An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 221

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 221
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 221
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 221
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 221

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).

It was in 1800 that Mr. Baeck married Miss Emma

Comminske, a native of Germany, who came to this country in 1889. Two children have been born to this happy union, Henry and Freda, who make their home bright and pleasant.

Mr. Baeck is also interested in raising stock, hav- ing a goodly band now. He will soon erect an ele- gant residence and pipe the sparkling spring water from its native place in the mountains right into the house. He has an ideal home and is highly esteemed by all. He and his estimable wife are members of the German Lutheran church and are liberal supporters of their faith. Mr. Baeck is also a member of the K. of P., and a charter member of the Sons of Hermann, Lodge No. 9, in Spokane, in which he has held office.

JOHN SHAFER. On the banks of Fish lake, one of the most charming spots that nature has generously bestowed in Kootenai county, lies the estate of our subject. It consists of three hundred and thirty-seven acres of fine land, well improved and in this ideal place, Mr. Shafer is now erecting an elegant resort for the ac- commodation of the many visitors. In addition to this fine property, Mr. Shafer has some property in Rathdrum and also mining interests in Buffalo Hump district. He has one claim also in the St. Reges coun- try for which he paid two thousand dollars and it is of very promising value.

Mr. Shafer was born in Crawford county, Penn- sylvania, on November 8, 1852, being the son of Philip and Elizabeth (Knearman) Shafer, natives of Ger- many, who came to America in 1834. They located in Pennsylvania and the father bought horses and cat- tle for the government from 1832 to 1871. He died in 1884, aged eighty and his wife died in 1882, aged seventy-four. They had six children, all boys and our subject the youngest. John was educated in his native place and at the age of nineteen stepped from the parental home to do battle for himself in life. He bought and sold stock in Pennsylvania until 1876, then went into the livery business in St. Petersburg, Clar- ion county, Pennsylvania, and remained in that for three years. His next move was to buy a farm, which he tilled until 1883, then he sold that also and came to Rathdrum. He has lived in this vicinity since that time and is now located as stated above.

In 1873 Mr. Shafer married Miss Fannie L., daugh- ter of William and Sarah A. (Custard) Porter, na- tives of Pennsylvania. The mother still lives there, being born in 1806. The father died there in the six- ties. They had eleven children, seven boys and four girls, Mrs. Shafer being the youngest. To Mr. and Mrs. Shafer there have been born two children, Will- iam P., deceased : Sadie E., wife of Charles Lafavre, in Wardner, Idaho. In 1890 Mrs. Shafer was called from home and family by death and her remains re- pose in the cemetery at Rathdrum,

Mr. Shafer is an intelligent and active participant in the political realm, being a strong supporter of the principles of the Republican party. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and used to be of the K. of P. but

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dropped it when he came to this country. When Mr. Shafer completes the improvements planned for his summer resort he will have one of the most attractive places in this section of the country and will have all the comforts and entertainments provided that the most exacting guests could desire, which his geniality and affability and skill will doubly enhance.

GEORGE BATTERS is a man who has taken liold with his hands, directed by a native sagacity and vigor, and has wrought out a good success in the af- fairs of this life, being at the present time proprietor and owner of a good hotel in Athol, also a livery and feed barn, while he has a nice farm, one hundred acres of which are under cultivation. He does a good busi- ness in all lines and handles a hotel, where he gains the good will and approval of the traveling public on account of his affability and care for the comfort of guests.

George Batters was born in Joliet, Illinois, on De- cember 22, 1854, being the son of Joseph and Cather- ine ( Pilkey) Batters, natives of Canada, who came to Illinois in an early day and thence later to Little Falls, Minnesota, where the father handled a hotel until the time of his death, in 1873, having come there in 1854. The mother continued the business until she died in 1884, and they both repose in the cemetery in Little Falls. Our subject received his education from the public schools, and at the age of fourteen years, started in life for himself. He worked as assistant cook in a logging camp and then took charge of that department and on the drive until 1888, when he came to Spo- kane, and there operated a restaurant for six months. Selling out, he came to the old town of Athol, worked for a sawmill outfit and then for Prickett & Warner for three years on a farm. Then he took a homestead and proved up on it, embellished it with buildings, fences, orchard, and so forth, then purchased some pro- perty in Postfalls, and in 1902, he bought the hotel in Athol, as mentioned above.

