An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 190

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 190
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 190
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 190
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 190

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previous evening on some petty charge. From evi- dence given at the inquest held by Judge J. E. Rus- sell, the jury rendered a verdict that "deceased came to his death by his own hands in an attempt to burn his way out of jail." That most disastrous fire from a monetary standpoint, which has ever visited the city, occurred Saturday night, July 6,1895, when the plant of the Coeur d'Alene Mill Company was de- stroyed.

As a matter of record and for the purpose of show- ing the conditions prevailing in the late eighties, we quote the following paragraphs from a very interest- ing pamphlet, written in 1889 by James Graham, who served as register of the land office under President Cleveland, has served one term as county attorney and is now a prominent citizen and attorney of Coeur d'Alene.

"One of Coeur d'Alene's best attractions is Fort Sherman, only one mile west. It looks out on a dainty, land-locked bay where the placid waters leave Lake Coeur d'Alene and form the mighty Spokane river. The tourist is charmed by the military drills, parades, etc., intersperced with sweet strains of music by the Fourth U. S. Infantry band, and the place itself has a fine equipoise and is neither disturbed nor disturb- ing. Its beauties do not command-they implore at- tention. Unless the visitor is inclined he is not com- pelled to lift his eyes and behold the snow glistening on the distant mountain tops ; neither is he obliged to peer over the picket fences into those exclusive officers' gardens for the pleasure of beholding flowers of tropi- cal luxuriance ; but he will do so if he stays, and if he has leisure he will certainly stay, for greater charm of mountain, river, wood and lake than has Fort Sher- man, whether for the sportsman, the artist, the idlet or the dreamer, are seldom found.

"Coeur d'Alene is the headquarters of the Coeur d'Alene Railway and Navigation Co. ; terminus of the Spokane Falls and Idaho Railroad Co. : terminus of the St. Joe Railroad Co., and also terminus of the Idaho Navigation Co., with headquarters at Saginaw, Mich- igan. The steamers Coeur d'Alene, General Sherman, and Kootenai ply between Coeur d'Alene and Mission. The steamers Echo, Volunteer, Amelia Wheaton, Kor- wine, Torpedo and Irene ply between Coeur d'Alene and the head of navigation on St. Joe river, a distance of sixty-five miles.

"Coeur d'Alene has a commodious school house, two churches built and one in contemplation, four general merchandise stores, one cigar store, two book and news stores, onc hardware, one grocery, one commission wholesale, two drug stores, four hotels, three restau- rants, two bakeries, twelve saloons, two barber shops, two liverics, one photograph gallery, two blacksmith shops, two paint shops, three butcher shops, three real estate and insurance offices, one saw and planing mill, capacity fifty thousand feet per day, one shingle mil!, capacity fifty thousand shingles per day, two brick yards, a system of water works, cost $20,000, a good volunteer fire department, one weekly newspaper, the Coeur d'Alene Times, and a U. S. Land Office.

"The city now has a population of eight hundred

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and an assessed valuation of $180,000, both having in- creased three-fold in two years. The advent of open- ing 250,000 acres of land on the Coeur d'Alene Indian reservation, will greatly increase the city's business. There is timber enough thereon to build many cities like Chicago, and all the navies of the world. Its val- leys are fertile and thousands of tons of hay that now go to waste will be saved and sold for twenty dollars per ton. Its mountains are full of precious metals, and the hearty prospector is camped on its borders await- ing the action of congress.

"Coeur d'Alene has a monthly payroll of $25,000: $7,000 at the post ; $6.000 by the Coeur d'Alene Rail- way and Navigation Co .; $4,000 by the St. Joe Trans- portation Company, $4,000 by the Saginaw Mill Co., and $3,000 by the Simms Shingle Company. To the pleasure loving tourist or connoisseur of Nature's gems, the beauties of Lake Coeur d'Alene and sur- roundings carry with them a charm and interest in- tirely unique and excelled by no other wonder of the northwest."

The above was written thirteen years ago by one who had unbounded faith in the future of the city and who prophesied substantial growth in the near future. A review of the present business and educational in- stitutions will show how wisely he prophesied.

The city is now lighted by electricity and has a sys- tem of water works that was constructed in 1889 by James Monaghan, C. B. King and D. C. Corbin. Messrs. Monaghan and King are the present owners, Mr. Corbin disposed of his interests. There are five miles of mains and the pumping capacity of the ma- chinery is. 55,000 gallons per hour. The plant is un- der the management of James Graham.

