An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 176

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 176
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 176
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 176
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 176

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In Centerville. Pennsylvania, he was married to Mariah L. daughter of Milton and Virginia (Seth) Cook, in 1869. Mrs. Crocker was a native of Penn- sylvania and her father was a tailor in the town where she was married. To Mr. and Mrs. Crocker there have been born the following named children, Frank D., married to Jessie Lockins and a carriage maker : Fred D. living at Everett. Washington: Iva, in Spokane, Washington : George married to Trina Cragger and living in Everett. Washington ; Lauren L., married to Jessie Steele. and living in Everett, Washington : Winona, at home: Earl, attending the Northwestern Business College in Spokane,. Washington. Mr. Crocker is a man with much energy and possessed of fine executive ability, which is dominated with keen sagacity and has led the way in his successful business ventures and given him his goodly competence.

CHARLES E. RAY. The genial and hospitable gentleman whose name appears above is one of Latahı county's prosperous and progressive farmers and stock raisers, having wrought here for many years and now owning one quarter section six and one-half miles northeast from Moscow, where he puts forth com- mendable effort in the production of the fruits of the soil and has the place well improved and one of the finest orchards in the county, which consists of ten acres set to the choicest varieties of all kinds of fruits that are indigenous to this section. Charles F. was born in Iowa, near Oskaloosa, on January 1. 1866, being the son of John M. and Jane M., farmers of that region, and both now living with this son. When Charles was an infant, the family removed to Belle- ville, Kansas, where they took up farming and stock raising. During their stay there occurred the great Indian raid of that country wherein much suffering was endured. In 1876 they crossed the plains to Port- land. Four years were spent in that section and then another move was made to Walla Walla, Washington, whence after one year's farming there, they came to the Palouse country. The father sought out a place of government land and settled on the farm now owned by our subject. He filed a pre-emption and later re-

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

linquished it in favor of his son. This has been the family home since that time. In addition to handling the farm, Mr. Ray has paid considerable attention to mining in different localities of the state. He has operated around Florence, was in the Buffalo Hump excitement, and has done considerable work in the Mos- cow mountains, where he is busied at the present time. He has worked at the White Cross mine in this last vicinity, which is a promising property. Thus far in life Mr. Ray has decided to enjoy the pleasures of the celibatarian rather than gather the responsibilities of domesticity around him. He is a man of sound principles, dominated by wisdom and integrity and enjoys the esteem of all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance.

JACOB KAMBITCH. It now becomes our pleasant privilege to chronicle the career of the esti- mable and doughty pioneer named at the head of this article, and we feel assured that to no more worthy builder of Latah county and substantial citizen of the same at this time could there be given due recognition of merit and labors since it has been the lot of our subject to have always been faithful in labor, upright in walk of life, and patriotic and brave in the defense of his chosen country in time of danger, and he is now worthy of the place of prominence that he is accorded among his fellows and in the recognition of a grateful people.

Our subject was born in Hungary, Austria, on July 20, 1831, being the son of Mat and Mary Kam- bitch, who were natives of that country and lie buried there now. He was educated in his native place and at the age of twenty years entered the army, serving five years, then returned to his father's farm where he remained one year and then came to America, in 1857, settling in St. Louis where he drove team for four years. Then came the trying time of the Civil war and young Kambitch manifested the metal of which he was made by offering his services for the mainten- ance of the Union, by shedding blood if need be, be- ing a volunteer in the Second Light Artillery under Captain Stanga, and three years and three months he served in the cause of freedom and good government to put down forever the menace of treason. Fol- lowing this time, he was promoted to the rank of cor- poral and served until the close of 1864, when he was honorably discharged. He was in the battle of Pea Ridge, Little Rock, Blue Field, Greenville, besides several others. He was a gunner and received a slight wound in the hand. After the war he teamed until 1867, then went on a steamboat to Fort Benton and there operated as a freighter from that place to Helena, handling seven yoke of oxen and two wagons. On account of the hostilities of the Indians, he resigned this position and went prospecting. Later he started to Bitter Root valley and thence to Walla Walla and lost his way and finally brought up at Lewiston, hav- ing been three days without food. He received food from the hotel in that town and went to work thresh-

ing, having nine days of this labor, it being the en- tire season at that time. He worked at various oc- cupations until he had secured a stake of two hundred dollars and then he sent for his family and took a claim and farmed for one and one-half years, selling the land at that time for seven hundred dollars.

