An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 212

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 212
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 212
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 212
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 212

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).

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

took his present place as a preemption, eight miles north from Coeur d'Alene. He has improved it in a becoming manner, has a good portion cultivated and is prosperous. Mr. Gleeson was chairman of the Farm- ers' Alliance from 1889 to 1891 and he is popular among the residents of his section and has always put himself on record for the advancement of the interests ot the county. Mr. Gleeson is a member of the Roman Catholic church and he is a man of reliability, carries the stirring spirit of his race and the good qualities imbibed in the far away Emerald Isle birthplace, be- ing genial, affable, a man of sparkling wit and good practical judgment.

JESSE DENISON. To the industrious agricult- urists of Kootenai county there is much credit for the opening up of this country and one among the number who (leserves a goodly share of the encomium is named above. Mr. Denison is a native of Allamakee county, Iowa, being born on November 20, 1859, to Nathan and Mary J. (Lusk) Denison, natives of New York and Pennsylvania, respectively. They were early pio- neers to Allamakee county and farmed there for thirty years, being buried in Mt. Hope cemetery there now. Jesse was educated in the schools of that place and at the age of eighteen took charge of his father's farm, continuing the same until twenty-two. Then he came west, Spokane being the objective point. Later we see him on the California ranch and soon thereafter he was in Cocolalla, then in Granite for five years. Then in Kootenai county he took a squatter's right and five years later sold it and moved to Rathdrum. He clerked for John Russell, then railroaded a time and contracted wood and then went to Montana and took charge of a section on the railroad, after which he re- turned to Rathdrum and took his present place, three miles south and four miles east from that town. He had bought a quarter in the hard times, but was not able to hold it. He now has a fine farm, all under culti- vation and producing good returns, stock enough to operate it well, a good house and barn and is doing well.

In 1881 Mr. Denison married Miss Fannie Maher. whose parents were natives of Ireland and came to America when young, and to this happy union five children have been born: William, Mary, James, Frank, Rosa. Mr. Denison is one of the directors in his school district and has been road supervisor for a time. In politics he is allied with the Democratic party and takes an active hand in the affairs of the county and of politics in general. He is a member of the M. W. A., Rathdrum Camp, No. 6448. In church relations Mr. Denison is affiliated with the Roman Catholics.

SYLVESTER MILLER. About six miles north- west from Coeur d'Alene is the residence of the gentle- man whose life's career is to be epitomized for the volume of his county's history. Mr. Miller is a man

of good stanch character, is an enterprising farmer and has established himself in the esteem and good will of his fellows. He was born in Fayette, Ohio, on Octo- ber 22, 1873. being the son of Matthias and Clara C. (Spencer ) Miller, natives, respectively, of New Jersey and Ohio. They came west in 1881, locating in Day- ton, Washington, and thence in the following year to Kootenai county, where the father did freighting from Rathdrum to Coeur d'Alene and in 1884 bought a man's right to a homestead and settled there until 1897, moving to Coeur d'Alene, where he died in 1899. March 3Ist. The mother had died in 1888 and both are buried in the Coeur d'Alene cemetery. Our subject received but little opportunity of gaining an educa- tion on account of the many moves that the family made. However, he improved his opportunities and fortified himself as best he could for the bat- tle of life. At sixteen he quit school altogether and assisted his father, remaining with him all the time. In 1897. when the father removed to Coeur d'Alene. Sylvester remained on the farm and has continued there since in cultivation of the same.

In 1893 occurred the marriage of Mr. Miller and Miss Anna, daughter of John and Arreka Snyder, na- tives of Germany. They came to America and located in Kootenai county, later removing to Coeur d'Alene, where Mr. Snyder is now marshal of the town. Mr. Miller has one brother, Gilbert, living in Coeur d'Alene. He also has one sister, Alta, wife of George Childers, in Coeur d'Alene. In politics Mr. Miller is Republican and manifests an intelligent interest in the affairs of the county and state. He has shown himself faithful and capable and is in good standing among all who know him.

