An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 160

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 160
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 160
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 160
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 160

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that time has been in the livery business with his brother.

In 1885 Mr. Mochel married Miss Sarah J., daugh- ter of Harris and Angeline Fuller, and they have six children, Cora M., Ellen E., Leonard E., Henry A., Louis, and a baby unnamed, all at home and attending school. Mr. Mochel is a member of the M. W. A. He is a man of sound principles, has displayed conmenda- ble zeal in the discharge of the responsibilities of life that have rested upon him, while in his business ven- tures he has shown good ability, wisdom, and enter- prise, which have given him both the confidence of his fellows and a good competence.

MARTIN BECHTEL was born in Knox county, Ohio, near Mt. Vernon, on January 19, 1837, being the son of John and Esther ( Moyers) Bechtel. The father was a cooper and farmer, a native of Pennsyl- vania, as were his parents, while the mother of our subject was also born in Pennsylvania, in 1804, and her parents were early settlers in Pickaway county, Ohio. The other children, in addition to Martin, were Abra- ham, soldier in the Mexican and Civil wars, now de- ceased; Samuel, deceased : Mary, wife of Dr. Fletcher, in Ohio; John, deceased ; Emanuel, in Illinois ; Sophia, wife of R. B. Williams, in Garfield; Esther A., wife of Mr. Jackson, in Missouri. At the age of eight years, our subject was left fatherless, and when he was thir- teen, the mother sold out and came to McLean county, Illinois. There he attended school and labored on the farm. Mr. Bechtel remained at home until 1861, then responded to the call of patriotism and enlisted in Company C, Twentieth Illinois Infantry, under Captain John O. Pullen, his company organizing at Bloomington, and the regiment at Joliet. They went to Alton, Jefferson barracks, Cape Girardeau, and after scouting for four months took to winter quarters in Birds Point. Then they fought Jeff Thompson and were victors, at Fredericktown. In 1862 he was or- dered to Forts Henry and Donelson and fought in both battles, then at Pittsburg Landing, when they were at- tacked by Johnson and Beauregard, then he fought at the battle of Shiloh. After this he went into camp at Jackson and later was in the following engagements : Britton's Lane, Willow Spring, Champion Hills, Ray- mond and Vicksburg, at which place he was wounded in the ankle and had his hearing impaired and eye hurt. He fought also at Kenesaw mountain and at Atlanta, at which place he was captured and spent one month and eight days in Andersonville. He was then taken to Charleston, South Carolina, thence to Flor- ence, when he made his escape and was recaptured, then escaped a second time. In February, 1865. he went home and after reporting, he was honorably dis- charged. For his faithful service and injuries he re- ceives the small pension of twenty-two dollars per month. He was mustered out at Gainesville and dis- charged at Chicago and went to McLean county and there remained until 1879. when he removed to his present place in Latah county, eight miles east from

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Garfield. His wife owns eighty acres of good land liere and he practices diversified farming.

Mr. Bechtel and Miss Alice Smith were married in Illinois, on October 8, 1865, and they have the fol- lowing children : Shelton, in Nez Perces county ; Ida, at Blackfoot; Noah, in Nez Perces county : Martin, at Blackfoot; Sophia, wife of George Wesley Bird, in Latah county. Mr. Smith was born in Kentucky and married Miss Sarah Currey, a native of Indiana, and their daughter, Mrs. Bechtel, was born in McLean county, Illinois, in April, 1851. Mr. Bechtel is a mem- ber of the G. A. R. and while in Illinois was county commissioner of his county, and he has always taken an active part in the affairs of the country and is an advocate of good schools. He made a commendable record in the Civil war and it was such noble and brave men as he who fought out the awful battles that saved the Union from dismemberment and preserved to pos- terity the free institutions that are now our pride and joy.

