An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 219

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 219
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 219
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 219
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 219

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ZACHARIAH AND THOMAS E. MONTGOM- ERY. These stanch and successful business men and heavy real estate holders of the lower Kootenai valley are located adjoining the town of Porthill, where they have extensive interests as well as being heavily inter- ested in mining properties in northern Idaho.

They are the sons of Samuel and Nancy J. (Par- ker) Montgomery, natives of Kentucky and North Carolina. respectively. The parents removed to Mis- souri and there were married and then located in Buchanan county, where they remained for forty years. In 1887 they went to Riley county, Kansas, where they are now retired farmers. Zachariah was born March 10, 1851, and Thomas was born December 19, 1853.

ZACHARIAH MONTGOMERY.

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

both being natives of Buchanan county, Missouri, and there received a common schooling. Zachariah com- menced a college course and his health failed and con- sequently he was forced to forego this pleasure. He remained at home with his parents until he was twenty- four and then went to Brown county, Kansas, and raised and bought cattle for twelve years. Then, on account of poor health, he came to the west in 1880 and traveled quite extensively in various portions. Re- turning to Kansas, he again undertook the stock busi- ness and for three years he was occupied in it. It was 1891 that he came to his present location and took a homestead. He cleared fifty acres of heavily timbered land and put it into fruit and he has the finest orchard in northern Idaho. He gathers as high as four thou- sand boxes of apples in one season, besides other fruit. Mr. Montgomery has fifteen hundred acres of land, all under cultivation but a few acres, much of it being utilized for hay. He also has nearly six hundred acres in company with his brother Thomas. He also has about twenty mining claims and part of them have been placed in the hands of the Kootenai Mining and Smelting Company and the stock of them is selling at twenty-five cents per share, thus signifying that these properties are very valuable. Mr. Montgomery is a member of the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 292, of Mil- ford, Kansas.

Thomas E. worked with his parents until he was twenty-one and then went to Kansas and one summer later returned to Missouri. In 1878 he went to Mon- tana and for one year he did the vigorous labor of cutting cordwood. Then we find him driving a team and working in the mines until 1893, the time when he came to this valley. He had been here in 1891. In 1893 he located his present homestead and in addition has purchased land until he owns eight hundred acres, besides some in partnership with his brother. . He handles stock and does general farming and owns mines, having been quite successful in his ventures.

In 1894 Mr. Thomas Montgomery married Miss Artimesa, daughter of George and Julia (Roll)

Holmes, natives of Kentucky and Missouri, respect- ively. Mr. and Mrs. Holmes were married in St. Joseph, Missouri, and in 1890 came west to Spokane. Mrs. Holmes died in 1893, but the father still lives in Spokane. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery, Bertha, Fred A., Elsie and Mamie. Mrs. Montgomery is a member of the Baptist church.

These brothers are among the leading men of this portion of the valley and they are progressive and en- terprising men whose labors have resulted in much good for the advancement of the country and they are highly respected and stand well, having hosts of friends. .

MALCOLM BRUCE. This successful business man and public minded citizen of Bonners Ferry has done a good work in the development of Kootenai coun- ty and is at present engaged in operating a ferry across the Kootenai river at Bonners Ferry. He was born in the county of Bruce, Ontario, Canada, on Au- 58

gust 15, 1855, being the son of Allen and Christian ( Mckenzie) Bruce, natives of Scotland. They came to Canada in an early day and settled on a farm, where the father died in 1884, but the mother still lives in Bonners Ferry. Malcolm received his educa- tion in the justly famous schools of Ontario and at fourteen quit studying and gave his time to assisting his father on the farm. This continued until he was twenty-two and at that time he inaugurated indepen- dent action. We see him next in Manitoba and there he assisted to run the boundary line between the Uni- ted States and Canada in 1872. He worked at vari- ous callings there until 1886 and then he went to Bis- marck, North Dakota. He remained three years and then came to Spokane Bridge, where he lived three years on a farm. It was in 1891 that he came to Bon- ners Ferry, bringing with him a fine dairy, which he operated altogether for ten years, making a first-rate success of it. He sold it in 1899 and bought the ferry across the Kootenai, which property he sold to a com- pany in 1902 and hired to them to operate it. In that capacity, we find him at this time.

In 1882, Mr. Bruce married Miss Maggie, whose parents, Robert and Mary (Armstrong) Mills, came to Canada in an early day from their native country, Ire- land. To Mr. and Mrs. Bruce there have been born five children, named as follows: John, Dollie. Robert B., Ellen F. and Verna M. Politically, Mr. Bruce is allied with the stanch Republican party and is active in local matters. He is a member of the M. W. A., North Star Lodge, No. 6160; of the K. of P., Acma Lodge, No. 15; Rathbone Sisters, of which latter his wife is also a member. They are both members of the Presbyterian church.

