An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 208

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 208
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 208
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 208
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 208

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bellished with fine buildings and all comforts of a rural abode.

In politics, Mr. Ross is active and influential. He cast a vote for Fremont, his first ballot, and since that time he has been closely identified with the Republi- can party. He has frequently been offered official po- sitions but constantly refuses, with the exception of school directors, where he labors for the advancement of educational facilities.

In 1862 Mr. Ross married Miss Susan A., daugh- ter of Steven and Mary (Mann) Terhune. The father was a local Methodist preacher, but would never accept a circuit. He was a native of Kentucky and came to Iowa in 1851, to Missouri in 1863, and to Kansas in 1870, where both he and his wife died. To Mr. Ross and his estimable wife there have been twelve chil- dren born, ten of whom are now living, named as fol- lows : Stanton D. L., married and living in this county ; Emma, wife of Jacob Rego, in Kittitas county, Wash- ington; Nora, wife of Benjamin Carder, in Union county, Oregon; Susa, wife of Benjamin Stockwell, in this county; Naomi, wife of Freeman Luddington, in this county ; William, widower, in this county : Osee, wife of Stephen Steward, in Ellensburg, Washington ; Effie, wife of William Royce, in Rathdrum: Robert, inarried to Rosania Newsom, in Spokane: Bessie, at home.

PERCY J. BENNETT is a well known and in- fluential man in Kootenai county, having been active in political matters and ever on the side of improving the affairs of government and in upbuilding the county in general. He is at present and has been for twelve years in charge of the section running east from Athol on the Northern Pacific, while also he owns a farm, a part of which he has platted into town lots, at Athol. He is active in school matters and also is a regular delegate to the county conventions, where his wisdom and good counsel are approved.

Percy J. Bennett was born in Ashton, Illinois, on June 12, 1859, being the son of Samuel and Harriet (Cantelo) Bennett, natives of England and the Isle of Wight, respectively. They came to the United States in 1856 and settled in Ashton, Illinois, remaining there until 1871, and leaving on the night of the Chicago fire for Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In 1879 they moved to Colo- rado and in 1880 they came to Church Butte, Utah, and in 1889, they came to their present place in Athol. The father now has charge of the section west from Athol and is about seventy years of age. Our subject received his education in the various places where the family lived and when he was nineteen he went to breaking on the railroad. He operated out of Trini- dad for three years, then out of Chicago for one year and then Denver, Colorado, was his headquarters for two years. The next move was to open a store in Or- chard, where he did well for a period of three years. After that Mr. Bennett freighted in the Rockies until

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1890, when he came to Athol and since that time he has been here, giving his attention to the management of the section and also to handling his farm.

In 1896 Mr. Bennett married Miss Mary E., daugh- ter of S. T. and Mary (Ludwig) Wilburn, natives of Maryland and Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Ludwig were married in Maryland, then went to West Virginia, later were in Arkansas and then came to Colville, Washing- ton, where they reside now. The father is aged sixty- nine and the mother fifty-eight. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bennett, Frank C. and Louis J. Mr. Bennett is a Democrat and active in the support of his belief. He is a charter member of the M. W. A., Lodge No. 8388, at Athol; also of the I. O. O. F., Pine Lodge No. 75, at Athol; also of the I. of P., Panhandle Lodge No. 13, in Rathdrum, while his wife is a member of the Rebekahis, Evergreen Lodge No. 51. They are members of the Methodist church. Mr. Bennett is well respected, has displayed commendable wisdom in his affairs and is a man worthy to receive the confidence and esteem of all.

JOHN FERNAN. This venerable and worthy citizen and early pioneer to Kootenai county is now one of the respected citizens of Coeur d'Alene and a man in whom safely is reposed the confidence of the people and who justly receives approbation for his worthy and upright walk in this country, while he is at the present time entrusted by the government with the oversight of the buildings in the post at Coeur d'Alene.

Mr. Fernan was born in Elkton, Maryland, on May 15, 1846, being the son of John and Mary (Cruthers) Fernan, natives also of Maryland, where they re- mained until the time of their death. John was edu- cated in the public schools, and at the tender age of fifteen, he was found enlisting in Company G, Sixth Maryland Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel J. C. Hill. His first battle was at Winchester, where he was cap- tured and sent to languish in Libby prison. Later he was sent to Bell Island and after seven months was ex- changed and sent to his regiment. The next engage- ment was the awful battle of the Wilderness, and there he was wounded and lay in the hospital seven months. After this, he again joined his regiment and fought in the final series of battles that closed the ter- rible struggle. Then he was mustered ont at Wash- ington, D. C. He straightway re-enlisted and served in the regular army for ten years. During this period he came west in 1878 with the Second Infantry, and in 1880 he was honorably discharged on account of clisability, at Coeur d'Alene. He took a homestead on what was nanied from him Fernan lake, and set to make a delightful abode. This was done in a very successful manner, for he had one of the most charming resi- dences in the entire county. He had a goodly portion under cultivation, planted a fine orchard and in Janu-

ary, 1902, he sold the entire property. Since that time, he has been living in Coeur d'Alene.