ALFORD W. HUDLOW. For a number of years this gentleman has labored in Kootenai county and is now located on a quarter ten miles east from Rath- drum, where he has a comfortable place. He is a man well esteemed by his fellows and has maintained a clean reputation. Alford W. was born in Dawson county, Georgia, in August, 1849, where he received his educational training from the common schools. His parents, W. B. and Margret ( Williams) Hud- low, were natives of Georgia. In 1885 they came west and located in Rockford, Washington, and on Decem- ber 31, 1894, the father died, being buried on Janu- ary 2, 1895, while the mother still lives on Pleas- ant prairie, Washington. At the age of nineteen Al- ford W. started for himself. He took a claim and soon sold and removed to Missouri, where he home- steaded one hundred and forty-seven acres, and ten years after his advent there he sold and came to Rock- ford, Washington. One year there and he went back to Missouri, where two years were spent. Another move was made to Rockford and then he made his way to Rathdrum, where he has been since with the exception of one year spent in Oregon. He is located in the vicinity of Hayden lake, has a comfortable home and handles timber products in connection with general farming.

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

In 1869 Mr. Hudlow married Miss Rode C., daughter of Isaac Garoutte, a native of New Jersey. To this union there have been born the following chil- dren : Mark, married to Sada Burch, in Kootenai county ; Laura. wife of Silas Evan, in Spokane coun- ty, Washington : Mat, married to George Grates, in Spokane; Benman, single: Rus, married to Ida Jes- tus, in this county ; Rufus, Ruby and Pearl.

JAMES A. COLMAN. In the course of the com- pilation of the history of Kootenai county it becomes our pleasant duty to review the salient points in the career of the gentleman whose name appears above. He is a substantial citizen, public minded and of a pro- gressive turn and has had considerable experience in various lines in the county.

James A. was born in Roane county, Tennessee, on October 14, 1869. His parents, Brice and Eliza (John- son) Colman, were natives of the same state. The mother died in 1882. The father came west in 1886 to Kootenai county and now lives seven miles east from Rathdrum and is one of the leading farmers of the community. In Kansas our subject received his education and at the age of seventeen came west to join his father. He worked in a saw mill for a time, then bought a team and hauled ties for five years. He then took a homestead, where he is now located, ten miles east from Rathdrum. He has built a house and barn, fenced a portion and cultivates some but gives his attention to the timber products mostly. He has an admirable place for a fish hatching establish- ment and intends to start a trout farm.

In 1895 Mr. Colman married Miss Nellie B., daughter of Albert H. and Ellen (Graham) Dingman, natives of Indiana, who crossed the plains and located in Latah county and later came to Kootenai county, but now live in Oregon. To Mr. and Mrs. Colman have been born three children, named as follows: Amos B., Clara A., Lottie. Mr. Colman is an enter- prising, public spirited citizen and takes great interest in the welfare of the county and is a zealous worker in the Republican fold. He is ever allied with that which is for advancement and betterment.

CARL NILSON. Although Mr. Nilson has not been in Kootenai county so long as some of the pio- neers, still he has made a good showing and is estab- lished here as one of the real builders of the county, having put forth the industry and thrift that charac- terize his race, being also a man to whom people readily give confidence and of which he is deserving. He was born in Varmlan, Sweden, on October 10, 1865, being the son of Nils and Johanna ( Anderson) Nilson, natives also of Sweden. He received his ed- ucational training in his native land and at the age of sixteen went to work on a farm and then went to Nor- way and labored on the road. His father was taken sick and he returned to take his place on the farm,

where he labored nine months and then went to Nor- way. One year later he was in America and located first in Calhoun county, Iowa. He worked two years and then came to Sioux City, Iowa. In 1889 we find him in Spokane, Washington, where he labored for five months, then he returned to Iowa, laboring there for seven years. Then he went to Sweden to bring his mother to this country. He returned to Iowa and one year later came to Kootenai county and at once bought two hundred acres of railroad land, mostly timber. He has a fine house, a good barn and has improved his place in good shape. This estate lies eight miles east from Rathdrum.

In 1899 Mr. Nilson married Miss Christine, daugh- ter of Andrew and Kate Anderson, natives of Sweden, where also they died. Mrs. Nilson came to this country in 1889. To Mr. and Mrs. Nilson have been born three children : John V., Ellen S. and Lillie E. Mr. Nilson takes an active part in political matters, and he is of independent thought, reserving for him- self the privilege of voting for whom he chooses re- gardless of party restrictions. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran church.

