An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 186

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 186
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 186
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 186
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 186

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In May of this year, an addition was built to the

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court house, containing office rooms for assessor, pro- bate judge, surveyor, and grand jury, the work being done by Messrs. Smith, Conners and Curry, of Coeur d'Alene.

Populismn reached the crest of the wave in 1896. In Kootenai county the party elected treasurer, assess- or and representatives to the state legislature. As free silver was the "long cry" in this campaign, making many converts from the ranks of the Republican party, and as there was a certain degree of harmony be- tween the Democratic and populist platforms, many Populists voting with the Democrats, there were re- sultant gains in Democratic votes. The latter elected state senator, sheriff, probate judge, and one com- missioner, leaving for the Republicans the election of coroner, surveyor and two commissioners.

The following are the official figures: William E. Borah, Democratic candidate for 55th congress, received in Kootenai 794 votes, a plurality of 204 over the candidates of the other parties; Frank Stun- enberg, Democratic candidate for governor, received 1356 votes, a majority of 1037 over Budlong and Fow- ler, candidates of the Republican and Populist parties, respectively ; state senator, William Ryan, Republican, Rathdrum, 199; S. R. Catlow, Populist, Clark's Fork, 557 ; S. P. Donnelly, Lakeview, Democrat, 880, ma- jority, 124; J. I. Barnes, Bonner's Ferry ; W. A. Hart, Rathdrum ; Charles D. Warner, Coeur d'Alene, were Republican candidates for state representatives ; Barnes's vote was 171, Hart's 181, Warner's 170; Democratic nominees were H. C. Tait, Coeur d'Alene ; John F. Stark, Rathdrum; Fred H. Bradbury, Rath- drum; they received, respectively, 556, 560 and 726 votes ; Populist nominees were N. G. Sisson, Hope, George R. Gray, Bonner's Ferry, James A. Keat, Harrison ; Sisson received 931, Gray 921, and Keat 782 votes ; sheriff, J. H. Harris, Coeur d'Alene, Re- publican, 389; George H. Pease, Hope, Democrat, 667; J. P. Quarles, Lane, Populist, 661 ; treasurer, James E. Russell, Coeur d'Alene, Republican, 217 ; Thornton Wheatley, Post Falls, Democrat, 637; Frank (. Hill, Rathdrum, Populist, 788; probate judge, Henry Melder, Rathdrum, Republican, 372; Edwin McBee, Rathdrum, Democrat, 694; A. K. White, Clarkia, Populist, 592 ; assessor, Otis F. Warren, Post Falls, Republican, 328; Louis Chambard, Rathdrum, Populist, 611, John C. Callahan, Bonner's Ferry, Democrat, 700; coroner, John Sabin, Coeur d'Alene, Republican, 897 ; E. L. Dennison, Populist, 707 ; sur- veyor, William Ashley, Jr., Rathdrum, Republican, 868: B. H. Williams, Coeur d'Alene, Democrat, 555 ; A. D. Robinson, Rathdrum, Populist, 201. Commis- sioners elected were Thomas Smith, Republican, first district : William H. Cable, Republican, second dis- trict ; W. B. Dishman, Democrat, third district. A vote was taken at this election on the following amend- ments to the state constitution : Shall sec. 2, article VI, be so amended as to extend to women the equal right of suffrage; 633 votes were cast for and 383 against the amendment. Shall sec. 18, article V, be amended so as to abolish the office of district attorney and create the office of county attorney ; for, 827 ; against,

175. Shall sec. 6, article XVIII, be so amended as to separate the offices of probate judge and county superintendent of public instruction ; for, 759 ; against, 213.

