An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 145

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 145
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 145
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 145
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 145


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).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175 | Part 176 | Part 177 | Part 178 | Part 179 | Part 180 | Part 181 | Part 182 | Part 183 | Part 184 | Part 185 | Part 186 | Part 187 | Part 188 | Part 189 | Part 190 | Part 191 | Part 192 | Part 193 | Part 194 | Part 195 | Part 196 | Part 197 | Part 198 | Part 199 | Part 200 | Part 201 | Part 202 | Part 203 | Part 204 | Part 205 | Part 206 | Part 207 | Part 208 | Part 209 | Part 210 | Part 211 | Part 212 | Part 213 | Part 214 | Part 215 | Part 216 | Part 217 | Part 218 | Part 219 | Part 220 | Part 221 | Part 222 | Part 223 | Part 224 | Part 225 | Part 226 | Part 227 | Part 228 | Part 229 | Part 230 | Part 231 | Part 232 | Part 233 | Part 234 | Part 235 | Part 236 | Part 237 | Part 238 | Part 239 | Part 240 | Part 241 | Part 242 | Part 243 | Part 244 | Part 245 | Part 246 | Part 247 | Part 248 | Part 249 | Part 250 | Part 251 | Part 252 | Part 253 | Part 254 | Part 255 | Part 256 | Part 257 | Part 258 | Part 259 | Part 260 | Part 261 | Part 262 | Part 263 | Part 264 | Part 265 | Part 266 | Part 267 | Part 268 | Part 269 | Part 270 | Part 271 | Part 272 | Part 273 | Part 274 | Part 275 | Part 276 | Part 277 | Part 278 | Part 279 | Part 280 | Part 281 | Part 282 | Part 283 | Part 284 | Part 285 | Part 286 | Part 287 | Part 288 | Part 289 | Part 290 | Part 291 | Part 292 | Part 293 | Part 294


On arrival at Boise we went into camp on the outskirts of the city. For the first week little attention was given to military discipline and we did just about as we pleased.


On May 17 we underwent a second physical examination. This was a rigid one. but all the Moscow boys succeeded in passing the requirements Several, however, who were under age, were rejected and returned to Moscow. Soon after this examination we were mustered into the service. About this time the regimental and company officers were named and commissioned and the formation of the regiment actively begun.


It was early discovered that the eadet company as a dis- tinet organization could not stand. Idaho had already fur- nished more than twice as many soldiers as her quota called for, so the proposed eight-conpany regiment could not be in- creased. This was a great disappointment to the cadets at the time, for we had hoped as the representatives of the state university to have a university company. The cadet corps under the direction of Lieut Edward R. Chrisman, U. S. A., had long had the reputation of being the best drilled body in the state. When it was found necessary to combine the cadet company with the state militia company of Genesee the Mos- eow boys readily assented to the new arrangement, and though it was a great disappointment at the time, experience has proven that the change was not without advantage. That the Moscow boys were not subjected to a less satisfactory arrange- ment is entirely due to the tireless efforts of Mr. F. E. Corn- wall of Moscow, whose influence and kindness in behalf of the company are gratefully remembered. The company as now formed was as follows :


Captain, Edw. Smith, Moscow: Ist lieutenant Wells E. Gage, Genesee; 2nd lieutenant, James K. Bell, Genesee ; Ist sergeant, Charles II. Armstrong; Q. M. sergeant, Frank C. Harris; 2nd sergeant, Ole G. Hagburg; 3rd sergeant, George A. Snow: 4th sergeant, William Burr; Ist corporal, B. E. Burk; 2nd corporal, J. E. Jewell ; 3rd corporal, E. S. Mautz ; 4th corporal, J. B. Bell; 5th Corporal, C. L. Herburt : 6th Corporal. T M. Osburn; Privates : Howland, Nelson, Addi- son, Badain, Burk, Burr, Carnahan, Caulfield, Comstock, Cor- ran, Craig, Cummings, DePartee. Derbyshire, Foss, Galloway, Gugatt, Ganong, Griffin. Hanson, Harris, Hagstrom, Hays, Herburt, Huber, Isaacs, Jacobs, Johnson, Jottin, Juvenal, Kays, Kennedy, Koenigs, Lansdon, Lillis, Mallory, Malloy, Martin, MeBride, McFarland, McIntyre, Miller, Moore, A. Morton, T. Morton, Nixon, Oylear, Rains, Reed, Richardson, A. Rick- etts, T. Ricketts, Sheridan, Simms, Senter, F. Snider, Seelig. D. Snider, F. Smith, L. Smith, Teagur, Thornton, Tucker, Vallet, Willard, Wyekoff, Yager.


