An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 194

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 194
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 194
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 194
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 194

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

field established a general store in 1889. Mrs. George Stafford. the wife of the Northern Pacific section fore- man, handled United States mail in 1888, through an arrangement with the railroad company, but she was not a regularly appointed postmistress. The post- office was regularly established in 1889, with W. S. McCrea as postmaster. Among the other early post- masters were C. F. Manning, A. M. Martin and Charles McCrea, all of whom conducted general mer- chandise stores. C. H. Walizer opened a real estate agency in 1890 and H. L. Tanton a hardware store in the same year.

School matters early engaged the attention of the settlers at Post Falls, and they succeeded in securing the formation of a district ( No. 7) in the summer of 1886. The first board of trustees were James H. Kennedy, John Green and J. R. Compton. The first term of school commenced November 22, 1886. It continued three months and was taught by Oliver L. Kenedy. This term was taught in a building that had been erected by James H. Kennedy and J. R. Comp- ton, as a residence for William Dillard, with the under- standing that it could be used two years for a school house. The second term in the same house was taught by Laura Agnew. The first school house, which is now used as a wood shed for the present school, was built in March, 1888, and Blanche Parsons was its first occupant in the capacity of teacher. She was followed by F. D. Cook, Mary Baslington, Mr. Sprague, Frank Reeves and Mrs. Frank Reeves. This school house was built by subscription and by dona- tion work. For furnishings money was raised by giv- ing dances. They were well patronized and funds were soon collected and the house properly equipped. An election, at which bonds were voted for the erec- tion of the building now in use, was held June 15, 1890. In the present building Warren Lucas and Miss A. E. Nichols were the first instructors. The cost of this building was four thousand dollars in 1890. The school property, including grounds, build- ing and furniture, is now valued at about three thou- sand five hundred dollars. The members of the present school board are S. Young, chairman, A. M. Martin, clerk, H. M. Strathern, treasurer, and A. J. Shanks. During the past school year the schools were under the charge of W. O. Cummings, principal, salary eighty- five dollars : Pearl Boleman, intermediate department, salary fifty dollars ; Bertha Ross, primary department, salary forty dollars. Miss Ross has an assistant in Cora Kennedy. All these instructors are efficient workers and the schools are a credit to the town.

There are two church organizations at Post Falls, -the Methodists under the charge of Rev. H. Hud- son. and the Presbyterians, with Rev. D. D. Allen as pastor. Both denominations have good houses of worship.

By an act of the county commissioners May 28, 1891, the town was incorporated and the following board of trustees appointed. Thomas Ford, W. J. Butterfield, C. M. Brown, C. H. Walizer and H. L. Tanton. On the fourth of June in the same year an organization was effected by the election of C. H.

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Walizer chairman of the board and H. L. Tanton clerk. The first town election was held April 4, 1892, at which time the same board was elected, with the exception of W. J. Butterfield. C. H. Clayton was elected in his place. Until 1901 the corporation was never able to enforce any of its ordinances, owing to the fact that legality of the incorporating act was questioned. In 1901 the legislature passed a special act legalizing the corporation and the acts of its sev- eral boards of trustees. The present town board con- sists of S. H. Smith, chairman : S. E. Bennet. clerk ; H. M. Strathern, treasurer; A. J. Manor and Captain James Fisher. The city marshal is S. A. Irwin. A. J. Manor has been postmaster since 1901, and James H. Kennedy is serving his third term as justice of the peace.

. Beside the destruction of the sawmill, Post Falls has had one other fire. This occurred in December, 1895. McCrea Brothers' livery barn was destroyed ; loss, eight hundred dollars. The second story of the barn was owned and occupied by the Knights of Pythias. This story, with furnishings, cost about six thousand dollars, and was insured for one thousand dollars. A blacksmith shop was also burned.

A review of the business houses of the present day includes the following : A. J. Manor, general mer- chandise, established 1898. General stores are con- ducted by George A. Manning, G. L. Scott. W. S. Butterfield, M. D. Wright and C. W. Brown. The Post Falls Mercantile Company was established in December, 1902, by G. O. Dart and John Young. A meat market is conducted by N. C. Ballard ; a general store by J. F. Enders : blacksmith shops by James H. Kennedy and J. W. Jamison : a general store by A. N. Tucker, established 1890; a real estate agency by C. H. Walizer ; a hardware store by H. L. Tauton ; hotels by Samuel Young and J. H. Daner ; a livery by H. W. Enders : a barber shop by A. L. Hawthorne : C. H. Warren and John Mitchell are painters and paper hangers. Lodging houses are kept by M. S. Warren and L. A. Dillard. For use in protection against fires the town owns a small chemical engine. Long distance telephone lines connect the town with all outside points.

