An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 215

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 215
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 215
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 215
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 215

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Charles S. Green was born in Dayton, Minnesota, on December 16, 1858, being the son of John and Josephine (Evans) Green, natives respectively of Vermont and Pennsylvania. On both sides his parents were descendants of the earliest settlers in America. The father came to the present site of Minneapolis in 1849 and located a homestead, which he lost on ac- count of its then being a government reserve. He then farmed in Minnessota until 1883, when he came west, settling in Rathdrum until 1899, when he removed to Seattle, where they both now live. Charles S. re- ceived his education in the common schools of Dayton and in Anoka county, and at the age of seventeen quit study and gave himself to assist his father. Until twenty-four years of age he could be found faithfully laboring on the father's farm, and then he went to work for himself. He rented a farm and took contracts of getting out timbers in the winter. In 1884 he came west and engaged in lumbering in Kootenai county.

He also farmed and took a homestead, where he now lives. In 1886 he built the buildings and fenced the quarter. He lays eighty acres under tribute now

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to raise crops and has a fine orchard and his farm is one of the best in the vicinity. In political matters Mr. Green takes an active part and in religious persuasion he is an adherent of the Second Adventist church. Mr. Green has three brothers and three sisters, named as follows: Florence, widow of Clarence Stevens, living in Kellogg; Wallace P., in Kootenai county ; Edith, wife of Harvey Borthwick, in Rath- drum; John E., in Seattle; Edgar L., also in Seattle, and Myrtle E., in the same city. Mr. Green has been blessed with generous prosperity on account of his wise management and industry and he is deserving of this enjoyment.

O. BOUTON MASTERSON. This young man is one of the well known business men of Postfalls and is at the present time operating a retail liquor store there, carrying a fine stock of goods. He was born in Sheridan, Oregon, on June 16, 1869, being the son of James H. and Margret J. (Copenharger) Masterson, natives of Kentucky and Illinois respectively. The father was a practicing physician and continued at his profession until the time of his death in Rathdrum in 1894. The mother still lives in Seattle. Soon after the birth of our subject, the parents came to Spokane and there he received the beginning of his education. Later they went to Rathdrum where he completed his scholastic training. At the age of seventeen he started for himself and his first occupation was clerking in a hotel. In 1888 he started a restaurant in the Coeur d'Alene mining district and conducted it for four years. Then he returned to Rathdrum and clerked for two years, after which he went to Seattle and was manager of the Globe hotel for one year. Returning to Spokane he soon thereafter went to Medical lake and operated a cigar store for a time, then sold out and came to Postfalls and opened his present business, where he is doing well.

Mr. Masterson married Miss Clara A., daughter of W. A. and A. M. Hart, who live in Rathdrum, where Mr. Hart does a general banking and merchandising business, being one of the leading business men of the county. To Mr. and Mrs. Masterson one child has been born, Hawley B., going to school.

JOHN W. FREDERIC, one of the business men of Coeur d'Alene, has a record in the military service in the United States army which is seldom exceeded both for length of service as well as for faithfulness and courage in the discharge of his duties. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on November 11, 1846, the son of Adam and Catherine (Humbach) Frederic, natives respectively of Germany and Pennsylvania, and now deceased. The father fought in the Mexi- can war and received a wound in the service. Our subject was educated in the schools of his native town and at the beginning of the Rebellion he laid aside the books and stepped from the school room into ser-

vice for his country. He was in the Fifty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, of the Twentieth Corps and First Division. He fought in the battle of Shiloh and at the battle of Yazoo Pass. He was in the siege of Vicksburg where he was wounded on May 23, 1863, by a spent ball, then he was transferred to the gun- boat Louisville, and was with Banks in the Red river expedition. On April 12, 1865, he was discharged at Cairo, Illinois, and arrived home on the night of Lincoln's assassination. Mr. Frederic re-entered the service on June 6, 1866, joining the Seventeenth United States Infantry. He was on the frontier of Texas and New Mexico fighting the Indians and June 6, 1869, re- enlisted until March, 1870. He was transferred to Dakota where he was discharged on April 14, 1871. He re-enlisted on August 18, 1871, in Company G, Seventh Infantry, and served ten years. He was in Montana against the Sioux Indians, fought the Black- feet and also the Nez Perces. At Big Hole, Mon- tana, he was shot through the shoulder. On August 18, 1881, he was discharged as sergeant of Company C. During the Spanish war, Mr. Frederic re-entered the service and went to Manila in Company B, First Idaho Volunteers. He was discharged at Manila on account of disability on February 11, 1899, and re- turned home.

