An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 159

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 159
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 159
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 159
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 159

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MARION F. MUNCEY. Among the enterpris- ing citizens of Latah county should be included the name of the subject of this article whose worthy la- bors here have made him a forceful factor in the sub- stantial progress of the county. Marion F. was born in Harrison county, Missouri, on September 10, 1868, being the son of Lafayette and Elizabeth (Moore) Muncey. The father was born in Illinois in 1838, and the mother was born in 1835, in the same state, and her father, Samuel Moore, was born there also. The parents removed their family to Silver creek, Washington, in 1872, and there the father died on March 22, 1879. At that time William, an older broth- er of our subject, took charge of the farm and Marion labored out and gained what education he could. It was in 1897 that they removed to Garfield, Washing- ton, and there our subject worked until the mother bought the present farm of eighty-five acres seven miles east from Garfield. He has a comfortable home and the land is well tilled and produces abund- antly.

On April 26, 1801, Mr. Muncey married Miss Sarah E., daughter of John E. and Elizabeth (Carna- han) Griner, the father a farmer in Latah county, now deceased. To this union there have been born five

children, Pollord R .. Eugene, Elsie MI., Charles W., Elizabeth \., all at home. Mrs. Muncey was born in Pennsylvania on November 25, 1871, and she has the following named brothers and sisters, Henry in Wash- ington; Joseph, deceased; John, in Latah county ; George, in Latalı county ; Mary, deceased ; Nettie, wife of Columbus Cockrell, in Latah county ; Maggie, wife of E. C. Covey, Ballard, Washington ; Phillip, in Nez Perces county; Pollard, deceased; Bertha, wife of William Hayden, in Latah county. Mr. Muncey has the following brothers and sisters: William, in Latah county ; Miranda, deceased ; John F., at Everett, Washı- ington ; Mary S., wife of Pollard Griner, but now a widow. Mr. Muncey is a member of the W. of W. He always devotes time and attention to the affairs of politics, being allied with the Democratic party. He is a man well respected and has the good will and es- teem of his fellows.

JACOB L. HARRISON is one of the worthy pi- oneers who assisted to open up Latah county and he has also, since his settlement here in 1883, steadily labored for its improvement and development, having wrought with commendable zeal, wisdom, and thrift, as his fine farm of sixty acres, seven miles west from Kendrick, on Big Bear ridge, testifies, being an estate well improved and giving annually handsome returns ; while personally, Mr. Harrison is a man of integrity and worth and is dominated by sound principles and a discriminating perception and practical judgment that have brought his fine success. In addition to do- ing a general farming business, he handles some stock and has a good orchard of ten acres.

Mr. Harrison was born in Fayette county, Ohio, on June 25, 1847, being the son of George and Lavina (Collow) Harrison. While still a child he came with the balance of the family to Huntington county, In- diana, where he grew up, gaining a good education from the common schools and assisting on the farm. When he was fourteen years of age, another move was made, this time to Whiteside county, Illinois, and there he remained with his parents until the time of his majority. He stepped forth from the parental roof then for the battles of life on his own resources and as the west gave great indications of opportunity, he made his way to Marshall county, Kansas, took a homestead and for fourteen years we find him toiling in the art of the agriculturist in that locality. It was 1883 that he sold his possessions there and came to Latah county, as stated above, and since that time ·he has been one of the subsantial and patriotic citi- zens of this county and a valuable addition to its so- ciety.

The marriage of Mr. Harrison and Miss Flora, (laughter of Elias and Julia Smith, was solemnized in Marshall county, Kansas, in September, 1873, and they have become the parents of six children, as fol- lows: Lily, Rose, Ivy, Pearl, Mamie, deceased, and Ernest M. Mr. and Mrs. Harrison are members of the Christian church and are faithful supporters of their faith, being exemplary citizens and good people.

