An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 166

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 166
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 166
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 166
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 166

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

came to Palouse and in 1892 he took up his present place, seven iniles southeast from that city. On April 6, 1893, he settled there with his family and since that time has made it the family home. He has forty acres of fine land, well improved and provided with good buildings, and the annual income from the farm under his skillful management is a handsome divi- dend.

On February 15, 1890, Mr. Danielson married Miss Amela, daughter of Conrad and Gurine (Rasmusen) Aamensen, and they have been blessed by the advent of one child, Mary E., attending school. Mr. Aamen- sen was a blacksmith on Utsire island, Norway, being born there on February 15, 1842, and he married Miss Rasmusen, whose father was a pilot at the same isl- and, and the wife of our subject was born on that isl- and, on October 9, 1868, and came to America in May, 1889. The other children in her father's family were: Martha, living in Wardner, Idaho; Julia, in Wallace, Idaho; Karine and Regina, in Norway. Mr. and Mrs. Danielson are members of the Lutheran church, and he is active in politics and especially zealous for good schools, while he has so conducted himself that he en- joys the confidence and respect of his fellows.

ANGUS MCKENZIE. This well known and en- terprising citizen of our county has wrought for the advancement of Latah territory since before the or- ganization of the county, and has the distinction of being one of the very first settlers here, having done much since that time to develop the country, and conducting himself with manifestation of sound prin- ciples and integrity and faithfulness. We have to cross the wide Atlantic to the stanch land of Scotia to find the birth place of our subject, Rosshire being the spot and the date being March, 1855. His par- ents were William and Isabella Mckenzie, who brought their family to the land of the new world, and settled in Stark county. Illinois. There they la- bored until 1863, when they undertook the trying and dangerous trip across the plains, the father walking from Omaha to the Grande Ronde valley in Oregon, where they settled until 1871, when they came to this region and took the place where the son now lives, two miles south from Moscow. The father passed away in the 'eighties, being aged seventy-five, and the mother died in February, 1891, aged about eighty. years. Our subject has constantly remained on the homestead, and has it developed into a fine estate now. In addition to the farming, Mr. Mckenzie operates a first-class threshing outfit, having done business for several years in this line with excellent success and satisfaction to his patrons.

Mr. Mckenzie is an elder of the Presbyterian church and is a worthy supporter of the faith and liberal do- nator to the church, while in private and public life he has demonstrated the virtues of that which he pro- fesses. Mr. Mckenzie is one of the substantial citi- zens of the county, has done a large amount for its welfare, has demonstrated himself a capable and pro-

gressive business man, and has the confidence and esteem of all. He has never vet taken to himself a companion for the journey of life, preferring the celi- batarian enjoyment to further responsibilities of the connubial relation.

JACOB H. MILLER. The enterprising gentle- man, whose name is at the head of this article, is one who has promoted the growth and development of the country by his faithful and wise labors and is one of the substantial men of the community. Jacob H. was born in Henry county, Iowa, on March 25, 1849, be- ing the son of Henry and Martha (Allen) Miller, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Tennessee. While a child, his parents came to Monroe county, Iowa, and there he was educated in the common schools. When he had reached the age of eighteen years, he left the parental abode and launched forth on the sea of life for himself. He bought a farm of eighty acres and for five years he produced the fruits of the field there and then sold and turned his energies to railroad grading and for six years we find him contracting in this line. Afterward he turned his at- tention to farming again and thus was occupied until he came to Latah county. First, however, he came west to Pullman, Washington, in 1881, and then in 1890, he came to this county, settling where we find him at the present time, about seven miles north from Genesee. He handles about two hundred acres of land, has a number of horses and is one of the skillful agri- culturists of the section. In political matters, Mr. Miller is allied with the Republican fold and is active in local affairs and is ever on the side of progress and advancement. He is a member of the K. of P. and in this capacity he is popular and well thought of and so conducts himself that he has the regards and es- teem of all who know him.

