An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 200

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 200
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 200
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 200
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 200

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MARTIN L. PIATT. Although the subject of this article has not been in this section of Kootenai county as long as some, still, he has performed excel- . lent labors of development while here, and his achieve- ments with his personal worth entitle him to represen- tation in the history of this county.

Martin Piatt was born in Washington county, Ohio, on December 4. 1866, being the son of William and Ann V. (Truax) Piatt, natives of Ohio, but pioneers

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of Wisconsin. They farmed for many years in Wis- consin and there the father died in 1884. The mother still lives in Knapp, Wisconsin, aged sixty-five. Their ten children are mentioned elsewhere in this volume. Our subject was educated in the schools of Wisconsin and when eighteen he started in the battle of life on his own responsibility. Various occupations engaged him for two years and then he went to Cloquet, Minnesota, in the lumber woods for a time. Then he returned to Wisconsin and remained until 1897. when he deter- mined to try the west, and accordingly came to north- ern Idaho. He selected Sandpoint as the place of his operations and soon began logging, taking contracts from the different millmen. He has a fine outfit for this purpose and is one of the most expert men at the business in these woods. Mr. Piatt has one team that weighs thirty-three hundred and forty pounds. They are doubtless the finest span of draft horses in the county. Mr. Piatt has his headquarters one mile west from Kootenai and is well known over. the country in his line of business as a faithful man, an excellent hand to accomplish his undertakings and possessed of skill, wisdom, and executive ability, while he stands well with all.

In 1890, Mr. Piatt married Miss Emma, daughter of Henry and Catherine (Clingman) Humphrey, na- tives of Indiana. and pioneers to Wisconsin. They settled in Dunn county and there remained until their death. the mother's occurring in 1883, and the father passing away in 1895. The happy union of Mr. Piatt and his estimable wife has been blessed by the advent of seven children . James, Julia A., William H., Martin Luther, Elizabeth C., Virginia and Benjamin. Mr. Piatt takes an intelligent interest in the political ques- tions of the day and local matters, being allied with the Democrats in principle. He is a charter member of the Sandpoint Lodge, No. 59, I. O. O. F., and also belongs to Panhandle Lodge, No. 22, of the Encamp- ment. Mrs. Piatt is a member of the R. N. of A., of Sandpoint. Mr. Piatt is a man of business enterprise and ability and his stanch character and reliability have made him a host of friends.

AARON W. PALMER is one of the younger men of the vicinity of Sandpoint and has manifested an industry and enterprise that bid fair to make him one of the prominent men of this section. His farm is located three miles from Sandpoint and was taken from the wilds as a homestead. Mr. Palmer has been devoting his energies to its improvement and is making a good home place.

Aaron W. Palmer was born in Monroe county, Michigan, on August 10, 1870, being the son of James K. & Nancy (Lambkin) Palmer, natives of Michi- gan, where they now live, being farmers. They have four children: Minnie M., wife of Eli Collins ; Aaron W., our subject: Willis S., married and living in Michigan: Goldie A., single and teaching school. Our subject received his education in the native place, going to school in the win-

ters and working with his father in the balance of the year. At the age of seventeen he started to do for himself, and for three years he was occupied in the lumber woods. In 1892 he went to George Bay country and later went to Saginaw, where he spent that summer on the boon and then he made Menom- onie, Wisconsin, his headquarters, working five winters in the woods and the summers in the Dakota harvest fields. It was 1898 that he made his way to the Sand- point country and being enamored of this region, he determined to make it his home, and accordingly he took the homestead mentioned above and to the im- provement of this and general timber contracting he has devoted his energies since. He has a portion of the farm in hay and grain and has horses with which he does teaming. Mr. Palmer is liberal in political matters but leans toward the Republican principles. He is a man of good standing and has the confidence of his neighbors.

ABRAM M. PIATT. In the worthy labors of developing the country and bringing out its resources. the subject of this article has had a goodly share. He is a man of stable qualities, enterprising and capable. and is well known for his executive ability and stirring energy.

