An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 138

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 138
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 138
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 138
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 138

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ALFRED H. BISHOP is one of the prominent mining men of Idaho county, being president of the Mikado Mining and Mill Company and also interested in many other propositions in Florence and other dis- tricts, the properties including both placer and quartz. He was born in Carroll county, Indiana, on October 27, 1839, the son of Walker H. and Rachel ( Clark) Bishop. The father was born in Alabama in 1812 and died in 1897. He was a pioneer in Iowa in 1853, Butler coun- ty, and participated in the Black Hawk Indian war. He was sheriff of Butler county for twelve consecutive years. The mother was born in Ohio in 1815 and died in 1888. She came of Irish ancestry and her father was born in Ireland. Our subject went to Butler conn- ty with his parents, and in that Iowa home he secured liis main education and also learned the art of the carpenter and builder. In 1861 he pressed to the front for the defense of his country and enlisted in Company I, Third Iowa Infantry, on June 10. He went in as private and served until February 10, 1863, and re- ceived an honorable discharge. He enlisted at once in Company G. Thirty-second Iowa, where he served until July 20, 1865 He was promoted to sergeant in 1863 and to first sergeant soon after. Mr. Bishop served faithfully through many battles and was active during the whole period. Following the war he returned to his home and remained in Iowa until 1874, traveled around some and went to Dakota and in 1881 he lo- cated land at Dayton, Columbia county, Washington. Mr. Bishop farmed and did contracting there until 1895, when he made his advent to Idaho county. He at once gave his attention to mining and at this indus- try he has continued since. In 1900, Mr. Bishop was

clected county commissioner on the Democratic ticket and gave a good administration.

In 1862, Mr. Bishop married Miss Rose Poisall, who was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. Her father, Peter Poisall, was chosen as a juryman to try John Brown, he having removed to Harper's Ferry about the time of the John Brown raid. But Mr. Pois- all refused to act. To Mr. and Mrs. Bishop there were born three children, Bell M. Skelton, in Mt. Idaho; Bessie Nesbon , Harry, an electrician in Alaska. Mr. Bishop has the following named brothers and sisters, William C., Charles, Philander, Sophia Sherburn. Mr. Bishop is a man of excellent qualifications, has had a large experience in the affairs of the business world and is one of the substantial and leading citizens of the county.

JUDGE JOSEPH K. VINCENT, ex-probate judge of Idaho county and one of the well known and Icading figures in the northern part of the state for years, is now dwelling at Mt. Idaho, where he enjoys the distinction and prestige due for years of meritor- ious service and an honorable upright walk. He was born in Salem, Massachusetts, on June 26, 1822, the son of Joseph and Lettie ( Pease) Vincent, natives of the Bay state also. The father, who was a sailor, was murdered in the West Indies. The mother died in Massachusetts. The ancestors of both sides of the house were of the stanch Yankees who formed and sus- tained this great nation. Our subject grew to man- hood in his native place, received educational training from the public schools, and also learned the art of printing and carpentering there. In 1849 he came to California, remaining until January, 1855, then he went to the Sandwich Islands, thence to Oregon, where he mined and then joined the volunteers to fight the Rogue river Indians. The savages held him captive five days before he was rescued when it was found that his feet and legs were badly frozen. At the time of the Civil war he enlisted again and was stationed at Ft. Lap- wai where he did duty for three years and three months. In 1865 we find him in Lewiston, then he was post sutler and later police judge at Lewiston. At the time of the Indian war he volunteered and fought un- dler General McConville and later was provost judge under one of the commanders. In 1888, Mr. Vincent came to Cottonwood and operated the hotel for a couple of years and in June, 1891, came to Mt. Idaho and here operated a hotel for six years. Here he was elected probate judge for two years and was nominated again later but went down with his party. For forty years Mr. Vincent has been justice of the peace and was bailiff of the court for several years.

()n December 25, 1865, Mr. Vincent married Miss Elizabeth M., daughter of Alonzo and Rachel ( Bliss) Leland. The father was an old Oregon pioneer and was editor and postmaster in Portland for years. He came to Lewiston in 1861 and was a prominent man there. He was born in Vermont and died in March, 1898. Mrs. Leland was born in Rhode Island and died in 1895. Mrs. Vincent was born in Pawtucket, Rhode

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Island. She has one brother, Charles F., in Grange- ville. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Vincent, Joseph S .. William H., in Mt. Idaho; Alonzo P., in Seattle; Lettie R., in California ; Edward S., in Grangeville; Charles F., deceased ; Harry G., Alida M., Tamany C., all in Grangeville. Mr. Vincent belongs to the G. A. R., and he and his wife affiliates with the Episcopalian church. He is an active Republican and an influential spirit in the politi- cal realm. Mr. Vincent had the contract to transfer the bones of the soldiers to Walla Walla. The remains were exhumed and transferred in the fall of 1890. He believes fifty-six soldiers and three officers were killed in the Indian war.