After the regiment was formed, military rule was in- stituted and we began the military life in earnest. Some of us were temporarily outfitted from the stores of moth-eaten uniforms in the store house at the capitol building. These uniforms were of such ridiculous eut and make that the caps were about the only part of them that fitted. Big men squeezed into coats that were but half their size, and others donned trousers that made hazardous any movement from the perpendienlar. Very few men succeeded in getting both trousers and coat, in fact it did not matter much just so he got some piece of military insignia. We had no guns except when on guard, and these were cavalry guns that had evidently not been burdened with care, and whose chief usefulness was


for ornamental purpose's Fortunately our turns at guard duty came but seldom.


On May 18th amidst the wildest enthusiasm ever known in Boise the regiment left for San Francisco where it was to form part of the expeditionary forces to Manila. We arrived in San Francisco on Sunday, May 22d, and went into eamp at the old Bay District race track, at that time called Camp Merritt.


The history of Company D and the list of engage- ments in which it took part, written for the North Idaho Star, is as follows :


Among the many eities in Idaho, which, at the call for volunteers for the Spanish-American war, sent forth a mili- tary organization, Genesee has no small place. The martial spirit seems to have prevailed in it from the commencement.


Four years previous to the organization of Company "D." Company "L," was organized with 55 members and the fol- lowing officers :


Captain, A. A. Haymond ; first lieutenant, Bert Winslow ; second lieutenant, A. J. Craig.


It saw active service in the Coeur d'Alene region at the time of the strike, in 1892. Thirty-three of its members were there for the period of sixteen days. With all military com- panies of the state it was disbanded in 1893.


In the summer of that year. Company "D." its successor, and in which many of its members were included, was or- ganized, with the following officers :


Captain, Charles H. Hough : Ist lieutenant, J. L. Conant ; 211d lieutenant, P. W. MeRoberts.


Later on Conant was appointed major and regimental surgeon. and MeRoberts regimental quartermaster ; and W. E. Gage and J. M. Arrant were elected to fill the respective offices vacated by said appointments.


The fourth year of the company having expired in 1897, it was reorganized in the winter of 1898 with the following officers :


Captain, P. W. McRoberts : first lieutenant, W. E. Gage; second lieutenant, J. K. Bell.


In spite of the almost insurmountable difficulties in the way of the maintenance of a military organization in a small center of population and without aid from the state it sur- vived.


At the commencement of the war E. A. MeKenna. one of its members, was lieutenant colonel of the First regiment of Idaho; and at San Francisco, on the eve of his departure to the Philippines he was appointed by the government to the office of captain in the United States Volunteer signal corps.


At the reorganization at Boise, E. D. Smith, of Moscow, was appointed captain of Company "D" in the place of Mc- Roberts, who was appointed captain of Company "A."


The morning when the company left Genesee for service in the war with Spain will be long remembered. Those who had seen its members during the winter, meeting weekly for drill, and had wondered if they would be so enthusiastic if called on for active service, were agreeably surprised at their eagerness to be at the front.


Bidding adieu to relatives and townsmen they marched away to Moscow, to receive recruits from among the cadets of the State University, and to go whithersoever Old Glory should lead.


Their famous charge over the rice fields of Luzon. in which fell the gallant McConville, whose career was on that ad- vancing erest of battle ended in a blaze of glory, to the admiration of his comrades in arms, and the grateful remem- brance of his state and nation, is a matter of perpetual record.


The company returns from over the sea with none lost in battle and hut two by disease. namely Ole J. Hagberg and James Ganony. Its record is without stain. Genesee, the place of its origin, and Moscow, which sent so many of its brave sons with it, await its coming. to express in a suitable manner their appreciation.


The First Idaho Volunteer Infantry, to which Company D belonged was organized and mustered into service of the


600


HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.


U'nited States at Camp Stevenson. Boise, Idaho, during the months of April and May. 1898, being formed with the Idaho National Guard as a nucleus.