ANDREW J. SMITH is one of the enterprising and well known agriculturists of Latah county, whose estate is situated one mile north from Freese post- office, and consists of one hundred and sixty acres of fertile land which is well improved and provided with modern and commodious buildings and all necessaries for a first-class farm. He was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, on January 10, 1851, his parents, John V. and Susanna ( Thomas) Smith, being natives of the same county, and born on January 5, 1827 and February 9, 1829, respectively. The father was a cooper and a man of prominence in his county, being assessor for a number of terms. The mother was de- scended from German stock, her father, Peter Thomas, being a farmer. The family came to Iowa in 1855, settling in Dewitt, Clinton county, where the father took a soldier's right, and then went to farming. Our subject worked on a farm and attended school until he was twenty-two years of age, when he went to Monona county and took up farming for himself. Two

ANGUS MCKENZIE.

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years later he returned to the old home and then in 1875 came to Oregon, settling in Benton county. After one year of general work, he took charge of a farmers' warehouse, and at the end of 1878, came to Latah county just in time to assist in the construction of the fortifications and stand guard.

The marriage of Mr. Smith and Miss Deborah C. Thomas was solemnized in 1879, at Walla Walla, Washington, and she died on June 3, 1888, leaving no children. Mr. Smith was married a second time, the lady becoming his bride on this occasion, being Callie E. Johnson, daughter of James and Elizabeth (Hubbard) Johnson, and the nuptials occurred on August 18, 1889. Mr. Johnson was a soldier in the Civil war and his health was broken through the ar- duousness of his service. He was also a native of Arkansas. Mrs. Smith was born in Greene county, Missouri, on June 14, 1870. Her brothers and sisters are, Albert, in Kansas, and Eva, wife of B. J. Jones, county assessor of Latah county. Mr. Smith's broth- ers and sisters are named as follows: Rebecca, de- ceased; Amanda B., Isaac, Katherine, Frank, Will- iam, John, Addison, Virginia, Cornelius, Daniel, Eliza- beth. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith has been born one child, Ruby M., at home. In 1900 Mr. Smith was nominated for county commissioner but did not make a canvass. He and his wife are members of the Christian church, while in educational matters he is always zealous for good schools and strives for the same.

FRANK W. WEBSTER. This capable gentle- man is one of the leading men of our county, being favored with an executive ability that has enabled him to manage the resources placed in his hands in such a masterful manner that he is blessed with abun- dant success at this time, having a farm of two hun- cred acres, eight miles northeast from Palouse, Washi- ington, where the family home is now and which is one of the excellent estates of this section of the county. Mr. Webster is a native of Canton, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, being born on June 21, 1850, the son of Milo and Adeline (Bartlett), natives re- spectively of New York and Pennsylvania. In 1862 the parents removed to Nicollet county, Minnesota, taking up land and devoting themselves to farming. Our subject attended school and remained with his parents until he had attained the age of twenty, when he stepped out from under the parental roof and faced the battles of life for himself. It was in 1870 that he decided to go west and soon we see him in Portland. Oregon. One year was spent there in general labor and then he took up land for himself. Six years were spent in tilling this, then he sold out and migrated to Latah county, settling on a preemption in 1877, which was his home for eleven years. Selling this Mr. Web- ster embarked in the saw mill business. For twelve years he continued at the lumbering industry and then bought his present farm, described above, and turned his attention to farming. He still retains an interest in the mill, however.

The marriage of Mr. Webster and Miss Lizzie S., daughter of Samuel H. and Dersey (Bean) Foster, was solemnized on January II, 1870, and one child has been born to them, Mabel, wife of Douglass Will- iams and living in Latah county. Mrs. Webster was born in Maine, the native state of her parents, in July, 1850. The other children of her father's family are named below, Homer, deceased, Lawrence, Martha, deceased, Benton, deceased, Ruth, Mason, Lendell, Effie. Mr. Webster has the following brothers and sisters, Delancey, Oscar, Ardell, deceased, Arvilla, Minnie, Jesse. Mr. Webster is active in the political realm and labors zealously for the promulgation of the principles which he believes for the betterment of all. In 1892 he was nominated by the Populists for auditor of the county and he made a fine race, being defeated by only a very small majority. In educa- tional matters, Mr. Webster manifests a zealous inter- est and believes in good schools.