In 1872 he took a homestead where he now lives, four miles northeast from Genesee, and built a house and settled down, and here he has been ever since that time engaged in tilling the soil, becoming one of the prominent men of the county. He has an estate of four hundred and eighty aeres all tilled and well improved. He sells annually over ten thousand bush- els of grain. For fifteen years, until the railroad came, he hauled all his grain to the river for shipment.

In 1865 Mr Kambitch was married to Miss Ther- isa, daughter of Simon Geiger, a native of Baden, Germany. The parents died in their native place and the daughter came to St. Louis in 1859, where also the wedding mentioned occurred. Eight children have been born to this worthy couple, six of whom, as fol- lows, are living: Emma F., married to John Jacksha and living in this county; Anna, married to Frank Bruegemann, living in this county : Mary T., married to Joseph Shober and living in Cottonwood, Idaho; Joseph S., single and with his father ; Louise M., sin- gle and with her parents; Clara C., married to John Hardeman and living in Latah county. Mr. Kam- bitch is a member of the G. A. R. of Genesee. He is a devout member of the Roman Catholic church as also are the members of his family. It is of note that in 1875 Mr. Kambitch lost twenty-eight head of cattle by freezing to death, the snow that year being five feet deep on the level.

MICHAEL C. NORMOYLE. One of the heaviest property holders and ablest business men of Latah county is named at the head of this article, and he is eminently deserving of mention in the volume that pur- ports to chronicle the history of his county, both because of the excellent success that he has achieved and because of the intrinsic worth of his personality. Michael C. was born on September 8, 1853, in Troy. New York, being the son of John and Bessie (Clancy) Normoyle, natives of Ireland. They came to the United States in 1834, and the father worked at his trade of stone cutting in Troy, until he was aged forty- three, when he was called away by death. The mother died in October, 1899, being nearly four score years of age, and a devout member of the Catholic church. Six children were the offspring of this worthy couple and three are living.

Returning more particularly to the subject of this article, we find him at the early age of ten years oper- ating as a bell boy in a leading hotel in Washington, D. C. He was educated in Denver, Colorado, working by day and studying in the night schools. This was continued until he was eighteen years old, when he went to Fairplay, Colorado, remaining until 1876.

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

Then he went to the Black Hills and returned in 1880, to take charge of the Lindell hotel in Denver, where he labored for five years, and was also proprietor of all the eating houses on the Denver & Rio Grande rail- road, five years being his allotted time in this capacity. Later he was in Palouse, Washington, and operated the St. Elmo hotel there. 1890 was the date of Mr. Normoyle's arrival in Kendrick. He erected the first hotel in the place, and for two years did a thriving business, and then the structure, being frame, burned to the ground, entailing a loss of fourteen thousand dollars. His enterprise was not to be thwarted and tor a time succeeding this catastrophe, Mr. Normoyle cared for his guests in tents. Men of means had con- fidence in our subject and advanced him money to erect the present St. Elmo hotel and St. Elmo block, the former being a fine two-story brick with excellent parlors, office, cuisine, and twenty-four sleeping apart- ments, while the latter is a two-story brick structure used as a double store below and as an opera house above. Mr. Normoyle is an experienced host and han- dles his business in a most commendable manner, hav- ing friends in all the traveling public as well as all who know him. He is also president of the Kendrick water works, the supply coming from springs on his farm, a one-hundred-and-forty-eight-acre tract adjoining town. He is also president of the Coeur d'Alene Inn Company, operating the Coeur d'Alene Inn at Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

In 1872, at Denver, Colorado, Mr. Normoyle mar- ried Miss Mary Azra. One son came to gladden the happy union, and he is a member of the Montana legis- lature. Mr. Normoyle was called upon to mourn the death of his wife in 1885. In 1891 he married a sec- one time, the lady of his choice being Arra Nichols and they have become the parents of two sons, George W. and Edwin M., and a daughter, Ruth. Fraternally Mr. Normoyle is affiliated with the Masons, Kendrick Lodge, No. 26, being past master and now secretary ; also with the Eastern Star and the I. O. O. F. Polit- ically he is one of the stanch old Jeffersonian Demo- crats. It is gratifying to have in our midst a business man of such capacity, vigor and sagacity and Kendrick is to be congratulated in that Mr. Normoyle is domi- ciled within her borders.