Abram M. Piatt was born in Monroe county, Ohio, on April 3, 1871, being the son of William and Vir- ginia (Truax) Piatt, natives of Ohio. They came to Dunn county, Wisconsin, in 1882, and there the mother still lives, the father having died in 1883. The mother conducted the farm for thirteen years after her hus- band's death, but is now retired. She had twelve chil- dren, ten of whom live, as follows: Margaret, wife of William Chickering, in Knapp, Wisconsin ; Alexander, in Sandpoint; Martin, married and living in Sand- point ; George, married and living in Clarkfork ; Abram M., the subject of this article ; David, married and liv- ing in Sandpoint : Julia, wife of William Oldham, in Knapp. Wisconsin: Jennie, wife of L. Workman, in Sandpoint : Rosa, Ida, both single and living in Sand- point. Abram received the major part of his school- ing in Knapp, Wisconsin, and when eighteen started in life for himself. He worked in the iron mines for two years, then on the farm, in the woods, on the railroad and so forth, until 1897, when he came to Sandpoint. The first year he worked for his brother and then he took a contract of furnishing three thousand poles. About this time he took a trip to Knapp. Wisconsin. and remained for eight months. Then he returned to Sandpoint and has devoted himself to contracting logs, poles and timbers for the Sandpoint company, Butler & Company and others and in this business he is still engaged.

On April 3. 1897. Mr. Piatt married Miss Ella, daughter of Samuel and Sarah ( Bowersack ) Thatcher. natives of Ohio, but pioneers to Wisconsin, and they still live in Dunn county, that state. Mrs. Piatt was

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born there. Mr. and Mrs. Piatt have one child, Velma. Politically our subject is allied with the Republicans and is active and interested in this field and the ques- tions of the day.

JOHN NELSON resides three miles north from Sandpoint where he has a fine estate of two hundred acres of land, having acquired it by homestead and pur- chase. He is a man of reliability, integrity and sound principles, and is the recipient of the respect and good will of his fellows.

John Nelson was born in Vermland, Sweden, on November 3, 1858, being the son of Nels and Martha Pearson, also natives of Sweden, where they died some years since. Two sons and one daughter were born to them besides our subject, Ole, living in Rock Springs, Wyoming : Andrew ; Betty, married to Mr. Greenwold, in Ogden, Utah. John received a common schooling and when ten went to work out. Two years later he went to Stockholm and learned the harness trade. In 1881 he came to America, May 29 being the exact date of landing. He made his way to Salt Lake City, Utah, where he wrought for the D. & R. G. Railroad and then mined for five years. Next we see him in Leadville, Colorado, then in the Black Hills, South Dakota, then in Ogden, Utah, and later in Portland, Oregon. Thence he went to the Cascade mountains and in 1894 Mr. Nelson came to Sandpoint and located on his present place, which has been his home ever since. He has good buildings and a fine orchard and does general farming in addition to timber work, having con- tracted piling and such timbers. Mr. Nelson is an ac- tive Republican and is always ready to do his part to forward the welfare of the county. He is a member of the Lutheran church and a man of good standing. Mr. Nelson has never seen fit to quit the peaceful life of the bachelor for the uncertain seas of matrimonial ex- istence and seems quite content with the celebatarian's life.

JUDGE A. K. WHITE, deceased. No man was better or more favorably known in the southern part of Kootenai county than the subject of this article, and it is fitting that memorial to his name be granted in the volume that ha's to do with the history of this section.

A. K. White was born in Port Deposit, Maryland, on May 8, 1834. His mother died when he was a child, and he was taken by his father to what was known as the "Brick Meeting House," in Cecil coun- ty. There he remained until fifteen and finished his education in an academy in Pennsylvania. Follow- ing this he was engaged in keeping books for a num- ber of years, then came to Peoria, Illinois, where he acted as salesman and also studied law. In Febru- ary, 1860, Mr. White married Miss Frances Giles, daughter of Joseph and Susana (Redfern) Giles, both English, and to that union were born two chil- dren : Lota Alice, deceased ; Joseph C., married to Miss Hattie Whitmore and now living in Coeur d'Alene,

where he is engaged in civil engineering. Following his marriage Judge White removed to Nebraska and then to Colorado, where he practiced law. In 1887 he came to Farmington, Washington, and practiced law, and in 1890 made his way into the then unsettled region of St. Maries, near the north fork, Clarkia postoffice. One man, Captain James Wells, after- wards World's Fair commissioner, was dwelling here then. The Judge took land near the mouth of the Emerald creek and at once devoted himself to raising stock. The ranch is known as Meadow Lodge. He was successful in this venure and although he came here with limited means, he was soon among the prosperous citizens of the county. He was popular and served one term as county superintendent of schools and one term as probate judge, having also been judge of Clearcreek county, Colorado, for two terms. The Judge was called to depart this life on November 26, 1901, and was sincerely mourned by a large circle of true friends. He was a member of the Masonic order at Harrison, Idaho, and also of the G. A. R., having been a brave and faithful soldier for his country. Mrs. White was postmistress at Clarkia for four years, but has now resigned the po- sition, rented her fine esate of nearly five hundred acres and removed to Coeur d'Alene, where she re- sides with her son.