February 27th, 1897, President Cleveland issued a proclamation creating the Priest River forest reserve. This reserve occupies the northwest portion of the county and spreads over the state line a few miles into Washington. It is fifty-five miles long, with an aver- age width of about twenty miles. It contains 650,- 000 acres, of which, according to government sur- veys, 10,000 acres are agricultural lands. Prior to the creation of the reserve about sixty settlers had taken up homesteads, which are located mostly in the valley of Priest river. The tying up of this immense area has proven disastrous to these settlers, who are isolated, with no prospects of the development of the surround- ing country and with no opportunities for bettering their conditons. Progress has been retarded in the towns along the north of Pend Oreille lake and river and in many other respects the creation of the reserve has been a detriment to the county. The railroads owned large tracts of timber land within the reserve, on which they have paid taxes into the county treasury. A few years ago the roads accepted script from the government in lieu of the land and this source of rev- enue was cut off, necessitating a higher rate of taxa- tion over the county. From the government's point of view its action will eventually enhance timber and agricultural land values in adjacent tracts which are just beginning the process of development, as water sources will escape exhaustion and valuable timber re- sources will be preserved until there is greater need for the timber than at present. Government surveyors estimate that only fifteen per cent of the lands of the reserve is fit for agricultural use even after the timber is removed. Several efforts have been made to secure its return to the public domain for purposes of settle- ment, but thus far these have proven fruitless of satis- factory results.

The year 1898, an eventful one in the history of the nation, was also an eventful year in the history of Kootenai county, inasmuch as the manifested spirit of loyalty to the government and sympathy for the Cubans in their struggle against Spanish tyranny, led inany of its citizens to offer their services, and if need be, their lives, for the liberation of Cuba and for the punishment of despotic Spain. When the declaration of war was made and there came a call for troops, in no portion of the country was there displayed greater eagerness on the part of the young men to enroll them- selves under the old flag, than in Kootenai county. Nor was this impatience confined exclusively to the young men; veterans of the Civil war, both Union and Con- federate, came forward and expressed their willing- ness to re-enter the service. The splendid record of Company B, Idaho Volunteers, made in the Philip- pines, is well known, and received prominent recogni- tion by the state legislature and governor of Idaho and by the war department at Washington. The company took part in seven engagements, including those at Santa Ana, Coolacan and Manila, in none of which

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were they defeated. Of those who went out from Koot- enai county, Frank Caldwell, of Harrison, and James Frazer, of Standpoint, were killed; Frank A. McCall and Richard B. Jones, of Rathdrum, were wounded. Mr. McCall resigned his position as teacher in the Rath- drum public schools at the beginning of the war and enlisted as a private. After the battle of Santa Ana, February 5, 1899, in which he was wounded, he was commissioned a lieutenant by Governor Stunenberg. On his return from Manila he organized Company E, I. N. G., of which he is now the captain. Political hon- ors have since fallen to Mr. McCall, and he is at the present time the probate judge of Kootenai county.

The Kootenai county volunteers of Company B, numbering fifty-one, left Rathdrum May 12, 1898, amid "rousing cheers, broken with tears" of friends and loved ones, the citizens both of Coeur d'Alene and Rathdrum turning out en masse to bid the young patriots a sorrowful good-bye and a hearty Godspeed. They sailed from San Francisco June 27, 1898, on the transport Morgan City. Many of the volunteers failed from numerous causes to get into the service and returned home, but all were fearless, earnest and patri- otic in their enlistment, and as a roll of honor we record their names on these pages. Twenty-one of the number were from Coeur d'Alene and vicinity, several were from Rathdrum, and the remainder came from various towns over the county. The following is a complete list : John Wilson, John Frederick, Frank A. McCall, Robert L. Baldwin, Horace J. Carroll, William Ritzheimer, Christian Brown, Charles H. Blakeslee, Herbert M. Caswell, John O. Derr, Horace D. Vanalstine, Alfred E. Ritter, Walter W. Rhoades, Frank B. Flora, Stanton P. Jellum, Donald O. Merritt, Guy Simpson, John F. O'Donnell, George H. Nash, Frank R. Caldwell, Fred D. Farr, Bert Weeks, Morris J. Cooney, Guy Overstreet, L. A. Powless, Joseph Meen, Theodore Link, James Weston, Caleb P. Hann, Charles W. Alkire, Joseph .Stroble, William F. O'Har- ra, William H. Frederick, William E. Merriam, Frank C. Duncan, William A. Bennett, Richard B. Jones, William Hall, Chippear Wilcot, Martin Starling, Her- man Wilde, J. Robert Ross, Frank Cerveny, Charles Lebrook, Fred B. McKee, Thomas Martin, H. B. Ford, Fred W. Soule, J. R. Gross, William Becknell, T. J. Dendurent,; Samuel Gray, James Frazer. James Graham, of Coeur d'Alene, went into the service later and eventually bcame captain of the company.