ISAAC S. MILLER. This capable and enter- prising agriculturist lives eight miles east from Gar- field and has a quarter section of fertile land well im- proved, and producing, under his skillful husbandry, abundant crops of the cereals and hay and fruits, while also Mr. Miller handles considerable stock. He is the son of Hamilton and Sarah A. ( Hunt) Miller, and was born in Jay county, Indiana, on November 16, 1845. The father, a Mexican war veteran, was a farmer and born in Fayette county, Ohio, in 1818, being the son of Hugh Miller, who served under Jackson in the war of 1812 and whose father was a native of Ireland and a soldier in the Revolution, be- ing wounded at Bunker Hill. The wife of this veteran of colonial days was a native of Scotland. The mother of our subject was born in Green county, Kentucky, in 1818, and her father, Isaac C. Hunt, was a Metho- dist preacher, born in Vermont, being the son of G. M. and Polly ( Squire) Hunt, natives of New Jersey. Our subject was taken with his parents to Mercer county, Ohio, when four years of age and five years later went thence to Page county, lowa. That was the home for ten years, or until 1864, he being a mem- ber of the Home Guards, and would have gone to the front, but was too young. At the date last men- tioned the family came to the Willamette valley and took land and erected a saw-mill. The father con- tinued there until the day of his death, March 27, 1872. Isaac S. had done for himself from his ma- jority, and in 1878 he came to Latah county, and on October 5th of that year he took his present farm and this has been the family home since that time.

On April 19, 1866, he was married to Miss Hannah N., laughter of Benjamin and Ellen ( Armstrong) Kinyon, the nuptials occurring in Polk county, Ore- gon. One child. Hattie Benson, was born to that marriage. Mrs. Miller was born in 1853, and died in 1872.

Mr. Miller contracted a second marriage, the date being February 5. 1874, at which time Eliza H.,

daughter of Levi and Sarah (Edes) Burden, became his wife. This wedding occurred in Yam Hill county, Oregon. Mr. Burden was born in Illinois in 1826 and his wife was born in Missouri in 1830. Mrs. Miller was born in Polk county, Oregon, on February 21, 1856. The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Miller are Henry, deceased: James R., in Wardner, Idaho; George L., in Latah county : Isabelle, deceased ; Abra- ham L., in Latah county; Minnie, wife of George Davis. in Latah county : Thomas, William, Jasper, John, in Latah county ; Effie and Edward, twins, the latter deceased and the former the wife of Jefferson Poe, in Latah county ; Lulu, wife of James Davis, in Latah county ; Ennis, deceased. Mr. Miller has brothers and sisters as follows: Lewis H., in Yam Hill county. Oregon; Mary, wife of James Berry, in Oregon ; Hugh T., a member of Company F, Twenty- ninth Iowa Volunteers, and was killed in the battle of Lincoln Ferry, Texas, in May, 1864; Robert L., in Oregon: Margaret, wife of W. Smith, in Latah county ; Hamilton, in Latah county : John C. and Isa- belle, twins, the latter deceased and the former in Ore- gon ; Rhoda A .. wife of W. Downing, at Weston, Oregon : Ella, deceased : Luhu, deceased. The chil- dren born to Mr. and Mrs. Miller are Elmer, in Latah county : Estella, wife of Frank Adair, in Latah coun- ty ; Lottie, at home; Esther E., wife of H. Gilmore, of Nez Perces county. Mr. Miller and wife are mem- bers of the United Brethren church and he has been a member of the school board, and was president of the Alliance Industrial Union.

It is of note that the ancestors of Mr. Miller's mother came over in the Mayflower.

HANS C. I. TWEEDT. The large real estate owner and prominent agriculturist of Latah county whose name initiates this paragraph, is one of the best known men of the county, and has been eminently successful in his business endeavors in this section, which demonstrates his ability, industry, and enter- prise, while his uprightness and integrity have as fully been manifested. Hans C. J. Tweedt was born in Bergen, Norway, on November 29, 1846, being the son of Christian J. and Anna (Seim) Tweedt, large farmers in that country. Our subject received a good education and at the age of seventeen years started for himself. Three years later, 1866. he came to America, and spent two years in the vicinity of Madison, Wiscon- sin, working and then went to Wausau, in the same state, where four years were spent in the timber. In 1874 Mr. Tweedt came to Marion county, Oregon, purchased a farm and tilled the soil there until 1877, when he came to his present location, one and one-half miles northeast from Genesee, this being Nez Perces county then. He took a homestead and soon began to add further land by purchase until he now owns five hundred and sixty acres, which is abundant in pro- ducing crops, giving as high as eleven thousand bush- els in one year. Mr. Tweedt has a fine twelve room residence, large barn, forty by eighty, with plenty of

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

substantial out buildings, and a blacksmith shop, while a fine orchard and other tasty and valuable improve- inents make his home one of rural beauty and com- fort. On an adjoining farm he has good buildings also. Mr. Tweedt has thirty head of cattle and plenty of stock and utensils for his large estate, and is one of the most progressive and skillful men of the county. In political matters, Mr. Tweedt has always taken an active interest and in 1898 the people called him to serve in the responsible position of county commis- sioner, running on the Republican ticket against A. Beardsley on the Fusion ticket and gaining the day by a handsome majority. Also the school interests have gained by his service on the boards.