The regiment left Boise on May 18, 1898, and arrived at San Francisco May 21, marching to Camp Merritt, where it remained equipping and drilling until June 27. June 27, em- barked on the U. S. transport Morgan City for the Philippine Islands. Landed at Honolulu July 6, and was entertained by the citizens at the "Queens Palace" July 7. Reembarked July 9. an l arrived in Manila Bay July 31. August 6 landed at Paranaque, P. I., and marched to Camp Dewey. August 9 and 10 were in the trenches, and on August 13 took part in the assault and capture of Manila. Were quartered at "Quartel de Malate," Manila, from August 13, 1898, to February 4, 1809. On October 11 the 2nd battalion changed quarters to the exposiion building, Manila, and on January 2, with Co. "F" changed quarters to the "Cockpit," Paco, Manila, where regimental quarters were maintained until July 29.


From August 13, 189S, to February 5, 1899, the regiment did outpost duty at Frmita. Paco. Singalon and blockhouses Nos. 11, 12 and 13. During this time the regiment was drilled and performed the regular routine duty of barrack life.


On the night of February 4. the regiment was in the sup- port at blockhouse No. 11, and on February 5 took part in the battle of Santa Ana, Companies "F." "H" and "D," under Ma- joi Figgins, going to the right of the San Pedro Macati road and "G," "C" and "B," under Major McConville, going to the left. "A" and "E" being on provo duty in Malate, but joined the regiment on February 7.


Or February 7 Companies "A." "C" and "B" took part in a scout expedition several miles in front of San Pedro Macati. On February 10 the regiment took part in the battle of Caloo- can, and on February 11 and 12 was engaged before Malabon and returned to quarters February 13. On February 14 Com- panies "D" and "C" were ordered to San Pedro Macati, and on February 15 took part in a scout in front of Guadaloupe. "D" and "C" were engaged at Gandaloupe February 16, 17 and 18, being under continuous hre for over sixty hours.


On February 19 Companies "A," "C," "D," "E," "F," and "H" were moved to Gumbo Point, where they constructed trenches and remained until June 25, occupying different posi- tions on the line. During this time the regiment was exposed to an irregular fire and took part in several skirmishes.


Companies "B" and "G" were on provo duty at San Alignel, Manila from February 13 to March 19, when they joined the regiment at Gumbo Point.


On April & Companies "D)," "F," "C" and "A" and forty picked sharpshooters accompanied Gen. Lawton on the Laguna de Bay expedition and took part in the assault and capture of Santa Ana April 8 and 10 and engaged in skirmishes at Pan- gastan, April 1I, Pangas April 12, and Paete, April 13.


On June 25 the Idaho regiment moved to the trenches near San Fedro Inacate and on July 12 was ordered to Manila to prepare to return to the United States.


Embarked on the U. S. A. T. Grant, July 29 and sailed by way of Japan and Inland Sea, July 31.


On the return of the company to Latah county, they were given a fitting reception. There was the wildest enthusiasm over the boys who had helped to win for the Idaho volunteers, by fearless and patriotic service, a name that was given a place of honor in the annals of the war departinent and shall never perish from the memories of those who cheered them on their de- parture and again cheered them on their return.


About seven o'clock P. M., December 15, 1899, oc- curred one of the worst railroad wrecks in the acci- dent history of the Northern Pacific Railroad Com- pany. The scene of the wreck was Kendrick, twenty- six miles southeast of Moscow. From Howell's sta- tion to Kendrick and beyond that town there is a four per cent. grade, a decline of four feet in every one hun- dred. On the date above mentioned an extra "double-


header" train was sent over the road from Spokane, under charge of Conductor W. E. Galbraith, of Spo- kane ; Engineers A. J. Ogden and A. E. Bain : Fire- men Earl Bradshaw and Mr. Peterman; Brakemen Benjamin Baker, John Budge and F. O. Lemons. The train consisted of eighteen cars of steel rails, gross weight of each thirty-three tons, one car of gas pipe, about the same weight, and the caboose, twenty cars in all. It was snowing and the snow was melting, making the tracks slippery, and a short distance out of Troy the crew lost control of the train. Conductor Galbraith and Brakeman Baker were in the caboose and when they saw that the train was entirely beyond their control, in order to save their own lives, they pulled the coupling pin and cut the caboose from the train six or seven miles below Troy. The remainder of the train dashed on down the canyon at great speed and left the track, plunging into the Potlatch river at the curve just above the depot at Kendrick. Here locomotives and cars were piled up in an indescribable mass and here engineers, firemen and brakemen met a sudden but terrible death, the two members of the crew who were with the caboose alone escaping with their lives. One brakeman was taken from the debris, torn and mangled but still alive, and removed to a hotel, where he died a few days later. The bodies of the remainder of the crew were rescued a few hours after the accident, with the exception of that of Fire- man Bradshaw, which was not recovered until the 22d, when it was found heneath one of the locomotives.