The returning heroes reached Coeur d'Alene via the O. R. and N. railroad, Harrison, and the lake, October 2, 1899, and were given a royal reception. From the columns of the Rathdrum Silver Blade we quote an account of the great ovation : "Almost every section of our county was represented at the grand demonstration at Coeur d'Alene on last Monday in honor of the volunteers from Kootenai, who returned on that day from more than a year's campaign in the Philippine Islands. It was the most beautiful and eventful chapter in the annals of our county's history, and will be remembered long after other events are forgotten. The special train bearing the Kootenai and Shoshone volunteers arrived at Harrison at 7:30

o'clock Monday morning. Here they were met by members of the reception committee from the various towns. They were breakfasted before being taken on board the barge which was to convey them to Coeur d'Alene. The journey from Harrison was a pleasant one. About midway on the lake the steamer Schley, bearing friends and relatives of the boys, met the barge, which was being towed by the steamer Elk. The sec- ond steamer was attached and the trip to Coeur d'Alene was enlivened by the State Line band, which rendered several selections on the way. The boys were met at the lake shore by Noble's Dramatic band and Company E, Idaho National Guards, in command of Lieutenant Quarles, Captain McCall having been sent to Harrison as a member of the reception committee.

From the balcony of the Coeur d'Alene Inn C. L. Heitman delivered the address of welcome. It met with a hearty response from the vast audience assembled in front of the hotel. The response to the address of welcome was made by Captain James Graham, who spoke with his usual eloquence. At the conclusion of the response the doors of the pavilion were opened and the volunteers given seats of honor at the tables prepared for them. The banquet was the towering success of the whole occasion. The tables were beau- tifully spread and the whole affair was one of which the ladies in charge were justly proud. It is esti- mated that one thousand people dined in the pavilion during the afternoon. In the evening the opera house was jammed to the doors with citizens and soldiers who assembled to enjoy the exercises. They consisted of short speeches by J. M. Heaton, of Harrison ; John B. Goode, of Coeur d'Alene; James A. Keat, of Har- rison ; Lieutenant Heintzleman, of Ft. Sherman, and Wm. Piplin, one of the returning volunteers. The speaking was interspersed with a piano solo by Miss Florence Wright, a clarinet solo by Geo. Donovan, basso solo by Mr. Renshaw, a solo by Miss Mamie Bump, and a cornet solo by Mr. Kelser."

In April, 1898, James Meany and William Allen were convicted in the district court at Rathdrum of murdering Mike Kidder at a logging camp near Sand- point. At a recent session of the state legislature a law had been passed making it the duty of the warden of the penitentiary, or a guard by him appointed, to convey all convicted prisoners to Boise. This law was not satisfactory to Idaho sheriffs, who had counted as a part of their perquisites the mileage, fees an dex- pense allowance in taking prisoners to the penitentiary. Sheriff Pease had already made one effort to have this law annulled. Two brothers named Valk had been sentenced to thirty years each in the state penitentiary. The sheriff notified the warden at Boise, but when he arrived for the prisoners, Pease refused to turn them over to him. He then took them to Boise at his own expense and endeavored to collect from the state, but his attorney informed him that he had no grounds for action. Stung by defeat, Sheriff Pease resolved to put the state to all the expense and trouble possible in the application of the law referred to. When Meany and Allen were convicted and Warden Van Dorn came from Boise for them, Pease employed attorneys J.