WILLIAM J. WILSON, a miner at Freedom postoffice on the Salmon, is one of the well known and highly esteemed veterans and pioneers of this country. His career shows ability, courage and in- tegrity and he has ever manifested that uprightness and manliness which commend him to all lovers of good. He was born in Londonderry, Ireland, May 24. 1819, the son of John and Martha J. (Wilson) Wilson, natives of Ireland and Scotland respectively. The father was a stockman on Belahand mountains and he and his wife came to New Brunswick in 1829. both being long since deceased. Our subject was reared and educated in the North American home and in due time was apprenticed to a marble cutter. Just before he finished this trade he came to the United States and enlisted in Company E. Second Missouri, Light Ar- tillery, in 1863, and was mustered out at Washington at the time of the grand review in 1865. Mr. Wilson is rightly a great admirer of the noble man, Lincoln. At the close of the war he came to Montana, then on to Wild Horse, British Columbia. In 1876 he came into Florence and was there at the time of the Indian outbreak the next year. He was one of the twelve men who came with Tolo to the rescue of the settlers on Slate creek. Among others in the company were Philip Cleary, Jim Carey, Ike Orcutt, I. T. Johnson, Griffith Roberts, Mike Deasy, and John Hickey. Our subject is justly called Captain Wilson, for at this critical time he outlined the fortifications which he assisted to construct on Slate creek, which afterward were very well spoken of by military men and owing to their strength doubtless kept the Indians at bay. Mox Mox and Captain John tried to inspect the forti- fications, but they were not allowed to do so. Old Mr. Shoemaker brought Mrs. Osborne's child here on his back and told them that Mrs. Osborne and Mrs. Walsh were making their way toward the fort. Captain Wil- son immediately volunteered to go and meet them ; later Sam Pell went with him and after they had gone a short distance, the others coming to their assistance, they rescued the women. An account of this was pub- lished in one of the Walla Walla papers and reflects great credit on Captain Wilson. Mr. Wilson is credited with having discovered the Slate creek mines which yielded twenty-five thousand dollars. He is still min- ing. having a good quartz claim in Florence, besides

other property. He is a Republican and receives from the government a slight acknowledgment of his faith- ful services in the Rebellion in the form of a pension.

ANDREW HANSEN. Three miles down the river from Lucile, Idaho, is the home of the subject of this article. He is one of the successful miners of Idaho county and in addition to handling this industry, is the official road overseer of his district. He has in charge twenty-three miles of road and twenty miles of trail. Andrew Hansen was born in Denmark, 1835, the son of Hans and Mary ( Nelson) Hansen, both na- tives of Denmark now deceased. When Andrew was twelve years of age he left his home and took up the rugged life before the mast. He sailed in every clime, on all seas and when in Lima, Peru, he heard of the death of his father. His education was received by close personal application in various places of the world. He was in Greenland and in 1849 came thence to the United States. For three years he had head- quarters at Cincinnati and operated a river steamer. In 1854 we find him digging in the golden sands of Placer county, California, and they held his labor un- til 1858. Going to Navada, he worked in the Com- stock mine until 1860. We next find him in The Dalles, Oregon, and in the spring of 1861, he, with others, crossed the Blue mountains to the Burnt river district, which he says was the hardest trip he ever ex- perienced during his extensive pilgrimage, at one time paying one hundred dollars for a sack of flour. Then came the pilgrimage to Florence and later to Warren, where he remained until 1871. Mr. Hansen, in part- nership with Tom Pollock, was very successful in his mining ventures in Warren. In 1871 he came to Col- fax, Washington, and bought six hundred acres of land. He farmed until 1893, in which year, like all the others, his finances were depleted. To add to his dis- comfort in this trying year, he broke his leg and be- fore the complicated facture was well it had cost him two thousand dollars. Then Mr. Hansen turned his land over to the mortgage company, disposed of his two hundred head of horses and turned his attention to prospecting at Buffalo Hump. He also mined two years in Florence and in 1896 came to the Salmon river. Mr. Hansen is a member of the Lutheran church and a good solid Democrat.