There were two inquests held, one on the 16th over the remains of those first recovered and one on the 22d over the remains of Earl Bradshaw. The inquests were held by Coroner Samuel T. Owings, of Mos- cow. in the city hall at Kendrick. The first jury was composed of Charles Hamlin, D. E. Thames, W. O. Long. Lewis Hunter, J. H. Ellis, S. Mellison and W. G. Campbell. This jury termed the wreck an un- avoidable accident. The Bradshaw jury was composed of L. L. Carmean, Math. Jacobs, John S. Crocker, S. A. Kerr, J. Kasper, T. H. Powell and John Mark. Their verdict was that the deceased came to his death through negligence on the part of the employees of the railroad company. There has always existed a clifferenee of opinion as to where the responsibility for the wreck should rest. The railroad is censured for running such a heavy train down so steep a grade in such weather as was prevailing and with crews that, although they had been over the division a few times previously, were not regularly on this branch and therefore could not have realized as fully as would a regular crew the risks they were facing. The com- pany discharged Conductor Galbraith and Brakeman Baker, on the grounds that had they not cut off the ca- boose the speed of the train would not have been so great on reaching the Kendrick curve and would prob- ably have passed it in safety. While a number of minor accidents have since occurred to freight trains on this grade, this is the only one of great magnitude since the building of the road in 1890.


The Prohibition party entered the political cam- paign of 1898 and nominated candidates for most of


601


HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.


the county offices. A mass convention was held at the court house, September 17th. E. R. Headley was chosen chairman and W. T. Matthews, secretary. At the afternoon session the ticket was nominated as follows: Auditor, Mrs. Sarah O. Creekmur, Mos- cow ; sheriff, Henry Nelson, Genesee ; assessor, H. M. Asbury, Moscow ; school superintendent, Mrs. Cora Greenstreet, Troy ; probate judge, William Perkins, Moscow ; treasurer, Mrs. M. Ida Moody, Moscow ; Coroner, Alexander A. Campbell, Moscow ; sur- veyor, George Campbell. Moscow; state sena- tor, Edwin R. Headley, Moscow; representa- tives, Warren B. Carruthers, N. Beardsley, William P. Matthews, Charles S. Puntenney and Rev. Hewey ; commissioners, Ist district, Herbert Haskel, 2d district, H. C. McFarland. 3d district, Charles Yockey. Of those nominated, Henry Nelson, for sheriff, was the candidate on the Populist ticket and George Campbell, for surveyor, was on the same ticket. The nomina- tion for county attorney was left open and a committee appointed to fill the vacancy at a later day. Resolutions were adopted condemning the present license system and recommending prohibition laws in county, state and nation.


The Populists refused to fuse with the other par- ties as they had done in 1896, but met in convention in July and nominated a full ticket. The Democratic and Silver Republican central committees met June 9th and passed resolutions advocating the fusion of all the silver forces and later nominated a full fusion ticket. The officers of the July Populist convention had certified their ticket to the county auditor as the "People's party ticket." The Democrats and Silver Republicans claimed that their fusion ticket was the People's party ticket and insisted in so certifying it to the auditor. As two sets of candidates could not le- gally enter the field under one party name, the filing could not be allowed. The candidates on the Populist ticket were then invited to resign, which they de- clined to do. The law governing resignations from tickets is as follows :


"Sec. 38. Whenever any person nominated for any public office as in this act provided, shall at least thirty days before election, except in the case of mu- nicipal elections, in a writing signed by him, and cer- tified to by the registrar of the precinct where the per- son nominated resides, notify the officer with whom the certificate nominating him is by this act required to be filed, that he declines such nomination, such nomina- tion shall be void."