In 1872 Mr. Fernan married Miss Mary Presley. Her parents, William and Mary ( Walker) Presley, were natives of Georgia, where they remained until death, the mother being buried at Atlanta and the father sleeps at Douglas. To our worthy subject and his estimable wife, there have been born seven chil- dren, named as follows: Minnie E., wife of George Ege, living near Fernan lake; John M., in Wardner ; Arthur, Frank D., Kate, wife of F. B. Swafford, in this county ; Jessie, and Amy. Mr. Fernan was appointed by the commissioners the first sheriff of this county but refused to serve. He was elected the following term. He is a member of the G. A. R., McReynolds Post, No. 19. Mrs. Fernan is a member of the Pres- byterian church and assisted to organize' the local body here. Mr. Fernan is one of the highly respected citizens of the county and is an influential and public minded man.

WILLIAM H. CLELAND. A man of stirring activity, with fine executive ability and practical in- sight into affairs of life, while he is dominated by a dauntless and upright spirit, the subject of this article is a man of worth and good standing and is emi- nently entitled to representation in his county's his- tory. William H. was born in South Mountain, On- tario, Canada, on October 30, 1853, being the son of John and Julia C. (Bowen) Cleland, natives of Can- ada, but immigrants to the United States in 1871, where they located in Rice county, Minnesota, and bought a farm of four hundred and seventy-nine acres. He was one of the leading and prominent agricul- turists of that stection. He died at the age of sixty- four and is buried in Northfield cemetery. The mother died at Dundas in 1901. Our subject was well educated, and at eighteen quit school and worked with his father until twenty-seven. Then he bought a quarter section in Lyon county and farmed until 1883, when he came to Spokane. He scored timbers for a bridge and then went to carpentering for F. Post, of Postfalls. He assisted to build the Postfalls inill, freighted from there to Spokane, built a saw inill for Mr. Post, operated the mill the next year, and in 1886 he went back to visit his parents. The next spring we find him west again driving a brewery wagon to Postfalls and Coeur d'Alene from Rath- drum. Three years later, in 1890, he went back to Minnesota and took charge of his father's farm, his health having failed. Two years were spent there and then he settled the estate and came west again, leaving the mother and two younger brothers in Dun- das. He came to Rathdrum and in 1893 opened a livery stable in Rathdrum, also a horse market, as he buys and sells many head of stock. He has a well appointed stable and furnishes rigs of all kinds with safe and good horses, and his business ability has been manifest in his success.

On January 1, 1900, Mr. Cleland married Miss

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

Mary L. Gill, daughter of John and Malinda Gill, natives of Tennessee, but immigrants to Missouri and thence to Washington. The father has passed away but the mother still lives in Rathdrum. Mr. Cleland was one of seven brothers and five sisters, some of whom are mentioned: Elizabeth, deceased ; John G., in Portland, Oregon; Kate, married to J. S. Woolery, in Rathdrum: Dave and Dan, twins, the former living in Coeur d'Alene, the latter in Tulare, California ; Peter, having charge of the block system on the railroad; Charley, on a farm in Rice county ; Andrean, on the old homestead in Minne- sota. Mr. Cleland affiliates with the K. of P., Pan- handle Lodge, No. 13, and with the Rathbone Sis- ters ; also with the M. W. of A., No. 6843; and the F. O. A., No. 14; and the I. O. O. F., No. 73. He and his wife are members of the Episcopalian church, and Mrs. Cleland is a member of the R. N. of A.

