An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 144

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 144
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 144
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 144
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 144

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).

Some time in 1892 George N. Hinckley became deputy auditor of Latah county. He had no sooner acquired a knowledge of the work of the office than he began "raising" county warrants whose face value was a nominal sum, to hundreds of dollars, disposing of the same and appropriating excess amounts to his own personal use. During a period of less than two years he "raised" warrants of a total face value of about $500, collecting thereon about $20,000, which he used in living a high life generally. His operations were discovered in August, 1894, and on a charge of forgery preferred by County Auditor B. F. Cone lie was arrested by Sheriff J. L. Naylor and held for trial. His success in continuing these operations for so long a time without detection resulted from the fact that he had absolute sway in the auditor's office. He kept the bank account, receipted for all fees, made out all warrants, made out all certified lists of warrants transmitted to the treasurer, and in all cases where comparisons were made between the records of bills

allowed and the warrant book he held the warrant book and reported an agreement of the accounts. His embezzling career was brought to a speedy termina- tion by the action of Auditor Cone. On September 6tlı Hinckley pleaded guilty to the charge brought aginst him before Judge Piper and was sentenced to twelve years at hard labor in the penitentiary, from which, however, he was pardoned before the expira- tion of the sentence.

In the political campaign of 1894 the Republicans endorsed the national platform adopted at Minne- apolis in 1902, declared for protection and bi-metallism and for the restriction of immigration. The Democrats endorsed the Chicago platform of 1892 and declared for the free and unlimited coinage of silver and for the repeal of the Mckinley tariff law. The People's party endorsed the Omaha platform. The Democrats and People's parties fused in this campaign, nominating the same candidates except for one or two offices. The chairmen of the Populist and Democratic central com- mittees issued a joint announcement of the fusion of these two parties. At the election which took place November 6th, the fusion party was successful, giving their candidates majorities ranging from 13 for as- sessor to 388 for representative. The Republicans convened August Ist, selecting F. A. David for chair- man and W. P. Cattron, secretary. Following are the nominees of the convention : For representatives, Dan- iel Gamble, Moscow, and Alfred Colburn, Palouse pre- cinct; sheriff, Charles F. Burr, Genesee ; clerk and auditor, Benjamin F. Cone, Palouse precinct ; probate judge, Harvey R. Smith, Moscow ; assessor, Rodney P. Drury, Big Bear ridge : treasurer, LaFayette Will- iams, Moscow ; coroner, Wilham Groat, Moscow ; sur- veyor, William H. Edelblute, Palouse precinct ; com- missioners, Ist district, William M. Kincaid, Palouse precinct, 2d district, John Paulson, Thorn Creek, 3d district, Richard King, Bear Ridge.

The Populists convened July 18th and the Demo- crats July 27th. For clerk and auditor the Democrats named Jay Woodworth, of Moscow, and the Populists, Charles A. Niles, of Potlatch. Other candidates on the two tickets were as follows: For representatives, John S. Randolph and John C. Waite ; sheriff, Frank Camp- bell, Palouse precinct ; probate judge, Willis N. B. Anderson, Moscow ; assessor, Carrie B. Hammond, Moscow : treasurer, John Gilstrop, Moscow ; coroner, Charles S. Moody, Kendrick ; surveyor, Samuel L. Campbell, Moscow ; commissioners, Ist district, Will- iam W. Young, 2d district, William H. Leasure, Mos- cow. 3d district, Mamford W. Harlan, Bear Ridge. William G. Piper was the Republican candidate for judge and Stewart S. Denning the Democratic or Fusion candidate. James E. Babb, of Lewiston, was the Republican candidate for district attorney, and Clay McNamee, of Moscow, the Fusion candidate. For state senator, James C. Steele, of Kendrick, was the Republican nominee, and Tannes E. Miller, Gen- esee. the Fusion nominee. For joint senator of Latah and Kootenai counties the Republicans nominated Robert S. Brown, of Moscow, while the Populists nom- inated Thomas F. Nelson, of Moscow. For joint sen-

596

HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

ator Latah and Nez Perce- counties the Republicans were represented by Daniel C. Mitchell, of Moscow, and the Populists by Henry Heitfeld, of Lewiston.

