An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 218

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 218
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 218
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 218
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 218

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In 1878 Mr. Oakland married Miss Grace, daugh- ter of Olif and Engebore Nelson, natives of Sweden, who came to America, locating at Wood Lake. Bur- nett county, Wisconsin, in 1869, where they died. To Mr. and Mrs. Oakland there have been born seven children, Adelia, married to Jerome Manor, in Post- falls, Effie, George N., Maud, Walter, Sydney and Harold. Mr. Oakland has been school clerk for one year and road supervisor for the same length of time, and was elected justice of the peace in 1902. It is very creditable that coming to this country with no means and in debt, he has made him a comfortable home, gained a good competence and is now one of the worthy and leading men of his community. Mrs. Oak- land was the first woman elected to office in Kootenai county. She was elected school director in 1890 and again in 1892 and is now serving as clerk of the board.

CHARLES HORN. To be a veteran who fought for the stars and stripes in the days of internecine strife and rebellion is to be pointed out as a man who deserves the praise and approbation of his fellows. To have been a pioneer in the various places of the west, striving against the many forces which were at- tempting to overwhelm the invader of nature's do- main, is to be stamped as a man of nerve, stamina and ability. But to have been in both of these meritor- ious positions as has the estimable gentleman whose name is heading this paragraph, is to be a conspic- tous figure in every line in which patriotism and en- terprise can distinguish a man.

Charles Horn was born in Germersheim, on the Rhine, in Germany, on April 8, 1839. being the son of Francis and Mary (Koontz) Horn, both natives of Bavaria. They came to America in 1868, lived one year in New York and returned to Germany, where they died in 1878. Our subject was reared in his na- tive place and there received his education. When fifteen he learned the stone mason trade and in 1859 he came to the United States, landing in New York in June. In April. 1861, he enlisted in the Forty- fifth New York Volunteers under General Sigel and served for four years and four months. Mr. Horn was a man of courage, which he displayed on many a hard contested field. At the battle of Gettysburg he was shot through the leg and also had one eye put out by a shell. He lay in this distressed condition on the field for two days before the rescuing parties

AUGUST OAKLAND.

CHARLES HORN.

JOHN D. CARROLL.

WILLIAM H. LYON.

WILLIAM EATON.

FRANCIS M. MARKHAM.

DAVID PHIFER.

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found him. For five months he languished in the hospital before being able to again join his command. Then he served under Hooker at Lookout Mountain and also at Resaca as well as in many other con- flicts. On October 15, 1865, he was honorably dis- charged and returned to his home in New York. Later he settled in Brooklyn and remained until 1871 when he came to Chicago and in 1873 to St. Paul and also to other places in Minnesota until 1879, fol- lowing his trade in each place. Then he went to Otterail county and took a homestead. In 1883 he was in Richmond, Virginia, then two years in Balti- more, one year again in Ottertail county, a year in Texas, two years in St. Louis, again in Minnesota in 1889, and finally in 1893 Mr. Horn came to Kootenai county. His present home is two miles north from Valley and here he is handling a farm.

On November 5, 1865, in Brooklyn, Mr. Horn married Theodora, daughter of Charles and Hellina (Dick) Gertum, natives of Germany, mention of whom is made in another portion of this work. Mrs. Horn is one of a family of five children. To Mr. and Mrs. Horn there have been born children as fol- lows : Mary, wife of Louis Wilson, in Kootenai county ; Charles, married and living in this county ; Frank, married; George, married, both being in Kootenai county; Lena, wife of James McClelland, in Asotin county, Washington; Josie, wife of George Tanner, in Asotin county, Washington ; Edward, with his parents. Mr. Horn is a member of the G. A. R. and a charter member of the F. O. A., at Priest River. He and his family affiliate with the Catholic church and are well respected people and substantial citizens of this county.

JOHN D. CARROLL is one of the typical pio- neers and frontiersmen of the northwest, having made his way into the fastnesses of every state and ter- ritory west of the Rockies and being in this section nearly forty years ago. He has experienced all the various ups and downs of the miner, making much money and investing in various undertakings, while in it all he has gone through the hardships that only the sturdy and unflinching pioneer knows about or can undergo. He is a man of the true metal and has shown his courage and spirit in hundreds of trying places.