FRANCIS M. WAGGONER. Surely this enter- prising agriculturist of Kootenai county has had :1 career in which has been crowded some great hard- ships, but his patience, his fortitude, his tenacity and courage have surmounted them all and have given him a good success in this land. He lives now about one mile south and one mile west from Postfalls, where he has two hundred acres of fine land, well improved and supplied with buildings, stock and neces- sary implements in a degree that shows both the pros- perity of the owner as well as his skill in husbandry and in business enterprises.

Mr. Waggoner was born in Gilmer county, Vir- ginia, on March 7, 1848, being the son of John and Jemima (Collins) Wagoner, natives also of Virginia, but immigrants to Wisconsin in 1855 and to lowa in 1867, where they now live. The father is eighty- two and the mother seventy-five. Their farm is in Guthrie county, near Menlo. Francis was educated at the country schools in the various places where he lived until fifteen and and then assisted his father until twenty-four. He was then engaged as overseer of a sixteen-hundred-acre farm for Joseph Kenworthy, where he remained nine years with fine success. He then entered into partnership with the owner and in

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

one year he lost four thousand dollars. Then he went to Kansas, bought a farm and had the burden of losing two crops in succession. Then he sold out and went to Iowa, and farmed there for five years. He returned to Kansas in 1885, bought eighty acres and remained there five years, when he came to Spokane county. Washington, settling near Chester. Four years later he removed to Kootenai county, securing his present place, making it larger in 1898, by the purchase of forty acres. He has the entire estate producing and all nicely fenced and improved as mentioned before. He has nine cows, ten head of smaller stock, plenty of horses for the farm and does a prosperous business.

In 1872 Mr. Waggoner married Miss Ida V., daughter of James and Sarah (Root) Dwig- gins, natives of Ohio. Mrs. Waggoner had six brothers in the Civil war, all of them com- manders. while her father had four brothers in the war. Some of these veterans live in Illi- nois and some in Iowa. To Mr. and Mrs. Waggon- er there have been born four children, as follows : Char- les F., married to Eva Fleming, in this county : Oscar J., married to Kittie Knoble, living in Kootenai coun- ty; Stella, wife of Henry Enders, in Fostfalls ; Flor- «ence J., with parents. Mr. Waggoner takes an in- telligent and active part in politics, refraining from accepting office, although pressed by friends to do so. He has given his time to the handling of school affairs and has been an ardent supporter of educational facil- ities. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., and he and Mrs. Waggoner are members of the Christian church and are devout supporters of their faith.

EUGENE L. WHITNEY. It is quite in place that there should be incorporated in the history of Kootenai county an account of the career of this esti- mable gentleman and stirring business man, who is well known in the northern part of the county and is now located in Bonner's Ferry, where he does a general dray and transfer business.

Eugene L. was born in Canaseraga, Allegany county, New York, on September 12, 1854, being the son of Melvin and Eliza (Hooker) Whitney, also natives of New York. The father was a miller and a millwright and this he followed until the time of his death at a good ripe age. The mother died when aged. They had been the parents of six children, five boys and one girl. Our subject was educated in the district school and in 1879 completed a course in bookkeeping also. At the age of thirteen he met the responsibili- ties of the world on his own account, going first to Pennsylvania, where he followed lumbering for four years. At the age of nineteen, he went to Kansas and engaged in hunting buffalo and farming until 1876, then went to Fort Hayes and operated a livery for a time, and later did the same business at Bull City, Kansas. Then he sold and took up the hardware bus- iness. Next we see him in Osborne, buying stock and grain for the First National Bank of that place. He

resigned in 1880, taking up the management of a lum- ber industry for Hall Brothers, where he continued for eleven years. It was in 1891 that he severed his con- nections with this business and came to Kootenai count- ty. Bonners Ferry was fortunate enough to secure his esttlement and he took up sawmilling. His firm was known as Whitney, Braden & Company and under this style they did business for one year and then he went into partnership with W. W. Bush and they did business transferring ore and freight from boat to train at Bonners Ferry. They continued together for one year and Mr. Whitney had been in this business ever since. He has good equippage and also a good residence in Bonners Ferry and about twenty good town lots. His residence he built in 1894.