In 1872 Mr. Tweedt married Miss Susana, daugh- ter of John and Amelia Nelson, of Waupaca county, Wisconsin, and they have become the parents of fifteen children, five of whom are dead and ten living, as fol- lows: Carl J., living in Nez Perces county on a fine farm of one quarter section ; Emma B., attending the normal and at present teachi- ing school; Louis A., a student at the Idaho University, from which he will graduate in 1903: Christ G., at home: Fred. at home: Annie C., a student at the university : George E., Henry E., Sarah M., Earl A., the last four also at home. Mr. Tweedt is a member of the K. of P., while he and his family are members of the Lutheran church. Mr. Tweedt is well known and well liked throughout the county, and his labors here for years have resulted in much good to the county and its institutions, and he enjoys the confidence of all, which is justly merited.

THEODOR KLUSS. The subject of this article is one of the first settlers in this section, being here long before Latah county had an organization, and is now one of the prominent farmers of the county, well to do, and a man of ability and uprightness in all of his ways, as has been patent from his business enter- prises and success here in our midst. He was born in the province of Schlesien, Prussia, on August 15, 1854, being the son of Thomas and Barbara Kluss, natives of the same place, and farmers. The mother died the same year our subject was born and his father was called hence by death in 1867, and both are buried in the home land. The year following the death of the father, Theodor being then fourteen years of age, ap- prenticed himself to a machinist and learned the lock- smith trade. He traveled over most of Germany, Switz- erland and Austria, laboring at his trade, and in 1873 longed for new fields, and accordingly came to America. He settled in Madison county, Illinois, and engaged in farming for three years, then sold out and migrated to San Francisco, thence to Portland, and Port Towns- end, working for a short time in the latter places, and in the fall of 1877 made his way into the section now embraced in Latah county. He selected a homestead, the place where he now lives, settled upon it, and since that time has been one of the progressive, energetic and

intelligent farmers of the country. He has added as much more land to his homestead, giving him one- half section now, which is well improved, and pro- duces abundant crops. The estate is the family home place, and lies four miles north from Genesee. Mr. Kluss is a true representative of that noble and sturdy class known as pioneers and he does credit to himself 111 the way in which he has demonstrated his ability to aid in the development and advancement of the country.

On August 4, 1887. Mr. Kluss married Miss Mary, daughter of Andrew and Mary Stritzle, and a native of Austria. where also her parents were born and are now living. This wedding took place in Lewiston, Idaho, and the fruit of this union has been four chil- dren, as follows : Annie, Rudolph, Mary and John. Mr. Kluss is well to do, having received the proper reward of his faithful labors, and he is active in the matter of politics, taking the part of the intelligent citizen, and he receives the esteem and confidence of his fellows.

JAMES HUTCHISON. Among the leading fruit growers of Latah county must be mentioned the sub- ject of this article, and also it is right that the faithful labors which he has performed for the substantial prog- ress of this county should receive proper consideration. Mr. Hutchison was born near Cape Vincent, New York, on February 23. 1855, being the son of James and Jane (Mores) Hutchison. The first twelve years of his life were spent in Rome, New York; then in company with his parents he came to Waverly, Bre- mer county, Iowa, where twelve years more were spent in farming, the father being a railroad man. It was in 1881 that our subject came west and settled first on the Snake river, and one year later came to American ridge. After several years of residence there he came to his present home place on Fix ridge, three miles west from Juliaetta. The year 1887 was the date that settlement was made on this place, and the estate shows enterprise and industry on the part of the owner. Mr. Hutchison has fifty acres of orchard, thirty of which is devoted to prunes and the balance to different fruits. He owns one hundred and twenty acres on Big Bear ridge, also a dwelling and several lots in Port Angeles, Washington. He handles considerable stock in addi- tion to his fruit and farming and is one of the leading men of his section.