A brief outline of this adventurous career will be interesting reading for the history of Kootenai county and therefore we append it. John D. Carroll is of pure Irish blood, and this speaks volumes in explan- ation of his stirring career on the frontier. He was born in Dublin on January 5. 1832, being the son of James and Sarah (Dolton) Carroll, both natives of that famous island also. The father was a tanner by trade and died in 1858, and the mother died in 1886, both being buried in Dublin. John D. went at the age of fourteen on a seafaring trip in the Mediterranean and in 1849 on the crest of the mining excitement in California we find him and as a presaging omen of

his career, he made a success from the begining. In 1858 he was in the Fraser river country and one year later was mining in Plaza country, California. In 1860 he started for some of the promising fields in Oregon and a little later we see him in Orofino, Idaho. He also dug the shining metal in Florence and there paid two dollars and fifty cents for a pound of flour. He made a trip to San Francisco about this time and then returned to the pick and shovel in Silver City, Idaho, where he prospered for one and one-half years. In 1864 he came to the Bonners Ferry country and dis- covered the diggings on Wild Horse creek and in three weeks washed out nearly four thousand dollars of dust with a pan. He sold and went to San Francisco and then mined in Nevada and three or four years iater was following his chosen occupation in the fa- mous Bodie country. Two years there and he went to Sonora, Mexico, and spent twenty-seven months in that republic. Then he mined in San Bernardino county, California, then in Utah, then on Wood river, Idaho, and more or less he has kept it up until this date. Mr. Carroll has universally been blessed with success, has made plenty of money and has had a wide range of experience in all these lines of frontier work. In 1889 he operated a ferry for a year and a half in Montana at Thompson Falls. In 1891 he located on his present homestead, three miles south from Cope- land. He cuts sixty or more tons of hay each year. raises cattle and does a general farming business.

In 1893 Mr. Carroll was appointed city marshal of Bonners Ferry and in defending the jail against a mob he was treated to a bullet in his head, which is still lodged there. In 1893 a widower brother of Mr. Carroll came to his place and soon died, leaving one son, whom Mr. Carroll has raised, he being now eighteen years of age. In political matters our sub- ject has always evinced an active and intelligent in- terest and he is one of the progressive and capable citizens of the county.

WILLIAM H. LYON. A continuous residence of thirteen years at Lakeview entitles Mr. Lyon to be classed with the pioneers of Kootenai county. He has witnessed and assisted in its progress, especially in the development of the mineral resources.

The original head of the family, as far as ancestral records show, was James Lyon, an Englishman, who came to America in 1660, settling in Connecticut and engaging in shipbuilding. To him was born Na- thaniel, who also followed shipbuilding. His son, James, became an expert shipbuilder, and in 1800 he located in Kingston, Canada, and eventually owned and operated a large line of lake vessels. He repre- sented Northumberland county in the Canadian par- liament in 1812, having defeated the popular Sir Al- len McNabb, against whom it was said no other man could have won. On February 20, 1815, at Kingston was born William, son of James Lyon. He became a marked student and finished an extensive course of study in the fine institutions of Europe. At Brigh-

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ton, Canada, in 1832, he married Miss Catherine El- lis Elrod, daughter of Dr. John E. Elrod, of Toronto. To this couple were born ten children, our subject be- ing the third. Shortly after the marriage just men- tioned William and his father James joined the Cana- dian rebellion against English authority and the re- sult was they were exiled and their property confis- cated. Later James petitioned his government from the United States whither he had fled and secured a reinstatement to his position and property. The son, William, went to Cincinnati and became prominent as a professor in the Curtis Medical College. Later he established himself in Warren, Trumbull county, Ohio, where our subject was born on September 24, 1837. He was educated and reared in his native place and in 1858 went west to seek his fortune. In 1859 at St. Louis he married Miss Sarah, daughter of John Cowdrey, of Booneville, Missouri, who was killed at the battle of Bull Run, being captain of a Confed- erate cavalry. Mr. Lyon went to New Orleans and engaged in commercial pursuits and when the war broke out came north but was unfortunately landed at Memphis where he was forced into the Confederate ranks. Obtaining a three days leave of absence he stole out of the city and came to Cairo and there en- listed with Major Warren Stewart's battalion, which was later joined to the Thirteenth Illinois Cavalry. He was wounded at Shiloh and mustered out, being partially paralyzed from the effects of the wound. Recovering his health, Mr. Lyon enlisted in the Six- teenth Kentucky Infantry, on January 1, 1864, and after being gathered to Atlanta was sent under Thomas to Nashville and participated in the battles of that year wherein his division was engaged and served with great credit to himself and profit to the cause. On August 26, 1865, Mr. Lyon was honorably dis- charged. His wife had died during the war at her father's home in Booneville, Missouri, and on April 5. 1871, Mr. Lyon took a second wife. Miss Cecelia De Ash became his bride on this occasion. Her father, a colonel of the Second Louisana Infantry, was killed at Bull Run. Mr. Lyon was plantation agent for a time after the war and in 1876 went to the Black Hills and in his own words "left his money there." In 1878 he operated in mining in Colorado and did well until 1882, when he removed to Arizona. In 1886 he went thence to California and there pros- pected and operated a hotel in different leading places in the state. Mrs. Lyon, the second wife, died in 1876, shortly after their trip west. In his stay in California Mr. Lyon had contracted rheumatism and travelled extensively to secure aid, going even to South America and Asia and leading points in other countries. In 1890 he returned to the United States and at once came to Kootenai county and located the Cape Horn ranch at Lakeview and although a life- long Republican he received the appointment of post- master from Cleveland. Mr. Lyon has a good ranch, handles the mail and does mining and prospecting. He has been engaged in general merchandising busi- ness since January 1, 1901. He has three valuable claims, the El Capitan, going over one hundred dol-