Record of votes cast at the election of November 6th is as follows: For congressman the vote of Latah county stood, Edgar Wilson, Republican, 1,253, James Ballentine, Democrat, 304, James Gunn, Fusionist, 1,168, Wilson's plurality, 85; governor, W. J. Mc- Connell, Republican, 1,215, Edward Stevenson, Demo- crat, 423, James W. Ballentine, Fusionist, 1.194. Mc- Connell's plurality, 21 : district judge, William G. Piper, Republican, 1,399, Stewart S. Denning, Fu- sionist, 1.279. Piper's majority, 120; district attorney, James E. Babb, 1,241, Clay McNamee, 1,575, Mc- Namee's majority, 334; senator, Steele, 1.335, Miller, 1,398, Miller's majority, 63; joint senator Kootenai and Latah counties, Brown, 1,295, Nelson, 1,288, Brown's majority, 7; joint senator Latah and Nez Perces counties. Mitchell, 1,360, Heitfield, 1,448, Heit- feld's majority, 88: representatives, Gamble, 1,325, Colburn. 1,085. Randolph, 1,473, Waite, 1,195, Gam- ble's majority, 130, Randolph's majority, 388; joint representative Latah and Kootenai counties, Henry, 1,312, VanGasken, 301, Catlow, 1.128, Henry's plur- ality, 184 : sheriff, Burr, 1,364, Campbell, 1,453, Camp- bell's majority, 89; clerk and auditor, Cone, 1,194, Woodworth, 1,308, Niles, 334, Woodworth's plurality, II4; probate judge, Smith, 1,315, Anderson, 1,497, Anderson's majority, 182: assessor, Drury, 1.319, Hammond, 1,412, Hammond's majority, 13; treasurer, Williams, 1.527, Gilstrop, 1,496, Gilstrop's majority, 169; coroner, Groat, 1,263, Moody, 1,484, Moody's majority. 221 ; surveyor, Edelblute, 1,266, Campbell, 1,485, Campbell's majority, 219: commissioners, Ist district, Kincaid, 1,256, Young, 1.534, Young's major- ity, 278, 2d district, Paulson, 1,251, Leasure, 1,561, Leasure's majority, 310, 3d district, King, 1,280, Har- land, 1,511, Harland's majority, 231.

In 1895 the outstanding warrants of the county amounted to $54,000. It was desired to get this obli- gation in better business form and the proposition was therefore submitted to a vote of the people at a special election to authorize the county commissioners to is- sue bonds to the amount of the outstanding warrants. The election was held August 19th, at which time 480 votes were cast in favor of the bond issue and 279 votes against it. As the law governing the issue of bonds required a two-thirds vote favoring the issue the efforts to so cancel the warrants failed and it was left to future action to dispose of the matter.

At the general election of 1894 John Gilstrop was elected county treasurer. The board of commissioners required of him a bond of $80,000, which he had great difficulty in securing. Eventually he made an arrange- ment with the Moscow National Bank and the Com- mercial Bank by which they agreed to go his bond provided he would deposit the county money equally between the two banks. The arrangement consum- mated. the bond was presented to the commissioners and accepted. In March, 1895, the Commercial Bank failed and through its failure $12,776.95 of the county funds were tied up. Under the law this made the