JOSEPH POIRIER. The excellent ability and wisdom of this gentleman, manifested in various ways, which have given him an unbounded success in the financial world, also his industry and vigorous prose- cution of business, will be manifested from the ap- pended review of his career, and it reflects great credit upon him. He was born in Sant Jant Bap- tiste, Canada, on June 8, 1852, being the son of Ed- ward and Dorothy ( Wilcott) Poirier, natives of Can- ada, where the father now lives. The mother died in 1872, being buried in the Catholic cemetery of Sant Jant Baptiste. The following are members of the family : Edward, John, Dorothy, deceased ; Madule, Arthur, Louise, Albene, Israel, Louis, Maderise, Ec- tor and the subject of this sketch. Joseph grew to manhood in his native place, and his schooling was scant, as he always preferred the harness of manual labor to study. He put his time to good use in acquiring various mechanical knowledge, which has made him many a dollar since. It was 1876 that he came to Alden, Freeborn county, Minnesota, and set- tled to farming. In Fairbault county he started a blacksmith shop in connection with his farm, having picked this trade up in his youthful days. Three years later he shipped from St. Paul to Bozeman, Montana, the terminus of the road, then unloaded his goods and drove to Horse Plains, and shipped thence to Rathdrum. He has been here since that time with the exception of a period when he took a pre-emption in the Big Bend country, which property he sold later. In 1884 he built a blacksmith shop and has conducted it since, adding a plumbing shop and also doing a general contracting business. He has four hundred and eighty acres of timber and agricultural land, owns thirty lots and seven dwellings in Rathdrum, forty acres of land on Priest river, two business blocks in Rathdrum, and property in Postfalls, while he is erecting an elegant brick residence at a cost of three thousand dollars. Mr. Poirier is one of the wealthiest men of the city.

In 1893 he married Miss Eugenie, daughter of

Meddaugh and Amelia Amom, natives of Canada. where the mother lives, the father having died many years since. To Mr. and Mrs. Poirier one child has been born, Romeo, now attending school. We also note that Mr. Poirier and his wife each own a share in the Rathdrum Water Power Company, valued at one thousand dollars per share. He is manager, col- lector and vice president of this company, and is one of the most thorough and capable business men of the city. Mr. Poirier is a member of the K. O. T. M., and carries three thousand dollars in the F. O. A. He and his wife are members of the Roman Catholic church.

JOHN CRENSHAW. Among the leading men of Rathdrum is the gentleman of whom we now speak, being a real estate dealer, in which line he has manifested great activity and skill, buying and selling for himself as well as on commission, while also he handles a large dairy farm and superintends a gen- eral farming business.

Mr. Crenshaw was born in Waldron, Arkansas, on October 23, 1857, being the son of Overton and Har- riett (Boltenhouse) Crenshaw, natives of Illinois. The mother died in Lakeport, California, being buried there, and the father is still living in Arkansas, aged eighty years. Our subject went to California with his parents when six months of age, and there in the common schools he studied, finishing his education in the Healdsburg Academy. He was nine when his mother died, and he became self-supporting at that early age. At eighteen he bought an outfit and freight- ed. It was in 1879 when he came to Dayton, Wash- ington, and one year later left on account of failure of crops. He took a timber claim in Washington, and in 1880 he took a homestead in the vicinity of Rathdrum. Seven years he lived on the homestead and then sold it. He went to Minnesota, bought a farm, but soon returned to Rathdrum. He bought a farm one-half mile from the town, which is his family home now. He improved with good buildings and added a half section more, which he sold, however, later. He bought a section near Hauser and sold it in 1902. He now owns four lots in Spokane, a num- ber of lots in Postfalls, with some dwellings, and does a general real estate business. He has forty cat- tle and twenty-seven are milch cows. He owns twenty acres south from Rathdrum that is being put to fruit.

In 1890 Mr. Crenshaw married Miss Cora, daugh- ter of Robert and Mary J. (Hicks) Borthwick, na- tives, respectively, of Prince Edward Island and Min- nesota. To Mr. and Mrs. Creshaw have been born six children : Jesse H., Nellie H., Francis M., Robert O., Herbert R. and Mary A. Mr. Crenshaw takes an active part in politics, being allied with the Demo- cratic party, and he has been delegate to many con- ventions. He was nominated for county commis- sioner in 1896, but as the county is Republican. he was beaten, yet only by sixty votes. He is a mem- ber of the A. H. T. A. He is also a member of the

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Christian church, and his wife is affiliated with the First Day Adventists. Mr. Crenshaw is interested in mining in Montana and has some excellent claims in the Saltese district, which show fine values.

ARTHUR H. GRAHAM. About three miles southwest from Athol is situated the estate of the sub- ject of this article, and he has the generous proportions of two hundred and forty acres of good land, which he is tilling, having sufficient stock for it and good improvements. Mr. Graham is a man of energy and industry, and one of the enterprising and substantial citizens of Kootenai county. He was born in Craw- ford county, Wisconsin, on April 23, 1858, being the son of John H. and Annie (Dibble) Grahanı, natives, respectively, of Scotland and Ohio. The mother died int Livingston county, Michigan, and is buried in Hartland, while the father is still living in Ashland, Wisconsin, aged seventy-two. Mr. Graham has two sisters : Ella, widow of Willie Brand, and living in Two Harbors, Minnesota; Jennie, wife of Charles Rorbach, living in South Lyons, Michigan. Our sub- ject gained his schooling in the places where the par- ents lived, and at fourteen started for himself. He worked on the farm in summers and went to the pin- eries in the winters, contimming this for six years. In 1878 he came to Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, old Mexico, and mined, and then returned to the mines of Wisconsin on Lake Superior. It was 1888 when he came to Kootenai and wrought in the tie camp for a time and then took a homestead, where he now lives, having added more by purchase.