lars in silver: the Trinity, which runs well in both silver and gold, and the Big Six, which also runs in both precious metals. Mills are needed to further develop these properties. Mr. Lyon is a prominent G. A. R. man, belonging to John Lawton Post, No. 29, at Rathdrum.

WILLIAM EATON. This venerable gentleman is one of the honored citizens of Bonners Ferry, having until recently been engaged in active mercantile life, wherein he achieved a good success, while also he has always stood well among the people and is highly re- spected and esteemed at this day.

William Eaton was born in Newark, New Jersey, on October 13, 1830, being the son of William and Eunice ( Perce ) Eaton, natives of Vermont and Mas- sachusetts, respectively. They removed to Iowa in 1840, remaining until 1856, when they went to Mis- souri, where the father died the same year, aged fifty- six. The mother returned to Iowa and lived until 1862, dying then, aged seventy-three. They were the parents of eleven children five of whom still live. William was educated in Iowa, having but scanty opportunity for schooling. At twenty years of age he started for himself in life's course. He hired to an Indian trader and operated in southwestern Iowa for one year, then returned to his home and remained four years. Going again to southwestern Iowa, he took raw land, made a good farm, and in 1877 sold it and went to Kansas, where he bought one-half section, put two hundred acres under cultivation and then sold it. He purchased a nine-thousand dollars stock of goods and for one and one-half years did business in Kansas and then came to Bonner's Ferry in 1888, bringing his goods with him. He at once opened a store and since that time he has been numbered with the leading merchants of the county until he retired in 1902.

In 1851 Mr. Eaton married Miss Caroline Green, and to them were born eleven children, of whom the following are still living: Orson, married and living in Utah; Amanda, wife of Walter Sweet, living in this county ; William, married and living in this coun- ty: Fannie, wife of William Halbrook, in Kansas : Harry, married and living in Kootenai county ; Addie, wife of William Hopper, in southern Idaho. In 1877 Mr. Eaton married Miss Amelia Cox and by this mar- riage he has three children : Robert C .; Ambrosia, wife of Thomas Jones, in Bonners Ferry; Reta, living with parents and teaching school. Socially, Mr. Eaton is affiliated with the A. F. & A. M., and the I. O. O. F., at Bonners Ferry. In political matters he is liberal and in 1897 he was elected mayor of Bonners Ferry, and so well did he please the people in his administra- tion that he succeeded himself three times.

In 1862 Mr. Eaton enlisted in Silver Creek Mounted Vohinteers under Captain Darling, as sec- ond lieutenant. and he served until 1864. He was constantly fighting Quantrell, Price and Bealer. For this service he has never received a dollar from the government. He furnished his own clothes, horse. and

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equipment and still holds his commission which shows he was never discharged.

In 1848 Mr. Eaton made a trip into Colorado and into the Smoky mountains and later into the Rio Grande valley, trading with the Indians.

FRANCIS M. MARKHAM. To such men as this estimable and capable gentleman there is great credit dite for the intrepid courage, energy and pro- gressiveness manifested in coming into these sections of wilderness in early days to open them for the set- tlement of men, and it is with pleasure that we have the privilege to chroniele a review of his career in the history that has to do with Kootenai county.

