An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 163

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 163
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 163
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 163
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 163

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).

ENGEL C. SWENSON. Many of the most sub- stantal and thrifty citizens of the United States are the people that come to our borders from the old his- toric land of Norway, whence the early explorers of this country sailed. Thither came the father and mother, Colbern and Mary Swenson, of the subject of this sketch. They settled in Wisconsin, then removed to Cottonwood county, Minnesota, and are now living in Latah county, the mother aged eighty and the fa- ther seventy years of age. 1864 was the date they landed on American soil. It was during their resi- dence in Cottonwood county, Minnesota, that the im- mediate subject of this article was born, the date there- of being March 15, 1868, and there also he received his education in the country schools. At the age of

sixteen years he came west, working as a farm hand for six years. Then he purchased the land where he now lives, having a quarter section at first and later selling a portion. His farm lies four miles east and one-fourth of a mile north from Genesee, and he is one of the thrifty and progressive farmers of the sec- tion. In political matters Mr. Swenson is active, and always allied on the side of good men and sound prin- ciples. He has served as road supervisor at different times, and all his public duties are performed with the same thoroughness and dispatch that characterize him in his private efforts.

The marriage of Mr. Swenson and Miss Emma, daughter of Stiner and Annie P. Knudson, was sol- emnized in 1896, and they have two children,-Altha F. and Cordelia S. Mrs. Swenson's parents came from their native land, Norway, to this country in 1867, first settling in Kansas, then migrating to Latah county in 1878, and thence to Nez Perces county in 1897, where they dwell at the present time. Mr. Swenson is a member of the W. of W. and he and his wife are members of the Lutheran church. Mr. Swen- son is a man of good ability, sound principles, and has wrought here with display of acumen and wisdom, and is entitled to the esteem of his fellows, which he richly enjoys

HOMER W. CANFIELD. Six miles east from Princeton we are greeted with the elegant home of Mr. Canfield. it being a commodious structure of nine rooms, of modern architectural design and tastily set, while about it are the well kept acres of his estate, which produces abundance of tame hay, fruits and grains. Mr. Canfield devotes much attention to handling stock, and is one of the leaders in his com- munity.

The family history of our subject is as follows : Marcus R. Canfield was born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, on August 23. 1824. the son of Gideon Canfield, who was born May 14. 1776. M. R. Can- field grew up and enlisted in the Civil war, Twenty- seventh Massachusetts, in 1861, and fought bravely for the subjugation of rebellion. Being wounded, he was sent to the hospital and later became hospital steward. He married Miss Margaret A., daughter of Hiram Meacham, she being born in Ashby Falls, Mass- achusetts. Berkshire county, on October 7. 1834. and to them were born the subject of this sketch, on De- cember 22. 1858. in the home county, and also Ellen A., wife of Mark Hartwell, who is now dead; Ray- mond R., in New Hampshire : Clara I., wife of Walter Dunbar, at Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Our subject was educated in the public schools and the South Berkshire Institute, having also spent some time as clerk in a drug store at Rockland. In 1877 he came to Bakers- field. California, and worked in a dairy and then went at the business for himself, and one year later sold out and came to Walla Walla, taking up the same busi- ness. One year there and then he became a real cow- boy for a time, enjoying it hugely. Next we see him assisting in the construction of the O. R. & N. and the

676

HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

N. P., and he helped to raise every trestle from Sand Point to Ainsworth. Next he was on the Palouse, where he took up a half section of land and logged, but becoming tangled in a joint stock mill, he lost twenty-five hundred dollars and then took his present place. He is doing well now, for energy and wis- dom are bound to succeed.

On November 1, 1885, at Deep Creek, Nez Perces county, occurred the marriage of Mr. Canfield and Miss Rhoda L. Peterson, and they have five children, -Kate, Oroha, Cecil, Ruby and Maude Mr. Lo- renzo Peterson was a farmer. born in New Jersey. His wife died when Mrs. Canfield was an infant, and she was raised in her uncle's family, that of Frank Peterson, now living in Latah county. Mrs. Can- field was born in Newport, Cumberland county, New Jersey, on September 10, 1864, and her brother and sister are: Rosella, wife of Frank Cosier, in New Jersey ; George, living in New Jersey. Mr. Canfield is a zealous advocate of good schools and is a member of the board. In 1896 he was a nominee for county commissioner on the Free Silver Republican ticket, but while that ticket made a good race it was defeated.