county treasurer a defaulter. The commissioners at once entered suit against Mr. Gilstrop and bondsmen for the amount of the funds he could not produce, but had no intention of pressing the suit so long as there was any probability of the recovery of the funds kept by the Commercial Bank. Treasurer Gilstrop had entered suit against the bank and had attached the bank building to protect the county from loss. The state of affairs was such as to cause a panic among the sureties who had signed the bond with the bank and they withdrew their names. The commissioners then demanded another bond and having every confidence in the integrity and honesty of Mr. Gilstrop, required of him the minimum bond allowed by law. $10,000. After several months' effort, Mr. Gilstrop furnished the bond, but it was found on investigation that only $4,000 of it was good. The commissioners therefore declined to accept it and on September 12, 1895, de- clared the office of treasurer of the county vacant. Mr. Gilstrop made a statement to the board of com- missioners to the effect that he had taken none of the county's money for personal use; that the failure of the commissioners to allow his salary had caused him grievous embarrassment and even suffering; that he had no other source of income than the meagre salary of the office, $83 per month, and being denied this, had been compelled to deprive his family of many of the necessaries of life and had caused them much suf- fering. This statement was known to be true and there was much genuine sympathy with the treasurer on account of the embarrassing circumstances with which he was surrounded. The commissioners, how- ever, were justified in the course they pursued : it was their first duty to protect the county's funds and there was no course of action left open to them other than the one they followed. The office of treasurer remained vacant for some time, but at a meeting in September the commissioners appointed Burt O. Winslow to fill the unexpired term of Mr. Gilstrop.

Educational matters have always received special consideration from the citizens of Latah county. When the county was formed in 1888 there were in exist- ence fifty-eight districts, in all of which were school buildings. In some of the outlying districts the build- ings were of logs, but were commodious. The first schoolhouse north of Clearwater river was erected just east of the present town of Moscow on what is known as the Haskens place, in August, 1879, by George W. Tomer, A. A. and Noah Lieuallen and L. Haskens, who hauled pine logs from the mountains, and them- selves did the work of construction. No lumber was obtainable for flooring, so the first school was taught during the fall and winter of 1871 by Noah Lieuallen on a dirt floor. Mr. Lieuallen received fifty dollars a month for his services. The first school board in this district was composed of A. A. Lieuallen, L. Haskens and George W. Tomer. In order to show the extent of progress made in school work we have compiled some statistics from the annual report of School Su- perintendent L. N. B. Anderson for the year 1895. According to the school census, as enumerated July I, 1895, there were in Latah county 4,787 children of

597

HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

school age. There were 84 districts, two of which were independent and five of which were graded. The schoolhouses numbered 81, all but one of which were owned by the districts. There were thirty male teach- ers at an average wage of $35 per month and forty fe- male teachers at an average wage of $34 a month. The total amount paid teachers this year was $24,858, which was a greater amount than that paid by any other county in the state. The total expenditures for school purposes for the year, including the cost for new building and sites, was $34,019. The bonded in- debtedness of the district amounted to $60,050 and the total value of school property was estimated to be $94,177.

The event of 1896 in Latah county, as in the whole country, was the great national political campaign in which the Bryan forces entered the field, dividing the Democratic party and bringing forward as a para- mount issue the free coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to I. Viewed from a present day standpoint the ex- citement attending that campaign, when we consider the issue, may be said to be phenomenal. Although there are still a few who advocate free coinage, it has ceased to be an issue between the great political parties and if we would refresh our minds on the views of the poli- ticians on this question, we must dig up the old files of newspapers and read the editorials of 1896. At the present day the only visible reminders that tell us of the unparalleled enthusiasm aroused by the silver is- sue, are occasional signboards on the street, such as "The Free Coinage Meat Market, the Sixteen to One Livery Stable, or the Free Silver Saloon."