The present school building was erected in 1890; it is a handsome two-story frame facing Seventeenth street and has a campus of one entire block ; the origi- nal cost was $9.000. The present valuation of school property is about $12.000. Plans have been made to double the capacity of the present building, as it is not capable of accommodating the increasing enrollment, which, during the past school year, was two hundred and twenty-five. The present school board consists of V. W. Sander, chairman, C. L. Deffenbaugh, clerk, D. F. Mason, W. B. McFarland, George C. Thompson and Dr. S. H. McEuen. During the school year just closed the schools were in charge of Professor Ben C. Camps, principal; Miss Bertha Burrows, grammar grade, Miss Metta H. Miles, first intermediate, Miss Susie L. Davis, second intermediate, Miss I.illian Pennington, primary department. For the coming school year the following faculty has bee en- gaged : Principal, Prof. W. O. Cummings ; assistant principal, Miss Agnes Maine. Miss Susie Davis and Miss Lillian Pennington are re-elected to their former positions. The principal is paid a salary of eighty- five dollars per month, and the assistants fifty dollars. The schools have been remarkably successful ; the citi- zens have taken a special interest and pride in their progress, and the competent corps of instructors by enthusiastic endeavor have won the confidence of the community and accomplished splendid results in the

upbuilding of character and in the right culture of the minds of the youths entrusted to their care.

The Methodists and Presbyterians have good houses of worship; the latter erected a building in 1890, and the former erected one in 1894. Rev. T. G. Hodgson is the Methodist pastor, and Rev. G. L. Deffenbaugh the Presbyterian. Rev. C. P. Burnett conducts Epis- copal services every two weeks. The Catholics are planning a church building, under the directions of Father Purcell, who has recently moved to Coeur d'Alene from Rathdrum. Rev. Mr. Deffenbaugh was the first Presbyterian minister to hold services in Coeur d'Alene, his first pastorate beginning in 1889. After an absence of a few years he returned to the city in 1895, and has remained here since. The first Metho- dist services were conducted by Chaplain McCumber, of the Post, in 1889. The churches are all in a flourish- ing condition and are working harmoniously for the elevation of the standard of intellectual and moral sentiment in the city.

The fraternal spirit permeates all circles in Coeur d'Alene ; the lodges are numerous and each has a large membership roll. The following is the list: Koot- enai Masonic Lodge, E. N. Jellum, W. M .: Geo. Thomas, S. W .: J. R. White, J. W .; William Dollar, treasurer ; A. Chamberlin, secretary. Kootenai Lodge, No. 7, Knights of Pythias; J. T. Scott, C. C .: J. A. Waters, V. C., Coeur d'Alene. I. O. O. F. : J. Y. Scott, N. G .; Perry Smith, V. G .; T. E. Hedel, re- cording secretary : F. F. Rosen, financial secretary . J. W. Wigget, treasurer. Improved Order of Red Men, Coeur d'Alene Tribe : James E. Russell, prophet : Jos- eph Burzynski, sachem ; Fred Lange, senior sagamore ; J. B. Frederick, junior sagamore; J. C. Clark, chief of records ; Frank Dunn, collector of wampum ; Cle- ment Wilkins, keeper of wampum. Aldrich Field Hive No. 7, Maccabees : Ella Reynolds, lady commander ; Jennie Groves, lieutenant commander : Mande Ditt- more, record keeper. Sherman Tent, No. I, Knights of Maccabees : Wm. Fredrick, commander ; Frank Weeds, lieutenant commander; Joseph L. Burzynski, record and financier keeper. M. W. A .: L. S. Ayatte, V. C .; G. W. Bradley, W. A .: Leroy Weston, banker : A. V. Chamberlin, clerk. Roval Neighbors, Ida Wells, oracle ; Mable Barnes, V. O .: Hattie McEwen, P. O .; Mary Waters, chancellor ; Eva Hahn, recorder.

The town board is composed of J. C. Thomas, chairman and ex officio mayor of the city, Armand Perrenoud. C. Chamberlin, W. B. McFarland and V. W. Sander. C. Clayton is city treasurer ; J. H. Harte, city clerk, and John Schneider, city marshal. Of the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department George Groves is fore- man; H. M. Thanke, assistant; George Thomp- son, second assistant ; F. A. Shallis, third assistant ; James H. Harte, president; W. B. McFarland, vice president ; T. A. Shallis, secretary ; D. F. Mason, treasurer.

