An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 149

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 149
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 149
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 149
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 149

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property at Kendrick was $96.980 and the tax levy was eight mills. In 1898 one hundred and twenty- seven car-loads of fruit were shipped from Kendrick. This has more than doubled since.

The adaptability of the soil and climate to fruit raising has been taken advantage of. The elevation is lower than the Palouse country. High mountains to the north afford protection from the cold winds while the warm winds from the Columbia and Clear- water valleys are an advantage. Potlatch fruit is famous. Irrigation is unnecessary. The fruit from the Potlatch has won first prize at the Spokane inter- state fair. At the world's fair at Chicago a medal and diploma were awarded John Hepler for the best ex- hibit of pomaceous fruits, eight varieties of apples free from blemishes and defects. Apples, prunes, cherries and the berry crop do especially well al- though all fruits give immense yields.

The soil is a rich black loam from eighteen inchies to four feet deep, underlying which is a stratam of clay which keeps the moisture from seeping away. Corn does well, sorghum sugar cane and all vegetables thrive. Wheat yields from 35 to 40 bushels per acre. One tract of 80 measured acres returned an average of 60 bushels per acre. Oats, barley, rye and flax return immense crops. Many have already made fortunes on the farms and orchards of the Potlatch country and the district has not begun to be developed. Rich min- ing and timbered districts to the east are also tribu- tary to the town. A recent suminary of the distribu- tion of crops in the country tributary to Kendrick follows: Wheat acreage. 28,000 ; barley, 5,000 acres; oats, 5,000 acres ; flax, 2,000 acres ; corn, 1,000 acres ; beans, 1,000 acres ; other vegetables, 1,500 acres ; ap- ples. 3.316 acres ; prunes, 084 acres ; peaches, 185 acres ; pears, 292 acres : grapes, 75 acres ; plums, 92 acres ; strawberries and other small fruits, 104 acres.

Naturally with such a rich tributary country the business institutions of the town are in a prosperous condition. One of the chief instituions is the flour mill, which comprises a plant valued at $30,000. It is owned and operated by the Vollmer-Clearwater Com- pany and has a large output which finds a ready mar- ket. There is a bank, organized in 1890 by Capt. J. M. Walker and his son, R. M. Walker. It was first called the Bank of Kendrick and was run by them until July, 1892, when it was absorbed by the First Na- tional Bank of Kendrick, capital $50,000, organized under the national banking laws. F. N. Gilbert was president and Math Jacobs, cashier. The institution May 1, 1899, surrendered its charter, preferring to do business as a state bank and has since operated as the Kendrick State bank. Its officers are Math Jacobs, president ; F. N. Gilbert, vice-president. A. Gordon, cashier and P. R. Jacobs, assistant cashier. H. P. Hull conducts a large general store, with complete lines such as are usually found in an interior depart- ment store. The telephone office is located in that store. Mr. Hull is also a notary public. There are two large hardware and implement stores, each of which is enjoying a large trade. One is conducted by the Lincoln Hardware & Implement Company and

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the other by McCrea Bros. & Company. D. J. Row- lands has a large general merchandise store. Hun- ter Brothers are the leading furniture dealers and have an undertaking establishment in connection. There are two large stores devoted to drygoods and clothing. One is run by Haizlep & Norman and the other by M. C. McGrew. Both carry large stocks and enjoy a prosperous and growing business. The hotel business of Kendrick is in the hands of Mrs. C. S. Miller. She has leases on both the Pacific and St. Elmo hotels. The Star restaurant is conducted by Mrs. Mamie Murphy. Hamley & Co., dealers in har- ness and saddles, carry one of the largest stocks in those lines of any store in Idaho. A large butcher shop is conducted by the Idaho Meat and Provision Company, of which J. M. Wild is proprietor. Other lines of business are represented as follows: . An- drew Hill, dealer in fuel, ice and shingles, who oper- ates a dray and express line : Kendrick livery stables. Charles Chandler, proprietor ; William Hunter, black- smith ; Star barber shop, W. B. Crews, proprietor : A. W. Cobb, barber ; Kendrick lumber yard, D. S. Hun- ter. proprietor, recently burned but will be rebuilt ; The Palace meat market: Lorang & Wolhtmann, dealers in tobacccos and cigar manufacturers; The White drug store, C. A. White & Co., proprietors ; A. P. Hamley, photographer ; J. T. Moser, dentist : John Benjamin, livery and feed stables; L. A. Kerr, jewel- ry: Kendrick brick yard: Potlatch Land Company, real estate. G. W. Suppinger and H. E. Wessels. pro- prietors : C. M. Lukens, real estate, notary public and justice of the peace : Kendrick Realty Company, C. W. Suppinger, attorney-at-law ; St. Elmo bar, O. E. Wey- mouth, proprietor. Large grain w warehouses are owned by the Tacoma Grain Company and Ketten- bach & Co., Ltd. There are two excellent papers. The Canyon Echo is owned and edited by E. E. Al- derman. Mackintosh & Weber are owners and pub- lishers of the Kendrick Gazette.