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L. Crotty and F. C. Robertson of Spokane to institute habeas corpus proceedings against Van Dorn when he reached Spokane with the convicts. This was done and the prisoners were lodged in the Spokane jail pending trial. Judge Richardson of the Superior Court of Spokane county refused the writ of habeas corpus, but also refused to return the prisoners to Warden Van Dorn, and held them in the Spokane jail pending an appeal to the Supreme Court of Wash- ington. In the Supreme Court, Crotty and Robert- son appeared for the prisoners and Foster and Wake- field for the Idaho authorities. The case involved the right of Idaho officials to pass into other states in con- veying prisoners to the penitentiary at Boise. On the grounds of public policy and comity between states, the court sustained that right, and, after spending a year in the Spokane jail, the convicts were returned to Warden Van Dorn, who took them to the peniten- tiary, where they are now serving their terms.

The total assessment of Kootenai county in 1898 was $004,818. It was a fairly prosperous year in all lines of business. The effects of the financial troubles of former years were entirely effaced and new capital was seeking investment in timber lands and in saw- mills. Efforts to enforce the Idaho alien labor law caused some trouble along the lines of railroads where Chinese and Japanese were employed as laborers ; no serious encounters occurred however, and the endeav- ors to drive out the foreigners proved futile. During the summer of this year a bridge was constructed over the Spokane river about one-fourth of a mile below the lake. Oliver Bros., of Spokane, were the builders. The cost of construction was $2,475, of which the county provided $1,000, the balance being raised by subscription.

In the political campaign of 1898 three parties were in the field: Republican, Fusionist and Prohibitionist. The Silver Republicans, Democrats and Populists held separate conventions, but all nominated the same can- didates for the various offices and placed them before the people on what was known as the Fusionist ticket. On this ticket were eight Democrats, four Silver Re- publicans and four Populists, all of whom were elected. The Prohibition party placed candidates in the field for the more important offices and endorsed the Re- publican candidates for the others. The Silver Re- publicans, Democrats and Populists all declared for free silver, making this the paramount issue, but on Cuban War questions and the tariff they made declara- tions along old party lines. The Republican party reaffirmed its faith in the gold standard as the founda- tion of the national currency, favored a protective tariff and the retention of territory wrested from Spain. A vigorous campaign was made by all parties with results as previously given. We record the official figures as follows :

For state senator: Otis F. Warren, Post Falls, Republican, 771 votes : William Ainslee, Bonner's Ferry, Fusionist, 1069 votes; S. R. Catlow, Clark's Fork, Prohibitionist, 2 votes ; Ainslee's majority, 296. Representatives : Steven Adams, Rathdrum, Republi- can, 683 : George W. Lovewell, Harrison, Republican,