Three county conventions were held in Moscow, Wednesday, September 23, 1896, and two county tick- ets were put in the field. The Democrats and Popu- lists nominated a joint ticket. Conference commit- tees were appointed soon after the conventions were organized and it was agreed that the Democrats should name two members of the legislature and the county treasurer, while the Populists should name the balance. This arrangement was ratified by both conventions. Nominations were made in separate conventions and were afterward ratified in joint session of the two parties. This joint ticket was known during the cam- paign as the People's-Democratic, and was composed of the following candidates : For representatives, John S. Randolph, Pine creek, John C. Waite, Potlatch, William M. Morgan, Moscow, J. W. Seat, Troy, and John C. Elder. Moscow ; sheriff, William Hunter, Moscow : treasurer. Frank E. Cornwall, Moscow ; pro- bate judge, William Perkins, Moscow : assessor, Per- sifer I. Smith, Genesee ; coroner, Samuel T. Owings; surveyor. Samuel L. Campbell, Moscow ; commission- ers, first district, Marques L. Smith, Palouse precinct. 20 district, Hans Knudson, Thorn Creek, 3d district, Manford W. Harland, American Ridge.

The Silver Republicans in G. A. R. hall chose Dr. Harvey, of Genesce, chairman, and George W. Coutts, Kendrick, secretary. The beliefs of the party were embodied in the following resolution, which was unan- imously adopted .

"Believing firmly that the prosperity of the nation

depends upon the immediate restoration of silver to its old place as constitutional money and demanding that the coining of silver should be free and unlimited at the mints of the United States, we favor the election of William J. Bryan as president of the United States. We indorse the action of Fred T. Dubois and other silver senators in denouncing the national Republican convention at St. Louis, which convention violated all former financial pledges of that party."

The following candidates were placed in nomina- tion for the various county offices: For representa- tives, Rodney P. Drury, Bear creek, Lindol Smith, Moscow, Leonard J. Harvey, Kendrick, Franklin C. McLean and Peter Hoidal, Troy: sheriff, Heury H. Bangs, Thorn creek : probate judge. John B. Easter, Moscow : assessor, Ulysses S. Mix, Mix ; coroner, Wy- lie Lauder, Moscow : surveyor, Henry L. Colts, Mos- cow : commissioners, Ist district, Homer W. Canfield, Palouse precinct. 2d district, George Tegland, Thorn creek, 3d district. John Magee, Kendrick. The Silver Republicans named no candidate for treasurer, but gave their support in the campaign to Burt O. Will- iams, Kendrick, who ran independent for this office.

The regular Republican convention was held Sep- tember 30th. Resolutions were adopted along old, party lines and the St. Louis platform endorsed. While there was little hope of success at the polls, it was desired to keep the county organization alive and a full ticket was nominated as follows: For repre- sentatives, Charles J. Munson, Moscow, Mark A. Means. Genesee, George G. Strong, Cora. Albert J. Green, Moscow, Burtis L. Jenkins, Kendrick: sher- iff, William N. Buchanan, Moscow ; treasurer, George W. Daggett. Genesee; probate judge, John J. Swartz, Moscow : assessor. Archibald Gammel, Juliaetta : cor- oner, Louis A. Torsen, Moscow : surveyor, Theodore P. Calkins, Collins : commissioners, Ist district, George A. Sawyer, Palouse precinct, 2d district. Hans C. J. Tweed. Genesee, 3d district, Oscar Larson, Troy.

State and congressional candidates this year were as follows: For governor, David H. Budlong, Repub- lican, Frank Steunenberg, People's-Democratic and Silver Republican. Moses F. Fowler, Prohibitionist. Candidates for congress were John T. Morrison, Re- publican, James Gunn, People's-Democratic, William Borah. Silver Republican, James T. Smith, Prohibi- tionist. For state senator the Republicans nominated John W. Brigham, the People's-Democratic party nom- inated Thomas F. Nelson, and the Silver Republicans nominated Frank A. David.