PHOENIX R. BRIGGS. A well and favorably known citizen of early days, a prominent miner at the present, and one fitted for representation in the history of his county, such is the subject of this article. Phce- nix R. Briggs was born in the vicinity of Philadelphia on December 21, 1837, the son of Thomas and Mar- garet (Hamilton) Briggs. The father was of English extraction, born in Ireland, came to the United States in his boyhood and settled in Mercer county, Illinois, in 1842. He died in Kansas in 1887. The mother, who is of Scotch ancestry, is also deceased. Our subject

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went to Illinois with his parents and there received his education, learned the carpenter trade and grew to manhood. At the breaking out of the war, he enlisted in Company C. One Hundred and Second Illinois Vol- unteer Infantry, First Brigade, Third Division, Twen- tieth Corps, in August, 1862. He immediately went south and engaged in hot encounters in Kentucky and Tennessee with Bragg and Morgan, being under Buell. He fought at Chattanooga under "Fighting Joe" Hooker and went on the famous march to the sea. He was mustered out in 1865, after the grand review at Washington. He returned to Illinois, and a year later went to Omaha.

In Illinois in 1868, Mr. Briggs married Miss Mar- tha Van Meter, daughter of Asa and Elizabeth Van Meter. The following children have been born to this union : Martha Enders, Harry S., both in Nebraska ; David and Thomas, both conductors on the B. & M. railroad. Mr. Briggs has the following brothers and sisters : M. M., D. B., George C., Elizabeth Shull. Mrs. Briggs was born in Illinois. They migrated from Illinois to Iowa, later journeyed to Holt county, Nebraska, and ten years later went thence to the Sound and Portland. Then we see them in Umatilla county, Oregon, later in Okanogan county, Washington, and thence in 1895 they came to Idaho and for two years Mr. Briggs prospected near Mt. Idaho. He located claims in Mar- shall lake district and in the Bear creek camp. He has two groups, the Sherman and the Mt. Marshall. Mr. Briggs also has placer claims, the Gipsy and the Agate. Mr. Briggs is a member of the G. A. R. and of the I. O. O. F. He was elected county coroner, but refused to serve. He is allied with the Democratic party and while in the army was corporal and ser- geant.

SILAS O. WHITING has mined in all the prom- inent camps on the Salmon and while he has property interests in various places especially around Florence, he has his permanent headquarters at Mt. Idaho. He was born in Somerset county, Maine, between Augusta and Bangor, on April 14, 1837, the son of Leonard and Hannah (Dyer) Whiting. The father, who was born in Maine in 1808, was a stone cutter and his father was a native of Massachusetts, settling in Maine among the first pioneers and was also a patriot in the Revolution. Leonard Whiting came to California in 1852 and settled in Nevada county, where he mined and operated mills for many years. The mother of our subject was born in Maine and died in 1839. Silas O. was educated in his native place and worked on the farm until he was twenty-two, when he came to Cali- fornia, Nevada county ; there he remained for thirty years, freighting and mining.

In 1889 he came to the vicinity of Cheney, Wash- ington, then to Spokane and engaged in lumbering three years. In 1895 he removed to Idaho county and went to mining in the Pierce district. Then he came to Ca- mas prairie and rented a farm near Grangeville. Two years later we find him in Florence, where he has op- erated much of the time since. He was watchman of

the Poorman mine and was one year and one-half at the Blossom. In the meantime he was interested in Bear creek country and had a share in the famous Kim- berly and Jewell, which recently sold for $65,000. He now owns independent claims in the Jewell group. He also has property on one of the best leads there, has a third interest in the Gold Lake placer in Florence.

In 1864, in Nevada City, California, Mr. Whiting married Miss Maria Buzzell, who was born in Penob- scot county, Maine. Four children were born to this union, two of whom are still living. Bertrand D. and Nellie Everland, both in San Francisco. Mr. Whiting is a master Mason, joining the lodge in 1864, and is a Republican. Mr. Whiting has had much experience in the various camps of California and he believes the Bear creek district is ahead of any of them.

EDWARD S. SWEET is justly entitled to the po- sition of one of the real builders of this county and the town of Grangeville. While not here as soon as some of the early pioneers, he has manifested since coming an enterprise, tenacity and skill in business lines which have hrought to him a gratifying com- petence and stimulated much action in others through- out the county.