685; Otto C. Smith, Hope, Republican, 684; Mrs. Mary A. Wright, Rathdrum, Fusion, 1123; John C. Glahe, Hope, Fusion, 1082; Edward McBee, Rath- drum, Fusion, 1143; T. G. Hodgson, Coeur d'Alene, Prohibition, 100; A. M. Martin, Kootenai, Prohibi- tion, 81 : Thomas Anderson, St. Maries, Prohibition, 1. Auditor and clerk of court : O. E. Bar, St. Maries, Republican, 816; John C. Callahan, Rathdrum, Fu- sion, 1172; Callahan's majority, 356. Sheriff: Will- iam H. Cable, State Line, Republican, 737; Fred H. Bradbury, Rathdrum, Fusion, 1172; E. N. Jellum, Coeur d'Alene, Prohibition, 100; Bradbury's majority, 335. Assessor : James E. Russell, Coeur d'Alene, Re- publican, 737 ; Joseph Buckle, Rathdrum, Fusion, 1174; James H. Kennedy, Post Falls, Prohibition, 47 ; Buckle's majority, 390. Treasurer: Minnie A. Rose, Rathdrum, Republican, 927; William J. Mc- Clure, Rathdrum, Fusion, 1014; majority, 85. Pro- bate judge, A. W. Post, Rathdrum, Republican, 823 ; John C. Bradv, Rathdrum, Fusion, 1099; majority, 276. County attorney . Samuel E. Henry, Bonner's Ferry, Republican, 651 ; John B. Goode, Coeur d'Alene, Fusion, 1209 ; majority, 558. County superintendent of public instruction : W. H. Edelblute, Harrison, Re- publican, 619; Daniel Van Duzer, Rathdrum, Fusion, 1172; Mrs. M. Matheson, Post Falls, Prohibition, 82; Van Duzer's majority, 471. Surveyor : William Ash- ley, Jr., Rathdrum, Republican, 923 ; Joseph C. White, Clarkia, Fusion, 972; majority, 49. Coroner, Dr. T. A. Bishop, Bonner's Ferry, Republican, 709: Mark T. Loop, Hope, Fusion, 1097 ; E. L. Dennison, State Line, Prohibition, 67; Loop's majority, 321. Com- missioners elected: Louis T. Dittemore, first dis- trict ; Aaron N. Tucker, second district; Nathan G. Sisson third district, all Fusionists. Frank Stumen- berg, Democratic candidate for governor, was given 972 votes in the county, a majority of five over all other candidates. Edgar Wilson, Fusion candidate for congress, received 992 votes, a majority of 26 over all other candidates. The following amendments to the State constitution were voted upon: Shall sec. 4. Article 18, be so amended as to prescribe a property qualification for division and creation of counties ; for, 584 votes : against, 158 votes ; shall Sec. 7, Art. 18, be so amended as to provide for the compensation of all county officials by annual salaries instead of fees, and for the payment of actual necessary expenses of such officers, instead of mileage; for, 746 votes ; against, 55 votes ; shall Sec. 9, Art. 18, be so amended as to make it a felony for any county official, or dep- uty, to neglect or refuse to pay into the county treas- ury all fees in excess of his actual and necessary ex- penses ; for, 773 votes ; against, 30 votes.

In the latter part of January, 1899, Sheriff Pease disappeared from his accustomed haunts without ex- planation to his deputies or friends and later events and investigations proved that he had absconded with several thousand dollars of the county's money. He has never returned and his whereabouts is still a mat- ter of conjecture only. In November. 1899, County Attorney Goode filed an action in the district court against George H. Pease as principal and W. A. Hart,

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Frank Wentz, B. F. Butler and Henry Reiniger as sureties on his official bond. The complaint alleged that "George H. Pease while acting as sheriff of Koot- enai county did collect and receive between the Ist day of January, 1898, and the 9th day of January, 1899, certain license taxes from divers persons engaged in the sale of intoxicating liquors in Kootenai county, state of Idaho, to the aggregate sum of $4,000, and did receipt for the same as sheriff, and did fail and refuse, and still fails and refuses to pay the same or any part thereof to the treasurer of Kootenai county, or to the auditor of Kootenai county, or to any one at all, as is by law required, but has converted the same to his own use and has absconded from this county to parts un- known."

The Kootenai Valley railroad was completed from Bonner's Ferry across the International boundary at Porthill in September, 1899, the distance being some- thing less than twenty-six miles. Since 1893 Porthill has been a port of import, chosen because of its loca- tion on the trail leading to and from the Wild Horse mining region in Britsh Columbia. Prior to this date United States customs officers and immigrant inspec- tors had been stationed at Bonner's Ferry, which was also on the old trail and at the head of navigation on the Kootenai river, up which large quantities of ore and coal were shipped from the British possessions into the United States. The effect of the building of the Kootenai Valley railroad to Porthill and on to Kuskonook, B. C., on the Kootenai lake, was to divert the import trade from the Kootenai river through Bonner's Ferry, to the K. V. railroad through Port- hill. The road will eventually prove the principal factor in the development of the Kootenai valley when drainage systems shall have turned this vast swamp into an arable area.

