county proclaims him a man of fine business ability, is now dwelling at his family residence in the vicinity of Tolo. He is rightly classed with the pio- neers of the county, and is to be. congratulated on the successful and happy results of his labor both in per- sonal acquisition and in the development of the re- sources of the county and its upbuilding.

Cyrus Overman was born in Ottumwa, Iowa, on April 2, 1851, the son of John and Elizabeth (Hoddy) Overman. The father was born in Indiana on Sep- tember 17, 1816, and still lives in Ottumwa. He came west to Nevada in 1859 and took up mining. He located the Overman mine on Gold Hill near Virginia City, which is one of the leading mines there. He was married at Ottumwa, and after five years returned to Iowa, where he has remained since. The mother died when our subject was four years old. Cyrus grew to manhood and was educated in Iowa. In 1871 he came west and landed the third day of September on a portion of his present estate and here he has remained since that time devoting a naturally sagacious mind and energetic body to the acquisition of a beaut- tiful and valuable estate, which is now nearly fourteen hundred acres. It is divided into two excellent farms, and each is well provided with proper buildings and handled in a commendable manner.

In this county in the year 1874 Mr. Overman mar- ried Miss Melinda A., daughter of A. I. and Maria (Shaul) Watson. The father was a native of In- diana and came to California in 1859 and in 1861 lie was in Florence. The following year he was on the prairie and took as a homestead the land now used as the experiment station. This he sold in 1871. He was an active participant in the Indian war and is still living in the county, retired from active business. Mrs. Watson also dwells here. Mrs. Overman was born in Indiana in 1854, came west in 1871 with her mother and Mr. Overman, whom she married after- wards. She has no brothers and sisters. Mr. Over- man has one half-brother, J. M. Overman. Seven

552

HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

children have been born to this union : John I., present auditor and recorder of the county ; Owen H., Arthur V., Reuben W., attending the university, and a leading debater there; Alva, Cyrus, Jr., Susan M. Mr. Over- man is a member of the I. O. O. F., and of the W. O. W. In 1895 Mr. Overman was elected sheriff on the Democratic ticket. He was president of the Co- lumbia River Conference Academy for four years. He has also been on the school board for twenty years. He was present during the Indian war and the savages were camped on his ranch at the head of the Rocky canyon, where they had all their councils and dances. He took his wife and child to Mr. Aram's place, and on the night of the thirteenth came in himself to warn the settlers that the Indians were on the war path and he then joined the volunteers and took an active part in the suppression of hostilities.

HON. JACOB L. ECKERT has never been what is termed a politician, but the people of Idaho county determined that they wished to be represented in the state senate by a solid and successful business man, and so in the fall of 1902 they placed Mr. Eckert's name in nomination on the Republican ticket for this position and although the county went Democratic on this occasion, Mr. Eckert was elected by a good ma- jority, thus demonstrating his popularity and paying a tribute to his worth in a very emphatic manner.

Mr. Eckert is one of the heaviest property owners in the county, having over eleven hundred acres of fine land under cultivation just north from Cotton- wood, where he carries on diversified farming and stock raising. Tlie estate is improved in a very skill- ful manner, having plenty of commodious buildings. Mr. Eckert was one of the first to place a windmill on Camas prairie. In addition to this magnificent holding, Mr. Eckert has a ten room residence on Nor- mal hill in Lewiston, fitted with all modern conven- iences, which is the family home during the school season. Mr. Eckert and his wife also own about one thousand acres of valuable land in Kansas, in addition to other property in various places.

Jacob L. Eckert was born in the vicinity of Lan- caster, Ohio, on December 17, 1845. being the son of Henry S. and Ann M. Eckert, both natives of the same place. Jacob grew to manhood on a farm and received his education. In 1868 he came on the first excursion train over the Kansas Pacific railroad to the terminus, Sheridan. He had much experience on the frontier, in his cowboy days ; later he hunted buffalo and many of the noble animals, as well as deer and an- telope, fell before his trusty rifle. Many times, Mr. Eckert says the buffalo mixed with their herds and caused considerable trouble. On January 1, 1871, Mr. Eckert went to the Little Arkansas river and en- gaged himself with the stockmen, being installed after one year's work as foreman of the Twenty-one ranch. Five years were spent in this occupation. Then Mr. Eckert went to Wilson, Kansas, where he did a pork- packing and butcher business in company with O. B.