In 1880 Mr. Batters married Miss Ellen, daughter of William G. and Sarah (Swatz) McEwen, natives of New York and Germany, respectively. They came to Wisconsin and there the mother died and the father went to Nebraska and there he passed away in 1899. To Mr. and Mrs. Batters one child has been born, George E., with his parents. Mr. Batters is a member of the I. O. O. F., Pine Lodge No. 75. His son be- longs to the same lodge and also to the Rebekahs, Evergreen Lodge, No. 51, and to the M. W. A., Athol Camp, No. 8388. Mr. Batters is a man of sterling worth and has hosts of friends wherever he is known.

HARVEY J. SWOFFORD. This well known gentleman is one of the heavy property owners of Kootenai county, his estate of six hundred acres being located about four miles northwest from Coeur d'Alene, where he does a general farming business and raises

stock. His land is about half under cultivation, and he has a fine orchard of all varieties, good buildings, and all about him testifies that he is a man of sagacity and industry.

Harvey J. Swofford was born in St. Clair county, Missouri, on April 13, 1843, being the son of Harvey J. and Nancy (Murphy) Swofford, natives of Illinois, but farmers of Missouri. In 1845 they removed to the vicinity of St. Louis, where they remained until the time of their death. Our subject received a good schooling and at a young age went to work for him- self. The mother died when he was ten and his father married a second tiine. When he had worked out eight years, he came home and assisted his father for two years. Then he bought a farm and gave his attention to tilling it until 1888, when he came to the west. He purchased a por- tion of his present estate, it being unimproved, and in three years he had it all broken and good buildings erected. The rest of the land has been purchased later. He has considerable stock in addition to his other pro- perty.

In 1878 Mr. Swofford married Miss Sarah J., daughter of Thomas and Sendy (Davenport) Goodin, natives of Tennessee, and to this happy union seven children have been born: Frank, married and living in Coeur d'Alene : Leonard, Thomas, Mary L., Ellen, Wallace, and Lee A. Mr. Swofford is an enterprising business man and has achieved a good success and is counted one of the substantial and leading men of his community.

CHARLES WAGGONER is one of the younger men whose lot has been cast in the fertile regions of Kootenai county, and he has made a success here that does him real credit, while also he stands well among the people of his community. He lives two miles west and one mile south from Postfalls and owns two hun- dred acres of good land. He has nearly one hundred acres in cultivation, good improvements, as buildings, fences, orchard, and so forth. He does a general farm- ing business and has some stock on the place.

With this brief outline, we will notice the details of his life. His birth occurred on January 14, 1874, in Dale, Iowa, and his parents were, Francis M. and Ida V. Waggoner, natives of Virginia and Ohio, respec- tively. They are mentioned in another portion of this volume. Charles was educated in Iowa and in Kansas and at the age of seventeen started out for himself. He came with his parents to Washington, and at Chester he served on the school board and then came to his present place. He took one quarter as a homestead and hought one forty afterwards.

In May, 1895 Mr. Waggoner married Miss Eva M., daughter of Isaac and Martha (Blackburn) Fleming, natives of Ireland and England, respectively. The mother died while Mrs. Waggoner was young. In 1890 Mr. Fleming came to Washington, but lives now at Stockbridge, Massachusetts. To Mr. and Mrs. Wag- goner there have been born three children, Glenys I., Dora F., and Charles M. Mr. Waggoner is a member

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

of the K. O. T. M., Tent No. 18, in Postfalls. He is with the Populist party in political matters and was ap- pointed deputy assessor in this county for two years, in 1901 and 1902. He is active in this realm and takes a keen interest in the affairs of local and state politics. He is a young man of good standing and is one of the public minded and capable citizens of the county.

JOSEPH PROVOST is one of the sturdy pioneers of Kootenai county and his hands have wrought a good work in opening his present farm, three miles east from Coeur d'Alene, which worthy labors have augmented the wealth of the county and done much in the upbuild- ing and development of the new country.

Joseph Provost was born in St. Julienne county, province of Quebec, Canada, on June 2, 1863, being the son of Peter and Netellei (Brunelle) Provost, also na- tives of the same province. The mother died in 1865 in Saint Julienne county and the father died in 1869 and is buried in Rouville county, Canada. Our subject was educated in Saint Damase, in the public schools and when seventeen came to Rhode Island where he worked one year in the cotton factories. Then he returned to the Ottawa river in Canada, and eighteen months later came thence to Portland, Oregon. He soon came to Kootenai county and in 1887, he located his present place. He cultivates fifteen acres, has good improve- ments and owns one million feet of good saw timber.