The results of the election, at which the People's- Democratic party won a decided victory and which took place November 3d, follows: For congressman, Morrison, 1,003, Gunn. 1.440, Borah, 389, Smith, 21, Gunn's majority in Latah county. 27 : governor, Bud- long. 1,007. Steunenberg, 1,820, Fowler, 21, Steun- enberg's majority. 792: state senator. Brigham, 961, Nelson, 1,560, David, 245. Nelson's majority, 354; representatives, Munson, 988, Means, 974, Strong, 964. Green. 948, Jenkins, 954. Randolph. 1.372, Waite, 1.353. Morgan, 1.391, Seat. 1.398, Elder, 1.477, Drury, 452. Smith, 538. Harvey, 421, McLean, 398. Hoidal,

598

HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

331, Randolph's plurality. 384. Waite's plurality, 379, Morgan's plurality, 427, Seat's plurality, 450, Elder's plurality, 523 : sheriff, Buchanan, 1.004. Hunter, 1,266, Bangs, 610, Hunter's plurality, 262; treasurer, Dag- gett, 858. Cornwall, 1,263, Winslow, 639, Cornwall's plurality, 405 : probate judge, Swartz, 949, Perkins, 1,540, Easter. 499, Perkins' plurality, 391 ; assessor, Archibald Gammell, 989. Smith, 1,300, Mix, 515, Smith's plurality, 311 ; coroner, Torsen, 1,081, Owings, 1,190, Lauder, 444, Owings' plurality, 109; surveyor, Caulkins, 944, Campbell, 1,446, Coats, 330, Campbell's majority. 172; commissioners, Ist district, Sawyer, 947, Smith, 1,369, Canfield, 404, Smith's majority, 18, 2d district, 'I weed, 999, Knudson, 1,388, Tegland, 434, Knudson's plurality, 389, 3d district, Larson, 963, Har- land, 1,367, Magee, 448, Harland's plurality, 404.

By the year 1898 the effects of the panic had in a large measure disappeared, though many mortgages were still held by loan companies on farms and city real estate in Latah county. There was a time when the Northwestern Hypotheek Bank, of Spokane, owned property, obtained by foreclosure proceedings, in almost every township in the county, besides busi- ness buildings and other holdings in nearly all the towns. But the obligations of the farmers and others had been gradually lessened during the preceding two or three years and some measure of former prosperity had returned. In 1898 there were 346,938 acres of pat- ented lands in the county valued for purposes of tax- ation at $1,556,336, which was of course far below the market value. The total value of real property, town and country, was placed at $2,237,268. Assessment was made on 1,252,200 bushels of grain, 119 tons of hay, 651,000 feet of lumber, 20 flour and sawmills and on 16,117 head of stock, which included 4.040 hogs. The wheels of progress were turning with tireless en- ergy and the future held every promise of speedy re- turn to the conditions of 1891 and 1892.

In December, 1901, the Moscow Business Men's Association began the agitation of the proposition to construct and operate the Moscow & Eastern Rail- road from Moscow to the white pine timber region in eastern Latah county and in Shoshone county. The road was promoted in 1898. Preliminary surveys were made and considerable right of way granted, but for some unknown cause operations ceased in the winter of 1898 and since that time no work has been done on the line. Such a road would prove of great advantage to this section, particularly if pushed through the mountains, making connections with eastern lines. The immediate object is, however, to furnish an outlet for the white pine and other saw timber, of which there is an almost inexhaustible supply that the road would make directly tributary to Moscow. The officers of the road were George Creighton, president ; Thomas Grice, vice president ; C. O. Brown, general manager ; R. V. Cozier, legal adviser ; and F. A. Gilbert, treas- urer. The first survey was run from Moscow forty miles east to what is known as Warren's meadows, near Collins, on the Potlatch river. Later a branch was surveyed from Warren's meadows down the Pot- latch to its forks, thence up the east fork to the mouth

of Ruby creek, thence up Ruby creek and over the di- vide into Elk Creek basin, fifty-five miles from Mos- cow. The construction of the road would mean the erection of sawmills here at its junction with the two roads now converging at this point. This is a work of great importance that in all probability will be pushed to completion in the near future.

