An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 205

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 205
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 205
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 205
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 205

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).

mon schools. At his majority he bought a farm and settled to its culture for four years. Then he made a move to Boise City, Idaho, and kept a toll road for two years, after which he went to Texas and six months later canic back to Boise and did gardening work for four years. His next move was to Ains- worth, Washington, where he wrought in the car shops one year and then came to Spokane, entering the dairy business in 1881. Next he did labor along the grades of the Northern Pacific, then settled on un- surveyed land near Clarkfork. He sold his improve- ments and came to his present location and settled on unsurveyed land. He found after the survey that he was on railroad land and so bought the land and an- other quarter. Later he homesteaded a quarter two miles distant from this home place. The half section first gained is a fine farm, nearly half being good hay land. Hc has a fine orchard of eight hundred trees and does a general farming business and raises stock. His hay crop alone is over one hundred tons annually.

In 1871 Mr. Owen married Miss Isabella Hatfield, a native of Iowa. She came west with her husband and accompanied him in many of his travels. She was the third white woman in the entire Kootenai valley. Many were the hardships that were placed in the path of this worthy pioneer couple and they have done in a commendable manner in overcoming them. Two children have been born to them: Elbert Wesley, who enlisted in Company A, First Washington Volunteers, to fight for the freedom of Cuba. Later he went to Manila and served until his company was mustered out. He then enlisted in the regular army, being com- missioned sergeant. In 1899 he was taken sick and discharged, as his health forbade further military serv- ice. The second son is Ernest Walter, now aged twen- ty-one and he is at home. Mr. Owen is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the K. O. T. M., in Bonners Fer- ry, while his wife is a member of the Rebekahs and the L. O. T. M., of Bonners Ferry. They both are members of the Methodist church.

HENRY TANK. The industrious farmer of whom we now have the privilege to speak is one of the men whose labors have assisted materially to bring the wild of Kootenai county to productive fields and he has also made a name for himself among his fellows that places him in their esteem and makes him the recipient of their confidence.

Henry Tank was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, on April 4, 1866, his parents being George and Caro- line (Jacobs) Tank, natives of the same country, where also they died. having been farmers. Henry was educated in the public schools, worked with his father until nine and then went to work for neighbors herd- ing stock. When fourteen he worked on a large sheep ranch and finally, in 1885, he came thence to the Uni- ted States. He worked six months in the vicinity of Chicago and then came to Iowa and spent a like time there on a ranch. When he had spent a like time in che western part of the state he came thence to Ritz --

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ville, Washington. A short time after, he made his way to Cocolalla, Idaho, and he contracted timbers for the railroad for four years. He made a visit to Bonners Ferry in 1890, returning again to Cocolalla and in 1891 he determined to again visit the Bonners Ferry country. He soon selected a quarter section, which he purchased from an Indian for a rifle and fifty rounds of ammunition. This land is four miles east from Bonners Ferry and the industry and skill of Mr. Tank have made it a fine farm. He has about thirty acres under cultivation and they produce in abundant measure of the fruits of the field. He does a general farming business and handles considerable garden stuff. Mr. Tank has bestowed much labor in a wise manner and the result is a good return each year in marketable stuff, which makes him a fine in- come.

In 1896 Mr. Tank married Miss Minnie, daughter of Fred and Mary (Dahnke) Jacobs, natives of Ger- many. They came to America in 1882, locating in Benton county, Iowo, and later removing to Nebraska, where the father died in 1898. The mother still lives in Telden, Nebraska. To Mr. and Mrs. Tank there have been born.two children, Bertha and Emma. In political matters Mr. Tank is allied with the Democrats and he is active in putting forth the principles of his party. He is a member of the K. of P., in Bonners Ferry. The family affiliate with the Lutheran church.

GABE H. HOOKER. Five miles east from Bon- ners ferry is the home place of Mr. Hooker. It is an estate of two hundred acres of good soil, which has nearly one million feet of fine saw timber. From the wilds of the rugged country Mr. Hooker selected his homestead of one quarter section and later completed the two hundred acres by purchase. He has given his time to handling stock, clearing and improving his place, doing a general farming business and is one of the industrious, capable and thrifty men of the county.