Judge White was in Company F, Nebraska Second Cavalry, and served two years, when he was wounded and honorably discharged. Nellie Kemble, a niece, who lived with the family for a number of years, is married and living at Oakesdale, Wash- ington.

DAVID E. BIGELOW is one of the well known and respected citizens of Sandpoint, being a skilled ar- tisan in wood work and building, while he also owns a fine farm of one hundred acres, which he has im- proved in a becoming manner.

David E. Bigelow was born in Milwaukee county, Wisconsin, on August 9, 1852, being the son of Joseph and Rose (Sweet) Bigelow, natives of the same county in Wisconsin. The father went to dig gold in Cali- fornia in 1855 and died the next year ; the mother over- come with trouble and hardship succumbed to death soon after. Then the children were taken by relatives and our subject knows nothing of his parents. Two sisters are dead and one brother was a noted scout and was one who hunted the James boys, but no tidings from him have ever come to our subject. David was taken by an uncle to Manitowoc, Wisconsin, where he remained until eighteen, having gained a common school education. Then he went for himself and la- bored to get means for an education, and when he was twenty-one he had graduated from the high school. Then he sailed on the lakes for two seasons, after which he took land in Clark county and eight years later sold that and removed to Ashland, Wisconsin, where he did carpenter work for thirteen years. It was 1898 that he came to his present location, bought one hun- dred acres from the railroad company and in addition

JUDGE A. K. WHITE.

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to improving it in good shape, he has also done car- pentering.

In 1876 Mr. Bigelow married Miss Gertrude Smith and to them were born four children, Raymond, Fay- ette, Floyd, and Mabel, all living in Wisconsin. Later Mrs. Bigelow was taken away by death.

In 1901 Mr. Bigelow married Mrs. Nettie Cole, daughter of Able S. and Marie Thompson, residents of Garfield, Washington, who in 1902 celebrated their golden wedding. Mr. Thompson is a druggist and a prominent citizen of the town. Mr. Bigelow is an ac- tive Republican and is zealous for the advancement of the interests of the country. He is a member of the K. of P., Helmit, Lodge, No. 36, while he and his wife belong to the Methodist church, being devout sup- porters of the faith.

WILLIAM H. LEMLY is a man of enterprise, integrity and fine business judgment, as is evidenced thoroughly by his round of successful achievements in financial matters, while also he has ever maintained an unsullied reputation and displayed a stanch char- acter.

William H. Lemley was born in Eugene, Oregon, on September 3, 1859, being the son of Pleasant G. and Nancy (Fletcher) Lemley, natives of Alabama and Arkansas, respectively. In 1853 they crossed the plains with ox teams to Benton county, Mr. Lemley swim- ming the streams with his stock. The next year they went to Lane county, which was the family home until 1878. Mr. Lemley was appointed county judge, being the first incumbent of that office, and served for four years. Then he was county commissioner for four years, then county treasurer for two years, also deputy sheriff for four years. He operated a large farmi for six years and in 1878 he came to Farmington, Washı- ington, where he remained until 1895, whence he re- moved to Priest river, where his sons were. There he died in May, 1902, his wife passing away in April, 1902, he being eighty three and his wife seventy-seven.

Reverting more particularly to our subject, we note that he received his education from the public schools and when eighteen he started for lumself in life. He learned the butcher trade and followed it steadily for ten years. He operated shops in Farmington, Oakes- dale, and Rosalia, Washington, and the last year he was there he shipped three thousand hogs. In 1889 Mr. Lemley sold out his entire business and went to California and Oregon. One year later, he came to Priest River and to Albany Falls. One year later, he sold out and went prospecting. He prospected for a number of years in Idaho and Montana, being the dis- coverer of the Silvernight, in Montana, in 1896, of which 'he has sold an interest, still retaining some. In 1899 he returned to Priest River and took up general merchandising and continues in that business until the present time.

On June 25, 1900, Mr. Lemley married Miss An- nie Alberts, whose parents, natives of Sweden, came to this country in 1883, locating in Minneapolis, Min- 53

nesota. In 1895, they came to Priest River and are conducting a boarding house there now. Mr. Lem- ley is a member of the I. O. O. F., Banner Lodge, No. 67 at Priest River, also of the F. of A., Priest River Court, No. 18, being chief ranger of the latter order. He has held all the chairs of both lodges and in 1902, was deputy grand master. Mr. Lemley is a Democrat and active in politics. He was chosen justice of the peace in 1900 and was deputy sheriff of Whitman county in the 'eighties. He is a man of reliability and displays commendable zeal for the upbuilding of the country and in his business enterprises.