ARTHUR A. DOBSON has the reputation of being one of the mast progressive farmers and stock- men in the county of Latah, and sure it is that he has a fine body of land and does commendable work in these lines, while also it is interesting to note that he has led a life filled with adventure and energetic act- ivity in various parts of the world, being what is termed by the English, a colonial, since he was born in Hobart, Tasmania island. His parents were Edwin and Caroline Dobson, the father being a magistrate in the native land. After seven years in attendance upon a private boarding school young Dobson at the age of thirteen scented adventure ahead and ran away from

home and went to sea. He went to London, England, thence to New Zealand, north island, then returned to London. Soon out on another trip which took him to Port Chalmers, New Zealand, south island, he then returned to England and afterwards to Hong Kong. China, and again to England and out to Calcutta, thence to Wellington, north New Zealand, and thence finally to Portland, Oregon. Then he left the sea and went to work on a farm. Later he went to San Fran- cisco, then returned to Oregon with a pack train, and had a pow wow with the Modocs whom he charged with stealing an animal, which they found for him later. And two weeks after this exciting time that fierce tribe were pouncing upon the defenseless natives in bloody war. From the Willamette valley he came to Grant county and took up stock raising, later he went to Couer d'Alene with a band of horses and afterward to Colfax and in August, 1881, he came to Latah county and at once devoted his energies to logging for Northrup & Moore. In 1891 he took a homestead six miles northeast from Moscow and on December 12, 1899, he purchased his present place four miles north- east from Moscow and there he has been living since that time. Mr. Dohson owns three hundred and sixty acres of desirable land and practices diversified farm- ing but is gradually placing his land all to the differ- ent grasses and handling stock.

The marriage of Mr. Dobson and Miss Callie M., daughter of Sherman and Caroline Finch, of St. Paul, Minnesota, was solemnized on March 23, 1889. Mr. Finch was sheriff of Blue Earth county, Minnesota, and chief of police in Mankato, that county. Mrs. Dobson attended school at Carlton College, North- field, Minnesota, having as classmate Miss May Hay- wood, the daughter of Mr. Haywood, the cashier of the bank, shot by the famous Younger brothers. Mr. Dobson is a member of the Elks, Moscow Lodge, No. 249, also of the W. of W. He and wife are members of the Episcopalian church. In political matters Mr. Dobson is active and always allied with the Repub- licans.

JOSEPH C. JOHNSTON. In the course of the development of Latah county, how much faithful labor has been performed by the agriculturists and stockmen, and the present commercial importance of this county in the state is largely due to these same wisely be- stowed labors. Among those who have done this com- mendable work is to be mentioned J. C. Johnston, whose life's career it is now our pleasant task to outline in brief review. Joseph C. was born in Iowa, on May 27, 1849, being the son of Bryan and Delilah (Phil- lipps) Johnston. When he was four years of age, the family removed to St. Clair county, Missouri, later to Warren county, in the same state, and then about 1868, they removed back to Vernon county. Another migration was made, this time to Woodson county, Kansas, where our subject remained until 1882, engaged in the basic art of tilling the soil. At the date last mentioned, Mr. Johnston determined to try the west

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

and accordingly came to Latah county and took as homestead his present fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres, which is three miles west from Troy. He has transformed the wildness of the face of the land into well tilled fields, has comfortable improve- ments, a good orchard and is one of the substantial and prosperous men of the community.

Mr. Johnston married Miss Martha A. Rodgers in Woodson county, Kansas, and they have become the parents of three children, William F., Charles F. and Estella M.

GEORGE W. P. HILL. Among the younger men who are making Latah county what she is to- day, a leader in the state, is the gentleman mentioned above. He is one of the band of enterprising agri- turists who labor for the welfare of the county, the promotion of good schools and government, and the enhancing of his financial standing in a commendable manner and with wisdom and vigor. George W. was born in Nevada City, California, on May 8, 1867, being the son of H. D. and Martha ( Price) Hill. The father was a carpenter and our subject was about the country considerably with him until the date when he migrated to this county, 1885. He was with his mother, who took a pre-emption for two years and then farmed around Juliaetta for four years, after which he was similarly engaged in Whitman county for one season, and then he made settlement where we find him at the present time, one mile south from Cornwall. He has there a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres improved in a good manner, and a fine orchard of three hundred and sixty choice varie-

ties of fruit. In addition to general farming, Mr. Hill raises stock and he is one of the prosperous men of the community. Fraternally, Mr. Hill is a member of the M. W. A .. Cornwall Lodge, No. 9645. In this capacity Mr. Hill is a popular associate, and he is an affable and genial gentleman and a skillful husband- man.