Gabe H. Hooker was born in Patrick county, Vir- ginia, on November 14, 1858, being the son of Samuel and Lucinda (State) Hooker, natives of Virginia. The family was one of four children. The father died in 1900 and the mother is still living in the home place. The father was a blacksmith and he wrought at the forge until four or five years before his death.

Our subject was educated in the public schools of his native place, worked for his parents until he arrived at the estate of a young man, then married and went to farming. He continued steadily at this occupation until 1893, when he sold his stock and land and came west to Klickitat county, Washington. Three years were spent in that section and then he crossed the Co- lumbia river into Oregon and engaged himself for thirteen months with the sheepmen. The next move was to Kootenai county and the homestead spoken of above was selected and Mr. Hooker settled down.

In 1875 Mr. Hooker married Miss Miccry Ander- son, daughter of Dave Anderson, a native of North Carolina, and to them have been born three children :

Thomas, married and living in Kootenai county ; Lue, wife of Harry Corbett, in Klickitat county, Washing- ton ; Mary. wife of Jim Morris, in this county. Mr. Hooker is a firm Republican and labors actively in lo- cal matters for the principles of his party.

JOHN MCCUNE is one of the industrious and substantial farmers and stockmen of the county of Kootenai. living two miles east from Bonners Ferry, where he has a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which is practically all under cultivation and produces abundant crops of hay and grain. He han- dles considerable stock and is one of the leading wealth producers of his section.

John McCune was born in Monroe county, New York, on March 16, 1851, being the son of William and Mary (Taylor ) McCune, natives of New York. The father farmed there until his death in 1878. The mother removed to Ohio and there died in 1883, aged sixty-eight. John was educated in his native county, attending schools in the winter and working on the farm in the summers until he was fourteen and then he came west. He located in Minnesota and drove logs on the river for ten years and then he went to Leadville, Colorado, in 1876, where he mined and worked in the smelters for two years. In 1886 he came west to Spokane, Washington. He at once took a contract to make ties and for five years he wrought at this industry. It was 1891 that he came to Koot- enai county and he at once located his present land as a homestead. His father's family consisted of four children, as follows: James, married and living in Ohio; Mary, wife of William Everett, in New York; Sarah, wife of John Conklin, living in New York; John, the subject of this article.

In political matters Mr. McCune is allied with the Republicans and is very active in the affairs of the county and state. He is a member of the Methodist church. Mr. McCune is a real pioneer of this section and states that when he first came to this country that it was very wild, uninviting in many respects, but through the labors of the husbandmen and the stock- men, it has become to be a rich and attractive place.

It is of note that the father of our subject .enlisted in the One Hundred and Fifty-second Ohio Infantry, under Colonel Putnam and Captain Fuller. He was in the battle of Lynchburg and was mustered out on September 20. 1864.

JOHN H. DOBSON. No compilation that has within its province to grant representation to the leading men of Kootenai county would be complete were there failure to accord special representation to the esteemed gentleman and capable business man whose name initiates this paragraph.

John H. Dobson was born on August 28, 1870, be- ing the son of William and Mary (Garry) Dobson, natives, respectively, of New Jersey and New York.

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

They were married in 1869, Mrs. Dobson's parents be- ing Richard and Mary (Odennelo) Garry, natives of Ireland. In 1868 William Dobson came west to Col- orado across the plains. He had served in the Civil war as gunner on one of the men of war, participating in the battle of Fort Fisher. In Colorado he worked at his trade of carpentering in Denver, Central City and other places. It was 1879 that he came to the Coeur d'Alene country and with his partner, Tom Erwin, discovered the first gold in that section. He worked on and owned the Goldsmith, a property that sold later for fifty thousand dollars. Then he went to Anaconda, Montana, in 1884, remaining two years, when he returned to the Coeur d'Alene country. In 1892 he purchased a man's right to an eighty of un- surveyed land, which he improved in good shape and in 1902 he sold it to the subject of this article. In ad- dition to this piece John Dobson owns land to the amount of two hundred and forty acres, which is one of the finest farms in the entire county, being im- proved in a very excellent manner and producing many tons of hay and other fruits of the field. Mr. Dobson has sixty head of cattle and he handles from one to two hundred tons of hay annually.