The Coeur d'Alene Press is an ably edited weekly paper, which has been under the editorial and business management of J. T. Scott since 1892. It is Demo- cratic in politics, but is devoted to the best interests of Coeur d'Alene and Kootenai county. The Independent

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

is also a weekly paper published by C. A. Smith and O. B. Moon. Its publication began in July, 1902. Mr. Smith and Mr. Moon are recent arrivals in the city, the former from Duluth, Minnesota, and the latter front Eagle River, Wisconsin. The paper is independent in politics, and the editors are making many friends for themselves and for the city by their progressive and energetic methods. The business establishments of Coeur d'Alene are too numerous for detailed mention, but we will review them at as great length as our space will permit :

The Idaho Mercantile Co. is a pioneer house, of which V. W. Sander is president and James Roche secretary and treasurer. The company conducts a general store and enjoys an immense trade. F. B. Keller & Co. are also general merchants and carry a large stock; Charles L. Dittmore is associated with M. Keller in this house. Another general store is conducted by W. B. McFarland, a pioneer citizen. Fred A. Shallis carries a large stock of groceries. Armand Perrenoud is the hardware merchant; Mr. Perrenoud has a branch store at St. Maries. Other prominent and successful business men are James H. Harte, Brennan and Steele, and A. V. Chamberlin, real estate agents : Thomas E. Hedal, furniture and undertaking ; M. C. Normoyle, president and manager, and Felix Le Marinel, secretary and treasurer of the Coeur d'Alene Inn Co .; Emanuel G. Hoelzele, pro- prietor of the Sorenson House ; H. L. Bancroft, of the Bancroft House : Theodore G. Kaesemeyer, city meat market : W. P. Lumpkin, Lakeside Pharmacy ; Robt. R. Maun and Otto Nikolas, blacksmiths: Clement Wilkins, druggist ; Geo. C. Thompson, baker; The Wiggett & Empey Co., Ltd., genral merchandise : B. H. Williams, boots and shoes; the Potter general store ; Stewart the Haberdasher ; the Exchange Bank, Willliam Dollar, president, Harry A. Kunz, cashier ; J. O. Jones, tailor, the Ashton Furniture Company, O. B. Moon, O. M. Sparks and C. A. Smith, of the Coeur d'Alene Law and Land Co .; Ed. Turner, clean- ing and repairing : H. W. Frixzel, jewelry ; John B. Goode, J. L. MeClear, Earl Sanders, H. B. King, Willis Sweet (recently appointed Attorney General for Porto Rico). James Graham, attorneys at law : S. H. McEuen, dentist ; H. R. Elderkin, Johan Sabin, and P. J. Scallon, physicians. Among the mill companies having plants at Coeur d'Alene, or contemplating their erection, are the Coeur d'Alene Lumber Company, capital stock $50,000: Herman Swanke, president ; William Dollar. vice-president : Chas. R. Stwer, sec- retary, and Joseph Roener, treasurer. The Howard Lumber Co., of which E. A. Blackwell is manager, contemplates the erection of a mill with a capacity of 250,000 feet per day. The Robins Lumber Co. has purchased a mill site. The Big Four Lumber Co., successors to Lyon Lumber Co., has purchased mill machinery to equip a plant with a capacity of 100,000 feet per day : H. W. Gallehee, E. F. Dodd, W. E. Fore and Frank Leighton are prominent stockholders in this company. The Woodruff-McGuire Lumber Co. and the Starett & Rice Co. will erect mills on the Spokane river a short distance below the city. The Weyer-

haueser syndicate contemplates the erection of a mill at Coeur d'Alene in the near future. Allen & Gunder- son have completed a mill with a capacity of 25,000 feet per day.

Besides great activity in the milling business, Coeur d'Alene has splendid prospects in other directions. It has always been a favorite summer resort and is eaclı year receiving an increased patronage from tourists and sportsmen. Every provision has been made for caring for the great crowds that yearly come to the lake for recreation and rest. The Northern Pacific steamer, Georgia Oaks, makes daily trips between Coeur d'Alene and Harrison. Other steamers plying from Coeur d'Alene to the head of navigation on Coeur d'Alene and St. Joe rivers, are the Spokane, Capt. J. D. McDonald; the new steamer Colfax; the De- fender, which has recently been rebuilt ; the Torpedo, Capt. Sparks; the Schley, Capt. Joe Cole : the Tele- phone : the Bonnie Doon; the Hunter, and a new steamer, the Idaho, which has accommodations for 1.000 people. Besides these there are sail and row boats at the command of the tourist.