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

XAVIER HEINRICH. While the section where our subject lives was but wild prairie and only oc- casional settlers were here and there in the territory now embraced in Latah county, he came and settled on his present farm, five miles northwest from Gene- see, and began the excellent work of development and upbuilding which he has followed with wisdom and assiduity since, having now the proper reward of such enterprise and thrift. Xavier was born in Germany, the land whence come so many of the best American citizens, being the son of Martin and Mary Anne (Kempt) Heinrich, and the date of his inception of life's career was September 24, 1851. His parents were natives of the father- land, and there lived and labored until the time of their death. Our subject was a dutiful son beneath the parental roof until twenty-one years had rolled by, and then he stepped forth to do for himself. He first bade farewell to loved ones and native land and embarked for America, where he went to work in Newark, New Jersey, in a bakery for two years. Then lie went to California and operated a dairy for three years, after which, in 1877, he came to Idaho, settling on his present place, and securing title to a half section through the homestead and pre-emption rights. He has purchased more until he now has four hundred and forty acres of fine land. He has devoted his attention to farming and stock raising constantly since that early day and he is now one of the prominent and wealthy men of the county. His farms are well handled, his stock is profitable, he has fine improvements in build- ings, orchards and so forth, and an air of thrift is evident everywhere. In addition to this fine holding, Mrs. Heinrich owns three hundred and twenty acres adjoining her husband's estate.

The marriage of Mr. Heinrich and Mrs. Cather- ine Greiser, was solemnized in Lewiston, this state, one June 30, 1880, and they have become the parents of one child, John M., born March 18, 1881. They are all members of the Catholic church. Mr. Hein- rich has seen much of the hardship incident to pio- neer life, and has demonstrated his ability in the solution of the intricate problems that come before the early settler, by wisely handling the resources at hand and in displaying commendable business ability.

GEORGE TEGLAND. This representative and intelligent agriculturist of Latah county is well en- titled to consideration in this volume and is accorded such since he is a man of sound principles and good ability, which has been manifested here for twenty years. He is now the owner and manager of a fine estate of three hundred and twenty acres, five miles north from Genesee, where the family home is. George was born in Kendall county, Illinois, on De- cember 3. 1855, being the son of Ole and Isabella (Marcus) Tegland, natives of Norway. The father emigrated from Norway in 1848, settling in Ken- dall county, Illinois, where he engaged in farming

until 1872, being also married there, in which last year he removed to Story county, Iowa, farming there also until of late years he has retired from active labors and lives with his son in that county. The first twenty-two years of our subject's life were spent in service with his father and then he took up rail- roading for a year or so, after which he married and settled down in Story county, Iowa, where he pur- chased a farm and devoted himself to producing the fruits of the soil. In 1882, he sold his property there and migrated to Latah county, taking a homestead where he now lives. Later he purchased another quar- ter. He has given his entire attention to the manage- inent and improvement of his farm and the result is that he has a fine property, well improved, while he is a man of good reputation and is highly esteemed throughout the neighborhood.

On February 28, 1882, in Story county, Iowa, Mr. Tegland married Miss Jennie Borgen, a native of Norway, and to them have been born the follow- ing children : Oscar T., Alvin D., Nellie M., Arthur O. and Jessie L. twins, the latter of whom died; the youngest child is also named Jessie L. Mrs. Tegland's parents were, Amund and Dortha ( Herselberg; Bor- gen, natives of Norway, but immigrants to this coun- try in 1869. The father lives here and is a member of the Lutheran church, but the mother died on De- cember 22, 1897, and is buried in the Lutheran cem- etery. Our subject and his wife are members of the Lutheran church and he is one of the substantial and well-to-do men of the section.

GEORGE L. MOCHEL. This well known busi- ness man has been a familiar figure in Genesee for a number of years and is one of the leaders in the busi- ness realm, at the present time operating in partner- ship with his brother, Benjamin F., mention of whom appears in another portion of this volume, a first class livery and feed stable in the city, having fine rigs, good stock, and manifesting an untiring zeal for the safety and welfare and comfort of his patrons, who are numbered by many scores.

George L. was born in Johnston county, Indiana, on February 5, 1855, being the son of George L. and Elizabeth (Lenertz) Mochel. While a child, he came with his parents to Maryville, Missouri, and there until he had reached the age of twelve, received his schooling from the common schools of the land. At that young age, he started for himself in life, work- ing as a laborer until 1873, then rode the range in the Cherokee nation for one year. Then his adven- turons spirit led him to the west, Seattle, Washing- ton, being the point first selected. There he wrought at the carpenter trade, which he had mastered in his minority, for six months, then came to Columbia! county in that state, there taking a homestead, which he subdued, improved, and sold in the year 1889. He next brought a herd of cattle to the Big Bend coun- try in Washington, and on account of the hard winter,

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

lost the entire amount, entailing a financial loss of over two thousand dollars. Following this disaster, he came to Genesee, arriving here on August 1, 1891, and rented a large piece of farm land, paying three dollars per acre, and he did well. Then he bought eight acres of land in the city of Genesee and builded him a house, the same being his family home at the present time. In Iyoo, his brother died, who had established a livery business in Genesee in 1893, and our subject took charge of the same, and is operating it now with good success, it being the leading barn in this section. and handled in a becoming manner with skill and business ability. Our subject soon took in his brother, B. F., and they are proprietors of the business at this time.