On July 15, 1902, Mr. Provost married Miss Res- ser D. Graves, whose parents were natives of Wis- consin. Mr. Provost is a member of the Catholic church, and his wife is a member of the Methodist church. Politically Mr. Provost is allied with the Peoples party, and is active and influential in local politics.

FRANK RUSSELL is one of the early pioneers of Kootenai county and his worthy labors in the up- building of the county's interests and augmenting its wealth, his own intrinsic worth and unswerving integ- rity, are reasons sufficient to warrant a detailed account of him in the volume that chronicles the lives of the leading men of the county and its annals.

Frank Russell was born in the province of Quebec, Canada, on May 1, 1832, being the son of Frank and Mary A. (Wolrick) Russell, natives of Quebec, where they remained until their death. Our subject was not favored with the privilege of attending public schools and he was obliged to gather his education from the books he could obtain and by utilizing his odd moments in this good labor. The first time he entered a school house was when he was elected school trustee in 1872, in Michigan. Frank worked for his father and the neighbors until he was fourteen and then went into the lumber woods. He has followed this business more or less since that date and is a skillful and capable man in this line. He came to Maine with his parents, who returned to Canada, but he remained. He worked for one man a number of years and when he came to Mich-

igan our subject came with him and remained in his employ for ten years. Then the employer departed from the country and our subject went to work for an- other company. In 1882 he went to logging for him- self and in 1886 he came to Idaho and located on his present place, three miles northeast from Coeur d'Alene and has devoted himself to improving his ranch and to logging in the different sections adjacent. Mr. Rus- sell has a good house, barns and other buildings and has some fruit trees and also cultivates sixty acres. He has also about fourteen head of stock. The first apple grown on the ranch was preserved by Mrs. Russeil and they keep it as the first fruits of their endeavors in the west.

On July 30, 1870, Mr. Russell married Mr>. Bar- bara, widow of Absalom Turner and daughter of John and Mary (Hill) Noble. Her parents were natives of England and came to Canada in 1835. locating in Gosfield, Essex county, West Canada, where they re- mained until their death. Mr. Russell has served as school trustee for nine years and also as road over- seer. They are members of the Methodist church and are stanch and upright people. Four children have been born to them, Frank E. ; Isabell M., wife of John Rodjene; Sophia J., widow of Tom Lewis, now in Butte, Montana; Grace E., with parents. Mrs. Rus- sell had three children by her first husband, Amelia T., wife of James Horner. in Coeur d'Alene : Mary E., wife of W. L. Mckibben; William Turner, in this county.

JONAS G. PETERSON. About three miles east from Coeur d'Alene lies the estate of Mr. Peterson. It consists of two hundred and forty acres of good land, eighty of which he bought from the railroad and one hundred and sixty he gained by homestead right. He has over sixty-five acres under cultivation and raises considerable hay and handles some stock. He is one of the substantial men of this section and has labored for many years to develop and build up the country.

Jonas G. Peterson was born in Ylengerstorp. Swe- den, in 1850, being the son of Peter and Christine (Eungren) Peterson, natives also of Sweden, where the mother died in 1855 and the father in 1887. Our subject was educated in the parish school until sixteen and then went to work on the railroad. He wrought at this in the summers and worked for his father in the winters until he was twenty-five. It was 1875 that he came to the United States, locating first in the state of Wisconsin. He came on to Washington in 1876, making the trip, via San Francisco and Portland. He wrought in the saw mills at Port Gamble, and then returned to San Francisco, thence going to British Columbia, where he prospected for some time. He returned to the Golden Gate and later we find him in Arizona, where he labored in the woods for eleven years. also spending part of the time in mining. In 1889 he came to his present place and settled on un- surveyed land, which was found to be railroad land. Then he bought an eighty of it and homesteaded. Mr.

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

Peterson spent two years logging and then went to work on his place and he has made some good improve- ments. He has a fine barn, good outbuildings and fence, with other evidences of thrift and industry.

In 1894 Mr. Peterson married Miss Telda, daughter of Arvedson Swenson and Caren (Nelson) Arvedson, natives of Sweden. They remained in their native country until their death. To Mr. and Mrs. Peterson there has been born one child, Harry R. E. They belong to the Swedish Lutheran church. Mr. Peter- son is allied with the Republican party, and is active and influential in the campaigns. He 1

standing and is one of the substantial and capable citizens of the county.