JOHN P. BRENGMAN. This well known gen- tleman is one of the esteemed men whose pioneer labors opened this country for settlement and since his advent here his hand has always been ready to build up and improve, while his walk of uprightness and faithful- 11ess has won for him the encomiums and good will of all.

John P. Brengman was born in Corydon, Harri- son county, Indiana, on February 27, 1865, being the son of Thomas and Alice ( Kentner) Brengman, na- tives of Kentucky and Indiana, respectively. They were married in the native place of our subject and there the father enlisted on February 8, 1862, in Com- pany B. Fifty-third Indiana Volunteers. He was in Sherman's army and participated in the sieges of Vicksburg, Atlanta, Corinth and also marched to the sea, being altogether three years and eight months in the active service. He received an honorable discharge and is now a member of the G. A. R. When John was eight, the family removed to Mason county, Illinois, thence they went to St. James, Missouri, where the fa- ther was superintendent of the live stock for the iron and steel works. In 1875 they migrated to Pawnee county, Kansas, and in 1879 went to Richards county, Nebraska. Later the father came to Kootenai county and dwells here now. Our subject is the eldest of ten children, all of whom are in this county. Our subject came to Whitman county in 1887 and thence in May of the same year he came to the St. Mary's valley. Only several scattering settlers were in the valley and Mr. Brengman worked in lumbering for some time. Then he bought one hundred and twenty acres of hay land a couple of miles above Saint Maries, which he de- votes to hay. At present he is dwelling on a homestead twelve miles up the St. Mary's and he and his sister, Mrs. Emma Sanders, a widow, who is keeping house

JOHN P. BRENGMAN.

ARTHUR A. DARKNELL.

FLOYD V. WIKE.

WILLIAM LYONS.

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

for him, together own several hundred acres of land which is utilized for pasture of their herds and is also valuable for the timber. Mr. Brengman has just completed a contract of building six miles of road past his place and is to be credited in his excellent labors for improvement. Mr. Brengman is a member of the M. W. A. and the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 32, both of Saint Maries. His parents came here in 1898 and have a good ranch one mile above town.

ARTHUR A. DARKNELL is well known in Saint Maries and all points adjacent to Lake Coeur d'Alene, being one of the prominent steamboat men of the lake, as well as a property owner at Saint Maries and vicinity. He is a man of energy and enterprise, has good business ability, and is an upright, moral and stanch citizen.

Mr. Darknell was born in Watertown, Jefferson county, Wisconsin, on October 16, 1859, being the son of Henry Samuel and Jane (Alexander) Darknell, natives of England, but immigrants to the United States in an early day. The family went to Rochester, Minnesota, in 1862, and in 1868 they removed to Good- hue county, in the same state. He grew up on a farm and was educated in the common schools. On October 16, 1880, Mr. Darknell married Miss Alice C., daugh- ter of George W. and Lavina Hayward. He farmed there for three years and then removed to Spokane county, Washington, taking a homestead near Fairfield. He improved it and made it his home until 1897, and then came to Saint Maries and engaged in the stock business. Three years were spent at this, and then he sold his stock and bought the steamer, Defender, which he ran one year and then sold. Then Mr. Darknell bought a half interest in the Schley, a fine steamer, which makes daily trips from Coeur d'Alene to Saint Maries. Mr. A. I. Loomis owns the other half of this steamer and he and Mr. Darknell do business in part- nership, both being practical steamboat men. This steamer is fourteen feet by seventy-five and has a ca- pacity of thirty tons. Mr. Darknell owns a traet of land adjacent to Saint Maries, part of the town being on his land, and also he has a farm of one hundred and sixty acres of good land on the Saint Joe river. He has a fine residence in Saint Maries, being a modern struc- ture of eight rooms and located in a desirable portion of the town.

Mr. Darknell is a member of the M. W. A., Saint Maries Camp No. 8555, of the Saint Maries lodge of the I. O. O. F., No. 32, being a charter member of the last order and treasurer since its organization, April 8, 1901. Mr. Darknell and his wife are members of the Rebekahs. He has always taken an active part in the upbuilding of the town and the advancement of the educational facilities, and he has always served on the school board wherever he has been. He is active and interested in political matters, always attending the primaries and conventions.

To Mr. and Mrs. Darknell have been born two chil- dren, Mildred Lavina and Cora Alice.