The marriage of Mr. Mochel and Miss Lottie S., daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Cope) Billings. was solemnized in Maryville, Missouri, in 1878, and three children have been born to them: Eliza- beth C., wife of George Bolliow, and living in Troy, Idaho; Claud J., in Genesee ; Charles F., with parents and attending school. Mr. Mochel has served as con- stable of the home precinct several terms in an ac- ceptable manner, having also been marshal of the city for a term of two years. He takes an active part in politics and displays zeal for right principles. Fra- ternally, Mr. Mochel is affiliated with the I. O. O. F., both the subordinate and the encampment branches, having passed all the chairs in both departments and also has been delegate to the grand lodge from both. He is also a member of the MI. W. of A., having been elected first V. C. of Genesee Camp, No. 6703, and re-elected three times since, also being sent by this camp a delegate to the state convention in IÇOI.

FREDRICK P. KRESSELT. This substantial and enterprising farmer of Latah county is a native of Germany, being born on July 31, 1875, the son of Frederick C. and Amelia, both natives of Saxony, Germany. Our subject remained at home until four- teen years of age, gaining his education from the com- mon schools, and then was apprenticed to a cabinet maker where he served for three years. His father had died when this son was an infant and his mother had married again. After three years of the cabinet work, Mr. Kresselt decided that America was the place for him and accordingly he came to New York and thence to Palouse, getting here in December, 1892. He worked at odd jobs for a time and then bought a piece of land in 1897. He has sold and bought sev- eral pieces of land and he purchased his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres, one mile west from Cora, in March, 1902, having also thirty-five acres of land besides. He has a good farm, well improved and is now handled in a skillful manner.

The marriage of Mr. Kresselt and Miss Rosa, daughter of Julius H. and Laura L. (Gates) Fessen- den, was solemnized in Latah county, on February 23. 1897, and to them has been born one son, William P., and one daughter, Minnie Amclia, who died February

1, 1002. Mr. Fessenden was born in Indiana, on Novem- ber 10, 1848, and was captain and engineer on a steanı- boat for many years, but is now farming in Latah county. His wife was born near East Portland, Ore- gon, May 5, 1854. Mrs. Kresselt was born near East Portland, January 5, 1880, and was educated in the common schools. Her brothers and sisters are Edna, wife of Milton Fennimore, at Mountain View, Cali- fornia; Laura, Dolly, Earl, George E., Robert, all at home, and Addie, Mamie, Nora, Willie, deceased. The brothers and sisters of our subject are named as follows,-Ernest, in Latah county ; Max, in Germany ; Birdie, wife of Paul Rotjig, in Germany. Mrs. Kres- seit's father enlisted in the Civil war but was too young and so was refused. He had two brothers. Major and John Fessenden. who fought for their country. Our subject raises the cereals and fruits and is a progressive and thrifty farmer.

WILLIAM A. COMER. The birth of this es- teemned gentleman occurred in Hocking county, Ohio, on September 18, 1843. His father, Charles, was a millwright, born in Ohio, in 1817, his grandfather was born in Vermont and his great-grandparents came from Ireland. The mother of our subject, Sophia Roush, was born in Olio in 1817, and her mother, Eva Harsh, was a native of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Harsh's father was a soldier in the Revolution, moved to Ohio in 1810, and died in 1856, one hundred and six years of age, while Mrs. Harsh lived to be ninety- six years of age. The father of our subject died two months before the latter's birth and his mother died when he was five years of age, so his early life was spent with his grandmother. He remained with her laboring and attending school until eighteen years of age and at the breaking out of the war, he enlisted in Company D, Seventeenth Ohio Infantry, under Cap- tain Charles Rippiey. He was sent to the Army of the Cumberland under General Thomas and partici- pated in the battle of Mill Springs when Zollicoffer was killed in 1862. He fought at Stone River, Chick- amauga, Atlanta, Jonesborough, and in many other engagements. At Chickamauga a rebel hit him over the head with a musket, his clothes were shot full of holes, his canteen was shot away and he was wounded in the leg. He was stricken there with paralysis and was discharged, but the doughty and intrepid man was not thus to be deprived of fighting for his country and his interminable grit pulled him through and as soon as he was presentable again he promptly came to the front and reenlisted and staid with the conflict until the close of the war, being in the Fifty-eighth Ohio, Company .A. Following the war, Mr. Comer went to farming in Ohio, and in 1868 he went thence to Coles county, Illinois, then to Edgar county, where he farmed and worked at carpentering for five years, and in 1874 we see him in Shelby county, and thence he went to Kanasas in the fall of 1885. settling in Jackson county. Two years later he went to Logan and there homesteaded land. It was