None of these of the July convention having re- signed and the time in which they could legally take their names off the ticket having expired, Auditor Woodworth refused to take off any of the nominees and fill the vacancies with the fusion nominees. He wrote the attorney general for advice, but not receiv- ing it in time, it was finally decided that the matter should be submitted to Judge Piper on a writ of man- date. So on Wednesday, October 12th, Auditor Woodworth, with S. S. Denning for counsel, and Clay McNamee and Willis Sweet for the writ, repaired to Lewiston. Judge Piper granted a hearing that night


and with scarcely any deliberation at all ordered the writ to issue in defiance of the plain provision of the statute quoted above. The result of Judge Piper's de- cision was that the fusion names go upon the Populist ticket. The ticket known in the campaign as the Fu- sion ticket was as follows :


For county attorney, Clay McNamee, Moscow ; state senator, Frank C. McLean : representatives, Lin- dol Smith, Moscow, George W. Coutts, Kendrick, Manford W. Harland, Kendrick, David Spurbeck, Genesee, and William J. Seat, Troy ; clerk and auditor, William H. Clark, Moscow : commissioners, Ist dis- trict, Alexander A. Anderson, Palouse precinct, 2d district. Orton W. Beardsley, Moscow, 3d district, Nicholas Brocke, Troy; sheriff, James D. Hunter, Moscow : treasurer, Frank E. Cornwall, Moscow ; pro- bate judge, Ralph T. Morgan, Moscow ; superintendent of schools, Miss Effie E. Plummer, Kendrick ; asses- sor, John F. Brown ; coroner, Adolph F. Wohlenberg, Genesee : suveyor, Daniel W. Hannah, Moscow.


The Republican convention was held at Moscow, September 6th, Judge Truitt, chairman, and Dr. Pem- berton, of Kendrick, secretary. After passing reso- lutions endorsing the administration of President Mc- Kinley and pledging the party to the support of the Republican national doctrines and a wise administra- tion of county affairs, the convention nominated the following ticket : County attorney, Harvey R. Smith, Moscow ; representatives, Burton L. French, Juliaetta, Charles J. Munson, Moscow, Robert Bruce, Palouse precinct, Adrian Nelson, Moscow, and George W. Daggett, Genesee; clerk and auditor, 'Oscar Larson, Troy ; commissioners, ist district, John H. Horton, Palouse precinct, 2d .district, Hans C. J. Tweedt, Gen- esee, 3d district. A. H. Charles, Troy ; sheriff, William Buchanan, Cornwall ; treasurer, Elmina E. Fry, Mos- cow ; probate judge, J. R. Strong, Cora :. superintend- ent of schools, Mattie Heading, Moscow ; assessor, A. Gammell, Juliaetta; coroner, James Johnson, Moscow ; surveyor, Theodore P. Caulkins, White Pine. Congres- sional, state and judicial candidates were as follows : Congressman, Edgar Wilson, Democrat, James Gunn, People's party, Weldon B. Heyburn, Republican, Will- iam J. Boone, Prohibition ; governor, Frank Steunen- berg, Fusion, James H. Anderson, People's party, Al- bert B. Moss, Republican, Mrs. Mary C. Johnson, Pro- hibition : judge second judicial district, Frank L. Moore Democrat. Willis Sweet, Silver Republican, Edgar C. Steele. Republican.


The following is the record of votes cast at the election, November 8th: For congressman, Wilson 870, Gunn 628, Heyburn 1,599, Boone 198, Heyburn's plurality 729; governor. Steunenberg 869. Anderson 565. Moss 1,696. Mrs. Johnson 229, Moss's plurality 817: judge second judicial district, Moore 869, Sweet 886, Steele 1,422, Steele's plurality 536; county at- torney, McNamee 1,421, Smith 1,811, Smith's ma- jority 390: state senator, McLean 1,315, Brigham 1,528, Headley 320, Brigham's plurality 213; repre- sentatives, Smith 1,456, Coutts 1,377, Harland 1,427, Spurbeck 1,372, Seat 1,321, French 1,879, Munson 1,538. Bruce 1,347, Nelson 1,508, Daggett 1,518, Car-


602


HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.


ruthers 209, Beardsley 250, Puntenney 282, Matthews 268, Towne 269, French's plurality 423. Munson's plurality 91, Bruce's plurality 20, Nelson's plurality 61, Daggett's plurality 71 ; clerk and auditor, Clarke 1,385, Larson, 1,743, Mrs. Creekmur 215, Larson's majority 57 ; commissioners, Ist district, Anderson 1,366, Hor- ton 1,552, Haskell 225, Horton's plurality 186. 2d dis- trict, Beardsley 1,459, Tweedt 1.520, McFarland 238, Tweedt's plurality 61, 3d district, Brockel 404, Charles 1.552, Yockey, 1,512, Charles' plurality 148; sheriff, Hunter 1,353, Nelson 533, Buchanan 1,539, Buchanan's plurality 186; treasurer, Cornwall 1,394, Fry 1.769, Moody 176, Fry's majority 199; probate judge, Mor- gan 1,135, Strong 1,410. Perkins 705, Strong's plur- ality 75; school superintendent, Miss Plummer 1,314, Miss Headington 1,989, Miss Headington's majority 675; assessor, Brown 1.384. Gammell 1,587, Asbury 270, Gammell's plurality 203; coroner. Wohlenberg 1.276, Johnson 1,633, Campbell 254, Johnson's ma- jority 103; surveyor, Hannah 1.409. Caulkins 1.464. Campbell 1,326, Caulkins' plurality 55.