FLOYD V. WIKE. This bright and intelligent young business man has manifested excellent capabil- ities to secure success in his mercantile establishment in Athol, as well as in handling his land that he owns near that town.

Floyd V. Wike was born in Griggsville, Pike coun- ty, Illinois, on September 4. 1879, being the son of William and Elizabeth Wike, natives of Pennsylvania and Illinois, respectively. Mrs. Wike is the daughter of George and Julia (Tyler) Wike, natives of Illinois, who came west in 1899 and located near Athol, where they now live. Mrs. Wike married Sherman Hosler in Glasgow, Montana, in 1894, and in 1896 they re- moved to Spokane, Washington, and in 1902 they came to Athol, where they now reside. Mr. Hosler was a railroad conductor and has run trains all over the United States. He was born in Ohio, on October 22, 1864, and he completed his education in Oberlin Col- lege, that state. He had an unpleasant experience in the south in undergoing a yellow fever and smallpox siege. Mr. Hosler is a member of the I. O. O. F. at Athol and the M. W. A. at Spokane. Our subject was educated in his native place and at Colchester and when twelve went to work in a pottery. Later he served in a printing office for one year, then went to live with his grandparents, and in 1894 he went to clerking in Chicago. It was January, 1895, that he came to Glasgow, Montana, worked in a pumping sta- tion for a few months and then made his way to Siski- you county, California. Two years were spent in prospecting northern California and southern Oregon, and then he made his way to Spokane. He was at Buffalo Hump in the excitement there and afterwards came to Athol and located a timber claim. He has this well improved and it is a valuable piece of prop- erty. In 1902 Mr. Wike opened a general mechandise establishment in Athol and it has been a success from the very beginning. His patronage, because of his affability and careful and wise business methods, is con- stantly increasing and he has recently erected a large building and increased his business. Politically Mr. Wike is an active Republican. He is a member of the M. W. A., Athol Camp, 8388, and of this order he has been chief forester and is now banker. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F., Pine Lodge, No. 75, in Athol; also of the Rebekahs, Evergreen Lodge, No. 51, at Athol ; and of the K. of P.

WILLIAM LYONS. From the famous Emer- ald Isle, whence come so many of our best citizens, the subject of this article hails and he carries the stirring qualities of his race, being self reliant, capable, ener- getic and possessed of a goodly store of practical wisdom and keenness that have enabled him to make a good career. He is now one of the patriotic and public minded citizens of Kootenai county and lives on his farm of one-quarter section one and one-half miles east from Ramsey.

With this short introduction we will proceed to detail the personal items of the life of Mr. Lyons, not-

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ing first that he was born in Waterford county, Ire- land, on January 1, 1857, being a son of Dave and Johanna (Foley) Lyons, natives also of the same land. When William was but three years of age he was called to mourn the sad loss of his mother, and she reposes in the cemetery of the native place. He was educated in the common schools and in 1868 came to America with his father. They located in Massa- chusetts, where the father died, and our subject began at the tender age of eleven years the battle of life for himself. He worked on a farm for five years and then railroaded for all the intervening years until 1892. Then he came west, locating on his present farm, which he took as a homestead. Mr. Lyons erected the buildings on his farm and has done all the im- proving. He has fifty acres under cultivation, the farm all fenced and raises some stock. Mr. Lyons has three sisters, Delia, Mary, Johanna, all married and liv- ing in Massachusetts. Mr. Lyons takes an interest in local politics and the affairs of the county and the state, and is an enterprising and progressive citizen. He is a member of the Catholic church and is upright and well liked by all.

JAMES T. LAGERS is one of the oldest settlers in this section of Kootenai county, which is six miles east from Rathdrum, where he has a fine estate of two hundred and eighty acres. He has wrought here and endured many hardships during and since the early clays and he has won a fine success from the continued labors which he has bestowed with sagacity. He is of excellent standing in the community, has friends from every class and is well liked by all.