The marriage of Mr. Hill and Miss Martha, daughter of J. R. and Adella Dunham, was celebrated near Cornwall, on April 8, 1894, and to them have been born the following children: Walter, Blanche and Glen ..

HENRY FLOMER. As many of the substantial and leading citizens of the United States, the subject of this sketch came hither from Germany, being born in Driftsethe, Hanover province, on December 22, 1867, the son of John F. and Meta (Spering) Flo- mer. The father is still living in the native country, but the mother died there. Our subject was educated in his native village and at the age of eleven began to work out for the farmers of his vicinity and this con- tinued until he was sixteen, at which time he bade farewell to the fatherland, to home and relatives and embarked for New York. Landing there in good time, he engaged in a grocery store, where he clerked for four and one-half years. At the expiration of that

interval he bought an interest in the store with his brother and for one year operated the establishment, then sold out and came hence to Latah county, land- ing here in 1880. He immediately engaged in labor for the farmers, continuing it for three years, then bought his present place, two miles west from Gen- esee. He bought one hundred and twenty at first and later added forty more, giving him a full quarter at the present time. Mr. Flomer has manifested great industry, skill and wisdom in the management of his estate, having it well tilled and improved with excel- lent buildings, as residence, barns and outbuildings, having also a good orchard and a general air of thrift pervades the entire premises, manifesting the untir- ing care and enterprise of the proprietor. Mr. Flomer has a number of head of stock and is one of the most prosperous farmers in his vicinity.

In 1895 occurred the marriage of Mr. Flomer and Miss Eliza T., daughter of Louis and Sophie ( Bor- tels) Oldag, natives of Germany, who came to Amer- ica in 1869. locating in Chicago and later coming to Latah county, where they reside at the present time. To our subject and his estimable wife there have been born three children, Clarence L., Carl H. and William D. Mr. and Mrs. Flomer are members of the Lutheran church and Mr. Flomer also affiliates with the M. W. A. He is a man of enterprise, fine capabilities, and is highly esteemed in all his relations among his fellow men.

JOHN D. JOHNSTON. Two miles west from the thriving town of Vollmer we find the home and fine farm of Mr. J. D. Johnston, one of the leading men of the community. His farm is of the generous pro- portion of two hundred and forty acres, one hundred and sixty acres of which he took from the raw sod as a homestead, and added eighty more by purchase. He has transformed it to its present high state of cultivation by his industry and skill, building one of the fine homes of the county. John D. was born in St. Clair county, Missouri, on October 27, 1861, being the son of Bryan and Delilah ( Philipps) Johnston. The father was a farmer, and when this son was nine years of age the family removed to Woodson county, Kansas, where the succeeding nine years were spent. Another move was made at this time, the objective point being the vicinity of Central City, Colorado, where the time was largely spent in mining for three years. He then returned to Kansas, and then mnade the trip in 1883 to Idaho, locating his present farm. He at once set himself to make a fine home, which he has accomplished in a becoming manner, and in addition to handling the work of this fine estate MIr. Johnston has also done much carpenter work in dif- ferent portions of the county, having learned the trade in younger years. He erected with his own hands his residence, and much is in evidence of his handi- work in the craft on the farm. Mr. Johnston has al- ways manifested a lively interest in the affairs of the county and especially in educational work, which has

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profited much by his service as trustee of his district for many years.

One of the happy and important events of Mr. Johnston's life occurred on April 7, 1889, when he led to the altar Miss Volumnia, daughter of Thomas and Leannah ( Julian) Woody. Three children have made their advent to the happy household, namely : Clarence E., Ethel E. and Leannah M. Mrs. John- ston is a native of Iowa, and Mr. Johnston has the distiction of being related to Daniel Boone, the famous Kentucky frontiersman.