Returning to the personal history of our subject, we note that he was born in Central City, Colorado, and that he received his first education in Plume, Col- orado. Later he went to Janesville, Wisconsin, and there was well educated. Returning to Colorado after this time of educational training was consummated he came with his parents to the west and three years were spent in the study of dentistry, under Dr. H. P. Wilcox, in Spokane. Then he came to Kootenai coun- ty and located where he now lives. He is one of the substantial and leading citizens of the county, being possessed of real worthy qualities and he is a man of influence and culture. He is a member of the Catholic church. It is of note that William Dobson was the first elected surveyor in Kootenai county, and instead of availing himself of the emoluments of the office he turned it to Judge Milder.

MRS. JAMES T. BALDWIN is one of the well known and highly respected citizens of Sandpoint, be- ing in charge of a stock raising and farming business. Mrs. Baldwin is the daughter of Andrew and Mary (Wilson) Lucas, natives of England. They came when young to America, locating in Cincinnati, Ohio, where the father conducted a wholesale leather store until the time of his death in 1872. The mother died in 1895. Mrs. Baldwin was born in 1840, February 22, and in addition to a public school education, she spent three years in a girls' seminary at Cincinnati. In 1855 occurred her marriage with Davis Evans, a horseman from Philadelphia. The next year they came to California via Panama and spent two years in San Francisco, then a move was made to Jacksonville, Ore- gon. Here Mrs. Baldwin experienced the terrors of the fierce Rogue river Indian war. With about thirty families she was cooped up in a fort for fear of the sav-

ages and the times were trying indeed. Many were killed and in 1865 she returned to San Francisco and there remained until 1881. In 1860 Mr. Evans was killed by the Indians and in 1865, Mrs. Evans married Mr. Baldwin. In 1881 they came to Sandpoint and Mr. Baldwin operated a stage and express line until 1890. Then he took a homestead and in 1895 he was called hence by death. Since that time, Mrs. Baldwin has conducted the farm and business and is now liv- ing in town. She owns the farm and about fifty head of stock, besides other property. By her former hus- band, Mrs. Baldwin has two children. Harry L., mar- ried and living in Sandpoint; Hattie M., deceased. Mrs. Baldwin is a member of the Episcopalian church and is a lady of excellent virtues and graces and is esteemed by all who know her.

FRANK A. DAVIS. Few men display more ac- tivity and stirring qualities than has the subject of this sketch, as he has wrought in all the important places of the west and has gained great experience in traveling and meeting persons engaged in the various industries in this western country and the middle states.

Frank A. Davis was born in Byron, Illinois, on February 6. 1866, being the son of J. C. and Julia ( Hall) Davis, natives, respectively, of England and Canada. The father came to America when he was ten and the mother to the United States when she was thirteen. They were the parents of six children ; the mother died in 1896, but the father is still living in Chicago, a retired farmer. Our subject received his elementary education from the schools of his native place and later completed his business training in a commercial college in Rockford, Illinois. Then he traveled to Minnesota and a short time later went to Michigan and in two years was back to his home. In 1890 he went to Oregon, returning from this trip to Illinois. Four months later he visited Oregon again, locating in the mining district adjacent to Baker City until the fall of 1891. Then six months were spent in southern Oregon on the coast. A visit to Seattle was made at this time and we next see Mr. Davis in east- ern Oregon again, and then in Rathdrum. In the spring of 1894 he went to British Columbia for one summer and then returned to the mines of the Baker City region. Next he visited in Portland, later was at Sacramento, California, and in three months from then was at Bisbee, Arizona. Three months there and he was off for New Mexico; he then returned to Ari- zona, visited New Mexico again and came thence to Colorado. Four months after that he was in Salt Lake City, Utah, whence he came to Pendleton and from there to the Coeur d'Alene country. We next see this industrious traveler in Anaconda, Montana, at Butte, in the Elkhorn mountains, then in Helena and finally he came back to the Coeur d'Alene mining district. But his journeys were not ended yet and he repaired to Pendleton, returning to Coeur d'Alene, whence he went to Sandon, British Columbia. After

MRS. JAMES T. BALDWIN.

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a year's sojourn there we find him in the Sound coun- try and later at Walla Walla. Portland was visited again and Baker City was then able to keep him one and one-half years. He gravitated to Spo- kane and in 1901 the fertile region three and one-half miles east from Bonners Ferry was able to capture this elusive explorer for a permanent citizen. He bought land and is dwelling in prosperity there now.