Francis M. Markham was born in Knox county, Illinois, on December 12. 1847. He is the son of Simon S. and Cynthia (Fry) Markham, who were teachers in New York, where they were married and then moved to Illinois. In 1848 the family crossed the plains to Albany, Oregon, and there the father was a general merchant. Our subject grew to manhood and was educated in Albany. When in young manhood he learned the carpenter trade from his father. Later he went to blacksmithing, which he had learned in his youth. He also followed farming for ten years and in 1883 he came to Kootenai, pushing out into this wild country. He bought the right to his present place, one-half mile south from Laclede, at what is known as the Seneaquoteen crossing. He secured it and the ferry from Richard Fry & Company, and since that day has operated the farm and ferry and raised stock. Mr. Markham is a well-to-do and substantial citizen and a leader in the industries which he follows. In the political world he has also been active and influen- tial, has been delegate to the Populist conventions, is school director and has been since the organization of the district. His farm has a good house, fine barn sixty by sixty-five, orchard and other improvements and produces much hay each year. Recently Mr. Markham tore down a building erected by the Hudson Bay Company.

On May 16, 1869, Mr. Markham married Miss Elmina, daughter of Creed T. and Nancy (Lane) Big- gers, natives of Virginia and Kentucky, respectively. The mother was a second cousin of Joe Lane, who ran for vice-president with Breckenridge. Mr. and Mrs. Biggers crossed the plains in 1853 and he died in Scio, Oregon, and the mother at Lebanon.

Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Markham. six of whom are living: Melvin C., mar- ried and living at Seneaquoteen; Edith, wife of Thomas Campbell, in Laclede; Loren and Lester, twins, with parents; Lena, wife of Charles Horn, in this county : Grover C., with parents. Mr. and Mrs. Markham are people of excellent standing in the com- munity and are deserving of much commendation for the worthy pioneer labors that they have done here and for the exemplary manner in which they have al- ways conducted themselves.

DAVID PHIFER. With a very creditable mili- tary career which extends over many years, being also a man of capabilities and a stanch character, the sub- ject of this article is one of the substantial and leading inen of the county and is deserving of representation in its history.

David Phifer was born in Ripley county, Indiana, on July 4. 1853, being the son of Philip and Louise Phifer, natives of Germany. They came to America in early days and located in Indiana. The father en- listed in the Union army and was killed in the battle of Pea Ridge. The mother also died when he was small and he was raised by an uncle, John R. Heim, in Indianapolis, Indiana. He received a good school- ing and at the age of twenty-one started for himself. One year was spent in railroading and in 1876 he en- listed in the regular army, Company H, Fourth In- fantry. He was at various places, among which was Niobrara and Sanders, forts in Wyoming, and in 1886 he came to Coeur d'Alene with the army. The fol- lowing year he was honorably discharged and at once went into business in Coeur d'Alene. He first com- menced to cook and operated a restaurant and he has been in business for the entire time since that date. He owns a fine building on Sherman street and also a good residence. Mr. Phifer is considered one of the reliable and substantial men of the town and is one of the old settlers. He has always manifested a public spirit and is ever ready to take hold of any enterprise for the general good.

It is of note that the ancestors of Mr. Phifer were all very long lived. His maternal grandfather lived to be one hundred and twenty years of age and that venerable gentleman's wife was one hundred and ten when she died. Many of the other ancestors on both sides of the house lived to be over one hundred years of age.

In 1891 Mr. Phifer married Miss Maggie Will- iams, whose parents were natives of Wales. To this couple has been born one child, Elva. Mr. and Mrs. Phifer are members of the Lutheran church, and he also affiliates with Tribe No. 2, of Red Men, at Coeur d'Alene.

WILLIAM FREDERICK PLONSKE. The brain and brawn of Germany's sturdy men have wrought much for this nation and among the number of worthy immigrants who have made this their home and justly belong to the progressive and thrifty class of citizens, we mention William Plonske, of whom we essay to speak at this time. He was born in Ger- many, on November 5, 1869, being the son of August and Henrietta (Kollonowske) Plonske, who also were natives of Germany. The family came to Amer- ica in 1875. locating in Waupaca county, Wisconsin. later going to St. Croix county. In 1895 they came to Kootenai county, where the father now lives, the mother dying in 1900. William was educated in the various places where the parents lived and at fifteen went to work for himself. In 1890 he came to Aber-

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deen, Washington, and worked in the lumber woods for two years and then came to his present place in 1893. His farm is located three miles west from Postfalls, and consists of one hundred and eleven acres. This is improved with comfortable buildings, a'blacksmith shop and so forth, and is devoted to rais- ing vegetables and stock.