Edward S. Sweet was born in Whiteside county, Illinois, on February 3, 1859, the son of James A. and Judith (Green) Sweet. The father, of Dutch extrac- tion, was born in Chautauqua county, New York, in 1816, and died in 1891. He settled in Illinois in 1836 and remained on the old pre-emption claim until the summons came for his departure to the other world. The estate is still held in the family. He was sheriff of his county and also held other offices. The mother of our subject was born in Massachusetts in 1826, and died in 1878. She was left an orphan when very young and was raised by Mr. and Mrs. Scott. the parents of the noted missionary of India fame. Mrs. Sweet came of Scotch-Irish extraction. Our subject grew to manhood in Illinois and was educated in the common schools, then finished in college. He had a practical training in handling stock and farms in his youth, from a wise father, and for a number of years managed the family estates. In 1892 Mr. Sweet came to Camas prairie, began to buy land, did a general farm- ing business and raised stock. In addition to this, he owned a saw mill and during the hard times that came after that he was enabled by good business tact and skill to keep the mill running, much to the advantage of the settlers, for it was the only mill in the vicinity that was operated. He was faced with many hard problems and much difficulty in these trying times, when so many good business men went to the wall, but Mr. Sweet was enabled by his practical ability and keen foresight and executive force to weather the storm, and now he is one of the heaviest taxpayers in the coun- ty. He has a thousand acres of land, leases as much more, has much town property, raises a large band of cattle on the range and is also heavily interested in the Bargain Store Company in Grangeville. Mr. Sweet

EDWARD S. SWEET

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is a progressive man and his business energy has done much for the county and towns.

While in Illinois, in 1880, Mr. Sweet married Miss Elizabeth J., daughter of David and Nancy (Lamb) Miller, natives of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Sweet, who was born in Illinois in 1859, was well educated, and fol- lowed teaching for a number of years. Her father died in 1901, but the mother is still living. She has four sisters and two brothers. Mr. Sweet has three sisters and two brothers, named as follows: Sarah, Maggie, Emma, Hiram and Ernest. To Mr. and Mrs. Sweet one daughter has been born, who is now preparing for higher education in both literary lines and in music. Mr. Sweet is a member of the W. of W. and of the A. O. U. W. He was nominated by the Republicans for county commissioner in 1901, but as the entire ticket went down, he was sacrificed with it. At present Mr. Sweet is a member of the board of town trustees, and in this capacity, as in all of his labors, he brings an aggressive policy well tempered with a conserva- tive spirit and due knowledge of existing conditions. He is one of the heavy operators in this part of the state and the success that is his to enjoy demonstrates better than auglit else could do his wisdom and worth. In his standing Mr. Sweet is highly esteemed and his friends are numbered by legions. In 1903 Mr. Sweet was appointed by the governor as regent of the State University of Idaho.

WALTER S. RHETT is a native of Idaho county and a son of which the state may be proud. He is one of the enterprising and successful young stockmen on Slate creek near Freedom postoffice. On September 25, 1874. he was born in the house where he now lives, the son of William and Mary (Turner) Rhett. The father is a native of old Virginia, born in 1845. He was a pioneer in the early Florence and Warren excite- ments and was an active man during the campaign against the Indians in 1877. He secured the horse on which Tolo rode to Florence and as she ruined the ani- mal, he was obliged to pay one hundred and fifty dol- lars for it. The mother of our subject was born in Oregon in 1842, the daughter of the earliest pioneers of that state. Our subject grew to manhood in his native place and was educated in the public schools ad- jacent, and in the higher institutions at Lewiston and Baker City. Returning from his studies, he engaged in the stock business, which he followed successfully for a number of years, then sold out. Three years later, 1897. he took up this industry again and has continued the same with his ustal success until the present time.

On October 17, 1896, Mr. Rhett married Miss Ola, daughter of Moses H. and Nellie (Leland) Rice. The father is a stockraiser and one of the earliest pioneers in northern Idaho. He is a native of Ohio and served here during the Indian war. The mother of Mrs. Rhett was born in Oregon and died in 1888. Mrs. Rhett was born on Camas prairie on November 27, 1875, and has three brothers and two sisters, Miles H.,

Bailey F., Leland F., Nancy, and Elfreda. Mr. Rhett has one brother and two sisters, Albert W., Clara J. Grostein, Carrie F. Greer. Three children are the fruit of this marriage, Chester H., Myrtle K., Wallace W. Mr. Rhett is a Republican. He owns a good quar- ter section, raises alfalfa, has a fine orchard and raises stock. He is a member of the Pioneers' Association at Grangeville and is a good substantial man.