JAMES R. VASSAR. This veteran of many struggles on the field of battle in the Civil war, as well as in the battle of life, is now one of the respected and influential citizens of Latah county, living on a farm two miles east from Princeton. He was born in Gen- try county, Missouri, on July 14. 1845, being the son of Joshua and Nancy (Summers) Vassar, natives of Cannon county, Tennessee, and dying, respectively, in 1862 and in 1857, the mother being in Barry county, Missouri, at the time of her demise. The parents removed to Newton county, Missouri, when our sub- ject was eight years of age, and in 1856 they went thence to Barry county, having also spent some time in Franklin county, Arkansas. In July, 1864, our sub- ject joined the army, Company G, Fifteenth Missouri Cavalry, serving until the close of the war, being mus- tered out on July 30, 1865, at Springfield, Missouri. Subsequent to this, he went to Neosha, Newton county, Missouri, worked on a farm and farmed for himself. In 1867 he came to Barry county and followed agri- cultural pursuits, and in 1886 he came to Spokane, and then to Princeton, where he landed on February 14, 1886. He farmed for a time and then went to Shoshone county and took government land, which he sold later and then bought on Bear creek, and since that time he has traveled some, lived with his son, Thomas, and is now located as described above.

The marriage of Mr. Vassar and Miss Ollie, daugh- ter of Thomas and Susan (Green) Crumley, was sol- emnized on New Year's day, 1869, and they have become the parents of the following children: Eliza- beth, deceased; Nancy, deceased : Thomas J., living in Latah county where his father lives, which place the father presented to his son. Mrs. Vassar was born in Georgia in 1840, and died July 16, 1888. The brothers and sisters of Mr. Vassar are Mary M., wife

of George Hoatch, in Kansas; Levi, living in Latah, on Crane creek ; Thomas L., living in Barry county, Missouri. Mr. Vassar was a member of the Union League at the close of the war, and is now a mem- ber of the G. A. R. He is also a member of the Meth- odist church and in politics he is a Republican, vot- ing it straight. Mr. Vassar is the recipient of a stip- end from the government for his faithful service and he is a man of uprightness and is respected by all.

JOHN B. HAON is a son of the bright land of France, being born in Lardeche department in 1831, where he passed his youthful days, and where also his parents were born and died, the father being John B. and the mother Janne. The father was a blacksmith and died in 1862. In 1855 our subject migrated to England from Paris, and thence to New York, landing on September 18, 1856. The next spring he was in Chicago, and worked there at brick making. Thence he went to St. Louis, then to Leavenworth, Kansas, and one and one-half years later we find him in St. Joseph, Missouri. In 1860 he started for Pikes Peak, driving team, and mined there for three years. From there he went to Montana, mining there until 1867. After that he mined a couple of years on Napah creek, Idaho, then on to California and back to Montana. It was September, 1870, that he came to Lewiston. He worked at placer mining in the Moscow mountains and in 1871 came to Jerome creek, and there mined. He says that while on this creek at work the Indian outbreak of 1877 and 1878 occurred, and the Indians came by and talked with him, and the Chinaman and others ran to the timber, but he remained and con- versed with the savages and was unmolested. In 1878, when the country was surveyed, he took his present place one and one-half miles east from Princeton. He has devoted his attention to mining, farming and stock raising since that time. He has a quarter section of good land and raises much hay, which he sells and feeds to his stock. Mr. Haon is a man of vigor and capabilities that tell in pioneer work, and he is deserving of much credit for the way in which he has labored for the upbuilding of the country.

THOM ANDERSON. Although Mr. Anderson has not been in I atah county as long as some, still he is one of the younger men who add life and energy to its development, being one of the force of agri- culturists who have wrought out the wealth of the county and are at the present time pushing it on to greater commercial prominence in the west. Mr. An- derson was born in Norway, whence come so many of the stanch citizens of this free land. His parents were Andy and Anna Mary (Thomson) Peterson, natives of Norway and land owners there, where also both passed away in the fall of 1885. The date of the advent of Thom into mortal existence was September 3, 1862, and the first sixteen years of his life were de-

677

HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

voted to assisting his father on the farm and in ac- quiring the lore of school books. At the interesting age mentioned he hired out as a sailor, and for seven years followed the sea, then in 1885 he came to Ameri- ca, settling in Manistee, Michigan, where two years were spent, whence he came then to Tacoma. He drove team for a time, then went to Seattle and shipped on board the steamboat Union. He worked on this coast plying boat until 1893, then went home to Nor- way, spending six months in seeing old acquaintances and living over again the joys of childhood. Return- ing to Seattle, he went to Alaska, and for two years he placer mined for himself in the vicinity of Circle, doing well. Then he went to Dawson and mined with three others on a claim that they purchased, and there they also did well. He returned to Seattle then and sold his dust, then came on to Spokane, and it oc- curred to him that the best way to save the money was to purchase a farm, and accordingly he came to Gen- esee and bought eighty acres where he lives at the present time, two and one-half miles northeast from Genesee. He has a fine farm, all finely improved, ele- gant residence, large barn and outbuildings and every- thing in first class shape. He raises wheat and oats and is prosperous and a leading figure in the com- munity to which he is a valuable acquisition. Es- pecially in politics is Mr. Anderson interested and is always laboring for measures of general benefit and men of sound principles.