The present officers of the town are as follows : Mayor, J. I. Mitchem and J. S. Crocker, J. T. Bibb, H. P. Hull and H. N. Nelson, trustees: Miss Cora Crow, treasurer : Charles Weber, street commissioner : and D. B. Mackintosh, clerk. The salary of Post- master Hamlev has been recently increased from $1,000 to $1, 100 per annum by reason of increased earn- ings of the office. Notice has been received that two free rural deliveries will be established this year run- niing from Kendrick. The present year has been one of great growth and prosperity. New buildings to a considerable number have been erected. C. W. Van Pelt, proprietor of the Leland flour mills, is figuring on putting in a water power plant at a point a few miles up the Potlatch from Kendrick, where he will install electrical machinery and produce current to furnish light and electric power for Kendrick and neighbor- ing towns. This industry will probably be the fore- runner of many others which will make use of the abundant water power. In closing it is proper that mention should be made of the Kendrick Business Men's Association, to which great credit must be given for the past growth of the town and its terri-

tory and who are active, enthusiastic and determined to continue the good work. The officers of the as- sociation are, president, G. W. Suppinger ; vice-presi- cent, M. C. McGrew ; secretary, L. F. Hare ; treasurer, A. W. Gordon. The executive committee consists of M. C. McGrew, L. F. Hare, H. P. Hull, T. A. Hun- ter and M. C. Normoyle. There are subcommittees on immigration, roads, mines and manufacturing, statistics, etc. With such an organization, with its commanding position with regard to the rich terri- tory of which it is the center and trade metropolis, the future of Kendrick seems assuredly a prosperous one.

GENESEE.

Genesee, probably the greatest wheat market in the famous Palouse country, is located at the termi- nus.of the Northern Pacific Railway, 113 miles south- east of Spokane. Built on a hill overlooking the Genesee valley, the "Garden Spot of the Palouse," it commands a view of the snowclad mountains of three states. Its location is healthful, natural drain- age perfect, water abundant and of excellent quality. The population is 1,200 and is steadily growing. Most of its business blocks are substantial brick struc- tures. It has excellent schools and churches, a city park, telephones locally and with long line connec- tions and a franchise has been recently granted for an electric light plant. An active Chamber of Commerce looks after the material advancement of the city and under its stimulus street paving and other improve- ments are projected. There are excellent advantages offered for the starting of new enterprises such as a fruit cannery, straw board factory, paper mill, cracker factory and a starch factory.

The Genesee valley lies directly north of the Lew- iston valley. Speaking of the naming of this beau- tiful little vale of Latah county, Idaho, John P. Voll- mer, the Lewiston banker and merchant said: "Dur- ing the summer of 1870, Alonzo Leland, later editor of the Lewiston Teller, a man named Stone, who was the O. R. & N. agent for their steamboat line, and myself went one day for a drive over the high prairie north of the Clearwater river. There was but one habitation in all that vast country then, Cald- well & Hall's cattle ranch at the summit of the Clear- water bluff. As we drove along we passed down Cow creek and through a sequestered little valley still in its natural state, Stone exclaimed: 'This reminds me of my old home, the Genesee valley in New York state.' The suggestion was made that we so name it and from that time on it bore that name. When Le- land started his newspaper he always referred to this valley by the name of Genesee and so it became uni- versally known by that appellation. Some time in 1871 Jacob Cambitch took a ranch on Cow creek, so that he may be termed the pioneer of Genesee.