The marriage of Mr. Hutchison and Miss Sophia, daughter of Rev. Peter and Sophia (Dushing) Des- granges, was solemnized on May 22, 1882, in Moscow, Idaho, and eight children have been born to them: Wallace and Walter, twins, the latter dying when he was five years of age: John and Jane, the former died at the age of seventeen; Caroline, Lottie, Howard, George, all at home. Mrs. Hutchison was born and educated in the state of New York. Mr. Hutchison is a man of ability and commendable activity in his business enterprises, as his accumulations manifest, and he is esteemed and respected by all.

THEODOR KLUSS AND FAMILY.

JAMES HUTCHISON.

JOHN H. HUTCHISON.

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JOHN H. HUTCHISON is one of Latah county's most enterprising and capable men, being the largest fruit grower in the county at the present time, and having abundant success in his endeavors because of his skill and wisdom and energy in handling the busi- ness, which has grown under his care and direction to the proportions of a business that may well be a source of pride to the entire county.

Reverting more particularly to the personal history of our subject, we note that Mr. Hutchison was horn on March 16, 1857, in Steuben county, New York, being the son of James H. and Jane ( Mores) Hutchi- son. natives, respectively, of Scotland and New York state. The father was a bridge carpenter and wrought on structures for railways. When John H. was very young his parents removed to Rome, New York, re- maining there until this son was eleven years of age. There also the father died and the mother with her children removed to Iowa, settling near Waverly, Bre- mer county, where the son remained about thirteen years, being occupied in gaining an education and also in the good work of instruction in the schools. He came west to Whitman county, Washington, in 1880, and for two years he raised sheep there and then re- tired from that industry and removed to Latah county, where he purchased a right to the quarter section where his house now stands. To that he has added until he owns four hundred and forty acres of fine soil. Mr. Hutchison has improved his estate in a most commendable manner, having an elegant residence, barns, outbuildings, and all conveniences to handle a general farming business. He has an orchard of forty acres, set entirely to prunes, and twenty acres more given to a variety of fruits. His fruit products alone amount to a large industry. He has an evaporat- ing plant one hundred and twenty-eight feet by twenty feet in dimensions, also a large storage house and com- modious apartment house for the men, of whom he em- ploys nearly fifty in the busy seasons. Not only does Mr. Hutchison excel in producing large quantities of fruit but at the Spokane fruit fair he won the gold medal in 1894 and also he has won the same at the Kendrick exposition. His work is highly commend- atory to him and a source of credit and pride to the entire county.

Fraternally Mr. Hutchison is affiliated with the K. of P. His marriage with Miss Clara E. Barker was solemnized at Moscow, Idaho, on June 23, 1800. She had come from Wisconsin, her native state, with her parents, William F. and Helen M. (Blount) Barker. to Waverly, Iowa, where she was principal of the pri- mary schools and kindergarten for four years after the date of their arrival there, which was 1862. She had also taught in Wisconsin and her entire teaching experience dates over a period of sixteen years. Her father was a general merchant at Waverly for twenty years. After Mr. Hutchison came here he taught one the first schools that was held in the new building on of American ridge. He was the first president of the Potlatch Horticultural Association, also of the fruit fair at Kendrick. In addition to the exhibt which Mr.

Hutchison took to Spokane, when he secured the gold medal, he has made four others, and has won various prizes there and elsewhere.

THOMAS H. CHRISTIE. The subject of this sketch is one of the enterprising and progressive busi- ness men of Troy, in Latah county, and it is with pleasure that we grant him space in the history of his county, since he has labored here faithfully and has done much for the upbuilding of the county. Mr. Christie is a merchant, handling a mainmoth stock of general merchandise in Trov, and he has secured by his sagacious business methods and uprightness, a large patronage.

Recurring to the personal history of our subject, we note, that as so many of our progressive citizens, he came from Norway, his birth being in Christianna, on March 6, 1863, being the son of Halvor and Mary Christie. He came to this country in 1869 with his parents and settlement was made in Jackson county, Minnesota, where he was brought up and educated, laboring also on a farm. It was in 1881 that he came to this country settling first in Lewiston, where he la- bored for one year. Then he returned to Minnesota and farmed until 1886 when he made a second jour- ney west, that time going to Tacoma, where he labored for the Pacific Elevator Company for one year. In 1887 he came to Genesee. He clerked in a general mer- chandise establishment there for one year and then opened a retail liquor store, which he operated for four years. 1892 marks the date of his removal to Troy and then he opened his present business, which he has steadily prosecuted since that time with fine success. Recently, Mr. Christie sold his farm inter- ests and is devoting himself to the store altogether.