EZRA L. COLE is one of the prominent men of Latah county, especially active in the industrial world. He is a manufacturer of lumber and timber products, having at this time a saw mill located five miles north- east from Moscow, where he has a good plant and three fourths of a section of timber land and some farm property.

The birth of Ezra L. was on June 17, 1860, in New York, near Rome, his parents being Gideon and Ann Cole, the father being occupied in saw mill work. The family removed from Rome to Nebraska in 1871, set- tling twenty-five miles south from Yankton, near the town of Hartington, Nebraska, and there the father took a homestead and remained for twenty years. Then a trip was made to the west, our subject landing in Spokane, after which he went to Loon Lake and spent one year. Then came his advent to Moscow where he worked for some years and then bought his pres- ent place, it being one quarter, to which he added a half section since. Mr. Cole has an excellent run of business and has a fine plant, supplying the country adjacent with manufactured timber products.

The marriage of Mr. Cole and Miss Anna R., daughter of William D. and Ellen Burch, was sol- emnized in St. Helena, Nebraska, in February, 1883. To this happy union there have been born the following children: Claude B., Grace E., Violet M., the second one attending school in Moscow. Mr. Cole is a member of the W. of W. and he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Cole is not desirous of personal preferment in the politi- cal world and while he takes the interest that every intelligent citizen should, still he does not count him- self a leader in this realm. He has a fine home, it being a residence of nine rooms and excellently appointed.

GEORGE SIEVERS. Although not one of the pioneer settlers of Latah county, still the subject is a pioneer in the realm of progress, being one of the intelligent and enterprising agriculturists and stock- men of the county, and displaying the skill and sound judgment, of which he is so happily possessed. in the affairs of his business. He was born in Wisconsin, on November 20, 1870, being the son of Clauss and Margaretha Sievers. The father was an old soldier of the Civil war and a participant in the battle of Chatta-

nooga, and also marched to the sea, being in all the campaigns from Louisville, Kentucky, to Goldsboro, North Carolina. Our subject remained at the place of his nativity for eighteen years attending school, both the public and also at the Oshkosh normal, then a season at the Valparaiso Normal in Indiana, then spent two years teaching at Cedarsburg and four at Meggers. He also took up law at that place, but on account of his health breaking down he was obliged to forego the pleasure of further pursuit of his chosen studies. In the sum- mer of 1895 he traveled through the north central states, visiting Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Ne- braska and South Dakota. In 1897 he determined to try the west and accordingly came to Moscow. He soon went to Kendrick and taught school for a term and then bought in the spring of 1898, his present place, three miles east from Moscow, where he devotes him- self to the art of agriculture, being much benefited in health by the bracing atmosphere and salubrious and mild climate of this region. Mr. Sievers pracitces the diversified plan of farming and has had abundant suc- cess and now contemplates putting out a large orchard. He owns a quarter section and has it finely improved.

In the beginning of 1898 Mr. Sievers returned to Wisconsin to claim the bride that was awaiting his coming out of the west, and on February 22, 1898, he was united in the holy bonds of matrimony with Miss Agnes Luedke, at Kiel, Wisconsin. Mrs. Sievers' parents are Henry and Gustine Luedke, the father being a carpenter and farmer. To our subject and his estima- ble wife there has been born one child, Edna, three years of age. Mr. Sievers is a member of the school board and has served as justice of the peace. He is actively interested in educational matters and also in the improvement and progress of the county and does a goodly share towards this praiseworthy end.

HERMAN W. MALLERY. The subject of this article is one of Latah county's stalwart and enter- prising farmers, being a man of energy and ability, and having a fine home farm place four miles east from Moscow, where he docs commendable work in the line of general agriculture and raising stock. Herman W. was born in Monterey, Allegan county, Michigan, on August 13, 1859, and his parents were Andrew J. and Amanda Mallery. The father was a blacksmith and an active participant in political affairs. He died when our subject was seventeen years of age. Her- man then remained at home until his twenty-fifth year came, learning and working at the blacksmith trade and supporting the family. He wrought still three years after that time at the trade and then turned his eyes to the west and came hither over the Northern Pacific, landing in Spokane on March 4, 1887, and from there came to Moscow. He looked over the country and finally located on his present place, four miles east from Moscow, taking it as a pre-emption. He has devoted himself to the culture of the farm and development of the same, having it now well improved and a fine home place.

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An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 176

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