In 1890 MIr. Graham married Miss Laura, daugh- ter of Milo Farnsworth, a native of Scotland. The mother died in Las Vegas, New Mexico, in 1875, but the father still lives here, having been an immigrant in 1855. To Mr. and Mrs. Graham have been born five children : Charles H., Laura G., Frank E., Arthur, and Florence MI. Mr. Graham affiliates with the I. O. O. F., Pine Lodge, No. 75; with the Rebekahs, Evergreen Lodge, No. 51; and with the M. W. of A., Athol Camp, No. 8388. Mrs. Graham is a mem- ber of the Rebekahs.

LOUIS E. EILERT. The career of this well known citizen has been active, enterprising, and pro- ductive of a fine fortune, which he is enjoying and handling now in a becoming manner. He is proprietor of a retail liquor store and carries a good stock of choice wines and tobaccos, while he also devotes miich attention to mining, having properties in Buffalo Hump and in the Saltese and Hayden lake districts. and then he finds time to attend to a large hay farm, besides other business.

Our subject was born in Hanover, Germany, on April 5. 1851, being the son of Ernest and Mary Eilert, both natives of Germany. They came to

America on the ship Great Eastern in 1852, and set- tled in Waukasha county, Wisconsin. The mother died at sea, but the father died in 1886, and is buried in Waukesha cemetery, Wisconsin. Our sub- ject had but three months' schooling in his life, half in the English and half in the German. He assisted his father on the farm until fifteen and then went to work for himself, going to San Fran- visco, via the Isthmus, and thence to Nevada, where he worked in a quartz mill for four years. Then he went to Virginia City, Nevada, and mined for two years, after which we find him making timbers in the redwood forests of California. It was 1880 that he came to Spokane and thence soon to Rathdrum, where he built a store and hotel, which he operated for two years, and then lost the entire property by the pressure of the hard times, but he had the satis- faction of paying every dollar that he owed in the world. Then he took a homestead, which he sold two years later. His next move was to build in Rathdrum, and start his present business, wherein he has con- tinued with success since that time. His farm con- sists of one-quarter section and a half interest in two hundred acres. In 1889 Mr. Eilert took a trip to Nome and remained for four months prospecting, and as he did not discover anything that was valuable, he returned. The trip was attended with much hard- ship, but also it was enjoyable to so rugged and ad- venturous a person as our subject.

In 1882 Mr. Eilert married Miss Abby Brad- berg, a native of Canada. Politically Mr. Eilert is allied with the Democratic party and is active. He is a member of the K. of P. and of the F. O. A., and a popular man of good standing.

LYMAN F. MARKHAM is one of the earliest settlers in Kootenai county and has constantly striven for its advancement and development since those early days, being a man of energy, enterprise, and execu- tive force, while the keen wisdom, uprightness, and sound principles, which have dominated him in his career, are of the highest order, and he stands today one of the foremost men in that portion of the county where he is domiciled.

Lyman F. Markham was born in Knox county, Illinois, on August 9, 1845, being the son of Simon S. and Cynthia (Fry) Markham, natives of Ohio and New York respectively. They crossed the plains in 1848 to Albany, Oregon, and there remained for twenty vears. A move was then made to Washington and later they repaired to Forest Grove, where the father died in 1899, aged eighty years. The mother, who is in her eightieth year, is still living there. Our subject remembers a birthday anniversary he had while cross- ing the plain, also remembers the herd of buffalo which they encountered and Joe Meek, who was on his way to Washington. as representative from Oregon. Lyman F. was educated in Albany, remained with his father until twenty-one. then farmed for a couple of years, af-

LYMAN F. MARKHAM.

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

ter which he went to Gray's Harbor and taught school for a term. Next we see him in the stock business, which he successfully followed for a decade and in 1880 Mr. Markham came to Kootenai county. He settled on unsurveyed land and for two years traded with the Indians and then opened his present place, which lies about one mile east from Laclede. The place is provided with fine barn, house, orchard, and all other improvements that could be suggested for the benefit of the estate, and Mr. Markham cuts about one hundred and fifty tons of hay annually, handles about one hundred head of cattle and is one of the leading men in the stock industry in this section. For four- teen years he was postmaster and only resigned when Laclede started up. He has been committeeman in his precinct since its organization and has also served on the school board since the district opened up.