On February 15, 1892, Mr. Christie married Miss Maggie, daughter of John and Annie Raun, who re- side north from Troy, and two children have been born to this union, namely. Mildred and Edna. Fraternally, Mr. Christie is affiliated with the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 29, in Troy and with the Elks of Moscow, Lodge No. 249, and with the K. of P., Lodge No. 11, in Troy. He is a popular citizen and has a good stand- ing among the residents of his section.

PETER JOHANN is one of the prominent men of Latah county, distinguished alike for his enterpris- ing labors and stanch characteristics and intelligence in the affairs of business and the questions of the day. being occupied in the art of agriculture and stock raising, wherein he has made a commendable success. Many of the sturdiest supporters of the stars and stripes and the warmest friends of the principles which they stand for have come to us from the land of Germany, and in the Fatherland the subject of this sketch was born, the date being January 15, 1860, and his parents were John and Anna M. ( Shoemaker) Johann. Peter received a good education in the

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village schools and grew up there until the age of thirteen years had been reached. Five years previous to that time the father had died and the widowed mother came with her family to America, when this son, the oldest, was tlurteen. He was faithful in his care of the family that thus early cast responsibili- ties upon him and he continued in that noble work un- til he had reached the age of twenty-six. When twenty-one he came at the request of his mother to seek a place in the west, but failing to find what he desired, he returned and remained in the east until 1887. when he again made a tour of the west, on this occasion settling for a time in Union, Washington, whence two years later he came to Latah county and purchased a farm which he tilled for four years. He then sold that property and came to Genesee, purchasing a quarter and renting another and then later purchasing the second quarter, which gives him the fine estate of one-half section, one mile west from Genesee. This property is one of the most thrif- ty and well kept farms in the county, it being laid out with skill, and improved with taste, and stocked with display of wisdom. His home is a rural retreat of comfort and taste, with a fine residence, good barns and outbuildings, a well selected orchard and every- thing that could gladden the heart of a lover of home. Mr. Johann has been road supervisor for a series of years and his public life, in which he has done much as delegate to the Bryan conventions in the county, has always been characterized with the same display of acumen, vigor and uprightness that are found in liis private walk.

In 1883 Mr. Johann married Miss Johanna, daughter of George and Katherine (Bruns) Bromel- ing, of Carroll county, Iowa, and five children have been born to them: Annie, Pauline, John M., Mary, and Johanna. deceased. Mrs. Johann was called by death from her happy home and loving family on October 14, 1901. The oldest daughter is keeping house and the family are kept together in the home place, despite this sad loss. Mr. Johann is a mem- ber of the Catholic church and in a devoted manner brings his family under the benign influence of his faith. He is a potent factor in the church and labors ardently and wisely for the advancement of its in- terests.

GEORGE W. GRINER. Eight miles east from Garfield lies the beautiful estate of the subject of this sketch. The home place consists of one hundred and six acres of good land well cultivated and handled to diversified crops, with orchard and fine improvements, while in addition Mr. Griner farms two hundred acres of rented land.

Reverting to the personal history of our subject we note that he was born in Butler county. Pennsyl- vania, on May 8, 1860, the son of John G. and Eliza- beth (Carnahan) Griner. The father was a farmer and stockman, born on January 6, 1833, in Pennsyl- vania, and died March 13, 1900. He served in the

Union army under Captains Hayes and Hutchinson. His father was Jacob Griner, a blacksmith, who mar- ried Maria Step, born in eastern Pennsylvania. The mother of our subject was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, on August 5, 1836, and her parents were natives of the same state. In addition to our subject, this worthy couple had children as follows: William H., in Whitman county; Samuel J., de- ceased; Oliver, deceased; John E., living in Latah county ; Mary, wife of Aaron Fields, now deceased ; Susan H., wife of C. J. Cockrell, in Latah county ; Maggie J., wife of E. C. Covey, near Seattle : Phillip S., in Idaho county; Pollard R., deceased ; Elizabeth, wife of Marion Munsey, in Latah county ; Bertha E., wife of William Hayden, in Latah county.

George W. worked on a farm and attended school in Pennsylvania until fourteen years of age and then came west in March with his parents to Pottawat- omie county, Kansas. He also attended school in Manhattan, Kansas, and the family remained in that state until 1886, when they made another move, coming first to Spokane and thence to Latah county. Our subject bought his present place and then home- steaded it, having litigation with the railroad con- pany but beating them.

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An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 160

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