The business men of Coeur d'Alene have formed themselves into an association for the purpose of fur- thering the best interests of the city. The name of the association is the Coeur d'Alene Commercial Club, and the officers are as follows: President, J. F. Scott ; vice president, M. C. Normoyle ; secretary, Earl Sand- ers : treasurer, Otto Schmidt ; executive committee, James Roche, chairman, A. V. Chamberlin, C. A. Smith and B. H. Williams. The Cable Milling Co., of Postfalls, has been granted a franchise to construct and operate a new water system in the city and also an electric lighting plant. New docks and a new station are soon to be built by the Northern Pacific Co. In November, 1902, articles of incorporation of the Coeur d'Alene and Spokane Electric Railway were filed at Boise. The capital stock of the company was placed at $500,000 ; directors, F. A. Blackwell, William Dol- lar. A. Bettis, of Coeur d'Alene : F. S. Rubins, of Rhinelander, Wisconsin, and C. P. Lindsay, of Spo- kane. F. A. Blackstone is president ; A. Bettis, general manager ; J. C. White, chief engineer. The road will be an electric passenger and freight line from Coeur d'Alene to Spokane; the construction work is well under way and the road' will be in operation in the fall. Coeur d'Alene is fourteen miles south of Rath- drum, the county seat, and thirty-three miles east of Spokane ; its population is about twelve hundred. Trib- utary to the city is almost limitless timbered area : in addition it must always receive material support from the mining regions at present in various stages of cievelopment : an extensive agricultural section is fast developing to the west and north ; its natural advant- ages and beautiful surroundings are becoming widely known, and it must continue to grow in favor as a summer resort ; its citizens are a unit in all efforts to advance the city's best interests. Coeur d'Alene must for these reasons continue to grow and prosper and it will eventually become one of the most populous and wealthy, as it is now one of the most attractive and progressive cities of Idaho.

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

SANDPOINT.

At Sandpoint the Great Northern and the North- ern Pacific railroads are but little more than one mile apart. In their course across the western half of the continent from St. Paul to Seattle this is the nearest approach to a junction made by the main lines of these roads except at Spokane. No town in northern Idaho has undergone more wonderful transformations than have taken place at Sandpoint, during the past few years. In comparison with the other settlements of this section in point of time, it is a prisoner, but the period of transformation has extended back only a few years. In 1900 it was credited with a population of five hundred and seven. There are now said to be about twelve hundred people permanently settled within its corporate limits. From Spokane Sandpoint is distant sixty-nine miles over the Northern Pacific and seventy- four miles over the Great Northern railroad. In many respects it is most advantageously located. Excellent shipping facilities are afforded by the two trans-con- nental roads. It is near the foot of Lake Pend Oreille and directly on the shores of this magnificent body of water. Freight and passenger steamers ply the lake to and from the mining camps in the Lakeview region at the head of the lake. To the west the Pend Oreille river is navigable for about thirty miles, as far as the town of Priest River, making the agricultural valley of this river in a measure tributary to Sandpoint. The timber supply to the north and along the streams enter- ing the lake is practically inexhaustible, insuring the permanence of the lumber industry which is already assuming gigantic proportions.

The history of Sandpoint as a settlement dates back to the year 1880, when Robert Weeks opened a general store and dealt in furs. At the same time he conducted a hotel and bar and operated a small saw- mill. Later a general merchandise store was opened by his son Barton and the son's wife. His daughters were also interested in the business, which was con- ducted under the firm name of E. L. Weeks & Com- pany. The survey of the Northern Pacific railroad was made in 1880, but even before it was completed the certainty of its coming led a few to make per- manent settlements and to engage in business. John Russell, now a citizen of Rathdrum, opened a general store in 1880. He was followed by James Baldwin, who owned a restaurant. A little later Harry Baldwin put up a hotel, the Baldwin House, which afterward burned with Weeks' store building. The following vear Mr. Weeks erected a saw-mill, in which venture he failed financially. The town was for a long time known as Pend Oreille. On an old railroad map we find it so named as a station on the Northern Pacific railroad. The first postoffice was at a little settlement called Venton, distant about three and one-half miles across the lake from the present town. When the Northern Pacific railroad was completed the town of Venton collapsed, the postoffice was removed to Sand- point, or, as it was then called, Pend Oreille, and shortly afterward John Russell was made postmaster. The second person in charge of the postoffice was

Mrs. Emma L. Weeks. The name of the railroad sta- tion and postoffice was changed to Sandpoint about the time that Mrs. Weeks became postmistress.

Interest in educational matters was manifested early in the history of the settlement. The first school was of short duration, lasting but three months, and was taught by S. L. Smith, familiarly known as "Pap" Smith, who is now a prosperous rancher and fruit grower living near Rathdrum. It was a sub- scription school, as were the schools that followed in the middle eighties. This first term was held in the building now occupied by Thomas E. Murphy as a res- idence. Mr. Smith received fifty dollars per month for his services. The next school was taught by Mrs. T. E. Murphy in the same building. Early teachers who followed Mrs. Murphy were Mrs. Harper, Miss Gorch and Miss Andrews. Miss Gorch taught in the old Pend Oreille hotel and Miss Andrews in a church building.