In political matters, Mr. Whitney is active and a thorough Republican. He was president of the Mc- Kinley club in 1896. He was marshal of Bonners Fer- ry and councilman in Eaton. He is also a member of the school board and labors for the furthering of educational facilities. In 1876 he was delegate to the Republican county convention in Osborne county and in1 1902 he was delegate in Kootenai county and was nominated for sheriff of the county. He gained the day by a handsome majority.

In 1880 Mr. Whitney married Miss Bessie, daugh- ter of William and Sarah J. (Taylor) Braden, natives of Iowa and Kentucky respectively. They came to Kansas in early days and remained there until their death. To Mr. and Mrs. Whitney there have been born three children as follows: Bertrice, wife of Bart- lett Sinclair, now living in Passig, Philippines ; Stella, Helen, both with parents. Mr. Whitney is a member of the K. of P., the I. O. O. F., and the K. O. T. M. Mrs. Whitney is a member of the Rebekahs. Both of them are members of the Presbyterian church.

ANDREW J. KENT. A real frontiersman and a pioneer who has wrought in different places in the west, Mr. Kent is now living in Bonners Ferry and is one of the substantial, influential and prominent citizens of Kootenai county. He was born in Osceola, Wisconsin, on December 8, 1860, being the son of An- drew and Esther (Hill) Kent, natives of Scotland and Pennsylvania, respectively. The father was born in 1819 and came to America in 1820. He remained in New Brunswick until 1833 then went to Maine where he remained until 1850. Then he went to Osceola, Wisconsin, and in 1853 to California. He returned by way of Cape Horn but when opposite southern California the boat sank, taking all the treasure with it, but all hands were saved. Mr. Kent lost forty-four thousand dollars. He returned and went to Pike's Peak, but not discovering gold there, he came to Osceola, Wisconsin, where lie lived until 1901. when his time came to pass the river of death. He, with four broth- ers, put the first saw mill on the St. Croix river. The mother lives in Osceola now. Our subject received a

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

common schooling in his native place and in 1876 he took a normal course at River Falls, Wisconsin. In 1879 he came to Missoula, Montana, and then went to Philipsburg and worked in the Granite mine for one year. It was 1883 when he came to Murray, that being the time of the gold excitement. Seven years he la- bored in the Coeur d'Alenes and he was among the lead- ing mine discoverers there, for he located the Fifield group, the Evolution, and others in close proximity to the famous Bunker Hill mine. In 1891 Mr. Kent came to Bonners Ferry district as an expert for Loran and Clark. Since that time, he has made his home here. He owns three hundred and twenty acres of land, which he bought from the railroad, also twenty-eight lots in Bonners Ferry and other property. In 1901 Mr. Kent took a contract to build eight miles of road for wagons to the Buckhorn mines from Bonners Ferry.

In 1890 Mr. Kent married Miss Nellie E. Welch, in Coeur d'Alene, and to them have been born five children : Leslie, Zoe E., Fay I., Howard and Theodore Roosevelt. Mrs. Kent's parents, E. R. and Hattie E. (Sargent) Welch, are natives of New York and now live in The Dalles, Oregon, whither they came in the 'seventies. Mr. Kent is an active participant in the realm of politics, both county and state. In 1896 he was elected justice of the peace and succeeded him- self in 1898. In 1900 he was chosen constable, which office he now holds. He has frequently been delegate to the county conventions and has served on the board of councilmen for Bonners Ferry. He has also given his time and wisdom on the school board frequently and is so serving now. He is a member of the K. of P., Acma Lodge, No. 15. Mr. Kent is the possessor of some valuable mining property in the Buckhorn district and is a promoter of these, while also he labors for progression and advancement in all lines.

JOSEPH C. PARENT. This gentleman has done much toward the upbuilding and development of Koot- enai county, laboring with energy and zeal and accom- plishing worthy results in many capacities, especially in handling the lumber products of the country. He was born on May 2, 1859, on Star Prairie, Wisconsin, being the son of Charles and Della (Picard) Parent. natives of Canada and Michigan, respectively. The father left Canada for the United States at the age of eleven years. He located in Detroit and remained there for twenty-two years and then went to St. Croix county, Wisconsin, in 1855, where he lives now, re- tired, being aged eighty. He is a worthy citizen and holds a goodly competence for the labors of his hands. His first wife was Della Picard and by her he had seven children. She died in 1869. His second wife was a widow with six children and by her he has two children. Our subject received his education on Star Prairie and in Somerset. He remained on the farm with his parents until twenty-one. He farmed until 1889, when he came west, locating in Montana, where he remained until 1891, and then came to Kootenai county. He freighted on the Kootenai river with