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

on June 15. 1889, that he landed at Garfield and came over into Latah county, and here he has remained since, except for two years and one-half, when he was excursioning through Utah. Nevada, Arizona, and southern Idaho, returning here in the condition ex- pressed by the laconic epithet "Broke." He went to work and now has one hundred and sixty acres of as fine soil as is in Latah county and located one mile west from Cora. He devotes himself to farming and stock- raising, mostly the former.

Mr. Comer married Miss Nancy R. Shoff on Sep- tember 27, 1867, and she died in 1884, leaving the fol- lowing named children, Edwin L., in Sioux Falls, South Dakota ; Almeda V., wife of Andrew Smith, in Kansas; Eva M., deceased; Lydia E., wife of Charles S. Smith, in Latah county; Jeremiah E., de- ceased ; Laura E., deceased ; Nellie A., deceased ; Is- aac H., deceased.

The second marriage of Mr. Comer was celebrated on March 19, 1886, in Kansas, Alice E., daughter of Martin L. and Abby A. (Brinkerhoff) Hickman, de- scendants of the early Dutch stock that colonized New York, at that time becoming his wife. To this union there have been born the following issue: John A., Jesse H., Lee M., Ruth U. Mr. Hickman was a car- penter, born in Virginia in 1832 and his wife was born in New Jersey in 1838, while the daughter, Mrs. Com- er, was born in Grand View, Illinois, on June 23, 1855. Her brothers and sisters are named as follows: Anna J., deceased ; Rachel J., wife of Earby Miller, in Chi- cago; Lydia B., deceased; Sarah M., in Chicago; Olive E., deceased; Orlo S., deceased; Owen G., in Chicago. Mr. Comer is assistant state lecturer for northern Idaho for the Alliance and is active in poli- tics. He was candidate for state legislature in Kansas on the Union Labor ticket and for probate judge in Latah county in 1892 on the Populist ticket. In addi- tion to his farming Mr. Comer devotes much attention to artist's labors, having gained commendable skill in this line.

ULRICH C. RIETMANN. As one who has con- served the industrial and commercial interests in La- tah county, and wherein he has made a brilliant suc- cess, we are constrained to mention the gentleman whose name appears above. Mr. Rietmann is an en- ergetic, capable, and progressive business man and manages a first-class butcher shop in Trov, owns and leases the large brick hotel known as the Rietmann House, buys and sells stock of all kinds, has a fine farm near the town, and also handles fruit, and oper- ates a fruit dryer and cold storage plant, besides a number of large warehouses, being one of the leading men of the county and recognized by all as a power in the business world.

Mr. Rietmann is a native of that stanch little re- public, Switzerland, and was born in Canton, July 4, 1853. the son of Henry and Babete Rietmann. The parents remained in the native country until the time of their death, highly respected and influential citi- zens. Our subject received his early education there

and at the age of fourteen went to Brazil, South America, and there labored for three years with an uncle, who was a surveyor in that country. After the expiration of that period, Mr. Rietmann came to our western coast but soon went thence to Switzerland, re- maining there until 1881. In that year he came and lo- cated in San Francisco, taking up the butcher busi- ness. It was 1890 when Mr. Rietmann sold his in- terests in California and came thence to Latah county. He sought out his present location and opened a shop and in the prosecution of that business he has stead- ily continued with the addition of the industries mentioned above, thus making him one of the lead- ing business men of the county, which is amply den- onstrated by the skill with which he handles the many and varied interests that depend upon his manipula- tion.

The marriage of Mr. Rietmann and Miss Fannie Hilfecker, a native of Switzerland, was solemnized at Troy, in 1893, and to them have been born two bright and promising boys, Carl and Max. Mr. Riet- mann is a practical man and is training his boys to the intricacies of business which will doubtless make them able to carry forward with skill and safety even larger interests than their father has thus far done. although he is considered the leader in his vicinity.