In 1899 Mr. Davis married Miss Lizzie, daughter of Thomas and Emma Huntington, both natives of England. No doubt this happy alliance led Mr. Davis to select his home place and settle down, and Koo- tenai county is to be congratulated in securing a good citizen and capable man.

WILLJAM H. BROWN. Among the sturdy men whose labors have opened up the rich sections of the west and especially portions of Kootenai county, the subject of this article is to be granted specific mention in the history of this county, and surely he is to be ac- credited with much worthy achievement. At the pres- ent time Mr. Brown is living on his farm, one mile west from Copeland, which is utilized as a hay ranch and also in addition to this he is giving attention to mining, having three claims that are considered good.

William H. Brown was born in Rochester, New York, on April 8, 1858, being the son of Edward and Sarah Brown. His mother died when he was born and he was raised by his grandmother. His father was a native of England and his mother of New York. Her grandfather Green was a captain in the Revolution, under General Stark, and one time, finding his barn filled with red coats, he fired it, being determined to fight for country rather than preserve private property. The grandfather Murdock of our subject was a soldier in the war of 1812 and lost one limb in the struggle. William H. was schooled at the Orphans' Home in Canandagua, New York, and when he became twelve years of age he preferred the freedom of the world to his grandmother's tuition and therefore started out alone. He drove on the Erie canal, worked on the adjacent farms and in this vigorous way spent the years until young manhood. In 1874 he went to Michigan and three years later went to Iowa. He mined in the Black Hills, Dakota, worked in the woods in Minnesota and in 1886 came to Spokane. He rail- roaded for McCoy as foreman, having previously worked for Signer, handling five yoke of oxen. He went to California for one year, then returned to Spo- kane and during the chloride excitement on Lake Pend Oreille he gave his attention to prospecting. Then he steamboated on the lake and in 1891 operated a boat for the Great Northern on the Kootenai. The next move was to the Cascades and later he was again in California, where he worked for the Arrow Lake Company and also operated at Prescott, Arizona. In J893 he was at the World's Fair in Chicago and thence came to Bonners Ferry. He then settled on his home- stead and to the improvement of that and to mining he has devoted his energies ever since.

Thuts it will be seen that Mr. Brown has done a lion's share in the good work of developing this west- ern country and is a man of courage, ability and has the true qualities of the pioneer, and in the life of the frontiersman he finds the sweet charm that always lures him to its enjoyment.

LOUIS AMERMAN. At the present time this gentleman is operating a dairy and doing general farm- ing, being one of the substantial men of the county and a patriotic and good citizen. He was born in Bay City, Michigan, on July 8, 1868, being the son of Thomas and Rosetta ( Janes) Amerman, natives of Canada. They came to this country in 1860, locating in Michigan. The father was a mill man. The mother died in New York in 1872 and the father came to Canada, west, in 1879, locating in Moosomin. In 1890 he came to Bonners Ferry, where he died in 1900. Louis received a common school education and at the age of seventeen stepped forth for himself in the realities of life. He worked on a farm for wages for two years in Canada and then rode the range for two years. He then returned to Canada and remained there for two years and in 1800 he came to Bonners Ferry. He was in the employ of his brother-in-law for one year here, in a butcher shop. Then he went to Manitoba and in 1801 he came again to Bonners Ferry. He took a homestead and went to logging. In 1902 he purchased eight cows and started a dairy. He is doing well in this last venture and is improving his place.

In 1893 Mr. Amerman married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Isaiah and Elizabeth ( Brentnall) Causton, natives of England, mention of whom is made in an- other portion of this work. To Mr. and Mrs. Amer- man there have been born four children, named as follows: Everilda, deceased, Violet J., Thomas G. and Frederick, all natives of the United States. In political matters Mr. Amerman is allied with the Re- publican party and he always evinces a marked inter- est in the affairs of local moment. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Utopia Lodge, No. 36, and also of the M. W. A., North Star Lodge, No. 6. Mrs. Amerman is a member of the Rebekahs, Loyal Lodge, No. 43.

GEORGE FRY. If the accounts of the life of Daniel Boone were interesting to the people of this country, surely an epitome of the subject of this arti- cle in his pioneer life as also the labors and adven- tures of his father would be intensely interesting, and it is with regret that we are not favored more with the details of his career, that we might embody the same in the history of the county.