Goffe. In 1881 he came, via San Francisco, to The Dalles, bought a band of cattle and drove them to Cheyenne, taking five months on the road. In Feb- ruary, 1882, he came to Kelton, by rail, and thence on the stage to Walla Walla, having a very rough trip. Thence he made his way to Lewiston and went to rais- ing stock and has been there and on Camas prairie, continuously since. Mr. Eckert has manifested rare wisdom and skill in manipulating his mammoth in- terests and his unbounded success has been but the sure result of such talent and activity. He has intro- duced excellent Galloway and Shorthorn cattle, and in fact was the pioneer in that line, the county being greatly indebted to him for this excellent labor. While the estate produces much grain, Mr. Eckert is of the opinion that it pays better to keep stock to consume it rather than sell the grain, which he accordingly does. In mentioning the improvements of his fine estate, we should not fail to mention the commodious dwelling of eleven rooms and the excellent system of water works which he has put into use, and which supply both the house and the barns. In fact, his farm is one of the finest in the state and it reflects great credit on the owner. Mr. Eckert is a member of the I. O. O. F. at Cottonwood. In political matters he has al- ways been informed so as to decide the questions of the day with keen intelligence, but the demagogue's methods are entirely unknown to him and the people of Idaho county are to be congratulated in securing the services of a straight-forward and substantial busi- ness man whose integrity and capabilities are beyond question.

On December 12, 1882, Mr. Eckert married Miss Sarah M., daughter of Frederick Shaeffer, a native of Pennsylvania and one of the first to settle in Lan- caster, Ohio, and take up his business. Three children have been born to this happy union, Helen M., Nell L., and Goffe C.

Mr. Eckert and his cultured wife, who presides with gracious dignity over their elegant home in Lew- iston, are among the leaders in that wealthy city and hosts of admiring friends are on every hand. Mr. Eckert has always been an active and aggressive man on the frontier and it is greatly to his credit to say that he has kept aloof from all the vices of the rough pioneer, although he has ever been in the lead for ad- vancement and upbuilding, while his reputation is unsullied and his standing is of the very best.

AMOS CARVER hails from the old Pine Tree state, where he was born on August 3, 1838, the son of Blaney and Sarah (Staples) Carver. The father was a farmer, born in 1796, and died in 1880. The pro- genitors of the family came to the colonies over two hundred years ago. The mother of our subject was born in Massachusetts in 1800 and died in 1844. She also came from an old and prominent American family. Our subject attended school until he was twelve years old and then followed the instincts of his juvenile mind to try the world for himself. He went to sea for four

HON. JACOB L. ECKERT.

553

HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

years and visited Cuba, and many other places, includ- ing Honolulu, where he ate in the king's palace. He finally came to California in 1857 and mined at Eldo- rado. In 1862 he came to Idaho and mined in the various camps for two years. He was personally ac- quainted with the discoverer of the Warren diggings, and for fifteen years he mined in that camp. The best ground was uncovered in 1864, six miles from the original discovery, and was located by James Warren and Rube Bassey. The camp progressed until 1870 and then began to retrograde. About 1868 our sub- ject was working gravel that paid two dollars per minute per man. In 1877 Mr. Carver's partner, Will- iam Osborn, was killed by the Indians while he was mining on the Salmon. Mr. Carver was at Warren during the excitement, forted in the fortification of that place ; then he came to the Salmon river claim, and later bought Dick Divine's place, where he raised stock and mined until recently, when he has given his entire attention to stock raising. Mr. Carver has one sister, Mary J. Allen. He is a strong Republican and voted for Lincoln when it cost him a great deal to do so.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 133

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