While in Montana, in 1877, Mr. Frederic married Miss Annie Hahn, a native of Pennsylvania, and daughter of Joseph and Caroline Hahn, natives of Germany. To this marriage two sons have been born, John B. and William H., the latter having been with his father in Manila. Both are located in Coeur d'Alene now. Mr. Frederic is a member of the G. A. R., A. T. McReynolds Post, No. 19, and also of the Redmen.

JOHN HAGER. It is certainly very gratifying to have the pleasure to chronicle the events in the life of this worthy veteran and esteemed pioneer and resident of Coeur d'Alene where he has demonstrated as he did in many ways and times in the past his faith- fulness, his ability, his courage and real worth.

John Hager was born in Baden, Germany, on April 11, 1830, receiving a good common schooling and in 1848 enlised in the volunteer force that resisted the German government. He was on the defeated side and to avoid the vigilance of the government he went to Switzerland for some months and then re- turned home and in 1850 came to America. He lo- cated in New York, later in Philadelphia and in 1853 he enlisted in the regular army, being in the First Dragoons. He was in Minnesota and went thence to New Mexico and was garrisoned on the Rio Grande, then went to Arizona in 1856, from that place to Cali- fornia and thence to Walla Walla, where he did ser- vice and in the surrounding country until the time of his discharge in 1858. He was with Colonel Step- toe in the memorable defeat of that officer and also fought under Wright in various places. In 1860 the military spirit of our subject would again lead him to

JOHN W. FREDERIC.

JOHN HAGER.

JAMES E. RUSSELL.

JAMES H. KENEDY.

MRS. JAMES H. KENEDY.

LEVI ESCH.

LEVI YOTHERS.

THOMAS BROPHY.

· HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

897

enlist and so he was enrolled with Company C, First Dragoons. He was stationed at Lapwai to watch the Indians. Sibley Johnson, a rebel at heart, was in command of the department of the west and ordered them all to Texas, but he being relieved about that time the order was countermanded and the Dragoons were ordered to Washington, D. C. Going on horse- back to Vancouver, they took a steamer to Washing- ton and soon were in the heart of the fight in the east. Words are futile to express the excellency of the ca- reer of this gentleman and the ardor, the valor and the courage displayed and we append the most eloquent tribute we know, which is a list of a portion of the battles where he fought with spirit. Many others were in the list but they are too numerous to mention. Skirmishes were continually going on and we could fill a volume were we to recount all the incidents that befell this veteran in his career. On May 4, 1862, he was in the battle of Williamsburg; on June 27, he fought in that sanguinary struggle known as Gaines' Mill; on June 30, 1862, he participated in the bat- tle of White Oak Swamp; on July 1, at Malvern Hill, and on March 17, 1863, he fought at Kelly's Ford ; on April 20, 1862, he was in Stoneman's Raid; on June 21, 1863, at Upperville, he did valiant service : on September 14, 1863, he fought at Antietam ; and on May 9, 1864, he participated in Sheridan's raid. At Cold Harbor he was in the awful fight on May 20, 1864, and there lost his hearing ; he participated in the battle of the Wilderness on May 7, 1864; fought at the battle of Winchester, also at Fisher's Gap and Cedar Creek, and many others. Where will we find a military record like this? Really, it seems the most brilliant and worthy of any that it has been our priv- ilege to observe. As soon as the war was over, he en- listed again and was stationed at Atlanta, Georgia. At the expiration of his time, in 1870, he bought a farm and tilled it for a while and sold then and went into the drug business, then he worked for the street car company for three years and in 1877 came to Fort Custer, and in 1878 we find him in Couer d'Alene. He worked for the government six months and then took a squatter's right on land near Hayden lake, which was his home for twelve years, then he sold and came to Coeur d'Alene. He has a good farm which he rents, has a good residence in the town and also two other dwellings which he rents. He also has other property.