The fee system of paying the salaries of county officers was abolished by legislative enactment in 1899. The act provided for Kootenai county salaries as follows: Sheriff, $2,000 ; assessor, $3,000; auditor, $2,000 ; treasurer, $1,500; probate judge, $1,500; school superintendent, $1,200; surveyor, $800; cor- oner, $300; commissioners, each, $1,000. From the assessor's returns for this year we learn that there were in the county 40,924 acres of patented lands, assessed for purpose of taxation at a valuation of $553-353. The total valuation of real and personal property, including railroad, telegraph and telephone lines, was $3,168,665.26. The report showed a con- siderable advance in the stock, and also in the lumber industry.

In December, 1900, placer mines were discovered in Camas Cove near St. Maries river, in the south- east part of the county. The discoveries were made by James and Henry Tyson and Henry Renfro. The properties have come to be known as the Tyson mines. a town so named having grown up about the site of the original prospect grounds. The region is a promising one and a great deal of capital is being invested there, in development work and in the introduction of min- ing machinery. Further details concerning the mines

will be found in the descriptive chapter of this work and in the history of the town of Tyson.

In 1891 the total bonded indebtedness of Koot- enai county was $56,513.31. This had increased by the year 1899 to $166,623.57, owing to several issues of bonds for public improvements, including road and bridge building. In 1887 bonds to the amount of $12,000 were issued, bearing seven per cent interest ; in 1889 $6,000 in eiglit per cent bonds were issued ; in 1892 $80,000 in six per cent bonds were issued; in 1896 $49,000 in bonds were issued, bearing six per cent interest. In 1899, while but one thousand dol- lars of the principal became due, the county liad to pay $9,357.83 in interest and these payments in addition to the usual amounts collected for current expenses, constituted a heavy burden, that, but for the large amounts paid into the treasury by the railroads, could scarcely have been borne by the citizens. In 1900 railroad property in Kootenai county was valned for taxation at $1,947,695.82, all other property at $1,486,- 238.36, showing the railroad interests to exceed in value all other interests combined, by $461,457.46. That Kootenai county bonds are always at a premium at a fair rate of interest is due largely to the mills or railroads that are within its limits, adding as they do so materially to real values.

As a record to which it will be interesting to turn in future years when the county shall have become fully developed and thickly populated, we give the census report of 1900 by precincts, which is as fol- lows: Harrison precinct, including the town, 1004, Coeur d'Alene precinct, including the town, 931 ; Rath- drum precinct, including the town, 985; Athol pre- cinct, 274 ; Bellgrove, 193; Bonner's Ferry precinct. including the town, 594; Boulder, 52; Boundary, 222 : Carlin Bay, 98; Clark's Fork, 229: Cocolalla, 179: Elk Mountain, 93; Granite, 230; Hauser Junction, 116; Hope, 316; Indian Creek, 66; Kootenai, 137; Lake Creek, 70; Lakeview, 84; Markham, 75; Medi- mont, 157: Mica Bay, 165 : Mission, 336; Naples, 156: Northside, 65; Post Falls precinct, including the town, 396; Priest River, 284; Priest Lake, 54; Prairie, 128; St. Joe, 70; St. Maries, 268; Sandpoint, 507; Santa, 143; Seneaquoteen, 170; Spirit Valley, 180; State- line, 148 ; Valley, 305 ; Wolf Lodge, 37 ; Coeur d'Alene Indian reservation, including Indians and whites, 752; total, 10,269. Harrison was then the largest town in the county, with a population of 702; Coeur d'Alene followed with 508, Rathdrum with 407, Bonner's Ferry with 349. Post Falls with: 287.

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An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 186

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