By an amendment to the school laws the offices of probate judge and superintendent of schools were sep- arated and at this election the first regular county su- perintendent of schools was elected in the person of Miss Mattie Headington. The election was a decided victory for the Republicans, showing that many had already left the ranks of the free silver advocates and had returned to former party affiliations.


According to the census of 1900 Latah county had a population of 13.451. The total valuation of prop- erty in 1899 was $4,011,387 ; this was reduced in 1900 to $3,810,120. The thirty-six miles of railroad in the county were assessed on a total valuation of $233,625 ; 113 miles of telegraph and telephone lines were as- sessed at $5,574 ; grain and hay at $2,452 ; live stock at $221,698 ; lumber, saw logs, wood and ties at $8,852 ; and twenty-seven flour and sawmills at $19.285. In- dustrial enterprises enjoyed .a season of prosperity, crops were good and prices fair, and the county had by this time recovered almost entirely from the dis- aster of the early 'ninties. A combination of warm weather and Chinook winds early in March precipi- tated the snows in the mountains, causing a sudden rise in the Potlatch and other streams in the southeast- ern part of the county and resulted in the loss of a few bridges, some damage to mills and dams, and con- siderable damage to the road bed and tracks of the Northern Pacific Railroad, both above and below Ken- drick. A large force of men were set at work in the canyon and the grade was raised above high water mark, since which time no flood disasters have been experienced.


Every year has witnessed an increase in the atten- tion given to educational matters. The annual meet- ings of the teachers' association have been events in which all classes have manifested special attention. On April 7, 1900, a convention was held at Kendrick for the purpose of discussing educational affairs. At this convention papers were read by professors from the State University and from the high schools of the county, as well as from teachers in the district schools.


By the discussion and comparison of methods, ines- timable good has been accomplished and the schools of the county have been raised to a standard of perfec- tion unsurpassed by those of any other county in the state. The enrollment for 1900 was 5,290 pupils, for whose instruction 139 teachers were employed at a cost to the county of $26,540. In the libraries of vari- ous schools there were 1,000 volumes. The bonded district indebtedness was $41,625, on which interest was paid to the amount of $9,275. The total expendi- ture for school purposes this year was $46,848.


The history of the rise and fall of Populism in Latah county covers the years 1892 to 1900, inclusive. The following in 1900 was comparatively small, how- ever, and in the selection of candidates by the fusion conventions the Populists had but little voice. There was in the political campaign of 1900 a Fusion ticket, a Republican and a Prohibition ticket. The remnants of the Silver party and that of the Populists joined forces with the Democrats and placed a full ticket in the field. The election resulted in a victory for the Republicans, although not complete, as the Fusion- ists elected state senator, three representatives, county attorney, commissioners in the first and second dis- tricts, and surveyor. The Republicans elected two rep- resentatives, commissioner in the third district, sher- iff, treasurer. probate judge, school superintendent, assessor and coroner. The following are the names of those who appeared on the Fusion party ticket: State senator, Frank L. Moore, Moscow; representatives, Anderson B. Crawford, Little Potlatch, John F. Og- den, Troy. William Hunter, Moscow, Henry H. Bangs, Thorn creek, Porter D. Sardam, Palouse precinct ; county attorney, George W. Coutts, Kendrick; com- missioners, Ist district, Landon C. Irvine, 2d district, Orton W. Beardsley, Moscow, 3d district, Frank Ben- scotter. Bear creek; sheriff, Michael Driscoll, Amer- ican ridge; treasurer, Levi T. Hammond, Moscow ; probate judge, William T. Griffin, Moscow : school su- perintendent. Effie E. Plummer ; assessor, William R. Belvail ; coroner, Peter S. Beck ; surveyor, Daniel W. Hannah, Moscow.




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.