In 1863 Mr. Hager married Mrs. Christine Clark, of Washington, D. C., where the nuptials occurred. Mrs. Hager's former husband was killed at Brandy station, being a comrade of Mr. Hager at that time. To Mr. and Mrs. Hager there have been born five children : Frederica, wife of William Kipp, in Coeur d'Alene ; William, in the employ of the government at Fort Wright, Washington, having been thus en- gaged for twenty years; Mary, wife of Isaac Busby, in Wardner, Idaho; Charles, married and living at Fort Wright, where he is employed by the govern- ment : Maggie, wife of George Joyce, in Belgrade, Montana. Mr. Hager is a member of the G. A. R., and he and his wife are members of the Episcopa-

lian church. It is very pleasant to contemplate the worthy veteran residing quietly in the land he fought to defend and enjoying the fruits of his faithful labor, while all admire and esteem hint.

JAMES E. RUSSELL. Henry Russell was born in New York and in Syracuse of that state, he met and married Miss Mariah Mann, a native of Penn- sylvania, who died in 1844. In 1846 he married a second time and remained in New York city, whither he had removed from Rochester and whence he went in 1855 to Chicago. Three years later he removed to St. Louis, where he remained until his death, aged ninety-five years. During the Civil war Mr. Russell worked for contractor Eads, building gunboats for the government, and he made the remarkable record of working seven days in each week, Sunday counting one and one-half days, for every week in five years and in all this time he never lost one day, a most re- markable record.

Returning more particularly to the immediate sub- ject of this sketch we note his birth occurred on Janu- ary 16, 1839, in Rochester, New York. He went with his father to the various places where that gen- tleman lived and gained a good education from the various public schools. At Chicago he started for himself. He went to Waterford, Minnesota, and worked for wages and also attended school some, con- tinuing the same until 1861. Then he enlisted in Com- pany G. First Minnesota, under Colonel Gorman. His regiment was soon sent to Virginia, the only Minne- sota troops sent east. His first engagement was the battle of Buil Run and there he was shot through the shoulder. . He was taken to Libby and later to Tus- caloosa, Alabama, and eleven months was the time he languished in a horrible southern prison pen. He was later exchanged and reported to his regiment for duty at Falmouth, Virginia. He was in time to go 11 the battle of Fredericksburg. He was then dis- charged and went to Troy, Pennsylvania, and soon he re-enlisted in the First New York Veteran Cavalry, Company L. He served in this capacity until the close of the war, participating in numerous skirmishes and some engagements, being once shot from his horse. He was mustered out in West Virginia, in July, 1865. and went thence to Rochester, New York, where he was paid off. Next we see Mr. Russell, having completed a remarkable and brilliant military career, in Kansas on the plains. In 1869 he went as cow boy to South Dakota and later took a pre-emption and got married and settled down. In 1883 he sold his prop- erty and came to Kootenai county, Idaho. He operated as building contractor until 1890 when his ability was rewarded by being appointed register of the United States Land Office at Coeur d'Alene. Four years and three months of efficient and faithful service was rendered there. In 1897 Mr. Russell bought twenty acres adjoining the town and he has made it a beautiful residence place, well improved. In 1900 he took a timber claim, which he still owns,

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO. .

it being a valuable place. Mr. Russell states that in 1860 he voted for Abraham Lincoln and he has never had occasion to change his politics. He was elected justice of the peace in 1886 but resigned it in 1890 to accept the position in the land office. He was deputy sheriff under William Ryan and during the silver craze in politics he was nominated by his party for treasurer of the county but was defeated on account of that issue. Later he was placed in nomination for assessor but the same cause defeated the entire ticket.

In 1875 Mr. Russell married Miss Mary J., daughter of Samuel and Hannah ( Pine) Henderson, natives of Wisconsin. Death took this lady in 1880. In 1882 Mr. Russell married Miss Margery M., daughter of James and Jane Pine, natives of Prince Edward island. To Mr. and Mrs. Russell and his estimable wife six children have been born: Minnie, M., wife of George H. Ritchey, in Coeur d'Alene ; George; Ida M., who died February 6, 1898, aged eighteen years, eleven months and twenty-four days; William J., Henry P. and Cora J. Mr. Russell is a member of the A. F. & A. M. Kootenai Lodge, No. 24 : also of the G. A. R., McReynolds Post No. 19. He is past master of the lodge and was the first com- mander of the post. He is also sachem of the I. O. R. M. Mr. Russell is a prominent and capable man as is evidenced by his military career and his excellent public service in positions of responsibility, while as a citizen he is influential, public spirited and stands with enviable prestige.

JAMES H. KENEDY. Among the early pio- neers of Kootenai county is to be mentioned the gentle- man whose name initiates this paragraph, who is one of the substantial men of Postfalls, being a blacksmith and doing a good business, while also he has consider- able property and is an influential citizen, a good man, and highly esteemed by all.