During the period extending from 1885 to 1893, the growth of the village was very slow, but there was a gradual increase in population as the surrounding ter- ritory was being settled, prospecting was continued in the mountains adjacent to the lake, and the lumber, pole and tie industries were gradually becoming more important. Among the business men of this period were J. L. Pritchard who conducted a general store and was one of the early postmasters; Herron and Carpenter, and Butler and Culver, general merchandise ; H. M. Casey, now of Bonner's Ferry, restaurant ; Sam- uel Hayes, general store; Harvy Baldwin, hotel. In 1891 Ignatz Weil bought the Weeks store and for many years was the leading merchant and manager of the Sandpoint Mercantile Company. Mr. Weil withdrew from this position in November, 1895, and was succeeded by W. C. King. He has since been proprietor of one of the additions to the town site. The Sandpoint Mercantile Company operated a saw- mill. Other mills in operation about this time were the Cannon and Gray mill, in which Mr. Weil was in- terested, and the Fowle Shingle mill, J. Nesbit, man- ager, which had a capacity of one hundred thousand shingles per day. The N. P. Hotel was the main hostelry and a lodging house was conducted by Mrs. Maloney. C. E. Redman was agent for the North- ern Pacific. He succeeded Thomas E. Murphy, who came in 1885 and remained in the employ of the com- pany for seven years. Mr. Murphy now ownes and operates a ranch across the lake and a number of prospects in the mining regions. The earlier newspa- per men of the town were L. H. Faust, now a state sen- ator in the Montana legislature, and J. R. Law, who came here from Hope, and for a time published the Sandpoint Journal.

The building of the Great Northern R. R. in 1891- 92 improved conditions very materially for a time, as it gave employment to a great many and revived in- terest in the future of the town. New investments were made by capitalists from the outside and the fact became established that Sandpoint must eventu- ally become an important trading, shipping, mining and manufacturing center. In building to Bonner's

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Ferry the Great Northern cut off from Standpoint a certain amount of support it had previously enjoyed, but in the increase of business from other sources, this loss was scarcely felt.

In 1892 L. D. Farmin came to Standpoint as agent of the Great Northern. Mrs. Farmin succeeded him in this position, the two remaining with the company until recent years. In September, 1893, Mr. Farmin filed on a tract of land which includes the original town site. It was at that time unsurveyed and in the patent the boundary is described as follows: "Com- mencing at the old Northern Pacific turn table and run- ning one-half mile west to the line of W. B. Dishman's land, thence one-half mile east along the old country road to Sand Creek, thence one-half mile north to the point of starting.' After being surveyed the legal de- scription of the land was northeast quarter of section 22, township 57 north, range 2 west of Boise meridian.

During the financial panic of the early nineties busi- ness was at a standstill, as it was every where, but from this period of depression Sandpoint has rapidly recov- ered and is now one of the best business points in northern Idaho. Besides financial troubles, the peo- ple have had to contend with other disturbing factors that have from time to time operated temporarily against rapid progress in business and manufacturing enterprises. Among these have been several disas- trous fires that have laid waste the business portions of the town. The N. P. depot, Mr. Murphy's residence and the small building next to it are the only buildings. of the original town that are still standing. In 1887 the Baldwin House and some near-by buildings were destroyed by fire. In 1802 the old Pend Oreille hotel, owned by Baldwin and Bradley, was consumed and with it went some smaller structures. In Novem- ber, 1895, the town had a narrow escape from total destruction. Fire originated this time in the Northern Pacific hotel, which was destroyed. The Fremont House and the residence of B. F. Butler were also burned. The most destructive fire occurred in November, 1900. All that portion of the town east of the N. P. R. R. track, from the depot to the residence of Harry Bald- win, was destroyed. The fire started in the Park Hotel and soon spread to adjoining buildings. The block was composed of frame buildings entirely and al- though a volunteer fire department assisted by citizens, inade every effort to stay the work of the flames, the entire block was razed to the ground. To prevent the destruction of the residence portion of the town a dwelling belonging to Mrs. Hines was blown up with dynamite. The losses in this fire were as follows: B. F. Butler & Company, saloon and fixtures, $2,000, in- surance $700 : H. Boyle, Park Hotel, $1,200; J. M. Bradley, saloon and restaurant, $2,500; F. Courtway, saloon, $1,000; L. Knaak, two buildings, $2,500; I. Underwood, restaurant, $250.00; H. Sawyer, lodging house, $450 ; Mrs. Hines, dwelling, $450.

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An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 190

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