Post Falis is located on the Spokane river and on the Coeur d'Alene branch of the Northern Pacific rail- road, eight miles south of Rathdrum and twenty-five miles east of Spokane. It is in the center of quite an extensive agricultural, stock and fruit region, that is every year becoming more productive. An irrigating ditch from Heyden Lake to the Spokane river at Trent. a small town eight miles from the state line in Washington. will pass near Post Falls in traversing the valley and will add very materially to the pro- ductiveness of the section. The falls in the river were formerly known as Little Falls, and Upper Falls : but the name was changed to Post Falls in honor of Frederick Post, the builder of the mill and founder of the town. The power generated by the falls is next to incalculable. and this force will doubtless be utilized in the future. There is no better site anywhere for mills and factories, and when there is added to this

advantage of location, the unfailing support that it must always receive from the surrounding farming com- munity, one cannot but realize that the citizens of Post Falls have good grounds for faith in the future pros- perity of their town.

ST. MARIES.

One of the most delightful summer resorts in Idaho is found at St. Maries, on the St. Joe river, and at the mouth of the St. Maries. Until about three years ago its popularity rested almost entirely upon its healthful climate, its beautiful surrounding and its summer hotels. But shrewd business men have lately noted its central location in a vast and heavily timbered region, and its accessibility from points on the O. R. & N. and the Northern Pacific railroads. They have noted the fact that it has the peculiar advantages nec- essary to commercial centers, and these discoveries have worked wonderful transformations in and about the village. In the future it must attract both the business man and the tourist, and on this double foundation it may safely hope to become a populous and prosperous city.

The census of 1900 credited the settlement with a population of seventy-five. It now has at least five hundred permanent residents, and is growing rapidly. Joseph Fisher, now one of the county commissioners, came here in 1888 and settled on land which includes the present townsite. The land was leased at the time by Mr. Fisher from Monroe Duggett, who claimed it as a part of a ranch to which he held squat- ter's rights. When the section was surveyed it was found that the land belonged to the Union Pacific rail- road, and Mr. Fisher then purchased it from the com- pany. In 1889 William, John and Jesse Fisher lo- cated here, shipping in and putting up a sawmill. This mill had a capacity of twenty thousand feet per day. It cut a great deal of the timber used by the O. R. & N. in construction work, and nearly all the ties and timbers used in the bridge and trestle at Chatcolet. The mill was sold in 1891 to Fred Grant, who moved it to Harrison. Its capacity was enlarged, and it is now known as the Grant sawmill. Among others who were early settlers in this vicinity are James Nevins, who came in 1889, R. B. Dickenson, who came in 1894, C. F. Montandon, Eugene Gay and F. G. Scott, who came in 1895. The history of the town may be said to date from July, 1889, when a postoffice was established here, with Joseph Fisher postmaster. Mr. Fisher retained the office for six years. Joseph Fisher, F. W. Haveland and M. A. Phelps laid out and platted the townsite, Mr. Have- land and Mr. Phelps having previously purchased one- third interest each in the railroad land bought by Mr. Fisher.

For a number of years there was but little progress made in building up the town, but the country up and down the rivers was gradually developing. During the rush to the Coeur d'Alene mines in 1884 and for several years following, there was a great deal of travel up and down the rivers and some prospecting through

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the country. In this way the timber and mineral re- sources and the natural advantages of the country, with its water ways and railroad prospects, became generally known, and since that period there has been slow but substantial improvement. About the year 1899 St. Maries began to assume the appearance of a thriving town, and since that time development has been rapid. The principal cause of her growth has thus far been her advantages as a summer resort, but with the opening of ranches, of stock and fruit farms and dairies, and with the establishment of logging camps, new and better inducements have been offered the business man, and today it is a thriving business center at all seasons of the year.