George Fry was born on March 2, 1862, in Marcus, Washington, being the son of Richard and Justina ( Hang) Fry. There were twelve children in the fam- ily and eight of them are still living. The father was one of the most intrepid and sturdy pioneers and In-

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dian traders that ever set foot in this western country. He wrought and traded and traveled all over the north- west of this country and he has done much for the cause of civilization in opening the way for others to follow. It was in 1876 that he came to the Kootenai valley and there traded with the Indians, buying furs and handling a pack train. He operated a pack train from Pend Oreille lake to Fort Steele from 1870 to 1880. He bought the ferry across the Kootenai when he first came to the country and operated it for six- teen years. He freighted from Pend Oreille to Bon- ners Ferry also, and handled furs out and brought supplies back, taking as high as five and six thou- sand pelts out at one time. Richard Fry married in 1858 and in 1888 he bought a quarter seetion, where the family now live, two miles west from Bonners Ferry. He died in 1897, full of days and having made a worthy reeord in pioneer achievements. The widow still lives on the home place with three of her children.

Reverting to the personal history of the immediate subject of this article, we note that he was brought up in Mareus and other frontier places and so was but little favored with opportunity to gain an education. He always accompanied his father on his long and arduous trips when he became old enough. He eould tell of many thrilling escapes from wild animals, hav- ing been penned in trees and so forth by them. He has suffered the trying ordeals of many trips over the mountains in the dead of winter, often sleeping on the snow, which was thirty feet deep. All the hardships known to the pioneer and frontiersman have been ex- perienced by our subject and now he is one of the capable, industrious and thrifty farmers of Kootenai county.

He was married in 1880 to Kate Burloin Dang, and one child. Robert, has been born to them.

DAVID K. SMITH. This gentleman is one of the carly pioneers in Harrison and he has been a constant resident of the town sinee the date of his arrival, being now one of the respected and well known business men of the town. He was born in Fountain county, Indiana, on August 18, 1845. The father died when he was very young and the mother when he was fourteen years old. He gained his education by attending the common schools and working for his board, receiving three months schooling each year. He labored on the farms adjacent to his native place and in February, 1865, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Fiftieth In- diana, Company I. He was in the Shenandoah valley and served until the close of the war, being honorably discharged on August 17. 1865. He returned to his old home in Indiana and in the fall of 1866, he went to Fort Seott, Kansas and there followed various call- ings until the spring of 1874, when he went to Denver, Colorado, and there lived until 1888. Then he came to Latah, in Washington, purchased railroad land and gave his attention to its improvement until the spring of 1892, when he sold it and came to Harrison. He

immediately took up draying, being the first one to do any dray work in the town and for four years he was without opposition. Mr. Smith has done a good busi- ness and has some fine business property that is a good dividend produeer. Mr. Smith is still operating a good dray line and does a thriving business. He is one of the substantial men of the town, a good eitizen and re- spected by all. Mr. Smith belongs to the Redmen and to the Union and is a charter member of the Macca- bees, Harrison Tent No. 5, which is the banner tent of. the state.

EDWIN DOUST is well known, highly respected and recognized as one of the eapable business men and substantial agriculturists of Kootenai county, where he has wrought as a millwright and contractor in addi- tion to his labors on his fine farm.

Edwin Doust was born in Onondaga county, New York, on January 12, 1850, being the son of Una and Elizabeth (Heath) Doust, natives of England. They came to this country in 1845, farmed eight years in New York, where our subjeet was born, then returned to England to look after an estate and there died in 1873. Edwin was educated in this country and in England and at the age of thirteen he shipped on the Paraguay as ship earpenter and did faithful duty for six years. On April 26, 1869, he landed in New York and went thenee to Syraeuse to visit a brother. Two years were spent there and he married during this time. In 1872 he went to St. Louis and for five years labored at his trade there. In 1877 he went to Leadville, Col- orado, and mined and built mills until 1883. Then he came to the Coeur d'Alene country and soon returned to Leadville, whenee he traveled in Mexico and in 1887 came to Washington. A year later he returned to Colorado and in the fall of 1889 he came to Idaho and sinee that time he has remained here.

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An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 205

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