"Settlement was slow until 1872 and in that year quite an immigration to this prairie country took place and the first large settlement was made. From that time on scores flocked to the 'Hog Heaven' country, as the country around Moscow was known in early days,

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and soon Nez Perces county north of the Clear- water numbered several hundred people. In 1875 Curtis started a town about a mile east of the present town of Genesee, which soon became a thriving village. Our company established the first general store there. Just who owned this townsite I do not remember, as it stood near the corner of four sections, but probably R. H. Beeman, James Hansen, John H. Evans and Mr. Curtis were the men. In 1886 A. M. Cannon, A. W. Newberry, Paul F. Mohr, myself and others organized the Spokane & Palouse Railway. That year the road was constructed to Belmont. Then it was pushed to Marshall Junction and in 1888 we built our terminus at Genesee. About the time we decided to extend the road to Genesee that townsite fell into the hands of Jacob Rosenstein whom, we thought, asked too much for right-of-way privileges and grounds. We naturally objected and the result was that I purchased a tract of forty acres from J. H. Evans a mile west of the old town and laid out the new town, calling it Genesee also. When the railroad came through, it stopped one mile west of the old town. This immediately broke up the old town and Jacob Rosentein headed the removal to the new town by moving his store over on wheels. Soon the old town was a relic of the past. Our company re-established our store in the new town, the railroad company built a roundhouse and laid out quite a yard system and the population of the town jumped to sev- eral hundred people within a comparatively short time."

Two pioneers of the old town not mentioned in the above, were A. Levi, who established a general store in 1878, and E. T. Platt who was the pioneer attor- ney and was also justice of the peace.

The first business structure in the present town was put up by J. S. Larabee, hardware dealer and the second by W. J. Herman, general merchandise. J. J. Owen moved a 16x24 frame house there from Mos- cow, which was the first shingle roof house in the town. William Brown with his own labor put up a building and opened the pioneer barber shop. C. F. Burr was the pioneer real estate dealer there and George Stelz the first building contractor. All are still residents of Genesee. The first school was established in the old town in 1879. D. Spurbeck, Mr. Mark- ham and William Evans were the first board of direc- tors and Mr. Dent was the teacher. The latter was paid $150 for teaching a three months' term. The town was incorporated October 23, 1889, with the following first trustees : J. C. Martin, W. C. Cox, W. J. Her- man, J. J. Owen and E. S. Cameron. The metes and bounds description of the townsite is as follows : Commencing at the northeast corner of the northeast quarter of section 14,. in township 37, north of range 5 west of Boise meridian ; thence running south 3.300 feet ; thence west half a mile: thence north 530 feet ; thence in a southwesterly direction 1.520 feet ; thence north 1810 feet; thence east 140 feet; thence north 140 feet ; thence east 1380 feet ; thence north 1110.95 feet ; thence east half a mile to place of beginning. The city's finances arc and have ever been in first- class condition, and civic improvements have kept

pace with the steady growth of the town. As a home city Genesee possesses many advantages. Climatic conditions are almost ideal. Its location is about 2,200 feet above sea level, but mountains in all direc- tions keep out the storms and cold indigenous to less favored regions and at the same time render the air absolutely pure and wholesome. The population is mixed, consisting of large settlements of Germans, Scandinavians, Irish and native born Americans.

The public schools of Genesee are among the best in Idaho. There are 376 pupils enrolled. A large school house was built in May, 1891, to which an ad- dition was made ten years later. Prof. Hattzell Cobb has been principal of the schools since 1894. His as- sistants are Miss Bessie Wilson of the grammar de- partment ; Mrs. C. Spurbeck, third grade; Mrs. Mary Cool, fourth grade; Miss Lulu French, fifth and six grades, and Miss Maud Burdick, primary department. The salaries paid are $92.50 per month to the princi- pal, $55 in the grammar grade, $50 in the primary department and $47.50 in the grades. The total valua- tion of public school property is $7,000. A private school is also conducted by Sisters of the Catholic church. The University of Idaho and the normal school of that state and the Agricultural College of Washington are all within 30 miles of Genesee and readily accessible to those desiring the benefit of higher education. The Genesec schools are in charge of the following board: President, Dr. P. S. Beck ; secretary, Herman Nebelsieck; William Smolt, Fred Nagel, George Mochel and Paul Cann. Genesee is also favored in the matter of church privileges. It lias six church organizations, each of which owns its own edifice and whose congregations are active in religious work. The pulpits are filled by able men. These churches are the Catholic, Methodist Episcopal Church South, Christian, Congregational, Norwegian Lutheran and German Lutheran. Sunday schools and the various young peoples religious societies have good memberships. Fraternal and social organizations are well represented, there being prosperous lodges of the following orders : Ma- sons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias. Wood- men of the World, Maccabees, Red Men, Ar- canum, Rathbone Sisters, Rebekahs, Ancient Order of Pyramids and Young Men's Institute. There is also a G. A. R. post with the following officers : P. C .. J. J. Owen; S. V., Pat Ryan ; J. V., George Daggett, and adjutant, J. E. Reed. There is also a Woman's Relief Corps. An excellent weekly news- paper, the News, has aided materially in the growth of the city. It was established in 1889. Charles Powers, the present editor, took charge in 1892. From a small beginning Mr. Powers has built up an excel- lent paper and has a first class equipment to handle all kinds of printing. The paper is Republican in politics.