JOHN B. YARBROUGH. In Washington county, Oregon, on January 6, 1845, the subject of this sketch first saw the light and he has been a typical westerner since that time, ever laboring for the welfare of the sections where he has bestowed his labor and doing a lion's share in this good work. His parents are James M., born in Kentucky in 1820, whose father. John, with his wife, were born in Virginia. The mother of our subject is Mary E. Smith, born in Carteret county, North Carolina, in 1822. Her father was Lem- uel, who married Hannah Gilicon, both natives of North Carolina. John B. remained with his parents until twenty years of age and then started for himself. He was educated in the common schools of the day. His parents removed to Linn county when he was one year old and took donation claims, remaining there sixteen years. Then they sold out and went back to Washington county. Six years later they went to Cres- cent City, California, but in two years were back in Douglas county, Oregon, and eight years after that they sold again and came to Latah county. The father died here in 1896. When he left home, Jolin B. rented land in Yam Hill county then went to southern Ore- gon for eight years in the lumber business, where he was successful. One summer was spent in the Klam- ath country and then he returned to the Willamette valley in 1876, and in 1880 he came overland to Latah county and preempted a quarter section nine miles east from Garfield, where the family home has been since that date with the exception of the years between 1896 and 1901, which were spent in the Couer d'Alene country.

Mr. Yarbrough was married to Miss Samantha,

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

daughter of John and Margaret (Baker) Long, on August 2, 1867, and the following children have been born to them: Chrystina, wife of W. W. Messinger, in the Coeur d'Alenes ; Jolin W., in the Coeur d'Alene district : Addison, in Latah county ; Eli O., in Coeur d'Alene; Lottie, wife of Calvin Farnum, deceased ; Mona, wife of J. Ross, in Coeur d'Alene; James, in Latah: Margaret E., wife of Lew Solley, deceased ; Herbert, in Coeur d'Alene ; Homer, at home ; Leonard, deceased ; Gladys, at home. Mrs. Yarbrough was born in Virginia, on March 21, 1852, and her father was born in Pennsylvania, in 1815, and the mother was born in Virginia, on February 17, 1828. Mrs. Yar- brough's brothers and sisters are Napoleon B., de- ceased, Christopher C., Mary, Ella, America, de- ceased, Emma, and John. Mr. Yarbrough has broth- ers and sisters as follows: Andrew J., in eastern Ore- gon ; Sarah J., wife of D. W. Hayden, in Latalı county ; Martha J., wife of John Woodfin, in Latah county ; Mary, wife of Levi Mohr, deceased; James, killed by a saw in a mill in Oregon; Thomas J., in Spokane, Washington ; Lafayette, in eastern Oregon. Mr. and Mrs. Yarbrough are members of the Universalist church, while he is socialistic in politics and a member of the school board where he labors ardently for good educational facilities. The farm is well improved and a model place, being an abundant producer.

BENJAMIN F. MOCHEL. The subject of this article has always been a man of great energy and ac- tivity, as is shown by his life of enterprise and adapta- bility, while at the present time he is one of the firm of Mochel Brothers, who operate the P. G. livery, feed and sale stable in Genesee, having a fine property and doing a successful business.

Our subject was born in Maryville, Nodaway county, Missouri, on February 8, 1867, being the son of George L. and Elizabeth (Lenartz) Mochel. While still a child, his parents came to California, thence to Bellingham bay, Washington, and then to Seattle. where this son received his first schooling. But fort- une had decreed that he should not stay long there, and soon the family were in Dayton, Washington, whence they removed to Marengo, and thence to Wal- la Walla, then to Pataha City, where the school days of Benjamin F. were completed. Then at the age of nineteen years he started for himself, renting a farm of two hundred and forty acres for two years, after which he went to Lake Chelan, and thence to Genesee. In 1880 he worked on a farm for ten dollars per month, then went to Troy, Idaho, working at the carpenter trade and in the harvest fields, after which he rented eight hundred acres with his brother and father. He bought property in Genesee that he still owns. In 1893 he went to Cornwall, Idaho, and there his father died, and he handled the farm for two years alone, then returned to Genesee, working for a time in the livery for his brother, then going to the Nez Perces reserva- tion where he took a homestead. Four years later he sold this property and returned to Genesee and since

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An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 159

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