On March 31. 1900, Mr. Anderson married Miss Mary, daughter of Andrew Asplen and Anna ( Peter- son) Anderson, natives of Norway. The father died in that land in 1901, but the mother still lives there, aged sixty-seven years. One child has been born to our subject and his estimable wife,-Theodore E.

HAMLIN McCOY. One mile northeast fron Princeton is the fine home of Mr. McCoy. It con- sists of a good farm of one-quarter section of fertile land, well improved with good buildings and product- ive of various crops, as grasses, grains and fruits. Mr. McCoy also handles a first class orchard. He was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, May 7, 1852, the son of Benjamin and Mary A. ( Ballard) McCoy. The fa- ther was a farmer and a native of Guernsey county, Ohio, born in 1808, and he died in 1875. His mother's name was Sherrick. The wife of Benjamin McCoy was Miss Ballard, born in Guernsey county, Ohio, in 1812, and her death occurred in 1867. Our subject re- mained with his parents until the father's death, in 1875, and just previous to that he had purchased land with his father and brother, James H. He sold this land in 1875 and removed to West Virginia, where he purchased land and remained until 1888. Then he sold and removed to Latah county, getting here in the spring of that year. The following summer he bought his present place and has resided there 'since.

The marriage of Mr. McCoy and Miss Phoebe, daughter of Andrew and Drusilla (Forrest) Boyd, was solemnized in the home county in Ohio, on Sep-

tember 9, 1875. The following children are the fruit

of this union : Mintie B., deceased ; Emma F., wife of A. H. Miller, living near Moscow ; Venia I., wife of J. D. Miller, in Moscow. Mrs. McCoy was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, on March 23, 1855, and she has the following named sisters and brothers: George G., at the native place ; Mary, wife of George McPeak, in Ohio; Isaiah, died March 5, 1902: Elizabeth, de- ceased ; Jane, deceased; Emma, wife of Thomas Daugherty, in Ohio. The brothers and sisters of Mr. McCoy are named as follows : Samuel, deceased ; Cornight C., deceased ; Benjamin F., in Cole county, Missouri ; John T., died at Chambersburg, Pennsyl- vania, during the war; James H., deceased ; Stephen, in Ritzville, Washington ; Phoebe J., deceased ; Henry W., in West Virginia : Mary A., died in Missouri ; Joshua, deceased ; and William R., deceased. Mr. Mc- Coy has five brothers who fought in the Civil war with distinction. One of them, Henry, being a mem- ber of Company B, Fifteenth Ohio, received a wound, which disability caused his discharge. Mr. McCoy is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Lodge No. 46, in Palouse. He and his wife are members of the Methodist church. Mr. McCoy has always been zeal- ous for good schools, serving as president of the board in West Virginia, and also on the board much in Latah county.

HERBERT L. HAWKINS. Buell J. Hawkins, a farmer, born in Ohio in 1824, whose father was Amos Hawkins, married Miss Mary A. Custard, and to them were born the subject of this sketch, in Craw- ford county, Pennsylvania, on July 9, 1853, and also the following children : Charles, deceased : and Rufus, who is living at Aromas, California. Mr. B. J. Haw- kins took his family to Crawford county, Kansas, near Ft. Scott. in 1858, where he took up land and farmed. He joined the Home Guards during the war and did good service, but in 1863 his wife died, and after the war he married a second time. Our subject remained with his father until he had reached the age of four- teen, and then started out for himself, having gained his education from the district schools previous to that age. He worked for wages at farming, riding the range and other labors until he reached his majority, then went to farming for himself, also mined for coal. He was a resident of Kansas until 1879, then sold out and went to Redwater. Michigan, where he worked at saw milling for four years. The next move was to the vicinity of Spokane. Washington, in 1883, and three years later he came thence to Latah county. He preempted land on Bear creek and gave his atten- tion to handling it until the present time, having also a hotel at Princeton. now in connection with his farm. His home is now at Princeton, and he has also the mail route from Palouse to Princeton.