James H. was born in Adams county, Illinois, on September 7, 1846, being the son of William and Sarah (Richardson) Kenedy, natives respectively of Nortlı Carolina and Kentucky. They were married in Illinois and the father was a blacksmith, doing business for ten years in Liberty, of that state. Our subject's paternal grandfather was a shoemaker and that venerable gentleman's father was a soldier in the Revolution. Mr. Richardson moved to Illinois when our subject's mother was fourteen years old and her brother William was a captain in the Black Hawk war and also captain of the train when they crossed the plains. In 1852 Mr. Kenedy, the father of James, crossed the plains with ox teams and located one section of donation land in Polk county, Oregon. Later he removed to Palouse, Washing ton, where he died on April 20, 1900, but the mother still lives there, aged eighty-three. Our subject was with his parents in coming across the plains and in Polk county he gained a good education and at the age of twenty quit school and went to work for his father in the blacksmith shop. When twenty-four he went to

Colfax, Washington, and operated a shop and thence went to Spokane county and farmed and did black- smithing for a time and then sold out and came to Kootenai county in 1884. He took a soldier's right on a homestead on land now in the city limits of Post- falls and there he erected a blacksmith shop and did business continually until the present time. On No- vember 16, 1864, Mr. Kenedy enlisted in the First Ore- gon Infantry, Company A, under Captain C. Layfoll- ette and he served for one year, seven months and fourteen days, doing garrison duty most of the time. He was discharged on July 1, 1866. On January 7, 1876, Mr Kenedy married Mrs. Eliza J., widow of Joseph Abernathy, and daughter of Rev. James I. and Elizabeth (Thompson) Cash, the mother being a daughter of Dr. Jesse Thompson. Mr. Cash was a noted business man and powerful preacher. To Mr. and Mrs. Kenedy there have been born eight children : Lorettie M., deceased ; Ruth A., wife of T. P. Yager, in Walla Walla county, Washington; Alma A., wife of M. E. Swick, in Hoquiam, Washington ; Wilham R. C., in Seattle ; Cora A., with parents ; Heary B., at home ; Evangeline, wife of C. F. Manning, in Post- falls ; James C., in Wadsworth, Nevada. In political matters, Mr. Kenedy is a strong Republican and does good work in this linc. He has been justice of the peace for four years and school director for a long time and road supervisor for two years. Mr. Kenedy is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Hiram Lodge No. 21, in Colfax, Washington. He is a charter member of the Post falls lodge of the K. of P .; is a charter mem- ber of the Good Templars, being especially active in prohibition movements. He is also a charter member of the K. O. T. M.

Mr. Kenedy is re-elected justice of the peace. He was a member of the George Wright Post of the G. A. R. until it disbanded and is now a member of the Lawton Post, No. 24, at Rathdrum.

LEVI ESCH. This well known business man is one of the prominent citizens of Rathdrum, where he has conducted a fine livery business for eighteen years, being also a buyer and seller of horses. At present he has a barn filled with fine driving and saddle horses, plenty of first-class vehicles, and he exercises an untir- ing care and vigilance to make everything comfortable and safe for his patrons, which has given him a first- class trade. In addition to this, Mr. Esch has some mining claims north from Rathdrum and also a timber claim one mile north from town.

Reverting to the early history of our subject, we note that he was born in Elkhart, Indiana, on April 4. 1859, being the son of Jacob and Katherine (Miller) Esch, natives respectively of Ohio and Indiana. The mother died when Levi was seven years of age but the father is still living in Otis, Washington. The parents came to Davis county, Iowa, when this son was six years of age, and he received a good schooling, attend- ing in winter and working on the farm in summer. At seventeen he gave all of his time to assisting his

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father. They removed to Missouri at that time and our subject remained with his father until twenty-one and then on account of the ague of that country came west for his health. He travelled for two years and in 1882 came to Rathdrum and took a homestead and timber culture. He proved up on these in due time and improved them in good shape with buildings and fences, and so forth. In 1884 he built the livery barn in Rathdrum and started in business. From the first it was evident that Mr. Esch knew a horse and he bought and sold continually with his livery business and he has done well. During the year of 1893 he sold his real estate and put his whole attention to the business and this has enabled him to broaden and ex- tend his trade.