JOHN NEVIN, the popular merchant at Freedom, Idaho, is a bright son of the Emerald Isle, the date of whose birth is April 13, 1871. His parents, James and Nancy (Dempsey) Nevin, were both natives of the same country, where they live now. The first seven- teen years of John's life was spent in his native land in the pursuit of knowledge, gained in both the public schools and in the law university. In 1883 he abandoned the legal lore, bade farewell to his loved ones and left the native land for the United States. He worked two years in an iron smelter in Pennsylvania, and one year in West Virginia in the coal mines. In the spring of 1891 he came to Idaho county and settled on Slate creek, where he did placer mining. He also packed to the mines and worked in Josh Fockler's store at Slate Creek. Then he spent two years in Freidenrich's store at Whitebird. In the spring of 1902 Mr. Neven bought Mr. Fockler's place on Slate creek and since then he has devoted himself to doing a fine general merchandise business.

On April 15, 1903, Mr. Nevin married Miss Jennie, daughter of W. A. and Mary E. Newman. The father is a stockman on the Salmon. Mrs. Nevin was born in Dayton, Washington, in 1881. She is well educated and spent some time in instructor's work. She has one sis- ter and three brothers, Bertha M. Davis, Homer, Gro- ver C., Milo. Mr. Nevin has the following brothers and sisters: Daniel, James M., Thomas, Annie, An- drew and William, all in the old country. Mr. Nevin is a member of the Masonic order and is an active and influential Republican, being central committee- man. He owns a fine business, comfortable residence, some land and is enjoying a thriving patronage. Mr. Nevin was naturalized in 1893 at Mount Idaho.

GEORGE R. ODLE is practically a product of Idaho county since he came here with his parents when six months old. He is a son in which his county may well take pride, since his walk has been upright, his labors dominated with wisdom and consummated with skill and enterprise and his standing is justly of the best.

George R. Odle was born in Douglas county, Ore- gon, on January 22, 1862, the son of James and Cath- erine (Crusen) Odie. The father was born in Ohio, on July 10, 1823, and died in 1898. He was a "Forty- niner" in California, afterward going to Douglas coun- ty, Oregon. In January, 1862, he came to Idaho in the Florence excitement, where he took land and broke the

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first furrow near Mt. Idaho. He was married August. 3, 1854. His wife was born in Illinois and crossed the plains with her parents, who settled in Douglas county, where the marriage occurred. Mr. James Odle was twice representative to the legislature of Idaho. He also held county offices and fought in the Nez Perces war. Our subject came to Idaho county with his mother in June, 1862, the father having come in the January preceding. He grew to manhood on the old homestead, where he now lives, received here his edu- cation and has been one of its substantial citizens for years. When he was of age he took a half section of land on Camas prairie and since has continued farming and raising stock. Mr. Odle remembers well the Nez Perces war, being then fifteen. He saw the destruction after the battle on the Clearwater, the effects of the In- dians being confiscated and destroyed. At one time a scouting party of Indians came within a half mile of Mt. Idaho.

At Mt. Idaho on March 19, 1890, Mr. Odle married Miss Julia, daughter of James R. and Hannah ( Coch- ran) McCurdy. The father was born in Ireland, came to the United States in his youthful days, and settled in California in 1857, having married in Pennsylvania on March 30, 1852. The mother of Mrs. Odle was born in Pennsylvania on November 29, 1833. Her first husband died, and in 1874 she married Mr. William R. Smith and came to Idaho county in 1881. She died February 7, 1895. Mrs. Odle was born in California on February 3. 1868, and has three brothers and one sister, William E., deceased ; John R., Charles S., Mar- garetta Rice. Mr. Odle has three sisters, Alice Baird,. Elfreda Rice, Emma Rice, deceased. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Odle, Alethea, and Margaretta. Mrs. Odle is a member of the Christian church. Mr. Odle is a Democrat and also a member of the Pioneers' Association.

SAM LARGE, who lives at Freedom, is one of the earliest miners in Idaho county and since the first days of fabulous wealth flowing from the hills of the Sal- mon, he has continued until the present in mining and is now one of the prosperous men of the section. He has a comfortable home on the banks of the Salmon and a fine ditch for placer mining. Sam Large was born in Ireland in 1841, the son of Benjamin and Jane (Clunnen ) Large, natives of Ireland, where they both died. The father made a trip to the United States but returned to his native country. Our subject received his education in his native country and came to the United States in 1855. In 1857, he made his way to the Golden state and mined in Tuolumne county until 1861, when he came on the first crest of gold excite- ment into Idaho. He was personally acquainted with the five men who discovered the Florence diggings and was one of the first ones in the Warren camp. He owned some of the best claims in the camp and con- tinned making money fast until 1875. In 1864 they had a famine and for many days lived on nothing but beans, without even salt to eat. One wag, old Jimmy

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An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 138

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