On March 7. 1876, occurred the marriage of Mr. Hawkins and Miss Mary E., daughter of William N. and Arilda (Green) Green, and they have been blessed by the advent of the following children : Mirance, attended school two years at Pullman, and now living

678

HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

in Moscow ; Chariie, on The Nez Perces reservation : Elsie, wife of Alexander Black, of Princeton ; Ethel, Mande, Stella and Herbert, at home. Mrs. Hawkins was born in Springfield. Illinois, on Jannary 15, 1857, and her father was a farmer, born in Ohio in 1823. He was a veteran of the Mexican war, and also served three and one-half years in Company A, One Hundred and Sixth Illinois Infantry, during the Civil war. Her mother was born in Illinois in 1835, the father of this lady being William Green, and his wife, Mary (Hogge) Green. The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Hawkins are Lizzie, deceased; John, deceased; Abra- ham, in Texas; Agnes, deceased; Mary, deceased ; William, in Texas : Millie, wife of Elijah Saunders, of Oklahoma.

Mr. Hawkins is a member of the American Yeo- men, and he and his wife adhere to the Baptist church, their membership being at the Pine Grove church. He has been a member of the school board for twelve consecutive years and is always laboring for the wel- fare of both school and state.

NICHOLAS OLSON. It is a pleasure to grant to the subject of this sketch a representation in the history of his county, for he justly deserves it, having labored faithfully here for many years, being a man of ability and energy, and having maintained a walk of unswerving integrity and uprightness. Mr. Olson is one of the real builders of Latah county, and is one of the heavy property owners in it today, having five hundred acres of land eight miles west from Kendrick, which his skill and energy have made one of the choic- est farms of the section, and an abundant producer of valuable crops. His farm is improved in a skillful manner and manifests the taste, wisdom and thrift of its owner at every turn.

Reverting to the personal history of our subject, we note that he was born in the land of Norway, near Burgen, on April 12, 1852, being the son of Ole and Sarah Olson. Norway has furnished some of the most sturdy and patriotic citizens within the border of our free land, and much is due the arduous efforts of this worthy class of people for the development and upbuilding of the country. For twenty years Nich- olas remained in his native land, gaining a good edu- cation and laboring for his parents on the home farm. Then he bade farewell to the home land, friends and relatives and embarked for America. He labored in the lumber woods of Minnesota and Wisconsin until 1879, when he came to Latah county, or the territory embraced in this county, it being then Nez Perces county, and after due search he selected a homestead, which forms a part of his mammoth estate. He went to work with a will and little by little he added land until the property now is as stated above, one of the finest estates of the county. Mr. Olson has an or- chard of thirty acres, and is one of the leading fruit growers of the county.

Fraternally Mr. Olson is affiliated with the A. O. U. W., being popular there as in his other walks of

life. It has never been a part of Mr. Olson's conquests to yet sail the matrimonial seas, having always pre- ferred the quieter and more peaceful joys of the celi- batarian.

ANDREW LYND. One of the capable and pros- perous farmers of Latah county is named at the head of this article, and it is with pleasure that we are en- abled to incorporate an epitome of his career in tins volume, since he has labored long for the upbuilding of the country and has conducted himself in a com- mendable manner. Mr. Lynd was born in Lawrence county, Ohio, on September 21, 1848, being the son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Tipton) Lynd, the father a native of Ohio, born in 1816, and the mother born in Virginia in 1820. Mr. Tipton was born in North Carolina in 1807 and died in Latah county. The parents of our subject removed to Illinois when he was a lad of five, and thence they went to Ringgold coun- ty, Iowa, took land and farmed for three years and then removed to Andrew county, Missouri. Three years were spent there, and then they went to Wash- ington county, Kansas, and in 1858 took a homestead. Our subject attended school there and worked with his parents, also doing freighting on the plains. The family home remained in that place in Kansas until 1883, when the father sold out and migrated over- land to Latah county. He took up the farm where Andrew now lives, ten miles east from Palouse. The next year our subject came to Latah county and pur- chased a piece of land near Palouse and farmed it for eleven years. When the father died the old home- stead was sold, and seven years since the subject of this article purchased it. It consists of one hundred and seventy acres, and is well improved, and produces abundance of timothy hay. Also Mr. Lynd owns another quarter section of good land.