Mr. Esch has a brother in Cape Nome who has mining properties of great value. His name is Peter Esch. Samuel Esch, another brother, lives in Otis with the father. Our subject has three sisters : Polina, wife of George Hostetter, in Cass county, Missouri ; Lizzie Esch, living in Kootenai county and owning two hundred and forty acres of well improved land two and one-half miles from Rathdrum ; Ella, wife of George Stout, living at Newman Lake. Washington. Mr. Esch is a devout member of the Presbyterian church and greatly interested in its welfare. He is esteemed by all. In politics Mr. Esch is a stanch Re- publican, but has never sought preferment at the hands of his party.

LEVI YOTHERS. This wide-awake, industrious and substantial citizen is one of the heavy property owners of our county and dwells on his estate of four hundred and forty acres of fine land six miles east from Rathdrum, where he does a general farming busi- ness, has a good band of stock and handles consider- able fruit, having an orchard of seventeen varieties, while everything represents his thrift, sagacity and in- dustry. Mr. Yothers is also a man of good principles and does much for the cause of education, as well as for the general progress.

Levi Yothers was born in Center county, Penn- sylvania, on August 3, 1847, being the son of Benja- min and Katherine (Wells) Yothers, natives of Penn- sylvania. They removed to Illinois, where the father died in 1882, and the mother came to Kootenai county where she passed to the world beyond in 1897. Levi had but little opportunity to attend school, being fav- ored only with a few months in his thirteenth and four- teenth years. This was on account of his father being absent fighting the battles of the nation in the Civil war, and this son was obliged to support the family. When the father came home he was wounded and could not work for some time, so the burden remained on these young shoulders. Mr. Yothers has mani- fested considerable zeal, for in 1900 he went to the Moscow University, taking the shorter course which the state had wisely provided for just such cases. He came with his parents to Illinois at the age of eleven and before he was twenty he was doing for himself. He studied for the ministry under Elder Terrill for

two years, but being without means to complete this he was obliged to abandon it. Then he married and came to lowa, working in an elevator there for three years. Then he came to Custer county, Montana, and raised stock for sixteen years. His wife was taken sick and he went to Ellensburg, Washington, where she died on April 6, 1889. Then Mr. Yothers came to his present location, taking first a homestead, to which he has added by purchase until he has a fine estate. He has much timber to sell, and intends soon to erect a new house.

By his first wife Mr. Yothers has six children : Alfred, a capable young man, living in Oregon ; Will- iam W., who has attended the State University for five years, with excellent results, and will graduate in 1903, and is now fruit inspector of Kootenai and Shoshone counties ; May, living in Spokane; Merill, who has taken a four-years' course in the university, and will doubtless pursue his studies further ; Maud, now at- tending the university and has been for three years ; Oakland, deceased.

On June 27, 1890, Mr. Yothers married Mary L., daughter of Luther and Mary (Smith) Wood, natives of Vermont. To this union there have been born seven children. mentioned as follows: Samantha, Mable, Lucy, Edna, Ruth, Florence and Emma. Mr. Yothers is allied with the Peoples party and is active. having attended three county conventions in succession. He was also active in this realm in Montana. He has given of his time and wisdom on the school board for nine years, ever laboring for good educational facilities. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Oakland Lodge, No. 242, in lowa; also he belongs to the M. W. A., of Rathdrum. He and his wife are members of the Dunkard church and are devout in the support of their faith.

THOMAS BROPHY. Deservedly numbered among the worthy pioneers of this section and the builders of Kootenai county, it is fitting that the sub- ject of this article should be granted space in the his- tory of the county, being a man of energy, industry and intelligence. Thomas Brophy was born in Queens county, Ireland, on September 1, 1845, being the son of John and Elizabeth (Pursell) Brophy, natives also of the same county, but immigrants to America in 1847. They located in Kentucky, where our subject received his first education. then the family came to Iowa, the year being 1857, and there the father died in 1809 and the mother in 1889, being buried in the cemetery at Lansing, lowa. At the age of eighteen young Brophy enlisted in the Union army, in Company B, Ninth Iowa Cavalry, under John Flick. He served two years and five months, being discharged at Little Rock, Ar- kansas, March 23, 1866. He was wounded in the right arm and right side. During all these months he was almost constantly on scout duty, being opposed to the army of Price. After a worthy military record he went home and worked on his father's farm until 1869 then went to Louisiana and wrought in the timber business. Two years there and then we find hin in the

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An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 215

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