Genesee derives its support from

the rich agricultural and horticultural districts surround-

ing it. Its growth has been coincident with the development of these natural resources. The same appearance of thrift and prosperity which

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

characterizes the town and its schools, churches, handsome residences and substantial business structures is apparent in a marked degree in the country. Nice farm buildings are the rule rather than the exception. The Genesee valley is embraced with- in the eastern part of the famous Palouse district and in extent and production easily takes first rank. The territory tributary to Genesee embraces a considerable area of the best lands on the Nez Perces Indian reser- vation. This is due to the topography of the country, a long, high hill on the north and deep river canyons to the east and south acting as natural barriers. The country is rolling but nearly all is capable of culti- vation and of great fertility. The lands of Latalı county produce enormous crops of wheat, oats, barley and flax and almost every variety of tree and small fruits. In the production of apples no section can excel this and few equal it. The trees bear regularly and are loaded with fruit. Size, color and flavor are perfect and make them in great demand for shipping. They find a ready demand in the markets of Mon- tana and further east and at remunerative prices. All kinds of vegetables do equally well with the fruits and cereals. Dairying and poultry raising are sources of great revenue. Of late stock raising has been taken up and with such success that it is growing to be an important industry.

Natural rainfall is sufficient for all purposes. Lit- tle rain falls from June until September, but the spring rains have never failed to insure bountiful harvests. No crop failure has ever been known in the Genesee valley. The farmer expects 40 or more bushels of wheat to the acre as his right and is not disappointed. Sandy soil is unknown; so is waste land. The soil is a rich black loam of volcanic origin, lava mixed with clay, a combination which 30 years of severe trial has demonstrated to be of unrivalled productiveness and practically inexhaustible quality. It covers the country, a mantle of fertility from 18 inches to six feet in depth even to the tops of the highest hills. Every parcel of land for miles around can be cultivated and this without irrigation, as the great capacity of the soil for retaining moisture en- ables it to produce and mature enormous crops even in the dryest years. For all the diversified products of the surrounding country Genesce affords an excel- lent market. Through it, annually, 1,500,000 bushels of wheat, large quantities of hay, fruit and vegetables are shipped. To handle these shipments there are ten grain warehouses, one hay storage and one fruit warehouse.

Genesee has many business institutions, all of which have a prosperous and growing trade. Its two banks are among the leading financial institutions of the state. The First Bank, of which John P. Voll- mer is president and P. W. McRoberts is cashier, has resources of $1,000,000 and was established in 1892. The Exchange National Bank, capital $25,000 and with $9,000 undivided profits, was organized in 1897. It has branches in Troy and Nez Perces, Idaho. E. J. Dyer, president of the Exchange Na- tional Bank of Spokane, is president of the institution

and Thos. H. Brewer is the cashier. It owns the best safe in the state, a Corliss burglar proof, fitted with a Greenleaf time lock. Among the pay roll institu- tions of Genesee are two flour mills, a creamery, and the Genesee brewery. Follett & Knapp run one of the four mills and report an excellent trade. The other mill, which has an elevator and two warehouses in connection, is owned by C. P. Porter and is conducted with ever increasing profit by E. C. Wood. The cream- ery since it was established a few years ago has en- joyed a profitable growth. There is a ready market for the product at good prices. The output is being gradually increased. The brewery is also most pros- perous.