HENRY REINIGER, deceased. On the eleventh day of January, 1903, there passed from the scenes of earth to the realms beyond one of the prominent and leading business men in Rathdrum, Henry Reiniger. He had suffered long from a painful illness and on the day mentioned, at his residence in Rathdrum, death came to end it all and he went hence. The funeral was taken in charge by the various fraternal orders of which Mr. Reiniger was a member and amid a con- course of friends, the like of which has not hitherto been seen in this town, he was laid to rest.

Mr. Reiniger was well known all over this section and he was as highly esteemed as he was well known. From all classes came friends to pay their respects to the deceased and it was known that an influential man, a patriotic citizen, and a reliable and faithful compan- ion had gone from our midst. He had the distinction of being one of the earliest pioneers of this section and he was instrumental in opening many iterests here in those days. He passed through the country and camped on the site of Spokane before any town had been started. This was in 1876. Mr. Reiniger was then on his way from Germany to Colville and in that place he took charge of Hofsteder's brewery. Being an expert brewer he made a fine success of it, continuing the same until 1881. In that year he came to Rathdrum and built a brewery for himself. Two years later he had the sad experience of looking on his fine property reduced to ashes. This did not daunt his spirit and rising to the emergency he built a larger and better plant than he had before. This was put in successful operation and did a fine business until 1900, when it was again destroyed by fire. Mr. Reiniger had bought a section of land just east from Rathdrum and he su- perintended this in addition to handling his other butsi- ness. This was continued until the spring of 1902, when he sold it. Also during a portion of the years of his residence in Rathdrum, Mr. Reiniger owned a sa- loon. While operating it he went to California for his health. This improved him some but did not entirely free him from his affliction by disease. After return- ing from California, he sold his business and in No- vember, 1902, he opened a large and complete hard- ware store in Rathdrum. This was part of the es- tate left at his decease and is now operated by his son,

who was foreman of it before Mr. Reiniger's death and is now managing the same.

Like many of our most substantial citizens, Mr. Reiniger was born in Germany. The native place was Wittenberg and the date July 12, 1851. His parents were Gottlop B. and Mary Reiniger, both natives of Germany, where also they remained until their death. The father died in 1898 and the mother in 1900. The elder Reiniger followed the brewing business and also operated a hotel. Henry was educated in the excel- lent schools of his native place and also completed a commercial course in a business college. He also learned the brewing business, commencing when he was fifteen years old. At the age of twenty, he entered the army and served for three years, after which he returned home. It then became his purpose to leave the Fa- therland and seek his place and fortune in the New World. This he did in 1876 and came direct to Col- ville. Before leaving the homeland, Mr. Reiniger mar- ried the lady of his choice, Anna Foul, whose parents were also natives of Wittenberg. where they remained until death. Six children have been born to this happy union, named as followss: Anna, Henry, Laura, Er- nest, Max, Paul. Laura is teaching school and the others are engaged variously.

Mr. Reiniger was well known in business circles and was a power in politics. He was allied with the Democratic party and capable of giving a reason for his views. Fraternally he was affiliated with the K. of P., Chancellor Lodge, No. 13, and with the Rath- drum Court, No. 14, F. O. A.

ROBERT C. THOMPSON. By a decided choice of the people, the subject of this article has been called to discharge the important duties of com !.

of Kootenai county and it is but right to remark that in these duties as in all of his life, he manifests the greatest of faithfulness and care with consideration for all, which has given him great popularity and a stand- ing that is enviable indeed.

Robert C. Thompson was born in Wythe county, Virginia, on June 13, 1857, being the son of Jezreel and Ally (Lindamood) Thompson, natives of the same county, where also they died, the mother in 1875 and the father in 1897. They were the parents of ten chil- dren : Missouri F., Denison B., Robert C., Simon H., Virginia B., Johanna, Franklin K., Irene, Euretta, and Andrew M. Our subject received his education in his native place and remained with his parents until twenty-one. Then he learned the carpenter trade. In 1880 and 1881 he carried United States mail and in 1883 he purchased a saw mill, which he operated until 1885, and then sold. In that year he came to Wash- ington and thence to Kootenai county in the same year. He built a home in Rathdrum and remained two years, after which he went to Los Angeles, California. In- side of a year he was in Spokane. He then went to Stone Switch, this county, and in 1890 filed a home- stead. the title of which he has perfected, and in 1896 came back to Rathdrum. He established the first post-

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office at Athol, Mrs. Lydia Irons being first post- mistress and his wife assistant. While living on his ranch Mr. Thompson went to work for J. H. Stone as foreman in his camps and as tie inspector until IS92. In 1896 he came to Rathdrum and operated ? boarding house for two years, then took the foreman- ship of Pricket & Warner's horse ranch for six months. Since then he has given most of his time to his trade. In 1900 Mr. Thompson was nominated for county commissioner from the second district, but although he ran ahead of his ticket, he was defeated. In 1902 he was placed in nomination by acclamation for county assessor and was elected by a majority of two hundred and forty-seven.