The following is a review of the business inter- ests of St. Maries at the present time. The St. Maries Hotel is owned and managed by William McCarter. It is modern in all its appointments and is considered one of the finest hotels in northern Idaho. It is on the river front and commands a fine view of the coun- try for miles around. It is three stories, with eighty rooms, and is lighted by electricity. The hotel Moun- tain View occupies a commanding site on the crest of a hill overlooking the river and the broad meadows beyond. Joseph Fisher is proprietor of the Mountain View, which was the first hotel erected in the town. The Hotel Butler was opened in July, 1902, by Jerry Butler. It is two stories, has thirty rooms, and is located in the central portion of the town. Besides the hotel Mr. Fisher has a general merchandise store. The Perrenoud Company carries a large stock of hard- ware and miners' supplies. Skelton & Warren have a general store. Another general merchandise estab- lishment is conducted by Winship & Henderson, who recently purchased the business from M. D. Wright. J. Lindstrum runs a meat market. The St. Maries Livery, Feed and Sale stable is owned by Trueman & Wunderlick, who also operate stage lines to Santa, Fernwood and Tyson. J. E. Williams & Company conduct a real estate agency and deal in timber lands. E. Compo has a shoe and harness shop. Samuel B. Grimsrud is the village blacksmith. The St. Maries Townsite & Improvement Company deals in town property. The steamer Schley makes scheduled trips to Harrison and Coeur d'Alene. A United States mail boat plying between St. Maries and Chatcolet and mak- ing connections with O. R. & N. trains, carries mail, passengers and express and is managed by J. Schaaf. There is a sawmill and manufacturing plant with a capacity of twenty-five thousand feet per day. Will- iam McCarter is local manager. Smith & Eno have a jewelry store. The St. Maries drug store is man- aged by A. C. Scurr. St. Maries has an opera house and a newly organized band. William and Joseph Cole and Joseph Fisher own and operate a creamery and cheese factory with a capacity of six hundred pounds per week. The Silver Brand cheese has a wide reputation and this is one of the most remunerative businesses of the town. It has been in successful opera- tion for five years. The Interstate telephone line con- nects the town with outside points. The local physi- cians are Dr. G. S. Thompson and Dr. C. E. Wilber.

The St. Maries Hospital is a new institution that is well patronized. Thomas B. Rollins and E. Compo are justices and J. E. Williams is a notary public. A. C. Scurr is the present postmaster. The St. Maries Courier is a semi-weekly publication, established Feb- ruary 19, 1901, by E. Deuerslie. It is well edited and is doing much in the interests of St. Maries and the surrounding country. Rev. J. H. Martin is pastor of the M. E. congregation, which has a neat church build- ing and parsonage, built in 1898. The first log school house was erected in the fall of 1888 by subscription, and the first term of school was taught by Mrs. P. E. Girard. In the summer of 1901 the present two-story frame school house was built, at a cost of fifteen hun- dred dollars. The estimated value of school prop- erty, including building, grounds and furniture, is about three thousand dollars. The school board is composed of A. A. Darknell, chairman : John Fisher, clerk ; and George Mutch. During the past year the schools have been conducted by Prof. A. F. Burton, assisted by Miss Etta M. Andrews. There is a Chap- ter of the I. O. O. F. and of the M. W. A. Officers of Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 32, are John W. Fisher, N. G., Levi Nussbaum, Secy. A bridge has been constructed across the St. Maries river here, at a cost of five thousand dollars. Including the approaches it is twenty-eight hundred feet long.

St. Maries is about forty miles southeast of Rath- drum, the county seat, and about twelve miles from Harrison, on Coeur d'Alene lake. The town site is on a slight elevation, above the river, and is surrounded by scenery as beautiful and grand as may be found anywhere in Idaho. Hunting, fishing and boating are sports that may be indulged in to the heart's content. To the lover of the grand and beautiful, to the tourist, and also to the business man, St. Maries and the sur- rounding country offer inducements and opportunities rarely found. Timber resources are almost inex- haustible. the agricultural areas will increase as the forests are cleared and there are good reasons to be- lieve that paying mining properties will develop in many tributary localities in the not distant future. St. Maries is the natural distributing point for an immense territory, whose resources are just beginning to be developed. Its business enterprises are on a solid financial basis. Substantial business blocks and dwell- ings are being erected. A system of water works has been installed. Nearly all the lots in a town site of forty acres have been sold. The citizens have faith in the future of the town and work together for the suc- cess of all public enterprises. St. Maries is destined to become an important commercial center, as it is now one of the most popular summer resorts.