The marriage of Mr. Lynd and Miss Mary M., daughter of Henry and Rebecca (Harlan) Gray, was solemnized on November 16, 1873, and they have be- come the parents of the following children: Alice E., deceased ; Albert J., deceased ; Millie, teaching in Latah county ; Francis M .. deceased; and the rest are all at home .- Elsie, Seth J., Harvey H., Reuben E., Homer J., Mary B. Mrs. Lynd was born in Putnam county, Indiana, on October 1, 1856, and she had one brother, Andrew, now deceased. Her father was born in Put- nam county, Indiana, on June 9, 1831, and her mother was also born in Indiana, her birthday being Janu- ary II, 1832. The brothers and sisters of Mr. Lynd are as follows: Jane, deceased; Mary A. wife of William Bastow; Amanda, wife of P. Hanshaw, of Salem: Charles, in Ellis county, Kansas ; Rebecca, wife of Ralph Traver, in Oregon; Elizabeth, wife of F. H. Brown, in Whitman county ; Julia, wife of Da- vid Gover, in Oregon ; Phoebe ; Celia, deceased ; Effie, wife of J. J. Hafer, in Latah county ; Laura, wife of Theo. Smith, of Oregon; Samuel, in Walla Walla; Massam, in Walla Walla: James, in Palouse. Mr. and Mrs. Lynd are members of the Baptist church at Palouse, and for that institution he liberally gave two

679

HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

hundred dollars in gold for the first building. He has always been faithful in the support of the faith. Politically Mr. Lynd is always active and is also a member of the school board. He believes in diversi- fied farming and each year he clears upward of three hundred dollars on his hogs alone, being also pros- perous in other lines as well.

JAMES W. ROSS. Ten miles east from the town of Palouse lies the estate of the gentleman whose name is at the head of this article, the family home having been here since 1883. James W. was born in Page county, Iowa, on October 9, 1847, the son of James and Rachel (Jones) Ross. The father was born in Jackson county, Missouri, and his father was a native of Kentucky. The mother died in Wilson county, Kansas, in 1858. In 1857 the parents removed to Missouri, and thence to Wilson county the following year, taking up land where Coyville is now located. Our subject was reared on a farm, attended school and when the terrible strife that rent our land in twain was precipitated he joined the forces of the Union and fought for the country that he helped to save from destruction. 1863 was the year, and James was but sixteen years of age. He enlisted in Company M, Ninth Kansas Cavalry. He was ordered to Kansas City, where he was stationed a few months, and then went to Lawrence, and he was there taken with the smallpox, and this prevented him from going south, but was out and able to chase Price the last time he ventured into Missouri, and at the end of the war was honorably discharged at Leavenworth, Kansas. He then went to Allen county and shortly afterward to Wilson county, and took up farming, continuing the same there until 1883, at which time he sold out and started overland to Latah county, landing here on Sep- tember 23, having been four months on the road. He purchased the farm above mentioned and has con- stantly remained here since.

On December 20, 1865, occurred the marriage of Mr. Ross and Miss Rosanna, daughter of Abijalı and Nancy (Oaster) Hampton, in Allen county, Kansas, and the following children have been born to them : Nancy E., deceased ; Mary L., wife of James Lynd, of Palouse ; Anna N., wife of Joe Davis, in Missouri ; Albert F., on the Nez Perces reservation ; Jordan J., at Wardner, Idaho; Charles E., at Chattaroy, Wash- ington ; Lottie V., at Milan, Washington ; Minnie, de- ceased ; Daniel E., at home; Gertie M. and Bertie J., twins, also at home. Mrs. Ross was born in Noda- way county, Missouri, on November 13, 1847, and has the following brothers and sisters: Leonard, de- ceased . Lucinda, wife of E. E. Howard, in Iowa; William, deceased : Joseph, in Iowa. Mr. Ross has the following brothers and sisters: Nancy J., deceased ; Elizabeth, deceased ; John A., deceased ; Benjamin F., in Idaho; Louisa, deceased; George W., in Latah county. Fraternally Mr. Ross is affiliated with the I. O. O. F., while he and his wife are members of the Christian church. He served on the school board for

a term and has always manifested a great interest in the advancement of educational facilities, as well as the general welfare of the county.

JOHN W. PLEDGER. This enterprising agri- culturist is one of the substantial men of Latah county, capable, upright and ever displaying wisdom and vigor. His estate lies three miles northwest from Princeton. contains one hundred and sixty acres, is well improved and presents a very thrifty appearance. The buildings of all kinds are tasty and commodious, while the land produces abundantly of the cereals and tim- othy, and Mr. Pledger also devotes much attention to feeding hogs.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 163

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