In 1894 Mr. Plonske married Miss Virginia B., daughter of George and Mary Knowlton, natives re- spectively of Illinois and Oregon. They now live in Spokane. To Mr. and Mrs. Plonske two children have been born, Pearl E., Fred W., deceased. In 1897 Mrs. Plonske was called from her husband and family by death and her remains sleep in the Saltese cemetery, Washington. Mr. Plonske is a member of the German Lutheran church. He is a worthy, in- dustrious man and stands well among the people of his community.

Mr. Plonske was elected justice of the peace on the Democratic ticket in 1902 and was one of the three Democrats elected in Kootenai county at that election.

LEVERITT V. LYON. This gentleman has spent considerable time in the various calling's of the frontier, and especially in prospecting and mining, in which latter he has been successful, having at this time some claims of good value on the north half of the Colville reservation in Washington. He has put three thousand dollars in them and is pressing the development of them with vigor and skill at this time. He also has a fine homie two and one-half miles from Postfalls. The estate at this point consists of a quarter section of good land. It is fenced and a good portion of it under cultivation, having eight acres to orchard and handling much small fruit and vegetables. He has a good, comfortable house and other buildings.

It will be of interest to add a detailed account of the career of Mr. Lyon. First we note that he was born in Petersburg, New Brunswick, Canada, on April 13, 1863, being the son of William and Matilda (Sleep) Lyon, natives of New Brunswick also. The father died in 1872, but the mother still lives in the old home. There were four children in the family, mentioned below, Bradford, married and residing in Eureka, California ; Leveritt, the subject of this article ; Ludlow, living in Bolster, Washington: George, liv- ing in Petersville, New Brunswick. Our subject's paternal grandfather was a native of New York, and his maternal grandparents were born in England. Leveritt was educated in his native place and at six- teen years of age went to Pennsylvania and worked in the coal mines. Two years later we find him in Nevada, laboring in the quartz mines, where one year was spent and then he went to the Black Hills, South Dakota. In 1883 he came to Spokane, Washington. Going to the Big Bend country he was one of thirty- two men who went in a body to prospect and two years were spent in the Okanogan district, exploring the country. Then he came to Kootenai county and took the land spoken of above. He has an excellent

home and intends that it shall be his home the bal- ance of his days. In political matters Mr. Lyon is liberal and reserves his judgment for the man and the principles rather than confining himself to the dema- gognes of party restriction. He stands well in his community and is one of the substantial men of the county.

AUGUST PLONSKE. This worthy farmer of Kootenai county was born in Germany, Soldin, on May 7, 1843, being the son of Fredrick and Chris- tina (Dettner) Plonske, natives of Germany. The mother died in 1862 and the father in 1867, being buried in the native place. August received a com- inon schooling and at fourteen began to work out. Åt twenty-one he served in the German war with Austria and with Denmark for three years, being mustered out in 1866. In 1870 he went to fight in the Franco-Prussian war and saw terrible warfare and great hardships tor one year. After that war he worked at various occupations until 1875, when he came to Wisconsin and settled in Fond-du-Lac county, whence he removed in three years to Baldwin, in that state. Seven years were spent there and then he went to Hammond, Wisconsin, and lived eight years. Then he came to Kootenai county and took a homestead where he now lives, three miles south from Spokane Bridge. He built a good house, has seventy acres under cultivation, a good orchard and is one of the prosperous farmers of the section.

In 1868 Mr. Plonske married Miss Hennathe Kollmowske, a native of Germany, and to them have been born ten children, as follows: William, married to Jennie Knowlton, she being now deceased ; Charles, a physician in St. Paul, Minnesota; Amelia, wife of Frank Conrad, in Hammond, Wisconsin ; Otilda, wife of Julius Conrad, in Hammond, Wisconsin; Mary, wife of Robert L. Hudson, in Spokane, Washington ; Albert, with parents; Anna, wife of Louis Stingle, in Postfalls; Emma, single, living with her sister in Hammond, Wisconsin : Edward, with father ; Clara, with her sister in Hammond, Wisconsin. Mrs. Plonske died in 1900. Mr. Plonske is a devoted member of the German Lutheran church.

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An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 218

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