In addition to his interests in the First Bank and liis ownership of several large warehouses at Genesee John P. Vollmer is the owner of the largest general merchandise store in the town. From the date of the organization of the town the store has kept pace with the growth of Genesee. The stock carried is a mam- moth one. A local manager is in charge, Mr. Voll- mmer's residence being at Lewiston. He is of the wealthiest and most progressive citizens of Idaho and has diversified interests all over the state. W. J. Herman, the pioneer hardware and furniture dealer, in June, 1903, disposed of the hardware stock to H. A. Morgan, who is continuing the business as the Cash Hardware store. Mr. Herman retained his furniture business and carries a large and complete stock. Mr. Herman has always been prominently identified with the growth and development of the town since its incorporation and served one term as mayor. He recently erected a $5,000 business struc- ture for use by his store. Another former mayor and pioneer business man is Jacob Rosenstein. He was postmaster of the old town in 1884-5 and moved to the new town when it was started. He has in- creased his stock steadily to keep up with growing business until today he has one of the largest stocks of general merchandise in Latah county. Alexander & Co. also have a large general merchandise stock. The business was established in 1892 with Joseph Alexander, of Lewiston, J. H. Gaffney and Edwin London as partners. They built a large iron store building which they occupied until 1896, when they were compelled to erect their present large two story brick building to accommodate their increased busi- ness. The iron building is used by the firm for stor- age purposes. In 1896 George H. Hobson bought out the business of the Genesee Mercantile Company, which he has since been conducting with much profit as the Bee Hive store. George Stelz, who started first in 1888 as a building contractor, has been con- ducting a large general merchandise store since 1893 on Main street. R. E. Follett, the pioneer harness maker, is still in business. He carries a large stock and still makes and repairs harness. There are two excellent drug stores. In one of the handsomest buildings in the town, Conant & Conant have a store which would be a credit to a city many times the size of Genesee. The other, the Pioneer Drug Store, was an institution of the old town, established by Cox

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& Hodgins, from whom T. Kennedy, the present man- ager, bought the business in 1888. The store carries a complete line of drugs and druggist sundries. Fol- lett Bros., who have been in business many years, carry a complete line of groceries, confectionary and stationery. Driscoll & Thomas opened up in business in 1898, buying out the Bressler & Scroggins hard- ware stock and have met with great success. George Jamieson, who built the first blacksmith shop in the old town, is in the same business in the new .city. Another pioneer is Henry Nebelsieck, a tailor who is still in business. He is secretary of the school board. The leading hotels of the city are the Genesee house, conducted by Q. F. Surby, which caters particularly to the traveling trade, and the Grand Central hotel, run by F. A. Robinson. . Both supply comfortable lodging and excellent meals. Other prosperous busi- ness enterprises include the following: The Fair, F. A. Marquardsen, proprietor ; Cash Bargain store, Quillen & Co., proprietors ; John Meyer, dealer in farm implements : T. Driscoll, dealer in barbed wire, etc .; James K. Bell, hardware, harness, implements, etc. : City meat market, Fred Nagel, proprietor ; Miss E. E. Borg & Co., millinery; William Smolt, cigar factory and dealer in cigars and tobacco; W. L. Biram, drayman: William Hickman, livery barn; George Stelz, undertaker; George L. Mochel, livery barn: Home bakery, Kemp & Stadler, blacksmith; Rees Pickering, real estate and insurance; Genesee bakery and restaurant, William Brown, barber shop ; Clarence Jain, barber : Star and Monarch saloons. The professional field is well represented. Among the physicians are Dr. R. S. Beck, the former mayor ; Dr. H. J. Smith, Dr. W. H. Ehlen, Dr. J. L. Conant, Jr., and Dr. W. C. Cox. The dentists include Dr. C. A. Follet and Dr. J. L. Hayes. Among the at- torneys are Hans Bugge, who makes a specialty of land office practice and who is secretary of the cham- ber of commerce, and P. W. McRoberts.

The present town board consists of the following : Mayor, Dr. J. L. Conant, J. K. Bell, C. E. Wood, W. M. Thompson, D. Scharnhorst ; clerk, C. F. Burr, who is also justice of the peace, and treasurer, F. A. Bressler, who is vice president of the Exchange Na- tional Bank. Among the postmasters of the town have been E. R. Wiswell, who was succeeded in 1897 by J. J. Owen, who held the office until recently. Mrs. Owen is now postmistress.

The future of Genesee appears bright. Conditions which have brought it up from a small village to a thriving prosperous town will continue to all to its growth and importance. With the greater develop- ment of its tributary territory will come a correspond- ing increase in its size, its business and its importance.

TROY.

Fifteen years ago the present town site of Troy was known as Huff's Gulch. It was a deep, dark can- yon, so densely covered with forest growths that the sun's rays only penetrated to the net work of under- brush in occasional spots. Only the feet of the ven-

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An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 149

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