CHARLES JACKSON is one of the best known business men of the Priest River country, having come here among the earliest pioneers and continued liis labors here since. He is a man of intelligence and good business ability as has been manifested in his achievements, now owning a large general merchan- dise establishment in Priest River, where his standing is of the best.

Charles Jackson was born in Wilkinsburg. Pennsyl- vania, on March 1, 1849, being the son of Andrew and Caroline Jackson, natives of Pennsylvania, where they remained until their death, the father passing away in 1870, and the mother in 1878. The father was a cabinet maker. He had the following named children : Mary, Charles, our subject, Caroline, Chris, Louise. Amelia, Christian, and Andrew. Charles received a common school education, being really a self educated man, as he had to strive for his training. At the age of sev- enteen, he went to Minneapolis, Minnesota, joined a surveying party for some years, then went to Bismarck, North Dakota, thence to the Black Hills, where he prospected until 1888, when he came to the lake Pend Oreille county and there prospected until 1891. This was the year of the entrance of the Great Northern to the Priest River country and he came thither with a large canoe and transported freight, doing well. The next spring Mr. Jackson married Kate Neilson. This lady enjoyed the distinction of being the first white wo- man that crossed the Chilkoot pass to the Yukon. She went to Forty Mile creek and remained one summer, taking a supply of trinkets for the Indians and articles for the miners. She did well in the trip and left Alaska in 1890, having been there seven years. She has one son, now twenty-five years old. Mr. Jackson married in 1892 and his wife died in 1899. In 1902 Mr. Jack- son married Emma Griswold, widow of Charles Gris- wold, and daughter of George Knowlton. She has four children, Bessie, Hazel, Halley, and Rena, all at home. In 1892 Mr. Jackson started a saloon, but in a short time he saw the need of a general merchandise establishment and so opened the same. This has grown tintil he has one of the largest stores in the town. Mr. Jackson owns the town site and one of the streets is named for him. He has always shown a public spirit and labored assiduously for the improvement and upbuilding of the town and county. In politics Mr. Jackson is Republican, having formerly been Demo-

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cratic, but changed at the time of Bryanism. He has been prominent in the county conventions and is an in- fluential man. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., be- ing an organizer of Banner Lodge, No. 67 and has passed all the chairs. Mrs. Jackson is a member of the Rebekahs, Banner Lodge, No. 52, she also has passed the chairs. Our subject and his wife are promi- nent people of Priest River and enjoy the regard and good will of all. They have one child.

THOMAS BENTON is one of the intrepid men who have taken the prospector's pick and pack and delved into the fastnesses of the remote regions, thus opening to less courageous ones the wealth of the moun- tains, and it is but right that to him should be granted great credit and praise for these worthy labors, which in reality are the opening of the country. Too little has been said in favor of such men, and much has been written of the great achievements of great companies. But let credit be where credit is due and we boldly say that no class of men have had the hardships to endure, the exceedingly arduous labors, to perform, with more discouragements to meet and trying obstacles to over- come than the intrepid, courageous and noble men who go forth single handed to meet and overcome in na- ture's wilds.

Thomas Benton was born in the vicinity of Fort Wayne, Indiana, on February 22, 1844, being the son of John and Mary (Bools) Benton, natives of North Carolina and Kentucky, respectively. They were mar- ried in Ohio, moved thence to Illinois, then to Iowa and afterwards to Missouri, where the father died in 1880. The mother then returned to Mont- gomery county, lowa and lived with our subject umtil her death in 1886. Thomas was educated in Illinois. and when nineteen, enlisted in Company K, Sixteenth Illinois Cavalry, under Colonel Smith and Captain Gudnow. After a short time at Camp Butte, near Cincinnati, his company was taken to the front and with three other companies his was detailed for scout duty. He participated in the battle of Jonesville, Vir- ginia, when five hundred noble men were numbered among the dead. He was captured, taken to Richmond. thence to Andersonville, then to Savannah, from there to Miles, Georgia, returned to Savannah and there he was paroled on November 25, 1864. Returning to Nashville, he joined his company and remained with them until he was discharged on August 25, 1865, be- ing paid off in Chicago. He farmed for one year in Illinois, then went to Iowa where he worked in a mill at the wage of two dollars and fifty cents per day for nine years. In 1890 he came to Colfax, Washington, thence to Colville and soon we see him with the pros- pector's outfit in the mountains. Mr. Benton has a fine claim with a thousand dollars of development work which show up in good shape. He reached Priest River in 1890, and since that time, this has been his head- quarters. Mr. Benton is road master and has been for some time. He also does a great deal of road con-

tracting and now has a fifteen mile road to build, called the West Branch County road.