ST. JOE AND FERRELL.

Sixteen miles above St. Maries, at the head of steamboat navigation on the St. Joe river, and about sixty miles from Coeur d'Alene, is located the settle- ment of St. Joe. Just above it has been platted the new town of Ferrell, by William Ferrell, who settled here in 1884, taking up a ranch of three hundred and

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twenty acres. There are fifty or seventy-five perma- nent residents at St. Joe at the present time, and new arrivals are buying lots and building residences. Mr. Ferrell is the pioneer resident of the town and sec- tion, and was the first postmaster. . In 1884, with two companions, he traveled over the trails from Ward- ner in order to locate the ranch which is now the most valuable on the river. He has from time to time been followed by other home-seekers, until at the present time the St. Joe valley is entirely occupied by ranch- ers. their buildings appearing all the way up the river about one mile apart. The E. Deighton ranch of three hundred and twenty acres, which joins Mr. Ferrell's townsite, was also located in 1884. It consists princi- pally of meadow land, although it includes about sixty- five acres of heavy timber. It produced three hundred tons of hay in 1892. and is stocked with a herd of ninety Jersey cattle. The ranch is now valued at $14,000. The valley of the St. Joe is about a mile wide. It is practically a long narrow meadow, whose soil is rich and very productive. The river being navi- gable, these farms are each year becoming more valna- ble. About three hundred settlers on these valley lands do the most of their trading at St. Joe, making it an important center. The Warner store does an extensive business of a general character. William Ferrell also has a general store and a very large trade. Mrs Mildred Girard is the present postmistress. J. H. Wagner is kept constantly employed as a contractor and builder. The Interstate telephone line connects St Joe with other points. A good school is main- tained. The St. Joe hotel is owned by William O'Neil. It is a two-story modern building, built for winter or summer occupation, and accommodates seventy-five guests. G. B. May, located at this hotel. rents row boats to campers and excursionists. The Elk House is owned and managed by William Ferrell. It is a three-story frame building and accommodates one hun- dred guests. Mr. Ferrell has recently erected another hotel. The St. Joe Budget was established in Decem- ber. 1902, and is ably conducted by Will E. Dockery.

While campers and boathouse dwellers are found the whole length of the St. Joe river during the sum- mer season, the Mecca for most vacationists is St. Joe. It is surrounded by natural camping grounds. Ex- quisitelv set in a natural vale and sheltered by encir- cling mountains. St. Joe is favored with wonderful scenic attractions. At the foot of the rapids is fine trout fishing. A boat trip up the swift waters and the tributary creeks is a most enjoyable experience. Game, including deer and bear, is plentiful back in the mountains, making the location an ideal place for either a summer sojourn or a fall hunting trip. But St Joe is not alone a pleasant resort. Back of it is an area of forty square miles covered with dense for- ests of fir, cedar. tamarack and pine, where almost no development work has been done. Only during the past year or two has timber been taken from this re- gion. It is estimated that there was driven down the St. Joe river in 1892 seven million feet of logs, ten thousand cedar telegraph poles and one hundred thousand posts. The mineral resources of this sec-

tion are yet to be developed. The Manhattan mine, eight miles from St. Joe, is considered a valuable silver and lead property. The owners are expending con- siderable money in development work. On Marble creek, further up the river, a large deposit of silver and lead has been discovered. A fine grade of marble has also been discovered here, and a company or- ganized to develop it. The district is in the same mineral belt as the producing Coeur d'Alene mines, on the opposite slope of the Bitter Root mountains, and it is believed the St. Joe slope will eventually be a mineral producing region.

A stage line is operated between St. Joe and St. Maries and the steamers Spokane and Colfax make regular trips from St. Joe to all points on the lake, making railroad connections at Chatcolet, Harrison and Coeur d'Alene. With so many advantages as a summer resort and surrounded as it is by vast forests of saw timber and mountains of minerals, St. Joe is certain to develop into one of the important towns of Kootenai county.

HOPE.