WILLIAM W. THARP. Seven miles east from Garfield, Washington, lives the subject of this arti- cle on a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres which he took from the raw sod by a government right and has developed as one of the excellent rural abodes of this portion of the country. William W. was born in Callaway county, Missouri, on April 13, 1829, being the son of Stephen H. and Maria (Mc- Clure) Tharp, natives respectively of Madison and Montgomery counties, Kentucky, and the father was born in 1807. At the age of fourteen years, our sub- ject went to live with his grandfather McClure and three years later he was apprenticed to a blacksmith, completing the trade at the age of twenty. At that time he returned to his grandparents and soon took the gold fever and on April 24, with good mule out- fits, he crossed the Missouri at Nebraska City and eighty days later, on July 14, he pitched his tent in Placer county, California, and immediately went to mining. He continued at that until 1852, and then went to the territory now embraced in Douglas county, Oregon, and there located a donation claim and set to work to make a home. Twelve years were spent in the labor of tilling the soil there and then he sold the property and moved to the Grande Ronde valley, Oregon, where he bought land and farmed for six- teen years. It was 1880 that he sold and made another move, this time coming to Latah county, then a por- tion of the Nez Perces county. Here he bought the right of another to the quarter where he now resides and there he went to work to make the third home he had established in the west. He has been successful in his labors and also has always labored for the 11p- building of the country and the advancement of its welfare.

On November 1, 1854. Mr. Tharp married Miss Lucy A. Miller, in Douglas county, Oregon. Mrs. Tharp is a native of Pennsylvania and was born in 1832. Mr. Tharp's brothers and sisters are named as follows : John W., Mary A., deceased, George W ..

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living near Eldon, Iowa. Mr. Tharp has done his share in pioneer work, and is entitled to the enjoyment of the competence that his skill and labors have gath- ered. He remembers when Oregon and Wash- ington were one division and he voted on the Oregon constitution. In political matters, he is active, being several times elected justice of the peace. He organized the first greenback club in the Grande Ronde valley, and was the first populist elected to office in Latah county. This year he has been notified by the chair- man of the national committee of the "Middle-of-the- Roaders," Joe A. Parker, that he has been chosen committeeman on this important branch. In school matters, Mr. Tharp is also zealous and labors for the betterment of facilities and the cause in general.

WILLIAM R. BELVAIL is one of the substan- tial men of Latah county, being an agriculturist of good possessions, having one quarter section where he resides five miles east of Palouse and another not far distant. Mr. Belvail is a native of Jo Daviess county, Illinois, being born near Galena, on June 1. 1861, to Joseph and Sarah ( Mader) Belvail. The father was a native of Canada and a stockman. In 1861, he went to Pike's Peak and was killed on the North Platte by Indians. The mother was born near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in 1836, whose father. Abram Mader. was a shoemaker and farmer. After the father's death, his widow married again, and our subject re- mained under the parental roof until sixteen years of age, when he went to work in the pineries above Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Four years were spent in the woods and then he operated a camp for him- self and rafted in the spring and summer. In 1882 Mr. Belvail went to Minnesota and one year later he was visiting his native place. 1885 marks the date when he set out for Nebraska and settlement was made in Boone county, where he bought land and tilled it for seven years, then sold out and came west. He first bought land on Camas prairie, near Grange- ville. Idaho, then sold it one season later, wintering in Pullman, Washington, whence he came to Latah county and purchased a farm. It was in 1897 that he purchased his present place, which he devotes to to the production of the cereals principally.

Mr. Belvail married Miss Florence, daughter of James and Bell Talbott. The father is a cabinet maker and farmer and was born in Pennsylvania in 1829, and the mother was born in Illinois in 1843. Mrs. Belvail had one brother and one sister, both de- ceased. namely : Raymond and Alma. Mr. Belvail's immediate relatives not already mentioned were two sisters, both deceased. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Belvail: Rosco .A., Alma and Wallace L. Mr. Belvail affiliates with the A. O. U. W. and the Woodmen of the World, both at Pa- louse. He is also active in the realm of education, having been a member of the board for nine consecu- tive years, and ever laboring for the advancement of

the cause and the betterment of facilities. In 1900 Mr. Belvail received, entirely unsolicited, the nom- ination for county assessor, but was defeated by only a small majority. He holds with the Democratic party and has always labored for the proper admin- istration of affairs of government.