In 1868 Mr. Benton married Miss Mary, daughter of Bailey and Jane Cozad, natives of Kentucky, whence they came to lowa, where they died.

On October 15, 1890, at Colfax, Mr. Benton was called to mourn the death of his beloved wife, and her remains sleep there to this day. She left the following children : John, married and living in British Colum- bia ; Court, living in central Idaho ; Nettie, wife of John Prator, in Priest River ; Effie, wife of James Frator, in Priest River. Mr. Benton is a Republican in poli- tics and is active in the interests of the county and all questions of import. He is a man of uprightness and integrity and commands the respect of all.

MAHLON P. JONES is one of the intelligent and industrious citizens of Priest River, where he is well known and highly respected, being a man of integrity and sound principles, always manifesting a genial spirit, and maintaining the good will of all who may know hin.

Mahlon P. Jones was born in Emporium, Pennsyl- vania, on January 1, 1852, being the son of L. B. and Emeline (McCoy) Jones, natives of Vermont. The mother came to Pennsylvania in the early days and inarried there in the 'thirties. Mr. Jones was a railroad contractor and lumber dealer and in 1846, he removed his family to Pennsylvania, where he did lumbering and farming until the time of his death, which oc- curred in 1878, the mother having passed away in 1872. They left ten children, named as follows: Mar- tha, wife of Ambrose Fuller, in Pennsylvania ; Loren Maud, living in Pennsylvania; Byrun, married and living in Pennsylvania; Don, killed in the Civil war; Warren, married and operating an engine on the Great Northern: Mahlon P., the subject of this article; Alma, wife of Silas Wheaton in Pennsylvania; Jenette, wife of Phinome Ames, in Pennsylvania; Louisa, deceased, wife of John Bell, also in Pennsylvania : Gusta, deceased, wife of Forest Garett, deceased.

Our subject received a common schooling in his na- tive place and then on account of failing eyes he was obliged to be content with that. When fifteen, he went into the woods and for twenty years he wrought at that labor. Then he spent five years in railroading, after which he made his way to the west, settling in Priest River. Here he railroaded for a time and then took charge of the railroad pumping station in Priest River and there he is engaged at this time. Mr. Jones has taken a homestead and improved it in good shape and his wife and daughter are operating a fruit and confectionery store in the Priest River. They are meet- ing with good success and are popular with the trade.

On December 24. 1880 Mr. Jones married Miss Elna Kaufmann and to them have been born the fol- lowing named children : Elsa M., Eva E., Stanley W. and Warren P.

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Mr. Jones is a member of the K. O. T. M., Spokane Tent, No. 15. He and his family are adherents of the Congregational church and they are highly respected people of the town.

HENRY KEYSER is one of the oldest pioneers .of Kootenai county as well as having the distinction of being the man to open various sections of that county and adjacent ones, while in all his career he has shown forth the real frontier spirit of progress and courage. An account of his life fittingly is placed in this volume and will be acceptable reading to all.

Henry Keyser was born in Hochstadt, Germany, on January 6, 1839, being the son of John and Eliza- betli (Heider) Keyser, natives of Saxony, Germany. They were wealthy people of that country and the father died in 1892 and the mother in 1891. Our sub- ject studied in the public schools until fourteen and in 1857, he came to America. He worked for three years in Chautauqua county, New York and then removed to Illinois in 1860, and the following year enlisted in the Fox River company which was later changed to the Thirty-sixth Illinois Volunteers. There being too many men, he was sent home and then got a pass from secre- tary Seward to go to Germany but was unable to get out of the country until 1866, when he went to help his mother in that country. Mr. Keyser still has the pass. Returning to the United States, he located in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and then went to Kendall county, Illinois. In 1871 he went to San Francisco, Portland, and then to Walla Walla, where he hired a team and drove to Rathdrum, finding Mr. Post the only settler there, Messrs. Still and Newman being respectively five miles west front Rathdrum and on Newman lake. After one year's

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An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 200

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