On August 4. 1901, Mr. Markham married Lucy J., daughter of Elias B. and Nancy J. Edwards, who settled in Indiana in early days and died in 1891. Mr. Markham is a stanch Jeffersonian Democrat and a man with the courage of his convictions and the ability to propound the principles which he holds. Mr. Mark- ham is a charter member of the F. A. at Priest River, Court No. 18. He and his wife are members of the Christian church and are highly respected people of real worth of character, while they have hosts of friends in every section.

SIMON BECK. To this skilled and expert me- chanic and well known and popular citizen and suc- cessful business man, whose life is one of virtue and sound principles, we are constrained to grant consid- eration among the other pioneers of Kootenai county. since he has wrought for the advancement and up- building of the country with a firm hand and mani- festation of wisdom that won for him the approba- tion of the people and a generous competence for him- self. Mr. Beck was born in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, on August 2, 1850, being the son of Wilson and Mary M. (Snyder) Beck, natives of Pennsylvania. The father died in 1897, and is buried in Centre county, Pennsylvania, but the mother is still living. Simon was educated in the common schools and at the age of fourteen took up the millwright trade, finishing the same in two years. At the age of nineteen he took up the blacksmith and wagon makers trades and learned them perfectly, thus accomplishing a fine showing in the mechanical line. He then started a shop for himself. continuing the same for one and one-half years, after which he rented for one year and he and his brother bought his uncle's shop. After two years we find him in northern Michigan, where he worked a short time carpentering, then did blacksmithing. The next move was to Grant county, Wisconsin, where he operated a blacksmith shop for one year, after which he worked in a repair shop and also started one of his own for a time. Then Mr. Beck came to Rathdrum opened a shop and two years later he built a large shop, where he is doing business at the present time. In addition to this, he does plumbing and also oper-

ates a first-class undertaking establishment. He has the only hearse in the county, one that he made with his own hands, and it is a fine piece of workmanship. Mr. Beck is doing a large business and he manifests commendable wisdom in overseeing it and carrying it 011.

The marriage of Mr. Beck and Miss Mary E., daughter of Ephraim and Hanna Boger, was solemn- ized in 1874. Mr. Boger was killed thirty-five years since, but Mrs. Boger lives in Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Beck have become the parents of seven chil- dren, four of whom are still living, Arthur, married to Martha Marte, living at Priest River, Idaho : Rufus S .; Iva M., wife of John Sheffield, living in Rathdrum; Lola E., single, at home. Mr. Beck is affiliated with the M. W. A., K. O. T. M., and I. O. O. F. He and his wife are members of the Advent church. In 1898 Mr. Beck was elected mayor of Rathdrum on the Re- publican ticket against W. A. Hart, and in 1900 he was reelected against M. D. Wright, Democrat, by a large majority. He has given a good administration and is very popular with the people because of his faithful- ness, his uprightness, his sound principles and imparti- ality.

CHARLES W. WOOD is among the very earliest pioneers of this country and surely one of the most worthy ones, having manifested in a long life of pion- eer experiences, hardiness, energy, uprightness, cour- age and marked ability in all his relations, and dis- playing calmness, fortitude and true grit in all scenes of danger, not a few of which have beset his stirring career. In addition to this general outline, we wish to more particularly detail his interesting life and we note that Charles W. was born on May 14, 1843, in Ogdensburg, New York, being the son of Charles and Hanna Wood, both natives of Ireland, which ac- counts for the stirring spirit of our subject. The par- ents migrated to New York, met in that state and were married and in 1849 came to Illinois. The mother died shortly after this and the father in 1866, both buried at Lighthouse, Ogle county, Illinois. Charles W. received his education in Ogle county before he was thirteen years of age. Then he went to Omaha with V. W. Parker and at once was engaged on the stage route to Salt Lake City, called then the overland route. He worked three years and then drove for ten years, on all parts of the line, being an expert and vig- orous yet careful hand in the business. In 1868 he drove stage in Montana, continuing the same until 1871. Then he came to Walla Walla and took a po- sition on the pony express to Missoula, having, how- ever, spent one winter in Spokane, where the C. and C. Mill now stands. He continued on the pony express until 1875 and then bought horses and sheep on the Touchet river in Washington. In 1876 Mr. Wood brought sheep to the Spokane valley and bought a farm where Rathdrum now stands. He had also horses. Mr. Wood platted the land and sold to the citizens and still has two hundred and forty acres adjoining · the city. He handled stock on a large scale for a long

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An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 208

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