Picturesquely situated on the north shore of the beautiful Pend Oreille lake is the town of Hope, a divisional point on the Northern Pacific railroad, being the end of the Idaho and the beginning of the Rocky Mountain division. It is fifty-eight miles north- cast of Rathdruni, the county seat, and eighty-four miles east of the city of Spokane, and is connected with Sandpoint and Lakeview by three lines of steamboats. On its terraced site overlooking the broad waters of the lake, its appearance recalls a tourist's description of Seattle, which he writes "Clings to a steep hillside ; a little shake, it seems, would send it sliding down into the water."

Although typical of railroad life, the town is also a summer resort of considerable prominence. Estab- lished here are several good hotels ; sail and row boats are furnished for the accommodation of guests ; the lake is well stocked with trout and other fish, and in the surrounding mountains is plenty of large game to attract the adventurous sportsman.

The history of Hope begins with the construction of the railroad, in 1882. The town is said to have received the name of the veterinary surgeon, Dr. Hope, who cared for the horses of the contractors during the building of the road, and whose advice was often sought in matters of importance.

The legal description of the townsite is as follows : southeast quarter of section 10, and southwest quarter of section II, township 57. range I, east of B. M. When the government survey was made, several years after the town was built, it was discovered that one section was on railroad and one on government land. In 1888 O. C. Smith attempted to homestead a por- tion of the townsite, but the townsite people objected and appealed to the Department of the Interior. Smith was represented by Attorneys Sweet and Mor- gan, Charles L. Heitman and George Lamar, and the townsite people by Attorneys Edwin McBee and Copp

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& Duckett. But although Mr. Smith was ably de- fended and the case carried to the highest tribunal, the matter resulted in a final and decisive victory for the townsite claimants. The town was eventually platted by the government in 1896. In April, 1903, a peti- tion for incorporation was signed by a majority of the taxpayers, and by order of the county commis- sioners it was duly incorporated. K. Wanamaker, H. L. Bidwell, Jolin Larsen, L. H. Jeannot and J. M. Jeannot were appointed trustees. In 1888 W. J. Quirk held the office of postmaster. He afterwards opened a general store, but was burned out in 1889. and removed his residence to Spokane. Amongst other early settlers who contributed to the advance- ment of the town was Dr. Tallyrand Martin, who settled in Hope in 1888, conducted a drug store and en- gaged in various other enterprises. In 1890 a news- paper the Hope Prospector, was established by J. F. Yost. but ceased publication in 1894. Mr. Yost was one of several publishers. Kline Wanamaker was the proprietor of the first hotel, called the Pend Oreille. after the burning of which he opened a general store and is still in business. N. G. Sisson also had a store of general merchandise and continues in that business. Another pioneer was Alexander Quirie, who in 1890 took up a homestead, three miles west of the town, at the mouth of Trestle creek. For eight years Mr. Quirie kept a dairy, but is now engaged in the stock business.

In April, 1900, Hope was devastated by a dis- astrous fire which started in S. N. Chase's saloon. From that place the fire spread to the buildings on the west, consuming in its rapid progress the store and warehouse of W. J. Quirk, and all other buildings on Main street as far as K. Wanamaker's store. On High- land avenue the only residence burned was Mr. Chris- tenson's. George Weigle's house caught fire several times, but he had fortunately supplied himself with a water hose which saved his residence. To stay the prog- ress of the flames, several buildings, including the Con- gregational church, Spence Horning's residence and the building occupied by A. Jenkins were blown up with giant powder. An easterly wind and the splendid water supply of the Northern Pacific was all that saved the upper part of the town. At the first shot of powder, Harry Auxer, a miner who was assisting at the work, was struck in the throat by a flying piece of timber. A fatal accident and one which plunged the community into sorrow, was the accidental discharge of a revolver, causing the death of William Monroe. He, with several other boys, was looking over the ruins and found a revolver which was still hot from the fire. In handing it to one of his companions it exploded. The ball entered his right breast just above the heart. He was taken to a house, where he died in a few minutes.

A serious accident on the Northern Pacific railroad occurred on March 25. 1890, two miles east of the town. Train No. 2. consisting of eleven coaches, was thrown from the track by a broken rail. Seven cars were ditched, the mail and express, the baggage car, and one first class coach burned. C. S. Miles, of Bald

Mountain, messenger of the Northern Pacific Express Company, met a frightful fate, being caught between the rods of his car and burned to death. Three tramps were killed and many others injured.

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An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 194

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