On November 27, 1884, Mr. Thompson married Miss Laura A., daughter of Augustus and Catherine ( Tartar) Repass, natives of Virginia, as were their ancestors for generations back to the early settlement of the colony. They were the parents of eight children, seven of whom are living : Frank, Rhoda, Caroline and Alice, twins, John M., Laura A. Mrs. Thompson is a member of the Methodist church, and her father was a minister in that denomination until the time of his death, having served for thirty years in the pulpit.

ERNEST VAN CLEVE. The owner and operator of six hundred and forty acres of land about two miles north from Athol, an industrious and capable agriculturist and a public minded citizen, it is fitting that Mr. Van Cleve should be granted consideration in the history of northern Idaho, being also such an one as to be reckoned with the real builders of the county and capable in labor and counsel.

Ernest Van Cleve was born in Jackson county, Michigan, on October 7, 1862, being the son of Bar- ney and Fidelia (Walworth) Van Cleve, natives, re- spectively, of New York and Michigan. From Jack- son county they removed to Gratiot county, where the mother died in 1866 and the father in 1884. There Ernest received a common school education and at the tender age of seven he was cast upon his own re- sources and from that time to the present he has been active in labors and travels. He worked at whatever employment came to hand and when sixteen years of age he bought eighty acres of land. This was held four years. and then he sold it for thirteen hundred dollars. This was an excellent start for a young man of twenty, especially so when he had earned it all by his own labors. Next we see Mr. Van Cleve in Wis- consin lumbering and two years after that he returned to Michigan. In 1887 he came again to Wisconsin and the next year he made his way to the coast. He labored in various capacities until 1895, and then for two years he prospected in western Washington, Brit- ish Columbia and Montana. In 1897 he came to Kootenai county and made ties for three years. The next venture in the way of investment was the purchase of the section of land where Mr. Van Cleve now lives. Since that time he has given himself to the improve- ment of his place and now has a valuable piece of land

with some good improvements already made and many more laid out. He is a good, substantial citizen, re- spected by all and stands well. Mr. Van Cleve is a charter member of the I. O. O. F., Pine Lodge, No. 75. He has two brothers and one sister: William; Elizabeth, wife of Robert McGregor; Alpine, all in Michigan. Mr. Van Cleve's paternal grandfather was in the Civil war and an uncle on his father's side is a sea captain on the lakes.

EDWARD BJORNSON. Four miles southwest from Bonners Ferry is located the home of the sub- ject of this article. The land was taken under the homestead right and Mr. Bjornson is giving his time and labor to making it a good home and a valuable property. He is a son of Norway, being born in Ber- gen, on August 31, 1854, and inheriting the excellent qualities of enterprise and push that made his ancestors the real discoverers of the new continent. His parents, Erick and Anna (LeDahl) Bjornson, were natives of the same country and migrated to America in 1857. They located in Dane county, Wisconsin, where they remained for eleven years and then removed to Web- ster county. Iowa. This was their home until death called them thence. Our subject received his educa- tional training in these localities and remained with his parents until their death and then came the meeting of life's responsibilities on his own account. He farmed for three years and after that gave his attention to learning the tinsmith trade and more or less he has de- voted himself to that since. In 1887 he came to Cali- fornia and soon thereafter went to Seattle, Washing- ton, where one year was spent. He then visited Walla Walla and Pendleton and in 1889 was in Spokane. In 1889 Mr. Bjornson was in Sandpoint and then came to Bonners Ferry in 1891. He took a squatter's right and later, when the land was surveyed, he found it was railroad land instead of government and he bought it. In 1899 he sold the property and made a visit east. but returned soon to Kootenai county, settling this time on his present place. He is devoting himself to its improvement and development and is one of the substantial men of this section. Politically he is allied with the Democrats and is always active in the cam- paigns. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., being a charter member of Badger Lodge, No. 482, in Web- ster county, Iowa. Mr. Bjornson is also a member of the 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 221

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