When war was declared against Spain in the spring of 1898 there was an unusual expression of patriotism and loyalty by the citizens of Latah county. A com- pany of Idaho National Guards existed at Genesee and at the State University at Moscow was a company of cadets. When the call for Idaho troops was made in April by President Mckinley, both companies ten- dered their services to the governor and were accepted. That the reader may appreciate the true spirit of the Latah county volunteers and know the full history of their enlistment and service, we reproduce here the story of the University company, written by one of the cadets, and that of the Genesee company, written for the North Idaho Star :

It is difheult to determine just what it is that impels men to go to war. Whatever it be that inspires men with courage to face hardship, privation, death if need be, appeals to the higher self-the noblest characteristics a man possesses. War times, if they be not times that try men's souls, are certainly times when men's souls are raised to their higher possibilities ; they are the times that make men truer, braver, nobler. True patriotism is a noble unreason, it accepts whatever comes but scorns to consider issues. When a man volunteers his ser- vices to his country he does not think of the dangers he may meet ; or if he does, he considers them as possibilities only. He is as invulnerable as Achilles. If he should be among those left on the field-that is well enough, too.

When the war broke out in the spring the boys in the University like the boys throughout the length and breadth of the land. were filled with a desire to enlist in the army for the invasion of Cuba. As the days passed and the regular troops were hurried to the south, and the country was one blaze of excitement. many of the boys, impatient to see ser- vice, contemplated enlisting in the regular army. The presi- dent's call in the latter part of April, however, made this un- necessary As soon as it was known that Idaho had been called upon for troops, the boys immediately tendered their services to the governor, which offer was accepted. A meet- ing was called for the purpose of forming a University com- pany, and when the meeting adjourned, it was found that nearly every able- bodied cadet was a member of the organ- ization

A physical examination was held to determine the fitness of the volunteers for the hard work they should be required to perform. Many comical incidents are related of tricks re- sorted to by some to pass the requirements. It is on record that one boy who was several pounds under weight. went home on the morning of the examination and ate heartily of baker's bread and drank as much water as he could hold. When the time for examination arrived his weight recorded three pounds on the safe side. When this cadet arrived in Boise he was rejected on account of being under age.

The successtul volunteers met at the Grand Army hall in Moscow to enroll their names. Mlr. F. E. Cornwall of that city had charge of the inatter and enlisted the following uni- versity students: Edward Smith, George A. Snow, Charles H. Armstrong, Clement L. Herhurt, A. J. Macnab, O. S. Hagberg, W. M. Howland, J. E. Jewell, B. E. Burk, E. S. Mautz G. W. Kays, J. I .. Rains. C. Macnab, W. E. Reed, E. P. Martin, P. G. Craig, L. W. Nixon, J. T. Burk, E. I. Foss, R. B. McGregor, P. Teagur, S. P. Burr. W. Taylor, J. Gibb, O. L. Brunzell, A. N. Brunzell, J. M. Herman, N. C. Sheri- dan, W. S. McBride, E. E. Oylear, F. M. Snider, S. Com- stock. I .. Smith, E. L. Barton, C. Henry, W. Boemeke, I. D.

599

HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

Schuh. From the town of Moscow the following were en- listed . J. R. Willard, J. DePartee, F. C. McFarland, A. Hagstrom, W. Harris, T. T. Thornton, R. Isaaes, B. Juvenal. It was a warm, sunshiny day in May when we marched down the main street of Moscow between rows of people who cheered and waved as long as we were in sight. Flags floated from every building, and at every corner the university yell indicated that the institution was well represented in the crowds. At the depot Hon. R. V Cozier delivered an eloquent address. At its close he presented a beautiful flag which was gracefully accepted by Clement L. Herburt in behalf of the company. Rev. Mr. Ghormley then uttered a fervent invo- cation. None of those who were present will forget the scenes that occurred as the eadets bade farewell to their relatives and friends and filed into the car.

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 144

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