BENJAMIN F. CONE is one of the capable and prominent men of Latah county, having displayed those qualities that make the true man and the stanch and patriotic citizen. At present he is engaged in tilling the soil of his fine farm seven miles east from Palouse, handling it in the diversified manner and having it well improved with orchard and buildings, and so forth. Mr. Cone is a native of the occident, being born in Marion county, Oregon, on Septem- ber 24. 1851, the son of Gustavus A. and Emma R. (Iler) Cone. The father was a stockman. farmer and general business man, born in Rush county, In- diana, on November 21, 1823, came to Oregon, land- ing there on November 6, 1847, was one of the forty- niners of California and on December 26, 1898, he died, being a man of means. The mother was a native of Ohio, born in 1834, to James and Marie Iler. Our subject remained with his parents until he was eight- een years of age, having attended school and worked on the farm with his father. In 1869 he went to clerking and was soon appointed postmaster of Butteville, which incumbency he retained until 1881, in the spring of which year he went to Portland and in November journeyed to Latah county, settling near Princeton. March 8, 1892, he was appointed to the office of district clerk, filling the unexpired term of W. B. Kyle, which was completed ten months later. and then was nominated on the Republican ticket and promptly elected to the same office. At the expira- tion he was again nominated by his party, but the combination of the Fusionists and Democrats defeated him with the balance of his ticket. Just before going to Moscow he had purchased his present place. and after his retirement from office he returned to it and here he has remained since that time, being numbered with the leading agriculturists of the county.

The marriage of Mr. Cone and Miss Nancy J., daughter of Alpheus and Zibah U. (Evans) Jones, was solemnized on February 22, 1875. MIrs. Cone was born in Franklin county, Iowa, in 1856, her father being a contractor and farmer, and her brothers and sisters are named as follows : Elbert W., living in Nez Perces county ; Ernest A., also living there ; Flora R., wife of Charles L. Williamson in Moscow ; Cora N., living in Latah county. The children of our subject's parents besides himself are named also : Louise M .. wife of John Murray, of Aurora, Ore- gon ; Laura B., wife of J. W. Long, at Silverton, Oregon ; Heman B., at Portland ; Mary A., wife of A. L. Rice, of Silverton, Oregon ; Gustavus A., liv- ing near Butteville, Oregon. To Mr. and Mrs. Cone there have been born the following children: Ernest

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E., in Latah county : Lewis C., at Princeton, Idaho; John M., at the same place; Herbert F., at home. Mr. Cone is a member of the Masonic lodge at Mos- cow and his wife adheres to the Christian church.

OLE OTNESS. Our commonwealth is debtor much to the strong arms and brave hearts of the true and devoted immigrants who hail from the land of Norway, whence comes the subject of this article. He has displayed in this land the same character- istics which make his people a thrifty and leading nation in their domestic and commercial relations. Mr. Otness was born in Walsofjord, in his native land, on February IS, 1860, being the son of Ole O. and Julia Otness, also natives of that country. The mother died in Norway, being interred in Walsofjord cemetery, but the father came to America and lo- cated in Genesee, where he was called to pass the river of death. Our subject was educated in the com- inon schools of his native land, attending also the high schools, and at the age of twenty-two came to this country, locating first in Minnesota, where he gave his attention to farming for seven years, then re- turned to Norway and for five years was numbered with the tillers of the soil there. Also during that time he experienced a happy event of his life, his marriage with Miss Gertrude, daughter of Ole and Ellen ( Walso) Olsen, the nuptials being celebrated in 1889. After his marriage Mr. Otness came to Latah county, purchased one hundred and twenty- two acres of land and commenced his career as.a western farmer and stock raiser. While he has been successful in handling stock, still he has devoted most of his energies to the culture of the cereals and in this line he has been especially favored. He has a choicely selected orchard and his farm is in a high state of cultivation. Mr. Otness has good barns and outbuildings and is planning for the erection of a fine dwelling. We find in the subject of this sketch one of those substantial men who form the real bone and sinew of our commonwealth and it is his pur- pose to continue in the improvement of his fine farm and remain here the balance of his days. He is active in the realm of politics, being allied with the Repub- lican party, and also he takes a commendable interest in the affairs of education.

To Mr. Otness and his worthy wife there have been born three children: Oscar R., going to school, Ellen G. and Olga. Mrs. Otness' parents were na- tives also of Norway and there they lived until the time of their death. Mr. and Mrs. Otness are devout members of the Norwegian Lutheran church, and he is a respected and leading man in his community.