James T. was born in Albany, Missouri, on Septem- ber 27, 1858, being the son of Bernard and Mary J. Lagers. The parents came to Missouri in 1857, and in 1880 removed to the southwestern part, where they ‹lied. The father was a miller by trade and he al- so handled a farm. In the native place James was edu- cated, having only opportunity to attend the common schools. At the age of fourteen he was obliged to quit school and assist the father who was sickly. Be- ing the oldest son, the management of the farm de- volved upon him and he remained steadily at that un- til he was twenty-five years of age. Then he farmed for himself in McDonald county three years, after which he sold out and came to his present place. He took a homestead and began improvement. The country was very wild then and plenty of wild game abounded, he being able to shoot deer from his porch, while also bear and cougar were in abundance. Mr. Lagers labored faithfully in improving his farm, made ties and other timber products and now he has a fine house, good barn, and the place is in excellent shape, being increased by a purchase of one hundred and twenty acres. He raises abundant crops and his soil is of the very best.

It was in 1883 that Mr. Lagers sought a wife and married Miss Sarah, daughter of James and Louisa J. Cook, natives of Tennessee, who came west in 1887, locating in Kootenai county. They remained until

1901, then sold and returned to Missouri, where they now live. To Mr. and Mrs. Lagers three children have been born: Abbie K., James I. and William E. Mr. Lagers is one of the school board and has been for eleven years, being clerk now. He is one of the reliable and substantial men, and is deservedly classed as one of the leading builders of the county.

ROSS DINGMAN. Practically the entire life of Mr. Dingman has been spent in Kootenai county, al- though he looks to Nebraska as his native place. He is a citizen and product of the county, in whom pride may be taken for his careful and faithful industry and because of his real worth, having the confidence and good will of all. On October 31, 1872, Mr. Ding- man was born in Phelps county, Nebraska, being the son of A. H. and Ellen (Graham) Dingman, natives of Kansas, who came west with their young son in 1877. The Palouse country was their dwelling place for three years and then a removal was made to Koot- enai county, in which place Ross received his school- ing. Later the parents removed to Glendale, Oregon, where they still live. At the age of eighteen our sub- ject started in the labors of life on his own responsi- bility, working for wages until 1897, when he took a homestead where he now lives, seven miles east from Rathdrum. He has forty acres producing crops, con- siderable hay land, and has about seven hundred thousand feet of saw timber. Also, Mr. Dingman has fifteen head of cattle, some horses and devotes con- siderable time to raising stock. He also raises many vegetables and sells in the markets. He is one of the well-to-do young men of the community and has made a fine showing in his labors. He is an active worker in the political realm, being allied with the Republican party and he also is interested in those measures that are for general advancement and development.

Mr. Dingman has six brothers and three sisters, named as follows: Charley, George, William, Frank- lin, Harvy, Clifford, Nellie, wife of James Colman, living at Hayden lake, Minnie and Ruby. Mr. Ding- man is a young man of great promise and his steady course, his industry, and his integrity have given him a fine prestige.

BRICE COLMAN. The subsequent paragraphs will suffice to show the real grit, courage, reliability, and intrinsic worth of the estimable gentleman of whom we now have the pleasure of speaking, and therefore we will at once enter upon the detail of his life, which has been an exemplification of priceless virtues. Mr. Colman is a native of Roane county, Tennessee, being the son of Daniel and Mary (John- son) Colman, natives respectively of Tennessee and North Carolina. April 17, 1845, was the happy day when this son was born to the above named parents, being one of seven children, four boys and three girls. The parents located in Roane county, where the father gave attention to boating and there they remained un-

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

til the time of their death, being buried in Point Rock cemetery there. Our subject was denied the privilege of attending school, but his perseverance led him to learn to read and write after he was married. At the age of sixteen his young blood was stirred up to join the army and fight for the stars and stripes, and he nobly

did the part of a valiant soldier for the en- tire period of hostilities. He was in the Second Ten- nessee, under Captain Amos Marney. He fought in the battles of West Cross Roads, Pauls River, Rogers- ville and November, 1863, he was taken prisoner, when began the terrible suffering that has never been fully told out, which many of the Union soldiers endured. He was taken to Bell Island, Virginia, and there languished in the war prison from November II to March 12, following, then he was placed in Andersonville, Georgia, and in September he was taken thence to Florence, South Carolina, and there on February 27, 1865, he was turned over to the Federal .authorities. As Mr. Colman says, when he stood a free man again and looked back over that horrible time of bondage, he was too happy to speak, in fact, it was the happiest moment of his life. He went to Knoxville, thence to Nashville and then, on May 22, 1865, he was mustered out with a very creditable military record. Mr. Colman is a member of the G. A. R., Lawton Post No. 29.

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An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 212

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