canoes for one year, receiving as high as two dollars per pound for freight from Crossport to Kootenai falls. In 1893 he located a homestead of sixty-three acres and proved up. In 1901 he took the balance of his right, and his place is located four miles north from Bonners Ferry. This he is improving in good shape, and is devoting attention to raising blooded hogs, of which he has some fine specimens. In 1894 Mr. Parent took a contract of furnishing the Great Northern with ties. The next year he contracted to furnish five hundred thousand feet of logs to the Kaslo saw mill. In 1896 he took another similar contract and in 1897 he contracted for seven hundred thou- sand feet. In 1898 he contracted to furnish the Sav- ward company one half million feet and this entire amount was lost by the boom breaking. In 1899 Mr. Parent freighted on the K. V. Railroad and the next year he began improvements in earnest on his ranch.

In 1881 Mr. Parent married Miss Adaline M., daughter of Dominick and Adaline (Pearson) Gen- erous, natives of Canada, but immigrants to Osseo, Minnesota, where they live on a farm. To Mr. and Mrs. Parent there have been born four children, three of whom are living, named as follows: Abraham J., at home; Angeline M., wife of Edward V. Greenleaf, in Star Prairie, Wisconsin ; Charles F., with father. Mr. Parent is always active in political matters and displays the interest of the intelligent citizen. He and his family affiliate with the Catholic church.

GILBERT F. OSLER. Although the subject of this sketch has recently come to this county, he has made himself one of the substantial citizens of it in this time and is actively interested in its upbuilding, while he has shown forth uprightness and sound prin- ciples in his walk, thus commending himself to all lovers of good and those who desire the advancement of our county.

Gilbert F. was born in Logan county, Illinois, on October 14, 1856, being the son of Basell and Dorcus (Norton) Osler, natives of Indiana. The father died in 1863. Having been a good business man, he left an estate of twenty thousand dollars. The mother re- moved to Pottawattamie county, Iowa, and by her excellent management has made a fine fortune of twice that amount. These worthy people were the parents of seventeen children, eight of whom are now living. Our subject went to Iowa with the rest of the family and there received his schooling. At the age of seven- teen, he started out for himself, purchasing a farm, which he worked for fourteen years. This was in Io- wa, then he went to Nebraska and purchased a farm, and for thirteen years he tilled that. Then he deter- mined to see the west and accordingly came to Koot- enai county. This was in 1901. He took a homestead and bought a half section more, one quarter of which was hay land. That he sold and now he is doing a saw mill business, one and one-half miles southeast from Bonners Ferry, where his land is located. In addition to this, Mr. Osler has some stock and devotes considerable attention to that.

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In 1877 Mr. Osler married Miss Malissa, dangh- ter of Cephas and Rachel Ellis, natives of Ohio, who came to Iowa in an early day and in 1887 removed to Nebraska, where they now live. To Mr. and Mrs. Osler there have been born three children, Myrtle L., teaching school : Earl C., and Ratie M., at home. Mr. Osler is active in local politics and also in all measures that have for their aim the betterment and advancement of the country and county. He is a member of the M. W. A., and of the K. O. T. M.

CHARLES O'CALLAGHAN. This prominent business man of Bonners Ferry is a man of good stand- ing and manifest ability and has so conducted himself that he has the confidence and approbation of the peo- ple, in whose esteem he stands very high. He is a thorough gentleman, having a high sense of honor and integrity, is a loyal friend, holds a pleasant distinction in the social world and is a capable, upright, and effici- ent business man and loyal and patriotic citizen.

Charles O'Callaghan was born in Buckingham, near Ottawa, Canada, on December 12, 1852, being the son of P. J. and Mary (Cox) O'Callaghan, natives of Ireland and Canada, respectively. The mother died when Charles was four years of age. The father came to Norway, Michigan, in 1875, where he now lives, aged ninety.

Our subject was educated in the common schools until twenty and then went to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where he entered and graduated from the business col- lege, and then he entered the state normal school, from which he graduated also in 1878. Being thus well equipped in the line of education and business knowl- edge, young O'Callaghan started in the labors of the educator in Michigan. He taught for two years and was also interested in lumbering, being bookkeeper for a large lumber firm, and also buying and selling lum- ber at this time. This latter continued until 1887, when Mr. O'Callaghan had the misfortune to lose his health. He was filled with courage and spirit and was determined to conquer and so came to the west and took up stock raising in Kootenai county, Idaho. Four years he labored at this and then sold out and came to Bonners Ferry, taking up real estate business. He has done well in this line since that time, having ac- quired title to a considerable property both in the country and in Bonners Ferry. He is an active parti- cipant in politics, being a strong Jeffersonian Demo- crat. In 1899 he was appointed United States commis- sioner for Idaho and does a good business in this line now. In 1896 he was elected justice of the peace, and twice he has succeeded himself, so well are the people pleased with his impartiality and faithfulness. He holds the office now. He was chairman of the city council for two terms up to 1898. Mr. O'Callaghan is a good business man, faithful and efficient, and is admired by all.