JOHN J. HAFER. Among the representative agriculturalists of Latah county there should not be failure to mention the subject of this article. whose

wisely bestowed labors have done much for the gen- eral welfare of the county, being a man of sound principles and uprightness. His farm lies six miles east from Palouse, and is well supplied with fine buildings and produces abundantly the diversified crops, while also Mr. Hafer raises cattle and hogs.

Regarding his personal history, we note that he was born in the vicinity of Cleveland, Ohio, on Feb- ruary 8. 1850, being the son of Andrew and Rosa (Wing) Hafer. The father was born in Wurtem- berg, Germany, in 1827, and after coming to this country he served in the Mexican war. The mother was also a native of the same place in Germany. Our subject remained with his parents until twenty years of age, they moving from Ohio to Michigan, thence to Jowa, and in 1870 the family, except our subject, went to Texas. In Iowa Mr. Hafer re- mained until 1873, then determined to come to the west and accordingly we soon see him in San Fran- cisco, whence he came to The Dalles, thence on to this county. In 1876 he took up a pre-emption on the Palouse river, where he farmed until 1890. Then a move was made to another farm two miles east. In 1897 Mr. Hafer sold this property and bought a farm in the Potlatch, which, however, he sold in six months and returned to the vicinity of his first place and bought his present farm six miles east from Palouse. During the Indian outbreak of 1877-8 Mr. Hafer as- sisted to build the fortifications in Palouse and did his share of watching in the nights for the savages.

The marriage of Mr. Hafer and Effie (Lynd) Hamilton, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Tip- ton) Lynd, was solemnized on June 22, 1884, in Latalı county. They have two children, Henry and Ethel, while by her former marriage Mrs. Hafer has two children, James and Robert Hamilton, on the St. Marys river. Mrs. Hafer has one brother, James Tipton. living near Grangeville, Idaho, and Mr. Hafer has the following brothers and sisters . George, Caroline, Rosa, Henry, all in Texas. Mr. Hafer al- ways takes an active interest in the political matters of the county, and has served as justice of the peace and also he is zealous in the cause of education, being school director. He affiliates with the I. O. O. F. at Palouse and Mrs. Hafer is a member of the United Brethren church.

HENRY HANSON. To the labors of the stockmen and agriculturists of Latah county more credit is due for the development of the resources of the county than perhaps to any other class of men, and it is with pleasure that we accord to this member of that class a representation, being assured that he is one of the substantial and capable men of the coun- try. Henry Hanson was born in Winnebago county, Wisconsin, on May 17, 1863, being the son of Knute and Betsey Hanson, natives of Norway, who came to America, settling in the county above named in 1862. The father promptly enlisted in the army, Thirteenth Wisconsin Regulars, to fight the battles

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of the Civil war, and, being taken prisoner, he lan- guished in Andersonville until death relieved him of his terrible sufferings, thus giving his life for his foster land. The mother still lives in Winnebago county, being sixty-six years of age. Our subject received his education in the common schools, and being the only son of the family the support of the family devolved upon him, and in a manly manner he took up the burden and did it thoroughly, being twenty-five years of age when he started for him- self. At that age he came west to Walla Walla, worked there for one year and then made his way to Genesee, where he worked out for two years. At that time occurred the happy event of the marriage of Mr. Hanson and Miss Bell, daughter of Eric and Olea Flamoe, natives of Norway, who immigrated to America and are now living in Genesee. Immedi- ately subsequent to his marriage Mr. Hanson rented a farm for one year, then bought a farm and two years afterward sold it again, renting for the next two years. After this he spent one year in working for others and then purchased a farm for himself, where he lives, four miles north from Genesee, being in- cluded in the rural free delivery route, No. I. Mr. Hanson has his farm well improved, it being in a high state of cultivation. He has good buildings, a fine orchard, and a nice band of cattle. In politics, our subject is always active and displays that patriot- ism and intelligence which are the part of every true citizen. He is allied with the Republicans. To Mr. and Mrs. Hanson there have been born the following children : Clara, Palma, Nora, Roy and Helma. Mr. and Mrs. Hanson are faithful members of the Nor- wegian Lutheran church and they are people who are deserving and enjoy in a good degree the confidence of their fellows, while they have always displayed industry, uprightness and integrity.

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An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 166

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