In 1900 Mr. O'Callaghan married Miss Della E., daughter of P. and Mary ( Mead) Sullivan, natives respectively of Ireland and Canada. They came to

the United States when they were young. To Mr. and Mrs. O'Callaghan there have been born three children, Vina E., Claude V., and Lillian M., all of whom were born in Bonners Ferry. Mr. O'Callaghan and his wife are devoted members of the Catholic church and they are valued members of society. 1

WILLIAM ELDERTON. No citizen of Bonners Ferry is better known than the estimable gentleman whose name is at the head of this article. He is one of the leading business men of the town, having both a fine blacksmith shop and a livery and feed stable, in both of which lines he does a good business and dur- ing his residence in this section he has displayed a pro- gressive and enterprising spirit and he is always found ready to assist in any measures that are for the general advancement and welfare of the town and its citizens.

William was born in Wayne county, Ohio, on Jan- uary 29, 1849, being the son of James and Sarah (Smedley) Elderton, also natives of Ohio. The father died in the same year that this son was born and the mother handled the farm until her death in 1860. Be- ing thus left an orphan, our subject went to live with his grandmother. He received a common schooling and soon learned the blacksmith trade. In the art of this leading trade he has been constantly active until the present time. He went to Illinois in 1879 and two years later we find him in Del Norte, Colorado, where two years were spent. In 1881 he removed to New Mexico and two years afterward went to old Mexico. In a year he was back to New Mexico, Socorro, and there remained until 1893. Then he came to Bonners Ferry. He immediately bought three lots, built a good house and improved his property. Also he purchased a quarter section of timber land. He now owns one- half interest in a business building in town. handles a livery and feed stable and also a blacksmith shop.

Mr. Elderton was one of four children as follows : Francis, deceased : Henry, married and living in Kan- sas ; George, married and living in Illinois : William, the subject of this article.

In 1886 Mr. Elderton married Miss Margret A. Burton. In political matters, Mr. Elderton is an active Democrat and he has frequently been called to act as delegate to the county conventions, and in 1900 he served in that capacity at Coeur d'Alene. He joined the I. O. O. F. in 1879. at Ashland, Illinois, being as- sociated with Lodge No. 341. In 1901 he left that to become a charter member of Utopia Lodge, No. 36, here in Bonners Ferry. He has passed through all of the chairs and at present is noble grand. He is also a member of the M. W. A. at Bonners Ferry, and of the Knights of Honor, at Ashland, Illinois.

WILLIAM E. CISCO. Four miles south from Ramsey is the farm of the subject of this sketch, which consists of one hundred and twenty acres, where he has resided for the years since 1897, and his parents also

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reside there. William E. was born in Corvallis, Ore- gon, on October 4. 1858, being the son of William W. and Jane ( Stevens) Cisco, natives respectively of Ohio and Vermont. The mother crossed the plains in 1845. Her mother died, she being seven years of age, on the trip. and with her father she completed the tedious journey. The father of our subject came across the plains to Oregon in 1852, and in Corvallis met his future wife. There they were married and shortly afterward they removed to King county, Washington, where they have made their home for twenty years. Then they removed to Whitman county, the same state, where ten years were spent. Then they came to Kootenai county and in 1898 they came to their pres- ent home with their son. Our subject was educated in King county, being favored only with a common schooling, and he has since that time remained with his parents, doing faithfully the duties of life that have come to hand. In 1892 he came to Spirit valley and in 1898 bought his present place. The parents have come to live here and they have a good piece of land and twenty acres under cultivation. He has four head of horses, nine cattle and other property. Mr. Cisco has one brother, Eugene, married to Mattie Eaton, and living in this county ; also he has one sis- ter, Mary M., wife of Daniel W. Pierce, in this county. Mr. Cisco is a well liked man, upright and dominated with integrity and good principles, while he has the esteem of all who know him. He has never seen fit to embark on the matrimonial sea yet, preferring to enjoy the quieter satisfaction of his life of celibacy.

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An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 219

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